Palaeoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton: Geochemical and isotopic evidence from ca. 2.17 Ga felsic tuff

Abstract

The Palaeoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt (JLJB) in the North China Craton remains controversial, particularly in the absence of adequate evidence for oceanic plate subduction. Here, we report SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages, whole‐rock geochemistry, and Sm–Nd isotope data on felsic tuffs from the Anshan–Helan–Lianshanguang area in the Liaodong Peninsula which provides important insights into the early tectonic evolution of the JLJB. The zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages suggest formation of the tuffs crystallized at ca. 2.17 Ga, which coincide with the crystallization of the voluminous Liaoji granitoids in this belt. The felsic tuffs show calc‐alkaline features and are characterized by a wide range of SiO2 (61.89–72.55 wt.%), MgO (1.35–5.80 wt.%), Cr (36.0–67.8 ppm) and Ni (5.88–28.8 ppm) contents, and low TiO2 (0.42–0.64 wt.%) and total Fe2O3 (2.14–5.64 wt.%) concentrations. They also display enrichment in LREE and depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti similar to the features of continental arc andesites. Their wide variation in whole‐rock εNd(t) (−2.6 to +3.4) combined with the synchronous magmatic activity in this region suggests that they were derived from mixing of mafic (e.g., those in the Liaohe suite) and felsic (e.g., the Liaoji granitoids) magmas, followed by fractional crystallization. In view of the widespread distribution of magmatism, including the Helan felsic tuffs and Liaoji granitoids, and the synchronous sedimentary rocks in the Liaodong Peninsula, we propose that the evolution of the JLJB involved an initial back‐arc extension stage, followed by arc‐continent collision.