Evolution of continental arc at root caused by igneous garnet and amphibole fractionation: Evidence from Jurassic intermediate–felsic intrusive rocks in southern Qiangtang, Tibet

Abstract

Jurassic continental arc magmatism occurred widely across the southern Qiangtang Terrane, and provides an opportunity to study how continental arc magmas evolve towards intermediate–felsic compositions. We present new LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock major and trace element compositions, and Sr–Nd and in-situ zircon Hf isotope data for late Jurassic intermediate–felsic intrusive rocks from the Rena Co area of southern Qiangtang, central Tibet. Jurassic intrusive rocks in this area consist mainly of granodiorite, diorite, and related gabbro–diorite mafic enclaves, which have been dated at 153.1–147.6Ma. Combining our data with previous results shows that continental arc magmatism in the southern Qiangtang Terrane has relatively homogeneous Sr–Nd isotopic compositions, with (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios of 0.7069–0.7092 and εNd(t) values of −6.3 to −2.2. Assuming that the hot, hydrous, basaltic melt generated by the subduction of the oceanic slab has a composition similar to island arc basalts, mixing ~50% basaltic magma with ~50% lower crustal material can produce the Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of the Rena Co intrusive rocks. The southern Qiangtang arc magmatism also has similar Hf isotopic compositions, albeit with a large range of εHf(t) values (−10 to +3). The different Rena Co intrusive rocks have different geochemical characteristics, including major element and rare earth element (REE) contents, Mg#, and evolutionary trends on Harker diagrams. This suggests that these arc rocks were derived from a common parent magma, but experienced different magmatic processes. The diorites were derived from primitive arc magma through amphibole-dominated low-pressure fractional crystallization, whereas the granodiorites underwent garnet-dominated, high-pressure fractional crystallization in secondary magma chambers. Fractionation of igneous garnet and amphibole played a significant role in the evolution of the continental arc, and was likely an important mechanism in driving the continental arc towards silica-rich compositions. The fractionation of igneous garnet and amphibole possibly changes the Mg# and Nb/Ta ratios of the derivative magmas.