Geochronology and Hf isotope of detrital zircons from Precambrian sequences in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen: Constraining the assembly of Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in South China

The Jiangnan Orogen, the eastern part of which comprises the oceanic Huaiyu terrane to the northeast and the continental Jiuling terrane to the southwest, marks the collision zone of the Yangtze and the Cathaysia Blocks in South China. Here, zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu–Hf isotopic results from typical basement and cover meta-sedimentary/sedimentary rock units in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen are presented. The basement sequences in southwestern Huaiyu terrane are mainly composed of marine volcaniclastic turbidite, ophiolite suite and tuffaceous phyllite, whereas those in the northeastern Huaiyu consist of littoral face pebbly feldspathic sandstones and greywacke interbedded with intermediate-basic volcanic rocks. Combined with previous studies, the present data show that the basement sequences exhibit arc affinities. Zircons from the basement phyllite in the southwestern margin of the Huaiyu terrane, representing a Neoproterozoic back-arc basin, yield a single age population of 800–900 Ma. The basement greywacke from northeastern Huaiyu terrane, representing fore-arc basin, is also characterized by zircons that preserve a single tectono-thermal event during 800–940 Ma. However, the late Neoproterozoic cover sequence preserves zircons from multiple sources with age populations of 750–890 Ma, 1670–2070 Ma and 2385–2550 Ma. Moreover, Hf isotopic data further reveal that most detrital zircons from the basement sequences yield positive εHf(t) values and late Mesoproterozoic model ages, while those of the cover sequence mostly show negative εHf(t) values. The Hf isotopic data therefore suggest that the basement sequences are soured from a Neoproterozoic arc produced by reworking of subducted late Mesoproterozoic materials. The geochronological and Hf isotopic data presented in this study suggest ca. 800 Ma for the assembly of the Huaiyu and Jiuling terranes, implying that the amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in the eastern part occurred at ca. 800 Ma.     

Tectonic evolution of the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Implications for the assembly of the Tarim terrane to Gondwana

The West Kunlun orogenic belt(WKOB) along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the evolution of the Proto-and Paleo-Tethys oceans. Previous investigations have focused on the igneous rocks and ophiolites distributed mostly along the Xinjiang-Tibet road and the China-Pakistan road, and have constructed a preliminary tectonic model for this orogenic belt. However, few studies have focused on the so-called Precambrian basement in this area. As a result, the tectonic affinity of the individual terranes of the WKOB and their detailed evolution process are uncertain. Here we report new field observations, zircon and monazite U-Pb ages of the "Precambrian basement" of the South Kunlun terrane(SKT) and the Tianshuihai terrane(TSHT), two major terranes in the WKOB. Based on new zircon U-Pb age data, the amphibolite-facies metamorphosed volcanosedimentary sequence within SKT was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian(600-500 Ma), and the flysch-affinity Tianshuihai Group, as the basement of the TSHT, was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic rather than Mesoproterozoic. The rock association of the volcano-sedimentary sequence within SKT suggests a large early Paleozoic accretionary wedge formed by the long-term lowangle southward subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and TSHT. The amphibolitefacies metamorphism in SKT occurred at ca. 440 Ma. This ca. 440 Ma metamorphism is genetically related to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and the Tianshuihai terrane, which led to the assembly of Tarim to Eastern Gondwana and the final formation of the Gondwana. Since the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean along the HongshihuQiaoertianshan belt produced the voluminous early Mesozoic arc-signature granites along the southern part of NKT-TSHT. The Paleo-Tethys ocean between TSHT and Karakorum closed at ca. 200 Ma, as demonstrated by the monazite age of the paragneiss in the Kangxiwa Group. Our study does not favor the existence of a Precambrian basement in SKT.     

1.3–0.9 Ga Oaxaquia (Mexico): Remnant of an arc/backarc on the northern margin of Amazonia

Rocks with ages of ca. 1 Ga occur in central and southern Mexico as inliers surrounded by ubiquitous Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks. They appear to share a common history consisting of: (i) ca. 1300–1200 Ma arc magmatism and deposition of sediments including evaporites; (ii) ca.1160–1100 Ma intrusion of syenite, granite and anorthosite, the later part of which is synchronous with migmatization; (iii) intrusion of a ca. 1035–1010 Ma anorthosite–gabbro–charnockite–granite (AMCG) suite; (iv) a 1000–980 Ma granulite facies tectonothermal event with a stretching axis parallel to the long axis of Oaxaquia; (v) gradual exhumation at 750 and/or 545 Ma; and (vi) 517 Ma intrusion of an isolated calcalkaline granitoid pluton. The common Precambrian geological record of these outcrops suggests that they belonged to a single terrane (Oaxaquia) and formed a juvenile arc/backarc bordering a continent that underwent collision with, and overthrusting of, the Avalonian arc at 1000–980 Ma. This buried Oaxaquia to 25–30 km and was followed by further supra-subduction zone magmatism at ca. 917 Ma. These Precambrian rocks are unconformably overlain by uppermost Cambrian and Silurian platform rocks containing Gondwanan fauna and ca. 1 detrital zircons of Oaxacan provenance. The neighbouring Mixteca terrane includes lower Paleozoic, rift-passive margin sedimentary rocks that also contain 900–750 Ma detrital zircons probably derived from the Goiás arc in eastern Amazonia. The arc-backarc tectonic setting inferred for the 1300–900 Ma rocks also suggests that Oaxaquia lay on an active periphery of Amazonia until ca. 900 Ma, well after the amalgamation of Rodinia. This precludes a location for Oaxaquia off southern and western Amazonia that are inferred to have been juxtaposed against eastern Laurentia; contiguity with eastern Amazonia is also unlikely given the absence of the 900–750 Ma convergent tectonics in the Goiás arc. This leaves northern Amazonia as the most likely position, a location that requires the least relative displacement between Oaxaquia and Amazonia. The inferred 750 and 545 Ma exhumation episodes of Oaxaquia correspond to two proposed breakup stages of Rodinia.     

Provenance and paleogeography of the Early Paleozoic basin in the northern Yangtze Block: Constraints from detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf data

The Proto-Tethys was a significant post-Rodinia breakup ocean that eventually vanished during the Paleozoic. The closure timing and amalgamation history of numerous microblocks within this ocean remain uncertain, while the Early Paleozoic strata on the northern margin of the Yangtze Block archive valuable information about the evolution of the Shangdan Ocean, the branch of the Proto-Tethys. By comparing the detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic data from Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian sedimentary rocks in the northern Yangtze Block with adjacent blocks, it was found that detrital zircons in Cambrian strata exhibit a prominent age peak at ∼ 900–700 Ma, which indicates that the primary source of clastic material in the basin was the uplifted inner and margin regions of the Yangtze Block. In the Silurian, abundant detrital material from the North Qinling Block was transported to the basin due to the continuous subduction and eventual closure of the Shangdan Ocean. This process led to two distinct age peaks at ∼500–400 Ma and ∼900–700 Ma, indicating a bidirectional provenance contribution from both the North Qinling Block and the Yangtze Block. This shift demonstrates that the initial collision between these two blocks occurred no later than the Silurian. The northern Yangtze Basin transitioned from a passive continental margin basin in the Cambrian to a peripheral foreland basin in the Silurian. Major blocks in East Asia, including South Tarim, North Qilian, North Qinling, and North Yangtze, underwent peripheral subduction and magmatic activity to varying degrees during the late Early Paleozoic, signifying the convergence and rapid contraction of microplates within northern Gondwana and the Proto-Tethys Ocean. These findings provide new insights on the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.     

Detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes and provenance of Late Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic sediments of the Simao and Baoshan blocks,SW China: Implications for Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys evolution and Gondwana reconstruction

Early Paleozoic evolution of the northern Gondwana margin is interpreted from integrated in situ U-Pb and Hf-isotope analyses on detrital zircons that constrain depositional ages and provenance of the Lancang Group, previously assigned to the Simao Block, and the Mengtong and Mengdingjie groups of the Baoshan Block. A meta-felsic volcanic rock from the Mengtong Group yields a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 462 ± 2 Ma. The depositional age for the previously inferred Neoproterozoic Lancang and Mengtong groups is re-interpreted as Early Paleozoic based on youngest detrital zircons and meta-volcanic age. Detrital U-Pb zircon analyses from the Baoshan Block define three distinctive age peaks at older Grenvillian (1200–1060 Ma), younger Grenvillian (~ 960 Ma) and Pan-African (650–500 Ma), with εHf(t) values for each group similar to coeval detrital zircons from western Australia and northern India. This suggests that the Baoshan Block was situated in the transitional zone between northeast Greater India and northwest Australia on the Gondwana margin and received detritus from both these cratons. The Lancang Group yields a very similar detrital zircon age spectrum to that of the Baoshan Block but contrasts with that for the Simao Block. This suggests that the Lancang Group is underlain by a separate Lancang Block. Similar detrital zircon age spectra suggest that the Baoshan Block and the Lancang Block share common sources and that they were situated close to one another along the northern margin of East Gondwana during the Early Paleozoic. The new detrital zircon data in combination with previously published data for East Gondwana margin blocks suggests the Early Paleozoic Proto-Tethys represents a narrow ocean basin separating an “Asian Hun superterrane” (North China, South China, Tarim, Indochina and North Qiangtang blocks) from the northern margin of Gondwana during the Late Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic. The Proto-Tethys closed in the Silurian at ca. 440–420 Ma when this “Asian Hun superterrane” collided with the northern Gondwana margin. Subsequently, the Lancang Block is interpreted to have separated from the Baoshan Block during the Early Devonian when the Paleo-Tethys opened as a back-arc basin.     

S?o Francisco-Congo Craton break-up delimited by U-Pb-Hf isotopes and trace-elements of zircon from metasediments of the Ara?uaí Belt

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology combined with Hf isotopic and trace element data from metasedimentary rocks of the Aracuai Belt in southeastern Brazil provide evidence for break-up of the Congo-Sao Francisco Craton. The U-Pb age spectra of detrital zircons from metasediments of the Rio Doce Group(RDG) range from 900-650 Ma and define a maximum depositional age of ca. 650 Ma. Zircon trace element and whole rock data constrain an oceanic island arc as source for the deposition setting of the protoliths to the metasediments. Zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values from these rocks are positive between +1 and +15, supporting previous evidence of a Neoproterozoic extensional phase and oceanic crust formation in a precursor basin to the Aracuai Belt. Recrystallization of detrital zircon at ca. 630 Ma is compatible with a regional metamorphic event associated with terrane accretion to the Paleoproterozoic basement after transition from an extensional to a convergent regime. The juvenile nature, age spectra and trace element composition recorded in detrital zircons of metasediments from the Aracuai Belt correspond with zircons from metasedimentary rocks and oceanic crust remnants of other orogenic belts to its south. This suggests that rifting and oceanic crust formation of the entire orogenic system, the so-called Mantiqueira Province, was contemporaneous, most likely related to the opening of a large ocean. It further indicates that the cratonic blocks involved in the orogenic evolution of the Mantiqueira Province were spatially connected as early as 900 Ma.     

Determination of the early Paleozoic accretionary complex in Southwestern Yunnan,China: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys Ocean

Accretionary complex study provides important knowledge on the subduction and the geodynamic processes of the oceanic plate, which represents the ancient ocean basin extinction location. Nevertheless, there exist many disputes on the age, material source, and tectonic attribute of the Lancang Group, located in Southwest Yunnan, China. In this paper, the LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U–Pb chronology of nine metamorphic rocks in the Lancang Group was carried out. The U–Pb ages of the three detrital zircons mainly range from 590–550 Ma, 980–910 Ma, and 1150–1490 Ma, with the youngest detrital zircons having a peak age of about 560 Ma. The U–Pb ages of the six detrital zircons mainly range from 440–460 Ma and 980–910 Ma, and the youngest detrital zircon has a peak age of about 445 Ma. In the Lancang Group, metamorphic acidic volcanic rocks, basic volcanic rocks, intermediate-acid intrusive rocks, and high-pressure metamorphic rocks are exposed in the form of tectonic lens in schist, rendering typical melange structural characteristics of “block + matrix”. Considering regional deformation and chronology, material composition characteristics, and the previous data, this study thinks the Lancang Group may be an early Paleozoic tectonic accretionary complex formed by the eastward subduction of the Changning-Menglian Proto-Tethys Ocean, which provides an important constraint for the Tethys evolution.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Formation and evolution of the Eastern Kunlun Range,northern Tibet: Evidence from detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes

The Eastern Kunlun Range, as a high-elevation and granitoid-rich tectonic element in northern Tibet, records Paleozoic–Mesozoic amalgamation process of the East Asia continent and Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. However, Precambrian evolution of the Eastern Kunlun remains poorly understood and relations between Eastern Kunlun and adjacent terranes (e.g., Qaidam and Qilian) during the Phanerozoic accretion process are still highly controversial. We use detrital zircon U-Pb geochronological and Hf isotopic data of Proterozoic and Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks from the Eastern Kunlun Range, to reconstruct its origin and subsequent evolutionary history. Detrital zircons of the Proterozoic rocks are dominated by early–middle Neoproterozoic ages (700–1000 Ma), with two age peaks at ca. 800 Ma and ca. 920 Ma and εHf(t) values ranging from −10 to 5. The youngest detrital zircon ages (648–788 Ma) demonstrate that these investigated Proterozoic strata, which were previously mapped as Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic, were most likely deposited in the middle–late Neoproterozoic. Abundant 0.9–1.0 Ga detrital zircon crystals are consistent with those crystalline rocks of similar ages across the Kunlun-Qaidam and Qilian terranes, which are generally interpreted as the product of Grenvillian orogenesis. These findings support the hypothesis that these terranes were probably within a single continental landmass (named as KQQ block) during the Neoproterozoic. The high similarity of detrital zircon ages, Hf isotopes and Neoproterozoic lithostratigraphy between western Yangtze and KQQ blocks, supports a temporary connection of the KQQ block to western Yangtze in Rodinia supercontinent. Detrital zircons of the analyzed Paleozoic rocks are characterized by 390–490 Ma age populations. These results, in combination with published granitoids data of the northern Tibet, favor a scenario in which the Kunlun-Qaidam and Qilian terranes underwent separated subduction and accretion processes during the late Cambrian–Devonian, but together formed an upper plate to northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys during the Permian–Triassic.     

Late Permian–Triassic siliciclastic provenance,palaeogeography, and crustal growth of the Songpan terrane,eastern Tibetan Plateau: evidence from U–Pb ages,trace elements,and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons

In order to constrain the detrital provenance of the siliciclastic rocks, palaeogeographic variations, and crustal growth history of central China, we carried out simultaneously in situ U–Pb dating and trace element and Hf isotope analyses on 368 detrital zircons obtained from upper Permian–Triassic sandstones of the Songpan terrane, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Two groups of detrital zircons, i.e. magmatic and metamorphic in origin, have been identified based on cathodoluminescence images, zircon Ti-temperatures, and Th/U ratios. Our data suggest that the derivation of siliciclastic rocks in the Songpan terrane was mainly from the Qinling, Qilian, and Kunlun orogens, whereas the Yangtze and North China Cratons served as minor source areas during late Permian–Triassic times. The detrital zircons from Middle–Late Triassic siliciclastic rocks exhibit wide age spectra with two dominant populations of 230–600 Ma and >1600 Ma, peaking at ~1.8–1.9 Ga and ~2.4–2.5 Ga, suggestive of a derivation from the Qinling, Qilian, and Kunlun orogens and the Yangtze Craton being the minor source area. The proportions of detrital zircon populations from the northern Qinling, Qilian, and Kunlun orogens distinctly decreased during Middle–Late Triassic time, demonstrating that the initial uplift of the western Qinling occurred then and it could have blocked most of the detritus from the Qilian–northern Qinling orogens and North China Cratons into the main Songpan–Ganzi depositional basin. The relatively detrital zircon proportions of the Yangtze Craton source decreased during Early-Middle Late Triassic time, indicating that the Longmenshan orogen was probably being elevated, since the early Late Triassic and gradually formed a barrier between the Yangtze Craton and the Songpan terrane. In addition, our Lu–Hf isotopic results also reveal that the Phanerozoic magmatic rocks in central China had been the primary products of crustal reworking with insignificant formation of a juvenile crust.     

澜沧江杂岩带澜沧群浅变质岩系碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学及其构造意义

澜沧群出露于滇西"三江"地区的南段,其主要岩石由遭受低级变质作用改造的泥质岩和基性火山岩组成。这些岩石普遍经历了古特提斯洋的闭合以及随后的洋陆俯冲过程,是研究古特提斯洋俯冲-碰撞过程的重要窗口。但是有关澜沧群的形成时代、物质来源以及形成的构造背景等一系列问题长期以来存在着多种争议。本文对澜沧群中3件石英岩和1件绢云母变质石英砂岩样品中分选出的碎屑锆石进行了阴极发光图像分析和LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究。澜沧群浅变质岩系碎屑锆石具有明显或弱的振荡环带和较高的Th/U比值,表明岩浆成因。年代学分析结果表明,4件浅变质岩石样品均得到了两组主要年龄峰值,分别为530Ma和930Ma、570Ma和915Ma、540Ma和960Ma、570Ma和910Ma。本次研究中碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄主要分布在570~530Ma和960~910Ma。其中,最年轻的碎屑锆石年龄峰值~530Ma,支持了前人认为澜沧群沉积时代为中奥陶纪(462~454Ma)的认识。本研究中澜沧群浅变质岩系碎屑锆石年龄分布特征表明源区可能主要为泛非期和罗迪尼亚超大陆聚合-裂解过程中形成的岩浆岩。碎屑锆石磨圆较好指示其经历了较长距离的搬运。澜沧群浅变质岩系碎屑锆石与羌塘、特提斯喜马拉雅和拉萨地体变沉积岩或地层中碎屑锆石具有相似的年龄分布特征,表明它们可能具有相似的源区。     

Late Paleozoic subduction–accretion along the southern margin of the North Qinling terrane,central China: Evidence from zircon U-Pb dating and geochemistry of the Wuguan Complex

The Qinling Orogen separating the North China plate from the Yangtze plate is a key area for understanding the timing and process of aggregation between the two plates. Two competing and highly contrasting tectonic models currently exist to explain the timing and nature of collision; one advocates a Devonian continental collision while the other favors a Triassic collision. The Wuguan Complex, between the early Paleozoic North Qinling and the Mesozoic South Qinling terranes, can provide important constraints on the late Paleozoic evolutionary processes of the Qinling Orogen. Metamorphosed sedimentary rock of the Wuguan Complex have a detrital zircon age spectrum with two major peaks at 453 Ma and 800 Ma, several minor age populations of 350–430 Ma and 1000–2868 Ma, and a youngest weighted mean age of 358 ± 3 Ma, indicating a mixed source from the North Qinling terrane. The recrystallized zircons yield a weighted mean age of 333 ± 2 Ma, representing the metamorphic age. Geochemical analyses imply that the sedimentary rocks were originally deposited in an active continental margin dominated by an acidic-arc source with a subordinate mafic-ultramafic source. The youngest population of detrital zircons (358 Ma) suggests that the Wuguan Complex developed as forearc basin along the southern accreted margin of the North Qinling terrane during the early Carboniferous, whereas the ca. 520–460 Ma mafic rocks with E-MORB, N-MORB, OIB or island arc basalt signatures probably derived from the Danfeng Group. In combination with regional data, we suggest that the depositional age of the Wuguan Complex is ca. 389–330 Ma, but it was subsequently incorporated into tectonic mélange by the northward subduction of the Paleo-Qinling Ocean. A long-lived southward-facing subduction-accretionary system in front of the North Qinling terrane probably lasted until at least the early Carboniferous.     

Geology,geochemistry, and geochronology of the Miaowan ophiolite,Yangtze craton: Implications for South China's amalgamation history with the Rodinian supercontinent

We report the presence of a Grenvillian ophiolite on the northern margin of the Yangtze craton, drastically changing current ideas about South China's role in plate reconstructions of the Rodinia supercontinent. Strongly deformed amphibolites that locally show relict pillow lavas, isotropic and layered metagabbro, diabase dikes, serpentinized dunite and harzburgite with podiform chromite are dated at circa 1100–985 Ma (U–Pb zircon). The ophiolite is structurally dismembered and thrust over the Proterozoic shelf sequence that covers the north margin of the Yangtze craton, and overrode a flysch to conglomerate-wildflysch unit shed from the ophiolite and a magmatic arc terrane and deposited on the older Yangtze carbonate platform. The youngest clasts in the conglomerate are circa 861–813 Ma (U–Pb zircon), giving a maximum age for ophiolite emplacement. Fine-grained layered amphibolites exhibit slightly depleted-flat type REE curves with no obvious Eu anomalies, and are N-MORB type tholeiites. Metagabbro has typical cumulate textures, flat REE distributions and obvious positive Eu anomalies. The REE characteristics of serpentinized dunites show a U-shape of slight loss of middle REE, representing cumulates metasomatized by LREE slightly enriched mantle. All these features indicate that the metamafic–ultramafic rocks from the Proterozoic Miaowan Formation form a structurally dismembered ophiolite resting above an ophiolitic wildflysch, sitting on top of the Proterozoic shelf sequence on the Yangtze craton. The ophiolite is contemporaneous with an arc sequence preserved to the north on the edge of the Yangtze craton, suggesting that the entire ophiolitic forearc–arc was accreted to the Yangtze craton between 1000 and 850 Ma. Xenocrystic zircons in granite clasts in the basal wildflysch unit have ages consistent with Australian affinity, and detrital zircons in the arc sequence also show derivation from Australia, suggesting that the arc formed on the Australian segment of Rodinia before collision with the Yangtze craton. The discovery of the Proterozoic Miaowan ophiolite supplies important evidence for the existence of a Neoproterozoic oceanic basin on the north margin of the Yangtze craton, and demonstrates that the Yangtze craton first collided with Rodinia on its northern margin, with subsequent accretion of the Cathaysian block on the southern margin of the craton.     

扬子克拉通南华纪碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素对华南新元古代岩浆事件的指示

对采自宜昌三峡地区南华纪沉积岩中碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb定年,新元古代锆石U-Pb年龄在833Ma、785Ma出现高峰,说明此时期有两期大规模岩浆活动.结合前人的Hf同位素结果,新元古代锆石U-Pb年龄与ε_Hf(t)值关系图表明: 910~890Ma之间锆石ε_Hf(t)值表现为高正值(≈10,接近亏损地幔演化值),890~840Ma锆石ε_Hf(t)值明显降低,并有负值出现,另外在890Ma处有年龄峰出现.笔者认为扬子和华夏板块的拼合可能在890Ma发生了由俯冲到陆-陆或陆-弧的碰撞,之前的高ε_Hf(t)值由洋壳俯冲造成,之后碰撞作用陆壳物质熔融造成了ε_Hf(t)值的降低; 840~800Ma的锆石ε_Hf(t)值有正也有负,800~780Ma的锆石ε_Hf(t)值小于0,780~750Ma的锆石ε_Hf(t)值大于0.这些数据与830~795Ma、780~745Ma两期地幔柱事件吻合.      

Mesoarchean accretionary mélange and tectonic erosion in the Archean Dharwar Craton,southern India: Plate tectonics in the early Earth

Accretionary orogens are hallmarks of subduction tectonics along convergent plate margins. Here we report a sequence of low-grade metasediments carrying exhumed blocks of ultramafic, mafic and felsic rocks from Sargur in the Western Dharwar Craton in India. These rocks occur along the southern domain of the Chitradurga Suture Zone, which marks the boundary between the Western and Central Dharwar Cratons and thus provide a window to explore Archean convergent margin processes. We present zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf data from Sargur metasediments including quartz mica schist, fine-grained quartzite, and pelitic schist, as well as from blocks/layers of trondhjemite, garnet amphibolite, and chromite-bearing serpentinite occurring within the metasedimentary accretionary belt. The detrital zircon grains from the metasediments show multiple age groups, with the oldest age as 3482 Ma and an age peak at 2862 Ma. Magmatic zircons in trondhjemite show ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb weighted mean age of ca. 2972 Ma, whereas those in the chromite-bearing serpentinite display multiple age populations of ca. 2896, 2750, 2648, 2566 and 2463 Ma, tracing zircon crystallization in an evolving mantle wedge adjacent to a subducting oceanic plate. Metamorphism is dated as ca. 2444 Ma from zircon grains in the garnet amphibolite. Zircon εHf(t) in the mafic-ultramafic rocks and trondhjemite are mostly positive, suggesting a juvenile (depleted mantle) source. The detrital zircon Lu-Hf data suggest that the sediment source involved Paleoarchean juvenile and reworked components. Based on our findings, we propose that the Sargur sequence represents an accretionary mélange which forms part of a major Mesoarchean accretionary orogen that witnessed multiple stages of tectonic erosion at least during three periods at ca. 3200–3000 Ma, 3000–2800 Ma and 2800–2500 Ma removing a large part of the accretionary prism along the convergent margin. We correlate the processes with prolonged subduction-accretion cycle culminating in the final collision between the Western and Central Dharwar cratonic blocks.     

Time constraints on Early Tonian Rifting and Cryogenian Arc terrane-continent convergence along the northern margin of the West African craton: Insights from SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology in the Pan-African Anti-Atlas belt (Morocco)

The Neoproterozoic Anti-Atlas belt (Morocco) is a key segment in tracing the history of the northern margin of the West African craton (WAC) from Rodinia breakup to Gondwana assembly. In order to constrain geodynamic events related to rifting and convergence and their stratigraphic records, a radiometric study was carried out on the volcano-sedimentary Tachdamt and Bleïda Formations. The volcaniclastic deposits of Tachdamt Fm. yield an age of ca. 883 Ma and provide a new constraint for the timing of the subaqueous volcanic eruption and the initiation of rifting in the Anti-Atlas. This age is ~100 my older than the previous age of 788 ± 10 Ma obtained from Rb/Sr isotope dating (Clauer, 1976). Available zircon data from the interbedded clastic deposits from Tachdamt Fm. indicate major shifts in provenance during the rifting with sediments sourced from the WAC and a nearby Grenvillian terrane. Detrital zircon ages from metasiltstones of Bleïda Fm. set a maximum depositional age at ca. 700 Ma. The age spectra discloses a major shift in sediment input with provenance from the WAC, Grenvillian terrane and an arc-related terrane (ca. 770–700 Ma) lying along the Anti-Atlas margin. The newly obtained results combined with existing radiometric data allowed the refinement of the stratigraphic and geotectonic framework of the pre-Pan-African strata in the WAC. The Early Tonian syn-rift volcanism has much in common with similar events in other cratons and provides a stratigraphic record for incipient Rodinia breakup. The overlying Bleïda Fm. deposited in a peripheral foreland basin chronicles the Cryogenian arrival of the ca. 770–700 Ma Bou Azzer-Siroua arc-related terrane at the Anti-Atlas margin, and correlates with initial accretion in West Gondwana. The new results indicate that the Grenvillian detrital input in the Anti-Atlas during both geodynamic stages points toward a possible Mesoproterozoic terrane existing along the western margin of the WAC.     

Cenozoic volcanism and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan plateau

Cenozoic volcanism on the Tibetan plateau, which shows systematic variations in space and time, is the volcanic response to the India–Asia continental collision. The volcanism gradually changed from Na-rich + K-rich to potassic–ultrapotassic + adakitic compositions along with the India–Asia collision shifting from contact-collision (i.e. “soft collision” or “syn-collision”) to all-sided collision (i.e. “hard collision”). The sodium-rich and potasium-rich lavas with ages of 65–40 Ma distribute mainly in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet and subordinately in the Qiangtang terrane of central Tibet. The widespread potassic–ultrapotassic lavas and subordinate adakites were generated from ~ 45 to 26 Ma in the Qiangtang terrane of central Tibet. Subsequent post-collisional volcanism migrated southwards, producing ultrapotassic and adakitic lavas coevally between ~ 26 and 8 Ma in the Lhasa terrane. Then potassic and minor adakitic volcanism was renewed to the north and has become extensive and semicontinuous since ~ 20 Ma in the western Qiangtang and Songpan–Ganze terranes. Such spatial–temporal variations provide important constraints on the geodynamic processes that evolved at depth to form the Tibetan plateau. These processes involve roll-back and break-off of the subducted Neo-Tethyan slab followed by removal of the thickened Lhasa lithospheric root, and consequently northward underthrusting of the Indian lithosphere. The Tibetan plateau is suggested to have risen diachronously from south to north. Whereas the southern part of the plateau may have been created and maintained since the late-Oligocene, the northern plateau would have not attained its present-day elevation and size until the mid-Miocene when the lower part of the western Qiangtang and Songpan–Ganze lithospheres began to founder and detach owing to the persistently northward push of the underthrust Indian lithosphere.     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane,Central Tibet

The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet is composed of Precambrian crystalline basement, Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary strata and Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmatic rocks. This terrane has long been accepted as the last crustal block to be accreted with Eurasia prior to its collision with the northward drifting Indian continent in the Cenozoic. Thus, the Lhasa terrane is the key for revealing the origin and evolutionary history of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen. Although previous models on the tectonic development of the orogen have much evidence from the Lhasa terrane, the metamorphic history of this terrane was rarely considered. This paper provides an overview of the temporal and spatial characteristics of metamorphism in the Lhasa terrane based mostly on the recent results from our group, and evaluates the geodynamic settings and tectonic significance. The Lhasa terrane experienced multistage metamorphism, including the Neoproterozoic and Late Paleozoic HP metamorphism in the oceanic subduction realm, the Early Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic MP metamorphism in the continent–continent collisional zone, the Late Cretaceous HT/MP metamorphism in the mid-oceanic ridge subduction zone, and two stages of Cenozoic MP metamorphism in the thickened crust above the continental subduction zone. These metamorphic and associated magmatic events reveal that the Lhasa terrane experienced a complex tectonic evolution from the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic. The main conclusions arising from our synthesis are as follows: (1) The Lhasa block consists of the North and South Lhasa terranes, separated by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent Late Paleozoic suture zone. (2) The crystalline basement of the North Lhasa terrane includes Neoproterozoic oceanic crustal rocks, representing probably the remnants of the Mozambique Ocean derived from the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. (3) The oceanic crustal basement of North Lhasa witnessed a Late Cryogenian (~ 650 Ma) HP metamorphism and an Early Paleozoic (~ 485 Ma) MP metamorphism in the subduction realm associated with the closure of the Mozambique Ocean and the final amalgamation of Eastern and Western Gondwana, suggesting that the North Lhasa terrane might have been partly derived from the northern segment of the East African Orogen. (4) The northern margin of Indian continent, including the North and South Lhasa, and Qiangtang terranes, experienced Early Paleozoic magmatism, indicating an Andean-type orogeny that resulted from the subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean after the final amalgamation of Gondwana. (5) The Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes witnessed Middle Paleozoic (~ 360 Ma) magmatism, suggesting an Andean-type orogeny derived from the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. (6) The closure of Paleo-Tethys Ocean between the North and South Lhasa terranes and subsequent terrane collision resulted in the formation of Late Permian (~ 260 Ma) HP metamorphic belt and Triassic (220 Ma) MP metamorphic belt. (7) The South Lhasa terrane experienced Late Cretaceous (~ 90 Ma) Andean-type orogeny, characterized by the regional HT/MP metamorphism and coeval intrusion of the voluminous Gangdese batholith during the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. (8) During the Early Cenozoic (55–45 Ma), the continent–continent collisional orogeny has led to the thickened crust of the South Lhasa terrane experiencing MP amphibolite-facies metamorphism and syn-collisional magmatism. (9) Following the continuous continent convergence, the South Lhasa terrane also experienced MP metamorphism during Late Eocene (40–30 Ma). (10) During Mesozoic and Cenozoic, two different stages of paired metamorphic belts were formed in the oceanic or continental subduction zones and the middle and lower crust of the hanging wall of the subduction zone. The tectonic imprints from the Lhasa terrane provide excellent examples for understanding metamorphic processes and geodynamics at convergent plate boundaries.     

The multi-stage tectonic evolution of the Xitieshan terrane,North Qaidam orogen,western China: From Grenville-age orogeny to early-Paleozoic ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism

The geodynamic evolution of the early Paleozoic ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt in North Qaidam, western China, is controversial due to ambiguous interpretations concerning the nature and ages of the eclogitic protoliths. Within this framework, we present new LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon ages from eclogites and their country rock gneisses from the Xitieshan terrane, located in the central part of the North Qaidam UHP metamorphic belt. Xitieshan terrane contains clearly different protolith characteristics of eclogites and as such provides a natural laboratory to investigate the geodynamic evolution of the North Qaidam UHP metamorphic terrane. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon dating of three phengite-bearing eclogites and two country rock gneiss samples from the Xitieshan terrane yielded 424–427 Ma and 917–920 Ma ages, respectively. The age of 424–427 Ma from eclogite probably reflects continental lithosphere subduction post-dating oceanic lithosphere subduction at ~ 440–460 Ma. The 0.91–0.92 Ga metamorphic ages from gneiss and associated metamorphic mineral assemblages are interpreted as evidence for the occurrence of a Grenville-age orogeny in the North Qaidam UHPM belt. Using internal microstructure, geochemistry and U–Pb ages of zircon in this study, combined with the petrological and geochemical investigations on the eclogites of previous literature’s data, three types of eclogitic protoliths are identified in the Xitieshan terrane i.e. 1) Subducted early Paleozoic oceanic crust (440–460 Ma), 2) Neoproterozoic oceanic crust material emplaced onto micro-continental fragments ahead of the main, early Paleozoic, collision event (440–420 Ma) and 3) Neoproterozoic mafic dikes intruded in continental fragments (rifted away from the former supercontinent Rodinia). These results demonstrate that the basement rocks of the North Qaidam terrane formed part of the former supercontinent Rodinia, attached to the Yangtze Craton and/or the Qinling microcontinent, and recorded a complex tectono-metamorphic evolution that involved Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic orogenies.     

U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the southern Qinling Orogen: Implications for Precambrian to Phanerozoic tectonics in central China

The Qinling Orogen, central China, was constructed during the Mesozoic collision between the North China and Yangtze continental plates. The orogen includes four tectonic units, from north to south, the Huaxiong Block (reactivated southern margin of the North China Craton), North Qinling Accretion Belt, South Qinling Fold Belt (or block) and Songpan Fold Belt, evolved from the northernmost Paleo-Tethys Ocean separating the Gondwana and Laurentia supercontinents. Here we employ detrital zircons from the Early Cretaceous alluvial sediments within the Qinling Orogen to trace the tectonic evolution of the orogen. The U–Pb ages of the detrital zircon grains from the Early Cretaceous Donghe Group sediments in the South Qinling Fold Belt cluster around 2600–2300 Ma, 2050–1800 Ma, 1200–700 Ma, 650–400 Ma and 350–200 Ma, corresponding to the global Kenorland, Columbia, Rodinia, Gondwana and Pangaea supercontinent events, respectively. The distributions of ages and εHf(t) values of zircon grains show that the Donghe Group sediments have a complex source comprising components mainly recycled from the North Qinling Accretion Belt and the North China Craton, suggesting that the South Qinling Fold Belt was a part of the united Qinling–North China continental plate, rather than an isolated microcontinent, during the Devonian–Triassic. The youngest age peak of 350–200 Ma reflects the magmatic event related to subduction and termination of the Mian-Lue oceanic plate, followed by the collision between the Yangtze Craton and the united Qinling–North China continent that came into existence at the Triassic–Jurassic transition. The interval of 208–145 Ma between the sedimentation of the Early Cretaceous Donghe Group and the youngest age of detrital zircons was coeval with the post-subduction collision between the Yangtze and the North China continental plates in Jurassic.     

Diachronous evolution of volcano-sedimentary basins north of the Congo craton: Insights from U–Pb ion microprobe dating of zircons from the Poli, Lom and Yaoundé Groups (Cameroon)

Ion microprobe U–Pb dating of zircons from Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences in Cameroon north of the Congo craton is presented. For the Poli basin, the depositional age is constrained between 700–665 Ma; detrital sources comprise ca. 920, 830, 780 and 736 Ma magmatic zircons. In the Lom basin, the depositional age is constrained between 613 and 600 Ma, and detrital sources include Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic, late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic (1100–950 Ma), and Neoproterozoic (735, 644 and 613 Ma) zircons. The Yaoundé Group is probably younger than 625 Ma, and detrital sources include Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic zircons. The depositional age of the Mahan metavolcano-sedimentary sequence is post-820 Ma, and detrital sources include late Mesoproterozoic (1070 Ma) and early Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks (824 Ma). The following conclusions can be made from these data. (1) The three basins evolved during the Pan-African event but are significantly different in age and tectonic setting; the Poli is a pre- to syn-collisional basin developed upon, or in the vicinity of young magmatic arcs; the Lom basin is post-collisional and intracontinental and developed on old crust; the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Yaoundé Group resulted from rapid tectonic burial and subsequent collision between the Congo craton and the Adamawa–Yade block. (2) Late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic inheritance reflects the presence of magmatic event(s) of this age in west–central Africa.