Magmatic-tectonic response of the South China Craton to the Paleo-Pacific subduction during the Triassic:a new viewpoint based on Well NK-1

The Nansha Block(NB)is one of the blocks separated from the southern margin of the South China Craton(SCC)by the western Pacific subduction,which contains rich information of geodynamic and tectonic transformation.To reveal the essence of western Paleo-Pacific subduction during the Triassic period,Well NK-1 in this block was selected for petrographic study,and published research data from other cooperative teams were compared.A double-cycle pattern of basic to neutral magmatic volcanism was established,and 36 lithological rhythmic layers and representative cryptoexplosive breccia facies and welded tuff bands were identified.Combined with a reanalysis of published geochronological data,geochemical elements,and isotope geochemistry,we found that the rock assemblages could be divided into an intermediate-acid dacite(DA)series(SiO_(2)>65%)and basaltic(BA)series(Co<40μg/g),which was formed during the early Late Triassic((218.6±3.2)–(217.9±3.5)Ma).BA exhibits obvious calc-alkaline island-arc magmatic properties:(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_i ratio ranging 0.70377–0.71118(average:0.70645),^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd ratio ranging 0.119–0.193(average:0.168),and chondrite-normalized rare earth element(REE)curves being flat,while DA exhibits remarkable characteristics of subducted island-arc andesitic magma:(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_i ratio(0.70939–0.71129;average:0.71035),εNd(t)value(-6.2–-4.8;average:-5.6)andε_(Hf)(t)value(-2.9–-1.7,average:-2.2)show obvious crust-mantle mixing characteristics.BA and DA reveal typical characteristics of island-arc magma systems and typeⅡenriched mantle(EM-Ⅱ)magma.BA magma was likely resulted from the process whereby the continental crust frontal accretionary wedge was driven by the Paleo-Pacific slab subduction into the deep and began to melt,resulting in a large amount of melt(fluid)joined the asthenosphere on the side of the continental margin.In contrast,DA magma was likely resulted from the process whereby the plate front was forced to bend with increasing subduction distance,which triggered the upwelling of the asthenosphere near the continent and subsequently led to the partial melting of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust due to continuous underplating.The lithospheric thinning environment in the study area at the end of Triassic created suitable conditions for the separation between the NB and SCC,which provided an opportunity for the formation of the early intracontinental rift during the later expansion of the South China Sea(SCS).

Inversion of two-phase extensional basin systems during subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate in the SW Korean Peninsula:Implication for the Mesozoic “Laramide-style” orogeny along East Asian continental margin

During subduction, continental margins experience shortening along with inversion of extensional sedimentary basins. Here we explore a tectonic scenario for the inversion of two-phase extensional basin systems, where the Early-Middle Jurassic intra-arc volcano-sedimentary Oseosan Volcanic Complex was developed on top of the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic post-collisional sequences, namely the Chungnam Basin. The basin shortening was accommodated mostly by contractional faults and related folds. In the basement, regional high-angle reverse faults as well as low-angle thrusts accommodate the overall shortening, and are compatible with those preserved in the cover. This suggests that their spatial and temporal development is strongly dependent on the initial basin geometry and inherited structures.Changes in transport direction observed along the basement-sedimentary cover interface is a characteristic structural feature, reflecting sequential kinematic evolution during basin inversion. Propagation of basement faults also enhanced shortening of the overlying sedimentary cover sequences. We constrain timing of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous(ca. 158-110 Ma) inversion from altered K-feldspar 40 Ar/39 Ar ages in stacked thrust sheets and K-Ar illite ages of fault gouges, along with previously reported geochronological data from the area. This "non-magmatic phase" of the Daebo Orogeny is contemporaneous with the timing of magmatic quiescence across the Korean Peninsula. We propose the role of flat/low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate for the development of the "Laramide-style" basement-involved orogenic event along East Asian continental margin.

Material records for Mesozoic destruction of the North China Craton by subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab

It is well known that the destruction of the North China Carton(NCC)is closely related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab,but materials recording such subduction has not been identified at the peak time of decratonization.This paper presents data of whole-rock major and trace elements and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes and zircon U-Pb ages and Hf-O isotopes for Mesozoic volcanic rocks from the Liaodong-Jinan region in the northeastern NCC,in order to trace the subduction-related materials in their source and origin.The Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Liaodong-Jinan region are mainly composed of two series of rocks,including alkaline basaltic trachyandesite,trachyandesite and trachyte,and subalkaline trachyandesite and andesite.Zircon U-Pb dating yields eruption ages of 129–124 Ma for these rocks.The Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks are all enriched in LILEs(such as Rb,Sr,Ba and Th)and LREEs,depleted in HFSEs(such as Nb,Ta and Ti),indicating that they were originated from mantle sources that had been modified by subducted crustal materials.However,they have relatively heterogeneous and variable isotopic compositions.The alkaline basaltic trachyandesite,trachyandesite and trachyte have enriched whole-rock Sr-Nd-Hf and zircon Hf isotopic compositions and mantle-likeδ18O values,suggesting that they were derived from low-degree partial melting of an isotopically enriched lithospheric mantle source.In contrast,the subalkaline trachyandesite and andesite have relatively depleted isotopic compositions with zirconεHf(t)values up to+5.2 and heavy zircon O isotopic compositions with δ18O values of+8.1‰to+9.0‰,indicating that they were originated from a lithospheric mantle source that had been metasomatized by melts/fluids derived from the recycled low-T altered oceanic basalt.All of these geochemical features suggest that the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the Liaodong-Jinan region would result from mixing of mafic magmas with different compositions.Such magmas were originated from the enriched lithospheric mantle and the young metasomatized mantle,respectively,with variable extents of enrichment and depletion in trace elements,radiogenic isotopes and O isotopes.Importantly,the identification of the low-T altered oceanic crust component in the origin of Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks by the zircon Hf-O isotopes provides affirmative isotopic evidence and direct material records for Mesozoic subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab that induced decratonization of the North China Craton.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology,Hf isotopes,and geochemistry constraints on the age and tectonic affinity of the basement granitoids from the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Studies in the northern South China Sea(SCS)basement remain important for understanding the evolution of the Southeast Asian continental margin.Due to a thick cover of sediments and scarce borehole penetration,little is known about the age and tectonic affinity of this basement.In this study,an integrated study of zircon U-Pb geochronology,Hf isotopes,and whole-rock major and trace elements on seven basement granitoids from seven boreholes of Qiongdongnan Basin has been carried out.New zircon U-Pb results for these granitoids present middle-late Permian((270.0±1.2)Ma;(253±3.4)Ma),middle to late Triassic((246.2±3.4)Ma;(239.3±0.96)Ma;(237.9±0.99)Ma;(228.9±1.0)Ma)and Late Cretaceous ages((120.6±0.6)Ma).New data from this study,in combination with the previous dataset,indicates that granitoid ages in northern SCS basement vary from 270 Ma to 70.5 Ma,with three age groups of 270–196 Ma,162–142 Ma,and 137–71 Ma,respectively.Except for the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks in the basement of the northern SCS,a few old zircon grains with the age of(2708.1±17)Ma to(2166.6±19)Ma provide clues to the existence of the pre-Proterozoic components.The geochemical signatures indicate that the middle Permian-early Cretaceous granitoids from the Qiongdongnan Basin are I-type granites formed in a volcanic arc environment,which were probably related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

Reinterpretation of the northern South China Sea pre-Cenozoic basement and geodynamic implications of the South China continent: constraints from combined geological and geophysical records

The pre-Cenozoic northern South China Sea(SCS)Basin basement was supposed to exist as a complex of heterogeneous segments,divided by dozens of N-S faulting.Unfortunately,only the Hainan Island and the northeastern SCS region were modestly dated while the extensive basement remains roughly postulated by limited geophysical data.This study presents a systematic analysis including U-Pb geochronology,elemental geochemistry and petrographic identification on granite and meta-clastic borehole samples from several key areas.Constrained from gravity-magnetic joint inversion,this interpretation will be of great significance revealing the tectono-magmatic evolution along the southeastern margin of the Eurasian Plate.Beneath the thick Cenozoic sediments,the northern SCS is composed of a uniform Mesozoic basement while the Precambrian rocks are only constricted along the Red River Fault Zone.Further eastern part of the northern SCS below the Cenozoic succession was widely intruded by granites with Jurassic-to-early Cretaceous ages.Further western part,on the other hand,is represented by meta-sedimentary rocks with relatively sporadic granite complexes.To be noted,the western areas derived higher-degree and wider metamorphic zones,which is in contrast with the lowerdegree and narrower metamorphic belt developed in the eastern region.Drastic collisions between the Indochina Block and South China continent took place since at least late Triassic,resulting in large-scale suturing and deformation zones.At the westernmost part of the northern SCS,the intracontinental amalgamation with closure of the Meso-Tethys has caused fairly stronger and broader metamorphism.One metamorphic biotite granite is located on the suturing belt and yields a Precambrian U-Pb age.It likely represents the relict from the ancient Gondwana supercontinent or its fringes.Arc-continental collision between the Paleo-Pacific and the southeast China Block,on the other hand,results in a relatively narrow NE–SW trending metamorphic belt during the late Mesozoic.Within the overall geological setting,the Cenozoic SCS oceanic basin was subsequently generated from a series of rifting and faulting processes along the collisional-accretionary continental margin.

Structure of the Upper Mantle and Transition Zone Beneath the South China Block Imaged by Finite Frequency Tomography

We applied the finite frequency tomography method to S wave data recorded by 350 broadband stations beneath the South China Block（SCB） and its surroundings from earthquakes occurring between July 2007 and July 2010,to better understand upper mantle deformation.Differential travel-times in the pair of stations with appropriate weighting for each station are used in the inversion.Our results are consistent with previous tomography that show a high velocity anomaly beneath the Sichuan basin and a high velocity anomaly in the transition zone beneath the Yangtze Craton.However,the resolution of mantle heterogeneity provides new insight into the tectonic framework of subduction of Burmese lithosphere in the west part of the study region and subduction of oceanic lithosphere in the east.In the subduction realm,west of 107°E,a significant fast S-wave anomaly is located on the southeast of Sichuan Basin.East of 107°E,and two narrow and discontinuous fast S-wave anomalies occur at a depth of 400-600 km beneath the middle of the South China block overlain by the pronounced low S-wave anomalies at a depth of 100 and 400 km.If the fast anomalies located in the mantle transition zone represent stagnant slabs,their fragmented nature may suggest that they could be produced by different episodes of subduction beneath western Pacific island and the above slow velocity anomaly may associated with the back-arc regions of ongoing subduction.In addition,tomography also reveals an anomalously high S-wave velocity continental root extends eastward to a depth 400 km beneath the eastern Sichuan Basin.This anomaly may be related to eastern extrusion of Indian lithosphere associated with the collision of India and Eurasia.Moreover,our results also show large slow anomalies beneath the Red River fault region connected to deeper anomalies beneath the South China Fold Belt and South China Sea.AH these observations are consistent with the scenario that the South China block has been built by both of subduction of Paleopacific plate and eastward subduction of Burma microplate.

Mineralization,Geochemistry and Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Paodaoling Porphyry Gold Deposit in the Guichi Region,Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt,Eastern China

The newly discovered Paodaoling porphyry Au deposit from the Guichi region, Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt （LYRB）, contains 〉35 tons of Au at an average grade of -1.7 g/t. It is a porphyry ＇Au-only＇ deposit, as revealed by current exploration in the depths, mostly above -400 m, which is quite uncommon among coeval porphyry mineralization along the LYRB. Additionally, there are also Cu-Au bearing porphyries and barren alkaline granitoids in the Paodaoling district. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of the Cu-Au-bearing porphyries yield an age of 141-140 Ma, falling within the main magmatic stage of the LYRB, whereas the barren granites give an age of 125-120 Ma, coeval with the regional A- type granites. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries are LILE-, LREE-enriched and HFSE-depleted, typical of arc magmatic affinities. The barren granites are HFSE-enriched, with lower LREE/HREE ratios and pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries in the Paodaoling district have high oxygen fugacities and high water content. Pyrite sulfur isotopes of the Paodaoling gold deposit indicate a magmatic-sedimentary mixed source for the ore-forming fluids. Based on the alteration and poly-metal zonation of the deepest exploration drill hole from the Paodaoling Au deposit, we propose that Cu ore bodies could lie at depth beneath the current Au ore bodies. The magmatism and associated Cu-Au mineralization of the Paodaoling district are likely to have formed in a subduction setting, during slab rollback of the paleo-Pacific plate.

Recycling of crustal materials and implications for lithospheric thinning: Evidence from Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin, NE China

Late Mesozoic Nb-rich basaltic andesites and high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks from the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin,northeast China,provide important insights into the recycling processes of crustal materials and their role in late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning.The Late Jurassic Nb-rich basaltic andesites(154±4 Ma)are enriched in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements,slightly depleted in high-field-strength elements,and have high TiO_(2),P_(2)O_(5),and Nb contents,and(Nb/Th)PM and Nb/U ratios,which together with the relatively depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions indicate a derivation from a mantle wedge metasomatized by hydrous melts from subducted oceanic crust.The Early Cretaceous high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks(129-117 Ma)are characterized by low Y and heavy rare earth element contents,and high Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios,similar to those of rocks derived from partial melting of an eclogitic source.They also have high Rb/Sr,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O,and Mg#values,and high MgO,Cr,and Ni contents.These geochemical features suggest that the adakitic lavas were derived from partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust,followed by interaction of the resulting melts with mantle material during their ascent.Our data,along with available geological,paleomagnetic,and geophysical evidence,lead us to propose that recycling of Paleo-Pacific oceanic crustal materials into the upper mantle due to flat-slab subduction and rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the late Mesozoic likely provided the precondition for lithospheric thinning in northeast China,with consequent lithospheric delamination causing recycling of continental crustal materials and further lithospheric thinning.

Source and possible tectonic driver for Jurassic-Cretaceous gold deposits in the West Qinling Orogen, China

The West Qinling Orogen(WQO) in Central China Orogenic Belt contains numerous metasedimentary rock-hosted gold deposits(>2000 t Au), which mainly formed during two pulses: one previously recognized in the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic(T3 - J1) and one only recently identified in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous(J3 - K1). Few studies have focused on the origin and geotectonic setting of the J3 - K1 gold deposits.Textural relationships, LA-ICP-MS trace element and sulfur isotope compositions of pyrites in hydrothermally altered T3 dykes within the J3 - K1 Daqiao deposit were used to constrain relative timing relationships between mineralization and pyrite growth in the dykes, and to characterize the source of ore fluid. These results are integrated with an overview of the regional geodynamic setting, to advance understanding of the tectonic driver for J3 - K1 hydrothermal gold systems. Pyrite in breccia-and dykehosted gold ores at Daqiao have similar chemical and isotopic compositions and are considered to be representative of J3 - K1 gold deposits in WQO. Co/Ni and sulfur isotope ratios suggest that ore fluids were derived from underlying Paleozoic Ni-and Se-rich carbonaceous sedimentary rocks. The geochemical data do not support the involvement of magmatic fluids. However, in the EQO(East Qinling Orogen), J3 - K1 deposits are genetically related to magmatism. Gold mineralization in WQO is contemporaneous with magmatic deposits in the EQO and both are mainly controlled by NE-and EWtrending structures produced by changes in plate motion of the Paleo-Pacific plate as it was subducted beneath the Eurasian continent. We therefore infer that the J3 - K1 structural regime facilitated the ascent of magma in the EQO and metamorphic fluids in the WQO with consequent differences in the character of contemporaneous ore deposits. If this is correct, then the far-field effects of subduction along the eastern margin of NE Asia extended 1000's of km into the continental interior.

Comparative geochemical study of the cherty rocks of the Taukha terrane(Sikhote-Alin)and its paleogeodynamic significance

The article presents the results of a comparative geochemical study of cherts and siliceous-clayey rocks composing the tectono-sedimentary complexes of various structural levels of the Taukha terrain of the Sikhote-Alin Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous accretionary prism.The data obtained show that the same-aged parts of the crosssections of the cherty-terrigenous sequences of the terrane lower and middle structural levels are characterized by significantly different contents and distribution patterns of major petrogenic oxides,trace,and rare-earth elements due to their accumulation in various facies of oceanic zones.The set of geochemical data indicates that the formation of both tectono-sedimentary complexes was carried out differently,gradually replacing each others’facies oceanic zones,and started in the near-spreading ridge area,then in the pelagial,and completed in the continental-margin deposition environment.Based on the time interval of the facies conditions changing for each complex(i.e.,time of transition from one facies zone to another),the speeds of a paleo-oceanic plate motion(and,correspondingly,the speeds of spreading)for individual intervals of the Jurassic were calculated.Differences in the spreading speeds at various sites of a paleorift zone caused the turning of a paleocontinent margin contour and spreading ridge axis at the perpendicular position,which in turn caused change of the geodynamic mode on the eastern margin of the PaleoAsian continent at the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology,geochemistry and petrogenesis of syenogranite from Angeer Yinwula area in Inner Mongolia

The study presents the results of U-Pb dating of zircons and whole-rock geochemical analyses of syenogranite in Angeer Yinwula area, China, with the aim of determining its formation time, petrogenesis and regional setting. Zircon U-Pb data obtained by LA-ICP-MS indicate that the syenogranite formed in the Early Cretaceous(136.1±0.9 Ma). Geochemically, the rock is characterized by high SiO_2(76.63%--77.58%) and Na_2O+K_2O(8.00%--8.32%), low MgO(0.02%--0.04%) and TFe_2O_3(0.51%--0.84%), and is enriched in LREEs and LILEs, depleted in HREEs and HFSEs. It belongs to high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous-weakly peraluminous, exhibiting an affinity to I-type granite. All these characteristics implied that the syenogranite in this region derived from crust-mantle mixed source. Overall, the regional geology, geochronology and geochemical features suggest that the formation of the syenogranite was related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean.

Geochronology and geochemistry of the W-Mo-ore-related granitic rocks from eastern Ningzhen,lower Yangtze river belt,eastern China

Here we present zircon U–Pb–Hf and wholerock major and trace element studies of eastern Ningzhen W-Mo-ore-related magmatic rocks,Yushan and Longwangshan granitic rocks,to constrain their form timing,magma sources,and tectonic settings.The results showed that the two plutons were formed in the Early Cretaceous with;Pb/;U ages of 107.8±1.2 and 105.2±1.5 Ma(;Pb/;U),respectively.The trapped/residual zircons are mainly distributed in 2.0–2.5 Ga.The two intrusions are characterized by high silicon(68.60–73.99%),high aluminum(13.56–15.02%),high Mg#(47–55),high Sr,Sr/Y,LaN/YN,and low Yb,falling into high Mg#adakitic rock region.The zirconεHf(t)values of the two intrusions range from-24.8 to-13.2,indicating an ancient continental crust in their magma sources.The average Ti-inzircon temperature is 689°C,slightly higher than those of other high-Mg adakitic rocks in the lower Yangtze River belt,but lower than those of high-Mg adakitic rocks in the Southern Tanlu Fault(STLF).Zircon Ce;/Ce;show low oxygen fugacity(LWS-1:3–400,average 92;sample ZYS-4:9–382,average 93).These geochemical features indicate a thickened lower continental crust in the Eastern Ningzhen region in a subduction setting.Comparing the geochemical characteristics of the eastern Ningzhen to the western Ningzhen and other areas in the Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(LYRMB)and the high-Mg ore-barren adakitic rocks of the STLF,we propose that the magmatic rocks from eastern Ningzhen may be mainly from a thickened lower continental crust that hybridized with a very small part of mantle sources,while the west Ningzhen magmatic rocks may have experienced a higher degree of mantle contaminations in their source.The metallogenic differences between the eastern(W–Mo)and western(Cu–Fe–Pb–Zn)parts of Ningzhen also indicate different proportions of crustal materials in their magma source.

Geochronology and geochemistry of Baicaogou tuff in Yanji,NE China and its tectonic implications for Early Cretaceous

The authors studied zircon U-Pb age and geochemical data of Baicaogou tuff in Yanji,Jilin Province.The results indicate that the rocks formed in Early Cretaceous( 125. 6 ± 2. 3 Ma). Geochemically,these tuffs have high Si O2 and total Na2 O + K2 O,low Mg O and Fe O,and they belong to metaluminous series,the rock are enriched in LREEs and LILEs,depleted in HREEs and HFSEs such as Nb,Ta,Ti,and P,exhibiting an affinity to I-type granite. All these characteristics implied that the volcanic rocks were derived from partial melting of lower crust. Combined with the geochronology and geochemical features of the coeval igneous rocks within NE China,it is concluded that Yanji area was in a back-arc extensional setting in response to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.

U-Pb-Hf isotopes and petrogenesis of Late Jurassic akakitic quartz monzodiorite in Xingcheng area,western Liaoning Province

The petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of the Late Jurassic Baita porphyry quartz monzodiorite in Xingcheng-Liaoxi area provide information for understanding the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern North China Craton.In this paper,geochronological,whole-rock geochemical,and in-situ zircon Hf isotopic analyses of Baita porphyry quartz monzodiorite were investigated to constrain the crystallization age and petrogenesis.Zircons exhibit typical oscillatory zoning in cathodoluminescence images and show relatively high Th/U ratios(0.78-1.62),and U-Pb analyses indicate that these rocks were crystallized during the Late Jurassic(159±1 Ma).Geochemically,they are characterized by high contents of SiO 2(65.21wt%-65.31wt%),Al 2O 3(16.29wt%-16.31wt%),Sr(521×10^(-6)-539×10^(-6)),and Sr/Y ratio(45.1-47.8)but low Y(10.9×10^(-6)-12.0×10^(-6)),with obvious adakitic geochemical affinities.These above-mentioned findings,combined with their negativeε_(Hf)(t)values(-21.7 to-20.2),corresponding two-stage model age(T_( DM2))of 2579-2484 Ma,as well as low MgO(1.38wt%-1.39wt%),Cr(18.5×10^(-6)-19.5×10^(-6))and Ni(9.45×10^(-6)-9.46×10^(-6))values,indicate that Baita porphyry quartz monzodiorite may be generated by partial melting of the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic thickened basaltic lower crust.Based on the results from this study and pre-vious regional studies,it is concluded that Baita porphyry quartz monzodiorite was spatially related to the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.

Causes of Cretaceous subduction termination below South China and Borneo:Was the Proto-South China Sea underlain by an oceanic plateau?

The South China,Indochina,and Borneo margins surrounding the South China Sea contain long-lived arcs that became inactive at approximately 85 Ma,even though an embayment of oceanic crust(the‘Proto-South China Sea’)remained in the intervening region.This oceanic crust eventually subducted in the Cenozoic below Borneo and the Cagayan arc,while the modern South China Sea opened in its wake.To investigate the enigmatic cessation of Mesozoic subduction below South China and Borneo,we studied a fragment of oceanic crust and overlying trench-fill sediments that accreted to NW Borneo during the final stages of Paleo-Pacific subduction.Based on radiolarian biostratigraphy of cherts overlying the pillow basalts and detrital zircon geochronology of the trench-fill,we constrained the minimum age of the oceanic crust during accretion to 40 Ma.This shows that subduction cessation was not related to ridge subduction.Geochemical analysis of pillow basalts revealed an enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt signature comparable to oceanic plateaus.Using paleomagnetism,we show that this fragment of oceanic crust was not part of the Izanagi Plate but was part of a plate(the‘Pontus’Plate)separated from the Izanagi Plate by a subduction zone.Based on the minimum 40 Ma age of the oceanic crust and its geochemistry,we suggest that Mesozoic subduction below South China and Borneo stopped when an oceanic plateau entered the trench,while the eastern plate margin with the Izanagi Plate remained active.We show how our findings offer opportunities to restore plate configurations of the Panthalassa-Tethys junction region.

Origin and Tectonic Implications of Post-Orogenic Lamprophyres in the Sulu Belt of China

Lamprophyre dykes that crosscut different types of ultrahigh pressure(UHP)metamorphic rocks are widely distributed in the Triassic Sulu UHP orogenic belt.Although abundant studies have been performed on these dykes,their origin and petrogenesis remain topics of controversy.This study presents the results of a detailed field-based study of petrology,whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes on lamprophyre dykes exposed in the central Sulu UHP zone,aiming at shedding lights on their petrogenesis and providing clues on the geological evolution of eastern continental China during the Cretaceous.The lamprophyres are typically porphyritic,with phenocrysts dominantly composed of amphibole and clinopyroxene set in a lamprophyric matrix.The dykes have moderate Si O2(47.70 wt.%–60.44 wt.%),variably high Mg O(2.58 wt.%–8.28 wt.%)and Fe2 O3 T(4.88 wt.%–9.26 wt.%)contents with high Mg#of 49–66.Geochemically,they have enriched light rare earth element(REE)and flat heavy REE patterns((La/Gd)N=5.14–10.56;(Dy/Yb)N=1.43–1.54)with negligible Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.83–1.10),and they show enrichment in large ion lithophile elements(e.g.,Ba and K)but depletion in high-field strength elements(e.g.,Nb,Ti and P).In-situ zircon U-Pb geochronology reveals that the lamprophyres have concordant ages of 120–115 Ma,demonstrating that the dykes emplaced in the Early Cretaceous.These zircons have?Hf(t)values ranging from-26.0 to-11.0.Inherited zircons that occur in the dykes are dated to be Neoproterozoic,in line with the protolith ages of their host(i.e.,the UHP rocks).An integration of these data allows us to propose that the lamprophyres were generated during the Cretaceous,by melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle-derived metasomatite with enriched chemical compositions underneath the North China Craton.The metasomatite was formed mainly by peridotite-fluid/melt reactions,with the fluids/melts mainly liberated from subducted Yangtze continental crust during the Triassic.Regional extension,lithospheric thinning and mantle upwelling caused by rollback of the subducted paleoPacific plate is considered to account for the generation of the lamprophyres as well as the extensive arc-like magmatic rocks in eastern continental China during the Early Cretaceous.

Late Mesozoic Tectono-Thermal History in the South Margin of Great Xing’an Range,NE China:Insights from Zircon and Apatite(U-Th)/He Ages

The Late Mesozoic tectono-thermal evolution and geodynamic setting of the Great Xing’an Range(GXR),particularly in the south margin,are still ambiguous.In this study,we present original low-temperature thermochronological data of six granitoid samples collected from Maanzi pluton in the south margin of the GXR.The apatite and zircon(U-Th)/He ages vary of 70.8 ± 4.3-119.0 ±7.0 Ma and 120.0 ± 7.1-146.7 ± 8.7 Ma,respectively.Further numerical inverse modeling results reveal that the granitoid plutons experienced a rapid cooling and exhumation stage during Early Cretaceous with a rate of ~5.0-6.0 ℃/Ma and ~0.14-0.17 mm/yr,respectively,including the western minor pluton emplaced during Early Permian and the major pluton crystallized in latest Jurassic,corresponding to the extensional tectonics in NE China.The rapid exhumation processes in the south margin of the GXR during the Early Cretaceous could be related to both the rollback of Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate and the collapse of thickened crust in the Mongol-Okhotsk Orogen.

Nature and secular evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton

The Archean mantle lithosphere beneath the North China Craton(NCC)was transformed in the Mesozoic,leading to the craton destruction.Despite the significant breakthroughs in the craton studies,lithospheric transformation mechanisms are yet to be fully understood.Compositional variations of mantle-derived rocks and xenoliths provide insights into the nature of the mantle lithosphere before and after the craton destruction.The Paleozoic lithosphere of the NCC is~200 km thick.It has a refractory mantle with an evolved isotopic signature.The Mesozoic mantle lithosphere was relatively fertile and highly heterogeneous.In the Cenozoic,the lithosphere in the eastern NCC is about 60–80 km thick.It has an oceanic-type mantle that is fertile in composition and depleted in the Sr-Nd isotopic signature.The Central Zone lithosphere is>100 km thick and has a double-layer mantle with an old upper layer and a new lower layer.The Western Block has a lithosphere of~200 km thick.The lithospheric mantle beneath the southern and northern margins and eastern part of the NCC has been transformed significantly by peridotite-melt reactions due to the multiple subductions of adjacent plates since the Paleozoic.Paleo-Pacific subduction and the associated dynamic processes significantly alter the lithosphere based on the distribution of craton destruction.The involved mechanisms include mechanical intrusion of subduction plates,melt/fluid erosion,and local delamination.The lithospheric thinning of~120 km is relevant to the continental extension caused by subduction plate rollback and trench retreat.