Zircon U-Pb age, Trace Element, and Hf Isotopic Compositions of Nordmarkite in the Lizhuang Rare Earth Element Deposit in the Western Margin of the Yangtze Block

The Mianning-Dechang (MD) rare earth element (REE) belt, located in the northern Kangdian axis (KDA) in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, is one of the most economically significant REE mineral belts in China. REE mineralization is associated with Himalayan carbonatite-alkaline complexes. The Lizhuang nordmarkite occurred in the northern part of the MD REE belt. The majority of zircons from the Lizhuang nordmarkite are characterized by pronounced positive Ce yet slightly negative Eu anomalies and high U/Yb. Moreover, all zircons have stable Hf isotopic compositions with initial Hf-176/Hf-177 ratios ranging from 0.282739 to 0.282808 and an average value of 0.282773. The negative Lu/Hf and positive epsilon(Hf)(t) range from -0.98 to -0.94 (average value of -0.96) and from -0.56 to 1.89 (the majority is positive, with an average of 0.66), respectively. These characteristics indicate that the rock is derived from an enriched mantle and subducted material. LA-ICP-MS analysis of the zircons from the intrusion yields a weighted mean Pb-206/U-238 age of 28.57 +/- 0.61Ma. During this period, the tectonic activity in the KDA is not plate subduction but an intraplate tectonic exhibiting fold-thrust and strike-slip behaviors in the western marginal zone of the Yangtze platform (WMYB). We suggest the possibility of an existing eastward old slab subduction under WMYB combined with a regional tectonic evolution. The Lizhuang nordmarkite may be derived from an enriched mantle beneath the western part of the Yangtze craton, which originated from the remelting of the Tethys subducting slab, because of the Himalayan strike-slip that formed a special type of REE deposit called strike-slip-type REE deposits.