Evidence from U–Pb zircon and 40Ar/39Ar muscovite detrital mineral ages in metasandstones for movement of the Torlesse suspect terrane around the eastern margin of Gondwanaland

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
New U–Pb detrital zircon ages from Triassic metasandstones of the Torlesse Terrane in New Zealand are compared with 40Ar/39Ar muscovite data and together, reveal four main source components: (i) major, Triassic–Permian (210–270 Myr old) and (ii) minor, Permian–Carboniferous (280–350 Myr old) granitoids (recorded in zircon and muscovite data); (iii) minor, early middle Palaeozoic, metamorphic rocks, recorded mainly by muscovite, 420–460 Myr old, and (iv) minor, Late Precambrian–Cambrian igneous and metamorphic complexes, 480–570 Myr old, recorded by zircon only. There are also Proterozoic zircon ages with no clear grouping (580–1270 Myr). The relative absence of late Palaeozoic (350–420 Myr old) components excludes granitoid terranes in the southern Lachlan Fold Belt (Australia) and its continuation into North Victoria Land (East Antarctica) and Marie Byrd Land (West Antarctica) as a potential source for the Torlesse. The age data are compatible with derivation from granitoid terranes of the northern New England Orogen (and hinterland) in NE Australia. This confirms that the Torlesse Terrane of New Zealand is a suspect terrane, that probably originated at the NE Australian, Permian–Triassic, Gondwanaland margin and then (200–120 Ma) moved 2500 km southwards to its present New Zealand position by the Late Cretaceous (90 Ma). This sense of movement is analogous to that suggested for Palaeozoic Mesozoic terranes at the North American Pacific margin.