TTGs We Have Known and Loved: 1.5 Ga of
Growth and Recycling of
Archean Continental Crust in the Northern
Wyoming Craton (NWC)
Mogk, D. W.1, Mueller, P.A.2, Wooden, J.L.3 , and Henry, D.J.4
1Dept. of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
2Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA,
3U.S. Geological Survey, (retired), Marietta GA, USA
4Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge LA, USA
• Ask significant questions about the
Earth, its history and processes
• Start with Nature—the answers
are always in the rocks
• Do your homework—there’s a lot
of information and wisdom from
those who worked before us
• Take care in your work—in the
field, in the lab, and particularly in
interpreting data, reporting
uncertainty, constraining models
• Use multiple, appropriate methods
to develop integrated models
• Be a mentor to students and peers
• Be generous with your knowledge,
facilities, and experience
• Collaborate!
What this talk is really about:
(Lessons learned from Paul Mueller)
This talk, and others following, are the embodiment
of Paul Mueller’s contributions to our Science, and
our Scientists.
Major Precambrian
lithotectonic provinces of
Laurentia immediately
east of the rifted
Neoproterozoic margin.
The Wyoming Province is
completely surrounded
by Proterozoic orogenic
belts, but does not host
any Proterozoic magmatic
belts.
BBMZ: Beartooth-
Bighorn Magmatic Zone
MMT: Montana
Metasedimentary Terrane
SAT: Southern Accreted
Terranes
Cheyenne Belt/Suture
Colorado Province &
Central Plains Orogen
GFTZ
“Nuclear North America”
Foster et al., 2006
Great 3-D Exposures
Lack of lateral continuity between ranges
Metasupracrustal rocks
• Quartzites
• Pelitic schists
• Banded iron formation
• Metabasites
• Ultramafites
3.6-3.2 Ga QF gneiss enclaves in younger
~2.8 Ga granitoids
Hellroaring Plateau, Beartooth Mountains
Beartooth Plateau Block (BPB)
Older and younger relations to 2.8 magmatism
•Pre-existing felsic-to- mafic gneisses (3.1-3.5 Ga)
•Intruded by 2.8 Ga tonalite
•These share deformation and fabric elements
•Late mafic dikes (multiple generations, 2.6 – 0.75 Ga)
•Must take these outcrops apart rock by rock to get full story!!!
Photo credit: Darrell Henry
3.5 Ga
2.8 Ga
2.5 Ga?
Hellroaring Plateau, Eastern
Beartooth Mountains.
• Enclaves of Mesoarchean rocks, 3.5-3.2
Ga gneisses
• Metasupracrustal rocks, quartzite, BIF,
pelitic schist, metabasites, UM rocks;
M1 6-8 kbar 750-800ºC;
• Tectonic mixing of ‘old’ rocks
• Detrital zircons ~4.0-3.0 Ga
1. In the Beginning There Were Zircons
The earliest record of crust formation is derived from detrital zircons in a suite of
~3.0-2.8 Ga quartzites and other metapsammitic rocks from the NWP
Relative Probability for <10% Discordant 207Pb/206Pb ages
Major pulse of growth at 3.2-3.3 Ga with variable contributions from older crust;
Mueller et al., 1998
2. Mesoarchean: The Time of the First Arcs
There are two major crustal age-provinces in the northern Wyoming Province, the
MMT (Montana metasedimentary terrane) that formed largely at 3.2-3.3 Ga and the
BBMZ (Beartooth-Bighorn magmatic zone) that formed between ~2.8-2.9 Ga).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
Relativeprobability
Number
207Pb/206Pb Age
Age Distribution of Detrital Zircons (<10% discordant) from Archean Quartzites
from the Northern Wyoming Province
Detritus from
the first arc @
3.2-3.3 Ga
dominates pre-
2.8 Ga
quartzites in
the northern
WP
Concordia plot for one of many TTG “Gray
Gneisses” in the Eastern Beartooth Mtns
• Oldest rocks in the
NWP are 3.5-3.6 Ga
present in eastern
Beartooths, North
Snowy Block, Spanish
Peaks, Tobacco Root
Mountains
• Major crust-forming
event ~3.2-3.3 Ga;
TTG suite in EBT,
Madison Range,
Tobacco Root Mtns
• Recorded in detrital
zircons from quartzites
across the NWP
• A protracted period of
magmatism, numerous
small events created a
huge volume of
continental crust
3.1-3.5 Ga (meta)igneous rocks in EB
• Zircons – 3.1-3.5 Ga
• Period of protracted
magmatism; many small
events that in aggregate
produce a large amount of
crust; “yo-yo” tectonics
oscillating, numerous closely
spaced small arcs?
• TAS whole rock
classification = basalt to
rhyolite (equivalent)
• Dominantly TTG Suite
• Similar Age, Composition in
Madison, Tobacco Root
3.1-2.8 Ga
Period of quiescence,
deposition of platform-type
sediments
2.8 Ga
Second magmatic arc built on 3.2-
3.5 Ga TTG gneisses: platform for
building a continental arc;
duration ~40 Ma
3. The Beartooth Orogeny
a Mesoarchean subduction-driven episode of crustal growth
Most of the Archean exposures in the BBMZ are comprised of 2.8-2.9 Ga
TTG-suite granitoids, but granites are also present.
Evidence for a subduction-driven magmatic system is found in elemental and isotopic
abundances of Mesoarchean crust in the Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains
The key to the subduction interpretation is the crustal production rate
Major element chemistry reflects calc-
alkaline evolution of a low K/Na suite
(TTG) and adakite-like compositions
Trace element abundances of
mafic members of the LLMC
normalized to primitive
mantle values.
Normalized abundance
patterns show relative
enrichment and depletion in
the same elements evident
in modern arc magmas (e.g.,
enriched in Pb, depleted in
HFSE) .
Symbols refer to ranges of SiO2
Magmatic Field Relations
• Intimate interlayering of dioritic to granitic rocks.
• Emplacement interpreted as mesozonal sheeted dike
complex.
• Local mingling of magmas.
• No evident liquid line of descent, all magmatic rocks
overlap in space and time
A Mesoarchean Magmatic Arc at 2.8-2.9 Ga
built on an ancient continental margin
Greenschist to granulite facies rocks of the Beartooth arc are exposed across the range
Mueller et al., 2010
Image: Klein & Dutrow, 2007
a cb
cba
Metasedimentary rocks (JMS):
pelitic schists, quartzites, meta-
turbidites and BIF
Low grade: chl-and+/-staur 575-
620oC, 3.5-5.0 Kb
Relict sedimentary features
• graded beds (turbidite)
• relict cross bedding
Detrital zircons —max at 2.9-3.0
Ga not recognized in NWP; 3.2-
3.33 Ga diminished; no zircons
older than 3.6 Ga
Granite plutons—2.8 Ga constrain
age of deposition to 2.9 -2.8 Ga
Goldstein et al. 2011
South Snowy Block - Yellowstone
2.79-2.81 Ga magmatic rocks
• Undeformed bulbous, epizonal plutons
• Peraluminous, primary muscovite (~3.8 Kb)
Jardine metasediments are allochthonous (detrital
zircons), accreted prior to 2.8 Ga (magmatic zircons)
2.80 Ga Hellroaring Pluton biotite quartz monzonite, Hellroaring Pluton
Aluminosity of plutons
Philbrick et al. 2011
South Snowy Block - Yellowstone
Mueller et al., 1996
Model for Crustal Evolution in NWP
• Mantle up-welling
dominant
• Anhydrous melting of
mantle
• Proto-continent with
minor or no keel
• Differentiation of proto-
continent
• Continued input of
magma from additional
mantle up-welling
• ”Stagnant Lid” model?
Model for Crustal Evolution in NWP
• Major, protracted, episodic
crust-forming event
• Calc-alkaline magmatism -
transition to subduction
style; includes juvenile
additions
• 3.1-2.9 Absence in detrital
zircon
• 2.9-2.8 Ga Subduction
involving sediment and 2nd
major crust-forming event
<40 Ma (BBMZ)
!"#$##%!&$##%!'$##%!($##%!)$##%#$##%)$##%($##%
*$*% *$( % *$+% *$' % *$, % *$&% *$- % ( % ( $"%
. /0%1234%
!56%
! " #
$%&' () *#+, -. -*/01#
789: 3;%!56%<=$%> !?@%. /0%A6%B9CDA8%
233#" ) #45, %) 1, ' #
678#
Phase I: Not an Arc
The Detrital Zircon Record from Archean Quartzites
Average eHf values trend toward more negative values from 4.0 to 3.55 Ga, indicating a
dominant component of recycled crust
From 3.55 to 3.1 Ga average eHf values show a progressive increase, suggesting an increasing
contribution from juvenile sources
Deplete
d
Mantle
Schematic of the initial stage of mantle
upwelling associated with plateau
development adapted from Bedard (2006).
T prefixes refer to generations of TTG
E prefixes refer to generations of eclogite
V prefixes refer to volcanics (basalt and komatiite)
M prefixes refer to melts
SI = sea level
In the earliest stages of crust formation (e.g., >4.0 Ga),
the rising mantle diapir may be composed of primordial
or partially depleted mantle. In either case, this mantle
will likely have higher incompatible element contents
than modern depleted mantle (e.g., 2x Zr). In particular,
this anhydrous melting will yield Lu/Hf ratios higher than
estimates of average crust.
Eclogite forms at the base of the crust and then
delaminates and melts, these melts may interact with
melts produced higher in the column. More importantly,
however, the eclogite that separates from the new crust
will reduce the Lu/Hf ratio of the bulk crust.
The real reason Paul keeps
coming back to Montana!

MOGK ES 2019.pptx

  • 1.
    TTGs We HaveKnown and Loved: 1.5 Ga of Growth and Recycling of Archean Continental Crust in the Northern Wyoming Craton (NWC) Mogk, D. W.1, Mueller, P.A.2, Wooden, J.L.3 , and Henry, D.J.4 1Dept. of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA 2Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA, 3U.S. Geological Survey, (retired), Marietta GA, USA 4Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge LA, USA
  • 2.
    • Ask significantquestions about the Earth, its history and processes • Start with Nature—the answers are always in the rocks • Do your homework—there’s a lot of information and wisdom from those who worked before us • Take care in your work—in the field, in the lab, and particularly in interpreting data, reporting uncertainty, constraining models • Use multiple, appropriate methods to develop integrated models • Be a mentor to students and peers • Be generous with your knowledge, facilities, and experience • Collaborate! What this talk is really about: (Lessons learned from Paul Mueller) This talk, and others following, are the embodiment of Paul Mueller’s contributions to our Science, and our Scientists.
  • 3.
    Major Precambrian lithotectonic provincesof Laurentia immediately east of the rifted Neoproterozoic margin. The Wyoming Province is completely surrounded by Proterozoic orogenic belts, but does not host any Proterozoic magmatic belts. BBMZ: Beartooth- Bighorn Magmatic Zone MMT: Montana Metasedimentary Terrane SAT: Southern Accreted Terranes Cheyenne Belt/Suture Colorado Province & Central Plains Orogen GFTZ “Nuclear North America” Foster et al., 2006
  • 4.
    Great 3-D Exposures Lackof lateral continuity between ranges Metasupracrustal rocks • Quartzites • Pelitic schists • Banded iron formation • Metabasites • Ultramafites 3.6-3.2 Ga QF gneiss enclaves in younger ~2.8 Ga granitoids Hellroaring Plateau, Beartooth Mountains
  • 5.
    Beartooth Plateau Block(BPB) Older and younger relations to 2.8 magmatism •Pre-existing felsic-to- mafic gneisses (3.1-3.5 Ga) •Intruded by 2.8 Ga tonalite •These share deformation and fabric elements •Late mafic dikes (multiple generations, 2.6 – 0.75 Ga) •Must take these outcrops apart rock by rock to get full story!!! Photo credit: Darrell Henry 3.5 Ga 2.8 Ga 2.5 Ga?
  • 6.
    Hellroaring Plateau, Eastern BeartoothMountains. • Enclaves of Mesoarchean rocks, 3.5-3.2 Ga gneisses • Metasupracrustal rocks, quartzite, BIF, pelitic schist, metabasites, UM rocks; M1 6-8 kbar 750-800ºC; • Tectonic mixing of ‘old’ rocks • Detrital zircons ~4.0-3.0 Ga
  • 7.
    1. In theBeginning There Were Zircons The earliest record of crust formation is derived from detrital zircons in a suite of ~3.0-2.8 Ga quartzites and other metapsammitic rocks from the NWP Relative Probability for <10% Discordant 207Pb/206Pb ages Major pulse of growth at 3.2-3.3 Ga with variable contributions from older crust; Mueller et al., 1998
  • 8.
    2. Mesoarchean: TheTime of the First Arcs There are two major crustal age-provinces in the northern Wyoming Province, the MMT (Montana metasedimentary terrane) that formed largely at 3.2-3.3 Ga and the BBMZ (Beartooth-Bighorn magmatic zone) that formed between ~2.8-2.9 Ga). 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 Relativeprobability Number 207Pb/206Pb Age Age Distribution of Detrital Zircons (<10% discordant) from Archean Quartzites from the Northern Wyoming Province Detritus from the first arc @ 3.2-3.3 Ga dominates pre- 2.8 Ga quartzites in the northern WP
  • 9.
    Concordia plot forone of many TTG “Gray Gneisses” in the Eastern Beartooth Mtns • Oldest rocks in the NWP are 3.5-3.6 Ga present in eastern Beartooths, North Snowy Block, Spanish Peaks, Tobacco Root Mountains • Major crust-forming event ~3.2-3.3 Ga; TTG suite in EBT, Madison Range, Tobacco Root Mtns • Recorded in detrital zircons from quartzites across the NWP • A protracted period of magmatism, numerous small events created a huge volume of continental crust
  • 10.
    3.1-3.5 Ga (meta)igneousrocks in EB • Zircons – 3.1-3.5 Ga • Period of protracted magmatism; many small events that in aggregate produce a large amount of crust; “yo-yo” tectonics oscillating, numerous closely spaced small arcs? • TAS whole rock classification = basalt to rhyolite (equivalent) • Dominantly TTG Suite • Similar Age, Composition in Madison, Tobacco Root
  • 11.
    3.1-2.8 Ga Period ofquiescence, deposition of platform-type sediments 2.8 Ga Second magmatic arc built on 3.2- 3.5 Ga TTG gneisses: platform for building a continental arc; duration ~40 Ma
  • 12.
    3. The BeartoothOrogeny a Mesoarchean subduction-driven episode of crustal growth Most of the Archean exposures in the BBMZ are comprised of 2.8-2.9 Ga TTG-suite granitoids, but granites are also present. Evidence for a subduction-driven magmatic system is found in elemental and isotopic abundances of Mesoarchean crust in the Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains The key to the subduction interpretation is the crustal production rate Major element chemistry reflects calc- alkaline evolution of a low K/Na suite (TTG) and adakite-like compositions Trace element abundances of mafic members of the LLMC normalized to primitive mantle values. Normalized abundance patterns show relative enrichment and depletion in the same elements evident in modern arc magmas (e.g., enriched in Pb, depleted in HFSE) . Symbols refer to ranges of SiO2
  • 13.
    Magmatic Field Relations •Intimate interlayering of dioritic to granitic rocks. • Emplacement interpreted as mesozonal sheeted dike complex. • Local mingling of magmas. • No evident liquid line of descent, all magmatic rocks overlap in space and time
  • 14.
    A Mesoarchean MagmaticArc at 2.8-2.9 Ga built on an ancient continental margin Greenschist to granulite facies rocks of the Beartooth arc are exposed across the range Mueller et al., 2010
  • 16.
    Image: Klein &Dutrow, 2007 a cb cba Metasedimentary rocks (JMS): pelitic schists, quartzites, meta- turbidites and BIF Low grade: chl-and+/-staur 575- 620oC, 3.5-5.0 Kb Relict sedimentary features • graded beds (turbidite) • relict cross bedding Detrital zircons —max at 2.9-3.0 Ga not recognized in NWP; 3.2- 3.33 Ga diminished; no zircons older than 3.6 Ga Granite plutons—2.8 Ga constrain age of deposition to 2.9 -2.8 Ga Goldstein et al. 2011 South Snowy Block - Yellowstone
  • 17.
    2.79-2.81 Ga magmaticrocks • Undeformed bulbous, epizonal plutons • Peraluminous, primary muscovite (~3.8 Kb) Jardine metasediments are allochthonous (detrital zircons), accreted prior to 2.8 Ga (magmatic zircons) 2.80 Ga Hellroaring Pluton biotite quartz monzonite, Hellroaring Pluton Aluminosity of plutons Philbrick et al. 2011 South Snowy Block - Yellowstone
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Model for CrustalEvolution in NWP • Mantle up-welling dominant • Anhydrous melting of mantle • Proto-continent with minor or no keel • Differentiation of proto- continent • Continued input of magma from additional mantle up-welling • ”Stagnant Lid” model?
  • 20.
    Model for CrustalEvolution in NWP • Major, protracted, episodic crust-forming event • Calc-alkaline magmatism - transition to subduction style; includes juvenile additions • 3.1-2.9 Absence in detrital zircon • 2.9-2.8 Ga Subduction involving sediment and 2nd major crust-forming event <40 Ma (BBMZ)
  • 21.
    !"#$##%!&$##%!'$##%!($##%!)$##%#$##%)$##%($##% *$*% *$( %*$+% *$' % *$, % *$&% *$- % ( % ( $"% . /0%1234% !56% ! " # $%&' () *#+, -. -*/01# 789: 3;%!56%<=$%> !?@%. /0%A6%B9CDA8% 233#" ) #45, %) 1, ' # 678# Phase I: Not an Arc The Detrital Zircon Record from Archean Quartzites Average eHf values trend toward more negative values from 4.0 to 3.55 Ga, indicating a dominant component of recycled crust From 3.55 to 3.1 Ga average eHf values show a progressive increase, suggesting an increasing contribution from juvenile sources
  • 22.
    Deplete d Mantle Schematic of theinitial stage of mantle upwelling associated with plateau development adapted from Bedard (2006). T prefixes refer to generations of TTG E prefixes refer to generations of eclogite V prefixes refer to volcanics (basalt and komatiite) M prefixes refer to melts SI = sea level In the earliest stages of crust formation (e.g., >4.0 Ga), the rising mantle diapir may be composed of primordial or partially depleted mantle. In either case, this mantle will likely have higher incompatible element contents than modern depleted mantle (e.g., 2x Zr). In particular, this anhydrous melting will yield Lu/Hf ratios higher than estimates of average crust. Eclogite forms at the base of the crust and then delaminates and melts, these melts may interact with melts produced higher in the column. More importantly, however, the eclogite that separates from the new crust will reduce the Lu/Hf ratio of the bulk crust.
  • 23.
    The real reasonPaul keeps coming back to Montana!

Editor's Notes

  • #8 1. Note distribution of 4.0-3.6 Ga detrital zircons. 2. Maxima at 3.3-3.2 Ga. 3. None younger than 3.0 Ga except for Jardine
  • #22 Pattern seen in Minnesota River Valley, Yilgarn; but not everywhere, not Isua