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Geochronological evidence of Indosinian (high-pressure) metamorphic event and its tectonic significance in Taxkorgan area of the Western Kunlun Mountains, NW China

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Abstract

The CL images, LA-ICP-MS in situ trace elements analysis, and U-Pb dating for zircons indicate that the metamorphic ages of the sillimanite-garnet-biotite gneiss and the garnet-amphibole gneiss from eastern Taxkorgan of the Western Kunlun Mountains are 220±2 and 220±3 Ma respectively, and their protolith ages are younger than 253±2 and 480±8 Ma respectively. Two samples were collected at the same outcrops with HP mafic granulite and HP pelitic granulite. Mineral assemblage of the sillimanite-garnet-biotite gneiss (Grt+Sill+Per+Q) is consistent with that of HP pelitic granulite at early high amphibolite- granulite facies stage. Mineral assemblage of the garnet-amphibole gneiss (Grt+Amp+Pl+Q) is consistent with retro-metamorphic assemblage of HP mafic granulite at amphibolite facies stage. The dating results suggest that these HP granulites underwent peak metamorphism at 220±2 to 253±2 Ma. Thus, the Kangxiwar tectonic zone was probably formed by subduction and collision of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean during Indosinian. Protolith ages of the two samples, together with previously published U-Pb zircon dating age, suggest that the sillimanite-garnet schist-quartzite unit is a late Paleozoic unit, not a part of the Paleoproterozoic Bulunkuole Group.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    WenQiang Yang, Liang Liu, YuTing Cao, Chao Wang & XiaoHui Zhu

  2. Xi’an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resource, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Chao Wang, ShiPing He & RongShe Li

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  1. WenQiang Yang
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  2. Liang Liu
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Correspondence to Liang Liu.

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Yang, W., Liu, L., Cao, Y. et al. Geochronological evidence of Indosinian (high-pressure) metamorphic event and its tectonic significance in Taxkorgan area of the Western Kunlun Mountains, NW China. Sci. China Earth Sci. 53, 1445–1459 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-010-4081-1

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