Neoproterozoic extension in the Greater Dharwar Craton: a reevaluation of the “Betsimisaraka suture” in Madagascar

The Precambrian shield of Madagascar is reevaluated with recently compiled geological data and new U–Pb sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) geochronology. Two Archean domains are recognized: the eastern Antongil–Masora domain and the central Antananarivo domain, the latter with distinctive belts of metamafic gneiss and schist (Tsaratanana Complex). In the eastern domain, the period of early crust formation is extended to the Paleo–Mesoarchean (3.32–3.15 Ga) and a supracrustal sequence (Fenerivo Group), deposited at 3.18 Ga and metamorphosed at 2.55 Ga, is identified. In the central domain, a Neoarchean period of high-grade metamorphism and anatexis that affected both felsic (Betsiboka Suite) and mafic gneisses (Tsaratanana Complex) is documented. We propose, therefore, that the Antananarivo domain was amalgamated within the Greater Dharwar Craton (India + Madagascar) by a Neoarchean accretion event (2.55–2.48 Ga), involving emplacement of juvenile igneous rocks, high-grade metamorphism, and ...