Complex evolution of the lower crust beneath the southeastern North China Craton: The Junan xenoliths and xenocrysts: Comment

Complex evolution of the lower crust beneath the southeastern North China Craton: The Junan xenoliths and xenocrysts: Reply

“…Yuan and Xia (2015) instead propose that our data reflect the characteristics of the Yangtze lower crust because they argue (1) the zircon data are compatible with those of basement rocks from the YC; (2) the Sulu terrane is coupled with the YC lower crust, which was thrust beneath the NCC as indicated by magnetotelluric surveys, hence "the Junan granulite xenoliths are most likely to be derived from the YC". The discrepancy between Yuan and Xia (2015) and Tang et al (2014) focuses on whether the Junan granulite xenoliths were ultimately derived from the lower crust of the YC or NCC. We welcome the comments from Yuan and Xia (2015), as it gives us an opportunity to further clarify our viewpoints, and to more carefully think about the nature and evolution of the Precambrian lower crust underneath the Junan region.…”

“…Based on comparison of zircon data between our Junan samples and rocks from the YC, Yuan and Xia (2015) argue that (1) the Junan granulites have distinct overlap in U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes with the basement rocks of the YC; and (2) there is no isotopic evidence that the Junan granulites are derived from the NCC lower crust.…”

“…The discrepancy between Yuan and Xia (2015) and Tang et al (2014) focuses on whether the Junan granulite xenoliths were ultimately derived from the lower crust of the YC or NCC. We welcome the comments from Yuan and Xia (2015), as it gives us an opportunity to further clarify our viewpoints, and to more carefully think about the nature and evolution of the Precambrian lower crust underneath the Junan region.…”

“…However, Yuan and Xia (2015) did not make any comparison with the age of the NCC lower crust and so we are unclear how can they conclude "there is no isotopic evidence for the derivation of the Junan granulites from the NCC lower crust"? Yuan and Xia (2015) consider that the Junan granulite xenoliths represent fragments of the YC lower crust based on the presence of ca 2.3 Ga and ca 2.0 Ga…”

“…Yuan and Xia (2015) consider that the Junan granulite xenoliths represent fragments of the YC lower crust based on the presence of ca 2.3 Ga and ca 2.0 Ga…”