An Archean continental block in the Taihangshan and Hengshan regions: Constraints from geochronology and geochemistry

Recent research on the tectonothermal evolution and geochronology in the Fuping, Hengshan and Wutaishan metamorphic complexes, together with the discoveries of a high-pressure granulite belt in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) and high-pressure metapelites in the Jingangku Group of the Wutaishan complex, suggests that there was a Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic orogenic belt related to collision between the Eastern and Western continental blocks. Comparison of geological, geochronological, tectonothermal and geochemical data between the Fuping and Hengshan complexes suggests these two complexes most likely originated and evolved as a single lithotectonic domain (i.e., the Taihangshan-Hengshan block) during the early evolution of the North China Craton, probably as an active margin to the Eastern Continental Block. The Taihangshan-Hengshan block has been subjected to intensive and extensive tectono-magmatism and high-grade metamorphism related to collision between the Eastern and Western continental blocks at similar to1.80 Ga.