Evolution of the Heihe-Nenjiang Ocean in the eastern Paleo-Asian Ocean: Constraints of sedimentological,geochronological and geochemical investigations from Early-Middle Paleozoic Heihe-Dashizhai Orogenic Belt in the northeast China

Based on sedimentological, geochronological and geochemical investigations, a Paleozoic orogenic belt, called the Heihe-Dashizhai orogenic belt (HDOB), has been recognized, which consists of three tectonic units: Duobaoshan-Dashizhai arc belt, Wolihe back-arc basin and Sankuanggou-Jinshuishan molasse basin, representing a northwesternward subduction system of the Heihe-Nenjiang Ocean (HNO) between the Xing'an-Airgin Sum Block (XAB) and the Songliao-Hunshandake Block (SHB) in Great Xing'an area of the northeast China. The Duobaoshan-Dashizhai arc belt includes arc volcanic-sedimentary sequence and pluton belt composed by granodiorites, diorites and quartz diorites, which can be divided into the early (506–469 Ma) and late periods (463–426 Ma). Geochemical research indicates that the primary magma of the early and late period arc rocks was derived from the partial melting of depleted mantle to a relatively enriched lithospheric mantle related with thickened continental crust, and a depleted mantle wedge, respectively. The Wolihe back-arc basin is composed of basalt with pillow structure, gabbro, serpentinized ultramafic rocks and thin-bedded chert in lower part and turbidity with double direction provenance from both arc belt and older continent in upper part. The Sankuanggou-Jinshuishan molasse basin contains several cycles, revealing a transformation from flysch in lower part to marine molasse with rapid proximal accumulation in upper part, indicating a change from neritic to littoral sedimentary environments. The Early-Middle Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the HDOB can be divided into three stages: the early arc stage (506–469 Ma), the late arc stage (463–426 Ma) and molasse basin development (426 Ma to Early Devonian), representing the early and late subduction of the HNO and formation of the HDOB, respectively.