Tectonic setting of the Neoarchean Qingyuan greenstone belt in the North China Craton: evidence from whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U–Pb geochronology

The Neoarchean Qingyuan greenstone belt (QGB) is located at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) and has experienced amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism. The supracrustal rock assemblage is composed of biotite-hornblende (Bt-Hb) monzonitic gneiss, garnet-biotite-hornblende (Grt-Bt-Hb) monzonitic gneiss, Grt-Bt-Hb plagioclase gneiss, amphibolite and orthopyroxene-biotite-hornblende (Opx-Bt-Hb) plagioclase gneiss. This study involves thorough field and petrographic observations, whole-rock geochemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U‒Pb ages of these rocks to constrain the Neoarchean geodynamic setting of the QGB. Zircon U‒Pb dating indicates that these metavolcanic rocks formed during 2.57‒2.52 Ga and experienced subsequent regional metamorphism at 2.52‒2.47 Ga. Lithological and geochemical characteristics show that the QGB protoliths were tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts, andesites, dacites and rhyolites. The andesite-dacite-rhyolite assemblage exhibits high SiO₂ and Mg# values, low Yb and Y contents, strongly fractionated chondrite-normalized REE patterns and depletion in Nb, Ta, Ti and P, resembling Phanerozoic adakites. These geochemical characteristics suggest an origin from the partial melting of a subducted slab interacting with mantle wedge material. The tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts exhibit slightly LREE-enriched chondrite-normalized REE patterns and negative Nb and Ti anomalies, like island arc basalts. These basalts might have originated by partial melting of a mantle source affected by metasomatism from subduction-derived fluids and melts. The lithological associations and geochemical characteristics imply that the Qingyuan greenstone belt developed in a continental margin arc setting.

Graphical abstract