Evolution of Cretaceous Sediment Provenance in the Danxia Basin, Southeast China: Implications for Tectonic and Landscape Reorganization in Cathaysia Guohui Chen, Kaijie Zha, Hongwei Li, Liangkai Cheng, Yifan Jia, et al. Tectonics, 2026 Understanding how tectonic uplift and drainage reorganization controlled sediment dispersal during the Cretaceous is critical for reconstructing the topographic evolution of southeast China. This study examines how sediment sources and routing systems evolved during the Cretaceous, using the Danxia Basin as a key archive and adjacent basins for regional comparison. We integrate sedimentological observations, detrital zircon U‐Pb‐Hf isotopic data, whole‐rock Pb isotope geochemistry and source unmixing results from the Danxia Basin deposits, together with published Jurassic to Paleogene zircon age data sets from nine adjacent basins. The results reveal a regional provenance shift from dominant northern cratonic sources (North China and Yangtze blocks) during the Jurassic to increasing Cathaysian sources during the Cretaceous, including the Wuyishan and Yunkai terranes and the Nanling Tectonic Belt. Within the Danxia Basin, Cretaceous lithologies record a two‐stage provenance evolution: Early Cretaceous sediments mainly derived from the Wuyishan Terrane, whereas Late Cretaceous deposits show mixed input from the Yunkai Terrane, Nanling Tectonic Belt and Wuyishan Terrane, reflecting drainage expansion and/or sediment‐routing reorganization. Published thermochronological data indicate enhanced uplift and exhumation in the Yunkai Terrane and Nanling regions during the Late Cretaceous, driving increased sediment flux to both inland and coastal basins. During the Paleocene‐Eocene, sediment supply became increasingly dominated by the Nanling region as exhumation in Yunkai region waned. These observations support a dynamic “seesaw” topographic model, in which alternating uplift of northern cratonic and eastern Cathaysian source regions governed sediment dispersal, basin architecture and paleoenvironmental evolution across southeast China.
Lithium Isotope Fractionation during Granitic Magma Differentiation: Insights from Whole Rock and Mineral Analyses Zi-Yi Ding, Shan-Ke Liu, Ben-Xun Su, Wen-Jun Li, Fang-Yang Hu, et al. Journal of Petrology, 2025 Despite extensive studies on whole-rock lithium (Li) isotope geochemistry, the fractionation of Li isotopes among minerals in granitic magmatic systems is still poorly understood. To investigate the magnitude and mechanism of inter-mineral and inter-sample Li isotope fractionation during granitic magma differentiation, we present high-precision Li isotope data from a suite of well-characterized granitoids (quartz diorite, granodiorite, and monzogranite) and their minerals from the Tagong pluton in NE Tibetan Plateau. The whole rocks exhibit δ7Li variation from −1.73 ± 0.15 to 1.30 ± 0.08‰, indicating insignificant Li isotope fractionation at the whole-rock scale. The constituent mafic minerals show δ7Li values varying from −1.68 ± 0.05 to 1.76 ± 0.15‰ in biotite, −2.08 ± 0.15 to 2.53 ± 0.13‰ in amphibole, and −1.72 ± 0.21 to 0.74 ± 0.08‰ in clinopyroxene, demonstrating equilibrium isotope fractionation between these coexisting phases during magma differentiation. The comparable δ7Li values between whole rocks and biotite suggest that crystallization of the Li-richest phase (biotite Li = 139–361 μg/g) is the key factor controlling whole-rock Li isotope compositions. In contrast, quartz, K-feldspar, and plagioclase display significant inter-mineral and inter-sample Li isotope variations with δ7Li ranges of 15.09 ± 0.14 to 26.00 ± 0.33‰, 1.69 ± 0.10 to 8.53 ± 0.01‰, and −2.23 ± 0.08 to 6.50 ± 0.19‰, respectively. Rayleigh fractionation alone cannot fully account for the Li isotope variations in these felsic minerals. Plagioclase in the K-feldspar-rich granodiorites and monzogranites is isotopically lighter and more variable than in the K-feldspar-free quartz diorites, indicating competition for Li isotopes between K-feldspar and plagioclase during simultaneous crystallization. The Li isotope variation in quartz that has low Li content (0.67 to 2.82 μg/g) may be related to the diffusion process. Furthermore, mafic microgranular enclaves, typically observed in granitoid rocks, show whole-rock and mineral Li isotope compositions similar to the counterparts of their host rocks, suggesting that they are of schlieren origin. This provides further evidence for minimal Li isotope fractionation at the whole-rock level. In comparison to the low-silica (SiO2 < 65 wt %) and uniform whole-rock Li isotope characteristics of the granitoid samples studied here, global high-silica (SiO2 > 65 wt %) granitic rocks exhibit highly variable δ7Li values from −3.0 to 8.0‰. This variability can be attributed to the fractional crystallization of felsic minerals, which are more abundant in the high-silica rocks.
Experimental and geochemical evidence for magmatic origin of Li-Rb-Cs in geothermal waters of the Yangbajing-Gulu Rift, Tibet W Sun, J Duan, M Liu, F Hu, X Jiang, Y Kong Geothermics 136, 103614 , 2026 2026
Convergence of two ancient continental nuclei induced by late Neoarchean multiple subduction systems L Gao, W Wang, S Liu, K Qiu, F Hu, G Sun, X Jiang, W Yang, J Hu, ... Geological Society of America Bulletin , 2026 2026
Discovery of a late Eocene–Early Oligocene ultra-high temperature (UHT) migmatite in the Gangdese batholith at Nyingchi, southern Tibet and its tectonic implications H Jiang, X Chu, JM Wang, WQ Ji, W Cao, F Hu, XC Liu, FY Wu Lithos, 108399 , 2026 2026
Early Precambrian rare-metal mineralization in the North China Craton FY Wu, JH Xu, MP Zhang, YH Yang, FY Hu, H Yang, P Peng ACTA PETROLOGICA SINICA 42 (1), 1-37 , 2026 2026
The indicative significance of apatite in the Ganfang region for lithium mineralization K Huang, M Yu, C Guo, X Ma, JZ Niu, J Zhao, F Hu, X Liu Ore Geology Reviews 188, 107105 , 2026 2026
Evolution of Cretaceous sediment provenance in the Danxia Basin, southeast China: Implications for tectonic and landscape reorganization in Cathaysia G Chen, K Zha, H Li, L Cheng, Y Jia, R Huang, C Zavala, Y Xie, F Hu Tectonics 45 (1), e2025TC009218 , 2026 2026
High geothermal gradients facilitating lithium mineralization: Insights from the Ke’eryin–Taiyanghe plutons, central China F Hu, MN Ducea, JB Chapman, L Yang, G Chen, C Guo, FY Wu Earth and Planetary Science Letters 672, 119693 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Significant magmatic differentiation induced by crustal shearing: implications for rare metal enrichment in Himalayan leucogranites F Hu, J Li, H Chen, M Ducea, JB Chapman, XC Liu, JM Wang, SX He, ... Goldschmidt 2025 Conference , 2025 2025
Lithium isotope fractionation during granitic magma differentiation: insights from whole rock and mineral analyses ZY Ding, SK Liu, BX Su, WJ Li, FY Hu, PA Sakyi Journal of Petrology 66 (6), egaf048 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Neoarchean orogenic belt evolution in the northeast North China Craton: Implications for the reconstruction of early Earth’s microplates G Sun, S Liu, S Li, TM Kusky, F Hu, H Bao, L Gao, Y Hu, S Yu, L Dai, ... Precambrian Research 417, 107659 , 2025 2025 Citations: 13
Trace element compositions of quartz in granites and pegmatites from the Sanmudaimiao region, northern margin of the North China Craton and their implications for the formation … X Duan, F Hu, S Zhang, Z Feng, Y Liang, Y Liu, Z Wang, H Li, Y Yan Acta Petrologica Sinica 41 (10), 3432-3452 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Highly fractionated granite and high-purity quartz FY WU, XC LIU, JM WANG, HB CHEN, FY HU, ZC LIU Acta Petrologica Sinica 41 (10), 3243-3277 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Quantifying Crustal Thickness in Continental Collisional Belts: Global Perspective and a Geologic Application. F Hu, MN Ducea, S Liu, JB Chapman Scientific reports 7 (1), 7058 , 2017 2017 Citations: 266
Petrogenesis of the highly fractionated granites and their mineralizations in Nanling Range, South China FY Wu, CL Guo, FY Hu, XC Liu, JX Zhao, XF Li, KZ Qin Acta Petrologica Sinica 39 (1), 1-36 , 2023 2023 Citations: 152
Quantitatively Tracking the Elevation of the Tibetan Plateau since the Cretaceous: Insights from Whole‐rock Sr/Y and La/Yb Ratios F Hu, F Wu, JB Chapman, MN Ducea, W Ji, S Liu Geophysical Research Letters 47, e2020GL089202 , 2020 2020 Citations: 124
Thermal state and evolving geodynamic regimes of the Meso-to Neoarchean North China Craton G Sun, S Liu, PA Cawood, M Tang, J van Hunen, L Gao, Y Hu, F Hu Nature Communications 12 (1), 3888 , 2021 2021 Citations: 114
Chronology and tectonic implications of Neoproterozoic blocks in the south Qinling Orogenic Belt, Central China F Hu, S Liu, M Santosh, Z Deng, W Wang, W Zhang, M Yan Gondwana Research 30, 24-47 , 2016 2016 Citations: 113
Early Mesozoic magmatism and tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogen: Implications for oblique continental collision F Hu, S Liu, MN Ducea, JB Chapman, F Wu, T Kusky Gondwana Research 88, 296-332 , 2020 2020 Citations: 91
Petrogenesis of the Guangtoushan granitoid suite, central China: Implications for Early Mesozoic geodynamic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt Z Deng, S Liu, W Zhang, F Hu, Q Li Gondwana Research 30, 112-131 , 2016 2016 Citations: 83
A westward propagating slab tear model for Late Triassic Qinling Orogenic Belt geodynamic evolution: Insights from the petrogenesis of the Caoping and Shahewan intrusions … F Hu, S Liu, W Zhang, Z Deng, X Chen Lithos 262, 486-506 , 2016 2016 Citations: 75
A reworked∼ 3.45 Ga continental microblock of the North China Craton: Constraints from zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic systematics of the Archean Beitai-Waitoushan migmatite … S Liu, M Wang, Y Wan, R Guo, W Wang, K Wang, B Guo, J Fu, F Hu Precambrian Research 303, 332-354 , 2017 2017 Citations: 74
Late Neoarchean monzogranitic–syenogranitic gneisses in the Eastern Hebei–Western Liaoning Province, North China Craton: petrogenesis and implications for tectonic setting J Fu, S Liu, M Wang, X Chen, B Guo, F Hu Precambrian Research 303, 392-413 , 2017 2017 Citations: 68
Oxidation of Archean upper mantle caused by crustal recycling L Gao, S Liu, PA Cawood, F Hu, J Wang, G Sun, Y Hu Nature Communications 13 (1), 3283 , 2022 2022 Citations: 66
Precambrian Hongqiyingzi Complex at the northern margin of the North China Craton: Its zircon U-Pb-Hf systematics, geochemistry and constraints on crustal evolution S Liu, J Fu, YJ Lu, X Chen, M Wang, F Hu, L Gao, G Sun, Y Hu Precambrian Research 326, 58-83 , 2019 2019 Citations: 60
Origin of the Triassic Lincang granites in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau: Crystallization from crystal mush F Cong, FY Wu, WC Li, CL Mou, XM Huang, BD Wang, FY Hu, ZM Peng Lithos 360, 105452 , 2020 2020 Citations: 59
The geochemical evolution of the granitoid rocks in the South Qinling Belt: Insights from the Dongjiangkou and Zhashui intrusions, central China F Hu, S Liu, MN Ducea, W Zhang, Z Deng Lithos 278, 195-214 , 2017 2017 Citations: 59
Petrogenesis of late Neoarchean high-K granitoids in the Western Shandong terrane, North China Craton, and their implications for crust-mantle interactions L Gao, S Liu, G Sun, R Guo, Y Hu, J Fu, M Wang, C Ma, F Hu Precambrian Research 315, 138-161 , 2018 2018 Citations: 58
Neoarchean sanukitoids and associated rocks from the Tengzhou-Pingyi intrusive complex, North China Craton: Insights into petrogenesis and crust-mantle interactions G Sun, S Liu, L Gao, Y Hu, R Guo, J Fu, M Wang, C Ma, F Hu Gondwana Research 68, 50-68 , 2019 2019 Citations: 51
Neoarchean crust-mantle interactions in the Yishui Terrane, south-eastern margin of the North China Craton: constraints from geochemistry and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes of … L Gao, S Liu, G Sun, Y Hu, R Guo, J Fu, M Wang, F Hu Gondwana Research 65, 97-124 , 2019 2019 Citations: 50
Cesium-rubidium mineralization in Himalayan leucogranites F Hu, X Liu, S He, J Wang, F Wu Science China Earth Sciences 66 (12), 2827-2852 , 2023 2023 Citations: 48