Caledonian Low-Temperature Granulite-Facies Metamorphism in the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt-SHRIMP Chronological Evidence from Zircon

1IntroductionTheWestKunlunorogenicbeltbordersontheTarimplateinthenorth ,linkswiththeKarakorum Qiangtangblockinthesouth ,iscutbytheAltunfaultintheeast,andextendswest wardstothePamirPlateau (BureauofGeologyandMineralResources,Xinjiang ,1 999;JiangChunfaetal.,2 0 0 0 ) .OnthebasisofthediscoveryoftheKudaophioliteandaseriesofstudies(DingDaoguietal.,1 996 ;PanYushengetal.,1 994 ,1 999;WangZhihongetal.,2 0 0 0 ;PanYushengetal.,2 0 0 0 ) ,thepreviousgeologicalworkerscommonlyacceptedthatthereh…     

Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Petrogenesis of Early–Midlle Permian Arc–Related Volcanic Rocks in Central Jilin: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Segment of Central Asian Orogenic Belt

This paper presents age and geochemical data of a recently identified Late Paleozoic volcanic sequence in central Jilin Province, with aims to discuss the petrogenesis and to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in this area. Firstly, the volcanic rocks have zircon U-Pb ages of 290–270 Ma. Secondly, they are characterized by(a) ranging in composition from the low-K tholeiite series to high-K calc-alkaline series;(b) enrichment in light rare earth elements and deple...     

Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon U–Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons: the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism: early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.     

Paleozoic convergence processes in the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Insights from U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from West Junggar,northwestern China

The West Junggar orogen,located in the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),preserves an abundant record of tectonic processes associated with the evolution of the Junggar Ocean.In this study,we use detrital zircon U–Pb age data from Ordovician to Carboniferous sandstones in the southern and central West Junggar domains,complemented by literature data,to better constrain the tectonic evolution of the southwestern CAOB.The Kekeshayi,Qiargaye,and Laba formations in the southern West Junggar domain were deposited during the Darriwilian-Sandbian,Katian-Aeronian,and Homerian-Emsian,respectively.Detrital zircon provenances of these formations display a marked shift from the southern West Junggar domain to the Paleo-Kazakhstan Continent(PKC).This suggests that the southern West Junggar intra-oceanic arc might have gradually accreted to the northern margin of the PKC prior to the Emsian,which has significantly contributed to the lateral growth of the PKC.The Carboniferous strata,Xibeikulasi,Baogutu,and Tailegula formations,in the central West Junggar domain represent a coherent sequence of volcaniclastic turbidites and were deposited in a progressively shrinking remnant oceanic basin during the Visean to Moscovian.They contain unimodal detrital zircon distributions and are derived from the local and coeval magmatic rocks in the central West Junggar domain.We propose that the final closure of the Junggar Ocean likely occurred in the end of the Late Carboniferous in response to regional amalgamation events in the southwestern CAOB,which marks the final assembly of the Kazakhstan Orocline.The central and southern West Junggar domains underwent individual evolution in the Paleozoic,and were recombined by the significant intra-continental reworking along the large-scale strike-slip faults.     

Geochronology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of the Bairiqiete Granodiorite Intrusion (Rock Mass) from the Buqingshan Tectonic Mélange Belt in the Southern Margin of East Kunlun

This study focuses on the zircon U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Bairiqiete granodiorite intrusion(rock mass) from the Buqingshan tectonic mélange belt in the southern margin of East Kunlun. The results show that the zircons are characterized by internal oscillatory zoning and high Th/U(0.14–0.80), indicative of an igneous origin. LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating of zircons from the Bairiqiete granodiorite yielded an age of 439.0 ± 1.9 Ma(MSWD = 0.34), implying that the Bairiqiete granodiorite formed in the early Silurian. Geochemical analyses show that the rocks are medium-K calc-alkaline, relatively high in Al2O3(14.57–18.34 wt%) and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. Rare-earth elements have low concentrations(45.49–168.31 ppm) and incline rightward with weak negative to weak positive Eu anomalies(δEu = 0.64–1.34). Trace-element geochemistry is characterized by negative anomalies of Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti and positive anomalies of Rb, Th and Ba. Moreover, the rocks have similar geochemical features with adakites. The Bairiqiete granodiorite appears to have a continental crust source and formed in a subduction-related island-arc setting. The Bairiqiete granodiorite was formed due to partial melting of the lower crust and suggests subduction in the Buqingshan area of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.     

Surface Processes Driving Intracontinental Basin Subsidence in the Context of India–Eurasia Collision: Evidence from Flexural Subsidence Modeling of the Cenozoic Southern Tarim Basin along the West Kunlun Foreland, NW Tibetan Plateau

The India–Eurasia collision has produced a number of Cenozoic deep intracontinental basins, which bear important information for revealing the far-afield responses to the remote collision. Despite their significance, their subsiding mechanism remains the subject of debate, with end-member models attributing it to either orogenic or sedimentary load. In this study, we conduct flexural subsidence modeling with a two-dimensional finite elastic plate model on the Hotan–Mazatagh section along the southern Tarim Basin, which defines a key region in the foreland of the West Kunlun Orogen, along the NW margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The modeling results indicate that the orogenic load of West Kunlun triggers the southern Tarim Basin to subside by up to less than ~6 km, with its impact weakening towards the basin interiors until ~230 km north from the Karakax fault. The sedimentary load, consisting of Cenozoic strata, forces the basin to subside by ~2 to ~7 km. In combination with the retreat of the proto-Paratethys Sea and the paleogeographic reorganization of the Tarim Basin, we propose that surface processes, in particular a shift from an exorheic to an endorheic drainage system associated with the consequent thick sedimentary load, played a decisive role in forming deep intracontinental basins in the context of the India–Eurasia collision.     

Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic Intrusions Distribution in the North Sanjiang Orogenic Belt, Southwest China: Evidence from Zircon U–Pb Dating and Geochemistry

A mosaic of terranes or blocks and associated Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic sutures are characteristics of the north Sanjiang orogenic belt (NSOB). A detailed field study and sampling across the three magmatic belts in north Sanjiang orogenic belt, which are the Jomda–Weixi magmatic belt, the Yidun magmatic belt and the Northeast Lhasa magmatic belt, yield abundant data that demonstrate multiphase magmatism took place during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. 9 new zircon LA–ICP–MS U–Pb ages and 160 published geochronological data have identified five continuous episodes of magma activities in the NSOB from the Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic: the Late Permian to Early Triassic (c. 261–230 Ma); the Middle to Late Triassic (c. 229–210 Ma); the Early to Middle Jurassic (c. 206–165 Ma); the Early Cretaceous (c. 138–110 Ma) and the Late Cretaceous (c. 103–75 Ma). 105 new and 830 published geochemical data reveal that the intrusive rocks in different episodes have distinct geochemical compositions. The Late Permian to Early Triassic intrusive rocks are all distributed in the Jomda–Weixi magmatic belt, showing arc–like characteristics; the Middle to Late Triassic intrusive rocks widely distributed in both Jomda–Weixi and Yidun magmatic belts, also demonstrating volcanic–arc granite features; the Early to Middle Jurassic intrusive rocks are mostly exposed in the easternmost Yidun magmatic belt and scattered in the westernmost Yangtza Block along the Garzê–Litang suture, showing the properties of syn–collisional granite; nearly all the Early Cretaceous intrusive rocks distributed in the NE Lhasa magmatic belt along Bangong suture, exhibiting both arc–like and syn–collision–like characteristics; and the Late Cretaceous intrusive rocks mainly exposed in the westernmost Yidun magmatic belt, with A–type granite features. These suggest that the co–collision related magmatism in Indosinian period developed in the central and eastern parts of NSOB while the Yanshan period co–collision related magmatism mainly occurred in the west area. In detail, the earliest magmatism developed in late Permian to Triassic and formed the Jomda–Wei magmatic belt, then magmatic activity migrated eastwards and westwards, forming the Yidun magmatic bellt, the magmatism weakend at the end of late Triassic, until the explosure of the magmatic activity occurred in early Cretaceous in the west NSOB, forming the NE Lhasa magmatic belt. Then the magmatism migrated eastwards and made an impact on the within–plate magmatism in Yidun magmatic belt in late Cretaceous.     

Geochronologic Constraints on the Magmatic Underplating of the Gangdisê Belt in the India-Eurasia Collision: Evidence of SHRIMP II Zircon U-Pb Dating

1 Introduction Mo et al. (2005) determined that magma mixing and mingling took place extensively in the Gangdisê magmatic belt around 50 Ma, and argued that magma mixing was genetically related to underplating of mantle-derived magmas beneath that belt. Underplating, as one of the major mechanisms for crustal growth, can occur in the environments of convergent plate boundaries, subduction and collision zones, and in intra-plate settings such as continental flood basalt provinces (Wilson, 19…     

The Geological Significance of the Deformation and Geochronology of the Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone in the Dabie Orogenic Belt (East-Central China)

The Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone(XMSZ) is the boundary of the Dabie High-grade Metamorphic Complex(DHMC) and the North Huaiyang Tectonic Belt. It was deformed in ductile conditions with a top-to-NW/WNW movement.Geothermometers applied to mineral parageneses in mylonites of the shear zone give a temperature range of 623–691°C for the predeformation and 515–568°C for the syndeformation, respectively, which indicates a retrograde process of evolution.A few groups of zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from undeformed granitic veins and different types of deformed rocks in the zone. Zircons from the felsic ultramylonites are all magmatic, producing a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 754 ± 8.1 Ma, which indicates the time of magmatic activities caused by rifting in the Neoproterozoic. Zircons from the granitic veins, cutting into the mylonites, are also of magmatic origin, producing a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 130 ± 2.5 Ma,which represents the time of regional magmatic activity in the Cretaceous. Zircons from the mylonitic gneisses are of anatectic-metamorphic origins and are characterized by a core-mantle interior texture, which yielded several populations of ages including the Neoproterozoic ages with a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 762 ± 18 Ma, similar to that of the felsic ultramylonites and the Early Cretaceous ages with a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 143 ± 1.8 Ma, indicating the anatectic metamorphism in the Dabie Orogenic Belt(DOB). Based on integrated analysis of the structure, thermal conditions of ductile deformation and the contact relations of the dated rocks, the activation time of the Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone is constrained between ～143 Ma and 130 Ma, during which the DOB was undergoing a transition in tectonic regime from compression to extension. Therefore, the deformation and evolution of this shear zone plays an instrumental role in fully understanding this process. This research also inclines us to the interpretation of it as an extensional detachment, with regard to the tectonic properties of the shear zone. It may also be part of a continental scale extension in the background of the North China Block's cratonic destruction, dominated by the subduction and roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific plate, but more detailed work is needed in order to unravel its complicated development.     

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Gabbro and Granite from the Huashan Ophiolite, Qinling Orogenic Belt, China： Neoproterozoic Suture on the Northern Margin of the Yangtze Craton

The recently identified Huashan ophiolitic melange was considered as the eastern part of the Mianliie suture in the Qinling orogenic belt. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology on gabbro from the Huashan ophiolite and granite intruding basic volcanic rocks indicates crystallization ages of 947±14 Ma and 876±17 Ma respectively. These ages do not support a recently proposed Hercynian Huashan Ocean, but rather favor that a Neoproterozoic suture assemblage (ophiolite) is incorporated into the younger (Phanerozoic) Qinling orogenic belt.     

Late Caledonian Ductile Thrusting Deformation in the Central East Kunlun Belt, Qinghal, China and Its Significance： Evidence from Geochronology

Abstract A high‐angle ductile thrusting deformation with top‐to‐the‐north movement penetratively developed in the Proterozoic‐Early Paleozoic metamorphic rocks along the Central East Kunlun belt. The deformed rocks suffered epidote‐amphibolite facies metamorphism. On the basis of our previous study, we present more data in this paper to further support that the ductile thrust deformation occurred in the later Caledonian and more detailed information about the deformation. A zircon U‐Pb concordant age of 446±2.2 Ma of a deformed granodiorite in the ductile thrust zone was obtained and can be interpreted as the lower limit of the deformation. A syntectonically crystallized and also strongly deformed hornblende Ar/Ar dating gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 426.5±3.8 Ma, which represents the deformation age. A strongly orientated muscovite gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 408±1.6 Ma, representing the cooling age after the peak temperature, constraining the upper limit of the ductile thrust deformation. This ductile thrust deformation can be interpreted as the result of the closing of the Central East Kunlun archipelago ocean. To the north, Ar/Ar plateau ages of 382.9±0.2 Ma and 386.8±0.8 Ma of muscovite in the deformed Xiaomiao Group represent the uplift cooling ages of deeper rocks after the thrusting movement. The original thrusting foliation has a low angle. A rotation model was put forward to explain the development of the foliation from the original low‐angle to present high‐angle dipping.     

Late Caledonian Ductile Thrusting Deformation in the Central East Kunlun Belt, Qinghai, China and Its Significance: Evidence from Geochronology

A high-angle ductile thrusting deformation with top-to-the-north movement penetratively developed in the Proterozoic-Early Paleozoic metamorphic rocks along the Central East Kunlun belt. The deformed rocks suffered epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism. On the basis of our previous study, we present more data in this paper to further support that the ducdle thrust deformation occurred in the later Caledonian and more detailed information about the deformation. A zircon U-Pb concordant age of 446±2.2 Ma of a deformed granodiorite in the ductile thrust zone was obtained and can be interpreted as the lower limit of the deformation. A syntectonically crystallized and also strongly deformed hornblende Ar/ Ar dating gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 426.5±3.8 Ma, which represents the deformation age. A strongly orientated muscovite gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 408±1.6Ma, representing the cooling age after the peak temperature, constraining the upper limit of the ductile thrust deformation. This ductile thru     

2.3 Ga Magmatism and 1.94 Ga Metamorphism in the Xiatang Area,Southern Margin of the North China Craton——Evidence from Whole-rock Geochemistry and Zircon Geochronology and Hf Isotope

本文报道了华北克拉通南缘豫西鲁山下汤地区古元古代片麻状花岗岩和黑云角闪斜长片麻岩的全岩地球化学和锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素组成.岩石呈包体形式存在于中元古代花岗岩中.片麻状花岗岩具深熔特征,岩浆锆石年龄为2.30 Ga;岩石高SiO2和K2O,低∑FeO、MgO和CaO,具稀土总量较高(∑REE=165.8×10-6)、轻重稀土分离较强[(La/Yb)n=37.8]及弱负铕异常(Eu/Eu(*)=0.76)的稀土模式;εNd(t)(t=2.30 Ga)=-0.75; tDM(Nd) =2.66 Ga.黑云角闪斜长片麻岩变质原岩为辉长闪长岩,捕获锆石年龄为2.25 Ga;岩石低SiO2 和MgO,高Al2O3和P2O5,具稀土总量高(∑REE=373.4×10-6)、轻重稀土分离不强[ (La/Yb)n=9.4]及较强负铕异常( Eu/Eu*=0.44)的稀土模式;εNd(t)(t=2.25 Ga)=-1.21;tDM(Nd) =2.75 Ga.片麻状花岗岩和黑云角闪斜长片麻岩都记录了1.94 Ga变质锆石年龄.片麻状花岗岩的岩浆锆石组成域的εHf(t)(t=2.30 Ga)=-6.71～0.38,tDMI(Hf) =2627 ～2910 Ma,tDM2(CC)(Hf)=2823 ～ 3255 Ma.黑云角闪斜长片麻岩的捕获锆石组成域的εHf(t)(t=2.25 Ga)=-19.58～ -1.73,tDM1 (Hf) =2664～3360 Ma,tDM2(CC)(Hf)=2968 ～4011 Ma.结合前人资料,得出如下结论:华北克拉通南缘豫陕晋结合部地区存在—规模较大的约2.3 Ga地质体分布区;华北克拉通南缘很可能存在规模巨大的＞2.7 Ga基底;中部造山带与孔兹岩带具有类似的古元古代晚期构造热事件演化历史.     

Timing of Magma Mixing in the Gangdisê Magmatic Belt during the India-Asia Collision: Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating

1 IntroductionIt is widely accepted that the collision of India withEurasia proceeded from "soft" to "hard" phases between c.65-70 Ma and c. 45 Ma (Yin and Harrison, 2000; Flower etal., 2001; Dong, 2002; Mo et al., 2003; Zhou et al., 2004,and references therein). Obviously, it is important tounderstand what kind of process took place at the depth ofthe Tibetan Plateau and its timing and geodynamicenvironment responding to the India-Eurasia continentalcollision. The giant Gangdise granito…     

The Late Carboniferous–Early Permian Ocean-Continent Transition in the West Junggar, Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Constraints from Columnar Jointed Rhyolite

The West Junggar of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt is one of the typical regions in the term of ocean subduction, contraction and continental growth in the Late Paleozoic. However, it is still controversial on the exact time of ocean-continent transition so far. This study investigates rhyolites with columnar joint in the West Junggar for the first time.Based on zircon U-Pb dating, we determined that the ages of the newly-discovered rhyolites are between 303.6 and 294.5 Ma, belonging to Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, which is the oldest rhyolite with columnar joint preserved in the world at present. Geochemical results show that the characteristics of the major element compositions include a high content of SiO_2(75.78–79.20 wt%) and a moderate content of Al_2O_3(12.21–13.19 wt%). The total alkali content(K_2O +Na_2O) is 6.14–8.05 wt%, among which K_2O is 2.09–4.72 wt% and the rate of K_2O/Na_2O is 0.38–3.05. Over-based minerals such as Ne, Lc, and Ac do not appear. The contents of TiO_2(0.09–0.24 wt%), CaO(0.15–0.99 wt%) and MgO(0.06–0.18 wt%) are low. A/CNK=0.91–1.68, A/NK=1.06–1.76, and as such, these are associated with the quasi-aluminum-weak peraluminous high potassium calc-alkaline and some calc-alkaline magma series. These rhyolites show a significant negative Eu anomaly with relative enrichment of LREE and LILE(Rb, Ba, Th, U, K) and depletion of Sr, HREE and HFSE(Nb, Ta, Ti, P). These rhyolites also have the characteristics of an A2-type granite, similar to the Miaoergou batholith,which indicates they both were affected by post-orogenic extension. Combining petrological, zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical characteristics of the rhyolites, we conclude that the specific time of ocean-continent transition of the West Junggar is the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian.     

High- and Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphism and Retrogressive Textures of Gneiss in the Donghai Area——Evidence from gneisses in drillhole ZK2304

In the gneisses from the drillhole ZK2304 of the Donghai area, there have been preserved high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic mineral assemblages, a series of complicated retrogressive textures and relevant metamorphic reactions. In addition to garnet, jadeititic-clinopyroxene and rutile, other peak stage (M2) minerals in some gneisses include phengite, aragonite and coesite or quartz pseudomorphs after coesite. The typical peak-stage mineral assemblages in gneisses are characterized by garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + rutile + coesite, garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + phengite + rutile ± coesite and garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + aragonite + rutile ± coesite. The grossular content (Gro) in garnet is high and may reach 50. 1 mol%. The SiO2 content of phengite ranges from 54.37% to 54.84% with 3.54-3.57 p.f.u. Quartz pseudomorphs after coesite occur as inclusions in garnet.The gneisses of the Donghai area have been subjected to multistage recrystallization and exhibit a closewise P-T evolution     

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton： SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range.It contains the Yunmengshan batholith,which is dominated by two plutons:the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite.Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma,whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma.Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon UPb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma.The cumulative pl...     

SHRIMP Zircon U–Pb Age of the Sidingheishan Mafic–Ultramafic Intrusion in the Southern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, NW China and its Petrogenesis implication

<正>Objective The Sidingheishan mafic-ultramafic intrusion is located in the eastern part of the North Tianshan Mountains.This work used zircon U-Pb age data,bulk rock major and trace elements,Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data to assess mantle source characteristics and crustal assimilation of the parental magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion.We have also discussed the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic belt in the Late Paleozoic.