Precambrian crustal evolution of the eastern North China Craton as revealed by U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the Proterozoic Jing’eryu Formation

Abstract

Simultaneous in situ U–Pb dating, trace element and Hf isotopic analyses have been carried out on detrital zircons obtained from sandstones in the Neoproterozoic Jing’eryu Formation from the Eastern Block, North China Craton (NCC), with the aim of constraining the ages of magmatic and metamorphic events and hence the Precambrian crustal evolution of the NCC. Two groups of zircons, i.e., magmatic and metamorphic in origin, have been identified based on cathodoluminescence images, zircon Ti-temperatures and Th/U ratios. Zircon U–Pb dating shows two main magmatic events with ages of 2.55–2.47 Ga and 1.80–1.70 Ga, and four metamorphic events, with ages of 2.51–2.48 Ga, 1.96–1.90 Ga, 1.87–1.85 Ga and ~1.80 Ga in the NCC. No zircons with ages of ~3.8 Ga have been identified in this study, indicating either these were covered at the time of deposition or the limited presence of 3.8 Ga rocks in the NCC.The Hf isotopic data show the ~2.5 Ga magmatic zircons have variable ɛHf(t) values, including both positive and negative values and with crustal model ages of 2.7–2.9 Ga, which can be interpreted to indicate mixed sources for their parental rocks, i.e., ancient crust (3.8 Ga or 3.3 Ga) and depleted mantle, implying significant continental crustal growth at ~2.5 Ga. However, Paleoproterozoic magmatic zircons all have negative ɛHf(t) and Archean Hf model ages, suggesting that their parental rocks were formed from recycled Archean materials. The widespread ~2.5 Ga metamorphism in the Eastern Block, coupled with extensive ~2.5 Ga magmatism and crustal growth, are consistent with a mantle plume beneath the Eastern Block of the NCC during the Neoarchean. Whereas, a progressive increase in ~1.85 Ga metamorphic zircon westward across the Eastern Block toward the Trans-North China orogen is best explained by collision between the Eastern and Western blocks at this time.