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Age and origin of anorthosites, charnockites, and granulites in the Central Virginia Blue Ridge: Nd and Sr isotopic evidence

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Abstract

Rb-Sr isotopic data for anorthosites, charnockites, ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons, and high-grade gneisses of the Blue Ridge of central Virginia show evidence of post-emplacement metamorphism, but in some cases retain Grenville ages. The Pedlar River Charnockite Suite yields an isochron age of 1021 +/-36 Ma, (initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7047 +/-6), which agrees with published U-Pb zircon ages. Five samples of that unit which contain Paleozoic mylonitic fabrics define a regression line of 683 Ma, interpreted as a mixing line with no age significance. Samples of the Roseland Anorthosite Complex show excessive scatter on a Rb-Sr evolution diagram probably due to Paleozoic (475 m.y.) metamorphism. Data from the ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons of the area yield an age of 1009 +/-26 Ma (inital ratio=0.7058 +/-4), which is in the range of the U-Pb zircon ages of 1000–1100 Ma. The Stage Road Layered Gneiss yields an age of 1147 +/-34 Ma (initial ratio of 0.7047 +/- 5).

Sm-Nd data for the Pedlar River Charnockite Suite reflect a pre-Grenville age of 1489 +/-118 Ma (ɛ Nd=+6.7 +/-1.2). Data for the Roseland Anorthosite Complex and the ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons yield Grenville isochron ages of 1045 +/44 Ma (ɛ Nd=+1.0 +/-0.3) and 1027 +/-101 Ma (ɛ Nd=+1.4 +/-1.0), respectively. Two Roseland Anorthosite samples plot far above the isochron, demonstrating the effects of post-emplacement disturbance of Sm-Nd systematics, while mylonitized Pedlar River Charnockite Suite samples show no evidence of Sm-Nd redistribution.

The disparity of the Sm-Nd age and other isotopic ages for the Pedlar River Charnockite Suite probably reflects a Sm-Nd “source” age, suggesting the presence of an older crust within this portion of the ca. 1 Ga old basement.

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  1. H. S. Pettingill

    Present address: Shell Offshore, Inc., P.O. Box 61933, 70161, New Orleans, LA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    H. S. Pettingill & A. K. Sinha

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 963, 80225, Denver, Colorado, USA

    H. S. Pettingill & M. Tatsumoto

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Pettingill, H.S., Sinha, A.K. & Tatsumoto, M. Age and origin of anorthosites, charnockites, and granulites in the Central Virginia Blue Ridge: Nd and Sr isotopic evidence. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 85, 279–291 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378106

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