Formation Depth Estimation of Coesite-Bearing Eclogite in Dabie UHPM Zone,China:Constrained by Isotopic Studies

The formation depth of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) zone influences not only our understanding of formation mechanism and evolution processes of collision orogenic belt, but also the studies on earth's interior and geodynamic processes. In this study, the isotopic data of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie UHPM zone are discussed to give constraints on the formation depth in the Dabie UHPM zone. The ε Sr of eclogite in the Dabie UHPM zone varies from 18 to 42, and the ε Nd varies from -6.1 to -17, both of them show the characters of isotopic disequilibrium. The oxygen isotope studies indicate that the protoliths of these UHPM rocks have experienced oxygen isotope exchange with meteoric water (or sea water) before metamorphism and no significant changes in the processes of metamorphism on their oxygen isotope composition have been recorded in these rocks. Except for one sample from Bixiling, all samples of eclogite from Dabie UHPM zone show the 3He 4He ratios from 0.79×10 -7 to 9.35×10 -7 , indicating the important contribution of He from continental crust. All Sr, Nd, O and He isotopic studies indicate that the UHPM rocks retain the isotopic characteristics of their protoliths of crust origin. No significant influence of mantle materials has been found in these metamorphic rocks. Trying to explain above isotopic characteristics, some researchers assume that the speeds of dipping thrust and uplifting of rocks were both very high. In this condition, there will not be enough time for isotopic exchange between crust protolith and mantle materials. Therefore, we can not see the tracer of mantle materials in these UHPM rocks. However, this assumption can not be justified with available knowledge. Firstly, it was estimated that the whole process of UHPM took at least 15 Ma. During such a long period, and at the metamorphic temperature of ≥700 ℃, the protolith of crust origin can not escape from isotopic exchange with mantle materials if the UHPM have happened in the mantle depth of ≥100 km. In contrast, all problems will be dismissed if we assume that the UHPM have happened at the depth still in crust.

Pressure State in Deep Crust and Formation Depth of UHP Metamorphic Rocks

This paper presents some questions to the formula of pressure=depth×specific gravity from the viewpoint that the hydrostatic pressure is equal to the gravity of overlying rocks and the rocks in a static fluid state, which is drawn from the research and analysis of the research field and the corresponding problems of the pressure state in the deep crust and the formation depth of the UHP metamorphic rocks. In this research, the underground rocks are considered as the solid possessing some rheological behaviors to discuss the polysource stress state and to obtain a more reasonable method for the calculation of depths using the model of the unbalanced force solid. It is suggested from this paper that the P/SW method for the calculation of the ultrahigh pressure stemming only from the gravity has obviously overstated the formation depth of the UHP metamorphism. The formation model emphasizing the effect of the gravity, the tectonic force and the metamorphic force of the facies change concludes that such UHP minerals as coesite may have been produced in the inner crust.

Multi-Layered Low-Angle Ductile Detachment System in Dabie-Sulu UHPM and HPM Belts, China

The present-day observed crustal-scale tectonic style of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UH-PM) and high-pressure metamorphic (HPM ) belts in the Dabie-Sulu region was dominantly formedby extensional processes, postdating the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. The extensional structures overprinting the previous structures related to contraction that produced the thickened continental crust of the UHPM and HPM belts, in particular display the typical features of a Cordilleran-type metamorphic core complex, in which at least four regionalscale, low-angle ductile shear zones that constitute a detachment system, are recognized in the Dabie region. In the Sulu region, the extensionaI structures show in the form of small-scale domes or a regional-scale SE-dipping pseudo-monocline. The geometry and the kinematics of tbe detachment zones are briefly described and their significance for the exhumation of UHPM and HPM rocks is discussed. It is iniliated that the subhorizontal crustal-scale extensional flow in the middle-lower crust, under amphibolite- to greenschist-facies conditions, was an important tectonothermal process at 200- 170 Ma and the exhumation or the UHPM and HPM rocks was achieved at least in part along multi-layered detachment zones. The regional detachment system has been the main factor enabling UHPM and HPM rocks to be brought from middle-lower crustal levels to middle-upper crustal levels.

Upper Limit for Rheological Strength of Crust in Continental Subduction Zone:Constraints Imposed by Laboratory Experiments

The transitional pressure of quartz coesite under the differential stress and highly strained conditions is far from the pressure of the stable field under the static pressure. Therefore, the effect of the differential stress should be considered when the depth of petrogenesis is estimated about ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks. The rheological strength of typical ultrahigh pressure rocks in continental subduction zone was derived from the results of the laboratory experiments. The results indicate the following three points. (1) The rheological strength of gabbro, similar to that of eclogite, is smaller than that of clinopyroxenite on the same condition. (2) The calculated strength of rocks (gabbro, eclogite and clinopyroxenite) related to UHPM decreases by nearly one order of magnitude with the temperature rising by 100 ℃ in the range between 600 and 900 ℃. The calculated strength is far greater than the faulting strength of rocks at 600 ℃, and is in several hundred to more than one thousand mega pascals at 700-800 ℃, which suggests that those rocks are located in the brittle deformation region at 600 ℃, but are in the semi brittle to plastic deformation region at 700-800 ℃. Obviously, the 700 ℃ is a brittle plastic transition boundary. (3) The calculated rheological strength in the localized deformation zone on a higher strain rate condition (1.6×10 -12 s -l ) is 2-5 times more than that in the distributed deformation zone on a lower strain rate condition (1.6×10 -14 s -1 ). The average rheological stress (1 600 MPa) at the strain rate of 10 -12 s -1 stands for the ultimate differential stress of UHPM rocks in the semi brittle flow field, and the average rheological stress (550-950 MPa) at the strain rate of l0 -14 - 10 -13 s -l stands for the ultimate differential stress of UHPM rocks in the plastic flow field, suggesting that the depth for the formation of UHPM rocks is more than 20-60 km below the depth estimated under static pressure condition due to the effect of the differential stress.