LAUSR

The widespread occurrence of Mesozoic ocean island basalt (OIB)-like igneous rocks in the Southern Tibetan Himalayan Belt provides important constraints on the rifting of East Gondwana. This study undertook a petrological, geochronological, and geochemical investigation of mafic intrusive rocks in the Cuona area of the eastern Tethyan Himalayan Belt. The mafic intrusions have OIB-type geochemical signatures, including diabase porphyrite, gabbro, and diabase. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the diabase porphyrite formed at 135.0 ± 1.6 Ma. The diabase porphyrite and gabbro are enriched in high-field-strength elements (Nb and Ti) and large-ion lithophile elements (Sr and Pb) and experienced negligible lithospheric mantle or crustal contamination. The diabase is enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs, e.g., La and Ce) and depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs, e.g., Ru, Zr and Ti). In general, the mafic intrusions exhibit significant light REE enrichment and heavy REE depletion and have no Eu anomalies. Whole-rock neodymium (εNd(t) = 1.55) and zircon Hf (εHf(t) = 0.60–3.73) isotopic compositions indicate derivation of the magma from enriched type I mantle. We propose that the diabase porphyrite and diabase formed in a continental margin rift setting, influenced by the Kerguelen mantle plume, and represent magmatism related to the breakup of East Gondwana. However, the gabbro formed in a relatively stable continental intraplate environment, likely derived from deep magmatic processes associated with the Kerguelen mantle plume. Our results provide new constraints on the early activity of the Kerguelen mantle plume and offer insights into the breakup and tectonic evolution of East Gondwana.