The organic matter (OM) enrichment mechanisms and depositional environment characteristics of lacustrine source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin in Northeast China remain controversial. To address these issues, based on Rock-Eval pyrolysis, kerogen macerals, H/C and O/C ratios, GC-MS, major and trace elements, the Dongying Formation Member (Mbr) 3 (E₃d₃), the Shahejie Formation mbrs 1 and 2 (E₂s₁₊₂), and the Shahejie Mbr 3 (E₂s₃) source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag were studied. The above methods were used to reveal their geochemical properties, OM origins and depositional environments, all of which indicate that E₂s₁₊₂ and E₂s₃ are excellent source rocks, and that E₃d₃ is of the second good quality. E₃d₃ source rocks were formed under a warm and humid climate, mainly belong to fluvial/delta facies, the E₃d₃ sediments formed under weakly oxidizing and freshwater conditions. Comparatively, the depositional environments of E₂s₁₊₂ source rocks were arid and cold climate, representing saline or freshwater lacustrine facies, and the sediments of E₂s₁₊₂ belong to anoxic or suboxic settings with large evaporation and salinity. During the period of E₂s₃, the climate became warm and humid, indicating the freshwater lacustrine facies, and E₂s₃ was characterized by freshwater and abundant algae. Moreover, compared with other intervals, the OM origin of E₃d₃ source rocks has noticeable terrestrial input. The OM origin of the E₂s₁₊₂ and E₂s₃ are mainly plankton and bacteria. Tectonic subsidence and climate change have affected the changes of the depositional environment in the western Bozhong Sag, thus controlling the distribution of the source rocks, the geochemical characteristics in the three intervals of lacustrine source rocks have distinct differences. Overall, these factors are effective to evaluate the paleoenvironmental characteristics of source rocks by biomarkers, major and trace elements. The established models may have positive implications for research of lacustrine source rocks in offshore areas with few drillings.

Rubidium (Rb) deposits mostly occur in the South China and Central Asia orogenic belts and are often closely associated with highly differentiated granites. This study investigates a newly-discovered giant Rb deposit at Gariatong in the Central Lhasa terrane in Tibet. Detailed field studies and logging data revealed that the Rb mineralization mainly occurs in monzogranite and is related to greisenization. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircon yielded ages of 19.1 ± 0.2 Ma and 19.0 ± 0.2 Ma for greisenized monzogranite and fresh monzogranite, respectively. The monzogranites are characterized as strongly peraluminous, with high contents of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, K₂O and Na₂O as well as a high differentiation index. They are enriched in light rare earth and large ion lithophile elements with significant negative Eu anomalies and depleted high field-strength elements. Petrological and geochemical features of these ore-related monzogranites suggest that they are highly fractionated S-type granites, derived from remelting of crustal materials in a post-collisional setting. The geochemistry of zircon and apatite points to a low oxygen fugacity of the ore-related monzogranite during the magma's evolution. The discovery of the Gariatong Rb deposit suggests that the Central Lhasa terrane may be an important region for rare metal mineralization.

The only occurrence of Lower Triassic silicic volcanic rocks within the South China Block is in the Qinzhou Bay area of Guangxi Province. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating reveals that volcanic rocks of the Beisi and Banba formations formed between 248.8 ± 1.6 and 246.5 ± 1.3 Ma, coeval with peraluminous granites of the Qinzhou Bay Granitic Complex. The studied rhyolites and dacites are characterized by high SiO₂, K₂O, and Al₂O₃, and low MgO, CaO, and P₂O₅ contents and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline S-type rocks, with A/CNK = 0.98–1.19. The volcanic rocks are depleted in high field strength elements, e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti, and P, and enriched in large ion lithophile elements, e.g., Rb, K, Sr, and Ba. Although the analyzed volcanic rocks have extremely enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions (ε_Hf(t) = –29.1 to –6.9), source discrimination indicators and high calculated Ti-in-zircon temperatures (798–835°C) reveal that magma derived from enriched lithospheric mantle not only provided a heat source for anatectic melting of the metasedimentary protoliths but was also an endmember component of the S-type silicic magma. The studied early Triassic volcanics are inferred to have formed immediately before closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in this region, as the associated subduction would have generated an extensional setting in which the mantle-derived upwelling and volcanic activity occurred.

The knowledge of the residence time of formation water is fundamental to understanding the subsurface flow and hydrological setting. To better identify the origin and evolution of coal seam water and its impact on gas storage and production, this study collected coalbed methane co-produced water in the southeast Qinshui Basin and detected chemical and isotopic compositions, especially ³⁶Cl and ¹²⁹I concentrations. The calculated tracer ages of ¹²⁹I (5.2–50.6 Ma) and ³⁶Cl (0.13–0.76 Ma) are significantly younger than the age of coal-bearing formation (Pennsylvanian - Cisuralian), indicating freshwater recharge after coal deposition. The model that utilises ¹²⁹I/I and ³⁶Cl/Cl ratios to constrain the timing of recharge and the proportion of recharge water reveals that over 60% of pre-anthropogenic meteoric water entered coal seams since 10 Ma and mixed with residue initial deposition water, corresponding to the basin inversion in Cenozoic. The spatial distribution of major ion concentrations reveals the primary recharge pathway for meteoric water from coal outcrops at the eastern margin to the basin center. This study demonstrates the occurrence of higher gas production rates from wells that accept water recharge in recent times and suggests the possible potential of the non-stagnant zones for high gas production.

The Earth's surface kinematics and deformation are fundamental to understanding crustal evolution. An effective research approach is to estimate regional motion field and deformation fields based on modern geodetic networks. If the discrete observed velocity field is obtained, the velocity related fields, such as dilatation rate and maximum shear strain rate, can be estimated by applying varied mathematical approaches. This study applied Akaike's Bayesian Information Criterion (ABIC) method to calculate strain rate fields constrained by GPS observations in the southeast Tibetan Plateau. Comparison with results derived from other three methods revealed that our ABIC-derived strain rate fields were more precise. The maximum shear strain rate highlighted the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system as the main boundary for the outward migration of material in southeastern Tibet, indicating rotation of eastern Tibet material around the eastern Himalaya rather than whole extrusion along a fixed channel. Additionally, distinct dilatation rate patterns in the northeast and southwest regions of the fault system were observed. The northeast region, represented by the Longmenshan area, exhibited negative dilatational anomalies; while the southwest region, represented by the Jinsha River area north of 29°N, displayed positive dilatational anomalies. This indicates compression in the former and extension in the latter. Combined with deep geophysical observations, we believe that the upper and lower crusts of the Jinsha River area north of 29°N are in an entire expanding state, probably caused by the escape-drag effect of material. The presence of a large, low-viscosity region south of 29°N may not enable the entire escape of the crust, but instead result in a differential escape of the lower crust faster than the upper crust.

The combined petrographic, petrological, geochemical and geochronological study of the Neoproterozoic gneisses of the Sarychabyn and Baskan complexes of the Junggar Alataw of South Kazakhstan elucidate the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Aktau–Yili terrane. It is one of the largest Precambrian crustal blocks in the western Central Asian orogenic belt. The U-Pb single-grain zircon ages indicate that granite-gneisses formed from the same source and crystallised in the early Neoproterozoic ca. 930–920 Ma. The chemical composition of gneisses corresponds to A2-type granites. The whole-rock Nd isotopic characteristics (ε_Nd(t)=–4.9 to –1.0 and T_Nd(DM-2st)=1.9 to 1.7 Ga) indicate the involvement of Paleoproterozoic crustal rocks in magma generation. Early Neoproterozoic ca. 930–920 Ma A-type granitoids in the Aktau–Yili terrane of South and Central Kazakhstan might reflect within-plate magmatism adjacent to the collisional belt or a local extension setting in back-arc areas of the continental arc.

The Linxia Basin is characterized by an abundance of Cenozoic sediments, that contain exceptionally rich fossil resources. Equids are abundant in the Linxia Basin, the fossil record of equids in this region including 16 species that represent 10 genera. In comparison to other classic late Cenozoic areas in China, the Linxia Basin stands out, because the fauna and chronological data accompanying Linxia equids render them remarkably useful for biostratigraphy. The anchitheriines in the region, such as Anchitherium and Sinohippus, represent early equids that appeared in the late stages of the middle and late Miocene, respectively. Among the equines, most species of Chinese hipparions have been identified in the Linxia Basin and some species of the genera Hipparion and Hippotherium have FAD records for China. Furthermore, Equus eisenmannae is one of the earliest known species of Equus in the Old World and is well-represented at the Longdan locality. Some species with precise geohistorical distributions can serve as standards for high-resolution chronological units within this framework. Located at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and subject to considerable uplift, the Linxia Basin has served as a biogeographic transition area for equids throughout the late Cenozoic.

The Late Permian was marked by a series of important geological events and widespread organic-rich black shale depositions, acting as important unconventional hydrocarbon source rocks. However, the mechanism of organic matter (OM) enrichment throughout this period is still controversial. Based on geochemical data, the marine redox conditions, paleogeographic and hydrographic environment, primary productivity, volcanism, and terrigenous input during the Late Permian in the Lower Yangtze region have been studied from the Putaoling section, Chaohu, to provide new insights into OM accumulation. Five Phases are distinguished based on the TOC and environmental variations. In Phase I, anoxic conditions driven by water restriction enhanced OM preservation. In Phase II, euxinic and cycling hydrological environments were the two most substantial controlling factors for the massive OM deposition. During Phase III, intensified terrestrial input potentially diluted the OM in sediment and the presence of oxygen in bottom water weakened the preservation condition. Phase IV was characterized by a relatively higher abundance of mercury (Hg) and TOC (peak at 16.98 wt%), indicating that enhanced volcanism potentially stimulated higher productivity and a euxinic environment. In Phase V, extremely lean OM was preserved as a result of terrestrial dilutions and decreasing primary productivity. Phases I, II and IV are characterized as the most prominent OM-rich zones due to the effective interactions of the controlling factors, namely paleogeographic, hydrographic environment, volcanism, and redox conditions.

The Nuri deposit is the only Cu-W-Mo polymetallic deposit with large-scale WO3 resources in the eastern section of the Gangdese metallogenic belt, Tibet, China. However, the genetic type of this deposit has been controversial since its discovery. Based on a study of the geological characteristics of the deposit, this study presents mineralization stages, focusing on the oxide stage and the quartz-sulfide stage where scheelite is mainly formed, referred to as Sch-A and Sch-B, respectively. Through LA-ICP-MS trace element and Sr isotope analyses, the origin, evolutionary process of the ore-forming fluid and genesis of the ore deposit are investigated. Scanning Electron Microscope-Cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) observations reveal that Sch-A consists of three generations, with dark gray homogenous Sch-A1 being replaced by relatively lighter and homogeneous Sch-A2 and Sch-A3, with Sch-A2 displaying a gray CL image color with vague and uneven growth bands and Sch-A3 has a light gray CL image color with hardly any growth band. In contrast, Sch-B exhibits a ‘core-rim’ structure, with the core part (Sch-B1) being dark gray and displaying a uniform growth band, while the rim part (Sch-B2) is light gray and homogeneous. The normalized distribution pattern of rare earth elements in scheelite and Sr isotope data suggest that the early ore-forming fluid in the Nuri deposit originated from granodiorite porphyry and, later on, some country rock material was mixed in, due to strong water-rock interaction. Combining the O-H isotope data further indicates that the ore-forming fluid in the Nuri deposit originated from magmatic-hydrothermal sources, with contributions from metamorphic water caused by water-rock interaction during the mineralization process, as well as later meteoric water. The intense water-rock interaction likely played a crucial role in the precipitation of scheelite, leading to varying Eu anomalies in different generations of scheelite from the oxide stage to the quartz-sulfide stage, while also causing a gradual decrease in oxygen fugacity (fO₂) and a slow rise in pH value. Additionally, the high Mo and low Sr contents in the scheelite are consistent with typical characteristics of magmatic-hydrothermal scheelite. Therefore, considering the geological features of the deposit, the geochemical characteristics of scheelite and the O-H isotope data published previously, it can be concluded that the genesis of the Nuri deposit belongs to porphyry-skarn deposit.

A calamitous landslide happened at 22:00 on September 1, 2014 in the Yunyang area of Chongqing City, southwest China, enforcing the evacuation of 508 people and damaging 23 buildings. The landslide volume comprised 1.44 million m³ of material in the source area and 0.4 million m³ of shoveled material. The debris flow runout extended 400 m vertically and 1600 m horizontally. The Xianchi reservoir landslide event has been investigated as follows: (1) samples collected from the main body of landslide were carried out using GCTS ring shear apparatus; (2) the parameters of shear and pore water pressure have been measured; and (3) the post-failure characteristics of landslide have been analyzed using the numerical simulation method. The excess pore-water pressure and erosion in the motion path are considered to be the key reasons for the long-runout motion and the scale-up of landslides, such as that at Xianchi, were caused by the heavy rainfall. The aim of this paper is to acquired numerical parameters and the basic resistance model, which is beneficial to improve simulation accuracy for hazard assessment for similar to potentially dangerous hillslopes in China and elsewhere.

Three-dimensional geochemical modeling of ore-forming elements is crucial for predicting deep mineralization. This approach provides key information for the quantitative prediction of deep mineral localization, three-dimensional fine interpolation, analysis of spatial distribution patterns, and extraction of quantitative mineral-seeking markers. The Yechangping molybdenum (Mo) deposit is a significant and extensive porphyry-skarn deposit in the East Qinling–Dabie Mo polymetallic metallogenic belt at the southern margin of the North China Block. Abundant borehole data on ore-forming elements underpin deep geochemical predictions. The methodology includes the following steps: (1) Three-dimensional geological modeling of the deposit was established. (2) Correlation, cluster, and factor analyses post delineation of mineralization stages and determination of mineral generation sequence to identify (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag) and (Mo, W, mfe) assemblages. (3) A three-dimensional geochemical block model was constructed for Mo, W, mfe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ag using the ordinary kriging method, and the variational function was developed. (4) Spatial distribution and enrichment characteristics analysis of ore-forming elements are performed to extract geological information, employing the variogram and w(Cu + Pb + Zn + Ag)/w(Mo + W) as predictive indicators. (5) Identifying the western, northwestern, and southwestern areas of the mine with limited mineralization potential, contrasted by the northeastern and southeastern areas favorable for mineral exploration.

The Triassic granitoids in Central Tianshan play a key role in determining the petrogenesis and tectonic evolution on the southern margin of the Central Asian orogenic belt. In this study, we present SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotopic and geochemical data on the Xingxingxia biotite granite, amazonite granite and granitic pegmatite in Central Tianshan, NW China. Zircon U-Pb dating yielded formation ages of 242 Ma for the biotite granite and 240 Ma for the amazonite granite. These granitoid rocks have high K₂O with low MgO and CaO contents. They are enriched in Nb, Ta, Hf and Y, while being depleted in Ba and Sr, showing flat HREE patterns and negative Eu anomalies. They have typical A-type granite geochemical signatures with high Ga/A_l (8–13) and TFeO/(TFeO + MgO) ratios, showing an A₂ affinity for biotite granite and an A₁ affinity for amazonite granite and granitic pegmatite. Zircon ε_Hf(t) values of the granitoids are 0.45–2.66, with Hf model ages of 0.99–1.17 Ga. This suggests that these A-type granites originated from partial melting of the lower crust. We propose that Xingxingxia Triassic A-type granites formed under lithospheric extension from post-orogenic to anorogenic intraplate settings and NE-trending regional strike-slip fault-controlled magma emplacement in the upper crust.

Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety, especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs. This study focuses on the high F^– and NO₃^– concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District, Beijing, North China. A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics, elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks. The results of the analysis indicate: Firstly, most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO₃ and Na-HCO₃ with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471–2337 mg/L. The NO₃^– concentration in 38.89% groundwater samples and the F^– concentration in 66.67% groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value. Secondly, F^– in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution, which is also regulated by cation exchange, competitive adsorption of HCO₃^– and an alkaline environment. Thirdly, the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO₃^– concentration, while the high F^– concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity. The alkaline environment favors nitrification, thus being conducive to the production of NO₃^–. Finally, the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups. The results indicate that high NO₃^– and F^– concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children's health. The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.

In this study, zircon U-Pb dating of volcanic rocks from the Zhongba ophiolite of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) in southern Xizang (Tibet) yielded an age of 247 ± 3 Ma. According to whole rock geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data, the Early Triassic samples could be divided into two groups: Group 1 with P-MORB affinity, showing initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70253–0.70602, ε_Nd(t) values of 4.2–5.3, (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 16.353–18.222, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 15.454–15.564, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 35.665–38.136; Group 2 with OIB affinity, showing initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70249–0.70513, ε_Nd(t) values of 4.4–4.9, (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 17.140–18.328, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 15.491–15.575, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_t ratios of 36.051–38.247. Group 2 rocks formed by partial melting of the mantle source enriched by a former plume, and assimilated continental crustal material during melt ascension. The formation of Group 1 rocks corresponds to the mixing of OIB melts, with the same components as Group 2 and N-MORBs. The Zhongba Early Triassic rocks belong to the continental margin type ophiolite and formed in the continental–oceanic transition zone during the initial opening of the Neo-Tethys in southern Xizang (Tibet).

Saline aquifers are the most popular waste and CO2 injection and storage reservoirs worldwide. This project proposes that several optimal injection positions should be investigated as hydraulic pressure-focused positions, in order to relieve the high demands of pump performance. The comprehensive indices (F_i) representing the injectivity of different burial depths were obtained by using information entropy, based on the mercury injection experimental data of 13 rock samples. The results demonstrated that the burial depths of No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 in the Liujiagou Formation were the most suitable positions for hydraulic focused injection, which means the upper 30 m thickness could be regarded as the hydraulic focused range in the saline aquifer with an average thickness of 400 m. In addition, some laboratory experiments and in situ tests were carried out for the purpose of certifying and analyzing results, including SEM, XRD, brittleness index and logging. The results suggested that the rock samples at the No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 burial depth ranges have loose microstructure, weak cementation, as well as dual pores and fractures. The lithology is mainly quartz and feldspar, but the clay mineral content is high (10%–25%), which is positive for dissolution. The lithology is suitable for hydraulic fracturing to form extended cracks and micro-fissures during high-TDS (total dissolved solids) mine water injection, because of the high brittleness index. Finally, a theoretical and technical framework for high-TDS mine water injection was established, based on operating pilot engineering. Some theoretical defects and drawbacks learned from the field practices were summarized and solutions proposed. The research in this study could provide guidance and a paradigm for the inexpensive treatment of high-TDS mine water by injection and storage.

The Shenxianshui granites in the western Gejiu area were formed in the Late Cretaceous. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicates zircon U-Pb ages ranging from 90.67 ± 0.7 to 85.97 ± 0.6 Ma. The intrusive rocks are peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.03 to 1.33) and calc-alkaline, showing an affinity towards I-type granite. Large ion lithophilic elements are enriched in K and Rb, while high field strength elements are depleted. Moreover, light rare earth elements are significantly enriched, showing a slight negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu^* = 0.39 to 0.58). Shenxianshui granite has a relatively high initial Sr isotope ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i (0.7098–0.7105), negative ε_Nd(t) values (−7.99 to −7.44) and negative ε_Hf(t) values (−8.37 to −2.58). Combined with previous studies, these characteristics suggest that the Shenxianshui alkaline granites were formed in a post-collision extensional environment. The alkaline granitic magma possibly originated from the partial melting of the lower crust during the Mesoproterozoic era and may have contained mantle source materials. Shenxianshui alkaline granite was formed from mixed magma with a high degree of crystal differentiation. The abundance of ore-forming elements indicates that Shenxianshui granite has the potential to mineralize key metals and rare earth elements.

Feldspar Pb isotopes have been widely used to trace magmatic formation and evolution processes. However, it remains unclear whether post-magmatic thermal events can affect feldspar Pb isotopic ratios. Here, the in situ Pb isotopic composition of feldspar hosted in granitic rocks (thirteen Archean and one Paleoproterozoic) from the northern Kongling terrane, Yangtze Craton, South China, is analyzed. The samples reveal a substantial variation in their Pb isotopic composition, spanning the gap between the 1.9 Ga and present-day geochrons, which indicates extensive resetting by later tectonothermal events. This resetting was interpreted to have likely resulted from Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic tectonothermal events related to the assembly and breakup of the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents. These results suggest that Pb isotopes should be used cautiously when tracing magma sources and petrogenesis in magmatic rocks that have experienced post-magmatic reworking. However, the in situ Pb isotopic composition of feldspar in ancient granitoids may also potentially be used to reveal later tectonothermal events. The extensive resetting of the Pb isotopic composition in feldspar by regional thermal events may also provide new insights into our understanding of the Pb isotope paradox.

The Tianshan range, a Paleozoic orogenic belt in Central Asia, has undergone multiple phases of tectonic activities characterized by the N–S compression after the early Mesozoic, including the far-field effects of the Cenozoic Indian–Asian collision. However, there are limited reports on the tectonic deformation and initiation of Triassic intracontinental deformation in the Tianshan range. Understanding this structural context is crucial for interpreting the early intracontinental deformation history of the Eurasian continent during the early Mesozoic. Growth strata and syn-tectonic sediments provide a rich source of information on tectonic activities and have been extensively used in the studies of orogenic belts. Based on detail fieldwork conducted in this study, the middle–late Triassic Kelamayi Formation of the northern Kuqa Depression in the southern Tianshan fold-thrust belt has been identified as the typical syn-tectonic growth strata. The youngest detrital zircon component in two lithic sandstone samples from the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata yielded U-Pb ages of 223.4 ± 3.1 and 215.5 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the maximum depositional age of the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata is 226–220 and 218–212 Ma. The geochronological distribution of detrital samples from the Early–Middle Triassic and Late Triassic revealed abrupt changes, suggesting a new source supply resulting from tectonic activation in the Tianshan range. The coupling relationship between the syn-tectonic sedimentation of the Kelamayi Formation and the South Tianshan fold-thrust system provides robust evidence that the Triassic intracontinental deformation of the South Tianshan range began at approximately 226–220 Ma (during the Late Triassic) and ended at approximately 218–212 Ma. These findings provide crucial constraints for understanding the intraplate deformation in the Tianshan range during the Triassic.

Since the Cenozoic, the Tibetan Plateau has experienced large-scale uplift and outgrowth due to the India–Asia collision. However, the mechanism and timing of these tectonic processes still remain debated. Here, using apatite fission track dating and inverse thermal modeling, we explore the mechanism of different phases of rapid cooling for different batholiths and intrusions in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In contrast to previous views, we find that the coeval granitic batholith exposed in the same tectonic zone experienced differential fast uplift in different sites, indicating that the present Tibetan Plateau was the result of differential uplift rather than the entire lithosphere uplift related to lithospheric collapse during Cenozoic times. In addition, we also suggest that the 5–2 Ma mantle-related magmatism should be regarded as the critical trigger for the widely coeval cooling event in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, because it led to the increase in atmospheric CO₂ level and a hotter upper crust than before, which are efficient for suddenly fast rock weathering and erosion. Finally, we propose that the current landform of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau was the combined influences of tectonic and climate.

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves (MMEs). Whole rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured. It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous (A/CNK = 1.32–1.45), subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures. The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3 ± 0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite. MMEs have relatively low SiO₂ contents (52.9–56.6 wt%) and high Mg^# (49.8–58.7), probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin. Chondrite- and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment, HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.86–1.03). The host rocks yield (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.70492–0.70510, positive ε_Nd(t) values of +1.55–+2.06 and T_DM2 of 707–736 Ma, which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves ((⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.705014, ε_Nd(t) = +1.75, T_DM2 = 729 Ma). All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation, showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas, followed by rapid diffusion. The T_DM1(Nd) and T_DM2(Nd) model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantle-derived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian–Eurasian plates. Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of ∼1000°C and a depth of ∼9 km.

Plate subduction leads to complex exhumation processes on continents. The Huangling Massif lies at the northern margin of the South China Block. Whether the Huangling Massif was exhumed as a watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River during the Mesozoic remains under debate. We examined the exhumation history of the Huangling Massif based on six granite bedrock samples, using apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He (AHe and ZHe) thermochronology. These samples yielded ages of 157–132 Ma (ZHe), 119–106 Ma (AFT), and 114–72 Ma (AHe), respectively. Thermal modeling revealed that three phases of rapid cooling occurred during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, late Early Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous. These exhumation processes led to the high topographic relief responsible for the emergence of the Huangling Massif. The integrated of our new data with published sedimentological records suggests that the Huangling Massif might have been the watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River since the Cretaceous. At that time, the rivers flowed westward into the Sichuan Basin and eastward into the Jianghan Basin. The subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Asian continent in the Mesozoic deeply influenced the geomorphic evolution of the South China Block.