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Post-collisional K-rich magmatic rocks of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau provide important information for understanding the continental collision and uplift of this plateau during the Cenozoic. However, the source of these K-rich rocks is still debated, and limited investigations have been conducted in the western Kunlun Mountains (WKM) in the northwestern margin of the plateau. In this paper, we present geochemical, geochronological, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotope data for Quanshuigou post-collisional K-rich igneous rocks from the WKM. Geochronological results show that these rocks were emplaced during two stages: (1) ca. 5.3 Ma, as an intrusive suite of granite porphyries; and (2) ca. 4.8 Ma, as a suite of shoshonites. These rocks are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs), and depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and high-field-strength elements (HFSEs). Compositions of the granite porphyries classify these rocks as high-K calc-alkaline peraluminous A-type granites. Combining the negative zircon εHf(t) values (−6.9 to −1.1) with Hf crustal model ages (TDM2) of 1.16–1.53 Ga and negative εNd(t) values (−5.31 to −4.96) with two-stage Nd model ages (TDM2) of 1.22–1.46 Ga, these signatures suggest that the granite porphyries most probably originated from partial melting of thickened lower crust with limited input of mantle-derived magmas. In contrast, the shoshonites have low SiO2 contents (50.84–53.94 wt.%), relatively high Mg# values (50–57), and εNd (t) values ranging from −6.18 to −5.34, with single-stage Nd model ages (TDM1) of 0.97–1.02 Ga. Our analyses show that the parental magma of the shoshonites probably formed by partial melting of EMII-type lithospheric mantle, with the addition of subducted and recycled oceanic sediments. Hence, we conclude that these granite porphyries and shoshonites formed in a post-collisional, extension-related geodynamic setting and that the melting was probably triggered by motion on the Altyn Tagh strike-slip fault system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mesozoic Xigaze ophiolite is a key to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone. Although many studies have been reported, the formation age and petrogenesis of the Xigaze ophiolite remain controversial. In this paper, new geochronological and geochemical data for mafic dikes (diabase, dolerite), lavas, and gabbros of the Xigaze ophiolite are provided to constrain the origin of the Xigaze ophiolite. Combined with previous studies, three new zircon U-Pb ages of samples from two gabbro and one dolerite samples show that the Xigaze ophiolite was produced at two distinct stages of 174-149 Ma and 137-123 Ma. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that these rocks exhibit N-MORB-like features, but the gabbros are more depleted in trace elements and belong to cumulates. Geochemical characters, combined with their positive εNd(t) values (+3.2 to +9.6), suggest that these samples originated from depleted mantle sources with minor influence of slab-derived fluids. Considering the previous studies on the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, the Xigaze ophiolite was likely generated in an active continental margin fore-arc basin with a multistage model associated with the northward subduction of the Yarlung Zangbo Neo-Tethys Ocean beneath the Lhasa terrane. The Middle-Late Jurassic ophiolitic massifs (174-149 Ma) were produced as the result of slab rollback and were followed by subsequent slab break-off at ~ 150 Ma. The fore-arc lithosphere may be frozen at ~150-137 Ma, consistent with the termination of the Gangdese arc magmatism during this period. The Early Cretaceous ophiolitic massifs (137-123 Ma) were developed in relation to the reinitiation of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere subduction, the retreat of the subduction zone, and the creation of a fore-arc basin with strong hyperextension in a new cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Yilashan mafic-ultramafic complex is located in the middle part of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone, central Tibet. It features a mantle sequence composed of peridotites and a crustal sequence composed of cumulate peridotites and gabbros that are intruded by diabases with some basalts. This article presents new whole-rock geochemical and geochronological data for peridotites, gabbros, diabases and basalts to revisit the petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the Yilashan mafic-ultramafic complex. Zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb ages of three diabase samples are 169.6 ± 3.3 Ma, 132.5 ± 2.5 Ma, and 133.6 ± 4.9 Ma, respectively. These ages together with previous studies indicate that the Yilashan mafic-ultramafic complex probably formed during the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. The peridotites exhibit nearly U-shaped REE patterns and are distinct from abyssal peridotites. The diabase and basalt samples show arc features with selective enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g. Rb, U, and Sr) and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g. Nb, Ta, and Ti). The gabbro samples display cumulate features with selective enrichment in LILEs (e.g. Rb, Ba, and Sr) but depletion in LREEs and HFSEs (e.g. Nb, Zr, and Ti). Combing the positive εNd(t) values (+6.1 to +10.0) and negative zircon εHf(t) values (-16.5 to -11.7 and -13.6 to -0.4) with older Hf model ages for the mafic rocks, these signatures suggest that the Yilashan mafic and ultramafic rocks likely originated from an ancient lithospheric mantle source with the addition of asthenospheric mantle materials and subducted fluids coupled with limited crustal contamination in a continental arc setting as a result of the southward subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethys Ocean beneath the Lhasa terrane during the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread mid-Cretaceous igneous rocks in the northern margin of the Lhasa Block play an important role in understanding deep geologic processes, matter exchange at depth, and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. In this paper, we report new zircon U-Pb ages, whole-rock major and trace element data, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data from the Talabuco andesites and basalts, which were dated at ~111 Ma. These rocks belong to the high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonite series, and show enrichment in terms of large-ion-lithophile elements (LILEs, e.g. Rb, U, and Th) and light rare earth elements (LREEs), but depletion of high-field-strength elements (HFSEs, e.g. Nb and Ti). The (87Sr/86Sr)iratios of the Talabuco andesites range from 0.7043 to 0.7048, and theεNd(t) contents range from 0.68 to 4.33. The ratios of206Pb/204Pb,207Pb/204Pb, and208Pb/204Pb are 18.6064–18.8993, 15.6233–15.6707, and 38.8634–39.1720, respectively. The176Lu/177Hf and176Hf/177Hf ratios of one sample range from 0.00081 to 0.00206 and 0.28280 to 0.28296, respectively. TheεHf(t) values for this sample range from 3.4 to 9.1, and the two-stage model Hf age (TDM2) is 0.59–0.95 Ga. Combined with previous studies, the geochemical and isotopic data reveal that the parental magma of the Talabuco andesites was probably derived by partial melting of EM II-type sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). The Talabuco andesites are most likely generated by fractionation of mafic magma contaminated by subducted oceanic sediment and represent product of arc magmatism due to northward subduction of the Yarlung Zangbo Neo-Tethyan slab or southward subduction of the Bangong Meso-Tethyan slab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous ages have been obtained for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan high pressure/ultrahigh pressure-low temperature (HP/UHP-LT) metamorphic belt in the past two decades, its exhumation history is still controversial. The poor age constraint was related to the appealing low metamorphic temperatures and excess Ar commonly present under HP/UHP conditions. This study aims to provide new age constraints on the orogen’s exhumation by obtaining40Ar/39Ar mica ages using the conventional step-heating technique, with emphasis on the avoidance of excess Ar contamination. From a cross section along the Kekesu Valley, four samples, three from the HP-LT metamorphic belt (TK050, TK051, and TK081) and one from the southern margin of the low pressure metamorphic belt (TK097), were selected for40Ar/39Ar dating. Phengites from garnet glaucophane schist TK050 and the surrounding rock garnet phengite schist TK051 yield comparable plateau ages of 321.4 ± 1.6 and 318.6 ± 1.6 Ma, respectively, while epidote mica schist TK081 gives a younger plateau age of 293.3 ± 1.5 Ma. Considering the chemical compositions of phengites, mineral assemblages, and microstructures in the thin slices, we suppose that the former represents the time the HP rocks retrograded from the peak stage (eclogite facies) to the (epidote)-blueschist facies, whereas the latter reflects greenschist facies overprinting. Biotite and muscovite from two-mica quartzite TK097 give similar plateau ages of 253.0 ± 1.3 and 247.1 ± 1.2 Ma, interpreted to date movement on the post collisional transcrustal South Nalati ductile shear zone. By combining our new ages with published data, a two-stage exhumation model is suggested for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan HP/UHP-LT metamorphic belt: initial fast exhumation to a depth of about 30–35 km by ~320 Ma was followed by relatively slow (~1 mm year–1) uplift to ~10 km by ~293 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New zircon U–Pb age data, whole-rock major and trace elemental data, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data of granitoids from the Woruo and Bailong areas in the southern margin of the Qiangtang Block (western Tibet, China) provide important evidence for northward subduction of the Bangong Meso-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere. Five granitoid samples are dated at 120.7–112.7 Ma. These granitoids mostly belong to calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline series, and show strong enrichments in large-ion lithophile elements (e.g. Rb, Ba, and Th), depletions in Nb and Ta, and negative correlations between P2O5, TiO2, MgO, and SiO2 contents, consistent with the evolution trend of I-type magmas. The samples are characterized by a wide range of Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions (initial εNd values from −0.06 to 5.84, initial 87Sr/86Sr from 0.704458 to 0.705596, (206Pb/204Pb)0 from 18.5436 to 19.2465, (207Pb/204Pb)0 from 15.6115 to 15.6712, and (208Pb/204Pb)0 from 38.6427 to 39.6942). The trace elemental and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data suggest that these samples are derived from a mixture of lower crust and mantle materials. Together with the published data, these Early Cretaceous magmatic rocks represent a continental arc setting formed by the northward subduction of the Bangong Meso-Tethys during the Early Cretaceous (120–112 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]