Complex evolution of the lower crust beneath the southeastern North China Craton: The Junan xenoliths and xenocrysts: Reply

Abstract

In our paper, we suggested that the Junan granulite xenoliths and xenocrysts record evolution of the Precambrian lower crust beneath the southeastern North China Craton (NCC). Yuan and Xia (2015) disagree with us. However, they have not fully considered the evolutional histories of the NCC lithosphere, and geochemical and isotopic compositions of the Junan xenoliths. We also contend that they have misinterpreted the available geophysical data. Synthesizing the geochronological characteristics of the NCC lower crust, nature of the Junan granulite xenoliths, and reinterpretation of the resistivity profile, we again emphasize that the Junan granulite xenoliths are tectonically affiliated to the NCC lower crust, and the Junan zircon data could reflect the complex evolution of the lower crust beneath the southeastern NCC.