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The nature and timing of post-collisional crustal thickening and its link to surface uplift in the eastern Lhasa block of the southern Tibetan plateau remain controversial. Here we report on Cenozoic magmatism in the Wuyu area of the eastern Lhasa block. The Eocene (ca. 46 Ma) trachyandesites and trachydacites show slight fractionation of rare earth elements (REE), slightly negative Eu and Sr anomalies, and relatively homogeneous Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopes (87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.7050-0.7063, εNd(t) = -0.92 to -0.03, εHf(t) = +2.6 to +4.8). Previous studies have suggested Neo-Tethys oceanic slab break-off at 50-45 Ma; thus, the Wuyu Eocene magmatism could represent a magmatic response to this slab break-off and originate from relatively juvenile Lhasa crust. The Miocene (ca. 15-12 Ma) dacites and rhyolites have adakitic affinities, e.g., high Sr (average 588 ppm), Sr/Y (29-136), and La/ Yb (30--76) values, low Y (4-12 ppm) and Yb (0.4-0.9 ppm) contents, and variable Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopes (87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.7064-0.7142, εNd(t) = -11.7 to -3.7, εHf(t) = -3.2 to +4.5). Their more enriched Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes relative to the Eocene lavas indicate that they should be derived from mixed Lhasa lower crust comprising juvenile crust, ultrapotassic rocks, and probably Indian lower crustderived rocks. This study has also revealed the transformation from Eocene juvenile and thin crust with a thickness of <40 km to Miocene mixed and thickened crust with a thickness of >50 km. Combined with published tectonic data, we suggest that both lithospheric shortening and magma underplating contributed to eastern Lhasa block post-collisional crustal thickening. Given the spatial-temporal distribution of eastern Lhasa block magmatism and regional geology, we invoke a post-collisional tectonic model of steep subduction of the Indian plate and subsequent westward-propagating plate break-off beneath the eastern Lhasa block, which caused the surface uplift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collisional zones are commonly considered as important regions for crustal reworking, but the reworking mechanism remains debated. The well-known Himalayan-southern Tibetan orogen, built by India-Asia collision and convergence, has the thickest continental crust on Earth and is therefore an ideal region for studying crustal reworking during collisional orogenesis. Here we revisit the Miocene high-silica potassic rocks (trachytes) in the Konglong area of the central Lhasa block, southern Tibet. Integrated studies of geochronology, mineral compositions, bulk-rock major- and trace-element geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O isotopes unequivocally indicate that the Konglong trachytes formed by mixing between enriched mantle-derived ultrapotassic and thickened ancient crust-derived magmas. Combined with post-collisional magma mixing recently identified in the southern Lhasa block, we suggest that magma underplating and subsequent mantle-crust interaction (i.e., the matter and energy transfer from the mantle to the crust) has been a common and important crustal reworking process in southern Tibet during Indian continental subduction. This process may be related to Indian plate flat subduction and subsequent foundering during the post-collisional stage. In combination with the nature of Cenozoic magmatism in the Himalaya block, we suggest that in addition to partial melting of the subducted continental crust, magma underplating and subsequent crust-mantle mixing beneath the obducted continent has also played an important role in crustal reworking of the collisional zone. • Konglong Miocene trachytes formed by mixing of crustal and ultrapotassic magmas. • Magma underplating and mantle-crust interaction induced Lhasa crustal reworking. • Indian plate flat subduction and foundering controlled crustal reworking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of whether subducted continental crust can be recycled into post-collisional magmatism in continental collisional zones remains controversial. Post-collisional mantle-derived ultrapotassic rocks are widespread in western part of central Lhasa block (WCL) of the Tibet-Himalaya orogen and show arc-type trace-element signatures and very enriched Sr Nd isotopes, which have been explained by the recycling of subducted Indian continental crust. However, due to the lack of late Cretaceous mafic magmatism in the WCL, the nature of the ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the WCL has not been well constrained. It is therefore still unclear whether the enriched components of these ultrapotassic rocks were derived from subducted Indian continental crust or inherited from the ancient SCLM. Here we report the mafic dykes from the TangraYumco area in the WCL, which formed at ∼90 Ma (whole-rock 40Ar 39Ar, and zircon and titanite U Pb ages). The diabase-porphyrites and diorite-porphyrites are similar to intraplate Nb-enriched basalts and magnesium adakitic rocks, respectively. This rock association reveals the lithospheric foundering process. Furthermore, the diabase-porphyrites generated by the interaction between the ancient SCLM and asthenosphere provide important constraints on the nature of the ancient SCLM, which shows distinct Nd isotopes to the post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks. In addition, the NW Lhasa block was in a rear-arc environment since the late Cretaceous and thus this SCLM was not significantly influenced by the ongoing northward subduction of the Indus-YarlungZangbu Neo-Tethys ocean. Finally, we propose that the post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks cannot be sourced from the ancient SCLM, but instead were derived from a relatively depleted mantle (e.g., juvenile lithospheric mantle) metasomatized by subducted Indian continental crust. Thus, this study confirms the recycling of subducted continental materials in continental collisional orogens. • The ca. 90 Ma mafic dykes in central Lhasa block of southern Tibetan plateau reveal the lithospheric foundering process. • The diabase-porphyrites formed by asthenosphere-ancient lithospheric mantle interaction constrain the nature of this SCLM. • This study confirms the recycling of subducted continental materials in continental collisional orogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role played by felsic igneous magmatism in crustal differentiation is of importance for the evolution and habitability of Earth system. However, the petrogenesis of felsic rocks and their genetic links to mafic magmas remain controversial, hindering our understanding of crustal differentiation processes. Cenozoic post-collisional felsic potassic rocks occur widely in the well-known Himalaya-Tibet orogen and are intimately associated, in space and time, with mantle-derived ultrapotassic rocks, which thus provide a clear case study to investigate the genesis of felsic rocks and their genetic relationship with mafic rocks. Here we report zircon U Pb ages and Hf O isotopes, mineral major elements, and whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions for the TangraYumco high-silica potassic rocks (trachytes) in central Lhasa block of southern Tibet. The results, combined with literature data of the TangraYumco ultrapotassic rocks, can help better illuminate their genesis and the role of ultrapotassic rocks in their generation. The trachytes erupted in the Miocene (~13 Ma), coeval with ultrapotassic lavas in this area. They have very enriched Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O isotope compositions similar to those of ultrapotassic rocks. However, they display more fractionated LREEs (light rare earth elements) than ultrapotassic rocks. The trachytes also show nearly constant Y and Yb contents with increasing SiO 2. This indicates that they were not derived by fractional crystallization from ultrapotassic magmas or by mixing between ultrapotassic and ancient crust-derived felsic magmas. Instead, given their lower LREE contents than ultrapotassic rocks and occurrence of clinopyroxene antecrysts, we suggest that the TangraYumco trachytes were likely produced by remelting of newly-formed, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopically enriched, and K-rich cumulates that crystallized from ultrapotassic magmas. Moreover, taking into account regional magmatism and tectonics, we propose that the TangraYumco-Xuruco post-collisional coeval magmatism and rift system represent a response to tearing of subducted Indian continental slab. Finally, in combination with the nature of post-collisional magmatism in the Lhasa block, we suggest that in addition to reworking of juvenile and ancient crust, underplating of post-collisional mafic magmas and remelting of their cumulates could be an important way to differentiate continental crust in collisional orogeny zones. • TangraYumco Miocene trachytes have a K-rich, isotopically enriched crustal origin. • The source components are cumulates that crystallized from ultrapotassic magmas. • TangraYumco coeval rift and magmatism are a response to Indian continental tearing. • Cumulate melting can differentiate continental crust in collisional orogenic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the subduction and recycling of continental crust is crucial for reconstructing the long-term evolutionary history of Earth's mantle and crust. The Himalaya-Tibet orogen is arguably the world's best natural laboratory for investigating these processes. Cenozoic post-collisional ultrapotassic volcanic rocks are common in the Lhasa block of southern Tibet and they can provide important clues to crust-mantle interaction in a well-characterized continental collision zone. Understanding the sources and processes that generated these lavas can contribute to our understanding of the thermal and compositional characteristics of the deep mantle and geodynamic processes in this region, including Indian continental subduction. In this contribution, we report Sr-Nd-Pb-O-B isotope and elemental chemistry data for post-collisional (13-11 Ma) ultrapotassic rocks from the TangraYumco-Xuruco rift (TYXR) in the Lhasa block. The arc-like trace-element signatures and markedly enriched Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotope compositions indicate that these mafic rocks originate from a mantle source containing recycled crustal components. Unlike pre-collisional (∼64 Ma) ultrapotassic rocks in the Lhasa block with arc-like B/Nb (0.85-1.89) and δ 11 B (−9.0 to −2.5‰) values, the TYXR post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks with much lower B/Nb (0.05-0.85) and δ 11 B (down to −20.5‰) values resemble Miocene K-rich volcanic rocks from western Anatolia. These western Anatolian rocks have been formed by either progressive dehydration of a stalled slab or deep-subducted continental crust. However, some TYXR samples have lower B/Nb ratios than MORB, consistent with a fluid-starved source. These markedly negative δ 11 B in conjunction with low B/Nb cannot be explained by the addition of melts from oceanic sediments, which generally yield lower B/Nb but higher δ 11 B values than MORB (e.g., the Armenia post-collisional mafic rocks). Given the low δ 11 B of Indian upper continental crust and its similar Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic signatures to the post-collisional lavas, it is clear that the post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks in the Lhasa block contain a significant component derived from subducted Indian continental crust. Combined with the temporal evolution of regional magmatism, tectonics and geophysical data, we propose that the break-off and tearing of subducted Indian continental slab induced post-collisional magmatism in the Lhasa block. Our case study provides evidence that continental subduction contributes to very light B isotope compositions of post-collisional magmas, which suggests that B isotopes have the potential to discriminate between oceanic subduction and continental subduction. • Post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks in southern Tibet have very low B/Nb and δ 11 B. • B isotopes of these ultrapotassic rocks support contribution from Indian continental crust. • Melting of subducted Indian continental crust and interaction with overlying mantle generated these rocks. • B isotopes have the potential to discriminate between oceanic and continental subduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reworking of continental crust in collision zones is a key process in the chemical maturation of crustal rocks. However, the mechanisms that cause crustal reworking remain highly controversial. The compositionally diverse magmatic rocks along the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision zone provide a favorable opportunity for studying the mechanism of crustal reworking and maturation in continental collision zones. Here we report zircon U Pb ages and Hf isotopes, mineral major elements, and whole-rock geochemistry and Sr Nd isotopes for the Momu intrusive complex in the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision zone, central Tibet. Zircon U Pb ages reveal that the intrusive complex formed during the late Early Cretaceous (115–113 Ma). Diorites from the intrusive complex have high Mg# values (49.7–51.2) and initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7082 to 0.7083), and low ε Nd (t) values (−7.3 to −6.9), with negative to slight positive zircon ε Hf (t) values (−3.8 to +0.8), suggesting that these rocks were likely generated by the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle. Granodiorites from the intrusive complex have high SiO 2 (64.4–67.9 wt%) and Al 2 O 3 (14.8–16.1 wt%) and low MgO (1.4–1.8 wt%) contents. These rocks are also characterized by high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7091–0.7098) and whole-rock negative ε Nd (t) (−9.9 to −8.4) and zircon ε Hf (t) (−7.9 to −2.2) values. The associated granites have the highest SiO 2 (68.7–71.5 wt%) contents among the intrusive complex rocks, high initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7089–0.7093) ratios, and negative whole-rock ε Nd (t) (−10.1 to −7.7) and zircon ε Hf (t) (−5.3 to −0.2) values. These geochemical characteristics indicate that the granodiorites were most likely derived from the partial melting of ancient continental crust and that the coeval granites were formed by the fractional crystallization of granodioritic magmas. Integrating our new results with data for the coeval magmatic rocks of the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision zone, we suggest that the Momu intrusive complex formed in a post-collisional slab breakoff setting. Asthenosphere upwelling caused by slab breakoff could have provided a substantial source of heat for crustal reworking, which gradually contributed to the maturation of continental crust in the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision zone. • The Momu intrusive complex of central Tibet formed at 115–113 Ma. • The diorites were derived by partial melting of modified lithospheric mantle. • The granodiorites and granites formed via partial melting of ancient crust. • Crustal maturation occurred by collision of the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important parts of the eastern Tethys, the evolution of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean (BNTO) has important geological implications for paleogeographic reconstructions of the Tethyan Realm. However, the closure time of the BNTO remains highly debated. Here, we report geochronological, petrological and geochemical data from three newly identified undeformed stitching plutons that intrude a north–south-oriented section of ophiolitic mélanges in the middle–eastern parts of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ), central Tibet. The stitching plutons comprise the Chaqu diorite–granite association, the Jiang Co granite, and the Konglong diorite porphyry. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SMIS) zircon U Pb dating suggests that these three plutons were emplaced at ca. 116–112 Ma. The stitching plutons show heterogeneous Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic compositions. The Chaqu diorites have initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios varying from 0.7062 to 0.7064 and ε Nd (t) values from −2.0 to −1.6, and slightly high zircon δ18O (6.2–6.8‰) and positive zircon ε Hf (t) (+2.6 to +7.4) values. The Chaqu granites show high initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7064–0.7065) ratios and low ε Nd (t) (−2.3 to −2.1) values, and elevated zircon δ18O (6.2–7.3‰) values and variable zircon ε Hf (t) (−1.7 to +4.9) values, similar to those of the associated Chaqu diorites. The Jiang Co granites exhibit higher initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7085–0.7094) ratios and negative ε Nd (t) (−8.33 to −8.27) values, and variable zircon δ18O (4.8‰ to 6.0‰) and ε Hf (t) (−6.9 to −2.0) values. The Konglong diorite porphyries have initial 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios ranging from 0.7069 to 0.7075 and negative ε Nd (t) values ranging from −4.2 to −4.1, and high zircon δ18O (9.0‰ to 9.8‰) and variable zircon ε Hf (t) (−7.3 to +0.7) values. Geochemical evidence indicates that they were derived from different magma sources that included varying proportions of mantle and crustal components. The Chaqu diorites were derived by partial melting of an ancient metasomatized mantle source, and the Chaqu granites were formed by fractional crystallization of the Chaqu dioritic magmas. The Jiang Co granites were generated by partial melting of low δ18O high-temperature hydrothermally altered ancient continental crust. The Konglong diorite porphyries were likely generated by partial melting of high-δ18O enriched lithospheric mantle. In combination with data from adjacent ophiolites, magmatic rocks, and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, we suggest that the stitching plutons were generated in a post-collisional setting induced by upwelling of asthenospheric mantle due to slab breakoff beneath the BNSZ. Our data provide an important new upper age limit for the time of collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes, i.e., the latest closure time for the BNTO. • Stitching plutons provide upper age limits on the timing of closure of the BNTO. • Contemporaneous plutons show heterogeneous Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic compositions. • Stitching plutons were formed by slab breakoff in a post-collisional setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]