Jean-Jacques Peucat

Isotopic study of the Manaslu granite (Himalaya, Nepal): inferences on the age and source of Himalayan leucogranites

A detailed isotopic study of the Manaslu leucogranite was carried out. A U-Pb age of 25 Ma and a whole rock Rb-Sr age isochron of 18 Ma were obtained, suggesting that the magmatic activity lasted at least 7 Ma. Initial Sr isotopic ratios are very high (0.740 to 0.760) and initial Nd isotopic ratios are low (ɛNdin: −13 to −16), and they show the existence of large isotopic variations even at the metre scale. These are not the result of perturbations by fluids but rather they reflect the initial isotopic heterogeneity of the source material which has not been obliterated by magmatic processes (e.g. fusion, mixing by convection). These results also support the crustal origin of this leucogranite. The Tibetan slab paragneisses, whose Sr and Nd isotopic ratios are very similar to those of the granite at an age of 20 Ma, are the most probable parental material. Nd model ages for both the leucogranite and the gneisses are in the range 1.5–2 Ga. A model of formation of the Manaslu granite by coalescence of different batches of magma is in agreement with the present data.

Geochemical and geochronological cross section of the deep Variscan crust: The Cabo Ortegal high-pressure nappe (northwestern Spain)

The high-pressure rocks of the Cabo Ortegal nappe and related massifs are represented by several tectonometamorphic units which underwent separate histories before regional overthrusting and amphibolite-facies recrystallization at ~ 380 Ma. The occurrence of final cooling is recorded by 40Ar/39Ar and Rb-Sr mica ages of up to 350 Ma. U-Pb zircon dating and Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope data together with REE and major and trace element geochemistry provide constraints on the timing of earlier tectonothermal events and the nature of the protoliths. The earliest tectonothermal event occurred at 490-480 Ma and corresponds to the emplacement of LREE-enriched magmas of probable calc-alkaline affinity and their metamorphism in the granulite facies. This occurred at approximately the same time as the eclogite-facies metamorphism of MORB-like protholiths associated with basic to intermediate granulites. Together, this suggests formation of syn-accretion granulites in an active margin setting. A second high-grade metamorphic event is recorded at ~ 420 Ma in metasedimentary formations associated with eclogite-like assemblages (garnet-omphacite ± plagioclase). This event is possibly related to a collisional plate tectonic setting in a back-arc basin. The age and origin of the associated ultrabasic rocks remains unclear, but a late pyroxenite vein has yielded an emplacement age of ~ 390 Ma.

REE, SmNd and UPb zircon study of eclogites from the Alpine External Massifs (Western Alps): evidence for crustal contamination

Abstract A geochemical and geochronological study of the Alpine External Crystalline Massifs (AECM) of Aiguilles Rouges, Belledonne and Argentera was undertaken in order to constrain the geodynamic evolution of this segment of the Variscan foldbelt. Another aim of the study is to characterize the behaviour of isotopic markers, in particular the U Pb zircon system, under high-grade metamorphic conditions. The whole-rock geochemistry of eclogites and amphibolites was investigated using major and trace element (including the REE) analytical techniques; isotopic studies were performed by application of the Sm Nd whole-rock and U Pb zircon methods. In terms of regional geological history, the early development of metamorphic and magmatic activity in the AECM is typical of the extensional tectonic regime observed throughout the Variscan foldbelt during the Cambro-Ordovician (i.e. basic magmatism dated at 475-450 Ma). The composition of the metabasic rocks is closely similar to tholeiites emplaced into thinned continental crust which are generally associated with the initial stages of oceanic rifting. The source regions for these metabasics are characterized by initial eNd values between +6 and +8, suggesting depleted mantle sources influenced by a weak crustal component and/or the existence of a metasomatised lithosphere. The multi-stage eclogite-facies metamorphism is dated at 425-395 Ma (i.e. Silurian). An application of the U Pb method, associated with the artificial abrasion of zircon grains, has led to the recognition of a weak crustal contamination in the metabasic protoliths. This is implied by the Archaean and Lower Proterozoic upper intercepts on Concordia—devoid of geological significance—which reflect the presence of a pre-existing basement to the AECM. The U Pb zircon results have yielded upper and lower intercepts which represent, in different cases, either an ancient inherited component, the age of magmatism, eclogite-facies metamorphism or even the effects of late-stage recrystallization. The interpretation of these intercepts is rather ambiguous, but can be corroborated by zircon morphology studies and a comparison with the results obtained by other isotopic methods.

Geochronology of the Tananao schist complex, Taiwan, and its regional tectonic significance

Abstract Isotopic analyses (Rb-Sr, U-Pb, Sm-Nd, K-Ar) on rocks and minerals of the Tananao Schist complex (the Tailuko—Tienhsiang and the Nanao areas of eastern Taiwan) have yielded significant new age data corresponding to several important geologic events in the crustal evolution of Taiwan. The ages and corresponding events are summarized as follows: Crustal history 0–10 Ma: Arc-continent collision; regional metamorphism III (Penglai Orogeny). 35–40 Ma: Continental rifting and opening of the South China Sea; regional metamorphism II. 80–90 Ma: Granitic intrusions in Taiwan; regional metamorphism I (Nanao Orogeny). Overlapped with the most important world-wide, particularly circum-Pacific, thermal events of 90–110 Ma (Jahn, 1974; Jahn et al., 1976). 200–240 Ma: Deposition of carbonates and clastic sediments, probably in a geosynclinal environment. Beginning of the crustal history of Taiwan. Pre-crustal history 500–650 Ma (or older): Separation of protoliths for the granitoids of Taiwan from a chondritic (or depleted mantle) reservoir. 1000–1700 Ma: Crystallization of zircons, of which some grains have survived and been finally incorporated in the young (ca. 90 Ma) granitic magmas.

Lateral constrictional flow of hot orogenic crust: Insights from the Neoarchean of south India, geological and geophysical implications for orogenic plateaux

This study provides an in situ geological perspective on fabrics produced by synconvergence lateral crustal flow of hot orogens. It is based on the example of the Neoarchean orogen of the Dharwar craton (India) and combines structural analysis and ion microprobe U-Pb zircon geochronology. We document a pervasive, three-dimensional flow mode of the lower crust, called lateral constrictional flow (LCF), which combines orogen-normal shortening, lateral constrictional stretching, and transtension. LCF achieves gravity-driven flow, lateral escape, and 3-D mass redistribution in a viscous lower crust submitted to convergence. LCF tends to mechanically and thermally homogenize the lower crust and efficiently compensates topographic relief at a shallow level in the crust. Three type-geodynamic contexts are envisaged for LCF: plateau interiors, inner parts of collisional crustal wedges or plateau edges, and throughout wide ultrahot orogens such as the Neaoarchean orogen of south India. LCF makes the lower crust act as a strain gauge between lateral gravitational collapse or tectonic thickening of the upper crust, thrust stacking in the lowermost crust (collisional crustal wedge case), crustal shortening, and/or lateral flow of the upper mantle. In the case of plateau interiors or ultrahot orogens, LCF of a thick lower crust enables coupling of upper crustal deformation with upper mantle flow through a hot and thin lithosphere being shortened coherently. LCF generates a subhorizontal lamination that should produce the strong seismic reflectivity and lateral anisotropy of the Tibetan Plateau and a variety of hot orogens.

Petrology of eclogites and clinopyroxene-garnet metabasites from the Cabo Ortegal Complex (northwestern Spain)

Abstract High-pressure, subduction-related metamorphism is recorded in two structural units of the Cabo Ortegal complex of Spain: (i) an upper thrust unit (Concepenido-La Capelada) composed of granulites, eclogites and metaperidotites and (ii) a structurally underlying unit (Chimparra-Banded) formed of gneisses with minor metabasic intercalations. In the upper unit, a metamorphic episode of Lower Ordovician age caused the formation of eclogites from basic rocks with N-MORB compositions, while high-pressure, garnet-clinopyroxene granulites were formed from basic to intermediate protoliths with calc-alkaline affinities. Garnet replaces spinel in ultramafics of the same unit and may have originated simultaneously. The PT -conditions were c. 800°C at 13.5 kbar in the granulites, whereas similar temperatures and higher pressures ( > 17 kbar) prevailed in the eclogites. The migmatitic Chimparra and Banded gneisses contain boudins of garnet and omphacite-bearing rocks, with or without plagioclase. The basic protoliths of these rocks are similar to LREE-enriched basalts with alkaline affinities. The Silurian metamorphism in this gneissic unit took place at c. 700°C or lower and at pressures around 15 kbar. This metamorphism could have occurred when a volcano-sedimentary complex, formed in a thinned-crust environment, was subducted beneath an overlying active margin/volcanic arc complex. An ophiolitic unit, made up of the N- and T-type MORB metabasites of the Candelaria and Purrido-Pena Escrita Formations, underlies the gneisses. Metamorphism in this unit took place during the Early-Middle Devonian, mainly giving rise to amphibolite-facies associations. Sporadic coronitic metagabbros/dolerite and garnet-clinopyroxene metabasites indicate that amphibolite-granulite transitional conditions ( > 700°C, 8 kbar) were attained locally. Retrograde amphibolitic assemblages in the upper units are more or less coeval with this episode, which suggests that it may have been related to the cessation of obduction and the stacking of the overlying high-grade units.

U-Pb zircon, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd geochronology of high- to very-high-pressure meta-acidic rocks from the western Alps

Three meta-acidic rocks from the western Italian Alps, a magnesiochloritoid-bearing “metapelite” from the Monte Rosa massif, a coesite-pyrope-“quartzite” from the Dora Maira massif and the Monte Mucrone granite in the Sesia Zone, have been studied by U-Pb zircon, Rb-Sr on whole-rock, apatite and phengite and Sm-Nd wholerock methods. The mineral parageneses of the investigated rocks indicate high- to very-high-pressure and medium-to-high-temperature metamorphism. This combined isotopic study has enabled us to constrain the ages of magmatic and metamorphic events and also to compare the behaviour of U-Pb zircon systems in three intensely metamorphosed areas of the Pennine domain. The U-Pb zircon data have yielded a magmatic age for the Monte Mucrone granite at 286±2 Ma. This result confirms the occurence of late-Hercynian magmatism in the Sesia Zone, as in other Austro-Alpine units and in other areas of the European crystalline basement. In the Monte Rosa massif, a geologically meaningless lower intercept age of 192±2 Ma has been interpreted as an artefact due to a complex evolution of the U-Pb zircon system. The magmatic shape of the zircons implies a magmatic or volcano-sedimentary protolith for this rock, originally considered as a metasediment. The very-high-pressure metamorphism in the Dora Maira “quartzite” has produced an opening of the U-Pb zircon system at 121+12−29 Ma. The Rb-Sr data support the occurence of high-grade metamorphism during Cretaceous times. Phengites model ages are slightly younger than the U-Pb zircon lower intercept ages due to cooling phenomena or possible response of the phengites to a later deformation. The Nd model ages from the whole-rock samples, as well as the U-Pb upper intercept ages from zircons of all three investigated rocks, indicate the presence of Proterozoic crustal components inherited from the precursors of these meta-acidic rocks. The studied zircon populations and their U-Pb systems apparently showed open-system behaviour only when affected by extreme metamorphic conditions (700–750° C, > 28 kbar), whereas eclogite-facies conditions of 500–550° C and 14–16 kbar were not enough to disturb significantly the U-Pb zircon evolution. It is also probable that the sedimentary or magmatic origin of the protoliths of these meta-acidic rocks, which involved different characteristics such as grain-size and fluid phase concentration and composition, could be another important factor controlling the U-Pb zircon system behaviour during metamorphic events.

Geochemical comparison between Himalayan and Hercynian leucogranites

Abstract Isotopic (Sr, Pb, Nd, O), REE and trace element data from three Himalayan (Nepal) and six Hercynian (Brittany, France) leucogranites are compared. For the Himalayan granites—Makulu, Mustang and especially Manaslu—the 87Sr/86Sr versus 87Rb/86Sr scatter diagrams, and hence variability of the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, reflect heterogeneity of the source materials. These ratios are very high (0.730- > 0.770). For Manaslu, the very high 207Pb/204Pb ratios (∼ 15.8) at the corresponding 206Pb/204Pb ratio of ∼ 18.8, the very low 143Nd/144Nd ratios (ϵi Nd ∼ −13 to −17), and the very high 18O/16O ratios (∼ 12‰) confirm the crustal origin with the paragneisses of the Tibetan Slab Formation I as the probable parent source. For the six Hercynian granites with an individual RbSr isochron established for many of them, the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.706 to 0.717. The lead, neodymium and oxygen isotope compositions confirm their crustal source, of presumably Palaeozoic age but not specifically identified. The rare earth patterns and thorium contents are comparable to those for Himalayan granites. The similarities of the geochemical signatures (isotopes and trace elements) of the Himalayan and Hercynian leucogranites suggest that the petrogenetic processes were comparable and that the Himalayan continental collision model can be applied to the Hercynian. The depletion in REE and Th implies either interaction of the granitic liquids with fluid or, more probably, early precipitation of monazite. The increase in Sm/Nd in the granites compared to their parent materials implies that the neodymium model ages of primary mantle extraction are maximum rather than minimum ages. In contrast to the Hercynian leucogranites, the extremely radiogenic Sr of the Himalayan leucogranites reflects the very long crustal residence time before the melting event. The apparent uniformity of the initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the individual Hercynian granites may be related to an “aging effect” where the straight line fitting improves with increase in age of the pluton.

Pan-African, post-collisional, ferro-potassic granite and quartz–monzonite plutons of Eastern Nigeria

Abstract Three Pan-African hypersthene-bearing monzogranitic and quartz–monzonitic plutons from the Eastern terrane of Nigeria have been investigated in detail. New major, trace and REE data, used to constrain their origin and nature, indicate that they display chemical features of ferro-potassic trans-alkaline affinity. Further trace element discrimination suggests (i) production of calc-alkaline medium-K diorite magmas by partial melting of fluid-metasomatised mantle wedge possibly combined with melts from the dehydration partial melting of altered oceanic crust; (ii) simultaneously production of the granite–quartz–monzonite ferro-potassic magmas from partial melting of hornblende-bearing granodioritic crustal sources; (iii) mixing of the two magmas. Sr initial ratios of 0.707 to 0.711 witness that the source of the granite magmas is the lower crust. Ages of the lower crustal granulitic protoliths is bracketed by Nd model ages between 1.9 and 2.2 Ga. Pb evaporation ages on single zircons constrain the emplacement of the three plutons around 580 Ma. 40 Ar / 39 Ar ages of amphiboles at about 560 Ma suggest cooling rates around 15°C/Ma. Extensive field work has established that pluton emplacement occurred during a regional north–south dextral strike-slip tectonics following the 630–610 Ma stage of oblique continent–continent collision in this part of west Africa.

UPb, Sr and Nd evidence for grenvillian and latest proterozoic tectonothermal activity in the spitsbergen caledonides, arctic ocean

Within the Caledonian complexes of northwestern Spitsbergen, high PT formations provide UPb zircon ages of 965±1 Ma of a metagranite and 955±1 Ma of a corona gabbro, indicating the influence of Grenvillian activity in the area. Various isotopic systems suggest that these rocks were partially derived by reworking of ancient crust (as old as Archaean). Eclogites and felsic agmatite indicate latest Proterozoic magmatic or metamorphic events (625−5+2 and 661±2 Ma, respectively) by UPb zircon dating. The eclogitic metamorphism age is not fully constrained and ranges between 540 and 620 Ma; this occurred prior to the superimposed Caledonian metamorphism, indicated by a part of the KAr and RbSr mineral cooling ages. The new data and other evidence of Precambrian tectonothermal activity on Svalbard suggest that the Early Palaeozoic and Late Proterozoic successions exposed elsewhere on Svalbard may also be underlain by Grenvillian or older basement rocks. Relationships to other Grenvillian and older terrains in the Arctic are reviewed.