Petrogenesis of two Cretaceous granitoid episodes in the Luk Ulo region, Central Java, Indonesia, and its implication for the tectonic evolution of the easternmost Neo-Tethys

Abstract

The central part of Java, Indonesia, is located on the southern margin of Sundaland, and records the tectonic-magmatic history of the easternmost Neo-Tethys. Elucidating the petrogenesis and its tectonic setting of the Cretaceous Luk Ulo granites in Central Java is key to reconstructing the late subduction-accretion history of the easternmost Neo-Tethys. This study reports for the first time the zircon U-Pb geochronology, Hf-O isotope, whole-rock major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of two granitoid episodes from Central Java. Zircon U-Pb dating results show that the Luk Ulo granites formed in two Cretaceous episodes at ca. 115 Ma and ca. 70 Ma. These two Cretaceous granitoid episodes contain both calc-alkaline with enriched large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements and depleted high field strength elements, exhibiting arc geochemical signatures. The older (ca. 115 Ma) granites show slightly higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.70772 to 0.70784 and weakly negative εNd(t) values of −2.37 to −1.67, indicating the contribution of ancient crust. However, the scattered zircon εHf(t) values of +0.23 to +11.39 suggest a probable mixture of ancient crustal components and juvenile crustal additions in the magma source. The high zircon δ18O values (+8.86‰ to +14.24‰) show the possible incorporation of supracrustal components (sediments and fluids) in the magma formation. In contrast, the younger (ca. 70 Ma) granites show low (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.70427−0.70442, strong positive εNd(t) values of +3.89 to +4.03, and zircon εHf(t) values of +14.04 to +17.38 and slightly higher zircon δ18O values of +5.01‰ to +6.49‰ than the depleted mantle, indicating that the magma was predominantly derived from the juvenile crust with negligible supracrustal involvement. In general, zircon εHf(t) values and whole-rock εNd(t) values of the Late Cretaceous (after ca. 90 Ma) granitic rocks in the southwest margin of Sundaland were higher than those of the Early Cretaceous granitoids, suggesting a change in the source region from ancient to the juvenile in response to the rollback of the Neo-Tethys ocean. Our findings from the two Cretaceous granitoid episodes in Central Java provide new insights into the tectono-magmatic evolution along the southwestern margin of Sundaland and the two different episodes of crustal growth in the easternmost Tethys during the Cretaceous.