Received: 18 February 2021 Revised: 30 June 2021
DOI: 10.1002/gj.4219
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Petrology, geochemistry, and zircon U–Pb-Lu–Hf isotopes of
granitoids from the Ivindo Basement Complex of the Souanké
Area, Republic of Congo: Insights into the evolution of Archean
continental crust
Chesther Gatsé Ebotehouna1
1
School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, University of Science and
Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
2
Geological Engineering Department,
University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa,
Ghana
Correspondence
Yuling Xie, School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, University of Science and
Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Email: gatsechesther@gmail.com;
yulingxie63@hotmail.com
Funding information
Science and Technology Administration of the
People's Republic of China (State Key Research
Plan), Grant/Award Number:
2017YFC0601302; University of Science and
Technology Beijing, Grant/Award Number:
b20160568
Handling Editor: M. Santosh
Geological Journal. 2021;1–27.
Accepted: 2 July 2021
| Yuling Xie1 | Kofi Adomako-Ansah2 | Yunwei Qu1
The Ivindo Basement Complex (IBC) comprises the largest exposure of Meso- to
Neoarchean rocks in the northwestern segment of the Congo Craton in the Republic
of Congo. The age and petrogenetic setting of the IBC are not clear due to a lack of
detailed studies. In the Souanké area, which is on the northeastern margin of the IBC,
the most exposed rocks are charnockites, tonalite/granodiorite, and trondhjemite.
Based on geology, geochemistry, and zircon U–Pb-Lu–Hf isotopes, this paper con-
strains the petrogenesis and tectonic significance of these granitoids for the evolu-
tion of the IBC. Poor-quality zircons did not allow for age determination and Lu–Hf
isotopic characteristics for the charnockite. However, zircon U–Pb dating of the
207
tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite yielded the weighted mean Pb/206Pb ages
of 2,895 ± 9.4 Ma and 2,889 ± 9.2 to 2,897 ± 5.0 Ma, respectively. Zircon Hf isoto-
pic (εHf[t]) values of +1.22 to +4.55 and Th/La >0.12 for the tonalite/granodiorite
and trondhjemite indicate that these rocks were derived from partial melting of an
older mafic reservoir (TDM2 ages range from 3,028 to 3,230 Ma), possibly triggered
by mantle upwelling or plume activity. All the studied IBC granitoids are
peraluminous, calcic-alkalic, relatively sodium-rich (Na2O/K2O > 1), and contain low
Ni, Cr, and Yb contents, with strongly fractionated rare-earth element (REE) patterns.
On standard-normalization diagrams, the IBC rocks exhibited similar distribution pat-
terns in the trace element geochemistry as average Archean TTGs, except for high U,
Nb, and Ta concentrations in the IBC trondhjemite. These high values may indicate
amphibole dehydration melting (which sequesters Ta and Nb) at low-pressure condi-
tions at the source for the trondhjemite generation, while the other IBC rocks experi-
enced high-pressure melting. The 2,900–2,800 Ma tectono-thermal event registered
in the IBC from our study was also previously documented for the Ntem Complex
TTGs of Cameroon (northwestern equivalent of the IBC) and elsewhere in other cra-
tons such as in the Baç~ao Complex (S~ao Francisco Craton) of Brazil and, therefore,
represents an important period for the Archean crustal evolution in geologic history.
KEYWORDS
geochemistry, geochronology, granitoids, Ivindo Basement Complex, Lu–Hf isotopes,
northwestern Congo Craton
wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/gj © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1
2  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
1 | I N T RO DU CT I O N
Over the past four decades, petrological, geochemical, and isotopic
signatures of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) suites have
been reported extensively, revealing the important role of TTGs in
continental crust formation and evolution of the Earth (Condie, 2005;
Laurent & Zeh, 2015; Martin, Smithies, Rapp, Moyen, & Champion,
2005; Zhai & Santosh, 2011). These crystalline rocks record multiple
magmatic histories (Frost, Frost, Kirkwood, & Chamberlain, 2006;
Jahn, Glikson, Peucat, & Hickman, 1981; Martin, Chauvel, & Jahn,
1983; Sylvester, 1994) and metallogeny in the Archean (Moyen &
Martin, 2012). Like most of the world's ancient cratons, the Congo
Craton is characterized by an association of Archean greenstone and
crystalline rocks, including granite, charnockite, and TTG suites. These
rocks are exposed in the Ntem Complex of southern Cameroon and
the Ivindo Basement Complex (IBC) of the Republic of Congo, both of
which form the northwestern block of the Congo Craton (Figure 1).
The IBC is thought to be the oldest units (3,400–3,200 Ma) in the
Congo Craton (Meloux, Bigot, & Viland, 1986). Meloux et al. (1986)
made this inference based only on correlating rocks of similar physical
and petrologic characteristics from nearby regions such as the Ntem
Complex. However, knowing the actual ages of these rock types and
comparing these ages with well-studied rocks of similar characteristics
would be important for clarifying the relationships of the rocks and
their emplacement in and around the Congo Craton. Unfortunately,
the petrogenesis and age of the IBC remain uncertain due to a lack of
studies. Fortunately, well-preserved pristine rocks have been reported
in the Souanké area, at the northeastern margin of the IBC (Meloux
et al., 1986) and, therefore, provide a good opportunity to investigate
the geological evolution of the Congo Craton.
This paper discusses the petrogenesis and the tectonic setting of
the IBC exposed in the Souanké area and their implications for
GATSE
Archean continental growth of the Congo Craton. Three rock types
were sampled from the Souanké area and described in this study:
charnockites, tonalite/granodiorite, and trondhjemite. The study com-
bined petrology and geochemistry of these rocks, and in-situ zircon
laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-
MS) U–Pb dating and zircon Lu–Hf isotope analyses for the tonalite/
granodiorite and trondhjemite rocks. Unfortunately, age dating on the
charnockite samples could not be achieved due to poor quality of
the zircons.
The results show that the granitoids of the IBC were likely gener-
ated as a result of partial melting of a thick hydrated mafic crust, with
or without contributions from the mantle. Based on a literature
review, the protolith of the IBC charnockite is presumed by us to rep-
resent the early and initial crustal growth at 2920 Ma (Li et al., 2016),
whereas age data from our study of the tonalite/granodiorite and tro-
ndhjemite represent the later and bulk crustal growth at 2,897–
2,889 Ma in the IBC. The period of 2,900–2,800 Ma registered in the
IBC from our study was also previously documented for the Ntem
Complex TTGs (e.g., Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd timing around 2,900 Ma for
charnockite (Shang et al., 2004); zircon U–Pb and Pb–Pb for cha-
rnockite with ages from 2,883 to 3,265 Ma (Pouclet et al., 2007;
Shang, Siebel, Satir, Chen, & Mvondo, 2004) and, therefore, appears
to be an important period for the crustal evolution of the Congo
Craton. The trend, which implies continuous crustal melting for TTG
production documented in our study for the 2,900–2,800 Ma period,
is not exclusive to the Congo Craton. Irrespective of the differences in
opinion on the geodynamics of Archean TTGs production
(e.g., Bédard, 2006, 2018; Defant & Drummond, 1990; Johnson et al.,
2019; Li et al., 2016; Nagel, Hoffmann, & Münker, 2012; Shang, Satir,
et al., 2004), similar trends over a protracted period for Meso- to
Neoarchean TTGs (i.e.,
3,000–2,700 Ma) have been described else-
where in other cratons such as, S~ao Fransisco, Brazil (Albert et al.,
F I G U R E 1 Geological sketch
map of the northwestern
Republic of Congo (modified after
(Desthieux, 1993) depicting the
sample locations. Insert: The
position of Ivindo Basement
Complex relative to the Ntem
Complex in the Congo Craton
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE 3

2016), Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons, Australia (Griffin et al., 2014;
Czarnota et al., 2010; Ivanic et al., 2012), and Greenland (Windley &
Garde, 2009).
2 | G EO LO GI C A L B A CK GR OUN D
The IBC consists of two types of rock suites, namely supracrustal and
crystalline rocks (Meloux et al., 1986). The supracrustal rocks are
mainly volcano-sedimentary in origin and comprised of metamor-
phosed, E-W-trending greenstone belts (commonly chlorite-sericite-
quartz schists and amphibolite) and banded iron formations, with
mafic and/or ultramafic intrusive rocks (Meloux et al., 1986).
Supracrustal rocks are mainly volcano-sedimentary in origin. The crys-
talline rocks generally comprise of granites and migmatites. These
rocks constitute the greater part of the basement (80–90%). However,
the most widespread lithological assemblages are calc-alkaline gran-
ites, biotite or green hornblende granodiorites, and more locally, qua-
rtz meta-diorites or metagabbros (Meloux et al., 1986).
The Souanké area, which is in the northeastern margin of the IBC,
consists predominantly of a possible TTG suite comprising TTG rocks,
charnockites, and granitic rocks, as well as some mafic to ultramafic
rocks, amphibolite, and banded iron formation (Meloux et al., 1986
and references therein). In the field, the TTG suite can be easily sub-
divided based on colour, into dark grey (Figure 2a–c) and leucocratic
suites (Figure 2d–f). The TTGs are observed to intrude the amphibo-
lite and contain amphibolite lenses of a few centimetres or even a
metre in length. Moreover, in many subsections, the amphibolite
occurs as lenses within the TTG suite or in direct contact with TTGs
(Figure 2b). Potassic granite, which appears sporadically, intrudes the
granodiorite of the TTG suite (Figure 2a). Compared to other sections
of the IBC, these intrusive relationships between the TTG suite and
potassic granite are best exposed in the Souanké area. The mafic to
ultramafic intrusive rocks and the amphibolite are associated with
banded iron formations in the northwestern area of Souanké and are
thought to be the remnants of greenstone belts and are similar to
those described in recent studies of the Ntem Complex of southern
Cameroon (Chombong & Suh, 2013; Suh, Cabral, Shemang, Mbinkar, &
Mboudou, 2008).
The Ntem Complex is generally considered the western equiva-
lent of the IBC (Vicat, Moloto-A-Kenguemba, & Pouclet, 2001). Unlike
in the IBC, some research has been carried out on the TTGs and their
equivalent in the Ntem Complex. Shang, Siebel, et al. (2004) and
Pouclet et al. (2007) showed that the age of the TTGs in the Ntem
Complex is ca. 2,830 Ma, which is younger than the 2,865 ± 4 Ma
SHRIMP zircon age reported by Tchameni et al. (2010) and the 2,868
± 9 Ma SIMS zircon age reported by Li et al. (2016). Li et al. (2016)
proposed that high-pressure partial melting of an Eoarchean crustal
protolith, possibly triggered by synchronous mafic magmatism, proba-
bly generated these TTGs in the Ntem Complex. However, Pouclet

F I G U R E 2 (a) Field photograph showing the sharp contact between grey tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) and potassic granite;
(b) field photograph showing the dark-grey TTG with amphibolite inclusions; (c) hand specimen of tonalite; (d) outcrops of leucocratic medium-
grained TTG with no gneissic foliation associated with amphibolite lenses of a few centimetres or even a metre in length; (e) hand specimen of
leucocratic trondhjemite with no gneissic foliation; and (f) hand specimen showing medium- to-coarse-grained charnockite rock [Colour figure can
be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
4  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
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et al. (2007) suggested that these rocks evolved by partial melting of
primitive basaltic crust in a subduction-related convergent regime,
either hot-plate subduction or intra-oceanic stacking. Other contribu-
tions such as Shang, Siebel, et al. (2004) considered a flat subduction
regime. Despite the varied chronology and petrogenetic interpreta-
tions, these contributions on the Ntem Complex provide information
into the possible magmatic histories, timelines, and petrogenetic set-
tings that could have also shaped the IBC.
3 | PETROGRAPHY
3.1 | Tonalite/granodiorite
The mineralogical assemblage of the medium- to coarse-grained
tonalite/granodiorite samples (CG-S12, CG-S13; Figure 2c) consists of
quartz (20–25%), plagioclase (45–55%), hornblende (10–25%) biotite
(1–5%), and alkali feldspar (<2%), with accessory minerals of titanite,
apatite, zircon, and ilmenite.
Quartz occurs as subhedral to anhedral crystals and with size from
100 to 600 μm (Figure 3a). Plagioclase forms automorphic slats with
polysynthetic twins, is strongly zoned, and has a grain size between
100 and 400 μm (Figure 3a). Plagioclase grains contain inclusions of
biotite, and titanite. Microcline occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals
and has a grain size less than 100 μm, recognizable by its turbid appear-
ance (Figure 3a). It is sometimes jointed or forms granular masses
between quartz and plagioclase (Figure 3a). Biotite is anhedral and has
a grain size up 100 μm, often occurs as lamellae and shred-like micro-
textures, and is pleochroic from brownish red to pale yellow (Figure
3a). Hornblende has a grain size between 100 and 550 μm and occurs
as euhedral to anhedral grain associated with plagioclase (Figure 3a).
Apatite is the most abundant accessory mineral and occurs as euhedral
crystals. It is generally medium-grained, with sizes up to 500 μm. Zircon
occurs as subhedral to euhedral crystals in quartz and with size

F I G U R E 3 (a) Photomicrograph of charnockite with quartz, k-feldspar, and plagioclase; (b) photomicrograph of tonalite/granodiorite with
medium-grained plagioclase, hornblende, and quartz; (c) photomicrograph of tonalite/granodiorite displaying fine- and medium-grained
plagioclase and quartz; and (d) photomicrograph of trondhjemite showing coarse-grained quartz, plagioclase, and medium-grained hornblende (Bt,
biotite; Hbl, hornblende; Ilm, ilmenite; Kfs, K-feldspar; Pl, plagioclase; Px, pyroxene; Qtz, quartz) (a, c, in cross-polarized light; b, d, in plane-
polarized light) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
between 15 and 60 μm. Titanite occurs as anhedral crystals and gener-
ally associated with or included in K-feldspar.
3.2 | Charnockite
These rocks (CG-S10 and CG-S11; Figure 2f) are characterized pre-
dominantly by their dark brown colour with a bluish quartz lustre and
medium- to coarse-grained texture. Mineralogical association includes
45–65% plagioclase, 20–35% quartz, 10–15% K-feldspar, 5–10%
hornblende, and minor biotite and pyroxene. The accessory phases
consist of magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, apatite, and zircon.
Plagioclase occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals (Figure 3b,c)
and range in size between 50 and 500 μm. Albite forms slats with
automorphic twinning and contains very fine lamellae of biotite. Qua-
rtz occurs as subhedral to anhedral crystals (Figure 3b,c). The quartz
crystals range in size from 20 to 600 μm and show wavy extinction.
Some quartz grains in hornblende have inclusions of ilmenite and
pyroxene, implying that the quartz grains were not formed in the early
stage of magma crystallization. Biotite (>60 μm), occurs as lamellae,
less altered, irregularly shaped, pleochroic dark brown to pale brown,
and commonly appears within or at the edge of plagioclase (Figure 3b).
Hornblende occurs as anhedral to subhedral forms (Figure 3b), has
crystal sizes from 60 to 400 μm, and displays olive green to pale yel-
low colours. Pyroxene (Figure 3b) occurs as minor and interstitial
grains around larger crystals of plagioclase and hornblende. K-feldspar
(Figure 3b) has a grain size between 150 and 600 μm and is represen-
ted by perthitic orthoclase and euhedral to subhedral microcline.
Anhedral magnetite, 10 to 150 μm in size, occurs mostly as
intergranular grains between quartz, plagioclase, and feldspar grain.
Apatite occurs as small, globular, hexagonal, and elongate crystals
with high relief, ranging in size from 5 to 60 μm in plagioclase,
orthopyroxene, and quartz. Ilmenite occurs as elongate crystals in
plagioclase and as globular grains in hornblende. It also occurs as
inclusions in quartz grains.
3.3 | Trondhjemite
These rocks (CG-S7, CG-S8a, and CG-S8b; Figure 2e) are gneissic and
medium- to coarse-grained. Mineral constituents are quartz (25–40%),
plagioclase (45–60%), biotite (10–15%), hornblende (5–10%), and K-
feldspar (<5%) and common accessory minerals are ilmenite, titanite,
and zircon.
Anhedral quartz crystals, 50 to 650 μm in size, occur as aggre-
gates of large grains (Figure 3d). Plagioclase occurs as anhedral to sub-
hedral crystal shapes and displays twinning and has a grain size
between 200 and 800 μm. The plagioclase is the albite-type, with
locally intense alteration (e.g., sericite; Figure 3d). K-feldspar is ortho-
clase, has a grain size between 200 and 600 μm, and occurs as inter-
stitial grains. Biotite grains (Figure 3d) have 200–600 μm in size,
occurs as lamellae, are well-oriented minerals in the gneissic banding,
and are pleochroic from greyish-yellow to moderate brown.
5
Hornblende (Figure 3d) occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals
(up 400 μm) and exhibits greyish-green to olive green pleochroic col-
ours. Poikilitic-textured hornblende contains many inclusion of ilmen-
ite, apatite, and quartz. Zircon occurs as euhedral crystals and has a
size between 20 and 150 μm. Medium-sized grains of rutile and tit-
anite appear independently and also as inclusion isolated in
hornblende.
4 | SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL
METHODS
4.1 | Sampling
Samples in this study were collected from the least-altered outcrops
in the IBC area. Nine representative rock samples were collected from
two sectors including the entrance of the district of Souanké
 
(N02 030 1900 E14 080 2800 ) and in a quarry located northwest of
 
Cabosse village (N02 090 2100 E13 410 2800 ; Figure 1; Table 1). Samples
were selected in order to cover a wide range of rock types and to
obtain a meaningful distribution of samples throughout the
study area.
4.2 | Major and trace element analyses
The samples were pulverized and then powdered using an agate mill
at the Australian Laboratory Services (ALS) Geochemistry Laboratory
in Guangzhou. Major elements were analysed by ME-XRF26d X-ray
fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The XRF analysis is determined in
conjunction with a loss-on-ignition at 1,000 C. The resulting data
from both determinations are combined to produce a ‘total’. The ana-
lytical uncertainties were generally better, less than 0.01%. The
analytical procedures were the same as those described by Liu and
Yang (2015).
Trace element analysis was undertaken by using a Perkin Elmer
Elan 9000 ICP-MS at the ALS Guangzhou, China. A prepared sample
was dissolved in distilled HF + HNO3 in Teflon screw-cap capsules at
200 C for 6 days, dried, and then digested with HNO3 at 150 C for
1 day. The final solution was diluted to 80 g with a mixture of 1 ml
internal-standard solution of the single element Rh, which has a dilu-
tion factor of 1/1250 in 2% ultrapure HNO3. Analytical uncertainties
for trace element analyses are ±10% and ca. ±5% for elements with
abundances lower and higher than 10 ppm, respectively. The proce-
dures for ICP-MS analyses are the same as those described by Liu and
Yang (2015).
4.3 | LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating and in situ trace
element analysis of zircon
Zircons from different rock types were analysed at the Beijing
Zircon Navigation Technology Co., Ltd. China. The zircon
6  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE

TABLE 1 Summary of the major mineralogical features of the IBC rocks

Sample Latitude (No)

code (name) Rock type Individual location longitude (Eo) Major mineral assemblage

0 00
CG-S10-1 Charnockite Entrance of the district of Souanké 02 02 53 N K-feldespar, plagioclase, quartz, amphibole,

14 090 0400 E hyperstene.

CG-S10-2 Charnockite Entrance of the district of Souanké 02 020 4000 N Clinopyroxene, plagioclase, k-feldespar, quartz

14 090 0200 E

CG-S11 Charnockite Entrance of the district of Souanké 02 020 4500 N Clinopyroxene, biotite, hornblende, quartz,

14 090 0700 E biotite

CG-S12-1 Granodiorite Quarry located in Souanké 02 030 2300 N Quartz, plagioclase, K-feldespar, hornblende,

14 080 3000 E biotite

CG-S12-2 Granodiorite Quarry located in Souanké 02 030 2000 N Quartz, plagioclase, biotite, K-feldspar

14 080 2800 E

CG-S1 Tonalite Quarry located in Souanké 02 030 1900 N Quartz, plagioclase, hornblende, biotite,

14 080 2800 E Epidote, titanite

CG-S8-1 Trondhjemite Quarry located at the northwest of Cabosse 02 090 2100 N Plagioclase, quartz, biotite, ilmenite.

village 13 410 2800 E

CG-S8-2 Trondhjemite Quarry located at the northwest of Cabosse 02 090 0700 N Plagioclase, quartz, biotite, k-feldspar.

village 13 400 2000 E

CG-S8-3 Trondhjemite Quarry located at the northwest of Cabosse 02 050 1300 N Quartz, plagioclase, biotite, microcline

village 13 350 2500 E

Abbreviation: IBC, Ivindo Basement Complex.

concentrates were separated from two granodiorite samples and one
trondhjemite sample using standard density and magnetic separation
techniques. The zircon grains, as well as the zircon standards, were
mounted on epoxy supports that were then polished to expose the
interior of the crystals for analysis. All zircon grains were documented
with transmitted and reflected light photo microscopy and a cat-
hodoluminescence (CL) image to find the appropriate areas for
analysis.
Zircon U–Pb dating was conducted using laser ablation induc-
tively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at the mineral
and fluid inclusion microanalysis lab, Geology Institute, Chinese Acad-
emy of Geological Sciences, Beijing. The NWR 193UC laser ablation
system (Elemental Scientific Lasers) was equipped with Coherent
Excistar 200 excimer laser and a Two Volume 2 ablation cell. The laser
ablation system was coupled to an Agilent 7900 ICPMS (Agilent). The
detailed analytical methods have been described by Yu et al. (2019).
Zircon mounts were cleaned ultrasonically in ultrapure water and then
cleaned again prior to the analysis using AR grade methanol. Pre-
ablation was conducted for each spot analysis using five laser shots
(
0.3 μm in depth) to remove potential surface contamination. The
analysis was performed using 35 μm diameter spot at 5 Hz and an
energy density of 2 J/cm2. The Iolite software package was used for
data reduction (Paton et al., 2010). Zircon 91500 preferred U–Th–Pb
isotopic ratios from (Wiedenbeck et al., 2004) and GJ-1 with the rec-
ommended values within uncertainty (599.81 ± 1.7 Ma (2σ; Jackson,
Pearson, Griffin, & Belousova, 2004) were used as primary and sec-
ondary reference materials, respectively. The 91500 was analysed
twice, and GJ-1 was analysed once every 10–12 analysis of the
unknowns. Typically, 35–40 s of the sample signals were acquired
after 20 s of gas background measurement. An exponential function
was used to calibrate the downhole fractionation (Paton et al., 2010).
NIST610 and 91Zr were used to calibrate the trace element concentra-
tions as an external reference material and internal standard element,
respectively. The measured ages of the reference materials in the
batch are as follows: 91500 (1,061.5 ± 3.2 Ma, 2σ, n = 5) and GJ-1
(604 ± 6 Ma, 2σ, n = 10), which agreed well with the reference value
within definite uncertainty.
4.4 | Zircon Lu–Hf isotope analyses
The Lu–Hf isotopic analyses were carried out on a Nu Plasma HR
MC-ICP-MS coupled to a GeoLas 2005 excimer ArF laser ablation sys-
tem at the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geo-
logical Sciences, China. The energy density was 20 J/cm2, the spot
size was 30 μm, and helium was used as the carrier gas. The interna-
tional standard zircon GJ-1 was used as the reference material. The
isotope composition of Hf was measured in the same age domains as
the U–Pb spots, with consistent age determinations of the grains,
as guided by the CL images. The analytical details of the Lu–Hf isoto-
pic analysis of zircons were reported by Wu, Yang, Xie, Yang, and Xu
(2006) and Hou and Yuan (2010). The isobaric interferences of 176
Lu
176 176
and Yb with Hf were corrected using recommended values
176
0.02658 and 0.796218 for the ratios Lu/175Lu and 176
Yb/173Yb,
respectively (Chu et al., 2002). To correct the instrumental mass bias,
172
the Yb isotope ratios were normalized to a Yb/173Yb value of
1.35274 (Chu et al., 2002), and the Hf isotope ratios were normalized
179
to Hf/177Hf value of 0.7325 using an exponential law. A weighted
mean 176Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.282003 ± 0.00006 (2σ, n = 15) was used
for the zircon GJ-1 as the reference standard during routine analyses,
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
and this value is indistinguishable from the weighted mean
176
Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.282013 ± 19 (2σ) calculated by an in situ analy-
sis by Elhlou, Belousova, Griffin, Pearson, and O'Reilly (2006). The
decay constant for 176
Lu and the chondritic unfractionated reservoir
(CHUR) ratios of 176Hf/177Hf and 176Lu/177Hf used in the calculations
were 1.867  1011a1 (Scherer, Münker, & Mezger, 2001), 0.0336
and 0.282785 (Bouvier, Vervoort, & Patchett, 2008), respectively. The
depleted mantle model ages (TDM1) were calculated relative to the
depleted mantle with present-day ratios of 176
Hf/177Hf = 0.28325
and 176
Lu/177Hf = 0.0384 (Griffin et al., 2000). Crustal model ages
(TDM2) were obtained by assuming that the parental magma was pro-
duced from average continental crustal 176Lu/177Hf = 0.015 (Blichert-
Toft & Albarède, 1997; Griffin et al., 2000, 2002). The value of
176
Lu/177Hf = 0.022 is suggested because most of these rocks were
initially derived from mafic sources.
5 | RESULTS
5.1 | Zircon U–Pb geochronology
5.1.1 | Tonalite/granodiorite
Most of the zircon from sample CG-S1 are stubby to prismatic grains
and 100–300 μm in length. In CL images, the zircons have weak or
blurred oscillatory zonings and locally convoluted patterns or hetero-
geneous domains that are typical magmatic features (Figure 4a).
Although the rims were metamorphosed, the igneous cores were
intact and represented the magmatic history recorded during zircon
growth. Twenty-three analyses were performed on oscillatory-zoned
cores of 23 zircons during a single analytical session (Table 2). The zir-
con cores are characterized by low U (26.88–181.2 ppm) and Th
(13.3–147 ppm) contents and high Th/U (1.22–2.68). This weak or
blurred oscillatory zonings, along with high Th/U values, is
F I G U R E 4 Cathodoluminescence (CL) images showing the internal structures of zircons from (a,b) tonalite/granodiorite samples and
(c) trondhjemite samples from the IBC. The red and yellow circles denote ablated locations for U–Pb and Lu–Hf analyses, respectively. The white
and yellow text near the circle indicate the analysis spot number, 207Pb/206Pb age and the corresponding εHf(t) value, respectively. The spot sizes
ablated by U–Pb analyses was 35 μm, and Lu–Hf analyses was 30 μm [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
7
characteristic of zircons grown in magma or fluid (Corfu, Hanchar,
Hoskin, & Kinny, 2003). All analyses are concordant to nearly concor-
207
dant and yield a weighted mean Pb/206Pb age of 2,895 ± 9.4 Ma
(MSWD = 0.98; Figure 5a), which is interpreted as the emplacement
age of this rock.
Zircons from the sample CG-S12 are elongated prismatic, colum-
nar, and transparent grains, 150–350 μm in length. The grains show
oscillatory-zoned cores in CL images, commonly surrounded by CL-
darker or lighter rims (Figure 4b). Twenty-four analyses were per-
formed on 24 zircon grains, and the results show relatively low U
(30.04–122.8 ppm) and Th (11.41–78.4 ppm) contents and high Th/U
ratio (1.38 and 2.65; Table 2). All analyses are concordant to nearly
207
concordant and yield a weighted mean Pb/206Pb age of 2,889
± 9.2 Ma (MSWD = 0.78; Figure 5b). This age is considered as the
best estimate for the emplacement age of this rock.
The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of these zircons from
samples CG-S1 and CG-S12 exhibit strong HREE enrichments, strong
positive Ce anomalies, and considerable negative Eu anomalies that
are typical for zircons (Figure 6a,b). The Y/Ho ratios are relatively
higher for zircon grains from CG-S1 (30–36) than for zircon grains
from sample CG-S12 (28–31).
5.1.2 | Trondhjemite
Zircon from sample CG-S8 is mostly stubby to prismatic zircon grains,
100–250 μm in length, shows high CL reflectance, and has sector- or
oscillatory-zoned cores, surrounded by darker rims (Figure 4c). Similar
features were found for the zircons of the tonalite/granodiorite, were
also apparent in trondhjemite, with metamorphic rims but preserved
igneous cores representing the magmatic history recorded during the
growth of the zircon. Seventeen analyses were carried out on 17
zircons (Table 1). The results show low U (30.93–118.1 ppm)
and Th (19.11–137.7 ppm) contents and high Th/U (0.78 to 2.57).
 8

TABLE 2 LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb data for the TTG (trondhjemite and tonalite/granodiorite) of the Ivindo Basement Complex in Souanké district

Concentration (ppm) Isotopic ratios Isotopic ages (Ma)

Sample Concordance
206 207 208 207 206 207 208 207
Spot Pb Th U Th/U Pb/238U 1σ Pb/235Pb 1σ Pb/232U 1σ Pb/206Pb 1σ Pb/238U 1σ Pb/235Pb 1σ Pb/232U 1σ Pb/206Pb 1σ %
CG-S1
1 129.5 91.3 168.1 1.839 0.5782 0.01 16.6 0.24 0.156 0.0032 0.2076 0.0025 2,938 41 2,909 14 2,928 56 2,881 20 99.01
2 134.5 92.6 174.5 1.879 0.5692 0.01 16.43 0.25 0.1565 0.0035 0.2091 0.0027 2,901 42 2,902 14 2,936 61 2,895 21 99.97
3 46.6 33.28 61.9 1.852 0.5635 0.01 16.01 0.29 0.1513 0.0043 0.2057 0.0033 2,878 43 2,874 18 2,843 75 2,865 27 99.86
4 203.6 147.8 181.2 1.22 0.5628 0.011 16.44 0.3 0.149 0.0031 0.2107 0.0028 2,879 45 2,899 17 2,805 55 2,904 22 99.31
5 130 92.6 117.7 1.268 0.5628 0.01 16.35 0.26 0.1525 0.0035 0.2095 0.0032 2,875 42 2,893 15 2,873 62 2,896 25 99.38
6 67.9 48.6 90.5 1.869 0.5717 0.01 16.5 0.26 0.1519 0.0037 0.2089 0.003 2,911 42 2,904 15 2,855 65 2,889 24 99.76
7 66.8 46.06 76.4 1.664 0.5672 0.01 16.53 0.26 0.1561 0.0038 0.2109 0.0029 2,893 42 2,906 15 2,929 67 2,905 23 99.55
8 28.92 20.45 31.58 1.537 0.571 0.011 16.18 0.31 0.1527 0.0047 0.2057 0.0041 2,907 47 2,881 19 2,866 82 2,857 33 99.1
9 39.5 28.59 48.7 1.698 0.5658 0.011 16.38 0.32 0.15 0.0044 0.2094 0.0033 2,886 46 2,892 19 2,819 78 2,894 25 99.79
10 33.89 23.82 45.11 1.888 0.5619 0.0096 16.09 0.29 0.1552 0.0047 0.2065 0.0038 2,875 41 2,877 18 2,910 82 2,870 30 99.93
11 80.9 58.3 87.4 1.492 0.5603 0.01 16.12 0.25 0.1503 0.0035 0.2081 0.0027 2,864 42 2,881 15 2,827 62 2,886 22 99.41
12 20.35 13.83 29.38 2.125 0.566 0.012 16.33 0.35 0.1591 0.0059 0.2094 0.0045 2,885 48 2,888 21 2,976 100 2,883 35 99.89
13 83.4 59.3 87.4 1.464 0.5679 0.0099 16.33 0.27 0.1523 0.0039 0.2072 0.003 2,900 42 2,892 16 2,862 68 2,882 23 99.72
14 21.17 15.13 37.38 2.486 0.5624 0.01 16.4 0.36 0.1516 0.0057 0.2107 0.0039 2,873 43 2,895 21 2,844 99 2,897 31 99.24
15 28.01 19.95 32.61 1.635 0.5663 0.011 15.99 0.32 0.1515 0.0048 0.2043 0.0044 2,888 46 2,869 20 2,845 84 2,848 35 99.34
16 20 13.73 26.88 1.979 0.578 0.013 16.43 0.35 0.1577 0.0059 0.2064 0.0043 2,934 52 2,899 20 2,951 100 2,865 34 98.8
17 110.7 75.6 138.5 1.823 0.5741 0.011 16.66 0.28 0.1571 0.0037 0.2088 0.0033 2,930 45 2,910 16 2,953 66 2,890 25 99.32
18 65.4 45.2 76.4 1.688 0.5689 0.011 16.36 0.27 0.1565 0.004 0.2083 0.0038 2,898 47 2,893 16 2,935 70 2,883 30 99.83
19 46.9 33.09 57.7 1.744 0.566 0.012 16.39 0.33 0.1523 0.0041 0.2086 0.0039 2,896 52 2,895 19 2,869 75 2,881 31 99.97
20 83.6 58.27 115.5 1.973 0.58 0.012 16.81 0.31 0.1554 0.0037 0.209 0.0033 2,945 48 2,923 17 2,917 64 2,888 26 99.25
21 69.2 49.4 66.4 1.343 0.566 0.012 16.19 0.32 0.1498 0.004 0.2064 0.0031 2,887 50 2,883 19 2,818 69 2,871 26 99.86
22 122.3 85.1 160.1 1.871 0.566 0.011 16.33 0.27 0.1541 0.0035 0.2084 0.0029 2,887 46 2,896 15 2,894 61 2,891 23 99.69
23 25.61 17.91 47.75 2.679 0.565 0.012 16.43 0.32 0.154 0.0054 0.2106 0.0042 2,880 48 2,895 19 2,887 95 2,899 33 99.48
CG-S8
1 108.8 77.2 80.67 1.062 0.5641 0.0096 16.2 0.22 0.1521 0.0034 0.2091 0.003 2,881 40 2,885 13 2,860 59 2,890 23 99.86
3 60.7 43.1 56.4 1.31 0.5659 0.011 16.2 0.33 0.1526 0.0037 0.2078 0.0035 2,887 44 2,884 20 2,868 65 2,881 27 99.9
GATSE

4 92.4 66.4 78.3 1.171 0.5619 0.01 16.24 0.28 0.1508 0.0038 0.2083 0.003 2,871 43 2,886 16 2,835 67 2,889 25 99.48
5 41 29.65 42.7 1.432 0.5655 0.01 15.99 0.3 0.1488 0.0042 0.206 0.0038 2,886 41 2,872 18 2,800 73 2,862 30 99.51
6 93.8 66.6 68.8 1.081 0.5617 0.0095 16.32 0.26 0.1506 0.0034 0.21 0.003 2,871 39 2,891 15 2,832 60 2,897 23 99.31
7 191.6 137.7 108.4 0.784 0.557 0.0096 16.05 0.23 0.15 0.0031 0.2084 0.003 2,851 40 2,876 14 2,823 54 2,885 23 99.13
8 27.62 19.11 30.93 1.624 0.5723 0.01 16.56 0.38 0.1563 0.005 0.2087 0.0044 2,914 42 2,900 22 2,929 87 2,878 35 99.52
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
TABLE 2 (Continued)
GATSE

Concentration (ppm) Isotopic ratios Isotopic ages (Ma)

Sample Concordance
206 238 207 235 208 232 207 206 206 238 207 208 207
Spot Pb Th U Th/U Pb/ U 1σ Pb/ Pb 1σ Pb/ U 1σ Pb/ Pb 1σ Pb/ U 1σ Pb/235Pb 1σ Pb/232U 1σ Pb/206Pb 1σ %
9 152.6 111.8 118.1 1.063 0.5674 0.01 16.39 0.28 0.1483 0.0034 0.2089 0.0032 2,893 43 2,895 16 2,792 59 2,888 25 99.93
10 26.9 19.81 50.5 2.569 0.5673 0.011 16.19 0.31 0.1482 0.0053 0.2062 0.0039 2,898 45 2,882 18 2,787 93 2,866 32 99.45
11 36.1 25.3 53.1 2.12 0.574 0.0099 16.44 0.3 0.155 0.0044 0.2064 0.0032 2,925 41 2,897 18 2,907 78 2,871 26 99.04
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.

13 76.1 51.9 68.89 1.335 0.5822 0.011 16.64 0.32 0.1576 0.0037 0.2071 0.0033 2,953 45 2,908 18 2,954 64 2,873 26 98.46
14 160.9 111.6 93.4 0.843 0.5826 0.011 16.48 0.26 0.1561 0.0034 0.2048 0.0036 2,955 46 2,900 15 2,929 59 2,853 28 98.12
15 74 52.2 110.3 2.106 0.5614 0.01 16.25 0.26 0.153 0.0039 0.2106 0.0029 2,869 43 2,887 16 2,874 69 2,903 22 99.37
17 52.1 35.8 45.9 1.416 0.571 0.012 16.58 0.34 0.157 0.0044 0.2103 0.004 2,906 51 2,904 20 2,944 76 2,895 31 99.93
18 35.9 24.89 36.86 1.479 0.577 0.012 16.38 0.38 0.1559 0.005 0.2056 0.0041 2,931 49 2,893 22 2,923 87 2,856 32 98.7
19 65.7 47.3 93.8 1.975 0.5722 0.011 16.21 0.31 0.1494 0.0039 0.2057 0.0033 2,912 47 2,885 19 2,811 68 2,865 27 99.07
20 70.6 50 73.4 1.48 0.564 0.011 15.95 0.27 0.1541 0.0039 0.2048 0.0031 2,879 44 2,868 17 2,894 68 2,856 25 99.62
CG-S12
1 65.3 45.9 63.2 1.38 0.5599 0.0092 16.42 0.25 0.1521 0.0035 0.2116 0.0028 2,864 38 2,897 15 2,859 60 2,913 21 98.85
2 27.19 19.08 42.5 2.225 0.5657 0.01 16.44 0.33 0.1536 0.0047 0.2101 0.0038 2,887 42 2,896 19 2,883 82 2,894 29 99.69
4 23.23 16.89 37.3 2.214 0.5635 0.011 16.58 0.34 0.1474 0.0054 0.2129 0.0045 2,877 46 2,904 20 2,771 95 2,910 35 99.07
5 25.66 18.46 41.2 2.24 0.5616 0.011 16.34 0.35 0.1497 0.005 0.2097 0.0041 2,869 44 2,889 20 2,813 88 2,893 32 99.31
6 33.83 24.19 50.12 2.067 0.5578 0.011 16.14 0.31 0.1503 0.0049 0.2083 0.0036 2,853 44 2,879 18 2,825 86 2,881 28 99.09
7 28.62 20.23 44.6 2.207 0.571 0.01 16.39 0.3 0.1511 0.0046 0.2073 0.0035 2,909 42 2,896 17 2,839 81 2,876 28 99.55
8 26.25 17.74 39.29 2.229 0.5731 0.01 16.47 0.33 0.1589 0.0058 0.2075 0.0036 2,917 43 2,902 19 2,973 100 2,882 28 99.48
9 18.61 12.8 31.19 2.475 0.565 0.012 16.67 0.36 0.1561 0.0061 0.2136 0.0041 2,882 48 2,911 21 2,920 110 2,923 31 99.99
10 24.78 16.71 37.69 2.268 0.5672 0.012 16.32 0.34 0.1595 0.0054 0.2085 0.0043 2,891 47 2,889 20 2,983 94 2,878 33 99.31
11 15.65 11.41 30.04 2.647 0.5586 0.01 16.1 0.32 0.1471 0.006 0.208 0.0042 2,857 42 2,878 19 2,770 110 2,878 32 99.27
12 65.2 45.97 96.7 2.12 0.5728 0.01 16.39 0.29 0.1524 0.0037 0.2066 0.0032 2,916 42 2,896 17 2,864 65 2,876 25 99.31
13 31.35 22.47 48.94 2.192 0.563 0.012 16.19 0.33 0.1493 0.0051 0.2085 0.004 2,873 50 2,881 19 2,805 90 2,888 31 99.72
14 22.06 15.07 32.85 2.187 0.57 0.013 16.23 0.37 0.1558 0.0056 0.2069 0.0042 2,906 52 2,887 23 2,930 100 2,866 34 99.34
16 93.5 62.2 122.8 1.976 0.573 0.012 16.54 0.29 0.1597 0.004 0.207 0.0027 2,917 48 2,903 17 2,992 70 2,875 22 99.52
17 25.73 17.8 38.53 2.185 0.568 0.012 16.29 0.34 0.1554 0.0055 0.2072 0.004 2,895 51 2,887 20 2,912 97 2,873 32 99.73
18 35.44 24.46 36.3 1.489 0.5696 0.011 16.58 0.34 0.1531 0.0047 0.2101 0.0041 2,901 47 2,904 19 2,884 85 2,896 31 99.9
19 96.8 65.9 98.3 1.5 0.5701 0.011 16.49 0.28 0.1566 0.0041 0.209 0.0033 2,904 44 2,901 16 2,936 71 2,888 26 99.9
20 111.7 78.4 111.8 1.427 0.5699 0.011 16.58 0.26 0.1504 0.0036 0.2089 0.0029 2,903 44 2,906 15 2,829 63 2,892 23 99.9
21 25.07 17.25 37.75 2.21 0.5643 0.011 16.52 0.33 0.1547 0.0054 0.2119 0.0041 2,880 47 2,901 19 2,911 97 2,910 32 99.27
22 34.3 23.99 51.3 2.162 0.568 0.012 16.57 0.33 0.1522 0.0046 0.2106 0.0036 2,896 48 2,905 19 2,858 81 2,899 28 99.7
24 53.2 35.45 74.8 2.13 0.5725 0.011 16.57 0.3 0.1582 0.0038 0.2085 0.0031 2,914 45 2,905 17 2,965 66 2,888 25 99.69
9

(Continues)
 10  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE

All analyses are concordant or near concordant and yield a weighted

Concordance Pb/206Pb age of 2,897 ± 5 Ma (MSWD = 1.8; Figure 5c),

207
mean
which is considered as the emplacement age of this rock.

27 99.83
28 99.9
31 99.9
The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of these zircons, as dis-
Pb/206Pb 1σ %

played in Figure 6c, typically exhibit high HREE enrichments, consider-

able positive Ce anomalies, and pronounced negative Eu anomalies.
Their Y/Ho ratios (29–35) are similar to those of the other samples
85 2,862
84 2,867
86 2,871

(Table 3).
207
Pb/232U 1σ

5.2 | Whole-rock major and trace element

compositions
18 2,834
19 2,836
18 2,859
208
Pb/235Pb 1σ

The representative samples of charnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and

Isotopic ages (Ma)

trondhjemite were analysed for major and trace elements and the
results are listed in Table 4.
43 2,872
44 2,880
44 2,886
207
U 1σ

5.2.1 | Charnockite
Note: Concordance defines as ( Pb/ U age)/( Pb/ Pb age)  100. Trondhjemite (CG-S8); Tonalite/granodiorite (CG-S1; CG-S12).
238
Pb/
0.0035 2,875
0.0039 2,877
0.0036 2,881

The rocks of this type (CG-S10-1, CG-S10-2, and CG-S10-3) contain

206

70.03–71.88 wt% SiO2, 2.14–2.39 wt% K2O, 15.54–16.35 wt%

Al2O3, 1.56–1.87 wt% Fe2O3, and 0.51–0.65 wt% MgO, and high
Pb 1σ

contents of Na2O of 4.72–4.93 wt%. Their Na2O/K2O ratios range

from 2.09 to 2.21 with Mg# from 56.66 to 58.16. These samples plot
206

0.0049 0.2055
0.0047 0.2068
0.0049 0.2065
Pb/

on the granite field in the K2O-Na2O-CaO (Barker & Arth, 1976) dia-
207

gram (Figure 7). These rocks have medium K content (Figure 8a) and
belong to the Na-rich granitoid group (Figure 8b). These charnockite
rocks have a calcic-alkalic property (Figure 8c) with (δ = (Na2O
U 1σ

+ K2O)2/(SiO2-43)) from 1.16 to 1.91 and show peraluminous compo-

232

sitions with Al2O3/(Na2O + K2O + CaO) from 1.67 to 1.69 and

0.31 0.1508
0.32 0.1504
0.31 0.1523
Pb/

Abbreviation: LA-ICP-MS, Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Al2O3/(Na2O + K2O) ratios ranging from 2.22 to 2.27 (Figure 8d).

208

Chondrite-normalized REE and N-MORB-normalized trace element

Pb 1σ

patterns of the charnockite rocks are displayed in Figure 9a,b in compari-

son to data from granitoids of the Ntem Complex (Takam et al., 2009)
235
Pb/

and the Itsaq Gneiss Complex (Hoffmann et al., 2014), although resulting
16.02
16.13
16.22
207

from an old terrane but retains the typical characteristics of TTG. The IBC
charnockites have moderately fractionated REE chondrite-normalized pat-
0.011
0.011
0.01

206

terns with (La/Yb)CN ratios from 17.31 to 22.98 and slightly positive Eu
U 1σ
Isotopic ratios

anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.02 to 1.10) (Figure 9a). The IBC charnockites show
238

207

high ratios of Sr/Y from 100 to 105 and Nb/Ta ratios from 26.59 to
2.233 0.5629
0.5633
2.232 0.5644
Pb/

27.83. On the N-MORB-normalized trace element plots, U enrichment,

206

positive La, Pb, and Sr anomalies. Negative Nb, Ce, P, Ti anomalies

Th/U

238
19.37 38.03 1.96

(Figure 9b). On primitive mantle-normalized plots (Figure 10a), the

206

charnockite showed similarities with average Archean TTGs (Moyen &

21.77 48.6

21.48 47.4
Concentration (ppm)

Martin, 2012) and were characterized by significant depletions in Nb, Ta,

(Continued)

Ti, and Th, but with enrichments in Zr, Ba, and Rb.
Th
30.84
27.48
30.51

5.2.2 | Tonalite/granodiorite
Pb
TABLE 2

Sample
Spot

These rocks (CG-S1, CGS12-1 and CGS12-2) contain 58.27–60.55 wt

25
26
27

% SiO2, high contents of Al2O3 from 16.40 to 17.39 wt%, 7.72 to

  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
F I G U R E 5 Concordia diagrams of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb geochronology. (a,b)
Tonalite/granodiorite (CG-S1 and CG-S12) samples and (c) Trondhjemite (CG-S8) sample (Table 2) [Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
8.09 wt% Fe2O3, 3.48 and 3.94 wt% Na2O, 2.61–3.04 wt% MgO, and
1.03–1.07 wt% K2O. These tonalite/granodiorite samples have Na2O/
K2O ratios that range from 3.31 to 3.68. Their Mg# range from 57.48
to 60.05. All samples in the K2O-Na2O-CaO normative feldspar dia-
gram of Barker and Arth (1976) plot on the boundary between the
tonalite and granodiorite fields and follow the TTG trend (Rajesh et al.,
2018; Figure 7). These rocks have medium-K contents (Figure 8a)
and therefore belong to the Na-granitoid group (Figure 8b). These
Na-granitoid rocks have a calcic property with δ [(Na2O + K2O) / 2
(SiO2-43)] = 1.16–1.64 (Figure 8c) and show strong peraluminous
features indicated by their Al2O3/(Na2O + K2O + CaO) and Al2O3/
(Na2O + K2O) ratios that range from 1.51 to 1.57 and 3.47 to 3.64,
respectively (Figure 8c).
Chondrite-normalized REE and N-MORB-normalized trace ele-
ment patterns of the IBC tonalite/granodiorites are displayed in
Figure 9c,d in comparison to data from the Ntem Complex (Takam
et al., 2009) and the Itsaq Gneiss Complex (Hoffmann et al., 2014).
The IBC tonalite/granodiorite samples have low fractionated REE
chondrite-normalized patterns with (La/Yb)CN that range from 6.43 to
7.42 and exhibit slightly positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.07 to
11
1.19; Figure 9c). The IBC tonalite/granodiorites show moderate ratios
for Sr/Y from 13.27 to 14.89 and Nb/Ta ratios from 46.67 to 51.14.
On the N-MORB normalized trace element plots, the IBC tonalite/
granodiorite samples show the characteristics including enrichment of
Th and U, positive K, Pb, La, anomalies, and negative anomalies in Nb,
Ta, Sr, P, and Ti (Figure 9d). Comparisons of the IBC and average
Archean TTGs (Moyen & Martin, 2012) on primitive mantle-
normalized multi-element diagram showed similar distribution pat-
terns (Figure 10b). The IBC tonalite/granodiorite were characterized
by significant depletions in Nb, Ta, Ti, and Th but with enrichments in
Zr, Ba, and Rb.
5.2.3 | Trondhjemite
These rocks (CG-S8-1, CG-S8-2, and CG-S8-3) have 73.05–
74.53 wt% SiO2 but lower K2O (0.03–1.33 wt%) than the
tonalite/granodiorite samples and higher Na2O concentrations
(5.65 and 6.43 wt%) than both charnockite and tonalite/granodio-
rite. Other major oxides range as follows: 14.90–15.67 wt%
12
F I G U R E 6 Chondrite-normalized rare-earth element (REE) patterns of zircons from tonalite/granodiorite (CG-S1 and CG-S12) and
trondhjemite (CG-S8) samples. Chondrite values are from (Sun & Mcdonough, 1989) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Al2O3, 1.33–1.63 wt% Fe2O3, and 0.10–0.19 wt% MgO. The
Na2O/K2O ratios for these samples range from 4.24 to 11.69. In
the K2O-Na2O-CaO plot (Figure 7; Barker & Arth, 1976), all sam-
ples plot in the trondhjemite field and follow the TTG trend
(Rajesh et al., 2018). These samples show low to medium-K
content (Figure 8a) and belong to the Na-rich granitoid group
(Figure 8b). These trondhjemite rocks have calcic-alkalic character-
istics (Figure 8c) with (Na2O + K2O)2/(SiO2-43) ratio (=δ) from
1.57 to 1.62 and show peraluminous compositions with Al2O3/
(Na2O + K2O + CaO) and Al2O3/(Na2O + K2O) ratios that range
from 1.83 to 1.93 and 2.12 to 2.24, respectively (Figure 8d).
Chondrite-normalized REE and N-MORB normalized trace ele-
ment patterns of IBC trondhjemites are shown in Figure 9e,f in
comparison to data from the Ntem Complex (Takam et al., 2009)
and the Itsaq Gneiss Complex (Hoffmann et al., 2014). These IBC
trondhjemite have low fractionated REE chondrite-normalized pat-
terns with (La/Yb)CN ratios from 1.46 to 1.91 and negative Eu
anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.10–0.18; Figure 9e). The IBC trondhjemites
displays low Sr/Y ratios from 3.01 to 4.32 and Nb/Ta ratios from
0.32 to 0.87. In the N-MORB-normalized trace element diagram,
these samples show enrichments in Th and U, positive Pb and Ta
anomalies and negative Ba, Ce, P and Ti anomalies (Figure 9f). On
the Primitive-mantle normalized plots, the elemental distribution
patterns of trondhjemite are similar to the charnockites, tonalite/
granodiorite, and average Archean TTGs (Moyen & Martin, 2012),
except for higher U, Nb and Ta concentrations, and extremely
depleted Ti concentrations in the trondhjemite than the other IBC
rocks in this study (Figure 10c).
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
5.3 | Zircon Lu–Hf isotopes
In-situ Lu–Hf isotope analyses were carried out on 37 zircon grains
from the three dated samples, and the results are listed in Table 5.
Their εHf(t) evolutions are shown in Figure 11. Most Lu–Hf analyses
207
were performed next to the U–Pb analysis spots. The Pb/206Pb
ages were applied in initial εHf (t) calculation and ‘crustal’ model ages
(TDM2). TDM2 values were calculated using a 176
Lu/177Hf ratio (0.015)
of the average continental crust, which was originally derived from
the depleted mantle (Griffin et al., 2002).
Twenty-nine zircon grains from two tonalite/granodiorite samples
(CG-S12 and CG-S1) were analysed. All spots display similar initial
176
Hf/177Hf ratios (0.2810–0.2811) and positive εHf (t) values (+1.22
to +4.55). They have single-stage Hf model ages (TDM1) of 2,978–
3,103 Ma and the ‘crustal’ model ages of 3,028–3,230 Ma.
Eight analyses on zircons of the trondhjemite sample (CG-S8)
have initial 176
Hf/177Hf ratios of 0.2810–0.2811 with positive εHf(t)
values of 2.04–4.28. Their TDM1 and TDM2 ages range from 2,992 to
3,074 Ma and 3,046 to 3,182 Ma, respectively (Table 5).
6 | DI SCU SSION
6.1 | Emplacement age of the trondhjemite and
tonalite/granodiorite of the IBC
Following careful examination of the morphology and internal struc-
tures of the zircon, we were able to obtain by LA-ICP-MS methods, a
TABLE 3 Trace element compositions of zircons (ppm) for trondhjemite and tonalite/granodiorite of the Ivindo Basement Complex in Souanké district
GATSE

La/spot Ti Y Nb Ta La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Y Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y/Ho (Yb/Sm)CNa (Lu/Gd)CNa Eu/Eu*b Ce/Ce*c

CG-S1
1 5.26 419.00 0.55 0.33 bdl 7.46 0.02 0.61 1.20 0.37 6.20 2.12 28.90 419.00 12.34 69.60 16.59 173.60 41.00 34 130.20 53.50 0.42
2 5.53 427.00 0.63 0.33 bdl 7.56 0.03 0.56 1.18 0.37 6.74 2.10 29.80 427.00 12.19 70.80 16.96 171.90 41.40 35 131.11 49.70 0.40
3 6.72 482.00 0.67 0.35 bdl 9.35 0.02 0.30 0.99 0.24 8.30 2.96 39.80 482.00 15.61 78.80 16.42 147.20 29.90 31 133.82 29.15 0.25
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.

4 4.95 999.00 0.58 0.29 0.01 9.79 0.14 2.65 4.64 1.28 22.10 6.78 82.90 999.00 31.20 158.10 33.70 327.00 69.90 32 63.43 25.59 0.39 62.76
5 5.89 1,400.00 0.59 0.38 0.00 12.94 0.17 3.17 6.63 1.38 32.80 10.68 127.60 1,400.00 47.40 222.90 44.00 371.00 74.70 30 50.36 18.43 0.29 199.86
6 5.04 280.40 0.52 0.22 bdl 6.14 0.00 0.20 0.54 0.19 4.29 1.38 20.27 280.40 8.44 45.30 10.46 106.70 24.68 33 177.83 46.54 0.38
7 5.42 757.00 0.61 0.30 bdl 9.07 0.03 0.49 1.86 0.46 13.82 4.76 63.80 757.00 24.16 121.80 24.61 213.40 43.90 31 103.26 25.70 0.28
8 8.99 552.00 0.51 0.28 bdl 4.95 0.02 0.36 1.39 0.43 10.78 3.74 48.20 552.00 17.89 88.30 17.85 159.30 33.07 31 103.14 24.82 0.34
9 7.13 545.00 0.61 0.34 bdl 7.06 0.02 0.46 1.48 0.40 9.52 3.42 45.30 545.00 17.14 88.20 18.62 167.40 33.38 32 101.80 28.37 0.33
10 8.23 411.00 0.56 0.28 bdl 6.18 0.01 0.26 0.86 0.35 6.83 2.52 34.80 411.00 13.48 67.70 14.40 127.10 26.92 30 133.01 31.89 0.45
11 6.29 1,004.00 0.69 0.42 bdl 10.21 0.11 2.04 3.62 0.85 23.60 7.19 89.20 1,004.00 33.20 162.30 33.40 281.00 57.10 30 69.86 19.58 0.28
12 8.18 426.00 0.50 0.25 bdl 4.40 0.02 0.29 0.88 0.29 6.92 2.60 34.60 426.00 14.05 71.80 15.08 139.40 29.90 30 142.57 34.96 0.36
13 6.56 976.00 0.82 0.41 bdl 10.57 0.10 1.74 3.77 0.71 22.50 6.85 90.80 976.00 32.30 160.40 30.80 276.00 56.70 30 65.89 20.39 0.24
14 6.26 321.00 0.42 0.27 bdl 4.86 0.01 0.10 0.54 0.21 4.76 1.77 24.30 321.00 10.15 55.00 11.54 111.30 23.84 32 185.50 40.52 0.40
15 12.60 505.00 0.74 0.26 bdl 5.73 0.03 0.42 1.49 0.39 10.29 3.26 42.30 505.00 16.24 83.60 16.83 155.60 33.50 31 93.99 26.34 0.31
16 7.78 375.00 0.48 0.23 bdl 4.54 0.01 0.41 1.04 0.21 5.55 2.33 30.70 375.00 11.51 60.60 12.66 116.70 26.10 33 100.99 38.05 0.27
17 4.08 183.10 0.41 0.18 bdl 3.97 0.01 0.24 0.19 0.23 2.79 0.94 12.47 183.10 5.26 29.10 7.78 85.60 21.38 35 407.62 62.00 0.96
18 5.38 581.00 0.70 0.42 bdl 8.46 0.02 0.42 1.41 0.33 10.10 3.58 47.80 581.00 18.49 94.30 21.08 186.00 40.00 31 118.72 32.04 0.26
19 7.32 519.00 0.64 0.33 bdl 8.66 0.02 0.45 1.03 0.31 9.25 3.16 44.10 519.00 16.90 83.30 17.13 157.50 31.50 31 137.62 27.55 0.31
20 4.75 285.00 0.45 0.30 bdl 4.95 0.01 0.23 0.31 0.27 3.66 1.32 18.48 285.00 8.15 48.60 12.83 136.70 34.10 35 396.87 75.38 0.77
21 5.77 1,018.00 0.46 0.26 bdl 10.56 0.04 0.79 2.52 0.65 18.70 6.71 90.40 1,018.00 33.90 156.30 32.00 265.20 52.70 30 94.71 22.80 0.29
22 4.15 173.70 0.29 0.23 bdl 4.10 0.01 0.18 0.42 0.26 2.18 0.77 11.72 173.70 4.86 29.00 7.58 84.40 22.32 36 180.86 82.84 0.83
23 6.98 330.00 0.62 0.29 bdl 6.40 0.01 0.21 0.26 0.18 4.41 1.79 25.40 330.00 10.27 55.80 12.29 109.20 23.60 32 378.00 43.30 0.51
CG-S8
1 8.16 880.00 1.20 0.42 bdl 17.35 0.16 2.42 3.51 1.60 17.70 5.70 66.20 880.00 27.40 139.20 31.30 310.00 69.60 32 79.49 31.81 0.62
3 6.53 597.00 0.59 0.25 bdl 11.84 0.07 1.26 1.84 1.10 9.78 3.55 44.30 597.00 18.23 97.60 23.29 232.50 54.60 33 113.72 45.17 0.79
4 7.58 772.00 0.88 0.32 bdl 15.25 0.06 1.25 2.69 1.16 12.96 4.33 55.60 772.00 22.26 123.60 29.00 293.00 64.90 35 98.03 40.52 0.60
5 5.54 471.00 0.56 0.21 bdl 9.63 0.04 0.67 1.36 0.70 7.84 2.62 33.50 471.00 14.00 75.60 17.78 176.60 43.20 34 116.87 44.58 0.66
6 7.48 850.00 0.78 0.31 0.02 15.07 0.19 3.35 4.25 2.07 18.20 5.92 69.60 850.00 26.60 132.60 29.50 289.00 67.20 32 61.20 29.87 0.72 55.99
7 9.66 1,437.00 1.03 0.42 0.05 26.20 0.55 7.79 9.44 4.40 39.80 11.11 127.20 1,437.00 46.20 223.70 48.80 453.00 98.40 31 43.19 20.00 0.69 38.42
8 6.88 416.00 0.45 0.22 bdl 7.95 0.03 0.59 1.17 0.61 6.58 2.39 30.00 416.00 12.61 67.50 15.43 159.50 37.50 33 122.69 46.11 0.67

(Continues)
13
 (Continued)
14

TABLE 3

La/spot Ti Y Nb Ta La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Y Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y/Ho (Yb/Sm)CNa (Lu/Gd)CNa Eu/Eu*b Ce/Ce*c

9 11.08 1,123.00 1.96 0.67 0.08 24.17 0.15 1.88 2.79 1.52 17.60 6.16 84.00 1,123.00 34.10 178.70 41.20 401.00 89.50 33 129.35 41.14 0.66 52.10
10 3.50 370.00 0.88 0.45 bdl 4.14 0.01 0.09 0.44 0.18 5.39 2.16 30.70 370.00 12.56 62.10 13.39 126.80 26.36 29 259.36 39.57 0.36
11 4.78 373.00 0.80 0.37 bdl 7.78 0.01 0.24 0.62 0.25 4.74 2.01 26.70 373.00 11.42 63.10 14.95 144.20 33.80 33 209.32 57.69 0.45
13 7.82 674.00 1.15 0.45 bdl 14.47 0.05 0.75 1.50 0.83 9.43 3.67 49.10 674.00 20.17 107.70 25.20 252.00 57.20 33 151.20 49.08 0.67
14 7.50 1,177.00 0.89 0.36 0.04 20.40 0.45 5.94 7.17 3.32 31.20 9.21 107.50 1,177.00 38.30 187.60 39.10 382.00 82.30 31 47.95 21.34 0.68 37.67
15 4.82 841.00 1.45 0.72 bdl 11.40 0.03 0.74 1.85 0.50 10.87 4.00 57.50 841.00 25.14 141.00 35.10 349.00 83.80 33 169.78 62.37 0.34
17 5.36 535.00 0.66 0.21 0.11 10.04 0.18 1.71 2.10 1.15 10.60 3.52 44.00 535.00 16.90 85.70 18.94 187.20 41.20 32 80.23 31.45 0.75 17.27
18 7.25 449.00 0.41 0.24 bdl 8.98 0.05 0.70 1.30 0.68 7.95 2.63 32.70 449.00 13.32 73.70 17.25 179.50 41.40 34 124.27 42.13 0.65
19 4.89 604.00 1.08 0.57 bdl 10.41 0.03 0.55 1.32 0.43 8.78 3.20 43.80 604.00 18.16 98.40 23.85 241.00 54.70 33 164.32 50.40 0.39
20 5.38 623.00 0.88 0.27 bdl 13.05 0.05 0.99 1.69 0.86 10.64 3.46 47.00 623.00 18.77 103.90 24.43 251.00 57.90 33 133.67 44.03 0.62
CG-S12
1 5.01 1,060.00 0.69 0.24 0.00 6.67 0.11 1.96 4.25 1.27 24.90 7.62 94.60 1,060.00 35.06 172.90 33.80 300.40 61.70 30 63.61 20.05 0.38 223.58
2 4.63 404.00 0.70 0.32 bdl 5.10 0.01 0.21 0.88 0.22 6.39 2.16 32.10 404.00 13.10 67.40 14.34 135.10 29.80 31 138.17 37.73 0.28
4 6.23 463.00 0.66 0.34 bdl 5.28 0.01 0.29 0.68 0.22 6.56 2.58 35.70 463.00 14.84 79.10 16.73 160.20 34.60 31 212.03 42.67 0.32 1
5 6.09 379.00 0.71 0.30 bdl 5.44 bdl 0.27 0.71 0.19 5.35 2.31 30.80 379.00 12.30 64.10 13.71 129.70 27.71 31 164.41 41.90 0.30
6 6.73 438.00 0.71 0.35 bdl 6.22 0.01 0.37 0.68 0.26 7.07 2.48 34.80 438.00 14.44 73.10 16.07 150.10 31.80 30 198.66 36.39 0.37
7 5.65 404.00 0.72 0.31 bdl 5.38 0.00 0.16 0.53 0.21 6.16 2.30 32.40 404.00 13.33 69.10 15.19 143.00 31.26 30 242.83 41.06 0.35
8 4.78 401.00 0.54 0.26 bdl 4.44 0.01 0.13 0.61 0.29 5.68 2.31 31.10 401.00 13.15 69.30 15.92 144.90 31.90 30 213.79 45.44 0.47
9 5.36 337.00 0.45 0.24 bdl 4.01 0.00 0.16 0.42 0.18 4.94 1.82 27.00 337.00 11.21 58.20 12.77 121.60 25.77 30 260.57 42.21 0.38
10 5.31 401.00 0.63 0.29 bdl 4.97 0.01 0.19 0.63 0.25 5.57 2.11 30.40 401.00 13.03 68.50 14.84 140.10 30.63 31 200.14 44.49 0.40
11 4.82 252.20 0.52 0.23 bdl 3.82 0.00 0.07 0.38 0.07 3.12 1.30 19.90 252.20 8.64 42.20 9.49 88.90 19.64 29 210.55 50.93 0.19
12 4.11 859.00 1.59 0.72 0.02 7.62 0.06 0.67 2.07 0.51 14.56 5.17 70.50 859.00 29.00 145.20 31.10 281.00 59.30 30 122.17 32.95 0.29 61.39
13 5.81 400.00 0.72 0.36 bdl 5.71 0.01 0.17 0.68 0.18 6.12 2.45 32.70 400.00 13.49 70.20 14.82 140.90 28.80 30 186.49 38.07 0.27
14 5.85 408.00 0.53 0.24 bdl 4.35 0.02 0.24 0.58 0.19 5.71 2.26 31.90 408.00 13.31 67.10 15.08 141.80 30.70 31 220.03 43.50 0.32
15 6.19 1,577.00 0.80 0.32 0.02 8.22 0.26 0.93 6.94 2.89 36.70 11.44 145.10 1,577.00 53.40 257.00 52.90 498.00 102.20 30 64.58 22.53 0.55 25.37
16 4.79 1,081.00 2.65 0.87 bdl 7.92 0.03 0.20 2.31 0.52 18.90 6.67 94.70 1,081.00 38.20 190.00 39.50 359.00 76.40 28 139.87 32.70 0.24
17 5.39 337.00 0.59 0.27 bdl 4.94 0.00 0.82 0.55 0.22 4.86 1.97 27.10 337.00 11.08 58.50 12.62 124.10 27.21 30 203.07 45.30 0.40
18 5.95 722.00 0.44 0.19 bdl 5.70 0.02 1.88 2.27 0.86 15.31 4.97 68.20 722.00 24.29 117.30 23.93 220.20 44.50 30 87.30 23.52 0.45
19 5.97 1,329.00 1.46 0.48 0.02 8.03 0.09 2.84 4.01 1.15 26.20 9.61 124.40 1,329.00 48.10 223.00 46.40 410.00 80.40 28 92.02 24.83 0.34 46.35
GATSE

20 4.48 1,654.00 1.00 0.48 bdl 5.41 0.16 0.29 6.46 1.39 35.90 12.29 160.40 1,654.00 59.50 280.00 53.70 471.00 94.40 28 65.62 21.27 0.28
21 4.93 412.00 0.47 0.19 bdl 3.72 0.01 0.25 1.04 0.43 5.82 2.37 30.90 412.00 13.17 70.40 16.13 158.30 36.50 31 136.99 50.74 0.53
22 5.41 536.00 0.83 0.38 bdl 5.18 0.03 0.53 0.84 0.49 7.94 2.90 43.80 536.00 18.32 93.40 21.76 206.40 45.10 29 221.14 45.96 0.58
24 4.20 538.00 1.12 0.46 0.03 6.00 0.04 0.26 1.24 0.29 9.46 3.34 46.90 538.00 17.99 90.80 19.59 175.60 36.60 30 127.45 31.30 0.26 47.90
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE 15

concise U–Pb age dataset for the representative TTGs samples. When
Y/Ho (Yb/Sm)CNa (Lu/Gd)CNa Eu/Eu*b Ce/Ce*c combined with previously published zircon U–Pb age data, the zircons
from the TTG suite reveal one episodic magmatic age (2,889 ± 9.2 Ma
to 2,897 ± 5 Ma), indicating that the tonalite/granodiorite and tro-
0.38
0.45
0.25 ndhjemite of the IBC in the Souanké area formed in the Mesoarchean.
The trondhjemite is believed to have been emplaced at about the
same time as, or just slightly earlier than the tonalite/granodiorite.
38.55
39.43
36.62

These results are consistent with the work done on trondhjemites

and granodiorites from the Ntem Complex in the northwestern Congo
Craton, which have so far been dated by isotopic methods, and the
179.87
170.47
186.61

results support the one episodic magmatic period (i.e., 2,800–

2,900 Ma) for the northwestern Congo Craton.
The new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb data indicate that the zircons
29.02 29
26.90 30
27.84 30

from the trondhjemite sample (CG-S8), which show high CL reflec-

tance, sector- or oscillatory-zoned cores, and high Th/U ratios, are
Lu

concordant to nearly concordant, with some zircons having Pb loss

66.70 14.46 137.90
61.00 13.59 128.80
66.70 14.84 132.70

207
(Figure 5c). The weighted mean Pb/206Pb age 2,897 ± 5.0 Ma is
Yb

interpreted as the emplacement age of this sample from the IBC. This
emplacement age is older than the emplacement age of the Ntem
Tm

Complex trondhjemite (SIMS zircon U–Pb age = 2,868 ± 9 Ma, Li

Eu/Eu* = EuCN/SQRT(Sm  Gd)CN, where CN denotes the normalization to chondrite values after Sun and McDonough (1989).

et al., 2016).
Ce/Ce* = CeCN/SQRT(La  Pr)CN, where CN denotes the normalization to chondrite values after Sun and McDonough (1989).

For the tonalite/granodiorite samples (CG-S1 and CG-S12), the

Er
397.00 13.46
345.90 11.69
389.00 13.06

zircon U–Pb ages are also concordant to nearly concordant (Figure 5a,
Ho

207
b). Sample CG-S1 has a weighted mean Pb/206Pb age of 2,895
207
± 9.4 Ma and higher than the weighted mean Pb/206Pb age of
2,889 ± 9.2 Ma of the sample CG-S12. These ages give the best esti-
Y

mate for the emplacement time of the tonalite/granodiorite in the

32.00
27.80
31.50

IBC, which is older than the emplacement zircon Pb–Pb age of

Dy

2,834 Ma for granodiorite from the Ntem Complex (Shang, Siebel,

Note: bdl: below the detection limit. Tonalite/granodiorite: CG-S1, CG-S12; Trondhjemite: CGS-8.
2.26
2.11
2.34

et al., 2004).
Tb

Subscript CN means normalization to chondrite values after Sun and McDonough (1989).

Thus, the LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age results indicate that the
6.09
5.52
6.15

IBC tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite were formed coevally in

Gd

the Mesoarchean at 2897–2889 Ma. Furthermore, it shows that

0.24 0.69 0.25
0.01 0.07 0.68 0.29
0.00 1.96 0.64 0.16
Eu

between the IBC of the Republic of Congo and the Ntem Complex of
Cameroon, the crustal growth formation and stabilization in the north-
Sm

ern part of the Congo craton were initiated at the IBC.

Nd
5.43 bdl
Pr

6.2 | Petrogenetic constraints and tectono-

5.08
5.33

magmatic characteristics of the IBC granitoids

Ce

6.2.1 | General
397.00 0.66 0.34 bdl
345.90 0.45 0.23 bdl
389.00 0.72 0.30 bdl
La
Ta

The range of TTG compositions observed in nature is controlled by

the bulk chemistry of the protolith and the P–T conditions of melt
Nb

equilibration during partial melting (Moyen, 2011). During melt loss,

(Continued)

the initial trace-element concentrations, which are related to host

minerals in the source rocks, influence the enrichment and depletion
Y

of elements such as REE, Sr, Y, Nb, and Ta in resulting melt fractions

6.17
5.70
5.55

(Hernández-Montenegro, Palin, Zuluaga, & Hernández-Uribe, 2021;

La/spot Ti
TABLE 3

Moyen, 2011; Moyen & Stevens, 2006). Moreover, variable fluid

availability at distinct crustal depths can generate melts with similar
25
26
27

trace-element patterns to average TTG compositions. Hence, these

b
a

c
16  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE

T A B L E 4 Major (wt%) and trace element (ppm) data for charnockite and trondhjemite and tonalite/granodiorite (TTG) of the Ivindo Basement
Complex in Souanké district

Trondhjemite Charnockite Tonalite/granodiorite

Lithology
Rock code CG-S8-1 CG-S8-2 CG-S8-3 CG-S10-1 CG-S10-2 CG-S11 CG-S12-1 CG-S12-2 CG-S1
SiO2 73.05 74.08 74.53 71.03 70.91 71.88 60.55 60.35 58.27
TiO2 0.02 <0.01 <0.01 0.14 0.14 0.18 0.83 0.79 0.82
TFe2O3 1.63 1.50 1.33 1.56 1.57 1.87 7.72 7.73 8.09
Al2O3 15.67 14.90 15.02 16.35 16.19 15.54 16.40 16.47 17.39
MnO 0.21 0.43 0.20 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.12 0.12 0.12
MgO 0.19 0.10 0.11 0.51 0.52 0.65 2.61 2.62 3.04
CaO 1.12 1.18 1.13 2.36 2.33 2.47 5.92 5.94 6.49
Na2O 5.65 6.43 6.26 4.92 4.93 4.72 3.48 3.48 3.94
K2O 1.33 0.55 0.81 2.39 2.36 2.14 1.03 1.05 1.07
P 2O 5 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.25 0.25 0.28
LOI 1000 0.92 0.50 0.81 0.67 0.68 0.56 0.90 0.84 0.74
Total 99.79 99.67 100.20 100.01 99.71 100.11 99.81 99.64 100.25
Mg# 31.80 21.05 24.86 56.67 56.99 58.17 57.49 57.55 60.05
Sc 2.6 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.2 20.8 21.6 19.3
Be 3.73 3.94 3.52 2.19 2.11 1.88 0.69 0.69 0.74
V 13 5 6 16 16 25 130 125 160
Ba 129.5 70.3 70.5 969 947 838 303 301 402
Sr 69.2 70.1 58.7 567 550 553 285 284 280
Y 16.7 23.3 13.6 5.4 5.5 5.3 21.0 21.4 18.8
Zr 37.0 74.0 20.0 67.0 70.0 75.0 357 350 245
Cr 18 20 27 23 22 25 22 22 26
Co 0.5 0.4 2.6 2.6 2.5 3.3 17.4 17.1 21.1
Ni 1.0 0.9 0.9 4.6 4.4 5.3 21.3 21.5 28.5
Cu 1.8 41.5 19.5 6.0 6.8 7.2 71.3 57.7 44.9
Zn 10 7 59 27 26 42 83 82 91
Ga 28.5 21.9 21.3 17.10 16.90 17.10 16.10 16.10 16.70
Ge <0.05 0.06 0.06 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.09
As 3.2 2.8 3.3 2.8 3.1 2.9 2.7 3.4 2.8
Rb 116.0 46.3 81.7 67.3 64.8 72.8 29.2 30.4 33.4
Nb 39.6 21.0 29.9 3.2 3.1 4.4 7.6 7.6 8.3
Mo 0.89 1.10 6.21 0.89 0.84 0.99 0.94 0.96 1.07
Ag <0.01 0.03 0.26 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.05
In 0.017 0.007 0.010 0.012 0.010 0.016 0.052 0.057 0.056
Sn 2.0 1.1 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.2 1.1
Sb 0.10 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.09 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.09
Cs 1.36 0.81 1.62 1.97 1.76 3.16 0.92 0.82 1.61
La 3.2 5.3 3.6 15.0 14.0 17.3 20.1 19.8 20.9
Ce 7.3 10.4 7.8 27.0 25.2 32.0 46.2 47.6 47.4
Pr 0.85 1.21 1.04 3.10 2.82 3.43 5.66 5.77 5.82
Nd 3.3 4.8 4.8 10.9 10.4 12.8 22.4 21.9 22.5
Sm 1.28 2.10 1.95 1.75 1.81 2.07 4.77 4.61 4.10
Eu 0.07 0.15 0.07 0.51 0.55 0.57 1.58 1.62 1.59
Gd 1.89 3.20 2.17 1.32 1.30 1.40 4.27 4.33 4.05
Tb 0.41 0.60 0.42 0.20 0.21 0.17 0.70 0.66 0.61
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE 17

TABLE 4 (Continued)

Trondhjemite Charnockite Tonalite/granodiorite

Lithology
Rock code CG-S8-1 CG-S8-2 CG-S8-3 CG-S10-1 CG-S10-2 CG-S11 CG-S12-1 CG-S12-2 CG-S1
Dy 2.50 3.35 2.26 1.05 0.96 0.92 3.84 3.69 3.54
Ho 0.53 0.65 0.41 0.21 0.20 0.19 0.85 0.78 0.75
Er 1.48 1.78 1.10 0.59 0.58 0.53 2.43 2.39 2.10
Tm 0.23 0.30 0.19 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.34 0.36 0.32
Yb 1.57 2.18 1.35 0.55 0.58 0.54 2.17 2.21 2.02
Lu 0.24 0.36 0.20 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.35 0.34 0.33
Hf 3.0 8.8 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.3 7.6 7.6 5.5
Ta 10.35 5.50 6.50 0.41 0.39 0.46 0.48 0.45 0.44
W 0.9 0.4 0.4 <0.1 0.1 <0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Tl 0.22 0.11 0.27 0.22 0.20 0.25 0.10 0.11 0.11
Pb 11.3 11.1 373 14.2 20.6 12.7 3.8 3.5 3.6
Bi 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.06 0.08
Th 1.45 1.96 1.86 4.18 4.11 5.00 2.84 2.76 2.44
U 10.15 12.30 10.85 2.20 2.64 2.85 0.68 0.68 0.64
A/CNK 2.24 2.13 2.12 2.24 2.22 2.27 3.64 3.64 3.47
Na2O/K2O 4.24 11.69 7.73 2.06 2.09 2.21 3.38 3.31 3.68
(Eu/Eu*)CN 0.14 0.18 0.10 1.03 1.10 1.02 1.07 1.11 1.19
(La/Yb)CN 1.46 1.74 1.91 19.56 17.31 22.98 6.64 6.43 7.42
Sr/Y 4.14 3.01 4.32 105.00 100.00 104.34 13.57 13.27 14.89
Dy/Yb 1.59 1.54 1.67 1.91 1.66 1.70 1.77 1.67 1.75
Rb/Sr 1.68 0.66 1.39 0.12 0.12 0.13 0.10 0.11 0.12
Gd/Yb 1.20 1.47 1.61 2.40 2.24 2.59 1.97 1.96 2.00

Gardiner, Kirkland, & Smithies, 2017). However, conclusions of Johnson

F I G U R E 7 Ternary diagram K2O-Na2O-CaO displaying tonalite-
trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) and granites field (after Barker &
Arth, 1976) and showing the TTG trend (after Rajesh, Belyanin, & Van
Reenen, 2018) [Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
processes of element enrichment and depletion are unlikely to be
unique to any particular geodynamic setting (Johnson, Brown,
et al. (2019) regarding the link between secular change in TTG composi-
tions and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth showed that Archean
TTGs are unlikely to form by processes akin to modern-style subduction
zones (cf. Defant & Drummond, 1990) due to the hot conditions
postulated for the early geologic history of the Earth's crust (e.g., Bédard,
2006, 2018; Johnson et al., 2017; Pourteau et al., 2020). Rather, non-
subduction regime such as mantle plumes, upwellings, and delamination
resulting in the partial melting of a thick hydrated mafic crust is
considered to be more favourable (Bédard, 2006, 2018; Johnson et al.,
2017; Nagel et al., 2012).
The petrogenetic deductions made for the IBC evolution is there-
fore largely based on the age data and geochemical constraints
acquired from our study that suggest that these granitoids are
Archean and peraluminous (Figure 8d), respectively. The peraluminous
character and high Mg# of most TTGs are often controlled by break-
down (or dehydration) of hornblende, muscovite, and epidote due to
high-pressure melting of source rocks, resulting in melts with high Nb
and Ta (Pourteau et al., 2020). The zircon Hf systematics from our
present study suggest that the IBC rocks did not originate from a
juvenile source but were derived from an older crust with no signifi-
cant mantle involvement. This means that assimilation of crustal com-
ponents during partial melting largely contributed to the peraluminous
character. Alternatively, if enough water is present prior to partial
18  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
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F I G U R E 8 Major-element-based discrimination diagrams for Archean charnockite, tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite of the Ivindo
Basement Complex (IBC; this study). (a) SiO2 versus K2O discrimination diagram. Field boundaries are after Gill (1981) shows low to medium-K
charnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and trondhjemite composition. (b) Na2O/K2O versus SiO2 diagram, tonalite/granodiorite, trondhjemite, and
charnockite plot in the Na-granitoids field. (c) SiO2 versus Na2O + K2O - CaO. Modified alkali-lime index (MALI). Field boundaries are from Frost
et al. (2001). (d) Al/(Ca + Na + K) versus Al/(Na + K) diagram (Maniar & Piccoli, 1989) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

melting, then hornblende dehydration/melting would be inhibited,
and this will result in low Ta and Nb in the final melt (Pourteau et al.,
2020). In this scenario, partial melting of hydrated mafic rocks that
generate melts with high LILEs, low HFSEs, and high Mg#, would be
the dominant process rather than from modern-style subducted-slab
dehydration. The available water content could have been contained
in the hydrated (mafic) rocks prior to partial melting or entrained into
the partial melting zone during subduction of oceanic crust.
6.2.2 | Implications for the IBC granitoids
For the charnockite samples, the trace element patterns
(e.g., enriched LREE and LILE, depleted HREE and HFSE, respectively;
Figure 9b), and the high Mg# (56.67–58.17 ppm) but low Ni (4.4–5.3
ppm) and low Cr (22–25 ppm) contents imply that the charnockitic
magma was derived from or interacted with hydrated mafic materials
such as oceanic basalt and not mantle peridotite (very high in Ni and
Cr; e.g., Rapp, Shimizu, Norman, & Applegate, 1999; Yogodzinski, Kay,
Volynets, Koloskov, & Kay, 1995). These chemical characteristics of
the IBC charnockite are similar to the Ntem granitoids (Takam et al.,
2009), Archean TTGs from Istaq complexes (Hoffmann et al., 2014;
Figure 9a,b), and average Archean TTGs worldwide (Moyen & Martin,
2012; Yang et al., 2021; Figure 10a). The slightly positive Eu anoma-
lies (1.02–1.10), depleted HREE and HFSE, enriched Sr concentra-
tions, and high Sr/Y ratios indicate high-pressure melting that resulted
in removal and subsequent depletion of residual plagioclase. This
means that the resulting melt, which eventually formed charnockite,
contained a substantial proportion of fractionated plagioclase that
would sequester Eu and Sr during magma ascent and cooling. The high
Sr/Y (Figure 12a,b) suggests that the high-pressure melting remained
within the garnet stability field (e.g., Condie, 2005; Defant &
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
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F I G U R E 9 REE and trace-element concentrations for charnockite and TTG normalized to chondrite and N-MORB (Sun & McDonough, 1989)
and compared to compiled literature data of Takam, Arima, Kokonyangi, and Nsifa (2009) (for granitoids from the Ntem Complex) and Hoffmann,
Nagel, Münker, Næraa, and Rosing (2014) (for non-gneissic TTGs from the Itsaq Gneiss Complex). REE, rare-earth element; TTG, tonalite-
trondhjemite-granodiorite [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
20
F I G U R E 1 0 Primitive mantle-normalized spider-type plots for the Ivindo Basement Complex (IBC) tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG)
and charnockite in Souanké district, compared to the average Archaean TTG ‘pressure’ signatures (Moyen & Martin, 2012) [Colour figure can be
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Drummond, 1990; Martin et al., 2005). The inferred high pressure is
also defined by the high Mg# and low Ta (e.g., Kendrick &
Yakymchuk, 2020). The low Ta and Nb but high Sr imply appreciable
amount of water to be present (Pourteau et al., 2020) during high-
pressure partial melting, which did not affect the removal of residual
plagioclase but rather inhibited the dehydration/melting of amphibole
(which sequesters Ta and Nb).
Therefore, the parent magma for the charnockite was likely
derived from relatively high-pressure partial melting of a subducted
hydrated oceanic/mafic crust (Jayananda, Chardon, Peucat, &
Capdevila, 2006; Moyen, 2011; Moyen, Martin, Jayananda, & Auvray,
2003), or it was the product of the high-pressure partial melting of
lower hydrated mafic crustal materials by plume-like activity.
When compared with average Archean TTGs and the IBC cha-
rnockite, the tonalite/granodiorite exhibited similar elemental distribu-
tion patterns (Figures 9a,b and 10a) such as high Mg#, low Ta, low Nb,
slightly positive Eu anomaly but moderate Sr/Y values (Figure 12a,b).
Given that the tonalite/granodiorite rocks are likely to be younger
than the charnockite, these geochemical characteristics indicate that
(a) the geological processes that formed the charnockite and tonalite/
granodiorite suite are similar and/or (b) the tonalite/granodiorite suite
was progressively derived from melts with similar characteristics
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
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(Figures 9c,d and 10a,b) as those for the charnockite. In both scenar-
ios, partial melting of a hydrated mafic crust is envisaged. However, it
should be noted that for the tonalite/granodiorite, the Y values
increase slightly, thereby reducing the Sr/Y ratio. This probably indi-
cates high-pressure conditions that might have initiated fractionation
of minute amounts of garnet into the melt that formed tonalite/grano-
diorite rocks.
On the other hand, the trondhjemite samples showed high U, Nb,
and Ta concentrations (Figure 9e,f) when compared to the cha-
rnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and average Archean TTGs (Figure
10c). In addition, the trondhjemite samples exhibited negative Eu
anomalies, depleted HREE relative to LREE, low Mg#, and very low
Sr/Y ratios (Figure 12a,b), Sr, and Y. These features are consistent
with partial melting of lower crust under low-pressure conditions in
which plagioclase and garnet are stable, although the high Ta in the
trondhjemite is difficult to explain. It is well known that high-pressure
partial melting in the presence of residual hornblende and/or rutile
yields low Ta (e.g., Ionov & Hofmann, 1995; Moyen, 2011; Pourteau
et al., 2020). Conversely, hornblende dehydration under low-pressure
partial melting conditions is hypothesized to yield the high Ta values
in the trondhjemite. These different pressures may reflect different
depths of partial melting.
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
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TABLE 5 Lu–Hf isotope analysis results of zircons from trondhjemite and tonalite/granodiorite of the Ivindo Basement Complex in Souanké
district

Sample Age (Ma) 176

Yb/177Hf 176
Lu/177Hf 176
Hf/177Hf 2σ εHf(0) εHf(t) 2σ tDM1(Ma) tDM2(Ma) fLu/Hf
CG-S1
1 2,895 0.03344837 0.00108339 0.281037 0.000017 61.351609 1.74 0.61 3,086 3,199 0.97
2 2,895 0.03042424 0.00082664 0.281034 0.000017 61.468953 2.13 0.61 3,070 3,175 0.98
3 2,895 0.03905853 0.00106109 0.281115 0.000020 58.596335 4.55 0.71 2,978 3,028 0.97
4 2,895 0.01085893 0.00035632 0.281030 0.000016 61.591268 2.93 0.57 3,037 3,126 0.99
5 2,895 0.02347482 0.00065194 0.281063 0.000018 60.447243 3.50 0.65 3,017 3,092 0.98
6 2,895 0.02365647 0.00073145 0.281003 0.000015 62.555298 1.22 0.53 3,103 3,230 0.98
7 2,895 0.01696693 0.00049083 0.281054 0.000017 60.760049 3.50 0.61 3,016 3,092 0.99
8 2,895 0.01522776 0.00044987 0.281043 0.000020 61.137796 3.21 0.73 3,027 3,110 0.99
10 2,895 0.01600385 0.00050369 0.280992 0.000016 62.930778 1.29 0.58 3,099 3,226 0.98
11 2,895 0.01677078 0.00049782 0.281060 0.000016 60.529491 3.72 0.58 3,008 3,078 0.99
12 2,895 0.02692864 0.00076974 0.281030 0.000018 61.606712 2.10 0.63 3,070 3,177 0.98
13 2,895 0.01615709 0.00044827 0.281051 0.000018 60.874391 3.47 0.63 3,017 3,093 0.99
14 2,895 0.01100631 0.00045212 0.281010 0.000017 62.304225 2.03 0.61 3,072 3,181 0.99
15 2,895 0.00749694 0.00030122 0.281026 0.000015 61.755758 2.88 0.52 3,039 3,130 0.99
CG-S12
1 2,889 0.03557853 0.00098059 0.281068 0.000021 60.259789 2.90 0.73 3,036 3,123 0.97
2 2,889 0.02747584 0.00076782 0.281051 0.000017 60.856027 2.72 0.61 3,042 3,134 0.98
4 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
5 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
6 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
7 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
8 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
9 2,889 0.01848328 0.00052154 0.281043 0.000015 61.132251 2.93 0.53 3,033 3,122 0.98
10 2,889 0.01380753 0.00046789 0.281058 0.000012 60.616215 3.56 0.44 3,009 3,084 0.99
11 2,889 0.02551198 0.0007799 0.281046 0.000019 61.046114 2.51 0.68 3,050 3,147 0.98
12 2,889 0.02160954 0.00061072 0.281066 0.000017 60.342809 3.55 0.59 3,010 3,084 0.98
13 2,889 0.03104872 0.0008994 0.281026 0.000016 61.748528 1.57 0.57 3,086 3,205 0.97
14 2,889 0.01471627 0.00045307 0.281071 0.000016 60.163641 4.04 0.58 2,991 3,054 0.99
16 2,889 0.01377897 0.00044451 0.281039 0.000014 61.294731 2.92 0.52 3,033 3,122 0.99
17 2,889 0.01687862 0.00050596 0.281040 0.000015 61.241364 2.85 0.55 3,036 3,127 0.98
CG-S8
1 2,897 0.02550037 0.00084858 0.281075 0.000019 60.017655 3.59 0.66 3,016 3,088 0.97
3 2,897 0.05515954 0.00176325 0.281145 0.000019 57.535715 4.28 0.67 2,992 3,046 0.95
7 2,897 0.0603565 0.00177742 0.281123 0.000021 58.332191 3.45 0.75 3,024 3,097 0.95
10 2,897 0.032313 0.00108342 0.281173 0.000018 60.081629 3.06 0.63 3,037 3,120 0.97
11 2,897 0.01934502 0.00071941 0.281024 0.000016 61.813462 2.04 0.58 3,074 3,182 0.98
13 2,897 0.0192965 0.00065347 0.281043 0.000014 61.146590 2.84 0.51 3,044 3,134 0.98
14 2,897 0.02453439 0.00076321 0.281067 0.000017 60.310835 3.46 0.62 3,020 3,096 0.98
20 2,897 0.03190587 0.00102606 0.281075 0.000018 60.021203 3.24 0.65 3,030 3,110 0.97

Note: λLu–Hf = 1.86  1011 year1; εHf(T) = [(176Hf/177Hf)TSample /(176Hf/177Hf)TCHUR  1]  104; εHf(0) = {[((176Hf/177Hf)0Sample  (176Lu/177Hf)0Sample 
(eλT  1))/((176Hf/177Hf)0CHUR  (176Lu/177Hf)0CHUR  (eλT  1))]  1}  104. TDM1 = 1/λ  ln {1+ [((176Hf/177Hf)0Sample  (176Hf/177Hf)0DM)/
((176Lu/177Hf)0Sample  (176Lu/177Hf)0DM)]}. TDM2 = TDM  (TDM  t)  [(ƒCC  ƒS)/(ƒCC – ƒDM)]. ƒLu/Hf = [(176Lu/177Hf)Source/(176Lu/177Hf)CHUR,0]  1.
(176Lu/177Hf)CHUR,0 = 0.0332 ± 2; (176Hf/177Hf)CHUR,0 = 0.282772 ± 29; (176Lu/177Hf)DM = 0.0384; (176Hf/177Hf)DM = 0.28325; (176Lu/177Hf) mean crust =
0.015; ƒCC = (0.015/0.0332)  1 = 0.5482; ƒDM = (0.0384/0.0332)  1 = 0.1566.
The bold values in Table 5 corresponds to chondritic εHft values for the column εHft and the “crustal” model ages for the column TDM1.
22
F I G U R E 1 1 Diagram of εHf(t) value against crystallization age of
the tonalite/granodiorites and trondhjemites from the Ivindo
Basement Complex (IBC); charnockite, trondhjemite, and amphibolite
of Ntem Complex (Li et al., 2016); and trondhjemitic gneisses from
Baç~ao Complex (Southern S~ao Francisco Craton, Albert et al., 2016).
The bulk crust 176Lu/177Hf ratio of 0.015 and the mafic lower crust
176
Lu/177Hf ratio of 0.022 are from Griffin et al. (2000) [Colour figure
can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
The setting during magma emplacement is likely to have been
syn- to post-collisional (Figure 12c,d), in which a thickened hydrated
crust was partially melted under different pressure conditions to yield
felsic granitoids with at least two different trace element enrichment
for Ta, Nb, and U within the IBC area of the Congo Craton. Based on
the closeness of the zircon U–Pb ages for tonalite/granodiorite and
trondhjemite, we suggest that the crustal growth of the Congo Craton
around 2,900–2,800 Ma was as a result of the amalgamation of con-
temporaneous magmas under at least two different pressure (and pos-
sibly, depth) conditions in the late Mesoarchean.
6.3 | Crustal evolution in the northwestern part of
the Congo Craton: insights from zircon Hf isotopes
Zircon Hf isotope compositions have been used as a powerful geo-
chemical tracer for crustal growth because their zircons host preserve
initial ratios of the host magma. The zircon Hf ‘crustal’ model ages
(TDM2) can consequently provide a reasonable estimate of the time
that the host magmas were derived from the presumed depleted-
mantle source (Griffin et al., 2002). Thus, granitoids that formed by
partial melting of older crustal rocks would present zircon Hf ‘crustal’
model ages, which are much older than their crystallization ages (Chiu
et al., 2009). However, granites from a juvenile mantle source would
have ‘young’ model ages that are slightly older than or close to their
crystallization ages (e.g., Chiu et al., 2009).
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
Zircon grains from the tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite
samples display apparently older TDM2 (crustal model age) ages from
3,028 to 3,230 Ma (Table 5), suggesting that an older source region
was involved in the magma genesis of these granitoids. In addition,
when a zircon records juvenile crust growth, its analytic value in the
207
Pb/206Pb versus εHf(t) plot should be located above the yellow
line (Figure 11; Diwu, Sun, Lin, & Wang, 2010), which results from
the calculation of the 3,200–2,200 Ma depleted mantle εHf(t) values,
and then multiplied by 0.75, which is used to separate only the zir-
con with the highest positive εHf(t) values, nearest to the Hf isotope
ratios of the coeval depleted mantle (Zheng et al., 2006; Zheng et al.,
2007). Thus, based on Figure 11, it appears that all the analysed zir-
cons from the tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite yielded posi-
tive εHf(t) values, but which are below the 0.75* εHf yellow line. This
implies that the IBC rocks did not originate from a juvenile source
but were derived from an older crust with no significant mantle
involvement.
The zircon εHf(t) values lie between the chondrite and 0.75 times
depleted mantle lines and show considerable variations in their posi-
tive εHf(t) values. This may reflect insufficient mixing in the melting
processes or heterogeneous contamination during magma emplace-
ment (Diwu et al., 2010). In addition, as Th is more incompatible than
La (Pirajno, Mao, Zhang, Zhang, & Chai, 2008), the average Th/La of
the crust (
0.3; Frost et al., 2001) is higher than the mantle (
0.12;
Sun & Mcdonough, 1989). The IBC trondhjemite and tonalite/granodi-
orite contain Th/La ratios of 0.37–0.52 and 0.12–0.14, indicative of a
crustal origin. It is known that the period of ca. 2,900 Ma is character-
ized by extensive occurrences of high-temperature magmatism that
are possibly related to mantle upwelling or plumes and slab delamina-
tion in several continents (Ernst & Buchan, 2001) and, which yielded
TTG formation worldwide (e.g., in the Congo Craton, Li et al., 2016;
this study; the Baç~
ao complex in the S~ao Francisco Craton, Albert
et al., 2016; Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons, Czarnota et al., 2010; Ivanic
et al., 2012). Given that the Mesoarchean IBC TTGs show positive zir-
con εHf(t) values (1.22–4.55) and Th/La > 0.12, their crustal origin
could be related to heat provided by contemporaneous mantle
upwelling/plume activity, which triggered partial melting of old basal-
tic protoliths beneath the northwestern Congo (e.g., Li et al., 2016),
rather than by subduction of relatively hot oceanic slab as previously
thought (Pouclet et al., 2007; Shang, Satir, et al., 2004).
Based on the previously discussed results, a provisional tectonic
model (Figure 13) is proposed to evaluate the formation of the cha-
rnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and trondhjemite in the IBC, in relation
to the Mesoarchean crustal crust evolution in the northwestern part
of the Congo Craton:
1. The age of the charnockites could not be determined from our
study for the IBC due to poor quality of the zircons. However, the
formation of its equivalent in the Ntem Complex of Cameroon
(
2,920 Ma; Li et al., 2016) has been suggested by Shang, Satir,
et al. (2004) to have formed from slab-derived magmas during the
subduction of an ancient Paleoarchean basaltic crust (amphibolite).
However, we opine that based on the age and elemental
  EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE 23

F I G U R E 1 2 (a) (Yb)CN versus (La/Yb)CN and (b) Y versus Sr/Y plots for the charnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and trondhjemite. Fields of
high-Al tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG), adakite, and common island arc magmatic rocks are from Defant and Drummond (1990) and
Martin et al. (2005). (c) Rb versus Y + Nb and (d) Nb versus Y, tectonic discrimination diagrams for charnockite, tonalite/granodiorite, and
trondhjemite, with field boundaries from Pearce, Harris, and Tindle (1984), on which the post-collision granite field of Pearce (1996) is
superimposed. Fields names: syn-COLG (syn-collision granite), VAG (volcanic arc granite), and WPG (within-plate granite fields) are from
Christiansen and Keith (1996) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

geochemistry, the IBC charnockite was rather the product of the
high-pressure partial melting of lower hydrated mafic crustal mate-
rials by mantle upwelling or plume-like activity, similar to the
model described by Li et al. (2016) for the Ntem Complex. On the
basis of similar petrologic characteristics as the Ntem Complex
charnockites, the protolith of the IBC charnockite is considered in
our study to represent the early and initial crustal growth for the
IBC section of the Congo craton, presumably around 2,920 Ma.
2. Therefore, it follows that the IBC charnockites and the IBC TTGs
were emplaced about 60 Ma apart. Hence, during the 2,900–
2,800 Ma period, continuous partial melting of a thick hydrated
mafic (oceanic) crust by heat from plume-like or mantle upwelling
activities might have dominated the process that generated the
different magmas to produce the IBC tonalite/granodiorite and
trondhjemite rocks. The tonalite/granodiorite and trondhjemite
represented the later and large crustal growth event during the
late Mesoarchean in the northwest of Congo Craton.
7 | CONC LU SIONS
1. Zircon U–Pb geochronology of trondhjemite from the Souanké
207
area of the IBC yielded a weighted mean Pb/206Pb ages of
2,897 ± 5.0 Ma, while the tonalite/granodiorite samples yielded
207
the weighted mean Pb/206Pb ages of 2,895 ± 9.4 and 2,889
± 9.2 Ma, corresponded to the emplacement ages of these rocks
and subsequent thermal events.
2. The IBC rocks share similarities in the geochemical characteristics
with Archean TTGs except for the high Ta, Nb, and U concentra-
tions in trondhjemite. These enrichments likely reflect different
pressure (and depth?) conditions for the generation of the IBC
rocks.
3. Elemental (major and trace) geochemical data and Zircon Hf isoto-
pic systematics indicate that the IBC rocks were generated by par-
tial melting of a (thick) hydrated oceanic crust.
4. The setting was likely syn-to-post-collisional.
24
5. Protolith of the charnockite represents the early and initial crustal
growth at 2920 Ma, and the TTG suite represents the later and
major crustal growth at 2,897–2,889 Ma.
6. This study shows that the 2,900–2,800 Ma tectonothermal event
in the IBC represents an important period of crustal growth in the
northwestern part of the Congo Craton. This period of TTG gener-
ation was similar for the Western equivalent of the IBC at south-
ern Cameroon: the Ntem Complex, and in other cratons such as
the S~ao Francisco Craton, Brazil, and the Yilgarn and Pilbara cra-
tons of Australia; Albert et al., 2016; Czarnota et al., 2010; Ivanic
et al., 2012).
ACKNOWLEDGEMEN TS
This paper is part of the PhD research work of the first author,
who was sponsored by the Chancellor Scholarship at University of
Science and Technology Beijing (No. b20160568) and by the Sci-
ence and Technology Administration of the People's Republic of
China (State Key Research Plan), grant number 2017YFC0601302.
The authors thank Prof. ZhiMing Yang and Mr Chao Yu, Institute
of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, for
their assistance in the LA-ICP-MS zircon dating. Mr. Silver
Issambo Dom of Ministry of Mines and Geology of the Republic
of Congo is also appreciated for his help during field work. The
three anonymous reviewers are sincerely thanked for their inspir-
ing suggestions that helped to improve the initial version of the
manuscript.
CONF LICT OF IN TE RE ST
The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.
 EBOTEHOUNA ET AL.
GATSE
F I G U R E 1 3 Schematic tectonic model
explaining the emplacement of charnockite
and tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG)
in the Ivindo Basement Complex (IBC). In a
post-collisional setting, partial melting of a
hydrated mafic (oceanic) crust induced by
heat from plume-like activity results in
generation and emplacement of the IBC
granitoides at ca. 2,900–2,800 Ma [Colour
figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
PE ER RE VIEW
The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.
com/publon/10.1002/gj.4219.
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