American Journal of Science, 2009,309:221-270
Paleozoic multiple subduction-accretion processes of the southern Altaids

W. J. Xiao, B. F. Windley, C. Yuan, M. Sun, C. M. Han, S. F. Lin, H. L. Chen, Q. R. Yan, D. Y. Liu, K. Z. Qin, J. L. Li and S. Sun

Abstract

The formation and development of the southern Altaids is controversial with regard to its accretionary orogenesis and continental growth. The Altay-East Junggar orogenic collage of North Xinjiang, China, offers a special natural laboratory to resolve this puzzle. Three tectonic units were juxtaposed, roughly from North to South, in the study area. The northern part (Chinese Altay), composed of variably deformed and metamorphosed Paleozoic sedimentary, volcanic, and granitic rocks, is interpreted as a Japan-type island arc of Paleozoic to Carboniferous-Permian age. The central part (Erqis), which consists of ophiolitic mélanges and coherent assemblages, is a Paleozoic accretionary complex. The southern part (East Junggar), characterized by imbricated ophiolitic mélanges, Nb-enriched basalts, adakitic rocks and volcanic rocks, is regarded as a Devonian-Carboniferous intra-oceanic island arc with some Paleozoic ophiolites, superimposed by Permian arc volcanism. A plagiogranite from an imbricated ophiolitic mélange (Armantai) in the East Junggar yields a new SHRIMP zircon age of 503 ± 7 Ma. Using published age constraints, we propose the presence of multiple subduction systems in this part of the Paloasian Ocean in the Paleozoic. The intraoceanic arcs became accreted to the southern active margin of the Siberian craton in the middle Carboniferous-Permian. During the long accretionary processes, in addition to large-scale southward-directed thrusting, large-scale, orogen-parallel, strike-slip movements (for example, Erqis fault) in the Permian translated fragments of these intraoceanic arcs and associated accretionary wedges. This new tectonic model has broad implications for the architecture and crustal growth of Central Asia and for other ancient orogens.