Tectonic evolution of the Beishan orogen in central Asia: Subduction, accretion, and continent-continent collision during the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

Abstract The Beishan orogen is part of the Neo-proterozoic to early Mesozoic Central Asian Orogenic System in central Asia that exposes ophiolitic complexes, passive-margin strata, arc assemblages, and Precambrian basement rocks. To better constrain tectonic evolution orogen, we conducted field mapping, U-Pb zircon dating, whole-rock geochemical analysis, Sr-Nd isotopic analysis. new results, when interpreted context known geological setting, show region had experienced five phases magmatism at ca. 1450–1395 Ma, 1071–867 542–395 468–212 307–212 Ma. In order explain geological, geochemical, geochronological data from region, present a model involves following deformation: (1) Proterozoic rifting separated North block Greater China craton led opening Ocean, (2) Paleozoic north-dipping subduction (ca. 530–430 Ma) oceanic plate associated with back-arc extension followed by collision between South microcontinental blocks, (3) northward slab rollback south-dipping subducting Paleo-Asian 450–440 Ma along northern margin formation northward-younging extensional continental 470–280 bimodal igneous activity, which indicates westward Solonker suture located north Hongshishan-Pengboshan zone, (4) Late Carboniferous Permian Liuyuan Ocean southern (5) Mesozoic-Cenozoic intracontinental deformation induced final closure system Tethyan south.