Paleo-Mesoproterozoic magmatic-sedimentary events in eastern Bainaimiao micro-block: Implications for Precambrian tectonic evolution of a fragment from Columbia supercontinent

Abstract

Identifying tectonic positions and origins of Precambrian micro-blocks within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is essential for revealing global paleogeography and evolution of the early Earth. The Bainaimiao micro-block in the southeastern CAOB preserves multistage geologic records which can better reveal Precambrian tectonic history of micro-blocks within the Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic belt. This study presents integrated research of geochronology, geochemistry, and zircon Hf isotopes on the Chenjiatun metamorphic complex in the eastern Bainaimiao micro-block, which consists of meta-sedimentary rocks (plagioclase gneisses and mica schists), amphibolites and two-mica granites. The protoliths of amphibolites, two-mica granites and meta-sedimentary rocks were formed at 1.75 Ga, 1.38 Ga and 1.39–1.34 Ga, respectively, suggesting that they represent Paleo-Mesoproterozoic basement of the Bainaimiao micro-block. The detrital zircon age spectra of meta-sedimentary rocks show two representative age peaks at 1.80 Ga and 1.40 Ga, with zircon Hf isotopes varying from −11.11 to +10.67. Characteristic mostly positive zircon Hf isotopes and geochemical features of the Chenjiatun complex indicates that the Bainaimiao micro-block probably has tectonic affinity with the Laurentia-Baltica continent. Paleoproterozoic amphibolites with positive εHf(t) (+5.67 to +15.42) were derived from metasomatized mantle wedge mixed with sediment melts. They are characterized by arc-like geochemistry such as high Th/Yb (0.73–2.77), enrichment in LILEs and depletion in HFSEs (eg. Nb and Ta), similar to coeval arc magmatism in the Laurentia-Baltica continent, which indicate the Bainaimiao micro-block was possibly in a subduction convergent setting in the late Paleoproterozoic. By contrast, Mesoproterozoic two-mica granites, with mostly positive εHf(t) (−0.29 to +11.53), belong to typical S-type granites and could be generated from partial melting of meta-pelites with participation peritectic garnets. These two-mica granites, together with ∼1.40 Ga juvenile A-type grantioids from nearby and other Precambrian micro-blocks in the southern CAOB, exhibit relatively high alkalis and HFSEs contents, young Hf model ages (1.50–1.40 Ga) and were generated at high-temperature environment. These findings reveals that the Bainaimiao micro-block was in an extensional setting at 1.40 Ga coeval with the breakup evolution of the Columbia supercontinent.