Late Paleozoic Southward Migration of the Dananhu Arc in the Eastern Tianshan (NW China)

Abstract The process of continental growth and closure the Paleo‐Asian Ocean are controversial. To address this problem, we report new geochemical geochronological data granitic rocks along a N‐S corridor Dananhu arc. These yield 401–270 Ma U‐Pb zircon ages. arc‐related granites enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), Rb, Ba, Th, Sr Pb, but depleted Nb Ta, have high zircons values ε Hf (t) (+7.7−+19.6) Nd (+5.4−+7.2); they were possibly generated by partial melting juvenile intermediate or mafic arc crust. A 356 high‐K calc‐alkaline granite has Ga/Al (3.28–3.37), low Mg# (14–16), (+8.9−+12.0); it can be classified as 2 ‐type‐granite, suggesting was product substantial fractional crystallization mantle‐derived magma an intra‐arc extensional setting. youngest (254 Ma) is adakite‐like which characterized Sr/Y (26–38), depletion heavy (HREE), (+7.0) (+10.4 to +15.4) values, most likely derived from subducted oceanic slab. Therefore, all formed subduction‐related settings. generally young southwards Kezier area (ca. 401–335 Tuwu (334–315 Ma), Kanguer 280–254 indicating that grew southwards, closed after 254 Ma. our provide robust constraint on prolonged Altaids.