Granulite fades Nd-isotopic homogenization in the Lewisian complex of northwest Scotland

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Abstract

A published Sm–Nd whole-rock isochron of 2,920 ± 50 Myr, obtained from a wide range of lithologies in the Lewisian complex of north-west Scotland, was interpreted1 as the time of protolith formation. This date is 260 Myr older than estimates for the timing of high-grade metamorphism in the complex at  2,660 Myr2'3, and this period is considered to represent the duration of the Lewisian crustal accretion-differentiation superevent (CADS)4. Here we give new Sm-Nd data, obtained specifically from granulite facies tonalitic gneisses, that yield a date of 2,600 ±155 Myr. Although depleted-mantle model ages (tDM suggest >200 Myr of premetamorphic crustal residence, the regression date and its associated initial Nd-isotopic parameters demonstrate Nd-isotopic homogenization during the high-grade event, as well as the probability of general rare-earth-element (REE) mobility. Models for selective element depletion in the complex have previously assumed REE immobility since 2,920 Myr, but the data presented here suggest that a reappraisal of the depletion mechanism is required.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Granulite fades Nd-isotopic homogenization in the Lewisian complex of northwest Scotland
Series title Nature
DOI 10.1038/331705a0
Volume 331
Issue 6158
Year Published 1988
Language English
Publisher Springer Nature
Description 3 p.
First page 705
Last page 707
Country Scotland
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