Insights on the crustal evolution of the West African Craton from Hf isotopes in detrital zircons from the Anti-Atlas belt

Abati, Jacobo; Aghzer, Abdel Mohsine; Gerdes, Axel; Ennih, Nasser

doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2012.06.005

Cited by 71 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…During the late Neoproterozoic, Avalonia was also sourcing Amazonian detritus, but was probably positioned more distally with respect to the source areas in Amazonia (Willner et al 2013). The originally neighbouring West African craton can be eliminated as an alternative source craton for both microcontinents, because detrital zircon spectra with a West African source are characterized by a pronounced gap of Mesoproterozoic ages (Avigad et al 2012;Abati et al 2012;see Fig. 7e).…”

Section: Discussion Detrital Zircon Signature and Crustal Evolution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(a) to (f) -Schematic εHf (t) vs. age for detrital zircon from data presented herein and from Gerdes and Zeh (2006), Reimann et al (2010), Abati et al (2012) and Willner et al (2013).…”

Section: Discussion Detrital Zircon Signature and Crustal Evolution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8e, f) lack crustal recycling and formation of juvenile crust between 1.8 and 0.7 Ga (e.g. Gerdes and Zeh 2006;Avigad et al 2012;Abati et al 2012), excluding West Africa as the source craton for Ganderia and Avalonia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Detrital zircon from distal hinterland sources within a source continent mirrors the crustal evolution of that continent; i.e., crustal growth and recycling processes (Willner et al 2008(Willner et al , 2013Zeh et al 2008;Zeh and Gerdes 2010;Collins et al 2011;Abati et al 2012). These relationships can be deciphered by comparing the Hf isotopic signature of detrital zircon with otherwise known processes of crustal evolution in the potential source continent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crustal Evolution of the Northeast Laurentian Margin and the Peri-Gondwanan Microcontinent Ganderia Prior to and During Closure of the Iapetus Ocean: Detrital Zircon U–Pb and Hf Isotope Evidence from Newfoundland

Willner

Gerdes

Massonne

et al. 2014

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Detrital zircon populations in sedimentary rocks from the Laurentian margin and the accreted microcontinent Ganderia on both sides of the main Iapetus suture (Red Indian Line) in central Newfoundland have been studied by combined U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope analyses. Variation in εHf(t) values with age of zircon populations of distal provenance (>900 Ma) reflect the crustal evolution within the source continents: in zircon derived from Laurentia, episodes of juvenile magma production in the source could be detected at 1.00 – 1.65 and 2.55 – 3.00 Ga, and mixing of juvenile and recycled crust in continental magmatic arcs occurred at 0.95 – 1.40, 1.45 – 1.60, 1.65 – 2.05 and 2.55 – 2.75 Ga. These ages are consistent with the crustal history of northeastern Laurentia. Similarly, zircon of distal provenance from Ganderia reveals times of juvenile magma production in the source at 0.70 – 0.90, 1.40 – 1.75, 1.85 – 2.40 and 2.7 – 3.5 Ga, and episodes of mixing juvenile and recycled crust at 0.95 – 1.35, 1.45 – 1.60, 1.70 – 2.15 and 2.6 – 2.8 Ga. These data reflect the crustal evolution in the present northern part of Amazonia, its likely source craton. The evolution of magmatic arcs at the margins of both continents can be studied in a similar way using detrital zircon having a proximal provenance (<900 Ma). In contrast to the Laurentian margin, Ganderia is characterized by development of Neoproterozoic – Cambrian continental arcs (ca. 500 – 670 Ma) that were built on the margin of Gondwana. εHf(t) values indicate recycling of Neo- and Mesoproterozoic crust. During and following accretion of the various elements of Ganderia to Laurentia, the syn-tectonic Late Ordovician to Silurian sedimentary rocks deposited on the upper plate (composite Laurentia) continued showing only detritus derived from Laurentia. These sedimentary rocks contain detrital zircon from Iapetan juvenile, continental and successor arcs that were active between ca. 440 and 550 Ma, and from continuing magmatic activity until 423 Ma. Arrival of the first Laurentian detritus at the outermost part of Ganderia indicates that the Iapetus ocean was closed at ca. 452 Ma. The magmatic arcs along the former Laurentian margin in Newfoundland evolved differently. In the northwestern part, εHf(t) values point to recycling of Mesoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic crust. In the southwest, εHf(t) values indicate addition of juvenile crust, recycling of Mesoproterozoic crust and mixing with juvenile magma. SOMMAIRELes populations de zircons détritiques des roches sédimentaires issus de la marge laurentienne et du microcontinent d’accrétion de Ganderia, des deux côtés de la principale suture Iapetus (linéation de Red Indian) dans le centre de Terre-Neuve, ont été étudiés par analyses combinées U–Pb et Lu–Hf. Les variations des valeurs εHf(t) en fonction de l’âge des populations de zircons distaux (>900 Ma) reflètent l’évolution de la croûte des continents sources : les zircons de Laurentie ont permis de détecter des épisodes magmatiques juvéniles dans la source entre 1,00 - 1,5, et 2,55 - 3,00 Ga, ainsi que des épisodes de mélange de croûte juvénile avec des croûtes d’arcs magmatiques continentaux recyclés entre 0,95 – 1,40, 1,45 – 1,60, 1,65 – 2,05, et 2,55 – 2,75 Ga. Ces datations correspondent bien à l’histoire de la croûte de la portion nord-est de la Laurentie. De même, le zircon distal de Ganderia révèle des épisodes de production de magmas juvéniles dans la source entre 0,70 - 0,90, 1,40 - 1,75, 1,85 - 2,40, et 2,7 - 3,5 Ga, ainsi que des épisodes de mélanges de matériaux juvéniles et de croûtes recyclés entre 0,95 - 1,35, 1,45 - 1,60, 1,70 - 2,15, et 2,6 - 2,8 Ga. Ces données reflètent l’évolution de la croûte dans la portion nord actuelle de l’Amazonie, son craton source probable. L’évolution des arcs magmatiques à la marge de ces deux continents peuvent être étudiées de la même manière en utilisant le zircon détritique proximal (<900 Ma). Contrairement à la marge laurentienne, celle de Ganderia est caractérisée par le développement d’arcs continentaux Néoprotéozoïque-Cambrien (env. 500 – 670 Ma) qui se sont constitués à la marge du Gondvana. Les valeurs de εHf(t) indiquent un recyclage de la croûte au Néoprotérozoïque et au Mésoprotérozoïque. Durant et après l’accrétion des divers éléments de Ganderia et de la Laurentie, les roches sédimentaires syntectoniques de la fin de l’Ordovicien et du Silurien qui se sont déposées sur la portion supérieure de la plaque (Laurentie composite) ne montrent toujours que des débris provenant de la Laurentie. Ces roches sédimentaires renferment des zircons détritiques juvéniles iapétiques, et d’arcs continentaux et d’arcs subséquents, qui ont été actifs entreentre (env. 440 et 550 Ma) et d’une activité magmatique continue jusqu’à 423 Ma. L’apport des premiers débris à la marge extrême de Ganderia indique que l’océan s’est fermée il y a env. 452 Ma. Les arcs magmatiques le long de l'ancienne marge laurentienne à Terre-Neuve ont évolué différemment. Dans la portion nord-ouest, les valeurs de εHf(t) indiquent un recyclage de la croûte au Mésoprotérozoïque et au Paléoprotérozoïque. Dans la portion sud-ouest, les valeurs de εHf(t) indiquent l’ajout d’une croûte juvénile, un recyclage de la croûte mésoprotérozoïque et un mélange avec un magma juvénile.

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Section: Discussion Detrital Zircon Signature and Crustal Evolution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(a) to (f) -Schematic εHf (t) vs. age for detrital zircon from data presented herein and from Gerdes and Zeh (2006), Reimann et al (2010), Abati et al (2012) and Willner et al (2013).…”

Section: Discussion Detrital Zircon Signature and Crustal Evolution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crustal Evolution of the Northeast Laurentian Margin and the Peri-Gondwanan Microcontinent Ganderia Prior to and During Closure of the Iapetus Ocean: Detrital Zircon U–Pb and Hf Isotope Evidence from Newfoundland

Willner

Gerdes

Massonne

et al. 2014

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“…Obtained εHf(t) ratios of samples D52, D177, and D178 are significantly lower, ranging between − 27.9 and 8.1, and hence are interpreted to reflect crustal mixing of Archaean to Proterozoic precursors with juvenile Neoproterozoic components (e.g. Gerdes and Zeh, 2006;Abati et al, 2012;Hofmann et al, 2013). Comparable detrital U-Pb zircon ages and Hf values have been reported by Abati et al (2010Abati et al ( , 2012 and are also thought to be linked to a potential island arc, although located further north in the Anti-Atlas Belt.…”

Section: An Island Arc In the Periphery Of The West African Craton Atmentioning

confidence: 99%

History of the West African Neoproterozoic Ocean: Key to the geotectonic history of circum-Atlantic Peri-Gondwana (Adrar Souttouf Massif, Moroccan Sahara)

et al. 2016

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Detrital zircon U–Pb–Hf data from Cambrian sandstones of the Ougarta Mountains Algeria: Implication for palaeoenvironment

et al. 2020

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We report new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic signatures of detrital zircons in Cambrian sedimentary rocks from the Ougarta Mountains of Algeria in the West African Craton (WAC) in order to provide constraints on the palaeo-catchments of the Early Palaeozoic river systems draining Gondwana. The Cambrian sedimentary samples from the Ougarta Mountains have near-identical age spectra with a dominant age peak at 618 Ma and an additional age peak at 2,035 Ma. The oldest detrital zircon grain is 3,407 Ma. The εHf (t) values of the 618 Ma age peak spans from εHf (t) +12 to −25 with a dominant mode at −1; the εHf (t) of the Palaeoproterozoic zircon ranges from 6 to −27 with an average of −10; the pre-2,300 Ma zircon Hf lie along a crustal evolution trajectory (176 Lu/ 177 Hf = 0.01) back to the depleted mantle at 3,100 Ma. The maximum depositional age of the sandstones in the Sebkhet el Melah Formation is constrained by the youngest detrital zircon age of 559 ± 13 Ma and by the underlying volcaniclastic rocks dated at 555 ± 7 Ma (Late Ediacaran to the Early Cambrian). The 618 and 2,035 Ma age peaks are consistent with a proximal provenance from the WAC, and it is possible that recycling of eroded material from the Cadomian arc and Pan-African rocks may have been a potential source of the Ediacaran detrital zircons analysed herein. There were four (0.9%) Stenian detrital zircons identified in this study, and our results are consistent with the lack of WAC Stenian detrital zircon noted in previous studies, except those reported from a single Middle Cambrian sample in Morocco. Correlative sedimentary successions further to the east contain ubiquitous ca. 1.0 Ga detrital zircon that was likely supplied from the Trans-Gondwana Mountain chain. It is noteworthy that the WAC and Sahara Metacraton are surrounded on three sides by Neoproterozoic orogenic systems, with the Rokelide, Dahomeyide, Pharuside, Anti-Atlas, and Brasiliano orogens (reconstructed position from Gondwana palaeogeography) around the WAC and the Dahomeyide, Pharuside, East African orogen, and Oubangides orogens around the Sahara Metacraton. We posit these orogenic belts acted as drainage divides that controlled sediment routing pathways. Additionally, the occurrence of Stenian detrital zircon in Morocco could be explained by longshore drift coming from the east (present-day coordinates).

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Insights on the crustal evolution of the West African Craton from Hf isotopes in detrital zircons from the Anti-Atlas belt

Cited by 71 publications

References 40 publications

Crustal Evolution of the Northeast Laurentian Margin and the Peri-Gondwanan Microcontinent Ganderia Prior to and During Closure of the Iapetus Ocean: Detrital Zircon U–Pb and Hf Isotope Evidence from Newfoundland

Crustal Evolution of the Northeast Laurentian Margin and the Peri-Gondwanan Microcontinent Ganderia Prior to and During Closure of the Iapetus Ocean: Detrital Zircon U–Pb and Hf Isotope Evidence from Newfoundland

History of the West African Neoproterozoic Ocean: Key to the geotectonic history of circum-Atlantic Peri-Gondwana (Adrar Souttouf Massif, Moroccan Sahara)

Detrital zircon U–Pb–Hf data from Cambrian sandstones of the Ougarta Mountains Algeria: Implication for palaeoenvironment

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