U–Pb zircon dating, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions of Early Indosinian intrusive rocks in West Qinling, central China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

Abstract

The Qinling–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt is the junction between the North and South China blocks, which resulted from the final amalgamation of China continents during the Indosinian. Indosinian granitoids are widespread in the Qinling orogen, and their geneses can thus constrain the evolution of China continent. We carried out a combined U–Pb zircon dating and geochemical study for the Shuangpengxi granodiorite pluton and the Xiekeng diorite–granodiorite pluton in the middle part of the West Qinling orogen. U–Pb zircon dating shows that the magma crystallization ages of 242 ± 3 Ma for the Shuangpengxi pluton and ~244–242 Ma for the Xiekeng pluton. Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions reveal that the magma of the Shuangpengxi granodiorite was derived from partial melting of crustal materials. The Xiekeng diorites can be divided into high-Al diorite and high-Mg diorite. Both of them resulted from partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle, but their mantle source had been modified by previous slab-derived melt. The high-Al diorite was formed by fractional crystallization of olivine, pyroxene and/or preferential accumulation of plagioclase, and the high-Mg diorite was formed by fractional crystallization of olivine and/or preferential accumulation of pyroxene. The Xiekeng granodioritic porphyry was formed by mixing of crust-derived and mantle-derived melts. We propose that the Early Indosinian magmatism resulted from break-off of subducted oceanic slab after collision. The slab break-off model can well explain the linear distribution of the Early Indosinian plutons and rapid crustal uplift during the Middle Triassic in the West Qinling.