Permo–Triassic granitoids of the Xing’an–Mongolia segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,Northeast China: age,composition, and tectonic implications

The Xing’an–Mongolia orogenic belt is located in the southeastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Its tectonic evolution, especially during the Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic, remains controversial. Here, we report new zircon U–Pb dates, whole-rock geochemistry, and Hf isotopes of representative samples from four plutons in the Linxi area of Northeast China to provide new constraints on this issue. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the intrusions were emplaced in two stages: (1) Late Permian to Early Triassic (the Banshifangzi and Xinangou plutons (252 ± 3)–(246.3 ± 3.3) Ma); and (2) Late Triassic (the Baoshan and Hada plutons (220.8 ± 2.7)–(211.4 ± 2.6) Ma). Their positive εHf(t) values (6.6–14.1), coupled with their geochemical characteristics, suggest that the provenance of investigated granitoids were most likely to be dominated by juvenile crustal materials. Based on these new data and previous studies, we propose three stages of tectonic evolution during the Late Palaeozoic–Early Mesozoic in the XMOB: (1) Late Carboniferous–Early Permian (330–270 Ma): double-sided subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean; (2) Middle Permian–Middle Triassic (270–237 Ma): the closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean and subsequent continent–continent collision between the North China Craton and the South Mongolia Terrane; and (3) Late Triassic (237–211 Ma): post-collisional extension.     

Nature and significance of the late Mesozoic granitoids in the southern Great Xing’an range,eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

ABSTRACT

Abundant late Mesozoic granitic rocks are widespread in the southern Great Xing’an Range (GXAR), which have attracted much attention due to its significance for the Mesozoic tectonic evolution in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. However, controversy has still surrounded the late Mesozoic geodynamic switching in the continental margin of east China, especially the spatial and temporal extent of the influence of the Mongol-Okhotsk and Palaeo-Pacific tectonic regimes. In order to better understand the Late Mesozoic evolutionary history of the southern GXAR, a number of geochemical, geochronological, and isotopic data of the granitoids in this region are collected. Magmatism in the southern GXAR can be divided into six phases: Late Carboniferous (325–303 Ma), Early-Middle Permian (287–260 Ma), Triassic (252–220 Ma), Early Jurassic (182–176 Ma), Late Jurassic (154–146 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (145–111 Ma). Mesozoic magmatic activities in the southern GXAR peaked during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, accompanied by large-scale mineralization. Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic evidence of these granitic rocks suggested they were likely originated from a mixed source composed of lower crust and newly underplated basaltic crust. Assimilation-fractional crystallization (AFC) or crustal contamination possibly occurred in the magma evolution, and a much more addition of juvenile component to the source of the Early Cretaceous granitoids than that of Late Jurassic. The closure of Mongol-Okhotsk ocean and the break-off of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic slab at depth in the Jurassic triggered extensive magmatism and related mineralization in this region. The Jurassic intrusive activities was affected by both the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate and the closure of Mongol-Okhotsk ocean. Less influence of the Mongol-Okhotsk tectonic regime on the Early Cretaceous magmatism, whereas, in contrast the Palaeo-Pacific tectonic regime possibly continued into the Cenozoic.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous granitoids and related tectono-metallogenesis in the Zapug–Duobuza arc,western Tibet

The Zapug–Duobuza magmatic arc (ZDMA), located along the southern edge of the south Qiangtang terrane in western Tibet, extends east–west for ~ 400 km. Small scattered granite and porphyry intrusions crop out in the ZDMA, but a large amount of granite may be buried by Late Cretaceous to Paleogene thrusting. Two stages of magmatism have been identified, at 170–150 Ma and 130–110 Ma. The widely distributed Middle–Late Jurassic granite intrusions in the ZDMA exhibit SrNd isotopic characteristics similar to those of ore-bearing porphyries in the Duolong giant CuAu deposit, and their εHf(t) values mostly overlap those of other porphyry CuMo deposits in the ZDMA and the Gangdese zone. The SrNdHf isotopic geochemistry suggests variable contributions of mantle and Qiangtang crustal sources, and indicates the presence of two new ore districts with potentials for CuAu, Fe, and PbZn ores, located in the Jiacuo–Liqunshan and Larelaxin–Caima areas. Except for the Duolong ore-forming porphyries, which show significant contributions of mantle components intruded into an accretionary mélange setting, the Early Cretaceous granites in other areas of the belt are of mostly crustal origin, from sources in Qiangtang felsic basement and Permo-Carboniferous strata, indicating the weak ore-forming potential of skarn-type Fe and PbZn deposits. The ephemeral but deep Bangong Co–Nujiang ocean in the Early Jurassic evolved into a shallow compressional marine basin in the Middle–Late Jurassic, possibly transitioning to northward flat subduction of oceanic crust at this time. The subducted slab broke off in the Early Cretaceous, initiating a peak in arc magmatism and metallogenesis at 125–110 Ma.     

Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Great Xing’an Range: geochronological and geochemical evidence from granitoids and volcanic rocks in the Erguna Block,NE China

ABSTRACT

The late Mesozoic magmatic record within the Erguna Block is critical to evaluate the tectonic history and geodynamic evolution of the Great Xing’an Range, NE China. Here, we provide geochronological and geochemical data on Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous plutonic-volcanic rocks in the northern Erguna Block and discuss their origin within a regional tectonic framework. Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Erguna Block can be divided into two major periods: Late Jurassic (162–150 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (140–125 Ma). Late Jurassic quartz monzonite and dacite show adakite characteristics such as high Al₂O₃, high Sr, and steeply fractionated REE patterns. Contemporary granitoids and rhyolites are also characterized by strong enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) and significant depletion in heavy rare earth elements (HREE), but with more pronounced negative Eu anomalies. Early Cretaceous trachytes and monzoporphyries exhibit moderate LREE enrichment and relatively flat HREE distributions. Coeval granites and rhyolites have transitional signatures between A-type and fractionated I-type felsic rocks. Both Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rocks have distinctive negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies, and positive zircon ε_Hf(t) values, suggesting that these magmas were derived from partial melting of Meso-Neoproterozoic accreted lower crust, although melting occurred at a variety of crustal levels. The transition from adakite to non-adakite magmatism reflects continued crustal thinning from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Our data, together with recently reported isotopic data for plutonic and volcanic rocks, as well as geochemical data, in NE China, suggest that Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Erguna Block was possibly induced by post-collisional extension after closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous tectonic evolution of Southeast China: geochronological and geochemical constraints of Yanshanian granitoids

We report results of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry-based dating, as well as the analysis of bulk-rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopes to address the genesis and tectonic settings of the Yanshanian granitoids in neighbouring sections of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces (the WZG region) within the Yangtze block. Geochronological results indicate that intense magmatic activity took place during Jurassic to Cretaceous time in the WZG region. Three episodes can be clearly distinguished by their bulk-rock geochemistry. (1) Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids (180–170 Ma) have high Sr and low Yb content, high ?_Nd(t) and low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, and weakly negative Eu anomalies. These granitoids are strongly enriched with LREE, Rb, K, and Th but are depleted of HREE, Nb, and Ta. (2) Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids (165–140 Ma) have relatively low Sr and low Yb contents, as well as low ?_Nd(t) and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, with characteristics similar to those of the Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids in terms of the rare earth element and trace element patterns. (3) Early Cretaceous granitoids (140–120 Ma) have extremely low Sr and high Yb concentrations, as well as high SiO₂ but low MgO, CaO, and Al₂O₃ content, with strong negative anomalies in Eu, Ba, Sr, P, and Ti. These characteristics indicate that the WZG Jurassic granitoids were related to northwestward subduction of the Izanagi plate, whereas the Early Cretaceous granitoids formed in a within-plate extensional setting. The time of transition between the two tectonic environments can be constrained to ～140 Ma. This tectonic transition may be attributed to progressive slab roll-back of the Izanagi plate. The presence of two A-type granite belts in the WZG region probably reflects lithospheric thinning. The NE trend of the A-type granite belts indicates that this extension in Southeast China was controlled by underflow of the Izanagi plate.     

Geochronological data of igneous and metamorphic rocks from the Xing’an-Mongolia Orogenic Belt of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: implications for the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

International Journal of Earth Sciences - In order to better constrain the evolution of the Xing’an-Mongolia Orogenic Belt and the resulting closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, we conducted an...     

Early Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Insights from granitoids in the Xing’an and Songnen blocks

The early Paleozoic tectonic framework and evolutionary history of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is poorly understood. Here we present zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole rock geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data of the early Paleozoic granitoids in eastern CAOB to investigate the petrogenesis and geodynamic implications.The early Paleozoic granitoids from the Songnen Block yield zircon U–Pb ages of 523–490 ​Ma, negative ε_Nd(t) values of –6.7 to –0.8, and ε_Hf(t) values of –8.6 to 7.1, indicating they were generated by partial melting of ancient crustal materials with various degrees of mantle contribution. They generally show affinities to A-type granites, implying their generation from an extensional environment after the collision between the Songnen and Jiamusi blocks. In comparison, the early Paleozoic granitoids from the Xing’an Block have zircon U–Pb ages of 480–465 ​Ma, ε_Nd(t) values of –5.4 to 5.4, and ε_Hf(t) values of –2.2 to 12.9, indicating a dominated juvenile crustal source with some input of ancient crustal components. They belong to I-type granites and were likely related to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The statistics of T_DM2 Hf model ages of the granitoids indicate that the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks contain a significant proportion of Mesoproterozoic crystalline basement, while the Xing’an Block is dominated by a Neoproterozoic basement.Based on these observations, the early Paleozoic evolutionary history of eastern CAOB can be divided into four stages: (1) before 540 ​Ma, the Erguna, Xing’an, Songnen, and Jiamusi blocks were discrete microcontinents separated by different branches of the Paleo-Asian Ocean; (2) 540–523 ​Ma, the Jiamusi Block collided with the Songnen Block along the Mudanjiang suture; (3) ca. 500 Ma, the Erguna Block accreted onto the Xing’an Block along the Xinlin–Xiguitu suture; (4) ca. 480 Ma, the Paleo-Asian Ocean started a double-side subduction beneath the united Erguna–Xing’an and Songnen–Jiamusi blocks.     

Rock Series and Genetic Types of Granitoids in the Western Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China

A systematic geological and geochemical study was conducted for the granitoids of different periods in the western Kunlun erogenic belt. The study indicates that the granitoids belong to tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, high-K calc-alkaline, alkaline and shoshonitic series, and that there are 5 genetic types, i.e., I-, S-, M-, A- and SH-type, of which SH-type is first put forward in this paper, which corresponds to shoshonitic granitoids.     

Geodynamics of the origin of granulites in the Sangilen block of the Tuva–Mongolian terrane,Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Tuva–Mongolian terrane of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt is a composite structure with a Vendian–Cambrian terrigenous–carbonate cover. The Sangilen block in the southern part of the belt is a smaller composite structure, in which tectono–stratigraphic complexes of different age that were produced under various conditions were amalgamated in the course of Early Paleozoic tectonic cycle. The P–T parameters of the Early Paleozoic metamorphism in the western part of the Sangilen block corresponded to the amphibolite facies. The gneisses of the Erzin Complex contain relict granulite-facies mineral assemblages. The granulites are dominated by metasediments typical of deep-water basins on passive continental margins. The only exception is granulites of the Lower Erzin tectonic nappe of the Chinchlig thrust system: these rocks are metatholeiites, tonalites, and trondhjemites, whose REE patterns are similar to those of MORB. The composition of these granulites and their high Sm/Nd ratios indicate that the rocks were derived from juvenile crust that had been formed in an environment of a mature island arc or backarc basin. It is reasonable to believe that these rocks are fragments of the Late Riphean basement of the Sangilen block. The average ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon age of the garnet–hypersthene granulites is 494 ± 11 Ma. With regard for the zircon age of the postmetamorphic granitoids, the granulite-facies metamorphism occurred within the age range of 505–495 Ma. The peak metamorphic temperature reached 910–950°C, and the pressure was 3–4 kbar, which corresponds to ultrahigh-temperature/low-pressure (UHT–LP) metamorphism. The garnet–hypersthene orthogranulites were formed at a temperature that decreased to ~850°C and pressure that increased to ~5.5?7 kbar. It can be hypothesized that the earlier UHT–LP granulites were produced at an elevated heat flux and were later (in the course of continuing collision) overlain by a relatively cold tectonic slab, and this leads to a certain temperature decrease and pressure increase. This relatively cold slab could consist of fragments of the Vendian elevated-pressure metamorphic belt whose development terminated at the Vendian–Cambrian boundary before the onset of the Early Paleozoic regional metamorphism.     

Constraints from zircon U–Pb ages, O and Hf isotopic compositions on the origin of Neoproterozoic peraluminous granitoids from the Jiangnan Fold Belt, South China

Zircon textures and micro-chemical compositions precisely record the origin and petrogenesis of granitoids, which are crucial for evaluating crustal growth and reworking, thermal and geodynamic evolution. Zircons in peraluminous granitoids from the three largest 820 Ma complexes (Guibei, Yueyang and Jiuling) in the Jiangnan Fold Belt in South China are used to constrain their sources and petrogenetic processes. Zircons in the Guibei granitoids have complex internal structures. Nearly all magmatic and inherited zircons have similar εHf (?6.8 to +5.6) and δ¹⁸O values (8.8–11.6 ‰) and dominantly lie between εHf evolution vectors for a crust created between 1.7 and 2.1 Ga, suggesting that the Guibei granitoids were produced by partial melting of recycled heterogeneous supracrustal material. However, the Yueyang granitoids contain zircons with high εHf (?0.5 to +9.7) and relatively low δ¹⁸O values (5.9–8.4 ‰) and two-stage model ages of 1.1–1.8 Ga, and thus may have been formed by melting of mafic rocks from the lower crust. The Jiuling granitoids and their enclaves contain more complex zircons with more variable εHf (?7.2 to +9.7) and δ¹⁸O values (7.0–10.6 ‰), and lie along the mixing trend between the above-proposed infracrustal and supracrustal granitoids. Therefore, the Neoproterozoic peraluminous granitoids in the Jiangnan Fold Belt were produced by melting and mixing of continental crust. Compared with extremely low (≤4 ‰) and negative δ¹⁸O values of Neoproterozoic igneous zircons formed in its northern active continental margin, the high δ¹⁸O peraluminous granitoids in the southeastern Yangtze Block are considered to have been formed by melting of hydrothermally unaltered continental crust triggered by asthenosphere upwelling in the Nanhua back-arc basin.     

The Geological Significance of the Deformation and Geochronology of the Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone in the Dabie Orogenic Belt (East-Central China)

The Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone(XMSZ) is the boundary of the Dabie High-grade Metamorphic Complex(DHMC) and the North Huaiyang Tectonic Belt. It was deformed in ductile conditions with a top-to-NW/WNW movement.Geothermometers applied to mineral parageneses in mylonites of the shear zone give a temperature range of 623–691°C for the predeformation and 515–568°C for the syndeformation, respectively, which indicates a retrograde process of evolution.A few groups of zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from undeformed granitic veins and different types of deformed rocks in the zone. Zircons from the felsic ultramylonites are all magmatic, producing a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 754 ± 8.1 Ma, which indicates the time of magmatic activities caused by rifting in the Neoproterozoic. Zircons from the granitic veins, cutting into the mylonites, are also of magmatic origin, producing a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 130 ± 2.5 Ma,which represents the time of regional magmatic activity in the Cretaceous. Zircons from the mylonitic gneisses are of anatectic-metamorphic origins and are characterized by a core-mantle interior texture, which yielded several populations of ages including the Neoproterozoic ages with a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 762 ± 18 Ma, similar to that of the felsic ultramylonites and the Early Cretaceous ages with a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 143 ± 1.8 Ma, indicating the anatectic metamorphism in the Dabie Orogenic Belt(DOB). Based on integrated analysis of the structure, thermal conditions of ductile deformation and the contact relations of the dated rocks, the activation time of the Xiaotian–Mozitan Shear Zone is constrained between ～143 Ma and 130 Ma, during which the DOB was undergoing a transition in tectonic regime from compression to extension. Therefore, the deformation and evolution of this shear zone plays an instrumental role in fully understanding this process. This research also inclines us to the interpretation of it as an extensional detachment, with regard to the tectonic properties of the shear zone. It may also be part of a continental scale extension in the background of the North China Block's cratonic destruction, dominated by the subduction and roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific plate, but more detailed work is needed in order to unravel its complicated development.     

Discovery and Genetic Mechanism of Basic Granulite in the Altay Orogenic Belt, Xinjiang, NW China

Altay granulite (AG), which represents the product of high-grade metamorphism in the lower crust, was newly found in the Wuqiagou area, Fuyun County in the Altay orogenic belt, Northwest China. It is composed mainly of hypersthene, augite, basic plagioclase, amphibole and brown biotite. Its mineral compositions of amphibole and biotite are rich in Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) and Ti. Geochemically, the AG is enriched in Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) and A12O3, and poor in CaO, with depletion of U, Th, K and Rb contents. Furthermore, geochemical data reflect that the protolith of the AG is igneous-genetic calc-alkaline basalt formed under an island arc environment. The AG has ZREE of 92.38-96.58 ppm and enriched LREE model with weak positive Eu anomaly of 1.09-1.15. In the MORB normalized spider diagram, the AG shows tri-doming pattern with a strong negative Nb anomaly and medium negative P and Ti anomalies, reflecting that the AG has tectonic relation with subduction or subduction-related materials. The P-T conditions of peak metamorphi     

Morphology,trace elements,and geochronology of zircons from monzogranite in the Northeast Xing’an Block,northeastern China: constraints on the genesis of the host magma

Mineralogy and Petrology - The morphology, trace-element composition and geochronology of 43 zircon grains from two monzogranite samples from the Northeast Xing’an Block, northeastern China,...     

Magma mixing origin for the Aolunhua porphyry related to Mo–Cu mineralization,eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Many Cu–Mo–Au deposits are considered to be related to adakitic porphyries formed in non-arc settings, e.g., in collisional orogenic zones and intra-plate environments, but their genesis is still under discussion. The Aolunhua porphyry complex and its related Mo–Cu deposit from the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) provide important insights into this issue. The porphyries are characterized by high Sr (496–705 ppm) and Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios similar to those of typical adakitic rocks, and low I_Sr ratios (0.7049–0.7052) and positive ε_Nd(t) (+ 0.5 to + 1.4) and ε_Hf(t) (+ 3.5 to + 9.8) values. These features, along with the occurrence of mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs), compositional and textural disequilibrium of plagioclase phenocrysts and relatively high Mg# values (45–52), indicate that they were derived from mixing of felsic magma from partial melting of a juvenile arc-type lower crust and mafic magma from a lithospheric mantle previously metasomatized by subduction zone fluids/melts. High Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios are indicative of contribution from enriched mantle-derived materials (with high LILEs; e.g., Sr, La), which were strengthened by subsequent fractionation of ferromagnesian phases such as pyroxene and hornblende. MMEs hosted by the ore-bearing porphyry have zircon U–Pb ages of ca. 132 Ma, similar to those of the host rocks. The enclaves have elevated Mg^# (56–63), LILEs (e.g., Sr = 660–891 ppm), LREE (La_N = 68–150, (La/Sm)_N = 3.0–4.0, (La/Yb)_N = 12.0–19.6) and ratios of radiogenic isotopes of Nd- and Hf (ε_Nd = + 0.7 to + 1.6; ε_Hf = + 3.3 to + 10.9), suggesting that their parental magmas were derived from the metasomatized mantle source. The Mo–Cu mineralization was probably related to the high water content, high oxygen and sulfur fugacity of hybrid magma. Formation of the adakitic porphyries and related Mo–Cu deposits of the eastern CAOB could be related to the Early Cretaceous lithospheric extension, caused by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate and its induced reactivation of juvenile arc-type lower crust.     

Two Discrete UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts in the Central Orogenic Belt, China

INTRODUCTION Anew ultrahigh pressure ( UHP) metamorphicbelt ,the South Altun-North Qaidam-North QinlingUHP metamorphic belt ,has been recently discoveredand widely discussed by different workers (Yang J Set al .,2003 ,2002 ,2001 ,2000 ,1998 ;Zhang J Xetal .,2002 ,1999 ; Zhang G et al .,2001 ; Hu et al .,1996 ,1995 ,1994) . Detailed studies have also beencarried out onthe Dabie-Sulu UHP/ HP metamorphicbelt inthe central orogenic belt (COB) of China (Gaoet al .,2002 ;Sun et al …     

Non-marine gastropods from the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition in the Pingyi Basin,eastern China

Our results present a taxonomic and palaeoecological study on non-marine gastropods from the latest Cretaceous to Paleocene deposits of the Pingyi Basin, Shandong Province, eastern China. These gastropods are systematically described: three species belonging to three genera including Physa dongtaiensis Gu, 1989, Hydrobia datangensis Yü, 1977, and the newly established species Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov.; two indeterminata genera and species including Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet., and Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet. Among them, Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. and Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. are the dominant species with the longest record. Cyathopoma pingyiensis, sp. nov. is the earliest representative of this widely distributed Asian extant genus. Sedimentological facies analysis of the gastropod-bearing beds suggested that Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. lived in a small pond with a river inlet and a shallow lake, while Ph. dongtaiensis, ?Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet, and ?H. datangensis only thrived in the shallow lake. Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. inhabited the land area around the shallow lake. Our results showed that no significant species change of the gastropod fauna across the K/Pg (Cretaceous/Paleogene) boundary was observed in the Pingyi Basin.     

Structure and tectonic evolution of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Wandashan accretionary complex,NE China

The Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Wandashan accretionary complex (AC) in NE China is a key region for constraining the subduction and accretion of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean; however, the protoliths and structure of the region remain poorly understood, resulting in debates regarding crustal growth mechanisms and subduction-related accretionary processes in Northeast China. In this contribution, we integrate detailed field observations, ocean plate stratigraphy (OPS) reconstruction, and associated geological data to determine the structure and tectonic evolution of the Wandashan AC. The Wandashan AC formed through the progressive incorporation of OPS units along an oceanic trench. The observed OPS comprises, in ascending order, Permian basalt and limestone, Middle Triassic–Early Jurassic chert, Middle Jurassic siliceous shale and mudstone, and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous turbidite. Numerous NNE–SSW-striking thrust faults have segmented the OPS into a series of bedding-parallel tectonic slices that were successively thrust over the Jiamusi massif along a basal thrust (the Yuejinshan Fault), producing a large-scale imbricate thrust system. The Wandashan AC underwent oceanward accretion via multiple deformational processes. The OPS units were detached and rearranged along or within a decollement through offscraping, underplating, thrusting, and duplexing. The units were then emplaced over the Jiamusi massif along the basal thrust. The timing of accretion and thrusting is constrained to the latest Middle Jurassic to earliest Early Cretaceous (ca. 167–131 Ma). Reconstructed accretion-related structural lines within the Wandashan AC trend dominantly NE–SW, close to the direction of Jurassic extension at the eastern Asian continental margin. Large-scale left-lateral strike-slip movement on the Dunmi Fault during the late Early Cretaceous resulted in the folding of structural lines within the Wandashan AC, producing their present-day westward-convex orientation.     

Early–Middle Ordovician volcanism along the eastern margin of the Xing’an Massif,Northeast China: constraints on the suture location between the Xing’an and Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range massifs

We present new zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic as well as whole-rock geochemical data for volcanic rocks from the eastern margin of the Xing’an Massif, Northeast China, in order to further our understanding of the suture location between the Xing’an and Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range massifs. Zircon secondary ion mass spectrometry U–Pb dating indicates that the volcanic rocks formed during the Early–Middle Ordovician (473–463 Ma). Compared with the coeval Moguqi basalts (rare earth element [REE] = 171–183 ppm; εHf_(t) = +0.3 to +2.7; T_DM1 = 1074–977 Ma), the Duobaoshan andesites exhibit lower overall REE abundances (109–131 ppm) with relatively high heavy REE contents, stronger high-field-strength element depletion, higher εHf_(t) values (+13.0 to +14.8), and much younger T_DM1 ages (559–484 Ma). This suggests that the primary magma for the andesites was generated by the partial melting of a relatively depleted mantle wedge that was metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. The primary magma for the basalts in the Moguqi area was probably derived from the partial melting of a relatively enriched lithospheric mantle that was also modified by fluids sourced from a subducted slab. These interpretations suggest that the andesites in Duobaoshan formed in a newly accreted island arc setting, whereas the coeval basalts in Moguqi formed along an active continental margin. We therefore attribute the Early–Middle Ordovician volcanism along the eastern margin of the Xing’an Massif to the northwestward subduction of the Nenjiang–Heihe oceanic plate beneath the Xing’an Massif. Furthermore, considering coeval igneous activity in the southern parts of the Xing’an Massif, we suggest that a magmatic arc existed along the margin of the Xing’an Massif in the early Palaeozoic (490–420 Ma). We conclude that the location of the suture between the Xing’an and Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range massifs runs from Airgin Sum, via south of Xilinhot, to Ulanhot, Moguqi, Nenjiang, and finally Heihe.