Crustal Growth Research Articles

Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic crustal growth, recycling, and the changing geodynamics of North Gondwana

Understanding crustal growth, reworking, and geodynamics of the northern continental margin of Gondwana during Ediacaran to Silurian times plays an important role in Gondwana's paleogeographic reconstruction. This study uses a combination of bulk-rock geochemistry, magmatic and detrital zircon geochronology, zircon trace element, and O-Hf isotope data to evaluate the Ediacaran-early Paleozoic magmatic history of northern Gondwana. Our detrital zircon data from Ediacaran to Ordovician sedimentary successions of central Iran show that the 620–500 Ma detrital zircon likely originates from the erosion of the Cadomian arcs in Iran and Anatolia. This zircon shows variable εHf(t) and δ18O values and Nb/Yb, U/Yb, and U/Nb, resembling arc rocks. The Cryogenian (1000–620 Ma) detrital zircon with juvenile εHf(t) and mantle-like δ18O values could have been supplied from erosion of the juvenile crust of the ANS. The youngest age peaks of 488–450 Mafor detrital zircon, in upper Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary rocks, are considered to show the rifting of Gondwana and Paleotethys opening. Abundant unrounded 2.5 Ga detrital zircon from Ediacaran sandstones probably shows uplift and exhumation of a local source, i.e., the Archean crust of Iran. The Neoproterozoic igneous rocks formed firstly during the subduction of oceanic lithosphere (Mozambique Ocean) beneath northern Gondwana around 880 Ma to form the ANS juvenile crust. Later, the magmatism moved from the ANS toward the northern territories of Gondwana, with peak magmatism at 570–525 Ma. In Cambrian to Ordovician, the Cadomian magmatic arc was uplifted and eroded, and the geodynamic setting switched into juvenile magmatism following rifting of northern Gondwana.

Zircon U–Pb ages and geochemistry of deep-seated crustal xenoliths from Yangyuan: Implications for the evolution of lower crust beneath the Trans North China Orogen

Deep-seated crustal xenoliths captured by volcanic rocks play a rare opportunity in understanding the composition and evolution of the lower continental crust. Here, we present mineral chemistry, whole-rock major and trace elements and Sr–Nd isotopes, and in-situ zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for a suite of granulite and biotite gneiss xenoliths entrained in the Oligocene basalts from the Yangyuan county in the central part of the Trans North China Orogen (TNCO) with aims to decipher the composition and evolutionary history of the lower crust beneath this area. Calculated equilibrium temperatures (841–933 °C) and pressures (9.7–14.3 kbar) suggest an origin of the Yangyuan granulites from the lower crust. The dominantly Archean–Proterozoic zircon ages and low Mg# values (29.0–68.4) of the Yangyuan crustal xenoliths indicate that they represent the ancient crust and the fractional crystallization plays a key role during the protolith formation. Furthermore, the zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopes data reveal multiple thermal events, including two main peaks of crustal growth at ∼2.7 Ga and ∼2.5 Ga, ∼1.85–1.80 Ga and the Phanerozoic accretion and reworking of the lower crust beneath Yangyuan. In addition, a comparison study of crustal xenoliths from Yangyuan, Nangaoya and Hannuoba areas demonstrates that the lower crust beneath the central–northern part of the TNCO experienced as a whole the Neoarchean crustal growth, Paleoproterozoic metamorphism and Phanerozoic magmatic underplating. More importantly, the absence of U–Pb age peak of ∼1.95 Ga and Hf model age peaks of ∼3.9–3.8 Ga, ∼2.9–2.8 Ga, ∼2.2–2.1 Ga and ∼700–600 Ma in Yangyuan shows a heterogeneous evolution of the lower crust beneath the TNCO, which could pave the way for a more comprehensive picture of the crustal evolutional history beneath the North China Craton.

Tracing the Early Crustal Evolution of the North China Craton: New Constraints from the Geochronology and Hf Isotopes of Fuchsite Quartzite in the Lulong Area, Eastern Hebei Province

Understanding the composition, formation and evolution of the oldest continental crust is crucial for comprehending the mechanism and timing of crustal growth and differentiation on early Earth. However, the preservation of the ancient continental crust is limited due to extensive reworking by later tectonothermal events. In the Lulong area of eastern Hebei, abundant ca. 3.8–3.4 Ga detrital zircons of the fuchsite quartzite have been previously identified. Nonetheless, the provenance and Hf isotopic compositions of the fuchsite quartzite remain unclear. In this study, we present new detrital zircon ages and Hf isotopic for the fuchsite quartzite in the Lulong area to establish the timing of deposition, the provenance and the regional stratigraphic relationship. Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the fuchsite quartzite was deposited between 3.3–3.1 Ga and most grains were sourced from the 3.8 Ga TTG gneisses and Paleoarchean magmas. Field investigations and regional correlations reveal that the fuchsite quartzite from the Lulong area is equivalent to that of the Caozhuang area. Zircon Hf isotopic data from eastern Hebei Province (Lulong and Caozhuang areas) and Anshan and Xinyang areas indicate that the oldest crustal growth event of North China Craton occurred in the Hadean.

Tracking the formation and evolution of the Ordos Block basement, North China Craton: U-Pb age and Lu-Hf isotope record of detrital zircons from the early Mesoproterozoic sandstones

The Ordos Block (OB) is generally considered to be an important micro-block concerning the early geological evolution of the North China Craton (NCC). Previous geophysical and limited geological researches for the OB basement have provided a preliminary understanding of the lithological assemblages and geological structure of the basement, but little was discussed about its formation time and early Precambrian evolution. In this contribution, to better understand the formation and evolution of the OB basement, the new LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages, Lu-Hf isotope, and trace element composition have been carried for the detrital zircons from the sandstones of the Changcheng System overlying the OB basement. The youngest concordant U-Pb age constrains the Changcheng System to be deposited after ∼1.7 Ga, consistent with the Changcheng System in the other regions of the NCC. The 3.6–3.3 Ga detrital zircons preserved in the sandstones from the Changcheng System, associated with the 3.4 Ga inherited zircon in basement rocks, indicate the potential presence of Paleoarchean crustal materials in the OB. The 2.8–2.6 Ga zircons with positive εHf(t) values (+0.6 to +6.4) have the two-stage model ages (TDMC = 3.23–2.75 Ga) close to their formation ages, combined with the crustal thickening during this period, suggesting a major crustal growth in the early Neoarchean. In addition, the main age clusters of the 2.5–2.4 Ga, 2.2–2.0 Ga, and 1.95–1.8 Ga yield εHf(t) values of −6.9 to +7.7 with TDMC of 3.39–2.47 Ga, −13.4 to +7.5 with TDMC of 3.49–2.19 Ga, and −14.0 to +2.2 with TDMC of 3.41–2.40 Ga, respectively, indicative of three main stages of crustal reworking associated with two stage of minor juvenile crustal growth around 2.5–2.4 Ga and 2.2–2.0 Ga. They were corresponding to partial melting of the continental crust in the late Neoarchean, magmatism resulting from the plate subduction in the mid-Paleoproterozoic, and the collision and amalgamation between eastern and western blocks in the late Paleoproterozoic, respectively. All demonstrate that the OB was an ancient block formed mainly in the early Neoarchean and then subjected to three strong tectonothermal events of 2.5–2.4 Ga, 2.2–2.0 Ga, and 1.95–1.8 Ga, which occurred in the peripheral orogenic belts.

A bimodal source for the generation of tonalitic to granitic magmas in a non-subduction-related magmatic belt: An example from the Sierra Chica of Córdoba, Argentina

A notable consensus prevails about the hybrid nature of intermediate calc-alkaline magmatism. Accordingly, petrogenetic models envisage the addition of young mantle material and cortical recycling in those geological settings where intermediate magmas are dominant. Most exhaustively studied examples are: 1) magmatic arcs associated with subduction zone settings where oceanic crust and sediments are introduced into the mantle wedge, and 2) deep crustal sections are pervaded by hot, H2O-rich mantle-derived liquids. Nevertheless, back-arc or foreland terranes of several hundred kilometers in width, frequently characterized by high heat flux, crustal melting, recycling and melt fractionation, are crucial areas to evaluate the generation of intermediate magmatism. The Sierra Chica of Córdoba (Argentina) provides an excellent example to study these processes. The high-grade crustal segment shows metamorphosed pelitic and basaltic protoliths that were part of an old sedimentary succession. We evaluate the evolution of this bimodal source during two consecutive early Paleozoic orogenic periods when it was established as the source area of intermediate to silicic magmatism far from the contemporary magmatic arcs. Field relations and new geochemical and geochronological data revealed the occurrence of two magmatic events during Cambrian and early Ordovician periods. Cambrian migmatization and partial melting (∼528 to 505 Ma) is represented by irregular-shaped monzogranites and tonalites, while early Ordovician magmatism (∼480 Ma) is characterized by dyke-shaped pegmatites and tonalite-trondhjemites. The preservation of two contrasting igneous lineages suggests a genetic linkage between metapelitic and amphibolitic migmatites and between granitic and tonalitic-trondhjemitic partial melts. Coeval with this magmatism, Famatinian tonalitic-trondhjemitic to monzogranitic magmas intruded upper crustal levels in Sierra Chica and other parts of Sierras of Córdoba. Geochemical signatures point to a bimodal (mafic/felsic) source for this intermediate to silica-rich magmatism. The evolution of partial melts studied in the Sierra Chica is depicted on the basis of geochemical projections with fractionation and hybridization models, in order to establish the primary liquids of this Famatinian magmatic belt. Trends defined by Famatinian tonalites, trondhjemites and granodiorites suggest that primary Ca-rich melts (tonalites and trondhjemites of this study) evolved through fractionation of plagioclase (30–50 vol%) compatible with the preservation of inferred co-magmatic Pl-cumulates within these plutonic bodies. Peraluminous granites and monzogranites can be explained by a simple restite unmixing process involving alkali-rich liquids generated in the metapelitic part of the source. The addition (hybridization) of up to 30 vol% of granitic melts to the tonalite-trondhjemite end-member may account for the composition of other Famatinian granodioritic to monzogranitic intrusive rocks from the plutonic belt. The crustal segments of the Sierra Chica have undergone metamorphism and partial melting in out-of-arc settings: the Cambrian fore-arc and the early Ordovician back-arc. The voluminous magmatic belt rooted in the paired metapelitic-amphibolic source area is involved in the origin of intermediate to silicic Famatinian magmatism without significant mass transfer from the mantle and crustal growth, instead it is dominated by crustal melting, recycling and fractionation.

The relative roles of ancient and juvenile crust in building accretionary orogens – Minimal ancient crust involved in the magmatic evolution of a North American Cordillera accreted terrane indicated by igneous zircon Hf-O

New igneous zircon HfO data from the Hogem batholith (207 to 125 Ma), emplaced into the Quesnel arc, an accreted oceanic terrane in the northern Cordillera, resolve questions about the magmatic history and source inputs of the terrane and the relationship of the terrane with ancestral North America before, during, and after collision. Juvenile zircon Hf signatures (> + 5 initial ɛHf) with predominantly mantle-like δ18O (+5.3 ± 0.6‰) indicate juvenile, mantle-derived magmas as the major contributors to the Hogem batholith. Minor input from young recycled oceanic crust is indicated by less common heavy zircon δ18O (>6.5‰). Mixing models demonstrate that ancestral North American crust did not underlie or contribute to the construction of north-central Quesnellia during the Triassic to Early Cretaceous - the time of Hogem batholith magmatism. This conclusion contrasts with previous regional tectonic models that suggest Early to Middle Jurassic accretion of Quesnellia onto North American basement. The collision between oceanic arcs and continental margins is generally considered a process that predominates the formation and growth of new continental crust at accretionary orogens. Our combined igneous zircon HfO results track the magmatic evolution of the batholith and indicate the importance of juvenile oceanic arcs in contributing crust to the flanks of some accretionary orogens.

Subducted oceanic slab break-off in a post-collisional setting: Constraints from petrogenesis of Late Carboniferous dykes in central West Junggar, Xinjiang, NW China

AbstractNumerous Late Carboniferous – Early Permian dykes are found in West Junggar and represent an important part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. In this contribution, we use these dykes to assess the tectonic regime and stress state in the Late Carboniferous – Early Permian. The West Junggar dykes are mainly diorite/dioritic porphyrite with minor diabase and were formed in 324–310 Ma. They have been divided into two groups based on their orientation, petrology and geochronology. Group 1 dykes mostly comprise WNW-striking dioritic porphyrite and NE-striking diorite with minor diabase and resemble the Karamay-Baogutu sanukitoid. They were probably formed from depleted mantle at a relatively high temperature and pressure with the addition of 1–2% sediment/sedimental partial melt and 0–5% trapped oceanic crust-derived melts. Group 2 dykes are ENE-striking and are similar to sanukite in the Setouchi Volcanic Belt. These dykes were also derived from depleted mantle at a shallow depth but high temperature with the addition of 2–3.5% sediment/sedimental partial melt. Magma banding and injection folds in dykes and host granitoids indicate magma flow. Paleostress analysis reveals that both groups of dykes were formed in a tensile stress field. Their emplacement is favoured by presence of pre-existing joints or fractures in the host granitoids and strata. We conclude that large-scale asthenosphere mantle upwelling induced by trapped oceanic slab-off can explain the magmatism and significant continental crustal growth of West Junggar during Late Carboniferous to Early Permian.

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

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.

Paleo–Mesoarchean sedimentary record in the Dharwar Craton, India: Implications for Archean ocean oxygenation

The early Archean oceans were marked by significant redox changes which have subsequently shaped the Earth’s biosphere. Archean chemical sediments of banded Iron and Manganese formations provide important geochemical proxies for these historical shifts in the redox conditions and to trace the ancient sedimentation patterns and protoliths. In this study, we investigate the proto-ore of the Archean Mn-formations of the Sandur, Chitradurga and Shimoga greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton of southern Peninsular India, which is geochemically characterised as quartz arenites, Mn-arenites, Fe-arenites, Mn-argillites and Fe-argillites. The geochemical systematics suggest their deposition in shallow to deeper shelf in the Archean proto-ocean. The detrital zircon U-Pb systematics of Mn arenites and argillites indicate their maximum depositional age of 3230 ± 52 Ma representing the oldest onset of sedimentation during the Paleo–Mesoarchean timeframe in the Chitradurga Group of Dharwar Supergroup. The detrital influx proxies suggest variations in sedimentation rates associated with the Archean transgressive–regressive cycles and fluctuating hydrodynamic conditions, together reflecting an increasing trend in the contributions of recycled sediment from Sandur to Chitradurga and Shimoga greenstone belts. The available detrital zircon ages of the Mn arenites and argillites from these greenstone belts indicate a ∼ 600 Ma prolonged period of Mn deposition for which high-T hydrothermal fluids from Archean mid-oceanic ridges supplied the manganese. The trace element compositions of the concordant detrital zircons suggest 3.3–3.1 Ga Dharwar basement TTG/granitoid source which is corroborated by the zircon crystallization temperatures of 690–820 °C. The source-normalised α-dose rates of the detrital zircons signify greater degrees of sediment transport and multi-cycle nature which correspond to the earliest episode of crustal growth in the Indian sub-continent associated with the Mesoarchean Ur supercontinent. The clastic-chemogenic sedimentation attained through concomitant detrital sediment–seawater-metalliferous hydrothermal fluid mixing at an epicontinental passive margin resulted in the deposition of Mn-arenites and argillites closer to the higher Eh shore, while the Fe-rich sediments formed at a relatively deeper shelf characterised by comparatively lower Eh and more alkaline conditions. The comprehensive geochemical and geochronological data of the Archean Mn arenite-argillite sequences reveal the significance of regional episodes of ocean oxygenation at the shallow shelves of Archean oceans prior to great oxygenation event (GOE) that was mediated by the prolific growth of ancient microbiota which transformed the Earth to a more habitable planet.

Abundant off-axis hydrothermal activity in the 29–30 ridge segment of the Southwest Indian Ridge: evidence from ferromanganese crusts

In the ultra-slow spreading mid-ocean ridge, seafloor hydrothermal ventings mostly occur in the off-axis region. The plume of hydrothermal venting provides Fe, Mn and other metal materials for the growth of ferromanganese crust in the surrounding seamounts, showing unique geochemical characteristics that are different from that of hydrogenetic crust. Based on five samples of ferromanganese crusts, major, trace and rare earth element analysis was carried out to identify their material sources. Combined with the investigation data of water column and seafloor camera photos by deep towed hydrothermal detection system, the potential of hydrothermal activity in the 29–30 ridge segment of the Southwest Indian ridge was evaluated. The results showed that the ferromanganese crust in the study area had significantly higher Fe/Mn value (average 1.9), relatively higher Si and Al contents, and significantly higher Ca/P value (average 9.3),without significant phosphorylation. ferromanganese crust in the study area have significantly lower Co and Ni contents (about 1600 mg/kg on average), and relatively lower Sr, Ba, Pb, Cu, Zr and Mo contents (between 100-1000 mg/kg on average). The contents of W, Th and Te are also relatively low (average content between 10–50 mg/kg); The total rare earth element content of the crust in the study area is relatively low (about 928 mg/kg on average), and the light rare earth is relatively enriched. The standardized rare earth curve of the shale shows a left-leaning pattern as a whole, showing the enrichment of heavy rare earth relative to the shale. The Co content and rare earth element content of the ferromanganese crusts in this area are significantly lower than those of hydrogenetic crusts. The discrimination diagrams of ternary and bivariate material sources reveal that they have mixed hydrothermal and hydrogenetic origins. The three crust samples of S1, S2, and S5 are located within 2 km of the known hydrothermal fields, indicating a correlation between ferromanganese crust and the location of hydrothermal activity. There is no known hydrothermal field near the S3 and S4 stations. Altered rocks and water column turbidity anomalies were found near S3 station, and large areas of altered rocks and suspected hydrothermal biological remains were also found near S4 station, indicating that hydrothermal activity may exist in both areas. In addition to the two new hydrothermal fields identified in this article, the spatial frequency of hydrothermal activity in the study area reaches 15 sites/100 km, which is significantly higher than other well investigated oceanic ridges. Out of the eight hydrothermal fields in the study area, seven are located in the off axis region, mainly because the hydrothermal activity in this area is controlled by high angle and large offset normal faults and one-way detachment faults. This also indicates that the off-axis region of the Southwest Indian Ridge has high potential for hydrothermal activity.

Parent magma of the Cretaceous Northern Kyushu batholith and heat source of large-scale igneous activity: Petrological constraints on magmatism of the Northeastern Asian continental margin in the Cretaceous period, example for the Kita-Taku mafic complex in northern Kyushu, SW Japan

The Japanese island in the Northeastern Asian continental margin is located in a subduction zone, and granitoid covers about 30% of the island arc. The Cretaceous Northern Kyushu batholith (CNKB) is classified as 19 bodies based on previous studies and consists of a granitic body and a small amount of associated mafic bodies. Of these, the Kita-Taku mafic complex body (KMC) mainly consists of gabbroic rocks and can be classified into cumulus textures (Cumulus group: Types 1–4) and those without (Non-cumulus group: Types 5–7), which can provide information on the heat source of the large-scale igneous activity in northern Kyushu from the Northeastern Asian continental margin at Cretaceous period.Melt compositions inferred from the high Mg# pyroxene compositions of the olivine-bearing pyroxene hornblendite (Type 1) member of KMC were estimated using melt-pyroxene partition coefficients. The clinopyroxene-bearing equilibrium melts are similar to the Sanukitic high-Mg andesite (HMA) in multi-element and rare-earth element patterns. Besides, the trace element and rare earth element patterns of the Cretaceous high-Mg diorites (HMDs) in northern Kyushu have similar patterns to the clinopyroxene-bearing equilibrium melts of the KMC and Sanukitic HMA magma. This implies that Sanukitic HMA magmas were substantially activated in northern Kyushu during the Cretaceous period.Analysis of the parent magma (heat source) and the small-scale plutonic bodies that consist of CNKB indicates that the essential granitic magma is formed by partial melting of the lower crust and mixing with mantle-derived Sanukitic HMA magma. The Sanukitic HMA magma could be the parent magma for the heat source and crustal growth. The lithofacies of CNKB can be reconstructed from the examination of small-scale plutonic bodies due to the mixing and assimilation of various end-member magmas and crustal materials, and their associated differentiation and accumulation processes. As the Northeastern Asian continental margin during the Cretaceous is assumed to be situated within the extensional setting due to slab rollback, the results of this study provide new insights into the complicated batholith formation processes and heat source.

Seasonal upwelling conditions promote growth and calcification in reef-building coralline algae.

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important components of reef ecology contributing to reef framework construction. However, little is known about how seasonal upwelling systems influence growth and calcification of tropical CCA. We assessed marginal and vertical growth and net calcification rates of two dominant but morphologically different reef-building CCA, Porolithon antillarum and Lithophyllum cf. kaiseri, in a shallow coral reef of the Colombian Caribbean during upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Growth and calcification rates varied seasonally with higher values during the upwelling compared to the non-upwelling (rainy) season. Annual vertical growth showed rates of 4.48 ± 1.58 and 4.31 ± 2.17 mm · y-1 , net calcification using crust growth estimates of 0.75 ± 0.30 g and 0.68 ± 0.60 g CaCO3 · cm-2 · y-1 and net calcification using the buoyant weight method of 1.49 ± 0.57 and 0.52 ± 0.11 g CaCO3 · cm-2 · y-1 in P. antillarum and L. kaiseri, respectively. Seawater temperature was inversely related with growth and calcification; however, complex oceanographic interactions between temperature and resource availability (e.g., light, nutrients, and CO2 ) are proposed to modulate CCA vital rates. Although CCA calcification rates are comparable to hard corals, CCA vertical accretion is much lower, suggesting that the main contribution of CCA to reef construction is via cementation processes. These results provide baseline data on CCA in the region and generate useful information for monitoring the impacts of environmental changes on tropical upwelling environments.

Basement differences control granitoid compositions: insights from zircon Hf isotopic mapping of Paleozoic granitoids in the northern Beishan orogenic collage, NW China

ABSTRACT The source of granitoids in Phanerozoic accretionary orogens is debatable. Paleozoic granitoids are widespread in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and are considered the most eloquent witness to continental crustal growth during the Phanerozoic. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic and geochemical data from six Paleozoic granitic plutons in the northern Beishan Orogenic Collage (NBOC). Zircon U-Pb data reveal that these plutons recorded a long-lasting magmatism from the Late Silurian to the Late Carboniferous. The elemental and isotopic data show a major contribution from the Precambrian crustal basement as the source of the Late Silurian to Carboniferous granitoids in the Mingshui – Hanshan massif (MHM). In contrast, the source compositions of the Carboniferous granitoids in the Heiyingshan arc (HYA) indicate a dominant role of juvenile materials. Combined with published data, three magmatic pulses from the Ordovician to Carboniferous were identified in the NBOC: Stage I magmatism (Early Ordovician to Late Silurian) formed in a subduction-related compressional setting, Stage II magmatism (Late Silurian to Early Devonian) occurred in an extensional setting, and Stage III (Carboniferous) formed in a compressional setting. For the MHM, the zircon Hf isotopic mapping results show that the eastern segment was predominantly composed of a Paleoproterozoic basement, whereas the western segment mainly consisted of a young Mesoproterozoic – Neoproterozoic basement. The Heiyingshan magmatic rocks were probably formed as a continental arc during the Mesoproterozoic – Neoproterozoic and accreted to the MHM during the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Overall, these data indicate that the NBOC had remnants of the ancient Precambrian basement during the Paleozoic. Accordingly, numerous Phanerozoic granitic rocks in the NBOC have mostly resulted from the recycling of ancient crustal materials along with the addition of minor new juvenile materials. Our study has highlighted that systematic basement differences can exert a major influence on the nature of granitoids.

Development of a back-arc basin from initial rifting to seafloor spreading: Constraints from Paleozoic basic rocks in the North Qinling accretionary orogen, central China

The progression from initial back-arc rifting to back-arc opening in ancient orogenic collages is important for reconstructing subduction histories, constraining tectonic switching, and understanding crustal growth and evolution. However, it is difficult to constrain this transition in ancient arcs. The Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt is one of the most important orogenic belts in eastern Asia, yet the history of Paleozoic accretionary processes in this belt remains equivocal, owing to a poor understanding of back-arc opening processes in the Erlangping unit. In this study, we present whole-rock geochemical analyses of mafic dikes in the Erlangping unit, along with U-Pb ages and Hf-O isotope compositions of zircon from these dikes. Zircon secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) dating of these mafic dikes yielded U-Pb ages of 453 ± 3 Ma. The mafic dikes are calc-alkaline and are characterized by high K2O contents (1.16−3.16 wt%). They have enriched ([La/Yb]N = 4.3−14.9) light rare earth elements (REEs) and relatively flat heavy REE ([Dy/Yb]N = 0.9−1.5) patterns, and they exhibit enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) but depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), resembling arc-like magmatism. These mafic dikes are characterized by relatively enriched initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7049−0.7059), chondritic to slightly radiogenic εNd(t) (−0.36 to 1.33), and radiogenic whole-rock and zircon εHf(t) (+7.2−7.6 and +7.5−7.8, respectively). The zircons have δ18O values (5.0‰ ± 0.1‰) similar to those of normal mantle zircon. Accordingly, we interpret that the mafic dikes were derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle source metasomatized by subducted Proto-Tethys (Shangdan) ocean material. In contrast, previously reported ca. 440 Ma gabbros from the Erlangping unit are tholeiitic and have lower incompatible trace-element concentrations with less enrichment in LILEs and less depletion in HFSEs than the mafic dikes presented here. Whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotopic compositions suggest that these Silurian gabbros were derived from partial melting of a more depleted mantle with the involvement of asthenosphere, and they have a close geochemical affinity with back-arc basin basalts. In addition, trace-element ratios and geochemical modeling suggest higher melting pressures for the mafic dikes than the gabbros. The geochemical differences show systematic variations from island-arc basalt into back-arc basin basalt types, which is consistent with the magma source evolution of the Mariana Trough. Thus, we interpret that the ca. 454 Ma mafic dikes were emplaced when the infant arc split, and they record initial back-arc rifting in the Erlangping unit, whereas the Silurian gabbros subsequently formed during the opening of the back-arc basin. Our study provides a paradigm for deciphering the evolution of back-arc basins through the study of spatiotemporal geological and geochemical variations of mafic intrusions in ancient accretionary orogens.

Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic ophiolite from the Bensa-Girja area, southern Ethiopia: Petrogenesis and paleotectonics

The Bensa-Girja area is located in northernmost part of the Neoproterozoic Adola belt, southern Ethiopia. It is largely constituted of mafic rocks (amphibolite and metagabbro), ultramafic suite (serpentinite/serpentinized peridotite, talc schist and subordinate pyroxenite), metasedimentary (metapelitic to semi-metapelitic schists, minor marble and metasandstone) and metavolcaniclastic rocks. Geochemical analysis was carried out on the mafic–ultramafic rocks to characterize their petrogenesis, magma source and paleotectonic setting. The results indicate that the mafic rocks have tholeiitic to boninitic composition and represent primitive to evolved magma. The current serpentinite and serpentinized peridotite were formed after harzburgites that are interpreted as a refractory mantle wedge peridotite, and pyroxenites are considered as cumulate rocks crystallized from partial melts of the peridotite. The geochemical data further suggest that the mantle sources of the mafic-ultramafic rocks were modified by both slab-derived fluids and melts in a supra-subduction zone. The rocks thus display geochemical characteristics typical of island arc system with slight MORB-like affinity, inferred to have formed in a sub-arc or spreading forearc setting. It is interpreted that the studied rocks are representing remnants of a fragmented oceanic lithosphere. This together with field geological data supports the arc accretion model postulated for the crustal growth of the Arabian-Nubian Shield.

An amphibolitic source for “adakitic” I-type plutons in continental collision zones

Rocks with “adakitic” affinities are widespread in continental collision zones, recording important information about crustal thickening. Residual garnet during partial melting of the lower crust is traditionally considered to be responsible for heavy rare earth element and Y depletion, which is a key characteristic feature of these rocks. However, magmatic garnet is rarely observed in such adakitic igneous rocks and associated protolithic eclogite is also rarely reported. Instead, amphibole is a proposed abundant phase in lower arc crust. Whilst both garnet- and amphibole-rich assemblages can act as potential sources for intracrustal intermediate-silicic melts, their distinctive fractionation of fSm/Nd and fLu/Hf should, with time, lead to different Nd-Hf isotopic compositions in high Sr/Y rocks. Here we report whole-rock radiogenic Sr-Nd-Hf and stable Fe isotope compositions of well-characterized Oligocene to Miocene (33-14 Ma), post-collisional high-K adakitic intrusions from the Gangdese belt, South Tibet. The plutons have a low alumina saturation index and depleted Dy/Yb, pointing to negligible amounts of sediment contribution. They are characterized by variable initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7048 to 0.7078), mostly negative εNd (−4.9 to +0.3), positive εHf values (+1.5 to +8.3), and variable but heavy δ57Fe values ranging from +0.04 ± 0.08‰ to +0.35 ± 0.08‰. Modeling of Fe isotopes and fractionation factors of fSm/Nd and fLu/Hf indicate an amphibolite source. A Nd-Hf isotope correlation that is quasi-parallel to the mantle array can be best explained by the evolution of amphibolitic lower crust with a residence time of ca. 400 Myrs. Although these adakitic rocks have depleted, mantle-like Hf isotope compositions, they are part of an existing, older crustal foundation and thus represent a process of crustal reworking, instead of crustal growth. Therefore, proportions of mantle-derived materials that contributed to the Phanerozoic crustal growth based on Hf-in-zircon signatures alone may be overestimated. Combined mineral and whole-rock radiogenic and stable isotopes are required to address this issue in the future.

Microstratigraphic geochemical characteristics of ferromanganese crust from central pacific: Implication for the role of Fe and Mn in REY enrichment

Rare earth elements plus yttrium (REY), well-known critical metals for many new and emerging technologies and as proxies in geological events, are one type of the most important high-tech metals in ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts. The REY(III) are accumulated in Fe-Mn crusts through adsorption by Fe-Mn (oxyhydr)oxides. However, negative correlations between Mn and REY in some Fe-Mn crusts reveal a controversial role of Mn oxides in REY enrichment, which remains equivocal. In this study, texture, structure, mineralogy, and microstratigraphic geochemistry with the growth of a Fe-Mn crust (MP2D32A) from the Line Islands archipelago were analyzed using multiple microanalysis methods. The Fe-Mn crust is characterized by laminar structures, stromatolite-like structures, and micronodules that are primarily composed of low-crystalline Fe-vernadite and ferrihydrite. Throughout the profiles of MP2D32A, the contents of elements are more or less interdependent. Analysis of elemental correlations from the MP2D32A samples and 847 collected data sets from non-phosphatized hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts shows Fe plays a positive role and Mn plays multiple roles in REY accumulation during Fe-Mn crust formation. The REY content increases initially and then decreases with increasing Mn content and Mn/Fe ratio and the turning points (i.e., highest REY contents) mainly occur at an Mn content of ∼18–26% and an Mn/Fe content ratio of ∼0.8. These fundamental results provide novel insights into understanding the influence of Fe and Mn in REY accumulation in the Fe-Mn crusts and are very significant in enhancing our understanding of the REY geochemical processes in the ocean.

Late Mesozoic magmatism and gold metallogeny of the Jiaodong Peninsula, China: A response to the destruction of the North China Craton

The late Mesozoic destruction of the eastern North China Craton (NCC) resulted from intense crust-mantle interaction, culminating in the formation of world-class gold deposits in the Jiaodong Peninsula at ca. 120 Ma. We present zircon U-Pb geochronological data, Hf isotopic compositions, whole-rock major and trace element, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions for two suites of granitoids: one (the Linglong suite) that hosts significant mineralization and the other (the Weideshan suite) that is largely unmineralized. The Linglong suite was emplaced in the Late Jurassic at 160 ± 3 Ma to 155 ± 3 Ma, whereas the Weideshan suite was emplaced in the Early Cretaceous at 121 ± 2 Ma to 118 ± 1 Ma, coeval with gold mineralization. Geochemical data indicate the Linglong suite was derived from the melting of thickened lower crust of the NCC, mixed with material from the Yangtze Craton (YC) and intervening Su-Lu Orogenic Belt, whereas the Weideshan suite was formed from the partial melting of lower continental crust, with the addition of enriched lithospheric mantle components. The Late Jurassic magmatism was associated with crustal growth resulting from the continental collision between the NCC and YC and subsequent subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Oceanic Plate (PPOP). In contrast, Early Cretaceous magmatism was triggered by rapid lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric upwelling resulting from slab roll-back and stagnation of the PPOP beneath the NCC. Lithospheric delamination induced the widespread development of secondary structures associated with the major Tan-Lu Fault, providing favorable loci for the accumulation of auriferous fluids.

The mechanism responsible for the geochemical diversity of the Putuoshan volcanic-plutonic complex and its implications for the late Mesozoic crustal evolution of the Cathaysia Block, Southeast China

Essential mechanisms for the geochemical diversity observed in a silicic igneous rock association, which is of paramount importance for understanding the differentiation and growth of continental crust, remain highly controversial. Here the issues are explored by comparing the Late Cretaceous intrusions (minor-phase miarolitic alkali-feldspar granite and main-phase alkali-feldspar granite) and coeval volcanic rocks (rhyolite and rhyodacite) within the Putuoshan (PTS) volcanic-plutonic complex in the coastal area of southeast (SE) China. Zircon UPb ages indicate that the rhyolite, rhyodacite, minor-phase granite and the previously studied main-phase granite are nearly contemporaneous (ca. 98–94 Ma), but the coexisting dacites are obviously earlier at ca. 160 Ma. The dacites show adakitic geochemical characteristics and extremely enriched NdHf isotopic compositions with Paleoproterozoic model ages, suggesting their derivation from remelting of Paleoproterozoic basement rocks in a thickened lower crust. In contrast, the coexisting Late Cretaceous volcanic and intrusive rocks have comparable and relatively depleted NdHf isotopic compositions. Our data, combined with previous studies suggest that parental magmas of these Late Cretaceous magmatic rocks were derived from partial melting of juvenile crust with varying degrees of involvement of mantle-derived melts, and the observed compositional variation are mainly controlled by crystal-melt segregation and rejuvenation of crystal mush facilitated by recharge of hot mafic magmas in the shallow magma reservoir. The Jurassic and Late Cretaceous magmatic rocks within the PTS complex were generated in an advancing subduction compressive regime and a retreating subduction extensional regime of the paleo-Pacific plate, respectively. The gradually increasing tectonic extension during the Cretaceous due to slab rollback and the induced underplating of depleted mantle-derived magmas not only gave rise to the continental rejuvenation of SE China but also are the main driving mechanism of this Late Cretaceous long-lived transcrustal magma system.

Crustal Growth Identified by High-δ18O Zircon and Olivine: A Perspective from Ultramafic Arc Cumulates in Southern Tibet

Abstract In recent studies of crustal growth using global zircon Hf–O isotopic datasets, high-δ18O zircons are typically attributed to intra-crustal reworking during which very little juvenile mantle-derived magmas were added to the crust. Although arc magmas may originate from a high-δ18O mantle wedge, it has been difficult to decipher the contribution of high-δ18O mantle to zircon-saturated felsic magma due to superimposed intra-crustal processes. We address this issue by combining the data from high-δ18O zircon-bearing ultramafic cumulates and coeval lavas from a Cretaceous magmatic arc in southern Tibet. The cumulates mainly consist of different proportions of cumulus olivine and intercumulus amphibole. Amphibole analyses show a transition from increasing to decreasing Zr with increasing SiO2 (50–74 wt.%) contents in the intercumulus melts, indicating zircon saturation in late-stage interstitial melts. The εNd(t) values (2.4 ± 1.4) of the apatite grains crystallized before and after zircon remain almost constant. Interstitial zircons have δ18O (6.1–7.2‰) values similar to the earliest crystallized olivine (δ18O = 6.3–7.1‰) in the cumulates. The coeval lavas may represent the intercumulus melts extracted from amphibole-rich cumulates at different depths. Both the lavas and cumulates were ultimately derived from high-δ18O arc mantle modified by small amounts (<12%) of subducted sediments, and crystallized zircon during intra-crustal magma evolution without involving crustal contamination or melting. These high-δ18O zircons therefore are not products of crustal reworking, but record crustal growth during their crystallization (110 ± 2 Ma). Our study shows that the combination of zircon and olivine oxygen isotopes for ultramafic to felsic rocks is more effective than zircon data alone in evaluating the role of crustal growth vs. reworking in an arc system. The implication is that global zircon-based crustal evolution models that attribute all high-δ18O zircons to crustal reworking may conceal recent crustal growth.