P-Wave Velocity in Rocks of Dabieshan, China at High Pressure and High Temperature: Constraints for Composition of Lower Crust and Crust-Mantle Recycling

P-wave velocities in the rocks of Dabieshan, central China were measured at pressures up to 5.0 GPa and temperatures up to 1 300℃. The ultrahigh pressure eclogites have the highest density and P-wave velocity (Vp) and lower anisotropy. Pressure derivatives of the eclogites range from 0. 22 to 0. 33 km. s-1 GPa-1. Average temperature derivative of the eclogites is - 3. 41×10-4 km. s-1. °C -1. The density and VP of the eclogites imply that there will be two united possibilities related to crust-mantle recycling after the eclogite formed in the deep lithosphere. One is that some eclogites in the deep lithosphere were detached and sunk into deeper mantle due to their denser density. Another is that some eclogites returned to the crust and exposed to the surface.Small amounts (<12%) of eclogites may be still exist in the deep crust beneath Dabieshan based on our calculation.

Lower crustal attenuation in northeastern Tibetan Plateau from ML amplitude

This study investigated the crustal attenuation structures of Sg and Lg waves of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.We collected ML amplitude data recorded at 168 permanent stations between 1985 and 2016 and 11 temporary broadband stations between 2014 and 2016.Detailed Q0 variation maps of Sg and Lg waves were obtained by applying ML amplitude tomography.The average Q0 values of the Sg and Lg wave were 440 and 220,respectively.Relatively high attenuation anomalies of both waves appeared in the central and eastern regions of the Bayan Har Block and the east edge of the Qiangtang Block,which may be related to partial melting,high geotemperature,and strong tectonic processes.High attenuation anomalies were also found in the Qilian Orogenic Belt and Hetao Graben,which may be related to their active tectonic behavior and densely distributed faults.The relatively low attenuation anomalies of both waves were revealed in the Alax and Ordos blocks,Qaidam,Tarim,Qinghai Lake,and Gonghe basins,which can be explained by the tectonically stable properties and ancient composition of geological elements.These results indicate that the path between the highly attenuated lower crust of the Bayan Har Block and the Qilian Orogenic Belt is obstructed by three adjacent low attenuated areas(i.e.,the Qilian,Qinghai Lake,and Gonghe basins);thus,it appears unlikely that a crustal flow channel from the interior of the Tibetan Plateau to the Qilian Orogenic Belt will form.

Hydrous Juvenile Lower Crust at the Western Yangtze Craton Margin as the Main Source of the Beiya Porphyry-skarn Au Deposit

The Beiya porphyry-skarn Au deposit is one of the largest gold deposits in China,temporally and spatially associated with Eocene intrusions in a post-collisional setting in western Yunnan,China.In this study,we report new whole-rock geochemistry,Sr-Nd isotope,zircon U-Pb geochronology and in situ zircon Hf-O isotopes of quartz-monzonite and biotite-monzonite porphyries from the Beiya deposit.The porphyry-skarn mineralization at the Beiya deposit is mainly associated with the quartz monzonite porphyry(35.8±0.6 Ma),while the biotite-monzonite porphyry(34.3±0.5 Ma)represents a post-mineralization intrusion crosscutting the main orebodies and the quartz-monzonite porphyry.Both intrusions have high-K and adakitic composition and are characterized by high Sr/Y ratios,high SiO_(2)and Al_(2)O_(3)concentrations(SiO_(2)=69.80-73.86 wt%;Al_(2)O_(3)=14.11-15.19 wt%),and low MgO,Cr,and Ni concentrations(MgO=0.2-1.0 wt%;Cr=1.76-11.13 ppm;Ni=2.52-11.72 ppm).Their Sr-Nd isotope compositions(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7066-0.7077;εNd(t)=−5.3 to−1.5)are consistent with the lower crustal-derived amphibolite xenoliths(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7060-0.7100;εNd(t)=−10.0 to 0.0),indicating that they might be derived from a thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton.The biotite-monzonite porphyry has lower zirconδ^(18)O values of+5.3‰to+6.8‰and higherεHf(t)values of−2.3 to+5.5 than those of the quartz-monzonite porphyry withδ^(18)O values of+7.1‰to+8.2‰andεHf(t)values of−3.8 to+1.5,implying that they were derived from different parts of the lower crust.High Ba/La and Pb/Ce ratios suggest that the quartz-monzonite porphyry is derived from a volatiles-rich reservoir.Relatively higher La/Yb,Sm/Yb and Dy/Yb ratios of the biotite-monzonite porphyry indicate residual garnet in the source,indicating a deeper source than that of the quartz-monzonite porphyry.The hydrous components should be represented by the amphibole-rich lithologies,which has relatively shallower depth than that of the garnet-bearing mafic thickened lower crust.Our data suggest that the mineralized quartz-monzonite porphyry at the Beiya deposit is derived from partial melting of amphibole-rich lithologies in the upper part of the thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton,while the post-mineralization biotite-monzonite porphyry is derived from the basal,and volatiles-poor,part of the juvenile lower crust.

Exposed Cross-section of the Archaean Lower Crustin the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia Border Region:Problems and Prospects

The Archaean lower crust represented by granulite facies rocks, which is rare in China, is found to be exposed in the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia border region. Studies of the regional structure and deformation and metamorphism of the region indicate that there occurred at least two phases of deformation and metamorphism in the region. Early-phase nearly E-W-directed deformational structure is well preserved in the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua area. Observations of the features of the geological structure from north to south (in the Hengshan metamorphic terrain) have revealed a possible exposed cross-section through the Archaean lower crust. The structure was superimposed by a NE-SW-trending high-temperature ductile shear zone in the Datong area in the late phase, thus reworking the Archaean sequence.

The role of fluids in the lower crust and upper mantle:A tribute to Jacques Touret

This special issue of Geoscience Frontiers is a tribute volume honoring the life and career of Jacques Touret. A set of research papers has been assembled, which broadly reflect his research interests over his 50 plus year career. These papers Focus on the role that fluids play during the Formation and evolution of the Earth＇s crust. Below I provide a brief summary of the life of Jacques Touret, along with a select bibliography of his more important papers. This is then followed by a brief introduction to the papers assembled for this special issue.

Destruction of the lower crust beneath the North China Craton recorded by granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths

The lower crust beneath the North China Craton(NCC)was transformed during the craton destruction in the Mesozoic,however,the transformation processes are yet to be fully understood.Compositional and geochronological variations of granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths provided insights into the nature of the lower crust before and after the craton destruction.In this study,we summarized the latest results of geochemistry and zircon geochronology coupled with Hf-O isotopes from granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths hosted by Phanerozoic igneous rocks in NCC.Comparing previous studies on the granulite terranes and adakitic rocks of NCC,we aim to discuss the destruction processes of lower crust beneath the NCC.The granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths of NCC were divided into two and three groups,respectively,based on the differences of geochemical features.Group I granulite xenoliths from the NCC have silicic-basic compositions,with metamorphic ferrosilite.The Group I granulite xenoliths show relatively lower Mg#values of pyroxenes and whole-rock than that of the Group II granulite xenoliths,and enrichments of light rare earth elements and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions.Their zircons display Archean-Phanerozoic ages with three peaks of Neoarchean,Paleoproterozoic,and Mesozoic.Generally,Group I granulite xenoliths show close affinities to the granulite terranes of the NCC in terms of the major and trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions,with a consistent Archean-Proterozoic evolutionary history.However,Group I granulite xenoliths have abundant Phanerozoic zircons with variable Hf isotopic compositions from depleted to enriched,which could be formed by modifications of magma underplating.Therefore,Group I granulite xenoliths represent the modified ancient lower crust beneath the NCC.The Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths from the NCC have similar geochemical features and are basic in compositions,with metamorphic to magmatic orthopyroxenes.The Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths usually show higher MgO and lower incompatible elements compositions in minerals and bulk rocks than that in the granulite terranes and Group I granulite xenoliths,but their Sr-Nd isotopic compositions fall into the fields of granulite terranes and group I granulite xenoliths.Zircons from the Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths are predominantly Phanerozoic with subordinate ArcheanProterozoic ages,and the Hf-O isotopic compositions of zircons are similar to those in the Group I granulite xenoliths.Additionally,the trace element compositions of Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths are complementary to those of the adakitic rocks from the NCC.Furthermore,the similar Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopic compositions among Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths and adakitic rocks indicate that they are cognate.Therefore,we suggest that the Group II granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths could be restites left after partial melting of the ancient basic lower crust that produced voluminous adakitic rocks.In contrast,Group I and II pyroxenite xenoliths from the NCC have cumulate and reaction origins,respectively.The Group I and II pyroxenite xenoliths commonly have magmatic enstatite and show higher Mg#values and depleted Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of minerals and bulk rocks relative to that in the granulite and Group III pyroxenite xenoliths.Formation of voluminous Group I pyroxenite cumulates in the crust-mantle transition zones implies extensive magma underplating beneath the NCC during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic,which also provided exotic materials and heat for the reworking of the ancient lower crust.Therefore,the destruction of the lower crust beneath the NCC could result from continuous modifications and remelting of the ancient lower crust triggered by magma underplating.These processes led to not only the transformations of some ancient basic lower crust into granulite and pyroxenite restites but also the compositional modifications of the ancient lower crust.Consequently,the lower crust beneath the NCC showed downward rejuvenation,similar to the lithospheric mantle.

Mobilization of Cu in the continental lower crust:A perspective from Cu isotopes

Recent studies have shown that Cu-rich sulfide accumulates in the lower continental crust and serves as a critical reservoir to balance Cu depletion in the upper crust.Recycling of Cu in the lower crust is also assumed to be a major metal source for non-arc setting porphyry Cu deposits.To test this hypothesis and further explore the behavior of Cu in the lower crust,we analyzed the elemental and Cu isotopic compositions of lower crustal rocks from different geological domains.The collected samples include hornblendites from the Kohistan arc,granulite xenoliths and hornblendites from the Gangdese arc,hornblendites and gabbros from the Laiyuan complex in the North China Craton,and hornblendite xenoliths from the western margin of the Yangtze Craton.These lower crustal rocks have experienced varying degrees of primary or secondary sulfide accumulation,with significantly varied Cu contents(11.2 to 145 ppm)andδδ^(65)(1.05‰to 1.40‰).Petrography and geochemistry reveal varying degrees of metasomatism and fluid interaction in these rocks,and based on this,they can be further divided into three groups:Group I includes the Gangdese granulites and Yunnan hornblendites,which perhaps experienced significant metasomatism.This suite of rocks shows enrichment ofδ^(65)(dδ^(65)=0.01‰to 1.40‰),positively correlated with metasomatism(dδ^(65)vs.Ce/Pb).We suggest the secondary sulfides which transformed from sulfates during the interaction between lower crust and arc magma are dominant in these rocks,so the feature of heavy isotope enrichment is inherited.Group II includes Laiyuan hornblendites and gabbros,derived from the same parental magma and emplaced at different depths(hornblendites,23.3–28.1 km;gabbros 8.4–11.1 km).The Cu isotopic compositions are strongly fractionated between these two kinds of rocks,with low dδ^(65)in the hornblendites(0.00‰to 0.28‰)and highly polarized dδ^(65)in the gabbros(1.05‰to 0.81‰).Geochemical indicators and mineral assemblages reveal that fluid interaction is most likely responsible for this feature.Primary sulfides were decomposed by fluids and reprecipitated at shallower depths.Since this process involves multiple redox reactions,the Cu isotopic composition in the shallowed emplaced gabbros was large fractionated.Group III includes the Gangdese hornblendites and Kohistan hornblendites which show negligible impacts of subduction-like metasomatism and fluid interaction.The Gangdese hornblendites show a homogeneous and unfractionated Cu isotopic composition(-0.09‰to 0.18‰)and Cu content(83.4 to 128 ppm),suggesting insignificant Cu migration and isotope fractionation.In contrast,the Cu isotopic composition of the Kohistan hornblendites is strongly fractionated(-0.36‰to 1.27‰).Geochemistry and modeling results suggest partial melting plays a role in the Cu isotope fractionation.The light Cu isotopes are preferentially distributed into sulfide melts and removed from the source region during partial melting of the lower crust,resulting in a decrease in Cu content and enrichment of heavy Cu isotopes in residues.Results suggest that partial melting and fluid interaction are two efficient mechanisms that encourage Cu migration in the lower crust.

Poisson's ratio of eclogite: Implications for lower crustal delamination of orogens

Laboratory measurements of combined P- and S-wave-velocities of eclogite from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt and from literature data show a significant increase of Poisson抯 ratio of eclogite with its intrinsic water content H2O+ and thus the degree of hydration. Unaltered eclogites with H2O+<1.0% have an average Poisson抯 ratio between 0.24 and 0.25, which is identical to that calculated from single crystal elastic properties but lower than the averages (0.270.02) of measurements compiled by previous studies. Thus, the Poisson抯 ratio of unaltered eclogites is considerably lower than that of lower crustal mafic granulite and upper mantle peridotite. The lower crust and upper mantle of the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt, the northern and southern parts of the Tibetan Plateau as well as the central Andes, where eclogite may have formed during Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonism, are characterized by the Poisson抯 ratio >0.26. This, together with their normal upper mantle P-wave velocities, implies that eclogites are no longer an important component of the present-day lower crust and upper mantle of these subduction-collision belts. Combined with age constraints on eclogite-facies metamor- phism and subsequent exhumation, this in turn suggests that the interval from formation to delamination of eclogites is confined to a very short period of <15 Ma.

Channel flow of the lower crust and its relation to large-scale tectonic geomorphology of the eastern Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau is a large-scale tectonic geomorphologic unit formed by the interactions of plates.It has been commonly believed that convective removal of the thickened Tibetan lithosphere,or lateral flow of the lower crust beneath the Tibetan plateau plays a crucial role in the formation of the large-scale tectonic geomorphologic features.Recent geological and geo-physical observations have provided important evidence in support of the lower crustal channel flow model.However,it re-mains unclear as how the geometry of lower crustal channel and the lateral variation of crustal rheology within the lower crust channel may have affected spatio-temporal evolution of the tectonic geomorphologic unit of the Tibetan Plateau.Here,we use numerical methods to explore the mechanical relations between the lower crustal channel flow and the tectonic geomorpho-logic formation around the eastern Tibetan plateau,by deriving a series of governing equations from fluid mechanics theory.From numerous tests,our results show that the viscosity of the channeled lower crust is about(1-5)×1018 to(1-4)×1020 Pa s(Pa.s) beneath the margin of the eastern Tibetan Plateau,and increases to about 1022 Pa s beneath the Sichuan Basin and the southern region of Yunnan Province.Numerical tests also indicate that if channel flows of the lower crust exist,the horizontal propagation and the vertical uplifting rate of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin could be accelerated with the time.Thus,the present results could be useful to constrain the rheological structure of the crust beneath the eastern Tibetan plateau,and to understand the possible mechanics of rapid uplift of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin,especially since its occurrence at 8Ma as revealed by numerous geological observations.

Effects of Water on the Rheology of Dominant Minerals and Rocks in the Continental Lower Crust: A Review

As an important part of the continental lithosphere, the continental lower crust can influence and control many important geodynamic processes, which are of great significance to the evolution of the lithosphere. Extensive plastic deformation is common in continental lower crust. There have been many studies focusing on the rheology of the continental lower crust in the past few decades. This paper provides a review on the effects of water on the rheology of dominant minerals(clinopyroxene, plagioclase and garnet) and rocks in the continental lower crust. The water contents in continental lower crustal minerals and rocks are in general rich and very heterogenous from sample to sample and region to region. Water can significantly reduce the strength of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, garnet and lower crustal rocks. Water can also have a profound influence on fabric development and slip systems in lower crustal minerals. Quantitative experimental investigations and extensive natural studies of water effect on rheology are necessary to refine the classic lithosphere strength profile models and to address the existing controversy on strength of the continental lower crust.

GEOCHEMISTRY OF EARLY CRETACEOUS TRACHYTES OF DONGLINGTAI FORMATION FROM THE XISHAN AREA, BEIJING: CONSTRAINTS ON MELTING OF LOWER MAFIC CRUST

The early Cretaceous trachytes of Donglingtai Formation in Xishan, Beijing are characterized by slight Eu negative anomaly and significant enrichment in LREE, LILE (Ba, K and Sr) and depletion of Nb-Ta-Ti, Th-U. These trachytes have been highly enriched by Sr and Nd isotopic signatures (87Sr/86Sr(t)= 0.70638～ 0.70672, εNd(t) = -16.3～ -15.7), overlapping Sr-Nd isotopic range of late Mesozoic mafic igneous rocks in the region. Taking into account Nb-Ta fractionation and high Zr/Sm ratio for these trachytes, we consider that the trachytes of Donglingtai Formation are derived from the garnet-bearing amphibolite in the lower crust composed of garnet + plagioclase ± amphibole ± pyroxene residual phases. On the basis of the melting experimental results of crustal materials and regional extensional tectonics during late Mesozoic, it is concluded that the thermal input from underplating basaltic melt results in the partial melting of lower continental crust to generate the trachytes of Donglingtai Formation. And the characteristics of high Sr and Ba for these trachytes suggest that part of underplating basalts should take a share in partial melting at least.

Geochemistry of the high-Mg andesites at Zhangwu, western Liaoning: Implication for delamination of newly formed lower crust

Ten volcanic samples at Zhangwu,western Liaoning Province,North China were selected for a sys-tematic geochemical,mineralogical and geochronological study,which provides an opportunity to ex-plore the interaction between the continental crust and mantle beneath the north margin of the North China craton.Except one basalt sample(SiO2= 50.23%),the other nine samples are andesitic with SiO2 contents ranging from 53% to 59%.They have relatively high MgO(3.4%―6.1%,Mg#=50―64) and Ni and Cr contents(Ni 27×10?6―197×10?6,Cr 51×10?6―478×10?6).Other geochemical characteristics of Zhangwu high-Mg andesites(HMAs) include strong fractionation of light rare earth elements(LREE) from heavy rare earth elements(HREE),and Sr from Y,with La/Yb greater than 15,and high Sr/Y(34― 115).Zircons of andesite YX270 yield three age groups with no Precambrian age,which precludes ori-gin of the Zhangwu HMAs from the partial melting of the Precambrian crust.The oldest age group peaking at 253 Ma is interpreted to represent the collision of the Siberia block and the North China block,resulting in formation of the Central Asian orogenic belt by closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.The intermediate age group corresponds to the basalt underplating which caused the wide-spread coeval granitoids in the North China craton with a peak 206Pb/238U age of 172 Ma.The youngest age group gives a 206Pb/238U age of 126±2 Ma,which is interpreted as the eruption age of the Zhangwu HMAs.The high 87Sr/86Sri(126 Ma)>0.706 and low εNd(t)= ?6.36―?13.99 of the Zhangwu HMAs are distinct from slab melts.The common presence of reversely zoned clinopyroxene phenocrysts in the Zhangwu HMAs argues against the origin of the Zhangwu HMAs either from melting of the water saturated mantle or melting of the lower crust.In light of the evidence mentioned above,the envisaged scenario for the formation of the Zhangwu HMAs is related to the basaltic underplating at the base of the crust,which led to the thickening of the lower crust and formation of lower crustal eclogite,followed by foundering of the eclogitic lower crust into the asthenosphere.The foundered eclogite then melted and the resul-tant melts interacted with surrounding peridotite during their upward transport,which finally produced the high-Mg andesites.This well explains the high-Mg adakitic characters and absence of ancient in-herited zircon in the Zhangwu lavas.

Discovery of mantle and lower crust xenoliths from early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of southwestern Tianshan,Xinjiang

In Tuoyun area of southwestern Tianshan, mantle and lower crust xenoliths are present In the volcanic rocks with ages of 101-123 Ma. Mantle xenoliths include mineral megacrysts such as kaersutite and pargasite, feldspar, biotite, and rare pyroxene and rock fragments such as perodotite, pyroxenite, amphibolite, and rare glimmerite. Lower crust xenoliths are mainly banded and massive granulite. The volcanic rocks were produced by within-plate magmatism. Occurrence of hydrous and volatile mineral megacrysts, amphibolite, and some pyroxenite containing hydrous and volatile minerals indicates that mantle metasomatism was intense. Undoubtedly, this discovery is very important to understanding of the crust-mantle structure and geodynamic background in depth in southwestern Tianshan and geological correlation with adjacent regions.

Rheology of the lower crust beneath the northern part of North China: Inferences from lower crustal xenoliths from Hannuoba basalts, Hebei Province, China

Lower crustal xenoliths brought up rapidly by basaltic magma onto the earth surface may provide direct information on the lower crust. The main purpose of this research is to gain an insight into the rheology of the lower crust through the detailed study of lower crustal xenoliths collected from the Hannuoba basalt, North China. The lower crustal xenoliths in this area consist mainly of two pyroxene granulite, garnet granulite, and light-colored granulite, with a few exception of felsic granulite. The equilibration temperature and pressure of these xenoliths are estimated by using geothermometers and geobarometers suitable for lower crustal xenoliths. The obtained results show that the equilibration temperature of these xenoliths is within the range of 785–900°C, and the equilibrium pressure is within the range of 0.8–1.2 GPa, corresponding to a depth range of 28–42 km. These results have been used to modify the previously constructed lower crust-upper mantle geotherm for the studied area. The differential stress during the deformation process of the lower crustal xenoliths is estimated by using recrystallized grain-size paleo-piezometer to be in the range of 14–20 MPa. Comparing the available steady state flow laws for lower crustal rocks, it is confirmed that the flow law proposed by Wilks et al. in 1990 is applicable to the lower crustal xenoliths studied in this paper. The strain rate of the lower crust estimated by using this flow law is within the range of 10?13–10?11 s?1, higher than the strain rate of the upper mantle estimated previously for the studied area (10?17–10?13 s?1); the equivalent viscosity is estimated to be within the range of 1017–1019Pa·s, lower than that of the upper mantle (1019–1021 Pa·s). The constructed rheological profiles of the lower crust indicate that the differential stress shows no significant linear relation with depth, while the strain rate increases with depth and equivalent viscosity decrease with depth. The results support the viewpoint of weak lower continental crust.

An in situ zircon Hf isotopic,U-Pb age and trace element study of banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt: Tracking the early evolution of the lower crust in the North China craton

Backscattered electron images, in situ Hf isotopes, U-Pb ages and trace elements of zircons in a banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt have been studied.The results show that the banded granulite is a sample derived from the early lower crust of the North China craton.It is difficult to explain the petrogenesis of the xenolith with a single process. Abundant information on several processes,however, is contained in the granulite. These processes include the addition of mantle material, crustal remelting,metamorphic differentiation and the delamination of early lower crust. About 80% of zircons studied yield ages of 1842±40Ma, except few ages of 3097-2824 Ma and 2489-2447Ma. The zircons with ages older than 2447Ma have high εHr(up to+18.3) and high Hf model age (2.5-2.6Ga), indicating that the primitive materials of the granulite were derived mainly from a depleted mantle source in late Archean. Most εHr of the zircons with early Proterozoic U-Pb age vary around zero, but two have high εHr up to+9.2-+10.2, indicating mantle contribution during the collision and assembly between the Eastern and Western blocks in the early Proterozoic that resulted in the amalgamation of the North China craton.

Late Mesozoic crust-mantle interaction and lower crust components in South China: A geochemical study of mafic granulite xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts

Mafic granulite xenoliths collected from Cenozoic basalts in SE China can be classified as magmatic granulite and cumulate granulite. Magmatic granulites are characterized by highly concentrated AI2O3, K2O, P2O5, Ba, Sr, Pb and REE, and low contents of Nb, Zr, Hf and Th, and have an incompatible element abundance pattern similar to that of continental arc basalts. Cumulate granulites are depleted in K2O, P2O5, Rb, Cs and Ba. These granulite xenoliths were the prod-ucts of crystallization and recrystallization of the basaltic magma underplating into crust-mantle boundary in Late Mesozoic. Sr and Nd isotopic compositions and variation trend of these mafic rocks are the result of crust-mantle mixing and controlled by assimilation and fractional crystallization process (AFC). However, trace element and major element variations were mainly controlled by fractional crystallization. The granulites are similar in geochemistry to surface Late Mesozoic gabbro and basalt in the study area, suggesting a close petrogenetic link between them. Late Mesozoic basaltic magma activities are the most important cause for the formation of extensive contemporaneous granite and rhyolite in the study area. This study and previous data indicate that the lower crust beneath South China is composed of a variety of Paleo- to Meso-proterozoic metamorphic rocks and Late Mesozoic mafic granulites.

Lower crustal delamination in the Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt

Geological, geophysical and geochemical evidence for lower crustal delamination in the Qinling-Dabie oro-genic belt is presented and a chemical geodynamic model for lower crustal delamination is developed. The synthetic results suggest that eclogite from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt is the most likely candidate as the de-laminated material, and that a cumulative 37-82 km thick eclogitic lower crust is required to have been delaminated in order to explain the relative deficits in Eu, Sr, Cr, Ni, Co, V and Ti in the present total crust composition of the Qin-ling-Dabie orogenic belt. Delamination of the lower crust can well interpret many geological, geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the belt.

Possible seismic reflector in the lower crust: Evidence from fabrics and experiments of seismic velocity on layered gabbro at high temperature and high pressure

Lattice preferred orientations (LPO) of plagioclase and augite are measured on layered gabbro from the Panxi region, Sichuan Province. The LPO concentration [010] of plagioclase and [100] of augite are perpendicular to the foliation, which indicates a kind of growth fabric associated with crystallizing habits of minerals when the magma is solidifying under the compaction. Calculated seismic velocities based on LPO data of minerals give rise to rather strong anisotropy 5.81% and 5.54% for compressional seismic wave (Vp) and shear seismic wave (Vs), respectively. The experiments at high temperature and high pressure show that the P-wave velocity of layered gabbro is 6.44-6.97 km/s with the maximum Vp anisotropy 5.22% and the Poisson's ratio is between 0.28-0.31. According to the comparison of fabrics with seismic velocities of layered gabbro, it is uggested that the large-scale layered intrusive body or the similar layered geological body may exist in the lower crust of this area. Such a layered intrusive body which has strong seismic anisotropy may be the seismic reflector in the lower crust.

大陆下地壳

大陆下地壳是连接岩石圈地幔和上地壳的“纽带”,是地壳与地幔交换最活跃的部位。上地幔与下地壳的部分熔融及下地壳一些岩石的拆沉还可直接导致壳-幔物质的交换、循环与重组。换言之,下地壳是壳-幔作用的一个极其重要的场所,底垫、拆沉、深熔、高级变质和其他作用都在下地壳中发生和实现。然而,下地壳是以往研究地球深部和浅部关系时被“跳”过去的部位,没有得到足够的重视。克拉通化定义为大陆原来混沌的原地壳分异并形成稳定的上地壳和下地壳,并由此构建了稳定的壳-幔结构,这种空前的稳定关系从形成起一直维持到现在,是大陆演化、洋-陆与壳-幔相互作用的基础。在板块边界的造山过程中,如洋-陆的俯冲碰撞特别是陆-陆碰撞,可以形成不同大陆地块的陆壳叠置、加厚、垮塌、拆沉、底垫和重新稳定,在造山带根部形成新的下地壳,即造山带型下地壳。本文重点讨论了克拉通型下地壳演化过程,强调了其动力学意义及其在大陆动力学研究中的重要地位,建议在深地研究和学科布局中给与充分重视。

下地壳填图理论与方法

一个地区某个时段的下地壳是什么情况,很难了解清楚,究其原因是没有有效的方法手段。最近对花岗岩起源的研究表明,花岗岩来源于下地壳变质岩的部分熔融,与熔融残留相处于平衡,因此,可以根据地表花岗岩的特征反演下地壳变质岩的特征。变质岩研究的进展表明,可以根据不同温压条件构建不同组成变质岩的视剖面图,据此推测发生部分熔融时形成的熔体性质。这2个方面结合起来,即构成下地壳填图的理论基础,据此了解下地壳底部的情况,下地壳填图方法也由此而来。本文探讨了下地壳填图的方法,讨论目前下地壳地质图可能表达的图面内容,并着重讨论花岗岩可以给出的下地壳信息,提出对待争论问题的处理原则;讨论在没有花岗岩出露的情况下如何填图的问题,以及沉积、地层、古生物、矿产、构造等可能提供的下地壳信息,重点推荐镜质组反射率方法。此外,基于下地壳填图的意义及其局限性,以山西省早白垩世下地壳地质图作为实例,探讨了下地壳填图的作用和意义。