Age,origin, and tectonic implications of Palaeozoic rapakivi granites in the North Qaidam orogen,Northwest China

Palaeozoic rapakivi granites occur in the western segment of the China Central Orogenic System. Exhibiting typical rapakivi texture, these granites contain magmatic microgranular enclaves of intermediate compositions. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages for the granites and enclaves are 433 ± 5 Ma and 433 ± 3 Ma, respectively. The rapakivi granites are magnesian to ferroan, calc-alkalic to alkalic, and are characterized by high FeO_t/(FeO_t + MgO) (0.74–0.91) and Ga/Al ratios, and SiO₂, Na₂O + K₂O and rare earth element (apart from Eu) contents, but low CaO, Ba, and Sr contents. These are typical A-type granite geochemical features. The granites and enclaves exhibit a uniform decrease in TiO₂, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, FeO, and MgO with increasing SiO₂, and both lithologies have similar trace element patterns. Whole-rock ?_Nd(t) values vary from??9.2 to??8.7 for the granites and from??9.0 to??8.4 for the enclaves, but zircon ?_Hf(t) values vary more widely from??5.8 to??0.2 and??4.6 to +5.1, respectively. Our data suggest that the granites and enclaves have crystallized from different magmas. The granites appear to have been derived from old continental crust, whereas the enclaves required a source having a juvenile component. The spherical shape and undeformed nature of the granites and their geochemical characteristics, coupled with the (ultra)-high pressure metamorphism and evolution of Palaeozoic granitoid magmatism in the North Qaidam orogen, indicate that the rapakivi granites were generated in a post-collisional setting. These rocks are therefore an example of Palaeozoic rapakivi granites emplaced in a post-collisional, extensional orogenic setting.     

Tectonics of the North Qilian orogen,NW China

The Qilian Orogen at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is a type suture zone that recorded a complete history from continental breakup to ocean basin evolution, and to the ultimate continental collision in the time period from the Neoproterozoic to the Paleozoic. The Qilian Ocean, often interpreted as representing the “Proto-Tethyan Ocean”, may actually be an eastern branch of the worldwide “Iapetus Ocean” between the two continents of Baltica and Laurentia, opened at ≥ 710 Ma as a consequence of breakup of supercontinent Rodinia.Initiation of the subduction in the Qilian Ocean probably occurred at ~ 520 Ma with the development of an Andean-type active continental margin represented by infant arc magmatism of ~ 517–490 Ma. In the beginning of Ordovician (~ 490 Ma), part of the active margin was split from the continental Alashan block and the Andean-type active margin had thus evolved to western Pacific-type trench–arc–back-arc system represented by the MORB-like crust (i.e., SSZ-type ophiolite belt) formed in a back-arc basin setting in the time period of ~ 490–445 Ma. During this time, the subducting oceanic lithosphere underwent LT-HP metamorphism along a cold geotherm of ~ 6–7 °C/km.The Qilian Ocean was closed at the end of the Ordovician (~ 445 Ma). Continental blocks started to collide and the northern edge of the Qilian–Qaidam block was underthrust/dragged beneath the Alashan block by the downgoing oceanic lithosphere to depths of ~ 100–200 km at about 435–420 Ma. Intensive orogenic activities occurred in the late Silurian and early Devonian in response to the exhumation of the subducted crustal materials.Briefly, the Qilian Orogen is conceptually a type example of the workings of plate tectonics from continental breakup to the development and evolution of an ocean basin, to the initiation of oceanic subduction and formation of arc and back-arc system, and to the final continental collision/subduction and exhumation.     

Petrogenesis of potassic alkaline volcanics associated with rapakivi granites in the Proterozoic rift of Beijing,China

Summay A suite of potassic alkaline volcanites is spatially and temporally associated with rapakivi granites which are related to Proterozoic (1.85 to 1.40 Ga) rifting in the Beijing area. The volcanites are spread along an EW-trending 150 km long sea basin rift and the rapakivi granites were emplaced along a major EW-fault in nn adjacent uplifted region. The alkaline magmatism is comparable to the middle Proterozoic anorogenic magmatism in North America and Fennoscandia and is related to incipient breakup of the craton they intrude. The volcanic rocks and the rapakivi granites show within plate affinities. They also have similar overall REE distribution patterns that are enriched in LREE. The rapakivi granites show larger negative Eu anomalies than the volcanites. The data suggest that the rapakivi granites were crystallised from a more evolved magma than the volcanic rocks.

---

Petrogenese von K-reichen, alkalischen Vulkaniten in Assoziation mit Rapakivi-Graniten im proterozoischen Peking-Rift, China

Zusammenfassung Eine Serie von K-reichen, alkalischen Vulkaniten ist räumlich und zeitlich mit Rapakivi-Graniten, die mit dem proterozoischen (1.85 bis 1.40 Mia) Rifting in der Peking Region im Zusammenhang stehen, assoziiert. Die Vulkanite treten entlang eines E-W-streichenden, 150 km langen Riftbeckens auf, die Rapakivi-Granite kommen entlang einer EW Hauptstörung in einer angrenzenden Hebungszone vor. Der Alkali-Magmatismus ist mit dem mittelproterozoischen, anorogenen Magmatismus in Nordamerika und Fennoskandien vergleichbar und mit einem beginnenden Aufbrechen des Kratons ver bunden. Sowohl die Vulkanite, wie auch die Rapakivi-Granite zeigen Intraplatten-Affinität. Sie zeigen generell ähnliche SEE Verteilungsmuster, die an LSEE angereichert sind. Die Rapakivi-Granite zeigen weiters eine stärkere, negative Eu-Anomalie als die Vulkanite. Diese Daten weisen darauf hin, daß die Rapakivi-Granite aus einem höher entwickelten Magma als die Vulkanite entstanden sind.

     

柴达木盆地北缘大柴旦地区古生代花岗岩锆石SHRIMP定年

大柴旦地区是柴北缘古生代超高压带的重要组成部分,与超高压岩石相伴的花岗岩十分发育。这些花岗岩具有两类不同的岩石地球化学特征,Ⅰ类以 Na_2O/K_2O 比值小于1、明显的负 Eu 异常和低 Sr、高 Y 为特征,具有 S-型花岗岩的属性,Ⅱ类以 Na_2O/K_2O 比值大于1、弱负 Eu 异常到正 Eu 异常和高 Sr、低 Y 为特征,具有Ⅰ-型花岗岩的属性,反映了它们的源岩及成因上的差异。锆石 SHRIMP U—Ph 定年结果表明,大柴旦地区花岗岩的年龄可分为三组,第一组年龄为446.3±3.9Ma,第二组年龄分别为408.6±4.4Ma、403.3±3.8Ma、401.8±3Ma,第三组年龄分别为374.5±1.6Ma、372±2.1Ma。结合区域地质特征,我们认为,第一组年龄可能反映了柴达木陆块与中南祁连板块碰撞的时代,第二组年龄可能反映了深俯冲地下的板块由于拆沉而折返的时代,第三组年龄可能反映了碰撞隆起后造山带上不同块体之间的伸展、滑塌的时代。     

北山辉铜山泥盆纪钾长花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄、 成因及构造意义

LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,北山柳园地区辉铜山钾长花岗岩的形成年龄为397±3Ma (MSWD=1.1).地球化学特征显示为高钾钙碱性的高分异Ⅰ型花岗岩到A型花岗岩过渡的特征.其全岩εNd(t)值为-1.3～ +1.2,Nd模式年龄(tDM)为960 ～ 1530Ma;锆石εHf(t)值为-1.0～ +5.8,两阶段Hf模式年龄(tDM2)为1024～1455Ma.地质背景、地球化学和同位素综合分析显示,辉铜山岩体为造山后伸展拉张背景下,幔源岩浆底侵导致上覆年轻地壳(可能为洋壳、岛弧建造或增生楔物质)部分熔融形成的钙碱性花岗闪长质岩浆经进一步演化及结晶分异形成.北山南带地区早-中泥盆世花岗岩显示出高分异钙碱性Ⅰ型花岗岩、I-A型花岗岩和A型花岗岩的组合特征.因此,在397Ma左右,北山地区古生代岩浆已经从Ⅰ型或S型转化为I-A型特征,构造环境转化为后造山或同造山晚期的伸展环境.     

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Northern Qaidam Basin, NW China: Implications for the earliest Cretaceous intracontinental tectonism

Formation of Mesozoic western China, which was dominated by tectonic amalgamation along its southern margin and associated intracontinental tectonisms, holds a key for interpreting the succedent Cenozoic evolution. This paper presents new data including lithology, sedimentary facies, stratigraphic contact, seismic interpretation and paleo-structures within the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata in the northern Qaidam Basin, NW China. These data all account for a contractional tectonic deformation in the earliest Cretaceous. The South Qilian Shan, according to the sedimentary features and provenance analysis, reactivated and exhumated during the deformation, controlling the deposition of the Lower Cretaceous sequences. A simplified model for the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous paleogeography and tectonics of the northern Qaidam Basin is accordingly proposed. The results also support a ∼25° clockwise rotation of the Qaidam Basin since the Early Cretaceous and a more accurate Mesozoic evolution process for the basin. This earliest Cretaceous deformation, associated with the reactivation of the South Qilian Shan at the time, are part of the intracontinental tectonisms in central Asia during the Mesozoic, and probably driven by both the closure of the Mongol-Okhostk Ocean to the north and the collision of the Lhasa and the Qiangtang blocks to the south.     

柴北缘超高压变质带沙柳河蛇绿岩型地幔橄榄岩及其意义

本文报道了柴北缘大陆型超高压变质带沙柳河地区发现的蛇绿岩型地幔橄榄岩,其原始矿物组合为橄榄石＋斜方辉石＋铬铁矿。方辉橄榄岩中识别出两个世代的橄榄石,第一世代橄榄石7、（O1^1）残晶发育扭折带,化学成分与现代大洋地幔橄榄岩的橄榄石一致,第二世代橄榄石（O1^2）Fo值高达94～97,其内部含有细小的流体包裹体,是第一世代橄榄石蛇纹石化后再次变质的产物。斜方辉石残晶的成分具有高Al和Ca的特征,与大洋地幔橄榄岩中斜方辉石的成分一致。温压条件的估算反映该橄榄岩体属于典型的尖晶石相方辉橄榄岩。其围岩是由堆晶辉长岩变质的条带状蓝晶石榴辉岩,二者构成了大洋蛇绿岩套的下部层位,并且与区内具有N—MORB和OIB性质的榴辉岩共生。这些特征表明该方辉橄榄岩应代表洋壳下伏地幔橄榄岩,从而揭示大陆造山带从早期的大洋俯冲消亡到大陆俯冲碰撞的完整过程。     

北祁连洋早古生代双向俯冲的花岗岩证据

笔者主要对北祁连山中段的牛心山岩体、民乐窑沟岩体进行了锆石SHRIMP定年研究。结果表明：牛心山花岗岩的年龄为476Ma，民乐窑沟花岗闪长岩的年龄为463Ma。岩石地球化学显示．两岩体均具有大陆活动边缘的岩浆作用特征，结合岩体产出的区域构造位置及区域地质资料，笔者认为早古生代北祁连洋板块分别发生了向南、向北俯冲，其中向南俯冲形成牛心山花岗岩（476Ma），向北俯冲，形成了民乐窑沟花岗岩侵入体（463Ma）。     

Petrology and geochronology of ultrahigh-pressure granitic gneiss from South Dulan,North Qaidam belt,NW China

abstract

An integrated study including petrography, mineral chemistry, metamorphic P–T path modelling, and zircon U–Pb dating was conducted on a granitic gneiss and enclosed eclogite from South Dulan, North Qaidam UHP (ultrahigh-pressure) belt. The result shows that the granitic gneiss underwent a clockwise P–T path with a peak-P stage at 655–745°C, 30–34 kbar, and a subsequent peak-T stage at 815–870°C, 14–18 kbar, which is similar to the P–T estimates reported for coesite-bearing continental-type eclogites in this region. The enclosed eclogite resembles an olivine–pyroxene-rich cumulate in Qaidam block. It has a similar prograde P–T path with the country gneiss and experienced a peak-P stage of 682–748°C at 27–34 kbar. Zircon U–Pb dating yields an eclogite-facies metamorphic age of 447 ± 2 Ma for the granitic gneiss and 445 ± 6 Ma for the enclosed eclogite. These ages agree with metamorphic ages obtained from paragneisses (427–439 Ma), coesite-bearing continental-type eclogites (430–451 Ma), and UHPM (ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic) oceanic crust–mantle sequence (440–445 Ma) from South Dulan, as well as UHP eclogites, garnet peridotite, and gneisses from other units (460–420 Ma) within this belt reported by others. Similar metamorphic ages as well as P–T evolution documented in gneisses and intercalated eclogites imply that both rocks experienced a coeval UHP event. Summarizing all the published geochronology data, we argue that the North Qaidam UHP belt was mainly formed by continental deep subduction at ~460 to ~420 Ma. The UHPM oceanic crust-mantle sequence in South Dulan may represent oceanic lithosphere in the transition zone between oceanic and continental crust, which was dragged upward by the exhumed continental rocks after break-off of the dense oceanic crust.     

A paired metamorphic belt in a subduction‐to‐collision orogen: An example from the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt,NW China

The early Palaeozoic South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt in northwestern China records a nearly complete history of early‐stage long‐lived oceanic subduction–accretion followed by late‐stage continental collision. Most previous studies have focused on low dT/dP metamorphism (HP–UHP) in this belt whereas the paired high dT/dP belt in the hinterland has received little attention. In this contribution, phase equilibrium modelling is combined with zircon petrochronology to determine the P–T–t evolution of granulites in the North Wulan gneiss complex in the high dT/dP hinterland of the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogen. Granulites record a clockwise P–T path with near‐peak temperatures of ~800–900°C at 5.5–7 kbar. Peak metamorphism was followed by high‐T decompression. Zircon petrochronology reveals protracted zircon growth from c. 474 to 446 Ma during the high‐T portion of the P–T path. High dT/dP metamorphism in the North Wulan gneiss complex was likely the result of heat transfer from the underlying hot asthenosphere and minor coeval magmatism in an arc–back‐arc system during slab retreat and roll‐back of the South Qilian oceanic plate. Broadly contemporaneous but slightly younger HP–UHP metamorphism in the foreland of the South Qilian–North Qaidam orogenic belt indicates that the region records an early Palaeozoic paired metamorphic belt. This early Palaeozoic paired metamorphic belt provides a detailed example of dual thermal regimes in a modern‐style orogenic system that can be applied to understanding the time‐scales and P–T conditions of high dT/dP metamorphism that accompany subduction in Phanerozoic and Precambrian orogenic belts.     

The Early Proterozoic Primorskii complex of rapakivi granites (western Cisbaikalia): geochemistry,crystallization conditions,and ore potential

The Primorskii complex in western Cisbaikalia, which formed in the Early Proterozoic at the postcollisional stage in the Siberian craton evolution, comprises rapakivi granites, equigranular biotitic and leucocratic granites, and alaskites. It is a K-rich granitoid assemblage with a medium and high alkalinity, whose F, Ba, Pb, REE, Zr, Th, and Zn contents exceed the clarkes. The complex consists of three plutons: Bugul’deika–Anga, Ulan-Khan, and Trekhgolovyi, which formed in two intrusive stages. The evolution of the main-stage composition was marked by an increase in silica content, with a similtaneous increase in agpaite and Fe contents and a decrease in Na₂O/K₂O. The Bugul’deika–Anga and Trekhgolovyi plutons are the most contrasting in composition and crystallization conditions. The former originated from a weakly differentiated water-undersaturated melt, which crystallized at medium depths (P_tot = 3–4 kbar). The crystallization was unaccompanied by considerable accumulation of granitophile elements (the concentration index (CI) of granitophile elements is ~3) in the leucogranites, except the alaskites, which crystallized in the upper part of the magma chamber (CI = 5). The Trekhgolovyi pluton originated from a leucogranitic melt enriched in Cs, Li, Rb, and Sn, which crystallized at a low P_tot (~2 kbar). The average contents of some elements in the leucogranites are higher than their clarkes in Ca-poor granites: by a factor of 4 for Sn, 3.8 for Th, 2.7 for Rb, 2.5 for Cs, and 2 for F (CI ≈ 9). The final-stage granites in the Trekhgolovyi pluton are associated with quartz-muscovitic (±topaz, fluorite) greisens, which contain cassiterite, columbite, ilmenorutile, wolframite, bismuthinite, and other minerals. The data suggest that the Trekhgolovyi pluton has a Sn potential.     

Subduction channel fluid-rock interaction:Indications from rutile-quartz veins within eclogite from the Yuka terrane,North Qaidam orogen

High-pressure(HP)or ultrahigh-pressure(UHP)rutile-quartz veins that form at mantle depths due to fluid-rock interaction can be used to trace the properties and behavior of natural fluids in subduction zones.To explore the fluid flow and the associated element mobility during deep subduction and exhumation of the continental crust,we investigated the major and trace elements of Ti-rich minerals.Additionally,U–Pb dating,trace element contents,and Lu–Hf isotopic composition of zircon grains in the UHP eclogite and associated rutile-quartz veins were examined in the North Qaidam UHP metamorphic belt,Yuka terrane.The zircon grains in the rutile-quartz veins have unzoned or weak oscillatory zonings,and show low Th/U ratios,steep chondrite-normalized patterns of heavy rare earth elements(HREEs),and insignificant negative Eu anomalies,indicating their growth in metamorphic fluids.These zircon grains formed in 431
3 Ma,which is consistent with the 432
2 Ma age of the host eclogite.As for the zircons in the rutile-quartz veins,they showed steep HREE patterns on one hand,and were different from the zircons present in the host eclogite on the other.This demonstrates that their formation might have been related to the breakdown of the early stage of garnet,which corresponds to the abundance of fluids during the early exhumation stage.The core-rim profile analyses of rutile recorded a two-stage rutile growth across a large rutile grain;the rutile core has higher Nb,Ta,W,and Zr contents and lower Nb/Ta ratios than the rim,indicating that the rutile domains grew in different metamorphic fluids from the core towards the rim.The significant enrichment of high field strength elements(HFSEs)in the rutile core suggests that the peak fluids have high solubility and transportation capacity of these HFSEs.Furthermore,variations in the Nb vs.Cr trends in rutile indicate a connection of rutile to mafic protolith.The zircon grains from both the rutile-quartz veins and the host eclogite have similar Hf isotopic compositions,indicating that the vein-forming fluids are internally derived from the host eclogite.These fluids accumulated in the subduction channel and were triggered by local dehydration of the deeply subducted eclogite during the early exhumation conditions.     

Petrology, geochemistry and isotopic ages of eclogites from the Dulan UHPM Terrane, the North Qaidam, NW China

The Dulan eclogite–gneiss region is located in the eastern part of the North Qaidam eclogite belt, NW China. Widespread evidence demonstrates that this region is a typical ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane. Eclogites occur as lenses or layers in both granitic and pelitic gneisses. Two distinguished sub-belts can be recognized and differ in mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry. The North Dulan Belt (NDB) has tholeiitic protoliths with high TiO₂ and lower Al₂O₃ and MgO contents. REE patterns and trace element contents resemble those of N-type and E-type MORB. In contrast, eclogites in the South Dulan Belt (SDB) are of island arc protoliths with low TiO₂, high Al₂O₃ and show LREE-enriched and HFSE-depleted patterns. Sm–Nd isotope analyses give isochron ages of 458–497 Ma for eclogite-facies metamorphism for the two sub-belts. The ages are similar to those of Yuka and Altun eclogites in the western extension of the North Qaidam-Altun eclogite belt. The Dulan UHP metamorphic terrane, together with several other recently recognized eclogite-bearing terrenes within the North Qaidam-Altun HP-UHP belt, constitute the key to the understanding of the tectonic evolution of the northern Tibetan Plateau. The entire UHP belt extends for more than 1000 km from the Dulan UHP terrane in the southeast to the Altun eclogite–gneiss terrane in the west. This super-belt marks an early Paleozoic continental collision zone between the Qaidam Massif and the Qilian Massif.     

Metamorphic evolution of the coesite-bearing ultrahigh-pressure terrane in the North Qaidam, Northern Tibet, NW China

Widespread evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphism is reported in the Dulan eclogite‐bearing terrane, the North Qaidam–Altun HP–UHP belt, northern Tibet. This includes: (1) coesite and associated UHP mineral inclusions in zircon separates from paragneiss and eclogite (identified by laser Raman spectroscopy); (2) inclusions of quartz pseudomorphs after coesite and polycrystalline K‐feldspar + quartz in eclogitic garnet and omphacite; and (3) densely oriented SiO₂ lamellae in omphacitic clinopyroxene. These lines of evidence demonstrate that the Dulan region is a UHP metamorphic terrane. In the North Dulan Belt (NDB), eclogites are characterized by the peak assemblage Grt + Omp + Rt + Phn + Coe (pseudomorph) and retrograde symplectites of Cpx + Ab and Hbl + Pl. The peak conditions of the NDB eclogites are P = 2.9–3.2 GPa, and T = 631–687 °C; the eclogite shows a near‐isothermal decompression P–T path suggesting a fast exhumation. In the South Dulan Belt (SDB), three metamorphic stages are recognized in eclogites: (1) a peak eclogite facies stage with the assemblage Grt + Omp + Ky + Rt + Phn at P = 2.9–3.3 GPa and T = 729–746 °C; (2) a high‐pressure granulite facies stage with Grt + Cpx (Jd < 30) + Pl (An24–29) + Scp at P = 1.9–2.0 GPa, T = 873–948 °C; and (3) an amphibolite facies stage with the assemblage Hbl + Pl + Ep/Czo at P = 0.7–0.9 GPa and T = 660–695 °C. The clockwise P–T path of the SDB eclogites is different from the near‐isothermal decompression P–T path from the NDB eclogites, which suggests that the SDB was exhumed to a stable crustal depth at a slower rate. In essence these two sub‐belts formed in different tectonic settings; they both subducted to mantle depths of around 100 km, but were exhumed to the Earth's surface separately along different paths. This UHP terrane plays an important role in understanding continental collision in north‐western China.     

Structural Seismology: Exploring the Correspondence between Surface Geological Features and Heterogeneities in the Earth’s Crust and Mantle

The North Qaidam is an Early Paleozoic UHP metamorphic belt located at the north margin of the Tibet plateau. Eclogites in this belt contain both continental‐and oceanic‐type ones. In which, the continental‐type eclogites have protolith ages of 750–850 Ma and WPB or CFB geochemical signatures and are believed to have formed in a continental rift or an incipient oceanic basin setting related to the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent, their metamorphic ages (421–458 Ma) and P–T paths are comparable to their host gneisses; oceanic‐type eclogites have cumulate gabbro or E‐MORB geochemical signatures, their protolith and metamorphic ages are 510–516 Ma and 425–450 Ma, respectively(Zhang et al., 2008). Therefore, the North Qaidam UHP belt was thought to record the whole Neoprotoerozoic–Paleozoic Wilson cycle (Song et al., 2014). In this study, we reported three new kinds of eclogites: kyanite‐bearing eclogite, lawsonite pseudomorph‐bearing eclogite and double mineral eclogite. They occur as big lentoid blocks in regional granitic gneiss in the western part of the belt. Phase equilibrium modelling and zircon LA‐ICPMS U‐Pb dating show that all these three eclogites experienced a clockwise P–T path with peak metamorphic conditions close to or fall in the coesite stability field, and their peak metamorphic age were around 436‐439 Ma, similar to those continental‐type eclogites in this belt. But their protolith ages are between 1273 and 1070 Ma, and some of them recorded an amphibolite facies metamorphic age of 927 Ma, and geochemical data and zircon Lu‐Hf and O isotope analysis indicate these eclogites have features of present day N‐MORB. Combined with the existing results, we propose that the North Qaidam is a polycyclic composite orogenwhich recorded tectonic evolution of Mesoproterozoic ocean floor spreading, assembly and breakup of Rodinia supercontinent, Early Paleozoic oceanic deep subduction and subsequently continental deep subduction.     

Metamorphic evolution of low-T eclogite from the North Qilian orogen, NW China: evidence from petrology and calculated phase equilibria in the system NCKFMASHO

Low‐T eclogites in the North Qilian orogen, NW China share a common assemblage of garnet, omphacite, glaucophane, epidote, phengite, quartz and rutile with or without paragonite. Phase relations for the low‐T eclogites can be modelled well in the system NCKFMASHO with the updated solid‐solution models for amphibole and clinopyroxene. Garnet in the eclogite typically exhibits growth zonations in which pyrope increases while grossular somewhat decreases from core to rim, which is modelled as having formed mainly in the P–T conditions of lawsonite‐eclogite facies at the pre‐peak stage. Omphacite shows an increase in jadeite component as aegirine and also total FeO decrease in going from the inclusions in garnet to grains in the matrix, and from core to rim of zoned crystals, reflecting an increase in metamorphic P–T conditions. Glaucophane exhibits a compositional variation in X(gl) (= Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺ + Mg)) and F(gl) (= Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Al) in M2 site), which decrease from the inclusions in garnet to crystals in the matrix, consistent with an increase in P–T conditions. However, for zoned matrix crystals, the X(gl) and F(gl) increase from core to rim, is interpreted to reflect a late‐stage decompression. Using composition isopleths for garnet rim and phengite in P–T pseudosections, peak P–T conditions for three samples Q5–45, Q5–01 and Q7–28 were estimated as 530–540 °C at 2.10–2.25 GPa, 580–590 °C at 2.30–2.45 GPa and 575–590 °C at 2.50–2.65 GPa, respectively, for the same assemblage garnet + omphacite + glaucophane + lawsonite (+ phengite + quartz + rutile) at the peak stage. The eclogites suggest similar P–T ranges to their surrounding felsic–pelitic schists. During post‐peak decompression of the eclogites, the most distinctive change involves the transformation of lawsonite to epidote, releasing large amount of water in the rock. The released fluid promoted further growth of glaucophane at the expense of omphacite and, in appropriate bulk‐rock compositions, paragonite formed. The decompression of eclogite did not lead to pronounced changes in garnet and phengite compositions. Peak P–T conditions of the North Qilian eclogite are well constrained using both the average P–T and pseudosection approaches in Thermocalc. Generally, the conventional garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometer is too sensitive to be used for constraining the temperature of low‐T eclogite because of the uncertainty in Fe³⁺ determination in omphacite and slight variations in mineral compositions because of incomplete equilibration.     

LA-ICPMS U-Pb Ages of Zircon from Metaleucosomes, Olongbuluke Microcontinent, North Qaidam, and Implications on the Response to the Global Rodinia Supercontinent Assembly Event in NW China

INTRODUCTION The Olongbuluke microcontinent , which wasdisintegratedfromthe northern margin of the Qaidamblock (Lu,2002) ,is composed of a two-fold base-ment with cover strata . The lower basement is themedium- to high-grade Delingha complex and theDakendaban Group, and the upper is the low-gradeWandonggou Group. The Wandonggou Group of theupper basement experienced a Late Mesoproterozoicmetamorphic event (see Yu et al .,1994) ,consistentwith the early isotopic geochronological respo…