Tectonothermal history of the NE Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture zone: Evidence from 40 Ar/ 39 Ar and fission-track thermochronology in the Chencai region

•Five episodes of events are documented in the J–S suture zone.•The 40Ar/39Ar ages record Caledonian retrograde cooling and ductile deformation.•Lithoclasts in Wuzao Form imply L. Triassic erosion of the suture zone.•ZFT & AFT ages document brittle deformation in Cretaceous and Cenozoic.•The results indicate episodes of reactivation of the suture zone.