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The asthenosphere beneath both ancient and modern oceans is highly heterogeneous owing to the recycling of continental, sub-arc, or sub-oceanic mantle domains and subducted oceanic crust and pelagic sediments. The identification and discrimination of those “old” mantle domains are important for understanding of the generation of oceanic crust and the tectonic setting of ophiolites. Here we report geochemical data including Re–Os and Lu–Hf isotopic compositions for mantle peridotites from the Kop Mountain ophiolite in the western Neo-Tethys. These peridotites have whole-rock and mineral compositions comparable with those of abyssal peridotites. Trace element modeling of clinopyroxenes indicates that they were subjected to anhydrous melting, and in this respect the rocks are distinguishable from supra-subduction zone peridotites. Re–Os and Lu–Hf isotopic compositions further indicate that these mantle peridotites underwent ancient (at or before 1.52 Ga) melt extraction and Jurassic melt metasomatism. The Kop Mountain mantle peridotites thus represent ancient sub-oceanic mantle domains recycled into the Neo-Tethyan asthenosphere, undergoing earlier melt depletion before being entrained at the Neo-Tethyan ridge axis. Our results, together with data published for other ophiolites, indicate that the Os isotopic distribution of the Neo-Tethyan ophiolites is identical to that of global abyssal peridotites, suggesting similar melting histories. The Neo-Tethyan asthenosphere was highly heterogeneous, probably with numerous recycled continental, sub-arc, and sub-oceanic mantle inputs. The recycling of ancient mantle in the asthenosphere could be an alternative explanation for the generation of anomalous compositions in both modern and ophiolitic oceanic crusts such as K-rich lavas, enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts, and arc-like basalts. The use of basalt geochemical data to discriminate between tectonic settings (i.e., mid-ocean ridge or supra-subduction zone) of ophiolites should thus be approached with caution.

High-silica granites (typically > 70 wt.% SiO2) represent the products of extreme crustal differentiation, but whether their distinctive chemical compositions reflect source lithology or are produced via magmatic differentiation is commonly difficult to discriminate. To provide new insights into this issue, here we present high-precision Mg and Zn isotope data for high-silica, peraluminous leucogranites from the Himalayan orogen. The samples are subdivided into two-mica leucogranite, tourmaline leucogranite and garnet-bearing leucogranite based on their mineral assemblages. The two-mica leucogranites, representing the least evolved Himalayan leucogranites, have similar δ66ZnJMC 3-0749L (mean = 0.31 ± 0.06‰) but heavier δ26MgDSM-3 values (mean = −0.01 ± 0.12‰) relative to more mafic igneous rocks. This indicates that they were formed by anatexis of weathered silicates, consistent with the well-acknowledged metasedimentary source of the Himalayan leucogranites. In contrast, the more evolved tourmaline leucogranites and garnet-bearing leucogranites have lower δ26Mg and higher δ66Zn values compared with the two-mica leucogranites. The extremely low δ26Mg (−1.32‰ to −0.54‰) and high δ66Zn values (0.35–0.69‰) of garnet-bearing leucogranites vary systematically with indices of granitic differentiation (e.g., Zr/Hf, K/Rb, Eu/Eu*, 1/TiO2). Although exsolution of chlorine-rich fluid may result in elevated δ66Zn values, it is unlikely to explain the low δ26Mg signatures of the same samples. Analysis of major Mg-bearing minerals suggests that substantial segregation of tourmaline and/or Fe-Ti oxide could have driven the differentiated leucogranites towards very low δ26Mg values. In this regard, the slightly lower δ26Mg values (mean = −0.17 ± 0.06‰) of tourmaline leucogranites relative to the two-mica leucogranites may also reflect that the former were more differentiated than the latter. Thus, although source heterogeneity may be responsible for the Mg isotopic variations observed in some high-silica granites, our study implies that high-silica granites could be remarkably heterogeneous in terms of Mg isotopes primarily as a result of prolonged fractional crystallization at the late stage of melt evolution. The anomalously light Mg and heavy Zn isotopic signatures of garnet-bearing leucogranites highlight that Mg and Zn isotopes may be treated as important makers of highly fractionated granites in future studies.

The Oligocene to Miocene period is one of the most important stages during the formation and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau which generated the tectonic framework similar to the present. The rise of southern Tibet at this time was accompanied by widespread and intense tectonomagmatic activities. The Himalayan region was dominated by leucogranites considered as pure metasediments derived S-type granites, while the Lhasa terrane developed coeval thickened crust derived high Sr/Y calcalkaline rocks and metasomatized mantle derived ultrapotassic rocks. It is puzzling why the adjacent amalgamated regions show contrasting magmatic and dynamic process. This contribution presents a systematic study of newly found various dikes, including minette, aplite, granodiorite porphyry and granite porphyry, which are widespread from the southern Lhasa terrane, across the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone (YTSZ) and into the Tethyan Himalaya. These dikes yield 16–11 Ma U-Th-Pb ages from zircon, titanite and monazite. The aplite and granodiorite porphyry dikes (high Sr/Y calcalkaline) and minette dikes (ultrapotassic) previal from the Lhasa terrane to the YTSZ. They are identical to the coeval high Sr/Y and/or ultrapotassic rocks from the Lhasa terrane, indicating a similar melting process of thickened lower crust and metasomatized lithospheric mantle. To the south of YTSZ, the middle Miocene granite porphyry in the Tethyan Himalaya exhibit high Sr/Y ratios (50–138), relatively low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio (0.7064–0.7098), high eNd(t) value (−8.31 to −1.91) and positive eHf(t) value (+1.55 to +4.33), in contrast to the high 87Sr/86Sr and low eNd(t) Himalayan leucogranites. They were likely generated by partial melting of thickened lower crust dominated by amphibolite with significant contributions from juvenile magma. The two-mica granite of Bendui pluton from the Tethyan Himalaya is similar to the granite porphyry in element composition, while the highly evolved muscovite granite there resembles the Himalayan leucogranite. Together, the granite porphyry, Bendui two-mica granite and leucogranite from the Tethyan Himalaya show a transition trend in elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, implying that the high Sr/Y granite porphyry dikes may represent the more primitive magma of Himalayan leucogranites. In this case, the Himalayan leucogranites, at least in part, represent highly evolved I-type granites with extensive assimilation of ancient crustal materials instead of pure metasediment-derived partial melts. Therefore, we suggest that the thickened lower crust in southern Tibet underwent pervasive partial melting during Oligocene to Miocene as a result of the removal of subducting Indian plate.

In the impact melt breccia (IMB) of Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 169, the most KREEP-rich lunar meteorite to date ( Gnos et al., 2004 ), clasts of a new type of lithologies were discovered, consisting of Ca-poor and Ca-rich pyroxenes (60.8 vol.%), Ba-rich K-feldspar (27.9 vol.%), phosphates (5.6 vol.%), Nb-rich ilmenite (4.0 vol.%), zircon (1.2 vol.%) and minor sulfide (0.6 vol.%). These mafic lithic clasts are more enriched in KREEP component (∼1500 × CI) than the host meteorite and are highly enriched in potassium. They are referred to as very high-K (VHK) KREEP lithology, and probably most close to the last residual liquid of the Lunar Magma Ocean without significant dilution by other Mg-rich magmas. The fine-grained matrix of the SaU 169 IMB has very similar mineral chemistry to the VHK KREEP lithology, but contains abundant plagioclase with trace K-feldspar. The matrix shows decoupling of K from the REEP-like component; however, it cannot be simply interpreted by mixing the VHK KREEP lithology with anorthosites, which should have diluted the REEP-like component with the same proportion. SIMS Pb–Pb dating was conducted on zircons in various petrographic settings and with different crystal habits. All analyses show a main age peak at 3921 ± 3 Ma and a smaller one at 4016 ± 6 Ma. The main age peak is identical to the previous Pb–Pb age by Gnos et al. (2006) and U–Pb age by Liu et al. (2009) , dating the catastrophic shock event contributed to the formation of SaU 169 IMB. The older ages are consistent with the previous report of an older bulk U–Pb age by Kramers et al. (2007) , suggestive of presence of relict crystals in a few large zircon grains. The VHK KREEP clasts predated the fine-grained matrix, but have the same zircon Pb–Pb ages as the latter within the analytical uncertainties. Plagioclase was converted to maskelynite whereas zircon was shocked to diaplectic glass, probably by a second event at ∼2.8 Ga. However, the identical zircon Pb–Pb ages of the amorphous parts and the remained crystalline areas indicate no resetting of Pb–Pb isotopes by the later shock metamorphism, or there was another severe impact event postdated solidification of the fine-grained matrix within a few million years.

The petrology, mineral compositions, whole rock major/trace element concentrations, including highly siderophile elements, and Re–Os isotopes of 99 peridotite xenoliths from the central North China Craton were determined in order to constrain the structure and evolution of the deep lithosphere. Samples from seven Early Cretaceous–Tertiary volcanic centers display distinct geochemical characteristics from north to south. Peridotites from the northern section are generally more fertile (e.g., Al2O3 = 0.9–4.0%) than those from the south (e.g., Al2O3 = 0.2–2.2%), and have maximum whole-rock Re-depletion Os model ages (TRD) of ∼1.8 Ga suggesting their coeval formation in the latest Paleoproterozoic. By contrast, peridotites from the south have maximum TRD model ages that span the Archean–Proterozoic boundary (2.1–2.5 Ga). Peridotites with model ages from both groups are found at Fansi, the southernmost locality in the northern group, which likely marks a lithospheric boundary. The Neoarchean age of the lithospheric mantle in the southern section matches that of the overlying crust and likely reflects the time of amalgamation of the North China Craton via collision between the Eastern and Western blocks. The Late Paleoproterozoic (∼1.8 Ga) lithospheric mantle beneath the northern section is significantly younger than the overlying Archean crust, indicating that the original lithospheric mantle was replaced in this region, either during a major north–south continent–continent collision that occurred during assembly of the Columbia supercontinent at ∼1.8–1.9 Ga, or from extrusion of ∼1.9 Ga lithosphere from the Khondalite Belt beneath the northern Trans-North China Orogen, during the ∼1.85 Ga continental collision between Eastern and Western blocks. Post-Cretaceous heating of the southern section is indicated by high temperatures (>1000 °C) recorded in peridotites from the 4 Ma Hebi suite, which are significantly higher than the temperatures recorded in peridotites from the nearby Early Cretaceous Fushan suite (

High-precision Mg isotopic data are reported for � 100 well-characterized samples (granites, loess, shales and upper crustal composites) that were previously used to estimate the upper continental crust composition. Magnesium isotopic compositions display limited variation in eight I-type granites from southeastern Australia (d 26 Mg = � 0.25 to � 0.15) and in 15 granitoid composites from eastern China (d 26 Mg = � 0.35 to � 0.16) and do not correlate with SiO2 contents, indicating the absence of significant Mg isotope fractionation during differentiation of granitic magma. Similarly, the two S-type granites, which represent the two end-members of the S-type granite spectrum from southeastern Australia, have Mg isotopic composition (d 26 Mg = � 0.23 and � 0.14) within the range of their potential source rocks (d 26 Mg = � 0.20 and +0.15) and I-type granites, suggesting that Mg isotope fractionation during crustal anatexis is also insignificant. By contrast, d 26 Mg varies significantly in 19 A-type granites from northeastern China (� 0.28 to +0.34) and may reflect source heterogeneity. Compared to I-type and S-type granites, sedimentary rocks have highly heterogeneous and, in most cases, heavier Mg isotopic compositions, with d 26 Mg ranging from � 0.32 to +0.05 in nine loess from New Zealand and the USA, from � 0.27 to +0.49 in 20 post-Archean Australian shales (PAAS), and from � 0.52 to +0.92 in 20 sedimentary composites from eastern China. With increasing chemical weathering, as measured by the chemical index of alternation (CIA), d 26 Mg values show a larger dispersion in shales than loess. Furthermore, d 26 Mg correlates negatively with d 7 Li in loess. These characteristics suggest that chemical weathering significantly fractionates Mg isotopes and plays an important role in producing the highly variable Mg isotopic composition of sedimentary rocks.

To constrain further the Mg isotopic composition of the Earth and chondrites, and investigate the behavior of Mg isotopes during planetary formation and magmatic processes, we report high-precision (±0.06‰ on δ25Mg and ±0.07‰ on δ26Mg, 2SD) analyses of Mg isotopes for (1) 47 mid-ocean ridge basalts covering global major ridge segments and spanning a broad range in latitudes, geochemical and radiogenic isotopic compositions; (2) 63 ocean island basalts from Hawaii (Kilauea, Koolau and Loihi) and French Polynesia (Society Island and Cook-Austral chain); (3) 29 peridotite xenoliths from Australia, China, France, Tanzania and USA; and (4) 38 carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite chondrites including 9 chondrite groups (CI, CM, CO, CV, L, LL, H, EH and EL). Oceanic basalts and peridotite xenoliths have similar Mg isotopic compositions, with average values of δ25Mg = −0.13 ± 0.05 (2SD) and δ26Mg = −0.26 ± 0.07 (2SD) for global oceanic basalts (n = 110) and δ25Mg = −0.13 ± 0.03 (2SD) and δ26Mg = −0.25 ± 0.04 (2SD) for global peridotite xenoliths (n = 29). The identical Mg isotopic compositions in oceanic basalts and peridotites suggest that equilibrium Mg isotope fractionation during partial melting of peridotite mantle and magmatic differentiation of basaltic magma is negligible. Thirty-eight chondrites have indistinguishable Mg isotopic compositions, with δ25Mg = −0.15 ± 0.04 (2SD) and δ26Mg = −0.28 ± 0.06 (2SD). The constancy of Mg isotopic compositions in all major types of chondrites suggest that primary and secondary processes that affected the chemical and oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrites did not significantly fractionate Mg isotopes. Collectively, the Mg isotopic composition of the Earth’s mantle, based on oceanic basalts and peridotites, is estimated to be −0.13 ± 0.04 for δ25Mg and −0.25 ± 0.07 for δ26Mg (2SD, n = 139). The Mg isotopic composition of the Earth, as represented by the mantle, is similar to chondrites. The chondritic composition of the Earth implies that Mg isotopes were well mixed during accretion of the inner solar system.

Unusual 18 O depletion, with δ 18 O values as negative as −10‰ to −4‰ relative to VSMOW, was reported in zircons from ultrahigh-pressure eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt, China. But it is critical for the negative δ 18 O zircons to be distinguished between magmatic and metamorphic origins, because the 18 O depletion can be acquired by high-T eclogite-facies metamorphism of meteoric-hydrothermally altered low δ 18 O rocks. While zircon O diffusion kinetics has placed a reasonable constraint on this, zircon trace element compositions can provide a straightforward distinction between the magmatic and metamorphic origins. This paper reports our finding of unusual 18 O depletion in zircon from granitic gneiss in the northeastern end of the Sulu orogen. Zircon δ 18 O values vary from −7.8‰ to −3.1‰ along a profile of 50 m length at Zaobuzhen. They are close to extremely low δ 18 O values of −9.0‰ to −5.9‰ for metagranite at Qinglongshan and adjacent areas in the southwestern end of the Sulu orogen. CL imaging suggests that the low δ 18 O zircons at Zaobuzhen are primarily of magmatic origin, but underwent different degrees of metamorphic modification. Zircon U–Pb dating yields middle Neoproterozoic ages of 751 ± 27 to 779 ± 25 Ma for protolith crystallization and Triassic ages of 214 ± 10 to 241 ± 33 Ma for metamorphic resetting. However, no metamorphic modification occurs in zircon REE patterns that only indicate magmatic recrystallization and hydrothermal alteration, respectively. Thus, the negative δ 18 O zircons are interpreted as crystallizing from negative δ 18 O magmas due to melting of meteoric-hydrothermally altered negative δ 18 O rocks in an active rift setting at about 780 Ma. The variation in zircon δ 18 O values indicates considerable O isotope heterogeneity in its granitic protolith. Zircon Lu–Hf isotope analyses give positive e Hf ( t ) values of 1.6–4.1 and Hf model ages of 1.18–1.30 Ga. This suggests that the granitic protolith was derived from the mid-Neoproterozoic reworking of late Mesoproterozoic juvenile crust. The metagranites at Zaobuzhen and Qinglongshan, about 450 km apart, are two known occurrences of the unusually low δ 18 O zircons below −6‰ so far reported in the Sulu orogen. They are similar to each other in both protolith and metamorphic ages, so that they share the same nature of both Neoproterozoic protolith and Triassic metamorphism. Therefore, the locally negative δ 18 O zircons may register centers of low δ 18 O magmatism during the supercontinental rifting.

Previous studies of samples of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that underlay the North China Craton (NCC) during the Paleozoic have documented the presence of thick Archean SCLM at this time. In contrast, samples of SCLM underlying the NCC during the Cenozoic are characterized by evidence for melt depletion during the Proterozoic, and relatively recent juvenile additions to the lithosphere. These observations, coupled with geophysical evidence for relatively thin lithosphere at present, have led to the conclusion that the SCLM underlying the NCC was thinned and modified subsequent to the late Paleozoic. In order to extend the view into both the Paleozoic and modern SCLM underlying the NCC, we examine mantle xenoliths and xenocrystic chromites extracted from three Paleozoic kimberlites (Tieling, Fuxian and Mengyin), and mantle xenoliths extracted from one Cenozoic basaltic center (Kuandian). Geochemical data suggest that most of the Kuandian xenoliths are residues of small degrees of partial melting from chemically primitive mantle. Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic analyses indicate that the samples were removed from long-term depleted SCLM that had later been variably enriched in incompatible elements. Osmium isotopic compositions of the two most refractory xenoliths are depleted relative to the modern convecting upper mantle and have model melt depletion ages that indicate melt depletion during Paleoproterozoic. Other relatively depleted xenoliths have Os isotopic compositions consistent with the modern convecting upper mantle. This observation is generally consistent with earlier data for xenoliths from other Cenozoic volcanic systems in the NCC and surrounding cratons. Thus, the present SCLM underlying the NCC has a complex age structure, but does not appear to retain materials with Archean melt depletion ages. Results for what are presumed to be early Paleozoic xenoliths from Teiling are generally highly depleted in melt components, e.g. have low Al2O3, but have also been metasomatically altered. Enrichment in light rare earth elements, low eNd values (∼−10), and relatively high 87Sr/86Sr (0.707–0.710) are consistent with a past episode of metasomatism. Despite the metasomatic event, 187Os/188Os ratios are low and consistent with a late Archean melt depletion event. Thus, like results for xenoliths from other early Paleozoic volcanic centers within the NCC, these rocks sample dominantly Archean SCLM. The mechanism for lithospheric thinning is still uncertain. The complex age structure currently underlying the NCC requires either variable melt depletion over the entire history of this SCLM, or the present lithospheric material was partly or wholly extruded under the NCC from elsewhere by the plate collisions (collision with the Yangtze Craton and/or NNW subduction of the Pacific plate) that may have caused the thinning to take place.

A combined study of internal structure, U–Pb age, and Hf and O isotopes was carried out for metamorphic zircons from ultrahigh-pressure eclogite boudins enclosed in marbles from the Dabie orogen in China. CL imaging identifies two types of zircon that are metamorphically new growth and recrystallized domain, respectively. The metamorphic zircons have low Th and U contents with low Th/U ratios, yielding two groups of 206 Pb/ 238 U age at 245 ± 3 to 240 ± 2 Ma and 226 ± 4 to 223 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Anomalously high δ 18 O values were obtained for refractory minerals, with 9.9 to 21.4‰ for garnet and 16.9‰ for zircon. This indicates that eclogite protolith is sedimentary rocks capable of liberating aqueous fluid for zircon growth during continental subduction-zone metamorphism. Most of the zircons are characterized by very low 176 Lu/ 177 Hf ratios of 0.000001–0.000028, indicating their growth in association with garnet recrystallization. A few of them falling within the older age group have comparatively high 176 Lu/ 177 Hf ratios of 0.000192–0.000383, suggesting their growth prior to the formation of garnet in the late stage of subduction. The variations in the Lu/Hf ratios for zircons can thus be used to correlate with garnet growth during eclogite-facies metamorphism. In either case, the zircons have variable e Hf ( t ) values for individual samples, suggesting that their protolith is heterogeneous in Hf isotope composition with localized fluid availability in the bulk processes of orogenic cycle. Nevertheless, a positive correlation exists between 206 Pb/ 238 U ages and Lu–Hf isotope ratios for the metamorphically recrystallized zircons, suggesting that eclogite-facies metamorphism in the presence of fluid has the identical effect on zircon Lu–Hf and U–Th–Pb isotopic systems. We conclude that the zircons of the older group grew in the presence of fluid during the subduction prior to the onset of peak ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, whereas the younger zircons grew in the presence of fluid released during the initial exhumation toward high-pressure eclogite-facies regime.