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• Metapelites of the Fenzishan Group were formed in a back-arc basin of an active continental margin. • Three age groups of detrital zircon: ∼ 3019–2816 Ma, 2761–2610 Ma and ∼ 2261–2128 Ma. • The minimum depositional age of metapelite precursor is ∼ 2261 – 2128 Ma. • Apatite U-Pb age ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma reflects to the post peak collisional metamorphism. • Metapelites record the UHT metamorphism, showing an anticlockwise P-T path. Metapelites from the Fenzishan Group of the Zhengjiapo banded iron formation (BIF) iron mine studied have undergone high-pressure and ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism. The rocks occur in the Changyi metallogenic belt that belongs to the Jiaobei terrane, Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt, North China Craton. P-T estimates using pseudosection modeling, mineral compositio isopleths and two-feldspar geothermometry of observed mesoperthite and antiperthite intergrowth textures of Bt-Grt-Mag-Amp gneisses, three different metamorphic stages were obtained: A prograde stage M1 at ∼ 600–610 °C/5.5–6.1 kbar, a peak metamorphic stage M2 at ∼ 899–1062 °C/8.6–9.15 kbar, an early retrograde stage M2́at 780–792 °C/8.6–9.15 kbar and a retrograde decompression stage M3 at 466–493 °C/4.5–5.8 kbar. Thus an anticlockwise trajectory can be defined indicating that granulite facies UHT-metamorphic peak conditions have been reached, followed by fast cooling during rapid exhumation. Geochemical characteristics of the metapelites indicate that the Fenzishan Group of the Zhengjiapo BIF iron mine was formed in a back-arc basin system of an active continental margin in a convergent/collisional geological setting.. Magmatic U-Pb ages (LA-ICP-MS) of detrital zircon from metapelites are ∼ 3096 – 2816 Ma and 2761 – 2610 Ma, indicating a source of the Archean basement which delivered clastic material for pelitic protolith. A zircon age of ∼ 2261 – 2128 Ma constrains the minimum depositional age of the metapelitic precursor, while an apatite U-Pb age of ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma dating demonstrates a metamorphic age of ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma, is indicated to represent a late Paleoproterozoic post peak metamorphic event that corresponds to the collision of the Jiao-Liao-Ji orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dashui porphyry granitoids in the western Qinling Orogen are spatially associated with the Dashui gold deposit, but their ages and tectonic setting have not been well defined yet in previous studies. This paper reports the results and understandings obtained from our original study in geochronology and isotope and element geochemistry. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating yielded ages of 213.7 ± 2.7 Ma for granitic stock and 215.1 ± 2.5 and 210.2 ± 1.6 Ma for granitic dikes. The granitoids are characterized by high LREE but low HREE and HFSE. They have (87Sr/86Sr) i ratios of 0.706 to 0.709 and εNd(t) values of −5.3 to −7.6. The majority of zircons in the Dashui granitoids have εHf(t) values ranging from −6.2 to 6.7 and TDM2(Hf) ages from 743 to 1464 Ma. The isotope signatures, together with La/Y and Mg# values, show that the magmas are mainly sourced from partial melting of a subducted slab, and possibly assimilated immature sediments during upward migration. Thus, the Dashui granitoids most likely formed in a volcanic arc where supra-subduction zone melts assimilated lower crustal material no later than 215 Ma. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Erenhot ophiolitic complex (EOC) is one of the numerous fragments of oceanic lithosphere in southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. It is composed dominantly of serpentinized ultramafic rocks with subordinate gabbros, mafic lavas and minor plagiogranite dikes. Zircons from two gabbros and one plagiogranite yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U ages of 354.2 ± 4.5 Ma, 353.3 ± 3.7 Ma and 344.8 ± 5.5 Ma. These ages suggest that the oceanic crust of the EOC formed in a maximum time period of 10 Ma, and that the plagiogranite may have formed later than the gabbroic section. An undeformed and unmetamorphosed dioritic porphyry dike intruded in the Carboniferous strata near the EOC has an intrusive age of 313.6 ± 2.9 Ma and provides a possible younger minimum time limit for the formation of the early Carboniferous ophiolitic complex. All the mafic rocks have similar chondrite normalized REE patterns characterized by moderate depletion in LREE with (La/Yb) N (0.20–0.75) similar to normal middle oceanic ridge basalt (N-MORB). The PM-normalized trace element patterns of the gabbros and massive basalts are also reasonably consistent, essentially similar to those of N-MORB except for some enrichment in LILE (e.g. Rb, Ba) and slightly negative Ti anomalies. The plagiogranite samples are characterized by lower K 2 O (0.45–0.73 wt%) comparable with oceanic plagiogranite. They have LREE-enriched, chondrite-normalized REE patterns with varying Eu anomalies and the trace elements (e.g. Rb, Y, Nb) show similarity to volcanic arc granite. These geochemical features of the EOC show a similar volcanic arc affinity, suggesting that they form in a back-arc-type environment. Their origin is attributed to asthenospheric upwelling and further lithospheric extension during early Carboniferous, formed as a consequence of slab breakoff on collision of the northern early to mid-Paleozoic orogenic terrane and the Hunshandake Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]