Ordovician and Triassic mafic dykes in the Wudang terrane: Evidence for opening and closure of the South Qinling ocean basin, central China

We report zircon ages and geochemical composition for mafic dykes that intruded Neoproterozoic volcanic–sedimentary sequences in the southern part of Wudang area, South Qinling. The results indicate that the dykes were emplaced during the Early Paleozoic (c. 460 Ma) and Early Mesozoic (c. 220 Ma). The dykes share similar major element composition, but have distinctive trace element pattern and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope distribution. Early Paleozoic mafic dykes are characterized by enrichment in LREEs, LILEs and HFSEs and EM II-type isotopic features. These geochemical features suggest derivation from an OIB-type mantle source that had undergone metasomatism during earlier subduction events. The Early Mesozoic mafic dykes can be subdivided into two distinct geochemical groups. Dykes of Group 1 are depleted in LREEs, LILEs and HFSEs and show depleted isotope compositions, indicating an origin by partial melting of asthenospheric mantle material. Dykes of Group 2 have high Rb-, Ba-, and K-contents and EM I-type isotopic features, suggesting input of lower crustal material to the magma source during Mesozoic subduction. We propose that the Early Paleozoic dykes are related to the opening of an oceanic basin separating South Qinling from the Yangtze Block, while the Early Mesozoic dykes were derived from partial melting of up-welling asthenosphere during the final amalgamation of these two blocks in the Early Mesozoic. A slab break-off model could explain not only the petrogenesis of the Mesozoic mafic dykes, but also the distinct geological features between the Dabie–Sulu and South Qinling orogens. We propose that slab break-off occurred at great depth in the Dabie–Sulu orogen and hence rare magmatism occurred. Whereas in South Qinling the break-off occurred at a shallow depth, the asthenospheric mantle material could rise further up into the overlying mantle where it experienced decompression and melting. As a consequence, crustal sections were heated up to produce extensive granitic magmatism.