Early Neoproterozoic magmatism in the Central Tianshan Block, China: Implications for its tectono-magmatic evolution and relationship to Rodinia

As an important ancient continental constituent of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), the Central Tianshan Block (CTB) is indispensable to improving our understanding of the early evolution and architectural framework of this orogenic belt. Here, we present new zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes, as well as bulk-rock geochemistry, for amphibolite, gneissic granite, and augen granite from several localities in the CTB. Zircon U-Pb ages of ten samples demonstrate that the protolith of the amphibolite, gneissic granite, and augen granite formed in the early Neoproterozoic (from 905.9 +/- 4.8 Ma to 940.0 +/- 4.5 Ma). Geochemically, the early Neoproterozoic amphibolite is depleted in Nb, Ta, P, and Ti, but enriched in light REE (LREE) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE), similar to arc-related basalt. The gneissic granites from the Shardland area and the Alatage area, and gneissic granites and augen granites from the Xingxingxia area are enriched in SiO2, Na2O + K2O, LREE, and LILE, and depleted in heavy REE (HREE) and high field strength elements (HFSE), exhibiting an I-type granite affinity. Zircons from the amphibolite in the Shardland area exhibit positive epsilon Hf(t) values of +1.7 to +4.9 and TDM1 model ages of 1.27-1.39 Ga, indicating that the protolith crystallized from a mantle-derived magma. Zircons from the gneissic granites in the Shardland area, the Alatage area and the Xingxingxia area have epsilon Hf(t) values that range from -5.9 to +7.3 and TDM2 model ages of 1.33-2.17 Ga, indicating that the granites may have been derived from partial melting of ancient continental crust that contained compositionally variable juvenile material. These new results, combined with previous studies, indicate that early Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are well-developed throughout the CTB and formed along a subduction-related continental arc. The CTB and other microcontinents of the southwestern CAOB may have been located proximal to the northern margin of the Tarim Craton during the early Neoproterozoic, thereby representing the active continental margin of the circumRodinia subduction-accretion system.

Automated summary

This study presents new zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and bulk-rock geochemistry of amphibolite, gneissic granite, and augen granite samples from the Central Tianshan Block (CTB). The results suggest that these rocks formed in the early Neoproterozoic and indicate a possible proximity of the CTB to the northern margin of the Tarim Craton.