The Weiya gabbro in eastern Tianshan was formed during the early Indosinian. This rock, with low ratios of Ce/Pb (5.74-10.16), is notably characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), such as Rb, K, Ba and Pb, and in high field strength elements (HSFE), such as U and Th, but depletion in Nb and Ta. All samples of the Weiya gabbro display similar chondrite-normalized patterns with moderate enrichment in LREE (72.58-135.61ppm), moderate depletion in HREE (15.26-25.31ppm) and mild fractionation between LREE and HREE (L/ H=4.09-5.98). The average initial Sr value of the rock is 0.7069, and δ18O values of the rock range from 5.67‰-8.04‰. In terms of Nd isotope ratios, the Weiya gabbro is characterized by positive eNd(t) values (0.52-0.76). All these characteristics indicate that the source region of the Weiya gabbro was metasomatized by fluids released from subducted young continental crust, with limited crustal contamination during magma ascent and emplacement. Continental (A-type) subduction was induced by northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic plate during the latest Permian to Triassic. From this point of view, it is supposed that tectonic conversion from the Paleo-Asian to the Paleo-Tethys regime occurred during the latest Permian or earliest Triassic.
Based on the detailed petrographic study,the characteristics of source region of the Weiya gabbro and tectonic implications were studied.The results show that the gabbroic rock consists mainly of gabbro,with less amount of ultra-mafic rocks.The ultra-mafic rocks show cumulate texture and are gradually transitional contact with gabbro,indicating that they are cumulate products of parental magma.The ultra-mafic rocks consist mainly of spinel periodite and spinel clinopyroxenite.The former is mainly composed of olivine(65%-70%),spinel(10%-15%),hornblende(5%-10%) and phlogopite(5%-10%);the latter consists mainly of clinopyroxene(70%-80%),spinel(15%-20%) and phlogopite(0-10%),with minor amounts of carbonate(0-2%).No olivine or orthopyroxene is found.The gabbro is composed mainly of clinopyroxene(35%-40%),plagioclase(An 55-65,40%-45%),hornblende(5%-15%),with variable amounts of carbonate(0-5%).Petrographic observations show that the source region of the Weiya gabbroic rock is water-rich due to intensive intra-continental A-type subduction occurring in this region during late Permian to early Triassic.
The eastern Tianshan has great economic potential with Fe-(Cu)skarn,Cu-Ni-and V-Ti othomagmatic deposits and orogenic Au lodes.In this province the timing relation between Fe-(Cu)skarn-related deposits and the deformation is poorly constrained.This study aims to give argument for the chronology between Fe-(Cu)skarn stage