Early Devonian Post-collisional Granitic Magmatism in the North Qilian Orogenic Belt,Western China:Insights into Lithospheric Delamination and Orogenic Collapse

Post-collisional magmatism contains important clues for understanding the reworking and growth of continental crust,as well as lithospheric delamination and orogenic collapse.Early Devonian magmatism has been identified in the North Qilian Orogenic Belt(NQOB).This paper reports an integrated study of petrology,whole-rock geochemistry,Sm-Nd isotope and zircon U-Pb dating,as well as Lu-Hf isotopic data,for two Early Devonian intrusive plutons.The Yongchang and Chijin granites yield zircon U-Pb ages of 394-407 Ma and 414 Ma,respectively.Both of them are characterized by weakly peraluminous to metaluminous without typical aluminium-rich minerals,LREE-enriched patterns with negative Eu anomalies and a negative correlation between P_(2)O_(5) and SiO_(2) contents,consistent with geochemical features of I-type granitoids.Zircons from the studied granites display negative to weak positive ε_(Hf)(t)values(−5.7 to 2.1),which agree well with those of negative ε_(Nd)(t)values(−6.4 to−2.9)for the whole-rock samples,indicating that they were derived from the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic crust.Furthermore,low Sr/Y ratios(1.13-21.28)and high zircon saturation temperatures(745℃ to 839℃,with the majority being>800℃)demonstrated a relatively shallow depth level below the garnet stability field and an additional heat source.Taken together,the Early Devonian granitic magmatism could have been produced by the partial melting of ancient crustal materials heated by mantle-derived magmas at high-temperature and low-pressure conditions during postcollisional extensional collapse.The data obtained in this study,when viewed in conjunction with previous studies,provides more information about the tectonic processes that followed the closure of the North Qilian Ocean.The tectonic transition from continental collision to post-collisional delamination could be constrained to~430 Ma,which is provided by the sudden decrease of Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios and an increase in zircon ε_(Hf)(t)values for granitoids.A two-stage tectonic evolution model from continental collision to post-collisional extensional collapse for the NQOB includes(a)continental collision and crustal thickening during ca.455-430 Ma,characterized by granulite-facies metamorphism and widespread low-Mg adakitic magmatism;(b)post-collisional delamination of thickened continental crust and extensional collapse of orogen during ca.430-390 Ma,provided by coeval high-Mg adakitic magmatism,A-type granites and I-type granitoids with low Sr-Y ratios.

Early Cretaceous Thrust and Nappe Tectonics in North Qilian Shan,Northern Tibetan Plateau:Evidence from Field Mapping,Geochronology,and Deep Structural Analysis

The North Qilian Shan fold and thrust belt,located at the northern Tibetan Plateau and southern margin of the Hexi Corridor,is a key tectonic unit to decode the formation and expansion of the plateau.Previous studies emphasize the Cenozoic deformation due to the far-field response to the Indo-Asian collision,but the Mesozoic deformations are poorly constrained in this area.We conducted detailed field mapping,structural analysis,geochronology,and structural interpretation of deep seismic reflectional profiling and magnetotelluric(MT)sounding,to address the superposed results of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic deformation.The results recognized the North Qilian thrust and nappe system(NQTS),the root and the frontal belt are the North Qilian thrust(NQT),and the Yumu Shan klippe(YK),respectively.The middle belt is located between the NQT and the YK.Monzonitic granite zircon U-Pb dating from the middle belt yields an age of ca.415 Ma,which is similar to south NQT.The thrusting displacement is estimated at ca.48 km by structural interpretation of deep profiles.The timing is constrained in the early stage of the Early Cretaceous by the formation of simultaneous growth strata.We suggest that the NQTS has resulted from the far-field effect of the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision,and the Yumu Shan is uplifted by the superposed Cenozoic deformation.

Soft-sediment Deformation Structures Related to Earthquake from the Devonian of the Eastern North Qilian Mts.and Its Tectonic Significance

Devonian in the North Qilian orogenic belt and Hexi Corridor developed terrestrial molasse of later stage of foreland basin caused by collision between the North China plate and Qaidam microplate. The foreland basin triggered a intense earthquake, and formed seismites and earthquake-related soft-sediment deformation. The soft-sediment deformation structures of Devonian in the eastern North Qilian Mts. consist of seismo-cracks, sandstone dykes, syn-depositional faults, microfoids （micro-corrugated lamination）, fluidized veins, load casts, flame structures, pillow structures and brecciation. The seismo-cracks, syn-depositional faults and microfolds are cracks, faults and folds formed directly by oscillation of earthquake. The seismic dykes formed by sediment instilling into seismic cracks. Fluidized veins were made by instilling into the seismo-fissures of the fluidized sands. The load casts, flame structures and pillow structures were formed by sinking and instilling caused from oscillation of earthquake along the face between sandy and muddy beds. The brecciation resulted from the oscillation of earthquake and cracking of sedimentary layers. The seismites and soft-sediment deformations in Devonian triggered the earthquake related to tectonic activities during the orogeny and uplift of North Qilian Mts.

Silurian Seismites in Hanxia,Yumen,North Qilian Mountains,and Their Tectonic Significance

The Caledonian orogenic belt of the North Qilian Mountains is an intensely active structure belt. In the process of the Late Caledonian syn-orogeny, the North Qilian-Hexi Corridor area was situated on the tectonic background of a syn-orogenic basin. In response to the orogenic process of the North Qilian Mountains, typical earthquake event deposits—seismites of the Silurian were widely distributed around Hanxia of Yumen City, the Liyuan River of Sunan County and Biandukou of Minle County. In the Hanxia area, where seismites are typically developed, clastic deposits of tidal-flat facies are the background deposits of the Hanxia Formation. The earthquake event deposits are characterized by sandy mudstone veins, synsedimentary microfractures, micro-corrugated laminations and earthquake breccias, which in turn constitute complex seismites, featuring seismic corrugation, shattering and liquefied sandy mudstone veins, auto-clastic breccias and intraclastic parabreccias. The seismites and tidal flat deposits formed typical sequences of earthquake event deposits.

From Flysch to Molasse—Sedimentary and Tectonic Evolution of Late Caledonian -Early Hercynian Foreland Basin in North Qilian Mountains

The Late Caledonian to Early Hercynian North Qilian orogenic belt in no rthwestern China is an elongate tectonic unit situated between the North China p late in the north and the Qaidam plate in the south. North Qilian started in the latest Proterozoic to Cambrian as a rift basin on the southern margin of North China, and evolved later to an archipelagic ocean and active continental margin during the Ordovician and a foreland basin from Silurian to the Early and Middle Devonian. The Early Silurian flysch and submarine alluvial fan, the Middle to L ate Silurian shallow marine to tidal flat deposits and the Early and Middle Devo nian terrestrial molasse are developed along the corridor Nanshan. The shallowin g upward succession from subabyssal flysch, shallow marine, tidal flat to terre strial molasse and its gradually narrowed regional distribution demonstrate that the foreland basin experienced the transition from flysch stage to molasse stag e during the Silurian and Devonian time.

Geochemical Characteristics and Tectonic Setting of the Laohushan Basalts, North Qilian Mountains

The Ordovician Laohushan ophiolite, located in the eastern part of the North Qilian Mountains, is mainly composed of meta-peridotites, gabbros and basalts alternating with sediments. The sediments are mainly turbidites, including sandstones, siltstones, cherts etc. Major elements show that the basalts are subalkaline tholeiites and may be analogous to ocean-floor basalts. Except a few N-MORBs, most of the basalts are E-MORBs as indicated by incompatible element ratios such as (La/Ce)N, La/Sm, Ce/Zr, Zr/Y and Zr/Nb. Negative Nb anomaly is common but negative Zr, Hf and Ti anomalies are quite rare. Based on the geochemical characteristics, it is suggested that the Laohushan basalts were formed in a back-arc basin. ENd (t) of the basalts ranges between +3.0 and +8.9 and (87Sr/86Sr), ranges between 0.7030 and 0.7060, indicating a depleted mantle source which was mixed with more or less enriched mantle components. Furthermore, the petrography of the sandstones and geochemistry of the cherts suggest that the sediments were deposited near a continental margin.

Rheological Properties of Mantle Peridotites at Yushigou in the North Qilian Mountains and Their Implicationsfor Plate Dynamics

Abstract: This paper discusses in detail the deformation textures, glide system, petrofabrics and olivine dislocation microstructures of mantle peridotites at Yushigou in the North Qilian Mountains, northwestern China. The peridotites have undergone high-pressure, high-temperature and low-strain rate plastic flow deformation. According to the dynamic recrystallized-grain size of olivine and the average spacing between the dislocation walls as well as the chemical composition of enstatite, the authors calculated the rheological parameters of the ancient upper mantle in the study area as follows: temperatures 1025–1093°C; pressures 3043–4278 MPa; depths 95–132 km; deviatoric stress 28–32 MPa; strain rates 0.2×10?14-2.13×10?14s?1 and equivalent viscosities 0.45×1020-4.65×1020 Pa ? s. These parameters suggest that the position where plastic flow took place was correspondent to the lowvelocity zone beneath the oceanic lithosphere and that oceanization characterized by middle-velocity (1–3 cm/a) sea-floor spreading took place in the North Qilian Mountains during the Early Palaeozoic.

U-Pb Zircon Dating of the Yeniutan Granitic Intrusion in the Western Sector of the North Qilian Mountains

Zircons from granodiorite and biotite granite in the Yeniutan granitic intrusion in the western North Qilian Mountains yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U apparent age of 460±3 Ma, suggesting that the intrusion originated during the late stage of plate subduction. Its related Ta'ergou and Xiaoliugou deposits are two of the few large tungsten deposits formed in the plate subduction environment in the world. The U-Pb dating of the zircons from the biotite granite gave a discordant lower intercept age of 183±4 Ma, which implies that the Yanshanian event was probably superimposed on the North Qilian region.

Integrated P-T Paths of the High-Pressure Rocks and Their Tectonic Implications for the Mountain-Building of the North Qilian, China

After the integration of petrographic study, geothermobarometry and Gibbs method, the synthetic P-T paths for the rocks from different geological profiles in the North Qilian, China, have been derived. The composite P-T paths from different methods indicate that all the high-pressure rocks in the Qilian area recorded P-T paths with clockwise loops starting at the blueschist facies, later reaching peak metamorphism at the blueschist facies, eclogite fades or epidote-amphibolite facies and ending up with the greenschist facies. The incremental Ar-Ar dating shows that the plateau ages for the high-pressure rocks range from 410 to 443 Ma. The plateau ages could be used as a minimum age constraint for the subduction that resulted in the formation of these high-pressure rocks in the Qilian area. It is proposed that the late-stage decompressional and cooling P-T paths with ends at the greenschist facies for these high-pressure rocks probably reflect the uplift process which could occur after shifting the arc-trench tectonic system to the system of continental orogenic belts. The retrograde paths for the high-pressure rocks in the North Qilian tectonic belt are characterized by dramatic decompression with slight cooling, which suggests very rapid exhumation. Petrography supports that the mountain-building for the Qilian mountain range could undergo a very fast process which caused rapid uplift and denudation.

Petrogenesis and Dating of Two Types of Granite from North Qilian, China

Two types of granitic intrusives occur in the lower Paleozoic strata in north Qilian. One is the hornblende- bearing granitic body in Jingzichuan, characterized by the REE total of 90×10-6-106×10-6, LREE/HREE ratio of less than 8 (ranging from 6.9 to 7.8) and zircon SHRIMP age of 464 Ma. These intrusives have island-arc affinity. The other is biotite-bearing granitic body in Huangyanghe with the REE total of 214×10-6-250×10-6, LREE/HREE ratio of more than 8 (ranging from 8.2 to 9.7) and zircon LA-ICP-MS age of 383 Ma. They were tectonically intruded in a post-collisional or within-plate environment.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Middle Proterozoic Aoyougou Ophiolite in the North Qilian Mountains,Northwestern China

The Aoyougou ophiolite lies in an early Palaeozoic orogenic belt of the western North Qilian Mountains, near the Aoyougou valley in Gansu Province, northwestern China. It consists of serpentinite, a cumulate sequence of gabbro and diorite, pillow and massive lavas, diabase and chert. Ages of 1840±2 Ma, 1783±2 Ma and 1784±2 Ma on three zircons from diabase, indicate an early Middle Proterozoic age. The diabases and basalts show light rare-earth element enrichment and have relatively high TiO2 contents, characteristic of ocean island basalts. All of the lavas have low MgO, Cr, Ni contents and Mg numbers indicating a more evolved character. They are believed to have been derived from a more mafic parental magma by fractionation of olivine, Cr-spinel and minor plagioclase. Based on the lava geochemistry and regional geology, the Aoyougou ophiolite was probably believed to have formed at a spreading centre in a small marginal basin. Subduction of the newly formed oceanic lithosphere in the Middle Proterozoic produced a trench-arc-basin system, which is preserved in the North Qilian Mountains.

Episodic Melt Percolating and Chromite Mineralization in Yushigou Peridotite, North Qilian Suture Zone

Harzburgite-dunite associations are the dominant type of ultramafic heterogeneities in the exhumed peridotites.Although the dunite network are usually small in volume of exposed mantle rocks,their mineral structures and chemical variations are widely observed in various tectonic environments and record complex mantle evolution.The Yushigou peridotite complex displays a 25 km^2 mantle section belonging to a partly dismembered ophiolite in North Qilian suture zone,northwest China.It is mostly composed of depleted spinel harzburgite reequilibrated at temperatures of 900℃,contain dunite veins and minor podiform chromite at its Moho level.Here we report the petrological observations and mineral chemical analyses of harzburgite-dunite associations in the Yushigou peridotite complex.Based on the data we classified high Cr#(51-74)and low Cr#(19-34)dunite veins in this Yushigou complex.The podiform chromite are mainly high Cr#affinity and are production of melt-harzburgite interaction.There are three main microstructures recorded the episodic melt-rock interaction process:(1)complex spinel mineral inclusions both in harzburgite and two kind of dunite record widespread melt percolating.The observed primary inclusions(not related to later low temperature fluid activities)including hydrous and anhydrous silicates and minor sulphides,such as PGE and Fe-Cu-Ni related sulfidies,olivine,orthopyroxene,clinopyroxene,amphibole and phlogopite.(2)In all dunite samples,clinopyroxene dominated sieve-textured rims around spinel are more abundant and more thicken than the harzburgite;implying stained/pulsated melt supply after the chromite crystallization.(3)Millimeter scale veined reaction patches in some dunite samples consist of clinopyroxene,amphibole,phlogopite,Fe-Ni sulfidies and carbonates.Such metasomatic minerals assemblages may response for the later fluid infiltration after chromite mineralization.All these petrological observations and mineral chemical compositions(major and trace element contents)thus provide a wealth of information on the pathways of migrating melts in the mantle wedge,and provide constrain on nature and evolution of the uprising magma.Strong enrichment of incompatible trace elements in dunite clinopyroxene(LREE/HREE>10)possible reflect a slab origin of the percolating melt which is not observed elsewhere participating in chromite forming.

FROM BACK-ARC BASIN TO BACK-ARC FORELAND BASIN—THE SEDIMENTARY BASIN AND TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE LATE CALEDONIAN—EARLY HERCYNIAN STAGES IN CORRIDOR AND NORTH QILIAN MTS

Qilian orogenic belt is a typical orogenic belt formed by polycyclic collisions between the North China plate and Qaidam microplate. Qilian ocean originated from the rift of the late Proterozoic Rodinia continent(Pangea\|850), evolved through rift basin and became an archipelagic ocean in the Caledonian stage. The Lower Proterozoic strata in Qilian area are mid\|high\|rank metamorphic rocks that constitute the metamorphic basement of the area. The “Huangyuan Movement" (in South Qilian and Central Qilian) and "Alashan Movement" (in North Qilian) in the latest Late Proterozoic formed a regional unconformity. The middle Proterozoic in the area are mudstones and carbonate rocks with stromatolites and ooids. The Qingbaikou System of the upper Proterozoic in the North Qilian and Corridor region is also mudstone and carbonate rock with stromatolites. The Qingbaikou System in Central Qilian is sandstones and mudstones. There are alkaline and tholeiite in the Sinian System in North Qilian and Corridor. The contact between Qingbaikou System and Sinian System is a regional unconformity (Quanji Movement). Qilian ocean began to rift away in Caledonian tectonic stage on the Pre\|Sinian basement.

Paleosubmarine Volcanism and Mineralization from North Qilian Mountains

This paper summarizes the history of tectono magmatic evolution, the types and backgrounds of mineralization prior to the orogenic period of North Qilian Mountains. It points out that: during the process of Paleozoic ocean basin opening and closing, the large scale marine volcanism and massive sulfide deposits controlled by sea floor hydrothermal circulation systems are the two sharpest features in the geological developing history of the orogenic belt, which are also the most two important aspects related to each other and should be given a special attention in the geological studies in the region.

Volcanism and Tectonic Evolution in the North Qilian Mountains during Ordovician Period

The Ordovician marine volcanic rocks in the north Qilian mountains are discussed in this paper. According to geology, petrotectonic assemblage and geochemistry, a new model about plate tectonic evolution of the north Qilian mountains is set up. The Ordovician marine volcanic rocks in the north Qilian mountains which characterized by the geological features of tectonic melange of continent to continent collision underwent complicated tectonic movement, and can be classified into three main kinds of petrotectonic assemblages. During Ordovician period, north Qilian area was a polyisland ocean which consisted of three ocean basins separated by the middle microcontinental blocks.

Apatite Fission Track Constraints on the Pattern of Faulting in the North Qilian Mountain

The Qilian （祁连） Mountain is an active orogenic belt located at the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. During the process of continuous convergence between Indian and Eurasian plates, the Qilian Mountain grow correspondingly by means of reaction of old faults and generation of new ones. Here we present apatite fission-track data along a river profile crossing three minor fault （the Minle （民乐）-Damaying （大马营） fault, the Huangcheng （皇城）-Taerzhuang （塔尔庄） fault and the Kangningqiao （唐宁桥） fault） which compose the North Qilian fault （NQF） to test the timing and pat- terns of the fault activities. Apatite fission-track （AFT） results indicate that these minor faults expe- rienced two active phases in the Cretaceous and the Oligocene-Miocene. Further research indicate that the initiation timing of faulting became younger northward in both active periods and the later phase probably more active than the former phase. These tectonic activities might be highly related to the docking of the Lhasa Block to the south in the Cretaceous and uplift and expansion of the Tibetan Pla- teau in the Cenozoic.

Lawsonite-bearing eclogites in the north Qilian and north Altyn Tagh:Evidence for cold subduction of oceanic crust

Lawsonite-bearing eclogites are recog-nized respectively in the north Qilian (NQL) and north Altyn Tagh (NAT), based on petrography and mineral chemistry. Lawsonite coexists with omphacite and phengite as inclusions in garnet, indicating ec-logite-facies metamorphism. Peak metamorphic con-ditions for equilibrium lawsonite-omphacite-phengite- garnet peak assemblages are estimated to be 2.1―2.4 GPa and 420―500℃, which is in the stability field of lawsonite eclogite-facies. A low geotherm of 6―8℃/km is referred, which is in consistent with a cold subduction. The occurrences of lawsonite-bearing eclogites in both NQL and NAT provide further evi-dence that the NAT HP/LT metamorphic belt is pos-sibly the northwestward extension of the NQL HP/LT metamorphic belt offset by the Altyn Tagh left-lateral slip fault. The NQL and NAT lawsonite-bearing ec-logites are formed by subduction of oceanic crust before collision of the Alashan and Qilian blocks in early Paleozoic.

The Dongcaohe ophiolite from the North Qilian Moun-tains: A fossil oceanic crust of the Paleo-Qilian ocean

The Dongcaohe ophiolite, located at the south of the North Qilian subduction complexes, is a tectonic block with an exposed area of about 3 km×6 km. It consists of an intrusive section overlain by an ex- trusive section. The lower part of the intrusive section consists of cyclic layers of cumulate dunites, troctolites, anorthosites, anorthositic gabbros, and gabbros with small discordant dunite and troctolite bodies. This layered sequence grades upward to isotropic gabbros and gabbronorites, which are overlain by the extrusive sequence of diabasic sheeted dikes and basaltic lavas. The overall mineral crystallization sequence was olivine±Cr-spinel, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. The Cr-spinel (Mg#: 42-66, Cr#: 41-57) in these layered cumulates and present-day abyssal peridotites have similar compositions. Also, the compositional variations of the plagioclase and cli- nopyroxene in the intrusive section reflect crystallization from melts compositionally similar to the present-day ocean basalts. Moreover, the rare earth element (REE) and multi-element distribution pat- terns of the intrusive and extrusive lithologies in the Dongcaohe ophiolite are consistent with crystal- lization of mid-ocean ridge basalts. The zircon grains separated from the gabbronorite have an SHRIMP average 206Pb/238U weighted age of 497 ± 7 Ma, which is considered as the tectonic emplacement age of the Dongcaohe ophiolite. The field occurrence, mineral and whole-rock compositions indicate that the Dongcaohe ophiolite represents a well-persevered oceanic crustal fragment composed of a complete oceanic crustal section of layered cumulates at bottom upgrading through isotropic cumulates to sheeted dikes and lava flows.

Forming age and tectono-petrogenises of the Jiugequan ophiolite in the North Qilian Mountain,NW China

The Jiugequan ophiolite is one of the representative ophiolite fragments in the Early Paleozoic orogenic belt of the North Qilian Mountain.It has been drawn much attention and extensively studied in recent years.In this study,ion microprobe(SHRIMP) U-Pb dating was carried out for zircons from isotropic gabbro from the Jiugequan ophiolite.Eighteen analyses yield a relatively consistent apparent 206Pb/238U ages from 480 to 508 Ma with a weighted mean age of 490±5 Ma(MSWD=1.06),which is believed to be the crystallization age of the gabbro and thus the forming age of the Jiugequan ophiolite.Major and trace element geochemical study indicates that the diabase-basalts from the Jiugequan ophiolite have N-MORB and E-MORB characteristics with some subduction-related signatures.The petrological,geochemical and chronological data enable us to conclude that the Jiugequan ophiolite is most likely to be formed at a spreading center of back-arc basin during the early Ordovician,while the ancient Qilian oceanic plate subducted northwards.The acquisition of forming age and determination of tectonic setting for Jiugequan ophiolite provide significant constraints on the evolution of intra-oceanic subduction system in the North Qilian orogenic belt during the Early Paleozoic era.

Indian Ocean-MORB-type isotopic signature of Yushigou ophiolite in North Qilian Mountains and its implications

In order to explore the disputed issue concerning the tectonic affinity of the ancient ocean mantle of North Qilian Mountains (NQM), geochemical and Sr, Nd, Pb isotopic compositions of pillow basalts of the Yushigou Ophiolite (YSGO) suite from NQM have been analyzed systematically. The pillow basalts exhibit tholeiitic characteristics, with flat chondrite-normalized REE patterns ((La/Yb)N = 0.98―1.27). They display no Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf negative anomalies, and show MORB features in 2Nb-Zr/4-Y and Ti/100-Zr-Y×3 tectonic discrimination diagrams. These results indicate that the Yushigou ophiolite is most likely to be formed in a mid-ocean ridge or mature back-arc basin. Their isotopic data show a relatively broad and enriched 87Sr/86Sr (0.70509 ― 0.70700), restricted 143Nd/144Nd (0.512955―0.512978). Pb isotopes are in the range of 206Pb/204Pb (18.054―20.562), 207Pb/204Pb (15.537―15.743) and 208Pb/204Pb (38.068―38.530). These isotopic data imply that the basalts originated from the depleted mantle (DMM), with the involvement of enriched mantle compo-nents (mainly EMII). Geochemical comparisons between the basalts in YSGO and the MORB-type basalts of ophiolite suites occurring in the known ancient Tethyan tectonic domain indicate that the ancient oceanic mantle represented by YSGO suite forming in early Paleozoic in the North Qilian Moutains is very similar to the Tethyan mantle in both trace elements and isotopic compositions. The North Qilian Mountains should be a part of the Tethyan tectonic domain in early Paleozoic. This further implies that the Tethyan tectonic domain can be deduced to early Paleozoic in the study area, which will be helpful to discussing the tectonic affinity and evolution of the North Qilian Mountains.