Late Mesozoic tectonic affinity of the Tengchong Block and southward extension of the Bangong-Nujiang Suture: constraints from Early Cretaceous granitic rocks in western Yunnan, SW China

ABSTRACT

The southward extension of the Bangong-Nujiang Suture and the late Mesozoic tectonic affinity of the Tengchong Block have been subject to debate, and the Early Cretaceous magmatism in the eastern Tengchong Block provides a crucial window to address these issues. This paper reports comprehensive petrographic, geochemical, geochronological, and isotopic data of Early Cretaceous granitic rocks from the eastern Tengchong Block. Results show that these granitic rocks consist of monzogranites and granodiorites, with zircon U-Pb ages of 120.4–113.9 Ma. These granitic rocks are characterized by enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (e.g. Rb, U, K) and light rare earth elements, but depleted in high field strength elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, P, Ti), and have negative apatite ε_Nd(t) values (−10.4 to −6.7) and negative zircon ε_Hf(t) values (−11.7 to −1.2). The molar [Al₂O₃/(CaO + K₂O + Na₂O)] (A/CNK) values and whole-rock zircon saturated temperatures of the studied monzogranites of 1.04–1.09 and 714–799°C, respectively, indicate that they have I-type granite affinity. The presence of biotite indicative of I-type granite and the observation that P₂O₅ decrease with increasing SiO₂ further indicated that the monzogranites have affinities of I-type granites. The petrography, geochemical and isotopic signatures of the studied monzogranites indicate that they originated from partial melting of mafic lower crustal rocks. The Na-rich granodiorites have elevated Na₂O/K₂O ratios and Na₂O contents of 1.19–2.04 and 3.12–3.47 wt.%, respectively. These granodiorites also have relatively high Mg^# values and the transition metal element Cr of 53.3–54.5 and up to 100 ppm, respectively. According to these isotopic and geochemical features and the occurrence of magnesiohornblende, we propose that the Na-rich granodiorites were derived from partial melting of ancient basaltic lower crust, with certain inputs of mantle materials in the magma source. Considering these results as well as published data, we finally propose that the Tengchong Block was likely the southeastern extension of the Lhasa Block and that these Early Cretaceous granitic rocks were formed in the setting of the volcanic arc due to westward subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethys oceanic lithosphere beneath the Tengchong Block.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Early Cretaceous
• the eastern Tengchong Block
• I-type granite
• Na-rich granodiorites
• Bangong-nujiang tethys ocean
• subduction

Acknowledgments

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91955205) and the Graduate Innovation Fund of Jilin University (2022101).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2023.2278183

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [91955205]; Graduate Innovation Fund of Jilin University [2022101].