From continent to intra-oceanic arc: zircon xenocrysts record the crustal evolution of the Solomon island arc

Tapster, Simon; Roberts, N.M.W.; Petterson, M.G.; Saunders, A.D.; Naden, J.. 2014 From continent to intra-oceanic arc: zircon xenocrysts record the crustal evolution of the Solomon island arc. Geology, 42 (12). 1087-1090. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36033.1

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G36033.1

Abstract/Summary

The first U-Pb ages from a ca. 26–24 Ma pluton on Guadalcanal, in the intra-oceanic Solomon island arc (southwest Pacific Ocean), reveal Eocene- to Archean-aged zircon xenocrysts. Xenocryst populations at ca. 39–33 Ma and ca. 71–63 Ma correlate with previously obtained ages of supra-subduction magmatism within the arc. A ca. 96 Ma zircon population may be derived from Cretaceous ophiolite basement crust or region-wide continental rift-related magmatism. Xenocryst age populations alternate with periods of oceanic basin formation that fragmented the East Gondwana margin. Early Cretaceous to Archean zircon xenocryst ages imply continental origins and a cryptic source within the arc crust; they may have been introduced by Eocene interaction of a continental fragment with the arc, and concealed by ophiolite obduction. The data demonstrate that continentally derived zircons may be transported thousands of kilometers from their source and added to intra-oceanic arc magmas, a process likely facilitated by cyclical subduction zone advance and retreat. The findings highlight the continuum of arcs that occurs between continental and oceanic end members, and the caution with which zircons should be used to determine the provenance and setting of ancient arc terranes accreted to the continental crust.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1130/G36033.1
ISSN:	0091-7613
Date made live:	17 Nov 2014 11:20 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508826

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1130/G36033.1

ISSN:

0091-7613

Date made live:

17 Nov 2014 11:20 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508826