Geodynamic controls in the southernmost Northern Andes magmatic arc:Trace elements and Hf-O isotopic systematics in forearc detrital zircon
Résumé
U-Pb dating of single detrital zircon
grains by laser ablation–inductively coupled
plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
paired with Hf and O isotopic and trace-element
analyses provide first-order indicators
of the Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic evolution
of the southern Ecuadorian magmatic arc.
Detrital zircon U-Pb ages define significant
clusters that are tentatively interpreted as intense
arc magmatism at ca. 72 Ma, ca. 60 Ma,
and ca. 43 Ma. A major accretionary event
in the Late Cretaceous (75–65 Ma) is marked
by a broad range of zircon isotopic values
(εHf[t] > 20 and δ18O > 8‰) that suggest
melting of both the lower and upper crust
(most likely of continental affinity) as well as
enriched mantle components. Highly fractionated
signatures in trace-element patterns
and Eu/Eu* combined with mantle-like δ18O
and juvenile εHf values characterize zircons
from 60 to 45 Ma, suggesting that the Late
Cretaceous–middle Eocene arc originated
from an enriched mantle and likely reflects
the persistence of overthickened crust previously
attributed to the main Late Cretaceous
accretionary period. Subsequently, negative
shifts in εHf(t) isotopic composition from 45
to 30 Ma are paired with mantle-like δ18O
values as well as decreases in U/Yb and Eu/
Eu*. These signatures could be attributed to
magma emplacement in a thinner crust and
the existence of a broad extensional magmatic
arc extending from the current forearc
toward areas near the craton; however, other
scenarios cannot be excluded. This event
was characterized by enriched mantle melt
sources with residence times pointing to
known crustal events (Sunsás) in the Amazonian
craton. From 30 to 10 Ma, the isotopic
record slightly evolved toward a depleted
mantle signature with a substantial increase
in fractionation. Our results combined with
previously published isotopic records from
detrital zircon grains found in modern rivers
suggest that, for at least the last 30 m.y., the
southernmost Northern Andes magmatic arc
has been segmented, with the emplacement
of juvenile magmas to the north and more
enriched magmas related to the recycling of
ancient continental crust and/or subducted
sediments to the south—aspects found in
other Northern Andes settings in which the
continental arc was constructed in both oceanic
and continental crust.