Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Implications of the North Kudi Granitoids in the West Kunlun Orogen, NW China

Abstract

The petrogenesis of aluminous A-type granites is a contentious subject. Here, we focused on the North Kudi pluton in the Western Kunlun orogen to investigate the origin and magmatic processes responsible for generating A-type granites. Samples from the North Kudi pluton are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. K-feldspar granite samples are characterized by high alkali and Cl contents, high HFSE concentrations and FeO/MgO, low F content, negative Ba, Sr, P, Eu, and Ti anomalies, and high magma temperature (>903 °C), showing affinity to aluminous A-type granites. However, their 10,000 × Ga/Al ratios (1.86–3.18) are relatively lower than typical A-type granites. Quartz-monzonite displays similar Sr–Nd isotopic compositions and Ga/Al ratios with the K-feldspar granite but less pronounced negative Sr, P, and Ti anomalies and no discernable negative Ba and Eu anomalies. Fractional crystallization of alkali-rich, Cl-rich, and F-poor magmas can generate some typical geochemical characteristics of A-type granites (e.g., negative Ba, Sr, P, and Eu anomalies) but has little influence on Ga/Al ratios. The enriched Sr–Nd isotopic compositions, high Cl and alkali contents, arc-like geochemical features, and the involvement of slab-derived components, as indicated by high zircon Ce4+/Ce3+ (up to 503), suggest that the North Kudi pluton was possibly derived from partial melting of the metasomatized lithospheric mantle in the time of asthenosphere upwelling during the post-collisional stage. The emplacement of the North Kudi pluton thus indicates the onset of the post-orogenic stage in the Western Kunlun orogen.