A.E. Vernikovskaya

First report of early Triassic A-type granite and syenite intrusions from Taimyr : product of the northern Eurasian superplume

Abstract Ion-microprobe U–Th–Pb analyses of zircon from three high-level syenite–granite stocks in the western part of the Taimyr fold-and-thrust belt have yielded early Triassic ages of 249–241 Ma. Those syenite–granite bodies intrude unmetamorphosed late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic terrigenous and volcanic supracrustal rocks, including the early Triassic Siberian traps. 40 Ar– 39 Ar isotopic ages of 245–233 Ma correlate well with the ion-microprobe data and define the time of closure for the K–Ar isotopic system. Limited geochemical data for the early Triassic syenite–granite plutons show that they have metaluminous compositions, high potassium, high REE and high LIL concentrations, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and e Nd ratios intermediate between crust and mantle, suggesting a hybrid mantle–crustal origin. We tentatively suggest that they formed in an anorogenic setting as a result of the Permo-Triassic Euroasian superplume.

Neoproterozoic accretionary and collisional events on the western margin of the Siberian craton: new geological and geochronological evidence from the Yenisey Ridge

Abstract The geological, structural and tectonic evolutions of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt are discussed in the context of the western margin of the Siberian craton during the Neoproterozoic. Previous work in the Yenisey Ridge had led to the interpretation that the fold belt is composed of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks comprising an Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement with an unconformably overlying Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic cover, which was mainly metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions. Based on the existing data and new geological and zircon U–Pb data, we recognize several terranes of different age and composition that were assembled during Neoproterozoic collisional–accretional processes on the western margin of the Siberian craton. We suggest that there were three main Neoproterozoic tectonic events involved in the formation of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt at 880–860 Ma, 760–720 Ma and 700–630 Ma. On the basis of new geochronological and petrological data, we propose that the Yeruda and Teya granites (880–860 Ma) were formed as a result of the first event, which could have occurred in the Central Angara terrane before it collided with Siberia. We also propose that the Cherimba, Ayakhta, Garevka and Glushikha granites (760–720 Ma) were formed as a result of this collision. The third event (700–630 Ma) is fixed by the age of island-arc and ophiolite complexes and their obduction onto the Siberian craton margin. We conclude by discussing correlation of these complexes with those in other belts on the margin of the Siberian craton.

Neoproterozoic Orogeny along the margins of Siberia

Abstract The Siberian Craton is bounded by fold-and-thrust belts involving Neoproterozoic (locally Mesoproterozoic) complexes on the southern (Baikal-Vitim), western (Yenisey Ridge and Turukhansk-Igarka), northern (Taimyr), and eastern (Verkhoyansk) sides. This paper focuses on the geological structure and evolution of these formations. Previous and new geochronological data show that passive continental margins existed around most of the Siberian Craton during the early Neoproterozoic and possibly the late Mesoproterozoic. Between about 850–760 Ma, the southern, western and northern passive margins of the Siberian Craton were transformed into active margins. Middle-late Neoproterozoic island arcs and ophiolites were formed between c. 750–650 Ma along these margins; they are inferred to have been obducted onto the Siberian continental margin at c. 600 Ma, prior to late Vendian deposition. New ion microprobe U-Pb ages of ophiolitic rocks from Taimyr’s Central domain are presented. The Neoproterozoic record in the Cretaceous Verkhoyansk fold-and-thrust belt indicates that the eastern part of the Siberian Craton remained a passive continental margin during the Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic. Baltica-Siberia relationships are also discussed.

Late Riphean alkaline magmatism in the western margin of the Siberian Craton: A result of continental rifting or accretionary events?

Magmatic evolution in the western margin of the Siberian Craton has attracted the attention of many specialists in the context of debatable problems concerning the formation and breakdown of the Meso- and Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercontinent, the evolution of the Paleoasian ocean, and the origin of the Central Asian Foldbelt [1‐3]. The evolution of the Late Riphean and Vendian alkaline igneous complexes occupies a special place in this problem. According to the paleoreconstruction by Yarmolyuk et al. [3], these complexes are traced not only along the western and southern margins of the Siberian Craton, but also in North America (Laurentia). Such complexes are commonly regarded as products of anorogenic conditions related to plumes and/or continental rifting. However, models of accretion processes, when a subducted plate reaches the asthenosphere and generates a new alkaline magma source, are also discussed in the literature [4]. As has been established previously, alkaline rocks, including alkali and nepheline syenites and Li‐F granites, were formed in the Central Asian Foldbelt throughout the Late Riphean and Vendian‐Cambrian accretionary events [3].

The oldest island arc complex of Taimyr: Concerning the issue of the Central-Taimyr accretionary belt formation and paleogeodynamic reconstructions in the arctic

In this paper we provide data on the oldest island arc complex of Taimyr, which was established within the Central-Taimyr accretionary belt. We demonstrate its relationship with the mainly turbiditic back-arc basin complex. U-Pb isotopic data for zircons are presented from a plagiogranite and a plagiorhyodacite, indicating that the island arc formed 961–969 m.y. ago from a substance with a Mezoproterozoic model age: TNd(DM) varies from 1170 to 1219 Ma. Paleomagnetic investigations performed on the island arc complex rocks showed that the paleomagnetic pole of the island arc is close to synchronous poles, obtained for the south-east of the Siberian craton. Consequently, the island arc whose relicts are preserved in the modern structure of the Three Sisters Lake region was located in close proximity to the Taimyr margin of Siberia at the moment of its formation and could be separated from the continent by a back-arc basin. The data obtained have a fundamental significance for geodynamic paleoreconstructions in the Arctic sector for the Neoproterozoic.

Petrology, Geochemistry, and Tectonic Setting of Plagiogranites of the Chelyuskin Ophiolite Belt

Results of research on the geological, petrochemical, and isotopic-geochronological charac- teristics of plagiogranites from the Chelyuskin ophiolitic belt, on the northern part of East Siberias Taymyr Peninsula, are presented. Petro-geochemical features and REE distributions for this tonalite-trondhjemite series resemble those of plagiogranites from different ophiolitic complexes. The plagiogranites considered here belong to the low-potassium series of ophiolitic mafics—gabbro, gabbro-dolerite dikes, and basalts. Their spatial relationships; low K2O, Rb, Nb, Ta, U., and Th contents; similar REE patterns; and tonalite and trondhjemite Nd- and Sm-Nd- isotopic ratios typical of mafic rocks confirm the cogenetic nature of these rocks. Zircon U-Pb dating and an Sm-Nd isotopic study suggest a Late Riphean age for the plagiogranites. We regard the 740 ± 38 Ma age as the upper age boundary for the formation of the Chelyuskin ophiolitic belt, and Sm-Nd model ages (850–785 Ma) as its lower boundary. Tonalite-tron...

Magmatism evolution and carbonatite-granite association in the neoproterozoic active continental margin of the Siberian craton: Thermochronological reconstructions

Neoproterozoic carbonatites and related igneous rocks, including A-type granites in the Tatarka-Ishimba suture zone of the Yenisey Ridge are confined to a horst-anticlinal structure that was formed in a transpression setting during the oblique collision between the Central Angara terrane and the Siberian craton. The carbonatites, associating mafic (including alkaline) dikes as well as the Srednetatarka nepheline syenites are the oldest igneous formations of the Tatarka active continental margin complex. Geochronological data indicate that magmatic evolution continued in the studied anticline for nearly 100 m.y. On the earliest stage carbonatites were formed and on the last stage — the emplacement of mantle-crustal A-type Tatarka granites took place. According to new U/Pb zircon studies, the earliest rocks in the Tatarka pluton are A-type leucogranites aged 646 ± 8 Ma. The younger 40Ar/39Ar ages of carbonatites obtained for phlogopites (647 ± 7 and 629 ± 6 Ma) are related to the last tectonic events in the studied region of the Tatarka-Ishimba suture zone, which are coeval with the formation of the A-type granitoids (646–629 Ma).

NEOPROTEROZOIC TAYMYR OPHIOLITIC BELTS AND OPENING OF THE PALEO-PACIFIC OCEAN

The Taymyr Neoproterozoic ophiolites are located within the Precambrian accretionary belt, which occurs between the Siberian continent and the Kara continental block. Petrological-geochemical studies suggest that the formation of ophiolites reflects an ensimatic marginal-sea geodynamic environment. Zircon U-Pb dating and Sm-Nd isotopic study suggest a Neoproterozoic age for the plagiogranite from the Chelyuskin ophiolite belt. We regard the zircon U-Pb age (740 Ma) as the upper age boundary for the formation of the ophiolites and the Sm-Nd model age (850 to 785 Ma) as its lower boundary. Data on Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, Ar-Ar, and K-Ar isotopic systems in garnet amphibolites from the Stanovoy ophiolite belt allowed us to establish the age interval of their metamorphism, ∼600 Ma, as the time of obduction of ophiolites and the entire accretionary belt onto the Siberian craton margin. Age data on island-arc volcanics and plagiogranites as well as diabase dikes and sills, traced from the Canadian Cordillera through the ...

Adakite-gabbro-anorthosite magmatism at the final (576–546 Ma) development stage of the Neoproterozoic active margin in the south-west of the Siberian craton

In the late Neoproterozoic a prolonged active continental margin mode dominated the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton. Based on results of geological, petrological-geochemical, U–Th–Pb and Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr isotope investigations, for the first time we established that on the final evolution stage of this margin 576–546 Ma, intrusions of adakites and gabbro-anorthosites of the Zimoveyniy massif were emplaced in the South Yenisei Ridge. These new data indicate genetic relationships of the studied adakites and host NEB-metabasites. The formation of adakites could have been due to a crustal or a mantle-crustal source in a setting of transform sliding of lithospheric plates after the subduction stopped.

Paleozoic and early mesozoic magmatism manifestations in the early Precambrian structure of the South Yenisei Ridge

This study characterizes some issues of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic tectonomagmatic evolution of Precambrian structures from the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton. The relationship between the Devonian and Triassic magmatic events is demonstrated from the example of the Severnaya rift-related structure, South Yenisei Ridge. U-Pb SHRIMP dating yielded ages of 387 ± 5 Ma for leucogranites and 240 ± 3 Ma for the overlying alkaline trachytes. These ages show good agreement with Ar-Ar geochronological data (392–387 Ma) obtained for micas from paragneisses and leucogranite dykes of the Yenisei suture zone, the extension of which is superimposed by the studied rift-related structure. The previous geological evidence and the Devonian age estimate first obtained for magmatic rocks of the Yenisei Ridge allow us to interpret the studied leucogranites as products of Devonian continental rifting, similar to volcanic and intrusive rocks of the North Minusa depression and Agul graben. Like other localities within the western margin of Siberian craton, the formation of Triassic alkaline rocks may be related to the Siberian superplume activity.