Geological characteristics and isotopic age of Tanjianshan Group along northern margin of Qaidam basin
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Abstract
The Tanjianshan Group refers to a Early Paleozoic low-grade metamorphic volcanic-sedimentary suite exposed along the northern margin of the Qaidam basin in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The metamorphic volcanic rocks are composed mainly of basalts and basaltic andesites with some dacites. The metamorphic sedimentary rocks consist dominantly of sericite schists, carbonaceous sericite schists and marbles, as well as metasandstones and conglomerates. Field geological studies of the Tanjianshan Group suggest that the rocks have undergone polyphase strong tectonic deformation and low greenschist facies metamorphism. Single zircon U-Pb dating gives an upper intercept age of 953±27 Ma and a lower intercept age of 486±13 Ma. A combination of a study of the regional geological data and zircon morphology indicates an Early Ordovician age for the Tanjianshan Group.
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