Yi-Zeng Yang

Petrology and geochemistry of Early Cretaceous A-type granitoids and late Mesozoic mafic dikes and their relationship to adakitic intrusions in the lower Yangtze River belt, Southeast China

ABSTRACT The relationship among magmatism, large-scale metallogenesis of Southeast China, and subduction of the Pacific plate has long been debated. The lower Yangtze River belt (LYRB) in the northeastern edge of Southeast China is characterized by intense late Mesozoic magmatism and associated polymetallic mineralization such as copper, gold, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, etc. The copper-related adakitic rocks (148–130 Ma) in this belt are the oldest episode of magmatism and intruded as small intermediate-acid intrusive bodies. The Huayuangong granitoids (HYG), located in the southern part of this belt, however, are copper-barren. Three granitoid samples from this pluton give zircon U–Pb ages of 126.4 ± 1.6 Ma, 125.9 ± 1.9 Ma, and 126.2 ± 1.2 Ma, respectively. The HYG has A-type affinity with metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, high FeOT/(FeOT+MgO) ratios, and high Zr+Nb+Ce+Yb contents. Meanwhile, 10 late Mesozoic mafic samples from the LYRB exhibit similar trace element characteristics to those of ‘continental arc andesite’ (CAA) and suggest an enriched lithospheric mantle source with depletion in high field strength elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ti) and enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (e.g. Rb, Th, U, and Pb). Although the HYG exhibits similar Sr–Nd isotope composition with the mafic dikes, distinct whole-rock Pb isotope ratios imply that the granitoids and mafic magmas originated from heterogeneous mantle sources. Compared with coeval Baijuhuajian A-type rocks that are exposed along the Jiang–Shao fault of Southeast China, the HYG shows enriched Hf isotope ratios of zircon with εHf(t) values ranging from −4.8 to −11.1. In the Yb/Ta versus Y/Nb diagram, being different from the major asthenospheric mantle-origin Baijuhuajian pluton, a large range of and high Y/Nb ratios as well as high Zr contents of the HYG pluton suggest a magmatic source of mixing between the asthenospheric and enriched crustal component in the LYRB. Compared with early-stage copper-related adakitic rocks (148–130 Ma) with subduction-related affinities and high oxygen fugacity, the copper-barren HYG has with-plate A-type affinities and lower oxygen fugacity. Summarizing, the production of early-stage (i.e. subduction related) adakitic rocks followed by late-stage A-type granitoids in the LYRB is ascribed to the rollback of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath Southeast China and associated with asthenospheric upwelling and lithospheric thinning during the late Mesozoic era.

Late Permian to Early Triassic crustal evolution of the Kontum massif, central Vietnam: zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of the Hai Van granitoid complex

The Hai Van granitoid complex constitutes an important part of the Indosinian batholith of the northern Kontum massif in central Vietnam. The Kontum massif is a key region for understanding the palaeo-Tethyan accretionary history and the crustal evolution of the Indochina terrane. In this study, zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical data on the Hai Van complex are reported to shed more light on these geological processes. Zircon U–Pb isotopic analyses of six representative samples by the LA-ICP-MS technique show that granitoids from this complex crystallized between 242 and 224 Ma, indicating a prolonged period of magmatism in a late orogenic stage. Rocks from the Hai Van complex have S-type geochemical characteristics with high SiO2, Na2O + K2O, and Zr contents as well as typical S-type minerals such as cordierite and muscovite. Trace elements of the samples are depleted in Ba, Nb, P, Sr, and Ti and enriched in Rb, K, Th, U, and Pb. Negative Eu-anomalies indicate feldspar fractionation during magma crystallization. The Hai Van granitoids exhibit Nd–Hf isotopic features similar to Proterozoic rocks exposed in South China, with low initial ɛHf and initial ɛNd values and two-stage Hf model ages of 1.9–1.7 Ga. It is suggested that during the palaeo-Tethyan orogeny, central Vietnam experienced strong early Mesozoic magmatism that originated from partial melting of crustal material similar in composition to the basement of the South China block.

Paleo-Pacific Subduction in the Interior of Eastern China: Evidence from Adakitic Rocks in the Edong-Jiurui District

The Edong-Jiurui district is located more than 1000 km from the current Pacific subduction zone. It is part of the well-known middle and lower Yangtze River Cu-Fe-Au belt in central eastern China. Cu mineralization in this area is spatially and temporally associated with Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks. These rocks exhibit geochemical features of adakites, but their origin is not yet fully understood. To explore the relationship between Cu mineralization and Mesozoic magmatism, we report geochemical, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic, and zircon U-Pb age data from adakitic rocks in the Edong-Jiurui area. Zircon U-Pb ages point to a protracted period of magmatic activity from 151 to 139 Ma. This time span coincides with the Cu mineralization (146–137 Ma) in the middle and lower Yangtze River belt. Adakitic features of the rocks are displayed by high contents of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, and Sr; enrichment of light rare earth elements (REEs) and large-ion lithophile elements; depletion of heavy REEs; positive Sr and negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies; and high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios. We favor a model of melt segregation from a plagioclase-free and garnet-bearing residue. Compared to non-Cu-bearing Mesozoic adakitic rocks in the Dabie terrane, adakitic rocks in the Edong-Jiurui area have higher initial ϵNd values (−3.4 to −6.3), Pb isotopic ratios, and Th contents and lower Pb/Ce values. Altogether, these features indicate that the melts were probably derived from subducted ocean mixed with marine sediment.

Age Constraints on Late Mesozoic Lithospheric Extension and Origin of Felsic Volcanism in the Songliao Basin, NE China

Late Mesozoic lithospheric extension in NE Asia resulted in the development of a large extensional province and widespread formation of volcanosedimentary basins. Songliao basin is the biggest in that region, situated between the Siberian and Sino-Korean (North China) cratons. The Songliao basin contains voluminous volcanic rocks as a major part of the basin fill. Volcanic successions form a significant but unexposed part of the late Mesozoic magmatic province in NE China. Here we report zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical data for felsic volcanic rocks from the Songliao basin. Zircon populations of two types of rhyolites with distinct I- and A-type affinities, analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, yielded similar U-Pb ages of 114 ± 2 and 113 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotope data of the felsic rocks indicate an origin from newly formed crustal protoliths. The I-type dacites and rhyolites show geochemical signatures with subduction-related affinity, indicating generation by partial melting of juvenile crust that originated from melting of subduction-modified mantle sources, whereas the A-type rhyolites have higher heavy rare earth element and high field strength element concentrations and lower Ba/Nd ratios that are interpreted as evidence for melting of I-type felsic lower crustal sources in an intraplate tectonic environment. Typical geochemical compositions of A-type rhyolites indicate anorthite-rich plagioclase as a residual magmatic phase and imply melting at shallow crustal levels. The A-type felsic rocks were generated during a period of maximum lithospheric extension below eastern China around 110 Ma, and this thinning process was probably related to the retreat of the Paleo-Pacific trench.

Sedimentary Environment of Ediacaran Sequences of South China: Trace Element and Sr-Nd Isotope Constraints

Post-Marinoan sedimentary rocks from the Yangtze block in South China were investigated to seek constraints on their provenance, genetic relationship with paleoclimate, depositional environment, and changes. Sedimentary rocks from the Doushantuo Formation in the Jiulongwan section of the Yangtze block were collected for whole-rock trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses. Flat-to-slightly middle rare earth element (REE)–enriched REE-plus-yttrium patterns, negative-to-positive Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* of 0.86–1.40), positive La anomalies (La/La* of 1.02–1.42), and suprachondritic Y/Ho ratios (36.8–49.5) obtained for the Doushantuo cap carbonates indicate their deposition in a fluctuating inner-shelf setting where freshwater and seawater mixed together and the influence of hydrothermal fluid from the seafloor is absent. All Doushantuo carbonates and shales have variable Sr isotopic compositions, with initial Sr isotopic ratios (0.704030–0.712720) that support significant river-water contribution during the deposition of the Doushantuo Formation. Samples of the Doushantuo Formation collected across sedimentary profiles show distinct variations in Nd isotopic compositions and diagnostic trace elemental ratios (Th/Sc). The cap carbonates received significant input from a broad continental area undergoing extensive weathering immediately after the cease of the glaciation era. In contrast, the upper Doushantuo Formation sediments received more mature detritus from the nearby Archean Kongling complex, reflecting receding sea levels. In contrast to the negative Ce anomalies observed in lower Doushantuo rocks, negligible Ce anomalies in upper Doushantuo rocks suggest an anoxic setting, in agreement with the growth of phosphatic concretions and the presence of framboids of pyrite and a higher concentration of organic matter.

Geochemistry of Early Cretaceous Intermediate to Mafic Dikes in the Jiaodong Peninsula: Constraints on Mantle Source Composition beneath Eastern China

The Jiaodong Peninsula of eastern Shandong Province comprises the Jiaobei terrain of North China affinity and the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terrain. In this study, we present zircon U-Pb ages, major- and trace-element data, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of intermediate to mafic dikes from the Linglong region of the Jiaobei terrain and the Rushan region of the Sulu terrain to discuss the nature of the mantle source(s) beneath eastern China during the Early Cretaceous. Zircon U-Pb dating yields Early Cretaceous dike emplacement ages ranging from ∼124 to ∼120 Ma for the Linglong region and from ∼118 to ∼108 Ma for the Rushan region. Dikes from both regions are all potassic, with “arc-like” trace-element distributions as well as high unradiogenic Pb isotopic composition, low initial εNd values (−19.64 to −10.80), and high radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7075–0.7112), suggesting the involvement of an extensively enriched mantle component. Such isotopic characteristics are found in contemporaneous intermediate to mafic intrusive rocks in the whole Shandong Province and are explained in terms of a Triassic northwestward-subduction model of the Yangtze Block beneath the North China Block. The dikes from the Linglong and Rushan regions have low Nb/U and Ce/Pb ratios, implying the involvement of upper-continental-crustal material. Combined with the southward younging of zircon U-Pb ages through Shandong Province, we suppose that the enriched mantle source beneath the Jiaodong Peninsula was formed by metasomatism of silicic melts or fluids derived from the subducted Yangtze continental crust during the Triassic, followed by decompression melting of this mantle during the Early Cretaceous due to rollback of the subducted Paleo-Pacific plate.