Archean granulite gneisses from eastern Hebei Province, China: rare earth geochemistry and tectonic implications
Journal
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology
Journal Volume
85
Journal Issue
3
Pages
224-243
Date Issued
1984
Author(s)
Abstract
The granulite gneisses and their retrograded products of the Qianxi Group from eastern Hebei Province, China, have been investigated for their isotope and trace element geochemistry. A consistent age of about 2.5 AE has been obtained by the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd whole-rock isochron methods, in agreement with the zircon U-Pb data (Pidgeon 1980; D.Y. Liu, unpubl.). Geochemical arguments from initial isotopic ratios (ISr and INd) and elemental distribution patterns have led us to conclude that this age of about 2.5 AE represents the time of granulite facies metamorphism, which must have followed closely the primary emplacement of their protoliths. Previous claims for early Archean ages (>3.5 AE) of these granulites are not substantiated. The mineral isotope systematics register an important thermal event at about 1.7 AE, roughly corresponding to the time of the widespread Luliang Orogeny (Ma and Wu 1981) or Chungtiao Movement (Huang 1978). The granulites of the Qianxi Group have diverse compositions ranging from ultrabasic through basic-intermediate to acid. Discriminant function calculations suggest that most analyzed samples have igneous parentage. Only a few show characteristics of metasedimentary rocks. The igneous protoliths apparently belong to two series - tholeiitic and calc-alkaline, with the latter dominating in abundance. The majority of the acid granulites have compositions corresponding to tonalite-granodiorite. Except for ultrabasic and metasedimentary rocks, all REE patterns are significantly fractionated with LREE enrichment. The degree of fractionation, as measured by the (La/Yb)N ratios, is most important in the acid granulites. These rocks often show positive Eu anomalies and HREE depletions that are typical of Archean TTG rocks (tonalitetrondhjemite-granodiorite). The existence of komatiites has been previously reported in this region. Although a few rocks have a major element chemistry similar to that for peridotitic komatiites, the lack of associated members in a komatiitic series and the scarcity of REE data have not confirmed the true komatiite occurrence in this region. Many Qianxi granulites are highly depleted in Rb relative to K and Sr. This preferential Rb depletion during granulite facies metamorphism has led to very high K/Rb and very low Rb/Sr ratios. The most comparable case is found in Lewisian granulites. Although the fractionated REE patterns of the basic granulites somewhat resemble those of continental flood basalts, the highly different abundances in other incompatible elements (Ti, Zr, and Ba) readily distinguish them from each other. Nevertheless, the LREE enriched patterns of the basic granulites may suggest an origin of their protoliths by partial melting of LREE-enriched mantle sources. On the other hand, the REE patterns of acid granulites suggest that their protoliths could be derived by partial melting of quartz eclogite, amphibolite or basic granulite. The close time relationship for a series of geologic events, namely, from initial melting of mantle peridotites, through fractional crystallisation of basaltic magmas, to granulite facies metamorphism, seems to occur in many granulite terrains. This relationship, together with the juxtaposition of lithologies of different origins and the exceptionally high pressure conditions (>10 Kb) can be best explained by crustal underplating combined with intracrustal thin-skinned thrusting and stacking of crustal slices. The "andesitic or island arc" model for the formation of the lower continental crust is not in good agreement with the present geochemical data. © 1984 Springer-Verlag.
Type
journal article