Late Neoproterozoic magmatism in South Qinling, Central China: Geochemistry, zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopes and tectonic implications

Abstract

The Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the northern margin of the Yangtze Block in South China remains debated. In this study, we present results from LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb geochronology on a suite of intermediate-felsic rocks in South Qinling, Central China which show a mean age of ca. 630Ma. The zircon εHf(t) values of these rocks mostly range from +0.44 to +14.78. Geochemically, the granites and syenite show high total alkali contents, with enrichment in LREE, LILE (Rb, Ba, and K), and HFSE (Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), and depletion in Sr, P, and Ti, similar to the features of A-type granites. The meta-diorite shows high Na2O, with depletion in Eu, Ti, and LILE (Sr, Rb, Ba, and K), and enrichment in HFSE (Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf). The geochemical features are consistent with formation of the intermediate-felsic suite through fractionation from underplated basaltic magma that originated from sub-continental lithospheric mantle metasomatized by asthenosphere-derived oceanic-island-basalt-like (OIB-like) melts, coupled with minor crustal contamination. We correlate the ca. 630Ma magmatism with a back-arc rift setting that probably developed in relation to slab tearing during continued slab rollback.