The Neoarchean evolution of the eastern North China Craton (NCC) is still controversial. This study presents the first B isotopes, together with zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes and whole-rock geochemical analyses, for the TTG and dioritic series in the Baishan area of the southern Jilin region. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb results uncover the Neoarchean magmatic activities, including granodioritic gneisses (2648 ± 10 Ma and 2622 ± 8 Ma), and quartz dioritic gneiss (2539 ± 7 Ma). The 2.65–2.60 Ga TTG series exhibit intermediate calc-alkaline characteristics, with relatively lower Th/La ratios (0.11–0.41) and positive zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+3.73 to +7.93), suggesting that the TTG series were likely derived from partial melting of mafic lower crust. By contrast, the 2.54 Ga dioritic series show positive Zr, Hf and Eu anomalies, with relatively lower Nb/Zr ratios (0.013–0.028) and ε_Hf(t) values (+2.00 to +5.49), indicating that they were possibly produced by mixing of the mantle-derived magma and crustal melts. Importantly, the 2.65–2.60 Ga TTG series are characterized by positive whole-rock δ¹¹B values of +4.11 to +15.08 ‰, resembling the Izu-Bonin-Mariana oceanic arc and South Sandwich Island arc volcanic rocks. The formation of these TTG rocks is attributed to ¹¹B-rich fluids released by subducted oceanic slab and subsequent metasomatism of the subarc mantle wedge. Unlike the oceanic arc TTG series, the 2.54 Ga dioritic series exhibit lighter whole-rock δ¹¹B values of −4.23 to −4.50 ‰, reflecting an arc-continental collision induced by slab breakoff and mantle-derived magma upwelling. Integrated with previous studies, it suggests that the subduction-collision process in the eastern NCC resulted from the co-evolution of oceanic arc and continental margin arc.

The Samail Ophiolite in the Oman Mountains formed at a Cretaceous subduction zone that was part of a wider Neo-Tethys plate-boundary system. The original configuration and evolution of this plate-boundary system is hidden in a structurally and metamorphically complex nappe stack below the Samail Ophiolite. Previous work provided evidence for high-temperature metamorphism high in the nappe pile (in the metamorphic sole of the Samail Ophiolite), and high-pressure metamorphism in the deepest part of the nappe pile (Saih Hatat window), possibly reflecting a downward younging, progressive accretion history at the Samail subduction zone. However, there is evidence that the two subduction-related metamorphic events are disparate, but temporally overlapping during the mid-Cretaceous. We present the first geochronologic dataset across the entire high-pressure nappe stack below the Samail Ophiolite, and the shear zones between the high-pressure nappes. Our 22 new Rb-Sr multimineral isochron ages from the Saih Hatat window, along with independent new field mapping and kinematic reconstructions, constrain the timing and geometry of tectonometamorphic events. Our work indicates the existence of a highpressure metamorphic event in the nappes below the ophiolite that was synchronous with the hightemperature conditions in the metamorphic sole. We argue that the thermal conditions of these synchronous metamorphic events can only be explained through the existence of two Cretaceous subduction zones/segments that underwent distinctly different thermal histories during subduction infancy. We infer that these two subduction zones initially formed at two perpendicular subduction segments at the Arabian margin and subsequently rotated relative to each other and, as a consequence, their records became juxtaposed: (1) The hightemperature metamorphic sole and the Samail Ophiolite both formed above the structurally higher, outboard, 'hot' and rotating Samail subduction zone and, (2) the high-pressure nappes developed within the structurally lower, inboard, 'cold' Ruwi subduction zone. We conclude that the formation and evolution of both subduction zones were likely controlled by the density structure of the mafic-rock-rich Arabian rifted margin and outermost Arabian Platform, and the subsequent arrival of the buoyant, largely mafic-rock-free, full-thickness Arabian lithosphere, which eventually halted subduction at the southern margin of Neo-Tethys.

The properties of ancient magmatic arcs are crucial for understanding the tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Middle Devonian Kulumudi Formation in the Laofengkou area of West Junggar lacks accurate chronological data constraints, which hampers the knowledge of the nature of the Late Paleozoic magmatic arcs in the West Junggar and circum-Balkhash areas. In this contribution, samples of pyroclastic rocks and sedimentary rocks were collected from the volcano–sedimentary strata of the Kulumudi Formation. Petrography, zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic analysis and whole-rock geochemistry were carried out to constrain the age and the tectonic setting of the Kulumudi Formation. The zircon U-Pb age of the lithic crystal tuff from the Kulumudi Formation on the northeast side of the Alemale Mountains was 386 ± 2 Ma, accurately indicating that this rock unit formed during the Middle Devonian. However, the fine sandstone near the Huojierte Mongolian Township, originally assigned as the “Kulumudi Formation”, yielded a maximum depositional age of 341 ± 3 Ma. Combined with the stratigraphic contact, this rock unit was redefined to belong to the Lower Carboniferous Jiangbasitao Formation. According to the whole-rock geochemistry study, the lithic crystal tuff of the Kulumudi Formation was characterized as medium potassium–calc–alkaline series rock, which is relatively enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements (i.e., Rb, Ba, K) and depleted in high-field-strength elements (i.e., Nb, Ta, Ti), showing similar geochemical characteristics to the volcanic arc rocks. By contrast, the fine sandstone from the Jiangbasitao Formation had Al₂O₃/SiO₂ (0.25–0.29) and K₂O/Na₂O (1.29–1.72) ratios close to those derived from the continental arc and active continental margin and was characterized as part of the continental arc field in the La-Th-Sc and Th-Sc-Zr/10 tectonic discrimination diagrams. Zircon Hf isotope analysis showed that the _^εHf(t) values of the Kulumudi Formation were +5.6–+12.8, and those of the Jiangbasitao Formation were +11.43–+15.48, both of which show highly positive juvenile characteristics. The above data indicate that the Kulumudi Formation and Jiangbasitao Formation both formed in a juvenile arc setting with ocean–continent subduction. Combined with the previous work, it was concluded that the southward subduction of the ocean basin represented by the Darbut–Karamay ophiolitic mélanges beneath the newly accreted arc crustal segments produced a juvenile arc with positive Hf isotope characteristics.