Early Paleozoic Protoliths of Gneisses and Granitic Gneisses in the Eastern South Urals: Results of U–Th–Pb (SIMS) Geochronological Studies

The Early Paleozoic age of the protolith for gneisses in the East Uralian megazone (South Urals) is proved by zircon dating. Two metamorphic complexes have been identified in the eastern framing of the Middle–Late Paleozoic Suunduk granitoid pluton. The Zelenodolsk complex is represented by granitic gneisses, while the Kusakan complex (Kusakan Formation) is represented by metavolcanic gneisses, crystalline schists, and quartzites. U–Th–Pb analyses (SHRIMP II) of accessory magmatic zircons from the Zelenodolsk granitic gneiss yielded dates of 478 ± 5 Ma. The protolith age of the Kusakan gneiss (andesitic metatuff) is 529 ± 6 Ma. The origin of volcanic, volcanosedimentary rocks, and granitoids in the East Uralian megazone is associated with the evolution of the volcanoplutonic belt in the active continental margin.