Exoscopy of Detrital Zircons from Niamey Neoproterozoic Sandstones (Eastern Edge of the West African Craton, Southwestern Niger): Interpretation of Detrital Sediments Provenance

This study focuses on exoscopic analyses of detrital zircon grains of Archean and Paleoproterozoic age, contained in the sediments from the Niamey Neoproterozoic sandstones (Niamey region), with a view to confirming the sediments sources already proposed (Kénéma-Man domain for Archean-age zircons and Baoulé Mossi domain for Paleoproterozoic-age zircons). Exoscopic analysis reveals that Archean zircon grains are more corroded, with rounded to sub-rounded shapes, while Paleoproterozoic zircon grains are less corroded and mostly angular in shape. The strong corrosion of Archean zircon grains, implying long-distance transport, is consistent with the remoteness of the Kenema-Man domain which are the source these sediments. The fact that the Paleoproterozoic zircon grains show little or no wear implies a proximal source of sediments, corresponding to the Baoulé Mossi domain.

Europium anomalies in detrital zircons reveal the crustal thickness evolution of South China in Early Neoproterozoic

The South China Block(SCB)is formed by the amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks during the Early Neoproterozoic along the Jiangnan Orogen.However,the precise amalgamation time of these two blocks and the location of the united SCB in the Rodinia supercontinent remain highly debatable.Various tectonic models have been proposed and they may have different implications for the crustal thickness evolution of the central SCB in Early Neoproterozoic.To evaluate these models,this paper uses a recently calibrated Eu/Eu*-inzircon proxy to reconstruct crustal thickness evolution of the central SCB during Early Neoproterozoic.I compiled and screened U–Pb ages and trace elements of 900–700 Ma detrital zircons from the central SCB and then calculated the zircon Eu/Eu*values.The age-binned average zircon Eu/Eu*displays a decreasing trend from 870 to 790 Ma,and thus indicates no significant crustal thickening event occurred during this time interval.This finding seems to be inconsistent with tectonic models that the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks amalgamated during this time interval.Yet,given that available coupled detrital zircon U–Pb and trace element datasets are very limited,additional studies are warranted to further evaluate this hypothesis.

U-Pb Age and Hf Isotope Study of Detrital Zircons from the Wanzi Supracrustals:Constraints on the Tectonic Setting and Evolution of the Fuping Complex,Trans-North China Orogen

Located in the middle segment of the Trans-North China Orogen, the Fuping Complex is considered as a critical area in understanding the evolution history of the North China Craton （NCC）. The complex is composed of various high-grade and multiply deformed rocks, including gray gneiss, basic granulite, amphibolite, fine-grained gneiss and marble, metamorphosed to upper amphibolite or granulite facies. It can be divided into four rock units： the Fuping TTG gneisses, Longquanguan augen gneisses, Wanzi supracrustals, and Nanying granitic gneisses. U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of about 200 detrital zircons from the Wanzi supracrustals of the Fuping Complex have been analyzed. The data on metamorphic zircon rims give ages of 1.82-1.84 Ga, corresponding to the final amalgamation event of the NCC, whereas the data for igneous zircon cores yield two age populations at -2.10 and -2.51 Ga, with some inherited ages scattering between 2.5 and 2.9 Ga. These results suggest that the Wanzi supracrustals were derived from the Fuping TTG gneisses （-2.5 Ga） and the Nanying granitic gneisses （2.0-2.1 Ga） and deposited between 2.10 and 1.84 Ga. All zircons with -2.51 Ga age have positive initial εHf values from ＋1.4 to ＋10.9, suggesting an important crustal growth event at -2.5 Ga through the addition of juvenile materials from the mantle. The Hf isotope data for the detrital zircons further imply that the 2.8 Ga rocks are important components in the lower crust, which is consistent with a suggestion from Nd isotope data for the Eastern Block. The zircons of 2.10 Ga population have initial εHf values of-4.9 to ＋6.1, interpreted as mixing of crustal re-melt with minor juvenile material contribution at 2.1 Ga. These results are distinct from that for the Western Block, supporting that the Fuping Complex was emplaced in a tectonic active environment at the western margin of the Eastern Block.

Timing of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze and Cathysian Convergence： Constraint from U-Pb Geochronology of Hydrothermal Zircons from Mafic Mylonite within the Shoucheng-Piaoli Ductile Shear Zone, Northern Guangxi

Objective The northern Guangxi region is in the southwestern part of the Southern China continent,which is located at the junction of the southwest section of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze block and Cathaysian block.A series of NNE-trending ductile shear zones are developed in this region,and these ductile shear zones are mostly previously suggested boundary faults of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze block and Cathaysian block,such as the Shoucheng–Piaoli ductile shear zone in Northern Guangxi （Meng Yuanku et al., 2016; Zhang Xuefeng et al., 2015）.

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Geochronology of Detrital Zircons in Eastern Liaoning Province： An Early Paleozoic Formation Associated with the Gondwana Supercontinent Event

Objective The Liao-Ji orogenic belt is a famous Paleoproterozoic orogenic belt in the East Block of the North China Craton(NCC),which extend in NE-SW direction.The geological mass in the Paleoproterozoic Liao-Ji belt is mainly composed of the Liaoji granites and metamorphic volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the Liaohe group(and its

A ca. 2.2Ga Acidic Magmatic Event at the Northern Margin of the Yangtze Craton: Evidence from U-Pb Dating and Hf Isotope Analysis of Zircons from the Kongling Complex

Objective The Yangtze craton collisional orogeny at ca. extensional events at ca. 1 experienced Paleoproterozoic 1.95-2.0 Ga and post-orogenic 85 Ga related to amalgamation of the Columbia （Nuna） supercontinent （Zhao and Cawood, 2012）. A ca. 2.15 Ga suprasubduction zone ophiolitic melange was recongized in the Archean- Paleoproterozoic Kongling Complex of the northern Yangtze craton （Han et al., 2017）. However, the tectonic evolution in early Paleoproterozoic from 2.4 Ga to 2.2 Ga remains unclear. We report here the presence of a suite of Paleoproterozoic （2.2 Ga） granites in the Huangling dome, northern Yangtze craton, which may provide important insights into crustal growth processes in the craton prior to the assembly of Columbia.

Major Tectono-thermal Events in the Yangtze Craton: Insights from U-Pb-Lu-Hf Isotope Records in Zircons from End-Permian Volcanic Interlayers in Southwest China

The in situ zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotope records from end-Permian volcanic interlayers in southwest China,integrated with previous studies,restructure the evolutionary history of the Yangtze Craton from Precambrian to Late Paleozoic.This includes early continental crust formation before 3.0 Ga and massive juvenile crustal growth at 2.6-2.4 Ga;large-scale crustal reworking at 2.1-1.7 Ga;Neoproterozoic crust addition at 1.1 to 0.7 Ga;collision and subduction along the craton margin between 700-541 Ma;Early Ordovician to Late Silurian magmatism;and large tectono-thermal events in the Middle Carboniferous to end-Permian.Some zircons with T(MD2)ages from 4.40 to 4.01 Ga and lower initial176Hf/177Hf values of 0.280592 to 0.280726 may imply the existence of Hadean crust relics beneath the Yangtze Craton and their provenances could be associated with Hadean crustal remelting.This study further clarifies that the Precambrian-age zircons between the end-Permian volcanic interlayers,the complexes in the western margin of the Yangtze Craton,and the sedimentary Kangdian Basin,may share an affinity based on similar U-Pb age spectra and Hf isotope features.It also shows that the Neoproterozoic tectono-thermal event may be associated with large-scale tectono-rifting activity,which is different from the Grenville-age continental collision between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China.The above findings support the inference of a widespread Archean basement extending to the western Yangtze Craton and a provenance in the Kangdian Basin that is derived from the weathering and erosion of Paleoproterozoic continental crust.

The Tectonic Implications of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing Ophiolitic Mélanges Belt in the Central Region of the Beishan Orogen, NW China——Constrained by the U-Pb Ages of Detrital Zircons of the Metasandstones

The tectonic attributes of different blocks within orogenic belts are of great significance for the study of accretionary processes and the evolution of Earth. The Hongliuhe-Niujianzi-Baiyunshan-Xichangjing ophiolitic mélange belt(HXOMB) is distributed in the heart of the Beishan Orogen, the Shuangyingshan and Minshui-Hanshan blocks being distributed in the south and north of the HXOMB respectively, and a large number of Early Paleozoic geological units are exposed on the blocks. According to the zircon age populations of the metasandstones in the Baiyunshan area recovered in this paper, when compared with the zircon age populations of the Paleozoic metasandstones reported in the Niujuanzi and Hanshan areas, we found that the metasandstones of the Shuangyingshan Block have age peaks at c. 598 Ma, 742 Ma, 828 Ma, 941 Ma, 990 Ma, 1168 Ma, 1636 Ma, 2497 Ma with non-significant age populations of 1500–1300 Ma, showing a possible affinity with the Tarim Craton;the metasandstones of the Minshui-Hanshan Block have age peaks at c. 606 Ma, 758 Ma, 914 Ma, 1102 Ma, 1194 Ma, 1304 Ma, 1672 Ma with significant age populations of 1500-1300 Ma, showing a possible affinity with the Chinese Central Tianshan Block. Therefore, the HXOMB of the Beishan Orogen is of great significance in plate segmentation, which separates the Tarim Craton in the south and the Chinese Central Tianshan Block in the north. Based on the evolutionary process of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing ocean in the Beishan Orogen, we believe that break-up and convergence can be recognized as having occurred twice between the Chinese Central Tianshan Block and the Tarim Craton since the Mesoproterozoic in the Beishan area. This was related firstly to the break-up of the Columbia Supercontinent and the convergence of the Rodinia Supercontinent, mainly during the Middle Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic, and secondly to the opening and closing of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing ocean, mainly during the Early Paleozoic.

SHRIMP Age of Exotic Zircons in the Mengyin Kimberlite,Shandong,and Their Formation

Due to various courses of formation of zircons from kimbedites, different kinds of zircons can provide useful information about the mantle and the crystallization of kimberlites. We chose 9 typical ones out of 33 zircons from the Shengli- 1 kimberlite pipe in Mengyin County, Shandong Province to study their ages and formation by means of SHRIMP, CL, Raman spectroscopy, etc. The result shows that the ^207Pb/^206Pb ages of many zircons vary from 2567±13 Ma to 2636±42 Ma, which are close to the age of Archaean granitoid （2457.3±47 Ma） in the study area. The contents of U and Th in the samples are higher than those of zircons crystallized in kimbedite and vary from 89 to 398 ppm as well as from 10 to 283 ppm. Color zones are obvious in these samples under the CL. The inclusions are composed of feldspar, quartz, apatite, etc. The above results show that the zircon samples came from the crust of the earth, which means that the kimberlite magmas are contaminated by crustal substances. The position where a great deal of volatile escapes and even explodes during rapid rise of magmas is located at the boundary of the ancient basement and the Precambrian stratum.

Paleozoic convergence processes in the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Insights from U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from West Junggar,northwestern China

The West Junggar orogen,located in the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),preserves an abundant record of tectonic processes associated with the evolution of the Junggar Ocean.In this study,we use detrital zircon U–Pb age data from Ordovician to Carboniferous sandstones in the southern and central West Junggar domains,complemented by literature data,to better constrain the tectonic evolution of the southwestern CAOB.The Kekeshayi,Qiargaye,and Laba formations in the southern West Junggar domain were deposited during the Darriwilian-Sandbian,Katian-Aeronian,and Homerian-Emsian,respectively.Detrital zircon provenances of these formations display a marked shift from the southern West Junggar domain to the Paleo-Kazakhstan Continent(PKC).This suggests that the southern West Junggar intra-oceanic arc might have gradually accreted to the northern margin of the PKC prior to the Emsian,which has significantly contributed to the lateral growth of the PKC.The Carboniferous strata,Xibeikulasi,Baogutu,and Tailegula formations,in the central West Junggar domain represent a coherent sequence of volcaniclastic turbidites and were deposited in a progressively shrinking remnant oceanic basin during the Visean to Moscovian.They contain unimodal detrital zircon distributions and are derived from the local and coeval magmatic rocks in the central West Junggar domain.We propose that the final closure of the Junggar Ocean likely occurred in the end of the Late Carboniferous in response to regional amalgamation events in the southwestern CAOB,which marks the final assembly of the Kazakhstan Orocline.The central and southern West Junggar domains underwent individual evolution in the Paleozoic,and were recombined by the significant intra-continental reworking along the large-scale strike-slip faults.

Ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the Permian strata in the engbatu area(Inner Mongolia) and tectonic implications

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) was built up through protracted accretion and collision of a variety of terranes/micro-continents during Neoproterozoice Mesozoic time. To understand potential links among Paleozoic subduction and accretionary processes that were operative during the development of the southeastern CAOB, we conducted a combined U-Pb and Hf-isotope analysis of detrital zircons from previously defined Devonian, Carboniferous and Early Permian strata in the Bengbatu area,Inner Mongolia. Detrital zircons from(meta-) sandstones in these strata commonly yield major Paleozoic age populations at ca. 300-261 Ma, 351-300 Ma and 517-419 Ma, and also give several Precambrian ages that range from 2687 Ma to 544 Ma. The youngest ages redefine the deposition of all these strata to be in the Middle Permian(Wordiane Capitanian) or later, much younger than previously considered.These ages, coupled with regional magmatic records, support an interpretation of most surrounding areas as possible detritus sources, including the Mongolian arcs to the north, the Northern Accretionary Orogen to the south, and the intervening Erenhote Hegenshan Ophiolite Belt. Zircons with magmatic ages of ca. 500-350 Ma and ca. 300-261 Ma display a large range of εHf(t) values(-13.97 to +15.31),whereas ca. 350-300 Ma zircons are dominated by positive εHf(t) values(+0.14 to +16.00). These results support the occurrence of two significant shifts of the zircon εHf(t) values, which has tectonic implications for the understanding of the Carboniferouse Permian evolution of the southeastern CAOB. A marked shift from mixed to positive zircon εHf(t) values at 350 -330 Ma likely manifests the incipient opening of the Hegenshan Ocean, due to the slab rollback of the subducting Paleo-Asian Oceanic lithosphere. Another shift from positive to mixed zircon εHf(t) values at ca. 300 Ma likely corresponds to a tectonic switch from syn-orogenic subduction-related to post-orogenic extensional setting, genetically related to the tectonic collapse of a formerly overthickened crust.

In Situ Analyses of Trace Elements, U–Pb and Lu–Hf Isotopes in Zircons from the Tongshankou Granodiorite Porphyry in Southeast Hubei Province, Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, China

The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed in situ analyses of the trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry were performed.Scarcely any inherited zircons were observed, and the analyzed zircons yielded highly concordant results with a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 143.5 ± 0.45 Ma（n=20, mean square weighted deviation was 0.75）, which was interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry.The chondrite-normalized rare-earth element pattern was characterized by a slope that steeply rises from the light-group rare-earth elements（LREE） to the heavy-group rare-earth elements（HREE） with a positive Ce-anomaly and inconspicuous Eu-anomaly, which was coincident with the pattern of the zircons from the Chuquicamata West porphyry, Chile.The analyzed zircons also had relatively low 176Hf/177 Hf ratios of 0.282526–0.282604.Assuming t=143 Ma, the corresponding calculated initial Hf isotope compositions（εHf（t）） ranged from-5.6 to-2.9.The results of the in situ analysis of trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry suggest that a deep-seated process involving a thickened-crust/enriched-mantle interaction may play an important role in the generation of high Sr/Y-ratio magma and potentially in the generation of porphyry Cu-Mo systems.

Characteristics of Rare Earth Elements of Zircons from Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in Luanping Region, Hebei

Rare earth elements of the zircons from the Mesozoic volcanic rocks in Luanping region, Hebei, were analyzed the results reflect that the average values of δEu and （Lu/Gd）N are 0.49 and 21.8 respectively in the zircons from the top part of Tiaojishan Formation; but the average values of δEu and （Lu/Gd）N are 0.15, 0.06, 0.09 and 14.51, 15.66, 16.25 respectively in the zircons from the lower, and upper part of the Tuchengzi Formation and the bottom bed of the Zhangjiakou Formation. The results show that the characteristics of the zircons from the Tuchengzi Formation are coincident with those of the zircons from the Zhangjiakou Formation, but are different from those of the zircons from the Tiaojishan Formation, and imply that the Tuchengzi Formation has close relation with the Zhangjiakou Formation. Combining the results above with the former isotopic dating results of the volcanic rocks, the authors draw the conclusions as follows ： The Tuchengzi Formation not only has a long interval period with the Tiaojishan Formation, but also is very different from the Tiaojishan Formation in zircon geochemical characteristics. The Zhangjiakou Formation in time, but also is coincident with the Tuchengzi Formation not only is nearly continuous with the Zhangjiakou Formation in geochemistry of zircons. The resuhs imply that the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation were formed in the same geological background, that is, there are not the boundary of the J3-K1 and the interface of the transition of tectonic framework between the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Luanping region. The research shows that the （Lu/Gd）N, δEu are two important parameters which are relatively stable in the analysis of zircons from Crust-source; but the values of ∑LREE of zircons from Crust-source change greatly, especially the abundance of La element, so some ratios of rare earth elements related with La （or ∑LREE） are not usable in determining the characteristics of zircons.

A new cache of Eoarchaean detrital zircons from the Singhbhum craton,eastern India and constraints on early Earth geodynamics

The dominant geodynamic processes that underpin the formation and evolution of Earth’s early crust remain enigmatic calling for new information from less studied ancient cratonic nuclei.Here,we present U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircon grains from^2.9 Ga old quartzites and magmatic zircon from a 3.505 Ga old dacite from the Iron Ore Group of the Singhbhum craton,eastern India.The detrital zircon grains range in age between 3.95 Ga and 2.91 Ga.Together with the recently reported Hadean,Eoarchean xenocrystic(up to 4.24 Ga)and modem detritus zircon grains from the Singhbhum craton,our results suggest that the Eoarchean detrital zircons represent crust generated by recycling of Hadean felsic crust formed at^4.3-4.2 Ga and^3.95 Ga.We observe a prominent shift in Hf isotope compositions at^3.6-3.5 Ga towards super-chondritic values,which signify an increased role for depleted mantle and the relevance of plate tectonics.The Paleo-,Mesoarchean zircon Hf isotopic record in the craton indicates crust generation involving the role of both depleted and enriched mantle sources.We infer a short-lived suprasubduction setting around^3.6-3.5 Ga followed by mantle plume activity during the Paleo-,Mesoarchean crust formation in the Singhbhum craton.The Singhbhum craton provides an additional repository for Earth’s oldest materials.

Convergence History of the Songliao and Jiamusi Blocks in the Eastern End of Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidence from Detrital Zircons of Late Paleozoic Sedimentary Rocks

Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) is one of the largest accretionary orogenic belts in the world. The eastern segment of CAOB is dominated by Paleozoic Paleo Asian Ocean tectonic regime, Mesozoic Paleo-Pacific tectonic regime and Mongolian-Okhotsk tectonic regime. The Songliao and Jiamusi blocks are located in the easternmost part of the CAOB and are the key region to solve the problem about overprinting processes of multiple tectonic regimes. It is generally believed that the Mudanjiang Ocean between the two blocks was finally closed in the Mesozoic, but the Paleozoic magmatism also developed along the Mudanjiang suture zone, while on both sides of the suture zone, there were comparable Paleozoic strata, indicating that the two blocks had converged during the Paleozoic, and the evolution history of the two blocks in the Late Paleozoic remains controversial. The Carboniferous-Permian terrestrial strata mainly developed in Binxian, Wuchang and Tieli on Songliao Block, Baoqing and Mishan on Jiamusi Block. Samples from the Songliao and Jiamusi blocks in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian and Late Permian are collected for comparative analysis. The LAICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results show that the maximum depositional age of Middle Permian Tumenling Formation and Late Permian Hongshan Formation in Songliao Block is ~260 Ma, while that of Tatouhe Formation and Carboniferous strata in Jiamusi Block are ~290 Ma and ~300 Ma, respectively, which supports the previous stratigraphic division scheme. The age peaks of ~290-300 Ma, ~400 Ma, ~500 Ma appeared in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian strata of Jiamusi Block and the Middle Permian strata of Songliao Block. The age peak of ~500 Ma in the Middle Permian strata of Songliao Block may come from the Cambrian basement, Mashan Complex, of Jiamusi Block, while the age peaks of ~420-440 Ma in the Carboniferous strata of Jiamusi Block may come from the Silurian magmatic arc in Zhangguangcai Range in the eastern margin of Songliao Block, reflects the history that they had been potential sources of each other, indicating that they may have combined in the Paleozoic. The Hongshan Formation of Songliao Block in the Late Permian lacks the age peak of ~500 Ma, which indicate that Jiamusi Block was not the provenance of Songliao Block in the Late Permian, that is, there was a palaeogeographic isolation between the two blocks. Combined with the ~210 Ma bimodal volcanic rocks developed along the Mudanjiang suture zone reported previously, we believe that the oceanic basin between the Songliao and Jiamusi blocks should have been connected in Late Permian and reopened during Late Permian to Late Triassic.

Tracking the Cretaceous transcontinental Ceduna River through Australia:The hafnium isotope record of detrital zircons from offshore southern Australia

The middle-upper Cretaceous Ceduna River system traversed continental Australia from the NE coast to the centre of the southern coast. At its mouth, it formed a vast delta system that is similar in scale to the Niger delta of West Africa. The delta system is composed of two main lobes that represent different phases of delta construction. A recent hypothesis has challenged the traditional idea that both lobes of the delta were derived from a transcontinental river system by suggesting that the upper lobe （Santonian -Maastrichtian） is instead derived from a restricted catchment within southern Australia. Hf isotopic data presented here fingerprint the original source of the upper delta lobe zircons to NE Australia, with data comparing well with similar U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic data from the Lachlan Orogen, the New England Orogen, the eastern Musgraves Province and the northern Flinders Ranges. These data do not preclude a model where the lobe is derived from recycled Eromanga Basin sediments during a phase of late Cretaceous inland Australian uplift, but when coupled with reconnaissance low-temperature thermochronometry from the region of the Ceduna River course indicating widespread Triassic-Jurassic exhumation, and comparisons with detrital zircon data from the Winton Formation upstream of any proposed uplift, we suggest that both lobes of the Ceduna Delta are likely to be derived from a transcontinental Ceduna River.

Neoproterozoic tectonic geography of the south-east Congo Craton in Zambia as deduced from the age and composition of detrital zircons

The Southern Irumide Belt(SIB)is an orogenic belt consisting of a number of lithologically varied Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic terranes that were thrust upon each other.The belt lies along the southwest margin of the Archaean to Proterozoic Congo Craton,and bears a Neoproterozoic tectonothermal overprint relating to the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian collision between the Congo and Kalahari cratons.It preserves a record of about 500 million years of plate interaction along this part of the Congo margin.Detrital zircon samples from the SIB were analysed for U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes,as well as trace element compositions.These data are used to constrain sediment-source relationships between SIB terranes and other Gondwanan terranes such as the local Congo Craton and Irumide belt and wider afield to Madagascar(Azania)and India.These correlations are then used to interpret the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic affinity of the rocks and evolution of the region.Detrital zircon samples from the Chewore-Rufunsa and Kacholola(previously referred to as Luangwa-Nyimba)terranes of the SIB yield zircon U-Pb age populations and evolvedε(Hf)(t)values that are similar to the Muva Supergroup found throughout eastern Zambia,primarily correlating with Ubendian-Usagaran(ca.2.05-1.80 Ga)phase magmatism and a cryptic basement terrane that has been suggested to underlie the Bangweulu Block and Irumide Belt.These data suggest that the SIB was depositionally connected to the Congo Craton throughout the Mesoproterozoic.The more eastern Nyimba-Sinda terrane of the SIB(previously referred to as Petauke-Sinda terrane)records detrital zircon ages andε(Hf)(t)values that correlate with ca.1.1-1.0 Ga magmatism exposed elsewhere in the SIB and Irumide Belt.We ascribe this difference in age populations to the polyphase development of the province,where the sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Nyimba-Sinda terrane accumulated in extensional basins that developed in the Neoproterozoic.Such deposition would have occurred following late-Mesoproterozoic magmatism that is widespread throughout both the Irumide and Southern Irumide Belts,presently considered to have occurred in response to collision between a possible microcontinental mass and the Irumide Belt.This interpretation implies a multi-staged evolution of the ocean south of the Congo Craton during the mid-Mesoproterozoic to late-Neoproterozoic,which ultimately closed during collision between the Congo and Kalahari cratons.

The U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotope Compositions of Detrital Zircons from the Nanhua Group of the Longsheng Region,South China and their Implications for Pan-African Events

It is unclear whether the South China blocks have an affinity with continental Gondwana due to a lack of direct Pan-African magmatic and metamorphic features.In this study,we conducted U-Pb geochronological and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses for detrital zircons from a sandstone of the Chang'an Formation of the Nanhua Group in the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi,with the aim of constraining the timing of sedimentation and information as to its source,as well as seeking evidence for Pan-African events in the South China blocks.The results show that the ages of detrital zircons peaked at 654.7±6.2 Ma,773.2±4.1 Ma and 821.9±6.5 Ma,with some at 920–870 Ma;the youngest age indicates the existence of the Pan-African thermal event.The ε_(Hf)(t)and T_(DM2) values demonstrate that the study area has experienced three stages of crustal growth at 3.0–2.4 Ga,2.1–1.5 Ga and 1.3–0.9 Ga.With intensively distributed Neoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic and granitic plutons emplaced at 830–810 Ma along the southwestern section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and positiveεHf(t)values from a large group of zircon grains,it is proposed that the sediments of the Chang'an Formation(of Nanhua Group)were largely sourced from the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block.Comparison with the zircon age spectra of the Cathaysian block shows that about 79%of the Pan-African aged detrital zircon grains that have TDM2=1352–1031 Ma andεHf(t)=3.68–8.79,were sourced from the recycled Grenvillian crust of the Cathaysian block,suggesting that the Cathaysian block had a close connection with Gondwana.

Time series analysis of mantle cycles Part Ⅱ:The geologic record in zircons, large igneous provinces and mantle lithosphere

Igneous and detrital zircons have six major U/Pb isotopic age peaks in common(2700 Ma,1875 Ma.1045 Ma,625 Ma,265 Ma and 90 Ma).For igneous rocks,each age peak is comprised of subpeaks with distinct geographic distributions and a subpeak age range per age peak≤100 Myr.There are eight major LIP age peaks(found on≥10 crustal provinces)of which only four are in common to major detrital zircon age peaks(2715 Ma,1875 Ma,825 Ma,90 Ma).Of the whole-rock Re depletion ages,58%have correspo nding detrital zircon age peaks and 55%have corresponding LIP age peaks.Ten age pea ks are fou nd in common to igneous zircon,detrital zircon,LIP,and Re depletion age time series(3225 Ma,2875 Ma,2145 Ma,2085 Ma,1985 Ma,1785 Ma,1455 Ma,1175 Ma,825 Ma,and 90 Ma).and these are very robust peaks on a global scale as recorded in both crustal and mantle rocks.About 50%of the age peaks in each of these time series correspond to predicted peaks in a 94-Myr mantle cycle,including four of the ten peaks in common to all four time series(2875 Ma,1785 Ma,825 Ma and 90 Ma).Age peak widths and subpeak ranges per age peak suggest that mantle events responsible for age peaks are<100 Myr and many<50 Myr in duration.Age peak geographic distributions show three populations(≤1000 Ma,2500-1000 Ma,>2500 Ma),with the number of new provinces in which age peaks are represented decreasing with time within each population.The breaks between the populations(at 2.5 Ga and 1 Ga)fall near the onsets of two transitions in Earth history.The First Transition may represent a change from stagnant-lid tectonics into plate tectonics and the Second Transition,the onset of subduction of continental crust.The major factor controlling geographic distribution of age peaks is the changing locations of orogeny.Before^2 Ga,age subpeaks and peaks are housed in orogens within or around the edges of crustal provinces,mostly in accretionary orogens.but beginning at 1.9 Ga,collisional orogens become more important.The coincidence in duration between magmatic flare-ups in Phanerozoic arcs and duration of age subpeaks(10-30 Myr)is consiste nt with subpeaks representing periods of enhanced arcrelated magmatism.probably caused by increased subduction flux.The correlation of isotopic age peaks between time series supports a cause and effect relationship between mantle plume activity,continental magma production at convergent margins,and crustal deformation.Correlation of over half of the detrital zircon age peaks(and six of the nine major peaks)with Re depletion age peaks supports an interpretation of the zircon peaks as crustal growth rather than selective preservation peaks.

U-Pb Ages and Hf Isotope of Zircons from a Carbonatite Dyke in the Bayan Obo Fe-REE Deposit in Inner Mongolia: its Geological Significance

Detailed studies on U-Pb ages and Hf isotope have been carried out in zircons from a carbonatite dyke associated with the Bayan Obo giant REE-Nb-Fe deposit,northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC),which provide insights into the plate tectonic in Paleoproterozoic.Analyses of small amounts of zircons extracted from a large sample of the Wu carbonatite dyke have yielded two ages of late Archaean and late Paleoproterozoic(with mean 207 Pb/206 Pb ages of 2521±25 Ma and 1921±14 Ma,respectively).Mineral inclusions in the zircon identified by Raman spectroscopy are all silicate minerals,and none of the zircon grains has the extremely high Th/U characteristic of carbonatite,which are consistent with crystallization of the zircon from silicate,and the zircon is suggested to be derived from trapped basement complex.Hf isotopes in the zircon from the studied carbonatite are different from grain to grain,suggesting the zircons were not all formed in one single process.Majority ofεHf(t)values are compatible with ancient crustal sources with limited juvenile component.The Hf data and their TDM2 values also suggest a juvenile continental growth in Paleoproterozoic during the period of 1940–1957 Ma.Our data demonstrate the major crustal growth during the Paleoproterozoic in the northern margin of the NCC,coeval with the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia,and provide insights into the plate tectonic of the NCC in Paleoproterozoic.