Discovery and Geological Significance of Early Carboniferous High‐Mg Diorite in the Balikun Area, Eastern Tianshan

Abstract

AbstractThe granodiorites, monzogranites and diorites are widely developed in the Balikun area of Eastern Tianshan Orogen. Of which, LA–ICP–MS zircon U‐Pb isotopic dating from the diorites revealed that they were emplaced at 327∼333 Ma, representing an important period of magmatism in the Early Carboniferous. Geochemically, they are characterized by moderate SiO2 (51.33–62.48 wt%), high but variable MgO (2.04–11.16 wt%, average 5.35), higher Mg# (40–73) and TiO2 (0.67–1.29 wt%), Na2O/K2O (1.39–2.95) as well as variable Cr (2.49–675 ppm) and Ni (1.31–174 ppm), showing a geochemistry similar to those of high‐Mg diorites or sanukitoids. In addition, they are enriched in the LILE, poor HFSE with an evident negative Nb anomalies and a REE pattern of moderate fractionator between LREE and HREE without or weak negative Eu anomalies. Their ∊Hf(t) are positive (+3.63–+15.65), suggesting a source from the depleted mantle. In addition, they have high TiO2 and Pb, and large quantity of amphibolite and biotite, indicating that they were most likely derived from the partial melting of depleted mantle metasomatized by the slab‐derived melt under a hydrous condition. Consequently, combined with the contemporary volcanics and granitoids formed in the island arc settings, we proposed that the subduction was continued till Early Carboniferous in the Bogda‐Harlik tectonic belt. After that, wide occurrence of the post‐collisional A‐type granites and mafic‐ultramafic intrusions indicate this tectonic belt entered the post‐collisional environment from Late Carboniferous to Permian.