Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology： New Insight into the Provenance of Sanya Formation in the Yinggehai Basin

Objective The NNW-SSE trending Yinggehai Basin, located on the continental shelf at water depths of 50-200 m in the northwestern South China Sea, is a Cenozoic conversion extensional basin. Over the past decades, a number of hydrocarbon reservoirs have been discovered in the deepwater area of the basin, including the Lingtou Formation （Eocene）, Yacheng and Lingshui formations （Oligocene）, Sanya, Meishan and Huangliu formations （Miocene） and Yinggehai Formation （Pliocene）, which are covered by Quaternary sediments and underlain by pre- Paleogene strata.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Provenance of the Hebukesaier Formation in the Shaerbuerti Mountains,Northern West Junggar:Implication for Devonian Subduction of the Junggar–Balkhash Ocean

Limited Devonian magmatic record in northern West Junggar leads to contrasting models on its tectonic evolution.In this study,we conducted LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating on detrital zircons of two sandstones from the Hebukesaier Formation in the Shaerbuerti Mountains.Detrital zircons with oscillatory zoning are characterized by high Th/U(>0.3)and low La/Yb(<0.15),indicating their magmatic origin.The youngest zircon ages of two samples are 402±2 Ma and 406±2 Ma,respectively,suggesting that the Hebukesaier Formation was deposited at the Early Devonian.Detrital zircon age patterns show single peaks(at ca.424 Ma,n=157),which indicates that these clastics were likely proximal accumulation after short distance transportation.Provenance of the Hebukesaier Formation was the Xiemisitai and Shaerbuerti Mountains.Detrital zircon ages range from 481 Ma to 395 Ma,which indicates that there was relatively continuous Early Paleozoic magmatism in the Xiemisitai and Shaerbuerti Mountains since the Early Ordovician.Age spectrums of sampled detrital zircons are distinct from those of Lower Devonian strata either in southern West Junggar or in East Junggar,which implies for individual tectonic evolution of northern West Junggar.We favor that Lower Devonian Hebukesaier Formation was developed in a fore–arc setting due to the northward subduction of the Junggar–Balkhash Ocean.

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.

Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the proto-Korean Peninsula along the East Asian continental margin from detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotope geochemistry

Detrital zircon geochronology and Hf isotope analysis can be used for inferring provenance characteristics,and to evaluate the tectonic evolution of sedimentary basins and their link with regional orogenesis.The Paleozoic sequences of the Okcheon Belt consist of the Lower Paleozoic Joseon and the Upper Paleozoic Pyeongan supergroups with Middle Paleozoic hiatus locally on top of the Neoproterozoic bimodal volcanic rocks,reflecting an intracontinental rift setting between the two basements(viz.Gyeonggi and Yeongnam massifs)at southern part of the Korean Peninsula.Our detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotope results show that all these Paleozoic strata commonly have Paleoproterozoic and Paleozoic zircon ages with rare Meso-to Neoproterozoic ages.The individual zircon populations display following features,allowing estimation of their sedimentary provenances:(i)The Paleoproterozoic zircons(ca.1.85 Ga and 2.50 Ga)with similar ranges ofεHf(t)values are most common in the basement rocks of the Korean Peninsula,and were sourced from both the Gyeonggi and Yeongnam massifs.(ii)The Meso-to Neoproterozoic zircons,preserved only in the Middle to Late Cambrian clastic sedimentary rocks within the carbonate sequences probably reflect proximal provenance.(iii)The youngest Paleozoic zircons of each formation,almost coincident with their deposition ages,suggest presence of syndepositional magmatism,indicating proximal magmatic sources during their deposition.(iv)The Cambrian-Ordovician zircons,from the Lower Paleozoic sequences,but rare in the successive Upper Paleozoic sequences,suggest a provenance change after the hiatus between the two sedimentary successions.(v)The Permian zircons showing differentεHf(t)values indicate that detrital sources were varied at that time.The integrated results in our study suggest provenance variability linked to diverse tectonic environments,reflecting prolonged subduction-related crustal evolution of the proto-Korean Peninsula during the Paleozoic.

Provenance of Late Mesozoic Strata and Tectonic Implications for the Southwestern Ordos Basin,North China:Evidence from Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopes

In order to determine the provenance and variation characteristics of sandstone-type uranium deposits located in the southwest Ordos Basin,U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotope analyses were conducted on detrital zircons from the Late Mesozoic strata of the SD01 well in the Zhenyuan area.The detrital zircon U-Pb ages of four samples exhibited four main peaks at 250–330,420–500,1720–2000,and 2340–2580 Ma,with a small number of zircons dated at 770–1100 Ma.The detrital zircon age spectrum and further restriction provided by the in-situ Hf isotopic data suggest that the provenance of each stratum was mainly derived from the crystalline basement rock series(Khondalites,intermediate-acidic intrusive rocks,and metamorphic rocks)of the Alxa Block to the northwest and the Yinshan Block to the north,with minor amounts of Caledonian magmatic rocks and Jingning Period rocks from the western part of the northern Qilian orogenic belt to the west and the northern Qinling orogenic belt to the south.The provenance of the sandbody has not changed significantly and is of the Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous.The clear variations in the zircon ages of the samples from the Zhiluo and Anding formations were likely influenced by climate change during the Middle–Late Jurassic.The Triassic zircon age(<250 Ma)first appeared in Early Cretaceous strata,suggesting that tectonic activity was relatively strong in the northern Qinling orogenic belt during the Late Jurassic and produced extensive outcrops of Indo-Chinese granite,which were a source of basin sediments.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology from Greywackes in the Niujuanzi Ophiolitic Mélange, Beishan Area, NW China: Provenance and Tectonic Implications

The Niujuanzi ophiolitic m^lange represents the remnant of oceanic crust between the Dunhuang massif and Mingshui-Hanshan massif. Greywacke from different tectonic slices in the Niu- juanzi ophiolitic mdlange were analyzed for detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, trace dements and whole-rock trace elements to infer their provenance and the evolution of the Niujuanzi Ocean. Sample N-76s containing Carboniferous spores has the youngest zircon age of 323 Ma, while sample N-85s without fossils has the youngest zircon age of 449 Ma. The two samples were deposited no earlier than 323 and 449 Ma, respectively. The greywackes are depleted in large ion lithophile elements, and are relatively enriched in high field strength elements. The age spectra and trace element concentrations indicate that the sediments may have been deposited near the trench. The Hf, U, and Yb contents of zircons from sample N-76s vary widely, whereas those from sample N-85s have a narrow range. Sample N-76s contains both continental and oceanic zircons, while sample N-85s contains only continental zir-cons. The sediments were derived from the continental arc and accretionary wedge. The Paleozoic oce- anic crust zircons have ages of 430-500 Ma, indicating the timing of the expansion of the Hongliuhe- Niujuanzi-Xichangjing Ocean expansion. The oldest Paleozoic continental zircon has an age of 470 Ma, suggesting that the northward subduction of the oceanic crust may have started at that time.

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach sediments,Veracruz State,Gulf of Mexico:a new insight on palaeoenvironment

Zircons are abundant in the beach sediments.In this study,surface microtexture,mineralogy,bulk sediment geochemistry,trace element composition and U−Pb isotopic geochronology of detrital zircons collected from the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach areas,southwestern Gulf of Mexico were performed to infer the sediment provenance and palaeoenvironment.The zircon microtexture was categorized as mechanically-and/or chemically-induced features.The weathering index values for the Riachuelos(~72−77)and Palma Sola(~71−74)beach sediments indicated moderate weathering of both of the two source areas.The major and trace element data of bulk sediments suggested passive margin settings for the two areas.The trace elemental ratios and chondrite-normalized rare earth element(REE)patterns of bulk sediments revealed that the sediments were likely sourced by felsic and intermediate igneous rocks.And the zircon Th/U ratios(mostly more than 0.2)and zircon REE patterns(with negative Eu and positive Ce anomalies)suggested a magmatic origin for both of the beach sediments from these two areas.Two distinct zircon age peaks respectively belonging to the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic were identified both in the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach sediments.Zircon geochronology comparison research between the Riachuelos−Palma Sola beach sediments and potential source areas in SW Gulf of Mexico revealed that the source terrane supplied the Paleozoic zircons of this study was identified as the Mesa Central Province(MCP),and the Cenozoic zircons were transported from the nearby Eastern Alkaline Province(EAP).Moreover,although the Precambrian zircons were very few in the studied sediments,their geochronology and geochemistry results still could infer that they were contributed by the source terranes of Grenvillian igneous suites in the Oaxaca and the Chiapas Massif Complexes.

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

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

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotopic Compositions of the Wuliangshan Metasediment Rocks in SW Yunnan(China)and Its Provenance Implications

The Wuliangshan Group occurs to the east of the Lancang giant igneous zone in SW Yunnan, and is mainly composed of low-grade metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. The group has been considered as the syn-orogenic product of the Baoshan with Simao-Indochina blocks. However, its depositional time and provenance remain to be poorly constrained. This paper presents zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf-isotopic data for five representative sandstone samples from the Wuliangshan Group. The detrital grains yield a major age-peak at ~259 Ma, and four subordinary age-peaks at ~1 859, ~941, ~788, and ~447 Ma, respectively. Our results suggest that the Wuliangshan metasedimentary sequence was deposited after Middle Triassic rather than previously-thought Cambrian. The detrital zircon age spectrum, along with in-situ Lu-Hf isotopic data suggest that the Wuliangshan Group might be a syncollisional sedimentary product related to the collision of Baoshan with Simao-Indochina blocks. It is inferred that the provenance of the Wuliangshan Group is mainly from the Simao/Yangtze blocks to the east rather than the Baoshan Block or Lancang igneous zone to the west.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Its Provenance Implications on Silurian Tarim Basin

ABSTRACT： As one of the major exploration objects of marine deposit in Tarim basin, Silurian has been paid more attention from oil/gas exploration and geologists. However, due to the widely deposit and later erosion, it is difficult to restore the original basin. The surrounding tectonic activity and provenance systems of Silurian Tarim basin have a lot of controversy. Aid of detrital zircons U-Pb dating data obtained from well drilling of Tabei （塔北） and Tazhong （塔中） areas and Sishichang （四十场） and Xiangyangcun （向阳村） outcrop profiles, integrated with other geological and geophysical data, the tectothermal evolution and provenance nature of Silurian deposit have been revealed. Zircons U-Pb dating shows Tarim basin has experienced 5-6 significant tectothermal events： 3 500-3 000 Ma Paleo-Mesoarchean, around 2 500 and 1 800 Ma Paleoproterozoic, around 1 000 and 800 Ma Neoproterozoic, and 500--400 Ma Eopaleozoic tectothermal events. These tectothermal events reflected the evolution of Tarim microplates and Tarim basin, respectively, corresponded to the forming and spilitting process of Ur supercontinent, Kenorland, Columbia and Rodinia supercontinent. Differencebetween the samples of Tazhong and Tabei areas indicated that North and South Tarim microplates were different in Paleo-Mesoarchean, and later evolutions were more synchronous after Paleoproterozoic. Integrated with seismic data and outcrop interpretation, the U-Pb dating results also revealed that the surrounding tectonic activities were still very active during Silurian, and indicated different regions had different source systems. At Tadong （塔东） and Manjiaer （满加尔） depressions, major source systems came from Ordovician Altyn orogenic belts. At Tabei area and northwest of Tarim basin, majorsource systems came from recycling orogenic zone （the activity of South Tianshan （天山） Mountain） and Precambrian stable basement （local paleo-uplifts at north of Tabei）. The Ordovician uplift and orogenic zone at the south of Tarim basin and Precambrian granite basement provided lots of source systems to Tazhong area.

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Geochronology of Detrital Zircon in the Guanzhong Basin, China and Its Tectonic Response

Objective The Guanzhong Basin in the transitional zone of the Qinling orogenic belt and the southern margin of the Ordos Basin has been extensively studied in recent years.Although some results have been obtained,some problems such as whether the materials from the North China craton and the Qinling orogenic belt are detrital sedimentary rocks of the Guanzhong Basin still remain unresolved.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronologyof Sinian–Cambrian Strata in the Eastern Guangxi Area, China

The Eastern Guangxi area locates in the southwestern part of the transition zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, which is an important region because the boundary between two blocks probablycrosses there. We determined LA-ICPMS U-Pb ages for detrital zircons extracted from three sandstone samples in the Sinian-Cambrian strata in this region. The resulting ages are in the range of the Archeozoic and Neoproterozoic, with three notable concentrates at 991 Ma, 974 Ma, and 964 Ma, all of which are coeval to the Grenvillian magmatic activity. The new age distribution is similar to the data reported in the Precambrian strata of the adjacent southwestern Cathaysia Block, suggesting that most of our detrital zircons are likely derived from the Cathaysia Block. Combined with others＇ research, we are more inclined to accept the opinion that there was not an ocean basin between the two blocks during the Sinian-Cambrian period in Eastern Guangxi area if the timing of collision is the Early Neoproterzoic. But if the timing of collision is the Early Paleozoic, we conclude that Luzhai uplift（i.e., the uplift between Guilin-Yongfu faultand Lipu fault） beyond the west of Dayaoshan regoin might be one part of southwestern sedimentation boundary of Cathaysia Block and Yangtze Block. We also get a few of detrital zircons with ages of ~590 Ma which probably sourced from northeastern Gondwana and 13 detrital zircons with over 3 000 Ma U-Pb ages which record the early formation of the earth.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology,geochemistry and tectonic implication of volcanic rocks from Manketouebo Formation in Keyihe area of northern Great Xing'an Range

Zircon U-Pb isotope dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses were undertaken for the rhyolite,rhyolitic lithic crystal tuff and dacitic tuff from the Manketouebo Formation in the Keyihe area,in order to constrain their genesis and tectonic significance.Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data indicate that the rhyolite and rhyolitic lithic crystal tuff were formed during 137±5 Ma and 143±1 Ma,respectively.These volcanic rocks have high SiO2(70.03%–76.46%)and K2O+Na2O(8.10%–9.52%)contents,but low CaO(0.03%–0.95%)and MgO(0.07%–0.67%)contents,which belong to the peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline rocks.They are enriched in light rare earth elements(REEs),and exhibit fractionation of light over heavy REEs,withδEu values of 0.37–0.83.The volcanic rocks are enriched in LILEs(e.g.,Rb,U and K)and depleted in HFSEs(e.g.,Nb,Ti,P and Ta).The chemical composition suggests that these volcanic rocks formed by partial melting of crust material.Combined with previous regional research results,the authors consider that the volcanic rocks of the Manketouebo Formation in the Keyihe area were formed under an extensional environment related to the closure of the Mongolia–Okhotsk Ocean.

Detrital-zircon geochronology of the Jurassic coal-bearing strata in the western Ordos Basin, North China: Evidences for multi-cycle sedimentation

The western Ordos Basin(WOB), situated in a tectonic transition zone in the North China Craton, acts as an excellent example for studying the Mesozoic intraplate sedimentation and deformation in Asia. In this study, U-Pb ages for 1203 detrital zircons of 14 sandstone samples collected from 11 sections are presented to unravel the sediment source locations and paleogeographic environments of the Early-Middle Jurassic coal-bearing Yan'an Formation in the WOB. Data show that there are five prominent age groups in the detrital zircons of the Yan'an Formation, peaking at ca. 282 Ma, 426 Ma, 924 Ma, 1847 Ma, and2468 Ma. Samples from the northern, middle, and southern parts of the WOB contain these five age categories in various proportions. In the northern region, the Yan'an Formation exclusively contains Early Permian detrital zircons with a single age group peaking at 282 Ma, matching well with the crystallizing ages of the widespread Early Permian granites in the Yinshan Belt to the north and the Alxa Block to the northwest. While in the southern region, the Yan'an Formation mainly contains three groups of detrital zircons, with age peaks at 213 Ma, 426 Ma, and 924 Ma. These zircon ages resemble those of the igneous rocks in the Qilian-Qinling Orogenic Belt to the south-southwest. Samples in the middle region, characterized by a mixture age spectrum with peaks at 282 Ma, 426 Ma, 924 Ma, 1847 Ma and 2468 Ma, are previously thought to have mixed derivations from surrounding ranges. However, by referring to the detrital-zircon age compositions of the pre-Jurassic sedimentary successions and combining with paleontological and petrographic analysis, we firstly propose that the sediments of the Yan'an Formation in the middle region were partly recycled from the Triassic and Paleozoic sedimentary strata in the WOB.The occurrence of recycled sedimentation suggests that the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic intraplate compressional deformation was very intense in the WOB, especially for regions in front of the Qilian Orogenic Belt.

Detrital zircon geochronology of the Lutzow-Holm Complex,East Antarctica:Implications for Antarctica-Sri Lanka correlation

The Lützow-Holm Complex(LHC) of East Antarctica has been regarded as a collage of Neoarchean(ca.2.5 Ga), Paleoproterozoic(ca. 1.8 Ga), and Neoproterozoic(ca. 1.0 Ga) magmatic arcs which were amalgamated through the latest Neoproterozoic collisional events during the assembly of Gondwana supercontinent. Here, we report new geochronological data on detrital zircons in metasediments associated with the magmatic rocks from the LHC, and compare the age spectra with those in the adjacent terranes for evaluating the tectonic correlation of East Antarctica and Sri Lanka. Cores of detrital zircon grains with high Th/U ratio in eight metasediment samples can be subdivided into two dominant groups:(1) late Meso-to Neoproterozoic(1.1-0.63 Ga) zircons from the northeastern part of the LHC in Prince Olav Coast and northern Soya Coast areas, and(2) dominantly Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic(2.8-2.4 Ga) zircons from the southwestern part of the LHC in southern Lutzow-Holm Bay area. The ca.1.0 Ga and ca. 2.5 Ga magmatic suites in the LHC could be proximal provenances of the detrital zircons in the northeastern and southwestern LHC, respectively. Subordinate middle to late Mesoproterozoic(1.3-1.2 Ga) detrital zircons obtained from Akarui Point and Langhovde could have been derived from adjacent Gondwana fragments(e.g., Rayner Complex, Eastern Ghats Belt). Meso-to Neoproterozoic domains such as Vijayan and Wanni Complexes of Sri Lanka, the southern Madurai Block of southern India, and the central-western Madagascar could be alternative distal sources of the late Meso-to Neoproterozoic zircons. Paleo-to Mesoarchean domains in India, Africa, and Antarctica might also be distal sources for the minor ~2.8 Ga detrital zircons from Skallevikshalsen. The detrital zircons from the Highland Complex of Sri Lanka show similar Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic(ca. 2.5 Ga) and Neoproterozoic(ca. 1.0 Ga) ages, which are comparable with those of the LHC, suggesting that the two complexes might have formed under similar tectonic regimes. We consider that the Highland Complex and metasedimentary unit of the LHC formed a unified latest Neoproterozoic suture zone with a large block of northern LH-Vijayan Complex caught up as remnant of the ca. 1.0 Ga magmatic arc.

Provenance and paleogeography of Carboniferous-Permian strata in the Bayanhot Basin:Constraints from sedimentary records and detrital zircon geochronology

The Bayanhot Basin is a superimposed basin that experienced multiple-staged tectonic movements;it is in the eastern Alxa Block,adjacent to the North China Craton(NCC)and the North Qilian Orogenic Belt(NQOB).There are well-developed Paleozoic-Cenozoic strata in this basin,and these provide a crucial window to a greater understanding of the amalgamation process and source-to-sink relationships between the Alxa Block and surrounding tectonic units.However,due to intensive post-depositional modification,and lack of subsurface data,several fundamental issues-including the distribution and evolution of the depositional systems,provenance supplies and source-to-sink relationships during the Carboniferous-Permian remain unclear and thus hinder hydrocarbon exploration and limit the geological understanding of this basin.Employing integrated outcrop surveys,new drilling data,and detrital zircon dating,this study examines the paleogeographic distribution and evolution,and provenance characteristics of the Carboniferous-Permian strata in the Bayanhot Basin.Our results show that the Bayanhot Basin experienced a long-term depositional evolution process from transgression to retrogression during the Carboniferous-late Permian.The transgression extent could reach the central basin in the early Carboniferous.The maximum regional transgression occurred in the early Permian and might connect the Qilian and North China seas with each other.Subsequently,a gradual regression followed until the end of the Permian.The northwestern NCC appeared as a paleo-uplift area and served as a sediments provenance area for the Alxa Block at that time.The NCC,Bayanwula Mountain,and NQOB jointly served as major provenances during the Carboniferous-Permian.There was no ocean separation,nor was there an orogenic belt between the Alxa Block and the NCC that provided sediments for both sides during the Carboniferous-Permian.The accretion of the Alxa and North China blocks should have been completed before the Carboniferous period.

Detrital zircon geochronology of quartzites from the southern Madurai Block,India:Implications for Gondwana reconstruction

Detrital zircons are important proxies for crustal provenance and have been widely used in tracing source characteristics and continental reconstructions.Southern Peninsular India constituted the central segment of the late Neoproterozoic supercontinent Gondwana and is composed of crustal blocks ranging in age from Mesoarchean to late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian.Here we investigate detrital zircon grains from a suite of quartzites accreted along the southern part of the Madura） Block.Our LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating reveals multiple populations of magmatic zircons,among which the oldest group ranges in age from Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic（ca.2980-1670 Ma,with peaks at 2900-2800 Ma,2700-2600 Ma,2500-2300 Ma,2100-2000 Ma）.Zircons in two samples show magmatic zircons with dominantly Neoproterozoic（950-550 Ma） ages.The metamorphic zircons from the quartzites define ages in the range of 580-500 Ma,correlating with the timing of metamorphism reported from the adjacent Trivandrum Block as well as from other adjacent crustal fragments within the Gondwana assembly.The zircon trace element data are mostly characterized by LREE depletion and HREE enrichment,positive Ce,Sm anomalies and negative Eu,Pr,Nd anomalies.The Mesoarchean to Neoproterozoic age range and the contrasting petrogenetic features as indicated from zircon chemistry suggest that the detritus were sourced from multiple provenances involving a range of lithologies of varying ages.Since the exposed basement of the southern Madurai Block is largely composed of Neoproterozoic orthogneisses,the data presented in our study indicate derivation of the detritus from distal source regions implying an open ocean environment.Samples carrying exclusive Neoproterozoic detrital zircon population in the absence of older zircons suggest proximal sources in the southern Madurai Block.Our results suggest that a branch of the Mozambique ocean might have separated the southern Madurai Block to the north and the Nagercoil Block to the south,with the metasediments of the khondalite belt in Trivandrum Block marking the zone of ocean closure,part of which were accreted onto the southern Madurai Block during the collisional amalgamation of the Gondwana supercontinent in latest Neoproterozoic-Cambrian.

Detrital zircon geochronology and provenance of sediments within the Mesozoic basins:New insights into tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogen

Mesozoic sedimentary units within the Nanzhao and Mashiping basins record the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogen(QO).This study uses new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic data to constrain the timing of deposition and provenance of the Taishanmiao,Taizishan,Nanzhao,and Mashiping formations of the North Qinling Orogen(NQO).The detrital zircons can be split by age peaks into five major groups,including Early Cretaceous,Late Triassic,Early Paleozoic,Neoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic age peaks.On the basis of the youngest zircon ages and age-diagnostic fossils,we conclude that the Taishanmiao(youngest age of 234 Ma)and Taizishan(216 Ma)formations were deposited during the Late Triassic,whereas the Nanzhao Formation(110 Ma)was deposited during the Early Cretaceous rather than the Late Jurassic as previously thought.The Mashiping Formation(110 Ma)was also deposited during the Early Cretaceous.Combined with zircon Hf isotopic compositions,zircons from Late Triassic units were generally derived from the NQO,South Qinling Orogen(SQO),and North China Craton(NCC),with minor amounts derived from the Xing-Meng Orogenic Belt.The sediments within the Nanzhao Formation were mainly derived from the QO,with a minor contribution from the NCC.The Early Cretaceous conglomerates of the Mashiping Formation were generally derived from recycled earlier detritus.This implies that Late Triassic deposition was related to the final closure of the Mianlue Ocean,whereas Early Cretaceous deposition was correlated to the continued intercontinental subduction of the Yangtze Craton beneath the QO.The change in provenance within these Mesozoic sediments suggests the QO underwent two periods of significant uplift,which was a process generated sediments that were deposited in a series of basins of this area.

Segmental closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean:Insight from detrital geochronology in the East Transbaikalia Basin

The Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean extended between the Siberian and Amur–North China continents.The timing and modalities of the oceanic closure are widely discussed.It is largely accepted that the ocean closed in a scissor-like manner from southwest to northeast(in modern coordinates),though the timing of this process remains uncertain.Recent studies have shown that both western(West Transbaikalia)and eastern(Dzhagda)parts of the ocean closed almost simultaneously at the Early–Middle Jurassic boundary.However,little information on the key central part of the oceanic suture zone is available.We performed U-Pb(LA-ICP-MS)dating of detrital zircon from wellcharacterized stratigraphic sections of the central part of the Mongol-Okhotsk suture zone.These include the initial marine and final continental sequences of the East Transbaikalia Basin,deposited on the northern Argun-Idemeg terrane basement.We provide new stratigraphic ages for the marine and continental deposits.This revised chronostratigraphy allows assigning an age of~165–155 Ma,to the collisionrelated flexure of the northern Argun-Idemeg terrane and the development of a peripheral foreland basin.This collisional process took place 5 to10 million years later than in the western and eastern parts of the ocean.We demonstrate that the northern Argun-Idemeg terrane was the last block to collide with the Siberian continent,challenging the widely supported scissor-like model of closure of the MongolOkhotsk Ocean.Different segments of the ocean closed independently,depending on the initial shape of the paleo continental margins.

Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic Tectonic Evolution of the SW Yangtze Block, South China: Evidence from U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotopes of Detrital Zircons from Sedimentary Rocks

In situ zircon U-Pb geochronological and Lu-Hf isotope studies of detrital zircons from Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic sedimentary units on the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block have important implications for the tectonic evolution of the Yangtze Block.The Huili Group contains zircons whose ages are mainly Late Archean to Mesoproterozoic(2650-2450,2100-1800,and 1350-1150 Ma).The Dengxiangying Group has one major age population of 1900-1600 Ma,and two subordinate age populations of 1350-1100 and 2300-2000 Ma.Yanbian Group sedimentary rocks have a zircon age population mainly in the range of 970-850 Ma,contemporaneous with the ages of widespread arc-related magmatism in the western Yangtze Block.Combining these results with previous work,the Huili and Dengxiangying groups were most likely deposited during ca.1160 to 1000 Ma in an intra-continental rift basin setting,while the Yanbian Group accumulated during>920 to 782 Ma in a back-arc basin setting at the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block.In addition,all these results further suggest a tectonic transition from a continental rift basin to a convergent environment at the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block at 1000-970 Ma.