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The Neoproterozoic Jiangnan orogenic belt records the accretion and collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. The orogen is divisible into three units: a northeastern domain (also referred to as the Huaiyu or Shuangxiwu domain), a central domain (Jiuling domain) and an undifferentiated southwestern domain. Detrital zircons from the oldest sequences (Shuangqiaoshan, Lengjiaxi, Fanjingshan and Sibao groups) in the central and southwest domains yield similar age spectra with major age populations at c. 875–820 Ma, along with minor Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic and Archaean ages. The dominance of detrital ages close to the deposition ages of the units, along with juvenile zircon Hf isotopic compositions and arc-like whole-rock compositional data, indicate the sedimentary units accumulated adjacent to a convergent plate margin magmatic arc. The presence of Mesoproterozoic and older zircons, both as detritus in the units and as xenocrysts within igneous rocks displaying a subduction-related signature, along with the compositional data, place the magmatic arc along a continental margin. In the northeastern domain, the oldest coeval sequence (Shuangxiwu and Qigong groups) and arc igneous suites are dated at c. 970–850 Ma, and lack older detritus and xenocrysts, indicating they represent an accreted oceanic arc system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault zone lies along the SE margin of the Jiangnan belt, and delineates the northeastern margin of the Cathaysia Block of the South China Craton. At Shijiao in NE Zhejiang, the fault zone consists of hornblende schist intruded by migmatized quartz diorite. It constitutes a shear zone delineating the welded boundary between the Neoproterozoic Shuangxiwu Group of Jiangnan belt to the north and the Chencai Complex of Cathaysia Block to the south. The Shuangxiwu Group is composed mainly of basalt, andesite and flysch, whereas the Chencai Complex contains magmatic and sedimentary rocks that experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism. Zircons from quartz diorite and gabbro from the fault zone at Shijiao yield ages of 854 ± 6 Ma, 857 ± 5 Ma and 860 ± 5 Ma, with positive ɛHf( t ) values of 7.81–11.8 and 4.57–10.39. The quartz diorite and mafic-ultramafic rock samples display minor LREE enriched pattern with obvious depletion of Nb, Ta, Rb, Ba and Ti, compared to their neighboring elements and plot in the volcanic arc field on geochemical diagrams, similar to that of volcanic rocks from Shuangxiwu Group. Overall relationships within the Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault zone at Shijiao suggest the ca. 860–850 Ma rock suites were generated in a convergent plate margin and are part of the Jiangnan belt, and not the Cathaysia Block, thus constraining the location of the suture between the two lithotectonic units in NE Zhejiang area during Neoproterozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangnan orogenic belt in South China defines a subduction-collisional zone between the Yangtze and the Cathaysia blocks. The eastern part of this belt comprises the oceanic Huaiyu terrane, the northeast Jiangxi suture zone and the continental Jiuling terrane. We report zircon U–Pb and Hf isotope data and whole rock geochemistry on the arc magmatic rocks of andesite and basalt occurring as olistostromal blocks, as well as conglomerate in the Dengshan Group above the unconformity between cover sequence and the volcanic arc units. The andesites yield weighted mean ages of 864 Ma, 868 and 871 Ma, whereas the detrital zircons from the conglomerate yield a major age population of 863–810 Ma (peak of 833 Ma), with two minor ones of 1120–940 Ma (peak at 960 Ma) and 1780–1560 Ma (1670 Ma). A post-ca. 810 Ma depositional age is thus suggested for the Dengshan Group. The influx of olistostromal deposits into the Dengshan Group must post-date the youngest detrital zircon age of 810 Ma and is possibly related to the widespread Nanhua rifting associated with the breakup of Rodinia. Furthermore, the age distribution of detrital zircons from the phyllite associated with the arc units compared to its depositional age also suggest a convergent setting, and those from the conglomerate are plotted into a similar field. The andesite and basaltic trachyandesite have LREE enriched patterns, with minor negative Eu anomaly, and negative Nb, Ta, Cs and Ti anomalies. However, the basalt displays only minor LREE enrichment, with no Eu anomaly, and almost flat spidergram trace element patterns, except for a minor positive Sr, Ba and Ti anomaly and negative Rb anomaly. The andesite and basaltic trachyandesite are all plotted in the field of volcanic arc, suggesting an arc setting. The basalt is plotted between EMROB and volcanic arc domains, suggesting magma generation from metasomatised sub-arc sources with subducted oceanic components. The Hf isotopic data on zircons from the andesite yield positive ɛ Hf( t ) values of 2.79–15.51 and late Mesoproterozoic model ages, suggesting that the Neoproterozoic arc sources include reworking of subducted late Mesoproterozoic materials. Our results show that the amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in the eastern part occurred at some time between ca. 864 Ma and ca. 810 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt is an accretionary orogen with many distinct terranes including the Chinese Central Tianshan, whose Precambrian tectonic affinity is not yet clearly known. We present Precambrian age spectra of inherited/xenocrystic zircons from magmatic rocks in the Chinese Central Tianshan, collected from published papers. The age patterns are dominated by zircons with ages ranging from 3261 to 541 Ma. These spectra provide robust clues regarding the Precambrian affinity of the Chinese Central Tianshan. The age spectra record two major tectonothermal events, represented by salient age peaks of c. 950 and 900 Ma within the ‘Grenville Orogeny’ period, and age peaks at c. 750 and 630 Ma, synchronous with magmatic events corresponding to Rodinia break-up. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Chinese Central Tianshan was part of the Tarim craton during Precambrian time as well as documenting its incorporation into, and separation from the Rodinia landmass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic evolution of the Chinese Tianshan Belt which is located in the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt remains controversial. In order to reveal the evolutionary history of this belt, we investigate metasedimentary rocks from the Tianshanmiao of Harlik domain and Xingxingxia area of central Tianshan domain in this study. The Permian siltstones from Xingxingxia contain six zircon populations with ages peak at 280, 815 and 910, 1590, 1855 and 2340 Ma, suggesting a diverse provenance. The 2544–2294 Ma ages correlate with the generation of continental nuclei in Tarim. The tectonothermal events during 1855, 1590, 910 and 815 Ma may correspond to the assembly and breakup of the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents, respectively. Similar Precambrian age spectra and “event signature” curves suggest that the central Tianshan was most likely a part of the Tarim block in the Proterozoic. The detrital zircon U–Pb ages of Ordovician meta-greywackes from the Tianshanmiao sequence reveal six zircon populations with peaks at 460, 933, 1382, 1850, 2000 and 2462 Ma, among which the zircons with dominant age peaks (460 Ma and 930 Ma, more than 70%) are euhedral, low sphericity and exhibit clear oscillatory zoning, suggesting local derivation from the proximal Ordovician and Neoproterozoic granitoids. The range of εHf(t) values (−5.4 to +21) of zircon grains from Ordovician rocks suggests that these were derived from depleted mantle or through partial melting of juvenile crust, similar to the case for the Early Paleozoic magmatism in Chinese Altai. Our detrital zircon data suggest that the provenance of the Harlik was neither the Tarim nor the Junggar, and instead, we propose a connection with the Chinese Altai-Tuva–Mongol Arc along the southern margin of the Siberia craton at ∼500 Ma. The Harlik domain drifted southward and then collided with the central Tianshan in the Carboniferous-Permian as a result of the closure of Paleo-Tianshan Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Jiangnan Orogen, the eastern part of which comprises the oceanic Huaiyu terrane to the northeast and the continental Jiuling terrane to the southwest, marks the collision zone of the Yangtze and the Cathaysia Blocks in South China. Here, zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu–Hf isotopic results from typical basement and cover meta-sedimentary/sedimentary rock units in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen are presented. The basement sequences in southwestern Huaiyu terrane are mainly composed of marine volcaniclastic turbidite, ophiolite suite and tuffaceous phyllite, whereas those in the northeastern Huaiyu consist of littoral face pebbly feldspathic sandstones and greywacke interbedded with intermediate-basic volcanic rocks. Combined with previous studies, the present data show that the basement sequences exhibit arc affinities. Zircons from the basement phyllite in the southwestern margin of the Huaiyu terrane, representing a Neoproterozoic back-arc basin, yield a single age population of 800–900Ma. The basement greywacke from northeastern Huaiyu terrane, representing fore-arc basin, is also characterized by zircons that preserve a single tectono-thermal event during 800–940Ma. However, the late Neoproterozoic cover sequence preserves zircons from multiple sources with age populations of 750–890Ma, 1670–2070Ma and 2385–2550Ma. Moreover, Hf isotopic data further reveal that most detrital zircons from the basement sequences yield positive εHf(t) values and late Mesoproterozoic model ages, while those of the cover sequence mostly show negative εHf(t) values. The Hf isotopic data therefore suggest that the basement sequences are soured from a Neoproterozoic arc produced by reworking of subducted late Mesoproterozoic materials. The geochronological and Hf isotopic data presented in this study suggest ca. 800Ma for the assembly of the Huaiyu and Jiuling terranes, implying that the amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in the eastern part occurred at ca. 800Ma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Redbeds are an important source of palaeomagnetic data, but they often record inclinations shallower than that of the ancient local geomagnetic field. Discrepancy of palaeopoles from Cretaceous redbeds in South China Block (SCB) and the coeval Eurasia reference pole is commonly attributed to inclination shallowing. However, redbed-derived palaeomagnetic data from the block have rarely been critically assessed with data from coeval volcanic rocks that should be unaffected by the problem. Here, we address the issue using high-quality palaeomagnetic data from Upper Cretaceous (∼95 Ma) amygdaloidal basalts and coeval redbeds from Jiangshan, Zhejiang Province and Guangfeng, Jiangxi Province. Stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetizations isolated stable components that in the basalts are carried by a mixture of magnetite and titanomagntite and in the sedimentary units by haematite. The stable components are regarded as primary based on positive intraformational conglomerate tests and a regional tilt test. The redbeds yield a tilt corrected mean direction of D = 20.9°, I = 35.8°, α95 = 8.7°, N = 6, which is statistically indistinguishable from the mean direction of the basalts (D = 17.6°, I = 38.1°, α95 = 8.6°, N = 11), suggesting that the former do not suffer from the problem. In addition, analysis of the other Late Cretaceous SCB palaeopoles reveals two groups with one at relatively high (‘H’, ∼80°N) latitudes and the other at relatively low (‘L’, ∼70°N) latitudes. Importantly, each comprises palaeopoles from both redbeds and volcanic rocks, and reasonable consistency exists within each group, further attesting that SCB redbeds do not suffer significant inclination shallowing. Comparison of the SCB palaeopoles with a newly defined coeval reference pole for Europe indicates an ∼11° separation. Since inclination shallowing, over 1000 km tectonic shortening, and apparent polar wander appear unlikely, the ∼11° discrepancy may provide evidence for the non-rigidity of the Eurasia plate. Consequently, a new Late Cretaceous reference pole for the stable SCB is defined at 72.3°N, 235.2°E, where A95 = 3.2° and N = 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neoproterozoic Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt recorded the accretion and collision of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks to form a stablized South China Block, but related geometry and kinematics is poorly constrained, leading to largely varied tectonic models. Here, we present detailed field investigation and kinematic analysis of the plutonic-metamorphic complexes in the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas of the west Jiangnan orogenic belt, which enables identification of extensional granite-cored domes. In the dome margins, down-dipping lineations display a radial pattern and dome dominated foliations are extensively developed. The shearing structures within the plutonic-metamorphic complexes display extensional shearing surrounding the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang granitic dome cores. Gneissic granites and massive ones from both the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang plutons yield comparable crystallization ages of ca. 835–823 Ma that are within age errors of each other, as are the sheared recrystallized asymmetric quartz veins and mylonites dated at 831 Ma. Overall ages of the deformed Sibao Group and the undeformed overlying Danzhou Group, along with those of the granite plutons and mylonites, suggest formation of the granite-cored domes at ca. 835–823 Ma, coeval to the timing of emplacement of the granitic plutons. Locally, top-to-the-E thrusting structures are also observed in the west Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas and are inferred as at ca. 860–835 Ma, coinciding well with E- or SE- directed structures developed elsewhere in the Jiangnan orogenic belt, but in contrast with doming extensional shearing structures. Therefore, overall geometry and kinematics in the west Jiangnan belt indicate development of granitic dome related extensional ductile shearing deformation dated at ca. 835–823 Ma and a possible top-to-the-E compressional ductile thrusting deformation within 860–835 Ma. Given the previously inferred regional geology observations, along with age and chemical data across the Jiangnan orogenic belt, the dominant extensional shearing deformation in the region argue for a slab roll-back event within an accretionary belt, typical of domes-and-basins structures formed in accretionary convergent continental margin. The top-to-the-E thrusting is here interpreted as corresponding to compressional regime generated by the west directed subduction of oceanic crust beneath the northern Guangxi continental margin arc in the west Jiangnan orogenic belt. • Two stages of Neoproterozoic ductile deformation identified in the west Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt. • The ca. 835–823 Ma extensional domes-and-basins were generated by a slab roll-back event in an accretionary belt. • The ca. 860–835 Ma top-to-the-E thrusting indicates west directed subduction beneath the western Jiangnan belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report petrologic, geochemical, and zircon U−Pb and Hf isotope data from an early Palaeozoic mafic-intermediate suite of rocks in Baluntai, heartland of the Central Tianshan. Analysed major elements of the intermediate rocks show a close affinity to metaluminous I-type granitoids, resembling arc plutons. The mafic rocks display depletions of Nb, Ta, and Ti typical of volcanic arc basalts (VAB). All of the samples fall within the subduction-related field in tectonic discrimination diagrams. Zircons from a granodiorite and a hornblende diorite yield indistinguishable crystallization ages of 475.1 ± 1.7 million years and 473.7 ± 1.6 Ma, indicating an early Palaeozoic magmatic event. Zircons in the mafic rocks yield younger crystallization ages of 427 ± 1 Ma and 426.5 ± 1.4 Ma. Combined with previous published results, our data suggest that the southward subduction of the Palaeo-Tianshan oceanic crust beneath the northern margin of the Tarim block probably began no later than Early Ordovician time and did not end prior to the middle Silurian. Zircons from the granodiorite and hornblende diorite show ϵHf(t) values of −11.19 to −5.98 and −12.85 to −6.01, respectively, suggesting the reworking of ancient crust. Correspondingly, these zircons yield twoTDM2age ranges: 2140–1812 Ma and 2241–1812 Ma, probably representing a significant episode of juvenile addition during the assembly of Columbia. In contrast, zircons from the mafic rocks yield ϵHf(t) values of 3.12–8.91 and 3.19–8.76, corresponding to theTDM1ages ranging from 911 to 685 Ma and from 905 to 688 Ma, respectively, suggesting crustal growth in the Central Tianshan microcontinent associated with the initial break-up of Rodinia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The unified South China Block, comprising the Yangtze Block to the northwest and the Cathaysia Block to the southeast, has been central to recent studies on the Precambrian crustal evolution and position of South China in Proterozoic supercontinents. Here we present results from detailed U–Pb geochronology, Lu–Hf isotopes and rare earth geochemistry on zircons from three Ordovician and Devonian sandstone samples of southeastern Yangtze, together with those from a granodiorite sample and three Triassic sandstone samples in northeast and southeast Cathaysia. The southeastern Yangtze Block is characterized by extensive tectono-thermal events during 850–730Ma and 470–410Ma, which corresponded to the breakup of Rodinia and the Caledonian orogenic event, respectively. Major zircon populations with ages of 2800–2500Ma, 1990–1580Ma and 1260–920Ma are recorded from southeastern Yangtze, which are correlated, respectively, with the Neoarchean crustal growth, and histories of the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia and Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercontinents. In contrast, zircon U–Pb ages from southeast Cathaysia reveal prominent magmatic events during 2630–2300Ma, 2030–1770Ma and 280–190Ma, correlated with Neoarchean continental growth and the tectonothermal regimes associated with the history of the Columbia supercontinent as well as the Indosinian movement. The sector-zoned zircons from the granodiorite in northeast Cathaysia yielded weighted mean ages of 846.7±9.8Ma and 826.4±7.6Ma and positive ɛHf values, constraining the initial breakup of South China at ca. 848 Ma and extensive rift-related magmatism at ca. 826Ma. The Hf data suggest important episodes of juvenile magmatic addition at 3.1–2.8Ga and 2.4–1.5Ga for Yangtze, and at 3.3–2.3Ga for Cathaysia, indicating the existence of older crustal components in South China. The Hf data suggest that most zircons in both the blocks were derived from crustal magmas. Our results suggest distinct crustal evolution histories for the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks albeit with close affinities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Late Carboniferous to Permian marks an important phase of terrane amalgamation through accretion–collision in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Tianshan Belt forms part of this sequence, where the post-collisional event generated an E–W trending bimodal volcanic zone that extends for ca. 500km from the southern Bogda Mt. to the easternmost Tianshan Belt. Here we report the petrology, geochemistry and geochronology of the bimodal volcanic rocks to characterize the post-collisional tectonic evolution in Late Paleozoic. The major element chemistry of the basalt and rhyolite samples indicates a bimodal high-K calc-alkaline affinity. The basalts are characterized by high abundance in TiO2, Th, U and Pb and depletion in Nb, Ta and P, together with slight enrichment in LREE contents and low HFSE/LREE ratios. The rhyolites show a close affinity to aluminous A-type granites, with enrichment in K+Na, Zr, Ce, Y, and depletion in P, Nb, Ta and Ti. They also exhibit fractionated REE patterns with prominent negative Eu anomalies. The petrographic and geochemical data suggest that this bimodal rock series was generated in a post-collisional setting. The mafic rocks are likely derived from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle. Assimilation of different crustal components played a minor role in the genesis of these basaltic rocks. The LA-ICP-MS analysis on zircons from four rhyolites and two basalts yielded similar ages ranging from 295.8±2.8 to 293.3±1.7Ma, suggesting an Early Permian event. Zircons from the basalts show a wide εHf(t) range from −0.49 to +13, whereas those from the rhyolites show two groups of εHf(t) values: from −5 to 3 and from 6 to 12, suggesting a mixing of crust–mantle material. The magmatic zircons from the bimodal volcanic rocks yielded two peaks of TDM2 between 600–820Ma and 1160–1360Ma, probably representing two significant episodes of continental crust growth. The bimodal volcanic rocks are correlated with the early stage of post-collision. Our results suggest that vertical crustal growth through mantle-derived magmas in post-collisional setting also played a major role in the construction of the CAOB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes an olistostrome formation and accompanied bimodal volcanic rocks occurring in the Baiyanggou area, south of Bogda Shan. The main lithotectonic units consist of olistostrome, volcanic rocks and turbidite. The olistostrome is tectonically underlain by Upper Carboniferous limestone and sandstone along a NEE-trending detachment fault. Paleo-growth fault is locally observed. The olistostrome unit includes plenty of blocks of limestone, sandstone, rhyolite and volcaniclastic rocks, and a matrix of graywacke. Limestone blocks are dated as Pennsylvanian-Bashkirian in age by the coral and brachiopod fossils that are extensively recognized in the Upper Carboniferous strata. The volcanic unit consists of pillowed and massive basalt and rhyolite, the latter occur as an 8- to 10-meter-thick layer above the olistostrome unit. The turbidite unit is mainly composed of chert, siliceous mudstone and sandstone, within which the Bouma sequence can be locally recognized. Meter-wide gabbro and diabase dykes intrude these three units. Geochemically, rhyolites are characterized by high ACNK value of >1.1, depletion of Ba, Nb and Sm, and enrichment in Rb, Th and Zr. Basaltic rocks are rich in KO, they show a LREE-enriched pattern and depletion in Ba, Nb and Zr, and enrichment in Ti, Ce and Hf, similar to continental rift-type tholeiite series. A gabbro porphyrite intruding the olistostrome was dated at 288 ± 3 Ma by a sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U-Pb method, and a rhyolite at 297 ± 2 Ma by a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) zircon U-Pb method. The Baiyanggou olistostrome and accompanying bimodal volcanic series are linked to an extensional setting that developed in the south of the Bogda Shan. Several lines of evidence, e.g. occurrence of large-scale strike-slip shear zones, large number of mantle-derived magmatic rocks and available geochronological data, demonstrate a significant geodynamic change from convergence to extension in the Chinese Tianshan belt, even in the whole Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The extension in the Chinese Tianshan belt is initiated at ca. 300 Ma, i.e. around Carboniferous-Permian boundary times, and the peak period of intra-plate magmatism occurred in the interval of 300-250 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the systematic study on petrology, geochemistry, LA ICPMS zircons U-Pb dating, and in situ Hf isotope geology of the four plutons in the central-southern Jiangxi Province, an important part of the South China Block. In the outcrops, rocks are gradually changed from wall rock (slate or schist) to pluton (gneissic granite); some residual blocks of sandy rock occur in the margin of pluton, and the foliations of residual blocks are parallel to those of both wall rock and gneissic granite. The thin-section observations show that the four plutons contain peraluminous minerals such as muscovite and sillimanite. The flattened and elongated feldspar and quartz grains are often visible in the gneissic granite, parallel to direction of lineation, suggesting that the granitic rock were subjected to a strong ductile shearing. Geochemically, the A/CNK values from 13 granitic samples are between 1.03 and 1.37 with an average of 1.16, indicating that the granites are of strongly peraluminous plutons. The REE compositions of the 13 samples are similar, showing higher ΣREE contents, with enrichment in LREEs, depletion in Eu and REE patterns with relative LREE-enrichment and negligible Eu anomalies. They show enrichment in Rb, Th, U and depletion in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ti, belonging to a low Ba-Sr type of granite. Thus, the four bodies should be derived from the same magmatic source. Zircons used as U-Pb dating mostly exhibit euhedral shape and high Th/U values from 0.52 to 1.54 with an average of 1.08, suggesting that most zircons are of magmatic genesis. The zircons from four plutons yielded rather similar Pb/U vs. Pb/U concordia ages: 436.1±5.7 Ma for the Tangwan granite, 440.6±4 Ma for the Jiekou gneissic granite, 435.9±6.2 Ma for the Dongbao gneissic granite, and 441.9±3.1 Ma for the Jinxi K-granite, respectively, corresponding to Silurian Llandovery. Several xenocrysts yielded U-Pb ages around 700 Ma, implying that a breakup event took place during Neoproterozoic in the South China Block. In situ Lu-Hf isotopic analysis shows that all ɛ( t) values of zircons are negative and have two-stage Hf model ages (TDM2) from 1.4 to 3.6 Ga, indicating that the Silurian granitic magma came from the recycle of Meso-Paleoproterozoic basement and even partly Archean rocks, and had not been effected by mantle magma. Researches on regional geology suggest that an intracontinental tectono-magmatic event took place during the early Paleozoic in the study areas, which is characterized by folding and thrusting, leading to crustal shortening and thickening, up to 20 km thickness. The high geothermal temperature from thickening crust and accumulation of producing high-heat radioactive elements gradually softened crustal rocks and caused a partial melting, forming peraluminous granitic magma. Under the post-orogenic extensional and de-pressure condition, these granitic magma rose and was emplaced in the upper crust, leading to development of S-type plutons [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports some new results from U–Pb geochronological, Hf isotopic and REE geochemical studies of detrital zircons in the Ordovician sandstones from South Jiangxi within Cathaysia. 426 groups of U–Pb age determinations define five major age populations: 2560–2380Ma (a peak of 2460Ma), 1930–1520Ma (a peak of 1700Ma), 1300–900Ma (a major peak at 970Ma and two subordinate peaks at 1250Ma and 1130Ma), 850–730Ma (a prominent peak of 780Ma) and 670–530Ma (a major peak at 540Ma and a subordinate peak at 650Ma). We also report zircon U–Pb concordia age of 3.96Ga, which is the oldest age so far obtained from Cathaysia. The age peak at 2460Ma correlates with similar ages reported for Neoarchean global continental growth. The 1930–1520Ma population broadly overlaps with the time of amalgamation and disruption of the Columbia supercontinent. The major age peak at 970Ma and two secondary peaks at 1250Ma and 1130Ma reflect multiple tectonothermal events associated with the assembly of Rodinia. Similar ages are widely reported from the South China Craton (SCC). Our study reveals that the 850–730Ma population is consistent with the breakup period of Rodinia, suggesting that the SCC within Rodinia began to break up since 850Ma. Geologically, the evidence for this breakup event is widespread and presented by Neoproterozoic granites, bimodal igneous rocks, basic dyke swarms and formation of continental rift type basins. Our study also reveals a 670–530Ma population that correlates well with the assembly of Gondwana during end Neoproterozoic. However, direct geological evidence for this event has not yet been found within the studied area. Furthermore, the Hf isotopic model age data suggest two major stages of crustal evolution within Cathaysia. The first is the event dated at 1.6–2.8Ga and the second one at 3.5–3.9Ga. The zircons show a large range of εHf(t) values from +8.64 to −30.54, suggesting that they have different origins with a similar age of crystallization. The fact that most detrital zircons show negative εHf(t) values suggests the ancient provenances of Cathaysia were dominated by reworked crustal materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the southern Chinese Tianshan, the southernmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), widespread ophiolitic mélanges form distinct tectonic units that are crucial for understanding the formation of the CAOB. However, the timing of tectonic events and the subduction polarity are still in controversy. In order to better understand these geological problems, a comprehensive study was conducted on the Heiyingshan ophiolitic mélange in the SW Chinese Tianshan. Detailed structural analysis reveals that the ophiolitic mélange is tectonically underlain by sheared and weakly metamorphosed pre-Middle Devonian rocks, and unconformably overlain by non-metamorphic and undeformed lower Carboniferous (Serpukhovian) to Permian strata. The igneous assemblage of the mélange comprises OIB-like alkali basalt and andesite, N-MORB-like tholeiitic basalt, sheeted diabase dikes, cumulate gabbro and peridotite. Mafic rocks display supra-subduction signatures, and some bear evidence of contamination with the continental crust, suggesting a continental marginal (back-arc) basin setting. Zircons of a gabbro were dated at 392±5Ma by the U–Pb LA-ICP-MS method. Famennian–Visean radiolarian microfossils were found in the siliceous matrix of the ophiolitic mélange. Mylonitic phyllite which displays northward-directed kinematic evidence yielded muscovite 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of 359±2Ma and 356±2Ma. These new data, combined with previously published results, suggest that the mafic protoliths originally formed in a back-arc basin in the Chinese southern Tianshan during the late Silurian to Middle Devonian and were subsequently incorporated into the ophiolitic mélange and thrust northward during the Late Devonian to early Carboniferous. Opening of the back-arc basin was probably induced by south-dipping subduction of the Paleo-Tianshan Ocean in the early Paleozoic, and the Central Tianshan block was rifted away from the Tarim block. Closure of the back-arc basin in the early Carboniferous formed the South Tianshan Suture Zone and re-amalgamated the two blocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An extensive structural study of Wuyishan and surrounding areas (South China) brings data on the structures formed prior to the Devonian unconformity, building the Lower Paleozoic belt. An Ordovician tectonic event was responsible for: (i) south-directed structures in the Wuyishan proper and its southern border, related to both thin and thick-skinned tectonics, accompanied by metamorphism and crustal thickening; (ii) north-directed structures to the west of Ganjiang Fault and north of Jiangshan–Shaoxing Fault, where only thin-skinned tectonics is visible. The southward deformation accommodating the shortening includes emplacement of thrust sheets, involving deep crustal material and some mantle peridotite, and likely repetition of continental material, both responsible for crustal thickening. The orogeny was due to the underthrusting of the southern part of the South China Block beneath the northern part of this block, closing the pre-existing Nanhua rift, created at around 850–800Ma, and involving the rift sedimentary fill in the southward thrusting. The syn-metamorphic tectonic piling was followed by anatexis and granite emplacement at around 440–390Ma. Our new U–Th–Pb EPMA monazite dating gives ages of 433±9Ma and 437±5Ma (Early Silurian) for the main anatectic event, and a younger age of 412±5Ma (Late Silurian–Early Devonian) for a late re-heating process. The Lower Paleozoic belt is an intracontinental orogen, without oceanic suture record. It shows some similarities with the Cenozoic European Pyrénées Chain, with a strong asymmetry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Kuruktag uplift is located directly northeast of the Tarim craton in northwestern China. Neoarchaean-to-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks crop out widely in the uplift; thus, it is especially suited for a more complete understanding of the thermal evolution of the Tarim craton. Apatite fission-track (AFT) methods were used to study the exhumation history and cooling of these Precambrian crystalline rocks. Nine apatite-bearing samples were collected from both sides of the Xingdi fault transecting the Kuruktag uplift. Pooled ages range from 146.0 ± 13.4 to 67.6 ± 6.7 Ma, with mean track lengths between 11.79 ± 0.14 and 12.48 ± 0.10 μm. These samples can be divided into three groups based on age and structural position. Group A consists of five samples with AFT apparent ages of about 100-110 Ma and is generally associated with undeformed areas. Group B comprises three specimens with AFT apparent ages lower than 80 Ma and is mostly associated with hanging wall environments close to faults. Group C is a single apatite sample with the oldest relative apparent age, 146.0 ± 13.4 Ma. The modelled thermal history indicates four periods of exhumation in the Kuruktag uplift: late-Early Jurassic (180 Ma); Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (144-118 Ma); early-Late Cretaceous (94-82 Ma); and late Cenozoic (about 10 Ma). These cooling events, identified by AFT data, are assumed to reflect far-field effects from multi-stage collisions and accretions of terranes along the south Asian continental margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Precambrian Aksu blueschist is located in the northwestern margin of the Tarim Block, NW China. In recent decades, many studies were carried out with focus on the metamorphic age. However, a complete understanding of the evolution of the Tarim Block requires the cooling history of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the time–temperature paths as determined by low-temperature thermochronometry. Therefore, apatite fission track (AFT) technique was applied on the Precambrian Aksu blueschist to reveal the thermo–tectonic evolution of the north Tarim basement. All of the six blueschist samples analysed in this study yielded AFT ages spanning 107.5–62.5 Ma, much younger than the blueschist facies metamorphic age of Neoproterozoic, and confined track lengths are between 10.46 and 12.12 µm. Based on regional stratigraphic sequences, the AFT thermal history modeling as well as previous chronological results, the thermo–tectonic evolution of the Aksu blueschist can be roughly reconstructed with four stages: (1) the Precambrain Aksu blueschist exhumed to the surface soon after its formation. Erosion during the Early Sinian is indicated by the lack of sedimentation until the Late Sinian; (2) the Late Sinian strata are continuous, while the Middle–Upper Silurian and the Lower–Middle Carboniferous strata are absent. The total thickness of the Late Sinian and Paleozoic strata probably reached 10,000 m and resulted in the total annealing and thermal resetting of AFT ages; (3) the AFT ages in the Cretaceous are related with the widespread uplift in Tian Shan and its adjacent regions that restarted the AFT clock during the Late Mesozoic. These reflect a distant effect of the collision of the Lhasa terrane with Eurasia in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous; and (4) sediments of Cenozoic are documented in the Aksu area. The Aksu blueschist was heated to partial annealing zone with the overlying Cenozoic sediments. During Miocene time, the Aksu blueschist was re-exhumed which was probably a distant response to the ongoing India–Eurasia convergence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Talisayi Formation found in the Guozigou region on the southern side of Sayram Lake of Xinjiang, China is a Neoproterozoic glacigenic diamictite succession that has not been adequately researched. According to its isotopic geochronology and regional stratigraphic correlation, the Talisayi Formation is equivalent to the Ediacaran glacial sediments. The present paper provides the geochemical data of the Talisayi Formation that reveals the tectonic setting and sedimentary environment in this area during the Ediacaran period. The oxides of Si, K, Na and Al and their ratios of matrix materials from glacigenic diamictites and bulk rock of siltstone and argillaceous siltstones indicate that the sedimentary environment of this formation evolved from a tectonically active region to a passive continental margin. Values of CIA (carbonate-corrected Chemical Index of Alteration) ranging from 54 to 74 show a low-middle weathering action under a glacial environment. Total organic carbon (TOC), V/Cr, Ni/Co and U/Th ratios suggest that the sediments deposited in shallow water with an oxic and weak hydrodynamic condition. There is an abrupt rise in TOC, V/Cr, Ni/Co and U/Th ratios respectively in the overlying Lower Cambrian dolomitic limestones and in the bottom of Talisayi Formation, indicating a rapidl increase in biologic productivity and a variation in redox conditions, which was probably caused by seawater mixing of deep anoxic water and surface oxic water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotopes were investigated for Cambrian-Ordovician strata from the Jinggangshan area between the Yangtze Block and Cathysia Block in South China. These strata were deposited as a greatly thick unit of muddy-sandy laminas with intercalated carbonate and organic carbon-bearing layers. They have low ϵNd(t) values of -13.9 to -7.9 and old Nd model ages of 1842 to 2375 Ma. In tDMtStr diagram, they are far away from the concordant line but fall within the evolution zone of the Proterozoic crust of South China. This indicates that the Cambrian-Ordovician strata are mainly composed of matters eroded from ancient Paleoproterozoic crust that may mainly consist of continental-derived detrital sediments with high maturity in the Cathysia Block. However, the Ordovician Jueshangou Formation and Dui'ershi Formation have ϵNd(t) values of -10.5 and -7.9 at the higher end of the above range and Nd model ages of 1842 to 2059 Ma at the lower end of the above range. This suggests involvement of more detritus that were eroded from the relatively juvenile crust from Late Paleoproterozoic to the Early Neoproterozoic. All the Nd model ages for the Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary rocks in the Cathysia Block and the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block are older than 1800 Ma, suggesting that no material from the Early Paleozoic depleted mantle-derived magmas was involved in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents geochemical analyses of a lamprophyre intruding the Caledonian Doushui granite body in Shangyou County, southern Jiangxi Province. U-Pb dating and Hf-isotope analyses are especially carried out for zircons from it. Petrological and geochemical features show that the lamprophyre belongs to a high-K, weakly alkaline pyroxene-biotite lamprophyre. It is characterized by high Mg# (0.74), Ni (253 μg/g) and Cr (893 μg/g) contents, and also enriched in incompatible elements, such as REE, Rb, Sr, Ba and K. It is suggested that its primitive melt probably derived from enriched mantle metasomatized by non-crust-derived agent. Morphology and LAM-ICPMS dating results of zircons in the lamprophyre indicate that they are xenocrysts captured from deep crustal rocks. Most xenocrystic zircons formed at -.1.86 Ga, and a few in different Phanerozoic periods. The Paleoproterozoic zircons are of magmatic origin and have similar 176Hf/177Hf and 176Lu/177Hf ratios, indicating that they probably are from the same igneous basement rock. The ages and Hf-isotope compositions of zircons from this basement rock are similar to those of Paleoproterozoic Danzhu granite in the southern Zhejiang Province, but extremely distinguished from the Nanhing basement, suggesting that the study area probably is a westward extension part of Paleoproterozoic Wuyishan terrane in the eastern Cathaysia Block. These Paleoproterozoic zircons have low Hf-isotope compositions, characteristic of crustal source. Hf model ages of these zircons and the presence of older inherited cores within them, coupled with available other data reported by previous studies, suggest that the source of Paleoproterozoic magma is Neoarchaean crust, implying the existence of older basement in the Wuyishan terrane. U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of five Phanerozoic zircons indicate that Paleoproterozoic basement underwent multi-reworking occurring in Caledonian, Indosinian and early Yanshanian, respectively. The Caledonian magmatism also involves reworking of juvenile crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In three shallow-level fault systems in eastern China, nano-sized (30-100 nm) grinding grain textures are found in the thin-shelled rheological layer representing frictional-viscous high strain field. The surface layer near slipping plane is composed of stacks of grinding grains with high sphericity and uniform nano-sized diameter, while the underlying layer appears as a mixture of irregular ones with diverse diameters. Rock deformation experiments indicate that the grinding grain texture is a common phenomenon in shearing fractures, suggesting a potential transition from sliding friction to rolling one during the rock deformation process. This transition is crucial for many tribological processes in geological fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper provides some new evidences on stratigraphic sequence, zircon SHRIMP dating from ophiolite, granitoids, and fold-and-thrust tectonic styles in the South China Block (SCB). Stratigraphic studies suggest that the eastern and central parts of the SCB show a SW-dipping palaeoslope framework during the Late Palaeozoic–Early Mesozoic. These areas were not in a deep-sea environment, but in a shallow-sea or littoral one. Coeval volcanic rocks are missing. Deep-water deposits and submarine volcanism only took place in the western part of the SCB. The three ophiolitic mélanges of the eastern SCB formed in the Neoproterozoic, but not in the Permian or the Triassic. The sedimentary rocks associated with the Neoproterozoic oceanic relics contain abundant Proterozoic acritarchs, but no radiolarians. The Early Mesozoic granitoids (235–205Ma) belong to the post-collision peraluminous S-type granites; they are widely exposed in the central-western SCB, and rare in the eastern SCB. The fold-and-thrust belt developed in the eastern SCB shows a top-to-the-south displacement, whereas the Xuefengshan Belt of central SCB indicates a north- or northwest-directed shearing. The geodynamic settings of the different parts of the SCB during the Triassic are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports new results on the petrology, geochronology and geochemistry of two km-scale high-pressure granulite exposures, namely the Weiya and the Yushugou granulites, that occur in the central and southern Tianshan Paleozoic sub-belts, respectively. Petrological and geochemical results suggest that the Weiya and the Yushugou granulites are different in both the rock types and geological structures. The protolith of the Weiya granulite is basic to intermediate rocks, and that of the Yushugou granulite is basic rocks; the former is distributed as fault-bounded blocks within the Precambrian schist-gneiss, and the latter occurs as thrust slabs in the allochthonous ophiolitic mélange. Observation of deformation structures provides some evidence for two-phase ductile deformation of the Tianshan granulites, characterized by deformed garnet-pyroxene and deformed feldspar-quartz microstructures, corresponding to rheological conditions of the lower crustal level and of the middle crustal level, respectively. The deformation structures also indicate that the Weiya granulite was involved in the late stage retrograde metamorphism forming new amphibole, following a thrusting movement toward the north and ductile deformation of feldspar-quartz grains. The Yushugou granulite underwent strong ductile shearing during the Silurian–Devonian interval. Three stages of metamorphism are recorded by mineral assemblages of the Weiya granulite: M1=Pl+Qtz+Bt, M2=Cpx+Grt+Pl+Qtz+Atp±Opx, and M3=Amp+Ep+Pl+Bt+Qtz, in contrast to a two-stage metamorphic history of the Yushugou granulite: M1=Cpx+Grt+Pl±Hyp, M2=Amp+Pl+Qtz±Bt. The P–T condition estimates suggest that the Weiya granulite was formed between 910–1025 °C and 1.08–1.12 GPa, and underwent retrograde metamorphism at 650–670 °C, while the peak metamorphism of the Yushugou granulite took place between 800–870 °C and 0.88–1.13 GPa. Geochemical characteristics (major, REE and incompatible elements) of the Weiya and Yushugou granulites indicate that their protoliths were formed in a volcanic arc setting, implying that a late Precambrian active continental margin may have existed in the study area. The Sm–Nd isochron dating for the Weiya granulite suggests that the peak metamorphism occurred at 538±24 Ma, which was likely related to the ancient plate subduction. The 40Ar/39Ar dating on amphibole grains separated from the Weiya granulite yielded a plateau age of 432±1 Ma for the retrograde metamorphism, which represents an exhumation age, suggesting a significant early Paleozoic tectonothermal event. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses a study on the geochemical features of the two Early Paleozoic ophiolite zones in the central-southern Tianshan region in China and the central Tianshan igneous rock belt between them. Relics distributed along the Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone; Units in which the Tianshan belt can be divided; Composition of ophiolite sequence.

ABSTRACT In Central Asia, thrusts and shear zones resulting from Palaeozoic accretional events were reworked by E–W-trending ductile strike-slip faults during late Palaeozoic–early Mesozoic time. In the Tianshan range, microstructures and quartz C-axis fabrics show a main dextral shearing associated with sinistral localized shear zones. The relationship between these conjugate structures indicates a NNW–SSE-trending bulk shortening. In the Chinese Altay mountains, the existence of δ-type microstructures in an important sinistral mylonitic zone infers high rates of deformation. This shear zone is bordered by a late dextral ductile fault synchronous with a granite emplacement. Field evidence and datings from the literature provide chronological constraints. In the late Carboniferous, the sinistral mylonitic deformation took place in the Erqishi–Irtysh shear zone in the northeastern part of Xinjiang and in Kazakhstan. During the Early Permian, a regional dextral event occurred in the Tianshan range and under the whole of northern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Paleozoic, the Northern Tianshan region of China in Central Asia consists of 7 allochthonous terranes which were situated in the ancient Sino-Mongolian Ocean as volcanic arcs and splitted continental fragments. The tectonic framework was similar to that of Southwest Pacific today. In the Late Paleozoic, these terranes started mutual amalgamation to cause strong thrusting. At the end of Carboniferous, the Sino-Mongolian ocean including several inter-terrane small sea basins and these terranes accreted on the margins of the Siberian and Tarim continents. The 6 ophiolitic zones among the terranes recorded this collision event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangnan orogenic belt is a key to understanding of the Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the South China Block. We investigate the mafic‐ultramafic suites of lherzolite, pyroxenite, gabbro, pillow basalt and gabbroic diorite as well as red jasper interbedded with marine marbles that are mainly exposed as fault‐trapped blocks in the Yuanbaoshan and Longsheng domains of the western Jiangnan belt. The post‐collisional granite plutons that intruded the ultramafic‐mafic rocks are developed well. Zircons in the gabbro yield crystallization ages of 867±10 Ma, 863±8 Ma, 869±9 Ma and 855±5 Ma whereas those from the granites show ages of 823±5 Ma, 831±5 Ma, 824±5 Ma and 833±6 Ma. The Neoproterozoic serpentinited ultramafic samples display minor REE enriched pattern with depletion of Rb, Ba, Nb, Ta and Ti, similar to those of SSZ type ophiolite. The coeval gabbro shows tholeiitic features and is characterized by negative Ba, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Sr anomalies and LREE enriched patterns, with a minor negative Eu anomaly. Some zircon grains from the Longshen gabbro yield Neoarchean‐Paleoproterozoic ages (2859–2262 Ma), suggesting its continental arc setting. Geochemical signature of the mafic‐ultramafic rocks is consistent with subduction related setting. The pyroxene‐bearing diorite exhibits a distinctive arc affinity. The zircons from the gabbro show positive ∊Hf(t) values ranging from 3.9 to 13.8. The granitoids are typical S–type granites with high ACNK values (1.15–1.40) and negative ∊Hf(t) values (−15.1 to −3.2), and are classified as collision–related granites. Combined with the occurrences of mafic‐ultramafic rocks, siliceous marble and red jasper mixed with basalt, our new results suggest the presence of a Tonian (863–869 Ma) SSZ ophiolite system and continental arc‐type magmatism in the western Jiangnan orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Precambrian Aksu blueschist terrane (ABT) located in the northwestern Tarim Craton was formerly regarded as a Mesoproterozoic or an early Neoproterozoic complex. Yet, its tectonic significance remains poorly understood due to the lack of reliable age. We have conducted a detrital zircon U–Pb geochronological study of both the metasedimentary rocks from the ABT and the unmetamorphosed sandstones from the overlying Sinian succession to better constrain the age of the ABT. In addition, geochemical analyses were performed on the metasedimentary rocks to establish the broad tectonic setting of the source region of sediments. Our first U–Pb dating results suggest a maximum deposition age of ca. 730Ma for the protolith of the metasedimentary rocks in the ABT and a maximum deposition age of 602Ma for the unmetamorphased Sinian sandstones immediately overlying the ABT. Therefore, the blueschist-facies metamorphism in the ABT must have taken place after ca. 730Ma, but prior to 602Ma. This metamorphism may manifest the Pan-African orogeny (ca. 700–500Ma), which is related to the assemblage of Gondwana, in the northern Tarim. Furthermore, the age range of 1.3–0.9Ga was not recorded in the detrital zircons from both the metasedimentary rocks and the Sinian sandstones, suggesting that the northern Tarim Craton may not be significantly affected by the Grenville-age orogeny. A major age population at Paleopreoterozoic (ca. 2.0–1.8Ga) was found in all samples, implying a Paleoproterozoic orogeny in the northern Tarim, which is coincident with the timing of the orogeny associated with the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent. Taking together the geochemical and chronological data, we propose that the northern margin of the Tarim Craton was probably a late Neoproterozoic active continental margin and a major source for the sedimentary rocks of the ABT, which provided a mixture of both old recycled sedimentary material from the basement rocks and juvenile material from the igneous rocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Detailed LAM-ICPMS U–Pb dating and LAM-MC-ICPMS Lu–Hf isotope analysis were carried out on zircons from nine samples of basement metamorphic rocks in the southern Cathaysia Block, South China. The chemical compositions of these metamorphic rocks and zircon morphology indicate that their protoliths were sedimentary; zircon U–Pb dating results show they mainly formed during the late Neoproterozoic. The Precambrian crust of the Cathaysia Block can be divided into two distinct tectonic domains, the Wuyishan terrane to the northeast and the Nanling-Yunkai terrane to the southwest. The nearly E–W boundary between these two terranes is also supported by geophysical, petrological and geochemical evidence, and the basement rocks of the two terranes are comprised of different components. The Wuyishan terrane is characterized by dominant Paleoproterozoic (1.86Ga) and lesser Neoarchean magmatism, and the southern-central part of the terrane suffered strong Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic tectonothermal reworking. The zircon data suggest that there were five important episodes of juvenile crust generation (3.6Ga, 2.8Ga, 2.6–2.4Ga, 1.85Ga and 0.8–0.7Ga) in the Wuyishan terrane. Strong Paleoproterozoic (1.85Ga) magmatism in northern Wuyishan and Neoproterozoic (0.8–0.7Ga) magmatism in central and southern Wuyishan both principally involved the remelting of old crust with minor input of juvenile material. In contrast, the Nanling-Yunkai terrane contains abundant Neoarchean and Grenvillian zircons, some evidence of Mesoproterozoic activity and rare Paleo- to Meso-Archean and Neoproterozoic zircons. U–Pb ages and Hf-isotopic compositions of the detrital zircons from the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic meta-sedimentary rocks in the Nanling-Yunkai area suggest that the growth of juvenile crust mainly occurred at ∼3.6Ga, ∼3.3Ga, 2.5–2.6Ga, ∼1.6Ga, ∼1.0Ga and 0.8–0.7Ga. Neoarchaean (2.6–2.5Ga), Grenvillian (∼1.0Ga) and Neoproterozoic (0.8–0.7Ga) magmatism mainly involved the recycling of old crust. Minor remnants of ∼4.1Ga crust may remain in the terrane. This crustal history is distinct from that of the Wuyishan terrane and analogous to those recorded for the eastern India–East Antarctic domain of northern Gondwanaland, suggesting that they probably were once linked. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Precambrian basement of northern Wuyishan (southern Zhejiang Province, eastern Cathaysia Block, South China), consists mainly of Paleoproterozoic granites and metamorphic rocks of the Badu Complex, which are the oldest rocks found in the Cathaysia Block. LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb ages for a gneiss and five gneissic granites from the Tianhou, Danzhu, Xiaji and Lizhuang plutons indicate that magmatism and metamorphism took place between 1888 and 1855Ma. The Xiaji (1888±7Ma) and Lizhuang (1875±9Ma) granites have high SiO2, K2O and Rb contents, high A/CNK (1.09–1.40) and Rb/Sr, and low contents of Sr, REE and mafic components (Mg, Fe, Ti, Mn and other transition metals). They have the geochemical signature of S-type granites, and a sedimentary protolith is confirmed by the presence of abundant inherited zircons with a range of ages and Hf-isotope compositions. The Tianhou and Danzhu granites are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK=0.80–1.07), and have low SiO2 contents, high Ga/Al and FeO/(FeO+MgO) ratios, and Zn and HFSE concentrations typical of A-type granites. They also record high crystallization temperatures (885–920°C), consistent with A-type granites. High Y/Nb ratios (>1.4) indicate that they belong to the A2 subgroup, suggesting that they probably formed in a post-orogenic tectonic setting. Their ages range from 1867 to 1855Ma, slightly later than the syn-collisional Lizhuang and Xiaji S-type granites. These granitic rocks and the metamorphic rocks of the Badu Complex define a late Paleoproterozoic orogenic cycle in the area. All the 1.86–1.90Ga zircons, whether derived from S- or A-type granites, show similar Hf-isotopic compositions, with Hf model ages clustering at ∼2.8Ga. These model ages, and inherited zircons (ca. 2.5–2.7Ga) found in some rocks, indicate that the late Paleoproterozoic magmatism and tectonism of the eastern Cathaysia Block represent an overprint on an Archaean basement. This Paleoproterozoic orogeny in the Wuyishan terrane coincides with the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia, suggesting that the Wuyishan terrane was the part of this supercontinent. Zircon ages also record an early Mesozoic (Triassic) tectonothermal overprint that was very intensive in the northern Wuyishan area, leading to high-grade metamorphism of Paleoproterozoic basement, Pb loss from Paleoproterozoic zircons and overgrowth of new zircon. The central and southern parts of Wuyishan and the Chencai area (northern Zhejiang Province) also experienced strong reworking in Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic times. The Wuyishan terrane (especially in the north) represents a long-lived remnant of the old craton, which has survived for at least one billion years. The compositions of the basement rocks, the Paleoproterozoic orogeny and the Triassic tectonothermal imprint in the Wuyishan terrane are similar to those recognized in the Yeongnam massif of South Korea, suggesting that the two terranes may have been connected from Paleoproterozoic to Triassic time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the Dabieshan, the available models for exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks are poorly constrained by structural data. A comprehensive structural and kinematic map and a general cross-section of the Dabieshan including its foreland fold belt and the Northern Dabieshan Domain (Foziling and Luzenguang groups) are presented here. South Dabieshan consists from bottom to top of stacked allochtons: (1) an amphibolite facies gneissic unit, devoid of UHP rocks, interpreted here as the relative autochton; (2) an UHP allochton; (3) a HP rock unit (Susong group) mostly retrogressed into greenschist facies micaschists; (4) a weakly metamorphosed Proterozoic slate and sandstone unit; and (5) an unmetamorphosed Cambrian to Early Triassic sedimentary sequence unconformably covered by Jurassic sandstone. All these units exhibit a polyphase ductile deformation characterized by (i) a NW–SE lineation with a top-to-the-NW shearing, and (ii) a southward refolding of early ductile fabrics.The Central Dabieshan is a 100-km scale migmatitic dome. Newly discovered eclogite xenoliths in a Cretaceous granitoid dated at 102 Ma by the U–Pb method on titanite demonstrate that migmatization post-dates HP–UHP metamorphism. Ductile faults formed in the subsolidus state coeval to migmatization allow us to characterize the structural pattern of doming. Along the dome margins, migmatite is gneissified under post-solidus conditions and mylonitic–ultramylonitic fabrics commonly develop. The north and west boundaries of the Central Dabieshan metamorphics, i.e. the Xiaotian–Mozitan and Macheng faults, are ductile normal faults formed before Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. A Cretaceous reworking is recorded by synkinematic plutons.North of the Xiaotian–Mozitan fault, the North Dabieshan Domain consists of metasediments and orthogneiss (Foziling and Luzenguang groups) metamorphosed under greenschist to amphibolite facies which never experienced UHP metamorphism. A rare N–S-trending lineation with top-to-the-south shearing is dated at 260 Ma by the 40Ar/39Ar method on muscovite. This early structure related to compressional tectonics is reworked by top-to-the-north extensional shear bands.The main deformation of the Dabieshan consists of a NW–SE-stretching lineation which wraps around the migmatitic dome but exhibits a consistently top-to-the-NW sense of shear. The Central Dabieshan is interpreted as an extensional migmatitic dome bounded by an arched, top-to-the-NW, detachment fault. This structure may account for a part of the UHP rock exhumation. However, the abundance of amphibolite restites in the Central Dabieshan migmatites and the scarcity of eclogites (found only in a few places) argue for an early stage of exhumation and retrogression of UHP rocks before migmatization. This event is coeval to the N–S extensional structures described in the North Dabieshan Domain. Recent radiometric dates suggest that early exhumation and subsequent migmatization occurred in Triassic–Liassic times. The main foliation is deformed by north-verging recumbent folds coeval to the south-verging folds of the South Dabieshan Domain. An intense Cretaceous magmatism accounts for thermal resetting of most of the 40Ar/39Ar dates.A lithosphere-scale exhumation model, involving continental subduction, synconvergence extension with inversion of southward thrusts into NW-ward normal faults and crustal melting is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]