Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Jiaodong Peninsula,East China:Implications for crust-mantle interactions and lithospheric thinning of the eastern North China Craton

A section from the Linglong gold deposit on the northwestern Jiaodong Peninsula,East China,containing Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks from mafic and intermediate dikes and felsic intrusions,was chosen to investigate the lithospheric evolution of the eastern North China Craton(NCC).Zircon U-Pb data showed that low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic(~145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous(112-107 Ma),respectively;high-Mg adakitic diorite and mafic dikes were also emplaced during the Early Cretaceous at^139 Ma and ~118 Ma,and 125-145 Ma and 115-120 Ma,respectively.The geochemical data,including whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,imply that the mafic dikes originated from the partial melting of a lithospheric mantle metasomatised through hydrous fluids from a subducted oceanic slab.Low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions originated from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust of the NCC,while high-Mg adakitic diorite dikes originated from the mixing of mafic and felsic melts.Late Mesozoic magmatism showed that lithosphere-derived melts showed a similar source depth and that crust-derived felsic melts originated from the continuously thickened lower crust of the Jiaodong Peninsula from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.We infer that the lower crust of the eastern NCC was thickened through compression and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath the NCC during the Middle Jurassic.Slab rollback of the plate from ~160 Ma resulted in lithospheric thinning and accompanied Late Mesozoic magmatism.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Late Triassic Intrusive Rocks in the Xiuyan Area,Liaodong Peninsula,Eastern North China Craton:Petrogenesis and Implications for Lithospheric Thinning

The timing and mechanisms of lithospheric thinning and destruction of the North China Craton(NCC)remain controversial,and the overall geodynamics of the process are poorly understood.This paper documents Late Triassic igneous rocks including monzogranite,gabbro,and diorite from the Xiuyan District on the Liaodong Peninsula in the eastern NCC,which have LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of 229.0±0.4 Ma,216.2±0.9 Ma,and 210.6±2.0 Ma,respectively.Monzogranite shows high-SiO_(2) adakite affinity,negative ε_(Hf)(t)values(-20.6 to-17.9),and old T_(DM2) ages(3.53-3.29 Ga),suggesting that their parental magma was derived from thickened Paleoarchean mafic lower crust and minor mantle materials that were also involved their generation.Gabbro is ultrapotassic,strongly enriched in LREEs and LILEs,depleted in HFSEs,and has evolved zircon Hf isotopes with negative ε_(Hf) of -10.04 to-5.85 and old T_(DM2) ages(2.59-2.22 Ga).These are diagnostic signatures of a crustal component,but their high contents of Mg O,Cr,Co,Ni indicate that the primary magma originated from enriched mantle.Diorite is enriched in LILEs and LREEs,depleted in HFSEs(with negative Nb,Ta,and Ti anomalies),and contains negative ε_(Hf)(t)values(-13.64 to-11.01).Compared with the gabbro,the diorite is relatively enriched in Nb,Ta and HREEs,and also contains younger T_(DM2) ages(2.11-1.94 Ga),suggesting that the diorite was formed by mixing between ancient lower crust-derived felsic magmas and asthenospheric mantle-derived magmas.Field observations,geochronology,geochemistry,and zircon Lu-Hf isotopes indicate that Late Triassic magmatism and tectonic activity resulted from deep subduction of the Yangtze Craton beneath the NCC in the Xiuyan area.This phase of tectonic activity was completed in the eastern NCC by the Late Triassic(216 Ma),and was subsequently followed by lithospheric thinning that began in the Late Triassic.

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF LITHOSPHERE EVOLUTION IN THE NORTH CHINA CRATON: THERMAL THINNING VERSUS TECTONIC EXTENSION THINNING

The boundary between lithosphere and asthenosphere essentially represents a thermal boundary (the solidus). Temperature variation across this boundary can lead to the change of lithosphere thickness. In the case of elevated temperatures in a lithospheric layer above 1 200℃, partial melting will begin and the result of that is a thinned lithosphere. The other mechanism that can also thin lithosphere is extension. Stretching during an extension event can result in a thinner and longer lithosphere. The two mechanisms above are the reason why we can alserve large variations in lithosphere thickness spatially across various continents and temporally throughout the geological history.

Ancient deep roots for Mesozoic world-class gold deposits in the north China craton:An integrated genetic perspective

The North China Craton(NCC)hosts some of the world-class gold deposits that formed more than 2 billion years after the major orogenic cycles and cratonization.The diverse models for the genesis of these deposits remain equivocal,and mostly focused on the craton margin examples,although synchronous deposits formed in the interior domains.Here we adopt an integrated geological and geophysical perspective to evaluate the possible factors that contributed to the formation of the major gold deposits in the NCC.In the Archean tectonic framework of the NCC,the locations of the major gold deposits fall within or adjacent to greenstone belts or the margins of micro-continents.In the Paleoproterozoic framework,they are markedly aligned along two major collisional sutures-the Trans North China Orogen and the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt.Since the Mesozoic intrusions hosting these deposits do not carry adequate signals for the source of gold,we explore the deep roots based on available geophysical data.We show that the gold deposits are preferentially distributed above zones of uplifted MOHO and shallow LAB corresponding to thinned crust and eroded sub-lithospheric mantle,and that the mineralization is located above regions of high heat flow representing mantle upwelling.The NCC was at the center of a multi-convergent regime during the Mesozoic which intensely churned the mantle and significantly en riched it.The geophysical data on Moho and LAB upwarp from the centre towards east of the craton is more consistent with paleo-Pacific slab subduction from the east exerting the dominant control on lithospheric thinning.Based on these results,and together with an evaluation of the geochemical and isotopic features of the Mesozoic magmatic intrusions hosting the gold mineralization,we propose a genetic model that invokes reworking of ancient Au archives preserved in the lower crust and metasomatised upper mantle and which were generated through multiple subduction,underplating and cumulation events associated with cratonization of the NCC as well as the subduction-collision of Yangtze Craton with the NCC.The heat and material input along zones of heterogeneously thinned lithosphere from a rising turbulent mantle triggered by Mesozoic convergent margins surrounding the craton aided in reworking the deep roots of the ancient Au reservoirs,leading to the major gold metallogeny along craton margins as well as in the interior of the NCC.

Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP ages of the Taiping (calc-alkaline)-Huangshan (alkaline) composite intrusion:Constraints on Mesozoic lithospheric thinning of the southeastern Yangtze Craton,China

The Taiping-Huangshan composite intrusion is a unique complex with characteristics changing from calc-alkaline (Taiping intrusion) to alkaline (Huangshan intrusion). Huangshan intrusion samples show a spectacular tetrad effect in their REE distribution patterns as well as non-CHARAC (charge-and radius-controlled) trace element behavior, indicating a highly evolved late-stage magma component. This composite intrusion provides a rare opportunity to investigate the variance of tectonic setting and lithospheric thinning of the southeastern Yangtze Craton in late Mesozoic era. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses yield an emplacement age of 140.6±1.2 Ma for the Taiping intrusion, and ages of 127.7±1.3, 125.7±1.4, 125.1±1.5, and 125.2±5.5 Ma for four samples from the Huangshan intrusion respectively. The ages for four different phases of the Huangshan intrusion agree within their small analytical errors, indicating that the emplacement was in a short time. The Taiping and Huangshan intrusions are intimately associated, but there is about 15 Ma interval between their intrusion, and the magma characters change from calc-alkaline to alkaline without transition. This probably corresponds to lithospheric thinning of the southeastern Yangtze Craton. This event possibly happened from about 141 Ma (the emplacement age of the Taiping intrusion), to 128 Ma (start of emplacement of the Huangshan intrusion). The thinning mechanism is dominantly delamination.

中朝克拉通东部上地幔精细圈层结构:来自朝鲜核爆源深地震测深剖面的约束

晚中生代以来,中朝克拉通经历了一系列强烈构造和岩浆事件,岩石圈性质发生显著变化.为此,中朝克拉通“破坏”一词被提出,但破坏形态主要来自地表地质、地球化学、地壳结构和上地幔较大尺度的地震学成像等的约束.因较大能量的人工震源方法较难在人口密集的华北地区实施,基于深地震测深剖面对整个上地幔精细圈层结构的探究仍限于较少地区.为此,我们根据中国地震台网和部分流动台站记录的2017年9月3日朝鲜地下核试验地震数据,利用宽角反射/折射成像方法,揭示了中朝克拉通东部及邻区5个不同方位剖面的高垂向分辨率一维地壳和上地幔P波速度结构.结果显示,中朝克拉通东部及周边地区平均地壳厚度为29~30 km,全地壳平均速度在6.10~6.17 km·s^(-1)之间,远低于全球大陆地壳平均值,表明该区下地壳很薄甚至缺失,且在地壳底部可能存在因局部拆沉而形成的强水平各向异性.该区80 km左右深度可观测岩石圈正速度梯度内部间断面,推测其可能是由尖晶石到石榴石相变引起.在约220 km深度,我们探测到通常存在于稳定克拉通下方的Lehmann间断面,揭示中朝克拉通东部还部分保留类似稳定克拉通的圈层结构.介于80 km间断面和Lehmann间断面之间的上地幔P波速度较全球IASP91模型明显偏低,且上地幔震相(Pn、PL和P410)到时介于稳定克拉通区域和活动构造区域之间,表明中朝克拉通东部及邻区上地幔整体处于“冷”至“热”的过渡状态.

Thinning and destruction of the cratonic lithosphere:A global perspective

It has been proposed that the North China Craton(NCC)was thinned up to a thickness of>100 km during the Phanerozoic,and underwent an associated craton destruction.Evidently,it is an important topic worthy of future study to understanding the mechanism of cratonic destruction and its role played in the continental evolution.After synthesized the global cratons of India,Brazil,South Africa,Siberia,East Europe(Baltic)and North America,we found that lithospheric thinning is common in the cratonic evolution,but it is not always associated with craton destruction.Most cratons was thinned by thermal erosion of mantle plume or mantle upwelling,which,however,may not cause craton destruction.Based on the studies of the North American and North China Cratons,we suggest that oceanic subduction plays an important role in caton destruction.Fluids or melts released by dehydration of the subducted slabs metasomatize the mantle wedge above and trigger extensive partial melting.More importantly,the metasomatized mantle lost its original rigidity and make craton easier to be deformed and then to be destoyed.Therefore,we suggest that the widespread crust-derived granite and large-scale ductile deformation within the continental crust can be regarded as the petrological and structural indicators of craton destruction,respectively.

Formation time of the big mantle wedge beneath eastern China and a new lithospheric thinning mechanism of the North China craton—Geodynamic effects of deep recycled carbon

High-resolution P wave tomography shows that the subducting Pacific slab is stagnant in the mantle transition zone and forms a big mantle wedge beneath eastern China. The Mg isotopic investigation of large numbers of mantle-derived volcanic rocks from eastern China has revealed that carbonates carried by the subducted slab have been recycled into the upper mantle and formed carbonated peridotite overlying the mantle transition zone, which becomes the sources of various basalts. These basalts display light Mg isotopic compositions(δ26 Mg = –0.60‰ to –0.30‰) and relatively low87 Sr/86 Sr ratios(0.70314–0.70564) with ages ranging from 106 Ma to Quaternary, suggesting that their mantle source had been hybridized by recycled magnesite with minor dolomite and their initial melting occurred at 300-360 km in depth. Therefore, the carbonate metasomatism of their mantle source should have occurred at the depth larger than 360 km, which means that the subducted slab should be stagnant in the mantle transition zone forming the big mantle wedge before 106 Ma. This timing supports the rollback model of subducting slab to form the big mantle wedge. Based on high P-T experiment results, when carbonated silicate melts produced by partial melting of carbonated peridotite was raising and reached the bottom(180–120 km in depth) of cratonic lithosphere in North China, the carbonated silicate melts should have 25–18 wt% CO2 contents, with lower Si O2 and Al2 O3 contents, and higher Ca O/Al2 O3 values, similar to those of nephelinites and basanites, and have higher εNdvalues(2 to 6). The carbonatited silicate melts migrated upward and metasomatized the overlying lithospheric mantle, resulting in carbonated peridotite in the bottom of continental lithosphere beneath eastern China. As the craton lithospheric geotherm intersects the solidus of carbonated peridotite at 130 km in depth, the carbonated peridotite in the bottom of cratonic lithosphere should be partially melted, thus its physical characters are similar to the asthenosphere and it could be easily replaced by convective mantle. The newly formed carbonated silicate melts will migrate upward and metasomatize the overlying lithospheric mantle. Similarly, such metasomatism and partial melting processes repeat, and as a result the cratonic lithosphere in North China would be thinning and the carbonated silicate partial melts will be transformed to high-Si O2 alkali basalts with lower εNdvalues(to-2). As the lithospheric thinning goes on,initial melting depth of carbonated peridotite must decrease from 130 km to close 70 km, because the craton geotherm changed to approach oceanic lithosphere geotherm along with lithospheric thinning of the North China craton. Consequently, the interaction between carbonated silicate melt and cratonic lithosphere is a possible mechanism for lithosphere thinning of the North China craton during the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Based on the age statistics of low δ26 Mg basalts in eastern China, the lithospheric thinning processes caused by carbonated metasomatism and partial melting in eastern China are limited in a timespan from 106 to25 Ma, but increased quickly after 25 Ma. Therefore, there are two peak times for the lithospheric thinning of the North China craton: the first peak in 135-115 Ma simultaneously with the cratonic destruction, and the second peak caused by interaction between carbonated silicate melt and lithosphere mainly after 25 Ma. The later decreased the lithospheric thickness to about70 km in the eastern part of North China craton.

Edge-driven convection and thinning of craton lithosphere:Two-dimensional thermal-mechanical modeling

There are usually abrupt changes in lithospheric thickness at the boundaries between ancient cratons and adjacent young mobile belts.Lateral variations in temperature and density between the two can trigger small-scale mantle convection(edge-driven convection,EDC).Here,we use two-dimensional thermal-mechanical simulations to explore the EDC caused by the lithospheric step between a craton and a mobile belt,and its role in the thinning of the craton lithosphere.The results show that the impact of EDC on a craton depends on the properties of the craton lithosphere and on their contrasts with the adjacent mobile belt,given the same initial condition.When the craton lithospheric density is relatively large,a high-strength craton has strong ability to resist EDC,and craton lithospheric thinning is limited to the edge.In contrast,the ability of a low-strength craton to resist EDC is weak,and the craton lithosphere is gradually eroded by the downward flow,eventually leading to large-scale thinning of the cratonic lithosphere.When the craton lithospheric density is relatively small,regardless of the strength of the cratonic lithosphere,the craton can well withstand the impacts of EDC.In this case,upwelling flow drives cratonic lithosphere materials to the base of the mobile belt,and lithospheric thinning only occurs at the edge of the craton lithosphere.The Archean North China Craton(NCC)was surrounded by Phanerozoic mobile belts,and its lithospheric thinning first occurred on the northern and eastern margins,a process that lasted for a long time.We suggest that EDC has played an important role in lithospheric thinning of the NCC,in particular the initiation of lithospheric thinning,but we cannot rule out the additional contributions from other mechanisms.

Thermal convection thinning of the North China Craton: Numerical simulation

We used twodimensional numerical simulations to investigate smallscale convection in the upper mantlelithosphere system with depth and temperaturedependent viscosity. Our aim was to examine the mechanism of craton thinning by thermal con vection. The model domain is 700 km deep and 700 km wide with a resolution of 71x71 nodes and 160000 markers. The ve locity boundary conditions are freeslip along all the boundaries. A thermal insulation condition was applied at the two side walls, with constant temperatures for the top and bottom boundaries. We assumed an initial temperature of 273 K at the upper boundary and 1673 K at the lower boundary, and 1573 K at the bottom of the lithosphere （200 km depth） for the thick, cold, and stable North China Craton （NCC）. We calculated the thermal evolution in the upper mantle when the temperature at its bottom is raised because of lower mantle convection or plumes. The temperature at the bottom of the upper mantle was set at 1773, 1873, 1973, and 2073 K for different models to study the temperature effect on the lithospheric thinning processes. Our endmember calculations show that with the bottom boundary raising the lithosphere can be thinned from a depth of 200 km to a depth of between 100 and 126.25 km. The thinning rates are at mm/y order of magnitude, and the thinning timescale is about 10 Ma.

Dynamics of thinning and destruction of the continental cratonic lithosphere: Numerical modeling

Thinning of the cratonic lithosphere is common in nature, but its destruction is not. In either case, the mechanisms for both thinning and destruction are still widely under debate. In this study, we have made a review on the processes and mechanisms of thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere according to previous studies of geological/geophysical observations and numerical simulations, with specific application to the North China Craton(NCC). Two main models are suggested for the thinning and destruction of the NCC, both of which are related to subduction of the oceanic lithosphere. One is the "bottom-up" model, in which the deeply subducting slab perturbs and induces upwelling from the hydrous mantle transition zone(MTZ). The upwelling produces mantle convection and erodes the bottom of the overriding lithosphere by the fluid-meltperidotite reaction. Mineral compositions and rheological properties of the overriding lithospheric mantle are changed, allowing downward dripping of lithospheric components into the asthenosphere. Consequently, lithospheric thinning or even destruction occurs. The other is the "top-down" model, characterized by the flat subduction of oceanic slab beneath the overriding cratonic lithosphere. Dehydration reactions from the subducting slab would significantly hydrate the lithospheric mantle and decrease its rheological strength. Then the subduction angle may be changed from shallow to steep, inducing lateral upwelling of the asthenosphere. This upwelling would heat and weaken the overriding lithospheric mantle, which led to the weakened lithospheric mantle dripping into the asthenosphere. These two models have some similarities, in that both take the subducting oceanic slab and relevant fluid migration as the major driving mechanism for thinning or destruction of the overriding cratonic lithosphere. The key difference between the two models is the effective depth of the subducting oceanic slab. One is stagnation and flattening in the MTZ, whereas the other is flat subduction at the bottom of the cratonic lithosphere. In the NCC, the eastern lithosphere was likely affected by subduction of the Izanagi slab during the Mesozoic, which would have perturbed the asthenosphere and the MTZ, and induced fluid migration beneath the NCC lithosphere. The upwelling fluid may largely have controlled the reworking of the NCC lithosphere. In order to discuss and analyze these two models further, it is crucial to understand the role of fluids in the subduction zone and the MTZ. Here, we systematically discuss phase transformations of hydrous minerals and the transport processes of water in the subduction system. Furthermore, we analyze possible modes of fluid activity and the problems to explore the applied feasibility of each model. In order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms for thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere, we also consider four additional possible dynamic models: extension-induced lithospheric thinning, compression-induced lithospheric thickening and delamination, large-scale mantle convection and thermal erosion, and mantle plume erosion. Compared to the subduction-related models presented here, these four models are primarily controlled by the relatively simple and single process and mechanism(extension, compression, convection, and mantle plume, respectively), which could be the secondary driving mechanisms for the thinning and destruction of lithosphere.

Mesozoic mafic magmatism in North China:Implications for thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere

The North China Craton(NCC) has been thinned from >200 km to <100 km in its eastern part. The ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle(SCLM) has been replaced by the juvenile SCLM in the Meoszoic. During this period, the NCC was destructed as indicated by extensive magmatism in the Early Cretaceous. While there is a consensus on the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere in North China, it has been hotly debated about the mechanism of cartonic destruction.This study attempts to provide a resolution to current debates in the view of Mesozoic mafic magmatism in North China. We made a compilation of geochemical data available for Mesozoic mafic igneous rocks in the NCC. The results indicate that these mafic igneous rocks can be categorized into two series,manifesting a dramatic change in the nature of mantle sources at ~121 Ma. Mafic igneous rocks emplaced at this age start to show both oceanic island basalts(OIB)-like trace element distribution patterns and depleted to weakly enriched Sr-Nd isotope compositions. In contrast,mafic igneous rocks emplaced before and after this age exhibit both island arc basalts(IAB)-like trace element distribution patterrs and enriched Sr-Nd isotope compositions.This difference indicates a geochemical mutation in the SCLM of North China at^121 Ma. Although mafic magmatism also took place in the Late Triassic, it was related to exhumation of the deeply subducted South China continental crust because the subduction of Paleo-Pacific slab was not operated at that time. Paleo-Pacific slab started to subduct beneath the eastern margin of Eruasian continent since the Jurrasic. The subducting slab and its overlying SCLM wedge were coupled in the Jurassic, and slab dehydration resulted in hydration and weakening of the cratonic mantle. The mantle sources of ancient IAB-like mafic igneous rocks are a kind of ultramafic metasomatites that were generated by reaction of the cratonic mantle wedge peridotite notonly with aqueous solutions derived from dehydration of the subducting Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust in the Jurassic but also with hydrous melts derived from partial melting of the subducting South China continental crust in the Triassic. On the other hand, the mantle sources of juvenile OIB-like mafic igneous rocks are also a kind of ultramafic metasomatites that were generated by reaction of the asthenospheric mantle underneath the North China lithosphere with hydrous felsic melts derived from partial melting of the subducting Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust. The subducting Paleo-Pacific slab became rollback at^144 Ma. Afterwards the SCLM base was heated by laterally filled asthenospheric mantle, leading to thinning of the hydrated and weakened cratonic mantle. There was extensive bimodal magmatism at 130 to 120 Ma, marking intensive destruction of the cratonic lithosphere. Not only the ultramafic metasomatites in the lower part of the cratonic mantle wedge underwent partial melting to produce mafic igneous rocks showing negative ε_(Nd)(t) values, depletion in Nb and Ta but enrichment in Pb, but also the lower continent crust overlying the cratonic mantle wedge was heated for extensive felsic magmatism. At the same time, the rollback slab surface was heated by the laterally filled astheno spheric mantle, resulting in partial melting of the previously dehydrated rocks beyond rutile stability on the slab surface. This produce still hydrous felsic melts, which metasomatized the overlying astheno spheric mantle peridotite to generate the ultramafic metasomatites that show positive ε_(Nd)(t) values, no depletion or even enrichment in Nb and Ta but depletion in Pb. Partial melting of such metasomatites started at^121 Ma, giving rise to the mafic igneous rocks with juvenile OIB-like geochemical signatures. In this context, the age of ~121 Ma may terminate replacement of the ancient SCLM by the juvenile SCLM in North China. Paleo-Pacific slab was not subducted to the mantle transition zone in the Mesozoic as revealed by moder seismic tomography, and it was subducted at a low angle since the Jurassic, like the subduction of Nazca Plate beneath American continent. This flat subduction would not only chemically metasomatize the cratonic mantle but also physically erode the cratonic mantle. Therefore, the interaction between Paleo-Pacific slab and the cratonic mantle is the first-order geodynamic mechanism for the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere in North China.

华北克拉通晚中生代壳-幔拆离作用:岩石流变学约束

大陆岩石圈的流变学结构对于岩石圈深部过程(壳/幔过程)有着深刻的影响,直接表现在岩石圈壳-幔结构与浅部构造上。本文注意到华北克拉通晚中生代岩石圈减薄期间地壳的伸展、拆离与减薄在不同地区的宏观、微观构造及地壳岩石流变学等方面的差异表现与区域变化,以及现今和晚中生代时期岩石圈厚度的不均匀性。讨论了以水为主体的地质流体的存在对于岩石圈流变性的影响。综合克拉通东部与西部地壳/地幔厚度变化特点以及下地壳和上地幔含水性特点,阐述了晚中生代时期华北克拉通岩石圈内部壳幔耦合与解耦的规律,提出了华北岩石圈壳-幔拆离作用模型以解释华北克拉通晚中生代岩石圈减薄的基本现象与深部过程。提出区域性伸展作用是岩石圈减薄的主要动力学因素,东部地区在晚中生代伸展作用过程中壳-幔具有典型的解耦性,上部地壳、下部地壳和岩石圈地幔的变形具有显著差异性。而西部区壳幔总体具有耦合性,下地壳与岩石圈地幔共同构成流变学强度很高且难以变形的岩石圈根。

华北岩石圈减薄与克拉通破坏研究的主要学术争论

华北岩石圈减薄是近十年来国内外研究的热门课题,但关于岩石圈减薄的具体时间、减薄幅度、空间分布范围、机制及其构造控制因素,多有争论。本文对上述问题进行了全面的回顾与讨论,内容包括:(1)是克拉通破坏还是岩石圈减薄;(2)古生代以来华北克拉通岩石圈地幔时代与壳幔解耦;(3)岩石圈减薄与克拉通破坏发生的时间;(4)岩石圈减薄的垂向幅度;(5)克拉通破坏在中国东部的空间分布;(6)克拉通破坏机制;(7)克拉通破坏的地球动力学原因;(8)华北克拉通破坏在世界上的特殊性等。文后,汇编了近10余年来华北岩石圈减薄与克拉通破坏研究的重要文献。

华北克拉通东部中生代岩石圈减薄的过程与机制:中生代火成岩和深源捕虏体证据

基于最新的同位素年代学资料 ,华北克拉通东部中生代的岩浆作用可划分成四个阶段 ,即晚三叠世 ( 2 0 5～ 2 2 5Ma)碱性岩浆作用 ;中晚侏罗世 ( 1 5 5～ 1 6 0Ma)花岗质岩浆作用 ;早白垩世 ( 1 1 2～ 1 32Ma)双峰式岩浆作用和晚白垩世 ( 92～ 73Ma)碱性玄武质岩浆作用。徐淮地区中生代侵入岩中榴辉岩捕虏体的发现及其地质年代学资料 ( 2 1 9Ma)表明 ,华北克拉通东部中生代早期曾发生过一次重要的陆壳加厚过程。俯冲板片的断离以及高压—超高压变质岩的快速折返和晚三叠世 ( 2 0 5～ 2 2 5Ma)的碱性岩浆作用的存在均暗示 ,华北克拉通中生代岩石圈减薄已经开始。拆沉作用则是引起中生代早期岩石圈减薄的主要机制。中、晚侏罗世 ( 1 5 5～ 1 6 0Ma)花岗质岩浆作用形成于造山期后的伸展环境 ,代表了中生代岩石圈减薄的继续和发展。早白垩世 ( 1 1 2～ 1 32Ma)双峰式岩浆作用表明中生代岩石圈减薄达到了峰期。而幔源纯橄岩捕虏体中富硅质熔体的交代作用和玄武岩的高87Sr/ 86Sr值、低ε(Nd ,t)值特征表明 ,软流圈对岩石圈底部的化学侵蚀可能是导致该阶段岩石圈减薄的主导机制。晚白垩世 ( 92～ 73Ma)碱性玄武质岩浆作用和“海洋型”

华北克拉通东部中生代高Mg闪长岩——对岩石圈减薄机制的制约

在华北克拉通东部鲁西—徐淮地区,存在一套辉石闪长岩-二长闪长岩-花岗闪长岩组成的adakitic岩石。锆石SHRI MP和LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明它们形成于早白垩世(130~132Ma)。该类岩石具有较高的MgO含量(质量分数为1·46%~9·76%)、高的Mg#值(0·46~0·68)和高的Sr/Y值(主体介于30~52之间,个别高达410)。这些特征类似于由俯冲大洋板片部分熔融形成的adakitic岩石。然而,它们所表现出来的相对较高的87Sr/86Sr初始比值(0·7051~0·7077)和较低的εNd(t)值(-4·43^-15·92)则反映岩浆形成或演化过程中应有陆壳物质的参与。徐淮地区该类岩石中榴辉岩类捕虏体和石榴石捕虏晶的存在和鲁西辉石闪长岩中众多地幔橄榄岩捕虏体的发现,以及这些捕虏体中普遍发育富硅质交代作用,由此可以判定该类岩浆应起源于拆沉下部大陆地壳的部分熔融及其在上升过程中与地幔橄榄岩的反应,石榴石作为残留相。华北克拉通东部早白垩世adakitic岩石的存在以及榴辉岩类捕虏体的年代学表明,中生代早期曾存在一次重要的陆壳加厚过程,之后相继出现的加厚岩石圈的拆沉应是中生代岩石圈减薄的主导机制。

地壳的拆离作用与华北克拉通破坏：晚中生代伸展构造约束

伸展条件下的地壳拆离作用是岩石圈减薄的重要浅部构造响应。晚中生代时期的伸展构造（包括拆离断层、变质核杂岩构造和断陷盆地）在华北、华南、东北和东蒙古及贝加尔地区普遍发育，它们切过上部地壳（断陷盆地）、中、上地壳（拆离断层）或中部地壳（变质核杂岩）。地壳拆离作用具有运动学极性（NWW或SEE）、几何学宏观（区域）对称与微观（局部）不对称性、遍布全区但不均匀性，以及形成时间的跨越性（140～60Ma）等特点，并使得地壳和岩石圈发生显著的减薄。本文研究揭示出现令岩石圈厚度变化与晚中生代伸展构造的发育程度和分布之间并没有必然的联系。其变化的基本规律是，除新生代裂陷发育区岩石圈厚度明显较小且厚度有迅速变化外，从华北向贝加尔地区总体的变化趋势是逐渐加厚，也即东亚地区岩石圈具有楔形形态。晚中生代时期的地壳（或地幔）拆离作用伴随着广泛的岩石圈减薄作用，区域岩石圈同时遭受到一定程度的减薄和破坏，华北克拉通在这一时期的破坏仅仅是区域岩石圈减薄在华北的具体体现。

华北克拉通金矿床区域成矿差异性分析

华北克拉通金成矿具区域差异性。这种差异性主要表现为时间上的阶段性或多期性,空间上的不均匀性和局部集中性。在空间上,金矿主要集中分布于胶东、鲁西、小秦岭、熊耳山、冀东、辽西、辽东及吉林南部等地区。元素组合上,华北克拉通北缘为强烈的金钼铜矿化,南缘发育金钼矿化,而东缘则以金矿化为特征;早期为金钼铅锌矿,到主期为金矿,晚期为金银组合。华北克拉通金矿的成矿时代以早白垩世为主,次为中—晚三叠世,少量为侏罗纪,其中小秦岭、熊耳山、太行山地区金矿的成矿年龄总体稍大于胶东金矿年龄,冀东的金厂峪、峪耳崖和牛心山等几个大中型金矿形成于三叠纪—侏罗纪,辽东地区白云、猫岭等金矿的成矿时代为三叠纪—侏罗纪。由此可见,华北克拉通金矿的成矿时代除大体具一致性外,成矿时代差异性也是一大特征。华北克拉通金矿分布的差异性主要受区域及周边地质体的构造演化及其相互作用、矿区变质岩基底遭受后期热液蚀变和金活化迁移作用、中生代岩浆活动等因素控制。中侏罗世及其以前,华北克拉通的构造演化主要受中亚造山带和秦岭—大别造山带的影响,在华北克拉通北缘发生了挤压到伸展作用的转变,局部出现地幔上隆与岩石圈减薄,沿EW向发育了一系列三叠纪—早侏罗世岩浆活动,甚至出现碱性岩,同时形成了一系列金钼铜矿床和金矿床。这也是华北克拉通形成后在北缘遭受的首次克拉通破坏与金矿成矿事件。在白垩纪及其以后,华北克拉通地质演化主要受古太平洋板块活动的引领,华北克拉通遭受大规模岩石圈减薄和破坏,由此引发金矿的更大规模成矿作用。金矿区变质岩围岩能否提供成矿物质,并不完全取决于Au含量,而是决定于是否发生一种或多种地质作用,能够把岩石中的金活化和萃取出来,同时被热液搬运,并在合适的构造环境下富集。花岗岩类和中基性岩脉对金矿的影响主要是"热机"的作用,是成矿热液(岩浆热液)的提供源,也是部分矿质的可能来源。

安徽庐枞火山岩盆地橄榄玄粗岩系的地球化学特征及其对下扬子地区晚中生代岩石圈减薄机制的约束

庐枞盆地内的中生代火山-潜火山岩具高钾和相对富碱为特性,属典型的橄榄玄粗岩系列。它们在地球化学上表现出明显富集Rb、Th、U、K等强不相容元素和轻稀土元素,亏损高场强元素Nb和Ta的特征。Nd、Sr同位素组成总体位于富集型的扬子克拉通岩石圈地幔的范围内或其附近,显示其母岩浆主要是由富集型地幔部分熔融形成的。火山-潜火山岩的成分变异趋势显示橄榄玄粗质幔源岩浆在高压下(斜长石稳定压力之下,>1.5GPa)经历过以单斜辉石和钛铁氧化物为主的矿物分离结晶作用。低压下矿物的分离结晶作用及上地壳物质的混染则不明显。这套火山-潜火山岩的部分地球化学性质(如Ce/Yb比值)类似于大洋岛弧内的橄榄玄粗岩,可能意味着区内由于岩石圈的减薄,软流圈地幔上涌到了岩石圈相对较浅的部位,控制源区部分熔融的主要是尖晶石相地幔岩。虽然局部(如靠近郯庐断裂的盆地西缘)可能存在着明显的热侵蚀,但"突发性的"机械拆沉是区内(乃至整个长江中下游地区)岩石圈减薄的主要机制。在整个晚中生代岩石圈减薄的过程中,这两种机制可能一直相互促进着。

华北克拉通构造活化的动力学机制与模型

在分析现有华北克拉通构造活化动力学机制研究成果和资料的基础上,简要讨论了两类可导致华北克拉通减薄的动力学机制:"热侵蚀"减薄机制和"拆沉"减薄机制。指出了与这两类动力学机制所相应的科学理论,即Rayleigh-Benard非稳定性理论和Rayleigh-Taylor非稳定性理论。考虑到这两类科学理论的局限性,建议采用孔隙波在大陆岩石圈内传质传热模型描述华北克拉通构造活化动力学机制的量变过程(即能量积累过程),同时进一步完善和修正现有的Rayleigh-Benard非稳定性理论和Rayleigh-Taylor非稳定性理论,为实现在空间和时间上定量化重现华北克拉通构造活化动力学过程的数值仿真创造必要的条件。