Relationship between Granite and Eclogite on the Southern Margin of the Qilian Mountains: Evidence from Zircon SHRIMP Agesof the Aolaoshan Granite

Zircon SHRIMP ages of the Aolaoshan granite on the south margin of the QilianMts. range from 445 + - 15.3 to 496 + - 7.6 Ma (averaging 473 Ma), belonging to the EarlyOrdovician. Geochemically, the granite is similar to I-type granite and, tectonically, was formed inan island-arc environment based on relevant diagrams for structural discriminations. Consideringalso the regional geology, the authors suggest that the granite is part of an ultrahigh-pressurebelt on the south margin of the Qilian Mts. and that its formation bears a close relationship tothis belt.

Polymetamorphism of the ultrahigh-temperature granulites in the Rauer Group,East Antarctica:new evidence from zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages

The Rauer Group is located on the eastern margin of the early Paleozoic Prydz Belt in East Antarctica,and the typical ultrahigh-temperature(UHT,>900℃)granulites outcrop on Mather Peninsula.However,the timing of UHT metamorphism and P–T path of the UHT granulites have long been debated,which is critical to understanding the tectonic nature and evolution history of the Prydz Belt.Thus,both a sapphirine-bearing UHT metapelitic granulite and a garnet-bearing UHT mafic granulite are selected for zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age dating.The results show that metamorphic zircon mantles yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 918±29 Ma and 901±29 Ma for the metapelitic and mafic granulites,respectively,while zircon rims and newly grown zircons yield weighted mean^(206)Pb/^(238)U ages of 523±9 Ma and 532±11 Ma,respectively.These new zircon age data suggest that the UHT granulites may have experienced polymetamorphism,in which pre-peak prograde stage occurred in the early Neoproterozoic Grenvillian orogenesis(1000–900 Ma),whereas the UHT metamorphism occurred in the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Pan-African orogenesis(580–460 Ma).This implies that P–T path of the UHT granulites should consist of two separate high-grade metamorphic events including the Grenvillian and Pan-African events,which are supposed to be related to assembly of Rodinia and Gondwana supercontinents respectively,and hence the overprinting UHT metamorphic event may actually reflect an important intracontinental reworking.

Geochemistry and SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Age of Post-Collisional Granites in the Southwest Tianshan Orogenic Belt of China:Examples from the Heiyingshan and Laohutai Plutons

The Heiyingshan granite and the Laohutai granite plutons exposed in the Southwest Tianshan resemble A-type granites geochemically. Analysis shows that the both are ferron calc-alkalic peraluminous or ferron alkali-calcic peraluminous with a relatively high concentration of SiO2 （〉70%）, high alkali contents （Na20 ＋ K20 = 7.14%-8.56%; K20〉N20; A/CNK = 0.99-1.20）, and pronounced negative anomales in Eu, Ba, St, P and Ti. A SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 285±4 Ma was obtained for the Heiyingshan hornblende biotite granite intrusion. The geochemical and age dating data reported in this paper indicate that these granites were formed during the post-collisional crustal extension of the Southwest Tianshan orogenic belt, in agreement with the published data for the granites in the South Tianshan.

Discovery of the Dagele Eclogite in East Kunlun,Western China and Its Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Ages:New Constrains on the Central Kunlun Suture Zone

Objective Eclogites are important indicators of ancient plate boundaries or paleosuture zones. Despite their great geological significance, very few investigations have been carried out in the Kunlun region. The Central East Kunlun fault zone was believed to be an Early Paleozoic suture zone, but there has been no reliable evidence for this, though studies on ophiolite, granite, and basic granulite indicate that the Early Paleozoic orogeny occurred in the East Kunlun. This work focused on the Dagele eclogites in Central East Kunlun to provide new constraints for the Central East Kunlun suture zone.

Age and Origin of Paleogene Granitoids from Western Yunnan Province,China:Geochemistry,SHRIMP Zircon Ages,and Hf-in-Zircon Isotopic Compositions

We report geochemical data, SHRIMP zircon ages and Hf-in-zircon isotopic compositions for Cenozoic granitoids from major fault systems in the Tethyan belt in western Yunnan Province, southwestern China.Four magmatic pulses occurred in the Paleogene, namely at ca.57 Ma, ca.50 Ma, 45–40 Ma, and 38–34 Ma.Early magmatism of this episode（57–50 Ma） produced S-type granites whose zircons yielded εHf（t） values of-5.0 to-0.3.In contrast, late magmatism of this episode reflects heterogeneous sources.Zircons from a granite porphyry along the Ailaoshan-Red River fault system have slightly positive εHf（t） values suggesting derivation from relatively young crust and/or a juvenile source.However, zircons from a granite along the Gaoligong fault system have strongly negative εHf（t） values and suggest derivation from a Paleoproterozoic crustal source.The composition of the granitoids varies with age（from ca.57 Ma to ca.34 Ma） from peraluminous to metaluminous and also suggests a change from syn-collisional to late-orogenic tectonic setting.A new tectonic model, impacting lithospheric wedge（ILW） is shown for the origin of Paleogene granitoids in this paper.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Wajilitag Igneous Complex: Constraints on the Origin of A-type Granitoids in the Tarim Large Igneous Province, NW China

Objective Large igneous provinces （LIPs） are sites of spatially contiguous, rapidly emplaced magmatic rocks, which represent the physical and chemical transfer of material from the mantle to the crust. Exposed within some continental LIPs are felsic and rnafic plutonic and volcanic rocks. Although their volumes are minor compared to the flood basalts, the plutonic rocks of continental LIPs are often associated with economic deposits of precious metals. Within the Permian Tarim LIP of NW China, there are at least two layered ultramafic-mafic intrusions （e.g. Wajilitag and Piqiang） contain economically important Fe- Ti-V oxide deposits. Spatially associated with these layered ultramafic-mafic intrusions are syenitic and granitic plutons, which have chemical characteristics of A- type granitoids.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Age of the Sidingheishan Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusion in the Southern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,NW China and its Petrogenesis implication

Objective The Sidingheishan mafic-ultramafic intrusion is located in the eastern part of the North Tianshan Mountains. This work used zircon U-Pb age data, bulk rock major and trace elements, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data to assess mantle source characteristics and crustal assimilation of the parental magma of the Sidingheishan intrusion. We have also discussed the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic belt in the Late Paleozoic.

New Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Ages of the Langjiu Formation Volcanic Rocks in the Shiquanhe Area,Western Lhasa Terrane and their Implications

Objective The potassic and ultrapotassic rocks relating to the India-Eurasia collision and continual plate convergence are widely distributed in the Lhasa terrane. These rocks are very important to understand the deep processes of the India-Eurasia collision and the uplift and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Although high-potassic volcanic rocks are also exposed in the western Lhasa terrane, their formation time is still uncertain for the lack of reliable dating. We carried out zircon U-Pb geochronological study on the Langjiu Formation volcanic rocks, which are part of the Early Cretaceous Zenong group volcanic rocks based on 1：250000 scale Shiquanhe regional geological survey report, in the Shiquanhe area of the western Lhasa terrane. These new age data not only offer chronological basis for the regional stratigraphic correlation and classification, but also provide an essential opportunity for revealing signatures of magmatic pulses hidden in the deep crust of the Lhasa terrane.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Age of the Piqiang Layered Intrusion in the Tarim Large Igneous Province and Subducted Slab-Plume Interaction in Its Petrogenesis

Objective During the Permian, at least four mafic continental large igneous provinces （LIPs） were tbrmed in eastern Asia, i.e., the Siberian traps （-251 Ma）, Emeishan LIP （-260 Ma）, Tarim LIP （-290-270 Ma） and Panjal traps （-290 Ma） （Shellnutt et al., 2015）. The Emeishan and Tarim LIPs in China are both known for the presence of several magmatic Fe-Ti-V oxide deposits hosted in layered mafic- ultramafic intrusions. The origin of such magmatic Fe-Ti- V oxide deposits is enigmatic. One of the long-lasting debates is the mechanism by which large amounts of Fe-Ti oxides accumulated in the layered intrusions. Regardless of mechanism, there is still considerable debate regarding the mantle source compositions of the Fe-Ti-V oxide ore- bearing intrusions, in the Tarim LIP, a giant Fe-Ti-V oxide deposit is hosted by the Piqiang layered intrusion at the northern margin of the Tarim block. This intrusion consists mainly of gabbro and minor plagioclase-bearing clinopyroxenite and anorthosite （Fig. l a）. For this study we present new SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age and whole-rock geochemical data for the Piqiang layered gabbroic intrusion to evaluate the nature of its possible source compositions, which in turn aids in understanding the formation of the giant Fe-Ti-V oxide deposit in the plume- related LIPs.

SHRIMP U-Pb Zircon Geochronology of the Xiaotongguanshan and Shatanjiao Intrusions and Its Petrological Implications in the Tongling Area, Anhui

This paper determines the crystallization ages of the Xiaotongguanshan quartz monzodiorite and Shatanjiao quartz monzonitc porphyry from the Tongling area using the SHRIMP zircon U-Pb method. The crystallization age of the former is 142.8±1.8 Ma; that of the latter is 151.8±2.6 Ma. These data indicate that they were formed during the Late Jurassic （142.8 to 151.8 Ma）. Zoned magma chamber was formed because of double diffusive convection. Therefore, the intrusive sequence of magma is generally from quartz monzonite through quartz monzodiorite to pyroxene monzodiorite, i.e. an inverted sequence.

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton:SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark,Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons： the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism： early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb and Molybdenite Re-Os Datings of the Superlarge Donggou Porphyry Molybdenum Deposit in the East Qinling,China,and Its Geological Implications

Located in the eastern part of the East Qinling molybdenum belt, the Donggou deposit is a superlarge porphyry molybdenum deposit discovered in recent years. The authors performed highly precise dating of the mineralized porphyry and ores in the Donggou molybdenum deposit. A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the Donggou aluminous A-type granite-porphyry gave a rock-forming age of 112±1 Ma, and the ICP-MS Re-Os analyses of molybdenite from the molybdenum deposit yielded ReOs model ages ranging from 116.5±1.7 to 115.5±1.7 Ma for the deposit. The ages obtained by the two methods are quite close, suggesting that the rocks and ores formed approximately at the same time. The Donggou molybdenum deposit formed at least 20 Ma later than the Jinduicheng, Nannihu, Shangfanggou and Leimengou porphyry molybdenum deposits in the same molybdenum belt, implying that these deposits were formed in different tectonic settings.

Indosinian Tectonic Setting of the Southern Yidun Arc: Constraints from SHRIMP Zircon Chronology and Geochemistry of Dioritic Porphyries and Granites

A mass of granitoid and dioritic intrusions are distributed in the southern Yidun Arc, among which the representative Indosinian intrusions include the Dongco and Maxionggou granitoid intrusions in Daocheng County and hypabyssal intrusions intruding into arc volcanic rocks near the Xiangcheng town. The Dongco and Maxionggou granitoid intrusions consist mainly of porphyraceous monzogranites, megacryst monzogranites and aplite granites. The Xiangcheng hypabyssal intrusions are composed dominantly of dioritic porphyries. SHRIMP zircon ages of 224±3 Ma and 222±3 Ma have been obtained for the Dongco granitoid intrusion and the Xiangcheng dioritic porphyries, respectively. The Xiongcheng dioritic porphyries show a calc-alkaline geochemical feature, and are characterized by higher Sr/Y ratios, depletive Nb, Ta, P and Ti, enriched LILEs, and lower εNd （t） （=-3.27）, suggesting that they might be derived from mantle source magmas that were obviously contaminated by continent crustal materials. However, the Dongco and Maxionggou granitoids belong to high-potassium calcalkaline series with a per-metaluminous feature, and are characterized by higher CaO/（∑FeO＋MgO） and Al2O3/（∑FeO＋ MgO） ratios, lower （La/Yb）n and Sr/Y ratios, depletive Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti, enriched LILEs, and very low εNd （t） （=-8.10）, indicating that the granitoids might be derived from partial melting of continental crust materials mainly of graywacke. Petrogenesis of Dongco and Maxionggou granitoids implies that there was an oceanic crust between the Zongza continental block （ZCB） and western margin of the Yangtze Craton （WMYZC）. And the oceanic crust slab subducted westward during the Indosinian Epoch, producing an Andes-type continent marginal arc and a backarc basin at the WMSCC. Then the oceanic basin closed and a sinistrally lateral collision occurred at ca. 224 Ma-222 Ma between the ZCB and the WMYZC, causing partial melting of sediments in the back-arc basin to generate granitoid magmas of the Dongco and Maxionggou intrusions.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology of the Neoproterozoic Chengjiang Formation in central Yunnan Province(SW China) and its geological significance

The Chengjiang Formation is the earliest continental clastic deposit after the Jinning Orogeny in central Yunnan Province,and therefore its accurate depositional age is significant for understanding the formation and evolution of the Neoproterozoic rift basins in southern China.However,hampered by accuracy of the dating technique,the existing age data for the Chengjiang Formation are not very reliable.A large number of magmatic zircons were obtained from the tuff interbed in the lower part of the Chengjiang Formation in Jinyang area and the bottom part of the Chengjiang Formation in Dongchuan area,central Yunnan Province,and high-precision SHRIMP U-Pb dating was carried out on these zircons.The results show that the weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages are 797.8±8.2 and 803.1±8.7 Ma respectively.In combination with related geological evidence,it has been demonstrated that the bottom boundary age of the Chengjiang Formation should be 800±5 Ma,whereas the top boundary age could be ca 725 Ma.By synthetically analyzing the latest age data for the relevant strata,it has been confirmed that the Chengjiang Formation should be correlated with the Suxiong Formation and the Kaijianqiao Formation in western Sichuan Province,the Liantuo Formation in the middle and lower Yangtze,the Hongchicun Formation and the Shangshu Formation in northern Zhejiang Province,the Puling Formation in southern Anhui Province,the Luokedong Formation and the Majianqiao Formation in northwestern Jiangxi Province,the Wuqiangxi Formation in northwestern Hunan Province,the Fanzhao Formation and the Qingshuijiang Formation in southeastern Guizhou Province,and the Sanmenjie Formation and the Gongdong Formation in northern Guangxi Province.Sedimentary cycle analysis shows that the sedimentary filling sequence of the Neoproterozoic rift basins in southern China can be divided into four cycles.Among them,Cycle II began at ca.800 Ma,accompanied by intensive tectonic-thermal events.The zircon U-Pb ages from the bottom of the Chengjiang Formation reported in this paper indicate that the Neoproterozoic Kangdian rift subbasin probably started to develop at ca.800 Ma and therefore missed Cycle I of the Neoproterozoic sedimentary filling sequence in southern China.

Re-Os and U-Pb Geochronology of the Erlihe Pb-Zn Deposit,Qinling Orogenic Belt,Central China,and Constraints on Its Deposit Genesis

The Erlihe Pb-Zn deposit is an important mine of the Pb-Zn metallogenic zone in the South Qinling Orogen.It has been considered a sedimentary exhalative deposit in previous investigations because the ore body occurs concordantly at the transitional location of an upright fold.Re and Os isotopic analyses for paragenetic pyrites with sphalerite and galena from the ore body have been used to determine the timing of mineralization and to trace the source of metallogenic materials.The Re-Os isotopic data of four pyrite samples construct an isochron,yielding a weighted average age of 226±17 Ma（mean square weighted deviation=1.7）,which is considered the main mineralization age.A dioritic porphyrite vein sample,showing weaker mineralization,was also dated using the SHRIMP zircon UPb isotopic method to constrain the youngest metallogenic age of the ore deposit,because it distributes along a group of tensional joints cutting not only the upright fold in the deposit field,but also the main ore bodies.The dioritic porphyrite sample yields a weighted mean ^（206）Pb/^（238）U age of 221±3 Ma,which is slightly younger than the Re-Os isotopic isochron age of the pyrites,considered as the upper age limit of the mineralization,namely the ending age of the mineralization.The Os isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals distribute within a range between Os isotopic compositions of the crust and the mantle, indicating that the ore deposit can be derived from magma-related fluid,and the metallogenic materials are most likely derived from the mixing source of the crust and the mantle.The Erlihe Pb-Zn deposit and associated dioritic porphyrite vein,important records of Qinling tectonic-magmatism-mineralization activities,were formed during the Triassic collisional orogeny processes.

Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology of the Fenghuangshan Skarn-type Copper Deposit in the Tongling Ore Cluster, Anhui Province, East China

The Fenghuangshan skarn-type Cu deposit, Tongling Ore Cluster, Anhui Province, is an important component in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River ore-forming belt. To better understand magmatism and its relationship to mineralization, we investigated geochemical features, ore-forming fluids, and geochronology of the Xinwuli intrusion and the related Fenghuangshan Cu deposit. Lithogeochemical characteristics show that the Xinwuli quartz monzodiorite is formed by mixing magma derived from upper mantle alkaline basalt that has been contaminated by crust materials. C, H and O isotopes indicate that ore-forming fluids mainly come from the magma, with minor amounts of meteoric fluids involved at the late stage. S and Pb isotopic components indicate that ore-forming materials are derived from the mantle. Molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating yields Re-Os model ages ranging from 139.1±2.4 Ma to 142.0±2.2 Ma, with an isochronal age of 141.1±1.4 Ma, which is consistent with sensitive, high-resolution ion microprobe （SHRIMP） zircon U-Pb ages of quartz monzodiorite and granodiorite in the mining area. Dating analysis yields ages from 136.0±2.0 Ma to 143.0±2.4 Ma for the quartz monzodiorite （a weighted average of 139.4±1.2 Ma） and ages from 136.7±2.0 Ma to 145.3±2.4 Ma for granodiorite （a weighted average of 141.0±1.1 Ma）.

Geochronology, geochemistry, and its geological significance of the Permian Mandula mafic rocks in Damaoqi, Inner Mongolia

The Hujierte-Chaganhadamiao volcanic-plutonic sequence is located in the Mandula area of northen Damaoqi, Inner Mongo- lia. It contains mainly mafic volcanics, with several ultramafic blocks in its central part and mafic- ntermediate intrusions in the east. The zircon U-Pb ages of the gabbro and basalt samples are 278.5±3.0 Ma （MSWD=）.66） and 273.7±1.0 Ma （MSWD=0.36）, respectively. These ages constrain the magmatism occurred in the Early Permian. The Mandula Permian mafic rocks are characterized by low abundances of REE and slightly LREE-enriched chondrite-normal zed N-MORB-type REE patterns. And these mafic samples have high （143Nd/144Nd）i （0.51262-0.51270）, relatively high pos tive εNd（t） （3.4-8.0）, and high Mg# （49-54）, suggesting derivation from the depleted asthenosphere mantle source. But they al, show the enrichment in large ion lithophile elements （LILE, e.g. Rb, Ba and Sr）, depletion in high field strength elements （I-FSE）; distinctly negative Nb, Ta anomalies and slightly negative P, Ti anomalies; high （875r/86Sr）i （0.70490-0.70537）, low （206pb/204pb）i （17.39-17.93）. All of these resemble the characteristics of the enriched mantle source or involvement of arc materials in the magma genesis. Furthermore, as shown in the correlation plots of eNd（t） VS （87Sr/86Sr）i, （206pb/204Pb）ivs （207pb/204Pb）i and （208pb/204pb）i, La/Ba La/Nb vs La/Nb, and La/Nb ratio, the magma source could have been experienced the contamination and metasomation from the previous subduction process. And the positive correlation between the selected major oxides and trace elements could be explained by the contamination from continental crust and arc materials during the magmatic emplacement. Combined with the distinct geochemistry features of Mandula mafic samples and many previous researches in the study area, the Early Permian magmatism in Mandula occurred under an extensional rift setting, and a juvenile ocean basin probably had already been formed after further development.

Opening time and filling pattern of the Neoproterozoic Kangdian Rift Basin,western Yangtze Continent,South China

The Neoproterozoic Kangdian Rift Basin is a continental rift basin in the western Yangtze Continent.Determining its time of opening and subsequent filling pattern is an important aspect of understanding the formation and evolution of the Yangtze Continent,South China.The Luliang Formation is the early filling in the eastern part of this rift basin,and its deposition age and filling sequence are significant for studies of the regional stratigraphic correlation,opening time,and filling pattern of this basin.Having been correlated to the upper part of the Mesoproterozoic Kunyang Group or to the Neoproterozoic Chengjiang Formation,the age and regional stratigraphic correlation of the Luliang Formation have long been uncertain.This is due to a lack of reliable absolute age constraints.To address this issue,the first zircon SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology has been established for this formation,yielding two high-precision isotopic ages of 818.6±9.2 and 805±14 Ma for the tuff layers at the bottoms of the lower and upper members of the Luliang Formation,respectively.Given the error factor,the bottom age of the lower member of the Luliang Formation can be interpreted as ca.820 Ma,corresponding to the bottom age of the lower part of the Banxi Group,which is the early filling of the Neoproterozoic Xianggui Rift Basin,a representative basin of the Neoproterozoic rift basins in the Yangtze Continent,South China.The bottom age of the upper member of the Luliang Formation can be interpreted as ca.800±5 Ma,corresponding to the bottom age of the Chengjiang Formation in the western part of the Neoproterozoic Kangdian Rift Basin and also corresponding to the bottom age of the upper part of the Banxi Group in the Neoproterozoic Xianggui Rift Basin.These ages indicate that the Neoproterozoic Kangdian Rift Basin shares the same opening time and filling sequences as those of the other Neoproterozoic rift basins in South China.Basin analysis shows that the Neoproterozoic Kangdian Rift Basin is a typical half-graben basin,with its main boundary fault in the west and basin center in the east.This basin consisted of mini unidirectional half-graben basins in its juvenile stage and simplified to become a large united half-graben basin in its mature stage,i.e.,a supradetachment basin.