Syn-collisional I-type granitoids linked to lateral lithospheric heterogeneity: A case study from the North Qaidam orogen, NW China

Abstract

Granitoids constitute the major theme in evaluating the growth and reworking of continental crust on Earth. Here we present U-Pb geochronology, geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes of the early Paleozoic granitoids emplaced during pre- and syn-collisional stages in the North Qaidam orogen to gain insights on the granitoid typology, genetic mechanism, as well as the implications for the evolution of continental crust. The pre- and syn-collisional granitoids in this region all belong to I-type granite and are derived from different continental crustal sources including late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic metamorphic crystalline basement, and juvenile continental crust formed during early Paleozoic oceanic subduction. Granitic magmas derived from the two sources underwent a series of magmatic processes such as mixing or assimilation, which lead to the transitional geochemical and isotopic features, suggesting that besides source components, magmatic processes from melt extraction to granitoid emplacement also exerted an important influence on the formation of these granitoids and crustal maturation. Although S-type granitoids are commonly taken as the fingerprint for continental collision, our study emphasizes that the role of I-type granites formed in syn-collisional setting should not be underestimated. Besides subducted slab processes such as roll-back, retreat, or break-off, we propose a novel geodynamic model which envisages that the lateral inhomogeneity in lithospheric thickness triggered by continental collision within the overriding plate above subduction zone controlled the magmatism. Both growth and reworking of continental crust occur during oceanic subduction, whereas syn-collision setting is dominated by continental crust reworking as in the North Qaidam orogen.