Meso-Neoproterozoic basic-intermediate mafic granulites (metabasites) from the ∼1 Ga granulitic southwestern Oaxacan complex, Mexico, crustal evolution and phase equilibria modeling

Abstract

The basement of eastern Mexico is made up of Grenvillian granulite-facies metamorphic rocks, which constitute an inferred microcontinent named Oaxaquia. Proto-Oaxaquia oceanic arc reconstructions are related to the transition from Columbia to Rodinia supercontinents (∼1.5 Ga). This study focuses on the petrography, geochemistry, and phase equilibria modeling of metabasites from the southwestern Oaxacan Complex, the largest Oaxaquia outcrop. Southwestern Oaxacan Complex protoliths mainly correspond to gabbro/basalt. They constitute an assemblage apart from the rest of the Oaxacan Complex metabasites due to their Ti enrichment and SiO2 depletion related to post-magmatic/metamorphic processes. Southern study site metabasites correspond to the primitive root of the arc, mostly related to a divergent geotectonic setting. The other metabasites are related to the magmatic back/forearc active margin between proto-Oaxaquia and Amazonia craton. Phase equilibria modeling point to Zapotecan (last Grenvillian cycle) metamorphic peak conditions of 850 ± 25 °C and 1.0 ± 0.15 GPa from one garnet-amphibole bearing metabasite, and a later hydration episode (post-Grenvillian) of 760 ± 10 °C and 0.8 ± 0.20 GPa derived from one amphibole bearing metabasite. The time of incipient partial melting of the southwestern Oaxacan Complex is a pre-Zapotecan event (∼1 Ga). Mineral textures do not display significant processes related to the post-Zapotecan metamorphic retrogression, and only a few whole-rock light rare element patterns display strong enrichments.