Late Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic rifting magmatism in the Uda sector of Western Transbaikalia

Abstract

Magmatism of the Uda sector enclosed within the West Transbaikalian rift zone (WTRZ) is discussed in this paper. Seven stages of the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanism have been recognized within span 174–51Ma. On the border about 135Ma the nature of volcanism changed noticeably: (a) the volume of volcanic rocks essentially reduced; (b) transition from differentiated to basaltic associations proceeded with the disappearance of volcanics containing SiO2 over 54wt.%; (c) alkali and subalkaline basaltoids appeared in the associations, their volume increasing at later stages. Geochemical features of the Uda volcanics are determined by participation in their formation of the mantle source close in composition to the source with OIB parameters. They are responsible for high concentrations of incompatible elements in magmatic products. The isotope characteristics of rocks indicate conformity of this mantle source to the varying behavior of EMII and PREMA with the role of the latter strengthening in time. The basaltoids of initial stages show the deficit of Ti, Nb, and Ta caused by involvement of water-saturated lithosphere mantle in magma formation. The main specifics of the Uda volcanics composition and the pattern of their variability in time correspond to those in WTRZ, as well as in the other Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic rift zones of Central Asia. This evidence suggests similar geodynamic settings for origination and development of rifting processes, when continuously evolving mantle plume affects the regional lithosphere. The magmatism of the Uda sector, as in the entire WTRZ, differs considerably from magmatic processes developing over the convergent boundaries of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt; their products are represented by differentiated magmatic associations with geochemical properties common for the rocks of suprasubduction zones.