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Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 December 2025) | Viewed by 9115

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Junyong Li

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Guest Editor

School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: Neoproterozoic South China; continental evolution; element recycling

Prof. Dr. Jinlong Yao

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Guest Editor

Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Interests: plate tectonics; continental orogens; supercontinent convergence and dispersion

Dr. Guangyi Wei

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Guest Editor

School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: isotope geochemistry; paleocean geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Neoproterozoic Era is a gorgeous period in Earth history that witnessed a series of interesting geological events, such as supercontinent cycles from Rodinia to Gondwana, the first appearance of blueschist and ultrahigh pressure assemblages, the Snowball Earth Event, the rise in atmospheric and oceanic oxygen, the emergence and radiation of early animals, and the formation of various sedimentary mineral resources. Studying both endogenous and exogenous processes and their intrinsic linkages holds significance in enhancing our understanding of Earth system evolution. The Neoproterozoic rocks, in turn, harbor crucial insights into these processes. This proposed Special Issue welcomes submissions of high-quality original and review articles encompassing various topics related to Neoproterozoic endogenous and exogenous processes. These topics include, but are not limited to:

(1) Linkages between deep-crust processes, orogenesis and climate/environment change;
(2) Elemental cycling between the continent and ocean, and its resource effects;
(3) Tracing block assembly and dispersal within supercontinent cycle;
(4) Neoproterozoic deep-crust processes (magmatism, metamorphism) and volcanism;
(5) Detailing petrogenesis of representative Neoproterozoic rocks and its associated implications;
(6) Features of the Neoproterozoic orogenic system and their distinctions from orogen in other epochs;
(7) The tectonic evolution history for a specific orogenic belt.

We encourage the submitted works to cover a broad range of interests for the committee and to have a global perspective.

Dr. Junyong Li
Prof. Dr. Jinlong Yao
Dr. Guangyi Wei
Guest Editors

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Keywords

petrogenesis
supercontinent
deep-crust process
neoproterozoic orogenesis
climate and marine environment
neoproterozoic resource effects

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 14728 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decoding the Middle Tonian Tectonic Evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China: Integrated Constraints from Volcano-Sedimentary and Magmatic Records of the Fanjingshan Region

by Yaran Dai, Jiawei Zhang, Taiping Ye, Tingting Zhang, Jianshu Chen and Lei Shi

Minerals 2026, 16(3), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030334 - 21 Mar 2026

Viewed by 518

Abstract

The Middle Tonian tectonic setting of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China, remains intensely debated, and is centered on two competing models: subduction–collision versus mantle plume. This study addresses this critical knowledge gap through an integrated, multi-proxy investigation of the Middle Tonian Fanjingshan Group. This region preserves a continuous volcano-sedimentary and magmatic record, offering key insights into the orogen’s full lifecycle. To test these hypotheses, we employed a synthesis of geological survey, sediment provenance analysis, detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of clastic rocks to determine sediment provenance and basin evolution, and petrogenetic study of coeval magmatic suites (pillow lava, mafic–ultramafic sills, and granitoids) to evaluate their magmatic processes and tectonic setting. Analysis of 1736 detrital zircon U-Pb ages from Middle Tonian strata reveals a four-stage provenance evolution: (1) SW Yangtze sources in a passive margin basin before 870 Ma; (2) bidirectional sources in an 870–835 Ma arc-derived basin; (3) syn-collisional detritus during 835–820 Ma amalgamation; and (4) post-collisional and northern Yangtze inputs in an 800 Ma rifting basin. Geochemical data from ~845–840 Ma basalts and coeval sills reveal calc-alkaline affinities and marked subduction-fluid signatures. Their calculated mantle potential temperature (1404 °C) is significantly lower than that expected for plume-derived melts (1570 °C), which is consistent with melting in a subduction-modified mantle wedge, supporting a continental rear-arc basin setting. The ~845–832 Ma mafic–ultramafic sills exhibit symmetrical geochemical zoning and two-stage emplacement, recording sustained magma recharge in the rear-arc basin. Furthermore, the ~830 Ma Fanjingshan granite is identified as a crust-derived, syn-collisional S-type granite. Synthesizing these findings, we demonstrate that the sedimentary and magmatic records collectively point to plate margin setting. A four-stage tectonic model is suggested: (1) pre-870 Ma passive margin without significant magmatic activity; (2) 870–835 Ma continental arc development at an active continental margin; (3) 835–820 Ma Yangtze–Cathaysia collision; and (4) post-820 Ma post-orogenic rifting. This work provides a robust regional case study, demonstrating that integrating records of deep magmatic processes with coeval shifts in sedimentary provenance and basin architecture is essential to reconstruct the complete evolution of ancient orogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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19 pages, 8512 KB

Open AccessArticle

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Granitic Gneisses in the Dabie Orogen, Central China: Constraints on the Petrogenesis of Mid-Neoproterozoic Magmatic Rocks in the Northern Yangtze Block

by Qiao Bai, Yongsheng Wang, Liquan Ma, Xu Zhang and Shuai Zhang

Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1323; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121323 - 17 Dec 2025

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Abstract

Mid-Neoproterozoic magmatism provides important constraints for revealing the break-up history of the Rodinia supercontinent. Large-sized mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are distributed within the Dabie Orogen located on the northern Yangtze Block. This study performed zircon LA-ICP-MS geochronology, whole-rock major and trace elements, and zircon Lu-Hf isotope analyses on orthogneisses with a mid-Neoproterozoic protolith age of the northern Dabie Orogen. The analysis results show that the intrusion times of mid-Neoproterozoic granitoids and mafic rocks are all ~750 Ma, with ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −6.60 to −2.57 and a two-stage Hf model age of ~1.8 Ga. They are characterized by light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment and heavy rare earth element (HREE) depletion. In the primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram, these rocks are enriched in La, Ce, Th, K, Zr, Nd, and Sm and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, Ti, and Sr, with negative Eu anomaly or no significant Eu anomaly. Based on the discrimination diagrams, most of the samples are plotted into the A-type granite field, and which was formed in a post-orogenic extension setting. Comprehensive analysis shows that these mid-Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks were produced by melting of juvenile crust of the Paleoproterozoic and late Mesoproterozoic, having a heterogeneous distribution of δ¹⁸O, indicating that these rocks were developed mainly through high-temperature meteoric-hydrothermal alteration during syn-rift magmatic activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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20 pages, 23508 KB

Open AccessArticle

Petrogenesis of Himalayan Leucogranites: A Perspective from Zircon Trace Elements

by Weirui Lu, Zeming Zhang, Jia Yuan, Yang Zhang, Qiang Li, Yu An and Di Zhan

Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121306 - 15 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 943

Abstract

Magmatic zircon trace element compositions and their variation trends provide valuable insights into the nature and evolutionary processes of magmatic rocks. The Himalayan orogen contains widespread leucogranites. Despite extensive studies on these granites, the features and petrogenetic implications of trace element composition of zircons from the leucogranites remain poorly constrained. In this study, we present a comprehensive dataset comprising new cathodoluminescence (CL) images, U-Pb ages, and trace element compositions of zircons from the Himalayan leucogranites, and compare them to the previously reported trace element data of zircon from I-type granites. Our results show that zircons from the Himalayan leucogranites have high Hf, U, Y, P, Th, Sc, and heavy rare earth element contents (HREE), and low Nb, Ta, Ti, and light rare earth element contents (LREE), and can be divided into two types. Type I (low-U) zircons exhibit well-developed oscillatory zoning, and the U concentrations are mostly <5000 ppm. Type II (high-U) zircons display mottled or spongy textures and possess elevated U contents that are mostly >5000 ppm. Zircons from the Himalayan leucogranites have higher contents of U, Hf, Nb, Ta, and elevated U/Yb ratios, but lower Th/U, Eu/Eu*, Ce/Ce*, LREE/HREE, and Ce/U values than those from I-type granitic zircons. Furthermore, zircons in the Himalayan leucogranites have gradually decreasing Th, Ti, Th/U, Eu/Eu*, and Ce/Ce*, and increasing U, Nb, Ta, and (Yb/Gd)_N with increasing Hf. These geochemical features suggest the magmas involved in the genesis of leucogranites originated from the partial melting of metasedimentary sources under relatively reduced conditions, and underwent a high degree of magmatic fractionation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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20 pages, 31550 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Report of CA. 760 Ma Mafic Rocks in the Eastern Himalayan Orogen: Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Implications

by Yi Yang, Zhi Zhang, Guotao Ma and Suiliang Dong

Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101090 - 20 Oct 2025

Viewed by 793

Abstract

Constraints on the Neoproterozoic evolution of the Himalayan terrane remain poorly understood due to the scarcity of Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks. In this study, we report for the first time Middle Neoproterozoic mafic rocks from the eastern Himalayan orogen. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that these rocks crystallized at approximately 760 Ma and can be divided into two distinct groups. Group 1 mafic rocks have E-MORB-like compositions and are enriched in incompatible elements and exhibit relatively higher initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios (0.7053–0.7063), lower positive whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values (3.0 to 3.4), and zircon ε_Hf(t) values ranging from 4.9 to 10.4. They also show low Nb/Th ratios and high Th/Yb, Nb/Yb, and (La/Sm)_N ratios, suggesting a lithospheric mantle source. In contrast, Group 2 mafic rocks have N-MORB-like compositions and are characterized by light rare earth element (LREE)-depleted patterns, lower initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios (0.7033–0.7040), and higher positive whole-rock ε_Nd(t) (4.8 to 6.0) and zircon ε_Hf(t) values (4.6 to 10.9). Their high Nb/Th ratios and low Th/Yb, Nb/Yb, and (La/Sm)_N ratios indicate an origin involving interaction between the lithospheric mantle and depleted asthenospheric mantle. The absence of coeval volcanic and sedimentary records, combined with high La/Y and Ti/V ratios, suggests that these mafic rocks differ from typical arc or back-arc basin suites but are consistent with an intraplate setting. Integrating previous studies on multistage Neoproterozoic magmatism in India and the Himalayas, we propose that the ca. 760 Ma mafic rocks in the eastern Himalaya were likely formed within an intraplate continental rift system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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15 pages, 12382 KB

Open AccessArticle

Origins of Zircon Xenocrysts in the Neoproterozoic South Anhui Ophiolite, Yangtze Block

by Ziming Sun, Junyong Li and Xiaolei Wang

Minerals 2025, 15(6), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15060563 - 26 May 2025

Viewed by 1114

Abstract

Zircon serves as a robust tracer for crustal recycling processes owing to its wide stability under diverse geological conditions. Its cryptic occurrence within ophiolites offers valuable insights into regional paleotectonic evolution. In this study, we identify a few zircon xenocrysts in both peridotite and basalt units from the Neoproterozoic South Anhui Ophiolite (SAO) in the southeastern Yangtze Block, South China. Zircon xenocrysts within the peridotite yield U-Pb ages ranging from ca. 2.7 to 1.0 Ga (n = 21), with three peaks of 2.8–2.5 Ga, 2.2–1.8 Ga, and 1.2–1.0 Ga. Comparative analysis of age spectra suggests these xenocrysts likely originated from recycled subducted continental materials within the Yangtze Block. In the basaltic rocks, zircon xenocrysts exhibit ages of ca. 2.1–0.9 Ga (n = 27), with peaks of 1.1–0.9 Ga, 1.5–1.4 Ga, and 2.1–1.7 Ga. These zircons are interpreted to have been inherited from wall rocks through crustal contamination during magma ascent, as their age spectra closely resemble those of the surrounding basement strata. Collectively, these findings support that the SAO possibly formed in a back-arc basin setting, characterized by significant crust–mantle interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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17 pages, 3835 KB

Open AccessArticle

U-Pb and Hf Isotopic Analyses for Detrital Zircon of the Danzhou Group in the Western Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and Tectonic Implications

by Jingna Liu, Xianglin Huang, Xiyue Xia and Xiuping Li

Minerals 2025, 15(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010070 - 13 Jan 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

In order to better constrain the specific depositional age and provenance of the Danzhou Group and understand the geological evolution of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt, we conducted a combined U-Pb and Hf-isotope analysis of detrital zircons from the Gongdong and Hetong formations of the Danzhou Group in the Longsheng area of the Western Jiangnan Orogenic Belt. Detrital zircons from the Gongdong Formation yield three age populations of 2658–2517 Ma, 2427–1678 Ma and 891–781 Ma, and the youngest ages suggest that the sedimentation began after ca. 783 Ma. U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from the Hetong Formation yield major populations at 2769–2502 Ma, 2492–2100 Ma, and 991–731 Ma, and the youngest ages redefine the maximum depositional age of this unit is 760 Ma, much younger than previously considered. Thus, the upper part of the Hetong Formation in the Longsheng area is newly subdivided into the Sanmenjie Formation, which is characterized by a large amount of 765–761 Ma volcanic rocks. The dominant 991–731 Ma detrital zircons for all samples were likely sourced from the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks of the southeast margin of the Yangtze Block. The subordinate 2494–1678 Ma detrital zircons were probably sourced from the Cathaysia Block. Minor amounts of 2769–2502 Ma detrital zircons may have been sourced from the Yangtze Block. Detrital zircons from the Gongdong Formation have mainly negative εHf (t) values (−1.1 to 21.8, 90%), suggesting that the detritus of the Gongdong Formation is dominated by the recycling of old crustal materials. The εHf (t) values of detrital zircons from the Hetong Formation have a large spread of −22.2 to +9.7, indicating that the source material of the Hetong Formation includes both the juvenile crustal materials and the recycled ancient crustal materials. The above age populations and Hf isotopic characteristics are consistent with the magmatic rocks in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and the Southeast Yangtze Block. Taking into account the lithostratigraphic features, provenances, and depositional ages, the Danzhou Group in the Western Jiangnan Orogenic Belt was deposited in a back-arc basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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20 pages, 31392 KB

Open AccessArticle

Involvement of the Northeastern Margin of South China Block in Rodinia Supercontinent Evolution: A Case Study of Neoproterozoic Granitic Gneiss in Rizhao Area, Shandong Province

by Xiaolong He, Zeyu Yang, Kai Liu, Wei Zhu, Honglei Zhan, Peng Yang, Tongzheng Wei, Shuxun Wang and Yaoyao Zhang

Minerals 2024, 14(8), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14080807 - 9 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2070

Abstract

The South China Plate is an important part of the Rodinia supercontinent in the Neoproterozoic. The Rizhao area, located on the northeastern margin of the South China Plate, records multiple periods of magmatism, among which Neoproterozoic granitic gneiss is of great significance to the tectonic evolution of the South China Block. In this study, systematic petrology, geochemistry, isotopic chronology, and zircon Hf isotopic analyses were carried out on gneisses samples of biotite alkali feldspar granitic and biotite monzogranitic compositions in the Rizhao area. Geochemical analyses suggest that these granitic rocks belong to the sub-alkaline series and have high potassium contents. They are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements K, Rb, and Ba; depleted in high field strength elements P, Nb, and Ti; enriched in light rare earth elements and moderately depleted in heavy rare earth elements; and have weak to moderate negative Eu anomalies and weak negative Ce anomalies. These rocks are post-orogenic A-type granites. LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from two biotite alkali-feldspar granitic gneiss samples yielded weighted mean ages of 785 ± 8 Ma (MSWD = 3.0) and 784 ± 6Ma (MSWD = 1.5), respectively, and a biotite monzogranitic gneiss sample yielded a weighted mean age of 789 ± 6 Ma (MSWD = 2.3). Lu-Hf isotopic analyses on zircon grains from the two types of Neoproterozoic-aged gneisses yielded negative ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −19.3 to −8.8 and from −18.3 to −10.4, respectively, and the corresponding two-stage Hf model age ranges are 2848–3776 Ma and 2983–3682 Ma, respectively. These granites are the product of Neoproterozoic magmatic activity and are mainly derived from the partial melting of Archean continental crust. Combining the geochemical characteristics and zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic analyses, these A-type granitic gneisses appear to have formed in an intracontinental rift extension environment during the initial break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent, as part of the supercontinent break-up process at the northeastern margin of the South China Block. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context)

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