Record of Tethyan ocean closure and Indosinian collision along the Ailaoshan suture zone (SW China)

Zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic data along with whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic analytical results for the Xin'anzhai and Tongtiange granitic plutons in the Ailaoshan suture zone record the transition from subduction to collision associated with the accretion of Indochina to Yangtze Blocks. The Xin'anzhai monzogranite yields zircon U-Pb age of 251.6 +/- 2.0 Ma and epsilon(Hf)(t) values of -62 - -9.8. The Tongtiange leucogranite gives zircon U-Pb age of 247.5 +/- 2.2 Ma and epsilon(Hf)(t) values ranging from -3.1 to -11.1. The Tongtiange leucogranites have lower MgO, Na2O, CaO, FeOt and TiO2 contents but higher A/CNK values than those of the Xin'anzhai monzogranites. The epsilon(Nd)(t) values for Xin'anzhai and Tongtiange plutons are in the range of -8.5 to -8.8 and -10.6 to -11.4, respectively, similar to those of the Ailaoshan metamorphic basement. The Tongtiange leucogranites are the product of dehydration melting of mica-rich metasedimentary rocks whereas the primary source of the Xin'anzhai monzogranites is probably Proterozoic gneiss with an addition of 35-45% Proterozoic amphibolite. Our geochronological results, together with other published data, indicate the presence of Permo-Triassic magmatism associated with the Indosinian Orogeny along the Ailaoshan suture zone. This zone links with the Jinshajiang suture toward the northwest and the Song Ma-Hainan suture to the southeast. It is herein proposed that latest Permian convergent margin magmatism represented by the Xin'anzhai granitoid pluton (similar to 252 Ma) terminated through the accretion of the Simao-Indochina to the South China Blocks, which marks leucogranite. (C) 2014 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.