The Dongcaohe ophiolite from the North Qilian Mountains： A fossil oceanic crust of the Paleo-Qilian ocean

The Dongcaohe ophiolite, located at the south of the North Qilian subduction complexes, is a tectonic block with an exposed area of about 3 km×6 km. It consists of an intrusive section overlain by an ex- trusive section. The lower part of the intrusive section consists of cyclic layers of cumulate dunites, troctolites, anorthosites, anorthositic gabbros, and gabbros with small discordant dunite and troctolite bodies. This layered sequence grades upward to isotropic gabbros and gabbronorites, which are overlain by the extrusive sequence of diabasic sheeted dikes and basaltic lavas. The overall mineral crystallization sequence was olivine±Cr-spinel, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. The Cr-spinel (Mg#: 42-66, Cr#: 41-57) in these layered cumulates and present-day abyssal peridotites have similar compositions. Also, the compositional variations of the plagioclase and cli- nopyroxene in the intrusive section reflect crystallization from melts compositionally similar to the present-day ocean basalts. Moreover, the rare earth element (REE) and multi-element distribution pat- terns of the intrusive and extrusive lithologies in the Dongcaohe ophiolite are consistent with crystal- lization of mid-ocean ridge basalts. The zircon grains separated from the gabbronorite have an SHRIMP average 206Pb/238U weighted age of 497 ± 7 Ma, which is considered as the tectonic emplacement age of the Dongcaohe ophiolite. The field occurrence, mineral and whole-rock compositions indicate that the Dongcaohe ophiolite represents a well-persevered oceanic crustal fragment composed of a complete oceanic crustal section of layered cumulates at bottom upgrading through isotropic cumulates to sheeted dikes and lava flows.     

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.     

Osmium isotope determination on mantle-derived peridotite xenoliths from Panshishan with N-TIMS

The¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios of spinel lherzolite xenoliths from Panshishan determined with N-TIMS are lower than that of the primitive mantle, which shows depleted mantle characteristics. Their positive correlation with Al₂O₃/MgO suggests that the geochemical behavior of trace elements Re and Os is similar to that of Al₂O₃ and MgO respectively during the magmatic evolution and Re-Os isotopic system is largely immune to mantle metasomatism. A model age of 2.8–3.4 Ga obtained by¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os-Al₂O₃/ MgO correlation might represent the homogeneous age of the mantle lithosphere beneath the area.     

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.     

Opening of the Tethys in southwest China and its significance to the breakup of East Gondwanaland in late Paleozoic:Evidence from SHRIMP U-Pb zircon analyses for the Garzêophiolite block

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon analyses for a gabbro sample from the Garzê ophiolite block yielded a mean²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 292 ±4 Ma, which indicated that the spreading time of the Garzê-Litang Tethys was most likely at the earliest Permian. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that the opening of the Tethys in southwest China was derived from breakup of the East Gondwanaland in the late Paleozoic.     

Qinghu zircon: A working reference for microbeam analysis of U-Pb age and Hf and O isotopes

Zircon is the most useful mineral for studies in U-Pb geochronology and Hf and O isotope geochemistry. Matrix effect is a major problem of the microbeam techniques such as SIMS and LA-（MC）-ICPMS. Therefore, external standardization using well-characterized natural zircon standards is fundamental for accurate microbeam measurements. While the isotopic geochro- nology and geochemistry laboratories equipped with microbeam analytical facilities have been increasingly established in China during the past decade, applications of the isotopic microanalysis are still limited due to shortage of available standards. We report here the Qinghu zircon as a potential new working reference for microbeam analysis of zircon U-Pb age and O-Hf isotopes. This zircon was separated from the Qinghu quartz monzonite from the western Nanling Range, Southeast China. It is fairly homoge- neous in U-Pb age and Hf and O isotopes in terms of large amounts of mircobeam measurements by LA-MC-ICPMS and SIMS at the scales of 20-60 ~tm. SIMS measurements yield consistent 2~6pb/238U age within analytical uncertainties with that obtained by ID-TIMS. Precise determinations of O isotopes by IRMS and Hf isotopes by solution MC-ICPMS are in good agreement with the statistical mean of microbeam measurements. We recommend U-Pb age of = 159.5 ± 0.2 Ma （2SE）, δ^18O = 5.4‰ ± 0.2%0 （2SD） and 176Hf/177Hf = 0.283002 ± 0.000004 （2SD） as the best reference values for the Qinghu zircon.     

Evidence for recycled Archaean oceanic mantle lithosphere in the Azores plume

The compositional differences between mid-ocean-ridge and ocean-island basalts place important constraints on the form of mantle convection. Also, it is thought that the scale and nature of heterogeneities within plumes and the degree to which heterogeneous material endures within the mantle might be reflected in spatial variations of basalt composition observed at the Earth's surface. Here we report osmium isotope data on lavas from a transect across the Azores archipelago which vary in a symmetrical pattern across what is thought to be a mantle plume. Many of the lavas from the centre of the plume have lower 187Os/188Os ratios than most ocean-island basalts and some extend to subchondritic 187Os/188Os ratios-lower than any yet reported from ocean-island basalts. These low ratios require derivation from a depleted, harzburgitic mantle, consistent with the low-iron signature of the Azores plume. Rhenium-depletion model ages extend to 2.5 Gyr, and we infer that the osmium isotope signature is unlikely to be derived from Iberian subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Instead, we interpret the osmium isotope signature as having a deep origin and infer that it may be recycled, Archaean oceanic mantle lithosphere that has delaminated from its overlying oceanic crust. If correct, our data provide evidence for deep mantle subduction and storage of oceanic mantle lithosphere during the Archaean era.     

Opening of the Longmu Co–Shuanghu–Lancangjiang ocean:constraints from plagiogranites

This paper reports new zircon U-Pb ages,and Hf isotope and whole-rock major and trace element data for Cambrian plagiogranites from the Tuobeiling ophiolite in central Qiangtang,Tibetan Plateau.Zircon SIMS and LAICP-MS U-Pb dating of the plagiogranites yield weighted mean ages of 504.8±4.2 and 491.6±1.5 Ma,respectively.The zircons from plagiogranites exhibit positive eHf(t)values(ranging from 11.46 to 15.16),indicating that the plagiogranites are derived from depleted mantle.These plagiogranites are characterized by high SiO2and Na2O,low K2O,low REE contents,and flat REE distribution patterns.These rocks have geochemical compositions typical of oceanic plagiogranite and,considered along with their petrography and field relationships,are interpreted to have derived from anatexis of hydrated amphibolites by ductile shearing during transports of the oceanic crust.The formation age of such type of plagiogranite is slightly younger than that of the associated section of oceanic crust.Thus the new results from these plagiogranites suggest that the Longmu Co–Shuanghu–Lancangjiang ocean had probably opened before the Middle Cambrian.     

Platinum-group elements for the Kudi ophiolite, western Kunlun

The analyses of PGE characteristics for the Kudi ophiolite, western Kunlun, are reported in this note. The Ir-depieted anomalous ancient upper mantle represented by the Kudi mantle peridotites had been percolated and mixed by remelted oceanic crust material from a supra-subduction zone, leaving the rocks relatively enriched in Pd. The PGE contents in the Kudi cumulate pyroxenites and gabbros vary from 2.4 to 23.94 ng/g, and the highest values are in pyroxenites. The Pd/lr ratios increase from the pyroxenites to the gabbros. The PGE patterns for the Kudi cumulate rocks are steeply positively sloped. The Pd enrichment in these rocks is similar to that in pyroxenites from the Thetford ophiolite and the Troodos ophiolite. The Kudi diabase and basalts have low PGE contents and positively sloped PGE patterns, and are comparable with the upper pillow lavas from the Troodos ophiolite, indicative of the environment of back-arc spreading center in a supra-subduction zone.     

Microscopic deformation of the Neoarchean oceanic lithospheric mantle: evidence from the Zunhua Neoarchean ophiolitic mélange, North China Craton

The microstructures of the mantle tectonites in the Zunhua Neoarchean ophiolitic mélange are mainly coarse-mosaic structures with locally interstitial impregnated melts. Olivine and orthopyroxene occur as residual porphyroclastic blasts, dynamic recrystallization neoblasts or elongated to be tabular. The podiform chromitites are mostly strongly deformed with the development of pull-apart structure. These microstructures are typical high-temperature plastic deformation in oceanic upper mantle resulting from ocean-floor spreading. Besides the high-temperature plastic deformation, undeformed magmatic intrusions such as undeformed podiform chromitite, dunite and pyroxenite intrusions are also preserved in the mantle tectonite. Structures of high-temperature plastic deformation and intensive magmatic activity prove that the Zunhua ophiolite was formed under fast spreading oceanic ridge, similar to the Oman ophiolite. And the microstructures of country rocks, such as quartz ribbon, core and mantle structure, dynamic recrystallization and mica-fish stucture, etc., were formed during the uplift of ophiolitic mélange from the mid-crust to the upper-crust associated with continental collision.     

Sm-Nd isotope study and dating on Honguleleng ophiolite in Xinjiang, China

A study of the Sm-Nd isotope composition of Honguleleng ophiolite in Xinjiang, China, isochron age ((626±25)Ma),ε_Nd(t) =8.40,and its model age (T _DM ^Nd ) in the range of 1 180–1 208 Ma, indicates that the ophiolite was formed in the late stage of the Upper Sinian. In combination with its facies association, petrochemistry, REE patterns, trace elements and associated chromites orebodies, it is believed that the Honguleleng ophiolitic magma derived from the LREE-enriched, self-depleted mantle source and formed at paleo-ocean ridge. This ophiolite is a relic of an oceanic crust within the collision zone.     

Age and genesis of the Myanmar jadeite: Constraints from U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of zircon inclusions

Myanmar jadeite (jadeitite) is well known for its economical value and distinctive tectonic locality within the collisional belt between India and Eurasian plates. However, it is less studied for its genesis and geodynamic implications due to precipitous topography, adverse weather and local military conflicts in the area. By means of combined ICP-MS and LA-MC-ICPMS techniques, we have carried out in-situ trace elements, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes for zircon inclusions in a piece of jadeite gem sample. CL imaging suggests that the zircons are metasomatic in origin, and contain mineral inclusions of jadeite and omphacite. Seventy-five analyses on 16 grains of the zircons yield a U-Pb age of 158 ± 2 Ma. The Myanmar zircons differ from other types in that they have no significant Eu anomalies despite high HREE concentrations. Measured ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios range from 0.282976 to 0.283122, with an average value of 0.283066 ± 7; ε_Hf(t) value of 13.8 ± 0.3 (n=75). These results indicate that the Myanmar jadeite was formed in the Late Jurassic, probably by interaction of fluid released from subducted oceanic slab with mantle wedge. Therefore, its formation has no genetic relationship to the continental collision between Indian and Euroasian plates. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40673039) and the Science Plan Foundation of Guangdong (Grant No. 2007B031200005)     

Some basic concepts and problems on the petrogenesis of intra-plate ocean island basalts

Basaltic magmatism that builds intra-plate ocean islands is often considered to be genetically associated with ＂hotspots＂ or ＂mantle plumes＂. While there have been many discussions on why ocean island basalts （OIB） are geochemically highly enriched as an integral part of the mantle plume hypothesis, our current understanding on the origin of OIB source material remains unsatisfactory, and some prevailing ideas need revision. One of the most popular views states that OIB source material is recycled oceanic crust （ROC）. Among many problems with the ROC model, the ocean crust is simply too depleted （e.g., [La/Sm]PM 〈1） to be source material for highly enriched （e.g., [La/Sm]pM 〉〉 1） OIB, Another popular view states that the enriched component of OIB comes from recycled continental crust （RCC, i.e.; terrigenous sediments）. While both CC and OIB are enriched in many incompatible elements （e.g., both have [La/Sm]PM 〉〉1）, the CC has characteristic enrichment in Pb and deletion in Nb, Ta, P and Ti. Such signature is too strong to be eliminated such that CC is unsuitable as source material for OIB. Plate tectonics and mantle circulation permit the presence of ROC and RCC materials in mantle source regions of basalts, but they must be volumetrically insignificant in contributing to basalt magmatism. The observation that OIB are not only enriched in incompatible elements, but also enriched in the progressively more incompatible elements indicates that the enriched component of OIB is of magmatic origin and most likely associated with low-degree melt metasomatism. H2O and CO2 rich incipient melt may form in the seismic low velocity zone （LVZ）. This melt will rise because of buoyancy and concentrate into a melt rich layer atop the LVZ to metasomatize the growing lithosphere, forming the metasomatic vein lithologies. Erupted OIB melts may have three components： （1） fertile OIB source material from depth that is dominant, （2） the melt layer, and （3） assimilation of the metasomatic vein lithologies formed earlier in the growing/grown lithosphere. It is probable that the fertile source material from depth may be （or contain） recycled ancient metasomatized deep portions of oceanic lithosphere. In any attempt to explain the origin of mantle isotopic end-members as revealed from global OIB data, we must （1） remember our original assumptions that the primitive mantle （PM） soon after the core separation was compositionally uniform/homogeneous with the core playing a limited or no role in causing mantle isotopic heterogeneity; （2） not use OIB isotopes to conclude about the nature and compositions of ultimate source materials without understanding geochemical consequences of subduction zone metamorphism; and （3） ensure that models and hypotheses are consistent with the basic petrology and major/trace element geochemistry.     

西藏朗县蛇绿混杂岩中变辉绿岩和变玄武岩的年代学和地球化学

对西藏雅鲁藏布缝合带东段朗县混杂岩中的辉绿岩和玄武岩进行了岩石学、地球化学和SHRIMP锆石年代学研究.在早侏罗世(大约191 Ma B.P.)和侏罗纪最晚期到白垩纪最早期(大约146～148 Ma B.P.)分别有2幕岩浆活动;侵入于191.4±3.7 MaB.P.的变辉绿岩,是迄今为止在雅鲁藏布蛇绿混杂岩带发现的最...     

Thallium isotopic evidence for ferromanganese sediments in the mantle source of Hawaiian basalts

Ocean island basalts are generally thought to be the surface expression of mantle plumes, but the nature of the components in the source regions of such mantle plumes is a subject of long-standing debate. The lavas erupted at Hawaii have attracted particular attention, as it has been proposed that coupled 186Os and 187Os anomalies reflect interaction with the Earth's metallic core. It has recently been suggested, however, that such variations could also result from addition of oceanic ferromanganese sediments to the mantle source of these lavas. Here we show that Hawaiian picrites with osmium isotope anomalies also exhibit pronounced thallium isotope variations, which are coupled with caesium/thallium ratios that extend to values much lower than commonly observed for mantle-derived rocks. This correlation cannot be created by admixing of core material, and is best explained by the addition of ferromanganese sediments into the Hawaii mantle source region. However, the lack of correlation between thallium and osmium isotopes and the high thallium/osmium ratios of ferromanganese sediments preclude a sedimentary origin for the osmium isotope anomalies, and leaves core-mantle interaction as a viable explanation for the osmium isotope variations of the Hawaiian picrites.     

In situ Re-Os isotope ages of sulfides in Hannuoba peridotitic xenoliths： Significance for the frequently-occurring mantle events beneath the North China Block

In situ Re-Os isotopes of sulfides in peridotitic xenoliths from Cenozoic Hannuoba basalts were analyzed by LAM-MC-ICPMS. The suifides developed two types of occurrences including silicate-enclosed and interstitial. In the enclosed sulfides, 187Os/188Os vary from 0.1124 to 0.1362 and 187Re/188Os from 0.0026 to 1.8027. In the interstitial ones, 187Os/188Os have a range from 0.1174 to 0.1354 and 187Re/188Os from 0.0365 to 1.4469. The oldest age, calculated by TRD for the enclosed sulfides, is 2.1 Ga. An isochron age of 2.3±1.2 Ga is obtained by five grains of enclosed sulfides and primitive mantle. The sulfides used have lower Re-Os isotopic ratio than primitive mantle. Meanwhile, an isochron age of 645±225 Ma is given by all in- terstitial sulfides and the enclosed sulfides with higher Re-Os isotopic ratio due to Re addition after man- tle formation. In addition, the model age of 1.3 Ga recorded by one interstitial sulfide, having similar TDM and TRD, should be meaningful to deep thermal event. The coexistence of different ages, revealed by in situ Re-Os isotope, indicates frequently-occurring mantle events beneath Hannuoba area.     

Genesis of the mega-crystal zircons in the dunite veins of North Qaidam Mountains, northwestern China

A megacrystal zircon occurs in serpentinized dunite veins from North Qaidam, northwestern China. It is red-brown and 3―4 mm long and 2 mm wide in size. BSE imaging shows the presence of micro-grains （30―50 μm） of zircon between olivine and serpentine, part of them gathering into clusters （100―300 μm）. Thus we infer that these zircon crystals were precipitated from hydrothermal fluid. Inclusions of baddeleyite （white） in the shape of isolated island locally occur in the large zircon （grey）, implying that the former formed earlier than the latter. The mirco-baddeleyite （50―100 μm） aggregate consists of baddeleyite （3―5 μm） and olivine （〈5 μm）, indicating the zircon formation through interaction between baddeleyite and silica-bearing fluid. Therefore, we consider a genetic link between the formation of the large zircon and the serpentinization of dunite. SHIRIMP U-Pb dating of the large zircon gave two groups of concordant ages at 414 ± 13 Ma and 371 ± 9 Ma, respectively. This might reflect two episodes of zircon growth in response to two episodes of fluid action.     

A young source for the Hawaiian plume

Recycling of oceanic crust through subduction, mantle upwelling, and remelting in mantle plumes is a widely accepted mechanism to explain ocean island volcanism. The timescale of this recycling is important to our understanding of mantle circulation rates. Correlations of uranogenic lead isotopes in lavas from ocean islands such as Hawaii or Iceland, when interpreted as model isochrons, have yielded source differentiation ages between 1 and 2.5?billion years (Gyr). However, if such correlations are produced by mixing of unrelated mantle components they will have no direct age significance. Re-Os decay model ages take into account the mixing of sources with different histories, but they depend on the assumed initial Re/Os ratio of the subducted crust, which is poorly constrained because of the high mobility of rhenium during subduction. Here we report the first data on (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios for 138 melt inclusions in olivine phenocrysts from lavas of Mauna Loa shield volcano, Hawaii, indicating enormous mantle source heterogeneity. We show that highly radiogenic strontium in severely rubidium-depleted melt inclusions matches the isotopic composition of 200-650-Myr-old sea water. We infer that such sea water must have contaminated the Mauna Loa source rock, before subduction, imparting a unique 'time stamp' on this source. Small amounts of seawater-derived strontium in plume sources may be common but can be identified clearly only in ultra-depleted melts originating from generally highly (incompatible-element) depleted source components. The presence of 200-650-Myr-old oceanic crust in the source of Hawaiian lavas implies a timescale of general mantle circulation with an average rate of about 2 (±1)?cm?yr(-1), much faster than previously thought.     

Chondritic osmium isotopic composition of late Archean convecting upper mantle：Evidence from Zunhua podiform chromitites,Hebei, North China

The Os isotopic composition and evolution of con-vecting upper mantle (CUM) are an important and diffi-cult scientific issue related to the distributions of PGEs inearth’s interior and the accretion history of the earth. De-termination of 187Os/188Os of modern CUM has been at-tempted via analyses of abyssal peridotites, mid-oceanridge basalts (MORB), MORB glasses and sulfides. Abyssal peridotites, which are mantle samples re-covered from the ocean ridges, represent the upperm…     

福建泉州蛇绿岩及其构造肢解

长乐-南澳断裂带北段分布的一系列基性——超基性岩块可以区分出四类岩石:变质橄栏岩、超镁铁质堆积杂岩、堆晶层状辉长岩和块状辉长岩,它们组成了泉州蛇绿岩,属科迪勒拉型,代表早期边缘海盆地或弧间盆地的上部地幔和洋壳。早白垩世晚期,闽台微大陆与闽浙中生代火山弧碰撞拼贴过程中,泉州蛇绿岩被构造肢解,形成 NW 向逆冲就位的长基超基性推覆岩席和 SE 向剪切逆冲就位的青兰山辉长岩岩块。构造肢解的泉州蛇绿岩构成了深层弧前混杂带。