First Report of Zircon U-Pb Ages from Lubei Cu-Ni Sulfide Deposit in East Tianshan of Central Asian Orogenic Belt, NW China

Objective The East Tianshan mafic-ultramafic rocks belt mainly produced in the eastern Jueluotage belt is an important part of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt （CAOB）. The well- known deposits including Huangshan, Huangshandong, Tulaergen, Hulu, Xiangshan were have been consecutively discovered in this belt （Duan Xingxing et al., 2016）. The new discovery of the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in recent years, which locates in the west of Jueluotage belt, has great significance to the westward extension of the East Tianshan Cu-Ni metallogenic belt. To determine whether the mineralization age of the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit is consistent with other typical deposits, this study conducted zircon U-Pb geochronology on the diorite from the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in order to provide new information for further exploring direction of Cu-Ni prospecting in East Tianshan.

Geochemistry and zircon U-Pb ages of the Oligocene sediments in the Baiyun Sag, Zhujiang River Mouth Basin

In this study,element geochemistry and zircon chronology are used to analyze the Oligocene sediments in the Baiyun Sag,Zhujiang River Mouth Basin.The experimental results are discussed with respect to weathering conditions,parent rock lithologies,and provenances.The chemical index of alteration and the chemical index of weathering values of mudstone samples from the lower Oligocene Enping Formation indicate that clastic particles in the study area underwent moderate weathering.Mudstone samples exhibit relatively enriched light rare earth elements and depleted heavy rare earth elements,"V"-shaped negative Eu anomalies,and negligible Ce anomalies.The rare earth element distribution curves are obviously right-inclined,with shapes and contents similar to those of post-Archean Australian shale and upper continental crust,indicating that the samples originated from acid rocks in the upper crust.The Hf-La/Th and La/Sc-Co/Th diagrams show this same origin for the sediments in the study area.For the samples from the upper Enping deltas,the overall age spectrum shows four major age peaks ca.59–68 Ma,98–136 Ma,153–168 Ma and 239–260 Ma.For the Zhuhai Formation samples,the overall age spectrum shows three major age peaks ca.149 Ma,252 Ma and 380 Ma.The detrital zircon shapes and U-Pb ages reveal that during Oligocene sedimentation,the sediments on the northwestern margin of the Baiyun Sag were supplied jointly from two provenances:Precambrian-Paleozoic metamorphic rocks in the extrabasinal South China fold zone and Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the intrabasinal Panyu Low Uplift,and the former supply became stronger through time.Thus,the provenance of the Oligocene deltas experienced a transition from an early proximal intrabasinal source to a late distal extrabasinal source.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Wajilitag Igneous Complex: Constraints on the Origin of A-type Granitoids in the Tarim Large Igneous Province, NW China

Objective Large igneous provinces （LIPs） are sites of spatially contiguous, rapidly emplaced magmatic rocks, which represent the physical and chemical transfer of material from the mantle to the crust. Exposed within some continental LIPs are felsic and rnafic plutonic and volcanic rocks. Although their volumes are minor compared to the flood basalts, the plutonic rocks of continental LIPs are often associated with economic deposits of precious metals. Within the Permian Tarim LIP of NW China, there are at least two layered ultramafic-mafic intrusions （e.g. Wajilitag and Piqiang） contain economically important Fe- Ti-V oxide deposits. Spatially associated with these layered ultramafic-mafic intrusions are syenitic and granitic plutons, which have chemical characteristics of A- type granitoids.

New Zircon U-Pb Ages of Granitic Rocks in Northeastern Jiagedaqi of the Da Hinggan Mountains and their Significance

Objective The research area is located in the north of the Xing＇an block and within the Ali River-Zhalantun granite belt in the eastern part of the Xingmeng orogenic belt. The geotectonic setting and geological evolution history of this area are complex with strong magmatic activity and extremely developed granite rocks. Since predecessors have not obtained accurate dating result, there is much controversy over the formation of granitic rocks. Therefore, this work conducted zircon U-Ph dating on alkali-feldspar granite and granite porphyry in the northeast of Jiagedaqi to provide age constraint. The age data shows that the forming age is the Early Cretaceous and provides age basis for the tectonic evolution of the Da Hinggan Mountains.

Cretaceous Volcanic Events in Southeastern Jilin Province,China:Evidence from Single Zircon U-Pb Ages

Mesozoic volcanic rocks in southeastern Jilin Province are an important component of the huge Mesozoic volcanic belt in the northeastern area. Study of the age of their formation is of great significance to recognize Mesozoic volcanic rule in northeastern China. Along with the research of rare Mesozoic biota and extensive Mesozoic mineralization in western Liaoning, a number of researchers have focused on Mesozoic volcanic events. The authors studied the ages of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks in southeastern Jilin Province using single Zircon U-Pb. The result shows that the Sankeyushu Formation volcanic rocks in the Tonghua area are 119.2 Ma in age, the Yingcheng Formation in the Jiutai area 113.4±3.1 Ma, the Jinjiatun Formation in Pinggang Town of Liaoyuan City and the Wufeng volcanic rocks in the Yanji area 103.2±4.7 Ma and 103.6±1 Ma, respectively. Combined with the data of recent publication on volcanic rocks ages; the Cretaceous volcanic events in southeastern Jilin Province can be tentatively subdivided into three eruption periods： 119 Ma, 113 Ma and 103 Ma. The result not only provides important chronology data for subdividing Mesozoic strata in southeastern Jilin Province, establishing Mesozoic volcanic event sequence, discussing geological tectonic background, and surveying the relation between noble metals to the Cretaceous volcanic rocks, but also offers important information of Mesozoic volcanism in northeastern China.

Discovery of rhyolitic tuffaceous slate in the southwestern margin of Yangtze Craton:Zircon U-Pb ages(2491 Ma)and tectonic-thermal events

The Mesoproterozoic Dongchuan Group that is widely exposed in Yimen area,central Yunnan Province is a series of sedimentary sort of low-grade metamorphic rocks interbedded with volcanic rocks,which are closely related to the early tectonic evolution of the Earth.However,its formation era,sedimentary filling sequence,and geotectonic characteristics have always been in dispute.In this study,several rhyolitic tuffaceous slate interlayers with a centimeter-level thickness were found in the previously determined Heishan Formation of the Dongchuan Group located to the western part of Yimen-Luoci fault zone.This paper focuses on the study of the rhyolitic tuffaceous slate in Qifulangqing Village,Tongchang Township,Yimen County.LA-ICP-MS zircon dating was conducted,achieving the crystallization age of magma of 2491±15 Ma and the metamorphic ages of about 2.3 Ga,2.0 Ga,and 1.8 Ga for the first time.Meanwhile,according to in-situ Hf isotope analysis,the zirconεHf(t)values were determined to range from−3.0 to 7.6,with an average of 2.7.Furthermore,the first-stage Hf model age(TDM1)was determined to be 2513−2916 Ma,indicating that the provenance of the rhyolitic tuffaceous slate is the depleted mantle or juvenile crust between the Middle Mesoarchean and the Late Neoarchean.Therefore,it is believed that the strata of the slate were deposited in the Late Neoarchean,instead of the Mesoproterozoic as determined by previous researchers.Accordingly,it is not appropriate to group the strata into the Mesoproterozoic Dongchuan Group.Instead,they should be classified as the Maolu Formation of the Neoarchean Puduhe Group given the lithologic association and regional information.Furthermore,the magma ages of 2491±15 Ma are highly consistent with the eras of the large-scale Late Neoarchean orogenic magmatic activities on the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton,and thus reflect the orogenic process consisting of subduction and collision from Late Neoarchean to Early Paleoproterozoic.The magmatic activities during this period were possibly caused by the convergence of the supercontinent Kenorland.Meanwhile,the metamorphic ages of 2.3 Ga,2.0 Ga,and 1.8 Ga are highly consistent with three metamorphic ages of 2.36 Ga,1.95 Ga,and 1.85 Ga of the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton,indicating that the strata experienced Paleoproterozoic tectonic-thermal events.The study area is located on the eastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and thus was possibly re-transformed by magmatism subjected to the subduction of the Meso-Tethys Ocean during the Early Cretaceous.The discoveries made in this study will provide strong petrological and chronological evidence for analyzing the early crustal evolution of the Yangtze block.

Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic characteristics of the Dehe biotite monzonitic gneiss pluton in the North Qinling orogen and their geological significance

The Dehe granitic pluton intruded the Xiahe Group which is in the core complex of the North Qinling Orogenic Belt(NQOB).It shows gneissic bedding and possesses typical S-type granite minerals such as muscovite and garnet.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic dating of the Dehe granite yielded a weighted average age of 925±23 Ma which represents the emplacement age of the pluton.Most of the εHf(t) values are negative,and the two-stage model ages are consistent with the age of the Qinling Group.The isotope data show that the Dehe granite was formed in the following geological setting:in the syn-collision setting of the NQOB in the Neoproterozoic,crustal thickening induced partial melting of materials derived from the Qinling complex,and then the maga upwelled and intruded into the Xiahe Group.The formation of the Dehe S-type granite implied the occurrence of a convergent event in the QOB during the Neoproterozoic.

Zircon U-Pb Ages of Bottom and Top Parts of the Zhangjiakou Formation in Lingyuan Area(West Liaoning Province) and Luanping Area (North Hebei Province) and Their Significance

In Lingyuan region of West Liaoning Province, the Zhangjiakou Formation (J_3z) and the Yixian Formation (K_1y) display an angular unconformity. That is, the Lower Mesozoic strata of the Zhangjiakou Formation are ENE (near E-W) oriented, while the overlying strata of the Yixian Formation exhibit an NNE orientation. The results of LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages show the Zhangjiakou Formation formed from about 130 Ma to 132 Ma in Lingyuan and 135 Ma to 136 Ma in Luanping (North Hebei Province), respectively. Three conclusions can be drawn: (1) The Zhangjiakou Formation in Lingyuan is comparable to that in Luanping, with the volcanic rocks of the Zhangjiakou Formation from Lingyuan being younger than those from Luanping. (2) 5-6 Ma difference between the top of the Zhangjiakou Formation and the bottom of the Yixian Formation in Lingyuan proves the angular unconformity between the two formations; and it reflects that the 5-6 Ma interval period is the main period of the transition of tectonic framework in Mesozoic in North Hebei and West Liaoning. In the interval period, the magmatic action went up to high tide in Mesozoic in the northeast of China. Moreover, after the interval period, the “Rehe fauna” developed into “erupted” period. This reflects that the interval period is also an important biological interface in Northern Hebei and Western Liaoning. (3) The Dabeigou Formation in Luanping should correspond to the upper part of the Zhangjiakou Formation, but not to the lower part of the Yixian Formation.

Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of Permo-Carboniferous Mafic Intrusions in the Xilinhot Area, Inner Mongolia: Constraints on the Northward Subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) resulted from accretion during the Paleozoic subduction of the PaleoAsian Ocean. The Xilinhot area in Inner Mongolia is located in the northern subduction zone of the central-eastern CAOB and outcropped a large number of late Paleozoic mafic intrusions. The characteristics of magma source and tectonic setting of the mafic intrusions and their response to the closure process of the Paleo-Asian Ocean are still controversial. This study presents LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical features of mafic intrusions in the Xilinhot area to constrain the northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The mafic intrusions consist of gabbro, hornblende gabbro, and diabase. Their intrusion times can be divided into three stages of 326-321 Ma, 276 Ma and 254 Ma by zircon U-Pb ages. The first two stages of the 326-276 Ma intrusions mostly originated from subduction-modified continental lithospheric mantle sources that underwent a variable degree partial melting(5-30%), recording the subduction of oceanic crust. The third stage of the 254 Ma mafic rocks also show arc-related features. The primary magma compositions calculated by PRIMELT2 modeling on three samples of ~326 Ma and two samples of ~254 Ma show that these mafic samples are characterized by a variable range in SiO2(47.51-51.47 wt%), Al2O3(11.46-15.55 wt%), ΣFeO(8.27-9.61 wt%), MgO(13.01-15.18 wt%) and CaO(9.13-11.67 wt%), consisting with the features between enriched mantle and lower continental crust. The source mantle melting of mafic intrusions occurred under temperatures of 1302-1351°C and pressures of 0.92-1.30 GPa. The magmatic processes occurred near the crust-mantle boundary at about 33-45 km underground. Combined with previous studies, it is concluded that Carboniferous to early Permian(~326-275 Ma) northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic crust led to the formation of the mafic magmatism in the Baolidao arc zone. The whole region had entered the collision environment at ~254 Ma, but with subduction-related environments locally. The final collision between the North China craton and the South Mongolian microcontinent may have lasted until ca. 230 Ma.

Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Granodioritic Porphyry in the Laba Molybdenum Deposit,Yunnan,SW China and Its Geological Implication

The Geza island-arc is a well-known mineralization concentration area, part of the Sanjiang Domain at the east margin of the Tibetan Plateau. In recent years, several Late Yanshanian granitic intrusions and associated deposits have been found in this region, the largest one of which in the Shangri-La region is the Laba molybdenum deposit. Previous studies suggested that the timing of the Laba mineralization is 85 ±2 Ma. However, the ages of the granodioritic porphyry remain unknown. In this study, LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from three samples of the molybdenite-bearing granodioritic porphyry has been conducted with resulting dates of 85.00±0.23 Ma （MSWD = 0.58）, 85.28 ± 0.28 Ma （MSWD = 1.12）, and 84.83 ± 0.26 Ma （MSWD = 0.79）, respectively, indicating that these granodioritie porphyries formed in the Late Yanshanian around -85 Ma. Combined with the geological features of the mineralization, the Laba deposit is spatially, temporally, and probably genetically associated with the granodioritic porphyries. In addition, the ages of the Laba deposits are consistent with the other Late Yanshanian intrusions and mineralization, suggesting that the mineralization was probably generated under an intra-plate extensional environment during the Late Cretaceous.

New detrital zircon U-Pb ages from BIF-related metasediments in the Ntem Complex (Congo craton) of southern Cameroon, West Africa

Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) were formed by contemporaneous events of active sediments supply and the venting of a hydrothermal fluid source at the Mid-Ocean-Ridge. BIFs within the Ntem Complex at the northern edge of the Congo Craton are intercalated with metasandstones and siltstones. SHRIMP U-Pb analysis on detrital zircons obtained from these metasediments gave variable ages from over 3000 Ma to 1000 Ma with the maximum age of deposition clustered around 1200 Ma and the peak of deposition at 1800 Ma. This age range suggested that the sub-basin was opened sometime in the Archean and remained active up till the Neoproterozoic. Zircons with Archean ages have a provenance linked to the charnockitic suite and the high-K granites within the Ntem Complex. The Paleoproterozoic ages are attributed to clastic inputs from the neigbouring Nyong Series west of the Ntem Complex. Also the peak of deposition in the Proterozoic could probably be explained by the globally recognized intense crust-forming processes in the Early Proterozoic time. The provenance of the younger Neoproterozoic ages is tied to various lithologies within the northern mobile belts of the Adamawa-Yade massifs and correlates with Neoproterozoic sedimentation ages in the Yaoundé, Lom and Poli series. The Neoproterozoic ages obtained are comparable to those obtained from metasediments of the Amazonian Craton and provide evidence of Pre-Gondwana assemblage of the Congo and the S?o Francisco Cratons.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9-1.0 Ga and ca. 420-440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484-383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310-254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298-269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298-246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.

Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Chagangnuer Mafic Intrusion in Central Inner Mongolia and their Tectonic Implications

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is regarded as the world's largest and long-lived Phanerozoic accretionary orogen,which has recorded a long history of multiple subduction-accretion events during the Neoproterozoic to Mesozoic.The CAOB was formed by the progressive subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO).However,the final closure time of the PAO is still controversial,ranging from the Late Devonian to the Early-Middle Triassic(Zhang et al.,2018).

Zircon U-Pb ages and provenance characteristics of the Zhiluo Formation sandstones and the formation background of the uranium deposit in Huangling area,Ordos Basin,China

The newly discovered medium-scale Huangling uranium deposit is located in the Shuanlong area of the southeast Ordos Basin.This paper presents the systematic geochemical and zircon U-Pb studies on the Zhiluo Formation sandstones in the Huanling area.The data obtained play an important role in deducing the provenance and tectonic setting of the source rocks.The results show that the lower part of the Zhiluo Formation is mainly composed of felsic sedimentary rocks.The source rocks originated from a continental island arc environment in terms of tectonic setting.U-Pb ages of detrital zircons obtained can be roughly divided into three groups:170‒500 Ma,1600‒2050 Ma,and 2100‒2650 Ma.Based on the characteristics of trace elements and rare earth elements(REE)and the zircon U-Pb dating results,it is considered that the Cryptozoic Edo provenance of the Zhiluo Formation mainly includes magmatic rocks(such as granodioritic intrusions)and metamorphic rocks(such as gneiss and granulite)in the orogenic belts on the northern margin of the North China Plate and in the Alxa Block.Based on sedimentological and petrological results,it can be concluded that the provenance of clastic sediments in the Zhiluo Formation was in north-south direction.The preconcentration of uranium is relatively low in the Lower Zhiluo Formation in the Huangling area.Meanwhile,the paleocurrent system in the sedimentary period is inconsistent with the ore-bearing flow field in the mineralization period,which restricts the formation of large-scale and super-large-scale uranium deposits and ore zones in the southeast Ordos Basin.The understanding of provenance directions will provide crucial references for the Jurassic prototype recovery and paleo-geomorphology of the Ordos Basin and the prediction of potential uranium reservoirs of the basin.

Mineralization,Geochemistry and Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Paodaoling Porphyry Gold Deposit in the Guichi Region,Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt,Eastern China

The newly discovered Paodaoling porphyry Au deposit from the Guichi region, Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt （LYRB）, contains 〉35 tons of Au at an average grade of -1.7 g/t. It is a porphyry ＇Au-only＇ deposit, as revealed by current exploration in the depths, mostly above -400 m, which is quite uncommon among coeval porphyry mineralization along the LYRB. Additionally, there are also Cu-Au bearing porphyries and barren alkaline granitoids in the Paodaoling district. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of the Cu-Au-bearing porphyries yield an age of 141-140 Ma, falling within the main magmatic stage of the LYRB, whereas the barren granites give an age of 125-120 Ma, coeval with the regional A- type granites. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries are LILE-, LREE-enriched and HFSE-depleted, typical of arc magmatic affinities. The barren granites are HFSE-enriched, with lower LREE/HREE ratios and pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries in the Paodaoling district have high oxygen fugacities and high water content. Pyrite sulfur isotopes of the Paodaoling gold deposit indicate a magmatic-sedimentary mixed source for the ore-forming fluids. Based on the alteration and poly-metal zonation of the deepest exploration drill hole from the Paodaoling Au deposit, we propose that Cu ore bodies could lie at depth beneath the current Au ore bodies. The magmatism and associated Cu-Au mineralization of the Paodaoling district are likely to have formed in a subduction setting, during slab rollback of the paleo-Pacific plate.

Baddeleyite and zircon U-Pb ages of the ultramafic rocks in Chigu Tso area,Southeastern Tibet and their constraints on the timing of Comei Large Igneous Province

A suite of ultramafic and mafic rocks developed in the Chigu Tso area,eastern Tethyan Himalaya.Baddeleyite and zircon U-Pb ages acquired by SIMS and LA-ICP-MS from olivine pyroxenite rocks in the Chigu Tso area are 138.9±3.0 Ma and 139.0±1.9 Ma,respectively.These two Early Cretaceous ages are similar with the ages of the more abundant mafic rocks in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya,indicating that this suite of ultramafic and mafic rocks in the Chigu Tso area should be included in the outcrop area of the Comei Large Igneous Province(LIP).These ultramafic rocks provide significant evidence that the involvement of mantle plume/hot spot activities in the formation of the Comei LIP.Baddeleyite U-Pb dating by SIMS is one reliable and convenient method to constrain the formation time of ultramafic rocks.The dating results of baddeleyite and zircon from the olivine pyroxenite samples in this paper are consistent with each other within analytical uncertainties,suggesting that baddeleyite and zircon were both formed during the same magmatic process.The consistency of baddeleyite U-Pb ages in the Chigu Tso area with zircon U-Pb ages for a large number of Early Cretaceous mafic rocks in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya further support that zircon grains from such mafic rocks yielding Early Cretaceous ages are also magmatic in origin.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Zhaojiazhuang Formation, Middle–South Section, Taihang Mountains, China and their Geological Significance

The sedimentary Zhaojiazhuang Formation overlies the ancient Paleo-proterozoic crystalline basement in the middle-south sections of the Taihang Mountains,China.It is a complete stratigraphic sequence with clear boundaries.The formation has an angular unconformity with the underlying Paleo-proterozoic Tongyu Formation and a parallel unconformity with the overlying Changzhougou Formation from the Changcheng System,which is widely distributed throughout the W utai-Zhongtiao-T aihang Mountains.Qiu Zhen et al.(2007)and Wang Qingchun et al.

Source of the Ore-forming Adakitic Porphyry at the Beiya Super-large Au Deposit, Western Yangtze Craton: New Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Amphibolite Xenoliths

Objective The Beiya super-large Au-rich porphyry deposit(304 t Au,2.4 g/t Au)is located within the western Yangtze craton,to the southeast of the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen(Fig.1).The ore-forming porphyry is adakitic,characterized by high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios coupled with low Y and Yb contents,and is generally thought to be derived from partial melting of thickened mafic lower crust.The lower crust underneath the western Yangtze craton is mainly composed of ancient crust with Archean ages,juvenile crust resulting from the Neoproterozoic subduction(740–1000 Ma),and late Permian juvenile crust related to the Emeishan mantle plume.Which lower crustal end-member has played a critical role in genesis of the Beiya ore-forming porphyry can be constrained by zircon U-Pb ages of amphibolite xenoliths hosted in the ore-forming porphyry,because these xenoliths represent direct samples of the source.In this study,we present new zircon U-Pb ages of these amphibolite xenoliths to have insight into the nature of the Beiya adakitic porphyry source.

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.

Unmixing detrital zircon U-Pb ages reveals tectonic and climatic depositional influences on the Carboniferous Ansilta Formation,Calingasta-Uspallata Basin,Western Argentina

The Late Paleozoic Ice Age(LPIA)was a principal control of sedimentation across Gondwana from the late Devonian through early Permian.We assess the hypothesis that glacial to interglacial transitions in western Argentina were the primary control influencing sediment routing patterns among the various Carboniferous-Permian basins in western Argentina.The Carboniferous Ansilta Formation consists of glaciomarine,nearshore,and fluvial systems deposited during the LPIA along the eastern margin of the Calingasta-Uspallata Basin in Argentina.The lower,glacially influenced succession of the Ansilta Formation records at least five glacial advances;the upper succession of consists of progradational shallow marine,deltaic,and fluvial strata.We combine 1225 new U-Pb zircon ages from six samples of the Carboniferous Ansilta Formation in the Calingasta-Uspallata Basin with 5864 U-Pb ages from 147 pub-lished samples in the detrital Pymix forward mixture model to characterize provenance shifts.For the glacially influenced lower Ansilta Formation,sediment was derived locally from the Protoprecordillera,which was a prominent highland with alpine glaciers flowing west and east into the Calingasta-Uspallata and Paganzo basins,respectively.Thus,there was little or no connection between these two basins during Serpukhovian-Bashkirian glaciation.The fluvial/deltaic upper Ansilta had distal sediment sources in the Sierras Pampeanas.Furthermore,our results support the collapse of the Protoprecordillera topographic barrier,enabling drainage patterns connecting the Paganzo and Calingasta-Uspallata basins by late Pennsylvanian-early Permian time.