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The Permian mafic dykes of Santanghu Basin offer an opportunity to study the nature of mantle source and tectonic setting of the basin, as well as to provide the theoretical basis for structural transformation of East Junggar region. In this study, zircon U–Pb geochronology, mineral composition analysis, whole‐rock elemental, and Sr‐Nd isotopic geochemistry were conducted to explore the origin and evolution of the primitive magma. LA‐ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating yields ages at 269 Ma. The elemental geochemistry results suggest enrichments in Ba, Pb, and Sr but depletions in Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf, which indicate that the magma source was influenced by fluid metasomatism. All samples show moderate initial Sr‐Nd isotope results ((87Sr/86Sr)I = 0.704299 to 0.704490 and εNd(t) = +6.16 to +6.83) and have high Sm/Yb ratios, which suggest that the diabases were derived from partial melting of 5%–7% spinel‐garnet Iherzolite lithospheric mantle. Combined with petrological, geochronological data, and the regional tectonic background, it is interpreted that the diabases from Santanghu Basin originated from lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subduction fluids under the background of intracontinental extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The eastern part of the Central Tianshan Belt in China is characterized by abundant granitoids, which are not only indicators of the interaction between crust and mantle but also can be used for tracking the tectonic evolutionary history of the orogen. Four granitic plutons, muscovite granites (MG), biotite monzonitic granites (BMG), biotite granites (BG), and alkali granites (AG), have been recognized to have intruded in the Mishigou area, Central Tianshan Belt. The MG has pronounced a S-type affinity, which is strongly peraluminous with a high aluminum saturation index, and displays positive Rb, Th, U and LREE anomalies with a strong negative Ba, Nb, Sr, P, Ti and Eu anomalies. Therefore, the magma of the MG is considered to have been derived from melting of thickened continental crust, which is composed mainly of the sediments eroded from a pre-Silurian continental island-arc. The U–Pb zircon age of 424.5±2.6Ma constrains the age of MG and crust thickening. The BG and BMG granitoids display I-type geochemical features and have affinities to subduction arcs. Both of them are characterized by calc-alkaline peraluminous granites with a significant LREE enrichment and a negative Eu anomaly, as well as a depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti and an enrichment in Rb, Th, U, Nd, Zr and Sm. These characteristics indicate that they were derived from a mixed magma source between lower continental crust and the input of components derived from the mantle wedge above the subduction zone. The LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb ages of 411±4.7Ma and 402±3.4Ma represent the formation ages of the BG and BMG granitoids, respectively, which also constrain that the subduction of the South Tianshan oceanic crust also occurred during Early Devonian time. The AG shows a typical A-type granite affinity with depletion of Nb, Ta, Sr, P, Ti and Y. It is interpreted that AG was formed in a within-plate tectonic setting, and related to continental up-doming and rifting zones as a consequence of the extensional collapse after the collision of the Tianshan orogen. The U–Pb zircon age of 290±5.1Ma represents the formation age of the AG, and the time of the extensional collapse and rifting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The chemistry of the basic volcanic rocks at the south margin of the Qinling orogenic belt (SMQOB) suggests that they were formed in an intraplate tectonic setting. The REE distribution patterns show these rocks are strongly enriched in LREE with high ΣREE, and their trace elements geochemistry is similar to that of continental flood basalt. All the above evidence suggests that the Caledonian basic volcanic rocks in the SMQOB were tholeiitic basalts formed in an intraplate spreading-initial rift tectonic setting. The characteristics of regional geology and geochemistry indicate that there was an intraplate spreading-rift tectonic setting between the South Qinling block and the Yangtze block in the Caledonian epoch. The dynamic spreading in this district began in the Early Caledonian and then the intraplate spreading-initial rifts were formed in the late Caledonian. As a result of spreading of the Tethys and geodynamic processes in deep mantle, the Mianlue-Huashan oceanic basin was formed between the Qinling block and the Yangtze block in Devonian, and the Qinling microplate was separated from the northern part of the Yangtze plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on findings of a study on geochemical characteristics and geological significance of picritic rocks in Permian Tiaohu Formation from Santanghu Basin, Xinjiang of China. Topics include magmatic activity of Permian in Santanghu Basin; characteristics of picritic rocks, such as SiO2 amount of picritic rocks; and voluminous postcollisional granitoids and Armantai and Karamaili suture zone formation age.

Lacustrine organic-rich shale (LORS) developed in the Chang 7–3 section of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin. LORS has been proven to be a source of crude oil and tight oil, as well as a source and reservoir for shale oil in the basin. A total of 35 LORS samples were collected from Well Z233 and analysed by mineralogy and element geochemistry to reveal the characteristics and controlling factors of LORS. The following results were obtained: ① In the oil shale, the organic matter is composed of type I and type II kerogen, with a predominance of type II. The organic matter is mature and reaches high levels of abundance. ②Through further analysis. The values of w(U)/w(Th), w(V)/w(Cr), w(Ni)/w(Co), the size and morphology of pyrite, indicates that the lake water of the LORS deposition period in the study area is anoxic or suboxic state. the TOC of the samples was found to have significant positive correlations with the w(Mo) and w(Ba bio) contents. Paleoproductivity can be inferred to be the key factor controlling organic matter enrichment in the LORS. ③Volcanic and hydrothermal activities promote the development of LORS, provide nutrients needed by organisms, promote the growth of organisms, and improve paleoproductivity. Hydrothermal activity leads to the formation of an anoxic environment at the bottom of the lake, and tuff will cover the sediments, which promotes LORS preservation. This study reveals in detail paleoproductivity is the main factor in the formation of LORS during the evolution of the basin. Volcanic and hydrothermal activities promoted the increase of paleoproductivity, and finally the oil shale layers with the richest organic matter have been formed. And thereby deepens our theoretical understanding of organic matter enrichment. • The organic matter types of oil shale are type I and type II, with type II being the main type. • The redox and paleoproductivity conditions for the development of Chang 7 LORS were analyzed. • It is believed that paleoproductivity is the key factor controlling the accumulation of organic matter in the study area. • The influence of volcanic and hydrothermal activity on LORS is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]