Tectonic Evolution of the Middle Frontal Area of the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt,Western Sichuan Basin,China

By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; （2） the stable tectonic stage （J1） where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; （3） the intense tectonic stage （J2-3）, namely the early Yanshan movement; （4） continuous tectonic movement （K-E）, namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and （5） the formation of Longmen Mountain （N-Q）, namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain＇s formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.

The Uplift of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Subsidence of the West Sichuan Foreland Basin

Based on fission track dating of apatite, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance of rock samples from the Longmenshan (Longmen Mountain)area and the West Sichuan foreland basin and computer modelling it is concluded that (l)the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at least by 3-4 km with an uplift rate of no less than 0.3-0.4 mm/a since 10 Ma B.P.; (2) the Longmenshan thrust nappe belt has uplifted at least by 5-6 km with an uplift rate of more than 0.5- 0.6 mm /a since 10 Ma B.P.; (3) the Longmenshan detachment belt has uplifted by 1 - 2 km at a rate of 0.016-0.032 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (4) the West Sichuan foreland basin has uplifted by 1.7-3 km at a rate of 0.028-0.05 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (5) the uplift rate of the area on the west side of the Beichuan-Yingxiu-Xiaoguanzi fault for the last 10 Ma is 40 times as much as that on its east side; (6) the uplifting of the the Songpan - Garze fold belt and the subsidence of the West Sichuan foreland basin 60 Ma ago exhibit a mirro-image correlation, i.e. the rapid uplifting of the the Songpan-Garze fold belt was corresponding to the rapid subsidence of the basin;the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at a much greater rate than the West Sichuan foeland basin in the last 60 Ma;and (7) the palaeogeothermal gradient was 25℃ /km in the West Sichuan foreland basin.

Application of the Material Balance Method in Paleoelevation Recovery: A Case Study of the Longmen Mountains Foreland Basin on the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains （Mts.） and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment in each sedimentation stage of the basin was estimated to obtain the denudation volume, erosion thickness and deposit thickness since the Late Triassic Epoch, to enable us to recover the paleoelevation of the provenance and the sedimentary area. The results show the following： （1） Since the Late Triassic Epoch, the elevation of the surface of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted from 0 m to 2751 m, and the crust of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted by 9.8 km. Approximately 72% of the materials introduced have been denuded from the mountains. （2） It is difficult to recover the paleoelevation of each stage of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin quantitatively by the present-day techniques and data. （3） The formation of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin consisted of three stages of thrust belt tectonic load and three stages of thrust belt erosional unload. During tectonic loading stages （Late Triassic Epoch, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous-Miocene）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was lower （approximately 700-1700 m）. During erosional unloading stages （Early and Middle Jurassic, Middle Cretaceous and Jiaguan, Late Cenozoic）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was high at approximately 2000-2800m.

Episodic Orogeny Deduced from Coeval Sedimentary Sequences in the Foreland Basin and Its Implication for Uplift Process of Longmen Mountain,China

Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been proposed,including crustal thickening,crustal flow,and crustal isostatic rebound.Here we use coeval sedimentary sequences in the foreland basin to restraint uplift process and mechanism in the Longmen Mountain.The more than 10,000 m thick Late TriassicQuaternary strata filled in this foreland basin and can be divided into six megasequences that are distinguished as two distinct types.The first type is the wedge-shaped megasequences which are sedimentary response of strong active thrust loading events,characterized by a high rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,coarsening-upward succession and a dual-sourced sediment supply.This type includes Late Triassic,Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene megasequences.The second type is the tabular megasequences,characterized by the low rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,finingupward succession,and a single-sourced sediment supply,which is sedimentary response of isostatic rebound and erosion unloading.This type includes the Early to Middle Jurassic,Middle Cretaceous and Neogene to Quaternary megasequences.Basing on sedimentary,active tectonic,geomorphic evidence,we infer that the direction has been reversed from SSWdirected sinistral strike-slip to NNE-directed dextral strike-slip during 40-3.6 Ma,and since 3.6 Ma,the Longmen Mountain thrust belt belong to times of isostatic rebound and erosional unloading with NNEdirected dextral strike-slip.This suggests that crustal isostatic rebound is a primary driver for uplift and topography of the present Longmen Mountain.The Wenchuan(Ms8.0) earthquake,which ruptured a large thrust fault with NNE-directed dextral strikeslip along the range front,is an active manifestation of this crustal isostatic rebound process with dextral strike-slipping and shortening.This process may be the cause for the Wenchuan Earthquake and the apparent paradox of high relief,little shortening,the relative dearth of historical seismicity in the region.

The Coupling Relationship between the Uplift of Longmen Shan and the Subsidence of Foreland Basin,Sichuan,China

Depending on the analysis of the coeval sedimentary geometry and subsidence mechanism in the Longmen Shan foreland basin, three models about the coupling relationship between Longmen Shan uplift and foreland basin subsidence since the Indosinian have been proposed：（1） crustal shortening and its related wide wedge-shaped foreland basin,（2） crustal isostatic rebound and its related tabular foreland basin, and（3） lower crustal flow and its related narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin. Based on the narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin developed since 4 Ma, it is believed that the narrow crustal shortening and tectonic load driven by lower crustal flow is a primary driver for the present Longmen Shan uplift and the Wenchuan（Ms 8.0） earthquake.

Structural characteristics and implications on oil/gas accumulation in north segment of the Longmenshan piedmont,northwestern Sichuan Basin,SW China

By integrating surface geology,seismic data,resistivity sections,and drilling data,the structural deformation characteristics of the frontier fault of thrust nappes were delineated in detail.The frontier fault of thrust nappes in northwest Scihuan Basin is a buried thrust fault with partial exposure in the Xiangshuichang-Jiangyou area,forming fault propagation folds in the hanging-wall and without presenting large-scale basin-ward displacement along the gypsum-salt layer of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation to the Triassic Leikoupo Formation.The southwestern portion of the frontier fault of thrust nappes(southwest of Houba)forms fault bend folds with multiple ramps and flats,giving rise to the Zhongba anticline due to hanging-wall slip along the upper flat of the Jialingjiang Formation.In contrast,the northeastern portion of the frontier fault of thrust nappes(northeast of Houba)presents upward steepening geometry,leading to surface exposure of Cambrian in its hanging-wall.With the frontier fault of thrust nappes as the boundary between the Longmenshan Mountain and the Sichuan Basin,the imbricated structural belt in the hanging-wall thrusted strongly in the Indosinian orogeny and was reactivated in the Himalayan orogeny,while the piedmont buried structural belt in the footwall was formed in the Himalayan orogeny.In the footwall of the frontier fault of thrust nappes,the piedmont buried structural belt has good configuration of source rocks,reservoir rocks and cap rocks,presenting good potential to form large gas reservoirs.In comparison,the hanging-wall of the frontier fault of thrust nappes north of Chonghua has poor condition of oil/gas preservation due to the surface exposure of Triassic and deeper strata,while the fault blocks in the hanging-wall from Chonghua to Wudu,with Jurassic cover and thicker gypsum-salt layer of the Jialingjiang formation,has relative better oil/gas preservation conditions and thus potential of oil/gas accumulation.The frontier fault of thrust nappes is not only the boundary between the Longmenshan Mountain and the Sichuan Basin,but also the boundary of the oil/gas accumulation system in northwestern Sichuan Basin.

Crustal Uplift in the Longmen Shan Mountains Revealed by Isostatic Gravity Anomalies along the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies （IGA）, steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains （the LMS）. Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts＇s flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited （i.e. narrow） tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.

龙门山造山带-川西前陆盆地系统构造事件研究

通过对构造事件形成的产物 (岩浆岩、各种矿物等 )进行氩 -氩年龄测定、裂变径迹年龄测定、ESR年龄测定和计算机模拟 ,得出龙门山造山带 -川西前陆盆地系统自印支期以来 ,共发生了 7次构造事件 :(1)卡尼期末的构造事件 (D1 ) ,形成 S1 和 F1 ,并有区域低温动热变质作用 ;(2 )诺利期末的构造事件 (安县运动 ,D2 ) ,产生川西前陆盆地上三叠统须四段与下伏地层不整合接触和须四段砾岩的分布 ,并有较强的岩浆作用 ;(3)燕山期 (12 0～ 130 Ma,D3) ,有较强的岩浆作用和变质作用 ;(4 )喜马拉雅期 6 0 Ma左右的构造事件 (D4) ;(5 )喜马拉雅期 30～ 40Ma的构造事件 (D5 ) ;(6 )喜马拉雅期 2 0～ 2 5 Ma的构造事件 (D6 ) ;(7)喜马拉雅期 10 Ma的构造事件 (D7)。后 4次构造事件使龙门山造山带

龙门山造山带—川西前陆盆地系统形成的动力学模式及模拟研究

民文进一步阐述了龙门山造山带—川西前陆盆地系统的动力学模式,即L—型俯冲模式。通过物理模拟和数值模拟,进一步证实了L—型俯冲的存在。在龙门山造山带—川西前陆盆地系统的形成演化过程中,深部物质的调整及重力起着重要作用;L—型俯冲发生的动力源来自于地球深部;深部的动力是通过几个主干深大断裂的活动来实现的;主干断裂从深部到浅部错动量有逐渐减小的趋势。塑性软弱层和基于此的滑脱作用在龙门山造山带—川西前陆盆地系统的形成演化过程中起着十分重要的作用,并且地幔塑性层的水平相对位移,通常大于地壳塑性层的水平相对位移。

龙门山造山带-川西前陆盆地系统的成山成盆成藏动力学

造山带动力学、沉积盆地动力学和油气藏动力学均是地球科学的研究前沿。作者分析了三种动力学的主要研究内容和发展趋势,认为:(1)大陆动力学作用过程决定了造山带动力学和沉积盆地动力学的作用过程;(2)造山带动力学和沉积盆地动力学性质决定了油气藏动力学的作用机制。龙门山造山带—川西前陆盆地系统是由从东向西的深部多级俯冲潜滑而引起的浅部由西向东的多层次推覆而形成的,并且其物质流和能量流的循环均有两个传递系统。高异常古压是上三叠统天然气运移的动力,是控制天然气运聚与区域分布的主要因素,并且古压的演化直接控制了局部构造的成藏。川西前陆盆地侏罗系天然气藏是上三叠统与侏罗系之间流体的跨层流动形成的。龙门山造山带-川西前陆盆地系统形成和演化产生的挤压环境和使川西前陆盆地的被动沉降作用控制了天然气初次运移和聚集的成藏作用。60Ma以来,龙门山造山带-川西前陆盆地系统的整体抬升和剥蚀作用决定了裂缝系统的发育和上三叠统气藏的调整及侏罗系气藏的形成。

龙门山前陆褶皱冲断带构造解析与川西前陆盆地的发育

通过详细的野外地质调查和精细的地震剖面构造解析,揭示了龙门山前陆褶皱冲断带的基本构造特征。对比分析了龙门山北段与南段构造变形几何学和运动学的差异,提出龙门山北段主要表现为一系列复杂的逆冲推覆构造,晚三叠纪变形强于新生代;龙门山南段则以基底卷入的叠瓦状冲断为特点,晚白垩纪—早第三纪变形尤为突出。与前陆褶皱冲断带相对应的是,川西晚三叠纪时期的周缘前陆盆地主要表现在整个龙门山褶皱冲断带的前渊地区;而晚白垩纪—早第三纪再生前陆盆地却局限在川西盆地的南部,并且印—藏碰撞的持续挤压作用使得晚新生代构造变形不断向东扩展进入川西盆地南部。

从前陆盆地充填地层分析盆山耦合关系

根据前陆盆地充填地层分析盆地和造山带的耦合关系 ,研究区域包括四川中生代前陆盆地和鄂尔多斯中生代前陆盆地 .研究表明 ,前陆盆地和造山带具有较好的耦合关系 .前陆盆地充填沉积物特征是造山带形成演化和盆地沉降的响应 .向上变粗的沉积序列以及地层不整合向盆地方向的迁移反映了造山带向前陆不断隆升的演化过程 .前陆盆地沉积物的岩石学特征反映了双物源供给和造山带的剥蚀 .层序地层的体系域构成和地层堆积方式主要受控于前陆盆地沉降速率的变化 .

龙门山中段川西前陆盆地初始盆山边界及其变迁

通过对龙门山中段造山带、前陆盆地、飞来峰的构造变形和构造演化研究,结合前陆盆地物源分析,确定了盆山转换时期川西前陆盆地初始盆山边界,重塑了盆山边界的变迁过程。研究表明,盆山转换初期川西前陆盆地盆山初始边界断裂为茂汶断裂,现今分布于冲断带内的飞来峰均来自于茂县-汶川断裂与北川-映秀断裂之间的区域。印支-燕山期造山带向南东挤出,使位于茂县-汶川断裂带与映秀-北川断裂带间的地层发生变形和冲断隆升,形成北东向构造。作为前陆盆地基底的海相碳酸盐岩地层逐渐被抬升剥露,成为飞来峰的源。随着造山带不断地冲断隆升,前陆冲断带向南东扩展,盆山边界由初始的茂县-汶川断裂依次向南东迁移至北川-映秀断裂、彭-灌断裂和关口-彰明断裂以东。

龙门山造山带与川西前陆盆地耦合关系及其对油气成藏的控制

以盆地构造-沉积分析为手段,研究了印支期以来川西前陆盆地与龙门山造山带的耦合关系,探讨了川西前陆盆地的构造演化及其对油气藏的控制作用。认为龙门山造山带是经历了印支期、燕山期和喜马拉雅期多期、多类型推覆叠加而形成的复杂地质体,因而造成川西前陆盆地经历了前陆、坳陷、再生前陆的沉积充填过程;该区盆山耦合模式主要为剖面上的前展式逆冲双重构造,平面上表现为NE构造带和近EW向的横断层;造山带和盆地的共同演化不仅形成了多套烃源岩,而且控制了油气保存与有效成藏区带。逆掩推覆带和前陆坳陷带是油气勘探的有利区带。

川西前陆盆地须家河组沉积相及岩相古地理演化

川西前陆盆地上三叠统须家河组是油气勘探的重点层位。依据新的地层划分方案、大量钻井、露头及岩芯资料,结合区域地质特征,详细研究了须家河组沉积相、岩相古地理特征及其演化。结果表明:研究区内主要发育了冲积扇、湖相三角洲、湖泊、海相三角洲、滨岸和海湾六种主要的沉积相类型;古地理演化经历了由海相环境—海陆过渡相环境—陆相环境的转变;在须四早期,受安县运动的影响,龙门山褶皱成山,使研究区与阿坝海域完全隔绝,整个四川盆地真正进入了陆相沉积环境。

川西前陆盆地上三叠统致密砂岩储层评价方法研究

目前对致密砂岩储层的评价主要是采用宏观(孔渗参数)和微观(孔喉结构)静态参数的统计方法。但这类方法在川西前陆盆地上三叠统致密砂岩储层跨区带储层分类评价的研究工作中遇到了困难,反映出其片面性。文章针对川西前陆盆地上三叠统致密砂岩储层的特点,将储层环境因素(地层压力)对储层储渗性能的影响以参数的方式定量化融入储层评价中,结合储层的储与渗这两个关键问题进行考虑,提出了一种致密砂岩气藏储层综合评价的新方法。实际资料分析表明,该方法评价结果与实际地质情况相吻合,适用于跨区带的致密砂岩气藏储层的对比评价,也可对新区储层储渗性能作出判别,为工程作业提供依据。

龙门山造山带盆山转换时期的流体及流体迁移特征

采用流体包裹体和稳定同位素地球化学方法 ,研究了龙门山造山带盆山转换时期流体特征 ,揭示了造山带内和盆山间流体流动轨迹。盆山转换时期所形成的变质流体为多相盐水流体 ,形成于变形的初期。流体形成温度为 1 3 8.5～ 2 73 .5℃ ,压力为 2 2 .5～ 2 7.0 MPa。流体的盐度变化较大 ,介于 5.1 %～ 3 3 .98%间 ,从早期到晚期流体的盐度具有由高到低再升高的特征。流体的δ1 8O介于 0 .1 9‰～ 9.1 4‰间。在造山带内部 ,流体以侧向迁移为主 ,水压裂隙将不同层位发生侧向迁移的流体连通 ,集中向一些部位迁移聚集形成复杂的流体运移网络系统。盆山间具有明显的压力梯度、温度梯度和地形梯度。在盆山接合部位 。

四川类前陆盆地盆-山耦合系统和沉积学响应

依据四川盆地晚三叠世须家河期至白垩纪盆地构造和沉积演化史的综合分析结果,认为该盆地属于发育在大型周缘前陆盆地基础上的陆内压性叠合盆地,具类前陆盆地性质。盆地形成和演化受周边龙门山、米仓山-大巴山和雪峰山3个造山带多期次非同步异方位的逆冲推覆活动控制,可划分为受盆缘造山带逆冲推覆作用控制的川西、川东北和川东南3个盆-山耦合次系统,区域上构成了独具特色的"三坳围一隆"构造-沉积格局。对应各造山带异方位的交替逆冲推覆活动,盆-山耦合过程又可划分为早期周缘前陆盆地(T3m→T3xt)、中期类前陆盆地(T3x→J3)、晚期萎缩衰亡(K)3个演化阶段。各演化阶段盆-山耦合过程的沉积学响应具有特征的异同性:差异性为对应各造山带逆冲推覆应力方位的变化,各亚阶段沉降-沉积中心位置各异,往复迁移于川西、川东北和川东南3个坳陷带;相似性为各次系统地层分布都呈自前缘坳陷带向前陆斜坡带和前陆隆起带上超减薄变细的楔状体,具有相似的沉积组合、相带展布和油气地质特征。

龙门山中-南段构造格局及其形成演化

龙门山中－ 南段前陆盆地变形区、后山褶皱推覆带和滑覆飞来峰构成了本区的基本构造格局，它是在古生代扬子板块西缘稳定大陆边缘陆棚沉积建造的基础上经历印支运动以来多次变形改造的结果。

大巴山及川东北前陆盆地盆山物质耦合——来自LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学证据

利用阴极发光和LA-ICP-MS微区定年分析方法,对川东北前陆盆地中生界上三叠统须家河组和中侏罗统上沙溪庙组砂岩中碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb同位素分析,结果显示锆石具多成因类型,年龄具分组分段特征。上三叠统须家河组碎屑锆石年龄值有5组:213～283Ma、312～448Ma、694～710Ma、1430～1988Ma和2133～2708Ma;中侏罗统上沙溪庙组碎屑锆石年龄值有7组:163～194Ma、213～274Ma、404Ma、712Ma、1742～1972Ma、2116～2594Ma和3025～3140Ma。研究表明,川东北前陆盆地沉积物主要为源自秦岭造山带燕山期陆内造山岩浆活动产物(163～194Ma)、晚海西—印支期秦岭俯冲碰撞岩浆活动的产物(213～283Ma;213～274Ma)、北秦岭俯冲造山-构造岩浆作用的物质(312～448Ma;404Ma)、南秦岭南华纪与Rodinia超大陆裂解相关物质(694～710Ma;712Ma)、秦岭造山带褶皱基底(1430～1988Ma;1742～1972Ma)和秦岭造山带变质基底(2133～2708Ma;2116～2594Ma、3025～3140Ma)。结合已有古水流及区域资料综合分析,秦岭造山带与川东北前陆盆地具较好的盆山物质耦合关系。