Petrogenesis of the~1.94 Ga Meta-gabbronorites in Liangcheng:Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Khondalite Belt,North China Craton

We investigated the meta-gabbronorites in Liangcheng and used detailed petrography,geochemistry,zircon geochronological and in-situ Hf isotopic studies to clarify their formation and metamorphic ages,petrogenesis,tectonic setting and provide constraints on the tectonic evolution of Khondalite Belt(KB).The zircon U-Pb dating results show that the meta-gabbronorites crystallized at~1.94 Ga and were metamorphosed at~1.91–1.89 Ga.They can be subdivided into the low-Mg and high-Mg groups.The low-Mg meta-gabbronorites contain relatively lower MgO and higher SiO2 contents than high-Mg meta-gabbronorites.They are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements,depleted in high field strength elements,and exhibit positive(high-Mg meta-gabbronorites)and negative(low-Mg metagabbronorites)Sr and Eu anomalies.The zircon in-situεHf(t)of meta-gabbronorites is 0.07–4.12,with Hf model ages(TDM)of 2169–2400 Ma.The meta-gabbronorites in Liangcheng originated from the asthenospheric mantle and experienced fractional crystallization of olivine,orthopyroxene,clinopyroxene,and plagioclase.They were contaminated by the crustal rocks(mainly khondalite series)during ascent,especially for low-Mg gabbronorites.The ridge subduction is the most plausible tectonic setting for meta-gabbronorites,indicating the eastern segment of KB was in a ridge subduction setting at~1.94 Ga following an orogenic thickening event during a prolonged orogenic process.

Genetic Mechanism of Mineral Inclusions in Zircons from the Khondalite Series, Southeastern Inner Mongolia

The early Precambrian khondalite series is widely distributed in the Jining-Zhuozi-Fengzhen- Liangcheng area, southeastern Inner Mongolia. The khondalite series mainly consists of sillimanite garnet potash feldspar (or two-feldspar) gneiss and garnet biotite plagioclase gneiss. These gneissic rocks have commonly experienced granulite-facies metamorphism. In zircons separated from sillimanite garnet potash feldspar gneisses, many mineral inclusions, including Sil, Grt, Ky, Kfs, Qtz and Ap, have been identified by the Laser Raman spectroscopy. Generally, prograde metamorphic mineral inclusion assemblages such as Ky + Kfs + Qtz + Ap and Ky + Grt + Kfs + Qtz are preserved in the core of zircon, while peak granulite-facies metamorphic minerals including Sil + Grt + Kfs + Qtz and Sil + Grt + Kfs + Qtz + Ap are identified in the mantle and rim of the same zircon. However, in some zircons are only preserved the peak metamorphic minerals such as Sil + Grt + Kfs + Qtz and Sil + Grt + Kfs + Qtz + Ap from core to rim, and in others are inherited the primary cores with minor mineral inclusions of Kfs + Qtz, with peak metamorphic mineral inclusions around the inherited cores. These data indicate that the mineral assemblage evolution of sillimanite garnet potash feldspar gneisses in the study are did experience a polymorphic transformation of kyanite to sillimanite. In garnet biotite plagioclase gneisses, secondary electron microscopic images reveal that most zircons display distinct zoning textures, which comprise cores and rims, each with distinctive inclusion assemblages. The inherited mineral inclusions, mainly consisting of Kfs + Pl + Qtz, Kfs + Qtz and Kfs + Qtz + Ap, are preserved in the primary cores, while peak granulite-facies mineral asemblages, including Grt + Bt + Pl + Qtz + Ap, Grt + Bt + Pl + Qtz and Grt + Bt + Pl + Qtz + Rt, are identified on the rims. The occurrence of peak metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircons indicates that these gneissic rocks, including sillimanite garnet potash feldspar gneiss and garnet biotite plagioclase gneiss, have experienced granulite-facies metamorphism.Secondary electron microscopic images of zircons from the khondalite series display distinct zoning from core to rim, and are genetically related to the primary, prograde, and peak metamorphic mineral inclusion assemblages respectively. These images reveal irregular zoning patterns and varying thickness of cores and rims. The abundance of inclusions complicates the conventional U-Pb age dating. Therefore, the SHRIMP micro-spot U-Pb method is essential for the protolith and metamorphic age dating of the khondalite series, southeastern Inner Mongolia.

Characterization of partial melting events in garnet-cordierite gneiss from the Kerala Khondalite Belt,India

Phase equilibria modelling coupled with U–Pb zircon and monazite ages of garnet–cordierite gneiss from Vallikodu Kottayam in the Kerala Khondalite Belt,southern India are presented here.The results suggest that the area attained peak P–T conditions of^900
C at 7.5–8 kbar,followed by decompression to 3.5–5 kbar and cooling to 450–480
C,preserving signatures of the partial melting event in the field of high to ultra-high temperature metamorphism.Melt reintegration models suggest that up to 35%granitic melt could have been produced during metamorphism at^950
C.The U–Pb age data from zircons(~1.0–~0.7 Ga)and chemical ages from monazites(~540 Ma and^941 Ma)reflect a complex tectonometamorphic evolution of the terrain.The^941 Ma age reported from these monazites indicate a Tonian ultra-high temperature event,linked to juvenile magmatism/deformation episodes reported from the Southern Granulite Terrane and associated fragments in Rodinia,which were subsequently overprinted by the Cambrian(~540 Ma)tectonothermal episode.

Geochemistry of khondalites from the central portion of North China craton (NCC):implications for the continental cratonization in the Neoarchean

Within the high-grade metamorphic basement, the central portion of North China Craton (NCC), a group of Neoarchean khondalites (KS) is identified. They are characterized by large ion lithophile elements (LILE) enrichment, lower abundances of Zr, Hf and Sr. Their rare earth element (REE) distribution has significant LREE enrichment and negative Eu anomalies. The protoliths of KS are interpreted as feldspathic quartzite, shale or petite and carbonite, deposited in a shallow sea upon cratonic shelf distant from the land. KS’s source region might be dominated by granitic rocks, with a minor amount of TTG, underwent comparatively severe chemical weathering. Considering relevent tectonic constraints, we suggest that khondalites from central portion of NCC, an important metamophosed sedimentary cover, are the most significant exogenetic marker of Neoarchean continental cratonization for NCC.

Discovery of khondalite series from the western segment of Altyn Tagh and their petrological and geochronological studies

The khondalite series, which are characterized by aluminum-rich gneisses (schists) consisting of sillimanite-garnet-biotite-monzonite gneiss, garnet-biotite-monzonite gneiss, graphite-sillimanite-biotite schist, and garnet-amphibole two-pyroxene granulites occurring as lenses and layers within gneisses (schists), were discovered in Tula area of western segment of Altyn Tagh. The petrology and geochemistry indicate that the protoliths of aluminum-rich gneisses (schists) are aluminum-rich pelitic and pelitic arenaceous sedimentary rocks, the protoliths of basic granulites are continental tholeiitic basalts. Therefore, the khondalite series may be produced at continental margin. They had suffered granulitic facies metamorphism with peak temperatures of 700-850℃ and pressures of 0.8-1.2 GPa. The U-Pb and Pb-Pb isotopic dating of zircons provided the ages of 447-462 Ma representing the ages of peak granulitic metamorphism. The U-Pb dating of detrital zircons from aluminum-rich gneisses yielded older upper

贺兰山孔兹岩系的变质时代及其对华北克拉通西部陆块演化的制约

贺兰山孔兹岩系作为华北克拉通西部孔兹岩带的重要组成部分,其变质时代问题一直悬而未决。利用SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年技术,对贺兰山孔兹岩系中3个代表性富铝片麻岩(石榴堇青钾长片麻岩、石榴堇青二长片麻岩与石榴黑云斜长片麻岩)样品进行了精确定年。发现这3种岩石虽处不同层位,但其碎屑锆石年龄却非常集中,各测点^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb年龄总体变化在2.0～2.1Ga之间,加权平均年龄则在2017～2040Ma之间。这些碎屑锆石都具有岩浆结构特征,反映当时曾存在大规模花岗质岩浆活动,所成岩体为孔兹岩系沉积提供了充足物源。另有少量大于2.5Ga的碎屑锆石(2520～2949Ma),表明本区存在太古代岩浆活动记录。本区石榴堇青二长片麻岩中发育典型的变质增生锆石,其成因很可能与黑云母的脱水熔融反应有关。利用该锆石确定贺兰山孔兹岩系的变质时代为1950±8Ma。该时代与东部大青山、乌拉山孔兹岩系变质时代相同,表明华北克拉通西部的阴山地块与鄂尔多斯地块大体是以平行的方式正面拼贴到一起的。

Geochemistry of Major Oxides in Host Rocks in Vizianagarm Manganese Ores Belt (A.P.), India

The abundance, distribution trends and significance of the major oxides in the host rocks in Vizianagarm Manganese Ores Belt (A.P.) (between N latitude 18°12' and 18°30' and E longitudes 83°20' and 83°45'), 15 samples of host rocks from different localities of the area under study were collected and analyzed for major oxides. We describe here in major oxides geochemistry of host rocks and manganese ore deposits associated with Precambrian Khondalite and Charnockite in Vizianagarm Manganese Ores Belt (A.P.): 1) Preponderance of SiO2 over Al2O3;2) Dominance of K2O and CaO over Na2O;3) Abnormally high concentration of phosphorus and a positive relationship of P2O5 with CaO and Ti contents;4) Manganese increases with increases of iron, lime and soda and vice versa, 5) CaO increases with the increases of Al2O3, Ti, K2O and vice versa.?High P2O5content in these manganese ores appears to be the result of precipitation from secondary manganese rich solutions containing dissolved phosphorus from the P2O5 enriched host rocks.?Another source of P2O5 may be the associated granitic and pegmatitic intrusions. Elements like K, Na, Ca, Mg, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn etc. appear to be mostly concentrated in the Mn-minerals viz. psilomelane, cryptomelane, hollandite and pyrolusite and related secondary phases [1] and [2]. Stratigraphically, the study area includes within a thick succession of Precambrian Group belonging to the Khondalite and Charnockite Groups of Dharwar Supergroup, that form a part of Eastern Ghat Complex of India. The manganiferous rocks that have been encountered in the Vizianagarm Manganese Ores Belt (A.P.) India are known as Kodurites.

Discovery of Neoarchean unconformity and its implication for continental cratonization of North China craton

An ancient unconformity event is identified within the granulite-facies province of North China, which is marked by the boundary between the overlying khondalite series (KS) and the basement grey gneiss complex (BGGC). REE patterns of KS suggest that their protoliths aM mature sediments. As documented by isotopic ages and metamorphic P-T-t paths, KS is originally deposited after the basement complex formed. Furthermore, the BGGC was overprinted by the metamorphic event associated with the KS. The binary structure of KS-BGGC is well preserved in the western part of North China craton (NCC), and it is structurally truncated and overlain by the Palaeoproterozoic Wntai rift, which suggests that the unconformity occurred in the Neoarchean, and represents the major tectono-thermal episodes of the Neoarchean continental cratonization of NCC.