Geochemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and Hf isotopes of the metavolcanic rocks in the Tongbai orogen of central China: Implication for Neoproterozoic oceanic subduction to slab break-off
Graphical abstract
Introduction
As a significant period of prolonged evolution, the Neoproterozoic contained enormous geological events, which represent major glaciations as well as the polymerization and decomposition of the ancient Rodinia continent (Wang et al., 2017a, Wang et al., 2017b and references therein). Corresponding widespread contemporaneous magmatism had developed throughout the Yangtze Block (e.g., Zheng et al., 2004, Zhou et al., 2006, Zhao et al., 2011, Yang et al., 2015a, Yang et al., 2015b, Yang et al., 2016). Three major models have been proposed to explain the Neoproterozoic tectonic background in South China, including the slab–arc model, plate–rift model, and plume–rift model (e.g., Zhao and Cawood, 2012). The first two models place South China on the edge of Rodinia, but the last one is established on the hypothesis that South China is situated in the center of Rodinia (Zhou et al., 2006, Li et al., 2008). Vast Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks comprise a series of mafic to intermediate rocks, adakites, and granitoids, which may have formed by the partial melting of the thickened juvenile lower continental crust, subducted oceanic slab, and mantle materials, respectively (Yu et al., 2019 and references therein).
The Qinling–Dabie complex orogen, spreading along the northern edge of the Yangtze Block, also has abundant Neoproterozoic (979–600 Ma) magmatic rocks (especially the South Qinling area) (Ling et al., 2008, Wang et al., 2013a, Wang et al., 2013b, Wang et al., 2017a, Wang et al., 2017b, Wu and Zhang, 2013, Zhu et al., 2014, Li et al., 2018). Many protoliths of ultrahigh pressure (UHP)/high pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks in the Hong’an–Dabie orogen along the northeastern edge of the Yangtze Block have been suggested to have formed during the Neoproterozoic period (e.g., Chen et al., 2003, Zhang et al., 2008, Yang et al., 2016, Zhu et al., 2017a, Zhu et al., 2017b). The Tongbai Complex, situated in the core part of the Tongbai orogen, has been previously considered as a Precambrian complex, but many recent studies have demonstrated that the gneissic granites belong to the Early Cretaceous (e.g., Liu et al., 2010c, Chen et al., 2017, Zhang et al., 2018b). However, the metamorphic rocks that occur as relict rock units within the gneissic granites in the Tongbai Complex, as well as those occurrences in the entire Hong’an–Dabie orogen, are still poorly understood due to the lack of geochronologic and geochemical studies.
In this paper, we report the whole-rock geochemical compositions as well as zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopes on the metamorphic rock units within the Tongbai Complex: (1) to date the formation ages of their original rocks; (2) to reveal their petrogenesis; and (3) to compare them with the surrounding contemporaneous rocks to further account for the tectonic significance and geodynamic processes in this region.
Section snippets
Geological background and petrology
The Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt is a large orogenic belt in central China that formed during the Late Paleozoic (Triassic) (Dong and Santosh, 2016), and the multi-stage tectonic evolution and large-scale granitic magmatism make it an ideal place to study the collisional orogenic process (Fig. 1A; Meng and Zhang, 1999, Wu and Zhang, 2013). Furthermore, the world’s largest UHP/HP metamorphic belt is hosted in this belt (Wang et al., 2011). Limited by the northern Luo–Luan Fault and the southern
Whole-rock major and trace element analysis
Seven leptynite (G1–G7: 32°10′30.32″N, 113°26′20.22″E), six leptite (L1–L6: 32°11′59.72″N, 113°26′56.68″E), and six amphibolite (A1–A6: 32°11′21.92″N, 113°26′40.54″E) samples, including drilling and surface samples, from two areas of Huangjiagou and Jianshuitian of Suixian County were selected for the whole-rock geochemical analysis. We cut out the weathered surface of the rocks to obtain fresh samples and ground the samples into 200-mesh powders. The major and trace element analyses were
Major and trace element compositions
The major and trace element composition data for the leptynite, leptite, and amphibolite samples from the Tongbai Complex are presented in Table 1, Table 2. The leptynite and leptite samples yield high SiO2 (72.14–77.24 wt%), Al2O3 (11.94–14.64 wt%), and K2O (3.75–4.80 wt%) contents but low CaO (0.45–1.94 wt%), TFe2O3 (1.07–1.98 wt%), MgO (0.19–0.44 wt%), MnO (0.01–0.03 wt%), and TiO2 (0.10–0.20 wt%) compositions, along with the calculated K2O/Na2O of 0.83–1.73, Mg# of 13–20, A/CNK of
Assessment of element mobility
Metamorphic rocks, including leptynite, leptite, and amphibolite, record their metamorphism and alteration history since their formation, and during these processes some of the elements may show mobilization that may not be indicative of their original lithology genesis. All the selected samples demonstrate extremely low loss on ignite (LOI) values between 0.25 and 0.71 wt% (<2%) as well as normal K2O and Na2O contents, ruling out the effect of significant alteration (e.g., Jiang et al., 2018).
Conclusions
In this paper, we report the results of the whole-rock major and trace elements, zircon U–Pb dating, trace elements, and Lu–Hf isotopes of the metamorphosed igneous and volcanic rocks (leptites, leptynites, and amphibolites) in the Tongbai Complex, in the northeastern Yangtze Block. All these rocks reveal arc-affinity geochemical compositions and continental crustal features. The leptynites and leptites were derived from the partial melting of the thickened juvenile mafic lower crust and
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgments
We appreciate Prof. Zhao Kuidong and Chen Wei for their help during zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope analyses, and Lei Huanling and Lu Qian for their help during the whole-rock major and trace elements analyses. This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42030811), and the special fund from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences (no. MSFGPMR03-2).
References (109)
- et al.
Petrogenesis of Mesozoic granitoids in the Dabie UHP complex, Central China: trace element and Nd-Sr isotope evidence
Lithos
(2002) - et al.
Late Proterozoic magmatism and metamorphism recorded in gneisses from the Dabie high-pressure metamorphic zone, eastern China: evidence from zircon U-Pb geochronology
Precambr. Res.
(2003) - et al.
The geochemistry, U-Pb and Re-Os geochronology, and Hf isotopic constraints on the genesis of the Huangjiagou Mo deposit and related granite in the Dabie region, Hubei Province, China
Ore Geol. Rev.
(2017) - et al.
U-Pb and 40Ar/ 39Ar geochronology of the Tongbai complex, central China: implications for Cretaceous exhumation and lateral extrusion of the Tongbai-Dabie HP/UHP terrane
J. Asian Earth Sci.
(2012) - et al.
Neoproterozoic accretionary tectonics along the northwestern margin of the Yangtze Block, China: constraints from zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry
Precambr. Res.
(2012) - et al.
Tectonic architecture and multiple orogeny of the Qinling orogenic belt, Central China
Gondwana Res.
(2016) - et al.
Late Jurassic high-Mg andesites in the Youjiang Basin and their significance for the southward continuation of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China
Gondwana Res.
(2020) - et al.
Highly fractionated Jurassic I-type granites and related tungsten mineralization in the Shirenzhang deposit, northern Guangdong, South China: Evidence from cassiterite and zircon U-Pb ages, geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes
Lithos
(2018) - et al.
850–790 Ma bimodal volcanic and intrusive rocks in northern Zhejiang, South China: a major episode of continental rift magmatism during the breakup of Rodinia
Lithos
(2008) - et al.
Late Mesozoic granitoids in the Qinling Orogen, central China, and tectonic significance
Earth-Sci. Rev.
(2018)
Petrogenesis and tectonic significance of Neoproterozoic meta-basites and meta-granitoids within the central Dabie UHP zone, China: geochronological and geochemical constraints
Gondwana Res.
South China in Rodinia: constrains from the Neoproterozoic Suixian volcano-sedimentary group of the South Qinling belt
Precambr. Res.
High-pressure metamorphic rocks from Tongbaishan, central China: U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the provenance of protoliths and timing of metamorphism
Lithos
Triassic retrograded eclogites and Cretaceous gneissic granites in the Tongbai Complex, central China: implications for the architecture of the HP/UHP Tongbai-Dabie-Sulu collision zone
Lithos
U-Pb zircon age and geochemical constraints on tectonic evolution of the Paleozoic accretionary orogenic system in the Tongbai orogen, central China
Tectonophysics
Zircon U-Pb geochronology and petrogenesis of metabasites from the western Beihuaiyang zone in the Hong’an orogen, central China: implications for detachment within subducting continental crust at shallow depths
J. Asian Earth Sci.
An overview of adakite, tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG), and sanukitoid: relationships and some implications for crustal evolution
Lithos
Paleoproterozoic metavolcanic rocks in the Ji’an Group and constraints on the formation and evolution of the northern segment of the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt
China. Precambrian Res.
Geologic framework and tectonic evolution of the Qinling orogen, central China
Tectonophysics
Naming materials in the magma/igneous rock system
Earth Sci. Rev.
Petrogenesis of the Late Mesozoic Qijinfeng Granite Complex in the Tongbai orogen: Geochronological, geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope evidence
Lithos
Tectonics of the Qinling (Central China): tectonostratigraphy, geochronology, and deformation history
Tectonophysics
Composition of the continental crust
Geochemistry of eclogites from the Dabie-Sulu terrane, eastern China: new insights into protoliths and trace element behaviour during UHP metamorphism
Lithos
Generation of calc-alkaline andesite magma through crustal melting induced by emplacement of mantle-derived water-rich primary magma: evidence from Rishiri Volcano, southern Kuril Arc
Lithos
Silurian granulite-facies metamorphism, and coeval magmatism and crustal growth in the Tongbai orogen, central China
Lithos
Crustal basement controls granitoid magmatism, and implications for generation of continental crust in subduction zones: A Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopic study from the Paleozoic Tongbai orogen, central China
Lithos
Age and geochemistry of Silurian gabbroic rocks in the Tongbai orogen, central China: implications for the geodynamic evolution of the north Qinling arc-back-arc system
Lithos
Mantle source, magma differentiation and sulfide saturation of the ~637 Ma Zhouan mafic–ultramafic intrusion in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, Central China
Precambr. Res.
Platinum-group elemental and Sr-Nd-Os isotopic geochemistry of the ~635 Ma mafic intrusions in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block: a link of metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle and Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide mineralization
Precambr. Res.
Early Cretaceous adakitic granites in the northern Dabie complex, central China: implications for partial melting and delamination of thickened lower crust
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta
Middle Neoproterozoic (ca. 705–716 Ma) arc to rift transitional magmatism in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block: Constraints from geochemistry, zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes
J. Geodyn.
Neoproterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic granitoid magmatism in the Qinling Orogen, China: constraints on orogenic process
J. Asian Earth Sci.
The origin and evolution of low-δ18O magma recorded by multi-growth zircons in granite
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
LA–ICP–MS monazite U-Pb age and trace element constraints on the granulite-facies metamorphism in the Tongbai orogen, central China
J. Asian Earth Sci.
Tectonic evolution of a composite collision orogen: an overview on the Qinling-Tongbai-Hong'an-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt in central China
Gondwana Res.
Origin of potassic (C-type) adakite magmas: experimental and field constraints
Lithos
Magnesium isotopic composition of continental arc andesites and the implications: a case study from the El Laco volcanic complex, Chile
Lithos
Early Cretaceous granitoids and their implications for the collapse of the Dabie orogen, eastern China: SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating and geochemistry
Chem. Geol.
Mesozoic adakitic rocks from the Xuzhou-Suzhou area, eastern China: evidence for partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust
J. Asia Earth Sci.
The ~860 Ma mafic dikes and granitoids from the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, China: a record of oceanic subduction in the early Neoproterozoic
Precambr. Res.
Mid-Neoproterozoic angular unconformity in the Yangtze Block revisited: insights from detrital zircon U-Pb age and Hf-O isotopes
Precambr. Res.
Integrated in situ U-Pb age and Hf-O analyses of zircon from Suixian Group in northern Yangtze: New insights into the Neoproterozoic low-δ18O magmas in the South China Block
Precambr. Res.
Neoproterozoic tectonic transition in the South Qinling Belt: new constraints from geochemistry and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes of diorites from the Douling Complex
Precambr. Res.
Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the North China Craton: insights from geochemical and zircon U-Pb-Hf-O isotopic study of metavolcanic rocks in the Dengfeng complex
Precambr. Res.
Neoproterozoic magmatic events in the South Qinling Belt, China: implications for amalgamation and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent
Gondwana Res.
Neoproterozoic anatexis of Archean lithosphere: geochemical evidence from felsic to mafic intrusions at Xiaofeng in the Yangtze Gorge, South China
Precambrian Res.
Temperature effect over garnet effect on uptake of trace elements in zircon of TTG-like rocks
Chem. Geol.
Generation of post-collisional normal calc-alkaline and adakitic granites in the Tongbai orogen, central China
Lithos
Early Palaeozoic high-Mg basalt-andesite suite in the Duobaoshan Porphyry Cu deposit, NE China: constraints on petrogenesis, mineralization, and tectonic setting
Gondwana Res.
Cited by (4)
Origin of the Early Cretaceous Be mineralization in the Tongbai-Dabie orogen, central China
2023, Ore Geology ReviewsCa. 800 Ma I-type granites from the Hong'an Terrane, central China: New constraints on the mid-Neoproterozoic tectonic transition from convergence to extension in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block
2022, Journal of Asian Earth SciencesCitation Excerpt :The “plume-rift” model considers the Neoproterozoic (850–700 Ma) magmatism as a response to rifting induced by a mantle plume (e.g., Wang et al., 2009; Zou et al., 2021). In contrast, the “slab-arc” model (or “slab break-off” model) suggests that the co-existence of arc- and rift-related magmatism in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block was controlled by prolonged oceanic-crust subduction along its western margin between 870 and 750 Ma (e.g., Zhao et al., 2018; Niu and Jiang, 2021). Alternatively, the “plate-rift” model proposes that 825–700 Ma igneous rocks formed during orogenic collapse and rift magmatism that developed in response to the tectonic evolution from super-continental rifting to breakup (e.g., Zheng et al., 2008; Wu et al., 2021).
Hydrothermal evolution and origin of the Suixian molybdenum deposit in the Tongbai orogenic belt, China: Constraints from geology, fluid inclusions and multiple isotopes (H[sbnd]O[sbnd]C[sbnd]S[sbnd]Pb)
2022, Ore Geology ReviewsCitation Excerpt :The formation process of the Tongbai complex can be divided into four stages: (1) abundant volcanic and sedimentary rocks were formed in the Neoproterozoic; (2) large-scale Mesozoic granites intruded due to the continental collision; (3) tectonic extension after collision resulted in deformation of the above rocks to form gneiss; and (4) intrusion of some small later intermediate-felsic rocks (e.g., Caodian granite; Fig. 2; Liu et al., 2010; Cui et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2018). The Neoproterozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks are now dominated by leuco-gneiss (called leptynite and leptite by local geologists), amphibolite and marble, which were classified as the Tianwangzhai Group (Fig. 2; Cui et al., 2012; Niu and Jiang, 2021a). As the main body of the Tongbai complex, the Mesozoic granites were changed into gneissic granites by later deformation and metamorphism, which are divided into several geological units according to lithological differences: (1) the Tiangehe granite: medium-fine grained; (2) the Dongyuemiao granite: medium-coarse-grained; (3) the Zhenpengshan granite: porphyritic medium grained; and (4) the Tianmahe granite: fine-grained (Fig. 2; Niu and Jiang, 2021b).