Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52

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Research Paper

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of late

Mesoproterozoic mafic and granitic rocks in the southwestern Yangtze Block
Guichun Liu a, b, Jing Li b, Xin Qian a, c, *, Qinglai Feng d, Wei Wang d, Guangyan Chen b,
Shaobin Hu b
a
Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Geodynamics and Geohazards, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat–sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
b
Yunnan Institute of Geological Survey, Kunming, 650216, China
c
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519082, China
d
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Handling Editor: Inna Safonova Late Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block are important for understanding the role of it in
reconstruction of the Rodinia supercontinent. In the present study, we report new geochronological, geochemical,
Keywords: and Nd–Hf isotopic data for the Cuoke plagioclase amphibolites and granites in the SW Yangtze Block.
Late Mesoproterozoic Geochronological results show that the plagioclase amphibolites and granites have similar late Mesoproterozoic
Zircon U–Pb geochronology
zircon U–Pb ages of 1168–1162 Ma, constituting a bimodal igneous assemblage. The plagioclase amphibolites
Elemental and isotopic data
have high and variable TiO2 contents (1.15–4.30 wt.%) and Mg# (34–66) values, similar to the tholeiitic series.
Within-plate igneous rocks
Continental rift They are characterized by enrichment in LREEs and LILEs, and have OIB-like affinities with positive Nb and Ta
Yangtze block anomalies. The plagioclase amphibolites have positive whole-rock εNd(t) (þ3.2 to þ4.3) and zircon εHf(t) (þ4.3 to
þ10.7) values, indicating that they were derived from an OIB-like asthenospheric mantle source. The granites
belong to the reduced peralkaline A-type series and have negative εNd(t) value of 6.0 and εHf(t) values of 5.8 to
13.8, indicating a derivation from the partial melting of ancient mafic lower crust. In combination with the
~1.05–1.02 Ga bimodal igneous assemblage in the SW Yangtze Block, we propose that the Cuoke 1168–1162 Ma
igneous rocks were likely formed in a continental rift basin and argue against the existance of Grenvillian Orogen
in the SW Yangtze Block during the late Mesoproterozoic.

1. Introduction
The study of late MesoproterozoicNeoproterozoic rocks in the
Yangtze Block is key to understanding the reconstruction of the Rodinia
supercontinent (e.g., Li et al., 1999, 2002, 2003; Zhou et al., 2002, 2006;
Shu et al., 2011; Zhao and Cawood, 2012; Zhao and Guo, 2012; Wang
et al., 2013, 2014). The Grenvillian Orogen (~1.30–0.90 Ga) has been
considered to record the assembly of Rodinia, and was traditionally
thought to form the Jiangnan orogenic belt, which extends across the
South China between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks (e.g., Li et al.,
1999, 2008; Greentree et al., 2006). In this interpretation, the wide-
spread igneous rocks in the Jiangnan orogenic belt have been interpreted
to be related to the mantle plume in association with the breakup of
Rodinia (e.g., Li et al., 2003, 2008). However, many geochronological
and geochemical data for the sedimentary and igneous rocks have
revealed that the Jiangnan orogenic belt likely formed during the
mid-Neoproterozoic rather than the Mesoproterozoic, and that the
widespread igneous rocks formed in an arc-back-arc system or
post-collisional extension setting (e.g., Zhao et al., 2011; Zhang et al.,
2012; Wang et al., 2013, 2014). Consequently, there is no record of
Grenvillian orogenesis in the southeastern Yangtze Block (e.g., Zhao
et al., 2011).
In the southwestern (SW) Yangtze Block, the late Mesoproter-
ozoic–Neoproterozoic volcanic-sedimentary sequences are widespread,
as represented by the Huili, Julin, and Kunyang groups and their
equivalents (Fig. 1; Chen et al., 2014, 2018; Zhu et al., 2016; Wang et al.,
2019). Abundant late Mesoproterozoic (~1142–1021 Ma) mafic and
felsic igneous rocks are exposed associated with these sequences, and are

* Corresponding author. Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Geodynamics and Geohazards, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat–sen University, No. 135,
Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
E-mail address: qianx3@mail.sysu.edu.cn (X. Qian).
Peer-review under responsibility of China University of Geosciences (Beijing).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2020.07.005
Received 10 February 2020; Received in revised form 26 April 2020; Accepted 2 July 2020
Available online 5 August 2020
1674-9871/© 2020 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the
CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 1. A simplified modified geological map showing the distribution of Precambrian sequences in the South China Block (modified from Zhao et al., 2011; Chen
et al., 2018). Age data for the late Mesoproterozoic strata and igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block are from Greentree et al. (2006), Zhang et al. (2007), Sun et al.
(2009), Chen et al. (2014, 2018), Zhu et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2019).
important for understanding the tectonic evolution of the SW Yangtze
Block during the late Mesoproterozoic (Fig. 1; e.g., Greentree et al., 2006;
Zhang et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2014, 2018; Zhu et al., 2016; Lu et al.,
2019; Wang et al., 2019). However, the origin and tectonic significance
of these mafic and felsic igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block are still
debated.
Zhang et al. (2007) proposed that the late Mesoproterozoic volcanic
activity in the western part of South China was an integral part of the
assembly of Rodinia, and probably marked the beginning of a Grenvillian
orogenic event. Zhu et al. (2016) proposed that the ~1.02 Ga mafic and
felsic volcanic rocks most likely formed in an impactogen during the
initial stage of collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. Wang
et al. (2019) recently suggested that the ~1.04 Ga A-type granites formed
part of a hot Grenvillian granitoid province during the post-orogenic
crustal extension. Conversely, Chen et al. (2014, 2018) proposed that
the Grenvillian-aged A-type felsic rocks and coeval mafic rocks were
likely produced in a passive continental margin, and the Grenvillian
Orogen does not exist in the SW Yangtze Block.
To gain a better understanding of the late Mesoproterozoic igneous
rocks in the SW Yangtze Block, the plagioclase amphibolite and granite
samples from the Cuoke area in SW China were mapped and collected
(Fig. 2a). This paper presents new zircon U–Pb geochronological, in-situ
Hf isotopic, whole-rock elemental, and Nd isotopic data for these sam-
ples. Based on these new data, we constrain the crystallization ages and
petrogenesis of these rocks, and discuss their tectonic significance for the
SW Yangtze Block during the late Mesoproterozoic.
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Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
2. Geological background and petrography
The Yangtze Block is bounded by the Longmenshan Fault and
Ailaoshan zone to the west, Qinling–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt to the
north, and is separated from the Cathaysia Block by the Jiangnan
orogenic belt to the southeast (e.g., Zhao and Cawood, 2012). The
Archean–Paleoproterozoic basement rocks are mainly distributed in its
northern and western parts, including the Paleoarchean–early Paleo-
proterozoic Kongling complex, and Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic
Zhongxiang, Douling, Yudongzi, and Houhe complexes in the north (e.g.,
Zhang et al., 2001; Gao et al., 2011; Wu et al., 2012, 2014; Hu et al.,
2013; Hui et al., 2017; Li et al., 2020), while the Paleoarchean–early
Paleoproterozoic Phan Si Pan Complex in northern Vietnam has been
regarded as the southern extension of the Yangtze Block (Nam et al.,
2003; Wang et al., 2016; Zhao et al., 2019). Paleoproter-
ozoic–Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks and sedimentary sequences along
the southwestern margin of Yangtze Block are represented by the Tongan
Formation and Dahongshan, Dongchuan, and Hekou groups (Fig. 1; e.g.,
Zhou et al., 2006; Sun et al., 2009; Chen et al., 2013; Wang and Zhou,
2014; Wang et al., 2014, 2018). The Dahongshan and Dongchuan groups
contain tuffaceous layers with zircon ages of ~1.70 Ga (e.g., Zhao et al.,
2011; Chen et al., 2013). Kou et al. (2017), Cui et al. (2019) and Liu et al.
(2020) reported zircon ages of ~2.01 Ga for the ore-hosting meta-
volcanic rocks from the Dahongshan ore district, and ~2.36–2.32 Ga for
the granitoids and mafic rocks from the Laochanghe Formation of the
Dahongshan Group. Lu et al. (2019) recently reported a zircon age of
2.30 Ga for the dolerites in the Tongan Formation.
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 2. (a) Distribution of strata and volcano-plutonic complexes of the Cuoke area in the SW Yangtze Block (revised after Cui et al., 2019 and Liu et al., 2020) and (b)
simplified stratigraphic column of the Cuoke area.
Late Mesoproterozoic volcanic-sedimentary sequences are widely
distributed in the SW Yangtze Block, and are represented by the Huili,
Julin, and Kunyang groups (Fig. 1; e.g., Chen et al., 2014, 2018; Zhu
et al., 2016). Greentree et al. (2006) identified the Laowushan alkaline
basalts (~1142 Ma) that occur in the basal part of the Kunyang Group.
Recent studies have shown that the mafic and felsic volcanic rocks from
the Huili Group, and basalts and felsic igneous rocks from the Julin Group
yielded similar zircon ages of 1052–1021 Ma (Fig. 1; Chen et al., 2014,
2018; Zhu et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2019).
The study area is within the Cuoke town, SW China, where the
Kunyang Group is the dominant geological unit (Fig. 2a). The volcanic-
sedimentary sequences in the study area include the Paleoproterozoic
quartzite, chlorite schist, metasandstone, and phyllite with minor
amphibolite of the Laochanghe and Manganghe formations, Siltstone,
quartzite, metasandstone, dolomitic limestone, and marble with thin tuff
beds of the Mesoproterozoic Kunyang Group, which are overlain by the
Triassic muddy limestone, sandstone, shale, and conglomerate (Fig. 2a).
All these sequences are in fault contact with each other (Fig. 2b). The
Laochanghe and Manganghe formations have been considered as the
equivalents of the Paleoproterozoic Dahongshan Group in the SW
Yangtze Block (e.g., Qian and Shen, 1990; Cui et al., 2019). Felsic in-
trusions are distributed discontinuously in the Cuoke area, and can be
subdivided into the Cuoke and Andichong units (Fig. 2a). The Cuoke unit
comprises porphyritic and K-feldspar granites, while the Andichong unit
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Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
is composed of Paleoproterozoic gneissic monzogranite and granodiorite
with minor mafic intrusions. Recent studies have suggested that the
granites and the mafic rocks from the Andichong unit formed during the
early Paleoproterozoic (~2.37–2.32 Ga), which are equal to the
Dahongshan Group (Fig. 2a; Cui et al., 2019; Liu et al., 2020). Zhao et al.
(2020) recently reported the Mesoarchean (~3.09–2.92 Ga) trondhje-
mites and potassic granites from the study area.
The studied rocks are mainly distributed in the Cuoke area (Fig. 2a).
Both granites and metamafic rocks intrude the Laochanghe Formation as
dikes and are spatially conterminous (Fig. 2b). The metamafic rocks are
green to gray-green plagioclase amphibolites (Fig. 3a), and comprise
~35%–45% prismatic amphibole, ~20%–30% plagioclase, ~5% clino-
pyroxene, and minor opaque Fe–Ti oxide minerals (Fig. 3c and d). The
granites are porphyritic (Fig. 3b), and consist of euhedral K-feldspar
(~50%–60%), quartz (~25%–35%), and plagioclase (~5%–10%), with
minor biotite and accessory minerals (e.g. magnetite and zircon) (Fig. 3e
and f).
3. Analytical results
3.1. Zircon U–Pb ages
Five samples (Yjmqz-01, Yjabd-05, Yjabd-07, Yjabd-09, and Yjabd-
10) were selected for zircon U–Pb analyses. Zircon grains separated
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 3. Field photos and microscopic photographs for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in SW China. (a) Plagioclase amphibolite (Yjabd-
09), (b) porphyritic granite (Yjabd-07), (c, d) plagioclase amphibolite (Yjmqz-01 and Yjabd-09), (e, f) porphyritic granite (Yjabd-05 and Yjabd-07). Pl–plagioclase,
Kfs–K-feldspar, Qtz–quartz, Amp–amphibole.
from these samples are mostly light brown and have euhedral prismatic
crystal shapes. Zircon grains from the plagioclase amphibolite samples
are 60–120 μm long with elongation ratios ranging from 1.5:1 to 2:1, and
display weak internal oscillatory zoning or broad-banding in cath-
odoluminescence (CL) images (Fig. 4). Zircon grains from the granite
samples are prismatic and 100–200 μm long with elongation ratios of 2:1
to 3:1, and exhibit concentric oscillatory zoning (Fig. 4).
3.1.1. Plagioclase amphibolites
Th and U concentrations of zircon grains from samples Yjmqz-01,
Yjabd-09 and Yjabd-10 range from 107 ppm to 3553 ppm and 114
ppm to 1190 ppm, respectively, with Th/U ratios of 0.94–5.34. Zircon
U–Pb dating for samples Yjmqz-01, Yjabd-09 and Yjabd-10 yields
weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb ages of 1165  15 Ma (n ¼ 10, MSWD ¼
0.66), 1162  13 Ma (n ¼ 11, MSWD ¼ 0.62) and 1167  10 Ma (n ¼ 15,
MSWD ¼ 0.86), respectively (Fig. 4a–c), which are interpreted as the
formation ages.
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3.1.2. Granites
Zircons from granite samples Yjabd-05 and Yjabd-07 have Th and U
concentrations of 412–11,813 ppm and 547–15923 ppm, respectively,
with Th/U ratios of 0.18–1.55 (mostly >0.3). Twelve spots on 12 grains
from sample Yjabd-05 and thirteen spots on 13 grains from sample Yjabd-
07 yield similar weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb ages of 1167  9 Ma
(MSWD ¼ 1.08) and 1168  9 Ma (MSWD ¼ 1.50), respectively (Fig. 4d
and e), which are interpreted to represent the crystallization ages. The
discordant analyses might be attributed to Pb-loss triggered by younger
tectonothermal events.
3.2. Whole-rock major and trace elemental characteristics
Major oxides, trace element and Nd isotopic compositions of the
plagioclase amphibolite and granite samples are listed in Supplementary
Table 2. The analyzed samples show variable loss on ignition (LOI) values
of 0.70–5.68 wt.%, suggesting variable degrees of alteration. Hence, the
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 4. (a–e) LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb concordia diagrams and representative cathodoluminescence (CL) images for the zircon grains separated from the late Mes-
oproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in SW China. The red solid and blue dashed circles indicate the analytical areas for LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating and
LA–MC–ICP–MS Lu–Hf isotopes. The sampling locations are shown in Fig. 2. (a) Plagioclase amphibolite (Yjmqz-01), (b) plagioclase amphibolite (Yjabd-09), (c)
plagioclase amphibolite (Yjabd-10) and (d¡e) granite (Yjabd-05 and Yjabd-07).
major oxides are normalized to 100 wt.% (volatile-free), and these
recalculated data are used in the following descriptions and diagrams.
The plagioclase amphibolite samples have SiO2 of 43.29–49.18 wt.%,
TiO2 of 1.15–4.30 wt.%, Al2O3 of 10.62–17.27 wt.%, and Mg# (molar
Mg  100/(Mg þ Fe) values range from 34 to 66. In SiO2 vs. Na2O þ K2O
and Nb/Y vs. Zr/TiO2 diagrams (Fig. 5a and b), most plagioclase
amphibolite samples fall in the fields of sub-alkalic or alkalic gabbro. In
Fig. 5c, most samples belong to the tholeiitic series. These samples also
show similar major oxides characteristics to the ~1.05–1.02 Ga within-
plate mafic rocks in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 5; e.g., Chen et al.,
2014; Zhu et al., 2016). The granite samples have SiO2 of 74.36–77.17
wt.%, TiO2 of 0.24–0.29 wt.%, Al2O3 of 12.75–13.22 wt.% and Mg# of
21–31, and fall in the field of granite (Fig. 5a). Their A/CNK and A/NK
ratios range from 1.06 to 1.73 and from 1.15 to 2.13, respectively. They
have relatively high K2O (2.17–5.34 wt.%) contents and belong to the
low-to high-K calc-alkaline series (Fig. 5c). In Fig. 5d, these granite
samples mainly plot in the ferroan field, and are similar to the A-type
felsic igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block (e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen
et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019).
The plagioclase amphibolite samples exhibit enrichment in light rare-
earth elements (LREEs) relative to heavy rare-earth elements (HREEs),
with high (La/Yb)N (N herein refers to chondrite-normalized value; e.g.,
Sun and McDonough, 1989) ratios of 2.88–6.32, and (Gd/Yb)N ratios of
1.32–1.90, and are similar to the oceanic-island basalts (OIB) and ~1.70
Ga and ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks from elsewhere in the SW Yangtze
Block (Fig. 6a; Sun and McDonough, 1989; Chen et al., 2013, 2014; Zhu
et al., 2016). The plagioclase amphibolite samples show weak Eu
anomalies (Eu/Eu* ¼ 0.78–1.13). In primitive mantle-normalized trace
element patterns (Fig. 6b), the plagioclase amphibolite samples are
enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and show OIB-like af-
finities, with positive Nb and Ta anomalies and negative Sr anomalies.
They have higher Nb and Ta contents than the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic
rocks, but are roughly similar to the ~1.70 Ga within-plate mafic rocks in
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the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 6b; e.g., Chen et al., 2013, 2014; Zhu et al.,
2016).
The granite samples are characterized by enrichment in LREEs and
depletion in HREEs (Fig. 6c). They show obvious negative Eu anomalies
(Eu/Eu* ¼ 0.21–0.27), and their (La/Yb)N and (Gd/Yb)N ratios range
from 4.99 to 11.98 and 0.79 to 1.35, respectively. The granite samples
are enriched in LILEs and have negative Nb, Ta, Sr, and Ti anomalies
(Fig. 6d). Their chondrite-normalized patterns and primitive mantle-
normalized trace element spidergrams are roughly similar to those of
~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type granites and dacites from the SW Yangtze Block
(Fig. 6d; e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019).
3.3. Whole-rock Nd isotopic compositions
Six representative samples were selected for Nd isotopic analysis.
The initial Nd isotopic ratios were calculated using their zircon ages
of 11681162 Ma obtained in this study. The plagioclase amphibolite
samples have high 143Nd/144Nd ratios of 0.512517–0.512555,
positive εNd(t) values of þ3.2 to þ4.3 and Nd two-stage model ages
(TDM2) of 1.46–1.38 Ga (Supplementary Table S2). They are similar
to the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 7a; e.g.,
Chen et al., 2014; Zhu et al., 2016). One granite sample (Yjabd-07-1)
has a negative εNd(t) value of 6.0 and a corresponding Nd TDM2
age of 2.09 Ga, similar to those of the ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites
in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 7a; e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen et al.,
2018).
3.4. Zircon in-situ Hf isotopic compositions
Zircon in-situ Hf isotopic compositions for samples (Yjmqz-01, Yjabd-
05, Yjabd-07, Yjabd-09, and Yjabd-10) are listed in Supplementary
Table 3. Zircons from plagioclase amphibolite sample Yjmqz-01 have
positive εHf (t) values of þ5.6 to þ10.7 and corresponding TDM1 model
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 5. (a) SiO2 vs. K2O þ Na2O (after Middlemost, 1994), (b) Nb/Y vs. Zr/TiO2 (after Winchester and Floyd, 1977), (c) SiO2 vs. K2O and (d) SiO2 vs. FeOt/(FeOt þ
MgO) diagrams for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in SW China. The data for the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks, ~1.05–1.03 Ga A-type
granites, and ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites in the SW Yangtze Block are from Chen et al. (2014, 2018), Zhu et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2019).
ages of 1.50–1.27 Ga (Fig. 7b). Grains with the late Mesoproterozoic ages
from plagioclase amphibolite samples Yjabd-09 and Yjabd-10 have pos-
itive εHf (t) values of þ4.3 to þ9.0 and þ 4.5 to þ8.4 and TDM1 model ages
of 1.52–1.32 Ga and 1.54–1.35 Ga, respectively (Fig. 7b). All zircon
grains from the plagioclase amphibolite samples fall in the range of
~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks in the SW Yangtze Block in the U–Pb ages vs.
εHf (t) plot (Fig. 7b; e.g., Chen et al., 2014; Zhu et al., 2016). Zircon grains
from granite samples Yjabd-5 and Yjabd-7 have negative εHf (t) values of
5.8 to 8.9 and 7.4 to 13.8, and corresponding TDM2 model ages of
2.36–2.19 Ga and 2.62–2.28 Ga, respectively (Fig. 7b). Their εHf (t)
values fall in the range of ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites in the SW
Yangtze Block (e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2018), but are clearly
distinct from the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks and ~1.04 Ga A-type
granites in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 7b; e.g., Chen et al., 2018; Wang
et al., 2019).
4. Discussion
4.1. Petrogenesis of the plagioclase amphibolites
The Cuoke plagioclase amphibolites have variable LOI contents of
0.70–5.68 wt.%, indicating variable degrees of metamorphism and post-
alteration. High field strength elements and Nd–Hf isotopic compositions
are generally considered to be insensitive to metamorphism and alter-
ation. Zr is one of the most immobile elements and can be used to test the
mobility of incompatible elements (e.g., Polat et al., 2002). The immobile
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elements including the HFSEs, REEs, Y, and Th show good correlations
with Zr, while more mobile elements, such as Rb and Sr, do not have
co-variations with Zr (Fig. 8). Therefore, we use the immobile elements,
as well as Nd and Hf isotopic compositions to discuss the petrogenesis of
plagioclase amphibolites.
The plagioclase amphibolite samples have low Th/Ce ratios of
0.04–0.06 and Th/La ratios of 0.08–0.13, which are lower than the
value of continental crust (Th/Ce ¼ ~0.15 and Th/La ¼ ~0.30; e.g.,
Taylor and McLennan, 1995; Plank, 2005). These samples do not show a
correlation between Nb/La ratios and MgO contents (Fig. 9a), indicating
that these samples might be controlled by the crystallization fraction-
ation or cumulation. These signatures, along with their positive Nb and
Ta anomalies, suggest that the crustal contamination was insignificant.
The studied samples also plot along a fractional crystallization trend in
Fig. 9b and c, suggesting a limited role for partial melting/source het-
erogeneity or AFC process. However, some samples have high MgO
(15.03–17.30 wt.%), Ni (336–350 ppm) and low SiO2 (42.76–44.94
wt.%) and Al2O3 (10.62–14.64 wt.%) values, which might indicate the
pyroxene cumulation during the magma evolution. The low and vari-
able Cr, Ni, and Mg# values suggest that these plagioclase amphibolites
were formed from evolved magmas that experienced fractionation of
olivine and pyroxene, consistent with the observed correlations be-
tween V, Ni and Cr (Fig. 9d and e). Most samples show weak Eu
anomalies and obvious negative Sr anomalies (Fig. 6a and b). These
signatures, along with the correlation between Mg# and CaO/Al2O3
(Fig. 9f), indicate that the plagioclase may have played a role during
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 6. (a, c) Chondrite-normalized REE patterns and (b, d) primitive mantle–normalized trace element spidergrams for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase am-
phibolites and granites in SW China. Normalized values for chondrite and primitive mantle are from Sun and McDonough (1989). The data for the ~1.70 Ga and
~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks, ~1.05–1.03 Ga A-type granites, and ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites in the SW Yangtze Block are from Chen et al. (2013, 2014, 2018), Zhu
et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2019).
magma evolution.
As mentioned above, all plagioclase amphibolite samples show OIB-
like geochemical characteristics (Fig. 6a and b), and have positive
εNd(t) and εHf(t) values, indicating depleted mantle source. This inference
can be further supported by their low La/Ta ratios that are typical of
asthenosphere-rather than lithosphere-derived melts (Fig. 10a). It is
noteworthy that their εNd(t) and εHf(t) values are similar to those of
~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks from the Huili and Julin groups and ~1.70
Ga mafic rocks from the Hekou Group in the SW Yangtze Block, which
were derived from a depleted asthenospheric mantle source (Fig. 7; e.g.,
Chen et al., 2013, 2014; Zhu et al., 2016). In Fig. 10b, our samples also
plot along the plume-type influence trend. Therefore, the derivation of
the plagioclase amphibolites was mainly from an OIB-like asthenospheric
mantle source. Based on the REE modellings, these samples were derived
by 5%–15% partial melting of a spinel þ garnet lherzolite source
(Fig. 10c; Aldanmaz et al., 2000).
4.2. Petrogenesis of the granites
In general, compared with the typical I-type granitoids, A-type
granites have higher Na2O þ K2O contents and elevated Ga/Al and
FeOt/MgO ratios, and are relatively enriched in Zr, Nb, REE, and Y
contents (e.g., Whalen et al., 1987; Eby, 1992; King et al., 1997). In
Fig. 11, our granite samples fall in the field of A-type granite and are
similar to the ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type granites and dacites in the SW
Yangtze Block (e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2018; Wang et al.,
2019). In addition, A-type granites are commonly considered as the
derivation from relatively high-temperature magma. According to the
measured whole-rock compositions and the equation proposed by
Watson and Harrison (1983), the zircon saturation temperatures (TZr) of
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Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
our granite samples range from 805  C to 868  C (Supplementary
Table 2), indicating that these samples might have been formed from a
relatively high-temperature magma. Besides, their chondrite-norma
lized REE patterns and primitive mantle-normalized trace element spi-
dergrams are roughly similar to those of ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type felsic
igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 6c and d; e.g., Zhu et al.,
2016; Chen et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019). All these features indicate
that the Cuoke late Mesoproterozoic granites have A-type affinities.
Usually, the A-type granites can be subdivided into reduced peralkaline
and oxidized aluminous series, and the oxidized A-type series are more
magnesian than the reduced series (e.g., Frost et al., 2001; Frost and
Frost, 2011). The studied granites have high K2O þ Na2O values
(5.04–8.65 wt.%) and FeOt/MgO ratios (3.95–6.90), and mainly plot in
the ferroan field (Fig. 5d). Thus, these late Mesoproterozoic granites can
be classified as reduced peralkaline A-type granites.
Three major petrogenetic models have been proposed to explain the
origin of A-type granites including fractional crystallization of
alkaline basaltic magmas associated with crustal assimilation, magma
mixing between crust-derived felsic and mantle-derived mafic magmas,
and partial melting of mafic rocks in the lower crust (e.g. Collins et al.,
1982; Turner et al., 1992; Kerr and Fryer, 1993; Frost and Frost, 1997,
2011; Pati~no Douce, 1997; Yang et al., 2006; Huang et al., 2011). The
studied granite samples have negative εNd(t) and εHf(t) values that are
much lower than those of depleted mantle and coeval plagioclase am-
phibolites. Thus, a petrogenetic model involving fractional crystalliza-
tion of a coeval mafic magma is not supported. The magma mixing
model can be precluded based on their homogeneous εHf(t) values
and the absence of mafic microgranular enclaves in the field
observations.
The isotopic data and old Hf TDM2 model ages indicate that the
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 7. Plots of (a) age (Ma) vs. εNd (t) and (b) age (Ma) vs. zircon εHf (t) for the
late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in SW China. The
data for the ~1.05–1.02 Ga, ~1.70–1.66 Ga and ~2.30 Ga mafic rocks in the SW
Yangtze Block are from Chen et al. (2013, 2014), Zhu et al. (2016, 2017) and Lu
et al. (2019). The data for the ~1.04 Ga A-type granites and ~1.05–1.02 Ga
A-type dacites in the SW Yangtze Block are from Zhu et al. (2016) and Chen
et al. (2018) and Wang et al. (2019).
granitic magmas were most likely produced by the partial melting of
ancient continental crust. This interpretation can be further supported by
the following evidences. The εNd(t) and εHf(t) values of granite samples
are similar to those of ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites with whole-rock
εNd(t) values of 7.1 to 4.5 and zircon εHf(t) values of 20.8 to þ3.4
in the SW Yangtze Block (Fig. 7), which have been considered to be
derived from the partial melting of ancient basement rocks of the Yangtze
Block (e.g., Zhu et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2018). Moreover, zircon εHf(t)
values of the studied samples mainly plot within the evolution zone of
~1.70–1.66 Ga within-plate mafic rocks in the SW Yangtze Block
(Fig. 7b; e.g., Chen et al., 2013; Zhu et al., 2017). All these features
indicate that our granite samples could have been formed by the melting
of pre-existing crustal mafic rocks. Besides, some zircon grains have low
εHf(t) values (<10) and plot in the field of average crust (Fig. 7b). This
signature, along with their relatively high Al2O3 contents (12.75–13.22
wt.%) and Rb/Sr ratios (1.62–11.13), indicate a minor contribution from
metasedimentary rocks.
4.3. Tectonic implications
Our zircon ages show that the plagioclase amphibolites and granites
from the Cuoke area in SW China yield similar late Mesoproterozoic ages
of 1167–1162 Ma and 1168–1167 Ma, respectively (Fig. 4), indicating
that these rocks are coeval. In addition, due to their spatially
46
Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
conterminous (Fig. 2), the Cuoke late Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks
constitute a bimodal igneous assemblage. Their ages are synchronous
with the ~1142 Ma intracontinental rift-related alkaline basalts from the
Kunyang Group in the SW Yangtze Block (e.g., Greentree et al., 2006),
but are older than the Kunyang marine sedimentary sequences
(~1000–960 Ma; e.g., Zhang et al., 2007; Sun et al., 2009). These ages
are also slightly older than the mafic and felsic igneous rocks
(~1052–1021 Ma) from the Huili and Julin groups in the SW Yangtze
Block (Fig. 1), which have been suggested to be formed in an within-plate
rift setting (e.g., Chen et al., 2014, 2018), or a post-orogenic crustal
extension (e.g., Wang et al., 2019), or an impactogen setting (e.g., Zhu
et al., 2016).
As mentioned above, the plagioclase amphibolite samples were
mainly derived from an OIB-like asthenospheric mantle source. They
have high TiO2 contents (1.15–4.30 wt.%) and Ti/V ratios
(39.13–64.99), which are different from the arc-volcanic rocks and calc-
alkaline basalts derived from a subcontinental lithospheric mantle or a
metasomatized mantle wedge. Considering their high Nb contents
(9.05–46.66 ppm) and OIB-like geochemical characteristics (Fig. 6a and
b), we propose an extensional setting for the plagioclase amphibolites.
This extensional setting can be resulted from back-arc basin extension,
post-collisional extension, or continental rifting (e.g., Shinjo and Kato,
2000; Brown et al., 2002; Moraes et al., 2003; Mazzarini et al., 2004;
Greentree et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2017). The back-arc
basin basalts commonly have E-MORB and arc-like geochemical char-
acteristics with negative Nb and Ta anomalies (e.g., Shinjo and Kato,
2000; Fan et al., 2010; Qian et al., 2016). Post-collisional basalts are
mainly derived from a previously metasomatized lithospheric mantle or a
metasomatized mantle wedge, and commonly show enriched isotopic
components and negative Nb and Ta anomalies (e.g., Wang et al., 2010).
However, the studied plagioclase amphibolites have positive εNd(t) and
εHf(t) values and positive Nb and Ta anomalies (Figs. 6b and 7), and these
features argue against the origin from the back-arc basin or
post-collisional setting. In the geochemical discrimination diagrams
(Fig. 12a and b; Wood, 1980; Meschede, 1986), the plagioclase am-
phibolites mainly plot in the fields of E-MORB and within-plate basalts.
In addition, the studied granites have high Y and Nb contents and plot in
the field of within-plate granites (Fig. 12c and d; Pearce, 1996). These
signatures along with their characteristics of bimodal igneous assem-
blage indicate that the Cuoke late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphib-
olites and granites formed in a continental rift setting. This interpretation
is in accordance with the studies of ~1052–1021 Ma mafic rocks and
A-type felsic igneous rocks from the Huili and Julin groups in the SW
Yangtze Block, which have also been suggested to be formed a bimodal
igneous assemblage in a continental rift setting (e.g., Chen et al., 2014,
2018).
However, the formation of the continental rift in the SW Yangtze
Block is controversial. Li et al. (2006) proposed that the Yanbian region
in the SW Yangtze Block transformed from an extensional back-arc basin
into a foreland basin due to the closure of ocean between the Yangtze and
Cathaysia blocks during the Sibao Orogeny at  900 Ma. Greentree et al.
(2006) and Zhu et al. (2016) suggested that the late Mesoproterozoic
intracontinental rift basin formed during the initial stages of the collision
between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. Wang et al. (2019) recently
proposed that the formation of ~1.04 Ga A-type granites in the SW
Yangtze Block might be associated with the development of a back-arc
basin that resulted from subduction retreat. Conversely, Chen et al.
(2014, 2018) proposed that the ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type felsic igneous
rocks and coeval mafic rocks were formed in a passive continental rift
basin that was transformed to a compression setting during the early
Neoproterozoic.
The Sibao Orogen (also called the Jiangnan Orogen), which extends
across South China between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, has
previously been suggested to be the part of Grenvillian Orogeny (e.g., Li
et al., 1999, 2002, 2003; Greentree et al., 2006). However, increased
works on the igneous and sedimentary rocks from the Jiangnan orogenic
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 8. Bi-elemental plots of TiO2, Rb, Sr, La, Nb and Th vs Zr to evaluate the mobility of these elements of the plagioclase amphibolites during metamorphism and
hydrothermal alteration.
belt have shown that the orogenic belt was formed during the Neo-
proterozoic rather than the Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian-age (e.g., Zhao
et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2013, 2014), thus arguing
against the existence of Grenvillian Orogen in the SE Yangtze Block. In
the SW Yangtze Block, the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks are widely
distributed, which have been suggested to be related to a mantle plume
(e.g., Li et al., 1995, 1999). In this suggestion, the arc-like igneous rocks
have been suggested to inherit from a mantle source, which was previ-
ously modified by the Grenvillian-aged oceanic subduction. However,
this interpretation argues against that the late Mesoproterozoic
within-plate igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block, which have no
contribution from the Grenvillian-aged oceanic subduction event (e.g.,
Zhao et al., 2011; Chen et al., 2014, 2018 and this study). Moreover,
many studies on the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks and sedimentary
rocks from the western and northern margins of the Yangtze Block have
revealed a Neoproterozoic Panxi-Hannan arc zone with a length of
>1000 km in response to a supra-subduction along the Rodinian margin
that may extend to NW India, Seychelles and Madagascar (Fig. 1, e.g.,
Zhou et al., 2002; Zhao and Cawood, 2012; Cai et al., 2014, 2015; Wang
47
Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
et al., 2016, 2017 and references therein).
Our study on the 11681162 Ma plagioclase amphibolites and
granites from the Cuoke area, along with subsequent 10521021 Ma
bimodal igneous rocks from the Huili and Julin groups (Chen et al.,
2014, 2018; Zhu et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2019), supports the devel-
opment of a late Mesoproterozoic continental rift basin in the SW
Yangtze Block, and argues against the existence of Grenvillian
Orogen-related igneous rocks in the SW Yangtze Block. The relatively
older 11681142 Ma magmatism in the Cuoke and Laowushan areas
might be formed during the initial stage of continental rift (Fig. 13).
Chen et al. (2014, 2018) proposed that the subduction beneath the
western margin of the Yangtze Block occurred at least after ~1.0 Ga, and
the tectonic switch likely indicates the onset of the amalgamation of the
Yangtze Block with other blocks in the Rodinia supercontinent. The two
main late Mesoproterozoic magmatic events (Fig. 1; 11681142 Ma and
10521021 Ma) in the SW Yangtze Block might coincide with the timing
of magmatism in the Grenvillian Province (e.g., McLelland and Daly,
1996; McLelland et al., 2001, 2010). Thus, we propose that the late
Mesoproterozoic asthenospheric upwelling in the SW Yangtze Block
G. Liu et al. Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52

Fig. 9. Plots of (a) MgO vs. Nb/La, (b) La vs. La/Sm, (c) MgO vs. εNd(t), (d) Cr vs. Ni, (e) Cr vs. V and (f) Mg# vs. CaO/Al2O3 for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase
amphibolites in SW China. Ol–olivine, Cpx– clinopyroxene, Pl–plagioclase.

Fig. 10. Plots of (a) La/Ta vs. εNd(t) (after Chen et al., 2014), (b) Zr vs. Th/Ta and (c) La/Sm vs. Sm/Yb for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites in SW
China. UCC: upper continental crust; WAM: Western Anatolian Mantle. DMM is from Workman and Hart (2005), DM, PM, N-MORB and E-MORB are from Sun and
McDonough (1989) and McKenzie and O'Nions (1991). The fields of the asthenospheric and lithospheric melts in Fig. 10a are from Lawton and McMillan (1999). The
referred melt curves in Fig. 10c are after Aldanmaz et al. (2000) and references therein. The data for the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks in the SW Yangtze Block are from
Chen et al. (2014) and Zhu et al. (2016).

might have been a consequence of far-field effects from the Grenvillian
Orogen. During the 11681142 Ma, the asthenospheric upwelling led to
form the within-plate mafic intrusions and volcanic rocks, and triggered
the partial melting of mafic lower crust to form the A-type granites
(Fig. 13).
5. Conclusions
Based on our new zircon ages and geochemical data for the Cuoke
plagioclase amphibolites and granites, the following conclusions can be
drawn.
(1) The plagioclase amphibolites and granites constitute a bimodal
igneous assemblage and yield similar zircon U–Pb ages of
11681162 Ma.
(2) The plagioclase amphibolites have OIB-like geochemical charac-
teristics, and were derived from an OIB-like asthenospheric
mantle source. The granites belong to the reduced peralkaline A-
type series and originated from the partial melting of ancient
mafic lower crust.
(3) The late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in
the Cuoke area can compare with the ~1.05–1.02 Ga bimodal
igneous assemblage in the SW Yangtze Block, and might be
formed during the initial stage of continental rift.

48
G. Liu et al. Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52

Fig. 11. Plots of (a) Zr þ Nb þ Ce þ Y vs. 10,000  Ga/Al and (b) Zr þ Nb þ Ce þ Y vs. FeOt/MgO (after Whalen et al., 1987) for the late Mesoproterozoic granites in
SW China. The data for the ~1.05–1.03 Ga A-type granites and ~1.05–1.02 Ga dacites in the SW Yangtze Block are from Chen et al. (2018), Zhu et al. (2016) and
Wang et al. (2019).

Fig. 12. (a) Zr–Nb–Y (after Meschede, 1986), (b) Th–Hf–Ta (after Wood, 1980), (c) Y þ Nb vs. Rb and (d) Y vs. Nb (after Pearce, 1996) geochemical discrimination
diagrams for the late Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolites and granites in SW China. The data for the ~1.05–1.02 Ga mafic rocks, ~1.05–1.03 Ga A-type granites,
and ~1.05–1.02 Ga A-type dacites in the SW Yangtze Block are from Chen et al. (2014, 2018), Zhu et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2019).

49
G. Liu et al.
Fig. 13. Schematic cartoon showing the petrogenetic mechanism for the late Mesoproterozoic (~1168–1142 Ma) magmatic activities in the SW Yangtze Block.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and editor for their
critical and constructive reviews and editorial advice. This work was
jointly supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research
Foundation (Grant Nos. 2019B1515120019, 2018B030312007), Na-
tional Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1701641,
41830211, 41702230), and the District Summary and Service Product
Develop of Yunnan Region Geologic Survey, China (Grant No.
121201102000150012-02).
Appendix B. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.gsf.2020.07.005.
Appendix A. Analytical methods
Zircons were separated from the representative samples by standard
techniques, mounted in epoxy, and polished. Zircon CL images were
obtained at the Wuhan Sample Solution Analytical Technology Co., Ltd.,
Wuhan, China, using an Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope (JSM-
IT100) connected to a GATAN MINICL system. The imaging condition
was 10.0–13.0 kV voltage of electric field and 80–85 μA current of
tungsten filament. U–Pb dating and trace element analysis of zircon were
simultaneously conducted by LAICPMS at the Wuhan Sample Solu-
tion Analytical Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China. Detailed operating
conditions for the laser ablation system and the ICPMS instrument and
data reduction are the same as description by Zong et al. (2017). Laser
sampling was performed using a GeolasPro laser ablation system that
consists of a COMPexPro 102 ArF excimer laser (wavelength of 193 nm
and maximum energy of 200 mJ) and a MicroLas optical system. An
Agilent 7700e ICPMS instrument was used to acquire ion-signal in-
tensities. Helium was applied as a carrier gas. Argon was used as the
make-up gas and mixed with the carrier gas via a T-connector before
entering the ICP. A “wire” signal smoothing device is included in this
laser ablation system (Hu et al., 2015). The spot diameter was 32 μm.
Zircon 91500 and glass NIST610 were used as external standards for
U–Pb dating and trace element calibration, respectively. Each analysis
incorporated a background acquisition of approximately 20–30 s fol-
lowed by 50 s of data acquisition from the sample. An Excel-based soft-
ware ICPMSDataCal was used to perform off-line selection and
integration of background and analyzed signals, time-drift correction and
quantitative calibration for trace element analysis and U–Pb dating (Liu
et al., 2008, 2010). Concordia diagrams and weighted mean calculations
50
Geoscience Frontiers 12 (2021) 39–52
were made using Isoplot/Ex_ver3 (Ludwig, 2003). The analytical results
are listed in Supplementary Table 1.
Fourteen samples were powdered into 200 meshes for elemental
analysis. All samples were carried out at the State Key Laboratory of
Geological Processes and Mineral Resources (GPMR), China University of
Geosciences in Wuhan (CUG). Major elements were analyzed by tradi-
tional X–ray fluorescence (XRF) method using a Shimadzu Sequential
1800 spectrometer, the analysis precision is generally better than 5%.
Trace elements and REE analyses were carried by an Aglient 7500a
ICP–MS. The analytical precision is better than 5% for elements >10
ppm, less than 8% for those <10 ppm, and 10% for transition metals. The
analytical results for the typical samples are shown in Supplementary
Table 2.
Nd isotopic analyses were performed on a Finnigan MAT 261 thermal
ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) in static mode at the GPMR, CUG.
Approximately 0.1 g of whole-rock powder was dissolved using a mixture
of HNO3 and HF acids. Nd were separated using standard ion exchange
chemical techniques. The total procedural blank is less than 5  1010 g
for Nd. The detailed analytical techniques for Nd isotopes are similar to
those described by Gao et al. (1999). All of the measured 143Nd/144Nd
ratios were normalized to 146Nd/144Nd ¼ 0.7219, respectively, to correct
for instrumental mass fractionation. The reported 143Nd/144Nd ratios
were adjusted to the La Jolla Nd standard 143Nd/144Nd ¼ 0.511860. The
analytical results for the typical samples are shown in Supplementary
Table 2.
Zircon in-situ Hf isotopic analysis was carried out on a Neptune Plus
MC–ICP–MS in combination with a Geolas 2005 excimer ArF laser
ablation system at the GPMR, CUG. Helium was used as the carrier gas to
transport the ablated sample. The instrumental conditions and detailed
analytical procedure followed Hu et al. (2012). The calculation of the
initial Hf isotope values used the 176Lu decay constant of 1.865  1011
a1 (Scherer et al., 2001). The calculated model ages (TDM1) are based on
the depleted mantle model described by Griffin et al. (2000). The
two-stage model age (TDM2) was also calculated on basis of 176Lu/177Hf
¼ 0.015 for average continental crust (Griffin et al., 2002). The Hf
analytical results are listed in Supplementary Table 3.
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