Magmatism and metamorphism linked to the accretion of continental blocks south of the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan
Abstract
Metamorphic basement rocks in the southern part of the Western Hindu Kush at contact with the Kabul and Helmand crustal blocks were investigated to elucidate pressure-temperature variation and relative time relations among different metamorphic rocks. The rocks are represented by Proterozoic amphibolite fades para-/orthogneisses and migmatites with low-grade Paleozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences.
Major- and trace-element geochemistry from two orthogneiss bodies and geochronological data, including new SHRIMP analyses on zircon from one of these bodies shows that they are derived from granitic rocks that related to two different magmatic arcs of Triassic and Cretaceous ages. The Triassic granites are common in the Western Hindu Kush where they intrude basement units; the Cretaceous granitic belt crosses the Afghan Central blocks south of the Hindu Kush Mountains.
Three different metamorphic events have been distinguished in the southern part of Western Hindu Kush. Based on an unconformity between basement units and Carboniferous cover sequences, the first two amphibolite and greenschist facies metamorphic events are Proterozoic and Pre-Carboniferous in age respectively.
The third metamorphism was recognized in Triassic and Cretaceous granitic rocks near to contact with the Kabul Block. It is of Eocene age and reached medium pressure amphibolite facies conditions.
This event is genetically linked to the collision of India and Eurasia which produced a series of trans-Afghan Central block magmatic arcs and crustal scale deformation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.