Early Paleozoic UHT/LP Metamorphism in the Sangilen Block of the Tuvino-Mongolian Massif

Abstract

The P–T conditions of Early Paleozoic metamorphism in the Sangilen block of the Tuvino-Mongolian Massif (southeastern part of the Central Asian Mobile Belt) achieved a value of 910–950°C and 3–4 kbar, which corresponded to the conditions of ultrahigh temperature–low pressure (UHT/LP) metamorphism. During retrograde metamorphism, cooling down to 850°C was accompanied by compression (up to 5.5–7 kbar), and then cooling down to 580–650°C took place at nearly the same pressure (5.5–6.5 kbar). UHT metamorphism was related to the elevated heat flow from the mantle, leading also to an intensive basite magmatism. The “counter-clockwise” P–T evolution was evoked by underthrusting of the hot tectonic slab (Erzin complex) beneath the colder one (Moren complex).