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

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.

LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Fine-grained Granite and Molybdenite Re-Os Dating in the Wurinitu Molybdenum Deposit,Inner Mongolia,China

The Wurinitu molybdenum deposit,located in Honggor,Sonid Left Banner of Inner Mongolia,China,is recently discovered and is considered to be associated with a concealed fine-grained granite impregnated with molybdenite.The wall rocks are composed of Variscan porphyritic-like biotite granite and the Lower Ordovician Wubin'aobao Formation.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the fine-grained granite reveals two stages of zircons,one were formed at 181.7±7.4 Ma and the other at 133.6±3.3 Ma.The latter age is believed to be the formation age of the fine-grained granite,while the former may reflect the age of inherited zircons,based on the morphological study of the zircon and regional geological setting.The Re-Os model age of molybdenite is 142.2±2.5 Ma,which is older than the diagenetic age of the fine-grained granite.Therefore the authors believe that the metallogenic age of the Wurinitu molybdenum deposit should be nearly 133.6±3.3 Ma or slightly later,i.e.,Early Cretaceous.Combined with regional geological background research,it is speculated that the molybdenum deposits were formed at the late Yanshanian orogenic cycle in the Hingganling-Mongolian orogenic belt,belonging to the relaxation epoch posterior to the compression and was associated with the closure of the Mongolia-Okhotsk Sea.

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Zircon Geochronology of Basic Dikes within Maxianshan Rock Group in the Central Qilian Orogenic Belt and Its Tectonic Implications

A large number of basic dikes, which indicate an important tectonic-magmatic event in the eastern part of the Central Qilian （祁连） orogenic belt, were found from Maxianshan （马衔山） rock group, Yongjing （永靖） county, Gansu （甘肃） Province, China. According to the research on the characteristics of geology and petrology, the basic dike swarms, widely intruded in Maxianshan rock group, are divided into two phases by the authors. U-Pb isotope of zircons from the basic dikes above two phases is separately determined by LA-ICP-MS in the Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics of Northwest University, China and the causes of formation of the zircons are studied using CL images. The formation age of the earlier phase of metagabbro dikes is （441.1±1.4） Ma （corresponding to the early stage of Early Silurian）, and the age of the main metamorphic period is （414.3±1.2） Ma （corresponding to the early stage of Early Devonian）. The formation age of the later phase of diabase dike swarms is （434±1.0） Ma （corresponding to the late stage of Early Silurian）. The cap- tured-zircons from diabase dike swarms saved some information of material interfusion by Maxianshan rock group （^207pb/206pb apparent ages are （2 325±3）-（2 573 ±6） Ma）, and some zircons from diabase dike swarms also saved impacted information by tectonic thermal event during the late period of Caledonian movement （^206pb/^238U apparent ages are （400±2）-（429±2） Ma）. By combining the results of the related studies, the basic dikes within Maxianshan rock group were considered to be formed in the transfer period, from subductional orogeny towards collisional orogeny, which represents geological records of NW-SE extension during regional NE-SW towards intense compression in the Central Qilian block.

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 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.

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.

Assessment of widely used methods to derive depositional ages from detrital zircon populations

The calculation of a maximum depositional age(MDA)from a detrital zircon sample can provide insight into a variety of geological problems.However,the impact of sample size and calculation method on the accuracy of a resulting MDA has not been evaluated.We use large populations of synthetic zircon dates(N≈25,000)to analyze the impact of varying sample size(n),measurement uncertainty,and the abundance of neardepositional-age zircons on the accuracy and uncertainty of 9 commonly used MDA calculation methods.Furthermore,a new method,the youngest statistical population is tested.For each method,500 samples of n synthetic dates were drawn from the parent population and MDAs were calculated.The mean and standard deviation of each method ove r the 500 trials at each n-value(50-1000,in increments of 50)were compa red to the known depositional age of the synthetic population and used to compare the methods quantitatively in two simulation scenarios.The first simulation scenario varied the proportion of near-depositional-age grains in the synthetic population.The second scenario varied the uncertainty of the dates used to calculate the MDAs.Increasing sample size initially decreased the mean residual error and standard deviation calculated by each method.At higher n-values(>~300 grains),calculated MDAs changed more slowly and the mean resid ual error increased or decreased depending on the method used.Increasing the p roportion of near-depositional-age grains and lowering measurement uncertainty decreased the number of measurements required for the calculated MDAs to stabilize and decreased the standard deviation in calculated MDAs of the 500 samples.Results of the two simulation scenarios show that the most successful way to increase the accuracy of a calculated M DA is by acquiring a large number of low-uncertainty measurements(300300)approach is used if the calculation of accurate MDAs are key to research goals.Other acquisition method s,such as high-to moderate-precision measurement methods(e.g.,1%-5%,2σ)acquiring low-to moderate-n datasets(50300).Additionally,they are most susceptible to producing erroneous MDAs due to contamination in the field or laboratory,or through disturbances of the youngest zircon’s U-Pb systematics(e.g.,lead loss).More conservative methods that still produce accurate MDAs and are less susceptible to contamination or lead loss include:youngest grain cluster at 1σunce rtainty(YGC 1σ),youngest grain clusterat 2σuncertainty(YGC 2σ),and youngest statistical population(YSP).The ages calculated by these methods may be more useful and appealing when fitting calculated MDAs in to pre-existing chronostratigraphic frameworks,as they are less likely to be younger than the true depositional age.From the results of our numerical models we illustrate what geologic processes(i.e.,tectonic or sedimentary)can be resolved using MDAs derived from strata of different ages.

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.

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.

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Zircon Geochronology,Geochemistry and Kinetics of Wenquan Ore-Bearing Granites from Western Qinling,China

As we know there is a famous East Qinling-Dabie molybdenum belt in china,where many molybdenum deposits located such as super giant Jinduicheng,Sandaozhuang,Shangfanggou and Nannihu molybdenum deposits(Li,2008) ;The molybdenum mineralization in the East Qinling-Dabie belt clusters into three groups or mineralization pulses:233-221,148-138 and 131-112 Ma(Mao et al,2008).

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.

Sao Francisco-Congo Craton break-up delimited by U-Pb-Hf isotopes and trace-elements of zircon from metasediments of the Aracuaí Belt

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology combined with Hf isotopic and trace element data from metasedimentary rocks of the Aracuai Belt in southeastern Brazil provide evidence for break-up of the Congo-Sao Francisco Craton. The U-Pb age spectra of detrital zircons from metasediments of the Rio Doce Group(RDG) range from 900-650 Ma and define a maximum depositional age of ca. 650 Ma. Zircon trace element and whole rock data constrain an oceanic island arc as source for the deposition setting of the protoliths to the metasediments. Zircon ε_(Hf)(t) values from these rocks are positive between +1 and +15, supporting previous evidence of a Neoproterozoic extensional phase and oceanic crust formation in a precursor basin to the Aracuai Belt. Recrystallization of detrital zircon at ca. 630 Ma is compatible with a regional metamorphic event associated with terrane accretion to the Paleoproterozoic basement after transition from an extensional to a convergent regime. The juvenile nature, age spectra and trace element composition recorded in detrital zircons of metasediments from the Aracuai Belt correspond with zircons from metasedimentary rocks and oceanic crust remnants of other orogenic belts to its south. This suggests that rifting and oceanic crust formation of the entire orogenic system, the so-called Mantiqueira Province, was contemporaneous, most likely related to the opening of a large ocean. It further indicates that the cratonic blocks involved in the orogenic evolution of the Mantiqueira Province were spatially connected as early as 900 Ma.

Zircon U-Pb ages and provenance characteristics of the Zhiluo Formation sandstones and the formation background of the uranium deposit in Huangling area,Ordos Basin,China

The newly discovered medium-scale Huangling uranium deposit is located in the Shuanlong area of the southeast Ordos Basin.This paper presents the systematic geochemical and zircon U-Pb studies on the Zhiluo Formation sandstones in the Huanling area.The data obtained play an important role in deducing the provenance and tectonic setting of the source rocks.The results show that the lower part of the Zhiluo Formation is mainly composed of felsic sedimentary rocks.The source rocks originated from a continental island arc environment in terms of tectonic setting.U-Pb ages of detrital zircons obtained can be roughly divided into three groups:170‒500 Ma,1600‒2050 Ma,and 2100‒2650 Ma.Based on the characteristics of trace elements and rare earth elements(REE)and the zircon U-Pb dating results,it is considered that the Cryptozoic Edo provenance of the Zhiluo Formation mainly includes magmatic rocks(such as granodioritic intrusions)and metamorphic rocks(such as gneiss and granulite)in the orogenic belts on the northern margin of the North China Plate and in the Alxa Block.Based on sedimentological and petrological results,it can be concluded that the provenance of clastic sediments in the Zhiluo Formation was in north-south direction.The preconcentration of uranium is relatively low in the Lower Zhiluo Formation in the Huangling area.Meanwhile,the paleocurrent system in the sedimentary period is inconsistent with the ore-bearing flow field in the mineralization period,which restricts the formation of large-scale and super-large-scale uranium deposits and ore zones in the southeast Ordos Basin.The understanding of provenance directions will provide crucial references for the Jurassic prototype recovery and paleo-geomorphology of the Ordos Basin and the prediction of potential uranium reservoirs of the basin.

Source to sink zircon grain shape:Constraints on selective preservation and significance for Western Australian Proterozoic basin provenance

The effect of selective preservation during transportation of zircon grains on the detrital age spectrum is difficult to quantify and could potentially lead to systematic bias in provenance analysis. Here we investigate whether the shape of detrital zircon grains holds provenance information and if the grain shape can assist in understanding preservation. We applied multiple linear regression analysis to identify significant shape properties in detrital zircons from Proterozoic metasediments of the Capricorn and Amadeus basins and their Archean and Proterozoic sources in the Yilgarn Craton and the Musgrave Province in Western Australia. Digital images and isotopic data from 819 SIMS U-Pb dated zircons were examined for correlation between grain shape, age, U and Th content. Out of twelve shape descriptors measured, Minor Axis, the width of zircon grains perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis, consistently shows the most significant correlation with isotopic age. In the studied population Archean grains are narrower than Proterozoic grains: the probability that grains wider than 75 μm are Archean is less than30%.Calculations of the proportions of source material in sedimentary rocks relative to the proportions of source material in the overall catchment area(erosion parameter 'K' calculated based on age spectra)produced values typical for mature river systems, with K = 6 for the Yilgarn-Capricorn and K = 5.5 for the Musgrave-Amadeus source-sink system. For the Yilgarn-Capricorn system, we also calculated 'K' based on Minor Axis, to determine whether grain width can be linked to age populations. Results of the shapebased K of 5.3 suggest a similarity between age-based and shape-based 'K' values, demonstrating that zircon grain width may be a useful discriminator of provenance. Contrary to commonly applied qualitative shape classifications, we found no consistent correlations between shape descriptors of magmatic zircons and the composition of their host rock. While metamict zircons were preferentially removed during transport, the similarities in grain shape and age distribution of magmatic and detrital populations suggest that hydraulic sorting did not have a significant effect. We conclude that transport of zircon grains from magmatic source to sedimentary sink affects their width less than their length.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of the Chinese continental crust: a preliminary analysis of the Elsevier science database

The amount of zircon U-Pb geochronological data for China has grown rapidly in recent years.Nearly 410,000 items of zircon U-Pb geochronological data,representing more than 7,000 relevant articles in the Elsevier Science Database,have been collected to a database in this research.Statistics on the ages and absolute errors of these collated data,yielded smallest standard errors for(206Pb/238U),(207Pb/235U),and(207Pb/206Pb)ages within respective time intervals of<1388.96 Ma,1388.96–3282.52 Ma,and>3282.52 Ma.The ages and their absolute errors were determined using three main geochronology methods,based on laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometer(LA-ICP-MS),sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe(SHRIMP),and secondary ion mass spectrometer(SIMS)measurements.We compared the influence of these different methods on errors for each age interval.In addition,using a Gaussian model of multi-peak fitting of zircon U-Pb age frequencies,we identified seven growth peaks in zircons from the Chinese continental crust,which are 48.60 Ma,131.49 Ma,249.91 Ma,444.27 Ma,835.95 Ma,1860.65 Ma,and 2505.54 Ma.It is clear that there are correspondences between these ages and various geological events,namely,the Wutai movement,Lvliang movement,Jinning movement,Caledonian movement,Indo-China movement,Yanshan movement,and Himalayaorogeny movement,respectively.The time and spatial distributions of these zircons correspond to distinct geological events on the Chinese continent,reflecting its crustal evolution.

Geological significance of the former Xiong'er Volcanic Belt on the southwestern margin of the North China Craton

The rock association of low-grade metasedimentary rocks and greenschists located within the Meso- Cenozoic Liupanshan Fault system on the southwestern margin of the North China Craton (NCC)is regarded as part of the Paleoproterozoic Xiong'er Group.These low- grade rocks are separated by normal faults,with the greenschist located in the hanging wails.Zircon LA-ICP- MS U-Pb ages of the greenschists range from 2455 to 423 Ma,suggesting that they are not Paleoproterozoic in age. The protolith ages (206-194 Ma)of the greenschists were determined by LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from two siltstone inteflayers.The petrology and geochemistry of the greenschists reveal that their protolith was continental tholeiitic basalt that formed in an extensional environment such as a continental rift.Thus,it is proposed that the protolith of the greenschists was a mafic volcanic rock of Late Triassic-Early Jurassic age and was metamorphosed during the Jurassic due to tectonism within the Liupanshan tectonic belt.These results show that the greenschists should be reclassified and removed from the Xiong'er Group,and explains why they differ so much from those of typical Xiong'er Group successions in other areas.The formation of the mafic volcanic rocks under conditions of continental rifting differs from that of coeval granitic rocks in the western Qinling Orogen,where the extension occurred during a post-collisional stage in the Late Triassic,which further suggests that the southwestern margin of the NCC became an extensional setting after the Late Triassic.