New geochemical and combined zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data of orthogneisses in the northern Altyn Tagh, northern margin of the Tibetan plateau: Implication for Archean evolution of the Dunhuang Block and crust formation in NW China
Abstract Dunhuang Block is previously considered to be an eastern part of the Tarim Craton, but now it is proposed to be the western extension of the Alxa Block of the NCC as a result of displacement along the Altyn Tagh fault. The oldest basement rocks of the Dunhuang Block, named Aketashitage Complex, were mainly exposed in the northern Altyn Tagh. Migmatites of the Aketashitage Complex are sodic and subalkaline in composition. Zircon U–Pb dating of the tonalitic and monzogranitic migmatites indicates that these rocks were produced by strong deformation of earlier formed tonalites with innumerous granitic veins. The tonalitic melanosome of the migmatites was generated approximately at 2.7…
Zircon REE patterns and geochemical characteristics of Paleoproterozoic anatectic granite in the northern Tarim Craton, NW China: Implications for the reconstruction of the Columbia supercontinent
Abstract Because Archean basement rocks are sparsely distributed around the Tarim Basin, little is known of the relationship between the Tarim Craton and the Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent. Zircon U–Pb dating of a Paleoproterozoic gneissic granite in the northern Tarim Craton yielded a crystallization age of 1915 ± 13 Ma, consistent with global Paleoproterozoic collisional events (ca. 2.1–1.8 Ga) recorded in most cratons. Despite the fact that some zircons display discordant U–Pb ages with a distinct loss of radiogenetic Pb, all grains have similar 176Lu/177Hf and 176Hf/177Hf(t) values. Zircons from this granite have high Th/U ratios (0.15–0.95), but contrasting rare eart…
Reworking of the Tarim Craton by underplating of mantle plume-derived magmas: Evidence from Neoproterozoic granitoids in the Kuluketage area, NW China
Abstract Most Neoproterozoic granitoids in the Kuluketage area, northern Tarim Craton are characterized by strongly depleted HREE abundances and high Sr/Y and (La/Yb) N ratios, showing typical geochemical features of adakitic rocks. Zircon U–Pb dating of three adakitic plutons yielded Neoproterozoic ages (754 ± 4, 790 ± 3 and 798 ± 3 Ma). The adakitic granitoids exhibit low MgO and TiO 2 contents. Their low Cr, Co and Ni abundances, low ɛ Hf ( t ) values (−21 to −11) and high FeO T /MgO ratios (mostly 2.2–2.9) preclude the possibility of being derived from partial melts of delaminated lower crust. The relatively low ɛ Hf ( t ) values and old Hf two-stage model ages ( T DM 2 = 2 . 42 – 3 .0 …
Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes of early Paleozoic plutons in the northwestern Chinese Tianshan: Petrogenesis and geological implications
Abstract The northwestern Chinese Tianshan is a key part of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Voluminous arc-related igneous rocks in this region have recorded the opening and closure of several oceanic basins that may represent southern branches of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. We have conducted geochemical, geochronological and Hf-in-zircon isotopic studies on mafic and felsic intrusive rocks in the northwestern Chinese Tianshan to provide important clues for the evolution of the Junggar Ocean and to understand the early Paleozoic crustal growth in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The mafic plutons are composed of metagabbro (453.8 ± 2.0 Ma) and fine-grained diorite (461.1 ± 2.0 Ma). The…
Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic study of gneissic rocks from the Chinese Altai: Progressive accretionary history in the early to middle Palaeozoic
Abstract Gneissic rocks in the Chinese Altai Mountains have been interpreted as either Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks or Precambrian basement. This study reports geochemical and geochronological data for banded paragneisses and associated gneissic granitoids collected along a NE–SW traverse in the northwestern Chinese Altai. Petrological and geochemical data suggest that the protoliths of the banded gneisses were possibly immature sediments with significant volcanic input and that the gneissic granitoids were derived from I-type granites formed in a subduction environment. Three types of morphological features can be recognized in zircons from the banded gneisses and are interpreted to cor…
The high-grade Tseel Terrane in SW Mongolia: An Early Paleozoic arc system or a Precambrian sliver?
Abstract The high-grade metamorphic Tseel Terrane in southwestern Mongolia is dominated by a strongly deformed sequence of migmatitic gneisses which has previously been interpreted as an early Precambrian continental sliver. However, the protolith age and timing of high-grade metamorphism remain poorly constrained. To resolve this problem, high-grade gneisses selected from the western Tseel Terrane were dated in the present study. Zircons with oscillatory zoning from three paragneisses predominantly yielded early Paleozoic ages between 450 and 550 Ma, with prominent peaks at 471 and 506 Ma. U–Pb dating of zircons from a granitic gneiss revealed that the protolith was emplaced at 420 Ma. Zir…
Whole-rock Nd–Hf isotopic study of I-type and peraluminous granitic rocks from the Chinese Altai: Constraints on the nature of the lower crust and tectonic setting
Abstract The nature of the lower crust and tectonic setting of the Chinese Altai in the early to middle Paleozoic are still hotly debated. Decoupling between zircon Hf and whole-rock Nd isotopic systems for granites results in different interpretations for the above issues. In order to solve the problem, whole-rock Nd–Hf isotopic analyses were conducted on representative early to middle Paleozoic I-type granite and strongly peraluminous granites and rhyolites from the Chinese Altai. The I-type granites show metaluminous to weakly peraluminous feature and have eNd(t) values ranging from − 2.2 to + 0.8 and eHf(t) from + 3.9 to + 12.9, respectively. The strongly peraluminous granites and rhyol…