Xes-Xen thermochronology of the Rayner metamorphic complex,Enderby Land (East Antarctica,Molodezhnaya Station Area) |
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| Authors: | D P Krylov Yu A Shukolyukov |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova 2, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
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| Abstract: | The Xes-Xen dating of zircons from rocks of the Rayner Complex of the Enderby Land at the Molodezhnaya Station area (coast of the Alasheyev Bight) yielded age estimates of 550 ± 50 and 1040 ± 30 Ma. The metamorphic rocks of the Rayner Complex record two main events: first, the crystallization of the magmatic protoliths of charnockitic and enderbitic gneisses and, second, superimposed structural and metamorphic alterations under conditions transitional from the amphibolite to granulite facies (metamorphism manifested regionally in the rocks of the Rayner Complex). The most reliable Xes-Xen age estimates for magmatic zircons from the charnockitic and enderbitic gneisses correspond to the Grenville stage of the development of the Rayner Complex (～1.0 Ga). The Xe isotopic systematics of metamorphic zircons reflect a pan-African stage in the evolution of the Rayner Complex (600–550 Ma). Pan-African events are reflected in the U-Xe isotope system in two cases: if metamorphic zircons crystallized at the same time (which probably resulted in the formation of a plateau in the Xes-Xen age spectrum) and if the initial isotopic systems were disturbed (which resulted in a decrease in apparent age toward low-temperature gas fractions). It is important that secondary alterations and a decrease in apparent ages to 600–550 Ma affected only those components (i.e., caused xenon release only from those traps) that were unstable under the maximum metamorphic temperatures and yielded T cl values lower than 750°C (conditions transitional from the amphibolite to granulite facies). At a higher xenon retention, “primary” isotopic systems are preserved. Consequently, the age of metamorphism transitional between the amphibolite and granulite facies can be estimated at 600–550 Ma on the basis of Xes-Xen dating. In general, the results of our study indicate that the age of regional metamorphism of the Rayner complex at the Molodezhnaya area is approximately 600–550 Ma rather than ～1.0 Ga, as was previously supposed. |
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