The early Paleozoic sedimentary–tectonic evolution of the circum-Mangar areas, Tarim block, NW China: Constraints from integrated detrital records

• Dramatic provenance-change occurred in the Late Silurian in the South Quruqtagh and Tabei areas.
• Mangar depression acted as an aulacogen.
• Mangar aulacogen was involved mainly in the Proto-Tethys tectonic realm south to the Tarim block.
• Opening of the South Tianshan back-arc oceanic basin made much sense for the extinction of the Mangar aulacogen.

The Mangar depression, located in the eastern part of the Tarim basin, had deposited extremely-thick lower Paleozoic sediments, which yields great scientific value and hydrocarbon resource potential. Due to the lack of enough outcrop and core studies, many issues, e.g., early Paleozoic geographical evolution, basin nature and tectonic affinity, are still poorly understood. In this study, we selected circum-Mangar areas (i.e., the South Quruqtagh, Tabei and Tazhong areas), and carried out comprehensive detrital provenance analysis including detrital modal analysis, heavy mineral and trace element analysis, and detrital zircon U–Pb dating on the Middle–Upper Ordovician and Silurian sandstones. The results show that Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian detrital provenances of the South Quruqtagh and Tabei areas were primarily derived from the intracontinental uplifts in Tarim. Meanwhile, Upper Silurian detrital provenances of the above two areas were mainly derived from the mix of intracontinental uplifts and continental-margin arcs. Dramatic Late Silurian provenance-change suggests the evident tectonic transition of the northern Tarim margin, which is the opening of the South Tianshan back-arc oceanic basin. Combining the previous studies, an integral redefinition model for the Mangar depression has been made. The evolution process of the Mangar depression could be divided into four stages: graben stage (late Neoproterozoic), transitional stage (Cambrian to Middle Ordovician), downwarp stage (Late Ordovician to Early Silurian) and extinction stage (Late Silurian). Hence, the Mangar depression evolved as an aulacogen. Significantly, the evolutional scenario of the Mangar aulacogen was consistent with that of the North Altyn Tagh and the North Qilian, suggesting that the Mangar aulacogen was involved mainly in the Proto-Tethys tectonic realm south to the Tarim block. However, the Late Silurian tectonic activity in the northern Tarim margin did produce massive detrital sources for northern part of the Mangar aulacogen and aggravated the extinction process of the Mangar aulacogen.