Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphic Terrane Research Articles

A subduction-dismembered Neoproterozoic large igneous province in the Qinling Orogenic Belt, China: Implications for 850 Ma–initiated mantle plume activity in the greater Yangtze Block

Large igneous provinces (LIP) provide invaluable clues for recognizing the growth, breakup, and cycles of supercontinents and constraining the activity of ancient mantle plumes (or superplumes). The widespread intraplate magmatism is considered as a possible fingerprint of ancient plume activities and LIPs. Here, we present the results of an integrated study on protoliths of eclogites and amphibolite-facies bimodal volcanic rocks from North Qinling Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphic (UHPM) Terrane, Qinling Orogen, and identify a dismembered Neoproterozoic LIP. These rocks share similar protolith ages of ca. 850–800 Ma and experienced high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism at ca. 500–480 Ma. The mafic rocks are mainly tholeiitic and display enrichment of LILEs and HFSEs, similar to the E-MORB/OIB characters. They also have typical features of continental flood basalts (CFBs) with low CaO/Al2O3 (0.68–0.87), Lu/Yb (0.14–0.15), Zr/Nb (8–13), high Nb/La (0.87–1.24, mean 1.07), La/Nb (0.80–1.15), La/Ta (11–20), Nb/Yb (3.0–6.2) ratios, and positive εNd(t) (+4.3 to + 5.4). Their occurrence, geochemical features, age data, and high mantle potential temperature (1500–1550 °C) suggest that they are remnants of Neoproterozoic CFBs with mantle plume origin. Based on the lateral distribution length (ca. 300 km) of meta-basaltic rocks and the maximum subduction depths (ca. 100–200 km) recorded by UHP eclogites, the identified ca. 850 Ma-initiated CFBs in the North Qinling terrane should represent an LIP, covering more than 100,000 km2. This Neoproterozoic LIP, together with the coeval volcanic sequences in the South Qinling terrane and the northern Yangtze, would have occupied a maximum landmass of 300,000 km2, which lends support for the onset of a mantle plume at ca. 850 Ma within the Rodinia supercontinent. We conclude that the Qinling Block is one of the fragments of the Rodinia supercontinent with a passive margin covered by CFBs, which was subducted to mantle depths in the Early Paleozoic.

Middle to Late Ordovician flare‐up of granitoids, South Altyn Tagh: Reworking of exhumed continental crust

A flare‐up of granitoids occurred at 465–445 Ma in the South Altyn Tagh, synchronously with the exhumation of subducted continental crust. Nevertheless, it remains enigmatic whether a petrogenetic connection exists between them. Here, we report a 454–451 Ma monzogranite pluton, which is characterized by abundant inherited zircons, located in the northern margin of the South Altyn Tagh high‐pressure (HP)—ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane. U–Pb ages and Hf–O isotopic compositions of inherited and synmagmatic zircons are investigated to trace the source rocks and petrogenesis of this pluton. The inherited zircons (zircons that predate the magmatism) exhibit a wide range of ages from 2618 to 484 Ma, displaying three major peaks at 1800–1100 Ma, 1000–800 Ma and 500 Ma. By comparing these inheritance age patterns with zircon spectra of main (meta‐)sedimentary sequences and the widespread Early Neoproterozoic granites (presently as granitic gneisses) in South Altyn Tagh, along with zircon εHf(t) and whole‐rock Nd isotopic composition, we argue that the main source rocks of the studied monzogranite are Early Neoproterozoic granitic gneisses and Late Mesoproterozoic paragneisses from the South Altyn Tagh HP–UHP metamorphic terrane. The ca. 500 Ma inherited zircons have a metamorphic origin, which is simultaneous with the peak metamorphic ages of HP–UHP metamorphic rocks in the Altyn Tagh Complex. These observations indicate that the source rocks of the monzogranite pluton are the subducted continental crust, which underwent metamorphism at ca. 500 Ma and followed by partial melting at 454–451 Ma. In addition, synmagmatic zircons exhibit variable δ18O and εHf(t) values ranging from 5.4 to 11.7‰ and from −19 to +10.3, respectively, indicating a minor contribution of mantle‐derived melts in the formation of the monzogranite. Given the studied pluton and contemporaneous extensive granitoids (465–445 Ma), characterized by similar geochemistry and source rocks, are synchronous with the final exhumation of subducted South Altyn Tagh continental crust, we propose that the reworking of exhumed continental crust at middle to lower crustal depths is their main petrogenesis.

Early-paleozoic rapakivi-textured granite from the North Qinling (Central China): implications for crust–mantle interactions in a post-collisional setting

Rapakivi granite is characterized by its unique structure, which has important implications for tectonic settings, magmatic processes, and crust–mantle interactions. In this study, we conducted a combined analysis of the petrography, mineral chemistry, geochemistry, and zircon U–Pb dating and Lu–Hf isotopic compositions of the Niujiaoshan Early Paleozoic rapakivi-textured granite from the North Qinling Belt. Zircon U–Pb dating yielded a crystallization age of 447 ± 7 Ma, which is younger than the ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphic age (~ 500 Ma) but similar to the granulite facies retrograde age (~ 450 Ma) of UHP eclogites and felsic gneisses in the North Qinling Belt. The rapakivi feldspar phenocrysts have ovoid K-feldspar cores, which are rich in mineral inclusions, such as amphibole, biotite, quartz, and plagioclase, indicating early crystallization. The ovoid K-feldspar cores are mantled by oligoclase, whreras the matrix comprises biotite, amphibole, and coarse-grained plagioclase. The amphibole and biotite in the granite are rich in Mg and are indicative of a crust–mantle origin. The εHf (t) values of the zircons range from − 2.04 to + 3.63, suggesting formation via crust–mantle interactions. The rapakivi-textured granite displays high-K meta-aluminous I-type granite affinity, with high SiO2, K2O, and Na2O contents. Based on the geological background and results of this study, we propose that the Niujiaoshan rapakivi-textured granite was formed via the mixing of crustal materials induced by upper mantle magma during the exhumation of the North Qinling UHP metamorphic terrane, which occurred in a post-orogenic setting.

Pressure–temperature–time path of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes constrained by zircon petrochronology: A case study of orthogneisses from the northern Sulu belt, China

Reconstruction of pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) path of volumetrically-dominant orthogneisses in deeply subducted continental crusts is challenging due to their simple amphibolite-facies mineral assemblages. To provide new insights into this issue, a detailed study of mineral inclusions, trace elements and U-Pb ages within robust zircon containers, together with titanite U-Pb dating and petrology were conducted on ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) orthogneisses from the northern Sulu belt. The following P–T–t conditions of three metamorphic stages were constrained: (i) cathodoluminescence (CL)-grey zircon cores (ca. 238–237 Ma) with flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns include garnet, phengite and omphacite that yield estimated P–T conditions of 2.3–2.8 GPa/730–800 °C, corresponding to prograde high-pressure (HP) metamorphism before the UHP peak. (ii) CL-dark zircon mantles (ca. 224 Ma) contain multiphase solid inclusions of plagioclase + K-feldspar + quartz and show extremely low Th/U ratios (≤0.08) and negative Eu anomalies, demonstrating their crystallization from hydrous melt at 2.0–1.8 GPa/890–820 °C during HP eclogite-facies exhumation. In addition, titanite grains are characterized by high LREE contents (1939–5239 ppm), Th/U ratios (0.37–0.81) and crystallization temperatures (830–801 °C), suggesting their peritectic origin. The lower intercept age (220 ± 4 Ma) of titanite is broadly consistent with the ages of the zircon mantles, indicating that they both crystallized from the melt at the same stage. (iii) CL-bright zircon rims (ca. 212–211 Ma) preserve low-pressure mineral inclusions of plagioclase, K-feldspar and quartz, and they show low Th/U ratios (0.03–0.12) and steep HREE patterns with negative Eu anomalies, witnessing amphibolite-facies overprinting at 1.0–0.8 GPa/610–550 °C. Combined with the metamorphic peak conditions of 3.2 GPa/840 °C at ca. 232 Ma constrained by previous studies from the same area, the P–T–t path of the northern Sulu UHP belt is reconstructed. The data reflects two-stage exhumation of this terrane, including an early-stage (5.8 km/m.y.) and a later-stage slower (3.1 km/m.y.) exhumation processes. The faster exhumation during early decompression was probably enhanced by extensive melting activity recorded by the CL-dark zircon mantles from the orthogneisses.

Magnetotelluric constraints on the tectonic evolution beneath the Luotian dome in the North Dabie complex zone, Central China

The Dabie orogen, formed by a Triassic continent-continent collision between the Yangtze and the North China craton, contains one of the largest ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes in the world. However, compared to the widespread UHP metamorphic rocks in the Central Dabie, little evidence shows the North Dabie Zone (NDZ) has experienced UHP metamorphism. To understand the cause of these variances and constrain the post-collision evolution of the NDZ, we conducted a magnetotelluric profile across the Luotian dome, southwestern NDZ. Our electrical resistivity model exhibits intriguing post-collision evolution-related characteristics. On both sides of the profile, the resistive features extend to ∼10 km, suggesting the UHP metamorphic or magmatic rocks are mainly concentrated in the upper crust; the underlying crustal high conductive features are interpreted to be the graphite from the mantle-derived or related magma, which were interconnected by the shearing. The middle resistive features extend deeper to ∼20 km, which may represent the magmatic rocks that contributed to the formation of the Luotian dome during the early Cretaceous. The lithosphere mantle generally behaves as high conductive features related to graphite, indicating a fertile mantle. Combining geological and geophysical observations previously, we suggest the Luotian region experienced doming in response to the hot asthenosphere upwelling resulting from the delamination of the lithospheric keel of the Dabie orogen during the early Cretaceous as triggered by synchronous tectonic events like the development of the Tan-Lu fault. These processes may fertilize the lithosphere, uplift and erode the Luotian or the NDZ, resulting in the observed resistivity structures and the lack of UHP metamorphic rocks.

Tracking the multi-stage metamorphism and exhumation history of felsic gneisses in the South Altyn ultra-high pressure metamorphic belt, Western China

Felsic gneisses are usually the dominant rock types in most high-pressure (HP) and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terranes, although their peak metamorphic conditions and complete P–T paths are rarely known. This lack of knowledge is attributed to the high variance of mineral assemblages at HP/UHP conditions of the felsic gneisses, or to the effects of retrograde-related overprinting. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish whether felsic gneisses underwent HP/UHP metamorphism. In this paper, we focus on the felsic gneiss that has been previously documented as having formed under HP granulite-facies metamorphism with peak P–T of > 1.15 GPa and > 860 °C from the Danshuiquan locality in the South Altyn HP–UHP belt. The Danshuiquan felsic gneiss is strongly deformed and is spatially associated with weakly deformed garnet-rich felsic gneiss. On the basis of detailed microstructure observations on mineral assemblages and phase equilibria modelling, three stages of metamorphic evolution for the weakly deformed garnet-rich felsic gneiss are identified. The first stage is represented by garnet cores, revealing a prograde P–T path from 1.5 GPa/750 °C to 2.1 GPa/900 °C. The second stage is characterized by garnet mantles with multiphase inclusions, defining HP eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions of 2.2–2.6 GPa/950–1100 °C. The third stage is represented by the composition of garnet rims, biotite, and plagioclase, suggesting an HP granulite to amphibolite facies decompression cooling process to 1.1–1.3 GPa/710–770 °C. In contrast, the strongly deformed felsic gneiss just records a deformation-related decompression process from 1.1 to 1.2 GPa/750–760 °C to 0.87–0.98 GPa/760–770 °C, and finally to 0.83 GPa/740 °C. Zircon U–Pb dating yields c. 920 Ma protolith ages, c. 500 Ma eclogite-facies ages, and c. 480 Ma granulite to amphibolite facies retrograde ages for the Danshuiquan felsic gneisses. Our results show that the Danshuiquan felsic gneisses underwent a similar metamorphic evolution process to that of Yinggelisayi HP–UHP rocks in the eastern segment of the South Altyn Tagh. Most HP mineralogical records tend to be eliminated by the strong deformation at crustal depths (∼30 km), meaning that the peak metamorphic conditions of the studied felsic rocks in UHP metamorphic terranes are previously underestimated.

Two-stage exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust: Insight from zircon, titanite, and apatite petrochronology, Sulu belt of eastern China

Abstract The rates and mechanisms by which deeply subducted continental crust was exhumed back to the surface are not well understood, but can be better characterized using multimineral petrochronology. Here, we combine zircon, titanite, and apatite U-Pb ages from leucogranite and phengite gneiss with a pressure–temperature (P–T) path from eclogite to provide robust quantitative constraints on cooling and exhumation of the Sulu belt, a large ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terrane in eastern China. The leucogranite, which formed during exhumation, is enriched in light rare earth elements (REE) relative to heavy REE and in large ion lithophile elements relative to high field strength elements, similar to hydrous crustal melts. Whole-rock Sr-Nd isotope compositions indicate that the leucogranite was not directly derived from the host phengite gneiss, but was more likely sourced from deeper in the exhuming crust. For the gneiss, mantles on inherited zircon yield an age of 230 ± 2 Ma and a temperature of 802 ± 36 °C based on a minimum pressure of 2.9 GPa, which records the minimum timing and P–T of initial decompression. Overgrowths on inherited zircon from the leucogranite constrain crystallization to 224 ± 1 Ma, coeval with the growth of zircon rims in the gneiss, at a temperature of 764 ± 42 °C and a pressure within the quartzeclogite facies. Titanite and apatite define single populations with lower concordia intercept ages of 222 ± 3 Ma and 198 ± 7 Ma, at temperatures of 720 ± 30 °C and ∼450 ± 100 °C, respectively, recording the timing of passage through the quartz-eclogite to the amphibolite facies and then the transition to the upper greenschist facies. Although the data yield a nearly constant cooling rate of 10.9−3.6+4.5 °C/m.y., exhumation was completed in two stages. The first stage from coesiteeclogite facies to ∼1.2 GPa, corresponding to the depth of the Moho, occurred at a rate of 7.5−2.6+5.8 km/m.y. Thereafter, exhumation into the mid-crust occurred at a much slower rate of 0.87−0.71+0.86 km/m.y. The first stage of faster exhumation was accompanied by migration of leucogranite melt along foliation in the gneiss, which would have decreased the average density and weakened the crust, enhancing the rate of return flow.

Exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust along contrasting pathways: Examples from the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure metamorphic terrane, North Tibet

Deeply buried continental terranes now exposed in the core of mountain belts are characterized by dominant felsic gneisses enclosing eclogite and garnet peridotite. Some medium–low temperature eclogites can preserve peak mineral assemblages. In contrast, some eclogites and their country rocks have been turned to granulite-facies assemblages. The apparent discrepancy between the two types of eclogites may reflect different exhumation pathways and mechanisms. Based on detailed field investigation and geological mapping, two ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic units are recognized in the western North Qaidam Mountains. The Yuka-Luofengpo UHP metamorphic unit (YKU) is characterized by medium–low temperature eclogites and metapelites, whereas the Luliangshan UHP metamorphic unit (LLU) primarily consists of granulitized eclogites and pelitic granulites. The two units are separated by an early Paleozoic arc magmatic-metamorphic unit.The disparate metamorphic evolutions of the UHP metamorphic rocks from the YKU and LLU indicate that the two adjacent metamorphic units underwent different exhumation pathways. We combine our data with published geodynamic numerical modeling to infer that the YKU UHP metamorphic rocks detached from the subducted slab at different depths and exhumed within a cold continental subduction channel. In contrast, the granulitized eclogites and pelitic granulites of the LLU were vertically exhumed from the subduction channel through the hot mantle wedge into the overriding crustal plate by diapirism (relamination) and experienced a prolonged granulite facies overprint prior to exhumation to the shallow crust.

Magmatism and related metamorphism as a response to mountain-root collapse of the Dabie orogen: Constraints from geochronology and petrogeochemistry of metadiorites

ABSTRACTPost-collisional mountain-root collapse and subsequent massive partial melting occurred in the high-temperature (HT) ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane of the North Dabie complex zone (NDZ), central China. The NDZ was deeply subducted in the Triassic, producing widespread migmatites and various magmatic intrusions in the Cretaceous. Post-collisional metadiorites with distinctive large K-feldspar augen porphyroblasts, locally reported but rarely exposed in the NDZ, underwent a complex evolutional history. In this contribution, integrated studies including field investigation, petrographic observation and mineral analysis, zircon U-Pb geochronological and Hf isotopic analyses, and whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic analyses of the metadiorites were carried out. Our results provide new constraints on the mountain-root collapse in the Dabie orogen. The metadiorites are enriched in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, whereas they are depleted in high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements with significant Ba positive anomalies, a composition consistent with the lower continental crust. All the studied samples have moderately enriched initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.707582–0.708099), low εNd(t) values (−15.3 to −20.4), and low initial Pb isotopic ratios (16.0978–16.8452, 15.3167–15.4544, and 37.1778–37.8397 for 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb, respectively). However, they have highly negative εHf(t) values and Paleoproterozoic two-stage Hf model ages, which are only partially consistent with data from the associated UHP metamorphic rocks. Such features suggest the metadiorites resulted from a magma produced by mixing of Triassic UHP mafic lithologies and minor amounts of mantle-derived materials. Zircon morphological analysis and U-Pb sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe dating combined with conventional thermobarometry indicate that these upwelling melts crystallized at pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions of 5.4–5.7 kbar and 750–768 °C at ca. 130 Ma and subsequently suffered HT metamorphism at ca. 125 Ma. We conclude that the metadiorites’ precursors were derived from partial melting of the Triassic subducted Neoproterozoic mafic lower-crustal rocks, with addition of minor amounts of mantle-derived materials in the Early Cretaceous, in response to mountain-root collapse of the orogen. Based on petrographic textures and mineral compositions, it is moreover inferred that formation of the distinctive K-feldspar porphyroblasts is likely related to a two-stage process, i.e., crystallization derived from biotite breakdown after the formation of the metadiorite at T = 640–703 °C and P < 4.5 kbar and coarsening related to shear deformation.

Vaterite in a decrepitated diamond-bearing inclusion in zircon from a stromatic migmatite in the Chinese Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt

Abstract Vaterite was identified in a decrepitated carbonaceous material (CM) bearing inclusion in zircon from a stromatic migmatite in the Chinese Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane. It is associated with nanometer to micrometer anhedral diamonds, aragonite, calcite, amorphous C-Si-O, and amorphous Zr-Si-O materials. The inclusion developed offshoots and abundant indigenous holes. The C-Si-O material is carbon-rich and porous and shows diagnostic Raman bands of highly disordered CM, whereas the Zr-Si-O material is spherulitic or banded with little or no carbon. The observations from focused ion beam–scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) verify that both diamond and highly disordered CM are of indigenous origin. The formation pathway of vaterite means that an amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) phase occurred as the precursor of vaterite. The highly disordered CM contains the subsidiary bands at 1150 and 1250 cm−1 on the low-frequency side of the D1 band, suggesting that there exist aliphatic hydrocarbon chains. Thus, the highly disordered CM was derived from carbonization of some kind of organic species in the fluid inclusion. Decrepitation of inclusion resulted in an extremely high supersaturation state of the fluid that induced the precipitation of amorphous materials and released residual fluid out of the inclusion, which became dry and preserved vaterite and amorphous materials.

Differential exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes: A case study from South Altyn Tagh, western China

South Altyn Tagh contains ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terranes that have been exhumed from ~300 km mantle depth. Previous zircon U–Pb geochronology has yielded an eclogite-facies age of ca. 500 Ma and a high-pressure (HP) granulite-facies retrograde age of ca. 450 Ma in the Jianggalesayi area in the western segment of South Altyn Tagh. However, in the eastern segment (Yinggelisayi and Danshuiquan localities), an age range of 500–480 Ma has been determined, and it remains uncertain as to whether this age range represents the timing of the peak metamorphic stage or the retrograde overprint. Our study of newly discovered retrograde eclogite in the Danshuiquan locality shows that it underwent three stages of metamorphism, under eclogite-facies, HP granulite-facies and amphibolite-facies P–T conditions of 2.5–4.0 GPa and 870–1050 °C, 2.0–1.4 GPa and 830–940 °C, and 0.7–1.3 GPa and 704–880 °C, respectively. The decompression-dominated P–T path evolved mainly after crossing the solidus, indicating marked retrograde modification under melt-bearing conditions. LA–ICP–MS and SIMS zircon U–Pb dating yielded ca. 500 Ma eclogite-facies and ca. 484 Ma granulite-facies retrograde ages and a later retrograde age of ca. 452 Ma. The clockwise P–T–t path indicates rapid exhumation from eclogite-facies to granulite-facies within around 16 Myr, which is faster than that of the UHP rocks in the western segment. Thus, the HP–UHP rocks in South Altyn Tagh suggest a differential exhumation process for the eastern and western segments. The distinct HP–UHT metamorphism and rapid exhumation of (U)HP rocks in the eastern segment likely resulted from local mantle heating. The continuing P–T evolution of the (U)HP rocks under UHT conditions during exhumation led to a pervasive granulite-facies overprint in the eastern segment of the South Altyn Tagh. The rapid exhumation recorded in the eastern segment provides valuable insights into the exhumation mechanism of ultra-deep subducted UHP terranes.

The contribution of elastic geothermobarometry to the debate on HP versus UHP metamorphism.

Characterizing the pressure and temperature (P–T) histories of eclogite facies rocks is of key importance for unravelling subduction zone processes at all scales. Accurate P–T estimates provide constraints on tectonic and geochemical processes affecting subduction dynamics and help in interpreting the geophysical images of present‐day converging plates. Conventional equilibrium geothermobarometers are challenged in ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes, as minerals may undergo re‐equilibration along their exhumation path. Elastic geobarometry applied to host‐inclusion systems is a complementary method to determine P–T conditions of metamorphism independent from chemical equilibrium. Because only a single measurement, the inclusion strain, is made, only a line in P–T space of possible entrapment conditions, the entrapment isomeke, can be determined. Thus, the entrapment pressure along an isomeke can only be determined if the entrapment temperature is known. An alternative is to calculate entrapment conditions for two types of inclusions that are believed, from petrological evidence such as being in the same garnet growth zone, to have been entrapped at the same time. The intersection between the two sets of isomeke calculated on multiple quartz and zircon inclusions demonstrates that measuring different inclusion phases trapped inside a single host allows unique P–T conditions for the host rock to be determined. Here, we combine Zr‐in‐Rutile thermometry and thermodynamic modelling with micro‐Raman measurements on quartz and zircon inclusions trapped in garnet to obtain pressures and temperatures of equilibration of a quartz–garnet vein from the Proterozoic Ulla gneiss basement and of garnet–kyanite gneiss from the Caledonian Blåhø nappe, both in the Fjørtoft UHP terrane, Norway. We find that the quartz–garnet vein formed at high pressure (1.5–2.5 GPa and 750–800°C) and recrystallized at ~1.2 GPa and 880°C. In contrast, the garnet–kyanite gneiss followed an anticlockwise path with peak P–T at 1.2 GPa and 880°C: these estimates are consistent with previous thermodynamic modelling and suggest that the Ulla gneiss and the Blåhø nappe came into contact at these last conditions. We also discuss a new method to detect hydrostatic versus Non‐hydrostatic stresses near quartz and zircon inclusions in garnet.

Metamorphic microdiamond formation is controlled by water activity, phase transitions and temperature

Metamorphic diamonds hosted by major and accessory phases in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes represent important indicators of deep subduction and exhumation of continental crust at convergent plate boundaries. However, their nucleation and growth mechanisms are not well understood due to their small size and diversity. The Bohemian microdiamond samples represent a unique occurrence of monocrystalline octahedral and polycrystalline cubo-octahedral microdiamonds in two different metasedimentary rock types. By combining new and published data on microdiamonds (morphology, resorption, associated phases, carbon isotope composition) with P–T constraints from their host rocks, we demonstrate that the peak P–T conditions for the diamond-bearing UHP rocks cluster along water activity-related phase transitions that determine the microdiamond features. With increasing temperature, the diamond-forming medium changes from aqueous fluid to hydrous melt, and diamond morphology evolves from cubo-octahedral to octahedral. The latter is restricted to the UHP-UHT rocks exceeding 1100 °C, which is above the incongruent melting of phengite, where microdiamonds nucleate along a prograde P–T path in silicate-carbonate hydrous melt. The observed effect of temperature on diamond morphology supports experimental data on diamond growth and can be used for examining growth conditions of cratonic diamonds from kimberlites, which are dominated by octahedra and their resorbed forms.

A first-principles study of helium diffusion in quartz and coesite under high pressure up to 12GPa

Helium diffusion in mantle minerals is crucial for understanding mantle structure and the dynamic processes of Earth's degassing. In this paper, we report helium incorporation and the mechanism of its diffusion in perfect crystals of quartz and coesite. The diffusion pathways, activation energies (Ea), and frequency factors of helium under ambient and high pressure conditions were calculated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the climbing image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method. The calculated diffusive coefficients of He in the quartz in different orientations are:D[100] = 1.24 × 10−6 exp. (−26.83 kJ / mol / RT) m2 /sD[010] = 1.11 × 10−6 exp. (−31.60 kJ / mol / RT) m2 /sand in the coesite:D[100] = 3.00 × 10−7 exp. (−33.79 kJ / mol / RT) m2 /sD[001] = 2.21 × 10−6 exp. (−18.33 kJ / mol / RT) m2 /sThe calculated results indicate that diffusivity of helium is anisotropic in both quartz and coesite and that the degree of anisotropy is much more pronounced in coesite.Helium diffusion behavior in coesite under high pressures was investigated. The activation energies increased with pressure: Ea[100] increased from 33.79 kJ/mol to 58.36 kJ/mol, and Ea[001] increased from 18.33 kJ/mol to 48.87 kJ/mol as pressure increased from 0 GPa to 12 GPa. Our calculations showed that helium is not be quantitatively retained in silica at typical surface temperatures on Earth, which is consistent with the findings from previous studies. These results have implications for discussion of the Earth's mantle evolution and for recognition thermal histories of ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes.

Zircon U-Pb Dating and Petrogenesis of Multiple Episodes of Anatexis in the North Dabie Complex Zone, Central China

The North Dabie complex zone (NDZ), central China, is a high-T ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane. It underwent a complex evolution comprising of multistage metamorphism and multiple anatectic events during the Mesozoic continental collision, characterized by granulite-facies overprinting and a variety of migmatites with different generations of leucosomes. In this contribution, we carried out an integrated study including field investigation, petrographic observations, zircon U-Pb dating, and whole-rock element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope analysis for the migmatites in the NDZ and their leucosomes and melanosomes. As a result, four groups of leucosomes have been recognized: Group 1 (garnet-bearing leucosome), strongly deformed leucosomes with coarse-grained peritectic garnet; Group 2 (amphibole-rich leucosome), weakly deformed to undeformed amphibole-rich leucosomes with coarse-grained peritectic amphibole and no garnet; Group 3 (amphibole-poor leucosome), weakly deformed to undeformed amphibole-poor leucosomes with minor fine-grained amphibole; Group 4 (K-feldspar-rich leucosome), K-feldspar-rich leucosomes mainly composed of coarse-grained quartz, plagioclase and K-feldspar. Zircon SHRIMP and LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating suggest that the Group 1 leucosomes formed at 209 ± 2 Ma whereas the rest of the leucosome groups (Groups 2–4) occurred between 145–110 Ma, in response to decompression under granulite-facies conditions during the early stage of exhumation, and to heating during post-orogenic collapse, respectively. Furthermore, the garnet-bearing leucosomes were resulted from fluid-absent anatexis related to biotite dehydration melting, while the other three groups of leucosomes were formed during large-scale fluid-present partial melting and coeval migmatization. This migmatization comes from heating from the mountain-root removal and asthenosphere upwelling, together with the influx of fluids derived from country rocks at mid-upper crustal levels. However, all the leucosomes and melanosomes display Pb-isotopic compositions similar to those observed for the NDZ UHP rocks (eclogites and granitic gneisses), suggesting a common source from the Triassic subducted Neoproterozoic lower-crustal rocks. In addition, the Cretaceous partial melting and migmatization began at 143 ± 2 Ma with three age-peaks at 133 ± 3 Ma, 124 ± 3 Ma and 114 ± 7 Ma, respectively.

The exhumation of high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes in subduction zone: Questions and discussions

In terms of petrology, thermomechanical simulation is an important frontier to study the geodynamic process of the exhumation and uplift of high pressure (HP) to ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in subduction zones and collision orogenic belts. Based on the recent petrological studies and numerical modellings for the exhumation of HP to UHP metamorphic terranes, the exhumation mechanisms of HP to UHP metamorphic terranes can be roughly summarized into ten types: channel flow, diapiric exhumation, a coexistence mechanism of channel flow and diapiric exhumation, slab breakoff, multi-stage exhumation, divergent plate motion (including slab rollback and the upper-plate divergent motion away from the subducting plate), overthrust exhumation, overpressure mechanism, wedge-like extrusion and microplate rotation. The exhumation of high-density UHP oceanic eclogites is a relative controversial issue. Some of our recent researches on quantitatively determining the exhumation mechanism of UHP oceanic eclogites using thermomechanical and phase equilibrium modelling was introduced in details in this paper. We obtained the 3-D density evolutions of three-type subducted oceanic materials (MORB, serpentine and oceanic sediments) in the P - T space by the methods of phase equilibrium and density calculation. According to the density difference between the metabasic and their surrounding rocks, the exhumed eclogites could be divided into two types. The first category, the self-exhumation eclogites ( ρ MORB ρ mantle), which is driven by their own buoyancy, an example is the coesite-bearing oceanic eclogites from Southwest Tianshan. Another is the carried-exhumation eclogites ( ρ MORB> ρ mantle), which can only be carried back to the surface with the assistance of low-density metasediments and serpentinite due to their negative buoyancy; the coesite-bearing UHP eclogites of Zermatt-Saas in the Western Alps is a typical example. Besides, we have further explored the ultimate self-exhumation depth, exhumation mechanisms, the effect of the transition from high pressure to ultra-high pressure on the exhumation process of oceanic eclogites and the spatial distribution of exhumed HP-UHP metamorphic terranes.

Myrmekitic intergrowth of tourmaline and quartz in eclogite-hosting gneisses of the Tso Morari ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terrane (Eastern Ladakh, India): a possible record of high-pressure conditions

Abstract Alkaline schorlitic tourmaline with domains of myrmekitic quartz and tourmaline intergrowths is reported for the first time from quartzo-feldspathic gneisses of the Tso Morari Crystalline Complex (TMCC), eastern Ladakh Himalaya. Except for schorlitic tourmaline, the brown-green dravitic tourmaline occurs in melanocratic layers of the gneiss. The schorlitic tourmaline contains REE-rich apatite, which is a typical mineral formed under high-pressure (HP) conditions. The observed myrmekite, marked by vermicular quartz and tourmaline intergrowths, was probably formed during decompression as a consequence of excess silica released from recrystallized tourmaline. The recalculated composition of the tourmaline with quartz myrmekite suggests that Si also occupied the tourmaline octahedral Z site during the HP regime. During decompression excess Si from this tourmaline was replaced by Mg and Fe 3+ . At an early stage of exhumation needle-shaped schorlitic tourmaline II and mosaic zoning were formed. The excess of silica and the structural disorder suggest that the Si-oversaturated tourmaline was stable at high-pressure–ultrahigh-pressure (HP–UHP) conditions. The greater stability of dravitic tourmaline compared to schorlitic tourmaline at HP conditions is evidently recorded at the TMCC. The tourmaline-bearing gneisses of the TMCC most probably shared the same metamorphic conditions during Tertiary collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, similar to that observed for the associated UHP eclogites.

Metamorphic evolution of eclogites and associated metapelites from the Yuka terrane in the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt, NW China: Constraints from phase equilibrium modeling

As the products of early Paleozoic continental collision, widespread eclogite facies rocks crop out in the Yuka terrane, western North Qaidam Mountains, NW China. Eclogites commonly reach ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic conditions. However, whether the associated metapelitic rocks also experience UHP metamorphism has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In this contribution, we chose two eclogite samples and one metapelite sample to investigate their metamorphic evolution. Combining with petrographic observation and P–T pseudosections, similar clockwise P–T paths with peak stages at 25–34 kbar, 580–633 °C were obtained for eclogites and metapelites. Eclogite ZM871 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 21.6 kbar/552 °C, defined by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + epidote + lawsonite + talc (+quartz + phengite + rutile) and a peak metamorphic condition at 34.0 kbar/633 °C by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + talc (+coesite + phengite + rutile). Eclogite ZM641 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 21.5 kbar/520 °C, defined by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + glaucophane + lawsonite (+quartz + phengite + rutile) and a peak condition at 30 kbar/616 °C by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + talc (+quartz + phengite + rutile). Metapelite ZM8–1 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 18.2 kbar/530 °C defined by the assemblage garnet + chloritoid + chlorite (+quartz + phengite + rutile), a peak condition at 25 kbar/580 °C by the assemblage garnet + kyanite + chloritoid (+quartz + phengite + rutile), and a retrograde condition at 16.2 kbar/595–598 °C by the assemblage garnet + kyanite + chloritoid + chlorite (+quartz + phengite + rutile). Combined with previous data from orthogneiss and impure marble in the Yuka terrane, which also recorded UHP metamorphic conditions, the Yuka eclogite–bearing unit commonly underwent UHP metamorphism, although further investigation is warranted to verify whether the Yuka unit represents a single coherent UHP metamorphic terrane or a collage of different UHP metamorphic slices.

Phengite megacryst quasi-exsolving phlogopite, from Sulu ultra-high pressure metamorphic terrane, Qinglongshan, Donghai County (eastern China): New data for P-T-X conditions during exhumation

A large crystal of trigonal phengite (Phe-3T; K0.96Na0.02Ba0.01)(Al1.35Mg0.40Fe2+0.11Fe3+0.13Ti0.02)Σ=2.02[Si3.44Al0.56]O10(OH)2), sampled from a phengite+quartz metamorphic vein in the eclogites-bearing rocks of Sulu UHP metamorphic terrane, exhibits unusual thin lamellae of ferrian-aluminian trigonal/monoclinic phlogopite polytypes (Phl-3T: (K0.78Na0.01)(Mg1.48Fe2+0.39Fe3+0.45Al0.30Ti0.06)Σ=2.68[Si2.98Al1.02]O10((OH)1.77F0.23); Phl-1M: (K0.85Ca0.01)(Mg1.43Fe2+0.45Fe3+0.54Al0.21Ti0.06)Σ=2.69[Si2.88Al1.12]O10((OH)1.99F0.01)). This assemblage is rarely observed in UHP eclogite-bearing rocks, and has never been reported before in the Sulu UHP metamorphic terrane. A detailed crystal-chemical characterisation of Phe-3T, Phl-3T and Phl-1M allowed the development of a thermodynamic model that estimates the P-T conditions of formation of such an assemblage and helps to understand the relationship between mica polytypes and a quartz dominated (silica oversaturated) system, which characterised the Sulu vein. Phe-3T varies in composition upon approaching Phl-3T/1M, showing a decrease of Si and Al and an increase of Fe and Mg contents. Observed phlogopites cannot be ascribed to bare exsolving processes, and require the involvement of a non-isochemical reaction, dominated by exsolution (quasi-exsolution process) in combination with a contribution from an “external chemical supplier” (most probably provided by circulating fluids). Mass balance calculations between the mineralogical assemblage of Sulu vein and the solute components of alkali-alumino-silicate high pressure fluids demonstrate that a silicic-type major element composition accounts for a phengite-quartz based rock. The occurrence of phlogopite micas can be explained as an effect of disproportion in combination with supply components, i.e. Mg, Al and K, from alkali-alumino-silicate high pressure fluids.On the basis of energy modelling of the reaction process from phengite to phlogopite in presence of quartz and a matter exchanger, we determined that such a transformation is weakly dependent on T over the 500–930 °C thermal range. The intersection of the calculated P-T assemblage equilibrium curve with the country rock P-T metamorphic path occurs at P ~ 2.4 ± 0.2 GPa and T ~ 700 °C, thus reflecting an early stage of exhumation, close to the metamorphic peak of the Sulu UHP terrane.

Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt: compositional inheritance and metamorphic modification

Abstract The Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt in east-central China contains one of the largest ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes in the world. The UHP eclogites are associated with gneiss, peridotite and marble. But all these rocks underwent in situ UHP metamorphism during the continental collision in the Triassic. Although fluid action is not significant during cold subduction, it becomes prominent during hot exhumation of UHP slices. Whereas the composition of UHP metamorphic rocks is primarily inherited from their protoliths, they were locally modified by partial melting to varying extents. The partial melting of UHP rocks is highly heterogeneous along the collisional orogen, and achieves a maximum during rifting orogeny at the post-collisional stage. This paper outlines the petrographical features and geochemical compositions of UHP metamorphic rocks, and presents an overview of collisional modification and post-collisional reworking of the subducted continental crust. Further discussions are devoted to continental subduction tectonics, as well as to subduction style, subduction polarity and exhumation mechanism. The results also provide insights into the initiation of continental rifting in a Wilson cycle. Consequently, studies of the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt have contributed greatly to our understanding of tectonic processes, fluid regime and chemical geodynamics in continental subduction zones.