A huge oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China: Peak metamorphic age and P-T path

Recent progress in the study of the UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China, is summarized in this paper. This about 80-kin-long and over 10-km-wide UHP belt has been recognized by the discovery of coesite, coesite pseudomorphs and other UHP minerals. It is the largest oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt reported so far. It has formed due to northward subduc- tion of the Tianshan Paleo-Ocean. U-Pb dating of metamorphic rims of zircons from a coesite-bearing garnet-phengite schist yields a peak UHP metamorphic ages of 320±3.7 Ma. Combined with ages of 233-226 Ma obtained from rims of zircons from retrograded eclogites, a long retrograde metamorphic evolution （〉70 Ma） has been revealed. According to phase equilibria mod- eling, the P-T paths of both coesite-bearing eclogites and garnet-phengite schists are characterized by thermal relaxation, i.e., the metamorphic temperature peak lags behind the pressure peak, indicating that the UHP rocks experienced slow and long heating and decompression during exhumation in the subduction channel. On the basis of the field observation that a small amount of eclogite lenses is wrapped in large volumes of metapelites, and the similar P-T paths of both rock types, we propose that the ex- humation of the UHP eclogites from southwestern Tianshan, China, may have resulted from the exhumation of large volumes of low-density metapelites, which carried the denser eclogites to the Earth＇s surface.     

The white schist assemblage in the kyanite quartzite from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern Dabie Mountains

The kyanite quartzite from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt in the eastern Dabie Mountains is composed mainly of quartz, kyanite, talc and epidote, which contains a typical mineral assemblage of white schist. It suffered an eclogite facies metamorphism of P =(2 4±0 3) GPa and T =630℃ together with coexisting eclogite. The protolith may be an aplite replaced by high-pressure fluid of eclogite facies.     

Coesite in eclogite from the North Qaidam Mountains and its implications

Coesite provides direct evidence for ultrahigh pressure metamorphism. Although coesite has been found as inclusions in zircon in paragneiss of the north Qaidam Mountains, it has never been identified in eclogite. In this contribution, based on petrographic observations and in situ Raman microprobe spectroscopy, coesite was identified as inclusions in garnet of eclogite from the Aercituoshan, Dulan UHP metamorphic unit, north Qaidam Mountains. Coesite is partly replaced by quartz, showing a pali-sade texture. This is the first report on coesite in eclogite from the north Qaidam Mountains, and is also supported by garnet-omphacite-phengite geothermobarometry (2.7―3.25 GPa, 670―730℃). Coesite and its pseudomorphs have not been found in eclogites and associated rocks of other units of the north Qaidam Mountains. Further studies are required to confirm if all metamorphic units in the north Qaidam Mountains underwent the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism.     

Discovery of the eclogite and its petrography in the Northern Dabie Mountain

Eclogite from the Northern Dabie Mountain is a new finding by the authors. These eclogites in foliated perdotite are enveloped by banded gneiss and occur in the mafic-ultramafic rock belt. They are mainly composed of omphacite, garnet, diopside, orthopyroxene, amphibole, plagioclase and magnetite, and a small amount of rutile, spinel, olivin and 鏾rundum. The mineral association of peak metamorphism of the eclogite is omphacite+garnet+rutile. The existence of eclogite in the Northern Dabie Mountain implies that there was an eclogitic metamorphism prior to the granulitic facies one in the mafic-ultramafic rock belt.     

Lower time limit on the UHPM rock exhumation: Discovery of eclogite pebbles in the Late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China

Eclogite pebbles are first discovered in late Jurassic conglomerates of the Fenghuangtai Formation from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China. The eclogite shows relatively strong retrograde metamor- phism. The major remnant minerals are garnet, phengite, quartz, rutile, clinozoisite, fingerprint(or worm)-form sym- plectite and pseudomorphic enclosure of coesite in garnet. End-member components of the garnet mainly made up of grossular (27.7%-37.8%), almandinc (45.5%-49.0%) and pyrope (12.3%-25.7%). End-member components of the pyrope is less than 30%, i.e. equivalent to C type eclogite. Si-cations of the phengite are 3.44-3.54 p.f.u. (taking O=11 as standard). It is estimated that the pressures are 2.5-3.2 GPa, the temperatures are 600-900℃. Discovery of the eclogite pebbles in the late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains suggests that the HP-UHP metamorphic rocks of the Dabie Mountains, which were formed in Triassic, had been exposed to the surface in the late Jurassic or before it by exhumation.     

The formation depth of coesitebearing eclogite, Dabie UHPM zone, China, modified by tectonooriginal additional hydrostatic pressure

The knowledge that hydrostatic pressure is equal to the gravity value of the overlying rocks in studying a dynamic state of certain underground site is argued. It is suggested that the stress field T in the crust is a combination or superposition of total hydrostatic pressure P with differential stress σ , and the total hydrostatic pressure P at any point in the crust comprises two parts: one is spherical stress tensor PG caused by the gravity, and the other is spherical stress tensor Ps caused by tectonic stress; therefore P could not be attributed to the gravity of overlying rocks only. The results obtained by a finite-element simulation indicate that the tectono-original additional hydrostatic pressures Ps decrease gradually from the compressive zone (Pcs) to the shear zone (PSHs) and to the tensile zone (PTs), i. e. PCS>PSHs> PTs in the same depth. On the basis of the above-mentioned research, the method of measurement and calculation of metal logenetic depth corrected by Ps is established, i.e. first tectonic additional hydrostatic pressure Ps is removed from general hydrostatic pressure P to get PG, gravity additional pressure, then accordingly the depth data are measured and calculated. The plastic deformation of garnet in coesite-bearing eclogite, quartz eclogite and garnet amphibo-lite of the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) complex in the Yingshan County in Dabie Mt. is studied by the transmission electron microscope (TEM). It is shown that the garnets have ductile deformation in the metamorphic condition of eclogite and amphibolite facies. Microstructures of the garnet vary greatly among coesite-bearing eclogite, quartz eclogite and garnet amphibolite. The tectonic principal stress in three-dimensional space and the tectonic additional hydrostatic pressure are reconstructed by differential stress and strain ratio (α) of garnet in minor coesite-bearing eclogite, then the gravity and thickness of overlying rocks are determined. The formation depth of ≥ 32.09-32.106 km of the coesite-bearing eclogite in Yingshan County in the Dabie UHPM zone is obtained from difference PG which comes from P minus Ps, Ps = (σ1 + σ2 + σ3) /3. The value of P is 2.8 GPa resulting from Qz-coes geobarmeter. This result is at all different from other researchers' conclusion that the formation depth of eclogite in Dabie UHPM zone is ≥100 km by the method of weight/ special weight (W/SW). The strong tectionic action makes a great contribution to the formation of e-clogite in the Dabie UHPM zone at so shallow depth of about 32 km, therefore it is thought that attention should be paid to the tectonc-original additional hydrostatic pressure in the study on UHPM zone.     

Discovery of ultrahighpressure magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite (>3.8 GPa) in the Altyn Tagh,Northwest China

Magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite from the Altyn Tagh, associated with garnet pyroxenite, and garnet-bearing felsic gneiss, crops out as lenses in Proterozoic gneiss about 100 km east of the Jianggelasayi River. The garnet lherzolite, together with the eclogite in western Jianggelasayi, composes a high-pressure to ultrahigh- pressure metamorphic belt in the southern margin of the Altyn Tagh. Parageneses of minerals from magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite indicate that the rock evolved a multi-stage metamorphism. The peak-stage metamorphism produces an assemblage of Grt+Ol+Opx+Cpx±Mgs, in which Al₂O₃ content of Opx is very low (0.30 — 0.66wt%). The calculated P-T condition of the peak stage is 3.8—5.1GPa and 880—970℃, some exsolution rods of clinopyroxene and rutile occur in the Grt and magnesite is rimed by dolomite and orthopyroxene, all implying that the peak stage was a UHP metamorphic process. Together with regional geological studies, isotopic dating and the discovery of coesite inclusions in zircon separates from felsic gneiss from the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the presence of a very long UHP metamorphic belt in northwest China is suggested.     

The compositional zoning of garnet in eclogite from western segment of Altyn Tagh, northwestern China and its dynamic significance

The eclogites from the Altyn Tagh, northwestern China have been subjected to mediumtemperature and high-pressure metamorphism, and then overprinted by the amphibolite to granulite facies retrograde metamorphism. A complex compositional zoning was well preserved in the garnet porphyroblast formed during the metamorphism of eclogite facies. This zoning recordedP-T path of multistage metamorphism, and an early retrogressive process with features of decreasing pressure and increasing temperature. This evidences a short residence time for the eclogite at peak metamorphism and early retrogression, and thus rapid tectonic uplift history.     

Fluid inclusions hidden in coesite-bearing zircons in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from southwestern Sulu terrane in eastern China

Fluidinclusionstudiesarepowerfultoolsfordeci-pheringthefluidevolutionandfluid-rockinteractionin-volvingultrahigh-pressure(UHP)metamorphismofcrustalrocksatmantledepths.Thecompositionandprop-ertiesoffluidinclusionscanreflectthephysico-chemicalconditionsofthefluidsduringplatesubduction,UHPmetamorphismandexhumation.However,UHPmeta-morphicrockscommonlyexperiencedconsiderablede-compressionrelatedtotherapidexhumationprocess.Thishascausedtheinternalpressureoftheinclusionstrappedinthemetamorphicmin…     

A combined study of SHRIMP U-Pb dating, trace element and mineral inclusions on high-pressure metamorphic overgrowth zircon in eclogite from Qinglongshan in the Sulu terrane

Methods recently advanced for discrimination on the genesis of metamorphic zircon, such as analysis of mineral inclusions and trace elements, provide us powerful means to distinguish zircon overgrowth during high-pressure metamorphism. Zircons in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite from Qinglongshan in the Sulu terrane were studied by the SHRIMP U-Pb method in combining with trace element and mineral inclusion analyses. No inherited core was identified in the analyzed zircons by means of cathodoluminescence images. The occurrence of high-pressure metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircon, such as garnet, omphacite, rutile, and the flat HREE pattern in zircon indicate that the zircon formed at high-pressure metamorphic conditions. Therefore, a weighted average U-Pb age of 227.4±3.5 Ma obtained from such a kind of zircon is interpreted to represent the timing of peak nietamorphism for the Qinglongshan eclogite.     

Nd isotopic disequilibrium between minerals and Rb-Sr age of the secondary phengite in eclogite from the Yangkou area, Qingdao, eastern China

There are two generations of white micas in retrograded coesite-bearing eclogite from the Yangkou area near Qingdao, eastern China. The secondary phengite developed along the folliations in eclogite is the majority of the white micas. Nd and Sr isotopic disequilibriums between garnet and retrograded omphacite as well as secondary phengite have been observed. Consequently, the Rb-Sr ages ((193 ± 4) Ma―(195 ± 4) Ma) given by the tie lines of the secondary phengite + garnet or whole rock may predate the formation time of the phengite. The Rb-Sr age of (183 ± 4) Ma given by the secondary phengite + retrograde omphacite is much closer to the formation time of the phengite indicating the retrograde age of eclogite instead of a cooling age of eclogite at 500℃.     

Breakdown of lawsonite subsequent to peak UHP metamorphism in the Dabie terrane and its implication for fluid activity

Abundant occurrences of quartz vein within eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu orogen provide us an opportunity to study metamorphic fluid flow during subduction and exhumation of continental crust. It is, however, usually short of petrological constraints on pressure and temperature of vein formation. This study focuses on kyanite-quartz veins within Iow-T/high-P eclogite in the Dabie terrane that contain unique polycrystalline aggregates, interpreted as pseudomorphs after porphyroblasts of lawsonite. Coesite pseudomorphs were found for the first time in garnet from eclogite, resulting in a revised estimate of peak P-T conditions at 670℃ and 3.3 GPa for the eclogite. This indicates a stability field at graphite/diamond transition, thus upgrading the HP unit to a UHP unit. Neither foliation texture, undulose extinction of quartz nor coesite were observed in quartz veins,although the peak P-T conditions were estimated the same as that in host eclogite in light of thermodynamic calculation based on mineral assemblage in kyanite-quartz veins.Therefore, the formation of the kyanite-quartz veins as wellas the breakdown of lawsonlte into the kyanite-quartz-zoisite assemblage took place during exhumation subsequent to the peak UHP conditions. In this regard, the continental subduction not only brought the water of water-bearing mineral such as lawsonite into the deep mantle, but also released the water from the mineral during exhumation.     

Some new ideas about the deep subduction of continental crust

The discovery of coesite in metasedimentary rocks not only implies that the materials of continental crust with low density could subduct down to mantle depth, but also initiates a series of studies on continent-deep-sub-duction. Could continental crust be subducted down to the depth of more than 300 km? Water played a role in ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphism although limited. Was the fluid really limited within meter-scale, as the authors suggested, at mantle depth? Erosion and extension could remove the overburden of the UHP rocks, while squeezing and buoyancy could lift up the UHP rocks through the overburden. What, however, is the main process and mechanism with which the UHP rocks have exhumed from mantle depth? All progress of these studies will eventually form and complete a new paradigm of geodynamics.     

Geochemistry and zircon U-Pb ages of granulite xenolith from Tuoyun basalts, Xinjiang： Implications for the petrogenesis and the lower crustal nature beneath the southwestern Tianshan

The continental lithosphere growth mainly includes the horizontal accretion at the plate boundaries and vertical accretion within the plate[1]. Mafic magmatic materials, as the products of crust-mantle interaction[2,3], became more and more important in studying the formation and evolu- tion of the lower crust. The previous geologic researcheson Tianshan, extending nearly 2500 km from east to west, and the neighbor area were mainly focused on the Paleozoic collision structure[4 ― 6], Mesozoi…     

Coesite eclogite facies metamorphic tectonite: Evidence for ultrahigh pressure deformation

An ultrahigh pressure ductile shear mélange crops out on the beach of Yangkou Bay near Qingdao City. The mélange is composed of weakly deformed blocks in a highly ductilly flow mylonites. Ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) tectonite includes strongly deformed eclogite and mylonitized eclogite. Coesite occurs in the tectonite as both interstitial mineral and inclusions in garnet and omphacite, indicating that the deformation took place in the stability field of coesite (800—850℃, >30 GPa) in the upper mantle. Coesite is rounded or short prismatic grains with undulatory extinction, and often fractured, suggesting brittle deformation. Garnet is also characterized by brittle fractures and sometimes necked and slightly elongated. Omphacite is elongated, with long axis preferred orientation. Undulatory extinction, subgrains and dynamically recrystallized grains suggest plastic flow of omphacite. Ultrahigh pressure metamorphic tectonite was probably formed in the ductile shear zone during the early stage of exhumation of the ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks. Its kinematic indicators point to the transport direction of the UHPM slab during the early stage of exhumation.     

Discovery of mantle and lower crust xenoliths from early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of southwestern Tianshan, Xinjiang

In Tuoyun area of southwestern Tianshan, mantle and lower crust xenoliths are present in the volcanic rocks with ages of 101–123 Ma. Mantle xenoliths include mineral megacrysts such as kaersutite and pargasite, feldspar, biotite, and rare pyroxene and rock fragments such as perodotite, pyroxenite, amphibolite, and rare glimmerite. Lower crust xeno-liths are mainly banded and massive granulite. The volcanic rocks were produced by within-plate magmatism. Occurrence of hydrous and volatile mineral megacrysts, amphibolite, and some pyroxenite containing hydrous and volatile minerals indicates that mantle metasomatism was intense. Undoubtedly, this discovery is very important to understanding of the crust-mantle structure and geodynamic background in depth in southwestern Tianshan and geological correlation with adjacent regions.     

Sapphirine-bearing high pressure mafic granulite and its implications in the south Altyn Tagh

Sapphirine is a relatively uncommon mineral whichgenerally occurs in granulite with bulk compositions richin both Mg and Al. It was mainly recognized in Al-richrocks of Precambrian granulite terrane[1]. Recently, it wasalso reported from the HP/HT metamorphic rocks in thePhanerozoic collision orogens[2,3]. In China, up to now,sapphirine was only reported in Precambrian Al-richgneisses from the Daqingshan area, Inner Mongolia[4].Sapphirine often forms from the breakdown of earlieraluminou…     

Unusual high-density and saline aqueous inclusions in ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks from Sulu terrane in eastern China

Fluid inclusions are the samples of metamorphic fluids trapped during the formation and/or later fractur-ing-resealing processes of metamorphic minerals. The composition and properties of fluid incluisons can reflect the physico-chemical conditions of the fluids during plate subduction and exhuamtion[1]. Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks commonly experienced considerable decompression in the course of exhumation process. This has caused departure of the retrograde P-T path of the ro…     

Discovery of eclogite and its geological significance in Qiangtang area, central Tibet

Eclogites have been found in the margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau respectively since the 1990s. First Eocene eclogite from Himalayan belt was discov- ered in Kaghan valley, northern Pakistan in 1991, in which coesite was identified[1,2]. Then two eclog…     

SHRIMP dating of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains, China

This note reports the SHRIMP U-Pb data of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains. Zircons from the rock occur mainly in garnet and other metamorphic minerals with sharp boundaries and exhibit textures growing under metamorphic conditions. Analyses of 7 grains give ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 335 to 424 Ma, showing a certain degree of radiogenic lead loss. This suggests a minimum age of (424±5) Ma for the metamorphic zircons, as well as the high-pressure metamorphic event. The outer peripheral zone of a zircon gives ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of about 300 Ma. Combined with Sm-Nd, ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar, U-Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, the peak metamorphism of the Xiongdian eclogite is documented between 424—480 Ma.