Geochronology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of mafic and ultramafic rocks from Southern Beishan area, NW China: Implications for crust–mantle interaction

The Liuyuan mafic and ultramafic rocks are exposed in Southern Beishan, which is along the southern branch of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb dating showed that Liuyuan gabbros intruded during the early Permian (~ 270–295 Ma) coeval with the basalts and the ultramafic rocks were emplaced at about 250 Ma. The basalts are within–plate tholeiites with slight enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to heavy rare earths (HREE) and small negative anomalies of Nb and Ta. Gabbros including olivine gabbros, olivine gabbronorites and troctolites are grouped into two: the cumulate gabbros are depleted in LREE and show small negative Nb and Ta anomalies but distinct positive Sr and Eu anomalies; non–cumulate gabbros resemble tholeiitic basalts. Lamprophyres and cumulate ultramafic rocks are characterized by large enrichment of LREE relative to HREE with depletion in Nb and Ta. The enriched Sr–Nd isotopic trend from DM towards the EM II end member component implies that the lithospheric mantle was progressively enriched with depth by the involvement of subducted crustal material due to the delamination of thickened mantle lithosphere after collision. The digestion of subducted crustal material into the mantle resulting in the metasomatized and enriched mantle is inferred to be an important process during crust–mantle interaction.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights
► Liuyuan mafic and ultramafic rocks developed in post-orogenic extensional setting.
► They have continental imprints with Nb–Ta depletion and show enriched Sr–Nd trend.
► Subducted crustal material from delamination progressively enriched mantle.