Precambrian zircons in intra-oceanic arcs do not negate juvenile crustal growth

The Altaids, the largest accretionary belt in the Earth’s history, are known for its significant Phanerozoic crustal growth.However, increasing reports of Precambrian zircon grains challenge the previous definition of intra-oceanic arcs (IOAs) and the conventional understanding of excessive crustal growth in the Altaids.The Dananhu––Queershan arc complex (or Bogda arcs), situated in the Tianshan–Beishan Orogenic Belt as the southern segment of the Altaids, has been widely accepted as IOAs. This study reports a new finding of Precambrian zircon xenocrysts in the Queershan arc complex (QAC) and discusses the source of these xenocrysts based on the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the QAC.