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The Neoproterozoic evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen is important for understanding the tectonic history of South China. As a volcanic‐sedimentary sequence developed in the Nanhua rift, the Banxi Group preserves the records of important magmatic and tectonic events linked to the assembly and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. In this study, we report the results from whole‐rock major‐ and trace‐element concentrations, with zircon LA‐(MC)‐ICP‐MS U‐Pb ages, trace elements and Lu‐Hf isotopic compositions of sandstones from the Banxi Group. The rocks are characterized by high SiO2 (65.88%–82.76%, with an average of 75.50%) contents, moderate (Fe2O3T + MgO) (1.81%–7.78%, mean: 3.79%) and TiO2 (0.39%–0.54%, mean: 0.48%), low K2O/Na2O (0.03–0.40, mean: 0.10) ratios and low Al2O3/SiO2 (0.11–0.24, mean: 0.15) ratios. The sandstones have high ΣREE contents (mean: 179.1 ppm), with chondrite‐normalized REE patterns similar to the upper crust and PAAS, showing enriched LREE ((La/Yb)N mean: 14.85), sub‐horizontal HREE curves and mild Eu (Eu/Eu*: 0.75–0.89, mean: 0.81) negative anomalies. Their geochemical characteristics resemble those of passive continental margin sandstones. Most of the zircons are magmatic in origin and yield a U‐Pb age distribution with three peaks: a major age peak at 805 Ma and two subordinate age peaks at 1990 Ma and 2470 Ma, implying three major magmatic sources. The Neoproterozoic zircons have ɛHf(t) values ranging from –47.4 to 12.4 (mostly –20 to 0), suggesting a mixture of some juvenile arc‐derived material and middle Paleoproterozoic heterogeneous crustal sources. The Hf model ages of middle Paleoproterozoic zircons (∼1990 Ma) with negative ɛHf(t) values (–12.65 to –6.21, Ave. = –9.8) concentrated around the Meso‐Paleoarchean (mean TDMC = 3.3–3.1 Ga). For late Neoarchean detrital zircons (∼2470 Ma), ɛHf(t) values are divided into two groups, one with negative values (–9.16 to –0.6) with model ages of 3.5–2.9 Ga, the other featuring positive values (1.0 to 3.9) with model ages of 2.9–2.7 Ga, recording a crustal growth event at ∼2.5 Ga. Neoproterozoic zircons show volcanic arc affinities with partly intraplate magmatic features. We propose that the Banxi Group formed in a rift basin within a passive continental margin setting, which derived detritus from felsic to intermediate rocks from the Yangtze Block and a small amount of arc volcanic rocks. The middle Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon data suggest Columbia‐aged basement lies beneath the western Jiangnan orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tianshui-Sunjiaxia area is located in the connection zone of West Qinling Orogen and North Qilian Orogen, which could provide great insights into the amalgamation processes between the northern and southern blocks of China. Three subduction- and rift-related rocks gneissic granite from North Qilian arc-interarc belt (NQAI) granite and metabasalt from North Qinling back-arc basin (NQBA) are distinguished across the connection zone. The gneissic granite was generated by melts from older crustal materials of Longshan Group with the addition of a relatively juvenile basaltic source from the lower crust during the collision process. The Liwanxincun metabasalt reflects the mixing of the partial melting of the shallow asthenospheric mantle and the metasomatized mantle in a back-arc extension setting. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of gneissic granite (068, 069) yields crystallization ages of 457.0 ± 1.6 Ma and 445.9 ± 2.1 Ma. The study area is divided into six tectonic units in Early Paleozoic time involving NQAI (Yanjiadian-Xinjie) continental arc, interarc rift basin (Maojiamo-Xiwali), continental arc (Chenjiahe-Wangjiacha); NQBA back-arc rift basin (Huluhe-Hongtubao), island arc and ophiolitic melange belt (North Qinling-Shangdan). A tectonic model is proposed in which the NQAI continental arc (Yanjiadian-Xinjie) might represent the early period of subduction of North Qilian Ocean (NQO) and the interarc rift is the product of the extension triggered by southward subduction of NQO. The ongoing subduction of NQO then leads to the formation of Chenjiahe-Wangjiacha continental arc, as well as the Hongtubao back-arc spreading ridge in NQBA back-arc basin (Huluhe). The tectonic evolution of the connection zone is closely associated with the closure of the North Qilian Ocean and North Qinling-Shangdan Ocean in the context of the convergence process of micro-continental blocks, including North China block, Longshan group and North Qinling Terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ningwu Volcanic Basin (NVB), located in the Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt, is characterized by the widespread occurrence of porphyritic iron-ore deposits. These deposits are clustered in three areas within the basin: the northern, central, and southern districts. Our study shows that the differences are existed in geochemistry of the rocks and the mineralization of the deposits among these three districts. Though results of Sr-Nd isotopes indicate that the parental magma of the sub-volcanic rocks in NVB were derived from EMI and EMII, however, the sub-volcanic rocks from the northern and southern districts have higher εNd(t) values (t = 130 Ma) and lower initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (t = 130 Ma) than those from middle district. The rocks from northern and southern districts are similar to EMI in geochemistry; in contrast, rocks from the middle district are close to EMII. Meanwhile, the deposits from different districts show some differences in mineralization. The magnetites from the northern ore deposits are rich in Cu, Mo, Zn, and Mg and poor in Ca, Al, and Ti, which probably indicates that the magnetites from the northern ore deposits closer to hydrothermal genesis than to magmatic genesis, but the magnetites from the centre are closer to both magmatic and hydrothermal geneses. Based on the fact that a part of the sub-volcanic rocks is closer to EMI and another part to EMII in geochemistry, we suggested that the incorporation of the lower and upper crustal materials into the source regions of the sub-volcanic rocks has taken place by different manner and processes. Integrated with analysis of the tectonic evolution of NVB, we come to the conclusion that the sub-volcanic rocks have recorded the geochemical imprints of the subduction of Yangtze block towards North China block during Indosinian Period and the delamination of the lower crust of Yangtze block during Yanshanian Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhangbaling Tectonic Belt (ZTB) is located in eastern Anhui province, adjacent to the Tan-Lu fault zone to the W and the Lower and Middle Yangtze River metallogenic zone to the E. Two types of gold deposits: (1) altered-tectonite gold and (2) quartz-vein gold are present in the ZTB. Three ranges of homogenization temperatures (Th) were obtained by fluid inclusion investigations of the altered-tectonite gold deposits: 115-165°C, 235-275°C, and 335-395°C; and of the quartz-vein gold deposits: 145-195°C, 205-255°C, and 255-335°C, respectively. δD values of the ore-forming fluids range from -52.2‰ to -75.3‰, and their isotopic compositions calculated from quartz analytical data show negative δ18O values (-6.3-0.1‰) for the quartz-vein gold deposits. The calculated δ18O values of water are evidently lower than magmatic water, and probably were derived from mixtures of magmatic and meteoric water. Although the total rare earth elements (REE) content of the quartz-vein gold ores are much lower than those of the spatially associated granites, their chondrite-normalized patterns are similar, indicating that ore-forming elements in the ZTB quartz-vein gold deposits probably were derived from the plutons. Ores from the altered-tectonite gold deposits show δEu values and chondrite-normalized REE patterns similar to those of the granites, indicating that ore-forming elements of the altered-tectonite gold deposits also were sourced in the Yanshanian plutons. The gold deposits in the ZTB are remarkably similar to those in the Jiaodong gold metallogenic province with regard to tectonic settings, mineralization-controlling factors, mineralization ages, and the ore-forming temperatures and the stable isotopic compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cretaceous Huahui basin lies along the Dunhua–Mishan fault (Dun–Mi fault), which is one of the northern branches of Tan–Lu fault in northeastern China. The study of the formation and the tectonic movements that took place in the basin can provide very important information for deciphering the tectonic evolution of northeastern China during Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic. The field analysis of fault-slip data collected from different units in the basin, demonstrates changes in the paleo-stress state that reveals a three-stage tectonic movement during the Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic. The earliest tectonic movement was NW–SE extension, which was responsible for the formation of the basin and sedimentary infilling during the Early Cretaceous. Dating of the andesite in the fill indicates it began during about 119.17 ± 0.80 Ma. The extensional structures formed in the Latest Early Cretaceous imply that this tectonic movement lasted until the beginning of the Late Cretaceous. The second stage began during the Late Cretaceous when the tectonic stress state changed and was dominated by NW–SE compression and NE–SW extension, which caused the inversion of the extensional basin. This compression folded the Early Cretaceous deposits and reactivated pre-existing faults and uplifted pre-existing granite in the basin. The strata and the unconformity in the basin shows that this compressive phase probably took place during the Late Cretaceous and ended in the Early Paleogene by a compressional regime with NE–SW compression and NW–SE extension that constitutes the third stage. The tectonic stress fields documented in the Huahui basin provide insight into the influences of plate tectonics on the crustal evolution of northeastern China during the Cretaceous to Early Cenozoic. These results show that the development of Huahui basin was controlled by the northwestward subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate during the Cretaceous, and later by the far-field effects of India–Asia collision in the Paleogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognoses associated with different locations of medulloblastoma (MB) in terms of survival through a case-control study and evaluate the prognostic factors for MB.The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify MB patients diagnosed from 1975 to 2016. Each brainstem MB (bMB) patient was matched to a cerebellum MB (cMB) patient by propensity score matching based on age, sex, tumor size, extent of metastasis, extent of surgical resection, radiotherapy status and chemotherapy status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of prognostic factors on overall survival. Ethical approval was not necessary as this study is based on a public database.A total of 172 bMB patients and 1417 cMB patients were included in the study. A total of 144 pairs of patients were matched to constitute the matched cohort. Within the matched cohort, the median survival times were 213 months and 96 months for cMB and bMB, respectively. Within the unmatched cohort, the median survival times were 111 months and 97 months for cMB and bMB, respectively. Brainstem location detrimentally affected the survival time of MB patients in both the matched cohort (hazard ratios =8.14, 95% confidence interval =5.98-11.08) and the unmatched cohort (hazard ratios =1.44, 95% confidence interval =1.20-1.74). Age <5 years and receipt of radiotherapy were favorable prognostic factors, whereas gross total resection, brainstem location and receipt of chemotherapy were unfavorable prognostic factors. Radiotherapy alone was associated with superior outcomes concerning adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy.This study uncovers a survival advantage for cMB patients versus bMB patients. Additionally, prognostic factors include age, extent of surgical resection, and receipt of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Radiotherapy after surgery and rational use of chemotherapy drugs are crucial for treatment of MB patients. Further studies of these prognostic factors are required to improve the survival time.