High-precision geochronology of Mesozoic magmatism in Macao,Southeast China:Evidence for multistage granite emplacement

Six new high precision U-Pb zircon ID-TIMS ages plus thirteen in situ high spatial resolution U-Pb zircon LA-MC-ICPMS ages are reported from Jurassic plutonic(metaluminous to weakly peraluminous biotite granites)and Jurassic to Cretaceous hypabyssal(dacites)rocks from Macao.Despite its relatively small area(~30 km^2),the new ages tightly constrain the Macao granitic magmatism to two periods ranging from 164.5±0.6 Ma to 162.9±0.7 Ma and 156.6±0.2 Ma to 155.5±0.8 Ma,separated by ca.6 Ma.Inherited zircons point to the existence of a basement with ages up to Paleo-Proterozoic and late Archean in the region.In addition,younger dacitic rocks were dated at 150.6±0.6 Ma and<120 Ma.U-Pb zircon ages and whole-rock REE data of Macao granites indicate that the first pulse is also represented in Hong Kong and Southeast(SE)China,while magmatism with the chemical characteristics of the second pulse seems to not be represented outside Macao.The two granitic magmatic pulses have distinct mineralogical and geochemical features that support their discrete nature rather than a continuum of comagmatic activity and suggest that the Macao granitic suite was incrementally assembled during a period of ca.9 Ma,a hypothesis also extendable to the neighboring Hong Kong region for a time lapse of ca.24 Ma.In Macao,the transition from granitic magmatism(Middle to Upper Jurassic)to the younger dacite dykes(Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous)most likely corresponds to a change in the regional tectonic setting,from an extensional regime related with foundering of the subducting paleoPacific plate during the Early Yanshanian period to the reestablishment of a normal subduction system in SE China during the Late Yanshanian period.     

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous volcanism of Hong Kong: Insights from the Ping Chau Formation

The vast expanse of Mesozoic igneous rocks in Hong Kong contain important geological records of late Mesozoic magmatic events and tectonic processes from the coastal region of Southeast China. Of these,the Ping Chau Formation in the northwestern New Territories is the youngest known stratum. We perform a detailed study of the volcanic rocks of the Ping Chau Formation utilizing zircon U-Pb dating,with major and trace elements geochemistry. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb data reveal Early Cretaceous age from two volcanic rock samples, with zircon crystallization from magmas at 140.3 ± 0.8 Ma and 139.3 ± 0.9 Ma,respectively. These rocks have high contents of total alkalis(Na_2O + K_2O = 5.58-9.45 wt.%), high-field-strength elements and light rare earth elements, conspicuous negative Eu anomalies, and depletions in Nb, Ta, Ti, Sr, Ba and P. Using this data, in combination with previous studies on the late Mesozoic volcanic belt in Southeast China, we propose that the volcanic rocks of the Ping Chau Formation probably originated from deep melting of the crust in a back-arc extensional setting induced by the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate. This formation represents the final stages of Early Cretaceous volcanic activity in Hong Kong, as associated with large-scale lithospheric extension, thinning and magmatism. Our results provide new information that can be used in evaluating the significance of Early Cretaceous volcanism and tectonics in Southeast China.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of mafic dykes in the Helanshan complex: Implications for Mesozoic tectonics in the North China Craton

The Helanshan tectonic belt(HTB) is a major tectonic divide between the Alxa and Ordos blocks in the North China Craton. The geochronology and petrogenesis of the mafic dykes in the northern HTB are keys to understanding the tectonic evolution of this belt. The mafic dykes, intruded into the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic metamorphic basement, are mainly composed of diabase with a mineral assemblage of plagioclase(45%-60%), pyroxene(25%-35%), minor quartz and Fe-Ti oxides. The LA-ICPMS U-Pb analysis of zircon grains from representative dykes yield a weighted mean age of 206 ± 1.9 Ma, which represents the crystallization age of the dyke. The diabases show high contents of Fe_2 O_3~T(11.88-17.55 wt.%), low contents of SiO_2(45.65-50.95 wt.%) and MgO(3.31-5.50 wt.%) with low Mg#(=100×MgO/(MgO + FeO) atomic ration) of 33-44. They are characterized by enrichment of light rare earth elements(LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements(LILEs)(e.g., Rb, Ba and Pb), and slight depletion of high field strength elements(HFSEs). These features suggest that the magma has undergone extensive fractionation of olivine and pyroxene but only minor crustal contamination during its evolution. Their high Sm contents and La/Sm ratios, and low Sm/Yb ratios indicate that magma from which the dykes formed was derived from low degree(about 5%) partial melting of an enriched garnet + spinel lherzolite mantle source. Together with regional geology, these geochemical and geochronological data suggest that the mafic dykes in the HTB were formed in an intracontinental extensional setting during the late Triassic.     

Late Mesozoic magmatism in the East Qinling Orogen,China and its tectonic implications

The Qinling Orogen in Central China records the history of a complex geological evolution and tectonic transition from compression to extension during the Late Mesozoic,with concomitant voluminous granitoids formation.In this study,we present results from petrological,geochemical,zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic studies on the Lengshui felsic dykes from Luanchuan region in the East Qinling Orogen.We also compile published geochronological,geochemical,and Hf isotopic data from Luanchuan region and present zircon Hf isotopic contour maps.The newly obtained age data yield two group of ages at～145 Ma and 140 Ma for two granite porphyries from the Lengshui felsic dykes,with the ～145 Ma interpreted as response to the peak of magmatism in the region,and the ～140 Ma as the timing of formation of the felsic dykes.The corresponding Hf isotopic data of the granite porphyries display negativeeHit)values of-16.67 to-4.61,and Hf crustal model ages(T_(DM~C_)of 2255-1490 Ma,indicating magma sourced from the melting of Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic crustal materials.The compiled age data display two major magmatic pulses at 160-130 Ma and 111-108 Ma with magmatic quiescence in between,and the zircon Hf isotopic data display/ε_(Hf)(t)values ranging from-41.9 to 2.1 and T_(DM)~c values of3387-1033 Ma,suggesting mixed crustal and mantle-derived components in the magma source,and correspond to multiple tectonic events during the Late Mesozoic.The Luanchuan granitoids are identified as 1-type granites and most of these are highly fractionated granites,involving magma mixing and mingling and crystal fractionation.The tectonic setting in the region transformed from the Late Jurassic syn-collision setting to Early Cretaceous within-plate setting,with E-W extension in the Early Cretaceous.This extension is correlated with the N-S trending post-collisional extension between the North China Craton and Yangtze Craton as well as the E-W trending back-arc extension triggered by the westward Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction,eventually leading to lithospheric thinning,asthenospheric upwelling,mafic magma underplating,and crustal melting in the East Qinling Orogen.     

U-Pb Dating of Volcanic Rocks and Granites along the Wuyishan Belt: Constraints on Timing of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Events in Southeast China

Five volcanic rock samples and two granite samples taken from the volcanic basins in western Fujian and southern Jiangxi were dated by using the zircon laser albation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U-Pb method. Together with previously dated ages, the dates obtained provide important constraints on the timing of late Mesozoic tectonic events in SE China. The volcanic rock samples yield ages of 183.1±3.5 Ma, ca. 141 Ma to 135.8±1.1 Ma, 100.4±1.5 to 97.6±1.1 Ma, confirming three episodes of late Mesozoic volcanic activities, which peaked at 180±5 Ma, 140±5 Ma and 100±5 Ma, respectively, along the Wuyishan belt. Moreover, based on field investigations of these volcano-sedimentary basins, we have recognized two compressional tectonic events along this belt. The early one was characterized by Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic NNE-trending folds that were intruded by late Jurassic granites; and the late one caused the Lower Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary layer to be tilted. The dated age 152.9±1.4 Ma of the granitic samples from the Hetian granitic pluton in the Changting Basin and that from the Baishiding granitic pluton, 100.2±1.8 Ma, in the Jianning Basin, give the upper boundaries of these two tectonic events respectively. Hence, the late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of SE China was alternated between extension and compression.     

Early Cretaceous A-type Granites in the Dandong Area,NE China and its Geodynamical Implications

A-type granites, as an important petrologic sign to build up environmental recognition, were mainly formed in extensional tectonic settings. A biotite syenogranite from the Fenghuangshan pluton in Dandong, Liaoning Province gave SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages of 122.5 ± 1.6 Ma, 124.9 ± 1.7 Ma and 126.9 ± 1.1 Ma. The monzogranites have SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages of 118.2 ± 1.6 Ma, 128.1 ± 1.7 Ma and 131.6 ± 1.9 Ma, giving an emplacement age for the pluton in the Early Cretaceous. SiO2 is 65.48–74.49 wt%, whereas that of K2O is 4.16–6.44 wt%, and that of Na2O is 2.99–4.70 wt%. They also contain 13.24–15.76 wt% of Al2O3, with an A/CNK ratio of 0.92–1.10, averaging 1.02. The alkalinity rate (AR) ranges from 2.68 to 5.12, and this range is within the AR of peraluminous type rocks. The granites of Fenghuangshan pluton are characterized by high contents of Na and K and low contents of Ca (thermophile element) and Mg, which are features of A-type granites. The (Na2O + K2O) ? Fe2O3* × 5 ? (CaO + MgO) × 5 discrimination diagram also shows that Fenghuangshan pluton is an A2-type granite. The above granite has zircon εHf(t) values ranging from ?17.06 to ?9.09, with single-stage Hf model ages (TDM) of 1141 Ma to 1498 Ma and two-stage Hf crustal model ages (TDMC) of 1762 Ma to 2263 Ma. A comprehensive analysis suggests that the Fenghuangshan pluton might have been formed from the lithospheric-plate sliding during the late stages of evolution of hot rift structures and might have been closely associated with the tectonic settings of Mesozoic Eurasia and the ancient Pacific Plate.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115001206

The Berezitovoe deposit in the Sergachi volcano-plutonic and metallogenic belt preserves evidence for polymetallic mineralization of multiple stages.The steeply dipping gamet-tourmaline-muscovite-quartz metasomatites(with K-Ar ages of 132 ± 2.9 and 127 ± 4.4 Ma) carry two distinct stages of mineralization developed at different times:(1) polymetallic mineralization and(2) gold-quartz.The deposit is located within Paleozoic gneissose granitoids of the Pikansky complex(dated as 379 ± 1.1 Ma by zircon U-Pb method) intruded by early Cretaceous porphyry-like granites of the Haikta pluton(dated as137 ± 0.67 Ma by zircon U-Pb method) and late Cretaceous dikes of porphyrites,porphyries,and lamprophyres.Evidence suggests the action of late gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids on the early polymetallic ores and the selective mobilization of some elements from these lead to redeposition together with complex sulphosalts.     

Mesozoic Large-scale Mineralization and Multiple Lithospheric Extensions in South China

South China is the most important polymetallic （tungsten, tin, bismuth, copper, silver, antimony, mercury, rare metals, heavy rare earth elements, gold and lead-zinc） province in China. This paper describes the basic characteristics of Mesozoic large-scale mineralization in South China. The large-scale mineralization mainly took place in three intervals： 170-150 Ma, 140-126 Ma and 110-80 Ma. Among these the first stage is mainly marked by copper, lead-zinc and tungsten mineralization and the third stage is mainly characterized by tin, gold, silver and uranium mineralization. The stage of 140-126 Ma mainly characterized by tungsten and tin mineralization is a transitional interval from the first to the third stage. In fight of the current research results of the regional tectonic evolution it is proposed that the large-scale mineralization in the three stages is related to post-collision between the South China block and the North China block, transfer of the principal stress-field of tectonic regimes from N-S to E-W direction, and multiple back-arc lithospheric extensions caused by subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.     

Changes of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Regimes around the Ordos Basin (North China) and their Geodynamic Implications

A synthesis is given in this paper on late Mesozoic deformation pattern in the zones around the Ordos Basin based on lithostratigraphic and structural analyses. A relative chronology of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress evolution was established from the field analyses of fault kinematics and constrained by stratigraphic contact relationships. The results show alternation of tectonic compressional and extensional regimes. The Ordos Basin and its surroundings were in weak N-S to NNE-SSW extension during the Early to Middle Jurassic, which reactivated E-W-trending basement fractures. The tectonic regime changed to a multi-directional compressional one during the Late Jurassic, which resulted in crustal shortening deformation along the marginal zones of the Ordos Basin. Then it changed to an extensional one during the Early Cretaceous, which rifted the western, northwestern and southeastern margins of the Ordos Basin. A NW-SE compression occurred during the Late Cretaceous and caused the termination of sedimentation and uplift of the Ordos Basin. This phased evolution of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress regimes and associated deformation pattern around the Ordos Basin best records the changes in regional geodynamic settings in East Asia, from the Early to Middle Jurassic post-orogenic extension following the Triassic collision between the North and South China Blocks, to the Late Jurassic multi-directional compressions produced by synchronous convergence of the three plates (the Siberian Plate to the north, Paleo-Pacific Plate to the east and Lhasa Block to the west) towards the East Asian continent. Early Cretaceous extension might be the response to collapse and lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton.     

Ordovician Proto–basin in South China and its Tectonic Implications: Evidence from the Detrital Zircon U–Pb Ages of the Ordovician in Central Hunan, China

Caledonian orogeny is another important tectonic event in South China Block after the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. With a view to constrain the tectonic evolution and proto–basin in South China, this paper reports the geochemical and zircon U-Pb dating data of the Ordovician strata in central Hunan, South China. Geochemical features and paleocurrent directions suggest that the lower Ordovician deposited in a passive continental margin basin with a provenance of quartzose components and showing an affinity with the Yangtze Block. U-Pb age data for 260 detrital zircons from upper Ordovician identify three major age populations as: 900–1200 Ma, 1400–1800 Ma and 2400–2700 Ma. The detrital zircon age spectrum as well as the paleocurrent directions suggest that upper Ordovician deposited in a foreland basin and showing a close affinity with the Cathaysia Block. It is also suggest that the lower Ordovician continuously accepted the mineral from the Yangtze Block, whereas the provenance of the upper Ordovician sedimentary basin changed from the Yangtze Block to the Cathaysia Block. This change implies a tectonic movement, which caused the transformation of the proto–basin in the Hunan area in SCB from passive continental margin basin to foreland basin probably took place during late Ordovician. This fact also demonstrate that the Caledonian orogeny in South China Block began no later than 453 Ma, and a new crustal evolution model is proposed.     

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Significance of CarboniferousGranites on the North Side of the Solonker Suture,CentralSouth Mongolia

The central part of South Mongolia, located to the north of the Solonker Suture, is a key region for studying the late Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). Voluminous late Paleozoic granitic rocks,especially of Carboniferous age, were intruded in this area. However, these granitoids have not been well studied and there is a lack of precise ages and isotopic data. This has hampered our understanding of the tectonic evolution of southeastern Mongolia, and even the entire CAOB. In this paper, we provide new U-Pb isotopic ages and geochemical analyses for these Carboniferous granites. One granite from the Ulaanbadrakh pluton yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 326 Ma, which indicates emplacement in the Early Carboniferous, and three other granites from the Khatanbulag region gave zircon U-Pb ages of316 Ma, 315 Ma, and 311 Ma, which indicate emplacement in the Late Carboniferous. The Early Carboniferous granite has SiO2 contents of 70.04–70.39 wt% and K2 O + Na2 O contents of 6.48–6.63 wt%, whereas the Late Carboniferous granites have more variable compositions(SiO2 = 65.29–77.91 wt% and K2 O + Na2 O = 5.30–7.27 wt%). All the granites are weakly-peraluminous I-types that are relatively enriched in U, Th, K, Zr, Hf, and LREEs. The whole rock Sr-Nd and zircon in situ Lu-Hf isotope analyses for the Early Carboniferous granite gave positive values of εNd(t)(2.87) and εHf(t)(4.31–12.37) with young Nd(TDM = 860 Ma) and Hf(TDMc = 1367–637 Ma) two-stage model ages, indicating derivation from juvenile crustal material. In contrast, the Late Carboniferous granites had more diverse values of εNd(t)(–4.03 to 2.18) and εHf(t)(–12.69 to5.04) with old Nd(TDM = 1358–1225 Ma) and Hf(TDMc = 2881–1294 Ma) depleted mantle two-stage model ages,suggesting derivation from remelting of Precambrian basement. Based on the existing results, the tectonic setting of the Late Carboniferous granites in the central part of South Mongolia is known for its diversity, and this paper believes that the tectonic background of the carboniferous granite records the tectonic transition from a continental-margin-arc to a postcollisional extensional setting during the Late Carboniferous–Permian.     

Tensile Fractures and in situ Stress Measurement Data Constraints on Cretaceous–Present Tectonic Stress Field Evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Shandong Province, North China Craton

Tectonic stress fields are the key drivers of tectonic events and the evolution of regional structures. The tectonic stress field evolution of the Tanlu fault zone in Shandong Province, located in the east of the North China Craton (NCC), may have preserved records of the NCC’s tectonic history. Borehole television survey and hydraulic fracturing were conducted to analyze the paleo and present tectonic stress fields. Three groups of tensile fractures were identified via borehole television, their azimuths being NNW–SSE, NW–SE and NE–SW, representing multiple stages of tectonic events. Hydraulic fracturing data indicates that the study region is experiencing NEE–SWW-oriented compression and nearly-N–S-oriented extension, in accordance with strike-slip and compression. Since the Cretaceous, the orientation of the extensional stress has evolved counterclockwise and sequentially from nearly-NW–SE-oriented to NE–SW-oriented and even nearly N–S-oriented, the stress state having transitioned from strike-slip-extension to strike-slip-compression, in association with the rotating and oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the NCC, with the participation of the Indian Plate.     

Ages of the Laocheng Granitoids and Crustal Growth in the South Qinling Tectonic Domain, Central China: Zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf Isotopic Constraints

The Laocheng granitoid pluton is located in the South Qinling tectonic domain of the Qinling orogenic belt, southern Shaanxi Province, and consists chiefly of quartz diorite, granodiorite and monzogranite. A LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb isotopic dating, in conjunction with cathodoluminescence images, reveals that the quartz diorite and granodiorite were emplaced from 220 Ma to 216 Ma, while the monzogranite was emplaced at ~210 Ma. In-situ zircon Hf isotopic analyses show that the εHf(t) values of the quartz diorite and granodiorite range from -8.1 to +1.3, and single-stage Hf model ages from 809 Ma to 1171 Ma, while the εHf(t) values of the monzogranite are -14.5 to +16.7 and single-stage Hf model ages from 189 Ma to 1424 Ma. These Hf isotopic features reveal that the quartz diorite, granodiorite and monzogranite were formed from the mixing of the magmas derived from partial melting of the depleted mantle and the lower continent crustal materials, and there were two stages of continental crust growth during the Neoproterozoic (~800 Ma) and Indosinian (~210 Ma) eras, respectively, in the south Qinling tectonic domain of the Qinling orogrnic belt, Central China.     

The Southward Extension of Cathaysia Block: Evidence from Zircon UPb Dates of Borehole Volcanics in the Northern South China Sea

Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating,including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSV1 and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2,respectively.A total of 162 zircon U-Pb dates for them cover an age range from Neoarchean to Eocene,in which the pre-Paleocene data dominate.The Paleogene dates of 62.5±2.2 Ma and 42.1±2.9 Ma are associated with two igneous episodes prior to opening of South China Sea basin.Those pre-Paleocene zircons are inherited zircons mostly with magmatogenic oscillatory zones,and have REE features of crustal zircon.Zircon U-Pb dates of 2518–2481 Ma,1933– 1724 Ma,and 1094–1040 Ma from the SCSV1 volcanics,and 2810–2718 Ma,2458–2421 Ma,and 1850 –993.4 Ma from the SCSV2 volcanics reveal part of Precambrian evolution of the northern South China Sea,well comparable with age records dated from the Cathaysia block.The data of 927.0±6.9 Ma and 781±38 Ma dated from the SCSV2 coincide with amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and breakup of the Rodinia,respectively.The age records of Caledonian orogeny from the Cathaysia block are widely found from our volcanic samples with concordant mean ages of 432.0±5.8 Ma from the SCSV1 and of 437±15 Ma from the SCSV2.The part of the northern South China Sea resembling the Cathaysia underwent Indosinian and Yanshannian tectonothermal events.Their age signatures from the SCSV1 cover 266.5±3.5 Ma,241.1±6.0 Ma,184.0±4.2 Ma,160.9±4.2 Ma and 102.8±2.6 Ma,and from the SCSV2 are 244±15 Ma,158.1±3.5 Ma,141±13 Ma and 96.3±2.1 Ma.Our pre-Paleogene U-Pb age spectra of zircons from the borehole volcanics indicate that the northern South China Sea underwent an evolution from formation of Precambrian basement,Caledonian orogeny,and Indosinian orogeny to Yanshannian magmatism.This process can be well comparable with the tectonic evolution of South China,largely supporting the areas of the northern South China Sea as part of southward extension of the Cathaysia.     

Chronological and Geochemical Characterisitics of Volcanic Rocks of the Yingcheng Formation in the Southern Songliao Basin: Constraints on the Early Cretaceous Evolution of the Songliao Basin

The discoveries of oil and gas reservoirs in the volcanic rocks of the Songliao Basin(SB) have attracted the attention of many researchers. However, the lack of studies on the genesis of the volcanic rocks has led to different opinions being presented for the genesis of the SB. In order to solve this problem, this study selected the volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation in the Southern Songliao Basin(SSB) as the research object, and determined the genesis and tectonic setting of the volcanic rocks by using LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and a geochemical analysis method(major elements, trace elements, and Hf isotopes). The volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation are mainly composed of rhyolites with minor dacites and pyroclastic rocks. Our new zircon U-Pb dating results show that these volcanic rocks were erupted in the Early Cretaceous(113–118 Ma). The primary zircons from the rhyolites have εHf(t) values of +4.70 to +12.46 and twostage model age(TDM2) of 876–374 Ma. The geochemical data presented in this study allow these rhyolites to be divided into I-type rhyolites and A-type rhyolites, both of which were formed by the partial melting of the crust. They have SiO2 contents of 71.62 wt.%–75.76 wt.% and Al2 O3 contentsof 10.88 wt.% to 12.92 wt.%. The rhyolites have distinctively higher REE contents than those of ordinary granites, with obvious negative Eu anomalies. The light to heavy REE fractionation is not obvious, and the LaN/YbN(average value = 9.78) is less than 10. The A-type rhyolites depleted in Ba, Sr, P, and Ti, with relatively low Nb/Ta, indicating that the rocks belong A2 subtype granites formed in an extensional environment. The adakitic dacites are characterized by high Sr contents(624 to 1,082 ppm), low Y contents(10.6 to 12.6 ppm), high Sr/Y and Sr/Yb ratios, and low Mg# values(14.77 to 36.46), indicating that they belong to "C" type adakites. The adakitic dacite with high Sr and low Yb were likely generated by partial melting of the lower crust under high pressure conditions at least 40 km depth. The I-type rhyolites with low Sr and high Yb, and the A-type rhyolites with very low Sr and high Yb, were formed in the middle and upper crust under low pressure conditions, respectively. In addition, the formation depths of the former were approximately 30 km, whereas those of the latter were less than 30 km. The geochemical characteristics reveal that the volcanic rocks of Yingcheng Formation were formed in an extensional environment which was related to the retreat of subducted Paleo-Pacific Plate. At the late Early Cretaceous Period, the upwelling of the asthenosphere mantle and the lithosphere delamination caused by the retreat of the subducted Paleo-Pacific Plate, had resulted in lithosheric extension in the eastern part of China. Subsequently, a large area of volcanic rocks had formed. The SB has also been confirmed to be a product of the tectonic stress field in that region.     

Geochronology and petrogenesis of the mafic dykes from the Purang ophiolite:Implications for evolution of the western Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone,southwestern Tibet

The>2000 km Indus-Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone(IYSZ)is composed of the Neo-tethys oceanic remnants,flysch units and related continental rocks,which has been regarded as the boundary between the Eurasian and Indian terranes.Among the ophiolitic complexes,the Purang ophiolite is the biggest massif in the IYSZ,and many studies have been conducted on this ophiolite.However,previous studies have mainly focused on harzburgite,clinopyroxenite and dunite.Field observations show that mafic dykes were emplaced within the Purang ophiolite.However,petrogenetic evolutions of those mafic dykes are poorly understood.In this study,we present new LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results,whole-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope analyses for microgabbro,gabbro and dolerite dykes from the Purang ophiolite of the southwestern IYSZ,respectively.Three samples yielded zircon U-Pb ages of144.2±2.1 Ma.127.9±2.3 Ma and 126.5±0.42 Ma,suggesting two different phases of magmatic activities distinctly.Whole-rock geochemical results suggest that the gabbro samples show alkaline features marked by enrichments of light rare earth elements(LREE)and large-ion lithophile elements(LILE),as well as Nb-Ta elements,suggesting an oceanic island basalt-like(OIB-like)geochemical affinity.However,the dolerite and microgabbro samples demonstrate sub-alkaline characteristics with normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt-like(N-MORB-like)geochemical features.Three distinct mafic dykes show significant Rb element depletion.The geochemical data and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic features suggest that the microgabbro and gabbro rocks were derived from a depleted mantle that had been metasomatized by partial melts of sediments and enriched slab-derived fluids.The dolerite was also originated from a depleted mantle marked by significantly depleted Sr-Nd-Hf compositions,which was not influenced by enriched slab-derived fluids and sediments contamination during subsequent evolution.The isotope and geochemical data and tectonic diagrams suggest a tectonic transition from a within-plate to a midoceanic ridge basalt-like(MORB-like)setting during the period from ca.144 Ma to 127 Ma.Combined with regional background and this study,we propose that these mafic dykes were formed in an oceanic back-arc basin setting.Additionally,integrated with previous studies,we suggest that the geodynamic evolution of the southwestern and central parts of the Neo-Tethys oceanic basin is comparable in Early Cretaceous.     

New Apatite Fission-Track Ages of the Western Kuqa Depression: Implications for the Mesozoic–Cenozoic Tectonic Evolution of South Tianshan, Xinjiang

The Mesozoic–Cenozoic uplift history of South Tianshan has been reconstructed in many ways using thermochronological analyses for the rocks from the eastern Kuqa Depression. The main difference in the reconstructions concerns the existence and importance of Early Cretaceous and Paleogene tectonic activities, but the existence of a Cenozoic differential uplift in the Kuqa Depression remains enigmatic. Here, we present new apatite fission-track ages obtained for 12 sandstone samples from the well-exposed Early Triassic to Quaternary sequence of the Kapushaliang section in the western Kuqa Depression. The results reveal that there were four pulses of tectonic exhumation, which occurred during the Early Cretaceous(peak ages of 112 and 105 Ma), Late Cretaceous(peak age of 67 Ma), Paleocene–Eocene(peak ages at 60, 53, and 36 Ma), and early Oligocene to late Miocene(central ages spanning 30–11 Ma and peak ages of 23 and 14 Ma), respectively. A review of geochronological and geological evidence from both the western and eastern Kuqa Depression is shown as follows.(1) The major exhumation of South Tians Shan during the Early Cretaceous was possibly associated with docking of the Lhasa block with the southern margin of the Eurasian plate.(2) The Late Cretaceous uplift of the range occurred diachronically due to the far-field effects of the Kohistan-Dras Arc and Lhasa block accretion.(3) The Paleogene uplift in South Tianshan initially corresponded to the far-field effects of the India–Eurasia collision.(4) The rapid exhumation in late Cenozoic was driven by the continuous far-field effects of the collision between India and Eurasia plates. The apatite fission-track ages of 14–11 Ma suggest that late Cenozoic exhumation in the western Kuqa Depression prevailed during the middle to late Miocene, markedly later than the late Oligocene to early Miocene activity in the eastern segment. It can be hypothesized that a possible differential uplift in time occurred in the Kuqa Depression during the late Cenozoic.     

Early Cretaceous Adakitic Rocks in the Northern Great Xing’an Range, NE China: Implications for the Final Closure of Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and Regional Extensional Setting

A large amount of igneous rocks in NE China formed in an extensional setting during Late Mesozoic. However, there is still controversy about how the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and the Paleo-Pacific Ocean effected the lithosphere in NE China. In this paper, we carried out a comprehensive study for andesites from the Keyihe area using LA-ICP-MS zircon UPb dating and geochemical and Hf isotopic analysis to investigate the petrogenesis and tectonic setting of these andesites. The U-Pb dating yields an Early Cretaceous crystallization age of 128.3±0.4 Ma. Geochemically, the andesites contain high Sr(686–930 ppm) and HREE contents, low Y(11.9–19.8 ppm) and Yb(1.08–1.52 ppm) contents, and they therefore have high Sr/Y(42–63) and La/Yb(24–36) ratios, showing the characteristics of adakitic rocks. Moreover, they exhibit high K_2O/Na_2O ratios(0.57–0.81), low Mg O contents(0.77–3.06 wt%), low Mg# value(17–49) and negative εHf(t) values(-1.7 to-8.5) with no negative Eu anomalies, indicating that they are not related to the oceanic plate subduction. Based on the geochemical and isotopic data provided in this paper and regional geological data, it can be concluded that the Keyihe adakitic rocks were affected by the Mongol-Okhotsk tectonic regime, forming in a transition setting from crustal thickening to regional extension thinning. They were derived from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust. The closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean may finish in early Early Cretaceous, followed by the collisional orogenic process. The southern part region of its suture belt was in a post-orogenic extensional setting in the late Early Cretaceous.     

SHRIMP U-Pb Zircon Age of the Ka''erjiao Intrusion in the Sawur Region in West Junggar,Xinjiang

Acid intrusions are widespread in the Sawur region, Xinjiang. The Ka'erjiao intrusion is mainly composed of albite granite porphyry, K-feldspar granite porphyry, ivernite and granite porphyry. Being a transitional product between magma intrusion and eruption in the Sawur region, the Ka'erjiao intrusion was formed at the telophase of the late Carboniferous to the begining of early Permian as determined by the SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating, with an age of 302.6±7.6 Ma (1σ). The intrusion consists of alkali-enriched rock, whose REE distribution patterns are of the LREE enrichment type, theδEu value is low and Nd, Sr, Pb isotopes reflect its mantle source characteristics. Theδ18O value of intrusion is low as a result of isotope exchange with meteoric water. The geochemical characteristics show that it was formed in a post-collisional tectonic setting. Taking combined considerations of current studies of A-type granites and Permian volcanic rocks, we think that in the telophase of the late Carboniferous to the beginning of the early Permian, the Sawur region was within the extension or compressional to extensional period of a post-collisional stage. The Ka'erjiao intrusion from mantle sources can confirm the vertical continental crust growth in the late Paleozoic. The Sawur region in west Junggar is consistent with east Junggar in post-collisional tectonic evolution process.