Petrogenesis of Middle-Eocene granitoids and their Mafic microgranular enclaves in central Urmia-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc(Iran): Evidence for interaction between felsic and mafic magmas

Whole rock major and trace element geochemistry together with zircon U-Pb ages and Sr-Nd isotope compositions for the Middle Eocene intrusive rocks in the Haji Abad region are presented. The granitoid hosts, including granodiorite and diorite, yielded zircon U-Pb ages with a weighted mean value of 40.0 ± 0.7 Ma for the granodiorite phase. Mafic microgranular enclaves(MMEs) are common in these plutons, and have relatively low SiO_2 contents(53.04-57.08 wt.%) and high Mg#(42.6-60.1), probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin. The host rocks are metaluminous(A/CNK = 0.69-1.03), arc-related calc-alkaline, and I-type in composition, possessing higher SiO_2 contents(59.7-66.77 wt.%) and lower Mg#(38.6-52.2); they are considered a product of partial melting of the mafic lower crust. Chondritenormalized REE patterns of the MMEs and granitoid hosts are characterized by LREE enrichment and show slight negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu* = 0.60-0.93). The host granodiorite samples yield(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr);ratios ranging from 0.70498 to 0.70591,positive eNd(t) values varying from +0.21 to +2.3, and TDM2 ranging from 760 to 909 Ma, which is consistent with that of associated mafic microgranular enclaves(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)i = 0.705111-0.705113, ε_(Nd)(t)= +2.14 to +2.16, T_(DM2) = 697-785 Ma). Petrographic and geochemical characterization together with bulk rock Nd-Sr isotopic data suggest that host rocks and associated enclaves originated by interaction between basaltic lower crust-derived felsic and mantlederived mafic magmas in an active continental margin arc environment.

A PETROLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF THE KOHISTAN MAGMATIC ARC, NW HIMALAYA, N. PAKISTAN

The Kohistan Terrane in N. Pakistan occupies the suture zone between the collided Indian and Asian plates [1] . It formed primarily as an intra\|oceanic island\|arc crust between 125 and 90Ma prior to its accretion with the Asian plate along the Shyok suture. The final obduction of Kohistan onto the Indian plate in Early Eocene ensued the principal phase of the Himalayan orogeny.A two\|fold subdivision of the rocks forming the Kohistan crust is now well established [2] . Much of the ultramafic\|mafic component of the arc crust developed in the intraoceanic setting prior to collision with Asia. Mafic\|ultramafic plutonic complexes (Jijal and Sapat), together with gabbroic\|basaltic amphibolites (Kamila belt), at the base of the arc crust, and basaltic\|boninitic volcanics (the Chalt Formation) and Jaglot\|Yasin metasediments, in the upper arc crust are representative lithologies of this tectonic setting. Post Shyok suture lithologies include ca.80～45Ma Kohistan Batholith, Early Eocene Utror\|Shamaran volcanics and sedimentary rocks deposited in Early Eocene Dir and Drosh basins in Andean\|type setting. The Chilas gabbronorite\|ultramafic complex was magmatically emplaced in the waning stages of the intraoceanic phase but preceded the onset of the Andean\|type magmatism.

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Volcanic Rocks in the Yeba Formation on the Gangdise Magmatic Arc, Tibet

The Early Jurassic bimodal volcanic rocks in the Yeba Formation, situated between Lhasa, Dagze and Maizhokunggar, composed of metabasalt, basaltic ignimbrite, dacite, silicic tuff and volcanic breccia, are an important volcanic suite for the study of the tectonic evolution of the Gangdise magmatic arc and the Mesozoic Tethys. Based on systematic field investigations, we carried out geochemical studies on representative rock samples. Major and trace element compositions were analyzed for these rock samples by XRF and ICP-MS respectively, and an isotope analysis of Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd was carried out by a MAT 262 mass spectrograph. The results show that the SiO2 contents in lava rocks are 41 %-50.4% and 64 % -69 %, belonging to calc-alkaline basalt and dacite. One notable feature of the basalt is its low TiO2 content, 0.66%-1.01%, much lower than those of continental tholeiite. The ∑REE contents of basalt and dacite are 60.3-135 μg/g and 126, 4--167.9μg/ g respectively. Both rocks have similar REE and other trace element characteristics, with enriched LREE and LILE relative to HREE and HFS, similar REE patterns without Eu anomaly. The basalts have depleted Ti, Ta and Nb and slightly negative Nb and Ta anomalies, with Nb = 0.54--1.17 averaging 0. 84. The dacites have depleted P and Ti and also slightly negative Nb and Ta anomalies, with Nb= 0. 74 -1. 06 averaging 0. 86. Major and trace elemental and isotopic studies suggest that both basalt and dacite originated from the partial melting of the mantle wedge at different degrees above the subduction zone. The spinal Iherzolite in the upper mantle is likely to be their source rocks, which might have been affected by the selective metasomatism of fluids with crustal geochemistry. The LILE contents of both rocks were affected by metamorphism at later stages. The Yeba bimodal volcanic rocks formed in a temporal extensional situation in a mature island arc resulting from the Indosinian Gangdise magmatic arc.

Geochemistry of island arc assemblage in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and the role of Pan-African magmatism in crustal growth of the Arabian–Nubian Shield:A review

Neoproterozoic island arc assemblage of the Arabian–Nubian Shield(ANS)in the Eastern Desert(ED)of Egypt comprises juvenile suites of metavolcanics(MV),large amounts of meta-sedimentary rocks(MS),and voluminous metagabbros-diorites(MGD)and syn-tectonic intrusions of older granitoids(OG).We report here the updates of these four rock units in terms of classification,distribution,chemical characteristics,geodynamic evolution,metamorphism,and ages.In addition,we discuss these integrated data to elucidate a reasonable and reliable model for crustal evolution in the ANS.The main features of these rock units indicate their relation to each other and the geodynamic environment dominated by early immature oceanic island arcs to primitive continental arcs.Integrated information of the island arc metavolcanic and plutonic rocks(gabbros,diorites,tonalites,and granodiorites)furnish evidence of the genetic relationships.These include proximity and a coeval nature in the field;all protolith magmas are subalkaline in nature following calc-alkaline series with minor tholeiitic affinities;common geochemical signature of the arc rocks and subduction-related magmatism;their similar enrichment in LREEs;and similar major element compositions with mafic melts derived from metasomatized mantle wedge.The volcano-sedimentary and the OG rocks underwent multiphase deformation events whereas the MGD complexes deformed slightly.Based on the magmatic,sedimentological,and metamorphic evolutions constrained by geochronological data as well as the progressive evolutionary trend from extensional to compressional regimes,a possible gradual decrease in the subducted slab dip angle is the most infl uential in any geodynamic model for arc assemblage in the ED of Egypt.

Constraints on early Paleozoic magmatic processes and tectonic setting of Inexpressible Island, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

During the Cambrian and Ordovician, widespread magmatic activity occurred in the Ross Orogen of central Antarctica, forming the Granite Harbor Intrusives and Terra Nova Intrusive Complex. In the Terra Nova Intrusive Complex, the latest magmatic activity comprised the emplacement of the Abbott Unit(508 Ma) and the Vegetation Unit(～475 Ma), which were formed in different tectonic settings. Owing to their similar lithological features, the tectonic transformation that occurred between the formation of these two units has not been well studied. Through a detailed geological field investigation and geochemical and geochronological analyses, four types of magmatic rock—basalt, syenite, mafic veins, and granite veins—were identified on Inexpressible Island, Northern Victoria Land. Our SHRIMP(Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe) zircon U–Pb ages of the basalt and the granite veins are 504.7 ± 3.1 and 495.5 ± 4.9 Ma, respectively. Major-and trace-element data indicate a continental-margin island-arc setting for the formation of these two rock types. The zircon U–Pb ages of the syenite and the monzodiorite veins are 485.8 ± 5.7 and 478.5 ± 4.0 Ma, respectively. Major-and trace-element compositions suggest a collisional setting for the former and an intracontinental extensional setting for the latter. These results elucidate the evolution from subduction to collision and intracontinental extension in Northern Victoria Land during the 20 Ma spanning the late Cambrian–Early Ordovician and improve our understanding of the tectonics and evolution of the Ross Orogen in the Transantarctic Mountains.

Geochemistry and Genesis of Iron-apatite Ore in the Khanlogh Deposit,Eastern Cenozoic Quchan-Sabzevar Magmatic Arc,NE Iran

The Khanlogh deposit in the Cenozoic Quchan-Sabzevar magmatic belt, NE Iran, is hosted by Oligocene granodioritic rock. The Khanlogh intrusive body is I-type granitoid of the calc-alkaline series. The orebodies are vein, veinlet, massive, and breccia in shape and occur along the fault zones and fractures within the host rock. Ore minerals dominantly comprise magnetite and apatite associated with epidote, clinopyroxene, calcite, quartz, and chlorite. Apatites of the Khanlogh deposit have a high concentration of REE, and show a strong LREE/HREE ratio with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly. Magnetites have a high concentration of REE and show weak to moderate LREE/HREE fractionation. They are comparable to the REE patterns in Kiruna-type iron ores and show an affinity to calc-alkaline magmas. The Khanlogh deposit is similar in the aspects of host rock lithology, alteration, mineralogy, and mineral chemistry to the Kiruna-type deposits. Field observations, hydrothermal alteration halos, style of mineralization, and the geochemical characteristics of apatite, magnetite, and host rock indicate that these magnetite veins have hydrothermal origin similar to Cenozoic Kiruna-type deposits within the Tarom subzone, NW Iran, and are not related to silica-iron oxide immiscibility, as are the major Precambrian magnetite deposits in central Iran.

Arc magmatism as a window to plate kinematics and subduction polarity:Example from the eastern Pontides belt,NE Turkey

The Eastern Pontides orogenic belt in the Black Sea region of Turkey offers a critical window to plate kinematics and subduction polarity during the closure of the Paleotethys. Here we provide a brief synthesis on recent information from this belt. We infer a southward subduction for the origin of the Eastern Pontides orogenic belt and its associated late Mesozoic--Cenozoic magmatism based on clear spatial and temporal variations in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic arc magmatism, together with the exis- tence of a prominent south-dipping reverse fault system along the entire southern coast of the Black Sea. Our model is at variance with some recent proposals favoring a northward subduction polarity, and illus- trates the importance of arc magmatism in evaluating the geodynamic milieu associated with convergent margin orocesses.

Geochemistry of an Alaskan-type mafic-ultramafic complex in Eastern Desert, Egypt:New insights and constraints on the Neoproterozoic island arc magmatism

Mikbi intrusion(MI) is a part of the Neoproterozoic Nubian Shield located along the NE-SW trending major fracture zones prevailing southern Eastern Desert of Egypt. In this study, we present for the first time detailed mineralogical and bulk-rock geochemical data to infer some constraints on the parental magma genesis and to understand the tectonic processes contributed to MI formation. Lithologically, it is composed of fresh peridotite, clinopyroxenite, hornblendite, anorthosite, gabbronorite, pyroxene amphibole gabbro, amphibole gabbro and diorite. All rocks have low Th/La ratios(mostly <0.2) and lack positive Zr and Th anomalies excluding significant crustal contamination. They show very low concentrations of Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf together with sub-chondritic ratios of Nb/Ta(2-15) and Zr/Hf(19-35),suggesting that their mantle source was depleted by earlier melting extraction event. The oxygen fugacity(logfO_2) estimated from diorite biotite is around the nickel-nickel oxide buffer(NNO) indicating crystallization from a relatively oxidized magma. Amphiboles in the studied mafic-ultramafic rocks indicate relative oxygen fugacity(i.e. ΔNNO; nickel-nickel oxide) of 0.28-3 and were in equilibrium mostly with 3.77-8.24 wt.% H_2 O_(melt)(i.e. water content in the melt), consistent with the typical values of subduction-related magmas. Moreover, pressure estimates(0.53-6.79 kbar) indicate polybaric crystallization and suggest that the magma chamber(s) was located at relatively shallow crustal levels. The enrichment in LILE(e.g., Cs, Ba, K and Sr) and the depletion in HFSE(e.g., Th and Nb) relative to primitive mantle are consistent with island arc signature. The olivine, pyroxene and amphibole compositions also reflect arc affinity. These inferences suggest that their primary magma was derived from partial melting of a mantle source that formerly metasomatized in a subduction zone setting. Clinopyroxene and bulkrock data are consistent with orogenic tholeiitic affinity. Consequently, the mineral and bulk-rock chemistry strongly indicate crystallization from hydrous tholeiitic magma. Moreover, their trace element patterns are subparallel indicating that the various rock types possibly result from differentiation of the same primary magma. These petrological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics show that the MI is a typical Alaskan-type complex.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Significance of the Xiuwacu Two-Period Magmatism in Geza Arc of Yunnan Province： Constraints from Lithogeochemistry, Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Hf isotopic Compositions

Objective The Late Cretaceous Xiuwacu ore-bearing porphyry is located in the Geza area of southern Yidun arc, SW China. In this area, the rock mass is mainly composed of three lithofacies： biotite granite porphyry, monzonitic granite and light alkali feldspar granite. As a part of the Yidun arc, the Geza arc has common structure and temporal- spatial evolution with the ~idun arc, which has experienced three stages of oceanic crust subduction, collision orogeny and intracontinent convergence stages. The molybdenite ores in the area are mainly hosted in monzonitic granite-porphyry and structural fracture zone, and the ore bodies are strictly controlled by faults. In recent years, great geological prospecting results have been achieved in Xiuwacu, and the deposit has reached a medium scale. However, there are few researches on the metallogenic porphyry. Based on the previous research, we determined the rock-forming and ore-forming age of the porphyry, and found that there were two stages of magmatism intrusion in Xiuwacu： Indosinian and Yanshanian. We also discussed the geochemical characteristics and source area of the rocks in the area.

The Late Cretaceous Crustal Magmatism of the Geza Arc Metallogenic Belt in Yunnan Province,and Zircon Ages and Hf Isotopic Evidence of the Porphyry Cu-Mo Mineralization

Objective The Geza arc in Yunnan Province,located in the southern Yidun arc,is an important part of the Sanjiang tectonic-magmatic belts in southwestern China and is a newly discovered copper polymetallic ore-concentrating district.Recent studies show that the newly discovered Yanshanian porphyry Cu-Mo polymetallic mineralization superimposed in the Indosinian porphyry copper belt in this area.

Crystallization Conditions and Mineral Chemistry in the East of Tafresh, Central Iran, with Insights into Magmatic Processes

The Tafresh granitoids are located at the central part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc(UDMA)in Iran.These rocks,mainly consisting of diorite and granodiorite,were emplaced during the Early Miocene.They are composed of varying proportions of plagioclase+K-feldspar+hornblende±quartz±biotite.Discrimination diagrams and chemical indices of amphibole phases reveal a calc-alkaline affinity and fall clearly in the crust-mantle mixed source field.The estimated pressure,derived from Al in amphibole barometry,is approximately 3 Kb.The granitoids are I-type,metaluminous and belong to the calc-alkaline series.They are all enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements,depleted in high field strength elements and display geochemical features typical of subduction-related calc-alkaline arc magmas.Most crystal size distribution(CSD)line patterns from the granitoids show a non-straight trend which points to the effect of physical processes during petrogenesis.The presence of numerous mafic enclaves,sieve texture and oscillatory zoning along with the CSD results show that magma mixing in the magma chamber had an important role in the petrogenesis of Tafresh granitoids.Moreover,the CSD analysis suggests that the plagioclase crystals were crystallized in a time span of less than 1000 years,which is indicative of shallow depth magma crystallization.

Control of subduction rate on Tonga-Kermadec arc magmatism

Dehydration/melting of oceanic crusts during returning to the mantle in subduction zones are related to origin of arc lavas. The factors that influence arc magmatism include compositions of the subducting slabs, mantle wedge and subduction rates. However, distinguishing these factors remains difficult and highly debated. Subducting rate is related to the total mass of inputs and controls thermal structure, thus plays a crucial role in arc magmatism. Here we explore the relationships between geochemical variations of arc lavas and convergence rates(increasing from 46 mm/a to the south to 83 mm/a to the northward) in the Tonga-Kermadec arc system. Data of geochemistry for lava samples from nine islands of this arc system are collected and compiled to investigate the role of subduction rate in arc magmatism. Lavas from the northern Tonga arc with a faster subduction rate show broadly lower concentrations of TiO_2 and highfield-strength elements(HFSEs, e.g. Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf), and higher Ba/Th, U/Th ratios than the Kermadec Arc to the south. Some of the Kermadec lavas show the highest values of Th/Nb ratio. We suggest that the northern Tonga arc with a higher subduction rate has been influenced by a stronger role of subductionreleased fluid, which results in stronger large-ion-lithophile elements(LILEs) and relatively weaker HFSEs contribution. It is interpreted that faster subduction rate tend to create a cooler subduction zone, leading to stronger dehydration subduction slab contribution with, thus, higher LILE/HFSE ratios of arc lavas. The conclusion contributes to a better understanding of arc magmatism, and ultimately the long-term chemical differentiation of the Earth. More supplementary geochemical data along Tonga-Kermadec arc and tests in other arcs are needed.

Magmatism-Related Thermal Simulation of Volcanic Arcs in the Molucca Sea Bidirectional Subduction System

The bidirectional subduction system,island arc magmatic activities,and thermal structure of the forearc basin in the Molucca Sea are taken into consideration in this study.The active volcanic arcs on both sides of the bidirectional subduction zone in the Molucca Sea are undergoing arc-arc collisions.We applied a finite element thermal simulation method to reconstruct the thermal evolution history of the Molucca Sea Plate based on geophysical data.Then,we analyzed the thermodynamic characteristics of island arc volcanism on both sides of the bidirectional subduction zone.The results showed that at 10Myr,the oceanic ridge of the Molucca Sea Plate was asymmetrically biased to the west,causing this bidirectional subduction to be deeper in the west than in the east.Furthermore,the oceanic ridge subducted under the Sangihe arc at 5.5Myr,causing intermittent cessation of volcanic activities.Due to the convergence of bidirectional subduction,the geothermal gradient in the top 3km depth of the forearc area between the Sangihe and Halmahera arcs decreased from about 60℃km^(−1) at 4Myr to about 38℃km^(−1) today.Finally,within the 45–100 km depth range of the sliding surface of the subduction,anomalously high-temperature zones formed due to shear friction during the bidirectional subduction.

Sesam, toward a Mature Magmatic Arc Sourced from Tholeiitic Volcanisms and Calc-Alkaline Volcanoplutonism within Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier, South-East Senegal/West Africa

The Paleoproterozoic terrains of Kedougou Inlier have an overall architecture formed of greenstones and sedimentary basins. Most of the work done on these Birimian formations has focused on either belts or basins, or even briefly on both, but more rarely on the transition zones between belts and Paleoproterozoic basins. Our study focuses on the lithostructural framework of the Mako-Diale transition zone located within the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier. Its objective is to redefine the existing architecture. Geophysical, petrographic, structural and geochemical results from lithostructural domains allowed to building a new architecture based on three major lithostructural domains evolving into tectonomagmatic complexes associated with three shear zones corresponding to Western shear-contact (CiscoW) represented by Sabodala sinistral mylonitic shear (SSZ), to Median sinistral ductile then brittle shear-contact (CiscoM) and to Eastern dextral brittle-ductile shear-contact (CiscoE) corresponding to the Main transcurrent shear (MTZ). Tectonomagmatic complexes are represented by Maco oceanic crust, Sesam arc and Diale back-arc basin. The opening of Diale basin is related to CiscoM. Its closure set along the Faleme shear-contact (CiscoF) located beyong CiscoE. The tectonic evolution of the Eburnian orogeny within Kedougou-Kenieba inlier highlights four (4) deformations phases: CiscoW, CiscoM, CiscoE and CiscoF respectively running for D1, D2, D3 et D4. Such CiscoW along Sabodala, Sofia deposits and CiscoE along Massawa deposit, CiscoM and CiscoF stand as potential host structures for futures Kedougou inlier gold deposits. Furthermore, large plutonic masses within Mako-Diale transition zone belong all to three (3) distinct magmatic sources: Koulountou granodiorite, Koulountou and Tinkoto granites are sourced from high-K mafic rocks;Tiguida granite and Diabba granodiorite from low-K mafic rocks, while Dioudioukounkou granite belongs to tonalite source. The Sesam arc is located along the shear corridor defined between sinistral CiscoW and sinistral CiscoM. The main lithologies consist of volcanics (andesitic breccias or agglomerates, andesitic tuffs) reworked by Tiguida and Koulountou garnet granitoids. Magmatism is marked by MORBs tholeiites associated with arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline series: tholeiites3 with MORBs affinity, tholeiites4 with MORBs affinity, arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline2 series associated with island arc. Tholeiites are associated to metaluminous, syncollisional Koulountou garnet granite and peraluminous post-collisional Tiguida garnet granite. Overall, the geodynamic evolution of the Kedougou Kenieba inlier could be linked to the single magmatic event associated with tectonomagmatic episodes. At the end of CiscoM, tectonics would have favoured the distension phase leading to the initiation of Diale back-arc basin. The plutonics and volcanics in the context of the arc must have been locally uplifted and eroded to fill Diale basin from D2 to D4 phases.

Cretaceous magmatic arc in Hainan and the peri-South China Sea asevidenced by geochemical fingerprinting of granitoids in the region

Mesozoic magmatic rocks occur widely in the South China Block and are generally interpreted as the manifestations of the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic lithosphere beneath Asia.Subductiondriven magmatism in southeast(SE)China continued from the Late Permian through the Late Cretaceous with an inferred lull between 125 Ma and 115 Ma that is known in the literature as the Cretaceous"magmatic quiescence".We report in-situ zircon U-Pb ages,Hf-O and whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopes,and whole-rock geochemistry of Cretaceous granitoids on Hainan Island and discuss their magmatic evolution within the framework of the Late Mesozoic geodynamics of SE China.We recognize two main stages of the emplacement of Cretaceous granitoids on Hainan,first around 120 Ma and then around 100-95 Ma,displaying high-K calc-alkaline,I-type geochemical affinities.Granites in both age groups are enriched in LILE and LREE,but depleted in Nb,Ta,Ba,Sr,and Eu.The 120 Ma granites have zircon ε_(Hf)(t)values of-2.6 to 2.3 corresponding to Hf crustal model ages,ranging from 0.79 Ga to 1.03 Ga,and δ^(18)O values ranging from 6.9‰to 7.7‰.Zircons from 100-95 Ma granites have ε_(Hf)(t)values of-4.2 to 1.1 corresponding to Hf crustal model ages of 1.08 Ga to 1.42 Ga,and δ^(18)O values ranging from 6.7‰to 8.4‰.Increasing ε_(Hf)(t)values of the Cretaceous Hainan granites with younger crystallization ages indicate addition of more juvenile components and reworking of crustal material into their melt evolution.The ε_(Nd)(t)values of the 120 Ma and 100-95 Ma granitoids range between-4.1 to-0.4 and-7.7 to-4.0,respectively.The calculated two-stage model age of the 100-95 Ma granitoids clusters between 1.25 Ga and 1.53 Ga.These isotopic data suggest that magmas of the Cretaceous granitoids were produced by partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metabasaltic rocks,which make up much of the crystalline basement of the southern Cathaysia block.The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the Cretaceous granitoids on Hainan resemble those of magmatic arcs in the Circum-Pacific orogenic belts and identical to those of nearly coeval granitoid intrusions in the continental fragments within the South China Sea basin.We interpret these Cretaceous granitoids in the Peri-South China Sea region as the remnants of a once contiguous Late Mesozoic magmatic arc system that bounded the southern margin of the entire continental Southeast Asia.Our findings do not support the existence of an episode of magmatic quiescence in the geological record of SE China during the Aptian.

Mesoproterozoic Continental Arc Type Granite in the Central Tianshan Mountains:Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating and Geochemical Analyses

The Central Tianshan belt in northwestern China is a small Precambrian block located in the southern part of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt （CAOB）, which is considered as ＂the most voluminous block of young continental crust in the world＂ that comprises numerous small continental blocks separated by Paleozoic magmatic arcs. The Precambrian basement of the central Tianshan Mountains is composed of volcanic rocks and associated volcano-sedimentary rocks that were intruded by granitic plutons. Geochemical analyses demonstrate that the granitic plutons and volcanic rocks were generated in the Andean-type active continental arc environment like today＇s Chile, and the zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating indicates that they were developed at about 956 Ma, possibly corresponding to the subduction of the inferred Mozambique Ocean under the Baltic-African super-continent.

Discovery of the Early Paleozoic Boin Sum-Ordor Sum Island Arc in the Hadamiao Gold Ore District, Inner Mongolia and its Significance to the Evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

Early Paleozoic granodiorite has been identified on the northern margin of the North China craton in the east section of the central-Asian orogenic belt, which was previously known as early Indosinian in age. By using the LA-ICP-MS method, the obtained zircon U-Pb age is 445.6 2.7 Ma, which represents the crystallization age of the granodiorite. The granodiorite near the east of the large-sized Bilihe gold deposit is of the tholeiite series with low potassium. It is quasi-aluminous I-type granite, enriched in sodium （Na2 O/K2O=7.29 9.77） and magnesium （Mg # =0.51 0.67）. The ΣREE value is relatively low, obvious differentiation is shown between LREE and HREE and within LREE, and the Eu anomaly is low and negative （δEu=0.74 0.91）. In the primitive-mantle normalized spider diagrams of trace elements, the granodiorite is relatively rich in LREE and LILE （Ba, Sr, Th）, and strongly depleted in HFSE （Nb, Ta, Ti and P）, which shows features of subduction zone components （SZC）. In the discrimination diagrams of tectonic settings of granite for Rb vs. （Nb＋Y）, Rb vs. （Ya＋Ta）, La/Nb vs. Ba/Nb and Th/Nb vs. Ba/Nb, the granodiorite exhibits typical features of island arc granite. The normalized values of K and Rb are extremely low, while the values of Sr and Eu are very high, which are similar to those of island arc magma that has undergone metasomatism of fluid from the oceanic crust. The granodiorite is relatively depleted in ε Hf （t） （5.1 7.1） and low in ε Hf （t） model ages （1089 921 Ma）. In the ε Hf （t） vs. age （T） diagram, the distribution area of the granodiorite is accordant with the field of the Xing’anling-Mongolia orogenic belt, which indicates that the magmatic sources are mainly the mixture of partial melting of wedged mantle subjected to metasomatism of fluid from the oceanic crust and young substance from the crust. The granodiorite is similar to the felsic arc magma in the Damao Banner, Bate Obon, Boin Sum and Ordor Sum regions, and they altogether constitute an early Paleozoic accretionary island arc magmatic belt on the northern margin of the North China craton. A number of early Paleozoic zircons trapped in late Paleozoic intrusions in the Hadamiao and Bilihe regions and the discovery of the early Paleozoic island arc magmatic belt near the east of the Bilihe gold deposit suggest that the late Paleozoic volcanic-intrusive rocks have a basement of early Paleozoic arc accretionary complexes. This is just the evident of the multiphase subduction and accretion model of the Paleo-Asian Ocean （PAO）. Paleozoic structures and magmas on the northern margin of the North China craton are shown from south to north as the late Paleozoic Andes-type arc magmatic belt in the Inner Mongolia plateau, the Chifeng-Bayan Obo fault and the late and early Paleozoic arc magmatic belt, which shows that after the early Paleozoic arc-continent collisional orogeny and at the stage of the late Paleozoic accretionary orogeny, the PAO plate was likely to continuously pulsate and underthrust beneath the early Paleozoic island arc accretionary complex belt and its front, i.e. the North China craton. During the early Paleozoic collisional orogeny, the PAO plate might not experience large-scale breakup or delamination. The characteristics of the early Paleozoic island arc accretionary complex basement have a significant control on late Paleozoic diagenesis and metallization in the Hadamiao and Bilihe gold concentrated areas.

Geochemistry and Zircon U-Pb Dates of Felsic-Intermediate Members of the Late Cretaceous Yüksekova Arc Basin: Constraints on the Evolution of the Bitlis–Zagros Branch of Neotethys(Elazig, E Turkey)

During the Late Cretaceous in the Eastern Mediterranean, the northern branch of the southern Neotethys was closed by multiple northward subductions. Of these, the most northerly located subduction created the Baskil continental arc at around 82–84 Ma. The more southerly and intra-oceanic subduction, on the other hand, produced an arc-basin system,the Yüksekova Complex, as early as the late Cenomanian–early Turonian. The abundant and relatively well-studied basaltic rocks of this complex were intruded by dykes, sills and small stocks of felsic–intermediate rocks, not previously studied in detail. The intrusives collected from five different localities in the Elazig region of eastern Turkey are all subalkaline, with low Nb/Y values. Most of them have been chemically classified as rhyodacites/dacites, whereas a small number appear to be andesites. In normal mid-ocean-ridge basalt(N-MORB)-normalised plots, the intrusives are characterised by relative enrichments in Th and La over Nb, Zr, Hf, Ti and high field strength elements(HREEs), indicating their derivation from a subduction-modified source. While their relatively high, positive εN d(i) values(+6.4 and +7.2) might suggest a depleted mantle source for their ultimate origin, somewhat radiogenic Pb values indicate a sedimentary contribution to the source of the rocks. The overall geochemical characteristics indicate their generation in an oceanic arc setting. The zircon U-Pb Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) data obtained from five felsic-intermediate rock samples yielded intrusion dates of 80–88 Ma. This suggests that the Elazig oceanic arc-related intrusives are slightly younger than those of the Yüksekova arc-basin system, but coeval with the Baskil continental arc. However, the felsic–intermediate intrusives show different geochemical characteristics(oceanic arc-type, with a lack of crustal contamination)to those of the Baskil continental arc. This indicates that these two igneous systems are unrelated and likely developed in different tectonic settings. This, in turn, supports a geodynamic model in which the northern strand of the southern Neotethys was consumed by multiple northward subductions.

The Eocene corundum-bearing rocks in the Gangdese arc, south Tibet:Implications for tectonic evolution of the Himalayan orogen

The genesis of Liangguo corundum deposit in the southern Gangdese magmatic arc, east-central Himalaya, remains unknown. The present study shows that the corundum-bearing rocks occur as lenses with variable sizes in the Eocene gabbro that intruded into marble. These corundum-bearing rocks have highly variable mineral assemblage and mode. The corundum-rich rocks are characterized by containing abundant corundum, and minor spinel, ilmenite and magnetite, whereas the corundum-poor and corundum-free rocks have variable contents of spinel, plagioclase, sillimanite, cordierite, ilmenite and magnetite. The host gabbro shows variable degrees of hydration and carbonization. The corundum grains are mostly black, and rarely blue, and have minor Fe O and TiO_2. The spinel is hercynite, with high Fe O and low Mg O contents. The corundum-bearing rocks have variable but high Al_2O_3, FeO and TiO_2, and low SiO_2 contents. Inherited magmatic and altered zircons of the corundum-bearing rocks have similar U e Pb ages(~47 Ma) to the magmatic zircons of the host gabbro, indicating corundum-bearing rock formation immediately after the gabbro intrusion. We considered that emplacement of gabbro induced the contact metamorphism of the country-rock marble and the formation of silica-poor fluid. The channeled infiltration of generated fluid in turn resulted in the hydrothermal metasomatism of the gabbro, which characterized by considerable loss of Si from the gabbro and strong residual enrichment of Al. The metasomatic alteration probably formed under Pe T conditions of ~2.2 -2.8 kbar and ~650 -700℃. We speculate that SiO_2, CaO and Na_2O were mobile, and Al_2O_3, FeO, TiO_2 and high field strength elements remained immobile during the metasomatic process of the gabbro. The Liangguo corundum deposit, together with metamorphic corundum deposits in Central and Southeast Asia, were related to the Cenozoic Himalayan orogeny, and therefore are plate tectonic indicators.

An Early Paleozoic Ultramafic Complex in the North Wulan Metamorphic Complex,North Qaidam:Contraints on the Nature of the Alaskan-type Continental Arc Root

Orogenic peridotite is an important component of orogenic belts and retains crucial information on mantle magmatic activity,slab subduction,and melt or fluid metasomatism.To determine the source of the mantle-derived parental magma of the peridotite and to investigate the metasomatism that it experienced,we undertook an integrated study of the petrography,whole-rock major-and trace-element compositions,in situ zircon U-Pb geochronology,and mineral majorand trace-element compositions of an early Paleozoic ultramafic complex in the North Wulan area of North Qaidam.The Halihatu ultramafic-mafic complex is composed of dunite,pyroxene peridotite,and gabbro,which are characteristic of Alaskan-type complexes.The dunite yields a weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U age of 479±5 Ma(MSWD=0.7),which reflects the age of the metasomatism rather than the crystallization age of the ultramafic magma.The peridotites have high Mg^(#)(89.8-91.8)and Cr contents(2419-5190 ppm),low Al_(2)O_(3)(0.20-1.68 wt%)and Ni(289-1012 ppm)contents,and high olivine Fo contents(87-91),suggesting a large degree(~15%-22%)of partial melting of lithospheric ultramafic rocks followed by variable degrees of fractional crystallization of olivine and pyroxene.This is consistent with estimates of 15%-22.3%partial melting calculated using the Cr#of spinel crystals and with the low Yb(0.04-0.33 ppm)and Y(0.72-1.29 ppm)contents of clinopyroxene crystals.Whole-rock trace-element patterns show enrichment in large ion lithophile elements and depletion in high field strength elements,along with high Al_(2)O_(3)(2.10-6.47 wt%)and low TiO_(2)(0.01-0.21 wt%)contents of clinopyroxene crystals,suggesting an arc magma cumulate trend.These features,along with the high olivine Fo contents(87-91 ppm),imply that the Halihatu peridotite is an Alaskan-type crustal cumulates derived from Mgrich hydrous basaltic melts.The high estimated f O_(2)(FMQ+1.97 to FMQ+3.81)further supports the idea that they formed in an arc setting.The Ni/Co and Ni/Mn ratios and cumulate textures of the olivine,quenched boundaries between mafic and felsic melts,and the occurrence of tremolite and phlogopite reflect interactions between the Halihatu peridotite and injected silicate and carbonatitic melts in the lower crust.Therefore,we propose a new cumulate-infiltration model for the petrogenesis of Alaskan-type ultramafic complexes,which improves our understanding of the nature of Alaskan-type continental arc root.