Paleoproterozoic magmatic and metamorphic events in the Hongcheon area, southern margin of the Northern Gyeonggi Massif in the Korean Peninsula, and their links to the Paleoproterozoic orogeny in the North China Craton

Abstract

The Hongcheon area is located at the northern part of Gyeonggi Massif (NGM) in the Korean Peninsula. The metamorphic rocks of the NGM at the Hongcheon area are composed of the Paleoproterozoic Yongduri Gneiss Complex (YGC), Euiam Group (EG) and the Euiam Gneiss Complex (EGC). The quartz-feldspathic gneisses in the northeastern part of the YGC record peak metamorphic temperature–pressure condition of 790–840°C and 7.2–8.9kbar, whereas the granitic and garnet gneisses in the western part of the YGC record peak metamorphic temperature–pressure conditions of 690–720°C and 6.1–6.9kbar, and 640–660°C and 5.0–5.4kbar, respectively. The peak metamorphic conditions represent a regional low-P/T metamorphic event (M2) in which metamorphic temperature and pressures increased towards the east. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age dating indicates that the M2 metamorphic stage occurred at ca. 1886–1870Ma. The presence of relict kyanite in the gneisses within the YGC suggests that the intermediate-P/T metamorphic stage (M1) occurred in ca. 1925Ma. Whole-rock geochemistry of the metagranitoid in the EGC indicates that they are originally post-collision granitoid. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age dating indicates that the metagranitoid formed at ca. 1885–1869Ma. Considering the similarity in age between the Paleoproterozoic intrusion and the M2 low-P/T metamorphism, the M2 metamorphism also occurred in a post-collision tectonic setting and the M1 intermediate-P/T metamorphism with kyanite represents collision event. Further, we suggest that the Paleoproterozoic orogeny in the Hongcheon area is closely linked to the Paleoproterozoic orogeny in North Korea and the Jiao-Liao-Ji belt in the North China Craton.