Late Permian back-arc extension of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean: Evidence from the East Kunlun Orogen, Northern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

The East Kunlun Orogen is located in the northern part of the Tibetan Plateau and has received significant attention in tracing the evolution of Paleo-Tethys Ocean. In this study, we present U-Pb zircon geochronology, geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotopic data on the Kengdenongshe tholeiitic gabbro in the eastern part of the orogen. The gabbro is characterised by high and variable MgO and Fe2O3, as well as low K2O and TiO2 contents, typical of low-K tholeiitic series. The rock shows enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements, depletion in high field strength elements, with rare earth element signature similar to that of a back-arc basin basalt. The rock displays relatively low and uniform (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios and high εNd(t) values. These geochemical and isotopic features are interpreted to represent magma derivation from partial melting of an enriched asthenospheric source. Our model envisages that the initial melting started in the garnet-facies (~4%) and continued in the spinel-facies (~6%). The geochemical and isotopic systematics of the gabbro are consistent with magma generation in a back-arc basin setting triggered by the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. In conjunction with the data on mafic magmatic suites in the region, we trace a progressive change in source from asthenosphere to increasingly enriched mantle wedge. Our study proposes a transition in the geodynamic setting of the east Paleo-Tethys Ocean from back-arc extension during the Late Permian to continued subduction during the Late Permian and Middle Triassic.