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The Silurian-Devonian granitoids in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, northern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China: origin and tectonic implications

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Abstract

The East Kunlun orogenic belt (EKOB) is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Voluminous Silurian-Devonian granitoids were formed during the Proto-Tethys Ocean subduction and collision process. In this study, zircon U-Pb age dating, in-situ Hf isotope analyses, and whole rock major and trace element analyses have been carried out on granitoids from the central to eastern EKOB. The formation ages of granodiorite in the Bairiqili area, the granodiorite in the Wulonggou area are 410 ± 2 Ma and 396 ± 1 Ma, respectively, and the granodiorites show I-type features. The Wulonggou syenogranite with a formation age of 398 ± 2 Ma has a high differentiation index (D.I. = 89.59–92.43), and may belong to the high fractionated I-type granite. The Lalangmai tonalite with a formation age of 423 ± 2 Ma has high Sr (339–590 µg/g), εHf(t) (1.5–7.3), and low Y (3.45–6.33 µg/g), which are similar to modern adakites. The Lalangmai tonalite is the latest adakite record during the Proto-Tethys evolution in EKOB. Combined with previous studies, it is concluded that the granitoids from Cambrian to Devonian divided into four episodes. The first episode (515–436 Ma) mainly consists of I-type island arc granites and adakite, which are formed in a subduction environment. The second episode (436–427 Ma) is characterized by the S-type granites related to the collision. The third episode (427–420 Ma) is the transition period between the collision and the post-collision environment. In the fourth episodes (420–385 Ma), granitoids were formed in post-collision extensional environment, which is characterized by I-type and A-type granites. The upwelling of asthenosphere material is likely caused by the collapse of the orogenic belt. After 420 Ma, I-type and A-type granites formed at different depths but in the same environment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the China Geological Survey (grant number DD20160013, 121201011000150005-17); State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS (grant number SKLLQG2023). Many thanks are expressed to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism and suggestions on an earlier draft of the manuscript. Many thanks for the meticulousness and patience of the editorial staff.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, China

    Namkha Norbu

  2. Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group, Xi’an, 710075, China

    Namkha Norbu

  3. CAS Key Laboratory for Experimental Study under Deep-sea Extreme Conditions, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, China

    Yuegao Liu

  4. Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Jinchao Li, Qunzi Jia, Yazhi Li, Huilei Kong & Yijie Gao

  5. No. 6 Geological Party, Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development, Hami, 839000, China

    Wei Wang

  6. Geological Survey of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xiaobing Song

  7. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Xianzheng Guo

  8. Zhejiang Geological Prospecting Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mine Bureau, Hangzhou, 310002, China

    Xuegang Yao

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Norbu, N., Liu, Y., Li, J. et al. The Silurian-Devonian granitoids in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, northern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China: origin and tectonic implications. Geosci J 25, 763–786 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-021-0017-3

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