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.     

Sm-Nd age dating of high-pressure granulites and amphibolite from Sanggan area, North China craton

The high pressure (HP) metamorphic age has been dated to HP rocks from the Sanggan area, North China craton. We have got garnet+whole rock isochron ages of (1 842±38) Ma for HP granulite, and (1 856 ± 26) Ma for HP amphibolite. The Sm-Nd whole rock isochron of HP granulites give out an age of (1 870±150) Ma with Nd depleted mantle model age of (2 402—2 482) Ma. Considering the Nd isotope homogenization during the peak metamorphism of the HP granulite, Sm-Nd closure temperature and the retention of Nd isotopic memory in garnets partially broken down during decompression, all these isochron ages are thought to be HP metamorphic age. Furthermore, we proposed that the HP metamorphism took place at the end of Paleoproterozoic during the large-scale collision and assembly of the North China craton.     

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…     

Timing of the Wudangshan, Yaolinghe volcanic sequences and mafic sills in South Qinling: U-Pb zircon geochronology and tectonic implication

The Wudangshan, Yaolinghe volcanic-sedimentary sequences and doleritic-gabbroic sills comprise the largest exposed Precambrian basement in South Qinling. Zircons separated from 5 volcanic-pyroclastic samples of the Wudangshan Group, 2 volcanic samples of the Yaolinghe Group and one sample for the mafic sills were used for U-Pb dating by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （LA-ICPMS）. The results reveal that the Wudangshan volcanic sequence was formed at （755±3） Ma （a weighted mean from the 5 samples, MSWD=0.47）, whereas the Yaolinghe volcanic suite and the mafic sill were crystallized at （685±5） （2 samples, MSWD=0.36） and （679±3） Ma （MSWD=1.6）, respectively, which are equal to each other within analysis errors. These ages are markedly younger than those previously documented for the rocks. The newly obtained ages for the Wudangshan and Yaolinghe Groups are Identical to those of the bottom Liantuo and slightly older than those of the Nantuo Formations, respectively, lower strata of the Nanhua （middle to late Neoproterozoic） stratotype section in eastern Three Gorges, Yangtze creton. A range of inherited magmatic zircons was recognized with ages of 830 to 780 Ma, which are typical of Neoprotzrozoic magmatisms recorded along the margins and interior of the Yangtze craton. Thus, there is Neoproterozoic basement comprising 830-780 Ma igneous suites in South Qinling; the inherited zircons were detrital sediments derived from the northern margin of the Yangtze craton. Accordingly, it is suggested that the South Qinling is a segment of the Yangtze creton before the Qinling Orogeny.     

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.     

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.     

Whole-rock Ar-Ar dating for low-grade metavolcanics within the Dabie orogen and its geological significance

Greenschist-facies metasedimentary and metaigne- ous rocks are frequently found to occur continuously along convergent plate margins where high pressure (HP) or ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks also crop out[1-7]. Geological investigations of co…     

Single grain Rb-Sr dating of euhedral and cataclastic pyrite from the Qiyugou gold deposit in western Henan, central China

The Rb-Sr isotopic dating of pyrite mineral from ore deposits can directly provide mineralization age. However, many geological factors may affect the Rb-Sr isotopic system,which baffles application of this method. Employing ultra-low procedural blank Rb-Sr method,we have dated pyrites separated from the No. 4 breccia pipe of the Qiyugou gold deposit,western Henan Province. Single grains of euhedral pyrite crystal with few microcracks yield an isochron age of 126 ± 11 Ma, which represents time of the main mineralization stage of the deposit. Pyrite grains of cataclastic type show nevertheless scattered Rb-Sr isotopic composition and no reasonable isochron can be defined. Crystal morphology and mineral inclusion studies reveal that Rb and Sr of pyrite mineral probably are preserved mainly in biotite, K-feldspar, and sericite mineral inclusions. The dating results likely suggest that cataclastic pyrite is not suitable for the Rb-Sr dating due to modification of the Rb-Sr isotopic system by later hydrothermal activity of fluid.     

On emplacement ages of lamproites in Zhenyuan County, Guizhou Province, China

Emplacement ages of lamproites that comprise lamproite and olivine lamproite in Zhenyuan County, Guizhou Province, China, have been constrained by the whole-rock Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isochron methods and the whole rock K-Ar method. Intrusive activities of lamproites in the Sinantang area of Zhenyuan County, Guizhou Province, took place during the Late Cambrian, as indicated by the Sm-Nd isochron ages ( t ) = (503 ± 17) (2σ) Ma and by the Rb-Sr isochron ages ( t ) = (501.2 ± 4.6) (2σ) Ma. Intrusive activities of olivine lamproites at the Maping with Ⅱ-type diamond and Xitou in Zhenyuan County, Guizhou Province, took place from the Late Cambrian to the Early Ordovician, as evidenced by the Sm-Nd isochron ages ( t ) = (502 ± 27) (2σ) Ma and by the Rb-Sr isochron age ( t ) = (502 ± 27) (2σ) Ma. This suggests that the upwelling hot materials derived from the deep mantle were emplaced from the Late Cambrian to the Early Ordovician (503-497 Ma), while the time terminal of cooling of the geothermal event of magmatism-tectonism probably was at 442.64-435.54 Ma, as dated by the whole rock K-Ar method.     

Rb-Sr chronology and cooling history of the Renjiawan pyroxenite intrusion in North Dabie Terrane

A group of Rb-Sr ages, i.e. plagioclase-whole rock (WR) isochron age of (205 ± 7) Ma, hornblende-WR isochron age of (164 ± 10) Ma and biotite-WR isochron age of (123.4 ± 1.2) Ma, for one pyroxenite sample from Renjiawan in North Dabie Terrane (NDT) are reported. According to the closure temperature of 600℃ for plageoclase and 300℃ for biotite, the Renjiawan pyroxenite should intrude into the NDT before 205 Ma, and the younger Rb-Sr ages may reflect the cooling history of the intrusion or reset by the very strong Cretaceous thermal event in NDT.     

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.     

冀北赤城红旗营子群黑云斜长片麻岩的黑云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

探讨冀北赤城红旗营子群是否经历了印支期的构造热事件。通过对冀北赤城红旗营子群黑云斜长片麻岩样品进行的黑云母40 Ar/39 Ar年龄测定,获得其坪年龄和等时线年龄分别为(238.63±1.44)Ma和(238.77±1.71)Ma,两者基本一致。此年龄数据是黑云斜长片麻岩在晚古生代角闪岩相区域变质作用之后所经历印支期构造热事件的记录。综合分析冀北岩浆作用及其地质年代学特征,认为它可能与区域上同时期的酸性岩浆活动有关,是后者为此次构造热事件提供了必要的热源。     

Petrogenesis and significance of the Hongshan syenitic pluton,South Taihang: zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age, chemical compositions and Sr-Nd isotopes

The Hongshan syenitic pluton (South Taihang) is mainly made up of hornblende syenite and minor granite. SHRIMP zircon dating yields a U-Pb age of 135±2.7 Ma for the emplacement of the pluton, while biotite Rb-Sr isotopic data give an isochron of 120. 3±2.4 Ma. Hongshan syenites show low silica, high alkalis and LILE such as Sr, and exhibit negligible Eu anomalies or slightly positive anomalies in the REE patterns. The syenites show quite enriched isotopic compositions with Isr from 0.7052 to 0. 7102 and εNd(t) from -7.5 to - 11.1. Petrogenesis of the pluton can be that partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle gave birth to an alkali basaltic magma, which subsequently underplated in the lower crust and experienced a coupled fractionation of ferromagnesian phases like pyroxene and hornblende and minor (<10 %) contamination of lower continental crust, producing the Hongshan syenites that partially e-volved into granite through combined fractionation of hornblende and feldspar. Our data are not in agreement with a previous model that the syenites originated from melting of lower crust in a thickened crust circumstance, and thus do not support the speculation of "East China Plateau" in the Mesozoic.     

New chronological evidence for Yanshanian diagenetic mineralization in China’s Altay orogenic belt

Granitoids and related pegmatitic rare-metal deposits are widespread in China’s Altay region, they used to be considered as Hercynian rocks and mineral deposits. Reported here are the⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of potassium-rich minerals (muscovite and microcline) in the Koktokay pegmatitic rare-metal orefield and whole-rock as well as quartz fluid-inclusion Rb-Sr isochron ages of granite and ores in the Shangkelan pegmatite rare-metal orefield. The ages indicate that there are Yanshanian Diagenetic Mineralization events happening in China’s Altay orogenic belt and that formation of the famous Koktokay No.3 pegmatitic rare-metal deposit endured about 30 Ma of magmatic crystallization differentiation.     

Laser step-heating ^40Ar/^39Ar dating on young volcanic rocks

An attempt was made to use CO_2 laser step-heating method to date the late Pleistocene basaltic groundmass (DF-2) from Tengchong volcanic field. Among the fourteen heating steps, ten define a good inverse isochron (MSWD = 1.4) with an age of 32.2 ± 7.1 ka (2 σ).The inverse isochron also shows that the initial argon isotopic ratio is 297.1±2.0 (2σ) which is the same as the atmospheric argon at the 2σ error level. Study indicates that it is a useful means to date young volcanic groundmass with low K content by using CO_2 laser step-heating ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar method.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Fangcheng Neoproterozoic alkali-syenites in East Qinling orogen and its geodynamic implications

Finding of Neoproterozoic syenites at Fangcheng in the northern Qinling region of the East Qinling orogen provides an important constraint on timing of tectonic transformation to extensional regime. The alkaline pluton consists mainly of nepheline syenite, aegirine syenite, and alkali-feldspar syenite. The syenites are of intermediate （SiO2 = 54%-62%）, rich in alkali （K2O＋Na2O = 12%-15%）, aluminum （Al2O3= 16.81%-23.26%） and large ion lithophile elements （LILE）, without any obvious Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf anomalies. The Fangcheng syenites are geochemically characterized by relative enrichment of LREE, minor differentiation of HREE, significant negative Eu anomalies （Eu = 0.13-0.23）, less negative εNd（t） values of -1.37 to-3.90, young Nd model ages of 1364 to 1569 Ma, and high zircon saturation temperatures of 915 to 1044℃. The syenitic magmas probably originated from small proportion melting of upper mantle in an extensional regime of intraplate-anorogenic tectonic setting, and have been slightly contaminated by crustal materials during ascending and/or emplacement. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating yields ages of 844.3±1.6 Ma （MSWD=0.86）, suggesting that the Fangcheng alkaline syenites formed in the early Neoproterozoic. They are the oldest Neoproterozoic alkaline rocks ever recognized in the Qinling orogen as well as in South China. This implies that the tectonic regime of the Qinling region would have transformed from post-collisional stretch to intraplate-anorogenic extension no later than 844 Ma.     

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.     

<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.     

Ultra-low procedural blank and the single-grain mica Rb-Sr isochron dating

Both low procedural blank and high-precision measurements of isotopic ratios are crucial for the analysis of micro samples. This study reports a chemical procedure of ultra-low blank for the high precision measurement of Sr isotopic ratios on micro samples （〈1 ng level） using a new-type thermal ionization mass spectrometer IsoProbe-T, with a case study of single-grain Rb-Sr isochron dating on phlogopite from the Fuxian kimberlite in Liaoning Province. This method can be employed in studies of high resolution Rb-Sr geochronology and Sr isotopic geochemistry and thus will broaden application of the Rb-Sr isotopic system to earth sciences.