Petrogenesis of Early Permian Intrusive Rocks from Southeastern Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on the Tectonic Framework of the Southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The late Paleozoic tectonic framework of the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt is key to restricting the accretion orogeny between the Siberia Craton and the North China Craton. To clarify the framework, petrogenesis of early Permian intrusive rocks from southeastern Inner Mongolia was studied. Zircon U-Pb dating for bojite and syenogranite from Ar-Horqin indicate that they were emplaced at 288–285 Ma. Geochemical data reveal that the bojite is highly magnesian and low-K to middle-K calc-alkaline, with E-MORB-type REE and IAB-like trace element patterns. The syenogranite is a middle-K calc-alkaline fractionated A-type granite and shows oceanic-arc-like trace element patterns, with depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes, (87Sr/86Sr)I = 0.7032–0.7042, εNd(t) = +4.0 to +6.6 and zircon εHf(t) = +11.14 to +14.99. This suggests that the bojite was derived from lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted slab melt, while the syenogranite originated from very juvenile arc-related lower crust. Usng data from coeval magmatic rocks from Linxi?Ar-Horqin, the Ar-Horqin intra-oceanic arc was reconstructed, i.e., initial transition in 290–280 Ma and mature after 278 Ma. Combined with regional geological and geophysical materials in southeastern Inner Mongolia, an early Permian tectonic framework as ‘one narrow ocean basin of the PAO’, ‘two continental marginal arcs on its northern and southern’ and ‘one intra-oceanic arc in its southern’ is proposed.     

Early‐Middle Paleozoic Andes‐type Continental Margin in the Chifeng Area,Inner Mongolia: Framework,Geochronology and Geochemistry and Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Three tectonic units have been recognized in the Chifeng area, Inner Mongolia, from north to south, including the Qiganmiao accretionary prism, Jiefangyingzi arc belt and Sidaozhangpeng molasse basin, which formed an Andeantype active continent margin during the early to middle Paleozoic. The Qiganmiao accretionary prism is characterized by a mélange that consists of gabbro, two-mica quartz schist and basic volcanic rock blocks and heterogeneously deformed marble matrix. Two zircon U-Pb ages of ...     

内蒙古土牧尔台地区黑云母二长花岗岩及其暗色包体的成因及构造意义

内蒙古中部土牧尔台地区位于华北克拉通北缘,区内广泛发育黑云母二长花岗岩及暗色闪长岩包体,绝大多数包体与寄主岩石呈渐变过渡的接触关系.锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果显示,寄主岩石年龄为273 ～ 271Ma,包体年龄为268±2Ma,两者均形成于早-中二叠世.其中,寄主岩石具有高钾钙碱性、弱过铝质、高分异Ⅰ型花...     

内蒙古狼山地区早石炭世角闪辉长岩、花岗闪长岩的岩石成因及构造意义

内蒙古狼山山脉西侧分布有大面积的晚古生代岩浆岩,时代集中在早石炭世—晚二叠世,早石炭世角闪辉长岩、花岗闪长岩体出露于潮格温都尔镇西侧。角闪辉长岩体呈岩滴状产出,被花岗闪长岩体侵入,LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄显示,角闪辉长岩的~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为329.0±2.3 Ma,花岗闪长岩的~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为331.1±0.9 Ma~330.0±4.2 Ma。花岗闪长岩暗色矿物以角闪石为主,富钠(Na2O=3.48%~4.46%),高钠钾比值(Na2O/K2O=1.03~2.39),钙碱性系列,P2O5-SiO_2之间存在较好的负相关性,岩石地球化学特征具Ⅰ型花岗岩的特点。Hf同位素及元素地球化学特征指示了角闪辉长岩及花岗闪长岩均来自于受地壳混染的亏损地幔,为同源岩浆演化的产物。角闪辉长岩及花岗闪长岩稀土元素配分型式一致,均为轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损,具弱的负Eu异常;角闪辉长岩富集Ba、Sr,亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf;花岗闪长岩富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K、Pb、Sr,不同程度地亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti,总体反映了岩浆弧的地球化学特征。结合区域地质背景,早石炭世狼山地区侵入岩岩石组合为角闪辉长岩(闪长岩)+石英闪长岩+花岗闪长岩,认为狼山地区早石炭世处于大陆边缘弧构造背景。     

Early Permian A‐type Granites in the Zhangdaqi Area,Inner Mongolia,China and Their Tectonic Implications

There is a controversy regarding the amalgamation of Xing'an and Songnen Blocks along the Hegenshan-Heihe Suture(HHS) in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). To solve this problem, we performed detailed study on the granites from the Zhangdaqi area, adjacent to the north of the HHS in the northern part of the Great Xing'an Range, NE China. Geochemically, the granites in the study area are metaluminous-weak peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline series. Trace elements of the granites show that LREEs are relatively enriched, while HREEs are relatively deficient and obvious REE fractionation. The granites are characterized by obvious negative Eu anomalies, meanwhile, they are relatively enriched in Rb, K, Th and depleted in Ba, Nb, Sr, P, Ti. All the geochemical features suggest that the granites in the Zhangdaqi area are aluminum A-type granites. The zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages of these granites are 294–298 Ma, indicating that they formed in the Early Permian. These granites also have positive ε_(Hf)(t) values(8.4–14.2) and a relatively young two-stage model age between 449 Ma and 977 Ma, implying that the magma was derived from the re-melting of the Early Paleozoic-Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. Combined with geochemical characteristics(Nb/Ta ratios of 9.0–22.2, and Zr/Hf ratios of 52.3–152.0), we believe that the magmatic source area is a mixture of partial melting of the lower crust and depleted mantle. A-type granites and bimodal volcanic rocks along the Hegenshan-Heihe Suture formed during the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian, indicating that the HHS between Xing'an and Songnen Blocks closed in the late EarlyCarboniferous. Subsequently, the Zhangdaqi area was in a post-orogenic extensional environment from Late Carboniferous to Early Permian and resulted in the formation of the A-type granites.     

Comparisons among the Oortsog,Dulaan, and Nomgon mafic-ultramafic intrusions in central Mongolia and Ni-Cu deposits in NW China: implications for economic Ni-Cu-PGE ore exploration in central Mongolia

Although there are many mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the western and central regions of Mongolia, Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), no economic-grade Ni-Cu deposits have yet been discovered. To understand the economic Ni-Cu deposit potential of the intrusions in central Mongolia, the parental magma affinity and sulfide saturation of the Oortsog, Dulaan, and Nomgon Ni-Cu mineralized mafic-ultramafic intrusions are studied. These three intrusions are predominantly gabbroic in composition, while the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions also contain small proportions of peridotites. The parental magmas of the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions are tholeiitic, as indicated by their Cr-spinel and clinopyroxene compositions, whereas the parental magma of the Nomgon intrusions is likely calc-alkaline. The compositions of Cr-spinel and clinopyroxene, combined with the presence of significant Nb-Ta depletions, indicate that these rocks were most likely derived from modified mantle sources. Both the Oortsog and Nomgon intrusions form two clusters in terms of their olivine composition, suggesting that multiple magma surges were involved during their emplacement. The relatively low Fo values and Ni contents in olivine from the three intrusions compared to those from Ni-Cu deposits in NW China, as well as those in the Voisey’s Bay deposit in Canada, indicate that the three intrusions were crystallized from relatively evolved magmas. The Cu/Zr ratios of rocks of the Oortsog, Dulaan, and Nomgon intrusions are higher than 1, suggesting that these rocks contain cumulus sulfide. This, coupled with the presence of rounded sulfide inclusions in olivine of the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions, suggests that sulfide saturation occurred before or during olivine crystallization. The distribution patterns of platinum group elements (PGEs) of the Dulaan and Oortsog intrusions record slight Rh, Pt, and Pd (PPGE) enrichment relative to Os, Ir, and Rh (IPGE). Furthermore, the Ni/Cu ratios of sulfide-bearing rocks from the Oortsog intrusion vary from 1.8 to 3.8, which are consistent with those of the Ni-Cu sulfide deposits in NW China. In contrast, the Ni/Cu ratios of sulfide-bearing rocks from the Nomgon intrusion are extremely low (0.03 to 0.07). This, together with the significant enrichment in PPGE relative to IPGE, suggests that these sulfides of the Nomgon intrusion were segregated from a magma that was extremely enriched in Cu and PPGE but depleted in Ni and IPGE. The characteristics of the chalcophile elements in these intrusions are attributed to the fact that the derivation of the Nomgon magma was significantly different from that of the Dulaan and Oortsog parental magmas. Overall, although the parental magmas of the intrusions in central Mongolia are more evolved than those in NW China, they are comparable in terms of the sizes of their intrusions, constituent minerals, and mineral chemistry. These similarities suggest that the intrusions in central Mongolia have economic Ni-Cu sulfide potential. Furthermore, intrusions similar to the Nomgon intrusion may feature PGE mineralization potential.     

北山地区中生代岩浆活动与成矿构造背景分析

中亚造山带是古亚洲洋演化与最终消亡的产物。北山地区处于该造山带中段南部,是中国重要的铜、钼、金、铁多金属成矿带。北山地区在晚古生代—早中生代曾发生过2次碰撞造山作用,一次发生于晚古生代末,与古亚洲洋的最终闭合有关;另一次发生于早中生代三叠纪,与北山南带发育的石炭纪一二叠纪裂谷封闭有关。因此,从时间演化看,中生代三叠纪北山地区为碰撞-碰撞后造山阶段,发育大规模剪切带和强烈的岩浆活动及伴生的金属成矿作用。北山地区中生代岩浆活动以深成侵入相发育并缺失相应的喷出相为特征;岩石类型以中酸性侵入岩为主,基性侵入岩局部可见,S、I、A型花岗岩均有产出。与中生代岩浆活动有关的矿床类型主要包括与I-A型花岗岩伴生的斑岩钼矿床、与S型花岗岩伴生的钨(锡)矿床、与中酸性侵入体有关的矽卡岩型金、银铜铅锌多金属矿床和与中酸性侵入体有关并受剪切带控制的金矿床。中生代印支期是该地区最晚一次大规模岩浆活动与金属成矿时期,其发育的范围、规模和强度均比原来认识的要广泛的多,值得进一步关注。     

内蒙古镶黄旗哈达庙金矿床含矿斑岩体形成时代和成矿构造背景

内蒙古中部镶黄旗哈达庙金矿床位于华北板块北缘的中亚造山带中东段,矿体受控于花岗斑岩体与围岩接触带,为斑岩型金矿床.运用激光剥蚀等离子体质谱仪(LA-ICP-MS)测定了含矿花岗斑岩中单颗粒锆石U-Pb年龄,获得15个测试点的加权平均年龄为271.8±3.3Ma(MSWD=2.3,n=15),表明花岗斑岩侵位年龄(或成矿年龄)为早二叠世.结合前人的岩相学、微量元素地球化学和同位素地球化学研究结果,认为哈达庙金矿区花岗斑岩可能形成于古生代末-三叠纪初的华北板块与西伯利亚古板块之间的大陆碰撞背景,俯冲板片部分熔融或者深熔作用形成的岩浆上侵为金矿的形成提供了成矿物质.     

小兴安岭-张广才岭地区晚古生代至中生代花岗岩的成因及其地质意义

中国东北地区显生宙花岗岩的成因一直是中亚造山带东段研究的热点之一,尤其是小兴安岭-张广才岭地区的花岗岩其成因及形成的大地构造背景一直存在较大争议。本文新获得小兴安岭-张广才岭铁力和依兰地区的二长花岗岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为188±1 Ma和257±3 Ma。地球化学数据显示,两地区的二长花岗岩均为Ⅰ型花岗岩并且富集大离子亲石元素(Th和U等)和轻稀土元素,亏损高场强元素(Nb和Ta等)和重稀土元素具有弧岩浆岩的地球化学特征。锆石Hf同位素数据显示,铁力地区二长花岗岩的岩浆源区可能来自于中新元古代的下地壳部分熔融。综合前人在小兴安岭-张广才岭地区已发表的花岗岩类岩石的地质年代学和地球化学数据,初步推测小兴安岭-张广才岭地区在晚古生代至中生代期间处于活动大陆边缘环境。同时,小兴安岭-张广才岭地区晚古生代至中生代的岩浆岩具有自东向西形成时代逐渐变年轻的趋势,这可能是由于东侧的牡丹江洋在晚古生代至中生代期间俯冲角度逐渐变缓造成的。     

华北地块北缘晚古生代——早中生代岩浆活动期次、特征及构造背景

通过对华北陆块北缘近年来获得的晚古生代—早中生代岩浆岩锆石U-Pb及部分39Ar-40Ar测年结果的分析,认为该区晚古生代—早中生代期间至少经历了泥盆纪、早石炭世晚期—中二叠世及二叠纪末—三叠纪等3期明显的岩浆作用过程。泥盆纪岩浆活动时限在400～360Ma左右,岩性主要为碱性岩(正长岩及二长岩),其次为基性-超基性岩、二长闪长岩、碱性花岗岩及流纹岩,出露面积较少。早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆活动时限在330～265Ma左右,岩性主要为闪长岩、石英闪长岩、花岗闪长岩及花岗岩,其次为辉长岩及英云闪长岩。二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆活动(250～200Ma),岩性主要为钾长花岗岩、二长花岗岩及碱性杂岩,其次为基性-超基性岩及少量中酸性火山岩。华北地块北缘晚古生代—早中生代岩浆岩呈近东西走向的带状分布,其中泥盆纪及早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆岩主要分布在内蒙古隆起上,而二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆岩分布范围更大,其南界可以到达燕山构造带最南端的蓟县盘山及太行山北段的河北涿鹿矾山地区。这些广泛分布的多期次岩浆活动表明华北地块北缘在晚古生代—早中生代期间经历了复杂的岩浆及构造作用过程。泥盆纪岩浆活动可能与白乃庙岛弧岩带与华北克拉通弧-陆碰撞后的伸展作用有关。早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆活动的形成与古亚洲洋向华北地块的俯冲作用有关。而二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆活动的形成与华北地块与西伯利亚南缘蒙古增生褶皱带拼合后的伸展及岩石圈拆沉作用有关。     

中亚造山带中段南缘圆包山组碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄、物源及其构造演化意义

取自圆包山组砂岩样品中的碎屑锆石作LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,获得两个数据年龄区间:409~431Ma(峰值420Ma)和458~488Ma(峰值488Ma)。圆包山组底部发育的笔石化石和420Ma的锆石峰值年龄将圆包山组的时代限定为早志留世后,通过与兴蒙造山带的构造演化对比,认为圆包山组时代为早志留世至早泥盆世。对圆包山组中发育的沉积构造进行古流向分析,认为圆包山组物源区位于杭乌拉北西方向。结合区域岩浆演化资料分析,圆包山组物源区为呼和套尔盖地区。在圆包山组中还检测到继承锆石,新元古代分布于559~952Ma,中元古代分布于1011~1460Ma,古元古代分布于1629~2490Ma。从前人对西伯利亚板块南部、塔里木板块以及南蒙古微板块的相关锆石年龄结果总结发现,华北板块与周围板块最主要的区别在于没有或者很少有中元古代晚期至新元古代早期的锆石年龄记录,阿拉善地块也缺少1.0~1.2Ga锆石年龄记录。综上,认为研究区在古生代构造位置属于南蒙古微板块南部的一部分,元古代物源来自塔里木板块。另外由碎屑锆石年龄在地层中分布特征来看,研究区在早泥盆世后隆升作用明显,构造活动性增强,受到塔里木板块影响逐渐加强。     

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Airikenqiken granite,Central Tianshan Terrane,Xinjiang, China: implications for petrogenesis and continental growth

The Central Tianshan terrane (CTT) is part of the southwestern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Since the collision between CTT and Tarim block marks the termination of the South Tianshan Ocean in the southwestern corner of the CAOB, the CTT is regarded as a key area for understanding the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. The Airikenqiken granitic pluton is located ~30 km to the northwest of Baluntai town in the eastern part of CTT. Here we report a zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb age of 320.1 ± 3.3 Ma for the granite. Geochemically, the pluton is characterized by a high concentration of SiO₂ (71.01–73.58 wt.%) and relatively low contents of MgO (0.28–0.5 wt.%), Cr (1–10 ppm), and Ni (~2 ppm). The rocks show enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and significantly negative Nb, Ta, Ti, and P anomalies. Light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment and slightly negative Eu anomalies are also displayed. Zircon ε_Hf(t) values at ~320 Ma range from – 1.1 to +12.2. Our data suggest that the parental magma of the pluton was generated by partial melting of a thickened garnet-bearing, amphibolite facies lower crust. The magma was contaminated by ancient crustal components en route to the shallow crust. Together with the information from previous studies on the Central and South Tianshan Mountains, we propose that the Airikenqiken granite formed in a post-collisional setting and that the late Palaeozoic continental growth of CTT involved the input of juvenile components.     

中天山地块南缘两类混合岩的成因及其地质意义

中天山地块是位于中亚造山带西南缘的西天山造山带的重要组成块体,其基底演化和构造亲缘性对恢复西天山的增生造山方式和大地构造格局具有重要意义。混合岩在中天山地块的高级变质地体中广泛分布,是揭示中天山地块基底演化和构造属性的窗口。本文通过开展锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素及岩石地球化学研究,确定了中天山地块南缘乌瓦门杂岩的两类条带状混合岩的原岩性质和形成时代以及混合岩化作用时代和成因机制。第一类条带状混合岩的原岩为中基性岩屑砂岩,混合岩化时代为～1. 8Ga,是在同期角闪岩相变质过程中通过变质分异形成的。第二类条带状混合岩的古成体包括黑云角闪斜长片麻岩和黑云斜长角闪片麻岩,原岩均形成于～2. 5Ga,并叠加～1. 8Ga角闪岩相变质作用,是洋陆俯冲背景下由俯冲洋壳或岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成。侵入古成体的变基性岩墙形成于～1. 72Ga,具有Fe-Ti玄武岩的地球化学特征,起源于后碰撞伸展背景下的软流圈地幔。该类混合岩的浅色体同时穿插古成体和变基性岩墙,呈现突变的野外接触关系,与区域内约787～785Ma混合岩化同期,即混合岩化作用是外来岩浆注入的结果,可能是造山带垮塌引发地壳深熔作用的产物。乌瓦门杂岩记录的～2. 5Ga岩浆活动、～1. 8Ga变质作用和～790Ma混合岩化作用可以和塔里木北缘进行对比,暗示中天山地块是一个具有确切新太古代-古元古代结晶基底的微陆块,并且和塔里木克拉通存在构造亲缘性。     

内蒙古狼山地区早石炭世石英闪长岩U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其对古亚洲洋俯冲的指示

内蒙古狼山山脉西侧分布大面积的晚古生代岩浆岩,时代集中在早石炭世—晚二叠世,早石炭世石英闪长岩体出露于潮格温都尔镇西侧。该岩体岩性为石英闪长岩,LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄显示,石英闪长岩的206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值为337.4±6.6 Ma。岩石暗色矿物以角闪石为主,黑云母次之,富铁,富钠,高钠钾比值,为钙碱性系列;富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K、Pb,不同程度的亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti的特点,稀土元素配分型式为轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损,弱的负Eu异常,总体反映岩浆弧的地球化学特征。构造环境判别图显示样品点落在大陆边缘弧范围,岩石地球化学特征表明狼山地区早石炭世处于大陆边缘弧构造背景,古亚洲洋石炭纪存在向南俯冲。对比北部造山带西乌旗地区的早石炭世石英闪长岩,两者地球化学特征基本相同。因此,早石炭世古亚洲洋发生了双向俯冲,形成了以石英闪长岩为主的岩石类型。     

内蒙古查干拜兴晚石炭世埃达克岩的成因及其洋内俯冲作用的约束

由于缺少可靠的埃达克岩石的发现和系统研究,内蒙古索伦地区有无洋内初始弧火成岩组合和洋内俯冲作用尚不清楚,制约了古亚洲洋东段古生代古大洋俯冲消亡过程的进一步认识。本文报道在内蒙古苏尼特右旗蛇绿混杂岩带中新发现的晚石炭世埃达克岩,岩性为英云闪长岩。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年显示,查干拜兴埃达克岩的形成时间为322.3±5.2 Ma,时代为晚石炭世。该埃达克岩属于低钾拉斑系列-中钾钙碱性系列岩石,SiO₂含量为65.57%～67.89%,Al₂O₃为15.48%～16.55%,MgO为0.76%～1.63%,Na₂O/K₂O为2.39～18.09,Sr为371×10^-6～486×10^-6,Yb为0.60×10^-6～1.76×10^-6,Y为4.87×10^-6～7.82×10^-6。相对富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb和Sr等,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Z...     

Permian Tectonic Evolution in the Middle Part of Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidence from Newly Identified Volcanic Rocks in the Bilutu Area,Inner Mongolia

In this study, zircon U-Pb ages, geochemical and Lu-Hf isotopic data are presented for the newly identified volcanic rocks which were considered as Bainaimiao group in Bainaimiao Arc Belt(BAB), Inner Mongolia, which could provide important constraints on the evolution of the northern part of North China Block(NCB) and BAB. Basalt to basaltic andesite and andesite to dacite were collected from two sections, which showed eruption ages of 278.2±4.1 Ma and 258.3±3.0 Ma respectively. All samples are characterized by high abundances in Al_2O_3, LREEs, and LILEs, but depleted in HFSEs. Together with high Mg# ratios and low K/tholeiite to calc-alkaline series, these features indicated that basalt to andesite was likely derived from relatively low degree partial melting of the subduction-fluid related mantle in the spinel phase. And dacite was mainly from the partial melting of crust, then affected by mantle. All samples barely went through fractional crystallization process with the slight Eu anomaly. Compared with the contemporary basalt in NCB, rocks in BAB have a complex composition of zircon and a more positive ε_(Hf)(t) value(-6.6–6.4), indicating that they had different magma sources of rocks. Though with different basements, NCB and BAB have become an integrated whole before 278 Ma. Therefore, it could be concluded that NCB and BAB belonged to the active continental margin and the PAO had not closed yet until late Permian and then it disappeared gradually and the CAOB developed into a condition of syn-post collision.     

Permian Peri‐glacial Deposits from Central Mongolia in Central Asian Orogenic Belt: A Possible Indicator of the Capitanian Cooling Event

A dropstone‐bearing, Middle Permian to Early Triassic peri‐glacial sedimentary unit was first discovered from the Khangai–Khentei Belt in Mongolia, Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The unit, Urmegtei Formation, is assumed to cover the early Carboniferous Khangai–Khentei accretionary complex, and is an upward‐fining sequence, consisting of conglomerates, sandstones, and varved sandstone and mudstone beds with granite dropstones in ascending order. The formation was cut by a felsic dike, and was deformed and metamorphosed together with the felsic dike. An undeformed porphyritic granite batholith finally cut all the deformed and metamorphosed rocks. LA‐ICP‐MS, U–Pb zircon dating has revealed the following ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U weighted mean igneous ages: (i) a granite dropstone in the Urmegtei Formation is 273 ± 5 Ma (Kungurian of Early Permian); (ii) the deformed felsic dike is 247 ± 4 Ma (Olenekian of Early Triassic); and (iii) the undeformed granite batholith is 218 ± 9 Ma (Carnian of Late Triassic). From these data, the age of sedimentation of the Urmegtei Formation is constrained between the Kungurian and the Olenekian (273–247 Ma), and the age of deformation and metamorphism is constrained between the Olenekian and the Carnian (247–218 Ma). In Permian and Triassic times, the global climate was in a warming trend from the Serpukhovian (early Late Carboniferous) to the Kungurian long and severe cool mode (328–271 Ma) to the Roadian to Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) warm mode (271–168 Ma), with an interruption with the Capitanian Kamura cooling event (266–260 Ma). The dropstone‐bearing strata of the Urmegtei Formation, together with the glacier‐related deposits in the Verkhoyansk, Kolyma, and Omolon areas of northeastern Siberia (said to be of Middle to Late Permian age), must be products of the Capitanian cooling event. Although further study is needed, the dropstone‐bearing strata we found can be explained in two ways: (i) the Urmegtei Formation is an autochthonous formation indicating a short‐term expansion of land glacier to the central part of Siberia in Capitanian age; or (ii) the Urmegtei Formation was deposited in or around a limited ice‐covered continent in northeast Siberia in the Capitanian and was displaced to the present position by the Carnian.     

Age and geochemistry of the Carboniferous-Permian magmatism and Fe-Ti-V oxide metallogeny in the Eastern Tianshan Orogen,NW China: evidence from the Yaxi mafic-ultramafic complex

ABSTRACT

The Eastern Tianshan Orogen (Xinjiang, NW China) in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is featured by its many Carboniferous-Triassic mafic-ultramafic intrusions and associated magmatic Fe-Ti-V oxide mineralization. In this study, we present the first systematic data comparison on the age and whole-rock geochemistry of the ore-forming mafic-ultramafic complexes at Yaxi, Niumaoquan, Xiangshanxi, and Weiya. Our new age dating on the Yaxi complex indicates that the mineralized gabbro (zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dated 297.3 ± 4.9 Ma) formed in the latest Carboniferous-Early Permian, similar to the diorite (LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dated 308.3 ± 8.6 Ma) and granodiorite (LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dated 304.9 ± 1.7 Ma). The Yaxi complex is the oldest late Palaeozoic mafic-ultramafic intrusion reported so far in the Eastern Tianshan. The mineralized gabbro at Yaxi contains higher average Fe₂O_3T (20.83 wt.%), TiO₂ (5.91 wt.%), and V (523 ppm) contents than its ore-barren counterpart (7.45 wt.%, 0.99 wt.%, and 133 ppm, respectively). These Eastern Tianshan mafic rocks are mildly large ion lithophile element (LILE) enriched and high field-strength element (HFSE) depleted, and with LREE/HREE enrichment (Yaxi: (La/Yb)_N = 2.7 ~ 5.37) and subtle positive Eu anomalies (Yaxi: Eu/Eu* = 0.94 to 3.31). This suggests that the Eastern Tianshan mafic-ultramafic magmas were likely derived from an arc/subduction-modified magma source. The E-W trending crustal-scale faults (e.g. the Aqikkuduk fault) may have acted as magma conduits and controlled the magma emplacement. The spatial-temporal distribution of the Eastern Tianshan Fe-Ti-V ore-forming mafic-ultramafic complexes and their petrologic and geochemical features suggest that the latest Carboniferous-Early Permian magmatic phase was likely emplaced in a collision-related compression setting following the Junggar Ocean closure, whereas the late Early Permian phase may have been related to a post-collisional orogenic setting.     

Early Cambrian eclogites in SW Mongolia: evidence that the Palaeo‐Asian Ocean suture extends further east than expected

Newly discovered eclogites, Early Cambrian carbonates and chloritoid‐bearing metapelites form the Tsakhir Uul accretionary wedge, which was thrust during the Early Cambrian over the Mesoproterozoic Dzabkhan‐Baydrag continent. The rock association of the wedge forms a tectonic window emerging through the hangingwall Khantaishir ophiolite unit, which preserves a typical Tethyan‐type ophiolitic sequence. The eclogites correspond geochemically to T‐MORB modified by fluid circulation. They are composed of garnet, omphacite, amphibole, rutile ±muscovite ±quartz ±epidote and exhibit well‐equilibrated matrix textures. Jadeite content of the omphacite reaches up to 45 mol.%, the Si content of muscovite is between 3.40 and 3.45 p.f.u., amphibole is winchite to barroisite, but reaches tschermakitic composition at some rims, and garnet composition is grs_0.24–0.36, alm_0.43–0.56, py_0.05–0.18, sps_0.00–0.18, . The peak assemblage, together with the composition of garnet rims, omphacite, amphibole and muscovite, correspond in a pseudosection to 20?22.5 kbar and 590?610 °C. The tschermakitic rim of amphibole is interpreted as partial reequilibration on decompression below 16 kbar and ～600?630 °C. Two muscovite separates from the eclogite yielded an Ar–Ar plateau age of 543.1 ± 3.9 Ma (1σ) and a mean age of 547.9 ± 2.6 Ma (1σ), whereas muscovite from an interbedded garnet‐chloritoid micaschist yielded an Ar–Ar plateau age of 536.9 ± 2.7 Ma (1σ); these ages are interpreted as cooling ages. The P–T data, geochemistry of eclogites and cooling ages suggest an affinity between the Tsakhir Uul wedge and the Gorny Altai and the north Mongolian blueschist belt, which are believed typical for subduction of warm oceanic lithosphere and closure of small oceanic basins. Thus, the discovery of the Tsakhir Uul eclogites represents an important finding suggesting extension of the Early Cambrian subduction system of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt far to the east in a region where it was not expected.     

Geochemical and Nd-Hf Isotopic Constraints on the Petrogenesis of an Archean Granitoid in the Erguna Massif,NE China

Crystalline basement and Precambrian crustal growth of the continental massifs within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) are still pending problems. Our geological and geochemical investigations identified an Archean (2606 Ma) granitic pluton in the Biliya area of the Erguna Massif. The Neoarchean granitoids show high and positive in-situ zircon εHf(t) (+0.3 to +10.0), whole-rock εNd(t) (+4.8) and whole-rock εHf(t) values (+2.1). They are characterized by high Y + Ce + Zr + Nb (> 220 ppm) and Zr contents and could be classified as A-type granites. These granitoids are characterized by high Zr saturation temperatures (TZr) (796–836°C). They were derived from partial re-melting of juvenile mafic lower crust in an intracontinental back-arc extensional environment. This newly identified Neoarchean granitic pluton may represent the crystalline basement of the several continent massifs within the CAOB, and their high ?Hf(t)–?Nd(t) values may also indicate the occurrence of lateral crustal growth events in these massifs during the Neoarchean.