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Geoscience ›› 2024, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (04): 1147-1161.DOI: 10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2023.074

• Ore-controlling Mechanism and Exploration Applications of Tectono-physicochemistry • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Discovery of the Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in Lahegen Area of the Eastern North Qaidam Tectonic Belt, and Its Geological Implications: Evidence from Geochemistry and Zircon Geochronology

ZHENG Ying1,2,3(), HAN Jie1,2,3(), ZHANG Xiaoyong1,2,3, GOU Mingliang1,2,3, WANG Ming1,2,3, YUAN Bowu1,2,3   

  1. 1. Qinghai Institute of Geological Survey, Xining, Qinghai 810012, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources for Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Xining, Qinghai 810012, China
    3. Remote Sensing Big Data Engineering Technology Research Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, Qinghai 810012, China
  • Online:2024-08-10 Published:2024-10-16
  • Contact: HAN Jie

Abstract:

The stratigraphic attribution of volcanic rocks in the eastern area of the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin is difficult to determine due to a lack of geochronological data.These rocks are located between the Wahongshan-Wenquan Fault and the southern margin of the Zongwulong Mountain Fault.This also leads to significant disputes over the division of geotectonic units in this area, as no Mesozoic volcanic rocks have been found here before.In this study, a set of Mesozoic volcanic rocks consisting of rhyolite, intermediate-acid brecciate lava and dacite was newly confirmed in the Lahegen area.Zircon U-Pb dating was performed on the rhyolite samples using the LA-ICP-MS technique with weighted mean age of 248.3±1.2 Ma, indicating an Early Triassic age.The geochemical data show that the volcanic rock is a metaluminous high-potassium calc-alkaline rock with clear fractionation of light rare earth elements, enrichment of light rare earth elements and depletion of heavy rare earth elements.The mean δEu value is 0.63, indicating a weak negative anomaly.The rocks are relatively enriched in large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb and Ba) and high field strength elements (e.g.,Th, U, Pb, and Zr), and are significantly depleted in Sr, Ta, and Nb.These are typical geochemical characteristics of continental island arc volcanic rocks.Zircon Hf isotope compositions show εHf(t) values of~-19.62 to-3.07 and t D M 2  values of~1,639 Ma to 2,421 Ma, indicating that the volcanic rocks are derived from the partial melting of Paleoproterozoic crustal materials.Based on geochronology and geochemical characteristics, the volcanic rocks are attributed to the anatexis of crustal materials (the Darken Daban Group) caused by the northward subduction of the Anemaqen Ocean to the East Kunlun block in the Early Triassic.The volcanic rocks of the Hongshuichuan Formation are similar to those in the magma arc of Olashan, according to the regional correlation.Therefore, these rocks are identified as Early Triassic Hongshuichuan Formation volcanic rocks.The confirmation of the studied volcanic rocks indicates that the Lahegen area has a close tectonic affinity with the Olashan magmatic arc of the East Kunlun orogenic belt.This study provides new evidence for the tectonic division of the eastern area of the northern margin of Qaidam Basin.

Key words: Lahegen area, volcanic rock, zircon U-Pb dating, Hf isotope, tectonic environment

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