Geochronological problems related to polymetamorphism in the Limpopo Complex, South Africa

Abstract The integration of new and published geochronologic data with structural, magmatic/anatectic and pressure–temperature ( P–T ) process information allow the recognition of high-grade polymetamorphic granulites and associated high-grade shear zones in the Central Zone (CZ) of the Limpopo high-grade terrain in South Africa. Together, these two important features reflect a major high-grade D 3 /M 3 event at ~ 2.02 Ga that overprinted the > 2.63 Ga high-grade Neoarchaean D 2 /M 2 event, characterized by SW-plunging sheath folds. These major D 2 /M 2 folds developed before ~ 2.63 Ga based on U–Pb zircon age data for precursors to leucocratic anatectic gneisses that cut the high-grade gneissic fabric. The D 3 /M 3 shear event is accurately dated by U–Pb monazite (2017.1 ± 2.8 Ma) and PbSL garnet (2023 ± 11 Ma) age data obtained from syntectonic anatectic material, and from sheared metapelitic gneisses that were completely reworked during the high-grade shear event. The shear event was preceded by isobaric heating ( P  = ~ 6 kbar and T  = ~ 670–780 °C), which resulted in the widespread formation of polymetamorphic granulites. Many efforts to date high-grade gneisses from the CZ using PbSL garnet dating resulted in a large spread of ages (~ 2.0–2.6 Ga) that reflect the polymetamorphic nature of these complexly deformed high-grade rocks.