Petrogenesis of keratophyes in the Pingshui Group, Zhejiang: Constraints from zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic as well as whole-rock geochemical data are reported for keratophyes in the Pingshui Group, Zhejiang. The results are used to discuss their petrogenesis and geological significance. The keratophyes were dated at 904 +/- 8 to 906 +/- 10 Ma. These intermediate-felsic rocks are characterized by high LREE contents and depletion of HREE and HFSE (e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti, P), resembling arc-derived rocks. The keratophyes exhibit positive epsilon(Hf)(t) values of 8.6 to 15.4, consistent with their epsilon(Nd)(t) values of 6.4 to 7.9 but far away from those of crust-derived rocks. Such features indicate that they were likely originated from prompt reworking of juvenile crust by arc-continent collision during the early-Neoproterozoic assembly between the Cathaysia and Yangtze Blocks. Combining with their Hf model ages, we suggest that there may exist not only remarkable growth of juvenile crust at ca.1.3-1.1 Ga but also production of juvenile arc-derived crust along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block (e.g., the Pingshui area) at ca.1.0-0.9 Ga.