The evolution of the metamorphic series in the NW Fujian Province, the NE Cathaysia Block, and the significance in the reconstruction of Precambrian Supercontinents

• Main Author: Zeng, Wen
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Curtin University 2010
• Subjects: 40Ar/39Ar analyses; Rodinia Supercontinent; South China; Zircon U-Pb age; geochemistry; Caledonian orogeny; Cathaysia Block; Hf isotope; East Antarctica; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1091

This thesis focuses on the Paleoproterozoic to Late Paleozoic basement evolution of the metamorphic rocks scattered in the NW Fujian Province, the NE Cathaysia Block the southeastern area of South China. Field observation, systematic sampling and petrographic investigation combined with of whole rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb, Lu-Hf isotopes, trace elements, amphibole and biotite 40Ar/39Ar analyses and mineral chemistry study were applied in this project to determine the nature, ages and relations of the leucosomes, felsic paragneiss and mafic metamorphic rocks in study area and their implications to the reconstruction of the Precambrian Rodina Supercontinent.Following conclusions are made: 1. Based on this study, according to their metamorphism and deformation characteristics, the metamorphic rock series in the study area can be divided into two types, moderately to strongly metamorphosed rock series that experienced ductile deformation and moderately metamorphosed rock series that have experienced ductile deformations. New La-ICPMS U-Pb zircon ages presented here and in previous study suggest that the original lithostratigraphy should be abandoned and the terminology “Complex” should be used instead of “Group” and “Formation” for the high grade metamorphic rock series in northwestern Fujian, where the protoliths were strongly reworked by Early Paleozoic tectono-thermal events.2. Obvious zircon U-Pb age peaks of ~1800 Ma suggest that the protoliths ofthe Cathaysia Block be comparable to the basements of North America ratherthan those of Eastern India and East Antarctica. Although the peaks of ~1800Ma are also present in Western Australia, their 176Hf/177Hf ratios (0.280706 -0.281510) are apparently lower than those of zircons from SW Cathaysia (0.281515 - 0.282098) and from this study (0.281232 - 0.282213, NECathaysia). Besides, detrital zircons in Cathaysia and NW Yangtze indicatesignificant juvenile input during Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic according to thezircon Hf isotopes, which are distinctly different from ...