Spatial–temporal relationships of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in NE China: Constraints on tectonic overprinting and transformations between multiple tectonic regimes

LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical data are presented for the Mesozoic volcanic rocks in northeast China, with the aim of determining the tectonic settings of the volcanism and constraining the timing of the overprinting and transformations between the Paleo-Asian Ocean, Mongol–Okhotsk, and circum-Pacific tectonic regimes. The new ages, together with other available age data from the literature, indicate that Mesozoic volcanism in NE China can be subdivided into six episodes: Late Triassic (228–201 Ma), Early–Middle Jurassic (190–173 Ma), Middle–Late Jurassic (166–155 Ma), early Early Cretaceous (145–138 Ma), late Early Cretaceous (133–106 Ma), and Late Cretaceous (97–88 Ma). The Late Triassic volcanic rocks occur in the Lesser Xing’an–Zhangguangcai Ranges, where the volcanic rocks are bimodal, and in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces where the volcanics are A-type rhyolites, implying that they formed in an extensional environment after the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The Early–Middle Jurassic (190–173 Ma) volcanic rocks, both in the Erguna Massif and the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces, belong chemically to the calc-alkaline series, implying an active continental margin setting. The volcanics in the Erguna Massif are related to the subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate beneath the Massif, and those in the eastern Jilin–Heilongjiang provinces are related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent. The coeval bimodal volcanic rocks in the Lesser Xing’an–Zhangguangcai Ranges were probably formed under an extensional environment similar to a backarc setting of double-direction subduction. Volcanic rocks of Middle–Late Jurassic (155–166 Ma) and early Early Cretaceous (145–138 Ma) age only occur in the Great Xing’an Range and the northern Hebei and western Liaoning provinces (limited to the west of the Songliao Basin), and they belong chemically to high-K calc-alkaline series and A-type rhyolites, respectively. Combined with the regional unconformity and thrust structures in the northern Hebei and western Liaoning provinces, we conclude that these volcanics formed during a collapse or delamination of a thickened continental crust related to the evolution of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt. The late Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks, widely distributed in NE China, belong chemically to a low- to medium-K calc-alkaline series in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces (i.e., the Eurasian continental margin), and to a bimodal volcanic rock association within both the Songliao Basin and the Great Xing’an Range. The volcanics in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces formed in an active continental margin setting related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent, and the bimodal volcanics formed under an extensional environment related either to a backarc setting or to delamination of a thickened crust, or both. Late Cretaceous volcanics, limited to the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces and the eastern North China Craton (NCC), consist of calc-alkaline rocks in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces and alkaline basalts in the eastern NCC, suggesting that the former originated during subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent, whereas the latter formed in an extensional environment similar to a backarc setting. Taking all this into account, we conclude that (1) the transformation from the Paleo-Asian Ocean regime to the circum-Pacific tectonic regime happened during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic; (2) the effect of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt on NE China was mainly in the Early Jurassic, Middle–Late Jurassic, and early Early Cretaceous; and (3) the late Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous volcanics can be attributed to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent.     

Tectonic implications of Re-Os dating of molybdenum deposits in the Tianshan–Xingmeng Orogenic Belt,Central Asia

The Tianshan–Xingmeng molybdenum belt is part of a larger E–W-trending metallogenic belt in northern China. Most of these molybdenum deposits occur as porphyry or porphyry-skarn type, but there are also some vein-type deposits. Following systematic Re-Os dating of molybdenite from four deposits and comparisons with two previously dated deposits, we conclude that molybdenum mineralization in the Tianshan–Xingmeng Orogenic Belt resulted from hydrothermal activity linked to the emplacement of granitoid stocks. Three pulses of granitoid magmatism and Mo mineralization have been recognized in this study, corresponding to tectonic events in the Tianshan–Xingmeng Orogenic Belt. We identify five distinct stages of Mo mineralization events in the Tianshan–Xingmeng Orogenic Belt: 320–250 Ma, 250–200 Ma, 190–155 Ma, 155–140 Ma, and 140–120 Ma. Late Palaeozoic (320–250 Ma) Mo mineralization was closely related to closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean and collision between the Siberia and Tarim cratons. Triassic (250–200 Ma) Mo mineralization occurred in a post-collisional tectonic setting. The Early–Middle Jurassic (190–155 Ma) Mo mineralization was related to subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean on the eastern Asian continental margin, whereas in the Erguna block, the Mo mineralization events were associated with the subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. From 155 to 120 Ma, large-scale continental extension occurred in the Tianshan–Xingmeng Orogenic Belt and surrounding regions. However, the Late Jurassic (150–140 Ma) Mo mineralization events in these areas evolved in a post-orogenic extensional environment of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean subduction system. The Early Cretaceous (140–120 Ma) Mo mineralization occurred under the combined effects of the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean.     

Tectono-magmatic evolution of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids in the west central Lhasa subterrane,Tibet

There is ongoing debate as to the subduction direction of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean during the Mesozoic (northward, southward or bidirectional subduction). Arc-related intermediate to felsic intrusions could mark the location of the subduction zone and, more importantly, elucidate the dominant geodynamic processes. We report whole rock geochemical and zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data for granitoids from the west central Lhasa subterrane (E80° to E86°). All rocks show metaluminous to peraluminous, calc-alkaline signatures, with strong depletion of Nb, Ta and Ti, enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Cs, Rb, K), a negative correlation between SiO₂ and P₂O₅, and a positive correlation between Rb and Th. All these features are indicative of I-type arc magmatism. New zircon U–Pb results, together with data from the literature, indicate continuous magmatism from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous (160 to 130 Ma). Zircon U–Pb ages for samples from the northern part of the west central Lhasa subterrane (E80° to E82°30′) yielded formation ages of 165 to 150 Ma, whereas ages of 142 to 130 Ma were obtained on samples from the south. This suggests flat or low-angle subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean, consistent with a slight southward decrease in zircon εHf(t) values for Late Jurassic rocks. Considering the crustal shortening, the distance from the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone, and a typical subduction zone melting depth of ~ 100 km, the subduction angle was less than 14° for Late Jurassic magmatism in the central Lhasa interior, consistent with flat or low-angle subduction. Compared with Late Jurassic rocks (main εHf(t) values of − 16 to − 7), Early Cretaceous rocks (145 to 130 Ma) show markedly higher εHf(t) values (mainly − 8 to 0), possibly indicating slab roll-back, likely caused by slab foundering or break-off. Combined with previously published works on arc magmatism in the central Lhasa and west part of the southern Qiangtang subterranes, our results support the bidirectional subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean along the Bangong–Nujiang Suture Zone, and indicates flat or low-angle southward subduction (165 to 145 Ma) followed by slab roll-back (145 to 130 Ma).     

Early Mesozoic southward subduction history of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate: Evidence from geochronology and geochemistry of Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the Erguna Massif,NE China

In this paper we present new zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotope data, and whole-rock major and trace element data for Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the Erguna Massif of NE China, and we use these data to constrain the history of southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate, and its influence on NE China as a whole. The zircon U–Pb dating indicates that Early Mesozoic magmatic activity in the Erguna Massif can be subdivided into four stages at ~ 246 Ma, ~ 225 Ma, ~ 205 Ma, and ~ 185 Ma. The ~ 246 Ma intrusive rocks comprise a suite of high-K calc-alkaline diorites, quartz diorites, granodiorites, monzogranites, and syenogranites, with I-type affinities. The ~ 225 Ma intrusive rocks consist of gabbro–diorites and granitoids, and they constitute a bimodal igneous association. The ~ 205 Ma intrusive rocks are dominated by calc-alkaline I-type granitoids that are accompanied by subordinate intermediate–mafic rocks. The ~ 185 Ma intrusive rocks are dominated by I-type granitoids, accompanied by minor amounts of A-types. These Early Mesozoic granitoids mainly originated by partial melting of a depleted and heterogeneous lower crust, whereas the coeval mafic rocks were probably derived from partial melting of a depleted mantle modified by subduction-related fluids. The rock associations and their geochemical features indicate that the ~ 246 Ma, ~ 205 Ma, and ~ 185 Ma intrusive rocks formed in an active continental margin setting related to the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. The ~ 225 Ma bimodal igneous rock association formed within an extensional environment in a pause during the subduction process of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. Every magmatic stage has its own corresponding set of porphyry deposits in the southeast of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt. Taking all this into account, we conclude the following: (1) during the Early Mesozoic, the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate was subducted towards the south beneath the Erguna Massif, but with a pause in subduction at ~ 225 Ma; and (2) the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate not only caused the intense magmatic activity, but was also favorable to the formation of porphyry deposits.     

Isotopic analysis of the super-large Shuangjianzishan Pb–Zn–Ag deposit in Inner Mongolia,China: Constraints on magmatism,metallogenesis, and tectonic setting

The super-large Shuangjianzishan Pb–Zn–Ag deposit is a newly discovered deposit located in the Huanggang–Ganzhuermiao polymetallic metallogenic belt of Inner Mongolia, NE China. The deposit's resource includes 0.026 Mt Ag, 1.1 Mt Pb, and 3.3 Mt Zn. The deposit is controlled by a NW-trending ductile shear zone and NE- and NW-trending faults in black pelite assigned to the lower Permian Dashizhai Formation. LREE enrichment, HREE depletion, Nb, Ta, P, and Ti depletion, and Zr and Hf enrichment characterize felsic magmatic rocks in the Shuangjianzishan Pb–Zn–Ag district. The ages of porphyritic monzogranite, rhyolitic crystal–vitric ignimbrite, and porphyritic granodiorite are 254–252, 169, and 130 Ma, respectively. Pyrite sampled from the mineralization has Re–Os isochron ages of 165 ± 7 Ma, which suggest the mineralization is associated with the ca. 169 Ma magmatism in the Shuangjianzishan district.Zircons extracted from the porphyritic granodiorite yield ε_Hf(t) values of − 11.34 to − 1.41, with t_DM2 dates of 1275–1901 Ma. The ε_Hf(t) values of zircons in the rhyolitic crystal–vitric ignimbrite and the ore-bearing monzogranite porphyry are 7.57–16.23 and 10.18–15.96, respectively, and their t_DM2 ages are 177–733 and 257–632 Ma, respectively. Partial melting of depleted mantle resulted in the formation of the ca. 254–252 Ma ore-bearing porphyritic monzogranite and the ca. 169 Ma rhyolitic crystal–vitric ignimbrite; dehydration partial melting of subducted oceanic crust resulted in the formation of the ca. 130 Ma porphyritic granodiorite. The porphyritic monzogranite was emplaced during the late stages of closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the transformation from a collisional to extensional tectonic setting. The ca. 170 and ca. 130 Ma magmatism and mineralization in the Shuangjianzishan district are related to subduction of the Mongolia–Okhotsk Ocean and subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean Plate, respectively.     

Geochronology of the Xingshan molybdenum deposit,Jilin Province,NE China,and its Hf isotope significance

The Xingshan porphyry Mo deposit is located in the Lesser Xing’an Range–Zhangguangcai Range metallogenic belt, NE China. Mineralization occurred in granodioritic porphyry and monzogranite, which have zircon U–Pb ages of 171.7 ± 2.2 Ma and 170.9 ± 4.6 Ma, respectively. Molybdenite Re–Os dating indicates that Mo mineralization occurred at 167.3 ± 2.5 Ma. These geochronological data suggest that the magmatic and hydrothermal activities of the Xingshan Mo deposit happened during the Middle Jurassic in Mesozoic. Positive ε_Hf values (6.2–11.6) and young T_DM2 (473–826 Ma) of the monzogranite (XS-3) and granodioritic porphyry (XS-5) indicate that the source materials of Xingshan ore-bearing rocks are the juvenile crust, which mainly accreted on the Songnen block during the Meso-Neoproterozoic. Xingshan porphyry Mo deposits resulted from the magmatism and tectonism induced by the subduction of Paleo-Pacific Ocean.     

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.     

Triassic volcanism along the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif,NE China: Constraints on the spatial–temporal extent of the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime

We present new zircon U–Pb–Hf and whole-rock geochemical data for volcanic rocks along the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif of NE China in order to further our understanding of the history of subduction towards the SE and the spatial extent of the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the Triassic volcanism in the Xing'an Massif occurred in two stages during the Middle (ca. 242 Ma) and Late (ca. 223–228 Ma) Triassic. Middle Triassic basaltic andesites in the Heihe area have an affinity to arc-type volcanic rocks. The zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 8.5 to + 12.7) suggest that the primary magma was generated by the partial melting of a relatively depleted mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. The Late Triassic andesites in the Handaqi area exhibit geochemical affinities to high-Mg adakitic andesites. Their zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 11.5 to + 14.5) and T_DM2 ages (313–484 Ma) indicate that their primary magma was derived from the partial melting of a young subducted oceanic crust, followed by interaction with melts derived from mantle peridotite. The Late Triassic basaltic andesites, andesites, and dacites in the Zhalantun–Moguqi area have features similar to those of igneous rocks formed in subduction zones. Their zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 8.4 to + 15.4) and T_DM1 ages (260–542 Ma) indicate that their primary magma was derived from the partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. These data suggest that the Triassic volcanic rocks of the Xing'an Massif formed in an active continental margin setting associated with the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate towards the SE. We conclude that the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime extended at least as far as the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif, and that the tectonism spanned the period from the late Permian to early Early-Cretaceous.     

Thermochronological record of Middle–Late Jurassic magmatic reheating to Eocene rift-related rapid cooling in the SE South China Block

We investigate the Mesozoic–Cenozoic thermal history of the Daxi region (central SE South China Block) to evaluate the influence of the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate beneath the SE South China Block along the block's southeast margin on the tectonothermal evolution of the upper plate. We apply a multi-chronological approach that includes U-Pb geochronology on zircon, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on muscovite and biotite from granitic rocks as well as fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He analyses on zircon and apatite from granitic and sedimentary rocks. The Heping granite, located in the Daxi region, has a magmatic age of ca. 441 Ma. The biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of ca. 193 Ma for the Early Jurassic Shibei granite and ca. 160 Ma for the Late Jurassic Fogang granite, respectively, reflect magmatic cooling. The Triassic Longyuanba granite yielded a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of ca. 167 Ma, recording heating to ≥ 350 °C induced by nearby intrusion of Middle Jurassic granites. Zircon fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages from Lower Carboniferous–Lower Jurassic sandstones (140–70 Ma) record continuous cooling during the Cretaceous that followed extensive Middle–Late Jurassic magmatism in the Daxi region. Cretaceous cooling is related to exhumation in an extensional tectonic setting, consistent with lithospheric rebound due to foundering and rollback of the subducted Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. Apatite fission-track (53–42 Ma) and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages (43–36 Ma), and thermal modelling document rapid cooling in the Paleocene–Eocene, which temporally coincides with continental rifting in the SE South China Block in the leadup to the opening of the South China Sea.     

Phanerozoic continental growth and gold metallogeny of Asia

The Asian continent formed during the past 800 m.y. during late Neoproterozoic through Jurassic closure of the Tethyan ocean basins, followed by late Mesozoic circum-Pacific and Cenozoic Himalayan orogenies. The oldest gold deposits in Asia reflect accretionary events along the margins of the Siberia, Kazakhstan, North China, Tarim–Karakum, South China, and Indochina Precambrian blocks while they were isolated within the Paleotethys and surrounding Panthalassa Oceans. Orogenic gold deposits are associated with large-scale, terrane-bounding fault systems and broad areas of deformation that existed along many of the active margins of the Precambrian blocks. Deposits typically formed during regional transpressional to transtensional events immediately after to as much as 100 m.y. subsequent to the onset of accretion or collision. Major orogenic gold provinces associated with this growth of the Asian continental mass include: (1) the ca. 750 Ma Yenisei Ridge, ca. 500 Ma East Sayan, and ca. 450–350 Ma Patom provinces along the southern margins of the Siberia craton; (2) the 450 Ma Charsk belt of north-central Kazakhstan; (3) the 310–280 Ma Kalba belt of NE Kazakhstan, extending into adjacent NW Xinjiang, along the Siberia–Kazakhstan suture; (4) the ca. 300–280 Ma deposits within the Central Asian southern and middle Tien Shan (e.g., Kumtor, Zarmitan, Muruntau), marking the closure of the Turkestan Ocean between Kazakhstan and the Tarim–Karakum block; (5) the ca. 190–125 Ma Transbaikal deposits along the site of Permian to Late Jurassic diachronous closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean between Siberia and Mongolia/North China; (6) the probable Late Silurian–Early Devonian Jiagnan belt formed along the margin of Gondwana at the site of collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks; (7) Triassic deposits of the Paleozoic Qilian Shan and West Qinling orogens along the SW margin of the North China block developed during collision of South China; and (8) Jurassic(?) ores on the margins of the Subumusu block in Myanmar and Malaysia. Circum-Pacific tectonism led to major orogenic gold province formation along the length of the eastern side of Asia between ca. 135 and 120 Ma, although such deposits are slightly older in South Korea and slightly younger in the Amur region of the Russian Southeast. Deformation related to collision of the Kolyma–Omolon microcontinent with the Pacific margin of the Siberia craton led to formation of 136–125 Ma ores of the Yana–Kolyma belt (Natalka, Sarylakh) and 125–119 Ma ores of the South Verkhoyansk synclinorium (Nezhdaninskoe). Giant ca. 125 Ma gold provinces developed in the Late Archean uplifted basement of the decratonized North China block, within its NE edge and into adjacent North Korea, in the Jiaodong Peninsula, and in the Qinling Mountains. The oldest gold-bearing magmatic–hydrothermal deposits of Asia include the ca. 485 Ma Duobaoshan porphyry within a part of the Tuva–Mongol arc, ca. 355 Ma low-sulfidation epithermal deposits (Kubaka) of the Omolon terrane accreted to eastern Russia, and porphyries (Bozshakol, Taldy Bulak) within Ordovican to Early Devonian oceanic arcs formed off the Kazakhstan microcontinent. The Late Devonian to Carboniferous was marked by widespread gold-rich porphyry development along the margins of the closing Ob–Zaisan, Junggar–Balkhash, and Turkestan basins (Amalyk, Oyu Tolgoi); most were formed in continental arcs, although the giant Oyu Tolgoi porphyry was part of a near-shore oceanic arc. Permian subduction-related deformation along the east side of the Indochina block led to ca. 300 Ma gold-bearing skarn and disseminated gold ore formation in the Truong Son fold belt of Laos, and along the west side to ca. 250 Ma gold-bearing skarns and epithermal deposits in the Loei fold belt of Laos and Thailand. In the Mesozoic Transbaikal region, extension along the basin margins subsequent to Mongol–Okhotsk closure was associated with ca. 150–125 Ma formation of important auriferous epithermal (Balei), skarn (Bystray), and porphyry (Kultuminskoe) deposits. In northeastern Russia, Early Cretaceous Pacific margin subduction and Late Cretaceous extension were associated with epithermal gold-deposit formation in the Uda–Murgal (Julietta) and Okhotsk–Chukotka (Dukat, Kupol) volcanic belts, respectively. In southeastern Russia, latest Cretaceous to Oligocene extension correlates with other low-sulfidation epithermal ores that formed in the East Sikhote–Alin volcanic belt. Other extensional events, likely related to changing plate dynamics along the Pacific margin of Asia, relate to epithermal–skarn–porphyry districts that formed at ca. 125–85 Ma in northeastmost China and ca. 105–90 Ma in the Coast Volcanic belt of SE China. The onset of strike slip along a part of the southeastern Pacific margin appears to correlate with the giant 148–135 Ma gold-rich porphyry–skarn province of the lower and middle Yangtze River. It is still controversial as to whether true Carlin-like gold deposits exist in Asia. Those deposits that most closely resemble the Nevada (USA) ores are those in the Permo-Triassic Youjiang basin of SW China and NE Vietnam, and are probably Late Triassic in age, although this is not certain. Other Carlin-like deposits have been suggested to exist in the Sepon basin of Laos and in the Mongol–Okhotsk region (Kuranakh) of Transbaikal.     

The Mesozoic tectono-magmatic evolution at the Paleo-Pacific subduction zone in West Borneo

Metamorphic and magmatic rocks are present in the northwestern part of the Schwaner Mountains of West Kalimantan. This area was previously assigned to SW Borneo (SWB) and interpreted as an Australian-origin block. Predominantly Cretaceous U-Pb zircon ages (c. 80–130 Ma) have been obtained from metapelites and I-type granitoids in the North Schwaner Zone of the SWB but a Triassic metatonalite discovered in West Kalimantan near Pontianak is inconsistent with a SWB origin. The distribution and significance of Triassic rocks was not known so the few exposures in the Pontianak area were sampled and geochemical analyses and zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from two meta-igneous rocks and three granitoids and diorites. Triassic and Jurassic magmatic and metamorphic zircons obtained from the meta-igneous rocks are interpreted to have formed at the Mesozoic Paleo-Pacific margin where there was subduction beneath the Indochina–East Malaya block. Geochemically similar rocks of Triassic age exposed in the Embuoi Complex to the north and the Jagoi Granodiorite in West Sarawak are suggested to have formed part of the southeastern margin of Triassic Sundaland. One granitoid (118.6 ± 1.1 Ma) has an S-type character and contains inherited Carboniferous, Triassic and Jurassic zircons which indicate that it intruded Sundaland basement. Two I-type granitoids and diorites yielded latest Early and Late Cretaceous weighted mean ages of 101.5 ± 0.6 and 81.1 ± 1.1 Ma. All three magmatic rocks are in close proximity to the meta-igneous rocks and are interpreted to record Cretaceous magmatism at the Paleo-Pacific subduction margin. Cretaceous zircons of metamorphic origin indicate recrystallisation at c. 90 Ma possibly related to the collision of the Argo block with Sundaland. Subduction ceased at that time, followed by post-collisional magmatism in the Pueh (77.2 ± 0.8 Ma) and Gading Intrusions (79.7 ± 1.0 Ma) of West Sarawak.     

Neoproterozoic,Paleozoic, and Mesozoic granitoid magmatism in the Qinling Orogen,China: Constraints on orogenic process

The Qinling Orogen is one of the main orogenic belts in Asia and is characterized by multi-stage orogenic processes and the development of voluminous magmatic intrusions. The results of zircon U–Pb dating indicate that granitoid magmatism in the Qinling Orogen mainly occurred in four distinct periods: the Neoproterozoic (979–711 Ma), Paleozoic (507–400 Ma), and Early (252–185 Ma) and Late (158–100 Ma) Mesozoic. The Neoproterozoic granitic magmatism in the Qinling Orogen is represented by strongly deformed S-type granites emplaced at 979–911 Ma, weakly deformed I-type granites at 894–815 Ma, and A-type granites at 759–711 Ma. They can be interpreted as the products of respectively syn-collisional, post-collisional and extensional setting, in response to the assembly and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. The Paleozoic magmatism can be temporally classified into three stages of 507–470 Ma, 460–422 Ma and ∼415–400 Ma. They were genetically related to the subduction of the Shangdan Ocean and subsequent collision of the southern North China Block and the South Qinling Belt. The 507–470 Ma magmatism is spatially and temporally related to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the studied area. The 460–422 Ma magmatism with an extensive development in the North Qinling Belt is characterized by I-type granitoids and originated from the lower crust with the involvement of mantle-derived magma in a collisional setting. The magmatism with the formation age of ∼415–400 Ma only occurred in the middle part of the North Qinling Belt and is dominated by I-type granitoid intrusions, and probably formed in the late-stage of a collisional setting. Early Mesozoic magmatism in the study area occurred between 252 and 185 Ma, with the cluster in 225–200 Ma. It took place predominantly in the western part of the South Qinling Belt. The 250–240 Ma I-type granitoids are of small volume and show high Sr/Y ratios, and may have been formed in a continental arc setting related to subduction of the Mianlue Ocean between the South Qinling Belt and the South China Block. Voluminous late-stage (225–185 Ma) magmatism evolved from early I-type to later I-A-type granitoids associated with contemporaneous lamprophyres, representative of a transition from syn- to post-collisional setting in response to the collision between the North China and the South China blocks. Late Mesozoic (158–100 Ma) granitoids, located in the southern margin of the North China Block and the eastern part of the North Qinling Belt, are characterized by I-type, I- to A-type, and A-type granitoids that were emplaced in a post-orogenic or intraplate setting. The first three of the four periods of magmatism were associated with three important orogenic processes and the last one with intracontinental process. These suggest that the tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogen is very complicated.     

Palaeozoic to Early Jurassic history of the northwestern corner of Gondwana,and implications for the evolution of the Iapetus,Rheic and Pacific Oceans

The Palaeozoic to Mesozoic igneous and metamorphic basement rocks exposed in the Mérida Andes of Venezuela and the Santander Massif of Colombia are generally considered to define allochthonous terranes that accreted to the margin of Gondwana during the Ordovician and the Carboniferous. However, terrane sutures have not been identified and there are no published isotopic data that support the existence of separate crustal domains. A general paucity of geochronological data led to published tectonic reconstructions for the evolution of the northwestern corner of Gondwana that do not account for the magmatic and metamorphic histories of the basement rocks of the Mérida Andes and the Santander Massif. We present new zircon U–Pb (ICP-MS) data from 52 igneous and metamorphic rocks, which we combine with whole rock geochemical and Pb isotopic data to constrain the tectonic history of the Precambrian to Mesozoic basement of the Mérida Andes and the Santander Massif. These data show that the basement rocks of these massifs are autochthonous to Gondwana and share a similar tectono-magmatic history with the Gondwanan margin of Peru, Chile and Argentina, which evolved during the subduction of oceanic lithosphere of the Iapetus Ocean. The oldest Palaeozoic arc magmatism is recorded at ~ 500 Ma, and was followed shortly by Barrovian metamorphism. Peak metamorphic conditions at upper amphibolite facies are recorded by anatexis at ~ 477 Ma and the intrusion of synkinematic granitoids until ~ 472 Ma. Subsequent retrogression resulted from localised back-arc or intra-arc extension at ~ 453 Ma, when volcanic tuffs and interfingered sedimentary rocks were deposited over the amphibolite facies basement. Continental arc magmatism dwindled after ~ 430 Ma and terminated at ~ 415 Ma, coevally with most of the western margin of Gondwana. After Pangaea amalgamation in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian, a magmatic arc developed on its western margin at ~ 294 Ma as a result of subduction of oceanic crust of the palaeo-Pacific ocean. Intermittent arc magmatism recorded between ~ 294 and ~ 225 Ma was followed by the onset of the Andean subduction cycle at ~ 213 Ma, in an extensional regime. Extension was accompanied by slab roll-back which led to the migration of the arc axis into the Central Cordillera of Colombia in the Early Jurassic.     

Zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotopic compositions of Mesozoic granitoids in southern Qiangtang,Tibet: Implications for the subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean

The southern Qiangtang magmatic belt was formed by the north-dipping subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean during Mesozoic. To better understand the petrogenesis, time–space distribution along the length of this belt, 21 samples of several granitoid bodies, from west to east, in the Bangong Co, Gaize, Dongqiao and Amdo areas were selected for in-situ zircon U–Pb dating, Hf isotopic and whole-rock chemical analyses. The results suggest a prolonged period of magmatic activity (185–84 Ma) with two major stages during the Jurassic (185–150 Ma) and the Early Cretaceous (126–100 Ma). Both the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitoids are high-K calc-alkaline I-type rocks, except the Cretaceous two-mica granite from Amdo in the east, which belongs to S-type. The granitoids are generated from different source materials as indicated by zircon Hf isotopic compositions. The Bangong Co and Dongqiao granitoids show high zircon ε_Hf(t) values of − 1.3–13.6 with younger T_DM^C ages of 293–1263 Ma, suggesting a relatively juvenile source; whereas the Gaize and Amdo granitoids have low ε_Hf(t) values of − 16.1–2.9 with older T_DM^C ages of 999–2024 Ma, indicating an old crustal contribution. These source rocks melt at different P–T conditions as suggested by Sr/Y ratio and T_Zr. The Sr/Y ratio of both stage granitoids increases with decreasing age. However, the T_Zr of the Jurassic granitoids decreases, whereas the T_Zr of the Cretaceous granitoids increases with decreasing age. The contrasting geochemical signatures of these granitoids may be controlled by the varying contribution of slab-derived fluids involved in the generation of the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitic magmas; i.e. increasing amount of fluids in the Jurassic, whereas decreasing amount of fluids in the Cretaceous. Therefore, it is proposed that the Jurassic and Cretaceous magmatism may be related to subduction and closure of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean, respectively. The age pattern of the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitoids suggests an oblique subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean and a diachronous collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks.     

Zircon Hf–isotopic mapping for understanding crustal architecture and metallogenesis in the Eastern Qinling Orogen

The Eastern Qinling Orogen (EQO) is a major composite collisional zone located between the North China and the Yangtze cratons. This contribution combines geological and Hf–isotopic data from magmatic rocks associated with mineralization to gain insights into links between the crust architecture and metallogeny, and to focus exploration in the orogen.The new zircon U–Pb dates reported in this study are 434 ± 2 Ma for diorite, 433 ± 2 and 436 ± 2 Ma for monzogranite, and 454 ± 2 Ma for granodiorite in the Nanzhao area; 225 ± 2 Ma for syenite and 160 ± 1 Ma for monzogranite at Songxian; and 108 ± 1 and 102 ± 1 Ma for syenogranite in eastern Fangcheng. Combining our data with those from the entire EQO reveals seven major magmatic events since the Cambrian. These magmatic events took place during the Cambrian–Silurian associated with subduction, Early Devonian magmatism related to a collisional event, Early Permian to Late Triassic magmatism related to subduction, Late Triassic collisional magmatism, Late Triassic to Early Jurassic post–collision magmatism, and Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatism during intra–continental subduction.Lu-Hf isotopic data collected from granitic rocks for this study give εHf(t) values of: − 1.4 to 10.9 for diorite and monzogranite at Nanzhao; − 27.1 to − 15.6 for syenite and − 27.5 to − 25.1 for monzogranite at Songxian; and − 12.9 to − 3.4 for syenogranite in the eastern Fangcheng. Combining Hf isotopic data for the EQO from previous studies, we have evaluated the spatio–temporal distribution of Hf isotopic compositions. The resultant Hf isotopic maps highlight the location of the Kuanping Suture as an important tectonic boundary between the North China and the Yangtze cratons, which separates the EQO into a north part with an old and reworked lower crust and a southern part representing a juvenile lower crust.The Hf isotopic mapping of the EQO also provides information on the distribution of mineral deposits. Porphyry and porphyry–skarn Mo(–W) deposits are associated with magmatic rocks were emplaced in zones with low–εHf and high T_DM^c values representing old and reworked crustal components. In contrast, porphyry and porphyry–skarn Cu(–Mo) deposits are associated with magmatic rocks emplaced in domains with variable εHf and T_DM^c values characterized by dominantly reworked old crustal components with minor juvenile material. The magmatic source for the intrusions is characterized by low–εHf and high T_DM^c values, which are granite–related Mo or Pb–Zn–Ag mineralization.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the Erguna massif basement,NE China – subduction history of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust

We present new geochronological and geochemical data for granites and volcanic rocks of the Erguna massif, NE China. These data are integrated with previous findings to better constrain the nature of the massif basement and to provide new insights into the subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust and its closure. U–Pb dating of zircons from 12 granites previously mapped as Palaeoproterozoic and from three granites reported as Neoproterozoic yield exclusively Phanerozoic ages. These new ages, together with recently reported isotopic dates for the metamorphic and igneous basement rocks, as well as Nd–Hf crustal-residence ages, suggest that it is unlikely that pre-Mesoproterozoic basement exists in the Erguna massif. The geochronological and geochemical results are consistent with a three-stage subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust beneath the Erguna massif, as follows. (1) The Erguna massif records a transition from Late Devonian A-type magmatism to Carboniferous adakitic magmatism. This indicates that southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust along the northern margin of the Erguna massif began in the Carboniferous. (2) Late Permian–Middle Triassic granitoids in the Erguna massif are distributed along the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone and coeval magmatic rocks in the Xing’an terrane are scarce, suggesting that they are unlikely to have formed in association with the collision between the North China Craton and the Jiamusi–Mongolia block along the Solonker–Xra Moron–Changchun–Yanji suture zone. Instead, the apparent subduction-related signature of the granites and their proximity to the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone suggest that they are related to southward subduction of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust. (3) A conspicuous lack of magmatic activity during the Middle Jurassic marks an abrupt shift in magmatic style from Late Triassic–Early Jurassic normal and adakite-like calc-alkaline magmatism (pre-quiescent episode) to Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous A-type felsic magmatism (post-quiescent episode). Evidently a significant change in geodynamic processes took place during the Middle Jurassic. Late Triassic–Early Jurassic subduction-related signatures and adakitic affinities confirm the existence of subduction during this time. Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous post-collision magmatism constrains the timing of the final closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean involving collision between the Jiamusi–Mongolia block and the Siberian Craton to the Middle Jurassic.     

Sedimentary response to the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton during the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic

With the aim of constraining the influence of the surrounding plates on the Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton (NCC), we undertook new U–Pb and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons obtained from ten samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic sediments in the Luoyang Basin and Dengfeng area. Samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic strata were obtained from the Taiyuan, Xiashihezi, Shangshihezi, Shiqianfeng, Ermaying, Shangyoufangzhuang, Upper Jurassic unnamed, and Lower Cretaceous unnamed formations (from oldest to youngest). On the basis of the youngest zircon ages, combined with the age-diagnostic fossils, and volcanic interlayer, we propose that the Taiyuan Formation (youngest zircon age of 439 Ma) formed during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian, the Xiashihezi Formation (276 Ma) during the Early Permian, the Shangshihezi (376 Ma) and Shiqianfeng (279 Ma) formations during the Middle–Late Permian, the Ermaying Group (232 Ma) and Shangyoufangzhuang Formation (230 and 210 Ma) during the Late Triassic, the Jurassic unnamed formation (154 Ma) during the Late Jurassic, and the Cretaceous unnamed formation (158 Ma) during the Early Cretaceous. These results, together with previously published data, indicate that: (1) Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian sandstones were sourced from the Northern Qinling Orogen (NQO); (2) Lower Permian sandstones were formed mainly from material derived from the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB) on the northern margin of the NCC with only minor material from the NQO; (3) Middle–Upper Permian sandstones were derived primarily from the NQO, with only a small contribution from the YYOB; (4) Upper Triassic sandstones were sourced mainly from the YYOB and contain only minor amounts of material from the NQO; (5) Upper Jurassic sandstones were derived from material sourced from the NQO; and (6) Lower Cretaceous conglomerate was formed mainly from recycled earlier detritus.The provenance shift in the Upper Carboniferous–Mesozoic sediments within the study area indicates that the YYOB was strongly uplifted twice, first in relation to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate beneath the northern margin of the NCC during the Early Permian, and subsequently in relation to collision between the southern Mongolian Plate and the northern margin of the NCC during the Late Triassic. The three episodes of tectonic uplift of the NQO were probably related to collision between the North and South Qinling terranes, northward subduction of the Mianlue Ocean Plate, and collision between the Yangtze Craton and the southern margin of the NCC during the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, Middle–Late Permian, and Late Jurassic, respectively. The southern margin of the central NCC was rapidly uplifted and eroded during the Early Cretaceous.     

40Ar/39Ar mineral ages of eclogites from North Shahrekord in the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone,Iran: Implications for the tectonic evolution of Zagros orogen

Eclogites are high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphic rocks and are regularly considered as an indicator of ancient subduction zones. Eclogites have recently been found in the North Shahrekord metamorphic complex (NSMC) of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone and represent the only ones within the Zagros orogen. Their occurrence and timing are important for the reconstruction of convergence history and geodynamic evolution of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and Zagros orogen. White mica from the eclogites and an associated paragneiss give ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages ranging from 184.3 ± 0.9 to 172.5 ± 0.8 Ma and represent the age of cooling through the closure temperature for phengitic white mica. The NSMC also comprises the ductile NW–SE trending North Shahrekord Shear Zone (NSSZ), which is located in the northeast of the Main Zagros Reverse Fault. The NSMC consists mainly of various metasedimentary rocks, orthogneiss and small-sized bodies of metabasic rocks containing also the eclogites. Furthermore, pre-metamorphic granitoids represent part of the NSMC. The North Shahrekord eclogites are composed of garnet, omphacite, zoisite, Ca–Na amphibole, phengite and rutile. The highly deformed and metamorphosed granitoids yield hornblende and biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages 170.1 ± 0.9 Ma and 110.7 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. According to the new age dating results of eclogites, the rocks are the oldest high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Zagros orogenic belt testifying the Neo-Tethys Ocean subduction. Our new data indicate that the eclogites formed during Early Jurassic subduction of a Panafrican microcontinental piece from the northern margin of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean under the Central Iranian microplate. We suggest that initiation of subduction in Neo-Tethyan Ocean occurred a few million years prior to 184 Ma (Pliensbachian stage).     

U–Pb age of detrital zircons from the Tekes River,Xinjiang, China,and implications for tectonomagmatic evolution of the South Tian Shan Orogen

The South Tian Shan, which is located along the southwestern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, is widely accepted as a collisional orogen between the Kazakhstan-Yili Block in the north and the Tarim Craton in the south, and the collision is thought to have occurred in either Late Paleozoic or Triassic. Regardless of the timing of the collision, the major magmatic events in the South Tian Shan Orogen should be related to subduction, collision and post-collision. We investigate this problem through U–Pb age of detrital zircons from the eastward-flowing Tekes River and its southern branches flowing through the northern slope of the Chinese South Tian Shan. A total of 500 analyses on 494 zircon grains from five sand samples yield an age range of 2590 to 268 Ma, but they are dominated by Paleozoic magmatic zircon grains, with some Precambrian population, but no Mesozoic and Cenozoic grains were detected. One of the samples from the Tekes River contains zircon grains from the Chinese South Tian Shan and other areas because the river receives its discharge from multiple sources. The other four samples were collected from four branches originating from the Chinese South Tian Shan only. From west to east, the sample from the Kayintemuzhate River shows two peak ages of 475 and 345 Ma, sample from the Muzhaerte (also called Xiate) River has peak ages of 422 and 290 Ma, sample from the Akeyazi River is characterized by a single peak age of 421 Ma, and sample from the Kekesu River shows a more complicated spectra with peak ages of 426, 398, 362, 327, and 285 Ma. When pooled together, the four samples yield four distinct age populations of 500–460, 450–390, 360–320, and 300–270 Ma, indicating the major magmatic events in the Chinese South Tian Shan. These results, combined with regional data, show an absence of Mesozoic magmatic events in the drainage areas of the Tekes River, and thus the South Tian Shan does not seem to be a Triassic orogen because of the lack of syn-collisional and post-collisional magmatism. The 300–270 magmatic event is thought to post-date the closure of the South Tian Shan Ocean, while the 360–320 and 450–390 Ma events were closely related to the northward subduction of the South Tian Shan Ocean. Our results strongly suggest a Late Carboniferous (320–300 Ma) collision between the Kazakhstan-Yili Block and the Tarim Craton. Possibly, the 500–460 Ma magmatism was related to subduction and closure of the Early Paleozoic Terskey Ocean.     

Chronology,geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotope studies of Jurassic intrusions in the Diyanqinamu porphyry Mo mine,central Inner Mongolia,China

Available cores of porphyritic granite and aplitic granite from the Diyanqinamu porphyry Mo deposit in the north central Great Xing’an Range presented an opportunity to examine and analyze Mesozoic igneous rocks far from the Paleo-Pacific subduction zone. The Diyanqinamu granites are highly fractionated I-type, distinguished from the M-, A- or S-type granite by: high SiO₂, and Rb; low Zr, Nb, Y, and Ce; low Fe₂O₃^total/MgO and (K₂O + Na₂O)/CaO ratios; low alumina saturation index (<1.1); low initial I_Sr ratios (0.70137–0.70451); positive εNd(t) values (2.37–3.77); and negative correlation between P₂O₅ and SiO₂. The aplitic granites were generated by fractional crystallization of the porphyritic granite, as evidenced by: spatial proximity; consistent zircon U–Pb ages (156 Ma) within error; correlations between other oxides and SiO₂ in Haker diagrams; low Ba, Sr, Nb, P, Ti, Eu; linear relationship in both (La/Yb)_N vs. La and Sr vs. Ba diagrams; and, decreasing LREE and ∑REE with increasing SiO₂. The Diyanqinamu granites have young depleted-mantle two-stage model ages (avg. T_DM2 = 660 Ma) similar to those of most Mesozoic voluminous felsic magmas in northeastern China, and were likely sourced from pre-existent crustal components both “old” and juvenile that had been juxtaposed during the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. These granites project in the transitional field from syn-collision to post-collision tectonic settings on tectonic discrimination diagrams, implying emplacement in an extensional environment. Extensional volcanism and basin formation in the Great Xing’an Range region in Late Jurassic is coeval with the Diyanqinamu granites, demonstrating that post-orogenic lithospheric extension related to the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean was the main driving force for Late Jurassic magmatism in this region.