Jurassic Subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean in NE China: Zircon U–Pb and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic Evidence from the Huashan and Taili Monzogranites

The Qilian orogen along the NE edge of the Tibet‐Qinghai Plateau records the evolution of Proto‐Tethyan Ocean that closed through subduction along the southern margin of the North China block during the Early Paleozoic. The South Qilian belt is the southern unit of this orogen and dominated by Cambrian‐Ordovician volcano‐sedimentary rocks and Neoproteozoic Hualong complex that contains similar rock assemblages of the Central Qilian block. Our recent geological mapping and petrologic results demonstrate that volcano‐sedimentary rocks show typical rock assembles of a Cambrian‐early Ordovician arc‐trench system in Lajishan Mts. along the northern margin of the Hualong Complex. Island arc rocks including basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, and breccia is in fault contact with ophiolite complex consisting of mantle peridotite, serpentinite, gabbro, dolerite, plagiogranite, and basalt. Accretionary complexes are tectonically separated from the ophiolite‐arc rocks, with various rock assemblages spatially. They consist of pillow basalt, basalt breccia, tuff, chert, and limestone blocks with a seamount origin within the scaly shale in Dingmaoshan and Donggoumeikuang areas, and basalt, chert, and sandstone blocks within muddy shale matrix and mélange at Lajishankou area. Abundant radiolarians occur in red chert, and trilobite, brachiopod, and coral fossils occur within Dingmaoshan limestone blocks. Although partial basalt or chert blocks are highly disrupted, duplex, thrust fault, rootless intrafolial fold, tight fold, and penetrative foliation are well‐developed at Donggoumeikuang area. Spatially, accretionary complexes lie structurally beneath ophiolite complex and above the turbidites of the Central Qilian block. Ophiolite and accretionary complexes are also overlapped by late Ordovician molasse deposits sourced from Cambrian arc‐trench system and the Central Qilian block. These observations demonstrate that a Cambrian‐early Ordovician trench‐arc system within the South Qilian belt formed during the early Paleozoic southward subduction of the South Qilian Ocean collided with the Central Qilian block prior to the late Ordovician.     

Late Paleozoic subduction system in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidences from geochronology and geochemistry of the Xiaohuangshan ophiolite in the Beishan orogenic belt

The Xiaohuangshan ophiolite of the Beishan (Inner Mongolia) is located in the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. It consists of several blocks composed dominantly of serpentinized ultramafic rocks, cumulative gabbros and basalts. The geochemical data of gabbros and basalts obtained from the Xiaohuangshan ophiolite are similar to tholeiitic rocks. They all have low TiO₂ and high Al₂O₃ contents. Their light rare earth elements are slightly enriched, (La/Yb)_N = 3.62–6.80, similar to the typical enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts. The mafic rocks display enrichments in large ion lithophile elements and depletions in high field strength elements, as well as significant Nb–Ta–Ti negative anomalies, similar to subduction-derived rocks. All these geochemical characteritics indicate that the Xiaohuangshan ophiolite would form in a subduction zone from a slightly enriched mantle source. Ion microprobes (SHRIMP) U–Pb dating were conducted on zircons from the basalt and gabbro. The weighted mean ages are 336.4 ± 4.1 Ma and 345 ± 14 Ma, which are considered as the crystallization ages of the basalt and gabbro, respectively. Together with other two units, the Dongqiyishan arc belt and the Yueyashan–Xichangjing ophiolite, the Xiaohuangshan ophiolite forms a Late Paleozoic arc-basin system, indicating that the Paleo-Asian Ocean did not close in the early Carboniferous. Based on the geochemical characteristics of adjacent geological bodies and their settings, the Xiaohuangshan ophiolite is considered as an indicator of a suture zone between the different epicontinental belts in the Beishan region.     

藏北羌塘中部桃形湖早古生代蛇绿岩的岩石学特征

桃形湖早古生代蛇绿岩是龙木错－双湖板块缝合带近期的重要发现。通过对桃形湖蛇绿岩进行详细的野外地质调查和岩石学、年代学、地球化学的研究发现,桃形湖早古生代蛇绿岩各单元出露齐全,由下到上分别为变质橄榄岩、超基性堆晶杂岩、堆晶辉长岩、基性岩墙群和枕状玄武岩,在堆晶岩中有不同规模的斜长花岗岩（层）脉体。桃形湖堆晶辉长岩的时代为中奥陶世,并具有大洋中脊型的地球化学特点。桃形湖早古生代蛇绿岩的发现说明龙木错－双湖板块缝合带中存在完整的蛇绿岩组合,同时也是古特提斯洋早期裂解的重要证据。     

北祁连水洞峡蛇绿岩形成时代与构造环境

蛇绿岩的时空关系与构造归属是深入认识俯冲带演化和重建古板块构造格局的关键地质依据之一.水洞峡蛇绿岩作为北祁连南带蛇绿岩东段的重要组成部分,其形成时代和构造环境一直缺乏准确的限定.采用LA-ICP-MS对水洞峡蛇绿岩中的辉长岩进行了锆石U-Pb测年,所获得的206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为497.0±2.4 Ma（MSWD=0.84）,该年龄代表了辉长岩的结晶年龄,表明水洞峡蛇绿岩的形成时代应该为晚寒武世,这与祁连南带蛇绿岩的形成时代基本一致.蛇纹岩的矿物化学特征以及镁铁质-超镁铁质岩的全岩地球化学研究结果表明,水洞峡蛇绿岩中的蛇纹岩、辉长岩和玄武岩均表现出明显的与俯冲带密切相关的地球化学特征.结合北祁连已有的研究资料,玉石沟-水洞峡蛇绿岩应该属于SSZ型,该蛇绿岩在弧-陆碰撞过程中向南仰冲到中祁连地块之上.      

北山造山带白云山蛇绿混杂岩的地球化学特征、时代及地质意义

白云山蛇绿混杂岩是北山造山带中红柳河-牛圈子-洗肠井蛇绿岩带的一部分,由蛇纹石化二辉橄榄岩、蛇纹岩、辉长岩(堆晶辉长岩、块状辉长岩)、基性枕状熔岩(变玄武岩)及深海-次深海远洋、半远洋相沉积物(硅质岩、板岩)、白云岩等组成。其中辉长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果为496.4±2.2 Ma,指示蛇绿岩形成于晚寒武世;混杂带中玄武岩地球化学特征为洋底玄武岩,兼有洋岛碱性玄武岩(OIB)和洋脊玄武岩(MORB)的地球化学性质,枕状熔岩与硅质岩交互产出,指示其形成环境为深水洋盆。结合区域地质资料,推测该蛇绿混杂岩带为寒武纪洋中脊存在的遗迹。     

The origin and emplacement of the Lajishankou ophiolite complex in the South Qilian belt: evidences from geological mapping

Many ophiolite complexes like those of Oman and New Caledonia represent fragments of ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle generated at supra‐subduction zone environments and have been obducted onto the adjacent rifted continental margin together with the accretionary complexes and intra‐oceanic arcs. The Lajishan ophiolite complexes in the Qilian orogenic belt along the NE edge of the Tibet‐Qinghai Plateau are one of several ophiolites situated to the south of the Central Qilian block. Our geological mapping and petrological investigations suggest that the Lajishankou ophiolite complex consists of serpentinite, wehrlite, pyroxenite, gabbro, dolerite, and pillow and massive basalts that occur in a series of elongate fault‐bounded slices. An accretionary complex composed mainly of basalt, radiolarian chert, sandstone, mudstone, and mélange lies structurally beneath the ophiolite complex. The Lajishankou ophiolite complex and accretionary complex were emplaced onto the Qingshipo Formation of the Central Qilian block which shows features typical of turbidites deposited in a deep‐water environment of passive continental margin. Our geochemical and geochronological studies indicate that the mafic rocks in the Lajishankou ophiolite complex can be categorized into three distinct groups: massive island arc tholeiites, 509 Ma back‐arc dolerite dykes, and 491 Ma pillow basaltic and dolerite slices that are of seamount origin in a back‐arc basin. The ophiolite and accretionary complex constitute a Cambrian‐early Ordovician trench‐arc system within the South Qilian belt during the early Paleozoic southward subduction of the South Qilian Ocean prior to Early Ordovician obduction of this system onto the Central Qilian block.     

Sm–Nd systematics of metaultramafic-mafic rocks from the Arroio Grande Ophiolite (Brazil): Insights on the evolution of the South Adamastor paleo-ocean

In this contribution we present new insights on the evolution of the Dom Feliciano Belt, southernmost Mantiqueira Province, integrating new whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic data for the Arroio Grande Ophiolite (Punta del Este Terrane, Brazil/Uruguay border) with previously published bulk-rock and isotope geochemistry of the South Adamastor paleo-ocean metamafic rocks located in Uruguay (Paso del Dragón Complex, Punta del Este Terrane) and Namibia (Chameis Subterrane, Marmora Terrane, Gariep Belt). For the regional geology, the new data corroborate previous hypothesis and demonstrate the depleted mantle features of the amphibolites and metagabbros of the studied ophiolite. The Arroio Grande Ophiolite rocks are compared with its Uruguayan and Namibian counterparts, demonstrating their isotopic and geochemical similarities and differences, and the back-arc affinity of the South Adamastor paleo-ocean. The MORB-affinity amphibolites from the Arroio Grande Ophiolite-Paso del Dragón Complex are, so far, the most juvenile rocks in the eastern sector of the Dom Feliciano Belt, yielding ε_{Nd(640 ​Ma)} between +7.3 and ​+​9, and high ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd (>0.169) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(640 ​Ma) ratios (0.51219–0.51229). The South Adamastor is interpreted in this paper as an internal back-arc ocean, with limited lateral extension, opened at around 750–650 ​Ma as the result of the closure of the older Charrua-Goianide paleo-ocean during the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenic cycle and final configuration of the West Gondwana paleocontinent.     

西昆仑山库地蛇绿岩的特征及其构造意义

库地蛇绿岩套由下部超镁铁质岩、辉长岩、幔源型花岗岩和上部基性火山岩、复理石等成分构成,形成于震旦纪-寒武纪。通过基性的辉长岩、玄武岩的矿物学、岩石学和地球化学研究得出,辉长岩表现出与典型蛇绿岩套中的堆晶辉长岩的特征相一致;而玄武岩则与大洋中脊玄武岩的特征一致,认为该蛇绿岩套是形成于洋中脊的蛇绿岩套。结合库地岛弧花岗岩的特征,提出塔里木盆地南缘在震旦纪-早古生代时期存在一个广阔的大洋,这一大洋在志留纪末期关闭。     

Early Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Insights from granitoids in the Xing’an and Songnen blocks

The early Paleozoic tectonic framework and evolutionary history of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is poorly understood. Here we present zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole rock geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data of the early Paleozoic granitoids in eastern CAOB to investigate the petrogenesis and geodynamic implications.The early Paleozoic granitoids from the Songnen Block yield zircon U–Pb ages of 523–490 ​Ma, negative ε_Nd(t) values of –6.7 to –0.8, and ε_Hf(t) values of –8.6 to 7.1, indicating they were generated by partial melting of ancient crustal materials with various degrees of mantle contribution. They generally show affinities to A-type granites, implying their generation from an extensional environment after the collision between the Songnen and Jiamusi blocks. In comparison, the early Paleozoic granitoids from the Xing’an Block have zircon U–Pb ages of 480–465 ​Ma, ε_Nd(t) values of –5.4 to 5.4, and ε_Hf(t) values of –2.2 to 12.9, indicating a dominated juvenile crustal source with some input of ancient crustal components. They belong to I-type granites and were likely related to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The statistics of T_DM2 Hf model ages of the granitoids indicate that the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks contain a significant proportion of Mesoproterozoic crystalline basement, while the Xing’an Block is dominated by a Neoproterozoic basement.Based on these observations, the early Paleozoic evolutionary history of eastern CAOB can be divided into four stages: (1) before 540 ​Ma, the Erguna, Xing’an, Songnen, and Jiamusi blocks were discrete microcontinents separated by different branches of the Paleo-Asian Ocean; (2) 540–523 ​Ma, the Jiamusi Block collided with the Songnen Block along the Mudanjiang suture; (3) ca. 500 Ma, the Erguna Block accreted onto the Xing’an Block along the Xinlin–Xiguitu suture; (4) ca. 480 Ma, the Paleo-Asian Ocean started a double-side subduction beneath the united Erguna–Xing’an and Songnen–Jiamusi blocks.     

Geology and geochemistry of the Shuanggou ophiolite (Ailao Shan ophiolitic belt), Yunnan Province, SW China: Evidence for a slow-spreading oceanic basin origin

The early Carboniferous Shuanggou ophiolite lies in the middle segment of the Ailao Shan orogenic belt between the South China Block to the north and the Indochina Block to the south. The ophiolite consists of meta-peridotite, gabbro, diabase and basalt, capped by radiolarian-bearing siliceous rocks. No layered gabbros or sheeted dikes have been observed. The meta-peridotite underwent low degrees of partial melting, consistent with the low magma budget of this oceanic lithosphere. Whole-rock rare earth element analyses of gabbro indicate a geochemical affinity with normal mid-ocean ridge basalts, consistent with the crystallization order of plagioclase followed by clinopyroxene recognized in the gabbros. The ophiolite is believed to have formed in a small, slow-spreading oceanic basin. Collision of the Indochina Block with the South China Block in the late Paleozoic was responsible for the closure of the oceanic basin and emplacement of the ophiolite in the Ailao Shan orogenic belt.     

北祁连东段柏木峡—门岗峡地区蛇绿岩的识别及其区域构造意义

为加强对北祁连早古生代多岛弧盆系蛇绿混杂岩的调查,选取柏木峡—门岗峡蛇绿岩开展岩相学、年代学和地球化学研究。柏木峡—门岗峡蛇绿岩位于青海省海东市互助县,构造上处于北祁连造山带中东段。由橄榄岩、辉长岩和基性火山岩组成较为完整的蛇绿岩单元。对辉长岩进行单颗粒锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素测年,获得²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为(525.2±1.1) Ma(MSWD=0.06),代表了蛇绿岩的形成年龄,相当于早寒武世。岩石地球化学研究表明,该蛇绿岩中的基性火山岩属于拉斑系列,具有洋岛玄武岩的地球化学特征;玄武岩Th/Yb-Nb/Yb和TiO₂/Yb-Nb/Yb等构造环境判别图显示,该套蛇绿岩的形成环境与俯冲作用无关。结合详细的野外调查和区域对比,认为该蛇绿岩代表早古生代北祁连洋壳,与玉石沟—川刺沟等蛇绿岩共同构成了达坂山—玉石沟蛇绿岩带。     

Paleozoic tectonics of the southern Chinese Tianshan: Insights from structural,chronological and geochemical studies of the Heiyingshan ophiolitic mélange (NW China)

In the southern Chinese Tianshan, the southernmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), widespread ophiolitic mélanges form distinct tectonic units that are crucial for understanding the formation of the CAOB. However, the timing of tectonic events and the subduction polarity are still in controversy. In order to better understand these geological problems, a comprehensive study was conducted on the Heiyingshan ophiolitic mélange in the SW Chinese Tianshan. Detailed structural analysis reveals that the ophiolitic mélange is tectonically underlain by sheared and weakly metamorphosed pre-Middle Devonian rocks, and unconformably overlain by non-metamorphic and undeformed lower Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) to Permian strata. The igneous assemblage of the mélange comprises OIB-like alkali basalt and andesite, N-MORB-like tholeiitic basalt, sheeted diabase dikes, cumulate gabbro and peridotite. Mafic rocks display supra-subduction signatures, and some bear evidence of contamination with the continental crust, suggesting a continental marginal (back-arc) basin setting. Zircons of a gabbro were dated at 392 ± 5 Ma by the U–Pb LA-ICP-MS method. Famennian–Visean radiolarian microfossils were found in the siliceous matrix of the ophiolitic mélange. Mylonitic phyllite which displays northward-directed kinematic evidence yielded muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 359 ± 2 Ma and 356 ± 2 Ma.These new data, combined with previously published results, suggest that the mafic protoliths originally formed in a back-arc basin in the Chinese southern Tianshan during the late Silurian to Middle Devonian and were subsequently incorporated into the ophiolitic mélange and thrust northward during the Late Devonian to early Carboniferous. Opening of the back-arc basin was probably induced by south-dipping subduction of the Paleo-Tianshan Ocean in the early Paleozoic, and the Central Tianshan block was rifted away from the Tarim block. Closure of the back-arc basin in the early Carboniferous formed the South Tianshan Suture Zone and re-amalgamated the two blocks.     

Detrital zircon constraints on late Paleozoic tectonism of the Bogda region(NW China) in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Chinese North Tianshan(CNTS) in the southern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) has undergone multistage accretion-collision processes during Paleozoic time,which remain controversial.This study addresses this issue by tracing the provenance of Late Paleozoic sedimentary successions from the Bogda Mountain in the eastern CNTS through U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses of detrital zircons.New detrital zircon U-Pb ages(N=519) from seven samples range from 261±4 Ma to 2827±32 Ma.The most prominent age peak is at 313 Ma and subordinate ages vary from 441 Ma to 601 Ma,with some Precambrian detrital zircon ages(～7%) lasting from 694 Ma to 1024 Ma.The youngest age components in each sample yielded weighted mean ages ranging from 272±9 Ma to 288±5 Ma,representing the maximum depositional ages.These and literature data indicate that some previously-assumed "Carboniferous"strata in the Bogda area were deposited in the Early Permian,including the Qijiaojing,Julideneng,Shaleisaierke,Yangbulake,Shamaershayi,Liushugou,Qijiagou,and Aoertu formations.The low maturity of the sandstones,zircon morphology and provenance analyses indicate a proximal sedimentation probably sourced from the East Junggar Arc and the Harlik-Dananhu Arc in the CNTS.The minor Precambrian detrital zircons are interpreted as recycled materials from the older strata in the Harlik-Dananhu Arc.Zircon E_(Hf)(t) values have increased since ～408 Ma,probably reflecting a tectonic transition from regional compression to extension.This event might correspond to the opening of the Bogda intraarc/back arc rift basin,possibly resulting from a slab rollback during the northward subduction of the North Tianshan Ocean.A decrease of zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values at ～300 Ma was likely caused by the cessation of oceanic subduction and subsequent collision,which implies that the North Tianshan Ocean closed at the end of the Late Carboniferous.     

Petrology and geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic cumulate rocks from the eastern part of the Sabzevar ophiolite (NE Iran): Implications for their petrogenesis and tectonic setting

The Late Cretaceous Sabzevar ophiolite represents one of the largest and most complete fragments of Tethyan oceanic lithosphere in the NE Iran. It is mainly composed of serpentinized mantle peridotites slices; nonetheless, minor tectonic slices of all crustal sequence constituents are observed in this ophiolite. The crustal sequence contains a well-developed ultramafic and mafic cumulates section, comprising plagioclase-bearing wehrlite, olivine clinopyroxenite, olivine gabbronorite, gabbronorite, amphibole gabbronorite and quartz gabbronorite with adcumulate, mesocumulate, heteradcumulate and orthocumulate textures. The crystallization order for these rocks is olivine ​± ​chromian spinel → clinopyroxene → plagioclase → orthopyroxene → amphibole. The presence of primary magmatic amphiboles in the cumulate rocks shows that the parent magma evolved under hydrous conditions. Geochemically, the studied rock units are characterized by low TiO₂ (0.18–0.57 ​wt.%), P₂O₅ (<0.05 ​wt.%), K₂O (0.01–0.51 ​wt.%) and total alkali contents (0.12–3.04 ​wt.%). They indicate fractionated trends in the chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) plots and multi-element diagrams (spider diagrams). The general trend of the spider diagrams exhibit slight enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) relative to high field strength elements (HFSEs) and positive anomalies in Sr, Pb and Eu and negative anomalies in Zr and Nb relative to the adjacent elements. The REE plots of these rocks display increasing trend from La to Sm, positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu1 ​= ​1.06–1.54) and an almost flat pattern from medium REE (MREE) to heavy REE (HREE) region [(Gd/Yb)_N ​= ​1–1.17]. Moreover, clinopyroxenes from the cumulate rocks have low REE contents and show marked depletion in light REE (LREE) compared to MREE and HREE [(La/Sm)_N ​= ​0.10–0.27 and (La/Yb)_N ​= ​0.08–0.22]. The composition of calculated melts in equilibrium with the clinopyroxenes from less evolved cumulate samples are closely similar to island arc tholeiitic (IAT) magmas. Modal mineralogy, geochemical features and REE modeling indicate that Sabzevar cumulate rocks were formed by crystal accumulation from a hydrous depleted basaltic melt with IAT affinity. This melt has been produced by moderate to high degree (~15%) of partial melting a depleted mantle source, which partially underwent metasomatic enrichment from subducted slab components in an intra-oceanic arc setting.     

青藏高原松多地区温木朗蛇绿岩的发现及其地质意义

在藏南工布江达县松多地区温木朗沟发现了一套蛇绿岩,命名为温木朗蛇绿岩。温木朗蛇绿岩大地构造位置处于中冈底斯板块和南冈底斯板块的交界处。通过详细的野外地质调查和室内岩相学研究,温木朗蛇绿岩露头呈南北向分布,岩石端元包括蛇纹岩、超基性堆晶杂岩、变质辉长岩、变质玄武岩、绿片岩,各端元主要呈断层接触,变形变质较强;在蛇纹岩和变质玄武岩中均发现了花岗质片麻岩,在接触界线处存在冷凝边和烘烤边现象,推测其原岩为斜长花岗岩。温木朗蛇绿岩各端元出露相对齐全,是古特提斯洋壳残留的直接证据,对研究青藏高原古特提斯洋演化及冈底斯板块中部构造演化具有重要意义。     

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Middle Proterozoic Aoyougou Ophiolite in the North Qilian Mountains,Northwestern China

The Aoyougou ophiolite lies in an early Palaeozoic orogenic belt of the western North Qilian Mountains, near the Aoyougou valley in Gansu Province, northwestern China. It consists of serpentinite, a cumulate sequence of gabbro and diorite, pillow and massive lavas, diabase and chert. Ages of 1840±2 Ma, 1783±2 Ma and 1784±2 Ma on three zircons from diabase, indicate an early Middle Proterozoic age. The diabases and basalts show light rare-earth element enrichment and have relatively high TiO2 contents, characteristic of ocean island basalts. All of the lavas have low MgO, Cr, Ni contents and Mg numbers indicating a more evolved character. They are believed to have been derived from a more mafic parental magma by fractionation of olivine, Cr-spinel and minor plagioclase. Based on the lava geochemistry and regional geology, the Aoyougou ophiolite was probably believed to have formed at a spreading centre in a small marginal basin. Subduction of the newly formed oceanic lithosphere in the Middle Proteroz     

Tectonic entities connection between West Junggar (NW China) and East Kazakhstan

West Junggar (NW China) and East Kazakhstan are situated in the southwest of the Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB). Tectonic entities in the two areas share the same tectonic evolution history and make up the famous horseshoe-shaped orocline in Central Asia. This paper presents a newly compiled cross-border tectonic sketch map of West Junggar and East Kazakhstan and proposes the extension of the Chingiz–Tarbagatai belt and the North Balkhash-West Junggar belt.The Chingiz–Tarbagatai Belt in East Kazakhstan consists mainly of Middle-Late Ordovician differentiated volcanic rocks, pyroclastic sediments and flysch; while in the Tarbagatai Mountain in China, Tarbagatai (Kujibai) ophiolite is newly found with zircon (gabbro) age of 478 ± 3 Ma and the Ordovician flysch metamorphosed to a greenschist facies is distinguished from Devonian–Carboniferous rock associations. Therefore, the Early Paleozoic Chingiz–Tarbagatai belt of East Kazakhstan evidently extends to the northern part of West Junggar along the Tarbagatai orogenic belt.The North Balkhash-West Junggar belt lying south to the Chingiz–Tarbagatai belt is separated by the EW-trending Baiyanghe–Heshituoluogai depression in West Junggar. Early Ordovician–Early Silurian ophiolitic fragments and related pyroclastic sediments are widely exposed in Tekturmas, North Balkhash and Agadyr of East Kazashtan. Similarly, Early Paleozoic ophiolites have also been verified in Tangbale, Mayile, Baerluke, Darbut and Karamay of West Junggar in recent years. Therefore, nearly all ophiolites in West Junggar and East Kazakhstan are proved to have formed in Early Paleozoic, which suggests that the evolution of the paleo-ocean in the two areas reached its peak in the Early Paleozoic. Based on the ages of the Tangbale, Karamay and Hongguleleng ophiolites, an Early Paleozoic continental accretionary belt extending from Tangbale to Hongguleleng is determined at the NW margin of the Junggar basin for the first time. According to spatiotemporal comparison, ophiolites exposed in West Junggar and East Kazakhstan might originate from the same paleo-ocean tectonic region, and then the North Balkhash in East Kazakhstan and the West Junggar were offset for a long distance with respect to each other by the major Junggar dextral fault.Because of the large-scale accretion of continental crust before Silurian, the Late Paleozoic ocean in West Junggar and East Kazakhstan became smaller with residual nature, and extensive arc-basin-trench systems might be absent during the closure of this residual ocean.     

Complete preservation of ophiolite suite from south Andaman,India: A mineral-chemical perspective

Field studies supplemented by petrographic analyses clearly reveal complete preservation of ophiolite suite from Port Blair (11°39′N: 92°45′E) to Chiriyatapu (11°30′24″N: 92°42′30″E) stretch of South Andaman. The ophiolite suite reveals serpentinite at the base which is overlain unconformably by cumulate ultramafic-mafic members with discernible cumulus texture and igneous layering. Basaltic dykes are found to cut across the cumulate ultramafic-mafic members. The succession is capped by well exposed pillow basalts interlayered with arkosic sediments. Olivine from the basal serpentinite unit are highly magnesian (Fo_80.1–86.2). All clinopyroxene analyses from cumulate pyroxenite, cumulate gabbro and basaltic dyke are discriminated to be ‘Quad’ and are uniformly restricted to the diopside field. Composition of plagioclase in different lithomembers is systematically varying from calcic to sodic endmembers progressively from cumulate pyroxenite to pillow basalt through cumulate gabbro and basaltic dyke. Plagioclase phenocrysts from basaltic dyke are found to be distinctly zoned (An_60.7-An_35.3) whereas groundmass plagioclase are relatively sodic (An₃₃-An_23.5). Deduced thermobarometric data from different lithomembers clearly correspond to the observed preservation of complete ophiolite suite.     

北祁连乌鞘岭蛇绿混杂岩地球化学特征及其构造环境

乌鞘岭蛇绿混杂岩位于北祁连造山带东段,具有相对完整的蛇绿岩序列,包括：变质地幔橄榄岩单元（蛇纹岩＋辉橄岩）,镁铁质一超镁铁质堆晶岩单元（橄辉岩＋辉石岩）,镁铁质侵入岩单元（辉长岩）,及基性火山岩单元（玄武岩）。依照TiO,的含量,本文从乌鞘岭蛇绿混杂岩中分出两类玄武岩,即：低n玄武岩（Ti02=0．55％～0．76％）和高Ti玄武岩（Ti02=1．35％-1．99％）。低Ti玄武岩大离子亲石元素含量波动较大,具明显n负异常,LREE呈略富集的配分模式,整体上具有弧火山岩的特征;高Ti玄武岩大离子亲石元素含量在小范围内变化,未见Nb、Ti负异常,LPtEE呈略亏损的配分模式,具有典型N—MORB的性质。在构造环境判别图上,低n玄武岩和高Ti玄武岩分别落入陆缘弧和大洋中脊环境。高Ti玄武岩是鸟鞘岭蛇绿混杂岩的一部分,源于亏损地幔的部分熔融,与陆缘弧型低rri玄武岩构造混杂在一起。乌鞘岭蛇绿混杂岩大概于中一晚奥陶世形成于北祁连造山带老虎山一毛毛山弧后盆地。     

Zircon ages and geochemical compositions of the Manlay ophiolite and coeval island arc: Implications for the tectonic evolution of South Mongolia

Numerous small dismembered ophiolite fragments occur in South Mongolia, but they are very poorly studied. The lack of age data and geochemical analysis hampers our understanding of the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the region. We conducted detailed studies on the Manlay ophiolitic complex and Huree volcanic rocks south of the Main Mongolian Lineament (MML) to provide some constraints on these rocks. The Manlay ophiolite consists of dunite, harzburgite, pyroxenite, gabbro, plagiogranite, basalt and chert, locally with chromite mineralization in dunite. The gabbro and plagiogranite yielded SHRIMP zircon weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 509 ± 5 Ma and 482 ± 4 Ma, respectively. The basalt and dolerite samples of this complex show enrichment in LREE and LILE and negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, and the chrome spinel from the chromitite lens in the dunite is characterized by high Cr^# and low TiO₂ contents. These features suggest a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) origin for the ophiolitic complex. The Huree volcanic rocks, ranging from basalt to dacite, display enrichment in LREE and LILE, weak Eu anomalies and distinctly negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, consistent with those of typical magmas in a subduction environment. An andesite sample from this arc yielded a SHRIMP ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon age of 487 ± 5 Ma, which is the oldest reliable age for an island arc in South Mongolia. Recognition of an Early Paleozoic ophiolitic complex and a coeval island arc indicates that South Mongolia underwent a period of active volcanism during Late Cambrian to Ordovician. Additionally, the tuff overlying the ophiolitic complex and a granite intruding the ophiolite have SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages of 391 ± 5 Ma and 304 ± 4 Ma, respectively. Combining the available data, we propose that the Early Paleozoic subduction–accretionary complexes likely constitute the basement of the Late-Paleozoic arc formations and correlate with the Lake Zone in western Mongolia.