Th/U ratios in metamorphic zircon

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The Napier Complex in East Antarctica preserves a record of ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metamorphism during the late Archean to early Palaeoproterozoic. While there is little argument that the UHT metamorphic event began at c. 2,580 Ma, the duration over which the rocks resided at UHT has been the subject of intense debate, with estimates for the end of metamorphism ranging from 2,545 to 2,440 Ma—a discrepancy of some 105 Ma. To resolve the time‐scale of UHT metamorphism, a zircon and garnet petrochronological (U–Pb, REE and Ti) data set from a suite of rocks from the Tula Mountains region of the Napier Complex was analysed. Individual concordant populations define zircon U–Pb ages for (a) reset zircon cores of 2,502–2,439 Ma; (b) zircon rims of 2,491–2,454 Ma; and (c) neocrystallized sector‐zoned zircon from 2,492 to 2,443 Ma. Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry places a minimum estimate of 830°C for zircon crystallization, with the majority of concordant populations yielding temperatures >900°C. Zircon–garnet partitioning (DYb vs. DYb/Gd) arrays reveal that the bulk of metamorphic zircon defines an equilibrium relationship with the garnet that forms part of the peak assemblage. Combined with existing geochronological constraints, the new petrochronological data demonstrate that the Napier Complex remained at UHT from c. 2,585 Ma until at least 2,450 Ma, a residence time of 135 Ma. In the absence of evidence for contemporaneous emplacement of large volumes of igneous rocks, a number of factors likely combined to drive and maintain these extreme temperatures. We propose that the P–T conditions experienced by the Napier Complex were achieved through a combination of orogenic plateau formation, preconditioning of the crust by a high‐T magmatic and UHT metamorphic event at c. 2,850 Ma, inefficient removal of heat‐producing elements during partial melting and slow exhumation. This style of long duration, regional, extreme metamorphism is becoming more commonly identified in the rock record as larger and more robust data sets are collected (e.g. the Eastern Ghats of India and the Gondwanan East African Orogen) and is commonly associated with the amalgamation phases of supercontinents/cratons.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 86%

Prolonged (>100 Ma) ultrahigh temperature metamorphism in the Napier Complex, East Antarctica: A petrochronological investigation of Earth's hottest crust

Clark

Taylor

Kylander‐Clark

et al. 2018

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“…For monazite, a mineral–melt distribution coefficient for Th was set at 5,000 based on the compilation of Yakymchuk et al. (). Extracted melt was modelled to contain equilibrium concentrations of Th, U, Zr, LREE and P. The concentration of these elements in the remaining source material was normalized based on the retention of 6/7 of the melt in the system.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent behaviour of Th and U during anatexis: Implications for the thermal evolution of orogenic crust

Yakymchuk

Brown

2019

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Mobilization and migration of the heat‐producing elements (HPE) during anatexis is a critical process in the development of orogenic systems, the evolution of continental crust and the stabilization of cratons. In many crustal rocks the accessory minerals are the dominant hosts of Th and U, and the behaviour of these minerals during partial melting controls the concentrations of these elements in draining melt and residue. We use phase equilibrium modelling to evaluate if loss of melt saturated in the essential structural constituents of the accessory minerals can explain the concentrations of Th and U in residual metasedimentary migmatites and granulites along two well‐characterized crustal transects in the Ivrea zone, Italy and at Mt Stafford, Australia. While an equilibrium model of accessory mineral breakdown and melt loss approximates the depletion of U in the residual crust along both transects, it does not explain the relative enrichment of Th. We propose that the high Th concentrations in residual crust may be explained by either inhibition of monazite dissolution by kinetic factors or near‐peak growth of new high Th grains and overgrowth rims on undissolved monazite due to migration of melt through the orogenic crust. Retention of the HPE in the middle and deep orogenic crust may allow metasedimentary granulites to overcome the enthalpy barrier of melting to achieve ultrahigh temperature conditions and may be partly responsible for the slow cooling of many granulite terranes. Lastly, although the mantle was warmer and crustal heat production was higher in the past, peak temperatures and apparent thermal gradients of high‐temperature (HT)–ultrahigh temperature (UHT) granulite terranes have not decreased significantly since the Neoarchean. However, the pressure of HP granulite facies metamorphism has increased gradually from the Archean to the Phanerozoic, which suggests that the lithosphere became stronger as secular cooling of the mantle enabled plate collisions to form thicker orogens. Thus, as the lithosphere became stronger, the proportion of HT–UHT metamorphism associated with thin lithosphere and mantle heat has decreased, whereas the proportion associated with the formation of thick crust and radiogenic heat has increased.

“…This is compatible with growth during heating whereas growth during cooling to an elevated solidus is expected to result in a narrow range of Th/U ratios (e.g. Yakymchuk, Kirkland, & Clark, ). Fourth, Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry yields temperatures that vary from ~720 to 750°C (Figure a,b), which is lower than peak temperatures (~800–900°C) inferred from phase equilibrium modelling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Second, the Th/U ratios of oscillatory‐zoned overgrowths record a narrow range of values around ~0.1, which is compatible with crystallization at an elevated solidus and incompatible with protracted prograde growth (e.g. Yakymchuk et al., ). Third, there is no microstructural evidence for zircon inclusions in garnet and zircon is found along grain boundaries or in irregular coarse‐grained quartz that may represent pseudomorphs of melt in thin section.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A paired metamorphic belt in a subduction‐to‐collision orogen: An example from the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt,NWChina

Niu

Yakymchuk

et al. 2019

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The early Palaeozoic South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt in northwestern China records a nearly complete history of early‐stage long‐lived oceanic subduction–accretion followed by late‐stage continental collision. Most previous studies have focused on low dT/dP metamorphism (HP–UHP) in this belt whereas the paired high dT/dP belt in the hinterland has received little attention. In this contribution, phase equilibrium modelling is combined with zircon petrochronology to determine the P–T–t evolution of granulites in the North Wulan gneiss complex in the high dT/dP hinterland of the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogen. Granulites record a clockwise P–T path with near‐peak temperatures of ~800–900°C at 5.5–7 kbar. Peak metamorphism was followed by high‐T decompression. Zircon petrochronology reveals protracted zircon growth from c. 474 to 446 Ma during the high‐T portion of the P–T path. High dT/dP metamorphism in the North Wulan gneiss complex was likely the result of heat transfer from the underlying hot asthenosphere and minor coeval magmatism in an arc–back‐arc system during slab retreat and roll‐back of the South Qilian oceanic plate. Broadly contemporaneous but slightly younger HP–UHP metamorphism in the foreland of the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt indicates that the region records an early Palaeozoic paired metamorphic belt. This early Palaeozoic paired metamorphic belt provides a detailed example of dual thermal regimes in a modern‐style orogenic system that can be applied to understanding the time‐scales and P–T conditions of high dT/dP metamorphism that accompany subduction in Phanerozoic and Precambrian orogenic belts.