Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic chronostratigraphic framework and provenance analysis in the southeastern North China Craton and its tectonic significance

Abstract

The Sishilichangshan area of southwestern Xuhuai Basin, located in southeastern North China Craton (NCC) and to the north of the Qinling–Dabie Orogenic belts, is a key, optimal area to study the regional evolution of the NCC because of its stratigraphic differences within the NCC. An integrated approach of the field investigation, element geochemistry, and detrital zircon U–Pb–Hf isotope analysis reveals essential information on the Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic tectonic‐sedimentary evolution of the Xuhuai Basin. The youngest graphical peak ages of detrital zircons from the Shouxian Formation at the top of the Bagongshan Group, the Jiuliqiao Formation at the bottom of the Huainan Group, and the Anyangshan Formation are 1003 ± 25 Ma, 991 ± 80 Ma, and 832 ± 23 Ma, respectively. New age constraints and stratigraphic correlations show that the traditional Neoproterozoic strata in the southern Xuhuai Basin consist of Late Stenian to Early Tonian Bagongshan and Huainan groups, and the Late Tonian Anyangshan Formation, which overlapped unconformably with mid‐late Ediacaran or Cambrian Series 2 strata. The Anyangshan Formation is first termed in this study, and its equivalent strata occur sporadically in the southeastern, southwestern and northwestern NCC. The Tonian Shouxian, Jiuliqiao, and Anyangshan formations are characterized by detrital zircons of multi‐stage Mesoproterozoic ages and predominantly positive εHf(t) values, with differences in mineral composition, whole‐rock geochemistry, and the Early Neoproterozoic detrital zircon age population. Their possible provenance was a Grenvillian orogen extending from the North Qinling Terrane (NQT) to the central Korean Peninsula, supporting Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic initial accretion related to the continental arc between the NCC and NQT. Tectonic transition from Late Stenian to Early Tonian (~1.18–0.94 Ga) collisional basin to mid‐late Tonian (0.94–0.74 Ga) rift basin is interpreted as the response of the NCC to the assembly and extension of the Rodinia Supercontinent.