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The early Paleozoic Wuyi-Yunkai orogen was associated with extensive felsic magmatic activities and the orogenic core was mainly distributed in the Yunkai and Wugong domains located in the western Cathaysia block and in the Wuyi domain located in the central part of the Cathaysia block. In order to investigate the evolution of the Wuyi-Yunkai orogen, elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses were performed for granites from the Baoxu pluton in the Yunkai domain and from the Enping pluton in the central part of the Cathaysia block. The Baoxu pluton consists of biotite granite with abundant xenoliths of gneissic granite, granodiorite and diorite, and the Enping pluton is mainly composed of massive granodiorite. Biotite granites (441 ± 5 Ma) and gneissic granite xenolith (443 ± 4 Ma) of the Baoxu pluton are all weakly peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.05–1.10). They show high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios and have negative bulk-rock ε Nd (t) values (−7.0 to −4.4), which are similar to coeval gneissic S-type granites in the Yunkai domain and were probably derived from dehydration melting of a sedimentary source with garnet residue in the source. Granodiorites (429 ± 3 Ma) from Enping and granodiorite xenolith (442 ± 4 Ma) from Baoxu are metaluminous and have REE patterns with enriched light REE and flat middle to heavy REE, possibly generated by the dehydration melting of an igneous basement at middle to lower crustal level. Diorite xenolith from Baoxu is ultrapotassic (K 2 O = 4.9 wt%), has high contents of MgO (7.0 wt%), Cr (379 ppm) and Ni (171 ppm) and shows pronounced negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies. This xenolith also has negative ε Nd (t) value (−3.6) and low Rb/Ba and high Ba/Sr ratios, and is thus interpreted to be derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle with the breakdown of phlogopite. Early Paleozoic I- and S-type granites in the Wuyi-Yunkai orogen mostly have negative ε Nd (t) values and do not have juvenile components, consistent with genesis by an intracontinental orogenic event. These early Paleozoic granites occur near the ancient suture zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and have high La/Yb and Sr/Y ratios, likely due to the existence of residual garnet in the source, suggesting the thickened crust at ca. 440 Ma. The 450–440 Ma gneissic S-type granites near the suture zone are earlier than those in the central part of the Cathaysia block (∼430 Ma). The crustal thickening along the ancient suture zone at 440 Ma propagated into the central part of the Cathaysia block as evidenced by the 430 Ma granites. Early Paleozoic I-type granites near the suture zone clearly show involvement of significant mantle-derived materials, in contrast to granites in the central part of the Cathaysia block. The ancient suture zone may have acted as channels for the emplacement of mafic magmas during the collapse of an intracontinental orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive Devonian felsic magmatism is recorded within the southwestern Mongolian collage system of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The voluminous magmas have isotopic compositions of juvenile materials from the mantle, thus manifesting significant mantle–crust interaction and continental growth at this time. Here, we present systematic Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopic data for the Devonian mafic intrusions in the Chinese Altai, a key region within the southwestern Mongolian collage system to decipher the evolution of the mantle during this important tectonothermal event. The Keketuohai gabbro (409 ± 5 Ma) and type I mafic dykes (376 ± 5 Ma) within the Habahe complex have high ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i , ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb) t , ( 207 Pb/ 204 Pb) t and ( 208 Pb/ 204 Pb) t ratios, and decoupled Nd–Hf isotopic compositions; e.g., low ε Nd (t) values (− 2.5 to + 5.4) combined with high ε Hf (t) (+ 2.6 to + 15.1) values. These rocks have low Ba/La and high La/Yb and Th/Yb ratios, and are enriched in Pb, the light rare earth elements (LREE) and Th. They formed from magmas generated from the depleted lithospheric mantle metasomatised by hydrous melts from subducted sediments. In comparison, the gabbroic samples from the Habahe complex (369 ± 3 Ma) are enriched in the LREE, Th and Ba and have high La/Yb, Th/Yb and Ba/La ratios. They do not show significant Pb anomalies, and have depleted isotopic compositions that include low initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios and high ε Nd (t) (+ 7.4 to + 7.8) and ε Hf (t) (+ 13.4 to + 15.3) values. These rocks are thought to have formed from magmas derived from the lithospheric mantle metasomatised by hydrous melts from subducted oceanic crust. The type II mafic dykes within the Habahe complex are depleted in the LREE and Th, have high Ba/La ratios, and are enriched in Pb, Ba, Sr, and U. They have positive ε Nd (t) (+ 7.6 to + 8.1) and ε Hf (t) (+ 14.1 to + 15.4) values, high initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios, and are thought to have formed from a magmas generated by the partial melting of the depleted lithospheric mantle metasomatised by fluids derived from subducted sediments. The melting and dehydration of subducted oceanic crust and sediments indicate the Devonian subduction of a hot slab beneath the Chinese Altai, which could be related to a ridge subduction model previously proposed. The involvement of hydrous melts and fluids promoted the melting of the lithospheric mantle which was responsible for intensive felsic magmatism with abrupt increase of juvenile component and high temperature metamorphism in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]