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We report in situ O and Hf isotope data of zircon grains from coeval Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.4 Ga) igneous metamafic (amphibolite) and granitic rocks of the Chinese Central Tianshan microcontinent (CTM) in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Zircon grains from amphibolite have mantle-like δ18OVSMOW values of 4.7–5.6‰ and juvenile Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = 8.4–15.3; TDMC = 1.57–1.22 Ga), whereas those from granitic rocks have δ18OVSMOW values of 5.6–7.0‰ and evolved Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = −1.0–8.2; TDMC = 2.09–1.62 Ga). Zircon O–Hf isotopic compositions of the metamafic and granitic rocks provide evidence for Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.4 Ga) crustal growth and a substantial Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal component in the CTM. These findings and previous studies, reporting ca. 1.4 Ga magmatic rocks from other microcontinents of the CAOB, suggest that a large belt of Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.4 Ga) juvenile continental crust formed in a continental terrane, fragments of which now occur over a distance of more than a thousand kilometres in the southern CAOB.

Cretaceous–Miocene adakitic rocks in the southern Lhasa sub-terrane have been intensively investigated, while possible Early Jurassic adakitic rocks in this area have been largely neglected. Petrological and geochemical studies revealed adakitic affinities of an Early Jurassic quartz diorite intrusion with mafic enclaves and three tonalite bodies from the Jiacha area in the southern Lhasa sub-terrane. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb dating suggests crystallization ages of 199–179 Ma for these rocks. Both quartz diorites and tonalites have typical adakitic geochemical characteristics such as high Al2O3 (15.14–18.22 wt.%) and Sr (363–530 ppm) contents, low Y (4.46–15.9 ppm) and Yb (0.51–1.74 ppm) contents and high Sr/Y ratios of 27–106. The adakitic quartz diorites are further characterized by high MgO (2.63–3.46 wt.%), Mg# (48–54) and εHf(t) (6.6–13.4) values, which were probably produced by partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab with a mantle contribution. The adakitic tonalites have very low abundances of compatible elements and relatively low εHf(t) values (3.5–10.3), and are interpreted to have formed by partial melting of Neoproterozoic mafic lower crust. Upwelling asthenosphere, triggered by rollback of the subducting Bangong–Nujiang (Meso-Tethys) oceanic plate, provided the necessary heat for slab and lower crust melting, resulting in the geochemical diversity of the coexisting felsic intrusive rocks. Contrary to other models, this study further demonstrates that the Bangong–Nujiang oceanic plate was subducted southward beneath the Lhasa terrane during the Early Jurassic.

Abundant Neogene adakitic magmatism occurred in the southern Lhasa subterrane after the onset of the India–Asia collision while convergence continued. However, the tectonic setting and magmatic evolution of the adakitic rocks are still under discussion. This study includes new mineral chemical and whole-rock geochemical data as well as zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes of adakitic intrusive rocks from the Gyaca and Nyemo locations in the southern Lhasa subterrane. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) zircon U-Pb dating yielded crystallization ages of ca. 30 Ma for the Gyaca and Nyemo monzogranite and ca. 15 Ma for the Nyemo granodiorite. Both have common chemical signatures such as low MgO and heavy rare earth element contents as well as low compatible element abundances, indicating that these rocks result from partial melting of thickened lower crust with residual eclogite and garnet amphibolite. Furthermore, these rocks are characterized by variable positive zircon εHf(t) values, suggesting a juvenile magma source with variable ancient crustal contributions. Taking previous data into account, the adakitic magmatism concurs with an early late Eocene to Oligocene (ca. 38–25 Ma) and a late Miocene (ca. 20–10 Ma) phase. The adakitic rocks of the two phases are characterized by different fractionation evolutions of light and medium rare earth elements. We propose that the early-phase adakitic rocks were generated by the anatexis of Lhasa terrane lower crust owing to crustal shortening and thickening subsequent to the onset of the India–Asia collision and the upwelling of hot asthenosphere beneath the Lhasa terrane caused by the break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab. The latest phase of adakitic rocks, however, relates to upwelling asthenosphere following the delamination and/or break-off of the subducting Indian continental slab.