Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

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Gondwana Research
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / g r

Crustal thickening prior to 38 Ma in southern Tibet: Evidence from lower

crust-derived adakitic magmatism in the Gangdese Batholith
Qi Guan a, b, Di-Cheng Zhu a,⁎, Zhi-Dan Zhao a, Guo-Chen Dong a, Liang-Liang Zhang a, Xiao-Wei Li a, c,
Min Liu a, Xuan-Xue Mo a, Yong-Sheng Liu d, Hong-Lin Yuan e
a
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
b
College of Resources, Shijiazhuang University of Economics, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
c
School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
d
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
e
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The petrogenesis and geodynamic implications of the Cenozoic adakites in southern Tibet remain topics of debate.
Received 17 March 2011 Here we report geochronological and geochemical data for host granites and mafic enclaves from Wolong in the
Received in revised form 24 June 2011 eastern Gangdese Batholith, southern Tibet. Zircon LA-ICP-MS dating indicates that the Wolong host granites and
Accepted 3 July 2011
enclaves were synchronously emplaced at ca. 38 Ma. The host granites are medium- to high-K calc-alkaline,
Available online 14 July 2011
metaluminous (A/CNK = 0.93–0.96), with high Al2O3 (15.47–17.68%), low MgO (0.67–1.18%), very low
Keywords:
abundances of compatible elements (e.g., Cr = 3.87–8.36 ppm, Ni = 3.04–5.71 ppm), and high Sr/Y ratios
Zircon U–Pb geochronology (127–217), similar to those typical of adakite. The mafic enclaves (SiO2 = 51.08–56.29%) have 3.83–5.02% MgO
Eocene adakite and an Mg# of 48–50, with negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.59–0.79). The Wolong host granites and enclaves have
Mafic enclave similar Sr–Nd isotopic compositions (initial 87Sr/86Sr= 0.7053–0.7055, εNd(t) = −2.7 to −1.4), with varying
Gangdese Batholith zircon εHf(t) values, ranging from +6.0 to +12.6. A comprehensive study of the data available for adakitic rocks
Southern Tibet from the Gangdese Batholith indicates that the Wolong adakitic host granites were derived from partial melting
of a thickened lower crust, while the parental magmas of the mafic enclaves were most likely derived from
lithospheric mantle beneath southern Tibet. The Wolong granitoids are interpreted as the result of mixing
between the thickened lower crust-derived melts and lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts, which are likely
the protracted magmatic response to the break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab at about 50 Ma. Our results
suggest that the crustal thickening in southern Tibet occurred prior to ~38 Ma, and support the general view that
the India–Asia collision must have occurred before 40 Ma.
© 2011 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction dominant view is that most Cenozoic adakitic rocks (30–10 Ma)
were derived from partial melting of lower crust in a post-collisional
As part of the Tibetan Plateau, the Lhasa Terrane is widely accepted setting (Chung et al., 2003, 2009; Guo et al., 2007; Xu et al., 2010;
as a Mesozoic Andean-type convergent margin associated with the Zhang et al., 2010a; Jiang et al., 2011). However, Gao et al. (2007,
northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere and an 2010), assuming that the India–Asia collision did not occur until the
archetype of a Cenozoic collisional orogen related to the India–Asia late Eocene (Aitchison et al., 2007), argued that these adakites
collision (Maluski et al., 1982; Xu et al., 1985; Coulon et al., 1986; Yin originated from partial melting of upper mantle that had been
and Harrison, 2000; Mo et al., 2007, 2008; Zhu et al., 2009a, 2011a; metasomatized by slab-derived melts. The Cenozoic adakites reported
Aitchison et al., 2011; Xia et al., 2011). Although Cenozoic adakites previously are mostly of Miocene ages (30–9 Ma) (cf. Chung et al.,
have been recognized in the Gangdese Batholith in the southern Lhasa 2003, 2005, 2009; Hou et al., 2004; Qu et al., 2004; Guo et al., 2007; Xu
Terrane for several years, their petrogenesis and geodynamic et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010a; Jiang et al., 2011), making them coeval
implications remain subjects of much debate. For example, the with the potassic–ultrapotassic magmatism in the Lhasa Terrane (cf.
Zhao et al., 2009) but after the waning of the Linzizong magmatism at
about 40 Ma (cf. Mo et al., 2007, 2008; Lee et al., 2009). The oldest
Cenozoic adakites reported have been considered to offer important
⁎ Corresponding author at: State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral
Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), 29# Xue-Yuan Road, Haidian
petrological evidence for the timing of both the initiation of tectonic
District, Beijing 100083, China. Tel./fax: + 86 10 8232 2094(O). collapse (ca. 26 Ma; Guo et al., 2007) and crustal thickening in
E-mail address: dchengzhu@163.com (D.-C. Zhu). southern Tibet (ca. 30 Ma; Chung et al., 2009).

1342-937X/$ – see front matter © 2011 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.gr.2011.07.004
 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99 89

Here we report zircon U–Pb geochronological and whole-rock 2011). The granitoids consist of granites and mafic (gabbroic to dioritic)
geochemical data for host granites and enclaves identified for the first enclaves (Fig. 2a and b). Ten samples, including six host rocks and four
time in the Gangdese Batholith at Wolong (Fig. 1a). Our new data mafic enclaves, were collected west of Wolong town along the main
indicate that adakitic magmatism was already active at about 38 Ma, road from Nang to Mainling. The rocks are generally fresh, without
which provides important constraints not only on the petrogenesis of visible alteration. The host rocks are coarse-grained and are composed
Cenozoic adakitic magmatism but also on the timing of crustal mainly of plagioclase (30–40%), quartz (20–25%), K-feldspar (15–20%),
thickening in southern Tibet. The potential implications of the Wolong biotite (5–15%), and amphibole (5–10%) (Fig. 2c), with accessory
granitoids for the timing of the India–Asia collision are also discussed. minerals including zircon and Fe-Ti oxides (b 1%). The mafic enclaves
exhibit fine-grained igneous texture (Fig. 2d) and contain plagioclase
(50–75%), amphibole (10–15%), and biotite (5–10%). Distinct petro-
2. Geological setting and samples graphical features are observed in the mafic enclaves, such as the
presence of K-feldspar and quartz megacrysts, typical back vein, a
The Tibetan Plateau is essentially composed of four continental quenched margin (Fig. 2a and b), and acicular apatites (Fig. 2d). Samples
blocks, or ‘terranes’. From north to south, these are the Songpan–Ganzi ML18-2 and ML18-4, a mafic enclave–host rock pair, were subjected to
flysch complex, followed by the Qiangtang, Lhasa, and finally Tethyan zircon separation for LA-ICPMS U–Pb dating.
Himalaya terranes, which are separated by the Jinsha, Bangong-Nujiang,
and Yarlung Zangbo suture zones, representatives of the Meso- and
Neo-Tethyan relicts, respectively (Yin and Harrison, 2000) (Fig. 1a). The 3. Analytical methods
Lhasa Terrane, which is recently thought to have detached from
Australian Gondwana rather than Indian Gondwana (Zhu et al., Zircons were separated from samples ML18-2 and ML18-4 using
2011b) and then drifted northward, joining with the Qiangtang Terrane standard density and magnetic separation techniques at the Special
in the Early Cretaceous (Yin and Harrison, 2000; Kapp et al., 2005), Laboratory of the Geological Team of Hebei Province, China. Cathodo-
consists primarily of Paleozoic–Paleogene sedimentary strata and luminescence (CL) images were used to check the internal structures of
associated igneous rocks (Yin and Harrison, 2000; Zhu et al., 2011a). individual zircon grains and to select positions for analysis. In situ zircon
The latter include a series of volcanic sequences (e.g., Early Jurassic U–Pb dating and trace element analysis of zircon was conducted by laser
volcanic rocks of the Yeba Formation, Zhu et al., 2008; Late Jurassic– ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at
Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Sangri Group and Zenong Group, the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources,
Zhu et al., 2006, 2011a; and the Linzizong volcanic successions, Mo et al., China University of Geosciences, Wuhan. Detailed operating conditions
2007, 2008) and voluminous Cretaceous granitoids in the central and for the laser ablation system, ICP-MS instrument and data reduction are
northern Lhasa Terrane (Zhu et al., 2009b,c, 2011a) and Gangdese described by Liu et al. (2008a, 2010a, 2010b). The common Pb correction
Batholith in the southern Lhasa Terrane (cf. Ji et al., 2009a; Zhu et al., followed the ComPbCorr#3-151 procedure (Andersen, 2002). Data
2011a). Recently, the Gangdese Batholith has been dated as Late Triassic processing was performed using Isoplot/Ex_ver3 (Ludwig, 2003). Zircon
to Miocene (~205–9 Ma; Chu et al., 2006; Wen et al., 2008b; Chung et al., trace-element and U–Pb isotope data are given in Tables 1 and 2.
2009; Ji et al., 2009a,b; Zhu et al., 2011a). Major elements were measured by XRF at the State Key Laboratory
The Wolong granitoids investigated in this study are exposed in the of Continental Dynamics (SKLCD), Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
eastern Gangdese Batholith between Nang and Mainling (Fig. 1b). They The analytical uncertainty is usually b 5%. Trace elements were
occur as apophyses within the Late Cretaceous granitoids that intruded analyzed with an Agilent 7500a ICP-MS at the State Key Laboratory
into the Meso-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks (Fig. 1b) with of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources (GPMR), China
metamorphic overprinting during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic (Wang University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China. For the detailed sample-
et al., 2008, 2009; Dong et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010d, 2011; Guo et al., digestion procedure for ICP-MS analysis, and analytical precision and

80° Qaidam 36°

a Tarim Songpan-
Ganzi
Pt2-3 b
JSSZ 0 4 km

Qiangtang 500 km
29°10' 29°10'
BNSZ
32° 32°

Lhasa Terrane
Fig. b
40 38.5
Lhasa Dagze
YZSZ 38 37.4 Ya
Yardoi rlu
N Wolong ng
to

Himalayas 43 Za
M

W E 28° to Nang ng
ai

bo
nl
in

Ri
g

S 90° ve
r
JSSZ = Jinsha Suture Zone Gangdese Batholith: Wolong
BNSZ = Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone
Eocene granitoids
YZSZ = Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone
Meso- to Neoproterozoic Late Cretaceous
Pt 2-3 Nyingchi Group granitoids

37.4
Zircon U-Pb age Age data reported
data (this study) 40 in literature
Sample localities Road 93°45'

Fig. 1. (a) Tectonic outline of the Tibetan Plateau showing the study area and the Eocene magmatic rocks reported in Dagze (Gao et al., 2008) and Wolong (this study) in the
Gangdese Batholith and Yardoi in the Tethyan Himalaya (Zeng et al., 2011). (b) Simplified geological map of the Wolong region (modified from Yin et al., 2003).
90 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

a ML18-2
b
host granite
(37.4 Ma)
K-feldspar
megacryst

back vein

ML18-4
dioritic enclave
(38.5 Ma)

200 µm 200 µm
c
(c) Ap d
Bt
Kfs
Pl
Amp
Qtz

Pl
Kfs Amp

Amp
ML18-2 ML18-4

Fig. 2. Field observations (a–b) and photomicrographs (c–d) of the Wolong granitoids. Abbreviations: Amp = amphibole; Kfs = K-feldspar; Pl = plagioclase; Ap = apatite.

Table 1
Zircon trace element data of the Wolong host granite (ML18-2) and dioritic enclave (ML18-4).

Spot La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu δEu Hf Y Ta P Ti Nb

ML18-2 01 0.02 15.8 0.03 0.75 1.87 1.10 12.5 4.34 55.7 22.5 126 30.3 352 77.5 0.70 10312 835 0.53 98 2.88 3.04
ML18-2 02 0.02 16.1 0.03 0.72 2.00 1.16 11.4 3.82 47.4 18.6 100 24.1 272 59.1 0.74 10938 686 0.50 103 2.04 2.69
ML18-2 03 0.01 21.7 0.04 0.73 2.49 1.38 15.7 4.83 64.0 24.8 136 32.5 366 78.4 0.67 9918 899 0.40 153 2.22 2.66
ML18-2 04 0.00 24.7 0.05 0.85 2.44 1.39 14.0 4.37 51.8 19.3 103 24.3 272 57.4 0.73 9616 705 0.52 129 2.42 2.83
ML18-2 05 0.00 21.9 0.05 0.72 2.15 1.19 12.6 4.02 52.3 21.7 120 29.0 330 70.9 0.70 9666 793 0.54 123 2.67 3.44
ML18-2 06 0.01 19.2 0.01 0.48 1.91 1.12 14.1 4.94 67.3 27.5 155 38.6 437 98.3 0.66 10551 1043 0.56 122 2.93 4.07
ML18-2 07 0.58 15.9 0.23 1.50 2.07 0.96 10.6 3.37 42.5 17.2 95 24.0 279 62.2 0.63 11565 648 0.53 1076 1.85 2.59
ML18-2 08 0.01 16.0 0.02 0.59 1.58 0.99 10.8 3.39 45.7 19.5 108 27.4 324 74.2 0.73 9200 726 0.23 168 2.45 2.07
ML18-2 09 0.02 28.3 0.05 1.14 3.32 1.69 17.2 5.17 59.2 22.5 117 26.9 292 63.3 0.68 10320 833 0.70 117 3.33 3.94
ML18-2 10 0.00 26.0 0.05 0.77 2.43 1.40 15.1 4.74 58.8 22.4 119 28.5 317 67.0 0.71 10179 808 0.61 114 2.03 3.48
ML18-2 11 0.01 22.0 0.02 0.84 2.08 1.17 14.1 4.80 64.9 27.0 152 37.1 418 90.9 0.66 9565 998 0.59 161 2.65 4.17
ML18-2 12 0.01 24.0 0.03 1.07 2.77 1.47 16.6 5.77 74.0 29.5 162 38.7 438 97.0 0.66 10622 1081 0.60 129 2.34 4.06
ML18-2 13 0.01 36.1 0.09 1.46 4.28 2.38 23.7 7.43 87.8 30.3 143 29.5 285 53.7 0.72 7408 986 0.42 167 5.91 2.06
ML18-2 14 0.07 21.7 0.06 0.94 2.50 1.47 13.1 4.47 54.0 20.3 109 25.6 293 60.4 0.78 10786 723 0.48 115 5.60 2.76
ML18-2 15 0.01 14.6 0.02 0.67 1.51 0.82 8.6 2.88 35.5 13.9 78 18.7 215 48.0 0.69 10962 527 0.55 95 2.33 2.11
ML18-2 16 0.00 26.7 0.06 1.22 2.74 1.47 16.7 5.15 64.4 25.2 135 32.0 357 75.2 0.66 9580 908 0.62 127 3.12 4.10
ML18-2 17 0.25 24.3 0.23 2.56 3.47 1.83 18.5 6.01 73.6 28.2 150 35.7 399 86.1 0.70 10746 1031 0.67 139 62.3 5.13
ML18-2 18 0.00 13.3 0.03 0.59 1.57 1.02 11.2 4.00 53.3 22.4 129 32.7 393 85.4 0.75 10714 842 0.30 143 2.04 2.09
ML18-4 01 1.13 34.3 0.52 3.41 3.70 1.96 16.9 5.10 60.7 22.1 122 27.0 300 60.4 0.76 9093 797 0.55 448 2.97 3.79
ML18-4 02 0.02 15.5 0.07 1.02 1.63 0.94 10.8 3.79 48.6 19.6 118 27.5 334 69.7 0.68 9909 730 0.31 215 4.03 2.12
ML18-4 03 0.06 13.3 0.11 0.86 1.30 0.87 9.2 3.33 40.9 17.2 104 24.3 289 63.1 0.77 9489 643 0.28 191 22.2 2.06
ML18-4 04 0.00 21.8 0.06 0.93 1.98 1.21 13.1 4.58 59.7 24.9 150 34.5 395 83.5 0.73 9298 921 0.42 155 3.24 3.60
ML18-4 05 0.13 23.8 0.07 1.19 2.53 1.42 13.4 4.35 52.7 19.5 109 23.8 270 57.6 0.75 9510 697 0.53 197 2.34 2.95
ML18-4 06 0.02 16.5 0.03 0.72 1.84 1.04 11.0 3.89 50.1 20.8 121 28.4 321 69.5 0.71 9318 749 0.32 174 2.70 2.52
ML18-4 07 0.01 11.9 0.03 0.38 1.22 0.74 7.6 2.90 39.4 16.8 100 23.9 282 62.3 0.74 10407 624 0.43 97 1.72 2.39
ML18-4 08 0.04 23.1 0.06 1.01 1.98 1.37 13.8 4.81 63.9 26.1 159 36.6 419 91.3 0.80 9360 995 0.58 123 2.62 4.01
ML18-4 09 0.00 19.2 0.06 0.60 2.14 1.18 13.6 4.97 68.3 28.9 176 40.9 482 106.5 0.67 10796 1088 0.68 121 1.90 4.30
ML18-4 10 0.00 15.3 0.01 0.37 1.93 0.92 10.4 3.78 51.2 20.6 125 30.0 359 78.6 0.63 9682 787 0.43 125 1.97 2.93
ML18-4 11 0.01 26.6 0.03 0.93 2.32 1.23 14.6 5.70 73.9 30.5 179 40.5 449 98.1 0.65 9388 1104 0.70 155 3.10 4.86
ML18-4 12 0.00 23.8 0.02 0.76 2.17 1.39 14.3 4.43 54.4 21.1 120 27.4 311 66.2 0.76 10261 767 0.59 99 2.79 3.40
ML18-4 13 0.22 21.6 0.08 1.16 2.10 1.16 11.2 3.92 48.9 19.4 110 25.4 285 61.9 0.73 9437 700 0.47 233 2.25 2.60
ML18-4 14 0.24 15.3 0.15 0.69 1.63 0.91 8.6 2.51 34.2 13.4 80 18.8 221 49.5 0.74 11053 524 0.42 1304 1.03 2.18
ML18-4 15 0.08 21.0 0.04 0.81 1.93 1.13 12.4 4.28 57.6 24.1 144 34.1 391 85.4 0.71 9742 912 0.42 286 2.82 3.47
ML18-4 16 0.01 21.4 0.04 0.58 2.29 1.35 12.0 4.14 49.2 19.2 111 25.3 290 62.0 0.79 10525 717 0.64 154 2.77 3.17
ML18-4 17 0.00 21.8 0.03 0.78 2.31 1.27 12.5 4.55 57.9 23.1 139 33.1 383 86.3 0.72 9078 898 0.31 164 2.49 2.61
ML18-4 18 0.01 25.4 0.03 0.63 2.47 1.24 15.0 5.38 72.1 29.6 174 40.1 455 96.2 0.70 9925 1102 0.56 179 3.59 4.49

δEu = EuN/(SmN × GdN)1/2, N is chondrite-normalized (Sun and McDonough, 1989).

 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99 91

Table 2
Zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb data of the Wolong host granite (ML18-2) and dioritic enclave (ML18-4).
207
Spot Pb Th U Th/U Pb*/206Pb* 207
Pb*/235U* 206
Pb*/238U* 208
Pb*/232Th 207
Pb*/206Pb* 207
Pb*/235U 206
Pb*/238U

ppm ppm ppm Ratio ± 1σ Ratio ± 1σ Ratio ± 1σ Ratio ± 1σ Age ± 1σ Age ± 1σ Age ± 1σ

ML18-2, granite, 17 spots (without spot 15), mean = 37.4 ± 0.1 Ma, MSWD = 1.0
1 12 359 2032 0.18 0.04663 0.00126 0.03799 0.00105 0.00591 0.00005 0.00176 0.00005 30 44 38 1.0 38 0.3
2 17 563 2921 0.19 0.04850 0.00095 0.03903 0.00077 0.00583 0.00004 0.00197 0.00015 124 34 39 0.7 38 0.2
3 14 560 2391 0.23 0.04708 0.00106 0.03773 0.00086 0.00581 0.00006 0.00200 0.00006 53 35 38 0.8 37 0.4
4 14 782 2366 0.33 0.04681 0.00102 0.03739 0.00082 0.00578 0.00004 0.00176 0.00003 40 37 37 0.8 37 0.2
5 11 494 1929 0.26 0.04657 0.00112 0.03740 0.00087 0.00583 0.00005 0.00178 0.00004 27 36 37 0.8 38 0.3
6 14 469 2414 0.19 0.04710 0.00106 0.03762 0.00086 0.00577 0.00005 0.00175 0.00005 54 38 38 0.8 37 0.3
7 17 534 2954 0.18 0.04692 0.00103 0.03749 0.00084 0.00577 0.00005 0.00187 0.00004 45 36 37 0.8 37 0.3
8 10 433 1663 0.26 0.05351 0.00232 0.04343 0.00187 0.00587 0.00007 0.00196 0.00008 351 77 43 2.0 38 0.4
9 27 1322 4467 0.30 0.04718 0.00092 0.03765 0.00075 0.00577 0.00004 0.00182 0.00003 58 34 38 0.7 37 0.3
10 14 666 2275 0.29 0.04749 0.00107 0.03780 0.00085 0.00576 0.00004 0.00174 0.00003 74 40 38 0.8 37 0.3
11 12 470 1947 0.24 0.04589 0.00124 0.03728 0.00100 0.00588 0.00004 0.00177 0.00004 −8 39 37 1.0 38 0.3
12 19 777 3196 0.24 0.04800 0.00102 0.03874 0.00078 0.00585 0.00004 0.00182 0.00004 99 35 39 0.8 38 0.3
13 2 291 352 0.83 0.04982 0.00259 0.03883 0.00192 0.00576 0.00008 0.00185 0.00006 187 89 39 2.0 37 0.5
14 13 488 2194 0.22 0.04665 0.00181 0.03752 0.00151 0.00583 0.00011 0.00221 0.00009 31 53 37 1.0 38 0.7
15 16 568 2653 0.21 0.04806 0.00136 0.03967 0.00104 0.00599 0.00005 0.00188 0.00005 102 46 40 1.0 39 0.3
16 13 900 2128 0.42 0.04863 0.00107 0.03930 0.00087 0.00585 0.00005 0.00182 0.00004 130 36 39 0.9 38 0.3
17 18 677 3013 0.22 0.04640 0.00103 0.03734 0.00089 0.00582 0.00005 0.00177 0.00004 18 34 37 0.9 37 0.3
18 14 416 2440 0.17 0.04814 0.00155 0.03798 0.00136 0.00579 0.00016 0.00176 0.00006 106 40 38 1.0 37 1.0

ML18-4, syenodiorite, 17 spots (without spot 10), mean = 38.5 ± 0.3 Ma, MSWD = 2.3
1 18 1159 2867 0.40 0.04726 0.00132 0.03721 0.00103 0.00570 0.00006 0.00176 0.00004 62 45 37 1.0 37 0.4
2 9 348 1476 0.24 0.04656 0.00237 0.03696 0.00194 0.00575 0.00010 0.00187 0.00008 27 80 37 2.0 37 0.7
3 9 320 1461 0.22 0.04729 0.00218 0.04008 0.00177 0.00618 0.00009 0.00185 0.00009 64 71 40 2.0 40 0.6
4 11 431 1757 0.25 0.04714 0.00164 0.03836 0.00129 0.00594 0.00006 0.00188 0.00006 57 56 38 1.0 38 0.4
5 13 676 2117 0.32 0.04389 0.00136 0.03604 0.00112 0.00596 0.00006 0.00192 0.00005 − 76 49 36 1.0 38 0.4
6 10 369 1532 0.24 0.04658 0.00165 0.03882 0.00140 0.00604 0.00007 0.00207 0.00007 28 56 39 1.0 39 0.5
7 8 271 1306 0.21 0.04617 0.00199 0.03816 0.00160 0.00600 0.00007 0.00194 0.00008 7 66 38 2.0 39 0.4
8 12 478 1903 0.25 0.04707 0.00208 0.03778 0.00155 0.00586 0.00007 0.00192 0.00008 53 68 38 2.0 38 0.4
9 16 566 2901 0.20 0.04640 0.00143 0.03792 0.00128 0.00604 0.00020 0.00188 0.00005 18 32 38 1.0 39 1.0
10 11 392 1829 0.21 0.04074 0.00256 0.03374 0.00215 0.00599 0.00008 0.00206 0.00008 − 247 118 34 2.0 39 0.5
11 13 570 2129 0.27 0.04573 0.00184 0.03827 0.00154 0.00604 0.00006 0.00200 0.00009 − 16 66 38 2.0 39 0.4
12 17 777 2706 0.29 0.04578 0.00129 0.03813 0.00107 0.00604 0.00006 0.00201 0.00005 − 14 38 38 1.0 39 0.4
13 11 492 1802 0.27 0.04584 0.00145 0.03869 0.00122 0.00612 0.00006 0.00203 0.00006 − 10 46 39 1.0 39 0.4
14 17 655 2751 0.24 0.04668 0.00160 0.03914 0.00123 0.00610 0.00007 0.00213 0.00007 33 48 39 1.0 39 0.4
15 12 491 2018 0.24 0.04674 0.00136 0.03833 0.00113 0.00593 0.00005 0.00199 0.00005 36 47 38 1.0 38 0.3
16 18 835 2932 0.28 0.04687 0.00111 0.03873 0.00093 0.00598 0.00005 0.00194 0.00005 42 38 39 0.9 38 0.3
17 12 579 1875 0.31 0.04581 0.00142 0.03796 0.00116 0.00602 0.00006 0.00181 0.00005 − 12 42 38 1.0 39 0.4
18 13 577 2192 0.26 0.04931 0.00157 0.03904 0.00121 0.00576 0.00007 0.00192 0.00006 163 50 39 1.0 37 0.5

*Radiogenic lead, isotopic ratios and ages were corrected by common lead, following the methods reported by Andersen (2002).

accuracy, see Liu et al. (2008b). Whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopic ratios 4. Results
were measured by a Triton thermal ionization mass spectrometer at
GPMR. Sr and Nd isotopic fractionations were normalized to 4.1. Zircon U–Pb geochronology
86
Sr/ 88Sr = 0.1194 and 146Nd/ 144Nd = 0.7219, respectively. During
analysis, NBS987 and La Jolla standards yielded 87Sr/ 86Sr = 0.71025 ± Zircons in both the host rocks and the enclaves are mostly subhedral
4 (2σ) and 143Nd/ 144Nd = 0.511853 ± 9 (2σ), respectively; the BCR-2 to euhedral, with crystal lengths of 50–200 μm and length-to-width
standard gave 143Nd/ 144Nd = 0.512638 ± 5 (2σ). For details of the Sr ratios from 1:1 to 2:1. Most zircons are transparent, colorless to slightly
and Nd isotopic analytical procedures, see Zhang et al. (2002). Whole- brown. CL images of zircon exhibit oscillatory magmatic growth-zoning
rock major, trace-element, and Sr and Nd isotopic data are listed in (Fig. 3a and b). Zircons from both the host granite (Fig. 3c) and the
Table 3. dioritic enclave (Fig. 3d) exhibit fractionated REE patterns of HREE
In situ Hf isotope measurements were subsequently performed on enrichment and LREE depletion, with strong positive Ce (Fig. 3c and d)
the dated spots using LA-MC-ICPMS at SKLCD. The laser spot was 44 μm and insignificant negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.63–0.80; Table 1).
in diameter. Helium was used as the carrier gas transporting the ablated These features, together with Th/U ratios N 0.1 (Table 2), indicate that
sample from the ablation cell to the ICP-MS torch. Zircon 91500, GJ-1 the analyzed zircons are magmatic in origin (Hoskin and Schaltegger,
and Monastery were used as reference standards. The analytical 2003).
procedures are described in Yuan et al. (2008). The decay constant Seventeen analyses from the host rock (ML18-2) yield concordant
used for 176Lu was 1.867 × 10− 11 year− 1 (Söderlund et al., 2004). Initial zircon 206Pb/ 238U ages ranging from 37.0 ± 0.6 Ma to 38.5 ± 0.6 Ma,
176
Hf/177Hf was calculated according to the 206Pb/238U age, and the with a weighted mean of 37.4 ± 0.2 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 1.0) (Fig. 3e).
value of εHf(t) was calculated relative to the chondritic reservoir, which Seventeen analyses from the enclave (ML18-4) give concordant
has a 176Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.282772 and 176Lu/177Hf of 0.0332 (Blichert- zircon 206Pb/ 238U ages ranging from 36.7 ± 0.8 Ma to 39.3 ± 0.8 Ma,
Toft and Albarède, 1997). Hf model ages (TDM) were calculated relative with a weighted mean of 38.5 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 2.3; Fig. 3f). We
to the depleted mantle, which has a 176Hf/ 177Hf ratio of 0.283250 and interpret these two ages as the timing of zircon crystallization and
176
Lu/177Hf of 0.0384 (Griffin et al., 2000). Zircon Hf isotope data are thus the emplacement timing of the host granite and dioritic enclave,
listed in Table 4. respectively.
92 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

Table 3
Whole-rock major, trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic data of the Wolong host granites and mafic enclaves.

Sample ML18-1 ML18-2 ML18-3 ML18-4 ML18-5 ML18-6 ML18-7 ML18-8 ML18-9 ML18-10

Rock type gabbro granite granodiorite syenodiorite syenodiorite syenite granodiorite syenite granite granodiorite

XRF — major element(wt.%)

SiO2 51.08 71.03 66.59 54.80 56.29 55.97 66.35 65.26 68.07 65.91
TiO2 0.82 0.12 0.33 0.79 0.74 0.56 0.32 0.26 0.27 0.34
Al2O3 16.50 15.47 16.74 17.24 16.76 15.71 16.92 17.68 16.45 17.08
TFe2O3 10.42 1.75 3.07 8.56 8.19 7.73 3.24 2.75 2.53 3.28
MnO 0.26 0.04 0.06 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.06
MgO 5.02 0.67 1.12 4.35 3.83 3.91 1.18 1.03 0.89 1.18
CaO 6.69 2.51 3.46 5.14 5.49 4.51 3.39 2.85 3.06 3.33
Na2O 4.55 4.93 5.50 4.96 4.80 2.85 5.46 5.08 5.53 5.43
K2O 2.44 3.22 2.41 2.53 2.36 6.89 2.63 4.54 2.84 3.01
P2O5 0.79 0.09 0.17 0.46 0.70 0.44 0.18 0.16 0.17 0.19
LOI 1.21 0.45 0.63 0.91 1.00 0.77 0.63 0.44 0.38 0.48
Total 99.78 100.28 100.08 99.91 100.34 99.53 100.36 100.10 100.24 100.29
Mg# 49.07 43.37 42.18 50.41 48.33 50.29 42.14 42.83 41.30 41.84

ICP-MS — trace element (ppm)

Be 4.91 1.85 2.51 3.53 3.43 2.06 2.15 1.99 2.25 2.28
Sc 21.6 2.65 4.36 10.6 13.2 15.5 4.53 3.88 3.50 4.43
V 184 33.5 59.6 152 144 145 59.1 53.2 47.6 63.9
Cr 85.2 3.87 6.21 97.3 66.0 61.7 7.14 5.94 8.36 7.06
Co 24.5 3.56 6.07 20.9 19.1 17.7 6.23 5.56 4.83 6.38
Ni 27.5 3.04 5.09 95.8 26.1 20.7 5.71 4.97 4.86 5.62
Cu 169 10.3 19.5 23.6 54.0 22.2 13.8 17.1 21.7 19.5
Zn 206 34.3 55.0 165 154 146 56.6 50.8 44.8 59.4
Ga 30.45 16.86 19.69 25.81 25.64 20.30 19.18 19.02 18.58 20.13
Rb 143 82.1 72.2 154 139 212 75.2 110 79.0 85.4
Sr 675 961 1106 859 944 868 1203 1309 1212 1223
Y 16.7 4.43 8.42 6.97 13.0 14.1 8.16 7.87 8.09 9.59
Zr 291 89.4 127 113 243 166 132 133 137 157
Nb 12.2 4.71 8.87 6.45 9.66 9.62 7.54 7.62 7.99 9.56
Sn 2.38 0.49 0.86 1.38 1.64 1.95 0.80 0.76 0.76 0.89
Cs 8.73 2.00 2.11 10.7 12.4 5.28 1.99 2.59 2.34 2.63
Ba 370 1094 811 503 545 2801 1027 3120 1344 1441
La 139 24.7 43.7 49.7 128 72.9 46.8 51.8 43.2 54.6
Ce 239 43.7 78.7 88.7 217 130 82.6 91.6 77.6 95.7
Pr 25.7 4.89 8.83 9.62 23.4 14.9 9.31 10.1 8.77 10.8
Nd 83.2 16.6 30.5 32.2 75.5 52.5 32.1 34.4 30.7 37.5
Sm 10.7 2.46 4.79 4.31 9.42 7.93 4.82 4.95 4.70 5.68
Eu 1.76 0.72 1.14 0.78 1.57 1.81 1.17 1.50 1.20 1.38
Gd 6.94 1.64 3.21 2.90 5.97 5.60 3.20 3.25 3.13 3.79
Tb 0.74 0.20 0.38 0.32 0.63 0.67 0.39 0.38 0.38 0.45
Dy 3.20 0.91 1.76 1.39 2.63 2.99 1.68 1.61 1.72 2.04
Ho 0.58 0.15 0.32 0.25 0.47 0.53 0.31 0.30 0.30 0.34
Er 1.58 0.42 0.78 0.65 1.21 1.34 0.77 0.75 0.75 0.91
Tm 0.24 0.07 0.12 0.10 0.20 0.22 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.14
Yb 1.53 0.39 0.74 0.62 1.10 1.22 0.67 0.66 0.70 0.84
Lu 0.27 0.06 0.11 0.11 0.20 0.18 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.12
Hf 8.12 2.51 3.42 2.92 6.29 4.37 3.34 3.32 3.52 4.07
Ta 0.52 0.29 0.52 0.14 0.37 0.51 0.46 0.46 0.50 0.59
Pb 37.1 43.1 41.1 33.2 32.8 66.0 41.1 53.4 44.2 46.3
Th 73.4 14.3 24.8 23.1 68.6 36.2 25.9 30.1 26.3 30.8
U 7.50 2.33 4.01 2.05 5.99 4.21 2.68 3.16 3.99 3.41
87
Rb/86Sr 0.6298 0.1945 0.5355 0.4404 0.7279 0.1864 0.2081
87 86
Sr/ Sr 0.705717 0.705458 0.705600 0.705729 0.705779 0.705581 0.705593
± 2σ 0.000006 0.000004 0.000006 0.000006 0.000006 0.000006 0.000007
(87Sr/86Sr)i 0.70538 0.70535 0.70531 0.70549 0.70539 0.70548 0.70548
147
Sm/144Nd 0.0776 0.0950 0.0811 0.0754 0.0913 0.0907 0.0917
143
Nd/144Nd 0.512473 0.512529 0.512538 0.512468 0.512520 0.512511 0.512495
± 2σ 0.000002 0.000005 0.000001 0.000002 0.000006 0.000005 0.000005
143 144
( Nd/ Nd)i 0.51245 0.51251 0.51252 0.51245 0.51250 0.51249 0.51247
εNd(t) − 2.6 − 1.6 − 1.4 − 2.7 − 1.8 − 2.0 − 2.3
tDM(Ga) 0.76 0.80 0.70 0.75 0.79 0.79 0.82

LOI = loss on ignition. Mg# = 100 × molar Mg2+ / (Mg2+ + TFe2+), calculated by assuming TFeO= 0.9 × TFe2O3. Corrected formula as follows:
( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i = ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) sample – 87 Rb/ 86 Sr (e λt — 1), λ = 1.42 × 10 − 11 a − 1 ; ( 143 Nd/ 144 Nd) i = ( 143 Nd/ 144 Nd) sample – ( 147 Sm/ 144 Nd) sample × (e λt — 1); ε Nd (t) =
[(143Nd/144Nd)sample/(143Nd/144Nd)CHUR(t) − 1] × 104; (143Nd/144Nd)CHUR(t) = 0.512638–0.1967× (eλt — 1); TDM = 1/λ× ln{1+ [((143Nd/144Nd)sample − 0.51315)/((147Sm/144Nd)sample
− 0.21317)]}, λSm-Nd = 6.54× 10− 12 a− 1.

4.2. Whole-rock geochemistry Mg# of 41–43. They are medium- to high-K calc-alkaline metaluminous
rocks (Fig. 4b and c). The enclaves are gabbroic to dioritic, with SiO2 of
The host rocks belong to the granodiorite–granite–syenite suite in 51.08–56.29% (Fig. 4a). These rocks are characterized by high MgO
composition (Fig. 4a), with SiO2 of 65.26–71.03%, Al2O3 of 15.47–17.68%, (3.83–5.02%) and Mg # (48–50) relative to the host rocks, and one is
Na2O of 4.93–5.53%, Na2O/K2O of 1.1–2.3, and MgO of 0.67–1.18%, with particularly enriched in K2O (up to 6.89%; Table 3).
 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99 93

Table 4
Zircon Hf isotopic compositions of the Wolong host granite (ML18-2) and the dioritic enclave (ML18-4).
176
No. Age (Ma) Yb/177Hf 176
Lu/177Hf 176
Hf/177Hf 2σ 176
Hf/177Hft εHf(0) εHf(t) TDM (Ma) TDMC (Ma) fLu/Hf

ML18-2, host granite, 37.4 ± 0.1 Ma, εHf(t) = + 6.0 to + 12.6 (17 analyses)
1 38 0.021510 0.001077 0.282923 0.000036 0.282922 5.3 6.1 467 723 − 0.97
2 37.5 0.016491 0.000815 0.283037 0.000031 0.283037 9.4 10.2 302 462 − 0.98
3 37.3 0.023248 0.001128 0.282919 0.000037 0.282919 5.2 6.0 473 731 − 0.97
4 37.1 0.023157 0.001116 0.283017 0.000037 0.283016 8.7 9.5 334 510 − 0.97
5 37.5 0.019985 0.000934 0.282997 0.000038 0.282996 7.9 8.7 361 556 − 0.97
6 37.1 0.026155 0.001279 0.283032 0.000033 0.283031 9.2 10.0 313 475 − 0.96
7 37.1 0.015334 0.000741 0.283059 0.000032 0.283059 10.2 11.0 271 413 − 0.98
8 37 0.028321 0.001363 0.283040 0.000033 0.283039 9.5 10.3 303 458 − 0.96
9 37.1 0.020488 0.000958 0.283012 0.000032 0.283012 8.5 9.3 339 520 − 0.97
10 37.7 0.019080 0.000923 0.282977 0.000033 0.282976 7.2 8.1 389 600 − 0.97
11 37.8 0.025477 0.001219 0.283029 0.000039 0.283028 9.1 9.9 317 482 − 0.96
12 37.6 0.024706 0.001195 0.283099 0.000031 0.283098 11.6 12.4 217 322 − 0.96
13 37 0.024945 0.001033 0.283106 0.000041 0.283106 11.8 12.6 206 306 − 0.97
14 37.5 0.018320 0.000872 0.283103 0.000032 0.283102 11.7 12.5 210 313 − 0.97
15 37.6 0.022080 0.001033 0.283055 0.000035 0.283054 10.0 10.8 279 422 − 0.97
16 37.4 0.025174 0.001234 0.283096 0.000033 0.283095 11.5 12.2 222 330 − 0.96
17 37 0.021099 0.000979 0.282990 0.000039 0.282990 7.7 8.5 370 570 − 0.97

ML18-4, syenodiorite enclave, 38.5 ± 0.3 Ma, εHf(t) = + 6.5 to + 10.5 (16 analyses)
1 36.7 0.014399 0.000706 0.283045 0.000061 0.283044 9.6 10.4 291 446 − 0.98
2 36.9 0.022037 0.001068 0.283042 0.000047 0.283042 9.6 10.3 297 452 − 0.97
3 39.7 0.020453 0.001011 0.283046 0.000037 0.283046 9.7 10.5 291 441 − 0.97
4 38.2 0.026366 0.001256 0.283016 0.000052 0.283015 8.6 9.4 337 512 − 0.96
5 38.3 0.025093 0.001209 0.283038 0.000044 0.283037 9.4 10.2 305 462 − 0.96
6 38.8 0.023151 0.001131 0.282965 0.000048 0.282964 6.8 7.7 408 626 − 0.97
7 38.6 0.015362 0.000771 0.282969 0.000045 0.282969 7.0 7.8 398 617 − 0.98
8 37.7 0.029257 0.001422 0.282937 0.000070 0.282936 5.8 6.6 452 692 − 0.96
9 39 0.025843 0.001285 0.283018 0.000062 0.283017 8.7 9.5 334 507 − 0.96
10 38.8 0.028656 0.001411 0.283017 0.000061 0.283016 8.7 9.5 336 509 − 0.96
11 38.8 0.020962 0.001028 0.282990 0.000057 0.282989 7.7 8.5 372 570 − 0.97
12 39.3 0.025926 0.001281 0.282980 0.000054 0.282979 7.4 8.2 388 593 − 0.96
13 38.1 0.025037 0.001232 0.282964 0.000040 0.282963 6.8 7.6 411 631 − 0.96
14 38.4 0.020551 0.001006 0.282985 0.000047 0.282984 7.5 8.3 379 582 − 0.97
15 38.7 0.032136 0.001541 0.283013 0.000042 0.283012 8.5 9.3 343 518 − 0.95
16 37 0.022555 0.001103 0.282933 0.000057 0.282932 5.7 6.5 453 701 − 0.97

εHf(t) = 10000 × {[(176Hf/177Hf)S – (176Lu/177Hf)S × (eλt – 1)]/[(176Hf/177Hf)CHUR,0 – (176Lu/177Hf)CHUR × (eλt – 1)] – 1}. TDM = 1/λ × ln{1 + [(176Hf/177Hf)S – (176Hf/177Hf)DM]/[(176Lu/177Hf)S –
(176Lu/177Hf)DM]}. TDMC = TDM – (TDM – t)× [(fcc – fs)/(fcc – fDM)]. fLu/Hf = (176Lu/177Hf)S/(176Lu/177Hf)CHUR – 1.
Where, λ= 1.867×10− 11/a (Söderlund et al., 2004); (176Lu/177Hf)S and (176Hf/177Hf)S are the measured values of the samples; (176Lu/177Hf)CHUR =0.0332, (176Hf/177Hf)CHUR,0 = 0.282772
(Blichert-Toft and Albarède, 1997); (176Lu/177Hf)DM =0.0384, (176Hf/177Hf)DM =0.28325 (Griffin et al., 2000); (176Lu/177Hf)mean crust =0.015; fcc = [(176Lu/177Hf)mean crust/(176Lu/177Hf)CHUR] –
1; fs = fLu/Hf; fDM = [(176Lu/177Hf)DM/(176Lu/177Hf)CHUR] – 1; t =crystallization time of zircon.

The host granites have low concentrations of heavy rare earth 5. Discussion
elements (HREE) and Y (e.g., Yb = 0.39–0.85 ppm, Y = 4.4–9.6 ppm)
(Table 3). These characteristics, together with high Sr abundance 5.1. Adakitic magmatism in the Gangdese Batholith through time
(961–1309 ppm) and Sr/Y ratios (127–217), allow classification of the
host granites as adakites, as defined by Defant and Drummond (1990) Existing studies indicate that adakitic rocks with a broad age
(Fig. 5a). The mafic enclaves exhibit negative Eu anomalies range (136–9 Ma) are common in the Gangdese Batholith (cf. Chung
(δEu = 0.59–0.79), which are unclear (and certainly less extreme) in et al., 2003, 2005, 2009; Hou et al., 2004; Qu et al., 2004; Guo et al.,
the host granites (δEu = 0.84–1.07) (Fig. 6a). Both the host granites 2007; Zhu et al., 2009a; Guan et al., 2010; Xu et al., 2010; Zhang et al.,
and the mafic enclaves show strong enrichment in large-ion lithophile 2010a, 2010c; Jiang et al., 2011). These rocks document tectonomag-
elements (LILE) relative to high-field-strength elements (HFSE), matic events in response to the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan
pronounced negative Nb-Ta, and positive Pb anomalies in primitive- oceanic slab, continent–continent collision, and post-collision tec-
mantle-normalized incompatible element patterns (Fig. 6b). tonics. For example, the Early Cretaceous adakitic rocks (ca. 137 Ma)
Initial 87Sr/ 86Sr and εNd(t) values are calculated at 38 Ma. The host are most likely derived from partial melting of the subducting Neo-
granites have initial 87Sr/ 86Sr values of 0.7054–0.7055 and εNd(t) Tethyan slab, and subsequent reaction with peridotite in the mantle
values of −2.3 to − 1.6 (Table 3). Similar Sr–Nd isotopic compositions wedge (Zhu et al., 2009a), which have recently been interpreted as
are also observed in the mafic enclaves, which exhibit initial 87Sr/ 86Sr documenting the magmatic response to the initiation of northward
values of 0.7053–0.7055 and εNd(t) values of −2.7 to − 1.4 (Fig. 7). subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab (Zhu et al., 2011a). The
Late Cretaceous adakitic rocks (100–80 Ma) have been interpreted as
4.3. Zircon Hf isotope data being derived from partial melting of a newly underplated mafic
lower crust during low-angle northward subduction of the Neo-
Seventeen Hf isotope analyses from the host granite (ML18-2) yield Tethyan ocean slab (Wen et al., 2008a, 2008b), or from partial
176
Hf/177Hf ratios of 0.282919 to 0.283106, corresponding to εHf(t) melting of a subducted ocean slab during subduction of the Neo-
values ranging from +6.0 to +12.6 (Table 4). Sixteen analyses of Tethyan mid-ocean ridge (Guan et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010c).
zircons from the dioritic enclave (ML18-4) have 176Hf/177Hf ratios of Chung et al. (2003) first reported the presence of the Miocene
0.282933 to 0.283046, corresponding to εHf(t) values of +6.5 to +10.5 adakitic rocks (26–10 Ma) in the southern Lhasa Terrane. These rocks
(Table 4; Fig. 8). have variously been attributed to: (i) partial melting of a thickened
94 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

37.1 ± 0.4
a 38.0 ± 0.6 10.2
6.0 37.5 ± 0.6
37.1 ± 0.6 b10.4 7.7
37.3 ± 0.8 10.0 10.5 10.2
6.5 10.3 9.4
9.5 8.7 36.7 ± 0.4
37.5 ± 0.4 38.3 ± 0.4
36.9 ± 0.7 39.7 ± 0.638.2 ± 0.4 38.8 ± 0.5
37.1 ± 0.6 37.8 ± 0.6
10.3 9.5
8.1 7.8
9.3 9.5 8.5
6.6
37.7 ± 0.8 37.6 ± 0.6
11.0 37.0 ± 0.6 37.7 ± 0.4 38.8 ± 0.4
9.9
38.6 ± 0.4 38.8 ± 0.4 8.2
12.4
37.1 ± 0.6 12.6 12.2 39.0 ± 1.0
10.8 6.5
37.5 ± 1.4 39.3 ± 0.4

12.5 37.6 ± 0.6 7.6 8.3 37.0 ± 0.5

8.5 39.2 ± 0.4 9.3
100 100 m
37.0 ± 1.0 37.4 ± 0.6 37.0 ± 2.0 38.1 ± 0.3 38.4 ± 0.3 38.7 ± 0.4

10000 10000
c d
1000 1000
Samples/Chondrite

Samples/Chondrite
100 100

10 10

1 ML18-2 1 ML18-4

0.1 Host granite (37 Ma) 0.1 Dioritic enclave (38 Ma)
0.01 0.01

0.001 0.001
La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

0.0062 e 40 0.0066 f 42
Host granite 39 Dioritic enclave 41
0.0064
(ML18-2) (ML18-4)
0.0060 40
/ 238U

/ 238U

38 0.0062
39
0.0058 0.0060
206Pb

37
206Pb

38

0.0058 37
0.0056 36
Mean = 37.4 ± 0.2 Ma 0.0056 36
Mean = 38.5 ± 0.3 Ma
35 MSWD = 1.0, n = 17 MSWD = 2.3, n = 17
0.0054
0.0054
0.030 0.034 0.038 0.042 0.046 0.050 0.030 0.034 0.038 0.042 0.046
207Pb / 235U 207Pb / 235U

Fig. 3. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images (a–b), chondrite-normalized REE patterns (c–d), and concordia diagrams (e–f) for zircons from the Wolong granitoid samples. Solid and
dashed circles indicate the locations of LA-ICP-MS U–Pb analyses and Hf-isotope analyses, respectively. Zircon U–Pb ages and εHf(t) values are given for each analyses.

mafic lower crust in a continent–continent collisional zone in exploring the origin and generation of the Wolong granitoids
response to convective removal of thickened lithosphere (cf. Chung reported here.
et al., 2003, 2005, 2009; Hou et al., 2004); (ii) partial melting of
subduction-modified lower crust in response to extensional collapse 5.2. Generation of the Wolong granitoids
in the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau (Guo et al., 2007); and (iii)
partial melting of the mafic lower crust of the Indian continent (Xu et 5.2.1. Host granites
al., 2010; Jiang et al., 2011). Following Aitchison et al. (2007), Gao et As shown in Fig. 6a and b, the abundances of trace elements in the
al. (2007, 2010) argued that the Indian continent may have collided mafic enclaves are higher than those of the host granites. This
with Eurasia in the late Eocene, and thus proposed that the Miocene difference suggests that the host granitic melts cannot be derived
adakites in the Gangdese Batholith were generated by partial melting from the mafic melts through fractional crystallization but must
of an upper mantle source metasomatized by slab-derived melts instead have been derived from a different source. In fact, several lines
during Neo-Tethyan subduction. However, we consider this possi- of evidence indicate that the Wolong adakitic host granites are most
bility unlikely because numerous lines of evidence indicate that the likely derived from partial melting of thickened lower crust:
India–Asia collision occurred in the early Cenozoic (see below). The
adakitic rocks (136–9 Ma) identified in the Gangdese Batholith can (1) Compared to the adakitic rocks derived from partial melting of
be classified as either related to subduction of the Neo-Tethyan slab, the subducting oceanic crust, the Wolong host granites are
or derived from the lower crust. Subduction-related rocks are relatively silica-rich and potassium-rich (Fig. 4b), with lower A/
identified as geochemically distinct from lower-crust-derived rocks NK ratios, similar to those of lower-crust-derived adakitic rocks
by their low K2O (Fig. 4b), high A/NK [= molar Al2O3/ (Na2O + K2O)] (Fig. 4c).
(Fig. 4c), high Mg # (Fig. 4d), and high abundances of compatible (2) The MgO contents (0.67–1.18%) and Mg # (41–43) of the
elements (Fig. 9a and b). Such differences provide important clues for Wolong adakitic host granites differ significantly from the
 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99 95

Host granites Mafic enclaves 137 Ma adakites ca. 90 Ma adakites 80 Ma adakites 30 Ma adakites 26-10 Ma adakites

16 9
a 8
Lower crust-derived b
14 nepheline adakites
Alkalic syenite
7 Shoshonite
12
Na2O+K2O(wt.%) syenite
syenite 6

K2O(wt.%)
10
alkali granite 5
syenite-diorite High-K
8 Subduction-related
granite adakites
ijolite quartz 4
gabbro
6 diorite
(granodiorite)
3
gabbro diorite
4 2 Medium-K
gabbro
2 Sub-Alkalic 1 Low-K
0 0
40 50 60 70 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
SiO2(wt.%) SiO2 (wt.%)

3.0 80
c Subduction-related Mantle
Subduction-related
adakites d
2.6 adakites 70 melts

Peraluminous
2.2 60

Cru
sta
A/NK

Mg#

l AF
1.8 50

C
1.4 40
Linzizong
volcanics
Metaluminous
1.0 30
Lower crust-derived adakites Lower crust-derived adakites
0.6 20
0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
A/CNK SiO2 (wt.%)

Fig. 4. Selected major-element plots for the Wolong granitoids. (a) Total alkalis vs. silica diagram (Wilson, 1989); (b) K2O vs. SiO2 diagram (Rollinson, 1993); (c) A/NK vs. A/CNK
diagram (Maniar and Piccoli, 1989); (d) Mg# vs. SiO2 diagram. Data sources: 137 Ma adakites (Zhu et al., 2009a); 90 Ma adakites (Zhang et al., 2010c); 80 Ma adakites (Wen et al.,
2008a; Guan et al., 2010); 30 Ma adakites (Jiang et al., 2011); 26–10 Ma adakites (Chung et al., 2003; Hou et al., 2004; Guo et al., 2007; Gao et al., 2010; Xu et al., 2010; Zhang et al.,
2010a); field of Linzizong volcanic succession (LVS) (Mo et al., 2007, 2008); crustal AFC (Stern and Kilian, 1996).

subduction-related adakitic rocks but are comparable to those slab. The discernable concave-upward Dy–Ho–Er–Tm-depleted
of the lower-crust-derived adakitic rocks (Fig. 4d). This patterns (Fig. 6a) observed in the Wolong host granites indicate
difference is also supported by the very low abundances of that they were most likely generated by partial melting of
compatible elements (Cr = 3.87–8.36 ppm, Ni = 3.04– basaltic lower crust under variable water fugacity, leaving a
5.71 ppm), significantly lower than those of the subduction- garnet-bearing, amphibole-rich residue (Fig. 5b) (Petford and
related adakitic rocks (Fig. 9). All these features indicate that Atherton, 1996; Zhu et al., 2008).
the Wolong adakitic granites are unlikely to be derived from (4) Sr and Nd isotopic data also support a lower crustal origin for
partial melting of the subducted Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab and the Wolong adakitic host granites. Although the positive εHf(t)
interaction with mantle peridotite but are consistent with a values (+6.0 to +12.6) indicate a juvenile crustal origin, the Sr
thickened lower crustal origin. and Nd isotopic compositions point to a trend towards lower
(3) Trace element signatures for the Wolong adakitic host granites crust that is similar to the trend defined by the Miocene
fit with generation from lower crust rather than subducted adakitic rocks (26–10 Ma) (Fig. 7).

150
400 a Host granites b
137 Ma adakites Eclogite
350 ~90 Ma adakites
Adakite
80 Ma adakites
300 Adakite 100
30 Ma adakites
(La/Yb)N

250 26-10 Ma adakites 30% garnet amphibolite

Sr/Y

200 7% garnet amphibolite

150 50
100 Arc magmatic rocks Amphibolite
50
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 0 5 10 15 20
Y YbN

Fig. 5. Plots of Sr/Y vs. Y (a) and (La/Yb)N vs. YbN (b) for the Wolong granitoids. Fields of adakite and arc magmatic rocks are from Petford and Atherton (1996) and Defant and
Drummond (1990). N denotes normalized to chondrite composition (Sun and McDonough, 1989). Data sources are as in Fig. 4.
96 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

1000 1000
a Host granites b

Samples/Primitive mantle
Mafic enclaves

Samples/Chondrite
100
100

10

10
1

Ba U Nb La Pb Sr P Hf Eu Gd Dy Ho Tm Lu
1 0.1
La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Rb Th K Ta Ce Pr Nd Zr Sm Ti Tb Y Er Yb

Fig. 6. Chondrite-normalized REE (a) and primitive-mantle-normalized trace element patterns (b) for the Wolong granitoids. Chondrite and primitive mantle values are from Sun
and McDonough (1989).

5.2.2. Mafic enclaves equilibrium is attained more rapidly than chemical equilibrium
The mafic enclaves are generally thought to represent either during magma mixing (Lesher, 1990; Poli et al., 1996).
residual material (restite), which unmixes from the melt during the The presence of a gabbroic enclave (sample ML18-1) suggests that
rise of a crystal mush from its source region (e.g., Chappell and the precursor of the Wolong mafic enclaves could be basaltic in
Simpson, 1984; Chappell and White, 1992), or remnants of a mafic composition. The mafic enclaves are enriched in LILE and depleted in
component added to granitic magma (magma mixing) (e.g., Didier, HFSE, with negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies (Fig. 6b). Such features
1987; Holden et al., 1987). A critical feature of the unmixing process can be interpreted as resulting from: (i) melting of an enriched
required by the restite model is the presence of linear chemical lithospheric mantle source, or (ii) melting of a depleted mantle source
variations in many calc-alkaline plutonic suites (e.g., Chappell et al., mixed with melts from subducted sediments. The negative εNd(t)
1987; Chappell and White, 1992). However, this is not the case for the values (−2.7 to −1.4) of the mafic enclaves are different from those
Wolong suite (Fig. 4a, b and d). In addition, the mafic enclaves have of the coeval Dagze mafic rocks (+5.2 to + 3.6) of 40–38 Ma, 200 km
typical igneous textures, distinct from the metamorphic textures to the west, which likely originated from an enriched asthenospheric
expected of restites. The isotopic compositions of the host granites mantle source (Gao et al., 2008; Fig. 1a). However, they are
and enclaves are similar, which seems more consistent with the comparable to those of the coeval basaltic dykes (−3.9 to −0.3) of
restite model. However, petrographical observations, such as the 40–42 Ma in the Gaoligong–Tengliang belt, which were likely derived
presence of K-feldspar and quartz megacrysts, quenched margins, and from continental lithospheric mantle (Xu et al., 2008). Therefore, we
acicular apatites within the enclaves (Fig. 2), together with the suggest that the parental magmas of the Wolong mafic enclaves were
identical emplacement ages (ca. 38 Ma) of the host granite and mafic derived from lithospheric mantle beneath the southern Lhasa Terrane.
enclave, are indicative of magma mixing. Thus, the similarity in It is widely accepted that the Gangdese Batholith is derived from
whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopic compositions between the host partial melting of juvenile crustal materials with predominantly positive
granites and the mafic enclaves can be interpreted as isotopic zircon εHf(t) values (cf. Chu et al., 2006; Chung et al., 2009; Ji et al.,
equilibrium, which can be readily achieved, as radiogenic isotopic 2009a; Mo et al., 2009; Guan et al., 2010; Zhu et al., 2011a). Such an
interpretation is also supported by our data on the Wolong host granites,
which exhibit positive zircon εHf(t) values (+6.0 to +12.6) (Table 4)
(Fig. 8). However, the negative εNd(t) values of the host granites (−2.3
12
Host granites to − 1.6) suggest that ancient crustal materials may also have
Yarlung Zangbo MORB
Mafic enclaves contributed to the generation of the Wolong adakitic rocks. The negative
Subduction-related 137 Ma adakites correlation defined by the whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopic data (Fig. 7)
8
adakites 80 Ma adakites
30 Ma adakites
26-10 Ma adakites 20
4 Linzizong Dagze basaltic rocks Depleted mantle
volcanics
Nd(t)

Gaoligong-Tengliang 15
basaltic dykes
0
Lower crust-derived 10
adakites
-4 5
Hf(t)

Amdo orthogneiss CHUR

Ancient 0
-8
lower crust
0.704 0.708 0.712 0.716 -5 137 Ma adakites
80 Ma adakites
(87Sr /86Sr)t Host granites 30 Ma adakites
-10
Mafic enclaves 26-10 Ma adakites
Fig. 7. εNd(t) vs. initial 87Sr/86Sr values diagram for the Wolong granitoids. Data sources:
137 Ma adakites (Zhu et al., 2009a); 80 Ma adakites (Wen et al., 2008a, our unpublished -15
0 30 60 90 120 150
data); 30 Ma adakites (Jiang et al., 2011); 26–10 Ma adakites (Hou et al., 2004; Gao et
al., 2010; Xu et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010a); Dazi Eocene (40–38 Ma) basaltic rocks Age (Ma)
(Gao et al., 2008); Eocene (42–40 Ma) basaltic dykes in the Gaoligong–Tengliang belt,
eastern Tibet (Xu et al., 2008); field of Linzizong volcanic succession (LVS) (Mo et al., Fig. 8. Plots of zircon εHf(t) vs. U–Pb ages for the Wolong granitoids. Data sources:
2007, 2008); Ancient lower crust (Miller et al., 1999); Amdo orthogneiss (Harris et al., 137 Ma adakites (Zhu et al., 2009a); 80 Ma adakites (Wen et al., 2008a); 30 Ma adakites
1988). (Jiang et al., 2011); 26–10 Ma adakites (Chung et al., 2009; Xu et al., 2010).
 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99 97

1000 150
Host granites
Dioritic enclaves Subduction-related a b Subduction-related
adakites adakites
137 Ma adakites 120
100 ~90 Ma adakites
80 Ma adakites
90
Ni (ppm)

Ni (ppm)
30 Ma adakites
26-10 Ma adakites
10
60
Lower crust-derived
adakites
1 30
Lower crust-derived
adakites

0
0
0 1 10 100 1000 25 35 45 55 65 75
Cr (ppm) Mg#

Fig. 9. Ni vs. Cr and Ni vs. Mg# plots for the Wolong granitoids. Data sources: 137 Ma adakites (Zhu et al., 2009b); 90 Ma adakites (Zhang et al., 2010c); 80 Ma adakites (Wen et al.,
2008a; Guan et al., 2010); 30 Ma adakites (Jiang et al., 2011); 26–10 Ma adakites (Guo et al., 2007; Gao et al., 2010; Xu et al., 2010).

further corroborates this suggestion, falling on a trend towards the (Fig. 10). This inference is consistent with the suggestion that the
postulated ancient lower crust of the Lhasa microcontinent (Miller et al., adakites were produced by partial melting of garnet-bearing mafic
1999; Zhu et al., 2011a). We therefore conclude that the Wolong rocks at depths of over ~ 50 km in the lower part of the thickened
granitoids are the result of mixing between thickened lower crust- crust (Chung et al., 2003; Guo et al., 2007). This suggests that the
derived melts and lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts beneath the southern Lhasa Terrane had a much thicker crust when the Wolong
southern Lhasa Terrane. adakites were emplaced (ca. 38 Ma), in good agreement with the
conclusions of Mo et al. (2007).
The voluminous Linzizong volcanic succession and coeval plutonic
5.3. Implications rocks with abundant mafic enclaves within the Gangdese Batholith have
been attributed to the break-off of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean slab at about
Mo et al. (2007) suggested that the volcanic rocks in the 50 Ma (Wen et al., 2008b; Chung et al., 2009; Ji et al., 2009a; Lee et al.,
Dianzhong (emplaced at 64–60 Ma) and Nianbo (emplaced at
2009; Zhu et al., 2011a). Numerical modeling indicates that slab break-
~ 54 Ma) formations of the lower and middle Linzizong volcanic off will trigger localized asthenospheric upwelling and the eduction and
succession were emplaced in crust with an ordinary thickness of
exhumation of buoyant crustal material in the subduction channel
~ 35 km, while the high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic volcanic rocks beneath the orogen (cf. Duretz et al., 2011). As a result, decompression
in the Pana Formation of the upper Linzizong volcanic succession
melts from the chemically enriched sub-slab asthenosphere will not
(emplaced at 50–40 Ma) were built upon a thickened crust, with only intrude/underplate the overriding plate but will also likely flow
garnet as a residual phase in the source. Existing studies indicate that
into the subducting plate, accompanying the buoyant crustal material
the La/Yb ratios of rocks from the Andes can be used as a geochemical through the subduction channel (Zhu et al., submitted for publication).
proxy for crustal thickness (see Chung et al., 2009, and references
In this case, magmatism induced by mantle-derived melts in response to
therein). This led Chung et al. (2009) to propose that the crust slab break-off will simultaneously occur on both the overriding and
beneath the southern Lhasa Terrane had been thickened to N 50 km
subducting plates, as observed in the Tibetan Plateau (Zhu et al.,
before the adakitic rocks began to be emplaced at ~ 30 Ma. The submitted for publication). Therefore, a protracted magmatic response
presence of the Wolong adakitic host granites reported here indicates to the slab break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere is
that the crust of the southern Lhasa Terrane was already thickened to advocated here for the generation of magmatism at about 40 Ma,
60–70 km, as inferred from the La/Yb ratios (Chung et al., 2009) documented in both the Gangdese Batholith (Mo et al., 2007, 2008; Gao
et al., 2008; Wen et al., 2008b; Xu et al., 2008; Lee et al., 2009; Ji et al.,
2009a; this study) and the Tethyan Himalaya (i.e., Yardoi granites; Zeng
Inferred et al., 2011) (Fig. 1a). Under this geodynamic regime, lithospheric
crustal La/Yb Host granites
137 Ma adakites mantle-derived magmas provide not only mantle-derived materials but
thickness 80
~90 Ma adakites also a heat supply that could induce melting of the mafic lower crust to
80 Ma adakites generate the Wolong adakitic host granites and melting of the mid-
30 Ma adakites upper crust to generate the Pana volcanic rocks of the upper Linzizong
26-10 Ma adakites
60 volcanic succession.
Linzizong volcanic
~50-55 Recent studies on the structural geology and geochemistry of the
succession
km
Dala and Yardoi adakitic granites (~ 43 Ma) (Fig. 1a) indicate that the
40 Tethyan Himalayan crust was also thickened to over 50 km before
44 Ma (cf. Aikman et al., 2008; Zeng et al., 2011). The coeval
magmatism (~ 43 Ma) and significant crustal thickening documented
~40 km in both the Gangdese Batholith (overriding plate; Mo et al., 2007; this
20
~30 km study) and the Tethyan Himalaya (subducting plate; Aikman et al.,
2008; Zeng et al., 2011) is best interpreted as the tectonomagmatic
response to the India–Asia continental collision. This in turn indicates
0 30 60 90 120
that the India–Asia collision occurred prior to ~ 43 Ma, which is
Age (Ma)
consistent with the general view that this collision took place in the
Fig. 10. Plot of La/Yb vs. U–Pb ages for the Cenozoic magmatic rocks in the Gangdese early Cenozoic (~ 65–55 Ma; Searle et al., 1987; Lee and Lawver,
Batholith. Data sources are as in Fig. 4. 1995; Yin and Harrison, 2000; Mo et al., 2003, 2007, 2008; Ding et al.,
98 Q. Guan et al. / Gondwana Research 21 (2012) 88–99

2005; Chung et al., 2009; Chen et al., 2010; Najman et al., 2010; Zhang Chung, S.L., Chu, M.F., Zhang, Y.Q., Xie, Y.W., Lo, C.H., Lee, T.Y., Lan, C.Y., Li, X.H., Zhang,
Q., Wang, Y.Z., 2005. Tibetan tectonic evolution inferred from spatial and temporal
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Zhang, Q., 2003. Adakites from continental collision zones: melting of thickened
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