Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemistry of high-Mg andesites from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, western Liaoning: Implications for lower crustal delamination and Sr/Y variations

  • Published:
Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

85 volcanic rocks of the Yixian Formation from the Sihetun type section were collected and analyzed for geochemical and isotopic compositions. Major element compositions indicate that the Sihetun volcanic rocks are high magnesium andesites with some basalts occurring at the bottom of section. The Sihetun high magnesium andesites (SiO2 = 52.82−59.31wt%, Al2O3 = 14.15−16.35wt%) show many characteristics of adakites such as depletion in heavy rare-earth elements (HREE; Yb = 1.03−1.88 μg/g) and Y(12−20 μg/g) and high Sr (620−1323 μg/g) and Sr/Y(32−88), with high LaN/YbN ratio (10–25). They share similar major and trace element characteristics to volcanic rocks from the Xinglonggou Formation except their lower Nd isotope ratios (143Nd/144Nd (130Ma) = 0.5118–0.5119, ɛ Nd (130Ma) = −11.6–−13.8, 87Sr/86Sr (130 Ma) = 0.7058–0.7064. They were interpreted in a way that eclogite that formed at the base of thickened Archean lower crust of the North China craton foundered into the convecting mantle and subsequently melted and interacted with peridotite. However, compared to the Xinglonggou volcanic rocks, the source of the Sihetun magma contained more ancient continental crustal material in order to explain its evolved Nd isotopes. The age of the Sihetun Formation was 120 to 130 Ma, and this indicates that delamination lasted to the early Cretaceous period. The Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios of the Sihetun high-Mg andesites show significant negative correlations with SiO2 for samples with SiO2 > 56%. These suggest that the Sr and Sr/Y values were reduced due to fractional crystallization of plagioclase. Accordingly, the effect of crystallization on volcanic Sr and Sr/Y ratio has to be taken into account.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen P J, Dong Z M, Zhen S N. An exceptionally well preserved dinosaur from the Yixian Formation of China. Nature, 1998, 391: 147–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ji Q, Luo Z X, Ji S A. A Chinese triconodont mammals and mosaic evolution of the mammalian skeleton. Nature, 1999, 398: 326–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hou L H, Zhou Z H, Martin C D, et al. A beaked bird from the Jurassic of China. Nature, 1995, 377: 616–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ji Q. The Rehe Biota in Mesozoic of Western Liaoning, China [M] (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 2004. 1–375

    Google Scholar 

  5. Swisher III C C, Wang Y Q, Wang X L, et al. Cretaceous age for the feathered dinosaurs of Liaoning, China. Nature, 1999, 400: 58–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Swisher III C C, Wang Y Q, Zhou Z H, et al. New prove of isotopic age for Yixian Formation and 40Ar/39Ar dating of Tuchengzi Formation. Chin Sci Bull, 2001, 46: 2009–2012

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wang S S, Wang Y Q, Hu G H, et al. The existing time of Sihetun vertebrate in western Liaoning, China—Evidence from U-Pb dating of zircon. Chin Sci Bull (in Chinese), 2001, 46: 779–781

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wang S S, Hu H G, Li P X, et al. Further discussion on the geologic age of Sihetun vertebrate assemblage in western Liaoning, China: evidence from Ar-Ar dating. Acta Petrol Sin (in Chinese), 2001, 17: 663–668

    Google Scholar 

  9. Pan Y X, Zhu R X, John S, et al. Magnetic polarity ages of the fossil-bearing strata at the Sihetun section, West Liaoning, A preliminary result. Chin Sci Bull, 2001, 46: 1473–1476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Peng Y D, Zhang L D, Zhang C J, et al. 40Ar/39Ar and K-Ar dating of the Yixian Formation volcanic rocks, western Liaoning Province, China. Geochimica, 2003, 32: 427–435

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zhu R X, Shao J A, Pan Y X, et al. Paleomagnetic data from the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of West Liaoning: Evidence for intracontinental rotation. Chin Sci Bull, 2002, 47: 1832–1837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang H, Wang W L. Integrated study of Yixian Formation in Beipiao and Yixian area, western Liaoning. Geol Bull China, 2004, 23: 766–777

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Liaoning Province. Regional Geology of Liaoning Province (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1989. 521–543

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shi B Q, Wu Z P, Zhou Y Q, et al. Study on volcanic activities of Mesozoic Yixian cycle, western Liaoning. Geol J China Univ (in Chinese), 1998, 4: 413–422

    Google Scholar 

  15. Peng Y D, Zhang L D, Zhang C J, et al. Rare earth element characteristics of volcanic rocks from Yixian Formation of western Liaoning. Northwestern Geology (in Chinese), 2003, 36: 35–42

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wang G H, Zhang C H. Tectonic framework of western Liaoning province and its evolution during Mesozoic. Geoscience (in Chinese), 2001, 15: 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rudnick R L, Gao S, Ling W L, et al. Petrology and geochemistry of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Hannuoba and Qixia. North China craton. Lithos, 2004, 77: 609–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gao S, Rudnick R L, Yuan H L, et al. Recycling lower continental crust in the North China craton. Nature, 2004, 432: 892–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Defant M, Drummond M S. Derivation of some modern are magmas by melting of young subducted lithosphere. Nature, 1990, 347: 662–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Defant M J, Kepezhinskas P M. Evidence suggests slab melting. EOS, 2001, 82: 65–69

    Google Scholar 

  21. Martin H. Adakitic magmas: modern analogues of Archean granitoids. Lithos, 1999, 46: 411–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ryuichi S. Geochemistry of high Mg andesites and the tectonic evolution of the Okinawa Trough-Ryukyu arc system. Chem Geol, 1999, 157: 69–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhao Z H. Principles of Trace Element Geochemistry (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 1997. 24–55

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dunn T, Sen C. Mineral/matrix partition-coefficients for orthopyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine in basaltic to andesitic systems—A combined analytical and experimental study. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1994, 58: 717–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Nielsen R L, Gallahan W E, Newberger F. Experimentally determined mineral-melt partition coefficients for Sc, Y and REE for olivine, orthopyroxene, pigeonite, magnetite and ilmenite. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 1992, 110: 488–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ewart A, Griffin W L. Application of proton-microprobe data to trace element partitioning in volcanic rocks. Chem Geol, 1994, 117: 251–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Taylor S R, McLennan S M. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. London: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1985. 1–71

    Google Scholar 

  28. Taylor S R, McLennan S M. The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Rev Geophys, 1995, 33: 241–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Gao S, Luo T C, Zhang B R, et al. Chemical composition of the continental crust as revealed by studies in East China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1998, 62: 1959–1975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kushiro I. Melting of hydrous upper mantle and possible generation of andesitic magma: an approach from synthetic systems. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1974, 22: 294–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tatsumi Y. Origin of high-magnesian andesites in the Setouchi volcanic belt, southwest Japan: II. Melting phase relations at high pressures. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1982, 60: 305–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hirose K. Melting experiments on lherzolite KLB-1 under hydrous conditions and generation of high-magnesian andesitic melts. Geology, 1997, 25: 42–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kelemen P B. Reaction between ultramafic rock and fractionating basaltic magma: I. Phase relations, the origin of calc-alkaline magma series, and the formation of discordant dunite. J Petrol, 1990, 31: 51–98

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kelemen P B. Genesis of high Mg andesites and the continental crust. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 1995, 120: 1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Yogodzinski G M, Volynets O N, Koloskov A V, et al. Magnesian andesites and the subduction component in a strongly calc-alkaline series at PiipVolcano, far western Aleutians. J Petrol, 1994, 35: 163–204

    Google Scholar 

  36. Stern C R, Kilian R. Role of the subducted slab, mantle wedge and continental crust in the generation of adakites from the Andean Austral Volcanic Zone. Contrib Miner Petrol, 1996, 123: 263–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Petford N, Atherton M. Na-rich partial melts from newly underplated basaltic crust: the Cordillera Blanca Batholith, Peru. J Petrol, 1996, 37: 1491–1521

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kay R W, Kay S M. Andean adakites: three ways to make them. Acta Petrol Sinica, 2002, 18: 303–311

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kay R W, Kay S M. Delamination and delamination magmatism. Tectonophysics, 1993, 219: 177–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Xu J F, Shinjo R, Defant M C, et al. Origin of Mesozoic adakitic intrusive rocks in the Ningzhen area of east China: Partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust? Geology, 2002, 30: 1111–1114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Rapp R B, Watson E B. Dehydration melting of metabasalt at 8–32 kbar: Implications for continental growth and crust-mantle recycling. J Petrol, 1995, 36: 891–931

    Google Scholar 

  42. Rapp R P, Shimizu N, Norman M D, et al. Reaction between slab-derived melts and peridotite in the mantle wedge: experimental constraints at 3.8 GPa. Chem Geol, 1999, 160: 335–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Foley S, Tiepolo M, Vannucci R. Growth of early continental crust controlled by melting of amphibolite in subduction zones. Nature, 2002, 417: 837–840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Grove T L, Linda T, Elkins-Tanton L T, et al. Fractional crystallization and mantle melting controls on calc-alkaline differentiation trends. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 2003, DOI 10.1007/s00410-003-0448-z.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China

    Wang Xiaorui, Gao Shan, Liu Xiaoming, Yuan Honglin, Hu Zhaochu & Zhang Hong

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Gao Shan

  3. Shenyang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Shenyang, 110032, China

    Zhang Hong

  4. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Wang Xuance

Authors
  1. Wang Xiaorui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gao Shan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liu Xiaoming
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuan Honglin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hu Zhaochu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhang Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Wang Xuance
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gao Shan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, X., Gao, S., Liu, X. et al. Geochemistry of high-Mg andesites from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, western Liaoning: Implications for lower crustal delamination and Sr/Y variations. SCI CHINA SER D 49, 904–914 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-006-2016-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-006-2016-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation