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We present zircon and titanite U-Pb ages from granulite-facies transtensional shear zones and a greenschist facies strike-slip shear zone in the Karkkila-Vihti area, West Uusimaa. The zircon rim and titanite ages of c. 1815-1820 Ma from the transtensional shear zones constrain the evolution of the orogenic deformation from compression-dominated to syn-compressional lateral-escape within this part of the Fennoscandian shield while the zircon rim and titanite ages of 1790-1800 Ma give the timing of the late- to post-orogenic low-grade reactivation of the large-scale Somero-Karkkila fault zone. The new age data further constrain the timing of the changes in the crustal deformation style during orogenesis from i) compression-dominated to combined transpression - lateral stretching and escape, to ii) the late- to post-orogenic transition into retrograde conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report new age determinations and compositions for rocks from 18 dredge hauls collected from eight submarine areas across Central Kerguelen Plateau (CKP). Sea knolls and volcanic fields with multiple small cones were targeted over a ∼125 000 km2region that includes Heard and McDonald Islands. Large early Miocene (22–16 Ma) sea knolls rise from the western margin of the CKP and are part of a NNW–SSE line of volcanic centres that lie between Îles Kerguelen and Heard and McDonald Islands. These are probably related to hotspot activity now underlying the Heard Island area. We see evidence of much younger activity (5 Ma to present) in volcanic fields to the north of, and up to 300 km NE of, Heard Island. Compositions include basanite, basalt and trachybasalt, which are broadly similar to plateau lava flows from nearby Ocean Drilling Program Site 1138, lower Miocene lavas at Îles Kerguelen, dredged rocks from the early Miocene sea knolls, and Big Ben lavas from Heard Island. Geochemical data indicate decreasing fractions of mantle source melting with time. We propose that a broad region of the CKP became volcanically active in Neogene time owing to incubation of plume material at the base of the relatively stationary overlying plateau. The presence of pre-existing crustal faults gave access for melts from the Heard mantle plume to rise to the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report40Ar–39Ar laser step-heating age determinations on 15 stratigraphically controlled lava flows and intrusive rocks from Heard Island, Central Kerguelen Plateau (Indian Ocean). The island history began with uplift of pelagic limestone intruded by 22 Ma gabbro sills. Subaerial and wave erosion levelled the early island, producing an unconformity onto which pillow lavas, tuffaceous sediments and shallow-water, fossiliferous marine siltstone (Drygalski Formation) were deposited, beginning in late Miocene time. Two volcanic systems then formed in the late Quaternary. Big Ben dominates the larger southeast part of the island, while Mount Dixon occupies the northwest Laurens Peninsula. Feeder dykes and the early lava flows in both systems are 400–200 ka. Lava flows with evolved compositions (trachytes, trachyandesites) erupted 100–20 ka. Well-preserved parasitic cones exposed at low elevations are 15–10 ka and younger. Mawson Peak, near the summit of Big Ben, has erupted lava flows as recently as 2007. Heard Island, and nearby active McDonald Island, are subaerial features of a larger Neogene volcanic region of Central Kerguelen Plateau that includes several large sea knolls and recently identified submarine fields of small cones. This broadly distributed volcanic activity is linked to incubation of plume material at the base of the nearly stationary overlying Central Kerguelen Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]