The nature and origin of the Barrovian metamorphism, Scotland: ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar apparent age patterns and the duration of metamorphism in the biotite zone

A geochronological traverse across the Barrovian metamorphic series, Scotland, shows ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar apparent age spectra that reflect the influence of progressive metamorphism during the Grampian orogenic episode. The lowest-grade units of the Barrovian metamorphic series retain pre-Grampian detrital ages as components of their white mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar apparent age spectra. These relict ages are progressively obliterated in the direction of increasing metamorphic grade, with a Grampian-age ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating plateau first occurring in the biotite zone. The microstructure at this point shows only limited recrystallization, suggesting loss of argon mainly by diffusion. Forward modelling of argon diffusion from white mica grains was therefore carried out, for various thermal histories and grain sizes, to match ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating apparent age spectra patterns preserved within the biotite zone of the Barrovian metamorphic series. The results imply a thermal duration of between 1 and 10 Ma for Barrovian metamorphism in the biotite zone. Such short time scales for metamorphism place a limit on length scales for the heat sources responsible. Mid-crustal extensional ductile shear zones that crop out in the NE of the Grampian Terrane once focused narrow, Grampian-age heat sources (e.g. magmas, hot fluids, shear heating) that drove a brief thermal episode, resulting in the Barrovian metamorphism.