Petrogenesis of Eocene Lamprophyre Dykes in Northern Qiangtang Terrane, Tibetan Plateau: Implications for the Tethyan Mantle Metasomatism and Tectonic Evolution

Post-collisional (ultra)potassic lamprophyre dykes are the key probes for understanding mantle metasomatism and reconstructing tectonic evolution. In this study, we present new petrological, geochronological, geochemical and zircon Lu-Hf isotopic data for lamprophyre dykes in the northern Qiangtang terrane (central Tibet), aiming to constrain their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting. The studied lamprophyres are minettes with phenocrysts of siderophyllite and phlogopite, which intrude into Triassic granite of 236.9 Ma. These lamprophyres yield zircon U-Pb ages of 39.7-40.9 Ma. They exhibit high contents of K2O (7.61-8.59 wt.%) and ultrapotassic features with high K2O/Na2O (11.43-14.38) ratios. They are characterized by increased values of Mg# (69.1 to 72.1) and high concentrations of compatible elements (e.g., Cr = 277-529 ppm, Ni = 232-322 ppm), which are diagnostic of mantle-derived primitive magma. The studied lamprophyres have a high abundance of rare earth elements ( n-ary sumation REE = 902-1061 ppm) with significantly fractionated REE patterns ((La/Yb)N = 66.3-100.6), and they are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), but depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE) (e.g., Nb, Ta and Ti) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE) with enriched zircon Hf isotopes (epsilon Hf(t) from -6.40 to 3.80). This indicates their derivation from an enriched mantle source which was metasomatized by subduction-related fluids and sediment-derived melts. A petrogenetic study suggests that the lamprophyres were generated by the partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing lherzolite within the garnet stability field. We propose that the Cenozoic ultrapotassic mafic rocks in the central Tibetan Plateau originated in the lithospheric mantle metasomatized by the subduction-related components, and are the magmatic response to the detachment of the subducted Tethyan slab.

Automated summary

This study investigates lamprophyre dykes in the northern Qiangtang terrane of central Tibet, providing new petrological, geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Lu-Hf isotopic data. The results suggest that these dykes were derived from an enriched mantle source, metasomatized by subduction-related fluids and sediment-derived melts. The findings contribute to a better understanding of mantle metasomatism and tectonic evolution.