Petrogenesis of the Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the Tongling area,Anhui Province,China and their constraint on geodynamic process

TheTonglingarea,whichiscalledtheChineseCopperCapital,isoneofthemostimportantnon-ferrousmetalproducersinChina(e.g.Cu,AuandAg,especiallyCu).ManyresearchershavenotedthatthemetaldepositsarecloselyrelatedtotheMesozoicintrusiverocksinthisarea.Therefore,theTongl…     

Petrogensis and tectonic setting of the Yemaquan granite from the iron‐polymetallic ore area of Qimantag,Eastern Kunlun Mountains,Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Being a part of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean, closing of the Buqingshan‐Anyemaqen oceanic basin left a rich geologic record in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt. The genesis and tectonic setting of the granites including quartz monzodiorite, granodiorite and mozogranite is discussed in light of the geochemical and U–Pb chronological data obtained. U–Pb dating studies on zircon from the quartz monzodiorite and monzogranite of the research area yielded ages of 220.11 ± 0.49 Ma ((Mean Square Weighted Deviates) MSWD = 0.046) and 223.33 ± 0.54 Ma (MSWD = 0.14), respectively, by Laser Ablation Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA–MC–ICP–MS) method. According to sedimentological and structural investigations, the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean in the Qimantag region began to close at about 235 Ma, and completely disapperared at about 220 Ma. The three types of granites in this study are considered to intrude the syn‐ to post‐collisional stages. The quartz monzodiorite and granodiorite belong to the I‐type granite whereas the monzogranite is of the S‐type granite. These two types of granites were formed by different ways of partial melting: first, partial melting of the lower crust took place as a result of asthenosphere upwelling triggered by break‐up of the leading edge or tearing of the descending oceanic slab. Subsequently partial melting of the middle–lower crust was caused by the underplating of basaltic magma formed by partial melting of the mantle wedge fluxed by fluids liberated by the oceanic slab dehydration. The magma responsible for the formation of S‐type granites appears to have originated from partial melting of the upper crustal material at a shallower level with a clear signature of continental crust.     

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and phenocryst EPMA of dikes,Guocheng, Jiaodong Peninsula: Implications for North China Craton lithosphere evolution

Widespread dike swarm, including diorite-, monzonite-porphyry and lamprophyre, intruded in the al- tered breccia gold deposits along basin marginal faults, Guocheng, Jiaodong Peninsula. Petrography exhibits biotite enclaves in amphibole phenocrysts and the presence of acicular apatites in these dikes. Electron probe microanalyses (EPMA) show that the amphibole and clinopyroxene phenocryst’s mantle in diorite porphyry and lamprophyre respectively has sharply higher MgO (Mg#) and Cr2O3 contents in contrast to their cores. The plagioclase phenocryst in monzonite porphyry has reverse zoning. These results indicate that the magma mixing between mantle-derived mafic and crust-derived felsic magmas occurred in the original process of the dikes. Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images show well-developed magmatic oscillatory zones and the acquired LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages are 114±2 Ma (MSDW=1.5) for monzonite porphyry (GS1) and 116±1 Ma (MSDW=0.8) for diorite porphyry (GS2), respectively. Earlier magmatic events in the northwest Jiaodong Peninsula represented by some inherited or captured zircons also occur in these dikes. Magmatic zircons from GS1 and GS2 display consistent chondrite-normalized REE patterns and Nb/Ta values, implying that they may share a similar or same source. HREE enrichment and obvious negative Eu anomalies of these zircons preclude garnet presented in their source. Our results, combined with preciously pub- lished data, indicate that dike intrusion and gold mineralization among quartz vein, altered tectonite and altered breccia gold deposits are broadly contemporaneous throughout the Jiaodong Peninsula. These also imply that the intensive crust-mantle interaction and asthenospheric underplating had oc- curred in the Early Cretaceous in the Peninsula, together with foundering of lower crust in the early Mesozoic, representing the different stages of lithosphere thinning in the North China Craton (NNC).     

The Early Jurassic magmatism in northern Guangdong Province,southeastern China: Constraints from SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of Xialan complex

This paper reports SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages of 196±2 Ma for granite, and 195±1 Ma for gabbro from the Xialan complex in the Meizhou area, northern Guangdong Province. These results shed new light on the calm stage of magmatic activity in southeastern China during 200-180 Ma, and revealed that the back-arc extension induced by the subduction of the western Pacific plate may have begun at 195 Ma at least. Field observation on the fresh outcrops allows us to recognize some features formed by magma mixing. A par...     

Geochemistry and zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of granitoids from the west segment of the North Qaidam

Granitoid intrusives such as Saishitenshan, Tuanyushan, Aolaohe and Sanchagou occur widely in the western segment of North Qaidam. All these bodies trend NW, roughly parallel to the regional structure. Zircon SHRIMP dating for these granites show that they range in age from Ordovician to Permian; 465.4±3.5 Ma for Saishitenshan, 469.7±4.6 Ma and 443.5±3.6 Ma for Tuanyushan, 372.1±2.6 Ma for Aolaohe, and 271.2±1.5 Ma and 259.9±1.2 Ma for Sanchagou. Both the Tuanyshan and Aolaohe plutons record two distinct intrusive events. Geochemically, the early Paleozoic granites have an island arc or active continental margin affinity, and their protolith may have been Mesoproterozoic oceanic crust derived from depleted mantle. The protolith of the late Paleozoic granites may have been Mesoproterozoic lower crust from the root of an island arc with the magmas reflecting a mixture of mantle and crustal material.     

U-Pb isotopic geochemistry of the post-collisional mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Dabie Mountains——Crust-mantle interaction and LOMU component

Geochronological studies of mafic-ultramafic intrusions occurrence in the northern Dabie zone (NDZ) suggest that these pyroxenite-gabbro intrusions formed 120—130 Ma ago should be post-collisional magmatic rocks[1—4]. These mafic-ultramafic rocks provid…     

Chronological and geochemical studies of granite and enclave in Baimashan pluton,Hunan, South China

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating reveals that the Baimashan Pluton is composed mainly of late Indosinian (204.5±2.8 Ma-209.2±3.8 Ma) biotite granodiorites/monzonitic granites (LIGs) and early Yanshanian (176.7±1.7 Ma) two-micas monzonitic granites (EYGs), and the coeval (203.2±4.5 Ma-205.1±3.9 Ma) mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) are generally found in the former. In addition, the ages of cores within zircons from LIGs and MMEs ranging from 221.4±4.0 Ma to 226.5±4.1Ma provide evidence of multistage magma intrusion during Indosinian in the study area. Measured 3010±20.6 Ma of inherited zircon age suggests that there may be recycling Archaean curstal material in existence in this area. LIGs and EYGs share some similar geochemical features: subalkaline and peraluminous granites, enrichment of Th, U, K, Ta, Zr, Hf and LREE but depletion of Ba, Nb, P, Ti and Eu, low εNd(t) values but high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios, and old T2DM (ca. 1.9-2.0 Ga). The behaviors of incompatible elements and REE are mainly dominated by fractional crystallization of plagioclase, K-feldspar, ilmenite and apatite, but that of Sr isotope mainly controlled by EC-AFC. They are crust-sourced and derived from partial melting of paleo-Proterozoic metagreywackes and related to biotite dehydration melting. LIGs are formed in post-collisional tectonic setting as crustal local extension and thinning during late Indosinian. But EYGs may be evolved products of congeneric granitic magma with LIGs formed in late Indoinian, which were emplaced again when crust underwent extensive thinning and extension in post-orogenic tectonic setting during Yanshanian in SC after undergoing EC-AFC. MMEs should be cognate enclaves and derived from liquid immiscibility of host magma.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩热演化史与隆升过程分析

运用LA-ICP MS锆石U-Pb定年、角闪石和黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar定年、锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹(FT)分析等构造热年代学研究方法,探讨分析了鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩的热演化历史及其抬升冷却过程.紫金山侵入岩主要由次透辉二长岩和正长岩组成,锆石U-Pb测年给出的岩浆侵位-结晶年龄为136.7 Ma,角闪石和黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar测年获得的岩浆结晶-固结年龄集中在133.1~130.4 Ma,表明紫金山侵入岩主要形成于早白垩世的136.7~130.4 Ma.侵入岩T-t轨迹与磷灰石FT模拟热史路径综合揭示了鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩抬升冷却的三个构造热演化阶段:1) 136~120 Ma侵位岩浆结晶-固结阶段,岩体平均冷却速率高达52 ℃/Ma;2) 120~30 Ma岩体相对缓慢抬升冷却阶段,平均抬升冷却速率为2.5 ℃/Ma;3) 30 Ma以来岩体快速抬升冷却阶段,平均抬升冷却速率3.6 ℃/Ma,尤以近10 Ma以来的快速抬升冷却最为显著,抬升冷却速率接近7 ℃/Ma.结合区域构造动力学环境分析认为,鄂尔多斯盆地东缘的紫金山岩浆活动与华北克拉通早白垩世构造体制转换过程的大规模岩浆活动属于相同时期、统一构造作用的产物,早白垩世末期以来由慢到快的差异抬升过程主要受控于华北克拉通东部(古)太平洋体系与其西南部特提斯体系之间相互联合、彼此消长的构造作用.     

Role of mantle-derived magma in genesis of early Yanshanian granites in the Nanling Range,South China: <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> zircon Hf-O isotopic constraints

Although a number of petrographic observations and isotopic data suggest that magma mixing is common in genesis of many granite plutons, it is still controversial whether the mantle-derived magmas were involved in granites. We carried out in this study a systematic analysis of in situ zircon Hf-O isotopes for three early Yanshanian intrusions dated at ca. 160 Ma from the Nanling Range of Southeast China. The Qinghu monzonite has very homogeneous zircon Hf-O isotopic compositions, εHf(t) =11.6±0.3 and δ18O=5...     

新疆库鲁克塔格新元古代花岗岩年龄和地球化学

本文报道了新疆塔里木北缘库鲁克塔格地区新元古代孤山岩体（或太阳岛岩体）的岩石学、锆石U-Pb年龄及地球化学组成。研究表明：该岩体主要由英云闪长岩、奥长花岗岩及正长花岗岩组成，结晶的时间为795 Ma。其地球化学特征表现为富Na、LREE、LILE及亏损HREE、HFSE，因此具有高的（La/Yb）N及Sr/Y比值，与现代的艾达克岩相似。然而该岩体具有低的Nd初始值及太古代的Nd模式年龄，因此推测其岩浆来自太古代基性下地壳的重熔。鉴于在库鲁克塔格地区发育有800 Ma左右的蛇绿岩，因此我们推测该岩体是碰撞造山引起的加厚的下地壳重熔的结果，代表了塔里木地块前寒武纪基底的最终形成。     

Neogene calc-alkaline extrusive and intrusive rocks of the karalar-yesiller area

The Karalar-Ye?iller area lies on the estern flank of the Kazda \(\bar g\) i massif in northwestern Anatolia (Asiatic Turkey), and includes about 600 square kilometers, of which approximately 80% is covered by rhyodacite-quartz latite extrusive rocks, and a comagmatic granodiorite-quartz monzonite batholith, and stocks, all of middle Miocene age. Extrusive rocks consist chiefly of rhyodacite lava flows of the Hallaçlar Formation and quartz latite-rhyodacite ash-flow tuff, lava, and mudflow deposits of the overlying Dede Tepe Formation. These volcanic rocks lie on a basement composed, in asceding stratigraphic order, of: 1) pre-Permian Kalabak sequence, 2) Upper Triassic Halilar Formation, 3) post-Upper Triassic Ba \(\bar g\) burun Formation, and 4) allochthons of middle Permian: and Upper Jurassic limestone. Intrusion of a granodiorite-quartz monzonite batholith during the middle Miocene was accompanied or shortly followed by extensive alteration and base metal mineralization of the Hallaçlar and older rocks. Intrusion of six rhyodacitequartz latite stocks followed the main phase of hydrothermal alteration. At least one of these stocks may have contributed material to the Dede Tepe Formation of middle Miocene age. Field relations, petrologic, and geochemical data as well as radiometric age dates suggest that the intrusive and extrusive rocks are comagmatic. Parent magma is probably derived from partial melting of subducted oceanic crust and accompanying oceanic sediments. Geologic relations locally indicate assimilation of sialic crust by the grandiorite-quartz monzonite batholith.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages for the Paleoproterozoic metamorphic-magmatic events in the southeast margin of the North China Craton

A garnet-pyroxene bearing amphibolite as a xenolith hosted by the Mesozoic igneous rocks from Xuzhou-Suzhou area was dated by zircon SHRIMP U-Pb method, which yields a metamorphic age of 1918 ± 56 Ma. In addition, the zircons from a garnet amphibolite as a lens interbedded with marble in the Archean metamorphic complex named Wuhe group in the Bengbu uplift give a metamorphic U-Pb age of 1857 ± 19 Ma, and the zircons from Shimenshan deformed granite in the eastern margin of the Bengbu uplift give a magma crystallization U-Pb age of 2054 ± 22 Ma. Both the Xuzhou-Suzhou area and Bengbu uplift are located in the southeastern margin of the North China Craton. Therefore, these ages indicate that there is a Paleoproterozoic tectonic zone in the southeastern margin of the North China Craton, and its metamorphic and magmatic ages are consistent with those of the other three Paleoproterozoic tectonic zones in the North China Craton. In view of the large scale sinistral strike-slip movement occurred at the Mesozoic along the Tan-Lu fault zone, the position of the eastern Shandong area, which is a south section of the Paleoproterozoic Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt, was correlated to Xuzhou-Suzhou-Bengbu area prior to movement of the Tan-Lu fault zone. This suggests that the Xuzhou-Suzhou-Bengbu Paleoproterozoic tectonic zone might be a southwest extension of the Paleoproterozoic Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40634023)     

The petrogenesis and implications of deformed late Caledonian–early Hercynian granites in the Wuyi area,South China

Precambrian basement rocks have been affected by Caledonian thermal metamorphism. Caledonian‐aged zircon grains from Precambrian basement rocks may have resulted from thermal metamorphism. However, Hercynian ages are rarely recorded. Zircon U–Pb Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) dating reveals that zircon ages from the Huyan, Lingdou, and Pengkou granitic plutons can be divided into two groups: one group with ages of 398.9 ±5.3 Ma, 399 ±5 Ma, and 410.2 ±5.4 Ma; and a second group with ages of 354 ±11 Ma, 364.6 ±6.7 Ma, and 368 ±14 Ma. The group of zircon U–Pb ages dated at 410–400 Ma represent Caledonian magmatism, whereas the 368–354 Ma ages represent the age of deformation, which produced gneissosity. The three plutons share geochemical characteristics with S‐type granites and belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline series of peraluminous rocks. They have (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.710 45–0.724 68 and εNd(t) values of ?7.33 to ?10.74, with two‐stage Nd model ages (T_DM2) ranging from 1.84 Ga to 2.10 Ga. Magmatic zircon εHf(t) values range from ?3.79 to ?8.44, and have T_DMC ages of 1.65–1.93 Ga. The data suggest that these granites formed by partial melting of Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic continental crust. A collision occurred between the Wuyi and Minyue microcontinents within the Cathaysia Block and formed S‐type granite in the southwest Fujian province. The ca 360 Ma zircon U–Pb ages can represent a newly recognized period of deformation which coincided with the formation of the unified Cathaysia Block.     

SR isotope geochemistry of voluminous rhyolite of the Tamagawa Welded Tuffs, related rocks and andesite of the young volcanics, in Hachimantai geothermal area, Northeast Japan

The volcanic rocks from the Hachimantai geothermal area, Northeast Japan, are divided into the following five groups: (1) rhyolite of the Tamagawa Welded Tuffs (about 500 km³, 2.0–1.4 Ma); (2) andesite related to the Tamagawa Welded Tuffs (about 10 km³, 1.5 Ma); (3) andesite of the Matsukawa Andesite (about 100 km³, 1.8-1.2 Ma); (4) dacite of the Kashinai Formation (about 100 km³, 1.1 Ma); and (5) andesite of the Young Volcanics (about 300 km³, younger than 1 Ma). ratios of less-altered samples of the five groups range from 0.7038 to 0.7046. There is no significant difference in ratios among the five groups in spite of differences in age and chemical composition. Therefore, fusion of or contamination by old acidic crust can be ruled out for the genesis of the voluminous acidic magma which produced the rhyolite of the Tamagawa Welded Tuffs and the dacite of the Kashinai Formation.The low ratios and the chemistry suggest two possibilities for the genesis of the acidic rocks. One is a low degree of partial melting of the basic crust, which has a low ratio, under high temperature. Another is a high degree of fractional crystallization from basic magma derived from the mantle.     

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

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

Sr–Nd isotopes and geochemistry of the infrastructural rocks in the Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes, Eastern Desert, Egypt: Evidence for involvement of pre-Neoproterozoic crust in the growth of Arabian–Nubian Shield

Abstract Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes are large swells in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, comprising two major tectono‐stratigraphic units or tiers. The lower (infrastructure) unit is composed of variably cataclased gneissose granites and high‐grade gneisses and schists. It is structurally overlain by Pan–African ophiolitic mélange nappes (the higher unit). The two units are separated by a low‐angle sole thrust, along which mylonites are developed. Major and trace element data indicate formation of the gneissose granites in both volcanic arc and within‐plate settings. Nevertheless, all analyzed gneissose granites and other infrastructural rocks, exhibit low initial ratios (Sr_i) (<0.7027), positive ε_Nd(t) (+4.9 to +10.3) and Neoproterozoic Nd model age (T_DM) (592–831 Ma for the gneissose granite samples). Although these values are compatible with other parts of the Arabian– Nubian Shield considered to be juvenile, the ε_Nd(t) values and several incompatible element ratios of the gneissose granites are too low to be derived from a mantle source without contribution from an older continental crust. Our geological, Sr–Nd isotopic and chemical data combined with the published zircon ages indicate the existence of a pre‐Neoproterozoic continent in the Eastern Desert that started to break up at ca 800 Ma. Rifting and subsequent events caused the formation of oceanic crust and emplacement within‐plate alkali basalts in the hinterland domains of the old continent. The emplacement of basaltic magma might have triggered melting of lower crust in the old continent and resulted in emplacement of the within‐plate granite masses between 700 Ma and 626 Ma. The granite masses and other rocks in the old continent have been subjected to deformation during the over‐thrusting of Pan–African nappes, probably because of the oblique convergence between East and West Gondwanaland. Rb–Sr isotopes of the gneissose granites in both Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes defines an isochron age of 619 ± 25 Ma with Sr_i of 0.7009 ± 0.0017 and mean squares of weighted deviates = 2.0. We interpret this age as the date of thrusting of the Pan–African nappes in the Eastern Desert. Continued oblique convergence between East and West Gondwanaland could have resulted in the formation northwest–southeast‐trending Meatiq and Hafafit anticlinoriums.     

Isotope geochronology of Dapingzhang spilite-keratophyre formation in Yunnan Province and its geological significance

On the basis of the geological field investigations and isotope geochronological studies the Sm-Nd isochron age (513 Ma±40 Ma), Rb-Sr isochron age (511 Ma±8 Ma) and K-Ar age (312-317 Ma) of the Dapingzhang spilite-keratophyre formation in Yunnan Province are presented. From these geochronological data it is evidenced that this suite of volcanic rocks was formed in the Cambrian and the parent magma was derived from a depleted mantle, which was influenced by crustal contamination and/or seawater hydrothermal alteration. During the Late Carboniferous the volcanic rocks experienced relatively strong geological reworking. This study provides geochronological evidence for the occurrence of Cambrian volcanic rocks in the Sanjiang (three-river) area.     

Intrusion of ultramafic magmatic bodies into the continental crust: Numerical simulation

Intrusions of ultramafic bodies into the lower density continental crust are documented for a large variety of tectonic settings spanning continental shields, rift systems, collision orogens and magmatic arcs. The intriguing point is that these intrusive bodies have a density higher by 300-500 kg m⁻³ than host rocks. Resolving this paradox requires an understanding of the emplacement mechanism. We have employed finite differences and marker-in-cell techniques to carry out a 2D modeling study of intrusion of partly crystallized ultramafic magma from sublithospheric depth to the crust through a pre-existing magmatic channel. By systematically varying the model parameters we document variations in intrusion dynamics and geometry that range from funnel- and finger-shaped bodies (pipes, dikes) to deep seated balloon-shaped intrusions and flattened shallow magmatic sills. Emplacement of ultramafic bodies in the crust lasts from a few kyr to several hundreds kyr depending mainly on the viscosity of the intruding, partly crystallized magma. The positive buoyancy of the sublithospheric magma compared to the overriding, colder mantle lithosphere drives intrusion while the crustal rheology controls the final location and the shape of the ultramafic body. Relatively cold elasto-plastic crust (T_Moho = 400 °C) promotes a strong upward propagation of magma due to the significant decrease of plastic strength of the crust with decreasing confining pressure. Emplacement in this case is controlled by crustal faulting and subsequent block displacements. Warmer crust (T_Moho = 600 °C) triggers lateral spreading of magma above the Moho, with emplacement being accommodated by coeval viscous deformation of the lower crust and fault tectonics in the upper crust. Strong effects of magma emplacement on surface topography are also documented. Emplacement of high-density, ultramafic magma into low-density rocks is a stable mechanism for a wide range of model parameters that match geological settings in which partially molten mafic-ultramafic rocks are generated below the lithosphere. We expect this process to be particularly active beneath subduction-related magmatic arcs where huge volumes of partially molten rocks produced from hydrous cold plume activity accumulate below the overriding lithosphere.     

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

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

Newly discovered Late Cretaceous adakites in South Fujian Province: Implications for the late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of Southeast China

The Yongchun pluton is a Late Cretaceous adakitic intrusion in South Fujian Province, Southeast China, with associated metal mineralization. An understanding of the Yongchun pluton is helpful in tectono‐magmatic evolutionary processes, and is important in explaining the origin of related porphyry‐type deposits. Zircons from three samples of the pluton were analyzed by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS), yielding U–Pb ages of 99.50 ±0.87 Ma, 97.74 ±0.59 Ma, and 99.65 ±0.92 Ma. These ages are similar to those of the Sifang, Luoboling, and Sukeng plutons, all of which are related to Cu–Pb–Zn–Mo mineralization within the study area. The Yongchun pluton comprises high‐potassium, calc‐alkaline, metaluminous rocks, with average A/CNK values of 0.91, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.705 51 to 0.706 83, εNd(t) values of ?4.63 to ?5.90, and two‐stage Nd model (T_2DM) ages of 1.49–1.39 Ga, indicating the magmas were generated by partial melting of Mesoproterozoic continental crust mixed with mantle‐derived magmas. The pluton has geochemical characteristics typical of adakites, such as a high Sr content (average 553 ppm), and low Y (average 15.2 ppm) and Yb (average 1.61 ppm) contents, indicating that the parental magma was formed under high‐pressure conditions. The magmatism was associated with thickening of the lower crust during a change in subduction angle and convergence rate of the paleo‐Pacific Plate at 100 Ma. The compression was limited to South Fujian Province.