Early Paleozoic arc magmatism and metamorphism in the northern Qilian Block, western China: Petrological and geochronological constraints

Abstract

The Datong–Menyuan Complex, located in the northern margin of the Qilian Block, is composed dominantly of high‐grade metamorphic rocks covered by a Paleozoic–Mesozoic sedimentary sequence. In this study, we present petrographic observation, conventional thermobarometry and P–T pseudosection modelling, whole‐rock major and trace geochemistry, zircons U–Pb dating and Hf isotopic data together, to reveal the relationship between the magmatism and metamorphism along the northern margin of the Qilian Block. The anticlockwise P–T paths of gneiss and amphibolites are obtained using the garnet isopleths thermobaromety combined with phase equilibria modelling. The P–T pseudosection also shows that the gneiss and amphibolite underwent similar retrograde metamorphism with slightly different peak metamorphic conditions at ~720 °C and ~6.4 kbar for the former and ~700 °C and ~7.1 kbar for the latter. This indicates the Datong–Menyuan Complex recorded an amphibolite–granulite‐facies metamorphism. The zircon U–Pb analyses of 3 intrusive rocks including granitic dike, diorite, and granite are dated at ca. 499.8 ± 4.3, 495.9 ± 3.3, and 505.5 ± 3.2 Ma, and 3 representative metamorphic rocks underwent contemporaneous metamorphism at ca. 498.9 ± 4.1, 504.4 ± 3.9, and 499.3 ± 2.9 Ma. Zircon Hf isotopic analyses show that 505‐Ma zircons from the granitoid have positive εHf(t) values ranging from +8.5 to +12.8, indicating a depleted mantle source. Based on the penecontemporaneous magmatic and metamorphic event, we suggest that the southward subduction of the north Qilian Ocean triggered the activity of mantle‐derived magma and coeval metamorphic event. A subsequent compression is attributed to crustal thickening, indicating counter clockwise P–T paths. Combining these data with previous studies, it suggests paired metamorphic belts: the penecontemporaneous high‐temperature metamorphic belt related to an arc along the northern Qilian Block and high‐pressure/low‐temperature metamorphic belt existed in the north Qilian suture.