Precambrian evolution and cratonization of the Tarim Block, NW China: Petrology, geochemistry, Nd-isotopes and U–Pb zircon geochronology from Archaean gabbro-TTG–potassic granite suite and Paleoproterozoic metamorphic belt

Provenance of Early Paleozoic metasediments in the central Chinese Altai: Implications for tectonic affinity of the Altai-Mongolia terrane in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

“…The oldest age peak of the Siberia Craton is related to its cratonization, whereas the 1.87 Ga age peak is likely due to the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent. In the Tarim Craton, detrital zircons dominantly formed in three periods (2.6-2.3, 2.1-1.7 and 1.1-0.7 Ga) with a simple age spectrum characterized by three age peaks at 2.48, 1.88 and 0.84 Ga Zhang et al, 2011Zhang et al, , 2012Zhu et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013). The major Neoproterozoic age peak of the Tarim Craton marks a period of magmatism different from the North China and Siberia Cratons, possibly recording the breakup of Rodinia (Zhang et al, 2009;Long et al, 2011).…”

“…Comparing relative probability plots for detrital zircons from the Paleozoic metasediments in the Chinese Altai and detrital zircons from several other blocks. Original data are from the references: the Chinese Altai ; and data in this study), the North China Craton (Darby and Gehrels, 2006;Zhou et al, 2008;Wan et al, 2011;Liu et al, 2012bLiu et al, , 2013, the Siberia Craton (Khudoley et al, 2001;Wang et al, 2011;Gladkochub et al, 2013), the Tarim Craton Zhang et al, 2011Zhang et al, , 2012Zhu et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013), the Yilgarn Craton (Cawood et al, 2003;Veevers et al, 2005;Pidgeon and Nemchin, 2006), the Gawler Craton (Swain et al, 2005;Belousova et al, 2009), the East Antarctica Block (Bisnath et al, 2006;Clark et al, 2012;Grew et al, 2012;Marschall et al, 2013), the northern India Block (Decelles et al, 2004;Gehrels et al, 2006;Kaur et al, 2011;McKenzie et al, 2011;Ravikant et al, 2011), and the South China Block (Wan et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2007Wang et al, , 2010bXu et al, 2007;Sun et al, 2009;Yu et al, 2010;Li et al, 2011). materials for the Early Paleozoic metasediments in the Chinese Altai. Therefore, we suggest that the Tarim Craton is most likely the main source of old detritus of the Early Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks in the Chinese Altai, which therefore suggests that the whole AltaiMongolia terrane has a close tectonic affinity to the Tarim Craton.…”

New geochemical and combined zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data of orthogneisses in the northern Altyn Tagh, northern margin of the Tibetan plateau: Implication for Archean evolution of the Dunhuang Block and crust formation in NW China

“…Compared to the NCC and YC, the early Precambrian geology of the TC is poorly studied because of limited exposures along the margins of the Tarim Basin. Although there are some reliable age data for the Tarim basement rocks, little is known about the early geological evolution of the different blocks of the TC (BGMRX, 1993;Guo et al, 2003Guo et al, , 2005Hu and Rogers, 1992;Hu et al, 1997Hu et al, , 2000Long et al, 2010;Lu and yuan, 2003;Lu et al, 2008a;Shu et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2007aZhang et al, , 2012aZhang et al, , 2012bZhang et al, , 2013aZhu et al, 2011aZhu et al, , 2011bZong et al, 2013). More importantly, whether the entire TC underwent the same evolution and has a uniform Precambrian basement still remains unclear, and this has hampered a better understanding of the tectonic relationship between the TC and the other two Chinese cratons.…”

Petrology and zircon U-Pb dating combined with Hf isotope study of granitic rocks from the Kuluketage Block (Tarim Craton, NW China)

“…It is mainly composed of granitic gneisses with minor amphibolite xenoliths (derived from gabbroic protoliths) (Hu AQ et al 1999; it yielded a SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 2601 ± 21 Ma (Zhang et al 2012a) and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb upper intercept zircon age of 2659 ± 15 Ma (Long et al 2011a Feng et al 1995;Lu et al 2002;Zhang et al 2007b). Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic low-grade metamorphic rocks, including metamorphosed carbonate and clastic metasedimentary rocks, as well as granitoids, are widespread in the area (Feng et al 1995;Lu et al 2008).…”

“…However, our study indicates that the 1.8-2.0 Ga plutonism may have been important. In addition, the Mesoproterozoic Yangjibulake Group in Kuluketage, which shows effects of greenschist-facies metamorphism, unconformably overlies the Xinditage Group (Zhang et al 2012a). Therefore, deducing an important tectonic event at the end of the Paleoproterozoic seems reasonable.…”