Zircon U-Pb chronology on plutonic rocks from northeastern Cambodia

Heliyon. 2021 Apr 15;7(4):e06752. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06752. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Zircon U-Pb geochronology was carried out on plutonic rocks from Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, Andong Meas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley. The zircon U-Pb ages from the plutonic rocks determined in this study can be roughly divided into two groups. One is the Late Permian to Triassic ages of 278-202 Ma for the Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley, and the other is the early Cretaceous ages of 118-98 Ma for the Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, and Andong Meas samples. The plutonic rocks from Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Svay Leu, Oyadav South, and Phnom Soporkaley were likely formed by magmatic activity in the Loei Fold Belt. These plutonic rocks were likely formed in an extensional setting and/or a region where the continental crust was thin. The plutonic rocks of Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, and Andong Meas were likely formed by magmatic activity in the Dalat-Kratie Fold Belt, related to the NW-directed subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean plate. These plutonic rocks are thought to correspond to the Dinhquan suite in southern Vietnam. The Kon Mom and Koh Nheak plutonic rocks fall within the alkaline series, which suggests that the magma genesis was deep and far from the western Paleo-Pacific Ocean plate. Magmatic activity in the Dalat-Kratie Fold Belt migrated oceanward as a whole during the Cretaceous.

Keywords: Cambodia; LA-ICP-MS; Plutonic rock; U–Pb dating; Zircon.