Neoproterozoic Eclogites in the Paleoproterozoic Ubendian Belt of Tanzania: Evidence for A Pan-African Suture Between the Bangweulu Block and the Tanzania Craton.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Geochronological, petrographic and geochemical data from eclogites ofthe Ufipa Terrane in the Ubendian
Belt demonstrate that a Pan-African suture zone dated at 593 ± 20, 548 ± 39 and 524 ± 12 Ma (zircon
U–Pb SHRIMP) separates the Tanzania Craton from the Bangweulu Block along the Ubendian Belt. These
new and surprising data indicate that during the amalgamation of the Gondwana Supercontinent there
was a collision between the Archean Cratons of Tanzania and Bangweulu. A clockwise P–T path that
climaxed at pressures of 15–20 kbar and temperatures of 610–790 ◦C were estimated for these eclogites.
This indicates a relatively warm subduction with a geothermal gradient of about 10–11 ◦C/km.
Magmatic precursor rocks of kyanite-free eclogites crystallized in the back-arc (group I eclogite) and
island-arc (group II eclogite) tectonic settings. The light rare earth elements (LREEs) of group I eclogites
range between 10 and 30 times chondritic values suggesting a depleted mantle source similar to that
of mid oceanic ridge basalts (MORB). Group II eclogites display characteristic depletions of high-fieldstrength
elements (Na, Ta, Zr and Hf) relative to LREEs that is typical for island-arc basalts.
The U–Pb zircon ages at 593 ± 20 and 524 ± 12 Ma from the kyanite-free eclogites have a difference
of about 70 Ma. The time interval of this much long is not likely to represent a single subduction event.
Therefore, it is more likely that successive accretions of volcanic-arc rocks occurred at 593 ± 20, 548 ± 39
and 524 ± 12 Ma.
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Keywords
Eclogite, Pan-African, Ubendian Belt, Tanzania Craton, Bangweulu Block, Gondwana
Citation
Boniface, N. and Schenk, V., 2012. Neoproterozoic eclogites in the Paleoproterozoic Ubendian Belt of Tanzania: evidence for a Pan-African suture between the Bangweulu Block and the Tanzania Craton. Precambrian Research, 208, pp.72-89.