Seminar

The South China Block (SCB) was initially generated by amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in the Neoproterozoic. Subsequently, the SCB underwent three episodes of orogenic events in the early Paleozoic, Triassic, and Jurassic-Cretaceous, respectively. Specifically, the early Paleozoic orogenesis was most intensive, and is characterized by hiatus of sediment accumulation but interspersed with magmatism, deformation, and metamorphism, resulting in extensive crustal shortening and anatexis, and producing a ~2000km NE-trending orogen, i.e. the Wuyi-Yunkai orogen. The tectonic mechanism of the Wuyi-Kunkai orogen is the focus of hot debate. Based on the discovery of voluminous S-type granitoids in the SCB, a majority of researchers have suggested an intracontinental collision in the early Paleozoic with an insignificant role of mantle Nevertheless, recently some geologists have claimed intensive crust-mantle interaction for the formation of the early Paleozoic I-type granitoids. Here we will concentrate on Late Ordovician-Early Silurian plutons in terms of field-based petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry, which will provide new insights for the early Paleozoic orogenesis in the SCB.