ZIRCON U-PB AND OXYGEN ISOTOPE EVIDENCE FOR A LARGE-SCALE 18O DEPLETION EVENT IN IGNEOUS ROCKS DURING THE NEOPROTEROZOIC

Abstract

Oxygen isotope analysis and U-Pb dating were carried out on zircons from granite, granitic gneiss and eclogite in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of east-central China. The results show a wide variation in zircon δ18O values from −10.9 to 8.5‰. Most of the values are lower than normal mantle zircon and almost half have prominently negative values. The low δ18O zircons have protolith ages of 700 to 800 Ma and metamorphic ages of 205 to 250 Ma, respectively. Fluid availability within the metaigneous rocks dictates the extent of metamorphic recrystallization and overgrowth. The igneous zircons have preserved their magmatic zoning and middle Neoproterozoic U-Pb age during the Triassic metamorphism, indicating low fluid availability. Widespread low δ¹⁸O values are identified in the magmatic zircons of middle Neoproterozoic age, within an outcrop area of over 20,000 km² along the northern edge of the South China Block. The low δ18O zircons record the presence of large volumes of low δ18O igneous rocks that were derived from remelting of meteoric-hydrothermally altered rocks at some time between 700 and 800 Ma.