Crustal evolution of the Precambrian basement in the Korean Peninsula

The Sm-Nd isotopic data on the Precambrian gneisses from Gyeonggi and Sobaegsan Massifs are presented and the crustal evolution of the Precambrian basements of the Korean Peninsula is discussed with that of the Precambrian basements of East Asia. Sm-Nd isochron plots on whole rock samples from Sobaegsan Massif give the following ages and initial Nd values. Biotite gneisses: $1.05{\pm}0.07$ Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}$ (1.05 Ga)= $-12.5{\pm}0.4$ ($2{\sigma}$); granitic gneisses: $1.70{\pm}0.59$ Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}$ (1.70 Ga)=$+9.5{\pm}6$($2{\sigma}$). Initial Nd isotopic evolution diagram for the Precambrian orthogneisses from Sobaegsan Massif with the Precambrian orthogneisses in northeastern China and Japan reveals the existence of early Archean depleted-mantle in east Asia and suggests the prevalence of nearly common or similar source accountable for these Precambrian gneisses. Such a common source is shown to have LREE-enriched feature and to have been formed from the depleted-mantle in the late Archean of ca. 2.6 Ga. On the other hand, the Sobaegsan granitic gneisses in Korea are concluded to have different evolution history. Our Sm-Nd study clearly discloses that some Precambrian orthogneisses from Korea had evolved from the protolith having the similar or same geochemical properties with the Precambrian orthogneisses in Japan and northeastern China. In addition, crustal formation age of Gyeonggi Massif in southern Korea may be different from that of Sobaegasn Massif.