Petrogenesis and tectonic settings of the Late Carboniferous Jiamantieliek and Baogutu ore-bearing porphyry intrusions in the southern West Junggar,NW China

Porphyry Cu deposits occurred in the southern West Junggar of Xinjiang, NW China and are represented by the Baogutu and newly-discovered Jiamantieliek porphyry Cu deposits. Petrographical and geochemical studies show that both Jiamantieliek and Baogutu ore-bearing intrusions comprise main-stage diorite stock and minor late-stage diorite porphyry dikes and are the calc-alkaline intermediate intrusions. Based on U–Pb zircon SHRIMP analyses, the Jiamantieliek intrusion formed in 313 ± 4 Ma and 310 ± 5 Ma, while, based on U–Pb zircon SIMS analyses, the Baogutu intrusion formed in 313 ± 2 Ma and 312 ± 2 Ma. Rocks in the Jiamantieliek intrusion are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE) with negative Nb anomaly. Their isotopic compositions (ε_Nd(t) = +1.6 to +3.4, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.70369–0.70401, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.31–5.41) suggest a mixing origin from depleted to enriched mantle sources. In the Baogutu intrusion, the rocks are similar to those of the Jiamantieliek intrusion. Their Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic composition (ε_Nd(t) = +4.4 to +6.0, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.70368–0.70385, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.34–5.42) shows a more depleted mantle source. These features suggest generation in an island arc. The Jiamantieliek and Baogutu intrusions have similar characteristics, indicating that a relatively uniform and integrated source region has existed in the southern West Junggar since the Palaeozoic. A larger contribution of calc-alkaline magma would be required to generate the Jiamantieliek intrusion, which may reflect the development of magma arc maturation towards the western section of the southern West Junggar.     

冀东黄柏峪—羊崖山地区太古宙岩浆作用和变质作用——SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年

报道了冀东黄柏峪—羊崖山地区太古宙变质辉长岩、黑云斜长片麻岩、片麻状二长花岗岩、片麻状富钾花岗岩等不同类型变质岩浆岩(8个样品)的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年结果。首次发现3.1Ga二长花岗岩,黑云斜长片麻岩形成时代约为3.0Ga。变质辉长岩的侵入时代很可能为新太古代晚期,存在少量3.2~3.6Ga捕获锆石。几乎所有岩石样品都记录了约2.5Ga的变质锆石年龄。结合前人资料认为,(1)冀东地区新太古代晚期构造热事件十分发育,被认为与地幔软流圈上涌导致的岩浆板底垫托有关;(2)冀东地区中太古代以前的陆壳物质广泛分布,黄柏峪—羊崖山地区很可能存在一古老陆核。     

Biogeochemical exploration for massive sulphide deposits in areas of dense vegetation: an orientation survey around the Kanköy Deposit (Trabzon, northeastern Turkey)

The eastern Pontides region is a mountainous terrain favourable for massive sulphide deposits. Besides the known deposits, it is highly likely that there are others to be discovered. This paper, therefore, describes the results of a soil and biogeochemical sampling program to assess the suitability of biogeochemical methods for the exploration of hidden deposits in temperate terrains. Soil sampling in the Pontides is shown to be a reliable follow-up method. It produced a significant geochemical response characterised by extensive Cu and Zn but localised Pb anomalies. Lead therefore is the element which can be used to pinpoint the mineralisation due to its relatively less mobile character. Hydromorphic dispersion enhanced the anomalies indicating that base of slope samples would produce reliable results. Of the plant species sampled, Corylus avellana (hazelnut tree) with deep penetrating roots shows comparable results to soil sampling and could be used to delineate the mineralisation. Rhododendron luteum may also be of help. In both species Pb shows limited dispersion and accumulates in the plants near the mineralised site whereas Cu and Zn tend to move away downslope. This shows that biogeochemical sampling could, with proper attention to species selection, be successfully used as an alternative method in the search of massive sulphide deposits in mountainous terrains with a high rainfall such as the eastern Pontides.     

The giant tin polymetallic mineralization in southwest China:Integrated geochemical and isotopic constraints and implications for Cretaceous tectonomagmatic event

The Gejiu-Bozushan-Laojunshan W-Sn polymetallic metallogenic belt(GBLB) in southeast Yunnan Province is an important part of the southwestern Yangtze Block in South China.Tin polymetallic mineralization in this belt includes the Niusipo,Malage,Songshujiao,Laochang and Kafang ore fields in the Gejiu area which are spatially and temporally associated with the Kafang-Laochang and Songshujiao granite plutons.These granites are characterized by variable A/CNK values(mostly 1.1,except for two samples with 1.09),high contents of SiO_2(74.38-76.84 wt.%) and Al_2 O_3(12.46-14.05 wt.%) and variable CaO/Na_2 O ratios(0.2-0.65) as well as high zircon δ~(18)O values(7.74‰-9.86‰),indicative of S-type affinities.These rocks are depleted in Rb,Th,U,Ti,LREE[(La/Yb)N=1.4-20.51],Ba,Nb,Sr,and Ti and display strong negative Eu and Ba anomalies.The rocks possess high Rb/Sr and Rb/Ba ratios,relatively low initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios(0.6917-0.7101),and less radiogenic εNd(t)values(-8.0 to-9.1).The zircon grains from these rocks show negative ε_(Hf)(t) values in the range of-3.7 to-9.9 with mean T_(DM2)(Nd) and T_(DM2)(Hf) values of 1.57 Ga and 1.55 Ga.They show initial ~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb ranging from15.69 to 15.71 and ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb from 18.36 to 18.70.Monazite from Songshujiao granites exhibits higher U and lower Th/U ratios,lower δ~(18)O values and higher ε_(Hf)(t) values than those of the zircon grains in the KafangLaochang granites.The geochemical and isotopic features indicate that the Laochang-Kafang granites originated by partial melting of Mesoproterozoic crustal components including biotite-rich metapelite and metagraywacke,whereas the Songshujiao granites were derived from Mesoproterozoic muscovite-rich metapelite crustal source.Most zircon grains from the Songshujiao,Laochang and Kafang granites have high-U concentrations and their SIMS U-Pb ages show age scatter from 81.6 Ma to 88.6 Ma,80.7 Ma to 86.1 Ma and 82.3 Ma to 87.0 Ma,suggesting formation earlier than the monazite and cassiterite.Monazite SIMS U-Pb ages and Th-Pb ages of three same granite samples are consistent and show yielded 206 Pb/~(238)U ages of 83.7 ± 0.6 Ma,83.7±0.6 Ma,and 83.4±0.6 Ma,and ~(208)Pb/~(232)Th ages of 83.2 ± 0.5 Ma,83.8 ± 0.4 Ma,and 83.5±0.9 Ma,which are within the range of the SIMS zircon U-Pb ages from these rocks.The data constrain the crystallization of the granites at ca.83 Ma.In situ U-Pb dating of two cassiterite samples from the cassiterite-sulfide ore in the Songshujiao ore field and Kafang ore field,and two from the cassiterite-oxide+cassiterite bearing dolomite in the Laochang ore field yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/~(238)U ages of 83.5±0.4 Ma(MSWD=0.6),83.5 ± 0.4 Ma(MSWD=0.5),83.6 ±0.4 Ma(MSWD=0.6) and 83.2 ±0.7 Ma(MSWD=0.6),respectively.Combined with geological characteristics,the new geochronological data indicate that the formation of the granites and Sn polymetallic deposits are coeval.We correlate the magmatic and metallogenic event with lithospheric thinning and asthenosphere upwelling in continental extension setting in relation to the eastward subduction of the Neo-Tethys beneath the Sanjiang tectonic domain during Late Cretaceous.     

东准噶尔老爷庙地区流纹岩晚石炭世时代的确认、地球化学特征及其地质意义

东准噶尔是中亚造山带(CAOB)的重要组成部分。本文对东准噶尔老爷庙地区出露的流纹岩开展岩石学、地球化学和锆石U- Pb年代学研究,探讨其岩石成因和成岩时的构造环境。结果表明老爷庙流纹岩具有高硅、高钾、富碱,贫钙、磷、铁、镁、钛的特征,富集大离子亲石元素Rb、K、Th、Nb、Ta及高场强元素Zr、Hf,相对亏损Ba、Sr、P、Ti。轻稀土富集明显,且轻稀土元素内部分馏相对较强,重稀土元素元素内部分馏较弱,Eu负异常较强(δEu=0. 12~0. 65),呈右倾海鸥型。锆石饱和温度平均878℃,属于高温花岗岩;形成压力<0. 8GPa,深度<30km。与典型A型花岗岩相似,成因类型上属A2型流纹岩,产于后碰撞环境。LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb定年显示其形成于311. 6±3. 1Ma,属晚石炭世,地层归属为巴塔玛衣内山组。综合本文数据及区域地质特征,老爷庙地区在晚石炭世已经拼贴到西伯利亚板块,进入后造山向板内转化的过渡期,结束了地壳的侧向增生,但由于大量幔源岩浆底侵作用,使该区仍在垂向增生。     

Carboniferous porphyry Cu (-Au) mineralization of the West Junggar region,NW China: the Shiwu example

ABSTRACT

The West Junggar region, located in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is characterized by extensive Carboniferous magmatism and porphyry Cu (-Au) deposits. The Shiwu porphyry Cu-Au deposit, located in the east of the Barluk Mountains, the West Junggar region, is not only a newly discovered deposit but also a representative porphyry Cu-Au deposit in this area. The volcanic rocks (including andesite and tuff) and intrusive rocks (including diorite, quartz diorite, quartz diorite porphyry, and tonalite porphyry) occurred in the Shiwu area and the mineralization associated with the quartz diorite porphyry. The secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) zircon U–Pb ages of quartz diorite porphyry and tonalite porphyry are 310.4 ± 2.3 Ma and 310.1 ± 2.4 Ma, respectively, indicating that the Shiwu deposit is related to the Late Carboniferous magmatism. Intrusive rocks, which were characterized by the enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and pronounced negative high field strength elements (HFSEs), belong to the calc-alkaline or tholeiitic series. Their (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i, (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_I, and εNd(t) values range from 0.703569 to 0.704311, 0.512488 to 0.512512, and 4.9 to 5.3, respectively. Volcanic rocks, which belong to the calc-alkaline series, have similar geochemical features as the intrusive rocks, and their (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i, (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i, and εNd(t) values, respectively, are 0.703704–0.704071, 0.512520–0.512542, and 5.49–5.92. These characters indicate that the igneous rocks in the Shiwu area derived dominantly from the mantle and formed in an island arc setting. These characters also further confirmed that the Barluk Mountains is still in an island arc setting in the Late Carboniferous and the accretionary orogenesis can exist until 310 Ma at least.     

甘肃北山红石山地区晚石炭世英云闪长岩锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及构造意义

笔者等以出露于红石山—百合山蛇绿混杂岩带南侧的英云闪长岩体为研究对象,通过野外地质调查和岩石学、地球化学、锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究,探讨其成因、构造环境及红石山洋俯冲消亡过程。岩石地球化学研究表明,红石山南英云闪长岩体富硅(SiO₂=63.95%～66.22%)、高铝(Al₂O₃=15.31%～16.61%)、富钠(Na₂O=3.73%～4.33%)、低钾(K₂O=1.00%～1.85%),相对高锶(Sr=246.0×10^-6～417.0×10^-6)、低钇(Y=8.83×10^-6～11.80×10^-6),富集Rb、Sr等大离子亲石元素和LREE,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P等高场强元素,HREE相对亏损,无明显Eu异常。岩石学和岩石地球化学特征表明,为俯冲洋壳脱水熔融的产物。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年表明,红石山南英云闪长岩体的形成年龄为306.9～309.9 Ma,...     

Petrogenesis of early Silurian intrusions in the Sanchakou area of Eastern Tianshan,Northwest China,and tectonic implications: geochronological,geochemical, and Hf isotopic evidence

ABSTRACT

Palaeozoic intrusions in Eastern Tianshan are important for understanding the evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Sanchakou intrusions situated in Eastern Tianshan (southern CAOB), are mainly quartz diorite and granodiorite. A comprehensive study of zircon U–Pb ages, zircon trace elements, whole-rock geochemistry, and Lu–Hf isotopes were carried out for the Sanchakou intrusive rocks. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating yielded crystallization ages of 439.7 ± 2.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.63, n = 21) for the quartz diorite, and 430.9 ± 2.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.21, n = 21) and 425.5 ± 2.7 Ma (MSWD = 0.04; n = 20) for the granodiorites. These data, in combination with other Silurian ages reported for the intrusive suites from Eastern Tianshan, indicate an early Palaeozoic magmatic event in the orogen. In situ zircon Hf isotope data for the Sanchakou quartz diorite shows ε_Hf(t) values of +11.2 to +19.6, and the two granodioritic samples exhibit similar ε_Hf(t) values from +13.0 to +19.5. The Sanchakou plutons show metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, arc-type geochemical and low-K tholeiite affinities, and display trace element patterns characterized by enrichment in K, Ba, Sr, and Sm, and depletion in Nb, Ta, Pb, and Ti. The geochemical and isotopic signatures indicate that the Sanchakou dioritic and granodioritic magmas were sourced from a subducted oceanic slab, and subsequently underwent some interaction with peridotite in the mantle wedge. Combined with the regional geological history, we suggest the Sanchakou intrusions formed due to the northward subduction of the Palaeo-Tianshan Ocean beneath the Dananhu–Tousuquan arc during early Silurian time.     

江西相山铀矿田河元背地区流纹斑岩地球化学、锆石U Pb年龄及Hf Sr Nd同位素特征

在江西相山铀矿田河元背地区实施的CUSD3钻孔,发现其深部存在晚期侵入到打鼓顶组流纹英安岩、凝灰岩、泥质粉砂岩中的流纹斑岩。利用激光等离子质谱分析技术(LA ICP MS)测得流纹斑岩的锆石206Pb/238U年龄为(1318±07)Ma (MSWD=041),晚于前人所测的鹅湖岭组碎斑流纹岩年龄。该流纹斑岩具有高硅、富钾、铝过饱和等特点,还表现出高场强元素Rb、Th、U、La、Ce、Nd和LREE富集,Ba、Nb、Sr、P、Ti等元素亏损以及δEu明显负异常的特点。锆石的εHf(t)值介于 -677~-1038之间,对应的二阶段Hf模式年龄TDMC介于1 619~1 846 Ma,岩石的ISr值为0710 92~0712 01,εNd(t)值为-818~-919。其稀土元素、微量元素分布模式及同位素特征与前人报道的碎斑流纹岩特征类似,暗示流纹斑岩与碎斑流纹岩具有相同的物质来源。以上特征说明河元背地区流纹斑岩形成于早白垩世造山运动碰撞后伸展阶段,为深部硅铝质地壳部分熔融的产物。相山西部流纹斑岩的发现,可以推测该区或许存在一个次级火山机构。     

Geology,geochemistry, and genesis of the hot-spring-type Sipingshan gold deposit,eastern Heilongjiang Province,Northeast China

The Sipingshan gold deposit, located in the eastern part of the Nadanhada Terrane, is hosted within cherts and silicified breccias of the Upper Cretaceous Sipingshan Formation and rhyolites of the Upper Cretaceous Datashanlinchang Formation. The orebodies are composed of gold- and pyrite-bearing cherts, silicified breccias, and quartz veins accompanied by various types of wall rock alteration, including silicification, pyritization, sericitization, chloritization, pyrophyllitization, and carbonatization. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon ages determined for the ore-bearing rhyolites range between 122 ± 1.4 and 135.2 ± 1.9 million years slightly older than the metallogenic age of the Sipingshan gold deposit. The rhyolite has aluminium saturation index values ranging from 0.015 to 1.25 and shows the following features: enrichment in LILE (e.g. Rb, Pb, K, and Th); depletion of Ba, Sm, and Ti; and negative Eu anomalies. These geochemical characteristics indicate that (1) the rhyolite contains features typical of S-type granites; (2) the felsic magma likely originated through partial melting of the continental crust; and (3) plagioclase crystals were present in the partial melt residues in the magma source region, or else magma evolution involved plagioclase fractionation. The host cherts have high Al/(Al + Fe + Mn) ratios (0.23–0.81, averaging 0.60) and low Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ contents. Their North American shale-normalized REE patterns are characterized by flat REE, slightly positive Eu anomalies, no Ce anomalies, and (La/Yb)_SN ratios of 1.27–1.38, indicating that these cherts formed in a continental margin environment. In addition, the analysed cherts have low ΣREE (1.56–3.64 ppm) and Zr (9.1–13.5 ppm) contents, suggesting a hydrothermal origin. Fluid inclusions in quartz veins show elliptical to irregular shapes that range from 5 to 12 μm in size and have homogenization temperatures of 118.7–223.4°C, densities of 0.84–0.94 g/cm³, and pressures of 21.2–51.4 MPa, indicating that the hot-spring-type Sipingshan gold deposit is epithermal in origin.     

北淮阳汞洞冲铅锌矿区石英正长斑岩成因

汞洞冲铅锌矿位于北淮阳构造带安徽段的西部,是大别造山带目前发现的最大铅锌矿。该矿床为典型的隐爆角砾岩型,成矿流体具有岩浆来源特征。野外地质调查显示隐爆作用与孙冲出露的石英正长斑岩有关。两个采自孙冲石英正长斑岩体样品的LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年结果分别为128.4±1.3 Ma和129.2±1.2Ma,为早白垩世岩浆活动的产物。这些石英正长斑岩样品具有较高的SiO_2含量(62.04%~69.30%),富K_2O(4.54%~7.16%,K_2O/Na_2O=0.94~2.86),富碱(K_2O+Na_2O=8.76%~10.01%),铝碱比值(A/NK)在1.17~1.97之间,铝饱和指数(A/CNK)介于1.03~1.59之间,属过铝质岩石,富集Rb、Th、U、Pb等大离子亲石元素、亏损Nb、Ta、P和Ti等高场强元素。岩石具有高度富集的Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf同位素组成:全岩~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr(t)介于0.71129~0.71323之间,ε_(Nd)(t)值介于-10.8~-9.8之间,~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb(t)比值为17.495~17.891,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb(t)比值为15.526~15.593,~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb(t)比值为38.257~38.547,绝大多数锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值介于-17.1~-10.4。综合地球化学研究表明,该石英正长斑岩的岩浆源区类似于中、南大别片麻岩为代表的大别造山带三层地壳结构的上部,有少量的幔源物质贡献。华南板块广泛分布的古生代黑色岩系在印支期深俯冲过程中被剥蚀至北淮阳地壳深部,构成北淮阳成矿岩浆岩的理想源区。     

Early Cretaceous magmatism and associated polymetallic mineralization in South China: the Tiantang example

ABSTRACT

The Tiantang Cu–Pb–Zn polymetallic deposit in western Guangdong, South China, is hosted in the contact zone between the monzogranite porphyry and limestone of the Devonian Tianziling Formation. Orebodies occur in the skarn and skarnized marble as bedded, lenses, and irregular shapes. In this study, we performed LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating, zircon trace elements, and Hf isotopic analyses on the Tiantang monzogranite porphyry closely related to Cu–Pb–Zn mineralization. Twenty-two zircons from the sample yield excellent concordia results with a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 104.5 ± 0.7 Ma, which shows that the emplacement of the monzogranite porphyry in the Tiantang deposit occurred in the Early Cretaceous. The zircon U–Pb age is largely consistent with the sulphide Rb–Sr isochron ages, indicating that both the intrusion and Cu–Pb–Zn mineralization were formed during the Early Cretaceous in South China. The ε_Hf(t) values of three inherited zircons from the monzogranite porphyry are 13.1, 11.9, and 12.9, respectively, and the two-stage Hf model ages are 1096 Ma, 1087 Ma, and 1055 Ma, respectively. Except for the three inherited zircons, all ε_Hf(t) values of zircons are negative and have a range of ?7.6 to ?3.4, with the two-stage model ages (T_DM2) of 1380–1643 Ma, which indicates the rock-forming materials were mainly derived from the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic crust rocks, and probably included some Neoproterozoic arc-related volcanic-sedimentary materials. In this study, the monzogranite porphyry from the Tiantang deposit has calculated Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ ratios of zircon ranging from 91 to 359, indicative of a more oxidized signature and significant prospecting potential for ore-related magmatism. Based on ore deposit geology, isotope geochemistry, and geochronology of the Tiantang Cu–Pb–Zn deposit and regional geodynamic evolution, the formation of Early Cretaceous magmatism and associated polymetallic mineralization in South China is believed to be related to large-scale continental extension and subsequent upwelling of the asthenosphere.     

Early Jurassic metamorphism of the eastern segment of the Lhasa terrane in South Tibet and its tectonic significance

The metamorphic belt in the Dongjiu area is located in the eastern segment of the Lhasa terrane in South Tibet. The Dongjiu metamorphic rocks are primarily composed of schist and gneiss, with minor amounts of marble, and the protoliths are sedimentary rocks with Precambrian and early Palaeozoic zircons probably deposited during the Palaeozoic or late Neoproterozoic. On the basis of petrology and phase equilibria modelling, this study shows that the Dongjiu metamorphic belt has experienced a kyanite-grade metamorphism, which is characterized by a decompressional vector with slight cooling from a peak of 9.6 kbar and 745°C to medium-pressure amphibolite-facies metamorphic overprinting at 5–6 kbar and 600–630°C. This P–T path was well recorded and recovered by garnet zoning profiles. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in situ U–Pb analyses on metamorphic zircons and zircon rims yielded concordant ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of c. 194–192 Ma, suggesting that the Dongjiu metamorphic rocks were formed during the Early Jurassic. Therefore, the Dongjiu metamorphic belt, together with the western Nyainqentanglha, Basongco, and Zhala metamorphic belts, constitutes a nearly continuous tectonic unit with an E–W extension of at least 500 km between the northern and southern Lhasa terranes. The metamorphic ages of these belts, ranging from 230 to 192 Ma, show a younger trend from west to east, indicating that the central segment of the Lhasa terrane experienced an eastward asynchronous collisional orogeny during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic.     

Timing and tectonic significance of Paleozoic magmatism in the Sakar unit of the Sakar-Strandzha Zone,SE Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

Palaeozoic granitoids and meta-granitoids dominate the metamorphic basement of the Sakar unit of the Sakar-Strandzha Zone (SASTZ) in southeast Bulgaria. In this article, we present new whole-rock geochemical data and U–Pb zircon geochronology for the Sakar unit granitoids. The igneous minerals and textures are preserved, except the meta-granitoids that experienced a weak amphibolite-facies overprint. Geochemistry reveals compositions of peraluminous high-K calc-alkaline I- to S-type granitoids of volcanic arc origin. A major group of LILE-LREE-enriched granitoids and meta-granitoids and a single HFSE-HREE-enriched meta-granitoid are distinguished. U–Pb geochronology has yielded crystallization ages between 305 and 295 Ma for the major group granitoids and a ca. 462 Ma crystallization age of HFSE-HREE-enriched meta-granitoid. Late Palaeozoic granitoids of the Sakar unit show similar compositions and a similar tectonic setting when compared to other granitoids of the SASTZ, confirming a uniform region-wide tectono-magmatic event. As the Late Carboniferous-Permian magmatic arc components extend across the SASTZ, they trace the time-correspondent active continental margin along the Eurasian plate during subduction of the Palaeotethys oceanic lithosphere. The late Palaeozoic Eurasian active continental margin magmatic arc evolution of the SASTZ can be extended into the Serbo-Macedonian-Rhodope zones to the west, where time equivalent meta-granitoids support the same geodynamic context.     

Early Mesozoic metamorphism and tectonic significance of the eastern segment of the Lhasa terrane,south Tibet

The metamorphic belt in the Basongco area, the eastern segment of Lhasa terrane, south Tibet, occurs as the tectonic blocks in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. The Basongco metamorphic rocks are mainly composed of paragneiss and schist, with minor marble and orthogneiss, and considered previously to be the Precambrian basement of the Lhasa terrane. This study shows that the Basongco metamorphic belt experienced medium-pressure amphibolite-facies metamorphism under the conditions of T = 640–705 °C and P = 6.0–8.0 kbar. The inherited detrital zircon of the metasedimentary rocks yielded widely variable ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 3105 Ma to 500 Ma, with two main age populations at 1150 Ma and 580 Ma. The magmatic cores of zircons from the orthogneiss constrain the protolith age as ca. 203 Ma. The metamorphic zircons from all rocks yielded the consistent metamorphic ages of 192–204 Ma. The magmatic cores of zircons in the orthogneiss yielded old Hf model ages (T_DM2 = 1.5–2.1 Ga). The magmatic zircons from the mylonitized granite yielded a crystallization age of ca. 198 Ma. These results indicate that the high-grade metamorphic rocks from the Basongco area were formed at early Jurassic and associated with coeval magmatism derived from the thickening crust. The Basongco metamorphic belt, together with the western and coeval Sumdo and Nyainqentanglha metamorphic belts, formed a 400-km-long tectonic unit, indicating that the central segment of the Lhasa terrane experienced the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic collisional orogeny.     

Petrogenesis of the Mairupt microgranite: A witness of an Uppermost Silurian magmatism in the Rocroi Inlier,Ardenne Allochton

Magmatism in the Rocroi inlier (Ardenne Allochton, southeastern Avalonia during eo-Hercynian times) consists of a swarm of bimodal dykes (diabase and/or microgranite) emplaced in Middle to Upper Cambrian siliciclastics (Revin Group). Felsic volcanites interbedded within the Upper Silurian/Lower Devonian transgressive strata on the eastern edge of the inlier were interpreted as belonging to the same magmatic event. This was subsequently invalidated by zircon U–Pb dating of the Mairupt and Grande Commune magmatic rocks, which yielded an Upper Devonian age. Here we report a reevaluation of the age of the Mairupt microgranite based on LA–ICP–MS in situ U–Pb zircon geochronology, which yields a concordant age of 420.5 ± 2.9 Ma (Late Silurian/Early Devonian). This new dating restores the consistency between the different magmatic occurrences in the Rocroi inlier. The geochemical and petrographical data furthermore indicate a major crustal contribution, which fits well within the context of crust thinning of the Ardenne margin (southeastern Avalonia) in the transtensional Rheno-Hercynian back-arc basin.     

Subduction,ophiolite genesis and collision history of Tethys adjacent to the Eurasian continental margin: new evidence from the Eastern Pontides,Turkey

This paper presents several types of new information including U–Pb radiometric dating of ophiolitic rocks and an intrusive granite, micropalaeontological dating of siliceous and calcareous sedimentary rocks, together with sedimentological, petrographic and structural data. The new information is synthesised with existing results from the study area and adjacent regions (Central Pontides and Lesser Caucasus) to produce a new tectonic model for the Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic development of this key Tethyan suture zone.

The Tethyan suture zone in NE Turkey (Ankara–Erzincan–Kars suture zone) exemplifies stages in the subduction, suturing and post-collisional deformation of a Mesozoic ocean basin that existed between the Eurasian (Pontide) and Gondwanan (Tauride) continents. Ophiolitic rocks, both as intact and as dismembered sequences, together with an intrusive granite (tonalite), formed during the Early Jurassic in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) setting within the ?zmir–Ankara–Erzincan ocean. Basalts also occur as blocks and dismembered thrust sheets within Cretaceous accretionary melange. During the Early Jurassic, these basalts erupted in both a SSZ-type setting and in an intra-plate (seamount-type) setting. The volcanic-sedimentary melange accreted in an open-ocean setting in response to Cretaceous northward subduction beneath a backstop made up of Early Jurassic forearc ophiolitic crust. The Early Jurassic SSZ basalts in the melange were later detached from the overriding Early Jurassic ophiolitic crust.

Sedimentary melange (debris-flow deposits) locally includes ophiolitic extrusive rocks of boninitic composition that were metamorphosed under high-pressure low-temperature conditions. Slices of mainly Cretaceous clastic sedimentary rocks within the suture zone are interpreted as a deformed forearc basin that bordered the Eurasian active margin. The basin received a copious supply of sediments derived from Late Cretaceous arc volcanism together with input of ophiolitic detritus from accreted oceanic crust.

Accretionary melange was emplaced southwards onto the leading edge of the Tauride continent (Munzur Massif) during latest Cretaceous time. Accretionary melange was also emplaced northwards over the collapsed southern edge of the Eurasian continental margin (continental backstop) during the latest Cretaceous. Sedimentation persisted into the Early Eocene in more northerly areas of the Eurasian margin.

Collision of the Tauride and Eurasian continents took place progressively during latest Late Palaeocene–Early Eocene. The Jurassic SSZ ophiolites and the Cretaceous accretionary melange finally docked with the Eurasian margin. Coarse clastic sediments were shed from the uplifted Eurasian margin and infilled a narrow peripheral basin. Gravity flows accumulated in thrust-top piggyback basins above accretionary melange and dismembered ophiolites and also in a post-collisional peripheral basin above Eurasian crust. Thickening of the accretionary wedge triggered large-scale out-of-sequence thrusting and re-thrusting of continental margin and ophiolitic units. Collision culminated in detachment and northward thrusting on a regional scale.

Collisional deformation of the suture zone ended prior to the Mid-Eocene (~45?Ma) when the Eurasian margin was transgressed by non-marine and/or shallow-marine sediments. The foreland became volcanically active and subsided strongly during Mid-Eocene, possibly related to post-collisional slab rollback and/or delamination. The present structure and morphology of the suture zone was strongly influenced by several phases of mostly S-directed suture zone tightening (Late Eocene; pre-Pliocene), possible slab break-off and right-lateral strike-slip along the North Anatolian Transform Fault.

In the wider regional context, a double subduction zone model is preferred, in which northward subduction was active during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, both within the Tethyan ocean and bordering the Eurasian continental margin.     

Early Carboniferous intra-oceanic arc and back-arc basin system in the West Junggar,NW China

A series of Lower Carboniferous volcanic rocks occur in the Hatu, Darbut, and Baogutu areas of Xinjiang Province. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) zircon U–Pb isotopic data indicate that two samples of these rocks coevally erupted at 324.0 ± 2.8 Ma and 324.9 ± 3.4 Ma. Three detailed profile measurements show that the volcanics include the Hatu basalt, the Baogutu andesite and dacite, and the Darbut andesite. Whole-rock compositions suggest that the Hatu volcanics are tholeiites and have a mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like signature with a small negative Nb anomaly, suggesting formation in a back-arc basin. Their isotopic compositions (?Nd(t) = +2.2 to +4.0, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i = 0.70414 to 0.70517) suggest a mixing origin from depleted to enriched mantle sources. In contrast, the Baogutu and Darbut rocks are andesite and dacite possessing a transitional tholeiite to calc–alkaline character and have E-MORB-like and OIB signatures, with a marked negative Nb anomaly and Th/Yb-enrichment, indicating that they were generated in a subduction zone setting. Isotopically, they display consistently depleted Sr–Nd isotopic compositions [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i = 0.70377–0.70469, ?Nd(t) = 1.0–5.2], suggesting that they were derived from a depleted mantle, and that fluid and sediments were involved in their petrogenesis. These features suggest that an early Carboniferous intra-oceanic arc and back-arc basin system generated the studied volcanic units in the West Junggar.     

Age and tectonic significance of the Louth Volcanics: implications for the evolution of the Tasmanides of eastern Australia

Abstract

Re-evaluation of geochemical and geophysical datasets, and analysis of magmatic and detrital zircons from drill-core samples extracted from the Louth region of the southern Thomson Orogen (STO), augmented by limited field samples, has shown that two temporally and compositionally distinct igneous groups exist. The older Lower Devonian, calc-alkaline group corresponds to complexly folded, high-intensity curvilinear magnetic anomalies in the Louth region (Louth Volcanics) and are probable equivalents to Lower Devonian volcanics in the northern Lachlan Orogen. A younger Permo-Triassic alkaline assemblage forms part of an E–W corridor of diatremes that appears to relate to focussed lithospheric extension associated with the later stages of the Hunter–Bowen Orogeny in the New England Orogen. The alkaline group includes gabbros previously considered as Neoproterozoic, but all magmatic rocks, including alkaline basalts, contain an unusual number of xenocrystic zircons. The age spectra of the xenocrystic zircons mimic detrital zircons from Cobar Basin sedimentary rocks and/or underlying Ordovician turbidites, suggesting incorporation of upper crustal zircons into the alkaline basaltic magmas. A distinct difference of detrital zircon age spectra from central Thomson Orogen metasediments indicates the STO metasediments have greater affinities to the Lachlan Orogen, but both orogens probably began in the Early Ordovician during widespread backarc extension and deposition of turbidites in the Tasmanides. A surprising result is that Ordovician, Devonian and Permo-Triassic basaltic rocks from the STO and elsewhere in the Tasmanides, all yield the same Nd-model ages of ca 960–830 Ma, suggesting that Neoproterozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle persisted throughout the evolution of the Tasmanide orogenic system.