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Origin of the Gangdise (Transhimalaya) Permian arc in southern Tibet: Stratigraphic and volcanic geochemical constraints
Author(s) -
Geng QuanRu,
Sun ZhiMing,
Pan GuiTang,
Zhu DiCheng,
Wang LiQuan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
island arc
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.554
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1440-1738
pISSN - 1038-4871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1738.2009.00664.x
Subject(s) - geology , permian , geochemistry , volcanic rock , basalt , sedimentary rock , provenance , terrane , terrigenous sediment , gondwana , continental arc , felsic , paleontology , volcano , tectonics , structural basin
The well‐studied Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Gangdise Terrane, southern Tibet, are widely interpreted to have resulted from subduction of the Neotethys; however, Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks and their tectonic setting remain poorly studied. Based on new geological data, we carried out stratigraphical and geochemical analyses of Permian volcano‐stratigraphic sequences within an east–west‐trending, fault‐bounded zone of uplift in the central Gangdise Terrane. Sedimentary rocks in this area consist of platform carbonates and terrigenous clastic rocks that represent widespread shallow‐marine sedimentary basins developed around northern Gondwana. A regression or tectonic uplift event is recorded in Permian sedimentary rocks that show the local development of fluvial environments. The sedimentary succession contains evidence of two volcanic stages: a period of basaltic extrusions and younger explosive felsic magmatism. The first volcanic stage is Early and Middle Permian in age. Tholeiitic basaltic lavas are exposed around Maizhokunggar (Tangjia) and Lhunzhub in central Gangdise. The Lower Permian basalts are relatively enriched in MgO (4.58–12.19%), whereas the Middle Permian basalts are characterized by high Al 2 O 3 contents (11.75–21.22%). Rocks of both ages are enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and show pronounced negative Nb and Ta anomalies. Total REE contents and light (LREE)/heavy (HREE) ratios increased from the Early to Middle Permian. Observed variations in initial Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr i = 0.7013–0.7066, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb i = 15.53–15.63, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb i = 38.04–38.64 for a given 206 Pb/ 204 Pb i ; εNd = +0.69 to −11.55) can be explained by crustal interaction with mantle sources, as is characteristic of metasomatism by slab‐derived fluids or assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) processes during magmatic evolution. The observed geochemical signatures, coupled with stratigraphic constraints, support the hypothesis that an initial arc formed during the Permian due to southward subduction of the Paleotethys, predating the well‐known Mesozoic arc preserved in the Gangdise Terrane.