Discovery and Significance of Diamonds and Moissanites in Chromitite within the Skenderbeu Massif of the Mirdita Zone Ophiolite,West Albania

In recent years diamonds and other unusual minerals （carbides, nitrides, metal alloys and native elements） have been recovered from mantle peridotites and chromitites （both high-Cr chromitites and high-Al chromitites） from a number of ophiolites of different ages and tectonic settings. Here we report a similar assemblage of minerals from the Skenderbeu massif of the Mirdita zone ophiolite, west Albania. So far, more than 20 grains of microdiamonds and 30 grains of moissanites （SIC） have been separated from the podiform chromitite. The diamonds are mostly light yellow, transparent, euhedral crystals, 200-300μm across, with a range of morphologies; some are octahedral and cuboctahedron and others are elongate and irregular. Secondary electron images show that some grains have well-developed striations. All the diamond grains have been analyzed and yielded typical Raman spectra with a shift at -1325 cm^-1. The moissanite grains recovered from the Skenderben chromitites are mainly light blue to dark blue, but some are yellow to light yellow. All the analyzed grains have typical Raman spectra with shifts at 766 cm^-1, 787 cm^-1, and 967 cm^-1. The energy spectrums of the moissanites confirm that the grains are composed entirely of silicon and carbon. This investigation expands the occurrence of diamonds and moissanites to Mesozoic ophiolites in the Neo-Tethys. Our new findings suggest that diamonds and moissanites are present, and probably ubiquitous in the oceanic mantle and can provide new perspectives and avenues for research on the origin of ophiolites and podiform chromitites.

Petrology,Mineralogy and Geochemisty of Antarctic Mesosiderite GRV 020175:Implications for Its Complex Formation History

GRV 020175 is an Antarctic mesosiderite,containing about 43 vol%silicates and 57 vol% metal.Metal occurs in a variety of textures from irregular large masses,to veins penetrating silicates, and to matrix fine grains.The metallic portion contains kamacite,troilite and minor taenite.Terrestrial weathering is evident as partial replacement of the metal and troilite veins by Fe oxides.Silicate phases exhibit a porphyritic texture with pyroxene,plagioclase,minor silica and rare olivine phenocrysts embedded in a fine-grained groundmass.The matrix is ophitic and consists mainly of pyroxene and plagioclase grains.Some orthopyroxene phenocrysts occur as euhedral crystals with chemical zoning from a magnesian core to a ferroan overgrowth;others are characterized by many fine inclusions of plagioclase composition.Pigeonite has almost inverted to its orthopyroxene host with augite lamellae, enclosed by more magnesian rims.Olivine occurs as subhedral crystals,surrounded by a necklace of tiny chromite grains（about 2-3μm）.Plagioclase has a heterogeneous composition without zoning. Pyroxene geothermometry of GRV 020175 gives a peak metamorphic temperature（～1000℃） and a closure temperature（～875℃）.Molar Fe/Mn ratios（19-32） of pyroxenes are consistent with mesosiderite pyroxenes（16-35） and most plagioclase compositions（An_（87.5_96.6）） are within the range of mesosiderite plagioclase grains（An_（88-95））.Olivine composition（Fo_（53.8）） is only slightly lower than the range of olivine compositions in mesosiderites（Fo_（55-90））.All petrographic characteristics and chemical compositions of GRV 020175 are consistent with those of mesosiderite and based on its matrix texture and relatively abundant plagioclase,it can be further classified as a type 3A mesosiderite.Mineralogical, penological,and geochemical studies of GRV 020175 imply a complex formation history starting as rapid crystallization from a magma in a lava flow on the surface or as a shallow intrusion.Following primary igneous crystallization,the silicate underwent varying degrees of reheating.It was reheated to 1000℃,followed by rapid cooling to 875℃.Subsequently,metal mixed with silicate,during or after which,reduction of silicates occurred;the reducing agent is likely to have been sulfur.After redox reaction,the sample underwent thermal metamorphism,which produced the corona on the olivine, rims on the inverted pigeonite phenocrysts and overgrowths on the orthopyroxene phenocrysts,and homogenized matrix pyroxenes.Nevertheless,metamorphism was not extensive enough to completely reequilibrate the GRV 020175 materials.

从长英质侵入体揭示火山喷发过程与岩浆通道系统

汇聚板块边缘的大型长英质火山喷发是地球上最具破坏性的自然灾害之一。然而,与这些火山相关的岩浆通道系统的结构及其对火山活动的控制方式迄今仍知之甚少。基于在青藏高原北部东昆仑造山带三叠纪火山岩与侵入体关系的观察以及全球岩浆通道系统的研究进展,本文提出要将火山机构与侵入体结合起来开展研究,通过重建岩浆通道系统来揭示侵入体(古岩浆储库)与火山活动的潜在联系。本文指出,地球上只有少部分侵入岩与火山活动存在密切关系,这些侵入岩可能是抽取火山喷发物质后留下的岩浆储库残余物质。有些岩浆储库不仅为火山喷发提供物质,还在提供火山喷发动力、控制火山喷发方式在溢流式与爆炸式之间的转换以及影响火山机构定位等方面发挥着关键作用。富挥发分的流体大量溢出地表会减少大型伟晶岩型和斑岩型矿床的形成机会,特别是在爆炸式的长英质火山喷发过程中。本文将岩浆通道系统划分为5个区域,即部分熔融区、岩浆聚集区、岩浆迁移区、岩浆侵位区和火山喷口区,这些区域构成了一个复杂的纵向递进、横向连接的岩浆网络系统,是构造环境(构造阶段)、地壳状态和岩浆动力学属性的耦合产物。为了深入理解长英质岩浆通道系统结构和动力学演化及其对火山活动机制的控制,本文建议要将火山机构、侵入体和围岩系统作为岩浆通道系统的组成部分,开展构造地质学、岩石学、矿物学、岩浆动力学、地球化学、地球物理学等多学科的综合研究,以精细解剖典型岩浆通道系统的组成和结构,重建其岩浆动力学过程。

An Unique Glomerophyric Diorite Porphyry from the Southern Margin of North China Craton:Geochronology,Geochemical and Quantitative Textural Analysis Constraints

1 Introduction The Wulong glomerophyric diorite porphyry has an extremely peculiar texture with plagioclase phenocrysts clustered as flower-like glomerocrysts(Figs.1a&b),which is never discovered elsewhere of the world.The

Petrogenesis of Triassic Mafic Complexes with MORB/OIB Affinities from the Western Garzê-Litang Ophiolitic Mélange, Central Tibetan Plateau

There is a general consensus that most ophiolites formed above subduction zones(Pearce,2003),particularly during forearc extension at subduction initiation(Shervais,2001;Stern,2004;Whattam and Stern,2011).'Supra-Subduction zone'(SSZ)ophiolites such as the well-studied Tethyan ophiolites,generally display a characteristic sequential evolution from mid-oceanic ridge basalts(MORBs)to island arc tholeiities(IATs)or bonites(BONs)(Pearce,2003;Dilek and Furnes,2009,2011),which were generated in sequence from the decompression melting of asthenospheric mantle and partial melting of subduction-metasomatized depleted mantle(Stern and Bloomer,1992;Dilek and Furnes,2009;Whattam and Stern,2011).However,ophiolites with MORB and/or oceanic-island basalt(OIB)affinities are rare,and their origin and tectonic nature are poorly understood(Boedo et al.,2013;Saccani et al.,2013).It is interesting that the composition of these ophiolites from the central Tibetan Plateau(CTP)is dominated by MORBs and minor OIBs and a distinct lack of IATs and BONs,which is inconsistent with most ophiolites worldwide(Robinson and Zhou,2008;Zhang et al.,2008).But the generation and tectonic nature of these ophiolites are still controversial.*In this study,we present new geochronological,mineralogical and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes in the western Garzê-Litang suture zone(GLS),a typical Paleo-Tethyan suture crossing the CTP(Fig.1).The Triassic ophiolite in the western GLS has been described by Li et al.(2009),who foundthat it mainly consists of gabbros,diabases,pillow basalts and a few metamorphic peridotites.The ophiolite has been tectonically dismembered and crops out in Triassic clastic rocks and limestones as tectonic blocks.The Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes are generally regarded as important fragments of the Triassic ophiolites(e.g.,Jin,2006;Li et al.,2009).Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages of234±3 Ma and 236±2 Ma can be interpreted as formation times of the Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes,respectively.The basalts and gabbros of the Chayong complexexhibitenrichedMORB(E-MORB)compositional affinities except for a weak depletion of Nb,Ta and Ti relative to the primitive mantle,whereas the basalts and gabbros of the Xiewu complex display distinct E-MORB and OIB affinities.The geochemical features suggest a probable fractionation of olivine±clinopyroxene±plagioclase as well as insignificant crustal contamination.The geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic data reveal that the Chayong mafic rocks may have been derived from depleted MORB-type mantle metasomatized by crustal components and Xiewu mafic rocks from enriched lithosphericmantlemetasomatizedbyOIB-like components.The ratios of Zn/Fet,La/Yb and Sm/Yb indicate that these mafic melts were produced by the partial melting of garnet+minor spinel-bearing peridotite or spinel±minor garnet-bearing peridotite.We propose thatback-arcbasinspreadingassociated with OIB/seamount recycling had occurred in the western GLS at least since the Middle Triassic times,and the decompression melting of the depleted MORB-type asthenospheremantleandpartialmeltingof sub-continental lithosphere were metasomatized by plume-related melts,such as OIBs,which led to the generation of the Chayong and Xiewu mafic melts.

Petrogenesis and Significance of the Jebel Dumbier Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex from North Margin of Nuba Mountains, Sudan

1 Introduction Scientific study of the geology and mineral resources in Sudan is rather limited.Jebel Dumbier is the first identified carbonatite-bearing alkaline complex in Sudanby El Sharkawi&El Raba’a in 1973.It is located in Northern Kordofan Province on the northeastern margin of the Nuba Mountains.The complex exposed as small

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Triassic Mafic Complexes from the Western Garzê-Litang Ophiolitic Mélange and Implications for the Melt Evolution of a Continental Margin

There is a general consensus that most ophiolites on the earth formed above a subduction zone and they often display a characteristic, sequential evolution of MORB to island arc tholeiities （IAT） to bonnites （Dilek et al., 2010, 2009; Pearce et al., 2003）. However, ophiolites occurred in a continental margin are very rare and usually have more complicated, irregular components, such as N-MORB,

琼西南晚白垩世千家岩体矿物学特征及其对岩石成因的约束

千家岩体为海南岛典型的晚白垩世早期花岗质杂岩体,岩石类型主要有花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩及正长花岗岩,常见造岩矿物有黑云母、角闪石、斜长石、碱性长石、石英等。为进一步揭示岩石形成过程及源区性质,反演壳幔相互作用,本文选取千家岩体,利用电子探针技术对不同岩石类型中的主要矿物进行了矿物化学分析。结果显示,角闪石、黑云母均属于壳幔混源成因,斜长石发育正反环带及振荡环带,记录了岩浆混合作用的影响。镜下观察发现,千家岩体各类岩石中存在大量的岩浆不平衡结构,如斜长石和角闪石的环带结构,针状产出的磷灰石,以及斜长石、钾长石和石英的嵌晶结构等,结合暗色微粒包体的分布组合及形态特征,认为千家岩体形成中经历了岩浆混合作用。综合来说,岩石及矿物化学证据均表明,岩浆混合作用是研究区岩石形成的主因,矿物学证据表明,千家岩体岩石类型为I型花岗岩,其源区属钙碱性岩浆,黑云母矿物化学数据表明岩石形成环境为相对较低的氧逸度。

宜昌上奥陶统钾质斑脱岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Lu-Hf同位素特征及其源区示踪意义

中扬子宜昌黄花场地区上奥陶统五峰组内出露多层钾质斑脱岩,斑脱岩以伊蒙混层黏土矿物为主,同时含六方双锥石英、锆石、磷灰石及铁质微球粒等,地球化学成分具有高钾、岛弧火山岩的特征。五峰组底部第一层斑脱岩εNd(t)为-3.83,锆石U-Pb年龄445.4±2.0Ma,锆石εHf(t)介于2.7~7.3之间,加权平均值为4.67±0.89,tDM2值965~1249Ma,加权平均为1127±55Ma。五峰组中第八层斑脱岩εNd(t)为-7.92,锆石U-Pb年龄444.1±2.2Ma,锆石εHf(t)介于-6.6^-11.2之间,加权平均值为-8.74±0.88,tDM2值1840~2130Ma,加权平均为1973±55Ma。斑脱岩的矿物成分、地球化学元素特征、锆石U-Pb年龄及Hf同位素特征表明其可能来自于早古生代扬子北缘秦岭地区的火山爆发,同时也限定了临湘组和五峰组界限年龄为(445.4±2.0)Ma,这些斑脱岩的频繁出现预示着晚奥陶世生物灭绝更替等重大地质事件的开端。

华北克拉通东南缘BIF型铁矿变质火山岩夹层锆石U-Pb年龄及其对铁矿形成时限的制约

霍邱BIF型铁矿位于华北克拉通东南缘,矿体均赋存于晚太古代霍邱岩群内,主要呈似层状,与围岩产状基本一致,界线较清晰,受地层层位控制明显,为典型的层控型矿床。本次工作采集霍邱铁矿周集铁矿床ZK2918、ZK2512两处钻孔中石英磁铁矿矿体内英安质片麻岩夹层。对片麻岩类的岩石学特征、原岩性质及同位素地质年代学等进行的研究表明,英安质片麻岩类的原岩为安山质火山岩,成岩年龄分别为2 750±15 Ma,2 740±7.2 Ma;表明在华北克拉通东南缘霍邱地区存在着~2.75 Ga的岩浆活动。此外,受变质火山岩年龄制约,霍邱岩群及赋存于其中的BIF铁矿的形成时代也应为~2.75 Ga。

浙西北地区寒武系物源分析及古地理意义:来自沉积学及碎屑锆石年代学的证据

浙西北地区寒武系沉积环境及物源分析是重建扬子板块东南缘古地理格局的关键,进而可以为华南大地构造演化提供证据。本文根据沉积相时空展布、斜层理与同沉积褶皱恢复的物源方向以及碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年,综合探讨寒武系的陆源碎屑物源方向以及物源区。浙西北地区寒武纪地层主要由碳硅质岩、硅质页岩、砾屑灰岩、砂屑灰岩、泥灰岩、泥岩等组成。沉积序列、沉积相标志研究表明,寒武系沉积构造以泄水构造、滑塌褶曲、流动构造、层间滑动、同沉积褶皱和断层等为特征,发育大量滑塌沉积及碳酸盐岩浊积岩,整体为深水盆地及斜坡环境。沉积相时空展布及古流向研究表明,水体向北西方向加深,寒武系陆源碎屑物质主要来源于南东方向,非前人通过古生物地层判断的盆地基底北西高南东低。碎屑锆石年代学研究表明,物源集中于574 Ma、747 Ma、1768 Ma以及2131 Ma,与邻区碎屑锆石年龄图谱对比分析表明,江山-绍兴断裂带及浙江中部地区为主要物源区,陆缘碎屑物质主要来自于陈蔡群、双溪坞群、河上镇群及八都群。寒武纪时期,斜坡盆地沉积基底向北西倾斜,位于盆地西北部的章里地区为沉积中心,华夏地块露出水面为剥蚀区。

Zircon U-Pb Dating on Granitoids from the Northern South China Sea and its Geotectonic Relevance

Zircon U-Pb ages of 163.8-100.4 Ma and 146.6-134.5 Ma are obtained for the granitoids from the Pearl River mouth basin, and from southern Guangdong Province, respectively. These new dating data accord well with the crystallization ages of Yanshanian granitoids broadly in the Nanling. The active continental margin of South China, as revealed by a combination of zircon U-Pb data, underwent a key granitoid-dominated magmatism in 165-100 Ma. Its evolution varied temporally, and spatially, registering under control of the paleo-Pacific slab subduction. The granitoids that occurred in 165-150 Ma broadly from the South China Sea to the Nanling are preferably related to two settings from volcanic-arc to back-arc extension, respectively. The activities of Cretaceous granitoids migrated from the southeastern Guangdong （148-130 Ma） to the Pearl River Mouth basin （127-112 Ma）, corresponding to the model of a retreating subduction. The subduction-related granitoid magmatism in South China continued until 108-97 Ma. A tectonic transformation from slab-subduction to extension should occur at -100 Ma.

The Southward Extension of Cathaysia Block: Evidence from Zircon UPb Dates of Borehole Volcanics in the Northern South China Sea

Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSVI and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2, respectively. A total of 162 zircon U-Pb dates for them cover an age range from Neoarchean to Eocene, in which the pre-Paleocene data dominate. The Paleogene dates of 62.5±2.2 Ma and 42.1±2.9 Ma are associated with two igneous episodes prior to opening of South China Sea basin. Those pre-Paleocene zircons are inherited zircons mostly with magmatogenic oscillatory zones, and have REE features of crustal zircon. Zircon U-Pb dates of 2518-2481 Ma, 1933- 1724 Ma, and 1094-1040 Ma from the SCSV1 volcanics, and 2810-2718 Ma, 2458-2421 Ma, and 1850-993.4 Ma from the SCSV2 volcanics reveal part of Precambrian evolution of the northern South China Sea, well comparable with age records dated from the Cathaysia block. The data of 927.0±6.9 Ma and 781±38 Ma dated from the SCSV2 coincide with amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and breakup of the Rodinia, respectively. The age records of Caledonian orogeny from the Cathaysia block are widely found from our volcanic samples with concordant mean ages of 432.0±5.8 Ma from the SCSV1 and of 437±15 Ma from the SCSV2. The part of the northern South China Sea resembling the Cathaysia underwent Indosinian and Yanshannian tectonothermal events. Their age signatures from the SCSV1 cover 266.5±3.5 Ma, 241.1±6.0 Ma, 184.0±4.2 Ma, 160.9±4.2 Ma and 102.8±2.6 Ma, and from the SCSV2 are 244±15 Ma, 158.1±3.5 Ma, 141±13 Ma and 96.3±2.1 Ma. Our pre-Paleogene U-Pb age spectra of zircons from the borehole volcanics indicate that the northern South China Sea underwent an evolution from formation of Precambrian basement, Caledonian orogeny, and Indosinian orogeny to Yanshannian magmatism. This process can be well comparable with the tectonic evolution of South China, largely supporting the areas of the northern South China Sea as part of southward extension of the Cathaysia.

Two Contrasting Ophiolites in One Suture Zone: a Case Study from East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, North Tibetan Plateau

Ophiolites are fragments of upper mantle and oceanic crust （Dewey and Bird, 1971; Coleman, 1977; Nicolas, 1989） that were consisting of mantle peridotites and a suite of magmatic rocks. Importantly,

建设岩石学大别山野外实践教学平台——地质学本科创新人才培养的探索

创新型人才的培养是国家统筹推进“双一流”建设的重要目标。野外实践是地质学专业教学的重要环节,在激发本科生的学习兴趣、培养学生创新思维和实践能力等方面发挥着积极作用。本文以中国地质大学(武汉)针对地质学专业高年级本科生开展岩石学大别山野外实践平台建设为例,通过将科研成果向教学资源转化,积极探索地质学本科创新人才培养模式和育人体系。该平台融入了前沿理论学习、典型野外地质现象观察、样品分析测试方法学习、数据分析解释等内容,同时以科学问题为导向,引导学生制订研究方案、搜集研究素材、开展创新性探索,力图让学生在完成“岩石学”课程学习的基础上,在教师的指导下,得到初步的科研训练。这一野外实践教学平台的建立,对助力地质学一流本科创新人才培养将起到重要作用。

Petrogenesis of Peridotites from the Purang Ophiolite in Western Part of Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone, Southern Tibet

Peridotites are an important part of ophiolites： they not only record plate tectonic settings and events, but also offer help to interpret the composition of the mantle and the effect of the deep mantle. The Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone extends more than 2000 km along southern Tibet,

Discovery of Paleoproterozoic rapakivi granite on the northern margin of the Yangtze block and its geological significance

The Huashanguan rapakivi pluton in Zhongxiang,Hubei Province,China,is the first discovered Proterozoic rapakivi pluton in the Yangtze block.Based on field and petrographical observations,a typical rapakivi texture was found in the northern portion of the Huashanguan granitic pluton.Almost all the K-feldspar phenocrysts were round to oval in shape and most had plagioclase coatings known as rapakivi phenocrysts.Alkali feldspars and quartz had two or more generations.Petrochemically,the Huashanguan rapakivi granites were characterized as having high values of Si,K,Fe,Th,U,La,Ga,Ce,Sm and LREE,low values of Ca,Mg,Sr,Nb,Y and HREE,and a negative Eu anomaly.These geochemical characteristics of the Huashanguan granites were concordant with typical rapakivi granites,and had an affinity to A-type granites.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating also was conducted.The dating yielded a 207Pb/206Pb weighted mean age of 1851±18 Ma (MSWD =1.2),which represents the age of the pluton emplacement.The age of 803±170 Ma at the lower intercept in the concordia diagram corresponds to the age of a later deformation event which affected the pluton,and suggests that the Huashanguan pluton was influenced by Neoproterozoic thermo-tectonic events after its formation.The discovery of Paleoproterozoic Huashanguan rapakivi granites indicates continental rifting or a post-orogenic extensional event that took place in the Paleoproterozoic in the Yangtze block.These events may be related to the breakup of the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent.

The latest Yanshanian magmatic and metallogenic events in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt: Evidence from the Ningzhen region

The Ningzhen region in Jiangsu Province represents the easternmost magmatic region in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt.The formation of the polymetallic deposits has close genetic relationships with Early Cretaceous intermediate-acid intrusions.In this study,LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology of two Mesozoic intermediate-acid intrusive rocks(including the Shima porphyritic granodiorite and Gaozi quartz diorite porphyry)in the Ningzhen region were systematically investigated.These new geochronological data demonstrate that the intermediate-acid magmatism in the Ningzhen region dates to approximately between 109 and101 Ma.We present new40Ar-39Ar phlogopite ages for the Cishantou skarn iron deposits that constrain the timing of the mineralisation in the Ningzhen region.The phlogopite in the Cishantou skarn deposits yielded a40Ar-39Ar plateau age of 104±1 Ma.This result coincides with the ages of the Anjishan and Tongshan Cu(Mo)deposits in the Ningzhen region.Our high-precision geochronological data together with recent high-precision geochronological studies(such as zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb,molybdenite Re-Os and single-mineral40Ar-39Ar dates)reveal that there were four periods(152-135 Ma,135-127 Ma,127-121 Ma,109-101 Ma)of magmatism and ore formation in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.The Mesozoic intermediate-acid magmatism and mineralisation in the Ningzhen region belong to the latest episode in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.

Silurian A-type granitoids in the southern margin of the Tongbai-Dabieshan: Evidence from SHRIMP zircon geochronology and geochemistry

SHRIMP U-Pb dating on magmatic zircons extracted from a riebeckite quartz syenite in the Huangyangshan pluton in Suizhou,the southern margin of Tongbai-Dabieshan yielded an age of 439±6Ma.According to the morphology and high Th/U ratios of the zircons,the age is interpreted as crystallization timing of the pluton.The Huangyangshan pluton is composed of peralkaline quartz syenite,alkaline granite and syenite.All of the rocks are characterized by high agpaitic index(A.I.=(Na+K)/Al,molar ratio)and Fe-number[FeO_(T)/(FeO_(T)+MgO)],low CaO and MgO contents,enrichment of high field strength elements(i.e.Nb,Zr,Ga,Y,Hf)and light REEs,evidently negative Eu anomalies and high Ga/Al ratios,which are consistent with anorogenic A-type granitoids.Being part of the South Qinling-South Dabieshan Paleozoic alkaline rock belt,the Huangyangshan A-type granitoid pluton results from the Paleozoic extension-initial rifting in the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton related to the opening of the eastern Paleo-Tethyan Ocean.

Deformation features of garnet-bearing granites from Huwan,western Dabie Mountains

Foliated garnet-bearing granite,usually associated with high pressure and ultrahigh-pressure(UHP) metamophic rocks,is a particular rock-type extensively exposed in the Mesozoic Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of China.This study focuses on deformation features and SHRIMP zircon dating of foliated garnet granite in a high-pressure metamorphic unit from Huwan,western Dabie Mountains in order to resolve discrepancies in current versions of its petrogenesis and structural evolution.SHRIMP dating reveals a zircon age of 762 ± 15 Ma(MSWD=1.7) for Huwan granites,representing the Middle to Late Neoproterozoic age of intrusion and crystallization.Field and microstructural studies show that the Huwan granite body underwent multiple-stage deformation.The deformation was manifested by an early stage of rootless folding and imposition of relict foliation(S1);an Indosinian main stage marked by imposition of north-dipping penetrative gneissosity(S2) and development of ductile shear zones under NNE-SSW directed compression;and a final Indosinian stage of southward thrusting of the Huwan high-pressure unit.Shallow level extension prevailed after the Late Triassic,giving rise to south-dipping thrust faults and north-dipping normal faults.