Revisiting the tectonic setting of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Chinese Tianshan and its neighboring areas

• Published in: Gondwana research 2020-08, Vol.84, p.1-19
• Main Authors: Xia, Linqi, Li, Xiangmin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Geochemistry; Large igneous province; Lithosphere contamination; Mantle plume; Rift-related volcanism
• ISSN: 1342-937X; 1878-0571
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2019.10.009

The Carboniferous–Early Permian rift-related volcanic successions, covering large areas in the Chinese Tianshan and its adjacent areas, make up an important phanerozoic large igneous province in the word, which can be further divided into two sub-provinces: Tianshan and Tarim. The Early Permian volcanic rocks have been considered to be the products of an intraplate volcanism by most researchers. However, there is still strong controversy about the nature and geological setting of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks. The regional angular unconformity of Lower Carboniferous upon basement or pre-Carboniferous rocks, the ages (360–351 Ma) of the youngest ophiolite and the peak of subduction metamorphism of high pressure-low temperature metamorphic belt and the occurrence of Ni-Cu-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusion with age of ~352 Ma and A-type granite with age of ~358 Ma reveal that the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean might take place in the Early Mississippian. Our studies reveal that although contamination by continental crust or lithosphere can impart subduction-like signature (e.g., low Nb, low Ta and low Ti) and lead to misidentification of contaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas from the Chinese Tianshan and its neighboring areas as arc related, there are still some essential differences between the Carboniferous basaltic lavas and arc related ones; such as: uncontaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas have higher Nb concentrations (9–22 ppm), Nb/La > 1, “hump-shaped” OIB-like trace element patterns and moderate positive ɛNd values that distinguish them from the arc related ones; whereas, the contaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas are characterized by pronounced negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, but, their concentrations of incompatible trace elements are conspicuously higher than those of subduction-zone basalts that also distinguishes them from the arc related ones. Our summation suggests that the Carboniferous volcanic successions did indeed erupt in an intracontinental rift setting and their generation is likely confined to mantle plume. [Display omitted] •The final closure of the Paleo–Asian Ocean might occur in the Early Mississippian.•The Tianshan Carboniferous volcanics did indeed erupt in an intracontinental rift setting.•The Tiashan–Tarim Carboniferous–Early Permian volcanics make up a large igneous province.