Comparative behavior of Sr, Nd and Hf isotopic systems during fluid-related deformation at middle crust levels

Elemental fractionation induces perturbation of the Rb-Sr geochronometer. The well-defined 87Rb/86Sr-87Sr/86Sr correlation gives an apparent age of 294 ± 19 Ma, slightly younger than the 323 ± 4 Ma age of leucogranites in this area. This apparent age is interpreted as dating event of intense deformation and fluid circulation associated with mass transfer, and exhumation of the ductile crust shortly after the leucogranite emplacement. Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isochron-type diagrams do not define any correlation, because of the low fractionated Sm/Nd and Lu/Hf ratios. Isotopic data demonstrate that only the Lu-Hf geochronometer system is not affected by fluid circulation and gives reliable TDM age (1.29 ± 0.03 Ga) and εHf signatures. By contrast, the Sm-Nd geochronometer system gives erroneous old TDM ages of 2.84-4 Ga. There is no positive εNd-εHf correlation, because of decreasing εNd values with deformation at constant εHf values. However, εNd-εHf values remain in the broad εNd-εHf terrestrial array, which strongly indicates that fluid-induced fractionation can contribute to the width of the terrestrial array. The strong εHf negative values of the leucogranite are similar to metasedimentary granulitic xenoliths from the French Massif Central and confirm the generation of the leucogranite by several episodes of reworking of the lower crust.