U-Pb geochronology of detrital and inherited zircons in the Yidun arc belt, eastern Tibet Plateau and its tectonic implications

Abstract

This paper reports geochronological data of detrital zircons from the country rock and sedimentary xenoliths of the Cilincuo pluton (79±0.7 Ma) in the southern Yidun arc belt and the inherited zircons from the Late Triassic granites in the eastern Yidun arc belt, eastern Tibet Plateau. Detrital zircons ages from the sedimentary xenoliths have four prominent peaks at 2.5–2.4 Ga, 1.9–1.8 Ga, 480–400 Ma, and 350–300 Ma, whereas those from the country rock exhibit another four prominent peaks at 1.9–1.8 Ga, 850–700 Ma, 480–400 Ma, and 300–250 Ma. Based on comparison with age data from previous studies, we suggest that the sedimentary xenoliths are from the Lanashan Formation and the major provenance of them is Qiangtang Block, Zhongza massif and South China Block, whereas the country rock belongs to the Lamaya Formation and the major provenance of them is similar to those of the neighbouring Songpan-Garzê terrane. In addition, the inherited zircons from the Late Triassic granites in the eastern Yidun arc belts have a prominent Neoproterozoic age population (900–700 Ma), which suggests that there is an old basement with west Yangtze Craton affinity beneath the Triassic sediments. Combining with previous studies, we propose that the provenances of the formations vary from the Lanashan Formation to the Lamaya Formation which may indicate a record of the final closure of the Garzê-Litang Ocean.

Keywords

Yidun arc belt / Garzê-Litang Ocean / basement / detrital zircon / inherited zircon

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