Detrital zircon age signatures of the basal Cambrian sandstone unit in North China: implications for drainage divides during global Sauk transgression and separation from Gondwanaland

The basal Cambrian sandstone unit in the North China craton (NCC) is an example of globally widespread siliciclastic succession that resides on Great Unconformity and deposited a hypothesized low-lying peneplain during global eustatic sea-level rise. Detrital zircon age signatures from this distinct sequence enable recognition ancient drainage system NCC deep time track its potential linkage with Gondwana landmass. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating fossil-calibrated (Series 2) detrital samples seven measured sections reveal marked spatial changes their can be divided into three types. first generally characterized by bimodal populations broad peaks at ~1.85 Ga ~2.5 correlate Archean to Paleoproterozoic basement inboard NCC. second featured multimodal distribution diagnostic Neoproterozoic correspond subregional magmatic record. third also shows multiple-zircon populations, but yields significant crystallization ages close early age. Comparing our new data existing spectra for strata across northern demonstrates separate systems did exist peneplained transgression was not part far-travelled sand sheet margin Gondwana. most suitable source Cambrian-aged grains constrained paleogeographic restoration arc terrane developed along as result subduction Paleo-Asian oceanic plate. Our continental-scale provenance suggest should considered discrete continental block separated Proto-Tethys Ocean Cambrian, rather than integral