Petrogenesis of the ∼1.94 Ga Meta‐gabbronorites in Liangcheng: Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton

We investigated the meta-gabbronorites in Liangcheng and used detailed petrography,geochemistry,zircon geochronological and in-situ Hf isotopic studies to clarify their formation and metamorphic ages,petrogenesis,tectonic setting and provide constraints on the tectonic evolution of Khondalite Belt(KB).The zircon U-Pb dating results show that the meta-gabbronorites crystallized at～1.94 Ga and were metamorphosed at～1.91-1.89 Ga.They can be subdivided into the low-Mg and high-Mg groups.The low-Mg meta-gabbronorites contain relatively lower MgO and higher SiO2 contents than high-Mg meta-gabbronorites.They are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements,depleted in high field strength elements,and exhibit positive(high-Mg meta-gabbronorites)and negative(low-Mg meta-gabbronorites)Sr and Eu anomalies.The zircon in-situ εHf(t)of meta-gabbronorites is 0.07-4.12,with Hf model ages(TDM)of 2169-2400 Ma.The meta-gabbronorites in Liangcheng originated from the asthenospheric mantle and experienced fractional crystallization of olivine,orthopyroxene,clinopyroxene,and plagioclase.They were contaminated by the crustal rocks(mainly khondalite series)during ascent,especially for low-Mg gabbronorites.The ridge subduction is the most plausible tectonic setting for meta-gabbronorites,indicating the eastern segment of KB was in a ridge subduction setting at～1.94 Ga following an orogenic thickening event during a prolonged orogenic process.