Timing of eclogite facies metamorphism in the North Qinling by U–Pb and Lu–Hf geochronology

Although petrologic data from the North Qinling orogen in central China have provided essential information on the geodynamic history of the orogenic cycle, the timing of the continental collision between the North China block and the South China block in the North Qinling orogen remains essentially unconstrained. To refine existing geodynamic models, two eclogites from the North Qinling were dated by U–Pb and Lu–Hf geochronology. The upper limit of the pressure during the eclogite facies metamorphism was restricted within the quartz stability field at 2.6–2.8 GPa within a temperature range of 660–710 °C by combining conventional thermobarometry and pseudosection estimates. Mineral–whole rock dating for multi-garnet-(omphacite) fractions from two localities yielded ages of 516.4 ± 5.8 Ma (2σ) and 494.3 ± 2.7 Ma (2σ) with corresponding weighted mean zircon 206Pb/238U ages of 507.0 ± 8.7 Ma (2σ) and 490.0 ± 4.1 (2σ) Ma, respectively. Garnet porphyroblasts from the two samples bore evidence of prograde elemental zonation, but the major portion of the garnet grains grew exclusively under eclogite facies conditions as indicated by the occurrence of omphacite inclusions from core to rim. Therefore, these Lu–Hf ages were interpreted to reflect high-pressure eclogite facies metamorphism. The difference between the two Lu–Hf ages likely represents the minimum duration of garnet growth and thus brackets the onset and the closure of the subduction. These results allow for more detailed insight into the subduction history of the North Qinling orogen. These new U–Pb and Lu–Hf ages mark the timing of the onset of the continental collision between the North China block and the South China block in the Qinling belt, suggesting that the entry of the leading edge of the South China block continent into the North China block trench occurred from ca. 516 Ma to 490 Ma in the North Qinling orogen.