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Mineral chemistry and thermobarometry of the staurolite-chloritoid schists from Poshtuk, NW Iran
(2012)
The Poshtuk metapelitic rocks in northwestern Iran underwent two main phases of regional and contact metamorphism. Microstructures, textural features and field relations indicate that these rocks underwent a polymetamorphic history. The dominant metamorphic assemblage of the metapelites is garnet, staurolite, chloritoid, chlorite, muscovite and quartz, which grew mainly syntectonically during the later contact metamorphic event. Peak metamorphic conditions of this event took place at 580 ◦ C and ∼ 3–4 kbar, indicating that this event occurred under high-temperature and low-pressure conditions (HT/LP metamorphism), which reflects the high heat flow in this part of the crust. This event is mainly controlled by advective heat input through magmatic intrusions into all levels of the crust. These extensive Eocene metamorphic and magmatic activities can be associated with the early Alpine Orogeny, which resulted in this area from the convergence between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, and the Cenozoic closure of the Tethys oceanic tract(s).
The Takab complex is composed of a variety of metamorphic rocks including amphibolites, metapelites, mafic granulites, migmatites and meta-ultramafics, which are intruded by the granitoid. The granitoid magmatic activity occurred in relation to the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust beneath the Iranian crust during Tertiary times. The granitoids are mainly granodiorite, quartz monzodiorite, monzonite and quartz diorite. Chemically, the magmatic rocks are characterized by ASI < 1.04, AI < 0.87 and high contents of CaO (up to ∼ 14.5 wt %), which are consistent with the I-type magmatic series. Low FeO t /(FeO t +MgO) values (< 0.75) as well as low Nb, Y and K 2 O contents of the investigated rocks resemble the calc-alkaline series. Low SiO 2 , K 2 O/Na 2 O and Al 2 O 3 accompanied by high CaO and FeO contents indicate melting of metabasites as an appropriate source for the intrusions. Negative Ti and Nb anomalies verify a metaluminous crustal origin for the protoliths of the investigated igneous rocks. These are comparable with compositions of the associated mafic migmatites, in the Takab metamorphic complex, which originated from the partial melting of amphibolites. Therefore, crustal melting and a collision-related origin for the Takab calc-alkaline intrusions are proposed here on the basis of mineralogy and geochemical characteristics. The P–T evolution during magmatic crystallization and subsolidus cooling stages is determined by the study of mineral chemistry of the granodiorite and the quartz diorite. Magmatic crystallization pressure and temperature for the quartz-diorite and the granodiorite are estimated to be P ∼ 7.8 ± 2.5 kbar, T ∼ 760 ± 75 ◦C and P ∼ 5 ± 1 kbar, T ∼ 700 ◦C, respectively. Subsolidus conditions are consistent with temperatures of ∼ 620 ◦C and ∼ 600 ◦C, and pressures of ∼ 5 kbar and ∼ 3.5 kbar for the quartz-diorite and the granodiorite, respectively.
Albian-Turonian subduction-accretionary complexes are exposed widely in the Central Pontides. A major portion of the accretionary complexes is made up of a metaflysch sequence consisting of slate/phyllite and metasandstone intercalation with blocks of marble, Na-amphibole bearing metabasite, and serpentinite. The metaflysch sequence represents distal parts of a large Lower Cretaceous submarine turbidite fan deposited on the Laurasian active continental margin that was subsequently accreted and metamorphosed during the Albian. Raman spectra of carbonaceous material of the metapelitic rocks revealed that the metaflysch consists of metamorphic packets with distinct peak metamorphic temperatures. The majority of the metapelites are low-temperature (ca. 330 degrees C) slates characterized by lack of differentiation of the graphite (G) and D2 defect bands. They possibly represent offscraped distal turbidites along the toe of the Albian accretionary wedge. Other phyllites are characterized by a slightly pronounced G band with a D2 defect band occurring on its shoulder. Peak metamorphic temperatures of these phyllites are constrained to 370-385 degrees C. The phyllites are associated with a strip of incipient blueschist facies metabasites and are found as a sliver within the offscraped distal turbidites. We interpret the phyllites as underplated continental sediments together with oceanic crustal basalt along the basal decollement. Tectonic emplacement of the underplated rocks into the offscraped distal turbidites was possibly achieved by out-of-sequence thrusting causing tectonic thickening and uplift of the wedge.
The Karaburun Peninsula, which is considered part of the Anatolide-Tauride Block of Turkey, contains clastic and carbonate sequences deposited on the northern margin of Gondwana. The Palaeozoic clastic sequence, which is intruded by the Early Triassic granitoid and tectonically overlies a Mesozoic melange sequence, can be divided into three subunits: a lower clastic subunit consisting of a sandstone-shale alternation, an upper clastic subunit consisting of black chert-bearing shales, sandstone and conglomerate, and a Permo-Carboniferous carbonate subunit. The lower Triassic Karaburun I-type granitoid has a high initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio (0.709021-0.709168), and low Nd-143/Nd-144 ratio (0.512004-0.512023) and epsilon Nd (-5.34 to -5.70) isotopic values. Geochronological data indicate a crystallization (intrusion) age of 247.1 +/- 2.0 Ma (Scythian). Geochemically, the acidic magmatism reflects a subduction-related continental-arc basin tectonic setting, which can be linked to the opening of the northern branch of Neo-Tethys as a continental back-arc rifting basin on the northern margin of Gondwana. This can be related to the closure through southward subduction of the Palaeotethys Ocean beneath Gondwana.
Metamorphic studies in the cover sequences of the Bitlis complex allow the thermal evolution of the massif to be constrained using metamorphic index minerals. Regionally distributed metamorphic index minerals such as glaucophane, carpholite, relics of carpholite in chloritoid-bearing schists and pseudomorphs after aragonite in marbles record a LT-HP evolution:This demonstrates that the Bitlis complex was subducted and stacked to form a nappe complex during the closure of the Neo-Tethys. During late Cretaceous to Cenozoic evolution the Bitlis complex experienced peak metamorphism of 1.0-1.1 GPa at 350-400 degrees C. During the retrograde evolution temperatures remained below 460 degrees C. Ar-39/Ar-40 dating of white mica in different parageneses from the Bitlis complex reveals a 74-79 Ma (Campanian) date of peak metamorphism and rapid exhumation to an almost isothermal greenschist stage at 67-70 Ma (Maastrichtian). The HP Eocene flysch escaped the greenschist facies stage and were exhumed under very cold conditions. These single stage evolutions contrast with the multistage evolution reported further north from the Amassia-Stepanavan Suture in Armenia. Petrological investigations and isotopic dating show that the collision of Arabia with Eurasia resulted in an assemblage of different blocks derived from the northern as well as from the southern plate and a set of subduction zones producing HP rocks with diverse exhumation histories.
The sidi Mohamed peridotites (Edough Massif, NE Algeria) - evidence for an upper mantle origin
(2013)
The Hercynian Edough massif is the easternmost crystalline massif of the Algerian coast. It consists of two tectonically superposed units composed of micaschists, gneisses, and peridotite. This study concentrates on the small and isolated Sidi Mohamed peridotite outcrop area (0.03 km(2)). The Sidi Mohamed peridotite is composed mainly of harzburgites (Mg-rich olivine and orthopyroxene as major minerals). The Ni (2051-2920 ppm), Cr (2368-5514 ppm) and MgO (similar to 28-35 wt.%) whole-rock composition and the relative depletion in Nb make these harzburgites comparable to depleted peridotites related to a subduction zone. We suggest that the Sidi Mohamed ultramafic body was derived directly from the upper mantle and tectonically incorporated into the gneiss units of the Edough metamorphic core complex in a subduction environment.