Mineral inclusions in zircon domains and geological significance of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for coesite-bearing zircons of paragneiss in Sulu terrane,eastern China

Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) image reveal that zircons separated from paragneisses in the southwestern Sulu terrane (eastern China) preserve multi-stage mineral assemblages in different zircon domains. In the same paragneiss zircon sample, some zircon grains retain inherited (detrital) cores with abundant low-pressure mineral inclusions of Qtz + Phe + Ap + impurities and Qtz + Phe + impurities. The ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic overgrowths mantles of these zircons preserve Coe, Coe + Phe and other UHP mineral inclusions, indicating that these inherited (detrital) zircons from protoliths experienced metamorphic recrystallization during the Sulu UHP metamorphic event. However, other zircon grains preserve UHP mineral inclusions of Coe, Coe + Ap and Coe + Phe in the cores and mantles, whereas the outmost rims contain quartz (Qtz) and other low-pressure mineral inclusions. These phenomena prove that the second group zircons were crystallized at UHP metamorphic stage and overpr     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages of the Hida metamorphic and plutonic rocks,Japan: Implications for late Paleozoic to Mesozoic tectonics around the Korean Peninsula

A new U–Pb zircon geochronological study for the Hida metamorphic and plutonic rocks from the Tateyama area in the Hida Mountains of north central Japan is presented. The U–Pb ages of metamorphic zircon grains with inherited/detrital cores in paragneisses suggest that a metamorphic event took place at around 235–250 Ma; the cores yield ages around 275 Ma, 300 Ma, 330 Ma, 1 850 Ma, and 2 650 Ma. New age data, together with geochronological and geological context of the Hida Belt, indicate that a sedimentary protolith of the paragneisses is younger than 275 Ma and was crystallized at around 235–250 Ma. Detrital ages support a model that the Hida Belt was located in the eastern margin of the North China Craton, which provided zircon grains from Paleoproterozoic to Paleozoic rocks and also from Archean and rare Neoproterozoic rocks. Triassic regional metamorphism possibly reflects collision between the North and South China Cratons.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age and Nd isotopic study on the Nyainqêntanglha Group in Tibet

The Nyainqêntanglha Group is traditionally viewed as the oldest metamorphic basement in the Lhasa block, but its formation age and tectonic setting remain debate. Zircons extracted from the metamorphic sequence of volcanics and intrusions of the Nyainqêntanglha Group, 10 km west of Nam Co in northern Lhasa block, have been investigated by cathodoluminescence (CL), backscattered (BSE) and dated by ion microprobe (SHRIMP). We conclude that the U-Pb age of 787 ê9 Ma of zircons from the trondhjemite imposes a constraint on maxi-mum protolith age, and minimum formation age of the Nyainqêntanglha Group is constrained by U-Pb age of 748 ê8 Ma of zircons from the granite. The formation age of the Nyainqêntanglha Group is consistent with sedimentary age of Greater Himalayan rocks, showing that they devel-oped coevally in an arc-basin tectonic setting of Neoproterozoic active continental margin along the northern margin of the India shield. The inherited zircons from the tholetiite and granite give older 207 Pb/206 Pb ages from 947 to 1766 Ma. The positive å Nd(t) value indicates that the mafic rocks were derived from the depleted mantle, but contaminated by the older continental crustal material. Integrated Nd model age and U-Pb age data provide excellent evidence for the existence of Mesoproterozoic basement in the Lhasa block during Neoproterozoic time.     

U–Pb ages of zircons from metamorphic rocks in the upper sequence of the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt,Hokkaido, Japan: Identification of two metamorphic events and implications for regional tectonics

The Hidaka Metamorphic Belt is a well-known example of island-arc crustal section, in which metamorphic grade increases westwards from unmetamorphosed sediment up to granulite facies. It is divided into lower (granulite to amphibolite facies) and upper (amphibolite to greenschist facies) metamorphic sequences. The metamorphic age of the belt was considered to be ~55 Ma, based on Rb – Sr whole-rock isochron ages for granulites and related S-type tonalities. However, zircons from the granulites in the lower sequence yield U – Pb ages of ~21 – 19 Ma, and a preliminary report on zircons from pelitic gneiss in the upper sequence gives a U – Pb age of ~40 Ma. In this paper we provide new zircon U – Pb ages from two pelitic gneisses in the upper sequence to assess the metamorphic age and also the maximum depositional age of the sedimentary protolith. The weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages from a biotite gneiss in the central area of the belt yield 39.6 ± 0.9 Ma for newly grown metamorphic rims and 53.1 ± 0.9 Ma for the youngest detrital cores. The ages of zircons from a cordierite–biotite gneiss in the southern area are 35.9 ± 0.7 Ma for metamorphic rims and 46.5 ± 2.8 Ma for the youngest detrital cores. These results indicate that metamorphism of the upper sequence took place at ~40 – 36 Ma, and that the sedimentary protolith was deposited after ~53 – 47 Ma. These metamorphic ages are consistent with the reported ages of ~37–36 Ma plutonic rocks in the upper sequence, but contrast with the ~21–19 Ma ages of metamorphic and plutonic rocks in the lower sequence. Therefore, we conclude that the upper and lower metamorphic sequences developed independently but coupled with each other before ~19 Ma as a result of dextral reverse tectonic movement.     

The Dabie Orogen as the early Jurassic sedimentary provenance: Constraints from the detrital zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating

The SHRIMP U-Pb ages of detrital zircon from the oldest Mesozoic strata, the Fanghushan Fomation, in the Hefei Basin range from 200 Ma to ca. 2500 Ma, which indicates that the Dabie Orogen as the early Jurassic sedimentary provenance was complex. The composition of the Dabie Orogen includes: the Triassic high pressure-ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks, of which the detrital zircon ages are from 234 Ma to 200 Ma; the rocks possibly related to the Qinling and Erlangping Groups representing the southern margin of the Sino-Korean craton in the Qinling and Dabie area, of which the detrital zircon has an age of 481-378 Ma; the Neo-proterozoic rocks originated from the Yangtze croton, of which the detrital zircon ages are 799-721 Ma old; and the rocks with the detrital zircon ages of ca. 2000 Ma and ca. 2500 Ma, which could be the old basement of the Yangtze craton.     

Multi-isotopic system geochronology of low temperature eclogite from Huangzhen,Southern Dabie Terrain

Zircon U-Pb thermal ionization mass-spectrometer (TIMS) and secondary ion mass-spectrometer (SIMS) dating, mica and amphibole 40Ar-39Ar dating and mineral Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of Huangzhen Iow temperature eclogite and country granitic gneiss are carried out. The zircon U-Pb weighted average SIMS age is (231.6±9.7) Ma for one eclogite.The mica 40Ar-39Ar isochron age is (232.6±2.1) Ma and the lowest plateau age is (221.7±2.4)Ma from same sample. U-Pb TIMS concordant ages from other eclogite zircons are from (221.3± 1.4) Ma to (222.5±2.3) Ma. U-Pb SIMS low intercept age from country granitic gneiss is (221±35) Ma. The retrograde amphibole 40Ar-39Ar isochron age is (205.9± 1.0) Ma. Except for mica,which may contain excess 40Ar, all the ages represent peak and retrograde metamorphism of low temperature eclogites. It is indicated that the Huangzhen low temperature eclogites differ from Xiongdian low temperature eclogites of north of the Northern Dabie Terrain in metamorphic ages.Huangzhen low temperature eclogites share one coherent HP-UHP terrain with high temperature eclogites from Southern Dabie Terrain and they may have differences in subduction depth and cooling rates during exhumation.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of early Mesozoic felsic igneous rocks from the southern Lancangjiang and its tectonic implications

The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of three typical samples, including two monzo nitic granites from the Lincang batholith and a rhyolite from the Manghuai Formation are presented in the southern Lancangjiang, western Yunnan Province. The analyses of zircons for the biotite monzonitic granites from the northern (02DX-137) and southern (20JH-10) Lincang batholith show the single and tight clusters on the concordia, and yield the weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of 229.4 ± 3.0 Ma and 230.4 ± 3.6 Ma, respectively, representing the crystallized ages of these granites. The zircons for the rhyolitic sample (02DX-95) from the Manghuai Formation give a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 231.0 ± 5.0 Ma. These data suggest that the igneous rocks from the Lincang granitic batholith and Manghuai Formation have a similar crystallized age. In combination with other data, it is inferred that both were generated at a narrow age span (~230 Ma) and were originated from the postcollisional tectonic regime. An early Proterozoic 206Pb/238U apparent age of 1977±44 Ma is additionally obtained from one zircon from the biotite monzonitic granite (southern Lincang batholith), indicative of devel- opment of the early Proterozoic Yangtze basement in the region. These precisely geochronological data provide important constraints on better understanding the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Tethys, western Yunnan Province.     

U-Pb zircon ages for the Luzhenguan Complex in northern part of the eastern Dabie orogen

The Dabie Mountain is the collisional orogenic belt between the North China Block and the Yangtze Block. As the eastern segment of the central-China orogenic belt, its tectonic framework is corresponding to the Qinling orogenic belt as a whole[1]. The NHB in northern part of Dabie Orogen is regarded as the joint belt between the Yangtze Block and the North China Block, and roughly corresponds to the north Qinling belt of the Qinling orogenic belt, which separated the Tongbai-Dabie hig…     

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon chronology of ultrahigh‐temperature spinel–orthopyroxene–garnet granulite from South Altay orogenic belt,northwestern China

Diagnostic mineral assemblages, mineral compositions and zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages are reported from an ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) spinel–orthopyroxene–garnet granulite (UHT rock) from the South Altay orogenic belt of northwestern China. This Altay orogenic belt defines an accretionary belt between the Siberian and Kazakhstan–Junggar Plates that formed during the Paleozoic. The UHT rock examined in this study preserves both peak and retrograde metamorphic assemblages and microstructures including equilibrium spinel + quartz, and intergrowth of orthopyroxene, spinel, sillimanite, and cordierite formed during decompression. Mineral chemistry shows that the spinel coexisting with quartz has low ZnO contents, and the orthopyroxene is of high alumina type with Al₂O₃ contents up to 9.3 wt%. The peak temperatures of metamorphism were >950°C, consistent with UHT conditions, and the rocks were exhumed along a clockwise P–T path. The zircons in this UHT rock display a zonal structure with a relict core and metamorphic rim. The cores yield bimodal ages of 499 ± 8 Ma (7 spots), and 855 Ma (2 spots), with the rounded clastic zircons having ages with 490–500 Ma. Since the granulite was metamorphosed at temperatures >900°C, exceeding the closure temperature of U–Pb system in zircon, a possible interpretation is that the 499 ± 8 Ma age obtained from the largest population of zircons in the rock marks the timing of formation of the protolith of the rock, with the zircons sourced from a ～500 Ma magmatic provenance, in a continental margin setting. We correlate the UHT metamorphism with the northward subduction of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean and associated accretion‐collision tectonics of the Siberian and Kazakhstan–Junggar Plates followed by rapid exhumation leading to decompression.     

Petrogenesis and dating of the Kangding complex,Sichuan Province

The Kangding group, also known as the Kangding complex, includes granulites, amphibolites, felsic gneisses and gneissic granites that are distributed along a belt from Kangding, Mianning to Panzhihua, in Sichuan Province. The complex has long been thought to represent the crystalline basement of the Yangtze block. On the basis of U-Pb and Pb-Pb whole rock ages[1,2] , and of similarities in metamorphic fa-cies and association of metamorphic rocks with typical Archean high grade terrains, t…     

Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe U-Pb ages of the Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene rift-related Hidaka high-temperature metamorphism in Hokkaido, northern Japan

Abstract   In order to define the timing of granulite facies metamorphism, sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb analyses were performed on zircons of three pelitic granulites from the lower metamorphic sequence of the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt, southern central Hokkaido, Japan. Both rounded and prismatic zircons were found in the granulite samples. The rounded zircons had thin (10–20 µm) concentric overgrowth rims on detrital cores, while the prismatic zircons did not have detrital cores. Both the overgrowth rims on the rounded zircons and the entire prismatic zircons were formed under granulite facies metamorphism and consistently yield Latest Oligocene–Early Miocene ages (23.7 ± 0.4 Ma to 17.2 ± 0.5 Ma; ²⁰⁶Pb/ ²³⁸U ages ( n  = 31) with low Th/U ratios, mostly <0.1). The internal structure of zircons and their SHRIMP U-Pb ages provide strong evidence in support of the granulite facies event occurring during the Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene. The detrital cores of rounded zircons show a huge variety of ages; Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic, Paleozoic to Mesozoic and Paleogene. The interior and marginal portions of the Eurasian continent including cratonic areas are suggested for their source provenances. These wide variations in age suggest that the protolith of the granulites of the lower metamorphic sequence were deposited near the trench of the Eurasian continental margin during Paleogene. The protolith of the lower metamorphic sequence of the Hidaka metamorphic belt was thrust under the upper metamorphic sequence, which had already been metamorphosed in early Paleogene. The Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene Hidaka high-temperature metamorphic event is presumed to have been caused by asthenospheric upwelling during back-arc rifting of the Kuril and Japan basins.     

Ubiquitous post-peak zircon in an eclogite from the Kumdy-Kol,Kokchetav UHP-HP Massif (Kazakhstan): Significance of exhumation-related zircon growth and modification in continental-subduction settings

U–Pb geochronological, trace-element and Lu–Hf isotopic studies have been made on zircons from ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) mafic eclogite from the Kumdy-Kol area, one of the diamond-facies domains of the Kokchetav Massif (northern Kazakhstan). The peak eclogitic assemblage equilibrated at > 900 °C, whereas the bulk sample composition displays light rare-earth element (LREE) and Th depletion evident of partial melting. Zircons from the eclogite are represented by exclusively newly formed metamorphic grains and have U–Pb age spread over 533–459 Ma, thus ranging from the time of peak subduction burial to that of the late post-orogenic collapse. The major zircon group with concordant age estimates have a concordia age of 508.1 ±4.4 Ma, which corresponds to exhumation of the eclogite-bearing UHP crustal slice to granulite- or amphibolite-facies depths. This may indicate potentially incoherent exhumation of different crustal blocks within a single Kumdy-Kol UHP domain. Model Hf isotopic characteristics of zircons (ε_Hf(t) +1.5 to +7.8, Neoproterozoic model Hf ages of 1.02–0.79 Ga) closely resemble the whole-rock values of the Kumdy-Kol eclogites and likely reflect in situ derivation of HFSE source for newly formed grains. The ages coupled with geochemical systematics of zircons confirm that predominantly late zircon growth occurred in Th–LREE-depleted eclogitic assemblage, that experienced incipient melting and monazite dissolution in melt at granulite-facies depths, followed by amphibolite-facies rehydration during late-stage exhumation-related retrogression.     

Metamorphic zircon from Xindian eclogite,Dabie Terrain: U-Pb age and oxygen isotope composition

~~Metamorphic zircon from Xindian eclogite,Dabie Terrain: U-Pb age and oxygen isotope composition@E. Deloule$CRPG-CNRS Nancy,54501,France1. Vavra, G, Gebauer. D., Schmid. R. et al., Multiple zircon growth and recrystallization during polyphase Late Carboniferous to Tri-assic metamorphism in granulites of the Ivrea Zone (Southern Alps): an ion microprobe (SHRIMP) study, Contrib. Mineral Petrol., 1996, 122:337-358 2. Vavra, G, Schmid, R., Gebauer, D., Internal morphology, ha…     

In-situ trace element analyses and Pb-Pb dating of zircons in granulite from Huangtuling, Dabieshan by LAM-ICP-MS

Zircon is an accessory mineral occurring in many types of rocks. For the rich content of U and low content of common Pb, it is the principal mineral used for U-Th-Pb dating. It can be sur-vived during weathering, transiting, high-grade metamorphism and ev…     

Structural characteristics and geochronology of migmatites in the North Dabie Complex unit: Timing of post-collisional deformation

Extensive migmatization and large-scale post-collisional intrusions occurred in the Dabie orogen, east-central China, during the Early Cretaceous, characterized by distinct deformation preserved in migmatites in the North Dabie Complex unit. The North Dabie Complex unit can be subdivided into three areas based on detailed field observations: the north of the Tiantangzhai pluton, the Luotian area and the Yuexi area. Banded migmatites crop out in the north of the Tiantangzhai pluton while anisotropically deformed migmatites occur in the Luotian area, and both types coexist in the Yuexi area. Microscopy reveals similar micro-structures are in migmatites from the north of the Tiantangzhai pluton, the Yuexi area and border of the Luotian area, while static recrystallization appears in migmatites from the core of the Luotian area. The Lattice-Preferred Orientation of dynamically recrystallized quartz grains in the migmatites are measured using electron backscattered diffraction, revealing prism <a> slip or <c> slip in migmatite from the north of the Tiantangzhai pluton and the Yuexi area and in one sample from the Luotian area. A Type I crossed girdle is developed in another sample from the Luotian area, indicating top-to-the-SE shearing that developed under greenschist facies conditions. Zircon U-Pb dates from four migmatites reveal that mainly Early Cretaceous ages are from the north of the Tiantangzhai pluton, only four Early Cretaceous ages are from the Luotian area, and all zircons from the Yuexi area record Indosinian metamorphic ages. Although zircon U-Pb results show multiple migmatization events, all samples record a migmatization age of about 132 Ma, suggesting an orogen-scale event at that time. The subsolidus deformation in migmatites indicates that deformation were soon after migmatization. Overall, this study shows that deformation in migmatites of the North Dabie Complex unit occurred somewhat later than the migmatization (~132 Ma) at about 131 Ma. The most likely mechanism for thinning of the thickened crust in the Dabie orogen involved removal of the upper along the detachment fault and ductile adjustment of lower crust during development of the North Dabie metamorphic core complex.     

Geology of the Grove Mountains in East Antarctica——New evidence for the final suture of Gondwana Land

As the core block of the East Gondwana Land, the East Antarctic Shield was traditionally thought, before 1992, as an amalgamation of a number of Archaean-Paleoproterozoic nuclei, be-ing welded by Grenville aged mobile belts during 1400—900 Ma, while the …     

Single zircon U-Pb dating of the Kongling high-grade metamorphic terrain: Evidence for >3.2 Ga old continental crust in the Yangtze craton

Single zircons from two trondhjemitic gneisses and two clastic metasedimentary rocks without Eu anomaly of the Kongling high-grade metamorphic terrain are dated by thein situSHRIMP U-Pb method. The results show that the trondhjemitic magma emplaced at 2947-2903 Ma. Concordant age of as old as 3.3 Ga is present in the detrital zircons from the clastic metasedimentary rocks. Together with the depleted mantle Nd model age (T_DM =3.2-3.3 Ga) of the clastic metasedimentary rocks, this documents the presence of Paleoarchean continental crust in the Yangtze craton.     

Fission track and U–Pb zircon ages of psammitic rocks from the Harushinai unit,Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks,central Hokkaido,Japan: constraints on metamorphic histories

Accurate pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) paths of rocks from sedimentation through maximum burial to exhumation are needed to determine the processes and mechanisms that form high‐pressure and low‐temperature type metamorphic rocks. Here, we present a new method combining laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) U–Pb with fission track (FT) dates for detrital zircons from two psammitic rock samples collected from the Harushinai unit of the Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks. The concordant zircon U–Pb ages for these samples vary markedly, from 1980 to 95 Ma, with the youngest age clusters in both samples yielding Albian‐Cenomanian weighted mean ages of 100.8 ± 1.1 and 99.3 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ uncertainties). The zircon U–Pb ages were not reset by high‐P/T type metamorphism, because there is no indication of overgrowth within the zircons with igneous oscillatory zoning. Therefore, these weighted mean ages are indicative of the maximum age of deposition of protolithic material. By comparison, the zircon FT data yield a pooled age of ca. 90 Ma, which is almost the same as the weighted mean age of the youngest U–Pb age cluster. This indicates that the zircon FT ages were reset at ca. 90 Ma while still at their source, but have not been reset since. This conclusion is supported by recorded temperature conditions of less than about 300 °C (the closure temperature of zircon FTs), as estimated from microstructures in the deformed detrital quartz grains in psammitic rocks, and no shortening of fission track lengths in the zircon. Combining these new data with previously reported white mica K–Ar ages indicates that the Harushinai unit was deposited after ca. 100 Ma, and underwent burial to its maximum depth before being subjected to a localized thermal overprint during exhumation at ca. 58 Ma.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In-situ</Emphasis> trace element analyses and Pb-Pb dating of zircons in granulite from Huangtuling,Dabieshan by LAM-ICP-MS

It is revealed by CL images that there are multi-stage growth internal structures of zircons in the Huangtuling granulite, including the inherited zircons, protolith zircons, sector and planar zone zircons and retrograde zircons. In-situ trace element compositions and Pb-Pb ages have been analyzed by LAM-ICP-MS. The sector and the planar zone domains show typical trace element characteristics of granulite zircon (low Th, U, Th/U, total REEs, clear negative Eu anomalies, relatively depleted HREE and small differential degree between MREE and HREE, etc.), indicating that they formed during granulite-facies metamorphism. The protolith zircons have trace element characteristics of crustal zircon (high Th, U, Th/U, total REEs and enriched HREEs, etc.). 12 analyzed spots on granulite-facies domains give a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of (2154±26) Ma (MSWD = 3.8), which is the best estimated age of granulite-facies metamorphism of this sample. The weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 5 analyzed spots on protolith zircon domains is (2714 ± 22) Ma (MSWD = 1.4), which represents the protolith forming time. The discovery of ca. 3.4 Ga inherited zircon indicates that there are Palaeoarchean continental materials in this area. The interpretation of formation conditions and the ages of zircons can be constrained by simultaneous in-situ analysis of trace elements and ages.     

Protolith natures and U-Pb sensitive high mass-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon ages of the metabasites in Hainan Island, South China: Implications for geodynamic evolution since the late Precambrian

Abstract Metabasites within the Paleozoic volcanic‐clastic sedimentary sequences in Hainan Island, South China, show large differences not only in the nature of protoliths, but also in zircon U‐Pb sensitive high mass‐resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) ages. The protoliths for the Tunchang area metabasites have intraoceanic arc geochemical affinities. In the east‐central island gabbroic to diabasic rocks and pillow lavas are also present, while the Bangxi area metabasites with back‐arc geochemical affinities in the northwest island consist of basaltic, gabbroic and/or picritic rocks. Three types of zircon domains/crystals in the Tunchang area metabasites are defined. Type 1 is comagmatic and yields concordant to approximately concordant 206 Pb/238 U ages ranging from 442.1 ± 13.7 Ma to 514.3 ± 30.2 Ma with a weighted U‐Pb mean age of 445 ± 10 Ma. Type 2 is inherited and yields a weighted 207 Pb/206 Pb mean age of 2488.1 ± 8.3 Ma. Type 3 is magmatic with a 207 Pb/206 Pb age of ca 1450 Ma. Magmatic zircons in the Bangxi area metabasites yield a weighted U‐Pb mean age of 269 ± 4 Ma. We suggest 450 Ma is the minimum age for crystallization of protoliths of the Tunchang area metabasites, because the age range of ca 440–514 Ma probably corresponds to both the time of igneous crystallization and the high‐temperature overprint. The presence of abundant inherited zircons strongly favors derivation of these rocks from a NMORB‐like mantle proximal to continental crust. A protolith age of ca 270 Ma for the Bangxi area metabasites probably records expansion of an epircontinental back‐arc basin and subsequent generation of a small oceanic basin. The presence of ophiolitic rocks with an age of ca 450 Ma, not only in Hainan Island, but also in the Yangtze block, highlights the fact that the South China Caledonian Orogeny was not intracontinental in nature, but characterized by an ocean‐related event.