Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Metasedimentary rocks in the transition zone between the Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain and the Sergipano Belt (southern Borborema Province, NE Brazil) were studied in order to place constraints on the geological evolution of this portion of West Gondwana. High-grade metamorphic conditions are recorded by the garnet-sillimanite assemblage and common anatexis in pelitic paragneisses. Two samples dated by LA-ICP-MS in the north yielded a predominance of early Neoproterozoic detrital zircons, with age peaks between 990 Ma and 827 Ma, with the youngest grain suggesting deposition after 670 Ma. Low Th/U zircons (Th/U < 0.1) in these samples display a significant spread in ages, from 691 to 568 Ma. One sample in the south is dominated by a homogenous population of Paleoproterozoic grains, with a 2200 Ma peak. The southernmost sample also contains Paleoproterozoic zircons but the most abundant population is Neoproterozoic, and characterized by age peaks at c. 670, 647 and 623 Ma. These results show that deposition of sediments in the southern PEAL Domain and in the northern Sergipano Belt occurred in the Late Neoproterozoic. The differing age spectra between samples are correlated with potential source rocks in the study area or in its proximity, reflecting variable input from local sources. The data are interpreted to indicate that during the course of an extensional event at c. 673-647 Ma, Tonian granitic intrusions and synextensional metamorphic rocks were unroofed and eroded to provide zircons for sediments deposited in the north, whereas Paleoproterozoic and synextensional magmatic rocks were the main sources for sediments in the south. Peak metamorphic conditions and contractional deformation are constrained to c. 630-600 Ma.
ISSN: 0895-9811

hal-01468011
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01468011
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsames.2016.09.010

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In this study, we report new U-Pb zircon ages and amphibole and biotite 40Ar-39Ar cooling ages for igneous and metaigneous rocks from the eastern portion of the Borborema Province (NE Brazil). We combine these results with preliminary thermobarometric estimates and existing data to place constraints on the timing and duration of the Brasiliano-Pan-African Orogeny in northeastern Brazil and on the subsequent late- to post-orogenic history. The Alcantil orthogneiss contains a complex zircon population, but the youngest concordant analyses yielded an age of 632 ± 17 Ma (2σ). These grains have low Th/U ratios (<0.1), and the age of 632 Ma is therefore interpreted as dating the metamorphic event responsible for the acquisition of the gneissic fabric. In the Caruaru biotite amphibole orthogneiss, concordant analyses provided an age of 618 ± 4 Ma (2σ), which we relate to emplacement of the protolith of the Caruaru orthogneiss. Together with available U-Pb data from the literature, the 632-600 Ma age range is regarded as dating development of a regional flat-lying foliation coeval with high-grade metamorphism (upper amphibolite facies conditions). The 586 ± 3 Ma age (2σ) of the Panelas pluton is similar to those of other granitic plutons associated with a voluminous plutonism of high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic nature that occurred at 590-580 Ma. This plutonism slightly predated or was synchronous with development of large strike-slip shear zones. Amphibole grains yielded 40Ar-39Ar ages ranging from 584 ± 4 Ma to about 530 Ma, suggesting that regional temperatures remained near the closing temperature of this mineral (≈500 °C) for a long time. Most 40Ar-39Ar biotite ages range from 552 to 533 Ma, but two samples yielded plateau ages of 519 ± 5 Ma and 509 ± 5 Ma. The inferred rather slow cooling of the studied region possibly reflects low rates of unroofing, allowing persistence of a protracted thermal anomaly caused by the massive injection of magmas at the end of the Neoproterozoic.
ISSN: 0895-9811

hal-00745698
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00745698
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsames.2012.06.003

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Terrane accretion and intraplate deformation are both common processes occurring during the assembly of large continental masses. The relative roles of these mechanisms are at the heart of a debate concerning the tectonic evolution of the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil. In the Central subprovince, four terranes or domains have been proposed. In the Alto Moxotó domain, paragneiss of the Sertânia Complex were considered to record a distinct structural and geochronological evolution compared to those in the adjacent Rio Capibaribe domain, in the East. Here, we report the results of a geological study conducted in the type area of the Sertânia Complex. Kinematic criteria and metamorphic mineral assemblages indicate that the main foliation record top-to-the-W tectonic transport under upper amphibolite facies conditions (650–700 °C). The main foliation was affected by overturned folds and upright to inclined folds; the latter two formed coevally with the development of transcurrent shear zones. Samples of mafic orthogneiss and paragneiss tectonically intercalated in the same outcrop were dated by LA-ICP-MS. The orthogneiss sample yields a crystallization age of 1978 ± 8 Ma. Detrital zircons in the paragneiss sample show a multimodal pattern with a well-defined age peak at c. 700 Ma, showing that the paragneiss is younger than 700 Ma and so the main foliation is also younger than this age. In turn, these findings suggest that the occurrence of exclusively Paleoproterozoic zircons in three other dated samples of paragneiss cannot be used to accurately define the deposition age of the detritus. The structural and geochronological characteristics of the Sertânia Complex are similar to those of the Surubim Complex in the Rio Capibaribe domain. Together with previous results showing that the basement of the Alto Moxotó and Rio Capibaribe domains is also similar, we interpret these sequences as having been deposited on a once contiguous tract of continental crust. An accretionary terrane model is thus not required to account for the tectonic evolution of this portion of the Borborema Province. Instead, a model of intracontinental deformation of a preexistent continent is fully supported by the data and also by the lack of evidence for oceanic subduction.
ISSN: 0301-9268

hal-01622825
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622825
DOI : 10.1016/j.precamres.2017.07.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In pre-drift reconstructions, the central and southern parts of the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil, belong to a large Brasiliano-Pan-African orogenic realm situated to the north of the São Francisco-Congo Craton. In order to better understand the timing and geodynamic setting under which this orogenic system developed, a structural, geochemical and geochronological study was conducted across the east Pernambuco shear zone (EPSZ) system, which separates the Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain (PEAL) from the Central Domain. A sample of the Pinhões orthogneiss (GE-1), in the Central Domain, one sample of a syenitic orthogneiss (CA-34) wrapped by the EPSZ, and one sample of orthogneiss named Altinho (CA-40), in the northern portion of the PEAL, were dated by LA-ICP-MS. The Pinhões orthogneiss yielded an age of 869 ± 9 Ma, interpreted as the emplacement age of the protolith during a late Tonian magmatic episode. Samples CA-40 and CA-34 yielded 206Pb/238U weighted mean ages of 652 ± 6 Ma and 636 ± 3 Ma, respectively, which are interpreted as dating emplacement and crystallization of the magmatic protoliths. However, it is also possible that these rocks were formed during the same magmatic event in view of the identical ages of 646 ± 13 Ma and 646 ± 11 Ma, respectively, given by the less precise upper intercept of the discordia lines. The metaluminous and magnesian nature of the Altinho orthogneiss is akin to the calc-alkalic suite. However, some samples plot in the intraplate field in tectonic discrimination diagrams and the Nd TDM model age of 1.36 Ga is unlike that of juvenile magmas in convergent settings. The Altinho orthogneiss is quite similar in terms of trace elements geochemistry to the syenitic orthogneiss, which has a clearer intraplate affinity, and the dated samples have identical initial Sr isotope ratios (0.7047). Therefore, emplacement in an extensional setting is preferred over a convergent one. Two samples of paragneisses (SB-1 and BB-9) from the PEAL were also dated. The ages of the youngest zircon grains in sample BB-9 (655–642 Ma) overlap the crystallization age of the Altinho orthogneiss, implying that sedimentation is younger than or, at best, synchronous with magmatism. The age of low Th/U grains in samples CA-34 (615 ± 8 Ma) and SB-1 (587 ± 12 Ma) are related to a subsequent metamorphic overprint, which is loosely constrained between 580 and 620 Ma. These observations, combined with evidence provided by previous studies, suggest that the change from an extensional to a contracional setting occurred at ca. 640–630 Ma. In contrast with most collisional orogens, where a long period of oceanic subduction precedes collision, the inferred tectonic evolution suggests that the Brasiliano Orogeny resulted from inversion of continental and/or proto oceanic rifts.
ISSN: 0895-9811

hal-01174182
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01174182
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsames.2014.06.004

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Detrital zircons in metasedimentary rocks attributed to three different complexes in the Central and Pernambuco-Alagoas domains of the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil, were dated by LA-ICP-MS. Two samples from each of the following complexes were analyzed: Sertania and Surubim, in the Central Domain, and Rio Una, in the Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain. One sample of the Sertania Complex yielded only Paleoproterozoic zircons, whereas Neoproterozoic zircons predominate in the other, with the youngest zircon indicating deposition after 642 Ma. One of the samples of the Surubim Complex yielded, again, only Paleoproterozoic concordant zircon ages. In the other sample, although Paleoproterozoic zircons predominate, ages vary from the Mesoarchean to the Neoproterozoic. The age of the youngest zircon in this latter sample indicates deposition after 850 Ma and an overgrowth on an Archean grain yielded an age of 623 +/- 6 Ma (2 sigma), interpreted as the age of peak metamorphism. The two samples of the Rio Una Complex yielded predominantly detrital zircons with ages in the ranges 2.2-2.1 Ga and 1.7-1.6 Ga. In this complex, the youngest detrital zircon suggests deposition after 917 Ma and metamorphic zircons indicate peak metamorphic conditions between 600 Ma and 617 Ma.;The results of this study, together with available data from the literature, allow the following conclusions: (a) The Sertania Complex is a Neoproterozoic sequence, and not Paleoproterozoic, as previously thought; (b) The similarity in lithological associations, detrital zircon populations and C isotope signature between the Sertania and Surubim complexes suggest that they belong to the same lithostratigraphic unit; (c) Although the Rio Una Complex can be older than the Sertania/Surubim Complex, the lack of zircons younger than 900 Ma can also result from insufficient sampling or absence of young rocks alongside the drainage system that collected detritus to this complex: (d) The regional metamorphism related to the Brasiliano Orogeny attained its climax at 630-600 Ma; (e) The age spectra of detrital zircons require their derivation from erosion of rocks formed not only during known geological events in the Borborema Province and in the nearby Sao Francisco/Congo Craton, but also from the Amazonian Craton, suggesting accumulation in an intracratonic setting within a preexisting large continent: (f) The short timespan between deposition and orogenic deformation may explain the overall medium- to high-temperature metamorphism due to maintenance, in the subsequent compressional event, of the elevated geothermal gradients produced during broad-scale lithosphere extension.
ISSN: 0301-9268

hal-00443856
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00443856
DOI : 10.1016/j.precamres.2009.09.009