Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic constraints on the source and petrogenesis of the Xiangshuigou silicic alkaline igneous complex from the northern margin of the North China Craton

Abstract

We present eudialyte and zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Hf and zircon Hf–O isotope data for the Xiangshuigou silicic alkaline igneous complex from the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). We use these data to investigate the source and petrogenesis of these alkaline igneous rocks and the lithospheric mantle evolution of the NCC. The Xiangshuigou complex consists of nepheline and porphyritic syenites without associated mafic or intermediate rocks. Zircon and eudialyte U–Pb dating yielded consistent ages of 227–219 Ma for these rocks. All the alkaline igneous rocks from the Xiangshuigou complex have high Na2O, Al2O3, Rb, Th, and Zr, and low MgO, CaO, P2O5, and Ba contents, and are enriched in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements. These rocks are not depleted in high-field-strength elements. Whole-rock Nd–Hf isotopic compositions are slightly enriched, with εNd(t) = −3.7 to −3.0 and εHf(t) = −3.1 to +0.6. Zircon Hf–O isotope analyses yielded εHf(t) and δ18O values of −0.6 to −6.0 and +5.1‰ to +6.0‰, respectively. These geochemical and isotopic features suggest that the silicic alkaline igneous rocks were derived by partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle source before experiencing protracted two-stage fractional crystallization. The lithospheric mantle source of the Xiangshuigou complex was distinct from the Paleozoic cratonic lithospheric mantle and experienced mantle metasomatism by depleted mantle-derived carbonate-bearing materials prior to the alkaline magmatism. This indicates that, in addition to subducted crustal melts/fluids, asthenosphere-derived materials were also involved in modifying the lithospheric mantle of the northern NCC. As such, our work not only approves the effectivity of using whole-rock geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic data to reveal origin of the silicic alkaline igneous rocks, but also argues for a multiple modification for the northern NCC during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic.