Identification of ca. 2.65 Ga TTGs in the Yudongzi complex and its implications for the early evolution of the Yangtze Block

In this contribution, we carry out an integrated study of petrology, whole-rock geochemistry, as well as zircon morphology, trace element, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes for granitic gneisses and leucogranites from the Yudongzi complex, a poorly studied Archean outcrop in the northwestern Yangtze Block. The granitic gneisses have the TTG affinity characterized by relatively high Na2O/K2O and Sr/Y ratios, and fractionated REE pattern with relatively high LREE but low HREE concentrations. Zircon grains in the granitic gneisses show magmatic cores and metamorphic rims. U-Pb dating on zircon core of four granitic gneiss samples yielded their formation ages as 2660-2632 Ma with a weighted average of 2650 ± 21 Ma (MSWD = 1.6; n = 4). Their average εHf (t) values range from −0.6 to 0.5 and two-stage model ages from 3.20 to 3.10 Ga, suggesting that the granitic gneisses were likely generated by remelting of thickened Mesoarchean proto-mafic crust. The metamorphic zircon rims have relatively high Th/U ratios and identical Hf isotope compositions to their corresponding cores, indicating that the rims were formed via solid-state recrystallization process. The metamorphic zircons recorded a metamorphic event at ca. 2.5 Ga. U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopes on magmatic zircons from a leucogranite sample revealed a magmatic event at 2477 ± 18 Ma. The recognization of the 2.65 Ga TTG magmatism and the 2.48 Ga intercrustal remelting event in the Yudongzi complex demonstrates the widespread Neoarchean magmatism in the Yangtze Block. Combined with the age spectra of previous detrital zircons, we show that the Yangtze Block has experienced a major tectonothermal event in the late Archean. The Yudongzi complex has a distinct crustal evolution history compare with the Paleoarchean continent nucleus in the eastern part of the Yangtze Block, suggesting that the continent nucleus might have subjected to lateral growth by accretion processes.