Isotope chronological trace of granite gravel in Hefei Basin

The discovery of granite gravel in Hefei Jurassic backland basin, which came from the Dabie Shan or North Huaiyang, has a great significance for probing into uplift and exhumation of the Dabie orogenic belt. Lithochemical and isotope chronological analyses on the granite gravel in the Sanjianpu Formation and the Fenghuangtai Formation in Jinzhai County prove that post-orogenic granite was developed in the major provenance of the Hefei Basin; that is, Dabie Shan or North Huaiyang. Discordant lower intersection point age of zircon U-Pb of granite gravel is about 214 Ma, and⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of muscovite about 196 Ma, K-Ar age of K-spar about 181 Ma. The former is the diagenetic age of the sample, and the latter two represent the sealed ages of muscovite and K-spar respectively. The age of sedimentary rocks in which a lot of granite gravels appear in the sedimentary section may represent the newest age of the exhumation of the granite body, so we assume that the age is 166 Ma. Therefore, we calculated the uplift rates of the granite body from Late Triassic to early Middle Jurassic; that is about 0.08 km/Ma and 0.4–0.3 km/Ma in the early slowly uplifting stage and later fast uplifting stage respectively, after the formation of the body at 214 Ma. These results are basically identical to the uplifting ages of the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) belt and the North Huaiyang thrust belt.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages for the UHP metamorphosed granitoid gneiss in Altyn Tagh and their geological significance

Different types of UHP metamorphic rocks havebeen recently discovered in the Altyn Tagh[1—4], the north-ern margin of Qadam Basin[5—7], the southwestern Tian-shan Mountains[8,9] and the northern Qinling Moun-tains[10,11] in Central and Western China. And these areashave attracted focus attention of geologists at home andabroad to the studying of UHP metamorphism and conti-nental deep subduction. However, as newly discoveredUHP metamorphic terranes, some questions have beenarisen abou…     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating for two episodes of migmatization in the Dabie orogen

Zircon CL imaging and SHRIMP U-Pb dating were carried out for migmatite in the Dabie orogen. Zircons from the Manshuihe migmatite show clear core-rim structures. The cores display sector or weak zoning and low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.17, indicating their precipitation from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted mean age of 137±5 Ma. By contrast, the rims exhibit planar or nebulous zoning with relatively high Th/U ratios of 0.35 to 0.69, suggesting their growth from metamorphic melt. They give a weighted mean age of 124±2 Ma. Zircons from the Fenghuangguan migmatite also display core-rim structures. The cores are weakly oscillatory zoned or unzoned with high Th/U ratios of 0.21 to 3.03, representing inherited zircons of magmatic origin that experienced different degrees of solid-state recrystallization. SHRIMP U-Pb analyses obtain that its protolith was emplaced at 768±12 Ma, consistent with middle Neoproterozoic ages for protoliths of most UHP metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. By contrast, the rims do not show significant zoning and have very low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.09, typical of zircon crystallized from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted 206Pb/238U age of 137±4 Ma. Taking the two case dates together, it appears that there are two episodes of zircon growth and thus migmati-tization at 137±2 Ma and 124±2 Ma, respectively, due to metamorphic dehydration and partial melting. The appearance of metamorphic dehydration corresponds to the beginning of tectonic extension thus to the tectonic switch from crustal compression to extension in the Dabie orogen. On the other hand, the partial melting is responsible for the extensional climax, resulting in formation of coeval migmatite, granitoid and granulite. They share the common protolith, the collision-thickened continental crust of mid-Neoproterozoic ages.     

The Nd-Sr isotope study of Mesozoic granitoids in Jiangxi Province

Nd-Sr isotopic compositions of 12 Mesozoic granitoids from Jiangxi Province have been reported. They show low-εNd( - 13.8--8.3), high-/Sr(0.71069-0.73981) and old tDM (2087-1635 Ma). Comparison between the Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of the granitoids and those of the basement metamorphic rocks suggests that these granitoids were mainly derived from the metasedimentary rocks. There is an east-west trend Mesozoic granitoid zone with low-tDM from S. Jiangxi to S. Fujian. The origin of these granites was preliminarily discussed.     

Zircon U-Pb ages of granites at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling and implications for source nature

Mesozoic granitoids are widespread in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Precise U-Pb dating on these granitoids can reveal the evolution of the continental collision orogen and thus provide information on the nature of magma sources. This study presents zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses for two intrusions at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling. Zircon U-Pb ages for central and marginal phases of the Huangzhuguang intrusion are 214±1 Ma and 213±3 Ma, respectively. Zircons from the Changba intrusion yield a dominant cluster with an U-Pb age of 213±2 Ma. Collectively, these ages are younger than ages of 220 to 240 Ma for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism due to the continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block, corresponding to syn-exhumation magmatism. Some inherited zircons occur in the Changba intrusion, yielding a weighted mean of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages at 757±14 Ma. This indicates that the Changba intrusion has the crustal source of mid-Neoproterozoic ages and a tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Geochemically, the two intrusuons are both rich in LILE and LREE but depleted in HFSE and HREE, similar to arc-type igneous rocks. The Huangzhuguang intrusion exhibits linear correlations between SiO₂ and the other major oxides, implying chemical evolution from a cognate magma source. It contains mafic enclaves, suggesting possible mixing of felsic-mafic magmas. The Changba granite is rich in Si and K but poor in Fe and Mg as well as has a high value of Fe*, suggesting strong differentiation of granitic magma. Therefore, the two intrusions were derived from the Late Triassic anatexis of the continental crust of different compositions in the northern margin of South China Block. This process may be coupled with exhumation of the subducted continental crust in the stage of late collision.     

Sm-Nd age of syncollisional mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Dabie Mountains

A Sm_Nd age of (228±42) Ma with initial ε Nd =-16.4 for the Renjiawan pyroxenite intrusion in the North Dabie terrane is reported. This age with another Sm_Nd age of (230±44) Ma for the Zhujiapu pyroxenite in the same terrane documents that the pyroxenite in the North Dabie terrane are formed during continental subduction time of the Yangtze craton in the Triassic.     

Mixing events between the crust- and mantle-derived magmas in Eastern Kunlun: Evidence from zircon SHRIMP Ⅱ chronology

Granitoidswidelyoccurincontinentalcrustandareusuallygeneratedinresponsetocontinentalgrowthandassociatedcrust-mantleinteraction.Granitoidscanbepro-ducedthroughdifferentways,ofwhichmagmamixinghasdrawnspecialattentionbecauseofitsprofoundbear-ingsoncrust-mantleinteractionandcontinentalgeody-namics[1].Themostdistinctfeatureforgranitoidsformedbymagmamixingisprobablytheoccurrenceofmaficmicrogranularenclaves(MMEs).Sofar,originforMMEsisstillhotlydebated,andavailablehypothesesconsidertheMMEsas(1)ref…     

Zircon U-Pb age of the Shacun gabbro body, Yuexi, Dabie orogen and its geological implications

The single grain zircon U-Pb age of the Shacun mafic-ultramafic intrusion, Yuexi, North Dabie is (128.1±2.0) Ma. This date indicates that the intrusion was implaced at Yanshanian when most Mesozoic granitoids were intruded. It was not the syn-collisional intrusion related to the subduction of the Yangtze Block and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism at Indosinian.     

Porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in the eastern Xing’an-Mongolian Orogenic Belt: Mineralization ages and their geodynamic implications

The eastern Xing’an-Mongolian (Xing-Meng) Orogenic Belt (XMOB) is one of the important areas of porphyry copper (Cu)-molybdenum (Mo) deposits in China. However, studies on the exact ages of mineralization and their geodynamic significance are very limited. In this study, granodioritic rocks from the Duobaoshan Cu deposit and Daheishan Mo deposit were selected to make zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses in order to constrain their mineralization ages. Geochronological data indicate that two episodes of mineralization took place in the Duobaoshan Cu deposits. The granodiorite related to the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit was formed in the Early Paleozoic with zircon U-Pb age of 485±8 Ma, whereas the granodiorites related to the Sankuanggou skarn-type Cu deposit were emplaced in the Jurassic with zircon U-Pb ages of 176±3 and 177±3 Ma. In the Daheishan area of Jilin Province, the emplacement age of the granodiorite porphyry related to the porphyry Mo deposit was dated at 170±3 Ma, and the unmineralized monzogranite at 178±3 Ma. Therefore, two episodes of Cu-Mo mineralization were developed in the eastern XMOB, at ~485 Ma and ~175 Ma, respectively. Based on the geological history and spatial-temporal distribution of the granitoids in northeastern (NE) China, it is proposed that the Duobaoshan Cu deposit was related to the collision of the Xing’an and Erguna blocks in the Early Paleozoic, and the Sankuanggou Cu and Daheishan Mo deposits were related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate during the Jurassic.     

^40Ar／^39Ar geochronological constraints on syn-orogenic strike-slip movement of Tan-Lu fault zone

Two phases of sinistral strike-slip ductile shear belts occur on the eastern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt. A muscovite ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau age of 128 Ma was obtained from mylonite in the later ductile shear zone. Three muscovite samples separated from mylonites of 3 localities in the earlier ductile shear belts yield ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 192.5±0.7 Ma, 189.7±0.6 Ma and 188.7±0.7 Ma, respectively. They are interpreted as cooling ages of the earlier sinistral strike-slip deformation. It is suggested that left-lateral displacement of the Tan-Lu fault zone started in a late stage of the collision orogeny in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt between the North and South China plates. Therefore, the earlier Tan-Lu fault zone was syn-orogenic strike-slip tectonics. The fault zone was used again for sinistral displacement during tectonic activities of peri-Pacific regime in Early Cretaceous. It is proposed that the fault zone occurred as a transform fault during the orogenic process.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the Gangou granitoids, Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China and tectonic significances

Two types of granitoids, highly deformed eugen grenitoids end undeformed fine-grained grenitoids, ere widely distributed in Gangou area, Central Tianshen Mountains, Northwest China. The augen grenitoids are high-K calc-alkaline characterized by high K20, Rb, Y and Th, and low Sr and Sr/Y. They also have high contents of large ion lithophile elements （LILE）, such as Be, Rb, K and Th, and relatively low contents of high field strength elements （HFSE）, such as Zr, Y and Nb. The fine-grained granitoids are calc-alkaline cherecterlzed by high Sr, low Y and HREE, similar to adakitic rocks, and with Na20/K20〈2 （1.76-1.91）, high/sr （0.70689--0.70981）, and negative εNd（t） （-2.4-5.3）. High-precision SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating results indicate that the Gangou augen greniUods were formed at 428 ± 10 Me, and the fine-grained granitoids were emplaced at 361 -368 Me. These geochemical and U-Pb zircon data have significant implications for the timing of closure of the Mishigou-Gangou Ocean and the evolution of the Central Tianshan orogenic belt.     

Indosinian isotope ages of plutons and deposits in southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling,northeastern Guangxi and implications on Indosinian mineralization in South China

The Miaoershan-Yuechengling complex pluton is the largest granitoid complex in the western Nanling metallogenic belt with a surface exposure of >3000 km2.The complex pluton is composed of an early stage granitoid batholith and late stage small intrusions.The early stage batholith contains mainly medium-grained porphyritic mica granite and porphyritic monzonite granite,whereas the late stage intrusions are composed of muscovite granite porphyry and muscovite monzonitic granite.There are many W-Sn-Mo-Pb-Zn-Cu ores in the contact zone between the batholith and strata,forming an ore-rich belt around the batholith.Based on zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages,the southwestern part of the early stage batholith formed at 228.7 ± 4.1 Ma(MSWD = 2.49),with slightly earlier magmatic activity at 243.0 ± 5.8 Ma(MSWD = 2.62).The Yuntoujie muscovite granite was associated with W-Mo mineralization and has a zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age of 216.8 ± 4.9 Ma(MSWD = 1.44).The Re-Os isochron age of molybdenite from the Yuntoujie W-Mo ore was 216.8 ± 7.5 Ma(MSWD = 11.3).Our new isotope data suggest that the late stage intrusive stocks from the southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling batholith were closely associated with W-Mo mineralization from the Indosinian period.These new results together with previous isotope data,suggest that South China underwent not only the well-known Yanshanian mineralization event,but also a widespread Indosinian metallogenic event during the Mesozoic period.Therefore,South China has a greater potential for Indosinian mineralization than previously thought such that more attention should be given to the Indosinian ore prospecting in South China.     

On the genetic classification and tectonic implications of the Early Yanshanian granitoids in the Nanling Range, South China

Early Yanshanian (Jurassic) granitoids are widespread in the Nanling Range of South China, and are associated with numerous non-ferrous and rare metal mineral deposits. These granitoids consist mainly of slightly peraluminous biotite monzogranites and K-feldspar granites that are closely associated in time and space with subordinate amphibole-bearing granites and muscoviteand garnet-bearing granites. In most previous studies, the biotite-bearing granites were classified as crustal transformation-type (corresponding to the S-type) granites which were interpreted to be derived from the regional Paleoproterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks. In this paper, we re-analyze the geochemical characteristics of a number of representative Early Yanshanian Nanling granitoids. There exists a clear negative correlation between SiO2 and P2O5 for the studied granitoids. The Early Yanshanian Nanling granitoid suites (including amphibole-bearing granodiorites→biotite monzogranites→K-feldspar granites→two-mica (muscovite) granites) are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous I-type or fractionated I-type granites. They were derived predominantly from Proterozoic igneous protoliths. The juvenile crust and/or newly mantle-derived materials might also have been involved in some of these granites. In addition, the Iand fractionated I-type granites are closely associated in time and space with minor amount of A-type felsic and mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks as well as alkaline rocks. All these rocks constitute a typical assemblage of anorogenic, intraplate magmatism, suggesting a dominant lithospheric extensional regime for the Nanling Range and neighboring region during the Early Yanshanian period.     

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.     

Rutile U-Pb age for the ultrahigh pressure eclogite from the Dabie Mountains,central China: Evidence for rapid cooling

The U-Pb isotope compositions of rutile, omphacite and garnet in the eclogite from the Jinheqiao area in the Southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic zone were analyzed. The consistent high precision U-Pb age (218 ± 1.2) Ma of rutile in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains was obtained by two ways of isochron and common Pb correction based on the composition of omphacite. This proves that the omphacite in eclogite has a U/Pb ratio (m = 2.8) low enough to be used for common Pb correction in the analyses of rutile. Under the rapid cooling condition (40℃/Ma) the closure temperature for U-Pb diffusion in rutile is about 470℃. Thus, this U-Pb age of rutile proves that 218 Ma should be the cooling age of eclogite at 470℃ instead of the peak metamorphic age.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Jurassic high Sr/low Y granitoids in eastern China: Constrains on crustal thickness

The Jurassic high Sr/low Y granitoids in eastern China are characterized by high Sr/Y (27—166) and La/Yb (14—66) ratios, low abundance in Y (6—21 μg/g) and Yb (0.5—2.0 μg/g), comparable with those of adakites defined by Defant et al. Thus, they were recently considered as adakitic rocks by some researchers. Compared with the typical adakites in circum-Pacific margins, however, these high Sr/low Y granitoids have higher K₂O (-3.5%) but lower Al₂O₃ (-16.0%) as well as lower Mg^# (-38) and δ Sr_N (-1.23) values. Furthermore, they show relatively flat HREE patterns with Y/Yb values of -10 close to the chondritic value. These geochemical characteristics indicate a residue mineral assemblage of hornblende, garnet and plagioclase for these high Sr/low Y granitoids melt. Thus, they were generated by partial melting at 9—13 kbar (30—45 km in depth), similar to the Archaean high-Al TTG rather than the modern adakites. Generation of these high Sr/low Y granitoids cannot be considered as evidence for a thickened crust (>50 km) and/or the presence of the “Eastern China Plateau” in Jurassic.     

U-Pb zircon age of the foliated garnet-bearing granites in western Dabie Mountains, Central China

U-Pb zircon dating on two foliated garnet-bearing granite samples in the western Dabie ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphic unit yields concordant ages of (234±4) Ma and (227±5) Ma, respectively. These ages, following the UHP peak metamorphism, represent the magma emplacement ages for the foliated garnet-bearing granites. This, for the first time, shows that there are the Triassic granites in the Dabie Mountains. The foliated garnet-bearing granites resemble A-type granite in geochemical characteristics, indicating that they were formed in extensional geodynamic setting. The magma formation reflects a reheating event in the Dabie orogenic belt and it enhances the transfer of tectonic regime from collision into extension and promotes the rapid exhumation into lower crust for the UHP metamorphic rocks.     

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)     

Late Paleozoic magmatism in South China:Oceanic subduction or intracontinental orogeny?

A gneissic granite with an U-Pb age of 313±4 Ma was found in northeastern Fujian Province,South China.It is an S-type granite characterized by high K2O,Al2O3 and low SiO2,Na2O contents with high A/CNK ratio of 1.22 for the whole rock.Zircons with stubby morphology from the gneissic granite yield 206 Pb/238 U ages ranging from 326 to 301 Ma with a weighted average age of 313±4 Ma,and negative εHf(t) values from -8.35 to -1.74 with Hf model ages (TCDM) of 1.43 to 1.84 Ga.This S-type granite probably originated from late Paleoproterozoic crust in intracontinental orogeny.Integrated with previous results on paleogeographic reconstruction of South China,the nature of Paleozoic basins,Early Permian volcanism and U-Pb-Hf isotope of detrital zircons from the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic sedimentary rocks,we suggest the occurrence of a late Paleozoic orogeny in the eastern Cathaysia Block,South China.This orogenic cycle includes Late Carboniferous (340-310 Ma) orogeny (compression) episode and Early Permian (287-270 Ma) post-orogenic or intraplate extension episode.Therefore,the late Paleozoic magmatism in the southeastern South China probably occurred during the intraplate orogeny rather than the arc-related process.     

40Ar-39Ar thermochronology of two ductile shear zones from Yiwulüshan, West Liaoning Region: Age constraints on the Mesozoic tectonic events

Two ductile shear zones trending EW and NNE respectively not only controlled the tectonic framework of the northern North China, but also constrained the geodynamic background for gold mineralization in this region. Field observations and microstructural analyses reveal that the EW trending ductile shear zones are mainly contributed to dextral compressional deformation resulting from top-to-the-southeast oblique thrust shearing, whereas the NNE trending ones are genetically related to sinistral strike-slip and extensional faulting. One sample from the former yielded an ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau age of (219± 4) Ma (Bi) and two samples from the latter gave ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau ages of (116± 2) Ma (Bi) and (127±3) Ma (Bi). These ages provide constraints on the top-to-the-southeast oblique thrusting event occurring in Late Triassic and the sinistral extensional and strike-slip faulting event which occurred in Early Cretaceous.