The Influence of the Closure of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean on Southern South China:Evidences from Kinematics and^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Geochronology of the Rongxian Ductile Shear Zone in Southeastern Guangxi

The Triassic was a crucial period in the tectonic evolution of the South China Block.Research on tectonic deformation during this period provides information on intracontinental orogenic mechanisms in South China.In this study,alongside thermochronological analyses,we examine the macroscopic and microscopic structural features of the Rongxian ductile shear zone,located south of the Darongshan granite in the southeastern part of Guangxi Province,on the southern margin of South China.Sinistral shear is indicated by the characteristics of rotatedσ-type feldspar porphyroclasts,stretching lineations defined by elongated quartz grains and the orientations of quartz c-axes.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from two samples of granitic mylonite and one of granite yielded ages of ca.256 Ma.Furthermore,two samples of granitic mylonite yield muscovite^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar plateau ages of 249-246 Ma.These results indicate that the Rongxian ductile shear zone resulted from Early Triassic deformation of the late Permian Darongshan granite.This deformation was likely related to the closure of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent collision of the South China and Indochina blocks,during the early stage of the Indosinian orogeny.

Geochronology and Petrogenesis of Late Carboniferous to Early Permian Basalts in the Central Lhasa Subterrane, Southern Tibet: Implications for the Evolution of the Sumdo Paleo-Tethys Ocean

Basalts from the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian are extensively developed in the central Lhasa subterrane, southern Tibet. Studying the petrogenesis of these rocks may have implications for the late Paleozoic arc magmatism along the central Lhasa subterrane uncovering more of the evolution of the Sumdo Paleo-Tethys Ocean and its dynamic mechanism. Basalt samples from the Luobadui Formation in the Leqingla area, NW of Linzhou City in the central Lhasa subterrane, southern Tibet exhibit arc-like geochemical signatures in a subduction-zone tectonic setting characterized by high Al_(2)O_(3) and low TiO_(2) contents, fractionated REE patterns with low Nb/La ratios and high LREE concentrations, and negative HFSE anomalies. Based on their higher Th/Ce, Nb/Zr, and lower Ba/Th, Pb/Nd ratios, slightly negative to positive ε_(Nd)(t) values, and the relatively high Sr-Pb isotopic compositions, these samples were probably derived from partial melting of a depleted mantle source of garnet + spinel lherzolite, metasomatized by subducted sediments around 297 Ma. Modeling of the trace elements indicates that these basalts experienced fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene and minor plagioclase during magma ascent and eruption. It is proposed that these Late Carboniferous–Early Permian basalts are associated with the northward subduction of the Sumdo Paleo-Tethys Ocean seafloor along the southern margin of the central Lhasa subterrane.

Early Triassic Silicic Volcanics of South China:Petrogenesis and Constraints on the Geodynamic Evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean Region

The only occurrence of Lower Triassic silicic volcanic rocks within the South China Block is in the Qinzhou Bay area of Guangxi Province.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating reveals that volcanic rocks of the Beisi and Banba formations formed between 248.8±1.6 and 246.5±1.3 Ma,coeval with peraluminous granites of the Qinzhou Bay Granitic Complex.The studied rhyolites and dacites are characterized by high SiO_(2),K_(2)O,and Al_(2)O_(3),and low MgO,CaO,and P_(2)O_(5) contents and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline S-type rocks,with A/CNK=0.98-1.19.The volcanic rocks are depleted in high field strength elements,e.g.,Nb,Ta,Ti,and P,and enriched in large ion lithophile elements,e.g.,Rb,K,Sr,and Ba.Although the analyzed volcanic rocks have extremely enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions(ε_(Hf)(t)=-29.1 to-6.9),source discrimination indicators and high calculated Ti-in-zircon temperatures(798-835℃)reveal that magma derived from enriched lithospheric mantle not only provided a heat source for anatectic melting of the metasedimentary protoliths but was also an endmember component of the S-type silicic magma.The studied early Triassic volcanics are inferred to have formed immediately before closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in this region,as the associated subduction would have generated an extensional setting in which the mantle-derived upwelling and volcanic activity occurred.

New Zircon U-Pb Age of Late Devonian Tuff in Guangxi, South China and the Significance for the Paleo-Tethys Branch Ocean

Objective The eastern extending range of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in southwest China has always been focused and controversial. At the beginning of this century some scholars proposed that the Paleo-Tethys Branch Ocean may extend to the Babu-Pingxiang and Cengxi areas along the stouthwestern margin of the South China Block （Cai and Zhang, 2009）. However, the pivotal proof of Late Paleozoic ophoilite and magmatic rocks was absent or sporadical in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, resulting in insufficient evidence to support this viewpoint. For the first time this work reported the Late Devonian tuff in the Qinzhou area in the south of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and conducted zircon U-Pb dating on it in order to constrain the extension of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the South China Block.

Devonian-Carboniferous Pillow OIB-Type Basalts in the Youjiang Basin,SW China:Implications for the Eastern Extension of the Paleo-Tethys Branch Ocean

Late Paleozoic pillow basalts are well preserved in the Youjiang Basin of SW China.In this study,we conducted geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic study on the Late Devonian and Late Carboniferous basalts in Napo area,Youjiang Basin.The analyzed samples comprise moderate SiO2,TiO2,Mg#,and REE contents,with slightly positive or negative Eu anomalies,similar to the chemical nature of OIB(Oceanic island basalt).All basalts show low(^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd)iand(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)ivalues,close to EMI-type(I-type Enriched Mantle)magma source.Late Carboniferous basalts display higher(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)i,Nb/Th,and lowerε_(Nd)(t),Zr/Nb values than those of the Late Devonian basalts,implying progressively decreased enrichment components in the magma source processes.Such evolution trend reflects a continuous lithospheric thinning event,supporting a progressive rifting setting of the Youjiang Basin along the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block in Late Paleozoic.Combined with regional geological background,the Youjiang Basin is viewed as a continental rift basin related to the opening of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in Late Devonian and became a passive continental margin basin in Carboniferous.The Paleo-Tethys branch ocean probably extended further to the southern Youjiang Basin,likely corresponding to the Song Ma suture zone.

Petrology, geochemistry and Ar-Ar geochronology of eclogites in Jinshajiang orogenic belt, Gonjo area, eastern Tibet and restriction on Paleo-Tethyan evolution

As one of the important Paleo-Tethys suture zones in eastern Tibet,the Jinshajiang orogenic belt is of great significance to study the tectonic evolution of the main suture zone of Paleo-Tethys.In this paper,eclogites developed in the Jinshajiang suture zone in Gonjo area,eastern Tibet,are selected as specific research objects,and petrological,geochemical and Ar-Ar geochronological analyses are carried out.The major element data of the whole rock reveals that the eclogite samples have the characteristics of picritic basalt-basalt and belong to the oceanic low potassium tholeiites.The results of rare earth elements and trace elements of the samples show that the protoliths of eclogites have characteristics similar to oceanic island basalt(OIB)or normal mid ocean ridge basalt(N-MORB).Muscovite(phengite)from two eclogite samples yield the Ar-Ar plateau ages of 247±2 Ma and 248±2 Ma respectively,representing the peak metamorphic age of eclogite facies and the timing of complete closure of the Jinshajiang Paleo-Tethys Ocean.Muscovite and biotite selected from the hosting rocks of eclogite yield the Ar-Ar plateau ages are 238±2 Ma and 225±2 Ma respectively,reflecting the exhumation age of eclogites and their hosting rocks.Combined with the zircon U-Pb dating data(244 Ma)of eclogites obtained in previous work,it can be concluded that the Jinshajiang Paleo-Tethys ocean was completely closed and arc-continent collision was initiated at about 248-244 Ma(T21).Subsequently,due to the large-scale arc(continent)-collision orogeney between Deqin-Weixi continental margin arc and Zhongza block(T31-T32),the eclogites were rapidly uplifted to the shallow crust.

First Record of Petalodus Owen,1840(Chondrichthyes,Petalodontidae)in the Lower Permian(Cisuralian)of China

The Petalodontiformes are a small intriguing group of Permo–Carboniferous chondrichthyans.Petalodus is the longest known petalodont genus generally considered representative of the order.The first definite fossil record of seven well-preserved Petalodus teeth has been found in the Qianshi limestone in the Lower Permian(Cisuralian)middle–upper Taiyuan Formation in Yangquan City,Shanxi Province,North China.The specimens are characterized by petal-shaped teeth with a spade-like crown,and a long,tongue-shaped root;the crown is circled with a band or cingulum composed of imbricated ridges at the base.All seven teeth are assigned to the species P.ohioenesis because of their vertically narrow cingulum and much longer root.Petalodus is a worldwide genus,with fossil localities mainly concentrated in the Laurussia supercontinent.The occurrence of Petalodus teeth in Yangquan not only is the first fossil record in China,but also only the second record in Asia.The Yangquan fossil site was part of the paleoequatorial North China Craton during the Early Permian,and was isolated from Laurusia and East Gondwana by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean.The successful dispersal of Petalodus from Laurusia to the North China Block along Paleo-Tethys may support the possibility that Petalodus taxa were active free-swimmers rather than bottom dwellers.The new finding increases the petalodont diversity in eastern Asia,and also sheds new light on the distribution and stratigraphic range.

A greenstone belt in southeast Tibet:An accreted middle–late Permian oceanic plateau

Studies of accreted oceanic plateau sections provide crucial information on their structures,compositions,and origins.We investigate the petrogenesis of ultramafic–mafic rocks in the Tangjia–Sumdo greenstone belt of southeast Tibet using petrography,whole-rock geochemistry,and U-Pb zircon geochronology.These rocks are divided into four groups based on geochemical characteristics that include depleted and tholeiitic mafic rocks,transitional mafic rocks,enriched and alkaline mafic rocks,and picritic ultramafic rocks.Depleted and tholeiitic mafic rocks have the oldest crystallization ages(-272 Ma),followed by picritic ultramafic rocks(-270 Ma),transitional mafic rocks(267–254 Ma),and enriched and alkaline mafic rocks(252–250 Ma).Hafnium and neodymium isotope ratios of depleted and tholeiitic mafic rocks(ε_(Hf)(t)=+13.1–+16.9;ε_(Nd)(t)=+6.9–+7.1),transitional mafic rocks(ε_(Hf)(t)=+1.8–+16.9;ε_(Nd)(t)=+0.8–+5.5),enriched and alkaline mafic rocks(ε_(Hf)(t)=+0.5–+5.4;ε_(Nd)(t)=1.5 to+1.9)and picritic ultramafic rocks(ε_(Hf)(t)=+14.9–+17.2;ε_(Nd)(t)=+7.8–+9.0)are similar to those of N-MORB,E-MORB,OIB and depleted-type picritic mafic rocks in other oceanic plateaus,respectively.The geochemical characteristics of the depleted and tholeiitic mafic rocks suggest that they formed by partial melting of depleted spinel lherzolite in a mid-ocean ridge setting,whereas the picritic ultramafic rocks suggest a high degree of partial melting of depleted lherzolite in a hot mantle plume head.The transitional mafic rocks formed by partial melting of moderately enriched garnet lherzolite.The youngest rocks(enriched and alkaline mafic rocks)formed by partial melting of a more enriched garnet lherzolite(compared to transitional mafic rocks)at relatively low temperatures.We propose that the depleted and tholeiitic mafic rocks represent normal oceanic crust of the Sumdo Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the transitional mafic rocks,enriched and alkaline mafic rocks and picritic ultramafic rocks are the fragments of the oceanic plateau,which were related to middle–late Permian mantle plume activity in the Sumdo Paleo-Tethys Ocean.We further suggest that the majority of the Tangjia–Sumdo greenstone belt represents a middle–late Permian oceanic plateau that reflects a previously unrecognized middle–late Permian mantle plume.

Devonian integrative stratigraphy,biotas,and paleogeographical evolution of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas

The Devonian System in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas is widely distributed,diverse in lithotypes and rich in fossils.It records the crucial processes of continuous subduction and reduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the northern hemisphere and the transformation of the Proto-Tethys Ocean into the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the southern hemisphere.Thus,it is of great significance for explaining the global paleogeographic evolution,tectonic activities and biodiversity changes during this critical period.The blocks on both sides of the southern Tienshan suture zone and the Longmu Co-ShuanghuChangning-Menglian suture zone belong to different sedimentary systems and paleobiogeographic realms and regions,showing important tectonic paleogeographic partitioning significance.The two suture zones represent the main branches of the PaleoAsian Ocean and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean,respectively,and on this basis the Devonian System can be subdivided into three types:the Tienshan type,the Tethys type and the Gondwana type.Based on recent research progress on the Devonian stratigraphy and paleontology in combining provenance analysis and biotic characteristics in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas,this paper aims to establish the latest integrative stratigraphic framework and conduct paleogeographic reconstruction,providing foundation for exploring the geological evolution and dynamic mechanisms of various terranes and blocks in the northern margin of Gondwana.The results indicate that the North Qiangtang,South Qiangtang,Simao,Baoshan and Tengchong terranes,as well as the Himalaya Tethys Zone and the South China Block have affinities with the Indian Block,while the Lhasa Terrane has affinities with the Australian Block,and may be located between the South China and Australian blocks.In the Emsian(Early Devonian),the South China Block separated from the northern margin of Gondwana,a process that was accompanied by the opening of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Ocean.In the Middle Devonian,the mid-oceanic ridge of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean expanded rapidly,corresponding with a global sea-level rise,the widespread development of carbonate platforms and nadir values of Devonian seawater strontium isotopes.By the Late Devonian,the Paleo-Tethys Ocean had reached a considerable size,leading to abundant occurrences of Upper Devonian radiolarian cherts in the Paleo-Tethys suture zones.