Spatial and temporal evolution of Liassic to Paleocene arc activity in southern Peru unraveled by zircon U–Pb and Hf in-situ data on plutonic rocks

Cordilleran-type batholiths are built by prolonged arc activity along active continental margins and provide detailed magmatic records of the subduction system evolution. They complement the stratigraphic record from the associated forearcs and backarcs. We performed in-situ U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope measurements on zircon grains from a large set of plutonic rocks from the Coastal Batholith in southern Peru. This batholith emplaced into the Precambrian basement and the Mesozoic sedimentary cover. We identify two major periods of voluminous arc activity, during the Jurassic (200–175 Ma) and the Late Cretaceous–Paleocene (90–60 Ma). Jurassic arc magmatism mainly resulted in the emplacement of a dominantly mafic suite with εHf values ranging from − 9.5 to + 0.1. Published ages south of the Arequipa area suggest that the arc migrated southwestward out of the study area during the Middle Jurassic. After a magmatic gap of 85 Ma, arc activity abruptly resumed 90 Ma ago in Arequipa. Intrusive bodies emplaced into both basement and older Jurassic intrusions and strata. This activity culminated between 70 and 60 Ma with the emplacement of very large volumes of dominantly quartz–dioritic magmas. This last episode may be considered as a flare-up event, characterized by intense magmatic transfers into the crust and rapid relief creation. The Late Cretaceous–Paleocene initial εHf are shifted toward positive values (up to + 3.3 and + 2.6) compared to the Jurassic ones, indicating either a larger input of juvenile magmas, a lesser interaction with the ancient crust, or an increase of re-melting of young mantle-derived mafic lower crust. These magmatic fluxes with juvenile component are coeval with the onset of the crustal thickening at 90 Ma and represent a significant contribution to the formation of the continental crust in this area.

► We identified two 25–30 Myr long magma pulses. ► They are separated by a 85 Myr long magmatic silence. ► We evidenced an increase of juvenile addition to the crust with decreasing time. ► Batholith construction was mainly achieved during a 10 Myr long flare-up. ► Hf isotopic signatures suggest a mantle and crust origin for this flare-up.