The Origin of Mesozoic A-type Granitoids, Fujian Province, Southeast China: Insights from Geochronology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry

Abstract

The magma sources, origins and precise forming ages of the miarolite from Qishan and Kuiqi intrusions are still uncertain. New results reveal that, miarolites from the Qishan and Kuiqi intrusions yield crystallization ages of ∼101 and ∼98 Ma, and they have a high formation temperature (∼910°C) and low oxygen fugacity value, indicating crystallization condition at low pressure in the upper crust with temperature of 678°C. The Qishan and Kuiqi miarolites are characterized by enrichment in SiO₂ and high-K alkali, depletion in Ca and Mg, and belong to the high-K weak peraluminous rock series. The samples are enriched in HFSEs (i.e., Ta, Zr and Hf) and LILEs (i.e., Ba, P and Sr), depleted in Ba and Sr with the negative anomaly of Eu. In the primitive mantle normalized trace element spider diagram, the samples show a right-inclined ‘seagull-type’ pattern, combined the ratios of (La/Yb)_N, 10000 × Al/Ga, Rb/Nb and Nb/Ta etc., they were proved to be alkaline A-type granite. Combined the characterize of the trace elements, they were derived from clay-rich source accompanied pelite melting, and subjected to K-feldspar crystallization fractional. The values of ε_Hf(t) and t_DM2 are distributed in the range of –2.8 to 3.3 with ∼1.2 Ga, and –6.0 to 4.0 with ∼1.2 Ga, revealing that they were generated from the Mesoproterozoic Cathaysia basement rocks. The comprehensive research reveals the Kuiqi and Qishan intrusions derived from crust-mantle mixing and partial melting of the crust, respectively, resulting from lithospheric extension generated by the Paleo-Pacific Plate subducted into the European–Asian Plate.