Zircon U-Pb ages of 163.8-100.4 Ma and 146.6-134.5 Ma are obtained for the granitoids from the Pearl River mouth basin, and from southern Guangdong Province, respectively. These new dating data accord well with the cr...Zircon U-Pb ages of 163.8-100.4 Ma and 146.6-134.5 Ma are obtained for the granitoids from the Pearl River mouth basin, and from southern Guangdong Province, respectively. These new dating data accord well with the crystallization ages of Yanshanian granitoids broadly in the Nanling. The active continental margin of South China, as revealed by a combination of zircon U-Pb data, underwent a key granitoid-dominated magmatism in 165-100 Ma. Its evolution varied temporally, and spatially, registering under control of the paleo-Pacific slab subduction. The granitoids that occurred in 165-150 Ma broadly from the South China Sea to the Nanling are preferably related to two settings from volcanic-arc to back-arc extension, respectively. The activities of Cretaceous granitoids migrated from the southeastern Guangdong (148-130 Ma) to the Pearl River Mouth basin (127-112 Ma), corresponding to the model of a retreating subduction. The subduction-related granitoid magmatism in South China continued until 108-97 Ma. A tectonic transformation from slab-subduction to extension should occur at -100 Ma.展开更多
Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSVI and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2, respec...Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSVI and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2, respectively. A total of 162 zircon U-Pb dates for them cover an age range from Neoarchean to Eocene, in which the pre-Paleocene data dominate. The Paleogene dates of 62.5±2.2 Ma and 42.1±2.9 Ma are associated with two igneous episodes prior to opening of South China Sea basin. Those pre-Paleocene zircons are inherited zircons mostly with magmatogenic oscillatory zones, and have REE features of crustal zircon. Zircon U-Pb dates of 2518-2481 Ma, 1933- 1724 Ma, and 1094-1040 Ma from the SCSV1 volcanics, and 2810-2718 Ma, 2458-2421 Ma, and 1850-993.4 Ma from the SCSV2 volcanics reveal part of Precambrian evolution of the northern South China Sea, well comparable with age records dated from the Cathaysia block. The data of 927.0±6.9 Ma and 781±38 Ma dated from the SCSV2 coincide with amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and breakup of the Rodinia, respectively. The age records of Caledonian orogeny from the Cathaysia block are widely found from our volcanic samples with concordant mean ages of 432.0±5.8 Ma from the SCSV1 and of 437±15 Ma from the SCSV2. The part of the northern South China Sea resembling the Cathaysia underwent Indosinian and Yanshannian tectonothermal events. Their age signatures from the SCSV1 cover 266.5±3.5 Ma, 241.1±6.0 Ma, 184.0±4.2 Ma, 160.9±4.2 Ma and 102.8±2.6 Ma, and from the SCSV2 are 244±15 Ma, 158.1±3.5 Ma, 141±13 Ma and 96.3±2.1 Ma. Our pre-Paleogene U-Pb age spectra of zircons from the borehole volcanics indicate that the northern South China Sea underwent an evolution from formation of Precambrian basement, Caledonian orogeny, and Indosinian orogeny to Yanshannian magmatism. This process can be well comparable with the tectonic evolution of South China, largely supporting the areas of the northern South China Sea as part of southward extension of the Cathaysia.展开更多
Tectonically, the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) is located at the junction between three micro-plates, i.e., the Indochina, South China and Zhongsha-Xisha micro-plates, and involves three basins, i.e., the Ying...Tectonically, the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) is located at the junction between three micro-plates, i.e., the Indochina, South China and Zhongsha-Xisha micro-plates, and involves three basins, i.e., the Yinggehai Basin, the Qiongdongnan Basin and Xisha Trough in the east, and the Zhongjiannan Basin in the south. Since the Pliocene (5.3 Ma), the Yinggehai Basin has experienced repeated accelerating subsidence, high thermal fluid, and widely developing mud-rich overpressure chambers, abundant mud diapers and crust-mantle mixed CO2. While a large central canyon was developed in the Qiongdongnan Basin, new rift occurred in the Xisha ~rough. These characteristics demonstrate a single tectonic unit for the northwestern SCS, for which we have undertaken stress field modeling to understand its plate deformations and sedimen- tary responses. Our results demonstrate that an extension tectonic event occurred after 5.3 Ma in theYingge- hal-Qiongdongnan-Xisha trough area, which is characterized by thinner crust C〈16000 m), half-graben or graben structural style and thicker sedimentary sequences (〉3 500 m). A new rift system subsequently was developed in this area; this event was mainly driven by the combined effects of different movement veloc- ity and direction of the three micro-plates, and the far-field effect of the continental collision between the Indian Plate and the Tibetan Plateau, and subduction of the Pacific Plate underneath the Eurasian Plate.展开更多
Through reduction to the North Pole and upward continuation of the total field magnetic anomalies, we analyze magnetic patterns and spatial distributions of different tectonic blocks and crustal faults in eastern Chin...Through reduction to the North Pole and upward continuation of the total field magnetic anomalies, we analyze magnetic patterns and spatial distributions of different tectonic blocks and crustal faults in eastern China and adjacent seas. Depths to the Curie isotherms are further estimated from radially averaged amplitude spectra of magnetic data reduced to the pole. Data reductions effectively enhance boundaries of regional tectonic belts, such as the Dabie ultra-high metamorphic belt, the Tanlu Fault, and the Diaoyudao Uplift. Curie depths are estimated at between 19.6 and 48.9 km, with a mean of 31.7 km. The Subei Basin and the south Yellow Sea Basin in the lower Yangtze block show relatively deep Curie isotherms, up to about 35 km in depth, whereas in the surrounding areas Curie depths are averaged at about 25 km. This implies that the lower Yangtze Block has experienced a unique tectonic evolution and/or has unique basement lithology and structures. From a regional perspective, sedimentary basins, such as the Subei Basin, the south Yellow Sea Basin, and the East China Sea Basin, normally show deeper Curie isotherms than surrounding uplifts such as the Diaoyudao Uplift and the Zhemin Uplifts. Curie isotherms also upwell significantly in volcanically active areas such as the Ryukyu Arc and the Cheju Island, confirming strong magmatic and geothermal activities at depth.展开更多
Integrated fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis is carried out on 6 apatite and 6 zircon samples from a near vertical section in The Tiantangzhai region at the core of the present Dabieshan orogen. The result shows th...Integrated fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis is carried out on 6 apatite and 6 zircon samples from a near vertical section in The Tiantangzhai region at the core of the present Dabieshan orogen. The result shows that the region experienced cooling/exhumation during the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary period. Age-elevation relationships for different dating systems and different minerals suggest a pulse of rapid exhumation at ~110 Ma before present, preserved in the structurally highest samples. At lower elevations, ages begin to decrease with decreasing elevation, suggesting lower exhumation rates since 90 Ma. Two periods of different exhumation rates are identified since 90 Ma. The average apparent exhumation rate for the period of 43.4-22.5 is 0.062 km/Ma, whereas that for the period of 76.4-47.4 Ma is 0.039 km/Ma.展开更多
Sponsored by the Chinese National Fundamental Research and Development Program in 2001,Guang-zhou Marine Geological Survey launched out a long geophysical survey from the northeastern part of the South China Sea (SCS)...Sponsored by the Chinese National Fundamental Research and Development Program in 2001,Guang-zhou Marine Geological Survey launched out a long geophysical survey from the northeastern part of the South China Sea (SCS),through the Luzon Arc,to the Huatung Basin and the Gagua Ridge. Based on high-resolution seismic data from this survey,combined with gravimetric and magnetic modeling,a systematic effort is made to the study of the regional geodynamics offshore southern Taiwan. By focusing particularly on precollisional tectonic interactions between adjacent geological units and their tectonic affiliations,this study can help reveal early arc-continent collisional processes that formed the Taiwan orogen. The construction of the Manila accretionary prism and its eastward progressive deformation indicate that the subduction of SCS have experienced multiple phases of increased activity. Active precollisional crustal shortening within the Northern Luzon Trough resulted in tilting of sedimentary layers at angles between 6° and 13°. But the shortening induced by tilting accounts for only a tiny part of regional total crustal compression. The eastern flank of the Luzon Arc appears to be more active than the rest,evidenced by active faulting and folding in the intra-arc basins on the eastern flank. Magnetic modeling/inversion shows that the Luzon Arc may have experienced multiple phases of magmatic activities,causing lateral magnetic inhomogeneity. Bouguer gravity anomalies and gravity modeling indicate that the Huatung Basin has anomalously higher crustal and upper mantle densities than those of SCS and the Luzon Arc. In addition,there is a large bathymetric difference between the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin. These observations argue against early hypothesis that the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin may once have belonged to one single oceanic crust,in part or in whole. The Gagua Ridge,as a sliver of uplifted oceanic crust,may be related to a transient northwestward subduction of the western Philippine plate. All evidences point to the argument that the region offshore southern Taiwan is experiencing multiple terrain amalgamation,which is a classical model for continental growth.展开更多
Combined apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometries can be of great value for investigating the history of exhumation of orogenic belts. We evaluate the results of such a combined approa...Combined apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometries can be of great value for investigating the history of exhumation of orogenic belts. We evaluate the results of such a combined approach through the study on rock sam- ples collected from the Baluntai section in the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China. Our results show that AFT ages range from -60 to 40 Ma and Atte ages span -40-10 Ma. Based on the strict thermochronological constraints imposed by AHe ages, forward modeling of data derived from AFT analyses provides a well-constrained Cenozoic thermal history. The modeled re- sults reveal a history of relatively slow exhumation during the early Cenozoic times followed by a significantly accelerated exhumation process since the early Miocene with the rate increasing from 〈30 m/Myr to 〉 100 m/Myr, which is consistent with the inference from the exhumation rates calculated based on both AFT and AHe age data by age-closure temperature and mine- ral pair methods. Further accelerated exhumation since the late Miocene is recorded by an AHe age (-11 Ma) from the bottom of the Baluntai section. Together with the previous low-temperature thermochronological data from the other parts of the Tianshan Mountains, the rapid exhumation since the early Miocene is regarded as an important exhumation process likely pre- vailing within the whole range.展开更多
In response to various environmental factors in offshore South China Sea,a group of microstructures of the screw dislocation are assembled in multiphase screw dislocations on the surface of the nacreous layer of Pteri...In response to various environmental factors in offshore South China Sea,a group of microstructures of the screw dislocation are assembled in multiphase screw dislocations on the surface of the nacreous layer of Pteria penguin from the coastal waters of Hainan Island,China.The results of the transmission and scanning electronic microscope testing show that organic matter periodically secreted by epithelial histology of mantle of Pteria penguin pre-forms the original screw dislocation growth tem-plate in the form of film,along with its function to select,identify,and adhere to the amorphous calcium carbonate particles as the fine organic venations diffused in the epitaxial screw growth area.With the inducement and screw modulation of the or-ganic film and venations,the amorphous calcium carbonate particles gradually evolve into the pseudohexagonal self.aragonite microsheet with long-range order and screw dislocation structure by location-selecting tropism and screw dislocation growth.Numerous micron-scale aragonite microsheets join in the cluster's interactive movement and screw dislocation self-assembly of the organic film,stacking forward along the axis C spirally and forming the nacreous layer with screw dislocation structure.展开更多
基金supported by the State Key Program of the National Natural Science of China(grant no2008ZX05023-003)the project of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology(grant noMG200904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no40872138)
文摘Zircon U-Pb ages of 163.8-100.4 Ma and 146.6-134.5 Ma are obtained for the granitoids from the Pearl River mouth basin, and from southern Guangdong Province, respectively. These new dating data accord well with the crystallization ages of Yanshanian granitoids broadly in the Nanling. The active continental margin of South China, as revealed by a combination of zircon U-Pb data, underwent a key granitoid-dominated magmatism in 165-100 Ma. Its evolution varied temporally, and spatially, registering under control of the paleo-Pacific slab subduction. The granitoids that occurred in 165-150 Ma broadly from the South China Sea to the Nanling are preferably related to two settings from volcanic-arc to back-arc extension, respectively. The activities of Cretaceous granitoids migrated from the southeastern Guangdong (148-130 Ma) to the Pearl River Mouth basin (127-112 Ma), corresponding to the model of a retreating subduction. The subduction-related granitoid magmatism in South China continued until 108-97 Ma. A tectonic transformation from slab-subduction to extension should occur at -100 Ma.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41272218)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe State Key Program of the National Natural Science of China (grant no. 2011ZX05023-003)
文摘Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSVI and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2, respectively. A total of 162 zircon U-Pb dates for them cover an age range from Neoarchean to Eocene, in which the pre-Paleocene data dominate. The Paleogene dates of 62.5±2.2 Ma and 42.1±2.9 Ma are associated with two igneous episodes prior to opening of South China Sea basin. Those pre-Paleocene zircons are inherited zircons mostly with magmatogenic oscillatory zones, and have REE features of crustal zircon. Zircon U-Pb dates of 2518-2481 Ma, 1933- 1724 Ma, and 1094-1040 Ma from the SCSV1 volcanics, and 2810-2718 Ma, 2458-2421 Ma, and 1850-993.4 Ma from the SCSV2 volcanics reveal part of Precambrian evolution of the northern South China Sea, well comparable with age records dated from the Cathaysia block. The data of 927.0±6.9 Ma and 781±38 Ma dated from the SCSV2 coincide with amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and breakup of the Rodinia, respectively. The age records of Caledonian orogeny from the Cathaysia block are widely found from our volcanic samples with concordant mean ages of 432.0±5.8 Ma from the SCSV1 and of 437±15 Ma from the SCSV2. The part of the northern South China Sea resembling the Cathaysia underwent Indosinian and Yanshannian tectonothermal events. Their age signatures from the SCSV1 cover 266.5±3.5 Ma, 241.1±6.0 Ma, 184.0±4.2 Ma, 160.9±4.2 Ma and 102.8±2.6 Ma, and from the SCSV2 are 244±15 Ma, 158.1±3.5 Ma, 141±13 Ma and 96.3±2.1 Ma. Our pre-Paleogene U-Pb age spectra of zircons from the borehole volcanics indicate that the northern South China Sea underwent an evolution from formation of Precambrian basement, Caledonian orogeny, and Indosinian orogeny to Yanshannian magmatism. This process can be well comparable with the tectonic evolution of South China, largely supporting the areas of the northern South China Sea as part of southward extension of the Cathaysia.
基金The major project of the China National Science and Technology "Large Oil and Gas Fields and Coal bed Gas Development" under contract No.2011ZX05023-003-003the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under contract No.1350219123
文摘Tectonically, the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) is located at the junction between three micro-plates, i.e., the Indochina, South China and Zhongsha-Xisha micro-plates, and involves three basins, i.e., the Yinggehai Basin, the Qiongdongnan Basin and Xisha Trough in the east, and the Zhongjiannan Basin in the south. Since the Pliocene (5.3 Ma), the Yinggehai Basin has experienced repeated accelerating subsidence, high thermal fluid, and widely developing mud-rich overpressure chambers, abundant mud diapers and crust-mantle mixed CO2. While a large central canyon was developed in the Qiongdongnan Basin, new rift occurred in the Xisha ~rough. These characteristics demonstrate a single tectonic unit for the northwestern SCS, for which we have undertaken stress field modeling to understand its plate deformations and sedimen- tary responses. Our results demonstrate that an extension tectonic event occurred after 5.3 Ma in theYingge- hal-Qiongdongnan-Xisha trough area, which is characterized by thinner crust C〈16000 m), half-graben or graben structural style and thicker sedimentary sequences (〉3 500 m). A new rift system subsequently was developed in this area; this event was mainly driven by the combined effects of different movement veloc- ity and direction of the three micro-plates, and the far-field effect of the continental collision between the Indian Plate and the Tibetan Plateau, and subduction of the Pacific Plate underneath the Eurasian Plate.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40776026 and 40876022) National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB411702)
文摘Through reduction to the North Pole and upward continuation of the total field magnetic anomalies, we analyze magnetic patterns and spatial distributions of different tectonic blocks and crustal faults in eastern China and adjacent seas. Depths to the Curie isotherms are further estimated from radially averaged amplitude spectra of magnetic data reduced to the pole. Data reductions effectively enhance boundaries of regional tectonic belts, such as the Dabie ultra-high metamorphic belt, the Tanlu Fault, and the Diaoyudao Uplift. Curie depths are estimated at between 19.6 and 48.9 km, with a mean of 31.7 km. The Subei Basin and the south Yellow Sea Basin in the lower Yangtze block show relatively deep Curie isotherms, up to about 35 km in depth, whereas in the surrounding areas Curie depths are averaged at about 25 km. This implies that the lower Yangtze Block has experienced a unique tectonic evolution and/or has unique basement lithology and structures. From a regional perspective, sedimentary basins, such as the Subei Basin, the south Yellow Sea Basin, and the East China Sea Basin, normally show deeper Curie isotherms than surrounding uplifts such as the Diaoyudao Uplift and the Zhemin Uplifts. Curie isotherms also upwell significantly in volcanically active areas such as the Ryukyu Arc and the Cheju Island, confirming strong magmatic and geothermal activities at depth.
基金This work was supposed by the Ministry of Sci—ence and Technology of China(Grant No.G19990646).
文摘Integrated fission track and (U-Th)/He analysis is carried out on 6 apatite and 6 zircon samples from a near vertical section in The Tiantangzhai region at the core of the present Dabieshan orogen. The result shows that the region experienced cooling/exhumation during the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary period. Age-elevation relationships for different dating systems and different minerals suggest a pulse of rapid exhumation at ~110 Ma before present, preserved in the structurally highest samples. At lower elevations, ages begin to decrease with decreasing elevation, suggesting lower exhumation rates since 90 Ma. Two periods of different exhumation rates are identified since 90 Ma. The average apparent exhumation rate for the period of 43.4-22.5 is 0.062 km/Ma, whereas that for the period of 76.4-47.4 Ma is 0.039 km/Ma.
基金the Chinese National Basic ResearchDevelopment Program (Grant Nos. G2000047604 and G2000078501)
文摘Sponsored by the Chinese National Fundamental Research and Development Program in 2001,Guang-zhou Marine Geological Survey launched out a long geophysical survey from the northeastern part of the South China Sea (SCS),through the Luzon Arc,to the Huatung Basin and the Gagua Ridge. Based on high-resolution seismic data from this survey,combined with gravimetric and magnetic modeling,a systematic effort is made to the study of the regional geodynamics offshore southern Taiwan. By focusing particularly on precollisional tectonic interactions between adjacent geological units and their tectonic affiliations,this study can help reveal early arc-continent collisional processes that formed the Taiwan orogen. The construction of the Manila accretionary prism and its eastward progressive deformation indicate that the subduction of SCS have experienced multiple phases of increased activity. Active precollisional crustal shortening within the Northern Luzon Trough resulted in tilting of sedimentary layers at angles between 6° and 13°. But the shortening induced by tilting accounts for only a tiny part of regional total crustal compression. The eastern flank of the Luzon Arc appears to be more active than the rest,evidenced by active faulting and folding in the intra-arc basins on the eastern flank. Magnetic modeling/inversion shows that the Luzon Arc may have experienced multiple phases of magmatic activities,causing lateral magnetic inhomogeneity. Bouguer gravity anomalies and gravity modeling indicate that the Huatung Basin has anomalously higher crustal and upper mantle densities than those of SCS and the Luzon Arc. In addition,there is a large bathymetric difference between the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin. These observations argue against early hypothesis that the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin may once have belonged to one single oceanic crust,in part or in whole. The Gagua Ridge,as a sliver of uplifted oceanic crust,may be related to a transient northwestward subduction of the western Philippine plate. All evidences point to the argument that the region offshore southern Taiwan is experiencing multiple terrain amalgamation,which is a classical model for continental growth.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41001002)China Postdoctoral Science Special Foundation(Grant No.201003277)
文摘Combined apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronometries can be of great value for investigating the history of exhumation of orogenic belts. We evaluate the results of such a combined approach through the study on rock sam- ples collected from the Baluntai section in the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China. Our results show that AFT ages range from -60 to 40 Ma and Atte ages span -40-10 Ma. Based on the strict thermochronological constraints imposed by AHe ages, forward modeling of data derived from AFT analyses provides a well-constrained Cenozoic thermal history. The modeled re- sults reveal a history of relatively slow exhumation during the early Cenozoic times followed by a significantly accelerated exhumation process since the early Miocene with the rate increasing from 〈30 m/Myr to 〉 100 m/Myr, which is consistent with the inference from the exhumation rates calculated based on both AFT and AHe age data by age-closure temperature and mine- ral pair methods. Further accelerated exhumation since the late Miocene is recorded by an AHe age (-11 Ma) from the bottom of the Baluntai section. Together with the previous low-temperature thermochronological data from the other parts of the Tianshan Mountains, the rapid exhumation since the early Miocene is regarded as an important exhumation process likely pre- vailing within the whole range.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 49772096)National Basic Research Program of Hubei,China (Grant No. 2005ABA005)
文摘In response to various environmental factors in offshore South China Sea,a group of microstructures of the screw dislocation are assembled in multiphase screw dislocations on the surface of the nacreous layer of Pteria penguin from the coastal waters of Hainan Island,China.The results of the transmission and scanning electronic microscope testing show that organic matter periodically secreted by epithelial histology of mantle of Pteria penguin pre-forms the original screw dislocation growth tem-plate in the form of film,along with its function to select,identify,and adhere to the amorphous calcium carbonate particles as the fine organic venations diffused in the epitaxial screw growth area.With the inducement and screw modulation of the or-ganic film and venations,the amorphous calcium carbonate particles gradually evolve into the pseudohexagonal self.aragonite microsheet with long-range order and screw dislocation structure by location-selecting tropism and screw dislocation growth.Numerous micron-scale aragonite microsheets join in the cluster's interactive movement and screw dislocation self-assembly of the organic film,stacking forward along the axis C spirally and forming the nacreous layer with screw dislocation structure.