An Important Spreading Event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP Dating on Diabase in Nagarze, Southern Tibet

Widely distributed in Gyangzê-Chigu area, southern Tibet, NW- and nearly E-W-trending diabase（gabbro）-gabbro diorite dykes are regarded as the product of the large-scale spreading of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean. In order to constrain the emplacement age of these dykes, zircons of two samples from diabases in Nagarzê were dated by using the U-Pb SHRIMP method. Two nearly the same weighted mean ^206pb/^23SU ages were obtained in this paper, which are 134.9±1.8 Ma （MSWD=0.65） and 135.5 ± 2.1 Ma （MSWD=1.40）, respectively. They not only represent the crystallization age of the diabase, but also documented an important spreading event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. This dating result is of great significance to reconstruct the temporal framework of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Mineral Chemistry,Trace Elements,Isotopic Analysis and Zircon U-Pb Dating in the Hesar Pluton,Northern UDMA,Iran:Implications for Pre-Collisional Magma Mixing

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves(MMEs).Whole rock geochemistry,mineral chemistry,zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured.It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous(A/CNK=1.32-1.45),subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures.The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3±0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite.MMEs have relatively low SiO_(2) contents(52.9-56.6 wt%)and high Mg^(#)(49.8-58.7),probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin.Chondrite-and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment,HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=0.86-1.03).The host rocks yield(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i) ratios of 0.70492-0.70510,positive ε_(Nd)(t)values of+1.55-+2.06 and T_(DM2)of 707-736 Ma,which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves((^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)=0.705014,ε_(Nd)(t)=+1.75,T_(DM2)=729 Ma).All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation,showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas,followed by rapid diffusion.The T_(DM1)(Nd)and T_(DM2)(Nd)model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantlederived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian-Eurasian plates.Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of~1000℃ and a depth of~9 km.

Polymetamorphism of the ultrahigh-temperature granulites in the Rauer Group,East Antarctica:new evidence from zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages

The Rauer Group is located on the eastern margin of the early Paleozoic Prydz Belt in East Antarctica,and the typical ultrahigh-temperature(UHT,>900℃)granulites outcrop on Mather Peninsula.However,the timing of UHT metamorphism and P–T path of the UHT granulites have long been debated,which is critical to understanding the tectonic nature and evolution history of the Prydz Belt.Thus,both a sapphirine-bearing UHT metapelitic granulite and a garnet-bearing UHT mafic granulite are selected for zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age dating.The results show that metamorphic zircon mantles yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 918±29 Ma and 901±29 Ma for the metapelitic and mafic granulites,respectively,while zircon rims and newly grown zircons yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 523±9 Ma and 532±11 Ma,respectively.These new zircon age data suggest that the UHT granulites may have experienced polymetamorphism,in which pre-peak prograde stage occurred in the early Neoproterozoic Grenvillian orogenesis(1000–900 Ma),whereas the UHT metamorphism occurred in the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Pan-African orogenesis(580–460 Ma).This implies that P–T path of the UHT granulites should consist of two separate high-grade metamorphic events including the Grenvillian and Pan-African events,which are supposed to be related to assembly of Rodinia and Gondwana supercontinents respectively,and hence the overprinting UHT metamorphic event may actually reflect an important intracontinental reworking.

华北克拉通栖霞地区~2.9Ga变质基性火山岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年、Hf-O同位素特征及构造意义

胶东地区是华北克拉通重要的早前寒武纪研究区之一。中太古代唐家庄岩群在形成时代、岩石成因及构造环境等方面一直少有研究。作者在栖霞地区对出露的唐家庄岩群变质表壳岩进行系统地质调查研究基础上,开展了变质基性火山岩全岩地球化学、锆石SHRIMP U-Pb和Hf-O同位素等分析研究。结果显示,变质基性火山岩岩浆锆石年龄为2907.9±6.3Ma,代表了中太古代唐家庄岩群的形成时间,并遭受新太古代早、晚期变质作用。这是~2.9Ga唐家庄岩群变质基性火山岩在胶东地区首次报道。岩石地球化学特征表现为相对富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb、Sr等,Th、Nb、Zr、Hf等高场强元素相对亏损,具有中等分异的REE配分模式。岩石中岩浆锆石具有相似的Hf、O同位素组成,εHf(t)值介于-0.68~+4.21,δ18 O值介于1.38‰~6.73‰。结合前人的工作,我们得出的主要结论如下:(1)胶东地区经历~2.9Ga岩浆事件,局部地段仍保留下了同时期的变质表壳岩;(2)唐家庄岩群是中太古代初始的洋盆环境中所形成的一套火山-沉积建造;(3)华北克拉通中太古代晚期是亏损地幔新生地壳加积的主要时期,局部地壳再循环了较老的陆源物质;(4)华北克拉通新太古代晚期经历了伸展构造背景,岩浆底侵作用使岩石发生强烈变质作用。

鲁西韩旺BIF铁矿的形成时代——锆石SHRIMPU-Pb定年证据

鲁西地区太古宙表壳岩包括新太古代早期和晚期两期表壳岩,早期表壳岩主要由变质玄武岩-科马提岩组成,晚期表壳岩主要由变质火山岩-碎屑沉积岩和BIF(Banded Iron Formations)组成。韩旺铁矿位于鲁西的西北部,铁矿区内存在大量变质玄武岩-科马提岩,早期认为该BIF形成于新太古代早期,而新的研究认为鲁西地区BIF都形成于新太古代晚期。本文对韩旺铁矿区内与BIF互层的黑云变粒岩和侵入其中的片麻状花岗闪长岩开展锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年,获得年龄分别为(2529±7)Ma和(2534±11)Ma。黑云变粒岩和片麻状花岗闪长岩的TREE、(La/Yb)N、Eu/Eu*分别为76×10^(–6)、19.8、0.84和82.7×10^(–6)、17.3、1.14,它们的岩浆锆石的εHf值、单阶段Hf同位素模式年龄分别为5.5~9.46、2.5~2.6 Ga和6.3~9.4、2.48~2.60 Ga。研究支持了鲁西地区BIF形成于新太古代晚期的认识。表壳岩形成、变质变形和花岗闪长岩侵入发生在一个很短的时间范围内。研究还表明,黑云变粒岩的原岩为英安质火山岩,很可能形成于新生玄武质岩浆的强烈结晶分异作用,花岗闪长岩形成于新生玄武质岩石部分熔融,形成过程中有陆壳物质的加入。

Zircon U-Pb geochronologic,geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope characteristics of the Beidaban granites in the North Qilian Orogenic Belt:Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

The tectonic evolution and crustal accretion process of the North Qilian Orogenic Belt(NQOB)are still under debate because of a lack of integrated constraints,especially the identifi cation of the tectonic transition from arc to initial collision.Here we present results from zircon U-Pb geochronology,whole-rock geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of the Beidaban granites to provide crucial information for geodynamic evolution of NQOB.Zircon U-Pb dating yields an age of 468±10 Ma for the Beidaban granites and most of the Beidaban samples contain amphibole,are potassium-rich,and have A/CNK values ranging from 0.7 to 0.9,illustrating that the Middle Ordovician Beidaban granites are K-rich,metaluminous,calc-alkaline granitoid.The geochemical characteristics indicate that the Beidaban granites are transitional I/S-type granitoids that formed in an arc setting.The isotopic compositions of initial(87 Sr/86 Sr)i values ranging from 0.70545 to 0.71082(0.70842 on average)andεNd(t)values ranging from−10.9 to−6.7(−8.8 on average)with two-stage Nd model ages(T DM2)of 1.74-2.08 Ga suggest that the Beidaban granites originated from Paleoproterozoic crustal materials.In addition,the initial Pb isotopic compositions(^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb=19.14-20.26;^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb=15.71-15.77;^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb=37.70-38.26)and geochemical features,such as high Th/Ta(17.43-30.12)and Rb/Nb(6.01-15.49)values,suggest that the Beidaban granite magma source involved recycled crustal components with igneous rocks.Based on these results in combination with previously published geochronological and geochemical data from other early Paleozoic igneous rocks,we suggest that the timing of the tectonic transition from arc to the initial collision to the fi nal closure of the North Qilian Ocean can be constrained to the Middle-Late Ordovician(ca.468–450 Ma).

Garnet and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry Reveal Genesis of the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit,Southern Hunan

Garnet is a primary mineral in skarn deposits and plays a significant role in recording copious mineralization and metallogenic information.This study systematically investigates the geochemistry and geochronology of garnet and zircon in the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit,which represents prominent gold mineralization in southern Hunan,China.Garnet samples with distinct zoning patterns and compositional variations were identified using various analytical techniques,including Backscattered Electron(BSE)imaging,Cathodoluminescence(CL)response,textural characterization,and analysis of rare-earth elements(REE),major contents,and trace element compositions.The garnet was dated U-Pb dating,which yielded a lower intercept age of 161.06±1.93 Ma.This age is older than the underlying granodiorite porphyry,which has a concordia age of 155.13±0.95 Ma determined by zircon U-Pb dating.These results suggest that the gold mineralization may be related to the concealed granite.Two groups of garnet changed from depleted Al garnet to enriched Al garnet,and the rare earth element(REE)patterns of these groups were converted from light REE(LREE)-enriched and heavy REE(HREE)-depleted with positive europium(Eu)anomalies to medium REE(MREE)-enriched from core to rim zoning.The different REE patterns of garnet in various zones may be attributed to changes in the fluid environment and late superposition alteration.The development of distal skarn in the southern Hunan could be a significant indicator for identifying gold mineralization.

Chronology and Sources of Mesozoic Intrusive Complexes in the Xuzhou-Huainan Region, Central China: Constraints from SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in the Liguo and Jiagou intrusives indicates that they were formed at -130 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. Most inherited zircons in the Liguo intrusive were formed at 2509±43 Ma. Most inherited and detrital zircons in the Jiagou intrusive were formed at -2500 Ma, -2000 Ma and -1800 Ma. The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in two gneiss xenoliths from the Jiagou intrusive yields the ages of 2461±22 Ma and 2508±15 Ma, respectively. The dating results from inherited and detrital zircons in the intrusives and the gneiss xenoliths imply that the magmas could be derived from the partial melting of the basement of the North China Block (NCB). The magmatism is strong and extensive in the periods from 115 to 132 Ma, which is of typical bimodal characteristics. It is suggested that the lithospheric thinning in the eastern North China Block reached its peak in 115-132 Ma.

Geochronologic Constraints on the Magmatic Underplating of the Gangdisê Belt in the India-Eurasia Collision: Evidence of SHRIMP II Zircon U-Pb Dating

Abundant small mafic intrusions occur associated with granitoids along the Gangdise^ magmatic belt. In addition to many discrete gabbro bodies within the granitoid plutons, a gabbro-pyroxenite zone occurs along the southern margin of the Gangdise^ belt to the north of the Yarlung Zangbo suture. The mafic intrusion zone spatially corresponds to a strong aeromagnetic anomaly, which extends -1400 km. The mafic intrusions consist of intermittently distributed small bodies and dikes of gabbro and dolerite with accumulates of pyroxenite, olivine pyroxenite, pegmatitic pyroxenite and amphibolite. Much evidence indicates that the Gangdise^ gabbro-pyroxenite assemblage is most likely a result of underplating of mantle-derived magma. Detailed field investigation and systematic sampling of the mafic rocks was conducted at six locations along the Lhasa-Xigaze^ segment of the mafic intrusive zone, and was followed by zircon SHRIMP Ⅱ U-Pb dating. In addition to the ages of two samples previously published （47.0±1 Ma and 48.9±1.1 Ma）, the isotopic ages of the remaining four gabbro samples are 51.6±1.3Ma, 52.5±3.0 Ma, 50.2±4.2Ma and 49.9±1.1Ma. The range of these ages （47-52.5 Ma） provide geochronologic constraints on the Eocene timing of magma underplating beneath the Gangdise^ belt at ca. 50 Ma. This underplating event post-dated the initiation of the India-Eurasia continental collision by 15 million years and was contemporaneous with a process of magma mixing. The SHRIMP Ⅱ U-Pb isotopic analysis also found several old ages from a few zircon grains, mostly in a range of 479-526 Ma （weighted average age 503±10 Ma）, thus yielding information about the pre-existing lower crust when underplating of mafic magma took place. It is believed that magma underplating was one of the major mechanisms for crustal growth during the Indian-Eurasia collision, possibly corresponding in time to the formation of the 14-16 km-thick ＂crnst-mantle transitional zone＂ characterized by Vp=6.85-6.9 km/s.

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton:SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark,Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons： the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism： early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the mafic and felsic intrusive rocks of the Saza area in the Lupa goldfields, southwestern Tanzania: Implication for gold mineralization

The Lupa Goldfield (LGF) is one of the eight structural terranes in the NW – SE striking Ubendian Belt of SW Tanzania. The LGF is comprised of granitic gneisses with bands of amphibolites which are intruded by mafic intrusions including gabbros, granodiorites, diorites;and various granites as well as metavol-canics. These rocks are cross-cut by narrow mafic dykes and aplites. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb data are presented for the granodiorite and a mafic dyke that cross-cut the granodiorites in the Saza area of the LGF, with the aim of constraining the mafic and felsic magmatism and their implication to gold mineralization. The zircon U-Pb data shows that the Saza granodiorites were emplaced at 1924 ± 13 Ma (MSWD = 2.6) whereas the cross-cutting mafic dyke yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 1758 ± 33 Ma (MSWD = 0.88). The dated granodiorite sample was in sheared contact with an altered mafic intrusive rock, most likely a diorite, along which an auriferous quartz vein occurs. The 1924 ± 13 Ma age of granodiorites is within error of the reported molybdenite Re-Os age of 1937 Ma determined for the gold mineralization event in Lupa Goldfields. Although auriferous quartz veins are younger than the granodiorites, the more or less similar ages between the emplacement of granodiorites and the mineralizing event indicate that the granodiorites might be the heat source (or driver) of hydrothermal fluids responsible for gold mineralization in the Lupa goldfields. This would further suggest that gold mineralization in the LGF is intrusion-related type. The mafic dykes represent the youngest rocks to have been emplaced in the area and hence the 1758 ± 33 Ma age of the mafic dykes conclude the magmatic evolution in the Lupa goldfields during the Palaeoproterozoic.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb and Molybdenite Re-Os Datings of the Superlarge Donggou Porphyry Molybdenum Deposit in the East Qinling,China,and Its Geological Implications

Located in the eastern part of the East Qinling molybdenum belt, the Donggou deposit is a superlarge porphyry molybdenum deposit discovered in recent years. The authors performed highly precise dating of the mineralized porphyry and ores in the Donggou molybdenum deposit. A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the Donggou aluminous A-type granite-porphyry gave a rock-forming age of 112±1 Ma, and the ICP-MS Re-Os analyses of molybdenite from the molybdenum deposit yielded ReOs model ages ranging from 116.5±1.7 to 115.5±1.7 Ma for the deposit. The ages obtained by the two methods are quite close, suggesting that the rocks and ores formed approximately at the same time. The Donggou molybdenum deposit formed at least 20 Ma later than the Jinduicheng, Nannihu, Shangfanggou and Leimengou porphyry molybdenum deposits in the same molybdenum belt, implying that these deposits were formed in different tectonic settings.

Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating of the Yematan batholith in Dulan, North Qaidam, NW China

The Yematan batholith crops out over 120 km2 in the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt. It consists of granodiorite, monzogranite and biotite granite and forms an irregular intrusion into Neoproterozoic gneiss that has undergone Caledonian UHP metamorphism. Zircons from the Yematan granodiorite yield a SHRIMP U-Pb age of 397? Ma. These granitic rocks have geochemi- cal characteristics intermediate between I- and S-type gran- ites, and are post-collisional. We suggest that the Yematan granitic rocks were formed during the last exhumation event of the North Qaidam UHP belt.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for island arc volcanic rock of Fangniugou area in Yitong region of Jilin Province

Polymetallic iron ore sulphate deposits of marine volcanic rock have been developed in the Fangniugou area,Jilin Province,China,but the division of volcanic ore-bearing strata has not been specifically elucidated and there is disagreement about the division.The sampling and SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of volcanic rock for Daheishan in the Fangniugou area and the northeast slope of the Duanjiadian were described.The volcanic rock formation period and recorded the volcanic events in the Daheishan mountains were systematically researched.Two samples of high-precision U-Pb zircon dating were used to represent the volcanic rock fomation period of the Late Silurian.The measured data reflect that multiple volcanic activities occurred during the Middle Silurian,Early Silurian,Middle Ordovician and Silurian,and Late Ordovician,probably matching volcanic events in the Songnan Basin identified from zircon dating.At the same time,it is confirmed that a controversial "conglomerate of Daheishan" did in fact develop in the Late Silurian,and those sections of both the Dazigou and Xinlitun-Taoshan with graptolite had been reversed.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating of the Tourmalinites from Boron-bearing Series of Borate Deposits in Eastern Liaoning and its Geological Implications

This paper focused on the zircon sensitive high resolution ion micro-probeU-Pb geochronology of the tourmalinites from boron-bearing series of borate deposits in Eastern Liaoning. The zircons commonly have core-rim structures, most cores show oscillatory zoning in cathodoluminescence and plane polarized light images, suggesting a magmatic detrital origin. Ages of the magmatic detrital zircons from the hyalotonrmalite samples （N13） and （N14） are 2175 ± 5 Ma and 2171 ± 9 Ma, respectively. Moreover, metamorphic zircon from the sample （N13） shows an age of 1906 ± 4 Ma. Zircon core and rim from the hyalotourmalite sample （N02） record ages of 2171 ± 6 Ma and 1889± 62 Ma, which are explained as indicating the formation and metamorphic ages. Combined with the geological and geochemical studies, it can be concluded that the tourmalinites are formed during sedimentary exhalative mineralizations in the mid-Paleoproterozoic （-170 Ma） and underwent the metamorphism in the late-Paleoproterozoic （-1900 Ma）. The tourmalinites are the products of submarine acid volcanism in the extension rifting phase of the Liaoji Paleoproterozoic Rift, the rockforming materials of which are derived from the mantle sources with recycling crustal contamination. The emergence of tourmalinites not only indicates the mid-Paleoproterozoic tectonic-magmatic processes, but also provides impetus, heat and material sources for the mineralization of borate deposits in Eastern Liaoning.

Formation Age of the Sujiagou Komatiites in Western Shandong: Further Constraints from SHRIMP U-Pb Zircon Dating on Granitic Dykes

Komatiites are presented as direct evidence for higher mantle temperatures during the Archean. In the North China Craton, komatiites with spinifex structure have been identified only at one locality, i.e. the Sujiagou area, western Shandong. They were considered as formed during the early Neoarchean mainly based on their association with supracrustal rocks considered to be that age. This study carried out SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating on metamorphosed trondhjemitic and monzogranitic dykes intruding the Sujiagou komatiites, and they have magmatic zircon ages of 2592 ± 12 Ma and 2586 ± 13 Ma respectively. This provides direct evidence that the komatiites formed during the early Neoarchean.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of the Tongshi Magmatic Complex in Western Shandong and Its Geological Implications

The SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating result of the Tongshi magmatic complex in western Shandong is presented in this paper. The Tongshi magmatic complex comprises fine-grained porphyritic diorite and syenitic porphyry. Eighteen analyses for fine-grained porphyritic diorite gave two concordia ages, in which ten analyses constitute the young age group, giving ^206Pb/^238U ages ranging from 167.9 Ma to 183 Ma with a weighted mean age of 175.7±3.8 Ma, and the other eight yielded ^207Pb/^206Pb ages of 2502 Ma to 2554 Ma with a weighted mean 2518±11 Ma. Two analyses for syenitic porphyry gave ages of 2485 Ma and 2512 Ma, respectively. The age of 175.7±3.8 Ma indicates that the crystallization of the Tongshi magmatic complex occurred in the Middle Jurassic, whereas that of 2518±11 Ma is interpreted as the age of inherited magmatic zircons in the Neoarchean Wutai period.

Geochemistry and SHRIMP U-Pb Zircon Dating of Mafic Rocks North of Zunhua City, Eastern Hebei, North China Craton： Paleoproterozoic Gabbro rather than Neoarchean Ophiolite

Abundant mafic-ultramafic blocks and dikes occur in the area north of Zunhua City, eastern Hebei Province, and were previously suggested to be part of a late Archean ophiolitic assemblage. We employed SHRIMP zircon dating and a geochemical study on these mafic and surrounding rocks to test the ophiolite hypothesis. The SHRIMP data suggest that three metagabbro samples were metamorphosed at ～1.8 Ga. Numerous ～2.5 Ga zircons display strong oscillatory zoning, characteristic of zircons from granitoid rocks but not from gabbro, so we suggest that these are xenocrystic grains. The age of these xenocrystic zircons and their metamorpbic rims suggests that these mafic blocks formed in Paleoproterozoic. The surrounding gneiss of intermediate composition also contains 2.5 Ga zircons with oscillatory zoning and 1.8 Ga metamorphic rims. Fractionated REE patterns and Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf negative anomalies to variable extent were observed in the mafic blocks and surrounding rocks, also supporting a significant difference in the chemistry of ophiolitic rocks. Our data suggest that many mafic blocks in northern Zunhua are not part of a late Archean ophiolite complex but part of a tectonically dismembered Paleoproterozoic intrusive gabbro complex. This study shows that late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism occurred in the western part of eastern Hebei Province.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the Neogene coral reefs,Xisha Islands,South China Sea:implications for tectonic evolution

The Xisha Block is a minor one in the South China Sea and an important tectonic unit in the northwestern part of the region.Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages for three volcanic intrusive core samples from Xike-1,an exploratory well penetrating the bioherms of the Xisha Islands.The core samples are from the Miocene reef carbonate bedrock and are recognized as dark-gray biotite-hornblende gabbro,gray fne-grained biotite diorite,and gray fine-grained granite,respectively.Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL)images and trace Th,U and Pb compositions of the zircons show that these rocks are of volcanic intrusive origin.Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating yielded six groups of ages,ranging from 2451-1 857 Ma to early Cretaceous, which indicate that the formation and evolution of the Xisha Block was affected by the evolution and closure of Neotethys Ocean,probably within its eastern extension into South China Sea.Both old,deepsourced material,including fragments from Rodina supercontinent,and recent mantle-derived magma products contributed to the emergence and formation of the Xisha block.The SHRIMP U-Pb results also proved that this process differed from that of the Kontum massif,the Hainan Block,and the South China Block,but is similar to that of the Nansha and Zhongsha blocks.The process was associated with the effects of Yanshanian magmatism induced by subduction mechanisms of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or the reworking of the multiple magmatisms since the Early to mid-Yanshanian,possibly jointly experienced by the Xisha-Zhongsha-Nansha Block.

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of a small tonalite intrusion in metamorphic belt of Chinese Altai orogen and its geological implication

Small granitic intrusions occur in the progressive metamorphic belts of the Chinese Ahai orogen. SHRIMP U-Pb analyses were performed on zircons separated from a tonalite intrusion and yielded a concordant age of 409.6±3.7 Ma （ MSWD = 0.93 ）, restricting the emplacement and crystallization of the tonalite intru- sion to the Early Devonian. Combined with the existing geological data of the contemporary large granitic plutons in the Chinese Altai orogen, the tonalite is considered to be formed together with other granitic rocks in a continental arc setting. The tonalite intrusion has consistent foliation with its country rocks, indicating the strain resuiting in the regional deformation should be very strong during or after the early Devonian.