Crustal Composition of China Continent Constrained from Heat Flow Data and Helium Isotope Ratio of Underground Fluid

Based on conservation of energy principle and heat flow data in China continent, the upper limit of 1.3 μW/m3 heat production is obtained for continental crust in China. Furthermore, using the data of heat flow and helium isotope ratio of underground fluid, the heat productions of different tectonic units in China continent are estimated in range of 0.58-1.12 μW/m3 with a median of 0.85 μW/m3. Accordingly, the contents of U, Th and K20 in China crust are in ranges of 0.83-1.76 μg/g, 3.16-6.69 μg/g, and 1.0%-2.12%, respectively. These results indicate that the abundance of radioactive elements in the crust of China continent is much higher than that of Archean crust; and this fact implies China＇s continental crust is much evolved in chemical composition. Meanwhile, significant lateral variation of crustal composition is also exhibited among different tectonic units in China continent. The crust of eastern China is much enriched in incompatible elements such as U, Th and K than that of western China; and the crust of orogenic belts is more enriched than that of platform regions. It can also be inferred that the crusts of eastern China and orogenic belts are much felsic than those of western China and platform regions, respectively, derived from the positive correlation between the heat production and SiO2 content of bulk crust. This deduction is consistent with the results derived from the crustal seismic velocity data in China. According to the facts of the lower seismic velocity of China than the average value of global crust, and the higher heat production of China continent compared with global crust composition models published by previous studies, it is deduced that the average composition models of global continent crust by Rudnick and Fountain （1995）, Rudnick and Gao （2003）, Weaver and Tarney （1984）, Shaw et al. （1986）, and Wedepohl （1995） overestimate the abundance of incompatible elements such as U, Th and K of continental crust.

The study of Mg isotope compositions of terrestrial rocks and meteorites

The study of Mg isotopes has been carried out for about 40 years since 1970 s. With analytical progress, the study is not only limited to the excess of ^26Mg due to decay of short-lived ^26Al in primitive meteorites, also extended to mass-dependent fractionation of Mg isotopes in meteorites and terrestrial rocks. This paper reviews recent development in Mg isotope researches.

Classification of Grove Mountains meteorites and its significance

Meteorites are the extraterrestrial rocks, which provide insights into the origin and evolution of the solar system. During the past half century, a great number of meteorites has been discovered on the Antarctic Ice Sheet, confirming that the Antarctica is the most important meteorite concentration area on the earth. Since the first four Antarctic meteorites were found in Grove Mountains in 1998, a total of 9834 meteorites have been collected by four subsequent expeditions. It opens a new field of meteorite study in China, and also accumulates a great deal of scientific samples for China. Recently, classification of Grove Mountains meteorites has been carried out for 6 years, and made following progresses ： （ 1 ） 2433 meteorites, which include many special meteorites, e.g. Martian meteorites, ureilites and carbonaceous chondrites, have been classified. （2） the Antarctic meteorite curation and the sample sharing system are set up preliminarily. （3） the classification procedure, the management of meteorite samples, and the application procedure for the Antarctic meteorites are completed after the systematic classification during these years. （4） young generation researchers on meteorite are trained through the cooperation of many universities and institutes on meteorite classification.

Exposure ages and radiogenic ages of ureilite(GRV 024516) and ordinary chondrite(GRV 024517) from Antarctica

The GRV 024516 and GRV 024517 meteorite samples collected from Grove Montains,Antactica are ureilite and H5 ordinary chondrite,respectively.Based on the study of mineralogy-petrology,the cosmic-ray exposure ages and gas retention ages of these two meteorites were determinated and calculated.Their cosmic-ray exposure ages are 33.3 Ma,51.7 Ma,and gas retention ages are 1936.8 Ma and 3720 Ma,respectively.The ureilite contains diamond,graphite and amorphous C,which are mainly carrier of noble gases indicating obviously shock metamorphism effects,which induced 40Ar partial loss.The H5 chondrite indicates thermal metamorphism of parent body,its gas retention age fall the range between 3220 Ma and 4510 Ma of the least shocked H5 chondrites.

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age,geochemistry and Nd-Hf isotope of Neoproterozoic mafic dyke swarms in western Sichuan:Petrogenesis and tectonic significance

Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are widespread in the western margin of the Yangtze block, and their origin and genesis have significant implications for understanding the evolution of the Rodinia super- continent. However, there are currently two opposing interpretations for their petrogenesis and tectonic setting: mantle plume-related and island arc origin. To further verify these two competing models, SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age determinations and geochemical and Nd-Hf isotopic analyses are conducted on the mafic dykes in the Kangdian Rift, western Sichuan. U-Pb dating suggests that these mafic dykes were emplaced at 780―760 Ma, spatially and temporally coeval with the Kangding granitoid complex. The parental magmas of these dykes were derived from a depleted asthenosphere mantle source likely triggered by an anomalously-hot mantle plume. Despite some arc-geochemical features caused by variable degrees of contamination of young island arc crust during magma ascending and emplace- ment, they show general geochemical and Nd-Hf isotopic features similar to those of the intraplate basalts. Our results support the reconstruction model of Rodinia in which the South China block was located between Australia and Laurentia.

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Fangcheng Neoproterozoic alkali-syenites in East Qinling orogen and its geodynamic implications

Finding of Neoproterozoic syenites at Fangcheng in the northern Qinling region of the East Qinling orogen provides an important constraint on timing of tectonic transformation to extensional regime. The alkaline pluton consists mainly of nepheline syenite,aegirine syenite,and alkali-feldspar syenite. The syenites are of intermediate (SiO2=54%―62%),rich in alkali (K2O+Na2O=12%―15%),aluminum (Al2O3=16.81%―23.26%) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE),without any obvious Nb,Ta,Zr,and Hf anoma-lies. The Fangcheng syenites are geochemically characterized by relative enrichment of LREE,minor differentiation of HREE,significant negative Eu anomalies (Eu=0.13―0.23),less negative εNd(t) values of -1.37 to -3.90,young Nd model ages of 1364 to 1569 Ma,and high zircon saturation temperatures of 915 to 1044℃. The syenitic magmas probably originated from small proportion melting of upper mantle in an extensional regime of intraplate-anorogenic tectonic setting,and have been slightly contaminated by crustal materials during ascending and/or emplacement. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating yields ages of 844.3±1.6 Ma (MSWD=0.86),suggesting that the Fangcheng alkaline syenites formed in the early Neo-proterozoic. They are the oldest Neoproterozoic alkaline rocks ever recognized in the Qinling orogen as well as in South China. This implies that the tectonic regime of the Qinling region would have transformed from post-collisional stretch to intraplate-anorogenic extension no later than 844 Ma.

LA-ICPMS Zircon U-Pb Dating for Three Indosinian Granitic Plutons from Central Hunan and Western Guangdong Provinces and Its Petrogenetic Implications

The LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb geochronology of three typically Indosinian granitic plutons yielded weighted mean ^206pb/^238U ages of 214.1±5.9 Ma and 210.3±4.7 Ma for the biotite monzonitic granites from the Xiema and Xiangzikou plutons in Hunan Province, and 205.3±1.6 Ma for biotite granite from the Napeng pluton, western Guandong Province, respectively, showing a similar late Indosinian age of crystallization. In combination with other geochronological data from Indosinian granites within the South China Block （SCB）, it is proposed that those late Indosinian granites with an age of -210 Ma and the early Indosinian granites （230-245 Ma） have the similar petrogenesis in identical tectonic setting. The Indosinian granites within the SCB might be the products of anatexis of the thickening crust in a compressive regime. These data provide a further understanding for the temporal and spatial distribution of the Indosinian granites and the dynamic evolution of the SCB.

Bulk Chemical Composition of the Ningqiang Carbonaceous Chondrite:An Issue of Classification

The Ningqiang meteorite is a fall carbonaceous chondrite, containing various Ca-, Al-rich inclusions that usually escaped from secondary events such as high-temperature heating and low- temperature alteration. However, it has not yet been classified into any known chemical group. In order to address this issue, 41 elements of the bulk Ningqiang meteorite were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） and inductively coupled plasma atom emission spectrometry （ICP-AES） in this study. The Allende （CV3） carbonaceous chondrite and the Jilin （H5） ordinary chondrite were also measured as references, and our analyses are consistent with the previous results. Rare earth and other refractory lithophile elements are depleted in Ningqiang relative to both Allende and mean CK chondrites. In addition, the REE pattern of Ningqiang is nearly flat, while that of Allende shows slight enrichment of LREE relative to HREE. Siderophile elements of Ningqiang are close to those of mean CK chondrites, but lower than those of Allende. Our new analyses indicate that Ningqiang cannot be classified into any known group of carbonaceous chondrites, consistent with previous reports.

Rock Deformation,Component Migration and 18O/16O Variations during Mylonitization in the Southern Tan-Lu Fault Belt

This paper discusses the relationship between the volume loss, fluid flow and component variations in the ductile shear zone of the southern Tan-Lu fault belt. The results show that there is a large amount of fluids flowing through the shear zone during mylonitization, accompanied with the loss of volume of rocks and variations of elements and oxygen isotopes. The calculated temperature for mylonitization in different mylonites ranges from 446 to 484℃, corresponding to that of 475 to 500℃ for the wall rocks. The condition of differential stress during mylonization has been obtained between 99 and 210 MPa, whereas the differential stress in the wall rock gneiss is 70-78 MPa. The mylonites are enriched by factors of 1.32-1.87 in elements such as TiO2, P2O5, MnO, Y, Zr and V and depleted in SiO2, Na2O, K2O, Al203, Sr, Rb and light REEs compared to their protolith gneiss. The immobile element enrichments are attributed to enrichments in residual phases such as ilmentite, zircon, apatite and epidote in mylonites and are interpreted as due to volume losses from 15% to 60% in the ductile shear zone. The largest amount of SiO2 loss is 35.76 g/100 g in the ductile shear zone, which shows the fluid infiltration. Modeling calculated results of the fluid/rock ratio for the ductile shear zone range from 196 to 1192 by assuming different degrees of fluid saturation. Oxygen isotope changes of quartz and feldspar and the calculated fluid are corresponding to the variations of differential flow stress in the ductile shear zone. With increasing differential flow stress, the mylonites show a slight decrease of δ^18O in quartz, K-feldspar and fluid.

Occurrences of Excess ^(40)Ar in Hydrothermal Tourmaline: Interpretations from ^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar Dating Results by Stepwise Heating

The occurrences of excess ^40Ar within a hydrothermal tourmaline is discussed in term of the analysis data of syngenetic muscovite and tourmaline from the Lushui hydrothermal tin-tungsten deposit in western Yunnan, China, using the ^40Ar-^39Ar stepwise heating technique. About 80% excess ^40 Ar was released in the last step when the tourmaline was fused, corresponding to a release of only -3% ^39 Ar （K）, which indicates that most excess ^40 Ar was held in the mineral lattice rather than in the channels parallel to the Z-axis. This suggests that the excess ^40 Ar was incorporated during crystallization and not diffused into the tourmaline during the post-crystallization history.

The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits

Bauxite deposits are studied because of their economic value and because they play an important role in the study of paleoclimate and paleogeography of continents. They provide a rare record of the weathering and evolution of continental surfaces. Geomicrobiological analysis makes it possible to verify that microorganisms have played a critical role during the formation of bauxite with the possibility already intimated in previous studies. Ambient temperature, abundance of water, organic carbon and bioavailable iron and other metal substrates provide a suitable environment for microbes to inhabit. Thiobacillus, Leptospirilum, Thermophilic bacteria and Heterotrophs have been shown to be able to oxidize ferrous iron and to reduce sulfate-generating sulfuric acid, which can accelerate the weathering of aluminosilicates and precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Microorganisms referred to the genus Bacillus can mediate the release of alkaline metals. Although the dissimilatory iron-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria in bauxites have not yet been identified, some recorded authigenic carbonates and ＂bacteriopyrites＂ that appear to be unique in morphology and grain size might record microbial activity. Typical bauxite minerals such as gibbsite, kaolinite, covellite, galena, pyrite, zircon, calcium plagioclase, orthoclase, and albite have been investigated as part of an analysis of microbial mediation. The paleoecology of such bauxitic microorganisms inhabiting continental （sub） surfaces, revealed through geomicrobiological analysis, will add a further dimension to paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental studies.

Petrology of ureilites from Grove Mountains,Antarctica:Constraints on the origins

Ureilites are a common group of achondrites with a high abundance of carbon. They probably have a genetic relationship with chondrites, hence provide an insight into origin and evdution of terrestrial planets. A new meteorite-rich region, Grove Mountains （ GRV）, was found by the Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition, with discovery of 9834 meteorites. Of 2433 meteorites classified, 9 ureilites have been identified. In this paper, we report petrography of 6 of these ureilites. Four ureilites contain graphite and exhibit triangle conjunction and common reduced margins of divine. GRV 052382 probably experienced heavy shock metamorphism followed by fast coding, as indicated by mosaic texture or fine-grained granular texture of olivine. GRV 022931 was highly reduced of these ureilites, with olivine as isolated grains in abundant carbonaceous matrix. All 9 ureilites are monomict, and arc classified into subtype II （with medium FeO content, Fa15-18 ） and subtype I （with high FeO content, Fa 〉 18） based on compositions of the cores of olivine. The diverse mineral compositions and petrography of these ureilites suggest that they are not paired and reveal a multi-event history of the parent body. Partial melting of the parent body produced carbon-rich magma, followed by crystallization of graphite and silicates. Later, graphite was partially inverted to diamond by shock events. Reburial of the shocked debris experienced various degree of thermal metamorphism. Finally, these rocks were excavated from the parent asteroid and ejected into Earth-cross orbit by another impact event.

Impact of hydrothermal alteration on the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons from the Fangcheng syenites in the Qinling orogen,Henan Province,China

Disturbance of the zircon U-Pb isotopic system has been investigated extensively, but mostly in lab, in the last decades. Here, we reported a field-based study on intensive sericitization, K-feldsparthization and the impacts of mylonitization on zircons from the Fangcheng syenites.The Fangcheng syenites occur in the eastern part of the Qinling orogen and consist mainly of aegirine-augite syenite, aegirine nepheline syenite, biotite syenite and hornblende nepheline syenite. Zircons from the slightly sericitized aegirine augite syenite are colorless, transparent crystals and exhibit well-developed oscillatory and sector zoning on the cathodoluminescence (CL) images which are typical of magmatic zircons from alkaline rocks. Zircon U-Pb determinations by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) showed that the syenite was formed in Neoproterozoic time, the weighted average of 206Pb/238U ages is 844.3±1.6 Ma (MSWD=0.86). In contrast, the hydrothermally altered zircons (hydrothermal zircon) from the intensively sericitized, K-feldsparthized, and weakly mylonitized aegirine augite syenite are conglomerates, yellowish to brown in color, generally translucent and internally textureless. The CL and backscatter electron (BSE) images of hydrothermal zircons exhibit fractured, textureless or mosaic textures, and occasionally show "sponge texture" with the veinlets and inclusions of K-feldspar; however, relicts of magmatic oscillatory zoning can still be discerned locally in individual grains. LA-ICPMS analyses of the hydrothermal zircons demonstrated that the zircons are chemically inhomogeneous, with enhanced and widely varied Pb, U, and Th contents. The U and Th contents of the hydrothermal zircons are estimated to be 32×10-6-1550×10-6 and 188×10-6-4059×10-6, respectively, with Th/U ratios within the range of 0.7-44.9. 206Pb/238U apparent ages of the hydrothermal zircons are negatively correlated with the contents of U, and radiogenic and common Pb. As the U and Th concentrations of the magmatic zircons are rather low, the α-decay doses (3.65×1014-2.04×1015 α-decay events/mg) are much lower than those at the first percolation point (3.5× 1015 a-decay events/mg), thus, Pb mobility resultant from diffusion could be safely neglected. Disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons is most likely to be attributed to the intensive sericitization and K-feldsparthization coupled with mylonitization, the hydrothermal fluids reacted with zircons along the rims and fractures of the distorted zircon crys- tals, giving rise to the chemically inhomogeneous hydrothermal zircons through a series of complicated mechanisms such as dissolution-reprecipitation. The significance of the U-Pb age (the lower intercept age on the discordia U-Pb plot) of hydrothermal zircons is uncertain. We argued that interpretations of the hydrothermal zircon data as the age of hydrothermal events or hydrothermal ore-forming processes are questionable and hence cautions must be taken.

Petrogenesis of the Neopro-terozoic bimodal volcanic rocks along the western margin of the Yangtze Block:New constraints from Hf isotopes and Fe/Mn ratios

High-precision major element and Hf isotope data are reported for the Neoproterozoic Suxiong volcanic rocks along the western margin of the Yangtze Block. These volcanic rocks have variable εHf(T) values and Fe/Mn ratios. The relatively primitive basalts have high Fe/Mn ratios and high Hf-Nd isotopic compositions, indicating that they were generated by partial melting of garnet clinopyroxene in mantle plume at high pressure. Thus, the Suxiong basalts are genetically related to the proposed Neoproterozoic super-plume. On the contrary, a few differentiated basalts have low Fe/Mn ratios and low Hf-Nd isotopic compositions. They are likely to experience assimilation-fractional crystallization process. The Suxiong rhyolites have consistent Hf and Nd model ages of 1.3―1.4 Ga. They are likely generated by shallow dehydration melting of pre-existing young arc igne-ous rocks associated with the basaltic underplating/intrusion in a continental rift.

Activation of northern margin of the North China Craton in Late Paleozoic:Evidence from U-Pb dating and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in the Ningwu-Jingle basin

LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb dating has been performed on detrital zircons from the Upper Carboniferous Tai-yuan Formation (N-8) in the Ningwu-Jingle Basin, west of the North China Craton (NCC). The ages of 72 detrital zircon grains are divided into three groups: 303―320 Ma (6 grains), 1631―2194 Ma (37 grains, peaked at 1850 Ma), 2318―2646 Ma (29 grains, peaked at 2500 Ma). Detrital zircons of Group 2 and Group 3 were likely derived from the basement of the NCC. Group 1 zircons exhibit 176Hf/177Hf ratios ranging from 0.281725 to 0.282239, with corresponding negative εHf(t) values of -12.4―-30.3 and old Hf model ages of 1.4―2.2 Ga. These characteristics show a strong resemblance to those of Carboniferous igneous zircons from the Inner Mongolia Paleo-uplift (IMPU) on the northern margin of the NCC, but differ significantly from those of the Xing-Meng Orogenic Belt, suggesting that the source of the Tai-yuan Formation partly came from the IMPU. All detrital zircons of Group 1 have relatively high Th/U ratios (> 0.67), indicating a magmatic origin. The mean age (304 ± 6 Ma) of the two youngest grains is close to the depositional age of the Taiyuan Formation, suggesting a strong tectonic uplift and magmatism in the IMPU during the Late Carboniferous. This paper provides important geological evidence for the activation of the northern margin of the NCC in the Late Paleozoic.

^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar geochronology constraints on hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction periods in the Bankeng paleo-reservoir in the southern margin of the middle Yangtze block

The exact determination of isotopic ages of hydrocarbon accumulation,reconstruction and destruction periods using traditional isotopic dating methods is complex because of the small numbers of minerals that correlate with hydrocarbons.The quantitative and direct study of hydrocarbon geochronology is therefore an important scientific problem for isotope geochronology and petroleum geology.This study obtains two isotopic ages from a quartz vein sample associated with bitumen in a reverse fault located in the Bankeng paleo-reservoir on the southern margin of the middle Yangtze block (the northern margin of the JiangnanXuefeng uplift) by inclusion 40Ar/39Ar stepwise crushing in a vacuum.Two different and good linear inverse isochrons that correspond to two age plateaus were determined.The two ages correspond to primary inclusions of about 228 Ma and secondary inclusions of about 149 Ma.These inclusion groups represent two distinct kinds of fluids.Quartz veins associated with bitumen in faulted paleo-reservoirs,which have a strict response relationship with tectonization and hydrocarbon accumulation,are the unified products of tectonic processes,hydrocarbon accumulation and reconstruction.Therefore,they can be used to constrain the hydrocarbon accumulation,reconstruction and destruction periods that are controlled by multiphase and complicated tectonic actions.The evolutionary processes of hydrocarbon accumulation can be divided into two periods consisting of a primary oil and gas reservoir formation period in the late Indosinian epoch (about 228 Ma) and a period of oil and gas reservoir reconstruction in the early Yanshan epoch (about 149 Ma).This study quantitatively reconstructs the hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction chronological framework of a giant hydrocarbon accumulation belt along the southern margin of the middle Yangtze block (the northern margin of the Jiangnan-Xuefeng uplift) controlled by multiphase and complicated tectonism.The two ages associated with hydrocarbons here correspond to the special controlling actions of continental tectonics in the Jiangnan-Xuefeng uplift that affected the timeline of reconstruction and destruction in this giant marine hydrocarbon accumulation.This study shows the feasibility and usefulness of dating inclusions with the 40Ar/39Ar technique for hydrocarbon geochronology,especially in the marine hydrocarbon accumulation region of southern China within a geological setting of old strata,high thermal evolution hydrocarbons,and complex,multiphase and multicycle tectonization.

Old EMI-type enriched mantle under the middle North China Craton as indicated by Sr and Nd isotopes of mantle xenoliths from Yangyuan, Hebei Province

Mantle xenoliths hosted in Tertiary alkali basalts in Yangyuan, Hebei Province, located to the west of the Taihangshan gravity lineament, include lherzolites, harzburgites and pyroxenite. In the plot of olivine mode vs Fo, most of the Yangyuan peridotites deviate from the oceanic trend, falling within the fields of Archean and Proterozoic mantles. Some LREE- enriched samples exhibit EMI-type isotopic signature with εNd ranging from –6.9 to –10.6 and 87Sr/86Sr from 0.7044 to 0.7047. By contrast, another LREE-en- riched sample has a positive εNd (+5.7) similar to that for LREE-depleted peridotites. This observation suggests that the upper mantle beneath Yangyuan underwent a multi-stage metasomatism. Given the fact that EMI-type isotopic signature is usually ob- served in the lithosphere mantle underneath ancient cratons, the isotopic composition of the Yangyuan xenoliths provides new evidence for the existence of the old lithosphere mantle beneath western North China.

On the genetic classification and tectonic implications of the Early Yanshanian granitoids in the Nanling Range, South China

Early Yanshanian (Jurassic) granitoids are widespread in the Nanling Range of South China, and are associated with numerous non-ferrous and rare metal mineral deposits. These granitoids consist mainly of slightly peraluminous biotite monzogranites and K-feldspar granites that are closely associated in time and space with subordinate amphibole-bearing granites and muscoviteand garnet-bearing granites. In most previous studies, the biotite-bearing granites were classified as crustal transformation-type (corresponding to the S-type) granites which were interpreted to be derived from the regional Paleoproterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks. In this paper, we re-analyze the geochemical characteristics of a number of representative Early Yanshanian Nanling granitoids. There exists a clear negative correlation between SiO2 and P2O5 for the studied granitoids. The Early Yanshanian Nanling granitoid suites (including amphibole-bearing granodiorites→biotite monzogranites→K-feldspar granites→two-mica (muscovite) granites) are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous I-type or fractionated I-type granites. They were derived predominantly from Proterozoic igneous protoliths. The juvenile crust and/or newly mantle-derived materials might also have been involved in some of these granites. In addition, the Iand fractionated I-type granites are closely associated in time and space with minor amount of A-type felsic and mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks as well as alkaline rocks. All these rocks constitute a typical assemblage of anorogenic, intraplate magmatism, suggesting a dominant lithospheric extensional regime for the Nanling Range and neighboring region during the Early Yanshanian period.

On the timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton

The timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton, which is pivotal to understanding the destruction mechanism and its geodynamic controlling factors, still remain controversial. On the basis of the principles of magma genesis and evolution, first we outline magmatic expressions that can be related to cratonic destruction, then use magmatic and basin evolution trends to constrain the timescale of the lithospheric thinning in North China. The main conclusions include: (1) the thinning of the lithosphere beneath the North China Craton might have started, at least locally, since late Carboniferous-late Triassic, attained its climax during the late Jurassic-early Cretaceous, and continued till the end of late Cretaceous-early Cenozoic. The destruction of the North China Craton was a relatively slow, rather than a dramatic process. (2) The weakened lithospheric zones along the margins and interiors of the craton played an important role in cratonic destruction, partly accounting for the heterogeneous pattern of cratonic destruction. (3) The tectonic factors that controlled the destruction of the North China Craton may be multiple. The late Carboniferous southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian plate and the late Triassic collision between North China and South China may have re-activated the craton by influencing the thermal and integral structure of the craton. The Pacific subduction underneath the eastern Asian continent played a determinant role in the cratonic destruction, governing the distribution patterns of post-Mesozoic basins and major tectonic configuration, temporal change of magmatism and formation of the North-South gravity lineament.

Zircon U-Pb ages of granites at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling and implications for source nature

Mesozoic granitoids are widespread in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Precise U-Pb dating on these granitoids can reveal the evolution of the continental collision orogen and thus provide information on the nature of magma sources. This study pre-sents zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses for two intrusions at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling. Zircon U-Pb ages for central and marginal phases of the Huangzhuguang intrusion are 214±1 Ma and 213±3 Ma, respectively. Zircons from the Changba intrusion yield a dominant cluster with an U-Pb age of 213±2 Ma. Collectively, these ages are younger than ages of 220 to 240 Ma for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism due to the continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block, corresponding to syn-exhumation magmatism. Some inherited zircons occur in the Changba intrusion, yielding a weighted mean of 206Pb/238U ages at 757±14 Ma. This indicates that the Changba intrusion has the crustal source of mid-Neoproterozoic ages and a tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Geochemically, the two intrusuons are both rich in LILE and LREE but depleted in HFSE and HREE, similar to arc-type igneous rocks. The Huangzhuguang intrusion exhibits linear correlations between SiO2 and the other major oxides, implying chemical evolution from a cognate magma source. It contains mafic enclaves, suggesting possible mixing of felsic-mafic magmas. The Changba granite is rich in Si and K but poor in Fe and Mg as well as has a high value of Fe, suggesting strong differentiation of granitic magma. Therefore, the two intrusions were derived from the Late Triassic anatexis of the continental crust of different compositions in the northern margin of South China Block. This process may be coupled with exhumation of the subducted continental crust in the stage of late collision.