LAUSR

Abstract Pre-Devonian crystalline basement of the Cathaysia Block was united through the Wuyi-Yunkai orogeny. The uplifted orogenic core is dominantly composed of Paleozoic high-grade terranes occurring in a northeast-southwest trending belt. The Zhoutan terrane in the middle part of this belt is one of the key terranes to reveal the tectonic architecture of the South China Block. However, how to correlate it with other high-grade terranes, what kind of rock records are preserved in this terrane and their tectonic implications for the Wuyi-Yunkai orogen are still unresolved. This paper carries out an integrated study on the petrology, zircon U--Pb geochronology, geochemistry and zircon Lu--Hf isotopic compositions of the main rock types in the Zhoutan terrane, with a purpose of better understanding the Wuyi-Yunkai orogeny. Mafic granulite (noritic) of high-T and low-P conditions occurs as lenses within the Zhoutan Formation. The zircon U--Pb geochronological data give magmatic and metamorphic ages of 460–450 Ma and ~ 430 Ma, respectively. Neoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic (1.89 Ga) xenocrysts also occur. Meta-pelites of the Zhoutan Formation experienced high T/P amphibolite facies metamorphism, and ages of their detrital zircons are dominantly Neoproterozoic (810–820 Ma) with some subordinate Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic and Archean signatures. Amphibole gneiss layers of this formation give a Paleozoic metamorphic age of ~450 Ma, consistent with the high-P amphibolite facies metamorphism of the neighboring Longyou terrane. Fine-grained garnet mica-schist of the Wanyuan Formation consists of greenschist to amphibolite facies mineral assemblage and detrital zircons of these meta-sediments display both Neoproterozoic and early Precambrian ages at ~770 Ma, ~820 Ma, ~850 Ma, ~1.84 Ga and 2.48 Ga. Metamorphosed calc-silicates of the Wanyuan Formation show similar detrital zircon age peaks of 624 Ma, 780–790 Ma, ~810 Ma, 840–850 Ma, 1.8–1.98 Ga and ~ 2.48 Ga, and a Paleozoic metamorphic age of ~447 Ma. The Cizhu pluton is a composite granitoid body intruding the Zhoutan and Wanyuan formations, with emplacement ages ranging at least from 485 Ma to 446 Ma. eHf(t) values of zircons from the mafic granulite range from −10.9 to +8.5, indicating its protolith derived from enriched mantle sources with or without crustal contaminations. The Cizhu magmatic event is a crustal reworking event as indicated by the coherently negative zircon eHf(t) values and ancient Hf crustal model ages of 1530–1830 Ma. Zircon eHf(t) values of the metamorphosed calc-silicates show large variations, ranging from −21.2 to +11, consistent with its complex provenances. The deposition of the sedimentary rocks of the Zhoutan and Wanyuan formations is consistent with the development of the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic Nanhua Rift. The development of continental margin sequences like the Zhoutan and Wanyuan formations, the evolution of the Paleozoic metamorphism from early higher P/T metamorphic stage to later lower P/T stage, as well as the generation of the Paleozoic mafic-ultramafic rocks and the intermediate Cizhu pluton, are best explained by collision to post-collision settings. We, therefore, conclude that the Zhuotan terrane (as well as other high-grade terranes) witnessed a whole geological cycle, from early rifting to the closure of a rifted basin (Nanhua Basin), and the final lithospheric delamination following the rejoining of continental blocks flanking the rift.