Nd isotopic disequilibrium between minerals and Rb-Sr age of the secondary phengite in eclogite from the Yangkou area, Qingdao, eastern China

There are two generations of white micas in retrograded coesite-bearing eclogite from the Yangkou area near Qingdao, eastern China. The secondary phengite developed along the folliations in eclogite is the majority of the white micas. Nd and Sr isotopic disequilibriums between garnet and retrograded omphacite as well as secondary phengite have been observed. Consequently, the Rb-Sr ages ((193 ± 4) Ma―(195 ± 4) Ma) given by the tie lines of the secondary phengite + garnet or whole rock may predate the formation time of the phengite. The Rb-Sr age of (183 ± 4) Ma given by the secondary phengite + retrograde omphacite is much closer to the formation time of the phengite indicating the retrograde age of eclogite instead of a cooling age of eclogite at 500℃.     

Rutile U-Pb age for the ultrahigh pressure eclogite from the Dabie Mountains,central China: Evidence for rapid cooling

The U-Pb isotope compositions of rutile, omphacite and garnet in the eclogite from the Jinheqiao area in the Southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic zone were analyzed. The consistent high precision U-Pb age (218 ± 1.2) Ma of rutile in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains was obtained by two ways of isochron and common Pb correction based on the composition of omphacite. This proves that the omphacite in eclogite has a U/Pb ratio (m = 2.8) low enough to be used for common Pb correction in the analyses of rutile. Under the rapid cooling condition (40℃/Ma) the closure temperature for U-Pb diffusion in rutile is about 470℃. Thus, this U-Pb age of rutile proves that 218 Ma should be the cooling age of eclogite at 470℃ instead of the peak metamorphic age.     

<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar isochron ages of lawsonite blueschists from Jiuquan in the northern Qilian Mountain,NW China,and their tectonic implications

Using laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating method, we have gotten the metamorphic ages of lawsonite blueschist and epidote blueschist from Jiuquan, northern Qilian Mountain, NW China. The high quality laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of glaucophane from lawsonite blueschist gives an isochron age of 413±5 Ma. The isochron age obtained from phengite in epidote blueschist is 415±7 Ma. These data, combining with peak metamorphic P-T conditions and regional geological setting, allow us to infer that the lower limit of the ages of the prograde subduction metamorphism from lawsonite blueschist facies to epidote blueschist facies occurred at ca. 413–415 Ma, which also suggests that the formation of lawsonite blueschist in the northern Qilian Mountain maybe resulted from the corner flow in the cold subduction zone. This study shows that the final closing time of the northern Qilian remnant oceanic basin is about 413–415 Ma, which also represents the convergent age between the North China Craton and the Qaidam block.     

Geologic relationships and geochronology of the Cenozoic volcanoes and interbedded weathered mantles of Yulinshan in Qiangtang, North Tibet

The Yulinshan accumulations of volcanic rocks and interbedded weathered mantles provide a unique chance for studying the processes and environment of the formation of the planation surface in central Tibetan Plateau. Geochemical,⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and K/Ar geochronologic investigations of the weathered mantles and high-potassium volcanic rocks reveal that the volcano-weathered mantle accumulations formed under arid or semi-arid subtropic environment in 30–24 Ma. The sole planation surface of the Qiangtang region finally formed in about 20 Ma.     

Rutile U-Pb age for the ultra-high pressure eclogite from the dabie Mountains,central China:Evideence for rapid cooling

The U-Pb isotope compositions of rutile, omphacite and garnet in the eclogite from the Jinheqiao area in the Southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic zone were analyzed. The consistent high precision U-Pb age (218 ±(1.2) Ma of rutile in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains was obtained by two ways of isochron and common Pb correction based on the composition of omphacite. This proves that the omphacite in eclogite has a U/Pb ratio (μ = 2.8) low enough to be used for common Pb correction in the analyses of rutile. Under the rapid cooling condition (40℃/Ma) the closure temperature for U-Pb diffusion in rutile is about 470℃. Thus, this U-Pb age of rutile proves that 218 Ma should be the cooling age of eclogite at 470℃ instead of the peak metamorphic age.     

Petrology and40Ar/39Ar isotopic ages of blueschists in Gangmar, central Qiangtang, northern Tibet

The petrology and mineral assemblages of blueschists in the Gangmar, central Qiangtang, northern Tibet were examined, which indicates that the metamorphic condition is high-pressure low-temperature. In this note, we reported the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating results of glaucophane from two blueschist samples. Their apparent ages are (275.0± 1.3) Ma and (287.6± 2.3) Ma and similar isochron ages are (275.0± 0.9) Ma and (282.4± 0.8) Ma, respectively. These isotopic datings show the high-pressure metamorphism occurring in Lower Permian. The ages also coincide with the evolution of Palaeo-Tethys ocean in Late Palaeozoic.     

Genesis of excess argon in phengite and significance of40Ar-39Ar age spectra for omphacite: A case study on UHP eclogite of South Dabie Terrain, China

The Ar-Ar dating of phengite and omphacite in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite of Bixiling and Hengchong in the South Dabie Terrain shows that the content range of excess argon is as high as (0.4–1.3)×10⁸ mol · g1. The genesis of the excess argon is discussed. The Ar-Ar age spectra of omphacite could not support the opinion that the UHP metamorphism occurred in Caledon epoch and pre-Caledon epoch.     

SHRIMP dating of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains, China

This note reports the SHRIMP U-Pb data of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains. Zircons from the rock occur mainly in garnet and other metamorphic minerals with sharp boundaries and exhibit textures growing under metamorphic conditions. Analyses of 7 grains give ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 335 to 424 Ma, showing a certain degree of radiogenic lead loss. This suggests a minimum age of (424±5) Ma for the metamorphic zircons, as well as the high-pressure metamorphic event. The outer peripheral zone of a zircon gives ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of about 300 Ma. Combined with Sm-Nd, ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar, U-Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, the peak metamorphism of the Xiongdian eclogite is documented between 424—480 Ma.     

Northernmost paleo-tethyan oceanic basin in Tibet: Geochronological evidence from40Ar/39Ar age dating of Dur’ngoi ophiolite

Whole rock⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age dating has been conducted on a basalt sample from Dur’ngoi ophiolite, Qinghai Province, which was reported to be the northernmost paleo-tethyan oceanic basin in Tibet. A high temperature plateau age (345.3±7.9 Ma) with an isochorn age (336.6±7.1 Ma) has been obtained, representing the eruption time of oceanic crust. Considering related geological settings, the new age provides constraints on the northernmost paleo-tethyan suture zone in Tibet and the tectonic evolution of Paleo-tethys in Northeast Tibet and adjacent areas.     

Diachroneity of continental subduction and exhumation: Constraints from the Permian-Triassic HP metamorphic terrane in the Tongbai orogen, central China

High-pressure （HP） metamorphic terrane in the Tongbai orogen comprises two HP slices （I and II） and a tectonic m61ange zone in the northeast and a blueschist-greenschist zone in the southwest. HP slice I is represented by the northern and southern eclogite zones on the two sides of the Tongbaishan antiform. HP slice II is represented by retrograded eclogite-bearing metamorphic en- claves in Cretaceous gneissic granites in the Tongbai Complex. U-Pb, Lu-Hf, Rb-Sr and 4Ar/39Ar multichronometric data indi- cate that the peak metamorphism of HP slice I took place at -255 Ma, whereas the metamorphic ages of HP slice II are as young as 232-220 Ma. By contrast, the tectonic melange zone near the suture was metamorphosed at -256 Ma. Such a diachroneity of dif- ferent slices across the direction of the orogen in the Hong＇an-Dabie-Sulu HP/UHP terrane is ubiquitous, and it can be interpreted by a syn-subduction detachment/exhumation model. Furthermore, the metamorphic age of HP slice I in the Tongbai orogen is older than that of the equivalent HP slice in the Hong＇an orogen by ~15 Ma, suggesting that the diachroneity may have also ex- isted along the direction of the orogen. A seesaw-type subduction/exhumation model is proposed to explain this age disparity and the subduction of the South China Block becomimg shallower towards the west.     

The40Ar/39Ar age record of formation and uplift of the blueschists and eclogites in the western Tianshan Mountains

The⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate that the eclogite facies rocks of the Hasiate slice in the western Tianshan Mountains were formed at the early stage of Devonian (401 Ma) and had been uplifted to the greenschist facies tectonic level in the middle stage of Devonian (381 Ma). The formation and uplift of the blueschists of the Akesayi slice are constrained to the late stage of Devonian (370-364 Ma). The different tectonic slices in the high-pressure metamorphic belt have experienced the different uplift history.     

早泥盆世古亚洲洋构造作用:来自可可托海和额济纳旗花岗岩年代学研究

古亚洲构造域内发育有大量的古生代酸性侵入岩。对阿尔泰造山带可可托海近3号脉的酸性侵入岩体进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年分析,以确定其岩浆作用时代及其岩浆活动的构造意义。研究区内的花岗岩包含的锆石大部分为自形-半自形晶,显示为典型的岩浆成因;测年结果发现,该岩体形成于404.4±3.2 Ma,为早泥盆世岩浆活动的产物。通过对额济纳辉森乌拉西糜棱岩化二长花岗岩中白云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar同位素年代学分析,获得白云母的坪年龄和等时线年龄分别为407.69±3.09 Ma和407.65±3.99 Ma,这暗示了拐子湖-呼和音乌苏弧形挤压带在早泥盆世活动的冷却年龄。以上事件与早泥盆世古亚洲洋的俯冲、碰撞的构造环境关系密切。     

Age of Anzishan granulites in the Mianxian-Lueyang suture zone of Qingling orogen: With a discussion of the timing of final assembly of Yangtze and North China craton blocks

Many granulite blocks have been recently discovered in the Anzishan area, Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, in the central segment of the Mianxian-Lueyang suture zone. Sm-Nd isochron and 40Ar/39Ar ages of mineral samples of granulites from this area are reported in the note. The granulite mineral samples give a Sm-Nd isochron age of t=(206 ( 55) Ma (2(), with INd = 0.51302(7(2() and MSWD = 1.6, and a biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of (199.7(1.7) Ma (2(). The formation and uplift of the granulites were related to subduction of the Yangtze block beneath the South Qinling microcontinent and their collision and the final amalgamation of the Yangtze and Sino-Korean craton blocks in the Indosinian, and their age is consistent with or close to those of the Dabie ultrahigh-pressure and high-pressure metamorphic rocks, so have great tectonic significance.     

Discovery of eclogite at northern margin of Qaidam Basin, NW China

Eclogite was first discovered at the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in this study. It occurs as pods in the gneiss sequence of Middle to Upper Proterozoic age and is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, phengite and rutile. The garnets contain 44%-62% of almandine, 15%-33% of grossular and 12%-30% of pyrope molecules, and the omphacites contain 40%-46% of jadeite. Applying garnet_clinopyroxene thermometry and jadeite geobarometry, the peak conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at about (722±123)℃ and at the pressure of up to c. 22 ×10 8 Pa.     

Coesite in the eclogite and schist of the Atantayi Valley,southwestern Tianshan,China

Coesite is an indicator mineral of ultra-high-pressure metamorphism. Since coesite was reported in the Habutengsu Valley, we have also found it in eclogite and schist from the Atantayi Valley in the southwestern Tianshan, China. Petrographic and micro-Raman analyses were carried out for the Atantayi metamorphic rocks and coesite was recognized in the predominant rock types, i.e. schist and eclogite, from three sections. The coesite-bearing schist consists mainly of garnet, Na-Ca amphibole, quartz, white mica and albite; the coesite-bearing eclogite is mainly composed of omphacite, garnet, glaucophane and zoisite. The coesite occurs as various mineral inclusions within porphyroblastic garnet. Findings of coesite in eclogite and associated schist indicate not only the regional in situ formation of the Atantayi ultra-high-pressure eclogite, but also the large areal extent of ultra-high-pressure metamorphism in southwestern Tianshan, extending up to 10 km north-south and 60-80 km east-west.     

Geochronology of source materials from high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in Jurassic sedimentary rocks of Hefei Basin

Eclogite cobbles were discovered by Wang et al. (2001) in the Fenghuangtai Formation of the northern margin of Dabie Mountains in the Dushan area of Anhui Province, China[1]. They proposed that after the formation during the Triassic, the high-pressure (HP) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks reached the sur-face through exhumation and uplifting before the late Ju-rassic. However, they have not provided any evidence about isotopic ages. One kind of cobbles of HP-UHP rocks w…     

Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronology of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism

~~Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronol-ogy of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism1. GXBGMR (Guangxi Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guangxi, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1985, 1-853. 2. GZBGMR (Guizhou Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guizhou Province, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1987, 1-698. 3. YNBGMR (Yunnan Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional …     

Further support for a Cretaceous age for the feathered-dinosaur beds of Liaoning, China: New 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Yixian and Tuchengzi

We report new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating results obtained from total fusion and incremental-heating analyses of sanidine and biotite from three tuffs found interbedded within the fossil-bearing deposits of Liaoning, northeast China. The first is a new sample of the Bed 6 Sihetun tuff from the Yixian Formation, previously dated by our team as middle Early Cretaceous, and recently considered by Lo et al., partially reset due to metamorphism from a nearby basaltic sill. The second is the Yixian Bed 9 tuff from Hengdaozi considered by Lo et al. to be unaffected by metamorphism and whose age, based on total fusion ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of biotite, argues for a Jurassic age for the Yixian Formation. The third tuff is a previously undated tuff from the upper part of the underlying Tuchengzi Formation. Single crystal total fusion ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses of the Sihetun sanidine showed homogeneous radiogenic Ar, Ca/K ratios, excellent reproducibility and gave a mean age of 125.0 ± 0.18 (1SD) ± 0.04 (SE) Ma. Single sanidine crystal total fusion ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses of the Hengdaozi tuff gave a mean age of 125.0 ± 0.19 (1SD) ± 0.04 (SE) Ma, which is indistinguishable from the Sihetun tuff. The Tuchengzi Formation tuff gave a mean age of 139.4 ± 0.19 (1SD) ± 0.05 (SE) Ma. Detailed laser incremental-heating analyses of biotite from Sihetun, Hengdaozi, and Tuchengzi tuffs show disturbed Ar release patterns and evidence of trapped argon components. We conclude from these analyses that the total fusion dates on biotite by Lo et al. are erroneously old and isotopic dating of both biotite and sanidine from tuffs of the Yixian Formation point to a middle Early Cretaceous age. The upper part of the Tuchengzi Formation can be referred to the Early Cretaceous.     

排山楼金矿床~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

采用Ar-Ar同位素测年法对辽宁排山楼金矿床矿化阶段形成的钾长石和似斑状花岗岩中的钾长石进行了测试,获得矿化阶段形成钾长石40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为(116.69±1.15)Ma,等时线年龄为(116.97±1.39)Ma,以及似斑状花岗岩中原生钾长石40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为(126.71±2.03)Ma,等时线年龄为(124.00±4.32)Ma的数据.前者代表了该矿床的形成年龄,即该矿床形成于早白垩世,后者表明金矿化不早于(126.71±2.03)Ma.这一成矿年龄与华北陆块北缘大部分金矿床的成矿年龄一致,表明华北陆块北缘绝大多数金矿床形成于中国东部中生代动力学体制发生转折的时期.     

^40Ar／^39Ar geochronological constraints on syn-orogenic strike-slip movement of Tan-Lu fault zone

Two phases of sinistral strike-slip ductile shear belts occur on the eastern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt. A muscovite ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau age of 128 Ma was obtained from mylonite in the later ductile shear zone. Three muscovite samples separated from mylonites of 3 localities in the earlier ductile shear belts yield ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 192.5±0.7 Ma, 189.7±0.6 Ma and 188.7±0.7 Ma, respectively. They are interpreted as cooling ages of the earlier sinistral strike-slip deformation. It is suggested that left-lateral displacement of the Tan-Lu fault zone started in a late stage of the collision orogeny in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt between the North and South China plates. Therefore, the earlier Tan-Lu fault zone was syn-orogenic strike-slip tectonics. The fault zone was used again for sinistral displacement during tectonic activities of peri-Pacific regime in Early Cretaceous. It is proposed that the fault zone occurred as a transform fault during the orogenic process.