Geochemical zonation across a Neoproterozoic orogenic belt: Isotopic evidence from granitoids and metasedimentary rocks of the Jiangnan orogen, China.

Highlights: [•] A gradual geochemical variation from E to W across the Jiangnan orogen (JO). [•] The change of provenance may have been the key control on the variation. [•] The 860–820Ma basement sediments deposited in back-arc and retro-arc foreland basins. [•] The early crust in South China formed mainly at ca 3.8Ga with minor 4.1Ga crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]