Crustal evolution of alternating Paleoproterozoic belts and basins in the Birimian terrane in southeastern West African Craton

Abstract

We present a comprehensive review of available geochemical, geochronological and isotopic data on granitoids from the Paleoproterozoic Birimian terrane of Ghana, aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of the geodynamic evolution of southeastern West African Craton. The focus is on plutonic magmatism, crustal recycling and tectonic setting of the granitoids. The granitoids are mainly TTG suites, calc-alkaline granites, diorites, monzonites, two-mica granites and leucogranites. They are characterized by enrichments in LILE and LREE relative to HREE and HFSE. Their variable positive and negative Eu and Sr anomalies and depletions in Nb-Ta and Ti suggest the presence of residual minerals like hornblende and Fe-Ti oxides (e.g., rutile and ilmenite). The plutons probably formed by partial melting of hydrous basaltic/mafic crust metasomatized by slab-derived melts at different depths. The ɛHf (−14.5 to +7.6) and εNd (−5.3 to +3.5) values and Nd model ages (2.21–2.53 Ga) indicate their crystallization from juvenile magmas derived from a depleted mantle with significant recycling of older crustal material. The older (≥2200 Ma) and younger (<2100 Ma) ages recorded in both belt- and basin-type granitoids indicate that magmatism in both types was contemporaneous. Nonetheless, the basins recorded younger peak emplacement ages compared to adjacent belts. The presence of inherited older zircon grains (Archean zircon cores?), is widespread in southeastern WAC. The granitoids formed in a continental arc setting via subduction–accretion processes. Furthermore, the magmatic time-span is more prolonged in southern Ghana, with the sedimentary basins recording the longest intervals of magma emplacement. The sub-chondritic ɛHf data and Hf model ages strongly suggest the existence of Neoarchean to Mesoarchean crustal material in eastern Ghana during the Birimian crust formation. We propose that the subduction-accretion processes during the Paleoproterozoic Eburnean orogeny in the WAC contributed to the formation of the Columbia supercontinent in the Late Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic.