Rift foundering and the generation of non-orogenic granulites during the Mesoproterozoic

[bknight1]

-> submitter ORCID (or name)

0000-0001-7919-2575

-> slug

Jie-2025-granulites

-> license

CC-BY-4.0

-> alternative license URL

No response

-> model category

model published in study

-> model status

completed

-> associated publication DOI

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119681

-> model creators

0000-0001-7919-2575

-> title

No response

-> description

This model was developed to test the generation of non-orogenic granulites due to rifting. We implemented a melt generation and emplacement model and compared with analytical results obtained from the Fraser zone, SW WA.

-> abstract

Mesoproterozoic orogens are unusual in that they commonly preserve a record of high geothermal gradients, low crustal thickness, and limited topography. One such terrane is the Fraser Zone in the Albany–Fraser Orogen (AFO), Western Australia, where granulite-facies rocks record a counterclockwise pressure–temperature (CCW $P–T$) evolution, the drivers of which remain the subject of debate. To understand how the Fraser Zone reached high temperatures followed by burial, a new geochronological and petrological dataset from a metamorphosed gabbronorite was collected. This data places direct temporal constraints on the up-pressure section of the CCW $P–T$ evolution. The gabbronorite preserves an original cumulate texture that crystallised at $\sim 6\ \text{kbar}$ and $\sim 810^{\circ}\text{C}$ that partially recrystallised at conditions of $\sim 9.5\ \text{kbar}$ and $850{-}950^{\circ}\text{C}$, as constrained by conventional thermobarometers and pseudosection modelling. Zircon grains with distinct textural and geochemical characteristics constrain the timing of emplacement, melt crystallisation at $1288 \pm 7\ \text{Ma}$, and subsequent up-pressure recrystallisation at $1284 \pm 7\ \text{Ma}$. These combined $P–T$ and geochronological constraints define a rapid burial path to $\sim 12\ \text{km}$ within $c.\ 4\ \text{Myr}$ of initial crystallisation, requiring a re-evaluation of the previous models involving collision and thickening as the timing of the up-pressure excursion pre-dates the established timing of collision between the Western Australian and South Australian Cratons. Thermomechanical geodynamic modelling elucidates a viable tectonic setting for the generation of the granulites of the Fraser Zone, involving rift foundering triggered by asymmetric extension in the backarc that was terminated by subsequent arc advance. Globally, a similar mechanism may have resulted in the ubiquitous high thermobaric ratio metamorphism, low crustal thickness, and limited elevation, associated with the Mesoproterozoic metamorphic record associated with the assembly of Rodinia.

-> scientific keywords

granulites, melt, emplacement

-> funder

https://ror.org/05mmh0f86, FT220100566

-> model embargo?

No response

-> include model code ?

• yes

-> model code/inputs DOI

No response

-> model code/inputs notes

Model is setup with a python script
Models require underworld2 to be run

-> include model output data?

• yes

-> data creators

No response

-> model output data DOI

No response

-> model output data notes

output is primarily h5 files, with 139 timesteps saved. ~8.18 GB of data.

-> model output data size

~8.18 GB of data.

-> software framework DOI/URI

https://zenodo.org/records/6820562

-> software framework source repository

https://github.com/underworldcode/underworld2

-> name of primary software framework (e.g. Underworld, ASPECT, Badlands, OpenFOAM)

underworld2

-> software framework authors

No response

-> software & algorithm keywords

python, finite element, particle in cell

-> computer URI/DOI

https://doi.org/10.48569/18sb-8s43

-> add landing page image and caption

Model_evolution.pdf

Evolution of model at selected timesteps, showing the melt generation and emplacement.

-> add an animation (if relevant)

Fraser_material_evolution.mov

Model evolution showing the generation and emplacement of melt during rifting.

-> add a graphic abstract figure (if relevant)

No response

-> add a model setup figure (if relevant)

Model_setup.pdf

Model setup, showing the initial geotherm and material distribution.

-> add a description of your model setup

The 2D model is designed to simulate extension and the emplacement of melt in the crust. The model has a length (x) of 660 km and a height (y) of 140 km. The grid is uniformly spaced at 330 x 70 nodes, producing a grid resolution of 2 km, with 30 particles per cell to track material properties. The model is layered, with a 20 km thick upper crust and 20 km thick lower crust, 80 km thick lithospheric mantle and 10 km thick asthenosphere. A Gaussian plastic strain distribution is initially prescribed across the crust and lithospheric mantle localises deformation and promotes the thinning of the crust during extension. A constant temperature (T = 20 °C) is applied to the top boundary, with no heat flux across the side walls. A Moho temperature of 700 °C is prescribed at a depth of 40 km, which results in a geotherm 17 °C/km across the crust. The lithosphere-asthenosphere temperature is 1375 °C at a depth of 120 km, which is a geothermal gradient of 8.4375 °C/km across the lithosphere. In the asthenosphere, a 0.4 °C/km adiabatic gradient is prescribed, resulting in a temperature of 1380 °C at the bottom of the domain.

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Parsed data

Section 1: Summary of your model

Model Submitter:

Ben Steven Knight (0000-0001-7919-2575)

Model Creator(s):

• Ben Steven Knight (0000-0001-7919-2575)

Model slug:

Jie-2025-granulites

(this will be the name of the model repository when created)

Model name:

Rift foundering and the generation of non-orogenic granulites during the Mesoproterozoic

License:

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Model Category:

• model published in study

Model Status:

• completed

Associated Publication title:

Rift foundering and the generation of non-orogenic granulites during the Mesoproterozoic

Short description:

This model was developed to test the generation of non-orogenic granulites due to rifting. We implemented a melt generation and emplacement model and compared with analytical results obtained from the Fraser zone, SW WA.

Abstract:

Mesoproterozoic orogens are unusual in that they commonly preserve a record of high geothermal gradients, low crustal thickness, and limited topography. One such terrane is the Fraser Zone in the Albany–Fraser Orogen (AFO), Western Australia, where granulite-facies rocks record a counterclockwise pressure–temperature (CCW $P–T$) evolution, the drivers of which remain the subject of debate. To understand how the Fraser Zone reached high temperatures followed by burial, a new geochronological and petrological dataset from a metamorphosed gabbronorite was collected. This data places direct temporal constraints on the up-pressure section of the CCW $P–T$ evolution. The gabbronorite preserves an original cumulate texture that crystallised at $\sim 6\ \text{kbar}$ and $\sim 810^{\circ}\text{C}$ that partially recrystallised at conditions of $\sim 9.5\ \text{kbar}$ and $850{-}950^{\circ}\text{C}$, as constrained by conventional thermobarometers and pseudosection modelling. Zircon grains with distinct textural and geochemical characteristics constrain the timing of emplacement, melt crystallisation at $1288 \pm 7\ \text{Ma}$, and subsequent up-pressure recrystallisation at $1284 \pm 7\ \text{Ma}$. These combined $P–T$ and geochronological constraints define a rapid burial path to $\sim 12\ \text{km}$ within $c.\ 4\ \text{Myr}$ of initial crystallisation, requiring a re-evaluation of the previous models involving collision and thickening as the timing of the up-pressure excursion pre-dates the established timing of collision between the Western Australian and South Australian Cratons. Thermomechanical geodynamic modelling elucidates a viable tectonic setting for the generation of the granulites of the Fraser Zone, involving rift foundering triggered by asymmetric extension in the backarc that was terminated by subsequent arc advance. Globally, a similar mechanism may have resulted in the ubiquitous high thermobaric ratio metamorphism, low crustal thickness, and limited elevation, associated with the Mesoproterozoic metamorphic record associated with the assembly of Rodinia.

Scientific Keywords:

• granulites
• melt
• emplacement

Funder(s):

• ARC (https://ror.org/05mmh0f86)

Section 2: your model code, output data

No embargo on model contents requested

Include model code:

True

Model code notes:

Model is setup with a python script
Models require underworld2 to be run

Include model output data:

True

Model output data notes:

output is primarily h5 files, with 139 timesteps saved. ~8.18 GB of data.

Section 3: software framework and compute details

Software Framework DOI/URL:

Found software: underworld2

Software Repository:

https://github.com/underworldcode/underworld2

Name of primary software framework:

underworld2

Software & algorithm keywords:

• python
• finite element
• particle in cell

Section 4: web material (for mate.science)

Landing page image:

Filename: graphics/Model_evolution.pdf
Caption: Evolution of model at selected timesteps, showing the melt generation and emplacement.

Animation:

Filename: graphics/animation
Caption: Model evolution showing the generation and emplacement of melt during rifting.

Graphic abstract:

Filename: None

Model setup figure:

Filename: graphics/Model_setup.pdf
Caption: Model setup, showing the initial geotherm and material distribution.
Description: The 2D model is designed to simulate extension and the emplacement of melt in the crust. The model has a length (x) of 660 km and a height (y) of 140 km. The grid is uniformly spaced at 330 x 70 nodes, producing a grid resolution of 2 km, with 30 particles per cell to track material properties. The model is layered, with a 20 km thick upper crust and 20 km thick lower crust, 80 km thick lithospheric mantle and 10 km thick asthenosphere. A Gaussian plastic strain distribution is initially prescribed across the crust and lithospheric mantle localises deformation and promotes the thinning of the crust during extension. A constant temperature (T = 20 °C) is applied to the top boundary, with no heat flux across the side walls. A Moho temperature of 700 °C is prescribed at a depth of 40 km, which results in a geotherm 17 °C/km across the crust. The lithosphere-asthenosphere temperature is 1375 °C at a depth of 120 km, which is a geothermal gradient of 8.4375 °C/km across the lithosphere. In the asthenosphere, a 0.4 °C/km adiabatic gradient is prescribed, resulting in a temperature of 1380 °C at the bottom of the domain.

Errors and Warnings

Associated Publication
Error fetching metadata with application/ld+json from https://api.crossref.org/works/http://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119681: 406 Client Error: Not Acceptable for url: https://api.crossref.org/works/http://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119681
Software Framework DOI/URI
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Failed to fetch metadata with any content type or URL.
Error: unable to parse software metadata.
Software framework authors
Error: no authors found
Submitter
ORCID metadata record succesfully extracted in json-ld format

Model creators
ORCID metadata record succesfully extracted in json-ld format
Could not parse Embargo date. Check format is
Model code/inputs DOI
Warning: No DOI/URI provided.
Model creators
Error: no data creators found
Model output DOI
Warning: No DOI/URI provided.
Computer URI/DOI
403 Client Error: Forbidden for url: https://pawsey.org.au/systems/setonix/
Landing page image
Warning: File is not an image (Content-Type: application/pdf).

Animation
Warning: File is not an image (Content-Type: video/quicktime).

Graphic abstract
Warning: No image uploaded.

Model setup figure
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Next steps

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Review Requested

A review of this submission has been requested from @ModelAtlasofTheEarth/model_reviewers

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Model repository created at https://github.com/ModelAtlasofTheEarth/Jie-2025-granulites

[julesghub]

Just a note that the model repository changed name from

https://github.com/ModelAtlasofTheEarth/Jie-2025-granulites
to
https://github.com/ModelAtlasofTheEarth/Yu-2025-granulites