Neoproterozoic rhyolite ignimbrites in the Sierra Norte de Córdoba: evidence of an early magmatic arc in the Pampean cycle?

Abstract

The Sierra Norte belongs to the Sierras Pampeanas of Córdoba and like in the Sierras de Córdoba the main granitic intrusions, metamorphism and deformation are related to the Pampean orogenic cycle. The most important difference with Sierras de Córdoba is that Sierra Norte shows a weaker deformation and a lower grade metamorphism. Sierra Norte consists of small outcrops of metasedimentary rocks intruded by granodioritic and monzogranitic plutons of the Sierra Norte-Ambargasta batholtih, of Cambrian age. Dacitic to rhyolitic domes and dikes were intruded during the last stages of the batholith. In this paper we describe rhyolitic ignimbrite sheets within the metaconglomerates of the La Lidia Formation. The ignimbrites are moderately welded and consist of about 15 % of quartz, K-feldspar and entirely altered plagioclase porhyroclasts. Groundmass consists of devitrified glass shards. The conventional U/Pb zircon age is 584+22/-14 Ma and it is considered as the crystallization age. Very low grade metamorphism of the prehnite-pumpellyte facies altered the plagioclase to zoicite, sericite and pumpellyte. The Neoproterozoic silicic ignimbrites, together with the Cambrian calc-alkaline batholith and the related volcanics indicate the existence of a magmatic arc associated with the active margin of the Gondwana continent. This arc was active since Neoproterozoic times, with a duration of more than 60 Ma. Correlation of the Neoproterozoic metasedimentary and volcanics of Sierra Norte with the Puncoviscana Formation of Northwestern Argentina is considered.