ALBERT

Description: Low-{delta}18O signatures in supracrustal rocks have been used as geochemical proxies for cold paleoclimates, e.g., glaciations. Unusual low-{delta}18O values found in Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in parts of the South China Block have thus been genetically linked to Neoproterozoic glaciation events. However, we report here new oxygen isotope compositions from Neoproterozoic magmatic zircons in central southern China using in-situ techniques that argue against such an interpretation. Our results show that (1) low-{delta}18O magmatic zircons started to appear in the South China Block from ca. 870 Ma, coinciding with the tectonic switching from Sibao orogenesis to postorogenic extension, which occurred more than 150 m.y. prior to the first glaciation event. The most abundant low-{delta}18O magmatic zircons have ages of 800-700 Ma. (2) The 830-700 Ma magmatic zircons are characterized by their bimodal nature of oxygen isotope compositions, i.e., mantle-like {delta}18O values (+4.4{per thousand} to +5.8{per thousand}) and high-{delta}18O values (+9.3{per thousand} to +10.8{per thousand}). (3) A sharp temporal change in maximum zircon {delta}18O values in the South China Block coincided with the onset of continental rifting and the possible arrival of a plume head. (4) No negative {delta}18O zircons have been identified in this study, contrary to previous studies. These features strongly argue against a glaciation origin for low to negative {delta}18O values in Neoproterozoic magmatic zircons from southern China. We propose that two stages of high-temperature water-magma interaction during plume-driven magmatism and continental rifting best explain the low-{delta}18O magmas. The most important implication of this study is that formation of such low-{delta}18O magmatic zircons was not necessarily related to glacial events and should not be used as a geochemical proxy for a cold paleoclimate.