High precision U–Pb zircon ages for Mesozoic igneous rocks from Hong Kong

Sixteen new high precision U–Pb zircon ages are reported from Jurassic and Early Cretaceous silicic volcanic and plutonic rocks of Hong Kong. When combined with the existing age dataset, the new ages constrain more tightly the timing of major periods of volcanism and plutonism at 162.6 ± 4.5 Ma, 146.7 ± 1.1 Ma, 143.0 ± 1.0 Ma and 140.8 ± 0.6 Ma. However, two ages of 151.9 ± 0.2 Ma and 148.1 ± 0.2 Ma, from eastern New Territories and southern Hong Kong indicate additional and therefore more continuous, albeit pulsed, magmatic activity than previously thought.

► Sixteen new high precision ID-TIMS U–Pb single crystal zircon ages are presented.
► The new ages substantiate the pulsed nature of late Early Yanshanian magmatism.
► Sporadic magmatism appears to have occurred between some major pulses.
► Major pulses surged in frequency and intensity at the close of the Early Yanshanian.