The Changning-Menglian belt, distributed over southwestern Yunnan Province in Southwest China, contains oceanic rocks that are considered to be remnants of the Paleotethys. This study observed Triassic siliceous rocks...The Changning-Menglian belt, distributed over southwestern Yunnan Province in Southwest China, contains oceanic rocks that are considered to be remnants of the Paleotethys. This study observed Triassic siliceous rocks of the Muyinhe Formation in the Changning-Menglian belt and analyzed their geochemistry. The samples have high concentrations of SiO2（81.65 wt.%–88.38 wt.%; average： 84.99 wt.%±2.14 wt.%）. Most of the samples were plotted in the non-hydrothermal field on the Al-Fe-Mn diagram. Most of the samples were plotted in the continental margin field on the Fe2O3/TiO2-Al2O3/（Al2O3＋Fe2O3） and（La/Ce）N-Al2O3/（Al2O3＋Fe2O3） diagrams. Moreover, the samples show a flat REE（rare earth element） pattern normalized to NASC（North America shale composite）. These geochemical results, in addition to the lack of rhythmical bedding of the siliceous rocks, strongly suggest that the siliceous rocks are unlikely to represent pelagic deposits. Although previous studies have suggested that the siliceous rocks are pelagic deposits, the present results indicate that the extent of the pelagic ocean basins in the Paleotethys during the Triassic is probably less than previously believed. These non-pelagic deposits may represent the closure stage of the Paleotethys.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41172202, 41190073)the China Geological Survey (No. 1212011121256)the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China Uni-versity of Geosciences in Wuhan (No. MSFGPMR201402)
文摘The Changning-Menglian belt, distributed over southwestern Yunnan Province in Southwest China, contains oceanic rocks that are considered to be remnants of the Paleotethys. This study observed Triassic siliceous rocks of the Muyinhe Formation in the Changning-Menglian belt and analyzed their geochemistry. The samples have high concentrations of SiO2（81.65 wt.%–88.38 wt.%; average： 84.99 wt.%±2.14 wt.%）. Most of the samples were plotted in the non-hydrothermal field on the Al-Fe-Mn diagram. Most of the samples were plotted in the continental margin field on the Fe2O3/TiO2-Al2O3/（Al2O3＋Fe2O3） and（La/Ce）N-Al2O3/（Al2O3＋Fe2O3） diagrams. Moreover, the samples show a flat REE（rare earth element） pattern normalized to NASC（North America shale composite）. These geochemical results, in addition to the lack of rhythmical bedding of the siliceous rocks, strongly suggest that the siliceous rocks are unlikely to represent pelagic deposits. Although previous studies have suggested that the siliceous rocks are pelagic deposits, the present results indicate that the extent of the pelagic ocean basins in the Paleotethys during the Triassic is probably less than previously believed. These non-pelagic deposits may represent the closure stage of the Paleotethys.
