This study reports zircon U–Pb geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Hf–O isotopic data for metavolcanic rocks from the Shitoukoumen and Yongji areas in central Jilin Province, northeast China, to reveal their petrogenesis and tectonic setting. The metavolcanic rocks collected from the Shitoukoumen and Yongji areas are composed of metabasaltic trachyandesite, metatrachyandesite, and metarhyolitic tuff. Zircon U–Pb dating results indicate that the metavolcanic rocks were erupted during 359–355 Ma. Metavolcanic rocks in the Shitoukoumen area can be divided into two groups according to their geochemical characteristics. Group‐I rocks (metabasaltic trachyandesite and metatrachyandesite) show geochemical features similar to those of ocean island basalt (OIB), with slightly lower zircon δ 18 O values (4.06 ± 0.42‰ to 5.16 ± 0.28‰) than those of mantle‐derived zircons, and depleted ε Hf (t) values (7.84–15.4). Group‐II rocks (metabasaltic andesite) show similar geochemical characteristics to those of normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt (N‐MORB). Group‐I rocks may have been derived from partial melting of enriched mantle involving high‐temperature altered oceanic crust, whereas Group‐II rocks originated mainly from partial melting of depleted mantle. Metarhyolitic tuffs from the Yongji area have high SiO 2 and K 2 O contents, as well as high Ga/Al ratios, and show similar geochemical characteristics to those of A‐type rhyolites. The results of the study, together with published data, indicate that the eastern segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton was a passive continental margin setting during the early Carboniferous, and that the Paleo‐Asian Ocean remained open along the Changchun–Yanji suture belt until the early Carboniferous.
To constrain the provenance of sediments from the Shifeng and Yishan formations, and the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), we have undertaken zircon U–Pb dating and Hf isotopic analysis of clastic rocks from the Liaoyuan Group, central Jilin Province, NE China. The clastic rocks from the Shifeng and Yishan formations yielded six prominent age populations at 485, 440, 425, 396, 366 and 340 Ma, as well as some Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean ages. Zircons with ages of 485–396 Ma display a large spread in εHf(t) values and decreasing εHf(t) values with age, whereas 396–340 Ma zircons typically have positive εHf(t) values and an overall increasing trend in εHf(t) values with a transformation in tectonic setting. Grains with ages of ~396 Ma have the largest variation in εHf(t) values (−29.36 to +11.83) and have TDM2 ages of 2869–599 Ma. Combining the present results with previous data, this study yields the following conclusions: (1) the maximum deposition time of the Shifeng and Yishan formations is the early Carboniferous (~340 Ma); (2) six magmatic events occurred at the northern margin of the NCC during the Paleozoic (at ~485, 440, 425, 396, 366 and 340 Ma); (3) the Shifeng and Yishan formations include, in addition to juvenile material from a magmatic arc, clastic material from the reworking of NCC basement, implying bidirectional transport; (4) the collision between an early Paleozoic island arc terrane and the NCC occurred during the Early Devonian.
The Xilin Group, composed of the Chenming, Laodaomiaogou, Qianshan and Wuxingzhen formations, is one of the Early Paleozoic terranes in the eastern Songliao Massif, mainly consisting of thick layers of fine clastic and carbonate rocks. This study presents LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronological data for the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations, further constraining their provenance and the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Songliao Massif on the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Most zircons from the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations show magmatic oscillatory zoning and high Th/U ratios (0.26–2.41). Zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that the detrital zircons from the silty mudstone of the Laodaomiaogou Formation yield peak ages of 634 Ma, 775 Ma, 820 Ma, 880 Ma and 927 Ma, as well as multi-episodic Archean to Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic ages (1405–643 Ma), implying its deposition time is younger than ∼634 Ma. Furthermore, the occurrence of Early Cambrian fossils indicates that the Laodaomiaogou Formation was deposited during the late stage of the Early Cambrian (∼514 Ma). The zircons from the K-bentonite of the Qianshan Formation show four peak ages of 444 Ma, 471 Ma, 489 Ma and 518 Ma and the youngest age peak of 444 ± 4 Ma (n = 6) indicates that the Qianshan Formation was deposited during the Late Ordovician. In addition, the peak ages of the detrital zircons in the silty mudstone of the Qianshan Formation are 472 Ma and 498 Ma, as well as two other concordant points with 207Pb/206Pb apparent ages of 1824 Ma and 1985 Ma. The dating results in this study, together with published data, indicate the absence of Pan-African magmatic events in the Songliao Massif prior to the initial deposition of the Xilin Group, in contrast to those distributed widely in the Jiamusi Massif. Taken together, we conclude that the depositional provenance of the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations was derived from the Songliao Massif. Furthermore, the characteristics of the detrital zircon age composition and rock associations indicate that the Laodaomiaogou Formation formed in a passive continental margin environment, in contrast to the Qianshan Formation, which formed in an active continental margin environment. The above results also imply that the Songliao and Jiamusi massifs might not have collided before the Late Ordovician.
Abstract The Xilin Group, composed of the Chenming, Laodaomiaogou, Qianshan and Wuxingzhen formations, is one of the Early Paleozoic terranes in the eastern Songliao Massif, mainly consisting of thick layers of fine clastic and carbonate rocks. This study presents LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb geochronological data for the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations, further constraining their provenance and the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Songliao Massif on the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Most zircons from the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations show magmatic oscillatory zoning and high Th/U ratios (0.26–2.41). Zircon U‐Pb dating results indicate that the detrital zircons from the silty mudstone of the Laodaomiaogou Formation yield peak ages of 634 Ma, 775 Ma, 820 Ma, 880 Ma and 927 Ma, as well as multi‐episodic Archean to Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic ages (1405–643 Ma), implying its deposition time is younger than ∼634 Ma. Furthermore, the occurrence of Early Cambrian fossils indicates that the Laodaomiaogou Formation was deposited during the late stage of the Early Cambrian (∼514 Ma). The zircons from the K‐bentonite of the Qianshan Formation show four peak ages of 444 Ma, 471 Ma, 489 Ma and 518 Ma and the youngest age peak of 444 ± 4 Ma ( n = 6) indicates that the Qianshan Formation was deposited during the Late Ordovician. In addition, the peak ages of the detrital zircons in the silty mudstone of the Qianshan Formation are 472 Ma and 498 Ma, as well as two other concordant points with 207 Pb/ 206 Pb apparent ages of 1824 Ma and 1985 Ma. The dating results in this study, together with published data, indicate the absence of Pan‐African magmatic events in the Songliao Massif prior to the initial deposition of the Xilin Group, in contrast to those distributed widely in the Jiamusi Massif. Taken together, we conclude that the depositional provenance of the Laodaomiaogou and Qianshan formations was derived from the Songliao Massif. Furthermore, the characteristics of the detrital zircon age composition and rock associations indicate that the Laodaomiaogou Formation formed in a passive continental margin environment, in contrast to the Qianshan Formation, which formed in an active continental margin environment. The above results also imply that the Songliao and Jiamusi massifs might not have collided before the Late Ordovician.