Mesozoic high-Ba-Sr granitoids from North China: geochemical characteristics and geological implications

Mesozoic magmatism occurred extensively in the North China block (NCB) and the Dabie–Sulu orogen (DSO) post-dating the North–South China collision, resulting in abundant intrusive and volcanic rocks ranging from basic to acidic compositions. The intermediate-acidic intrusive rocks can be grouped into two types, namely high-Ba–Sr granitoids and low-Ba–Sr granitoids that both have distinct geochemical characteristics. The high-Ba–Sr granitoids are similar in most of the incompatible trace element systematics to the associated basic rocks, which probably originated from melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle, indicating significant mantle contributions to them. Geochemical similarities are observed between the basic rocks from the NCB and DSO, implying a regional-scale magma-generating mechanism and that mantle enrichment beneath the DSO was independent from the Triassic deep continental subduction in the region. We therefore interpret that the Mesozoic magmatism resulted from delamination of the ancient lithospheric mantle beneath the eastern part of North China.