Zircon U-Pb geochronology, geochemistry and geological implications of the high-silica rhyolite from Ningyuancun Formation in the Xunke Area, Lesser Hinggan Range

To determine the geological age, petrogenesis, and tectonic setting of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Ningyuancun Formation in Xunke area, Lesser Hinggan Range, the zircon U-Pb geochronology, petrographic observations, and geochemical analyses of major and trace elements were conducted in this study. Zircon U-Pb dating showed that the volcanic rocks of the Ningyuancun Formation were formed in the Early Cretaceous（112.97±0.90 Ma）. Major element analyses revealed that the content of SiO2 weighted from 74.14% to 76.54%,indicating the volcanic rocks to be high-silica and felsic. The content of Al2O3 varies from 12.48% to 13.65%.A total alkali content of the volcanic rocks range between 8.46% and 9.56%, with Na2O/K2O ratios from 0.69 to 0.89. This indicated that the volcanic rocks belonged to a highly differentiated calc-alkaline series. Additionally,A/CNK values range from 0.950 to 1.015, and A/NK values vary between 0.999 and 1.127, suggesting a peraluminous characteristic. Trace element analysis showed a right-sloping “V-shaped” REE pattern, with the enrichment in light REEs and a prominent negative anomaly of Eu. The volcanic rocks are enriched in Rb,Th, U, La, and Ce, while Ba, Sr, and Ti are depleted. Rb/Sr ratio ranges from 10.01 to 12.46, Ti/Y ratio is from 51.14 to 95.72, and Ti/Zr ratio is from 5.78 to 6.41. It is suggested that the magma was derived from the partial melting of crustal rocks. This evidenced that the Early Cretaceous high-silica rhyolites were formed in an intracontinental extension in eastern Northeast China during the northwestward subduction of the Pacific Plate. The crustal extension, asthenospheric mantle upwelling and underplating of mantle-derived magmas resulted in the residual crystalline mush in Early Cretaceous mafic magma chambers to erupt.