The Proterozoic metamorphic belt of northern and central New Mexico contains rocks of two distinctly different metamorphic grades, locally lying in direct contact. A large region exhibits coexisting kyanite, andalusite, and sillimanite. The triple-point assemblages resulted from peak metamorphic conditions falling near 500°C, 4 kb, and they occur across 75,000 km2 in 14 separate mountain ranges. Triple-point metamorphic grade was attained after north-verging folding and ductile thrusting but before south-verging mylonitic shearing. Prograde and retrograde P-T paths were nearly isobaric.
Recent detailed work in key regions along two north–south transects in northern New Mexico highlights continued controversy about Proterozoic tectonic evolution. Ductile deformation features (folds, ductile thrusts, and associated foliations and lineations) are grouped into three deformation generations. D 1 includes crytic bedding-parallel foliation and fold nappes. D 2 involves north-verging, km-scale inclined folds, the main shortening foliation, and D 2 , structures that further attenuate or reactivate F 2 folds. D 3 involves east–west-trending open folds and domes and associated crenulation cleavage. Although others can dominate locally, S 2 is the dominant regional foliation that could possibly be imaged seismically. Map relationships around ca. 1.65- and ca. 1.42-Ga plutons and porphyroblast-matrix studies of dated minerals show that D 3 occurred at ca. 1.42. The age of D 2 is more uncertain and could be 1.65 or 1.42 Ga. Metamorphic studies also indicate multiple metamorphic events, M 1 –M 3 , that may relate to the deformational events. New geochronology indicates that most metamorphic minerals grew (or were reset) at ca. 1.47–1.35 Ga. U-Pb dates on metamorphic zircon, monazite, titanite, staurolite, garnet, and tourmaline suggest regional metamorphism to 550–700° C at 1.47–1.42 Ga. Metamorphic aureoles are present around plutons, but the highest grades of metamorphism are in areas with no exposed 1.42-Ga plutons. Metamorphism is interpreted to record a regional mantle-driven thermal event, the latter parts of which correspond to a time of pluton emplacement. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dates record post–1.42-Ga cooling: the highest grade rocks yield the youngest cooling ages, indicating slow cooling and gradual unroofing of the 1.42-Ga thermal profile following 1.42-Ga metamorphism. Our preferred model is that macroscopic geometries (D 1 –D 2 ) were established by 1.65 Ga, and that regional amphibolite-grade metamorphism and associated D 3 deformation at 1.47–1.42 Ga produced localized high-strain domains and fabric reactivation at exposed levels. At deeper levels, structures and assemblages may increasingly record 1.42-Ga reactivation.
Abstract The timing of partial melting in high-grade metamorphic rocks is critical for constraining tectonic histories and processes. However, uncertainties exist about the behavior of monazite and zircon during partial melting, especially about the timing of crystallization with respect to melting reactions. This study is focused on a single sample (16TG143) of finely layered, migmatitic gneiss from the Adirondack Highlands, New York, interpreted to have undergone extensive biotite dehydration melting (i.e., Bt + Pl + Als + Qz = Grt + Kfs + melt). The rock contains one distinct leucosome layer. The non-leucosome (gray gneiss) portion of the migmatite has millimeter-scale sublayers with distinct differences in modes and mineralogy. The layers are interpreted to reflect the differential preservation of reactants and products formed during the forward and reverse progress of the melting reaction. Monazite and zircon modes, and to some degree, texture, composition, and geochronology all vary from layer to layer. Both minerals have up to three domains: ca. 1150 Ma anhedral cores, ca. 1050 Ma monazite mantles/fir tree textured zircon, and ca. 1030 Ma rims. The heterogeneous layered gray gneiss provides robust constraints on the timing of melting (ca. 1050 Ottawan orogenesis), melt crystallization, and post-melting retrogression, in addition to information about earlier metamorphic events. Early-formed monazite and zircon grains were largely dissolved during progressive melting, except where preserved as relicts or inclusions. Monazite mantles and fir tree zircon grains precipitated upon cooling during progressive melt crystallization between temperatures of 800 and 750 °C. Rims are interpreted to have precipitated during subsolidus, solid-state retrogression after ca. 1050 Ma. Correlations between the gneissic layering, melting reactions, and the character of geochronometers emphasize the importance of characterizing the layer-forming and chronometer petrogenesis processes as a critical part of deconvoluting the history of migmatitic gneisses.
