A Devonian to Carboniferous intra-oceanic subduction system in Western Junggar, NW China

• Published in: Lithos 2011-07, Vol.125 (1-2), p.592-606
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ji'en, Xiao, Wenjiao, Han, Chunming, Mao, Qigui, Ao, Songjian, Guo, Qianqian, Ma, Chong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Altaids; Back-arc basin; Intra-oceanic subduction; Mélange; Western Junggar
• ISSN: 0024-4937; 1872-6143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lithos.2011.03.013

The Devonian and Carboniferous rock assemblages in Western Junggar, southern Altaids, include ophiolitic mélanges and coherent units. At Baijiantan, Yeyagou and Dagun Devonian gabbros and one group of volcanic rocks (type I lava) generally crop out as blocks in a matrix of ultramafic rocks and/or mudstone. They have a depleted light rare earth element (LREE) and mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB)-like signature with a small negative Nb anomaly, suggesting formation in a back-arc basin. Another group of volcanic rocks (type II lava) from Baijiantan, Yeyagou, Western Karamay and Maliya includes alkaline basalt, basanite, andesite, dacite and trachyte that contain microphenocrysts of clinopyroxene–plagioclase, amygdales filled with chalcedony and calcite, and accessory pyrite and ilmenite. The type II lavas are further subdivided into five sub-types: (1) Type II1 lava is strongly enriched in LREE with incompatible trace element ratios similar to oceanic island basalt (OIB), suggesting derivation from enriched mantle. (2) Type II2 lava and tuff are slightly LREE-enriched, with a marked negative Nb anomaly and Th/Yb-enrichment indicating that they were generated in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ). (3) Type II3 lava is also moderately enriched in LREE suggesting derivation from a more-enriched MORB mantle. (4) Type II4 lava is enriched in LREE and has high Nb/Yb values close to those of OIB. It is extensively depleted in Nb suggesting a source containing a mixture of enriched and SSZ mantle. (5) Type II5 lava has MORB-like REE patterns, and Nb/Yb and Th/Yb ratios. Based on field structural data, and the contemporaneity of the Baogutu adakite, a high-Mg diorite dike and the Miaoergou charnockite, these enriched and depleted magmatic features suggest generation in an intra-oceanic subduction zone influenced by ridge-trench interaction. The Altaids in Western Junggar are characterized by multiple intra-oceanic subduction systems, which may have continued to operate to the late Carboniferous. [Display omitted] ► Gabbro and type I lavas with MORB and minor Nb-depletion indicate a Devonian back-arc basin. ► Type II lavas and tuff with MORB, OIB and SSZ features record a late Carboniferous ridge subduction. ► Devonian-Carboniferous intra-oceanic subduction constrains orogenic architecture of Altaids.