Palaeoproterozoic A-type magmatism in northern Wuyishan terrane,Southeast China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

ABSTRACT

In this article we present zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemistry of the Longzhu rhyolite porphyry from the Cathaysia Block, Southeast China to constrain its petrogenesis and provide insights into the early Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Cathaysia Block. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of a representative sample yields a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb age of 1819 ± 16 Ma, interpreted as the crystallization age of the Longzhu rhyolite porphyry. Zircons from this sample have ε_Hf(t) values ranging from – 8.4 to – 2.2 and T^Hf_DM2 model ages from 2.76 to 2.46 Ga. The whole-rock Nd isotopic data from the Longzhu rhyolite porphyries yield ε_Nd(t) values spanning – 6.3 to – 4.7 and T^Nd_DM2 model ages from 2.81 to 2.69 Ga. The rhyolite porphyries have geochemical features similar to those of the typical A-type granites (rhyolites), with high SiO₂, total alkali contents and FeO^t/MgO ratios, and low CaO and MgO contents. Additionally, the rhyolite porphyries have high total rare earth element concentrations (627 ~ 760 ppm), high (La/Yb)_N values (14.5 ~ 26.9), strongly negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.28 ~ 0.41), and display enrichments of Rb, Ga, Th, and U and depletions of Sr, Nb, Ta, Eu, and Ti. The geochemical and Nd-Hf isotopic features suggest that the Palaeoproterozoic Longzhu rhyolite porphyries were generated by partial melting of source rocks similar to those of the Badu Complex in an intra-plate extensional setting. The results from this study, when combined with existing geochronological data, further demonstrate that the Palaeoproterozoic rocks of Wuyishan terrane probably represent a remnant of the Columbia supercontinent.     

The unconformity-related palaeokarst in the uppermost Ediacaran carbonate rocks in the northwestern Tarim Block,NW China: implication for sedimentary evolution during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition

ABSTRACT

The unconformity between the Ediacaran and Cambrian and its associated palaeokarst was well preserved within the Aksu area of the northwestern margin of the Tarim Block and provides new insights into the sedimentary evolution of the Tarim Basin during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition. In this contribution, the typical palaeokarst features in the uppermost Ediacaran dolostones at nine outcrops in the Aksu area were documented, including palaeocaves, cave-sediment infills, solution vugs, and pores. Large-scale collapsed breccia assemblages in palaeocaves indicate that strong karstification had occurred in the south belt from the Xiaoerburak to Kule sections. Karst characterized by small-scale caves and solution vugs at the Chigebrak and Kakebashi sections suggests that the karstification in the north belt was not stronger than that in the south belt. Whereas sparse solution pores and small vugs can only be observed at the Sugetbrak and Yuermeinak sections, demonstrating that the karstification was weak in the middle belt. Combined with the thickness of sediments in the base of the Cambrian which subsequently overlay on the Ediacaran–Cambrian unconformity, it is speculated that the palaeo-upland was probably located in the middle belt from the Sugetbrak to Yuermeinak sections and the slope was developed in the south and north belts during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition. The palaeokarst documented in the uppermost Ediacaran dolostones in the Aksu area illustrates an important sedimentary hiatus of the Tarim Block during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, which might be due to the sea-level fall at the end of the Ediacaran.     

Petrochronology of the migmatization event of the Xolapa Complex,Mexico, microchemistry and equilibrium growth of zircon and garnet

ABSTRACT

The number of migmatization events in the Xolapa Complex and their absolute age are controversial. U–Pb dating by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry was performed on zircon grains from migmatites to investigate the age of different textural domains. Rare-earth element (REE) partition coefficients between zircon and garnet were compared with those established for different temperatures in order to test for equilibrium growth. Two age domains were identified. In one sample where zircon and garnet coexist, the outer zircon overgrowths yield a mean age of 54.16 ± 0.29 Ma (mean square weighted deviation (MSWD) = 3.5), whereas intermediate zones, between the core and outer overgrowths, yield an age of 122.7 ± 1.8 Ma (MSWD = 2.5). Partition coefficients were calculated for REEs between coexisting garnet (two different populations) and zircon using (1) the composition of ca. 54 Ma zircon overgrowths and garnet rims and (2) zircon intermediate zones together with garnet cores. The cores of small garnet grains (garnet A) may have grown in equilibrium with zircon domains of ca. 122 Ma. Both garnet cores and rims of the larger porphyroblasts (garnet B) seem to be in equilibrium with ca. 54 Ma zircon overgrowths. Petrographic observations suggest that crystallization of garnet A occurred during partial melting, placing equilibrium growth and therefore a first migmatitic event during the Early Cretaceous at ca. 122 Ma. This migmatitic event may be related to the collision of the Chortís Block with western Mexico. A second migmatitic event of ca. 54 Ma is suggested by equilibrium growth of large garnets (group B) and the outer zircon overgrowths. The high geothermal gradient necessary for this second migmatitic event might be related to the exhumation of the Xolapa Complex, as a result of the transpression and tectonic transport of the Chortís Block to the southeast from the end of the Mesozoic to most of the Cenozoic.     

Ordovician volcano–sedimentary iron deposits of the Eastern Tianshan area,Northwest China: the Tianhu example

ABSTRACT

The stratabound Tianhu iron deposit, with a reserve of 104 Mt at 42% Fe, is located in the eastern part of the Central Tianshan zone in the southern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The deposit hosts schist, quartzite, marble, amphibolite, and granitic gneiss belonging to the Tianhu Group. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to perform zircon U–Pb geochronology, bulk-rock geochemistry, and in situ zircon Hf isotope analyses of the metavolcanic host rocks for constraining the timing and genesis of the Tianhu iron deposit. According to the newly determined age constraints of 452 ± 3 and 477 ± 4 Ma, the iron deposit was concluded to be Ordovician in age. Geochemistry and zircon Lu–Hf isotope analyses suggested that the host rocks of the deposit represent metamorphosed arc-type volcanic rocks generated by the partial melting of a lower crustal source. Combined with geological and ore petrographic characteristics, the Tianhu iron deposit is interpreted to be of volcano–sedimentary origin with enrichment during subsequent metamorphism. The early Palaeozoic marks a critical iron mineralization epoch in the Eastern Tianshan area. The results also support the model of the Central Tianshan area as a volcanic-arc during the early Palaeozoic, associated with the subduction of the Northern Tianshan Ocean.     

Age and nature of 560–520 Ma calc-alkaline granitoids of Biarjmand,northeast Iran: insights into Cadomian arc magmatism in northern Gondwana

ABSTRACT

The Biarjmand granitoids and granitic gneisses in northeast Iran are part of the Torud–Biarjmand metamorphic complex, where previous zircon U–Pb geochronology show ages of ca. 554–530 Ma for orthogneissic rocks. Our new U–Pb zircon ages confirm a Cadomian age and show that the granitic gneiss is ~30 million years older (561.3 ± 4.7 Ma) than intruding granitoids (522.3 ± 4.2 Ma; 537.7 ± 4.7 Ma). Cadomian magmatism in Iran was part of an approximately 100-million-year-long episode of subduction-related arc and back-arc magmatism, which dominated the whole northern Gondwana margin, from Iberia to Turkey and Iran. Major REE and trace element data show that these granitoids have calc-alkaline signatures. Their zircon O (δ¹⁸O = 6.2–8.9‰) and Hf (–7.9 to +5.5; one point with εHf ~ –17.4) as well as bulk rock Nd isotopes (εNd(t) = –3 to –6.2) show that these magmas were generated via mixing of juvenile magmas with an older crust and/or melting of middle continental crust. Whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf model ages (1.3–1.6 Ga) suggest that this older continental crust was likely to have been Mesoproterozoic or even older. Our results, including variable zircon εHf(t) values, inheritance of old zircons and lack of evidence for juvenile Cadomian igneous rocks anywhere in Iran, suggest that the geotectonic setting during late Ediacaran and early Cambrian time was a continental magmatic arc rather than back-arc for the evolution of northeast Iran Cadomian igneous rocks.     

Relationship of the Tarim Craton to the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: insights from Devonian intrusions in the northern margin of Tarim Craton,China

ABSTRACT

The boundary and relation of the Tarim Craton to the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and its role in the formation history of the CAOB remain controversial. This article presents ages and Hf-in-zircon isotopic and geochemical results for gabbroic, dioritic, and granitic plutons from the northern margin of Tarim Craton (NMTC), and discusses their petrogenesis and tectonic regimes as well as the boundary between the CAOB and the Tarim Craton. These plutons yield zircon ages of 424–385 Ma. In the Quruqtagh zone south of the Xinger Fault, the gabbroic pluton shows enrichment in LREEs and LILEs, depletion in HFSEs and positive ε_Hf(t) values (+4.0 to +11.4), suggesting that parental magmas of gabbros were likely derived by partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge previously metasomatized by slab-derived aqueous fluids. In the Hulashan Zone north of the Xinger Fault, the studied rocks include one dioritic pluton and three granitic plutons. The geochemical characteristics and petrogenesis of the dioritic pluton are similar to those of the studied gabbroic with positive ε_Hf(t) values (+3.0 to +9.4). The three granitic plutons display relative depletion in HFSEs and enrichment in LILEs. Their variable ε_Hf(t) values range from ?2.1 to +8.9, with T_DM2 ages of 858–1503 Ma, suggesting complex crustal sources with different proportions of juvenile and ancient materials. This article confirms and evidences an Andean-style active continental margin of the Tarim Craton due to southward subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean. Furthermore, our Hf isotopic data, together with regional data from the literature, show that the Hulashan zone to the north to the Xinger Fault has younger continental materials in deep than these of NMTC south of the fault, and is similar to microcontinental fragments in the CAOB. This suggests that the Xinger fault may be the boundary between the Tarim Craton and Tianshan orogen.     

Magma–magma interaction in the mantle recorded by megacrysts from Cenozoic basalts in eastern China

ABSTRACT

Recently, besides magma–rock and rock–rock reaction, magma–magma interaction at mantle depth has been proposed as an alternative mechanism to produce diverse compositions of mantle. Clinopyroxene and garnet megacrysts can be formed at this condition since this process is suggested to trigger the high-pressure crystallization of these minerals. Studying on this type of megacrysts provides us important information on the genesis of intraplate basalts and the chemical heterogeneity of mantle, which has not been reported before. Here we present major, trace elements and Sr isotopes of clinopyroxene and garnet megacrysts hosted by Cenozoic basalts from Penglai, Shandong province of eastern China. The megacrysts are suggested to be formed by crystallization from magma because of their moderate Mg^# (74.0–79.9 for clinopyroxene and 58.8–65.0 for garnet) and good correlations between Mg^# and other elements (e.g. CaO, TiO₂, Nd and Lu). The potential crystallized temperature and pressure are estimated to be ~1156°C at 2.6–3.2 GPa, which should occur at the top of asthenosphere or lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary based on the lithospheric thickness in this area (~60–70 km). Since the megacrysts show variable Sr isotopes, and their primary magmas show negative correlation between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Hf/Sm ratios, as well as positive correlation between Ba/Th and Nb/U for clinopyroxenes, it indicates a mixing origin. Cenozoic basalts from Shandong show a mixing trend, and high-pressure fractionation of clinopyroxene and garnet is suggested to occur during the mixing process because some basalts show significantly higher Sm/Yb and lower Ca/Al ratios than others, which again supports our interpretations. When compared to megacrysts and host basalts from other locations of eastern China, similar geochemical variations and a deviation trend relative to the mixing trend are also observed. It indicates that magma–magma interaction can be a common process for formation of intraplate basalts and basalt-borne megacrysts.     

Ore-forming granites from Jurassic porphyry Mo deposits,east–central Jilin Province,China: geochemistry,geochronology, and petrogenesis

ABSTRACT

The east–central part of Jilin Province, NE China, hosts an important polymetallic metallogenic district that contains more than 10 recently discovered large-, medium-, and small-scale Mo deposits. The Mo deposits in this area include porphyry-, skarn-, and quartz vein-type mineralization, of which the porphyry-type deposits dominate. Few studies of these mineralization-related granitoids have been undertaken. Here, we present the results of a systematic regional survey of the geochemistry and geochronology of Mo mineralization-related granites in this area. Zircon U–Pb dating of the Fuanpu, Jidetun, Shuangshan, and Jiapigou granites, all of which are associated with Mo mineralization, yielded weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 167.05 ± 0.81, 170.91 ± 0.83, 183.8 ± 1.1, and 182.3 ± 2.2 Ma, respectively, indicating that these plutons were emplaced during the Early–Middle Jurassic. They have SiO₂ = 62.59–73.5 wt.%, Al₂O₃ = 13.74–16.19 wt.%, and K₂O/Na₂O = 0.8–2.18. Chemically, they are metaluminous to peraluminous and belong to the high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series. Moreover, they are enriched in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, and are depleted in high field strength elements, which are characteristics of I type granite. Whole rock Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of these granitoids are similar (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70404 to 0.70554; εNd(t) = –0.9 to 2.4; (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t = 15.549–15.567, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t = 18.035–18.530, ⁽²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t = 37.966–38.229) and altogether suggest that the magmas from which the Mo deposits were generated originated from the mantle or juvenile crust. Combining our results with regional Jurassic tectonic setting, we conclude that the mineralization of these granitoids reflected Pacific plate subduction which induced magma underplating and promoted the remelting of the juvenile crust, resulting in voluminous granitic magma.     

Late Jurassic granitoids in the Xilamulun Mo belt,Northeastern China: geochronology,geochemistry, and tectonic implications

ABSTRACT

The Xilamulun Mo belt of Northeastern China, located in the southeastern segment of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is composed of large deposits of porphyry Mo and quartz-vein-type Mo, which are related to Mesozoic granitoids. Previous studies led to the conclusion that all granitoids in the region formed during the Cretaceous and Triassic, but our new laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb zircon dating of magmatic zircons from five samples of four mineralized plutons (Nailingou, Longtoushan, and Hashitu granites and Erbadi and Hashitu granite porphyries) reveals that these range in age from 143.8 ± 1.2 to 149.5 ± 1.0 Ma. These granites show post-collisional (A-type) geochemical characteristics (e.g. enrichment in total alkali, LILE, and LREE and depletion in Eu, Ba, P, and Nb). The Erbadi, Longtoushan, Hashitu, and Longtoushan granitoids exhibit moderately positive Hf isotopic compositions (ε_Hf(t) = ?0.3 to 10.2), indicating that granitic magmas may reflect mixtures of mantle melts and continental crust. These mineralized granites were all emplaced along a major fault over a time span of ~6 million years during the Late Jurassic. We conclude that igneous activity and mineralization resulted from the rollback of the subducted Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath Eurasia. Confirming that the Late Jurassic granitic intrusives are related to the Mo mineralization is useful for understanding the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the Xilamulun Mo belt and also has significant implications for the regional exploration of ores.     

Timing and tectonic significance of Paleozoic magmatism in the Sakar unit of the Sakar-Strandzha Zone,SE Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

Palaeozoic granitoids and meta-granitoids dominate the metamorphic basement of the Sakar unit of the Sakar-Strandzha Zone (SASTZ) in southeast Bulgaria. In this article, we present new whole-rock geochemical data and U–Pb zircon geochronology for the Sakar unit granitoids. The igneous minerals and textures are preserved, except the meta-granitoids that experienced a weak amphibolite-facies overprint. Geochemistry reveals compositions of peraluminous high-K calc-alkaline I- to S-type granitoids of volcanic arc origin. A major group of LILE-LREE-enriched granitoids and meta-granitoids and a single HFSE-HREE-enriched meta-granitoid are distinguished. U–Pb geochronology has yielded crystallization ages between 305 and 295 Ma for the major group granitoids and a ca. 462 Ma crystallization age of HFSE-HREE-enriched meta-granitoid. Late Palaeozoic granitoids of the Sakar unit show similar compositions and a similar tectonic setting when compared to other granitoids of the SASTZ, confirming a uniform region-wide tectono-magmatic event. As the Late Carboniferous-Permian magmatic arc components extend across the SASTZ, they trace the time-correspondent active continental margin along the Eurasian plate during subduction of the Palaeotethys oceanic lithosphere. The late Palaeozoic Eurasian active continental margin magmatic arc evolution of the SASTZ can be extended into the Serbo-Macedonian-Rhodope zones to the west, where time equivalent meta-granitoids support the same geodynamic context.