西藏拉萨地块西部扎布耶茶卡火山岩的成因与意义

近年来在青藏高原南部拉萨地块不断发现的碰撞后钾质和超钾质岩石,对于揭示印度与亚洲大陆碰撞以来高原岩石圈的深部作用与过程发挥了重要作用。分布在拉萨地块西部扎布耶茶卡东岸的钾质和超钾质火山岩主体喷发时代为中新世（约16Ma）,出露面积约为400km2,火山岩持续喷发0.45Ma,估算的喷发速率约为0.26×10-3km3/a。岩石包括3种类型,第一类（约16Ma）为超钾质的粗面安山岩,SiO2低（55%-58%）,高Fe2O3、MgO、TiO2 第二类（约27Ma）为钾玄质的响岩和粗面岩 第三类是高SiO2的钾玄质—超钾质粗面岩（SiO2=59%-64%）和流纹岩（SiO2=69%）。岩石显示轻稀土元素、大离子亲石元素高度富集和部分高场强元素亏损的特征,部分中酸性岩石显示高Sr低Y的埃达克岩的属性。岩石的Sr-Nd-Pb-O同位素组成与拉萨地块典型的超钾质岩石明显不同,显示亲青藏高原北部地球化学省的地球化学特征。扎布耶茶卡不同类型的岩浆代表了碰撞后高原南部岩石圈减薄作用导致的岩石圈不同层次的岩石部分熔融的产物。

俯冲带形成机制的可检验假说和检验方案

五十年前板块构造理论的诞生是地球科学领域的一场革命,它为理解地球如何运作构建了基本框架。过去五十年对该理论的进一步研究告诉我们地质过程最终都是地球热损失的结果。例如,大洋岩石圈板块在洋中脊形成,其运动和增生以及最终通过俯冲带进入地幔导致地幔冷却降温,从而导致大规模的地幔对流。亦即,板块构造的直接驱动力是俯冲大洋岩石圈板块的下沉力。因此,没有俯冲带就没有板块构造,但是俯冲带如何开始仍然有争议。对俯冲起始的研究从未中断,有数值模拟也有地质推断。2014年在西太平洋用三个IODP航次(350、351和352)来检验“自发”和“诱发”俯冲开始的想法。所有这些努力都值得肯定,但这些是无法检验的想法。无法检验意味着没有结果。本文介绍至今唯一可用地质学方法检验的假说,亦即“岩石圈内横向物质组成差异导致的浮力差是俯冲带形成的起因”。这种浮力差位于海底高原的边部和被动大陆边缘,因此这些部位是未来俯冲带起始的必然轨迹。在远离这些部位的正常洋盆内因缺乏浮力差而俯冲带不可能起始。换句话说,“所有岛弧一定有大陆(或海底高原)基底”,这可以通过采集和研究岛弧基底岩石来验证。

Petrogenesis of Mesozoic granitoids and volcanic rocks in South China： A response to tectonic evolution

This paper summarizes the new results on the petrogenesis of Mesozoic granitoids and volcanic rocks in South China. The authors propose that these rocks were formed in time and space as a response to regional tectonic regime change from the continent-continent collision of the Indosinian orogeny within the broad Tethyan orogenic domain in the Early Mesozoic （T1-T3） （Period Ⅰ） to the largely extensional setting as a result of the Yanshanian orogeny genetically associated with the NW-WNW-ward subduction of the paleo-Pacific oceanic lithosphere in the Late Mesozoic （J2-K2） （Period Ⅱ）. Of the Period I Indosinian granitoids, the early （T1-T2^1） ones are syn-collisional, and formed in a compressional setting; the late （T2^2-T3） ones are latecollisional, and formed in a locally extensional environment. During the Period Ⅱ Yanshanian magmatism, the Early Yanshanian （J2-J3） granitoid-volcanic rocks, which are distributed mainly in the Nanling Range and in the interior of the South China tectonic block （SCB）, are characteristic of rift-type intraplate magmatism, whereas the Late Yanshanian K1 granitoidovolcanic rocks are interpreted as genetically representing active continental margin magmatism. The K2 tholeiitic basalts interlayered with red beds are interpreted as genetically associated with the development of back-arc extensional basins in the interior of the SCB. The Yanshanian granitoid-volcanic rocks are distributed widely in South China, reflecting extensional tectonics within much of the SCB. The extension-induced deep crustal melting and underplating of mantle-derived basaltic melts are suggested as the two principal driving mechanisms for the Yanshanian granitic magmatism in South China.

Origin of the LLSVPs at the base of the mantle is a consequence of plate tectonics-A petrological and geochemical perspective

In studying the petrogenesis of intra-plate ocean island basalts(OIB) associated with hotspots or mantle plumes, we hypothesized that the two large-low-shear-wave-velocity provinces(LLSVPs) at the base of the mantle beneath the Pacific(Jason) and Africa(Tuzo) are piles of subducted ocean crust(SOC)accumulated over Earth's history. This hypothesis was formulated using petrology, geochemistry and mineral physics in the context of plate tectonics and mantle circulation. Because the current debate on the origin of the LLSVPs is limited to the geophysical community and modelling discipline and because it is apparent that such debate cannot be resolved without considering relevant petrological and geochemical information, it is my motivation here to objectively discuss such information in a readily accessible manner with new perspectives in light of most recent discoveries. The hypothesis has the following elements:(1) subduction of the ocean crust of basaltic composition to the lower mantle is irreversible because(2) SOC is denser than the ambience of peridotitic composition under lower mantle conditions in both solid state and liquid form;(3) this understanding differs from the widespread view that OIB come from ancient SOC that returns from the lower mantle by mantle plumes, but is fully consistent with the understanding that OIB is not derived from SOC because SOC is chemically and isotopically too depleted to meet the requirement for any known OIB suite on Earth;(4) SOC is thus the best candidate for the LLSVPs, which are, in turn, the permanent graveyard of SOC;(5) the LLSVPs act as thermal insulators, making core-heating induced mantle diapirs or plumes initiated at their edges, which explains why the large igneous provinces(LIPs) are associated with the edges of the LLSVPs;(6) the antipodal positioning of Jason and Tuzo represents the optimal momentum of inertia, which explains why the LLSVPs are stable in the spinning Earth.

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Triassic rhyolites in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, northern Tibetan Plateau

The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt(EKOB),which is in the northern part of the Greater Tibetan Plateau,contains voluminous Late Triassic intermediate-felsic volcanic rocks.In the east end of the EKOB,we identified highly differentiated peralkaline-like Xiangride rhyolites(~209 Ma)that differ from the widespread andesitic-rhyolitic Elashan volcanics(~232–225 Ma)in terms of their field occurrences and mineral assemblages.The older,more common calc-alkaline felsic Elashan volcanics may have originated from partial melting of the underthrust Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust under amphibolite facies conditions associated with continental collision.The felsic Elashan volcanics and syn-collisional granitoids of the EKOB are different products of the same magmatic event related to continental collision.The Xiangride rhyolites are characterized by elevated abundances of high field strength elements,especially the very high Nb and Ta contents,the very low Ba,Sr,Eu,P,and Ti contents;and the variably high ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios(up to 0.96),exhibiting remarkable similarities to the characteristic peralkaline rhyolites.The primitive magmas parental to the Xiangride rhyolites were most likely alkali basaltic magmas that underwent protracted fractional crystallization with continental crust contamination.The rock associations from the early granitoids and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks to the late alkaline basaltic dikes and peralkaline-like rhyolites in the Triassic provide important information about the tectonic evolution of the EKOB from syn-collisional to post-collisional.We infer that the transition from collisional compression to postcollisional extension occurred at about 220 Ma.

A re-assessment of nickel-doping method in iron isotope analysis on rock samples using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Element doping has been proved to be a useful method to correct for the mass bias fractionation when analyzing iron isotope compositions.We present a systematic re-assessment on how the doped nickel may affect the iron isotope analysis in this study by carrying out several experiments.We find three important factors that can affect the analytical results,including the Ni:Fe ratio in the analyte solutions,the match of the Ni:Fe ratio between the unknown sample and standard solutions,and the match of the Fe concentration between the sample and standard solutions.Thus,caution is required when adding Ni to the analyte Fe solutions before analysis.Using our method,theδ56Fe and δ57Fe values of the USGS standards W-2 a,BHVO-2,BCR-2,AGV-2 and GSP-2 are consistent with the recommended literature values,and the long-term(one year) external reproducibility is better than 0.03 and 0.05‰(2 SD) for δ56Fe and δ57Fe,respectively.Therefore,the analytical method established in our laboratory is a method of choice for high quantity Fe isotope data in geological materials.

The Origin, Evolution and Present State of Subcontinental Lithosphere——an IUGS-SECE conference

The international conference, The origin, evolution and present state of subcontinental lithosphere, was held at Peking University, Beijing, China, June 25th to 30th, 2005. It had two components： a three-day indoor symposium followed by a three-day field excursion. It was organized and co-spon-sored by the IUGS Commission on Solid Earth Composition and Evolution （SECE）, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Elsevier Publisher, Peking University, China University of Geosciences in Beijing and Institute of Geology and Geophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Frontiers in geoscience: A tribute to Prof. Xuanxue Mo-Preface

In response to the proposal by the Earth Science community of China,we are delighted to organize this special issue of Geoscience Frontiers(GSF)in honor of the work by Xuanxue Mo,Professor of Petrology and Geochemistry of China University of Geosciences(Beijing)and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,as a tribute to him on his 80th birthday.In his over 50 years of professional career,Prof.Mo has contributed enormously to the developments of China’s Earth Sciences and it is fair to say that Prof.Mo is one of the most influential administrators,educators and researchers in China’s Earth Science community and also internationally.The research papers assembled in this special issue reflect the authors’appreciation of Prof.Mo who has benefitted them as students,collaborators and colleagues over the years.

Correction to:A re-assessment of nickel-doping method in iron isotope analysis on rock samples using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Fig.7 Iron isotope compositions of various geological samples relative to IRMM-014 analyzed over the period of three months.The gray line represents a linear regression ofδ^56Fe vs.δ^57 Fe with a slope of 1.490±0.015(SE)(R^2=0.9665,N=332).This relationship is statistically consistent with both theoretical predictions of mass-dependent isotope fractionation(slope of 1.475;Young et al.2002)and with previously measured isotopic mass-dependent fractionation trends using Nu Plasma(slope of 1.482;Chen et.al.2017a).

Oceanic lithosphere-asthenosphere decoupling is required for the functioning of plate tectonics

Evidence of seafloor spreading[1,2]proved the seafloor-spreading hypothesis[3]and led to the discovery of plate tectonics.A further observation-based analysis showed that seafloor-spreading results from downward pulling of the subducting slab[4],which drives plate tectonics and dictates the first order pattern of mantle convection[5](Fig.1a).Continental drift is understood as a passive response to trench retreat under gravity due to seafloor subduction[6].All this,plus the understanding that ocean ridges are passive features[7],has completed the paradigm of the plate tectonics theory.However,a fundamental issue concerning mantle flow subjacent to the spreading oceanic lithosphere remains widely misperceived(Fig.1b,c),which needs correction so as to better appreciate the efficacies of the plate tectonics theory and to correctly understand the origin and evolution of oceanic lithosphere as well as processes of chemical differentiation of the Earth.

Exotic origin of the Chinese continental shelf: new insights into the tectonic evolution of the western Pacific and eastern China since the Mesozoic

The effect of paleo-Pacific subduction on the geological evolution of the western Pacific and continental China is likely complex. Nevertheless, our analysis of the distribution of Mesozoic granitoids in the eastern continental China in space and time has led us to an interesting conclusion： The basement of the continental shelf beneath East and South China Seas may actually be of exotic origin geologically unrelated to the continental lithosphere of eastern China. By accepting the notion that the Jurassic- Cretaceous granitoids in the region are genetically associated with western Pacific subduction and the concept that subduction may cease to continue only if the trench is being jammed, then the termination of the granitoid magmatism throughout the vast region at -88±2 Ma manifests the likelihood of ＂sudden＂, or shortly beforehand （- 100 Ma）, trench jam of the Mesozoic western Pacific subduction. Trench jam happens if the incoming ＂plate＂ or portion of the plate contains a sizeable mass that is too buoyant to subduct. The best candidate for such a buoyant and unsubductable mass is either an oceanic plateau or a micro-continent. We hypothesize that the basement of the Chinese continental shelf represents such an exotic, buoyant and unsubductable mass, rather than seaward extension of the continental lithosphere of eastern China. The locus of the jammed trench （i.e., the suture） is predictably located on the shelf in the vicinity of, and parallel to, the arc-curved coastal line of the southeast continental China. It is not straightforward to locate the locus in the northern section of the East China Sea shelf because of the more recent （〈20 Ma） tectonic re-organization associated with the opening of the Sea of Japan. We predict that the trench jam at - 100 Ma led to the re-orientation of the Pacific plate motion in the course of NNW direction as inferred from the age-progressive Emperor Seamount Chain of Hawaiian hotspot origin （its oldest unsubdued Meiji and Detroit seamounts are -82 Ma）, making the boundary between the Pacific plate and the newly accreted plate of eastern Asia transform fault at the location east of the continental shelf of exotic origin. This explains the apparent-40 Myr magmatic gap from - 88 to - 50 Ma prior to present-day western Pacific subduction initiation. We propose that basement penetration drilling on well-chosen sites is needed to test the hypothesis in order to reveal the true nature of the Chinese continental shelf basement. This testing becomes critical and cannot longer be neglected in order to genuinely understand the tectonic evolution of the western Pacific and its effect on the geology of eastern China since the Mesozoic, including the cratonic lithosphere thinning, related magmatism/mineralization, and the mechanism of the subsequent South China Sea opening, while also offering novel perspectives on aspects of the plate tectonics theory. We also suggest the importance of future plate tectonic reconstruction of the western Pacific to consider the nature and histories of the Chinese continental shelf of exotic origin as well as the probable transform plate boundary from - 100 to -50 Ma. Effort is needed to reveal the true nature and origin of the - 88 ± 2 Ma granitic gneisses in Taiwan and the 110-88 Ma granitoids on the Hainan Island.

Qi-Qin Accretionary Belt in Central China Orogen： accretion by trench jam of oceanic plateau and formation of intra-oceanic arc in the Early Paleozoic Qin-Qi-Kun Ocean

Most orogenic belts have experienced a complex accretionary process with multiple episodes of sea?oor subduction and trench retreat.This accretionary process is important in continenta development and growth[1,2].Three giant orogens extend in China,e.g.,the Central Asian Orogen in the north,the Central China Orogen in the middle and the Himalayan Orogen in the southwest.They are keys for the formation of the Eurasian continent(Fig.1a).The Central China Orogen

Testing the geologically testable hypothesis on subduction initiation

‘‘Resolution of the sixty-year debate over continental drift,culminating in the triumph of plate tectonics,changed the very fabric of Earth science.Plate tectonics can be considered alongside the theories of evolution in the life sciences and of quantum mechanics in physics in terms of its fundamental importance to our scientific understanding of the world.’’[1]

Experimental demonstrations on the sources and conditions of mantle melting

The Earth’s chemical differentiation is largely the result of mantle melting and magma evolution.Our present-day knowledge of mantle melting and magma evolution owes much to experimental simulations carried out by a handful of experimental petrologists over the last*50 years.Professor David Green is one of these few pioneers,whose contributions are enormous and fundamental,and have laid the foundations for our current understanding of mantle melting at ocean ridges,above subduction zones and

SPECIAL TOPICS:Editor's note

Euan Nisbet is Foundation Professor of Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.He studied first at the

Testing the mantle plume hypothesis： an IODP effort to drill into the Kamchatka-Okhotsk Sea basement

The great mantle plume debate(GPD) has been going on for ~15 years(Foulger and Natland, 2003;Anderson, 2004; Niu, 2005; Davies, 2005; Foulger, 2005; Campbell, 2005; Campbell and Davies, 2006),centered on whether mantle plumes exist as a result of Earth's cooling or whether their existence is purely required for convenience in explaining certain Earth phenomena(Niu, 2005). Despite the mounting evidence that many of the so-called plumes may be localized melting anomalies, the debate is likely to continue. We recognize that the slow progress of the debate results from communication difficulties.Many debaters may not truly appreciate(1) what the mantle plume hypothesis actually is, and(2) none of the petrological, geochemical and geophysical methods widely used can actually provide smoking-gun evidence for or against mantle plume hypothesis. In this short paper, we clarify these issues, and elaborate a geologically effective approach to test the hypothesis. According to the mantle plume hypothesis, a thermal mantle plume must originate from the thermal boundary layer at the core-mantle boundary(CMB), and a large mantle plume head is required to carry the material from the deep mantle to the surface. The plume head product in ocean basins is the oceanic plateau, which is a lithospheric terrane that is large(1000's km across), thick(>200 km), shallow(2–4 km high above the surrounding seafloors), buoyant(~1% less dense than the surrounding lithosphere), and thus must be preserved in the surface geology(Niu et al., 2003). The Hawaiian volcanism has been considered as the surface expression of a type mantle plume, but it does not seem to have a(known) plume head product. If this is true, the Hawaiian mantle plume in particular and the mantle plume hypothesis in general must be questioned. Therefore, whether there is an oceanic plateau-like product for the Hawaiian volcanism is key to testing the mantle plume hypothesis, and the Kamchatka-Okhotsk Sea basement is the best candidate to find out if it is indeed the Hawaiian mantle plume head product or not(Niu et al., 2003; Niu, 2004).

What drives the continued India-Asia convergence since the collision at 55 Ma?

What may drive the India-Asia convergence has been puzzling and has in fact puzzled many.According to the theory of plate tectonics and the concept of Wilson Cycle,continental collision means the loss of seafloor subduction and thus the disappearance of slab pull for driving plate motion[1–3],yet the India-Asia convergence has continued to this day at a rate of^40 mm/a[4]since the collision^55 million years ago[5].This apparent puzzle has made some to question the validity of the Wilson Cycle concept and to raise doubts about slab pull being the primary driving force for plate motion[1–3].Ridge push,which is well-understood as a secondary force,has thus been emphasized by some;the idea of mantle plumes as driving force has also been reinvoked;and subduction of the Indian mantle lithosphere itself has been claimed as being adequate to drive the India-Asia convergence[6].

Origin of the Yellow Sea： an insight

Niu et al.[1]recently show that the basement of the Chinese continental shelf(beneath East China Sea and South China Sea)is geologically unrelated to the continental lithosphere of eastern China,but is of exotic origin.

Simple and cost-effective methods for precise analysis of trace element abundances in geological materials with ICP-MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） is the most commonly used technique to deter- mine the abundances of trace elements in a wide range of geological materials. However, incomplete sample digestion, isobaric interferences and instrumental drift remain obvious problems that must be overcome in order to obtain precise and accurate results, For this reason, we have done many experi- ments and developed a set of simple, cost-effective and practical methods widely applicable for precise and rapid determination of trace element abundances in geological materials using ICP-MS. Commonly used high-pressure digestion technique is indeed effective in decomposing refractory phases, but this inevitably produces fluoride complexes that create new problems. We demonstrate that the fluoride complexes formed during high-pressure digestion can be readily re-dissolved using high-pressure vessel at 190 ℃ for only 2 h for 50 mg sample. In the case of isobaric interferences, although oxide （e.g., MO^＋/M^＋） and hydroxide （e.g., MO^＋/M^＋） productivity is variable between runs, the （MO^＋/M^＋）/（CeO^＋/Ce^＋） and （MOH^＋/M^＋）/（CeO^＋/Ce^＋） ratios remain constant, making isobaric interference correction for all other elements of interest straightforward, for which we provide an easy-to-use off-line procedure. We also show that mass-time-intensity drift curve is smooth as recognized previously, for which the correction can be readily done by analyzing a quality-control （QC） solution and using off-line Excel VBA procedure without internal standards. With these methods, we can produce data in reasonable agreement with rec- ommended values of international rock reference standards with a relative error of 〈8% and precision generally better than 5%. Importantly, compared to the widely used analytical practice, we can effectively save 〉60% of time （e.g., 〈24 h vs. 〉60 h）.