Geochronology and petrogeochemistry of Late Permian volcanic rocks in the B.Xiengnou area, Northwestern Laos: Petrogenesis and tectonic significance

Abstract

The Nan Suture and Sukhothai Arc Terrane are products of the eastward subduction of the Paleotethyan Ocean during the Late Carboniferous to Triassic. However, their footprints in northwestern Laos are poorly constrained. New geochronological and geochemical data presented in this study demonstrate a Late Permian origin for the andesitic rocks in the B.Xiengnou area rather than Late Triassic. The breccia-bearing andesitic tuff in the B.On ultramafic complex yield a zircon U-Pb age of 260 ± 1.4 Ma, geochemically displaying a MORB-like signature. The andesitic tuff in the B.Kiophoulan-B.Houayhak belt gave the U-Pb age of 254 ± 1.3 Ma, with arc-like geochemical affinity. By combining geochronological and geochemical data from the Nan Suture and Sukhothai Arc Terrane, the authors suggest that the andesitic rocks in the B.On ultramafic complex formed in a back-arc basin background, which connected the Jinghong and Nan back-arc basin during the Permian; while the andesitic tuff in the B.Kiophoulan-B.Houayhak belt erupted in the Sukhothai continental arc setting.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.