Zircon U-Pb geochronology and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope geochemistry for Permian–Early Triassic arc-related magmatism in Pohang, Jangsari, and Yeongdeok, southeastern Korean Peninsula

Abstract

Granitoids in the southern Korean Peninsula range in age from Precambrian to Cenozoic, but were emplaced mostly during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The late Permian–Early Triassic granitoids are minor in volume and restricted to the northeastern part of the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin (Yeongdeok and Jangsari). Here we report on Permian granites from the Cenozoic Pohang Basin of southeastern Korea. The samples were obtained during the drilling of injection wells in the Pohang enhanced geothermal system (4219 m depth for the drill core; 3658–4174 m for the drill cuttings). We also analyzed outcrop samples from Yeongdeok and Jangsari. We present zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope, whole-rock geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data for these Phanerozoic granitoids. The zircons yielded early–late Permian ages (ca. 283–264 Ma) for the Pohang granites, late Permian ages (ca. 261–256 Ma) for the Jangsari granitoids, and late Permian–Early Triassic ages (ca. 253–249 Ma) for the Yeongdeok granitoids. The granitoids are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and depleted in high-field-strength elements, indicating formation in an arc-related tectonic setting. The Permian Pohang and Jangsari granitoids have a non-adakitic arc-like geochemistry, whereas the Yeongdeok intrusions are adakite-like and show high Sr and low Y-Yb contents. The granitoids have low (87Sr/86Sr)i (0.7038–0.7049) and positive εNd(t) values (+3.7 to +4.7 for the Pohang, +4.4 to +4.9 for the Jangsari, and + 2.4 to +4.1 for the Yeongdeok plutons), and are distinct from the basement of the Yeongnam Massif. The Pb isotope ratios of the studied samples plot in the field for Indian mid-ocean ridge basalts. Zircons from the plutons have positive εHf(t) values: +9.8 to +17.6 for the Pohang, +8.8 to +17.7 for the Jangsari, and + 8.5 to +18.3 for the Yeongdeok plutons. The Permian granitoids were likely the product of extensive fractional crystallization of H2O-rich parental magmas, which were possibly generated in a hydrated mantle wedge. The Yeongdeok adakite-like granitoids were derived from a normal H2O-rich arc magma by amphibole ± garnet fractionation. The juvenile Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope compositions are comparable with those of coeval igneous rocks in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, rather than intrusive counterparts in the North and South China cratons. We propose two possibilities that Permian–Early Triassic arc-related magmatism in the southeastern Korean Peninsula might have been associated with (1) northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic plate; or (2) westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate at the eastern margin of the North China Craton.