Age and geochemistry of Early Ordovician A-type granites in the Northeastern Songnen Block, NE China

Early Ordovician A-type granites in the northeastern (NE) Songnen Block NE China were studied to better understand the geodynamic settings in this region. This research presents new zircon U–Pb ages and whole-rock geochemical data for the Early Ordovician granites in the NE Songnen Block. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the granite in the Cuibei, Hongxing, and Meixi areas in the NE Songnen Block formed in the Early Ordovician with ages of 471–479 Ma. The granites show geochemical characteristics of high SiO2 and K2O compositions and low FeOT, MgO, CaO, and P2O5 compositions. They belong to a high K calc-alkaline series and display a weak peraluminous feature with A/CNK values of 0.98–1.14. The rocks have a ∑REE composition of 249.98–423.94 ppm, and are enriched in LREE with (La/Yb)N values of 2.87–9.87, and display obvious Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.01–0.29). Trace elements of the studied granites are characterized by enrichment in Rb, Th, U, Pb, Hf, and Sm, and depletion of Ba, Nb, Ta, and Sr. They display geochemical features of high Zr + Y + Nb + Ce values (324–795 ppm) and Ga/Al ratios consistent with A-type granites. Based on particular geochemical features, such as high Rb/Nb (7.98–24.19) and Y/Nb (1.07–3.43), the studied A-type granites can be further classified as an A2-type subgroup. This research indicates that the Early Ordovician A-type granites were formed by the partial melting of ancient crust in an extensional setting. Lower Sr/Y and (Ho/Yb)N ratios indicate that plagioclase and amphibole are residual in the source, and garnet is absent, implying that the magma was generated at low levels of pressure. By contrast, the contemporaneous granites in the SE Xing’an Block suggest a subduction-related tectonic setting, and its adakitic property indicates a thickened continental crust. We suggest that the Paleo-Asian Ocean plate between the Xing’an and Songnen blocks subducted northward during the Early Ordovician. Meanwhile, the NE Songnen Block was exposed to a passive continental margin tectonic setting.