scholarly journals Geochemical character of serpentinites associated with high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Alps, Cuba, and the Himalayas: Recycling of elements in subduction zones

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Kéiko H. Hattori ◽  
Stéphane Guillot
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Metamorphic Rocks ◽  
The Alps

scholarly journals Continental versus oceanic subduction zones

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Fei Zheng ◽  
Yi-Xiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Mantle Wedge ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Metamorphic Rocks ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Incompatible Elements ◽  
Ultrahigh Temperature ◽  
Subducting Slab ◽  
Oceanic Slab ◽  
Metasomatized Mantle

Abstract Subduction zones are tectonic expressions of convergent plate margins, where crustal rocks descend into and interact with the overlying mantle wedge. They are the geodynamic system that produces mafic arc volcanics above oceanic subduction zones but high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in continental subduction zones. While the metamorphic rocks provide petrological records of orogenic processes when descending crustal rocks undergo dehydration and anataxis at forearc to subarc depths beneath the mantle wedge, the arc volcanics provide geochemical records of the mass transfer from the subducting slab to the mantle wedge in this period though the mantle wedge becomes partially melted at a later time. Whereas the mantle wedge overlying the subducting oceanic slab is of asthenospheric origin, that overlying the descending continental slab is of lithospheric origin, being ancient beneath cratons but juvenile beneath marginal arcs. In either case, the mantle wedge base is cooled down during the slab–wedge coupled subduction. Metamorphic dehydration is prominent during subduction of crustal rocks, giving rise to aqueous solutions that are enriched in fluid-mobile incompatible elements. Once the subducting slab is decoupled from the mantle wedge, the slab–mantle interface is heated by lateral incursion of the asthenospheric mantle to allow dehydration melting of rocks in the descending slab surface and the metasomatized mantle wedge base, respectively. Therefore, the tectonic regime of subduction zones changes in both time and space with respect to their structures, inputs, processes and products. Ophiolites record the tectonic conversion from seafloor spreading to oceanic subduction beneath continental margin, whereas ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic events mark the tectonic conversion from compression to extension in orogens.

Two-Stage Exhumation of Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks from the Western Dabie Orogen, Central China

2011 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanbao Wu ◽  
Shan Gao ◽  
Xiaochi Liu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Min Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central China ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Metamorphic Rocks ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Dabie Orogen

Synconvergent and coherent (ultra)high-pressure crustal rock exhumation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo G. Candioti ◽  
Joshua D. Vaughan-Hammon ◽  
Thibault Duretz ◽  
Stefan M. Schmalholz
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Plate Motion ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Plate Boundaries ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Natural Data ◽  
The Alps

<p>Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) continental crustal rocks were first discovered in the Western Alps in 1984 and have since then been observed at many convergent plate boundaries worldwide. Unveiling the processes leading to the formation and exhumation of (U)HP metamorphic crustal rocks is key to understand the geodynamic evolution of orogens such as the Alps.</p><p> </p><p>Previous numerical studies investigating (U)HP rock exhumation in the Alps predicted deep (>80 km) subduction of crustal rocks and rapid buoyancy-driven exhumation of mainly incoherent (U)HP units, involving significant tectonic mixing forming so-called mélanges. Furthermore, these predictions often rely on excessive erosion or periods of divergent plate motion as important exhumation mechanism. Inconsistent with field observations and natural data, application of these models to the Western Alps was recently criticised.</p><p> </p><p>Here, we present models with continuous plate convergence, which exhibit local tectonic-driven upper plate extension enabling compressive- and buoyancy-driven exhumation of coherent (U)HP units along the subduction interface, involving feasible erosion.</p><p> </p><p>The two-dimensional petrological-thermo-mechanical numerical models presented here predict both subduction initiation and serpentinite channel formation without any a priori prescription of these two features. The (U)HP units are exhumed coherently, without significant internal deformation. Modelled pressure and temperature trajectories and exhumation velocities of selected crustal units agree with estimates for the Western Alps. The presented models support previous hypotheses of synconvergent exhumation, but do not rely on excessive erosion or divergent plate motion. Thus, our predictions provide new insights into processes leading to the exhumation of coherent (U)HP crustal units consistent with observations and natural data from the Western Alps.</p>

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