Mantle plume: the dynamic setting of the origin of Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang, Shaanxi Province, Southern Qinling Block, China

The mafic dykes (dolerites) during the Early Paleozoic are widely spread in Langao-Ziyang, southern Qiling Block, and the investigation on these dykes are very important. Previous studies have mainly focused on the Silurian mafic dykes; however, research on the Earlier Paleozoic mafic dykes is relatively weak at present. Therefore, the overall understanding of the mantle source and genetic dynamic setting during the Early Paleozoic in this area is lacking. To study the accurate age and origin of the Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang, southern Shaanxi Province, the mafic dykes from dabacunand Qinmingzhai were selected and the petrology, zircon U–Pb chronology, geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes were studied. Analysis indicates that the mafic dykes studied are mainly composed of dolerite, and they are the products of the Early Ordovician (475.8–480.7 Ma). Furthermore, the dolerites belong to alkaline rock series, and they are characterized by enrichment in LREE, Rb, Ba, Sr, Nb, ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i = 0.7020–0.7050, ε Nd (t) = 3.0–4.0), ε Hf (t) = 4.5–12.1, 176 Hf/ 177 Hf = 0.282681–0.282844. This suggests that the mafic dyke were derived from the partial melting of a depleted lithospheric mantle, and the genetic process is mainly controlled by the mantle plume based on the discussion of the genetic model. Furthermore, the genetic process experienced the separation and crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene at the same time, with little crustal contamination.