The tectonic events in Halongxiuma district, East Kunlun Mountains, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Evidence from fission track thermochronology

Highlights: • Fission track thermochronology is applied to reveal tectonic events. • Zircon fission track dating results of 209–107 Ma that consists of 3 age groups of 209–177 Ma, 147-133 Ma and 117-107 Ma. • Our results reveal 3 episodes of tectonic events and especially constrain their time limits first time. • Ascertaining tectonic active ages and epochs. • These results have certain universality in Eastern Kunlun Mountains, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. -- Abstract: Hariza-Halongxiuma Mo ore district belongs to multicycle magmatic arc belt in East Kunlun Mountains, northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. There are multiple porphyries and relevant ore deposits. This work applies the zircon fission track dating technique to probe the tectonic events and first provides the detailed tectonic ages and epochs. Samples were collected from ore and altered-metallogenic rocks. Total 14 zircon fission track results are achieved. They are between 209 Ma and 107 Ma and composed of 3 age groups of 209–177 Ma, 147-133 Ma and 117-107 Ma. These age groups reveal different tectonic activities. The first age group of 209–177 Ma indicates collision between Qiangtang Block and Kunlun Block in late Triassic. The late two age groups respond to collision between Gangdese Block and Qiangtang Block in late Jurassic-early Cretaceous with time limit of 147–107 Ma. These results show new geochronological evidences and viewpoints.