Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous magmatic activity in the Central Lhasa Terrane: Petrogenesis and implications for the initial subduction of the Slainajap oceanic lithosphere

Models for the magmatic and tectonic evolution of the late Mesozoic Lhasa Terrane remain controversial. This study presents new zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotopic, whole-rock major and trace element, and Sr-Nd isotopic data for silicic igneous rocks within the Shiquanhe and Guchang areas. The Shiquanhe rhyolites yield zircon U-Pb ages of ca. 148 Ma, which are consistent with the 144 Ma age of the Guchang granites. All of these silicic igneous rocks are peraluminous, high-K calc-alkaline, and have negative epsilon(Hf)(t) and epsilon(Nd)(t) values and low (Sr-87/Sr-86)t values. These characteristics are indicative of derivation from magmas formed by the partial melting of ancient crustal metagraywackes. Combining our new data with the results of previous research suggests that a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (165-135 Ma) magmatic belt is present along the Shiquan River-Nam Tso melange zone within northern Tibet. These rocks collectively record the magmatic evolution from forearc to continental arc settings during the initial southward subduction of the Slainajap Ocean. Our results provide critical constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Slainajap Ocean and the tectono-magmatic evolution of the Lhasa Terrane.

Automated summary

The study presents new data of silicic igneous rocks in the Shiquanhe and Guchang areas, indicating derivation from magmas formed by partial melting of ancient crustal metagraywackes. The results suggest the presence of a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous magmatic belt in northern Tibet, recording the magmatic evolution from forearc to continental arc settings.