Opening of the Tethys in southwest China and its significance to the breakup of East Gondwanaland in late Paleozoic: Evidence from SHRIMP U-Pb zircon analyses for the Garz� ophiolite block

Abstract

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon analyses for a gabbro sample from the Garzê ophiolite block yielded a mean 206 Pb/ 238 U age of 292±4 Ma, which indicated that the spreading time of the Garzê-Litang Tethys was most likely at the earliest Permian. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that the opening of the Tethys in southwest China was derived from breakup of the East Gondwanaland in the late Paleozoic.