Palaeoarchaean materials in the Tibetan Plateau indicated by zircon

The early tectonic evolution of the Lhasa Terrane remains poorly understood, although evidence for a substantial prehistory has been reported recently. We have carried out in situ zircon U–Pb dating and Hf–O isotopes of late Early Cretaceous monzogranites and get a surprising package of inherited zircons, not only because of their age profile, but also because the oldest Palaeoarchaean zircons are euhedral. The discovery of Palaeoarchaean euhedral zircons in the region suggests the presence of extremely old rocks in Tibet. Zircons from the Nagqu monzogranite yield five age peaks at ~3.45 Ga, ~2.56 Ga, ~1.76 Ga, ~900 Ma, and ~111 Ma. They have large variations in ε_Hf(t) values (?45.1–9.2) and old Hf model ages (924–3935 Ma), with variable δ¹⁸O values of ?5.80–9.64. Palaeoarchaean zircons (~3.20–3.45 Ga) are euhedral with magmatic zircon characteristics. One of the grains has negative ε_Hf(t) value (?4.8), old Hf model age (3935 Ma), and high positive δ¹⁸O value (7.27), which suggests an ancient crustal origin. The source of Palaeoarchaean euhedral zircons should be proximal to prevent long-distance transport and abrasion, whereas the late Early Cretaceous monzogranites are I-type. Thus, Palaeoarchaean euhedral zircons are most likely captured from the country rocks by assimilation at depth or may be relics of previous magmatic zircons. Notwithstanding their exact history, Palaeoarchaean euhedral zircons indicate Palaeoarchaean materials near Nagqu in the Tibetan Plateau. The inherited zircons also experienced a Late Palaeoproterozoic event (~1.76 Ga) likely related to the evolution of the India block. The peak at ~900 Ma suggests affinity to the Qiangtang and Himalaya blocks.     

U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope systematics of detrital zircons from the Songpan–Ganzi Triassic flysch,NE Tibetan Plateau: implications for provenance and crustal growth

We conducted in situ U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope analyses of 401 detrital zircons collected from the Songpan–Ganzi Triassic turbidite complex in an attempt to understand the provenance variations of the siliciclastic rocks and the crustal growth history of central China. These detrital zircons exhibit a wide age spectrum with three major peaks at 1.7–2.0 Ga, 750–1050 Ma, and 210–500 Ma. They are dominated by negative ?_Hf(t) values with a large range. Synthesis of the zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data indicate that the Triassic Songpan–Ganzi turbiditic succession could have been derived dominantly from the Tibetan terrains + the Kunlun and Qinling orogens. Our samples are characterized by a common, prominent group of Hf crust formation model ages at 0.8–4.1 Ga with a peak at 2.7–3.4 Ga. This fact indicates that (1) Phanerozoic magmatism in central China could have been predominantly products of crustal reworking with insignificant formation of juvenile crust and (2) the Neoarchaean was an important period of continental growth in central China. In addition, our data set also reveal that three widespread tectonothermal events could have occurred in the region during the late Mesoproterzoic, Palaeozoic, and early Mesozoic, respectively.     

U–Pb zircon,zircon Hf and whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic constraints on the evolution of Paleoproterozoic rocks in the northern Gawler Craton

U–Pb zircon analyses from a series of orthogneisses sampled in drill core in the northern Gawler Craton provide crystallisation ages at ca 1775–1750 Ma, which is an uncommon age in the Gawler Craton. Metamorphic zircon and monazite give ages of ca 1730–1710 Ma indicating that the igneous protoliths underwent metamorphism during the craton-wide Kimban Orogeny. Isotopic Hf zircon data show that 1780–1750 Ma zircons are somewhat evolved with initial ε_Hf values –4 to +0.9, and model ages of ca 2.3 to 2.2 Ga. Isotopic whole rock Sm–Nd values from most samples have relatively evolved initial ε_Nd values of –3.7 to –1.4. In contrast, a mafic unit from drill hole Middle Bore 1 has a juvenile isotopic signature with initial ε_Hf zircon values of ca +5.2 to +8.2, and initial ε_Nd values of ～+3.5 to +3.8. The presence of 1775–1750 Ma zircon forming magmatic rocks in the northern Gawler Craton provides a possible source for similarly aged detrital zircons in Paleoproterozoic basin systems of the Gawler Craton and adjacent Curnamona Province. Previous provenance studies on these Paleoproterozoic basins have appealed to the Arunta Region of the North Australian Craton to provide 1780–1750 Ma detrital zircons, and isotopically and geochemically similar basin fill. The orthogneisses in the northern Gawler Craton also match the source criteria and display geochemical similarities between coeval magmatism in the Arunta Region of the North Australian Craton, providing further support for paleogeographic reconstructions that link the Gawler Craton and North Australian Craton during the Paleoproterozoic.     

First discovery of a Palaeoproterozoic A-type granite in southern Wuyishan terrane,Cathaysia Block: evidence from geochronology,geochemistry, and Nd–Hf–O isotopes

In this study, a combined study of zircon U–Pb and Hf–O isotopes, as well as whole-rock major and trace elements and Nd isotopes has been conducted for Yangjia gneissic granite from the southern Wuyishan terrane, Southeast China, to constrain its petrogenesis and provide a new window for investigating the tectonic evolution of the Cathaysia basement. U–Pb dating for magmatic zircons yields a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of ca. 1.80 Ga, interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yangjia granite. The granites have relatively high K₂O, Rb, Ga, Zr, Nb, Y, and Ce contents and show low Al₂O₃, CaO, and Ba concentrations. Their 10,000*Ga/Al ratios range between 2.8 and 3.2. Zircons from the granite have ε_Hf(t) values ranging from ?13.2 to ?7.2, corresponding to T^Hf_DM2 model ages of 2.99 Ga to 2.72 Ga. The zircon δ¹⁸O values range between 6.7‰ and 9.1‰ with an average of 7.7‰. In addition, the whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values of the granites range from ?6.5 to ?5.4 and the T^Nd_DM2 model ages from 2.73 Ga to 2.82 Ga. All these geochemical and Nd–Hf–O isotopic signatures suggest an A-type affinity for the Yangjia granites, and they were likely generated by partial melting of Palaeoproterozoic parametamorphic rocks of the Wuyishan terrane in a post-collisional extensional setting. When our data is combined with existing geochronological data, it provides further evidence for the Palaeoproterozoic basement in the southern Wuyishan terrane, which records a rapid tectonic transition from post-collision to intraplate extension (1.80–1.77 Ga) related to the break-up of the supercontinent Columbia.     

Zircon U‐Pb/Lu‐Hf and monazite chemical dating of the Tirodi biotite gneiss: implication for latest Palaeoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic orogenesis in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone

In this investigation, we reconstruct the latest Palaeoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic orogenic events along the southern margin of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ), using sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U‐Pb zircon dating and Lu‐Hf isotope analyses of zircon and Th‐U‐Pb chemical dating of monazite from samples of the Tirodi biotite gneiss (TBG) unit in the Sausar Mobile Belt (SMB), the latter constituting the southernmost litho‐tectonic component of the CITZ. U‐Pb zircon dating of one migmatitic gneiss sample from the type locality of the Tirodi biotite gneiss in the northern domain of the SMB has yielded an age of 1618 ± 8 Ma, which is considered to be the time of magmatic crystallization of its protolith. Combined U‐Pb zircon and monazite chemical dating of two granite gneiss samples from the southern domain of the SMB broadly constrain magmatic crystallization between 1603 ± 23 Ma and 1584 ± 17 Ma and an overprinting metamorphic recrystallization event at 1572 ± 7 Ma. Monazites from the granite gneiss samples also record a terminal metamorphic event at 1415 ± 23 Ma. Lu‐Hf isotopic analyses of zircons reveal fundamentally different source rock reservoirs for the protoliths of these magmatic rocks across the SMB. While the type TBG from the northern domain was derived from an Early Palaeoproterozoic source T(Hf) from 2093 to 2523 Ma, with a mean value at 2379 Ma) of essentially juvenile material with minor crustal components (εHf(t) from −3.3 to + 3.7), the granite from the southern domain had a mature crustal source (εHf(t) from −12.5 to −21.9) of Palaeoarchaean age T(Hf) from 3051 to 3630 Ma, with a mean value at 3218 Ma). When integrated with metamorphic information previously obtained from the 1.6 Ga ultra‐high temperature granulite facies metamorphic event in the SMB, the discrete magmatic and metamorphic events between 1.62/1.60 Ga and 1.42 Ga can be correlated with the formation of an Early Mesoproterozoic accretionary orogen in the CITZ. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Age and nature of 560–520 Ma calc-alkaline granitoids of Biarjmand,northeast Iran: insights into Cadomian arc magmatism in northern Gondwana

ABSTRACT

The Biarjmand granitoids and granitic gneisses in northeast Iran are part of the Torud–Biarjmand metamorphic complex, where previous zircon U–Pb geochronology show ages of ca. 554–530 Ma for orthogneissic rocks. Our new U–Pb zircon ages confirm a Cadomian age and show that the granitic gneiss is ~30 million years older (561.3 ± 4.7 Ma) than intruding granitoids (522.3 ± 4.2 Ma; 537.7 ± 4.7 Ma). Cadomian magmatism in Iran was part of an approximately 100-million-year-long episode of subduction-related arc and back-arc magmatism, which dominated the whole northern Gondwana margin, from Iberia to Turkey and Iran. Major REE and trace element data show that these granitoids have calc-alkaline signatures. Their zircon O (δ¹⁸O = 6.2–8.9‰) and Hf (–7.9 to +5.5; one point with εHf ~ –17.4) as well as bulk rock Nd isotopes (εNd(t) = –3 to –6.2) show that these magmas were generated via mixing of juvenile magmas with an older crust and/or melting of middle continental crust. Whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf model ages (1.3–1.6 Ga) suggest that this older continental crust was likely to have been Mesoproterozoic or even older. Our results, including variable zircon εHf(t) values, inheritance of old zircons and lack of evidence for juvenile Cadomian igneous rocks anywhere in Iran, suggest that the geotectonic setting during late Ediacaran and early Cambrian time was a continental magmatic arc rather than back-arc for the evolution of northeast Iran Cadomian igneous rocks.     

朝鲜狼林地块东南缘太古宙岩石及其对古元古代构造热事件的响应

朝鲜狼林地体是中朝克拉通的重要组成部分,其早前寒武纪基底岩系的岩石组成、形成和变质作用时代,直接影响到人们对古元古代辽吉活动带乃至整个华北克拉通地质演化历史的理解和认识。本文选取位于狼林地块东南缘,狼林群变质杂岩中的3个花岗片麻岩样品进行锆石U-Pb定年分析。锆石的LA-ICPMS和SIMS定年结果显示,3个片麻岩原岩的岩浆结晶时代为2521~2567Ma,并且它们都经历了古元古代1.87~1.89Ga的构造热事件改造,表现为原始岩浆锆石不同程度的铅丢失以及变质锆石的形成。基于这一认识,并结合其他学者的最新研究结果可知,太古宙片麻岩存在于狼林地块平南盆地的南缘和东缘地区,由此推测狼林地块太古宙基底岩系的规模可能远大于目前所识别的这几个地区。这些太古宙片麻岩普遍遭受了古元古代强烈变质作用(深熔作用)改造,并且变质作用的时代可以与华北克拉通三条古元古代活动带的变质-深熔作用时代相对比,表明狼林地块可能至少在古元古代之前,就已经与华北克拉通组成了统一的大陆。     

Archaean fluid-assisted crustal cannibalism recorded by low δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O and negative ε<Subscript>Hf(T)</Subscript> isotopic signatures of West Greenland granite zircon

The role of fluids during Archaean intra-crustal magmatism has been investigated via integrated SHRIMP U–Pb, δ¹⁸O and LA-MC-ICPMS ¹⁷⁶Hf isotopic zircon analysis. Six rock samples studied are all from the Nuuk region (southern West Greenland) including two ~3.69 Ga granitic and trondhjemitic gneisses, a 3.64 Ga granitic augen gneiss, a 2.82 Ga granodioritic Ikkattoq gneiss, a migmatite with late Neoarchaean neosome and a homogeneous granite of the 2.56 Ga Qôrqut Granite Complex (QGC). All zircon grains were thoroughly imaged to facilitate analysis of magmatic growth domains. Within the zircon analysed, there is no evidence for metamictization. Initial ε_Hf zircon values (n = 63) are largely sub-chondritic, indicating the granitic host magmas were generated by the remelting of older, un-radiogenic crustal components. Zircon from some granite samples displays more than one ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age, and correlated with ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf compositions can trace multiple phases of remelting or recrystallization during the Archaean. Model ages calculated using Lu/Hf arrays for each sample indicate that the crustal parental rocks to the granites, granodiorites and trondhjemites segregated from a chondrite-like reservoir at an earlier time during the Archaean, corresponding to known formation periods of more primitive tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) gneisses. Zircon from the ~3.69 Ga granite, the migmatite and QGC granite contains Eoarchaean cores with chondritic ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf and mantle-like δ¹⁸O compositions. The age and geochemical signatures from these inherited components are identical to those of surrounding tonalitic gneisses, further suggesting genesis of these granites by remelting of broadly tonalitic protoliths. Zircon oxygen isotopic compositions (n = 62) over nine age populations (six igneous and three inherited) have weighted mean or mean δ¹⁸O values ranging from 5.8 ± 0.6 to 3.7 ± 0.5‰. The 3.64 Ga granitic augen gneiss sample displays the highest δ¹⁸O with a mildly supra-mantle composition of 5.8 ± 0.6‰. Inherited Eoarchaean TTG-derived zircon shows mantle-like values. Igneous zircon from all other samples, spanning more than a billion years of Archaean time, record low δ¹⁸O sub-mantle compositions. These are the first low δ¹⁸O signatures reported from Archaean zircon and represent low δ¹⁸O magmas formed by the remelting and metamorphism of older crustal rocks following high-temperature hydrothermal alteration by meteoric water. Meteoric fluid ingress coupled with crustal extension, associated high heat flow and intra-crustal melting are a viable mechanism for the production of the low δ¹⁸O granites, granodiorites and trondhjemites reported here. Both high and low δ¹⁸O magmas may have been generated in extensional environments and are distinct in composition from Phanerozoic I-type granitic plutonic systems, which are typified by increasing δ¹⁸O during intra-crustal reworking. This suggests that Archaean magmatic processes studied here were subtly different from those operating on the modern Earth and involved extensional tectonic regimes and the predominance of remelting of hydrothermally altered crystalline basement.     

Petrogenesis of a Palaeoproterozoic S-type granite,central Wuyishan terrane,SE China: implications for early crustal evolution of the Cathaysia Block

We present zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemistry of the Xiaochuan gneissic granite intrusion, SE China, to constrain its petrogenesis and provide insights into early crustal evolution of the Cathaysia Block. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of a representative sample yields a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb age of 1839 ±16 Ma, interpreted as the emplacement age of the Xiaochuan granite. Zircons have ?_Hf(t) values ranging from –8.1 to 2.7 and T _DM2 model ages from 2.23 to 3.03 Ga. The granites are strongly peraluminious (A/CNK = 1.14–1.41), with relatively high FeO^t, TiO₂, and CaO/Na₂O, and low CaO, Al₂O₃/TiO₂, and Rb/Sr values. In addition, they show strongly negative Ba, Sr, Nb, and Ta and positive Th and Pb anomalies in the primitive mantle-normalized spider diagram, similar to other Cathaysia Palaeoproterozoic S-type granites. The geochemical and Hf isotopic signatures suggest that the Xiaochuan gneissic granites were generated by partial melting of Archaean crustal materials in an intraplate extensional setting. Our results, combined with existing geochronological data, further demonstrate that the Wuyishan terrane is underlain by Palaeoproterozoic crystalline basement.     

Tracking source materials of Phanerozoic granitoids in South Korea by zircon Hf isotopes

Phanerozoic granitoids in South Korea are classified into four primary spatiotemporal groups showing geochemical and isotopic diversity. This study presents the first in situ Hf isotope data for zircons extracted from representative outcrops of each granitoid group. The core‐to‐rim variation in ε_Hf values observed in some zircon grains provides evidence for open‐system processes influenced by the input of more primitive melts or interactions with pre‐existing crustal materials. A general core‐to‐rim decrease in Lu/Hf and Th/U ratios indicates a progressive compositional change in the melts during magmatic differentiation. Contrasting evolutionary paths demonstrated by zircon ε_Hf values suggest that the Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic crust including the Permian granitoids was recycled during the Cretaceous to Palaeogene magmatism in south‐eastern Korea, whereas the Palaeoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic crust provided major source material for the Triassic to Jurassic granitoids in central Korea.     

Archaean to Proterozoic Crustal Evolution in the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt (South Africa-Botswana): Constraints from Combined U-Pb and Lu-Hf Isotope Analyses of Zircon

A combined set of U–Pb and Lu–Hf in situ laser ablationICP-(MC)-MS zircon analyses were obtained from orthogneissesand granitoids in the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt, whichcomprises the Beit Bridge and Mahalapye complexes. The resultsindicate that by combining the two isotope systems primary magmaticzircon domains can be distinguished from those formed duringlater metamorphic events, even if the distinct zircon domainsunderwent multiple Pb loss and the texture–age relationships,as obtained by cathodoluminescence images and U–Pb analyses,are ambiguous. Furthermore, the applied technique allows distinctionof zircon grains formed in juvenile magmas from those generatedby melting of older continental crust or affected by substantialcrustal contamination. The combined U–Pb and Lu–Hfdata reveal that the Sand River gneiss suite of the Beit BridgeComplex was emplaced at 3283 ± 8 Ma and formed from meltingof an older Archaean crust, which was derived from a depletedmantle source at around 3·65 Ga. The hafnium model age(T_DM^Hf) is significantly older than those obtained from zirconsfrom numerous Neoarchaean granitoids of the Beit Bridge Complex,comprising the Singelele gneiss (2647 ± 12 Ma), the Bulaigranite (2612 ± 7 Ma), the Regina gneiss (2649 ±9 Ma) and two samples of the Zanzibar gneiss (2613 ±6 Ma). These granitoids show initial Hf(t) values between +0·5 and –7·1, which correspond to initialT_DM^Hf between 3·46 and 3·01 Ga. These variableT_DM^Hf_initial and Hf(t)_initial values are interpreted to be theresult of different mixtures of reworked 3·65 Ga Palaeoarchaeancrust with juvenile magmas extracted from the depleted mantleduring the Neoarchaean at 2·65 Ga. This conclusion issupported by results obtained from the Mahalapye Complex, whichwas affected by migmatization and granite intrusions duringthe Palaeoproterozoic at 2·02–2·06 Ga. TheMokgware granite (2019 ± 9 Ma) contains zircon xenocrystswith Pb–Pb ages of 2·52–2·65 Ga and2·93 Ga and hafnium model ages of 3·0–3·4Ga, indicating that this granite is derived from remelting ofArchaean crust. In contrast, uniform T_DM^Hf_initial ages of 2·61–2·67Ga obtained from a diorite gneiss (2061 ± 6 Ma) of theMahalapye Complex indicate that its protolith may have beenformed from remelting of a Neoarchaean juvenile crust. VariableHf(t)_initial values from –3·7 to +6·3 ofzircon cores (2711 ± 11 Ma) in an adjacent leucosomealso support a model of mixing of juvenile mantle derived matterwith older crust in the Neoarchaean. KEY WORDS: Archaean; Palaeoproterozoic; Limpopo Belt; zircon, U–Pb dating; Lu–Hf isotopes; LA-ICP-MS     

Isotope Lu–Hf composition of detrital zircon from paragneisses of the Sharyzhalgai uplift: evidence for the Paleoproterozoic crustal growth

We present results of study of the trace-element and Lu–Hf isotope compositions of zircons from Paleoproterozoic high-grade metasedimentary rocks (paragneisses) of the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton (Irkut terrane of the Sharyzhalgai uplift). Metamorphic zircons are represented by rims and multifaceted crystals dated at ~ 1.85 Ga. They are depleted in either LREE or HREE as a result of subsolidus recrystallization and/or synchronous formation with REE-concentrating garnet or monazite. In contrast to the metamorphic zircons, the detrital cores are enriched in HREE and have high (Lu/Gd)_n ratios, which is typical of igneous zircon. The weak positive correlation between ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf and ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf in the zircon cores evidences that their Hf isotope composition evolved through radioactive decay in Hf = the closed system. Therefore, the isotope parameters of these zircons can give an insight into the provenance of metasedimentary rocks. The Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon cores from paragneisses, dated at ~ 2.3–2.4 and 2.0–1.95 Ga, are characterized by a wide range of ε_Hf values (from + 9.8 to –3.3) and model age T ^C 2.8–2.0 Ga. The provenance of these detrital zircons included both rocks with juvenile isotope Hf parameters and rocks resulted from the recycling of the Archean crust with a varying contribution of juvenile material. Zircons with high positive ε_Hf values were derived from the juvenile Paleoproterozoic crustal sources, whereas the lower ε_Hf and higher T ^C values for zircons suggest the contribution of the Archean crustal source to the formation of their magmatic precursors. Thus, at the Paleoproterozoic stage of evolution of the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton, both crustal recycling and crustal growth through the contribution of juvenile material took place. On the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton, detrital zircons with ages of ~ 2.3–2.4 and 1.95–2.0 Ga are widespread in Paleoproterozoic paragneisses of the Irkut and Angara–Kan terranes and in terrigenous rocks of the Urik–Iya graben, which argues for their common and, most likely, proximal provenances. In the time of metamorphism (1.88–1.85 Ga), the age of Paleoproterozoic detrital zircons (2.4–2.0 Ga), and their Lu–Hf isotope composition (ε_Hf values ranging from positive to negative values) the paragneisses of the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton are similar to the metasedimentary rocks of the Paleoproterozoic orogenic belts of the North China Craton. In the above two regions, the sources of detrital zircons formed by both the reworking of the Archean crust and the contribution of juvenile material, which is evidence for the crustal growth in the period 2.4–2.0 Ga.     

Late Mesozoic high-K calc-alkaline magmatism in Southeast China: the Tongling example

ABSTRACT

We report new zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopic and geochemical results for the Tongling granitic plutons of Southeast China. SHRIMP U–Pb ages for the Miaojia quartz monzodiorite porphyrite,the Tianebaodan and Tongguanshan quartz monzodiorites, the Xinqiaotou granodiorite porphyry, and the Shatanjiao and Nanhongchong granodiorite are 143 ± 2, 141 ± 1 and 142 ± 1, 147 ± 1, and 145 ± 1 and 139 ± 1 Ma, respectively. Combined with previous geochronological data, our results indicate that the porphyritic rocks are older than rocks of the same type lacking porphyritic texture. Geochemically, these high-K calc-alkaline intrusive rocks are characterized by arc-like trace element distribution patterns, with significant enrichment in LILE and LREE but depletion in HFSE. Lu–Hf isotopic compositions of zircons from the high-K calc-alkaline (HKCA) rocks have ε_Hf(t) values of magmatic 139–147 Ma zircons from ?8.1 to ?25.6, with two-stage model ages (t_DM2) of 1.71–2.67 Ga, whereas ε_Hf(t) values of inherited 582–844 Ma zircons range from 5.4 to ?9.5, with t_DM2 of 1.39–2.22 Ma, younger than t_DM2 values of igneous zircon, indicating that newly formed mantle material was added to the continental crust of the Yangtze Block. Moreover, ε_Hf(t) values of inherited zircon cores older than 1000 Ma are from ?7.8 to ?26, similar to magmatic zircons, and the t_DM2 values are all greater than 3.0 Ga (3.16–3.75 Ga), reflecting partial melting of ancient sialic material. We conclude that the plutonic melts were derived from both the enriched mantle and the ancient crust. The HKCA Tongling intrusions coincide temporally with the J₃–K₁ magmatic event that was widespread in Southeast China. This igneous activity may have accompanied sinistral slip along the Tan-Lu fault due to oblique subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate.     

Geochronology and Petrogenesis for the Protolith of Biotite Plagioclase Gneiss at Lianghe, Western Yunnan

In this paper,we report an integrated study of U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of zircons from biotite plagioclase gneiss at Lianghe in western Yunnan.The zircons preserved inherited core and rim texture.Igneous zircon grains and rims yielded a weighted mean ~(206)Pb/~(238)U age of 120.4±1.7 Ma,theirε_(Hf)(120 Ma)values were mainly negative ranging from-13.9 to-10.7,with Hf model ages between 1.9 Ga and 2.0 Ga,some zircons had positiveε_(Hf)(120 Ma)values ranging from 0.2 to 2.1.The inherited cores ...     

Geochronology and geochemistry of Late Triassic bimodal igneous rocks at the eastern margin of the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif,Northeast China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

Abstract

New zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and secondary ion mass spectroscopy U–Pb ages, and Hf isotope and whole-rock geochemical data are reported for Mesozoic igneous rocks from the eastern margin of the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif, Northeast China, in order to document the petrogenesis of the igneous rocks and reconstruct the early Mesozoic tectonic setting of the region. Zircons from five representative igneous rocks are euhedral–subhedral and display oscillatory growth zoning or striped absorption in cathodoluminescence images, suggesting a magmatic origin. The dating results indicate that granite, gabbro, and rhyolite from the eastern Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif formed during Late Triassic (204–211 Ma). The Late Triassic granitoids and rhyolites have an affinity to A-type granites or rhyolites. Their zircon ε_Hf(t) values and Hf two-stage model ages range from –3.8 to +3.8 and from 999 to 1485 Ma, respectively, indicating that their primary melts were derived from the partial melting of the Meso-Proterozoic crust. The geochemistry of coeval gabbros, which reflects primary magma composition, shows a significant large ion lithophile element (e.g. Ba and Sr) enrichment and high field strength element (i.e. Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, and Ti) depletion. Based on zircon ε_Hf(t) values (–4.2 to +2.8) and Hf single-stage model ages (746–1031 Ma), we conclude that the mafic magma is the product of partial melting of lithospheric mantle that was metasomatically enriched by fluids derived from the subducted oceanic crust. The Late Triassic magmatism along the eastern margin of the Eurasian continent has bimodal magma compositions, indicating an extensional setting after the final closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean rather than being related to subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent. The occurrence of Late Triassic igneous rocks on the eastern side of the Mudanjiang Fault suggests that this fault does not represent the suture zone between the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range and Jiamusi massifs.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of the late Neoproterozoic A-type granitic clasts in the southwestern Tarim Craton: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

ABSTRACT

Due to sparse data for deciphering the late Neoproterozoic tectonic history, there is still considerable debate on whether long-lasting superplume-related or long-duration subduction-related dynamics dominated the Tarim Craton. In this contribution, our field investigations detail the late Neoproterozoic siliciclastic successions, and we report the first granitic conglomerates with zircon U–Pb ages of 753.9 ± 3.7 Ma in the SW Tarim Craton. Importantly, detrital zircons from the thick Cryogenian sedimentary basin also contain a major zircon population at ca. 750 Ma. Together with seismic data, this suggests a large ca. 750 Ma magmatic event in the SW Tarim Craton. Geochemically, the granitic clasts exhibit A-type granite features with high SiO₂, high alkali but extremely low K, high FeO^T/MgO and Ga/Al, and high high-field strength elements (HFSEs) (i.e. Nb, Hf, and Ta) with significant depletion in Rb, K, Sr, P, Eu, and Ti, and significant negative Eu anomalies (Eu* = 0.13–0.36), showing ferroan granite affinities. Including the detrital zircons, the ca. 750 Ma zircons have a large range of negative εHf(t) values (?19.46 to ?1.16). Elemental and zircon Hf isotope data suggest that the granites were derived from Palaeoproterozoic reworked continental crust and are probably related to crustal thinning and extension. By comparison with previous studies, we conclude that Rodinia breakup was diachronous in the outer parts of the supercontinent.     

Provenance analyses of early Mesozoic sediments in the Ningwu basin: Implications for the tectonic–palaeogeographic evolution of the northcentral North China Craton

This paper reports results from detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology, Hf isotopic geochemistry, sandstone modal analysis, and palaeocurrent analysis of the early Mesozoic strata within the Ningwu basin, China, with the aims of constraining the depositional ages and sedimentary provenances and shedding new light on the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the northcentral North China Craton (NCC). The zircons from early Mesozoic sandstones are characterized by three major populations: Phanerozoic (late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic), late Palaeoproterozoic (with a peak at approximately 1.8 Ga), and Neoarchaean (with a peak at approximately 2.5 Ga). Notably, three Phanerozoic zircons in the Early Triassic Liujiagou Formation were found to have positive ε_Hf(t) values and characteristics typical of zircons from the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Therefore, the CAOB began to represent the provenance of sediment in the sedimentary basins in the northern NCC no later than the Early Triassic (261 Ma), implying that the final amalgamation of the NCC and CAOB occurred before the Early Triassic. The U–Pb geochronologic and Hf isotopic results show that the Lower Middle Triassic sediments were mainly sourced from the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB), and that a sudden change in provenances occurred, shifting from a mixed YYOB and CAOB source in the Middle Jurassic to a primarily YYOB source in the Late Jurassic. The results of the sandstone modal analysis suggest that the majority of the samples from the Lower Middle Jurassic rocks were derived from either Continental Block or Recycled Orogen sources, whereas all the samples from the Upper Jurassic rocks were derived from Mixed sources. The change in source might be ascribed to the southward subduction and closure of the Okhotsk Ocean and the resulting intense uplift of the YYOB during the Late Jurassic. This uplift likely represents the start of the Yanshan Orogeny.     

Nature of magmatism and sedimentation at a Columbia active margin: Insights from combined U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope data of detrital zircons from NW India

Detrital zircons from a Palaeoproterozoic quartzite, deposited between 1.85 and 1.82 Ga in the northern Aravalli orogen of NW India, show a distinctive age peak of ca. 1.85 Ga and variable, but largely subchondritic εHf_{1.85 Ga} between ? 1.3 and ? 21.0 corresponding to hafnium model ages of 2.5 to 3.6 Ga. These data indicate an important period of reworking of ancient (Eo- to Neoarchaean), strongly heterogeneous continental crust at this time. Prevalence of ca. 1.85 Ga subduction-related granitoids, almost identical U–Pb age spectra and εHf_t of detrital zircons in ca. 1.85 Ga metasedimentary rocks in the Aravalli orogen and the inner Lesser Himalaya indicate similar sediment provenances and thus a geological connection between these two terranes during late Palaeoproterozoic. All together, the data constrain a rapid succession of sedimentation, metamorphism and subduction-related magmatic activity and support the interpretation of an active geodynamic realm along the entire north Indian margin at ca. 1.85 Ga. Comparison of detrital zircon data in conjunction with published paleomagnetic data from north India and other crustal blocks of the Columbia supercontinent, additionally, suggest a close affinity of north India with Madagascar, the Cathaysia block of South China and South Korea during Columbia times.     

Early Precambrian tectono-thermal events: coupled U–Pb–Hf of detrital zircons from Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt,North China Craton

The Dashiqiao Formation on the Liaodong Peninsula constitutes an important component within the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton. It is composed dominantly of dolomitic marbles intercalated with minor carbonaceous slates and mica schists, hosting one of the largest magnesite deposits on Earth. This study presents zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images and U–Pb–Hf isotope data, as well as single-mineral geochemical data for the staurolite–garnet–mica schist from the Dashiqiao Formation, in order to constrain its protolith age and provenance, and further to discuss the early Precambrian tectono-thermal events of the North China Craton. U–Pb isotopic dating using the LA–ICP–MS method on detrital zircons from the schist preserves at least three age populations ranging in age from 2.99 to 2.02 Ga, and grains as old as ca 4087 Ma. The dominant Neoarchean detrital zircons were most probably sourced from the basement within the Longgang and Nangrim blocks, while the minor Mesoarchean zircons were only sourced from the Longgang Block. The subordinate middle Paleoproterozoic zircons are consistent with ages of the regionally distributed coeval Liaoji granites and volcanics within the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt. Zircon U–Pb dating yields a metamorphic age of 1930 Ma for the sample, interpreted to represent the peak stage of epidote amphibolite facies metamorphism. Thus, the depositional age for the protolith of the schist was proposed in the period between 2.01 and 1.93 Ga. LA–MC–ICP–MS Lu–Hf isotopic data show that all Archean (2.45–2.55) detrital zircons possess positive ε_Hf(t) values from +?0.7 to +?7.5 with juvenile depleted mantle model ages, suggesting a significant crustal growth event during the Neoarchean in the North China Craton. The Paleoproterozoic detrital zircons possess variable ε_Hf(t) values (??5.5–+?8.3) and depleted mantle model ages from Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. The zircons with negative ε_Hf(t) values implies the Mesoarchean to Neoarchean crust undergoing a recycling event in the period 2.40–2.01 Ga, while those with positive ε_Hf(t) value suggest some indication of juvenile addition to the crust during the Paleoproterozoic. Using regional geological and new detrital zricon U–Pb–Hf isotopic data, the early Precambrian tectono-thermal events can be subdivided into the following episodes: Mesoarchean, late Neoarchean, middle Paleoproterozoic, and late Paleoproterozoic times.     

Timing of late Neoarchean to late Paleoproterozoic events in the North China Craton: SHRIMP U–Pb dating and LA-ICP-MS Hf isotope analysis of zircons from magmatic and metamorphic rocks in the Santunying area,eastern Hebei

Santunying is an important area for revealing nature of the late Neoarchean tectono-magmato-thermal events in the eastern Hebei part of the North China Craton. It is mainly composed of meta-intrusive rocks. Supracrustal rocks sporadically occur in the meta-intrusive rocks. The meta-intrusive rocks are subdivided into the Santunying tonalitic gneiss, Qiuhuayu tonalitic-trondhjemitic gneiss, Xiaoguanzhuang dioritic gneiss and Qingyangshu meta-gabbro. Respectively, SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating on fourteen samples yielded weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2525–2537, 2532–2546, 2530–2544 and ∼2531 Ma for magmatic zircons from them. Dioritic gneiss of the Xiaoguanzhuang gneiss contain abundant 2544–3487 Ma xenocrystic zircons. SHRIMP U–Pb dating on a garnet-biotite gneiss sample yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2537 Ma for detrital zircons. All rocks underwent strong metamorphism, deformation and anatexis, resulting in formation of leucosomes and residues, with some leucosomes concentrating to form large veins. They record a strong late Neoarchean event by metamorphic zircon ages of 2489–2519 Ma. Some rocks also record metamorphic zircon ages of 1772–1843 Ma. Magmatic zircons from the magmatic rocks show large variations in ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −1.7 to +8.7. Combined with early studies, conclusions are: 1) Intrusive rocks with the involvement of mantle-derived materials have a narrow range of magmatic zircon ages from 2525 to 2546 Ma, and supracrustal rocks were formed during the same period. 2) Ancient crustal remnants (>2600 Ma) are present, consistent with the late Neoarchean arc magmatism involving older continental crust, similar to Phanerozoic Andean margins. 3) The Archean basement underwent a strong tectonothermal event at the end of the Neoarchean, with the metamorphic zircon ages being 10–30 million years younger than the timing of magmatism, a common feature of the North China Craton. 4) A late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal event widely occurred in the western part of eastern Hebei, which is linked with regional ductile deformation.