P-T-t Path of Mafic Granulite Metamorphism in Northern Tibet and Its Geodynamical Implications

Mafic granulites have been found as structural lenses within the huge thrust system outcropping about 10 km west of Nam Co of the northern Lhasa Terrane, Tibetan Plateau. Petrological evidence from these rocks indicates four distinct metamorphic assemblages. The early metamorphic assemblage (M1) is preserved only in the granulites and represented by plagioclase+hornblende inclusions within the cores of garnet porphyroblasts. The peak assemblage (M2) consists of garnet+clinopyroxene+hornblende+plagioclase in the mafic granulites. The peak metamorphism was followed by near-isothermal decompression (M3), which resulted in the development of hornblende+plagioclase symplectites surrounding embayed garnet porphyroblasts, and decompression-cooling (M4) is represented by minerals of hornblende+plagioclase recrystallized during mylonization. The peak (M2) P-T conditions of garnet+ clinopyroxene+plagioclase+hornblende were estimated at 769-905℃ and 0.86-1.02 GPa based on the geothermometers and geobarometers. The P-T conditions of plagioclase+hornblende symplectites (M3) were estimated at 720-800℃ and 0.55-0.68 GPa, and recrystallized hornblende+plagioclase (M4) at 594-708℃ and 0.26-0.47 GPa. It is impossible to estimate the P-T conditions of the early metamorphic assemblage (M1) because of the absence of modal minerals. The combination of petrographic textures, metamorphic reaction history, thermobarometric data and corresponding isotopic ages defines a clockwise near-isothermal decompression metamorphic path, suggesting that the mafic granulites had undergone initial crustal thickening, subsequent exhumation, and cooling and retrogression. This tectonothermal path is considered to record two major phases of collision which resulted in both the assemblage of Gondwanaland during the Pan-African orogeny at 531 Ma and the collision of the Qiangtang and Lhasa Terranes at 174 Ma, respectively.

Metamorphism and geochronology of garnet amphibolite from the Beishan Orogen,southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Constraints from P-T path and zircon U-Pb dating

Numerous lenses of garnet amphibolite occur in the garnet-bearing biotite-plagioclase gneiss belt in the Baishan area of the Beishan Orogen,which connects the Tianshan Orogen to the west and the Mongolia-Xing’anling Orogen to the east.The study of metamorphism in Beishan area is of great significance to explain the tectonic evolution of Beishan orogen.According to the microstructures,mineral relationships,and geothermobarometry,we identified four stages of mineral assemblages from the garnet amphibolite sample:(1) a pre-peak stage,which is recorded by the cores of garnet together with core-inclusions of plagioclase(Pl1);(2) a peak stage,which is recorded by the mantles of garnet together with mantle-inclusions of plagioclase(Pl2)+amphibole(Amp1)+Ilmenite(Ilm1)+biotite(Bt1),developed at temperature-pressure(P-T) conditions of 818.9-836.5℃ and7.3-9.2 kbar;(3) a retrograde stage,which is recorded by garnet rims + plagioclase(Pl3)+amphibole(Amp2)+orthopyroxene(Opx1)+biotite(Bt2)+Ilmenite(Ilm2),developed at P-T conditions of 796.1-836.9℃ and5.6-7.5 kbar;(4) a symplectitic stage,which is recorded by plagioclase(Pl4)+orthopyroxene(Opx2)+amphibole(Amp3)+biotite(Bt3) symplectites,developed at P-T conditions of 732 ±59.6℃ and 6.1 ±0.6 kbar.Moreover,the U-Pb dating of the Beishan garnet amphibolite indicates an age of 301.9 ±4.7 Ma for the protolith and 281.4±8.5 Ma for the peak metamorphic age.Therefore,the mineral assemblage,P-T conditions,and zircon U-Pb ages of the Beishan garnet amphibolite define a near-isothermal decompression of a clockwise P-T-t(Pressure-Temperature-time) path,indicating the presence of over thickened continental crust in the Huaniushan arc until the Early Permian,then the southern Beishan area underwent a process of thinning of the continental crust.

密云杂岩西段等压冷却P－T－t轨迹确定及地球动力学成因

非平衡结构代表的变质反应性质和多种矿物地质温压计的研究表明，北京太古宙密云杂岩西段第二期区域变质作用的退变质Ｐ－Ｔ轨迹具等压冷却特点。Ｓｍ－Ｎｄ同位素定年显示，区内广泛发育的石榴石冠状体形成于（１７１７±３４）Ｍａ。初步分析认为，Ｐ－Ｔ－ｔ轨迹的地球动力学成因可与吕梁运动期间华北地台裂谷作用和同构造壳下岩浆增生的演化背景相联系。

新疆西南天山木扎尔特一带低压麻粒岩相变质作用P-T轨迹及其地质意义

本文首次报道在新疆西南天山木扎尔特一带发现了二辉石麻粒岩和麻粒岩相变质的堇青石榴矽线石片麻岩。二辉石麻粒岩的矿物组合为单斜辉石-斜方辉石-黑云母-角闪石-斜长石-石英。堇青石榴矽线石片麻岩矿物组合为堇青石-矽线石-石榴石-黑云母-斜长石-石英。岩石学和矿物学特征表明它们是典型的低压麻粒岩相变质岩石,其变质作用经历了两期演化:a.峰期麻粒岩相变质,T=681～705℃,P=5.4～5.8kbar;b.峰后角闪岩相遇变阶段,T=571～637℃,P=4.7～5.3kbar。其变质作用P-T轨迹具有逆时针近等压降温(IBC)的特点,代表该地区可能为塔里木板块向伊犁-中天山板块俯冲过程中,在陆壳一侧所产生的陆源岩浆弧区域,由于受到下部岩浆热源的影响,在拉伸环境下出现低压麻粒岩相变质。通过分析低压麻粒岩相岩石与其南部高压-超高压变质带的大地构造位置和年代关系,我们认为该地区的低压麻粒岩相变质岩石可能与其南部的西天山高压-超高压变质带组成了双变质带。

The Himalayan Collisional Orogeny:A Metamorphic Perspective

This paper introduces how crustal thickening controls the growth of the Himalaya by summarizing the P-T-t evolution of the Himalayan metamorphic core.The Himalayan orogeny was divided into three stages.Stage 60–40 Ma:The Himalayan crust thickened to~40 km through Barrovian-type metamorphism(15–25°C/km),and the Himalaya rose from<0 to~1000 m.Stage 40–16 Ma:The crust gradually thickened to 60–70 km,resulting in abundant high-grade metamorphism and anatexis(peak-P,15–25°C/km;peak-T,>30°C/km).The three sub-sheets in the Himalayan metamorphic core extruded southward sequentially through imbricate thrusts of the Eo-Himalayan thrust,High Himalayan thrust,and Main Central thrust,and the Himalaya rose to≥5,000 m.Stage 16–0 Ma:the mountain roots underwent localized delamination,causing asthenospheric upwelling and overprinting of the lower crust by ultra-high-temperature metamorphism(30–50°C/km),and the Himalaya reached the present elevation of~6,000 m.Underplating and imbricate thrusting dominated the Himalaya’growth and topographic rise,conforming to the critical taper wedge model.Localized delamination of mountain roots facilitated further topographic rise.Future Himalayan metamorphic studies should focus on extreme metamorphism and major collisional events,contact metamorphism and rare metal mineralization,metamorphic decarbonation and the carbon cycle in collisional belts.

Metamorphic P-T-t Path of UHT Granulites from the North Tongbai Orogen, Central China

Although zircon U-Pb geochronometer has been widely used for dating metamorphism in moderate- to high-grade metamorphic rocks, it is still difficult to link the zircon U-Pb age to pressure and temperature （P-T） conditions. In this study, zircon trace elements and Hf isotopes and REE partitioning between zircon and garnet are adopted to track the formation condition of zircon in the granu- lites from North Tongbai Orogen, Central China. Combined with previous metamorphic P-T path results, a quantitative integrated anticlockwise P-T-t path was established for Tongbai granulites. These grauulites recorded an early low-P heating followed by a dramatic pressure increase. Evidence for the prograde history （M1） is provided by cordierite, orthopyroxene and biotite inclusions in garnet. The prograde metamorphism occurred at around 443±3 Ma, with P-T conditions of ca. 730-820 ℃ and 〈6 kbar. The peak metamorphic （M2） condition is 〉920 ℃ and 8.5-10 kbar and the peak metamorphism age is ca. 432±4 Ma. At around 419 Ma, the granulites suffered an amphibolite-facies retrograde metamorphism （M3）, represented by the replacement of garnet by biotite and plagioclase, and clinopyroxene by amphibole, with metamorphic condition of ca. 700℃ and ca. 7 kbar. The last retrograde metamorphism （M4） is a greenschist-facies overprint with an age of ca. 404 Ma. It is concluded that the meta- morphism of Tongbai granulite lasted for more than 40 Ma, including a stage of more than 20 Ma granulitc-facies metamorphism. The prolonged granulite-facies metamorphism resulted from the continuous northward subduction of the Shangdan oceanic crust beneath the North Qinling terrane.

P-T-t path of metamorphism for the Julin Group and its geodynamical implications in Yuanmou,Yunnan

The metamorphic complex of the Julin Group occurs in the Yuanmou area of Yunnan Province on the western margin of the Yangtze Platform, and connects with the Kangdian metamorphic complex to the north. Based on the detailed petrographic observations and studies of garnet growth zoning, a P-T-t path has been reconstructed for the staurolite-kyanite zone in the Julin Group. This path is characterized by (1) a counter-clockwise evolutional trend, (2) a quicker increase of temperature than that of pressure in the initial prograde metamorphism, but slower near the peak, then temperature and pressure simultaneously reaching the peak metamorphic conditions, and (3) a slow near-isobaric cooling during the retrograde process. The P-T-t path for prograde metamorphism is closely related to magmatic accretion in the arc setting. The magmatic accretion model, metamorphism type and tectonic setting may be compared with the global Grenville tectono-metamorphic events, and related to the assembly of the Rodinia at the late Meso-proterozoic-early Neoproterozoic (~1.0 Ga). The retrograde P-T-t path shows a slow near-isobaric cooling, indicating sustained heat supplies from the upper mantle and no rapid erosion. This heat source may be originated from the Neoproterozoic (~0.82 Ga) breakup of the Rodinia.

Metamorphic petrology and geology in China:A review

The development of metamorphic petrology to metamorphic geology in China has a long history.Ancient basement metamorphic rocks are distributed primarily in the North China Craton,the Yangtze Block and Tarim Craton.They are mainly made up of plutonic gneiss and metamorphosed supercrust rock,transformed to granulite facies through Archean Paleoproterozoic.Many of the Paleoproterozoic metamorphic rocks have undergone high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism with a clockwise metamorphic evolution path.The ultrahigh temperature (UHT)granulites from the Late Paleoproterozoic are found in North China Craton.Many high-precision chronological data have allowed preliminary construction of the formation and evolutionary framework of different metamorphic basements.Primarily there are low-temperature and high-pressure blue schist,high-temperature and high-pressure granulite and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP)eclogite facies metamorphic rocks in the Phanerozoic orogenic belt.The discovery of eclogite in the Sulu orogen and a large quantity of coesite in its country rocks show that there was a deep subduction of voluminous continental materials during the collision process between the Yangtze block and the North China Craton in the Early Mesozoic phase.From the studies of,for instance,organic matter vitrinite reflectance,illite crystallinity,illite (muscovite)polytype and illite (muscovite)b dimension,the Late Paleozoic strata in the eastern region of Inner Mongolia and the north-central region of NE China have only experienced diagenesis to an extremely low-grade metamorphism.The discovery of impact-metamorphosed rocks in Xiuyan area of Liaoning province has enriched the type and category of metamorphic rocks in China.The phase equilibrium method has been widely used in the study of metamorphism of middle and high-grade metamorphic rocks.On the basis of existing geologic surveys and monographic study results, different scholars have respectively compiled 1:1500000 Metamorphic Geological Map and Specifications of Qinghai Tibet Plateau and its Adjacent Areas,1:2500000 Metamorphic Tectonic Map of China, and the 1:5000000 Metamorphic Geological Map and Specifications of China,among others repectively, which have systematically summarized the research results of metamorphic petrology and metamorphic geology in China.

Evidence for Mesoproterozoic collision,deep burial and rapid exhumation of garbenschiefer in the Namaqua Front,South Africa

Metamorphic provinces such as the^1 Ga Grenvillian,~400 Ma Caledonide and Triassic Qinling Provinces often contain rocks with high-pressure assemblages such as eclogites,which formed at mantle depths in subduction zones.These are evidence of the accretion of terranes by subduction of oceans and collision to form large tectonostratigraphic provinces.The Mesoproterozoic Namaqua-Natal Province comprises a number of terranes thought to have been assembled by plate-tectonic processes,but they have generally yielded metamorphic pressures below 5 kbar,corresponding to<20 km,crustal depths,lacking evidence for subduction processes.The Kaaien Terrane in the Namaqua Front contains two large garbenschiefer units with the unusual paragenesis garnet-hornblende-epidote-white mica-plagioclase-ilmenite-quartz.Their protoliths are graywackes influenced by andesitic volcanism during their deposition at^1870 Ma,in a passive margin of the Rehoboth Province or Kaapvaal Craton.Prograde garnet growth dated at 1165
5 Ma culminated in peak metamorphic conditions of 645
30C and 10.4
0.7 kbar,corresponding to 40 km depth.This is attributed to subduction of these rocks before collision between the overriding arc-related Areachap Terrane,the Kaaien Terrane and the Kaapvaal-Rehoboth cratonic block during the Namaqua orogeny.Exhumation of the garbenschiefer slabs was followed by rapid cooling,as the 1143
5 Ma argon dates of hornblende and white mica,with closure temperatures^540C and^440C respectively,are the same within error.This was probably due to tectonic juxtaposition of the garbenschiefer slab with much cooler rock units.The exhumation was accommodated along the Trooilapspan-Brakbosch Shear Zone due to ongoing transpression.Other components of the Namaqua Front have distinctly different P-T-t paths,exemplified by greenschist metamorphism in the 1300 Ma Wilgenhoutsdrift Group,and medium-pressure metamorphism in the Areachap Terrane.They were juxtaposed by late-tectonic uplift and transpressional movements.The^40 km depth of garbenschiefer peak metamorphism is the deepest yet found in the Namaqua-Natal Province and strengthens the plate tectonic model of accretion by collision of terranes at the end of a Wilson cycle.The high pressure paragenesis of the garbenschiefer was preserved due to its location in the Namaqua Front,whereas most other parts of the Namaqua-Natal Province were overprinted by 1100–1020 Ma thermal events after the collision events.

Permo-Triassic high-pressure metamorphism in the central western Korean Peninsula, and its link to Paleo-Tethyan Ocean closure: Key issues revisited

Permo-Triassic high-pressure(HP) mafic granulites, together with the Bibong retrogressed eclogite,preserved along the central western Korean Peninsula provide important insights into the Late Permian to Triassic collisional orogeny in northeast Asia. The metamorphic pressureetemperatureetime(P-T-t)paths of these rocks, however, remain poorly constrained and even overestimated, owing to outdated geothermobarometers and inaccurate isopleth techniques. Here we evaluate the metamorphic Pe T conditions of Triassic HP mafic granulites including those in Baekdong, Sinri and Daepan and the Bibong Triassic retrogressed eclogite in the Hongseong area, and the Permo-Triassic Samgot mafic granulite in the Imjingang Belt of the central western Korean Peninsula through the application of modern phase equilibria techniques. The Baekdong and Samgot mafic granulites and the Bibong retrogressed eclogite yield a range of 12.0 -16.0 kbar and 800 -900℃, representing HP granulite facies conditions. The Sinri and Daepan granulites from the Hongseong area show relatively lower grade metamorphic conditions between HP granulite and normal granulite facies, and are characterized by sub-isothermal decompression during exhumation. The similarities in the metamorphic ages and the post-collisional igneous activity from the central western Korean Peninsula indicate that the Triassic ages represent the retrograde stage of the metamorphic Pe T paths. In contrast, the Late Permian metamorphic ages, which are older than protolith ages of the post-collisional igneous rocks, correspond to the possible prograde stage of metamorphism. The P-T-t paths presented in this paper, together with the metamorphic ages and post-orogenic igneous events reported from these areas suggest trace of the subduction, accretion and exhumation history, and indicate a tectonic linkage among the northeast Asian continents during the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean closure.

Re-evaluating monazite as a record of metamorphic reactions

This study presents a re-examination of historical specimens(DG136 and DG167)from the Monashee complex in the southeastern Canadian Cordillera that are critical to the current understanding of rare earth element(REE)distribution between garnet and monazite(and other accessory minerals)during metamorphism.Nine-hundred and fifty-one new monazite petrochronology spot analyses on 29 different grains across two specimens outline detailed(re)crystallization histories.Trace element data collected from the same ablated volume,interpreted in the context of new phase equilibria modelling that includes monazite,xenotime and apatite,link ages to specific portions of the pressure-temperature(P-T)paths followed by the specimens.These linkages are further informed by garnet Lu-Hf geochronology and xenotime petrochronology.The clockwise P-T paths indicate prograde metamorphism was ongoing by ca.80 Ma in both specimens.The structurally deeper specimen,DG136,records peak P-T conditions of~755-770℃and 8.8-10.4 kbar,interpreted to coincide with(re-)crystallization of low Y monazite at~75-70 Ma.Near-rim garnet isopleths from DG167 cross in the observed peak assemblage field at~680℃ and 9.3 kbar.These conditions are interpreted to correspond with low Y monazite(re-)crystallisation at~65 Ma.Both specimens record decompression along their retrograde path coincident with high Y 70-55 Ma and 65-55 Ma monazite populations in DG136 and DG167,respectively.These findings broadly agree with those initially reported~20 years ago and confirm early interpretations using trace elements in monazite as generally reliable markers of metamorphic reactions.Modern phase equilibria modelling and in situ petrochronological analysis,however,provide additional insight into monazite behaviour during anatexis and the effects of potential trace element buffering by REE-bearing phases such as apatite.

Petrological study of the western Iratsu mass from the Sambagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan

The western Iratsu mass, the largest tectonic body in the Sambagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, is mainly composed of epidote amphibolite with minor amounts of eclogite. Systematically, a majority of garnets show bell-shaped chemical zoning of pyrope contents and Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) monotonously increasing outward. The grossular component in zonal garnet increases outwards, maximizes at an intermediate part, and then decreases towards the outermost rim, reflecting a process from increasing to decreasing pressure conditions during the prograde metamorphism. Jadeite contents of omphacite range from 25～20mole% within the cores to 15～10 mole% at the rims, implying a pressure-decreasing process (from 11 × 105 Pa to 8 × 105 Pa). The peak pressure-temperature (P-T) condition of 630～680 ℃ and ca. 15× 105 Pa in the western Iratsu mass is much higher than that of (610±25) ℃ and (10± 1)× 105 Pa of the Sambagawa oligoclase-biotite zone schists. The authors suggest a clockwise P-T-t path for the western Iratsu mass.

Tectonic implication of UHP rocks from the Dabie Mountains

Petrological, mineralogical, isochronological data accumulated in the last 4 years are summarized. The variations of lithology and protolith. as well as block-in-matrix structure of UHP (uHrahigh-pressure) rocks imply a metamorphic melange. Clockwise P-T paths of UHP rocks indicate that their formation and exhumation are related to collisional orogeny. Isochronological data indicate that the peak UHP metamorphism was during the Middle-Late Triassic. The exhumation rates, estimated according to P-T-t paths, show a multiple exhumation stages, with a high exhumation rate (3.3-3.6 mm/a) in the Middle-Late Triassic, a lower rate (0.7-1.1 mm/a) in the Early Jurassic, and a very low rate (0.15 mm/a) in the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. With these constraints, a hypothetical cross-section of the Dabie orogenic belt is constructed.

Multistage exhumation and partial melting of high-T ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in continental subduction-collision zones

High-temperature(HT, >850℃) metamorphism in continental collision orogens, particularly for those ultrahigh-pressure(UHP) metamorphic rocks, has become one of the remarkable topics in Earth science. It has bearing on the element and isotope behaviors of UHP rocks, their partial melting and related geodynamic effects during exhumation. In this paper, five representative continental collision orogens with typical HT/UHP rocks, including the Dabie orogen in China, the Kokchetav in Kazakhstan, the Caledonides in Greenland, the Rhodope in Greece, and the Erzgebirge in Germany are introduced, and their HT/UHP metamorphism and evolution processes are summarized. In addition, metamorphic P-T-t paths, multistage exhumation processes, and partial melting and preservation and retrogression of UHP index minerals during exhumation and their possible mechanisms are discussed. On this basis, the forthcoming key fields and scientific subjects of HT/UHP rocks within continental subduction channel are proposed.

Jadeitic rocks within high pressure metamorphic zone from northeastern Jiangxi Province and their forming and surviving conditions

There is a close relation in time, space and origin between the NEJXO, NEJXDFZ and HPMZ from NEJXP which are located in and constrained by both Yangtze Craton and Cathaysia. These HPMRs principally include (i) Jd-Q-Ab schist, (ii) Lw-Jd-Ab schist, (iii) Jd-Ab schist, and (iv) Gl-schist. The Jd is nearly pure (Jd91-98). Jd surrounded by Ab is separated from Q and survived due to the reaction between Jd and Q, while Lw encircled by Ab remains as a pseudomorph composed of CZo+ An. The minerals associated with Jd are Lw, Gl, Ab, Q, CZo, An, Pa, Il, Ru, Sp, Ap, and Zr. According to the textures, the mineral paragenesis is classified into four groups (i) Pl-Am-Q, (ii) Jd-Lw-Gl-Q. (iii) CZo-An-Ab-Q, (iv) Ab-Ana-Ser-Ur, corresponding to (i) 1.0-0.93 Ga, 250℃, 2-3×10 8Pa; (ii) 0.93-0.79 Ga, 300-350℃, 5-12×10 8 Pa; (iii) 0.79-0.223 Ga, 350-400-120℃ , 12-5-3×10 8 Pa; and (iv)<0.223 Ga, < 120-50℃ , <3×108 Pa, in time, temperature and pressure respectively. Aclockwise P-T-t path is isothermal increasing in P (up to 45 km)-isothermal decreasing in P (up to 5 km)-nearly isobar decreasing in T.

Inhomogeneity of the lithosphere of the Tibetan Plateau and implications for geodynamics

This paper discusses inhomogeneity in structure of the present lithosphere underneath the Tibetan Plateau, and deduces the P-T-t paths and deep processes during the orogenic process of post India-Asia collision through revealing the nature and sequence of geological events. A three-stage-evolution model for tectonic phases of the Tibetan Plateau has been presented. It is suggested that the formation of Parmirs-type of cool lithosphere roots represents the early phase; Nianqingtanggula-type of thinned lithosphere roots, the middle phase; and Qiangtang-type of "warm" lithosphere roots (formed by cooling of the asthenosphere), the late phase.

Exhumation of deeply subducted crust:Review and outlook

The discovery of ultrahigh-pressure(UHP)index minerals such as coesite and micro-diamond in supracrustal rocks indicate that a large amount of crustal rocks were subducted to mantle depths and subsequently returned to the Earth’s surface.However,exhumation mechanism of the deeply subducted crustal rocks has been a hot topic in geodynamic community and remains controversial.Previous studies have been performed by petrologic observations,analogue experiments and numerical simulations for exhumation processes and mechanisms of deeply subducted crustal rocks,and a series of important results have been achieved.In this paper,we summerize in detail recent progresses and existing problems on types of subduction zones,exhumation processes and mechanisms of deeply subducted crustal rocks,and related factors.Based on these,three forthcoming prospects are presented:(1)The geological processes within the exhuming crust;(2)the interaction between the exhuming crust and the surface process;(3)the interaction between the exhuming crust and the mantle.