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Geodynamic evolution in the late Paleozoic is significant for understanding the final amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). No consensus has yet been reached regarding the late Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the northern Great Xing'an Range (GXR) in northeastern China, the eastern CAOB. Furthermore, late Paleozoic syenogranite–diabase dyke association is present in the Xiaokele area in northern GXR. It provides an important opportunity to understand the nature of magmatism and the geodynamic evolution during this period. This paper presents new zircon U–Pb ages, zircon Hf isotopic compositions, and geochemical data of whole rocks for Xiaokele syenogranite and diabase. Zircon U–Pb dating suggests that the Xiaokele syenogranite (292.5 ± 0.9 Ma) and diabase (298.3 ± 1.5 Ma) were emplaced during the early Permian. The Xiaokele syenogranites have high SiO2 contents, low MgO contents, and enriched zircon εHf(t) values, suggesting that their primary magma was generated by the partial melting of the juvenile crustal material. The Xiaokele diabases have low SiO2 contents, high MgO contents, are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements, depleted in high-field-strength elements, and exhibit enriched zircon εHf(t) values. They derived from a lithospheric mantle source that had previously been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. Combined with previous research results, we believe that the continent–continent collision between the Xing'an and Songliao blocks occurred during the late early Carboniferous – early late Carboniferous (330–310 Ma), and the two blocks were transformed into a post-collisional extensional setting during the latest Carboniferous – early Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhanbuzhale region, in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen of northwestern China, is characterized by large volumes of Phanerozoic granitoid rocks and is an ideal region for investigating the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Tethys system. However, the exact timing of the final closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and initial continental collision remains controversial because of a lack of precise geochronological and detailed geochemical data. In this paper, we report new zircon U–Pb ages and mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical data for samples of Middle Triassic granodiorite and alkali feldspar granite from the Zhanbuzhale region. The zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the granodiorite and alkali feldspar granite formed at 239 and 236 Ma, respectively. The granodiorites are high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous, high Sr content, high Sr/Y ratios, low Y content, and show adakite-like affinities. The alkali feldspar granites display high SiO2, extremely low MgO, and low Zr+Nb+Ce+Y contents as well as low Fe2O3t/MgO ratios, showing metaluminous to peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline features. Geochemical and petrological characteristics of the alkali feldspar granites suggest that they are highly fractionated I-type granites. The granodiorites and alkali feldspar granites have zircon εHf(t) values ranging from –2.26 to –0.18, and from –2.17 to +2.18, respectively. Together with regional geological data, we propose that the Triassic (approximately 239–236 Ma) granitoids were generated during the later stages of northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic plate, and that the initial stage of collision between the East Kunlun and the Bayan Har–Songpan Ganzi terrane occurred at approximately 236–227 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depth profile techniques for U-Pb geochronology and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry were conducted on unpolished, Archean zircon with metasomatic rims from metasedimentary rocks within the Horseshoe Lake greenstone belt, western Superior Province, Canada. These zircon crystals are shown to have isotopically distinct rims (typically <5 μm thick) compared with the interiors of the crystal. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U-Pb depth profile analyses of the rims define two different 207Pb/206Pb age populations at ca. 2920 and 2869 Ma, which are >100 million years younger than the cores. The 207Pb/206Pb rim ages can be temporally correlated with regional magmatism and with a later, potentially Au-bearing, hydrothermal event synchronous with greenschist-facies metamorphism and regional deformation. Notably, the zircons do not record evidence of local ca. 2741-2715 Ma magmatism manifested by the emplacement of a quartz-feldspar porphyry dike swarm. Laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) REE depth profile analyses on the same unpolished zircon show that the rims are commonly characterized by low Th/U ratios, elevated Hf, and variable REE concentrations in comparison with the interior of the grains. The variations in rim and core chemistry suggest that these elements, along with common Pb, were mobilized by fluids and interacted with zircon in the metasediments, resulting in the production of the metasomatic rims. In summary, this paper shows that depth profiling techniques applied to unpolished zircon can be useful to elucidate the tectonic, and potentially metallogenic, history of a complex Archean terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the success of Bakken tight oil (tight sandstone oil and shale oil) and Eagle Ford tight oil in North America, tight oil has become a research focus in petroleum geology. In China, tight oil reservoirs are predominantly distributed in lacustrine basins. The Triassic Chang 6 Member is the main production layer of tight oil in the Ordos Basin, in which the episodes, timing, and drive of tight oil charging have been analyzed through the petrography, fluorescence microspectrometry, microthermometry, and trapping pressure simulations of fluid inclusions in the reservoir beds. Several conclusions have been reached in this paper. First, aqueous inclusions with five peaks of homogenization temperatures and oil inclusions with three peaks of homogenization temperatures occurred in the Chang 6 reservoir beds. The oil inclusions are mostly distributed in fractures that cut across and occur within the quartz grains, in the quartz overgrowth and calcite cements, and the fractures that occur within the feldspar grains, with blue-green, green, and yellow-green fluorescence colours. Second, the peak wavelength, Q650/500, and QF535 of the fluorescence microspectrometry indicate three charging episodes of tight oil with different oil maturities. The charging timings (141-136, 126-118, and 112-103 Ma) have been ascertained by projecting the homogenization temperatures of aqueous inclusions onto the geological time axis. Third, excess-pressure differences up to 10 MPa between the Chang 7 source rocks and the Chang 6 reservoir beds were the main driving mechanism supporting the process of nonbuoyancy migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special volume published by the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences consists of a collection of six papers on the petrology, geochemistry, and metallogeny of igneous rocks emplaced in large igneous provinces (LIPs). The papers provide a snapshot of results presented at a Special Session of the 2017 Geological Association of Canada – Mineral Association of Canada Joint Annual Meeting held in Kingston, Ontario, by members of the vibrant geoscience community dedicated to the study of LIPs. Participants applauded the idea of a joint session on these topics and as a result, the session fostered animated discussions and new collaborations. The scope of magmatic and metallogenic studies of LIPs often precludes the type of brainstorming that took place during the meeting. This Special volume demonstrates that a robust understanding of magmatic processes represents the essential first step towards the search for mineral deposits in LIPs worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Archean Blake River Group, mafic to intermediate fragmental units have controversially been proposed to have formed during the collapse of a giant submarine caldera. This paper describes and interprets these rocks, summarizing their physical characteristics, inferred origins, age relationships, and geochemical signatures. The widespread Stadacona member, south of Rouyn-Noranda, consists of several hundred metres of bedded volcaniclastic rocks interpreted to have been mostly deposited from aqueous density currents fed directly by explosive eruptions. The magmas involved in these eruptions were plagioclase-phyric, tholeiitic to transitional basalts. The similarly widespread D'Alembert tuff, in the northern part of the Blake River Group, shares many physical characteristics with the Stadacona member and is thought to have a similar origin. However, the D'Alembert tuff is approximately six million years younger than the Stadacona member. It is composed mostly of transitional to calc-alkaline andesites and basaltic andesites with very distinct trace element profiles. Volcaniclastic rocks from other areas, such as Tannahill Township in Ontario and the Monsabrais area in Quebec, are interpreted to represent mostly in situ to remobilized hyaloclastite, with no explosive eruptions involved in their genesis. Our observations and interpretations are not compatible with models in which the volcaniclastic units are emplaced during a catastrophic event in relation with the collapse of a giant caldera. Instead, the fragmental rocks were produced by various mechanisms at many distinct times during the evolution of the Blake River Group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural mapping in central Newfoundland has identified seven distinct phases of deformation (D1 to D7), the most significant of which are D1, D2, and D4. D1 involved the formation of a Middle and Late Ordovician south-southeast-directed thrust belt and concomitant development of mylonite and phyllonite. A Late Ordovician to Early Silurian D2 thrust and fold belt overprints D1 mylonitic deformation and is the most distinctive deformation event in the study area. Late Silurian to Devonian D4 is responsible for folds and north-northwest-directed dextral thrust and reverse faults that overprint D1 to D3 structures. D4 structures in central Newfoundland include the Exploits–Gander boundary. Subsequent deformation is generally of local significance only. The arc–back-arc complexes making up the various terranes in central Newfoundland are predominantly juxtaposed along D1 shear zones, which include the Red Indian Line. Our data indicate that terrane boundaries initiated during D1 may have protracted deformation histories spanning several deformation events. This has important implications for the interpretation of terrane boundaries in Newfoundland, as D1 terrane boundaries may be interpreted as D2 or D4 shear zones depending on the intensity of overprinting or reactivation. The deformation history proposed in this paper corresponds closely to that of established Appalachian orogenic cycles. D1 is correlated with the Ordovician Taconic orogeny and involved accretion of arc–back-arc complexes to the Laurentian margin. D2 and D4 are correlated with the Ordovician–Silurian Salinic and Silurian–Devonian Acadian orogenies, which involved the subsequent accretion of the Ganderia and Avalonia microcontinents to the Laurentian margin, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an integrated field and geochemical study of weakly alkalic, ~360 Ma mafic rocks from the Yukon–Tanana terrane in the Finlayson Lake region, southeastern Yukon. These mafic rocks occur as dykes and sills that crosscut older felsic metavolcanic rocks and metasedimentary rocks (Kudz Ze Kayah unit) or as flows interlayered with carbonaceous metasedimentary rocks. The mafic rocks have signatures similar to those of ocean-island basalts, moderate TiO[sub 2] and P[sub 2] O[sub 5] contents, elevated high field strength element and light rare earth element contents, and ℇNd[sub 350] = +1.1. A subset of the dykes (group 4b) has similar geochemical characteristics but with higher Th/Nb and lower Nb/U ratios, higher Zr and light rare earth element contents, and ℇNd[sub 350] = –2.8. The geochemical and isotopic attributes of these rocks are consistent with formation from either lithospheric or asthenospheric sources during decompression melting of the mantle, with some rocks exhibiting evidence for crustal contamination (group 4b). The alkalic basalts are interpreted to represent ~360 Ma ensialic back-arc rifting and basin generation. It is envisioned that east-dipping subduction, represented by slightly older magmatic suites (Fire Lake unit), was disrupted by subduction hinge roll-back, westward migration of arc magmatism, and the onset of back-arc extension. Decompression melting of the mantle associated with back-arc generation resulted in mantle melting and the formation of the alkalic basalts. The spatial association of this mafic magmatism with crustally derived felsic volcanic rocks and contained volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization suggests that the associated deposits (Kudz Ze Kayah, GP4F) formed within an ensialic back-arc environment.Cet article présente une étude intégrée de données de terrain et de géochimie de roches mafiques, ~360 Ma, faiblement alcalines, du terrane Yukon–Tanana dans la région du lac Finlayson, dans le sud-est du Yukon. Ces roches mafiques se présentent sous forme de dykes et de filons-couches, qui recoupent des roches métavolcaniques et des roches métasédimentaires (unité Kudz Ze Kayah) plus âgées, ou sous forme de coulées interstratifiées avec des roches métasédimentaires carbonées. Les roches mafiques ont des signatures semblables à celles des basaltes d'îles océaniques, des teneurs modérées en TiO[sub 2] et P[sub 2] O[sub 5] , de hautes teneurs en éléments à champ électrostatique élevé et en éléments de terres rares légers, ainsi qu'un ℇNd[sub 350] = +1,1. Un sous-ensemble des dykes, (groupe 4b), a des caractéristiques géochimiques similaires mais avec un rapport Th/Nb plus élevé, un rapport Nb/U plus faible et une plus haute teneur en Zr et en éléments de terres rares légers, ainsi qu'une valeur de ℇNd[sub 350] = –2,8. Les caractéristiques géochimiques et isotopiques de ces roches concordent avec une formation de source lithosphérique ou asthénosphérique durant la fusion de décompression du manteau, alors que quelques roches montrent des évidences d'une contamination crustale (groupe 4b). Les basaltes alcalins représenteraient l'extension d'arrière-arc ensialique et la génération de bassins, ~360 Ma. On croit que la subduction à pendage vers l'est, représentée par des suites magmatiques légèrement plus âgées (unité Fire Lake), a été perturbée par le repositionnement de la charnière de subduction, la migration vers l'ouest du magmatisme d'arc et le début d'une extension d'arrière-arc. La fusion de décompression du manteau, associée à la génération d'arrière-arc, a conduit à la fusion du manteau et à la formation des basaltes alcalins. L'association spatiale de ce magmatisme mafique et des roches felsiques volcaniques, dérivées de la croûte, et la minéralisation de sulfures massifs volcanogènes qu'on y retrouve portent à croire que les dépôts associés (Kudz Ze Kayah, GP4F) se sont formés dans un environnement d'arrière-arc ensialique.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper 'Geochemical signature of Ordovician Mn-rich sedimentary rocks on the Avalonian shelf' (Romer et al., published in 2011) describes six samples of which four are from the Meguma Supergroup of Nova Scotia. Previous work indicates that these samples are Cambrian and that they were deposited in a deep-water turbidite basin ('Megumia'), not on the Avalonian shelf. The geochemical data support models for Mn concentration, involving oxidation and reduction in a sedimentary environment but do not constrain water depth. Likely correlatives are in the Cambrian of North Wales and not in the European localities sampled by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]