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In this paper, we report zircon U–Pb dating, Hf isotopes, geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic data, with the aim the petrogenesis and regional tectonic evolution of Early Devonian bimodal volcanic rock in the South Altyn, NW China. New LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb isotopic data constrained them at ca. 406 Ma. The mafic samples are characterized by high Fe, Cr and Ni contents, low Ti and Mg contents, slightly enriched LREE patterns, and low (La/Yb) N , La/Nb and La/Ta ratios, and positive e Nd ( t ) values (+3.3 to +3.4), indicating that they were likely derived from strong batch-melting of the asthenosphere in the spinel facies field. The felsic rocks show an A-type affinity, with high alkalis, Fe, Ga, Zr, Nb, Ce and Y contents, low Mg, Sr content, high Rb/Sr and Ga/Al ratios, enrichment in LILE (e.g., Rb, K, Th, U and LREE) and depletion in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, P and Ti, and fractionated REE patterns with very strong negative Eu anomalies. These features, along with distinct e Nd ( t ) values (−0.5 to +2.3) and mostly positive e Hf ( t ) (−0.29 to +5.18), indicate that the felsic rocks were mainly generated by partial melting of the crust in low pressure and high temperature conditions, and simultaneously underwent slight magma mixing of such melts with mantle magma. According to the petrogenetic schemes and geological background of the Early Devonian bimodal volcanic rocks (tholeiite and A-type dacite–rhyolite), they should have formed in a post-collisional extensional setting. Moreover, on the basis of spatial and temporal distribution, and formation mechanism, the tectonic magmatic evolution of the early Paleozoic South Altyn Tagh could be divided into three stages: ① 505–472 Ma (continental collision), the magmatite formed under high-pressure conditions due to the deep subduction and initial tearing of continental slab; ② 467–450 Ma (continental slab break-off), the magmatite formed at high temperature and low pressure in virtue of felsic upper crust uplifting and mantle magma underplating; and ③ 432–385 Ma (post-collisional extension), the magmatite consists of A-type granites and bimodal volcanic rocks, which are the products of the interaction between mantle and crust, and asthenosphere upwelling.

Toxic metal pollution in bodies of water is a source of danger to the health of people living in developing countries. The untreated mine wastes located near some Chinese ore mines may cause water pollution, which ultimately results in various diseases. The aim of the present study is to assess the response of testate amoebae communities to pollution by toxic metals in groundwater, stream water, and aquatic bryophytes in Lanmuchang stream located in the Hg–Tl mineralized area in southwestern Guizhou Province, China. Measurements were made of the levels of Hg, As, Cd, Tl, Cu, Zn, and Pb in three mosses: Hyophila propagulifera, Rhynchostegium riparioides, and Hygroamblystegium tenax. Mean moss concentrations of Hg, As, Cu, Pb, and Zn were significantly higher than stream water values and testate amoebae species richness and abundance were significantly lower in the ‘polluted’ group. We then studied the correlation between toxic metals and testate amoebae. The total species abundance is correlated negatively to Hg and Cu concentrations. Our results indicated that testate amoebae are sensitive to toxic metal pollution and aquatic bryophytes are bioaccumulators of trace metals, and results also showed potential microecosystem health risks.