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The Weining Beishan area of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is located at on the western edge of the Helanshan tectonic belt, which is a tectonic joint among Alxa Block, Ordos Block, and North Qilian orogenic belt. However, the tectonic evolution of this area remains unclear due to the lack of magmatic information. This paper conducted researches on geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes of the diorite porphyrites exposed in the Weining Beishan area. The zircon U-Pb dating yields two ages of 145.0 ± 1.1 and 146.2 ± 1.5 Ma, and the whole-rock geochemical data indicate that the diorite porphyrites are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline series. The characteristics of highly initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.708 16 to 0.710 47), negative εNd(t) (−8.9 to −8.4), and negative εHf(t) (−13.8 to −21.2) indicate that the diorite porphyrites originated from partial melting of the middle-lower ancient crust related to the North China Craton. Combined with the regional geology, we suggested that partial melting was triggered by a tectonic activity of deep faults cutting through the crust under the regional stress transformation from compressing to extension during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, which is probably related to the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (E‐KOB) of the northern Tibetan Plateau is an accretionary orogenic belt, which has experienced complicated tectonic evolutionary processes of the Proto‐ to Palaeo‐Tethys Ocean. The Muztagh‐Buqingshan‐Anemaqen ophiolitic mélange zone (MBAM) is an accretionary complex related to the northward subduction of the Tethyan Ocean. Numerous intrusions outcropped in MBAM have witnessed the long‐term subduction‐accretionary process and thus site the key to comprehending the tectonic evolution of the E‐KOB, as well as the Tethyan Ocean. In this study, petrological, geochronological, and geochemical studies of the Marzheng diorites in the MBAM were carried out to explore the Early Palaeozoic tectonic evolution of the E‐KOB. Zircon U–Pb dating analysis suggests that the diorites were formed in the Early Ordovician at ca. 470 Ma. Furthermore, the εHf(t) values (5.3–14.1), Mg# values (39.7–51.2), and Nb/Ta (12.8–14.8), Zr/Hf (33.8–44.8), and Lu/Yb (0.15–0.16) ratios are generally close to those of depleted mantle‐derived rocks and the diorites were originated from a depleted asthenosphere mantle source. In addition, these diorites are characterized by enriched light rare earth elements (LREEs) (La and Nd) and depleted high‐field‐strength elements (HFSEs) (Nb, Ta, P, and Ti), similar to the fingerprints of arc‐related gabbroic‐dioritic rocks. This is also consistent with their high H2Omelt (6.0–8.3%) and oxygen fugacity (logfO2 = −14.3 to −13.5) features, indicating that they were formed in a subduction‐related setting. Our new investigations suggest that the Proto‐Tethys Ocean in the East Kunlun was still actively subducting northward during the Early Ordovician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The granodiorites and monzonitic diorites were originated from slab melts and slab melts-metasomatized mantle source, respectively. • The alkali feldspar granites were produced by partial melting of a crustal source in an extension background. • The gabrros were generated by partial melting of mantle wedge metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. • A slab window was likely happened at 2.46–2.44 Ga in the south margin of the Yinshan Block. The earliest Paleoproterozoic magmatic rocks have recorded the transition from the Neoarchean cratonization of the NCC to its post-Archean tectonic evolution, which will provide insight into the onset of the modern-style subduction. This study focuses on the early Paleoproterozoic granodiorite, monzonitic diorite, alkali feldspar granite and gabbro in the Guyang area to decipher the early Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Yinshan Block. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that these rocks were emplaced at ca 2.46 – 2.41 Ga. The ∼ 2.46 Ga granodiorite samples have high Sr contents, low Y and Yb contents with high Sr/Y ratios, similar to the characteristics of adakitic rocks. Based on their high Mg# values, Na 2 O/K 2 O ratios, Cr, Co and Ni concentrations, and positive ε Nd (t) values, we propose that the granodiorite was likely produced by partial melting of subducting oceanic slab. The contemporary monzonitic diorite samples are characterized by high Nb concentration, which are similar to those of Nb-enriched basalt/andesite. The monzonitic diorite samples are characterized by LREE-enriched patterns with negative Eu anomalies and have negative ε Nd (t) values (-0.4 – −1.4), which suggest that they were derived from partial melting of fertile mantle peridotite metasomatized by adakitic melts. The ∼ 2.44 Ga alkali feldspar granite samples have negative ε Nd (t) values (-4.0 – −1.9) and show geochemical characteristics of A-type granites, indicating an extension background. The distinct geochemical characteristics of ca. 2.46 – 2.44 Ga Guyang adakatic granodiorite, Nb-enriched monzonic diorite and A-type alkali feldspar granite suggest that a slab window was opened in the southern margin of the Yinshan Block. The gabbros were emplaced at ∼ 2.41 Ga revealed by U-Pb dating. The enriched LREEs and relatively flat HREEs patterns with negative Nb-Ta anomalies of gabbros indicate a subducting tectonic setting. Their high Ba/Th and low Nb/Y ratios imply that the mantle source was metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. This special rock association not only constrains the tectonic evolution in the southern margin of the Yinshan Block, but also indicates modern-style subduction operated already in the early Paleoproterozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Newly ca. 880 Ma gabbro-diorite and gabbro are identified in the Bikou Terrane. • Both the gabbro-diorite and gabbro were formed in a subduction-related tectonic setting. • The Bikou Terrane was a part of the subduction-related system during the early Neoproterozoic. The Neoproterozoic mafic intrusions in the Bikou Terrane along the northwestern margin of the Yangtze Block record crucial information on evaluating the tectonic evolution of the Yangtze Block, South China. However, their petrogenesis and tectonic significance are still poorly constrained. In this paper, we present the results of a comprehensive study of zircon U–Pb geochronology and whole-rock geochemistry from the gabbro-diorites and gabbros of the Bikou Terrane. Zircon U–Pb dating results indicate that these gabbro-diorite and gabbro samples were formed coevally at ca. 880 Ma. The gabbro-diorite samples are calc-alkaline in composition and have intermediate contents of SiO 2 , Mg#, Ni, and Cr. They are enriched in LREEs, and depleted in HFSEs (i.e., Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf). They have relatively high ratios of Th/Yb, and low ratios of Nb/Yb, Nb/La, Th/Nd, Th/Zr, and U/Th, indicating that they were derived from partial melting of a mantle wedge source metasomatized by slab-derived melts. The gabbro samples are commonly classified as sub-alkaline tholeiitic rocks, and have constantly low to medium values of MgO, Mg#, Cr, and Ni, with distinct spikes at Th, U, Nb and Ta concentrations. They show an E-MORB-like enriched LREEs, low ratios of Nb/La, Ta/Yb, Th/La, and Nb/Zr, and medium ratios of Nb/Yb and Th/Yb, implying that they were most probably originated from the interaction between the upwelling enriched asthenospheric mantle and the mantle wedge peridotite. This mechanism may be triggered by the slab rollback process in a subduction-related environment. Our new investigations, along with available observations from other scholars, support the persistent subduction-related system along the northwestern margin of the Yangtze Block during the early Neoproterozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]