Polymetamorphism of the ultrahigh-temperature granulites in the Rauer Group,East Antarctica:new evidence from zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages

The Rauer Group is located on the eastern margin of the early Paleozoic Prydz Belt in East Antarctica,and the typical ultrahigh-temperature(UHT,>900℃)granulites outcrop on Mather Peninsula.However,the timing of UHT metamorphism and P–T path of the UHT granulites have long been debated,which is critical to understanding the tectonic nature and evolution history of the Prydz Belt.Thus,both a sapphirine-bearing UHT metapelitic granulite and a garnet-bearing UHT mafic granulite are selected for zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age dating.The results show that metamorphic zircon mantles yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 918±29 Ma and 901±29 Ma for the metapelitic and mafic granulites,respectively,while zircon rims and newly grown zircons yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 523±9 Ma and 532±11 Ma,respectively.These new zircon age data suggest that the UHT granulites may have experienced polymetamorphism,in which pre-peak prograde stage occurred in the early Neoproterozoic Grenvillian orogenesis(1000–900 Ma),whereas the UHT metamorphism occurred in the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Pan-African orogenesis(580–460 Ma).This implies that P–T path of the UHT granulites should consist of two separate high-grade metamorphic events including the Grenvillian and Pan-African events,which are supposed to be related to assembly of Rodinia and Gondwana supercontinents respectively,and hence the overprinting UHT metamorphic event may actually reflect an important intracontinental reworking.

Exoscopy of Detrital Zircons from Niamey Neoproterozoic Sandstones (Eastern Edge of the West African Craton, Southwestern Niger): Interpretation of Detrital Sediments Provenance

This study focuses on exoscopic analyses of detrital zircon grains of Archean and Paleoproterozoic age, contained in the sediments from the Niamey Neoproterozoic sandstones (Niamey region), with a view to confirming the sediments sources already proposed (Kénéma-Man domain for Archean-age zircons and Baoulé Mossi domain for Paleoproterozoic-age zircons). Exoscopic analysis reveals that Archean zircon grains are more corroded, with rounded to sub-rounded shapes, while Paleoproterozoic zircon grains are less corroded and mostly angular in shape. The strong corrosion of Archean zircon grains, implying long-distance transport, is consistent with the remoteness of the Kenema-Man domain which are the source these sediments. The fact that the Paleoproterozoic zircon grains show little or no wear implies a proximal source of sediments, corresponding to the Baoulé Mossi domain.

U-Pb Age and Hf Isotope Study of Detrital Zircons from the Wanzi Supracrustals:Constraints on the Tectonic Setting and Evolution of the Fuping Complex,Trans-North China Orogen

Located in the middle segment of the Trans-North China Orogen, the Fuping Complex is considered as a critical area in understanding the evolution history of the North China Craton （NCC）. The complex is composed of various high-grade and multiply deformed rocks, including gray gneiss, basic granulite, amphibolite, fine-grained gneiss and marble, metamorphosed to upper amphibolite or granulite facies. It can be divided into four rock units： the Fuping TTG gneisses, Longquanguan augen gneisses, Wanzi supracrustals, and Nanying granitic gneisses. U-Pb age and Hf isotope compositions of about 200 detrital zircons from the Wanzi supracrustals of the Fuping Complex have been analyzed. The data on metamorphic zircon rims give ages of 1.82-1.84 Ga, corresponding to the final amalgamation event of the NCC, whereas the data for igneous zircon cores yield two age populations at -2.10 and -2.51 Ga, with some inherited ages scattering between 2.5 and 2.9 Ga. These results suggest that the Wanzi supracrustals were derived from the Fuping TTG gneisses （-2.5 Ga） and the Nanying granitic gneisses （2.0-2.1 Ga） and deposited between 2.10 and 1.84 Ga. All zircons with -2.51 Ga age have positive initial εHf values from ＋1.4 to ＋10.9, suggesting an important crustal growth event at -2.5 Ga through the addition of juvenile materials from the mantle. The Hf isotope data for the detrital zircons further imply that the 2.8 Ga rocks are important components in the lower crust, which is consistent with a suggestion from Nd isotope data for the Eastern Block. The zircons of 2.10 Ga population have initial εHf values of-4.9 to ＋6.1, interpreted as mixing of crustal re-melt with minor juvenile material contribution at 2.1 Ga. These results are distinct from that for the Western Block, supporting that the Fuping Complex was emplaced in a tectonic active environment at the western margin of the Eastern Block.

The Tectonic Implications of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing Ophiolitic Mélanges Belt in the Central Region of the Beishan Orogen, NW China——Constrained by the U-Pb Ages of Detrital Zircons of the Metasandstones

The tectonic attributes of different blocks within orogenic belts are of great significance for the study of accretionary processes and the evolution of Earth. The Hongliuhe-Niujianzi-Baiyunshan-Xichangjing ophiolitic mélange belt(HXOMB) is distributed in the heart of the Beishan Orogen, the Shuangyingshan and Minshui-Hanshan blocks being distributed in the south and north of the HXOMB respectively, and a large number of Early Paleozoic geological units are exposed on the blocks. According to the zircon age populations of the metasandstones in the Baiyunshan area recovered in this paper, when compared with the zircon age populations of the Paleozoic metasandstones reported in the Niujuanzi and Hanshan areas, we found that the metasandstones of the Shuangyingshan Block have age peaks at c. 598 Ma, 742 Ma, 828 Ma, 941 Ma, 990 Ma, 1168 Ma, 1636 Ma, 2497 Ma with non-significant age populations of 1500–1300 Ma, showing a possible affinity with the Tarim Craton;the metasandstones of the Minshui-Hanshan Block have age peaks at c. 606 Ma, 758 Ma, 914 Ma, 1102 Ma, 1194 Ma, 1304 Ma, 1672 Ma with significant age populations of 1500-1300 Ma, showing a possible affinity with the Chinese Central Tianshan Block. Therefore, the HXOMB of the Beishan Orogen is of great significance in plate segmentation, which separates the Tarim Craton in the south and the Chinese Central Tianshan Block in the north. Based on the evolutionary process of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing ocean in the Beishan Orogen, we believe that break-up and convergence can be recognized as having occurred twice between the Chinese Central Tianshan Block and the Tarim Craton since the Mesoproterozoic in the Beishan area. This was related firstly to the break-up of the Columbia Supercontinent and the convergence of the Rodinia Supercontinent, mainly during the Middle Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic, and secondly to the opening and closing of the Hongliuhe-Xichangjing ocean, mainly during the Early Paleozoic.

New detrital zircon U-Pb ages from BIF-related metasediments in the Ntem Complex (Congo craton) of southern Cameroon, West Africa

Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) were formed by contemporaneous events of active sediments supply and the venting of a hydrothermal fluid source at the Mid-Ocean-Ridge. BIFs within the Ntem Complex at the northern edge of the Congo Craton are intercalated with metasandstones and siltstones. SHRIMP U-Pb analysis on detrital zircons obtained from these metasediments gave variable ages from over 3000 Ma to 1000 Ma with the maximum age of deposition clustered around 1200 Ma and the peak of deposition at 1800 Ma. This age range suggested that the sub-basin was opened sometime in the Archean and remained active up till the Neoproterozoic. Zircons with Archean ages have a provenance linked to the charnockitic suite and the high-K granites within the Ntem Complex. The Paleoproterozoic ages are attributed to clastic inputs from the neigbouring Nyong Series west of the Ntem Complex. Also the peak of deposition in the Proterozoic could probably be explained by the globally recognized intense crust-forming processes in the Early Proterozoic time. The provenance of the younger Neoproterozoic ages is tied to various lithologies within the northern mobile belts of the Adamawa-Yade massifs and correlates with Neoproterozoic sedimentation ages in the Yaoundé, Lom and Poli series. The Neoproterozoic ages obtained are comparable to those obtained from metasediments of the Amazonian Craton and provide evidence of Pre-Gondwana assemblage of the Congo and the S?o Francisco Cratons.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Zhaojiazhuang Formation, Middle–South Section, Taihang Mountains, China and their Geological Significance

The sedimentary Zhaojiazhuang Formation overlies the ancient Paleo-proterozoic crystalline basement in the middle-south sections of the Taihang Mountains,China.It is a complete stratigraphic sequence with clear boundaries.The formation has an angular unconformity with the underlying Paleo-proterozoic Tongyu Formation and a parallel unconformity with the overlying Changzhougou Formation from the Changcheng System,which is widely distributed throughout the W utai-Zhongtiao-T aihang Mountains.Qiu Zhen et al.(2007)and Wang Qingchun et al.

Detrital zircon U-Pb age perspective on the sediment provenance and its geological significance of sandstones in the Lamandau region, SW Borneo, Indonesia

The Southwest Borneo(SW Borneo)block belongs to Sundaland and is the oldest continental fragment of Borneo that is believed to derive from the Gondwana land.The U-Pb isotopic dating ages of 113 detrital zircons from sandstones of the Ketapang Complex in SW Borneo range from 3298 Ma to 78 Ma,and show six major age populations:2476-2344 Ma,2016-1831 Ma,1296-759 Ma,455-406 Ma,262-210 Ma,and 187-78 Ma.The youngest age of these detrital zircons is 78 Ma,indicating that the maximum depositional age of the sandstones is Campanian.Permian-Late Cretaceous detrital zircons are interpreted as having been derived from the nearby Schwaner Mountains and the Permian-Triassic tin belt granitoids in Southeast Asia(SE Asia).Archean-Carboniferous detrital zircons have a continental Gondwana provenance,with their age spectra similar to those of northwestern Australia,indicating that these zircons could be derived from the orogenic belts and cratons in northwestern and central Australia.The provenance of these detrital zircons in this study indicates the SW Borneo block was located on the northwestern margin of Australia during the Paleozoic,in the region of the Banda Embayment.SW Borneo rifted from Australia and moved northward in the Early Jurassic,and this block was added to Sundaland in the Early Cretaceous.The Luconia-Dangerous Grounds continental fragment derived from East Asia collided with SW Borneo after subduction in the Cretaceous,which induced the widespread magmatism in the Schwaner Mountains in SW Borneo.

Detrital Zircon Records of the Banxi Group in the Western Jiangnan Orogen:Implications for Crustal Evolution of the South China Craton

The Neoproterozoic evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen is important for understanding the tectonic history of South China.As a volcanic-sedimentary sequence developed in the Nanhua rift,the Banxi Group preserves the records of important magmatic and tectonic events linked to the assembly and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.In this study,we report the results from whole-rock major-and trace-element concentrations,with zircon LA-(MC)-ICP-MS U-Pb ages,trace elements and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions of sandstones from the Banxi Group.The rocks are characterized by high SiO_(2)(65.88%–82.76%,with an average of 75.50%)contents,moderate(Fe_(2)O_(3)^(T)+MgO)(1.81%–7.78%,mean:3.79%)and TiO_(2)(0.39%–0.54%,mean:0.48%),low K_(2)O/Na_(2)O(0.03–0.40,mean:0.10)ratios and low Al_2O_(3)/SiO_(2)(0.11–0.24,mean:0.15)ratios.The sandstones have highΣREE contents(mean:179.1 ppm),with chondrite-normalized REE patterns similar to the upper crust and PAAS,showing enriched LREE((La/Yb)_N mean:14.85),sub-horizontal HREE curves and mild Eu(Eu/Eu^(*):0.75–0.89,mean:0.81)negative anomalies.Their geochemical characteristics resemble those of passive continental margin sandstones.Most of the zircons are magmatic in origin and yield a U-Pb age distribution with three peaks:a major age peak at 805 Ma and two subordinate age peaks at 1990 Ma and 2470 Ma,implying three major magmatic sources.The Neoproterozoic zircons haveε_(Hf)(t)values ranging from-47.4 to 12.4(mostly-20 to 0),suggesting a mixture of some juvenile arc-derived material and middle Paleoproterozoic heterogeneous crustal sources.The Hf model ages of middle Paleoproterozoic zircons(~1990 Ma)with negativeε_(Hf)(t)values(-12.65 to-6.21,Ave.=-9.8)concentrated around the Meso-Paleoarchean(mean T_(DM)^(C)=3.3–3.1 Ga).For late Neoarchean detrital zircons(~2470 Ma),ε_(Hf)(t)values are divided into two groups,one with negative values(-9.16 to-0.6)with model ages of 3.5–2.9 Ga,the other featuring positive values(1.0 to 3.9)with model ages of 2.9–2.7 Ga,recording a crustal growth event at~2.5 Ga.Neoproterozoic zircons show volcanic arc affinities with partly intraplate magmatic features.We propose that the Banxi Group formed in a rift basin within a passive continental margin setting,which derived detritus from felsic to intermediate rocks from the Yangtze Block and a small amount of arc volcanic rocks.The middle Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon data suggest Columbia-aged basement lies beneath the western Jiangnan orogen.

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 Ages of Hanjiang River:Constraints on Evolution of Northern Yangtze Craton,South China

Clastic sedimentary rocks are natural samples of the exposed continental crust over large areas. The Hanjiang （汉江） River drains the northern Yangtze craton, including the South Qinling （秦岭） belt and the northern parts of the Yangtze craton. Detrital zircons from this river thus provide an ideal sample for studying the formation and evolution of the northern Yangtze craton. Here we report laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer U-Pb ages of 122 detrital zircons from one sand sample of the Hanjiang River. The 110 concordant zircons reveal four major age groups of 768, 444, 212, and 124 Ma, which well correlate with known magmatic events in the northern Yangtze craton. A minor group is present at 1 536 Ma, which is less known in the study area. Only seven zircons have ages of 〉1 750 Ma. Our results show that the Early Paleozoic, Late Triassic, and Early Cretaceous are important episodes of zircon growth and crustal growth/reworking in addition to the previously documented Neoproterozoic event. Our results suggest very limited exposures of Paleoproterozoic and Archean rocks in the northern parts of the Yangtze craton.

Secular change in lifetime of granitic crust and the continental growth: A new view from detrital zircon ages of sandstones

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons were newly dated for 4 Archean sandstones from the Pilbara craton in Australia, Wyoming craton in North America, and Kaapvaal craton in Africa. By using the present results with previously published data, we compiled the age spectra of detrital zircons for 2.9, 2.6, 2.3,1.0, and0.6 Ga sandstones and modern river sands in order to document the secular change in age structure of continental crusts through time. The results demonstrated the following episodes in the history of continental crust：（1） low growth rate of the continents due to the short cycle in production/destruction of granitic crust during the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic（2.9-23 Ga）,（2） net increase in volume of the continents during Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic（2.3-1.0 Ga）, and（3） net decrease in volume of the continents during the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic（after 1.0 Ga）. In the Archean and Paleoproterozoic, the embryonic continents were smaller than the modern continents, probably owing to the relatively rapid production and destruction of continental crust. This is indeed reflected in the heterogeneous crustal age structure of modern continents that usually have relatively small amount of Archean crusts with respect to the post-Archean ones. During the Mesoproterozoic, plural continents amalgamated into larger ones comparable to modern continental blocks in size. Relatively older crusts were preserved in continental interiors, whereas younger crusts were accreted along continental peripheries.In addition to continental arc magmatism, the direct accretion of intra-oceanic island arc around continental peripheries also became important for net continental growth. Since 1.0 Ga, total volume of continents has decreased, and this appears consistent with on-going phenomena along modern active arc-trench system with dominant tectonic erosion and/or arc subduction. Subduction of a huge amount of granitic crusts into the mantle through time is suggested, and this requires re-consideration of the mantle composition and heterogeneity.

Constraints on sedimentary ages of the Chuanlinggou Formation in the Ming Tombs, Beijing, North China Craton: LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP U–Pb dating of detrital zircons

Detrital zircons in five sedimentary samples, MC1 to MC5, from the bottom of the Chuanlinggou Formation in the Ming Tombs District, Beijing, were dated with the LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP U-Pb methods. Age spectra of the five samples show a major peak at 2500 Ma and a secondary peak at 2000 Ma, suggesting their provenances were mainly from the crystalline basement of the North China Craton and the Trans-North China Orogen. The youngest zircon has an age of 1673 d： 44 Ma, indicating that the Chuanlinggou Formation was deposited after this age. From sample MC4 to MC5, lithology changed from a clastic rock （fine-grained sandstone） to a carbonate rock （fine-grained dolomite）, suggesting that the depositional basin became progressively deeper. The age spectrum of sample MC5 shows a major peak at 2500 Ma and a secondary peak at 2000 Ma. Sample MC4, which is stratigraphically lower than sample MC5, only had one peak at 2500 Ma. We conclude that there was a transgressive event when sediments represented by MC5 was deposited, and seawater carried ca. 2000 Ma clastic materials to the basin where the Chuanlinggou Formation was deposited, leading to the addition of ca. 2000 Ma detritus. Our research indicates that the source area for the sediments became more extensive with time. We conclude that the Chuanlinggou Formation in the Ming Tombs District was deposited in a low-energy mud fiat sedimentary environment in the inter-supra tidal zone because it is mainly composed of silty mudstone and fine-grained sandstone with relatively simple sedimentary structures.

Ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the Permian strata in the engbatu area(Inner Mongolia) and tectonic implications

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) was built up through protracted accretion and collision of a variety of terranes/micro-continents during Neoproterozoice Mesozoic time. To understand potential links among Paleozoic subduction and accretionary processes that were operative during the development of the southeastern CAOB, we conducted a combined U-Pb and Hf-isotope analysis of detrital zircons from previously defined Devonian, Carboniferous and Early Permian strata in the Bengbatu area,Inner Mongolia. Detrital zircons from(meta-) sandstones in these strata commonly yield major Paleozoic age populations at ca. 300-261 Ma, 351-300 Ma and 517-419 Ma, and also give several Precambrian ages that range from 2687 Ma to 544 Ma. The youngest ages redefine the deposition of all these strata to be in the Middle Permian(Wordiane Capitanian) or later, much younger than previously considered.These ages, coupled with regional magmatic records, support an interpretation of most surrounding areas as possible detritus sources, including the Mongolian arcs to the north, the Northern Accretionary Orogen to the south, and the intervening Erenhote Hegenshan Ophiolite Belt. Zircons with magmatic ages of ca. 500-350 Ma and ca. 300-261 Ma display a large range of εHf(t) values(-13.97 to +15.31),whereas ca. 350-300 Ma zircons are dominated by positive εHf(t) values(+0.14 to +16.00). These results support the occurrence of two significant shifts of the zircon εHf(t) values, which has tectonic implications for the understanding of the Carboniferouse Permian evolution of the southeastern CAOB. A marked shift from mixed to positive zircon εHf(t) values at 350 -330 Ma likely manifests the incipient opening of the Hegenshan Ocean, due to the slab rollback of the subducting Paleo-Asian Oceanic lithosphere. Another shift from positive to mixed zircon εHf(t) values at ca. 300 Ma likely corresponds to a tectonic switch from syn-orogenic subduction-related to post-orogenic extensional setting, genetically related to the tectonic collapse of a formerly overthickened crust.

Crustal growth history of the Korean Peninsula: Constraints from detrital zircon ages in modern river sediments

U-Pb analyses were carried out on detrital zircon grains from major river-mouth sediments draining South Korea to infer provenance characteristics and the crustal growth history of the southern Korean Peninsula, using a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer（LA-ICP-MS）. The Korean Peninsula is located in the East Asian continental margin and mainly comprises three Precambrian massifs and two metamorphic belts in between them. We obtained 515 concordant to slightly discordant zircon ages ranging from ca. 3566 to ca. 48 Ma. Regardless of river-mouth location, predominance of Mesozoic（249e79 Ma） and Paleoproterozoic（2491e1691 Ma） ages with subordinate Archean ages indicates that the zircon ages reflect present exposures of plutonic/metamorphic rocks in the drainage basins of the South Korean rivers and the crustal growth of the southern Korean Peninsula was focused in these two periods. Comparison of detrital zircon-age data between the North and South Korean river sediments reveals that the Paleoproterozoic zircon age distributions of both regions are nearly identical,while the Neoproterozoice Paleozoic ages exist and the Mesozoic ages are dominant in southern Korean Peninsula. This result suggests that Precambrian terrains in Korea record the similar pre-Mesozoic magmatic history and that the influence of Mesozoic magmatism was mainly focused in South Korea.

New Evidence of Detrital Zircon Ages for the Final Closure Time of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(NE China)

Objective The NE China is located in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt（CAOB）,which is a large accretionary orogen between the Siberian Craton and the North China Craton（NCC）.Many researches have discussed about the evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean（PAO）in the eastern CAOB.However,

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.

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

Application of grouped detrital zircon analyses to determine provenance and closely approximate true depositional age:Early Cretaceous McMurray-Clearwater succession,Canada

In the Lower CretaceousMcMurray-Clearwater succession of the intracontinental Alberta Foreland Basin,Canada,detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology samples(referred to herein as DZ samples)have been used to interpret the strata as representing a paleo-continental-scale drainage system.However,the majority of DZ samples are relatively small(n≈90–100),and syndepositional DZ(i.e.,crystallization age<5 Ma older than depositional age)are rare.This has forced a reliance on dinocysts with long stratigraphic ranges to chronostratigraphically subdivide the McMurray-Clearwater succession rather than employing maximum depositional ages(MDAs)derived from DZ samples.Herein,43 DZ samples(taken from20 subsurface cores)are assigned to 1 of 5 stratigraphic intervals,and in each stratigraphic interval all associated DZ samples are combined to produce a grouped DZ sample.Analysis and comparison of individual and grouped DZ samples are used to(1)assess variability in provenance through time and space,and(2)assess the accuracy of chronostratigraphically subdividing the succession using MDAs.Along the main paleo-drainage axis,a comparison of dissimilarity between DZ samples from the same stratigraphic interval,as well as between stratigraphic intervals,reveals increasing average dissimilarity between individual DZ samples and their respective grouped DZ samplewith increasing spatial separation of samples.These data indicate that in the McMurray Depocenter some sediment is sourced from local tributaries,leading to geographical provenance variability.CalculatedMDAs for all 43 DZ samples and groupedMDAs(gMDAs)for the 5 grouped DZ samples are compared to an ash-derived absolute age and existing biostratigraphy.In theMcMurray Formation,comparison of MDAs to gMDAs shows that in basins with rare syndepositional DZ,the gMDA method improved depositional age estimates by transforming low-confidence MDAs(e.g.,youngest single grains)into high-confidence(multi-grain)gMDAs.In the Clearwater Formationwhere syndepositional DZ are plentiful(i.e.,>5%of the total DZ population),calculating maximumlikelihood ages fromgrouped DZ samples avoids negatively biased(i.e.,too young)MDAs.We suggest grouped DZ samples and the gMDA method be used in systems with multiple DZ samples from a well-defined stratigraphic interval as a means of assessing variability in provenancewithin a depositional system and for improving estimates of depositional ages using DZ.

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.

Geochemistry and SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Age of Post-Collisional Granites in the Southwest Tianshan Orogenic Belt of China:Examples from the Heiyingshan and Laohutai Plutons

The Heiyingshan granite and the Laohutai granite plutons exposed in the Southwest Tianshan resemble A-type granites geochemically. Analysis shows that the both are ferron calc-alkalic peraluminous or ferron alkali-calcic peraluminous with a relatively high concentration of SiO2 （〉70%）, high alkali contents （Na20 ＋ K20 = 7.14%-8.56%; K20〉N20; A/CNK = 0.99-1.20）, and pronounced negative anomales in Eu, Ba, St, P and Ti. A SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 285±4 Ma was obtained for the Heiyingshan hornblende biotite granite intrusion. The geochemical and age dating data reported in this paper indicate that these granites were formed during the post-collisional crustal extension of the Southwest Tianshan orogenic belt, in agreement with the published data for the granites in the South Tianshan.