There are several different models for the origin of syenites, but the role of magma mixing in the formation of syenites remains unclear. The Wulingshan alkaline complex in the northern North China Craton consists mainly of porphyritic syenite and syenite with abundant enclaves. These enclaves may provide new insights into the petrogenesis of syenites. We obtained zircon U–Pb age, mineral chemistry, whole‐rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for the enclaves and their host rocks to constrain the petrogenesis and identify the role of magma mixing during the formation of the different syenites in the Wulingshan alkaline complex. The results of zircon U–Pb dating indicate that the enclaves and host rocks crystallized contemporaneously at ca. 133 Ma. The enclaves contain abundant clinopyroxene, amphibole, and biotite, and their average Nb/Ta (18.46) and Th/Ce (0.04) ratios are similar to those of the mantle. The enclaves have relatively high Fe 2 O 3 T , MgO, and CaO contents, and their SiO 2 contents are equivalent to those of intermediate rocks, indicating that they formed by mixing the mafic and felsic magmas to some extent. The different mineral assemblages, major and trace elements and isotopic compositions of the enclaves in the porphyritic syenite and syenite indicate that they are two batches of parental magma with different properties derived from the mantle. The porphyritic syenite and syenite have high SiO 2 and low Fe 2 O 3 T , MgO, and CaO contents, as well as low V, Cr, Co, and Ni contents. These major and trace element characteristics of the host rocks require the involvement of crustal components. The Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of the enclaves and the host syenitoids plot on a mixing curve between enriched lithospheric mantle and lower crust, indicating that these rocks are the products of magma mixing and crust–mantle interaction. Considering the contact relationships, the geochemistry data, and the mixing model presented in the paper, we propose that the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere heated the overlying enriched lithospheric mantle and triggered low‐degree partial melting. The alkalic mafic magmas derived from enriched mantle sources were mixed with felsic magmas generated by partial melting of the lower (or upper) crust to form the different syenites.
The Wunugetushan porphyry Cu–Mo deposit is located in northeastern China. The deposit lies within the Mongolia–Erguna metallogenic belt, which is associated with the evolution of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. The multiple episodes of magmatism in the ore district, occurred from 206 to 173 Ma, can be divided into pre-mineralization stage (biotite granite), mineralization stage (monzogranitic porphyry and rhyolitic porphyry), and post-mineralization stage (andesitic porphyry). The biotite granite has (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.704105–0.704706, εNd(t) values of −0.67 to −0.07, and εHf(t) values of −0.4 to 2.8, yielding Hf two-stage model ages (TDM2) 1250–1067 Ma, and Nd model ages of 1.04–0.96 Ga, indicating that the pre-mineralization magmas were generated by the remelting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crustal material. The monzogranitic porphyry has (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.704707–0.706134, εNd(t) values of 0.29–1.33, and εHf(t) values of 1.0–2.9, yielding TDM2 model ages of 1173–1047 Ma. The rhyolitic porphyry has (87Sr/86Sr)i ratio of 0.702129, εNd(t) value of −0.21, and εHf(t) values of −0.5 to 7.1, TDM2 model ages from 1269 to 782 Ma. These results show that the magmas of mineralization stage were generated by the partial melting of juvenile crust mixed with mantle-derived components. The andesitic porphyry has (87Sr/86Sr)i ratio of 0.705284, εNd(t) value of 0.82, and εHf(t) values from 4.1 to 7.4, indicating that the post-mineralization magma source contained more mantle-derived material. The Mesozoic Cu–Mo deposits which genetically related to Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean were temporally distributed in Middle to Late Triassic (240–230 Ma), Early Jurassic (200–180 Ma), and Later Jurassic (160–150 Ma) period. The Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic Cu–Mo mineralization was dominated by Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate southeast-directed subducted beneath the Erguna massif. The Later Jurassic Cu–Mo mineralization was controlled by the continent–continent collision between Siberia plate and Erguna massif.
Permian intermediate–felsic igneous rocks, widely distributed in the southern Beishan orogen, provide crucial constraints on the geodynamic process of the late Paleozoic Paleo-Asian Ocean. New zircon U–Pb dating using LA–ICP–MS determines the age of the northern Qingshan diorites, the Heishantou quartz diorites, and the southern Qingshan biotite granodiorites at 300 Ma, 294 Ma, and 291–286 Ma, respectively. Their whole-rock compositions exhibit arc-like geochemical features. Moreover, their zircon trace elements show the characteristics of continental arc zircons. The diorites, characterized by low SiO2, high MgO with Mg# (50–52), and low Cr, Co, and Ni, display enrichment in Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7060 to 0.7061; ℇNd(t) = −1.4 to −1.7; ℇHf(t) = −4.7 to −0.6), originating from the fractionation process of magma derived from the enriched mantle. The quartz diorites show moderate SiO2 and variable MgO (2.75–3.84 wt%) and exhibit enrichment in Sr-Nd (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7048–0.7050; ℇNd(t) = −1.5–+0.9) and depletion in zircon Hf isotopes (ℇHf(t) = 3.8 to 7.8). Combined with their high Y (20.0–21.0 ppm) and low (La/Yb)N (6.0 to 17.2), we conclude that they originated from the juvenile lower crust previously influenced by oceanic sediments, with the input of enriched mantle-derived materials. The biotite granodiorites display low A/CNK (0.91–0.97), 10000*Ga/Al (1.8–1.9), and Ti-in-zircon temperatures (average 711 °C), indicating that they are I-type granitoids. These rocks show enrichment in Sr-Nd isotopes (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7054 to 0.7061; ℇNd(t) = −2.0 to −1.6) and many variable zircon Hf isotopes (ℇHf(t) = −2.3 to +4.5). Geochemical studies indicate that they originate from the mixing of magmas derived from the enriched mantle and preexisting juvenile lower crust. All these data imply the existence of oceanic subduction in southern Beishan during the early Permian. Integrating these results with previous studies, it is inferred that the retreating subduction of the Liuyuan Ocean contributed to early Permian intermediate–felsic rocks becoming widespread in the Shibanshan unit, the southernmost part of the Beishan orogen, and also why the Paleo-Asian Ocean in southern Beishan did not close during the early Permian.
Understanding of the mechanism between magma sources and metallogeny is still vague. As an important gold and molybdenum producing area, the Chifeng–Chaoyang district, located at the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), is a key place for this issue. New geochemical data relating to Taijiying gold-deposit-related granites are presented. These data, coupled with previous studies, are used to explore the relationship between magma sources and mineralization processes. Two major magmatic periods, the Middle Triassic (220–230 Ma) and Late Jurassic (150–160 Ma), are identified based on the compiled data. The Triassic magmatic rocks are mostly fractionated I-type and A-type granites, including monzogranite, biotite granite, and syenogranite. They have low initial 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7050), moderately enriched εNd(t)–εHf(t) values (−8.5 and −5.6), and relatively young Nd–Hf model ages (TDM2-TDMC) (1.47–1.57 Ga). These features indicate that more Archean–Paleoproterozoic mantle-derived materials were involved in their sources. On the other hand, Jurassic granites are high-K calc-alkaline of the calc-alkaline series and mainly consist of granite, monzogranite, leucogranite, and granodiorite. They have high Na2O/K2O, Sr/Y, and La/Yb ratios and low Y and Yb contents. The adakitic features suggest the existence of a thickened lower crust. Their significant negative εNd(t)–εHf(t) values (−15.0 and −12.8) and older Nd–Hf model ages (TDM2–TDMC) (2.17–2.11 Ga) are consistent with their derivation from thickened ancient lower crust, indicating the initial activation of NCC. It is proposed that the change in the main source resulted from the tectonic transition during the early Mesozoic initial decratonization, that is, from the post-collisional extension to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath the East Asia plate from the Triassic to the Jurassic. Comparative analysis suggests that the medium–large-scale gold deposits with a high grade are closely related to the Triassic granites; however, most molybdenum deposits formed in the Jurassic. The decratonization of the NCC in the early Mesozoic experienced tectonic transition and controlled the gold and molybdenum mineralizations in the different stages by the changing magma sources. This pattern is beneficial to understanding the metallogenesis in the Chifeng–Chaoyang district.