An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization

The in situ chemical differentiation of continental crust ultimately leads to the long-term stability of the continents. This process, more commonly known as ‘cratonization’, is driven by deep crustal melting with the transfer of those melts to shallower regions resulting in a strongly chemically st...

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Main Authors: Johnson, S., Korhonen, F., Kirkland, Chris, Cliff, J., Belousova, E., Sheppard, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier BV 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22112
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author Johnson, S.
Korhonen, F.
Kirkland, Chris
Cliff, J.
Belousova, E.
Sheppard, S.
author_facet Johnson, S.
Korhonen, F.
Kirkland, Chris
Cliff, J.
Belousova, E.
Sheppard, S.
author_sort Johnson, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The in situ chemical differentiation of continental crust ultimately leads to the long-term stability of the continents. This process, more commonly known as ‘cratonization’, is driven by deep crustal melting with the transfer of those melts to shallower regions resulting in a strongly chemically stratified crust, with a refractory, dehydrated lower portion overlain by a complementary enriched upper portion. Since the lower to mid portions of continental crust are rarely exposed, investigation of the cratonization process must be through indirect methods. In this study we use in situ Hf and O isotope compositions of both magmatic and inherited zircons from several felsic magmatic suites in the Capricorn Orogen of Western Australia to highlight the differentiation history (i.e. cratonization) of this portion of late Archean to Proterozoic orogenic crust. The Capricorn Orogen shows a distinct tectonomagmatic history that evolves from an active continental margin through to intracratonic reworking, ultimately leading to thermally stable crust that responds similarly to the bounding Archean Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons. The majority of magmatic zircons from the main magmatic cycles have Hf isotopic compositions that are generally more evolved than CHUR, forming vertical arrays that extend to moderately radiogenic compositions. Complimentary O isotope data, also show a significant variation in composition. However, combined, these data define not only the source components from which the magmas were derived, but also a range of physio-chemical processes that operated during magma transport and emplacement. These data also identify a previously unknown crustal reservoir in the Capricorn Orogen.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-221122017-09-13T15:36:42Z An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization Johnson, S. Korhonen, F. Kirkland, Chris Cliff, J. Belousova, E. Sheppard, S. The in situ chemical differentiation of continental crust ultimately leads to the long-term stability of the continents. This process, more commonly known as ‘cratonization’, is driven by deep crustal melting with the transfer of those melts to shallower regions resulting in a strongly chemically stratified crust, with a refractory, dehydrated lower portion overlain by a complementary enriched upper portion. Since the lower to mid portions of continental crust are rarely exposed, investigation of the cratonization process must be through indirect methods. In this study we use in situ Hf and O isotope compositions of both magmatic and inherited zircons from several felsic magmatic suites in the Capricorn Orogen of Western Australia to highlight the differentiation history (i.e. cratonization) of this portion of late Archean to Proterozoic orogenic crust. The Capricorn Orogen shows a distinct tectonomagmatic history that evolves from an active continental margin through to intracratonic reworking, ultimately leading to thermally stable crust that responds similarly to the bounding Archean Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons. The majority of magmatic zircons from the main magmatic cycles have Hf isotopic compositions that are generally more evolved than CHUR, forming vertical arrays that extend to moderately radiogenic compositions. Complimentary O isotope data, also show a significant variation in composition. However, combined, these data define not only the source components from which the magmas were derived, but also a range of physio-chemical processes that operated during magma transport and emplacement. These data also identify a previously unknown crustal reservoir in the Capricorn Orogen. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22112 10.1016/j.lithos.2016.11.003 Elsevier BV restricted
spellingShingle Johnson, S.
Korhonen, F.
Kirkland, Chris
Cliff, J.
Belousova, E.
Sheppard, S.
An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title_full An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title_fullStr An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title_full_unstemmed An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title_short An isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of Proterozoic orogenic crust: From subduction magmatism to cratonization
title_sort isotopic perspective on growth and differentiation of proterozoic orogenic crust: from subduction magmatism to cratonization
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22112