De-You Sun

A-type granites in northeastern China: age and geochemical constraints on their petrogenesis

Abstract A-type granites are widely distributed in northeastern China (NE China). They were emplaced during three major episodes (the Permian, late Triassic to early Jurassic, and early Cretaceous) and evolved in different tectonic regimes. According to their mineralogical and geochemical characteristics, two subgroups of A-type granites (aluminous and peralkaline) can be recognized. The peralkaline subgroup contains alkali mafic minerals, such as riebeckite, arfvedsonite and sodic pyroxene, while the aluminous subgroup contains annite and Fe-rich calcic- or sodic-calcic amphibole. With respect to the aluminous subgroup, the peralkaline granites contain higher Rb, Ga and total rare earth elements (REE), but lower MgO, CaO, Al 2 O 3 , Ba and Sr. Based on the discrimination criteria of Eby [Geology 20 (1992) 641], the Permian and late Triassic to early Jurassic A-type granites belong to the A 2 (post-orogenic) type, whereas the early Cretaceous granites are of the A 1 (anorogenic) type. Nd isotopic compositions of these A-type granites indicate their derivation from a dominantly juvenile crustal source. Their origin is thought to have involved partial melting of an underplated lower crustal source. Because the generation of A-type granites requires high melting temperature, we propose models involving slab break-off, lithospheric delamination and extension. The Permian A-type granites have the same age range as those in eastern Junggar, southern Mongolia and central Inner Mongolia. They occur along a major suture and form a narrow belt between the north China and Siberian Cratons. We suggest that their formation was associated with post-collisional slab break-off. The late Triassic to early Jurassic A-type granites are likely to be the product of lithospheric delamination after the final collision of the major crustal blocks in the late Paleozoic to early Triassic. The early Cretaceous A-type granites have an anorogenic affinity and were possibly associated with rifting in eastern China at this time, associated with the onset of paleo-Pacific subduction. Consequently, we conclude that the A-type granites in NE China were generated at three different times, involving multiple processes operative in different tectonic environments.

Highly fractionated I-type granites in NE China (II): isotopic geochemistry and implications for crustal growth in the Phanerozoic

NE China is the easternmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The area is distinguished by widespread occurrence of Phanerozoic granitic rocks. In the companion paper (Part I), we established the Jurassic ages (184–137 Ma) for three granitic plutons: Xinhuatun, Lamashan and Yiershi. We also used geochemical data to argue that these rocks are highly fractionated I-type granites. In this paper, we present Sr–Nd–O isotope data of the three plutons and 32 additional samples to delineate the nature of their source, to determine the proportion of mantle to crustal components in the generation of the voluminous granitoids and to discuss crustal growth in the Phanerozoic. Despite their difference in emplacement age, Sr–Nd isotopic analyses reveal that these Jurassic granites have common isotopic characteristics. They all have low initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (0.7045F0.0015), positive eNd(T) values (+1.3 to +2.8), and young Sm–Nd model ages (720–840 Ma). These characteristics are indicative of juvenile nature for these granites. Other Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic granites in this region also show the same features. Sr–Nd and oxygen isotopic data suggest that the magmatic evolution of the granites can be explained in terms of two-stage processes: (1) formation of parental magmas by melting of a relatively juvenile crust, which is probably a mixed lithology formed by pre-existing lower crust intruded or underplated by mantle-derived basaltic magma, and (2) extensive magmatic differentiation of the parental magmas in a slow cooling environment. The widespread distribution of juvenile granitoids in NE China indicates a massive transfer of mantle material to the crust in a post-orogenic tectonic setting. Several recent studies have documented that juvenile granitoids of Paleozoic to Mesozoic ages are ubiquitous in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, hence suggesting a significant growth of the continental crust in the Phanerozoic. D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A Jurassic garnet-bearing granitic pluton from NE China showing tetrad REE patterns

Abstract NE China is characterized by the massive distribution of Phanerozoic granitoids. Most of them are of I- and A-type granites, whereas S-type granites are rarely documented. The present work deals with the Dongqing pluton, a small granitic body emplaced in the southern Zhangguangcai Range. The pluton comprises a two-mica (±garnet) granite and a garnet-bearing muscovite granite; the latter occurs as veins in the former. The pluton shows a gradational contact with the surrounding host granites. Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope analyses on whole-rocks and minerals reveal that the two types of granites were emplaced synchronously at about 160 Ma. The pluton was emplaced coeval with the surrounding I-type granitic pluton, and had a rapid cooling history. It is characterized by an initial Sr isotopic ratio of ∼0.706, slightly negative eNd(T) values (−0.5 to −1.9) and young depleted-mantle model ages (970–1090 Ma). This suggests that the parent magma originated from partial melting of relatively juvenile crust, which is largely compatible with the general scenario for much of the Phanerozoic granitoids emplaced in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Geochemically, the granites of the Dongqing pluton are peraluminous, with a Shand Index (molar ratio A/CNK) of 1.0–1.1 for the two-mica granites and 1.2–1.3 for the garnet-bearing granites. All the garnet-bearing granites and some of the two-mica granites show tetrad REE patterns (=tetrad group), whereas most two-mica granites show normal granitic REE patterns (=normal group). The normal group granites exhibit depletion in Nb, Ta, P and Ti in spidergrams, and generally weak positive Eu anomalies in REE patterns. By contrast, the tetrad group granites manifest depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti and significant negative Eu anomalies. The trace element data constrain the parental magmas to having undergone extensive magmatic differentiation. During their late stage magmatic evolution, intense interaction of residual melts with aqueous hydrothermal fluids resulted in the non-CHARAC (charge and radius controlled) trace element behavior and the tetrad effect in REE distribution patterns. This, in turn, leads to the invalidation of the commonly used tectonic discrimination criteria derived from trace element abundances of normal granites. In view of this and previous studies, we conclude that there were probably no S-type granites produced in NE China during the Phanerozoic. Consequently, weathered sedimentary material did not play an important role in the genesis of the strongly peraluminous granites in the Zhangguangcai Range.

Emplacement age of the postorogenic A-type granites in Northwestern Lesser Xing’an Ranges, and its relationship to the eastward extension of Suolushan-Hegenshan-Zhalaite collisional suture zone

A great amount of alkali-feldspar and alkaline granites have been found around Nenjiang, Northwest Lesser Xing’an Ranges, but their forming ages have been a controversial subject due to the lack of reliable geological and isotopic geochronological evidence. The zircon U-Pb isotopic dating results conducted in this note indicate that these granites emplaced at 260–290 Ma, coeval with the late stage of Late Paleozoic. Studies of mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry show that they are post-orogenic A-type granites, and consist of the northeastern extension of huge belt of Late Paleozoic A-type granite along North Xinjiang-Southeast Mongolia-Central Inner Mongolia. Therefore, we can determine that the Suolunshan-Hegenshan-Zhalaite collisional suture zone extends northeastward to Heihe with the collision age of Carboniferous.

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the Erguna massif basement, NE China – subduction history of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust

We present new geochronological and geochemical data for granites and volcanic rocks of the Erguna massif, NE China. These data are integrated with previous findings to better constrain the nature of the massif basement and to provide new insights into the subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust and its closure. U–Pb dating of zircons from 12 granites previously mapped as Palaeoproterozoic and from three granites reported as Neoproterozoic yield exclusively Phanerozoic ages. These new ages, together with recently reported isotopic dates for the metamorphic and igneous basement rocks, as well as Nd–Hf crustal-residence ages, suggest that it is unlikely that pre-Mesoproterozoic basement exists in the Erguna massif. The geochronological and geochemical results are consistent with a three-stage subduction history of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust beneath the Erguna massif, as follows. (1) The Erguna massif records a transition from Late Devonian A-type magmatism to Carboniferous adakitic magmatism. This indicates that southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust along the northern margin of the Erguna massif began in the Carboniferous. (2) Late Permian–Middle Triassic granitoids in the Erguna massif are distributed along the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone and coeval magmatic rocks in the Xing’an terrane are scarce, suggesting that they are unlikely to have formed in association with the collision between the North China Craton and the Jiamusi–Mongolia block along the Solonker–Xra Moron–Changchun–Yanji suture zone. Instead, the apparent subduction-related signature of the granites and their proximity to the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone suggest that they are related to southward subduction of Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic crust. (3) A conspicuous lack of magmatic activity during the Middle Jurassic marks an abrupt shift in magmatic style from Late Triassic–Early Jurassic normal and adakite-like calc-alkaline magmatism (pre-quiescent episode) to Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous A-type felsic magmatism (post-quiescent episode). Evidently a significant change in geodynamic processes took place during the Middle Jurassic. Late Triassic–Early Jurassic subduction-related signatures and adakitic affinities confirm the existence of subduction during this time. Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous post-collision magmatism constrains the timing of the final closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean involving collision between the Jiamusi–Mongolia block and the Siberian Craton to the Middle Jurassic.

Metamorphic P-T Path of the Southern Jilin Complex: Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Block of the North China Craton

The Southern Jilin complex represents the northeasternmost exposure of the basement rocks in the Eastern block of the North China craton and consists of intensely foliated tonalitictrondhjemitic-granodioritic (TTG) gneisses, weakly foliated syn-tectonic potassium granites, posttectonic hypersthene-quartz diorite and clinopyroxene granodiorite and a minor amount of supracrustal rocks. The supracrustal rocks include ultramafic to felsic volcanic rocks, BIF, felsic paragneisses, pelitic gneisses, calc-silicates, and marbles metamorphosed from amphibolite to granulite facies. The petrological evidence from the mafic granulites and pelitic gneisses indicates three metamorphic mineral assemblages (M1 to M3). The early prograde assemblage (M1) is preserved as mineral inclusions within minerals of the peak assemblages, represented by hornblende + plagioclase + quartz ± biotite in the mafic granulites and biotite + plagioclase + quartz in the pelitic gneisses, with P-T conditions estimated at ~0.6 GPa and ~750°C. The peak assemblage is represented by orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + garnet + plagioclase + quartz in the mafic granulites and garnet + sillimanite + plagioclase + quartz + biotite in pelitic gneisses, with P-T conditions estimated at 0.84-0.87 GPa and 800-850°C. The post-peak assemblage is characterized by garnet + quartz symplectic coronas in mafic granulites and kyanite replacing sillimanite in the pelitic gneisses, which probably occurred at ~0.85 GPa and 760°C. These mineral assemblages and their P-T estimates define an anticlockwise P-T path involving nearly isobaric cooling, reflecting an origin related to the intrusion and underplating of large amounts of mantle-derived magmas, which are considered to have been related to the interaction of upwelling mantle plumes with the lithosphere in the Eastern block of the North China craton in the Late Archean.

Geochronology, petrogenesis, and tectonic setting of Mesozoic volcanic rocks, southern Manzhouli area, Inner Mongolia

We have undertaken major and trace element analyses of volcanic rocks in Northeast China, as well as U–Pb dating and Hf isotopic analysis of their zircons, in order to determine the petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the volcanics. Mesozoic volcanism in the southern Manzhouli area occurred in two stages: Middle to Late Jurassic (164–147 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (142–123 Ma). The first stage is represented by the Tamulangou, Jixiangfeng, and Qiyimuchang formations. The Jixiangfeng Formation (162–156 Ma) is a rhyolite–trachyte dominated unit that lies between two basalt units, namely the underlying Tamulangou (164–160 Ma) and overlying Qiyimuchang (151–147 Ma) formations. The second igneous stage is dominated by rhyolitic lavas and tuffs of the Shangkuli Formation and basaltic rocks of the Yiliekede Formation, and they yield zircon U–Pb ages of 142–125 and 135–123 Ma, respectively. Basaltic rocks of the Tamulangou and Yiliekede formations have a wide range of MgO contents (1.64–9.59 wt%), but are consistently depleted of Nb and Ta and enriched with incompatible trace elements such as large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare earth elements (LREEs). Trachytes and rhyolites of the Jixiangfeng and Shangkuli formations are characterized by enrichment in LILEs and LREEs relative to HFSEs and HREEs, and with negative Nb, Ta, P, and Ti anomalies and positive ϵ Hf(t) values (3.49–9.98). These data suggest that basaltic volcanic rocks in southern Manzhouli were generated by fractional crystallization of a common parental magma, which was derived by partial melting of metasomatized (enriched) lithospheric mantle, whereas the trachytic and rhyolitic magmas were produced by the melting of lower crustal mafic and felsic granulites, respectively. Geochronological data indicate that Mesozoic volcanism in southern Manzhouli was initiated in the Middle to Late Jurassic and continued into the Early Cretaceous. It was mainly induced by lithospheric extension after the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean.

Geochemical and Hf isotopic compositions of Late Triassic–Early Jurassic intrusions of the Erguna Block, Northeast China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications

ABSTRACT Late Triassic–Early Jurassic intrusions of the Erguna Block, Northeast China, are located along the southern margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk orogenic belt. They comprise granodiorite, monzogranite, syenogranite, and lesser gabbro–diorite, of adakitic and calcalkaline affinity. The adakite-like and calcalkaline granites share similar light rare earth elements (LREE) characteristics; however, their heavy rare earth elements (HREE) trends differ from one another. The relative abundances of HREE in the calcalkaline granites are relatively consistent and are similar to those of intrusive rocks formed from dehydration melting of garnet-free amphibolitic source rocks at relatively low pressures. In contrast, the adakite-like granites show more prominent HREE fractionation trends, indicating that they crystallized at higher pressures, where garnet in the source rocks was stable. At least two isotopically distinct sources were involved in the petrogenesis of the granites, but the extent to which they contributed varies between plutons. Most intrusions have incorporated an isotopically primitive component, possibly juvenile mafic crust. The other sources include a small proportion of old continental crustal material and isotopically evolved wall rocks. The gabbro–diorites have high MgO contents (>7 wt.%), a high Mg# (>0.6), and show moderate LREE and HREE fractionation, indicating they formed from the melting of subducted metasomatized lithospheric mantle. All of the intrusions in the study area are characterized by a relative enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), indicating they were emplaced in an Andean-type active continental margin setting related to southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate.

Late Palaeozoic igneous rocks of the Great Xing’an Range, NE China: the Tayuan example

ABSTRACT The Tayuan plutons located at the boundary of the Erguna and Xing’an blocks expose a coexisting mafic–felsic association that is made of monzogranite and gabbro-monzodiorite as well as subordinate quartz monzonite. LA–ICP–MS U–Pb zircon dating revealed a synchronous emplacement of the monzogranite (314–317 Ma), gabbro (308–315 Ma), and quartz monzonite (310 ± 3 Ma). The majority of these intrusions are characterized by an enrichment in light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements and a depletion of high strength field elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti). Zircons from the gabbro and monzogranite have εHf(t) values of 1.1–9.6 and −3.0–3.3, respectively. Geochemical data show that the gabbro-monzodiorite may have been generated by the melting of a fluid-metasomatized lithospheric mantle, while the monzogranite may have been formed by a partial melting of the Mesoproterozoic crust. The quartz monzonite has similar whole-rock geochemical and Hf isotopic compositions to those of the gabbros and could have been produced from the same mantle source as that from which the gabbros were extracted. The Tayuan plutonic rocks have high contents of K2O and total alkalis and show a northwestward polarity like that of the continental margin plutonic rocks along the Hegenshan–Heihe suture zone. Combined with data from published studies, our data indicate that the Tayuan intrusive rocks were generated by the northwestward subduction of the Hegenshan–Heihe Oceanic plate.

Geochemistry and zircon Hf isotopes of the Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the south Hunchun, Yanbian area, Northeast China: petrogenesis and implications for crustal growth

ABSTRACT This paper presents major element, trace element, and new zircon Hf isotopic data for the Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the south Hunchun, Yanbian area, Northeast China. These data are used to constrain the petrogenesis of these intrusive rocks and their implications for the Phanerozoic continental growth of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Combining geology, geochronology, and whole-rock geochemistry, we identify three distinct episodes of magmatism as Early–Middle Triassic (249–237 Ma), Late Triassic (224–206 Ma), and Early Jurassic (200–187 Ma). The Early–Middle Triassic (249–237 Ma) adakitic tonalite and granodiorite were produced by the partial melting of subducted oceanic slabs, and the melts were contaminated by mantle peridotite during their ascent, whereas the coeval non-adakitic diorite and monzogranite were most likely derived from partial melting of crustal material. The remarkably high zircon Hf isotopic signature (εHf(t) = + 9.4 – +18.9), the enrichment in large-ion lithophile element and light rare earth elements, and the depletion in high field strength element suggest that these 224 Ma gabbros were derived from the partial melting of depleted mantle modified by subduction-related fluids. The 212 Ma monzogranite was most likely derived from juvenile material mixed with old crustal material as evidenced by their high SiO2, low MgO, and low Cr concentrations and variable εHf(t) values (–4.6 to +10.0). Except for the 197 Ma tonalites with affinity to the high silica adakites, the overall geochemical evolution of Early Jurassic (200–187 Ma) rocks was consistent with fractional crystallization from quartz diorite, granodiorite, and monzogranite to syenogranite. Both the Early Jurassic syn-subduction lateral continental growth by accretion of arc complexes and the Late Triassic post-collisional vertical continental growth by accretion of mantle-derived material played an important role in the Phanerozoic continental growth of the CAOB. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT