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Late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic intrusive rocks are distributed widely along the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in the northern Tibetan Plateau. To constrain the tectonic evolution, we carried out petrological, chronological, and geochemical studies of the Chahannuo gabbros. LA-ICP-MS Zircon U–Pb dating yields an age of 255.0 ± 0.9 Ma for the gabbros, which confirms the existence of Indosinian tectono-magmatic activity on the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. The Chahannuo gabbros have low whole-rock SiO2, Fe2O3 contents, and high Al2O3 contents, which suggests a calc-alkaline affinity. In addition, the gabbros have high MgO, Cr, and Ni contents and Mg#, similar to those predicted of the regional basaltic melts, and indicating that they were affected mainly by fluid from the subducted slab. The Chahannuo gabbros are characterized by arc-like trace element patterns, with enrichment in LREE and LILE, and depletion in HREE and HFSE. No obvious negative Eu anomalies also indicate that no significant magmatic differentiation has occurred. The low Nb/La ratio and Ti content in gabbros samples suggests that the Chahannuo gabbros were partially contaminated by the crust during their formation. The Chahannuo gabbros have high incompatible element ratios (Rb/Sr, Th/Nd, and Th/La), which are closer to the category of enriched mantle. Combing our data with previous data from contemporaneous magmatism in the region, we suggest that the Chahannuo gabbros formed in a continental arc environment related to the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from the Proto- to the Paleo-Tethys is still a controversial issue. This study reports a new petrology, zircon U–Pb geochronology, and whole-rock geochemistry of volcanic rocks from the Maoniushan Formation in the Nankeke area, northern Qaidam (NQ) of the Tibetan Plateau, to provide new evidence for the transition from the Proto- to the Paleo-Tethys oceans. The volcanic suite consists mainly of rhyolitic crystal lithic tuff lavas and minor basalts. Zircon U–Pb data indicate that the bimodal volcanic rocks were formed during the Early Devonian (ca. 410–409 Ma). Geochemically, the basalts have low contents of SiO2 (48.92 wt.%–51.19 wt.%) and relatively high contents of MgO (8.94 wt.%–9.99 wt.%), TiO2 (1.05 wt.%–1.29 wt.%), K2O (2.35 wt.%–4.17 wt.%), and K2O/Na2O ratios (1.04–2.56), showing the characteristics of calc-alkaline basalts. Their rare earth element (REE) patterns and trace element spider diagrams are characterized by enrichments in LREEs (LREE/HREE = 18.31–21.34) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; Rb, Th, and K) and depletion in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs; Nb, Ta, P, and Ti), with slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.82–0.86), which are similar to Etendeka continental flood basalts (CFB). These features suggest that the basalts were most likely derived from low degree (1%–5%) partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle, contaminated by small volumes of continental crust. In contrast, the felsic volcanics have high SiO2 (68.41 wt.%–77.12 wt.%), variable Al2O3 (9.56 wt.%–12.62 wt.%), low MgO, and A/CNK ratios mostly between 1.08 and 1.15, defining their peraluminous and medium-K calc-alkaline signatures. Their trace element signatures show enrichments of LREEs and LILEs (e.g., Rb, Th, U, K, and Pb), depletion of HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ti, Ta, and P), and negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.22–0.66). These features suggest that the felsic volcanics were derived from partial melting of the middle crust, without interaction with mantle melts. Considering all the previous data and geochemical features, the Maoniushan Formation volcanic rocks in NQ formed in a post-collisional extensional setting associated with asthenospheric mantle upwelling and delamination in the Early Devonian. Together with the regional data, this study proposed that the Proto-Tethys Ocean had closed and evolved to the continental subduction/collision orogeny stage during the Middle to Late Ordovician, evolved to the post-collisional extensional stage in the Early Devonian, and finally formed the Zongwulong Ocean (branches of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean) in the Late Carboniferous, forming the tectonic framework of the Paleo-Tethys Archipelagic Ocean in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the East Kunlun Orogen (EKO) was related to the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys Oceans. However, how the Paleo-Tethys Ocean transited from the Proto-Tethys Ocean, and whether the Paleo-Tethys Ocean subducted northward beneath the East Kunlun–Qaidam Terrane in Carboniferous to Permian times, is still highly debated. Early Carboniferous Halaguole and Late Carboniferous to Early Permian Haoteluowa formations are extensively outcropped in the EKO, north Tibetan Plateau, and have thus recorded key information about the tectonic processes of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean that have implications for the reconstruction of the Northern Paleo-Tethys Ocean (Buqingshan Ocean). Siliciclastic rocks within these formations are collected for petrogeological, geochemical, and detrital zircon U–Pb dating research. Our results show that sandstones from Halaguole and Haoteluowa formations have an average total quartz–feldspar–lithic fragment ratio of Q67F12L21 and Q50F20L30, respectively, indicating relatively high compositional maturity. The geochemical results suggest that the average values of the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) are 57.83 and 64.66; together with their angular to subangular morphology, this indicates that their source rocks suffered from weak weathering and the sandstones are the result of proximal deposition. Geochemical features such as the low La/Th, TiO2, and Ni values suggest that the parental rocks in the provenance area are mainly acidic igneous rocks with minor intermediate igneous and old sedimentary components. The detrital zircon U–Pb age spectrum of these samples is dominated by age peaks at ~405–503 Ma and ~781–999 Ma, with subordinate age peaks at ~1610–2997 Ma and ~1002–1529 Ma, which show tectono–thermal events similar to those of the North Qimatag Belt (NQB), North Kunlun Terrane (NKT), and South Kunlun Terrane (SKT). These features suggest a contribution from the Early Paleozoic magmatic arc and Proterozoic basements in the NQB, NKT, and SKT to the Halaguole and Haoteluowa formations in these areas. In addition, the youngest zircon age of ~440 Ma from these sandstones is greater than the depositional age of Halaguole and Haoteluowa formations, which is a typical basin depositional feature in a passive continental margin. Geochemical tectonic discrimination diagrams, based on a major and trace element Ti/Zr–La/Sc plot, in combination with a detrital zircon age distribution pattern, all suggest a passive continental margin setting. Considering this together with the previous data, we argue that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean did not begin to subduct northward and that there was no oceanic subduction zone in the south EKO during Carboniferous to Early Permian times. Combining this information with that from previous studies suggests that the initial opening of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean may have occurred before the Early Carboniferous time, and all the branches of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean constituted a complex ocean–continent configuration across parts of what is now Asia during the Early Carboniferous to Early Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhyolites which are widely exposed to the northern margin of the East Kunlun orogenic belt were chosen as a research object to discern the post-orogenic tectonic evolution of the East Kunlun orogenic belt and reconstruct the post-collision orogenic processes of the Buqingshan- A'nyemaqen Ocean. We researched zircon U-Pb ages and geochemistry characteristics of the Late Triassic rhyolites in the eastern segment of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Zircon U-Pb dating yields coeval ages of 200.4 ± 1.4 Ma and 202.8 ± 1.2 Ma for the Keri rhyolites of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, indicating that the volcanic rocks were formed in the Late Triassic Rhaetian–Early Jurassic Hettangian. The Keri rhyolite is a product of the late magmatism of the Elashan Formation volcanic rocks. The rhyolites include rhyolitic brecciated tuff lavas and rhyolitic tuff lavas. The rhyolites are peraluminous and are high-K calc-alkaline, with high contents of SiO2, K2O, TFe2O3, and low P2O5 contents. The A/CNK ratios range from 0.97 to 1.09, indicating that the rhyolites are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) distribution shows a significant negative Eu anomaly and low total REE concentrations. All samples are depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs, e.g., Eu, Sr, Ti, and P), heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), and enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs, e.g., Rb, Zr, Nd, Th, and U) and light rare earth elements (LREEs). The Keri rhyolite has the characteristics of A1-type magmatic rock, formed in an anorogenic environment after the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, and was the product of late magmatism in the Elashan Formation volcanic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East Kunlun Orogen on the northern margin of the Tethyan orogenic system records a history of Gondwana dispersal and Laurasian accretion. Uncertainties remain regarding the detailed histories of northern branches of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in East Kunlun Orogen (Buqingshan Ocean). Based on a synthesis of sedimentary, structural, lithological, geochemical, and geochronological data from the East Kunlun Orogen and adjacent regions, this paper discusses the spreading and northward consumption of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean during Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic times. The main evolutionary stages are: (1) during Carboniferous to Middle Permian, the Paleo-Tethys Ocean (Buqingshan Ocean) was in an ocean spreading stage, as suggested by the occurrence of Carboniferous MORB-, and OIB-type oceanic units and Carboniferous to Middle Permian Passive continental margin deposits; (2) the Buqingshan Ocean subducted northward beneath the East Kunlun Terrane, leading to the development of a large continental magmatic arc (Burhan Budai arc) and forearc basin between ~270–240 Ma; (3) during the late Middle Triassic to early Late Triassic (ca. 240–230 Ma), the Qiangtang terrane collided with the East Kunlun–Qaidam terranes, leading to the final closure of the Buqingshan Ocean and occurrences of minor collision-type magmatism and potentially inception of the Bayan Har foreland basin; (4) finally, the East Kunlun Orogen evolved into a post-collisional stage and produced major magmatic flare-ups and polymetallic mineral deposits between Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (ca. 230–200 Ma), which is possibly related to asthenospheric mantle upwelling induced by delamination of thickened continental lithosphere and partial melting of the lower crust. In this paper, we propose that the Wilson cycle-like processes controlled the Late Paleozoic–Early Triassic tectonic evolution of East Kunlun, which provides significant implications for the evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean is still a controversial subject. Here we report zircon U-Pb ages, geochemistry, and Hf isotopic compositions of the zircon in the Mengkete quartz diorite in the Buqingshan–A'nyemaqen Tectonic Mélange Belt, which lies at the southern margin of the East Kunlun orogenic belt on the northern Tibetan Plateau, to constrain the petrogenesis of subduction-related granitoids and to reconstruct the evolution of the Buqingshan–A'nyemaqen Ocean. Zircons U-Pb dating yields coeval ages of 441–436 Ma for Mengkete quartz diorite. Mengkete plutons have variable SiO2 (56.63–65.22%) and high Al2O3 (16.09–17.79%) contents and aluminous saturation indexes (A/CNK ratios) ranging from 0.77 to 0.96, which define their metaluminous and medium-K2O calc-alkaline signatures. The plutons have a low total rare-earth element (REE) content (45.49–168.31 ppm) and slightly positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* in the range of 0.96 to 1.32). They are also enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs), such as Rb, Th, and Ba, but are depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ti. Their zircon εHf(t) values ranging from 7.79 to 13.02, and the two-stage Hf (TDM2) model ages are in the range of 1130–657 Ma. These geochemical signatures indicate that the Mengkete quartz diorite was derived from partial melting of the mafic Meso-Neoproterozoic lower crust during the northward subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean. The evolution of the East Kunlun Belt can be divided into five stages from the Neoproterozoic to late Middle Triassic: (1) an opend Buqingshan‒A'nyemaqen ocean during the Neoproterozoic up to 516Ma; (2) the continuous expansion of the Buqingshan‒A'nyemaqen ocean during the period 516 to 441Ma, along with the beginning of northward subduction in the Late Cambrian; (3) further subduction from 441 to 400Ma, accompanied by the production of large volumes of arc magmatic rocks; (4) the long period during which the Buqinshan–A'nyemaqen Ocean existed (400–240 Ma); and (5) the final closure of the Buqinshan–A'nyemaqen Ocean in the late Middle Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Halazha pluton is composed of 244 Ma quartz diorites and intruded 233 Ma granodiorites, both containing coeval MMEs. • The formation of MMEs involves two stages of magma mingling. • The Halazha pluton is derived from the partial melting of the juvenile crust. • Amphibole cumulates can contribute to the formation of quartz diorites. Granitoids and coeval mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) provide important insights into petrogenesis and crustal evolution. In the eastern sector of the East Kunlun Orogen, the Halazha (HLZ) pluton contains abundant MMEs, recording magma mingling processes. The HLZ pluton comprises quartz diorites and granodiorites, whereas the MMEs have a gabbroic-dioritic composition. This paper provides a detailed description of the petrography and mineralogy of the HLZ pluton and MMEs, and presents new ages and geochemical data. The zircon U–Pb dating results indicate that quartz diorites and granodiorites are ranging from 243 ± 2 Ma to 244.8 ± 1.3 Ma and from 233.3 ± 1.1 Ma to 233.6 ± 1.5 Ma, respectively. The zircon ages of the coeval MMEs are identical to the host rocks, i.e., 244.5 ± 1.1 Ma − 244.5 ± 1.2 Ma, and 233.7 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively. Both quartz diorites and granodiorites contain hornblende, display metaluminous characteristics with average A/CNK values of 0.93 and 0.99, respectively, and thus belong to I-type granite. Both of them are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements such as Rb and Ba and depleted in high-field-strength elements such as Nb and Ta. In addition, they both have low ε Hf (t) values, ranging from −5.6 to −1.7 and −5.4 to −1.79, respectively. Results suggest that HLZ pluton is derived from magmas formed by the partially melting juvenile mafic lower crust. Quartz diorites experienced hornblende accumulation for its low SiO 2 contents. Whereas, the high Sr/Y ratio of granodiorites attributes to the fractional crystallization of apatite. Notably, the crystallization pressure and temperature (average 3.43 kbar and 764 °C) of the hornblende xenocrysts in MMEs is close to it of the hornblende phenocryst in quartz diorite (average 3.68 kbar and 766 °C). This similarity indicates that MMEs in the quartz diorites resulted from magmatic mingling between the mafic magma and the host rock within the deep crust. The hornblende xenocrysts present in MMEs of the granodiorites contain a higher number of inclusions, reveal higher crystallization pressures (average 2.73 kbar) and temperatures (average 825 °C) compared to their host rocks (average 1.35 kbar and 702 °C). These results suggest that MMEs in granodiorites underwent two distinct magmatic mixing processes: the magmatic mixing of mafic magma in the deep crust and then during the upwelling process after this mixed mafic magma entered the granodiorites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 432 Ma granites formed in a syn-collisional setting. • 422-411 Ma granites formed in a post-collisional environment. • East Kunlun evolved into a post-collisional stage in the Early Devonian. Middle Paleozoic granitoids in the East Kunlun Orogen of the northern Tibetan Plateau play an important role in deciphering the tectonic evolution of the Proto-Tethys Ocean. This paper presents petrological, whole-rock geochemical, zircon U-Pb geochronological, and Sr-Nd isotopic data for granodiorites, garnet-bearing granites, and syenogranites in the East Kunlun Orogen. These granites have zircon U-Pb ages of 432 Ma, 423 Ma, and 413 Ma, respectively, taken to be their crystallization ages. They have mineralogical and geochemical features of I- (or I-S transition), S-, and A-type granitoids, respectively. Primitive magma of the I-type granodiorite is inferred to be derived from partial melting of a juvenile lower crust, whereas the S-type garnet-bearing granites could be linked to partial melting of greywackes in the middle/lower crust. In contrast, the A-type syenogranite may have been derived from the Neoproterozoic granites at high-temperature and low-pressure conditions. In addition, the 432 Ma I-type granites were likely emplaced in a syn -collisional setting, and the 423–411 Ma S- and A-type granites formed in a post-collisional environment in response to the slab break-off/detachment and asthenosphere upwelling during the Middle Silurian-Early Devonian. These distinct granites suggest that the East Kunlun Orogen evolved into a syn -collisional stage due to the collision between North Kunlun and South Kunlun Terrane during the Middle Silurian (ca. 438 Ma) before experiencing a post-collisional collapse in the Late Silurian to Early-Middle Devonian. These results together with the Silurian orogeny of regional Qilian and Qinling orogens suggest the Proto-Tethys oceans in central China fully closed during Middle Silurian-Early Devonian, and then generated the middle Paleozoic Kunlun-Qilian-Qinling Orogen in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]