The boring billion? - Lid tectonics, continental growth and environmental change associated with the Columbia supercontinent

The evolution of Earth＇s biosphere,atmosphere and hydrosphere is tied to the formation of continental crust and its subsequent movements on tectonic plates.The supercontinent cycle posits that the continental crust is periodically amalgamated into a single landmass,subsequently breaking up and dispersing into various continental fragments.Columbia is possibly the first true supercontinent,it amalgamated during the 2.0-1.7 Ga period,and collisional orogenesis resulting from its formation peaked at 1.95-1.85 Ga.Geological and palaeomagnetic evidence indicate that Columbia remained as a quasi-integral continental lid until at least 1.3 Ga.Numerous break-up attempts are evidenced by dyke swarms with a large temporal and spatial range; however,palaeomagnetic and geologic evidence suggest these attempts remained unsuccessful.Rather than dispersing into continental fragments,the Columbia supercontinent underwent only minor modifications to form the next supercontinent （Rodinia） at 1.1 -0.9 Ga; these included the transformation of external accretionary belts into the internal Grenville and equivalent collisional belts.Although Columbia provides evidence for a form of ‘lid tectonics’,modern style plate tectonics occurred on its periphery in the form of accretionary orogens.The detrital zircon and preserved geological record are compatible with an increase in the volume of continental crust during Columbia＇s lifespan; this is a consequence of the continuous accretionary processes along its margins.The quiescence in plate tectonic movements during Columbia＇s lifespan is correlative with a long period of stability in Earth＇s atmospheric and oceanic chemistry.Increased variability starting at 1.3 Ga in the environmental record coincides with the transformation of Columbia to Rodinia; thus,the link between plate tectonics and environmental change is strengthened with this interpretation of supercontinent history.

Secular change in lifetime of granitic crust and the continental growth: A new view from detrital zircon ages of sandstones

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons were newly dated for 4 Archean sandstones from the Pilbara craton in Australia, Wyoming craton in North America, and Kaapvaal craton in Africa. By using the present results with previously published data, we compiled the age spectra of detrital zircons for 2.9, 2.6, 2.3,1.0, and0.6 Ga sandstones and modern river sands in order to document the secular change in age structure of continental crusts through time. The results demonstrated the following episodes in the history of continental crust：（1） low growth rate of the continents due to the short cycle in production/destruction of granitic crust during the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic（2.9-23 Ga）,（2） net increase in volume of the continents during Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic（2.3-1.0 Ga）, and（3） net decrease in volume of the continents during the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic（after 1.0 Ga）. In the Archean and Paleoproterozoic, the embryonic continents were smaller than the modern continents, probably owing to the relatively rapid production and destruction of continental crust. This is indeed reflected in the heterogeneous crustal age structure of modern continents that usually have relatively small amount of Archean crusts with respect to the post-Archean ones. During the Mesoproterozoic, plural continents amalgamated into larger ones comparable to modern continental blocks in size. Relatively older crusts were preserved in continental interiors, whereas younger crusts were accreted along continental peripheries.In addition to continental arc magmatism, the direct accretion of intra-oceanic island arc around continental peripheries also became important for net continental growth. Since 1.0 Ga, total volume of continents has decreased, and this appears consistent with on-going phenomena along modern active arc-trench system with dominant tectonic erosion and/or arc subduction. Subduction of a huge amount of granitic crusts into the mantle through time is suggested, and this requires re-consideration of the mantle composition and heterogeneity.

Late Neoarchean crustal growth under paired continental arc-back arc system in the North China Craton

The late Archean(~3.0-2.5 Ga)was a key period of continental growth globally,which is widely considered to reflect the onset of vigorous plate tectonic activity,although related continental growth modes remain contentious.Here we investigate a suite of late Neoarchean metavolcanic rocks from the southwest Qixia area of the Jiaobei terrane in the North China Craton.The rocks in this suite include amphibolites,clinopyroxene amphibolites,and hornblende plagioclase gneisses.We present zircon U-Pb isotopic data which indicate that the protoliths of these rocks formed during~2549-2511 Ma.The(clinopyroxene)amphibolites correspond to meta-basaltic rocks,with some containing high modal content of titanite.These rocks show moderate to high FeO_(T)(8.96-13.62 wt.%)and TiO_(2)(0.59-1.59 wt.%),flat to less fractionated REE patterns,and mildly negative Th,Nb,and Ta anomalies,resembling those of Fe-tholeiites.In addition,they display positive zirconε_(Hf)(t)values(+2.6 to+8.7),and are devoid of crustal contamination or fractional crystallization.Combined with the low Nb/Yb(mostly<1.60)and(Hf/Sm)_N(mostly<0.95),low to moderate Th/Yb(0.08-0.54),and low V/Sc(5.53-9.19)ratios,these basaltic rocks are interpreted to have been derived from a relatively reduced and depleted mantle source that was mildly metasomatized by hydrous fluids.The hornblende plagioclase gneisses are meta-andesitic rocks,and occur interlayered with the basaltic rocks.They are transitional between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline rock series,and show fractionated REE patterns with evidently negative Th,Nb,and Ta anomalies.The depleted zirconε_(Hf)(t)values(+2.4 to+8.4)and quantitative chemical modeling suggest that the andesitic rocks were most likely generated by injection and mixing of juvenile felsic magmas with the tholeiitic basaltic magmas.In general,the chemical features and genesis of late Neoarchean meta-basaltic rocks in our study area resemble those of Mariana back-arc basin basalts.Combined with regional geological data,it is proposed that the Jiaobei terrane witnessed late Neoarchean crustal growth under a paired continental arc-back arc setting.On a regional context,we propose two distinct geodynamic mode of late Neoarchean continental growth across North China Craton(particularly the Eastern Block),i.e.,(1)arc-continent accretion along northwestern part of the Eastern Block;and(2)paired continental arc-back arc system surrounding the~3.8-2.7 Ga continental nuclei to the southeast.

Geochronology of the Guyang Granite-Greenstone Terrene and the Implications for Continental Crust Growth

The North China Craton （NCC） is the largest and oldest one among the worldwide cratons. It preserves important imprints of the Earth＇s early history, including crust formation, stabilization and reworking. The Yinshan Block （YB） constitutes the northwestern part of NCC, and contains extensive exposure of Archean rocks （Fig. 1）.

Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt in NE China

The eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)in NE China is a key area for investigating continental growth.However,the complexity of its Paleozoic geological history has meant that the tectonic development of this belt is not fully understood.NE China is composed of the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks in the northern and eastern parts and the Xing’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes in the central and southern parts.The Erguna and Jiamusi blocks have Precambrian basements with Siberia and Gondwana affinities,respectively.In contrast,the Xing’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes were formed via subduction and collision processes.These blocks and terranes were separated by the Xinlin-Xiguitu,Heilongjiang,Nenjiang,and Solonker oceans from north to south,and these oceans closed during the Cambrian(ca.500 Ma),Late Silurian(ca.420 Ma),early Late Carboniferous(ca.320 Ma),and Late Permian to Middle Triassic(260-240 Ma),respectively,forming the Xinlin-Xiguitu,Mudanjiang-Yilan,Hegenshan-Heihe,Solonker-Linxi,and Changchun-Yanji suture zones.Two oceanic tectonic cycles took place in the eastern Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO),namely,the Early Paleozoic cycle involving the Xinlin-Xiguitu and Heilongjiang oceans and the late Paleozoic cycle involving the Nenjiang-Solonker oceans.The Paleozoic tectonic pattern of the eastern CAOB generally shows structural features that trend east-west.The timing of accretion and collision events of the eastern CAOB during the Paleozoic youngs progressively from north to south.The branch ocean basins of the eastern PAO closed from west to east in a scissor-like manner.A bi-directional subduction regime dominated during the narrowing and closure process of the eastern PAO,which led to“soft collision”of tectonic units on each side,forming huge accretionary orogenic belts in central Asia.

Building of Arc Crust during Closure of the Paleo Asian Ocean, Implications from Arc-root Mafic-Ultramafic Suite in the East Tianshan, NW China

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is a major site of juvenile continental growth(Sengor et al.,1993).This belt incorporates oceanic,intraoceanic and continental margin arc terranes as well as numerous fragments of Precambrian microcontinents and collisional and post-collisional complexes(Kroner et al.,2017).

Do Supercontinent-Superplume Cycles Control the Growth and Evolution of Continental Crust?

The evolution of continental crust can be directly linked to the first-order supercontinent-superplume cycles.We demonstrate that:(1)a mantle-like oxygen isotopic signature is not a diagnostic feature for distinguishing crustal addition from the reworking of pre-existing continental crust;(2)juvenile continental crust shows a wide range of whole-rock Hf isotopic compositions throughout Earth's history;and(3)detrital zircon Hf model ages cannot reliably determine the growth of continental crust.Thus,the wide use of zircon Hf model ages,based on zircon grains with mantle-like oxygen isotopes,is inappropriate for estimating the timing of continental crustal generation.Based on an analysis of global Hf and O isotope and zircon age databases,we argue that the actual U-Pb crystallization ages of juvenile zircon grains provide the best opportunity to unravel crustal growth through time and to test its relationship with supercontinent-superplume cycles.Furthermore,when the Hf isotopes of these juvenile grains plot within the field of juvenile continental crust,they correlate well with times of global mantle depletion as recorded by Os and He isotopes,plume activity as recorded by LIP events,and periods of crustal growth and the breakup of supercontinents.In contrast,zircon grains crystallized from magmas that were produced by partial melting of pre-existing continental crust show U-Pb age peaks that correspond mainly to times of supercontinent assembly and crustal reworking.Detailed analysis shows the key role played by recycling of mafic crustal components in the generation of juvenile continental crust.

Decoupling between Oxygen and Radiogenic Isotopes: Evidence for Generation of Juvenile Continental Crust by Partial Melting of Subducted Oceanic Crust

There is increasing evidence indicating that melts derived from subducted oceanic crust and sediments may have played a key role in building continental crust. This mechanism predicts that juvenile arc crust should have oxygen isotope characteristics ranging from mantle-like to supracrustal, but consistent mantle-like radiogenic(Nd-Hf) isotopic signatures. Here we present in-situ zircon U-Pb dating, Hf-O isotope analyses, and whole rock major-trace element and Nd isotope analyses of a granitoid from NW India. In-situ secondary ion mass spectrometry(SIMS) zircon U-Pb dating yields a weighted mean ^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb age of 873±6 Ma for the granitoid. It displays mantle-like zircon εHf(εHf(873 Ma)= +9.3 to +10.9) and whole-rock Nd(εNd(873 Ma)= +3.5) values but supracrustal δ^(18)O values, the latter mostly varying between 9‰ and 10‰. The calculated whole-rock δ^(18)O value of 11.3‰±0.6‰ matches well with those of hydrothermally-altered pillow lavas and sheeted dykes from ophiolites. The major and trace element composition of the granitoid is similar to petrological experimental melts derived from a mixture of MORB+sediments. Thus, the granitoid most likely represents the product of partial melting of the uppermost oceanic crust(MORB+sediments). We propose that the decoupling between Hf-Nd and O isotopes as observed in this granitoid can be used as a powerful tool for the identification of slab melting contributing to juvenile continental crustal growth. Such isotopic decoupling can also account for high δ^(18)O values observed in ancient juvenile continental crust, such as Archean tonalitetrondhjemite-granodiorite suites.