Mineral chemistry, trace elements and Sr–Nd–Hf isotope geochemistry and petrogenesis of Cailing and Furong granites and mafic enclaves from the Qitianling batholith in the Shi-Hang zone, South China

• Published in: Gondwana research Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 310 - 324
• Main Authors: Zhao, Kui-Dong, Jiang, Shao-Yong, Yang, Shui-Yuan, Dai, Bao-Zhang, Lu, Jian-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2012
• Subjects: A-type granite; Mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs); Shi-Hang zone; South China; Zircon Hf isotope; A-type granite; Shi-Hang zone; Zircon Hf isotope; South China; Mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs)
• ISSN: 1342-937X; 1878-0571
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2011.09.010

The Shi-Hang zone is an important NE trending Mesozoic magmatic belt composed of granites with relative high εNd(t) values and young TDM model ages in South China. However, the petrogenesis and the tectonic environment for the Shi-Hang zone magmatic rocks remain controversial. We report here mineral chemistry, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data for the Cailing and Furong granites and mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) from the Qitianling granite batholith in southern Hunan province, South China. The Qitianling granite batholith is a multi-staged composite pluton with three phases (Cailing, Furong, and Huangtangling) according to their ages and petrography. The Cailing (163–160Ma) and Furong (157–153Ma) phases are mainly composed of porphyritic amphibole–biotite monzogranite, and they share similar geochemical and isotopic characteristics. Both of them show similar SiO2 contents from 66.50 to 70.28%, and metaluminous A/CNK values of 0.80 to 0.98. The granites are characterized by high contents of large ion lithosphile elements (LILE) such as Rb, Th, U, Pb; high field strength elements (HFSE) such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf; and Zr+Nb+Ce+Y contents >350ppm, and high 10,000∗Ga/Al ratios >2.6. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show relative enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs) and significant negative Eu anomalies. Mineralogical and geochemical features suggest that the Cailing and Furong granites are A-type, which can be further classified as A2 subtype. They have relatively lower (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (0.7091–0.7132), higher εNd(t) values (−5.5 to −7.6) and younger Nd isotopic model ages (1.48–1.56Ga) than those common S-type granites in South China. Zircon εHf(t) values vary from −8.1 to −3.7. The MMEs in the Cailing phase show similar trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics with the host granites. But zircons from the MMEs show different εHf(t) values (−6.4–+2.6) with those from the host granites (−8.1 to −3.7). This indicates that the MMEs and host granites were crystallized from different sources of magmas, providing direct evidence for mafic–felsic magma mixing processes. The isotope data indicate that the Cailing and Furong granites from the Qitianling batholith were derived from a hybrid magma consisting of about 80% felsic magma derived from old crust and about 20% mantle-derived mafic magma. The strong magma mixing at about 160–155Ma caused by intra-arc rifting or back arc extension related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate, is favored to explain the petrogenesis of the Cailing and Furong granites, as well as the Shi-Hang zone. [Display omitted] ► The Cailing and Furong granites from the Qitianling batholith in south China belong to A-type granite. ► Geochemical and isotopic studies indicate a mafic-felsic magma mixing process. ► An intra-arc rifting or back arc extension setting is proposed for the extensive magmatism.