Precise timing of the early Paleozoic metamorphism and thrust deformation in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen

Abstract

In Dulan County, Qinghai Province NW China, the arc volcanic sequences in the northern side of the Central Fault of the East Kunlun were metamorphosed progressively from upper greenschist facies in the south to epidote-amphibolite facies in the north. High-angle thrust deformation was developed synchronously with the peak metamorphim and superimposed with later low-angle striking-slip deformation. Zircon U-Pb dating yields a concordant age of (448 ± 4) Ma for the metavolcanics. Syn-kinematic horn-blende and muscovite separated from the high-angle thrusting belt give 40Ar- 39Ar plateau age of (427 ± 4) Ma and 408 Ma, respectively. These results precisely constrain the timing of the closure of early Paleozoic volcanic basin (Proto-Tethys) over the eastern portion of the East Kunlun Orogen, and the thrust tectonic slice had a cool rate of ca. 9°C/Ma.