Nd isotopic characteristics of Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks and constraints on their provenance in the eastern segment of Central Tianshan Belt, Xinjiang

Sm-Nd isotopic characteristics, εNd(t) values and Nd model ages (TDM) of Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the eastern segment of Central Tianshan Belt (ESCTB), Xinjiang, are used to constrain the sedimentary provenance as well as to evaluate their tectonic implications. εNd(t) and TDM values of these samples range from -4.00 to +6.36 and from 1.29 to 2.29 Ga, respectively. These feature values are distinguished from those of Archean Tarim Craton. Their average εNd(t) values of the Weiya, the Kumishi and the south to the Dikar samples are -2.46, +2.06 and +1.37, respectively. Nd model ages of the Weiya samples vary between 1.86 and 2.29 Ga, but those of the Kumishi and the south to the Dikar samples show a significant concentration at 1.6～1.9 Ga and the youngest Nd model age is 1.29 Ga. Those Nd isotopic characteristics suggest that these metasedimentary rocks could be derived from a significant proportion of Paleoproterozoic crustal source and a participation of young arc materials, rather than Archean Tarim Craton. Furthermore, the data also indicate that these two sources were paleogeographically separated. Thus we can deduce that the Kumishi and the south to the Dikar metasedimentary rocks were formed proximal to the arc side of the back-arc basin, but the Weiya metasedimentary rocks were closer to the continental side of the back-arc basin.     

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopic compositions of Middle–Upper Ordovician sandstones from the Quruqtagh area,eastern Tarim Basin:implications for sedimentary provenance and tectonic evolution

Figuring out whether the sedimentary provenance regions of the thick deep-water turbidite systems deposited during Middle–Upper Ordovician in South Quruqtagh are the intracontinental uplifts or the peripheral orogenic belts is of great significance for us to understand the tectono-sedimentary nature of the northeastern Tarim Basin and basin-range coupling processes in the middle Paleozoic.This paper reports the in situ LA-ICP-MS U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data on detrital zircons from two Middle–Upper Ordovician sandstone samples which were collected from the Charchag Formation and the Zatupo Formation in South Quruqtagh,respectively.The results show that the studied two samples have extremely similar U–Pb age patterns and Hf isotopic compositions,reflecting multiphase tectonothermal events with age groups of 527–694,713–870 Ma(peaking at 760 Ma),904–1,090,1,787–2,094 Ma(peaking at 1,975 Ma)and 2,419–2,517 Ma.Combining previous studies,the presence of age groups of 713–1,090 and1,787–2,094 Ma,respectively,demonstrates that Tarim had ever been a part of Rodinia and Columbia supercontinent.Moreover,98%of 713–870 Ma detrital zircons are characterized by negative e Hf(t)values ranging from-38.07 to-0.61,which are highly consistent with those of Neoproterozoic granites from the Quruqtagh area.No Early Paleozoic ages(*470–500 Ma)signifying subduction or collision events in Altyn Tagh were detected in the two samples,indicating that the Middle–Late Ordovician sediments in South Quruqtagh and northern Mangar depression were mainly derived from intracontinental uplifts,i.e.,the North Quruqtagh uplift or the Tabei paleo-uplift,rather than the Altyn Tagh.In conjunction with regional sedimentary-tectonic background and previous studies,we proposed preliminarily that the northeastern Tarim remained as a passive continental margin in Late Ordovician and changed into an active-continental margin in Silurian due to the southward subduction of the South-Tianshan Ocean.     

U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southwestern margin of the North China Craton

In situ U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analysis were carried out for detrital zircons from quartzite in the Paleoproterozoic Songshan Group on the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The re- sults provide further constraints on the crustal formation and evolution history of NCC. Four 207Pb/206Pb age populations were obtained from 99 analyses, with clusters at ~3.40 Ga, 2.77―2.80 Ga, ~2.50 Ga and 2.34 Ga, respectively. The 3.40 Ga old zircons have similar Hf isotopic compositions to those from Ar- chean rocks in the Jidong and Anshan areas of NCC. However, crustal remnants older than 3.6 Ga have been identified in the southern margin of NCC, the South China Craton, the northwestern part of the Qinling Orogen and its adjacent area. Thus, it is not easy to trace the source rock from which the 3.40 Ga detrital zircons were derived. It can be inferred that the crustal remnants older than 3.40 Ga might have been widely distributed in the North China Craton. The 2.77―2.80 Ga zircons make up a relatively small proportion and have the highest εHf (t) values (up to 6.1±1.6), consistent with the Hf isotopic composition of the depleted mantle at 2.83 Ga. Their single-stage Hf model age of 2.83 Ga is close to their crystallized age, suggesting that their source rocks were extracted from the contemporaneous depleted mantle. The ~2.50 Ga zircon grains constitute about 85% of the total grain population and their Hf isotopic compositions indicate major growth of juvenile crust at ~2.50 Ga but minor reworking of ancient crust. The youngest zircon dated in this study gave an U-Pb age of 2337±23 Ma, which can be considered the maximum depositional age of the formation of the Songshan Group.     

An in situ zircon Hf isotopic,U-Pb age and trace element study of banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt： Tracking the early evolution of the lower crust in the North China craton

Backscattered electron images, in situ Hf isotopes, U-Pb ages and trace elements of zircons in a banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt have been studied. The results show that the banded granulite is a sample derived from the early lower crust of the North China craton. It is difficult to explain the petrogenesis of the xenolith with a single process. Abundant information on several processes, however, is contained in the granulite. These processes in-clude the addition of mantle material, crustal remelting, metamorphic differentiation and the delamination of early lower crust. About 80% of zircons studied yield ages of 1842 ±40 Ma, except few ages of 3097-2824 Ma and 2489-2447 Ma. The zircons with ages older than 2447 Ma have high εHf (up to +18.3) and high Hf model age (2.5-2.6 Ga), indicating that the primitive materials of the granulite were derived mainly from a depleted mantle source in late Archean. Most εhf of the zircons with early Proterozoic U-Pb age vary around zero, but two have