Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Great Xing’an Range: geochronological and geochemical evidence from granitoids and volcanic rocks in the Erguna Block,NE China

ABSTRACT

The late Mesozoic magmatic record within the Erguna Block is critical to evaluate the tectonic history and geodynamic evolution of the Great Xing’an Range, NE China. Here, we provide geochronological and geochemical data on Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous plutonic-volcanic rocks in the northern Erguna Block and discuss their origin within a regional tectonic framework. Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Erguna Block can be divided into two major periods: Late Jurassic (162–150 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (140–125 Ma). Late Jurassic quartz monzonite and dacite show adakite characteristics such as high Al₂O₃, high Sr, and steeply fractionated REE patterns. Contemporary granitoids and rhyolites are also characterized by strong enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) and significant depletion in heavy rare earth elements (HREE), but with more pronounced negative Eu anomalies. Early Cretaceous trachytes and monzoporphyries exhibit moderate LREE enrichment and relatively flat HREE distributions. Coeval granites and rhyolites have transitional signatures between A-type and fractionated I-type felsic rocks. Both Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rocks have distinctive negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies, and positive zircon ε_Hf(t) values, suggesting that these magmas were derived from partial melting of Meso-Neoproterozoic accreted lower crust, although melting occurred at a variety of crustal levels. The transition from adakite to non-adakite magmatism reflects continued crustal thinning from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Our data, together with recently reported isotopic data for plutonic and volcanic rocks, as well as geochemical data, in NE China, suggest that Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Erguna Block was possibly induced by post-collisional extension after closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous tectonic evolution of Southeast China: geochronological and geochemical constraints of Yanshanian granitoids

We report results of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry-based dating, as well as the analysis of bulk-rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopes to address the genesis and tectonic settings of the Yanshanian granitoids in neighbouring sections of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces (the WZG region) within the Yangtze block. Geochronological results indicate that intense magmatic activity took place during Jurassic to Cretaceous time in the WZG region. Three episodes can be clearly distinguished by their bulk-rock geochemistry. (1) Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids (180–170 Ma) have high Sr and low Yb content, high ?_Nd(t) and low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, and weakly negative Eu anomalies. These granitoids are strongly enriched with LREE, Rb, K, and Th but are depleted of HREE, Nb, and Ta. (2) Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids (165–140 Ma) have relatively low Sr and low Yb contents, as well as low ?_Nd(t) and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, with characteristics similar to those of the Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids in terms of the rare earth element and trace element patterns. (3) Early Cretaceous granitoids (140–120 Ma) have extremely low Sr and high Yb concentrations, as well as high SiO₂ but low MgO, CaO, and Al₂O₃ content, with strong negative anomalies in Eu, Ba, Sr, P, and Ti. These characteristics indicate that the WZG Jurassic granitoids were related to northwestward subduction of the Izanagi plate, whereas the Early Cretaceous granitoids formed in a within-plate extensional setting. The time of transition between the two tectonic environments can be constrained to ～140 Ma. This tectonic transition may be attributed to progressive slab roll-back of the Izanagi plate. The presence of two A-type granite belts in the WZG region probably reflects lithospheric thinning. The NE trend of the A-type granite belts indicates that this extension in Southeast China was controlled by underflow of the Izanagi plate.     

Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Manketouebo Formation in the Wuchagou region,central Great Xing’an Range,NE China,and tectonic implications: geochronological,geochemical, and Hf isotopic evidence

ABSTRACT

This study presents new whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, zircon U–Pb ages, and Hf-isotope compositions for volcanic rocks from the Manketouebo Formation of the central Great Xing’an Range, NE China. These data provide precise ages and information on the petrogenesis and source of the magmas that formed this formation, furthering our understanding of the geodynamic setting of the large-scale late Mesozoic magmatism in the Great Xing’an Range and other areas in NE China. The Manketouebo Formation in the study area is dominated by rhyolites and rhyolitic tuffs with minor trachydacites. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating indicates that these volcanic rocks formed between 143 and 139 Ma. The volcanic rocks contain high silica (66.70–79.91 wt.%) and total alkali (5.93–9.72 wt.%) concentrations, and low concentrations of MgO (0.08–1.15 wt.%), total FeO (0.68–4.50 wt.%), and CaO (0.10–2.56 wt.%). They are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g. Rb, Th, and U) and light rare earth elements (LREEs), and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti, and P) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), indicating that they are similar to highly fractionated I-type igneous rocks. All of the magmatic zircons from the analysed samples have high initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios (0.282900–0.283093), positive ε_Hf(t) values (7.48–14.19), and young Hf two-stage model ages (954–344 Ma) that suggest the primary magma that formed the volcanic rocks of the Manketouebo Formation was derived from the partial melting of Neoproterozoic to Phanerozoic juvenile crustal material, indicating in turn that significant crustal growth occurred at this time within the Xing’an Terrane. These data, combined with previous research into the spatial–temporal distribution of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in NE China, suggest that the Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Great Xing’an Range was influenced by both the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate and the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. This was a crucial period in the transformation from the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean to the Palaeo-Pacific tectonic regimes. In summary, the early stages of Early Cretaceous magmatism in this area were related to the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, whereas the later stages of magmatism in this area and elsewhere in NE China were related to the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate.     

Structure and tectonic evolution of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Wandashan accretionary complex,NE China

The Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Wandashan accretionary complex (AC) in NE China is a key region for constraining the subduction and accretion of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean; however, the protoliths and structure of the region remain poorly understood, resulting in debates regarding crustal growth mechanisms and subduction-related accretionary processes in Northeast China. In this contribution, we integrate detailed field observations, ocean plate stratigraphy (OPS) reconstruction, and associated geological data to determine the structure and tectonic evolution of the Wandashan AC. The Wandashan AC formed through the progressive incorporation of OPS units along an oceanic trench. The observed OPS comprises, in ascending order, Permian basalt and limestone, Middle Triassic–Early Jurassic chert, Middle Jurassic siliceous shale and mudstone, and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous turbidite. Numerous NNE–SSW-striking thrust faults have segmented the OPS into a series of bedding-parallel tectonic slices that were successively thrust over the Jiamusi massif along a basal thrust (the Yuejinshan Fault), producing a large-scale imbricate thrust system. The Wandashan AC underwent oceanward accretion via multiple deformational processes. The OPS units were detached and rearranged along or within a decollement through offscraping, underplating, thrusting, and duplexing. The units were then emplaced over the Jiamusi massif along the basal thrust. The timing of accretion and thrusting is constrained to the latest Middle Jurassic to earliest Early Cretaceous (ca. 167–131 Ma). Reconstructed accretion-related structural lines within the Wandashan AC trend dominantly NE–SW, close to the direction of Jurassic extension at the eastern Asian continental margin. Large-scale left-lateral strike-slip movement on the Dunmi Fault during the late Early Cretaceous resulted in the folding of structural lines within the Wandashan AC, producing their present-day westward-convex orientation.     

Geochronological and geochemical investigation of the late Mesozoic volcanic rocks from the Northern Great Xing’an Range and their tectonic implications

Precise age dating and systematic geochemical investigation were performed on the widely distributed late Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the North Great Xing’an Range (NGXR). In situ zircon U–Pb age measurements indicate that the volcanic eruption commenced from 163 Ma ago and lasted to 113 Ma ago. These volcanic rocks show a wide range in compositions from basaltic andesite, trachyandesite and trachydacite to rhyolite. The majority of volcanic rocks exhibit high-K calc-alkaline affinity with the subordinate showing shoshonitic features. The volcanic rocks are characterized with low MgO contents, LILE, LREE enrichment and HFSE depletion. Elemental and isotopic variations suggest that fractional crystallization with the predominant removal of olivine and orthopyroxene play an important role in the evolution of magma. Most of the basic and intermediate volcanic rocks are generated from an enriched lithospheric mantle which was metasomatised by fluids released from subducted slabs during the closure of the Paleo-Asian and Mongol-Okhotsk oceans. The generation of such widely distributed volcanic rocks was caused by the decompressional partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle in an extensional regime, which resulted from the gravitational collapse and upwelling of asthenosphere after the final closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceans in late Jurassic and from then the Mongol-Okhotsk orogen turned into the post-orogenic stage.     

Geochemistry of Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the Northeastern Great Xing’an Range,northeast China and implication for geodynamic setting

ABSTRACT

The mechanism that triggered large-scale Late Mesozoic magmatism in the northeastern Great Xing’an Range (NE GXAR) is strongly controversial. In this paper, we present whole rock geochemistry and zircon trace element, U-Pb and Hf isotopic data on the volcanic rocks in the Longjiang and Guanghua formations in the northeastern Xing’an Block. Zircons with ages of 120–119 Ma indicate that these volcanic rocks were formed in the Early Cretaceous. Combined with previous data, it is clear that volcanic rocks in the NE GXAR erupted between 128 and 108 Ma. The andesite samples of the Longjiang Formation show high contents of Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO, significant negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies; ε_Hf (t) values of zircons from the andesite sample vary from +4.13 to +7.67, indicating an enriched mantle source. The rhyolites of the Guanghua Formation show high SiO₂ and K₂O concentrations, low P₂O₅, MgO, Cr, and Ni contents and Mg# values. The positive ε_Hf (t) values (+5.72 to +10.58) with two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 939 to 701 Ma indicate that the rhyolites are derived from the partial melting of basaltic lower crust. Combined with the regional geological evolution, we conclude that the generation of the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the NE GXAR might be triggered by the dehydration, disintegration, and foundering of the Mongol-Okhotsk Oceanic flat-slab and the subsequent upwelling of the asthenosphere.     

Geochronological framework of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Great Xing’an Range,NE China,and their geodynamic implications

Mesozoic volcanic rocks are widespread throughout the Great Xing’an Range, NE China. However, precise data constraining the exact eruption ages are limited, especially for those from the southern Great Xing’an Range, which severely hampers our understanding of the petrogenesis and geodynamics of these rocks. In this paper, we report precise in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb age measurements for these volcanic rocks. Volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing’an Range were divided into four units from bottom to top, namely, the Manketouebo, Manitu, Baiyingaolao and Meiletu formations. The previous studies suggested that these volcanic rocks were mainly formed in the Late Jurassic. Our data demonstrate that the Manketouebo formation erupted during Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous time, whereas the other formations are all of Cretaceous age. The southern Great Xing’an Range age dataset, along with recently obtained precise ages for volcanic rocks from the northern Great Xing’an Range indicate that Mesozoic volcanism throughout the Great Xing’an Range commenced in Late Jurassic, but peaked during the Cretaceous. They formed under an extensional tectonic setting which resulted from closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and subsequent orogenic collapse. The globally elevated mantle temperature in Cretaceous may provided thermal contributions to the generation of the volcanisms.     

U–Pb zircon,zircon Hf and whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic constraints on the evolution of Paleoproterozoic rocks in the northern Gawler Craton

U–Pb zircon analyses from a series of orthogneisses sampled in drill core in the northern Gawler Craton provide crystallisation ages at ca 1775–1750 Ma, which is an uncommon age in the Gawler Craton. Metamorphic zircon and monazite give ages of ca 1730–1710 Ma indicating that the igneous protoliths underwent metamorphism during the craton-wide Kimban Orogeny. Isotopic Hf zircon data show that 1780–1750 Ma zircons are somewhat evolved with initial ε_Hf values –4 to +0.9, and model ages of ca 2.3 to 2.2 Ga. Isotopic whole rock Sm–Nd values from most samples have relatively evolved initial ε_Nd values of –3.7 to –1.4. In contrast, a mafic unit from drill hole Middle Bore 1 has a juvenile isotopic signature with initial ε_Hf zircon values of ca +5.2 to +8.2, and initial ε_Nd values of ～+3.5 to +3.8. The presence of 1775–1750 Ma zircon forming magmatic rocks in the northern Gawler Craton provides a possible source for similarly aged detrital zircons in Paleoproterozoic basin systems of the Gawler Craton and adjacent Curnamona Province. Previous provenance studies on these Paleoproterozoic basins have appealed to the Arunta Region of the North Australian Craton to provide 1780–1750 Ma detrital zircons, and isotopically and geochemically similar basin fill. The orthogneisses in the northern Gawler Craton also match the source criteria and display geochemical similarities between coeval magmatism in the Arunta Region of the North Australian Craton, providing further support for paleogeographic reconstructions that link the Gawler Craton and North Australian Craton during the Paleoproterozoic.     

Laser-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon ages and geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of the Niyasar plutonic complex,Iran: constraints on petrogenesis and tectonic evolution

We conducted geochemical and isotopic studies on the Oligocene–Miocene Niyasar plutonic suite in the central Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic belt, in order better to understand the magma sources and tectonic implications. The Niyasar plutonic suite comprises early Eocene microdiorite, early Oligocene dioritic sills, and middle Miocene tonalite + quartzdiorite and minor diorite assemblages. All samples show a medium-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous affinity and have similar geochemical features, including strong enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs, e.g. Rb, Ba, Sr), enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs, e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti, P). The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of microdiorite and dioritic sills are slightly fractionated [(La/Yb)_n = 1.1–4] and display weak Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.72–1.1). Isotopic data for these mafic mantle-derived rocks display I_Sr = 0.70604–0.70813, ?_Nd (microdiorite: 50 Ma and dioritic sills: 35 Ma, respectively) = +1.6 and ?0.4, TDM = 1.3 Ga, and lead isotopic ratios are (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 18.62–18.57, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 15.61–15.66, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 38.65–38.69. The middle Miocene granitoids (18 Ma) are also characterized by relatively high REE and minor Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.77–0.98) and have uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7065–0.7082), a range of initial Nd isotopic ratios [?Nd(T)] varying from ?2.3 to ?3.7, and Pb isotopic composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 18.67–18.94, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 15.63–15.71, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) = 38.73–39.01. Geochemical and isotopic evidence for these Eocene–Ologocene mafic rocks suggests that the magmas originated from lithospheric mantle with a large involvement of EMII component during subduction of the Neotethyan ocean slab beneath the Central Iranian plate, and were significantly affected by crustal contamination. Geochemical and isotopic data of the middle Miocene granitoids rule out a purely crustal-derived magma genesis, and suggest a mixed mantle–crustal [MASH (melting, assimilation, storage, and homogenization)] origin in a post-collision extensional setting. Sr–Nd isotope modelling shows that the generation of these magmas involved ～60% to 70% of a lower crustal-derived melt and ～30% to 40% of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. All Niyasar plutons exhibit transitional geochemical features, indicating that involvement of an EMII component in the subcontinental mantle and also continental crust beneath the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic belt increased from early Eocene to middle Miocene time.     

Geochemical,Sr–Nd–Pb isotope,and zircon U–Pb geochronological constraints on the origin of Early Permian mafic dikes,northern North China Craton

Dolerite dike swarms are widespread across the North China Craton (NCC) of Hebei Province (China) and Inner Mongolia. Here, we report new geochemical, Sr–Nd–Pb isotope, and U–Pb zircon ages for representative samples of these dikes. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb analysis yielded consistent Permian ages of 274.8 ± 2.9 and 275.0 ± 4.5 Ma for zircons extracted from two dikes. The dolerites have highly variable compositions (SiO₂ = 46.99–56.18 wt.%, TiO₂ = 1.27–2.39 wt.%, Al₂O₃ = 14.42–16.20 wt.%, MgO = 5.18–7.75 wt.%, Fe₂O₃ = 8.03–13.52 wt.%, CaO = 5.18–9.75 wt.%, Na₂O = 2.46–3.79 wt.%, K₂O = 0.26–2.35 wt.%, and P₂O₅ = 0.18–0.37 wt.%) and are light rare earth element (LREE) and large ion lithophile element (LILE, e.g. Rb, Ba, and K, and Pb in sample SXG1-9) enriched, and Th and high field strength element (HFSE, e.g. Nb and Ta in sample SXG1-9, and Ti) depleted. The mafic dikes have relatively uniform (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i values from 0.7031 to 0.7048, (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i from 17.77 to 17.976, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i from 15.50 to 15.52, (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i from 37.95 to 38.03, and positive ?_Nd(t) (3.6–7.3), and variable neodymium model ages (T_DM1 = 0.75–0.99 Ga, T_DM2 = 0.34–0.74 Ga). These data suggest that the dike magmas were derived from partial melting of a depleted region of the asthenospheric mantle, and that they fractionated olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase, K-feldspar, and Ti-bearing phases without undergoing significant crustal contamination. These mafic dikes within the NCC formed during a period of crustal thinning in response to extension after Permian collision between the NCC and the Siberian Block.     

Petrogenesis of Late Carboniferous granitoids in the Chihu area of Eastern Tianshan,Northwest China,and tectonic implications: geochronological,geochemical, and zircon Hf–O isotopic constraints

ABSTRACT

This contribution presents new SIMS zircon U–Pb geochronology, major and trace element geochemistry, and zircon Hf–O isotope systematic on an example of Late Carboniferous granodiorite and porphyritic granodiorite intrusions from the Chihu area of Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang. SIMS zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the Chihu granodiorite and porphyritic granodiorite formed at 320.2 ± 2.4 Ma and 314.5 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively. These rocks are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous with an A/CNK value of 0.92–1.58, as well as low 10000 Ga/Al, Zr + Nb + Y + Ce, and Fe₂O₃^T/MgO values, which suggest an I-type normal island arc magmatic suite. The porphyritic granodiorite has a slightly higher Sr/Y ratio (28–37) and lower Y (6.9–11.7 ppm) and Yb (0.98–1.49 ppm) contents, suggesting mild adakite affinities. In situ Hf–O isotopic analyses using LA-ICP-MS-MC and SIMS indicate that the ε_Hf(t) and δ¹⁸O values of granodiorite zircons vary from +11.5 to +14.9 and 4.80 to 5.85 ‰, respectively, similar to values for porphyritic granodiorite zircons, which vary from +11.9 to +17.2 and 3.78 to 4.71 ‰, respectively. The geochemical and isotopic data imply that the Chihu granodiorite and porphyritic granodiorite share a common origin, most likely derived from partial melts of the subduction-modified mantle. Based on the regional geological history, geochemistry of the Chihu intrusions, and new isotopic studies, we suggest that the Late Carboniferous magma was generated during the period of the northward subduction of the Palaeo-Tianshan ocean plate beneath the Dananhu–Tousuquan island arc.     

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Early Cretaceous Granitic Plutons in the Xing’an Massif, Great Xing’an Range, NE China: Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

In this study, we present zircon U-Pb ages, whole-rock geochemical data and Hf isotopic compositions for the Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons in Xing'an Massif, Great Xing'an Range, which can provide important information in deciphering both Mesozoic magmatism and tectonic evolution of NE China. The zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that alkali feldspar granite from Meiguifeng pluton was emplaced at ～145 to 137 Ma, and granite porphyry of Arxan pluton was formed at ～129 Ma. The Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons have similar geochemical features, which are characterized by high silica, total alkalis, differentiation index, with low P_2O_5, CaO, MgO, TFe_2O_3 contents. They belong to high-K calc-alkaline series, and show weakly peraluminous characteristics. The Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons are both enriched in LREEs and LILEs(e.g., Rb, Th, U and K), and depleted in HREEs and HFSEs(e.g., Nb, Ta and Ti). Combined with the petrological and geochemical features, the Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons show highly fractionated I-type granite affinity. Moreover, the Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons may share a common or similar magma source, and they were probably generated by partial melting of Neoproterozoic high-K basaltic crust. Meanwhile, plagioclase, K-feldspar, biotite, apatite, monazite, allanite and Ti-bearing phases fractionated from the magma during formation of Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons. Combined with spatial distribution and temporal evolution, we assume that the generation of Early Cretaceous Meiguifeng and Arxan plutons in Great Xing'an Range was closely related to the break-off of Mudanjiang oceanic plate. Furthermore, the Mudanjiang Ocean was probably a branch of Paleo-Pacific Ocean.     

U–Pb ID-TIMS dating of igneous and metaigneous rocks from the El-Sibai area: time constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

This paper presents new ID-TIMS U–Pb zircon and titanite ages from the El-Sibai gneiss complex in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The zircon data support previous studies, indicating that the protoliths of the gneissic (oldest) units in the area were emplaced during the East African orogeny, and do not represent an older pre-Neoproterozoic, reworked cratonic basement. The crystallization ages of three compositionally distinct orthogneiss protoliths are c. 685, 682 and 679 Ma, respectively. A U–Pb titanite age from one orthogneiss overlaps with the protolith age, indicating that the gneisses did not undergo post-magmatic high-temperature metamorphism. The gneissic textures of the rocks are therefore interpreted to reflect syn-emplacement deformation. This, and evidence for static amphibolite facies metamorphism in country-rock metavolcanics, lead us to conclude that the gneisses of El-Sibai do not represent an exhumed middle crustal gneiss dome, but are part of the island arc affined allochthon into which they were emplaced synchronously with NW-ward nappe translation. We also report ages from rocks cross-cutting the gneisses and the surrounding island arc affined assemblages that yield the hitherto youngest robust pre-Cretaceous intrusive ages in the Eastern Desert. The dated rocks are an anorthosite and a cross-cutting syenogranite giving ages of c. 541 and 540 Ma, respectively. We consider this late magmatic pulse to be anorogenic, most likely reflecting a separate extensional event involving asthenospheric upwelling and decompression melting of the mantle.     

U–Pb (zircon) and geochemical constraints on the age,origin, and evolution of Paleozoic arc magmas in the Oyu Tolgoi porphyry Cu–Au district,southern Mongolia

Uranium–Pb (zircon) ages are linked with geochemical data for porphyry intrusions associated with giant porphyry Cu–Au systems at Oyu Tolgoi to place those rocks within the petrochemical framework of Devonian and Carboniferous rocks of southern Mongolia. In this part of the Gurvansayhan terrane within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the transition from Devonian tholeiitic marine rocks to unconformably overlying Carboniferous calc-alkaline subaerial to shallow marine volcanic rocks reflects volcanic arc thickening and maturation. Radiogenic Nd and Pb isotopic compositions (ε_Nd(t) range from + 3.1 to + 7.5 and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values for feldspars range from 17.97 to 18.72), as well as low high-field strength element (HFSE) contents of most rocks (mafic rocks typically have < 1.5% TiO₂) are consistent with magma derivation from depleted mantle in an intra-oceanic volcanic arc. The Late Devonian and Carboniferous felsic rocks are dominantly medium- to high-K calc-alkaline and characterized by a decrease in Sr/Y ratios through time, with the Carboniferous rocks being more felsic than those of Devonian age. Porphyry Cu–Au related intrusions were emplaced in the Late Devonian during the transition from tholeiitic to calc-alkaline arc magmatism. Uranium–Pb (zircon) geochronology indicates that the Late Devonian pre- to syn-mineral quartz monzodiorite intrusions associated with the porphyry Cu–Au deposits are ~ 372 Ma, whereas granodiorite intrusions that post-date major shortening and are associated with less well-developed porphyry Cu–Au mineralization are ~ 366 Ma. Trace element geochemistry of zircons in the Late Devonian intrusions associated with the porphyry Cu–Au systems contain distinct Th/U and Yb/Gd ratios, as well as Hf and Y concentrations that reflect mixing of magma of distinct compositions. These characteristics are missing in the unmineralized Carboniferous intrusions. High Sr/Y and evidence for magma mixing in syn- to late-mineral intrusions distinguish the Late Devonian rocks associated with giant Cu–Au deposits from younger magmatic suites in the district.     

U–Pb zircon dating, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions of Early Indosinian intrusive rocks in West Qinling, central China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

The Qinling–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt is the junction between the North and South China blocks, which resulted from the final amalgamation of China continents during the Indosinian. Indosinian granitoids are widespread in the Qinling orogen, and their geneses can thus constrain the evolution of China continent. We carried out a combined U–Pb zircon dating and geochemical study for the Shuangpengxi granodiorite pluton and the Xiekeng diorite–granodiorite pluton in the middle part of the West Qinling orogen. U–Pb zircon dating shows that the magma crystallization ages of 242 ± 3 Ma for the Shuangpengxi pluton and ~244–242 Ma for the Xiekeng pluton. Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions reveal that the magma of the Shuangpengxi granodiorite was derived from partial melting of crustal materials. The Xiekeng diorites can be divided into high-Al diorite and high-Mg diorite. Both of them resulted from partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle, but their mantle source had been modified by previous slab-derived melt. The high-Al diorite was formed by fractional crystallization of olivine, pyroxene and/or preferential accumulation of plagioclase, and the high-Mg diorite was formed by fractional crystallization of olivine and/or preferential accumulation of pyroxene. The Xiekeng granodioritic porphyry was formed by mixing of crust-derived and mantle-derived melts. We propose that the Early Indosinian magmatism resulted from break-off of subducted oceanic slab after collision. The slab break-off model can well explain the linear distribution of the Early Indosinian plutons and rapid crustal uplift during the Middle Triassic in the West Qinling.     

Age,evolution and regional setting of the Palaeoproterozoic Umba igneous suite in the Kolvitsa–Umba zone,Kola Peninsula: constraints from new geological,geochemical and U–Pb zircon data

The Umba igneous complex consists of an enderbite–charnockite suite, including porphyritic variety of charnockites, and a porphyritic granite. Both are intruded by irregular veins or minor bodies of later reddish granite. The porphyritic charnockites locally contains abundant xenoliths of country rocks and its contamination by sedimentary material is expressed by a minor content of garnet, that increases in amount in areas with sedimentary inclusions. The Umba igneous complex and the Umba block metasediments were deformed together during two episodes of deformation. The first one was a major episode of thrusting with the formation of a penetrative shear foliation (S₁), which dips gently eastwards, and a gently SE-plunging lineation. Coeval with this thrusting, the boundary between the Umba block and the Poriya Guba series in the southeast developed as a strike-slip shear zone, that juxtaposed the two blocks along a tectonic melange zone. The S₁-shearing deformed the enderbite–charnockite suite, and probably also the porphyritic granite, into plate-like, eastward-dipping bodies. Predating the shearing, the metasediments underwent high-grade metamorphism and anatexis leading to a high degree of partial melting. This anatexis is also found in the enderbite–charnockite suite, but in a much smaller scale and mainly in the marginal parts of the bodies. The second episode of deformation formed narrow localized extensional shear zones (S₂), which are developed in all rock units. The S₁-shearing in the tectonic melange zone occurred under high-pressure metamorphism during cooling at constant pressure (T=806–818°C, P=9.3–9.5 kbar) and then at decreasing pressure due to tectonic uplift. Both seem to have gone through the same deformation events as the metasediments. The S₂-extension occurred under decompression (P=7.5–8.0 kbar, T=860–840°C) caused by uplift or tectonic erosion of the thrust pile. Though indistinguishable in the field the enderbite–charnockite suite form a discontinuous suite with a trondhjemitic trend for the former, and a calc–alkaline trend for the latter. Geochemical study shows that the charnockite group is more strongly differentiated than the enderbite group and that magmatic differentiation in the charnockites were controlled by K-feldspar fractionation. The enderbites, on the other hand, lack differentiation and are considered to have crystallized rapidly from its magma source. The charnockites came from a different source that, judging from the high K/Rb ratio, formed at a deeper crustal level than the enderbites. Both members of the enderbite–charnockite suite formed due to subduction in an island arc setting, and Sm–Nd model ages of 2.1–1.9 Ga indicate that the Palaeoproterozoic suite has a juvenile character. Conventional U-Pb zircon dating of the porphyritic charnockite has given discordant ages of 1912.5±7.7 Ma, 1949±7 Ma and 1966±9. Our preferred interpretation is that the 1912.5±7.7 Ma age represents the age of intrusion, or maximum intrusion age of the charnockites, and that the 1949±7 Ma and 1966±9 Ma ages for the abraded type represent ages or mixed ages of inherited zircons from the contaminating Umba block metasediments. The youngest detrital zircons in these metasediments have similar ages. Their source could have been early magmatic arc intrusives, which were eroded shortly after their formation. If the Umba metasediments were deposited in a magmatic arc setting their initial deformation in an evolving arc may have provided the necessary heat flow for anatexis and high-grade peak metamorphism of the metasediments. Therefore, the intrusions of the enderbite–charnokite suite during the later evolution of the magmatic arc could have post-dated the peak of metamorphism, but still pre-date collision and thrusting leading to tectonic telescoping of the units, and thus explain the lower metamorphic grade in the Umba igneous complex compared to the metasediments. If the 1912.5±7.7 Ma age represents the maximum time of intrusion, the true intrusion age might be slightly younger.     

Early Cretaceous continental arc-related volcanic rocks in the Duobuzha area,northern Tibet: implications for evolution history of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean

New whole-rock major and trace elements data, zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb ages, and zircon Hf isotope compositions were analysed for Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks, also called Meiriqieco Formation (MF) in the Duobuzha area of the Southern Qiangtang–Baoshan Block (SQBB), northern Tibet. Our aim is to clarify their petrogenesis and tectonic setting, and constrain the evolution process on the northern margin of Bangong–Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ) during Early Cretaceous time. The MF volcanic rocks are mainly composed of andesites with subordinate basalts and rhyolites with high-K calc-alkaline affinity. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating for two andesite and one rhyolite samples give uniform ages within error of ca.113, 114, and 118 Ma, respectively, indicating they were erupted on the Early Cretaceous. The MF andesites have variable zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+0.5 to +10.5), which is different from those of MF rhyolites (+7.9 to +10.7). All the MF rocks are enriched in large ion lithophile elements, and depleted in high field strength elements, yielding the affinity of arc rocks. The MF basalts were most likely derived from the mantle wedge that was metasomatized by fluids released from subducting slab with the involvement of subducted sediments. The MF rhyolites were generated by partial melting of the juvenile mafic lower crust. The MF andesites are interpreted to have formed by mixing of the magmas that parental of the MF basalts and the MF rhyolites. In addition, a couple of distinctly magmatic sources are identified in the SQBB, and this may be related to mantle components injected into the continental crust. Combined with published geological data in the BNSZ and SQBB, we consider that the MF volcanic rocks are formed in a continental arc setting, suggesting that BNO were subducting during the Early Cretaceous time in the Duobuzha area.     

Late Palaeozoic igneous rocks of the Great Xing’an Range,NE China: the Tayuan example

ABSTRACT

The Tayuan plutons located at the boundary of the Erguna and Xing’an blocks expose a coexisting mafic–felsic association that is made of monzogranite and gabbro-monzodiorite as well as subordinate quartz monzonite. LA–ICP–MS U–Pb zircon dating revealed a synchronous emplacement of the monzogranite (314–317 Ma), gabbro (308–315 Ma), and quartz monzonite (310 ± 3 Ma). The majority of these intrusions are characterized by an enrichment in light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements and a depletion of high strength field elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti). Zircons from the gabbro and monzogranite have ε_Hf(t) values of 1.1–9.6 and ?3.0–3.3, respectively. Geochemical data show that the gabbro-monzodiorite may have been generated by the melting of a fluid-metasomatized lithospheric mantle, while the monzogranite may have been formed by a partial melting of the Mesoproterozoic crust. The quartz monzonite has similar whole-rock geochemical and Hf isotopic compositions to those of the gabbros and could have been produced from the same mantle source as that from which the gabbros were extracted. The Tayuan plutonic rocks have high contents of K₂O and total alkalis and show a northwestward polarity like that of the continental margin plutonic rocks along the Hegenshan–Heihe suture zone. Combined with data from published studies, our data indicate that the Tayuan intrusive rocks were generated by the northwestward subduction of the Hegenshan–Heihe Oceanic plate.     

Crust–mantle interaction triggered by oblique subduction of the Pacific plate: geochronological,geochemical, and Hf isotopic evidence from the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of Zhejiang Province,southeast China

Large-scale volcanism in the late Mesozoic was a prominent geological event in southeast China. The late Mesozoic volcanic sequences, named the Moshishan Group, are exposed in Zhejiang Province and are predominantly felsic in composition with subordinate mafic magma and rare andesites. To understand the late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of southeast China, we present zircon U–Pb dating, major and trace element analyses, and Hf isotopic compositions from felsic volcanic rocks of the Moshishan Group. Zircon U–Pb dating shows that the Moshishan Group formed between 145 and 129 Ma. The ε_Hf(t) of the analysed zircons ranges from ?16.58 to +6.89, and the T_DM2 age ranges from 753 to 2238 Ma with a major peak at ca. 1870 Ma. Hf isotopic compositions of zircons in Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks are more radiogenic than that of the metamorphic basement rocks, indicating a juvenile component in these magmas. Major element concentrations show that the volcanic rocks mainly belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series. Both zircon saturation temperatures and the ε_Hf(t) values of zircons gradually increased with the evolution of the magma. Trace element data indicates that neither magmatic differentiation of mantle-derived magma nor mixing of magmas from different sources were the predominant magmagenetic processes. Earlier studies suggest that contemporaneous underplating contributed to the heat source that induced crustal melting and to the material origin that inconsistently mixed with the local crustal melts. Magmatic underplating is likely to have occurred because of the southwestward subduction of the Pacific plate with episodic slab rollback. The data obtained in this study suggest that the crust–mantle interaction under the influence of slab rollback played a progressive role in the formation of Early Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks in southeast China.     

Origin of the Late Cretaceous syenite from Yandangshan,SE China,constrained by zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopes and geochemical data

The Yandangshan syenite is a representative Late Cretaceous igneous pluton cropping out in SE China. U–Pb zircon dating using LA‐ICP‐MS yielded a crystallization age of 98±1 Ma for the syenite. Petrographically and geochemically of shoshonitic affinity, it is enriched in LREE and LILE, and has a pronounced Nb–Ta trough in the primitive mantle‐normalized trace element spider diagram. Zircon ?_Hf(t) values vary from ?3.04 to ?7.71, displaying a unimodal distribution. The syenite also has high Sr [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i  = 0.7086–0.7089], low Nd [?_Nd(t) = ?6.57 to ?7.64] isotopic ratios, plotting in the enriched mantle field on an ?_Nd(t) versus (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i diagram. We propose that the Yandangshan syenite was generated by pyroxene‐dominated high‐pressure fractional crystallization from basaltic magma that was derived from an enriched mantle source. Although coexisting Yandangshan rhyolites have Sr–Nd isotopic compositions similar to the Yandangshan syenite, they were not derived from the same source. Instead, the rhyolitic magma was produced by partial melting of crustal materials as a result of the underplating of basaltic magma. The crust‐like Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic signature of the Yandangshan syenite is ascribed to mantle sources that were enriched by subducted sediments. Formation of Yandangshan syenite may represent roll‐back of the subducting palaeo‐Pacific plate and migration of the arc front to the Yandangshan area at ～98 Ma.