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Abstract: The Jiangnan Orogen, the eastern part of which comprises the oceanic Huaiyu terrane to the northeast and the continental Jiuling terrane to the southwest, marks the collision zone of the Yangtze and the Cathaysia Blocks in South China. Here, zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu–Hf isotopic results from typical basement and cover meta-sedimentary/sedimentary rock units in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen are presented. The basement sequences in southwestern Huaiyu terrane are mainly composed of marine volcaniclastic turbidite, ophiolite suite and tuffaceous phyllite, whereas those in the northeastern Huaiyu consist of littoral face pebbly feldspathic sandstones and greywacke interbedded with intermediate-basic volcanic rocks. Combined with previous studies, the present data show that the basement sequences exhibit arc affinities. Zircons from the basement phyllite in the southwestern margin of the Huaiyu terrane, representing a Neoproterozoic back-arc basin, yield a single age population of 800–900Ma. The basement greywacke from northeastern Huaiyu terrane, representing fore-arc basin, is also characterized by zircons that preserve a single tectono-thermal event during 800–940Ma. However, the late Neoproterozoic cover sequence preserves zircons from multiple sources with age populations of 750–890Ma, 1670–2070Ma and 2385–2550Ma. Moreover, Hf isotopic data further reveal that most detrital zircons from the basement sequences yield positive εHf(t) values and late Mesoproterozoic model ages, while those of the cover sequence mostly show negative εHf(t) values. The Hf isotopic data therefore suggest that the basement sequences are soured from a Neoproterozoic arc produced by reworking of subducted late Mesoproterozoic materials. The geochronological and Hf isotopic data presented in this study suggest ca. 800Ma for the assembly of the Huaiyu and Jiuling terranes, implying that the amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in the eastern part occurred at ca. 800Ma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports some new results from U–Pb geochronological, Hf isotopic and REE geochemical studies of detrital zircons in the Ordovician sandstones from South Jiangxi within Cathaysia. 426 groups of U–Pb age determinations define five major age populations: 2560–2380Ma (a peak of 2460Ma), 1930–1520Ma (a peak of 1700Ma), 1300–900Ma (a major peak at 970Ma and two subordinate peaks at 1250Ma and 1130Ma), 850–730Ma (a prominent peak of 780Ma) and 670–530Ma (a major peak at 540Ma and a subordinate peak at 650Ma). We also report zircon U–Pb concordia age of 3.96Ga, which is the oldest age so far obtained from Cathaysia. The age peak at 2460Ma correlates with similar ages reported for Neoarchean global continental growth. The 1930–1520Ma population broadly overlaps with the time of amalgamation and disruption of the Columbia supercontinent. The major age peak at 970Ma and two secondary peaks at 1250Ma and 1130Ma reflect multiple tectonothermal events associated with the assembly of Rodinia. Similar ages are widely reported from the South China Craton (SCC). Our study reveals that the 850–730Ma population is consistent with the breakup period of Rodinia, suggesting that the SCC within Rodinia began to break up since 850Ma. Geologically, the evidence for this breakup event is widespread and presented by Neoproterozoic granites, bimodal igneous rocks, basic dyke swarms and formation of continental rift type basins. Our study also reveals a 670–530Ma population that correlates well with the assembly of Gondwana during end Neoproterozoic. However, direct geological evidence for this event has not yet been found within the studied area. Furthermore, the Hf isotopic model age data suggest two major stages of crustal evolution within Cathaysia. The first is the event dated at 1.6–2.8Ga and the second one at 3.5–3.9Ga. The zircons show a large range of εHf(t) values from +8.64 to −30.54, suggesting that they have different origins with a similar age of crystallization. The fact that most detrital zircons show negative εHf(t) values suggests the ancient provenances of Cathaysia were dominated by reworked crustal materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Neoproterozoic Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt recorded the accretion and collision of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks to form a stablized South China Block, but related geometry and kinematics is poorly constrained, leading to largely varied tectonic models. Here, we present detailed field investigation and kinematic analysis of the plutonic-metamorphic complexes in the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas of the west Jiangnan orogenic belt, which enables identification of extensional granite-cored domes. In the dome margins, down-dipping lineations display a radial pattern and dome dominated foliations are extensively developed. The shearing structures within the plutonic-metamorphic complexes display extensional shearing surrounding the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang granitic dome cores. Gneissic granites and massive ones from both the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang plutons yield comparable crystallization ages of ca. 835–823 Ma that are within age errors of each other, as are the sheared recrystallized asymmetric quartz veins and mylonites dated at 831 Ma. Overall ages of the deformed Sibao Group and the undeformed overlying Danzhou Group, along with those of the granite plutons and mylonites, suggest formation of the granite-cored domes at ca. 835–823 Ma, coeval to the timing of emplacement of the granitic plutons. Locally, top-to-the-E thrusting structures are also observed in the west Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas and are inferred as at ca. 860–835 Ma, coinciding well with E- or SE- directed structures developed elsewhere in the Jiangnan orogenic belt, but in contrast with doming extensional shearing structures. Therefore, overall geometry and kinematics in the west Jiangnan belt indicate development of granitic dome related extensional ductile shearing deformation dated at ca. 835–823 Ma and a possible top-to-the-E compressional ductile thrusting deformation within 860–835 Ma. Given the previously inferred regional geology observations, along with age and chemical data across the Jiangnan orogenic belt, the dominant extensional shearing deformation in the region argue for a slab roll-back event within an accretionary belt, typical of domes-and-basins structures formed in accretionary convergent continental margin. The top-to-the-E thrusting is here interpreted as corresponding to compressional regime generated by the west directed subduction of oceanic crust beneath the northern Guangxi continental margin arc in the west Jiangnan orogenic belt. • Two stages of Neoproterozoic ductile deformation identified in the west Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt. • The ca. 835–823 Ma extensional domes-and-basins were generated by a slab roll-back event in an accretionary belt. • The ca. 860–835 Ma top-to-the-E thrusting indicates west directed subduction beneath the western Jiangnan belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paragneisses of the Altyn Complex deposited at 1105–975 Ma and after 870 Ma. • The Central-South Altyn and the Qilian-Qaidam-East Kunlun formed a united block. • The united block linked to South China and North India in early Neoproterozoic. The Neoproterozoic tectonic correlation between the Central-South Altyn, Qilian, Qaidam, and East Kunlun blocks in northwestern China remains controversial, with competing models favoring separate blocks or a unified single block, and debatable paleo-positions in the Rodinia supercontinent. In this study, we present a systematic provenance study on the late Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks from the South Altyn Tagh. A mica quartz schist sample from the Bashikuergan group yielded a maximum depositional age of 1050 ± 31 Ma. Four paragneiss samples from the Altyn Complex yielded maximum depositional ages of 1106 Ma, 1065 Ma, 1054 Ma, and 870 Ma. Given that the Altyn Complex was intruded by numerous early Neoproterozoic granitoids (ca. 976–900 Ma), we propose that the sedimentary protoliths of the Altyn Complex and the Bashikuergan Group were deposited at two stages, i.e., ca. 1105–975 Ma and after 870 Ma. Provenance tracing indicates that these 1105–975 Ma sediments probably received detritus from the late Mesoproterozoic rocks of Western Australia, East Antarctica, and Central Indian Tectonic Zone in India. In contrast, the detritus of the paragneiss (deposited after 870 Ma) was likely sourced from local regions in the Altyn Tagh orogen. Combined with the comparable magmatic, sedimentary, and tectonic records, we propose that a few microcontinental fragments in northwestern China, including Central-South Altyn Tagh, Qilian, Qaidam, and East Kunlun blocks, constituted a unified block in the early Neoproterozoic and occupied a periphery position of the Rodinia supercontinent with a close paleogeographic affinity to South China and Northwest India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated a series of conformations of endomorphin-2 (EM-2) analogs substituted by phenylglycine (Phg) and homophenylalanine (Hfe) in the position 3 or 4 by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Evaluating the aromatic interactions and the dihedral angles in these phenylalanine mimics, we have observed that the conformations in trans isomer have varied from extended to folded as bioactivity decreases. It is suggested that the flexibility of aromatic side chain affects the backbone of EM-2 to adopt folded structures, which may block the ligands in binding to μ-opioid receptor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]