TWO TYPES OF XENOLITH—MANTLE XENOLITH AND CRUSTAL XENOLITH FOUND IN THE CENOZOIC VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM HOH XIL, NORTHERN TIBET PLATEAU

It is known that large amounts of Cenozoic high potassium volcanic rocks occur on the Tibetan plateau. The question is where do those high potassium magmas come from? Since the plateau is being compressed by subduction and collision from the surrounding continents,it is a puzzle for us what is the formational environment and tectonic setting of these volcanic rocks? In particular,what is the relationship between these special rocks and formation and uplift of the plateau? We recently carried out an investigation on these Cenozoic volcanic rocks in Hoh Xil,northern Tibetan plateau,including volcanic rocks in the Jingyuhu,Xiongyingtai and Shuangquanzi areas. In the region,some older lava flows occur as thick sheets with a flat surface and weathering crust; while some relatively younger lavas remain a relict volcanic cone or vent. Most of the relict cones are small (<100m in diameter) and some are over hundred meters,distributed along faults,particular strike\|slip fault,e.g.,East Kunlun strike slip fault. Relatively,intermediate\|acid volcanic rocks are prominent,and basic\|intermediate and acid are subordinate. Petrological and geochemical results show that these volcanic rocks have many common affinities,characterized by high contents of w (K 2O)+ w (Na 2O) (about 8%),and w (K\-2O)/ w (Na\-2O)>1 or close to 1,and mostly belonged to shoshonite\|trachyte association and some to ultra\|potassic rocks. The K\|Ar dating of whole rock and mica shows that the volcanism lasts from middle Miocene (15 47Ma) to Pleistocene (0 69Ma); they are 0 69Ma,13 77Ma and 15 47Ma in Jingyuhu; 11 05Ma,12 22Ma and 12 83Ma in Xiongyingai,; 1 58Ma,2 24Ma,5 23Ma,5 85Ma,8 20Ma,8 41Ma and 10 67Ma in Shuangquanzi.Two types of xenolith and xenocryst were found in Jingyuhu and Xiongyingtai,i.e..,crustal xenolith and mantle xenocryst.

It is known that large amounts of Cenozoic high potassium volcanic rocks occur on the Tibetan plateau. The question is where do those high potassium magmas come from? Since the plateau is being compressed by subduction and collision from the surrounding continents,it is a puzzle for us what is the formational environment and tectonic setting of these volcanic rocks? In particular,what is the relationship between these special rocks and formation and uplift of the plateau? We recently carried out an investigation on these Cenozoic volcanic rocks in Hoh Xil,northern Tibetan plateau,including volcanic rocks in the Jingyuhu,Xiongyingtai and Shuangquanzi areas. In the region,some older lava flows occur as thick sheets with a flat surface and weathering crust; while some relatively younger lavas remain a relict volcanic cone or vent. Most of the relict cones are small (&lt;100m in diameter) and some are over hundred meters,distributed along faults,particular strike\|slip fault,e.g.,East Kunlun strike slip fault. Relatively,intermediate\|acid volcanic rocks are prominent,and basic\|intermediate and acid are subordinate. Petrological and geochemical results show that these volcanic rocks have many common affinities,characterized by high contents of w (K 2O)+ w (Na 2O) (about 8%),and w (K\-2O)/ w (Na\-2O)&gt;1 or close to 1,and mostly belonged to shoshonite\|trachyte association and some to ultra\|potassic rocks. The K\|Ar dating of whole rock and mica shows that the volcanism lasts from middle Miocene (15 47Ma) to Pleistocene (0 69Ma); they are 0 69Ma,13 77Ma and 15 47Ma in Jingyuhu; 11 05Ma,12 22Ma and 12 83Ma in Xiongyingai,; 1 58Ma,2 24Ma,5 23Ma,5 85Ma,8 20Ma,8 41Ma and 10 67Ma in Shuangquanzi.Two types of xenolith and xenocryst were found in Jingyuhu and Xiongyingtai,i.e..,crustal xenolith and mantle xenocryst.