Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893

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Gondwana Research
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U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar geochronological constraints on the exhumation history of the

North Qinling terrane, China
Yunpeng Dong a,b,⁎, Johann Genser b, Franz Neubauer b, Guowei Zhang a, Xiaoming Liu a,
Zhao Yang a,c, Bianca Heberer b
a
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
b
Department of Geography and Geology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
c
Geowissenschaften, Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, D-09599 Freiberg, Germany

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

Article history: The amphibolite facies grade North Qinling metamorphic unit forms the centre of the Qinling orogenic belt.
Received 22 July 2010 Results of LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon, 40Ar/39Ar amphibole and biotite dating reveal its Palaeozoic tectonic history.
Received in revised form 16 September 2010 U-Pb zircon dating of migmatitic orthogneiss and granite dykes constrains the age of two possible stages of
Accepted 17 September 2010
migmatization at 517 ± 14 Ma and 445 ± 4.6 Ma. A subsequent granite intrusion occurred at 417 ± 1.6 Ma. The
Available online 1 October 2010 40
Ar/39Ar plateau ages of amphibole ranging from 397 ± 33 Ma to 432 ± 3.4 Ma constrain the cooling of the
Handling Editor: W.J. Xiao Qinling complex below ca. 540 °C and biotite 40Ar/39Ar ages at about 330–368 Ma below ca. 300 °C. The ages are
used to construct a cooling history with slow/non-exhumation during 517– 445 Ma, a time-integrated cooling at
Keywords: a rate b 2.5 °C/Ma during the period of 445–410 Ma, an acceleration of cooling at a rate of 8 °C/Ma from 397 Ma to
U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology 368 Ma, and subsequently slow/non-cooling from 368 to 330 Ma. The data show a significant delay in
Cooling age exhumation after peak metamorphic conditions and a long period of tectonic quiescence after the suturing of the
Exhumation North China and South China blocks along the Shangdan suture. These relationships exclude classical exhumation
North Qinling terrane models of formation and exhumation of metamorphic cores in orogens, which all imply rapid cooling after peak
conditions of metamorphism.
© 2010 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The Qinling orogen is a part of the Qinling–Dabie mountain range
(Fig. 1), which was formed by the collision of the North China and South
China blocks along the Shangdan suture (e.g. Mattauer et al., 1985; Hsu
et al., 1987; Zhao and Coe, 1987; Xu et al., 1988; Zhang et al., 1991; Enkin
et al., 1992; Okay, 1993; Kröner et al., 1993; Li, 1994; Li et al., 1993; Ames
et al., 1996; Hacker et al., 1998; Zhai et al., 1998; Meng and Zhang, 1999;
Faure et al., 2001; Ratschbacher et al., 2003; Tseng et al., 2009). During
the last decade, extensive investigations revealed the existence of
another suture zone, called the Mianlue suture, along the southern
margin of the Qinling–Dabie belt (Zhang et al., 1995a,b, 1996, 2000; Li
et al., 1996; Liu et al., 2001; Xu et al., 2002; Li et al., 2007a). Therefore, the
Qinling–Dabie orogen and its surrounding area can be structurally
subdivided, from north to south, into the Southern North China block
(S-NCB), the North Qinling terrane (NQT), the Shangdan suture (SDS),
the South Qinling microcontinent block (SQB), the Mianlue suture (MLS)
and the South China block (SCB) (Zhang et al., 1995a,b, 2000). A number
of models for the tectonic evolution of the Qinling terrane have been
⁎ Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of
Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China. Tel.: +86 29 88303028; fax: +86 29
88303531.
E-mail address: dongyp@nwu.edu.cn (Y. Dong).
proposed (Meng and Zhang, 1999; Faure et al., 2001; Ratschbacher et al.,
2003). Controversies, however, still exist, in particular on the timing of
the collision and the processes of convergence between the North and
South China blocks along the Shangdan suture zone.
Some authors suggested an Early Paleozoic collision between the
North and South China blocks (Mattauer et al., 1985; Xu et al., 1988; Ren
et al., 1991; Kröner et al., 1993; Zhai et al., 1998), whereas Gao et al. (1995)
argued that the geochemistry of Devonian fine-grained sediments in the
southern Qinling belt indicates a collision of Silurian-Devonian age. Yin
and Nie (1993) argued that the collision between the North and South
China blocks began by the interdigitation of the north-eastern South China
block into the south-eastern Northern China block in the Late Permian and
the process continued until Late Triassic times. Based on the formation of
ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the easternmost part of the
Qinling–Dabie Belt at ~230 Ma (e.g., Li et al., 1993; Okay, 1993; Ames et al.,
1996; Hacker et al., 1998; Katsube et al., 2009), various Late Triassic
continent–continent collision models have been proposed for the region,
as well as for establishing correlations with the adjacent regions (Hsu
et al., 1987; Li, 1994; Oh et al., 2009; Seo et al., 2010). Paleomagnetic data
favoured a Late Triassic–Middle Jurassic collision of the North China and
South China blocks (Zhao and Coe, 1987; Enkin et al., 1992). Ratschbacher
et al. (2003, 2006), Li et al.(2010a,b) and Liu et al. (2011) favoured a
Paleozoic and a Mesozoic ages of collisions along the Shangdan and
Mianlue sutures, respectively. Most researchers believe that the collision

1342-937X/$ – see front matter © 2010 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.gr.2010.09.007
882 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
between the North and the South China blocks occurred after the closure
of the Shangdan Ocean. However, an increasing body of data is not
consistent with simple collision models.
This paper reports new U-Pb ages of zircon and 40Ar/39Ar ages of
hornblende and biotite from magmatic and metamorphic rocks from
the NQT. Based on this new dataset, we discuss the exhumation and
cooling history of the NQT in order to advance the understanding of
the tectonic processes during convergence between the North and
South China blocks along the Shangdan zone. It shows that cooling of
the North Qinling terrane was an unusually slow process, which
cannot be explained by classical exhumation models operative within
the other centre of continent-continent collisional orogens.
2. Geological setting
The Qinling mountain range lies between the North and South
China blocks (Fig. 1), bounded on the north by the Lushan fault and on
the south by the Mianlue–Bashan–Xiangguang fault (Dong et al.,
2008a). The Lushan fault is an intra-continental thrust along which
the North Qinling terrane was thrust onto the southern margin of the
North China block and formed during the Mesozoic–Cenozoic. The
Mianlue–Bashan–Xiangguang fault is also an overthrust along which
the South Qinling belt was emplaced onto the South China block
(Dong et al., 2008a). The existence of two sutures is well documented,
i.e. the Shangdan suture in the north and the Mianlue suture in the
south (Zhang et al., 1995b; Li et al., 2009, 2010a,b). A large number of
geochemical and geochronological studies suggest that the Mianlue
suture zone was evolved due to the closure of a northern branch of the
Paleo-Tethyan Ocean, which separated the South Qinling micro-
continental block from the South China block during Devonian to
Middle Triassic times (Zhang et al., 1995a,b, 2000; Li et al., 1996;
2007a; Xu et al., 2002; Dong et al., 1999, 2004). Subsequently, it was
overprinted by the overthrust of the Mianlue–Bashan–Xiangguang
fault during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (Zhang et al., 2000;
Dong et al., 2008a).
2.1. Southern sectors of the North China block
The southern sectors of the North China block consist mainly of
amphibolite facies metamorphosed Archean–Palaeoproterozoic base-
ment complexes (Zhang et al., 2000) and weakly metamorphosed basic
volcanic and sedimentary cover sequences ranging in age from
Mesoproterozoic to Mesozoic. Mesozoic Granitic intrusions are abun-
dant, and the region also underwent intra-continental deformation
during Mesozoic–Cenozoic times (Zhang, 1989; Zhang et al., 1995a; Xu et
al., 1988; Ren et al., 1991).
2.2. North Qinling terrane
The North Qinling terrane is bounded by the Luonan–Luanchuan fault
(LLF) on the north and the Shangdan suture (SDS) on the south (Fig. 1). It
comprises predominantly several lenticular Palaeoproterozoic crystalline
basement units, overlying Meso-Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary
rocks, late Mesoproterozoic ophiolites, and Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic
volcano-sedimentary assemblages. These units underwent amphibolite
facies metamorphism at ~1.0 Ga, followed by retrogression to greenschist
facies conditions at ~400 Ma (Chen et al., 1991; Liu et al., 1993; Zhang
et al., 1994a,b) and are locally covered unconformably by Carboniferous-
Permian clastic deposits. From north to south, the main rock units in this
belt are the Kuanping, Erlangping, and Qinling Groups, and the
Songshugou ophiolite, which are separated from each other by thrust
faults or ductile shear zones (Fig. 1).
The Kuanping Group mainly comprises greenschists, amphibolites,
quartz-micaschists, gneisses and marbles. The protoliths of both the
greenschists and amphibolites were tholeiitic basalts with N-MORB
and T-MORB geochemical characteristics (Zhang and Zhang, 1995).
Sm-Nd whole-rock isochron ages of these metabasalts range from
0.94 to 1.2 Ga (Zhang et al., 1994a,b).
The Erlangping Group is composed of an ophiolitic unit, clastic
sedimentary successions and carbonates. The ophiolitic unit contains
sparse ultramafic rock, massive basalt, pillow basalt, and rare
intercalations of radiolarian chert. The geochemistry of the basalt
suggests formation in a back-arc basin setting (Sun et al., 1996). The
findings of Lower to Middle Ordovician radiolarians within the cherts
confirm that the back-arc basin existed during Early Palaeozoic times
(Wang et al., 1995).
The Qinling Group is composed of gneiss, marble and amphibolite,
whose protoliths were clastic rock, limestone (You and Suo, 1991) and
interlayer of continental tholeiitic lavas, respectively (Zhang et al., 1994a,
b). U-Pb isotopic ages of zircon from gneisses range from 2172 to 2267 Ma,
whereas the Sm-Nd whole-rock isochron age of the amphibolites (meta-
tholeiites) is 1987±49 Ma (Zhang et al., 1994a,b). Further age data
indicates that the Qinling Group is a Paleoproterozoic complex, which
underwent amphibolite facies metamorphism at 990±0.4 Ma and a
greenschist facies metamorphic overprint at ca. 425±48 Ma (Chen et al.,
1991).
The Songshugou ophiolite consists primarily of amphibolite facies
mafic and ultramafic rocks. The geochemistry suggests predominant
E- and T-MORB affinities, indicative of the initial stage of an oceanic
spreading centre (Dong et al., 2008b). Combined with regional
correlations, abundant isotopic age data reveal that the ocean evolved
between 1.4 and 1.0 Ga (Li et al., 1993; Zhang et al., 1994a,b; Chen
et al., 2002; Dong et al., 2008b).
2.3. Shangdan suture
The Shangdan suture zone is defined by a linear, patchy distribution
of tectonic and ophiolitic melanges and arc-related volcanic rocks. These
units were overprinted by a series of ductile shear zones and brittle fault
systems, and were intruded by subduction- and collision-related
granitoids. The ophiolite- and subduction-related volcanic rocks are the
most important members of the Danfeng Group, which were over-
printed by greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphic
assemblages. The geochemistry indicates that the metamorphosed
calc-alkaline basalts, some massive and some pillow lavas were formed
in a typical intra-oceanic island-arc setting (Zhang et al., 1994a,b). The
metamorphosed tholeiitic basalts were generated at a mid-ocean ridge,
as evidenced by a slight depletion of light rare earth elements (Dong
et al., 2010). The U-Pb zircon ages of gabbros from ophiolites within the
western part of the suture range from 530 to 471 Ma (Yang et al., 2006;
Pei et al., 2007; Li et al., 2007b). These isotopic ages consistent with the
Ordovician to Silurian age of radiolarian from the interlayer cherts within
the Danfeng ophiolite in the Guojiagou area (Cui et al., 1996).
2.4. South Qinling block
Unlike the thick-skinned structures of the North Qinling terrane,
the South Qinling belt is of thin-skinned nature, characterized by
south-vergent thrusts and folds showing an imbricated thrust-fold
system (Zhang et al., 2000). The basement of the South Qinling belt
contains several Precambrian complexes (e.g. Xiaomoling, Douling,
Tongbai-Dabie, Foping and Yudongzi complexes), all of which contain
Meso- to Neoproterozoic rift-type volcano-sedimentary assemblages
metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions (Zhang et al.,
1995a). The sedimentary cover includes Sinian clastic and carbonate
rocks, Cambrian-Ordovician limestones, Silurian shales, and Devonian
to Carboniferous clastic rocks and limestones. A few remnants of
Upper Palaeozoic–Lower Triassic clastic sedimentary rocks are also
present in the northern part of the South Qinling belt (Zhang et al.,
2000).
 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
Fig. 1. (a) Simplified geological map of the Northern Qinling belt. (b) Insert shows location within China.
3. Sample descriptions
All the samples presented in this study are from the same outcrop
of the Qinling metamorphic complex unit of the NQT in the Qingyouhe
area (Fig. 1). At this location, gneisses of the Qinling Group are
exposed (Fig. 2a) intercalated with lenticular amphibolites, and
garnet-amphibolites distributed parallel to the foliation of the banded
gneisses (Fig. 2b). The gneisses were migmatitized as indicated by
highly deformed lenticular bodies of granitoids within the foliation
(Fig. 2a). Granitic dykes intruded the gneiss, which are now parallel to
the foliation of the gneiss, and folded together with the gneisses
(Fig. 2c). These dykes can be distinguished from the first generation
granitoids by their sharp contacts. The third generation of granitoids
intruded into the gneiss and cut the foliation of the migmatitic gneiss
(Fig. 2d).
Samples Qy-01 and 027 N-275 were taken from the amphibole-
gneiss, whereas sample 027 N-266 and 027 N-271 were collected from a
lenticular garnet-amphibolite body within the migmatitic gneiss.
Sample Qy-04 came from first generation granitoids (migmatitic
granite) within the migmatitized gneiss, whereas samples Qy-02 and
027 N-289 were from the host gneisses. The second and third
generations of granite intrusions were represented by samples Qy-06
and Qy-03, respectively.
4. Analytical techniques
High spatial resolution U-Th-Pb and REE were obtained using the laser
ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) at
the State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of
Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China. Each sample consisted of
20 kg of material was crushed into powder, and then washed and dried.
Zircons were separated by heavy-liquid and magnetic methods and then
handpicked under a binocular microscope. The internal texture of zircons
was examined using cathodoluminescence (CL) images. Zircons were
dated in-situ on the LA-ICP-MS. Trace element (REE, Lu, Hf, Ta, Nb, Th, Ti
883
and P) compositions were simultaneously collected from the same laser
ablation spot. The laser-ablation system used is a GeoLas 200 M equipped
with a 193 nm ArF-excimer laser, and a homogenizing and imaging
optical system (MicroLas, Göttingen, Germany). Analyses were performed
on the ELAN 6100 ICP-MS from Perkin Elmer/SCIEX (Canada) with a
dynamic reaction cell (DRC). The laser ablation spot size is approximately
40 μm. 207Pb/206Pb, 206Pb/238U, 237Pb/235U and 208Pb/232Th ratios were
calculated using GLITTER 4.0 (Macquarie University), and were corrected
for both instrumental mass bias and depth-dependent elemental and
isotopic fractionation using Harvard zircon 91500 as the external
standard. The ages were calculated using ISOPLOT 3 (Ludwig, 2003).
The detailed analytical procedure of age and trace element determinations
of zircons can be found in Yuan et al. (2004). Common Pb corrections were
made following the method of Anderson et al. (2002).
Laser-probe 40Ar/39Ar analysis was carried out at the ARGONAUT
Laboratory of the Geology Division at the University of Salzburg. Four
amphibole and three biotite concentrates were separated from the
metamorphosed Qinling Group, and were irradiated in the MTAKFKI
reactor (Debrecen, Hungary). 40Ar/39Ar analysis was carried out using
an UHV Ar–extraction line equipped with a combined MERCHANTEK™
UV/IR laser ablation facility, and a VG–ISOTECHTM NG3600 mass
spectrometer. Stepwise heating was performed using a defocused
(~1.5 mm diameter) 25 W CO2–IR laser operating in Tem00 mode at
wavelengths between 10.57 and 10.63 μm. Isotopic ratios, ages and
errors for individual steps were calculated following the suggestions of
McDougall and Harrison (1999) and applying decay constants reported
by Steiger and Jaeger (1977). Definition and calculation of plateau ages
has been carried out using ISOPLOT/EX (Ludwig, 2003). Correction
factors for interfering isotopes have been calculated from 10 analyses
of two Ca-glass samples and 22 analyses of two pure K-glass samples,
and are: 36Ar/37Ar(Ca) = 0.00026025, 39Ar/37Ar(Ca) = 0.00065014, and
40
Ar/39Ar(K) = 0.015466. Variations in the neutron flux were monitored
with DRA1 sanidine standard for which a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of
25.03 ± 0.05 Ma has been reported (Wijbrans et al., 1995; van
Hinsbergen et al., 2008), and errors on the ages are 1σ inter-laboratory.
884 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893

Fig. 2. Field photographs showing mutual geological relationships of data rocks. (a) the migmatitic granite was foliated together with the host gneisses and the samples locations;
(b) migmatite intercalated with lenticular amphibolites and garnet-amphibolites, which distribute parallel to the foliations of the banded gneisses; (c) granitic dyke intruded the
gneiss, parallel to the foliation of the gneiss, and folded together with the gneisses; (d) the third generation of granitoids intruded into the gneiss and cut the foliations of the
migmatitic gneiss.

5. Results mean age of 417±1.6 Ma (MSWD=0.90), which is in accordance with a

5.1. Zircon U-Pb dating
Results of U-Pb single zircon dating of three samples are presented in
e-component Table 1 and Fig. 3. Trace element compositions of single
zircons analyzed in-situ by LA-ICP-MS are listed in e-component Table 2.
The cathodoluminescence (CL) images of representative zircons for
each sample are shown in Fig. 4.
Zircons from the migmatitic granites (sample Qy-04), which were
foliated together with the host gneisses (Fig. 2a), yield several groups
of 206Pb/238U ages. The CL images display rounded, inherited cores and
thin recrystallized rims (Fig. 4a). There is an opaque or translucent
transitional belt between the cores and the rims. The rims of zircons
display variable 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 433 to 525 Ma but with
two discrete populations of grains recording with weighted mean
ages of 455 ± 4.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.46) and 517 ± 14 Ma (MSWD = 14)
(Fig. 3a).
Zircons from the granitic dyke (second generation granitoids)
(sample Qy-06) (Fig. 2c), oriented parallel to the foliation of the host
gneisses, also exhibit well-developed crystal faces with length/width
ratios ranging from 2:1 to 3:1. Conspicuous magmatic oscillatory zoning
is observed in CL images (Fig. 4b). Some zircons display inherited cores.
Eight spot analyses on the rims yield 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 435
to 454 Ma with a weighted mean age of 445 ± 4.6 Ma (MSWD= 2.9)
(Fig. 3b).
Zircons from the third generation granite (sample Qy-03), which cuts
the foliation of the gneisses (Fig. 2d), exhibit well-developed crystal faces
with length/width ratios ranging from 3:1 to 4:1. Transparent to
translucent, colourless to pale pink grains showing a well developed
magmatic oscillatory zoning in CL images are dominant (Fig. 4c). These
zircons yield 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 409 to 422 Ma with a weighted
low intercept age of 420±3.6 Ma (MSWD=0.49) (Fig. 3c). Three spot
analyses in the core of the zircons yield 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 902
to 915 Ma with a weighted mean age of 908±7.3 Ma (MSWD=1.18).
5.2. Geochemistry of zircons
Element composition of zircons analyzed from the three granite
generations shows variable Th/U ratios (Table 1 and Fig. 5). All the
Th/U data from the rims of sample Qy-04 show lower Th/U ratios
(b 0.2), and ten of the sixteen measurements show a Th/U ratio b0.1
(Fig. 5a), while their 206Pb/238U apparent ages ranging from 433 to
523 Ma (Fig. 3a). The Th/U ratios of zircons from sample Qy-04 are
lower than that of the sample Qy-03, which should be derived from a
typical magmatic origin. In addition to, the zircons from sample Qy-04
display clearly higher Hf, Yb and U, and lower Th contents than third
generation granitic intrusion (sample Qy-03) as illustrated in Fig. 6.
Zircons from sample Qy-06 with 206Pb/238U apparent ages from 435 to
454 Ma show Th/U ratios ranging from 0.04 to 0.26, and mostly have Th/U
ratioN 0.1 (Fig. 5b). The zircons from the third generation of granite
(sample Qy-03) with U-Pb ages ranging from 409 to 422 Ma exhibit Th/U
ratiosN 0.36 (Fig. 5c). Additionally, two of the three 902–915 Ma cores
have Th/U ratios N0.2, whereas the other has a Th/U ratio of 0.13 but the
grain is unlikely to be of metamorphic origin.
Zircons with reliable weighted mean U-Pb ages ranging from 502 to
525 Ma in sample Qy-04, 435 to 454 Ma in sample Qy-06, and 409 to
422 Ma in sample Qy-03 exhibit perfectly positive Ce anomalies and
negative Eu anomalies in C1 chondrite-normalized REE patterns (Fig. 7a,
c and e). However, zircons from sample Qy-04 with U-Pb ages ranging
from 597 to 702 Ma (Fig. 7b), and zircons from Qy-03 with U-Pb ages of
669 and 905 (Fig. 7f) have no obvious positive Ce anomalies and
 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893 885

analyses for all minerals from the representative samples are listed in
e-component Table 3 and are graphically shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

5.3.1. Amphibole
All amphiboles from the garnet–amphibolite (samples 027 N-266
and 027 N-271) and amphibolite gneiss (samples 027 N-275 and
027 N-289) yield plateau ages of about 400 Ma (Fig. 8). The
amphiboles from sample 027 N-271 display two steps with a large
spectrum, giving plateau ages of 409 ± 5.5 Ma and 410 ± 26 Ma
(Fig. 8a) which are defined by 35% and 50% of total 39Ar released for
intermediate- and high-temperature argon release steps, respectively.
Their Ca/K ( = 1.78*37Ar/39Ar) ratios show large variations with
successive heating steps (Fig. 8a). The higher apparent age and
lower 37Ar/39Ar ratios during the first heating steps show significant
excess 40Ar. An average age of 410 ± 10 Ma is calculated from these
two steps.
The amphiboles from the second sample of garnet–amphibolite
(027 N-266) yield two plateau ages of 486 ± 16 Ma and 432 ± 3.4 Ma
(Fig. 8b) which are separated by particularly old apparent ages in
intermediate-energy release steps. The plateau ages are defined by
85% of total 39Ar released for successive steps (Fig. 8b).
The amphibole concentrate from the amphibole-gneiss (sample
027 N-275) displays a fairly flat age spectrum with a well-defined
plateau, giving an age of 397 ± 33 Ma (Fig. 8c) with over 95% 39Ar
released, The Ca/K ( = 1.78*37Ar/39Ar) ratios show little variation
with successive heating steps (Fig. 8c).
The amphibole from amphibole gneiss sample 027 N-289 has a
similar 40Ar/39Ar age spectrum to sample 027 N-271, which is
characterized by two plateau ages of 412 ± 32 Ma and 396 ± 12 Ma
being separated by abnormal apparent ages in the intermediate argon
release steps. An average age of 405 ± 15 Ma was calculated with 80%
of total 39Ar released (Fig. 8d).

Fig. 3. U-Pb diagrams of dated zircons. Insets show details of zircon grains used for
calculation of ages.
5.3.2. Biotite
The biotite from sample 027 N-271 displays a flat age spectrum
with an age of 368 ± 1.6 Ma (Fig. 9a). It is defined by 60% of total 39Ar
released for thirteen successive intermediate- and high-temperature
steps at 1σ level of uncertainty. The Ca/K ( = 1.78*37Ar/39Ar) ratios
show little variation with successive heating steps (Fig. 9a). A
significant second plateau of intermediate-temperature steps gives a
plateau age of about 339 ± 40 Ma. If the first plateau being considered,
an average age of 365 ± 4.6 Ma will be calculated (Fig. 9a).
The biotite concentrates of sample 027 N-275 and Qy-02 yield a fairly
flat age spectrum with well-defined plateaus giving ages of 333±1.4 Ma
(Fig. 9b) and 330±1.3 Ma (Fig. 9c), respectively. They are defined by 95
and~100% of total 39Ar released for more than fourteen successive heating
steps at 1σ level of uncertainty. These ages are internally consistent with
the second 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of biotite of sample 027 N-271.
All the biotites from various lithological units (e.g. sample 027 N-271
of garnet-amphibolite, sample 027 N-275 of amphibolite-gneiss, and
sample Qy-02 of gneiss) display similar biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages
ranging from 330 to 340 Ma. Only biotites from the garnet-amphibolite
of sample 027 N-271 yield an older age of 368 ± 1.6 Ma.

6. Discussion
negative Eu anomalies in C1 chondrite-normalized REE diagrams
(Fig. 7b and f). 6.1. Timing of tectono-magmatic events and the trace element geochemistry
of zircons

40
5.3. Ar/39Ar dating U-Pb zircon dating of migmatitic orthogneiss and younger granitoid
intrusions provides chronological constraints on tectono-magmatic
40
Ar/39Ar dating of amphibole and biotite concentrates, each events and thus the tectonic evolutionary history of the Qinling
representing 10–15 grains, from the metamorphic rocks was metamorphic complex. The Th/U ratios are routinely used to distinguish
performed in order to constrain the exhumation history of the Qinling the origin of zircon (e.g. Maas et al., 1992). Th/U ratios in magmatic
metamorphic complex subsequent to migmatization. The 40Ar/39Ar zircons from various rocks mostly range from 0.2 to 1.0, while zircons
886 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893

Fig. 4. Cathodoluminescence images of dated zircon grains. The circles show the analyzed spots, and the numbers give the age results.

that grew due to metamorphic events exhibit lower Th/U ratios ( b 0.1)
(Williams and Claesson, 1987; Schiøtte et al., 1988; Kinny et al., 1990).
In this study, the zircons from the three different granite
generations show variable Th/U ratios. The zircons from the third
generation of granite with U-Pb ages ranging from 409 to 422 Ma,
which is undeformed and crosscuts the gneissic foliation, exhibit Th/U
ratios N0.36 (Fig. 5a and Table 1). These high Th/U ratios are
consistent with the CL images which show magmatic oscillatory
zoning in zircons (Fig. 4a), indicating for magmatic growth. Hence, we
interpret the weighted mean U-Pb age of 417 ± 1.6 Ma
(MSWD = 0.90) (Fig. 3a) as the magma crystallization age of the
third granitoid intrusion. Two of the three 902–915 Ma old zircons
also have Th/U ratios N 0.2, whereas the third measurement yielded a
Th/U ratio of 0.13. However, a metamorphic origin is considered as
unlikely, and zircons of unambiguously magmatic origin have been
shown to contain low Th/U ratios (Zeck and Whitehouse, 1999). Since
all these ages are dated within the inherited cores of zoned zircons
(Fig. 4a), it seams reasonable to infer their original growth during
tectono-magmatic events during 902 to 915 Ma.
Zircons from sample Qy-06 (206Pb/238U apparent ages 435–454 Ma),
separated from foliation-parallel granitic dykes (Fig. 2c) show Th/U ratios
ranging from 0.04 to 0.26 (Fig. 5b). Compared to the well-developed
crystal morphology, light color and high length/width ratios ranging from
3:1 to 4:1 in sample Qy-03, the zircons from Qy-06 exhibit a relative dark
color and a small length/width ratio ranging from 2:1 to 3:1 (Fig. 4b).
These characteristics are similar to that of the zircons from the migmatitic
 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
Fig. 5. Th/U vs. Age of dated zircon grains.
granite sample Qy-04 (Fig. 4c). Eight spot analyses on the rims yield
magmatic ages ranging from 435 to 454 Ma with a weighted mean age of
445±4.6 Ma (MSWD=2.9) (Fig. 3b). Based on mapping of this locality,
geological evidence indicates these granitic dykes were folded together
with the foliation of the host migmatitic gneiss. Granitic dykes are
exposed as lenticular veins or dykes with a slight foliation at their
edges, by even texture and discontinuous boundaries between the
dykes and the migmatitic orthogneiss. It is striking that a similar
206
Pb/238U weighted mean age of 455 ± 4.5 Ma (MSWD= 0.46) and
lower intercept age of 446 ± 38 Ma (MSWD = 27) was determined for
the migmatitic granite sample Qy-04 (Fig. 3c). Therefore, we suggest
that the granite dykes (sample Qy-06) formed at the final stage of
migmatization at 445 ± 4.6 Ma.
The Th/U ratios of zircon rims from sample Qy-04 are lower ( b 0.2,
mostly b 0.1; Fig. 5b) than that of the sample Qy-03, to which a
magmatic origin has been ascribed. 206Pb/238U apparent ages range
from 433 to 523 Ma (Fig. 5c). The CL images of sample Qy-04 reveal a
morphology similar to sample Qy-06, but different from sample Qy-03
(Fig. 4). The rims of zircons display two groups of 206Pb/238U ages
ranging from 433 to 525 Ma with weighted mean ages of 455 ± 4.5 Ma
(MSWD = 0.46) and 517 ± 14 Ma (MSWD = 14) (Fig. 3c). Most of
these zircons are concordant and yield an average age of 517 ± 14 Ma,
which we suggest as time of migmatization. As documented above,
the weighted mean age of 455 ± 4.5 Ma and lower intercept age of
446 ± 38 Ma of zircons from the migmatitic granite are concordant,
within the error range, with the age of 445 ± 4.6 Ma for sample Qy-06.
887
Fig. 6. Bivariate geochemical discrimination of dated zircon grains.
This is interpreted to represent the time of a last thermal episode of
the migmatization of the North Qinling metamorphic complex.
Although it is used to discriminate metamorphic and magmatic
zircons (Mojzsis and Harrison, 2002), the low Th/U ratio of
metamorphic zircon can be caused by involvement of competing
effects of Th-rich minerals (e.g. monazite and allanite) (Williams
et al., 1996; Rubatto et al., 2001). On the other hand, metamorphic
zircons from high-grade metamorphic orthogneisses can show high
Th/U ratios (Friend and Kinny, 2001; Möller et al., 2003) which likely
preserve protolith values (Möller et al., 2002). Meanwhile, some
authors also argued for exceptional cases of igneous zircon with low
Th/U ratios (Zeck and Whitehouse, 1999; Hidaka et al., 2002) and it
seems difficult to distinguish between igneous and metamorphic
origins of zircons from the Th/U ratios alone (Hidaka et al., 2002). To
further elucidate the magmatic vs. metamorphic provenance of the
zircons, trace element analyses were carried out. It provides further
important geochemical information on the nature of the zircon source
materials (Ireland and Wlotzka, 1992; Maas et al., 1992; Guo et al.,
1996; Poller et al., 2001; Wilde et al., 2001; Hidaka et al., 2002;
Hokada and Harley, 2004). The Y and Hf contents of zircons can be
used to discriminate the tectonic setting of rocks (Pupin, 1992), and
888 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
Fig. 7. Rare earth element patterns of dated zircon grains.
the U, Th and REE concentrations also yield constraints on the age of
the samples (Ashwal et al., 1999; Hoskin and Black, 2000).
Zircons from the migmatitic granite (Sample Qy-04) clearly show
higher Hf, Yb and U, and lower Th contents than most of the third
generation granitic intrusion (sample Qy-03) (Fig. 6). These patterns
are likely the result of competing growth of Th-rich minerals, which is
indicated by presence of monazite within thin section.
In this study, most zircons with reliable weighted mean 206Pb/238U
ages exhibit strong heavy REE enrichment, variable positive Ce
anomalies and negative Eu anomalies in C1 chondrite-normalized
REE patterns (Fig. 7a, c and e). However, there still have some zircons
showing weak positive Ce anomalies and negative Eu anomalies in C1
chondrite-normalized REE diagrams (Fig. 7b and f), such as zircons
from sample Qy-04 have U-Pb ages ranging from 597 to 725 Ma
(Fig. 7b), and zircons from Qy-03 with U-Pb ages of 615 and 915 Ma
(Fig. 7f). Above all, zircons with the U-Pb ages ranging from 502 to
525 Ma in sample Qy-04, 435 to 454 Ma in sample Qy-06, and 409 to
422 Ma in sample Qy-03 exhibit perfectly positive Ce anomalies and
negative Eu anomalies in C1 chondrite-normalized REE patterns
(Fig. 7a,c,e). Whitehouse et al. (2005) report zircons from Archean
high-grade metamorphic rocks mostly without any Ce and Eu
anomalies in chondrite-normalized REE diagrams. If this is indeed
the case, the data indicate an age dependence of Ce and Eu anomalies
in the zircons, which will be potential tracers of magmatic and
migmatitic zircons.
It is notable that the three samples contain some Neoproterozoic
U-Pb zircon ages ranging from 902 to 915 Ma in granite (sample
Qy-03), 902 to 928 Ma in migmatitic granite (sample Qy-04) and
861 Ma in granite dyke (sample Qy-06). All these ages were derived
from the inherited cores of zircons. Their Th/U ratios are mostly higher
than 0.2 (Fig. 5 and Table 1). This is in accordance with several
Neoproterozoic plutons that have been documented in the North
Qinling terrane, such as the Caiwa post-collisional granite (U-Pb zircon
age of 889 ± 10 Ma; Zhang et al., 2004), the Niujiaoshan granite (U-Pb
zircon age of 958 ± 7 Ma; Wang et al., 2003), the Xilaoyu granodiorite
(U-Pb zircon age of 955 ± 5 Ma, Chen et al., 2006), the Zhaigen granite
(U-Pb zircon age of 914 ± 10 Ma; Chen et al., 2006), the Guanshan
granite (U-Pb zircon age of 926 ± 16 Ma; Chen et al., 2006), the Dehe
 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
Fig. 8. 40Ar/39Ar release patterns and K/Ca ratio of amphibole from the Qinling complex.
granite (U-Pb zircon age of 943 ± 18 Ma, Chen et al., 2004a,b), and the
Fangcheng alkali-syenite (U-Pb zircon age of 844 ± 1.6 Ma; Bao et al.,
2008). The migmatites have undergone partial melting, as evidenced
by the presence of abundant leucosomes. Therefore, the ages of zircon
cores are inferred to be record of Neoproterozoic magmatism (Wang
et al., 2001, 2003), that occurred after the Grenville orogen (Dong et al.,
2008b).
6.2. Exhumation of the Qinlng complex and tectonic implications
The radiometric geochronometers allow dating processes which
operate over a wide temperature range from N850 °C (U-Pb zircon ) to
40 °C (apatite U-Th/He) (Stuart, 2002). The 40Ar/39Ar isotope dating
technique is not only widely used to date metamorphic and related
deformational events, but also one of the most commonly applied
tools for assessing the cooling and exhumation history, and the
tectonothermal evolution of orogenic belts. Since different minerals
have different blocking temperatures, it has become possible to date
the last cooling age through a specific blocking temperature of certain
889
common minerals, which potentially allows the reconstruction of the
cooling history of a rock unit (Svenningsen, 2000).
As discussed previously, sample Qy-04 was collected from
migmatitic leucosome granite. In general, migmatization occurs over
a wide span of temperatures (625–850 °C), however, the field and
textural evidence indicate that the migmatites in this study were
deformed or overprinted at a relatively low-temperature. For example,
the migmatites were derived from the felsic gneisses with interlayered
amphibolites, which are the major lithological unit of the Qinling
Group. A little of leucosomes are parallel to the well-developed
foliation of migmatitic orthogneiss. Based on the thermodynamic
models and calibrations for the Ti-in-zircon thermometer (Ferry and
Watson, 2007), the temperature of migmatization are calculated as
about 630–700 °C. The U-Pb zircon age of 517 ± 14 Ma derived from
the migmatitic leucosomes may present the major episode of
migmatization at 630–700 °C.
Migmatization is the tectonothermal response of the northward
subduction of the early Palaeozoic Qinling oceanic plate. Subduction is
indicated by the presence of some metamorphosed calc-alkaline
890 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893

basalts and massive and pillow lavas cropping out in the south of the
NQL terrane (Dong et al., 2010). These rocks were shown to have
formed in a typical oceanic island-arc setting (Zhang et al., 1994a,b),
as well as other metamorphosed tholeiitic basalts generated from a
mid-ocean ridge setting with slight depletion of LREE (Dong et al.,
2010). The U-Pb zircon ages of the gabbros from the ophiolite in the
western part of the Shangdan suture range from 530 to 471 Ma (Yang
et al., 2006; Pei et al., 2007; Li et al., 2007b), consistent with
radiolarian ages of intercalated cherts ranging from Ordovician to
Silurian (Cui et al., 1996). Above the subduction zone, there are well-
developed early Palaeozoic subduction-related gabbroic-granitoid
intrusions, such as the Huichizi granite (450–485 Ma, U-Pb zircon ;
Chen et al., 2008) and the Fushui gabbroic-dioritic intrusion
(480–514 Ma, U-Pb zircon; Chen et al., 2004a,b; Su et al., 2004; Li
et al., 2006) . Adakitic rocks from the North Qinling belt indicate the
lower crust thickening after collision at ~430 Ma (Tseng et al., 2009).
The U-Pb age of 445 ± 4.6 Ma from sample Qy-06 (granite dyke),
which is consistent with the age of 455 ± 4.5 Ma from sample Qy-04,
limits the end of the migmatization. This dyke parallels to and is folded
together with the migmatitic foliation, and intruded by 417 ± 1.6 Ma
granites. By means of the Ti-in-zircon thermometer (Ferry and Watson,
2007), we estimate the crystallized temperature of sample Qy-06 at ca.
640–680 °C.
Four samples of amphibole from the garnet amphibolite (samples
027 N-266 and 027 N-271), amphibolite gneiss (samples 027 N-275 and
027 N-289), respectively, yield plateau ages ranging from 410±10 Ma to
397 ± 33 Ma (Fig. 8). The blocking temperature of argon within
hornblende is well documented at ca. 540 °C (Phillips et al., 2007). It is,
therefore, reasonable to interpret that the cooling of the Qinling
metamorphic complex to below ca. 540 °C occurred at about 410–397 Ma.
Based on the blocking temperature of argon diffusion within
biotite at ca. 300 °C (Phillips et al., 2007), the biotites from various
lithological units (e.g. sample 027 N-271 of garnet amphibolite,
sample 027 N-275 of amphibolite gneiss, and sample Qy-02 of gneiss)
display similar biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages, ranging from 330 to
340 Ma (Fig. 9) and represent the time of cooling of the Qinling
metamorphic complex below ca. 300 °C at about 330–340 Ma.
However, it is notable that the biotite from garnet amphibolite
(sample 027 N-271) displays a fairly flat age spectrum giving an age of
368 ± 1.6 Ma (Fig. 9a) with more than 60% of total 39Ar released. This
age is about 30 Ma older than the others ages obtained from biotite.
We assume the age of 368 ± 1.6 Ma to constrain the maximum age
estimate for cooling of the Qinling complex below ca. 300 °C. If indeed,
it implies a period of slower cooling and exhumation between 368 and
330 Ma.
Taking into account the U-Pb zircon and multiple mineral 40Ar/39Ar
Fig. 9. 40Ar/39Ar release patterns of biotite from the Qinling complex.
geochronology, we propose that the main stage of slow cooling and
related exhumation of the Qinling metamorphic complex has occurred
during Mid Palaeozoic times (Fig. 10). The migmatization at 630–700 °C
continent–continent collisional orogens. The investigation along the
occurred sometime after 517 Ma and not later than 445 Ma. After
Mianlue suture zone revealed that the opening of the Mianlue Ocean
445 Ma, slow cooling occurred until a temperature of 540 °C was
occurred in the Late Devonian and Middle Carboniferous time (Zhang
reached. Assuming simple linear cooling from about 630 °C at 445 Ma to
et al., 2000). Therefore, we propose that the slow cooling process of
540 °C at 410 (amphibole) Ma suggests a time-integrated cooling rate
the North Qinling terrane during Late Devonian and Middle
ofb 2.5 °C/Ma. It was then followed by rapid exhumation, with a cooling
Carboniferous times could be related to the extensional geodynamics
rate of 8 °C/Ma from ca. 540 °C at 397 Ma to 300 °C at 368 Ma, and
of the Mianlue Ocean.
subsequently slow/non-cooling from 368 to 330 Ma.
These data show a significant delay in exhumation after peak
7. Conclusions
metamorphic conditions and a long period of tectonic quiescence
after the suturing of the North China and South China blocks along the
The results of the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating from three samples
Shangdan suture during Silurian–Early Devonian. These relationships
of granites and migmatitic leucosome (granite), and 40Ar/39Ar dating
exclude classical exhumation models of the metamorphic cores,
from four amphibole and three biotite concentrates yield the following
which all imply rapid cooling after peak conditions of metamorphism.
conclusions:
After a rapid exhumation in Middle Devonian, the North Qinling
terrane evolved into an unusually slow cooling process during Late (1) U-Pb zircon dating of migmatitic orthogneiss (leucosome)
Devonian and Middle Carboniferous times, which cannot be explained and granite dyke bracket the age of migmatization between
by classical exhumation models operative within the other centre of 517 ± 14 Ma (MSWD = 14) to 445 ± 4.6 Ma (MSWD = 2.9).
 Y. Dong et al. / Gondwana Research 19 (2011) 881–893
Fig. 10. Cooling path of the Qinling terrane.
Subsequent intrusion by granites occurred at 417 ± 1.6 Ma
(MSWD = 0.90).
(2) Four amphibole 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages mostly range from
410 ± 10 Ma to 397 ± 33 Ma and constrain the cooling of the
Qinling complex below ca. 540 °C at about ca. 400 Ma. Three
biotite 40Ar/39Ar ages indicate cooling of the Qinling complex
exhumation below ca. 300 °C at about 330–340 or 368 Ma.
(3) On account of the U-Pb zircon and multiple mineral 40Ar/39Ar
dating, an exhumation model is proposed as: slow/non-
exhumation during 517–445 Ma, a time-integrated cooling
with rates b 2.5 °C/Ma during the 445–410 Ma period, rapid
exhumation with cooling rate of 8 °C/Ma from 397 Ma to
368 Ma, and subsequently slow/non-cooling from 368 to
330 Ma.
Supplementary materials related to this article can be found online
at doi:10.1016/j.gr.2010.09.007.
Acknowledgments
Yunpeng Dong would like to thank Brigitte Winklehner, Gottfried
Tichy and Yong Sun for their kind help. Financial support for this study was
jointly provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(grants: 40772140,40972140), the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, the Austrian
Academic Exchange Service (OEAD), and MOST Special Fund from the
State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University.
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