Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

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Tectonophysics
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Paleotethyan subduction process revealed from Triassic blueschists in the

Lancang tectonic belt of Southwest China
Weiming Fan a,b,⁎, Yuejun Wang c,⁎⁎, Yanhua Zhang d, Yuzhi Zhang c, Fred Jourdan e, Jianwei Zi e, Huichuan Liu c
a
Key Laboratory of Continental Collision and Plateau Uplift, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
b
CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
c
Department of Earth Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
d
CSIRO Earth Sciences and Resource Engineering, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
e
Western Australian Argon Isotope Facility, Curtin University, WA 6845, Australia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The subduction of the Paleotethyan Ocean and subsequent continental collision along the Lancang tectonic belt of
Received 24 July 2014 the southeastern Paleotethyan belt is a major tectonic event in Southwest China, but the event of the subduction
Received in revised form 8 December 2014 preceding the final collision is still not well-constrained. The mafic blueschists exposed in the Lancang accretion-
Accepted 29 December 2014
ary complex provide crucial records of the Paleotethyan subduction process. In this paper, we present a set of
Available online 9 January 2015
new petrologic, geochronological and geochemical data for the Suyi mafic blueschists in the Lancang metamor-
Keywords:
phic zone. The mineral assemblage of these blueschists consists of zoned sodic amphibole (25–30%), albite
Mafic blueschist (15–20%), epidote (25–30%), phengite (5–10%), chlorite (~5–10%), and minor amounts of actinolite, apatite,
OIB-like geochemical affinity sphene, zircon, ilmenite, quartz and secondary limonite. This suggests a prograde metamorphism from ~0.5 to
Lancang accretionary complex ~ 0.9 GPa and retrograde metamorphic overprinting (back to ~ 0.6 GPa) within the temperature range of
Early–middle Triassic 300–450 °C. The Suyi blueschists give a zircon U–Pb age of 260 ± 4 Ma and glaucophane minerals formed during
Paleotethyan subduction prograde metamorphism yield a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 242 ± 5 Ma (MSWD = 0.77; P = 0.54). The blueschists
Southwest China have geochemical compositions of subalkaline basalt and show typical OIB-type REE and multi-elemental
patterns and εNd(t) values ranging from +3.35 to +4.85. Based on available data, it is inferred that the protolith
formed at 260 Ma and originated from a basaltic seamount. The basaltic rocks subducted down to 30–35 km
depths beneath the Lincang arc to form the epidote blueschists at ~242 Ma. The blueschists were subsequently
transported to shallower crustal levels in response to the continuous underthrust of the subducted slab and
the continent–continent collision in the middle–late Triassic. These results provide a systematic constraint on
the tectonic evolution and temporal framework of the southeastern Paleotethyan belt in Southwest China.
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction suite, radiolarian siliceous rock, high-pressure metamorphic rocks and

arc-collisional igneous rocks are well preserved. This belt is thus consid-
The Paleotethyan Ocean extended from Alps through Afghanistan to ered to be a key window for investigating and understanding the
Southwest China and then to Peninsular Malaysia (Fig. 1a; Bullard et al., Paleotethyan evolution (e.g., Fan et al., 2009, 2010; Feng, 2002;
1965; Hsü and Bernoulli, 1978; Metcalfe, 1996, 2002, 2009; Sengör and Fontaine, 2002; Hennig et al., 2009; Jian et al., 2009a, 2009b; Metcalfe,
Hsu, 1984). An important element of the Paleotethyan Ocean was 1996, 2002; Mo et al., 1998; Peng et al., 2008; Sengör, 1979; Wang
named as the Changning–Menglian Ocean in Southwest Yunnan Province et al., 2010; Zhong, 1998).
of Southwest China, which separated the Sibumasu Block from the Previous studies on the Lancang tectonic belt mostly focused on the
Simao–Indochina Block. Its subduction and subsequent continent–conti- paleoecological and palaeobiostratigraphical patterns and associated
nent collision resulted in the development of the Lancang tectonic belt magmatism (e.g., Jian et al., 2009a, 2009b; Mo et al., 1998; Zhong,
consisting of the Changning–Menglian suture, Lancang metamorphic 1998), but much less attention was paid to the high-pressure metamor-
zone and Lincang igneous zone (Fig. 1). Along the tectonic belt, ophiolite phism associated with subduction and collision (e.g., Zhao et al., 1994a,
1994b). The timings of the subduction and initial orogen along the
Lancang tectonic belt are poorly known. Mafic blueschists, as a possible
⁎ Correspondence to: Y. Wang, Department of Earth Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, marker of oceanic subduction preceding the continental collision, can
Guangzhou 510275, China. Tel.: +086 20 84111209.
⁎⁎ Corresponding author.
provide key information on their basaltic precursors and subduction
E-mail addresses: [email protected] (W. Fan), [email protected] history (e.g., Angiboust and Agard, 2010; Angiboust et al., 2012;
(Y. Wang). Bousquet et al., 2008; Brown, 2007; John et al., 2010; van der Straaten

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.12.021
0040-1951/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
96 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

studies, we further present a proposal on the timing of the subduction of

the eastern Paleotethyan Ocean and the tectonic framework of the east-
ern Paleotethyan belt in Southwest China.

2. Geological background

The Lancang tectonic belt, extending southwardly to north-

western Thailand and northwardly to the Central Qiangtang
Block, separates the Baoshan Block in the west from the Simao–
Indochina Block in the east (Fig. 1, e.g., Hutchinson, 1989; Li et al.,
2006, 2009; Metcalfe, 2009; Metcalfe, 1996, 2002, 2009; Zhang
et al., 2006a, 2006b). The Baoshan Block is considered a component
of the Sibumasu continental fragment with the stratigraphic and
paleontological affinities to Gondwanaland (e.g., Fang et al., 1994;
Feng, 2002; Fontaine, 2002; Jin, 2002; Metcalfe, 1996, 2002;
Zhong, 1998). Its stratigraphic system is characterized by the
Proterozoic amphibolite-facies metamorphic basement overlain
by the Paleozoic and Mesozoic sequences (e.g. Yunnan BGMR,
Yunnan Bureau Geological Mineral Resource, 1990; Zhong, 1998).
The Simao–Indochina Block is bounded by the Lancang tectonic
belt to the west and the Ailaoshan tectonic belt to the east
(Fig. 1b; e.g., Fan et al., 2010; Liu et al., 1989; Metcalfe, 1996,
2002; Zhong, 1998). In this block, the Paleozoic metasedimentary
rocks show similar lithology to those of the Yangtze Block, with
typical Cathaysia flora and fauna (e.g., Fang et al., 1998; Yunnan
BGMR, 1990; Zhong, 1998).
The geological records related to the Paleotethyan evolution are
abundantly preserved along the Lancang tectonic belt, which can be
subdivided into, from west to east, the Changning–Menglian mélange
zone, Lancang metamorphic zone and Lincang igneous zone (Fig. 1).
The Changning–Menglian mélange zone contains a large quantity of bro-
ken late Paleozoic volcanosedimentary sequences (varying thickness and
lithology), unmixed radiolarian silica-argillaceous sequences with mid-
oceanic ridge basalts and a rock-association of oceanic island basalts as
well as chert- and pelitic units (Yunnan BGMR, 1990; Zhong, 1998). The
Lincang igneous zone is the most remarkable geological feature in South-
west Yunnan (Wang et al., 2010; Yunnan BGMR, 1990) due to the occur-
rence of the Lincang Triassic granite zone and associated volcanic
sequences, which extends over 370 km (Fig. 1; e.g., Peng et al., 2006;
Ueno and Hisada, 2001; Zhong, 1998). The granite suite in this zone is a
composite batholith composed of monzonitic biotite granite, K-feldspar
granite and granodiorite, with the predominant ages of 220–230 Ma
(e.g., Peng et al., 2013 and references therein). The volcanic sequences
comprise the Manghuai, Xiaodingxi and Manghuihe formations with
the zircon U–Pb ages of 210–232 Ma (e.g., Helmcke, 1985; Liu et al.,
1989; Peng et al., 2006, 2013; Wang et al., 2010), which are interpreted
as syn-collisional or postcollisional magmatic products. The broad Lincang
igneous package is angular-uncomfortably overlain by the basal conglom-
erate of the upper Triassic–lower Jurassic Yiwanshui Formation. The
Lancang metamorphic zone is sandwiched between the Changning–
Menglian suture and Lincang igneous zone. It is constituted of the
Xiaoheijiang greenschist-facies and Lancang high-pressure metamorphic
units (e.g., Zhong, 1998). These rocks have undergone strong folding
Fig. 1. (a) Tectonic outline of Southeast Asia and, (b) simplified geological map of the
Lancang metamorphic zone in Southwest China showing the outcrops of the blueschist. and thrust imbrications and are uncomfortably overlain by the upper
Triassic–lower Jurassic molasses deposits. The Xiaoheijiang unit is charac-
terized by Carboniferous–lower Triassic greenschist-facies quartz
et al., 2012; Warren et al., 2011, 2012). The occurrence of the mafic sandstone, quartz greywacke and pelitic rocks with minor volcanoclastics
blueschists in the Lancang metamorphic zone in Southwest Yunnan (e.g., Zhong, 1998), and was metamorphosed at blueschist-facies
has been reported in spite of their poor exposure (e.g., Yunnan BGMR, conditions (e.g., crosstie and ferroglaucophane). The Lancang high-
1990; Zhao et al., 1994a, 1994b; Zhong, 1998). They represent the cru- pressure metamorphic unit is dominated by mica schist, two-mica schist,
cial geological records of the Paleotethyan tectonic evolution, and as greenschist and blueschist with minor metamorphic volcanics and
such a systematic study of these rocks can lead to important insight marble. Zhang et al. (1993) reported the metamorphic grades from
into the timing of the subduction (e.g., Maruyama et al., 1986, 1996). blueschist-facies to high-grade blueschist and epidote amphibolite-
In this paper, we present a set of new petrological, geochronological facies from west to east, similar to those of the Sanbagawa belt of Japan.
and geochemical data for the mafic blueschists from the Lancang meta- The blueschists are preserved in the Lancang high-pressure meta-
morphic zone. Based on our new data and available data from previous morphic zone as stratoid and lenticular structures. They discontinuously
 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108 97

occur along a north-south extension of more than 150 km and are in this study are metabasite from the Suyi area about 25 km south of
dominantly exposed in the Suyi-Ankang and Huiming areas (Fig. 1b; Shuangjiang County (E23°11.696, N99°47.766, Fig. 1).
e.g., Yunnan BGMR, 1990; Zhang et al., 1993; Zhao et al., 1994a,
1994b; Zhong, 1998). They have well-developed schistosity, commonly 3. Analytical methods
occurring as foliated, banded and lineated rocks (Fig. 2a–b, Zhao et al.,
1994a, 1994b), and are intercalated with greenschist and mica schist The compositions of minerals (sodic amphibole, phengite,
with thickness from several meters to ~50 m. The blueschists analyzed epidote and albite) from our samples were systematically analyzed

Fig. 2. Representative filed photos (a–b) and photomicrographs (c–h) of the typical blueshicts from the Suyi area, Southwest Yunnan. Abbreviations: Gln1: prograde metamorphic
glaucophane; Gln2: retrograde metamorphic glaucophane; Ab: albite; Phg: phengite; Chl: Chlorite; Act: actinolote and Ep: Epidote.
98 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

Middle
Rim

Core

Middle
Rim

20.0
wt %
18.0

16.0 FeOt

14.0

12.0
MgO
10.0

8.0 Na 2 O

6.0

4.0
Al 2 O 3
2.0

0.0
Rim Middle Core Middle Rim

Fig. 4. Photomicrograph (a) and compositional variations (b) of the representative sodic
zoning amphibole from the Suyi blueschists.

2.5
a) Pg=
Fig. 3. Sodic amphibole compositions from rocks of the Heilongjiang Complex plotted on a Ky+
Jd 5
Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) vs. Al /(Al + Fe3+) diagram (after Leake et al. (1997)). (b) Al2O3 vs FeOt 0+
H2
O
in phengite for the Suyi blueschist. 3.7
Si:
2O

2.0
+H

s
acie
Q tz

te-f
3.6
ies

ogi
Ecl Si:
Zo +
fac
ist

g+

using a Jeol JXA-8100 electron microprobe at the Guangzhou Insti-

sch

b lu e s
=P
Pressure (Gpa)

Ab 3.5
G a rn e t fa c ie s
ue

tz= Si:
d 50

tute of Geochemistry (GIG), the Chinese Academy of Sciences 1.5

-bl

+Q
c h is
La wQ t z

Jd
+J
ite

(CAS). The accelerating voltage was 15 kV and the sample current

t-
on

Zo +

3.4
ws

was 10 nA with beam diameters ranging from 1 to 5 μm.

b lu es ch te -

Si:
Pg +
La

E p id o

Analyses of whole-rock major oxides were carried out at the GIG, -

ote ies
=

pid c
Ab

t e - e e fa
is t fa ci

CAS by a wavelength X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry using a Ab i i b o l i t 3.3

+

amp
h Si:
Lws

Rigaku ZSX100e spectrometer with the relative standard derivations 1.0

es

Grs
+R t
of b5%. Trace element contents were analyzed using Perkin-Elmer +Qt
z +H
2 O=Z
o +T
Sciex ELAN 6000 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP- ies
i t
ist fac
MS) at the GIG, CAS. Detailed sample preparation and analytical proce- sch
ies
lite ite-

es
ree
n fa c i
fac

G e
olit
ino lly

dure follow Wei et al. (2002). Sample powders for Nd isotopic analyses 0.5 amp
hib
act umpe

Gln +
were spiked with mixed isotope tracers, dissolved in Teflon capsules
P

Gln -
with HF + HNO3 acids, and separated by the conventional cation-
exchange technique and run on single W and Ta-Re double filaments.
300 400 500 600 700 800
Nd Isotope ratios were measured on the VG-354 mass-spectrometer at
the GIG, CAS. Sample preparation and chemical separation follow Tempressure ( C)
Liang et al. (2003). The total procedure blanks for Nd are b 50 pg. The
Fig. 5. Presentation of temperature and pressure data. Shaded area shows estimated P–T
mass fractionation corrections for Nd isotopic ratios are based on
146 conditions of the epidote–blueschist of the Heilongjiang HP–LT complex (P–T grid after
Nd/144Nd = 0.7219. During the analytical process, within-run errors Evans, 1990). LBS, lawsonite–blueschist facies; EBS, epidote–blueschist facies; GBS,
of precision are estimated to be better than 0.000015 for 146Nd/144Nd in garnet–blueschist facies; ECL, eclogite facies; PA, pumpellyite–actinolite facies; GS,
the 95% confidence level. greenschist facies; A, amphibolite facies; AEA, abite–epidote–amphibolite facies. Exper-
Zircon grains for U–Pb dating were mounted on adhesive tape, imentally determined reaction curves: (1) Jd + Qtz = Ab (Holland, 1983);
(2) Grs + Rt + Qtz + H2O = Zo + Tit (Holland and Powell, 1998); (3) Lws + Ab =
enclosed in epoxy resin, polished and coated with gold. Their
Pg + Zo + Qtz and Law + Jd50 = Pg + Zo + Qtz + H2O (Heinrich and Althaus, 1988);
internal texture was examined using cathodoluminescence (CL) Pg = Ky + Jd50 + H2O (Holland, 1979); Phengite geobarometry after Massonne and
imaging via a scanning electron microprobe at the GIG, CAS. Schreyer (1987).
 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108 99

Table 1
LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating result from the 09YK-47a blueschist in Suyi (SW Yunnan), SW China.

Analytical spot Th U Th/U Isotopic ratio Isotopic age (Ma)

ppm ppm 207
Pb /206Pb ±1σ 207
Pb /235U ±1σ 206
Pb /238U ±1σ 207
Pb /206Pb ±1σ 207
Pb /235U ± 1σ 206
Pb /238U ± 1σ

09YN-47-03 0.16 0.17 0.92 0.054252 0.001779 0.307323 0.010458 0.041035 0.001280 389 74 272 8 259 8
09YN-47-08 0.07 0.17 0.41 0.050053 0.001569 0.284826 0.008953 0.041327 0.001261 198 105 254 7 261 8
09YN-47-10 0.11 0.21 0.52 0.051004 0.001569 0.291002 0.009459 0.041402 0.001313 243 70 259 7 262 8
09YN-47-11 0.12 0.13 0.97 0.051433 0.001654 0.295011 0.010100 0.041534 0.001306 261 74 262 8 262 8
09YN-47-12 0.11 0.37 0.28 0.050325 0.001578 0.289021 0.009844 0.041577 0.001324 209 40 258 8 263 8
09YN-47-13 0.07 0.09 0.83 0.051574 0.001574 0.291779 0.009009 0.041053 0.001250 265 75 260 7 259 8
09YN-47-15 0.07 0.62 0.11 0.052810 0.001600 0.303228 0.009952 0.041531 0.001305 320 69 269 8 262 8
09YN-47-17 0.05 0.15 0.36 0.050714 0.001532 0.288421 0.008802 0.041265 0.001257 228 64 257 7 261 8
09YN-47-19 0.12 0.14 0.88 0.050687 0.001529 0.291474 0.008872 0.041716 0.001263 233 70 260 7 263 8
09YN-47-21 0.11 0.27 0.42 0.055122 0.001837 0.302367 0.010409 0.039751 0.001199 417 79 268 8 251 7
09YN-47-22 0.05 0.06 0.85 0.048366 0.001681 0.274139 0.009919 0.041121 0.001298 117 83 246 8 260 8
09YN-47-23 0.06 0.10 0.59 0.052386 0.001839 0.291181 0.011790 0.040083 0.001323 302 84 259 9 253 8
09YN-47-25 0.07 0.11 0.66 0.052264 0.001615 0.296325 0.009257 0.041159 0.001256 298 66 264 7 260 8

Measurements of U, Th and Pb isotopes were conducted using Nu (Canada). The Ar–Ar dating for YN-47c was analyzed using the GV
instruments MC-ICP-MS, attached to the Resonetics Resolution Instruments 5400 mass spectrometer at the Institute of Geology
M-50-HR Excimer Laser Ablation System at the Department of and Geophysics (IGG), CAS. Samples and monitor standard DRA1
Earth Sciences, the University of Hong Kong. Spot size in the range sanidine (Wijbrans et al., 1995) with the assumed age of 25.26 ±
of 40–50 μm was used for data collection. The instrumental setting 0.07 Ma were irradiated at the 49-2 reactor in Beijing for 54 h. The
and detailed analytical procedure were described by Wu et al. detailed analytical techniques for the GV-5400 analyses have been
(2006). The errors for individual U–Pb analyses are presented with described by Qiu and Wijbrans (2008). Correction factors for inter-
1σ error in data tables and in concordia diagrams. Data processing fering argon isotopes derived from Ca and K are: ( 39Ar/ 37 Ar)Ca =
was carried out using the SQUID 1.03 and Isoplot/Ex 2.49 programs 8.984 × 10 − 4, (36Ar/37 Ar)Ca = 2.673 × 10 − 4 and (40 Ar/ 39 Ar) K =
of Ludwig (2001). 5.97 × 10 − 3. The crusher consists of a 210 mm long, 28 mm bore
The 40Ar/39Ar measurements for YN-47a were carried out at the diameter high temperature resistant stainless steel tube (Tmax
Western Australian Argon Isotope Facility of Curtin University ~ 1200 °C). The extraction and purification lines were baked out
using Pond Engineering© Furnace. Incremental heating was carried for ca. 10 h at 150 °C with heating tape and the crusher at 250 °C
for 12 min for each step. A complete analytical description for the with an external tube furnace. The blanks are: 36Ar (0.002–0.004)
Curtin instrument was given in Jourdan et al. (2010). We used the mV, 37Ar (0.0002–0.0006) mV, 38Ar (0.0004–0.0015) mV, 39 Ar
decay constants recommended by Renne et al. (2010) and adopted (0.0025–0.0051) mV and 40Ar (0.51–1.3) mV. Mass discrimination
a resulting FCs age of 28.305 (± 0.10%) Ma. Samples were irradiated was monitored using an automatic air pipette and provided mean
for 25 h in the Hamilton McMaster University nuclear reactor values ranging from 1.00406 ± 0.00382 to 1.00775 ± 0.00121 per

Table 2
40
Ar/39Ar incremental heating analyses on glaucophane for the Suyi blueschist, SW Yunnan.
36 37 38 39 40 40 39
Incremental heating Ar(a) Ar(ca) Ar(cl) Ar(k) Ar(r) Age ± 2σ Ar(r) % Ar(k) % K/Ca ± 2σ

Μα

09YN-47a, first-phase glaucophane measured in Curtin University, J = 0.00952000 ± 0.00007140,

600 °C 0.000125 0.000355 0.000001 0.002702 0.044581 262.93 ±85.34 54.36 0.77
700 °C 0.001185 0.041624 0.000055 0.029608 0.443244 240.10 ±9.72 55.61 8.47 0.3059 ±0.0177
800 °C 0.002038 0.138951 0.000095 0.122211 1.841218 241.53 ±4.21 75.16 34.94 0.3782 ±0.0198
900 °C 0.011211 2.297750 0.001422 0.168681 2.661566 252.19 ±12.83 44.29 48.23 0.0316 ±0.0016
1000 °C 0.000727 0.344555 0.000095 0.018577 0.285069 245.71 ±18.20 56.79 5.31 0.0232 ±0.0012
1025 °C 0.000376 0.146961 0.000068 0.004159 0.031319 124.76 ±89.38 21.82 1.19 0.0122 ±0.0007
1050 °C 0.000304 0.086268 0.000029 0.001664 0.003728 38.86 ±226 4.28 0.48 0.0083 ±0.0006
1075 °C 0.000250 0.018766 0.000030 0.000504 0.012535 486.41 ±804 20.19 0.14 0.0116 ±0.0017
1100 °C 0.000271 0.012726 0.000011 0.000341 0.009885 582.81 ±1241 13.93 0.10 0.0115 ±0.0014
1250 °C 0.000196 0.002356 0.000020 0.000082 0.004513 1347.62 ±6949 8.38 0.14 0.0149 ±0.0064
1275 °C 0.000277 0.010698 0.000037 0.000315 0.003856 198.44 ±865 4.45 0.09 0.0127 ±0.0019
1350 °C 0.000150 0.001728 0.000021 0.000036 0.000630 276.87 ±6519 1.39 0.05 0.0090 ±0.0096
1500 °C 0.000673 0.005072 0.000011 0.000198 0.004552 445.87 ±2199 2.32 0.06 0.0168 ±0.0040

09YN-47c, second-phase glaucophane measured in GIG, CAS, J = 0.0036227 ± 0.0000181

4.20% 0.000020 0.000000 0.000001 0.000082 0.007069 489.20 ±26.97 55.09 2.00
4.60% 0.000010 0.000000 0.000000 0.000259 0.011601 271.18 ±8.64 79.38 6.31
5.00% 0.000015 0.000661 0.000001 0.000414 0.015652 231.80 ±6.45 77.70 10.07 0.269 ±0.048
5.40% 0.000010 0.000676 0.000000 0.000270 0.007446 171.86 ±8.92 71.85 6.57 0.172 ±0.031
6.00% 0.000015 0.001425 0.000001 0.000353 0.012962 225.18 ±10.04 74.68 8.60 0.107 ±0.014
7.00% 0.000053 0.004448 0.000004 0.001202 0.040722 238.79 ±3.87 72.36 29.28 0.116 ±0.013
8.50% 0.000009 0.001606 0.000000 0.000301 0.011104 226.61 ±9.22 80.79 13.77 0.080 ±0.009
10.00% 0.000008 0.002430 0.000001 0.000287 0.011882 252.26 ±6.64 84.20 13.29 0.051 ±0.005
11.50% 0.000006 0.002411 0.000000 0.000214 0.008717 247.97 ±10.23 84.04 5.22 0.038 ±0.004
13.00 W 0.000002 0.001200 0.000000 0.000143 0.005584 239.31 ±9.06 90.00 3.47 0.051 ±0.006
16.00% 0.000002 0.000343 0.000000 0.000037 0.001469 243.58 ±38.81 67.01 0.90 0.046 ±0.008
20.00% 0.000004 0.000030 0.000000 0.000018 0.000984 330.31 ±146.82 44.16 0.43 0.257 ±0.474

Decay constant: 40
K = 5.549 ± 0.009*10−10/a, 39
Ar = 2.940 ± 0.029*10−7/h, 37Ar = 8.230 ± 0.082*10−4/h, 36Cl = 2.303 ± 0.046*10−6/a. Abundance Ratio 40
K/K = 1.1700 ±
0.0100*10−4.
100 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

dalton (atomic mass unit). The raw data were processed using the amphibole-bearing rocks. The chemical compositions of representa-
ArArCALC software. All errors are given at the 2σ level. tive minerals for the Suyi metamafic blueschist are listed in Supple-
mentary Data-Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
4. Petrology and P–T estimation Our observation shows that there are two-phase sodic am-
phiboles in the Suyi blueschist (Fig. 2c–h). The first-phase sodic
The mineral assemblage of the Suyi meta-mafic blueschists amphiboles (marked as Gln1 in Fig. 2) are blue, short prismatic,
consists of sodic amphibole (25–30%), albite (15–20%), epidote rhombus and coarse-grained porphyroblasts with the size of
(25–30%), phengite (5–10%) and chlorite (~ 5–10%) with minor (0.1–2.0) × (0.2–3.0) mm 2 (Fig. 2c–d and g). The second-phase
amounts of actinolite, apatite, sphene, zircon, ilmenite, quartz and sodic amphiboles (marked as Gln2 in Fig. 2c–d and h) show inter-
secondary limonite (Fig. 2c–h). The Suyi metabasites usually bear growth with chlorite to constitute crenulation cleavage and pene-
significant metamorphic overprinting. Locally, greenschist-facies trative foliation. The first-phase sodic amphiboles are penetrated
veins and the associated fractures clearly truncate earlier Na- or partially enclosed by second-phase blue amphiboles with strip,

Table 3
Elemental and Sr–Nd isotopic analytical results of the Triassic Suyi blueschist SW Yunnan, SW China.

Sample 09YN-47a 09YN-47b 09YN-47c 09YN-47d 09YN-47e 09YN-47f 09YN-47g 09YN-47h 09YN-47i 09YN-47j 09YN-47k

SiO2 43.66 49.83 44.83 47.17 49.50 49.91 45.54 46.83 45.38 45.11 46.20
TiO2 2.37 3.06 1.80 1.75 3.58 3.19 3.88 4.06 2.42 1.87 3.36
Al2O3 10.40 12.60 9.72 10.71 11.50 12.86 14.09 10.66 10.24 11.02 13.78
CaO 8.91 9.18 8.64 7.16 7.85 8.26 8.31 7.60 8.79 7.16 7.05
FeOt 13.87 12.96 12.23 11.91 13.16 13.38 14.88 13.58 13.15 12.82 13.62
MgO 13.45 6.02 15.48 14.50 7.32 5.59 5.44 9.51 14.17 15.29 8.03
K2O 0.67 0.13 0.50 0.20 0.42 0.54 0.38 0.26 0.02 0.19 1.53
Na2O 1.88 3.45 1.25 2.04 3.75 3.41 2.54 3.44 0.80 1.64 2.32
MnO 0.18 0.08 0.16 0.13 0.09 0.11 0.17 0.12 0.17 0.15 0.13
P2O5 0.27 0.37 0.22 0.21 0.46 0.36 0.52 0.60 0.28 0.18 0.40
LOI 4.53 2.35 5.45 4.38 2.39 2.42 4.45 3.42 4.78 4.76 3.71
Total 100.20 100.03 100.29 100.17 100.03 100.04 100.20 100.09 100.21 100.19 100.12
mg-number 66 48 72 71 53 46 42 58 68 70 54
Sc 31.23 27.68 26.07 25.79 25.60 26.03 28.70 21.89 30.91 28.99 36.44
V 294 395 257 246 411 388 455 334 284 241 359
Cr 1235 163 1157 1188 82 96 132 305 1115 1236 248
Co 74.5 45.2 74.9 78.5 46.3 43.8 55.1 49.7 67.1 74.5 51.9
Ni 601 114 602 681 104 81 120 244 554 674 143
Ga 19.65 20.43 16.49 15.38 16.76 21.90 28.13 15.30 17.73 16.11 24.23
Ge 1.68 1.72 1.53 1.23 1.98 2.20 1.63 1.49 2.01 1.38 2.21
Rb 11.65 1.96 7.71 3.82 6.67 10.00 7.58 3.56 0.42 3.39 21.50
Sr 279 608 291 88 433 496 399 301 401 100 372
Y 21.90 28.30 19.34 18.68 25.40 30.13 35.98 29.03 21.12 18.07 29.26
Zr 156 208 119 109 173 231 313 201 163 108 234
Nb 17.55 24.08 13.73 11.33 23.92 27.18 41.46 23.94 17.90 11.14 28.89
Cs 0.65 0.34 0.57 0.35 0.58 1.01 1.57 0.33 0.40 0.46 1.85
Ba 106.8 27.1 113.1 48.1 66.2 78.1 82.0 56.1 8.1 44.0 538.2
La 16.73 23.33 14.83 10.07 19.97 25.88 37.00 21.94 18.24 12.15 29.41
Ce 38.04 53.12 33.97 24.15 45.73 59.03 83.05 52.66 40.88 27.70 67.62
Pr 5.44 7.42 4.83 3.62 6.60 8.24 11.46 7.70 5.87 4.00 9.21
Nd 23.20 31.07 20.88 15.95 28.39 34.45 47.22 33.59 25.12 16.96 38.18
Sm 5.35 6.93 4.74 3.90 6.38 7.44 9.94 7.72 5.86 4.12 8.34
Eu 1.74 2.24 1.63 1.31 2.14 2.38 3.19 2.47 1.98 1.43 2.76
Gd 5.31 6.73 4.83 4.13 6.24 7.24 9.62 7.42 6.09 4.41 8.45
Tb 0.81 1.00 0.71 0.65 0.92 1.08 1.36 1.05 0.94 0.72 1.26
Dy 4.26 5.26 3.67 3.60 4.70 5.80 7.01 5.63 4.88 3.88 6.63
Ho 0.76 0.96 0.67 0.65 0.86 1.05 1.23 1.02 0.88 0.71 1.18
Er 1.89 2.39 1.64 1.69 2.13 2.64 3.07 2.47 2.14 1.78 2.89
Tm 0.25 0.31 0.21 0.23 0.27 0.34 0.39 0.32 0.27 0.24 0.37
Yb 1.55 1.92 1.25 1.39 1.69 2.08 2.39 1.97 1.62 1.50 2.22
Lu 0.22 0.26 0.18 0.21 0.24 0.29 0.34 0.28 0.23 0.22 0.32
Hf 3.74 4.87 2.98 2.71 4.00 5.31 7.20 4.77 4.00 2.74 5.78
Ta 1.14 1.58 0.91 0.76 0.87 1.75 2.73 1.60 1.23 0.77 1.99
Pb 1.08 2.68 1.30 1.06 1.95 2.27 1.13 1.70 3.35 0.22 1.16
Th 1.44 2.12 1.28 1.05 1.60 2.19 3.55 1.87 1.59 1.18 2.49
U 0.33 0.53 0.47 0.29 0.44 0.55 0.53 0.50 0.34 0.30 0.45
87
Rb/86Sr 0.121 0.045 0.034 0.003 0.167
147
Sm/144Nd 0.139 0.136 0.139 0.141 0.132
87
Sr/86Sr 0.704652 0.704995 0.704392 0.704315 0.704793
2σ 10 12 2 12 12
143
Nd/144Nd 0.512760 0.512721 0.512715 0.512730 0.512781
2σ 9 8 7 8 8
87
Sr/86Sr
(260 Ma) 0.704222 0.704837 0.704271 0.704304 0.704199
εNd
(260 Ma) 4.21 3.57 3.35 3.57 4.85

Chondrite uniform reservoir values of 147Sm/144Nd = 0.1967 and 143Nd/144Nd = 0.512638 are used for the calculation. 87Sr/86Sr ratios and εNd (255 Ma) values are back-calculated by
assuming age t = 260 Ma.
 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108 101

long prismatic mineral geometries. The second-phase sodic amphi- metamorphic event at lower temperature, as evidenced by the
boles occurred as fibrous to fine-grained bundle aggregates in the observation of chloritization and actinolitization of sodic amphiboles
matrix of talc, phengite, chlorite, glaucophane, quartz and rare (Fig. 2c–e). The second-phase sodic amphiboles might also be reflec-
epidote (Fig. 2c–h). tive of retrograde metamorphic decompression. Regardless of the
The first-phase amphiboles show a regular core to rim zoning, compositional variations of these amphiboles, their Ti contents are
with lower Al2O3 but higher FeOt in the cores relative to rims. Their very low, suggesting a metamorphic setting and evolution with
chemical compositions conform to the range of Na-amphiboles moderate temperatures (e.g., Raase, 1974).
with a low XCa (Ca/(Ca + Na)) value (less than 0.07), and plot into Epidote occurs in a granular form and some epidote grains
the magnesium riebeckite field for the rim and into the glaucophane contain the inclusions of sphene and minor clinopyroxene. This sug-
and ferroglaucophane fields for the core (Fig. 3a). The second-phase gests that these minerals formed after primary augite phenocrysts,
sodic amphiboles (Fig. 2a–f) are of magnesium riebeckite composi- involving a reaction of clinopyroxene + pumpellyite = epidote +
tions (Fig. 3a) with an insignificant zoning pattern. The complex zon- amphibole. Our analyses show that the epidotes contain low MnO
ing of glaucophane is additionally observed (Fig. 2e), which is (0.06–0.31 wt.%) and TiO2 (less than 0.15 wt.%) and negligible
expressed as lower Al2O3 and higher FeOt in the core and rim relative Na2O, K2O, MgO and Cr2O3. Their CaO contents range from 24.1 to
to those in the middle zone (Fig. 4). This textural–geochemical 25.0 wt.% with the pistacite component ((Fe3 +/100*(Fe 3 ++ AlVI))
feature probably fingerprints a complex process from prograde of 0–17 mol%.
to retrograde metamorphism. The first-phase sodic amphiboles Phengite is the most common mineral phase in these samples and
contain tiny inclusions of phengite, epidote and quartz, representa- usually forms well-foliated, segregated layers alternating with the
tive of the primary prograde mineral assemblage of the Suyi layers rich in amphibole. It appears to have existed stably throughout
blueschist. The two-phase glaucophanes (Gln1 and Gln2 in Fig. 2) the first-phase metamorphism and was replaced by chlorite or biotite
have high NaM4 (1.74–2.08 and 1.68–2.10) and AlVI + Fe3 ++ Ti + Cr, during the retrograde metamorphism. The composition of the phengite
Cr, (1.67–2.10 and 1.75–1.91) and fall into the high-pressure field is relatively homogeneous with insignificant zoning. Their Si and Fe2+
defined by Laird and Albee (1981). The prograde assemblage was contents range from 3.39 to 3.55 and 0.14 to 0.38 per formula unit,
then altered to widely variable metamorphic extents by a retrograde respectively, with the Na content of 0.01–0.03 per formula unit. In the

12 75
a) Alk alin e
Trachydacite b)
Trachy- 70
9 andesite calc-alkaline
65
Na2O+K2O

Basaltic Rhyolite
Basanite trachy-
SiO 2

6 Tracy andesite 60
-basalt

Basaltic Dacite 55 tholeiitic

andesite Andesite
3
Basalt
Picritic 50
basalt
Subalkaline

0 45
41 51 61 71
0 1 2 3 4 5
SiO 2
FeOt/MgO
100
c) 09YN-47a
OIB 09YN-47e
09YN-47g
09YN-47k
09YN-47b
09YN-47f
09YN-47h
Rock/Primitive Mantle

10

E- MORB
N-MORB

1
Rb Ba Th U Nb Ta La Ce Pr Sr Nd Zr Hf Sm Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Ho Er TmYb Lu

Fig. 6. (a) Classification diagram of (a) SiO2 vs. K2O + Na2O, (b) FeOt/MgO vs. SiO2 and (c) patterns of the primitive mantle-normalized spidergram for the Suyi blueschist. Primitive man-
tle-normalize values are from Sun and McDonough (1989). Data for OIB and N-MORB are after Sun and McDonough (1989).
102 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

diagram of Al2O3 and FeOt (Fig. 3b), the phengite plots into the range of
0.045 Weighted age = 260 4 Ma
the blueschist metamorphic zone. 280
n = 1 3 , MSWD= 0 .3
Albite is nearly pure (Ab of more than 99%) with very minor
anorthite (0.12–0.36%) and K-feldspar (Or for 0.07–0.30%) components. 0.043 270
Chlorite is a common phase replacing glaucophane. It has low
Na2O + K2O + CaO ranging from 0.03 to 0.12 wt.%, high XMg from

U
260
0.65 to 0.75 and high Si from 2.77 to 3.23 pfu.

238
0.041
The precise pressure–temperature conditions for the Suyi

Pb/
blueschists are difficult to constrain. However, the association of

206
250
glaucophane with epidote, phengite and rutile indicates that the 0.039
rocks were metamorphosed in the epidote–blueschist facies with a 264
240
stability field at 460–510 °C and 0.5–0.8 GPa (e.g., Evans, 1990). Con-
0.037 256

sidering the specific Si content of the phengite (Evans, 1990; Holland 248
and Powell, 1998; Massonne and Schreyer, 1987), the P–T conditions
of T = 300–450 °C and P = 0.5–0.9 GPa can be estimated for the Suyi 0.035
blueschist (Fig. 5). In addition, based on the variation of Al2O3 con- 0.23 0.25 0.27 0.29 0.31 0.33 0.35
tent across the zonation of sodic amphiboles, a peak pressure of 207
Pb/
235
U
~ 0.7–0.9 GPa is determined for glaucophane. The presence of garnet,
talc, phengite and epidote indicates that the blueschist can be Fig. 7. LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb concordia diagrams of the Suyi blueschist.
regarded as high-temperature blueschist possibly up to 400–
500 °C. In addition, the absence of lawsonite, together with the
coexisting sodic amphibole and epidote compositions in some sam- different from those of MORB. This is further supported by the high
ples, suggests a minimum metamorphic temperature at 300–350 °C Sc (21.9–36.4 ppm), Co (43.8–74.5 ppm) and V (94–411 ppm) con-
and pressures at 0.4–0.9 GPa (e.g., Brown, 1974; Eide and Lardeaux, tents of the samples.
2002; Maruyama et al., 1986). The presence of magnesium riebeckite
also points to a pressure of ~ 0.5 GPa. In the Suyi blueschist, the 6. Geochronological results
glaucophane component of sodic amphiboles coexists with epidote,
actinolite, albite, chlorite and quartz, also suggesting a metamorphic 6.1. Zircon U–Pb geochronology
pressure range of ca. 0.5–0.6 GPa for the Suyi blueschist (e.g., Zhang
et al., 1993). A blueschist (09YN-47a) from the Suyi area was selected for
The textural features of the amphiboles and metamorphic re- zircon U–Pb dating. The analytical results are listed in Table 1.
crystallization mentioned above document a transition from epi- Zircon grains from the sample are mostly subhedral grains or
dote–glaucophane to epidote–chlorite–actinolote. This suggests a
metamorphic condition of decreasing temperature and pressure 400 140
(e.g., Ernst, 1979). Zhao et al. (1994b) also suggested that the pres-
a) Glaucophane (Gln1) in 09YN-47a
40Ar/ 39Ar apparent ages (Ma)

sure and temperature of the second-phase metamorphism for the 120

350
Suyi blueschist are ~ 0.6 GPa and ~ 300 °C, respectively. Thus, we
100
propose an isothermal decompression P–T path from ~ 0.5 GPa to
~ 0.9 GPa and then back to ~ 0.6 GPa for the prograde- to 300
tp=242 5 Ma 80

Ca/K
retrograde-metamorphism of the Suyi blueschist.
250 60
5. Whole-rock geochemistry
40
200
The Suyi blueschist samples have the whole-rock major oxide 20
compositions of 48.5–51.2-wt.% SiO 2 , 5.73–9.83 wt.% MgO and
13.3–15.5 wt.% FeOt, along with mg-numbers of 43–58 (Table 3). 150
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
These samples fall into the subalkaline basalt field in the SiO2 vs
39Ar release cumulative (%)
Na 2O + K 2 O diagram (Fig. 6a) and into the tholeiite field in
the SiO 2 vs FeOt/MgO diagram (Fig. 6b). They exhibit significant
LREE enrichment with high (La/Yb)cn (7.75–11.1) and (Gd/Yb)cn 400 70
b)
40Ar/ 39Ar apparent ages (Ma)

(2.84–3.33) ratios, similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB). Glaucophane in 09YN-47c
60
The europium anomalies, expressed by Eu/Eu* ratios, are in the 350
range of 0.98–1.02. On the spidergram (Fig. 6c), the Suyi blueschist 50
samples are characterized by insignificant Nb–Ta, Zr–Hf and P 300 40
Ca/K

anomalies as well as slightly positive Ti and negative Sr anomalies.

Such patterns differ from those of arc volcanics, N-MORB and E- No plateau age
250 30
MORB, but are approximately identical to those of OIB (Fig. 6c).
They have similar Ce/Pb (20–35) and Nb/U (45–54) ratios to those 20
of OIB. The isotopic analyses of four representative samples gave ini- 200
10
tial 87 Sr/86Sr(t) ratios of 0.70419–0.70484 and ε Nd (t) values of
+ 3.35 to + 4.85 at 260 Ma, similar to those of the Hawaii OIB 150
(Table 3). In addition, our samples show high contents of TiO2 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(3.14–4.20 wt.%), P 2O 5 (0.38–0.62 wt.%) and K2O + Na 2 O (3.05– 39Ar release cumulative (%)
4.28 wt.%) and low concentrations of MnO (0.09–0.18 wt.%). These
geochemical signatures as well as Nb/La, Nb/U, Nd/Pb, Ce/Pb and Fig. 8. The 40Ar/39Ar apparent age spectra of glaucophanes from the Suyi blueschist.
εNd (t) values are identical to those of oceanic island basalts but (a) First-phase glaucophane in 09YN-47a; (b) second-phase glaucophane in 09YN-47c.
 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108 103

crystal fragments. They are transparent, light-brown or colorless 6.2. Glaucophane 40Ar/39Ar thermogeochronology
and show the CL images with weakly oscillatory zoning. The
fourteen spots on 14 grains give the relatively wide Th/U ratios of Glaucophane from two Suyi blueschist samples (09YN-47a and
0.11–0.97 and yield the 206 Pb/ 238 U apparent ages ranging from 09YN-47c) were selected for 40 Ar/ 39 Ar step-heating laser-probe
251 Ma to 263 Ma. These apparent ages form a coherent cluster dating. The measured data are listed in Table 2 and plotted in
and define a weighted mean age of 260 ± 4 Ma with MSWD = Fig. 8a–b.
0.3 and P = 0.99 (Fig. 7), interpreted herein as the crystallization The glaucophane separated from 09YN-47a are coarse-grained
age of the protoliths of the Suyi blueschist. and short prismatic porphyroblasts, representative of the first-

Ti/100 2*Nb
a) b)

WPAB

WPAB+
WPB WPTB
IAT
E-MORB
MORB+IAT+CAB
WPAB
CAB
+IAB
N-MORB
+ IAB

Zr Y*3 Zr/4 Y

0.8 30
c) d)
) a lt
PB bas
(W ate

0.6
10
pl
in
ith

Zr/Y
P2O5

0.4 WPB
4
Oceanic island MORB
0.2 tholeiite (IAT)

Mid Ocean Ridge

IAB
Basalt (MORB) 1
0.0 10 100 1000
0 1 2 3 4 5
Zr
TiO2
10 1.6
e) rr
a y f) Oceanic plateaus
nt
c a ou
ar S eam
n ic OIB 1.2
ca
RB

1 l
Vo y
MO

ra
Th/Yb

Th/Yb

E-MORB ar
IB 0.8 Oceanic intraplate basalts
- O
RB
0.1 O Back-arc basalts
M
0.4 Continental arc
N-MORB
Oceanic arc
0.01 0.0
0.1 1 10 100 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
Nb/Yb (La/Sm)N

Fig. 9. Tectonic discrimination diagrams for the Suyi blueschists. (a) Ti–Zr–Y diagram; (b) Nb–Zr–Y diagram of Meschede (1986); (c): P2O5 vs TiO2 diagram; (d): Zr/Y versus Zr plot of
Pearce and Norry (1979). (e) Plots of Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb (after John, 2010; Pearce, 2008) and (f) Nb/La versus (La/Sm)N (after John et al. (2003, 2010)) for the Suyi blueschist in Southwest
Yunnan. IAT: island-arc tholeiite; WPB: within-plate basalt; IAB: island-arc basalt; CFB: continental flood basalt; MORB: mid-oceanic ridge basalt; E-MORB: enriched mid-oceanic-ridge
basalt; N-MORB: normal mid-oceanic-ridge basalt; OIB: oceanic-island basalt; OIT: oceanic-island tholeiite; WPAB: within-plate alkali basalt; WPTB: within-plate tholeiitic basalt.
104 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

phased glaucophane. These separates yield a plateau age of 242 ± regional geology and other available data, it is inferred that the
5 Ma defined by 98% released gas (Fig. 8a; MSWD = 0.77; P = previously-defined Lancang Group might not be a successive sedimen-
0.54). The inverse isochron plot shows a 40 Ar/ 36 Ar of 308 ± 16 tary unit but a tectonic mélange or accretionary complex.
(2σ) indistinguishable from the atmospheric ratio (~ 299) and with The first-phase glaucophanes formed during the epidote–blueschist
a corresponding age of 239 ± 10 Ma. These data suggest an Ea (acti- facies metamorphism, and thus constrain the timing of this high-
vation energy) value of 71 Kcal/mol and a D0 value of 4.7 × 102.s− 1. pressure metamorphism (e.g., Anczkiewicz et al., 2000; Hames and
Using a cooling rate of 10 °C/Ma and spherical grain size radius of Bowring, 1994; Kirschner et al., 1996; Okay et al., 2002; Zhang et al.,
125 μm, our calculation suggests a closure temperature of ca. 2006a; Zhou et al., 2009). Our present data show that the first-phase
436 °C for the glaucophane. coarse-grained glaucophane porphyroblast that separates from the
The glaucophanes from 09YN-47c contain strip, fibrous to fine- blueschists sample YN-47a yields a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 242 ±
grained bundle aggregates and are most likely the second phase 5 Ma. The second-phase glaucophane that separates from the other
glaucophanes. The aggregate gives a complex age spectra with Suyi blueschist sample (YN-47c) did not give a reliable age.
largely variable apparent ages at low- and high-temperature It is known that high pressure–low temperature metamorphic rocks
heating steps ranging from ~ 400 Ma to 160 Ma (Fig. 8b). No reliable (e.g., blueschists) more commonly yield anomalously old 40Ar/39Ar ages
age could be recovered from this sample (Fig. 8b). than low pressure amphibolite facies rocks (e.g., Scaillet et al., 1992;
Philippot and Rumble, 2000; Giorgis et al., 2000; Kelley, 2002; Warren
7. Discussions and conclusions et al., 2011, 2012 and references therein). However, the inverse isochron
gives an intercept 40Ar/36Ar ratio of 308 ± 16 for the first generation
7.1. Seamount origin of the protolith for the Suyi blueschist glaucophane of YN-47a, suggesting that no excess 40Ar* is present.
According to Sisson and Onstott (1986) and Anczkiewicz et al. (2000),
Our results above show that the Suyi blueschists have a geochem- low Ca/K ratios suggest the involvement of an admixture of a Ca-poor
ical affinity to OIB. In the plots of Ti–Zr–Y and Nb–Zr–Y (Fig. 9a–b), phase such as mica or argon released from the microscopic inclusions of
these samples fall into the intra-plate basalt field. A similar conclu- phengite in glaucophane. However, second-phase glaucophane that sep-
sion can also be obtained from the TiO2–P2O5 and Zr–Zr/Y diagrams arates from YN-47c is characterized by fibrous to fine-grained bundle
(Fig. 9c–d). Therefore, the protolith of the basaltic blueschists can aggregates and formed at relative low-pressure metamorphic condition.
be interpreted as either the products of early continental rifting of The inclusions of phengites are not observed in these glaucophanes. In
the Precambrian crust or intraplate volcanic seamounts developed addition, the above-mentioned metamorphic temperatures during the
on an oceanic crust (e.g., Gao and Klemd, 2003; Lutkov, 1991; retrograde metamorphism are below or slightly below the closure tem-
Volkova and Budanov, 1999; Zhang et al., 2006b). The (La/Sm)N perature for Ar and Sr exchange in amphibole (e.g. Hames and Bowring,
and Nb/Zr values of the blueschists are similar to those of seamount 1994; Kirschner et al., 1996). At such temperatures, phengite might sur-
(Fig. 9e, e.g., John et al., 2010; Pearce, 2008). Moreover, in the plot of vive in the amphibolite-facies metamorphism (temperatures exceeding
Th/Yb and Nb/Yb (Fig. 9f), the blueschists fall between enriched 600 °C) and is free of argon loss (e.g., Di Vincenzo et al., 2001), despite
MORB and OIB, along the MORB–OIB array of Pearce (2008). Such that the true closure temperature is unknown due to the lack of experi-
geochemical signatures can be best explained by the mixing of a mental diffusion data (e.g. Giorgis et al., 2000; Monié and Chopin, 1991;
MORB-like component with an OIB-like component. In the Nb/La Scaillet et al., 1992).
versus (La/Sm)N diagram, the blueschists also show the trend of For the blueschist sample YN-47a, several microscopic
seamount-ridge variations observed at the East Pacific Rise (Fig. 9f, inclusions can be observed in the first-phase coarse-grained
e.g., John et al., 2010; Pearce, 2008). glaucophane porphyroblasts. However, during sample prepara-
In addition, in the Lancang tectonic belt, the Suyi blueschists com- tion, only glaucophanes free of inclusions were selected and they
monly occur in association with mafic–ultramafic rocks, greenschist gave a flat 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age spectrum without signature of excess
40
and chert (e.g., Jian et al., 2009a, 2009b; Yunnan BGR, 1990). The asso- Ar. The zircon U–Pb crystallization age of 260 Ma and the first-
ciated mafic rocks (e.g., Shuangjiang) yield the U–Pb zircon ages of phase glaucophane 40 Ar/ 39 Ar plateau age of 242 ± 5 Ma can be
264–292 Ma and exhibit an E-MORB geochemical affinity in an intra- used to constrain the timing of early-phase metamorphism in the
oceanic setting (e.g., Hennig et al., 2009; Jian et al., 2004, 2009a, Lancang metamorphic zone, which is possibly in response to slab
2009b). Numerous data support the development of Permian basaltic subduction and subsequent rapid exhumation. Our data suggest
seamounts and an arc and back-arc system rather than a Permian rifting that the early-phase glaucophanes probably crystallized at
setting across the Lancang tectonic belt (e.g., Hennig et al., 2009; Jian ~ 242 Ma, and this age most likely defines the timing of the early
et al., 2009a, 2009b; Li et al., 2012; Metcalfe, 1996, 2002; Peng et al., Middle Triassic epidote–blueschists facies peak metamorphism,
2006; Sengör et al., 1988; Zhong, 1998). The sedimentary signatures or at least a cooling event below 440 °C shortly (i.e. a few Ma)
show that the oceanic and oceanic-island basalts are overlain by after the peak of metamorphism.
shallow-marine capping carbonates and deep-sea bedded chert/ The gigantic Lincang granitic batholith and the Xiaodingxi–
detritus units (e.g., Fang et al., 1994; Zhong, 1998). These data thus syn- Manghuihe volcanic sequences along the Lancang tectonic belt are
thetically suggest that the precursors of the blueschists might be sea- dated at 232–225 Ma and 210–216 Ma by SHRIMP and LA-ICPMS zir-
mounts in an intra-oceanic setting or at least N-MORB influenced by con U–Pb methods, respectively (e.g.,; Jian et al., 2003; Peng et al.,
OIB magmatism. 2006, 2013; Wang et al., 2010). These rocks are interpreted as the
syncollisional and postcollisional products (e.g., Jian et al., 2003;
7.2. Early–middle Triassic metamorphism Peng et al., 2006, 2013; Wang et al., 2010). Taking into account the
petrological observations above for the metamorphic rocks, it is
The blueschists along the Lancang tectonic belt are a component of inferred that the retrograde metamorphism may have occurred
the Lancang Group that was traditionally thought to be Proterozoic at ~ 230 Ma through the greenschist- from blueschists-facies
(e.g., Yunnan BGMR, 1990; Zhong, 1998). Our zircon U–Pb dating results (e.g., Villa, 1998; Warren et al., 2012 and reference therein).
for the Suyi blueschists give the weight mean age of 260 ± 4 Ma, much
younger than the Proterozoic. The analyzed grains exhibit high Th/U ra- 7.3. Tectonic implications
tios and weakly magmatic oscillatory zoning without new zircon
growth, indicating that the middle Permian age above represents the Important tectonic implications can be drawn from our new data
protolith age rather than a metamorphic age. In combination with on the Suyi blueschists. Firstly, the Suyi blueschists provide reliable
 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108 105

clues about their subduction setting along the Lancang tectonic belt, including the Middle Triassic (~ 242 Ma) epidote–blueschists meta-
because blueschists can be used as an indicator for subduction as in morphism and subsequent retrograde metamorphism, the timing
the cases of the circum-Pacific and Alpine orogenic or arc- of which is yet to be constrained (Fig. 10b). Considering that the
subduction belts (e.g. Monié and Agard, 2009). Secondly, our present seamounts originating the blueschist rocks are rather prominent fea-
data further indicate that the protolith of the Suyi blueschists were tures of the oceanic plate (von Huene et al., 2008), they likely repre-
possibly seamount basalts with OIB geochemical characteristics. sent obstacles to subduction on the top of the incoming plate
These basalts were likely formed in the latest Middle Permian (Mochizuki et al., 2008; von Huene et al., 2000). These seamounts
(~ 260 Ma, Fig. 10a). They underwent two phases of metamorphism, have been deeply subducted eastward either partially or entirely

Fig. 10. Schematic cartoons showing the Triassic Paleotethyan tectonic evolution along the Changning–Menglian suture. (a) The seamounts in the Paleotethyan Ocean continued to de-
velop till 260 Ma, (b) the seamounts subducted eastward either partially or entirely beneath the Lincang arc to leave thin fragments within an accretionary complex and were metamor-
phosed to high pressure–low temperature blueschists when the cold slab descended to depths of 30–35 km at ~247 Ma, (c) the blueschists were brought to shallower crustal depths,
corresponding to the retrograde metamorphism during the middle–late Triassic, by either upward crustal material transport or rapid exhumation induced by the tectonic juxtaposition
of the nappes, in response to the continuous underthrust of the subducted slab and the continent–continent collision; and (d) a post-collisional collapse was initiated in response to up-
rising of asthenospheric mantle related to slab detachment during the early Late Triassic period.
106 W. Fan et al. / Tectonophysics 662 (2015) 95–108

beneath the Lincang arc along the Changning–Menglian suture at Ma, and A-M Zhang for their help in geochronological, elemental and
~ 242–260 Ma (e.g., Zhang et al., 1993; Zhao et al., 1994a, 1994b), isotopic measurement.
leaving only some thin fragments within an accretionary complex.
During the subduction process above and descent of a cold slab, the
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