A New SHRIMP Age of the Xiamaling Formation in the North China Plate and Its Geological Significance

Setting up the hypostratotype of late Precambrian is the main aim of the research on the Meso- and Neoproterozoic in North China. The chronostratigraphic position is the key in this study. However, many key horizons have not been calibrated with the high-quality isotopic ages. Using the reported new U-Pb age with the Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP II), a zircon U-Pb age was obtained of the ash bed in the Xiamaling Formation in North China Plate, yielding a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 1368±12 Ma. It is the first SHRIMP U-Pb age from the Xiamaling Formation in the North China Plate, and represents the depositing time of the middle part of the Xiamaling Formation. The zircon age plays an important role to understanding geological evolution of the North China Plate during Meso- and Neoproterozoic.     

Qingbaikouan and Crygenian in South China: Constraints by SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb dating

The Qingbaikouan System is the lowest unit of the Neoproterozoic Erathem in Chinese stratigraphic succession,and it now provides a precise geochronological framework and geological time scale for mapping and stratal correlation in China.However,a sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe （SHRIMP） U-Pb zircon age date （1368±12 Ma） obtained from a bentonite in the Qingbaikouan Xiamaling Formation indicates that it belongs to the Mesoproterozoic Erathem instead.This change is a milestone in understanding the Precambrian Stratigraphic Time Scale in China,and it has had great influence on Precambrian correlations in Asia.Otherwise,a large amount of geochronological work has been done in the ＂Jiangnan Orogen Belt＂ of South China,and new isotopic data have redefined the traditional recognition of metamorphosed Mesoproterozoic strata from the Sibao orogeny to the Neoproterozoic Erathem.Based on SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age data,the authors regard the Sibao orogeny （equal to the Wuling orogeny） as a movement at ca 820 Ma,meaning that the Sibao orogeny was not equivalent to the Grenvillian orogeny.Finally,we report here the first SHRIMP U-Pb age of the boundary between the top of the Qingbaikouan Gongdong Formation （786.8±5.6 Ma） and the bottom of the Chang＇an （diamictite） Formation （778.4±5.2 Ma）,which is the age of the lowest diamictite of the Nanhuan System in China.     

The age of kalagang formation in the santanghu basin,northeast Xinjiang: Evidence from zircons U-Pb dating of volcanic rocks北大核心

Kalagang Formation is developed widely in the Santanghu basin, northeast Xinjiang. The eruption age of volcanic rocks in this Formation was considered as either Permian or Carboniferous. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating was made on the basaltic zircons for three samples, which were collected from drill hole (Ma 17) at different depths. Zircons in the basalt at 1543.1 m yield weighed mean age of 343. 5±2. 4 Ma (n = 11, MSWD = 0. 74). Those at 1954. 3 m show two groups of weighted mean ages, 331. 3±5. 0Ma (n = 6, MSWD = 1.4) and 306. 6±5. 3 Ma (n = 9, MSWD= 4. 5), respectively. Zircons in the sample at 2327. 0 m give weighted mean age of 325. 2±3. 0 Ma (n = 19, MSWD = 2. 2). This study considers the minimum age, 306. 6 Ma, as the eruption age of the volcanic rocks in the Kalagang Formation, suggesting that this volcanic suite was formed in Carboniferous instead of formerly widely-accepted Permian. Zircons at the higher depth of the drill hole are old (early Carboniferous) , Zircons at the lower depth are younger (Late Carboniferous). This may indicate that volcanic rocks in Malang depression developed within different ages, showing a characteristic of multi-stage eruption, old zircons at the higher depth of Kalagang Formation may represent the early magma crystallization. Therefore, Kalagang Formation should be formed at the Late Carboniferous.     

Hydrothermal Zircon Geochronology in the Shangxu Gold Deposit and its Implication for the Early Cretaceous Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Middle Bangonghu–Nujiang Suture Zone

As a typical orogenic gold deposit in Tibet, Shangxu gold deposit is located at the Bangong Lake–Nujiang River Metallogenic Belt in the south of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In this paper, zircon U-Pb dating, trace elements and Hf isotopic analysis were performed on Au-bearing quartz veins in the Shangxu gold deposit. Zircons from Au-bearing quartz veins can be divided into three types: detrital, magmatic, and hydrothermal zircons. There are two age peaks in detrital zircons: ca. 1700 Ma and ca. 2400 Ma. There are two groups of concordant ages including 157 ± 4 Ma(MSWD = 0.69) and 120 ± 1 Ma(MSWD = 0.19) in magmatic zircons, in which εH f(t) value of ca. 120 Ma from the magmatic zircons range from +8.24 to +12.9. An age of 119 ± 2 Ma(MSWD = 0.42) was yielded from hydrothermal zircons, and their εH f(t) values vary between +15.7 and +16.4. According to sericite Ar-Ar age, this paper suggests that an age of 119 ± 2 Ma from hydrothermal zircons represent the formation age of the Shangxu gold Deposit, and its mineralization should be related to the collision between Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block. The metallogenic age is basically the same as the diagenetic age of Mugagangri granite, and εH f(t) value of hydrothermal zircon is significantly higher than that of the contemporaneous magmatic zircon, which indicates that there is a genetic relationship between the gold mineralization and the deep crust-mantle magmatism.     

Diagenetic and Mineralization Age of the Hehuaping Tin-polymetallic Orefield, Hunan Province

The Hehuaping tin deposit is a large deposit found in recent years during geological surveys. The discovered tin deposit includes not only rock-alteration type deposits in fault zones, but also deposits developed in interstratified rupture zones between Devonian carbonate rocks (Qiziqiao Formation) and sandstone (Tiaomajian Formation). The finding of tin deposits of the latter type has greatly enriched tin-mineralization types in the famous Nanling polymetallic metallogenetic region and may provide us with a new potential orientation for prospecting of tin deposits in the region. It is commonly believed that the forming of the tin deposits in the Nanling region should be related to the Yanshanian instead of Indosinian granitic magmatism. Systematical zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating in this paper shows that tin mineralizations have endured at least two stages. The early stage should be related to the intrusion of the main body of the Wangxianling granite, which was emplaced during the Indosinian period with a diagenetic and mineralized age of 224.0±1.9 Ma (MSWD=0.54), and the late stage should be related to the intrusion of Yanshanian granitic porphyry that took place after 142±3 Ma (MSWD=0.5).     

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

The final collision of the CAOB: Constraint from the zircon U–Pb dating of the Linxi Formation, Inner Mongolia

The Linxi Formation occupies an extensive area in the eastern Inner Mongolia in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB).The Linxi Formation is composed of slate,siltstone,sandstone and plant,lamellibranch microfossils in the associated strata.Major and trace element data(including REE) for sandstones from the formation indicate that these rocks have a greywacke protolith and have been deposited during a strong tectonic activity.LA-ICPMS U—Pb dating of detrital zircons yield ages of 1801 to 238 Ma for four samples from the Linxi Formation.425—585 Ma,together with the ~500 Ma age for the metamorphism event previously determined for Northeast China,indicates that their provenance is the metamorphic rocks of Pan-African age that have a tectonic affinity to NE China.A few older zircons with U-Pb ages at 1689-1801 Ma,1307-1414 Ma,593-978 Ma are also present,revealing the Neoproterozoic history of NE China.The youngest population shows a peak at ca.252 Ma,suggesting that the main deposition of the Linxi Formation was at late Permain.Moreover,the ca.250 Ma zircon grains of all four samples yield weighted mean ~(206)Pb/~(238)U ages of 250 ± 3 Ma,248 ± 3 Ma,249 ± 3 Ma,and 250 ± 2 Ma,respectively.These ages,together with the youngest zircon age in the sample ZJB-28(ca.238 Ma),suggest that the deposition of the Linxi Formation extended to the early Triassic.Combining with previous results,we suggest that the final collision of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) in the southern of Linxi Formation,which located in the Solonker-Xra Moron-Changchun suture,and the timing for final collision should be at early Triassic.     

Ultrahigh-pressure and Retrograde Metamorphic Ages for Paleozoic Protolith of Paragneiss in the Main Drill Hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project （CCSD-MH）, SW Sulu UHP Terrane

Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that most zircon crystals separated from paragneiss in the main drill hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD-MH) at Maobei, southwestern Sulu terrane, contain low-pressure mineral-bearing detrital cores, coesite-bearing mantles and quartz-bearing or mineral inclusion-free rims. SHRIMP U Pb dating on these zoned zircons yield three discrete and meaningful age groups. The detrital cores yield a large age span from 659 to 313 Ma, indicating the protolith age for the analyzed paragneiss is Paleozoic rather than Proterozoic. The coesite-bearing mantles yield a weighted mean age of 228 ± 5 Ma for the UHP event. The quartz-bearing outmost rims yield a weighted mean age of 213 ± 6 Ma for the retrogressive event related to the regional amphibolite facies metamorphism in the Sulu UHP terrane. Combined with previous SHRIMP U-Pb dating results from orthogneiss in CCSD-MH, it is suggested that both Neoproterozoic granitic protolith and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks were subducted to mantle depths in the Late Triassic. About 15 million years later, the Sulu UHP metamorphic rocks were exhumed to mid-crustal levels and overprinted by an amphibolite-facies retrogressive metamorphism. The exhumation rate deduced from the SHRIMP data and metamorphic P-T conditions is about 6.7 km/Ma. Such a fast exhumation suggests that the Sulu UHP paragneiss and orthogneiss returned towards the surface as a dominant part of a buoyant sliver, caused as a consequence of slab breakoff.     

40Ar/39Ar Dating of Xuebaoding Granite in the Songpan-Garzê Orogenic Belt, Southwest China, and its Geological Significance

<正>Thus far,our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results.Therefore,in this study,the ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe(SHRIMP) U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared,particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding,to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements.The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U,but a very low value for Th/U.The high U amount,coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons,indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating.Therefore,muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding,gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4(2σ) was very close to the air ratio,indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present.These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma,respectively.Through comparison of both dating methods and their results,we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating without extra Ar.Based on this evidence,as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites,it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma.Moreover,compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt,the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze.Therefore,~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.     

Biostratigraphy versus isotope geochronology: Testing the Urals island arc model

Formation of the Urals volcanic-hosted massive sulphide(VHMS) deposits is considered to be related with the intra-oceanic stage of island arc(s) development in the Upper Ordoviciane Middle Devonian based on the biostratigraphic record of ore-hosting sedimentary rocks. However, the direct Re-Os dating of four known VHMS systems in the Urals gives significantly younger Re-Os isochron ages ranging from355 ± 15 Ma up to 366 ± 2 Ma. To address this discrepancy, we performed SHRIMP U-Pb dating on zircons extracted from rhyodacites(Eifelian biostratigraphic age of 393 -388 Ma) from the footwall of the Alexandrinka VHMS deposit which has a Re-Os isochron age of sulphides of 355 ± 15 Ma.New ²⁰⁶ Pb/²³⁸ U mean age of 374 ± 3 Ma(MSWD ? 1.4 and probability ? 0.11) is considered to be the crystallisation age of the host volcanic rock. This age is ca. 15 Ma younger than the Eifelian(393 -388 Ma)biostratigraphic age and overlaps the Frasniane Famennian boundary(372 ± 2 Ma), characterised by the final stages of Magnitogorsk Arc e East European continent collision. Such an inconsistency with geochronological age may be due to a reburial of conodonts during resedimentation as a result of erosion of older rocks in younger sedimentary sequences.     

Age assignment of the Upper Carboniferous Arbasay Formation in Shichang Region,North Tianshan(NW China)

The North Tianshan Orogenic Belt contains the youngest ophiolites in the Tianshan and provides some information on timing of the last closure of the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating was conducted to define the formation age of the Arbasay Formation in the Shichang Region of North Tianshan, which is exposed near the suture zone but its age remains debated. The Arbasay Formation is mainly composed of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks with tuff interlayers. The zircons from the tuffs yield two age populations of 315 ± 3 Ma and 304± 2 Ma, constraining the commencement and demise timings of volcanism, respectively. Furthermore, zircon U-Pb age spectra of the tuffaceous sandstones display the youngest peak age at 308 Ma, indicating a 308 Ma age for the depositional age of volcaniclastic rocks. The volcaniclastic rocks therefore were likely to deposit together with the syn-sedimentary volcanism during Late Carboniferous. This means that the Arbasay Formation in Shichang Region should be re-assigned to Late Carboniferous in age. Given that the Arbasay Formation was likely to be formed during the tectonic transition from compression to extension, the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean possibly closed during Late Carboniferous.     

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating of the Bozhushan granite in Southeast Yunnan

The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating of eight typical samples from four units of the Bozhushan granite intrusion in southeastern Yunnan Province, constrains the age of acidic magmatic intrusion in this area. Both the oscillatory zoning and chondrite-normalized REE patterns characterized by LREE-depletion and HREE-enrichment with positive Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly indicate the magmatic genesis of these zircons. Eight zircon samples from the Bozhushan granite yielded a mean 206 Pb/ 238 U age of (85.58±1.0) Ma (MSWD=4.1) to (88.10±0.66) Ma (MSWD=1.8). These chronology data suggest an accurate isotopic age for the intrusion of the Bozhushan granite, and are different from the published age data of 48 to 111.5 Ma. The geochronology data of the Gejiu, Dulong and Dachang super-large deposits and related Yanshanian granites indicated that there occurred large-scale granitic magmatism and mineralization events in western Nanling region during the Late Cretaceous.     

Redefinition and Formation Age of the Tanjianshan Group in Xitieshan Region,Qinghai

The Tanjianshan Group, which was previously divided into a, b, c and d formations, has been controversial for a long time. It mainly distributes in the northern margin of Qaidam Basin and is an important early Paleozoic greenschist facies metamorphic volcanic sedimentary rock formation. Detailed field investigation and zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating of the key strata suggest that the original lower part of a Formation(a-1) versus the original middle upper of d Formation(d-3 and d-4), the original upper part of a Formation(a-2) and b Formation versus the original lower part of d Formation(d-1 and d-2) of Tanjianshan Group are contemporaneous heterotopic facies volcanicclasolite deposit, respectively. The former formations formed during the middle-late Ordovician(463–458 Ma), while the latter ones formed in the late Ordovician(about 445 Ma). The original c formation of Tanjianshan Group, which formed after 430 Ma, is similar to the Maoniushan Formation of Kunlun Mountains and north Qaidam Basin. According to the rules of stratigraphic division and naming, new stratum formations of Tanjianshan Group are re-built and divided into Duancenggou(O1-2td), Zhongjiangou(O2-3tz) and Xitieshan(O3tx) formations. The original c Formation is separated from Tanjianshan Group and is renamed as the Wuminggou Formation(S3-D1w), which shows a discordant contact with underlying Tanjianshan Group and overlying Amunike Formation(D3a). The zircon U-Pb age frequency spectrogram of Tanjianshan Group indicates three prominent peaks of 430 Ma, 460 Ma and 908 Ma, which is consistent with the metamorphic and magmatic crystallization ages obtained from para- and orthogneisses in north Qaidam HP-UHP metamorphic belt, implying that strong Caledonian and Jinningian tectonic and magmatic events have ever happened in North Qaidam.     

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton： SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range.It contains the Yunmengshan batholith,which is dominated by two plutons:the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite.Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma,whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma.Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon UPb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma.The cumulative pl...     

Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon U–Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons: the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism: early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.     

The U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotope Compositions of Detrital Zircons from the Nanhua Group of the Longsheng Region, South China and their Implications for Pan-African Events

It is unclear whether the South China blocks have an affinity with continental Gondwana due to a lack of direct Pan-African magmatic and metamorphic features. In this study, we conducted U-Pb geochronological and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses for detrital zircons from a sandstone of the Chang’an Formation of the Nanhua Group in the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi, with the aim of constraining the timing of sedimentation and information as to its source, as well as seeking evidence for Pan-African events in the South China blocks. The results show that the ages of detrital zircons peaked at 654.7 ± 6.2 Ma, 773.2 ± 4.1 Ma and 821.9 ± 6.5 Ma, with some at 920–870 Ma; the youngest age indicates the existence of the Pan-African thermal event. The εHf(t) and TDM2 values demonstrate that the study area has experienced three stages of crustal growth at 3.0–2.4 Ga, 2.1–1.5 Ga and 1.3–0.9 Ga. With intensively distributed Neoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic and granitic plutons emplaced at 830–810 Ma along the southwestern section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and positive εHf(t) values from a large group of zircon grains, it is proposed that the sediments of the Chang’an Formation (of Nanhua Group) were largely sourced from the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block. Comparison with the zircon age spectra of the Cathaysian block shows that about 79% of the Pan-African aged detrital zircon grains that have TDM2 = 1352–1031 Ma and εHf(t) = 3.68–8.79, were sourced from the recycled Grenvillian crust of the Cathaysian block, suggesting that the Cathaysian block had a close connection with Gondwana.     

S?o Francisco-Congo Craton break-up delimited by U-Pb-Hf isotopes and trace-elements of zircon from metasediments of the Ara?uaí Belt

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology combined with Hf isotopic and trace element data from metasedimentary rocks of the Aracuai Belt in southeastern Brazil provide evidence for break-up of the Congo-Sao Francisco Craton. The U-Pb age spectra of detrital zircons from metasediments of the Rio Doce Group(RDG) range from 900-650 Ma and define a maximum depositional age of ca. 650 Ma. Zircon trace element and whole rock data constrain an oceanic island arc as source for the deposition setting of the protoliths to the metasediments. Zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values from these rocks are positive between +1 and +15, supporting previous evidence of a Neoproterozoic extensional phase and oceanic crust formation in a precursor basin to the Aracuai Belt. Recrystallization of detrital zircon at ca. 630 Ma is compatible with a regional metamorphic event associated with terrane accretion to the Paleoproterozoic basement after transition from an extensional to a convergent regime. The juvenile nature, age spectra and trace element composition recorded in detrital zircons of metasediments from the Aracuai Belt correspond with zircons from metasedimentary rocks and oceanic crust remnants of other orogenic belts to its south. This suggests that rifting and oceanic crust formation of the entire orogenic system, the so-called Mantiqueira Province, was contemporaneous, most likely related to the opening of a large ocean. It further indicates that the cratonic blocks involved in the orogenic evolution of the Mantiqueira Province were spatially connected as early as 900 Ma.     

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Zircon Dating for Felsic Granulite, Huangtuling Area, North Dabieshan: Constraints on Timing of Its Protolith and Granulite-Facies Metamorphism, and Thermal Events in Its Provenance

Information about the protolith of the Huangtuling granulite in North Dabieshan has been unavailable. The complex evolution history of the rock and its host basement must be further discussed. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating was conducted on three textural domains in zircon from a high-temperature, high-pressure felsic granulite in the Huangtuling area, North Dabieshan, Central China. The metamorphic growth-derived detrital zircon domain yields a 207Pb/206Pb age in the range of (2 493±54) -(2 500±180) Ma. The magmatic genesis-derived detrital zircon domain gives a 207Pb/206Pb age ranging from 2 628 Ma to 2 690 Ma, with an oldest 206Pb/238U age of (2 790±150) Ma. The metamorphic overgrowth or metamorphic recrystallization zircon domain yields a dicsordia with an upper intercept age of (2 044.7±29.3) Ma. Compositions of the mineral assemblage, major element geochemistry, and especially the complex interior texture of the zircon suggest that the prololith of the felsic granulite is of sedimentary origin. Results show that the protolith material of the granulite came from a provenance with a complex thermal history, i.e. ～2.8 Ga magmatism and ～2.5 Ga metamorphism, and was deposited in a basin not earlier than 2.5 Ga. The high-temperature and high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphic age was precisely constrained at (2.04±0.03) Ga, which indicates the granulite in Huangtuling area should be a relict of a Paleoproterozoic UHT (ultrahigh temperature) metamorphosed slab.     

Metamorphism and exhumation of basement gneiss domes in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero:Two stage dome-and-keel evolution?

The presence of dome-and-keel provinces in Archean cratons has been connected with the initiation of plate tectonics on Earth as these features are most commonly observed in Archean rocks.The Quadrilátero Ferrífero in Brazil has been identified as a Paleoproterozoic dome-and-keel province for more than three decades.The prevailing model suggests that it formed during the Rhyacian Transamazonian orogeny,making it unique among dome-and-keel provinces.However,a lack of appropriate lithologies,datable minerals and the metamorphic overprint of later orogenesis has resulted in a cryptic metamorphic record for the formation of this dome-and-keel province.A clinopyroxene-bearing migmatite from the core of the Ba??o dome has peak P-T conditions of 5-7 kbar and 700-750 ℃ and a published age of ca.2730 Ma based on U-Pb ages of zircon from leucosomes,suggesting that this age represents the migmatisation event.A fine-grained epidote-albite-titanite assemblage overprints the coarse-grained clinopyroxene and amphibole,giving P-7 conditions of 8-9 kbar and 550 ℃ with an associated titanite age of ca.2050 Ma.A garnet-bearing amphibolite sample also from the core of the dome has peak P-T conditions of 7-8 kbar and 650-700 ℃,and texturally late titanite from this sample produces an age of ca.2060 Ma.Three additional samples were collected from the edges of the dome.A garnet-gedrite bearing felsic schist produces peak P-T conditions of 8-9 kbar and 650-700℃ on a clockwise P-T evolution.This sample has a U-Pb zircon age of ca.2775 Ma,which could date metamorphism or be the age of its volcaniclastic protolith.Texturally unconstrained titanite from the sample gives an age of ca.2040 Ma.A garnet-bearing amphibolite that occurs as a boudin within the felsic schist gives both zircon and titanite ages of ca.2050 Ma and has peak P-T conditions of 5-6 kbar and 650-700 ℃ on a near isobaric P-T path.An amphibolite dike,observed to cross-cut the felsic schist produces a zircon U-Pb age of ca.2760 Ma.Altogether this data suggests that the samples were metamorphosed in the Archean(ca.2775-2730 Ma)and again during the Transamazonian event.The most plausible explanation for this data is that dome-and-keel formation occurred in the Archean with migmatisation and high-temperature metamorphism occurring at this time.The Paleoproterozoic event is interpreted as a reactivation of the dome-and-keel formation structures,with Paleoproterozoic keels crosscutting Archean keels and producing metamorphic aureoles.The high radiogenic heat production and the presence of dense sedimentary successions in Archean terranes make dome-and-keel provinces a uniquely Archean feature,but they are susceptible to reworking,resulting in an enigmatic record of formation.     

Provenance and tectonic setting transition as recorded in the Neoproterozoic strata,western Jiangnan Orogen:Implications for South China within Rodinia

The Neoproterozoic Tonian strata(ca.870-725 Ma)in the western Jiangnan Orogen archive the records of sedimentary provenance and tectonic setting which can be used to understand the geological evolution of the South China Continent.These strata are separated into the basement and cover sequences by a regional angular unconformity.The basement sequence can be subdivided into the lower and the upper parts by the widespread interbedded ca.840 Ma basalt with pillow structure.In the present work,234 concordant detrital zircon analyses are obtained from three Tonian sandstone samples in the Fanjingshan district,Guizhou Province.Combined with previous results,a total of 1736 analyses of detrital zircon U-Pb ages derived from 12 formations of Tonian strata in the western Jiangnan Orogen are used to decipher the integrated sedimentary and tectonic histories.The zircons from the lowermost part of the basement sequence(the Yujiagou Formation)show oval morphology and display two Paleoproterozoic age peaks at 2325 Ma and 1845 Ma which are similar with the detrital zircon age peaks from the Late Paleoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic Dongchuan/Dahongshan/Hekou groups,suggesting a passive margin basin in which the sediments were mainly sourced from the southwestern Yangtze Block.However,the zircon age population of the lower part of the basement sequence(the Xiaojiahe,Huixiangping formations and their equivalents)indicates the sedimentary derivation from bidirectional sources(the ca.870 Ma arc materials in the south and the old detritus from the southwestern Yangtze Block)which is consistent with a back arc setting for the deposition of the sediments.Zircons from the upper part of the basement sequence(the Duyantang Formation and its equivalent)show euhedral and subangular morphology and display a unimodal age peak at ca.835 Ma.This sequence was possibly deposited in a convergent setting and the detritus were came from the locally distributed syn-collisional igneous rocks.The lower part of the cover sequence(the Xinzhai and Wuye formations and their equivalents)shows a distinct zircon age peak at 815—809 Ma and two subordinate peaks at 2485 Ma and 2018 Ma,suggesting that the basin had gradually transformed into a continental rift basin and received the detritus from the ca.815 Ma post-collisional magmatic rocks as well as from different Paleoproterozoic source rocks in the northern Yangtze Block.We propose a tectonic evolution model that envisages eruption of ca.840 Ma basalt in a back arc basin that existed during ca.870-835 Ma,an angular unconformity was formed during amalgamation of the Yangtze Block and the Cathaysia Block at ca.835-820 Ma and the rifting of the South China Continent was initiated at ca.800 Ma.Our study concludes that the South China Continent was formed on the periphery of the Rodinia supercontinent.