Syn-kinematic emplacement of the Pangong metamorphic and magmatic complex along the Karakorum Fault (N Ladakh)

This paper investigates the age, P–T conditions and kinematics of Karakorum Fault (KF) zone rocks in the NW part of the Himalaya–Karakorum belt. Granulite to greenschist facies assemblages were developed within the KF zone during strike-slip shearing. The granulites were formed at high temperature (800 °C, 5.5 kbar), were subsequently retromorphosed into the amphibolite facies (700–750 °C, 4–5 kbar) and the greenschist facies (350–400 °C, 3–4 kbar). The Tangtse granite emplaced syn-kinematically at the contact between a LT and the HT granulite facies. Intrusion occurred during the juxtaposition of the two units under amphibolite conditions. Microstructures observed within the Tangtse granite exhibit a synmagmatic dextral S–C fabric. Compiled U–Pb and Ar–Ar data show that in the central KF segment, granulite facies metamorphism occurred at a minimum age of 32 Ma, subsequent amphibolite facies metamorphism at 20–18 Ma. Further shearing under amphibolite facies (650–500 °C) was recorded at 13.6 ± 0.9 Ma, and greenschist-facies mica growth at 11 Ma. These data give further constrains to the age of initiation and depth of the Karakorum Fault. The granulite-facies conditions suggest that the KF, accommodating the lateral extrusion of Tibet, could be at least a crustal or even a Lithosphere-scale shear zone comparable to other peri-Himalayan faults.