Re-Os Geochronology of the Liuchapo Formation across the Ediacaran-Cambrian Boundary of the Yangtze Block (South China)

Abstract

AbstractThe Ediacaran-Cambrian (E-C) succession in South China records remarkable oceanic, biological and geochemical variations, but it was not well defined geochronologically, which hinders the interpretation of the spatio-temporal seawater chemical architecture during the time E-C interval. This study presents two Re-Os isochron ages of 520.2 ± 6.1 and 561.7 ± 8.5 Ma for the barite-rich black shales from the top Liuchapo and Doushantuo formations respectively in Tianzhu County, Guizhou Province. In combination with existing age data, the two new Re-Os isochron ages suggest that the Liuchapo Formation was deposited between 550 and 520 Ma. Moreover, like the polymetallic Ni-Mo-PGE layers of shelf margin (or platform) facies and V-rich horizons of transitional (or shelf slope) to deep-water facies, the barite deposits were likely formed due to differential mineralization. The timing offset likely resulted from differential elemental concentration related to certain local factors (i.e., hydrothermal fluids, seawater redox and biological activity). The isochron-derived initial 187Os/188Os ratios of the top Liuchapo Formation (0.902 ± 0.048) and the Doushantuo Formation (0.740 ± 0.042) fall within the range of continental weathering flux (1.54) and oceanic crust (0.126), implying the involvement of marine hydrothermal fluids. Moreover, their difference of initial 187Os/188Os ratios may reflect variations of continental weathering intensity and uplift magnitude.