Amphibole and whole-rock geochemistry of early Late Jurassic diorites, Central Tibet: Implications for petrogenesis and geodynamic processes

Abstract

Arc magmas are generated by complex geological processes in subduction settings. Due to the complexity of source materials and geological processes, the genesis of arc magmatic rocks can be difficult to disentangle. Here, we report on diorites from the Kenama area of the middle-eastern part of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone in central Tibet. New SIMS and LA–ICP–MS zircon UPb dating for three diorite samples indicates that they crystallized during the early Late Jurassic (ca. 161 Ma). The diorites can be divided into two groups based on whole-rock major element compositions and mineralogical characteristics: Group I diorites with relatively low SiO2 (47.6–53.4 wt%), and high MgO (4.97–9.10 wt%) and amphibole contents (50–54 vol%); and Group II diorites with slightly higher SiO2 (56.9–59.5 wt%), and low MgO (2.9–3.8 wt%) and amphibole contents (25–30 vol%). The Group I diorites exhibit relative enrichment in light rare earth element (LREE) ((La/Yb)N = 5.7–10.5) with slightly negative Eu anomalies, and are characterized by enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; K, Rb, Ba, Th, and U), the depletion of high field strength elements (HFSEs; Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ti). The Group I diorites have relatively high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7073–0.7094), variably negative εNd(t) values(−10.3 to −5.9), negative zircon εHf(t) values (−14.8 to–4.4), and slightly elevated δ18O values (6.5‰–7.3‰). The Group II diorites show similar trace element characteristics to Group I. They also have high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7083–0.7087), uniformly negative εNd(t) values (−9.5 to −9.0), negative zircon εHf(t) values (−10.3 to −4.2), and elevated δ18O values (6.6‰–7.5‰). Amphiboles from Group I and Group II diorites have low Al2O3 contents (3.6–9.9 wt% and 5.6–8.5 wt%, respectively), and formed at similar P–T conditions (751–871 °C and 69–226 MPa and 745–832 °C and 77–162 MPa, respectively). On primitive mantle-normalized spider diagrams, these low-Al amphibole grains have slightly convex upward REE patterns with distinctly negative anomalies in Pb, Sr, Eu, Zr, Hf, and Ti, suggesting that amphiboles from both groups crystallized from the similar arc magmas after plagioclase and magnetite crystallization. These mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characteristics suggest that both groups of Kenama diorites probably originated from an enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted oceanic sediment-derived melts. Their parental magmas may have similar geochemical characteristics and underwent varying degrees of accumulation and fractional crystallization. The Group I diorites were likely generated by accumulation of amphibole and fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase from mafic magmas, and the Group II diorites were formed by the fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene and plagioclase from mafic magmas that were geochemically similar to the Group I diorites. In combination with regional geology, in particular adjacent ophiolites, high-magnesian andesitic rocks and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, we conclude that all of the Kenama diorites were probably generated in an early Late Jurassic arc setting related to the subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethys oceanic lithosphere.