International Geology Review

Liu, Min; Lai, Shaocong; Zhang, Da; Zhu, Renzhi; Qin, Jiangfeng; Xiong, Guangqiang

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1579057pmid: N/A

The high Sr/Y geochemical feature of granitoids can be attributed to various mechanisms, and elucidating genesis of high Sr/Y granitoids provides insights into the material recycling and magmatic processes at depth. In southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), many Middle Permian granitoids exhibit high Sr/Y ratios, but their origins remain unclear, inhibiting a comprehensive understanding of the magmatic response to the final closure of the Palaeo-Asian ocean. Here we present new zircon U-Pb ages, Lu-Hf isotopes and whole-rock geochemical data for the Middle Permian high Sr/Y monzogranites from central Inner Mongolia, southeastern CAOB. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb data shows that these high Sr/Y rocks were emplaced during 273–261 Ma. They are calc-alkaline, sodium-rich and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, with enriched large-ion lithophile elements (Rb, Th, K and Pb) and depleted high field strength elements (Nb, Ta, P and Ti), suggesting a mafic lower crustal source rather than evolved potassic crustal materials. Their relatively low (Gd/Yb)N (1.1–2.0), (Dy/Yb)N (1.0–1.3), Nb/Ta (7.9–10.9) ratios and flat heavy rare earth element patterns are characteristics of derivation from a relatively shallow depth with amphibolite as dominant residue. They also have highly variable εHf(t) values (−8.2 to +10.0) and TDMC (1814 to 649 Ma), similar to those of the Early Palaeozoic high Sr/Y intrusions along the Bainaimiao arc belt. Combined with data from literatures, we suggest that the high Sr/Y monzogranites in this study were probably generated by reworking of the newly underplated juvenile high Sr/Y lower crust of the Bainaimiao arc belt. Moreover, taking into account the regional investigations, the sublinear distributed Middle Permian magmatic rocks in the southeastern CAOB were likely associated with the incipient slab break-off of the Palaeo-Asian oceanic lithosphere following initial collision between the North China craton and the South Mongolia terranes.

Xiao, Yang; Wu, Guanghui; Vandyk, Thomas Matthew; You, Lingxia

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1581847pmid: N/A

The Tarim Craton provides a geologic record of both the fragmentation of the Rodinian supercontinent and the subsequent assembly of Gondwana. However, the timing and interactions of these radically different tectonic processes remain contested. A critical part of this debate revolves around the Late Cryogenian-Ediacaran igneous rocks along the Craton’s northern margin, specifically, whether they record super-plume related Rodinian breakup or Gondwanan orogeny. To address this issue, we present zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic data and whole rock geochemistry from Late Cryogenian to Early Ediacaran granitoids of the northern Tarim Craton. U-Pb zircon ages reveal three magmatic periods along the northern Tarim margin: ca. 660–640 Ma, 635–625 Ma and 620–600 Ma, associated with small scale felsic and mafic magmas. These granitoids have an A2-type affinity and are enriched in alkalines, but are depleted in Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti. Elemental data and generally negative εHf(t) values (−13.96 to 1.65) suggest that they were mainly derived from partial melting of enriched, subduction-modified lithospheric mantle triggered by upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle along the active continental margin of northern Tarim. We suggest that the Tarim Craton travelled as an isolated plate for much of the Late Neoproterozoic, near the outer part of Rodinia and subsequently Gondwana. During this time it was affected by localized and periodic subduction-related intrusion and eruption. However, within the samples of this study, there is no U-Pb-Hf isotopic and whole-rock geochemical evidence to support either super-plume-related rifting (i.e. Rodinian breakup) or Pan-African orogeny (i.e. Gondwanan assembly).

Juárez-Arriaga, Edgar; Lawton, Timothy F.; Ocampo-Díaz, Yam Zul E.; Stockli, Daniel F.; Solari, Luigi

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1581848pmid: N/A

The Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Mexican foreland basin (MFB), defined herein, represents the southern continuation of the late Mesozoic Cordilleran foreland basin. Sandstone petrography, new detrital-zircon (DZ) U-Pb geochronology, and paleocurrent data indicate that much of the sedimentary fill of the basin was derived from an active Late Cretaceous-Paleogene magmatic arc, termed here the Mexican Cordilleran arc, on the western continental margin of Mexico. The oldest known strata of the proximal foreland basin in the Mesa Central consist of Cenomanian-Turonian turbidites. Sampled sandstones are compositional volcanic litharenites with abundant neovolcanic grains and a dominant, approximately syndepositional DZ age group ranging ~98–92 Ma that records a major magmatic event in the Mexican Cordilleran arc. Santonian-Campanian strata in the distal MFB consist of carbonate pelagites with abundant interbedded tuffs and tuffaceous sandstones. Represented by the Caracol and San Felipe formations deposited in the forebulge and back-bulge depozones, respectively, these strata form an arcuate outcrop belt ~700 km in length. DZ ages ranging ~85–74 Ma in the arc-derived tuffaceous strata record a second prominent magmatic event.Two principal transport mechanisms delivered volcanogenic sediment to the MFB from multiple, simultaneously active arc sources during Late Cretaceous time: (1) Cenomanian-Turonian east-directed transverse fluvial systems transported volcanic-lithic sand rich in young zircon grains; and (2) airborne ash clouds transported Santonian-Campanian zircon grains to the distal foreland basin in prevailing Late Cretaceous northwesterly winds. Axial transport of sediment derived from active arc sources, Proterozoic basement and derivative sedimentary rocks in northwestern Mexico, in addition to transverse transport from the thrust orogen itself, represents a younger sediment-routing system, modified by advance of the foreland fold-thrust belt, to the Maastrichtian-Paleogene foreland of northeastern Mexico.

Han, Ji-Long; Sun, Jing-Gui; Liu, Yang; Ren, Liang; Wang, Chang-Sheng; Zhang, Xiao-Tian; He, Yun-Peng; Yu, Ri-Dong; Lu, Qian

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1581998pmid: N/A

The ~100,000 km2 granitoid belt in the Lesser Xing’an-Zhangguangcai Ranges (LXZR) is an important component of the Phanerozoic granitic provinces (known as the ‘granitoid ocean’) in NE China. To reveal the mechanisms of Mesozoic magmatism and crustal growth in the LXZR, we present systematic geologic data, lithofacies information, zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotopic, and element geochemical data for the Dong’an granites in the northern LXZR. The results show the following: (1) the Dong’an granites can be subdivided into three lithofacies, namely, medium- to coarse-grained alkali-feldspar granite, fine-grained alkali-feldspar granite, and granitic aplite, which were emplaced during the Early Jurassic (187–178 Ma); (2) the Dong’an granites are characterized by high SiO2 and total alkali contents and low Fe2O3t contents and Mg# values, and they are enriched in LILEs (e.g., Rb and K) and depleted in HFSEs (e.g., Nb and Ta); and (3) the zircons from these granites yield εHf(t) values of −2.4 to +5.7 and two-stage model ages of 772–1542 Ma. These results indicate that the Dong’an granites were emplaced during the Early Jurassic, are highly fractionated I-type (HFI) granites and were likely derived from partial melting of the thickened lower crust. Regionally, the Dong’an granites and the Early-Middle Jurassic intrusive rocks (201–163 Ma; 90,000 km2) in the LXZR show a trend of comagmatic evolution controlled by fractional crystallization, and they were successively emplaced during magma evolution. The HFI granites that are geochemically similar to the Dong’an granites formed in the later stage of magma evolution. Combined with regional geological observations, we conclude that the granitic rocks in the LXZR formed in an active continental margin setting related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent. This process may record an important episode of crustal accretion in the LXZR.

Corry-Saavedra, Kate; Schindlbeck, Julie C.; Straub, Susanne M.; Murayama, Masafumi; Bolge, Louise L.; Gómez-Tuena, Arturo; Hashimoto, Yoshitaka; Woodhead, Jon D.

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1584770pmid: N/A

Tephra fallout beds in marine sediments provide chronologically precise and highly resolved records of volcanism at time scales relevant to Quaternary climate cycles. While the record of discrete (visible) thin tephra beds is readily accessible, the significance of the dispersed (invisible) tephra record remains unclear. Here we evaluate the role of dispersed tephra for orbital-scale volcanic time variations in the Quaternary (<1.2 Ma) carbonate mud of IODP Hole U1437B (Northwest Pacific). The carbonate mud contains cyclic series of discrete fallout tephra beds from the oceanic Izu Bonin (~85% of tephra beds) and the continental Japan (~15%) volcanic arcs, respectively. Our results show the inorganic aluminosilicate (lithogenic) fraction is a mixture of dispersed Izu Bonin and Japan ash, and Asian dust. The time distribution of the Izu Bonin ash with its distinct composition appears to confirm and enhance the cyclic time variation of the discrete ash beds at Hole U1437B. Dispersed Japan ash resembles Asian dust in trace elements and is only distinguishable in Sr-Nd isotope space. Collectively, our results confirm the existence of periodic, orbital-scale fluctuations of arc volcanic frequency. Orbital-scale time variations of marine ash may be best established by series of discrete marine ash beds, yet the concomitant dispersed ash flux must also be recorded in order to understand the total flux of arc volcanic ash into the ocean basins and thus the role of the volcanism-climate link.

Xiong, Fahui; Liu, Zhao; Kapsiotis, Argyrios; Yang, Jingsui; Lenaz, Davide; Robinson, Paul T.

doi: 10.1080/00206814.2019.1584771pmid: N/A

The Purang ultramafic massif, located in the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) of the Tibetan Plateau, consists mainly of harzburgites and minor lherzolites. The spinel-bearing lherzolites of the NW part of the massif display a granular texture, consisting of large olivine and pyroxene crystals with curvilinear grain boundaries. These lherzolites contain chromian spinel (Cr-spinel) of low Cr# [100 × Cr/(Cr +Al) = 24.7–30.2], enstatite with high Mg# [100 × Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) = 90.0–91.2] and relatively high Al2O3 content (3.3–4.1 wt%), and diopside with high Mg# (90.2–93.3) and Al2O3 content (4.6–5.0 wt%). These compositions are analogous to those of spinel and pyroxenes from residual peridotites. However, the Purang lherzolites show U-shaped primitive mantle (PM)-normalized rare earth element (REE)-profiles, which are not consistent with a potential origin as melting residues. The high LREE contents and positive Ti anomalies shown by the investigated lherzolites coupled with the low TiO2 content of their mineral constituents imply that these rocks possibly stored LREE- and Ti-bearing arc-related melts/fluids in their groundmass.A mineral assemblage composed of diamond, super-reduced [(SuR) moissanite, native Cr] and crustal-derived minerals (zircon, corundum, rutile), has been separated from the Purang lherzolites. Uranium-Pb geochronological dating of zircons yielded an age range between 1718 and 465 Ma, indicating that they represent ancient crustal material delivered into the upper mantle via previous subduction events. Diamonds and old zircons (± crustal minerals) were carried to shallow mantle levels by asthenospheric magmas produced during a slab rollback-induced decompression melting process. The recovery of SuR minerals is consistent with fluid percolation and crystallization of alteration-related minerals in the lithospheric parts of a (hydrated) mantle wedge, resulting in the formation of highly reduced micro-environments.