Provenance of metasedimentary rocks of the western Dom Feliciano Belt in Uruguay: Insights from U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology, Hf and Nd model ages, and geochemical data

New isotopic and geochemical data for the Paleo- Meso- and Neoproterozoic metasedimentary cover of the southern Dom Feliciano Belt (Brasiliano/Pan-African) are presented and evaluated combined with published information. Whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry indicates that the dominant source for all the units had a composition similar to average upper continental crust. The geochemistry is similar even for late Ediacaran successions with a source component from slightly older Ediacaran granites, due to the crustal origin of these granites. Age constraints based on detrital zircon, fossil content, interbedded volcanic rocks and isotope geochemistry confirm Paleo-, Meso-, and Neoproterozoic successions, despite uncertainties remain in some cases. Detrital zircon data show the dominance of Archean (3.3-2.8 Ga) to Paleoproterozoic (2.2-1.9 Ga), and subordinated Mesoproterozoic (1.5-1.3 and 1.1 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (0.5-0.6 Ga) ages. Lu-Hf zircon and Sm-Nd whole-rock model ages confirm that the Archean and the Paleoproterozoic were the major crustal growth periods for the source areas. U-Pb detrital zircon age distributions and model ages demonstrate that the Nico Pe ' rez Terrane and not the Rio de la Plata Craton was the source for most metasedimentary rocks of the western Dom Feliciano Belt. Likewise, comparison of Archean, Paleo-, Meso- and Neoproterozoic events supports that the Nico Pe ' rez Terrane could represent a fragment of the Congo Craton.

Automated summary

New isotopic and geochemical data for the metasedimentary cover of the southern Dom Feliciano Belt reveal the source composition and geological evolution of the region. Analysis of whole-rock and detrital zircon data confirms age constraints and source areas for different geological periods, supporting the understanding of Archean, Paleo-, Meso-, and Neoproterozoic events in the region. The study suggests the Nico Perez Terrane as the likely source for most metasedimentary rocks in the western Dom Feliciano Belt, indicating a potential connection to the Congo Craton.