A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures

Ion microprobe analyses of garnet porphyroblasts from three separate splays of the mid-crustal Walter-Outalpa shear zone, Curnamona Province, South Australia, indicate homogeneous δ18O values of <3‰. Integrated Lu-Hf geochronology and electron microprobe compositional mapping demonstrate that clo...

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Main Authors: Raimondo, T., Clark, Christopher, Hand, M., Cliff, J., Anczkiewicz, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Geological Society of America 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28583
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author Raimondo, T.
Clark, Christopher
Hand, M.
Cliff, J.
Anczkiewicz, R.
author_facet Raimondo, T.
Clark, Christopher
Hand, M.
Cliff, J.
Anczkiewicz, R.
author_sort Raimondo, T.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Ion microprobe analyses of garnet porphyroblasts from three separate splays of the mid-crustal Walter-Outalpa shear zone, Curnamona Province, South Australia, indicate homogeneous δ18O values of <3‰. Integrated Lu-Hf geochronology and electron microprobe compositional mapping demonstrate that closed-system growth of these isotopically light garnets initiated as early as 531 Ma, prior to peak metamorphism and deformation during the Delamerian Orogeny (514–490 Ma). We attribute this to the prograde burial and dehydration of altered fault panels under thick sedimentary sequences during pre-orogenic basin formation. Contrary to established fluid transport models, surficial fluid signatures were not imposed at depth by large fluxes of downward-penetrating fluids, but rather by the exposure and meteoric alteration of fault rocks that were subsequently buried and reactivated as ductile shear zones. The existence of low δ18O values in deeply exhumed shear zones may therefore be indicative of fault structures that have a prior history of surface exposure, weathering, burial and re-exposure.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-285832017-09-13T15:21:51Z A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures Raimondo, T. Clark, Christopher Hand, M. Cliff, J. Anczkiewicz, R. Ion microprobe analyses of garnet porphyroblasts from three separate splays of the mid-crustal Walter-Outalpa shear zone, Curnamona Province, South Australia, indicate homogeneous δ18O values of <3‰. Integrated Lu-Hf geochronology and electron microprobe compositional mapping demonstrate that closed-system growth of these isotopically light garnets initiated as early as 531 Ma, prior to peak metamorphism and deformation during the Delamerian Orogeny (514–490 Ma). We attribute this to the prograde burial and dehydration of altered fault panels under thick sedimentary sequences during pre-orogenic basin formation. Contrary to established fluid transport models, surficial fluid signatures were not imposed at depth by large fluxes of downward-penetrating fluids, but rather by the exposure and meteoric alteration of fault rocks that were subsequently buried and reactivated as ductile shear zones. The existence of low δ18O values in deeply exhumed shear zones may therefore be indicative of fault structures that have a prior history of surface exposure, weathering, burial and re-exposure. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28583 10.1130/G34043.1 Geological Society of America restricted
spellingShingle Raimondo, T.
Clark, Christopher
Hand, M.
Cliff, J.
Anczkiewicz, R.
A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title_full A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title_fullStr A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title_full_unstemmed A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title_short A simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
title_sort simple mechanism for mid-crustal shear zones to record surface-derived fluid signatures
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28583