The central Qiangtang Metamorphic Belt in northern Tibet is an in-situ Paleo-Tethys Ocean: Evidence from newly discovered Late Devonian radiolarians

The paleogeographic position of the North Qiangtang Block, as well as the origin of the Central Qiangtang Metamorphic Belt (CQMB) have subjected to considerable debate that hampers the understanding of the early evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. This study reports a new radiolarian fauna of a Famennian age (Late Devonian) from the ophiolitic mélange south of Gangtang Co, northern Tibet, including Callela parvispinosa Won, Entactinia foveolata Nazarov, and Plenoentactinia pinguis Won. The discovery of Devonian radiolarians in the CQMB strongly supports the model that the Longmu Co–Shuanghu suture zone represents the main branch of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. A correlation of the Late Devonian radiolarian in Tethys realm reveals that the Longmu Co–Shuanghu suture zone was connected to the Changning–Menglian suture zone in western Yunnan, the Chiang Mai–Inthanon and Chanthaburi suture zones in Thailand, and the Bentong–Raub suture zone in Malay Peninsula. The synchronous advent of Late Devonian radiolarians suggests that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean may have opened during that time.<p></p>