Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton： SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range.It contains the Yunmengshan batholith,which is dominated by two plutons:the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite.Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma,whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma.Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon UPb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma.The cumulative pl...     

Age of the Marwar Supergroup,NW India:A note on the U–Pb geochronology of Jodhpur Group felsic volcanics

The Marwar Supergroup(NW Peninsular India)is thought to be of Ediacaran-Cambrian age,based on previous paleontological and geochronological studies.However,direct constraints on the onset of sedimentation within the Marwar basin are still scarce.In this study,we report U–Pb zircon,LA-ICP-MS,and SIMS ages from the Chhoti Khatu felsic volcanic rocks,interlayered with the Jodhpur Group sandstones(Lower Marwar Supergroup).The cathodoluminescence images of the zircons indicate complex morphologies,and core-rim textures coupled with the wide range of ages indicate that they are likely inherited or in the case of thin poorly indurated ash-beds,detrital in origin.The age spectra of 68 zircon analyses from our sampling display a dominant 800–900 Ma age peak corresponding to the age of basement"Erinpura granite"rocks in the region.The youngest inherited zircon from a felsic ash layer yielded a U–Pb age of651 Ma±18 Ma that,together with previous studies and paleontological evidence,indicates a postCryogenian age for the initiation of Marwar sedimentation following a~125 Ma hiatus between the end of Malani magmatism and Marwar deposition.     

Chronology and Sources of Mesozoic Intrusive Complexes in the Xuzhou-Huainan Region, Central China: Constraints from SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in the Liguo and Jiagou intrusives indicates that they were formed at -130 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. Most inherited zircons in the Liguo intrusive were formed at 2509±43 Ma. Most inherited and detrital zircons in the Jiagou intrusive were formed at -2500 Ma, -2000 Ma and -1800 Ma. The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in two gneiss xenoliths from the Jiagou intrusive yields the ages of 2461±22 Ma and 2508±15 Ma, respectively. The dating results from inherited and detrital zircons in the intrusives and the gneiss xenoliths imply that the magmas could be derived from the partial melting of the basement of the North China Block (NCB). The magmatism is strong and extensive in the periods from 115 to 132 Ma, which is of typical bimodal characteristics. It is suggested that the lithospheric thinning in the eastern North China Block reached its peak in 115-132 Ma.     

Emplacement Ages and Petrogenesis of the Molybdenum–bearing Granites in the Jinduicheng Area of East Qinling, China: Constraints from Zircon U–Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes

The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geochemical features of the granites in the Jinduicheng area can provide essential information for the exploration and development of the porphyry molybdenum deposit. In this study, we report LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb age and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of granite porphyries from the Jinduicheng area, and provide insights on the petrogensis and source characteristics of the granites. The results show that the zircon U–Pb ages of the Jinduicheng granite porphyry (143±1 Ma) and the Balipo granite (154±1 Ma), agree well with the Re–Os ages of molybdenite in the Jinduicheng molybdenum polymetallic deposit (139±3 Ma) and the Balipo molybdenum polymetallic deposit (156±2 Ma), indicating that the emplacement of granite porphyries occurred between Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Zircons granite from the Jinduicheng area give the εHf(t) values mainly ranging from ?10 to ?16, and ?20 to ?24, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.86–2.0 Ga, and 2.2–2.6 Ga, respectively) of zircons of the granite from the Jinduicheng values. The ore–forming materials are mainly derived from crust, with minor mantle substances. Zircons of the granite from the Balipo area give εHf(t) values ranging from ?18 to ?20, ?28 to ?38, and ?42 to ?44, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.88–3.0 Ga, and 3.2–3.90 Ga, respectively). the εHf(t) values of the Jinduicheng porphyry more than that of the Balipo porphyry, and two–stage model ages (tDM2) less than that of the Balipo porphyry, shows that he source of the porphyries originated from ancient lower crustal materials in the Jinduicheng area, and mixed younger components, more younger components contributed for the source of the Jinduicheng porphyry.     

Geochronology and Petrogenesis of Granitoid Intrusions in the Feidong District, Southern Tan–Lu Fault Zone, China

The Feidong district is located in the southern segment of the Tan–Lu fault zone that separates the South China Block (NCB) from the North China Craton (NCC). We report zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotope data, as well as whole-rock geochemistry for Xishanyi granodiorite and Jianshan granite in the Feidong district. Zircon U-Pb dating results show that the emplacement ages of the Xishanyi and Jianshan intrusions are 124 ± 3 Ma and 130 ± 1 Ma respectively, coeval with magmatic events linked to large-scale lithospheric thinning in eastern China. The whole-rock geochemistry of the Xishanyi and Jianshan intrusions demonstrate that they are peraluminous, high potassium calc-alkaline I-type granites with adakitic characteristics. Both intrusions underwent weak crustal assimilation during emplacement. The in situ zircon εHf(t) values of the Xishanyi granodiorites range from ?26.4 to ?21.8, with TDM2 model ages of 2552 to 2841 Ma. The in situ zircon εHf(t) values of the Jianshan granite are from ?27.5 to ?23.0 with TDM2 model ages of 2632 to 2904 Ma. The peak age of inherited zircon grains from the Xishanyi granodiorite and the Jianshan granite were ~2.07 Ga and ~1.94 Ga, respectively. After compared with the regional magmatism, we suggest that both the Xishanyi and Jianshan granitoid intrusions were derived from partial melting of the NCC lower crust.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000322

The Central Hebei Basin （CHB） is one of the largest sedimentary basins in the North China Craton, extending in a northeast-southwest direction with an area of 〉350 km2. We carried out SHRIMP zircon dating, Hf-in-zircon isotopic analysis and a whole-rock geochemical study on igneous and metasedi- mentary rocks recovered from drill holes that penetrated into the basement of the CHB, Two samples of gneissic granodiorite （XG1-1） and gneissic quartz diorite 048-1） have magmatic ages of 2500 and 2496 Ma, respectively. Their zircons also record metamorphic ages of 2.41-2.51 and ～2.5 Ga, respec- tively. Compared with the gneissic granodiorite, the gneissic quartz diorite has higher REE contents and lower Eu/Eu＊ and （La/Yb）n values. Two metasedimentary samples （MG1, H5） mainly contain ～2,5 Ga detrital zircons as well as late Paleoproterozoic metamorphic grains. The zircons of different origins have eHf （2.5 Ga） values and Hf crustal model ages ranging from 0 to 5 and 2.7 to 2,9 Ga, respectively, Therefore, ～2.5 Ga magmatic and Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks and late Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic and late Paleoproterozoic tectono-thermal events have been identified in the basement beneath the CHB. Based on regional comparisons, we conclude that the early Precambrian basement beneath the CHB is part of the North China Craton.     

Hydrothermal Zircon Geochronology in the Shangxu Gold Deposit and its Implication for the Early Cretaceous Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Middle Bangonghu–Nujiang Suture Zone

As a typical orogenic gold deposit in Tibet, Shangxu gold deposit is located at the Bangong Lake–Nujiang River Metallogenic Belt in the south of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In this paper, zircon U-Pb dating, trace elements and Hf isotopic analysis were performed on Au-bearing quartz veins in the Shangxu gold deposit. Zircons from Au-bearing quartz veins can be divided into three types: detrital, magmatic, and hydrothermal zircons. There are two age peaks in detrital zircons: ca. 1700 Ma and ca. 2400 Ma. There are two groups of concordant ages including 157 ± 4 Ma(MSWD = 0.69) and 120 ± 1 Ma(MSWD = 0.19) in magmatic zircons, in which εH f(t) value of ca. 120 Ma from the magmatic zircons range from +8.24 to +12.9. An age of 119 ± 2 Ma(MSWD = 0.42) was yielded from hydrothermal zircons, and their εH f(t) values vary between +15.7 and +16.4. According to sericite Ar-Ar age, this paper suggests that an age of 119 ± 2 Ma from hydrothermal zircons represent the formation age of the Shangxu gold Deposit, and its mineralization should be related to the collision between Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block. The metallogenic age is basically the same as the diagenetic age of Mugagangri granite, and εH f(t) value of hydrothermal zircon is significantly higher than that of the contemporaneous magmatic zircon, which indicates that there is a genetic relationship between the gold mineralization and the deep crust-mantle magmatism.     

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

Geochronology and Petrogenesis for the Protolith of Biotite Plagioclase Gneiss at Lianghe, Western Yunnan

In this paper, we report an integrated study of U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of zircons from biotite plagioclase gneiss at Lianghe in western Yunnan. The zircons preserved inherited core and rim texture. Igneous zircon grains and rims yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 120.4±1.7 Ma, their εHf (120 Ma) values were mainly negative ranging from –13.9 to –10.7, with Hf model ages between 1.9 Ga and 2.0 Ga, some zircons had positive εHf (120 Ma) values ranging from 0.2 to 2.1. The inherited cores showed the wide variations in the U-Pb age of 375–1315 Ma. One of them showed the εHf (506 Ma) value of –4.2, it was similar to the gray gneiss of old crust, which εHf (500 Ma) values were negative ranging from –4.5 to –3.3. Combining geological feature and geochemical data, we concluded that the protolith of biotite plagioclase gneiss was old crust-derived tonalitic magma during the early Cretaceous.     

Neoproterozoic Crustal Reworking and Growth in the Zhangbaling Uplift, Tan–Lu Fault Zone: Evidence from the Feidong Complex and Zhangbaling Group

Intensive mid-Neoproterozoic magmatism is the salient feature of the Yangtze Block, preserving abundant information about crustal reworking and growth. Zircon U–Pb–Lu–Hf isotope analysis was performed on material from the Feidong Complex (FDC) and Zhangbaling Group (ZBLG) of the Zhangbaling Uplift, in order to determine the age and magmatic source of the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks as well as the detrital provenance for the sedimentary rocks, to further provide important data for understanding the mid-Neoproterozoic crustal evolution of the Northeast Yangtze Block. The amphibolite and gneissic granites in the Feidong Complex (FDC) gave similar protolith ages of 782–776 Ma. The synmagmatic zircons exhibited variable negative εHf(t) values of ?26.9 to ?8.3. Early (ca. 2.4 Ga) to late Paleoproterozoic (ca. 2.0–1.9 Ga) inherited zircons were found in the gneissic monzogranite, with negative εHf(t) values of ?11.2 to ?7.2, indicating strong reworking of the ancient crustal materials of the Northeast Yangtze Block. Whereas the amphibolites represent minor crustal growth through emplacement of continental rifting-related mafic magmas. The quartz–keratophyres in the Xileng Formation of the ZBLG in contrast systematically yield young protolith crystallization ages of 754–727 Ma with high εHf(t) values of ?2.0 to +5.6, indicating their derivation from the reworking of juvenile crustal materials. The detrital zircons from the metasiltstone in the Beijiangjun Formation yield variable 206Pb/238U ages (871–644 Ma) with a peak age at 741 ± 11 Ma and εHf(t) values of ?4.3 to +5.3, which is consistent with those of the Xileng Formation, but distinct from the FDC, indicating that the provenance of the metasiltstone is primarily the underlying Xileng Formation. The mid-Neoproterozoic igneous and sedimentary rocks of the Zhangbaling Uplift were products from continental rifting zones along the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, situated in different positions from the Susong Complex and the Haizhou Group. The transition from ancient to juvenile crustal sources for felsic magmatic rocks is attributed to gradually increased crustal extension during continental rifting.     

Further evidence for an early Carboniferous (∼340 Ma) age of high-grade metamorphism in the Saxonian granulite complex

U–Pb and Pb–Pb zircon ages for metamorphic zircons from granulites in the Saxonian granulite complex are reported, using the SHRIMP ion microprobe, conventional multigrain and single-gain techniques and the evaporation method. This is complemented by a Pb–Pb evaporation age for a post-granulite granite emplaced into the schist mantle around the granulites during uplift of the complex. We also demonstrate that zircon ages are not reset during high-grade metamorphism, as commonly argued, but have a very high closure temperature and usually preserve the isotopic composition reflecting the time of their formation. Multifaceted zircons from four granulite samples that probably grew close to the peak of high-grade metamorphism yielded identical U–Pb and Pb–Pb ages of ～340?Ma which support previously published data and unambiguously show that the granulites formed during a lower Carboniferous event and not in the early Palaeozoic or Precambrian as previously suggested. Older cores in some of the metamorphic zircons reveal early Palaeozoic components at 470–485?Ma that we interpret as ages reflecting magmatic crystallization of the granulite precursors. One sample suggests an inherited component as old as ～1700?Ma. The post-granulite granite has a Pb–Pb evaporation age of 333.1±1.0?Ma, and the short time interval between granulite metamorphism and granite intrusion implies that uplift, crustal extension and cooling of the granulite complex occurred rapidly after peak metamorphic conditions.     

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of the Tongshi Magmatic Complex in Western Shandong and Its Geological Implications

1 Introduction Since the Guilaizhuang gold deposit was discovered in the 1980s, the Tongshi magmatic complex has attracted attention since it exhibits a spatial-temporal relationship to gold mineralization. In the past ten years, a number of detailed fundamental researches have been carried out on the complex, Guilaizhuang gold deposit and their relationships (Qiu et al., 1994; Lin et al., 1996; Yan et al., 1996; Xu et al., 1999; Kong et al., 2001; Shun et al., 2001). Up to date, some res…     

Geochronology of the Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta‐Bearing Granite Pluton in South China

Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta mining district is located in the Nanling Range W–Sn poly‐metallic mineralization belt in south China. The district includes a number of Sn–Nb–Ta and W–Sn ore occurrences; all of them are spatially associated with granite stocks of a largely‐unexposed pluton, the Limu granitic pluton. A granite sample collected from the Sn–Nb–Ta‐bearing Jinzhuyuan granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 218.3 ± 2.4 Ma, a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 212.4 ± 1.4 Ma, and a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isochron age of 213.2 ± 2.2 Ma. Another granite sample collected from the W–Sn‐bearing Sangehuangniu granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 214 ± 5 Ma. The geochronological data provide new constraints on the age of the Limu granite pluton and the timing of the associated W–Sn–Nb–Ta mineralization—at least it sets a reasonable upper age limit for the mineralization of the W–Sn–Nb–Ta ores. The reported ages suggest an active Late Triassic granitic magmatism in Limu area which is part of a regional magmatic event near the end of the Indosinian orogeny in south China.     

U–Pb zircon geochronology of ferrodiorites and quartz diorites from the Turkel Anorthosite Complex: a Neoarchaean convergent margin in eastern India

The Turkel anorthosite Complex (TAC) in the Eastern Ghats Belt in India is composed of anorthosites and leuconorites at the centre and ferrodiorites and quartz diorites at the periphery. Here we report whole‐rock geochemistry, and zircon U–Pb data and REE geochemistry from a co‐spatial ferrodiorite and two quartz diorites from the TAC. The diorites have low abundance of High Field Strength Elements (HFSE) and REE, exhibit a flat chondrite‐normalized pattern with slight LREE enrichment and negligible or no Eu anomaly. Our results show weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2433 ± 33 Ma for the ferrodiorite. Two quartz diorite samples from Turkel yield mean²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2419 ± 32 Ma and 2505 ± 31 Ma. The zircons from all the analysed samples show high REE contents, prominent HREE enrichment and a conspicuous positive Eu anomaly, suggesting a common magmatic source. The prominent Neoarchaean to early Palaeoproterozoic magmatic ages from the anorthosite complex deviate from the late Neoproterozoic ages reported from other anorthosite suites in the Eastern Ghats Belt, and suggest an active convergent margin along SE India during Archaean–Proterozoic transition. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

滇西桃花花岗斑岩中新太古代-古元古代锆石年龄信息:对扬子板块西缘基底时代的约束

扬子板块西缘滇西地区是否存在古老基底一直存在争议。本文对滇西桃花地区花岗斑岩进行了岩石学、地球化学和锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年代学研究。形成于晚造山-后碰撞背景的桃花花岗斑岩具岛弧花岗岩地球化学特征,其成因可能与:1)俯冲拆离的洋壳俯冲拆离的洋壳或富集地幔重熔作用;2)加厚的地壳部分熔融。花岗斑岩中的继承锆石有两种类型:一类是发育具有密集振荡环带的岩浆锆石;另一类是次浑圆状锆石。测年结果显示,花岗斑岩的岩浆锆石年龄为36.35±0.35Ma,环带发育的继承锆石年龄介于167~891Ma之间;而次浑圆状继承锆石可以分为两组,其207Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄分别为1851±22Ma与2499±32Ma。新的锆石测年结果表明着滇西桃花地区不仅存在古金沙江洋东向俯冲形成的晚古生代弧岩浆记录,还发现新元古代岩浆活动信息,及早古元古代和新太古代的锆石记录。推测1.8Ga与2.5Ga锆石可能是捕获自地壳或围岩(石鼓片岩),表明滇西地区可能存在古老基底。     

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions of migmatite from the North Dabie terrane in China: constraints on partial melting

Migmatite gneisses are widespread in the Dabie orogen, but their formation ages are poorly constrained. Eight samples of migmatite, including leucosome, melanosome, and banded gneiss, were selected for U–Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis. Most metamorphic zircon occurs as overgrowths around inherited igneous cores or as newly grown grains. Morphological and internal structure features suggest that their growth is associated with partial melting. According to the Hf isotope ratio relationships between metamorphic zircon and inherited cores, three formation mechanisms for metamorphic zircon can be determined, which are dissolution–reprecipitation of pre‐existing zircon, breakdown of Zr‐bearing phase other than zircon in a closed system and crystallization from externally derived Zr‐bearing melt. Four samples contain magmatic zircon cores, yielding upper intercept U–Pb ages of 807 ± 35–768 ± 12 Ma suggesting that the protoliths of the migmatites are Neoproterozoic in age. The migmatite zircon yields weighted mean two‐stage Hf model ages of 2513 ± 97–894 ± 54 Ma, indicating reworking of both juvenile and ancient crustal materials at the time of their protolith formation. The metamorphic zircons give U–Pb ages of 145 ± 2–120 ± 2 Ma. The oldest age indicates that partial melting commenced prior to 145 Ma, which also constrains the onset of extensional tectonism in this region to pre‐145 Ma. The youngest age of 120 Ma was obtained from an undeformed granitic vein, indicating that deformation in this area was complete at this time. Two major episodes of partial melting were dated at 139 ± 1 and 123 ± 1Ma. The first episode of partial melting is obviously older than the timing of post‐collision magmatism, corresponding to regional extension. The second episode of partial melting is coeval with the widespread post‐collision magmatism, indicating the gravitational collapse and delamination of the orogenic lithospheric keel of the Dabie orogen, which were possibly triggered by the uprising of the Cretaceous mid‐Pacific superplume.     

Re–Os and U–Pb Geochronology of Porphyry and Skarn Types Copper Deposits in Jilin Province,NE China

Jilin Province in NE China lies on the eastern edge of the Xing–Meng Orogenic Belt. Mineral exploration in this area has resulted in the discovery of numerous large, medium, and small sized Cu, Mo, Au, and Co deposits. To better understand the formation and distribution of both the porphyry and skarn types Cu deposits of the region, we examined the geological characteristics of the deposits and applied zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os isotope dating to constrain the age of the mineralization. The Binghugou Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for quartz diorite of 128.1 ± 1.6 Ma; the Chang'anpu Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for granite porphyry of 117.0 ± 1.4 Ma; the Ermi Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for granite porphyry of 96.8 ± 1.1 Ma; the Tongshan Cu deposit yields molybdenite Re–Os model ages of 128.7 to 130.2 Ma, an isochron age of 129.0 ± 1.6 Ma, and a weighted mean model age of 129.2 ± 0.7 Ma; and the Tianhexing Cu deposit yields molybdenite Re–Os model ages of 113.9 to 115.2 Ma, an isochron age of 114.7 ± 1.2 Ma, and a weighted mean model age of 114.7 ± 0.7 Ma. The new ages, combined with existing geochronology data, show that intense porphyry and skarn types Cu mineralization was coeval with Cretaceous magmatism. The geotectonic processes responsible for the genesis of the Cu mineralization were probably related to lithospheric thinning. By analyzing the accumulated molybdenite Re–Os, zircon U–Pb, and Ar–Ar ages for NE China, it is concluded that the Cu deposits formed during multiple events coinciding with periods of magmatic activity. We have identified five phases of mineralization: early Paleozoic (~476 Ma), late Paleozoic (286.5–273.6 Ma), early Mesozoic (~228.7 Ma), Jurassic (194.8–137.1 Ma), and Cretaceous (131.2–96.8 Ma). Although Cu deposits formed during each phase, most of the Cu mineralization occurred during the Cretaceous.     

U—Pb Age and Analysis of the Lu—Hf Isotope System of Zircon from Granitoids of the Final Phases of Neplyuev Pluton (Southern Urals)

Here we present the first results of LA—ICP—MS Lu—Hf and U—Pb isotope analyses (Geoanalytic Center for Common Use, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Center for Isotope Research, Karpinskii All-Russia Geological Research Institute, St. Petersburg (CCU UB RAS)) of zircons from finegrained granite of the Neplyuev Pluton which is the final phase earlier dated to 278 ± 1 Ma by the Rb–Sr method, along with new SIMS U—Pb results (SHRIMP, Center for Isotope Research, Karpinskii All-Russia Geological Research Institute, St. Petersburg (CIR VSEGEI)). The U—Pb results of similar zircon grain domains obtained using the two techniques agree well with each other. A difference in the age of zircon of two different morphologies has been found: the first one with a pronounced concentric oscillatory zoning yielded the concordia U—Pb age of 360 ± 2 Ma (SHRIMP) and 368 ± 6 Ma (LA—ISP—MS); the second type (“amoeba-shaped cores” with patchy zoning) gave 430 ± 9 Ma as a result. Considering the εHf vs. εNd systematics, the zircon from the granite is assumed to be of xenogenic but not magmatic nature.