Hadean Detrital Zircon in the North China Craton

Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, Volume 111, page 283–291, 2016

Hadean detrital zircon in the North China Craton

Zhuang LI*, Bin CHEN** and Chunjing WEI*

*The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Ministry of Education, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China **School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230009, PR China

Due to a lack of rock samples from the Hadean Eon, the Hadean zircons have become an important means of understanding the Earth’s earliest history. This study reports the occurrence of a Hadean detrital zircon with a concordia U–Pb age of 4081 ± 71 Ma and 207Pb/206Pb age of 4087 ± 31 Ma from the Paleoproterozoic meta- sedimentary rocks in the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt (JLJB) in the North China Craton. The analyzed zircon grain exhibits low luminescence and striped absorption and has relatively high Th/U ratio (0.37), all suggesting an igneous origin. It is euhedral with length/width ratios of 3:2, implying a short distance of transportation from its source. The Hadean age is ~ 570 million years older than the oldest zircon previously identified in the JLJB. This further demonstrates the existence of a Hadean continental crustal remnant in the North China Craton. In addition, to our knowledge, it is the first case of a Hadean zircon being recognized in the Paleoproterozoic sediments on Earth. The documentation of a 4.09 Ga detrital zircon not only provides a geochronological record of the oldest known crustal materials in the JLJB, but also identifies the geological environment for further exploration for the Hadean zircons or even the Hadean rocks.

Keywords: Hadean zircon, U–Pb age, Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary, Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton

INTRODUCTION Narryer and Jack Hills (and adjacent granitoids) of the Narryer Terrane in Western Australia (e.g., Compston The Hadean zircons and rocks are keys to deciphering the and Pidgeon, 1986; Wilde et al., 2001; Wyche et al., evolution of crustal rocks formed during the Pre–archean 2004; Cavosie et al., 2007; Harrison, 2009; Nebel et Eon (Chaotian (>4.5 Ga) and Hadean (4.0–4.5 Ga)) (Rud- al., 2014; Valley et al., 2014). Hadean zircon occurrences nick and Gao, 2003; Goldblatt et al., 2010; Moyen, 2011; outside Western Australia have been also reported in Nebel et al., 2014), making possible new avenues for Canada (Iizuka et al., 2006, 2009), west Greenland early Earth research. However, the Hadean rocks on (Mojzsis and Harrison, 2002), and China (Fig. 1a and Earth are only identified in Canada as the 3.94–4.03 Ga Table 1; Duo et al., 2007a, 2007b; Wang et al., 2007; magmatic protoliths of the Acasta gneisses in the Wop- Diwu et al., 2010; Cui et al., 2013; Xing et al., 2014). may Orogenic Belt (e.g., Iizuka et al., 2006, 2007, 2009). For the first time, we report the occurrence of a 4.09 Ga Comparatively, the Hadean zircons have attracted consid- zircon in the Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in erably more attention, as they are widespread and exhibit the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt (JLJB) in the North China Craton robust chemical and physical features that make them (NCC). The U–Pb isotopic dating using the laser abla- survive extreme conditions (Nebel et al., 2014; Xing et tion–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer (LA– al., 2014), thereby providing a means of understanding ICP–MS) method reveals that the 4.09 Ga zircon is a de- the evolution of the early Earth. trital zircon within the 2.0–1.9 Ga staurolite–garnet–mica It should be noted that most of the detrital or the schist. This study will deepen our understanding of the xenocrystic zircons older than 4.0 Ga are found at Mt. developmental history of early Earth and suggest areas for the exploration of the Hadean zircons or even the doi:10.2465/jmps.150929 Hadean rocks. Z. Li, [email protected] Corresponding author 284 Z. Li, B. Chen and C. Wei

Figure 1. The distribution of the Hadean zircons. (a) Geological sketch of China emphasizing the distribution of Hadean zircons. Note that the number of each star represents the order number in Table 1 (see Table 1 for details). Stars 2, 6, 7, and 8 are the Hadean zircons located within the NCC. (b) Subdivision of the NCC and the geological map of the Liaodong Peninsula (modified after Zhao et al., 2005).

GEOLOGICAL SETTING canic successions are called the Macheonayeong Group in North Korea (Zhao et al., 2005), the Liaohe Group in the The NCC is one of the oldest continental nuclei on Earth, Liaodong Peninsula (Li et al., 2011), the Laoling and Ji’an being bounded to the north by the Paleozoic Central Groups in southern Jilin (Lu et al., 2006), and the Fen- Asian Orogenic Belt and to the south by the Qinling–Da- zishan and Jingshan Groups in the Shandong Peninsula bie–Su–Lu Orogenic Belt. It formed by assembly of the (Tam et al., 2011). The Liaohe Group consists of three Eastern and Western blocks along the Trans–North China rock units: (1) an arkose– and volcanic–rich sequence in Orogen as shown in Figure 1b (Zhao et al., 2005). The the lower part (the Langzishan, Lieryu and Gaojiayu For- Eastern Block consists of the Longgang Block and the mations), (2) a carbonate–rich sequence in the middle (the Nangrim Block, with the Paleoproterozoic JLJB in be- Dashiqiao Formation), and (3) a pelitic sequence in the tween. The two blocks are underlain by the Archean base- upper part (the Gaixian Formation), experiencing amphib- ment (Liu et al., 1992; Song et al., 1996; Wu et al., 1997, olite facies metamorphism (Li et al., 2014a, 2014b; Li et 2005). The NE–trending Paleoproterozoic JLJB is com- al., 2015a, 2015b). The Dashiqiao Formation is composed posed of deformed sedimentary and volcanic successions dominantly of dolomitic marbles intercalated with minor and felsic–mafic intrusions that were metamorphosed carbonaceous slates and mica schists, hosting the largest to greenschist–amphibolite facies at ~ 1.9 Ga as shown magnesite deposit in the world and notable for its thick in Figure 1 (Luo et al., 2004; Li et al., 2005; Lu et al., and pure orebody (Tang et al., 2009, 2013). Our sample 2006; Li and Zhao, 2007; Luo et al., 2008; Meng et al., (LHZ1) belongs to the Dashiqiao Formation as described 2014; Li et al., 2015a, 2015b). The sedimentary and vol- below. Hadean detrital zircon 285

Table 1. Distribution of the Hadean zircons on Earth

* SHRIMP, sensitive high resolution ion microprobe; CAMECA, Cameca Ion Microprobe; LA–ICP–MS, laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry.

SAMPLE DESCRIPTION AND further purified by hand–picking under a binocular mi- ANALYTICAL METHOD croscope. The zircons were set in an epoxy mount that was polished and then vacuum–coated with a layer of 50 Sample LHZ1 (GPS location: 42°33′12′′N, 129°40′37′′E) nm high–purity gold. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images is a staurolite–garnet–mica schist collected from the Da- were taken to examine the internal structure of the indi- shiqiao Formation in the Dashiqiao magnesite deposit vidual grains. The zircon U–Pb analysis was performed of Dashiqiao City, Liaoning Province. It is dark gray in using the LA–ICP–MS housed at Tianjin Institute of color, with a lepido–granoblastic texture and schistosity. Geology and Mineral Resources, China. This unit is a It contains staurolite (10%) + garnet (15%) + biotite Neptune ICP–MS equipped with a 193 nm Geolas Q Plus (30%) + muscovite (15%) + plagioclase (20%) + quartz ArF exciplex laser ablation. The laser spot diameter and (10%) and accessory epidote, magnetite, apatite, and zir- frequency were 32 µm and 10 Hz, respectively. A zircon con. The schist is intercalated with dolomitic marbles. GJ–1 was employed as an external standard for age cal- The field relations are shown in Figure 2. Geochemically, ibration, the standard glass NIST 610 was used to opti- the staurolite–garnet–mica schist consists of SiO2 = 55.77 mize the machine, and a zircon TEMORA was used as 207 206 206 238 wt%, Al2O3 = 15.30 wt%, Fe2O3 = 3.19 wt%, FeO = 7.20 a monitoring standard. The Pb/ Pb, Pb/ U, and 207 235 wt%, and K2O = 2.95 wt%. Using a petrological and geo- Pb/ U ratios and apparent ages were calculated using chemical classification, its protolith is classified as shale the GLITTER 4.0 program (Jackson et al., 2004). The (see Li et al. 2015b). measured compositions were corrected for common Pb The zircon grains from Sample LHZ1 were extract- using the measured non–radiogenic 204Pb (Andersen, ed using heavy liquid and magnetic methods and were 2002). The age calculations and the plotting of the con- 286 Z. Li, B. Chen and C. Wei

Figure 2. Photos of the sample local- ity. (a) A field photo showing that the schist (d) is intercalated with dolomitic marbles (b) and (c). (e) Microphotograph of the stauro- lite–garnet–mica schist (LHZ1). cordia diagram were done using ISOPLOT 3.0 (Ludwig, bright and has irregular shapes, which could be attributed 2003). The uncertainties for individual LA–ICP–MS anal- to later overgrowth of the crystal, similar to the one with yses are quoted at the 1σ level, with errors on pooled ages Archean age (see #21 in Fig. 3a). Unfortunately, the rim is quoted at the 95% (1σ) confidence level. Details of the too narrow to measure the U–Pb age data; therefore, we technique are described by Yuan et al. (2004). are not able to unequivocally distinguish whether the rim is an igneous or a metamorphic overgrowth. These char- RESULTS acteristics indicate that the detrital and relatively broad core of the 4087 Ma zircon is igneous in origin with a Most zircons from this sample have subhedral to euhedral narrow rim probably overgrown during late–stage thermal crystal shapes and a variable grain size of 80–150 µm. As events or metamorphism. shown in Table 2, they exhibit low luminescence and concentric oscillatory zoning or striped absorption (Fig. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 3a), with Th/U ratios ranging 0.06–1.51 (mostly higher than 0.1), indicating their igneous provenance (Pupin, Oldest zircon in the JLJB 1980; Corfu et al., 2003). The detailed analysis of the detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology, the whole–rock As mentioned above, the NE–trending Paleoproterozoic Sm–Nd isotopes, and the geochemistry suggest that the JLJB is characterized by a large areal distribution of sedi- Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the JLJB mentary and volcanic rock successions metamorphosed to have experienced high erosion rates, little transport, poor greenschist–amphibolite facies, along with granitic and sorting, and rapid deposition of the sediments (Li et al., mafic igneous intrusions. The oldest zircon might be iden- 2015b), in accordance with the relatively euhedral crystal tified as (1) a trapped zircon entrained in the igneous rocks shape of the zircons as observed in this study (Fig. 3a). or (2) a detrital zircon from the sedimentary rocks. Wang Thirty–six U–Pb analyses give a wide range of 207Pb/ et al. (2011), Meng et al. (2014), and Yuan et al. (2015) 206Pb ages scattering between 2002 and 4087 Ma (Fig. 3b presented detailed zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu– and Table 2). The youngest zircons identified in the sam- Hf isotopic studies on the meta–mafic rocks. They classi- ple are grains 25, 5, and 34 that yield ages of 2002 ± 13, fied the zircons into three groups, one with a metamorphic 2014 ± 13, and 2014 ± 13 Ma with concordances of 92.7, origin (~ 1.9 Ga), another with a typical magmatic origin 99.4, and 99.4%, respectively (Fig. 3b and Table 2). (2.0–2.2 Ga), and the remaining with a magmatic origin It is worthy to note that the 4087 Ma zircon with but with older ages (2.45–2.59 Ga). The oldest zircon dis- concordance of 99.9% appears as a dark–brown euhedral covered in the mafic rocks is a trapped zircon with the age crystal with length/width ratios of 3:2 and without any of 2.59 Ga. Using the zircon SHRIMP and LA–ICP–MS cracks and inclusions in the reflection images. A distinct U–Pb dating techniques, Lu et al. (2004a, 2004b), Li and core and a rim can be observed in the CL images. The core Zhao (2007), and Yang et al. (2015) revealed that the is dark–grey and has low luminescence and striped ab- gneissic granites are fixed at ~ 2.15 Ga and the oldest sorption, with a high Th/U ratio of 0.37 (Table 2), suggest- zircon is at the age of ~ 2.78 Ga with a large discordance. ing a magmatic origin and a likely acidic nature (Corfu Li and Chen (2014) and Wan et al. (2006) reported ~ 2.45 et al., 2003; Nebel et al., 2014). The rim of the zircon is Ga zircon xenocrysts within the ~ 2.2 Ga felsic volcanic Table 2. Zircon U–Pb age data aendtia zircon detrital Hadean

Note: Degree of discordance = 100 × [1 − (206Pb/238U age/207Pb/206Pb age)]. 238U = 0.0155125 × 10−9 yr−1. 235U = 0.98485 × 10−9 yr−1. 232Th = 0.049475 × 10−9 yr−1. 287 288 Z. Li, B. Chen and C. Wei

Figure 3. The Hadean zircon tex- tures and ages. (a) CL images of representative zircons, with a car- toon showing the Hadean zircon textures. The circles on the zircons represent analyzed spots, and the numbers below are the U–Pb ages and spot numbers. (b) Zircon U– Pb ages for the staurolite–garnet– mica schist (LHZ1). rocks based on the zircon SHRIMP and the LA–ICP–MS mentioned above, the staurolite–garnet–mica schist in U–Pb dating techniques. Thus, the age of the oldest trap- the study is intercalated with dolomitic marbles (Fig. ped zircon identified in the igneous rocks is ~ 2.78 Ga. 2), and the detrital zircons contained within can place a The previous geochronological studies on the sedimentary good constraint on the timing of the depositional age of rocks in the Liaohe Group have suggested that the detrital the Dashiqiao Formation. The youngest igneous zircons zircons were, however, recorded at an age as old as 3212 identified from the staurolite–garnet–mica schist give Ma (Meng et al., 2013a), ~ 3285 Ma (Meng et al., 2013b), ages of 2002 Ma (#25, concordance of 92.7%), 2014 ~ 3331 Ma (Luo et al., 2008), and ~ 3356 Ma (Lu et al., Ma (#5, concordance of 99.4%), and 2014 Ma (#34, con- 2006). More recently, Li et al. (2015a, 2015b) obtained cordance of 99.4%) (see Fig. 3a and Table 2), which can concordant U–Pb ages of ~ 3356, ~ 3467, and ~ 3520 constrain the maximum depositional age of the Dashiqiao Ma for the detrital zircons from the Gaixian Formation, Formation. The minimum ages of the detrital zircons from which were interpreted to have been transported from the the metasedimentary rocks indicate that the depositional Archean Longgang Block. Overall, the oldest zircon iden- age of the Dashiqiao Formation in the Liaohe Group tified in previous studies is a detrital zircon with the age of should be younger than 2.0 Ga. In addition, the protoliths 3520 ± 17 Ma (Li et al., 2015a, 2015b). The LA–ICP–MS of the metasedimentary rocks in the Liaohe Group should zircon U–Pb isotopic dating in this study reveals a 4.087 be deposited before the regional tectonic–metamorphic Ga detrital zircon that is hosted within the Dashiqiao For- event at ~ 1.9 Ga (Luo et al., 2004; Li and Zhao, 2007; mation. Our result provides direct evidence for the exis- Luo et al., 2008; Xie et al., 2011; Li and Chen, 2014; Li et tence of a ~ 4.1 Ga crust and is consistent with previous al., 2015a, 2015b). The metamorphic age is well con- zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu–Hf isotopic studies strained by the evidence: (a) the 40Ar/39Ar age of 1896 on the Eastern Block (Liu et al., 1992; Song et al., 1996; ± 7 Ma for biotites from a main detachment shear zone Wan et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2008; Cui et al., 2013). The in the Liaohe Group (Yin and Nie, 1996), (b) the concord- presence of the Hadean detrital zircon in the metasedi- ant U–Pb age of ~ 1.9 Ga for the metamorphic overgrowth mentary rocks of the JLJB in the NCC is conspicuous, of zircons from the metasedimentary rocks (LA–ICP–MS and the 4087 Ma zircon is ~ 570 million years older than method) (Luo et al., 2004, 2008; Li et al., 2015b), (c) the the oldest zircon previously identified in the JLJB. age of 1914 ± 13 Ma for the metamorphic overgrowth of zircons from the gneissic granites using the SHRIMP Depositional age of the Dashiqiao Formation technique (Li and Zhao, 2007), and (d) the 207Pb/206Pb metamorphic ages of 1.93–1.91 Ga for the metamorphic The depositional age of the Dashiqiao Formation had not phases, such as garnet and staurolite, from the metasedi- been previously well constrained, partly due to the lack mentary rocks using the 207Pb/206Pb stepwise–leaching of siliciclastic rocks. As such, these rocks were classified method. More recently, Meng et al. (2014) and Li and as deposited at 2.33–2.06 Ga solely based on lithostrati- Chen (2014) obtained a concordant U–Pb age of ~ 1.9 graphic correlations and comparisons without any geo- Ga for the metamorphic zircons from the meta–mafic chronological constraints (Tang et al., 2009, 2013). As rocks, which were interpreted as the age of peak metamor- Hadean detrital zircon 289 phism of the Liaohe Group during collisional processes. 1996; Wan et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2008) and abundant Therefore, obviously, the Dashiqiao Formation should be detrital zircons up to 3860 ± 3 Ma in the quartzite near deposited before ~ 1.9 Ga, which corresponds to the re- Caozhuang Village (Wu et al., 2005), both in the Eastern gional metamorphic event. In summary, the depositional Block of the NCC. In summary, the NCC, especially the age of Dashiqiao Formation should be 1.9–2.0 Ga. The Eastern Block, is the ideal geological environment for Hadean zircon is hosted within the 2.0–1.9 Ga stauro- further exploration for the Hadean zircons or even the lite–garnet–mica schist, which was subsequently meta- Hadean rocks. morphosed at ~ 1.9 Ga. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Hadean ACKNOWLEDGMENTS crustal material identified in a Paleoproterozoic sedimen- tary rock. This study may also indicate that the possibility We thank Associate Editor, Dr. Takenori Kato, and three of obtaining additional Hadean material entrained in the reviewers (Dr. Kimura Jun–Ichi, Dr. Hafiz Ur Rehman, Paleoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the NCC and other and Dr. Kenji Horie) for their constructive comments cratonic areas may be greater than previously thought. and careful corrections that led to significant improvement to the manuscript. We express our gratitude to Dr. Yan Spatial–temporal distribution of the Hadean zircons Zhan, Dr. Jie Dong, and Dr. Maohui Ge for their discus- in China sions and for the preparation of the figures. This work was financially supported by the National Key Basic Research As shown in Figure 1a and Table 1, the Hadean zircons Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB416603), the Na- are widely identified in China. Using the zircon SHRIMP tional Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U–Pb dating technique, a ~ 4103 Ma detrital zircon was 90914001), the Opening Foundation of the Peking Uni- found from a Neoproterozoic quartz schist in western Ti- versity (Grant No. 0000010541), and the Undergraduates bet in southwest China (Duo et al., 2006, 2007a, 2007b) Innovating Experimentation Project of Jilin University and was the oldest zircon U–Pb age found in Asia at that (Grant No. 2010C61164). time. In northwest China, the Hadean detrital zircons were found in two areas. One site is in the Late Devonian strata REFERENCES in the Hexi Corridor (4022 Ma by Yuan et al. 2012; Yuan and Yang, 2015), and the other is in the sedimentary se- Andersen, T. (2002) Correction of common lead in U–Pb analyses quences in the early Paleozoic Aermantai ophiolitic mél- that do not report 204Pb. Chemical Geology, 192, 59–79. ange in East Junggar (4040 Ma by Huang et al., 2013). In Cavosie, A.J., Valley, J.W. and Wilde, S. (2007) The oldest terres- fi trial mineral record: a review of 4400 to 4000 Ma detrital south China, three Hadean detrital zircons were identi ed, zircons from Jack Hills, Western Australia. Developments in one from the Cambrian sandstone in Nanning City (4107 Precambrian Geology, 15, 91–111. Ma by Xu et al., 2012) and the other two from the Paleo- Compston, W. and Pidgeon, R.T. (1986) Jack Hills, evidence of zoic quartzite in the Longquan area (4127 and 4070 Ma by more very old detrital zircons in Western Australia. Nature, – Xing et al., 2014, 2015). In the NCC, besides the Archean 321, 766 769. Corfu, F., Hanchar, J.M., Hoskin, P.W.O. and Kinny, P. (2003) At- detrital zircon reported in this study, two areas with dis- las of zircon textures. In Zircon (Hanchar, J.M. and Hoskin, coveries of Hadean zircons should be highlighted. (1) P.W.O. Eds.). Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 53, Wang et al. (2007) and Diwu et al. (2010, 2013) identified Chantilly, VA, 469–500. two Hadean zircons with the ages of 4008 and 4080 Ma Cui, P.L., Sun, J.G., Sha, D.M., Wang, X.J., Zhang, P., Gu, A.L. from the Ordovician ignimbrite in the southern margin and Wang, Z.Y. (2013) Oldest zircon xenocryst (4.17 Ga) – – from the North China Craton. International Geology Review, of the NCC, using the zircon SHRIMP and LA ICP MS 55, 1902–1908. U–Pb dating techniques. (2) Cui et al. (2013) carried out Diwu, C.R., Sun, Y., Dong, Z.C., Wang, H.L., Chen, D.L., Chen, the LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating on zircons from an Archean L. and Zhang, H. (2010) In situ U–Pb geochronology of Ha- massive fine–grained amphibolite and revealed a Hadean dean zircon xenocryst (4.1–3.9 Ga) from the western of the Northern Qinling Orogenic Belt. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 26, zircon with an age of 4174 Ma in Anshan City. Our study 1171–1174 (in Chinese with English abstract). further demonstrates the existence of Hadean crustal rem- Diwu, C.R., Sun, Y., Wilde, S.A., Wang, H.L., Dong, Z.C., Zhang, nants in the NCC. In addition, it should be noted that the H. and Wang, Q. (2013) New evidence for ~ 4.45 Ga terres- Hadean zircons reported by Cui et al. (2013) and in this trial crust from zircon xenocrysts in Ordovician ignimbrite in paper are both in the Eastern Block of the NCC. Note that the North Qinling Orogenic Belt, China. Gondwana Research, 23, 1484–1490. China is one of the few places in the world where ~ 3.8 Ga Duo, J., Wen, C.Q., Fan, X.P., Guo, J.C., Ni, Z.Y, Li, X.W., Shi, crustal material has been identified, with rocks of that age Y.R. and Wen, Q. (2006) Detrital Zircon of 4100 Ma in present near Anshan City (Liu et al., 1992; Song et al., Quartzite in Burang, Tibet. Acta Geologica Sinica, 80, 954– 290 Z. Li, B. Chen and C. Wei

956. Li, Z., Chen, B., Wei, C.J., Wang, C.X. and Han, W. (2015b) Prov- Duo, J., Wen, C.Q., Guo, J.C., Fan, X.P. and Li, X.W. (2007a) 4.1 enance and tectonic setting of the Paleoproterozoic metasedi- Ga old detrital zircon in western Tibet of China. Chinese Sci- mentary rocks from the Liaohe Group, Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, ence Bulletin, 52, 23–26. North China Craton: Insights from detrital zircon U–Pb geo- Duo, J., Wen, C.Q., Guo, J.C., Fan, X.P. and Li, X.W. (2007b) 4.1 chronology, whole–rock Sm–Nd isotopes, and geochemistry. Ga old detrital zircon in western Tibet of China. Chinese Sci- Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 111, 711–732. ence Bulletin, 52, 19–22 (in Chinese). Liu, D.Y., Nutman, A.P., Compston, W., Wu, J.S. and Shen, Q.H. Goldblatt, C., Zahnle, K.J., Sleep, N.H. and Nisbet, E.G. (2010) (1992) Remnants of >3800 Ma crust in the Chinese part of the The Eons of Chaos and Hades. Solid Earth, 1, 1–3. Sino–Korean Craton. Geology, 20, 339–342. Harrison, T.M. (2009) The Hadean crust: evidence from >4 Ga Lu, X.P., Wu, F.Y., Lin, J.Q., Sun, D.Y., Zhang, Y.B. and Guo, C.L. zircons. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, (2004a) Geochronological successions of the Early Precam- 37, 479–505. brian granitic magmatism in southern Liaoning Peninsula Huang, G., Niu, G.Z., Zhang, Z.W., Wang, X.L., Xu, X.Y., Guo, J. and its constraints on tectonic evolution of the North China and Yu, F. (2013) Discovery of ~ 4.0 Ga detrital zircons in the Craton. Chinese Journal of Geology, 39, 123–139 (in Chinese Aermantai ophiolitic mélange, East Junggar, northwest China. with English abstract). Chinese Science Bulletin, 58, 3645–3663. Lu, X.P., Wu, F.Y., Zhang, Y.B., Zhao, C.B. and Guo, C.L. (2004b) Iizuka, T., Horie, K., Komiya, T., Maruyama, S., Hirata, T., Hi- Emplacement age and tectonic setting of the Paleoproterozoic daka, H. and Windley, B.F. (2006) 4.2 Ga zircon xenocryst Liaoji granites in Tonghua area, southern Jilin Province. Acta in an Acasta gneiss from northwestern Canada: evidence for Petrologica Sinica, 20, 381–392 (in Chinese with English ab- early continental crust. Geology, 34, 245–248. stract). Iizuka, T., Komiya, T., Ueno, Y., Katayama, I., Uehara, Y., Maru- Lu, X.P., Wu, F.Y., Guo, J.H., Wilde, S.A., Yang, J.H., Liu, X.M. yama, S., Hirata, T., Johnson, S.P. and Dunkley, D.J. (2007) and Zhang, X.O. (2006) Zircon U–Pb geochronological con- Geology and geochronology of the Acasta Gneiss Complex, straints on the Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution of the East- northwestern Canada: new constraints on its tectonothermal ern block in the North China Craton. Precambrian Research, history. Precambrian Research, 153, 179–208. 146, 138–164. Iizuka, T., Komiya, T., Maruyama, Johnson S.P., T., Kon, Y., Luo, Y., Sun, M., Zhao, G.C., Li, S.Z., Xu, P., Ye, K. and Xia, X.P. Maruyama, S. and Hirata, T. (2009) Reworking of Hadean (2004) LA–ICP–MS U–Pb zircon ages of the Liaohe Group in crust in the Acasta gneisses, northwestern Canada: Evidence the Eastern Block of the North China Craton: constraints on from in–situ Lu–Hf isotope analysis of zircon. Chemical Ge- the evolution of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt. Precambrian Research, ology, 259, 230–239. 134, 349–371. Jackson, S.E., Pearson, N.J., Griffin, W.L. and Belousova, E.A. Luo, Y., Sun, M., Zhao, G.C., Li, S.Z., Ayers, J.C., Xia, X.P. and (2004) The application of laser ablation–inductively coupled Zhang, J.H. (2008) A comparison of U–Pb and Hf isotopic plasma–mass spectrometry to in situ U–Pb zircon geochronol- compositions of detrital zircons from the North and South ogy. Chemical Geology, 211, 47–69. Liaohe Groups: constraints on the evolution of the Jiao– Li, S.Z., Zhao, G.C., Sun, M., Han, Z.Z., Luo, Y., Hao, D. and Xia, Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton. Precambrian Research, X.P. (2005) Deformation history of the Paleoproterozoic 163, 279–306. Liaohe assemblages in the Eastern Block of the North China Ludwig, K.R. (2003) ISOPLOT 3: a geochronological toolkit for Craton. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 24, 659–674. Microsoft Excel. Berkeley Geochronology Centre Special Li, S.Z. and Zhao, G.C. (2007) SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronol- Publication, 4, 74. ogy of the Liaoji granitoids: constraints on the evolution of Meng, E., Liu, F.L., Cui, Y., Liu, P.H., Liu, C.H. and Shi, J.R. the Paleoproterozoic Jiao–Liao–Ji belt in the Eastern Block of (2013a) Depositional ages and tectonic implications for the the North China Craton. Precambrian Research, 158, 1–16. Kuandian South Liaohe Group in northeast Liaodong Penin- Li, S.Z., Zhao, G.C., Santosh, M., Liu, X. and Dai, L.M. (2011) sula, northeast China. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 29, 2465–2480 Palaeoproterozoic tectonothermal evolution and deep crustal (in Chinese with English abstract). processes in the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton: a re- Meng, E., Liu, F.L., Cai, J. and Cui, Y. (2013b) Zircon U–Pb and view. Geological Journal, 46, 525–543. Lu–Hf isotopic andwhole–rock geochemical constraints on the Li, Z. and Chen, B. (2014) Geochronology and geochemistry of the protolith and tectonic history of theChanghai metamorphic Paleoproterozoic meta–basalts from the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, supracrustal sequence in the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, southeast North China Craton: Implications for petrogenesis and tecton- Liaoning Province, northeast China. Precambrian Research, ic setting. Precambrian Research, 255, 653–676. 233, 297–315. Li, Z., Pei, F.P. and Meng, E. (2014a) Zircon U–Pb age, geochem- Meng, E., Liu, F.L., Liu, P.H., Liu, C.H., Yang, H., Wang, F., Shi, ical and Nd isotopic data of the Middle Jurassic high–Mg di- J.R. and Cai, J. (2014) Petrogenesis and tectonic significance oritic dike in the Liaodong Peninsula, NE China. Global Ge- of Paleoproterozoic meta–mafic rocks from central Liaodong ology, 17, 143–154. Peninsula, northeast China: Evidence from zircon U–Pb dat- Li, Z., Wang, J.L., Wang, M., Zhang, L., Liu, J.W., Qian, J.H. and ing and in situ Lu–Hf isotopes, and whole–rock geochemistry. Yu, H.L. (2014b) Redefinition of the Langzishan Formation in Precambrian Research, 247, 92–109. the North Liaohe Group. Advances in Geosciences, 4, 397– Mojzsis, S.J. and Harrison, T.M. (2002) Establishment of a 3.83 Ga 403 (in Chinese with English abstract). magmatic age for the Akilia tonalite (southern West Green- Li, Z., Chen, B., Liu, J.W., Zhang, L. and Yang, C. (2015a) Zircon land). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 202, 563–576. U–Pb ages and their implications for the South Liaohe Group Moyen, J.F. (2011) The composite Archaean grey gneisses: Petro- in the Liaodong Peninsula, Northeast China. Acta Petrologica logical significance, and evidence for a non–unique tectonic Sinica, 31, 1589–1605 (in Chinese with English abstract). setting for Archaean crustal growth. Lithos, 123, 21–36. Hadean detrital zircon 291

Nebel, O., Rapp, R.P. and Yaxley, G.M. (2014) The role of detrital Province, China: Implications for early crustal evolution of zircons in Hadean crustal research. Lithos, 190–191, 313–327. the North China Craton: Chinese Science Bulletin, 50, 2473– Pupin, J.P. (1980) Zircon and granite petrology. Contributions to 2480. Mineralogy and Petrology, 73, 207–220. Wu, F.Y., Zhang, Y.B., Yang, J.H., Xie, L.W. and Yang, Y.H. Rudnick, R.L. and Gao, S. (2003) Composition of the Continental (2008) Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic constraints on the Early Crust. In The Crust (Holland, H.D. and Turekian, K.K. Eds.). Archean crustal evolution in Anshan of the North China Cra- pp. 659, Treatise of Geochemistry 3, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1– ton: Precambrian Research, 167, 339–362. 64. Wyche, S., Nelson, D.R. and Riganti, A. (2004) 4350–3130 Ma Song, B., Nutman, A.P., Liu, D.Y. and Wu, J.S. (1996) 3800–2500 detrital zircons in the Southern Cross Granite–Greenstone Ter- Ma crust in the Anshanarea of Liaoning Province, northeast- rane, Western Australia: implications for the early evolution ern China. Precambrian Research, 78, 79–94. of the Yilgarn Craton. Australia Journal of Earth Sciences, 51, Tam, P.Y., Zhao, G.C., Liu, F.L., Zhou, X.W., Sun, M. and Li, S.Z. 31–45. (2011) Timing of metamorphism in the Paleoproterozoic Jiao– Xie, L.W., Yang, J.H., Wu, F.Y., Yang, Y.H. and Wilde, S.A. (2011) Liao–Ji Belt: new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of granulites, PbSL dating of garnet and staurolite: constraints on the Pale- gneisses and marbles of the Jiaobei massif in the North China oproterozoic crustal evolution of the Eastern Block, North Craton. Gondwana Research, 19, 150–162. China Craton. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 42, 142–154. Tang, H.S., Wu, G. and Lai, Y. (2009) The C–O isotope geochem- Xing, G.F., Wang, X.L., Wan, Y.S., Chen, Z.H, Jiang, Y., Kitajima, istry and genesis of the Dashiqiao magnesite deposit, Liaon- K., Ushikubo, T. and Gopon, P. (2014) Diversity in early crus- ing Province, NE China. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 25, 455–467 tal evolution: 4100 Ma zircons in the Cathaysia Block of (in Chinese with English abstract). southern China. Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/srep05143. Tang, H.S., Chen, Y., Santosh, M., Zhang, H. and Yang, T. (2013) Xing, G.F., Yang, Z.L., Chen, Z.H, Jiang, Y., Hong, W.T., Jin, REE geochemistry ofcarbonates from the Guanmenshan For- G.D., Yu, M.G., Zhao, X.L. and Duan, Z. (2015) The discov- mation, Liaohe Group, NE Sino–Korean Craton: implications ery of the Asian oldest zircons in Longquan, Cathaysia Block. for seawater compositional change during the Great Oxi–da- Acta Geoscientica Sinica, 36, 395–402. tion Event. Precambrian Research, 227, 316–336. Xu, Y.J., Du, Y.S., Huang, H.W., Huang, Z.Q., Hu, L.S., Zhu, Y.H. Valley, J.W., Cavosie, A.J., Ushikubo, T., Reinhard, D.A., Law- and Yu, W.C. (2012) Detrital zircon of 4.1 Ga in South China. rence, D.F., Larson, D.J., Clifton, P.H., Kelly, T.F., Wilde, Chinese Science Bulletin, 57, 4356–4362. S.A., Moser, D.E. and Spicuzza, M.J. (2014) Hadean age Yang, M.C., Chen, B. and Yan, C. (2015) Petrogenesis and their for a post–magma–ocean zircon confirmed by atom–probe to- tectonic implications of the Paleoproterozoic gneissic granites mography. Nature Geoscience, 7, 219–223. from Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton. Journal of Earth Wan, Y.S., Liu, D.Y., Song, B., Wu, J.S., Yang, C.H., Zhang, Z.Q. Sciences and Environment, 7, 1–9 (in Chinese with English and Geng, Y.S. (2005) Geochemical and Nd isotopic compo- abstract). sitions of 3.8 Ga meta–quartz dioritic and trondhjemitic rocks Yin, A. and Nie, S. (1996) A Phanerozoic palinspastic reconstruc- from the Anshan area and their geological significance. Jour- tion of China and its neighboring regions. In The Tectonic nal of Asian Earth Sciences, 24, 563–575. Evolution of Asia (Yin, A. and Harrison, T.M. Eds.). pp. Wan, Y.S., Song, B., Liu, D.Y., Wilde, S.A., Wu, J.S., Shi, Y.R., 666, Cambridge University Press, New York, 442–485. Yin, X.Y. and Zhou, H.Y. (2006) SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geo- Yuan, H.L., Gao, S., Liu, X.M., Li, H.M., Günther, D. and Wu, chronology of Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the F.Z. (2004) Accurate U–Pb age and trace element determina- North China Craton: evidence for a major Late Paleoprotero- tions of zircon by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma zoic tectonothermal event. Precambrian Research, 149, 249– mass spectrometry. Geostandard Newsletter, 28, 353–370. 271. Yuan, L.L., Zhang, X.H. and Zhai, M.G. (2015) Two episodes of Wang, H.C., Lu, S.N., Chu, H., Xiang, Z.Q., Zhang, C.J. and Liu, Paleoproterozoic mafic intrusions from Liaoning province, H.(2011) Zircon U–Pb age and tectonic setting of meta–basalts North China Craton: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications. of Liaohe Group in Helan Area, Liaoyang, Liaoning Province. Precambrian Research, 264, 119–139. Journal of Jilin University (Earth Science Edition), 41, 1322– Yuan, W., Yang, Z.Y. and Yang, J.H. (2012) The discovery of Ha- 1334 (in Chinese with English abstract). dean detrital zircon in Late Devonian strata in Hexi Corridor, Wang, H.L., Chen, L., Sun, Y., Liu, X.M., Xu, X.Y., Chen, J.L., Northwest China. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 28, 1029–1036 (in Zhang, H. and Diwu, C.R. (2007) ~ 4.1 Ga xenocrystal zircon Chinese with English abstract). from Ordovician volcanic rocks in western part of North Qin- Yuan, W. and Yang, Z.Y. (2015) The Alashan Terranewas not part ling Orogenic Belt: Chinese Science Bulletin, 52, 3002–3010 of North China by the Late Devonian: Evidence fromdetrital (in Chinese with English abstract). zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes, Gondwana Re- Wilde, S.A., Valley, J.W., Peck, W.H. and Graham, C.M. (2001) search, 27, 1270–1282. Evidence from detrital zircons for the existence of continental Zhao, G.C., Sun, M., Wilde, S.A. and Li, S.Z. (2005) Late Archean crust and oceans on the Earth 4.4 Gyr ago. Nature, 409, 175– to Paleoproterozoic evolution of the North China Craton: key 177. issues revisited. Precambrian Research, 136, 177–202. Wu, F.Y., Ge, W.C., Sun, D.Y., Lin, Q. and Zhou, Y. (1997) The Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr isotopic ages of the Archean granites in south- ern Jilin Province. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 13, 499–506 (in Manuscript received September 29, 2015 Chinese with English abstract). Manuscript accepted January 31, 2016 Wu, F.Y., Yang, J.H., Liu, X.M., Li, T.S., Xie, L.W. and Yang, Y.H. Published online April 22, 2016 (2005) Hf isotopes of the 3.8 Ga zircons in eastern Hebei Manuscript handled by Takenori Kato