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Recognizing terminal ridge subduction is of first-order importance in chronicling the tectonic timeline of any accretionary orogens, but remains elusive in the final suturing zone of the Paleo-Asian Ocean along the Solonker-- Xar Moron--Changchun--Yanji swath. Here we report two generations of ultramaficmafic to intermediate intrusions from northern Liaoning, North China, linking eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt and northern North China Craton. The ca. 259 Ma appinites show variable enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) but depletion in high-field strength elements (HFSEs), and variably enriched isotopic compositions with εNd(t) of -11.8 to -2.4 and zircon εHf(t) of -15.7 to +5.0. These petro-geochemical traits argue for their derivation from partial melting of subduction-modified lithospheric mantle. By contrast, the high-Mg diorites of 226-223 Ma display decoupling features between LILEs and HFSEs and juvenile isotopic signatures with εNd(t) of -0.3 to +2.6 and zircon εHf(t) of +5.4 to +11.4. These characters are consistent with a magmatic origin from partial fusion of sediment-fertilized asthenospheric mantle. Synthesizing the two mantle-melting events with regional coeval igneous activities leads to the identification of Late Permian (265-250 Ma) and Middle-Late Triassic (241-218 Ma) magmatic flare-ups with a 10-15 m.y. lull along the northern North China Craton. This magmatic tempo tends to record a salient mantle replacement from hydrous metasomatized lithosphere to anhydrous asthenosphere. In combination with ensuing progressive crustal growth, simultaneous metamorphism, and structural activities, these diverse manifestations make a compelling case of ridge subduction and concomitant slab window formation during the eventual closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean along the Solonker--Xar Moron--Changchun--Yanji swath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentiating magmatic doming and low-angle normal faulting remains critical for fully understanding the thermal, mechanical and chemical evolution of continental landmasses under extension. This zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical study documents two Middle to Late Jurassic batholiths (Lüshan and Haitangshan) from the Yiwulüshan range of western Liaoning, North China Craton. They consist of a variety of lithologies including gabbro, diorite, granodiorite, monzogranite, together with microgranular magmatic enclaves (MME) and mafic dykes. Synthesizing petrologic, elemental, whole-rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopic data leads to the characterization of multiple mafic and felsic end-members and their concomitant interaction in building the magmatic dome. A subduction-related metasomatized lithospheric mantle source is fingerprinted by the gabbroic to dioritic rocks with enriched large ion lithophile elements, depleted high field strength elements and heterogeneous isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70541 to 0.70577, εNd(t) = - 1.78 to - 5.54 and zircon εHf(t) = - 6.0 to 8.1). One felsic magma end-member of ancient mafic lower crustal parentage is discernable from adakitic granites with high Sr/Y and evolved isotopic composition (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70533 to 0.70792, εNd(t) = - 18.8 to - 21.7, zircon εHf(t) = - 18.5 to - 28.8), whereas another felsic magma end-member of newly underplated crustal heritage manifests itself from some monzogranites with non-adakitic elemental affinity and juvenile isotopic composition (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70429 to 0.70587, εNd(t) = - 4.47 to - 5.87, zircon εHf(t) = 4.3 to 1.3). Hybridization processes between mantle-derived mafic magma and ancient crustal-derived felsic magma result in the formation of MME-bearing granodiorites with intermediate isotopic signatures (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70491 to 0.70499, εNd(t) = - 15.3 to - 15.8, zircon εHf(t) = - 12.7 to - 17.4). Subsequent fractional crystallization of the hybridized magmas endows the differentiated monzogranites with low Sr/Y and highly evolved isotopes (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70496 to 0.70605, εNd(t) = - 16.0 to - 18.7, zircon εHf(t) = - 14.3 to - 21.5). Apart from distinguishing Middle-Late Jurassic extensional magmatic doming from Early Cretaceous detachment faulting, this complex mafic-felsic magma association encapsulates a multi-level crust/mantle interaction leading to lithospheric thinning and concomitant crustal architectural reorganization in the Yanshan belt during the Late Mesozoic. Near-synchronization of a two-stage extensional pattern in the Yanshan belt and even across NE continental Asia accords well with gravitational collapse and convective removal of lithospheric mantle within an evolved post-collisional to within-plate extensional regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]