Zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotope of Quanyishang A-type granite in Yichang: signification for the Yangtze continental cratonization in Paleoproterozoic

Zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotope, and major and trace element compositions were reported for granite at Quanyishang, which intruded into the Kongling complex in Yichang, Hubei Province. The results show that the Quanyishang granite is rich in silicon and alkalis but poor in calcium and magnesium, and displays enrichment in Ga, Y, Zr, Nb but depletion in Sr and Ba, exhibiting the post-orogenic A-type affinity. 90% zircons from the granite are concordant, and give a middle Paleoproterozoic magmatic crystallization age (mean 1854 Ma). Initial Hf isotope ratios (¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf)_i of the middle Paleoproterozoic zircons range from 0.280863 to 0.281134 and they have negative ε_Hf(t) values with a minimum of −26.3. These zircons give the depleted mantle model ages (T _DM) of 2.9–3.3 Ga (mean 3.0 Ga), and the average crustal model ages (T _crust) of 3.6–4.2 Ga (mean 3.8 Ga). A Mesoarchean grain with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2859 Ma has a slightly high T _DM (3.4 Ga) but similar T _crust (3.8 Ga) to the Paleoproterozoic zircons. All these data suggest that the source materials of the Quanyishang A-type granite are unusually old, at least ⩾2.9 Ga (even Eoarchean). The event of crustal remelting, which resulted in the formation of the Quanyishang granite in the middle Paleoproterozoic, recorded the cratonization of the Yangtze continent. The process may have relation to the extension and collapse of the deep crust with Archean ages, in response to the transition stage of the assembly and breakup of the Columbia supercontinent. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 90714002 and 40772042) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB403502)