Timing of the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Alxa Terrane:
Constraints from geochronology and geochemistry of Late Carboniferous to
Permian gabbros and diorites

Qian Liu, Guochun Zhao, Yigui Han, Paul R. Eizenhöfer, Yanlin Zhu,
Wenzhu Hou, Xiaoran Zhang

PII: S0024-4937(16)30464-9
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2016.12.029
Reference: LITHOS 4190

To appear in: LITHOS

Received date: 11 July 2016

Accepted date: 22 December 2016

Please cite this article as: Liu, Qian, Zhao, Guochun, Han, Yigui, Eizenhöfer, Paul
R., Zhu, Yanlin, Hou, Wenzhu, Zhang, Xiaoran, Timing of the final closure of the
Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Alxa Terrane: Constraints from geochronology and geo-
chemistry of Late Carboniferous to Permian gabbros and diorites, LITHOS (2017),
doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2016.12.029

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 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Timing of the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Alxa

Terrane: Constraints from geochronology and geochemistry of Late

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Carboniferous to Permian gabbros and diorites

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Qian Liu a, Guochun Zhao a＊
, Yigui Han a, Paul R. Eizenhöfer b, Yanlin Zhu a,

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Wenzhu Hou a, Xiaoran Zhang a

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a
Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road,

Hong Kong, China

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b
Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, 4107

O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260-3332, USA

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＊
Corresponding author (Prof. Guochun Zhao)
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Office telephone: +852-28578203

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Email: gzhao@hkucc.hku.hk

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Abstract: Connecting the North China Craton to the east and the Tarim Craton to the

west, the Alxa Terrane is a key place in investigating the timing of the final closure of

the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). New LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dating results reveal ca.

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300-268 Ma gabbros and diorites in the Bayan Nuru area in the eastern part of the

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Alxa Terrane. The ~300 Ma gabbros show plagioclase accumulations with anorthite

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compositions, arc-like geochemical affinities with relative enrichment in large ionic

lithophile elements and depletion in high field strength elements (e.g., Ti, Nb and Ta),

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as well as negative Hf(t) and Nd(t) values and high initial 87
Sr/86Sr ratios. These
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features indicate a magma source of an enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized

by high fluid activities. In comparison, the 280-268 Ma gabbros and diorites also have
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arc-like geochemical affinities but show increasingly evolved isotope compositions,

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implying more sediment inputs. Compiled zircon εHf(t) and whole-rock εNd(t) values
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of the magmatic rocks in the Alxa Terrane decrease from the Late Carboniferous to the
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Early Permian, and increase from the Middle Permian to the Triassic. The significantly
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large variation in zircon εHf(t) and whole-rock εNd(t) values at ca. 280-265 Ma likely

reflects a tectonic switch from a subduction setting to a post-collisional setting,

corresponding to the timing of the final closure of the PAO in the Alxa Terrane. Thus,

the PAO progressively closed from west to east along the northern margin of the

Tarim Craton, the Alxa Terrane, and then the northern margin of the North China

Craton during Late Carboniferous to Middle Triassic time.

Key words: Late Paleozoic; Zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes; Whole-rock geochemistry;

Alxa Terrane; Paleo-Asian Ocean

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1. Introduction

The Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) was originated and developed in the consequence

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of the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent since the Neoproterozoic. The

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consumption and closure of the PAO during late Paleozoic to Mesozoic time

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eventually assembled the Siberia and East Europe cratons to the north and the North

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China and Tarim cratons to the south, forming an immense accretionary orogen

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in-between, i.e. the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) (Fig.1a) (Şengör et al., 1993;

Khain et al. 2003; Windley et al., 2007; Xiao et al., 2009, 2013, 2015; Schulmann and
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Paterson, 2011).
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The tectonic processes concerning the late-stage evolution of the PAO and the
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formation of the CAOB have been hotly debated in decades, and considerable

progress has been made. It is generally accepted that the closure of the PAO took place
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along the Tianshan-Solonker suture zones, adjacent to the northern margins of the

North China and Tarim cratons (Şengör et al., 1993; Windley et al., 2007; Xiao et al.,
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2009, 2013, 2015). However, the timing of the final closure of the PAO remains

strongly controversial in a wide time span ranging from the Late Devonian to the

Triassic (Xiao et al., 2009, 2015; Jian et al., 2010; Charvet et al., 2011; Han et al.,

2011, 2016b; Xu et al., 2013; Eizenhöfer et al., 2014, 2015a,b; Zhang et al.,

2015a,b,c). The Alxa Terrane in westernmost Inner Mongolia in China is located in a

key place connecting the North China Craton (NCC) to the east and the Tarim Craton

to the west (Fig.1a), which had suffered southward subduction of the PAO since the

early Paleozoic (Liu et al., 2016). Voluminous late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatic

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rocks occur in this terrane, including predominant granitoids, subordinate

mafic-intermediate intrusions, and minor volcanic rocks (e.g., Liu et al., 2016 and

references therein) (Fig.1b). These magmatic suites provide an ideal window for

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examining the timing of the final closure of the PAO and the accretionary history of

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the southern CAOB.

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Mafic and intermediate magmatic rocks are more sensitive in defining key

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phases of tectonic environments compared to felsic rocks. This forms the justification

of this study, in which we single out gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane to
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perform geochronological, elemental and isotopic investigations. The results provide

new constraints on the origin and tectonic setting of the late Paleozoic magmatism in
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the Alxa Terrane, and shed lights on the subduction processes and the timing of the

final closure of the PAO.

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2. Geological Background
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The Alxa area is situated in western Inner Mongolia, which borders the NCC to

the east by the Langshan fault and the North Qilian Orogen to the southwest by the

Longshoushan fault (Fig.1b). The Alxa area includes four tectonic units from north to

south: the Yagan arc, the Zhusileng-Hangwula arc, the Shalazhashan belt, and the

Nuru-Langshan belt (Fig. 1b; Wang et al., 1994; Wu et al., 1998; Zheng et al., 2014).

Based on different paleontology, sedimentary sequences, and magmatic events, the

Yagan and Zhusileng-Hangwula arcs have been considered to represent the middle

subsets of the southernmost CAOB, whereas the Shalazhashan and Nuru-Langshan

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belts make up the Alxa Terrane (Wang et al., 1994; Wu et al., 1998; Xiao et al., 2015).

The Enger Us fault separates the Alxa Terrane to the south and the southernmost

CAOB to the north (Fig.1b), along which ~300 Ma ophiolitic relics outcrop and

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represent the site of the final closure of the PAO (e.g., BGMRIM, 1991; Wang et al.,

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1994; Wu et al., 1998; Xie et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2014). Ca. 275 Ma Quagan Qulu

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ophiolitie mélange, generated in a back-arc setting (Wu et al., 1998; Zheng et al.,

2014), is distributed along the Badain Jaran fault that subdivides the Alxa Terrane into

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the Shalazhashan and Nuru-Langshan belts (Fig.1b). Largely covered by the Badain
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Jaran desert, the Alxa Terrane contains sporadic Precambrian basement rocks,

Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatic rocks, and minor late Paleozoic sedimentary

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successions (Fig.1b).
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The Precambrian basement rocks are mainly outcropped in the Nuru-Langshan

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belt (Fig.1b), consisting of ~2.5 Ga tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite,

Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses and paragneisses, as well as 970-800 Ma plutonic and

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extrusive rocks (Li et al., 2004; Dan et al., 2012, 2014b; Gong et al., 2012; Zhang et al.,

2013a; Hu et al., 2014; Wu et al., 2014).

The Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatic rocks widely spread in the Terrane (Fig.1b).

A small amount of the early Paleozoic magmatic rocks sporadically occur in the

eastern and southern parts of the Alxa Terrane, characterized by 458-423 Ma diorites

and granitoids (Xu et al., 2013; Dan et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2016). They have been

considered to be related to the southward subduction of the PAO since the early

Paleozoic (Liu et al., 2016). The late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatic rocks are

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predominant, including voluminous 418-239 Ma granitoids and minor 328-249 Ma

gabbros-diorites (e.g., Liu et al., 2016 and references therein), whose tectonic

implications are ambiguous varying from an active continental arc setting, through a

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post-collisional setting to a mantle plume setting (Zhang et al., 2011, 2012, 2013c,

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2014; Ran et al., 2012; Shi et al., 2012; Feng et al., 2013; Peng et al., 2013; Dan et al.,

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2014a; Yang et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2014; Hu et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2015).

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The Paleozoic sedimentary rocks exposed in the Alxa Terrane are represented by

the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian Amushan Formation (Fig.1b). The lower and
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middle sections of the formation are mainly composed of clastic and carbonate rocks,

with interbedded 320-302 Ma mafic-intermediate-acidic volcanic rocks. The upper

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section is made of a molasse deposition, including shales, sandstones and

conglomerates (Dang et al., 2011; Jiang et al., 2011; Lu et al., 2012; Zhang et al.,
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2013c).

3. Petrography and mineral chemistry

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~25 km southeast of Bayan Nuru in the eastern part of the Nuru-Langshan belt,

some mafic to intermediate magmatic rocks outcrop as relatively small elliptical or

irregular intrusive bodies encompassed by the late Paleozoic or Mesozoic granitic

plutons (Fig. 2; Liu et al., 2016). Except for one ~440 Ma quartz diorite intrusion (Liu

et al., 2016), other mafic to intermediate intrusions lack age constraints. In this study,

seven gabbroic and three quartz dioritic counterparts were collected (Fig. 1b).

Detailed sampling locations and mineral assemblages are summarized in Table 1, and

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representative analysis of main mineral phases is listed in Table S1.

3.1. Samples 14LQ07: gabbro and hornblende gabbro

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Five samples (14LQ07A and 14LQ07C-F) were collected from a 450×650 m2

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intrusive body surrounded by a late Paleozoic granitic pluton (Fig. 2). Sample

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14LQ07D is a gabbro, composed of olivine (10%), clinopyroxene (35%) and

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plagioclase (55%). Granular olivine and euhedral plagioclase are included in

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subeuhedral clinopyroxene (Fig. 3a), suggesting the earlier crystallization of olivine

and plagioclase. Olivine grains have XMg = mole Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) varying from 0.67
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to 0.71 and MnO of 0.2-0.3%. Clinopyroxene is calcic augite with XMg values ranging
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from 0.75 to 0.79, and CaO contents of 21.8-22.2% and low Cr2O3 of 0.2-0.5%. Other
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four samples are hornblende gabbro with various hornblende (13-35%), plagioclase

(65-87%) and quartz (0-3%), of which plagioclase shows a cumulate texture, and
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hornblende is locally altered to chlorite. Plagioclase is ubiquitous and dominated by

anorthite (An92-95) without zoning.

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3.2. Samples 14LQ10: hornblende gabbro

Samples 14LQ10B-C are hornblende gabbro from a 250×500 m2 intrusion

encircled by an early Mesozoic granitic pluton (Fig. 2). The major mineral

assemblages are hornblende (12-15%), biotite (~20%), plagioclase (62-65%) and

quartz (~3%), with minor minerals of sphene and apatite (Fig. 3b). Hornblende and

biotite show narrow XMg values of 0.44-0.50 and 0.49-0.51, respectively. Plagioclase

displays normal zoning, with An contents ranging from 45-52 (core) to 29-34 (rim).

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3.3. Samples 14LQ11: quartz diorite

Three quartz diorite samples (14LQ11D-F) were sampled from an elongated

350×3.5 km2 intrusion in the early Mesozoic granitic pluton (Fig. 2). They are

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constituted mainly of 10-15% hornblende with XMg values of 0.41-0.46, 10-15%

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biotite with XMg of 0.49-0.54, 65-75% plagioclase and >5% quartz (Fig. 3c), with

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minor epidote, sphene and apatite. Zoned plagioclase has an An range from 41-47 in

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cores to 26-34 in rims.

4. Analytical methods
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Mineral major-element compositions were determined using a JEOL JXA-8100
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microprobe at the State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute

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of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Whole-rock major-element

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compositions were conducted using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer at the State

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Key Laboratory of Mineral Deposits Research, Nanjing University (NJU), China.

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Whole-rock trace-element components were analyzed by a quadrupole inductively

coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) at the State Key Laboratory of Ore

Deposit Geochemistry, Guiyang Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of

Sciences, China. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images were obtained using a MonoCL3

attached to a scanning electron microscope (JSM-6510A, Japan) at Jinyu Tecnology

Co., Ltd., Chongqing, China. Zircon U-Pb dating analysis for samples 14LQ07A and

14LQ10B was performed using a Nu Plasma high-resolution multi-collector ICPMS

(MC-ICPMS) attached to a 193 nm excimer laser ablation system (Resolution M-50)

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at Department of Earth Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, and a Geolas 193 nm

laser ablation system equipped with a quadrupole ICPMS (LA-ICPMS) at the NJU for

sample 14LQ11D. In situ zircon Lu-Hf isotope analysis was carried out using a

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Neptune Plasma MC-ICPMS equipped with a New Wave ArF 193 nm COMPex Pro

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laser ablation system at the NJU. Whole-rock Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope compositions

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were conducted at the NJU using MC-ICPMS attached to Thermo Scientific Neptune.

For detailed analytical procedures, refer to Appendix A.

5. Results NU
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5.1. LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating of zircon
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The hornblende gabbro sample 14LQ07A has zircons commonly incomplete in

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shape. CL images illustrate oscillatory zoning or parallel light and dark bands (Fig.
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4a). High Th/U ratios of > 0.7 suggest a magmatic origin (Table S2). Twenty-three
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206
analyses show clustered Pb/238U ages, with a weighted mean of 300±1 Ma
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(MSWD=0.5) (Fig. 4a), interpreted as the crystallization age of this hornblende

gabbro.

Zircons from another hornblende gabbro sample 14LQ10B show parallel zoning

(Fig. 4b) and high Th/U ratios (mostly >0.6), indicating an igneous origin. Twenty-six

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grains were analyzed, twenty-two of which yield a weighted mean Pb/238U age of

279±1 Ma (MSWD=1.6) (Fig. 4b). Other four older inherited cores show concordant

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Pb/238U ages between 334 and 321 Ma.

Zircons extracted from a quartz dioritic sample 14LQ11D show prismatic shapes

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with aspect ratios of > 2 (Fig. 4c). They have an average Th/U ratio of 0.34 and broad

zoning internal structures (Fig. 4c), reflecting an igneous origin. Twenty-one analyses

give a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 268±1 Ma (MSWD=0.6) (Fig. 4c), interpreted

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as the crystallization age of the quartz diorite. Besides, three captured zircons yield

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older ages of 308-283 Ma.

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5.2. Whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions

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5.2.1. Major-element compositions
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The 300 Ma gabbros and hornblende gabbros (samples 14LQ07) have low

contents of SiO2, TiO2, K2O, Na2O and P2O5, very high abundances of Al2O3 and
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CaO and a continuous range of Fe2O3t and MgO (Table 2). They show high
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Mg-number (Mg#) ranging from 59 to 68 and subalkaline affinities (Fig. 5).

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Comparatively, ~279 Ma hornblende gabbros (samples 14LQ10) exhibit higher

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contents of SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3t, K2O, Na2O, lower Al2O3 and CaO concentrations, and
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lower Mg# of ~42. They belong to slightly alkaline series (Fig. 5).

Samples 14LQ11 are ca. 268 Ma quartz diorites with highest concentrations of

SiO2, Na2O and P2O5, and lowest MgO and CaO, with lowest Mg# (43-44). They

show subalkaline affinities (Fig. 5) and can be classified into tholeiite series based on

relatively high FeOt/MgO ratios (2.30-2.34; Miyashiro, 1974).

5.2.2. Trace-element compositions

The gabbroic samples 14LQ07 have high Cr and Ni contents, and very low Rb,

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Ba, rare earth elements (REE), high field strength elements (HFSE, e.g., Nb, Ta, Zr

and Hf), Pb, Th and U concentrations (Table 2; Fig. 6). On the contrary, gabbroic

samples 14LQ10 and dioritic samples 14LQ11 show opposite features. The former

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have slightly higher contents of Ni, Ba, REE and HFSE, whereas the latter process

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relatively higher Cr, Rb, Sr and Th contents (Fig. 6).

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With respect to REE patterns, samples 14LQ07 show significantly low REE

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contents of 11-23 ppm, and weak to moderate REE fractionation, and conspicuously

positive Eu anomalies (Fig. 7a). In contrast, samples 14LQ10 and 14LQ11 show
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much higher REE contents of 267-273 ppm and 125-166 ppm, respectively. They

display weakly negative Eu anomalies, with stronger REE fractionation in gabbroic

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samples 14LQ10 that are much alike oceanic island basalt (OIB) in the REE patterns

(Sun and McDonough, 1989) (Fig. 7b).

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Primitive mantle (PM) - normalized incompatible-trace-element spidergrams

illustrate that all gabbros and diorites perform relative enrichment in large ionic
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lithophile elements (LILE, such as Ba and K), light REE (LREE, e.g., La and Sm) and

U, and deficit in Th, Nb and Y (Fig. 7c-d). In particular, ca. 300 Ma gabbroic samples

14LQ07 are more enriched in Sr, and less depleted in HFSE (e.g., Zr, Hf and Ti) and Y,

whereas ca. 280 Ma samples 14LQ10 are more enriched in LREE and P (Fig. 7c-d).

5.3. Zircon Hf-isotope compositions

The 300 Ma zircons from the gabbroic sample 14LQ07A show homogeneous

Hf-isotope compositions with Hf(t) values from -6.01 to -1.75, and two-model ages

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(TCDM) of 1.69-1.42 Ga (Table S3 and Fig. 8a). Similarly, the 280 Ma Zircons in the

gabbroic sample 14LQ10B have restricted Hf(t) values of -5.44 to -1.21 (Fig. 8a). The

268 Ma zircons in the dioritic sample 14LQ11D display relatively lower Hf(t) values

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of -10.15 to -5.51 and older TCDM ages of 1.93-1.64 Ga (Fig. 8a).

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The ca. 334-321 Ma inherited zircons from sample 14LQ10B exhibit clustered

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Hf(t) values of -3.07 to -4.22, whereas one old zircon in sample 14LQ11D have a

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more negative Hf(t) value of -8.70 (Table S3).
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5.4. Whole-rock Sr-Nd isotope compositions

The 300 Ma samples 14LQ07 have initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios varying from 0.707157
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to 0.707220 and Nd(t) values from -9.5 to -7.1. The 279 Ma sample 14LQ10B show a
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slightly higher initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.707226 with a similar Nd(t) value of -7.3. In
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contrast, samples 14LQ11 aged 268 Ma exhibit higher initial Sr/86Sr ratios of
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0.707526-0.707631 and relevant lower Nd(t) values of -10.3 to -9.4 (Table 3; Fig. 8b).
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6. Discussion

6.1. A giant late Paleozoic magmatic event in the Alxa Terrane

Radiometric age data from this work and previous studies indicate several

magmatic episodes in the Alxa Terrane (Data summarized in Liu et al., 2016): Late

Ordovician to Silurian (460-420 Ma), Early Devonian (418-400 Ma), Carboniferous

(359-300 Ma), Permian (299-250 Ma) and Early Triassic (249-239 Ma).

The early Paleozoic magmatic rocks, composed mainly of diorite, quartz diorite

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and granitoids, are sporadically distributed in the eastern and southern parts of the

Alxa Terrane (Xu et al., 2013; Dan et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2016). A few Triassic

dioritic and granitic bodies scatter in the middle and eastern parts of the Alxa Terrane

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(Zhang et al., 2010; Shi et al., 2014b). In comparison, the late Paleozoic magmatic

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rocks are widespread across the terrane, including voluminous Permian granitoids

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occupying an area of 0.5×105 km2, subordinate 418-302 Ma granitoids and minor

328-262 Ma ultramafic-mafic to intermediate magmatic rocks (Dan et al., 2014a; Liu

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et al., 2016). The new zircon U-Pb dating results in this study reveal ca. 300-280 Ma
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hornblende gabbros and gabbros, and ca. 268 Ma quartz diorites in the Bayan Nuru

area of the eastern part of the Alxa Terrane. These rocks occur as relatively small
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intrusive bodies in the Mesozoic and late Paleozoic granitic plutons, implying a
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prolonged late Paleozoic ultramafic-mafic to intermediate magmatic activity in the

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eastern part of the Alxa Terrane.

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6.2. Petrogenesis
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6.2.1. Crystallization conditions

Temperature and pressure conditions during magma crystallization are evaluated

based on a combination of the calibrated Al-in-hornblende barometer (e.g., Anderson

and Smith, 1995) and the hornblende-plagioclase thermometer (Holland and Blundy

(1994). The ca. 280-268 Ma gabbros and diorites yield similar temperatures of

656-764 ℃ and pressures of 3.2-5.1 kbar (Table S1), corresponding to a

crystallization depth of 10-16 km.

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As for the ca. 300 Ma gabbros and hornblende gabbros, the plagioclase

accumulations suggest a shallower derivation depth under low pressure conditions

that is probably situated at the roof of the magma chamber (e.g., Sinton et al., 1993;

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Takagi et al., 2005; Annen et al., 2006; Kemp et al., 2009). Prior crystallization of

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ubiquitous anorthitic plagioclase (An>90) to clinopyroxene also prefers the low

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pressure conditions of 2-3 kbar (e.g., Takagi et al., 2005).

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6.2.2. Sources

The 300 Ma gabbros

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The 300 Ma gabbros in the Alxa Terrane are characterized by plagioclase
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accumulations with markedly low REE contents and positive Eu anomalies, similar to
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other coeval cumulate gabbros in the region (320-300 Ma; Feng et al., 2013; Wang et
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al., 2015) (Fig. 7a). All 320-300 Ma gabbros show subalkaline affinities and high
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contents of Al, Ca, Mg and Cr, and low Si, K, P, LILE (e.g., Rb, Cs and Ba), Pb and
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Th (Figs. 5 and 6), indicating a parental mantle source instead of crustal materials

(e.g., Rudnick and Gao, 2003).

The negative zircon Hf(t) and whole-rock Nd(t) values (Fig. 8a-b) of the 300 Ma

gabbros can be attributed either to melts derived from an asthenospheric mantle with

crustal contamination or to those from an enriched lithospheric mantle. On the one

hand, relatively stable isotopic values (e.g., Hf(t), Nd(t) and 87

Sr/ 86
Sri) without

correlations with Mg# likely rule out crustal assimilation of primary mantle-derived

magma (e.g., Zhang et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2013). On the other hand, the 320-300

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Ma gabbros are characterized by relatively enrichment in LILE, LREE and U, and

depletion in HFSE (e.g., Ti, Nb and Ta), indicative of arc geochemical affinities (Fig.

7c) (e.g., Woodhead et al., 1998; Martian, 1999). This conforms well to derivation of a

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lithospheric mantle metasomatized by slab-derived hydrous fluids or

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sediment-derived melts (e.g., Crawford et al., 1987; Davidson, 1987; Zhang et al.,

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2011; Zheng et al., 2015). In addition, the La/Nb vs. La/Ba plot also supports this

interpretation, because the dispersion to higher La/Nb ratios might reflect the effects

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of lithosphere contamination by subduction fluids/melts (e.g., Fitton, 1995) (Fig. 9a).
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With respect to the fluid- or melt-domain metasomatism, we suggest a fluid

domain based on the following lines of evidence. (1) The plot of Ba/La vs. Th/Yb (Fig.
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9b) illustrates the fluid-dominated metasomatism, because ratios of two similar

incompatible elements that exclude the effects of partial melting and fractional
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crystallization are well adopted as an indicator for different sources; (2)

Extraordinarily low Nb/Ta ratios (mostly <6.0) is commonly related to partial melting
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of low-Mg amphibolites with a large proportion of fluid fluxes (e.g., Foley et al., 2002;

Xiao et al., 2006; Liang et al., 2009); (3) The ubiquitous anorthite (An92-95) occurs in

the 300 Ma gabbros also prefer high water activities. Experimental studies have

suggested that the high H2O contents and high CaO/Na2O ratios of parental magma

are responsible for the formation of extremely calcic plagioclases (Arculus and Wills,

1980; Sinton et al., 1993; Panjasawatwong et al., 1995; Takagi et al., 2005; Lundstrom

and Tepley, 2006). For one thing, rocks with such high CaO/Na2O values have not

been sampled yet, only evidenced by melt inclusions from olivine crystals in some arc

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lavas (Fallon and Green, 1986; Sinton et al., 1993; Nielsen et al., 1995;

Panjasawatwong et al., 1995). For another thing, the abundance of amphibolites in

these gabbros and the occurrence of ultra-calcic plagioclase (An92-95) with moderately

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Fe-rich olivine (Fo67-71) envisage high water activities in the host magma (e.g., Beard,

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1986). Therefore, the 300 Ma gabbros were derived from an enriched lithospheric

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mantle metasomatized by high fluid activities.

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The 280-268 Ma gabbros and diorites

In comparison, the 280-268 Ma gabbros and diorites are also most probably
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derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle, according to their arc affinities with
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relative enrichment in LILE and depletion in HFSE (Fig. 7d), the homogeneous
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enriched isotope compositions (Fig. 8a-b), as well as the La/Nb vs. La/Ba diagram

(Fig. 9a). However, other coeval mafic-intermediate intrusions and enclaves from
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previous studies display a fairly large variation in whole-rock major- and

trace-element compositions with alkaline to calc-alkaline affinities, indicating

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complicated sources of the 280-268 Ma mafic-intermediate magmatic rocks in the

Alxa Terrane (Figs. 5 and 6).

Regarding OIB-like gabbros in this study and other alkaline counterparts in

previous studies, low grade partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle can

produce these alkaline and OIB-like magmas (e.g., McKenzie, 1985; Rollison, 1993;

Zhang et al., 2012, 2013b; Dan et al., 2015). In contrast, more silicic dioritic rocks are

subject to more crust inputs (Dan et al., 2014a, 2015; Hu et al., 2015), consistent with

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sediment-input metasomatism illustrating in Fig. 9b. Moreover, increasingly enriched

Hf(t) and Nd(t) values during Late Carboniferous to Permian time with a larger

variation in the Permian (Fig. 8a-b) also conform well to the increasing inputs of

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crustal materials in the Permian. Different proportions of crustal materials result in

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mafic-intermediate magmas with complicatedly heterogeneous elemental and isotopic

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compositions.

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6.3. Tectonic setting

The tectonic environments during the formation of the late Paleozoic magmatic
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rocks in the Alxa Terrane remain controversial. Some authors suggested an active
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continental arc setting (Ran et al., 2012; Shi et al., 2012; Feng et al., 2013; Peng et al.,
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2013; Yang et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014), whereas others argued

for post-collisional or mantle plume settings (Zhang et al., 2011, 2012, 2013c; Dan et
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al., 2014a; Hu et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2015). This controversy primarily stems from

insufficient petrogenetic constrains on the late Paleozoic mafic-intermediate

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magmatic rocks, as well as the lack of synthetic comparison of magmatic event with

other geological records.

Dan et al. (2014a) proposed that the Permian granitic magmatism occurring in an

area of 0.5×105 km2 in the Alxa Terrane was a silicic igneous province triggered by

the adjacent ca. 280 Ma Tarim mantle plume. However, the scale of the magmatism is

much smaller than the classic silicic igneous province classification of Bryan (2007)

(>1.0×105 km2). Besides, the mantle plume model contradicts the relatively low

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temperatures and water-abundant conditions of the Late Carboniferous to Permian

magmatic rocks and a rare distribution of ultramafic-mafic magmatic rocks in the

Alxa Terrane.

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We suggest an oceanic subduction tectonic setting in the Alxa Terrane during

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Late Carboniferous to Middle Permian time. Owing to the relatively evolved isotope

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compositions with Proterozoic model ages from our magmatic samples and the ~2.5

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Ga tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite nuclei in the Alxa Terrane (Tung et al., 2007;

Zhang et al., 2013; Wu et al., 2014), a further continental arc setting rather than an
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intra-arc island setting is inferred. The 300 Ma gabbros in the Alxa Terrane show arc

geochemical affinities and were sourced from an enriched lithospheric mantle with
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fluid-domain metasomatism, which is prone to occur in an oceanic subduction setting

where water fluxes are high. The assemblage of anorthite and moderately Fe-rich
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olivine (Fo67-71) in the gabbroic sample 14LQ07D is also unique in arc cumulate

gabbros (e.g., Beard, 1986). Furthermore, based on a compilation of this work and
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previous studies, zircon εHf(t) and whole-rock εNd(t) values from the magmatic rocks

in the Alxa Terrane show an increasingly evolved trend from the Late Carboniferous

to the Early Permian (Fig. 8a-b). This trend might be associated with an advancing

oceanic subduction regime where old crustal reworking enhances during arc magma

generation accompanying compression and lithospheric thickening (e.g., Miller et al.,

2003; Kemp et al., 2009; Collins et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2013; Zheng et al., 2015;

Han et al., 2016a). In addition, the occurrence of northward thrusting and

top-to-the-north shearing preserved in the 302 Ma Engger Us ophiolitie mélange with

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a suprasubduction zone type (e.g., Feng et al., 2013; Zheng et al., 2014) also supports

a southward subduction regime in the latest Carboniferous. Moreover, the ~275 Ma

Quagan Qulu ophiolitie mélange along the Badain Jaran fault, generated in a back-arc

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setting, also favors a subduction setting in the Early Permian (Zheng et al., 2014).

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Notably, the early to late Paleozoic magmatism in the Alxa Terrane most likely

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represents the western extension of that on the northern margin of the NCC, on the

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basis of the comparable petrography, geochronology and geochemistry (summarized

in Liu et al., 2016). This ~2000 km long ENE-stretching magmatic belt extends from
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western-central to southeastern Inner Mongolia, through northern Hebei, to

northwestern Liaoning. Such a linear distribution for these magmatic suites is more
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consistent with the oceanic subduction setting, rather than the post-collision and

mantle plume models.

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6.4. Timing of the final closure of the PAO in the Alxa Terrane: 280-265 Ma
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Our new results and previous studies, in terms of magmatic, structural and

sedimentary evidence, suggest a tectonic switch from an advancing subduction to a

post-collisional setting at ca. 280-265 Ma, marking the final closure of the PAO along

the Alxa Terrane.

First, the arc-related and post-collisional magmatic rock assemblages in the Alxa

Terrane provide constraints on the lower and upper limit of the final closure time,

respectively. The 328-270 Ma mafic to felsic magmatic rocks in the Alxa Terrane

show arc-like geochemical features and can be ascribed to the subduction setting (this

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study; Shi et al., 2012; Feng et al., 2013; Peng et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2013b, 2014;

Lin et al., 2014; Yang et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2015). In contrast,

ca. 256-249 Ma high-K calc-alkaline granitoids and 266-250 Ma bimodal intrusive

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associations with more radiogenic isotope compositions are identified to appear in a

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post-collisional regime (Zhang et al., 2013c; Lin et al., 2014; Shi et al., 2014a,b). The

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geochemical discrepancy of above magmatic suites thus implies a marked

petrogenetic transition in the Middle Permian. Furthermore, the variation of

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radiometric isotope signatures also provides powerful constraints in deducing
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large-scale switching tectonics. The increasingly evolved zircon εHf(t) and whole-rock

εNd(t) values from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian (Fig. 8a-b) suggest an
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advancing oceanic subduction regime where more old crustal materials were involved.
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In contrast, the juvenile isotope signatures for the Middle Permian to Triassic
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magmatic rocks (Fig. 8a-b) can be attributed to the involvement of asthenospheric

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mantle-derived magmas in a subsequent extensional setting (e.g., Miller et al., 2003;

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Kemp et al., 2009; Collins et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2013; Zheng et al., 2015; Han et

al., 2016a). In the transitional period at the latest Early Permian to the latest Middle

Permian (ca. 280-265 Ma), heterogeneous magmas showing a considerable variation

of εHf(t) and εNd(t) values (Fig. 8a-b). These features were most likely due to varying

inputs of crustal and juvenile materials, such as ancient crustal materials, enriched

lithospheric mantle and depleted asthenospheric mantle, reflecting a complex tectonic

regime transition from compressional subduction to extensional post-collisional

settings. Similar cases have also been identified in the world, such as ca. 1.2-1.1 Ga

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assembly of Proterozoic Australia among the North, West and South Australian

cratons (Smits et al., 2014).

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Second, structural analysis (Lin et al., 2014) indicates north-vergent deformation

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for Early Permian porphyries (290-280 Ma) and non-deformation for Late Permian

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dolerites (256 Ma) in the Langshan area in the eastern part of the Alxa Terrane. This

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also supports a change from south-dipping subduction to post-collision at ~280 Ma.

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Third, the stratigraphic record in the Alxa Terrane is also consistent with the

closure time at ca. 280-265 Ma. The lower and middle sections of the Late
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Carboniferous to the Early Permian Amushan Formation contains 320-302 Ma mafic
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to felsic volcanic rocks with clastic and carbonate rocks, interpreted as a sedimentary
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association of volcanic arc and back-arc or continental rifting basins (Dang et al.,

2011; Jiang et al., 2011; Lu et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013c). Of a suprasubduction
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zone type, the ~275 Ma Quagan Qulu ophiolitie mélange suggests the back-arc basin

still existing in the Early Permian. However, the upper section of the Amushan
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Formation is a characteristic of a molasse deposition including clastic sediments,

which most probably represents the final closure of the PAO at the end of the Early

Permian (Zhang et al., 2013c). Second, the albaillellarians from the exotic siliceous

rocks in the Enger Us ophiolitic mélange were identified to have formed during late

Middle Permian to early Late Permian time in a deep-water setting (Xie et al., 2014),

implying the disappearance of the PAO latter than the early Late Permian.

To conclude, the latest Early Permian to latest Middle Permian (ca. 280-265 Ma)

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is a critical period marking the timing of the final closure of the PAO along the Alxa

Terrane. Accordingly, a notably eastward closure process of the PAO can be inferred,

which occurred in the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian along the northern

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margin of the Tarim Craton, at the latest Early to latest Middle Permian in the Alxa

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Terrane, and in the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic on the northern margin of the

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NCC (e.g., Eizenhöfer et al., 2014, 2015a,b; Xiao et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2015a,b,c;

Han et al., 2016b).

7. Conclusions NU
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(1) New LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dating results reveal ca. 300-268 Ma gabbros and
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diorites in the Bayan Nuru area, suggesting prolonged late Paleozoic

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ultramafic-mafic to intermediate magmatism in the eastern part of the Alxa

Terrane.
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(2) Geochemical data suggest that the 300 Ma gabbros were sourced from an
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enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by high fluid activities, while

280-268 Ma gabbros and diorites evolved more varying sediments. All 300-268

Ma gabbros and diorites were formed in an oceanic subduction setting.

(3) Based on the compilation of magmatic, structural and sedimentary evidence, the

final closure of the PAO between the Alxa Terrane and the southernmost CAOB

occurred at ca. 280-265 Ma. A progressively eastward closure process is inferred

along the northern margins of the Tarim Craton, the Alxa Terrane and the NCC.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by a NSFC Project (41190075) entitled

―Final Closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean and Reconstruction of East Asian Blocks in

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Pangea‖, the fifth research project in the NSFC Major Program (41190070)

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―Reconstruction of East Asian Blocks in Pangea‖, a Hong Kong RGC GRF

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(HKU7063/13P and 17301915), NSFC General Projects (41230207 and 41390441)

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and a HKU Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research (201311159126). We

appreciate Changming Xing, Gang Zeng, Jianfeng Gao, Liang Qi, Hongyan Geng,
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Jean Wong, Bing Wu, Tao Yang and Liang Li for their kind assistance in experimental

analyses. We are very grateful to editor Prof. A. Kerr for handling our manuscript and
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Dr. Yilong Li and Prof. Wenjiao Xiao for constructive reviews.

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Appendix A. Supporting information

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Table S1. Representative electron microprobe analyses of minerals from the Late

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Carboneferous to the Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane
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Table S2. U-Pb dating results for zircons from the Late Carboneferous to the Permain

gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

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Table S3. Zircon Hf-isotope compositions of the Late Carboneferous to the Permain

gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

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Analytical procedures
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Captions

Table 1. Summary of the sample locality, lithology, mineral assemblage and age for

the Late Carboneferous to the Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

Table 2. Whole-rock major- (wt%) and trace-element (ppm) compositions of the Late

Carboneferous to the Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

Table 3. Whole-rock Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope compositions of the Late

Carboneferous to the Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

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Fig. 1. (a) Simplified tectonic sketch map of the CAOB showing the location of the

Alxa Terrane and (b) Geological map of the Alxa Terrane (modified after 1:200000

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geological maps from BGMRIM (1991) and geological map of Tianshan and its

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adjacent area, 1:1000000). YGA - the Yagan arc, ZHA – the Zhusileng-Hangwula arc,

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SLB - the Shalazhashan belt, NLB - the Nuru-Langshan belt. ①- the Langshan fault,

②- the Longshoushan fault, ③- the Enger US fault, ④- the Badain Jaran fault, ⑤-

the Yagan fault.

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Fig. 2. Geological map of the Bayan Nuru area (modified after 1:200000 geological

map of the Haobusi area) showing sample localities.

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Fig. 3. Representative photomicrographs (crossed nicols): (a) Sample 14LQ07D; (b)

Sample 14LQ10B; (c) Sample 14LQ11E.

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Fig. 4. Representative CL images and U-Pb concordia diagrams of zircons from the

Late Carboneferous to the Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane. The scale
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bar is 100 μm. The small yellow and large blue circles are locations for U-Pb dating

and Hf-isotope analyses, respectively.

Fig. 5. Harker diagrams of whole-rock major-element compositions and Na2O+K2O

vs. SiO2 plot. Solid line is from Irvine and Baragar (1971). Data source in Figs. 5, 6

and 7: 320-300 Ma gabbros from Feng et al. (2013) and Wang et al. (2015); 280-268

Ma gabbros and diorites from Zhang et al. (2012, 2013b), Dan et al. (2014a, 2015)

and Hu et al. (2015).

Fig. 6. Harker diagrams of whole-rock trace-element compositions.

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Fig. 7. (a-b) Chondrite-normalized REE patterns; (c-d) PM-normalized

incompatible-element abundances. Chondrite and PM values are from McDonough

and Sun (1995). The data for OIB-Oceanic Island Basalt, N-MORB-Normal

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Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt and E-MORB-Enriched Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt are from

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Sun and McDonough (1989).

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Fig. 8. (a) εHf(t) and (b) εNd(t) values vs. ages from the Late Carboniferous to the

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Triassic magmatic rocks in the Alxa Terrane. The arrows outline the trend of zircon Hf

and whole-rock Nd isotopic evolution with time. The decreasing arrow illustrates an
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evolved trend, whereas the increasing arrow indicates a depleted trend. The yellow

field represents the tectonic transitional period with a considerable isotopic variation
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(Details see text). Data for other coeval magmatic rocks in the Alxa Terrane are from
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Pi et al. (2010), Peng et al. (2013), Wu et al. (2013), Dan et al. (2014a, 2015), Shi et al.
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(2014a,b) and Hu et al. (2015).

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Fig. 9. (a) La/Nb vs. La/Ba and (b) Ba/La vs. Th/Yb diagrams. Reference fields are
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from Saunders et al. (1992). CLM-Continental Lithospheric Mantle. The legend is the

same as in Fig. 5.

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Table 1. Summary of the sample locality, lithology, mineral assemblage and age for the Late
Carboneferous to Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane
Latitude Ages
Sample No. Lithology Mineral assemblages a
Longitude (Ma)
14LQ07A Hornblende gabbro hb 30%, pl 70% 300

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14LQ07C Hornblende gabbro hb 35%, pl 65%
39°55'48.7"N
14LQ07D Gabbro ol 10%, cpx 35%, pl 55%

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104°55'22.4"E
14LQ07E Hornblende gabbro hb 18%, pl 82%

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14LQ07F Hornblende gabbro hb 13%, pl 87%
14LQ10B 39°57'53.0"N Hornblende gabbro hb 15%, bt 20%, pl 62%, qtz 3%, sph, ap 279

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14LQ10C 104°50'54.2"E Hornblende gabbro hb 12%, bt 20%, pl 65%, qtz 3%, sph, ap
14LQ11D Quartz diorite hb 10%, bt 10%, pl 75%, qtz 5%, sph, ap, ep 268
39°59'19.5"N
14LQ11E Quartz diorite hb 15%, bt 15%, pl 65%, qtz 8%, sph, ap, ep

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104°54'20.9"E
14LQ11F Quartz diorite hb 10%, bt 10%, pl 70%, qtz 10%, sph, ap, ep
hb-hornblende, pl-plagioclase, ol-olivine, cpx-clinopyroxene, bt-biotite, qtz-quartz, sph-sphene, ap-apitite,
ep-epidote.
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Table 2. Whole-rock major- (wt%) and trace-element (ppm) compositions of the Late

Carboneferous to Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

Sample 14LQ07 14LQ07 14LQ0 14LQ07 14LQ07 14LQ10 14LQ10 14LQ1 14LQ1 14LQ1

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No. A C 7D E F B C 1D 1E 1F

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Litholog Hbl Hbl Hbl Hbl Hbl Hbl Qtz Qtz Qtz
Gabbro
y gabbro gabbro gabbro gabbro gabbro gabbro diorite diorite diorite

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SiO2
(wt.%) 43.98 44.30 43.44 44.52 45.49 50.32 50.88 55.34 55.63 55.86

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TiO2 0.41 0.26 0.24 0.27 0.27 2.09 2.05 1.18 1.20 1.13
Al2O3 26.19 26.83 21.36 27.98 29.65 16.65 16.51 18.25 18.47 18.68
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Fe2O3 5.32 5.38 9.52 5.15 3.52 11.59 11.45 8.13 7.83 7.56

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MnO 0.07 0.08 0.13 0.07 0.05 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.13 0.12
MgO 5.54 5.26 10.06 4.21 2.58 4.14 4.13 3.18 3.03 2.91
CaO 14.63 14.60 12.69 14.77 14.93 7.06 6.96 6.12 6.44 6.19
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Na2O 1.35 1.27 1.05 1.41 1.81 3.60 3.70 4.28 4.39 4.47
K 2O 0.15 0.13 0.09 0.12 0.15 2.12 2.12 1.78 1.73 1.72
P2O5 0.09 0.02 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.90 0.85 0.31 0.32 0.32
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LOI 1.79 1.20 1.00 1.00 0.50 0.79 1.20 1.20 1.19 0.60
TOTAL 99.51 99.33 99.61 99.54 99.00 99.41 100.00 99.91 100.37 99.56
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Sc (ppm) 22.9 11.4 20.6 10.1 7.30 23.4 22.1 21.8 22.5 19.4
V 105 77.6 109 100 89.3 194 188 124 122 122
Cr 193 87.4 187 171 171 12.4 11.4 18.3 19.5 19.8
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Co 30.6 26.9 52.7 24.0 15.3 27.9 29.2 17.1 16.2 15.8
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Ni 25.5 23.3 56.5 19.3 13.2 21.0 19.3 11.4 10.6 12.2
Cu 41.4 23.2 38.8 25.1 10.7 25.9 27.1 13.6 17.3 15.9
Zn 89.6 87.6 97.4 83.3 53.3 167 163 154 141 141
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Ga 15.1 14.5 13.5 17.6 16.2 23.7 23.1 23.8 22.5 22.6
Rb 3.43 3.22 1.63 2.72 3.38 57.6 55.7 74.3 72.3 74.0
Sr 679 684 549 707 689 676 693 716 764 737
Y 7.39 4.16 3.34 3.39 3.46 33.6 32.9 36.5 28.9 26.8
Zr 15.4 16.9 9.53 13.4 22.8 122 134 115 92.9 155
Nb 0.965 1.46 0.801 1.37 1.09 18.3 18.3 16.0 13.1 11.7
Cs 1.74 0.53 0.25 0.28 0.51 2.53 2.24 5.94 4.92 5.12
Ba 116 66.2 50.9 84.6 92.5 1220 1210 954 761 765
La 3.33 2.79 1.60 3.09 3.33 52.5 52.6 24.4 26.1 18.1
Ce 7.46 5.53 3.70 6.71 6.38 113 111 62.2 63.1 47.1
Pr 0.98 0.78 0.52 0.82 0.77 14.4 13.5 8.79 8.28 6.38
Nd 5.01 3.17 2.25 3.57 3.49 54.1 53.5 36.2 33.5 28.4
Sm 1.32 0.74 0.64 0.77 0.61 10.1 9.59 8.50 6.56 6.07
Eu 0.58 0.39 0.35 0.51 0.51 2.79 2.55 1.75 1.85 1.62
Gd 1.28 0.73 0.66 0.70 0.63 9.39 8.49 7.02 6.01 5.33
Tb 0.24 0.13 0.11 0.10 0.10 1.29 1.26 1.06 0.92 0.82

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Dy 1.23 0.71 0.67 0.60 0.56 6.69 6.15 6.22 5.18 4.56
Ho 0.24 0.15 0.13 0.13 0.12 1.28 1.16 1.34 0.99 0.92
Er 0.71 0.39 0.33 0.38 0.38 3.39 3.35 3.70 2.95 2.63
Tm 0.10 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.43 0.42 0.53 0.39 0.36
Yb 0.57 0.31 0.36 0.32 0.31 2.73 2.75 3.41 2.50 2.59

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Lu 0.09 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.43 0.39 0.48 0.40 0.38
Hf 0.53 0.43 0.30 0.46 0.47 3.32 3.38 3.00 2.59 3.67

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Ta 0.18 0.30 0.24 4.17 0.20 0.88 0.93 0.99 0.88 0.81
Pb 4.39 2.69 3.45 5.13 4.42 10.8 10.9 11.9 12.2 12.7

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Th 0.24 0.20 0.11 0.18 0.18 1.79 2.23 5.84 5.05 2.36

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Table 3. Whole-rock Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope compositions of the Late Carboneferous to
Permain gabbros and diorites in the Alxa Terrane

TD TC
t( Rb Sr 87
initi Sm Nd 147 143
∫
Samp Rb/ Sm/ Nd/ initial εNd εNd M DM

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87
M (pp (pp 86 Sr/ 1σ al (pp (pp 147 144 1σ 143 sm/
le Sr 86 87
Nd Nd Nd/ (0) (t) (G (G
a) m) m) Sr Sr/ m) m) Nd

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144
86
Nd a) a)
Sr
14LQ 30 3.4 0.014 0.70 0.00 0.70 1.3 5.0 0.5121 0.00 0.5118 -8. -7. -0.1 2. 1.6

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679 0.1592
07A 0 3 617 7282 0014 7220 2 1 89 0009 76 8 3 91 68 9

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14LQ 30 1.6 0.008 0.70 0.00 0.70 0.6 2.2 0.5121 0.00 0.5117 -10 -9. -0.1 3. 1.8
549 0.1711
07D 0 3 591 7211 0010 7174 4 5 02 0026 66 .5 5 30 73 6
14LQ 30 3.3 0.014 0.70 0.00 0.70 0.6 3.4 0.5120 0.00 0.5118 -10 -7. -0.4 1. 1.6

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689 0.1063
07F 0 8 195 7217 0005 7157 1 9 98 0020 89 .5 1 60 49 7
14LQ 27 57. 0.246 0.70 0.00 0.70 10. 54. 0.5121 0.00 0.5119 -10 -7. -0.4 1. 1.6
676 0.1128
10B 9 6 554 8204 0012 7226 1 1 13 0007 07 .2 3 27 57 6
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14LQ 26 74. 0.300 0.70 0.00 0.70 8.5 36. 0.5120 0.00 0.5117 -12 -1 -0.2 2. 1.9
716 0.1419
11D 8 3 271 8776 0010 7631 0 2 16 0008 67 .1 0.3 79 40 0
14LQ 26 72. 0.273 0.70 0.00 0.70 6.5 33. 0.5120 0.00 0.5118 -12 -9. -0.3 1. 1.8
764 0.1183
11E 8 3 831 8570 0008 7526 6 5 18 0011 11 .1 4 98 81 3
D
P TE
CE
AC

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Highlights

1. 300-268 Ma gabbros and diorites were recognized in the Alxa Terrane.

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2. 300-268 Ma gabbros and diorites formed in a subduction setting.

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3. A magma source of an enriched lithospheric mantle is suggested.

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4. Final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Alxa Terrane occurred at 280-265

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Ma.

5. A progressively eastward closing process of the Paleo-Asian Ocean is inferred.

MA
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P TE
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