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.     

四川丹巴地区斜长角闪岩的地球化学特征及其大地构造意义

丹巴地区位于川西松潘－甘改造山带东缘，出露较多的斜长角闪岩类。这些岩石通常呈透镜状与碳酸盐岩，泥质岩相伴生。地球化学研究表明，这类斜长角闪岩为正斜长角闪的岩主要为钙碱性玄武岩类。     

阿尔泰地区霍热木德克花岗岩体年代学、地球化学特征及构造意义

中阿尔泰构造带出露大面积晚三叠世花岗岩,对其进行详细研究是了解阿尔泰造山带构造演化和陆壳增生过程的重要途径。本文对霍热木德克岩体进行详细的岩石学、锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd同位素研究。霍热木德克花岗岩体主要有粗粒二长花岗岩、细粒二长花岗岩和正长花岗岩。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学研究结果表明,其结晶年龄为(222.3±1.8)Ma(MSWD=1.6),为晚三叠世岩浆活动产物。地球化学研究表明,岩石具有高SiO_2、Al_2O_3、ALK,低TiO_2、MnO、MgO、P_2O_5的特征,轻稀土富集、轻重稀土分馏明显,具有Eu的负异常(δEu=0.37~0.50),富集大离子亲石元素、相对亏损高场强元素,显示出强过铝质S型花岗岩的特征,花岗岩具有负的εNd(t)(-3.7~-2.7)和较老的二阶段模式(T2DM)年龄(1.2~1.3Ga)。综合分析认为,霍热木德克花岗岩由富含白云母和黑云母的变泥质岩经历部分熔融形成,其源区有富钙斜长石、钛铁矿的残留,为同碰撞造山阶段挤压环境下地壳加厚而发生部分熔融的产物,形成于同碰撞构造环境。     

Zircon isotopic ages from magnetite quartzites of the Jianping metamorphic complex, western Liaoning Province

Using the zircon Pb evaporation method and high precise ion microprobe analyses, zircon isotopic ages in supracrustal magnetite quartzites from Jianping metamorphic complex have been obtained. The results show that the deposition of the supracrustal rocks occurred around 2 552–2 520 Ma and the peak of granulite facies metamorphism reached at about 2 487 Ma; about (1 806±16) Ma, i.e. Mid-Proterozoic, the other possible metamorphic event with relatively low intensity happened in the study area. It is speculated that a likely tectonic setting where the Jianping metamorphic complex formed is an active continental margin that is involved in continental collision and crustal thickening shortly after its formation.     

Eocene high grade metamorphism and crustal anatexis in the North Himalaya Gneiss Domes,Southern Tibet

Determination of the timing and geochemical nature of early metamorphic and anatectic events in the Himalayan orogen may provide key insights into the physical and chemical behavior of lower crustal materials during the early stage of tectonic evolution in large-scale collisional belts.The Yardoi gneiss dome is the easternmost dome of the North Himalayan Gneiss Domes(NHGD),and contains three types of amphibolites with distinct mineral assemblage,elemental and radiogenic isotope geochemistry,as well as various types of gneisses.SHRIMP zircon U/Pb analyses on the garnet amphibolite and garnet-bearing biotite granitic gneiss yield ages of nearly peak metamorphism at 45.0±1.0 Ma and 47.6±1.8 Ma,respectively,which are 2 to 4 Ma older than the age for partial melting in migmatitic garnet amphibolite(43.5±1.3 Ma).Available data have demonstrated that ultra-high pressure metamorphism in the Tethyan Himalaya occurred at ～55 Ma,and high amphibolite facies to granulite facies metamorphism at 45 to 47 Ma.In addition,partial melting at thickened crustal conditions occurred at 43.5±1.3 Ma,which led to the formation of high Sr/Y ratios two-mica granites.The high-grade metamorphic rocks in the NHGD may represent the subducted front of the Indian continental lithosphere.In large collisional belts,fertile components in crustal materials could melt and form granitic melts with relatively high Na/K and Sr/Y ratios under thickened crustal conditions,significantly different from those formed by decompressional melting during rapid exhumation.     

苏鲁造山带岩浆岩的锆石U Pb定年及构造意义

锆石U-Pb定年和地球化学分析结果显示,苏鲁造山带南缘连云港锦屏山片麻状花岗岩形成于(806.0±14.0)Ma,海州群云台组变质火山岩形成于(800.8±7.8)Ma,张八岭隆起的张八岭群西冷组变质火山岩形成于(751.6±7.1)Ma和(767.0±15.0)Ma.这些岩浆岩总体上具有高钾钙碱性系列、右倾型REE(Rare Earth Elements)模式、Nb、Ta、Sr、P和Ti强烈亏损、中等负铕异常、重稀土弱到中等亏损、低Sr、高Yb等特点,与浙闽型岩浆岩反映的区域伸展环境和下地壳部分熔融是一致的.这次构造岩浆活动820～740Ma,是晋宁期主碰撞造山后Rodinia超大陆裂解和岩石圈减薄演化的记录.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating for subduction-related granitic rocks in the northern part of east Junggar, Xinjiang

A great deal of studies have recently devoted to the Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB). Some of the studies have proposed that CAOB is a tectonic frame ofcomplex mosaic fragments, link of multiple suture zone and mountain-basin coupling, and has undergon…     

LA-(MC)-ICPMS U-Pb zircon geochronology and Lu-Hf isotope compositions of the Taihua complex on the southern margin of the North China Craton

Widely distributed on the southern margin of the North China Craton, the Taihua complex extends roughly in an east-west direction and the relatively complete successions are found in Lushan County, Henan Province. Like many other Archean terranes, the Taihua Complex can be divided into two major lithological units along the Dangze River, namely gneisses series and supracrustal rocks. The former is located on the north side of the river and chiefly composed of TTG gneisses and amphibolites; the latter on the south side of the river is mainly supracrustal rock. Coupled with the previous studies, the results obtained by this study show that the Taihua complex was formed in a large time span from Neoarchean to Palaeoproterozoic. The TTG gneisses and amphibolites are dated at Neoarchean (2794–2752 Ma). The 2.9 Ga and 3.1 Ga zircons in amphibolites could be xenocrysts. In the North China Craton, the 2.8–2.7 Ga old rocks crop out in several areas e.g. western Shandong Province, Jiaodong Peninsula and Lushan area of Henan Province. In addition, 2.8–2.7 Ga detrital zircons or xenocryst zircons have been recognized in Huai’an, Fuping, Wutai areas of North China Craton and also reported in the Early Paleozoic diamondiferous kimberlites in Mengyin and Fuxian. All these age results indicate that the 2.8–2.7 Ga rocks may have been developed much broader region than today’s outcrops. Zircon Hf and whole rock Nd isotopes show that the 2.8–2.7 Ga tectono-thermal event represents an important period of crustal growth with minor ancient crust reworked in the North China Craton. However the formation of supracrustal rocks is limited to 2.2–2.0 Ga in the Palaeoproterozoic time, not the Archaean, as previously believed. Combined with the chronological data of aluminium-rich metamorphic rocks (Khondalite series) on the southern margin of the North China Craton and adjacent areas, it is suggested that the above areas have widely developed Paleoproterozoic passive continental margin environment.     

EMP chemical ages of monazites from Central Zone of the eastern Kunlun Orogen： Records of multi-tectonometamorphic events

Two generations of monazite were identified in one mica schist sample from the central zone of the eastern Kunlun Orogen at the northern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The first generation was found in the cores of garnet porphyroblasts with relatively high Y2O3 contents (averaging 1.012±0.088 wt%). The second generation occurs either as inclusions in the rims of garnet porphyroblasts,matrix kyanite,plagioclase and quartz,or as separate crystals associated with matrix biotite and muscovite mostly having a relatively low Y2O3 content (averaging 0.479±0.100 wt%). Electron microprobe (EMP) Th-U-Pbtotal chemical dating for two grains of the first generation monazite yields average ages of 455 ± 18 Ma and 420 ± 20 Ma,respectively; six grains of the second generation gave an average age of 246.1 ± 3.8 Ma. These ages suggest that the core and rim of the garnet porphyroblasts and their associated assemblages record two events of significant tectonometamorphism. The formation of the Ordovician monazite is related to the tectonometamorphic event responsible for continuous amalgamation of the Gondwanaland in the Late Pan-African period or for consumption of the Proto-Tethys,whereas the development of the Triassic monazite is related to the tectonometamorphic event for consumption of the Paleo-Tethys.     

Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating of the Yematan batholith in Dulan,North Qaidam,NW China

The Yematan batholith crops out over 120 km^2 in the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt. It consists of granodiorite, monzogranite and biotite granite and forms an irregular intrusion into Neoproterozoic gneiss that has undergone Caledonian UHP metamorphism. Zircons from the Yematan granodiorite yield a SHRIMP U-Pb age of 397 3 Ma. These granitic rocks have geochemical characteristics intermediate between I- and S-type granites, and are post-collisional. We suggest that the Yematan granitic rocks were formed during the last exhumation event of the North Qaidam UHP belt.     

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.     

Geochemistry and zircon U-Pb ages of granulite xenolith from Tuoyun basalts, Xinjiang： Implications for the petrogenesis and the lower crustal nature beneath the southwestern Tianshan

The continental lithosphere growth mainly includes the horizontal accretion at the plate boundaries and vertical accretion within the plate[1]. Mafic magmatic materials, as the products of crust-mantle interaction[2,3], became more and more important in studying the formation and evolu- tion of the lower crust. The previous geologic researcheson Tianshan, extending nearly 2500 km from east to west, and the neighbor area were mainly focused on the Paleozoic collision structure[4 ― 6], Mesozoi…     

Occurrence of Neoproterozoic low-grade metagranite in the western Beihuaiyang zone,the Dabie orogen

Based on detailed field investigations and petrographic observations, we discovered Neoproterozoic-emplaced granite from the metavolcanics of the Dingyuan Formation in the western Beihuaiyang zone, the Dabie orogen. This study reports the results of zircon U-Pb dating and preliminary petrographic observations on two metagranite samples. The studied rocks experienced epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism and strong structural deformation. Their U-Pb ages are 726 ± 6 and 758 ± 12 Ma, respectively, similar to those for the Luzhenguan complex in the eastern segment of the Beihuaiyang zone. In combination with previously determined 635 ± 5 Ma low-grade metagabbro, this study suggests the occurrence of at least two types of Neoproterozoic intrusive rocks in the Beihuaiyang zone, the northern margin of the South China Block (SCB): 726–758 Ma metagranite and 635 Ma metagabbro. These rocks occur within the metamorphosed Ordovician volcanic zone (originally named the Dingyuan Formation) and are in tectonic contact to each other, but they formed in different tectonic settings. The protolith ages for the Neoproterozoic low-grade metaigneous rocks are in good agreement not only with ages for two episodes of mid- and late-Neoproterozoic mafic and felsic magmatism in the Suizhou and Zaoyang area, Hubei Province, but also agree with protolith ages of ultrahigh-pressure metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. In view of their tectonic relationships to country rocks, it appears that these Neoproterozoic low-grade rocks are exotic and they may have been detached and scraped from subducting SCB crust in the early Triassic during the initial continental subduction, and thrusted over Paleozoic metamorphosed rocks in the southern margin of the North China Block during continental collision.     

内蒙古中部乌拉山-大青山地区富铝片麻岩年代学特征

内蒙古中部乌拉山岩群是一套变质程度为高角闪岩相-麻粒岩相的早前寒武纪高级变质岩系,出露于内蒙古中部。为划分乌拉山-大青山地区富铝片麻岩的原岩形成时代,通过对侵入乌拉山岩群黑云石榴斜长片麻岩的石英闪长质片麻岩和紫苏花岗质片麻岩变质深成体进行年代学研究,本次研究涉及的实验样品共6件,分别于内蒙古中部乌拉山-大青山地区片麻岩中和变质深成岩中各取3件。分别为矽线石榴黑云斜长片麻岩(TWB19)、黑云斜长片麻岩(TWB20)、含橄榄石方解石大理岩(TWB18)和紫苏花岗质片麻岩(TW7)、石英闪长质片麻岩(TWB6)和花岗闪长质片麻岩(D1227)。结果表明：紫苏花岗质片麻岩(TW7)的加权平均年龄为2462±13Ma,花岗闪长质片麻岩(D1227)加权平均年龄为2512±24Ma,由于后期构造事件对岩石的改造,锆石的实际年龄应更大一些。可见,乌拉山富铝片麻岩原岩形成年代早于2.5Ga。石英闪长质片麻岩(TWB6)的变质年龄为2.2Ga和1.9Ga,指示乌拉山-大青山地区遭受古元古代早期和晚期构造热事件叠加改造。综上所述,乌拉山-大青山地区富铝片麻岩最晚形成时代限定在2.5Ga。     

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.     

Nd isotopic disequilibrium between minerals and Rb-Sr age of the secondary phengite in eclogite from the Yangkou area, Qingdao, eastern China

There are two generations of white micas in retrograded coesite-bearing eclogite from the Yangkou area near Qingdao, eastern China. The secondary phengite developed along the folliations in eclogite is the majority of the white micas. Nd and Sr isotopic disequilibriums between garnet and retrograded omphacite as well as secondary phengite have been observed. Consequently, the Rb-Sr ages ((193 ± 4) Ma―(195 ± 4) Ma) given by the tie lines of the secondary phengite + garnet or whole rock may predate the formation time of the phengite. The Rb-Sr age of (183 ± 4) Ma given by the secondary phengite + retrograde omphacite is much closer to the formation time of the phengite indicating the retrograde age of eclogite instead of a cooling age of eclogite at 500℃.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the “Xinghuadukou Group” in Hanjiayuanzi and Xinlin areas and the “Zhalantun Group” in Inner Mongolia, Da Hinggan Mountains

A report is presented of SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating data of meta-igneous and meta-sedimentary rocks of the Xinghuadukou Group(Xinlin-Hanjiayuanzi area,Heilongjiang Province)and meta-volcanic rocks of the Zhalantun Group(Zhalantun district,Inner Mongolia).The SHRIMP analyses show that the meta-igneous rocks from the Xinghuadukou Group formed at 506±10―547±46 Ma,belonging to Early-Middle Precambrian,whereas the meta-sedimentary rocks yielded detrital zircons,with ages of 1.0―1.2,1.6―1.8 and 2.5―2.6 Ga,indicative of deposition age at least<1.0 Ga. Meta-basic volcanic rocks from the Zhalantun Group have a formation age of 506±3 Ma.These data suggest that both the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups formed during Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic time,rather than Paleoproterozoic time as previously thought.Early Precambrian inherited zircons in the meta-igneous rocks and numerous Precambrian detrital zircons in the meta-sedimentary rocks imply that these rocks were formed proximal to older crust.It is inferred that the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups represent Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic vol- cano-sedimentary sequences formed in an active continental margin setting.     

新路盆地火山岩Sr-Nd同位素地球化学特征及其地质意义

在浙西新路盆地中生代酸性火山岩的Sr-Nd同位素组成和Nd同位素模式年龄基础上,探讨了其源岩性质及其大地构造意义。结果显示,构成新路盆地主体的黄尖组晶屑熔结凝灰岩和花岗斑岩的平均锶初始值分别为0.714 10、0.710 39,ε_(Nd)(t)值分别为-5.5、-5.7;黄尖组晶屑熔结凝灰岩和花岗斑岩的两阶段模式年龄均值分别为1 366Ma、1 387Ma,与扬子地块基底双溪坞群变质岩年龄(900~1 000 Ma)差异明显,而与华夏地块基底陈蔡群变质岩年龄(1 400 Ma)接近;2个单元火山岩Nd同位素均位于陈蔡群Nd同位素演化域。研究认为,新路盆地黄尖组熔结凝灰岩和花岗斑岩具有相似的物质来源,均表现出壳源和幔源物质混合成因特点,壳源物质可能源自南部华夏地块的陈蔡群变质岩,与扬子地块变质基底双溪坞群无关;推测发生于1 000~900 Ma B.P.时期或其后的浙西地区扬子地块与华夏地块之间的陆陆碰撞,具有华夏地块向扬子地块俯冲的动力学特点。上述大地构造运动方式以及岩石成因特点,或许是导致赣杭火山岩带分属华夏地块和扬子地块的火山岩均呈现出与铀成矿关系密切的重要原因。     

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of basement metamorphic rocks in the Songliao Basin

Zircon LA-ICP MS U-Pb dating of six metamorphic rocks and a metagranite (breccia) from southern basement of the Songliao Basin are reported in order to constrain the formation ages of basement. The basement metamorphic rocks in the Songliao Basin mainly consist of metagabbro (L45-1), amphibolite (SN117), metarhyolitical tuff (G190), sericite (Ser) schist (N103), chlorite (Chl) schist (T5-1), biotite (Bi)-actinolite (Act)-quartz (Q) schist (Y205), and metagranite (L44-1). The cathodoluminesence (CL) images of the zircons from metagabbro (L45-1) and metagranite (L44-1) indicate that they have cores of magmatic origin and rims of metamorphic overgrowths. Their U-Pb isotopic ages are 1808±21 Ma and 1873±13 Ma, respectively. The zircons with oscillatory zoning from amphibolite (SN117) and Chl schist (T5-1), being similar to those of mafic igneous rocks, yield ages of 274 ± 3.4 Ma and 264 ± 3.2 Ma, re-spectively. The zircons from metarhyolitical tuff (G190) and Ser schist (N103) display typical magmatic growth zoning and yield ages of 424 ± 4.5 Ma and 287 ± 5.1Ma, respectively. Most of zircons from Bi-Act-Q schist (Y205) are round in shape and different in absorption degree in the CL images, implying their sedimentary detritals. U-Pb dating yield concordant ages of 427 ± 3.1Ma, 455 ± 12 Ma, 696 ± 13 Ma, 1384±62 Ma, 1649±36 Ma, 1778±18 Ma, 2450±9 Ma, 2579±10 Ma, 2793±4 Ma and 2953±14 Ma. The above-mentioned results indicate that the Precambrian crystalline basement (1808―1873 Ma) exists in the southern Songliao Basin and could be related to tectonic thrust, and that the Early Paleozoic (424―490 Ma) and Late Paleozoic magmatisms (264―292 Ma) also occur in the basin basement, which are consistent with the ages of the detrital zircons from Bi-Act-Q schist in the basement.     

Origin of middle Miocene leucogranites and rhyolites on the Tibetan Plateau: Constraints on the timing of crustal thickening and uplift of its northern boundary

Leucogranites play a significant role in understanding crustal thickening, melting within continental collisional belts, and plateau uplift. Field investigations show that Miocene igneous rocks from the Hoh Xil Lake area mainly consist of two-mica leucogranites and rhyolites. We studied the Bukadaban two-mica leucogranites and the Kekao Lake, Malanshan and Hudongliang rhyolites by zircon U-Pb, muscovite and sanidine 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, and whole-rock geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic analysis. Results yielded crystallization and cooling ages for the Bukadaban leucogranites of 9.7±0.2 and 6.88±0.19 Ma, respectively. Extrusive ages of the Kekao Lake and Malanshan rhyolites are 14.5±0.8 and 9.37±0.30 Ma, respectively. All rocks are enriched in SiO2 (70.99%-73.59%), Al2O3 (14.39%-15.25%) and K2O (3.78%-5.50%) but depleted in Fe2O3 (0.58%-1.56%), MgO (0.11%- 0.44%) and CaO (0.59%-1.19%). The rocks are strongly peraluminous (A/CNK=1.11?1.21) S-type granites characterized by negative Eu anomalies (δ Eu=0.18-0.39). In also considering their Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sri=0.7124 to 0.7143; δ Nd (9 Ma) =-5.5 to -7.1), we propose that these igneous rocks were generated through dehydration melting of muscovite in the thickened middle or lower crust of northern Tibet. Melting was probably triggered by localized E-W stretching decompression in the horse tails of Kunlun sinistral strike-slip faults. Reactivation of the Kunlun strike-slip faults, accompanied by emplacement of leucogranite and eruption of rhyolite in the Hoh Xil Lake area, indicates that large-scale crustal shortening and thickening in northern Tibet mainly occurred before 15 Ma. In addition, these findings suggest that the northern Tibetan Plateau attained its present elevation (~5000 m) at least 15 Ma ago.