Carboniferous ridge subduction in the Xingmeng Orogenic Belt:Constraints from geochronological,geochemical,and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic analysis of strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites in the Xilinhot micro-continent

The Xingmeng Orogenic Belt evolved through a long-lived orogeny involving multiple episodes of subduction and accretion.However,there is a debate on its tectonic evolution during the Late Paleozoic.Here,we report geochemical,geochronological,and isotopic data from strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites from the Sunidzuoqi-Xilinhot region.Zircon U-Pb ages suggest that the intrusive rocks were emplaced during the Early Carboniferous(333-322 Ma).The granites exhibit geochemical characteristics similar to S-type granites,with high SiO_(2)(72.34-76.53 wt.%),Al_(2)O_(3)(12.45-14.65 wt.%),and A/CNK(1.07-1.16),but depleted Sr,Nb,and Ta contents.They exhibit positiveε_(Nd)(t)andε_(Hf)(t)values(-0.3 to 2.8 and 2.7-5.7,respectively)and young Nd and Hf model ages(T_(DM2)(Nd)=853-1110 Ma and T_(DM2)(Hf)=975-1184 Ma),suggesting that they may be the partial melting products of heterogeneous sources with variable proportions of pelite,psammite,and metabasaltic rocks.The meta-gabbro-diorites from the Maihantaolegai pluton have low SiO_(2)(47.06-53.49 wt.%)and K_2O(0.04-0.99 wt.%)contents,and demonstrate slight light rare earth element(REE)depletion in the chondritenormalized REE diagrams.They have high zirconε_(Hf)(t)values(14.41-17.34)and young Hf model ages(T_(DM2)(Hf)=230-418 Ma),indicating a more depleted mantle source.The variations of the Sm/Yb and La/Sm ratios can thus be used to assess the melting degree of the mantle source from 5%to 20%,suggesting a quite shallow mantle melting zone.We propose that the petrogenesis and distribution of the strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites,as well as the tectonic architecture of the region,can be explained by a ridge subduction model.Based on these results,and previous studies,we suggest a southward ridge subduction model for the Sunidzuoqi-Xilinhot region.

Geochemistry and genesis of the Nadun Nb-enriched arc basalt in the Duolong mineral district,western Tibet:Indication of ridge subduction

The Duolong mineral district in western Tibet is one of the largest porphyry Cu–Au deposit fields with significant metallogenic potential in China.Its tectonic environment relevant to Early Cretaceous Cu–Au mineralization remains controversial.Here we report new whole-rock major and trace element,and Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb isotopic data for the newly discovered basalt in the Nadun area,Duolong mineral district,to decipher their genesis and further constrain the tectonic environment.A contemporaneous rhyolite sample interbedded with the basalt in the lower part of the volcanic section in the Nadun area yields an LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age of 122.5±1.2 Ma.The basalt samples exhibit high-K calc-alkaline/shoshonite properties and are enriched in high field strength elements,e.g.,high Ti O_(2)(1.43–1.79 wt.%)and Nb(14.6–19.5 ppm)contents,with high Nb/La ratios(0.4–0.6),which are compositionally comparable to those of Nb-enriched arc basalts(NEABs).The(^(87) Sr/^(86) Sr)iratios of 0.7052 to 0.7056,negative eNd(t)(-0.7 to-0.2)and eHf(t)values(+6.0 to+6.5),and high(^(206) Pb/^(204)Pb)i,(^(207) Pb/^(204)Pb)i,(^(208) Pb/^(204)Pb)iand ratios(18.522 to 18.561,15.641 to 15.645 and 38.679 to 38.730,respectively)suggest that the Nadun NEABs are more enriched than those of the island arc basalts(IABs)in the area.The slightly enriched radiogenic isotopes for the Nadun NEABs indicate that the subducting sediments play an important role in the source.Furthermore,their high Nb,Ti,and Cu contents indicate that the source mantle wedge was metasomatized by slab melts.The Nadun NEAB and other coeval magmatic rocks in the Duolong mineral district,including adakite,OIB-like basalt,MORB-type basalt,A-type rhyolite,and common IAB,are typical rock assemblages of ridge subduction.We infer that the Duolong mineral district were formed by ridge subduction in the Early Cretaceous.

An Intra-Oceanic Subduction System Influenced by Ridge Subduction in the Diyanmiao Subduction Accretionary Complex of the Xar Moron Area,Eastern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

This study focuses on the geology,geochemistry,Sr-Nd isotopes and their tectonic settings of three types of basalts in Diyanmiao ophiolite in the Xar Moron area located on the eastern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.Type I basalts are oceanic tholeiites with a depleted light rare earth element(LREE)pattern,which are similar to the typical N-mid-oceanic ridge basalt(MORB)and suggests that they were formed at a mid-oceanic ridge.The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Type I basalts range from 0.703966 to 0.705276 and theεNd(t)values are from 16.49 to 17.15,indicating that they were derived from a depleted mantle source.Type II basalts belong to the medium-potassium calc-akaline series and have the geochem-ical characteristics of Nb-enriched basalt(NEB)with high Nb content(14.5 ppm)and strong enrichment in LREEs,implying that they were created by the partial melting of mantle wedge peridotite that previously metasomatized by slab melts.Type III basalts are high-Al basalt(HAB)with high-Al contents(Al_(2)0_(3)=16.75 wt.%-18.00 wt.%),distinct Nb depletion and high Th/Yb ratios.Thus they were likely gen-erated in a normal island-arc setting.Therefore,the association of MORB,NEB,and HAB in the study area may be due to the subduction of a mid-oceanic ridge,and the Diyanmiao ophiolite is proposed to be formed in the forearc setting of a mid-oceanic ridge subduction system.

Yangshan A-Type Granites in the Lower Yangtze River Belt Formed by Ridge Subduction:Radiogenic Ca and Nd Isotopic Constraints

The Early Cretaceous aluminous A-type granites in the Lower Yangtze River belt(LYRB)can provide important insights into the Mesozoic magmatism in eastern China,but their origin remains highly controversial.In this study,radiogenic Ca-Nd isotopic analysis was performed for syenite porphyry and alkali-feldspar granite porphyry of the Yangshan pluton,a typical aluminous A-type granitic intrusion in the LYRB,to constrain its source and geodynamic setting.The results show thatε_(Ca)(126 Ma),ε_(Nd)(126 Ma)and K/Ca_(source) of the syenite porphyry range from-0.24 to+0.96,-7.2 to-6.0,and 0.31 to 1.26,respectively.The corresponding values for the alkali-feldspar granite porphyry range from 0.26 to 0.84,-8.0 to-6.1,and 0.79 to 1.08,respectively.Binary mixing modeling indicates that they were originated from the same sources with different proportion,namely,a mixing of 50%to 75%Neoproterozoic crust and 50%to 25%asthenospheric mantle.Together with previous works,we propose that the Early Cretaceous subduction of the ridge between the Pacific and Izanagi plates was responsible for the formation of the aluminous A-type granites in the LYRB.

Origin of submarine canyon-channel systems along the middle segment of West Mariana Ridge,Philippine Sea

Submarine canyon-channel systems have been documented in the Parece Vela Basin,West Mariana Ridge;however,the mechanism of the formation and controlling factors remain poorly understood.Based on high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and two-dimensional(2D)seismic profiles,we identified and mapped the submarine canyon-channel system along the middle segment of West Mariana Ridge in the Philippine Sea.These submarine canyon-channels show a main W-E orientation at depth of 2000–4500 m.They are approximately 72–128 km in length and 1.3–15 km in width,and their canyon heads are adjacent to the seamounts with several branches.The upper reaches of submarine canyon-channels are characterized by deeply incised,narrow,V-shaped thalwegs,suggesting the powerful erosion of gravity flows.The distinguished sediment waves are suggested to be resulted from the interaction of turbidity currents and seafloor.Our observations demonstrate that gravity flows originated from the collapses of seamount flanks plays a vital role in developing the submarine canyonchannel system along the West Mariana Ridge.This work provides better understanding of erosion,transport,and deposition of sediments from subducting ridges to deep-water basins,and also new insights into the origin and evolution of submarine canyon-channel systems along subducting ridges.

Early Paleozoic Granite in the Talate Mining District, Chinese Altay, and its Geological Significance for the Altay Orogenic Belt

Zircon dating,geochemical and Nd-Sr isotopic analyses have been determined for samples from two granitic intrusions in the Talate mining district,Chinese Altay.Our data suggest that these intrusions were emplaced from 462.5 Ma to 457.8 Ma.These rocks have strong affinity to peralumious S-type granite and are characterized by prominent negative Eu anomalies(δEu=0.20–0.35),strong depletion in Ba,Sr,P,Ti,Nb,Ta and positive anomalies in Rb,Th,U,K,La,Nd,Zr,Hf.Nd-Sr isotopic compositions of the whole rock show negativeεNd(t)values(-1.21 to-0.08)and Mesoproterozoic Nd model ages(T2 DM=1.20–1.30 Ga).Their precursor magmas were likely derived from the partial dehydration melting of Mesoproterozoic mica-rich pelitic sources and mixed with minor mantle-derived components,under relatively low P(≤1 kbar)and high T(746–796℃)conditions.A ridge subduction model may account for the early Paleozoic geodynamic process with mantle-derived magmas caused by Ordovician ridge subduction and the opening of a slab window underplated and/or intraplated in the middle–upper crust,which triggered extensive partial melting of the shallow crust to generate diverse igneous rocks,and provided the heat for the crustal melting and juvenile materials for crustal growth.

Petrogenesis and tectonic implication of lavas from the Yap Trench,western Pacific

We present major and trace element data of lava recovered from the northern Yap Trench in the western Pacific and discuss their petrogenesis and tectonic implications within the framework of interactions between the Caroline Ridge and Yap Trench.Rocks were collected from both landward and seaward trench slopes and exhibited geochemical characteristics similar to backarc basin basalt(BABB)and mid-ocean ridge basalt(MORB),including high Fe content,tholeiitic affinity,high TiO_(2) value at a given FeO_(T)/MgO ratio,Ti/V ratio between 20 and50,low Ba/Nb ratio and Th/Nb ratio,and trace element patterns commonly displayed by BABB and MORB,which are distinct from arc lava.These rocks seem to have been generated during mantle upwelling and decompression melting at a spreading center.However,compared with typical forearc lava produced by seafloor spreading in the Mariana forearc region,such as the early Eocene forearc basalts and late Neogene forearc lava in the southernmost Mariana Trench,the Yap Trench lava is derived from a more fertile mantle and feature a more minor subduction component;thus,they cannot be the products of forearc mantle decompression melting.We suggest that the landward slope lava represents backarc basin crust that was overthrust onto the forearc lithosphere during the collision of the Caroline Ridge with the Yap Trench(20–25 Ma),which played a key role in the evolution of the Yap subduction system.Moreover,the seaward slope lava represents the subduction plate crust that accreted onto the deep trench during the collision.This collision event resulted in the cessation of Yap Arc magmatism;thus,the Yap Trench volcanic rocks(<25 Ma)previously suggested to be arc magma products may actually represent the nascent island arc lava with a lower subduction component than in the mature Mariana Arc lava.

Geochronology, geochemistry and geological significance of Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks from Niangniangshan Formation,Ningwu Basin, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Ningwu Basin is one of the Mesozoic continental volcanic basins in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.The volcanic rocks of the Longwangshan,dawangshan,Gushan and Niangniangshan formations,as well as the homologous subvolcanic rocks or small intrusions,are developed from old to new in the Ningwu Basin.Zircon U-Pb dating results show the latialite phonolite of Niangniangshan Formation was erupted at 128±1 Ma(i.e.,Early Cretaceous).The latialite phonolite contains moderate SiO2 contents(57.28%-60.96%)with high Na 2O+K 2O contents,belonging to shoshonite series.The samples have high REE contents,and display right-inclined REE distribution pattern.They are characterized by enrichment in some large ion lithophile elements(e.g.,LILEs,Rb,K),and depletion in some high field strength elements(e.g.,HFSEs,Nb,Ta,Ti).All volcanic samples have relatively depleted Nd isotopic compositions(ISr=0.707197--0.707878;εNd(t)=-0.5--0.9),indicating no genetic relationship with the lower crust of Yangtze plate,but a drift trend towards the EMII.The geochemical data suggest that the Early Cretaceous latialite phonolite was derived from the partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subduction-related fluids in an arc-related setting.Based on the temporal and spatial distribution and geochemical variation characteristics of the regional volcanic rocks,it is suggested that the tectonic system within the study area changed from a subduction-related compression to an extensional environment in the early Early Cretaceous,which was caused by the ridge subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean.

Key geodynamic processes and driving forces of Tethyan evolution

Tethys tectonic system has experienced a long-term evolution history,including multiple Wilson cycles;thus,it is an ideal target for analyzing plate tectonics and geodynamics.Tethyan evolution is typically characterized by a series of continental blocks that separated from the Gondwana in the Southern Hemisphere,drifted northward,and collided and accreted with Laurasia in the Northern Hemisphere.During this process,the successive opening and closing of multistage Tethys oceans(e.g.,Proto-Tethys,Paleo-Tethys,and Neo-Tethys)are considered core parts of the Tethyan evolution.Herein,focusing on the life cycle of an oceanic plate,four key geodynamic processes during the Tethyan evolution,namely,continental margin breakup,subduction initiation(SI),Mid-Ocean Ridge(MOR)subduction,and continental collision,were highlighted and dynamically analyzed to gather the following insights.(1)Breakup of the narrow continental margin terranes from the northern Gondwana is probably controlled by plate subduction,particularly the subduction-induced far-field stretching.The breakup of the Indian continent and the subsequent spreading of the Indian Ocean can be attributed to the interactions between multiple mantle plumes and slab drag-induced far-field stretching.(2)Continental margin terrane collision-induced subduction transference/jump is a key factor in progressive Tethyan evolution,which is driven by the combined forces of collision-induced reverse push,far-field ridge push,and mantle flow traction.Moreover,lithospheric weakening plays an important role in the occurrence of SI.(3)MOR subduction is generally accompanied by slab break-off.In case of the considerably reduced or temporary absence of slab pull,mantle flow traction may contribute to the progression of plate subduction.MOR subduction can dynamically influence the overriding and downgoing plates by producing important and diagnostic geological records.(4)The large gravitational potential energy of the Tibetan Plateau indicates that the long-lasting India-Asia continental collision requires other driving forces beyond the far-field ridge push.Further,the mantle flow traction is a good candidate that may considerably contribute to the continuous collision.The possible future SI in the northern Indian Ocean will release the sustained convergent force and cause the collapse of the Tibetan Plateau.Based on the integration of these four geodynamic processes and their driving forces,a“multienginedriving”model is proposed for the dynamics of Tethyan evolution,indicating that the multiple stages of Tethys oceanic subduction provide the main driving force for the northward drifting of continental margin terranes.However,the subducting slab pull may be considerably reduced or even lost during tectonic transitional processes,such as terrane collision or MOR subduction.In such stages,the far-field ridge push and mantle flow traction will induce the initiation of new subduction zones,driving the continuous northward convergence of the Tethys tectonic system.

Geochemical and Zircon Hf-O Isotopic Constraints on the Origin of Wulian A-Type Granite in Shandong Peninsula,Eastern China

Early Cretaceous A-type granitic plutons are widely distributed in Shandong Peninsula,which are of great significance to understanding the regional tectonic evolution.Here we report geochemical characteristics,geochronological results,and zircon Hf-O isotope compositions of Wulian granites to reveal its origin and geological significance.Wulian granites share most characteristics of the A_(2)-type granite.Zircon U-Pb LA-ICPMS analysis for Wulian A-type granites yields average age of 116.6±2.1 Ma.Zircon O isotope values range from 4.20‰to 5.57‰,and these values are marginally identical to or slightly lower than those of mantle zircon(5.3‰±0.3‰).Zirconε_(Hf)(t)values(-26.1--23.5)indicate an enriched source.Integrated zircon Hf-O isotope compositions indicate that the source region of Wulian granites involves the components of ancient oceanic crust.Apatites from Wulian granites have the lower chlorine(0.06 wt.%-0.15 wt.%)and higher fluorine contents(2.11 wt.%-2.48 wt.%)compared with Haiyang pluton,together with their high(La/Gd)_(N),(La/Yd)_(N) and low(Gd/Yb)_(N) ratios and high oxygen state magma reflected from zircon,signifying that slab derived component was added into the overlying mantle region through fluid/melt.The geochemical characteristics of Wulian granites could be explained by the ridge(between the Izanagi and Pacific plates)subduction model,which began to influence the tectonic evolution of the Xuhuai region and Shandong Peninsula since~130±5 Ma.The following slab window between two plates plausibly explains regional extension,resulting in hot magma upwelling and the formation of the A-type granite belt.Integrating the Lower Yangtze River belt and Shandong Peninsula A-type granite proves the northward movement of the ridge between the Pacific Plate and Izanagi Plate.