A Tarim-North India connection in northern Gondwana: Constraints from provenance of early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen, southeastern Tarim

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Toshiaki Tsunogae ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Yigui Han ◽  
Jinlong Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
The North ◽  
Altyn Tagh ◽  
Tarim Craton ◽  
Tethys Ocean ◽  
Final Closure

<p>Amalgamation of northern Gondwana involves a wealth of present-day East Asian blocks (e.g., South China, North China, Alxa, Tarim, Indochina, Qiangtang, Sibumasu, Lhasa, etc.) due to consumption and closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean. Locating the Tarim craton during assembly of northern Gondwana remains enigmatic, with different models separating Tarim from Gondwana by a paleoceanic domain throughout the Paleozoic, advocating a long-term Tarim-Australia linkage in the Neoproterozoic to the early Paleozoic, or suggesting a Tarim-Arabia connection in the early Paleozoic.</p><p>This study carried out field-based zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotopic analyses for early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen, southeastern Tarim. New dating results revealed that the early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks were deposited from ca. 494 to 449 Ma. Provenance tracing indicates the ca. 494-477 Ma sedimentary rocks were primarily sourced from the local Altyn Tagh orogen to the south of the North Altyn Ocean (one branch of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between southeastern Tarim and northern Gondwana). In contrast, the ca. 465-449 Ma sedimentary rocks have remarkably increasing ca. 840-780 Ma, 2.0-1.7 Ga, and 2.7-2.4 Ga detrital zircons, indicating an augmented supply of detritus from the Tarim craton to the north of the North Altyn Ocean. Such a significant provenance shift between ca. 477 and 465 Ma marks the timing of the final closure of the North Altyn Ocean. Combined with the timing of the final closure of other branches of the Proto-Tethys Ocean, the entire Proto-Tethys Ocean might have been progressively closed at ca. 500-420 Ma, resulting in the connection of most East Asian blocks with northern Gondwana. Based on detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic comparison, Tarim most likely shared a North Indian affinity with many East Asian blocks (such as North Qilian, North Qinling, South China, Indochina, South Qiangtang, etc.). This new finding argues against an Australian or Arabian affinity for the Tarim craton.</p><p>This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects (grants 41730213, 42072264, 41902229, 41972237, and 41888101), Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund (grant 17307918), and Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to Prof. Toshiaki Tsunogae (No. 18H01300) and to Dr. Qian Liu (No. 19F19020). JSPS fellowship is also much appreciated.</p>

Provenance of early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen: Insights into the paleoposition of the Tarim craton in northern Gondwana associated with final closure of the Proto−Tethys Ocean

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Jianhua Li ◽  
Jinlong Yao ◽  
Yigui Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asian ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Hf Isotope ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
The North ◽  
Altyn Tagh ◽  
Tarim Craton ◽  
Tethys Ocean ◽  
Final Closure

The evolution of the northern margin of Gondwana, especially to the north of India and Australia, remains enigmatic. Much controversy concerns when and where the Tarim craton was amalgamated with northern Gondwana due to final closure of the North and South Altyn Oceans (two branches of the Proto−Tethys Ocean between southeastern Tarim and northern Gondwana). This study addressed these issues through systematic field-based zircon U-Pb dating and Hf-isotope analyses of early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen. New dating results reveal depositional ages from ca. 494 to 426 Ma. Provenance tracing indicates the ca. 494−477 Ma samples were dominantly sourced from local Altyn Tagh areas to the south of the North Altyn Ocean, whereas the ca. 465−449 Ma samples are characterized by a significant increase in ca. 2.7−2.4 Ga, 2.0−1.7 Ga, and 840−780 Ma detrital zircons, indicating an augmented supply of detritus from the Tarim craton to the north of the North Altyn Ocean. This change indicates a major provenance shift from a single to multiple source regions between ca. 477 and 465 Ma, marking the timing of the final closure of the North Altyn Ocean. Zircon U-Pb and Hf-isotopic data from the ca. 444−426 Ma samples resemble those from the ca. 465−449 Ma samples, suggesting local sediment recycling related to a postcollisional regime. Considering the South Altyn Ocean and other branches of the Proto−Tethys Ocean, we infer that the entire Proto−Tethys Ocean might have been progressively closed at ca. 500−420 Ma, leading to the amalgamation of most East Asian blocks with northern Gondwana. Detrital zircon U-Pb and Hf-isotope comparisons indicate that Tarim shared a North Indian affinity with many East Asian terranes (such as North Qilian, North Qinling, South China, Indochina, South Qiangtang, etc.), rather than with Arabia-Iran or other terranes (e.g., Lhasa and Sibumasu) that were adjacent to western Australia along the northern margin of Gondwana.

scholarly journals Detrital Zircon U-Pb-Hf Isotopes of Middle Neoproterozoic Sedimentary Rocks in the Altyn Tagh Orogen, Southeastern Tarim: Insights for a Tarim-South China-North India Connection in the Periphery of Rodinia

Lithosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Jianhua Li ◽  
Jinlong Yao ◽  
Yigui Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
North India ◽  
Hf Isotopes ◽  
Altyn Tagh ◽  
Tarim Craton ◽  
Rodinia Supercontinent ◽  
New Perspective

Abstract The location of the Tarim craton during the assembly and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent remains enigmatic, with some models advocating a Tarim-Australia connection and others a location at the heart of the unified Rodinia supercontinent between Australia and Laurentia. In this study, our new zircon U-Pb dating results suggest that middle Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen of the southeastern Tarim craton were deposited between ca. 880 and 760 Ma in a rifting-related setting slightly prior to the breakup of Rodinia at ca. 750 Ma. A compilation of existing Neoproterozoic geological records also indicates that the Altyn Tagh orogen of the southeastern Tarim craton underwent collision at ca. 1.0-0.9 Ga and rifting at ca. 850-600 Ma related to the assembly and breakup of Rodinia. Furthermore, in order to establish the paleoposition of the Tarim craton with respect to Rodinia, available detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes from Meso- to Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks were compiled. Comparable detrital zircon ages (at ca. 0.9, 1.3-1.1, and 1.7 Ga) and Hf isotopes indicate a close linkage among rocks of the southeastern Tarim craton, Cathaysia, and North India but exclude a northern or western Australian affinity. In addition, detrital zircons from the northern Tarim craton exhibit a prominent age peak at ca. 830 Ma with minor spectra at ca. 1.9 and 2.5 Ga but lack Mesoproterozoic ages, comparable to the northern and western Yangtze block. Together with comparable geological responses to the assembly and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent, we offer a new perspective of the location of the Tarim craton between South China and North India in the periphery of Rodinia.

A Tarim-South China-North India connection in the periphery of Rodinia: Constraints from provenance of middle Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen, southeastern Tarim

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Liu
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Close Linkage ◽  
North India ◽  
Hf Isotopes ◽  
Altyn Tagh ◽  
Detrital Zircon Ages ◽  
Rule Out

<p>Locating Tarim during assembly and breakup of Supercontinent Rodinia remains enigmatic, with different models advocating a Tarim-Australia linkage or a location between Australia and Laurentia at the heart of unified Rodinia. In this study, zircon U-Pb dating results first revealed middle Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the Altyn Tagh orogen, southeastern Tarim. These sedimentary rocks were deposited between ca. 880 and 750 Ma in a rifting-related setting slightly prior to breakup of Rodinia at ca. 750 Ma. A compilation of Neoproterozoic geological records indicates that the Altyn Tagh orogen in southeastern Tarim underwent ca. 1.0-0.9 Ga collision and ca. 850-600 Ma rifting related to assembly and breakup of Rodinia, respectively. In order to place Tarim in Rodinia, available detrital zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes from Meso- to Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in relevant Rodinia blocks are compiled. Comparable detrital zircon ages (at ca. 0.9, 1.3-1.1, and 1.7 Ga) and Hf isotopes indicate a close linkage among southeastern Tarim, Cathaysia, and North India, but rule out a North or West Australian affinity for Tarim. In addition, detrital zircons from northern Tarim exhibit a prominent age peak at ca. 830 Ma with minor spectra at ca. 1.9 and 2.5 Ga but lack Mesoproterozoic ages, which are comparable to those from northern and western Yangtze. Together with comparable geological responses to assembly and breakup of Rodinia, a new Tarim-South China-North India connection is inferred in the periphery of Rodinia.</p>

Timing of the final closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean: Constraints from provenance of early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in West Kunlun, NW China

2020 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 151-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Yigui Han ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Jinlong Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Nw China ◽  
Tethys Ocean ◽  
West Kunlun ◽  
Final Closure

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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