NEW DATA ON THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND PRECAMBRIAN EVOLUTION OF THE DENMAN GLACIER WEST SIDE MOUNTAIN FRAME (EAST ANTARCTICA): FIRST PALEOARCHEAN AGE FOR PLAGIOGNEISES

Abstract

Mountain frame of the Denman Glacier is a little explored and at the same time an most essential region of East Antarctica in the context of studying the Precambrian geological history and geodynamic evolution of the Archean protocratons of East Antarctica. Present paper provides original U–Pb isotope geochronology data from zircons of metamorphic and intrusive rocks sampled from the Denman Glacier western flank outcrops. Geodynamic interpretation of geochronology data are also presented. For the first time, for such East Antarctic location, crystallization time (3355 ± 5.4 Ma) for plagiogneisses magmatic protolith was obtained. The Davis Paleoarchean protocraton in the Archean time interval of evolution was subject to multistage polymetamorphism in the intervals ~3100–3000, 2900–2800 Ma ago. The late stage is associated with crustal extension, which is marked by syntectonic intrusion of ultramafic dikes and pyroxenite sills (2827 ± 6 Ma). The formation time of granite veins and subalkaline granitoid pluthons corresponds to the time of tectono-thermal activisation in the interval of 550–510 Ma traced also along significant part of East Antarctic (the Pan-African tectono-thermal event). The Davis terrane shows a significant similarity in the time of formation and evolution of geodynamic processes with the Paleo-Mesoarchean protocratons of East Antarctica, as well as India and Australia.