Petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic mafic dykes in western Yangtze Block, South China: implications for the assembly and break-up of Rodinia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Neoproterozoic mafic dyke swarms are an important probe for reconstructing the evolutionary history of the Rodinia supercontinent. Here, we present detailed geochronological, geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data to constrain the petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of Neoproterozoic mafic dyke swarms in the western Yangtze Block, South China. Petrological and zircon U–Pb dating studies reveal that the studied dykes mainly comprise subophitic-textured dolerite and intergranular dolerite with crystallization ages of ca. 823–817 Ma and ca. 795–794 Ma, respectively. The two groups of dykes exhibit varied geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions. Among them, the older group has moderate rare earth elements (∑REE = 71.0–94.9 ppm) with flat REE patterns ((La/Yb)N = 1.38–1.81) and exhibits enriched large ion lithophile elements and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes ((87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.704865–0.707641, εNd(t) = −6.15 to 1.26, εHf(t) = −2.59 to 2.11), resembling typical island arc basalts. Whereas, the younger group has high Nb contents (4–10 ppm) with high Nb/U values (6.93–29.3), high REE contents (∑REE = 123.3–180.8 ppm) with moderate (La/Yb)N values (1.84–4.51), and slightly depleted but variable Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes ((87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.702280–0.706761, εNd(t) = −2.67 to 4.07, εHf(t) = −0.74 to 5.91), akin to Nb-enriched basalts in the subduction zone. Petrogenesis studies indicate that the ca. 823–817 Ma and ca. 795–794 Ma dykes may be derived from different degrees of melting of the enriched mantle wedge that was metasomatized by subducted slab-related fluids and melts, respectively. Varying degrees of the interaction of the slab-derived fluid/melts with mantle peridotite account for their elemental–isotopic heterogeneity. The geochemical database compilation of Neoproterozoic igneous rocks suggests that the Yangtze Block may be located on the periphery of the Rodinia supercontinent and slab tearing or break-off, rather than mantle plume, may account for the Rodinia break-up and associated transition of the mantle metasomatic mechanism at ca. 830–820 Ma.