Metamorphic evolution of exhumed middle to lower crustal rocks in the Mojave Extensional Belt, southern California, USA

The Waterman Metamorphic Complex of the central Mojave Desert was exposed as a consequence of early Miocene detachment-dominated extension. However, it has evidence consistent with a more extensive geological history that involves collision of a crustal fragment(s), tectonic thickening by overthrusting and two periods of extension. The metamorphic complex contains granitoid intrusives and felsic mylonitic gneisses as well as polymetamorphic rocks that include marble, calc-silicate, quartzite. mafic granulite, pyribolite, amphibolite, migmatite and biotite schist. The latter group of rocks was affected by an initial series of high-grade metamorphic events (M1 and M2) and a localized lower grade overprint (M3). The initial metamorphism (M1) can be separated into two stages along its high-grade P–T path: M1a, a granulite facies metamorphism at 800–850° C and 7.5–9 kbar and Mlb, an upper amphibolite facies overprint at 750–800° C and 10–12 kbar. M1a developed mineral assemblages and textures consistent with granulite facies conditions at a reduced activity of H₂O and is associated with intense ductile deformation (D1) and minor local partial melting. M1b overprinted the granulite assemblages with a series of hydrous phases under conditions of increasing pressure and H₂O activity and is accompanied by little or no deformation. M2 developed at lower pressures and temperatures (650–750° C, 4.5–5.5 kbar) and is distinguished by a second local overprint of hydrous phases that reflects an input of aqueous fluids probably associated with the intrusion of a series of granitic dykes and veins. Effects of M3 are confined to the Mitchel detachment zone, an anastomosing early Miocene detachment fault, and are characterized by local ductile/brittle deformation (D2) of the pre-existing high-grade rocks and granitoid intrusives and by the production of mylonites and mylonitic gneisses under greenschist facies conditions (300–350° C, 3–5 kbar). The initial overprint (M1a) represents metamorphism, devolatilization and minor partial melting of supracrustal rocks under granulite facies conditions as a consequence of tectonic and, possibly, magmatic thickening. The increasing pressure transition of M1a to M1b reflects a period of continued compressional tectonism, thrusting and influx of H₂O, in part, locally related to crystallization of partial melts. The near isothermal decompression between M1b and M2 probably represents a pre-112-Ma extensional episode that may have been the result of a decompressional readjustment of a thickened crust. Following the initial extensional event, the metamorphic complex remained at depths of 10–17 km for at least 90 Ma until it was uplifted following Miocene extension. M3 develops locally in response to this second extensional period resulting from the early Miocene detachment faulting.     

Asymmetrically zoned reaction rims: assessment of grain boundary diffusivities and growth rates related to natural diffusion-controlled mineral reactions

This study explores garnet coronas around hedenbergite, which were formed by the reaction plagioclase + hedenbergite→garnet + quartz, to derive information about diffusion paths that allowed for material redistribution during reaction progress. Whereas quartz forms disconnected single grains along the garnet/hedenbergite boundaries, garnet forms ～20‐μm‐wide continuous polycrystalline rims along former plagioclase/hedenbergite phase boundaries. Individual garnet crystals are separated by low‐angle grain boundaries, which commonly form a direct link between the reaction interfaces of the plagioclase|garnet|hedenbergite succession. Compositional variations in garnet involve: (i) an overall asymmetric compositional zoning in Ca, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Al across the garnet layer; and (ii) micron‐scale compositional variations in the near‐grain boundary regions and along plagioclase/garnet phase boundaries. These compositional variations formed during garnet rim growth. Thereby, transfer of the chemical components occurred by a combination of fast‐path diffusion along grain boundaries within the garnet rim, slow diffusion through the interior of the garnet grains, and by fast diffusion along the garnet/plagioclase and the garnet/hedenbergite phase boundaries. Numerical simulation indicates that diffusion of Ca, Al and Fe²⁺ occurred about three to four, four and six to seven orders of magnitude faster along the grain boundaries than through the interior of the garnet grains. Fast‐path diffusion along grain boundaries contributed substantially to the bulk material transfer across the growing garnet rim. Despite the contribution of fast‐path diffusion, bulk diffusion through the garnet rim was too slow to allow for chemical equilibration of the phases involved in garnet rim formation even on a micrometre scale. Based on published garnet volume diffusion data the growth interval of a 20‐μm‐wide garnet rim is estimated at ～10³–10⁴ years at the inferred reaction conditions of 760 ± 50 °C at 7.6 kbar. Using the same parameterization of the growth law, 100‐μm‐ and 1‐mm‐thick garnet rims would grow within 10⁵–10⁶ and 10⁶–10⁷ years respectively.     

The role of heterogeneous strain in the development and preservation of a polymetamorphic record in high-P granulites, western Canadian Shield

Mafic rocks in the Chipman domain of the Athabasca granulite terrane, western Canadian Shield, provide the first well‐documented record of two distinct high‐P granulite facies events in the same domain in this region. Textural relations and the results of petrological modelling (NCFMASHT system) of mafic granulites are interpreted in terms of a three‐stage tectonometamorphic history. Stage 1 involved development of the assemblage Grt + Cpx + Qtz ± Pl (M₁) from a primary Opx‐bearing igneous precursor at conditions of 1.3 GPa, 850–900 °C. Field and microstructural observations suggest that M₁ developed synchronously with an early S₁ gneissic fabric. Stage 2 is characterized by heterogeneous deformation (D₂) and synkinematic partial retrogression of the peak assemblage to an amphibole‐bearing assemblage (M₂). Stage 3 involved a third phase of deformation and a return to granulite facies conditions marked by the prograde breakdown of amphibole (Amph₂) to produce matrix garnet (Grt_3a) and the coronitic assemblage Cpx_3b + Opx_3b + Ilm_3b + Pl_3b (M_3b) at 1.0 GPa, 800–900 °C. M₁ and M_3b are correlated with 2.55 and 1.9 Ga metamorphic generations of zircon, respectively, which were dated in a separate study. Heterogeneous strain played a crucial role in both the development and preservation of these rare examples of multiple granulite facies events within single samples. Without this fortuitous set of circumstances, the apparent reaction history could have incorrectly led to an interpretation involving a single‐cycle high‐grade event. The detailed P–T–t–D history constructed for these rocks provides the best evidence to date that much of the east Lake Athabasca region experienced long‐term lower crustal residence from 2.55 to 1.9 Ga, and thus the region represents a rare window into the reactivation and ultimate stabilization processes of cratonic lithosphere.     

Evolution from Oceanic Subduction to Continental Collision: a Case Study from the Northern Tibetan Plateau Based on Geochemical and Geochronological Data

Two apparently distinct, sub-parallel, paleo-subduction zonescan be recognized along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:the North Qilian Suture Zone (oceanic-type) with ophioliticmélanges and high-pressure eclogites and blueschistsin the north, and the North Qaidam Belt (continental-type) inthe south, an ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane comprisingpelitic and granitic gneisses, eclogites and garnet peridotites.Eclogites from both belts have protoliths broadly similar tomid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) or oceanic island basalts (OIB)in composition with overlapping metamorphic ages (480–440Ma, with weighted mean ages of 464 ± 6 Ma for North Qilianand 457 ± 7 Ma for North Qaidam), determined by zirconU–Pb sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe dating.Coesite-bearing zircon grains in pelitic gneisses from the NorthQaidam UHP Belt yield a peak metamorphic age of 423 ±6 Ma, 40 Myr younger than the age of eclogite formation, anda retrograde age of 403 ± 9 Ma. These data, combinedwith regional relationships, allow us to infer that these twoparallel belts may represent an evolutionary sequence from oceanicsubduction to continental collision, and continental underthrusting,to final exhumation. The Qilian–Qaidam Craton was probablya fragment of the Rodinia supercontinent with a passive marginand extended oceanic lithosphere in the north, which was subductedbeneath the North China Craton to depths >100 km at c. 423Ma and exhumed at c. 403 Ma (zircon rim ages in pelitic gneiss). KEY WORDS: HP and UHP rocks; subduction belts; zircon SHRIMP ages; Northern Tibetan Plateau     

冀西北麻粒岩区早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架

本文通过年代学资料和其它地质依据建立了冀西北及邻区麻粒岩地体早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架。早期的基性火山喷发事件发生在2868—2932Ma期间,形成本区的早期地壳。在2761Ma左右发生了大规模的TTG岩浆侵位事件,在2650Ma时发生了基性岩浆侵位,使地壳加厚。在2561—2503Ma期间,花岗闪长质岩浆在本区广泛侵入,使地壳进一步加厚。2477—2461Ma期间,紫苏花岗岩以岩株形式侵入,同时发生区域麻粒岩相变质,早期地壳受到改造。大约在2300Ma时发生第二阶段的麻粒岩相变质。此后,在2144—2087Ma期间红色花岗岩侵位,形成花岗岩带。     

羌塘地区榴辉岩中矿物出溶体及其成因机制探讨

西藏羌塘地区榴辉岩石榴子石和磷灰石中均发育矿物出溶体,结合电子探针和扫描电镜分析及能谱分析,确定了石榴子石中的出溶体有金红石、石英和角闪石,指示其可能经历了高压/超高压变质作用。本研究在磷灰石中发现了金红石出溶,并认为其可能是在高压/超高压条件下元素相互置换的结果,置换方式为Ti~(4+)(Fe~(2+)、Si~(4+))=2Ca~(2+),这些出溶体的形成为榴辉岩曾经历高压/超高压变质作用提供了矿物学证据。     

大同—怀安麻粒岩地体的伸展抬升

大同－怀安地区ＴＴＧ片麻岩和孔兹岩系早期具有互不相同的，但双彼此相关的构造和演压历史。它们之间的低角度高应变带以正韧性剪切和非共轴变形为特征，体出了构造接触的性质。构造和岩石学数据表明，该地体至少在２．５Ｇａ和１．８Ｇａ前后分别受到两个麻粒岩相变质事件的影响，其主要的构造是在Ｍ１事件中形成的。     

Quantitative elemental mapping of granulite-facies monazite: Textural insights and implications for petrochronology

Texturally complex monazite grains contained in two granulite-facies pelitic migmatites from southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, were mapped by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (using spot sizes ≤5 µm) to quantitatively determine the spatial variation in trace element chemistry (with up to 1,883 analyses per grain). The maps highlight the chemical complexity of monazite grains that have experienced multiple episodes of growth, resorption and chemical modification by dissolution–precipitation during high-grade metamorphism. Following detailed chemical characterization of monazite compositional zones, a related U–Pb data set is re-interpreted, allowing petrologically significant ages to be extracted from a continuum of concordant data. Synthesis of these data with pseudosection modelling of prograde and peak conditions allows for the temporal evolution of monazite trace element chemistry to be placed in the context of the evolving P–T conditions and major phase assemblage. This approach enables a critical evaluation of three commonly used petrochronological indicators: linking Y to garnet abundance, the Eu anomaly to feldspar content and Th/U to anatectic processes. Europium anomalies and Th/U behave in a relatively systematic fashion, suggesting that they are reliable petrochronological witnesses. However, Y systematics are variable, both within domains interpreted to have grown in a single event, between grains interpreted to be part of the same age population, and between samples that experienced similar metamorphic conditions and mineral assemblages. These observations caution against generalized petrological interpretations on the basis of Y content, as it suggests Y concentrations in monazite are controlled by domainal equilibria. The results reveal a c. 45 Myr interval between prograde metamorphism and retrograde melt crystallization in the study area, emphasizing the long-lived nature of heat flow in high-grade metamorphic terranes. Such long timescales of metamorphism would be assisted by the growth, retention and dominance of high-Th suprasolidus monazite, as observed in this study, contributing to the radiogenic heating budget of mid- to lower-crustal environments. Careful characterization of monazite grains suggests that continuum-style U–Pb data sets can be decoded to provide insights into the duration of metamorphic processes.     

固相吸附毒素跟踪技术(SPATT)在浙江南麂海域的应用

浙江南麂岛海域是我国近岸贝类的重点养殖区,近年来一直遭受脂溶性贝类毒素(lipophilic shellfish toxins,LSTs)的污染,威胁着人类健康。为了建立有效的食品安全预警方法,本研究利用固相吸附毒素跟踪技术(solid phase adsorption toxin tracking,SPATT)在该海域进行了为期一年的野外监测和LSTs毒素分析。结果表明:7种LSTs毒素在SPATT(DIAION?HP20)中被检出,分别是大田软海绵酸(okadaic acid,OA)、鳍藻毒素-1(dinophysistoxin-1,DTX-1)、虾夷扇贝毒素(yessotoxin,YTX)及其衍生物homo YTX、扇贝毒素-2(pectenotoxin-2,PTX-2)及其衍生物7-epi-PTX2sa和环亚胺毒素(gymnodimine,GYM);有8种毒素在厚壳贻贝(Mytilus galloprovincialis)中被检出,分别是OA、DTX1、homo YTX、PTX2、7-epi-PTX2sa、GYM、原多甲藻酸贝类毒素-3(azaspiracid-3,AZA-3)和虾夷扇贝毒素衍生物45-OH-homo YTX。整体而言,SPATT(HP20)中吸附的毒素种类与贝肉中监测出的毒素种类大体上一致,且两者间OA、DTX1和PTX2的浓度在时间上具有较好的相关性,可见SPATT(HP20)对这些LSTs毒素具有较高的灵敏度,有望作为水体中LSTs毒素的预警监测材料。南麂岛海域LSTs分布特征明显,夏季最高,其次是春秋季,冬季最低,其中2014年夏季贝肉中OA毒素含量高达77.19ng/g贝肉,超出国家限量标准(45ng/g贝肉)比例达11.76%,为浙江南麂海域贻贝的食用安全带来隐患。     

中国东北地区的构造格局与演化:从500Ma到180Ma

中国东北变质基底为由含矽线石榴片麻岩、角闪斜长片麻岩、石墨大理岩和各种长英质片麻岩组成的孔兹岩系。采自额尔古纳、兴安、佳木斯和兴凯地块的矽线石榴片麻岩样品的锆石U-Pb测年均指示高级变质发生在500Ma左右。来自松辽地块古生代沉积物碎屑锆石的证据也表明约500Ma构造岩浆事件的存在。跨越整个中国东北不同地块的泛非期高级变质岩形成了超过1 300km北西向展布的晚泛非期"中国东北孔兹岩带",以顺时针p/T轨迹的孔兹岩带与同期岩浆杂岩共同构成了一巨型的约500Ma前后的造山带,笔者这里命名为"中国东北早古生代造山带"。这证明了中国东北各地块在500Ma之前已经拼合,并与西伯利亚克拉通具有构造亲缘性,曾是晚泛非期(500 Ma)西伯利亚南缘Sayang-Baikal造山带的组成部分。450Ma之后,已经拼合的中国东北地块群从西伯利亚裂解,向南朝现今的中国东北漂移;230Ma前后,东北地块群沿索伦—西拉沐伦—长春缝合带与华北板块碰撞;210～180 Ma,由于太平洋板块的俯冲导致佳木斯地块与西部松辽地块最终拼贴,沿佳木斯—兴凯地块西缘和南缘形成一弧形高压带(包括佳木斯—兴凯地块西缘黑龙江蓝片岩带和佳木斯—兴凯地块南缘长春—延吉带),这里简称"吉林—黑龙江高压变质带",之后东北地区进入了环太平洋构造域演化阶段并持续至今。