Zircon dating, Hf–Sr–Nd–Os isotopes and PGE geochemistry of the Tianyu sulfide-bearing mafic–ultramafic intrusion in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, NW China

The Tianyu mafic–ultramafic intrusion is one of many important sulfide-bearing mafic–ultramafic intrusions in the eastern Tianshan terrane located in the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in north Xinjiang, NW China. The origin of sulfide mineralization in these intrusions, their relationship with Permian basalts and A-type granites, and the geodynamic setting of the bimodal magmatism in the region are controversial. In this paper we use zircon U–Pb age, Hf–Sr–Nd–Os isotope and lithophile–chalcophile trace element constraints from the Tianyu mafic–ultramafic intrusion to address these important issues. The U–Pb age of zircon from the Tianyu intrusion determined by SIMS is 280 ± 2 Ma. This confirms that the Tianyu intrusion is coeval with most sulfide-bearing mafic–ultramafic intrusions and some basalts and A-type granites in the Tianshan region. Similar to coeval basalts in the nearby Tuha basin, the Tianyu intrusive rocks are characterized by negative Nb anomaly and elevated εNd values varying between − 1 and + 4.6. The negative Nb anomaly in the Tianyu intrusion is not as pronounced as in the coeval A-type granites but the εNd values for these bimodal rocks are similar. The εHf values of zircon from the Tianyu intrusion are positive, varying between 3 and 8. These values suggest that the parental magma of the Tianyu intrusion was dominated by melt derived from a depleted source mantle. The γOs values of pyrrhotite from the Tianyu intrusion are high, ranging from 725 to 995, which can be modeled by selective assimilation of sulfide from the lower and upper crusts. Negative Pt anomaly is present in relatively sulfide-rich samples such as semi-massive and massive sulfide ores but not in sulfide-poor samples, which is more consistent with the effect of post-magmatic hydrothermal alteration than the original signature of the parental magma. The results of modeling using the compositions of selected disseminated sulfide samples suggest that the parental magma of the Tianyu intrusion was depleted in all PGE, which is consistent with previous sulfide segregation at depth. Our data and modeling results support the model of decompression melting of upwelling asthenosphere due to slab break-off during a transition from oceanic subduction to arc–arc or arc–continent collision in the Permian. Decompression melting of the upwelling asthenosphere in the region produced mafic magma. Partial melting in the lower parts of a juvenile arc crust due to mafic magma underplating produced granitic melts. Mixing of the mafic magma with a small amount of granitic melts at depth followed by contamination with the upper crust at a higher level formed the parental magma of the Tianyu intrusion. PGE depletion in the parental magma of the Tianyu intrusion can be attributed to sulfide segregation associated to the first stage of crustal contamination at depth. We suggest that the formation of sulfide ores in the intrusion was related to the second stage of crustal contamination in the upper crust.

► Tianyu mafic–ultramafic intrusion is coeval with Tarim Craton Permian basalts.
► We propose the melting of upwelling asthenosphere due to slab break-off.
► Sulfide segregation due to lower crust contamination caused parental magma PGE depletion.
► Sulfide ores are related to sulfide segregation due to upper crustal contamination.
► Pt anomaly of sulfide-rich samples is due to postmagmatic hydrothermal alteration.