Petrologic and geochemical characterization and mineralization of the metavolcanic rocks of the Heib Formation,Kid Metamorphic Complex,Sinai,Egypt

Metavolcanic rocks hosting base metal sulphide mineralization, and belonging to the Kid Metamorphic Complex, are exposed in the Samra-Tarr area, Southern Sinai. The rocks consist of slightly metamorphosed varicolored porphyritic lavas of rhyolite-to-andesite composition, and their equivalent pyroclastics. Geochemically, these metavolcanics are classified as high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous andesites, trachyandesites, dacites, and rhyolites. The geochemical characteristics of these metavolcanics strongly point to their derivation from continental crust in an active continental margin. The sulphide mineralization in these metavolcanics occurs in two major ore zones, and is represented by four distinct styles of mineralization. The mineralization occurs either as low-grade disseminations or as small massive pockets. The associated hydrothermal alterations include carbonatization, silicification, sericitization and argillic alterations. The base metal sulphide mineralization is epigenetic and was formed by hvdrothermal solutions associated with subduction-related volcanic activity.

Petrogenesis, LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronology and geodynamic implications of the Kribi metavolcanic rocks,Nyong Group, Congo craton

Metavolcanic rocks are well-exposed in the Kribi area within the Nyong Group, Congo craton, but their origin, age, and tectonic significance are poorly known.Here we report integrated field mapping and petrography,geochemistry, and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of these metavolcanic rocks to constrain their petrogenesis and geodynamic implications. The studied rocks consist of mafic granulite, garnet-amphibole gneiss, and garnet-biotite gneiss, and occur interbanded with sharp contact and intruded by syenite dyke. These metavolcanic rocks are classified as MORB-like tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts,basaltic andesite, and rhyodacite rocks with within-plate setting geochemical signatures. The metabasite rocks(basalt to basaltic andesite protolith) are likely the equivalent of a spinel peridotite product representing ~ 2–5 %partial melting of metasomatized mantle source, while the metarhyodacite rocks are derived from the fractional crystallization of the same parental magma. Zircon U-Pb data revealed that the rhyodacite rocks initially formed at2671 ± 51 Ma and underwent later metamorphism at2065 ± 55 Ma. The Neoarchean protolith age is comparable to the ca. 2628 Ma tholeiitic magmatism and ca.2666 Ma high-K granites, suggesting bimodal Neoarchean magmatic event within the Ntem Complex, while the metamorphic ages fall within the ca. 2100–2000 Ma highgrade tectono-metamorphic event attributed to Eburnean/Trans-Amazonian orogeny. At the regional scale,metavolcanic rocks with similar origins and ages are documented in the Sa o Francisco Craton in Brazil, suggesting comparable geodynamic evolution on both sides of the south Atlantic during the Paleoproterozoic.

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.