LA‐ICP‐MS U–Pb geochronology of zircons from granitoids and modern river sands in Guyang, North China Craton and their tectonic significance

Abstract

The Palaeo‐Asian Ocean (PAO) was located between Siberia and the North China Craton (NCC). The time of its closure, as well as the crustal architecture of the surrounding region, are still uncertain. In this paper, we address these problems using LA‐ICP‐MS U‐Pb ages of zircon grains in three magmatic rocks and three river sand samples of the Guyang area at the northern margin of the NCC. The magmatic rocks yield early Carboniferous crystallization ages of 340.3 ± 7.5 Ma, 331.7 ± 2.3 Ma and 341.1 ± 1.9 Ma for the main granitic pluton, a granodiorite dyke and a diorite enclave, respectively. They were the product of subduction of the PAO underneath the NCC. The detrital zircon U‐Pb ages in the river sand samples are dominated by two groups at 2550–2400 and 290–260 Ma, with subordinate groups at 2700–2600, 2000–1800 and 320–300 Ma, dispersed Early Palaeoproterozoic grains and a minor but important group of Cretaceous grains in sands of the Aibugai River. These results, combined with previous geochronological data, permit a re‐assessment of the tectonic evolution of the northern margin of the NCC. The events at ~2.5 Ga reflect major crustal reworking and cratonization of the northern margin of the NCC, which then became a stable platform lasting until the Carboniferous. The period between 2.0 and 1.8 Ga was characterized by major collisions related to formation of the Khondalite Belt and the Trans‐North China Orogen. In the Carboniferous, subduction of the PAO underneath the northern margin of the NCC developed a zoned distribution of magmatic rocks. The PAO is now constrained to have closed in the Early Permian by the collision of the NCC and Siberia. The youngest group of Cretaceous zircons reflects magmatic events related to lithosphere thinning beneath the Eastern Block of the NCC. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the Neoproterozoic Douling dioritic–granodioritic–granitic intrusion in the northern Yangtze Block, Central China

“…Age spectra of the Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks in the South Qinling Belt. Data sources: Chen et al, 2006; Dong et al, 2017, Geng, 2010; Hong et al, 2009; He et al, 2022; Hu et al, 2016; Li et al, 2003; Li et al, 2003, 2012; Ling et al, 2008, Liu, Jahn, et al, 2011; Liu et al, 2014, 2022; Liu & Zhang, 2013; Lu et al, 1999; Nie et al, 2019; Niu et al, 2006, Qiu et al, 2020, 2021; Wang et al, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2021; Wang, Liu, et al, 2023; Wu et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2016; Xue et al, 2011, Yan et al, 2011, 2014; Yang et al, 2012, Yang et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2004, 2013, 2016, 2018, Zhao et al, 2022; Zhu et al, 2014; This study.…”

“…The Xiaomoling complex has been interpreted as the products of an active island arc related to oceanic subduction at ca. 940–740 Ma (Dong et al, 2017; Hu et al, 2016; Liu, Niu, et al, 2011; Niu et al, 2006; Yan et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2016). The Fenghuangshan intrusion yields zircon U–Pb ages at ca.…”

“…Apart from these plutons, some other small intermediate to basic intrusions of ca. 860–620 Ma (Chen et al, 2006; Hu et al, 2016; Lu et al, 1999; Niu et al, 2006; Yan et al, 2011; Yang et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2016) and mafic‐ultramafic sill swarms of ca. 675–600 Ma in the Suizhou–Zaoyang area (He et al, 2022; Hong et al, 2009; Liu et al, 2022; Xue et al, 2011) also occur in the SQB.…”

Detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology and provenance of Silurian, Devonian and Permian sedimentary rocks, South Qinling: Constraints on late Palaeozoic tectonic evolution history of the Qinling Orogenic Belt

“…Neoproterozoic magmatic intrusions of SQB include Wudang group with ages yielded at 755 ± 3 Ma and 792 ± 21 Ma, Yaolinghe group at 685 ± 5 Ma (Cai et al, 2007; Ling et al, 2007). Mihunzhen diorite (846.7 ± 2.7 Ma), Yejiawan quartz diorite (861.1 ± 1.8 Ma) (Liu et al, 2011), Mogouxia diorite (743 ± 12 Ma), Heigou granite (686 ± 10 Ma) and Lengshuigou (680 ± 9 Ma) (Niu et al, 2006). Vast quantities of Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks also outcropped in northwestern SCB, including the Hannan complex with zircon U‐Pb age of 808 ± 4 Ma and 819 ± 10 Ma (Zhou, Liu, et al, 2002; Zhou, Yan, et al, 2002), Micangshan complex with zircon U‐Pb ages between 830–795 Ma and 780–745 Ma (Li et al, 2003), and ca.…”

Petrogenesis of Syn-Collisional Adakitic Granitoids and Their Copper Mineralization Potential in the North Qilian Suture Zone

“…The HSS granitic complex is located ~10 km southwest of the Baiyin Cu-polymetallic ore field and comprises several intrusions (e.g., Haoquangou, Baimawa, Heishishangou, and Fangfuya) dominated by granodiorite and trondhjemite with a total area of ~10 km 2 [32] (Figure 1b). These intrusions occur as stocks, apophyses, and dykes and intrude into the Cambrian-Ordovician arc volcanic rocks that are bimodal with predominantly felsic units of 467-446 Ma [43,44] and minor mafic units of 465 Ma as indicated by zircon U-Pb ages [45,46]. The studied granodiorites were collected from the Haoquangou (HQG) and Baimawa (BMW) plutons (Figure 1b).…”