Dating of detrital zircons from the Dabure clastic rocks: the discovery of Neoproterozoic strata in southern Qiangtang, Tibet

The Dabure clastic rocks are characterized by low compositional and textural maturity, and they have been affected by lower greenschist facies metamorphism. The deposits exhibit the typical features of turbidites.

Altogether, 279 detrital zircons were selected for U–Pb dating, and the ages fall into five groups: 550–650, ~800, 900–1100, 1600–1800, and 2300–2500 Ma. In general, the ages of the detrital zircons that are older than ~550 Ma are similar to those found elsewhere in the southern Qiangtang and Himalayan terranes. The most reliable youngest age of a detrital zircon from the Dabure clastic rocks is ~550 Ma.