Geochemical Characteristics and Crustal Evolution of the Archaean High-Grade Kongling Terrain in the Yangtze Craton, Southern China

The North China and Yangtze cratons are two most important continental blocks in eastern China, and collided in Late Palaeozoic-Early Mesozoic with the formation of the Qingling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. The early geological history of both cratons is essential for understanding the evolution of the belt. However, geological and geochemical data on Archaean rocks of the Yangtze have not been available due to lack of known exposures. The recently confirmed Archaean Kongling terrain in the north of the Yangtze craton provide an opportunity to study the nature of the Yangzte crust in the Archaean (Gao and Zhang, 1990; Ling et al., 1998). This paper reports results of a systematic study on Sm-Nd isotopes of associated felsic gneisses amphibolites and metapelites from the Kongling terrain. Based on these data, tectonic environments and early crustal evolution of the Yangtze craton are discussed.