U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic composition of detrital zircon in western Algarve Triassic sandstone (SW Iberia): Implications for crustal evolution, provenance, and paleogeography

Abstract

The Triassic paleogeographic configuration before the Central Atlantic Ocean's opening and the Pangea's breakup establishes that Iberia was close to North America and North Africa. We present UPb and Hf isotope data of Triassic siliciclastic rocks of the Western Algarve basin (Southwest Iberia, Portugal) to draw inferences on their provenance to define the crustal evolution of the potential sources. Detrital zircon age populations of five samples of Triassic sandstones (68–80 % Neoproterozoic; 5–23 % Paleoproterozoic; 5–14 % Mesoproterozoic; <5 % Archaen and < 4 % Paleozoic) differ significantly from those of the underlying Carboniferous turbidites of the South Portuguese Zone suggesting provenance from outside present-day SW Iberia. Hf isotope signatures of the zircon grains from the western Algarve Triassic sandstones unravel a complex crustal evolution characterized by successive cycles of input of juvenile magmas and magmas derived from the reworking of older crust. Archean detrital zircon grains with positive εHf(t) values and model ages of 3.1–3 Ga indicate juvenile crust formation (Leonian event), while a grain dated at ca. 2.6 Ga showing negative εHf(t) values and model ages of 3.1 Ga suggests that the Archean crust became reworked later (Liberian event). Zircon grains dated between 2.4 and 2.5 Ga having positive to slightly negative εHf(t) values and model ages of 3.3–2.6 Ga model ages correspond to magmatism older than the Eburnean event known in the Reguibat shield, involving a juvenile component mixed with variable proportions of reworked Archean crust. Younger Paleoproterozoic grains (ca. 2.10 to 2.05 Ga; Eburnean-Birimian event) having positive εHf(t) values and model ages of 2.3–2.1 Ga and negative εHf(t) values and model ages of 3.6–2.6 Ga, also indicate interaction of juvenile sources with mixing of old crust. Mesoproterozoic grains show positive εHf(t) values and model ages of 2.3–2.1 Ga, suggesting juvenile crust formation and reworking of the Eburnean crust. Neoproterozoic (ca. 695–555 Ma) detrital zircon with positive εHf(t) values and model ages of 0.76–0.58 Ga point to juvenile crust formation (i.e. Cadomian/Pan-African and Avalonian arcs). They also have negative εHf(t) values in the range − 21.6 to −11.7 and model ages of 3.2–2.1 Ga, suggesting reworking of older crust. In summary, the εHf(t) values and UPb age pattern of the zircon grains from the Triassic siliciclastic rocks are similar to NW Africa and North America potential sources. Still, there is a notable gap in juvenile crust production during the Siderian in the peri-Eastern Laurentia, Avalonia, and Ganderia potential sources unknown in NW Africa. The lack of ca. 525–380 Ma and ca. 380–330 Ma detrital zircon in the western Algarve Triassic sandstones makes it challenging to admit an Atlantic margin of North America and SW Iberia provenance.