Dual mixing for the formation of Neoproterozoic granitic intrusions within the composite Jiuling batholith, South China

Abstract

Granite batholiths record the processes that occur during the formation and differentiation of the continental crust. The ~ 4000 km2 composite Neoproterozoic Jiuling batholith is one of the largest batholiths in southern China and consists of four peraluminous granitoid intrusions that were emplaced at ca. 828–810 Ma. These granitoids define a trend that moves from the terrestrial towards the seawater Nd–Hf isotope array, indicating the source of these magmas incorporated increasing amounts of marine sedimentary material over time. Our new geochronological and geochemical data suggest that the composite Neoproterozoic Jiuling batholith formed incrementally via the intrusion of multiple batches of crustally derived melts. The intrusions within the batholith are characterized by decreasing Rb/Sr ratios and increasing Na/K ratios and eHf(t) values, suggesting variations in source composition over time. These inter-intrusion variations can be well explained by three-component mixing in magma sources (mature, immature sediments and felsic arc-related granitoids) prior to partial melting, with inter-sample variations within individual intrusions occurring as a result of the subsequent mixing of different melt batches. The first stage of mixing within the source of these magmas involves a significant variation in source compositions and cannot reflect the simple melting of a heterogeneous metasedimentary source region. The second stage of mixing occurred during magma ascent and storage, and is recorded by variations in mineral compositions (e.g., zircon). These inter-intrusion and inter-sample geochemical variations provide evidence that the peraluminous Jiuling batholith formed as a result of two mixing processes, namely mixing within the magma source region and mixing of multiple batches of granitic melts. This dual mixing could explain the significant geochemical diversity present within peraluminous granitoid rocks worldwide.