Metamorphic history of amphibolite facies metapelites from the Southern margin of the Limpopo Belt: In situ U-Pb dating of Zircon, monazite and rutile

The Southern Marginal Zone (SMZ) comprises, in part, Archean granulite facies metapelitic rocks deposited at ∼ 2733 Ma and metamorphosed to granulite facies at ∼ 2713 Ma of the Limpopo Belt in direct contact with the Kaapvaal craton. The SMZ also contains amphibolite facies metapelites within a fragment that is in direct contact with the thrust-faulted tectonic boundary with the Kaapvaal craton. These metapelites are proposed to represent former granulites that were comprehensively rehydrated under amphibolite facies. However, no previous study has directly investigated the conditions of metamorphism or timing of the proposed higher-grade events in these retrograde rocks. Neither has the timing of retrogression in the retrogressed metapelites been well constrained. Here, detailed petrographic analysis, mineral composition and in situ U-Pb dating of zircon, monazite and rutile are presented for the amphibolite facies metapelites. These rocks are characterized by assemblages consisting of garnet, orthoamphibole, biotite, quartz, plagioclase, rutile, kyanite and graphite. Although there is pervasive retrogression to orthoamphiboles (anthophyllite to gedrite series), rare relics of orthopyroxene are preserved. The compositions of the first garnet (Grt 1) generation suggests granulite facies peak metamorphic conditions of 860 ± 10 °C and 11 ± 0.4 kbar. Metamorphic zircon grains and overgrowth rims and monazite, included in Grt 1, indicate that peak metamorphic conditions occurred between 2714 ± 7 and 2713 ± 4 Ma. Dating of rutile inclusions in Grt 1 from granulite yield a Concordia age of 2677 ± 6 Ma. This indicates post-granulite facies cooling and shows that later retrograde metamorphism did not reach temperatures high enough to reset rutile inclusions in Grt 1 garnet. Orthoamphibole and second garnet with kyanite inclusions (Grt 2) compositions suggest that retrogression occurred under amphibolite facies conditions of 600 ± 10 °C and 6.0 ± 0.5 kbar. Rutile included in Grt 2 and as discrete grains equilibrated with the retrograde textures record a range of Paleoproterozoic ages (2212 ± 19, 2148 ± 12 and 2012 ± 10 Ma). Thus, the metamorphic history of the amphibolite facies metapelites of the SMZ is hotter than thought and similar to their Archean granulite facies counterparts, except for younger Paleoproterozoic ages, likely indicating a pervasive retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions.