Petrology and geochronology of the Namche Barwa Complex in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, Tibet: Constraints on the origin and evolution of the north-eastern margin of the Indian Craton

The Namche Barwa Complex (NBC) in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, south Tibet, is generally interpreted as the north-eastern extremity of the exposed Greater Himalayan Sequence, comprising Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary strata along the northern margin of the Indian continent. Field and petrological investigations indicate that the NBC consists mainly of orthogneiss, paragneiss, amphibolites and calc-silicate rocks. U-Pb zircon data demonstrate that the protoliths of the orthogneiss formed during late Paleoproterozoic at ca. 1610 Ma and also in early Paleozoic at ca. 490-500 Ma. The amphibolites were derived from mafic magmatic rocks formed during 1645 to 1590 Ma. Zircons in the paragneisses have highly variable inherited zircon ages ranging from the Neoarchean to early Paleozoic, with four major age populations of 2490 Ma, 1640 Ma, 990 Ma and 480 Ma. The calc-silicate rock has zircons with early Paleozoic metamorphic age of 538 Ma. Almost all the rocks of the NBC have been metamorphosed during Cenozoic with the metamorphic zircon U-Pb ages ranging from 8 to 30 Ma and a peak at 23 Ma. These, together with previous results suggest that the NBC was originally derived from an Andean-type orogeny following the Columbia supercontinent assembly, and experienced multiple reworking during the Grenvillian, Pan-African and Himalayan orogenies. We conclude that the NBC in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis was derived from different provenance and tectonic setting as compared to those of the Greater Himalayan Sequence which constitutes the high-grade metamorphic core of the western and central Himalayan orogenic belt. We thus infer that the NBC was originally part of the eastern segment of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone.     

Mineral chemical and geochronological constraints on the age and provenance of the eastern Circum-Rhodope Belt low-grade metasedimentary rocks, NE Greece

In north-eastern Greece the mid-greenschist facies Makri Unit and the anchizonal Melia Formation belong to the eastern Circum-Rhodope Belt that forms the uppermost tectonostratigraphic unit of the Rhodope metamorphic nappe pile. The two metasedimentary successions had different source areas, although they now lie in close proximity in the Rhodope Massif. The U-Pb isotopic ages of detrital zircons from a metasandstone of the Makri Unit analysed using LA-SF-ICP-MS and SHRIMP-II gave age clusters at ca. 310-290 Ma and at ca. 240 Ma for magmatic zircons, which may have been derived from Carboniferous-Permian basement rocks of the Thracia Terrane (Lower Tectonic Unit of the Rhodope Massif) that subsequently underwent Triassic rifting. The youngest detrital zircon grains found so far indicate that the metasedimentary succession of the Makri Unit, or at least parts of it, cannot be older than Late Triassic. By contrast, clastic sedimentary rocks of the Melia Formation contain the primary detrital mineral assemblage of epidote, zoisite, garnet, and phengitic mica, which is absent in the Makri Unit, and clearly points to metamorphic rocks being the major source for these sediments. U-Pb analyses of detrital zircons gave a prominent age cluster at ca. 315-285 Ma for magmatic zircons. Inherited cores indicate the involvement of Pan-African and Late Ordovician-Early Silurian crustal sources during Late Carboniferous-Early Permian igneous event(s). Moreover, U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology indicates that the Melia Formation cannot be older than latest Middle Jurassic. We suggest that the Melia Formation was deposited in front of a metamorphic nappe pile with Rhodopean affinities in Tithonian or Cretaceous times. Both the Makri Unit and the Melia Formation have been tectonically juxtaposed from different sources to their present location during Balkan and Alpine orogenic processes.     

Dating Post-Metamorphic Cooling of the Eastern Granulites in the Mozambique Belt of Northern Tanzania Using the Garnet Sm-Nd Method

Granulites from the Usambara, Wami River and Uluguru areas in the northern part of the Mozambique Belt in Tanzania yield Sm-Nd garnet — whole rock ages of between 580 and 634 Ma with a mean of 609 ± 11 Ma (2σ). This mean age is only slightly younger than the previously published peak metamorphic age of 641 ± 2 Ma, suggesting that, contrary to some earlier arguments, garnet Sm-Nd ages can be used to closely constrain the age of peak metamorphism even in slowly cooled terranes. Using published peak metamorphic temperatures of ∼810°C and cooling rates of 1–4°C/Ma, the mean age translates into garnet closure temperatures of 690 to 780°C.The similarity in garnet ages over widely separated areas, coupled with the previously established similarity in equilibrium PT conditions, indicate that isolated complexes that form the Eastern Granulites in the Tanzanian sector of the Mozambique Belt share the same thermal history and were formed under the same geodynamic setting.A few published garnet ages of between 525 and 545 Ma indicate a younger, less pervasive event of granulite facies metamorphism in the Belt. The bimodal distribution of garnet ages supports a previously published hypothesis that the assembly of Gondwana took place in two stages. The ∼610 Ma old ages most likely date cooling from granulite facies metamorphism arising from regional crustal thickening associated with the amalgamation of India, Madagascar, parts of eastern Antarctica, the Kalahari craton, the Congo craton and the Arabian-Nubian shield (forming the IMSLEK-ANS collage). On the other hand, the 525–545 Ma ages may mark cooling from a thermal event associated with the collision of Australo-Antarctica with the IMSLEK-ANS collage.     

New SHRIMP,Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd isotope and whole rock chemical data from central Mozambique and western Dronning Maud Land,Antarctica: Implications for the nature of the eastern margin of the Kalahari Craton and the amalgamation of Gondwana

Whole rock major and trace element data from granitoids adjacent to the Kalahari Craton–Mozambique–Maud Belt boundary are described. The data from ～1140 Ma old granodioritic and ～1110 Ma old granitic bodies in the Mozambique Belt show that they are typical of calc-alkaline and A-type granitoids respectively. Radiogenic Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd isotope data from the two granitoid bodies suggest significant older crustal contributions during their genesis. The granodioritic gneisses show T_DM model ages of ～2100–3500 Ma whereas megacrystic granitic gneisses have T_DM model ages of ～1600–3100 Ma. Granite from the Archaean-age Kalahari Craton has T_DM model ages of ～3000–3500 Ma.The data from Mozambique are compared with whole rock major and trace element chemistry and U/Pb zircon SHRIMP data from the Maud Belt in western Dronning Maud Land. These show that ～1140 Ma old granodioritic gneisses in Sverdrupfjella and Kirwanveggan have similar ages and chemical compositions to similar rocks in central Mozambique. Radiogenic isotope characteristics of the gneisses from central Mozambique and Sverdrupfjella are similar and suggest older crustal contributions in contrast to the juvenile nature of the gneisses from Kirwanveggan.Similarly, ～1090 Ma old granitic gneisses from central Mozambique, Sverdrupfjella and Kirwanveggan have similar ages and A-type chemical compositions. In contrast the radiogenic isotope compositions from Kirwanveggan are juvenile whereas those from central Mozambique show a significant older crustal contribution.The whole rock radiogenic isotope data can be interpreted to suggest that the Mesoproterozoic Mozambique Belt rocks were generated by partial melting which probably involved mixing of Archaean/Paleoproterozoic crust and younger Mesoproterozoic juvenile magma at ～1100 Ma and suggest that the Kalahari Craton probably extends eastwards at depths for more than 30 km from its exposure at surface.The data support correlations between the Mozambique Belt and the Maud Belt in Antarctica in general and more specifically show similarities between the Kalahari Craton boundary and the Mozambique–Maud Belt in lithologies immediately adjacent to that boundary.Two episodes of anatectic migmatisation are recognized in rocks from the Mozambique Belt in central Mozambique. These show an earlier migmatitic vein phase oriented parallel to the planar foliation in the granitic and tonalitic gneisses and a later discordant vein phase which is oriented parallel to localized but intense N–S oriented shearing along the Kalahari Craton/Mozambique Belt boundary zone. SHRIMP zircon data from the younger migmatitic vein phase suggests a crystallization age of 997 ± 4 Ma. Small numbers of inherited zircons have ages of ～2700 Ma and ～1100–1200 Ma. Younger discordant analyses suggesting metamorphic disturbance between ～400 Ma and 550 Ma are seen. The data imply the high strain along the eastern margin of the Kalahari Craton in the Manica area, occurred at ～1000 Ma and not at ～450 Ma as was previously thought. The data suggest the Pan African deformation and metamorphism in the area involved minor reworking. The undeformed to weakly deformed Tchinadzandze Granodiorite intruded into the Kalahari Craton has an age of 2617 ± 16 Ma.     

Hot granulite nappes — Tectonic styles and thermal evolution of the Proterozoic granulite belts in East Africa

A section through the Neoproterozoic Mozambique Belt of Tanzania exposes western foreland (Archaean Tanzania Craton and Palaeoproterozoic Usagaran Belt), marginal (Western Granulites) and eastern, internal (Eastern Granulites) portions of the orogen. The assembly of granulite nappes at ca. 620 Ma displays westward emplacement along an eastward deepening basal decollement and forward propagation of thrusts, climbing from the deep crust to the surface. This goes along with eastward increase of syntectonic temperatures, derived from prevalent deformation mechanisms, and eastward decrease of the kinematic vorticity number. Distinctly different pressure - temperature paths with a branch of isothermal decompression (ITD) in Western Granulites and isobaric cooling (IBC) in Eastern Granulites reflect residence times of rocks within lower crustal levels. Western Granulites, exhumed rapidly at the orogen margin, display ITD and non-coaxial fabrics. Eastern Granulites in the internal orogen portions escaped from rapid exhumation and show IBC and co-axial flow fabrics. The vertical variation of structural elements, i.e. basement — cover relations within the Eastern Granulites, shows decoupling between lower and middle crust with horizontal west — east stretching in the basement and horizontal west — east shortening in the cover.A model of hot fold nappes [Beaumont, C., Nguyen, M.H., Jamieson, R.A., Ellis, S., 2006. Crustal flow modes in large hot orogens. In: Law, R.D., Searle, M.P., Godin, L., (eds). Channel Flow, Ductile Extrusion and Exhumation in Continental Collision Zones. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. vol. 268, 91–145] is adopted to explain flow diversity in the deep crust. The lower crust represented by Eastern Granulite basement flowed coaxially outwards (westward) in response to thickened crust and elevated gravitational forces, supported by a melt-weakened, viscous channel at the crustal base. Horizontal flow with rates faster than thermal equilibration gave rise to isobaric cooling. Simultaneously the mid crust (Eastern Granulite cover) was shortened when hot fold nappes moved along upward climbing thrust planes. Western Granulites preserved isothermal decompression through exhumation by thrusting and coeval erosion at the orogen front.Two different styles define the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen between northern Egypt and southern Mozambique. The Arabian Nubian Shield in the north is classified as small and cold orogen in which thin — skinned thrusting was associated with lateral extrusion. The Central Mozambique Belt in Tanzania/Southern Kenya is classified as large and hot orogen characterized by thick-skinned thrusting and assembly of large granulite nappes.     

Towards a complete magmatic barcode for the Zimbabwe craton: Baddeleyite U–Pb dating of regional dolerite dyke swarms and sill complexes

We present baddeleyite U–Pb ages of Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic dyke swarms and the Mashonaland sill province in Zimbabwe. The 2575.0 ± 1.5 Ma age of the Umvimeela dyke is indistinguishable from the 2575.4 ± 0.7 Ma result (Oberthür et al., 2002) for a pyroxenite layer of the Great Dyke and testifies to synchronous emplacement of the Great Dyke and its satellites. Three samples of WNW- to NNW-trending dykes of the Sebanga swarm yielded ages of 2512.3 ± 1.8 Ma, 2470.0 ± 1.2 Ma and 2408.3 ± 2.0 Ma, the latter of which dates the Sebanga Poort Dyke of this swarm. These results suggest that emplacement took place over a protracted period which involved at least three generations of dykes within the swarm and, more importantly, invalidate previous inferences of a genetic link between the Sebanga swarm and the Mashonaland sills. Crystallisation ages of 1877 ± 2.2 Ma, 1885.9 ± 2.4 Ma and 1875.6 ± 1.6 Ma for three dolerite samples of the extensive Mashonaland sills from different parts of the Zimbabwe craton were also obtained. This is the oldest common igneous event that is recorded in the Zimbabwe and Kaapvaal cratons. Collectively with previous published geochronological and petrological evidence in favour of a major 2.0 Ga event within the Limpopo Belt, these results suggest that the Zimbabwe and Kaapvaal cratons did not form a coherent unit (Kalahari) until ca. 2.0 Ga.     

Pan-African reactivation of the Lurio segment of the Kibaran Belt system: a reappraisal from recent age determinations in northern Mozambique

The role of the Lurio Belt in northern Mozambique, and the geological evolution of its foreland in the Proterozoic are discussed in the light of recent, single zircon age determinations showing Pan-African age for the granulite-facies metamorphism. The following tentative conclusions are reached, and evidence for and against them is reviewed. The Lurio Belt had a two-fold history, as a crust-forming orogen during the Kibaran and as a transpressive suture in Pan-African times. Together with the Zambezi Belt and the Schlesien-Mwembeshi Lineament, it formed a 3000 km discontinuity which underwent an embryonic oceanic development before being sutured during the Pan-African collisional event. The Lurio Belt foreland had a tectonic-metamorphic evolution at ca 1000 Ma, prior to major, Pan-African overprinting and was probably continuous with the basement of Queen Maud Land (Antarctica) and Natal. In Pan-African times, clockwise transpressive movements along the Lurio Belt brought about emplacement of granulite klippen in its foreland. If there is a southward continuation of the Pan-African Mozambique Belt beyond Mozambique, it is probably to be found in Antarctica.     

Thermal events documented in Hadean zircons by ion microprobe depth profiles

We report the first U-Th-Pb ion microprobe depth profiles of four Hadean zircons from the Jack Hills and Mount Narryer supracrustal belts of the Narryer Gneiss Complex (NGC), Western Australia. This ultra-high spatial resolution technique probes the age and origin of sub-micron features in individual crystals that can record episodes of zircon growth. Near-surface grain dates of 2700 Ma or older are coincident with post-depositional growth/modification. Some ages may coincide with documented pre-deposition metamorphic events for the NGC and igneous emplacement at ca. 3700 Ma. Separate events that do not correlate in time with known geologic episodes prior to the preserved rock record are also present on pre-4000 Ma zircons. We find evidence for a ∼3.9 Ga event, which is coterminous within age uncertainty with one or several large basin-forming impacts (e.g. Nectaris) on the Moon attributed to the late heavy bombardment of the inner solar system.     

New age constraints for Grenville-age metamorphism in western central Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica), and implications for the palaeogeography of Kalahari in Rodinia

New SHRIMP zircon data from Gjelsvikfjella and Mühlig–Hofmann–Gebirge (East Antarctica) indicate that the metamorphic basement is composed of Grenville-age rocks that are most likely part of the north-eastern continuation of the Namaqua–Natal–Maud Belt. Crystallisation ages of meta-igneous rocks range between ca. 1,150 to 1,100 Ma, with little inheritance recorded. Metamorphic zircon overgrowth during high-grade metamorphism is dated between ca. 1,090 to 1,050 Ma. Both, the crystallisation ages and the metamorphic overprint are similar to U–Pb data from a number of areas along a ca. 2,000-km stretch from Natal in South Africa to central Dronning Maud Land. The basement underwent in part strong high-grade reworking during the collision of East and West Gondwana at ca. 550 Ma. The timing of Grenville-age metamorphism has important implications for the position of Kalahari in Rodinia. It also questions that Coats Land is part of the Maud Belt because the undeformed volcanic rocks of Coats Land are older than the main metamorphism within the Maud Belt and, therefore, must rest on older basement. This interpretation explains why the pole of Coats Land at ca. 1,110 Ma differs from the Kalahari poles by 30°, i.e. Coats Land had not yet amalgamated to Kalahari. On the other hand, the palaeopoles from Coats Land and Laurentia at 1,110 Ma are identical within error. Thus, Coats Land could have been part of Laurentia prior to the final amalgamation of Rodinia, the Namaqua–Natal–Maud Belt could have been a part of the Grenville Belt and the entire Kalahari Craton could indeed have opposed Laurentia on its eastern side.     

Age constraints on Late Paleozoic evolution of continental crust from electron microprobe dating of monazite in the Peloritani Mountains (southern Italy): another example of resetting of monazite ages in high-grade rocks

In situ monazite microprobe dating has been performed, for the first time, on trondhjemite and amphibolite facies metasediments from the Peloritani Mountains in order to obtain information about the age of metamorphism and intrusive magmatism within this still poorly known sector of the Hercynian Belt. All samples show single-stage monazite growth of Hercynian age. One migmatite and one biotitic paragneiss yielded monazite ages of 311 ± 4 and 298 ± 6 Ma, respectively. These ages fit with previous age determinations in similar rocks from southern Calabria, indicating a thermal metamorphic peak at about 300 Ma, at the same time as widespread granitoid magmatism. The older of the two ages might represent a slightly earlier event, possibly associated with the emplacement of an adjacent trondhjemite pluton, previously dated by SHRIMP at 314 Ma. No evidence for pre-Hercynian events and only a little indication for some monazite crystallization starting from ca. 360 Ma were obtained from monazite dating of the metasediments, suggesting either a single-stage metamorphic evolution or a significant resetting of the monazite isotope system during the main Hercynian event (ca. 300 Ma). Rare monazite from a trondhjemite sample yields evidence for a late-Hercynian age of about 275 Ma. This age is interpreted as representing a post-magmatic stage of metasomatic monazite crystallization, which significantly postdates the emplacement of the original magmatic body.     

Mineral isotope evidence for the contemporaneous process of Mesozoic granite emplacement and gneiss metamorphism in the Dabie orogen

Kinetics of isotopic equilibrium in the mineral radiometric systems of igneous and metamorphic rocks is an important issue in geochronology. It turns out that temperature is the most important factor in dictating isotopic equilibrium or disequilibrium with respect to diffusion mechanism. Contemporaneous occurrence of Mesozoic granites and gneisses in the Dabie orogen of China allows us to evaluate the thermal effect of magma emplacement and associated metamorphism on mineral radiometric systems. Zircon U-Pb, mineral Rb-Sr and O isotope analyses were carried out for a Cretaceous granite and its host gneiss (foliated granite) from North Dabie. Zircon U-Pb dating gave consistently concordant ages of 127 ± 3 Ma and 128 ± 2 Ma for the granite and the gneiss, respectively. A direct correspondence in equilibrium state is observed between the O and Rb-Sr isotope systems of both granitic and gneissic minerals. Mineral O isotope temperatures correlate with O diffusion closure temperatures under conditions of slow cooling, indicating attainment and preservation of O isotope equilibrium in these minerals. The mineral Rb-Sr isochron of granite, constructed by biotite, feldspar, apatite and whole-rock with the O isotope equilibrium, yields a meaningful age of 118 ± 3 Ma, which is in accordance with the mineral Rb-Sr isochron age of 122 ± 1 Ma for the host gneiss. The consistency in both U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages between the granite and the gneiss suggests a contemporaneous process of crystallizing the zircons and resetting the Rb-Sr radiometric systems during magma emplacement and granite foliation. Whereas the zircon U-Pb ages for both granite and gneiss are interpreted as the timing of magma crystallization, the young Rb-Sr isochron ages record the timing of Sr diffusion closure during the slow cooling. Protolith of the gneiss crystallized shortly before intrusion of the granite, so that it was able to be foliated by voluminous emplacement of coeval mafic to felsic magmas derived by anatexis of orogenic lithospheric keel. Therefore, extensional collapse of collision-thickened crust at Early Cretaceous is suggested to trigger the post-collisional magmatism, which in turn serves as an essential driving force for the contemporaneous high-T deformation/metamorphism.     

Assembly of central Gondwana along the Zambezi Belt: Metamorphic response and basement reactivation during the Kuunga Orogeny

Central Gondwana was assembled by three continental collisions in relatively quick succession: late Cryogenian East Africa Orogen, early Ediacaran West Antarctica Orogen and late Ediacaran Kuunga Orogen. The Kuunga Orogen involved diachronous closure of the South Adamastor–Khomas–Mozambique Oceans and accretion of Kalahari Craton and cratonic elements in Antarctica, with a previously assembled North Gondwana. The two older orogens were still hot and deforming at the time of final assembly by the Kuunga Orogen, and were therefore reworked and re-metamorphosed. The Central Kuunga Orogen is comprised of the Lufilian Arc, Zambezi Belt, Malawi–Unango Complex and the Lurio Belt. This region was the site of earliest collision in the Kuunga Orogen at ~575 Ma, and involved collision of two buoyant, previously metamorphosed rigid basement promontories. Pivoting on the Zambezi Belt indenters led to clockwise rotation of the Kalahari Craton and oblique collision within the Damara Belt ~20–30 m.y. later. The Central Kuunga Orogen is a relatively cold collisional belt dominated by eclogite, whiteschist and Barrovian series metamorphic parageneses, and contrasts with the paired metamorphic response in the Damara Belt to the west, and low-P/high-T metamorphism in the East Kuunga Orogen. Metamorphic parageneses are preserved from each stage of the full Wilson Cycle: from initiation of continental lithosphere thinning at ~940 Ma, widespread rifting between 725 and 805 Ma, and passive margin sedimentation until ~580 Ma. Eclogite-facies subduction parageneses indicate consumption of ocean lithosphere was underway by ~630–660 Ma. Collision at ~575 Ma involved deep burial of continental crust and formation of very high-P, low T/depth metamorphic parageneses, followed by Barrovian series thermal peaks at ~545 and ~525 Ma. Isostatic compensation and stress switches associated with plate reconfigurations once Gondwana was assembled, resulted in exhumation and local extension in an intra-continental setting from ~518 Ma.     

Geological context of the Boumnyebel talcschists (Cameroun): Inferences on the Pan-African Belt of Central Africa

The talcschists of the Boumnyebel area (southern Cameroon) form ≤ 30 m thick discontinuous layers within a Pan-African nappe unit (Yaoundé group), which includes, at the base, muscovite + biotite ± garnet micaschists associated with amphibolites and pyroxenites, and, at the top, muscovite + biotite + garnet + kyanite micaschists locally associated with marble and amphibolites. The metamorphic peak (∼650 °C/9.5 kbar; ca. 620 Ma) postdates nappe emplacement. Isograds are in normal position, micaschists passing downwards to migmatites in the northwestern part of the area studied. The rock types in the lower part of this nappe suggest active margin environments with detrital input from a nearby continental crust (arc or back-arc context).     

Ruby Mineralization in Southwest Madagascar

Gem-variety of red corundum (i.e. ruby) is produced in the Ejeda-Fotadrevo area, in southwestern Madagascar. The primary ruby deposits are closely associated with basic/ultrabasic complexes within the high grade metamorphic terranes of the Precambrian Vohibory unit. Ruby is recovered from amphibolite and anorthosite veins within these complexes. Petrographic data and P-T estimates indicate that the ruby-bearing rocks crystallized under granulites facies conditions of 750–850°C and 9–11.5kbar, in accordance with the conditions recorded from the surrounding granulites. The Malagasy ruby deposits present numerous similarities with East African deposits, especially Tanzanian, indicating similar geological context of ruby mineralization and suggesting that ruby formation in both these areas resulted from a same mineralizing event when Madagascar was still adjacent to East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) in the Gondwanaland assembly at the end of Proterozoic times.     

Metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks from the central Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: crustal recycling of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material during the Pan-African orogeny

New data on the metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high‐grade rocks in the central Mozambique Belt (MB) of Tanzania show that this part of the orogen consists of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was structurally reworked during the Pan‐African event. The metamorphic rocks are characterized by a clockwise P–T path, followed by strong decompression, and the time of peak granulite facies metamorphism is similar to other granulite terranes in Tanzania. The predominant rock types are mafic to intermediate granulites, migmatites, granitoid orthogneisses and kyanite/sillimanite‐bearing metapelites. The meta‐granitoid rocks are of calc‐alkaline composition, range in age from late Archean to Neoproterozoic, and their protoliths were probably derived from magmatic arcs during collisional processes. Mafic to intermediate granulites consist of the mineral assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz–biotite–amphibole ± K‐feldspar ± orthopyroxene ± oxides. Metapelites are composed of garnet‐biotite‐plagioclase ± K‐feldspar ± kyanite/sillimanite ± oxides. Estimated values for peak granulite facies metamorphism are 12–13 kbar and 750–800 °C. Pressures of 5–8 kbar and temperatures of 550–700 °C characterize subsequent retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions. Evidence for a clockwise P–T path is provided by late growth of sillimanite after kyanite in metapelites. Zircon ages indicate that most of the central part of the MB in Tanzania consists of reworked ancient crust as shown by Archean (c. 2970–2500 Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (c. 2124–1837 Ma) protolith ages. Metamorphic zircon from metapelites and granitoid orthogneisses yielded ages of c. 640 Ma which are considered to date peak regional granulite facies metamorphism during the Pan‐African orogenic event. However, the available zircon ages for the entire MB in East Africa and Madagascar also document that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at different times in different places. Large parts of the MB in central Tanzania consist of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was reworked during the Pan‐African event and that may have been part of the Tanzania Craton and Usagaran domain farther to the west.     

Geochronology of the Precambrian crust in the Mozambique belt in NE Mozambique, and implications for Gondwana assembly

Zircon and monazite U–Pb data document the geochronology of the felsic crust in the Mozambique Belt in NE Mozambique. Immediately E of Lake Niassa and NW of the Karoo-aged Maniamba Graben, the Ponta Messuli Complex preserves Paleoproterozoic gneisses with granulite-facies metamorphism dated at 1950 ± 15 Ma, and intruded by granite at 1056 ± 11 Ma. This complex has only weak evidence for a Pan-African metamorphism. Between the Maniamba Graben and the WSW–ENE-trending Lurio (shear) Belt, the Unango and Marrupa Complexes consist mainly of felsic orthogneisses dated between 1062 ± 13 and 946 ± 11 Ma, and interlayered with minor paragneisses. In these complexes, an amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism is dated at 953 ± 8 Ma and a nepheline syenite pluton is dated at 799 ± 8 Ma. Pan-African deformation and high-grade metamorphism are more intense and penetrative southwards, towards the Lurio Belt. Amphibolite-facies metamorphism is dated at 555 ± 11 Ma in the Marrupa Complex and amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism between 569 ± 9 and 527 ± 8 Ma in the Unango Complex. Post-collisional felsic plutonism, dated between 549 ± 13 and 486 ± 27 Ma, is uncommon in the Marrupa Complex but common in the Unango Complex. To the south of the Lurio Belt, the Nampula Complex consists of felsic orthogneisses which gave ages ranging from 1123 ± 9 to 1042 ± 9 Ma, interlayered with paragneisses. The Nampula Complex underwent amphibolite-facies metamorphism in the period between 543 ± 23 to 493 ± 8 Ma, and was intruded by voluminous post-collisional granitoid plutons between 511 ± 12 and 508 ± 3 Ma. In a larger context, the Ponta Messuli Complex is regarded as part of the Palaeoproterozoic, Usagaran, Congo-Tanzania Craton foreland of the Pan-African orogen. The Unango, Marrupa and Nampula Complexes were probably formed in an active margin setting during the Mesoproterozoic. The Unango and Marrupa Complexes were assembled on the margin of the Congo-Tanzania Craton during the Irumidian orogeny (ca. 1020–950 Ma), together with terranes in the Southern Irumide Belt. The distinctly older Nampula Complex was more probably linked to the Maud Belt of Antarctica, and peripheral to the Kalahari Craton during the Neoproterozoic. During the Pan-African orogeny, the Marrupa Complex was overlain by NW-directed nappes of the Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex before peak metamorphism at ca. 555 Ma. The nappes include evidence for early Pan-African orogenic events older than 610 Ma, typical for the Eastern Granulites in Tanzania. Crustal thickening at 555 ± 11 Ma is coeval with high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphism along the Lurio Belt at 557 ± 16 Ma. Crustal thickening in NE Mozambique is part of the main Pan-African, Kuunga, orogeny peaking between 570 and 530 Ma, during which the Congo-Tanzania, Kalahari, East Antarctica and India Cratons welded to form Gondwana. Voluminous post-collisional magmatism and metamorphism younger than 530 Ma in the Lurio Belt and the Nampula Complex are taken as evidence of gravitational collapse of the extensive orogenic domain south of the Lurio Belt after ca. 530 Ma. The Lurio Belt may represent a Pan-African suture zone between the Kalahari and Congo-Tanzania Craton.     

Paleogene crustal anatexis and metamorphism in Lhasa terrane, eastern Himalayan syntaxis: Evidence from U-Pb zircon ages and Hf isotopic compositions of the Nyingchi Complex

In the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, the southern Lhasa terrane is dominated by middle- to high-grade metamorphic rocks (Nyingchi Complex), which are intruded by felsic melts. U-Pb zircon dating and zircon Hf isotopic composition of these metamorphic and magmatic rocks provide important constraints on the tectono-thermal evolution of the Lhasa terrane during convergent process between Indian and Asian continents. U-Pb zircon data for an orthogneiss intruding the Nyingchi Complex yield a protolith magma crystallization age of 83.4 ± 1.2 Ma, with metamorphic ages of 65-46 Ma. This orthogneiss is characterized by positive ε_Hf (t) values of + 8.3 and young Hf model ages of ~ 0.6 Ga, indicating a derivation primarily from a depleted-mantle or juvenile crustal source. Zircons from a quartz diorite yield a magma crystallization age of 63.1 ± 0.6 Ma, with ε_Hf (t) values of − 8.2 to − 2.7, suggesting that this magma was sourced from partial melting of older crustal materials. Zircon cores from a foliated biotite granite show ages ranging from 347 to 2690 Ma, with age peaks at 347-403 Ma, 461-648 Ma and 1013-1183 Ma; their zircon ε_Hf (t) values range from − 30.6 to + 6.9. Both the U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic composition of the zircon cores are similar to those of detrital zircons from the Nyingchi Complex paragneiss, implying that the granite was derived from anatexis of the Nyingchi Complex metasediments. The zircon rims from the granite indicate crustal anatexis at 64.4 ± 0.7 Ma and subsequent metamorphism at 55.1 ± 1.3 and 41.4 ± 2.3 Ma. Our results suggest that the late Cretaceous magmatism in the southern Lhasa terrane resulted from Neo-Tethys oceanic slab subduction and we infer that Paleocene crustal anatexis and metamorphism were related to the thermal perturbation caused by rollback of the northward subducted Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab.     

The Niassa Gold Belt,northern Mozambique – A segment of a continental-scale Pan-African gold-bearing structure?

The Niassa Gold Belt, in northernmost Mozambique, is hosted in the Txitonga Group, a Neoproterozoic rift sequence overlying Paleoproterozoic crust of the Congo–Tanzania Craton and deformed during the Pan-African Orogeny. The Txitonga Group is made up of greenschist-facies greywacke and schist and is characterized by bimodal, mainly mafic, magmatism. A zircon U–Pb age for a felsic volcanite dates deposition of the sequence at 714 ± 17 Ma. Gold is mined artisanally from alluvial deposits and primary chalcopyrite-pyrite-bearing quartz veins containing up to 19 ppm Au have been analyzed. In the Cagurué and M’Papa gold fields, dominantly N–S trending quartz veins, hosted in metagabbro and schist, are regarded as tension gashes related to regional strike-slip NE–SW-trending Pan-African shear zones. These gold deposits have been classified as mesozonal and metamorphic in origin. Re–Os isotopic data on sulfides suggest two periods of gold deposition for the Cagurué Gold Field. A coarse-crystalline pyrite–chalcopyrite assemblage yields an imprecise Pan-African age of 483 ± 72 Ma, dating deposition of the quartz veins. Remobilization of early-formed sulfides, particularly chalcopyrite, took place at 112 ± 14 Ma, during Lower Cretaceous Gondwana dispersal. The ～483 Ma assemblage yields a chondritic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 0.123 ± 0.058. This implies a juvenile source for the ore fluids, possibly involving the hosting Neoproterozoic metagabbro. The Niassa Gold Belt is situated at the eastern end of a SW–NE trending continental-scale lineament defined by the Mwembeshi Shear Zone and the southern end of a NW–SE trending lineament defined by the Rukwa Shear Zone. We offer a review of gold deposits in Zambia and Tanzania associated with these polyphase lineaments and speculate on their interrelation.     

RbSr isotope constraints on the timing of late to post-Archa↭ tectonometamorphism affecting the southeastaean Kaapvaal Craton

Biotite separates from Archaean granitoid lithologies on the Kaapvaal Craton north of the roterozoic Namaqua-Natal Belt in south eastern South Africa exhibit RbSr model dates of 967 ± 24 Ma for samples from within 25 km of the present northern limit of the Proterozoic thrust front. Samples from further north (>50 km to 170 km) have model RbSr dates of 2614 ± 74 Ma. The younger dates are interpreted as dating cooling after northwards emplacement of Proterozoic crust onto the Kaapvaal Craton, whereas the older dates are presumed to relate to an Archaæan metamorphic episode, possibly associated with intrusion of the post-Pongola granites.     

Precise U–Pb baddeleyite ages of mafic dykes and intrusions in southern West Greenland and implications for a possible reconstruction with the Superior craton

The Archaean block of southern Greenland constitutes the core of the North Atlantic craton (NAC) and is host to a large number of Precambrian mafic intrusions and dyke swarms, many of which are regionally extensive but poorly dated. For southern West Greenland, we present a U–Pb zircon age of 2990 ± 13 Ma for the Amikoq mafic–ultramafic layered intrusion (Fiskefjord area) and four baddeleyite U–Pb ages of Precambrian dolerite dykes. Specifically, a dyke located SE of Ameralik Fjord is dated at 2499 ± 2 Ma, similar to a previously reported ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of a dyke in the Kangâmiut area. For these and related intrusions of ca. 2.5 Ga age in southern West Greenland, we propose the name Kilaarsarfik dykes. Three WNW-trending dykes of the MD3 swarm yield ages of 2050 ± 2 Ma, 2041 ± 3 Ma and 2029 ± 3 Ma. A similar U–Pb baddeleyite age of 2045 ± 2 Ma is also presented for a SE-trending dolerite (Iglusuataliksuak dyke) in the Nain Province, the rifted western block of the NAC in Labrador. We speculate that the MD3 dykes and age-equivalent NNE-trending Kangâmiut dykes of southern West Greenland, together with the Iglusuataliksuak dyke (after closure of the Labrador Sea) represent components of a single, areally extensive, radiating swarm that signaled the arrival of a mantle plume centred on what is presently the western margin of the North Atlantic craton. Comparison of the magmatic ‘barcodes’ from the Nain and Greenland portions of the North Atlantic craton with the established record from the north-eastern Superior craton shows matches at 2500 Ma, 2214 Ma, 2050–2030 Ma and 1960–1950 Ma. We use these new age constraints, together with orientations of the dyke swarms, to offer a preliminary reconstruction of the North Atlantic craton near the north-eastern margin of the Superior craton during the latest Archaean and early Palaeoproterozoic, possibly with the Core Zone craton of eastern Canada intervening.