Zircon U–Pb geochronology,geochemistry and Hf isotopes of the Late Cretaceous Hongshan intrusion,western Yunnan,SW China

The Hongshan quartz monzonite porphyry is one of the Yanshanian intrusions in the southern part of the Yudun Arc. Detailed zircon U–Pb data of four samples yielded ages of 78.8–80.7 Ma, indicating that the Hongshan intrusion was emplaced during the late stage of Late Cretaceous. The Hongshan intrusion shows shoshonitic and high‐K calc‐alkaline, with A/CNK = 0.64–1.14. The rocks show an obvious fractionation between light and heavy rare‐earth elements (average [La/Yb]_N = 38.85), with negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.60–0.87), enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements (Rb, Th, U and K) and depletion in high field‐strength elements (Nb, Ta and P). Rocks have high Sr and low Y content which are characteristics of adakitic rocks, suggesting magma derivation from thickened lower crust. In order to evaluate the nature of the source region, Hf isotope data of zircons were acquired through LA‐MC‐ICPMS. The negative and variable ε_Hf(t) values demonstrate that the Hongshan intrusion was derived from ancient crust, without mantle‐derived components and is significantly different from the Triassic intrusions in the southern part of the Yudun Arc. The three Yanshanian intrusions in Hongshan, Relin and Tongchangou are remarkably similar in terms of geochronology, geochemistry and Hf isotopes. We therefore infer that these intrusions had the same magmatic source and we correlate the tectonics with northward subduction of Tethys underneath the Asian continent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Petrogenesis of the Yangchang Mo‐bearing granite in the Xilamulun metallogenic belt,NE China: geochemistry,zircon U–Pb ages and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes

The Yangchang granite‐hosted Mo deposit is typical of the Xilamulun metallogenic belt, which is one of the important Mo–Pb–Zn–Ag producers in China. A combination of major and trace element, Sr, Nd and Pb isotope, and zircon U–Pb age data are reported for the Yangchang batholith to constrain its petrogenesis and Mo mineralization. Zircon LA‐ICPMS U–Pb dating yields mean ages of 138 ± 2 and 132 ± 2 Ma for monzogranite and granite porphyry, respectively. The monzogranites and granite porphyries are calc‐alkaline with K₂O/Na₂O ratios of 0.75–0.92 and 1.75–4.42, respectively. They are all enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depleted in high‐field‐strength elements (HFSEs) with negative Nb and Ta anomalies in primitive‐mantle‐normalized trace element diagrams. The monzogranites have relatively high Sr (380–499 ppm) and Y (14–18 ppm) concentrations, and the granite porphyries have lower Sr (31–71 ppm) and Y (5–11 ppm) concentrations than those of monzogranites. The monzogranites and granite porphyries have relatively low initial Sr isotope ratios of 0.704573–0.705627 and 0.704281, respectively, and similar ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of 18.75–18.98 and 18.48–18.71, respectively. In contrast, the ε_Nd(t) value (−3.7) of granite porphyry is lower than those of monzogranites (−1.5 to −2.7) with Nd model ages of about 1.0 Ga. These geochemical features suggest that the monzogranite and granite porphyries were derived from juvenile crustal rocks related to subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific plate under east China. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochronology and Genesis of the Tiegelongnan Porphyry Cu(Au) Deposit in Tibet: Evidence from U–Pb,Re–Os Dating and Hf,S, and H–O Isotopes

The Tiegelongnan Cu (Au) deposit is the largest copper deposit newly discovered in the Bangong–Nujiang metallogenic belt. The deposit has a clear alteration zoning consisting of, from core to margin, potassic to propylitic, superimposed by phyllic and advanced argillic alteration. The shallow part of the deposit consists of a high sulphidation‐state overprint, mainly comprising disseminated pyrite and Cu–S minerals such as bornite, covellite, digenite, and enargite. At depth porphyry‐type mineralization mainly comprises disseminated chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrite, and a minor vein molybdenite. Mineralization is disseminated and associated with veins contained within the porphyry intrusions and their surrounding rocks. The zircon U–Pb ages of the mineralized diorite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry are 123.1 ± 1.7 Ma (2σ) and 121.5 ± 1.5 Ma (2σ), respectively. The molybdenite Re–Os age is 121.2 ± 1.2 Ma, suggesting that mineralization was closely associated with magmatism. Andesite lava (zircon U–Pb age of 111.7 ± 1.6 Ma, 2σ) overlies the ore‐bodies and is the product of post‐mineralization volcanic activity that played a critical role in preserving the ore‐bodies. Values of ?4.6 ‰ to + 0.8 ‰ δ³⁴S for the metal sulfides (mean ? 1.55 ‰) suggest that S mainly has a deep magmatic source. The H and O isotopic composition is (δD = ?87 ‰ to ?64 ‰; δ¹⁸O_H2O = 5.5 ‰ to 9.0 ‰), indicating that the ore‐forming fluids are mostly magmatic‐hydrothermal, possibly mixed with a small amount of meteoric water. The zircon ε_Hf(t) of the diorite porphyry is 3.7 to 8.3, and the granodiorite porphyry is 1.8 to 7.5. Molybdenite has a high Re from 382.2 × 10^?6 to 1600 × 10^?6. Re and Hf isotope composition show that Tiegelongnan has some mantle source, maybe the juvenile lower crust from crust–mantle mixed source. Metallogenesis of the Tiegelongnan giant porphyry system was associated with intermediate to acidic magma in the Early Cretaceous (~120 Ma). The magma provenance of the Tiegelongnan deposit has some mantle‐derived composition, possibly mixed with the crust‐derived materials.     

Mineralization events in the Xiaokele porphyry Cu (–Mo) deposit,NE China: Evidence from zircon U–Pb and K‐feldspar Ar–Ar geochronology and petrochemistry

The Great Xing'an Range (GXR), Northeast (NE) China, is a major polymetallic metallogenic belt in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The newly discovered Xiaokele porphyry Cu (–Mo) deposit lies in the northern GXR. Field geological and geochronological studies have revealed two mineralization events in this deposit: early porphyry‐type Cu (–Mo) mineralization, and later vein‐type Cu mineralization. Previous geochronological studies yielded an age of ca. 147 Ma for the early Cu (–Mo) mineralization. Our ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 124.8 ± 0.4 to 124.3 ± 0.4 Ma on K‐feldspar in altered Cu‐mineralized diorite porphyrite dikes that represent the overprinting vein‐type Cu mineralization, consistent with zircon U–Pb ages of the diorite porphyrite (126.4 ± 0.5 to 125.0 ± 0.5 Ma). The Cr and Ni contents and Mg^# of the Xiaokele diorite porphyrites are high. The diorite porphyrites at Xiaokele are enriched in light rare‐earth elements (REEs), and large‐ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Ba, and K), are depleted in heavy REEs and high‐field‐strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti), and have weak negative ε_Hf(t) values (+0.29 to +5.27) with two‐stage model ages (T_DM2) of 1,164–845 Ma. Given the regional tectonic setting in Early Cretaceous, the ore‐bearing diorite porphyrites were likely formed in an extensional environment related to lithospheric delamination and asthenospheric upwelling induced by subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate. These tectonic events caused large‐scale magmatic activity, ore mineralization, and lithospheric thinning in NE China.     

The fate of zircon during UHT–UHP metamorphism: isotopic (U/Pb, δ18O,Hf) and trace element constraints

Garnet–clinopyroxene ultra‐high‐pressure (UHP) rocks from the northern Bohemian Massif contain zircon with micro‐diamond inclusions. Trace element concentrations, oxygen and hafnium isotopic composition and U–Pb age of distinct textural domains in zircon characterize their growth conditions and temporal evolution. Diamond‐bearing zircon mantle domains with relicts of oscillatory zoning have uniform Th/U ratios (~0.1–0.2), high‐Ti contents (110–190 ppm, corresponding to temperatures of at least 1100 °C), and some (two of 17 mantle analyses) preserve steep heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns with Yb_N/Gd_N = 10–11, with a weak negative Eu anomaly. These signatures are consistent with crystallization from a melt under UHP/ultra‐high‐temperature (UHT) conditions. Some of the bright‐cathodoluminscence (CL) rims preserve Th/U and Ti values characteristic of the zircon mantles, but others show elevated Th/U ratios of ~0.3–0.4 and lower Ti contents (20–40 ppm; only 13 ppm in a rare low‐CL outer rim). As they feature flat HREE patterns and negative Eu anomalies and commonly make embayments and truncate the mantle zoning, we suggest that they have formed through recrystallization in the solid state during exhumation of the rock, when both garnet and plagioclase were stable. The three zircon domains, that is, cores, mantles and rims, yield U–Pb concordia ages of 340.9 ± 1.5, 340.3 ± 1.5 and 341.2 ± 3.4 Ma respectively. When linked to the previously reconstructed P–T path of the rock, the error limits of the zircon mantle and rim ages constrain the exhumation of the rocks from depth of ~140 km (UHP) to ~80 km (HP) to a minimum rate of 1.5 cm yr^?1. The zircon cores are heterogeneous in terms of Th/U ratio (below 0.1 but also above 0.2) and REE characteristics, and their εHf values scatter between ?15.7 and +4.8 with similar values for individual domains within a single zircon grain suggesting a very localized control on hafnium isotope composition on a grain scale. The non‐equilibrated εHf values as well as a large range of the Hf‐depleted mantle model ages possibly reflect the presence of a heterogeneous population of old zircon. Consequently, the uniform and young ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb ages may represent (near‐)complete resetting of the U–Pb geochronometer during the UHP–UHT event at c. 340 Ma through dissolution–reprecipitation process. In contrast to Hf, the oxygen isotope composition of zircon is homogeneous, ranging between 7.8‰ and 9.6‰ VSMOW, reflecting a source containing upper crustal material and homogenization at UHP–UHT conditions. Our study documents that continental crust was subducted to mantle depths at c. 340 Ma during the Variscan orogeny and was subsequently very rapidly exhumed, implying that the sequence of events was faster than can be resolved by the secondary ion mass spectrometry technique.     

Geologic evolution of the Serrinha nucleus granite–greenstone terrane (NE Bahia, Brazil) constrained by U–Pb single zircon geochronology

U–Pb single zircon crystallization ages were determined using TIMS and sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) on samples of granitoid rocks exposed in the Serrinha nucleus granite–greenstone terrane, in NE Brazil. Our data show that the granitoid plutons can be divided into three distinct groups. Group 1 consists of Mesoarchaean (3.2–2.9 Ga) gneisses and N-S elongated TTG (Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite) plutons with gneissic borders. Group 2 is represented by ca. 2.15 Ga pretectonic calc-alkaline plutons that are less deformed than group 1. Group 3 is ca. 2.11–2.07 Ga, late to post-tectonic plutons (shoshonite, syenite, K-rich granite and lamprophyre). Groups 2 and 3 are associated with the Transamazonian orogeny. Xenocryst ages of 3.6 Ga, the oldest zircon yet recorded within the São Francisco craton, are found in the group 3 Euclides shoshonite within the Uauá complex and in the group 2 Quijingue trondhjemite, indicating the presence of Paleoarchaean sialic basement.Group 1 gneiss-migmatitic rocks (ca. 3200 Ma) of the Uauá complex constitute the oldest known unit. Shortly afterwards, partial melting of mafic material produced a medium-K calc-alkaline melt, the younger Santa Luz complex (ca. 3100 Ma) to the south. Subsequent TTG melts intruded in different phases now exposed as N-S elongated plutons such as Ambrósio (3162 ± 26 Ma), Araci (3072 ± 2 Ma), Requeijão (2989 ± 11 Ma) and others, which together form a major part of the Archaean nucleus. Some of these plutons have what appear to be intrusive, but are probably remobilized, contacts with the Transamazonian Itapicuru greenstone belt. The older gneissic rocks occur as enclaves within younger Archaean plutons. Thus, serial additions of juvenile material over a period of several hundred m.y. led to the formation of a stable micro-continent by 2.9 Ga. Evidence for Neoarchaean activity is found in the inheritance pattern of only one sample, the group 2 Euclides pluton.Group 2 granitoid plutons were emplaced at 2.16–2.13 Ga in a continental arc environment floored by Mesoarchaean crust. These plutons were subsequently deformed and intruded by late to post-tectonic group 3 alkaline plutons. This period of Transamazonian orogeny can be explained as a consequence of ocean closure followed by collision and slab break-off. The only subsequent magmatism was kimberlitic, probably emplaced during the Neoproterozoic Braziliano event, which sampled older zircon from the basement.     

Ordovician igneous and metamorphic units in southeastern Puna: New U–Pb and Sm–Nd data and implications for the evolution of northwestern Argentina

New field, petrological, geochemical, and geochronological data (U–Pb and Sm–Nd) for Ordovician rock units in the southeastern Puna, NW Argentina, indicate two lithostratigraphic units at the eastern–northeastern border of salar Centenario: (1) a bimodal volcanosedimentary sequence affected by low- to medium-grade metamorphism, comprising metasediments associated with basic and felsic metavolcanic rocks, dated 485 ± 5 Ma, and (2) a plutonic unit composed of syenogranites to quartz-rich leucogranites with U–Pb zircon ages between 462 ± 7 and 475 ± 5 Ma. Felsic metavolcanic and plutonic rocks are peraluminous and show similar geochemical differentiation trends. They also have similar Sm–Nd isotopic compositions (T_DM model ages of 1.54–1.78 Ga; ε_Nd(T) values ranging from −3.2 to −7.5) that suggest a common origin and derivation of the original magmas from older (Meso-Paleoproterozoic?) continental crust. Mafic rocks show ε_Nd(T) ranging from +2.3 to +2.5, indicating a depleted mantle source. The data presented here, combined with those in the literature, suggest Ordovician magmatism mainly recycles preexisting crust with minor additions of juvenile mantle-derived material.     

Radiometric ages of the Fire Clay tonstein [Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous), Westphalian, Duckmantian]: A comparison of U–Pb zircon single-crystal ages and Ar/Ar sanidine single-crystal plateau ages

The Fire Clay tonstein [Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous), Westphalian Series, Duckmantian Stage]–a kaolinized, volcanic-ash deposit occurring in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Virginia–is the most widespread bed in the Middle Pennsylvanian of the central Appalachian basin, USA. A concordant single-crystal U–Pb zircon datum for this tonstein gives a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 314.6 ± 0.9 Ma (2σ). This age is in approximate agreement with a mean sanidine plateau age of 311.5 ± 1.3 Ma (1σ, n = 11) for the Fire Clay tonstein. The difference between the two ages may be due to bias between the ⁴⁰K and ²³⁸U decay constants and other factors. The age of the Fire Clay tonstein has important implications for Duckmantian Stage (Westphalian Series) sedimentation rates, correlations with the Westphalian Series of Europe, Middle Pennsylvanian volcanic events, and the late Paleozoic time scale.     

The crystalline complexes of Hamadan (Sanandaj–Sirjan zone, western Iran): metasedimentary Mesozoic sequences affected by Late Cretaceous tectono-metamorphic and plutonic events

The Hamadan area is characterised by various metamorphic rocks where the slates yielded Jurassic fossils. The entire column, representing the Mesozoic from at least the Jurassic to the Mid-Cretaceous, has been affected by tectono-metamorphic events and the emplacement of Late Cretaceous granitic rocks. A timing of these events is based on the ⁴⁰K–⁴⁰Ar ages carried mainly on separated amphiboles, biotites and muscovites, and interpreted as the ages of their isotopic closure. Results are ranging between 91 and 70 Ma. To cite this article: A. Baharifar et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).

Résumé

La région de Hamadan expose des roches métamorphiques dont les termes les moins transformés contiennent des fossiles jurassiques. Au cours du Crétacé supérieur, elle a été affectée par un événement tectono-métamorphique régional et elle a été le siège d'une activité plutonique. Les résultats des datations ⁴⁰K–⁴⁰Ar des amphiboles et des micas séparés des roches métamorphiques et plutoniques qui s'étagent entre 91 et 70 Ma montrent l'importance de ces événements et leur étalement au cours du Crétacé supérieur. Pour citer cet article : A. Baharifar et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).