TTG(Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite) gneisses,a major component of Precambrian continental crust,play a significant role in understanding the process and mechanism of the crustal evolution in the early periods of the Earth. In terms of field occurrence,there are two kinds of Archean TTGs in the NCC(North China Craton): intercalated and non-intercalated TTGs. In this contribution,we make a comprehensive comparison of these two types of TTGs from the typical areas(Lushan and Hengshan) in the NCC with an aim to constrain their petrogenesis. The results suggest that they have similar mineral assemblages of Pl + Qtz + Bt ± Amp ± Kfs but different field appearances and geochemical compositions,thus probably reflecting different source materials and tectonic settings. Differences in the contents of characteristic elements,such as Sr,REE and HFSE,suggest that the nonintercalated TTGs in Hengshan were generated at deeper levels than those of intercalated TTGs in Lushan. Constraints from element contents and geochemical modeling results are consistent with derivation from dual sources involving both garnet amphibolite and rutile-bearing eclogite residues for the non-intercalated TTGs in Hengshan,whereas the compositions of intercalated TTGs in Lushan indicate that they were formed by partial melting with amphibolite to garnet-amphibolite residues. Moreover,accumulation of plagioclase is also required in the petrogenesis of intercalated TTGs in Lushan,at least for part of them. In addition,the non-intercalated TTGs in Hengshan display distinctly higher Mg O,Mg#,Cr and Ni values and lower SiO_2 average contents compared to the intercalated TTGs in Lushan. These features suggest that the former magma,at least a part,might have interacted with the mantle wedge during ascent. Considering all the above factors and in combination with the whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotopic data,it is suggested that the non-intercalated TTGs in Hengshan were produced by partial melting of subducted slab contaminated by the overlying mantle
The main old lands in China include the North China Block(NCB),South China Block(SCB)and Tarim Block(TRB),all of which have individual tectonic evolving histories.The NCB experienced complex geological evolution since the early Precambrian onwards,and carries important records from the old continental nuclei,giant crustal growth episode and cratonization(stabilitization),then to the Paleoproterozoic rifting-subduction-accretion-collision with imprints of the Great Oxygen Event(GOE),and to the Late Paleoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic multi-stage rifting representing North China platform tectonic features.The TRB has two-layer basement of the Early Precambrian metamorphic complexes and Neoproterozoic sedimentary sequences.Three till sheets have been reported.The SCB consists of the Yangtze Block(YZB)and Cathaysia Block(CTB)that were cohered in the Neoproterozoic.The YZB recorded tectonic processes of the Early Precambrian crustal growth,1.0–0.9 Ga and 0.8–0.6 Ga metamorphic-magmatic events,and two Neoproterozoic glaciations.The CTB consists of ca.1.8Ga,1.0 to 0.9 Ga and ca.0.8 Ga granitic gneisses and metamorphic rocks,indicating there was a vast Precambrian basement.The Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks overlie partly on the basement.That the YZB and CTB have a Neoproterozoic uniform cover layer illustrates the SCB should form,at least,during 1.0–0.9 Ga,corresponding to the Rodinia Supercontinent.The Central Chinese Orogenic System with high-ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks supports a suggestion that the abovementioned three old lands were collided to assemble a unified Chinese Continent during the Pangea orogenic period.
Recently, more attention has been paid to Precambrian magma events and crustal growth of the North China Craton(NCC), accompanying with controversy in activity stages and dynamic mechanism. In this study, we report the Archean(2802 ± 13 Ma) granodioritic gneisses in the Taihua Complex from the Xiaoqinling area, located in the southern margin of the NCC. The zircon Lu–Hf isotope analysis of the rocks showed ^(176)Hf/^(177)Hf ratios of0.280977–0.281228, corresponding to ε_(Hf)(t) values ranging from-3.5 to +6.6, and two–stage Hf model ages varying from 2836 to 3409 Ma. It was confirmed that late Mesoarchean(2.9–2.8 Ga) juvenile crust made contribution to the source material of these ca. 2.8 Ga granodioritic gneisses in the Xiaoqinling area. The whole rock geochemical data indicate that the granodioritic gneisses are high-K calc-alkaline series, probably generated at relatively high pressure and temperature, and formed under the continental arc setting. Statistically, we conclude that the magmatic activities during 2.9–2.7 Ga may represent the most intense crustal growth events in the NCC and these Archean rocks at different locations in southern NCC underwent a similar crustal evolution history.
Xiaoliang JiaXiyan ZhuMingguo ZhaiYan ZhaoHong ZhangJialin WuTao Liu
