Low-δ18OA-type granites in SW China: Evidence for the interaction between the subducted Paleotethyan slab and the Emeishan mantle plume

The mechanisms and processes by which subducted slab interacted with mantle plume remain controversial, as direct observation of such interaction is difficult to impossible. Compositional heterogeneity of large igneous provinces (LIPs) additionally makes plumeslab interaction hard to detect. Oxygen isotopes are sensitive enough to trace the source of magmas. Here we provide evidence for plume-slab interaction mainly based on in situ zircon Hf-O isotope analyses, as well as whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope analyses, on the Late Permian and Early Triassic A-type granites on the margin of the Emeishan LIP in SW China. These granites show typical A-type geochemical characters, such as high total alkali (7.93-9.68 wt %) and field strength element (HFSE, e.g., Zr and Nb) contents, and high FeOT/(FeOT+MgO) (0.87-0.98) and Ga/Al (3.67-5.06) values. The Late Permian (ca. 259 Ma) and Early Triassic (ca. 248 Ma) granites show high Nb/ Th (>3.0) and low Y/Nb (<1.2) and Yb/Ta (<2.0) ratios similar to the oceanic island basalts and have near-zero epsilon Nd-(t) (-0.83 to -0.13 and -0.15 to +0.16, respectively) and depleted epsilon Hf-(t) (+2.71 to +3.39 and +2.62 to +3.55, respectively). In situ zircon O-Hf analyses yielded anomalously low delta O-18 (0.2-2.0%c and 3.2-4.8%c, respectively) and positive epsilon Hf-(t) (1.6-7.0 and 3.9-8.8, respectively), suggesting varying proportions of hydrothermally altered oceanic crust in their source region. Our results imply that significant amounts of altered Paleotethyan oceanic crust have been subducted in the upper mantle be- neath the western South China Block. The nearby rising Emeishan mantle plume may have rapidly entrained and incorporated these oceanic crustal materials to the shallow mantle so that their low-delta O-18 isotope feature was preserved. Subsequent decompression-related partial melting of this hybrid source formed parental rocks of the low-delta O-18 A-type granites. Our findings also suggest that LIPs could obtain their compositional (especially oxygen isotope) diversity through the interaction between the subducting slab and rising mantle plume.

Automated summary

This study provides evidence for plume-slab interaction based on the analysis of Late Permian and Early Triassic A-type granites in the Emeishan LIP. The results suggest that altered Paleotethyan oceanic crust has been subducted and incorporated into the shallow mantle by the rising Emeishan mantle plume, forming low oxygen isotope feature A-type granites. The findings also indicate that LIPs can obtain compositional diversity through the interaction between subducting slab and rising mantle plume.