Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana

Abstract Slab rollback during subduction plays a key role in controlling continental growth at convergent plate boundaries. The dynamics of currently subducting slabs can be precisely constrained using geophysical techniques. In contrast, ancient episodes of slab rollback can be difficult to constra...

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Main Authors: Qing Zhang, Solomon Buckman, Ross N. Mitchell, Allen P. Nutman, Xian‐Hua Li, Vickie C. Bennett, Courtney Beer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-06-01
Series:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010895
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author Qing Zhang
Solomon Buckman
Ross N. Mitchell
Allen P. Nutman
Xian‐Hua Li
Vickie C. Bennett
Courtney Beer
author_facet Qing Zhang
Solomon Buckman
Ross N. Mitchell
Allen P. Nutman
Xian‐Hua Li
Vickie C. Bennett
Courtney Beer
author_sort Qing Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Slab rollback during subduction plays a key role in controlling continental growth at convergent plate boundaries. The dynamics of currently subducting slabs can be precisely constrained using geophysical techniques. In contrast, ancient episodes of slab rollback can be difficult to constrain, yet are critical to unlocking the tectonic evolution of long‐lived orogens such as the Phanerozoic Australian Tasmanides of eastern Gondwana. Recognition of ancient slab rollback relies on the identification of the progressive migration of magmatic arcs. Here, we investigate the timing and isotopic variation of ∼90 km of the trans‐orogen migration of the Carboniferous Bathurst Batholith as a potential indicator of slab rollback. U–Pb–Hf isotopes, combined with a regional zircon Hf isotope data set, suggest that the eastward migration of the batholith over ∼18 Myr, from 340.1 to 322.4 Ma, records a maximum slab steepening rate of ∼0.6–1.2° Myr−1 in a relatively stable trench setting. These results provide a magmatic record of Carboniferous slab rollback and establish a missing link between the long‐lived Lachlan and New England orogens of the eastern Gondwanan Tasmanides.
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spelling doaj.art-bcbaa8c9ec9240d0acb0aaa24eeb6b742023-11-03T16:56:13ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272023-06-01246n/an/a10.1029/2023GC010895Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern GondwanaQing Zhang0Solomon Buckman1Ross N. Mitchell2Allen P. Nutman3Xian‐Hua Li4Vickie C. Bennett5Courtney Beer6State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaSchool of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW AustraliaState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaSchool of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW AustraliaState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaResearch School of Earth Sciences Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaSchool of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW AustraliaAbstract Slab rollback during subduction plays a key role in controlling continental growth at convergent plate boundaries. The dynamics of currently subducting slabs can be precisely constrained using geophysical techniques. In contrast, ancient episodes of slab rollback can be difficult to constrain, yet are critical to unlocking the tectonic evolution of long‐lived orogens such as the Phanerozoic Australian Tasmanides of eastern Gondwana. Recognition of ancient slab rollback relies on the identification of the progressive migration of magmatic arcs. Here, we investigate the timing and isotopic variation of ∼90 km of the trans‐orogen migration of the Carboniferous Bathurst Batholith as a potential indicator of slab rollback. U–Pb–Hf isotopes, combined with a regional zircon Hf isotope data set, suggest that the eastward migration of the batholith over ∼18 Myr, from 340.1 to 322.4 Ma, records a maximum slab steepening rate of ∼0.6–1.2° Myr−1 in a relatively stable trench setting. These results provide a magmatic record of Carboniferous slab rollback and establish a missing link between the long‐lived Lachlan and New England orogens of the eastern Gondwanan Tasmanides.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010895slab rollbacktrans‐orogengraniteHf isotopesAustralian Tasmanideseastern Gondwana
spellingShingle Qing Zhang
Solomon Buckman
Ross N. Mitchell
Allen P. Nutman
Xian‐Hua Li
Vickie C. Bennett
Courtney Beer
Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
slab rollback
trans‐orogen
granite
Hf isotopes
Australian Tasmanides
eastern Gondwana
title Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
title_full Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
title_fullStr Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
title_full_unstemmed Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
title_short Cross‐Orogen Granite Migration as an Indicator of Slab Rollback Along Eastern Gondwana
title_sort cross orogen granite migration as an indicator of slab rollback along eastern gondwana
topic slab rollback
trans‐orogen
granite
Hf isotopes
Australian Tasmanides
eastern Gondwana
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010895
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