E. V. Bibikova

The Early Baikalian Crystalline Complex in the Basement of the Dzabkhan Microcontinent of the Early Caledonian Orogenic Area, Central Asia

Fragments of continental blocks or microcontinents are represented in the Early Caledonian orogenic area of Central Asia (or Early Caledonian superterrane); the largest of these are the Dzabkhan and Tuva-Mongolian microcontinents, with Early and Late Precambrian crystalline basements, respectively. In the linkage zone of these microcontinents, crystalline rocks of the Tarbagatai and Songino blocks that are considered as units of the Early Precambrian ensialic basement of the superterrane are also known. They are composed of strongly metamorphosed rocks formed during the Early Baikalian orogeny about 790 to 820 Ma. U-Pb zircon dating and Nd isotope studies revealed, within the northwestern Dzabkhan microcontinent, the Dzabkhan-Mandal zone of crystalline rocks associated with the Riphean crust-forming process. The age of the gneiss substrate of this zone is estimated as 1.3 to 0.86 Ga. An early episode of metamorphism is dated at about 856 ± 2 Ma. The data available so far indicate a heterogeneous structure of the Dzabkhan microcontinent basement represented by Early Precambrian and Early and Late Baikalian crystalline formations.

Palaeomagnetism and U-Pb dates of the Palaeoproterozoic Akitkan Group (South Siberia) and implications for pre-Neoproterozoic tectonics

Abstract We present new geochronological and palaeomagnetic results from the late Palaeoproterozoic Akitkan Group in South Siberia. The zircon U–Pb conventional age of the rhyodacite from the upper part of the group is 1863±9 Ma and the age of the dacite from the lower part of the group is 1878±4 Ma. Palaeomagnetic study of sedimentary and some igneous rocks from the upper part of the group isolated a high-temperature characteristic component (D=193°, I=19°, k=51, α95=7°) which is supported by two of three applied conglomerate tests. However, the third intra-formational conglomerate test demonstrates a contaminating overprint of uncertain nature for a part of our collection. The analysis of data suggests that this overprint occurred at time when the geomagnetic fields direction was similar to that at the time of the deposition. Therefore the corresponding palaeomagnetic pole (22.5 °S, 97.4 °E, dp=1.5°, dm=2.8°) may be considered as representative for the deposition time. Palaeomagnetic study of the sediments in the lower part of the Akitkan Group isolated a stable primary remanence (D=189°, I=8°, k=111, α95=5°) supported by positive intra-formational conglomerate and fold tests. The palaeomagnetic pole (30.8 °S, 98.7 °E, dp =2.5°, dm=5.0°) is nearly coeval with the 1879 Ma Molson B pole from the Superior craton. We used these two poles to compare the relative position of Siberia and the Superior craton in the late Palaeoproterozoic. It is different from their reconstruction around 1000 Ma. This demonstrates their relative movements in the Mesoproterozoic.

Late Riphean episode in the formation of crystalline rock complexes in the Dzabkhan microcontinent: Geological, geochronologic, and Nd isotopic-geochemical data

The Early Caledonian Central Asian Orogenic Belt hosts fragments of continental blocks with Early and Late Precambrian crystalline basement. One of the structures with an Early Precambrian basement was thought to be the Dzabkhan microcontinent, which was viewed as an Early Precambrian “cratonal terrane”. The first geochronologic data suggest that the basement of the Dzabkhan microcontinent includes a zone of crystalline rocks related to Late Riphean tectonism. Geological, geochronological (U-Pb zircon dates), and Nd isotopic-geochemical data were later obtained on the northwestern part of the Dzabkhan microcontinent. The territory hosts the most diverse metamorphic complexes thought to be typical of the Early Precambrian basement. The complexes were determined to comprise the Dzabkhan-Mandal and Urgamal zones of high-grade metamorphic rocks. Gabbrodiorites related to the early metamorphic episode and dated at 860 ± 3 Ma were found in the Dzabkhan-Mandal zone, and the gneiss-granites marking the termination of this episode were dated at 856 ± 2 Ma. The granitoids of the Dzabkhan batholith, whose emplacement was coeval with the termination of the late high-grade metamorphic episode in rocks of both zones, have an age of 786 ± 6 Ma. Similar age values were determined for the granitoids cutting across the Late Precambrian rocks of the Songino and Tarbagatai blocks, which mark the stage when the mature Late Riphean continental crust was formed. The Late Riphean magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the Dzabkhan microcontinent were found out to have Nd model ages mostly within the range of 1.1–1.4 Ga at ɛNd(T) from +1.9 to +5.5. The Nd model age of the metaterrigenous rocks is 2.2−1.3 Ga at ɛNd(T) from −7.2 to +3.1. The results of our studies provide evidence of convergence processes, which resulted in the Late Riphean (880−780 Ma) continental crust in Central Asia. Simultaneously with these processes, divergence processes that were responsible for the breakup of Rodinia occurred in the structures of the ancient cratons. It is reasonable to suggest that divergence processes within ancient continental blocks and Rodinia shelf were counterbalanced by the development of the Late Riphean continental crust in the convergence zones of its surrounding within established interval.

The oldest crust in the Ukrainian Shield – Eoarchaean U–Pb ages and Hf–Nd constraints from enderbites and metasediments

Abstract The oldest crust in the Ukrainian Shield occurs in the Podolian and Azov domains, which both include Eoarchaean components. U–Pb age data for Dniestr–Bug enderbites, Podolian Domain, indicate that these are c. 3.75 Ga old, and Lu–Hf isotope data indicate extraction from chondritic to mildly isotopically depleted sources with ɛHf up to c. +2. Nd model ages support their Eoarchaean age, while model ages for Dniestr–Bug metasedimentary gneisses indicate that these also include younger crustal material. Most of the Hf-age data for metasedimentary zircon from the Soroki greenstone belt, Azov Domain, reflects Eoarchaean primary crustal sources with chondritic to mildly depleted Hf isotope signatures at 3.75 Ga. A minor portion is derived from Mesoarchaean crust with a depleted ɛHf signature of c. +4 at 3.1 Ga. U–Pb zircon ages from Fedorivka greenstone belt metasediments are consistent with the Soroki age data, but also include a 2.7–2.9 Ga component. Nd whole rock model ages provide support for a younger crustal component in the latter. Both domains have been subject to Neoarchaean, c. 2.8 Ga, and Palaeoproterozoic, c. 2.0 Ga, metamorphism. The spatial distribution indicates that the Podolian and Azov domains evolved independently of each other before the amalgamation of the Ukrainian Shield.

Age range of formation of sedimentary-volcanogenic complex of the Vetreny Belt (the southeast of the Baltic Shield)

As a result of studying the Vetreny Belt greenstone structure (the southeast of the Baltic Shield), zircons from terrigenous deposits of the Toksha Formation, underlying the section of the sedimentary-volcanogenic complex, and zircons of the Vetreny Belt Formation, deposits of which crown the section, were dated. The results of analysis of age data of detrital zircons from quartzites of the Toksha Formation indicate that Mesoarchean greenstone complexes and paleo-Archean granitogneisses of the Vodlozero Block (Karelia) were the provenance area from which these zircons were derived. The occurrence of the youngest zircons with age of 2654.3 ± 38.5 Ma is evidence that the formation of the Vetreny Belt, including the Toksha Formation, began no earlier than this time. Zircons from volcanic rocks of the Vetreny Belt yielded the age of 2405 ± 5 Ma. Thus, the age interval of the formation of the sedimentary-volcanogenic complex of the Vetreny Belt ranges from 2654.3 ± 38.5 to 2405 ± 5 Ma.

The early crust beneath the Azov Domain of the Ukrainian Shield: Isotopic-geochronological and geochemical investigations of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks of the Fedorovka structure

The results of isotopic-geochronological investigations of detrital zircons from metasediments of the Fedorovka structure in the Azov Domain of the Ukrainian Shield by SIMS and LA-ICP-MS methods are considered. The data obtained are compared with the results of isotopic dating of zircons from metasediments of the Soroki greenstone structure of the Azov region. All the examined samples yielded zircons with ages exceeding 3600 Ma. The geochemical properties of the oldest zircons indicate that they originate immediately from tonalite rocks. The obtained data imply substantially wider development of the Paleoarchean crust in the Ukrainian Shield than was previously thought.

Early crust of the Podolia Domain of the Ukrainian Shield: Isotopic age of terrigenous zircons from quartzites of the Bug Group

Detrital zircons of the ancient metasedimentary rocks bear important information about the early crust of the Earth. In this work, the early crust in the west of the Ukrainian Shield was studied using U-Pb dating of terrigenous zircons from metasedimentary rocks (quartzites) of the lower parts of the Bug Group (Kosharo-Aleksandrovka Formation) of the Podolia Domain and through Sm-Nd isotopic investigation of these rocks. The Nd model age of rocks is 3.4–3.1 Ga. Detrital zircons were studied in two samples of quartzites. The cathodoluminescent images of most zircons support their clastic origin. More than 150 zircon grains were studied on an ion microprobe. The isotope age of zircons is 3775–2000 Ma. These results were compared with previous results of study of terrigenous zircons from garnet schists of the Zaval’e quarry located closely to the studied area. It is concluded that both Paleoarchean and Meso- to Neoarchean rocks were destroyed during formation of terrigenous rocks of the Bug Group. The different amount of ancient zircons in quartzites and garnet schists indicates the different remoteness of the most ancient rocks from sedimentary basins.