The evolution of the neoproterozoic São Gabriel juvenile terrane, southern Brazil based on SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and ?18O data on detrital zircon
Abstract
The São Gabriel terrane is a segment of juvenile crust exposed in the western part of the Dom Feliciano Belt in the southern Mantiqueira Province, southern Brazil. In this study, SHRIMP and LA-ICPMS U-Pb geochronological data for 171 detrital zircons of the Cambaizinho Complex are used to investigate the tectonic evolution of this juvenile terrain. Eighty-one grains were later selected for SIMS δ18O analyses. Ages ranged from 840 to 660 Ma, with a strong concentration between ca. 750 and 700 Ma. The age spectrum of the detrital zircon grains from this meta-sedimentary succession suggests that the original sediments were derived from the erosion of the arc, most likely in a short-lived syn-orogentic basin. Th/U ratios and internal structures of the zircon grains reveal that they were mostly eroded from the arc magmatic rocks, without any relevant contribution from their metamorphic counterparts, or from any other older source. The δ18O values varied from 3.2 to 9.6‰, indicating the coeval crystallization of both unaltered, pristine mantle magmas alongside altered mantle magmas, and strongly contaminated continental crustal magmas generated in both continental and oceanic arc setting. Three periods in the progressive evolution of the terrane were recognized: Period I is represented by the installation of an island-arc subduction zone. The data set suggest that this period started at ca. 840 Ma and went on until 750 Ma. In this period δ18O values varied between 3.2 to 5.5 ‰, suggesting the crystallization of normal mantle-derived magmas, and juvenile magmas with assimilation of hydrothermally altered crust. Period II took place between ca. 750-690 Ma, which represents the peak of magmatic activity suggested by the large abundance of detrital zircons in the probability density diagrams. Here, δ18O values ranged from 4.0 to 9.4 ‰. The wide range of δ18O values reveals the coexistence of magmas with continental, mantle, and altered mantle isotopic signatures. This is explained by the installation of a continental magmatic arc along the western margin of the Rio de La Plata Craton. Period III took place between ca. 690-650 represented by the accretion of the arc system to the Rio de La Plata Craton. In this timeframe only continental crust-derived magmas are recognized and no mantle δ18O values are observed. In summary, our data provides an insight into the progressive evolution of the São Gabriel terrane from an intra-oceanic subduction zone at ca. 879-750 Ma to a continental arc setting (ages < 690 Ma) into three distinct periods, which preceded ocean closure and continental collision at the end of the Neoproterozoic.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.V13A2594L
- Keywords:
-
- 1040 GEOCHEMISTRY Radiogenic isotope geochemistry;
- 1165 GEOCHRONOLOGY Sedimentary geochronology