Rapid time scale of Earth’s youngest known ultrahigh-pressure

metamorphic event, Papua New Guinea

Joel W. DesOrmeau1, Stacia M. Gordon1, Timothy A. Little2, Samuel A. Bowring3, and Nilanjan Chatterjee3
1
Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
2
School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
3
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
02139, USA

ABSTRACT
Subduction of continental lithosphere to mantle depths results in
the recrystallization of crustal material during ultrahigh-pressure
(UHP) metamorphism. Knowledge of the duration and pressure
and temperature (P-T) conditions at which UHP rocks equilibrate
is fundamental for assessing the rates and mechanisms involved in
the transfer of crustal material to and from mantle depths. High-
precision U-Pb zircon geochronology combined with thermobarom-
etry, P-T pseudosection modeling, and Zr-in-rutile thermometry of
the youngest known UHP eclogite from eastern Papua New Guinea
(PNG) documents metamorphism at mantle depths on a sub-million
year time scale. The P-T analyses based on garnet, omphacite, pheng-
ite, and rutile compositions show the crustal rocks were subducted to
conditions of ~27–31 kbar and ~715 °C. Individual zircons containing
inclusions of the peak UHP mineral assemblage, with identical com-
position as those used in P-T estimates, yield chemical abrasion–iso-
tope dilution–thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS)
206
Pb/238U (Th-corrected) dates of 6.0 ± 0.2 Ma to 5.2 ± 0.3 Ma. These
results more precisely and accurately define the youngest UHP meta-
morphism on Earth and provide compelling evidence of rapid (3.2–2.3
cm/yr) exhumation of the Pliocene PNG terrane. Subsequent retro-
gression of the terrane near the base of the crust and final emplace-
ment within the upper crust occurred in less than ~3 m.y.
INTRODUCTION
Evidence for the subduction and subsequent exhumation of continen-
tal crust from mantle depths is rare (e.g., Warren, 2013). Where these
ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks are exhumed, the conditions attained and
results document the duration and conditions for peak metamorphism and
provide more accurate estimates for the rapid exhumation of the youngest
known UHP terrane on Earth.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA UHP TERRANE
Within eastern PNG, the world’s youngest known UHP eclogites are
currently exhuming within an active rift system (Fig. 1; Baldwin et al.,
2008; Little et al., 2011; Zirakparvar et al., 2011; Wallace et al., 2014).
Ultrahigh- to high-pressure migmatitic orthogneiss, with lesser amounts
of eclogite, amphibolite, and metasedimentary rocks, occur within domal
structures found on the D’Entrecasteaux Islands within this rift. The cen-
tral Mailolo Dome contains the freshest eclogites (Fig. 1). It is the only
dome known to host a coesite eclogite (Baldwin et al., 2008), and many
eclogites preserve indirect evidence of UHP conditions, including radial
cracks around quartz inclusions in garnet and omphacite and the high-
est jadeite and Si content in omphacite and phengite, respectively. Thus,
Mailolo dome provides the best opportunity to date peak metamorphism.
Previous studies of the coesite eclogite have yielded a range of P-T
results, including (1) 18–27 kbar and 600–760 °C from Grt–Cpx–Ph
thermobarometry (Krogh Ravna and Terry, 2004; mineral abbreviations
after Whitney and Evans, 2010), and (2) Zr-in-rutile temperatures of
695–743 °C (P = 28 kbar) and Ti-in-zircon temperatures of 650–675 °C
(Baldwin et al., 2008). Thermobarometry results likely vary due to impre-
cision related to the unknown amount of Fe3+ in garnet and clinopyroxene
(e.g., Proyer et al., 2004).
Papuan ultramafic belt 150.5 ° E 9.25 ° S

the duration of peak metamorphism are commonly difficult to assess due Plio–Q sed. & vol. Fergusson
Island
to pervasive retrogression during exhumation. Determining the timing of Pliocene granodiorite N
metamorphism across a UHP terrane requires coupling of geochronol- Mailolo Dome PNG08-010f 0 10 km
Carapace
ogy (U-Pb accessory phases; Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd garnet) with pressure– Core zone
temperature (P-T) estimates (preserved coesite and/or diamond, thermo- Oiatabu Dome
Eclogite, coesite locality
barometry) (e.g., Gebauer et al., 1997; Lapen et al., 2003; Parrish et al., Normal faults
2006). Such studies have revealed variable subduction–exhumation time
intervals that are largely attributed to terrane size (e.g., 10–30 m.y. for Pacific Solomon Islands
North Bismark
plate Plate
large and thick terranes versus less than 10 m.y. for small and thin ter-
Morima Dome
ranes, Kylander-Clark et al., 2012). South Bismark
Estimates of P-T in UHP terranes typically rely on the presence of plate

coesite and/or diamond coupled with thermobarometry. Few studies utilize Woodlark plate
pseudosections even though they may be more representative as they rely
Normanby 9.75 ° S
on a specific bulk-rock composition (e.g., St-Onge et al., 2013; Chatterjee Australian D’Entrecasteux Dome
and Jagoutz, 2015). This study presents high-precision U-Pb single-grain Plate Islands
zircon geochronology, thermobarometry, P-T pseudosection modeling,
Figure 1. Map of Fergusson Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), show-
and Zr-in-rutile results from a fresh eclogite to better assess the timing ing major lithologies, structural zones, and the location of the coesite
of peak metamorphism and subsequent exhumation for the small Papua eclogite. Inset: Plate-tectonic setting of eastern PNG. After DesOrmeau
New Guinea (PNG) UHP terrane. These pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) et al. (2014).

GEOLOGY, September 2017; v. 45; no. 9; p. 795–798  |  Data Repository item 2017260  | doi:10.1130/G39296.1 |  Published online 29 June 2017
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 Efforts to determine the timing of UHP metamorphism from the coesite A Prp
locality have also produced variable results, including (1) a Lu-Hf garnet– Omp
whole rock isochron date of 7.1 ± 0.7 Ma (2σ, mean square of weighted 10

deviates [MSWD] = 1.1) (Zirakparvar et al., 2011); (2) a zircon in situ 20 Grt
secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) 206Pb/238U–207Pb/206Pb Grt Ph
Qz
Tera–Wasserburg intercept date of 7.9 ± 1.9 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 9.2) (Mon- 30
Rt
teleone et al., 2007); (3) chemical-abrasion–isotope dilution–thermal ion-
20
ization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) zircon single-grain 206Pb/238U 500 µm
(Th-corrected) dates of 5.60 ± 0.22 Ma to 4.61 ± 0.18 Ma (2σ; Gordon et
Wo, En, Fs
al., 2012); and (4) a step-heating 40Ar/39Ar weighted-mean phengite date
Grs
of 7.93 ± 0.10 Ma (1σ) (Baldwin and Das, 2015). This variability in dates Alm Quad
50 60 70 matrix
may result from several factors. The SIMS ca. 8 Ma date relies on nine
Grt: Alm59Prp23Grs18Sps01 zrn (inc.)
analyses from four zircons, which suffer from high uncertainty and scatter Cpx
(207Pb-corrected 206Pb/238U dates = 11.5 ± 1.7 Ma to 5.9 ± 0.8 Ma; MSWD
= 9.2; Monteleone et al., 2007). The ca. 8 Ma phengite age (Baldwin and Aegirine-
Das, 2015) may be the result of excess Ar contamination that is difficult augite
Zrn
to determine (e.g., Warren et al., 2012a), and the ca. 7 Ma Lu-Hf isochron Omphacite
date likely records prograde garnet growth. Finally, the 5.6–4.6 Ma CA- 10 µm
Omp: Jd 66 Jadeite Aegirine
ID-TIMS zircons separated from the bulk rock lack context in terms of
when (re)crystallization occurred along the P-T-t path (Gordon et al., 2012). NaAlSi2O6 NaFe3+Si2O6
While these previous coesite-eclogite studies likely record different
parts of the P-T path, there are still questions remaining as to the timing B Omp: Jd 66

0.0010
6.4
and conditions of the near peak metamorphism. Thus, we have reexamined

Pb/238U
the fresh portion of the ~1.0 m eclogite boudin from the coesite locality 6.0
from Gordon et al. (2012). The peak assemblage consists of coarse-grained
206
0.00090
garnet and omphacite stringers that define a weak foliation, with interstitial 5.6
quartz, phengite, rutile, and accessory zircon, apatite, amphibole, and epi- 50 µm
dote (Fig. 2A; see petrographic descriptions in the GSA Data Repository1).
5.2
0.00080

Garnet shows a limited composition range: Alm58–61Prp22–24Grs16–19Sps01 206

Pb/238U dates
(Fig. 2A; Table DR1). Omphacite has Na-rich compositions (Jd63–68; Table 5.98 ± 0.17 – 5.20 ± 0.33 Ma (2σ)
DR1), and the range of Si in phengite is 3.33–3.51 a/fu (atoms per formula 4.8
Pb/235U
207

unit). Garnet and omphacite compositional analyses were recalculated for 0.0010 0.0070 0.0130 0.0190
Fe3+/FeTotal proportions with the program AX (Holland, 2009) and were
based on 8 cations per 12 oxygens and 4 cations per 6 oxygens, respectively Figure 2. A: Garnet and omphacite compositional data for inclusions
(see electron-microprobe analysis in the Data Repository). Quartz occurs found within zircons from eclogite PNG08-010f (eastern Papua New
Guinea) compared to matrix compositions, along with a photomicro-
in the matrix and within garnet and omphacite. Abundant radial fractures graph of the fresh matrix assemblage and a backscattered electron
emanating from quartz inclusions within garnet, and in some cases within image of zircon inclusions and their composition. B: Concordia dia-
adjacent matrix omphacite, are interpreted to have formed due to the back gram of U-Pb chemical abrasion–isotope dilution–thermal ionization
reaction from coesite during exhumation from UHP (e.g., Chopin, 1984). mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) zircon analyses. Each ellipse repre-
sents a single zircon analysis and the 2σ uncertainties. Dates listed
are given in Ma. Inset: Cathodoluminescence image of unzoned zircon
P-T ESTIMATES AND U-PB ZIRCON GEOCHRONOLOGY containing Omp inclusions and their compositions. Mineral abbrevia-
To estimate the peak conditions for this eclogite, a P-T pseudosection tions after Whitney and Evans (2010).
was constructed in the model system CaO-Na2O-K2O-FeO-MgO-MnO-
Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-TiO2-O2 (Fig. 3A). An effective bulk-rock composition
was determined through a weighted calculation involving the peak mineral local breakdown reactions are preserved (Fig. 3C; Fig. DR1). Estimated
proportions present in the thin section and their representative recalculated minimum uncertainties related to thermodynamic and bulk compositional
compositions (including trivalent Fe estimates) (e.g., Indares et al., 2008; data are ±0.25 kbar and ±40 °C (e.g., Palin et al., 2016).
see the Data Repository for solid-solution models and further modeling In addition, P-T conditions for the eclogite were also estimated by the
details). The observed peak mineral assemblage Grt-Omp-Ph-Qz/Coe-Rt Grt-Cpx Fe-Mg exchange thermometer and net-transfer reaction barom-
is predicted at (U)HP (>17 kbar) across a broad temperature range (Fig. eter 6Di + 3Mu = 2Grs + Prp + 3Ce (Krogh Ravna and Terry, 2004). The
3A). Calculated isopleths corresponding to the observed compositions P-T curves intersect at a high angle in the coesite field at ~31 kbar and
of average garnet (Grs16Prp23Alm59) and maximum Si content in phen- ~640 °C (±3.2 kbar and ± 85 °C) (Fig. 3D) within uncertainty of the P–T
gite (3.51 a/fu) tightly converge at P-T conditions of ~27–28 kbar and pseudosection results.
~580–590 °C along the Qz/Coe transition (Fig. 3B). At these conditions, The Zr-in-rutile thermometer provides another record of peak T for high-
predicted volume proportions of the peak mineral assemblage are also grade metamorphic terranes as it can preserve temperatures not recorded by
consistent with observed modal amounts in the rock (Fig. 3C; Fig. DR1; other thermometers (e.g., Ewing et al., 2013). Trace-element concentrations
Table DR1). Minor lawsonite and amphibole (~3–1%) are predicted, but were measured within thirty rutile grains ranging in size from ~60 to 265 µm
only rare inclusions and matrix amphibole (<<0.5 vol%) associated with from various textural locations within the UHP assemblage (Table DR2).
Rutile grains contain Zr contents from 190 to 367 ppm resulting in Zr-in-
rutile temperatures of 689–746 °C (TAverage = 713 °C; P = 28 kbar; Tomkins
GSA Data Repository item 2017260, analytical and modeling techniques,
1 

compositional and isotopic analyses, petrographic descriptions, and U-Pb geochro- et al., 2007) (Fig. 3D). Analytical uncertainties are ± 18–30 °C (Table DR2).
nology methods, is available online at http://www.geosociety.org​/datarepository​ The new results reveal higher pressures, but temperatures that are
/2017/ or on request from editing@geosociety.org. within the range previously reported in Baldwin et al. (2008) (18–27 kbar;

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 Phengite eclogite PNG08-010f Grt,Coe/Qz,Omp,Rt present unless indicated (-)
35 B 0.23 0.16 Peak Mineral
Isopleths
D Peak P–T Conditions 6.0–5.2 Ma
A EBC (mol %) MgO 7.96 K2O 0.22 30
Ph Tlc Amp Lws SiO2 56.66 FeO 10.24 Na2O 4.52 30 Grt-Cpx-Ph
3.51 Coe Krogh Ravna and Terry (2004)
Al2O3 10.22 Fe2O3 0.39 TiO2 2.03
Qz
Ph Tlc Lws CaO 7.59 MnO 0.17 H2O excess ~31 kbar, 640 °C
Ph Lws
1. Ep Ph Amp Zo Pg 25 Ph Grt Omp Coe/Qz Rt P–T Pseudosection
30
Ph 2. Ep Ph Amp Zo Pg (-Omp) (Amp Lws) ~27–28 kbar, 580–590 °C

P (kbar)
Ph Amp Lws Rapid Initial
3. Chl Ep Ph Amp Zo (-Omp) EC
Coe 0.59 Zr-in-rutile
4. Chl Ph Amp Zo Pg (-Omp) Exhumation
Qz 5. Ph Amp Zo Pg (-Omp) 0.66 ~715 (689–746)°C
Ph Lws ~3.2–2.3
6. Ph Amp Zo Sp Pg (-Omp) 20
0.16 Avg. Grs 3.51 Max Si Ph cm/yr
25 Ph Amp Lws 7. Ph Amp Sp Pg (-Omp)
Ph
}
0.23 Avg. Prp Grt
?

th
8. Ph Amp Sp Pg Fsp (-Omp)

Ear
0.59 Avg. Alm 0.66 Jd Omp tz
P (kbar)

9. Ph Fsp Amp Zo Pg (-Omp) ar

Ph

qu

d on
10. Ph Fsp AmpPg (-Omp)
Am

P (kbar)
e
eit Base of Crust
C
p

11. Bt Ph Fsp Amp Pg (-Omp) Mineral Volume % jad ite

erve
Ph Amp Pg
12. Bt Fsp Amp Pg (-Omp) alb 3.4 Ma
Ph Grt Omp Coe/Qz Rt (Amp Lws)
20

obs
Ph Fsp 30
Ph Amp Lws Pg Coe
Bt Ph Fsp

not
Qz BS
Ph Amp Pg Ph Pg 10 GR
Bt Fsp 25 Peak Not AM
1 Min.Observed Observed
2 Ph Amp 13% Final “Slow”
Bt Ph Fsp Amp 2% 2%
15 Zo Pg Ph Fsp Amp Pg Exhumation
3 3%
Bt Fsp Amp Grt GS
Ph Fsp Amp Omp 46% Amp
~1.3 cm/yr
4 5
Amp Ph
Bt Fsp Amp Bt Fsp Ilm Lws
1%
9 Qz/Coe

P (kbar)
6 (-Omp) p) Bt Fsp Ilm Amp (-Rt)
8 p (-Om 3%
7 10 11 12 Ilm Am Bt Fsp Ilm Amp (-Omp,-Rt) Rt 33%
10 Bt Fsp
500 550 600 650 700 750 500 550 580 600 650 700 T (°C) 0 200 400 600 800 T (°C)
T (oC)

Figure 3. A: Pressure-temperature (P-T) pseudosection of eclogite PNG08–010f (eastern Papua New Guinea), calculated for the effective bulk
composition (EBC) shown in upper white box. Inferred peak metamorphic assemblage Grt-Omp-Ph-Qz/Coe-Rt (Lws-Amp) (dashed area) is
based on isopleth intersection. Labels for smallest P-T fields are omitted for clarity. Mineral abbreviations after Whitney and Evans (2010).
B: P-T pseudosection contoured for isopleths within peak mineral stability field (gray outline): Grt (Grs, Prp, Alm; red), Ph (Si maximum con-
tent; blue), and Omp (Jd content [Na/(Na+Ca)]; green). C: P-T pseudosection contoured for mineral volume percent within area of isopleth
intersection for observed phases Omp (green), Grt (red), Ph (blue), Qz/Coe (blue-green), and Rt (brown). D: Estimated peak P-T conditions and
uncertainties from thermobarometry, P-T pseudosection, and Zr-in-rutile temperature estimates (for 28 kbar; Tomkins et al., 2007) and P-T-t
path of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite with estimated exhumation rates. Gray shading represents P-T path modified from Baldwin et al.
(2004, 2008) and Korchinski et al. (2014). Solidus for H2O-saturated crustal rocks (wide pink line; Hacker, 2006) and Jadeite + Quartz = Albite
transition of (Holland, 1980) are shown. BS—Blueschist, GS—Greenschist, AM—Amphibolite, EC—Eclogite, GR—Granulite.

600–760 °C), with the trace-element thermometers yielding the highest
temperatures. Studies of high-grade granulites of the Ivrea-Verbano zone
(Italian Alps) also show higher Zr-in-rutile temperatures than cation-
exchange temperatures (~900–1000 °C versus ~800 °C; e.g., Luvizotto
and Zack, 2009; Ewing et al., 2013). Analyzed rutiles from this study
show no correlation between temperature and grain size or textural loca-
tion (i.e., matrix versus inclusion). Based on this work and previous work
documenting the advantages of Zr-in-rutile as a robust thermometer, the
Zr-in-rutile results are taken as the best record of peak temperatures for
the UHP eclogite.
Zircons from the inner, fresh portion of the eclogite are round, ~40–70
µm, and included within garnet, omphacite and rutile and are found along
their grain boundaries. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images reveal that
the zircons are not zoned and typically contain inclusions of omphacite,
rutile, garnet, and phengite. Electron-microprobe analyses of the ~5–10 µm
omphacite (Jd64–67) and garnet (Alm59Prp23Grs17–18Sps01) inclusions show
identical compositions to the same phases in the matrix (Figs. 2A and
2B). The inclusion suite chemistry suggests the zircons (re)crystallized at
peak conditions (Fig. 3D). The low radiogenic zircons show no evidence
of intragrain zoning; thus, single-grain analysis by high-precision U-Pb
CA-ID-TIMS is the preferred method because low-precision techniques
(e.g., SIMS) can result in imprecise dates due to large associated uncer-
tainties (c.f., Gordon et al., 2012) (see analytical techniques in the Data
Repository). Twelve single zircon grains yield 206Pb/238U dates of 5.98 ±
0.17 Ma to 5.20 ± 0.33 Ma (2σ) (Fig. 2B; Table DR3); these dates are
interpreted to best represent the timing of UHP metamorphism for the
rocks exposed within the Mailolo Dome. The results suggest a minimum
duration of 770 ± 330 k.y. for UHP metamorphism (Table DR3). These
new data combined with the published ca. 7 Ma Lu-Hf isochron date
suggest crustal rocks recrystallized at mantle depths for less than ~2 m.y.
RAPID UHP METAMORPHISM AND EXHUMATION FROM
MANTLE DEPTHS
Little et al. (2011) proposed a tectonic model for exhumation of the
PNG UHP terrane that invokes exhumation of a partially melted diapiric
body of subducted crustal material along a near-isothermal decompression
path (Fig. 3D; Ellis et al., 2011). A 3.40 ± 0.01 Ma date for the oldest melt
crystallized at the UHP outcrop likely records cooling and the timing at
which the UHP terrane reached the base of the crust (Little et al., 2011,
2013; Gordon et al., 2012). Combining the timing of melt crystallization
with our peak UHP ages suggest a maximum time interval of 2.58 ± 0.17
m.y. and initial rapid exhumation rates of 2.26 ± 0.69 cm/yr (minimum)
possibly up to a rate of 3.24 ± 1.38 cm/yr (Fig. 3D; Table DR4) for exhu-
mation from mantle depths (~28 kbar/~102 km) to the base of the lower
crust (~12 kbar/~44 km) (rock density = 2.8 g/cm3; P estimates are from
this study and Korchinski et al., 2014). At the base of the crust, pervasive
amphibolite-facies overprinting affected the UHP terrane (Little et al.,
2011, Gordon et al., 2012) and exhumation slowed. Final exhumation of
the UHP terrane and emplacement of the domes within the upper crust
(at rates of 1.3 ± 0.3 cm/yr (Korchinski et al., 2014)) occurred by 1.8
Ma via melt-induced buoyancy (Ellis et al., 2011; Gordon et al., 2012;
DesOrmeau et al., 2014) and rapid extension in the upper crust (e.g., Eilon
et al., 2014; Wallace et al., 2014).
CONCLUSIONS
The UHP eclogite contains zircons included within peak metamorphic
phases (i.e., Grt, Omp, Rt). These zircons also host the same peak phases
(Grt, Omp, Rt, Ph) providing a robust record of the timing and conditions
of peak UHP metamorphism. High-precision zircon geochronology and
the most comprehensive P-T study of UHP metamorphism within the
Pliocene PNG terrane document a minimum duration of 770 ± 330 k.y.

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 and fast (3.2–2.3 cm/yr) initial exhumation rates from the mantle to the
base of the crust for Earth’s youngest known UHP terrane. This study
complements previous work documenting the rapid exhumation of UHP
material (e.g., in the Western Alps (Rubatto and Hermann, 2001), Hima-
layas (Parrish et al., 2006), Bohemian Massif (Massonne et al., 2007)) and
further supports diapiric ascent coupled with upper-crustal extension as
a plausible exhumation mechanism for the transfer of crustal rocks from
the mantle to Earth’s surface.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to J. Ramezani, M. Eddy, and M. Ibanez-Mejia for assistance with the CA-
ID-TIMS data, and B. Hacker for providing the sample and for fruitful discussions
about UHP terranes. Rutile compositional data was collected with the help of O.
Neill at WSU. We greatly appreciate insightful reviews from Aphrodite Indares,
Chris Mattinson, Clare Warren, and an anonymous reviewer and Dennis Brown for
editorial assistance. Support came from National Science Foundation Grants EAR-
1062187 (Gordon), EAR-0931839 (Bowring), a Marsden Fund Grant 08-VUW-020
(Little), and the collective sharing of knowledge by the EARTHTIME community
(http://www.earth-time.org/intro.html).
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Manuscript received 25 February 2017
Revised manuscript received 6 May 2017
Manuscript accepted 9 May 2017
Printed in USA

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