Magma associations in Ediacaran granitoids of the Cachoeirinha‒Salgueiro and Alto Pajeú terranes, northeastern Brazil: Forty years of studies

• Ediacaran plutons of six magma associuations intrude two adjacent terranes in NE Brazil.
• Plutons grouped into three age intervals: 650–610, 590–560, 540–520 Ma.
• Magmatic epidote (mEp) occurs in plutons of four magma associations.
• Very rapid ascent rates estimated from partial mEp dissolution.

Granitic magmatism in the Cachoeirinha‒Salgueiro and Alto Pajeú terranes in the Transversal Zone Domain of the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil, occurred in three main time intervals: 650–620 Ma, 590–560 Ma and 545–520 Ma. The oldest one is characterized by intrusions of magmatic-epidote (mEp) bearing calc-alkalic (some with trondhjemitic affinities) and high-K calc-alkalic plutons, synkinematic to the main regional foliation, under contractional tectonic regime, and exhibits TDM < 2.0 Ga and ƐNd (0.6 Ga) from −1 to −4, and δ18O (zircon) values from 7.1 to 10‰VSMOW. O- and Nd-isotope data for the 650‒620 Ma group of plutons is compatible with partial fusion of subducted oceanic basaltic crust (mEp-bearing calc-alkalic tonalites/granodiorites, equivalent to adakites). Voluminous intrusions in the 590–560 Ma interval are represented by abundant mEp-free high-K calc-alkalic, peralkalic, ultrapotassic, mEp-bearing high-K calc-alkalic, and less abundant shoshonitic magmas. Nd-model ages for this group of plutons vary from 1.5 to 2.5 Ga and ƐNd (0.6 Ga) ranges from −8 to −20; δ18O (zircon) varies from 6.4 to 7.9‰VSMOW. Values of δ18O (zircon) for the 590‒560 Ma old group of plutons coupled with Nd isotope data are compatible with remelting of crustal (negative ƐNd, 1.6 to 2.0 Ga old) source rocks. O- and Nd-isotope data for this group of plutons are compatible with underplating of basaltic magma in the base of the lower crust for the high-K calc-alkalic granitoids, coeval to transcurrent movements along sigmoidal shear zones. Intrusion of one shoshonitic (Serrote do Arapuá), one calc-alkalic (Riacho do Icó) plutons besides the peralkalic Manaíra-Princeza Isabel dike set have witnessed this transition from contractional to transcurrent movements along shear zones, around 610‒600 Ma.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide