Geochemistry, Zircon U–Pb Dating and Hf Isotopic Characteristics of Neoproterozoic Granitoids in the Yaganbuyang Area, Altyn Tagh, NW China

The South Altyn continental block is an important geological unit of the Altyn Tagh orogenic belt, in which numerous Neoproterozoic granitoids crop out. Granitoids are mainly located in the Paxialayidang-Yaganbuyang area and can provide indispensable information on the dynamics of Rodinia supercontinent aggregation during the Neoproterozoic. Therefore, the study of granitoids can help us understand the formation and evolutionary history of the Altyn Tagh orogenic belt. In this work, we investigated the Yaganbuyang granitic pluton through petrography, geochemistry, zircon U-Pb chronology, and Hf isotope approaches. We obtained the following conclusions： （1） Yaganbuyang granitoids mainly consist of two-mica granite and granodiorite. Geochemical data suggested that these granitoids are peraluminous calc-alkaline or high-K calc-alkaline granite types. Zircon U-Pb data yielded ages of 939~7.1 Ma for granodiorite and ~954 Ma for granitoids, respectively. （2） The ~Hf（t） values of two--mica granite and granodiorite are in the range of-3.93 to ＋5.30 and -8.64 to ＋5.19, respectively. The Hf model ages （TDM2） of two-mica granite and granodiorite range from 1.59-.05 Ga and 1.62-2.35 Ga, respectively, indicating that the parental magma of these materials is derived from ancient crust with a portion of juvenUe crust. （3） Granitoids formed in a collisional orogen setting, which may be a response to Rodinia supercontinent convergence during the Neoproterozoic.

Zircon U-Pb age, Trace Element, and Hf Isotopic Compositions of Nordmarkite in the Lizhuang Rare Earth Element Deposit in the Western Margin of the Yangtze Block

The Mianning-Dechang （MD） rare earth element （REE） belt, located in the northern Kangdian axis （KDA） in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, is one of the most economically significant REE mineral belts in China. REE mineralization is associated with Himalayan carbonatite- alkaline complexes. The Lizhuang nordmarkite occurred in the northern part of the MD REE belt. The majority of zircons from the Lizhuang nordmarkite are characterized by pronounced positive Ce yet slightly negative Eu anomalies and high U/Yb. Moreover, all zircons have stable Hf isotopic compositions with initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios ranging from 0.282739 to 0.282808 and an average value of 0.282773. The negative Lu/Hf and positive till（t） range from -0.98 to -0.94 （average value of -0.96） and from -0.56 to 1.89 （the majority is positive, with an average of 0.66）, respectively. These characteristics indicate that the rock is derived from an enriched mantle and subducted material. LA-ICP-MS analysis of the zircons from the intrusion yields a weighted mean 2~6pb/23SU age of 28.57~0.61Ma. During this period, the tectonic activity in the KDA is not plate subduction but an intraplate tectonic exhibiting fold-thrust and strike-slip behaviors in the western marginal zone of the Yangtze platform （WMYB）. We suggest the possibility of an existing eastward old slab subduction under WMYB combined with a regional tectonic evolution. The Lizhuang nordmarkite may be derived from an enriched mantle beneath the western part of the Yangtze craton, which originated from the remelting of the Tethys subducting slab, because of the Himalayan strike-slip that formed a special type of REE deposit called strike-slip-type REE deposits.