Neoproterozoic granitic activities in the Xingdi plutons at the Kuluketage block,NW China: Evidence from zircon U–Pb dating,geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic analyses

Neoproterozoic igneous rocks are widely distributed in the Kuluketage block along the northern margin of the Tarim Craton. However, the published literature mainly focuses on the ca. 800 Ma adakitic granitoids in the area, with the granites that intrude the 735–760 Ma mafic–ultramafic rocks poorly studied. Here we report the ages, petrography and geochemistry of two granites in the Xingdi mafic–ultramafic rocks, in order to construct a new view of the non-adakitic younger granites. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating provided weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 743.0 ± 2.5 Ma for the No.I granite (G1) and 739.0 ± 3.5 Ma for the No.II granite (G2). A clear core-rim texture of similar age and a high zircon saturation temperature of ca. 849 ± 14 °C were observed for the No.I granite; in contrast, G2 has no apparent core-rim texture but rather inherited older zircons and a lower zircon saturation temperature of ca. 763 ± 17 °C. Geochemical analysis revealed that G1 is an alkaline A-type granite and G2 is a high-K calc-alkaline I-type granite. Both granites share similar geochemical characteristics of arc-related magmatic rocks and enriched Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes, likely due to their enriched sources or mixing with enriched magma. Whereas G1 and its host mafic rocks form typical bimodal intrusions of the same age and similar Sr–Nd–Hf isotope compositions, G2 is younger than its host mafic rocks and its Sr–Nd–Hf isotope composition indicates a lower crust origin. Although they exhibit arc-related geochemical features, the two granites likely formed in a rift setting, as inferred from thier petrology, Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes and regional tectonic evolution.     

新疆博格达东缘色皮口地区晚石炭世裂谷火山岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素研究

新疆色皮口地区位于博格达造山带东段北部,区域内的上石炭统柳树沟组火山岩为玄武岩-玄武安山岩、角斑岩-石英角斑岩和流纹岩,组成双峰式火山岩建造。岩石SiO 2含量为48.07%~77.62%,赖特碱度率(AR)为1.35~4.7,Na2O+K2O含量为3.74%~9.02%,K2O/Na2O值为0.04~1.04,为低钾高钠钙碱性-碱性岩石。玄武岩、玄武安山岩TiO 2=0.86%~1.7%,较高的Al、低Mg,以及低K2O/TiO 2和K2O/P2O5比值(分别为0.13~1.81、0.36~6.00),反映了在岩浆演化过程中发生了不明显的分离结晶作用。玄武岩、玄武安山岩、角斑岩不相容元素K、Rb、Th、Ba强富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf无富集,Ti亏损不明显,玄武岩(Th/Nb)N值为1.36~6.55,Nb/La值为0.29~0.44,具有较低的Nb/Zr比值(0.03~0.05)。由玄武岩到石英角斑岩,稀土元素组成略右倾平行曲线簇,倾斜度(轻重稀土分异度)略增大,铕负异常趋于明显(δEu=0.81~1.17)。流纹岩不相容元素K、Rb、Th、Ba富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf富集,流纹岩稀土总量增高,轻重稀土分异增大,明显铕负异常(δEu=0.27~0.50),显示后期较强的岩浆分异作用。石英角斑岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果为314.9±1.2Ma(n=16,MSWD=0.4,Th/U比值在0.56~1.21之间),这表明石英角斑岩形成时代为晚石炭世。石英角斑岩中锆石的176Hf/177Hf比值均分布在0.282897~0.283097之间,并具有较高的正εHf值(11~18),平均值为14,Hf的模式年龄tDM2介于180~628Ma。所有锆石的176Hf/177Hf比值和εHf值位于亏损地幔演化线与下地壳之间,并靠近亏损地幔演化线。上述特点反映晚石炭世火山岩形成于板内裂谷环境,下部玄武岩与角斑岩-石英角斑岩具有同源特征,暗示岩浆源区来源于亏损地幔,并受地壳混染。     

Permian volcanic rocks from the Apuseni Mountains (Romania): Geochemistry and tectonic constraints

An Early Permian volcanic assemblage is well exposed in the central-western part of the Apuseni Mountains (Romania). The rocks are represented by rhyolites, basalts and subordinate andesites suggesting a bimodal volcanic activity that is intimately associated with a post-orogenic (Variscan) syn-sedimentary intra-basinal continental molasse sequences. The mafic and mafic-intermediate rocks belong to sub-alkaline tholeiitic series were separated in three groups (I–III) showing a high Th and Pb abundances, depletion in Nb, Ta and Sr, and slightly enriched in LREE patterns (La_N/Yb_N = 1.4–4.4). Isotopically, the rocks of Group I have the initial ratios ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.709351–0.707112, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512490–0.512588 and high positive ?_Nd270 values from 3.9 to 5.80; the rocks of Group II present for the initial ratios values ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.709434–0.710092, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512231–0.512210 and for ?_Nd270 the negative values from −1.17 to −1.56; the rocks of Group III display for the initial ratios the values ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.710751–0.709448, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512347–0.512411 and for ?_Nd270 the positive values from 1.64 to 2.35. The rocks resembling continental tholeiites, suggest a mantle origin and were further affected by fractionation and crustal contamination. In addition, the REE geochemistry (1 > Sm_N/Yb_N < 2.5; 0.9 > La_N/Sm_N < 2.5) suggests that these rocks were generated by high percentage partial melting of a metasomatized mantle in the garnet peridotite facies. The felsic rocks are enriched in Cs, Rb Th and U and depleted in Nb, Ta, Sr, Eu, and Ti. The REE fractionation patterns show a strong negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.23–0.40). The felsic rocks show the initial ratios the values: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.704096–0.707805, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512012–0.512021 and for ?_Nd270 the negative values from −5.27 to −5.44. They suggest to be generated within the lower crust during the emplacement of mantle-derived magmas that provided necessary heat to crustal partial melting.     

Shallow‐water microbialite‐volcaniclastic facies association in the Cambro‐Ordovician Mt Windsor Subprovince,Australia

The Trooper Creek Formation is a mineralised submarine volcano‐sedimentary sequence in the Cambro‐Ordovician Seventy Mile Range Group, Queensland. Most of the Trooper Creek Formation accumulated in a below‐storm‐wave‐base setting. However, microbialites and fossiliferous quartz‐hematite ± magnetite lenses provide evidence for local shoaling to above fairweather wave‐base (typically 5–15 m). The microbialites comprise biogenic (oncolites, stromatolites) and volcanogenic (pumice, shards, crystal fragments) components. Microstructural elements of the bioherms and biostromes include upwardly branching stromatolites, which suggest that photosynthetic microorganisms were important in constructing the microbialites. Because the microbialites are restricted to a thin stratigraphic interval in the Trooper Creek area, shallow‐water environments are interpreted to have been spatially and temporarily restricted. The circumstances that led to local shoaling are recorded by the enclosing volcanic and sedimentary lithofacies. The microbialites are hosted by felsic syneruptive pumiceous turbidites and water‐settled fall deposits generated by explosive eruptions. The microbialite host rocks overlie a thick association (≤?300 m) of andesitic lithofacies that includes four main facies: coherent andesite and associated autoclastic breccia and peperite; graded andesitic scoria breccia (scoriaceous sediment gravity‐flow deposits); fluidal clast‐rich andesitic breccia (water‐settled fall and sediment gravity‐flow deposits); and cross‐stratified andesitic sandstone and breccia (traction‐current deposits). The latter three facies consist of poorly vesicular blocky fragments, scoriaceous clasts (10–90%), and up to 10% fluidally shaped clasts. The fluidal clasts are interpreted as volcanic bombs. Clast shapes and textures in the andesitic volcaniclastic facies association imply that fragmentation occurred through a combination of fire fountaining and Strombolian activity, and a large proportion of the pyroclasts disintegrated due to quenching and impacts. Rapid syneruptive, near‐vent aggradation of bombs, scoria, and quench‐fragmented clasts probably led to temporary shoaling, so that subsequent felsic volcaniclastic facies and microbialites were deposited in shallow water. When subsidence outpaced aggradation, the depositional setting at Trooper Creek returned to being relatively deep marine.     

A North-South Transect across the Central Mexican Volcanic Belt at ~100{degrees}W: Spatial Distribution, Petrological, Geochemical, and Isotopic Characteristics of Quaternary Volcanism

Within the Zitácuaro–Valle de Bravo (ZVB) regionof the central Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), three lava serieshave erupted during the Quaternary: (1) high-K₂O basaltic andesitesand andesites; (2) medium-K₂O basaltic andesites, andesitesand dacites; (3) high-TiO₂ basalts and basaltic andesites. Thedominant feature of the first two groups is the lack of plagioclaseaccompanying the various ferromagnesian phenocrysts (olivine,orthopyroxene, augite, and hornblende) in all but the dacites.This absence of plagioclase in the phenocryst assemblages ofthe high-K₂O and medium-K₂O intermediate lavas is significantbecause it indicates high water contents during the stage ofphenocryst equilibration. In contrast, the high-TiO₂ group ischaracterized by phenocrysts of plagioclase and olivine. Thespatial distribution of these three lava series is systematic.The southern section of the ZVB transect, 280–330 km fromthe Middle America Trench (MAT), is characterized by high-K₂Omelts that are relatively enriched in fluid-mobile elementsand have the highest ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Medium-K₂O basaltic andesiteand andesite lavas are present throughout the transect, butthose closest to the MAT are MgO-rich (3·5–9·4wt %) and have phenocryst assemblages indicative of high magmaticwater contents (3·5–6·5 wt % water) andrelatively low temperatures (950–1000°C). In markedcontrast, the northern section of the ZVB transect (380–480km from the MAT) has high-TiO₂, high field strength element(HFSE)-enriched magmas that have comparatively dry (< 1·5wt % magmatic water) and hot (1100–1200°C) phenocrystequilibration conditions. The central section of the ZVB transect(330–380 km from the MAT) is a transition zone and producesmoderately light rare earth element (LREE) and large ion lithophileelement (LILE)-enriched, medium-K₂O lavas with phenocryst assemblagesindicative of intermediate (1·5–3·5 wt %)water contents and temperatures. The high-K₂O series compositionsare the most enriched in LILE and LREE, with a narrow rangeof radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 0·704245 to 0·704507,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values ranging from 0·512857 to 0·512927(_Nd = 4·27–5·63), and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb valuesfrom 38·248 to 38·442, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from15·563 to 15·585, and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from18·598 to 18·688. The medium-K₂O series compositionsare only moderately enriched in the LILE and LREE, with a broaderrange of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, but similar ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pbvalues to those of the high-K₂O series. In contrast, the high-TiO₂series compositions have little enrichment in LILE or LREE andinstead are enriched in the HFSE and heavy rare earth elements(HREE). The high-TiO₂ lavas are isotopically distinct in theirlower and narrower range of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd. The isotopic variationsare believed to reflect the upper mantle magma source regionsas the low content of phenocrysts in most lavas precludes significantupper crustal assimilation or magma mixing, other than thatrepresented by the presence of quartz xenocrysts (< 2 vol.%) with rhyolitic glass inclusions, which are found in manyof these lavas. The systematic spatial variation in compositionof the three lava series is a reflection of the underlying subduction-modifiedmantle and its evolution. KEY WORDS: central Mexico; geochemistry; isotopes; Quaternary volcanism; hydrous lavas     

Volcanism Pacing Slumping Gravity Flow Deposits during the Late Carboniferous in the Southern Margin of the Junggar Basin,China

Deep-water gravity depositional processes and evolution in arc systems have become topics of intense research focus in recent years. This study discusses the co-evolution of volcanism and deep-water gravity flow deposits at the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, based on petrology, geochronology and geochemical analyses. The results show that a massive collapse of unstable sediments from the slope was triggered by volcanism, resulting in the formation of slumping gravity flows. The occurrence...     

内蒙古中部西乌旗晚石炭世辉长岩-花岗岩系列:岩石成因与地球动力学意义SCIEI北大核心CSCD

辉长岩和花岗岩组成的双峰式火成岩系列通常产出于威尔逊板块构造旋回的诸多伸展周期。基于其岩石地球化学特征示踪伸展地球动力学过程与相关壳幔相互作用的独特视角,本文报道了中亚造山带东段内蒙古中部西乌旗地区新近识别的晚石炭世猴头庙辉长岩-花岗岩系列。SIMS锆石U-Pb定年揭示辉长岩和花岗岩的侵位年龄分别为~307Ma和~305Ma。辉长岩主要由斜长石、辉石和角闪石组成;SiO 2含量介于50.4%~53.4%之间,呈现镁质、准铝质和钙碱性特征;富集大离子亲石元素,亏损高场强元素;并具有OIB型全岩Sr-Nd(I Sr(t)=0.704249~0.704330,εNd(t)=+1.73~+3.81)和锆石Hf(εHf(t)=+4.58~+15.16)同位素组成,其锆石δ18 O介于5.75‰~6.61‰之间。这些特征指示辉长岩可能源于俯冲板片流体交代的亏损地幔楔部分熔融。同期花岗岩主要由斜长石、钾长石、石英和黑云母组成;其SiO 2含量变化于76.3%~77.6%,高硅碱、贫铁镁、弱过铝、富钍铀、亏锶钡、Eu负异常,契合典型高分异I型花岗岩的元素地球化学特征;花岗岩具有中等放射性成因的全岩I Sr(t)(0.704923~0.704981)、εNd(t)值(-0.15~+0.57)和锆石εHf(t)值(-2.63~+7.40),以及高的锆石δ18 O(6.44‰~8.06‰)。鉴于元素和同位素特征指示的高分异特征和高演化源区,猴头庙高硅花岗岩可能衍生自中元古代和古生代多期增生物质所组成的复合中基性地壳的部分熔融及其后的结晶分异作用。综合区域石炭纪-早二叠世蛇绿混杂岩和岛弧岩浆岩时空展布格局,晚石炭世猴头庙辉长岩-花岗岩系列记录了内蒙古中部其时因洋脊俯冲引发的弥散性区域伸展事件。一方面,该事件既有别于建造西乌旗早-中石炭世弧-盆体系的板片回退阶段,又迥异于早二叠世大规模后碰撞伸展过程;另一方面,这些周期性伸展事件共同见证了中亚造山带东段晚古生代威尔逊造山旋回的完整历程。     

扬子地台西南缘康滇断隆带海孜双峰式侵入岩体年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

海孜辉绿岩-花岗斑岩双峰式侵入岩体位于扬子地台西南缘康滇断隆带中的武定-元江裂陷槽内,本文对海孜辉绿岩和花岗斑岩主要进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和地球化学研究。花岗斑岩的定年结果为1764±18Ma,辉绿岩的定年结果为1765±5.4Ma。岩相学及地球化学测定数据显示海孜地区辉绿岩具有细粒和粗粒两种结构,与花岗斑岩之间存在明显的组分间断,形成双峰态,其中花岗斑岩为钙碱性(Si O2=70.93%~73.04%,σ=1.28),辉绿岩属过碱性(Si O2=42.46%~48.26%,σ=15.3),Hf同位素特征表明两者可能均与幔源母岩浆相关。而海孜双峰式分布特征显示大陆裂谷拉张环境的构造背景,暗示海孜岩体是1.7Ga时昆阳裂谷裂解时期产物,与全球Columbia超大陆的裂解事件相呼应。作为扬子地台西南缘首次发现的1.7Ga双峰式侵入岩,海孜双峰式侵入岩的发现具有重要的地质意义。     

The eruptive history of the Tequila volcanic field, western Mexico: ages, volumes, and relative proportions of lava types

The eruptive history of the Tequila volcanic field (1600 km²) in the western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt is based on ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar chronology and volume estimates for eruptive units younger than 1 Ma. Ages are reported for 49 volcanic units, including Volcán Tequila (an andesitic stratovolcano) and peripheral domes, flows, and scoria cones. Volumes of volcanic units 1 Ma were obtained with the aid of field mapping, ortho aerial photographs, digital elevation models (DEMs), and ArcGIS software. Between 1120 and 200 kyrs ago, a bimodal distribution of rhyolite (~35 km³) and high-Ti basalt (~39 km³) dominated the volcanic field. Between 685 and 225 kyrs ago, less than 3 km³ of andesite and dacite erupted from more than 15 isolated vents; these lavas are crystal-poor and show little evidence of storage in an upper crustal chamber. Approximately 200 kyr ago, ~31 km³ of andesite erupted to form the stratocone of Volcán Tequila. The phenocryst assemblage of these lavas suggests storage within a chamber at ~2–3 km depth. After a hiatus of ~110 kyrs, ~15 km³ of andesite erupted along the W and SE flanks of Volcán Tequila at ~90 ka, most likely from a second, discrete magma chamber located at ~5–6 km depth. The youngest volcanic feature (~60 ka) is the small andesitic volcano Cerro Tomasillo (~2 km³). Over the last 1 Myr, a total of 128±22 km³ of lava erupted in the Tequila volcanic field, leading to an average eruption rate of ~0.13 km³/kyr. This volume erupted over ~1600 km², leading to an average lava accumulation rate of ~8 cm/kyr. The relative proportions of lava types are ~22–43% basalt, ~0.4–1% basaltic andesite, ~29–54% andesite, ~2–3% dacite, and ~18–40% rhyolite. On the basis of eruptive sequence, proportions of lava types, phenocryst assemblages, textures, and chemical composition, the lavas do not reflect the differentiation of a single (or only a few) parental liquids in a long-lived magma chamber. The rhyolites are geochemically diverse and were likely formed by episodic partial melting of upper crustal rocks in response to emplacement of basalts. There are no examples of mingled rhyolitic and basaltic magmas. Whatever mechanism is invoked to explain the generation of andesite at the Tequila volcanic field, it must be consistent with a dominantly bimodal distribution of high-Ti basalt and rhyolite for an 800 kyr interval beginning ~1 Ma, which abruptly switched to punctuated bursts of predominantly andesitic volcanism over the last 200 kyrs.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Editorial responsility: J. Donnelly-NolanThis revised version was published online in January 2005 with corrections to Tables 1 and 3.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Archean greenstone-tonalite duality: Thermochemical mantle convection models or plate tectonics in the early Earth global dynamics?

Mantle convection and plate tectonics are one system, because oceanic plates are cold upper thermal boundary layers of the convection cells. As a corollary, Phanerozoic-style of plate tectonics or more likely a different version of it (i.e. a larger number of slowly moving plates, or similar number of faster plates) is expected to have operated in the hotter, vigorously convecting early Earth. Despite the recent advances in understanding the origin of Archean greenstone–granitoid terranes, the question regarding the operation of plate tectonics in the early Earth remains still controversial. Numerical model outputs for the Archean Earth range from predominantly shallow to flat subduction between 4.0 and 2.5 Ga and well-established steep subduction since 2.5 Ga [Abbott, D., Drury, R., Smith, W.H.F., 1994. Flat to steep transition in subduction style. Geology 22, 937–940], to no plate tectonics but rather foundering of 1000 km sectors of basaltic crust, then “resurfaced” by upper asthenospheric mantle basaltic melts that generate the observed duality of basalts and tonalities [van Thienen, P., van den Berg, A.P., Vlaar, N.J., 2004a. Production and recycling of oceanic crust in the early earth. Tectonophysics 386, 41–65; van Thienen, P., Van den Berg, A.P., Vlaar, N.J., 2004b. On the formation of continental silicic melts in thermochemical mantle convection models: implications for early Earth. Tectonophysics 394, 111–124]. These model outputs can be tested against the geological record. Greenstone belt volcanics are composites of komatiite–basalt plateau sequences erupted from deep mantle plumes and bimodal basalt–dacite sequences having the geochemical signatures of convergent margins; i.e. horizontally imbricated plateau and island arc crust. Greenstone belts from 3.8 to 2.5 Ga include volcanic types reported from Cenozoic convergent margins including: boninites; arc picrites; and the association of adakites–Mg andesites- and Nb-enriched basalts.Archean cratons were intruded by voluminous norites from the Neoarchean through Proterozoic; norites are accounted for by melting of subduction metasomatized Archean continental lithospheric mantle (CLM). Deep CLM defines Archean cratons; it extends to  350 km, includes the diamond facies, and xenoliths signify a composition of the buoyant, refractory, residue of plume melting, a natural consequence of imbricated plateau-arc crust. Voluminous tonalites of Archean greenstone–granitoid terranes show a secular trend of increasing Mg#, Cr, Ni consistent with slab melts hybridizing with thicker mantle wedge as subduction angle steepens. Strike-slip faults of 1000 km scale; diachronous accretion of distinct tectonostratigraphic terranes; and broad Cordilleran-type orogens featuring multiple sutures, and oceanward migration of arcs, in the Archean Superior and Yilgarn cratons, are in common with the Altaid and Phanerozoic Cordilleran orogens. There is increasing geological evidence of the supercontinent cycle operating back to  2.7 Ga: Kenorland or Ur  2.7–2.4 Ga; Columbia  1.6–1.4 Ga; Rodinia  1100–750 Ma; and Pangea  230 Ma. High-resolution seismic reflection profiling of Archean terranes reveals a prevalence of low angle structures, and evidence for paleo-subduction zones. Collectively, the geological–geochemical–seismic records endorse the operation of plate tectonics since the early Archean.