The origin of the Cretaceous gabbros in the Fujian coastal region of SE China: implications for deformation-accompanied magmatism

Abstract.

The Cretaceous gabbros in the Fujian coastal region, southeastern China, experienced different magmatic and tectonic processes associated with deformation of the Changle-Nanao shear zone. Group 1 gabbros (115 Ma) show marked LILE (e.g., Sr, Ba and K) and LREE enrichment, and HFSE (e.g., Ta, Nb, Zr and Hf) depletion, strongly suggesting an island-arc affinity. The parental magma of group 1 gabbros, arguably derived from an arc-related source mantle modified by previous subduction, rose into and interacted with the coexisting syntectonic granitic magma generated during the main stage of shear zone deformation, and produced the gabbro–diorite–granite complexes. Group 2 and 3 gabbros (106–95 Ma) possibly formed by coupling of the subduction-modified source mantle with part of undepleted mantle (e.g., Nb enrichment) in an extensional environment at the end of deformation. Their parental magmas did not undergo significant magma mixing but produced a cumulate nature. All the three groups of gabbros were contaminated by crustal material during the processes of intrusion and emplacement.