Abstract
Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotopes were investigated for Cambrian-Ordovician strata from the Jinggangshan area between the Yangtze Block and Cathysia Block in South China. These strata were deposited as a greatly thick unit of muddy-sandy laminas with intercalated carbonate and organic carbon-bearing layers. They have low ɛ Nd(t) values of −13.9 to −7.9 and old Nd model ages of 1842 to 2375 Ma. In t DM-t Str diagram, they are far away from the concordant line but fall within the evolution zone of the Proterozoic crust of South China. This indicates that the Cambrian-Ordovician strata are mainly composed of matters eroded from ancient Paleoproterozoic crust that may mainly consist of continental-derived detrital sediments with high maturity in the Cathysia Block. However, the Ordovician Jueshangou Formation and Dui’ershi Formation have ɛ Nd(t) values of −10.5 and −7.9 at the higher end of the above range and Nd model ages of 1842 to 2059 Ma at the lower end of the above range. This suggests involvement of more detritus that were eroded from the relatively juvenile crust from Late Paleoproterozoic to the Early Neoproterozoic. All the Nd model ages for the Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary rocks in the Cathysia Block and the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block are older than 1800 Ma, suggesting that no material from the Early Paleozoic depleted mantle-derived magmas was involved in these regions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
O’Nions R K, Hamilton P J, Hooker P J. A Nd isotope investigation of sediments related to crustal development in the British Isles. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1983, 63: 229–240
Zhao J X, McCulloch M T, Bennett V C. Sm-Nd and U-Pb zircon isotopic constraints on the provenance of sediments from the Amadeus Basin, Central Australia: Evidence for REE fractionation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1992, 56: 921–940
Michard A, Gurriet P, Soudant M et al. Nd isotopes in French Phaneozoic shales: External vs. Internal aspects of crustal evolution. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1985, 49: 601–610
Chen J F, Zhou T X, Xing F M, et al. Provenance of low-grade metamorphic and sedimentary rocks from southern Anhui Province: evidence of Nd isotope compositions (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 1989, 34: 1572–1574
Maas R, McCulloch M T. The provenance of Archean clastic metasediments in the Narryer of Gneiss Complex, western Australia: Trace element geochemistry, Nd isotopes and U-Pb ages for detrital zircon. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1991, 55: 1915–1932
Ling H F, Shen W Z, Zhang B T et al. Nd isotopic composition and material source of Pre- and Post-Sinian sedimentary rocks in Xiushui area, Jiangxi Province (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 1992, 8: 190–194
Zhou X H, Goldstein S L, He J, et al. Preliminary study of the source province of sedimentary rocks in South Anhui-West Zhejiang Provinces. In: Li J L, ed. Collection in Lithosphere Structure and Geological Evolution in Southeast Continent of China (in Chinese). Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press, 1993. 78–84
Lan C Y, Lee T, Zhou X H et al. Nd isotopic study of Precambrian basement of South Korea: Evidence for Early Archean crust? Geology, 1995, 23: 249–252
Li X H, McCulloch M T. Nd isotopic evolution of sediments from the southern margin of the Yangtze Block and its tectonic significance (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 1996, 12: 359–369
Shen W Z, Lu H P, Xu S J, et al. Sm-Nd isotopic study on metasediments in the area of Danba, China (in Chinese). Sci Geol Sin, 1998, 33: 367–373
Shen W Z, Yu J H, Zhao L, et al. Nd isotopic characteristics of post-Archean sediments from the Eastern Nanling Range: Evidence for crustal evolution (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 2003, 48: 1740–1745
Chen Y L, Yang Z F. Nd model ages of sedimentary profile from the northwest Yangtze Craton, Guangyuan, Sichuan Province, China and their geological implication. Geochem J, 2000, 34: 263–270
Chen Y L, Luo Z H, Liu C. New recognition of Kangding-Mianning metamorphic complxex from Sichuan, western Yangtze Craton (in Chinese). Earth Sci-J Chin Uni Geosci, 2001, 26: 279–285
Chen B, Jahn B M, Wang S G. Nd isotopic characteristics of Paleozoic metasediments in Altai, Xinjiang and its constraint on the crustal evolution (in Chinese). Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2001, 31: 226–232
Miller J F, Harris N B W. Evolution of continental crust in the central Andes: constraints from Nd isotope system. Geology, 1989, 17: 615–617
Wu F Y, Sun J P, Zhang X Z. The Nd isotopic evidence for Late Paleozoic oceanic crust in the southern margin of Yangtze Block (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 1998, 14: 22–33
Rao X F, Fan D L. Petrology, geochemistry and genesis of the Middle Ordovician black shale series in Taojiang, the central region of Hunan Province (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 1990, (3): 78–86
Wu C D, Yang C Y, Chen O Y. The origin and geochemical characteristics of Upper Sinain-Lower Cambrian black shales in western Hunan (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Mineral, 1999, 18: 26–39
Zhang W H, Jiang L J, Gao H, et al. Study on sedimentary environment and origin of black siliceous rocks of the Lower Cambrian in Guizhou Province (in Chinese). Bull Mineral Petrol Geochem, 2003, 22: 174–178
Cao S L, Pan J Y, Ma D S. Trace element geochemistry of the Lower Cambrian black rock series in northwestern Hunan, South China (in Chinese). Acta Mineral Sin, 2004, 24: 415–419
Yang R D, Zhu L J, Wang S J, et al. Negative carbon isotope excursion in the Base Cambrian of Guizhou Province, China: Implication for biological and stratigraphical significance (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 2005, 79: 157–164
Bai D Y, Zhou L, Wang X H, et al. Geochemistry of Nanhuan-Cambrian sandstones in southeastern Hunan and its constraints on Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic tectonic setting of South China (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 2007, 81: 755–771
Geology and Mineral Resources Bureau of Jiangxi. Regional Geology of Jiangxi Province (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1984
Hawkesworth C J, van Calsteren P W C. Radiogenic isotopes—some geological applications. In: Henderson P, ed. Rare Earth Element Geochemistry. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1984. 375–421
Shen W Z, Zhu J C, Liu C S, et al. Age of formation of Southeast China continental crust: the Nd isotopic model age evidence (in Chinese). J Nanjing Univ (Earth Sciences), 1989, 1: 82–91
DePaolo D J, Linn A M, Schubert G. The continental crustal age distribution: Methods of determining mantle separation ages from Sm-Nd isotopic data and application to the southwestern United States. J Geophys Res, 1991, 96: 2071–2088
Li X H, Zhao Z H, Gui X T, et al. Sm-Nd isotopic and zircon U-Pb constraints on the age of formation of the Precambrian crust in Southeast China (in Chinese). Geochimica, 1991, 20: 255–264
Chen J F, Jahn B M. Nd, Sr, Pb isotope tracer and continental crust evolution in SE China (in Chinese). In: Zheng Y F, ed. Collection in Chemical Geodynamics. Beijing: Science Press, 1999. 262–287
Shen W Z, Zhu J C, Liu C S, et al. Sm-Nd isotopic study of basement metamorphic rocks in South China and its constraint on material sources of granitoids (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 1993, 9: 115–124
Gradstein F M, Ogg J G, Smith A G, et a1. A new geologic time scale, with special reference to Precambrian and Neogene. Episodes, 2004, 27: 83–100
Jin W S, Sun D Z. Deep-seated Crustal Structure and Its Evolution of the South China Continent (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1997
Xu B T, Hu Y H, Jiang X L, et al. Isotopic, REE geochemical and geochronological studies on the metamorphic rocks of coastal volcanic rock area in East Zhejiang (in Chinese). Geol Zhejiang, 1989, (2): 52–58
Yuan Z X, Wu L S, Zhang Z Q, et al. The Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr isotopic age dating of Mayuan Group in northern Fujian (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Mineral, 1991, 10: 127–131
Hu X J, Xu J K, Tong Z X, et al. The Precambrian Geology of Southwestern Zhejiang Province (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1991
Ma C X, Liu R G, Lu G D, et al. Presinian Geology of Northeastern Jiangxi (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1992
Xie D K, Ma R S, Zhang Y S. Crust Growth and Mantle Plume Tectonics of South China Continent (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1996
Hu G R, Zhang B T. Nd isotopic compositions and material source of metamorphic basement in Central Jiangxi (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Mineral, 1998, 17: 35–40
Zhang M. The research on chronology and geochemistry and uranium metallogenesis of uranium-bearing granite plutons in northern Guangdong Province (in Chinese). Dissertation for Doctoral Degree. Nanjing: Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, 2006
Zhou X M, Genesis of Late Mesozoic Granites in Nanling Area and Lithosphere Dynamic Evolution (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2007
Huang C P, Zhang J Y, Zhan Y T. Sm-Nd isotopic age of the metavolcanites of Longbeixi Formation in Meixian area of Youxi County, Fujian Province (in Chinese). Geol Fujian, 1991, 10: 150–157
Wang H N, Ling H F, Zhou L Y, et al. Sm-Nd isotope dating and geological implications for the Mesoproterozoic Mamianshan Group in Fujian Province (in Chinese). Geol J Chin Univ, 2003, 9: 566–572
Zhou X H. Isotopic geochemical constraints of crustal tectonic evolution of Southeastern China (in Chinese). Isotopic Geochemical Study in China. Beijing: Science Press, 1997. 83–98
Hu G R, Zhang B T, Wang X Y. Mineralogy, petrology and isotopic geochemistry of the Proterozoic amphibolites from Xiangshan, Central Jiangxi Province (in Chinese). Geochimica, 1998, 27: 217–229
Yu D G, Ai G G, Huang G F, et al. Isotopic age features and their geological implication of the Zhoutan Group in Jiangxi (in Chinese). Acta Geosci Sin, 1999, 20: 195–200
Zhou X M, Zou H B, Yang J D, et al. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the Fuchuan ophiolite suite in Shexian of Anhui Province and its geological significance (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 1989, 34: 1243–1245
Xu B, Qiao G S. The Sm-Nd isotopic age of Late Proterozoic ophiolite of northeastern Jiangxi and its tectonic environment (in Chinese). J Nanjing Univ (Earth Sciences), 1989, (3): 108–114
Zhou G Q, Zhao J X. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the northeastern Jiangxi ophiolite in the SE margin of Yangtze craton, South China (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 1991, 36: 129–132
Shen W Z, Zhang B T, Ling H F, et al. Nd, Sr and O isotopic study on spilite-keratophyre in Xiqiu, Zhejiang Province (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 1991, 65(4): 337–346
Gan X C, Li X H, Zhao F Q, et al. Zircon U-Pb and Sm-Nd isochron ages of spilite from Danzhou Group, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (in Chinese). Geochimica, 1996, 25: 271–276
Zhou J C, Wang X L, Qiu J S, et al. Lithogeochemistry of Meso- and Neoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic rocks from northern Guangxi (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 2003, 19: 9–l8
Wang X L, Zhou J C, Qiu J S, et al. Geochemistry of the Meso-Neoproterozoic volcanic-intrusive rocks from Hunan Province and its petrogenic significances (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 2003, 19: 49–60
Zhang G D, Yao S X. Sm-Nd isotopic studies of marine volcanic rocks along Shexian-Xiuning belt of Anhui Province and their geological implications (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Mineral, 1999, 12: 326–331
Chen G B, Xu S T, Tao Z, et al. Sm-Nd isotope age of the metamorphic volcanic rocks of the Jingtan Formation in southern Anhui Province and its tectonic implication (in Chinese). Geosciences, 1998, 12: 548–554
Wu R X, Zheng Y F, Wu Y B, et al. Reworking of juvenile crust: Element and isotope evidence from Neoproterozoic granodiorite in South China. Precambrian Res, 2006, 146: 179–212
Zheng Y F, Wu R H, Wu Y B, et al. Rift melting of juvenile arc-derived crust: Geochemical evidence from Neoproterozoic volcanic and granitic rocks in the Jiangnan Orogen, South China. Precambrian Res, 2008, 163: 351–383
Li X H, Li Z X, Ge W, et al. Neoproterozoic granitoids in South China: crustal melting above a mantle plume at ca. 825 Ma? Precambrian Res, 2003, 122: 45–83
Li Z X, Li X H, Zhou H, et al. Grenvillian continental collision in South China: New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon results and implications for the configuration of Rodinia. Geology, 2002, 30: 163–166
Li Z X, Li X H, Kinny P D, et al. Geochronology of Neoproterozoic syn-rift magmatism in the Yangtze Craton, South China and correlations with other continents: Evidence for a mantle superplume that broke up Rodinia. Precambrian Res, 2003, 122: 85–109
Yang S F, Chen H L, Wu G H, et al. Descovery of Early Paleozoic island-arc volcanic rock in northern part of Fujian Province and the significance for tectonic study (in Chinese). Sci Geol Sin, 1995, 30: 105–116
Shu L S, Faure M, Wang B, et al. Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic Geological Features of South China: Response to the Indosinian Collision Event in Southeast Asia. Comptes Rendus Geosci, 2008, 340: 151–165
Li W X, Li X H, Li Z X. Neoproterozoic bimodal magmatism in the Cathaysia Block of South China and its tectonic significance. Precambrian Res, 2005, 136: 51–66
Shu L S, Faure M, Jiang S Y, et al. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age, litho- and biostratigraphic analyses of the Huaiyu Domain in South China: Evidence for a Neoproterozoic orogen, not Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic collision. Episodes, 2006, 29: 244–252
Shu L S. Predevonian tectonic evolution of South China: from Cathaysian Block to Caledonian period folded orogenic belt (in Chinese). Geol J Chin Uni, 2006, 12: 418–431
Zhou T X, Chen J F, Zhang X. Nd isotope ratios of sedimentary rocks from the southeastern margin of Yangtze Block, China (in Chinese). Acta Sediment Sin, 1995, 13: 39–45
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40634022 and 40572118) and the Project of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20060284008)
About this article
Cite this article
Shen, W., Ling, H., Shu, L. et al. Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of Cambrian-Ordovician strata at the Jinggangshan area in Jiangxi Province: Tectonic implications. Chin. Sci. Bull. 54, 1750–1758 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0214-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0214-3