Protracted zircon growth in migmatites and In situ melt of Higher Himalayan Crystallines:U-Pb ages from Bhagirathi valley, NW Himalaya,India

The Higher Himalayan Crystallines(HHC), in western Garhwal, Uttarakhand are located in a regionalscale intracontinental ductile shear zone(15-20 km wide) bounded by the Main Central Thrust at the base, and the South Tibetan Detachment System at the top. The migmatite zone in the centre has the highest grade of metamorphism in the NW Himalayas and show evidence of flowage. Zircons extracted from samples of metasediment, migmatite, biotite granite and in situ partial melt(tourmaline-bearing leucogranite) along the Bhagirathi Valley, preserve U-Pb isotopic evidence of magmatic history, magma source and effects of the Himalayan orogeny in the region. Three distinct periods of zircon growth in the leucogranite record the episodic influx of magma between 46 Ma and 20 Ma indicating a time span of more than 25 Ma between the onset of fluid-fluxed partial melting in the mid-crustal intracontinental shear zone and the emplacement of the magma into the upper crust in a post-collisional extensional setting. Metamorphic zircon growth was initiated about 46 Ma, when the partial melts were generated as the migmatite zone was exhumed.

Equilibrium vs.disequilibrium melting relations in the Higher Himalayan Crystalline(HHC) pelitic migmatites,Sikkim Himalaya

Higher Himalayan Crystalline（HHC） complex of the Sikkim Himalaya predominantly consists of high-grade pelitic migmatites.In this study,reaction textures,mineral/bulk rare earth elements （REE）,trace element partition coefficients and trace element zoning profiles in garnet are used to demonstrate a complex petrogenetic process during crustal anatexis.With the help of equilibrium REE and trace element partitioning model,it is shown that strong enrichment of Effective Bulk Composition（EBC） is responsible for the zoning in garnet in these rocks.The data strongly support disequilibrium element partitioning and suggest that the anatectic melts associated with mafic selvedges are likely produced by disequilibrium melting because of fast melt segregation process.

Prograde and retrograde growth of monazite in migmatites:An example from the Nagercoil Block,southern India

Data from a migmatised metapelite raft enclosed within charnockite provide quantitative constraints on the pressure-temperature-time （P-T-t） evolution of the Nagercoil Block at the southernmost tip of peninsular India. An inferred peak metamorphic assemblage of garnet, K-feldspar, sillimanite, plagioclase, magnetite, ilmenite, spinel and melt is consistent with peak metamorphic pressures of 6-8 kbar and temperatures in excess of 900 ℃. Subsequent growth of cordierite and biotite record high-temperature retrograde decompression to around 5 kbar and 800 ℃. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of magmatic zircon cores suggests that the sedimentary protoliths were in part derived from felsic igneous rocks with Palae- oproterozoic crystallisation ages. New growth of metamorphic zircon on the rims of detrital grains constrains the onset of melt crystallisation, and the minimum age of the metamorphic peak, to around 560 Ma. The data suggest two stages of monazite growth. The first generation of REE-enriched monazite grew during partial melting along the prograde path at around 570 Ma via the incongruent breakdown of apatite. Relatively REE-depleted rims, which have a pronounced negative europium anomaly, grew during melt crystallisation along the retrograde path at around 535 Ma. Our data show the rocks remained at suprasolidus temperatures for at least 35 million years and probably much longer, supporting a long-lived high-grade metamorphic history. The metamorphic conditions, timing and duration of the implied clockwise P-T-t path are similar to that previously established for other regions in peninsular India during the Ediacaran to Cambrian assembly of that part of the Gondwanan supercontinent.

On the Origin of Migmatites in Yunlu, Western Guangdong

Partially migmatized rocks, banded migmatites, augen-banded migmatites and gneissic migmatites are developed successively from Xindong to Yunlu, Gaozhou, Guangdong Province in the Yunkai Caledonian orogenic belt at the border between Guangdong and Guangxi. Mass-balance calculations, statistical analysis of the textural relations and mineralogical and geochemical studies of the migmatites and the study of the metamorphlc setting of the Yunlu area indicate that the migmatites in the study area were primarily formed by anatexis without remarkable introduction of foreign components such as K, Na and Si and removal of Ca, Fe, Mg, etc.

Dynamic Mechanism of Migmatization in the Dabie Complex, Northeastern Hubei, China

On the basis of the detailed field work, compositions and contents of plagioclase and K - feldspar,determination of ordering degree, statistical analysis of plagioclase elongation index, mass-balance calculation and mineral spatial distribution and geochemistry, it is concluded that the migmatites in the Dabie complex are characterized by the presence of thermocenters. There are regular changes in mineral character in the migmatites from the centers outwards. The dominant genetic mechanism is anatexis and metasomatism, whose intensities decrease from the centers outwards. Finally, according to the simulated experiment on Liesegang' s rings and non-linear dynamics (dissipative structure theory), the dynamic mechanism of migmatization is profoundly expouded as consisting of the early-stage metasomatism induced by the thermal anomaly, the cardinal-stage anatexis induced by the early-stage matasomatism and finally the last-stage post-anatexis metasomatism.

Petrography and Geochemical Studies of Basement Rocks around Zango-Daji and Its Environs,North Central Nigeria

The geology of the Zango-Daji area was investigated petrographically and geochemically to determine the study area’s rock types and mineralization potential.The study area is underlain by rocks of the basement complex characterized by hilly and undulating rocks,which include granitic gneiss,migmatite gneiss,biotite hornblende granite gneiss,and pegmatites.Obser­vation from the field shows that the study area is dominantly underlain by granitic gneiss.The granitic gneiss is dark grey,medium-coarse-grained,and characterized by weak foliation defined by the alignment of a streak of light and dark coloured minerals.They are widespread in the area consti­tuting about 70%of rock types found in the study area.The average modal percentage of minerals in the rocks from petrographic studies shows that granitic gneiss had quartz 45%,plagioclase 10%,microcline 20%,horn­blende 2%,biotite 10%,muscovite 5%,kyanite 8%and other minerals 5%.Also,the pegmatite of the study area has no evidence of mineralization;it contains minerals like quartz,feldspars(microcline and orthoclase),and micas(mostly muscovite).Geochemical analysis of the granitic gneiss of the study area shows that silica is by far the most abundant with a value of 53.5%,Na_(2)O value of 32.5%,Al_(2)O_(3),and k_(2)O of 6.1%and 4.0%,re­spectively.CaO value of 2.630%accounts for plagioclase feldspar in the granitic gneiss.The QAP diagram was used to determine the petrogenesis of the granitic gneiss.The plot shows the parent rock was a monzogranite with a low percentage of plagioclase in a thin section with a high percent­age of quartz and alkali feldspar.The pegmatites of the study area are bar­ren,as confirmed by the XRD result.

Metallogenic Regularity of Hydrothermal Uranium Deposits in the Migmatite of the Kangdian Axis

1 Introduction The Kangdian axis is an important polymetallic metallogenic belt in Southwest China,and it is also an area with a lot of hydrothermal uranium mineralization(Wang Hongjun,et al.,2009.The basic

Re-folded structure of syn-orogenic granitoids(Padrón dome, NW Iberia):Assessing rheological evolution of cooling continental crust in a collisional setting

This contribution discusses about the rheological, kinematic and dynamic frameworks necessary to produce recumbent and upright folds from syn-orogenic granitic massifs that were formed during an early stage of magma genesis related to the onset of a migmatitic dome. Syn-kinematic granitoids occurring within the high-grade infrastructure of the Padron migmatitic dome(NW Iberia) are deformed into largescale recumbent folds(D_2) that are later affected by upright folds(D_3). Petrostructural analysis of a selected area of this dome reveals that after a period of crustal thickening(D_1), NNW-directed extensional flow gave way to recumbent folds and penetrative axial plane foliation(S_2). Superimposed subhorizontal compression resulted in upright folds(D_3). A closer view into the dynamics of the dome allows exploring the factors that may condition the nucleation of folds with contrasting geometries during progressive deformation of molten continental crust. The formation of folds affecting syn-kinematic granitoids suggests a cooling metamorphic path in migmatitic domes. Active and passive folding mechanisms require a crystallizing(cooling) magma to nucleate folds. A more competent metamorphic host inhibits fold nucleation from much less competent magmas. As it crystallizes, magma becomes more rigid(competent),and approaches viscosity values of its host. Passive folding is favored when no significant competence contrast exists between magma and host, so this folding mechanism is more likely shortly after magma genesis and emplacement. In such conditions, and under dominant subhorizontal flow accompanied by flattening(D_2),passive folding would produce isoclinal recumbent geometries. Further magma cooling introduces a shift into the rheological behavior of partially molten crust. Thereon, crystallizing magma bodies would represent significant competence contrasts relative to their host. At this point, buckling is a more likely folding mechanism, and more regular, buckle folds re-fold previous structures after significant cooling. The geometry of resulting folds is upright due to dominant subhorizontal compression(D_3) at this stage.

Deciphering the presence of axial-planar veins in tectonites

Veins and dikes are often oriented subparallel to the axial surfaces of folds in the adjacent layered or foliated rocks.This implies an awkward situation,since veins would lay in planes close-to-parallel to the maximum stretching axis.A series of geometric models have been conceived in order to gain insight into the possible mechanisms for their formation.The models are based on the analysis of a varied selection of field structures and on the review of similar structures in the existing literature.A first categorization consists on distinguishing between axial-planar veins achieved by either progressive or polyphase deformation.Five models of axial-planar veins resulting from progressive deformation are described and discussed:(1) fold-related veins associated with the standard folding mechanisms,(2) fracture arrays localized along the short limbs of folds(asymmetric fold-related veins),(3) folds associated with rotation of extension veins(vein-related folds),(4) high strain and transposition of early veins,and(5) high strain and late veins parallel to axial planar foliations(axial planar foliation-related veins).The axial planar geometry is achieved through variable amounts of progressive rotational strain,except in model 5,in which the co-planarity is acquired at the time of vein intrusion.The possibility for axial-planar veins to have developed in two distinct phases in the context of polyphase or polyorogenic tectonics has also been explored and discussed.This study contributes to a better understanding of the intriguing interplays between deformation,metamorphic and magmatic processes in orogenic belts.

Metamorphism of the Basement of the Qilian Fold Belt in the Minhe-Ledu Area, Qinghai Province, NW China

The basement of the central Qilian fold belt exposed along the Minhe-Ledu highway consists of psammitic schists, metabasitic rocks, and crystalline limestone. Migmatitic rocks occur sporadically among psammitic schist and metabasitic rocks. The mineral assemblage of psammitic schist is muscovite + biotite + feldspar + quartz ± tourmaline ± titanite ± sillimanite and that of metabasitic rocks is amphibole + plagioclase + biotite ± apatite ± magnetite ± pyroxene ± garnet ± quartz. The migmatitic rock consists of leucosome and restite of various volume proportions; the former consists of muscovite + alkaline feldspar + quartz ± garnet ± plagioclase while the latter is either fragments of psammitic schist or those of metabasitic rock. The crystalline limestone consists of calcite that has been partly replaced by olivine. The olivine was subsequently altered to serpentine. Weak deformations as indicated by cleavages and fractures were imposed prominently on the psammitic schists, occasionally on metabasitic rocks, but not on migmatitic rocks. The basement experienced metamorphism up to temperature 606-778± and pressure 4.8-6.1 kbar (0.48-0.61 GPa), equivalent to amphibolite-granulite facies. The peak of the metamorphism is marked by a migmatization which occurred at several localities along the studied route 587-535 Ma ago. The basement also recorded a retrograde metamorphism of greenschist facies, during which biotite, garnet, amphibole, and pyroxene were partly altered to chlorite.

Simulating to Formation of Stripes in Migmatite under Directional Pressure Using Stochastic Cellular Automaton

There are some different opinions on the formation of striped migmatite. Many striped migmatites are distributed around the plutonic rocks in the core of hot dome in nature. This shows that the pressure of intrusive rocks to wall rocks must play an important role in the formation of stripes. This paper, at first, discusses the effects of directional pressure (i. e. compressive stress from intrusive rock to wall rock) on particle migration and crystallization, and the physical mechanism of Ostwald maturation and its adjusting effect in crystalline growth. And then, on the basic principles of physics and chemistry, we lay down the stochastic evolutional rules of the formation of crystal nucleus, diffusion, crystallization and dissolution of leucosome (melt) particles; and,neglecting other restrictive conditions, we build an idealizedly simplified two-dimensional model of stochastic cellular automaton for the recrystallization of metamorphic rock under directional pressure, and realize it by writing a program of Windows on PC. Theoretical analyses and computer simulations show that, at the beginning, the free particles of leucosome are initially even distributed in the system and form many crystal nucleus ; then, the anisotropies of diffusion, crystallization and dissolution caused by the directional pressure together with the mechanisms of Ostwald maturation can make the nucleus successively grow to form lenses, unevenly disconnected stripes, and layer-stripe structure, which correspond to low, medium and high grades of metamorphism and migmatization, respectively; that is, the effect of the pressure of intrusive rock to wall rock alone can form streaked structure in migmatite. Moreover, cellular automaton, adopted in this paper, is a kind of discrete and local grid dynamic model, and is extremely suitable for simulating the evolution of spatiotemporal structure of real systems and analyzing micro-mechanism creating complex macro-phenomenon. We believe that cellular automata will have broad applications in the geosciences which is full of complicated natural phenomena.

Kabbaldurga charnockites revisited: Incipient growth or anatectic melt?

A popular hypothesis of in situ transformation of amphibolite facies gneisses to patchy charnockites by CO2 influx from mantle was proposed primarily from the Kabbaldurga quarries in South Karnataka and subsequently reported from several south Indian localities. However, presence of abundant mafic granulite enclaves in Kabbaldurga and its neighborhood and its implications in relation to patchy charnockite genesis were not discussed. In these quarries patchy charnockites occur in various modes and associations. Some of these patches do occupy structural weak zones, such as shear bands and fold noses in the migmatitic gneisses, but many of the patchy charnockite bodies occur as branching veins transecting the gneissic foliation and hence do not account for fluid pathways. Most importantly, charnockitic leucosomes at margins of mafic granulite enclaves and charnockitic veins within some mafic granulite enclaves indicate a close genetic link between them via dehydration partial melting. This is further corroborated by trace element distribution between them. Dehydration partial melting in mafic rocks in a migmatite terrain such as Kabbaldurga, can explain all the different modes of the patchy charnockites as various stages of segregation and mobility relative to deformation. Abundant mafic granulite enclaves and field features suggesting a relatively late origin of the patchy charnockites, are compelling evidence against the notion of a transition zone. Mantle derivation age of the mafic source rocks (protoliths of mafic granulites) at Kabbaldurga at 3.08 ± 0.08 Ga with small positive ? values is virtually identical to the source of the massive charnockite of Karnataka craton at 3.08 Ga. This could imply a widespread mafic magmatism in South India around 3.0 Ga.

Petro-Structural Study of Paragneiss in the SASCA Domain(GbowéSector at Grand-Bereby),Southwestern Cote d’Ivoire

The petrographic and structural study of Gbowé (Grand-Béréby) formations located in the SASCA domain (South-West of C&#244te d’Ivoire) revealed migmatitic paragneisses. For an in-depth understanding of the petrographic, structural and metamorphic characteristics, six (6) thin sections were made from these paragneisses. These gneisses are characterized by paleosomes and neosomes (leucosome and melanosome), consisting of quartz, garnet, plagioclase, biotite, cordierite, sillimanite, myrmekite and microcline. The mineralogical assemblage thus described indicates a retrograde metamorphism (transition from granulitic facies to amphibolitic facies). The structural and microstructural study identified two types of deformation (ductile and brittle). The ductile deformation is characterized by phases D1 (NE-SW flattening) and D2 (NW-SE flattening), materialized by foliations (N140&#730, N050&#730), folds (asymmetrical folds, similar folds, concentric folds, ptymatic folds) and boudins. Fracture schistosity and fold fracture schistosity are characteristic of the brittle deformation (phase D3). The microstructural study coupled with the metamorphic study shows that the deformations had an impact on the texture of the minerals (recrystallization and mineral reactions). It also allowed giving the paragenesis of phases D1 and D2. The D1 phase is characterized by garnet1, biotite1, quartz1, sillimanite1 and cordierite1 and the D2 phase is characterized by garnet1, quartz2, sillimanite2, biotite2, garnet2 and orthose2. These parageneses thus highlighted bear witness to a polydeformation and polymorphism that affects the study area.

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in Jingshan "migmatitic granite", Bengbu and its geological significance

The petrographic characteristics of Jingshan "migmatitic granite" and the occurrence of the magmatic zircons indicate that the granite was formed by normal crystallization of felsic melts. All zircons in the granite have inherited cores and fine-scale oscillatory zoning rims of magmatic origin. It is realized that the granite was formed at 160.2±1.3 Ma through dating magmatic zircons. The generation of the granitic magma could be related to the lithospheric mantle and/or lower crust delamination after the ultrahigh pressure metamorphism (UHPM) in Triassic. Most inherited zircons yield the ages of 217.1±6.6 Ma, which is consistent with the peak UHPM in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Some of the inherited zircons (433-722 Ma) constitute a discordia line with the upper intercept age of 850+85/-68 Ma and a lower intercept age of 261+100/-140 Ma. These ages imply that the granite could be derived from the partial melting of the crustal materials of the South China Block that was intensively superimposed by the UHPM. The UHPM could be the reason for the major Pb loss at ±220 Ma.

Anatexis in Himalayan crust:Evidence from geochemical and chronological investigations of Higher Himalayan Crystallines

Migmatization in Higher Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) results from anatexis. The widely distributed migmatites in HHC are an important clue to investigate the relationship be- tween anatexis and the origins of Higher Himalayan leucogranites (HHL), and to understand the effect of anatexis on crustal evolution during the post-collision period. We studied in detail the chemical features of three basic constituent parts of the migmatites, i.e. leucosome, mesosome and melanosome, and determined the K-Ar ages of leucosomes. Our studies indicate that type-I leucosome is the product of crystallization of melt generated by partial melting of mesosome at source region, but type-II leucosome and HHL probably underwent crystallization differentiation of plagioclase during melt aggregation and migration. The age of 22.67 Ma of Type-I leucosome, which is a little older than the beginning of MCT movement, indicates that anatexis may have played an important role in the formation of MCT. That the ages of type-II leucosome (ranging from 14.82 to 18.37 Ma) are consistent with that of HHL provides new chronological evidence for the relationship between migmatization and HHL. We obtained a very young age of 6.23 Ma of Type-II leucosome that provides new time constraint on magma activity in the central segment of Higher Himalayas.

Zircon Geochronological Evidence for Participation of the North China Craton in the Protolith of Migmatite of the North Dabie Terrane

The plate affiliation of the North Dabie terrane （NDT） has been controversial. To address this fundamental question, an integrated study of internal structure, in-situ U-Pb dating and trace element analysis in zircons and field investigation for migmatite in the NDT was carried out, which reveals par- ticipation of crustal rocks of the North China Craton （NCC） in the protolith in addition to the more common crustal rocks of the Yangtze Craton （YC）. The evidence of an NCC affinity for protolith of migmatite in the NDT is the -2.5 Ga （2 486±14 and 2 406±26 Ma） magamtic age and -1.8 Ga （1 717±79 Ma） metamorphic age in the relict zircon domains because these two age groups are characteristic for the evolution of the NCC. The evidence of a YC affinity for protolith of migmatite in the NDT is the more common 0.7-0.8 Ga （e.g., 787±12 Ma） magamtic zircon age. Mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic age （0.7-0.8 Ga） is a symbol of YC basement rocks. In view of the widely exposed YC crustal components in the NDT, we suggest that the protolith of the NDT is mainly crustal rocks from the YC with minor crustal components from the NCC. The zircon rim domains and new growth grains from all the migmatite sam- ples are characterized by anatectic zircons and have a widely concordant ages ranging from 112.2±2.8 to 159.6±4.3 Ma with several peak values, suggesting a long lasting multistage anatexis. In conclusion, the NDT has a mixed protolith origin of both the YC and the NCC crustal rocks were strongly remoulded by anatexis during orogenic collapse.

Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Cenozoic Granitic Mylonite along the Ailaoshan-Red River Shear Zone:New Constraints on the Timing of the Sinistral Shearing

The Ailaoshan-Red River（ASRR） shear zone in SW China represents an important discontinuity believed to have accommodated eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau in response to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. The onset timing and duration of the ASRR sinistral strike-slip shearing have been hotly disputed. In this paper we present new zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronological data from six syntectonic granitic mylonite and leucosomes samples from the ASRR shear zone. Our data reveal a metamorphic age of ~40 Ma, most likely suggesting the maximum age of the shearing initiation. Rocks showing syn-kinematic signatures yield crystallization ages of 38–22 Ma, with inherited components ranging from 716 to 108 Ma. These results, together with existing geological and geochronological data, indicate that the sinistral shearing along the ASRR zone probably began at 40 Ma, mainly activated at 29–22 Ma and lasted at least to ~22 Ma. Our data suggest a continuous extrusion between the Indochina and South China blocks during ~35–17 Ma. The ASRR sinistral shearing has accommodated large scale eastward displacement of the southeastern Tibetan syntaxis, and is likely responsible for the opening of the South China Sea.

Temperature of Prograde Metamorphism, Decompressional Partial Melting and Subsequent Melt Fractional Crystallization in the Weihai Migmatitic Gneisses,Sulu UHP Terrane:Constraints from Ti-in-Zircon Thermometer

In order to constrain temperature during subduction and subsequent exhumation of fel- sic continental crust, we carried out a Ti-in-zircon thermometer coupled with zircon internal structure and U-Pb age on migmatitic gneisses from the Weihai region in the Sulu ultra-high pres- sure （UHP） metamorphic terrane, eastern China. The Weihai migmatitic gneisses are composed of in- tercalated compositional layers of melanosome and plagioclase （Pl）-rich lencosome and K-feldspar （Kfs）-rich pegmatite veins. Four stages of zircon growth were recognized in the Weihai migmatitic gneisses. They successively recorded informations of protolith, prograde metamorphism, decompres- sional partial melting during early stage exhumation and subsequent fractional crystallization of pri- mary melt during later stage cooling exhumation. The inherited cores in zircon from the melanosome and the Pl-rich leucosome suggest that the pro- tolith of the migmatitic gneiss is Mid- Neoproterozoic （-780 Ma） magmatic rock. Metamorphic zircons with concordant ages ranging from 243 to 256 Ma occur as over- growth mantles on the protolith magmatic zir- con cores. The estimated growth temperatures （625-717 ＂C） of the metamorphic zircons have a negative correlation with their ages, indicating a progressive metamorphism in HP eciogite-facies condition during subduction. Zircon recrystal- lized rims （228-2 Ma） in the PI-rich ieucosome layers provide the lower limit of the decompress-sional partial melting time during exhumation. The ages from 228^-2 to 219~2 Ma recorded in the Pl-rich leucosome and the Kfs-rich pegmatite vein, respectively, suggest the duration of the fractional crystallization of primary melt during exhumation. The calculated growth temperatures of the zircon rims from the Pl-rich leucosome range from 858 to 739 , and the temperatures of new growth zircon grains （219±2 Ma） in Kfs-rich vein are between 769 and 529 . The estimated temperatures have a positive correlation with ages from the Pl-rich leucosome to the Kfs-rich pegmatite vein, strongly indi- cating that a process of fractional crystallization of the partial melt during exhumation.

A STUDY ON THE Nd-Sr ISOTOPE OF THE WUGONGSHAN MIGMATITE

Ⅰ. GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND Covering an area of 1200 km^2, the Wugongshan migmatite-granite batholith is located on the northwestern margin of South China Caledonian folded region and the southern flank of Pingxiang-Guangfeng deep fault. It is characterized by the trinity of meta-sediments,