Early Carboniferous collision of the Kalamaili orogenic belt, North Xinjiang, and its implications: Evidence from molasse deposits

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2013 Early Carboniferous collision of the Kalamaili orogenic belt, North Xinjiang, and its implications: Evidence from molasse deposits Yuanyuan Zhang; Yuanyuan Zhang 1Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Ministry of Education, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Georgia Pe-Piper; Georgia Pe-Piper 2Department of Geology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David J.W. Piper; David J.W. Piper 3Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhaojie Guo Zhaojie Guo † 1Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Ministry of Education, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China †Corresponding author: zjguo@pku.edu.cn Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2013) 125 (5-6): 932–944. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30779.1 Article history received: 20 Aug 2012 rev-recd: 13 Dec 2012 accepted: 14 Dec 2012 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Yuanyuan Zhang, Georgia Pe-Piper, David J.W. Piper, Zhaojie Guo; Early Carboniferous collision of the Kalamaili orogenic belt, North Xinjiang, and its implications: Evidence from molasse deposits. GSA Bulletin 2013;; 125 (5-6): 932–944. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30779.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The age of the Kalamaili orogenic belt, marking the final amalgamation in East Junggar, North Xinjiang, is significant for the reconstruction of Paleozoic evolution of the southern Central Asian orogenic belt. The Tamugang and Songkarsu Formations of terrestrial molasse in the southeastern part of the Kalamaili belt, shed from the rising Kalamaili orogen, record the orogenic history. The strata consist of proximal conglomerate thinning to distal fine-grained sandstone and mudstone. Poorly sorted conglomerate is composed of dominant pyroclastic rocks with lesser andesitic, granitic, and ophiolitic clasts. Imbricated clasts indicate that the paleocurrents were directed to the present-day southwest to west-southwest. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) detrital zircon U-Pb dating of sandstones from both formations confirms that the Yemaquan arc northeast of the Kalamaili orogenic belt was the main source. Two granitic cobbles with zircon sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb ages of 432.2 ± 7.8 Ma and 428.1 ± 6.8 Ma indicate the presence of Silurian magmatism in the Yemaquan arc.The SHRIMP U-Pb age of volcanic rocks from the Batamayineishan Formation, which overlies the molasse on both sides of the Kalamaili belt, is 349.5 ± 6.0 Ma. The depositional age of molasse is confined to between 343.5 Ma and 345 Ma, based on the 2σ range of possible ages for the youngest detrital zircons and the overlying volcanic rocks. Combined with the previously dated plagiogranite and biostratigraphic ages on chert in the Kalamaili ophiolite as the lower age limit, the Kalamaili collision is restricted to 373.8–343.5 Ma, taking into account 2σ error, suggesting that the termination of Kalamaili paleo-ocean subduction and the final amalgamation in East Junggar occurred before the Visean. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.