Protracted northward drifting of South China during the assembly of Gondwana: Constraints from the spatial-temporal provenance comparison of Neoproterozoic−Cambrian strata

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong Chen ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Min Sun
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Geological Evolution ◽  
System 2 ◽  
Sedimentary System ◽  
Provenance Variations ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
T Values

Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic sedimentation shows systematic temporal-spatial variations within South China, which must be considered in reconstructing geological evolution of South China in response to global plate reorganization from the breakup of Rodinia to the assembly of Gondwana. We use >1000 new U-Pb and Hf isotopic data for detrital zircons from Neoproterozoic−Cambrian strata across the western (i.e., Longmenshan) and eastern (i.e., Wuyishan) margins of South China, coupled with compiled stratigraphic and magmatic information, to constrain change in provenance through time. First-order conclusions are as follows: (1) detrital zircons from the Neoproterozoic strata of the two margins were mainly sourced from the Panxi-Hannan arc and the Jiangnan orogen, signaling a rough self-sufficient sedimentary system; (2) newly identified Cambrian molasse-like sediments in the western margin, in which abundant detrital zircons are 550−500 Ma old with positive εHf(t) values, were mainly derived from the 580−500 Ma Cadomian arc belt along the Iran-Turkey margin; and (3) the Cambrian sediments in the eastern margin document more increased contributions from the Grenvillian-age provinces most possibly in Australia. Such spatial-temporal provenance variations signal the northward drifting of South China, from a position connecting with Iran-Turkey and northern India to that approaching Australia during the late Neoproterozoic−Cambrian period. We highlight that the activity of oblique oceanic-continental convergence accreted Asian terranes onto the northern margin of Gondwana, hence contributing to the ultimate Gondwana architecture under global plate reorganization.

Internal versus external locations of the South China Craton within Rodinia during the Cryogenian: Provenance history of the Nanhua Basin

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangyou Zhu ◽  
Huichuan Liu ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Weiyan Chen ◽  
Jianwei Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mantle Plume ◽  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Yangtze Block ◽  
The South ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
T Values

Contrasting models for internal versus external locations of the South China Craton (SCC) in the supercontinent Rodinia and associated mantle plume or ocean subduction dominated tectonic processes can be resolved by detrital zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses on the Cryogenian Nanhua Supergroup in the central SCC. Our results show that samples from the lower Liantuo, Tiesi’ao, and Datangpo formations of the Nanhua Supergroup show three age peaks at 2.50 Ga, 2.05 Ga, and 0.85 Ga, and those of the upper Nantuo Formation yield four peaks at 2.50 Ga, 2.05 Ga, 0.85 Ga, and 0.65 Ga. The Archean and Paleoproterozoic (1.80−2.10 Ga) zircons have εHf(t) values of −16.3 to +4.7 and −23.0 to +4.2, and may be sourced from the Kongling and Douling complexes and Paleoproterozoic intrusions in the northern Yangtze Block, respectively. Early Neoproterozoic (0.70−0.96 Ga) zircon grains show variable εHf(t) values of −20.0 to +15.0. In combination with the absence of Mesoproterozoic detrital zircons in the Nanhua Supergroup, huge volumes of Neoproterozoic granitic intrusions in the northern Yangtze Block are the potential sources for the 0.70−0.96 Ga detrital zircons. Only the siltstone of the Nantuo Formation has late Neoproterozoic (0.63−0.69 Ga) detrital zircons with high and positive εHf(t) values (+7.9 to +9.4). Several granitoid intrusions (0.63−0.68 Ga) in the Wudang and Ankang uplift of the South Qinling belt in the northern Yangtze Block provide the late Neoproterozoic detrital zircons of the Nantuo Formation. These provenance analyses of the Nanhua Supergroup indicate an interior source from the SCC, rather than an exterior source from the Laurentia and Australia cratons. The Neoproterozoic rift basins and magmatic rocks in the SCC were produced by secular episodic subductions and back-arc extensions, rather than a Neoproterozoic super-mantle plume. The SCC occupied a peripheral position adjacent to northern India in Rodinia during the Neoproterozoic. These conclusions will promote our understanding of genetic mechanism and distribution prediction of the several Cryogenian−Cambrian black-shale layers and excellent source rocks in the SCC.

Provenance of detrital zircons from the late Neoproterozoic to Ordovician sandstones of South China: implications for its continental affinity

2010 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 974-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
LONG WU ◽  
DONG JIA ◽  
HAIBIN LI ◽  
FEI DENG ◽  
YIQUAN LI
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Fold Belt ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
Early Palaeozoic

AbstractThe U–Pb geochronology of 687 detrital zircons from the voluminous Upper Neoproterozoic–Ordovician succession in the Wuyishan Fold Belt of South China reveals a common dominant c. 1200–950 Ma group, indicative of an outboard provenance terrane with a Grenville-age province to the southeast during the late Neoproterozoic–Early Palaeozoic. Compared with coeval samples from the Gondwanan and eastern Laurentian margins, our data show a scarcity of distinctive Gondwanan provenances (c. 650–500 Ma) and reveal some Laurentian signatures. These results argue against the peri-Gondwanan setting for South China during the late Neoproterozoic–Ordovician, instead implying a Laurentian affinity.

scholarly journals Finding of Ca. 1.6 Ga Detrital Zircons from the Mesoproterozoic Dagushi Group, Northern Margin of the Yangtze Block

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 371
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Xie ◽  
Zhenning Yang ◽  
Huan Zhang ◽  
Ali Polat ◽  
Yang Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Yangtze Block ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Provenance Studies ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
History Of ◽  
T Values

The middle Mesoproterozoic is a crucial time period for understanding the Precambrian tectonic evolutionary history of the northern Yangtze Block and its relationship with the supercontinent Columbia. The Dagushi Group (Gp) is one of the Mesoproterozoic strata rarely found at the northern margin of the Yangtze Block. U–Pb geochronology and Lu–Hf isotopic analyses of detrital zircons were analyzed for three metamorphic quartz sandstone samples collected from the Luohanling and Dangpuling formations of the Dagushi Gp. These metasandstones yielded major zircon populations at ~2.65 Ga and ~1.60 Ga, respectively. The ~1.60 Ga ages first discovered yield a narrow range of ɛHf(t) values from −1.8 to +1.8, which lie above the old crust evolutionary line of the Yangtze Block, suggesting the addition of mantle material. Trace element data indicate that ~1.60 Ga detrital zircons share a basic provenance, whereby they have low Hf/Th and high Nb/Yb ratios. Zircon discrimination diagrams suggest that the ~1.60 Ga detrital zircon source rocks formed in an intra-plate rifting environment. Dagushi Gp provenance studies indicate that the ~1.60 Ga detrital zircon was most likely sourced from the interior Yangtze Block. Thus, we suggest that the late Paleoproterozoic to early Mesoproterozoic continental break-up occurred at the northern margin of the Yangtze Block.

U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from pre-Devonian sequences along the southeast Yangtze: a link to the final assembly of East Gondwana

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (06) ◽  
pp. 950-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAO MA ◽  
KUNGUANG YANG ◽  
ALI POLAT
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Internal Source ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Sedimentary Sequences ◽  
The North ◽  
Final Assembly ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
Early Palaeozoic

AbstractThe Early Palaeozoic geology of the South China Craton (SCC) is characterized by an Early Palaeozoic intracontinental orogen with folded pre-Devonian strata and migmatites, MP/MT metamorphic rocks and Silurian post-orogenic peraluminous magmatic rocks in both the Yangtze and the Cathaysia blocks. In this contribution, we present new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons from the Neoproterozoic to Silurian sedimentary sequences in the southeastern Yangtze Block. Samples from Neoproterozoic rocks generally display a major peak at 900–560 Ma, whereas samples from Lower Palaeozoic rocks are characterized by several broader peaks within the age ranges 600–410 Ma, 1100–780 Ma, 1.6–1.2 Ga and 2.8–2.5 Ga. Provenance analysis indicates that the 900–630 Ma detritus in Cryogenian to Ediacaran samples was derived from the Late Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in South China that acted as an internal source. The occurrence of 620–560 Ma detritus indicates the SE Yangtze was associated with Late Neoproterozoic arc volcanism along the north margin of East Gondwana. The change of provenance resulted in the deposition of 550–520 Ma and 1.1–0.9 Ga detrital zircons in the Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks. The εHf(t) values of these detrital zircons are similar to those of zircons from NW Australia–Antarctica and South India. This change of provenance in the Cambrian can be attributed to the intracontinental subduction between South China and South Qiangtang, and the convergence of India and Australia when East Gondwana finally amalgamated.

Provenance and tectonic setting of the Upper Palaeozoic sandstones in western Inner Mongolia (the Shalazhashan and Solonker belts), China: insights from detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes

2017 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 547-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUANZHONG SHI ◽  
GUANGZENG SONG ◽  
HUA WANG ◽  
CHUANYAN HUANG ◽  
BEN LI
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Sedimentary Environment ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
Early Palaeozoic ◽  
T Values

AbstractThe Solonker and Shalazhashan belts are hotly debated tectonic units of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), because they may either represent a Permian or Triassic suture zone of the CAOB, or a rifting zone overprinted on an Early Palaeozoic orogen. Provenance analysis of the Upper Palaeozoic sandstones in these belts may provide useful constraints on this issue. This study collected six sandstone samples from three study areas: the Mandula area of the Solonker Belt, the Quagan Qulu area of the Shalazhashan Belt but close to the Alxa block, and the Enger Us area of the Shalazhashan Belt, for framework petrography, zircon morphology, U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic analyses. Framework petrography reveals that the Mandula and Enger Us area samples contain high proportions of volcanic fragments, whereas the samples from the Quagan Qulu area include not only volcanic fragments but also significant amounts of biotite and muscovite. The detrital zircons of the Mandula area and the Enger Us area yield two main age groups: (i) 260–330 Ma, with dominant εHf(t) values of –5 to +12; and (ii) 420–550 Ma, with dominant εHf(t) values of –9 to +9, suggesting that Early Palaeozoic arc-related magmatic rocks and Late Palaeozoic syn-depositional volcanic rocks are the main source rocks. The detrital zircons of the Quagan Qulu area have one main age group of 420–500 Ma and some grains of 0.9–1.1 Ga, 1.4–1.5 Ga, 1.8–1.9 Ga and ~ 2.5 Ga, which derive from the northern margin of the Alxa block. The lithological and fossil assemblages of the Upper Palaeozoic sandstones suggest shallow-marine to deep-water depositional environments and a northward-deepening transition. Based on the zircon spectra, sedimentary environment analysis and previous studies, we argue that the Solonker Belt and the Shalazhashan Belt of the CAOB are in extensional basins of a fore-arc or rifting setting.

Provenance investigation for the Cambrian–Ordovician strata from the northern margin of the western Yangtze Block: implications for locating the South China Block in Gondwana

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-572
Author(s):  
Liang Luo ◽  
Lianbo Zeng ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Xiaoxia Yu ◽  
Yihang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
North India ◽  
South China Block ◽  
Yangtze Block ◽  
The South ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Cathaysia Block ◽  
Early Palaeozoic ◽  
Early Neoproterozoic

AbstractWe report new U–Pb isotopic data for detrital zircons from Cambrian–Ordovician strata on the northern margin of the western Yangtze Block, which together with published U–Pb isotopic data for coeval strata in the South China Block, provide critical constraints on the provenance of these sediments and further shed light on the early Palaeozoic position of the South China Block in the context of Gondwana. Detrital zircons in this study yield four major age peaks in the early Palaeoproterozoic, early Neoproterozoic, middle Neoproterozoic and late Neoproterozoic – early Palaeozoic. The dominant age population of 900–700 Ma matches well with magmatic ages from the nearby Panxi–Hannan Belt, which indicates that Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks in the western Yangtze Block were mainly of local derivation. However, compilations of detrital zircon ages for the Cambrian–Ordovician strata from the Cathaysia Block and the eastern Yangtze Block show that both blocks are dominated by late Mesoproterozoic- and early Neoproterozoic-aged detrital zircons, which suggests a remarkable exotic input with typical Gondwana signatures. According to the integrated detrital zircon age spectra of the Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks from the entire South China Block and palaeocurrent data, the South China Block should have been linked with North India and Western Australia within East Gondwana. Specifically, the Cathaysia Block was located adjacent to Western Australia, while the Yangtze Block was connected with North India.

Zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope analyses of the Wulian complex in the Sulu orogenic belt, eastern China: tectonic affinity and implications for early Precambrian crustal growth and recycling in the South China Craton

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Jian-Hui Liu ◽  
Fu-Lai Liu ◽  
Zheng-Jiang Ding ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Ping-Hua Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continental Crust ◽  
South China ◽  
Orogenic Belt ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Crustal Growth ◽  
Gneissic Granite ◽  
Early Precambrian ◽  
The North ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Sulu Orogenic Belt

Abstract The Wulian complex is located on the northern margin of the Sulu orogenic belt, and was formed by collision between the North China Craton (NCC) to the north and South China Craton (SCC) to the south. It consists of the metasedimentary Wulian Group, gneissic granite and meta-diorite. The U–Pb analyses for the detrital zircons from the Wulian Group exhibit one predominant age population of 2600–2400 Ma with a peak at c. 2.5 Ga and several secondary age populations of > 3000, 3000–2800, 2800–2600, 2200–2000, 1900–1800, 1500–1300 and 1250–950 Ma; some metamorphic zircons have metamorphic ages of c. 2.7, 2.55–2.45, 2.1–2.0 and 1.95–1.80 Ga, which are consistent with magmatic-metamorphic events in the SCC. Additionally, the Wulian Group was intruded by the gneissic granite and meta-diorite at c. 0.76 Ga, attributed to Neoproterozoic syn-rifting bimodal magmatic activity in the SCC and derived from partial melting of Archaean continental crust and depleted mantle, respectively. The Wulian Group therefore has tectonic affinity to the SCC and was mainly sourced from the SCC. The detrital zircons have positive and negative ϵHf(t) values, indicating that their source rocks were derived from reworking of both ancient and juvenile crustal rocks. The major early Precambrian crustal growth took place during c. 3.4–2.5 Ga with a dominant peak at 2.96 Ga and several secondary peaks at 3.27, 2.74 and 2.52 Ga. The two oldest zircons with ages of 3307 and 3347 Ma record the recycling of ancient continental crust (> 3.35 Ga) and crustal growth prior to c. 3.95 Ga in the SCC.

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