Geochronology and petrogenesis of the Late Triassic A-type granitoids in the Yeongnam Massif and its implication for Late Triassic geodynamics of northeast Asia

Abstract

The Late Triassic A-type granitoids along the continental margins of East Asia are important for deciphering the crust-mantle interactions, transformation of tectonic regime, and termination of the Indosinian Orogeny (known as the Songrim Orogeny in South Korea). The newly identified Wangdong plutons are distributed in the southwestern part of Yeongnam Massif, South Korea. U–Pb dating of zircons from the Wangdong plutons has established its date of emplacement at ca. 226–221 Ma, similar to the emplacement ages of the Daegang and Ian alkali granites. Geochemical data have shown that the Wangdong granitoid samples are magnesian to ferroan in composition and can be further classified in the range from alkalic to calc-alkalic. They have a high zircon saturation temperature (~ 850 °C), K2O/Na2O and, Ga/Al ratios, and are enriched with high field strength elements (e.g., Zr and Y), indicating an A-type granite affinity. Their classification into A2-type granites based on the A-type subdivision diagrams suggest that they formed in an extension-related tectonic setting. Moreover, the Wangdong A-type granitoids have high (La/Nb)N and (Th/Nb)N ratios with peraluminous characteristics (value of aluminum saturation index >1.0). In addition, magmatic zircons from the Wangdong granitoids have negative ɛHf(t) values (−6.6 to −15.5) with a Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic two-stage Hf model ages (from 1.99 to 1.49 Ga). This suggests that the Wangdong granitoids were derived from ancient crustal materials with compositions similar to metagraywackes. Based on geochemical, isotopic, and geochronological studies, we concluded that the lithospheric mantle delamination induced by slab roll-back of the subducted Paleo-Pacific plate is the main trigger in the production of Late Triassic magmatism in Yeongnam Massif, South Korea.