Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, J–STAGE Advance Publication, March 30, 2021 Evolution of supracrustal rocks of the Indochina Block: Evidence from new detrital zircon U–Pb ages of the Kontum Massif, Central Vietnam † † † ‡ Kenta KAWAGUCHI*,**, Pham MINH***, , Pham Trung HIEU***, , Truong Chi CUONG***, and Kaushik DAS**, *Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea **Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi–Hiroshima 739–8526, Japan ***Faculty of Geology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam †Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ‡Hiroshima Institute of Plate Convergence Region Research, Higashi–Hiroshima 739–8526, Japan The Kontum Massif and the Truong Son Belt, central Vietnam are the magmatic–metamorphic massifs (belts) of the Indochina Block. These two massifs (belts) underwent two independent orogenic events during Ordovician– Silurian and Permian–Triassic ages. However, due to the strong overprint of these two orogenic events, the evidence of any preexisting (e.g., Precambrian) tectono–thermal events have become extremely poor. Hence, the Precambrian age components of the Indochina Block have not been fully revealed, and their implication is not well–understood. It is well known that such ‘lost memories’ of the older continental rocks or source crustal materials are sometimes preserved in the sedimentary basins. Keeping that goal in mind, we have investigated the LA–ICP–MS detrital zircon U–Pb dating for three sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks in the Kontum Massif and southern part of the Truong Son Belt, Indochina Block, central Vietnam to unravel the Precambrian episodes of the Indochina Block, if any. Two Triassic (meta)–sedimentary rocks reveal two significant age clusters of latest Carboniferous to Triassic (~ 300–230 Ma) and Early Paleozoic (~ 480–410 Ma), with the conspicuous lack of the 400–320 Ma zircon grains. Abundant Permian detrital zircon grains in Triassic meta- quartzite from the Kontum Massif document that the subduction–related magmatism before the continental collision played an important role in the growth of the Kontum Massif. In contrast to these two (meta)–sedi- mentary rocks, the detrital zircon spectra of metaquartzite from the Kontum Massif show the most significant age peak of ~ 1780 Ma and abundant Archean zircon grains (16%). Furthermore, the oldest detrital zircon shows the Paleoarchean age (207Pb/206Pb spot age of 3314 ± 22 Ma). The metaquartzite was metamorphosed in the Early Paleozoic (~ 414 Ma). The youngest detrital zircon grain yields the 207Pb/206Pb spot age of 1359 ± 85 Ma. Hence, the approximate depositional timing of the protolith of metaquartzite was in Mesoproterozoic time. The newly obtained detrital zircon data indicate a significant contribution of the Paleoarchean to Paleoproter- ozoic crustal materials during the deposition of the quartzite in the Kontum Massif. The Kontum Massif had developed as a different unit in the Precambrian period from the Truong Son Belt as well as the southwestern Yangtze Block due to their different Precambrian provenance. This study reveals a new clue that the Kontum Massif was one of the Precambrian blocks in the Southeast Asian massifs. Keywords: Kontum Massif, Indochina Block, LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb age, Supracrustal rock, Southeast Asia INTRODUCTION na, South China, and Indochina blocks (e.g., Metcalfe, 1996; Carter et al., 2001; Metcalfe, 2006, 2013; Wang The Asian continent was formed as a result of the colli- et al., 2018). Based on the good amount of petrological sion of several continental blocks such as the North Chi- and geochronological database, the Precambrian evolu- doi:10.2465/jmps.200916 tion history of the North China Block is relatively well K. Kawaguchi,Advance [email protected] Corresponding Publication au- constrained (e.g., Zhao andArticle Cawood, 2012; Zhao and thor Zhai, 2013; Cho et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2020a, 2 K. Kawaguchi, P. Minh, P.T. Hieu, T.C. Cuong and K. Das 2020b). However, although some recent studies have at- cesses. Besides, low to medium–grade metamorphism tempted to reconcile the Precambrian orogenic episodes does not reset the initial age information due to the high of the Indochina Block, the evidence of these older closure temperature of the U–Pb system in zircon (higher events remains obscure because surface exposure of the than 900 °C; Cherniak and Watson, 2000). Hence, detrital Precambrian rock bodies is extremely limited. Neverthe- zircon grains put important constraints on the Precambri- less, some evidence of Precambrian metamorphic and an crustal growth history. Detrital zircon grains from the magmatic events of the Indochina Block has been ob- sedimentary rocks possibly hold key age data on the ex- tained from the indirect method such as the dating of in- istence of the Precambrian source rocks as well as the herited zircon cores (e.g., Carter et al., 2001; Hieu et al., ‘lost memory’ of the Precambrian orogenic events of 2015, 2016; Owada et al., 2016; Bui et al., 2020; Minh et the Indochina Block. In this respect, supracrustal rocks al., 2020a), monazite core or inclusion (Nakano et al., have the potential to detect their origin and tectonic af- 2013), Nd and Hf model ages (e.g., Lan et al., 2003; Hieu finity of the basement Massif. et al., 2015, 2016; Minh et al., 2020a), and river–sand In this study, we integrate new results on the petrog- zircon (e.g., Usuki et al., 2013; Hung et al., 2019). raphy and U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircon from Hence, the crustal–growth history of the Indochina Block the three (meta)–sedimentary rocks in the Kontum Massif can be traced back to the Precambrian. In addition, most and southern part of the Truong Son Belt (also called the recent studies revealed the meaningful Precambrian mag- Northern Kontum Massif), to provide a comprehensive matic ages from the Indochina Block of ~ 1450 Ma (the picture of the Precambrian continental crust evolution of Kontum Massif, central part of the Indochina Block; the Indochina Block. The new data provides evidence to Nakano et al., 2021) and 867 ± 19 Ma (the Simao terrane, constrain the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Indo- northwestern part of the Indochina Block; Kang et al., china Block in the Southeast Asian continent. 2019) from the zircon U–Pb dating of the (meta)–igneous rocks. These new findings confirmed the Precambrian ig- GEOLOGICAL OUTLINE neous activity of the Indochina Block. Despite the above reports, detailed timings of the Precambrian events or the Southeast Asia had been formed by the amalgamation of character of the Precambrian source materials are still some continental blocks, including the Indochina, Sibu- loosely constrained due to the limited evidence from masu, and South China blocks (Fig. 1a). The Indochina the exposed rock units. This makes it difficult to construct Block is situated at the eastern part of the Indochina Pen- the paleo–geographic position of the Indochina Block as insula and is aligned with the South China Block to the a part of the supercontinental cycles such as Rodinia and/ north and with the Sibumasu Block to the west (Fig. 1a). or Gondwana. Regarding this, unraveling the Precambri- The South China Block is further divided into Yangtze an evolutionary histories of the Indochina Block as a part Block to the west and Cathaysia Block to the east. These of the Precambrian continental blocks of Asia is impor- two blocks were amalgamated at ~ 0.87–0.80 Ga, which tant to reconstruct the break–up and amalgamation pro- formed the present South China Block (Charvet, 2013). cess of the supercontinent. In addition, the Indochina The Song Ma zone in northwest Vietnam has been con- Block collided with the South China Block on its north sidered as part of the suture zone between the Indochina along the Song Ma suture (e.g., Cai and Zhang, 2009; and South China blocks after the closure of the Paleo– Nakano et al., 2010, 2013; Yonemura et al., 2013; Faure Tethys Ocean (Hieu et al. 2017; Thanh et al., 2019; Fig. et al., 2014; Hieu et al., 2015, 2017; Thanh et al., 2019; 1a). Within the territory of Vietnam, the Indochina Block Hieu et al., 2020a) (Fig. 1a). Although the Precambrian encompasses main tectonic units, i.e., Truong Son Belt, evolutionary history of the South China Block side has Kontum Massif, and Dalat Zone (Fig. 1a). The Kontum been reported (Hieu et al., 2012; Zhao et al., 2019a, Massif and the Truong Son Belt are situated in central 2019b; Hieu et al., 2020b; Minh et al., 2020b), data from Vietnam and are separated by the Tam Ky–Phuoc Son the Indochina Block side is extremely poor as mentioned suture zone (Shi et al., 2015; Faure et al., 2018; Nguyen above. To provide important constraints on the Precam- et al., 2019; Fig. 1a). The Dalat Zone in southcentral brian crustal formation of the Southeast Asian continent, Vietnam is defined as a Cretaceous magmatic complex precise understandings of the Precambrian crustal growth (e.g., Thuy et al., 2004a, 2004b; Shellnutt et al., 2013). history of the Indochina Block side are necessary. The present study provides new U–Pb geochrono- Detrital zircon grains from sedimentary rocks pre- logical data from detrital zircon in the Kontum Massif serve the age information of provenance owing to their and southern part of the Truong Son Belt. They were first durabilityAdvance against chemical and physical effPublicationects during recognized as the Precambrian Article basement of the Indochina the transportation, deposition, and subsequent burial pro- Block (e.g., Hutchison, 1989; Nam et al., 2001; Nagy et Evolution of supracrustal rocks of the Indochina Block 3 Figure 1. (a) Distribution of the continental blocks in Southeast Asia. (b) Geological map of the study area of central Vietnam, modified after Tri and Khuc (2011) and Faure et al.