华南河源盆地玄武岩年代学与地球化学：大陆裂谷作用新证据

林振文; 王玭; 阳峰; 罗俊超; 陆野; 白清霖; 郑思琦; 李雨龙

doi:10.3799/dqkx.2025.132

Volume 51 Issue 1

Jan. 2026

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Article Navigation > Earth Science > 2026 > 51(1): 226-239

Lin Zhenwen, Wang Pin, Yang Feng, Luo Junchao, Lu Ye, Bai Qinglin, Zheng Siqi, Li Yulong, 2026. Geochronology and Geochemistry of Basalts in Heyuan Basin: New Evidence for Continental Rifting in South China. Earth Science, 51(1): 226-239. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.132

Citation:

Lin Zhenwen, Wang Pin, Yang Feng, Luo Junchao, Lu Ye, Bai Qinglin, Zheng Siqi, Li Yulong, 2026. Geochronology and Geochemistry of Basalts in Heyuan Basin: New Evidence for Continental Rifting in South China. Earth Science, 51(1): 226-239. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.132

Citation:

Lin Zhenwen, Wang Pin, Yang Feng, Luo Junchao, Lu Ye, Bai Qinglin, Zheng Siqi, Li Yulong, 2026. Geochronology and Geochemistry of Basalts in Heyuan Basin: New Evidence for Continental Rifting in South China. Earth Science, 51(1): 226-239. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.132

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Geochronology and Geochemistry of Basalts in Heyuan Basin: New Evidence for Continental Rifting in South China

doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.132

1.
Guangdong Geological Survey Institute, Guangzhou 510080, China
2.
Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China

Received Date: 2025-05-21
Publish Date: 2026-01-25

Abstract

Abstract

The formation and geodynamic setting of Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the basins along the South China coast remain controversial, traditionally attributed to either Paleo-Pacific subduction or South China Sea spreading.Focusing on NE-trending fissure-erupted basalts from the Heyuan Basin, this study uses ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to constrain their eruption ages to 68.65-64.52 Ma. These ages coincide with the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary.Geochemically, the basalts exhibit sodic subalkaline tholeiitic characteristics (SiO₂=47.43%-52.67%), with low Mg, K, and Ti but high Na and Al contents. Their rare earth element (REE) patterns indicate slight light REE(LREE) enrichment ((La/Yb)_N=4.48-6.68), lacking significant Eu, Ce, Nb, or Ta anomalies, but displaying positive Ba, Th, and U anomalies and a negative P anomaly. Key elemental ratios (Th/Yb=1.72-1.15, Th/Nb=0.20-0.21, Hf/Th=1.13-1.35) suggest derivation from a depleted lithospheric mantle source with crustal contamination, formed in a continental rift setting.The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (I_Sr=0.704 97-0.706 76, ε_Nd(t)=0.11-1.55) indicate that the Heyuan basalts originated from a mixture of depleted mantle and enriched lithospheric mantle components. Regional comparisons with coeval basalts from the Nanxiong, Lianping, and Sanshui basins reveal an NE-SW trending continental rift system along the northern South China margin. This rifting episode likely responded to back-arc extension triggered by Paleo-Pacific plate rollback.
- South China,
- Heyuan Basin,
- basalt,
- ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology,
- continental rifting,
- Paleo⁃Pacific rollback,
- dinosaur extinction,
- K⁃Pg boundary,
- geochemistry

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Geochronology and Geochemistry of Basalts in Heyuan Basin: New Evidence for Continental Rifting in South China

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