Geochemistry, geochronology and petrogenesis of Maya Block granitoids and dykes from the Chicxulub Impact Crater, Gulf of México: Implications for the assembly of Pangea

Zhao, J. et al. (2020) Geochemistry, geochronology and petrogenesis of Maya Block granitoids and dykes from the Chicxulub Impact Crater, Gulf of México: Implications for the assembly of Pangea. Gondwana Research, 82, pp. 128-150. (doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2019.12.003)

Abstract

The Late Paleozoic tectono–magmatic history and basement of the Maya block are poorly understood due to the lack of exposures of coeval magmatic rocks in the region. Recently, IODP–ICDP Expedition 364 recovered drill core samples at borehole M0077A from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater, offshore of the Yucatán peninsula in the Gulf of México, have been studied comprehensively. In the lowermost ~600 m of the drill core, impact–deformed granitoids, and minor felsite and dolerite dykes are intercalated with impact melts and breccias. Zircon U-Pb dating of granitoids yielded ages of around 326 ± 5 Ma, representing the first recovery of Late Paleozoic magmatic rocks from the Maya block, which could be genetically related to the convergence of Laurentia and Gondwana. The granitoids show the features of high K2O/Na2O, LaN/YbN and Sr/Y ratios, but very low Yb and Y contents, indicating an adakitic affinity. They are also characterized by slightly positive ԑNd(326Ma) of 0.17–0.68, intermediate initial 87Sr/86Sr(326Ma) of 0.7036–0.7047 and two–stage Nd model age (TDM2) of 1027–1069 Ma, which may indicate a less evolved crustal source. Thus, the adakitic granitoids were probably generated by partial melting of thickened crust, with source components similar to Neoproterozoic metagabbro in the Carolina block (Pan–African Orogeny materials) along Peri–Gondwana. Felsite dykes are shoshonitic with typical continental arc features that are sourced from a metasomatic mantle wedge by slab–fluids. Dolerite dykes display OIB–type features such as positive Nb and Ta anomalies and low ThNpm/NbNpm. In our interpretation, the Chicxulub adakitic granitoids of this study are formed by crustal anatexis due to asthenospheric upwelling resulting from slab breakoff. Through comparing sources and processes of Late Paleozoic magmatism along the Peri–Gondwanan realm, a tearing slab breakoff model may explain the discontinuous magmatism that appears to have occurred during the convergence of Laurentia and Gondwana.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41772050, 41830214, 41773061), MOST Special Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences (MSFGPMR05) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) of Macau (Grant No. 121/ 2017/A3).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pickersgill, Dr Annemarie
• Authors: Zhao, J., Xiao, L., Gulick, S. P.S., Morgan, J. V., Kring, D., Fucugauchi, J. U., Schmieder, M., de Graaff, S. J., Wittmann, A., Ross, C. H., Claeys, P., Pickersgill, A., Kaskes, P., Goderis, S., Rasmussen, C., Vajda, V., Ferrière, L., Feignon, J.–G., Chenot, E., Perez-Cruz, L., Sato, H., and Yamaguchi, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Gondwana Research
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1342-937X
• ISSN (Online): 1342-937X
• Published Online: 13 January 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 International Association for Gondwana Research
• First Published: First published in Gondwana Research 82: 128-150
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy