Structural and Geochronological Constraints on Devonian Suprasubduction Tectonic Switching and Permian Collisional Dynamics in the Chinese Altai, Central Asia

Kinematic significance and time scales of geodynamic processes forming the Altai Orogenic Belt are addressed through structural and petrological analysis combined with zircon and monazite geochronology. The study area is composed of orogenic lower crust represented by a Devonian migmatite‐magmatite complex and orogenic middle and upper crust formed by an amphibolite‐facies Ordovician sedimentary sequence and a weakly to unmetamorphosed Devonian volcano‐sedimentary cover, respectively. The orogenic lower and middle crust were first affected by moderate thickening, which formed subhorizontal Barrovian metamorphic schistosity. This fabric was reworked by deep crustal melting and intrusion of granite sheets during horizontal extension at 400–380 Ma. Soon after, this horizontal fabric was affected by NW‐SE shortening generating crustal‐scale upright folding associated with subvertical flow of still partially molten orogenic lower crust. During this event, the orogenic lower and middle crust were tightly juxtaposed with upper crustal sedimentary rocks. The last event was related with a NE‐SW oriented convergence resulting in large‐scale folding and megafold interference pattern in the Permian at 280–273 Ma. Combined with existing regional data, our results allow proposing a Devonian tectonic switching from compression to extension and back to compression, as a response to variations of subduction dynamics between slab advance and retreat in a Pacific‐type suprasubduction system. The Permian folding was associated with the progressive northward exhumation of thermally softened crust. This tectonic evolution is in response to the indentation of the rigid Junggar arc domain into the weak Altai wedge. Key Points The Chinese Altai was affected by pre‐Devonian crustal thickening, Mid‐Devonian (400‐380 Ma) extension, and Late Devonian NW‐SE shortening The Devonian edifice was affected by NW‐SE zones of high‐temperature deformation and upright folding in the Permian at 280‐273 Ma Devonian events reflect suprasubduction tectonic switching, while Permian folding indicates the Junggar‐Chinese Altai collision