In situ zircon U–Pb and Hf–O isotopic results for ca. 73 Ma granite in Hainan Island: Implications for the termination of an Andean-type active continental margin in southeast China

Abstract

We report in the paper integrated analyses of in situ zircon U–Pb ages, Hf–O isotopes, whole-rock geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopes for the Longlou granite in northern Hainan Island, southeast China. SIMS zircon U–Pb dating results yield a crystallization age of ∼73Ma for the Longlou granite, which is the youngest granite recognized in southeast China. The granite rocks are characterized by high SiO2 and K2O, weakly peraluminous (A/CNK=1.04–1.10), depletion in Sr, Ba and high field strength elements (HFSE) and enrichment in LREE and large ion lithophile elements (LILE). Chemical variations of the granite are dominated by fractional crystallization of feldspar, biotite, Ti–Fe oxides and apatite. Their whole-rock initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7073–0.7107) and εNd(t) (−4.6 to −6.6) and zircon εHf(t) (−5.0 to 0.8) values are broadly consistent with those of the Late Mesozoic granites in southeast China coast. Zircon δ18O values of 6.9–8.3‰ suggest insignificant involvement of supracrustal materials in the granites. These granites are likely generated by partial melting of medium- to high-K basaltic rocks in an active continental margin related to subduction of the Pacific plate. The ca. 73Ma Longlou granite is broadly coeval with the Campanian (ca. 80–70Ma) granitoid rocks in southwest Japan and South Korea, indicating that they might be formed along a common Andean-type active continental margin of east–southeast Asia. Tectonic transition from the Andean-type to the West Pacific-type continental margin of southeast China likely took place at ca.70Ma, rather than ca. 90–85Ma as previously thought.