Search Results (23)

Recent exploration efforts in the Qiongdongnan Basin have revealed hydrocarbon resources within granitic basement rocks in buried hill traps. However, the formation mechanisms and primary controlling factors of these reservoirs remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized data from six wells in the Qiongdongnan Basin, including sidewall cores, thin sections, imaging logging, and seismic reflection profiles, to analyze the petrological characteristics, pore systems, and fracture networks of the deep basement reservoir. The aim of our study was to elucidate the reservoir formation mechanisms and identify the key controlling factors. The results indicate that the basement lithology is predominantly granitoid, intruded during the late Permian to Triassic. These rocks are characterized by high felsic mineral content (exceeding 90% on average), with them possessing favorable brittleness and solubility properties. Fractures identified from sidewall cores and interpreted from image logging can be categorized into two main groups: (1) NE-SW trending conjugate shear fractures with sharp dip angles and (2) NW-SE trending conjugate shear fractures with sharp angles. An integrated analysis of regional tectonic stress fields suggests that the NE-trending fractures and associated faults were formed by compressional stresses related to the Indosinian closure of the ancient Tethys Ocean. In contrast, the NW-trending fractures and related faults resulted from southeast-directed compressional stresses during the Yanshanian subduction event. During the subsequent Cenozoic extensional phase, these fractures were reactivated, creating effective storage spaces for hydrocarbons. The presence of calcite and siliceous veins within the reservoir indicates the influence of meteoric water and magmatic–hydrothermal fluid activities. Meteoric water weathering exerted a depth-dependent dissolution effect on feldspathoid minerals, leading to the formation of fracture-related pores near the top of the buried hill trap during the Mesozoic exposure period. Consequently, the combination of high-density fractures and dissolution pores forms a vertically layered reservoir within the buried hill trap. The distribution of potential hydrocarbon targets in the granitic basement is closely linked to the surrounding tectonic framework. Full article

The Beishan Orogenic Belt, situated along the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, represents a critical tectonic domain that archives the prolonged subduction–accretion processes and Paleo-Asian Ocean closure from the Early Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. Early Permian magmatism, exhibiting the most extensive spatial-temporal distribution in this belt, remains controversial in its geodynamic context: whether it formed in a persistent subduction regime or was associated with mantle plume activity or post-collisional extension within a rift setting. This study presents an integrated analysis of petrology, zircon U-Pb geochronology, in situ Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemistry of Early Permian granites from the Tiancang area in the southern Beishan Orogenic Belt, complemented by regional comparative studies. Tiancang granites comprise biotite monzogranite, monzogranite, and syenogranite. Zircon U-Pb dating of four samples yields crystallization ages of 279.3–274.1 Ma. These granites are classified as high-K calc-alkaline to calc-alkaline, metaluminous to weakly peraluminous I-type granites. Geochemical signatures reveal the following: (1) low total rare earth element (REE) concentrations with light REE enrichment ((La/Yb)_N = 3.26–11.39); (2) pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.47–0.71) and subordinate Ce anomalies; (3) enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs: Rb, Th, U, K) coupled with depletion in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs: Nb, Ta, P, Zr, Ti); (4) zircon ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −10.5 to −0.1, corresponding to Hf crustal model ages (T_DMC) of 1.96–1.30 Ga. These features collectively indicate that the Tiancang granites originated predominantly from partial melting of Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic crustal sources with variable mantle contributions, followed by extensive fractional crystallization. Regional correlations demonstrate near-synchronous magmatic activity across the southern/northern Beishan and eastern Tianshan Orogenic belts. The widespread Permian granitoids, combined with post-collisional magmatic suites and rift-related stratigraphic sequences, provide compelling evidence for a continental rift setting in the southern Beishan during the Early Permian. This tectonic regime transition likely began with lithospheric delamination after the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian collisional orogeny, which triggered asthenospheric upwelling and crustal thinning. These processes ultimately led to the terminal closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean’s southern branch, followed by intracontinental evolution. Full article

Permian magmatic rocks are extensively distributed in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (EKOB), yet controversies persist regarding the petrogenesis of granitoid rocks and the tectonic evolution of the Buqingshan-A’nyemaqing Ocean (BAO), which is a part of the Paleo-Tethys. This study addresses these debates through petrological analyses, whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic investigations of newly identified granitoids in the EKOB. Monzogranite (MG) and quartz porphyry (QP) yield weighted mean ages of 254.7 ± 1.1 Ma and 254.3 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Geochemically, the MG shows metaluminous to weakly peraluminous low-K calc-alkaline I-type affinity, characterized by high SiO₂ and low K₂O, MgO and FeO^T contents, as well as marked enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs), but depletion in Eu, Ba, Sr, P and Ti anomalies. In contrast, the QP exhibits a peraluminous high-K calc-alkaline I-type affinity, displaying high SiO₂ but low Na₂O and P₂O₅ contents. It is enriched in LREEs and Rb but displays negative Nb, Sr, P and Ti anomalies. Zircon ε_Hf(t) values range from −1.6 to 2.6 for MG and −4.4 to 1.5 for QP. We suggest that both MG and QP were derived from the partial melting of juvenile mafic lower crust, and that MG underwent a high degree of fractional crystallization. A synthesis of multiscale geological evidence allows us to propose a five-stage tectonic evolution for the BAO in the EKOB: (1) oceanic basin initiation before ca. 345 Ma; (2) incipient northward subduction commencing at ca. 278 Ma; (3) slab rollback stage (263–240 Ma); (4) syn-collisional compression (240–230 Ma); (5) post-collisional extension (230–195 Ma). Full article

Awulale Mountain is one of the most important Fe-Cu concentration areas situated in the eastern part of Western Tianshan. The Cu deposits in the belt are genetically associated with the Permian intermediate and felsic intrusions. However, the precise age and magma source of the causative intrusions are currently not confirmed, constraining our understanding of regional mineralization. The Cahanwusu porphyry Cu deposit is located in the western part of Awulale Mountain. Field investigations have shown that the mineralization in the deposit is genetically associated with granitic porphyry and diorite porphyry. In this paper, we provide detailed zircon U-Pb ages and in-situ Hf isotopic compositions of the granitic porphyry and diorite porphyry. The granitic porphyry and diorite porphyry have zircon U-Pb ages of 328.6 ± 2.6 Ma (MSWD = 0.52; n = 23) and 331 ± 2.8 Ma (MSWD = 0.95; n = 21), respectively. This indicates that the Cahanwusu deposit was formed in the Carboniferous in a subduction setting. This is distinguishable from other porphyry Cu deposits in the belt, which were generally formed in the Permian in the post-collision extensional setting. The granitic porphyry and diorite porphyry exhibit positive ε_Hf(t) values varying from +2.8 to +5.4 (average of +4.1) and +2.0 to +5.1 (average of +4.1), respectively. The magmas of these causative intrusions were interpreted to be derived from the partial melting of the juvenile lower crust which originated from cooling of mantle-derived magmas related to the subduction process. Our new results highlight that the Cahanwusu deposit represents a new episode of Cu mineralization in the belt and the Carboniferous granitoids in Awulale Mountain are potential candidates for Cu exploration. Full article

The granitoids of the Kalba–Narym batholith and the Irtysh shear zone (ISZ) are among the main geological features of the late Paleozoic Altai accretion–collision system (AACS) in Eastern Kazakhstan. Traditionally, it is believed that late Paleozoic strike-slip faults played a pivotal role at all stages of the development of the AACS, they were supposed to control deformation, magmatism, and ore deposits. This work is devoted to solving the problem of the tectonic evolution of the AACS based on the reconstruction of the thermal history of granitoids of the Kalba–Narym batholith in connection with the Chechek metamorphic dome structure, which is one of the highly metamorphosed blocks mapped within the ISZ. The new geological and geochronological data presented in this work allowed us to establish the sequence of formation of the Kalba–Narym granitoid batholith and link it with the evolution of the Irtysh shear zone (ISZ). It was revealed that in the late Carboniferous–early Permian (312–289 Ma), during the NE–SW compression, the Irtysh shear zone formed as a gently dipping thrust system into which gabbro of the Surov massif intruded. The combined manifestation of magmatic and tectonic processes caused the formation of tectonic mélange with cataclastic gabbro and metamorphic rocks of the Chechek metamorphic dome structure (312–289 Ma). Compression caused the formation of a cover-thrust structure. The thickening of the crust under the probable thermal action of the Tarim plume led to the formation of the early Permian Kalba–Narym batholith (297–284 Ma) within the Kalba–Narym terrane. Denudation of the orogen occurred before the Early Triassic (280–229 Ma). In this way the sequence of formation of the Kalba–Narym batholith and the ISZ is consistent with the concepts of the stages of plume-lithosphere interaction within the AACS under the influence of the late Carboniferous–early Permian Tarim igneous province, but in the cover-thrust tectonic setting. Full article

The western side of the Vertiskos Unit crystalline basement in northern Greece is fringed by a Permo–Triassic low-grade metamorphic volcano-sedimentary complex that belongs to the Circum-Rhodope Belt (CRB), which is an important part of the Vardar/ Axios oceanic suture zone. The silicic volcanic rocks from the CRB are mainly rhyolitic to rhyodacitic lavas with aphyric and porphyritic textures as well as pyroclastic deposits. In this study, geochemical data obtained with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the CRB silicic volcanic rocks are reported and discussed to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonic setting. The rocks are peraluminous and show enrichment in K, Rb, Th, Zr, Y, and Pb while being depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, P, and Ti, and they have Zr + Nb + Y + Ce > 350 ppm, which are characteristic features of anorogenic A-type granites. They have a Y/Nb ratio > 1.2 and belong to A2-subtype granitoids, implying crust-derived magma in a post-collisional tectonic setting. The high Rb/Sr ratio (3.45–39.14), the low molar CaO/(MgO + FeO_t) ratio, and the CaO/Na₂O ratio (<0.5), which they display, indicate that metapelites are the magma sources. Their low Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratio (<100), consistent with their high zircon saturation temperatures (average T_Zr = 886 °C), and their low Pb/Ba ratio (average 0.06) reveal that they were generated by biotite dehydration melting. The increased Rb/Sr ratio relative to that of presumable parental metapelites of the Vertiskos Unit, coupled with their low Sr/Y ratio (0.12–1.08), reflects plagioclase and little or no garnet in the source residue, indicating magma derivation at low pressures of 0.4–0.8 GPa that correspond to a depth of ~15–30 km. The nearby tholeiitic basalts and dolerites, interstratified with the Triassic pelagic sediments, indicate bimodal volcanism in the region. They also support a model involving an upwelling asthenosphere that underplated the Vertiskos Unit basement, supplying the heat required for crustal melting at low pressures. The Permo–Triassic magmatism marks the transition from an orogenic to an anorogenic environment during the initial stage of continental breakup of the Variscan basement in a post-collision extensional tectonic framework, leading to the formation of the nascent Mesozoic Neo-Tethyan Maliac–Vardar Ocean. This apparently reveals that the Variscan continental collision between the Gondwana-derived Vertiskos and Pelagonian terranes must have been completed by at least the earliest Late Permian. Full article

The Biggenden gold-bearing Fe skarn deposit in southeast Queensland, Australia, is a calcic magnetite skarn that has been mined for Fe and gold (from the upper portion of the deposit). Skarn has replaced volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Early Permian Gympie Group, which formed in different tectonic settings, including island arc, back arc, and mid-ocean ridge. This group has experienced a hornblende-hornfels grade of contact metamorphism due to the intrusion of the Late Triassic Degilbo Granite. The intrusion is a mildly oxidized I-type monzogranite that has geochemical characteristics intermediate between those of granitoids typically associated with Fe-Cu-Au and Sn-W-Mo skarn deposits. The skarn mineralogy indicates that there was an evolution from prograde to various retrograde assemblages. Prograde garnet (Adr_11-99Grs_1-78Alm_0-8Sps_0-11), clinopyroxene (Di_30-92Hd_7-65Jo_0-9), magnetite, and scapolite formed initially. Epidote and Cl-bearing amphibole (mainly ferropargasite) were the early retrograde minerals, followed by chlorite, calcite, actinolite, quartz, and sulfides. Late-stage retrograde reactions are indicated by the development of nontronite, calcite, and quartz. Gold is mainly associated with sulfide minerals in the retrograde sulfide stage. The fluids in equilibrium with the ore-stage calcites had δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values that indicate deposition from magmatically derived fluids. The calculated δ¹⁸O values of the fluids in equilibrium with the skarn magnetite also suggest a magmatic origin. However, the fluids in equilibrium with epidote were a mixture of magmatic and meteoric water, and the fluids that deposited chlorite were at least partly meteoric. δD values for the retrograde amphibole and epidote fall within the common range for magmatic water. Late-stage chlorite was deposited from metasomatic fluids depleted in deuterium (D), implying a meteoric water origin. Sulfur isotopic compositions of the Biggenden sulfides are similar to other skarn deposits worldwide and indicate that sulfur was most probably derived from a magmatic source. Based on the strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb) isotope ratios, the volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Gympie Group may have contributed part of the metals to the hydrothermal fluids. Lead isotope data are also consistent with a close age relationship between the mineralization at Biggenden and the crystallization of the Degilbo Granite. Microthermometric analysis indicates that there is an overall decrease in fluid temperature and salinity from the prograde skarn to retrograde alterations. Fluid inclusions in prograde skarn calcite and garnet yield homogenization temperatures of 500 to 600 °C and have salinities up to 45 equivalent wt % NaCl. Fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite from the retrograde sulfide-stage homogenized between 280 and 360 °C and have lower salinities (5–15 equivalent wt % NaCl). In a favored genetic model, hydrothermal fluids originated from the Degilbo Granite at depth and migrated through the shear zone, intrusive contact, and permeable Gympie Group rocks and leached extra Fe and Ca and deposited magnetite upon reaction with the adjacent marble and basalt. Full article

Late Carboniferous–Early Permian granitoids are widespread in the Tianshan area and their tectonic setting is controversially discussed. Our research presents fresh whole-rock geochemical and Pb isotopic data, along with zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic data for representative monzonitic and granitic intrusions in the Kumishi area. The aim is to decipher their magma sources and illuminate their geodynamic evolution. Zircon U-Pb dating results reveal that biotite monzonites in the Central Tianshan Belt were emplaced at 312.7 ± 2.9 Ma, while the quartz-monzonites and syenogranites in the South Tianshan Belt were formed at 284.5 ± 2.4 Ma and 283.4 ± 3.9 Ma, respectively. The biotite monzonites generally exhibit metaluminous and high-K calc-alkaline characteristics. They have a positive ε_Hf(t) value (+4.9–+14.1), and are enriched in LREEs and LILEs but depleted in HREEs and HFSEs. These characteristics indicate that they were derived from a mixed magma source of the lower crust and the input of components derived from the mantle wedge above the subduction zone. The quartz-monzonites and syenogranites are high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic I-type granites, with ε_Hf(t) values of +14.9–+15.5 and +6.6–+14.9, respectively. They are enriched in LREEs but depleted in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti), displaying relatively flat HREE patterns and negative Eu anomalies. The genesis of these rocks is attributed to a partial melting of the lower crust in which mantle-derived magmas participated, which was triggered by an upwelling asthenosphere in a post-collisional extensional geodynamic setting. These granitoids, together with regional analysis of other magmatism in the study area, suggest that the Kumishi area has experienced an evolution from subduction to post-collision from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian, which constrains the local closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Full article

Integrated geochemical, U-Pb zircon, and Pb isotopic data from granitoids of the Wulandele porphyry molybdenum deposit, northeastern Inner Mongolia, are reported to disclose the possible magmatic process and Mo ore-forming process. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating constrains the timing of the quartz diorite and monzonitic granite to 282 ± 2.4 Ma and 135.4 ± 2.1 Ma, respectively. The ages are accordant with geological facts which state that the shallow Permian granitoids are only the ore-hosting rock while the concealed Cretaceous fine-grained granite is the causative intrusion. Whole-rock geochemical data show that the granitoids belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series, and are enriched in LILEs, but depleted in HSFEs. Permian granitoids exhibit I-type characteristics, while Cretaceous granite is akin to A-type granite. Pb isotopic ratios are consistent between Permian granitoids and Cretaceous granite with ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.048–18.892, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.488–15.571, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.066–38.441. Considering geological and geochemical features together, Permian granitoids are interpreted as subduction-related continental margin high-K calc-alkaline rocks, while Cretaceous granite may be the result of the remelting of the relic Permian arc in an extensional environment induced by the rollback of the Paleo-Pacific plate. Different from classical porphyry-type deposits, the Wulandele Mo deposit, which formed in an intraplate tectonic setting, indicates that the intraplate porphyry Mo deposit should be one of the important exploration targets in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, especially its eastern segment. Full article

Despite significant progress in Arctic geological studies, a number of principal questions concerning the Paleozoic collisional events remain unanswered. Therefore, the Taimyr Peninsula, representing the only outcropped high Arctic region where magmatic complexes, formed by Hercynian collision between the Siberian Craton and the Kara Block, are well exposed, is crucially important. In this paper we report new geochemical and geochronological data for intrusions in the poorly studied northeastern part of the Taimyr Peninsula. The obtained results in combination with published data show that supra-subduction magmatism at the southern active margin of the Kara Block continued from ca. 345 to 285 Ma (Early Carboniferous to Early Permian), and was followed by a post-collisional magmatic pulse that affected the whole Taimyr across terrane boundaries at ca. 280 Ma in the Early Permian. After cessation of the post-collisional magmatism at ca. 265 Ma, the Taimyr experienced extension, and voluminous magmatic series associated with a Siberian mantle plume were formed between 251 and 228 Ma during the Triassic. The studied post-collisional and plume-related intrusions of the Northeastern Taimyr are generally classified as evolved high-K I-type granites with adakitic affinity. The latter is a regional feature because the majority of the analyzed plume-related granitoids are geochemically similar to high potassium continental adakites. It is suggested that the adakitic geochemical characteristics of the plume-related granitoids resulted from melting of hydrated mafic lower crustal protoliths and were controlled by the source lithology. Comparison of the new results with data available for adjacent areas allows for correlation of terranes on a regional scale and sheds light on the evolution of the Arctic continental margins in general. In the Early–Middle Paleozoic, the Kara Block was part of a continental terrane that formed at the northern edge of Baltica as a result of Neoproterozoic Timanian orogeny. In the Early Carboniferous, the southern margin of Kara turned into an active margin, while its inferred continuation in the eastern Uralian margin of Baltica remained a passive margin until the Early Permian. This discrepancy can be explained by dextral displacement of Kara relative to Baltica that took place in the Early Carboniferous and was later accommodated by the formation of the Taimyr collisional belt in the course of the Early Permian collision between Kara and Siberia. After collision, the Taimyr was incorporated into the northern Eurasian margin as an uplifted block that experienced surface erosion and supplied clastic material in surrounding basins. Full article

Permian intermediate–felsic igneous rocks, widely distributed in the southern Beishan orogen, provide crucial constraints on the geodynamic process of the late Paleozoic Paleo-Asian Ocean. New zircon U–Pb dating using LA–ICP–MS determines the age of the northern Qingshan diorites, the Heishantou quartz diorites, and the southern Qingshan biotite granodiorites at 300 Ma, 294 Ma, and 291–286 Ma, respectively. Their whole-rock compositions exhibit arc-like geochemical features. Moreover, their zircon trace elements show the characteristics of continental arc zircons. The diorites, characterized by low SiO₂, high MgO with Mg# (50–52), and low Cr, Co, and Ni, display enrichment in Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7060 to 0.7061; ℇ_Nd(t) = −1.4 to −1.7; ℇ_Hf(t) = −4.7 to −0.6), originating from the fractionation process of magma derived from the enriched mantle. The quartz diorites show moderate SiO₂ and variable MgO (2.75–3.84 wt%) and exhibit enrichment in Sr-Nd (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7048–0.7050; ℇ_Nd(t) = −1.5–+0.9) and depletion in zircon Hf isotopes (ℇ_Hf(t) = 3.8 to 7.8). Combined with their high Y (20.0–21.0 ppm) and low (La/Yb)_N (6.0 to 17.2), we conclude that they originated from the juvenile lower crust previously influenced by oceanic sediments, with the input of enriched mantle-derived materials. The biotite granodiorites display low A/CNK (0.91–0.97), 10000*Ga/Al (1.8–1.9), and Ti-in-zircon temperatures (average 711 °C), indicating that they are I-type granitoids. These rocks show enrichment in Sr-Nd isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7054 to 0.7061; ℇ_Nd(t) = −2.0 to −1.6) and many variable zircon Hf isotopes (ℇ_Hf(t) = −2.3 to +4.5). Geochemical studies indicate that they originate from the mixing of magmas derived from the enriched mantle and preexisting juvenile lower crust. All these data imply the existence of oceanic subduction in southern Beishan during the early Permian. Integrating these results with previous studies, it is inferred that the retreating subduction of the Liuyuan Ocean contributed to early Permian intermediate–felsic rocks becoming widespread in the Shibanshan unit, the southernmost part of the Beishan orogen, and also why the Paleo-Asian Ocean in southern Beishan did not close during the early Permian. Full article

Continental arc is characterized by alternant magmatic flare-ups and lulls. From the Permian to the Middle Jurassic period, two flare-ups with a lull developed in NE China, but the tectonic controls that caused the flare-ups remain unclear. Sedimentary rocks of the Heilongjiang Complex were derived from these magmatic rocks; thus, we employed detrital zircon U-Pb dating and trace elements analyses to unravel the regional tectono-magmatic evolution. Eu anomaly, (Dy/Yb)_N and Th/U ratios of the detrital zircons and Sr/Y and (La/Yb)_N of the regional granitoids together indicate the occurrence of two episodes of crustal thickening during the two flare-ups, accompanied with a westward migration of magmatism. We propose that the Permian flare-up was caused by the shallowing subduction from the east, which thickened the upper plate and enhanced the deep crustal melting. During the Middle Triassic period, the mantle wedge was expelled by the flat slab and thickened crust, leading to the magmatic lull. However, the westward subduction of the back-arc oceanic plate occurred before the lull, gradually producing the Jurassic magmatic flare-up and crustal thickening. Closure of the back-arc ocean caused by the outboard Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate subduction was important in the formation of the episodic magmatic flare-ups and crustal thickening in NE China. Full article

Greisenization is typically linked with highly fractionated granites and is often associated with hydrothermal vein systems. Late to postmagmatic metasomatic processes involve the enrichment of volatile components such as boron and halogens as well as several metallic elements. The purpose of this study is to reveal the main metasomatic effects and paragenetic sequences of the related mineralizations in Highiş granitoids, Romania. In a natural outcrop, more than 30 samples were collected from granitoids, felsic veins, and country rocks. We carried out a detailed mineralogical and petrological characterization of carefully selected samples using X-ray powder diffractometry, electron microprobe analysis, and microscopic methods together with K–Ar ages of whole rocks and K-bearing minerals. Several characteristic features of albitization, sericitization, tourmalinization, epidotization, and hematitization were recognized in the studied samples. Crystallization of quartz, K-feldspar, and magnetite represents the first stage during the magmatic-hydrothermal transition. The mineral assemblage of albite, sericite, schorl, and quartz originates from the early and main stages of greisenization. While the subsequent mineral assemblages, which predominantly include dravite, specular hematite, and epidote, are closely related to the late vein-depositing stage. We propose that the study area could belong to a boron-rich open greisen system in the apical portion of Guadalupian A-type granite. Based on a new hypothesis, the previously published Permian crystallization ages (between ~272 Ma and ~259 Ma) could be homogenized and/or partially rejuvenated during the hydrothermal mineralization processes due to uraniferous vein minerals. Additionally, the Highiș granite-related system suffered a Cretaceous thermal overprint (between ~100 Ma and ~96 Ma). The results may help to understand the evolution of highly evolved granite intrusions worldwide and improve our knowledge of the effect of hydrothermal mineralization processes on the emplacement ages. Full article

The northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust in the Paleozoic to Mesozoic is critical for the tectonic evolution of the Qinling-Tongbai-Hong’an-Dabie-Sulu-Imjingang-Gyeonggi orogenic belt. However, the Paleozoic geological fingerprint of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust subduction in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt remains obscure. In the present study, apatite from the Muniushan monzogranite in the Houkuang area was analyzed to constrain the age of metamorphism in the Jiaobei Terrane and is regarded as the response to the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust subduction in the Early Permian. Muniushan apatite with obvious negative Eu anomaly is enriched in LREE and depleted in HREE. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of apatite correspond with I-type granitoids and mafic igneous rocks, implying a magmatic origin. Igneous apatite grains have reset compositional zonation in the cathodoluminescence image. Apatites plotted on a support vector machine apatite classification biplot and Eu/Y-Ce discrimination diagram shows a tendency from the region of “mafic igneous rocks and I-type granitoids” to “low and middle metamorphic”. This evidence consistently suggests that the Muniushan apatite suffered metamorphism at a later stage. The twenty-six apatite grains from the Muniushan monzogranite yield a metamorphic age of 297 ± 8 Ma (by LA-ICP-MS U-Pb), which is different from the Muniushan zircon SHRIMP U-Pb results of 2110 ± 4 Ma, indicating the metamorphism occurred in the Early Permian and reset the U-Pb system of apatite. The Early Permian metamorphism that occurred in the Jiaobei Terrane is synchronous to the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust and is the response to the Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust subduction. Full article

Recent studies of Late Permian calc-alkaline lamprophyre dykes located in the Les Guilleries Paleozoic massif of the Catalan Coastal Range have revealed that allanite is present as the main REE-bearing accessory phase, which is the object of this study. The lamprophyre dykes are amphibole–plagioclase-dominated spessartites with a wide variety of accessory phases, including titanite, ilmenite, allanite, fluorapatite, spinel, zircon, and sulfides, and show complex alteration textures related to secondary albite, chlorite, epidote, titanite and calcite. The allanite crystal composition, analyzed by SEM-EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, evidences the solid solution between epidote and allanite with a ferriallanite component, similar to what is found in Variscan post-collisional granitoids from western Europe. However, heterogeneity in crystal shapes, sizes, type of zoning, dissolution embayment textures, growth of epidote coronas, mineral paragenesis, and the unique geochemical characteristics of allanite crystals suggest multiple crystallization events. At least two types of allanite–epidote composite grains have been identified: allanite Type I, with regular allanite–epidote core-to-rim zoning and a secondary allanite rim; and allanite Type II, with anhedral allanite cores surrounded by epidote coronas. Additionally, irregular zoning, complex dissolution textures and REE redistribution suggest the occurrence of deuteric and/or post-magmatic processes, which are also common in Variscan post-collisional plutons from the Catalan Coastal Range and nearby Paleozoic massifs. Multivariate statistical analyses of major elements in allanite–epidote composite grains show a relationship between major textural and geochemical variations for three out of ten principal components, mainly related to cationic substitutions between ferriallanite-(Ce) and epidote, but also involving Mn and Ti(REE³⁺ + Fe²⁺ + Ti⁴⁺ + Mg²⁺ + Mn²⁺ = Al³⁺ + Ca²⁺ + Fe³⁺). The allanite U-Pb-Th- weighted mean age of 265 ± 15 Ma (MSWD = 0.57) is roughly similar to the age of emplacement of the lamprophyres in the upper crust in the mid–late Permian, and coincides with the period following the main tectonometamorphic and magmatic events of the post-collisional evolution in the Catalan Coastal Range. Th/U and La/Sm ratios suggest a metamorphic origin for most allanite grains, but a combination of metamorphic processes prior to partial melting, early–late magmatic crystallization, and/or post-magmatic hydrothermal processes is the most plausible explanation to account for the diversity of allanite grains in Les Guilleries lamprophyres. Full article