Quantifying the timing and amplitude of multiple subsidence or uplift stages in sedimentary basins is crucial for understanding their tectonic evolution.In this study,18 samples from 10 drilling wells in the Pearl Riv...Quantifying the timing and amplitude of multiple subsidence or uplift stages in sedimentary basins is crucial for understanding their tectonic evolution.In this study,18 samples from 10 drilling wells in the Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)were subjected to apatite and zircon fission track analyses,and suitable samples were selected for thermal history simulation using Hefty.The thermal history simulation results,combined with balanced cross-section analysis,constrain the Cenozoic tectonothermal history of the PRMB.The results indicate that the PRMB underwent differential uplift in the early Paleogene,followed by regional thermal subsidence in the late Paleogene.Subsequently,the PRMB began tectonic activation in the late Miocene due to the Dongsha movement,marked by two rapid cooling events of ca.11–6.5 and 6.5 Myr to the present.These cooling events are characterized by a gradual migration from east to west.The first rapid cooling event can be attributed to the NW-SE compressive stress field in the northeastern South China Sea,driven by the clockwise rotation of the Philippine Sea Plate during the late Miocene.The second rapid cooling event is linked to intensive arc-continental collision and the Taiwan Orogeny triggered by the rapid WNW-ward migration of the Philippine Sea Plate.展开更多
East Asian continental tectonics challenges the plate tectonics paradigm with its diffuse intraplate deformation,magmatism,and earthquakes.Despite extensive studies,fundamental questions persist.This review examines t...East Asian continental tectonics challenges the plate tectonics paradigm with its diffuse intraplate deformation,magmatism,and earthquakes.Despite extensive studies,fundamental questions persist.This review examines ten critical questions of East Asian tectonics,including the thickness of the continental lithosphere,the origin of the North–South Gravity Lineament,and the northern extent of the Indian plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau.Additional questions address the Tibetan Plateau's lateral growth,the Tianshan mountain building,the mantle flow in response to the Indo-Asian collision,and the formation of the Shanxi Rift.The review also explores the subduction along the eastern margins of the East Asian Continent and the origins of the Changbaishan volcanic field,the destruction of the North China Craton,and the development of the Mesozoic Large Granitic Province in South China.Originally presented at the DEEP2024 workshop to stimulate discussion of how SinoProbe-II research initiatives could advance our understanding of Asian tectonics,this review provides context for each question,summarizes current knowledge,and identifies promising research directions.展开更多
The Tasmanian microcontinent,situated along the East Gondwana accretionary margin during the late Neoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic,contains an unequivocal high-pressure metamorphic record comprising key information...The Tasmanian microcontinent,situated along the East Gondwana accretionary margin during the late Neoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic,contains an unequivocal high-pressure metamorphic record comprising key information pertaining to the geodynamics of subduction along the margin.Subduction of the Tasmanian microcontinent is interpreted by some as a response to back-arc basin inversion prior to ophiolite obduction and high-pressure metamorphism during the Cambrian Tyennan Orogeny.However,thermobarometric evidence in support of such a model from rocks once positioned on the subducting continental margin is lacking.Despite occurrences of eclogite-facies mineral assemblages in the strongly deformed Tyennan Region of western Tasmania,garnet-bearing quartzofeldspathic assemblages documented in metasedimentary lithologies from the remote south-west coast of Tasmania have been interpreted as an expression of low-to moderate-pressure metamorphism.We report a strongly overprinted chlorite-quartz-garnet-bearing assemblage from the southern Tyennan Region(Nye Bay)which shows evidence for high-pressure metamorphism.Coarse-grained garnet porphyroblasts contain inclusions of kyanite,muscovite,and rutile,and yield in-situ Lu-Hf dates of c.520 Ma.The cm-scale garnet porphyroblasts are zoned in the major and trace elements,preserving core-rim compositional gradients reflecting garnet growth up-pressure.Aided by mineral equilibria forward modelling,the garnet rim compositions and the Zr content of Cambrian rutile constrain peak metamorphic conditions of∼17.5-19 kbar and∼780-820℃,equivalent to warm subduction thermal gradients between 410-470℃/GPa.Garnet core compositions and the Ti content of quartz inclusions in the garnet cores constrain the pressures and temperatures for garnet nucleation to∼6-7 kbar and∼560-580℃,corresponding to relatively high prograde thermal gradients between 800-965℃/GPa.The thermal gradients determined from the south-west Tasmanian metamorphic record provide a direct window into the progressive evolution of the thermal state of the Cambrian subduction system,with the physical conditions of garnet nucleation potentially reflecting those of subduction initiation.The corresponding warm thermal gradients provide evidence for subduction initiation driven by the collapse of a pre-orogenic back-arc.This interpretation is consistent with an existing tectonic model for the Tyennan Orogeny which proposes a back-arc basin origin for the protoliths to the western Tasmanian sub-ophiolitic metamorphic sole.展开更多
Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation...Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation and breakup of Columbia,Rodinia,and Gondwana,play a pivotal role in shaping global magmatic and metamorphic records,and deciphering magmatic patterns is critical for unraveling the complex interplay between tectonics and magmatism.This study investigates U-Pb geochronology and trace/rare earth element(REE)compositions of zircons from the Early Cretaceous Tethyan Himalaya Igneous Province,revealing critical insights into Precambrian-Paleozoic magmatic and tectonic evolution.Dominant Paleoproterozoic(2498 Ma,1912 Ma)and Neoproterozoic(826-762 Ma)zircon populations confirm the existence of the Precambrian basement.Neoproterozoic magmatism shows decoupling between light and heavy REE(LREE/HREE)and europium anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=Eu_(N)/(Sm_(N)×Gd_(N))^(1/2))during the 826-762 Ma and 725-702 Ma intervals,indicating that the Rodinia margin evolved from Andean-style subduction to continental collision.Early Paleozoic magmatism correlates with Pan-African orogenesis and subsequent Proto-Tethyan Ocean subduction beneath the Indian Craton.Neo-Tethyan initiation(ca.273 Ma)is evidenced by 200-300 Ma zircons which exhibit(1)absence of LREE/HREE-Eu/Eu^(*)crustal thickness correlations,and(2)a thermal peak at 273 Ma.展开更多
The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Ea...The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Eastern Desert.These terrains exhibit distinct differences in crustal composition and deformation style.The Northern Eastern Desert and its extension into Sinai are predominantly composed of gneissic granites that are intruded by large batholiths of calc-alkaline and alkaline granites.Conversely,the Central and Southern Eastern Desert are commonly blanketed by a carapace of ophiolite-bearing volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Pan-African cover nappes.These northern terrains,just north of the Barud dome complex,the crust underwent significant NW-SE regional crustal extension across the Qena-Safaga Line,which sharply delineates the northern limit of the transpressional deformations linked to the Najd fault system in the Central and Southern Eastern Desert.Through comprehensive geological mapping and the integration of various geophysical,geochemical and geochronological data,this paper offers explanations for the contrasting geological features of the basement terrains on both sides of the Qena-Safaga Line and its analogous Fatira Shear Zone that plays a significant role in tectonic modeling of the Barud dome complex region.The Barud gneissic protolith experienced crustal shortening approximately 697 million years ago in the NW-SE direction,initiating dextral motion along the Fatira Shear Zone.Large batholiths of granodiorite/tonalite complex intruded the Barud gneissic dome protolith around 630 million years ago along the Qena-Safaga Line,at relatively shallow crustal depths,following the same orientation as the earlier shortening direction.Ongoing magmatic activity along the Qena-Safaga Line indicates intense magmatic underplating,resulting in significant intrusions of granodioritic melts into the early rifted crust of the Northern Eastern Desert and Sinai terrains.The crust of these northern terrains likely underwent isostatic compensation through uplifting and subsequent erosion.The disappearance of ophiolite-bearing belts and the presence of Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic continental-derived cobbles and ignimbrites in Sinai metasedimentary belts and Northern Eastern Desert molasse basins suggest that the northern terrains,located north of the Qena-Safaga Line,originated as a cohesive,thin continental crust that rifted off the eastern passive margin of the Sahara Metacraton during the early Neoproterozoic rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent.展开更多
1.Objective.The Yidun arc within the Tethys-Himalaya metallogenic belt formed during the westward subduction of the Ganzi-Litang Ocean(237-206 Ma)during the Indosinian period,and then underwent the evolution stages of...1.Objective.The Yidun arc within the Tethys-Himalaya metallogenic belt formed during the westward subduction of the Ganzi-Litang Ocean(237-206 Ma)during the Indosinian period,and then underwent the evolution stages of the collisional orogeny(206-138 Ma)and the post-collisional orogeny(135-75 Ma).In recent years,a series of large and medium-sized Late Yanshanian intracontinental porphyry-skarn Mo-Cu-W deposits have been discovered in the southern part of the Yidun arc,including Xiuwacu,Relin,Hongshan,Tongchanggou,and Donglufang(Fig.1a).展开更多
The Helegangnaren feldspar granite exposed in the eastern part of East Kunlun, is characterized by high concentrations of SiO2 and alkaline, low abundances of Fe, Mg and Ca, metaluminous-weak peraluminous. Trace eleme...The Helegangnaren feldspar granite exposed in the eastern part of East Kunlun, is characterized by high concentrations of SiO2 and alkaline, low abundances of Fe, Mg and Ca, metaluminous-weak peraluminous. Trace elements analysis shows that the granite is depleted extremely in Ba, Sr and Eu, and rich in some large-ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements. Besides, the granite has high Ga contents, the values of 104（Ga/AI） vary from 2.50 to 2.77, which is mainly greater than the lower limit of A-type granites （2.6）, and is higher than the I- and S- type granites＇ average （2.1 and 2.28, respectively）. Rare earth element （REE） is characterized by relatively high fractionations of light REE （LREE） and heavy REE （HREE） （LREE/HREE=9.3-13.60, （La/Yb）N=10.92-18.02）, pronounced negative Eu anomalies （JEn=0.08-0.13）, and exhibits right- dipping gull pattern. Major elements, rare elements and trace elements features show the granite is ascribed to A-type granite and A2 subtype in tectonic genetic type. They are plotted into post-collision or within-plate area in a variety of tectonic discriminations. Geological and geochemical data comprehensively suggest that the granite is formed in a post-collision extensive tectonic setting. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （LA-ICP-MS） zircon U-Pb dating yields a weighted mean age of 425 Ma, belonging to Middle Silurian, which is similar to the age of the post- collision geological events in the region. The differences of magmatic rocks in formation age, rocks assemblage and rocks series systematically indicate that the regional tectonic stress regime in the East Kunlun orogenic belt experienced a major transformation from compress to extension in Middle Silurianin, and the Helegangnaren feldspar granite intruded in the early stage of tectonic transformation.展开更多
Plate tectonics describes the horizontal motion of rigid lithospheric plates away from midoceanic ridges and parallel to transforms, towards deep-sea trenches, where the oceanic lithosphere is subducted into the mantl...Plate tectonics describes the horizontal motion of rigid lithospheric plates away from midoceanic ridges and parallel to transforms, towards deep-sea trenches, where the oceanic lithosphere is subducted into the mantle. This process is the surface expression of modern-day heat loss from Earth. One of the biggest questions in Geosciences today is ＂when did plate tectonics begin on Earth＂ with a wide range of theories based on an equally diverse set of constraints from geology, geochemistry, numerical modeling, or pure speculation. In this contribution, we turn the coin over and ask ＂when was the last appearance in the geological record for which there is proof that plate tectonics did not operate on the planet as it does today＂. We apply the laws of uniformitarianism to the rock record to ask how far back in time is the geologic record consistent with presently-operating kinematics of plate motion, before which some other mechanisms of planetary heat loss may have been in operation. Some have suggested that evidence shows that there was no plate tectonics before 800 Ma ago, others sometime before 1.8–2.7 Ga, or before 2.7 Ga. Still others recognize evidence for plate tectonics as early as 3.0 Ga, 3.3–3.5 Ga, the age of the oldest rocks, or in the Hadean before 4.3 Ga. A key undiscussed question is： why is there such a diversity of opinion about the age at which plate tectonics can be shown to not have operated, and what criteria are the different research groups using to define plate tectonics, and to recognize evidence of plate tectonics in very old rocks？ Here, we present and evaluate data from the rock record, constrained by relevant geochemical-isotopic data, and conclude that the evidence shows indubitably that plate tectonics has been operating at least since the formation of the oldest rocks, albeit with some differences in processes, compositions, and products in earlier times of higher heat generation and mantle temperature, weaker oceanic lithosphere, hotter subduction zones caused by more slab-melt generation, and under different biological and atmospheric conditions.展开更多
According to the study on the peripheral orogenic belts of the Junggar basin and combined with the interpretation of geophysical data, this paper points out that there is an Early Paleozoic basement of immature contin...According to the study on the peripheral orogenic belts of the Junggar basin and combined with the interpretation of geophysical data, this paper points out that there is an Early Paleozoic basement of immature continental crust in the Junggar area, which is mainly composed of Neoproterozoic-Ordovician oceanic crust and weakly metamorphosed covering sedimentary rocks. The Late Paleozoic tectonism and mineralization were developed on the basement of the Early Paleozoic immature continental crust. The Junggar metallogenic province is dominated by Cr, Cu, Ni and Au mineralization. Those large and medium-scale deposits are mainly distributed along the deep faults and particularly near the ophiolitic melange zones, and formed in the Late Paleozoic with the peak of mineralization occurring in the Carboniferous-Permian post-collisional stage. The intrusions related to Cu, Ni and Au mineralization generally have low Is, and positive εNd(t) values. The δ34S values of the ore deposits are mostly near zero, and the lead isotopes are mostly of normal lead. All these indicate that the ore-forming material comes either directly from the mantle-derived magma (for chromite and Cu-Ni deposits) or from recirculation of the basement material of the Early Paleozoic immature crust (for most Cu and Au deposits).展开更多
With acquisition and accumulation of new data of structural geological investigations and high-resolution isotopic dating data, we have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonic events occurring in eastern Ch...With acquisition and accumulation of new data of structural geological investigations and high-resolution isotopic dating data, we have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonic events occurring in eastern China during the period from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and may give a new interpretation of the nature, timing and geodynamic settings of the “Yanshan Movement”. During the Mid-Late Jurassic （165±5 Ma）, great readjustment of plate amalgamation kinematics took place in East Asia and the tectonic regime underwent great transformation, thus initiating a new tectonic regime in which the North China Block was the center and different plates converged toward it from the north, east and southwest and forming the “East Asia convergent” tectonic system characterized by intracontinental subduction and orogeny. As a consequence, the crustal lithosphere of the East Asian continent thickened considerably during the Late Jurassic, followed immediately by Early Cretaceous substantial lithospheric thinning and craton destruction featured by drastic lithospheric extension and widespread volcano-magmatic activities, resulting in a major biotic turnover from the Yanliao biota to Jehol Biota. Such a tremendous tectonic event that took place in the continent of China and East Asia is the basic connotation of the “Yanshan Movement”. In the paper, according to the deformation patterns, geodynamic settings and deep processes, the “Yanshan Movement” is redefined as the Late Jurassic East Asian multi-directional plate convergent tectonic regime and its associated extensive intracontinental orogeny and great tectonic change that started at -165±5 Ma. The substantial lithospheric attenuation in East China is considered the post-effect of the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny and deformation.展开更多
Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks occurring in the north of the western Kunlun Mountains can be divided into two groups. The first group (north belt) is an reversely-evolved bimodal series. Petrochemistry shows that the ...Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks occurring in the north of the western Kunlun Mountains can be divided into two groups. The first group (north belt) is an reversely-evolved bimodal series. Petrochemistry shows that the alkalinity of the rocks decreases from early to late: alkaline→calc-alkaline→tholeiite, and geochemistry proves that the volcanic rocks were formed in rifting tectonic systems. The sedimentary facies shows characteristics of back-arc basins. The second (south belt) group, which occurs to the south of Yutian-Minfeng-Cele, is composed of calc-alkaline island arc (basaltic) andesite and minor rhyolite. The space distribution, age and geochemistry of the two volcanite groups indicate that they were formed in a back-arc basin (the first group) and an island arc (the second group) respectively and indicate the plate evolution during the Mesoproterozoic. The orogeny took place at -1.05 Ga, which was coeval with the Grenville orogeny. This study has provided important geological data for exploring the position of the Paleo-Tarim plate in the Rodinia super-continent.展开更多
The Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the Kekesha-Kekekete-Dawate area, which are in the eastern part of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt. It outcrops as tectonic slices intruding tectonically in the Paleopr...The Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the Kekesha-Kekekete-Dawate area, which are in the eastern part of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt. It outcrops as tectonic slices intruding tectonically in the Paleoproterozoic Baishahe Group and the Paleozoic Nachitai Group. The Kekekete mafic and ultramafic rocks is located near the central fault in East Kunlun and lithologically mainly consists of serpentinite, augite peridotite, and gabbro. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of the gabbro is 501±7 Ma, indicating that Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in the Middle Cambrian. This rock assemblage is relatively poor in SiO2 and （Na20＋K20） but rich in MgO and SFeO. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the gabbro dip slightly to the right; the primitive mantle and MORB-normalized spidergrams of trace elements show enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements （Cs, Rb, Ba, etc.） and no differentiation of high field strength elements. The general dominance of E- MORB features and the geochemical characteristics of OIB suggest that the Kekekete mafic- ultramafic rocks formed in an initial oceanic basin with slightly enriched mantle being featured by varying degrees of mixing of N-MORB depleted mantle and a similar-OIB-type source. From a comprehensive study of the previous data, the author believes that the tectonic history of the East Kunlun region was controlled by a geodynamic system of rifting and extension in the late stages of the Neoproterozoic to early stages of the Early Paleozoic and this formed the paleo-oceanic basin or rift system now represented by the ophiolites along the central fault in East Kunlun, the Kekekete mafic- ultramafic rocks and Delisitan ophiolite.展开更多
Geological,geochronological and isotopic data are integrated in order to present a revised model for the Neoproterozoic evolution of Western Gondwana.Although the classical geodynamic scenario assumed for the period 8...Geological,geochronological and isotopic data are integrated in order to present a revised model for the Neoproterozoic evolution of Western Gondwana.Although the classical geodynamic scenario assumed for the period 800-700 Ma is related to Rodinia break-up and the consequent opening of major oceanic basins,a significantly different tectonic evolution can be inferred for most Western Gondwana cratons.These cratons occupied a marginal position in the southern hemisphere with respect to Rodinia and recorded subduction with back-arc extension,island arc development and limited formation of oceanic crust in internal oceans.This period was thus characterized by increased crustal growth in Western Gondwana,resulting from addition of juvenile continental crust along convergent margins.In contrast,crustal reworking and metacratonization were dominant during the subsequent assembly of Gondwana.The Rio de la Plata,Congo-Sao Francisco,West African and Amazonian cratons collided at ca.630-600 Ma along the West Gondwana Orogen.These events overlap in time with the onset of the opening of the Iapetus Ocean at ca.610-600 Ma,which gave rise to the separation of Baltica,Laurentia and Amazonia and resulted from the final Rodinia break-up.The East African/Antarctic Orogen recorded the subsequent amalgamation of Western and Eastern Gondwana after ca.580 Ma,contemporaneously with the beginning of subduction in the Terra Australis Orogen along the southern Gondwana margin.However,the Kalahari Craton was lately incorporated during the Late Ediacaran-Early Cambrian.The proposed Gondwana evolution rules out the existence of Pannotia,as the final Gondwana amalgamation postdates latest connections between Laurentia and Amazonia.Additionally,a combination of introversion and extroversion is proposed for the assembly of Gondwana.The contemporaneous record of final Rodinia break-up and Gondwana assembly has major implications for the supercontinent cycle,as supercontinent amalgamation and break-up do not necessarily represent alternating episodic processes but overlap in time.展开更多
Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous geological bodies in the Mianxian-Lueyang (Mian-Lue) collisional belt (MLB) and its neighbouring areas, southern Qinling Mountains, China, show similar characteristics of having un...Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous geological bodies in the Mianxian-Lueyang (Mian-Lue) collisional belt (MLB) and its neighbouring areas, southern Qinling Mountains, China, show similar characteristics of having undergone deformation of two stages. The earlier one, which is inferred to be related to collisional orogeny between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean palaeocontinents based on previous geological data, is responsible for large-scale, north-verging recumbent folds and overthrusts, and associated with low greenschist fades metamorphism. 40Ar/39Ar dating of three muscovite samples taken from different localities yields plateau ages of 226.9±0.9 and 219.5±1.4 Ma and an apparent age of 194.5±3.0 Ma. Thus, the late Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean palaeocontinents has been constrained.展开更多
The intraplate uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau took place on the basis of breakup and assembly of the Precambrian supercontinent, and southward ocean-continent transition of the Proto-, Paleo-, Meso- and Neo-Tethy...The intraplate uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau took place on the basis of breakup and assembly of the Precambrian supercontinent, and southward ocean-continent transition of the Proto-, Paleo-, Meso- and Neo-Tethys during the Caledonian, Indosinian, Yanshanian and Early Himalayan movements. The intraplate tectonic evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau underwent the early stage of intraplate orogeny characterized by migrational tectonic uplift, horizontal movement and geological processes during 180-7 Ma, and the late stage of isostatic mountain building characterized by pulsative rapid uplift, vertical movement and geographical processes since 3.6 Ma. The spatial-temporal evolution of the intraplate orogeny within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shows a regular transition from the northern part through the central part to the southern part during 180-120 Ma, 65-35 Ma, and 25-7 Ma respectively, with extensive intraplate faulting, folding, block movement, magmatism and metallogenesis. Simultaneous intraplate orogeny and basin formation resulted from crustal rheological stratification and basin-orogen coupling that was induced by lateral viscous flow in the lower crust. This continental dynamic process was controlled by lateral flow of hot and soft materials within the lower crust because of slab dehydration and melted mantle upwelling above the subducted plates during the southward Tethyan ocean-continent transition processes or asthenosphere diapirism. Intraplate orogeny and basin formation were irrelevant to plate collision. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a whole was actually formed by the isostatic mountain building processes since 3.6 Ma that were characterized by crust-scale vertical movement, and integral rapid uplift of the plateau, accompanied by isostatic subsidence of peripheral basins and depressions, and great changes in topography and environment. A series of pulsative mountain building events, associated with gravity equilibrium and isostatic adjustment of crustal materials, at 3.6 Ma, 2.5 Ma, 1.8-1.2 Ma, 0.9-0.8 Ma and 0.15-0.12 Ma led to the formation of a composite orogenic belt by unifying the originally relatively independent Himalayas, Gangdise, Tanghla, Longmenshan, Kunlun, Altyn Tagh, and Qilian mountains, and the formation of the complete Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with a unified mountain root after Miocene uplift of the plateau as a whole.展开更多
The Dabashan orocline is situated in the northwestern margin of the central Yangtze block,central China.Previous studies have defined the orthogonal superposed folds growing in its central-western segment thereby conf...The Dabashan orocline is situated in the northwestern margin of the central Yangtze block,central China.Previous studies have defined the orthogonal superposed folds growing in its central-western segment thereby confirming its two-stage tectonic evolution history.Geological mapping has revealed that more types of superposed folds have developed in the eastern segment of the orocline,which probably provides more clues for probing the structure and tectonic history of the Dabashan orocline.In this paper,based on geological mapping,structural measurements and analyses of deformation,we have identified three groups of folds with different trends （e.g.NW-,NE-and nearly E-trending folds） and three types of structural patterns of superposed folds in the eastern Dabashan foreland （e.g.syn-axial,oblique,and conjunctional superposed folds）.In combination with geochronological data,we propose that the synaxial superposed folds are due to two stages of ～N-S shortening in the west and north of the Shennongjia massif,and that oblique superposed folds have been resulted from the superposition of the NW-and NE-trending folds onto the early ～ E-W folds in the east of the Shennongjia massif in the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous.The conjunctional folds are composed of the NW-and NE-trending folds,corresponding to the regional-scale dual-orocline in the eastern Sichuan as a result of the southwestward expansion of the Dabashan foreland during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous,coeval with the northwestward propagation of the Xuefengshan foreland.Integration of the structure and geochronology of the belt shows that the Dabashan orocline is a combined deformation belt primarily experiencing a twostage tectonic evolution history in Mesozoic,initiation of the Dabashan orocline as a foreland basin along the front of the Qinling orogen in late Triassic to early Jurassic due to collisional orogeny,and the final formation of the Dabashan orocline owing to the southwestward propagation of the Qinling orogen during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous intra-continental orogeny.Our studies provide some evidences for understanding the structure and deformation of the Dabashan orocline.展开更多
The Tan-Lu Fault was once a transform fault in the Paleotethys, west of which was the Qinling-Dabie Ocean separating the Yangtze Craton from the North China Craton, and east of which was the Su-Lu Ocean separating the...The Tan-Lu Fault was once a transform fault in the Paleotethys, west of which was the Qinling-Dabie Ocean separating the Yangtze Craton from the North China Craton, and east of which was the Su-Lu Ocean separating the Su-Wan Block from the Jiao-Liao Craton. The Qinling-Dabie Ocean closed in the Indosinian orogeny, which created the China-Southeast Asia Subcontinent, with the Tan-Lu Fault becoming a marginal shear zone along the newly-formed amalgamated subcontinent. The Su-Lu Ocean subducted partly in the Indosinian.orogeny, but not closed. In the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, the Su-Wan Block drifted northwards with subduction of the Su-Lu Ocean and moved westwards to converge the subcontinent by sinistral sheafing of the ENE-striking fractures. The Su-Lu Ocean finally closed and the Su-Wan Block collided with the Jiao-Liao Craton in the Early Cretaceous, which constituted a part of the magnificent interplate Yanshanides. The interplate orogeny rejuvenated the fossil sutures and deep fractures, as well as the Indosinian orogen, and the intraplate （intracontinental） Yanshanian orogeny occurred in the subcontinent. The East Asia Yanshanides, consisting of the interplate orogens in the outer side and the intraplate orogens in the inner side, collapsed quickly in the latest Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous. The eastern China area entered a tensile period from the Eogene, and the tectonic differentiation between the central and eastern China areas since the Jurassic was further strengthened.展开更多
The Huanan (South China) subcontinent was created by amalgamation of the Yangtze, Xianggan, Cathaysia and Zhemin microcontinents by the Guangxi orogeny in the Early Palaeozoic. The closure of the Tethyan Ocean and sub...The Huanan (South China) subcontinent was created by amalgamation of the Yangtze, Xianggan, Cathaysia and Zhemin microcontinents by the Guangxi orogeny in the Early Palaeozoic. The closure of the Tethyan Ocean and subsequent collision event outside the amalgamated continent reactivated fossil sutures and resulted in intracontinental (ensialic) orogenies in the Mesozoic. Based on evidence from deformation, molasse and granitoids, the Sichuan-Guizhou-Hunan—southern Hubei and Hunan-Jiangxi-Fujian Yanshanian fold-thrust systems and the Lower Yangtze-northwestern Fujian Indosinian fold-thrust system are thought to be intracontinental orogens. Their main features are as follows: intracontinental orogenies occurred areally, thrusting propagated towards the interior of the continental, they extend parallelly to the strikes of the fossil sutures, and the details of the temporal-spatial evolution of the orogens depend on subduction-collision events.展开更多
The Himalayan Orogen, resulting from the Tertiary collision of Indian and Asian continents, is a natural laboratory for studying metamorphism, partial melting and granite formation of collisional orogens. However, met...The Himalayan Orogen, resulting from the Tertiary collision of Indian and Asian continents, is a natural laboratory for studying metamorphism, partial melting and granite formation of collisional orogens. However, metamorphic and anatectic conditions and timescales of meta-mafic rocks in the Greater Himalayan Sequences （GHS） in the east-central Himalaya remain controversial, in this paper, we conduct a study of petrology and geochronology of mafic granulite from the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis （EHS）. The mafic granulite with abundant leucosome bands occurs as layers within felsic granulites and is well deformed. The granulite consists of garnet, plagioclase, amphibole and quartz with minor clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, biotite, rutile, titanite and ilmenite. The garnet has growth compositional zoning and contains abundant mineral inclusions in its core. Peak metamorphic mineral assemblage of the granulite is garnet, amphibole, plagioclase, quartz, clinopyroxene and futile, recording a high-pressure （HP） and high-temperature （HT） peak-metamorphism under conditions of 14-15.5 kbar and 780-790 ℃ in the presence of melt. The reconstructed clockwise P-T path is characterized by an early heating and burial prograde metamorphism, and late isothermal and cooling decompression retrogression. The granulite witnessed a long lasting HT metamorphism, partial melting and melt crystallization process which began at ca. 39 Ma and lasted to ca. 11 Ma. The present study shows that various high-grade rocks of the GHS in the EHS core experienced similar metamorphic conditions and P-T-t paths, indicating that they occurred as a coherent slab during the subduction and exhumation of Indian lithosphere. The significant melts generated during the prograde metamorphism of the GHS rocks not only contributed to the formation of the Himalayan leucogranite, but also resulted in the rheological weakening and ductile flow of the thickened lower crust of the Himalayan Orogen.展开更多
The Altay orogenic belt of China is an important metallogenic belt of base metals, rare metals and gold. The main orogenic-metallogenic epoch is the Hercynian (Late Palaeozoic). Hercynian orogeny underwent two tectoni...The Altay orogenic belt of China is an important metallogenic belt of base metals, rare metals and gold. The main orogenic-metallogenic epoch is the Hercynian (Late Palaeozoic). Hercynian orogeny underwent two tectonic stages: the early volcano-passive continental margin extension (D1-D2) and late subduction-collision (D3-P). There correspondingly developed two different metallogenic systems. One is the stratabound massive sulphide and iron metallogenic system related to volcano-passive continental margin, and the other is the epigenetic gold and granite-associated rare metals system formed by collision. Very few mineralizations were formed during the subduction time.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42121005,92358302,42302233)the Science and Technology Innovation Project of Laoshan Laboratory(No.LSKJ202204400)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.202172003)。
文摘Quantifying the timing and amplitude of multiple subsidence or uplift stages in sedimentary basins is crucial for understanding their tectonic evolution.In this study,18 samples from 10 drilling wells in the Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)were subjected to apatite and zircon fission track analyses,and suitable samples were selected for thermal history simulation using Hefty.The thermal history simulation results,combined with balanced cross-section analysis,constrain the Cenozoic tectonothermal history of the PRMB.The results indicate that the PRMB underwent differential uplift in the early Paleogene,followed by regional thermal subsidence in the late Paleogene.Subsequently,the PRMB began tectonic activation in the late Miocene due to the Dongsha movement,marked by two rapid cooling events of ca.11–6.5 and 6.5 Myr to the present.These cooling events are characterized by a gradual migration from east to west.The first rapid cooling event can be attributed to the NW-SE compressive stress field in the northeastern South China Sea,driven by the clockwise rotation of the Philippine Sea Plate during the late Miocene.The second rapid cooling event is linked to intensive arc-continental collision and the Taiwan Orogeny triggered by the rapid WNW-ward migration of the Philippine Sea Plate.
基金supported by grants from the National Science Foundation of the USA.
文摘East Asian continental tectonics challenges the plate tectonics paradigm with its diffuse intraplate deformation,magmatism,and earthquakes.Despite extensive studies,fundamental questions persist.This review examines ten critical questions of East Asian tectonics,including the thickness of the continental lithosphere,the origin of the North–South Gravity Lineament,and the northern extent of the Indian plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau.Additional questions address the Tibetan Plateau's lateral growth,the Tianshan mountain building,the mantle flow in response to the Indo-Asian collision,and the formation of the Shanxi Rift.The review also explores the subduction along the eastern margins of the East Asian Continent and the origins of the Changbaishan volcanic field,the destruction of the North China Craton,and the development of the Mesozoic Large Granitic Province in South China.Originally presented at the DEEP2024 workshop to stimulate discussion of how SinoProbe-II research initiatives could advance our understanding of Asian tectonics,this review provides context for each question,summarizes current knowledge,and identifies promising research directions.
基金supported by Australian Research Council(ARC)grant DP16010437 to MH.LJM is supported by an ARC DECRA Fellowship,DE210101126.
文摘The Tasmanian microcontinent,situated along the East Gondwana accretionary margin during the late Neoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic,contains an unequivocal high-pressure metamorphic record comprising key information pertaining to the geodynamics of subduction along the margin.Subduction of the Tasmanian microcontinent is interpreted by some as a response to back-arc basin inversion prior to ophiolite obduction and high-pressure metamorphism during the Cambrian Tyennan Orogeny.However,thermobarometric evidence in support of such a model from rocks once positioned on the subducting continental margin is lacking.Despite occurrences of eclogite-facies mineral assemblages in the strongly deformed Tyennan Region of western Tasmania,garnet-bearing quartzofeldspathic assemblages documented in metasedimentary lithologies from the remote south-west coast of Tasmania have been interpreted as an expression of low-to moderate-pressure metamorphism.We report a strongly overprinted chlorite-quartz-garnet-bearing assemblage from the southern Tyennan Region(Nye Bay)which shows evidence for high-pressure metamorphism.Coarse-grained garnet porphyroblasts contain inclusions of kyanite,muscovite,and rutile,and yield in-situ Lu-Hf dates of c.520 Ma.The cm-scale garnet porphyroblasts are zoned in the major and trace elements,preserving core-rim compositional gradients reflecting garnet growth up-pressure.Aided by mineral equilibria forward modelling,the garnet rim compositions and the Zr content of Cambrian rutile constrain peak metamorphic conditions of∼17.5-19 kbar and∼780-820℃,equivalent to warm subduction thermal gradients between 410-470℃/GPa.Garnet core compositions and the Ti content of quartz inclusions in the garnet cores constrain the pressures and temperatures for garnet nucleation to∼6-7 kbar and∼560-580℃,corresponding to relatively high prograde thermal gradients between 800-965℃/GPa.The thermal gradients determined from the south-west Tasmanian metamorphic record provide a direct window into the progressive evolution of the thermal state of the Cambrian subduction system,with the physical conditions of garnet nucleation potentially reflecting those of subduction initiation.The corresponding warm thermal gradients provide evidence for subduction initiation driven by the collapse of a pre-orogenic back-arc.This interpretation is consistent with an existing tectonic model for the Tyennan Orogeny which proposes a back-arc basin origin for the protoliths to the western Tasmanian sub-ophiolitic metamorphic sole.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42172055)。
文摘Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation and breakup of Columbia,Rodinia,and Gondwana,play a pivotal role in shaping global magmatic and metamorphic records,and deciphering magmatic patterns is critical for unraveling the complex interplay between tectonics and magmatism.This study investigates U-Pb geochronology and trace/rare earth element(REE)compositions of zircons from the Early Cretaceous Tethyan Himalaya Igneous Province,revealing critical insights into Precambrian-Paleozoic magmatic and tectonic evolution.Dominant Paleoproterozoic(2498 Ma,1912 Ma)and Neoproterozoic(826-762 Ma)zircon populations confirm the existence of the Precambrian basement.Neoproterozoic magmatism shows decoupling between light and heavy REE(LREE/HREE)and europium anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=Eu_(N)/(Sm_(N)×Gd_(N))^(1/2))during the 826-762 Ma and 725-702 Ma intervals,indicating that the Rodinia margin evolved from Andean-style subduction to continental collision.Early Paleozoic magmatism correlates with Pan-African orogenesis and subsequent Proto-Tethyan Ocean subduction beneath the Indian Craton.Neo-Tethyan initiation(ca.273 Ma)is evidenced by 200-300 Ma zircons which exhibit(1)absence of LREE/HREE-Eu/Eu^(*)crustal thickness correlations,and(2)a thermal peak at 273 Ma.
基金The Egyptian ministry for higher education and the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship are thanked for funding Mohamed Badawi under the joint executive program between Hungary and Egypt.
文摘The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Eastern Desert.These terrains exhibit distinct differences in crustal composition and deformation style.The Northern Eastern Desert and its extension into Sinai are predominantly composed of gneissic granites that are intruded by large batholiths of calc-alkaline and alkaline granites.Conversely,the Central and Southern Eastern Desert are commonly blanketed by a carapace of ophiolite-bearing volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Pan-African cover nappes.These northern terrains,just north of the Barud dome complex,the crust underwent significant NW-SE regional crustal extension across the Qena-Safaga Line,which sharply delineates the northern limit of the transpressional deformations linked to the Najd fault system in the Central and Southern Eastern Desert.Through comprehensive geological mapping and the integration of various geophysical,geochemical and geochronological data,this paper offers explanations for the contrasting geological features of the basement terrains on both sides of the Qena-Safaga Line and its analogous Fatira Shear Zone that plays a significant role in tectonic modeling of the Barud dome complex region.The Barud gneissic protolith experienced crustal shortening approximately 697 million years ago in the NW-SE direction,initiating dextral motion along the Fatira Shear Zone.Large batholiths of granodiorite/tonalite complex intruded the Barud gneissic dome protolith around 630 million years ago along the Qena-Safaga Line,at relatively shallow crustal depths,following the same orientation as the earlier shortening direction.Ongoing magmatic activity along the Qena-Safaga Line indicates intense magmatic underplating,resulting in significant intrusions of granodioritic melts into the early rifted crust of the Northern Eastern Desert and Sinai terrains.The crust of these northern terrains likely underwent isostatic compensation through uplifting and subsequent erosion.The disappearance of ophiolite-bearing belts and the presence of Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic continental-derived cobbles and ignimbrites in Sinai metasedimentary belts and Northern Eastern Desert molasse basins suggest that the northern terrains,located north of the Qena-Safaga Line,originated as a cohesive,thin continental crust that rifted off the eastern passive margin of the Sahara Metacraton during the early Neoproterozoic rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent.
基金jointly supported by the Selection Project of High-level Scientific and Technological Talents and Innovative Teams Project in Yunnan Province(202305AT350004-4)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42362010 and 42464005)+3 种基金the Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Mountain Agroecosystem in the Lower Reaches of Nujiang River,Yunnan Province(202305AM340031)the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Science Research Fund Project(2025J0983)the Wen Bang-chun Academician Workstation in Yunnan Province(202205AF150032)the Undergraduate Innovative Training Program(2310603235).
文摘1.Objective.The Yidun arc within the Tethys-Himalaya metallogenic belt formed during the westward subduction of the Ganzi-Litang Ocean(237-206 Ma)during the Indosinian period,and then underwent the evolution stages of the collisional orogeny(206-138 Ma)and the post-collisional orogeny(135-75 Ma).In recent years,a series of large and medium-sized Late Yanshanian intracontinental porphyry-skarn Mo-Cu-W deposits have been discovered in the southern part of the Yidun arc,including Xiuwacu,Relin,Hongshan,Tongchanggou,and Donglufang(Fig.1a).
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41172186, 40972136 and 40572121)Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges, Chang’an University, China (Grant Nos.CHD2011TD020, CHD2009JC070, CHD2009JC053 and CHD2009JC046)the Commonweal Geological Survey,the Aluminum Corporation of China and the Land-Resources Department of Qinghai Province (Grant No.200801)
文摘The Helegangnaren feldspar granite exposed in the eastern part of East Kunlun, is characterized by high concentrations of SiO2 and alkaline, low abundances of Fe, Mg and Ca, metaluminous-weak peraluminous. Trace elements analysis shows that the granite is depleted extremely in Ba, Sr and Eu, and rich in some large-ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements. Besides, the granite has high Ga contents, the values of 104（Ga/AI） vary from 2.50 to 2.77, which is mainly greater than the lower limit of A-type granites （2.6）, and is higher than the I- and S- type granites＇ average （2.1 and 2.28, respectively）. Rare earth element （REE） is characterized by relatively high fractionations of light REE （LREE） and heavy REE （HREE） （LREE/HREE=9.3-13.60, （La/Yb）N=10.92-18.02）, pronounced negative Eu anomalies （JEn=0.08-0.13）, and exhibits right- dipping gull pattern. Major elements, rare elements and trace elements features show the granite is ascribed to A-type granite and A2 subtype in tectonic genetic type. They are plotted into post-collision or within-plate area in a variety of tectonic discriminations. Geological and geochemical data comprehensively suggest that the granite is formed in a post-collision extensive tectonic setting. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （LA-ICP-MS） zircon U-Pb dating yields a weighted mean age of 425 Ma, belonging to Middle Silurian, which is similar to the age of the post- collision geological events in the region. The differences of magmatic rocks in formation age, rocks assemblage and rocks series systematically indicate that the regional tectonic stress regime in the East Kunlun orogenic belt experienced a major transformation from compress to extension in Middle Silurianin, and the Helegangnaren feldspar granite intruded in the early stage of tectonic transformation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.91755213,41672212,41572203)the MOST Special Fund (No.MSFGPMR02-3)+1 种基金the Opening Fund (Nos.GPMR201607,201701)the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources,China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
文摘Plate tectonics describes the horizontal motion of rigid lithospheric plates away from midoceanic ridges and parallel to transforms, towards deep-sea trenches, where the oceanic lithosphere is subducted into the mantle. This process is the surface expression of modern-day heat loss from Earth. One of the biggest questions in Geosciences today is ＂when did plate tectonics begin on Earth＂ with a wide range of theories based on an equally diverse set of constraints from geology, geochemistry, numerical modeling, or pure speculation. In this contribution, we turn the coin over and ask ＂when was the last appearance in the geological record for which there is proof that plate tectonics did not operate on the planet as it does today＂. We apply the laws of uniformitarianism to the rock record to ask how far back in time is the geologic record consistent with presently-operating kinematics of plate motion, before which some other mechanisms of planetary heat loss may have been in operation. Some have suggested that evidence shows that there was no plate tectonics before 800 Ma ago, others sometime before 1.8–2.7 Ga, or before 2.7 Ga. Still others recognize evidence for plate tectonics as early as 3.0 Ga, 3.3–3.5 Ga, the age of the oldest rocks, or in the Hadean before 4.3 Ga. A key undiscussed question is： why is there such a diversity of opinion about the age at which plate tectonics can be shown to not have operated, and what criteria are the different research groups using to define plate tectonics, and to recognize evidence of plate tectonics in very old rocks？ Here, we present and evaluate data from the rock record, constrained by relevant geochemical-isotopic data, and conclude that the evidence shows indubitably that plate tectonics has been operating at least since the formation of the oldest rocks, albeit with some differences in processes, compositions, and products in earlier times of higher heat generation and mantle temperature, weaker oceanic lithosphere, hotter subduction zones caused by more slab-melt generation, and under different biological and atmospheric conditions.
基金the Major State Basic Research Programs of the People’s Republic of China(No.2001CB409806).
文摘According to the study on the peripheral orogenic belts of the Junggar basin and combined with the interpretation of geophysical data, this paper points out that there is an Early Paleozoic basement of immature continental crust in the Junggar area, which is mainly composed of Neoproterozoic-Ordovician oceanic crust and weakly metamorphosed covering sedimentary rocks. The Late Paleozoic tectonism and mineralization were developed on the basement of the Early Paleozoic immature continental crust. The Junggar metallogenic province is dominated by Cr, Cu, Ni and Au mineralization. Those large and medium-scale deposits are mainly distributed along the deep faults and particularly near the ophiolitic melange zones, and formed in the Late Paleozoic with the peak of mineralization occurring in the Carboniferous-Permian post-collisional stage. The intrusions related to Cu, Ni and Au mineralization generally have low Is, and positive εNd(t) values. The δ34S values of the ore deposits are mostly near zero, and the lead isotopes are mostly of normal lead. All these indicate that the ore-forming material comes either directly from the mantle-derived magma (for chromite and Cu-Ni deposits) or from recirculation of the basement material of the Early Paleozoic immature crust (for most Cu and Au deposits).
文摘With acquisition and accumulation of new data of structural geological investigations and high-resolution isotopic dating data, we have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonic events occurring in eastern China during the period from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and may give a new interpretation of the nature, timing and geodynamic settings of the “Yanshan Movement”. During the Mid-Late Jurassic （165±5 Ma）, great readjustment of plate amalgamation kinematics took place in East Asia and the tectonic regime underwent great transformation, thus initiating a new tectonic regime in which the North China Block was the center and different plates converged toward it from the north, east and southwest and forming the “East Asia convergent” tectonic system characterized by intracontinental subduction and orogeny. As a consequence, the crustal lithosphere of the East Asian continent thickened considerably during the Late Jurassic, followed immediately by Early Cretaceous substantial lithospheric thinning and craton destruction featured by drastic lithospheric extension and widespread volcano-magmatic activities, resulting in a major biotic turnover from the Yanliao biota to Jehol Biota. Such a tremendous tectonic event that took place in the continent of China and East Asia is the basic connotation of the “Yanshan Movement”. In the paper, according to the deformation patterns, geodynamic settings and deep processes, the “Yanshan Movement” is redefined as the Late Jurassic East Asian multi-directional plate convergent tectonic regime and its associated extensive intracontinental orogeny and great tectonic change that started at -165±5 Ma. The substantial lithospheric attenuation in East China is considered the post-effect of the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny and deformation.
文摘Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks occurring in the north of the western Kunlun Mountains can be divided into two groups. The first group (north belt) is an reversely-evolved bimodal series. Petrochemistry shows that the alkalinity of the rocks decreases from early to late: alkaline→calc-alkaline→tholeiite, and geochemistry proves that the volcanic rocks were formed in rifting tectonic systems. The sedimentary facies shows characteristics of back-arc basins. The second (south belt) group, which occurs to the south of Yutian-Minfeng-Cele, is composed of calc-alkaline island arc (basaltic) andesite and minor rhyolite. The space distribution, age and geochemistry of the two volcanite groups indicate that they were formed in a back-arc basin (the first group) and an island arc (the second group) respectively and indicate the plate evolution during the Mesoproterozoic. The orogeny took place at -1.05 Ga, which was coeval with the Grenville orogeny. This study has provided important geological data for exploring the position of the Paleo-Tarim plate in the Rodinia super-continent.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No., 41172186, 40972136, 40572121)the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges, Chang’an University (Grant Nos. CHD2011TD020, 2013G1271091, 2013G1271092)the Commonweal Geological Survey, the Aluminum Corporation of China and the Land-Resources Department of Qinghai Province (Grant No., 200801)
文摘The Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the Kekesha-Kekekete-Dawate area, which are in the eastern part of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt. It outcrops as tectonic slices intruding tectonically in the Paleoproterozoic Baishahe Group and the Paleozoic Nachitai Group. The Kekekete mafic and ultramafic rocks is located near the central fault in East Kunlun and lithologically mainly consists of serpentinite, augite peridotite, and gabbro. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of the gabbro is 501±7 Ma, indicating that Kekekete mafic-ultramafic rocks formed in the Middle Cambrian. This rock assemblage is relatively poor in SiO2 and （Na20＋K20） but rich in MgO and SFeO. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the gabbro dip slightly to the right; the primitive mantle and MORB-normalized spidergrams of trace elements show enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements （Cs, Rb, Ba, etc.） and no differentiation of high field strength elements. The general dominance of E- MORB features and the geochemical characteristics of OIB suggest that the Kekekete mafic- ultramafic rocks formed in an initial oceanic basin with slightly enriched mantle being featured by varying degrees of mixing of N-MORB depleted mantle and a similar-OIB-type source. From a comprehensive study of the previous data, the author believes that the tectonic history of the East Kunlun region was controlled by a geodynamic system of rifting and extension in the late stages of the Neoproterozoic to early stages of the Early Paleozoic and this formed the paleo-oceanic basin or rift system now represented by the ophiolites along the central fault in East Kunlun, the Kekekete mafic- ultramafic rocks and Delisitan ophiolite.
基金S.Oriolo thanks DAAD for a long-term PhD scholarship(A/12/75051)
文摘Geological,geochronological and isotopic data are integrated in order to present a revised model for the Neoproterozoic evolution of Western Gondwana.Although the classical geodynamic scenario assumed for the period 800-700 Ma is related to Rodinia break-up and the consequent opening of major oceanic basins,a significantly different tectonic evolution can be inferred for most Western Gondwana cratons.These cratons occupied a marginal position in the southern hemisphere with respect to Rodinia and recorded subduction with back-arc extension,island arc development and limited formation of oceanic crust in internal oceans.This period was thus characterized by increased crustal growth in Western Gondwana,resulting from addition of juvenile continental crust along convergent margins.In contrast,crustal reworking and metacratonization were dominant during the subsequent assembly of Gondwana.The Rio de la Plata,Congo-Sao Francisco,West African and Amazonian cratons collided at ca.630-600 Ma along the West Gondwana Orogen.These events overlap in time with the onset of the opening of the Iapetus Ocean at ca.610-600 Ma,which gave rise to the separation of Baltica,Laurentia and Amazonia and resulted from the final Rodinia break-up.The East African/Antarctic Orogen recorded the subsequent amalgamation of Western and Eastern Gondwana after ca.580 Ma,contemporaneously with the beginning of subduction in the Terra Australis Orogen along the southern Gondwana margin.However,the Kalahari Craton was lately incorporated during the Late Ediacaran-Early Cambrian.The proposed Gondwana evolution rules out the existence of Pannotia,as the final Gondwana amalgamation postdates latest connections between Laurentia and Amazonia.Additionally,a combination of introversion and extroversion is proposed for the assembly of Gondwana.The contemporaneous record of final Rodinia break-up and Gondwana assembly has major implications for the supercontinent cycle,as supercontinent amalgamation and break-up do not necessarily represent alternating episodic processes but overlap in time.
文摘Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous geological bodies in the Mianxian-Lueyang (Mian-Lue) collisional belt (MLB) and its neighbouring areas, southern Qinling Mountains, China, show similar characteristics of having undergone deformation of two stages. The earlier one, which is inferred to be related to collisional orogeny between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean palaeocontinents based on previous geological data, is responsible for large-scale, north-verging recumbent folds and overthrusts, and associated with low greenschist fades metamorphism. 40Ar/39Ar dating of three muscovite samples taken from different localities yields plateau ages of 226.9±0.9 and 219.5±1.4 Ma and an apparent age of 194.5±3.0 Ma. Thus, the late Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean palaeocontinents has been constrained.
基金supported by the China National Science Foundation (Grant No: 40572113)China national key basic research program for earlier stage study (Grant No: 2005CCA05600)
文摘The intraplate uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau took place on the basis of breakup and assembly of the Precambrian supercontinent, and southward ocean-continent transition of the Proto-, Paleo-, Meso- and Neo-Tethys during the Caledonian, Indosinian, Yanshanian and Early Himalayan movements. The intraplate tectonic evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau underwent the early stage of intraplate orogeny characterized by migrational tectonic uplift, horizontal movement and geological processes during 180-7 Ma, and the late stage of isostatic mountain building characterized by pulsative rapid uplift, vertical movement and geographical processes since 3.6 Ma. The spatial-temporal evolution of the intraplate orogeny within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shows a regular transition from the northern part through the central part to the southern part during 180-120 Ma, 65-35 Ma, and 25-7 Ma respectively, with extensive intraplate faulting, folding, block movement, magmatism and metallogenesis. Simultaneous intraplate orogeny and basin formation resulted from crustal rheological stratification and basin-orogen coupling that was induced by lateral viscous flow in the lower crust. This continental dynamic process was controlled by lateral flow of hot and soft materials within the lower crust because of slab dehydration and melted mantle upwelling above the subducted plates during the southward Tethyan ocean-continent transition processes or asthenosphere diapirism. Intraplate orogeny and basin formation were irrelevant to plate collision. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a whole was actually formed by the isostatic mountain building processes since 3.6 Ma that were characterized by crust-scale vertical movement, and integral rapid uplift of the plateau, accompanied by isostatic subsidence of peripheral basins and depressions, and great changes in topography and environment. A series of pulsative mountain building events, associated with gravity equilibrium and isostatic adjustment of crustal materials, at 3.6 Ma, 2.5 Ma, 1.8-1.2 Ma, 0.9-0.8 Ma and 0.15-0.12 Ma led to the formation of a composite orogenic belt by unifying the originally relatively independent Himalayas, Gangdise, Tanghla, Longmenshan, Kunlun, Altyn Tagh, and Qilian mountains, and the formation of the complete Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with a unified mountain root after Miocene uplift of the plateau as a whole.
基金supported by National Natural Foundation of China(No.41172184)SINOPROBE-08-01SNOPEC(China)
文摘The Dabashan orocline is situated in the northwestern margin of the central Yangtze block,central China.Previous studies have defined the orthogonal superposed folds growing in its central-western segment thereby confirming its two-stage tectonic evolution history.Geological mapping has revealed that more types of superposed folds have developed in the eastern segment of the orocline,which probably provides more clues for probing the structure and tectonic history of the Dabashan orocline.In this paper,based on geological mapping,structural measurements and analyses of deformation,we have identified three groups of folds with different trends （e.g.NW-,NE-and nearly E-trending folds） and three types of structural patterns of superposed folds in the eastern Dabashan foreland （e.g.syn-axial,oblique,and conjunctional superposed folds）.In combination with geochronological data,we propose that the synaxial superposed folds are due to two stages of ～N-S shortening in the west and north of the Shennongjia massif,and that oblique superposed folds have been resulted from the superposition of the NW-and NE-trending folds onto the early ～ E-W folds in the east of the Shennongjia massif in the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous.The conjunctional folds are composed of the NW-and NE-trending folds,corresponding to the regional-scale dual-orocline in the eastern Sichuan as a result of the southwestward expansion of the Dabashan foreland during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous,coeval with the northwestward propagation of the Xuefengshan foreland.Integration of the structure and geochronology of the belt shows that the Dabashan orocline is a combined deformation belt primarily experiencing a twostage tectonic evolution history in Mesozoic,initiation of the Dabashan orocline as a foreland basin along the front of the Qinling orogen in late Triassic to early Jurassic due to collisional orogeny,and the final formation of the Dabashan orocline owing to the southwestward propagation of the Qinling orogen during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous intra-continental orogeny.Our studies provide some evidences for understanding the structure and deformation of the Dabashan orocline.
文摘The Tan-Lu Fault was once a transform fault in the Paleotethys, west of which was the Qinling-Dabie Ocean separating the Yangtze Craton from the North China Craton, and east of which was the Su-Lu Ocean separating the Su-Wan Block from the Jiao-Liao Craton. The Qinling-Dabie Ocean closed in the Indosinian orogeny, which created the China-Southeast Asia Subcontinent, with the Tan-Lu Fault becoming a marginal shear zone along the newly-formed amalgamated subcontinent. The Su-Lu Ocean subducted partly in the Indosinian.orogeny, but not closed. In the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, the Su-Wan Block drifted northwards with subduction of the Su-Lu Ocean and moved westwards to converge the subcontinent by sinistral sheafing of the ENE-striking fractures. The Su-Lu Ocean finally closed and the Su-Wan Block collided with the Jiao-Liao Craton in the Early Cretaceous, which constituted a part of the magnificent interplate Yanshanides. The interplate orogeny rejuvenated the fossil sutures and deep fractures, as well as the Indosinian orogen, and the intraplate （intracontinental） Yanshanian orogeny occurred in the subcontinent. The East Asia Yanshanides, consisting of the interplate orogens in the outer side and the intraplate orogens in the inner side, collapsed quickly in the latest Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous. The eastern China area entered a tensile period from the Eogene, and the tectonic differentiation between the central and eastern China areas since the Jurassic was further strengthened.
文摘The Huanan (South China) subcontinent was created by amalgamation of the Yangtze, Xianggan, Cathaysia and Zhemin microcontinents by the Guangxi orogeny in the Early Palaeozoic. The closure of the Tethyan Ocean and subsequent collision event outside the amalgamated continent reactivated fossil sutures and resulted in intracontinental (ensialic) orogenies in the Mesozoic. Based on evidence from deformation, molasse and granitoids, the Sichuan-Guizhou-Hunan—southern Hubei and Hunan-Jiangxi-Fujian Yanshanian fold-thrust systems and the Lower Yangtze-northwestern Fujian Indosinian fold-thrust system are thought to be intracontinental orogens. Their main features are as follows: intracontinental orogenies occurred areally, thrusting propagated towards the interior of the continental, they extend parallelly to the strikes of the fossil sutures, and the details of the temporal-spatial evolution of the orogens depend on subduction-collision events.
基金co-supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China (No. 2016YFC0600310)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41230205 and 41602062)the China Geological Survey (No. DD20160122)
文摘The Himalayan Orogen, resulting from the Tertiary collision of Indian and Asian continents, is a natural laboratory for studying metamorphism, partial melting and granite formation of collisional orogens. However, metamorphic and anatectic conditions and timescales of meta-mafic rocks in the Greater Himalayan Sequences （GHS） in the east-central Himalaya remain controversial, in this paper, we conduct a study of petrology and geochronology of mafic granulite from the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis （EHS）. The mafic granulite with abundant leucosome bands occurs as layers within felsic granulites and is well deformed. The granulite consists of garnet, plagioclase, amphibole and quartz with minor clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, biotite, rutile, titanite and ilmenite. The garnet has growth compositional zoning and contains abundant mineral inclusions in its core. Peak metamorphic mineral assemblage of the granulite is garnet, amphibole, plagioclase, quartz, clinopyroxene and futile, recording a high-pressure （HP） and high-temperature （HT） peak-metamorphism under conditions of 14-15.5 kbar and 780-790 ℃ in the presence of melt. The reconstructed clockwise P-T path is characterized by an early heating and burial prograde metamorphism, and late isothermal and cooling decompression retrogression. The granulite witnessed a long lasting HT metamorphism, partial melting and melt crystallization process which began at ca. 39 Ma and lasted to ca. 11 Ma. The present study shows that various high-grade rocks of the GHS in the EHS core experienced similar metamorphic conditions and P-T-t paths, indicating that they occurred as a coherent slab during the subduction and exhumation of Indian lithosphere. The significant melts generated during the prograde metamorphism of the GHS rocks not only contributed to the formation of the Himalayan leucogranite, but also resulted in the rheological weakening and ductile flow of the thickened lower crust of the Himalayan Orogen.
文摘The Altay orogenic belt of China is an important metallogenic belt of base metals, rare metals and gold. The main orogenic-metallogenic epoch is the Hercynian (Late Palaeozoic). Hercynian orogeny underwent two tectonic stages: the early volcano-passive continental margin extension (D1-D2) and late subduction-collision (D3-P). There correspondingly developed two different metallogenic systems. One is the stratabound massive sulphide and iron metallogenic system related to volcano-passive continental margin, and the other is the epigenetic gold and granite-associated rare metals system formed by collision. Very few mineralizations were formed during the subduction time.
