Subduction Of Paleo-Pacific Plate Research Articles

Mesozoic intra-arc basin records the tectonic transition from the Paleo-Asian Ocean to the Paleo-Pacific Ocean in northeastern Eurasia

Since the Paleozoic, the tectonic evolution of northeastern Eurasia has been dominated by the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the Paleo-Pacific Ocean tectonic domains. However, the spatiotemporal framework and the timing of tectonic transition between these two oceanic domains remain enigmatic. To address this issue, we report petrological, geochronological, and geochemical data for eight sandstone samples deposited along the convergent margin between the Northeast China terranes and the North China craton in central Jilin Province, China. The results show that these sandstones are immature graywackes with a maximum depositional age of Early Triassic (248 ± 1 Ma), and their sediments were largely derived from coeval magmatic rocks in a juvenile continental arc. According to our new results and previous studies, we identified a sedimentary basin (most likely an intra-arc or forearc basin) intimately associated with one or more continental arcs along the northeastern edge of the North China craton, and we suggest that the southwestward subduction of the Jilin-Heilongjiang Ocean in the early Mesozoic accounts for this continental arc setting. There is a distinct temporal gap between the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (ca. 260 Ma) and the onset of Paleo-Pacific plate subduction (234−220 Ma), which is essentially coeval with the southwestward subduction of the Jilin-Heilongjiang Ocean between 256 Ma and 239 Ma, meaning the latter is a key link that marks the transition between these two tectonic domains.

Mesozoic structural evolution of the Northern South China Sea margin using potential field modelling

This study conducts a comprehensive geophysical inspection of the Northern South China Sea Margin (NSCSM), a complex and pivotal area for unraveling the tectonic history of Southeast China. We employ structural interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data by applying processing techniques and 2D forward modelling to delineate and subdivide the primary subsurface structures, and also to identify the sedimentary basins. Our findings reveal that the NSCSM exhibits a succession of extensional forearc basins above a heterogeneous basement, including a Mesozoic Andean-type magmatic arc and a Western Pacific-type marginal oceanic basin. It has substantial variations in crustal densities and susceptibilities across the NSCSM, reflecting its intricate geological history. The integrated interpretation of this study highlights the substantial impact of the Indosinian and Yanshanian thrusting and orogenies. These geological processes have played a significant role in deformation partitioning, leading to the development of elongated troughs and basins intersected by numerous prominent structures trending in the NE, ENE, and EW directions. The Indosinian faults provide insights into the boundary between these structures, which formed due to the Dian-Qiong Suture and the Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction. These tectonic processes have major structural trends, particularly impacting the offshore forearc region in the NE and EW directions, characterized by deep basins overlying thin crust. Our study also identifies multiple minor trends, including horse-tails and secondary fault systems of the Yanshanian origin, which inherited from the regional tectonics. These trends suggest that post-orogenic stresses and shearing have played a role in rotational and ridge jump processes during the opening and closing phases of the South China Sea (SCS). Furthermore, an uneven relationship exists between the calculated magnetic anomaly and the thickness of Cenozoic sediments, with a significant increase in sediment depth observed in the southern NSCSM compared to both crustal thickness and its heterogeneity.

Multiscale structures of crust-mantle beneath the South China block and their geodynamic implication

The South China block is an ideal location in which to study the impact of paleo-Pacific plate subduction on the upper mantle and crustal structures of the overriding plate, as well as the mechanism of lithospheric thinning. By integrating data from permanent seismic stations of the China Seismic Network and a dense seismic array at Xuefeng Mountain, this study employed P- and S-wave receiver functions (RFs) to image multiscale structures of crust-mantle across the South China block, thereby providing constraints for a comprehensive understanding of its tectonic evolution. The main findings are as follows: (1) The thickness of lithosphere and crust gradually decreases from northwest (NW) to southeast (SE). (2) Beneath the Xuefeng Mountain uplift zone, the P-to-S conversion from the 660 km discontinuity arrives earlier than that predicted from a one-dimensional model, other weak discontinuities can be traced in the upper mantle, including the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, the crust becomes thinner, and the Conrad discontinuity becomes deeper. Referring to previous results from tomography and geological reconstructions, we deduce that lithospheric delamination might have occurred beneath the Xuefeng Mountain uplift zone, and the delaminated lithosphere penetrated the upper mantle and reached the mantle transition zone.

Insights from Dikes for Multistage Granitic Magmatism in the Huayangchuan Uranium Polymetallic Deposit, Qinling Orogen

The Huayangchuan U-polymetallic deposit in the Qinling Orogen is a newly verified carbonatite-hosted deposit on the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) in Central China. Granitic magmatism is extensively developed in the Huayangchuan deposit area and is lacking analysis on the reasons for these situations; however, its ages, petrogenesis, and relationship with uranium mineralization are not well constrained. Zircon U–Pb ages for the hornblende-bearing granite porphyry and medium-fine-grained biotite granites in close proximity to carbonatite rocks are 229.8 ± 1.1 and 135.3 ± 0.6 Ma, respectively. High-K calc-alkaline series and weakly peraluminous Triassic hornblende-bearing granite porphyry are slightly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) with flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns, enriched in Ba and Sr, and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, and Ti, i.e., geochemical characteristics similar to those of adakite-like rocks. The Early Cretaceous medium-fine-grained biotite granites are characterized by LREE enrichment and flat HREE patterns, which belong to high-K calc-alkaline series, and metaluminous belong to weakly peraluminous I-type granite, with U and large ion lithophile element (LILE) enrichment and high field strength element depletion. The high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and enriched Nd (εNd(t) = −10.7 to −9.5 and −19.9 to −18.9, respectively) and Hf (εHf(t) = −21.8 to −13.0 and −30.5 to −19.0, respectively) isotopes revealed that both granitic rocks from the Huayangchuan deposit mainly originated from lower crustal materials, generated by partial melting of the ancient basement materials of the Taihua Group. Triassic hornblende-bearing granite porphyry is significantly different from the mantle origin of the contemporaneous U-mineralization carbonatite. In combination with tectonic evolution, we argue that the Qinling Orogenic Belt was affected by the subduction of the North Mianlian Ocean during the Late Triassic. The ongoing northward subduction of the Yangtze Craton resulted in crustal thickening, forming large-scale Indosinian carbonatites, U-polymetallic mineralization, and contemporaneous intermediate-acid magmatism. Additionally, due to the tectonic system transformation caused by Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction, intracontinental lithosphere extension and lithospheric thinning occurred along the southern NCC margin in the Early Cretaceous. Intense magma underplating of the post-orogeny created a large number of magmatic rocks. The tremendous heat could have provided a thermal source and dynamic mechanism for the Yanshanian large-scale U-polymetallic mineralization events.

Paleo-Pacific plate subduction direction change (122−118 Ma): Insight from late kinematic plutons in the Wulian metamorphic core complex, Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China

The late Mesozoic subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate (Izanagi plate) beneath Eurasia involved complex changes in the direction and angle of subduction, which have been controversial in recent decades. This study investigated Early Cretaceous late kinematic plutons of the Wulian metamorphic core complex that formed in the southern Jiaodong Peninsula. Based on geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses, we conclude that the granites in the Heshan (122 Ma) and Kuaijishan (118 Ma) plutons are I-type granites that formed in a back-arc extensional environment, and tensile fractures played an important role in the process of magma emplacement. Gravity anomaly inversion revealed the significant role of tension fractures in the uplift of the late kinematic plutons. Analysis of magnetic fabrics showed that the dominant plunging direction of magnetic lineation in the late kinematic plutons is NW-SE (127°−307°), while the plunging direction of the mineral stretching lineation in the wall rock is nearly E-W (102°−282°). We posit that the extensional stress field in the Jiaodong Peninsula underwent a significant transformation during the Early Cretaceous period, specifically from 135 Ma to 122 Ma, when it was dominated by a regional E-W or WNW-ESE extensional stress field. Later, from 122 Ma to 118 Ma, the stress field was controlled by a NW-SE extensional stress field. This variation in the regional stress field in the Jiaodong Peninsula indirectly indicates the changing subduction and slab rollback direction of the paleo-Pacific plate. From 135 Ma to 122 Ma, the paleo-Pacific plate subducted beneath Eurasia along a WNW-ESE direction. However, back-arc extension and slab rollback led to extensive extension in the Jiaodong Peninsula. Subsequently, the subduction direction of the paleo-Pacific plate shifted to the NW, with rollback occurring eastward at a high angle under the Jiaodong Peninsula from 122 Ma to 118 Ma. This shift resulted in extensive magmatism and widespread gold mineralization. The findings of this study offer new insights into the complex geodynamic processes that occurred during the Early Cretaceous period in the region.

Petrogenesis of Jurassic granitic rocks in South China Block: Implications for events related to subduction of Paleo-Pacific plate

Abstract Frequent magmatic intrusion and eruption during the early Yanshanian in South China formed a unique and diverse igneous rock assemblage, mainly comprising granite, rhyolite, and some basic rocks. Nevertheless, the tectonic regime responsible for the formation of these granitic rocks remains controversial. The comprehensive available data suggest that the Jurassic granitic rocks formed during the period from 180 to 145 Ma, with an age peak at ca. 160 Ma. Jurassic rocks are predominantly concentrated in Wuyi, southern Hunan, northeast Guangdong, and southern Jiangxi, followed by the eastern Guangxi-western Guangdong areas, mainly including I-, S-, and A-type granites, and a few I–S transformation-type granites. These granitic rocks invariably exhibit enrichment in Rb, Th, U, and Pb, while Ba, Nb, Sr, P, and Ti are depleted, and variable Eu/Eu* ratios. The whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic and zircon Hf isotopic compositions show that the Jurassic granitic rocks are mainly recirculation products of Paleo-Mesoproterozoic rocks, as well as the mantle-derived magma, which played a major role in the formation process. Among them, the granites in eastern Guangxi-western Guangdong and Northeast Guangdong areas display higher ε Nd(t) and ε Hf(t) values, suggesting a relatively larger contribution from mantle-derived materials. Based on the comprehensive regional geological data, we interpret that these Jurassic granitic rocks as a product of lithosphere extensional-thinning, tectonic-magmatic interaction formed during the process of flat-slab subduction.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Setting of Early Cretaceous A-Type Granite from the Southern Great Xing’an Range, Northeastern China: Geochronological, Geochemical, and Hf Isotopic Evidence

The southern Great Xing’an Range is located in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, where voluminous igneous rocks developed during the Late Mesozoic period. The east slope of the southern Great Xing’an Range has been the topic of numerous debates on the level of influence of the Mongol-Okhotsk and the Paleo-Pacific regimes in the Late Mesozoic period. Therefore, this area is a suitable region in which to study the temporal changes in magma sources and tectono-magmatic evolution. In this paper, whole-rock geochemical data, zircon U-Pb geochronology, and zircon Hf isotope studies were carried out on the granitoids in the east slope area of the southern Great Xing’an Range. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating revealed the ages of four granitoid samples: 135.0 ± 0.6 Ma, 130.7 ± 1.4 Ma, 130.4 ± 1.0 Ma, and 127.6 ± 0.8 Ma, respectively. The Hf isotope values 176Hf/177Hf = 0.282751–0.283015, εHf (t) = +2.0~+11.5, and T2DM = 583~1442 Ma suggest that the magma was generated by partial melting of Meso- and Neoproterozoic accreted and thickened low crust. The whole-rock geochemical data implied that these granitoids are A-type granite and their formation is closely linked to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean plate. These geochemical, isotopic, and geochronological data suggest that the Early Cretaceous magmatism in the east slope area of the southern Great Xing’an Range formed in an extensional back-arc tectonic setting associated with the slab roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction.

Accelerated subduction of the western Pacific Plate promotes the intracontinental uplift and magmatism in late Jurassic South China

Widespread fold and thrust belt and magmatism that occurred in the Mesozoic South China Block (SCB) have generated much debate on their dynamic mechanism related to the western Pacific Plate. Unlike a delayed Andean orogen, the SCB contains large areas of magmatic rocks coinciding with the absence of Upper Jurassic strata, which is not consistent with a flat-slab subduction geometry, and no consensus model has been suggested. To obtain more general insight into the effects of paleo-Pacific Plate subduction on the SCB, thermal-fluid-solid simulations of the subduction process are conducted. The models involved varied subduction rates and lithospheric viscosities to investigate their effect on the subduction style, mantle flow and overriding plate deformation. Low-rate subduction easily forms a subduction geometry with a higher angle, while high-rate subduction causes the slab to break off and drip downward. Fast subduction produces a quasi-horizontal mantle flow and a poloidal flow at the front of the mantle wedge, whereas slow subduction produces two poloidal flows developed on both sides of the subducting slab. The strain tensor of the overriding plate coincides well with the gradient of the horizontal mantle flow rate. A high subduction rate and low lithospheric viscosity promote the deformation of the overriding plate and are further attributed to mantle flow. Combining these results with global plate reconstructions, we find that accelerated subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate resulted in the Late Jurassic uplift of the SCB. The low viscosity of the overriding plate caused by multiphase orogenic deformation promoted the thinning of the lithosphere due to induced mantle flow, which was associated with the intrusion of magmas and foundering of the subducted slab in a compressional regime. At the end of the Late Jurassic, subduction-induced mantle flow transformed from westward to eastward. Concurrently, the subducted slab began to steepen, and widespread Cretaceous magmatism occurred.

Petrogenesis of the Mesozoic granitoids from the Yuanlinzi Sn-Cu deposit, Northeast China: Implications for Cu-rich Sn mineralization

Granite-related hydrothermal Sn deposits are commonly expected to contain little or no Cu because Cu and Sn have markedly different geochemical properties. However, examples of Sn deposits rich in Cu are well-known in many Sn belts worldwide. So far, the magmatic processes of ore-related rocks and genesis of Cu-rich Sn deposits remain controversial. The newly discovered Yuanlinzi Sn-Cu deposit is located in the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), Northeast China. It is a typical Cu-rich Sn deposit in the SGXR. This contribution reports new cassiterite and zircon U-Pb ages, geochemical compositions, and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the granitoids in the Yuanlinzi deposit to decipher the genesis of Cu-rich Sn deposit. Cassiterite U-Pb dating reveals that the Sn mineralization at Yuanlinzi was formed at ∼ 138 Ma. Zircon U-Pb dating of the granitoids yielded two age clusters: Early Triassic (247.6–246.3 Ma) for the granodiorite, and Early Cretaceous (145.3–141.9 Ma) for the granites, including K-feldspar granite (145.3 ± 0.5 Ma), granite porphyry (143.6 ± 0.9 Ma), fine-grained granite (142.8 ± 1.1 Ma) and albite granite (141.9 ± 1.3 Ma). The Early Cretaceous granites have geochemical affinities for A-type granites, for example, A/CNK = 0.98–1.07, high TFeO/(TFeO + MgO) ratios, total alkali (Na2O + K2O), and Ga/Al ratios. The Early Triassic granodiorite have relatively low (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.7034–0.7041, whereas the Early Cretaceous granite has slightly variable and higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values, varying from 0.7020 to 0.7065. The Early Triassic granodiorite and Early Cretaceous granites have similar bulk-rock εNd (t) values and TDM2 ages, ranging from + 1.89 to + 3.53 and 732 to 845 Ma, respectively. The geochemical data and Sr-Nd isotopes indicate that the Early Cretaceous granites were derived from partial melting of the juvenile middle-upper crust. This study further suggests that the 145.3–141.9 Ma granites are associated with back-arc extension environment during the low-angle subduction of Paleo-Pacific plate. In addition, the whole-rock and zircon compositions show that the Cu-Sn magma is characterized by relatively oxidized and less evolved features compared to the Cu-poor Sn deposits in the region. The rapid increase of oxygen fugacity of the latest episode of the Early Cretaceous magma is supposed to have initiated by the injection of mafic magma, which supported the Cu source for the deposit. Our studies suggest that the Cu-bearing mafic magma/fluid injection plays a key role on the formation of Cu-rich Sn deposit.

Diachronous slab-driven Early Cretaceous crustal extension and pulsed magmatic response in southeastern China: Insight from A-type granite and related rocks

The Late Mesozoic magmatic belt in southeastern (SE) China, stretching over 1300 km, resulted from southwestward subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. Our study focuses on the origin of Early Cretaceous syenite and A-type granite in SE China, utilizing zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopic analyses, bulk-rock compositions, and Nd-Hf isotopic compositions. Findings indicate that ∼ 142 Ma silica-unsaturated syenites in the southwest form through small degrees of partial melting of the metasomatized lithospheric mantle, while ∼ 142 Ma A-type granites originate from partial melting of juvenile felsic rocks. The ∼ 130 Ma A-type granites in the northeast result from mixing of ancient crustal-derived magma and mantle-derived magma. The southwest and northeast regions display distinct magmatic histories, with flare-ups and lulls occurring at different times. These variations suggest diverse extensional and compressional histories. A spatially migrating extensional regime is observed from the southwest (∼147 Ma) to the northeast (∼120 Ma) of SE China. Magmatic flare-ups in the southwest involve reworking juvenile crust, while in the northeast, they modify ancient crust, likely related to paleo-Pacific plate subduction and northeastward slab rollback. Slab subduction rate correlates strongly with observed geological events, indicating diachronous crustal extension, magmatic flare-ups, and lulls during ca. 147–110 Ma due to northeastward slab rollback and changing subduction rate.

Early Cretaceous magmatism in the northern Gyeonggi Massif and the northcentral Yeongnam Massif, Korean Peninsula: Its implications for the Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Northeast Asia

Most Cretaceous igneous rocks in the northeastern North China Cratons (NCC) and southeastern South China Cratons (SCC) in Northeast Asia are interpreted to have formed in the extensional tectonic environment caused by subducted slab roll-back. On the other hand, the Cretaceous magmatism in the proto-Southwest Japan was confirmed to have occurred in the compressional state produced by the paleo-Pacific plate subduction. The granitoids and enclaves in the northern Gyeonggi Massif intruded at ca. 110–109 Ma and 112 Ma respectively, and the granite and pyroclastic rock in the northcentral Yeongnam Massif were formed at 106 Ma and 103 Ma respectively. The enclaves in the Ganghwa area which located in northern Gyeonggi Massif have high whole-rock Sr isotope composition (0.70748–0.71181) and low whole-rock εNd(t) (−14 to −15) value and low zircon εHf(t) (−19.2 to −14.7) values with enrichment of LILE, suggesting their origin from enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted slab sediment. The Early Cretaceous granitoids on the northern Gyeonggi and northcentral Yeongnam massifs have adakite like geochemical composition which are derived from the lower crust instead of subducted oceanic crust derived melt. The geochemical features of the Early Cretaceous igneous rocks in the Korean Peninsula including the study area imply that the Early Cretaceous magmatism on the Korean Peninsula mainly occurred in the extension regime caused by slab roll-back of the paleo-Pacific plate as in the NCC. On the other hand, the igneous rocks formed at 80–66 Ma in the Korean Peninsula have geochemical characteristics similar to that in the Cretaceous igneous rocks in proto-Southwest Japan, indicating that the 80–66 Ma magmatism in the Korean Peninsula were produced by the subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. The Cretaceous igneous rocks in the northeastern NCC and on the Korean Peninsula show a southeastward-younging trend from 145 Ma to 80 Ma, indicating that southeastward slab roll-back had started at 145 Ma and continued until 80 Ma. Arc-related igneous activity occurred from 116 Ma in southwestern Japan and propagated northward, resulting arc related magmatism in the northern margin of proto-southwestern Japan and the southeastern margin of the Korean Peninsula at 80–66 Ma.

Early to Middle Jurassic (ca. 182–164 Ma) fractionated granitoids in the Korean Peninsula: Implication for the tectonomagmatic history of East Asia

The Jurassic granitoids (200–164 Ma) are distributed in the Korean Peninsula due to the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction. Early Jurassic (200–182 Ma) granitoids are mainly distributed in the southern Korean Peninsula. By contrast, Early to Middle Jurassic (182–164 Ma) granitoids are distributed in the central Korean Peninsula. In this study, we report detailed petrology, zircon U–Pb ages, and whole-rock geochemistry from the Seoul–Uijeongbu and Pocheon–Gimhwa pluton units in the central Korean Peninsula. The Seoul–Uijeongbu unit is dominated by biotite granite, with minor porphyritic biotite and garnet-biotite granite while the Pocheon–Gimhwa unit consists of biotite granite and porphyritic biotite granite, garnet-biotite granite, and two-mica granite. Zircon U–Pb age from those granites gives 180–167 Ma. The granitoids in the Pocheon-Gimhwa unit formed through fractional crystallization from biotite granite and porphyritic biotite granite to garnet-biotite granite, and two-mica granite based on gradually decreasing their Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf, and Eu/Eu* ratios. The strongly fractionated granitoids are garnet-biotite granite and two-mica granite. The LILE enrichment, Ta–Nb, Sr–P, and Eu–Ti troughs, and Ba depletion in most granitoids are similar to those of granitoids due to the subduction in the arc environment. Thus, these Jurassic granitoids (180–167 Ma) are mainly peraluminous granites with moderate crystal fractionation corresponding to I-type granite. Alkali feldspar granite associated with ore mineralization occurs in the Gwanaksan pluton from the southwestern Seoul–Uijeongbu unit. The alkali feldspar granite displays distinct negative Eu anomaly with high contents of Rb, Hf, Cs, and Nb compared with other granites. These characteristics imply that alkali feldspar granite experienced strong hydrothermal activity leading to feldspar ore mineralization compared to the other granites. The formation of a wide range of moderately evolved peraluminous granitoids is presumed to be related to rapid flat-subduction during 182–164 Ma, and the mineralization-related alkali feldspar granite indicates the termination of Jurassic granitoid magmatism in the central Korean Peninsula.

Crustal and upper mantle structure beneath SE China from joint analysis of receiver functions and Rayleigh-wave dispersion

SUMMARY Various geodynamic models, such as a mantle plume, lithospheric delamination and the subduction of palaeo-Pacific Plate, have been proposed to account for the Mesozoic magmatic activity and related mineralization in SE China. However, previous seismic velocity models are insufficient in resolution to constrain the accompanying crust–mantle interactions, which limits our understanding of the deep geodynamic processes responsible for the Mesozoic magmatism in SE China. In this study, we construct a new 3-D shear wave velocity model of the crust and upper mantle beneath SE China using joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh-wave dispersion. We also determine the crustal thicknesses and Vp/Vs ratios by H–k stacking of receiver functions. Compared to the western Cathaysia Block, the coastal volcanic-intrusive belt (CVIB) southeast of the Zhenghe-Dapu Fault shows relatively high-velocity anomalies in the lower crust and high Vp/Vs ratios, indicating significant underplating of mafic material beneath the CVIB. Furthermore, it is noticeable that the asthenospheric low-velocity anomalies are stronger beneath the CVIB than beneath the interior of SE China, suggesting a southeastward increase in the intensity of asthenospheric upwelling and partial melting, which was likely responsible for the strong volcanism and the inferred mafic underplating beneath the CVIB. Our observations provide new evidence and more details for the northwestward subduction and subsequent rollback of the palaeo-Pacific Plate causing the Late Mesozoic magmatism in SE China.

Fluid evolution and genesis of the Sankuanggou Fe[sbnd]Cu skarn deposit, Duobaoshan ore field, Northeast China: Evidence from fluid inclusions and H-O-S-Pb isotopes

The Sankuanggou FeCu skarn deposit is located in the Duobaoshan ore field in the northern Great Xing'an Range, Notheast China. The ore bodies occurred in the skarn of the contact zone between the Yanshanian granodiorite and the middle Ordovician Duobaoshan Formation marble. According to the field investigations and mineral crosscutting relationships, five paragenetic stages were identified: the anhydrous skarn (Stage I); hydrous skarn (Stage II); chalcopyrite-pyrite-quartz-molybdenite (Stage III); sphalerite-quartz stage (Stage IV) and quartz-calcite (Stage V). In the Stage I and II, the assemblage of fluid inclusions (FIs) in quartz is characterized by the development of daughter mineral-bearing three-phase FIs (S-type), vapor-rich two-phase aqueous FIs (LV-type) and liquid-rich two-phase aqueous FIs (VL-type). VL- and LV-type FIs were found in the Stage III quartz, whereas only VL-type FIs were present in the Stage IV quartz and Stage V calcite. The homogeneous temperatures of the FIs in Stages I to V were 364–495, 295–405, 243–360 and 135–207 °C, respectively, with salinities of 4.16–58.42, 4.17–47.99, 3.37–14.2, 1.03–11.11 and 3.53–8.4 wt% NaCl eqv., respectively. In general, the ore-forming fluids changed from high-temperature NaCl-H2O system fluids, that contained negligible amounts of CO2 and CH4 and exhibited obvious boiling, to a medium- to low-temperature and low-salinity NaCl–H2O system with fluid mixing. According to the HO isotopic analysis of Stages I and II (δ18OH2O = 0.3–6.3 ‰, δ18D = −112.6 to −79.9 ‰), the ore-forming fluid was identified as magmatic fluid. In contrast, the δ18OH2O and δ18D values in Stages III and IV gradually decreased (δ18OH2O = −9.6 to −2.3 ‰, δ18D = −133.1 to −118.9 ‰), implying a gradual meteoric water input into the fluid. The S isotopic analysis (δ34S range from −4 to −0.8 ‰) revealed that S mainly originates from the magma during the mineralization process. Further, the Pb isotopic (208Pb/204Pb = 37.64–38.725, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.45–15.606 and 206Pb/204Pb = 18.115 to 19.786) investigations indicated that the ore-forming materials of this deposit are derived from the crust-mantle mixing. Based on the previously reported geochronologic and geodynamic data, we can conclude that the Sankuanggou deposit is a typical FeCu skarn deposit and formed during the Early Jurassic Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction.

Crustal anisotropy of the South China block and tectonic implications

Exploiting the teleseismic waveform data from permanent seismic stations distributed in the South China block, we obtained the crustal anisotropy parameters at 51 stations by fitting the azimuthal variations of arrival times of the PMs converted wave of radial receiver functions. The results show the dominant direction of fast wave polarity in the South China block is NW–SE, which is basically consistent with the absolute plate motion direction. Combining the shear wave splitting and GPS results, we speculated that the tectonic extension of the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction dominates the crust–mantle anisotropy, which reflects the large-scale tectonic stress setting of the South China block. The fast wave directions of NE–SW and E–W calculated by a few stations might represent a local complex tectonic environment, and the crustal anisotropy of NE–SW is well related to the tectonic deformation in Paleozoic. The delay time of slow waves caused by crustal anisotropy ranges from 0.14 s to 0.71 s, with an average of 0.33 s. The delay time of Jiangnan orogenic belt, which located in the southeast of Yangtze block, is particularly large, which reflects the complex and intense intra-continental tectonic movements since Neoproterozoic. The crustal anisotropy along the southeast coast can be contributed to the local lithosphere underplating caused by the upwelling of asthenosphere in Cretaceous.

From Rodinian passive margin to peri-Siberian continental arc: Evidence from the multiphase Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic magmatic record of the Zavkhan Block in the Mongolian Collage

Geochronological and geochemical study of the Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic magmatic record was carried out in two sections of the Zavkhan Block, one of the largest continental fragments within the Mongolian Collage of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Our results show that two distinct magmatic events occurred in both studied domains, the Late Tonian (c. 840–800 Ma) and the Cambro–Ordovician (c. 510–470 Ma). Based on the variable geochemical signatures and two-stage Nd model ages (TNd.2stgDM=1.4–3.0 Ga), the late Tonian magmatism included both mantle-derived magmas that suffered a crustal contamination as well as partial melts of a heterogeneous continental crust that ranged from Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic (felsic metaigneous rocks or immature metagreywackes) to Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic (metabasalts or metatonalites). The Cambro–Ordovician basic–acidic magmatism (TNd.2stgDM=1.3–2.2 Ga) reflected interplay between two components, mafic juvenile (depleted-mantle-derived) and felsic, generated by anatexis of Tonian, mainly metabasic crust. The late Tonian (c. 840–800 Ma) magmatic activity is interpreted as result of intracontinental rifting, whereas the Cambro–Ordovician (c. 510–470 Ma) magmatism is linked to a continental magmatic-arc system.The comparison of the data from the Zavkhan Block with other microcontinents of the Mongolian Collage shows that most of them experienced an identical two-stage magmatic evolution. The first stage is interpreted as a result of the Rodinia break-up, whereas the second one was associated with inception of the Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction. Based on similarities in the magmatic record, we conclude that the Mongolian Collage microcontinents were located at the Rodinia periphery, as a part of either the Siberian or Tarim cratons. They were separated in the late Tonian, established a passive margin and drifted towards southern Siberia, where they recorded arc magmatism related to the Cambro–Ordovician subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

Fluid Evolution and Ore Genesis of the Songjianghe Au Deposit in Eastern Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and H-O-S-Pb Isotope Systematics

The medium-sized Songjianghe Au deposit is located in the southeastern part of the Jiapigou-Haigou gold belt (JHGB) in central eastern Jilin Province, NE China. The gold mineralization is primarily characterized by disseminated-style ores and hosted in the low-/medium-grade metamorphic rocks of the Seluohe Group. The ore bodies are governed by NNW-striking brittle-ductile structures and spatially correlated with silicic and sericitic alterations. Four alteration/mineralization stages have been distinguished: (I) Quartz-pyrrhotite-pyrite, (II) quartz-polymetallic sulfides, (III) quartz-pyrite, and (IV) quartz-calcite. The fluid inclusion (FI) assemblage in quartz from Stage I comprises C1-type, C2-type, C3-type, and VL-type FIs, with total homogenization temperatures (Th-total) of 292.8 to 405.6 °C and salinities of 2.8 to 9.3 wt% NaCl eqv. Quartz from Stage II (main ore stage) developed C2-, C3-, and VL-type FIs, with a Th-total of 278.5 to 338.9 °C and salinities of 2.8 to 8.1 wt% NaCl eqv. Stage III is characterized by coexisting C3- and VL-type FIs in quartz, with a Th-total of 215.9 to 307.3 °C and salinities of 2.4 to 7.2 wt% NaCl eqv. Only VL-type FIs are observed in Stage IV, with a Th-total of 189.5 to 240.4 °C and salinities of 3.7 to 5.7 wt% NaCl eqv. The Laser Raman spectroscopic results demonstrated minor CH4 in the C-type FIs from Stages I and II. The results suggest that ore fluids may have evolved from a medium-high temperature, low-salinity immiscible CO2-NaCl-H2O ± CH4 system to a low temperature, low-salinity homogeneous NaCl-H2O system. Fluid immiscibility caused by the rapid drop in pressure may have been the main trigger for gold-polymetallic sulfide precipitation. The Songjianghe Au deposit may have been formed under 352–448 °C and 850–1380 bar pressure, based on the isochore intersection for Stage II fluid inclusions. The H-O isotopic compositions (Stage I: δ18Ofluid = 5.6 to 5.8‰, δD = −96.2 to −95.7‰; Stage II: δ18Ofluid = 3.7 to 4.2‰, δD = −98.7 to −89.8‰; Stage III: δ18Ofluid = 1.2 to 1.4‰, δD = −103.5 to −101.2‰) indicate that the hydrothermal fluids are dominated by magmatic water in the early stages (Stages I and II) and mixed with meteoric water since Stage III. The pyrite S-Pb isotope data (δ34S: −2.91 to 3.40‰; 206Pb/204Pb: 16.3270 to 16.4874; 207Pb/204Pb: 15.2258 to 15.3489; 208Pb/204Pb: 36.6088 to 36.7174), combined with Pb isotopic compositions of the intrusive rocks and wall rocks (the Seluohe Group) in the ore district, indicate that the ore-forming materials at Songjianghe are predominantly from a magmatic source and may have been affected by the contamination of the Seluohe Group. In accordance with the features of ore geology, ore-forming fluids and metals, and geodynamic setting, the Songjianghe Au deposit belongs to a mesothermal magmatic hydrothermal vein gold deposit, which formed in the intermittent stage of Paleo-Pacific plate subduction during the Late Jurassic.

Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of Early Cretaceous mafic dykes in the North Qinling Orogenic Belt, central China: constraints on the lithospheric lower crust delamination

Late Mesozoic mafic dykes, which are widely developed in the North Qinling Orogenic Belt (NQOB), include abundant geodynamic information. This paper describes the mafic dykes that intrude the Late Jurassic granite in the Dayu and Kuyu areas, and reports important petrological constraints for the late Mesozoic tectonic transition from compression to extension in the NQOB. Three zircon U–Pb results show that the minimum ages of the mafic dykes are 139.8 ± 1.4 Ma, 137.4 ± 1.7 Ma and 133.4 ± 0.9 Ma, indicating that the emplacement age of the Dayu and Kuyu mafic dykes is 140–133 Ma. Petrogeochemical analyses suggest that the mafic dykes belong to the high-K calc-alkaline shoshonite series with low SiO2 (46.93–56.73 wt%), MgO (1.88–9.10 wt%) and TiO2 (1.17–1.82 wt%), and high Al2O3 (13.98–17.46 wt%), TFe2O3 (7.81–10.92 wt%) and K2O (1.28–4.78 wt%). The mafic dykes are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (e.g. Rb, Ba, K, La, Sr) and depleted in high-field-strength elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Zr, Ti). These samples have the right-sloping chondrite-normalised rare earth element patterns, which suggest light rare earth element enrichment and heavy rare earth elements depletion with no obvious Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.94–1.11). The I Sr, ε Nd(t), ε Hf (t) and T DM2(crust) values are 0.7056–0.7060, −10.60 to −5.98, −14.1 to −2.8, and 1382.4 ± 25.1 to 2081.9 ± 47.6 Ma, respectively. Both elemental and isotopic geochemistry show that the formation of Dayu and Kuyu mafic dykes is due to the partial decompression melting of previously enriched lithospheric mantle during a delamination process. The mafic dykes have undergone fractionation crystallisation of Mg–Fe phase minerals during magma ascent, accompanied by some crustal contamination. Combined with the regional tectonic setting, we suggested that the NQOB experienced intra-continental extension during the Early Cretaceous. KEY POINTS Early Cretaceous (140–133 Ma) mafic dykes have been discovered in the middle part of the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. The remote effect of the Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction has reached the middle of the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. The North Qinling Orogenic Belt entered the extensional stage in the Early Cretaceous (140–133 Ma).

Petrogenesis and relationship with REE mineralization of the quartz syenite from Chishan and Longbaoshan alkaline complex, southeastern North China Craton: Insights from zircon U–Pb geochronology, element, and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope geochemistry

Mesozoic alkaline complexes associated with the rare earth element (REE) mineralization are developed in southeastern North China Craton (NCC), and they recorded some important information about the lithospheric thinning and destruction of the NCC. Zircon U–Pb dating results reveal that syenitic rocks from the Chishan and Longbaoshan alkaline complexes were emplaced at ca. 126.2–123.7 Ma. These syenitic rocks have an arc-like affinity with enriched LREEs and LILEs (e.g., Ba and Th) and depleted HFSE (e.g., Nb and Ta). However, they plot within the extensional alkaline–calc-alkaline field in the lg (CaO/(K2O + Na2O)) versus SiO2 discrimination diagram and plot within the fields of the divergent plate and within-plate settings in the NbN versus ThN discrimination diagram, implying an extensional tectonic setting. Thus, we suggest that the syenitic rocks should form in an extensional tectonic settings related to rollback and retreat of the subducting Paleo-Pacific plate. These syenitic rocks have similar Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope compositions ((87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7062 to 0.7101, εNd(t) = −8.2 to −15.0, εHf(t) = −13.5 to −9.6), which are the same as the enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) of the NCC. Taking into account not only our new data but also previously published data regarding the evolution of NCC in the Mesozoic, we conclude that the syenitic rocks from the Chishan and Longbaoshan complexes are derived from partial melting of the lithospheric mantle triggered by the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction. Moreover, the geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic similarity between the Chishan REE ores, Longbaoshan altered rocks, and the syenitic rocks implied that they are homologous products of Early Cretaceous and that the mineralization shows inheritance to the magmatic hydrothermal evolution.

P-wave velocity structure in the crust and the uppermost mantle of Chao Lake region of the Tan-Lu Fault inferred from teleseismic arrival time tomography

Chao Lake is a Geoheritage site on the active Tan-Lu Fault between the Yangtze craton, the North China craton, and the Dabie orogenic belt in the southeast. This segment of the fault is not well constrained at depth partly due to the overprinting of the fault zone by intrusive materials and its relatively low seismic activity and sparse seismic station coverage. This study took advantage of a dense seismic array deployed around Chao Lake to delineate the P-wave velocity variations in the crust and uppermost mantle using teleseismic earthquake arrival time tomography. The station-pair double-difference with waveform cross-correlation technique was employed. We used a multiscale resolution 3-D initial model derived from the combination of high-resolution 3-D vS models within the region of interest to account for the lateral heterogeneity in the upper crust. The results revealed that the velocity of the upper crust is segmented with structures trending in the direction of the strike of the fault. Sedimentary basins are delineated on both sides of the fault with slow velocities, while the fault zone is characterized by high velocity in the crust and uppermost mantle. The high-velocity structure in the fault zone shows characteristics of magma intrusion that may be connected to the Mesozoic magmatism in and around the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt (MLYMB), implying that the Tan-Lu fault might have formed a channel for magma intrusion. Magmatic material in Chao Lake is likely connected to the partial melting, assimilation, storage, and homogenization of the uppermost mantle and the lower crustal rocks. The intrusions, however, seem to have suffered severe regional extension along the Tan-Lu fault driven by the eastward Paleo-Pacific plate subduction, thereby losing its deep trail due to extensional erosion.