TY - JOUR
T1 - A Mélange of Subduction Ages
T2 - Constraints on the Timescale of Shear Zone Development and Underplating at the Subduction Interface, Catalina Schist (CA, USA)
AU - Harvey, K. M.
AU - Walker, S.
AU - Starr, P. G.
AU - Penniston-Dorland, S. C.
AU - Kohn, M. J.
AU - Baxter, E. F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - The presence of mélange at the subduction interface influences numerous geochemical and geophysical processes. However, the relationship between the timescales of mélange development, deformation, and resultant mass transport is poorly understood. Here, we use Sm-Nd garnet geochronology to elucidate the timing of peak metamorphism for five garnet amphibolite tectonic blocks from the amphibolite-facies mélange zone of the Catalina Schist (Santa Catalina Island, CA). Ages range from 108 to 116 Ma and do not appear to correlate with the peak metamorphic temperature recorded by each block (between 640 and 740°C). The lack of correlation between age and peak temperature favors the tectonic mixing model previously proposed for the unit. These ages overlap with previous estimates of 111–114 Ma for peak metamorphism of the mélange zone but are predominately younger than an estimate for the structurally lower coherent amphibolite unit of ca. 115 Ma. White mica 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages from previous studies suggest that the units cooled asynchronously to 400–425°C by 106 to 97 Ma at rates between 18 and 43°C/Ma. Collectively, these results demonstrate that mélange formation occurred over at least 8 Myr from 116 to 108 Ma and was followed by cooling. The structural and chronologic relationship between the mélange zone and underlying lower-grade units indicates that the cooling occurred in conjunction with an underplating event between 109 and 108 Ma. The age discrepancy between the mélange zone and the underlying coherent amphibolite unit may indicate that the two units were juxtaposed either during or after the underplating event.
AB - The presence of mélange at the subduction interface influences numerous geochemical and geophysical processes. However, the relationship between the timescales of mélange development, deformation, and resultant mass transport is poorly understood. Here, we use Sm-Nd garnet geochronology to elucidate the timing of peak metamorphism for five garnet amphibolite tectonic blocks from the amphibolite-facies mélange zone of the Catalina Schist (Santa Catalina Island, CA). Ages range from 108 to 116 Ma and do not appear to correlate with the peak metamorphic temperature recorded by each block (between 640 and 740°C). The lack of correlation between age and peak temperature favors the tectonic mixing model previously proposed for the unit. These ages overlap with previous estimates of 111–114 Ma for peak metamorphism of the mélange zone but are predominately younger than an estimate for the structurally lower coherent amphibolite unit of ca. 115 Ma. White mica 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages from previous studies suggest that the units cooled asynchronously to 400–425°C by 106 to 97 Ma at rates between 18 and 43°C/Ma. Collectively, these results demonstrate that mélange formation occurred over at least 8 Myr from 116 to 108 Ma and was followed by cooling. The structural and chronologic relationship between the mélange zone and underlying lower-grade units indicates that the cooling occurred in conjunction with an underplating event between 109 and 108 Ma. The age discrepancy between the mélange zone and the underlying coherent amphibolite unit may indicate that the two units were juxtaposed either during or after the underplating event.
KW - Catalina Schist
KW - amphibolite
KW - garnet
KW - geochronology
KW - mélange
KW - subduction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115784402&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/geo_facpubs/694
U2 - 10.1029/2021GC009790
DO - 10.1029/2021GC009790
M3 - Article
SN - 1525-2027
VL - 22
JO - Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
JF - Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
IS - 9
M1 - e2021GC009790
ER -