Early‐Middle Paleozoic Andes‐type Continental Margin in the Chifeng Area, Inner Mongolia: Framework, Geochronology and Geochemistry and Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Abstract

AbstractThree tectonic units have been recognized in the Chifeng area, Inner Mongolia, from north to south, including the Qiganmiao accretionary prism, Jiefangyingzi arc belt and Sidaozhangpeng molasse basin, which formed an Andean‐type active continent margin during the early to middle Paleozoic. The Qiganmiao accretionary prism is characterized by a mélange that consists of gabbro, two‐mica quartz schist and basic volcanic rock blocks and heterogeneously deformed marble matrix. Two zircon U‐Pb ages of 446.0±6.3 Ma and 1104±27 Ma have been acquired and been interpreted as the metamorphic and forming ages for the gabbro and two‐mica quartz schist, respectively. The prism formed during the early to middle Paleozoic southward subduction of the Paleo Asian Ocean (PAO) and represents a suture between the North China craton (NCC) and Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Jiefangyingzi arc belt consists of pluton complex and volcanic rocks of the Xibiehe and Badangshan Formations, and Geochronology analysis indicates that the development of it can be divided into two stages. The first stage is represented by the Xibiehe Formation volcanic rocks, which belong to the subalkaline series, enriched LREE and LILE and depleted HFSE, with negative Eu anomalies, and plot in the volcanic arc field in discrimination diagrams. These characters indicate that the Xibiehe Formation results from to the continental arc magmatic activity related to the subduction of the PAO during 400‐420 Ma. Magmatism of the second stage in 380‐390 Ma consists of the Badangshan Formation volcanic rocks. Geochemistry analysis reveals that rhyolite, basaltic andesite and basalt of the Badangshan Formation were developed in continental margin arc setting. Moreover, the basaltic andesite and basalt display positive Sr anomalies, and the basalt have very low Nb/La values, suggesting that fluid is involved in magma evolution and the basalts were contaminated by continental crust. The sequence of Sidaozhangpeng molasse basin is characterized by proximity, coarseness and large thickness, similar to the proximity molasses basin. According to our field investigation, geochronological and geochemical data, combined with previous research in this area, a tectonic evolutionary model for Andes‐type active continental margin of the CAOB has been proposed, including a development of the subduction‐free PAO before 446 Ma, a subduction of the PAO and arc‐related magmatism during 446‐380 Ma, and formation of a molasse basin during 380‐360 Ma.