Post-250 Ma thermal evolution of the central Cathaysia Block (SE China) in response to flat-slab subduction at the proto-Western Pacific margin

The flat-slab subduction model has been proposed to explain the complex Mesozoic–Cenozoic geotectonic record of SE China as part of the Western Pacific margin. Here we investigate the post-250 Ma thermal history of the Shaoguan-Longnan region to evaluate the time-temperature evolution of local sedimentary and magmatic rocks in the context of the flat-subduction model. Our multi-chronological approach includes zircon U-Pb geochronology, 40Ar/39Ar...