Geochronology and in-situ apatite geochemistry of late Paleoproterozoic A-type granites in the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt, North China Craton: Implications for petrogenesis and tectonic evolution

A-type granite shows unique geochemical characteristics and refers to specific formation conditions and tectonic environments, and therefore plays an important role in reconstructing orogenic events. In this paper, we systematically investigated the zircon UPb, whole-rock geochemistry, in-situ zircon Hf, apatite trace elements, and in-situ Nd data of the Huanren monzogranite to discuss its petrogenesis and the tectonic evolution of Jiao-Li-Ji belt. The studied zircon and apatite grains show typical oscillatory zoning and subhedral texture as well as obvious internal structure without any fluid/mineral inclusions, referring to a magmatic origin. Therefore, zircon UPb dating results suggest that the Huanren monzogranite was formed in the late Paleoproterozoic (1863–1842 Ma). The studied rocks show typical A-type granite affinities as high SiO₂ (64.54–69.06 wt%), Na₂O + K₂O (8.00–9.34 wt%), and Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (381–598 ppm) concentrations, and FeO^T/(FeO^T + MgO) (0.82–0.85) and 10000Ga/Al (2.37–2.65) ratios. Their high whole-rock Zr temperature (812–866 °C, generally >840 °C), and low whole-rock Sr (109–157 ppm), apatite Sr (43.4–79.3 ppm) contents, whole-rock Sr/Y (4.79–8.22) and apatite Sr/Y (0.014–0.033) ratios, combined with slightly depleted in-situ zircon Hf (−1.62 to +2.50) and in-situ apatite Nd (−3.22 to −1.65) isotopic compositions, and ancient zircon Hf two-stage model ages (T_DM2; 2606–2351 Ma), apatite Nd-T_DM2 (2576–2451 Ma), suggest that the studied rocks were formed by partial melting of Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic granitic gneiss in a high temperature and low-pressure condition. The studied A-type granite, together with regional A-type granite and alkaline syenite in the North China Craton, record the post-collisional event between the Nangrim and Longgang blocks, which combined with coeval worldwide A-type granite magmatisms, representing a response of the initial breakup of Columbia supercontinent.