Cenozoic ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in pelitic granulites from the Mogok metamorphic belt, Myanmar

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences 2021-11, Vol.64 (11), p.1873-1892
• Main Authors: Chen, Si, Chen, Yi, Li, Yibing, Su, Bin, Zhang, Qinghua, Aung, Me Me, Sein, Kyaing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anomalies; Belts; Biotite; Cenozoic; Continental crust; Crystals; Dating; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Feldspars; Garnet; Geochronology; Geochronometry; High temperature; Ilmenite; Isotopes; Lead isotopes; Lithosphere; Metamorphism; Metamorphism (geology); Mineral assemblages; Nomograms; Orogeny; Petrology; Plagioclase; Plate tectonics; Precambrian; Radiometric dating; Rare earth elements; Research Paper; Rifting; Rims; Rutile; Sillimanite; Temperature; Thermal evolution; Thermometers; Titanium dioxide; Trace elements; Ultrahigh temperature; Yields; Zircon; Zirconium
• ISSN: 1674-7313; 1869-1897
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-020-9748-5

Ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism is critical for understanding the most extreme thermal evolution of continental crust. However, UHT metamorphism predominantly occurred in the Precambrian and is rarely observed in the modern Earth. Here, we report the discovery of ∼25 Ma UHT granulites from the Mogok metamorphic belt (MMB) in Myanmar via a combined study of petrology and geochronology. The studied pelitic granulites well preserve a peak mineral assemblage of garnet + sillimanite + plagioclase (antiperthite) + K-feldspar + quartz + Ti-rich biotite + rutile + ilmenite. Pressure ( P )-temperature ( T ) pseudosections and conventional geothermobarometry data only constrain the P - T conditions of the peak stage to 900°C. In situ SIMS and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and trace element analyses show that both metamorphic zircon cores and rims have flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns with negative Eu anomalies. The metamorphic zircon rims show the lowest HREE contents and yield 206 Pb/ 238 U ages of 24.9±0.5 and 25.4±0.6 Ma, respectively, representing the timing of UHT metamorphism. Our results indicate that the central MMB underwent ∼25 Ma UHT metamorphism, which is possibly induced by continental rifting along the thinned orogenic lithosphere. Our data, as well as reported Cenozoic UHT events, further suggest that UHT metamorphism can be produced in the modern plate tectonic regime by lithospheric extension.