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The Sarduiyeh granitoid (SG) is intruded in the southeastern part of the Dehaj-Sarduiyeh volcano-sedimentary belt in the southeastern end of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA) in Iran. The medium-to-coarse-grained granitoid unit, with granular texture consists mainly of diorite, tonalite, granodiorite and monzogranitic rocks. Mineralogically, these rocks consist mainly of plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, biotite and hornblende. The whole rock geochemical analyses indicates that the SG is calc-alkaline, I-type, metaluminous, enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE; such as K, Cs, Pb) and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE; such as Ti, Nb, Ta, Zr). Chondrite normalized plot of SG rare earth elements (REE) show light rare earth element enrichments with (LaN/YbN = 2.44–8.68) and flat heavy rare earth element patterns with (GdN/YbN = 1.02–1.36). The rather high Y (av. 19.35 ppm), low Sr content (av. 293.76 ppm) and low Cr and Ni contents (av. 20.1 and 4.69 ppm, respectively) of the SG demonstrate its normal calc-alkaline and non-adakitic nature, the features of Jebal Barez-type granitoids. The geochemical characteristics and isotopic composition, low ISr (0.7046–0.7049) and positive ɛtNd (+3.4 to +4.03) values, of the SG suggest that its parental magma formed as a result of partial melting from metabasic rocks of lower crust in a subduction-related arc setting. Fractionation of an assemblage dominated by plagioclase, K-feldspar, amphibole and magnetite may have been responsible for the evolution of the SG magma. U-Pb zircon geochronology gives an age of 27.95 ± 0.27 Ma for the SG, suggesting that the final collision between the Arabian plate and Central Iranian microcontinent may have happened in the Late Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-orogenic mafic rocks from Northeast China consist of swarms of dolerite dikes. We report a new U–Pb zircon age, as well as whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) U–Pb zircon analysis yielded an age of 210.3 ± 1.5 million years (i.e. Triassic) for these mafic dikes. Most Dalian mafic rocks exhibit low K2O + Na2O contents, and span the border between alkaline and calc-alkaline rock associations in the total alkali–silica diagram. The investigated dikes are also characterized by relatively high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (0.7061–0.7067) and negative ϵNd (t) (−4.7 to −4.3) and ϵHf (t) values (−4.1 to −1.1), implying that they were derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. The mafic dikes are characterized by relatively low MgO (4.65–5.44 wt.%), Mg# (41–44), and compatible element content [such as Cr (89.9–125 ppm) and Ni (56.7–72.2 ppm)], which are the features of an evolved mafic magma. No evidence supports the idea that the mafic rocks were affected by significant assimilation or crustal contamination during emplacement. We conclude that the dolerites formed in a post-orogenic extensional setting, related to lithospheric delamination or ‘collapse’ of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), also termed the Xingmeng Orogenic Belt in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-orogenic mafic dikes are widespread across eastern Shandong Province, North China Craton, eastern China. We here report new U–Pb zircon ages and bulk-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data for representative samples of these rocks. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon analysis of two mafic dike samples yields consistent ages of 118.7 ± 0.25 million years and 122.4 ± 0.21 million years. These Mesozoic mafic dikes are characterized by high (87Sr/86Sr) i ranging from 0.7082 to 0.7087, low ϵNd(t) values from −17.0 to −17.5, 206Pb/204Pb from 17.14 to 17.18, 207Pb/204Pb from 15.44 to 15.55, and 208Pb/204Pb from 37.47 to 38.20. Our results suggest that the parental magmas of these dikes were derived from an ancient, enriched lithospheric mantle source that was metasomatized by foundered lower crustal eclogitic materials prior to magma generation. The mafic dikes underwent minor fractionation during ascent and negligible crustal contamination. Combined with previous studies, these findings provide additional evidence that intense lithospheric thinning beneath eastern Shandong occurred at ∼120 Ma, and that this condition was caused by the removal/foundering of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Geochronological, geochemical, and whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic analyses were performed on a suite of Palaeozoic nepheline syenites from Zijinshan to characterize their ages and petrogenesis. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U–Pb zircon analyses yield consistent ages of 525.7 ± 2.8 million years for a sample (HYK01). These intrusive rocks belong to the foid syenite magma series in terms of K2O + Na2O contents (14.3–15.2 wt.%) and to the shoshonitic series based on their high K2O contents (5.42–5.61 wt.%). The nepheline syenites are further characterized by high light rare earth element contents [(La/Yb) N  = 29.1–36.1]; show modest negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.5–0.6) and positive anomalies in Rb, Th, U, Pb, Zr, and Hf; are depleted in Ba and high field strength elements (P and Ti). In addition, all the nepheline syenites in this study display relatively low radiogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr) i (0.7042–0.7043) and positive ϵNd (t) (0.7–0.8). These results suggest that the nepheline syenites were derived from depleted continental crust. The parent magmas likely experienced fractional crystallization of plagioclase, Ti-bearing oxides (e.g. rutile, ilmenite, and titanite), apatite, and zircon during ascent, with negligible crustal contamination before final emplacement at a high crustal level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mesozoic mafic dikes in the Gan-Hang tectonic belt (GHTB) provide an opportunity to explore both the nature of their mantle source(s) and the secular evolution of the underlying Mesozoic lithospheric mantle in the region. The geochronology and primary geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of Group 1 (middle section of GHTB) and Group 2 (the rest of the section) dolerite dikes spanning the GHTB were investigated. K–Ar ages indicate that dikes of both groups were emplaced during the Cretaceous (131–69 Ma). The dikes are doleritic in composition and are enriched in both large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g. Rb, Ba, and Pb) and light rare earth elements (LREEs), with a wide range of Eu anomalies, but are depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g. Nb, Ta, and Ti) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs). Dikes sampled in the middle section of the GHTB (Group 1) show more pronounced REE differentiation and a greater contribution from crustal material than those from the east and west sections (Group 2) and are similar to GHTB volcanic rocks in exhibiting a slight enrichment in LREEs. The dolerites are further characterized by a wide range in 87Sr/86Sr i  = 0.7041–0.7110, 143Nd/144Nd i  = 0.511951–0.512758, ϵNd t  = –10.4 to +5.6, and Pb isotopic ratios (206Pb/204Pb i  = 18.1–18.3, 207Pb/204Pb i ≈ 15.6, and 208Pb/204Pb i  = 38.2–38.7). The dikes have undergone fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and Ti-bearing phases, except for dikes from the Anding area, which possibly experienced fractionation of plagioclase. Geochemically, all the dike samples originated from mantle sources ranging in composition from depleted to enriched that contained a component of foundered lower crust; crustal contamination during the ascent of these magmas was negligible. In the context of the late Mesozoic lithospheric extension across South China, mafic dike magmatism was likely triggered by the reactivation of deep faults, which promoted foundering of the lower crust and subsequent mantle upwelling in the GHTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ziyang area is one of the two major regions of central China subjected to selenium (Se) poisoning. Systematic studies of Se contents of different lithologies from this area indicate that Lower Cambrian, carbonaceous, and siliceous strata host the highest Se contents (with Se contents of up to 278 ppm). We have investigated their geochemical characteristics (major and trace elements, and Si and O isotopes), origin, and sedimentary environment of formation. The siliceous rocks are characterized by a wide range in major elements, and are enriched in Se, Ba, Cu, Ni, V, As, Sb, and U relative to average continental crust. They are also enriched in light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements (LaN/YbN = 1.64–35.7) and show weak or moderate negative Ce anomalies and strong positive Eu anomalies. δ30SiNBS-28 and δ18OV-SMOW values range from –0.3‰ to 0.6‰ and 16.1‰ to 21.7‰, respectively. The homogenization temperatures of inclusions within the studied samples range from 113°C to 319°C, and their salinities from 1.2 to 13.7 wt.% NaCl equivalent. Our results suggest that the studied siliceous rocks resulted from hydrothermal sedimentation in a relatively anoxic semi-deep sea sedimentary environment. The hydrothermal fluid responsible for Se-mineralization involved the mixing of low-temperature high-salinity fluid, low-temperature low-salinity fluid, and a high-temperature low-salinity basinal fluid in the NaCl–(KCl)–H2O system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TPost-orogenic intrusive complexes from the Sulu belt of eastern China consist of pyroxene monzonites and dioritic porphyrites. We report new U-Pb zircon ages, geochemical data, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data for these rocks. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U-Pb zircon analyses yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 127.4 ± 1.2 Ma for dioritic porphyrites, consistent with crystallization ages (126 Ma) of the associated pyroxene monzonites. The intrusive complexes are characterized by enrichment in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements (i.e. Rb, Ba, Pb, and Th) and depletion in heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements (i.e. Nb, Ta, P, and Ti), high (87Sr/86Sr)i ranging from 0.7083 to 0.7093, low εNd(t) values from ε14.6 to - 19.2, 206Pb/204Pb = 16.65-17.18, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.33-15.54, and 208Pb/204Pb = 36.83-38.29. Results suggest that these intermediate plutons were derived from different sources. The primary magma-derived pyroxene monzonites resulted from partial melting of enriched mantle hybridized by melts of foundered lower crustal eclogitic materials before magma generation. In contrast, the parental magma of the dioritic porphyrites was derived from partial melting of mafic lower crust beneath the Wulian region induced by the underplating of basaltic magmas. The intrusive complexes may have been generated by subsequent fractionation of clinopyroxene, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, hornblende, ilmenite, and rutile. Neither was affected by crustal contamination. Combined with previous studies, these findings provide evidence that a Neoproterozoic batholith lies beneath the Wulian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]