Pei Xianzhi

Remnants of a Neoproterozoic Collisional Orogenic Belt in the Core of the Phanerozoic Qinling Orogenic Belt (China)

Abstract NW-SE trending paleotectonics are recognized from the WNW-ESE trending Qinling complex in the core of the Qinling belt. They consist of trending stratum, boundary shear zones, deformed linear plutons and ophiolite. The field relationships and ages of the deformation, magmatism and metamorphism suggest that the paleotectonics formed in Neoproterozoic. The ages of deformed and undeformed plutons approximately constrain the peak deformation during 958-889 Ma. Both the two trending tectonics constitute an orogen-scale tectonic replacement by S2 (Phanerozoic WNW-ESE tectonics) of S1 (NNW-SSE trending Neoproterozoic), similar to structural replacement in outcrop. The strong contractional deformation, (high-pressure) metamorphism, and granitic magmatism that evolved from syn-collisional (S-type), to post-collisional (I-type) and to post-collisional (A-type), as well as regional extension at 885-700 Ma in Qinling, display a cycle of a collisional orogeny. Thus, the NW-SE trending paleotectonics could be remnants of a collisional orogenic belt. The belt originally could trend NNW-SSE, if reworking and modification of Paleozoic and/or Mesozoic NNE-SSW contractional deformation are eliminated. Accordingly, assemblage and breakup of some continental blocks occurred in Neoproterozoic in Qinling, which seems to correspond to assemblage and breakup of Rodinia supercontinent in the world. This study provides new insight into the evolution of the Qinling orogenic belt and the reconstruction of Proterozoic supercontinent of China, and also presents a case study of recognition of an old orogen from a young orogen.

The LA-ICP-MS zircons U-Pb ages and geochemistry of the Baihua basic igneous complexes in Tianshui area of West Qinling

Baihua meta-igneous complex consists mainly of pyroxenite-gabbro(diorite)-diorite-quartz diorite. They form a complete comagmatic evolutionary series. The geochemical characteristics of basic-intermediate basic igneous rocks indicate that they belong to a tholeiite suite. The REE distribution pattern is nearly flat type and LREE is slightly enriched type, and their primitive mantle-normalized and MORB-normalized trace element spider diagrams are generally similar; the LIL elements (LILE) Cs, Ba, Sr, Th and U are enriched, but Rb, K and the HFSEs Nb, P, Zr, Sm, Ti and Y are relatively depleted. All these show comagmatic evolution and origin characteristics. The tectonics environment discrimination of trace element reveals that these igneous complexes formed in an island-arc setting. The LA-ICP-MS single-zircons U-Pb age of Baihua basic igneous complex is 434.6±1.5 Ma (MSWD = 1.3), which proves that the formation time of the island-arc type magmatite in the northern zone of West Qinling is Late Ordovician or Early Silurian, also reveals that the timing of subduction of paleo-ocean basin represented by the Guanzizhen ophiolite and resulting island-arc-type magmatic activities is probably Middle-Late Ordovician to Early Silurian.

Regional Tectonic Transformation in East Kunlun Orogenic Belt in Early Paleozoic: Constraints from the Geochronology and Geochemistry of Helegangnaren Alkali-feldspar Granite

: The Helegangnaren feldspar granite exposed in the eastern part of East Kunlun, is characterized by high concentrations of SiO2 and alkaline, low abundances of Fe, Mg and Ca, metaluminous-weak peraluminous. Trace elements analysis shows that the granite is depleted extremely in Ba, Sr and Eu, and rich in some large-ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements. Besides, the granite has high Ga contents, the values of 104(Ga/Al) vary from 2.50 to 2.77, which is mainly greater than the lower limit of A-type granites (2.6), and is higher than the I- and S-type granites’ average (2.1 and 2.28, respectively). Rare earth element (REE) is characterized by relatively high fractionations of light REE (LREE) and heavy REE (HREE) (LREE/HREE=9.3–13.60, (La/Yb)N=10.92–18.02), pronounced negative Eu anomalies (δEu=0.08–0.13), and exhibits right-dipping gull pattern. Major elements, rare elements and trace elements features show the granite is ascribed to A-type granite and A2 subtype in tectonic genetic type. They are plotted into post-collision or within-plate area in a variety of tectonic discriminations. Geological and geochemical data comprehensively suggest that the granite is formed in a post-collision extensive tectonic setting. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U-Pb dating yields a weighted mean age of 425 Ma, belonging to Middle Silurian, which is similar to the age of the post-collision geological events in the region. The differences of magmatic rocks in formation age, rocks assemblage and rocks series systematically indicate that the regional tectonic stress regime in the East Kunlun orogenic belt experienced a major transformation from compress to extension in Middle Silurianin, and the Helegangnaren feldspar granite intruded in the early stage of tectonic transformation.

Geochemical Features, Age, and Tectonic Significance of the Kekekete Mafic‐ultramafic Rocks, East Kunlun Orogen, China

: The Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the Kekesha-Kekekete-Dawate area, which are in the eastern part of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt It outcrops as tectonic slices intruding tectonically in the Paleoproterozoic Baishahe Group and the Paleozoic Nachitai Group. The Kekekete mafic and ultramafic rocks is located near the central fault in East Kunlun and lithologically mainly consists of serpentinite, augite peridotite, and gabbro. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of the gabbro is 501 ± 7 Ma, indicating that Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in the Middle Cambrian. This rock assemblage is relatively poor in SiO2 and (Na2O+K2O) but rich in MgO and SFeO. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the gabbro dip slightly to the right; the primitive mantle and MORB-normalized spidergrams of trace elements show enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (Cs, Rb, Ba, etc.) and no differentiation of high field strength elements. The general dominance of E-MORB features and the geochemical characteristics of OIB suggest that the Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in an initial oceanic basin with slightly enriched mantle being featured by varying degrees of mixing of N-MORB depleted mantle and a similar-OIB-type source. From a comprehensive study of the previous data, the author believes that the tectonic history of the East Kunlun region was controlled by a geodynamic system of rifting and extension in the late stages of the Neoproterozoic to early stages of the Early Paleozoic and this formed the paleo-oceanic basin or rift system now represented by the ophiolites along the central fault in East Kunlun, the Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks and Delisitan ophiolite.

U–Pb Zircon Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Liujiaping Group Volcanics in the Northwest Margin of the Yangtze Block: Implications For the Breakup of the Rodinia Supercontinent

petrogenesis 和从 back-Longmenshan 的 Liujiaping 组的暴烈的岩石的锆石的起源的调查在扬采·布洛克的西北边缘的构造的带被 U-Pb 地球年代学和地球化学的分析进行。结果证明选择锆石被内部摆动的 zonings 和高 Th/U 比率(0.43-1.18 ) 描绘，显示火的起源。Liujiaping 组锆石标明日期的 LA-ICP-MS U-Pb 的 Geochronological 结果产出 809 ± 的年龄11 妈(MSWD = 2.2 ) ，暗示暴烈的岩石在迟了的 Neoproterozoic 被形成。岩石是计算碱的 Geochemical 分析表演，在艾尔，和 metaluminous 使过饱和到弱 peraluminous。稀土元素的元素在高集中(96.04-265.48 ppm ) 是在场的并且显示出一个向右坡度和一个中等否定的 Eu 异例，类似于大陆人裂缝流纹岩的。踪迹元素地球化学被 Nb 的明显的否定异例描绘， Ta， P， Th， Ti，内部 alia，和 K 的强壮的否定异例， Rb， Sr，等。我们断定 Liujiaping 组织暴烈的岩石源于典型大陆人外壳来源 petrogenesis 并且在一个大陆人边缘背景被形成，它没有关系到 subduction ，并且这样，由于外壳的变厚的更低的外壳的部分融化的产品在西北的扬采·布洛克由活跃大陆人边缘 subduction 和弧大陆碰撞造山运动引起了并且被 Rodinia supercontinent 的决裂在 Neoproterozoic 期间触发。