Multiple episodes of late Neoproterozoic rifting in the Tarim Craton during its separation from the supercontinent Rodinia

In this paper, we review and evaluate the magmatic history, regional stratigraphy, structural patterns and sedimentary provenance features of the Late Neoproterozoic Tarim Craton to elucidate the nature and different modes of extensional tectonics during the Latest Neoproterozoic, a critical time coinciding with the disintegration of the supercontinent Rodinia. New detrital zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical data acquired from quartz schists and spatially associated granites in the Tugerming anticline along the northern margin of the Tarim Craton have revealed Cryogenian ages, as opposed to Early Neoproterozoic and older ages as reported in previous studies. Granitic intrusions are dated at 656–637 Ma, which involved remelting of the ancient crust following the decline of the initial (Cryogenian) rift stage. They are unconformably overlain by terrestrial clastic deposits. Based on the available detrital zircons from the Late Neoproterozoic sedimentary rock assemblages, we identify a major change in the provenance of the basinal strata at the end of the Cryogenian period. This inferred provenance change, associated with basement exhumation, overlaps in time with resumed magmatic activities, basin inversion and uplift along the northern margin of the craton. The initial, Cryogenian rifting stage was facilitated by pure shear deformation that produced rift basins in and across the Tarim Craton. The subsequent rifting stage was facilitated by simple shear deformation, confined to the northern edge of the craton as the break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia further progressed. Episodic rifting of the Tarim Craton and its separation from Rodinia were aided by thermal weakening of its lithosphere owing to the periodic impingement of mantle upwelling beneath it throughout the Cryogenian and Ediacaran periods.