Zircon U-Pb dating of Neoproterozoic tuff in South Gaungxi and its implications for stratigraphic correlation

Abstract：In the zircon study of bentonite from the Danzhou Group and overlying strata of the Nanhua System, the authors accurately determined the age of (801±3) Ma for zircon from the Hedong Formation and (778±6) Ma for zircon from the Gongdong Formation. (778±5) Ma is the age of zircon from the Chang’an Formation, which is the bottom of the Nanhuan System, and (661±7) Ma is the age of zircon from Datangpo Formation of the intraglacial period. Some zircon ages of tuff bedding were reported for the first time from the Sibao and Xiajia Groups in Guangxi and Guizhou. In combination of the SHRIMP U-Pb age of the granite (834±4 Ma) which intruded into the Sibao Group (842±13 Ma) and the SHRIMP U-Pb age of (837±7) Ma of Bendong granite, the authors hold that the Sibao Group is Late Neoproterozoic strata below the strata of 820 Ma. These isotopic data are very important for us to redefine the age of the Sibao Group and to conduct regional correlation of strata of the corresponding period as well as to study tectonic evolution. There is an angle unconformity between the Sibao Group and overlying Danzhou Group and a nonconformity between the Danzhou Group and the Nanhuan System, suggesting the existence of three levels of tectonic factor. The revised age column will influence the whole metamorphosed basement in the Jiangnan Orogen and the constraints on the relationship of the cover strata in South China.