Geochemical Characteristics and LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Dating of Amphibolites in the Songshugou Ophiolite in the Eastern Qinling

Geochemical studies on the arnphibolites in the Songshugou ophiolite from Shangnan County, Shaanxi Province demonstrate that the protolith of the amphibolites is tholeiitic. The arnphibolites can be classified into two groups according to their REE patterns and trace element features. Rocks of the first group are depleted in LREE while rocks of the second group are slightly depleted in LREE or flat from LREE to HREE without significant Eu anomaly. The first group of rocks have (La/Yb)N=0.33-0.55, (La/Sm)N= 0.45-0.65, and their La/Nb, Ce/Zr, Zr/Nb, Zr/Y and Ti/Y ratios are averaged at 1.20, 0.12, 31.02, 2.92 and 198, respectively, close to those of typical N-MORB. The second group of rocks have (La/Yb)N=0.63-0.95, (La/ Sm)N = 0.69--0.90, and their average La/Nb, Ce/Zr, Zr/Nb, Zr/Y and Ti/Y ratios are 0.82, 0.83, 1.15, 0.16, 19.00, 2.58 and 225, respectively, which lie between those of typical N-MORB and E-MORB but closer to the former. The two groups of rocks both exhibit flat patterns from Th to Yb in the highly incompatible elements spider diagram, but the first group of rocks have lower element abundances than the modern N-MORB, indicating a derivation of their mantle source from more depleted mantle source than the present N-MORB. The abundances of Th, Ta, Nb, La and Ce in the second group of rocks are slightly higher than those of the present N-MORB, and other elements, such as Hf, Zr, Sm, Ti, Y and Yb, are close to those of the N-MORB, indicating that the original magma was derived from depleted mantle but mixed with the enriched mantle. These characteristics, combined with the regional geology and previous studies, provide further evidence that the mafic-ultramafic rocks have the features of a typical ophiolite.Zircon grains from the amphibolite are generally rounded, and in most of them a distinguishable core-mantle texture is preserved as shown in the cathodoluminescence (CL) images. The core or core-mantle parts of the zircon grains are also rounded, same as those in basalts from other regions of the world. The LA-ICP-MS trace element and U-Pb isotopic analyses show that the zircon grains from the amphibolites are similar to the typical magmatic zircon in terms of their very low U and Th contents (62.36-0.10 μg/g and 78.47-0.003 μg/g, respectively). Seven pits from the core and core-mantle parts of the zircon grains yielded an average weighted 206Pb/ 238U age of 973±35 (2σ) Ma with the Th/U ratios range from 0.01 to 8.38 and mostly greater than 0.23. This age is consistent within the error range with the whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron age of 1030±46 Ma for the same kind of rocks reported by Dong et al. (1997a). In a combined analysis with the zircon positions on the CL images and the corresponding Th/U ratios, the age of 973±35 Ma is probably the formation age of tholeiite, the protolith of the Songshugou amphibolite. The geochronological determination gives further evidence that the Songshugou ophiolite was formed during the Neoproterozoic. In addition, there is one pit from the rim of a zircon grain giving a 206Pb/ 238U age of 5721199 (1σ) Ma with a Th/U ratio of 0.08. It may represent the age of the accretionary zircon in the amphibolite-facies metamorphism.

LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Dating of Intermediate-Acidic Intrusive Rocks and Molybdenite Re-Os Dating from the Bangpu Mo (Cu) Deposit, Tibet and its Geological Implication

The multi-stage intrusions of intermediate-acid magma occur in the Bangpu mining district, the petrogenic ages of which have been identified. The times and sequences of their emplacement have been collated and stipulated in detail in this paper by using the laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry （LA-ICP-MS） zircon U-Pb dating method. The ages of biotite monzogranite that were formed before mineralization in the southwest of this mining district are 70±1 Ma （mean square of weighted deviates （MSWD） =9.5, n=8） and 60.60±0.31 Ma （MSWD=3.8, n=16）, which belong to the late Cretaceous-early Paleocene in age. That means, they are products of an early tectonicmagmatic event of the collision between the Indian and Asian continentals. The ages of ore-bearing monzogranite porphyry and ore-bearing diorite porphyrite are 16.23±0.19 Ma （MSWD=2.0, n=26） and 15.16±0.09 Ma （MSWD=3.9, n=5） separately, which belong to the middle Miocene in age; namely, they are products of the Gangdese post-collision extensional stage when crust-mantle materials melted and mixed as well as magmatic intrusion simultaneously occurred. Some zircons with ages of 203.6±2.2 Ma （MSWD=1.18, n=7） were captured in the ore-bearing diorite porphyrite, which shows that there had been tectono-magmatic events in the late Triassic-early Jurassic. Molybdenum （copper） ore-bodies produced in the monzogranite porphyry and copper （molybdenum） ore-bodies produced in the diorite porphyrite are the main ore types in this ore deposit. The model ages of Re-Os isotopic dating for the 11 molybdenite are 13.97-15.84 Ma, while isochron ages are 14.09±0.49 Ma （MSWD=26）. The isochron ages of seven molybdenite from molybdenum （copper） ore with monzogranite porphyry type are 14.11±0.31 Ma （MSWD=5.2）. There is great error in the isochron ages of four molybdenite from copper （molybdenum） ore with diorite porphyrite type, and their weighted average model ages of 14.6±1.2 Ma （MSWD=41）, which generally represent the mineralization age. The results about the Re-Os isotopic dating of molybdenite in the ore of different types have limited exactly that, the minerlazation age of this ore deposits is about 14.09 Ma, which belongs to the middle Miocene mineralization. The Bangpu deposit has a uniform metallogenic dynamics background with the porphyry type and skarn-type deposits such as Jiama, Qulong and others.

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

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

Single Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Dating of the Guandimiao and Wawutang Granitic Plutons in Hunan,South China and Its Petrogenetic Significance

The Guandimao and Wawutang plutons are located at the center of Hunan, South China. The former is mainly composed of biotite monzonitic granites/granodiorites and two-mica monzonltic granites, but the latter only consists of biotite monzonitic granites. The zircon ages of 203.0±1.6 Ma （biotite monzonitic granites） and 208.0-23.2 Ma （two-mica monzonltic granites） for the Guandimao pluton and 204±3 Ma for the Wawutang pluton obtained with the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating indicate that they were formed during the late Indosinian. In consideration of other geochronological data from Indosinian rocks of South China and adjacent regions, it is inferred that the two plutons were derived from crustal materials by decompressional melting in a post-collisional tectonic setting during spontaneous thinning of the thickened curst. Moreover, the inherited zircon age of 1273±57 Ma from the Wawutang pluton indicates that the source of the two plutons is related to the early Proterozoic crustal basement.

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Zircon Dating for Felsic Granulite, Huangtuling Area, North Dabieshan: Constraints on Timing of Its Protolith and Granulite-Facies Metamorphism, and Thermal Events in Its Provenance

Information about the protolith of the Huangtuling granulite in North Dabieshan has been unavailable. The complex evolution history of the rock and its host basement must be further discussed. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating was conducted on three textural domains in zircon from a high-temperature, high-pressure felsic granulite in the Huangtuling area, North Dabieshan, Central China. The metamorphic growth-derived detrital zircon domain yields a 207^ pb/206^Pb age in the range of （2 49±54 ） -- （2 500±180） Ma. The magmatic genesis-derived detrltal zircon domain gives a 207^pb/ 206^Pb age ranging from 2 628 Ma to 2 690 Ma, with an oldest 206^ pb/ 238^U age of （2 790 ± 150） Ma. The metamorphic overgrowth or metamorphic recrystallization zircon domain yields a diesordia with an upper intercept age of （2 044. 7 ± 29.3 ） Ma. Compositions of the mineral assemblage, major element geochemistry, and especially the complex interior texture of the zircon suggest that the prololith of the felsic granulite is of sedimentary origin. Results show that the protolith material of the granulite came from a provenance with a complex thermal history, i.e. -2.8 Ga magmatlsm and -2.5 Ga metamorphism, and was deposited in a basin not earlier than 2.5 Ga. The high-temperature and high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphic age was precisely constrained at （2.04±0.03） Ga, which indicates the granulite in Huangtuling area should be a relict of a Paleoproterozoic UHT （ultrahigh temperature） metamorphosed slab.

Types and Correction Methods of Matrix Effect during Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Dating

Matrix effect primarily impacts the accuracy and precision of zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data.This paper describes three types of matrix effect in zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating,i.e.,the element matrix effect,high Ddpa or uranium matrix effect and alpha dose matrix effect,and illustrates the correction of these three effects.In addition,we point out the limitation and possible problems of the existing correction methods.

Chronology and Genesis of S-type Granites in Hetai District, Guangdong Province: Constraints from LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Dating and Tourmaline Boron Isotope In-situ Analyses

1 Introduction Hetai district,which is a mountainous area,situated on Guangning and Zhaoqing city,west Guangdong Province.Hetai district is generally located on southwest of South China Caledonian fold belt,east margin of Yunkai post-Caledonian uplift.Multiple type granites are widely distributed in Hetai district,including Caledonian,Indosinian and Yanshanian granites.Based on different

Geochemistry and Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Dating for the Ganlongtang-Longba Ophiolite,Changning-Menglian Suture Zone

The detailed geochemical research indicates that the tholeiitic basalts from Ganlongtang-Longba ophiolitic m（?）lange exhibit distinctive geochemical characteristics of high TiO2 and low K2O,and depletion of light rare earth elements.They should be originated from a depleted asthenosphere mantle, belonging to ancient oceanic crust ophiolitic volcanic rock association.Compared with the Longba tholeiitic basalt,the Ganlongtang tholeiitic basalt shows

Garnet and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry Reveal Genesis of the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit,Southern Hunan

Garnet is a primary mineral in skarn deposits and plays a significant role in recording copious mineralization and metallogenic information.This study systematically investigates the geochemistry and geochronology of garnet and zircon in the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit,which represents prominent gold mineralization in southern Hunan,China.Garnet samples with distinct zoning patterns and compositional variations were identified using various analytical techniques,including Backscattered Electron(BSE)imaging,Cathodoluminescence(CL)response,textural characterization,and analysis of rare-earth elements(REE),major contents,and trace element compositions.The garnet was dated U-Pb dating,which yielded a lower intercept age of 161.06±1.93 Ma.This age is older than the underlying granodiorite porphyry,which has a concordia age of 155.13±0.95 Ma determined by zircon U-Pb dating.These results suggest that the gold mineralization may be related to the concealed granite.Two groups of garnet changed from depleted Al garnet to enriched Al garnet,and the rare earth element(REE)patterns of these groups were converted from light REE(LREE)-enriched and heavy REE(HREE)-depleted with positive europium(Eu)anomalies to medium REE(MREE)-enriched from core to rim zoning.The different REE patterns of garnet in various zones may be attributed to changes in the fluid environment and late superposition alteration.The development of distal skarn in the southern Hunan could be a significant indicator for identifying gold mineralization.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Ages and Geochemistry of the Silurian to Permian Sedimentary Rocks in Central Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Solonker suture zone has long been considered to mark the location of the final disappearance of the PaleoAsian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the time of final suturing is still controversial with two main different proposals of late Permian to early Triassic, and late Devonian. This study reports integrated wholerock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of sedimentary rocks from the Silurian Xuniwusu Formation, the Devonian Xilingol Complex and the Permian Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan-Xilinhot-Linxi area in central Inner Mongolia, China. The depositional environment, provenance and tectonic setting of the Silurian-Devonian and the Permian sediments are compared to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Solonker suture zone and its neighboring zones. The protoliths of the silty slates from the Xuniwusu Formation in the Baolidao zone belong to wacke and were derived from felsic igneous rocks with steady-state weathering, poor sorting and compositional immaturity. The protoliths of metasedimentary rocks from the Xilingol Complex were wackes and litharenites and were sourced from predominantly felsic igneous rocks with variable weathering conditions and moderate sorting. The Xuniwusu Formation and Xilingol Complex samples both have two groups of detrital zircon that peak at ca. 0.9-1.0 Ga and ca. 420-440 Ma, with maximum deposition ages of late Silurian and middle Devonian age, respectively. Considering the ca. 484-383 Ma volcanic arc in the Baolidao zone, the Xuxiniwu Formation represents an oceanic trench sediment and is covered by the sedimentary rocks in the Xilingol Complex that represents a continental slope sediment in front of the arc. The middle Permian Zhesi Formation metasandstones were derived from predominantly felsic igneous rocks and are texturally immature with very low degrees of rounding and sorting, indicating short transport and rapid burial. The Zhesi Formation in the Hegenshan zone has a main zircon age peak of 302 Ma and a subordinate peak of 423 Ma and was deposited in a back-arc basin with an early marine transgression during extension and a late marine regression during contraction. The formation also crops out locally in the Baolidao zone with a main zircon age peak of 467 Ma and a minor peak of 359 Ma, and suggests it formed as a marine transgression sedimentary sequence in a restricted extensional basin and followed by a marine regressive event. Two obvious zircon age peaks of 444 Ma and 280 Ma in the Solonker zone and 435 Ma and 274 Ma in Ondor Sum are retrieved from the Zhesi Formation. This suggests as a result of the gradual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean a narrow ocean sedimentary environment with marine regressive sedimentary sequences occupied the Solonker and Ondor Sum zones during the middle Permian. A restricted ocean is suggested by the Permian strata in the Bainaimiao zone. Early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 381 Ma and renewed subduction during ca. 310-254 Ma accompanied by the opening and closure of a back-arc basin during ca. 298-269 Ma occurred in the northern accretionary zone. In contrast, the southern accretionary zone documented early Paleozoic subduction until ca. 400 Ma and a renewed subduction during ca. 298-246 Ma. The final closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean therefore lasted at least until the early Triassic and ended with the formation of the Solonker suture zone.

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating from granitoids in southern basement of Songliao basin:Constraints on ages of the basin basement

Seven LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb datings from granitoids in the southern basement of the Songliao basin were done in order to constrain the ages of the basin basement. The cathodoluminescence (CL) images of the zircons from seven granitoids indicate that they are euhedral-subhedral ones with striped ab-sorption and obvious oscillatory zoning rims. The dating results show that a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age is 236±3 Ma for quartz diorite (sample No.T6-1) located in the western slope of the basin,that weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages are 319±1 Ma (2126 m) and 361±2 Ma (1994 m) for diorite (sample No.YC1-1) and granite (sample No.YC1-2) located in northern part of southeastern uplift of the basin,respectively,and that weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages are 161±5 Ma,165±2 Ma,165±1 Ma and 161±4 Ma for samples Q2-1,SN121,SN122,and SN72 granitoids located in southern part of southeastern uplift of the basin,respectively. The statistical results of ages suggest that the middle Jurassic granitoids con-stitute the main part of basement granitoids,and that the Hercynian and Indo-Sino magmatisms also occur in the basin basement. It is implied that the Songliao basin should be a rift one formed in the intracontinent or active continental margin settings in the late Mesozoic after the Middle Jurassic orogeny took place.

Geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the Dongjiahe ophiolite complex from the western Bikou terrane

The Dongjiahe ophiolite complex occurring in the western Bikou terrane that is composed chiefly of serpentinite, listwanitizational peridotite, gabbro, cumulus gabbro, and sub-alkaline meta-basalt, possesses a rock association of typical ophiolite sequence. The metaperidotite is depleted in light rare earth element (LREE), whereas the gabbro and meta-basalt from the studied ophiolite sequence, generated by the same parental magmas those have close affinity to the MORB (Mid-ocean ridge basalt), their REE and immobile elements patterns imply an ocean in the northern margin of the Yangtze plate during the Neoproterozoic period. The zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating for the gabbro yields a weighted mean age of 839.2±8.2Ma, suggesting that the basin occurred during the Neoproterozoic period.

德兴矿集区花岗闪长斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素特征及其意义

德兴矿集区位于赣东北地区,是中国东部中生代钦杭成矿带中的大型铜金铅锌矿集区之一,集中了铜厂、富家坞和朱砂红斑岩铜钼(金)矿、银山银铜铅锌多金属矿和金山金矿等大型、超大型矿床。本文在系统的野外地质调查与样品采集的基础上,对铜厂、富家坞、朱砂红及银山花岗闪长斑岩进行了LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和原位Hf同位素分析。德兴矿集区花岗闪长斑岩的LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb的4组年龄分别为:(171±1.2)Ma(铜厂)、(172±0.68)Ma(富家坞)、(173±1.3)Ma(朱砂红)、(176±1.5)Ma(银山),表明这些岩体均为中侏罗世的产物。样品Hf两阶段模式年龄平均值分别为861 Ma、876 Ma、904 Ma和941 Ma,正的εHf(t)平均值在4.34-5.54,Zr/Hf比值接近于上地幔的Zr/Hf比值。锆石Hf同位素组成显示,岩浆源区主要来源于亏损地幔组分,但在岩浆演化中遭受了古老地壳物质的混染,幔源物质在德兴矿集区花岗闪长斑岩的形成过程中发挥了重要作用。德兴矿集区4个矿床成岩成矿的最重要时期在170-175 Ma,该矿集区岩浆热液系统持续活动可能是该大型矿集区形成的重要原因。

Possible early Neoproterozoic magmatism associated with slab window in the Pingshui segment of the Jiangshan-Shaoxing suture zone: Evidence from zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry

We report here geochemical data, U-Pb zircon ages, and Hf isotopes for the high-Mg diorites (HMDs), Nb-enriched basaltic porphyrys (NEBPs) and plagiogranites (PLAGs) in the Pingshui segment of the Jiangshan-Shaoxing suture zone. The HMDs are characterized by high Mg# (>60), high Na and LREE contents, depletion of HREE and HFSE, and pronounced positive εNd(t) values of 7.0 to 7.7, similar to some adakitic high-Mg andesites. The NEBPs are relatively Na-rich (Na2O/K2O>6) and display high abundances of P2O5 (～1.00%), TiO2 (～3.08%) and HFSE (e.g., Nb=9.53–10.27 ppm). Their Nd isotopic compositions (εNd(t)=6.8–8.0) are comparable to those of the HMDs. The PLAGs are metaluminous (A/CNK=0.84–0.89) and sodic (Na2O/K2O>10). Their depletion in HFSE (e.g., Nb, Ta) is consistent with “SSZ-type” plagiogranite. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating yields an age of 932±7 Ma for the HMD, 916±6 Ma for the NEBP, and 902±5 Ma for the PLAG, respectively, indicating that they were products of early Neoproterozoic magmatism. The PLAGs exhibit relatively high zircon Hf isotopes and positive εHf(t) values of 11.0 to 16.2, consistent with their Nd isotopic data (εNd(t)=7.5–8.4). Such features are similar to those of oceanic plagiogranites in ophiolites and distinct from those of crust-derived granites. The PLAGs were most likely derived from partial melting of subducted oceanic crust in an active continental margin. Considering these results in the context of the regional geology, we suggest that a slab window in the subducting oceanic crust between the Yangtze Block and Cathaysia Block was possibly the principal cause for the unique arc magmatism in the area. The upwelling asthenosphere below the slab window may have provided significant thermodynamic conditions.

In situ LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of ultrahigh-pressure eclogites in the Yukahe area,northern Qaidam Basin

Zircon grains were selected from two types of ultrahigh-pressure(UHP)eclogites,coarse-grained phengite eclogite and fine-grained massive eclogite,in the Yukahe area,the western part of the North Qaidam UHP metamorphic belt.Most zircon grains show typical metamorphic origin with residual cores in some irregular grains and sector,planar or misty internal textures on the cathodoluminescence(CL)images.The contents of REE and HREE of the core parts of grains range from 173 to 1680μg/g and 170 to 1634μg/g,respectively,in phengite eclogite,and from 37 to 2640(g/g and 25.7 to 1824μg/g,respectively,in massive eclogite.The core parts exhibit HREE-enriched patterns,representing the residual zircons of protolith of the Yukahe eclogite.The contents of REE and HREE of the rim parts and the grains free of residual cores are much lower than those for the core parts.They vary from 13.1 to 89.5(g/g and 12.5 to 85.7μg/g,respectively,in phengite eclogite,and from 9.92 to 45.8μg/g and 9.18 to 43.8(g/g,respectively,in massive eclogite.Negative Eu anomalies and Th/U ratios decrease from core to rim.Positive Eu anomalies are shown in some grains.These indicate that the presence of garnet and the absence of plagioclase in the peak metamorphic mineral assemblage,and the zircons formed under eclogite facies conditions.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age data indicate that phengite eclogite and massive eclogite have similar metamorphic age of 436±3Ma and 431±4Ma in the early Paleozoic and magmatic protolith age of 783―793 Ma and 748―759 Ma in the Neo-proterozoic.The weighted mean age of the metamorphic ages(434±2 Ma)may represent the UHP metamorphic age of the Yukahe eclogites.The metamorphic age is well consistent with their direct country rocks of gneisses(431(3 Ma and 432±19 Ma)and coesite-bearing pelitic schist in the Yematan UHP eclogite section(423―440 Ma).These age data together with field observation and lithology,allow us to conclude that the Yukahe eclogites were Neo-proterozoic igneous rocks and may have experienced subduction and UHP metamorphism with continental crust at deep mantle during the early Paleozoic,therefore the metamorphic age of 434±2 Ma of the Yukahe eclogites probably represents the continental deep subduction time in this area.

Chronology and Geochemistry of Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in the Linjiang Area,Jilin Province and their Tectonic Implications

Zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical analytical results are presented for the volcanic rocks of the Naozhigou, Ergulazi, and Sidaogou Formations in the Linjiang area, southeastern Jilin Province to constrain the nature of magma source and their tectonic settings. The Naozhigou Formation is composed mainly of andesite and rhyolite and its weighted mean ^206pb/^238U age for 13 zircon grains is 222±1 Ma. The Ergulazi Formation consists of basaltic andesite, basaltic trachyandesite, and andesite, and six grains give a weighted mean ^206pb/^238U age of 131±4 Ma. The Sidaogou Formation consists mainly of trachyandesite and rhyolite, and six zircon grains yield a weighted mean ^206pb/^238U age of 113±4 Ma. The volcanic rocks have SIO2=60.24%-77.46%, MGO=0.36%-1.29% （Mg#=0.32-0.40） for the Naozhigou Formation, SIO2=51.60%-59.32%, MGO=3.70%-5.54% （Mg#=0.50-0.60） for the Ergulazi Formation, and SIO2=58.28%-76.32%, MGO=0.07%-1.20% （Mg#=0.14-0.46） for the Sidaogou Formation. The trace element analytical results indicate that these volcanic rocks are characterized by enrichment in light rare earth elements （LREEs） and large ion lithophile elements （LILEs）, relative depletion in heavy rare earth elements （HREEs） and high field strength elements （HFSEs, Nb, Ta, and Ti）, and negative Eu anomalies. Compared with the primitive mantle, the Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Linjiang area have relatively high initial ^87Sr/^86Sr ratios （0.7053-0.7083） and low εNd（t） values （-8.38 to -2.43）, and display an EMⅡ trend. The late Triassic magma for the Naozhigou Formation could be derived from partial melting of a newly accretional crust with the minor involvement of the North China Craton basement and formed under an extensional environment after the collision of the Yangtze Craton and the North China Craton. The Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks for the Ergulazi and Sidaogou Formations could be formed under the tectonic setting of an active continental margin related to the westward subduction of the Izanagi plate.

Determination of the Neoproterozoic Shicaogou Syn-collisional Granite in the Eastern Qinling Mountains and Its Geological Implications

The Shicaogou granite has been identified as a magnesian (Fe-number=0.71-0.76), calcic to calc-alkalic (MALI=3.84-5.76) and peraluminous (ASI=1.06-1.13) granite of the syn-collisional S-type, with high SiO2(>71%), A12O3 (>13%) and Na2O+K2O (6.28%-7.33%, equal for NaO2 and K2O). Trace element and REE analyses show that the granite is rich in LILE such as of Rb, Sr, Ba and Th, and poor in HFSE like Yb, Y, Zr and Hf. Its Rb/Sr ratio is greater than 1; the contents of Nb and Ta, and the ratio of Nb/Ta as well as the REE geochemical features (e.g. REE abundance, visible fractionation of LREE and HREE and medium to pronounced negative Eu anomalies) are all similar to those of crust-origin, continent-continent syn-collisional granite. Moreover, the granite exhibits almost the same pattern as that of the typical continent-continent syn-collisional granite on the spider diagram and all samples fall within the syn-collisional granite field.The cathodoluminescence (CL) investigations have revealed that the zircon from the Shicaogou granite represents a typical magmatic product characterized by its colorless, transparent and euhedral crystals, and distinct zoning of oscillatory bands. Residual cores of irregular zircon can be found in a few enhedral grains. Trace element studies of the zircon grains, with high contents of P, Y, Hf, Th, U and REE and high ratios of Th/U, obviously positive Ce anomalies and HREE enrichment compared to LREE, also result in the same conclusion.The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic data from 24 spots of 21 zircon grains demonstrate that 20 spots in the oscillatory zone yield an average weighted 206Pb/238U age of 925±11 Ma, indicating that the Shicaogou granite was formed in the Neoproterozoic. Combined with other Neoproterozoic syn-collisional granites found in the study area, the present geochronological determination can further reveal that collision-amalgamation events could have occurred among some continental blocks in the Qinling orogenic belt during the Neoproterozoic. This in turn provides an accurate chronological constraint on the Neoproterozoic break-up and convergence in the belt.

Chronology and Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks in the Cretaceous Suifenhe Formation in Eastern Heilongjiang,China

Zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical data of volcanic rocks in the Suifenhe Formation in eastern Heilongjiang Province are reported, and their petrogenesis is discussed in this paper. The Suifenhe Formation mainly consists of basalt, andesite, and dacite. Zircon from andesite and dacite are euhedral in shape and show typical oscillatory zoning with high Th/U ratios （0.18-0.57）, implying its magmatic origin. Zircon U-Pb dating results by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer （LA-ICP-MS） indicate that the ^206Pb/^238U ages of zircons from andesite range within 105- 106 Ma, yielding a weighted mean age of 105.5±0.8 Ma （n=14）, and that ^206pb/^238U ages of zircons from dacite are between 90-96 Ma, yielding a weighted mean age of 93.2±1.3 Ma （n =13）. The volcanic rocks from the Snifenhe Formation are subalkaline series and show a calc-alkaline evolutionary trend with SiO2 content of 47.69%-65.47%, MgO contents of 1.42%-6.80% （Mg^#= 45-53）, and Na2O/K2O ratios of 1.83-3.63. They are characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements （LILE） and lightrare-earth elements （LREE）, depletion in heavy rare earth elements （HREE） and high field strength elements （HFSE） （e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti）, and low initial ^87Sr/^86Sr ratios （0.7041-0.7057） and positive εNd（t） ValUes （0.39-4.08）, implying that they could be derived from a depleted magma source. Taken together, these results suggest that the primary magma of the volcanic rocks might originate from partial melting of the mantle wedge metasomatized by fluids derived from subducted slab under a tectonic setting of active continental margin.

Discovery of the Plagiogranites in the Diyanmiao Ophiolite,Southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt,Inner Mongolia,China and Its Tectonic Significance

In this study, plagiogranites in the Diyanmiao ophiolite of the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt （Altaids） were investigated for the first time. The plagiogranites are composed predominantly of albite and quartz, and occur as irregular intrusive veins in pillow basalts. The plagiogranites have high SiO2 （74.37-76.68wt%） and low A1203 （11.99-13.30wt%）, and intensively high Na20 （4.52-5.49wt%） and low K20 （0.03-0.40wt%） resulting in high Na20/K20 ratios （11.3-183）. These rocks are classified as part of the low-K tholeiitic series. The plagiogranites have low total rare earth element contents （∑REE）（23.62-39.77ppm）, small negative Eu anomalies （JEu=0.44-0.62）, and flat to slightly LREE-depleted chondrite-normalized REE patterns （（La/Yb）N=0.68-0.76）, similar to N-MORB. The plagiogranites are also characterized by Th, U, Zr, and Hf enrichment, and Nb, P, and Ti depletion, have overall flat primitivemantle-normalized trace element patterns. Field and petrological observations and geochemical data suggest that the plagiogranites in the Diyanmiao ophiolite are similar to fractionation-type plagiogranites. Furthermore, the REE patterns of the plagiogranites are similar to those of the gabbros and pillow basalts in the ophiolite. In plots of SREE-SiO2, La-SiO2, and Yb-SiO2, the plagiogranites, pillow basalts, and gabbros show trends typical of crystal fractionation. As such, the plagiogranites are oceanic in origin, formed by crystal fractionation from basaltic magmas derived from depleted mantle, and are part of the Diyanmiao ophiolite. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from the plagiogranites yielded ages of 328.6±2.1 and 327.1±2.1Ma, indicating an early Carboniferous age for the Diyanmiao ophiolite. These results provide petrological and geochronological evidence for the identification of the Erenhot-Hegenshan oceanic basin and Hegenshan suture of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.

Provenance of Central Canyon in Qiongdongnan Basin as evidenced by detrital zircon U-Pb study of Upper Miocene sandstones

Deep-water canyon systems can provide important sandstone reservoirs for deep-water oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea;however,the sedimentary provenance of the Central Canyon in the Qiongdongnan Basin remains controversial.In this work,detrital zircon grains from three drilling sandstones in the Upper Miocene Huangliu Formation in the western part of the Central Canyon were analysed by LA-ICP-MS for U-Pb ages,in order to constrain their provenance.One hundred and ninety-one zircon grains yield concordant U-Pb ages ranging from 28.6 to 3285 Ma.Most of them show oscillatory or linear zoning in CL-images and high Th/U ratios(>0.1),suggesting that they are magmatic zircons.Three major age clusters at about30 Ma(N=6),220–270 Ma(N=29),and 420–440 Ma(N=13),and five minor age clusters at 70–110 Ma(N=7),150–170 Ma(N=4),800–850 Ma(N=11),1800–2000 Ma(N=16),and 2400–2600 Ma(N=7),can be identified in the age spectrum,which are very similar to those of the Upper Miocene sandstones and modern river sands in the Red River area,but different from those of other nearby regions(e.g.,Hainan Island,the Pearl River area,and the Mekong River area)in Southeast Asia.The major age peak at about 30 Ma in our samples is consistent with the timing of tectonothermal events in the Red River Fault Zone.Therefore,we suggest that the provenance of the western part of the Central Canyon,in the Qiongdongnan Basin,was fed dominantly by the Paleo-Red River system during the Late Miocene.