K. E. Degtyarev

Late Paleozoic subductional and collisional igneous complexes in the Naryn segment of the Middle Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan)

The Late Paleozoic Tien Shan fold belt was formed in the course of subduction of the crust underlying the past Turkestan ocean under the Kazakh continent and subsequent collision of the latter with the Alai and Tarim massifs. The onset of subduction is evidenced by development of flysch sequences and olistostromes in the accretionary complex of the South Tien Shan: in the terminal Visean‐Serpukhovian (~330‐325 Ma ago) in the west and in the second half of the Bashkirian Age (~315 Ma ago) in the east of the Kyrgyz Tien Shan [1]. 1 The onset of collision between the Kazakh continent and Tarim Massif is dated back to the terminal Late Carboniferous based on the initiation of a foredeep along the northern margin of the latter [6]. The mature collision stage began in the mid-Asselian, when the last sea basins disappeared in the Tien Shan and granitoids intruded in its southern segment [1, 9]. The position and age of the volcanic arc that was forming in the course of convergence between the Kazakh continent and the Tarim Massif remain unclear. Recently, this problem acquired particular significance, since the data available for the territory of China imply subduction under the Tarim Massif and an Early Carboniferous age of collision, i.e., substantially older as compared with that assumed for the Kyrgyz region [7]. 1 Ages are given after [13].

The Age and Tectonic Setting of Volcanic and Cherty Sequences in the Ophiolite Complex of the Atbashe Ridge (Southern Tien Shan)

Dating the sedimentary and volcanic rocks in ophiolite complexes is of fundamental importance for reconstructions of oceanic paleobasins. The ophiolite belt of the southern Tien Shan, which extends from northwestern Uzbekistan to western regions of China (Fig. 1a), traces the suture of the Turkestan paleocean closed at the end of the Carboniferous. In the western part of the belt, the age of volcanic–cherty sequences of the ophiolite association corresponds to the Early Ordovician–Early Carboniferous interval [6]. Data on the age of similar rocks in eastern regions are rather scanty. Therefore, several issues related to evolution of the Turkestan paleocean in the region between the Kazakhstan and Tarim continental blocks remain open. To fill this gap, we have carried out micropaleontological study of cherty–volcanic sequences developed within the ophiolite belt in the Atbashe and Dzhangdzhir ridges (Fig. 1b).

Ophiolite sections of the Dzhalair-Nayman zone, South Kazakhstan: Their structure and age substantiation

The ophiolite complexes outcrop extending more than 700 km in the Dzhalair-Nayman zone located between the Chuya-Kendyk Tas (in the southwest) and Aktau-Dzhungar (in the northeast) Precambrian sialic massifs in South Kazakhstan. The most complete ophiolite sections are described in the central (Andassai massif) and southeastern (Dulankara massif) parts of the zone. Plagiogranites occur in a sheeted dyke complex in the upper part of ophiolite sections. A bimodal volcanic series occurs atop the section. The U/Pb zircons ages for the Andassai and Dulankara plagiogranites are 519 ± 4 and 521 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Ophiolites associated with bimodal volcanic series are also found in the north and northeast of Kazakhstan. They may form, together with the Lower Cambrian complexes of the Dzhalair-Nayman zone, a single paleostructure, whose fragments are well-traceable for over 2000 km

The Middle Riphean Volcanogenic Complex of Kokchetav Massif (Northern Kazakhstan): Structural Position and Age Substantiation

The volcanogenic Kuuspek Formation is a well-defined part of the succession of the Pre-Vendian complexes of the Kokchetav massif (Northern Kazakhstan). The formation is built up of mildly metamorphosed acid lavas, tuffs, and tuffaceous sandstones. At the reference site to the west of the Kokchetav Mountains, the rocks of the Kuuspek Formation compose hinges of small anticlinal folds with sericite-quartz schists of the Late Riphean Sharyk Formation forming the limbs. The Kuuspek Formation lavas are high-alumina rhyolites of high-potassium calc-alkaline series. The U-Pb zircon age of the rhyolites is 1136 ± 4 Ma, thus referring to the Middle Riphean. The Kuuspek rhyolites form the basal part of the Precambrian sedimentary cover of the Kokchetav massif. The cover also comprises schists, limestones, and dolomites of the Sharyk Formation, and quartzites and quartzitic schists of the Late Riphean Kokchetav Formation.

Neoproterozic anorogenic rhyolite-granite volcanoplutonic association of the Aktau-Mointy sialic massif (Central Kazakhstan): Age, source, and paleotectonic position

Rhyolite-granite volcanoplutonic association was identified among the Precambrian basement complexes of the Aktau-Mointy Massif, Central Kazakhstan. This association comprises rhyodacites, rhyolites, subalkaline rhyolites, tuffs, and felsic volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks of the Altyn Syngan and Urkendeu formations, as well as granitoids of the Uzunzhal Complex. U-Pb (ID-TIMS) dating of accessory zircons from the volcanic rocks and granites showed that the association was formed in the Neoproterozoic (Tonian, 925–917 Ma). The Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks and granites are the youngest Precambrian magmatic complexes and mark the final stage in the formation of the Precambrian crust of the Aktau-Mointy Massif. In terms of major and trace element composition, the volcanic rocks and granites resemble A-type granites, thus indicating the within-plate settings of their formation. It was established that their primary magma could be derived by melting of metatonalitic or metagraywacke protolith at T ≥ 940°C and P ∼ 8–10 kbar in response to mantle magma underplating. Sm-Nd isotope data on the volcanic rocks and granites (TNd(DM) = 1.9−1.7 Ma, ɛNd(T) from −1.9 to −3.5) testify the Paleoproterozoic age of their crustal protolith. Available data have revealed strong similarity between the Neoproterozoic tectonomagmatic evolution of the Aktau-Mointy Massif and the Congo-São Francisco paleocontinent, which, with other cratons, composed the southern Rodinia supercontinent. This suggests that the formation of the Tonian anorogenic volcanoplutonic association of the Aktau-Mointy sialic massif was related to the global-scale divergent processes in the southern Rodinia supercontinent (Congo-São Francisco paleocontinent).

Stenian Granitoids of the West Kyrgyz Ridge (North Tien Shan): Position, Structure, and Age Determination

In the structure of west Kyrgyz Ridge (North Tien Shan), a great role is played by complexly dislocated Upper Precambrian-Cambrian terrigenous-carbonate and shale strata, as well as by granitoids that comprise several coupled WNW-striking synforms and antiforms, the largest of which is the Makbal antiform. Southeast of the core of this antiform, granitoids comprise the large Kara Dzhilga massif and several massifs that are of lesser size and have tectonic correlations with the hosting terrigenous-carbonate strata. In the Kara Dzhilga massif, the rocks of three penetration phases are distinguished; contacts between rocks are often of tectonic character. The early phase is presented by monzonite and monzodiorite; the main one, by large-porphyric biotitic granites; and the additional one, by aplitic granites and pegmatites. By the chemical composition, granites of Kara Dzhilga massif of the main phase correspond to subalkaline granites of high-potassium calc-alkali series. The age of their crystallization (zircon-based U-Pb method) is 1131 ± 4 Ma (Stenian). The formation of Stenian granitoids in the North Tien Shan may be related to development of Grenville fold belts, whose fragments were identified in the units of the Central Asian Belt. Tectonic correlations between these granitoids and hosting terrigenous-carbonate strata appeared as a result of immersion to significant depths and subsequent exhumation into the upper crustal horizons in the Early Ordovician.

Late Riphean age of the Karsakpai massif of alkaline syenites of South Ulutau (Central Kazakhstan)

The Ulutau massif is located in the western part of Central Kazakhstan and is one of largest Precambrian sialic massif of this region. Geologically, the southern part of the massif is composed of volcanogenic and volcanogenic–sedimentary rocks of acid and rare basic composition metamorphosed under the green schist metamorphism facies. The northern and eastern parts of the massif are composed mainly of amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks, represented by amphibolites, gneisses, and amphibole crystalline schists (Fig. 1a).

Silurian granites of northern Kazakhstan: U-Pb age and tectonic position

The isotopic-geochronological studies of zircons from granites of the Borovoe, Makinsk, and Zhukei massifs located in the eastern part of the Precambrian Kokchetav median massif revealed that they were formed during the relatively brief period from 431 to 423 Ma ago, which allowed them to be united into the Early Silurian Borovoe Complex.

First results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from the Upper Ordovician sandstones of the Bashkir uplift (Southern Urals)

The first results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from Upper Ordovician sandstones of the Bashkir uplift in the Southern Urals and U–Pb isotopic ages available for detrital zircons from six stratigraphic levels of the Riphean–Paleozoic section of this region are discussed. It is established that the long (approximately 1.5 Ga) depositional history of sedimentary sequences of the Bashkir uplift includes a peculiar period lasting from the Late Vendian to the Emsian Age of the Early Devonian (0.55–0.41 Ga). This period is characterized by the following features: (1) prevalence of material from eroded Mesoproterozoic and Early Neoproterozoic crystalline complexes among clastics with ages atypical of the Volga–Urals segment of the East European Platform basement; (2) similarity of age spectra obtained for detrital zircons from different rocks of the period: Upper Vendian–Lower Cambrian lithic sandstones and Middle Ordovician substantially quartzose sandstones.

Structure, age substantiation and tectonic setting of the Lower-Middle Ordovician volcanic-sedimentary and plutonic complexes of the western part of the Kyrgyz Range (Northern Tien Shan)

Among the Caledonides exposed in the western part of the Kyrgyz Range the Lower Ordovician volcanogenic-sedimentary, plutonic, and tuffaceous-terrigenous complexes were distinguished. Volcanogenic-sedimentary sequences are the Kentash Formation, composed of volcanic rocks, tuffs and subvolcanic bodies of dacitic, andesitic and basaltic composition, sandstones and tuffites with interlayers and lenses of limestone. On the basis of conodonts and U-Pb dating of zircon grains the age of this Formation is in the age interval between Late Tremadocian Stage and Early Darriwilian Stage. Differentiated volcanites are associated with ultramafic-gabbro massifs of the Kokkiya Complex of the Late Darriwilian age (U-Pb zirconology). Features of the chemical composition of rocks of the Kentash Formation and the Kokkiya Complex indicate that they formed in suprasubduction settings within the island arc with a thick heterogeneous basement. Tuffaceous-terrigenous deposits are presented by the olistostrome formation, and coarse-grained deposits of the Taldybulak and Kyzylkainar Formations. The formation of olistostrome formation is associated with the over-thrusting of Cambrian melanocratic complexes on terrigenous-carbonate and shale strata of the Upper Precambrian-Cambrian age. Deposits of the Taldybulak and Kyzylkainar Formations accumulated in the back-arc basin and on the island arc slope, made of rocks of the Kentash Formation.