Detrital Zircon Geochronology Research Articles

New evidence from heavy minerals and detrital zircons in Quaternary fluvial sediments for the evolution of the upper Yangtze River, South China

AbstractIn the Three Gorges and adjacent areas, there are three planation surfaces and five terraces along the Yangtze River that record the evolution history of the river system. Here, we used diagnostic heavy minerals, U-Pb geochronology, and trace elements of detrital zircons from one planation surface, two terraces, and a modern point bar to reconstruct the evolution history of the upper Yangtze River, specifically the Chuan River in the Sichuan Basin. The sediments in the lowest planation surface had different felsic source rocks derived from east of the Three Gorges, which indicated that before the disintegration of the lowest planation surface (0.75 Ma), there were two paleorivers: the westward-flowing paleo-Chuan River and eastward-flowing paleo-Yangtze River separated by the Huangling Dome. At 0.75–0.73 Ma, the dominant detrital zircons from the Sichuan Basin in the sediments of terrace T5 (the highest terrace) confirmed that the paleo-Yangtze River cut through the Three Gorges and captured the paleo-Chuan River, and the Daliang Mountains became the new drainage divide. Finally, the appearance of materials from the upper Jinsha River in terrace T2 indicated that the paleo-Yangtze River progressively captured the paleo-Jinsha River, and the modern upper Yangtze River formed before 0.05 Ma. These river capture events of the upper Yangtze River confirmed the Quaternary uplift of the SE Tibetan Plateau.

An eolian dust origin for clastic fines of Devono-Mississippian mudrocks of the greater North American midcontinent

ABSTRACT Upper Devonian and Lower–Middle Mississippian strata of the North American midcontinent are ubiquitously fine-grained and silt-rich, comprising both so-called shale as well as argillaceous limestone (or calcareous siltstone) that accumulated in the Laurentian epeiric sea. Although long recognized as recording marine deposition, the origin and transport of the fine-grained siliciclastic material in these units remains enigmatic because they do not connect to any proximal deltaic feeder systems. Here, we present new data on grain size, whole-rock geochemistry, mineralogy, and U-Pb detrital-zircon geochronology from units across Oklahoma; we then integrate these data with models of surface wind circulation, refined paleogeographic reconstructions, and correlations from the greater midcontinent to test the hypothesis that wind transported the siliciclastic fraction to the marine system. The exclusively very fine silt to very fine sand grain size, clear detrital origin, widespread distribution over large regions of the epeiric sea, Appalachian sources, and paleogeographic setting in the subtropical arid belt far-removed from contemporaneous deltaic feeder systems are most consistent with eolian transport of dust lofted from subaerial delta plains of the greater Appalachian orogen and incorporated into subaqueous depositional systems. Delivery of dust that was minimally chemically weathered to Devono-Mississippian epeiric seas likely provided essential nutrients that stimulated organic productivity in these commonly organic-rich units.

Detrital Zircon Geochronology and Tectonic Evolution Implication of the Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation, Southern Ordos Basin, China

The Ordos Basin’s southern part is a composite zone made up of numerous continental blocks and has long been influenced by surrounding tectonism. However, only a few studies have investigated the existence of southern provenance supply and the basin’s southern boundary in the Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation. Based on sandstone detrital zircon U-Pb dating and zircon rare earth element analyses, net-sand ratio maps, paleocurrent direction and the field outcrop survey, this study establishes the source area and boundary of the Zhiluo Formation in the southern basin, and discusses the tectonic events. The study shows that the four main age peaks in the detrital spectra occurs at 2283 Ma, 1788 Ma, 432.5 Ma and 218.7 Ma, with a few of the zircons dated at 794.5–1235.2 Ma. The North Qilian orogenic belt (N-QLOB), the western part of the North Qinling orogenic belt (NQOB), and the southern margin of the North China Block (SNCB) contributed to the provenance. According to an integrated analysis of the provenance and tectonic background of continental blocks in the basin’s southern margin, the boundary of the basin in the depositional period of the Zhiluo Formation should reach the N-QLOB in the southwest, the NQOB in the south, and the Sanmenxia–Lushan fault belt in the southeast. On the basis of the aforementioned findings, the tectonic evolution of the continental blocks at the southern periphery of the Ordos Basin was restored.

Tracing high-pressure metamorphism in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis using detrital zircon and monazite from modern stream sediments

The timing of high-pressure (HP) metamorphism in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis is important for understanding the India-Asia collisional processes, but it remains elusive. To reveal the metamorphic history of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, we performed a study of geochronology, trace elements, and mineral inclusions of detrital zircon and monazite from modern stream sediments in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. Detrital zircon comprise magmatic and metamorphic domains with different zoning. Inherited magmatic zircon domains have high Th/U, low (Dy/Yb)N, and retain ages of 1798−360 Ma. Metamorphic zircon domains with low Th/U, high (Dy/Yb)N, and inclusions of garnet, kyanite, and/or clinopyroxene probably formed under HP conditions. They yield age groups of 49−35 Ma, 33−17 Ma, and 12−7 Ma. The low Th/U and low (Dy/Yb)N metamorphic zircon domains probably formed during retrogression and yield age groups of 27−16 Ma and 10−6 Ma. Detrital monazite yield age distributions similar to those of the low (Dy/Yb)N metamorphic zircon except for the 821−402 Ma inherited cores. The (Dy/Yb)N of 31.6−5.7 Ma monazite decreases with increasing Y content, which indicates that it likely formed under the retrograde stage during garnet breakdown. Based on the oldest metamorphic ages, the initial India-Asia collision occurred no later than 50−44 Ma in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. The multimodal age patterns of the metamorphic zircon and monazite indicate that the Indian continent underwent multistage HP and retrograde metamorphism in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. The nearly contemporaneous HP and retrograde metamorphism indicate that the Indian continent continued subducting while the earlier HP metamorphic slices detached and exhumed.

EaDz: A web-based, relational database for detrital zircons from East Asia

Detrital zircon geochronology and geochemistry have become the primary methods for reconstructing the Earth's tectonic and surficial processes over geologic time. The compilation and dissemination of detrital zircon data are essential to facilitate rapid, innovative, and reliable studies and to drive new research discoveries. To this end, we present EaDz, a new web-based, relational database for detrital zircons from East Asia, which includes geochronological, geochemical, petrological, and stratigraphic datasets. The EaDz currently contains 7083 rock samples representing 570,092 U–Pb ages, 77,394 Lu–Hf isotopes, 35,045 trace elements, and 1773 oxygen isotope data entries. Within the EaDz database, 71% of the samples are siliciclastic rocks, followed by 16% metasedimentary rocks, 6% modern sediments, and 7% other rocks. The database is intended to serve as a repository for new and existing detrital zircon data and a platform for the visualization and analysis of detrital zircon data. Through a publicly accessible interactive website, EaDz allows simultaneous data retrieval, analysis, and visualization in the cloud. Additionally, EaDz provides a means for combining the detrital zircon data with global plate reconstruction models - thus providing deep-time dynamic reconstructions of detrital palaeolocations. As such, the EaDz provides a powerful resource for applications in paleogeography reconstruction, plate tectonic reconstruction, and crustal-mantle evolution. The database will continue to be developed and improved. We encourage users to collaborate on data compilation by submitting data through the website or contacting corresponding authors directly after their data is published.

Late Paleozoic Accumulation of Coal-Bearing Successions in the Wuhai Coalfield, Western North China: Back-Arc Basin Response to Southward Subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The Late Paleozoic is an important epoch of coal-bed accumulation in the North China, particularly in its western segment, where a world-class coal field has been found and exploited for three decades. Coal-bearing layers recorded rapid Late Carboniferous to Early Permian sea-level rise that led to the evolution of the shallow marine tidal flat basin, followed by regression that resulted in the formation of deltaic facies. However, little attention has been paid to the tectonic factors that assisted in the coal accumulation processes, which have been demonstrated worldwide to be pivotal. In this study, we evaluate the significant influence of southward subduction of the middle segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) during Carboniferous to Early Permian deposition of coal-bearing neritic to deltaic successions in the western North China Block (NCB). We pinpoint a direct link between basin-filling evolution of the northwestern Ordos Basin and the progressive uplift of the Inner Mongolia continental arc triggered by the south-dipping subduction of the Solonker ocean plate. Sedimentary facies variation and paleocurrent reconstruction indicate sedimentary routing from the north to northeast. The petrology and detrital zircon geochronology of sampled sandstones indicate evolving provenances from a dominated cratonic basement to a mixed orogen and continental arc. The Carboniferous samples are generally quartz arenites and contain a large number of Archean to Paleoproterozoic zircons with small amounts of Paleozoic arc pluton components, indicating sediment supply dominated by the western NCB Precambrian basement. In contrast, the youngest sample of the Shanxi Formation is sub-litharenite, the age spectrum of which is characterized by the dominance of ca. 450 and 270 Ma ages, indicative of a high influx of Paleozoic arc detritus. This shift in sandstone petrology, detrital zircon distribution, and depositional setting allows us to link the shoaling of the Ordos Basin with mountain building and the unroofing of the continental arc, which enhances our understanding of both the subduction of the PAO and coal accumulation in the NCB.

Paleovolcanology, geochemistry, and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes of the volcano-sedimentary sequences from the Ediacaran Campo Alegre-Corupá Basin, southern Brazil: Linking volcanism and tectonics during Western Gondwana consolidation

The Campo Alegre-Corupá Basin (CACB) records a well-documented sequence of volcano-sedimentary episodes associated with specific periods of crustal extension during the late-convergent to post-collisional tectonic stages of the consolidation of Western Gondwana. Two main volcano-sedimentary stages were detailed through stratigraphic and lithofaciological studies, combined with whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U-Pb-Hf analysis, resulting in a more complete understanding of the tectono-magmatic cycles and volcanological evolution of the CACB. During the Basin Stage (605–590 Ma), regional collisional tectonics was responsible for initiating the basin as a syn-orogenic rift, during which the sedimentary cycle progressed from alluvial fans at the northern limit of the basin to braided rivers and into a lake to the south. U-Pb geochronology and Lu-Hf isotope signatures of detrital zircon revealed that the sediments were mainly derived from the Paleoproterozoic basement of the Luis Alves Terrane, which constitutes the direct basement of the CACB, with contributions from the nearby Piên Magmatic Arc and possibly from the Curitiba Terrane to the North. The sedimentary strata were progressively covered by transitional to mildly alkaline OIB-like basalts, occurring mostly as lava flows with structural aspects suggestive of subaqueous to subaerial environments, interbedded with trachydacites and surge-like pyroclastic deposits. Large volumes of widespread and densely-welded to rheomorphic ignimbrite sheets within the CACB attest to a second infilling period corresponding to the Caldera Stage (583–577 Ma). This stage was inaugurated by the outpouring of trachytic and very subordinated IAB-like basaltic lava flows at ∼583 Ma. The caldera eruption seems to have been initiated by the production of pumiceous fallouts during an early Plinian-like period of decompression of shallow magma chambers at ∼580 Ma, during which the rift-related structural framework of the Basin Stage probably controlled the collapse of a graben-like caldera. Compositional and isotopic signatures suggest lithospheric mantle sources for the magmas from both volcanic stages and support a connection between basic-intermediate and silicic rocks from both bimodal associations. They also suggest a cogenetic nature between the silicic rocks from the Caldera Stage and the A-type granitoids from the nearby plutonic Graciosa Province.

U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope characterization of detrital zircons from Nanhua System of northeastern Guangxi and their constraints on the southwestern suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, South China

U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope characterization of detrital zircons from Nanhua System of northeastern Guangxi and their constraints on the southwestern suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, South China

Provenance change in Carboniferous-early Permian sedimentary successions in the North Qaidam tectonic belt, northern Tibetan Plateau: Implications for the Kunlun oceanic plate subduction process

• The age of tuff layer from the lower Zhabusagaxiu Formation indicates that the North Qaidam tectonic belt has early Permian sedimentary succession. • The major provenance of the North Qaidam tectonic belt evolved southward from the North Qaidam tectonic belt to the East Kunlun Orogen during the Carboniferous to early Permian. • Carboniferous to Permian sedimentary successions in the North Qaidam tectonic belt were deposited in a retroarc setting. Late Paleozoic sedimentary successions are widespread in the North Qaidam tectonic belt (NQTB), providing an ideal window to constrain the coeval tectonic background of the NQTB to East Kunlun Orogen (EKO). However, little attention has been devoted to these sedimentary-related records. In this study, stratigraphic and detrital zircon U-Pb geochronologic investigations were undertaken on the late Paleozoic successions in the NQTB to reveal multistage tectonic transitions. A weighted mean age of 293±3 Ma was obtained for a tuff sample from the basal Zhabusagaxiu Formation, yielding a first-order time estimate that assigns an early Permian age. Stratigraphic correlation and paleocurrent reconstruction indicate that Carboniferous to early Permian sedimentation in the NQTB took place in a north-dipping neritic environment. Sandstone petrology and detrital zircon geochronology converge to reveal that the major provenance of the NQTB evolved southward from the North Qaidam Orogen in the early Carboniferous, via the EKO and the Qaidam Block in the late Carboniferous, to the EKO in the early Permian. Detrital zircons with crystallization ages of Carboniferous to early Permian in all samples implicate that Carboniferous to Permian magmatism should be common in the EKO. The north-dipping paleogeography and occurrence of syn-depositional magmatic zircons in the provenance further suggest that the tectonic evolution of the NQTB should occur in a retroarc portion, rather than a passive continental margin deepening southwards to the Kunlun Ocean.

Detrital zircon records variable expressions of Paleoproterozoic (2.2 - 2.4 Ga) glaciation between Sclavia and Superia supercratons

ABSTRACT Evidence of glaciation is recognized in Earth’s history from 2.9 Ga to the present, providing important information regarding the climatic, sedimentary, and tectonic evolution of our planet. Glaciers are highly effective agents of erosion that generate and transport large amounts of sediments for 100ʹs of kilometres. Therefore, detrital zircon geochronology of glaciogenic sedimentary rocks can elucidate the provenance and evolution of the sedimentary record through time. In this study, we investigate the Paleoproterozoic Glaciation Event which is hypothesized to be the oldest global glaciation in Earth’s history (2.4 to 2.2 Ga). We identify distinct sedimentary provenance patterns between the Archaean supercratons Sclavia and Superia, which, comprised most of the extant Archean crust. The detrital zircon of Sclavia exhibit increasing dissimilarity through time whereas the detrital zircon ages of Superia show consistent age peaks through time. Coupled with the absence of glacial deposits and predominance of marine sedimentary successions within Sclavia, the detrital zircon provenance likely indicates limited subaerial exposure of continental crust in Sclavia with glaciers narrow mountain belts producing no diamictites. This model resolves previous issues related to hypotheses proposing high-obliquity low latitude glaciation of Superia as the only explanation available.

Sediment input, alongshore transport, and coastal mixing in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico based on detrital-zircon geochronology

We present detrital-zircon U–Pb geochronology from the Mississippi, Mobile, and Apalachicola rivers, as well as five beach and barrier island deposits to determine sediment sources, alongshore transport, and sediment mixing in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River has a distinct age spectrum defined by prominent Cenozoic and Mesozoic populations coupled with minor Appalachian (490-270 Ma), Grenville (1200-900 Ma), Granite-Rhyolite (1500-1300 Ma), and Yavapai-Mazatzal (1800-1600 Ma) populations. The Mobile and Apalachicola rivers exhibit age spectra containing few to no Cenozoic grains, are proportionately dominated by Appalachian and Grenville populations, and have minor populations consisting of Iaptian Rifting/Gondwanan (850-550 Ma), Granite-Rhyolite, and Yavapai-Mazatzal ages. Comparison of U–Pb age spectra and inverse mixing models shows that beach and barrier island deposits are primarily derived of material from the Apalachicola River, with Mobile River contribution being dependent on geographic position west of Mobile Bay. Minor Mississippi River contribution in coastal deposits results from shelf bypass to deep marine sinks and when present is likely associated with recycling of Coastal Plain strata. Metamorphic zircon grain abundance (14–36%) in coastal deposits and chemical-age relationships to southern Appalachian eastern Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont provinces corroborate Apalachicola and or Mobile river system provenance. Results from this study suggest that anthropogenic influences and hurricanes have little to no effect on the detrital-zircon age spectra at a regional scale, and that the northeastern Gulf of Mexico can be used as an analog for older Cenozoic and Mesozoic source to sink investigations in the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain.

Late Paleozoic cratonal sink: Distally sourced sediment filled the Anadarko Basin (USA) from multiple source regions

AbstractThe Anadarko Basin (south-central USA) is the deepest basin on the North American craton and occupies a region largely surrounded by major, late Paleo-zoic plate-margin (Marathon-Ouachita-Appalachian) and intraplate (Ancestral Rocky Mountains) orogenic systems, albeit a distal arm of the latter. The Anadarko Basin hosts an exceptionally voluminous record of Pennsylvanian strata, and much of this fill has been attributed to erosion of the adjacent Wichita uplift—composed of granitic and rhyolitic rocks of Cambrian age—separated from the basin by a fault zone exhibiting 12 km of vertical separation. This work incorporates thin-section petrography (102 samples) and U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology of sandstone samples (12 samples) from core and outcrop of the Middle Pennsylvanian Red Fork Sandstone (and equivalents) as well as slightly younger Upper Pennsylvanian units (Tonkawa, Chelsea, and Gypsy sandstones) in order to interpret drainage pathways and evolution of those pathways toward and into the Anadarko Basin (Oklahoma) and evaluate the relative importance of the major provenance regions.Our petrographic analysis indicates sandstones with arkosic compositions are limited to the region immediately adjacent to (north of) the Wichita uplift. All remaining samples, which reflect the vast bulk of sediment in the depocenter, including sediment on the northern and eastern Anadarko shelf, are litharenites. Analysis of kernel density plots of the U-Pb ages of detrital zircons together with multidimensional scaling analysis of the Middle Pennsylvanian samples indicate three groups of similar provenance: (1) samples dominated by Cambrian ages from locations directly adjacent to the Wichita uplift; (2) samples dominated by Neoproterozoic ages from locations along the northern shelf of the Anadarko Basin; and (3) samples dominated by Mesoproterozoic ages from locations along the eastern Anadarko shelf and the basin center. These samples are spatially discrete, indicating partitioning of drainage networks during the Middle Pennsylvanian, with two continental-scale fluvial systems entering the Anadarko Basin from the north (transversely) and east (axially). The lack of Cambrian ages in the depocenter and (northern) shelf samples indicate that the Wichita uplift supplied only limited sediment to the basin; sediment derived from the uplift was trapped in fringing fans directly adjacent to the uplift. In contrast to the patterns exhibited by the Middle Pennsylvanian samples, Upper Pennsylvanian samples exhibit more uniform U-Pb ages across the basin. This indicates the relatively rapid evolution of the Appalachian-derived northerly and easterly drainages into an integrated system that flowed axially across the (overfilled) mid-continent basins to the ultimate continental sink in the Anadarko Basin.

Provenance of sediments in the northern Manila Trench: An assessment from detrital zircon geochronology

Provenance of sediments in the northern Manila Trench: An assessment from detrital zircon geochronology

‘I hate sand … it gets everywhere’—Phanerozoic sedimentary recycling from NW Africa

AbstractOver 10,000 published detrital zircon ages have been reprocessed (applying a +10% normal and reverse concordance range) and analysed to understand the evolution of the detrital zircon record of north‐west Africa during the Phanerozoic. Using dissimilarity and clustering analysis, shifts in detrital zircon populations allow interpretation of the evolution of source regions and source to sink systems throughout the Phanerozoic within the West Gondwana superfan. Previous thermochronology and field studies conducted across north‐west Africa indicate significant and sustained shifts in source regions in Meso‐Cenozoic times which are not recorded in the detrital zircon geochronology record. This discrepancy is most notable for Mesozoic to modern source to sink studies focused on the evolution of the Atlasic rift and opening of the Atlantic and Tethyan Oceans to the west and north respectively. Our results indicate a high degree of similarity between samples from Cambrian times onwards due to successive phases of sediment recycling. This highlights the need to integrate detrital zircon analysis with other techniques to provide confident reconstruction of sediment routing systems across Morocco. This systematic review also reveals the ubiquitous occurrence of Mesoproterozoic zircons within Moroccan sediment. No basement of this age is known from north‐west Africa—often described as the ‘Mesoproterozoic Gap’, which was thought to be a diagnostic feature of sediment derived from the West African Craton. However, zircons of this age form 7% of all analysed zircons and are present in sediments from at least 700 Ma. The presence of this population is interpreted as strongly diagnostic of provenance from either the Amazonian Craton or the Eastern Gondwana Orogen within Central Africa. Their presence in the Moroccan detrital record from the Neoproterozoic onwards raises questions about the position of the West African Craton in the Proterozoic, and for the spatial extent of Mesoproterozoic orogeny within north Africa.

Locating northern Qiangtang on the margin of Gondwana or Laurasia? Evidence from detrital zircon geochronology

• The Permian sandstones of the northern Qiangtang terrane are quite possibly sourced from Gondwana-affinity terranes, such as the southern Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes. • The northern and southern Qiangtang terranes were essentially a unified block during the Late Paleozoic. • The northern Qiangtang terrane was located on the northern margin of Gondwana during the Permian. The relationship between the northern Qiangtang terrane and other blocks in Gondwana and Laurasia continents is still controversial. Here we report U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from the Lower-Middle Permian Nuoribagaribao Formation in the northern Qiangtang terrane, which provides new evidence to constrain the tectonic affinity of the northern Qiangtang terrane during the Late Paleozoic. Sandstones from the middle and upper parts of the Nuoribagaribao Formation contain dominant Ordovician to Devonian (480–360 Ma, peaking at 368 Ma) and Late Paleoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic (1800–1400 Ma, peaking at 1557 Ma) detrital zircons. The U-Pb age spectrum of detrital zircons of them is consistent with those of the Carboniferous strata in the southern Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes to the south; this indicates that rather than being sourced from the Yangtze Block to the east and the Eastern Kunlun-Qaidam-Qilian terrane to the north, the sediments of the Nuoribagaribao Formation were most probably sourced from the Carboniferous strata in the southern Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes to the south or shared the same sources as them. The high similarity of detrital zircon age patterns between the northern and southern Qiangtang terranes, together with other lines of geological evidence, such as paleomagnetism and paleontology, indicate that the northern and southern Qiangtang terranes were essentially a unified block during the Late Paleozoic and were located on the northern margin of Gondwana.

Late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic tectonic evolution of Japan based on crystal morphologies and U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from the middle Permian sedimentary succession, Maizuru Belt, Southwest Japan

• Detrital zircon geochronology for middle Permian sandstones in Maizuru Belt. • We determined the question of Permian collisional interpretation of Japan. • Collision of island arc and Sino-Korean Block happened at middle Permian. • Tectonic evolution accompanied by collision of island arc and Sino-Korean Block. The late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic collision-related orogeny in Japan needs to be studied to understand the tectonic evolution of Japan and East Asia. Morphological analysis and U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from sandstones of the middle Permian sedimentary succession (the Mushikawa Formation), Maizuru Belt, Southwest Japan, were used to constrain the timing of the tectonic evolution during the island arc collision and their provenance characteristics. Detrital zircon age ranges from the sandstones changed stratigraphically upward. Sandstones from the lower and upper successions contained zircon grains with main age clusters of ca. 300–260 Ma and multiple age clusters of ca. 2300–1800 and 500–270 Ma, respectively. The late Paleozoic zircons are mostly long and less rounded, while those of the Precambrian to middle Paleozoic zircons are mostly short and rounded. U–Pb ages and morphological features indicate that the late Paleozoic zircons were derived from a nearby region, whereas the pre-late Paleozoic zircons were supplied from distant sources and strong hydrodynamic conditions at the time of deposition. Combining the results of this study with the geological information of East Asia revealed that the sources changed from the Southern zone of the Maizuru Belt to multiple areas, such as the Southern and Northern zones of the Maizuru Belt, Oeyama Ophiolite, Sino–Korean Block, and Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Moreover, the results of this study support that the island arc and continental margin of the Sino–Korean Block collided during the middle Permian.

Origin, timing and paleogeographic implications of Paleogene karst bauxites in the northern Transdanubian range, Hungary

Paleogene karst bauxites in the northeastern Transdanubian Range and their cover sequences provide valuable sedimentary archives, despite their weathered nature and vague paleontological records. U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology combined with heavy mineral analysis indicates ‘local’ Alpine aeolian and fluvial sources and ‘distant’ aeolian sources connected to the Bohemian Massif. Records of episodic Paleogene volcanic eruptions related to igneous complexes of the Adamello and probably also the Bergell, Recsk and Balkan Peninsula, are reflected by euhedral zircon crystals. Their U–Pb geochronology supplies age constraints for the phases of subaerial exposure of the karstic surface and the accumulation of bauxitic protoliths and helps to improve the existing stratigraphic records and to define stages of denudation in the northeastern Transdanubian Range. Distinct phases of subaerial exposure and accumulation of the bauxite's protoliths are identified as ca. 42, 35 and 31 Ma; alternating with episodes of subsidence, represented by siliciclastic and carbonatic sequences at ca. 38, 32 and 31 Ma. Besides Paleogene volcanism, zircon dating also revealed contributions from the Middle Triassic tuffs of the Transdanubian Range. Garnet, epidote, kyanite, staurolite, and xenotime/monazite crystals suggest fluvial drainage of diverse metamorphic units of the Austroalpine basement from the Eastern- and Southern Alps, which also supplied most of the pre-Mesozoic zircons. However, the unexpectedly high proportion of Variscan ages in the bauxites most likely relate to igneous rocks of the Bohemian Massif, thus suggesting additional long-distance aeolian sources. The new data allow for detailed reconstructions of the Paleogene evolution and palaeogeography of the northeastern Transdanubian range.

Mid−late Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, South China, as constrained from the detrital zircon record

The northern margin of the Yangtze Block (NYB) experienced distinct tectono-magmatic evolution during the mid- and late-Neoproterozoic, as compared with the northwestern margins of the Yangtze Block (NWYB), although the geodynamic mechanism remains controversial. The South Qinling Belt (SQB), which forms the northernmost NYB, is a significant target for studying the Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the NYB. Here we present U-Pb geochronology and Lu-Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from clastic rocks belonging to the Yaolinghe and Wudangshan Groups in the SQB. The U-Pb ages reveal that the maximum depositional ages are respectively ca. 630 Ma and ca. 680 Ma for the Yaolinghe and Wudangshan Groups in the Ankang and Wudang Uplifts. Based on the compilation of U-Pb ages and Hf−Nd−O isotopic data as well as multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, clastic rocks of the Yaolinghe Group are suggested to be sourced mainly from the NWYB, whereas those of the Wudangshan Group were derived mostly from the NWYB and the NYB. The data compiled also indicate ca. 800−680 Ma northeastward migration of magmatism in response to slab rollback and ca. 680−600 Ma eastward migration of magmatism resulting from slab tearing. A tectonic model is proposed that envisages an arcuate subduction system around the Yangtze Block during the mid−late Neoproterozoic. The continuous slab rollback and slab tearing underneath the NYB resulted in an extensional environment at that time. The rocks in the NWYB underwent uplift and erosion, and the detritus was transported to the NYB. The new model can well account for the two distinct groups of volcanic rocks in the Yaolinghe Group.

The Evolution of Permian Source-to-Sink Systems and Tectonics Implications in the NW Junggar Basin, China: Evidence from Detrital Zircon Geochronology

The basin type of the Junggar Basin changed during the Permian, but the time constraint of the tectonic evolution remains unclear. Besides, the fan deltas developed in the Permian in the Mahu Sag in the northwestern of the oil-rich basin. However, the provenances of the sedimentary systems remain unclear. Based on petrology and detrital zircon U-Pb ages, this study investigates the source-to-sink systems evolution and tectonics implications. Abundant lithic clasts in sandstones with low compositional and textural maturity imply proximal sources. The dating results showed a dominant peak (310–330 Ma) and a secondary peak (400–440 Ma) in the northern Mahu Sag, only one peak at 295–325 Ma in the central Mahu Sag, several peaks at 270–350 Ma in the southern Mahu Sag, and multiple peaks at 370–450 Ma in the Zhongguai Uplift. Thus, the north-western Junggar Basin was divided into four major source-to-sink systems, with adjacent central West Junggar as the main provenance and northern and southern West Junggar as the secondary provenance. The proportion of sediment supply from the southern and northern West Junggar is higher during the Middle-Late Permian. It suggests that the source-to-sink systems show inheritance and evolve from a single provenance into a complex provenance, indicating the uplift of West Junggar. The tectonic inversion may occur early in the Middle Permian and the response to tectonic activity is stronger in the southern West Junggar than in the northern West Junggar.

A “Local First” Approach to Glacigenic Sediment Provenance Demonstrated Using U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the Permo-Carboniferous Wynyard Formation, Tasmanian Basin

We propose that a “local first” approach should be applied to the interpretation of provenance indicators in glacigenic sediments of all depositional ages, especially where the glacier flow path is poorly constrained and the records of potential source lithologies are incomplete. Provenance proxies, specifically U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology, of glacigenic sediments are commonly used to infer the size and distribution of past ice centers, which are in turn used to inform ancient climate reconstructions. Interpretations of these proxies often assume that similar provenance signals between glacigenic units of the same depositional age are evidence that they were deposited by the same glacier, even when those units are, not infrequently, separated by thousands of kilometers. Though glaciers are capable of transporting sediment great distances, this assumption is problematic as it does not acknowledge observations from the geologic records of Pleistocene ice sheets that show provenance proxies in glacial sediments are most likely to reflect proximal (within 100 km) sediment sources located along a specific flow path. In a “local first” approach, provenance indicators are first compared to local source lithologies. If the indicator cannot be attributed to proximal sources, only then should progressively more distal sources be investigated. Applying a local first approach to sediment provenance in ancient glacial systems may result in significant revisions to paleo ice sheet reconstructions. The effectiveness of the local first approach is demonstrated here by comparing new U-Pb detrital zircon dates from the Permo-Carboniferous glacigenic Wynyard Fm with progressively distal source lithologies along the glacier’s inferred flow path. The Wynyard Fm and source lithologies were compared using an inverse Monte-Carlo unmixing model (DZMix). All measured Wynyard Fm detrital zircon dates can be attributed to zircon sources within 33 km of the sample location along the glacier’s flow path. This interpretation of a proximal detrital zircon provenance does not conflict with the popular interpretation made from sedimentological observations that the Wynyard Fm was deposited by a large, temperate outlet glacier or ice stream that flowed south-to-north across western Tasmania. Overall, a local first approach to glacial sediment provenance, though more challenging than direct comparisons between glacigenic sedimentary deposits, has the potential to elucidate the complex histories and flow paths of glacial sedimentary systems of all depositional ages.