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Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr and K–Ar geochronology of the Higo metamorphic terrane, west‐central Kyushu, Japan
Author(s) -
Hamamoto Takuji,
Osanai Yasuhito,
Kagami Yhiroo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
island arc
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.554
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1440-1738
pISSN - 1038-4871
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1738.1999.00240.x
Subject(s) - geology , metamorphic rock , terrane , gneiss , hornblende , geochemistry , isograd , biotite , granulite , isochron dating , metamorphic facies , greenschist , petrology , isochron , facies , quartz , geomorphology , seismology , paleontology , tectonics , structural basin
The Higo metamorphic terrane situated in west‐central Kyushu island, southwest Japan, is composed of greenschist‐ to granulite‐facies metamorphic rocks. The southern part of the metamorphic terrane consists mainly of garnet–biotite gneiss and garnet–cordierite–biotite gneiss, and orthopyroxene or cordierite‐bearing S‐type tonalite with subordinate amounts of hornblende gabbro. Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd and K–Ar isotopic ages for these rocks have been determined here. The garnet–biotite gneiss gives an Sm–Nd age of 227.1 ± 4.9 Ma and a Rb–Sr age of 101.0 ± 1.0 Ma. The hornblende gabbro has an Sm–Nd age of 257.9 ± 2.5 Ma and a K–Ar age of 103.4 ± 1.1 Ma. These age differences of the same samples are due to the difference in the closure temperature for each system and minerals. The garnet‐cordierite–biotite gneiss contains coarse‐grained garnet with a zonal structure conspicuously distinguished in color difference (core: dark red; rim: pink). Sm–Nd internal isochrons of the garnet core and the rim give ages of 278.8 ± 4.9 Ma (initial 143 Nd/ 144 Nd ratio = 0.512311 ± 0.5) and 226.1 ± 28.4 Ma (0.512277 ± 0.000038), respectively. These ages are close to formation of the garnet core and the rim. It has been previously suggested that the Higo metamorphic terrane belongs to the Ryoke metamorphic belt. But Sr and Nd isotopic features of the rocks from the former are different from those of the Ryoke metamorphic rocks, and are similar to those of the granulite xenoliths contained in the Ryoke younger granite.