Resetting of Nd and Sr whole-rock isochrons from polymetamorphic granulites, northeastern Alberta

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Burwash, R. A., Krupicka, J., Basu, A. R., Wagner, P. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1985
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Slave River
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e85-104; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e85-104

At Mountain Rapids on the Slave River, mafic xenoliths are enclosed by a granodiorite host, which is, in turn, surrounded by a granitic migmatite complex. The mafic and granodioritic rocks are both metamorphosed to the hornblende granulite facies, and the migmatite has been metamorphosed to the upper amphibolite facies. The banding of the mafic granulites is truncated by sharply defined boundaries with the felsic granulites. The felsic granulites contain K-feldspar, the mafic rocks almost none. The mineral assemblages are otherwise identical: plagioclase–hypersthene–quartz–biotite–magnetite.A whole-rock Sm–Nd isochron of one felsic and six mafic granulites gives 2436 ± 44 Ma [Formula: see text]. This time is significantly younger than the Sm–Nd model ages. The same mafic samples give a Rb–Sr age of 1898 ± 5 Ma. These are interpreted as the times of reequilibration and closure of the Rb–Sr isotopic systems within the Mountain Rapids Granulite enclave. From cordierite–garnet barometry the indicated pressure of the younger event is 5.5 ± 0.7 kbar (550 ± 70 MPa). By analogy with hornblende granulite assemblages elsewhere, the older event probably occurred in the intermediate crust (~25–30 km depth). This event apparently effectively reset the Sm–Nd isotopic system; subsequent cooling closed it. Once established this system withstood the later, lower pressure event that reset the Rb–Sr geochronometer on a regional scale.