Late Triassic granites with mafic microenclaves in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, northwestern China: petrogenesis and implications for continental crust evolution and geodynamic evolution

Abstract

The magmatic source of the Late Triassic granites in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (EKOB) is controversial, which restricts our understanding of crustal evolution and geodynamic evolution in the EKOB. Therefore, this study conducts zircon U‒Pb isotope dating, major and trace geochemical analysis, electron microprobe analysis of feldspar and amphibole, and in situ zircon Hf isotope analysis of Xiangride host granites and their mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) in the EKOB to reveal their magmatic source and geodynamic implications. Zircon U‒Pb dating shows that the Xiangride host granites and the MMEs crystallized simultaneously at ca. 228–223 Ma. The MMEs show an igneous texture, finer grain size, higher crystallization temperature and water content, and lower oxygen fugacity than those of the host granite, suggesting that they were probably derived from two distinct primitive magmas. Therefore, the MMEs are considered the products of magma mixing between granitic and mafic magmas. The Xiangride host granites show high Sr/Y (42.0–73.1) and (La/Yb)N (12.7–30.7) ratios, showing affinity with adakites derived from a thickened lower crust. Combined with the indistinguishable εHf(t) values (−3.47 to +0.08) from the coeval mafic rocks, it is concluded that they are derived from partial melting of juvenile thickened lower crust. The adakitic features of the Xiangride host granites and widespread coeval granites indicate the existence of a thickened lower crust before 228 Ma and delamination of the lower lithosphere is likely the geodynamic process resulting in the postcollisional extension regime.