In situ simultaneous determination of trace elements, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon and baddeleyite

This paper describes a combined method of simultaneously measuring U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes as well as trace elements in Phalaborwa baddeleyite and 91500, GJ-1, TEMORA-1 and SK10-2 zircons by means of Neptune MC-ICPMS and Agilent Q-ICPMS connected to a 193 nm excimer laser ablation system. Material ablated by laser was carried in different proportions into Q-ICPMS for U-Pb isotopic and trace elemental and MC-ICPMS for Lu-Hf isotopic compositions. Experiments indicate that different proportions of ablated material for the Q-ICPMS and MC-ICPMS （6：4, 5：5 and 4：6 respectively） do not show any bias for the zircon/baddeleyite U-Pb age, Lu-Hf isotope and trace elemental compositions within analytical errors. Using 40-60 μm spot size, the obtained U-Pb ages of Phalaborwa baddeleyite, 91500, GJ-1, TEMORA and SK10-2 zircons are 2065±15 （2σ, n=20）, 1063±6 （2σ, n=-19）, 613±6 （2σ, n=20）, 416±5 （2σ, n=20） and 32.6±0.5 （2σ, n=20） Ma, respectively. The ^176Hf/^177Hf ratios are 0.281231±24 （2SD, n=20）, 0.282310±35 （2SD, n=19）, 0.282028±34 （2SD, n=20）, 0.282687±34 （2SD, n=20） and 0.282752±53 （2SD, n=20）, respectively. The obtained trace elemental compositions are identical to the reference values. Therefore, this kind of technique makes it possible to simultaneously obtain the U-Pb age, Lu-Hf isotopes and trace elemental compositions of zircon and baddeleyite, which could be an important tool in solving problems in earth sciences.     

Hf isotopic compositions of the standard zircons for U-Pb dating

Zircon, a common accessory mineral in various kindsof rocks, is an important subject for U-Pb isotopic dating.With requirements for high spatial resolution with highprecision and accuracy, SHRIMP (Sensitive High Resolu-tion Ion Micro Probe) and LA-ICPMS (Laser AblationInductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) nowserve as the important tools in zircon U-Pb dating. Sinceboth methods need standard zircon for external age cali-bration, an ideal standard zircon is critical for obtai…     

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)     

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.     

广西大宁岩体和初洞岩体锆石U-Pb年代学 及Hf同位素研究

利用锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,获得大宁岩体形成年龄为441.1±3.0 Ma,其包体年龄为439.5±3.6 Ma,初洞岩体形成年龄为423.5~434.2 Ma。结果表明,大宁岩体及其包体几乎同期形成,而初洞岩体是后期的侵入体。Lu-Hf同位素研究结果表明,大宁岩体及其暗色包体与初洞岩体具有相似的Hf同位素组成,在εHf(t)-年龄图上落在1440~1960 Ma的老地壳区间,表明三者的岩浆源区均是早元古代到中元古代地壳,暗色包体是岩浆早期分离结晶的产物,而初洞岩体是岩浆结晶分异晚期的产物。     

副矿物地球化学研究进展

副矿物广泛分布于各类火成岩、变质岩和沉积岩中,对寄主岩石的形成环境有很高的敏感度。以锆石、金红石和磷灰石为例,分别从结构特征、微量元素地球化学特征和同位素年代学等方面介绍副矿物地球化学的主要研究进展。锆石中U和Th的含量、Th/U值、Zr/Hf值等均与锆石成因类型有关,但共生矿物的存在和蜕晶化等因素可能会对这些微量元素产生影响,也可能导致不准确的同位素年龄结果。金红石以高Nb和Ta为特征,不同类型岩浆岩中Nb/Ta值差异较大,Cr-Nb二元判别图解也可以用来判断变质原岩类型。Mn2+、Eu2+、Sm3+、Dy3+、Er3+等微量元素会使磷灰石在受到阴极射线的激发下产生黄、绿或蓝色的光,因此磷灰石的发光特征可以反映其化学组成。不同类型岩石中的副矿物REEs的组成特征明显不同,说明受后期地质活动影响较弱的副矿物仍能精确指示其形成环境。由于锆石中的Ti和金红石中的Zr均是温度的函数,因此是重要的地质温度计,而榍石中的Zr对压力较敏感,常被用作地质压力计。锆石、金红石和磷灰石均为高铀矿物,均可进行U-Pb同位素定年,副矿物Sm-Nd、Lu-Hf也已逐渐成为常规定年法。热年代学得到快速发展以来,高-中-低温同位素体系与地质温度计和压力计的配套使用,不仅能够获取更准确的年龄值,还能提供更完整的地质体演化p-T-t曲线。副矿物地球化学将会更注重于尚未深入研究的其他副矿物在岩浆和高温变质过程中、在油气成藏演化的不同阶段中、在微生物活动影响下的内部结构和成分变化,新的同位素体系、纳米技术和精度更高的分析仪器等的发展会为副矿物研究带来更多突破。     

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。     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of tuff at the bottom of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation,Zunyi, South China

A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon geochronology study of the tuff at the bottom of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation at Songlin, Zunyi, South China yielded a mean ^206Pb/^238U age of 518±5 Ma. It is significantly younger than the Re-Os ages of 537--542 Ma for the overlying polymetallic Ni-Mo-PGE-rich layer in the basal Niutitang Formation at Songlin, suggesting that the Re-Os ages might represent that of the original magma chamber for the Ni-Mo-PGE-rich layer rather than the formation age of the strata. The intra-basinal stratigraphic correlation also implies that the absolute age of the Chengjiang biota should be younger than 518±5 Ma. Our new result, together with the SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age for the K-bentonite in the Zhongyicun member of the Zhujiaqing Formation at the Meishucun section, Yunnan Province, provides a temporal constraint for the Lower Cambrian of the Yangtze Platform in South China.     

A ∼2.5 Ga magmatic event at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton: Evidence from U-Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis of zircons from the Douling Complex in the South Qinling orogen

The poorly studied Douling Complex is a crystalline basement that developed in the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic weakly metamorphosed to non-metamorphosed strata at the South Qinling tectonic belt. Five banded dioritic-granitic gneiss samples from the Douling Complex were chosen for LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb zircon dating, which yielded protolith emplacement ages of 2469 ± 22 Ma, 2479 ± 12 Ma, 2497 ± 21 Ma, 2501 ± 17 Ma and 2509 ± 14 Ma, respectively. An important peak age of ～2.48 Ga was also obtained for a metasedimentary rock in the same region. These discoveries suggest the occurrence of magmatic activity of 2.51–2.47 Ga at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton. The age-corrected ? _Hf(t) values obtained from in situ zircon Hf isotopic analysis are mainly between ?5.5 and +0.3, and the two-stage zircon Hf model ages range from 3.30 to 2.95 Ga. Considering two important periods of ～3.3–3.2 Ga and ～2.95–2.90 Ga for the continental crustal growth in the Yangtze craton, we infer that the dioritic-granitic gneisses from the Douling Complex are the products of reworking of Paleo- to Mesoarchean crust at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton at ～2.5 Ga. In addition, metamorphic ages of 837 ± 8 Ma and 818 ± 10 Ma were obtained for zircon overgrowth rims from a dioritic gneiss and a metasedimentary rock, indicating that the main phase amphibolite facies metamorphism of the Doulng Complex occurred during the Neoproterozoic, although its geological meaning remains ambiguous.     

U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southwestern margin of the North China Craton

In situ U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analysis were carried out for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southern margin of the North China Craton （NCC）. The results provide further constraints on the crustal formation and evolution history of NCC. Four ^207Pb/^206Pb age populations were obtained from 99 analyses, with clusters at -3.40 Ga, 2.77-2.80 Ga, -2.50 Ga and 2.34 Ga, respectively. The 3.40 Ga old zircons have similar Hf isotopic compositions to those from Archean rocks in the Jidong and Anshan areas of NCC. However, crustal remnants older than 3.6 Ga have been identified in the southern margin of NCC, the South China Craton, the northwestern part of the Qinling Orogen and its adjacent area. Thus, it is not easy to trace the source rock from which the 3.40 Ge detrital zircons were derived. It can be inferred that the crustal remnants older than 3.40 Ga might have been widely distributed in the North China Craton. The 2.77-2.80 Ga zircons make up a relatively small proportion and have the highest εHf（t） values （up to 6.1±1.6）, consistent with the Hf isotopic composition of the depleted mantle at 2.83 Ga. Their single-stage Hf model age of 2.83 Ga is close to their crystallized age, suggesting that their source rocks were extracted from the contemporaneous depleted mantle. The -2.50 Ga zircon grains constitute about 85% of the total grain population and their Hf isotopic compositions indicate major growth of juvenile crust at -2.50 Ga but minor reworking of ancient crust. The youngest zircon dated in this study gave an U-Pb age of 2337±2.3 Ma, which can be considered the maximum depositional age of the formation of the Songshan Group.     

滇西小龙潭矿区始新世岩浆岩的成因及其地质意义

云南省宾川县小龙潭矿区是一个大型斑岩型铜多金属矿床,铜矿体主要产于斑岩体及其外围接触带,矿化与斑岩体密切相关。对矿区主要侵入岩开展全岩地球化学、锆石LA-ICPMS U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素研究,获得含矿二长斑岩的~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为(35.98±0.16)Ma,属于始新世岩浆活动的产物。斑岩体SiO_2质量分数变化较大(64.81%~69.6%),高钾(4.36%~10.95%)和碱(Na_2O+K_2O8%),A/CNK为0.99~1.36,属高钾的碱性—过碱性、准铝质—过铝质斑岩;富集大离子亲石元素(K、Rb、Ba、Sr等)、亏损高场强元素(Ta、Nb、P、Ti等),富集轻稀土元素、亏损重稀土元素;虽被划入富碱侵入岩及A型花岗岩,但具C型埃达克岩地球化学特征。斑岩体锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值为-26.93~1.66,地壳模式年龄为1 009~4141 Ma,显示斑岩体来源于下地壳物质的部分熔融,并有幔源物质的加入。结合区域演化特征,认为小龙潭斑岩体形成于造山期后的拉张环境,陆陆碰撞挤压后应力松弛,岩浆沿断裂及次级断裂上侵,进而形成铜多金属矿床。     

内蒙古西乌旗地区二叠纪双峰式火山岩的年代学、地球化学特征和地质意义

为了加深对中亚造山带东段晚古生代构造背景的认识, 选取内蒙古西乌旗地区二叠纪火山岩进行年代学和地球化学研究。分别利用X光荧光光谱(XRF)、SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年、ICP-MS和ISOPROBE-T方法测定研究区火山岩的主量元素含量、年龄、微量元素和稀土元素含量及Sr-Nd同位素。结果表明, 这套火山岩的SiO₂含量集中分布在53.54%~54.71%和72.61%~80.81%两个区间, 分别属于玄武安山岩和流纹岩, 构成双峰式火山岩组合。流纹岩SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄为279 ± 4.3 Ma, 说明它喷发于早二叠世。玄武安山岩轻稀土略富集而重稀土略亏损, (La/Yb)_N为2.06~2.34, 有轻微的Eu负异常, 富集大离子亲石元素和高场强元素, Nb, Ta和Sr有明显的负异常, 推断其来源于深部非原始地幔, 很大程度上受地壳成分的混染。流纹岩亦略富集轻稀土, 略亏损重稀土, (La/Yb)_N为1.70~3.81, 有很强的Eu负异常, Sr, P和Ti相对强烈亏损, Nb和Ta轻度亏损, K, Zr和Hf相对富集, 具有较高的正ε_Nd(t)值(+3.98~+5.62)和年轻的模式年龄T_DM(490~690 Ma), 具有A型花岗岩的特征, 推断其为新生陆壳来源。综合地球化学特征、区域地质特征和前人研究资料, 这套双峰式火山岩具有板内成因特征, 形成于碰撞后的伸展环境。     

Hf isotopes of zircon megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts in eastern China

Cenozoic basalts are widely distributed in eastern China, and some of them contain zircon megacrysts which are considered to be constituent mineral of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle （SCLM） and petrogenetically related to mantle metasomatism induced by addition of crustal materials. Using the Laser Ablation Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry （LA-MC-ICPMS）, zircon megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts at Changle in Shandong, Mingxi in Fujian, and Penglai in Hainan provinces have been used for Hf isotopic analyses. The data indicate that there is no significant deviation for the different zircon grains in each locale, except those from Penglai. The obtained ^176Hf /^177Hf ratios are 0.28302- 0.28308 for Changle, 0.28297-0.28300 for Mingxi, and 0.28288-0.28293 for Penglai, with corresponding ear values of 8.7-10.8, 7.0-7.9, and 3.9-5.7, respectively. These data display that there existed some regional heterogeneity, but the Hf model ages clustere in the Phanerozoic. Therefore, it is inferred that metasomatism of the lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China took place in the Phanerozoic, most probably in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. However, the formation time of the iithospheric mantle is not clearly constrained based on the present Hf isotopic data.     

Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic study of Neoproterozoic granitic gneisses from the Alatage area,Xinjiang:constraints on the Precambrian crustal evolution in the Central Tianshan Block

The architecture and growth history of Precambrian crustal basements in the Central Tianshan Block play a key role in understanding the tectonic evolution of the Chinese Tianshan Orogenic Belt.In this study,we present precise LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating and LAMC-ICPMS zircon Hf isotopic data for two granitic gneisses from Alatage area in the Central Tianshan Block.The magmatic zircons from both samples yield similar protolith ages of 945±6 and 942±6 Ma,indicating that the early Neoproterozoic magmatism is prevailed in the Alatage area.These zircons have crustal Hf model ages of1.82–2.22 and 1.70–2.03 Ga,respectively,which are significantly older than their crystallization ages.It indicates that their parental magmas were derived from the reworking of ancient crust.However,we suggest that these Paleoproterozoic Hf model ages might result from mixing of continental materials with different ages in the Neoproterozoic crust.The inherited(detrital)zircon cores not only yield a wide age range of ca.989–1617 Ma,but also exhibit large Hf-isotope variations with Hf model ages of1.54–2.30 Ga.In particular,some 1.4–1.6 Ga zircons show high initial176Hf/177Hf ratios,consistent with those of depleted mantle,which indicates that the Mesoproterozoic event involved both reworking of older crust and generation of juvenile crust.The Central Tianshan Block has different Precambrian crustal growth history from the Tarim Craton.Therefore,it would not be a fragment of the Precambrian basement of the Tarim Craton.     

Zircon U/Pb dating and Hf-O isotopes of the Zhouan ultramafic intrusion in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, SW China: Constraints on the nature of mantle source and timing of the supercontinent Rodinia breakup

The Zhouan ultramafic intrusion in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block is mainly composed of lherzolite.Zircon grains selected from lherzolite are irregular in shape with distinct oscillatory and sector zoning and have Th/U ratios ranging from 0.8 to 10.6,indicating a magmatic origin.The weighted average 206 Pb/238 U age is 637±4 Ma (2σ,n=15),which can be considered as the crystallization age of the Zhouan intrusion.Zircon grains have δ18O values ranging from 5.2‰ to 7.0‰,with an averaged value of 5.8±0.4‰ (1σ,n=33),similar to the mantle δ18O value of zircon.Their 176Hf/177Hf(t) ratios range from 0.282410 to 0.282594 with εHf(t) values ranging from 1.3 to 7.6,lower than the corresponding value of the depleted mantle (～15),indicating an enriched mantle source.The enriched mantle source may have generated from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle with subducted slab.A number of ～635 Ma mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Suizao basin are associated with coeval bimodal volcanics of the Yaolinghe Formation,indicating a continental rift setting.The ～635 Ma magmatic event in this region may represent the product of the last breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block at Neoproterozoic.     

辽西万家沟地区钾长花岗岩年代学、岩石地球化学特征及其地质意义

为厘定辽西万家沟地区钾长花岗岩的形成时代及成因,对其进行了年代学和元素地球化学研究。分析结果表明：钾长花岗岩U-Pb同位素年龄为155.9±1.8 Ma,岩石具有富Si、Al、Na、K,贫Mg、Ca、Ti等特征,轻稀土元素相对富集,大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U、Ta等相对亏损,高场强元素Ba、Sr、Zr、Hf等相对富集,具较弱的铕和铈负异常。结合区域构造背景,认为研究区钾长花岗岩形成于晚侏罗世古太平洋板块向华北克拉通持续俯冲的构造环境背景,成因可能为古太平洋板块向欧亚板块俯冲导致幔源岩浆上侵使地壳发生部分熔融有关。     

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating for high-pressure basic granulite from North Qinling and its geological significance

Inrecentyears,discoveriesofhightoultrahighpressuremetamorphicrocksatthenorthandsouthsidesoftheQinlingGroupinthenorthernpartoftheQinlingMountains(hereafterNorthQinling)haveattractedfocusattentionofgeologistsworldwide.Thenorthhigh-pressure(HP)metamorphicbelt,distributedintheareafromGuanpotoShuanghuaishunorthwardtoShizipin,LushCountyinHenanProvince,consistsmainlyofeclogiteoutcroppedaslenticularmassesofdifferentsizesinthegneissesoftheQinlingGroupclosetothesouthsideofZhuyangguan-Xiaguanfault…     

The latest Yanshanian magmatic and metallogenic events in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt: Evidence from the Ningzhen region

The Ningzhen region in Jiangsu Province represents the easternmost magmatic region in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt.The formation of the polymetallic deposits has close genetic relationships with Early Cretaceous intermediate-acid intrusions.In this study,LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology of two Mesozoic intermediate-acid intrusive rocks(including the Shima porphyritic granodiorite and Gaozi quartz diorite porphyry)in the Ningzhen region were systematically investigated.These new geochronological data demonstrate that the intermediate-acid magmatism in the Ningzhen region dates to approximately between 109 and101 Ma.We present new40Ar-39Ar phlogopite ages for the Cishantou skarn iron deposits that constrain the timing of the mineralisation in the Ningzhen region.The phlogopite in the Cishantou skarn deposits yielded a40Ar-39Ar plateau age of 104±1 Ma.This result coincides with the ages of the Anjishan and Tongshan Cu(Mo)deposits in the Ningzhen region.Our high-precision geochronological data together with recent high-precision geochronological studies(such as zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb,molybdenite Re-Os and single-mineral40Ar-39Ar dates)reveal that there were four periods(152-135 Ma,135-127 Ma,127-121 Ma,109-101 Ma)of magmatism and ore formation in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.The Mesozoic intermediate-acid magmatism and mineralisation in the Ningzhen region belong to the latest episode in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.     

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.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of Indosinian granites in Hunan Province and its petrogenetic implications

The structure, magmatism and sedimentation within the South China Block (SCB) related to the Indosinian Orogeny had attracted considerable attention since De-prat[1] and Fromagat[2] proposed the “Indosinian move-ment” based on two unconformities between Pre-Norian and Pre-Rhaetian during Triassic in Vietnam. However, Indosinian tectonic evolution of the SCB has been long debated[3―6]. Some researchers believed that the compli-cated structure-magmatism-sedimentation within the SCB w…