@article{DaempflingMielkeKoellneretal.2022, author = {D{\"a}mpfling, Helge L. C. and Mielke, Christian and Koellner, Nicole and Lorenz, Melanie and Rogass, Christian and Altenberger, Uwe and Harlov, Daniel E. and Knoper, Michael}, title = {Automatic element and mineral detection in thin sections using hyperspectral transmittance imaging microscopy (HyperTIM)}, series = {European journal of mineralogy}, volume = {34}, journal = {European journal of mineralogy}, number = {3}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {0935-1221}, doi = {10.5194/ejm-34-275-2022}, pages = {275 -- 284}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In this study we present a novel method for the automatic detection of minerals and elements using hyperspectral transmittance imaging microscopy measurements of complete thin sections (HyperTIM). This is accomplished by using a hyperspectral camera system that operates in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) range with a specifically designed sample holder, scanning setup, and a microscope lens. We utilize this method on a monazite ore thin section from Steenkampskraal (South Africa), which we analyzed for the rare earth element (REE)-bearing mineral monazite ((Ce,Nd,La)PO4), with high concentrations of Nd. The transmittance analyses with the hyperspectral VNIR camera can be used to identify REE minerals and Nd in thin sections. We propose a three-point band depth index, the Nd feature depth index (NdFD), and its related product the Nd band depth index (NdBDI), which enables automatic mineral detection and classification for the Nd-bearing monazites in thin sections. In combination with the average concentration of the relative Nd content, it permits a destruction-free, total concentration calculation for Nd across the entire thin section.}, language = {en} } @article{RibackiTrumbullLopezDeLuchietal.2022, author = {Ribacki, Enrico and Trumbull, Robert B. and Lopez De Luchi, Monica Graciela and Altenberger, Uwe}, title = {The chemical and B-Isotope composition of Tourmaline from intra-granitic Pegmatites in the Las Chacras-Potrerillos Batholith, Argentina}, series = {The Canadian mineralogist : journal of the Mineralogical Association of Canada}, volume = {60}, journal = {The Canadian mineralogist : journal of the Mineralogical Association of Canada}, number = {1}, publisher = {Association of Canada}, address = {Ottawa}, issn = {0008-4476}, doi = {10.3749/canmin.2100036}, pages = {49 -- 66}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The Devonian Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith comprises six nested monzonitic to granitic intrusions with metaluminous to weakly peraluminous composition and a Sr-Nd isotopic signature indicating a dominantly juvenile mantle-derived source. The chemically most evolved units in the southern batholith contain a large number of intra-granitic, pod-shaped tourmaline-bearing pegmatites. This study uses in situ chemical and boron isotopic analyses of tourmaline from nine of these pegmatites to discuss their relationship to the respective host intrusions and the implications of their B-isotope composition for the source and evolution of the magmas. The tourmalines reveal a diversity in element composition (e.g., FeO, MgO, TiO2, CaO, MnO, F) which distinguishes individual pegmatites from one another. However, all have a narrow 5 11 B range of -13.7 to -10.5\%0 (n = 100) which indicates a relatively uniform magmatic system and similar temperature conditions during tourmaline crystallization. The average delta(11) B value of -11.7\%0 is typical for S-type granites and is within the range reported for peraluminous granites. pegmatites, and metamorphic units of the Ordovician basement into which the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith intruded. The B-isotope evidence argues for a crustal boron source like that of the Ordovician basement, in contrast to the metaluminous to weakly peraluminous composition and juvenile initial Sr and Nd isotope ratios of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith magmas. We propose that the boron was not derived from the magma source region but was incorporated from dehydration melting of elastic metasedimentary rocks higher up in the crustal column.}, language = {en} } @article{AltenbergerCisternaGuenteretal.2021, author = {Altenberger, Uwe and Cisterna, Clara and G{\"u}nter, Christina and Guti{\´e}rrez, Adolfo Antonio and Rosales, J.}, title = {Tectono-metamorphic evolution of the proto-Andean margin of Gondwana}, series = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, volume = {110}, journal = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0895-9811}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103305}, pages = {23}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The present work gives a detailed analysis of the metamorphic and structural evolution of the back-arc portion of the Famatinian Orogen exposed in the southern Sierra de Aconquija (Cuesta de La Chilca segment) in the Sierras Pampeanas Orientales (Eastern Pampean Sierras). The Pampeanas Orientales include from north to south the Aconquija, Ambato and Ancasti mountains. They are mainly composed of middle to high grade metasedimentary units and magmatic rocks. At the south end of the Sierra de Aconquija, along an east to west segment extending over nearly 10 km (Cuesta de La Chilca), large volumes of metasedimentary rocks crop out. The eastern metasediments were defined as members of the El Portezuelo Metamorphic-Igneous Complex (EPMIC) or Eastern block and the western ones relate to the Quebrada del Molle Metamorphic Complex (QMMC) or Western block. The two blocks are divided by the La Chilca Shear Zone, which is reactivated as the Rio Chanarito fault. The EPMIC, forming the hanging wall, is composed of schists, gneisses and rare amphibolites, calc- silicate schists, marbles and migmatites. The rocks underwent multiple episodes of deformation and a late high strain-rate episode with gradually increasing mylonitization to the west. Metamorphism progrades from a M-1 phase to the peak M-3, characterized by the reactions: Qtz + Pl + Bt +/- Ms -> Grt + Bt(2) + Pl(2) +/- Sil +/- Kfs, Qtz + Bt + Sil -> Crd + Kfs and Qtz + Grt + Sil -> Crd. The M-3 assemblage is coeval with the dominant foliation related to a third deformational phase (D-3). The QMMC, forming the foot wall, is made up of fine-grained banded quartz - biotite schists with quartz veins and quartz-feldspar-rich pegmatites. To the east, schists are also overprinted by mylonitization. The M-3 peak assemblage is quartz + biotite + plagioclase +/- garnet +/- sillimanite +/- muscovite +/- ilmenite +/- magnetite +/- apatite. The studied segment suffered multiphase deformation and metamorphism. Some of these phases can be correlated between both blocks. D-1 is locally preserved in scarce outcrops in the EPMIC but is the dominant in the QMMC, where S-1 is nearly parallel to S-0. In the EPMIC, D-2 is represented by the S-2 foliation, related to the F-2 folding that overprints S-1, with dominant strike NNW - SSE and high angles dip to the E. D-3 in the EPMIC have F-3 folds with axis oblique to S-2; the S-3 foliation has striking NW - SE dipping steeply to the E or W and develops interference patterns. In the QMMC, S-2 (D-2) is a discontinuous cleavage oblique to S-1 and transposed by S-3 (D-3), subparallel to S-1. Such structures in the QMMC developed at subsolidus conditions and could be correlated to those of the EPMIC, which formed under higher P-T conditions. The penetrative deformation D-2 in the EPMIC occurred during a prograde path with syntectonic growth of garnet reaching P-T conditions of 640 degrees C and 0.54 GPa in the EPMIC. This stage was followed by a penetrative deformation D-3 with syn-kinematic growth of garnet, cordierite and plagioclase. Peak P-T conditions calculated for M-3 are 710 degrees C and 0.60 GPa, preserved in the western part of the EPMIC, west of the unnamed fault. The schists from the QMMC suffered the early low grade M-1 metamorphism with minimum PT conditions of ca 400 degrees C and 0.35 GPa, comparable to the fine schists (M-1) outcropping to the east. The D-2 deformation is associated with the prograde M-2 metamorphism. The penetrative D-3 stage is related to a medium grade metamorphism M-3, with peak conditions at ca 590 degrees C and 0.55 GPa. The superimposed stages of deformation and metamorphism reaching high P-T conditions followed by isothermal decompression, defining a clockwise orogenic P-T path. During the Lower Paleozoic, folds were superimposed and recrystallization as well as partial melting at peak conditions occurred. Similar characteristics were described from the basement from other Famatinian-dominated locations of the Sierra de Aconquija and other ranges of the Sierras Pampeanas Orientales.}, language = {en} } @article{KoertingKoellnerKurasetal.2021, author = {K{\"o}rting, Friederike Magdalena and K{\"o}llner, Nicole and Kuras, Agnieszka and B{\"o}sche, Nina Kristin and Rogass, Christian and Mielke, Christian and Elger, Kirsten and Altenberger, Uwe}, title = {A solar optical hyperspectral library of rare-earth-bearing minerals, rare-earth oxide powders, copper-bearing minerals and Apliki mine surface samples}, series = {Earth system science data : ESSD}, volume = {13}, journal = {Earth system science data : ESSD}, publisher = {Copernics Publications}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, issn = {1866-3508}, doi = {10.5194/essd-13-923-2021}, pages = {923 -- 942}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Mineral resource exploration and mining is an essential part of today's high-tech industry. Elements such as rare-earth elements (REEs) and copper are, therefore, in high demand. Modern exploration techniques from multiple platforms (e.g., spaceborne and airborne), to detect and map the spectral characteristics of the materials of interest, require spectral libraries as an essential reference. They include field and laboratory spectral information in combination with geochemical analyses for validation. Here, we present a collection of REE- and copper-related hyperspectral spectra with associated geochemical information. The libraries contain reflectance spectra from rare-earth element oxides, REE-bearing minerals, copper-bearing minerals and mine surface samples from the Apliki copper-gold-pyrite mine in the Republic of Cyprus. The samples were measured with the HySpex imaging spectrometers in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) range (400-2500 nm). The geochemical validation of each sample is provided with the reflectance spectra. The spectral libraries are openly available to assist future mineral mapping campaigns and laboratory spectroscopic analyses. The spectral libraries and corresponding geochemistry are published via GFZ Data Services with the following DOIs: https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.004 (13 REE-bearing minerals and 16 oxide powders, Koerting et al., 2019a), https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.003 (20 copper-bearing minerals, Koellner et al., 2019), and https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.005 (37 copper-bearing surface material samples from the Apliki coppergold-pyrite mine in Cyprus, Koerting et al., 2019b). All spectral libraries are united and comparable by the internally consistent method of hyperspectral data acquisition in the laboratory.}, language = {en} } @article{ZozulyaKullerudRibackietal.2020, author = {Zozulya, Dmitry R. and Kullerud, Kare and Ribacki, Enrico and Altenberger, Uwe and Sudo, Masafumi and Savchenko, Yevgeny E.}, title = {The newly discovered neoproterozoic aillikite occurrence in Vinoren (Southern Norway)}, series = {Minerals}, volume = {10}, journal = {Minerals}, number = {11}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2075-163X}, doi = {10.3390/min10111029}, pages = {26}, year = {2020}, abstract = {During the period 750-600 Ma ago, prior to the final break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia, the crust of both the North American Craton and Baltica was intruded by significant amounts of rift-related magmas originating from the mantle. In the Proterozoic crust of Southern Norway, the 580 Ma old Fen carbonatite-ultramafic complex is a representative of this type of rocks. In this paper, we report the occurrence of an ultramafic lamprophyre dyke which possibly is linked to the Fen complex, although Ar-40/Ar-39 data from phenocrystic phlogopite from the dyke gave an age of 686 +/- 9 Ma. The lamprophyre dyke was recently discovered in one of the Kongsberg silver mines at Vinoren, Norway. Whole rock geochemistry, geochronological and mineralogical data from the ultramafic lamprophyre dyke are presented aiming to elucidate its origin and possible geodynamic setting. From the whole-rock composition of the Vinoren dyke, the rock could be recognized as transitional between carbonatite and kimberlite-II (orangeite). From its diagnostic mineralogy, the rock is classified as aillikite. The compositions and xenocrystic nature of several of the major and accessory minerals from the Vinoren aillikite are characteristic for diamondiferous rocks (kimberlites/lamproites/UML): Phlogopite with kinoshitalite-rich rims, chromite-spinel-ulvospinel series, Mg- and Mn-rich ilmenites, rutile and lucasite-(Ce). We suggest that the aillikite melt formed during partial melting of a MARID (mica-amphibole-rutile-ilmenite-diopside)-like source under CO2 fluxing. The pre-rifting geodynamic setting of the Vinoren aillikite before the Rodinia supercontinent breakup suggests a relatively thick SCLM (Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle) during this stage and might indicate a diamond-bearing source for the parental melt. This is in contrast to the about 100 Ma younger Fen complex, which were derived from a thin SCLM.}, language = {en} } @article{TerbishalievaTimmermanMikolaichuketal.2021, author = {Terbishalieva, Baiansuluu and Timmerman, Martin Jan and Mikolaichuk, Alexander and Altenberger, Uwe and Slama, Jiri and Schleicher, Anja Maria and Sudo, Masafumi and Sobel, Edward and Cichy, Sarah Bettina}, title = {Calc-alkaline volcanic rocks and zircon ages of the late Tonian}, series = {International journal of earth sciences}, volume = {110}, journal = {International journal of earth sciences}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1437-3254}, doi = {10.1007/s00531-020-01956-z}, pages = {353 -- 375}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Big Naryn Complex (BNC) in the East Djetim-Too Range of the Kyrgyz Middle Tianshan block is a tectonized, at least 2 km thick sequence of predominantly felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks intruded by porphyric rhyolite sills. It overlies a basement of metamorphic rocks and is overlain by late Neoproterozoic Djetim-Too Formation sediments; these also occur as tectonic intercalations in the BNC. The up to ca. 1100 m thick Lower Member is composed of predominantly rhyolites-to-dacites and minor basalts, while the at least 900 m thick pyroclastic Upper Member is dominated by rhyolitic-to-dacitic ignimbrites. Porphyric rhyolite sills are concentrated at the top of the Lower Member. A Lower Member rhyolite and a sill sample have LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon crystallization ages of 726.1 +/- 2.2 Ma and 720.3 +/- 6.5 Ma, respectively, showing that most of the magmatism occurred within a short time span in the late Tonian-early Cryogenian. Inherited zircons in the sill sample have Neoarchean (2.63, 2.64 Ga), Paleo- (2.33-1.81 Ga), Meso- (1.55 Ga), and Neoproterozoic (ca. 815 Ma) ages, and were derived from a heterogeneous Kuilyu Complex basement. A 1751 +/- 7 Ma Ar-40/Ar-39 age for amphibole from metagabbro is the age of cooling subsequent to Paleoproterozoic metamorphism of the Kuilyu Complex. The large amount of pyroclastic rocks, and their major and trace element compositions, the presence of Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic inherited zircons and a depositional basement of metamorphic rocks point to formation of the BNC in a continental magmatic arc setting.}, language = {en} } @article{EugeniaCisternaAltenbergerMonetal.2017, author = {Eugenia Cisterna, Clara and Altenberger, Uwe and Mon, Ricardo and G{\"u}nter, Christina and Gutierrez, Adolfo Antonio}, title = {The metamorphic basement of the southern Sierra de Aconquija, Eastern Sierras Pampeanas}, series = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, volume = {82}, journal = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0895-9811}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsames.2017.09.028}, pages = {292 -- 310}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The Eastern Sierras Pampeanas are mainly composed of Neoproterozoic-early Palaeozoic metamorphic complexes whose protoliths were sedimentary sequences deposited along the western margin of Gondwana. South of the Sierra de Aconquija, Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, a voluminous metamorphic complex crops out. It is mainly composed of schists, gneisses, marbles, calk-silicate schists, thin layers of amphibolites intercalated with the marbles and granitic veins. The new data correlate the Sierra de Aconquija with others metamorphic units that crop out to the south, at the middle portion of the Sierra de Ancasti. Bulk rock composition reflects originally shales, iron rich shales, wackes, minor litharenites and impure limestones as its protoliths. Moreover, comparisons with the northern Sierra de Aconquija and from La Majada (Sierra de Ancasti) show similar composition. Amphibolites have a basaltic precursor, like those from the La Majada (Sierra de Ancasti) ones. The analyzed metamorphic sequence reflects low to moderate weathering conditions in the sediments source environment and their chemical composition would be mainly controlled by the tectonic setting of the sedimentary basin rather than by the secondary sorting and reworking of older deposits. The sediments composition reveal relatively low maturity, nevertheless the Fe - shale and the litharenite show a tendency of minor maturity among them. The source is related to an acid one for the litharenite protolith and a more basic to intermediate for the other rocks, suggesting a main derivation from intermediate to felsic orogen. The source of the Fe shales may be related to and admixture of the sediments with basic components. Overall the composition point to an upper continental crust as the dominant sediment source for most of the metasedimentary rocks. The protolith of the amphibolites have basic precursors, related to an evolving back-arc basin. The chemical data in combination with the specific sediment association (wackes, shales, Fe-shales and minor litharenites) are characteristic for turbidity currents deposits along tectonically active region. They are also commonly associated with calcareous clays (marbles), commonly observed in the evolution of basins with slope and shelf derived carbonate turbidites. The amphibolites members are probably derived from lava-flows synchronous with the sedimentation during the basin evolution. The basin was controlled by a continental island arc possible evolving to a back-arc setting, as indicated for the mixed nature of the inferred source. The metasedimentary sequence from the Cuesta de La Chilca have petrographic, structural and strong chemical similarities, building a north-south striking belt from the north of the Sierra de Aconquija and to the south along the Sierra de Ancasti (La Majada area). The observed similarities allow to present this portion of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas as a crustal block that records the sedimentary sequences developed along the geodynamic context of the southwestern margin of Gondwana during the Neoproterozoic and Early Palaeozoic. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{RizzoLauritaAltenberger2018, author = {Rizzo, Giovanna and Laurita, Salvatore and Altenberger, Uwe}, title = {The Timpa delle Murge ophiolitic gabbros, southern Apennines}, series = {Periodico di Mineralogia}, volume = {87}, journal = {Periodico di Mineralogia}, number = {1}, publisher = {Edizioni nuova cultura}, address = {Roma}, issn = {0369-8963}, doi = {10.2451/2018PM741}, pages = {5 -- 20}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The Timpa delle Murge ophiolite in the North Calabrian Unit is part of the Liguride Complex (southern Apennines). The study is concentrated on the gabbroic part of the ophiolite of the Pollino area. They preserve the high-grade ocean floor metamorphic and locally developed flaser textures under ocean floor conditions. The primary magmatic assemblages are clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and opaques. Brown hornblende is a late magmatic phase. Green hornblende, actinolite, albite, chlorite and epidote display metamorphic recrystallization under lower amphibolite facies conditions, followed by greenschist facies. The gabbros show subalkaline near to alkaline character with a tendency to a more calkalkaline trend. The normalization to primitive mantle and mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) compositions indicates a considerable depletion in Nb, P, Zr and Ti and an enrichment in Ba, Rb, K, Sr and Eu. This points to a mantle source, which is not compatible with a "normal" mid-ocean ridge situation. Rather, the gabbros are generated from a N-MORB-like melt with a strong crustal component, which was influenced by subduction related fluids and episodic melting during mid-ocean-ridge processes. Plausible geodynamic settings of the Timpa delle Murge gabbros are oceanic back-arc positions with embryonic MORB-activities. Similar slab contaminated magmatism is also known from the early stage of island arc formation in supra-subduction zone environments like the Izu-Bonin-Mariana island arc.}, language = {en} } @article{QuandtTrumbullAltenbergeretal.2018, author = {Quandt, Dennis and Trumbull, Robert B. and Altenberger, Uwe and Cardona, Agustin and Romer, Rolf L. and Bayona, Germ{\´a}n A. and Ducea, Mihai N. and Valencia, Victor and Vasquez, Monica and Cortes, Elizabeth and Guzman, Georgina}, title = {The geochemistry and geochronology of Early Jurassic igneous rocks from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, NW Colombia, and tectono-magmatic implications}, series = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, volume = {86}, journal = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0895-9811}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsames.2018.06.019}, pages = {216 -- 230}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in NW Colombia is an isolated massif at the northernmost end of the Andes chain near the boundary with the Caribbean plate. Previous geologic mapping and K-Ar dating have shown that Jurassic plutonic and volcanic units make up a large part of the Santa Marta Massif (SMM). These rocks have been considered to be part of a Jurassic magmatic arc extending from NW Colombia to northern Chile, but without any geochemical basis for comparison. This paper reports on a geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope study of the Jurassic rocks in the SMM and provides 12 new U-Pb zircon ages from in-situ laser ICP-MS dating. The plutonic and volcanic units span a range from 45 to 78 wt.\% SiO2, with a dominance of intermediate to felsic compositions with SiO2 > 57 wt.\%. They classify as calc-alkaline, medium to high-K, metaluminous rocks with trace-element features typical for arc-derived magma series. In terms of their major and trace-element compositions, the SMM Jurassic units overlap with contemporary plutonic and volcanic rocks from other regions of the Central and Eastern Cordilleras of Colombia, and confirm an arc affinity. The new U-Pb ages range from 176 +/- 1 Ma to 192 +/- 2 Ma (n = 12), with most between 180 and 188 Ma (n = 7). The initial Sr isotope ratios (at 180 Ma) are between 0.7012 and 0.7071 (n = 29), with 3 outliers attributed to mobilization of Rb and/or Sr, Nearly all samples have negative( )epsilon Nd-(180) values between - 10.3 and 0.0 (n = 30), the two exceptions being only slightly positive (1.1 and 1.9). Measured Pb isotope ratios fall in a narrow range, with Pb-206/Pb-204 from 18.02 to 19.95, (207) Pb/(204) Pb from 15.56 to 15.67 and Pb-208/Pb-204 from 37.76 to 39.04 (n = 28). In the regional context of previous studies, these results confirm early Jurassic ages and an arc affinity for the widespread magmatism exposed in the eastern and northeastern Colombian Andes. We also note patterns in the distribution and composition of magmas. The magmatic activity in the Central Cordillera tends to be younger than in the Eastern Cordillera and is spatially more restricted to the vicinity of regional fault systems. In terms of composition, Jurassic igneous rocks in the Eastern Cordillera have systematically lower epsilon Nd-(180) values than those from the Central Cordillera, whereas the Pb isotope ratios overlap. We ascribe the Nd isotope variations to heterogeneity in the mantle source and/or degree of crustal contamination, whereas the Pb isotope ratios are crust-dominated and similar throughout the region. The spatio-temporal and compositional evolution of Jurassic magmatic rocks in the Northern Andes reflect the major plate kinematic readjustment between the Triassic and the Early Jurassic in the proto-Andean margin.}, language = {en} } @article{LopezAltenbergerBellosetal.2019, author = {Lopez, Jose P. and Altenberger, Uwe and Bellos, Laura I. and G{\"u}nter, Christina}, title = {The Cumbres Calchaquies Range (NW-Argentina)}, series = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, volume = {93}, journal = {Journal of South American earth sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0895-9811}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsames.2019.03.016}, pages = {480 -- 494}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The Cumbres Calchaquies Range forms part of the Famatinian metamorphic basement of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas. The sedimentary protoliths of the metamorphic sequence were deposited in a marine basin alongside the western margin of Gondwana during the Neoproterozoic. New petrologic, geochemical and thermobarometric data give insight into the evolution of the sedimentary basin, its sediment source area, its later metamorphic overprint and its regional relationship to other parts of the Famatinian basement. The metamorphic series studied here consists of banded schists and gneisses and rare calcsilcate-rocks and migmatites that have been reworked by mid-to deep-crustal metamorphic and tectonic processes. The bulk rock compositions indicate shale, wacke, marl and litharenitic protoliths. The metamorphosed elastic sediments have major and trace element compositions indicating a continental granitoid-dominated source area with low sediment recycling. Low SiO2/Al2O3 ratios suggest a relatively low maturity of the sedimentary protoliths. Therefore, the Cumbres Calchaquies section represents a sequence of turbidity currents with progressive shallowing of the depositional environment, as indicated by quartz- and carbonate-rich sediments. The overall data are consistent with the geodynamic environment of a basin adjacent to a continental magmatic arc as the most probable scenario. Whereas the sedimentary protoliths of the metamorphic basement in the Sierra de Ancasti and Sierra de Aconquija, located ca 100-300 km south of the study area are interpreted as originating in an evolving back-arc basin, our results from the Cumbres Calchaquies region indicate a sedimentary source in a felsic continental arc with no significant influx of basic rocks. The Famatinian metamorphic evolution of the Cumbres Calchaquies rocks is of typical Barrow-type, culminating in partial melting of the metasediments. Conventional thermobarometry combined with thermodynamic models (pseudosections) reveal a prograde evolution reaching peak conditions of ca 665 degrees C/6.1 Kbar. This implies a geothermal gradient of ca 35 degrees C/km, which is slightly higher than the average for continental crust and suggests a period of crustal thinning, as known from back-arc basins, or additional heat supply by voluminous intrusions.}, language = {en} }