The formation of early Mesozoic granitoid plutons in the Qinling Orogen is widely regarded as a result of the collision and accretion between the Yangtze Block and the South Qinling Block during the early Mesozoic, but the specific magmatic process, source composition, tectonic environment and deep dynamic background remain controversial. This study reports the petrology, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and whole-rock geochemistry of diorites from the Liuba and Qingyangyi plutons in the South Qinling, to provide new evidence for understanding the final collision tectonic evolution process of Qinling Orogenic belt. The Liuba and Qingyangyi plutons, located in the central part of the South Qinling region, are primarily composed of quartz diorite and quartz monzodiorite, respectively. The results indicate that the weighted mean crystallization ages of the quartz diorite in the Liuba pluton range from 216.1 ± 0.8 Ma to 217.1 ± 1.3 Ma, with the weighted mean crystallization ages of its MMEs being 215.4 ± 1.0 Ma. The crystallization ages of the quartz monzodiorite in the Qingyangyi pluton range from 214.6 ± 0.9 Ma to 215.4 ± 0.9 Ma, suggesting that both plutons were formed in the late Triassic. The investigated plutons are characterized as right-leaning and have weak negative Eu anomalies on the chondrite-normalized REE patterns diagram. The large ion lithophile elements (LILE) Rb, Ba, Th and K are relatively enriched, while high-field strength elements (HFSE) Nb, Ta, Ti and P are strongly depleted. The formation of numerous MMEs in the Liuba pluton is the product of magmatic mixing. The Liuba and Qingyangyi plutons are the results of crust thickening and partial melting of lower crust caused by the comprehensive late Triassic collision between the Yangtze Block and the North China Block (NCB), and are the manifestation of magmatic intrusion along the South Qinling tectonic belt in the late Triassic period.
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