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Garnet amphibolite is one of the common metabasic rocks exposed in collisional orogenic belt, the metamorphic evolution of which is associated closely with orogenic processes. The Yaganbuyang garnet amphibolites occur as blocks hosted by massive granitic gneiss, and consist mainly of hornblende, garnet, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, biotite, quartz with minor rutile/ilmenite and phengitic muscovite. These garnet amphibolites were interpreted to have experienced decompression-dominated evolution that can be divided into three generations (M1, M2, M3), based on the petrographic observations and phase equilibria modeling calculated by THERMOCALC. The assemblage of the first generation (M1) is inferred to possibly be dominated by garnet + omphacite + rutile + phengite + quartz, which is modeled to be roughly stable at P > 25 kbar and T > 800 °C. The second generation (M2) is characterized by the local symplectites of clinopyroxene + plagioclase produced from omphacite, indicating a near-isothermal decompression from ∼23.8 kbar/875 °C to ∼10 kbar/852 °C. The third generation (M3) is marked by the kelyphitic rims of plagioclase + hornblende around garnet and of hornblende + ilmenite around clinopyroxene, involving the late-stage retrogression from ∼9.8 kbar/848 °C to ∼5.8 kbar/645 °C. Zircon U-Pb dating yielded one group metamorphic age of c. 500 Ma that is interpreted to represent the timing of the peak eclogite-facies metamorphism. A combination of petrography observation, phase modeling results and geochronology data suggests that the Yaganbuyang garnet amphibolites have once undergone eclogite-facies metamorphism by continental subduction rather than crustal thickening. Therefore, the Yaganbuyang area is an eastward extension part of the South Altyn HP-UHP metamorphic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Magmatism formed during the initial stage (ca. 480Ma) and advanced stage (ca. 450Ma) of exhumation of subducted continental crust have been recognized in South Altyn western China. • Two stages of magmatism exhibits evidence for the partial melting of subducted continental crust during differential exhumation process of South Altyn in Palaeozoic. The early Palaeozoic continental subduction–collisional belt in South Altyn (SA) western China distributes a large amount of (ultra)-high-pressure ((U)HP) metamorphic and granitic rocks associated with subduction, collision, and exhumation. In this study, four granitic rocks were collected from Bashenwake located in eastern SA. The ages of the garnet-bearing alkali-feldspar granite (GAFG), garnet-bearing granitic gneiss (GGG), alkali-feldspar granite (AFG), and syenogranite (SG) are 458.0 ± 4.1, 483.0 ± 4.1, 450.0 ± 2.4, and 482.0 ± 4.9 Ma, respectively. Whole-rock major and trace elements and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope, and zircon Hf isotope compositions for all samples exhibit characteristics of a continental crustal source. Based on partial melting modeling, the source temperature of the GGG, GAFG, AFG and SG was concluded as 750–780 °C, 730–760 °C, 730–770 °C and ca. 800 °C, respectively. The source pressure was estimated as ca. 0.8 GPa for the GGG, GAFG and AFG, and ca. 1.2 GPa for SG. Combined with studies on (U)HP metamorphic rocks in SA, this study reveals that GGG is formed by metamorphism while SG is formed from partial melting of upper crustal rocks heated by upwelling mantle during the initial stage of exhumation (ca. 480 Ma) of subducted continental crust in SA. During further stage of exhumation of the subducted continental crust at ca. 450 Ma, the GAFG and AFG were formed from partial melting of GGG as a result of decreased pressure and further mantle upwelling. Consequently, the exhumation age of subducted continental crust in eastern SA is ca. 30 Myr earlier than that in western SA. Thus, the geochronology and petrogenesis of four granitic samples in this study exhibit one of very few evidence for partial melting of subducted continental crust during the exhumation and also provide magmatism exhibits evidence for the differential exhumation model of eastern SA in Palaeozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The mafic granulites in the Kuruksayi area were derived from overprinted eclogites. • Phase modeling suggests that such mafic granulites have undergone UHP metamorphism. • P - T conditions recorded in mafic granulites are comparable to that in HP/UHP eclogites. The South Altyn high-pressure–ultrahigh-pressure (HP–UHP) metamorphic belt in West China records the processes of deep continental subduction (>150–300 km). The HP mafic granulite pods hosted by massive granitic gneiss were for the first time discovered in the Kuruksayi area of the South Altyn Orogen, and they consist mainly of garnet, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, hornblende, biotite, and quartz, with minor rutile, ilmenite, and K-feldspar. The garnets vary in grain size and chemical zoning, and can be divided into three types: subhedral porphyroblastic (g 1), anhedral porphyroblastic (g 2), and neoblastic fine (g 3) grains. Four generations of mineral assemblage (M1–M4) are recognized, and are used to constrain the P–T evolution of the mafic granulites using phase equilibria modeling calculated by THERMOCALC. The first generation (M1) is represented by the core domains of g 1 (g 1C) that have inclusions of rutile and quartz and conspicuous chemical zoning. A pre-peak prograde stage of metamorphism from ~ 15.8 kbar/600 °C to ~ 19.2 kbar/655 °C is recorded by g 1C. The second generation (M2) is inferred to consist of garnet + omphacite + phengite + rutile + quartz and is recorded in the mantle domains of g 1 (g 1M). Modeling suggests that this is representative of conditions that reached a maximum P–T of ~ 36.2 kbar/920 °C. The third generation (M3) is characterized by intergrowths of clinopyroxene + plagioclase and biotite + plagioclase, and this stage is recorded by the compositions of g 2 with modeling suggesting an evolution from ~ 17.8 kbar/820 °C to ~ 11.5 kbar/826 °C, consistent with near-isothermal decompression. The last generation (M4) is characterized by kelyphitic rims of plagioclase + hornblende around garnet and the hornblende coronas that encompass symplectitic clinopyroxene, and is recorded by the compositions of g 3. Modeling suggests evolution from ~ 11.5 kbar/826 °C to ~ 8.7 kbar/735 °C, compatible with near-isobaric cooling. These four stages of metamorphism together establish a clockwise P–T path, which indicates a series of tectonic processes that took the continental slab from subduction to exhumation. Zircon U–Pb dating by LA–ICP–MS yielded two distinct clusters of ages: c. 897 Ma magmatic protolith ages and c. 494 Ma metamorphic ages. The metamorphic ages are interpreted to represent the timing of the eclogite-facies metamorphism, and are similar to the metamorphic ages of other HP/UHP rocks elsewhere in the South Altyn Orogen. Accordingly, we propose that the Kuruksayi mafic granulites underwent UHP metamorphism similar to that recorded in other South Altyn eclogites exposed in Jianggalesayi and Danshuiquan to the west and Yinggelisayi to the east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]