Abstract
The Oaxacan Complex is the largest exposure of Grenvillian-age rocks in Mexico, constituting the backbone of the Oaxaquia microcontinent. Whereas the main rock-forming events were previously established at 1,150–1,200 Ma (charnockite–syenite–gabbros), 1,020 Ma (AMCG suite), 990 Ma (granulite-facies metamorphism), and ca. 970 Ma post-tectonic pegmatites, no data are yet available to establish provenance links with other Grenville-age terranes. In this work, we studied detrital zircons belonging to 12 samples, all metamorphosed under granulite facies but variably affected by retrogression. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb geochronology was employed on selected zircons to determine their crystallization age and geochemistry. The results of the analysis of about 100 crystals per sample show that the studied zircons range between ca. 940 and 1,400 Ma, with only three samples having zircons between 1,400 and 1,600 Ma, and only one showing older zircons up to ca. 1,775 Ma. Whereas some of the slightly discordant (1–5 %) zircons in several samples show ages younger than the granulite metamorphism (probably as a result of Pb loss), and thus a disturbed geochemical pattern (abnormal enrichment in LREE, decreasing HREE), a few metamorphic zircons show flat and depleted HREE patterns, contrasting with the igneous pattern of older zircons (positive Ce anomaly, negative Eu anomaly, enriched HREE pattern). The main distributions observed using the kernel density estimator diagrams fall in the range 975–995 Ma (six samples), 1,100 Ma (four samples) and 1,120–1,170 Ma (six samples). Only the southernmost sample shows a marked peak at ca. 1,400 Ma. The application of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) statistical test to the studied samples and particularly the comparison of obtained P values yield interesting similarities. Overall, two sample groups show internal similarities, i.e., they may belong to the same source area, whereas only one sample is dissimilar, failing to pass the K–S test. Comparison of these data with the timing of comparable events in the Sveconorwegian orogens, the Sunsas and Rondonia-San Ignacio belts of Amazonia, and some of the Precambrian massifs cropping out in the Andes help to constrain possible Mesoproterozoic conjugate margins of Oaxaquia.
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Acknowledgments
The “Programa de Apoyo a la Investigación e Inovación Tecnológica of the Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico (PAPIIT-DGAPA),” UNAM, projects IN-104010 to FOG and IN-100911-3 to LAS are acknowledged for provide funds for several parts of this work. This is also a contribution to the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) project CB164454 granted to FOG. Ofelia Pérez is also acknowledged for lab maintenance at Laboratorio de Estudios Isotópicos, CGEO, UNAM. Journal reviews by V. Ramos, M. Kirsch, B.V. Miller improved the manuscript. We want to also thank Dr. J. Dostal for the editorial handling of the manuscript. The authors wish to specially thank John Duncan Keppie for the hard work carried in the Oaxacan Complex (and, in general, in southern Mexico) since the mid-90, for many hours spent in both the field together and discussing the geological problems of Mexican Grenville, as well as for his friendship. This work is dedicated to him.
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Solari, L.A., Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., Elías-Herrera, M. et al. Detrital provenance of the Grenvillian Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico: a zircon perspective. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 103, 1301–1315 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-013-0938-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-013-0938-9