Early Mesozoic southward subduction history of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate: Evidence from geochronology and geochemistry of Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the Erguna Massif,NE China

In this paper we present new zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotope data, and whole-rock major and trace element data for Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the Erguna Massif of NE China, and we use these data to constrain the history of southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate, and its influence on NE China as a whole. The zircon U–Pb dating indicates that Early Mesozoic magmatic activity in the Erguna Massif can be subdivided into four stages at ~ 246 Ma, ~ 225 Ma, ~ 205 Ma, and ~ 185 Ma. The ~ 246 Ma intrusive rocks comprise a suite of high-K calc-alkaline diorites, quartz diorites, granodiorites, monzogranites, and syenogranites, with I-type affinities. The ~ 225 Ma intrusive rocks consist of gabbro–diorites and granitoids, and they constitute a bimodal igneous association. The ~ 205 Ma intrusive rocks are dominated by calc-alkaline I-type granitoids that are accompanied by subordinate intermediate–mafic rocks. The ~ 185 Ma intrusive rocks are dominated by I-type granitoids, accompanied by minor amounts of A-types. These Early Mesozoic granitoids mainly originated by partial melting of a depleted and heterogeneous lower crust, whereas the coeval mafic rocks were probably derived from partial melting of a depleted mantle modified by subduction-related fluids. The rock associations and their geochemical features indicate that the ~ 246 Ma, ~ 205 Ma, and ~ 185 Ma intrusive rocks formed in an active continental margin setting related to the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. The ~ 225 Ma bimodal igneous rock association formed within an extensional environment in a pause during the subduction process of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. Every magmatic stage has its own corresponding set of porphyry deposits in the southeast of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt. Taking all this into account, we conclude the following: (1) during the Early Mesozoic, the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate was subducted towards the south beneath the Erguna Massif, but with a pause in subduction at ~ 225 Ma; and (2) the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate not only caused the intense magmatic activity, but was also favorable to the formation of porphyry deposits.     

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tectonic Subdivision of Dabie Orogenic Belt,Central China：Evidence from Pb Isotope Geochemistry of Late Mesozoic Basalts

It has long been debated that the Dabie orogenic belt belongs to the North China or Yangtze craton. In recent years, eastern China has been suggested, based on the Pb isotopic compositions of Phanerozoic ore and Mesozoic granitoid K-feldspar (revealing the crust Pb) in combination with Meso-Cenozoic basalts (revealing the mantle Pb), being divided into the North China and Yangtze Pb isotopic provinces, where the crust and mantle of the Yangtze craton are characterized by more radiogenic Pb. In this sense, previous researchers suggested that the pro-EW-trending Dabie crogenic belt with less radiogenic Pb in the crust was part of the North China craton. In this paper, however, the Late Cretaceous basalts in the central and southern parts of the Dabie orogenic belt are characterized by some more radiogenic Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=17.936−18.349,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.500−15.688,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.399−38.775) and a unique U-Th-Pb trace element system similar to those of the Yangtze craton, showing that the Mesozoic mantle is of the Yangtze type. In addition, the decoupled Pb isotopic compositions between crust and mantle were considerably derived from their rheological inhomogeneity, implying a complicated evolution of the Dabie orogenic belt. The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 49794043) and the Open Laboratory of Constitution, Interaction and Dynamics of the Crust-Mantle System, China.     

The Middle–Late Triassic Closure of the East Paleotethys Ocean: Paleomagnetic Evidence from the Baoshan Terrane, China

正Objective It is still controversial about when,where and how the East Paleotethys Ocean closed due to the lack of reliable paleomagnetic data from the blocks or terranes located in both sides of the suture,which prohibits our better understanding of a series of key scientific issues such as how major blocks of East Asia collided together,and the     

Late Mesozoic Exhumation of the Huangling Massif: Constraints on the Evolution of the Middle Yangtze River

Plate subduction leads to complex exhumation processes on continents. The Huangling Massif lies at the northern margin of the South China Block. Whether the Huangling Massif was exhumed as a watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River during the Mesozoic remains under debate. We examined the exhumation history of the Huangling Massif based on six granite bedrock samples, using apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He (AHe and ZHe) thermochronology. These samples yielded ages of 157–132 Ma (ZHe), 119–106 Ma (AFT), and 114–72 Ma (AHe), respectively. Thermal modeling revealed that three phases of rapid cooling occurred during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, late Early Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous. These exhumation processes led to the high topographic relief responsible for the emergence of the Huangling Massif. The integrated of our new data with published sedimentological records suggests that the Huangling Massif might have been the watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River since the Cretaceous. At that time, the rivers flowed westward into the Sichuan Basin and eastward into the Jianghan Basin. The subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Asian continent in the Mesozoic deeply influenced the geomorphic evolution of the South China Block.     

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

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

Thermochronology of the Angara–Vitim Granitoid Batholith as an Evolution Record of the Mongol–Okhotsk Orogen

Doklady Earth Sciences - The thermal history of the Late Paleozoic granitoids of the Angara–Vitim batholith (AVB) was reconstructed using a comprehensive approach including U/Pb, 40Ar/39Ar,...     

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

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

Polyphase Deformation of the Weihai-Rongcheng UHP Unit Rocks, NE Sulu： Insights into the Tectonic Evolution of the Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP Belts, China

Different scales of structural data reveal a complex deformation history of ultrahigh- pressure （UHP） rocks exposed in the Weihai-Rongcbeng area, NE Sulu （northern Jiangsu-eastern Shandong）, eastern China. Excluding pre-UHP deformations, at least five major sequential deformational stages （D1-Ds） are recognized. The first deformation （DO produced a weak foliation and lineation in massive eclogites. The foliated eclogite with a dominant foliation containing a stretching and mineral lineation was developed during the I）2 deformation. Both the D1 and D2 deformations occurred under UHP metamorphic conditions, and are well preserved in the eclogite bodies. D3 structures which developed shortly after the formation of granulite/amphibolite facies symplectites are characterized by imbricated associations marked by a regional, steeply dipping foliation, compositional layering, eclogite boudinage, isoclinal folds and reverse ductile shear zones. The D3 deformation was accompanied by decompressional partial melting. A regional, gently dipping amphibolite facies foliation and stretching lineation, low-angle detachments, and dome- and arc-shaped structures formed during the D4 deformation stage dominate to some degree the map pattern of the Weihai-Rongcbeng UHP domain. The last stage of deformation （Ds） gave rise to the final exhumation of the UHP rocks. Ds is characterized by development of brittle-dominated high-angle faulting associated with emplacement of large volmnes of undeformed granite plutons and dykes dated at 134-100 Ma. The deformational and metamorphic sequence followed by the UHP rocks in the Weihai-Rongcheng area is similar to that studied in the entire Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts from microscopic to mapping scale. Based on structural data, combined with available petrographic, metamorphic and geochronological data, a speculative tectonic evolutionary model for the Dabie-Sulu UHP and IIP belts is proposed, involving continental subduction/collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons and subsequent polyphase exhumation histories of the UHP and IIP metamorphic rocks.     

Geochemistry of Mesoproterozoic Volcanic Rocks in the Western Kunlun Mountains: Evidence for Plate Tectonic Evolution

Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks occurring in the north of the western Kunlun Mountains can be divided into two groups. The first group (north belt) is an reversely-evolved bimodal series. Petrochemistry shows that the alkalinity of the rocks decreases from early to late: alkaline→calc-alkaline→tholeiite, and geochemistry proves that the volcanic rocks were formed in rifting tectonic systems. The sedimentary facies shows characteristics of back-arc basins. The second (south belt) group, which occurs to the south of Yutian-Minfeng-Cele, is composed of calc-alkaline island arc (basaltic) andesite and minor rhyolite. The space distribution, age and geochemistry of the two volcanite groups indicate that they were formed in a back-arc basin (the first group) and an island arc (the second group) respectively and indicate the plate evolution during the Mesoproterozoic. The orogeny took place at -1.05 Ga, which was coeval with the Grenville orogeny. This study has provided important geological data for explorin     

Evolution process of the Late Silurian–Late Devonian tectonic environment in Qimantagh in the western portion of east Kunlun,China: Evidence from the geochronology and geochemistry of granitoids

Journal of Earth System Science - The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt has undergone a composite orogenic process consisting of multiple orogenic cycles and involving many types of magmatic rocks spread...     

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

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

Tectonic nature of the NE Asian continental margin during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous: constraints from the geochronology and geochemistry of igneous rocks in the NE North China Craton

ABSTRACT

This paper presents geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Hf–O isotope data for late Mesozoic intrusive rocks from the northeastern North China Craton (NCC), with the aim of constraining the late Mesozoic tectonic nature of the NE Asian continental margin. U–Pb zircon data indicate that the Late Mesozoic magmatism in the northeastern NCC can be subdivided into two stages: Late Jurassic (161 ? 156 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (125 ? 120 Ma). Late Jurassic magmatism consists mainly of monzogranites. These monzogranites display high Sr/Y ratios and the tetrad effect in their REE, respectively, and have negative ε_Hf(t) values (?22.6 to ?15.8). The former indicates that the primary magma was generated by partial melting of thickened NCC lower crust, the latter suggests that the monzogranites were crystallized from highly fractionated magma, with the primary magma derived from partial melting of lower continental crust. Combined with the spatial distribution and rock associations of the Late Jurassic granitoids, we conclude that the Late Jurassic magmatism in the eastern NCC formed in a compressional environment related to oblique subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasia. The Early Cretaceous magmatism consists mainly of granitoids and quartz diorites. The quartz diorites formed by mixing of melts derived from the mantle and lower crust. The coeval granitoids are classified as high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous series. Some of the granitoids are similar to A-type granites. The granitoid ε_Hf(t) values and T_DM2 range from ?14.3 to ?1.4 and 2089 to 1274 Ma, respectively. These values indicate that their primary magma was derived from partial melting of lower crustal material of the NCC, but with a contribution of mantle-derived material. We therefore conclude that Early Cretaceous magmatism in the northeastern NCC occurred in an extensional environment related to westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath Eurasia.     

A New Titanosaurian Sauropod from Late Cretaceous of Nei Mongol, China

A specimen collected from the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation of Nei Mongol （Inner Mongolia）, China, represents a new genus and species of titanosaurian sauropod. The new taxon is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises several dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, and much of the pelvis. Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge extending down from the postzygapophysis on the lateral surface of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal limina and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial surface of the ilium, among others. The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution.     

Recycling of crustal materials and implications for lithospheric thinning:Evidence from Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Hailar–Tamtsag Basin,NE China

Late Mesozoic Nb-rich basaltic andesites and high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks from the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin,northeast China,provide important insights into the recycling processes of crustal materials and their role in late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning.The Late Jurassic Nb-rich basaltic andesites(154 ± 4 Ma) are enriched in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements,slightly depleted in high-field-strength elements,and have high TiO_2,P_2 O_5,and Nb contents,and(Nb/Th)PM and Nb/U ratios,which together with the relatively depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions indicate a derivation from a mantle wedge metasomatized by hydrous melts from subducted oceanic crust.The Early Cretaceous high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks(129-117 Ma) are characterized by low Y and heavy rare earth element contents,and high Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios,similar to those of rocks derived from partial melting of an eclogitic source.They also have high Rb/Sr, K_2 O/Na_2 O,and Mg#values,and high MgO, Cr, and Ni contents.These geochemical features sugge st that the adakitic lavas were derived from partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust,followed by interaction of the resulting melts with mantle material during their ascent Our data,along with available geological,paleomagnetic,and geophysical evidence,lead us to propose that recycling of Paleo-Pacific oceanic crustal materials into the upper mantle due to flat-slab subduction and rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the late Mesozoic likely provided the precondition for lithospheric thinning in northeast China,with consequent lithospheric delamination causing recycling of continental crustal materials and further lithospheric thinning.     

Evolution of the Mesozoic Granites in the Xiong''''ershan-Waifangshan Region,Western Henan Province,China,and Its Tectonic Implications

Based on the new data of isotopic ages and geochemical analyses, three types of Mesozoic granites have been identified for the Xiong'ershan-Waifangshan region in western Henan Province: high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite emplaced in the early stage (～160 Ma),Ⅰ-type granite in the middle stage (～130 Ma) and anorogenic A-type granite in the late stage (～115 Ma). Geochemical characteristics of the high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite suggest that it may have been generated from the thickened lower crust by partial melting with primary residues of amphibole and garnet. Gradual increase of negative Eu anomaly and Sr content variations reflect progressive shallowing of the source regions of these granites from the early to late stage. New 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of the early-stage Wuzhangshan granite (156.0±1.1 Ma, amphibole) and middle-stage Heyu granite (131.8±0.7 Ma, biotite) are indistinguishable from their SHRIMP U-Pb ages previous published, indicating a rapid uplift and erosion in this region. The representative anorogenic A-type granite, Taishanmiao pluton, was emplaced at～115 Ma. The evolution of the granites in this region reveals a tectonic regime change from post-collisional to anorogenic between～160 Ma and～115 Ma. The genesis of the early- and middle-stageⅠ-type granites could be linked to delamination of subducted lithosphere of the Qiniing orogenic belt, while the late-stage A-type granites represent the onset of extension and the end of orogenic process. In fact, along the Qiniing -Dabie-Sulu belt, the Mesozoic granitoids in western Henan, Dabieshan and Jiaodong regions are comparable on the basis of these temporal evolutionary stages and their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, which may suggest a similar geodynamic process related to the collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons.     

Evolution of the Mesozoic Granites in the Xiong'ershan-Waifangshan Region,Western Henan Province,China,and Its Tectonic Implications

Based on the new data of isotopic ages and geochemical analyses, three types of Mesozoic granites have been identified for the Xiong'ershan-Waifangshan region in western Henan Province: high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite emplaced in the early stage (～160 Ma),Ⅰ-type granite in the middle stage (～130 Ma) and anorogenic A-type granite in the late stage (～115 Ma). Geochemical characteristics of the high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite suggest that it may have been generated from the thickened lower crust by partial melting with primary residues of amphibole and garnet. Gradual increase of negative Eu anomaly and Sr content variations reflect progressive shallowing of the source regions of these granites from the early to late stage. New 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of the early-stage Wuzhangshan granite (156.0±1.1 Ma, amphibole) and middle-stage Heyu granite (131.8±0.7 Ma, biotite) are indistinguishable from their SHRIMP U-Pb ages previous published, indicating a rapid uplift and erosion in this region. The representative anorogenic A-type granite, Taishanmiao pluton, was emplaced at～115 Ma. The evolution of the granites in this region reveals a tectonic regime change from post-collisional to anorogenic between～160 Ma and～115 Ma. The genesis of the early- and middle-stageⅠ-type granites could be linked to delamination of subducted lithosphere of the Qiniing orogenic belt, while the late-stage A-type granites represent the onset of extension and the end of orogenic process. In fact, along the Qiniing -Dabie-Sulu belt, the Mesozoic granitoids in western Henan, Dabieshan and Jiaodong regions are comparable on the basis of these temporal evolutionary stages and their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, which may suggest a similar geodynamic process related to the collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons.     

Evolution of the Mesozoic Granites in the Xiong''ershan-Waifangshan Region,Western Henan Province,China,and Its Tectonic Implications

Based on the new data of isotopic ages and geochemical analyses, three types of Mesozoic granites have been identified for the Xiong'ershan-Waifangshan region in western Henan Province: high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite emplaced in the early stage (～160 Ma),Ⅰ-type granite in the middle stage (～130 Ma) and anorogenic A-type granite in the late stage (～115 Ma). Geochemical characteristics of the high-Ba-SrⅠ-type granite suggest that it may have been generated from the thickened lower crust by partial melting with primary residues of amphibole and garnet. Gradual increase of negative Eu anomaly and Sr content variations reflect progressive shallowing of the source regions of these granites from the early to late stage. New 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of the early-stage Wuzhangshan granite (156.0±1.1 Ma, amphibole) and middle-stage Heyu granite (131.8±0.7 Ma, biotite) are indistinguishable from their SHRIMP U-Pb ages previous published, indicating a rapid uplift and erosion in this region. The representative anorogenic A-type granite, Taishanmiao pluton, was emplaced at～115 Ma. The evolution of the granites in this region reveals a tectonic regime change from post-collisional to anorogenic between～160 Ma and～115 Ma. The genesis of the early- and middle-stageⅠ-type granites could be linked to delamination of subducted lithosphere of the Qiniing orogenic belt, while the late-stage A-type granites represent the onset of extension and the end of orogenic process. In fact, along the Qiniing -Dabie-Sulu belt, the Mesozoic granitoids in western Henan, Dabieshan and Jiaodong regions are comparable on the basis of these temporal evolutionary stages and their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios, which may suggest a similar geodynamic process related to the collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons.