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The tectonic setting of Indosinian magmatism in West Qinling Orogen and the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Tethys remain hotly debated. Here we present SHRIMP zircon U Pb dating, major-trace elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic data for four granitic and gabbroic plutons across the eastern West Qinling Orogen, from north to south including Guanshan, Fengxian, Mishuling and Miba. Our new data indicate that the Fengxian granitoids, emplaced at 238 Ma in a continental arc setting, show adakitic affinity and were formed by partial melting of subducted sediments. The southern Guanshan granitoids, emplaced at 235–229 Ma in a continental arc setting, also show adakitic affinity but were generated by partial melting of thickened (>50 km) lower crust. The northern Guanshan granites and gabbros were emplaced at 217–216 Ma in a back-arc setting, with the former generated by partial melting of normal (40–50 km) lower crust and the latter derived from asthenospheric mantle. The Mishuling granitic pluton contains abundant mafic microgranular enclaves, both emplaced at 214 Ma in a back-arc setting with the host granitoids formed by partial melting of normal (40–50 km) lower crust and the enclave magmas derived from asthenospheric-lithospheric mantle. The Miba granitoids, emplaced at 216 Ma in a continental arc setting, show adakitic affinity and were generated by partial melting of thickened (>50 km) lower crust. We suggest that the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic crust had subducted near the Shangdan suture by 238 Ma and successively advanced northward, approaching southeastern Qilian Orogen at 235–229 Ma. Then slab rollback initiated and gradually migrated southward. The slab subduction did not cease before 214 Ma. • We have investigated four Triassic granitic-gabbroic plutons in West Qinling Orogen. • The granitoids formed in a continental-arc setting during the Ladinian-Carnian. • The granitoids, enclaves and gabbros formed in a back-arc setting during the Norian. • The origin of these rocks recorded the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic crust advance to retreat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Paleozoic granites have rarely been reported in South China. We present the first detailed zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb dating and in situ Hf isotopic and whole-rock element geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic data for two late Permian granitic plutons (Napeng and Shicun) recently identified in the Yunkai massif, South China. In addition, we assess their origin and relationship to the geodynamics of late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic magmatism in South China. The Napeng pluton consists of cordierite- and/or garnet-bearing biotite granites, and the Shicun pluton is composed of two-mica granites and muscovite granites. Detailed LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating shows that both plutons were emplaced in the late Permian and contain abundant inherited zircons with a spread of ages, including Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic, Neoproterozoic-Cambrian, Ordovician-Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and early Permian. The cordierite- and/or garnet-bearing biotite granites are strongly peraluminous and have higher maficity than experimental melts of metasedimentary rocks. Both the two-mica and muscovite granites are also strongly peraluminous but have similar maficity to experimental melts of metasedimentary rocks. All the granites have high initial 87Sr/86Sr, negative ε Nd(t), and ε Hf(t) (in situ zircon). Detailed petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the studied granites suggest that they are S-type granites and were formed by partial melting of subducted oceanic sediments of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean within the depth of mantle region to normal lower crust in the continental collision zone. Our new data suggest that the origin of the Napeng and Shicun granites might mark the onset of the continental collision between the Indochina and South China Blocks with the initial closure of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean at the beginning of the late Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline intrusions such as ultrapotassic syenites are typically formed in extensional tectonic settings including continental rift, post-orogenic and post-collisional regimes. Here we present two early Mesozoic ultrapotassic syenite plutons (Tieshan and Yangfang) in South China that were formed in a continent collisional setting. LA-ICP-MS zircon U Pb chronological, major and trace elemental, and Sr Nd isotopic data of these syenites are used to explore their origin and to further constrain the geodynamics of early Mesozoic magmatism in South China. Our new data indicate that the Tieshan and Yangfang plutons were formed in Early Triassic (249 Ma) and Middle Triassic (240 Ma), respectively. The Tieshan and Yangfang syenites have SiO 2 contents of 50.84–56.95 wt% and 59.13–68.34 wt%, respectively, both are enriched in alkalis with very high K 2 O (5.60–9.68 wt%) and K 2 O/Na 2 O (1.8–15.7) and in LILE (Ba = 2464–8813 ppm; Sr = 652–3499 ppm), REE (498–1355 ppm) and HFSE (Zr = 264–766 ppm). They show enriched Sr Nd isotopic compositions with 87Sr/86Sr (t) and ε Nd (t) of 0.7096–0.7102 and − 5.2 to −6.5, respectively for Tieshan and of 0.7112–0.7119 and − 8.8 to −9.7, respectively for Yangfang. Geochemical data suggest that the studied ultrapotassic syenites were derived by partial melting of ancient subduction-modified lithospheric mantle including slab-derived melt hybridization and slab-derived carbonate fluid metasomatism, with the source depth of 60–90 km for Tieshan and at least 90 km for Yangfang. We further suggest that their origins are related to the transtension of the regional NE–trending strike-slip faults caused by continental collisions during the early Mesozoic amalgamation in East Asia. • Tieshan and Yangfang ultrapotassic syenites emplaced during Early to Middle Triassic. • Both syenites formed by partial melting of ancient subduction-modified mantle. • Their origin was related to transtension of regional NE–trending strike-slip faults. • Their formation was coupled with Late Permian to Triassic amalgamation in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Extensive middle to late Jurassic felsic and mafic magmatism occurred in the southern Hunan province, southeast China. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating, mineral chemical, element geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data have been determined for these rocks. The results indicate that the middle Jurassic (178–170 Ma) Changchengling and Ningyuan basaltic rocks belong to tholeiitic series and alkaline series, respectively, and were formed by fractional crystallization of the parent magmas that were derived from partial melting of asthenospheric mantle triggered by the slab-released fluids of the subducted Paleo-Pacific plate. The late Jurassic (152–146 Ma) Daoxian basalts and Guiyang lamprophyre dikes are low-Ti, high-Mg potassic rocks. They were derived directly by partial melting of shallower (60–100 km) lithospheric mantle composed of amphibole- and phlogopite-bearing lherzolite in response to thermal perturbations associated with the rifting of continental arc. The middle Jurassic (164 Ma) Tongshanling granitic rocks belong to calc-alkaline series and are strongly peraluminous. They were formed by partial melting of Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary basement in the lower-crust plus additional input from coeval basaltic magma. The late Jurassic (156 Ma) Jinjiling and Xishan granitic rocks show A2 subtype affinity. They were generated by partial melting of granulitized Palaeoproterozoic metamorphic basement in the lower crust in response to injection of coeval low-Ti, high-Mg potassic magmas. A moderate degree (56–58%) of fractionation of these pure crustal melts could account for more felsic end-member of granitic rocks. Detailed petrologic and geochemical data for the middle to late Jurassic felsic and mafic rocks from the southern Hunan imply that during the middle Jurassic time SE China on the southeast of the Shi-Hang zone was a continental arc coupled with the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate and since the beginning of late Jurassic time an intra-arc rift has been formed along the Shi-Hang zone as a consequence of slab roll-back. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The NWW-striking North Qilian Orogenic Belt records the Paleozoic accretion–collision processes in NW China, and hosts Paleozoic Cu–Pb–Zn mineralization that was temporally and spatially related to the closure of the Paleo Qilian-Qinling Ocean. The Wangdian Cu deposit is located in the eastern part of the North Qilian Orogenic Belt, NW China. Copper mineralization is spatially associated with an altered early Paleozoic porphyritic granodiorite, which intruded tonalites and volcaniclastic rocks. Alteration zones surrounding the mineralization progress outward from a potassic to a feldspar-destructive phyllic assemblage. Mineralization consists mainly of quartz-sulfide stockworks and disseminated sulfides, with ore minerals chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, and minor galena and sphalerite. Gangue minerals include quartz, orthoclase, biotite, sericite, and K-feldspar. Zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb dating of the ore-bearing porphyritic granodiorite yielded a mean 206 Pb/ 238 U age of 444.6 ± 7.8 Ma, with a group of inherited zircons yielding a mean U–Pb age of 485 ± 12 Ma, consistent with the emplacement age (485.3 ± 6.2 Ma) of the barren precursor tonalite. Rhenium and osmium analyses of molybdenite grains returned model ages of 442.9 ± 6.8 Ma and 443.3 ± 6.2 Ma, indicating mineralization was coeval with the emplacement of the host porphyritic granodiorite. Rhenium concentrations in molybdenite (208.9–213.2 ppm) suggest a mantle Re source. The tonalities are medium-K calc-alkaline. They are characterized by enrichment of light rare-earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion of heavy rare-earth elements (HREEs) and high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), and minor negative Eu anomalies. They have ε Hf ( t ) values in the range of +3.6 to +11.1, with two-stage Hf model ages of 0.67–1.13 Ga, suggesting that the ca. 485 Ma barren tonalites were products of arc magmatism incorporating melts from the mantle wedge and the lithosphere. In contrast, the 40-m.y.-younger ore-bearing porphyritic granodiorite is sub-alkaline and peraluminous. They are enriched in LREEs and LILEs, depleted in HFSEs, and show weak negative Eu anomalies. They display ε Hf ( t ) values of captured or inherited zircons in the range of +8.5 to +10.0, and younger two-stage Hf model ages of 0.78 Ga and 0.86 Ga, similar to those of ca. 485 Ma tonalite. The ca. 445 Ma zircons have ε Hf ( t ) values of −2.1 to +9.9, with two-stage Hf model ages of 0.75–1.27 Ga. Moreover, they have relatively high oxygen fugacity than that of the precursor barren tonalite. The ca. 445 Ma magmas at Wangdian thus formed in a subduction setting, and incorporated melts from the subduction-modified lithosphere that had previously been enriched by additions of chalcophile and siderophile element-rich materials by the earlier magmatism and metasomatism during the Paleo Qilian-Qinling Ocean subduction event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]