Occurrence of Neoproterozoic low-grade metagranite in the western Beihuaiyang zone,the Dabie orogen

Based on detailed field investigations and petrographic observations, we discovered Neoproterozoic-emplaced granite from the metavolcanics of the Dingyuan Formation in the western Beihuaiyang zone, the Dabie orogen. This study reports the results of zircon U-Pb dating and preliminary petrographic observations on two metagranite samples. The studied rocks experienced epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism and strong structural deformation. Their U-Pb ages are 726 ± 6 and 758 ± 12 Ma, respectively, similar to those for the Luzhenguan complex in the eastern segment of the Beihuaiyang zone. In combination with previously determined 635 ± 5 Ma low-grade metagabbro, this study suggests the occurrence of at least two types of Neoproterozoic intrusive rocks in the Beihuaiyang zone, the northern margin of the South China Block (SCB): 726–758 Ma metagranite and 635 Ma metagabbro. These rocks occur within the metamorphosed Ordovician volcanic zone (originally named the Dingyuan Formation) and are in tectonic contact to each other, but they formed in different tectonic settings. The protolith ages for the Neoproterozoic low-grade metaigneous rocks are in good agreement not only with ages for two episodes of mid- and late-Neoproterozoic mafic and felsic magmatism in the Suizhou and Zaoyang area, Hubei Province, but also agree with protolith ages of ultrahigh-pressure metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. In view of their tectonic relationships to country rocks, it appears that these Neoproterozoic low-grade rocks are exotic and they may have been detached and scraped from subducting SCB crust in the early Triassic during the initial continental subduction, and thrusted over Paleozoic metamorphosed rocks in the southern margin of the North China Block during continental collision.     

Zircon U-Pb ages for Wulian granites in northwest Sulu and their tectonic implications

The Sulu orogen is the eastern termination of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt that results from the Triassic collision between the North China and the Yang-tze plates[1—4]. It contains ultrahigh pressure (UHP) meta-morphic rocks such as eclogite, granitic gneiss and marble. The Wulian complex zone, north to the Wulian fault in the Jiaonan area, is about 10—14 km wide and consists of metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks that only ex-perienced greenschist-facies metamorphism (Fig. …     

Zircon U-Pb ages of granites at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling and implications for source nature

Mesozoic granitoids are widespread in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Precise U-Pb dating on these granitoids can reveal the evolution of the continental collision orogen and thus provide information on the nature of magma sources. This study presents zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses for two intrusions at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling. Zircon U-Pb ages for central and marginal phases of the Huangzhuguang intrusion are 214±1 Ma and 213±3 Ma, respectively. Zircons from the Changba intrusion yield a dominant cluster with an U-Pb age of 213±2 Ma. Collectively, these ages are younger than ages of 220 to 240 Ma for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism due to the continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block, corresponding to syn-exhumation magmatism. Some inherited zircons occur in the Changba intrusion, yielding a weighted mean of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages at 757±14 Ma. This indicates that the Changba intrusion has the crustal source of mid-Neoproterozoic ages and a tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Geochemically, the two intrusuons are both rich in LILE and LREE but depleted in HFSE and HREE, similar to arc-type igneous rocks. The Huangzhuguang intrusion exhibits linear correlations between SiO₂ and the other major oxides, implying chemical evolution from a cognate magma source. It contains mafic enclaves, suggesting possible mixing of felsic-mafic magmas. The Changba granite is rich in Si and K but poor in Fe and Mg as well as has a high value of Fe*, suggesting strong differentiation of granitic magma. Therefore, the two intrusions were derived from the Late Triassic anatexis of the continental crust of different compositions in the northern margin of South China Block. This process may be coupled with exhumation of the subducted continental crust in the stage of late collision.     

U-Pb zircon dating of Early Paleozoic gabbro from the Nantinghe ophiolite in the Changning-Menglian suture zone and its geological implication

The Nantinghe ophiolite is located in the northern part of the Changning-Menglian suture zone in southeast Tibet. It is composed of meta-peridotite, cumulative gabbro, meta-gabbro, plagioclase amphibolite and meta-basalt. Zircon U-Pb dating of the cumulative gabbro gives concordant ages of 473.0±3.8 Ma and 443.6±4.0 Ma respectively, indicating the early and late episodes of mafic magmatisms during the Paleo-Tethys oceanic rifting. The 16 LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb analyses of meta-gabbro yield a weight mean age of 439±2.4Ma. The gabbro shows relatively low contents of SiO2 (46.46%-52.11%), TiO2 (0.96%-1.14%) and K2O (0.48%-0.75%). Its trace element distribution patterns are partly similar to those of the mid-ocean ridge basalts, and part is depleted in high field strength elements such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti. These features suggest that the mafic rocks were probably formed in a MORB-like or backarc rift basin setting. The zircon U-Pb age of gabbro is consistent with a late crystallization age of the cumulative gabbro from the Nantinghe ophiolite, suggesting that the Paleo-Tethys oceanic basin was opened during 444-439 Ma, possibly as a backarc basin. It is the first precise age which defines the formation time of the early Paleozoic ophiolite in the Changning-Menglian suture zone. These geochronological and geochemical characteristics of the Nantinghe ophiolite are consistent with those from the Guoganjianianshan and Taoxinghu of the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture in the Qiangtang region. Thus, we suggest that the both Changning-Menglian and Longmu Co-Shuanghu sutures were probably transformed from the relic oceanic crust of the uniform Paleo-Tethys, which likely represents the original and main Paleo-Tethys oceanic basin.     

中祁连北缘野牛沟-托勒地区晋宁期花岗岩的地质意义

阐述了在中祁连陆块北缘野牛沟-托勒地区原划分的古元古代托赖（岩）群中识别并划分出了晋宁期片麻状花岗岩。它侵位于中元古代中浅变质岩系湟中群以及新解体出的中-新元古代托勒片岩中,单颗粒锆石铀-铅同位素年龄为（837．8±58）Ma、（842±37）Ma,表明它们是晋宁期岩浆事件的产物,地球化学特征显示形成于碰撞构造环境;该片麻状花岗岩的发现,对于祁连造山带前震旦纪基底的深入研究及更进一步确定该地区存在的晋宁期碰撞造山作用提供了直接证据。     

LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb geochronological constraints on the tectonothermal evolution of the Early Paleoproterozoic Dakendaban Group in the Quanji Block,NW China

The Quanji Block, situated between the northern margin of the Qaidam Block and the South Qilian orogenic belt in the NE Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, is thought to represent a remnant continental crust. In this study, LA-ICPMS U-Pb analyses of detrital zircon grains from two mesosomes in the migmatitic Dakendaban Group yield ages of 2467＋28/-26 Ma and 2474＋66/-52 Ma, respectively. Zircon grains from a leucosome give two distinct ages of 2471＋18/-16 Ma and 1924＋14/-15 Ma. Zircon from a granitic pegmatite that intruded into the Dakendaban Group yields an age of 2427＋44/-38 Ma. These data suggest that the Early Paleoproterozoic Dakendaban Group deposited between -2.43 to -2.47 Ga and has been subject to an intrusive event at 2.43Ga, and regional metamorphism-anatexis at 1.92 Ga. The common lower intercept age of -0.9 Ga probably records a significant Early Neoproterozoic event in the Quanji Block.     

Timing of the Wudangshan, Yaolinghe volcanic sequences and mafic sills in South Qinling: U-Pb zircon geochronology and tectonic implication

The Wudangshan, Yaolinghe volcanic-sedimentary sequences and doleritic-gabbroic sills comprise the largest exposed Precambrian basement in South Qinling. Zircons separated from 5 volcanic-pyroclastic samples of the Wudangshan Group, 2 volcanic samples of the Yaolinghe Group and one sample for the mafic sills were used for U-Pb dating by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （LA-ICPMS）. The results reveal that the Wudangshan volcanic sequence was formed at （755±3） Ma （a weighted mean from the 5 samples, MSWD=0.47）, whereas the Yaolinghe volcanic suite and the mafic sill were crystallized at （685±5） （2 samples, MSWD=0.36） and （679±3） Ma （MSWD=1.6）, respectively, which are equal to each other within analysis errors. These ages are markedly younger than those previously documented for the rocks. The newly obtained ages for the Wudangshan and Yaolinghe Groups are Identical to those of the bottom Liantuo and slightly older than those of the Nantuo Formations, respectively, lower strata of the Nanhua （middle to late Neoproterozoic） stratotype section in eastern Three Gorges, Yangtze creton. A range of inherited magmatic zircons was recognized with ages of 830 to 780 Ma, which are typical of Neoprotzrozoic magmatisms recorded along the margins and interior of the Yangtze craton. Thus, there is Neoproterozoic basement comprising 830-780 Ma igneous suites in South Qinling; the inherited zircons were detrital sediments derived from the northern margin of the Yangtze craton. Accordingly, it is suggested that the South Qinling is a segment of the Yangtze creton before the Qinling Orogeny.     

扬子板块西缘盐边群及周边岩体地质年代学新格局

扬子板块西缘的盐边群及其周边岩体,作为前寒武纪构造岩浆活动带的核心,是观察和研究新元古代大陆壳生长的重要窗口。查明这一构造岩浆活动带内地质体的产出时代及构造岩浆活动的轨迹,是揭示新元古代大陆壳产生、发展地球动力学过程的重点环节。对盐边群及周边岩体的地质年代学研究表明:(1)区内大规模的岩浆事件集中在中元古代晚期至新元古代早期,荒田组海相玄武岩的喷发最早出现在1 122~1 038Ma B.P.;关刀山岩体早期的锆石U-Pb年龄为988±51Ma(N=6)和924±17Ma(N=9),并延续至857Ma B.P.;同德岩体的年龄主要集中在886~814Ma,峰值年龄为847.2±4.9 Ma(N=39)。(2)盐边群的渔门组和小坪组沉积时代晚于荒田组玄武岩、关刀山和同德岩浆岩体。(3)盐边群的碎屑沉积锆石与盐边群周边岩体锆石U-Pb年龄接近一致,是否存在成因关系,需进一步证实。以盐边群及其周边岩体为核心,同时向南、东、北方向延伸开展研究,核实区内主要岩浆地质体的产出时代、空间分布及物源特性,是重建扬子板块西缘新大陆壳生长及其地球动力学过程的必要前提。     

Grenvillian orogeny in the Southern Cathaysia Block: Constraints from U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon from metamorphic basement

Metamorphic basement rocks in the Cathaysia Block are composed mainly of meta-sediments with different ages. New zircon U-Pb geochronological results from the meta-sedimentary rocks exposed in the Zengcheng and Hezi areas, southern Cathaysia Block, show that they consist dominantly of early Neoproterozoic （1.0-0.9 Ga） materials with minor Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic and late Neoproterozoic （0.8-0.6 Ga） components, suggesting that the detritus mostly come from a Grenvillian orogen. The youngest detrital zircon ages place a constraint on the deposition time of these sediments in Late Neoproterozoic. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions indicate that the Grenvillian zircons were derived from the reworking of Mesoproterozoic arc magmatic rocks and Paleoproterozoic continental crust, implying an arc-continent collisional setting. Single-peak age spectra and the presence of abundant euhedral Grenvillian zircons suggest that the sedimentary provenance is not far away from the sample location. Thus, the Grenvillian orogen probably preexisted along the southern margin of the Cathaysia Block, or very close to the south. Similarity in the ages of Grenvillian orogeny and the influence of the assembly of Gondwana in South China with India and East Antarctic are discussed, with suggestion that South China was more likely linked with the India-East Antarctica continents in Early Neoproterozoic rather than between western Laurentia and eastern Australia.     

陕南铜厂闪长岩体的成岩、成矿时代及其地质意义

铜厂闪长岩体位于扬子地台北缘勉县-略阳-阳平关三角地块区域内, 主要由闪长岩、石英闪长岩和花岗闪长岩组成。LA-ICPMS 和 SHRIMP 锆石U-Pb 同位素定年结果表明铜厂闪长岩体存在 3 个侵位结晶阶段: 早期阶段的闪长岩形成于 879 ±7 Ma; 中期阶段的石英闪长岩形成于 848±5 ～840±7 Ma, 含矿钠长岩脉于 834±7 Ma侵位结晶, 与中期阶段石英闪长岩侵位时代在误差范围内一致; 晚期阶段花岗闪长岩形成于 824±5 Ma。这些新的年代学数据表明铜厂闪长岩体及其相伴生的大型铜厂铜矿形成于晋宁期, 而不是古生代, 揭示了扬子地台北缘存在重要的新元古代早期岩浆活动, 与 Rodinia 超大陆的裂解事件在时间上( 860 ～750 Ma) 基本一致, 是Rodinia 超大陆事件在扬子地台北缘的重要响应。     

A ∼2.5 Ga magmatic event at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton: Evidence from U-Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis of zircons from the Douling Complex in the South Qinling orogen

The poorly studied Douling Complex is a crystalline basement that developed in the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic weakly metamorphosed to non-metamorphosed strata at the South Qinling tectonic belt. Five banded dioritic-granitic gneiss samples from the Douling Complex were chosen for LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb zircon dating, which yielded protolith emplacement ages of 2469 ± 22 Ma, 2479 ± 12 Ma, 2497 ± 21 Ma, 2501 ± 17 Ma and 2509 ± 14 Ma, respectively. An important peak age of ～2.48 Ga was also obtained for a metasedimentary rock in the same region. These discoveries suggest the occurrence of magmatic activity of 2.51–2.47 Ga at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton. The age-corrected ? _Hf(t) values obtained from in situ zircon Hf isotopic analysis are mainly between ?5.5 and +0.3, and the two-stage zircon Hf model ages range from 3.30 to 2.95 Ga. Considering two important periods of ～3.3–3.2 Ga and ～2.95–2.90 Ga for the continental crustal growth in the Yangtze craton, we infer that the dioritic-granitic gneisses from the Douling Complex are the products of reworking of Paleo- to Mesoarchean crust at the northern margin of the Yangtze craton at ～2.5 Ga. In addition, metamorphic ages of 837 ± 8 Ma and 818 ± 10 Ma were obtained for zircon overgrowth rims from a dioritic gneiss and a metasedimentary rock, indicating that the main phase amphibolite facies metamorphism of the Doulng Complex occurred during the Neoproterozoic, although its geological meaning remains ambiguous.     

内蒙古乌拉山地区古生代花岗岩和辉长闪长岩年代学特征及其构造意义

乌拉山地区大桦背花岗岩体和西沙德盖辉长闪长岩体位于华北地台北缘中段乌拉山地区,构造位置为阴山隆起中段,是研究古生代古亚洲洋板块与华北板块相互作用的重要区域。通过锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年、稀土和微量元素分析,获取了中细粒二长花岗岩、中粗粒二长花岗岩、中粗粒正长花岗和中细粒辉长闪长岩年龄,分别为(332. 8±1. 2)、(333. 8±1. 3)、(332. 6±1. 1)、(333. 2±1. 9) Ma,结果表明花岗岩和辉长闪长岩均属于早石炭世岩浆活动产物。大桦背花岗岩富硅、准铝-弱过铝质、高碱、相对富钾,属高钙碱性系列,轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损的右倾型配分模式,具高分异I型花岗岩特征,岩体边部广泛发育辉长闪长岩包裹体,花岗岩和辉长闪长岩稀土配分模式基本一致,各类数据表明这两个岩体在成因上具有密切联系。结合区域地质背景和构造图解分析,认为大桦背花岗岩体和辉长闪长岩体形成于古蒙古洋板块向华北古板块俯冲过程的弧后挤压向伸展环境过渡的活动大陆边缘地球动力条件下。     

Zircon U-Pb dating for the earliest Neoproterozoic mafic magmatism in the southern margin of the North China Block

Geological records of Neoproterozoic magmaticevents have recently been identified in the central Phanerozoic orogenic belts of China[1]. In regions of east Qinling orogen[2], Dabie-Sulu orogen[3], north Qaidam Basin orogen[4―6], and southwest Tarim Basin…     

Ore-forming event and geodynamic setting of molybdenum deposit at Wenquan in Gansu Province, Western Qinling

The Wenquan molybdenum deposit is associated with a Triassic granite in this area. The Wenquan granite is enriched in LILE and LREE, poor in HFSE, and has significantly higher contents of alkali （K2O＋Na2O） and Sr, Ba than those of the island arc volcanic rocks. These geochemical characteristics are similar to post-collisional granites in high K calc-alkaline series. Studies of major elements, trace elements, REEs and chronology of the Wenquan pluton show that, in the geodynamic transition stage of continent-continent convergence to extension, the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle generated the basaltic magma and triggered the partial melting of the thickened lower crust which produceded the acidic magma, and the Wenquan pluton was formed by mixing of the two magmas. Molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating gave Os model ages of 212.7±2.6 Ma to 215.1±2.6 Ma with a weighted mean of 214.1±1.1 Ma, and an Re-Os isochron age of 214.4±7.1 Ma. These ages are close to K-Ar ages （223 to 226 Ma） and a SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age （223±7 Ma） for the Wenquan granite within the error range, but relatively younger. This implies that the Mo mineralization occurred in a late stage of the magmatic intrusion, and the metallogenesis took place in the transition stage from syn-collision to post-collision in the tectonic setting of the Qinling Orogenic Belt （QOB） after continental collision between the North China Block （NCB） and the South China Block （SCB）. This process is also corresponding to the geological events of metamorphism and deformation in South Qinling, closure of the Mian-Lue oceanic basin, and exhumation of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks. The large-scale continent-continent collision between NCB and SCB in the middle Triassic triggered significant crustal thickening and exhumation of subducted slab. In the late Triassic, the tectonic setting was transformed to the transition stage from collision to extension. Materials from the asthenospheric mantle would ascend into the root of the lower crust, which could induce partial melting of the lower crust and generate Mo-enriched granitic magma. The ore-forming elements enriched in the fluid derived from the condensation and fraction of the magma resulted in the Mo mineralization. The Mo deposits in the QOB are mainly formed in two episodes, namely 220± Ma and 140± Ma. The two episodes of metallogenesis were developed in the tectonic transition settings from compression to extension, but they were in the different stages of the tectonic evolution. The occurrence of the Wenquan Mo-bearing pluton indicates that the Triassic tectonic-magmatic belt of Western Qinling is another favorable region for Mo mineralization in the QOB. Therefore, it is significant to pay more attention to evaluation of the ore-forming potentiality in the Triassic granites in Western Qinling.     

SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology of the zircons from the Precambrian basement of the Qilian Block and its geological significances

Origin and tectonic evolution of the Qilian Precambrian basement on NW China were investigated using zircon U-Pb ages with collaborating stratigraphic and paleontological evidence. Zircon grains were separated from two schists, two granitic gneisses and one mylonized gneiss and dated with SHRIMP. Seventy percent of sixty-one detrital zircon ages from two schists ranges from 0.88 Ga to 3.09 Ga, mostly within 1.0 Ga to 1.8 Ga with a peak at 1.6 Ga to 1.8 Ga, and twenty percent varies from 2.0 Ga to 2.5 Ga. A few falls in the Archean and Neoproterozoic periods. The two granitic gneisses were dated 930±8 Ma and 918±14 Ma, whereas the mylonized granitic gneiss was dated 790±12 Ma. These ages represent two periods of magmatisms, which can be correlated with the early and late stages of magmatisms associated with the Jinningian movement on the Yangtze Blocks. The results from this and previous studies indicate that the ages of the Precambrian detrital zircons from the Qilian Block are widely distributed in the Proterozoic era, distinct from the North China Block which was stable in the Neo-Mesoproterozoic era. By contrast, the age histograms of the detrital zircons from the Qilian Block is similar to those from Precambrian basement of the Yangtze Craton. Therefore, it is suggested that the Qilian Block had a strong affinity toward the Yangtze Craton and might belong to the supercontinent Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic time. This inference is supported by Nd model age (TDM), stratigraphic, and paleontological evidence. It is further considered that the Qilian Block was rifted from the supercontinent Gondwana during late Sinian to form an isolated continent in the Proto-Tethyan Ocean, moving towards the Alaxa Block in the North China Craton. The part of Proto-Tethyan Ocean between the Qilian and Alaxa Blocks should correspond to the so-called Paleo-Qilian Ocean. Following the closure of the Paleo-Qilian Ocean in the early Paleozoic, the Qilian Block collided with the Alaxa Block to form the North Qilian Orogenic Belt. Based on this tectonic explanation, the North Qilian ophiolites should represent parts of lithosphere from the Proto-Tethyan Ocean. Lithological and geochronological evidence also indicates that the Qilian Block underwent continental reactivation possibly induced by the deep northward subduction of the North Qaidam Block in early Paleozoic time.     

苏鲁造山带岩浆岩的锆石U Pb定年及构造意义

锆石U-Pb定年和地球化学分析结果显示,苏鲁造山带南缘连云港锦屏山片麻状花岗岩形成于(806.0±14.0)Ma,海州群云台组变质火山岩形成于(800.8±7.8)Ma,张八岭隆起的张八岭群西冷组变质火山岩形成于(751.6±7.1)Ma和(767.0±15.0)Ma.这些岩浆岩总体上具有高钾钙碱性系列、右倾型REE(Rare Earth Elements)模式、Nb、Ta、Sr、P和Ti强烈亏损、中等负铕异常、重稀土弱到中等亏损、低Sr、高Yb等特点,与浙闽型岩浆岩反映的区域伸展环境和下地壳部分熔融是一致的.这次构造岩浆活动820～740Ma,是晋宁期主碰撞造山后Rodinia超大陆裂解和岩石圈减薄演化的记录.     

Sm-Nd isochron age of ophiolite along northern margin of Altun Tagh Mountain and its tectonic significance

An ophiolite belt is exposed to the northern edge of Altun Tagh Mountain. Geochronological researches were made on gabbro and basalt. Sm-Nd isochron age of gabbro is (829 ± 60) Ma, while the age of gabbro mixed basalt is (949 ± 62) Ma. The dating of Sm-Nd isochron proves that ophiolite formed in (829 ± 60) Ma, which implies that the northern half of Tarim (or north Tarim Block) had been separated by an ocean from the southern half of Tarim and Qaidarn (or south Tarim Block) until (829 ± 60) Ma. The south Tarim Block could accrete to the north Tarim Block at the beginning of Sinian, thereby forming the north Altun Tagh suture. The Sinian system would be the first cover on the amalgamated Tarim craton.     

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of basement metamorphic rocks in the Songliao Basin

Zircon LA-ICP MS U-Pb dating of six metamorphic rocks and a metagranite (breccia) from southern basement of the Songliao Basin are reported in order to constrain the formation ages of basement. The basement metamorphic rocks in the Songliao Basin mainly consist of metagabbro (L45-1), amphibolite (SN117), metarhyolitical tuff (G190), sericite (Ser) schist (N103), chlorite (Chl) schist (T5-1), biotite (Bi)-actinolite (Act)-quartz (Q) schist (Y205), and metagranite (L44-1). The cathodoluminesence (CL) images of the zircons from metagabbro (L45-1) and metagranite (L44-1) indicate that they have cores of magmatic origin and rims of metamorphic overgrowths. Their U-Pb isotopic ages are 1808±21 Ma and 1873±13 Ma, respectively. The zircons with oscillatory zoning from amphibolite (SN117) and Chl schist (T5-1), being similar to those of mafic igneous rocks, yield ages of 274 ± 3.4 Ma and 264 ± 3.2 Ma, re-spectively. The zircons from metarhyolitical tuff (G190) and Ser schist (N103) display typical magmatic growth zoning and yield ages of 424 ± 4.5 Ma and 287 ± 5.1Ma, respectively. Most of zircons from Bi-Act-Q schist (Y205) are round in shape and different in absorption degree in the CL images, implying their sedimentary detritals. U-Pb dating yield concordant ages of 427 ± 3.1Ma, 455 ± 12 Ma, 696 ± 13 Ma, 1384±62 Ma, 1649±36 Ma, 1778±18 Ma, 2450±9 Ma, 2579±10 Ma, 2793±4 Ma and 2953±14 Ma. The above-mentioned results indicate that the Precambrian crystalline basement (1808―1873 Ma) exists in the southern Songliao Basin and could be related to tectonic thrust, and that the Early Paleozoic (424―490 Ma) and Late Paleozoic magmatisms (264―292 Ma) also occur in the basin basement, which are consistent with the ages of the detrital zircons from Bi-Act-Q schist in the basement.     

Indosinian isotope ages of plutons and deposits in southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling,northeastern Guangxi and implications on Indosinian mineralization in South China

The Miaoershan-Yuechengling complex pluton is the largest granitoid complex in the western Nanling metallogenic belt with a surface exposure of >3000 km2.The complex pluton is composed of an early stage granitoid batholith and late stage small intrusions.The early stage batholith contains mainly medium-grained porphyritic mica granite and porphyritic monzonite granite,whereas the late stage intrusions are composed of muscovite granite porphyry and muscovite monzonitic granite.There are many W-Sn-Mo-Pb-Zn-Cu ores in the contact zone between the batholith and strata,forming an ore-rich belt around the batholith.Based on zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages,the southwestern part of the early stage batholith formed at 228.7 ± 4.1 Ma(MSWD = 2.49),with slightly earlier magmatic activity at 243.0 ± 5.8 Ma(MSWD = 2.62).The Yuntoujie muscovite granite was associated with W-Mo mineralization and has a zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age of 216.8 ± 4.9 Ma(MSWD = 1.44).The Re-Os isochron age of molybdenite from the Yuntoujie W-Mo ore was 216.8 ± 7.5 Ma(MSWD = 11.3).Our new isotope data suggest that the late stage intrusive stocks from the southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling batholith were closely associated with W-Mo mineralization from the Indosinian period.These new results together with previous isotope data,suggest that South China underwent not only the well-known Yanshanian mineralization event,but also a widespread Indosinian metallogenic event during the Mesozoic period.Therefore,South China has a greater potential for Indosinian mineralization than previously thought such that more attention should be given to the Indosinian ore prospecting in South China.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for the Cangshuipu volcanic rocks and its implications for the lower boundary age of the Nanhua strata in South China

Continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedi-mentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation oc- cur as wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata in the Yiyang region, Hunan Province. They overlie with a high-angle unconformity the Lengjiaxi Group of the Upper Meso- proterozoic Eonothem. The wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata of the continental clastic rocks and the Mesopro-terozoic deep marine flysch turbidites of the Lengjiaxi Group represent two distinct stages of basin-tectonic evo-…