The Metamorphism and Its Tectonic Implications of Indosinian High Pressure Granulites from the Badu Complex of the Cathaysia Block, Southwestern Zhejiang Province, South China

The Badu Complex is the oldest metamorphic rock in Cathaysia Block which experienced several episodes of metamorphism Especially indosinian metamorphic reworking in the southwestern Zhejiang Province, South China. The degree of indosinian metamorphism reaches granulite facies. However, there is still insufficient understanding of the characteristics of the Indosinian granulite metamorphism in the Cathaysia and many interpretations of its tectonic significance. Therefore, we present detailed petrology, mineral chemistry and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age in this paper from pelitic granulites of the Badu Complex, which is composed of "sillimanite + garnet + cordierite + spinel + biotite + k-feldspar" assemblage and garnet pyroxenite with garnet amphibolite which is consists of "garnet + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + amphibole + plagioclase". By comprehensive study we get following new findings: Pelitic granulites record four stages of metamorphic mineral assemblages, including prograde(M1), pressure peak(M2), Peak(M3) and post-peak decompressional and then cooling(M4) stages. The prograde M1 assemblage consists of garnet1(core) + staurolite + kyanite + biotite + quartz ± rutile ± chlorite;The pressure peak M2 assemblage consists of garnet1(mantle) + sudoite + rutile + kyanite + corundum + biotite + quartz;The peak M3 have garnet2(rim-mantle) + biotite + sillimanite + quartz ± K-feldspar ± plagioclase ± ilmenite assemblag;the M4 stage is consist of garnet + cordierite + biotite + sillimanite + quartz + ilmenite ± spine ± K-feldspar. The garnet pyroxenite and garnet amphibolites have experienced three stages of metamorphic evolution. Peak high-pressure granulite facies stage M2 consists of garnet + sahlite ± ilmenite ± quartz;Post-peak near isothermal decompression medium granulite facies stage M3 is characterized by typical decompression reaction textures and assemblage of orthopyroxene + plagioclase(An=90–92);amphibolites facies retrograde metamorphic stage M4 is characterized by amphibole + plagioclase(An=33–35) + ilmenite ± sahlite ± quartz mineral assemblage. By means of phase equilibrium simulation and traditional thermobarometer, P-T conditions of 785–820 ℃ and 8.9–9.9 kbar for M3 stage, 780–860 ℃ and 5.7–6.2 kbar for decompressional M4 stage, 705–720 ℃ and 4.5–4.7 kbar for cooling M4 stage in pelitic granulites were obtained. And also 11.6–12.5 kbar and 780–840 ℃ for M2 stage, 7.4–8.2 kbar and 800–880 ℃ for M3 stage, 6.6–7.5 kbar and 500–560 ℃ for M4 stage were obtained in garnet pyroxenite and garnet amphibolite. A clockwise P-T path is confirmed in the two type rocks of the Badu Complex which reflected a near-isothermal decompressional metamorphic process. The peak metamorphism can reach highpressure granulite facies. In addition, the mineral assemblage of garnet + rutile + kyanite + corundum in the peak metamorphic stage of pelitic granulite indicates that it may underwent ultra-high-pressure metamorphism, and the acidic plagioclase exsolution of clinopyroxene in garnet pyroxenite also suggests that it may be retrograded eclogites, which indicates that the deeper Cathaysian block may have eclogite metamorphism. Analyses of LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicate that the metamorphic age of pelitic granulite is 233.5 Ma–subduction/collision followed by rapid exhumation and cooling events. The events may relate with the amalgamation of the Indochina BlockSouth China Block North China Block in the paleo-Tethyan domain.

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Cretaceous Adakitic Dykes from Eastern Cathaysia Block

An intrusive dyke is linear in regional scale,tectonic stresses play an important role in controlling the orientation of fractures that form for the dyke when magma rises buoyantly into the lithosphere

Remnants of the amalgamation of the east and west Cathaysia blocks revealed by a short-period dense nodal array

The Cathaysia block located at the southeast South China block(SCB)is considered formed by the amalgamation of the east and west Cathaysia blocks along the Gaoyao-Huilai and Zhenghe-Dapu deep faults(here referred as GHF and ZDF,respectively).Although the extension of the ZDF to the northeast,which represents the amalgamation of the two sub-blocks has been confirmed,the development of the GHF to the southwest remains to be verified.To better constrain the detailed deep structure beneath the southwest Cathaysia,which hold great significance for revealing the evolution of the SCB,a linear seismic array with 331 nodal geophones was deployed across the Sanshui basin(SSB).Combining with the regional 10 permanent stations(PA),we obtained two profiles with teleseismic P-wave receiver function stacking.The most obvious feature in our results is the ascending Moho towards the coastal area,which is consistent with the passive margin continental and extensional tectonic setting.The stacking profile from the dense nodal array(DNA)shows that the Moho is offset beneath the transition zone of the Nanling orogeny and SSB.We deduce that this offset may be casued by the deep extension of the GHF,which represents the remnants of the amalgamation of the Cathaysia block.From the other evidences,we infer that the widespread and early erupted felsic magmas in the SSB may have resulted from lithospheric materials that were squeezed out to the surface.The relative higher Bouguer gravity and heat flow support the consolidation of magmas and the residual warm state in the shallow crustal scale beneath the SSB.The sporadic basaltic magmas in the middle SSB may have a close relation to deep extension of the GHF,which serves as a channel for upwelling hot materials.

The Pre-Sturtian Negative δ^(13)C Excursion of the Dajiangbian Formation Deposited on the Western Margin of Cathaysia Block in South China

The Dajiangbian Formation in South China is a siliciclastic-dominated sedimentary succession with low-grade metamorphism deposited on the western margin of the Cathaysia Block, and is capped by a glaciogenic diamictite（the Sizhoushan Formation）. The Sizhoushan glaciogenic strata can be attributed to the Jiangkou glacial（Sturtian glacial） episode as they share stratigraphic and lithological similarities with Jiangkou strata in South China. Some carbonate, chert and shale units throughout the upper part of the Dajiangbian Formation were sampled for carbonate carbon isotope（δ^（13）C_（carb）） and organic carbon isotope（δ^（13）C_（org）） analyses. A range of geochemical indices including oxygen isotopes（δ^（18）O） and Mn/Sr（Fe/Sr） ratios suggest that primary carbon isotope values were preserved in the upper Dajiangbian Formation. The upper Dajiangbian Formation shows δ^（13）C_（carb） of-0.1‰, upward decreasing towards to-5.4‰. We suggest that the negative δ^（13）C excursion beneath the Sizhoushan diamictite is correlative with the Pre-Sturtian Islay δ^（13）C_（carb） anomaly and allows correlation with the global Neoproterozoic isotope stratigraphy. We find that carbonate and organic carbon isotope data of the upper Dajiangbian Formation are coupled, consistent with the δ^（13）C_（carb）-δ^（13）C_（org） pattern observed on multiple continents.

Caledonian reworking of Paleoproterozoic basement in the Cathaysia Block: Constraints from zircon U-Pb dating, Hf isotopes and trace elements

A combined study of zircon U-Pb dating, Hf isotopes and trace elements has been carried out for granodioritic neosomes of migmatites from the Tianjingping area in northwestern Fujian Province. Zircons are characterized by zoning, higher Th/U ratios (mostly ≥0.1), HREE enrichment, and positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies, and show features similar to magmatic or anatectic zircons. Apparent 206Pb/238U ages for the zircons are 447±2 Ma (95% conf., MSWD = 0.88), corresponding to a Caledonian event. εHf(t) values are ?13.3 to ?9.7, indicating a crustal source. Two-stage Hf model ages are 1.7 to 1.9 Ga, suggesting that protolith of the migmates was probably formed in the Paleoproterozoic. The granodioritic neosomes have the characteristics of peraluminous calc-alkaline granite, and their REE patterns and trace elements spidergrams show features of middle to upper crustal rocks. Together with previous studies, we conclude that the protolith of the Cathaysia basement in the Tianjingping area was likely formed in the middle-late Paleoproterozoic and experienced partial melting during the Caledonian period. The recognition of Caledonian reworking of the Paleoproterozoic basement in the Cathaysia Block provides a new insight into the tectonic evolution of the Cathaysia Block in the Caledonian pe- riod and the interaction between the Cathaysia Block and the Yangtze Block.

Grenvillian orogeny in the Southern Cathaysia Block:Constraints from U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon from metamorphic basement

Metamorphic basement rocks in the Cathaysia Block are composed mainly of meta-sediments with different ages. New zircon U-Pb geochronological results from the meta-sedimentary rocks exposed in the Zengcheng and Hezi areas, southern Cathaysia Block, show that they consist dominantly of early Neoproterozoic (1.0―0.9 Ga) materials with minor Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic and late Neoproterozoic (0.8―0.6 Ga) components, suggesting that the detritus mostly come from a Grenvillian orogen. The youngest detrital zircon ages place a constraint on the deposition time of these sediments in Late Neoproterozoic. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions indicate that the Grenvillian zircons were derived from the reworking of Mesoproterozoic arc magmatic rocks and Paleoproterozoic continental crust, implying an arc-continent collisional setting. Single-peak age spectra and the presence of abundant euhedral Grenvillian zircons suggest that the sedimentary provenance is not far away from the sample location. Thus, the Grenvillian orogen probably preexisted along the southern margin of the Cathaysia Block, or very close to the south. Similarity in the ages of Grenvillian orogeny and the influence of the assembly of Gondwana in South China with India and East Antarctic are discussed, with suggestion that South China was more likely linked with the India-East Antarctica continents in Early Neoproterozoic rather than between western Laurentia and eastern Australia.

华夏陆块晚新元古代-早古生代沉积物源的组成与演化及其对冈瓦纳大陆重建的意义

华南板块是冈瓦纳大陆的重要组成部分,其在冈瓦纳大陆中的古地理位置是恢复古大陆格局的关键要素,也是地质学界争论的焦点。本文汇总并对比了华南东南部华夏陆块多个盆地的成冰纪-奥陶纪碎屑沉积岩的岩石地层学、全岩地球化学和碎屑锆石数据,厘清了华夏陆块晚新元古代-早古生代三次重要的沉积-构造事件:晚成冰世砾岩指示的近源沉积事件,晚埃迪卡拉世硅质岩指示的海进事件,以及中寒武统底部平行不整合界面、砂岩中砾石的广泛出现指示的构造抬升事件。成冰纪-奥陶纪沉积岩中含有大量格林威尔早期(1300~1000 Ma)和晚期(1000~900 Ma)的碎屑锆石,分别主要来自澳大利亚和印度板块。印度东部为华夏盆地长期提供物质补给,而澳大利亚西部在晚埃迪卡拉世从主要源区变为次要源区。中寒武世华夏陆块抬升使内部850~700 Ma岩浆岩出露成为主要物源之一,是对外部构造应力的远程响应。因此,华夏陆块在晚新元古代-早古生代位于东冈瓦纳北缘,与印度、澳大利亚具有长期稳定的联系,毗邻东南极洲。在冈瓦纳大陆聚合过程中,印度和澳大利亚泛非期造山带的形成、抬升和剥蚀影响了华夏陆块沉积盆地的物源变化。

华夏地块造山型金矿床:时空分布规律、地质-地球化学特征、成矿机制与动力学背景

造山型金矿床具有重要的经济价值,其成矿理论研究对金矿勘查和矿床学学科发展具有重要意义。华夏地块是我国重要的钨-锡-银-铅-锌多金属成矿带,近年来在华夏地块的变质地体中发现数十处造山型金矿床和矿化点,为该区的成矿理论研究提供了新的课题。较之区域钨锡等多金属矿床的研究程度,造山型金矿床成矿作用研究较为薄弱,尚未进行系统的成矿作用和成因机制总结。华夏地块内发育的造山型金矿床主要包括东华夏武夷山地区的双旗山和何宝山金矿,西华夏云开地区的河台与海南岛的抱伦金矿等。本文重点对上述四个典型矿床的地质-地球化学特征、成矿时代、成矿流体和成矿物质来源等方面已有数据和文献资料进行系统的归纳总结,以期阐明华夏地块造山型金矿床的时空分布规律、成矿机制和地球动力学背景。研究发现,华夏地块造山型金矿床主要发育浸染状与石英-硫化物型矿化,金矿体主要赋存于前寒武纪变质地体中,受脆-韧性剪切带控制。成矿流体为H_(2)O-CO_(2)-NaCl±CH_(4)±N_(2)体系,主成矿阶段成矿温度集中于220~280℃,成矿流体可能具有变质、地幔或岩浆热液来源;而流体不混溶、热液体系氧逸度升高和铋熔体捕获是金沉淀的重要机制。华夏地块存在加里东期、印支期和燕山期三期造山型金成矿事件,分别对应陆内造山、古太平洋板块俯冲及后撤的地球动力学背景。

浙江龙游杂岩变质作用演化、锆石U-Pb定年及其构造指示意义

华夏地块加里东期构造热事件的属性问题一直存在较大争议,主要集中在是陆内造山作用还是陆间造山作用两种观点。龙游地区变质杂岩作为华夏地块东北部加里东期高级变质地体的重要组成部分,对其开展变质作用与锆石U-Pb年代学研究,可以为限定该期构造热事件的成因背景提供重要约束。在详细野外工作基础上,选择了5件代表性变质杂岩样品(2件长英质片麻岩样品和3件变基性岩样品)开展研究工作。通过岩相学与矿物化学,并结合定量相图计算,确定龙游地区高压基性麻粒岩经历了三个阶段的变质演化过程:(1)压力峰期阶段(M 1),矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Pl+Hb+Qtz+Ilm,温压条件为855~865℃/1.04~1.15GPa;(2)温度峰期阶段(M 2),矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Opx+Pl+Hb+Qtz+Ilm,温压条件为870~928℃/0.95~1.11GPa;(3)固相线降温、降压阶段(M 3),矿物组合为Cpx+Opx+Pl+Hb+Qtz+Ilm,温压条件为810~860℃/0.55~0.86GPa。总体构成顺时针样式的PT演化轨迹,反映其成因与造山作用有关。锆石U-Pb定年结果显示龙游地区长英质片麻岩碎屑锆石年龄集中于950~800Ma,高压基性麻粒岩碎屑锆石年龄集中于890~680Ma,显示物源主要来自于新元古代地体,并非古元古代变质基底。龙游地区变质杂岩主要记录了两个阶段的变质锆石U-Pb年龄,分别为460~440Ma和420~400Ma,前者可能代表了压力变质峰期阶段,后者则相当于温度变质峰期后的地体抬升冷却阶段年龄。综合各方面信息,可以认为华夏地块加里东期构造热事件很可能缘于增生后的扬子地块与某一未知陆块发生的陆-陆碰撞造山作用。

华夏块体及邻区新元古代-早古生代沉积记录与华南洋演化:问题、讨论与建议

华南作为罗迪尼亚超大陆和冈瓦纳大陆的组成部分,在新元古代至早古生代经历了大陆汇聚和裂解、雪球地球事件、早期生命演化等一系列重大地质事件,但组成华南大陆的两大块体之一的华夏块体构造属性及其与扬子陆块拼贴过程等最基本的认识仍然存在争议,其核心是华南洋演化问题。本文在扬子东南缘至华夏地区新元古代-早古生代火山-沉积序列对比基础上,总结了扬子型和华夏型沉积建造组合类型在华南地区的时空演化过程,进而对华夏块体构造属性和新元古代至早古生代的不同演化模式进行了讨论,重点对比探讨了陆内造山模式和增生造山模式的认识。为准确约束华南洋的性质与演化过程,本文建议在地质调查工作中加强中南地区新元古代-早古生代沉积序列、沉积时代、古地理恢复及构造背景等,以及信宜-增城带、郴州-临武-钦防带两侧地层对比和钦防海槽的深入研究。

华夏地块中部震旦系区域对比及其大地构造意义:来自碎屑锆石年代学证据

华夏地块中部震旦纪沉积地层广泛分布,由于岩性较为单一、受后期构造及岩浆作用影响,缺乏顶、底齐全且具有标志层位的剖面,其区域地层对比一直存在争议。本文在粤北和粤东地区对震旦纪沉积地层开展路线剖面调查和碎屑物源研究,结果表明:该地区震旦纪沉积岩是以一套浅变质砂岩、粉砂岩为主,间夹硅质岩的深海-半深海沉积,顶、底以硅质较高的层位为标志;碎屑锆石U-Pb定年结果显示其物源具有~1000 Ma及650~600 Ma两个显著峰值,同时有较为复杂的组成,是典型的“华夏型”物源;根据岩性及碎屑物源特征,华夏地块中部震旦纪沉积地层可以与华夏地块其他地区及华南板块部分区域同时期沉积地层进行对比,指示震旦纪期间华南板块中部不存在宽阔的华南洋,属于统一的沉积盆地。

华夏陆块早寒武世沉积地层年代学与地球化学组成:对源区和构造背景的指示

华夏陆块早古生代沉积记录对于了解华南陆块在Gondwana超大陆演化过程中所起的作用具有重要意义。本文对广东省中山市神湾地区下寒武统八村群开展了锆石年代学和元素地球化学研究。结果表明,八村群变泥质粉砂岩的碎屑锆石年龄可分为4034~3122 Ma、2765~2250 Ma、1765~1443 Ma、1126~901 Ma、884~773 Ma以及595~547 Ma六组,其中最年轻的一组碎屑锆石加权平均年龄将该地层的最大沉积时间限定在551±4 Ma。锆石的Hf同位素特征则指示八村群沉积物源可能以古老地壳物质再循环为主,伴少量初生地壳物质。八村群变粉砂岩和变泥岩样品的化学风化指数(CIA)和成分成熟度(ICV)分别为79.8~86.4和0.39~0.87,均表明源区经历了相对强烈的化学风化作用。元素地球化学结果显示,八村群样品强烈富集不相容元素,而亏损Ni、Cr和Co等,指示八村群源区可能以活动大陆边缘构造背景下的长英质岩石为主。综合对比八村群与世界其他陆块同时期沉积地层的碎屑锆石年龄组成,本文认为八村群代表了新元古代晚期至早古生代早期Gondwana超大陆聚合过程中造山作用的沉积响应,支持华夏陆块位于Gondwana超大陆北缘,靠近北印度板块和羌塘地体,是该超大陆的重要组成部分。

华夏地块新元古代沉积记录与超大陆重建

新元古代-早古生代,Rodinia超大陆裂解至Gondwana大陆聚合的过程对华南构造格局与古地理演化具有重要的制约作用,然而在这过程中华夏地块的位置、华夏与扬子之间的关系等问题仍存在争议。本文通过同位素地层年代学、新元古代冰期事件及成矿事件对比了华夏地块武夷南部-南岭地区及华夏西缘新元古代中-晚期地层。在此基础上,对新元古代沉积物进行碎屑锆石物源分析,发现华夏西缘拉伸纪晚期-埃迪卡拉纪曾出现多次物源方向的转换,并在成冰纪晚期同时出现来自华南内部和外部的双向物源。结合浅海陆棚的沉积环境,表明此时扬子与华夏之间并没有宽阔的大洋相隔。华夏地块拉伸纪晚期-埃迪卡拉纪碎屑岩中包含了大量中元古代至新元古代早期的碎屑锆石,与东冈瓦纳北部印度、东南极等地区的沉积记录吻合,指示华夏地块至少自750 Ma时期就接收到来自印度北缘的碎屑物质。在Rodinia超大陆裂解至Gondwana大陆聚合期间,华南一直保持在超大陆边缘的古地理位置,与印度北缘相连。

闽浙古元古代斜长角闪岩的离子探针锆石U-Pb年代学

闽西北-浙西南的古元古代斜长角闪岩是目前华夏地块出露的最老岩石。对代表性样品进行了元素和离子探针锆石U-Pb年龄分析，其年龄为（1766±19）Ma。结合前人对该地区片麻状花岗岩的锆石U－Pb和Nd同位素的研究资料，认为浙西南-闽西北地区在1.77Ga前发生了广泛的板内玄武岩浆活动，华夏古陆很可能是在古元古代晚期由太古亩地壳再循环物质重熔结晶克拉通化而形成的。

华夏地块:一个由古老物质组成的年轻陆块

对华夏地块三个主要前寒武纪地质体出露区变质岩的详细锆石年代学的综合分析显示，华夏地块大致可以被分成武夷山区和南岭-云开区。武夷山区由古元古代核和新元古代（形成于730～820Ma）的盖层组成，构成华夏地块最老的古陆，在其深部很可能还存在一个新太古代基底。新元古代的沉积物主要来自武夷微古陆本身。南岭与云开具有相似的前寒武纪地壳组成，它们主要是由新元古代形成的沉积物夹少量火山岩组成。这些沉积物质中包含了非常古老的中太古代和新太古代组分，甚至古太古代组成。Grenville期和中元古代组分是其中最丰富的。这些组分在华夏没有对应出露的岩石，说明它们主要来自另外一个曾经与华夏相邻的陆块。该陆块很可能是东印度-东南极大陆。南岭-云开区最初可能是Rodinia超大陆裂解时形成的一个裂谷盆地，加里东的造山运动使盆地中的沉积物挤压、褶皱和隆起，与武夷陆块共同构成了一个新的年轻的大陆。

华夏古陆古元古代变质火山岩的地球化学特征及其构造意义

根据元素地球化学特征，华夏古陆闽浙地区晚古元古代斜长角闪岩可以划分成两组。第１ 组斜长角闪岩的 Ｎｂ／ Ｙｂ比值较高， Ｌ Ｒ Ｅ Ｅ富集， 具有板内玄武岩的微量元素分布特征， 类似于过渡性和碱性玄武岩， 与偏碱性的变质酸性火山岩（变粒岩） 构成板内 “双峰”式火山岩； 第２ 组斜长角闪岩的 Ｎｂ／ Ｙｂ 比值较低， Ｌ Ｒ Ｅ Ｅ平坦或略亏损， 具有洋中脊玄武岩的微量元素分布特征， 类似于洋中脊拉斑玄武岩。这些变质火山岩形成的构造环境很可能类似于现代红海型的裂谷初始洋盆环境。

全球早古生代造山带(Ⅲ):华南陆内造山

华南早古生代加里东期变形、岩浆、沉积等特征表现为陆内造山带特征。通过对加里东期角度不整合分布、褶皱、断裂逆冲极性等特征的分析,发现大明山、大瑶山地区EW轴向的寒武系褶皱不对称性和角度不整合空间上向北的拓展变新规律,指示晚寒武世—早奥陶世的由南向北推覆挤压可能是云开、滇—桂北越地块依次向北推挤的结果;从全球背景看,可能和华南陆块南部一些地块与冈瓦纳大陆北缘依次碰撞接触导致的远程陆内效应有关。然而,湘赣边境、桂北元宝山及越城岭地区的早古生代NE向褶皱不对称性指示向西拓展,这可能是由于华夏地块与扬子地块在晚奥陶世—早志留世沿郴州临武断裂陆内收缩挤压的结果,其全球背景可能和华南陆块顺时针旋转与冈瓦纳全面碰撞相关。总之,加里东期构造运动总体由南向北、由东向西渐新,变形强度由强到弱的特征,反映华南陆内碰撞造山事件的根本原因是其与冈瓦纳北缘碰撞的远程效应。450~420 Ma华南已经属于冈瓦纳北缘一部分。

华夏地块东南部地壳地震各向异性特征初步研究

本研究采用SAM剪切波分裂分析方法,使用福建区域数字地震台网记录到的(1999年01月~2003年12月)的波形资料,挑选符合剪切波窗口条件的记录,得到华夏地块东南部地区(23°N^29°N,116°E^120°E)10个台站的剪切波分裂参数.研究结果表明,该区域快剪切波平均偏振方向为NW109.4°±42.6°,慢剪切波平均时间延迟为2.5±1.5(ms/km),快剪切波平均偏振方向对应该区的水平主压应力方向.闽东台站NW方向的快剪切波偏振优势方向揭示了NW向的水平主压应力和NW走向断裂的构造意义.两个闽西台站NE方向的快剪切波偏振优势方向与区域水平主压应力方向不一致,与NE走向的断裂一致,体现了局部构造和局部应力场的复杂性.本研究证实,位于活动断裂上的台站的快剪切波偏振方向的优势方向与断裂走向一致,位于海边或岛上的台站的快剪切波偏振方向较为离散,主要是受到不规则表面地形和断裂交汇的影响.慢剪切波延迟时间的空间分布特征,显示沿海地区慢剪切波延迟时间变化较大,而内陆地区则较为平缓.

华夏地块显生宙的变质作用期次和特征

华夏地块主要存在四期变质作用。加里东期变质作用呈北东向展布于华夏的大部分地区,变质作用可达麻粒岩相,且麻粒岩断续分布平行于造山带,此期变质作用是在挤压造山构造背景下发生,很可能与扬子地块向冈瓦那大陆北缘聚合–碰撞,造成大陆边缘沉积物变形–变质有关。根据粤东梅县片麻岩和兴宁混合岩的LA–ICPMS锆石U–Pb定年以及邻区独居石U–Pb年代学的研究,海西的变质作用主要发生在260～280Ma,年轻于欧洲典型的海西期造山时代。华夏地块的海西期变质作用分布局限,它们可能形成于拉张构造背景。印支期变质岩在华夏有较广泛的分布,西南端大容山—十万大山的印支期变质作用可达麻粒岩相,其他地区的变质作用具有中低压相系的特征,记录了造山后期伸展构造背景。LA–ICPMS锆石U–Pb定年指示华夏中部粤中地区的印支期变质作用发生在231～232Ma。燕山期变质岩主要分布于东南沿海和台湾中央山脉,显示了双变质带的特点,表明与太平洋板块向东南沿海俯冲作用密切相关。从印支期到燕山期,变质带的方向发生了转变,说明影响华夏地块变质作用的构造域发生了改变。

华夏地块龙泉地区发现亚洲最古老的锆石

锆石这一矿物是迄今为止所发现的地球最初500个百万年间（地质学界通常称为“冥古代”）的唯一地壳物质残留,对于了解地球早期地壳演化过程至关重要。近年来,随着高精度 SHRIMP 测年技术的广泛运用,笔者最近在华夏地块龙泉地区发现了2颗约4100 Ma的碎屑锆石。其中一颗为目前发现亚洲最古老的锆石,其内部结构简单,具有正常的震荡环带,207Pb/206Pb年龄为（4127±4） Ma；其δ18O与地幔岩浆的氧同位素类似,可能来自于早期的幔源岩浆或者未经历地表过程的深部地壳物质的熔融。另外一颗锆石具有明显的核边结构,其核部结晶年龄约为4100 Ma,变质边年龄约为4070 Ma,外围还有2层岩浆增生边年龄介于3800~3600 Ma,代表了该4100 Ma的锆石核部在后期经历了复杂的地壳演化过程,4070 Ma的变质边是目前已获得最为可靠的全球变质年龄。上述发现表明冥古宙时地壳性质和构造环境存在多样性,为认识地球早期大陆演化过程提供了重要新信息。