Zircon U-Pb dating, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes of the Puchang mafic dikes: implications for magmatic evolution of the Tarim large igneous province

The Tarim Large Igneous Province (TLIP), as a major igneous province in China, has long been a focus of geological research due to its complex rock assemblages and genetic mechanisms. This study investigates the Permian mafic dikes (diabase and sillite) in the Puchang area of the TLIP, combining zircon U-Pb geochronology, major-trace element geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic analyses to reveal their petrogenesis and tectonic evolutionary significance. Zircon dating results show that the weighted mean ages of diabase and sillite are 273 ± 3 Ma and 272 ± 2 Ma, respectively, indicating their formation in the late Early Permian. Geochemically, the diabase exhibits medium-K calc-alkaline affinities, with enriched light rare earth elements ((La/Yb)_n = 4.62–13.81) and negative anomalies in Nb, Ta, and Ti, while the sillite belongs to the low-K calc-alkaline series, showing weak REE fractionation. Both of the diabase and sillite are similar to OIB patterns in trace element compositions. Both rock types have εHf(t) values of −2.5 to +1.2, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)ᵢ of 0.70431–0.70522, and εNd(t) of 0.20–0.57, reflecting depleted mantle characteristics. Lithological and geochemical evidence indicate that the magmatic source was garnet-spinel lherzolite derived from low-degree partial melting of continental lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subduction components. The magmas underwent fractional crystallization of Fe-Ti oxides and pyroxene with minor crustal contamination during evolution. Combined with regional tectonic evolution, these Puchang mafic dikes formed in the late stage (273–272 Ma) of lithospheric thinning caused by mantle plume thermal erosion, serving as an important supplement to the “mantle plume-lithosphere interaction” model of the TLIP. This study provides new insights into the source properties and tectonic setting of the multiphase magmatism in the TLIP.

1 Introduction

Large igneous provinces (LIPs) are typically characterized by massive eruptions within a short period, consisting of widely distributed huge volumes of mafic magmas, together with minor associated alkaline felsic and silica-undersaturated magmas. Although their duration can reach 75 million years (Ma), more than 75% of their main components are formed within a time span of 1–5 Ma (Bryan and Ernst, 2008), and are generally interpreted as products of mantle plume activity (Campbell and Griffiths, 1990; Campbell, 2007). The Tarim Large Igneous Province (TLIP) is another large igneous province in China that has been widely recognized internationally after the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (Tian et al., 2010; Pirajno et al., 2011; Yu et al., 2011; Xia et al., 2012; Ju and Hou, 2014). Compared with typical large igneous provinces (LIPs) such as the Emeishan and Siberian traps, the TLIP exhibits a more complex lithological assemblage, almost encompassing all rock types found in existing LIPs. It is thus recognized as the LIP with the most complex rock combinations globally (Xu et al., 2014; Jin et al., 2019; Li et al., 2025). In recent years, studies on the mantle plume of the TLIP have attracted increasing attention from geologists. Numerous scholars have conducted extensive research on different rock units of the TLIP, gaining certain insights into its rock assemblages, distribution range, magmatic evolution, and genetic mechanisms (Yang et al., 2007; Zhou et al., 2009; Tian et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010; Li et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2013; Cheng et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014; Cheng et al., 2015; Zou et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2016; Cheng et al., 2017; Cheng et al., 2018; Jin et al., 2025). They believe that the complex rock assemblages in the TLIP might be the result of the interaction between the mantle plume and the subducting slab at different depths. (Zhang et al., 2013; Cheng et al., 2015; Cheng et al., 2017; Cheng et al., 2018). The magmatism of the TLIP lasted for a relatively long time (ca. 300 to 270 Ma). According to previous isotopic chronology studies on the TLIP, it is mainly divided into three stages (Xu et al., 2014; Cheng et al., 2015; Cheng et al., 2017; Cheng et al., 2018). The early magmatism is represented by the kimberlitic rocks in Wajilitage (ca. 300 Ma), whose age is the earliest measured for the TLIP. These rocks are considered to have formed by partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle under the action of a mantle plume, and this melting was triggered by the impact of the Tarim mantle plume (Zhang et al., 2013). The second-stage magmatism is dominated by widely distributed continental flood basalts (ca. 290 Ma) and bimodal volcanic rocks composed of minor rhyolites (Yu et al., 2011; Cheng et al., 2018). Scholars have proposed two main genetic models for the basaltic magmas. One group suggests that partial melting of metasomatized lithospheric mantle, induced by mantle plume underplating, generated these magmas (Yu et al., 2011; Wei et al., 2014; Zhou et al., 2014), whereas others argue they formed via decompression melting of the mantle plume (Cheng et al., 2018). The flood basalts outcrop in multiple areas of Tarim (e.g., Kalpin and Bachu regions), indicating the onset of large-scale magmatism in the Tarim area. Overall, the eruption period of basalts represents the climax of magmatism in the TLIP. The late-stage magmatism is characterized by complex rock types, mainly including basic intrusions (pyroxenite and gabbro), alkaline rocks (Ijolite-syenite and nepheline syenite), and granite, etc., and is developed with a large number of diorite dikes, diabase dikes, sillite dikes, lamprophyre dikes, carbonatite dikes and granite dikes (Zhang et al., 2008; Li et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013; Wei et al., 2014; Cheng et al., 2015; Zou et al., 2015; Cheng et al., 2017; Zhu et al., 2021). Mafic intrusions (distributed in Bachu, Wajilitage, Puchang, and Bashsuhong areas) show large variations in formation ages (275–290 Ma) (Yang et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2008; Li et al., 2011). Scholars suggest that the mafic magmas were generated by partial melting of the lithospheric mantle caused by the underplating of the mantle plume (Yang et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2008; Zhou et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2010; Li et al., 2011; Li et al., 2012; Xu et al., 2014; Zou et al., 2015), and then formed through long-term fractional crystallization evolution of Fe- and Ti-rich basaltic magmas (Zhou et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2010; Li et al., 2012; Wei et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2014). Alkaline rocks (distributed in Wajilitage, Halajun, and Bashsuhong areas) have formation ages ranging from 268 to 278 Ma (Yang et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2008). Some scholars suggest that they formed through fractional crystallization of melts from the Tarim mantle plume in a closed system (Wei et al., 2019; Kong et al., 2021). Granitic rocks, conversely, were generated by magmatic mixing of melts from the mantle and crust, or by partial melting of newly intruded mafic rocks in the lower crust induced by asthenospheric mantle underplating, followed by fractional crystallization (Su et al., 2017).

Previous studies on the late-stage magmatism of the TLIP have predominantly focused on large mafic-ultramafic intrusions, alkaline rocks, and granites, while late-stage dykes have received limited attention. Here, we investigate the mafic dykes (diabase and sillite) in the Puchang area of the TLIP, using zircon U-Pb geochronology, petrography, major-trace element geochemistry, and Hf-Sr-Nd isotopes to constrain their mineralogy, petrogenesis, and magma sources. Integrating regional geological data, this study aims to provide new constraints on the evolutionary processes of the TLIP.

2 Regional geological background

The Tarim Craton is located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. It borders the Tianshan Orogenic Belt (a part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt) to the north, the Kunlun Orogenic Belt to the south, and the Altyn Tagh Orogenic Belt to its southeast (Cao et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014). The Tarim Craton is one of the three major ancient cratons in China (the other two being the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton) (Figure 1a) (Han et al., 2011). Due to its location in the southern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, it plays a very important role in the geological evolution of the Central Asian tectonics.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Distribution map of Early Permian basalts in the Tarim Basin (a) and geological map of the Puchang area (b) (Tian et al., 2010); KD–Kuqa Depression; NTD–Northern Tarim Uplift; NTD–Northern Depression; CTU–Central Uplift; SWD–Southwestern Depression; STU–Southern Tarim Uplift; SED–Southeastern Depression.

The Puchang area is located in the northwestern margin of the Tarim Block. Since the Late Paleozoic, intense magmatism has occurred in the Tarim Basin, forming corresponding mineral deposits. The exposed strata in the Puchang region include the Late Cambrian–Middle Ordovician Qiulitag Formation, Upper Silurian Kalpintag Formation, Upper Carboniferous Kangkelin Formation, Lower Permian Balikelike Formation, and Neogene Xiyu Formation (Yu et al., 2011). The strata exhibit a monoclinal structure, dipping northwest at an angle of 50°–60°. The southern limb is disrupted by strike-thrust faults that dip northwest, often overthrusting the Cenozoic strata to form a basin-range tectonic pattern. North–south-trending faults are also well-developed. The magmatic rocks in the area are primarily composed of the Puchang mafic complex and late-stage alkaline and acidic dikes. The Puchang mafic complex intrudes the Upper Carboniferous Kangkelin Formation, which consists of siliceous slate, marble, and skarnized slate. Its western and eastern parts are covered by Neogene sediments. The main lithologies of the Puchang complex include plagioclase-bearing clinopyroxenite, gabbro, and anorthosite, with gabbro being the dominant component. Abundant dikes were emplaced during the late stage of magmatism, such as diabase dikes, sillite dikes, lamprophyre dikes, diorite dikes, and granite dikes. The dikes vary in width (0.5–3 m) and length (100–300 m), with diabase and sillite dikes mainly intruding into pyroxenite and gabbro bodies (Figure 1b).

3 Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics

The Puchang diabase shows a gray-green color in hand specimens (Figure 2a), with doleritic texture and massive structure, composed of pyroxene, plagioclase, and magnetite. Pyroxene occurs as anhedral to subhedral columnar grains (0.1–0.5 mm, accounting for about 25%), interspersed with subhedral magnetite grains, and the rock is mostly chloritized; plagioclase is subhedral to subhedral columnar, developed with polysynthetic twins (Figure 2b), with a particle size of 0.3–0.5 mm, accounting for about 70%; limonitized magnetite is anhedral granular, with a particle size of less than 0.2 mm, accounting for about 5%. The Puchang sillite is gray-black in hand specimens (Figure 2c), with porphyritic texture, doleritic groundmass, and massive structure, and phenocrysts of pyroxene and plagioclase can be seen. Microscopic observation shows that the phenocrysts are mainly clinopyroxene and plagioclase, and the groundmass is mainly composed of clinopyroxene, plagioclase and magnetite with doleritic texture (Figure 2d). The clinopyroxene (5%–10%) in the phenocrysts has larger particles, good euhedral degree, and is euhedral to subhedral particles with a particle size of 1′1.5 mm, some of which are polycrystalline; plagioclase (10%–15%) has good euhedral degree and a particle size of 1–1.5 mm. In the groundmass, euhedral fine plate-like labradorite is randomly distributed, and the surface still has secondary fine-grained zoisitization. Plagioclase (40%–60%) is strip-shaped with a particle size of 0.3–0.5 mm, between which fine pyroxene (25%–30%, 0.1–0.2 mm) and magnetite particles (5%–6%, 0.1–0.2 mm) are filled, and pyroxene is mostly replaced by calcite and chlorite.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Field and microscopic photographs of medium-grained barren diabase (a,b) and fine-grained mineralized diabase (c,d) from the Puchang intrusion. Mineral abbreviations: Cpx, Mineral abbreviations; Pl, Plagioclase; Mt, Magnetite.

4 Analytical methods

Fifteen fresh bedrock samples were collected in the field, of which two were used for zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis, and thirteen for geochemical analysis. The sampling locations are shown in Figure 1.

4.1 Zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis

Zircon picking, target fabrication, and photomicrography (transmitted/reflected light and cathodoluminescence, CL) were performed at the Hebei Institute of Regional Geological Survey. The separation followed standard procedures: after crushing and heavy-liquid/magnetic separation, euhedral, transparent zircon crystals free of inclusions were handpicked under a binocular microscope. Zircons were mounted in epoxy resin, polished to expose crystal cores, and imaged using transmitted/reflected light and CL microscopy to characterize their morphological and internal structural features. Zircon grains without obvious cracks or inclusions were selected for dating based on these images, ensuring analytical accuracy.

Zircon U-Pb isotopic analysis was performed using a GeoLas2005 laser ablation system coupled with an Agilent 7500a ICP-MS at Wuhan Sample Solution Analytical Technology Co., Ltd. The laser ablation was conducted with a spot diameter of 32 μm and He as the carrier gas. Zircon standard 91500 was used as the internal standard for U-Th-Pb isotope calibration, while GJ-1 served as the monitoring standard. For trace element calibration, NIST610 was employed as the external standard and ²⁹Si as the internal standard. Detailed analytical procedures and instrument parameters are described in Liu et al. (2008). Zircon Hf isotope analysis was conducted using a LA-MC-ICP-MS at Wuhan Sample Solution Analytical Technology Co., Ltd., with the same laser ablation system (GeoLas2005) as the U-Pb dating. Hf isotope measurements were performed on the same spots or within the same growth zones as the U-Pb analyses, using a laser spot size of 44 μm. Detailed analytical procedures and calculation parameters follow (Hu et al., 2012). Zircon U-Pb and Hf isotope data were processed using ICPMSDataCal 12.8 software. Common Pb correction was applied following the method of Andersen (2002); Concordia diagrams and weighted mean ages were calculated using Isoplot 4.15 (Vermeesch, 2018).

4.2 Whole-rock geochemical analysis

After detailed petrographic identification in the laboratory, fresh and intact unaltered parts of samples were selected, with weathered, altered, or fractured portions removed by cutting, surface dust cleaned, and samples crushed to below 75 μm before being sent to ALS Analysts (Guangzhou) for whole-rock major and trace element analysis. Major elements were analyzed using a PANalytical PW2424 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer via a fusion method (ME-XRF26d), where samples were mixed with a lithium tetraborate–lithium nitrate flux containing lithium nitrate, fused at high temperature, poured into a platinum mold to form a glass disc for XRF analysis, and loss on ignition (LOI) was measured by heating at 1000 °C, with total oxides calculated by summing LOI and XRF results (relative error <5%). Rare earth elements were analyzed using method ME-MS81 on an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), involving fusion with a lithium metaborate flux at 1025 °C, digestion with nitric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric acids, and ICP-MS measurement (relative error <10%), with detailed procedures and precision described in Liu et al. (2008).

4.3 Whole-rock Sr-Nd isotope analysis

Whole-rock Sr–Nd isotope analysis was performed using a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) at Wuhan Sample Solution Analytical Technology Co., Ltd. The analytical procedure included: (1) digestion of 50–200 mg of whole-rock powder in a crucible at high temperature for >24 h, followed by evaporation to dryness and addition of hydrochloric acid; (2) separation of Rb, Sr, Sm, and Nd using ion-exchange resins, with collected solutions evaporated to dryness prior to analysis. Mass fractionation was corrected using ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁸Sr = 8.3752 and ¹⁴⁶Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.7219 (Lin et al., 2016). Standardization was performed using BCR-2 and AGV-2, with measured values consistent with recommended values within error limits (Zhang et al., 2020). Detailed analytical protocols are described in Gao et al. (2004).

5 Analysis results

5.1 Zircon U-Pb dating results

To precisely constrain the formation age of the late-stage dikes, zircon U-Pb geochronological analyses were conducted on a diabase sample (TW24-1) and a sillite sample (TW34-1) collected from the field. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images reveal that zircons from both the diabase and sillite exhibit high euhedrality, occurring predominantly as euhedral to subhedral granular and prismatic crystals. The zircons range from 80 to 150 μm in size, with length-to-width ratios between 1:1 and 2:1. CL images display distinct magmatic oscillatory zoning (Figure 4), indicative of their magmatic origin (Hoskin and Schaltegger, 2003).

For each rock type, 20 representative zircon grains were selected for U-Pb dating, with analytical spots and results shown in Figure 3 and Table 1. The diabase sample (TW24-1) yielded 13 valid data points after correction, with most data points plotting on or near the concordia line in the U-Pb concordia diagram (Figure 4a); individual zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages range from 268 to 275 Ma, giving a weighted mean age of 273 ± 3 Ma (MSWD = 0.52). The sillite sample (TW34-1) provided 8 valid data points, with most data points falling on the concordia line (Figure 4c); individual zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages range from 271 to 275 Ma, yielding a weighted mean age of 272 ± 2 Ma (MSWD = 0.53). Collectively, these results indicate that both the diabase and sillite are products of Early Permian magmatic activity.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Zircon CL Images of Puchang Diabase and Sillite (The red solid circles and yellow dashed circles denote the U-Pb and Hf isotope analysis sites).

Table 1

Table 1. Zircon U–Pb analytical results for the diabase and sillite intrusive rocks.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Zircon U-Pb concordia diagram and weighted mean age plot of Puchang diabase and sillite.

5.2 Major element characteristics

Major and trace element data for 13 samples of the Puchang diabase and sillite are presented in Table 2. The diabase exhibits limited variation in SiO₂ (46.25%–49.98%), Al₂O₃ (14.47%–18.90%), and TiO₂ (1.51%–2.64%), with total alkalis (Na₂O + K₂O) ranging from 4.34 to 5.77 wt%, plotting in the gabbro–monzogabbro field on the TAS diagram (Figure 5a). The rocks show low K₂O (0.89%–1.43%) and MgO (2.50%–5.68%, Mg^# = 55.99–59.72), high CaO (7.41%–9.48%) and TFe₂O₃ (9.13–14.53 wt%, TFeO = 4.45–7.69 wt%), and TFeO/MgO ratios of 1.29–2.41, classifying them as medium-high K calc-alkaline series (Figure 5b). The sillite has SiO₂ contents of 50.25%–51.09%, stable Al₂O₃ (14.55%–17.62%) and TiO₂ (1.07%–1.22%), with total alkalis of 2.77%–3.30%, plotting in the gabbro field (Figure 5a). It is characterized by lower K₂O (0.54%–0.68%), higher CaO (9.19%–10.12%) and MgO (6.19%–7.71%, Mg# = 34.0–51.6), and moderate ^TFe₂O₃ (10.78–11.12 wt%, ^TFeO = 5.76–8.26%), with ^TFeO/MgO ratios of 0.93–1.09, indicating a low-K calc-alkaline affinity (Figure 5b). Harker diagrams (Figure 6) reveal positive correlations between MgO and SiO₂, CaO, and weak negative correlations between MgO and ^TFe₂O₃/TiO₂/Al₂O₃/P₂O₅ for both lithologies, reflecting magmatic differentiation trends.

Table 2

Table 2. Analysis Results of Major Elements (%), Trace and Rare Earth Elements (×10⁻⁶) for Puchang Diabase and Silite.

Figure 5

Figure 5. SiO₂-ALK Diagram (a), (Middlemost, 1994) and SiO₂-K₂O Diagram (b), after (Rickwood, 1989).

Figure 6

Figure 6. Bivariate Diagrams (a–f) of MgO vs. Major Elements for Puchang Diabase and Sillite.

5.3 Rare earth and trace element characteristics

The diabase exhibits high total REE contents (95.92–269.62 × 10⁻⁶), with chondrite-normalized patterns (Figure 7a) showing LREE enrichment [(La/Yb)_n = 4.62–13.81, (La/Sm)_n = 2.17–3.80], slightly gentle-sloping HREE depletion [(Gd/Yb)_n = 1.51–2.53], and weak positive Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.98–1.15). Primitive mantle-normalized spidergrams (Figure 7b) reveal prominent negative anomalies in Nb, Ta, Ti, and Y, alongside positive anomalies in Th, Sr, and Zr. The sillite has lower total REE (54.72–117.48 × 10⁻⁶, mean = 69.15 × 10⁻⁶), with chondrite-normalized plots (Figure 7c) showing weaker LREE/HREE fractionation [(La/Yb)_n = 2.88–7.21, (La/Sm)_n = 2.00–2.75], OIB-like patterns, and weak positive Eu anomalies (δEu = 1.00–1.28). Its primitive mantle-normalized spidergram (Figure 7d) indicates enrichment in incompatible elements (Rb, Th), depletion in high-field-strength elements (Nb, Ta), and positive Sr anomalies, reflecting subduction-related magmatism with crustal contamination.

Figure 7

Figure 7. REE Patterns and Trace Element Spider Diagrams (a–d) of Puchang Diabase and Sillite [OIB data after (Sun et al., 1989)].

5.4 Hf isotope characteristics

The Lu-Hf isotopic compositions of zircons are shown in Table 3. Zircons from the Puchang diabase and sillite display similar Hf isotopic compositions. The initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios range from 0.282513 to 0.282560 and 0.282529 to 0.282636, respectively, with corresponding ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −2.52 to −0.45 and −1.23 to +2.47 (Figure 7a). These Hf isotopic characteristics are consistent with those of the previously studied Puchang complex (Figure 7a).

Table 3

Table 3. Hf isotopic compositions for zircons from Puchang Diabase and Sillite.

5.5 Sr-Nd isotope characteristics

The Sr-Nd isotope ratios are listed in Table 4. The initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)ᵢ ratios of diabase and sillite range from 0.70464 to 0.70582 and 0.70432 to 0.70491, respectively, with εNd(t) values ranging from 0.97 to 2.51 and 0.85 to 2.77. These data mainly fall within the evolution range of OIB (Figure 8b). Compared with other rocks in the TLIP, the Puchang diabase and sillite share similar Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics with the previously studied Puchang Complex and Wajilitag Complex. In contrast, they exhibit lower (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)ᵢ values and higher ε_Nd(t) values than the Permian flood basalts in the TLIP (Figure 8b).

Table 4

Table 4. Sr-Nd isotopic compositions for Whole Rocks from Puchang Diabase and Sillite.

Figure 8

Figure 8. Diagrams (a) of ε_Hf(t) vs. T(Ma) and Diagrams (b) of (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)ᵢ vs. εNd(t) after (Zhang et al., 2016). Data sources: DM, MORB, and OIB (Zindler and Hart, 1986); Kimberlitic rocks (Zhang et al., 2013); early Permian basalts (Zhou et al., 2009; Tian et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2010; Yu et al., 2011; Li et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2012); Fields for northern Tarim basement (Long et al., 2011); Wajilitag Complex and Puchang Complex (Zhang et al., 2016; Kong et al., 2021; Zhu et al., 2021).

6 Discussion

6.1 Magmatic evolution processes

The diabase and sillite samples show only minor chloritization with no other late-stage alteration minerals, supported by low and constant loss on ignition (LOI) values in major element analyses (Table 2), indicating minimal weathering. Transition elements (Ti, Ni, V), REEs, and high-field-strength elements (HFSEs: Nb, Ta, Zr, Y) exhibit low mobility (Polat et al., 2003), while elements like Rb, Ba, Cs, Yb, Hf, and Sr show strong correlations with Zr. Ce anomalies range from 0.83 to 1.02, and Sr content displays no significant negative correlation with LOI (Figure 9a), confirming negligible influence from metamorphism or alteration (Polat et al., 2003). Thus, this paper will also utilize these elements with poor mobility to carry out petrogenetic analysis and source region exploration.

Figure 9

Figure 9. LOI-Sr diagram (a) and Yb-Tb/Yb diagram (b) of Puchang diabase and sillite after (Dilek and Furnes, 2011).

Unlike the oceanic lithosphere, the continental lithosphere features a thick lithospheric mantle and crust. During the ascent and emplacement (or eruption) of mantle-derived magmas, these magmas undergo assimilation and contamination with continental lithospheric materials (Mcbirney and Creaser, 2003; Zhang et al., 2006; Namur et al., 2010). The diabase and sillite display variable Nb/U ratios of 32.41–44.04 and 29.23–44.11, respectively, which are close to the Nb/U ratio of oceanic basalt (47 ± 7), but significantly higher than that of continental crust (Hofmann et al., 1986). The primitive mantle and continental crust exhibit distinct trace element ratios. The diabase and sillite have Nb/Ta ratios of 12.30–19.79 and 10.82–16.46, respectively, and Zr/Hf ratios of 31.31–37.22 and 38.82–51.56, respectively, which lie between those of the primitive mantle (Nb/Ta = 17.7, Zr/Hf = 37) and continental crust (Nb/Ta = 11, Zr/Hf = 33) but are closer to the primitive mantle values (Sun et al., 1989). This indicates that crustal material contamination may have occurred during the magmatic evolution process. Additionally, some samples of diabase and sillite show slightly enriched Hf isotope compositions, and their two-stage model ages are relatively old, which can also be interpreted as the effect of crustal contamination. However, no positive correlation between (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i ratio and MgO caused by continental crustal contamination is observed in the Puchang diabase and sillite. Moreover, the two types of samples show relatively consistent Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic characteristics (Figure 8), implying that crustal contamination during magma formation was not significant (Valley et al., 2005; Hawkesworth and Kemp, 2006; Kemp et al., 2006). Collectively, these lines of evidence suggest that the magmas of the Puchang diabase and sillite might have undergone some degree of crustal contamination during their ascent, though such contamination was not pronounced.

After magma formation, fractional crystallization typically occurs during its upward migration, leading to significant changes in certain elements. In the major element Harker diagrams (Figure 6), the negative correlations between ^TFe₂O₃, TiO₂, and MgO indicate fractional crystallization of Fe-Ti oxides, while the positive correlation between CaO and MgO suggests clinopyroxene crystallization, consistent with the abundant pyroxene observed in petrography. The positive correlation between Al₂O₃ and MgO, together with the absence of obvious Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.99–1.27), suggests that plagioclase did not undergo fractional crystallization. Additionally, the Yb-Tb/Yb diagram (Figure 9b) also reveals a fractional crystallization trend.

Petrographic and whole-rock geochemical studies indicate that the Puchang diabase and sillite likely underwent fractional crystallization of Fe-Ti oxides and pyroxenes, as well as minor crustal contamination during their formation, while post-magmatic alteration was negligible. Consequently, the geochemical signatures of these samples closely approximate those of primitive magmas, enabling the reflection of mantle source characteristics and partial melting conditions.

6.2 Mantle source region

Both diabase and sillite are characterized by enrichment in Fe and Ti. Their evolutionary trends are evident in major element Harker diagrams (Figure 6). Trace element normalized patterns show similar distribution modes for both rocks (Figure 7), and their Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic characteristics are consistent in the (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i-ε_Nd(t) diagram (Figure 8). These observations suggest that diabase and sillite might have formed from fractional crystallization of the same parental magma.

It is generally accepted that basaltic magmas are derived from partial melting of mantle peridotite (Hirose and Kushiro, 1993; Walter, 2003), Due to the heterogeneity of the mantle, which contains different mantle end-members, partial melting of these distinct end-members can influence the chemical compositions of basaltic magmas (Falloon et al., 1988). During the melting process, incompatible components preferentially enter the magma, such as large ion lithophile elements, high field strength elements, and light rare earth elements, while compatible elements are basically independent of the degree of partial melting and can reflect the properties of the source region. Therefore, selecting elements with different compatibility can help determine the magma source region and the degree of partial melting. Simulation using the incompatible element Sm and the highly compatible element Yb can be used to identify the mantle source region. In the Sm-Sm/Yb and La/Sm-Sm/Yb diagrams (Figure 10), diabase and sillite mainly fall within the partial melting range of spinel-garnet lherzolite, suggesting that their source region may be a garnet-spinel lherzolite mantle source region.

Figure 10

Figure 10. Sm-Sm/Yb diagram (a) and La/Sm-Sm/Yb diagram (b), after (Aldanmaz et al., 2000).

The Puchang diabase and sillite display trace element partitioning patterns similar to those of OIB and depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic characteristics. It is generally considered that Fe-Ti oxide-bearing intrusions with OIB-like features in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) may originate from the melting of slightly enriched asthenosphere (Zhou et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2009; Bai et al., 2012). However, it is noteworthy that OIB-like features cannot be used as evidence for the asthenospheric mantle origin of the source region, because for some mafic-ultramafic rocks, the interaction between the depleted mantle source region and the enriched components emplaced in the late stage can also yield isotopic characteristics similar to those of OIB (LE Roex et al., 2003). Fortunately, in the northwestern TLIP, available kimberlitic rocks and their mantle xenoliths can represent the continental lithospheric mantle, as kimberlitic rocks are considered to originate from lithospheric mantle modified by ancient subducted materials. The samples in this study show consistent Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic trends with the Puchang complex and kimberlitic rocks, suggesting that the basaltic parental magma might have originated from the enriched lithospheric mantle rather than the convective asthenosphere or deep mantle plumes. Additionally, previous studies have indicated the presence of a strong and thick (approximately 140 km) modern lithosphere beneath the Tarim Craton (Neil and Houseman, 1997; Liu et al., 2004). Since no obvious magmatic events have been observed in the study area since the Permian, except for the intrusion of the Puchang complex, the northern Tarim Craton might not have experienced significant lithospheric thinning after the Early Permian. Therefore, the lithosphere could have been as thick as 140 km during the Permian period. A thick lithosphere (>130 km) may hinder the upwelling of mantle plumes, prevent their decompression melting, and restrict melting to the asthenosphere mantle (Turner et al., 1996; Storey et al., 1997; Jourdan et al., 2007; Foley, 2008). The long duration of magmatism in Tarim is also consistent with the time intervals of basaltic rocks in some continental large igneous provinces (such as the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province and the Kerguelen Plateau). In these large igneous provinces, melting of thick lithospheric mantle (>100 km) occurred, and no melting took place in the underlying mantle plumes (Kent et al., 1992; White and McKenzie, 1995; Turner et al., 1996; Rao and Lehmann, 2011). Therefore, a reasonable interpretation is that for the magmatic system, the mantle plume most likely contributed heat but did not contribute significant melt. In addition, the northern margin of the Tarim Craton experienced subduction of oceanic lithosphere during the Neoproterozoic and Middle Paleozoic. It is generally considered that metasomatized lithospheric mantle with extremely high contents of Th, U, Rb, Sr, and LREE would promote enrichment of Sr-Nd isotopes (Mckenzie, 1989; Thompson and Gibson, 1994). However, the Nd and Hf isotopes of the intrusive rocks are depleted relative to most present-day terrestrial reservoirs, and the Paleozoic subduction process cannot account for these features. Arc-related magmatism occurred along the northern margin of the craton from the Early Silurian to the Late Permian, which is believed to have formed during the southward subduction of the Tianshan Ocean beneath the northern margin of the Tarim Craton (Ge et al., 2012; Huang et al., 2013). Thus, the lithospheric mantle beneath the Tarim Craton was metasomatized by slab-derived fluids/melts during the Middle Paleozoic subduction, thereby modifying the ancient lithospheric mantle (Wei et al., 2014).

To sum up, the primary magmas of the Puchang diabase and sillite can be regarded as the products of low-degree partial melting of metasomatized continental lithospheric mantle.

6.3 Tectonic setting

Based on the new chronological and geochemical data of this study, combined with the mantle plume-lithosphere interaction model proposed by previous studies, the evolutionary model of the TLIP can be summarized as follows: During the Early to Middle Paleozoic, there are abundant arc magmatic rocks that occur in the Korla area, the Tarim Craton, which is located in the south of the proposed South Tianshan Ocean (Figure 11a). These arc magmas are considered to be the products of the southward subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean (Ge et al., 2012). The subduction-derived components from the South Tianshan Ocean metasomatized the asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle. At approximately 300 Ma, a mantle plume reached the base of the thick Tarim lithosphere, inducing low-degree partial melting of fusible components in the lithospheric mantle to form kimberlitic rocks (Figure 11b). From 292 to 287 Ma, intense interaction between the lithosphere and mantle plume triggered large-scale melting of the enriched ancient lithospheric mantle, leading to the emplacement of massive flood basalts. Subsequently (283–274 Ma), thermal erosion by the mantle plume caused partial thinning of the Tarim lithosphere, and partial melting of the relatively depleted lithospheric mantle formed mafic-ultramafic complexes. The diabase and sillite in the study area, and regional dikes were formed during 273–272 Ma (Figure 11c). By 270 Ma and later, the ascending mantle plume underwent decompression melting, and the intense interaction between the lithosphere and mantle plume finally formed late-stage intrusive rocks and alkaline-rich rocks (Figure 11d). This evolutionary process reveals that the thermal perturbation of the mantle plume and the material properties of the lithosphere jointly controlled the spatiotemporal differentiation of magmatism in the TLIP.

Figure 11

Figure 11. Tectonic evolution model of the Tarim large igneous province (a–d) after (Ge et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2016).

7 Conclusion

1. Zircon U-Pb dating of diabase and sillite yields weighted mean ages of 273 ± 3 Ma and 272 ± 2 Ma, respectively, indicating their emplacement during the Early Permian.

2. The source regions of diabase and sillite are metasomatized continental lithospheric mantle, possibly a garnet-spinel lherzolite assemblage. The magmas originated from low-degree partial melting of the lithospheric mantle, followed by fractional crystallization and crustal contamination during magmatic evolution.

3. Combining with the mantle plume-lithosphere interaction model proposed by predecessors, the diabase and sillite in this study might have formed in the late stage (290–270 Ma) of large-scale melting of the lithospheric mantle triggered by the upwelling of the mantle plume.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

DH: Writing – original draft. YL: Writing – review and editing. QZ: Writing – review and editing. HL: Writing – review and editing.

Funding

The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. Self-funded Exploration Project of Xinjiang Geological Bureau: Metallogeny and Prospecting Target Optimization of Strategic Mineral Resources in Kezilesu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang (Project No.: XGMB202363).

Conflict of interest

The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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The author(s) declared that generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.

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