Sm-Nd dating and Nd-Sr isotopic characteristics of the Shimian ophiolite suite, Sichuan Province

By measuring the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic compositions of harzburgite and gabbro from Shimian ophiolite suite, we got the whole rock Sm-Nd isochron age of (938±30) Ma (2?), and the ??Nd of 7.6±0.8 (2?), which shows that the ophiolite was formed at the Early Neoproterozoic. The obvious change (0.70209-0.70708) of ISr values of the ophiolite is caused by the meteoric hydrothermal alteration. The high ? Nd values indicate that the primitive magma was derived from the intense depleted mantle reservoir. It is suggested that this area was in a back-arc basin environment during the Early Neoproterozic.     

The evidence of Sm-Nd isochron age for the early Paleozoic ophiolite in Mangya area, Altun Mountains

The REE patterns of the basic volcanic rocks in Mangya area, Altun, are slight rich in LREE with (La/Ya)-N=1.69-3.20, (La/Sm)-N=1.37-1.87, other trace element ratios of the rocks are Th/Ta≈1 (for a few samples greater than 1.5), Nb/Y=0.34-0.62, Ti/Y=310-443 (on the average: 381), Ti/V=37-62, Zr/Nb=9.4-12.4, Sr/Rb=12-80 (on the average: 37), and Nb/Th=7.7-16.8. These features are similar to that of E-MORE or OIB. The ε Nd(t) value, being 3.95- 4.12, shows that the source of the volcanic rocks is derived from depleted asthenosphere mantle mixed with materials from enriched mantle. These, together with the information of geological setting and rock assemblages, indicate that the basic volcanic rocks are of ophiolite. The Sm-Nd isotope ages for the eight basic volcanic rock samples construct a straight line with good correlation, and the calculated isochron age is (481.3±53) Ma. Besides, the eight calculated ε Nd(t) and model ages are close to each other, which suggests that they are homologous, so the isochron is not a mixed line. In the meantime, the isochron age ((481.3±53) Ma) is lower than the model ages (T DM=1 004-1 534 Ma) of the samples, suggeting that the isochron age represents the formation age of the basic volcanic rocks and the ophiolite belt in Mangya area, Altun is formed in the early Paleozoic (Cambrian-Ordovician). In spite of the greater uncertainty of the age, it is still reliable because it is consistent with the age constrained by the regional strata.     

Geochronology and Nd and Pb isotope characteristics of gabbro dikes in the Luobusha ophiolite, Tibet

We report a combined internal and whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron age, and Nd and Pb isotopic data for gabbro dikes of the Luobusha ophiolite in Tibet. The Sm-Nd isochron of data for two whole rocks and plagioclase and clinopyroxene separates from one of the rocks yields a Middle Jurassic age of (177±31) Ma (with an initial ε_Nd(t) = +8), which provides a significant bound on the time of formation of the Luobusha ophiolite. The Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics of the dike indicate an Indian-Ocean-type isotopic affinity, and we conclude that the Luobusha ophiolite formed in an oceanic setting during the Middle Jurassic.     

Sm-Nd age of syncollisional mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Dabie Mountains

A Sm_Nd age of (228±42) Ma with initial ε Nd =-16.4 for the Renjiawan pyroxenite intrusion in the North Dabie terrane is reported. This age with another Sm_Nd age of (230±44) Ma for the Zhujiapu pyroxenite in the same terrane documents that the pyroxenite in the North Dabie terrane are formed during continental subduction time of the Yangtze craton in the Triassic.     

Isotopic characteristics of the postorogenic granites in orogenic belt of northern China and their implications in crustal growth

The orogenic belt of northern China is characterized by widely developed postorogenic Ⅰ fractionated and A-type granites in the Phanerozoic. The isotopic data display relatively high ε Nd(t) and 206Pb/ 204Pb values and low I Sr ratio. The low T DM model ages (<100 Ma) suggest that the Neo-Proterozoic-Phanerozoic is one of the main stages in the continental growth.     

Zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes of volcanic rocks from the Batamayineishan Formation in the eastern Junggar Basin

An internal structural study was conducted to investigate U-Pb age, trace elements and Hf isotopes of basaltic zircons from the Batamayineishan Formation. The basalt was obtained from drill well San-Can 1 on the eastern Luliang uplift within the Junggar Basin. Trace element data of zircons show that all samples are magmatic, with similar REE patterns, including positive Ce (δCe=5.06–134), but negative Eu (δEu=0.06⦒0.55) anomalies and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements. Among 25 grains, the concordant ages were subdivided into three groups; ages of 300.4±1.3 Ma (n=11), 339.2±2.7 Ma (n=3) and 392.0±1.7 Ma (n=8). Three remaining grains were nearly concordant, with ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 510±7, 488±6 and 453±6 Ma, respectively. The youngest concordant age (i.e., 300.4±1.3 Ma) could be interpreted as the formation age of the studied basaltic rock; this is consistent with the sampling position at the upper part of the Batamayineishan Formation. On the other hand, ages such as Ordovician and early Devonian are consistent with the ages of island-arc volcanic rocks (enrichment in Pb) or ophiolites around the basin. Moreover, the positive ɛ _Hf(t) values of the early and middle Paleozoic zircons (+3.6–+10.5) may suggest that the basement traversed by the studied volcanic rocks may be Paleozoic in age, formed from the residual oceanic crust and island-arc complex. The ɛ _Hf(t) values (+4.2–+17.1) of the late Paleozoic (∼300.4 Ma) zircons suggest that the basaltic magmas were derived from partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle or depleted lithospheric mantle. These magmas were slightly contaminated by the existence of early-middle Paleozoic materials. The late Carboniferous basalts represent direct eruption of mantle-derived magmas at the upper crustal level during a post-collisional tectonic setting. We therefore consider that extensive vertical growth of the continental crust to have occurred before the late Carboniferous.     

Sm-Nd isotopic age and genesis of gabbro xenoliths in Daoxian County, Hunan Province

Conclusions The gabbro xenoliths are inferred to form at (224 ± 524) Ma by means of Sm-Nd dating, which reflected the intrusive age or crystallization age of gabbric melts. This event indicates that the region transformed from stable platform stage into Mesozoic intensive tectonomagmatic activity stage. The dynamics originated from the upwelling of asthenosphere and lithospheric thinning. Additionally, according to ε_Nd(T) = + 8.8 ± 0.6 of the gabbro xenoliths, within ε_Nd variation of the MORB at 224 Ma, we know that the gabbro xenoliths are the outcrops of partial melting of the asthenosphere.     

Forming age and tectono-petrogenises of the Jiugequan ophiolite in the North Qilian Mountain, NW China

The Jiugequan ophiolite is one of the representative ophiolite fragments in the Early Paleozoic orogenic belt of the North Qilian Mountain. It has been drawn much attention and extensively studied in recent years. In this study, ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb dating was carried out for zircons from isotropic gabbro from the Jiugequan ophiolite. Eighteen analyses yield a relatively consistent apparent ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages from 480 to 508 Ma with a weighted mean age of 490±5 Ma (MSWD=1.06), which is believed to be the crystallization age of the gabbro and thus the forming age of the Jiugequan ophiolite. Major and trace element geochemical study indicates that the diabase-basalts from the Jiugequan ophiolite have N-MORB and E-MORB characteristics with some subduction-related signatures. The petrological, geochemical and chronological data enable us to conclude that the Jiugequan ophiolite is most likely to be formed at a spreading center of back-arc basin during the early Ordovician, while the ancient Qilian oceanic plate subducted northwards. The acquisition of forming age and determination of tectonic setting for Jiugequan ophiolite provide significant constraints on the evolution of intra-oceanic subduction system in the North Qilian orogenic belt during the Early Paleozoic era.     

Zircon U-Pb age of granitic gneiss on Duku highway in western Tianshan of China and its geological implications

Granitic gneiss on Duku highway in western Tianshan has been dated by the U-Pb zircon method. When plotted on the concordia diagram, the results give linear data array and the upper intercept age of (882 ± 33)Ma, and the age was considered as the crystallization age of the protolith. Granitic gneiss has high ASI value (1.09), high LILE and LREE contents, significantly negative Eu depletion, distinctly negative Ba, Sr, P, Ti and Nb anomalies and indicate continental crust parentage, which is consistent with high initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios value (0.7170) and very negative ε_Nd(t)=-14.1. The protolith magma is interpreted as a product of partial melting of the basement rocks of older basement crust.     

Seasonal variations in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of suspended particulate matter in the lower Changjiang River: Provenance and erosion constraints

Suspended particulate matter samples were collected monthly for more than 2 years in Nanjing,China to examine seasonal changes in the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the lower Changjiang River(CR).The results indicate that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the samples ranges from 0.725352 to 0.738128,and the values ofεNd(0)ranges from-10.55 to-12.29.The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions show distinct seasonal variations.The samples had lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios and higherε Nd(0)values during the flood season than the dry seasons.The seasonal variations primarily reflect the controls of provenance rocks and erosion in different sub-catchments.The relative decrease in 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the increase inε Nd(0)values during the flood season may reflect an increasing in the mechanical erosion rate in the upper basin and the contribution of more sediment from the upper reaches.The end member values of 87Sr/86Sr andε Nd(0)of the samples were 0.728254 and?11.26,respectively.     

Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of Cambrian-Ordovician strata at the Jinggangshan area in Jiangxi Province: Tectonic implications

Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotopes were investigated for Cambrian-Ordovician strata from the Jinggangshan area between the Yangtze Block and Cathysia Block in South China. These strata were deposited as a greatly thick unit of muddy-sandy laminas with intercalated carbonate and organic carbon-bearing layers. They have low εNd（t） values of -13.9 to -7.9 and old Nd model ages of 1842 to 2375 Ma. In tDM-tStr diagram, they are far away from the concordant line but fall within the evolution zone of the Proterozoic crust of South China. This indicates that the Cambrian-Ordovician strata are mainly composed of matters eroded from ancient Paleoproterozoic crust that may mainly consist of continental-derived detrital sediments with high maturity in the Cathysia Block. However, the Ordovician Jueshangou Formation and Dui＇ershi Formation have εNd（t） values of -10.5 and -7.9 at the higher end of the above range and Nd model ages of 1842 to 2059 Ma at the lower end of the above range. This suggests involvement of more detritus that were eroded from the relatively juvenile crust from Late Paleoproterozoic to the Early Neoproterozoic. All the Nd model ages for the Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary rocks in the Cathysia Block and the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block are older than 1800 Ma, suggesting that no material from the Early Paleozoic depleted mantle-derived magmas was involved in these regions.     

Neodymium cations Nd3+ were transported to the interior of Euglena gracilis 277

Euglena gracilis 277, a unicellular green alga, demonstrated remarkable ability to transport Nd³⁺ to the cell compartments. For a given amount of Nd³⁺ and cells, the results of ICP-AES indicated that the cellular uptake of Nd³⁺ was independent of Nd³⁺ concentration in the bulk solution. The average uptake of Nd³⁺ per cell (m _Nd) is proportional to a parameter ξ — the ratio of neodymium content to the cell counts of the system. A novel approach for probing cellular neodymium by tetraiodotetra chlorofluorescein (I4TCF) has been devised. Data derived from the cryosections of I4TCF-Nd³⁺ stained cells and EDAX of the fast freezing ultrathin cryosections indicate that Nd³⁺ is distributed over the cell compartments. Chloroplasts are the major compartments as the residence of Nd³⁺ in the alga. The transport should be against a concentration gradient of Nd³⁺ on the order of five, even higher. It is proposed that a calcium ion channel would play an important role in the Nd³⁺ transportation.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the Gangou granitoids, Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China and tectonic significances

Two types of granitoids, highly deformed eugen grenitoids end undeformed fine-grained grenitoids, ere widely distributed in Gangou area, Central Tianshen Mountains, Northwest China. The augen grenitoids are high-K calc-alkaline characterized by high K20, Rb, Y and Th, and low Sr and Sr/Y. They also have high contents of large ion lithophile elements （LILE）, such as Be, Rb, K and Th, and relatively low contents of high field strength elements （HFSE）, such as Zr, Y and Nb. The fine-grained granitoids are calc-alkaline cherecterlzed by high Sr, low Y and HREE, similar to adakitic rocks, and with Na20/K20〈2 （1.76-1.91）, high/sr （0.70689--0.70981）, and negative εNd（t） （-2.4-5.3）. High-precision SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating results indicate that the Gangou augen greniUods were formed at 428 ± 10 Me, and the fine-grained granitoids were emplaced at 361 -368 Me. These geochemical and U-Pb zircon data have significant implications for the timing of closure of the Mishigou-Gangou Ocean and the evolution of the Central Tianshan orogenic belt.     

Activation of northern margin of the North China Craton in Late Paleozoic: Evidence from U-Pb dating and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in the Ningwu-Jingle basin

LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb dating has been performed on detrital zircons from the Upper Carboniferous Tai-yuan Formation (N-8) in the Ningwu-Jingle Basin, west of the North China Craton (NCC). The ages of 72 detrital zircon grains are divided into three groups: 303―320 Ma (6 grains), 1631―2194 Ma (37 grains, peaked at 1850 Ma), 2318―2646 Ma (29 grains, peaked at 2500 Ma). Detrital zircons of Group 2 and Group 3 were likely derived from the basement of the NCC. Group 1 zircons exhibit 176Hf/177Hf ratios ranging from 0...     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of meta-diorite from the basement of the Songliao Basin and its geological significance

Located in the east portion of the North Orogenic Belt, the Songliao Basin is bounded by the Da Hinggan Mountains in the west, the Xiao Hinggan Mountains in the north, the Zhangguangcai Range in the east, and the North China Craton (NCC) in the south (Fig…     

Diagenetic-metallogenic ages of pyritic cherts and their implications in Mojiang nickel-gold deposit in Yunnan Province, China

Diagenetic-metallogenic ages of pyritic cherts formed by the syn-sedimentation of hydrothermal vent and ages of the Jinchang Rock Formation in the Mojiang large nickel-gold deposit in the Ailaoshan gold metallogenic belt have been discussed on the basis of chronology of isotopic geochemistry. Nickel-gold-bearing pyritic cherts in the mining were formed by syn-sedimentation of hydrothermal vent in the Late Devonian, i.e. age by Sm-Nd isochronal method (t) = (358±8.6) (2σ) Ma and age by Rb-Sr isochronal method (t) = (354.7±0.72) (2σ) Ma. On the other hand, deep-water cherts from the Jinchang Rock Formation of the Upper Devonian in the area were initiated at the same time; that is, age by Sm-Nd isochronal method (t) = (359±21) (2σ) Ma and age by Rb-Sr isochronal method (t) = (358.02±0.30) (2σ) Ma.     

U-Pb zircon dating of Early Paleozoic gabbro from the Nantinghe ophiolite in the Changning-Menglian suture zone and its geological implication

The Nantinghe ophiolite is located in the northern part of the Changning-Menglian suture zone in southeast Tibet. It is composed of meta-peridotite, cumulative gabbro, meta-gabbro, plagioclase amphibolite and meta-basalt. Zircon U-Pb dating of the cumulative gabbro gives concordant ages of 473.0±3.8 Ma and 443.6±4.0 Ma respectively, indicating the early and late episodes of mafic magmatisms during the Paleo-Tethys oceanic rifting. The 16 LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb analyses of meta-gabbro yield a weight mean age of 439±2.4Ma. The gabbro shows relatively low contents of SiO2 (46.46%-52.11%), TiO2 (0.96%-1.14%) and K2O (0.48%-0.75%). Its trace element distribution patterns are partly similar to those of the mid-ocean ridge basalts, and part is depleted in high field strength elements such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti. These features suggest that the mafic rocks were probably formed in a MORB-like or backarc rift basin setting. The zircon U-Pb age of gabbro is consistent with a late crystallization age of the cumulative gabbro from the Nantinghe ophiolite, suggesting that the Paleo-Tethys oceanic basin was opened during 444-439 Ma, possibly as a backarc basin. It is the first precise age which defines the formation time of the early Paleozoic ophiolite in the Changning-Menglian suture zone. These geochronological and geochemical characteristics of the Nantinghe ophiolite are consistent with those from the Guoganjianianshan and Taoxinghu of the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture in the Qiangtang region. Thus, we suggest that the both Changning-Menglian and Longmu Co-Shuanghu sutures were probably transformed from the relic oceanic crust of the uniform Paleo-Tethys, which likely represents the original and main Paleo-Tethys oceanic basin.     

Two kinds of silicalites in Mount Ailao belt, Yunnan Province

Two kinds of radiolarian silicalites at the bottom and top of the ophiolite in the Mount (Mt.) Ailao belt, Yunnan Province, are dealt with in this work in terms of geology, micro-paleontology, isotope and REE. The first kind of silicalite was defined as the turbidite formation. In this category, the radiolarian species lived in the Late Devonian (D3). The corresponding ecologic assemblage, composed of δ 30Si (0.4‰-0.5‰, average 0.03‰), δ Ce (0.77- 0.97, average 0.85) and LaN /YbN (0.77-1.06, average 0.96) of silicalite, shows that it occurred in the abyssal environment. The second kind of silicalite was defined as the mud-siliceous formation. Contacting conformably with the basalt of the ophiolite suit, the radiolarian silicalite at the top of ophiolite was in the category of the component units of the ophiolite in the Mt. Ailao belt. In this category, the radiolarian species lived in the Early Carboniferous (C1-). The corresponding ecologic assemblage, composed of d 30Si (0.2‰-1.3‰, averaging 0.7‰), dδCe (0.88- 0.92, averaging 0.90) and LaN /YbN (0.77-1.45, averaging 1.22), of silicalites indicate that it occurred in the bathyal environment. All these facts domonstrate that the Mt. Ailao must have been a small ocean basin at that time.     

Discovery of ∼4.0 Ga detrital zircons in the Changdu Block,North Qiangtang,Tibetan Plateau

Using in situ zircon dating by LA-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, detrital zircon of 3981±9 Ma age was found in metamorphic rocks of the Ningduo Rock Group, Changdu Block of Northern Qiangtang. This is the oldest age record that has been found in the Qiangtang area. This finding also constitutes the third zircon locality in China with an age older than 3.9 Ga. Thus, the discovery provides new information for the study of Hadean crust. In addition, we found 3.51–3.13 Ga, ∼2440 Ma, ∼1532 Ma, ∼982 Ma and ∼618 Ma age peaks from 100 test spots. The younger ages of ∼982 Ma and ∼618 Ma correspond to the formation of the Rodinian super-continent and the Pan-African event, respectively. These findings suggest a close relationship between these zircons and the Gondwanan super-continent. The age of ∼618 Ma defines the lower limit on the deposit time of the protolith for the garnet-mica-quartz schist in the Ningduo Rock Group. Zircons with an age of ∼982 Ma generally display a negative ɛ_Hf(t) and a two-stage Hf model with concentrated ages around 1933–2553 Ma. This pattern indicates that the source area of the Ningduo Rock Group underwent a significant separation of depleted mantle into the crust during the Paleoproterozoic Era. However, zircons with ages of 2854–3505 Ma also show a negative ɛ_Hf(t) and a two-stage Hf model with a concentration of ages around 3784–4316 Ma. These results demonstrate that the source area of the Ningduo Rock Group contains a residual amount of ancient (Hadean) crustal materials. This paper provides new information on the relationship between the basement of the Qiangtang area and the Paleoproterozoic basements of the Gangdese and Himalayan regions, which constrains the northern boundary of Gondwana.     

Preliminary Mo isotope data of Phanerozoic clastic sediments from the northern margin of the Yangtze block and its implication for paleoenvironmental conditions

Mo isotopes along with Nd isotopes and other geochemical characteristics of the Phanerozoic clastic sediments from the northern margin of the Yangtze block were analyzed by MC-ICP-MS and some other techniques, spanning the period from Cambrian to Jurassic. The δ 98Mo values and εNd(t ) in these sedimets were observed to exhibit a large range of variation (?0.65‰―+1.87‰, ?1.46―?10.90, respec-tively). Specifically, the sample from Late Permian Maokou Formation has relatively positive values in both δ 98Mo and...