Isotopic Geochronology of the Xianghongdian Alkaline Complex, Northern Margin of the Dabie Mountains, China

Abstract To the north of the Qinling‐Dabie orogen there exists a Mesozoic (K1) granite‐syenite belt called the Beihuaiyang granite‐syenite belt, in which the Xianghongdian alkaline complex outcrops in the Devonian Foziling schist and also intruded into the slightly earlier volcanic rocks. This alkaline complex is composed of syenite, alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite, but the nepheline syenite occurs inside the alkaline syenite in the pod‐like, irregular, lenticular or layered shape. Researches on the petrogenesis of the alkaline complex and the relationship between the alkaline syenite and the nepheline syenite must rely on precise isotopic ages. Previous researches have reported isotopic dating results merely by the 40Ar/39Ar method on hornblende and biotite separated from the alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite. In view of this, the authors have made fairly detailed isotopic geochronological studies of the alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite by using Rb‐Sr isochron for the whole rock and minerals, U‐Pb for single zircon separate and the 40Ar/39Ar method for hornblende and potash feldspar. The results of this research are completely different from those of previous researches and show that the nepheline syenite was formed far earlier than the alkaline syenite.