scholarly journals Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the Early Cretaceous granitoids in the eastern Tengchong terrane, SW China: Constraint on the evolution of Meso-Tethys

Lithosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-165
Author(s):  
Xiaohu He ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Guochang Wang ◽  
Nicole Leonard ◽  
Wang Tao ◽  
...  

Abstract As a result of the evolution of Meso-Tethys, Early Cretaceous granitoids are widespread in the eastern Tengchong terrane, SW China, which is considered as the southern extension of the Tibetan Plateau. These igneous rocks are therefore very important for understanding the tectonic setting of Meso-Tethys and the formation of the Tibetan Plateau. In this paper, we present new zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock elemental, and Nd isotopic data of granitoids obtained from the eastern Tengchong terrane. Our results show that these granitoids are composed of monzogranites and granodiorites and formed at ca. 124 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. Mineralogically and geochemically, these granitoids display metaluminous nature and affinity to I-type granites, which are derived from preexisting intracrustal igneous source rocks. The predominantly negative whole-rock εNd(t) values (−10.86 to −8.64) for all samples indicate that they are derived mainly from the partial melting of the Mesoproterozoic metabasic rocks in the lower crust. Integrating previous studies with the data presented in this contribution, we propose that the Early Cretaceous granitic rocks (135–110 Ma) also belong to I-type granites with minor high fractionation. Furthermore, in discriminant diagrams for source, granitoids are mainly derived from the partial melting of metaigneous rocks with minor sediments in the lower crust. The new identification of the Myitkyina Meso-Tethys ophiolitic suite in eastern Myanmar and mafic enclaves indicate that these Cretaceous igneous rocks were the products of the tectonic evolution of the Myitkyina Tethys Ocean, which was related to post-collisional slab rollback. Moreover, the Tengchong terrane is probably the southern extension of the South Qiangtang terrane.

Author(s):  
Yue Qi ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Gang-jian Wei ◽  
Xiu-Zheng Zhang ◽  
Wei Dan ◽  
...  

Diverse rock types and contrasting geochemical compositions of post-collisional mafic rocks across the Tibetan Plateau indicate that the underlying enriched lithospheric mantle is heterogeneous; however, how these enriched mantle sources were formed is still debated. The accreted terranes within the Tibetan Plateau experienced multiple stages of evolution. To track the geochemical characteristics of their associated lithospheric mantle through time, we can use mantle-derived magmas to constrain the mechanism of mantle enrichment. We report zircon U-Pb ages, major and trace element contents, and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions for Early Cretaceous and late Eocene mafic rocks in the southern Qiangtang terrane. The Early Cretaceous Baishagang basalts (107.3 Ma) are characterized by low K2O/Na2O (<1.0) ratios, arc-like trace element patterns, and uniform Sr-Nd isotopic compositions [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7067−0.7073, εNd(t) = −0.4 to −0.2]. We suggest that the Baishagang basalts were derived from partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle that was metasomatized by subducted Bangong−Nujiang oceanic material. We establish the geochemistry of the pre-collisional enriched lithospheric mantle under the southern Qiangtang terrane by combining our data with those from other Early Cretaceous mafic rocks in the region. The late Eocene (ca. 35 Ma) post-collisional rocks in the southern Qiangtang terrane have low K2O/Na2O (<1.0) ratios, and their major element, trace element, and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7042−0.7072, εNd(t) = −4.5 to +1.5] are similar to those of the Early Cretaceous mafic rocks. Based on the distribution, melting depths, and whole-rock geochemical compositions of the Early Cretaceous and late Eocene mafic rocks, we argue that the primitive late Eocene post-collisional rocks were derived from pre-collisional enriched lithospheric mantle, and the evolved samples were produced by assimilation and fractional crystallization of primary basaltic magma. Asthenosphere upwelling in response to the removal of lithospheric mantle induced the partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle at ca. 35 Ma.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyang Hu ◽  
Fuyuan Wu ◽  
Mihai Ducea ◽  
James Chapman

<p>Geophysical studies have shown that middle-lower crustal flow started from central Tibetan Plateau may exist in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, which controls the mountain building, crustal thickening and deformation (Schoenbohm et al., 2006; Bai et al., 2010; Bao et al., 2015; Zhu et al., 2017). However, no geological and petrological evidence have been presented. We carried out detailed studies on the geochemical and isotopic compositions of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Zheduo-Gongga granitic intrusive complex on the eastern margin of the Tibet Plateau. Geochronology studies show that these granitoid rocks are formed during Mesozoic to Cenozoic, including ~220-200 Ma Gongga granodiorite to biotite granite with mafic enclaves, ~40 Ma Zheduo gneissic granite, ~28 Ma Zheduo monzogranite, and ~20-4 Ma Zheduo biotite granite and monzogranite. Two groups of geochemical features are obtained: Group 1 (gnessic granite, granodiorite, monzogranite, and leucogranite) has relatively low K2O, Th/La, La/Yb and Rb/Sr ratios, but high Sr/Y ratio with no Eu negative anomalies; Group 2 (biotite granite) has relatively high K2O, Th/La, La/Yb and Rb/Sr ratios, but low Sr/Y with strong negative Eu anomalies. The Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopic studies on plagioclase, apatite and zircon show that their sources are primarily the basement of the western margin of Yangtze Craton and Songpan-Ganzi sediments. These features indicate that they have different petrogenesis processes. Group 1 is mainly derived from partial melting of mafic rocks in the lower crust, whereas the Group 2 is primarily derived from partial melting of metasedimentary rocks experiencing fractionation of plagioclase. Magma derived from different sources mixing with each other are observed as well. Therefore, from geochemical aspects, no exotic materials are involved in the formation of granitoid rocks during Mesozoic to present. The flow of crustal material in the middle-lower crust may be not existed. The low velocity and high conductivity layer in the middle-lower crust may represent a regional partial melting zone, which could be related to the upwelling of asthenosphere. Both crustal deformation and upwelling of asthenosphere may contribute to the crustal thicknening and uplift.</p>


Author(s):  
Yiming Liu ◽  
Yuhua Wang ◽  
Sanzhong Li ◽  
M. Santosh ◽  
Runhua Guo ◽  
...  

The Tibetan Plateau is composed of several microblocks, the tectonic affinity and paleogeographic correlations of which remain enigmatic. We investigated the Amdo and Jiayuqiao microblocks in central Tibet Plateau with a view to understand their tectonic setting and paleogeographic position within the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia. We present zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope, and whole-rock geochemical data on Neoproterozoic granitic gneisses from these microblocks. Zircon grains from the Jiayuqiao granitic gneiss yielded an age of 857 ± 9 Ma with variable εHf(t) values (−8.9 to 4.0). The Amdo granitic gneisses yielded ages of 893 ± 5 Ma, 807 ± 5 Ma, and 767 ± 11 Ma, with εHf(t) values in the range of −4.9 to 3.5. Geochemically, the granitoids belong to high-K calc-alkaline series, with the protolith derived from partial melting of ancient crustal components. The ascending parental magma of the Amdo granitoids experienced significant mantle contamination as compared to the less contaminated magmas that generated the Jiayuqiao intrusions. In contrast to the Lhasa, Himalaya, South China, and Tarim blocks, we suggest that the Amdo and Jiayuqiao microblocks probably formed a unified block during the Neoproterozoic and were located adjacent to the southwestern part of South China craton. The Neoproterozoic magmatism was probably associated with the subduction of the peripheral ocean under the South China craton and the delamination of lithospheric mantle beneath the Jiangnan orogen.


Author(s):  
Michel Pichavant ◽  
Tahar Hammouda ◽  
Bruno Scaillet

ABSTRACT:The current underlying assumption in most geochemical studies of granitic rocks is that granitic magmas reflect their source regions. However, the mechanisms by which source rocks control the intensive and compositional parameters of the magmas remain poorly known. Recent experimental data are used to evaluate the ‘source rock model’ and to discuss controls of (1) redox states and (2) the Sr isotopic compositions of granitic magmas.Experimental studies have been performed in parallel on biotite-muscovite and tourmaline-muscovite leucogranites from the High Himalayas. Results under reducing conditions ( = FMQ – 0·5) at 4 kbar and variable suggest that the tourmaline-muscovite granite evolved under progressively more oxidising conditions during crystallisation, up to values more than four log units above the FMQ buffer. Leucogranite magmas thus provide an example of the control of redox conditions by post-segregation rather than by partial melting processes.Other experiments designed to test the mechanisms of isotopic equilibration of Sr during partial melting of a model crustal assemblage show that kinetic factors can dominate the isotopic signature in the case of source rocks not previously homogenised during an earlier metamorphic event. The possibility is therefore raised that partial melts may not necessarily reflect the Sr isotopic composition of their sources, weakening in a fundamental way the source rock model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1257-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-Chuan Zeng ◽  
Ji-Feng Xu ◽  
Feng Huang ◽  
Ming-Jian Li ◽  
Qin Chen

Abstract Successively erupted intermediate-felsic rocks with variations in their geochemical compositions indicate physical changes in lower-crust conditions, and the variations can provide important insights into the regional tectonic setting. What triggered the late Early Cretaceous tectonic transition of the central-north Lhasa Terrane remains controversial, hindering the understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of the central Tibetan Plateau. The sodic Dagze volcanic rocks in the north Lhasa Terrane are characterized by high contents of SiO2 and Na2O, low contents of MgO, Fe2O3, and K2O, and low values of Mg#. However, the trace element compositions of the whole-rocks and their zircons allow the rocks to be divided into two groups. The Group I rocks (ca. 105 Ma) have higher contents of Sr and Ba, higher Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios, and lower contents of Y, Yb, Ti, and Zr than Group II rocks (ca. 100 Ma). Besides, the zircons from Group I rocks have higher values of Yb/Gd and U/Yb, lower values of Th/U, and lower Ti contents than the zircons from Group II rocks. However, the rocks of both groups have identical depleted whole-rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotope values. The geochemical data indicate that rocks of both groups were generated by partial melting of a juvenile lower crust, but the differences in the two groups reflect a transition from deep-cold melting to relatively shallower-hotter melting in the period from ca. 105 to 100 Ma. This transition was synchronous with the rapid cooling of granitoids, topographic uplift, and the shutdown of magmatism in the central-north Lhasa Terrane, and followed by sedimentation and the resumption of magmatism in the south Lhasa Terrane. The above observations collectively indicate that the central-north Lhasa Terrane was under an extensional setting in late Early Cretaceous, and we tentatively suggest that it was in response to lithospheric drip during roll-back of the northward-subducting Neo-Tethyan oceanic plate.


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