Situated between the North China Craton to the east and the Tarim Craton to the west, the northern Alxa area in westernmost Inner Mongolia in China occupies a key location for interpreting the late-stage tectonic evolution of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. New LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating results reveal 282.2 ± 3.9 Ma gabbros and 216.3 ± 3.2 Ma granites from the Yagan metamorphic core complex in northern Alxa, NW China. The gabbros are characterized by low contents of Si, Na, K, Ti and P and high contents of Mg, Ca, Al and Fe. These gabbros have arc geochemical signatures with relative enrichments in large ion lithophile elements and depletions in high field strength elements, as well as negative εNd(t) (−0.91 to −0.54) and positive εHf(t) (2.59 to 6.37) values. These features indicate that a depleted mantle magma source metasomatized by subduction fluids/melts and contaminated by crustal materials was involved in the processes of magma migration and emplacement. The granites show high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous affinities, similar to A-type granites. They have positive εNd(t) (1.55 to 1.99) and εHf(t) (5.03 to 7.64) values. These features suggest that the granites were derived from the mixing of mantle and crustal sources and formed in a postcollisional tectonic setting. Considering previous studies, we infer that the final closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean in the central part of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt occurred in late Permian to Early–Middle Triassic times.
In this paper, zircon U–Pb geochronology, major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry of the Baiyanghe dolerites in northern West Junggar of NW China are presented. The U–Pb dating of zircons from the dolerites yielded ages of 272.2±4 Ma and 276.7±6.2 Ma, which indicate the emplacement times. The dolerites are characterized by minor variations in SiO2(46.89 to 49.07 wt%), high contents of Al2O3(13.60 to 13.92 wt%) and total Fe2O3(11.14 to 11.70 wt%), and low contents of MgO (2.67 to 3.64 wt%) and total alkalis (Na2O+K2O, 5.1 to 5.97 wt%, K2O/Na2O = 0.37–0.94), which indicate affinities to metaluminous tholeiite basalt. The REE pattern ((La/Sm)N= 2.25–2.34, (La/Yb)N= 7.42–8.36), V–Ti/1000 and 50*Zr–Ti/50–Sm discrimination diagrams show that these rocks are OIB-type. The high contents of Zr and Ti indicate a within-plate tectonic setting, and samples plot in the ‘plume source’ field shown on the Dy/Yb(N)versus Ce/Yb(N)diagram. The positive εNd(t) values (+7.09 to +7.48), high initial87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70442 to 0.70682) and depletions of Nb and Ta elements in the samples can be explained by the involvement of subducted sediments. In summary, it is possible that the Baiyanghe dolerites were derived from an OIB-like mantle source and associated with a mantle plume tectonic setting. Therefore, our samples provide the youngest evidence for the existence of a mantle plume, which may provide new insights into the Late Palaeozoic tectonic setting of West Junggar.
Understanding of the mechanism between magma sources and metallogeny is still vague. As an important gold and molybdenum producing area, the Chifeng–Chaoyang district, located at the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), is a key place for this issue. New geochemical data relating to Taijiying gold-deposit-related granites are presented. These data, coupled with previous studies, are used to explore the relationship between magma sources and mineralization processes. Two major magmatic periods, the Middle Triassic (220–230 Ma) and Late Jurassic (150–160 Ma), are identified based on the compiled data. The Triassic magmatic rocks are mostly fractionated I-type and A-type granites, including monzogranite, biotite granite, and syenogranite. They have low initial 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7050), moderately enriched εNd(t)–εHf(t) values (−8.5 and −5.6), and relatively young Nd–Hf model ages (TDM2-TDMC) (1.47–1.57 Ga). These features indicate that more Archean–Paleoproterozoic mantle-derived materials were involved in their sources. On the other hand, Jurassic granites are high-K calc-alkaline of the calc-alkaline series and mainly consist of granite, monzogranite, leucogranite, and granodiorite. They have high Na2O/K2O, Sr/Y, and La/Yb ratios and low Y and Yb contents. The adakitic features suggest the existence of a thickened lower crust. Their significant negative εNd(t)–εHf(t) values (−15.0 and −12.8) and older Nd–Hf model ages (TDM2–TDMC) (2.17–2.11 Ga) are consistent with their derivation from thickened ancient lower crust, indicating the initial activation of NCC. It is proposed that the change in the main source resulted from the tectonic transition during the early Mesozoic initial decratonization, that is, from the post-collisional extension to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath the East Asia plate from the Triassic to the Jurassic. Comparative analysis suggests that the medium–large-scale gold deposits with a high grade are closely related to the Triassic granites; however, most molybdenum deposits formed in the Jurassic. The decratonization of the NCC in the early Mesozoic experienced tectonic transition and controlled the gold and molybdenum mineralizations in the different stages by the changing magma sources. This pattern is beneficial to understanding the metallogenesis in the Chifeng–Chaoyang district.
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