The generation and evolution of the Archean continental crust:The granitoid story in southeastern Brazil

The Archean Eon was a time of geodynamic changes.Direct evidence of these transitions come from igneous/metaigneous rocks,which dominate cratonic segments worldwide.New data for granitoids from an Archean basement inlier related to the Southern S?o Francisco Craton(SSFC),are integrated with geochronological,isotopic and geochemical data on Archean granitoids from the SSFC.The rocks are divided into three main geochemical groups with different ages:(1)TTG(3.02–2.77 Ga);(2)mediumto high-K granitoids(2.85–2.72 Ga);and(3)A-type granites(2.7–2.6 Ga).The juvenile to chondritic(Hf-Nd isotopes)TTG were divided into two sub-groups,TTG 1(low-HREE)and 2(high-HREE),derived from partial melting of metamafic rocks similar to those from adjacent greenstone belts.The compositional diversity within the TTG is attributed to different pressures during partial melting,supported by a positive correlation of Dy/Yb and Sr/Zr,and batch melting calculations.The proposed TTG sources are geochemically similar to basaltic rocks from modern island-arcs,indicating the presence of subduction processes concomitant with TTG emplacement.From~2.85 Ga to 2.70 Ga,the dominant rocks were K-rich granitoids.These are modeled as crustal melts of TTG,during regional metamorphism indicative of crustal thickening.Their compositional diversity is linked to:(i)differences in source composition;(ii)distinct melt fractions during partial melting;and(iii)different residual mineralogies reflecting varying P–T conditions.Post-collisional(~2.7–2.6 Ga)A-type granites reflect rifting in that they were closely followed by extension-related dyke swarms,and they are interpreted as differentiation or partial melting products of magmas derived from subduction-modified mantle.The sequence of granitoid emplacement indicates subduction-related magmatism was followed by crustal thickening,regional metamorphism and crustal melting,and post-collisional extension,similar to that seen in younger Wilson Cycles.It is compelling evidence that plate tectonics was active in this segment of Brazil from~3 Ga.

Isotopic and geochemical constraints for a Paleoproterozoic accretionary orogen in the Borborema Province,NE Brazil:Implications for reconstructing Nuna/Columbia

The Alto MoxotóTerrane of the Borborema Province presents a wide exposure of Paleoproterozoic crust,but unlike other continental blocks of South America,its orogenic history is strongly obliterated by late Neoproterozoic deformation.New isotopic and geochemical studies were conducted in mafic-ultramafic(Fazenda Carmo Suite)and granitic-gneissic rocks(Riacho do Navio Suite)within the terrane.The former present zircon U-Pb crystallization ages at ca.2.13 Ga,whereas Sm-Nd data suggests a juvenile origin via melting of early Paleoproterozoic to Archean peridotitic sources.Geochemical data for these rocks are compatible with tholeiitic magmas with some degree of crustal contamination and trace element distribution points to a continental-arc related setting interpreted as remnants of the early stages of subduction.In contrast,the Riacho do Navio Suite was emplaced at ca.2.08 Ga and has highly negativeεNd(t)values indicating crustal reworking.The suite displays calc-alkali to alkali-calcic and ferroan geochemical signatures compatible with Cordilleran magmas.In addition,trace-element distribution as well as discriminant diagrams suggest that the precursor magmas were generated during the later stages of a continental arc or in a syn-collisional setting.Based on our results,we suggest that the studied units might represent missing pieces of a Paleoproterozoic accretionary orogen that formed the crustal framework of the Alto MoxotóTerrane,and that this represents a block associated with assembly of the Nuna/Columbia supercontinent,which is now largely hidden within the Neoproterozoic orogenic belts of West Gondwana.

A Laurentian affinity for the Embu Terrane,Ribeira Belt(SE Brazil),revealed by zircon provenance statistical analysis

New and compiled detrital zircon U-Pb ages from the southern Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Ribeira Belt,SE Brazil,demonstrate Laurentian affinity of the Embu Terrane which is statistically distinct from the adjoining Apiaíand São Roque terranes with cratonic affinity(e.g.,São Francisco Craton).Zircon provenance results indicate that the type-area of the Embu Terrane is dominated by detrital zircon age modes at ca.1200 Ma,1400 Ma,and 1800 Ma,with maximum depositional age of ca.1000 Ma.In contrast,the Apiaíand São Roque terranes are dominated by Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon ages(ca.2200-2000 Ma age dominant component),with maximum depositional ages of ca.1400 Ma and 1750 Ma,respectively.Multidimensional scaling(MDS)analysis of non-parametric similarity measurements on zircon age populations indicates for the first time that the Embu Terrane encompass two statistically distinct detrital zircon age spectra,which is also reflected in the metamorphic zircon age record.The statistical characterization of the Embu Terrane through populational metrics allow a quantitative comparison with surrounding tectonic domains and rock samples classified such as Embu-type.Our results clearly highlight the distinction between the statistically differentiated Embu Terrane from the Apiaíand São Roque terranes,supporting an allochthonous interpretation.In addition,we demonstrate that rocks samples previously classified as Embu-type are significantly dissimilar to the definition of Embu Terrane,failing to support alternative tectonic models(e.g.,intracontinental evolution).Detrital zircon age spectra reveal that the Apiaíand São Roque terranes have similar zircon provenance to domains sourced from the São Francisco Craton,whereas detrital zircon populations from the Embu Terrane have greater affinity with SW Laurentia basins(and their inferred sediment sources),consistent with previous findings.Therefore,we interpret the Embu Terrane as a Rodinia descendant developed along the active margin of the SW Laurentia that collided with the Ribeira Belt during early Neoproterozoic(810-760 Ma).

Trace metal dynamics in an industrialized Brazilian river:A combined application of Zn isotopes,geochemical partitioning,and multivariate statistics

The Paraiba do Sul(PSR)and Guandu Rivers(GR)water diversion system(120 km long)is located in the main industrial pole of Brazil and supplies drinking water for 9.4 million people in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.This study aims to discern the trace metals dynamics in this complex aquatic system.We used a combined approach of geochemical tools such as geochemical partitioning,Zn isotopes signatures,and multivariate statistics.Zinc and Pb concentrations in Suspended Particulate Matter(SPM)and sediments were considerably higher in some sites.The sediment partition of As,Cr,and Cu revealed the residual fraction(F4)as the main fraction for these elements,indicating low mobility.Zinc and Pb were mostly associated with the exchangeable/carbonate(F1)and the reducible(F2)fractions,respectively,implying a higher susceptibility of these elements to being released from sediments.Zinc isotopic compositions of sediments and SPM fell in a binary mixing source process between lithogenic(δ^(66/64)Zn_(JMC)≈+0.30‰)and anthropogenic(δ^(66/64)Zn_(JMC)≈+0.15‰)end members.The lighterδ^(66/64)Zn_(JMC)values accompanied by high Zn concentrations in exchangeable/carbonate fraction(ZnF1)enable the tracking of Zn anthropogenic sources in the studied rivers.Overall,the results indicated that Hg,Pb,and Zn had a dominant anthropogenic origin linked to the industrial activities,while As,Cr,and Cu were mainly associated with lithogenic sources.This work demonstrates how integrating geochemical tools is valuable for assessing geochemical processes and mixing source effects in anthropized river watersheds.