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Special Issue "Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts"

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2023 | Viewed by 10253

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Dr. Fuhao Xiong

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College of Earth Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Interests: magmatism and tectonic evolution in orogenic belt; Paleo-Tethyan orogeny; crust–mantle interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Lin Hou

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Guest Editor

Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, China
Interests: mineral deposits; ore-forming process; geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tethyan orogenic belts, the longest continuous orogenic systems between the Laurentian/Laurasian continental masses to the north and the Gondwana continents to the south, range from northwestern Africa and western Europe to eastern Asia. The Tethyan orogenic system is not only a huge tectono-magmatic belt, but also an extremely fertile metallogenic belt on Earth, and includes a variety of mineral deposits formed in different times and different tectonic settings. Thus, the Tethyan orogenic belt is the pre-eminent natural laboratory for studying the Andean-style orogenesis and metallogenic geodynamics.

Phanerozoic tectono-magmatic and metallogenic events are recorded in the Tethyan orogenic belts, including the Eastern Kunlun, West Kunlun, Qiangtang, Lhasa, Sukhothai, Luang Prabang-Loei, Truong Son orogenic belts, etc., by several plutonic and volcanic bodies and ore deposits. These igneous rocks and ore deposits are the products of Proto-Tethys, Paleo-Tethys and Neo-Tethys orogenies, and they were formed in different tectonic settings (i.e., oceanic subduction, arc-continent collision, syn-collisional orogeny and post-collisional extension). Therefore, the study of the rock/ore assemblages and the petrological, geochemical and geochronological characteristics of these magmatic and metallogenic products within these Tethyan orogenic belts can provide better constraints on the tectonic evolution history and geodynamic processes of Tethyan orogenic belts. Although important advances in understanding their formation and tectonic evolution have been made over the last several decades, the following issues remain unresolved: (1) Regional metallogenic types, ore characteristics, exact ages and the relationships between the geodynamic settings and metallogenesis. (2) Detailed division and timing of the tectonic-magmatic activities and metallogenic systems. (3) The timing and geodynamic mechanisms of the oceanic subduction, arc-continent collision and post-collision. (4) Tectonic evolution history and crustal growth model of Tethyan orogenic belts. Summarizing the research progress in magmatism and mineralization in the Tethyan orogenic system would be helpful to understanding the above unresolved issues.

We welcome original research paper, reviews, methods articles, and other article types of contributions suited to this topic. We particularly encourage contributions on topics including but not limited to:

Mafic and felsic magmatism related to Tethyan oceanic subduction.
Tectonic uplift, exhumation and implications for the Tethyan orogeny.
Studies on the Tethyan-related suture zone and subduction polarity and geodynamics.
Metallic and nonmetallic mineralization associated with the Tethyan orogeny.
Orogenesis processes and geodynamic reconstructions of the Tethyan orogenic belts.

Dr. Fuhao Xiong
Dr. Lin Hou
Guest Editors

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Keywords

magmatism
mineralization
Tethyan orogeny
geodynamic
tectonic evolution

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy across the Devonian–Carboniferous Boundary in the East Paleo-Tethys Realm, Tibet, China

Zhanhu Cai

Haisheng Yi

and

Hong You

Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091144 - 30 Aug 2023

Viewed by 286

Abstract

The Devonian–Carboniferous boundary is one of the most important turning points in geological history, marked by the Late Paleozoic Ice Age and Late Devonian extinction. This study investigates the carbon isotope stratigraphy across the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary in Lhasa block, Tibet, China, which was part of the Gondwana continent during that time. The carbon isotope curves show a significant negative excursion trend, consistent with those of the South China block and other regions on the Laurentia continent. This global negative shift may be attributed to the burial of significant amounts of ¹²C-rich organic matter in strata, a consequence of the Late Devonian extinction event. Based on the carbon isotope curve and stratigraphic data of the Lhasa block, this study determined, for the first time, the specific horizon of the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary in Tibet, which is located between grayish white bioclastic limestone and yellowish-brown sandy limestone in the upper part of the Chaguoluoma Formation (D₁C₁ĉ). These findings provide a new reference for the international stratigraphic community to reconsider the position of GSSP on the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary, as well as study the Late Devonian mass extinction and Late Paleozoic glaciation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Petrogenesis of Early Triassic Felsic Volcanic Rocks in the East Kunlun Orogen, Northern Tibet: Implications for the Paleo-Tethyan Tectonic and Crustal Evolution

and

Minerals 2023, 13(5), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13050607 - 27 Apr 2023

Viewed by 730

Abstract

The felsic volcanic rocks in orogenic belts are vital probes to understand the tectonic evolution and continental crust growth. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry, and zircon Lu-Hf isotopes of Early felsic volcanic rocks from the Hongshuichuan Formation, East Kunlun Orogen, Northern Tibet, aiming to explore their petrogenesis and implications for the Paleo-Tethyan orogeny and crustal evolution. The studied felsic volcanics comprise rhyolite porphyry and rhyolite, exhibiting coeval zircon U–Pb ages of ca. 247–251 Ma. Rhyolite porphyries show metaluminous to peraluminous nature (A/CNK = 0.88–1.24) with high SiO₂ contents (72.1–78.9 wt%) and moderate Mg^# values (22–40), and they display enrichment of LREE with (La/Yb)_N ratios of 6.02–17.9 and depletion of high field strength elements. In comparison, the rhyolites are strongly peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.09–1.74) with high SiO₂ contents (71.7–74.3 wt%) and high Mg^# values (43–52) and are also enriched in LREE ((La/Yb)_N of 6.65–18.4) and depleted in HFSE (e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti). Combining with their different zircon Lu-Hf isotopes, i.e., enriched isotopes for the rhyolite porphyries (εHf(t) = −7.3 to −3.8) and depleted Hf isotopes for the rhyolites (ɛHf = −0.6 to +3.0), we interpret that the studied rhyolite porphyries and rhyolites were derived by partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metagreywacke sources followed by plagioclase-dominated fractional crystallization, but the latter shows the significant contribution of crust–mantle magma mixing. The mixed mantle-derived magma comes from an enriched lithospheric mantle source that had been metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. Combining with other geological evidence, we propose that the studied Early Triassic felsic volcanic rocks were formed in a subduction arc setting, and the reworking of ancient continental crust with crust–mantle magma mixing is the major mechanism of crustal evolution in the East Kunlun Paleo-Tethyan orogenic belt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Geochronology, Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Setting of the Kaimuqi Mafic–Ultramafic and Dioritic Intrusions in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen, NW China

and

Minerals 2023, 13(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010073 - 02 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1019

Abstract

The Kaimuqi area in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen (EKO) contains many lherzolite, olivine websterite, gabbro and diorite intrusions, and new zircon U–Pb dating, Lu–Hf isotope and whole-rock geochemical data are presented herein to further confirm the Late Triassic mafic–ultramafic magmatism with Cu–Ni mineralization and to discuss the petrogenesis and geodynamic setting. Zircon U–Pb dating shows that the Late Triassic ages, corresponding to 220 Ma and 222 Ma, reveal the mafic–ultramafic and dioritic magmatism in Kaimuqi, respectively. Zircon from gabbro has ε_Hf(t) values of −3.4 to −0.2, with corresponding T_DM1 ages of 994–863 Ma. The mafic–ultramafic rocks generally have low SiO₂, (Na₂O+K₂O) and TiO₂ contents and high MgO contents and Mg^# values. They are relatively enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depleted in heavy REEs (HREEs) and high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), indicating that the primary magma was derived from the metasomatized lithospheric mantle. The diorites show sanukitic high-Mg andesite properties (e.g., MgO = 2.78%–3.54%, Mg^# = 50–55, Cr = 49.6–60.0 ppm, Sr = 488–512 ppm, Y = 19.6–21.8 ppm, Ba = 583–722 ppm, Sr/Y = 23.5–25.4, K/Rb = 190–202 and Eu/Eu* = 0.73–0.79), with LREEs and LILEs enrichments and HREEs and HFSEs depletions. We suggest that the primary Kaimuqi diorite magma originated from enriched lithospheric mantle that was metasomatized by subduction-derived fluids and sediments. The Kaimuqi mafic–ultramafic and dioritic intrusions, with many other mafic–ultramafic and K-rich granitic/rhyolitic rocks in the EKO, formed in a dynamic extensional setting after the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean closure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Magmatic Processes of Granitoids in the Hongniu-Hongshan Porphyry-Skarn Copper Deposit, Southern Yidun Terrane, China: Evidence from Mineral Geochemistry

and

Minerals 2022, 12(12), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12121559 - 02 Dec 2022

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Abstract

The Hongniu-Hongshan porphyry-skarn deposit is located in the southern Yidun terrane in the Sanjiang Tethyan Metallogenic Domain (STMD). Although its metallogenesis has been well constrained in the past decade, the magmatic processes for granitoids in the Hongniu-Hongshan deposit are still poorly understood. Herein, we provide new geochemical data on magmatic minerals (plagioclase, amphibole, and clinopyroxene) in the Hongniu-Hongshan granitoids to get a better insight into these processes. The complex zoning patterns of plagioclase phenocrysts indicate magma recharge and mixing. Physiochemical estimations indicate that clinopyroxenes were crystallized in hotter (919 ± 11 °C) and more mafic (FeO: 2.8–4.6 wt.%, MgO: 0.8–1.8 wt.%) magmas in a deep chamber (18.6 ± 0.9 km) compared with the colder (819 ± 29 °C), more felsic (FeO: 0.9–2.2 wt.%, MgO: 0.3–0.6 wt.%) and shallow magma chamber (13.4 ± 1.6 km) in which amphiboles crystallized. Therefore, we suggest that magmatic minerals in the Hongniu-Hongshan granitoids were produced by multistage magmatic processes within the upper–middle crust range. In this model, the deep-seated magmas recharged into the shallow reservoir and mixed with the shallow magmas therein. The recharged hot magmas may provide heat sources and rejuvenate the shallow magma reservoirs. On this basis, we further infer that ore-forming materials could be pre-concentrated in the crustal range and mobilized by the Late Cretaceous magmatism in the southern Yidun terrane. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Mineralogical Characteristics of Biotite and Chlorite in Zuluhong Polymetallic Deposit: Implications for Petrogenesis and Paragenesis Mechanisms of the Tungsten and Copper

and

Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101280 - 12 Oct 2022

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Abstract

The Zuluhong quartz-vein-type polymetallic deposit, located in the Alatau area of Western Tianshan, China, is a particular and typical tungsten deposit associated with copper. This paper presents major and trace element analyses of magmatic and altered (i.e, chloritized) biotite from the deposit, in order to identify the source of the magmas and characterize the mineralization physical-chemical condition. Magmatic biotite is Fe-rich and has high Rb/Ba ratios (0.27–9.14), indicative of extensive differentiation of granite. Moreover, magmatic biotite has total rare earth element (∑REE) contents that are 5–10% of the whole-rock contents, shows slight light REE depletion, and negative Ce anomalies. Magmatic biotite is enriched in some large-ion lithophile elements (LILE; e.g., Rb and K) and depleted in some high-field-strength elements (HFSE; e.g., Th and Nb). These geochemical features, coupled with geological evidence, indicate that the Zuluhong intrusion is a highly fractionated I-type granite derived from lower crustal melting. During ore formation, magmatic biotite was partially to totally altered to chlorite due to interaction with ore-forming fluids. The temperature and oxygen fugacity decreased during alteration. The mineralization in the Zuluhong polymetallic deposit can be divided into at least two stages. In the early stage, quartz-vein-type wolframite mineralization formed from Si- and volatile-rich fluids that were derived from fractionated granitic magma. In the later stage, W–Cu ores formed as metal sulfides were dominated by chalcopyrite. The later ore-forming fluids experienced a decrease in temperature and oxygen fugacity as they reacted (i.e, chloritization and lesser silicification) with reducing wall rocks around the contact zone of the intrusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Mineralogical-Petrographical Record of Melt-Rock Interaction and P–T Estimates from the Ozren Massif Ophiolites (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

and

Minerals 2022, 12(9), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12091108 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1712

Abstract

The Dinaride Ophiolite Belt formed from the Jurassic part of the Neotethys. The investigated Ozren ophiolite complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of peridotites, plagioclase peridotites, plagiogranites, troctolites and other gabbroic rocks, and fewer basalts. Lherzolites and harzburgites contain corroded ortho- and clinopyroxene1 porphyroclasts enclosed in the olivine matrix. The boundaries between olivine aggregates and pyroxene1 and spinel1 are infilled by medium-grained undeformed aggregates of clinopyroxene2, less orthopyroxene2, spinel2, and often clinopyroxene3-spinel3 symplectites. These textures indicate the final crystallization of peridotite in subsolidus conditions. Partial dissolution of deformed pyroxene1 porphyroclasts and coarse-grained spinel1 most likely occurred due to their reaction with the rest melt present in the grain boundaries. The Al decrease from pyroxene1 to pyroxene2 and 3, or the Cr decrease and Al increase from spinel1 to spinel2 and 3 is characteristic. Peridotites are associated with inferred remnants of a gabbro-dolerite layer, whereas basalts and radiolarites occur as rare dm-size fragments in an ophiolitic breccia. Troctolites display interstitial crystallization of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, less Na-Ti-rich amphiboles, and phlogopite in the olivine-spinel matrix, indicating the replacive character of impregnating melt within the dunite layers. Clinopyroxene-plagioclase-ilmenite-±amphibole gabbroic and fewer basaltic dykes in peridotites formed due to subridge extension, mantle thinning, and the deeper mantle melting. Iron-enriched olivines occur in the peridotite-dyke interfaces and troctolites. Hydrated ultramafics and mafics contain amphiboles, biotite, phlogopite, clinozoisite, epidote, and chlorite aggregates. Estimated magmatic to subsolidus T from peridotite two-pyroxene thermometry are 1000–850 °C, for the spinel facies. Ca-in-orthopyroxene1 thermometry provided T of 1028–1068 °C, and Ca-in-orthopyroxene2 thermometry gave 909–961 °C at estimated P of 1.1–0.9 GPa. However, the gabbroic dyke magmatic crystallization T was constrained to 1200–1100 °C at P of 0.45–0.15 GPa by single clinopyroxene thermobarometry. The obtained P–T conditions constrained the deeper mantle environment for the formation of peridotites than troctolites and crosscutting dykes. The ophiolitic thrust-sheet hanging wall conditions in an obduction-related accretionary wedge were estimated from amphibolites at 620 °C and 0.85 GPa by Ti-in-amphibole thermometry and amphibole-plagioclase thermobarometry. 300 °C and 0.5 GPa were determined from an exhumation shear zone using a combination of chlorite thermometry and Si-in-phengite barometry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Petrogenesis of the Late Jurassic Granodiorite and Its Implications for Tectonomagmatic Evolution in the Nuocang District, Western Gangdeses

and

Minerals 2022, 12(8), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12081058 - 21 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1171

Abstract

The Gangdese magmatic rocks of the southern Lhasa terrane, are generally thought to be an important window to witness the formation and evolution of the Neo-Tethys oceanic opening, subduction, and closure, and India-Eurasian continental collision. We investigated a new occurrence of granodiorite in the Nuocang district of western Gangdese, southern Lhasa terrane, and conducted a series of analyses on their petrology, chronology, and geochemistry. The Nuocang granodiorites have the zircon U-Pb ages of 151–154 Ma, which suggest that Late Jurassic granitoids are present in the western Gangdese of southern Lhasa terrane. They are relatively high in SiO₂, Al₂O₃, low K₂O, Na₂O, and Sr/Y ratios, enrichments of LILE and LREE, and depletion of HFSE, with the positive correlation between Rb and Th, and negative correlations between SiO₂ and P₂O₅, Rb, and Y, showing the features of I-type granites. The relatively high (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i values from 0.712231 to 0.712619, low εNd(t) values from −9.56 to −8.99, together with the negative εHf(t) values from −10.8 to −5.0 (mean value −8.9) suggested that the Nuocang granodiorites probably sourced from the partial melting of the ancient Lhasa terrane, with parts of mantle materials involving in. Combined with the previous geochronology and geochemical data of Mesozoic magmas in the Gangdese belt, as well as the Late Jurassic granodiorite, in this paper, we propose that the Nuocang granodiorites formed in a continental margin arc environment triggered by the northward subduction of Neo−Tethys oceanic crust. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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Open AccessArticle

Geochemical and Geochronological Constraints of Permian-Triassic Magmatism on Oceanic Subduction and Continental Collision during the Eastern Paleo-Tethyan Evolution

and

Minerals 2022, 12(5), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050633 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1579

Abstract

The Jinshajiang–Ailaoshan–Song Ma orogenic belt (JASB), as a vital segment of the eastern Paleo-Tethyan tectonic zone, is one of the most important zones in which to study the Paleo-Tethyan tectonic evolution. We have undertaken an integrated geochronological, petrological, and geochemical study of mafic rocks from the JASB to reveal the subduction and closure processes of the eastern Paleo-Tethyan Ocean during the Permian to Triassic. In conjunction with previous magmatic and metamorphic records in the JASB, three important tectonic stages are identified: (1) Early Permian to Early Triassic (ca. 288–248 Ma). Most of the Early Permian to Early Triassic mafic rocks have normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB)- or enriched MORB (E-MORB)-like rare earth elements (REE) and trace element-normalized patterns with positive εNd(t) and εHf(t) values and negative Nb and Ta anomalies. Their La/Nb ratios and εNd(t) values show that approximately 3%–15% of slab-derived fluid accounts for the generation of these rocks. These characteristics suggest that the mafic rocks formed in an arc/back-arc basin setting at this stage. Additionally, the Early Permian mafic rocks are mainly exposed in the Jomda–Weixi–Yaxuanqiao–Truong Son magmatic rock belt (JYTB) on the western side of the JASB, indicating that the westward subduction of the Jinshajiang–Ailaoshan–Song Ma Paleo-Tethys Ocean (JASO) began in the Early Permian. Middle Permian mafic rocks are exposed in the Ailaoshan-Day Nui Con Voi metamorphic complex belt and the JYTB on both sides of the JASB. We propose that the bipolar subduction of the JASO occurred in the Middle Permian and ended in the Early Triassic. (2) Middle Triassic (ca. 248–237 Ma). The mafic rocks at this stage have LREE- and LILE-enriched patterns, negative Nb and Ta anomalies and negative εNd(t) values. Their variable εHf(t), εNd(t) values and La/Nb ratios show that these mafic rocks were highly affected by crustal material (ca. 16%). Considering the Middle Triassic high-pressure (HP) metamorphism and massive Al-enriched felsic magmatism in the JASB, these rocks may have formed in a collisional setting between the South China Block (SCB) and the North Qiangtang–Simao–Indochina Block (QSIB) during the Middle Triassic. (3) Late Triassic (ca. 235–202 Ma). The mafic rocks at this stage have negative εNd(t) and εHf(t) values and show terrestrial array characteristics. The εNd(t) values and La/Nb ratios show that approximately 30% of crustal components account for the generation of these rocks. Combined with the contemporaneous bimodal magma and metamorphism during the Late Triassic, we suggest that these rocks may have formed in a postcollisional extensional setting associated with magma diapir. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectono-Magmatic Evolution and Metallogeny of Tethyan Orogenic Belts)

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