Distinct zircon U-Pb and O-Hf-Nd-Sr isotopic behaviour during fluid flow in UHP metamorphic rocks: Evidence from metamorphic veins and their host eclogite in the Sulu Orogen, China

Fluid plays a key role in metamorphism and magmatism in subduction zones. Veins in high-pressure (HP) to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks are the products of fluid-rock interaction, and can thus provide important constraints on fluid processes in subduction zones. This contribution is an integrated study of zircon U-Pb and O-Hf, as well as whole-rock Nd-Sr isotopic compositions for a quartz vein, a complex vein, and their host eclogite in the Sulu UHP terrane to decipher the timing and source of fluid flow under HP-UHP metamorphic conditions. The inherited magmatic zircon cores from the host eclogite constrain the protolith age at c. 750 Ma. Their variable ε_Hf(t) values from -1.11 to 2.54 and low δ¹⁸O values of 0.32-3.40‰ reflect a protolith that formed in a rift setting due to the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia. The hydrothermal zircon from the quartz and the complex veins shows euhedral shapes, relatively flat HREE pattern, slight or no negative Eu anomaly, low ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios, and low formation temperatures of 660-690 °C, indicating they precipitated from fluids under HP eclogite facies conditions. This zircon yielded similar U-Pb ages of 217 ± 2 and 213 ± 3 Ma within analytical uncertainty, recording the timing of fluid flow during the exhumation of the UHP rock. It is inferred that the fluids might be of internal origin based on the homogeneity of δ¹⁸O values of the hydrothermal zircon from the quartz (-2.41 ± 0.13‰) and complex veins (-2.35 ± 0.12‰), and the metamorphic grown zircon of the host eclogite (-2.23 ± 0.16‰). The similar ε_Nd(t) values of the whole rocks also support such a point. Zircon O and whole-rock Nd isotopic compositions are therefore useful to identify the source of fluid, for they are major and trace components in minerals involved in metamorphic reactions during HP-UHP conditions. On the other hand, the hydrothermal zircon from the veins and the metamorphic zircon from the host eclogite exhibit variable ε_Hf(t) values. Model calculation suggests that the Hf was derived from the breakdown of major rock-forming minerals and recycling of the inherited magmatic zircon. The variable whole-rock initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios might be caused by subsequent retrograde metamorphism after the formation of the veins.