Time scales and mechanisms of growth of active margins of Gondwana: A model based on detrital zircon ages from the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Blovice accretionary complex, Bohemian Massif. Gondwana Research
Abstract
New U-Pb detrital zircon ages from (meta-)graywackes of the Blovice accretionary complex, Bohemian Massif, provide an intriguing record of expansion of the northern active margin of Gondwana during late Neoproterozoic and Cambrian. The late Neoproterozoic (meta-)graywackes typically contain a smaller proportion of Archean and Paleoproterozoic zircons and show a 1.6-1.0 Ga age gap and prominent late Cryogenian to early Ediacaran age peak.
The respective zircon age spectra match those described from other correlative Cadomian terranes with a West African provenance. On the other hand, some samples were dominated by Cambrian zircons, with some concordia ages even as young as 499 Ma.
The age spectra obtained from these samples mostly reflect input from juvenile volcanic arcs whereas the late Cambrian samples are interpreted as representing relics of forearc basins that overlay the accretionary wedge.