Nd and Sr isotopic signatures of metasedimentary rocks around the South Pacific margin and implications for their provenance

An Nd-Sr isotope database, including c. 200 new analyses, is presented for Palaeozoic and Mesozoic metasedimentary successions extending through southeastern Australia, New Zealand, West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula to southern South America. Combining with U-Pb detrital zircon age data, this enables characterization of New Zealand terranes, especially within the Eastern Province, where there is a progression from westernmost terranes of both volcanic/volcaniclastic and accretionary origin with primitive sediment sources, to easternmost terranes with mature continental sediment inputs. In southern South America, West Antarctica and the Antarctica Peninsula, similar accretionary complexes have Nd model ages principally reflecting mixing of sedimentary material from multiple sources, both mature and juvenile. A mature Gondwana continental provenance dominates in sedimentary basins inboard of the active margin, especially in the Palaeozoic (Western Province, New Zealand, interior West Antarctica and NW Argentina), and contributes significantly to pre-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of Patagonia east of the Andes. Along the Gondwanaland margin, Nd systematics for younger (late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic) accretionary complex metasediments reflect younger source inputs, notably in the Scotia metamorphic complex. Many of the accretionary complex deposits must involve significant crustal reworking. There is no apparent South American equivalent of the primitive provenance of the westernmost accretionary terranes of New Zealand.

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