Age and magmatic history of the Antananarivo block, central Madagascar, as derived from zircon geochronology and ND isotopic systematics

We report single zircon 207PbX/206Pb evaporation and SHRIMP ages, combined with whole-rock Nd isotopic systematics for granitoid rocks from the Antananarivo Block (terrane), one of five tectono-metamorphic units making up the Precambrian basement of central and northern Madagascar. Our data reveal three distinct age groups at ∼560 to 530, ∼820 to 720, and 2520 to 2500 Ma respectively that reflect major magmatic events and correlate with similar events in various parts of East Africa and Sri Lanka but not in southwestern India. A widespread high-grade metamorphic event at ∼550 Ma transformed many of the earlier granitoid gneisses into enderbite-charnockite assemblages. This granulite-facies event is common to Madagascar, East Africa, and southernmost India/Sri Lanka and reflects the final amalgamation of East and West Gondwana. Contrary to previous interpretations, there is a distinct lack of Kibaran-Grenvillian magmatism or metamorphism in Madagascar, making it unlikely that the island played a major role in the accretionary history and amalgamation of the supercontinent Rodinia. The widespread and voluminous granitoid magmatism at ∼824 to 720 Ma remains enigmatic, and the tectonic scenario with which it is associated is difficult to reconstruct due to severe tectonic transposition of most gneisses. The Nd isotopic systematics as well as abundant zircon xenocrysts attest to extensive remelting of Archean and Paleoproterozoic crust. On presently available data the ∼740 to 820 Ma granitoids are either related to magmatic underplating following plume generation, subcrustal mantle delamination during break-up and dispersal of Rodinia, or to continental arc magmatism related to subduction of the Mozambique ocean. They were emplaced into the ancient crust of central Madagascar as it lay either attached to East Africa or formed a microcontinent within the Mozambique ocean.