Early Neoproterozoic crustal growth and microcontinent formation of the north–central Central Asian Orogenic Belt: New geological, geochronological, and Nd–Hf isotopic data on the Mélange Zone within the Zavkhan terrane, western Mongolia

Abstract In this study, new geological, geochronological, geochemical, and Nd–Hf isotopic data are presented for the Melange Zone within the Zavkhan terrane, Mongolia, and the terrane structure, early Neoproterozoic continental crust growth, and microcontinent formation in the north–central part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) are discussed. The Melange Zone separates high-grade complexes of the northwestern part of the Zavkhan terrane and unmetamorphosed Neoproterozoic Zavkhan Formation covered by Cryogenian–Cambrian shelf deposits of the southwestern part. Zone consist of a lower-grade association of basalts, basaltic andesites, rarely felsic volcanic rocks, trondhjemites of the…