The basalts within the greenstone belt worldwide serve as an ideal target to decipher the nature of Archean mantle sources and further to extend the understanding of the early stages of Earth's evolution.To provid...The basalts within the greenstone belt worldwide serve as an ideal target to decipher the nature of Archean mantle sources and further to extend the understanding of the early stages of Earth's evolution.To provide important insights into the issues,we carried out a detailed investigation of whole-rock geochemistry and Sm-Nd isotopes,and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes for the Late Neoarchean metamorphosed basalts in eastern Hebei,North China Craton.U-Pb isotopic dating using the LA-ICPMS on zircons reveals that the basalts in eastern Hebei erupted at ca.2.48-2.51 Ga and subsequently experienced multiple regional metamorphic events at 2477 and 1798 Ma,respectively.The metamorphosed basalts are featured by low SiO_(2),MgO,K_(2)O+Na_(2)O,and high Fe O contents,endowed with the subalkaline and high-Fe tholeiitic affinities.The radiogenic initial Nd and Hf isotope values and correlations among V,Ni and Cr contents strongly imply that the basalts experienced significant clinopyroxene and olivine fractionation and minor crustal contamination during magma evolution.They are also characterized by the relatively low total REE contents and exhibit significant depletions to moderate enrichments in the LREE contents,indicating the derivation from a deep mantle source in an Archean proto-mantle plume setting.展开更多
Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotope data for the Early Paleozoic granites in the Baoshan Block reveal the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys. The samples are high-K, calcalkali...Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotope data for the Early Paleozoic granites in the Baoshan Block reveal the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys. The samples are high-K, calcalkaline, strongly peraluminous rocks with A/CNK values of 1.37–1.46, are enriched in SiO2, K2O, and Rb, and are depleted in Nb, P, Ti, Eu, and heavy rare earth elements,which indicates the crystallization fractionation of the granitic magma. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that they formed in ca. 480 Ma. The Nansa granites have εHf(t) values ranging from-16.04 to 4.36 with corresponding TC DMages of 2.10–0.81 Ga, which suggests the magmas derived from the partial melting of ancient metasedimentary with minor involvement of mantle-derived components. A synthesis of data for the Early Paleozoic igneous rocks in the Baoshan block and adjacent(Tengchong,Qiangtang, Sibumasu, Himalaya, etc.) blocks indicates that these blocks were all aligned along the proto-Tethyan margin of East Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. The Early Paleozoic S-type granites from Nansa were generated in a high-temperature and low-pressure(HTLP) extensional tectonic setting, which resulted from Andean-type orogeny instead of the final assembly of Gondwana or crustal extension in a non-arc environment. In certain places, an expanding environment may exist in opposition to the tectonic backdrop of the lithosphere’s thickening and shortening, leading the crust to melt and decompress,mantle-derived materials to mix, and a small quantity of peraluminous granite to emerge.展开更多
The Nianzi granite unit,which includes the Nianzi,Xiaolianghou and Xiawopu granitic intrusions,is a significant component of the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and is situated in the Yanshan fold and thru...The Nianzi granite unit,which includes the Nianzi,Xiaolianghou and Xiawopu granitic intrusions,is a significant component of the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and is situated in the Yanshan fold and thrust belt(YFTB).However,there is still debate regarding the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB during the late Permian to Triassic period,specifically regarding the timing of subduction and collision between the NCC and the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The Nianzi granite unit exhibits unique petrological,geochronological and geochemical signatures that shed light on the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB.This study presents detailed petrology,whole-rock geochemistry,together with Sr-Nd isotopic,zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic data of the granites within the Nianzi granite unit.Our findings demonstrate that the granites primarily consist of subhedral K-feldspar,plagioclase,quartz,minor biotite and hornblende,with accessory titanite,apatite,magnetite and zircon.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the Xiaolianghou granite was emplaced at 247.5±0.62 Ma.Additionally,the adakitic characteristics of the Nianzi,Xiawopu and Xiaolianghou granitic intrusions,such as high Sr and Ba contents and high ratios of Sr/Y and(La/Yb)N,combined with negative Sr-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopes(87Sr/86Sr)i=0.705681–0.7057433,εNd(t)=−21.98 to−20.97,zirconεHf(t)=−20.26 to−9.92,as well as the I-type granite features of high SiO_(2),Na_(2)O and K_(2)O/Na_(2)O ratios,enriched Rb,K,Sr and Ba,along with depleted Th,U,Nb,Ta,P and Ti,suggest that the Nianzi granitic unit was mainly derived from the partial melting of a thickened lower crust containing hydrous,calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline,mafic to intermediate metamorphic rocks.In light of these parameters,we further integrate our data with previous studies and conclude that the Nianzi granitic unit was generated in a post-collisional extensional environment during the Early Triassic.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
Mesozoic granitic intrusions are widely distributed in the Nanling region, South China. Yanshanian granites are closely connected with the formation of tungsten deposits. The Xihuashan granite is a typical representat...Mesozoic granitic intrusions are widely distributed in the Nanling region, South China. Yanshanian granites are closely connected with the formation of tungsten deposits. The Xihuashan granite is a typical representative of tungsten-bearing granite. The Xihuashan granite consists mainly of medium-grained porphyritic biotite granite, medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained twomica granite, which correspond to LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of 555.5±0.4 Ma, 553.0±0.6 Ma and 552.8±0.9 Ma, respectively. Rocks from the Xihuashan mining area displays high SlOe (73.85% to 76.49%) and NaeO+K20 contents (8.09% to 9.43%), belonging to high-K calc-alkaline series. They are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous with A/CNK values ranging from 0.96 to 5.06. All granites in this study area are rich in Rb, Th, U and Pb, and depleted in Ba, Sr, P, Ti, Nb and Eu, especially depleted in medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained two-mica granite. The medium-grained porphyritic biotite granites usually have high LREE concentrations, whereas medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained two-mica granite displays high HREE contents. Our geochemical data reveal that the studied rocks are highly fractionated I-type granite. The magma underwent strong magma differentiation with decreasing temperature and increasing oxygen fugacity, which may explain the formation of three types of distinct granites. Variations of Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations in different type granites were controlled by fractional crystallization of biotite and feldspar. Fractional crystallization of monazite, allanite and apatite resulted in LREE changes in granite, and formation of garnet mainly caused HREE changes. Granites from the Xihuashan mining area have relatively high εd(t) values (-9.77 to -55.46), indicating that they were probably generated by partial melting of underlying Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks with minor addition of juvenile crust or mantlederived magmas.展开更多
The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton (NCC) and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks. Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early N...The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton (NCC) and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks. Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early Neoarchean (2752±7 Ma) ages show a small range in εHf(t) from 3.1 to 7.4 and tDM1(Hf) from 2742 to 2823 Ma, similar to their U-Pb ages, indicating derivation from a depleted mantle source only a short time prior to crystallization. SHRIMP zircon ages of granite, gneiss, amphibolite and hornblendite in the Miyun area reveal restricted emplacement ages from 2594 to 2496 Ma. They also record metamorphic events at ca. 2.50 Ga, 2.44 Ga and 1.82 Ga, showing a similar evolutionary history to the widely distributed Late Neoarchean rocks in the NCC. Positive eHf(t) values of 1.5 to 5.9, with model ages younger than 3.0 Ga for magmatic zircon domains from these Late Neoarchean intrusive rocks indicate that they are predominantly derived from juvenile crustal sources and suggest that significant crustal growth occurred in the northern NCC during the Neoarchean. Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism developed widely in the NCC, not only in the Trans-North China Orogen, but also in areas of Eastern and Western Blocks, which suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic was the assembly of different micro-continents, which resulted in the final consolidation to form the NCC, and related to the development of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia or Nuna supercontinent.展开更多
The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geoc...The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geochemical features of the granites in the Jinduicheng area can provide essential information for the exploration and development of the porphyry molybdenum deposit. In this study, we report LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of granite porphyries from the Jinduicheng area, and provide insights on the petrogensis and source characteristics of the granites. The results show that the zircon U-Pb ages of the Jinduicheng granite porphyry (143±1 Ma) and the Balipo granite (154±1 Ma), agree well with the Re-Os ages of molybdenite in the Jinduicheng molybdenum polymetallic deposit (139±3 Ma) and the Balipo molybdenum polymetallic deposit (156±2 Ma), indicating that the emplacement of granite porphyries occurred between Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Zircons granite from the Jinduicheng area give the εHf(t) values mainly ranging from -10 to -16, and -20 to -24, respectively, corresponding to two- stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.86-2.0 Ga, and 2.2-2.6 Ga, respectively) of zircons of the granite from the Jinduicheng values. The ore-forming materials are mainly derived from crust, with minor mantle substances. Zircons of the granite from the Balipo area give εHf(t) values ranging from -18 to -20, -28 to -38, and -42 to -44, respectively, corresponding to two-stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.88-3.0 Ga, and 3.2-3.90 Ga, respectively). the εHf(t) values of the Jinduicheng porphyry more than that of the Balipo porphyry, and two-stage model ages (tDM2) less than that of the Balipo porphyry, shows that he source of the porphyries originated from ancient lower crustal materials in the Jinduicheng area, and mixed younger components, more younger components contributed for the source of the Jinduicheng porphyry.展开更多
The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed i...The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed in situ analyses of the trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry were performed.Scarcely any inherited zircons were observed, and the analyzed zircons yielded highly concordant results with a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 143.5 ± 0.45 Ma(n=20, mean square weighted deviation was 0.75), which was interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry.The chondrite-normalized rare-earth element pattern was characterized by a slope that steeply rises from the light-group rare-earth elements(LREE) to the heavy-group rare-earth elements(HREE) with a positive Ce-anomaly and inconspicuous Eu-anomaly, which was coincident with the pattern of the zircons from the Chuquicamata West porphyry, Chile.The analyzed zircons also had relatively low 176Hf/177 Hf ratios of 0.282526–0.282604.Assuming t=143 Ma, the corresponding calculated initial Hf isotope compositions(εHf(t)) ranged from-5.6 to-2.9.The results of the in situ analysis of trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry suggest that a deep-seated process involving a thickened-crust/enriched-mantle interaction may play an important role in the generation of high Sr/Y-ratio magma and potentially in the generation of porphyry Cu-Mo systems.展开更多
This paper presents the results of combined studies of geochronology, geochemistry, whole rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopes carried out upon the rhyodacite and ignimbrite of Shangshu village, Shangyu town and Shangh...This paper presents the results of combined studies of geochronology, geochemistry, whole rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopes carried out upon the rhyodacite and ignimbrite of Shangshu village, Shangyu town and Shanghupeng village of Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province, along the northwestern side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of samples in the three areas yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages of 842.8 ± 6.9 Ma and 850.0 ± 7.3 Ma, 839 ± 9 Ma and 832.2 ± 8.1 Ma, 828.3 ± 8.5 Ma and 836.9 ± 9.9 Ma, respectively. These ages are older than the volcanic rocks of the Shangshu Formation dated at around 780 Ma distributed in Fuyang City, Hangzhou City, Kaihua County, etc. The volcanic rocks generally have high SiO2(54.08–76.80 wt%) and Al2 O3(12.40–21.31 wt%), low Fe2 O3(0.68–8.92 wt%), MgO(0.29–2.49 wt%), CaO(0.12–2.86 wt%), TiO2(0.10–1.59 wt%) and P2 O5(0.01–0.39 wt%), with variable total alkalis(K2 O + Na2 O =5.42–8.29 wt%). There exists a clear negative correlation between SiO2 and P2 O5. The volcanic rocks have A/CNK ratios of 1.03–2.77 and thus are peraluminous. They are characterized by enrichment in LREE, Rb, Ba, Zr, Hf, K, Th, La, U and depletion in Nb, Sr, P, Ti, with distinct LREE and HREE fractionation of(La/Yb)N values of 5.68–11.67, and with a moderate negative Eu anomaly(&Eu=0.58–0.89). Whole-rock geochemical data shows that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks are possibly I-type granitic rocks, even though they have some characteristics of A&S-type granites due to the magma fractional crystallization and water-rock interaction. Zircon δ18 O values are 3.97‰–5.49‰(average 4.50‰), 2.90‰–5.21‰(average 4.32‰) for ignimbrite from Shangshu village section, and Shanghupeng village section, respectively. They are slightly lower than the average δ18 O values of igneous zircons in equilibrium with mantle magmas(5.3 ± 0.6‰(2σ)), the lower δ18 O value also demonstrating the presence of high temperature water-rock interactions. The ignimbrite rocks have positive εNd(t)(4.02, 3.37, 3.91, 4.74, 2.85, 4.39, totals from the three areas) and εNd(t)(in-situ zircon)(4.3–14.6, a weighted mean of 8.4;6.6–12.7, a weighted mean of 9.0;8.1–12.0, a weighted mean of 9.5, respectively, from the three areas). In conjunction with the trace element studies, they indicate that the source region of the Jiangshan volcanic rocks was mainly composed of juvenile lower crustal material, mixed with some mantle-sourced magma. Detailed elemental and isotopic data suggest that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks were formed in a continental arc setting. There is a series of ca. 860–830 Ma volcanic rocks formed in a back-arc extensional setting in the southern margin of the eastern Jiangnan Orogen, along the northwest side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. The first stage rift-related anorogenic magmatism may have occurred as early as ca. 860 Ma in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen.展开更多
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 Paleozo...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.展开更多
The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.H...The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.However, the Precambrian basement of the Alxa Block is still poorly studied. In this study, we present new in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from the Diebusige Metamorphic Complex(DMC) which located in the eastern Alxa Block. Field and petrological studies show that the DMC consists mainly of metamorphic supracrustal rocks and minor metamorphic plutonic rocks and has experienced amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. Zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the amphibolite sample yields a crystallization age of 2636 ± 14 Ma and metamorphic ages of 2517–2454 Ma and 1988–1952 Ma, proving the existence of exposed Archean rocks in the Langshan area and indicating that late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic metamorphic events existed in the Alxa Block. Two paragneiss samples show that the magmatic detrital zircons from the DMC yield 207Pb/206Pb ages ranging from 2.48 Ga to 2.10 Ga with two youngest peaks at 2.13 Ga and 2.16 Ga, respectively, and they were also overprinted by metamorphic events at 1.97–1.90 Ga and 1.89–1.79Ga. Compilation of U-Pb ages of magmatic detrital and metamorphic zircons suggested that the main part of the DMC may have been formed at 2.1–2.0 Ga. Zircon Lu-Hf isotope data show that the source materials of the main part of the DMC were originated from the reworking of ancient Archean crust(3.45–2.78 Ga). The Hf isotope characteristics and the tectonothermal event records exhibit different evolution history with the Khondalite Belt and the Yinshan Block and the other basements of the Alxa Block, indicating that the Langshan was likely an independent terrain before the middle Paleoproterozoic and was subjected to the middle to late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal events with the Khondalite Belt as a whole.展开更多
The Wulanhada pluton is among the rare suite of Devonian alkaline plutons occurring along the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).The intrusion is mainly composed of quartz-monzonite.Here we report zircon...The Wulanhada pluton is among the rare suite of Devonian alkaline plutons occurring along the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).The intrusion is mainly composed of quartz-monzonite.Here we report zircon SHRIMP U-Pb data from this intrusion which shows emplacement age of ca.381.5 Ma.The rock is metaluminous with high(Na2O + K2O) values ranging from 8.46 to 9.66 wt.%.The REE patterns of the rocks do not show any Eu anomaly whereas the primitive-mantle-normalized spider diagram shows strong positive Sr and Ba anomalies.The Wulanhada rocks exhibit high initial values of(87Sr/86Sr)t = 0.70762-0.70809,low εNd(t) =-12.76 to-12.15 values and negative values of εHf(t) =-23.49 to-17.02 with small variations in(176Hf/177Hf),(0.281873-0.282049).These geochemical features and quantitative isotopic modeling results suggest that the rocks might have been formed through the partial melting of Neoarchean basic rocks in the lower crust of the NCC.The Wulanhada rocks,together with the Devonian alkaline rocks and mafic-ultramafic complex from neighboring regions,constitute a post-collisional magmatic belt along the northern NCC.展开更多
The Tianshan Orogen(TO)is one of the largest typical accretionary orogenic belts in the world.Of which,the late Paleozoic was a critical era to understand the tectonic and geodynamic transition from accretion to colli...The Tianshan Orogen(TO)is one of the largest typical accretionary orogenic belts in the world.Of which,the late Paleozoic was a critical era to understand the tectonic and geodynamic transition from accretion to collision.However,the late Paleozoic tectonic evolutionary history,especially for the time of the ocean-continent transition,is still debated although the origin and tectonic settings for the Paleozoic volcanic,felsic igneous magmatism in TO and reginal geology have been done in the last decades.In contrast,the researches on the mafic dykes in TO was not systematically carried out till now.Reginal-scale mafic dykes are commonly regarded as the products created in a extensional setting,and used to identify the major tectonic events such as rifting and continental break-up and further trace the mantle natures and geodynamic mechanism(Halls,1982;Bleeker and Ernst,2006;Li et al.,2008;Ernst et al.,2010;Srivastava,2011;Hou,2012;Peng,2015;Peng et al.,2019).There are widespread late Paleozoic mafic dykes beside the huge of intermediate-acid igneous rocks in the TO,being an idea object to reveal the extensional events,tectonic evolution and the mantle nature and geodynamic processes.We present the ICPMS in situ zircon U–Pb dating,Lu-Hf and whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopes as well as the geochemistry data for these mafic dykes to better constraint their petrogenesis and mantle nature.New zircon U-Pb dating for 12 samples from the representative basic dykes and basalts yield three distinct stages of^332 Ma,316–302 Ma and 288–282 Ma,respectively.In which,the first stage of mafic dykes is mainly occurred in both East Tianshan Orogen(ETO)and West Tianshan Orogen(WTO),and composed of dolerite with minor basalts.The second stage of mafic dyke also can be found in both ETO and WTO.However,in contrast to the first stage of mafic dykes,they have relatively variable rock types from the dolerite/or gabbros to gabbroic diorite.The third stage of mafic dykes are slightly intermediate in composition,and chiefly consist of andesitic-basaltic dolerite with some diorites.They are widely developed not only in both ETO and WTO,but also in the Beishan area to the east of the ETO,indicating a large-scale mafic magmatism in Tianshan and adjacent areas.展开更多
Numerous intrusive bodies of mafic–ultramafic to felsic compositions are exposed in association with volcanic rocks in the Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP),southwestern China.Most of the granitic ro...Numerous intrusive bodies of mafic–ultramafic to felsic compositions are exposed in association with volcanic rocks in the Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP),southwestern China.Most of the granitic rocks in the ELIP were derived by differentiation of basaltic magmas with a mantle connection,and crustal magmas have rarely been studied.Here we investigate a suite of mafic dykes and Ⅰ-type granites that yield zircon U-Pb emplacement ages of 259.9±1.2 Ma and 259.3±1.3 Ma,respectively.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DZ mafic dyke are–0.3 to 9.4,and their corresponding TDM1 values are in the range of 919–523 Ma.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite are between–1 and 3,with TDM1 values showing a range of 938–782 Ma.We also present zircon O isotope data on crust-derived felsic intrusions from the ELIP for the first time.The δ18O values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite ranges from 4.87‰to 7.5‰.The field,petrologic,geochemical and isotopic data from our study lead to the following salient findings.(i)The geochronological study of mafic and felsic intrusive rocks in the ELIP shows that the ages of mafic and felsic magmatism are similar.(ii)The DZ mafic dyke and high-Ti basalts have the same source,i.e.,the Emeishan mantle plume.The mafic dyke formed from magmas sourced at the transitional depth between from garnet-lherzolite and spinel-lherzolite,with low degree partial melting(<10%).(iii)The Hf-O isotope data suggest that the DSC Ⅰ-type granite was formed by partial melting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust and was contaminated by minor volumes of chemically weathered ancient crustal material.(iv)The heat source leading to the formation of the crust-derived felsic rocks in of the ELIP is considered to be mafic–ultramafic magmas generated by a mantle plume,which partially melted the overlying crust,generating the felsic magma.展开更多
The cratonization history of the North China Craton(NCC)and the nature of tectonothermal events are still highly controversial.Tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG)gneisses,as the dominant lithological assemblages i...The cratonization history of the North China Craton(NCC)and the nature of tectonothermal events are still highly controversial.Tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG)gneisses,as the dominant lithological assemblages in Archean metamorphic terranes,can provide significant clues to the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of Precambrian crust.This study presents zircon laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb ages,trace-element,and in-situ LA-MC-ICPMS zircon Hf isotope data for the TTG gneisses from the Bengbu-Wuhe area on the southeastern margin of the NCC.Cathodoluminescence images and trace elements indicated that magmatic zircons display the characteristics of euhedral-subhedral crystals with oscillatory growth zoning structures,high RREE contents,marked Ce positive anomalies,and Pr–Eu negative anomalies.The metamorphic zircons display the spherical-oval crystals with distinct core-rim structures,high and homogeneous luminescent intensity,lower RREE,Nb,Ta,Hf contents,relative flat REE patterns,weak Ce positive anomalies,and Pr-Eu negative anomalies.The Ti–in–zircon geothermometer data indicate that the crystallization temperature of the TTG gneiss ranged from 754 to 868℃.Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the TTG gneisses formed at 2.79–2.77 Ga and 2.50 Ga and underwent metamorphism at 2.57–2.52 Ga.The Hf isotopic data indicate that the magmatic zircons exhibit high,positive eHf(t)values close to those of the coeval depleted mantle,whereas the metamorphic zircons exhibit negative or nil eHf(t)values.This implies that the TTG gneisses were derived from the partial melting of the~2.9–2.6 Ga juvenile crustal sources mixed with~3.0–2.8 Ga ancient crustal materials.Combined with the regional tectonic evolution,we propose that the metamorphic basement at the southeastern margin of the NCC underwent episodic crustal growth at~2.7 and~2.5 Ga and subsequently underwent crustal reworking or re-melting of the ancient crust during the Neoarchean.The Neoarchean TTG gneisses might have been derived from the partial melting of lower crustal materials related to plate subduction.展开更多
The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is one of the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen.(Windley et al.,1990,2007;Jahn et al.,2000a,b,c;Yakubchuk,2002,2004;Xiao et al.,2003,2004).It is the optimal study area fo...The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is one of the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen.(Windley et al.,1990,2007;Jahn et al.,2000a,b,c;Yakubchuk,2002,2004;Xiao et al.,2003,2004).It is the optimal study area for revealing the accretion and reworking processes of the continental crust.The Khanka Massif is located in the most eastern part of the CAOB,and mainly crops out in the territory of Russia,with a small segment in NE China.In addition,a large number of multi-stage granitic rocks are formed in geological evolution in this area,recording amounts of information about crustal accretion and reworking processes(De Paolo et al.,1991;Rudnick,1995;Wu et al.,2011).In view of this,this paper uses the spatial-temporal variations of trace elements and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of phanerozoic granitoids within the Khanka Massif as a case to reveal the crustal accretion and reworking processes of micro continental massifs from the orogenic belt,further to understand the formation and evolution processes and mechanisms of the global continental crust.According to the statistics of zircon U-Pb ages of granitoids in the Khanka Massif,indicate that the granitic magmatisms in the Khanka Massif have eleven peaks:492 Ma,460 Ma,445Ma,430Ma,425Ma,302Ma,287Ma,258Ma,249 Ma,216Ma and 213Ma,it can be divided into eight main stages:Late Cambrian,Middle-Late Ordovician,Middle Silurian,Late Carboniferous,EarlyPermian,Middle-Late Permian—Early Triassic,Late Triassic-Early Jurassic,Early Cretaceous.The Phanerozoic granitoids in Khanka massif are selectedinthispaperasasuiteof granodiorite-monzogranite-syenogranite.TheSi O2contents of the Phanerozoic granitoids exceed 65%,and has high Al2O3,low Mg#,TFe2O3,Cr,Co and Ni contents.This suggests that mixture with mantle-derived magma did not occur,and it should be a typical crustal source(Lu and Xu,2011).Combined with evident characteristics of light rare-earth elements(LREEs)and large ion lithophile elements(LILEs)enrichment,and heavy rare-earth elements(HREEs)and high field-strength elements(HFSEs)loss,we suggest that the primary magma was derived by partial melting of lower crustal material(Xu et al.,2009),and geochemical properties of the Phanerozoic granitoids essentially reflect the nature of the magmatic source region.According to the temporal variation of zircon Hf isotopic data of Phanerozoic granitioids,zircon Hf isotopic compositions of Phanerozoic granitoids have a obvious correlation with age.With the decrease of formation time ofthePhanerozoicgranitoids(Late Cambrian;iddle-LateOrdovician;iddle Silurian;arlyPermian;iddle-LatePermian–Early Triassic;ate Triassic-Early Jurassic),εHf(t)values of zircons gradually increase,whereas their TDM2 ages gradually decrease(Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic),suggesting that the generation of granitic magmas from the Khanka Massif could have experienced the change from the melting of the ancient crust to the juvenile crust during Paleozoic to Mesozoic.According to the sample location,it can be found thatεHf(t)values of Phanerozoic granitoids have the tendency to decrease with latitude increase,showing that components of the ancient continental crust gradually increase from south to north.However,at the same latitude range,theεHf(t)values of Phanerozoic granitoids also inconsistent.Taken together,these differences reveal the horizontal and vertical heterogeneity of the lower continental crust within the Khanka Massif.According to the relative probability of two-stage model(TDM2)ages of zircon Hf isotope from Phanerozoic granitoids within the Khanka massif,it could be divided into three stages:(1)Late Paleoproterozoic(2)Mesoproterozoic(3)Neoproterozoic.It reveals that the main part of the continental crust within the Khanka MassifwereformedinLate Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic.The Phanerozoic granitoids in the Khanka Massif reworked from the source rockswithdifferent ages(Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic).展开更多
Mesozoic bimodal volcanic rocks of basaltic andesite and rhyolite are widely distributed in the Da Hinggan Range, but their petrogenetic relationships and geodynamic implications are rarely constrained. Detailed studi...Mesozoic bimodal volcanic rocks of basaltic andesite and rhyolite are widely distributed in the Da Hinggan Range, but their petrogenetic relationships and geodynamic implications are rarely constrained. Detailed studies on doleritic and porphyry dikes in the Zhalantun area indicate that they display features of magma mixing, suggesting their coeval formation. In situ zircon U-Pb dating shows that the porphyry was emplaced in the Early Cretaceous with a ^206Pb/^238U age of 130±1 Ma. Zircons from the dolerite also yield an Early Cretaceous emplacement age of 124±2 Ma although some inherited zircons have been identified. These age results indicate that the Early Cretaceous was an important period of magmatism in the Da Hinggan Range. Zircons from porphyry are characterized by positive value of εHf(t) as high as 10.3±0.5 with Hf depleted mantle model age of 349-568 Ma, whereas magmatic zircons from the dolerite have εHf(t) value of 11.0±1.4 with Hf depleted mantel model age of 342-657 Ma, consistent with those from the porphyry. Considering other data on the geological evolution of this area, it is concluded that the mafic magma originated from the partial melting of Paleozoic enriched lithospheric mantle, whereas the felsic magma came from recycling of juvenile crust formed during the Paleozoic. Both of the protoliths are closely related to the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Paleozoic, indicating that the Paleozoic is an important period of large-scale crustal growth in the area.展开更多
The crustal growth of the North China Craton (NCC) during the Neoarchean time (2.5--2.8 Ga) is a hotly controversial topic, with some proposing that the main crustal growth occurred in the late Neoarch- ean (2.5-...The crustal growth of the North China Craton (NCC) during the Neoarchean time (2.5--2.8 Ga) is a hotly controversial topic, with some proposing that the main crustal growth occurred in the late Neoarch- ean (2.5--2.6 Ga), in agreement with the time of the magmatism, whereas others suggest that the main crustal accretion took place during early Neoarchean time (2.7-2.8 Ga), consistent with the time of crustal- formation of other cratons in the world. Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions can provide rigorous constraints on the time of crustal growth and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC. In this contri- bution, we make a comprehensive review of zircon Hf isotope data in combination with zircon U-Pb geochro- nology and some geochemistry data from various divisions of the NCC with an aim to constrain the Neoarchean crustal growth of the NCC. The results suggest that both 2.7--2.8 Ga and 2.5-2.6 Ga crustal growth are distributed over the NCC and the former is much wider than previously suggested. The Eastern block is characterized by the main 2.7-2.8 Ga crustal growth with local new crustal-formation at 2.5-2.6 Ga, and the Yinshan block is characterized by ~2.7 Ga crustal accretion as revealed by Hf-isotope data of detrital zircons from the Zhaertai Group. Detrital zircon data of the Khondalite Belt indi- cate that the main crustal growth period of the Western block is Paleoproterozoic involving some ~ 2.6 Ga and minor Early- to Middle-Archean crustal components, and the crustal accretion in the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) has a wide age range from 2.5 Ga to 2.9 Ga with a notable regional discrepancy. Zircon Hf isotope compositions, coupled with zircon ages and other geochemical data suggest that the southern margin may not be an extension of the TNCO, and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC is more complex than previously proposed, probably involving multi-stage crustal growth and subduction processes. However, there is no doubt that 2.7--2.8 Ga magmatism and crustal-formation are more widely distributed than previ- ously considered, which is further supported by the data of zircons from Precambrian lower crustal rocks, overlying sedimentary cover, modern river sediments and Late Neoarchean syenogranites.展开更多
基金supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42002238 and 41872057)。
文摘The basalts within the greenstone belt worldwide serve as an ideal target to decipher the nature of Archean mantle sources and further to extend the understanding of the early stages of Earth's evolution.To provide important insights into the issues,we carried out a detailed investigation of whole-rock geochemistry and Sm-Nd isotopes,and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes for the Late Neoarchean metamorphosed basalts in eastern Hebei,North China Craton.U-Pb isotopic dating using the LA-ICPMS on zircons reveals that the basalts in eastern Hebei erupted at ca.2.48-2.51 Ga and subsequently experienced multiple regional metamorphic events at 2477 and 1798 Ma,respectively.The metamorphosed basalts are featured by low SiO_(2),MgO,K_(2)O+Na_(2)O,and high Fe O contents,endowed with the subalkaline and high-Fe tholeiitic affinities.The radiogenic initial Nd and Hf isotope values and correlations among V,Ni and Cr contents strongly imply that the basalts experienced significant clinopyroxene and olivine fractionation and minor crustal contamination during magma evolution.They are also characterized by the relatively low total REE contents and exhibit significant depletions to moderate enrichments in the LREE contents,indicating the derivation from a deep mantle source in an Archean proto-mantle plume setting.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (2019M653840XB)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41972043 and 42062006)。
文摘Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotope data for the Early Paleozoic granites in the Baoshan Block reveal the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys. The samples are high-K, calcalkaline, strongly peraluminous rocks with A/CNK values of 1.37–1.46, are enriched in SiO2, K2O, and Rb, and are depleted in Nb, P, Ti, Eu, and heavy rare earth elements,which indicates the crystallization fractionation of the granitic magma. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that they formed in ca. 480 Ma. The Nansa granites have εHf(t) values ranging from-16.04 to 4.36 with corresponding TC DMages of 2.10–0.81 Ga, which suggests the magmas derived from the partial melting of ancient metasedimentary with minor involvement of mantle-derived components. A synthesis of data for the Early Paleozoic igneous rocks in the Baoshan block and adjacent(Tengchong,Qiangtang, Sibumasu, Himalaya, etc.) blocks indicates that these blocks were all aligned along the proto-Tethyan margin of East Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic. The Early Paleozoic S-type granites from Nansa were generated in a high-temperature and low-pressure(HTLP) extensional tectonic setting, which resulted from Andean-type orogeny instead of the final assembly of Gondwana or crustal extension in a non-arc environment. In certain places, an expanding environment may exist in opposition to the tectonic backdrop of the lithosphere’s thickening and shortening, leading the crust to melt and decompress,mantle-derived materials to mix, and a small quantity of peraluminous granite to emerge.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41872232)the Beijing Geological Survey Project(PXM 2016-158203-000008,PXM 2018-158203-000014)the Beijing Innovation Studio(Urban Geology,Active Structure,and Monitoring).
文摘The Nianzi granite unit,which includes the Nianzi,Xiaolianghou and Xiawopu granitic intrusions,is a significant component of the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and is situated in the Yanshan fold and thrust belt(YFTB).However,there is still debate regarding the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB during the late Permian to Triassic period,specifically regarding the timing of subduction and collision between the NCC and the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The Nianzi granite unit exhibits unique petrological,geochronological and geochemical signatures that shed light on the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB.This study presents detailed petrology,whole-rock geochemistry,together with Sr-Nd isotopic,zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic data of the granites within the Nianzi granite unit.Our findings demonstrate that the granites primarily consist of subhedral K-feldspar,plagioclase,quartz,minor biotite and hornblende,with accessory titanite,apatite,magnetite and zircon.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the Xiaolianghou granite was emplaced at 247.5±0.62 Ma.Additionally,the adakitic characteristics of the Nianzi,Xiawopu and Xiaolianghou granitic intrusions,such as high Sr and Ba contents and high ratios of Sr/Y and(La/Yb)N,combined with negative Sr-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopes(87Sr/86Sr)i=0.705681–0.7057433,εNd(t)=−21.98 to−20.97,zirconεHf(t)=−20.26 to−9.92,as well as the I-type granite features of high SiO_(2),Na_(2)O and K_(2)O/Na_(2)O ratios,enriched Rb,K,Sr and Ba,along with depleted Th,U,Nb,Ta,P and Ti,suggest that the Nianzi granitic unit was mainly derived from the partial melting of a thickened lower crust containing hydrous,calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline,mafic to intermediate metamorphic rocks.In light of these parameters,we further integrate our data with previous studies and conclude that the Nianzi granitic unit was generated in a post-collisional extensional environment during the Early Triassic.
基金funding from CNPq(401334/2012-0-302058/2015-0-402852/2012-5)FAPEMIG(APQ03943-RPQ-0067-10-RDP00063-10)grants
文摘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.
基金supported by the National Key Basic Research Program(2012CB416700,2007CB411408),a special fund managed by the State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry,Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences,and the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources,China University of Geosciences in Wuhan
文摘Mesozoic granitic intrusions are widely distributed in the Nanling region, South China. Yanshanian granites are closely connected with the formation of tungsten deposits. The Xihuashan granite is a typical representative of tungsten-bearing granite. The Xihuashan granite consists mainly of medium-grained porphyritic biotite granite, medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained twomica granite, which correspond to LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of 555.5±0.4 Ma, 553.0±0.6 Ma and 552.8±0.9 Ma, respectively. Rocks from the Xihuashan mining area displays high SlOe (73.85% to 76.49%) and NaeO+K20 contents (8.09% to 9.43%), belonging to high-K calc-alkaline series. They are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous with A/CNK values ranging from 0.96 to 5.06. All granites in this study area are rich in Rb, Th, U and Pb, and depleted in Ba, Sr, P, Ti, Nb and Eu, especially depleted in medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained two-mica granite. The medium-grained porphyritic biotite granites usually have high LREE concentrations, whereas medium-grained biotite granite and fine-grained two-mica granite displays high HREE contents. Our geochemical data reveal that the studied rocks are highly fractionated I-type granite. The magma underwent strong magma differentiation with decreasing temperature and increasing oxygen fugacity, which may explain the formation of three types of distinct granites. Variations of Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations in different type granites were controlled by fractional crystallization of biotite and feldspar. Fractional crystallization of monazite, allanite and apatite resulted in LREE changes in granite, and formation of garnet mainly caused HREE changes. Granites from the Xihuashan mining area have relatively high εd(t) values (-9.77 to -55.46), indicating that they were probably generated by partial melting of underlying Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks with minor addition of juvenile crust or mantlederived magmas.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grants No.41173065 and 40703012)the China Geological Survey(grants No.1212011121075, 12120114020901,12120113094000 and 1212011120332)the Basic Outlay of Scientific Research Work from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China(grant No.J1403)
文摘The Miyun area of Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Craton (NCC) and includes a variety of Archean granitoids and metamorphic rocks. Magmatic domains in zircon from a tonalite reveal Early Neoarchean (2752±7 Ma) ages show a small range in εHf(t) from 3.1 to 7.4 and tDM1(Hf) from 2742 to 2823 Ma, similar to their U-Pb ages, indicating derivation from a depleted mantle source only a short time prior to crystallization. SHRIMP zircon ages of granite, gneiss, amphibolite and hornblendite in the Miyun area reveal restricted emplacement ages from 2594 to 2496 Ma. They also record metamorphic events at ca. 2.50 Ga, 2.44 Ga and 1.82 Ga, showing a similar evolutionary history to the widely distributed Late Neoarchean rocks in the NCC. Positive eHf(t) values of 1.5 to 5.9, with model ages younger than 3.0 Ga for magmatic zircon domains from these Late Neoarchean intrusive rocks indicate that they are predominantly derived from juvenile crustal sources and suggest that significant crustal growth occurred in the northern NCC during the Neoarchean. Late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism developed widely in the NCC, not only in the Trans-North China Orogen, but also in areas of Eastern and Western Blocks, which suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic was the assembly of different micro-continents, which resulted in the final consolidation to form the NCC, and related to the development of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia or Nuna supercontinent.
基金supported by the Basic Research Project for the Central Public Welfare Scientific Institutions(K1019) granted by the Institute of Mineral Resources,Chinese Academy of Geological Sciencesthe ministry of land and resources public welfare industry research project of China (200911007-6)the national crisis's mine resources prospecting project of China (20089949)
文摘The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geochemical features of the granites in the Jinduicheng area can provide essential information for the exploration and development of the porphyry molybdenum deposit. In this study, we report LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of granite porphyries from the Jinduicheng area, and provide insights on the petrogensis and source characteristics of the granites. The results show that the zircon U-Pb ages of the Jinduicheng granite porphyry (143±1 Ma) and the Balipo granite (154±1 Ma), agree well with the Re-Os ages of molybdenite in the Jinduicheng molybdenum polymetallic deposit (139±3 Ma) and the Balipo molybdenum polymetallic deposit (156±2 Ma), indicating that the emplacement of granite porphyries occurred between Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Zircons granite from the Jinduicheng area give the εHf(t) values mainly ranging from -10 to -16, and -20 to -24, respectively, corresponding to two- stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.86-2.0 Ga, and 2.2-2.6 Ga, respectively) of zircons of the granite from the Jinduicheng values. The ore-forming materials are mainly derived from crust, with minor mantle substances. Zircons of the granite from the Balipo area give εHf(t) values ranging from -18 to -20, -28 to -38, and -42 to -44, respectively, corresponding to two-stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.88-3.0 Ga, and 3.2-3.90 Ga, respectively). the εHf(t) values of the Jinduicheng porphyry more than that of the Balipo porphyry, and two-stage model ages (tDM2) less than that of the Balipo porphyry, shows that he source of the porphyries originated from ancient lower crustal materials in the Jinduicheng area, and mixed younger components, more younger components contributed for the source of the Jinduicheng porphyry.
基金supported by geological survey projects of the China Geological Survey (1212011120863, 12120114039401, 12120114005901 and 12120115029401)
文摘The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed in situ analyses of the trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry were performed.Scarcely any inherited zircons were observed, and the analyzed zircons yielded highly concordant results with a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 143.5 ± 0.45 Ma(n=20, mean square weighted deviation was 0.75), which was interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry.The chondrite-normalized rare-earth element pattern was characterized by a slope that steeply rises from the light-group rare-earth elements(LREE) to the heavy-group rare-earth elements(HREE) with a positive Ce-anomaly and inconspicuous Eu-anomaly, which was coincident with the pattern of the zircons from the Chuquicamata West porphyry, Chile.The analyzed zircons also had relatively low 176Hf/177 Hf ratios of 0.282526–0.282604.Assuming t=143 Ma, the corresponding calculated initial Hf isotope compositions(εHf(t)) ranged from-5.6 to-2.9.The results of the in situ analysis of trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry suggest that a deep-seated process involving a thickened-crust/enriched-mantle interaction may play an important role in the generation of high Sr/Y-ratio magma and potentially in the generation of porphyry Cu-Mo systems.
基金supported by Natural Science Fund Project(41902242)Geological Survey Project of China Geological Survey(DD20190370 and DD20190009)。
文摘This paper presents the results of combined studies of geochronology, geochemistry, whole rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopes carried out upon the rhyodacite and ignimbrite of Shangshu village, Shangyu town and Shanghupeng village of Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province, along the northwestern side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of samples in the three areas yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages of 842.8 ± 6.9 Ma and 850.0 ± 7.3 Ma, 839 ± 9 Ma and 832.2 ± 8.1 Ma, 828.3 ± 8.5 Ma and 836.9 ± 9.9 Ma, respectively. These ages are older than the volcanic rocks of the Shangshu Formation dated at around 780 Ma distributed in Fuyang City, Hangzhou City, Kaihua County, etc. The volcanic rocks generally have high SiO2(54.08–76.80 wt%) and Al2 O3(12.40–21.31 wt%), low Fe2 O3(0.68–8.92 wt%), MgO(0.29–2.49 wt%), CaO(0.12–2.86 wt%), TiO2(0.10–1.59 wt%) and P2 O5(0.01–0.39 wt%), with variable total alkalis(K2 O + Na2 O =5.42–8.29 wt%). There exists a clear negative correlation between SiO2 and P2 O5. The volcanic rocks have A/CNK ratios of 1.03–2.77 and thus are peraluminous. They are characterized by enrichment in LREE, Rb, Ba, Zr, Hf, K, Th, La, U and depletion in Nb, Sr, P, Ti, with distinct LREE and HREE fractionation of(La/Yb)N values of 5.68–11.67, and with a moderate negative Eu anomaly(&Eu=0.58–0.89). Whole-rock geochemical data shows that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks are possibly I-type granitic rocks, even though they have some characteristics of A&S-type granites due to the magma fractional crystallization and water-rock interaction. Zircon δ18 O values are 3.97‰–5.49‰(average 4.50‰), 2.90‰–5.21‰(average 4.32‰) for ignimbrite from Shangshu village section, and Shanghupeng village section, respectively. They are slightly lower than the average δ18 O values of igneous zircons in equilibrium with mantle magmas(5.3 ± 0.6‰(2σ)), the lower δ18 O value also demonstrating the presence of high temperature water-rock interactions. The ignimbrite rocks have positive εNd(t)(4.02, 3.37, 3.91, 4.74, 2.85, 4.39, totals from the three areas) and εNd(t)(in-situ zircon)(4.3–14.6, a weighted mean of 8.4;6.6–12.7, a weighted mean of 9.0;8.1–12.0, a weighted mean of 9.5, respectively, from the three areas). In conjunction with the trace element studies, they indicate that the source region of the Jiangshan volcanic rocks was mainly composed of juvenile lower crustal material, mixed with some mantle-sourced magma. Detailed elemental and isotopic data suggest that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks were formed in a continental arc setting. There is a series of ca. 860–830 Ma volcanic rocks formed in a back-arc extensional setting in the southern margin of the eastern Jiangnan Orogen, along the northwest side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. The first stage rift-related anorogenic magmatism may have occurred as early as ca. 860 Ma in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41730213, 41190075, 41190070)the Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund (17301915)the HKU Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research (201611159210)
文摘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.
基金funded by the Basic Scientific Research Fund of the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (Grant No. J2103)National Key Research and Development Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0601301)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41972224)the China Geological Survey (Grant No. DD2019004)。
文摘The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.However, the Precambrian basement of the Alxa Block is still poorly studied. In this study, we present new in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from the Diebusige Metamorphic Complex(DMC) which located in the eastern Alxa Block. Field and petrological studies show that the DMC consists mainly of metamorphic supracrustal rocks and minor metamorphic plutonic rocks and has experienced amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. Zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the amphibolite sample yields a crystallization age of 2636 ± 14 Ma and metamorphic ages of 2517–2454 Ma and 1988–1952 Ma, proving the existence of exposed Archean rocks in the Langshan area and indicating that late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic metamorphic events existed in the Alxa Block. Two paragneiss samples show that the magmatic detrital zircons from the DMC yield 207Pb/206Pb ages ranging from 2.48 Ga to 2.10 Ga with two youngest peaks at 2.13 Ga and 2.16 Ga, respectively, and they were also overprinted by metamorphic events at 1.97–1.90 Ga and 1.89–1.79Ga. Compilation of U-Pb ages of magmatic detrital and metamorphic zircons suggested that the main part of the DMC may have been formed at 2.1–2.0 Ga. Zircon Lu-Hf isotope data show that the source materials of the main part of the DMC were originated from the reworking of ancient Archean crust(3.45–2.78 Ga). The Hf isotope characteristics and the tectonothermal event records exhibit different evolution history with the Khondalite Belt and the Yinshan Block and the other basements of the Alxa Block, indicating that the Langshan was likely an independent terrain before the middle Paleoproterozoic and was subjected to the middle to late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal events with the Khondalite Belt as a whole.
基金supported by the SinoProbe 04-02,Natural Science Foundation of China(40603011)Government's Scientific Research Foundation of Inner Mongolia(05-6-YS2)
文摘The Wulanhada pluton is among the rare suite of Devonian alkaline plutons occurring along the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).The intrusion is mainly composed of quartz-monzonite.Here we report zircon SHRIMP U-Pb data from this intrusion which shows emplacement age of ca.381.5 Ma.The rock is metaluminous with high(Na2O + K2O) values ranging from 8.46 to 9.66 wt.%.The REE patterns of the rocks do not show any Eu anomaly whereas the primitive-mantle-normalized spider diagram shows strong positive Sr and Ba anomalies.The Wulanhada rocks exhibit high initial values of(87Sr/86Sr)t = 0.70762-0.70809,low εNd(t) =-12.76 to-12.15 values and negative values of εHf(t) =-23.49 to-17.02 with small variations in(176Hf/177Hf),(0.281873-0.282049).These geochemical features and quantitative isotopic modeling results suggest that the rocks might have been formed through the partial melting of Neoarchean basic rocks in the lower crust of the NCC.The Wulanhada rocks,together with the Devonian alkaline rocks and mafic-ultramafic complex from neighboring regions,constitute a post-collisional magmatic belt along the northern NCC.
基金co-funded by the Land and Resources Survey Project of China(Grant no.12120113042200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(41421002)the MOST Special Fund from State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics,Northwest University(201210133)
文摘The Tianshan Orogen(TO)is one of the largest typical accretionary orogenic belts in the world.Of which,the late Paleozoic was a critical era to understand the tectonic and geodynamic transition from accretion to collision.However,the late Paleozoic tectonic evolutionary history,especially for the time of the ocean-continent transition,is still debated although the origin and tectonic settings for the Paleozoic volcanic,felsic igneous magmatism in TO and reginal geology have been done in the last decades.In contrast,the researches on the mafic dykes in TO was not systematically carried out till now.Reginal-scale mafic dykes are commonly regarded as the products created in a extensional setting,and used to identify the major tectonic events such as rifting and continental break-up and further trace the mantle natures and geodynamic mechanism(Halls,1982;Bleeker and Ernst,2006;Li et al.,2008;Ernst et al.,2010;Srivastava,2011;Hou,2012;Peng,2015;Peng et al.,2019).There are widespread late Paleozoic mafic dykes beside the huge of intermediate-acid igneous rocks in the TO,being an idea object to reveal the extensional events,tectonic evolution and the mantle nature and geodynamic processes.We present the ICPMS in situ zircon U–Pb dating,Lu-Hf and whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopes as well as the geochemistry data for these mafic dykes to better constraint their petrogenesis and mantle nature.New zircon U-Pb dating for 12 samples from the representative basic dykes and basalts yield three distinct stages of^332 Ma,316–302 Ma and 288–282 Ma,respectively.In which,the first stage of mafic dykes is mainly occurred in both East Tianshan Orogen(ETO)and West Tianshan Orogen(WTO),and composed of dolerite with minor basalts.The second stage of mafic dyke also can be found in both ETO and WTO.However,in contrast to the first stage of mafic dykes,they have relatively variable rock types from the dolerite/or gabbros to gabbroic diorite.The third stage of mafic dykes are slightly intermediate in composition,and chiefly consist of andesitic-basaltic dolerite with some diorites.They are widely developed not only in both ETO and WTO,but also in the Beishan area to the east of the ETO,indicating a large-scale mafic magmatism in Tianshan and adjacent areas.
基金The Everest Scientific Research Program of Chengdu University of Technology, China financially supported this study
文摘Numerous intrusive bodies of mafic–ultramafic to felsic compositions are exposed in association with volcanic rocks in the Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP),southwestern China.Most of the granitic rocks in the ELIP were derived by differentiation of basaltic magmas with a mantle connection,and crustal magmas have rarely been studied.Here we investigate a suite of mafic dykes and Ⅰ-type granites that yield zircon U-Pb emplacement ages of 259.9±1.2 Ma and 259.3±1.3 Ma,respectively.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DZ mafic dyke are–0.3 to 9.4,and their corresponding TDM1 values are in the range of 919–523 Ma.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite are between–1 and 3,with TDM1 values showing a range of 938–782 Ma.We also present zircon O isotope data on crust-derived felsic intrusions from the ELIP for the first time.The δ18O values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite ranges from 4.87‰to 7.5‰.The field,petrologic,geochemical and isotopic data from our study lead to the following salient findings.(i)The geochronological study of mafic and felsic intrusive rocks in the ELIP shows that the ages of mafic and felsic magmatism are similar.(ii)The DZ mafic dyke and high-Ti basalts have the same source,i.e.,the Emeishan mantle plume.The mafic dyke formed from magmas sourced at the transitional depth between from garnet-lherzolite and spinel-lherzolite,with low degree partial melting(<10%).(iii)The Hf-O isotope data suggest that the DSC Ⅰ-type granite was formed by partial melting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust and was contaminated by minor volumes of chemically weathered ancient crustal material.(iv)The heat source leading to the formation of the crust-derived felsic rocks in of the ELIP is considered to be mafic–ultramafic magmas generated by a mantle plume,which partially melted the overlying crust,generating the felsic magma.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41303041 and41763005)Open Fund(Nos.Z1909,Z1912,RGET1804,15LCD08)of the State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment+1 种基金Fundamental Science on Radioactive Geology and Exploration Technology LaboratoryState Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics。
文摘The cratonization history of the North China Craton(NCC)and the nature of tectonothermal events are still highly controversial.Tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG)gneisses,as the dominant lithological assemblages in Archean metamorphic terranes,can provide significant clues to the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of Precambrian crust.This study presents zircon laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb ages,trace-element,and in-situ LA-MC-ICPMS zircon Hf isotope data for the TTG gneisses from the Bengbu-Wuhe area on the southeastern margin of the NCC.Cathodoluminescence images and trace elements indicated that magmatic zircons display the characteristics of euhedral-subhedral crystals with oscillatory growth zoning structures,high RREE contents,marked Ce positive anomalies,and Pr–Eu negative anomalies.The metamorphic zircons display the spherical-oval crystals with distinct core-rim structures,high and homogeneous luminescent intensity,lower RREE,Nb,Ta,Hf contents,relative flat REE patterns,weak Ce positive anomalies,and Pr-Eu negative anomalies.The Ti–in–zircon geothermometer data indicate that the crystallization temperature of the TTG gneiss ranged from 754 to 868℃.Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the TTG gneisses formed at 2.79–2.77 Ga and 2.50 Ga and underwent metamorphism at 2.57–2.52 Ga.The Hf isotopic data indicate that the magmatic zircons exhibit high,positive eHf(t)values close to those of the coeval depleted mantle,whereas the metamorphic zircons exhibit negative or nil eHf(t)values.This implies that the TTG gneisses were derived from the partial melting of the~2.9–2.6 Ga juvenile crustal sources mixed with~3.0–2.8 Ga ancient crustal materials.Combined with the regional tectonic evolution,we propose that the metamorphic basement at the southeastern margin of the NCC underwent episodic crustal growth at~2.7 and~2.5 Ga and subsequently underwent crustal reworking or re-melting of the ancient crust during the Neoarchean.The Neoarchean TTG gneisses might have been derived from the partial melting of lower crustal materials related to plate subduction.
文摘The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is one of the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen.(Windley et al.,1990,2007;Jahn et al.,2000a,b,c;Yakubchuk,2002,2004;Xiao et al.,2003,2004).It is the optimal study area for revealing the accretion and reworking processes of the continental crust.The Khanka Massif is located in the most eastern part of the CAOB,and mainly crops out in the territory of Russia,with a small segment in NE China.In addition,a large number of multi-stage granitic rocks are formed in geological evolution in this area,recording amounts of information about crustal accretion and reworking processes(De Paolo et al.,1991;Rudnick,1995;Wu et al.,2011).In view of this,this paper uses the spatial-temporal variations of trace elements and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of phanerozoic granitoids within the Khanka Massif as a case to reveal the crustal accretion and reworking processes of micro continental massifs from the orogenic belt,further to understand the formation and evolution processes and mechanisms of the global continental crust.According to the statistics of zircon U-Pb ages of granitoids in the Khanka Massif,indicate that the granitic magmatisms in the Khanka Massif have eleven peaks:492 Ma,460 Ma,445Ma,430Ma,425Ma,302Ma,287Ma,258Ma,249 Ma,216Ma and 213Ma,it can be divided into eight main stages:Late Cambrian,Middle-Late Ordovician,Middle Silurian,Late Carboniferous,EarlyPermian,Middle-Late Permian—Early Triassic,Late Triassic-Early Jurassic,Early Cretaceous.The Phanerozoic granitoids in Khanka massif are selectedinthispaperasasuiteof granodiorite-monzogranite-syenogranite.TheSi O2contents of the Phanerozoic granitoids exceed 65%,and has high Al2O3,low Mg#,TFe2O3,Cr,Co and Ni contents.This suggests that mixture with mantle-derived magma did not occur,and it should be a typical crustal source(Lu and Xu,2011).Combined with evident characteristics of light rare-earth elements(LREEs)and large ion lithophile elements(LILEs)enrichment,and heavy rare-earth elements(HREEs)and high field-strength elements(HFSEs)loss,we suggest that the primary magma was derived by partial melting of lower crustal material(Xu et al.,2009),and geochemical properties of the Phanerozoic granitoids essentially reflect the nature of the magmatic source region.According to the temporal variation of zircon Hf isotopic data of Phanerozoic granitioids,zircon Hf isotopic compositions of Phanerozoic granitoids have a obvious correlation with age.With the decrease of formation time ofthePhanerozoicgranitoids(Late Cambrian;iddle-LateOrdovician;iddle Silurian;arlyPermian;iddle-LatePermian–Early Triassic;ate Triassic-Early Jurassic),εHf(t)values of zircons gradually increase,whereas their TDM2 ages gradually decrease(Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic),suggesting that the generation of granitic magmas from the Khanka Massif could have experienced the change from the melting of the ancient crust to the juvenile crust during Paleozoic to Mesozoic.According to the sample location,it can be found thatεHf(t)values of Phanerozoic granitoids have the tendency to decrease with latitude increase,showing that components of the ancient continental crust gradually increase from south to north.However,at the same latitude range,theεHf(t)values of Phanerozoic granitoids also inconsistent.Taken together,these differences reveal the horizontal and vertical heterogeneity of the lower continental crust within the Khanka Massif.According to the relative probability of two-stage model(TDM2)ages of zircon Hf isotope from Phanerozoic granitoids within the Khanka massif,it could be divided into three stages:(1)Late Paleoproterozoic(2)Mesoproterozoic(3)Neoproterozoic.It reveals that the main part of the continental crust within the Khanka MassifwereformedinLate Paleoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic.The Phanerozoic granitoids in the Khanka Massif reworked from the source rockswithdifferent ages(Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic).
基金This work was financially suppo.rted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40372038 and No. 40325006) Special Grant of 0il & Gas Research (XQ-2004-07).
文摘Mesozoic bimodal volcanic rocks of basaltic andesite and rhyolite are widely distributed in the Da Hinggan Range, but their petrogenetic relationships and geodynamic implications are rarely constrained. Detailed studies on doleritic and porphyry dikes in the Zhalantun area indicate that they display features of magma mixing, suggesting their coeval formation. In situ zircon U-Pb dating shows that the porphyry was emplaced in the Early Cretaceous with a ^206Pb/^238U age of 130±1 Ma. Zircons from the dolerite also yield an Early Cretaceous emplacement age of 124±2 Ma although some inherited zircons have been identified. These age results indicate that the Early Cretaceous was an important period of magmatism in the Da Hinggan Range. Zircons from porphyry are characterized by positive value of εHf(t) as high as 10.3±0.5 with Hf depleted mantle model age of 349-568 Ma, whereas magmatic zircons from the dolerite have εHf(t) value of 11.0±1.4 with Hf depleted mantel model age of 342-657 Ma, consistent with those from the porphyry. Considering other data on the geological evolution of this area, it is concluded that the mafic magma originated from the partial melting of Paleozoic enriched lithospheric mantle, whereas the felsic magma came from recycling of juvenile crust formed during the Paleozoic. Both of the protoliths are closely related to the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Paleozoic, indicating that the Paleozoic is an important period of large-scale crustal growth in the area.
基金supposed bv the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.90814008,40634023 and 40973043)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No. 2009CB825002)+1 种基金Critical reviews and many useful suggestions by Prof.M.Santosh,Prof.Guochun Zhao(University of Hong Kong)an anonymous reviewer have greatly improved the final version of the manuscript
文摘The crustal growth of the North China Craton (NCC) during the Neoarchean time (2.5--2.8 Ga) is a hotly controversial topic, with some proposing that the main crustal growth occurred in the late Neoarch- ean (2.5--2.6 Ga), in agreement with the time of the magmatism, whereas others suggest that the main crustal accretion took place during early Neoarchean time (2.7-2.8 Ga), consistent with the time of crustal- formation of other cratons in the world. Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions can provide rigorous constraints on the time of crustal growth and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC. In this contri- bution, we make a comprehensive review of zircon Hf isotope data in combination with zircon U-Pb geochro- nology and some geochemistry data from various divisions of the NCC with an aim to constrain the Neoarchean crustal growth of the NCC. The results suggest that both 2.7--2.8 Ga and 2.5-2.6 Ga crustal growth are distributed over the NCC and the former is much wider than previously suggested. The Eastern block is characterized by the main 2.7-2.8 Ga crustal growth with local new crustal-formation at 2.5-2.6 Ga, and the Yinshan block is characterized by ~2.7 Ga crustal accretion as revealed by Hf-isotope data of detrital zircons from the Zhaertai Group. Detrital zircon data of the Khondalite Belt indi- cate that the main crustal growth period of the Western block is Paleoproterozoic involving some ~ 2.6 Ga and minor Early- to Middle-Archean crustal components, and the crustal accretion in the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) has a wide age range from 2.5 Ga to 2.9 Ga with a notable regional discrepancy. Zircon Hf isotope compositions, coupled with zircon ages and other geochemical data suggest that the southern margin may not be an extension of the TNCO, and the evolution and tectonic division of the NCC is more complex than previously proposed, probably involving multi-stage crustal growth and subduction processes. However, there is no doubt that 2.7--2.8 Ga magmatism and crustal-formation are more widely distributed than previ- ously considered, which is further supported by the data of zircons from Precambrian lower crustal rocks, overlying sedimentary cover, modern river sediments and Late Neoarchean syenogranites.