Thermochronology of the Angara–Vitim Granitoid Batholith,Transbaikalia, Russia

Doklady Earth Sciences - We reconstructed the history of the Angara–Vitim batholith (AVB), characterized by the formation of huge volumes of granitic magma using thermochronological analysis...     

The Early Paleozoic Active Margin of the Khangai Segment of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean

Within the northern fringe of the western (Khangai) flank of the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt, magmatic complexes of intermediate to moderately acidic rocks occur. They comprise widely distributed gabbro–diorites, diorites, tonalites, and granodiorites. Geochronological studies have demonstrated that these rocks were formed in the time span of 437 to 375 Ma. The geochemical affinities of the rocks suggest their formation in subduction tectonic settings; hence, their paleotectonic position corresponds to the continental margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk paleoocean. It has been concluded that this Middle Paleozoic igneous activity occurred in the active continental margin settings, formed by subduction of the paleooceanic plate under the Siberian continent.     

Proterozoic Granitoid Magmatism at the Southwestern Margin of the Siberian Platform in the Tectonic History of the Angara–Kan Block

Doklady Earth Sciences - The large massifs of ancient granitoids of the South Yenisei Ridge are divided into three complexes that differ in the geological, geochemical, and geochronological...     

Geochemical Features and Sources of Metasedimentary Rocks of the Western Part of the Tukuringra Terrane of the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt

This work presents the results of geological, geochemical, Sm–Nd isotope-geochemical studies of metasedimentary rocks of the Teploklyuchevskaya, Garmakan, and Algaja formations of the Tukuringra Terrane of the eastern part of the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt, as well as U–Th–Pb geochronological (LA-ICP-MS) studies of detrital zircons from these rocks. It is established that the lower age boundary of formation of the protolith of metasedimentary rocks of the Teploklyuchevskaya Formation is about 243 Ma (Middle Triassic); those of the Garmakan and Algaja formations are ~175 Ma (Lower–Middle Jurassic boundary) and ~192 Ma (Lower Jurassic), respectively. This makes it possible to correlate the Teploklyuchevskaya, Garmakan, and Algaja formations with the youngest sedimentary complexes of the eastern part of the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt. In terms of geochemistry, the protoliths of metasedimentary rocks of the above-mentioned formations are the most similar to sedimentary rocks of island arcs and active continental margins. The source terrigenous material was transported from the southern frame of the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt. It is not improbable that Lower Mesozoic deposits of the western part of the Tukuringra Terrane, in particular, and the eastern part of the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt, as a whole, are relics of residual basins, preserved in “gaps” in the collision zone between the southern margin of plates of the North Asian Craton and the Amur Superterrane.     

Geochemical and Sr–Nd isotope evidences of the suprasubduction nature of mesozoic magmatism in the Mongol–Okhotsk Sector of the Pacific Fold Belt

In this article we present geochemical and isotope characteristics of rocks of the Unerikan, Selitkan and Aezop–Yamalin volcano–plutonic zones of the eastern termination of the Mongol–Okhotsk Orogenic Belt. The obtained data demonstrate that the Mesozoic igneous rocks of the Mongol–Okhotsk sector of the Pacific Folded Belt were formed due to the melting of the continental crust in a tectonic setting corresponding to a suprasubduction one.     

Early Mesozoic Alkaline Magmatism in the Western Framing of the Mongol–Okhotsk Belt: Age and Structural Position

Doklady Earth Sciences - A zonal igneous areal appeared at the western end of the Mongol–Okhotsk Belt in the Early Mesozoic. Its central part is comprised of the Khentei–Daurian giant...     

Geochemical Types of Granitoids of the Mongol—Okhotsk Belt and Their Geodynamic Settings

The following geochemical types of granitoids have been investigated in the Mongol-Okhotsk belt:tholetitic,palingenic calc-alkaline,latitic,plumasitic and arpaitic rare-metal granites.Plagiogranites of the tholeiitic series occur within the Mongol-Okhotsk suture,indicating a subduction environment.The calc-alkaline granitoids responsible for the batholith-like intrusions and their formation are related to collision environments.The latest granitoids of the latite series and rare-metal granites came into existence after the collision of continental masses,providing evidence of intraplate magmatism.     

Age and Sources of Metasedimentary Rocks of the Tokur Terrane of the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt: Results of U–Pb and Lu–Hf Isotope Studies

Doklady Earth Sciences - This paper presents the results of U–Pb (LA-ICP-MS) and Lu–Hf isotope studies of detrital zircons from the presumably Permian meta sedimentary rocks of the...     

Triassic volcanism along the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif,NE China: Constraints on the spatial–temporal extent of the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime

We present new zircon U–Pb–Hf and whole-rock geochemical data for volcanic rocks along the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif of NE China in order to further our understanding of the history of subduction towards the SE and the spatial extent of the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the Triassic volcanism in the Xing'an Massif occurred in two stages during the Middle (ca. 242 Ma) and Late (ca. 223–228 Ma) Triassic. Middle Triassic basaltic andesites in the Heihe area have an affinity to arc-type volcanic rocks. The zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 8.5 to + 12.7) suggest that the primary magma was generated by the partial melting of a relatively depleted mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. The Late Triassic andesites in the Handaqi area exhibit geochemical affinities to high-Mg adakitic andesites. Their zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 11.5 to + 14.5) and T_DM2 ages (313–484 Ma) indicate that their primary magma was derived from the partial melting of a young subducted oceanic crust, followed by interaction with melts derived from mantle peridotite. The Late Triassic basaltic andesites, andesites, and dacites in the Zhalantun–Moguqi area have features similar to those of igneous rocks formed in subduction zones. Their zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+ 8.4 to + 15.4) and T_DM1 ages (260–542 Ma) indicate that their primary magma was derived from the partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. These data suggest that the Triassic volcanic rocks of the Xing'an Massif formed in an active continental margin setting associated with the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate towards the SE. We conclude that the Mongol–Okhotsk tectonic regime extended at least as far as the eastern margin of the Xing'an Massif, and that the tectonism spanned the period from the late Permian to early Early-Cretaceous.     

Genesis of the Late Mesozoic Great Xing’an Range Large Igneous Province in eastern central Asia: A Mongol–Okhotsk slab window model

The late Mesozoic Great Xing’an Range Large Igneous Province (XRLIP), with an area of >3 × 10⁵ km², is a prominent, enigmatic feature in eastern central Asia. The province is characterized by extensive within-plate magmatism, including a >4 km-thick sequence of volcanic rocks and voluminous plutons emplaced during an interval of ~40 million years from Late Jurassic through Early Cretaceous times (~150–110 Ma). The igneous activities are characterized by widespread adakitic rocks, alkalic basalts, and A-type granitoids with largely intraplate geochemical signatures, emplaced in a normal continental crustal setting. A Mongol–Okhotsk ridge subduction model is proposed for petrogenesis of the igneous rocks. Partial melting of young, hot, subducting oceanic slabs close to the ridge formed the adakitic rocks. A slab window that opened during ridge subduction triggered alkalic basaltic to A-type granitic and minor calc-alkaline magmas, as well as large-scale, metallogenic mineralization and subsequent basin formation.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the Erguna massif basement,NE China – subduction history of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust

We present new geochronological and geochemical data for granites and volcanic rocks of the Erguna massif, NE China. These data are integrated with previous findings to better constrain the nature of the massif basement and to provide new insights into the subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust and its closure. U–Pb dating of zircons from 12 granites previously mapped as Palaeoproterozoic and from three granites reported as Neoproterozoic yield exclusively Phanerozoic ages. These new ages, together with recently reported isotopic dates for the metamorphic and igneous basement rocks, as well as Nd–Hf crustal-residence ages, suggest that it is unlikely that pre-Mesoproterozoic basement exists in the Erguna massif. The geochronological and geochemical results are consistent with a three-stage subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust beneath the Erguna massif, as follows. (1) The Erguna massif records a transition from Late Devonian A-type magmatism to Carboniferous adakitic magmatism. This indicates that southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust along the northern margin of the Erguna massif began in the Carboniferous. (2) Late Permian–Middle Triassic granitoids in the Erguna massif are distributed along the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone and coeval magmatic rocks in the Xing’an terrane are scarce, suggesting that they are unlikely to have formed in association with the collision between the North China Craton and the Jiamusi–Mongolia block along the Solonker–Xra Moron–Changchun–Yanji suture zone. Instead, the apparent subduction-related signature of the granites and their proximity to the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone suggest that they are related to southward subduction of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust. (3) A conspicuous lack of magmatic activity during the Middle Jurassic marks an abrupt shift in magmatic style from Late Triassic–Early Jurassic normal and adakite-like calc-alkaline magmatism (pre-quiescent episode) to Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous A-type felsic magmatism (post-quiescent episode). Evidently a significant change in geodynamic processes took place during the Middle Jurassic. Late Triassic–Early Jurassic subduction-related signatures and adakitic affinities confirm the existence of subduction during this time. Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous post-collision magmatism constrains the timing of the final closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean involving collision between the Jiamusi–Mongolia block and the Siberian Craton to the Middle Jurassic.     

Mesozoic–Cenozoic Tectonic Evolution and Uplift in Pamir: Application of Fission Track Thermochronology

The Pamir Plateau can be divided into three secondary tectonic units from north to south: the North, the Middle and the South Pamir Blocks. The North Pamir Block belonged to the southern margin of Tarim-Karakum, thermochronological study of the Pamir structural intersection indicates that accretion of the Middle Pamir Block to the Eurasian Continental Margin and its subduction and collision with the North Pamir Block occurred in the Middle–Late Jurassic. Due to the Neo-Tethys closure in the Early Cretaceous, the South Pamir Block began to collide with the accretion(the Middle Pamir Block) of the Eurasian Continental Margin. Affected by the collision and continuous convergence between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate since the Cenozoic, Pamir is in a multi-stage differential uplift process. During 56.1–48.5 Ma, North Pamir took the lead in uplifting, that is, the first rapid uplift in the Pamir region began there. The continuous compression and contraction of the Indian and Eurasian plates during 22.0–15.1 Ma forced the Pamir tectonic syntaxis to begin its overall uplift, i.e. Pamir began to enter the second rapid uplift stage in the Early Oligocene, which lasted until the Middle Miocene. During 14.6–8.5 Ma, South Pamir was in a rapid uplift stage, while North Pamir was in a relatively stable state, showing asymmetry of tectonic deformation in the Pamir region in space. Since 6.5 Ma, Pamir began to rapidly uplift again.     

Timing of closure of the eastern Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean: Constraints from U–Pb and Hf isotopic data of detrital zircons from metasediments along the Dzhagdy Transect

The Mongol–Okhotsk Belt, a major structural element of East Asia, is probably the youngest orogenic segment within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. However, the timing of final closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean remains unresolved. Here, we present detrital zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic data and whole-rock geochemical data (major and trace elements and Sm-Nd isotopes) for the metasedimentary rocks from the Un'ya–Bom Terrane, Dzhagdy Terrane, and the eastern part of the Tukuringra Terrane. Our new zircon U-Pb ages suggest that all sedimentary formations along the Dzhagdy Transect are early Mesozoic in age, rather than Paleozoic as previously thought. The detrital zircons from the metasedimentary rocks in the Un'ya–Bom Terrane, the Dzhagdy Terrane, and the eastern part of the Tukuringra Terrane yielded the youngest concordant ages of 194 ± 4, 193 ± 2, and 171 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Moreover, we note that the so-called sedimentary formations of these terranes are not single sedimentary sequences as previously suggested, but a set of an olistostrome or tectonic mélanges composed of rocks of different ages and origins. These sedimentary formations are probably relics of the Mongol–Okhotsk remnant basin that formed in the “gaps” between the southern margin of the North Asian Craton and the Amur Block during their collision. The absence of detrital zircons younger than 171 Ma in the sedimentary rocks of the Mongol–Okhotsk basin implies that the final closure of this basin could have taken place at the boundary of the Early and Middle Jurassic as a result of the collision or the development of the Mongol–Okhotsk orogenic belt in this region. After that, the Mongol–Okhotsk Belt underwent intense deformation related to within-plate strike-slip faulting, which could be attributed to the late Mesozoic rotation of the North Asian Craton relative to the continental massifs of East Asia.     

Comparative Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of Large Polyphase Plutons in the Cores and on the Periphery of the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt Magmatic Areas of Different Ages

Doklady Earth Sciences - The early Mesozoic Baga-Khentei pluton is a part of the Daurian–Khentei batholite that was formed under the impact of the Mongolian plume on the lower horizons of the...     

Restoring the Silurian to Carboniferous northern active continental margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean in Mongolia: Hangay–Hentey accretionary wedge and seamount collision

Trapped between the Siberian Craton to the north, and the Tarim and North China blocks to the south, the Mongol–Okhotsk Belt represents a young portion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Andean-type orogeny was caused by the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, whose timing and mode of geodynamic evolution still needs to be clarified in more detail. This paper investigates the lithostratigraphic units of the Gorkhi Formation, which are comprised in the Hangay–Hentey terrane representing the accretionary prism of the northern continental margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. In the tectonically disrupted slices of the Gorkhi Formation we identify a typical ocean plate stratigraphy with pelagic to hemipelagic and turbiditic sequences. Locally, shallow marine limestones are found associated with mafic volcanic rocks. XRF and LA–ICPMS measurements of these volcanic rocks clearly indicate an OIB signature. The geochemistry together with lithostratigraphic observations permit us to reconstruct the evolution of a seamount, ranging from its growth in shallow water depths and drowning due to subduction-related subsidence linked with subsequent radiolarian chert, hemipelagic shale and turbiditic sandstone cover sedimentation. Calc-alkaline felsic dikes later intruded the accreted silt and sandstone deposits. Standard sandstone provenance analysis, detrital zircon U–Pb laser ablation ICP-MS dating and Hf isotope ratios in the sandstones document a prevailing continental volcanic arc sourcing during Carboniferous from the northern margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean.     

Tectonic Nature of the Ul’ban Terrane (Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt): Results of U–Pb and Lu–Hf Isotope Studies of Detrital Zircons

Doklady Earth Sciences - The U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope studies of detrital zircons from Mesozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Sorukan and Naldinda formations of the Ul’ban terrane...     

Age and Sources of Metasedimentary Rocks of the Galam Terrane in the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt: Results of U–Pb Age and Lu–Hf Isotope Data from Detrital Zircons

Geotectonics - The Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt is one of the major structural elements of East Asia. In this article, we present U–Pb age and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons from...     

Petrophysical features of the tectonic structures of the Okhotsk continent–ocean transition zone

Petrophysical characteristics are determined for the rock complexes of the Okhotsk margin within the continent–ocean transition zone. Petrophysical maps showing the major inhomogeneities of the main tectonic elements of the studied area are constructed. Petrophysical inhomogeneities and the corresponding geophysical field anomalies are compared. A relationship between the magnetic field anomalies and subsurface rock complexes is revealed. The gravity field anomalies are related to deep inhomogeneities and are almost independent of the subsurface rock complexes of relatively low thickness.