Archean to Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution of the southern Yangtze Block (South China): U–Pb age and Hf-isotope of zircon xenocrysts from the Paleozoic diamondiferous kimberlites

•Abundant zircon xenocrysts were captured by the late Paleozoic (<342 Ma) Maping diamondiferous kimberlites.•Xenocrystic zircon peak ages at ∼2.9 Ga, ∼2.6 Ga and ∼2.0 Ga are older than the Neoproterozoic outcrops.•Highly evolved Archean basement may exist beneath the southern Yangtze Block.•The basement underwent complex crustal growth at 2.6–2.5 Ga and reworking at 3.0–2.6 Ga.•Newly identified ∼2.0 Ga metamorphic event was probably linked to the assembly of the Nuna/Columbia supercontinent.