Multi-method characterization of rare blue quartz-bearing metavolcanic rocks of the Rio dos Remédios Group, Paramirim Aulacogen, NE Brazil

Abstract The Rio dos Remédios Group comprises a supracrustal sequence that occupies the base of the Espinhaço Supergroup, São Francisco Craton, Brazil. Its basal formation, Novo Horizonte, crops out in the Paramirim region mainly as metavolcanic rocks that represent one of the fewer occurrences of blue quartz phenocrysts in South America. Their mineralogy consists of quartz and K-feldspar phenocrysts, whereas biotite, muscovite, fluorite, allanite, chlorite, sericite, zircon, and opaque phases occur immersed in a quartz-feldspar-rich groundmass. Such heterogeneous composition is also supported by x-ray diffraction and chemical data. Electron probe microanalysis in some samples revealed the presence of two distinct groups of biotite (magmatic and neoformed), in addition to the presence of iron-rich white mica and almost pure orthoclase feldspar. Our data suggest that the studied metavolcanic rocks have maintained their magmatic characteristics, which were progressively overprinted by hydrothermal fluids and ductile-to-brittle deformation. The magmatic mineralogy is akin to strongly peraluminous and alkaline magmas, common in anorogenic settings – a fertile site for the origin of blue quartz-bearing rocks worldwide

Multi-phase quantitative compositional mapping by LA-ICP-MS: Analytical approach and data reduction protocol implemented in XMapTools

Mapping of trace element signatures is an expanding tool in geoscience and material sciences, which allows the study of solid materials, and processes that may not be captured by major elements. Developments in laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) capabilities in the last decade now provide the necessary spatial resolution for in situ element mapping. The acquisition of two-dimensional, fully quantitative and geologically meaningful data with LA-ICP-MS is still a challenging task, and a particular obstacle is the calibration of inhomogeneous phases, such as chemically zoned minerals. This work presents a novel approach to data reduction and image generation for multi-element mapping employing LA-ICP- quadrupole MS (LA-ICP-QMS), implemented in the free and open-source software XMapTools. Three geological applications are presented to illustrate the benefits of the procedures. Garnet from an eclogitic sample (Lato Hills, Togo) and plagioclase, K-feldspar, biotite from a migmatite sample (El Oro Complex, Ecuador) were mapped multiple times at different spatial resolutions to test the calibration quality and chemical detection capabilities. Rutile in a metapelite sample (Val Malenco, Italian Alps) was mapped, and Zr-in-rutile thermometry shows a temperature range of 510 to 550 °C within a single grain. The accuracy of the LA-ICP-MS method was verified by comparison with zoned major and minor element maps (garnet, plagioclase) and Ti-in-biotite geothermometry maps obtained by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). A spatial resolution of up to 5 μm is achieved with LA-ICP-QMS, which is similar to the resolution reported for LA-ICP time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOFMS), albeit at significantly lower acquisition speed. Maps with lower spatial resolution offer better chemical detection power as demonstrated by lower per-pixel limit of detection (LOD) map calculation. Moreover, such maps are also recorded faster. The pixel allocation strategy and the instrumental conditions also have a direct impact on map quality. We recommend that maps are interpolated to square pixels, where a pixel consists of multiple sweeps to gain an improved detection power. Benchmarks using an emulated LA-ICP-MS mapping show that the spot size, together with scan direction, can lead to a shift in composition depending on the feature size of chemical patterns. This is verified by mapping a thin 10 μm annulus in garnet visible in REE and such compositional shifts can have a significant impact on e.g., diffusion modelling. The new software solution provides a multi-standard and variable composition calibration of LA-ICP-MS maps with single pixel LOD filtering at 95% confidence, allowing the user to quantify inhomogeneous materials of major and trace elements simultaneously with improved accuracy

Granites of the intracontinental termination of a magmatic arc : an example from the Ediacaran Ara?ua? orogen, southeastern Brazil.

The Ara?ua? orogen of southeastern Brazil together with the West Congo belt of central West Africa form the Ara?ua??West Congo orogen generated during closure of a terminal segment of the Neoproterozoic Adamastor Ocean. Corresponding to an embayment in the S?o Francisco?Congo Craton, this portion of the Adamastor was only partially floored by oceanic crust. The convergence of its margins led to the development of the Rio Doce magmatic arc between 630 Ma and 580 Ma. The Rio Doce magmatic arc terminates in the northern portion of the Ara?ua? orogen. Granitic plutons exposed in the northern extremity of the arc provide a rare opportunity to studymagmatismat arc terminations, and to understand the interplay between calc-alkalinemagma production and crustal recycling. The plutons forming the terminus of the arc consist of granodiorites, tonalites and monzogranites similar to a magnesian, slightly peraluminous, calcic- (68%) to calc-alkaline (24%), with minor alkali-calcic (8%) facies, medium- to high-K magmatic series. Although marked by negative Nb?Ta, Sr and Ti anomalies, typically associatedwith subduction-relatedmagmas, the combined Sr, Nd and Hf isotopic data characterize a crustal signature related to anatexis of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks, rather than fractional crystallization of mantle-derived magmas. Zircon U?Pb ages characterizes two groups of granitoids. The older group, crystallized between 630 and 590 Ma, experienced a migmatization event at ca. 585 Ma. The younger granitoids, emplaced between 570 and 590 Ma, do not show any evidence for migmatization. Most of the investigated samples show good correlation with the experimental compositional field of amphibolite dehydration-melting, with some samples plotting into the field of greywacke dehydration-melting. The studied rocks are not typical I-type or S-type granites, being particularly similar to transitional I/S-type granitoids described in the Ordovician Famatinian arc (NW Argentina). We suggest a hybrid model involving dehydrationmelting of meta-igneous (amphibolites) and metasedimentary (greywackes) rocks for magma production in the northern termination of the Rio Doce arc. The real contribution of each end-member is, however, a challenging work still to be done

Caracterização do Arco Magmático do Orógeno Araçuaí entre Frei Inocêncio e Itambacuri, MG

Exportado OPUSMade available in DSpace on 2019-08-14T12:52:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mestrado_mahyra_tedeschi_2013.pdf: 14201204 bytes, checksum: 05a5dc505ebc83a81e95534f25a9fb1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 28A região entre as cidades de Frei Inocêncio e Itambacuri (NE de Minas Gerais) abriga os plútons neoproterozóicos de localização mais ocidental no contexto do Arco Magmático Rio Doce. A caracterização destas rochas foi feita com mapeamento faciológico, estudos petrográficos, litoquímicos, geocronológicos (U-Pb SHRIMP e LA-MC-ICP-MS em zircão) e isotópicos (Nd e Sr). O complexo gnáissico que compõe o embasamento na região exibe idade U-Pb de cristalização magmática em 2110 ± 12 Ma. O metamorfismo destas rochas é de idade brasiliana, tendo sido datado em 580 ± 19 Ma. Sua assinatura isotópica de Nd (Nd(2100 Ma) = +2,19 e +4,43) sugere origem juvenil e indica correlação com o arco magmático Juiz de Fora-Pocrane (e não com o Complexo Mantiqueira, como foi originalmente mapeado). Afloram na área as seguintes unidades do Arco Rio Doce: 1) Enderbito Chaves, subdividido nas fácies gabronorito, enderbito e biotita monzogranito, além de uma zona híbrida, onde são encontradas rochas das três fácies. Em todo o plúton são encontradas feições de mistura de magmas (mingling e mixing). Essas rochas são subalcalinas de alto potássio, cálcio-alcalinas a álcali-cálcicas, predominantemente metaluminosas, de ambiente pré-colisional, cristalizadas em 599 ± 15 Ma. As assinaturas litoquímicas e isotópicas (Nd = -4,87 e 87Sr/86Sr = 0,70620) caracterizam a fácies gabronorito como as rochas mais primitivas do arco. 2) Tonalito Brasilândia, o qual aflora no extremo oeste da área, constitui um corpo com forma de camada limitado por zonas de cisalhamento. Este foi divido em fácies de granulações grossa e fina. São essencialmente tonalitos e granodioritos foliados, ricos em enclaves máficos a intermediários amplamente distribuídos por todo corpo. As rochas são subalcalinas de médio a alto potássio, cálcicas a cálcio-alcalinas, metaluminosas a fracamente peraluminosas, pré-colisionais, com idade de cristalização de 581 ± 11 Ma. Sua assinatura isotópica de Nd híbrida indica a participação de material juvenil e crustal na geração destas rochas. 3) O Granodiorito Guarataia, tem formato aproximadamente arredondado e não exibe a foliação dúctil regional. Foi dividido em fácies de granulação fina e porfirítica. Em ambas são encontradas rochas granodioríticas a graníticas com foliação de fluxo ígneo marcada nas bordas do corpo. Constitui o plúton mais novo na área, com 576 ± 9 Ma. Suas rochas são subalcalinas de alto potássio, cálcio-alcalinas a álcali-cálcicas, fracamente peraluminosas, do tipo I, e mostram assinatura sincolisional. Suas assinaturas litoquímica e isotópica (Nd = -12,52 e 87Sr/86Sr = 0,71045) apontam para uma origem com pouca ou nenhuma contribuição juvenil. Seu comportamento geoquímico, muito parecido com o do embasamento local, sugere que o Granodiorito Guarataia tenha sido gerado predominantemente a partir da fusão deste complexo gnáissico do tipo I, com contribuição de fonte mantélica, uma situação adequada à geração de rochas peraluminosas do tipo I. A geração de rochas primitivas como as do Enderbito Chaves, exclusivamente em ca. 600 Ma, implica em uma variação no processo de subducção em meio ao estágio de formação do Arco Rio Doce (ca. 630-585 Ma). Processos capazes de explicar esta variação são o aumento do ângulo de subducção e/ou slab break-off. A atuação deste último explica ainda a ausência de zonamento químico e geocronológico dentro do arco e a geração do volume abundante de rochas na transição dos estágios pré- a sincolisionais, quando teriam sido gerados o Tonalito Brasilândia e o Granodiorito Guarataia, com maior e menor contribuição mantélica, respectivamente

A review of detrital heavy mineral contributions to furthering our understanding of continental crust formation and evolution

International audienceAbstract Detrital heavy minerals have helped address geologically complex issues such as the nature and origin of the early terrestrial crust, the growth and evolution of the continental crust, and the onset of plate tectonics, together with palaeogeographic and supercontinent cycles reconstructions. With the advent of in situ analytical techniques and a more complete understanding of trace element behaviour in rock-forming and accessory minerals, we have now at our disposal a powerful suite of tools that we can apply to multiple proxies found as detrital minerals. These can be in situ dating, trace element or isotopic tracing applied to both mineral hosts and their inclusions. We opted to showcase minerals that occur as primary minerals in a wide range of rock compositions and that can provide reliable age information. Additionally, over recent decades their chemistries have been tested as proxies to understand crustal processes. These are zircon, garnet, apatite, monazite, rutile and titanite. We include an overview and provide some approaches to overcome common biases that specifically affect these minerals. This review brings together petrological, sedimentological and geochemical considerations related to the application of these detrital minerals in crustal evolution studies, highlighting their strengths, limitations and possible future developments

Minor minerals, major implications: using key mineral phases to unravel the formation and evolution of Earth's crust

International audienceAbstract The investigation of key minerals including zircon, apatite, titanite, rutile, monazite, xenotime, allanite, baddeleyite and garnet can retain critical information about petrogenetic and geodynamic processes and may be utilized to understand complex geological histories and the dynamic evolution of the continental crust. They act as small but often robust petrochronological capsules and provide information about crustal evolution, from local processes to plate tectonics and supercontinent cycles. They offer us insights into processes of magmatism, sedimentation, metamorphism and alteration, even when the original protolith is not preserved. In situ techniques have enabled a more in-depth understanding of trace element behaviour in these minerals within their textural context. This has led to more meaningful ages for many stages of geological events. New developments of analytical procedures have further allowed us to expand our petrochronological toolbox while improving precision and accuracy. Combining multiple proxies with multiple minerals has contributed to new interpretations of the crustal history of our planet

Protracted zircon geochronological record of UHT garnet-free granulites in the Southern Brasília orogen (SE Brazil): Petrochronological constraints on magmatism and metamorphism

The investigation of ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metamorphic rocks, and their corresponding (pressure)-temperature-time (P-T-t) history is critical to distinguish between arc- or collision-related metamorphism. This is a very challenging task if mineral assemblages are highly retrogressed and isotopic systems are disturbed. Garnet-free granulites lacking accessory minerals (chronometers) and metamorphic index minerals (thermobarometers) located in UHT domains are examples of such complex systems. In such cases, zircon may be the main chronometer, although isotopic U-Pb data outline protracted records, making the interpretation of the data complex. This study focuses on the timing of magmatism and metamorphism, as well as on the thermal metamorphic conditions of garnet-free UHT granulites of the Guaxupé nappe, southernmost Brasília orogen, located close to the Paranapanema cratonic block. It presents U-Pb dating, Lu-Hf isotopes and trace element signatures of zircon, and thermometry on metamorphic clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene from granulites. Steady 176Hf/177Hf(t) in zircon cores exhibiting U-Pb dates spreading in the Concordia suggest post-crystallization disturbance. From those disturbed granulitic systems, minimum crystallization ages of ca. 2550 Ma, ca. 790 Ma, ca. 690 Ma and ca. 660 Ma can be retrieved. The juvenile ca. 2.55 Ga granulite is the first evidence of an exposed rock of the Paranapanema cratonic block, previously only inferred from geophysical data. The Guaxupé nappe records arc-related magmatic episodes in the range of 790–640 Ma, partially coeval with a long-lasting (∼80 m.y.) metamorphic event (670–590 Ma) and intrusion of basic magma (ca. 660 Ma). Thermometry on zoned clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene yields UHT conditions around 900–1000 °C. Comparing the distribution patterns of metamorphic zircon rims and newly formed grains, we suggest two distinct metamorphic stages: i) an arc-related metamorphism (670–640 Ma), recorded by domains possibly formed by subsolidus recrystallization; and ii) a continental collision to decompression involving partial melting (630–590 Ma) associated to extensive zircon crystallization. The temporal relationship between magmatic and metamorphic ages suggests an ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic event related to a magmatic arc. This arc was afterwards involved by the Guaxupé nappe stacking during the collisional stage of the southernmost Brasília orogen

Reconstruction of multiple P-T-t stages from retrogressed mafic rocks: subduction versus collision in the Southern Brasília Orogen (SE Brazil)

The identification of markers of subduction zones in orogenic belts requires the estimation of paleo-geothermal gradients through pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) estimates in mafic rocks that potentially derive from former oceanic units once. However, such markers are rare in supracrustal sequences specially in deeply eroded and weathered Precambrian orogens, and reconstructing their metamorphic history is challenging because they are commonly retrogressed and only preserve a few mineral relicts of high-pressure metamorphism. Metamorphosed mafic rocks from Pouso Alegre region of the Neoproterozoic Southern Brasília Orogen outcrop as rare lenses within continental gneisses. They have previously been classified as retrograde eclogites, based on the presence of garnet and the characteristic symplectitic texture replacing omphacite. These rocks were interpreted to mark the suture zone between the Paranapanema and São Francisco cratons. To test the possible record of eclogitic conditions in the Pouso Alegre mafic rocks, samples including the surrounding felsic rocks have been investigated using quantitative compositional mapping, forward thermodynamic modeling and in-situ dating of accessory minerals to refine their P-T-t history. In the metamorphosed mafic rocks, the peak pressure assemblage of garnet and omphacite (Jd20, reconstructed composition) formed at 690 ± 35 °C and 13.5 ± 3.0 kbar, whereas local retrogression into symplectite or corona occurred at 595 ± 25 °C and 4.8 ± 1.5 kbar. The two reactions were coupled and thus took place at the same time. A zircon U-Pb age of 603 ± 7 Ma was obtained for metamorphic rims and linked to the retrogression stage. Monazite and metamorphic zircon U-Th-Pb ages for the surrounding rocks are at ca. 630 Ma and linked to peak pressure conditions similar to the one recorded by the mafic rocks. The low maximal pressure of 14 kbar and the high geothermal gradient do not necessarily support subduction process-related metamorphism but, more likely, metamorphism related to continental collision

Unravelling the protracted U-Pb zircon geochronological record of high to ultrahigh temperature metamorphic rocks: Implications for provenance investigations

The assessment of detrital zircon age records is a key method in basin analysis, but it is prone to several biases that may compromise accurate sedimentary provenance investigations. High to ultrahigh temperature (HT-UHT) metamorphism (especially if T > 850 °C) is herein presented as a natural cause of bias in provenance studies based on U-Pb detrital zircon ages, since zircon from rocks submitted to these extreme and often prolonged conditions frequently yield protracted, apparently concordant, geochronological records. Such age spreading can result from disturbance of the primary U-Pb zircon system, likewise from (re)crystallization processes during multiple and/or prolonged metamorphic events. In this contribution, available geochronological data on Archean, Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic HT-UHT metamorphic rocks, acquired by different techniques (SIMS and LA-ICP-MS) and showing distinct compositions, are reassessed to demonstrate HT-UHT metamorphism may result in modes and age distributions of unclear geological meaning. As a consequence, it may induce misinterpretations on U-Pb detrital zircon provenance analyses, particularly in sedimentary rocks metamorphosed under such extreme temperature conditions. To evaluate the presence of HT-UHT metamorphism-related bias in the detrital zircon record, we suggest a workflow for data acquisition and interpretation, combining a multi-proxy approach with: (i) in situ U-Pb dating coupled with Hf analyses to retrieve the isotopic composition of the sources, and (ii) the integration of a petrochronological investigation to typify fingerprints of the HT-UHT metamorphic event. The proposed workflow is validated in the investigation of one theoretical and one natural example allowing a better characterization of the sedimentary sources, maximum depositional ages, and the tectonic setting of the basin. Our workflow allows to the appraisal of biases imposed by HT-UHT metamorphism and resulting disturbances in the U-Pb detrital zircon record, particularly for sedimentary rocks that underwent HT-UHT metamorphism and, finally, suggests ways to overcome these issues

From microanalysis to supercontinents: insights from the Rio Apa Terrane into the Mesoproterozoic SW Amazonian Craton evolution during Rodinia assembly

Deciphering the tectono-metamorphic evolution of Precambrian terranes can be difficult due to reworking by later superimposed events. Whole-rock elemental and isotopic geochemistry and zircon U–Pb geochronology are often employed in those studies, but these approaches are often not sensitive to the presence of multiple events and medium-grade metamorphic episodes. The Rio Apa Terrane (RAT), an allochthonous fragment of the Amazonian Craton, is a crustal block with a well-characterized crustal evolution but with no detailed thermal constraints for its tectono-metamorphic evolution. In contrast to previous studies, we show the existence of four tectono-metamorphic events at c. 1,780, c. 1,625, c. 1,420–1,340, and c. 1,300–1,200 Ma on the basis of apatite, titanite, and rutile U–Pb, in situ white-mica Rb–Sr, and in situ garnet Lu–Hf geochronology combined with mineral chemistry and phase-equilibria modelling. The c. 1,780 Ma event is recorded in the basement of the Western domain, representing an extensional event coeval with the development of its Eastern domain in response to the retreat stage of the accretionary system. This is followed by juxtaposition of the Western and Eastern domains along a major crustal boundary at c. 1,625 Ma, which is defined by the magnetic profiles and zircon U–Pb–Hf data across the boundary. The third and fourth events correspond to progressive high-pressure/medium-temperature (HP/MT) metamorphism, characterized by an anticlockwise P–T path, suggesting a convergent-to-collisional tectonic setting. The RAT was accreted to the adjoining Paraguá Terrane at c. 1,420–1,340 Ma under an isobaric P–T evolution spanning ~530°C to 600°C and ~10.0 kbar. Subsequently, the combined Rio Apa and Paraguá terranes collided with the SW Amazonian Craton at c. 1,300–1,200 Ma, reaching P–T conditions of ~560–580°C and ~10.9–11.7 kbar during crustal thickening. This study reveals for the first time the existence of a HP/MT metamorphic evolution related to the growth of the SW Amazonian Craton as part of an accretionary orogenic system during Rodinia assembly in the Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic