The Triassic Duobaoshan appinite-granite suite, NE China: implications
for a water-fluxed lithospheric mantle and an extensional setting
related to the subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean
Abstract
In this study, we present zircon U-Pb ages, Hf-O isotopes, and
whole-rock geochemical data for the newly identified Duobaoshan
appinite-granite suite in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt
(CAOB). Field and petrographic investigations show that this suite of
rocks is composed of hornblende gabbro, quartz monzonite, and granite
porphyry. The appinites are abnormally hornblende-rich, and contain
spectacular hornblende phenocrysts, pegmatitic textures, and miarolitic
cavity structures that indicate an anomalous water-rich origin. The
quartz monzonite and granite porphyry show intrusive contact relations
with the appinites. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) zircon dating
reveals that the Duobaoshan appinite-granite suite was emplaced in a
very short time interval of 224–223 Ma. These samples show typical
subduction related arc magmatic geochemical characteristics that are
enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare earth
elements (REEs), depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs) and
middle and heavy REEs. All samples exhibit comparative total REEs and no
significant evolutionary relationships. The appinites show high Sr/Y
ratios (reaching ~100) and positive or zero Eu
anomalies, which reveal amphibole fractionation promotion and
plagioclase fractionation suppression in a water-rich magma system. The
quartz monzonite possesses high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios that exhibit
adakite-like properties and were derived from thickened lower
continental crust. The granite porphyry is silica-rich and non-adakitic.
All samples have juvenile whole-rock initial
87Sr/86Sr ratios
(~0.7038) and ɛNd(t) values. Zircons
have depleted mantle-like ɛHf (t) (to +12.0) and
δ18O (~+5.65‰) values. Combining these
geochemical features with observations of the regional geology and
tectonic setting, we propose that the Duobaoshan appinite-granite suite
was generated under a Triassic back-arc extensional setting related to
the southward subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean. The appinites were
derived from an unusual water-rich mantle source, which was previously
metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. The quartz monzonite and granite
porphyry were generated from partial melting of the juvenile lower
continental crust triggered by coeval appinitic magma underplating.