U–Pb dating and Sm–Nd isotopic analysis of granitic rocks from the Tiris Complex: New constaints on key events in the evolution of the Reguibat Shield, Mauritania

The Reguibat Shield of N Mauritania and W Algeria represents the northern exposure of the West African Craton. As with its counterpart in equatorial West Africa, the Leo Shield, it comprises a western Archaean Domain and an eastern Palaeoproterozoic Domain. Much of the southern part of the Archaean Domain is underlain by the Tasiast-Tijirit Terrane and Amsaga Complex which, along with the Ghallaman Complex in the northeast, preserve a history of Mesoarchaean crustal growth, reworking and terrane assembly. This study presents new U–Pb and Sm–Nd data from the Tiris Complex, a granite–migmatite–supracrustal belt, that intervenes between these units and the Palaeoproterozoic Domain to the northeast.New U–Pb geochronology indicates that the main intrusive events, broadly associated with formation of dome-shaped structures, occurred at around 2.95–2.87 Ga and 2.69–2.65 Ga. This study also recognises younger regional metamorphism and intrusion of syn-tectonic granites located within major shear zones at around 2.56–2.48 Ga. Sm–Nd depleted mantle model ages indicate that magmatism involved recycling of crustal source components older than at least 3.25 Ga in age. Comparison with other Archaean units in the Reguibat Shield and in the Leo Shield illustrate the importance of deformation and tectonism of a regional greenstone-sedimentary province prior to around 3.00 Ga as well as subsequent magmatic episodes broadly equivalent in age to those in the Tiris Complex.

► In this study we combine new survey data with isotopic analyses from the Tiris Complex.
► We identify a main magmatic episode dated between 2948 and 2875 Ma.
► Subsequent granite magmatism is dated at around 2691–2654 Ma.
► The youngest granitic rocks record fault movements at around 2487–2482 Ma.
► Nd TDM ages are interpreted to reflect an older crustal source component.