Granitic magmatism related to early Paleozoic continental collision in North Qinling

Zircon U-Pb dating of early Paleozoic granitoids in North Qinling yields three age peaks of similar to 500, similar to 452 and similar to 420 Ma. They can be temporally correlated with high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism at ca. 500 Ma, retrograde granulite-facies metamorphisms at ca. 450 Ma and amphibolite-facies metamorphism at ca. 420 Ma, respectively. The first episode of granitic magmatism is considered to have resulted from continental collision, whereas the second and third episodes of magmatism are attributed to crustal uplifting. Combined with the regional geological setting and new results from high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks, the ca. 500 Ma magmatism is interpreted as the result of partial melting of sedimentary rocks in accretionary wedge between the south Qinling microcontinent and the north Qinling belt including the southern margin of the North China Craton. The ca. 450 Ma intensive magmatism is ascribed to dehydration melting of deeply subducted continental crust at thickened conditions in response to slab breakoff, and the final magmatism in ca. 420 Ma is interpreted as the product of partial melting during the tectonic transition from contraction to extension.