Determination of the early Paleozoic accretionary complex in Southwestern Yunnan, China: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys Ocean

Accretionary complex study provides important knowledge on the subduction and the geodynamic processes of the oceanic plate,which represents the ancient ocean basin extinction location.Nevertheless,there exist many disputes on the age,material source,and tectonic attribute of the Lancang Group,located in Southwest Yunnan,China.In this paper,the LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U‒Pb chronology of nine metamorphic rocks in the Lancang Group was carried out.The U‒Pb ages of the three detrital zircons mainly range from 590-550 Ma,980-910 Ma,and 1150-1490 Ma,with the youngest detrital zircons having a peak age of about 560 Ma.The U‒Pb ages of the six detrital zircons mainly range from 440-460 Ma and 980-910 Ma,and the youngest detrital zircon has a peak age of about 445 Ma.In the Lancang Group,metamorphic acidic volcanic rocks,basic volcanic rocks,intermediate-acid intrusive rocks,and high-pressure metamorphic rocks are exposed in the form of tectonic lens in schist,rendering typical melange structural characteristics of“block+matrix”.Considering regional deformation and chronology,material composition characteristics,and the previous data,this study thinks the Lancang Group may be an early Paleozoic tectonic accretionary complex formed by the eastward subduction of the Changning-Menglian Proto-Tethys Ocean,which provides an important constraint for the Tethys evolution.

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）.

Sedimentary Paleoenvironment of the Eastern Hexi Corridor, NW China: Constraints from Chert Geochemistry and Sedimentary Analysis of Early Paleozoic Strata

The eastern Hexi Corridor, northwest China, is located at the tectonic junction of the Alxa Block, the North China Craton, and the Qinling-Qilian Orogen. The early Paleozoic Xiangshan Group record critical information regarding paleoenvironment, paleoclimate and paleotectonic setting, from which we here present a focused study on the chert beds within the Xiangshan Group. Through field mapping, microstructural observation, whole-rock geochemistry analyses and detrital zircon dating, we suggest that the Xiangshan Group chert was deposited along a passive continental margin, formed primarily through biological activity with minor hydrothermal influence and terrestrial input. The characteristics of the chert support a low latitude sedimentary paleoenvironmental origin, and reveal the fact that the Alxa Block was separated from the North China craton, while emerged some paleogeographic affinity with the Qilian region in the Middle-Late Cambrian.

Oldest Basement(ca.462 Ma)in Indonesian Borneo and its Implication for Early Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of SE Asia

The lack of preserved basement results in uncertain placements of many terranes in Southeast Asia.Here,we flag the first evidence of the oldest basement in Indonesian Borneo,which can help locate terranes in Borneo on the northern margin of Gondwana in the early Paleozoic and explain the regional tectonic setting of the island.Two schist samples from the Embuoi Complex in the Semitau Block,Northwest Kalimantan yielded zircon U-Pb dates of 453.3±1.9 Ma and 462.4±2.6 Ma,respectively,representing the formation time of the protolith.Petrographic,internal structural and high Th/U ratios of zircons indicate that the protolith of schists is of magmatic origin.The zircons haveεHf(t)values of−4.1 to+1.1 and Hf model ages of 1.37–1.69 Ga,indicating they were derived from a mixed source of juvenile crust with old components.By comparison of zircon age distribution,two-stage Hf model ages andεHf(t)variations of the early Paleozoic igneous rocks from Semitau with those of South China,Tengchong–Baoshan,and Indochina,the Semitau Block was most likely a part of or placed next to the Indochina Block of northern Gondwana during the early Paleozoic.Such a similar tectono-magmatic pattern on northern Gondwana formed a prolonged early Paleozoic arc-related belt associated with subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean.

Early Paleozoic adakite in the Liuyuan area from the Beishan orogenic belt,NW Gansu Province:Petrogenesis and implication for tectonic setting

The Liuyuan area,which is located on the southern margin of the Beishan orogenic belt,develops abundant Early Paleozic granitoids.SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 421±8 Ma for the Liuyuan granodiorite(Zhao Zehui et al.,2007),implying its Late Silurian intrusion.Geochemical compositions showed that the Liuyuan granodiorite is characterized by high SiO2(65.01%-67.31%),A12O3(17.17%-18.05%) and Na2O(Na2O/K2O=1.67-1.87) but low Mg# contents calculated as 100×Mg2+/(Mg2++∑Fe2+) from 28.77 to 31.15,as well as being enriched in Sr(472×10-6-517×10-6) but depleted in Yb(1.2×10-6-1.42×10-6) and Y(12.8×10-6-14×10-6).The REEs are characterized by right-inclined patterns with LREE enrichment,HREE depletion and slightly negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.91-0.97).Major and trace elements indicate that the granodiorite is an adakite.The Nb/Ta values of the granodiorite vary from 10.80 to 18.01 and Nb/U from 6.32 to 10.09,both lying between the values of the crust and the mantle.The rock has low εNd(t) values(-2.5--0.8) and high ISr(0.706321-0.706495).Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions indicate that the Liuyuan granodiorite is possibly derived from partial melting of thickening lower crust,related to mantle underplating.The Yb-Ta and Y+Nb-Rb discriminant diagrams imply the Liuyuan granodiorite intruded in a local extensional tectonic setting during late collision.Combined with previous studies on geochronology,geochemistry and tectonic setting of granitoids,we interprete that the constraint of this adakite in the Liuyuan area indicates that the tectonic setting may have transformed from collision to extension during the Early Devonian.

Petrogenesis and tectonic significance of the early Paleozoic Delenuoer ophiolite in the Central Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau

The newly discovered early Paleozoic Delenuoer ophiolite,in the western margin of the Central Qilian Shan,is composed of serpentinized peridotite,cumulate gabbro,diabase,massive basalt,and pillow basalt.This study presents geochronological and geochemical data for the cumulate gabbro and basalt.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from the cumulate gabbro yielded a magmatic crystallization age of 472±4 Ma.The basalts have normal mid-ocean ridge basalt(N-MORB)compositions and a narrow range ofεNd(t)values(+4.5 to+5.3),which indicates they were derived from a depleted mantle source.On the basis of regional geological constraints,it is proposed that the Delenuoer ophiolite is a westward extension of the South Ophiolite Belt(Yushigou-Youhulugou-Donggou-Dongcaohe Ophiolite Belt)in the North Qilian Shan.The Delenuoer ophiolite,along with the Gulangxia-Delenuoer fault,defines the westernmost part of the tectonic boundary between the North and Central Qilian Shan.This ophiolite may have formed during southward subduction of the Qilian Ocean slab during the early Paleozoic.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Xilin Group: Constraints for the Early Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Songliao Massif

The Xilin Group, composed of the Chenming, Laodaomiaogou, Qianshan and Wuxingzhen formations, is one of the Early Paleozoic terranes in the eastern Songliao Massif, mainly consisting of thick layers of fine clastic and carbonate rocks. This study presents LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronological data for the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations, further constraining their provenance and the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Songliao Massif on the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Most zircons from the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations show magmatic oscillatory zoning and high Th/U ratios(0.26–2.41). Zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that the detrital zircons from the silty mudstone of the Laodaomiaogou Formation yield peak ages of 634 Ma, 775 Ma, 820 Ma, 880 Ma and 927 Ma, as well as multi-episodic Archean to Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic ages(1405–643 Ma), implying its deposition time is younger than ~634 Ma. Furthermore, the occurrence of Early Cambrian fossils indicates that the Laodaomiaogou Formation was deposited during the late stage of the Early Cambrian(~514 Ma). The zircons from the K-bentonite of the Qianshan Formation show four peak ages of 444 Ma, 471 Ma, 489 Ma and 518 Ma and the youngest age peak of 444 ± 4 Ma(n = 6) indicates that the Qianshan Formation was deposited during the Late Ordovician. In addition, the peak ages of the detrital zircons in the silty mudstone of the Qianshan Formation are 472 Ma and 498 Ma, as well as two other concordant points with;Pb/;Pb apparent ages of 1824 Ma and 1985 Ma. The dating results in this study, together with published data, indicate the absence of Pan-African magmatic events in the Songliao Massif prior to the initial deposition of the Xilin Group, in contrast to those distributed widely in the Jiamusi Massif. Taken together, we conclude that the depositional provenance of the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations was derived from the Songliao Massif. Furthermore, the characteristics of the detrital zircon age composition and rock associations indicate that the Laodaomiaogou Formation formed in a passive continental margin environment, in contrast to the Qianshan Formation, which formed in an active continental margin environment. The above results also imply that the Songliao and Jiamusi massifs might not have collided before the Late Ordovician.

Early Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Insights from granitoids in the Xing’an and Songnen blocks

The early Paleozoic tectonic framework and evolutionary history of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is poorly understood.Here we present zircon U-Pb geochronology,whole rock geochemistry,and Sr-NdHf isotope data of the early Paleozoic granitoids in eastern CAOB to investigate the petrogenesis and geodynamic implications.The early Paleozoic granitoids from the Songnen Block yield zircon U-Pb ages of 523-490 Ma,negative εNd(t)values of-6.7 to-0.8,and values of-8.6 to 7.1,indicating they were generated by partial melting of ancient crustal materials with various degrees of mantle contribution.They generally show affinities to A-type granites,implying their generation from an extensional environment after the collision between the Songnen and Jiamusi blocks.In comparison,the early Paleozoic granitoids from the Xing’an Block have zircon U-Pb ages of 480-465 Ma,εNd(t)values of-5.4 to 5.4,andεHf(t)values of-2.2 to 12.9,indicating a dominated juvenile crustal source with some input of ancient crustal components.They belong to I-type granites and were likely related to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The statistics of TDM2 Hf model ages of the granitoids indicate that the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks contain a significant proportion of Mesoproterozoic crystalline basement,while the Xing’an Block is dominated by a Neoproterozoic basement.Based on these observations,the early Paleozoic evolutionary history of eastern GAOB can be divided into four stages:(1)before 540 Ma,the Erguna,Xing’an,Songnen,and Jiamusi blocks were discrete microcontinents separated by different branches of the Paleo-Asian Ocean;(2)540-523 Ma,the Jiamusi Block collided with the Songnen Block along the Mudanjiang suture;(3)ca.500 Ma,the Erguna Block accreted onto the Xing’an Block along the Xinlin-Xiguitu suture;(4)ca.480 Ma,the Paleo-Asian Ocean started a double-side subduction beneath the united Erguna-Xing’an and Songnen-Jiamusi blocks.

Mantle plume:the dynamic setting of the origin of Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang,Shaanxi Province,Southern Qinling Block,China

The mafic dykes(dolerites)during the Early Paleozoic are widely spread in Langao-Ziyang,southern Qiling Block,and the investigation on these dykes are very important.Previous studies have mainly focused on the Silurian mafic dykes;however,research on the Earlier Paleozoic mafic dykes is relatively weak at present.Therefore,the overall understanding of the mantle source and genetic dynamic setting during the Early Paleozoic in this area is lacking.To study the accurate age and origin of the Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang,southern Shaanxi Province,the mafic dykes from dabacunand Qinmingzhai were selected and the petrology,zircon U-Pb chronology,geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes were studied.Analysis indicates that the mafic dykes studied are mainly composed of dolerite,and they are the products of the Early Ordovician(475.8-480.7 Ma).Furthermore,the dolerites belong to alkaline rock series,and they are characterized by enrichment in LREE,Rb,Ba,Sr,Nb,(87Sr/86Sr)i=0.7020-0.7050,εNd(t)=3.0-4.0),εHf(t)=4.5-12.1,176Hf/177Hf=0.282681-0.282844.This suggests that the mafic dyke were derived from the partial melting of a depleted lithospheric mantle,and the genetic process is mainly controlled by the mantle plume based on the discussion of the genetic model.Furthermore,the genetic process experienced the separation and crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene at the same time,with little crustal contamination.

Early Paleozoic Mafic-Ultramafic Rocks in the East Kunlun: Trace Subduction of Proto-Tethys

The East Kunlun located in the northern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet)Plateau,is a composite orogenic belt which has underwent multi-stages tectonic evolution(e.g.Wang and Chen,1987;Jiang et al.,1992;Yang et al.,1996,2009).The East Kunlun orogenic belt(EKOB)is bounded by Altyn Tagh Fault in the west and Wenquan Fault in the east,bounded by the south margin of Qaidam

Early Paleozoic Magmatism and Crustal Evolution in the North Qinling Orogen

1 Introduction The North Qinling orogenic belt is characterized by diverse rocks,multi-phase tectonic-magmatic events,which is composed of not only basement rocks of the Qinling Group,but also numerous magmatic rocks in

Metallogenesis and Geodynamic Setting of the Early Paleozoic Orogenic Gold Deposits in the North Altyn

The North Altyn has underwent a complex tectonic history in the Early Paleozoic and formed a number of orogenic gold deposits controlled by ductile to brittle shear zones adjacent to the southern side of the Northern Altyn Tagh fault e.g. the Dapinggou, Beiketan and Xiangyun. The Dapinggou gold deposit, a typical orogenic gold deposit in North Altyn, is predominantly hosted in the Precambrian carbonate and Cambrian volcano- sedimentary rocks which were strongly deformed and were subjected to low-grade metamorphism. The ore bodies occurred in K-feldspar quartz veins and hydrothermally altered mylonite within the ductile shear belt. Hydrothermal alteration including silicification, pyritization.

Geochronology and geochemistry of early Paleozoic intrusive rocks from the Khanka Massif of the Russian Far East

The Russian Far East and Northeast（NE）China are located in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt（CAOB）,which consists of a series of micro-continental massifs including the Erguna,Xing’an,Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range,Bureya,Jiamusi,and Khanka massifs.The Khanka Massif is located in the easternmost part of the CAOB,mainly cropping out in the territory of Russia,with a small segment in NE China.To the north and west of the Khanka Massif are the Jiamusi and Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range massifs,respectively.The boundary between these massifs is marked by the Dunhua–Mishan Fault.To the south lies the North China Craton,and to the east is the Sikhote–Alin Orogenic Belt separated by the Arsenyev Fault.However,the early Paleozoic evolution and tectonic attributes of the Khanka Massif are debated.These conflicting ideas result from the lack of systematic research on early Paleozoic igneous rocks from the Russian part of the Khanka Massif.It is generally accepted that the CAOB represents the largest known Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic belt.However,questions remain concerning the nature of the deep crust beneath the Khanka Massif,and whether Precambrian crust exists within the massif itself. In this paper,we report new zircon U–Pb ages,Hf isotopic data,and major-and trace-element compositions of the early Paleozoic intrusive rocks from the Khanka Massif of the Russian Far East,with the aim of elucidating the early Paleozoic evolution and the tectonic attributes of the Khanka Massif,as well as the nature of the underlying deep crust. New U–Pb zircon data indicate that early Paleozoic magmatism within the Khanka Massif can be subdivided into at least four stages:;02 Ma,;92 Ma,462–445 Ma,and;30 Ma. The;02 Ma pyroxene diorites show negative Eu anomalies,and the;92 Ma syenogranites,intruding the;02 Ma diorites,show positive Eu anomalies.These observations indicate that the primary parental magmas of these rocks were derived from different origins. The 462–445 Ma magmatism is made up of syenogranites and tonalites.The;45 Ma Na-rich tonalites contain low REE concentrations,and are enriched in Eu and Sr.These observations,together with the positiveεHf（t）values,indicate that they were derived from magmas generated by partial melting of cumulate gabbros. The;30 Ma I-type granodiorites and monzogranites from the northern Khanka Massif,and the A-type monzogranites from the central Khanka Massif display zirconεHf（t）values ranging from–5.4 to+5.8.This suggests that they formed from magmas generated by partial melting of heterogeneous lower crustal material. Zircon Hf isotopic data reveal the existence of Precambrian crustal material within the Khanka Massif.The geochemistry of the Middle Cambrian intrusive rocks is indicative of formation in an extensional setting,while Late Cambrian–middle Silurian magmatism was generated in an active continental margin setting associated with the subduction of a paleo-oceanic plate beneath the Khanka Massif.Regional comparisons of the magmatic events indicate that the Khanka Massif has a tectonic affinity to the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif rather than the Jiamusi Massif.

Geochemistry, geochronology, and petro-genesis of the early Paleozoic granitic plutons in the central-southern Jiangxi Province,China

This paper reports the systematic study on petrology, geochemistry, LA ICPMS zircons U-Pb dating, and in situ Hf isotope geology of the four plutons in the central-southern Jiangxi Province, an important part of the South China Block. In the outcrops, rocks are gradually changed from wall rock （slate or schist） to pluton （gneissic granite）; some residual blocks of sandy rock occur in the margin of pluton, and the foliations of residual blocks are parallel to those of both wail rock and gneissic granite. The thin-section observations show that the four plutons contain peraluminous minerals such as muscovite and sillimanite. The flattened and elongated feldspar and quartz grains are often visible in the gneissic granite, parallel to direction of lineation, suggesting that the granitic rock were subjected to a strong ductile sheafing. Geochemically, the A/CNK values from 13 granitic samples are between 1.03 and 1.37 with an average of 1.16, indicating that the granites are of strongly peraluminous plutons. The REE compositions of the 13 samples are similar, showing higher EREE contents, with enrichment in LREEs, depletion in Eu and REE patterns with relative LREE-enrichment and negligible Eu anomalies. They show enrichment in Rb, Th, U and depletion in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ti, belonging to a low Ba-Sr type of granite. Thus, the four bodies should be derived from the same magmatic source. Zircons used as U-Pb dating mostly exhibit euhedral shape and high Th/U values from 0.52 to 1.54 with an average of 1.08, suggesting that most zircons are of magmatic genesis. The zircons from four plutons yielded rather similar 206pb/238U vs. 207Tpb/235U concordia ages： 436.1±5.7 Ma for the Tangwan granite, 440.6±4 Ma for the Jiekou gneissic granite, 435.9±6.2 Ma for the Dongbao gneissic granite, and 441.9±3.1 Ma for the Jinxi K-granite, respectively, corresponding to Silurian Llandovery. Several xenocrysts yielded U-Pb ages around 700 Ma, implying that a breakup event took place during Neoproterozoic in the South China Block. In situ Lu-Hf isotopic analysis shows that all εHf（t） values of zircons are negative and have two-stage Hf model ages （TDM2） from 1.4 to 3.6 Ga, indicating that the Silurian granitic magma came from the re- cycle of Meso-Paleoproterozoic basement and even partly Archean rocks, and had not been effected by mantle magma. Re- searches on regional geology suggest that an intracontinental tectono-magmatic event took place during the early Paleozoic in the study areas, which is characterized by folding and thrusting, leading to crustal shortening and thickening, up to 20 km thickness. The high geothermal temperature from thickening crust and accumulation of producing high-heat radioactive elements gradually softened crustal rocks and caused a partial melting, forming peraluminous granitic magma. Under the post-orogenic extensional and de-pressure condition, these granitic magma rose and was emplaced in the upper crust, leading to development of S-type plutons

Opening of an early Paleozoic limited oceanic basin in the northern Altyn area: Constraints from plagiogranites in the Hongliugou-Lapeiquan ophiolitic mélange

This paper reports petrological and geochemical features and zircon U-Pb age of plagiogranite from the Hongliugou-Lapeiquan ophiolitic melange belt in the northern Altyn Tagh. The zircon U-Pb dating results yield a mean ^238U/^206pb age of 512.1 ± 1.5 Ma, representing an emplacement time of the plagiogranites in the Middle Cambrian. The plagiogranites are interpreted to have derived from anatexis of hydrated amphibolites by ductile shearing during transports of the oceanic crust. Thus it is believed that the formation age of such type of plagiogranite was coeval to or slightly younger than the spreading of the Hongliugou-Lapeiquan limited oceanic basin. The new results from the plagiogranites suggest that an oceanic basin existed in the northern Altyn area during the Middle Cambrian.

Early Paleozoic granulite-facies metamorphism and anatexis in the northern West Qinling orogen： Monazite and zircon U-Pb geochronological constraints

In the northern West Qinling orogen(WQO), granulite-facies metamorphic rocks are recognized within the Qinling Complex. These rocks are composed of amphibole-bearing two-pyroxene granulite and garnet-sillimanite gneiss with widespread migmatitization. We investigate three granulite-facies samples and one leucosome sample from the Qinling Complex, which are suitable for U-Pb analyses of zircon and monazite. SHRIMP and LA-ICPMS U-Pb age dating of zircon and monazite from two pelitic granulites provides weighted mean ages of 430±4 Ma(MSWD=0.88) and 433±4 Ma(MSWD=0.27), respectively.Based on the petrographic characteristics and zircon CL imagery, we postulated a ca. 430 Ma metamorphic timing for the pelitic granulites. LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb data from an amphibole two-pyroxene granulite sample reports two weighted mean age groups:424±3 Ma(MSWD=0.45) and 402±3 Ma(MSWD=1.4), which were interpreted as granulite-facies metamorphic and retrograde ages, respectively. LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating of zircons from the leucosome sample yields a weighted mean age of 426±2 Ma(MSWD=0.3), which is interpreted as the crystallization age of the leucosome. These data indicate that the West QOB experienced early Paleozoic granulite-facies metamorphism and anatexis similar to the East QOB. However, it remains unclear whether the early Paleozoic granulite facies metamorphism resulted from an arc setting created by the northward subduction of the Shangdan ocean or from a continental collisional orogenic event.

Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotopes of S-type granite in the Baoshan block, constraints on the age and evolution of the Proto-Tethys

Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotope data for the Early Paleozoic granites in the Baoshan Block reveal the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys. The samples are high-K, calcalkaline, strongly peraluminous rocks with A/CNK values of 1.37–1.46, are enriched in SiO2, K2O, and Rb, and are depleted in Nb, P, Ti, Eu, and heavy rare earth elements,which indicates the crystallization fractionation of the granitic magma. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that they formed in ca. 480 Ma. The Nansa granites have εHf(t) values ranging from-16.04 to 4.36 with corresponding TC DMages of 2.10–0.81 Ga, which suggests the magmas derived from the partial melting of ancient metasedimentary with minor involvement of mantle-derived components. A synthesis of data for the Early Paleozoic igneous rocks in the Baoshan block and adjacent(Tengchong,Qiangtang, Sibumasu, Himalaya, etc.) blocks indicates that these blocks were all aligned along the proto-Tethyan margin of East Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. The Early Paleozoic S-type granites from Nansa were generated in a high-temperature and low-pressure(HTLP) extensional tectonic setting, which resulted from Andean-type orogeny instead of the final assembly of Gondwana or crustal extension in a non-arc environment. In certain places, an expanding environment may exist in opposition to the tectonic backdrop of the lithosphere’s thickening and shortening, leading the crust to melt and decompress,mantle-derived materials to mix, and a small quantity of peraluminous granite to emerge.

Late Cambrian to Early Silurian Granitic Rocks of the Gemuri Area, Central Qiangtang, North Tibet: New Constraints on the Tectonic Evolution of the Northern Margin of Gondwana

The Paleozoic tectonic framework and paleo–plate configuration of the northern margin of Gondwana remain controversial. The South Qiangtang terrane is located along the northern margin of Gondwana and records key processes in the formation and evolution of this supercontinent. Here, we present new field, petrological, zircon U-Pb geochronological, and Lu-Hf isotopic data for granitic rocks of the Gemuri pluton, all of which provide new insights into the evolution of the northern margin of Gondwana. Zircon U-Pb dating of the Gemuri pluton yielded three concordant ages of 488.5 ± 2.1, 479.9 ± 8.9, and 438.5 ± 3.5 Ma. Combining these ages with the results of previous research indicates that the South Qiangtang terrane records two magmatic episodes at 502–471 and 453–439 Ma. These two episodes are associated with enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions(εHf(t) =-10.1 to-3.9 and-16.6 to-6.5, respectively), suggesting the granites were formed by the partial melting of Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks(Two–stage Hf model ages(TCDM) = 2094–1704 and 2466–1827 Ma, respectively). Combining these data with the presence of linearly distributed, contemporaneous Paleozoic igneous rocks along the northern margin of Gondwana, we suggest that all of these rocks were formed in an active continental margin setting. This manifests that the two magmatic episodes within the Gemuri area were associated with southward subduction in the Proto-(Paleo-) Tethys Ocean.

An Early Aged Ophiolite in the Western Kunlun Mts., NW Tibetan Plateau and Its Tectonic Implications

The early aged ophiolites have attracted attention of many geologists in recent decades, because the early aged ophiolites can provide the information about the ancient oceanic processes relevant to the evolution of plate tectonics in the early period of the earth, and also concern such problems as whether there existed a ＂Proto-Tethys＂ and the break-up and convergence of the Rodinian Supercontinent. This paper reveals a definite complete ophiolite of Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic, named Kuda ophiolite in the western Kunlun Mrs., NW Tibetan Plateau, and reports the recent reasonable SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages of 510±4 Ma, and 502±13 Ma for the cumulates of the Kuda ophiolite, using the most powerful dating tool, the SHRIMP-Ⅱ. The geochemical and geochronology data integrating with the geological setting suggest that the Kuda ophiolite might have formed in an archipelago oceanic basin, not in a vast ocean, the so-called ＂Proto-Tethys＂, and was tectonically emplaced during the Early Paleozoic.

Migration of paleo-uplift in southwestern Tarim Basin and its implications for orogenesis and reservoir development, NW China

Based on well horizon calibration,the typical seismic profiles in southwestern Tarim Basin were interpreted systematically,regional geological sections were established,and the regional denudation thickness of each tectonic period was restored.On this basis,the plane morphology maps of ancient structures of the Cambrian pre-salt dolomites in different periods were compiled,and the spatial distribution,development,evolution and migration of paleo-uplift in the late Early Paleozoic were analyzed.In the late Early Paleozoic,there existed a unified regional paleo-uplift widely distributed in southwestern Tarim Basin,which is called the southwestern Tarim plaeo-uplift.The“Tarim SW paleo-uplift”and“Hetian paleo-uplift”proposed in previous literatures are not independent,but the result of the spatio-temporal migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift identified in this paper.The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift emerged at the end of Middle Ordovician,and took its initial shape with increased amplitude in the Late Ordovician.During the Silurian,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift rose steadily and expanded rapidly to the east,incorporating Pishan-Hetian and other areas,with the structural high locating in the Pishan-Hetian area.During the Devonian,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift began to shrink gradually,to a limited range in the Pishan-Hetian area in the southern part of the basin.During the Carboniferous,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift became an underwater uplift,that is,the paleo-uplift gradually died out.The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift belongs to the forebulge of the southwestern Tarim foreland basin in the late Early Paleozoic,and its formation and evolution are related to the early Paleozoic orogeny of the West Kunlun orogenic belt in the south of the Tarim Basin.The migration of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift from the northwestern part of the southwestern Tarim Basin to the Pishan-Hetian area indicates the early Paleozoic orogenic process of the West Kunlun orogenic belt,which started in the western section at the end of Middle Ordovician and extended from west to east in a“scissor”style.The migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift controlled the development of unconformities at the end of Middle Ordovician,the end of Late Ordovician,and the end of Middle Devonian,and the spatial distribution of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust below the unconformities in the southwest of Tarim Basin.The migration of the structural high of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift also played an important role in controlling the development of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust.