Early‐Middle Paleozoic Andes‐type Continental Margin in the Chifeng Area,Inner Mongolia: Framework,Geochronology and Geochemistry and Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Three tectonic units have been recognized in the Chifeng area, Inner Mongolia, from north to south, including the Qiganmiao accretionary prism, Jiefangyingzi arc belt and Sidaozhangpeng molasse basin, which formed an Andeantype active continent margin during the early to middle Paleozoic. The Qiganmiao accretionary prism is characterized by a mélange that consists of gabbro, two-mica quartz schist and basic volcanic rock blocks and heterogeneously deformed marble matrix. Two zircon U-Pb ages of 446.0±6.3 Ma and 1104±27 Ma have been acquired and been interpreted as the metamorphic and forming ages for the gabbro and two-mica quartz schist, respectively. The prism formed during the early to middle Paleozoic southward subduction of the Paleo Asian Ocean(PAO) and represents a suture between the North China craton(NCC) and Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). The Jiefangyingzi arc belt consists of pluton complex and volcanic rocks of the Xibiehe and Badangshan Formations, and Geochronology analysis indicates that the development of it can be divided into two stages. The first stage is represented by the Xibiehe Formation volcanic rocks, which belong to the subalkaline series, enriched LREE and LILE and depleted HFSE, with negative Eu anomalies, and plot in the volcanic arc field in discrimination diagrams. These characters indicate that the Xibiehe Formation results from to the continental arc magmatic activity related to the subduction of the PAO during 400–420 Ma. Magmatism of the second stage in 380–390 Ma consists of the Badangshan Formation volcanic rocks. Geochemistry analysis reveals that rhyolite, basaltic andesite and basalt of the Badangshan Formation were developed in continental margin arc setting. Moreover, the basaltic andesite and basalt display positive Sr anomalies, and the basalt have very low Nb/La values, suggesting that fluid is involved in magma evolution and the basalts were contaminated by continental crust. The sequence of Sidaozhangpeng molasse basin is characterized by proximity, coarseness and large thickness, similar to the proximity molasses basin. According to our field investigation, geochronological and geochemical data, combined with previous research in this area, a tectonic evolutionary model for Andes-type active continental margin of the CAOB has been proposed, including a development of the subduction-free PAO before 446 Ma, a subduction of the PAO and arc-related magmatism during 446–380 Ma, and formation of a molasse basin during 380–360 Ma.     

Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks in the southern margin of the North China Craton,central China:Implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group are situated in the southern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Research on the Xiong er Group is important to understand the tectonic evolution of the NCC and the Columbia supercontinent during the Paleoproterozoic.In this study,to constrain the age of the Xiong'er volcanic rocks and identify its tectonic environment,we report zircon LA-ICP-MS data with Hf isotope,whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes of the volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group.The Xiong'er volcanic rocks mainly consist of basaltic andesite,andesite.dacite and rhyolite,with minor basalt.Our new sets of data combined with those from previous studies indicate that Xiong'er volcanism should have lasted from 1827 Ma to 1746 Ma as the major phase of the volcanism.These volcanics have extremely low MgO.Cr and Ni contents,are enriched in LREEs and LILEs but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti),similar to arc-related volcanic rocks.They are characterized by negative zircon ε_(Hf)_(t) values of-17.4 to 8.8,whole-rock initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr values of 0.7023 to 0.7177 andε_(Nd)(t) values of-10.9 to 6.4.and Pb isotopes(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb =14.366-16.431,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb =15.106-15.371,~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb= 32.455-37.422).The available elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data suggest that the Xiong'er volcanic rocks were sourced from a mantle contaminated by continental crust.The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group might have been generated by high-degree partial melting of a lithospheric mantle that was originally modified by oceanic subduction in the Archean.Thus,we suggest that the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle occurred in an extensional setting during the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent in the Late Paleoproterozoic,rather than in an arc setting.     

The Middle Devonian Bimodal Association of Volcanic Rocks in the Northern Area of East Junggar, Xinjiang

The Middle Devonian volcanic rocks in the northern area of East Junggar, located between the Ertix andUlungur rivers of northern Xinjiang, may be divided into basic and acid ones. It is evident that a compositionalgap exists between the two groups so that the volcanic rocks are not in line with a calc-alkaline series becausethe intermediate rocks are absent in the area. The fact shows that the volcanic rocks are a typical bimodal asso-ciation. The formation of the bimodal association of volcanic rocks in the area was closely related to continen-tal rifting or continental extension in the Middle Devonian. In such a tectonic setting, magmas were first pro-duced by partial melting of the mantle. Where crustal thinning was greater, the magmas ascended and eruptedon the surface directly so that the basic volcanic rocks formed, but olivine and/or partial pyroxenefractionation occurred in the magmas during their ascent through the thinning crust. On the other hand, wherecrustal thinning was less, ascending mantle-derived magmas reached the lower crust and accumulated there, re-sulting in partial melting of the lower crust and thus giving rise to the contaminated magma which was consoli-dated as acid volcanic rocks on the surface.     

浙江桐庐火山侵入杂岩的地球化学特征

The Tonglu volcano-intrusive complex belongs to a calci-alkalic rock series. The geochemistry of major and minor elements in the rocks is characteristic of the differentiation and the evolution of the calci-alkalic series. The rare-earth distribution patterns in the rocks and minerals indicate that rhyolitic, rhyodacitic and quartz ttachyandesitic magmas responsible for the volcano-intrusive complex are comagmatic. The Rb-Sr isotopic relationship in the rocks suggests that the earliest volcanic activity in western Zhejiang may commence at Middle Jurassic. The magma responsible for the Tonglu volcano-intrusive complex originated from partil melting of the lower crust. The derivation of upper mantle material was introduced upwards through deep faults, which would accelerate partial melting of the lower crust.This magma seems to have been contaminated slightly by upper crustal material during the process of upward intrusion.     

Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemical Characteristics of the Volcanic Host Rocks from the Tongyu VHMS Copper Deposit in the Western North Qinling Orogen and Their Geological Significance

Precise in situ zircon U-Pb dating and Lu–Hf isotopic measurement using an LA-ICP-MS system, whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry were conducted on the volcanic host rocks of the Tongyu copper deposit on the basis of further understanding of its geological characteristics. Three zircon samples from the volcanic host rocks yielded 206Pb/238 U weighted average ages ranging from 436±4 Ma to 440±5 Ma, which are statistically indistinguishable and coeval with the ca. 440 Ma northward subduction event of the Paleo-Qinling oceanic slab. The volcanic host rocks were products of magmatic differentiation that evolved from basalt to andesite to dacite to rhyolite, forming an integrated tholeiitic island arc volcanic rock suite. The primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns for most samples show characteristics of island arc volcanic rocks, such as relative enrichment of LILE(e.g. Th, U, Pb and La) and depletion of HFSE(e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf). Discrimination diagrams of Ta/Yb vs Th/Yb, Ta vs Th, Yb vs Th/Ta, Ta/Hf vs Th/Hf, Hf/3 vs Th vs Nb/16, La vs La/Nb and Nb vs Nb/Th all suggest that both the volcanic host rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit and the volcanic rocks from the regional Xieyuguan Group were formed in an island arc environment related to subduction of an oceanic slab. Values of ISr(0.703457 to 0.708218) and εNd(t)(-2 to 5.8) indicate that the source materials of volcanic rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit and the Xieyuguan Group originated from the metasomatised mantle wedge with possible crustal material assimilation. Most of the volcanic rock samples show good agreement with the values of typical island arc volcanic rocks in the ISr-εNd(t) diagram. The involvement of crustal-derived material in the magma of the volcanic rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit was also reflected in the zircon εHf(t) values, which range from-3.08 to 10.7, and the existence of inherited ancient xenocrystic zircon cores(2616±39 Ma and 1297±22 Ma). The mineralization of the Tongyu copper deposit shows syn-volcanic characteristics such as layered orebodies interbedded with the volcanic rock strata, thus, the zircon U-Pb age of the volcanic host rocks can approximately represent the mineralization age of the Tongyu copper deposit. Both the Meigou pluton and the volcanic host rocks were formed during the ca. 440 Ma northward subduction of the Paleo-Qinling Ocean when high oxygen fugacity aqueous hydrothermal fluid released by dehydration of the slab and the overlying sediments fluxed into the mantle wedge, triggered partial melting of the mantle wedge, and activated and extracted Cu and other ore-forming elements. The magma and ore-bearing fluid upwelled and erupted, and consequently formed the island arc volcanic rock suite and the Tongyu VHMS-type copper deposit.     

Early Neoarchean Magmatic and Paleoproterozoic Metamorphic Events in the Northern North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon Dating and Hf Isotopes of Archean Rocks from the Miyun Area, Beijing

The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks.Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early Neoarchean(2752±7 Ma) ages show a small range in ε_(Hf)(t) from 3.1 to 7.4and t_(DM1)(Hf) from 2742 to 2823 Ma,similar to their U-Pb ages,indicating derivation from a depleted mantle source only a short time prior to crystallization.SHRIMP zircon ages of granite,gneiss,amphibolite and hornblendite in the Miyun area reveal restricted emplacement ages from 2594 to2496 Ma.They also record metamorphic events at ca.2.50 Ga,2.44 Ga and 1.82 Ga,showing a similar evolutionary history to the widely distributed Late Neoarchean rocks in the NCC.Positive ε_(Hf)(t) values of 1.5 to 5.9,with model ages younger than 3.0 Ga for magmatic zircon domains from these Late Neoarchean intrusive rocks indicate that they are predominantly derived from juvenile crustal sources and suggest that significant crustal growth occurred in the northern NCC during the Neoarchean.Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism developed widely in the NCC,not only in the Trans-North China Orogen,but also in areas of Eastern and Western Blocks,which suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic was the assembly of different micro-continents,which resulted in the final consolidation to form the NCC,and related to the development of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia or Nuna supercontinent.     

Geochronology and Genetic Model for Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks from the Southern Qiangtang Terrane, Northern Tibet, China: Constraints from U-Pb Zircon Dating, Whole-Rock Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotopic Data

Post-collisional volcanic rocks of Mesozoic age occur in the regions adjacent to Gerze, part of the southern Qiangtang Terrane of northern Tibet, China. Geochronological, geochemical, and whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopic analyses were performed on the volcanic rocks to better characterize their emplacement age and models for their origin. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon analyses yielded consistent ages ranging from 123.1±0.94 Ma to 124.5±0.89 Ma for six volcanic rocks from the study area. The intermediate volcanic rocks belong to the alkaline and sub-alkaline magma series in terms of K2O+Na2O contents (5.9%–9.0%), and to the shoshonitic and calc-alkaline series on the basis of their high K2O contents (1.4%–3.3%). The Gerze volcanic rocks are characterized by the enrichment of light rare earth elements [(La/Yb)N=34.9–49.5] and large–ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Ba, Th, U, K, Pb, and Sr), slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.19–0.24), and negative anomalies in high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, Hf and Ti), relative to primitive mantle. The samples show slightly elevated (87Sr/86Sr)i values that range from 0.7049 to 0.7057, and low εNd(t) values from ?0.89 to ?2.89. These results suggest that the volcanic rocks studied derived from a compositionally heterogeneous mantle source and that their parent magmas were basaltic. The more mafic, parental magmas to the Gerze volcanic rocks likely underwent fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene, hornblende, biotite, and potassium feldspar, during ascent, with little to no crustal contamination, prior to their eruption/emplacement. While these volcanic rocks exhibit geochemical signatures typical of magmas formed in a destructive plate-margin setting, it is plausible that their mantle source might also have acquired such characteristics in an earlier episode of subduction.     

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Magmatic Rocks from Zedong Ophiolite, Eastern Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet

The Yarlung Zangbo suture zone extends more than2000 km along southern Tibet and marks the boundary between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia.The Zedong terrane has been not suggested to represent the vestige of such an intra-oceanic arc developed within the Neo-Tethys Ocean,as a result of the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic.In this study,we present detailed geochemical and geochronological data of various types of magmatic rocks widely exposed in the Zedong terrane to constrain the formation age and tectonic setting of the Zedong terrane.We found that the Zedong volcanic rocks belong to high K2O calc-alkaline series,whereas the diabase and gabbro plotted in the low-K calcalkline.The basalt rocks are highly enriched in LREE and LILE,but strongly depleted in HFSE,indicating they were derived from a metasomatized mantle.Both gabbros and diabase have similar N-MORB geochemistry indicates that the cumulates were produced from MOR setting.Zircons from four samples,including the basalt rocks(158-161Ma)are older than the gabbro(131 Ma),certificate the gabbro are as the vein intrude into the basalt rocks.This suggests that the volcanic eruption and plutonic emplacement were coevally developed in the Zedonghave similar positiveεHf(t)values(+2.0 to+15.6)and(+8.6 to+18.4),indicating they were stemmed from similarly depleted mantle sources,same with the gabbro and granitic rocks from the Gangdese arc.Therefore,we proposed that the basalt rocks in the Zedong terrane were formed through partial melting of the mantle wedge metasomatized by slab-released fluids/melts.A part of hydrous basalts were underplated in the thickened lower crust beneath the Zedong terrane,which gave rise to the cumulate and granitic rocks.This suggests that the Zedong terrane represents a slice of the active continental margin developed on the southern margin of the Lhasa terrane as a result of the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic,although a possible intra-oceanic arc setting cannot be excluded.     

Quaternary Volcanic Activities in Shandong Peninsula and Northern Parts of Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces

Quaternary volcanic rocks often coexist with loess,as observed in the same geologic sections in the Shandong Peninsula and northern parts of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.The development age of Shandong loess in close to that in the middle reaches of the Yellow River.Loess strata are of synchronous implication in the loess belt of North China.So the ages of volcanic activities can be es-timated approximately from the stratigraphic relations between loess layers and volcanic rocks.The re-sults of dating of the Quaternary volcanic rocks,baked layers and the TL dates of loess samples sug-gest that the Quaternary volcanic activity can be divided into 4 stages in the region studied,with the ages being 1.15-1.03,0.86-0.72,0.55-0.33 and 0.02 Ma B.P.respectively .The occurrence of tephra in the Shandong loess sections is possible due to multiple episodes of volcanism during the Quaternary time.     

A Petrographic and Mineralogical Study of Volcanic Rocks from the Mayaxueshan Area, North Qilian Fold Belt, NW China

The Ordovician volcanic rocks in the Mayaxueshan area have been pervasively altered or metamorphosed and contain abundant secondary minerals such as albite, chlorite, epidote, prehnite, pumpellyite, actinolite, titanite, quartz, and/or calcite. They were denoted as spilites or spilitic rocks in terms of their petrographic features and mineral assemblages. The metamorphic grades of the volcanic rocks are equivalent to that of the intercalated metaclastic rocks. This indicates that both the spilitic volcanic rocks and metaclastic rocks in the Mayaxueshan area have formed as a result of Caledonian regional metamorphism. We suggest that the previously denoted spilitic rocks or altered volcanic rocks should be re-denoted as metabasalts or metabasaltic rocks. The metamorphic grade of the volcanic rocks increases with their age: prehnite-pumpellyite facies for the upper part of the Middle Ordovician volcanic rocks, prehnite-pumpeilyite to lower greenschist facies for the lower part of the Middle Ordovician vol     

Intra-continental back-arc basin inversion and Late Carboniferous magmatism in Eastern Tianshan,NW China: Constraints from the Shaquanzi magmatic suite

The Yamansu belt,an important tectonic component of Eastern Tianshan Mountains,of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,NW China hosts many Fe-(Cu)deposit.In this study,we present new zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemical data of the volcanic rocks of Shaquanzi Formation and diorite intrusions in the Yamansu belt.The Shaquanzi Formation comprises mainly basalt,andesite/andesitic tuff,rhyolite and sub-volcanic diabase with local diorite intrusions.The volcanic rocks and diorites contain ca.315-305 Ma and ca.298 Ma zircons respectively.These rocks show calc-alkaline affinity with enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements(LILEs),light rare-earth elements(LREEs),and depletion in high field strength elements(HFSEs)in primitive mantle normalized multi-element diagrams,which resemble typical back-arc basin rocks.They show depleted mantle signature with ε_(Nd)(t)ranging from+3.1 to +5.6 for basalt;+2.1 to+4.7 for andesite;-0.2 to+1.5 for rhyolite and the ε_(Hf)(t)ranges from-0.1 to +13.0 for andesites;+5.8 to +10.7 for andesitic tuffs.We suggest that the Shaquanzi Formation basalt might have originated from a depleted,metasomatized lithospheric mantle source mixed with minor(3-5%)subduction-derived materials,whereas the andesite and rhyolite could be fractional crystallization products of the basaltic magma.The Shaquanzi Formation volcanic rocks could have formed in an intracontinental back-arc basin setting,probably via the southward subduction of the Kangguer Ocean beneath the Middle Tianshan Massif.The Yamansu mineralization belt might have undergone a continental arc to back-arc basin transition during the Late Carboniferous and the intra-continental back-arc basin might have closed in the Early Permian,marked by the emplacement of dioritic magma in the Shaquanzi belt.     

Eocene magmatism(Maden Complex) in the Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt: Magma genesis and tectonic implications

The origin and geodynamic setting of the Maden Complex, which is situated in the Bitlis-Zagros Suture Zone in the Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt, is still controversial due to lack of systematic geological and geochemical data. Here we present new whole rock major-trace-rare earth element and Sre Nd isotope data from the Middle Eocene volcanic rocks exposed in Maden Complex and discuss their origin in the light of new and old data. The volcanic lithologies are represented mainly by basalt and andesite, and minor dacite that vary from low-K tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, high-K calc-alkaline, and shoshonitic in composition. They exhibit enrichments in large ion lithophile and light rare earth elements, with depletions in high field strength elements. Basaltic rocks have uniform Sr and Nd isotope ratios with high εNd(t) values varying from t5.5 to t6.7, in contrast to, andesitic rocks are characterized by low εNd(t) values ranging from à1.6 to à10. These geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that two end-members, a subduction-related mantle source and a continental crust, were involved in the magma genesis. Considering all geological and geochemical data, we suggest that the Eocene Maden magmatism occurred as a post-collisional product by asthenospheric upwelling owing to convective removal of the lithosphere during an extensional collapse of the Southeast Anatolian ranges.     

U–Pb Zircon Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Liujiaping Group Volcanics in the Northwest Margin of the Yangtze Block: Implications For the Breakup of the Rodinia Supercontinent

Investigation of the petrogenesis and the origin of zircons from the volcanic rocks of the Liujiaping Group of the back-Longmenshan tectonic belt in the northwest margin of the Yangtze Block is conducted by analysis of U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry. Results show that selected zircons are characterized by internal oscillatory zonings and high Th/U ratios (0.43–1.18), indicating an igneous origin. Geochronological results of LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating of the Liujiaping Group zircons yield an age of 809 ± 11 Ma (MSWD = 2.2), implying that the volcanic rocks were formed in the Late Neoproterozoic. Geochemical analysis shows that the rocks are calc-alkaline, supersaturated in Al, and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. Rare-earth elements are present at high concentrations (96.04–265.48 ppm) and show a rightward incline and a moderately negative Eu anomaly, similar to that of continental rift rhyolite. Trace element geochemistry is characterized by evident negative anomalies of Nb, Ta, P, Th, Ti, inter alia, and strong negative anomalies of K, Rb, Sr, et al. We conclude that the Liujiaping Group volcanic rocks resulted from typical continental crust source petrogenesis and were formed in a continental margin setting, which had no relation to subduction, and thus, were the products of partial melting of the lower crust due to crustal thickening caused by active continental margin subduction and arc–continent collision orogeny in the northwestern Yangtze Block and were triggered by the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent during the Neoproterozoic.     

Zircon U-Pb age,Lu-Hf Isotopic Characteristics and Origin of the Banshanping Granitoid Rocks in East Qinling Orogenic Belt

The Banshanping granitoid rocks distribute in the east of the North Qinling orogenic belt. It is a diorite-quartz diorite-granodiorite-granite series, spreading in a NW-SE direction, and intrudes into the Erlangping Group. The SiO2 content ranges from 57.04% to 76.56%, Na2O from 2.05% to 4.65%, K2O from 0.84% to 3.40%. Major element characteristics indicate that Banshanping granitoid rocks have properties of I type granotoids. SREE ranges from 36.51 ppm to 473.25 ppm, and LREE/HREE ratios lie between 3.95 and 22.18. Negative Eu anomalies are not obvious in most samples, though there are obvious Nb, P and Ti positive anomalies. The zircon LA-ICP-MS ages of Banshangping granitoid rocks are 496.0±8.1 Ma–486.9±9.3 Ma. Hf isotope shows that 176Hf/177Hf ratios range from 0.282721 to 0.282876, εHf(t) values from 8.5 to 14, all positive, and corresponding modal ages(TDM2) range from 559 Ma to 908 Ma. Based on Hf isotope characteristics and existing SmNd and Rb-Sr isotope data, we consider that the Banshanping granitoid rocks originate from mantlederived material, i.e. the igneous rocks that formed in Neoproterozoic, and there may be a certain amount of crust-derived material during the formation of Banshanping granitoid rocks.     

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.     

Geochemistry, U-Pb Geochronology and Sr-Nd-Hf Isotopes of the Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks in the Northern Da Hinggan Mountains

Whole-rock geochemical, zircon U-Pb geochronological and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data are presented for the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the northern Da Hinggan Mountains. The volcanic rocks generally display high SiO2(73.19–77.68 wt%) and Na2O+K2O(6.53–8.98 wt%) contents, with enrichment in Rb, Th, U, Pb and LREE, and depletion in Nb, Ta, P and Ti. Three rhyolite samples, one rhyolite porphyry sample, and one volcanic breccia sample yield weighted mean 206Pb/238 U ages of 135.1±1.2 Ma, 116.5±1.1 Ma, 121.9±1.0 Ma, 118.1±0.9 Ma and 116.9±1.4 Ma, respectively. All these rocks have moderate(87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.704912 to 0.705896, slightly negative εNd(t) values of –1.4 to –0.1, and positive εHf(t) values of 3.7 to 8. Their zircon Hf and whole-rock Nd isotopic model ages range from 594 to 1024 Ma. These results suggest that the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks were originated from melting of subducted oceanic crust and associated sediments during the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.     

Geochemistry of the ophiolite and island-Arc volcanic rocks in the Mianxian-Lueyang suture zone, southern Qinling and their tectonic significance

Ultrabasic rocks in the Mianxian-Lueyang ophiolitic melange zone include harzburgite and dunite which exhibit LREE depletion with remarkable positive Eu anomaly.The diabase dike swarm shows LREE enrichment but slightly negative Eu anomaly.Metamorphosed volcanic rocks can be divided into two groups in terms of their REE geochemistry and trace element ratios of Ti/V,Th/Ta,Th/Yb and Ta/Yb.One is ths MORB-type basalt with LREE depletion,representing the fragments of oceanic crust and implying an association of the MORB-type ophiolite and an ancient ocean basin between the Qinling and Yangtze plates during the Middle Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic era.The oter comprises the island-arc volcanic rocks including tholeiitic basalt and a large amount of calc-alkaline intermediate-acic volcanic rock,which could not be the component of the ancient oceanic crust but the result of magmatism at the continental margin.This indicates that the Mianxian-Lueyang limited ocean basin had undergone a whole process of development,evolution and vanishing from Devonian-Cretaceous to Permian.And the Qinling area had becone an independent lithospheric microplate,on the southern side of which there were exhibited the tectonic characteristics of active continental margins during the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic.That is to say.the Qinling cannot be simply considered as a result of collision between the Yangtze and North China plates.     

Zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope constraints on Archean crustal evolution in Southeastern Guyana Shield

The southeastern Guyana Shield,northeast Amazonian Craton,in the north of Brazil,is part of a widespread orogenic belt developed during the Transamazonian orogenic cycle(2.26-1.95 Ga)that includes a large Archean continental landmass strongly reworked during the Transamazonian orogeny,named Amapa Block.It consists mainly of a high-grade metamorphic granulitic-migmatitic-gneiss complex,of Meso-to Neoarchean age and Rhyacian granitoids and supracrustal sequences.For the first time,coupled U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data were obtained on zircon by LA-ICP-MS from five tectono-stratigraphic units of the Archean basement and one Paleoproterozoic intrusive rock,in order to investigate the main episodes of crustal growth and reworking.Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data were compared to the zircon Lu-Hf data.Three main magmatic episodes were defined by U-Pb zircon dating,two in the Mesoarchean(~3.19 Ga and 2.85 Ga)and one in the Neoarchean(~2.69-2.65 Ga).SubchondriticεHf(t)values obtained for almost all investigated units indicate that crustal reworking processes were predominant during the formation of rocks that today make up the Amapa Block.Hf-TDMC model ages,ranging from2.99 Ga to 3.97 Ga,indicate that at least two important periods of mantle extraction and continental crust formation occurred during the Archean in southeastern Guyana Shield,an older one in the Eoarchean(~4.0 Ga)and a younger one in the Mesoarchean(~3.0-3.1 Ga).The latter is recognized as an important period of crustal accretion worldwide.The recognition of an Eoarchean episode to the southeastern most part of the Guyana Shield is unprecedented and was not recorded by whole-rock Sm-Nd data,which were restricted to the Meso-Paleoarchean(2.83 Ga to 3.51 Ga).This finding reveals t hat continental crust generation in the Amazonian Craton began at least 500 Ma earlier than previously suggested by the SmNd systematics.     

Age assignment of the Upper Carboniferous Arbasay Formation in Shichang Region,North Tianshan(NW China)

The North Tianshan Orogenic Belt contains the youngest ophiolites in the Tianshan and provides some information on timing of the last closure of the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating was conducted to define the formation age of the Arbasay Formation in the Shichang Region of North Tianshan, which is exposed near the suture zone but its age remains debated. The Arbasay Formation is mainly composed of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks with tuff interlayers. The zircons from the tuffs yield two age populations of 315 ± 3 Ma and 304± 2 Ma, constraining the commencement and demise timings of volcanism, respectively. Furthermore, zircon U-Pb age spectra of the tuffaceous sandstones display the youngest peak age at 308 Ma, indicating a 308 Ma age for the depositional age of volcaniclastic rocks. The volcaniclastic rocks therefore were likely to deposit together with the syn-sedimentary volcanism during Late Carboniferous. This means that the Arbasay Formation in Shichang Region should be re-assigned to Late Carboniferous in age. Given that the Arbasay Formation was likely to be formed during the tectonic transition from compression to extension, the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean possibly closed during Late Carboniferous.     

Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks from the Manitu Formation in the Hongol Area,Northeastern Inner Mongolia

We undertook zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical analyses of volcanic rocks from the Manitu Formation in the Hongol area,northeastern Inner Mongolia,to determine their age,petrogenesis and sources,which are important for understanding the Late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the Great Xing'an Range.The volcanic rocks of the Manitu Formation from the Hongol area consist primarily of trachyandesite,based on their chemical compositions.The zircons from two of these trachyandesites are euhedral-subhedral in shape,display clear oscillatory growth zoning and have high Th/U ratios(0.31-1.15),indicating a magmatic origin.The results of LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicate that the volcanic rocks from the Manitu Formation in the Hongol area formed during the early Early Cretaceous with ages of 138.9-140.5 Ma.The volcanic rocks are high in alkali(Na_2O + K_2O = 6.22-8.26 wt%),potassium(K_2O = 2.49-4.58 wt%) and aluminium(Al_2O_3 = 14.27-15.88 wt%),whereas they are low in iron(total Fe_2O_3 = 3.76-6.53 wt%) and titanium(TiO_2 = 1.02-1.61 wt%).These volcanic rocks are obviously enriched in large ion lithophile elements,such as Rb,Ba,Th and U,and light rare earth elements,and are depleted in high field strength elements,such as Nb,Ta and Ti with pronounced negative anomalies.Their Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions show positive ε_(Nd)(t)(+0.16‰ to+1.64‰) and low T_(DM)(t)(694-767 Ma).The geochemical characteristics of these volcanic rocks suggest that they belong to a shoshonitic series and were likely generated from the partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle that was metasomatised by fluids released from a subducted slab during the closure of the MongolOkhotsk Ocean.Elemental and isotopic features reveal that fractional crystallization with the removal of ferromagnesian minerals,plagioclase,ilmenite,magnetite and apatite played an important role during the evolution of the magma.These shoshonitic rocks were produced by the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle in an extensional regime,which resulted from the gravitational collapse following the final closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean in the Middle-Late Jurassic.