Ultrahigh-Temperature Mafic Granulites in the Rauer Group, East Antarctica: Evidence from Conventional Thermobarometry, Phase Equilibria Modeling, and Rare Earth Element Thermometry
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Abstract The Rauer Group in East Antarctica is a typical high- to ultrahigh-temperature (HT–UHT) granulite-facies terrane. As UHT metamorphism has been recognized only in Mg–Al-rich pelitic granulites from the Mather Paragneiss, the regional extent of UHT metamorphism remains uncertain, which has hindered our understanding of the genesis and tectonic setting of UHT metamorphism in the Rauer Group. In this study, representative samples of mafic granulite were selected from Archean crustal domains to constrain the peak metamorphic conditions and P–T path and to assess the regional extent of UHT metamorphism in the Rauer Group. Integrated results from mineral reaction histories, thermobarometry, and phase equilibria modeling indicate a multi-stage clockwise P–T evolution for mafic granulites involving pre-peak compression, heating to UHT peak conditions, post-peak near-isothermal decompression under UHT conditions, and subsequent decompressional cooling. The pre-peak prograde history is based mainly on the inclusion assemblage of clinopyroxene + plagioclase + amphibole + quartz + ilmenite ± orthopyroxene ± k-feldspar within porphyroblastic garnet and clinopyroxene and records the transformation from a quartz-present to quartz-absent system. The UHT peak conditions are well constrained at 930°C–1030°C and 10.6–12.8 kbar on the basis of the stability field of the observed peak assemblage of (orthopyroxene–quartz)-free garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + amphibole + ilmenite + melt, as well as measured mineral compositions, including the high Ti content in amphibole (Ti = 0.38–0.42 p.f.u.), the anorthite content of coarse-grained plagioclase cores (XAn = 0.35–0.42), and the grossular content in garnet (XGrs = ~0.21) in P–T pseudosections. The peak T conditions are consistent with thermometric estimates in the range of 930°C–1030°C obtained from garnet–clinopyroxene, garnet–orthopyroxene, and Ti-in-amphibole thermometers, and are slightly lower than estimates (1020°C–1120°C) obtained from thermometers based on rare earth elements. The near-isothermal decompression under UHT conditions can be divided into two stages. The early stage is recorded by coronae of orthopyroxene + plagioclase around clinopyroxene and core–mantle/rim anorthite-increasing zoning in plagioclase. The late stage is identified from symplectites of orthopyroxene + plagioclase ± amphibole around porphyroblastic garnet, which were formed at the expense of garnet at 915°C–950°C and 7.6–8.2 kbar as inferred from the amphibole–plagioclase thermometer. The subsequent decompressional cooling to fluid-absent solidus conditions (~875°C and ~6.5 kbar) is indicated by the growth of biotite, which formed at the expense of symplectic minerals, reflecting back-reaction of melt with symplectite minerals. The peak UHT metamorphic conditions and clockwise P–T path of the studied mafic granulites from the Archean crustal domains are similar to those of Mg–Al-rich pelitic UHT granulites from the Mather Paragneiss. The UHT conditions recorded by the mafic granulites, combined with previously identified isolated UHT localities in the Rauer Group, imply that UHT metamorphism in the Rauer Group occurred over a much wider region than previously thought and probably extends over the whole Archean crustal domain. Our findings have general significance in understanding the regional extent of other UHT granulite-facies terranes worldwide.Keywords:
Amphibole
Early Precambrian rock units in the Urals are present in several polymetamorphic complexes, which are exposed in the Urals in the form of small (<1500 km2) tectonic blocks. Their ages are Archaean (as old as 3.5 Ga) and Palaeoproterozoic. During the formation of these complexes in the early Precambrian, two stages of ultra-high-temperature (granulite) metamorphism occurred. The maximum age of the early Neoarchaean stage of metamorphism is 2.79 Ga. Evidence of this metamorphic event includes the dating of the Taratash gneiss-granulite complex of the South Urals. Gneiss-migmatite complexes, which dominate the lower Precambrian section of the Urals, were formed in the Palaeoproterozoic during the sequential appearance of granulite facies metamorphism followed by amphibolite facies metamorphism and accompanying granitization. The maximum age of the Palaeoproterozoic stage of granulite metamorphism in the Alexandrov gneiss-migmatite complex, the most well-studied complex in the South Urals, is 2.08 Ga.
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Granulite-facies metamorphism affecting the Slishwood Division was extreme. Three samples yielded P-T conditions of 15.8, 14, 14.9kbar at 810, 750 and 880°C, respectively. Four Sm-Nd mineral isochrons, defined by granulite-facies basic and pelitic metamorphic assemblages, yield ages of 544 ± 52 Ma, 539 ± 11 Ma, 596 ± 68 Ma and 540 ± 50 Ma. These ages confirm that granulite- and earlier eclogitefacies metamorphism took place before the c. 470Ma Grampian Orogeny. Detailed chronological interpretation is inhibited by microscopic inclusions within, and isotope disequillbnum between, the dated minerals It is possible that the ages record crystallisation of either the granulite or eclogite-facies assemblages. However, it is more likely that they record post-metamorphic cooling. Relict pre-granulite-facies igneous minerals from a metagabbro body possibly date its intrusion at 580 ± 36 Ma. Extreme metamorphism in the late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian suggests that the Slishwood Division is exotic to Laurentia.
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The Larsemann Hills are located in the central part of the Prydz tectonic belt in East Antarctica. The study of granulite metamorphism of this area is essential to understanding the tectonic nature of the Prydz belt. The petrographic study of the garnetbearing mafic granulite boulder collected from the region demonstrates that pre-peak prograde mineral assemblage( M1) consists of hb+ opx ± cpx + pl + bi + ilm ± q ± mt,and peak metamorphic assemblage( M2) comprises g + opx + cpx + hb + ilm ± mt ± q,whereas the symplectite opx + pl + bi + ilm ± mt represents a superimposed assemblage( M3) associated with a decompression event. Mineral chemistry shows that garnets and orthopyroxenes in the mafic granulite have weak compositional zonings. Through the use of THERMOCALC program,the thermodynamic modeling in the NCFMASHTO system has been undertaken for the mafic granulite.Combined with conventional thermobarometers and the average P-T estimates,P-T conditions of the different metamorphic stages are estimated as 650 ~ 750℃ /5. 5 ~ 6. 5kb( M1),850 ~ 950℃ /8 ~ 8. 5kb( M2),and 800 ~ 900℃ /5. 5 ~ 6. 5kb( M3),respectively.Its metamorphism evolution of the mafic granulite is a typical post-peak isothermal decompression( ITD) clockwise P-T path. Compared with the mafic granulites in this region,we argue that this sample may originate from basement in Larsemann Hills. Combined with available chronological data in the region,it is suggested that the peak metamorphism likely corresponds to the Greenville high-grade tectonism,whereas post-peak retrograde metamorphism may be related to the Pan-African high-grade tectonism,implying that the PanAfrican Prydz belt could be an intracontinental mobile belt.
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The types of the high-pressure(HP) mafic granulites from high-grade metamorphic basement of the Jiaobei terrane are mainly composed of Grt mafic granulites,Grt-Hy granulites and Grt amphibolites.The HP mafic granulites are mainly occurred in TTG gneisses or granitic gneisses as enclaves or deformed dikes in the Jiaobei terrane.Mobile elements such as the large ion lithophile elements(K,Na,Sr,Rb) of the HP mafic granulites changed in significant levels,high field strength elements(Th,Nb,Zr,Ti) and rare earth elements basically unchanged and keep stable during the metamorphic process.The HP mafic granulites from the Jiaobei terrane belong to tholeiitic-basaltic rock series,with the concentrations of SiO2 at 44.04%~53.54%,and Mg# at 35~60.The composition of the rare earth elements of the HP mafic granulites is characterized by the flat(ΣREE=21.13×10-6~78.49×10-6,(La/Yb)CN=1.03~2.86) and right-inclined(92.74×10-6~133.5×10-6,(La/Yb)CN=2.93~4.56) on the chondrite-normalized REE patterns with no Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.93~1.04).The variation of Cr and Ni concentrations is large,however Cr and Ni have strong correlation with MgO.All most samples of the HP mafic granulites share obvious negative anomaly in Nb,Zr and Ti of the Phanerozoic island arc basalts,with the positive eNd(t) of(+2.70~+4.77).The composition of the major and trace elements of the HP mafic granulites in the Jiaobei terrane is characterized by the island arc tholeiitic basaltic rocks,and the protoliths may be gabbro instrusions or diabase dykes,and the corresponding basic volcanic rocks in back-carc extension tectonic setting.
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The various models for the nature and origin of fluids in granulite facies metamorphism were summarized. Field and petrologic evidence exists for both fluid-absent and fluid-present deep crustal metamorphism. The South Indian granulite province is often cited as a fluid-rich example. The fluids must have been low in H2O and thus high in CO2. Deep crustal and subcrustal sources of CO2 are as yet unproven possibilities. There is much recent discussion of the possible ways in which deep crustal melts and fluids could have interacted in granulite metamorphism. Possible explanations for the characteristically low activity of H2O associated with granulite terranes were discussed. Granulites of the Adirondacks, New York, show evidence for vapor-absent conditions, and thus appear different from those of South India, for which CO2 streaming was proposed. Several features, such as the presence of high-density CO2 fluid inclusions, that may be misleading as evidence for CO2-saturated conditions during metamorphism, were discussed.
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Granulite-facies metamorphism affecting the Slishwood Division was extreme. Three samples yielded P-T conditions of 15.8, 14, 14.9kbar at 810, 750 and 880°C, respectively. Four Sm-Nd mineral isochrons, defined by granulite-facies basic and pelitic metamorphic assemblages, yield ages of 544 ± 52 Ma, 539 ± 11 Ma, 596 ± 68 Ma and 540 ± 50 Ma. These ages confirm that granulite- and earlier eclogitefacies metamorphism took place before the c. 470Ma Grampian Orogeny. Detailed chronological interpretation is inhibited by microscopic inclusions within, and isotope disequillbnum between, the dated minerals It is possible that the ages record crystallisation of either the granulite or eclogite-facies assemblages. However, it is more likely that they record post-metamorphic cooling. Relict pre-granulite-facies igneous minerals from a metagabbro body possibly date its intrusion at 580 ± 36 Ma. Extreme metamorphism in the late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian suggests that the Slishwood Division is exotic to Laurentia.
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