Geochronology and Geochemistry of Late Triassic Intrusive Rocks in the Xiuyan Area, Liaodong Peninsula, Eastern North China Craton: Petrogenesis and Implications for Lithospheric Thinning

Abstract

AbstractThe timing and mechanisms of lithospheric thinning and destruction of the North China Craton (NCC) remain controversial, and the overall geodynamics of the process are poorly understood. This paper documents Late Triassic igneous rocks including monzogranite, gabbro, and diorite from the Xiuyan District on the Liaodong Peninsula in the eastern NCC, which have LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb ages of 229.0 ± 0.4 Ma, 216.2 ± 0.9 Ma, and 210.6 ± 2.0 Ma, respectively. Monzogranite shows high‐SiO2 adakite affinity, negative ∊Hf(t) values (–20.6 to –17.9), and old TDM2 ages (3.53–3.29 Ga), suggesting that their parental magma was derived from thickened Paleoarchean mafic lower crust and minor mantle materials that were also involved their generation. Gabbro is ultrapotassic, strongly enriched in LREEs and LILEs, depleted in HFSEs, and has evolved zircon Hf isotopes with negative ∊Hf of –10.04 to –5.85 and old TDM2 ages (2.59 –2.22 Ga). These are diagnostic signatures of a crustal component, but their high contents of MgO, Cr, Co, Ni indicate that the primary magma originated from enriched mantle. Diorite is enriched in LILEs and LREEs, depleted in HFSEs (with negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies), and contains negative ∊Hf(t) values (–13.64 to –11.01). Compared with the gabbro, the diorite is relatively enriched in Nb, Ta and HREEs, and also contains younger TDM2 ages (2.11–1.94 Ga), suggesting that the diorite was formed by mixing between ancient lower crust‐derived felsic magmas and asthenospheric mantle‐derived magmas. Field observations, geochronology, geochemistry, and zircon Lu‐Hf isotopes indicate that Late Triassic magmatism and tectonic activity resulted from deep subduction of the Yangtze Craton beneath the NCC in the Xiuyan area. This phase of tectonic activity was completed in the eastern NCC by the Late Triassic (216 Ma), and was subsequently followed by lithospheric thinning that began in the Late Triassic.