Petrogenesis of the Zijinshan alkaline complex in Shanxi Province, western North China Craton: Mixing of melts from multiple sources

Abstract

The destruction of the North China Craton (NCC) is a well‐known dynamic event in the Mesozoic, but the western NCC, with only few magmatic activities, has lacked  studies so far. The Zijinshan alkaline complex, tectonically located at the western part of the NCC and the eastern edge of Ordos Block/Basin, is one of the most typical alkaline intrusions during the NCC destruction, and consists of monzonite, aegirine–augite syenite, nepheline syenite, pseudoleucite phonolite and trachyte porphyry. Geochronological, geochemical and in situ Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic analyses were performed on the various lithologies, in order to reveal the magma sources, petrogenesis and possible geodynamic processes. Zircon and titanite U–Pb dating shows that the Zijinshan complex was emplaced at ~130 Ma. The main rocks are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large‐ion lithophile elements (LILEs; such as Rb, Ba, K, Sr), and depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and high‐field‐strength elements (HFSEs; such as Th, U, Nb, Ta, Ti), without negative Eu anomaly. In addition, the obviously enriched and inhomogeneous Sr–Nd isotopic components occurred among the various lithologies, implying the primary magma of Zijinshan complex may originate from a deep mixed source. Specifically, the monzonites of Zijinshan complex come from the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle with participation of crustal materials. Meanwhile, the nepheline syenites and alkaline volcanics originated from the enriched lithospheric mantle mixing with the depleted asthenosphere‐derived compositions. During the NCC destruction, continuous asthenospheric upwelling resulted in several times of mixing of melts from asthenospheric mantle, lithospheric mantle and lower crust in different proportions, and then the mixed magma of each episode migrated upward to the shallow part to form the Zijinshan pluton.