Neoproterozoic tectonic switch on the southwestern Yangtze Block: evidence from zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes and geochemistry of the A- and I-type granites

The petrogenesis and tectonic affinity of late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic magmatic records in the Yangtze Block is important to understand its tectonic evolution within the context of the Rodinia supercontinent’s reconstruction. In this paper, our new SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating results demonstrate that the Luonie granodiorites and Gonghe granites were emplaced at 1019.2 ± 5.3 Ma and 925.0 ± 4.9 Ma, respectively. The Luonie granodiorites show high HFSE and HREE contents and Ga/Al ratios, resembling A-type granites. They exhibit negative εHf(t) values (−1.6 to −3.9) with T_DM2 ages of 1980–2125 Ma, suggesting that they were derived from partial melting of pre-existing continental crust. The Gonghe granites are calc-alkaline, slightly peraluminous and have low P₂O₅ contents, which are typical features of I-type granites. Zircons from Gonghe granites possess positive εHf(t) values (+10.8 to +13.1) with T_DM2 ages of 969–1113 Ma, indicating juvenile mafic lower crust source. In conclusion, Luonie granodiorites were formed in an intra-plate rifting environment, whereas Gonghe arc-related intrusion was emplaced into an arc-setting. On the basis of these results, we propose that the rifting-related igneous rocks and subduction-related magmatism in the southwestern Yangtze Block record a tectonic transition from a continental-rifting basin in the passive plate margin to a collisional setting in an active continental margin in the early Neoproterozoic.