Archean ultrahigh temperature event in the northwestern Superior Province, Canada: Metamorphic evolution and tectonic implications of the Pikwitonei Granulite Domain

The Pikwitonei Granulite Domain (PGD), located in the northwestern Superior Province, is one of the largest Neoarchean high-grade metamorphic domains in the world, and is a key to understanding the Neoarchean crustal evolution of the Superior Province. Here we report results of a study on ultrahigh temperature (UHT) granulites with a sapphirine + quartz-bearing peak assemblage from the Sipiwesk Lake area in the PGD. Three stages of metamorphic assemblage development are recognized based on petrographic observations: Pre-peak stage is marked by garnet, sillimanite, K-feldspar, and biotite inclusions within sapphirine and orthopyroxene. Peak stage is charactered by the typical UHT associations of sapphirine + quartz and sapphirine + orthopyroxene. The retrograde stage is represented by the retrograde formation of cordierite, biotite and sillimanite in the matrix. Phase equilibrium modelling based on the bulk compositions of sapphirine-bearing granulites suggest that the rocks have experienced extensional UHT metamorphism in excess of 1035°C at pressures of 7.9–9.0 kbar, followed by isobaric cooling process. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of metamorphic zircons in sapphirine-bearing granulite record the timing of the UHT event in the PGD with a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2681 ± 13 Ma. This study in combination with other metamorphic P–T paths and age information reveals that this UHT metamorphism at 2.68 Ga in PGD was generated by upwelling asthenosphere due to slab break-off in collision during the amalgamation of the Superior Province.