The Baleigong granites, located in the western part of the southwestern Tianshan Orogen (Kokshanyan region, China), records late Paleozoic magmatism during the late stages of convergence between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane. We performed a detailed geochronological and geochemical study of the Baleigong granites to better constrain the nature of collisional processes in the Southwest Tianshan Orogen. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon isotopic analyses indicate that magmatism commenced in the early Permian (similar to 282 Ma). The granite samples, which are characterized by high contents of SiO2 (67.68-69.77 wt%) and Al2O3 (13.93-14.76 wt%), are alkali-rich and Mg-poor, corresponding to the high-K calc-alkaline series. The aluminum saturation index (A/CNK) ranges from 0.93 to 1.02, indicating a metaluminous to slightly peraluminous composition. Trace element geochemistry shows depletions in Nb, Ta, and Ti, a moderately negative Eu anomaly (delta Eu=0.40-0.56), enrichment in LREE, and depletion in HREE ((La/Yb)N=7.46-11.78). These geochemical signatures are characteristic of an I-type granite generated from partial melting of a magmatic arc. The I-type nature of the Baleigong granites is also supported by the main mafic minerals being Fe-rich calcic hornblende and biotite. We suggest that the high-K, calc-alkaline I-type granitic magmatism was generated by partial melting of the continental crust, possibly triggered by underplating by basaltic magma. These conditions were likely achieved in a collisional tectonic setting, thus supporting the suggestion that closure of the South Tianshan Ocean was completed prior to the Permian and was followed (in the late Paleozoic) by collision between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane.

The Baleigong granites, located in the western part of the southwestern Tianshan Orogen (Kokshanyan region, China), records late Paleozoic magmatism during the late stages of convergence between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane. We performed a detailed geochronological and geochemical study of the Baleigong granites to better constrain the nature of collisional processes in the Southwest Tianshan Orogen. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon isotopic analyses indicate that magmatism commenced in the early Permian (similar to 282 Ma). The granite samples, which are characterized by high contents of SiO2 (67.68-69.77 wt%) and Al2O3 (13.93-14.76 wt%), are alkali-rich and Mg-poor, corresponding to the high-K calc-alkaline series. The aluminum saturation index (A/CNK) ranges from 0.93 to 1.02, indicating a metaluminous to slightly peraluminous composition. Trace element geochemistry shows depletions in Nb, Ta, and Ti, a moderately negative Eu anomaly (delta Eu=0.40-0.56), enrichment in LREE, and depletion in HREE ((La/Yb)N=7.46-11.78). These geochemical signatures are characteristic of an I-type granite generated from partial melting of a magmatic arc. The I-type nature of the Baleigong granites is also supported by the main mafic minerals being Fe-rich calcic hornblende and biotite. We suggest that the high-K, calc-alkaline I-type granitic magmatism was generated by partial melting of the continental crust, possibly triggered by underplating by basaltic magma. These conditions were likely achieved in a collisional tectonic setting, thus supporting the suggestion that closure of the South Tianshan Ocean was completed prior to the Permian and was followed (in the late Paleozoic) by collision between the Tarim Block and the Central Tianshan Arc Terrane.