Geochemistry and tectonic implications of late Mesoproterozoic alkaline bimodal volcanic rocks from the Tieshajie Group in the southeastern Yangtze Block, South China

A SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age along with geochemical and Nd–Hf isotopic results are reported for the Tieshajie volcanic rocks in the southeastern Yangtze Block, South China. The Tieshajie volcanic rocks are bimodal in composition and are dominantly transitional alkaline basalts and alkaline rhyolites, with an eruption age of 1159 ± 8 Ma. The basaltic samples have high TiO2 (2.14–3.12%) and relatively low Mg# (36–49) with variable ɛNd(t) values (−2.2 to +1.2), and display OIB-like incompatible elemental patterns, similar to many alkali basalts in continental rifts. These geochemical characteristics indicate that the primary magma of these basalts was probably derived from a moderately depleted asthenospheric mantle source and underwent fractional crystallization plus minor crustal contamination. The rhyolitic rocks are highly enriched in Th, Ta, Nb, REE, Zr, Hf and Y and depleted in Sr, P, Eu and Ti, showing affinity to A1-type granites. Combined with their slightly positive ɛNd(t) values (+1.3 to +1.6) and negative ɛHf(t) values (−2.45 to −12.7), the Tieshajie rhyolites were most likely generated by partial melting of mafic lower crust induced by basaltic underplating following asthenospheric ascent.The Tieshajie alkaline bimodal volcanic sequence is proposed to have developed within a continental rift setting on a passive continental margin. Combined with documented rift events in Yangtze Block during the late Mesoproterozoic, they may indicate onset of the amalgamation of Yangtze Block with other blocks within the Rodinia supercontinent. Integrating our data with the oldest arc-related igneous events in eastern Zhejiang, the transition of the regional tectonic regime from intracontinental rifting to interplate convergence occurred between ca. 1159 Ma and 970 Ma in the southeastern Yangtze Block.

► We identify ca. 1159 Ma alkaline bimodal volcanism in the southeastern Yangtze Block.
► The alkaline basalts were derived from the asthenosphere with minor crustal contamination.
► The alkaline rhyolites were generated by partial melting of late Paleoproterozoic mafic rocks in the lower crust.
► This typical intraplate alkaline volcanism was formed in a continental rift setting on the passive continental margin.
► The volcanism may indicate the onset of the amalgamation of Yangtze Block with other blocks within the Rodinia supercontinent.