Palaeoproterozoic magmatic–metamorphic history of the Quanji Massif, Northwest China: implications for a single North China-Quanji-Tarim craton within the Columbia supercontinent?

U–Pb dating of a diorite gneiss and a mafic dike in the QM yielded a crystallization age of 2272 ± 15 Ma and a metamorphic age of 1928 ± 11 Ma, respectively. Although some post-emplacement alteration has occurred, the mafic dikes display a sub-alkaline signature with slight light rare earth element-enrichment, depletion in Th, Nb, Ta, and Ti, and have a rare earth element pattern consistent with volcanic arc basalts.

Based on the geochronology and field relationships, we conclude that the mafic dikes formed in an extensional setting within either a fore-arc or back-arc environment. We argue that the metamorphism that affected the dikes occurred shortly after intrusion. Our diorite gneiss and monzodiorite samples are characterized by relatively high Mg# (47–56) and Sr contents (367–1070 ppm), low-to-moderate Sr/Y (10–90), low Rb/Sr (0.03–0.28) and high K/Rb (179–775).