Search

The widespread Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic magmatism in the Eastern Tianshan provides critical insights into geodynamic evolution of the southern Altaids. In this study, we conduct an integrated study of field geology, petrology, U-Pb zircon geochronology and major-trace elemental and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic geochemistry on the Late Carboniferous monzogranite and diorite dyke and the Late Triassic gabbroic diorite dyke in the central part of the Eastern Tianshan. Geochronological data indicate that the monzogranite, diorite dyke and gabbroic diorite dyke formed at ∼318 Ma, ∼317 Ma and ∼235 Ma, respectively. The Late Carboniferous monzogranite shows transitional characteristics between highly fractionated and A-type granites, with relatively high zircon saturation temperatures (800–836 °C). It was derived by partial melting of juvenile infracrustal rocks, followed by plagioclase-dominated fractional crystallization. The Late Carboniferous diorite dyke has high Al 2 O 3 contents (mostly >17 wt%) and Ba/La ratios, indicating an origin from a hydrous lithospheric mantle source that had been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. The Late Triassic gabbroic diorite dyke, with relatively high Mg# values (57–58) and Th contents (3.28–3.46 ppm), originated from a less hydrous lithospheric mantle source containing significant sediment-derived components. Our new results, combined with previous studies, reveal an end-Early Carboniferous to middle Late Carboniferous magmatic flare-up in the Dananhu arc. The magmatic flare-up occurred in a long E -W trending banded zone parallel to the strike of the arc and was accompanied by significant normal arc magmatism, which widely migrated to the south of the Dananhu arc in comparison to prior magmatism. These together with coeval extension-related volcanic, sedimentary, structural and metamorphic events in the Dananhu and adjacent areas were attributed to southward rollback of the subducted Kanguer oceanic slab. The long-time arc magmatism and regional crustal thickening before the Late Triassic led to the formation of an arclogite-bearing root beneath the Dananhu arc. The Late Triassic extension-related magmatism in the Dananhu arc, which was synchronous with or slightly younger than regional thickened crust-derived magmatism, was linked to the local root foundering of the long-lived Dananhu arc at the late stage of orogenesis. The episodic occurrence of geodynamic processes such as slab rollback, arc root foundering and ridge subduction/slab tearing, which were accompanied by massive input of juvenile materials into continental crust, contributed to multi-stage significant crustal growth in southern Altaids. [Display omitted] • Ferroan granite and two phases of dioritic dykes in Eastern Tianshan were identified. • End-Early Carboniferous to Late Carboniferous slab rollback occurred beneath Dananhu. • Late Triassic magmatism in Dananhu was related to local arc root foundering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, Ultrahigh Pressure (UHP) oceanic units are rare and to date only three were recognized: Tianshan (China), and Lago di Cignana and Lago Superiore Unit (Western Alps, Italy). The UHP oceanic units represent the only geological object directly exhumed from mantle depth and they record fundamental information about processes occurring in the deepest portions of the subduction interface. In this work, we describe the occurrence of a new UHP oceanic unit within the Western Alps (mid Susa Valley, Internal Piedmont Zone). We here report the finding of a UHP index mineral, i.e., coesite and we provide a detailed study of garnet inclusions in metapelites and metabasites part of the meta-sedimentary cover of the meta-ophiolites cropping out in the mid Susa Valley. The samples were investigated via optical microscope, Raman spectroscopy, Elastic Geothermometry and classic thermometry (Zr-in-rutile) in order to constrain the P-T evolution of the area. The finding of a new UHP unit in the Internal Piedmont Zone, together with the already described Lago di Cignana and Lago Superiore units, points towards the possible existence of a UHP oceanic slice that reached a similar peak-P (i.e., the return point) along the same subduction gradient. This slice was then removed from the slab and dismembered during exhumation, and it is now exposed as coesite-bearing units juxtaposed with lower pressure eclogite-facies ophiolites. Moreover, the large occurrence of coesite along the entire Internal Piedmont Zone significantly increases the extension of the UHP oceanic units. Hence, the model of a localized non-lithostatic pressure is at the state of the art difficult to apply to the oceanic units of the Western Alps. • We report a new occurrence of coesite within the eclogitic meta-ophiolites (Internal Piedmont Zone) of the Western Alps. • Elastic Geobarometry and Zr-in-rutile thermometry results confirm the PT path proposed in literature with pseudosections. • We propose a unique UHP level inside oceanic slab by linking the three UHP oceanic units outcropping on the Western Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geodynamic evolution of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen during the transition from Neo-Tethyan oceanic to Indian continental subduction remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a new geochronological, geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic study of post-collisional diabase dikes in the central segment of the southern Lhasa subterrane. The diabase dike samples yield zircon U–Pb ages of 51–49 Myr, consistent with the timing of the Gangdese magmatic flare-up (ca. 53–50 Myr). In addition, the diabase dikes exhibit a geochemical intraplate affinity and depleted Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions. Their variable Nb contents allow, the dikes to be divided into low-Nb (<8 ppm) and high-Nb (>9 ppm) types, which represent the melting products of slab fluid-modified Gangdese lithospheric mantle and a mixed mantle source comprising Gangdese lithospheric and deep asthenospheric mantle, respectively. In addition, the wide variation in εHf(t) values (−10.0 to +12.3) of zircons from these diabase dikes is consistent with the Gangdese zircon Hf isotopic 'pull-down' at ca. 50 Ma. Integrating our new data with published results suggests that the zircon Hf isotopic 'pull-down' was a direct consequence of the involvement of subducted Indian continental components in the formation of the Gangdese continental lithosphere. The combined data further suggest that upwelling of the asthenosphere, triggered by breakoff of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab, resulted in extensive mantle and crustal melting in the Lhasa terrane and the Tethyan Himalaya in southern Tibet. • The diabase dikes in the Pengcuolin–Dazhuqu region were emplaced at ca. 50 Ma. • Indian continental components were involved in the Gangdese lithosphere at ca. 50 Ma. • The breakoff of the Neo-Tethyan slab is believed to have occurred at ca. 53–50 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely believed that the melting of mantle wedge in a subduction zone is triggered by the influx of fluids. However, experimental petrology studies have yielded conflicting results regarding temperatures for the wet solidus of mantle metasomatite, either below or above that of mantle wedge. In the latter case, the influx of fluids cannot trigger mantle melting, particularly in a cold subduction zone. Late Paleozoic magmatic rocks in the Western Yunnan Tethyan belt have been interpreted as being products of the first-stage subduction-related magmatism in the cold subduction zone and are thought to carry crucial information about mantle–wedge melting. Here, we report zircon ages and whole-rock geochemical data for these magmatic rocks to identify both the origin of the magmatism and the mechanism of mantle melting. Rock samples collected from the Nanlianshan complex and the Daxinshan Formation yielded zircon ages ranging from 303 Ma to 297 Ma. The samples can be classified into two groups based on geochemical features. Group I magmatic rocks have higher Ba/Th and lower Th/Nb ratios and depletion in Nd Hf isotopes [ε Nd (t) 2.9–5.0; ε Hf (t) 5.7–14.6], whereas Group II rocks show relatively lower Ba/Th and higher Th/Nb ratios and relative enrichment in Nd Hf isotopes [ε Nd (t) 0.7–4.0; ε Hf (t) 4.1–10.7]. The two groups of rocks may have originated from different mantle domains that were metasomatized by slab-derived aqueous fluids and by sediment-derived melts, respectively. We hypothesize that slab rollback during closure of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean prompted mixing of different mantle domains; subsequently, the multiple mantle was heated by the laterally flowing asthenosphere, and partial melting occurred. • Two groups of Carboniferous magmatic rocks can be recognized in Nanlianshan, Tethyan Yunnan. • Slab-derived fluid and sediment-derived melt successively modified the mantle wedge. • Rollback of slab triggered melting of different mantle domains without extra fluid influx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]