Polymetamorphism of the Prydz Belt, East Antarctica: Implications for the reconstruction of the Rodinia and Gondwana supercontinents
东南极普里兹带多期变质作用及其对罗迪尼亚和冈瓦纳超大陆重建的启示

The Prydz Belt in East Antarctica is a typical polymetmorphic belt that experienced Grenvillian and Pan-African high-grade metamorphism. The tectonic evolution of the belt is closely related to the formation of the supercontinents Rodinia and Gondwana. New petrological and geochronological data suggest that the Grenvillian metamorphism involving two episodes at >970Ma and 930~900Ma spreads over the main part of the Prydz Belt. Metamorphic peak during this peroid reaches relatively high temperature and high pressure granulite facies conditions.The Grenvillian orogenesis underwent long-term magmatic accretion along an active continental margin or arc and the final collision of Indian, Kalahari craton and the western portion of East Antarctica, which forms an important part of the Rodinia supercontinent. The Pan-African metamorphism in the Prydz Belt reaches high-pressure granulite facies conditions, accompaning a near isothermal decompressional P-T path, rather than low-to medium-pressure granulite facies conditions as previously thought. The widespread Grenvillian metamorphism in the Prydz Belt indicates that the Pan-African tectonothermal event may have developed on the eastern margin of the Indo-Antarctica continental block, and the real suture should be located southeastwards of the present Prydz Belt. Further to the Antarctic inland, it might pass through the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains. The precise dating for different rock types reveals that the Pan-African orogenesis of the Prydz Belt commenced at 570Ma and lasted to 490Ma, which is roughly contemporaneous with the late collisional stage in the East African Orogen. Therefore, the final assembly of Gondwana may have been completed by the collision of West Gondwana, Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica continental blocks during the same time.