Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Late Cretaceous–Paleocene Granites from the Tengchong Block, Western Yunnan: Implications for Angle-switching of Subducting Slab

The Cenozoic geological hallmark of Western Yunnan is the characteristic voluminous Late Cretaceous-Eocene granites;however, their geological background and petrogenesis have not been well constrained and elucidated. In this study, we present new zircon U-Pb dating, along with geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data for granites from the Tengchong–Lianghe granitoid belt(as abbreviated to Tengliang belt) and West Yingjiang batholiths from the Tengchong block. The mineralogical and geochemical features of the Tengliang granites and the West Yingjiang batholiths are ascribed to aluminous S-type granites and weak peraluminous I-type, respectively. Zircon U-Pb analyses yielded consistent ages ranging from 67.5 Ma, 68.4 Ma and 66.2 Ma from the Tengliang granitoid belt and 50.4 Ma to 60.8 Ma for three samples from the west Yingjiang batholiths. The Tengliang granites were emplaced during the Late Cretaceous(68-66 Ma) and demonstrate negative ε_(Hf)(t) values(-24 to-4) and initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios of 0.7101–0.7139 and significant negative ε_(Nd)(t) values from-8.91 to-13.2, indicating a Proterozoic sedimentary source or enriched components. The hornblende-bearing I-type granites from West Yingjiang are characterized by lower initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios of 0.7076–0.7106, compared to Tengliang granite and negative whole-rock ε_(Nd)(t) values from-4.0 to-11.9. The early Eocene west Yingjiang gneissic granites show wide ranges of ε_(Hf)(t) values from +7.4 to-8.5 and T_(2DM) of 1.30–0.65 Ga, indicating partial melting of ancient crust with contributions of depleted mantle materials. In combination with the regional background and previous studies, we propose that such a spatio-temporal distribution of the Tengchong granitoid belt might be related to the rollback or angleswitching of the Neo-Tethyan subducting slab. This study sheds new light on the evolutionary history of the Tengchong block.

SHRIMP U-Pb Dating of Zircons of a Dark Eclogite and a Garnet-bearing Gneissic Granitic Rock from Bixiling,Eastern Dabie Area,Anhui Province:Isotope Chronological Evidence of Neoproterozoic UHP Metamorphism

The paper reports SHRIMP U-Pb zircon data of a dark eclogite and a post-eclogite garnet-bearing gneissic granitic rock from the Bixiling area, Yuexi County, Anhui Province, in the eastern Dabie Mountains. The eclogite, which is metamorphosed basic tuff, contains very scarce zircons in omphacite or garnet, but more zircons in quartz. They usually exhibit a double-layered texture, as shown clearly in cathodoluminescence images. Their inner main parts give a 206Pb/238U age of 757±7 Ma, representing the approximate age of the high-pressure (HP)- ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic event during which the eclogite was formed. The outer peripheral parts of the zircons, which have been modified by late-stage fluids, give an age of 223±3 Ma. The granitic rock contains more zircons of anatectic origin found mostly in feldspar and quartz and usually also showing a similar composite texture. The inner main parts of the anatectic zircons with oscillatory zoning give a 206Pb/238U age of 727±15 Ma for the approximate age of the emplacement of the granitic rock, and their outer parts, an age of 219±3 Ma for a similar or even the same fluid event. It is thus suggested that the HP-UHP metamorphism of the Bixiling eclogite facies rocks took place during the Neoproterozoic Jinningian, and the Indosinian age values may only represent a late event in the nature of fluid activity.