Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Triassic rhyolites in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, northern Tibetan Plateau

The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt(EKOB),which is in the northern part of the Greater Tibetan Plateau,contains voluminous Late Triassic intermediate-felsic volcanic rocks.In the east end of the EKOB,we identified highly differentiated peralkaline-like Xiangride rhyolites(~209 Ma)that differ from the widespread andesitic-rhyolitic Elashan volcanics(~232–225 Ma)in terms of their field occurrences and mineral assemblages.The older,more common calc-alkaline felsic Elashan volcanics may have originated from partial melting of the underthrust Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust under amphibolite facies conditions associated with continental collision.The felsic Elashan volcanics and syn-collisional granitoids of the EKOB are different products of the same magmatic event related to continental collision.The Xiangride rhyolites are characterized by elevated abundances of high field strength elements,especially the very high Nb and Ta contents,the very low Ba,Sr,Eu,P,and Ti contents;and the variably high ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios(up to 0.96),exhibiting remarkable similarities to the characteristic peralkaline rhyolites.The primitive magmas parental to the Xiangride rhyolites were most likely alkali basaltic magmas that underwent protracted fractional crystallization with continental crust contamination.The rock associations from the early granitoids and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks to the late alkaline basaltic dikes and peralkaline-like rhyolites in the Triassic provide important information about the tectonic evolution of the EKOB from syn-collisional to post-collisional.We infer that the transition from collisional compression to postcollisional extension occurred at about 220 Ma.

Geochemistry,petrogenesis and tectonic implication of Early Cretaceous A-type rhyolites in Hailar Basin,NE China

Early Cretaceous A-type rhyolites of the Shangkuli Formation in the Hailar Basin of NE China exhibit geochemical characteristics of high silicon,alkali,Fe/Mg,Ga/Al,Zr,Pb,HFSEs,and REE contents but low Ca,Ba,Sr and Eu,which meet the criteria of typical reduced A-type granite.The A-type rhyolites are most probably derived from magmatic underplating and partial melting of quartz-feldspathic lower crust,with the lithospheric mantle material involved,due to the extensional deformation of the Erguna-Hulun Fault.Although the A-type rhyolites show A1-type trace elements characteristics,they were formed in a post-orogenic extensional background together with the coeval widespread bimodal volcanic rocks,metamorphic core complexes,volcanic fault basins and metallogenic province in the Sino-Russia-Mongolia border tract.This extension event was related to the collapse of thickened region of the continental crust after the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.

Rhyolites in continental mafic Large Igneous Provinces: Petrology,geochemistry and petrogenesis

We present a detailed review of the petrological and geochemical aspects of rhyolite and associated silicic volcanic rocks(up to 20 vol%of all rocks)reported to date from twelve well known Phanerozoic continental mafic Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs).These typically spread over<104 km^2(rarely 105 km^2 for Parana-Etendeka)area and comprise<10~4 km^3 of extrusive silicic rocks,erupted either during or after the main basaltic eruption within<5 Myr,with some eruption(s)continuing for≤30 Myr.These rhyolites and associated silicic volcanic rocks(60-81 wt.%of SiO2)are mostly metaluminous to peraluminous and are formed via(ⅰ)fractional crystallization of parental mafic magma with negligible crustal contamination,and(ⅱ)melting of continental crust or assimilation and fractional crystallization(AFC)of mafic magma with significant crustal contribution.Rhyolites formed by extensive fractional crystallization are characterized by the presence of clinopyroxene phenocrysts,exhibit steep negative slopes in bivariate major oxides plots and weak to no Nb-Ta anomaly;these typically have temperature>900℃.Rhyolites formed by significant crustal contribution are characterized by strong negative Nb-Ta anomalies,absence of clinopyroxene phenocrysts,and are likely to have a magma temperature<900℃.Geochemical signatures suggest rhyolite melt generation in the plagioclase stability field with a minor fraction originating from lower crustal depths.A large part of the compositional variability in rhyolites,particularly the SrNd-Pb-O isotope ratios,suggests a significant role of continental crust(upper crustal melting or AFC)in the evolution of these silicic rocks in the continental mafic LIPs.

Lajishan Ayishan Formation Rhyolites: Implications for the Closure Time of the Proto-Tethys Ocean

The Qilian orogenic belt,as an important component of the central orogenic system,can be divided into three tectonic units from north to south:the North Qilian tectonic belt,the Central Qilian tectonic belt and the South Qilian tectonic belt.The Lajishan ophiolitic mélange zone is an important part of the South Qilian tectonic belt.The study of the formation age and tectonic attributes of the different rock units in the Lajishan is of great significance for reconstructing the tectonic evolution of the south Qilian tectonics belt and the Proto-Tethys Ocean.The Ayishan formation is an important unit of the Lajishan mélange belt,but its stratigraphic age and formation environment are still not constrained,which limits the reconstruction of the early Palaeozoic tectonic evolution of the South Qilian tectonic belt and the closure time of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.In recent years,a set of rock assemblages consisting of andesite,rhyolite,sandstone and pebbly sandstone have been identified in the Ayishan formation exposed in the Lajishan through detailed geological mapping in the field.They are in fault contact with the underlying ophiolite mélange.Regionally,a volcano-sedimentary succession consisting of andesite,rhyolite,volcanic breccia,and volcaniclastic sandstone nonconformably overlies the Cambrian arc-accretionarycomplex system in the Ayishan area.These rocks were originally assigned to the Ayishan formation and attributed an Early Ordovician age(BGMRQP,1964,1991).Our rhyolite samples from the Ayishan formation yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 447 Ma using zircon U-Pb dating,which can be interpreted as the eruption age of the volcanic rocks.These volcanic rock assemblages are distributed in sandstone,pebbled sandstone and conglomerate in the form of interlayers.Therefore,the zircon UPb age of the volcanic rocks can constrain the age of Ayishan formation that it should belong to the late Ordovician rather than early Ordovician.Additionally,we propose that the Ayishan rhyolites were formed in collision-related tectonic setting based on the geochemistry of the rhyolites,which means the initial continental collision between the Central Qilian block and the Qaidam block occurred at least in the Late Ordovician.Ayishan formation are in fault contact with the Cambrian Donggoumeikuang complex in the south.The Donggoumeikuang complex represents a Cambrian introceanic subduction system that formed in response to subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean(Yan et al.,2015;Fu et al.,2018).At 450 to 420 Ma,the Proto-Tethyan Ocean closed and the Qaidam block collided against the central Qilian tectonics belt.Voluminous 450–440 Ma I-type and S-type granites(Yan et al.,2015;Tung et al.,2016)that straddle the Central and South Qilian belts formed a broad Andean-type continental margin(Yan et al.,2019),which indicates that the transition from oceanic subduction to continental subduction occurred in 450–440 Ma.At 440–420 Ma,the syncollisional and postcollisional granitoids extensively developed,accompanied by high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphism and anatexis in the South Qilian belt and the Qaidam block(Yu et al.,2014;Yan et al.,2015;Fu et al.,2018;Li et al.,2018).

Geochemistry,Zircon U-Pb Age and Hf Isotopic Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the Silurian Rhyolites in the Loei Fold Belt and Their Tectonic Implications

Zircon U-Pb dating, Lu-Hf isotopic and geochemical data for the Silurian rhyolites from the Loei fold belt are presented to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonic settings. The rhyolites give a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 423.7±2.7 Ma, and are characterized by high SiO2, Al2O3, K2 O and low MnO, MgO and P2O5. All samples are enriched in LILEs（e.g., Ba, K, Pb） and LREEs and depleted in HFSEs（e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti） with obvious negative Eu-anomalies（δEu=0.56–0.63）. The calc-alkaline rhyolites are typical arc-related rocks. The Loei rhyolites have high A/CNK ratios（1.19–1.34） and positive εHf（t）（4.03–5.38）, which can be interpreted as partial melting of juvenile crustal materials followed by multistage melting and differentiation, similar to highly fractional I-type rocks. Combined with regional geological surveys, the Loei rhyolites should be formed in a volcanic arc environment and may be in contact with the Truong Son fold belt during the Early Paleozoic. Moreover, the Simao Block might be in contiguity with the Indochina Block during Silurian.

Petrogenesis of Oligocene volcanic rocks of the Lake Tana area,Ethiopian large Igneous Province

The Lake Tana area is located within a complex volcano-tectonic basin on the northwestern Ethiopian plateau.The basin is underlain by a thick succession of Oligocene transitional basalts and sub-alkaline rhyolites overlain in places,particularly south of the lake,by Quaternary alkaline to mildly transitional basalts,and dotted with Oligo-Miocene trachyte domes and plugs.This paper presents the results of integrated field,petrographic,and major and trace element geochemical studies of the Lake Tana area volcanic rocks,with particular emphasis on the Oligocene basalts and rhyolites.The studies reveal a clear petrogenetic link between the Oligocene basalts and rhyolites.The Oligocene basalts are:(1)plagioclase,olivine,and/or pyroxene phyric;(2)show an overall decreasing trend in MgO,Fe_(2)O_(3),and CaO with silica;(3)have relatively low Mg#,Ni and Cr contents and high Nb/La and Nb/Yb ratios;and(4)show LREE enriched and generally flat HREE patterns.All these imply the origin of the Oligocene basalts by shallow-level fractional crystallization of an enriched magma sourced at the asthenospheric mantle.The Oligocene rhyolites:(1)are enriched in incompatible while depleted in compatible trace elements,P and Ti;(2)show a strong negative Eu anomaly;(3)contain appreciable amounts of plagioclase,apatite,and Fe-Ti oxides;and(4)show clear geochemical similarity with well-constrained rhyolites from the Large Igneous Province(LIP)of the northwestern Ethiopian plateau.Low-pressure fractional crystallization of mantle-derived basaltic magma in crustal magma chambers explains the origin of these rhyolites.Our study further shows that the Oligocene basalts and rhyolites are co-genetic and the felsic rocks of the Lake Tana area are related differentiates of the flood basalt volcanism in the northwestern Ethiopian plateau.

Petrology of Metaluminous A-Type Rhyolite Discovered from Hadjer el Hamis Volcanoes (Lake Chad Basin)

Metaluminous (P.I. > 1) rhyolite from Hadjer el Hamis consisted of quartz, alkali feldspar, clinopyroxene (hedenbergite), amphibole (F-arfvedsonite) and oxides-hydroxides (ilmenite, magnetite, limonite) phenocrysts is characterized by the negative Eu, Ba, P, Sr and Ti anomalies. This metaluminous rhyolite and the early discovered peralkaline rhyolites in Hadjer el Hamis volcanoes derive likely from the same source, according to their coexistence on the same sector and their similar Zr/Nb ratios. The causes of magma heterogeneity are likely linked to varying amounts of extraction of an earlier melt phase or tectonic juxtaposition or a sudden increasing of fO2 in silicic magmas, triggered from a hydrothermal process, associated with F- and alkali-bearing fluids influx, which promoted the enrichment of Na in the hedenbergite rims and the crystallization of arfvedsonite.

The Late Carboniferous–Early Permian Ocean-Continent Transition in the West Junggar,Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Constraints from Columnar Jointed Rhyolite

The West Junggar of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt is one of the typical regions in the term of ocean subduction, contraction and continental growth in the Late Paleozoic. However, it is still controversial on the exact time of ocean-continent transition so far. This study investigates rhyolites with columnar joint in the West Junggar for the first time.Based on zircon U-Pb dating, we determined that the ages of the newly-discovered rhyolites are between 303.6 and 294.5 Ma, belonging to Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, which is the oldest rhyolite with columnar joint preserved in the world at present. Geochemical results show that the characteristics of the major element compositions include a high content of SiO_2(75.78–79.20 wt%) and a moderate content of Al_2O_3(12.21–13.19 wt%). The total alkali content(K_2O +Na_2O) is 6.14–8.05 wt%, among which K_2O is 2.09–4.72 wt% and the rate of K_2O/Na_2O is 0.38–3.05. Over-based minerals such as Ne, Lc, and Ac do not appear. The contents of TiO_2(0.09–0.24 wt%), CaO(0.15–0.99 wt%) and MgO(0.06–0.18 wt%) are low. A/CNK=0.91–1.68, A/NK=1.06–1.76, and as such, these are associated with the quasi-aluminum-weak peraluminous high potassium calc-alkaline and some calc-alkaline magma series. These rhyolites show a significant negative Eu anomaly with relative enrichment of LREE and LILE(Rb, Ba, Th, U, K) and depletion of Sr, HREE and HFSE(Nb, Ta, Ti, P). These rhyolites also have the characteristics of an A2-type granite, similar to the Miaoergou batholith,which indicates they both were affected by post-orogenic extension. Combining petrological, zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical characteristics of the rhyolites, we conclude that the specific time of ocean-continent transition of the West Junggar is the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian.

Mineral Chemistry Indicates the Petrogenesis of Rhyolite From The Southwestern Okinawa Trough

To reveal the petrogenesis of rhyolite from the southwestern Okinawa Trough, the mineral chemistry of plagioclase, orthopyroxene, amphibole, quartz and Fe-Ti oxide phenocrysts were analyzed using an electron microprobe, and in suit Sr and Ba contents of plagioclase analysed by LA-ICPMS were chosen for fingerprinting plagioclases of different provenances. Results indicate an overall homogeneous composition for each of the mineral phases except for plagioclase phenocrysts which have a wide range of composition(An=39~88). Plagioclase crystals characterized by An contents of >70 are not in equilibrium with their whole-rock compositions, and coarse-sieved plagioclase phenocryst interiors record high An contents(>70) and Sr/Ba ratios(>7), which are similar to the those of plagioclase crystals in basalt. Therefore, these crystals must have been introduced to the rhyolitic magma from a more mafic source. Equilibrium temperatures estimated using orthopyroxene-liquid, iron–titanium oxide, titanium-in-quartz and amphibole geothermometers show consistent values ranging from 792 to 869℃. The equilibrium pressure calculated using amphibole compositions is close to 121 MPa which corresponds to an approximate depth of 4 km. The fO_2 conditions estimated from Fe-Ti oxides and amphiboles plot slightly above the NNO buffer, which indicates that the rock formed under more oxidized conditions. Our results suggests that petrogenesis of the rhyolite due to basaltic magma ascend with the high An and Sr/Ba plaigoclases from deep magma chamber into the shallow chamber where the fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation happened. It also indicates that a two-layer magma chamber structure may occur under the southwestern Okinawa Trough.

Geochemistry and zircon U-Pb geochronology of the rhyolitic tuff on Port Island, Hong Kong： Implications for early Cretaceous tectonic setting

Early Cretaceous rhyolitic tuffs, widely distributed on Port Island, provide insights into the volcanism and tectonic setting of Hong Kong. In this paper we present petrological, geochronological and geochemical data of the rhyolitic tuff to constrain the diagenesis age and petrogenesis of the rocks, tectonic setting and early Cretaceous volcanism of Hong Kong. The first geochronological data show that the zircons in the volcanic rocks have U-Pb age of 141.1-139.5 Ma, which reveals that the rhyolitic tuff on Port Island was formed in the early Cretaceous （K1）. Geochemically, these acid rocks, which are enriched in large ion lithophile elements （LILEs） and light rare earth elements （LREEs）, and depleted in high field strength elements （HFSEs）, belong to the high K calc-alkaline to shoshonite series with strongly-peraluminous characteristic. The geochemical analyses suggest that the volcanic rocks were derived from deep melting in the continental crust caused by basaltic magma underplating. Based on the geochemical analysis and previous studies, we concluded that the rhyolitic tufts on Port Island were formed in a back- arc extension setting in response to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Subaqueous early eruptive phase of the late Aptian Rajmahal volcanism,India:Evidence from volcaniclastic rocks,bentonite,black shales,and oolite

The late Aptian（118-115 Ma） continental flood basalts of the Rajmahal Volcanic Province（RVP） are part of the Kerguelen Large Igneous Province,and constitute the uppermost part of the Gondwana Supergroup on the eastern Indian shield margin.The lower one-third of the Rajmahal volcanic succession contains thin layers of plant fossil-rich inter-trappean sedimentary rocks with pyroclasts,bentonite,grey and black shale/mudstone and oolite,whereas the upper two-thirds consist of sub-aerial fine-grained aphyric basalts with no inter-trappean material.At the eastern margin and the north-central sector of the RVP,the volcanics in the lower part include rhyolites and dacites overlain by enstatite-bearing basalts and enstatite-andesites.The pyroclastic rocks are largely felsic in composition,and comprise ignimbrite as well as coarse-grained tuff with lithic clasts,and tuff breccia with bombs,lapilli and ash that indicate explosive eruption of viscous rhyolitic magma.The rhyolites/dacites（〉68 wt.%） are separated from the andesites（〈 60 wt.%） by a gap in silica content indicating their formation through upper crustal anatexis with only heat supplied by the basaltic magma.On the other hand,partially melted siltstone xenoliths in enstatite-bearing basalts suggest that the enstatite-andesites originated through mixing of the upper crust with basaltic magma,crystallizing orthopyroxene at a pressure-temperature of ~3 kb/1150℃.In contrast,the northwestern sector of the RVP is devoid of felsic-intermediate rocks,and the volcaniclastic rocks are predominantly mafic（basaltic） in composition.Here,the presence of fine-grained tuffs,tuff breccia containing sideromelane shards and quenched texture,welded tuff breccia,peperite,shale/mudstone and oolite substantiates a subaqueous environment.Based on these observations,we conclude that the early phase of Rajmahal volcanism occurred under predominantly subaqueous conditions.The presence of grey and black shale/mudstone in the lower one-third of the succession across the entire Rajmahal basin provides unequivocal evidence of a shallow-marine continental shelf-type environment.Alignment of the Rajmahal eruptive centers with a major N—S mid-Neoproterozoic lineament and the presence of a gravity high on the RVP suggest a tectonic control for the eruption of melts associated with the Kerguelen plume that was active in a post-Gondwana rift between India and Australia-Antarctica.

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of rhyolitic lithic-crystal tuffs in Erdaohezi lead-zinc deposit,Inner Mongolia

Erdaohezi lead-zinc deposit belongs to the Derbugan metallogenic belt lying on the northwestern Hailaer-Genhe Mesozoic volcanic basin, located on the western slope of the Da Hinggan Mountains. The deposit is considered as one of the hypabyssal low-temprature hydrothermal lead-zinc deposits associated with volca- nism. In order to lay the foundation on studying its diagenesis and mineralization ages, the detailed studies were carried out by dating the host rocks （i. e. rhyolitic lithic-crystal tufts） using zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb method. The dating results show three groups ot! ages. The first group is the captured zircons （the weighted mean ^206pb/238U age as 175.6± 2.3 Ma, MSWD = 0.70, n = 3）. The second group can be regarded as the rock- forming age （the weighted mean ^206pb/238U age as 165.3± 1.9 Ma, MSWD = 2.40, n = 14）. The third group should represent the late stage of the magmatic evolution （the weighted mean ^206pb/238U age as 161.0 ± 3.1 Ma, MSWD = 0.86, n = 4）. According to the ages and the crystal form or CL image characteristics of zircons, it is determined that the diagenesis occurred in the late Middle Jurassic. Based on the regional geology and geo- chronological research, the acidic pyroclastic rocks are space accompaniment and time connection with the Tamu- langou Formation intermediate-mafic volcanic rocks. Both of them constitute the host rocks of the deposit together. The rock combination also provides favorable conditions for large-scale silver, lead and zinc mineralization in this area.

The First Discovery of Rhyolite Interlayer in the Mugagangri Group in the Bangonghu-Nujiang Suture Zone, Tibet and the U-Pb Dating

Objective The Mugagangri group （MP）, named by Wen Shixuan （1979） in the southeast Mugegebori Mountain which is the main peak of Mugagangri, is a flysch formation with deep semi-deep marine sedimentary features in the Bangonghu -Nujiang suture zone （BNSZ）. The lithology is mainly composed of sandstones, graywackes, siltstones and silty mudstones with low-grade metamorphism. The previously defined Mugagangri group continues from east to west for nearly 2000 km in BNSZ as a matrix part associated with ophiolitic melange blocks, and is considered to be part of the deep marine sedimentary cover of ophiolites.

Mantle derived crystal-poor rhyolitic ignimbrites:Eruptive mechanism from geochemical and geochronological data of the Piedra Parada caldera,Southern Argentina

Trace elements, isotopic modeling and U-Th-Pb SHRIMP zircon age constraints are used to reconstruct the eruption history and magmatic processes of the Piedra Parada Caldera. In the early Eocene, the crystal-poor Barda Colorada ignimbrite(BCI), having >>15% micro-porphyritic crystals with respect to magmatic components, erupted a volume estimated in more than 300 km^3. The Piedra Parada caldera is located in the Patagonian Andes foreland, at the southern end of the calderas field of the Pilcaniyeu Volcanic Belt(PVB). This belt is related to an extensional tectonic setting as a result of the collision of the Farallon-Aluk ridge with South America, which enabled the development of a transform ocean/continental plate margin followed by the detachment of the Aluk plate and the opening of a slab window. The BCI extra-caldera Plateau is a >100 m thick deposit, having a lower unit with high silica(Si O_2> 76 wt.%),potassium poor rhyolitic composition(trondhjemitic like magma), and an upper unit with normal to high potassium rhyolitic composition(granitic like magma). A trace elements modeling of the BCI units shows that the BCI lower and upper units did not evolve from fractionation or immiscibility in the shallow magma reservoir. The BCI also have a primitive isotopic signature(initial87 Sr/86 Sr =0.7031-0.7049 and ε_(Nd)= +3.4 to +3.65). Thus, tectonic, compositional and isotopic constraints suggest the fast ascent of high silica magmas to a shallow reservoir, and point to an upper mantle origin for these rhyolitic magmas in a transitional(Orogenic-Anorogenic) tectono-magmatic setting. U-Th-Pb SHRIMP zircon crystallization ages of the Syn-caldera stage BCI units(56 -51.5 Ma) show a protracted life of 5 Ma for this caldera reservoir. The age of 52.9 ± 0.3 Ma is considered the best fit for the possible maximum age for the caldera collapse. The Late-caldera magmatism has trachyandesitic and rhyolitic compositions.The trace element modeling suggests that these rhyolites evolve from the trachyandesites and do not evolve from the BCI residual magma. The trachyandesites have U-Th-Pb SHRIMP zircon crystallization ages of 52 ± 1 Ma, suggesting that the caldera eruption was triggered by the arrival of the trachyandesitic magma.

Late Cretaceous K-rich rhyolitic crystal tuffs from the Chuduoqu area in Eastern Qiangtang subterrane:evidence for crustal thickening of the central Tibetan Plateau prior to India–Asia collision

In order to constrain whether the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision contributed to an early crustal thickening of the central Tibetan Plateau prior to the India–Asia collision,we present zircon LA–ICP–MS U–Pb ages,wholerock geochemistry,and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of the newly discovered rhyolitic crystal tuffs from the Chuduoqu area in the eastern Qiangtang subterrane,central Tibet.Zircon U–Pb dating suggests that the Chuduoqu rhyolitic crystal tuffs were emplaced at ca.68 Ma.The Chuoduoqu rhyolitic crystal tuffs display high SiO_(2) and K2 O,and low MgO,Cr,and Ni.Combined with their zircon Hf isotopic data,we suggest that they were derived from partial melting of the juvenile lower crust,and the magma underwent fractional crystallization and limited upper continental crustal assimilation during its evolution prior to eruption.They should be formed in a post-collisional environment related to lithospheric mantle delamination.The Chuduoqu rhyolitic crystal tuffs could provide important constraints on the Late Cretaceous crustal thickening of the central Tibetan Plateau caused by the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision.

Pattern and origin of spherulites in a rhyolite dike swarm, northeastern Cheongsong, Korea

Several NNW-trending Cretaceous rhyolite dikes in the northeastern Cheongsong area of southern Korea contain spherulitic fabrics and are locally quarried as an ornamental stone. The dikes, part of the Cheongsong dike swarm, contain a variety of spherulites which are characterized by radial array of acicular intergrowths from fibrous quartz and alkali feldspars. They are classified as some simple, multiple and compound spherulite types from flower-like patterns, and the types are different each other in spatial distribution within the dikes. The various radial fabrics suggest that they crystallized under the different cooling mechanisms and processes in rapidly cooling dikes. Spheroids lacking a flower-like pattern may be precipitated after compositional segregation in a supercooled magma. Simple acicular spherulites could be crystallized by devitrification of true glass which cooled rapidly below the transformation temperature, whereas layered multiple spherulites could result from a crystallization of supercooled magma at relatively rapid cooling rates above the transformation temperature. Acicular multiple spherulites could be produced from a combination of the above three mechanisms operating at slower cooling rates.

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of early Mesozoic felsic igneous rocks from the southern Lancangjiang and its tectonic implications

The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of three typical samples, including two monzo nitic granites from the Lincang batholith and a rhyolite from the Manghuai Formation are presented in the southern Lancangjiang, western Yunnan Province. The analyses of zircons for the biotite monzonitic granites from the northern (02DX-137) and southern (20JH-10) Lincang batholith show the single and tight clusters on the concordia, and yield the weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of 229.4 ± 3.0 Ma and 230.4 ± 3.6 Ma, respectively, representing the crystallized ages of these granites. The zircons for the rhyolitic sample (02DX-95) from the Manghuai Formation give a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 231.0 ± 5.0 Ma. These data suggest that the igneous rocks from the Lincang granitic batholith and Manghuai Formation have a similar crystallized age. In combination with other data, it is inferred that both were generated at a narrow age span (~230 Ma) and were originated from the postcollisional tectonic regime. An early Proterozoic 206Pb/238U apparent age of 1977±44 Ma is additionally obtained from one zircon from the biotite monzonitic granite (southern Lincang batholith), indicative of devel- opment of the early Proterozoic Yangtze basement in the region. These precisely geochronological data provide important constraints on better understanding the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Tethys, western Yunnan Province.

The age and tectonic environment of the rhyolitic rocks on the western side of Wuyi Mountain,South China

During the geological survey of the metamorphic rocks in Xingning-Wuhua region on the western side of Wuyi Mountain, South China, we discovered the Neoproterozoic rhyolite and rhyolitic greywacke for the first time that outcrop in the Proterozoic metamorphic rocks near Jingnan Town of Xingning County, eastern Guangdong Province. A systematic research on petrology, geochemistry and geochronology of rhyolitic rocks was conducted to understand their tectonic setting and formation age. The Jingnan rhyolite is interbedded with a coeval greywacke, with a total thickness of 60 m; both rhyolite and greywacke display a similar folding and metamorphic pattern. Meta-rhyolite consists of groundmass and phenocrystals including sanidine, orthoclase, and quartz with distinct undulose extinction; the groundmass has been recrystallized into fine-grain feldspar, quartz and sericite aggregation. Meta-greywacke is composed of crystallinoclastic grains (sanidine, orthoclase, quartz and oligoclase) and clay groundmass. Zircon grains used for the SHRIMP U-Pb analysis are light brown-colored and euhedral or subeuhedral. Dating data suggest two age groups; eight grains of magmatype zircon with an idiomorphic form yield an age of 972±8 Ma, and the other seven weakly corroded grains of zircon with euhedral to subeuhedral shape construct an average age of 1097±11 Ma, which were captured from older rocks by an uplifting magma, implying that a late Mesoproterozoic basement exists in the Nanling region. In addition, one Paleoproterozoic age, 2035±11 Ma, is obtained from a rounded detrital zircon, indicating that a Paleoproterozoic thermal event took place in the South China. Geochemically, the Jingnan rhyolitic rocks are characterized by high K2O content, intermediate Al2O3 content, with the ACNK value 0.98―1.11, and belonging to high-K alkaline series. They are rich in ΣREE, Rb, Th and Ce, depleted in Ba, Sr, Eu, Ti, P and Nb-Ta, and with moderate negative Eu and Sr anomalies. These features indicate that the Jingnan volcanic rocks have an affinity of continental arc that is similar to those of acid volcanic rocks in the SE-China Coastal Region, in other words, a Neoproterozoic tectonomagma event might have taken place in the western Wuyi region, leading to an eruption of high-K calc-alkaline granitic magma.

Round Top Mountain rhyolite(Texas, USA), a massive, unique Y-bearing-fluorite-hosted heavy rare earth element(HREE) deposit

Round Top Mountain in Hudspeth County, west Texas, USA is a surface-exposed rhyolite intrusion enriched in Y and heavy rare earth elements （HREEs）, as well as Nb, Ta, Be, Li, F, Sn, Rb, Th, and U. The massive tonnage, estimated at well over 1 billion tons, of the deposit makes it a target for recovery of valuable yttrium and HREEs （YHREEs）, and possibly other scarce ele-ments. Because of the extremely fine grain size of the mineralized rhyolite matrix, it has not been clear which minerals host the YHREEs and in what proportions. REE-bearing minerals reported in the deposit included bastn？site-Ce, Y-bearing fluorite, xeno-time-Y, zircon, aeschynite-Ce, a Ca-Th-Pb fluoride, and possibly ancylite-La and cerianite-Ce. Extended X-ray absorption fine struc-ture （EXAFS） indicated that virtually all of the yttrium, a proxy for the HREEs, resided in a coordination in the fluorite-type crystal structure, rather than those in the structures of bastn？site-Ce and xenotime-Y. The YREE grade of the Round Top deposit was just over 0.05%, with 72%of this consisting of YHREEs. This grade was in the range of the South China ionic clay deposits that supply essentially all of the world’s YHREEs. Because the host Y-bearing fluorite is soluble in dilute sulfuric acid at room temperature, a heap leaching of the deposit appeared feasible, aided by the fact that 90%-95%of the rock consists of unreactive and insoluble feld-spars and quartz. The absence of overburden, remarkable consistency of mineralization grade throughout the massive rhyolite, prox-imity （a few km） to a US interstate highway, major rail systems and gas and electricity, temperate climate, and stable political location in the world’s largest economy all enhanced the potential economic appeal of Round Top.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Granites from the Longtoushan Hydrothermal Gold Deposit in the Dayaoshan Area,Guangxi:Implication for Petrogenesis and Mineralization

The gold mineralization in the Longtoushan hydrothermal gold deposit is concentrated within the contact zone of the granitic complex. Whole rock geochemistry and in-situ U-Pb and Hf isotopic data were used to constrain the genesis and age of the granites and related Cu-Au mineralization in the Longtoushan Deposit. The granites mainly consist of the granite porphyry, rhyolite porphyry, porphyritic granite and quartz porphyry. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from the granite porphyry, rhyolite porphyry and quartz porphyry indicates that they intruded from ca. 94 to 97 Ma. These intrusions exhibit similar trace element characteristics, i.e., right-dipping REE patterns, depletion of Ba, Sr, P and Ti, and enrichment of Th, U, Nd, Zr and Hf. The εHf(t) values of zircons from the granite porphyry, rhyolite porphyry and quartz porphyry range from-26.81 to-8.19,-8.12 to-5.33, and-8.99 to-5.83, respectively, suggesting that they were mainly derived from the partial melting of the Proterozoic crust. The Cu-Au mineralization is mainly related to the rhyolite porphyry and porphyritic granite, respectively. The Longtoushan granites were most likely formed in a post-collisional extensional environment, and the deposit is a part of the Late Yanshanian magmatism related mineralization in the Dayaoshan area and its adjacent areas.