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This study presents new information on the petrogenesis and tectonic setting of a hornblende gabbro in the northern Great Xing'an Range of northeastern China using new whole‐rock geochemical, mineral geochemical, and in situ zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data obtained for samples taken from near the town of Tayuan. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the hornblende gabbro was emplaced during the late Carboniferous (~311 Ma). The hornblende gabbros are alkaline with high K2O + Na2O (4.25–6.42 wt.%), low SiO2 (41.69–50.22 wt.%), and variable MgO (4.49–7.16 wt.%) and TiO2 (1.23–2.77 wt.%) contents. The pressure and temperature conditions of gabbro crystallization were determined using amphibole–plagioclase and amphibole thermobarometry, which indicate that the Tayuan hornblende gabbro formed at pressures of 4.1–6.9 kbar and temperatures of 686–762 °C, respectively. The hornblende gabbros are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, are depleted in the heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements, and have positive zircon εHf(t) values (+3.9 to +9.9), all of which are indicative of formation from magmas generated by the partial melting of a depleted region of the lithospheric mantle that was previously metasomatized by subducted slab‐derived fluids and/or melts just before the generation of the hornblende gabbro magmas. The field observational, geochronological, geochemical, mineral geochemical, and zircon Hf isotopic data presented here are indicative of a complex petrogenetic history that involved crystal fractionation and magma mixing. These hornblende gabbros were emplaced in an extensional setting associated with the collision of the Xing'an and Songnen massifs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents major element, trace element, and new zircon Hf isotopic data for the Early Mesozoic intrusive rocks in the south Hunchun, Yanbian area, Northeast China. These data are used to constrain the petrogenesis of these intrusive rocks and their implications for the Phanerozoic continental growth of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Combining geology, geochronology, and whole-rock geochemistry, we identify three distinct episodes of magmatism as Early-Middle Triassic (249-237 Ma), Late Triassic (224-206 Ma), and Early Jurassic (200-187 Ma). The Early-Middle Triassic (249-237 Ma) adakitic tonalite and granodiorite were produced by the partial melting of subducted oceanic slabs, and the melts were contaminated by mantle peridotite during their ascent, whereas the coeval non-adakitic diorite and monzogranite were most likely derived from partial melting of crustal material. The remarkably high zircon Hf isotopic signature (εHf(t) = + 9.4 - +18.9), the enrichment in large-ion lithophile element and light rare earth elements, and the depletion in high field strength element suggest that these 224 Ma gabbros were derived from the partial melting of depleted mantle modified by subduction-related fluids. The 212 Ma monzogranite was most likely derived from juvenile material mixed with old crustal material as evidenced by their high SiO2, low MgO, and low Cr concentrations and variable εHf(t) values (-4.6 to +10.0). Except for the 197 Ma tonalites with affinity to the high silica adakites, the overall geochemical evolution of Early Jurassic (200-187 Ma) rocks was consistent with fractional crystallization from quartz diorite, granodiorite, and monzogranite to syenogranite. Both the Early Jurassic syn-subduction lateral continental growth by accretion of arc complexes and the Late Triassic post-collisional vertical continental growth by accretion of mantle-derived material played an important role in the Phanerozoic continental growth of the CAOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geology in the Yanbian area, NE China, is a key to understanding the relationship between the Paleo-Pacific tectonic regime and the older Paleo-Asian oceanic regime, especially the transition between the regimes during the Mesozoic. A compilation of 131 U–Pb zircon ages, including 18 obtained in the present study, shows that the late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism in the Yanbian area took place from 285 to 105 Ma (mainly 205–160 Ma) and that there was a peak of activity at ∼175 Ma and a hiatus from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (150–130 Ma). Provisionally, we subdivide the magmatic activity into four dominant stages: Middle Permian to Middle Triassic (280–240 Ma), Late Triassic (230–205 Ma), Early to Middle Jurassic (205–160 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (130–105 Ma). Middle Permian intrusive rocks, including pyroxenite, gabbro, diorite, granodiorite, tonalite and monzogranite, are interpreted to have been emplaced along an Andean-style continental margin in association with the subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic plate. The Late Permian–Middle Triassic intrusive rocks are mainly quartz monzonite, monzogranite and syenogranite, and are considered to have been the result of syn-orogenic/post-collisional activities. The Late Triassic magmatism involved not only the emplacement of mafic–ultramafic intrusive rocks, but also coeval I- and A-type granitoids, indicating an extensional environment after the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Since the Jurassic, the tectonic setting has been dominated by subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. Previously published data for the Yanbian area and age data from surrounding regions show that the entire region from the Yanbian area to the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Islands experienced peaks in igneous activities that ranged from 200 to 165 Ma during the Jurassic, and 120 to 110 Ma and 90 to 65 Ma during the Cretaceous. The Jurassic intrusive rocks were emplaced mainly in the west and Cretaceous intrusive rocks in the east. In other words, there is a southeastwards younging of Mesozoic intrusive rocks that appears to have been closely associated with the evolution of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean. Taking all this into account, we conclude that the transition from the Paleo-Asian oceanic regime to the circum-Pacific tectonic regime took place during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic inversion of the Songliao Basin during the Cenozoic may have played an important role in controlling the development of sandstone-type uranium deposits. The widely distributed mafic intrusions in the host sandstones of the Qianjiadian U ore deposits provided new insights to constrain the regional tectonic evolution and the genesis of the U mineralization. In this study, zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope analysis, and mineral chemical compositions were presented for the mafic rocks from the Qianjiadian area. The mafic rocks display low SiO2 (44.91–52.05 wt.%), high TFe2O3 contents (9.97–16.46 wt.%), variable MgO (4.59–15.87 wt.%), and moderate K2O + Na2O (3.19–6.52 wt.%), and can be subdivided into AB group (including basanites and alkali olivine basaltic rocks) and TB group (mainly tholeiitic basaltic rocks). They are characterized by homogenous isotopic compositions (εNd (t) = 3.47–5.89 and 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7032–0.7042) and relatively high radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb (18.13–18.34) and Nb/U ratios (23.0–45.6), similar to the nearby Shuangliao basalts, suggesting a common asthenospheric origin enriched with slab-derived components prior to melting. Zircon U-Pb and previous Ar-Ar dating show that the AB group formed earlier (51–47 Ma) than the TB group (42–40 Ma). Compared to the TB group, the AB group has higher TiO2, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, Ce, and HREE contents and Ta/Yb and Sr/Yb ratios, which may have resulted from variable depth of partial melting in association with lithospheric thinning. Combined with previous research, the Songliao Basin experienced: (1) Eocene (~50–40 Ma) lithospheric thinning and crustal extension during which mafic rocks intruded into the host sandstones of the Qianjiadian deposit, (2) a tectonic inversion from extension to tectonic uplift attributed to the subduction of the Pacific Plate occurring at ~40 Ma, and (3) Oligo–Miocene (~40–10 Ma) tectonic uplift, which is temporally associated with U mineralization. Finally, the close spatial relation between mafic intrusions and the U mineralization, dike-related secondary reduction, and secondary oxidation of the mafic rocks in the Qianjiadian area suggest that Eocene mafic rocks and their alteration halo in the Songliao Basin may have played a role as a reducing barrier for the U mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents new zircon U–Pb ages, Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data, and whole‐rock geochemical data obtained from the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the north‐western Great Xing'an Range, Northeast China, to constrain the late Mesozoic magmatism and geodynamic setting of this region, which is located in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Zircon U–Pb age determinations show that the studied samples formed at 124–114 Ma with an Early Cretaceous magmatic event produced voluminous felsic and minor mafic volcanic rocks. The mafic rocks are dominantly basalt and basaltic andesite, with relatively low SiO2 contents (49.88–56.64 wt.%). These rocks are enriched in Th, U, large‐ion lithophile elements (LILE; e.g., Rb, Ba, and K) and light rare‐earth elements (REEs), and depleted in high‐field‐strength elements (HFSE; e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti) and heavy REEs (Yb and Lu). The rocks have εNd(t) values of 0.44–0.75 and initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.70499–0.70548. These results indicate that the mafic rocks were derived from the partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle that had been previously metasomatized by subduction‐related fluids and experienced variable amounts of fractional crystallization and moderate crustal contamination. In contrast to the mafic rocks, the felsic rocks are dominantly peraluminous trachytes, rhyolites, and dacites with high SiO2 contents and low MgO contents. These felsic rocks display enriched and variable concentrations of LILEs and REEs, show negative Eu anomalies, and have εHf(t) values of +2.6 to +8.3 with TDM2 ages of 1,014–655 Ma, indicating they were derived from partial melting of juvenile crustal materials. These Early Cretaceous igneous rock assemblages record a post‐collisional lithospheric extensional setting resulting from the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, consistent with the results of previous studies on the contemporaneous tectono‐magmatic activities in NE China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lengshuikeng Ag‐Pb‐Zn ore field is located in the North Wuyi Mesozoic volcanic belt south of the Qinzhou–Hangzhou suture zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia paleo‐plates. Previous zircon U–Pb geochronological studies on ignimbrites and tuffs from this area have yielded conflicting ages of 157–161 Ma (Early Upper Jurassic) and 137–144 Ma (Early Lower Cretaceous). Volcanic rocks in the ore field have even been proposed to include both ages. Our SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of the ignimbrite and tuff samples from the ore field, along with field observations and results from geochronological work on other volcanic and sub‐volcanic rocks in the region, shows that two populations of magmatic zircons, one autocrystic and the other xenocrystic, are present in the pyroclastic rocks. The autocrystic zircons have ages suggesting formation/eruption at approximately 140 Ma, whereas the xenocrystic zircons give ages of 155–159 Ma, indicating intrusion of granitic porphyries in the Early Upper Jurassic. Therefore, the pyroclastic rocks in the Lengshuikeng Ag–Pb–Zn ore field formed in the Early Lower Cretaceous. The youngest zircon U–Pb ages from pyroclastic rocks may not represent the formation/eruption ages of the host rock, depending most likely on the existence and/or abundance of juvenile or vitric pyroclasts in the rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tayuan plutons located at the boundary of the Erguna and Xing'an blocks expose a coexisting mafic-felsic association that is made of monzogranite and gabbro-monzodiorite as well as subordinate quartz monzonite. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating revealed a synchronous emplacement of the monzogranite (314-317 Ma), gabbro (308-315 Ma), and quartz monzonite (310 ± 3 Ma). The majority of these intrusions are characterized by an enrichment in light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements and a depletion of high strength field elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti). Zircons from the gabbro and monzogranite have εHf(t) values of 1.1-9.6 and −3.0-3.3, respectively. Geochemical data show that the gabbro-monzodiorite may have been generated by the melting of a fluid-metasomatized lithospheric mantle, while the monzogranite may have been formed by a partial melting of the Mesoproterozoic crust. The quartz monzonite has similar whole-rock geochemical and Hf isotopic compositions to those of the gabbros and could have been produced from the same mantle source as that from which the gabbros were extracted. The Tayuan plutonic rocks have high contents of K2O and total alkalis and show a northwestward polarity like that of the continental margin plutonic rocks along the Hegenshan-Heihe suture zone. Combined with data from published studies, our data indicate that the Tayuan intrusive rocks were generated by the northwestward subduction of the Hegenshan-Heihe Oceanic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report on LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U–Pb dates of 14 Mesozoic volcanic rocks from the central Great Xing'an Range (CGXR). These data are integrated with the temporal and spatial distribution of local magmatism‐related Mesozoic mineralization, in an effort to develop an understanding of the geodynamic evolution of the region. Periodic magmatic events in the GXR date from ~1,703 through ~145 Ma. Mesozoic volcanism in the CGXR can be subdivided into three episodes: Triassic (250–205 Ma), Early–Middle Jurassic (182–165 Ma), and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (155–115 Ma). A revision of the previously defined volcanic sequence is offered using a combination of our zircon U–Pb ages and published Mesozoic geological and geophysical evidence from northeast China. We propose that (a) Early–Middle Triassic volcanism in the CGXR resulted from subduction of the Paleo‐Asian oceanic plate; (b) Late Triassic volcanism was related to subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate (especially near the Erguna Block) and subsequent extension after the closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean; (c) Early–Middle Jurassic volcanism was mainly controlled by the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate; (d) Late Jurassic–initial Early Cretaceous magmatism was initiated by closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean; and (e) late Early Cretaceous volcanism was induced following the final closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and rollback of the Paleo‐Pacific oceanic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, new geochemical, zircon U–Pb, and Lu–Hf isotopic data are presented for volcanics from the Hadataolegai Formation of the central Great Xing'an Range (GXR) in Northeast China. These new data offer insights into the petrogenesis of the volcanics of the Hadataolegai Formation and the tectonic evolution of the Paleo–Asian Ocean (PAO) and Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean (MOO). These volcanics of the Hadataolegai Formation are divided into andesite‐trachyandesites and dacite‐trachydacites. Zircon U–Pb ages show that the volcanics of the Hadataolegai Formation erupted between 230 Ma and 228 Ma during the Late Triassic, which agrees with recently obtained data. The volcanic rocks in this study have low Y (9.9–21.1 ppm) and Yb (0.78–2.02 ppm) contents, high Sr (444–954 ppm) contents, and slight Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.82 to 0.94), similar to ‘adakite‐like’ rocks. The dacites were formed by fractional crystallization of coeval andesitic magmas. The zircons within the andesite and trachyandesite yield higher positive εHf(t) values (+6.3 to +12.0) and model ages (TDM2) between 860 Ma and 453 Ma, which indicates that the magmas were generated by a newly accreted continental crustal source. Moreover, some of the volcanics are relatively high in MgO contents. These characteristics indicate that the volcanic magmas were derived from the partial melting of delaminated lower crust and mixing with mantle materials. Combining these data with previous studies, we suggest that the magmatism in the central GXR was governed by extension due to the closure of the PAO and the back‐arc extension associated with the southward subduction of the MOO plate (western GXR, near the Erguna Block). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wuma magmatic suite is a group of large granite plutons and small diorite stocks in the Erguna Block, northeast China. These intrusions were emplaced along the Mongol–Okhotsk Suture Zone during the late Permian–early Triassic (253–248 Ma). Significant chemical and isotopic diversity within the granites and diorites suggests variable formation conditions and the involvement of multiple magmatic sources. The granitic intrusions are dominantly characterized by moderate to large, uniform light rare earth element enrichments and variable heavy rare earth element depletions. Zircons from the Wuma granites have εHf(t) values of −6.0 to 0.5 and TDM2 ages of 1.6–1.2 Ga, suggesting that these granitic magmas were generated by partial melting of Mesoproterozoic continental crust. The diorites are compositionally similar to Andean plutonic rocks with moderate light rare earth element and heavy rare earth element fractionations and likely formed by partial melting of a sediment‐metasomatized mantle. The Wuma intrusions belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline series and are characterized by a significant enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Ba, K, and U) and depletion of high‐field strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti). These geochemical characteristics are typical of subduction‐related magmatism, which can be linked to the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. Combined with data from published studies, our Hf isotopic analyses indicate 4 main periods of crustal growth beneath the Erguna Block: Mesoarchean (3.0–2.8 Ga), Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic (2.6–1.8 Ga), Meso‐ to Neoproterozoic (1.6–0.7 Ga), and Phanerozoic (mainly Ordovician and Late Triassic–Early Cretaceous). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate their precise geochronological framework, petrogenesis, and tectonic implications, whole‐rock major and trace elements, together with zircon U–Pb and Hf isotope data, are reported for the Mo‐bearing granitoids from the eastern Jilin‐Heilongjiang provinces in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Zircon U–Pb dating by LA–ICP–MS yields crystallization ages for the Liushengdian monzogranite porphyry (252.2 ± 1.6 Ma), the Luming monzogranite porphyry (197.1 ± 1.6 Ma), and the Baoshan granodiorite (164.4 ± 1.9 Ma) and quartz diorite (165.2 ± 1.7 Ma), respectively. This zircon U–Pb data, combined with previous ages, indicate that the eastern Jilin‐Heilongjiang provinces is dominated by 2 stages of ore‐related granitic magmatism and associated Mo mineralization, that is, Late Permian (259–252 Ma) and Early‐Middle Jurassic (200–165 Ma). Geochemically, these Mo‐bearing granitoids have high SiO2 (60.78–74.67 wt.%) and K2O (2.85–6.23 wt.%), low MgO (0.17–2.85 wt.%) and CaO (0.66–4.38 wt.%) contents, with A/NCK and δEu values of 0.87–1.08 and 0.19–1.07, respectively; we infer that they belong to high‐K calc‐alkaline series and are metaluminous to peraluminous in nature. They are characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, and weak depletion in high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements, consistent with the geochemical signatures of subduction‐related genesis. In addition, in situ Hf isotopic analyses of zircons from 4 dated samples reveal that they have εHf(t) values of −0.4 to +10.3, with 2‐stage model ages varying from 551 to 1,261 Ma, indicating that they probably originated from the partial melting of a dominantly Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic crustal source. On the basis of the geochemical data and regional geological investigations, we propose that the formation of the Late Permian Mo‐bearing granite was related to the subduction of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean plate, whereas the generation of the Early‐Middle Jurassic Mo‐bearing granitoids was associated with the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Triassic–Early Jurassic intrusions of the Erguna Block, Northeast China, are located along the southern margin of the Mongol–Okhotsk orogenic belt. They comprise granodiorite, monzogranite, syenogranite, and lesser gabbro–diorite, of adakitic and calc­alkaline affinity. The adakite-like and calc­alkaline granites share similar light rare earth elements (LREE) characteristics; however, their heavy rare earth elements (HREE) trends differ from one another. The relative abundances of HREE in the calc­alkaline granites are relatively consistent and are similar to those of intrusive rocks formed from dehydration melting of garnet-free amphibolitic source rocks at relatively low pressures. In contrast, the adakite-like granites show more prominent HREE fractionation trends, indicating that they crystallized at higher pressures, where garnet in the source rocks was stable. At least two isotopically distinct sources were involved in the petrogenesis of the granites, but the extent to which they contributed varies between plutons. Most intrusions have incorporated an isotopically primitive component, possibly juvenile mafic crust. The other sources include a small proportion of old continental crustal material and isotopically evolved wall rocks. The gabbro–diorites have high MgO contents (>7 wt.%), a high Mg#(>0.6), and show moderate LREE and HREE fractionation, indicating they formed from the melting of subducted metasomatized lithospheric mantle. All of the intrusions in the study area are characterized by a relative enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), indicating they were emplaced in an Andean-type active continental margin setting related to southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]