Delineating and characterizing the boundary of the Cathaysia Block and the Jiangnan orogenic belt in South China

Jinlong Yao, Liangshu Shu, Peter Anthony Cawood, Jinyi Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault zone lies along the SE margin of the Jiangnan belt, and delineates the northeastern margin of the Cathaysia Block of the South China Craton. At Shijiao in NE Zhejiang, the fault zone consists of hornblende schist intruded by migmatized quartz diorite. It constitutes a shear zone delineating the welded boundary between the Neoproterozoic Shuangxiwu Group of Jiangnan belt to the north and the Chencai Complex of Cathaysia Block to the south. The Shuangxiwu Group is composed mainly of basalt, andesite and flysch, whereas the Chencai Complex contains magmatic and sedimentary rocks that experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism. Zircons from quartz diorite and gabbro from the fault zone at Shijiao yield ages of 854 ± 6 Ma, 857 ± 5 Ma and 860 ± 5 Ma, with positive ɛHf(t) values of 7.81∼11.8 and 4.57∼10.39. The quartz diorite and mafic-ultramafic rock samples display minor LREE enriched pattern with obvious depletion of Nb, Ta, Rb, Ba and Ti, compared to their neighboring elements and plot in the volcanic arc field on geochemical diagrams, similar to that of volcanic rocks from Shuangxiwu Group. Overall relationships within the Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault zone at Shijiao suggest the ca. 860-850 Ma rock suites were generated in a convergent plate margin and are part of the Jiangnan belt, and not the Cathaysia Block, thus constraining the location of the suture between the two lithotectonic units in NE Zhejiang area during Neoproterozoic.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)265-277
JournalPrecambrian Research
Volume275
Early online date23 Jan 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

Keywords

  • Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault zone
  • Quartz diorite
  • Geochronology
  • Neoproterozoic arc suites
  • Tectonic affinity
  • South China

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