Zircon U–Pb–Hf isotope systematics and geochemistry of Helong granite-greenstone belt in Southern Jilin Province, China: Implications for Neoarchean crustal evolution of the northeastern margin of North China Craton

Abstract

As one of the major Neoarchean granite-greenstone belts in China, the Helong terrane is located at the northeastern margin (Southern Jilin Province) of the North China Craton (NCC). It is dominated by metamorphic supracrustal rock assemblage and granitoid gneiss. The former contains amphibolite, hornblende plagioclase gneiss, biotite plagioclase gneiss and banded iron formation (BIF), whereas the latter is dominated by the Tonalite–Trondhjemite–Granodiorite (TTG) gneisses. Zircon LA–ICP–MS U–Pb isotopic analyses indicate that the supracrustal rock assemblage was formed at 2683–2654Ma and underwent regional metamorphism (lower amphibolite facies) at 2614–2553Ma before the widespread emplacement of plutonic granitoids at 2551–2532Ma. Both greenstone sequence and plutonic granitoid rocks experienced the subsequent regional metamorphism (greenschist to lower amphibolite facies) at 2508–2400Ma. The supracrustal rocks can be divided into three groups based on their lithological and geochemical characteristics. Detailed petrogenetic and geochemical studies suggest that the Group #1 amphibolite samples were derived from partial melting of depleted upper mantle that had been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids; Group #2 amphibolite samples were derived by partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge that was strongly metasomatized by subduction-derived fluids or melts; and Group #3 hornblende/biotite plagioclase gneiss samples were derived from partial melting of juvenile basalt and minor amounts of older sediments in the lower crust level. The granitoid gneisses in the Helong granite-greenstone belt can be divided into relatively high magnesium group (HMG) and low magnesium group (LMG). The HMG samples were derived from parental magmas generated by partial melting of juvenile basalt and minor amounts of older sediments within the lower crust level, whereas magmatic precursors of the LMG samples were generated by partial melting of a metapelite-dominated source under lower temperature melting conditions.U–Pb dating of inherited or captured zircons, combined with zircon Lu–Hf isotope data, indicates a significant ∼2.9–2.7Ga crustal growth episode, whereas the ∼2.55–2.53Ga magmatism involved crustal recycling in the Helong terrane. Consequently, the Helong terrane preserves a record of Neoarchean tectonic environment of Andean-type active continental margin.