Extensional Tectonics, Rifting, Formation of Sedimentary Basins, Cretaceous Volcanism, Emplacement of Dyke Swarms and Development of Hydrocarbon Pools: Case Studies from Peninsular India and Indian Ocean Region

Prolonged extensional regime in peninsular India resulted in formation of rift and grabens,elongated basins and Gondwana sedimentation along them.Downward progression of rift related faults caused decompression

Extensional tectonics and North China Craton destruction:Insights from the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy(AMS)of granite and metamorphic core complex

The craton is a long-lived stable geologic unit on the Earth’s surface.However,since the Mesozoic,the North China Craton(NCC)experienced large-scale lithospheric removal,the fundamental change of physical and chemical characteristics of the lithospheric mantle,widely distributed crustal deformation,and extensive magmatism.This complex evolution contrary to other cratons is called the NCC destruction.Widespread magmatism in the eastern NCC is an important response to the lithospheric removal at depth and crustal deformation on the surface.The plutons emplace under a tectonic context and therefore record the information of the tectonics;especially,the anisotropy magnetic susceptibility(AMS)pattern of the pluton was acquired with the influence of regional stress.In the past fifteen years,about 22 plutons intruding during the different periods from the Late Triassic to the late stage of the Early Cretaceous have been studied with AMS.The emplacement mechanisms of plutons and the contemporary tectonic setting were discussed to constrain their relationship with the NCC destruction in different stages of magmatism.As a result,the Late Triassic,Early Jurassic,and Late Jurassic plutons exhibit consistent N(E)-S(W)trending magnetic lineations.The early stage of Early Cretaceous plutons display NW-SE trending magnetic lineations,while the late stage of Early Cretaceous plutons show magnetic lineations with various orientations.Combined with previous studies,it is concluded that the emplacements of the plutons intruding in these three stages were controlled by weak N(E)-S(W)trending extension,regional NW-SE trending extension,and weak extension in the shallow crustal level,respectively.The transformation of regional extension from the N(E)-S(W)to the NW-SE direction was accompanied by a strain-increasing tendency.The extensional tectonics in the eastern NCC was interpreted to represent the interaction between Mongol-Okhotsk belt,PaleoPacific plate,and eastern Eurasian continent.

Extensional Tectonic Framework of Post High and Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphism in Dabieshan,China

The most prominent feature of the extensional tectonic framework of post high pressure (HP) and ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism in Dabieshan is the development of the multi layered extension detachment zones surrounding the core of the Luotian dome, and the separation of the UHP, HP and epidote blueschist units by the detachment zones, which form the vertically stacking sheet like slices of the HP and UHP metamorphic rocks. From the core outwards, exist the HP and UHP rock barren Dabie complex, UHP unit, HP unit and epidote blueschist unit. The extension tectonics of post HP and UHP metamorphic event constrain the distribution and present configuration of the HP and UHP metamorphic rocks, and the extensional tectonic framework bears some similarities to the Cordillera metamorphic core complex. It is suggested that partial melting happened in the Dabie gneiss complex (DGC) and UHP unit contemporaneously with the extrusion of UHP metamorphic rocks into the lower-middle crust. The formation and emplacement of the migmatite and granites are the response to the change in thermal state, facilitating the transfer from the compressive regime to extensional regime in the crust. The large scale crustal extension and uplift and the accompanying anatexis in Dabieshan are probably related to the delamination and magmatic underplating in the mantle and the lower crust.

Extensional Tectonic System of Erlian Fault Basin Groupand Its Deep Background

The Erlian fault basin group, a typical Basin and Range type fault basin group, was formed during Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, in which there are rich coal, oil and gas resources. In the present paper the abundant geological and petroleum information accumulated in process of industry oil and gas exploration and development of the Erlian basin group is comprehensively analyzed, the structures related to formation of basin are systematically studied, and the complete extensional tectonic system of this basin under conditions of wide rift setting and low extensional ratio is revealed by contrasting study with Basin and Range Province of the western America. Based on the above studies and achievements of the former workers, the deep background of the basin development is treated.

The 144–140 Ma Mafic Dykes in North China and Northeast China Indicating Regional Extensional Tectonic Setting

Objective Previous studies indicate that the North China Craton（NCC）had undergone the loss of thickened lithosphere and fundamental change of physical and chemical property of lithospheric mantle（the destruction of NCC）during the Mesozoic.The peak period of the destruction of NCC is estimated to be 130 Ma,accompanied by widespread metamorphic core complex,rift basins,A-type granites and mafic dykes. However, it remains greatly controversial on the tectonic setting of NCC in the pre- 130Ma.

Metamorphic Core Complexes and Its Significance in the Continental Crustal Evolution

Metamorphic core complexes are a basic structural pattern related to extensional tectonics. Several characteristics of different scales of metamorphic core complexes in the Fangshan and Yunmengshan (Beijing) , Zhongtiaoshan (Shanxi) , and Dengfong (Henan) are examined. A three-layer model for metam orphic core complexes is suggested . The conclusion is that metam orphic core complexes are the result of multiphase intracontinental crustal extensions and are an important tectonic pattern. which exposes the basement metam orphic rocks to the ground surface in the intracontinental cover .

Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic extension in southwestern Fujian Province, South China： Geochemical, geochronological and Hf isotopic constraints from basic-intermediate dykes

The tectonic evolution of SE China block since late Paleozoic remains debated. Here we present a new set of zircon U-Pb geochronological, Lu-Hf isotopic data and whole-rock geochemistry for two stages of basicintermediate dykes from the southwestern Fujian. The samples were collected from the NE-trending （mainly diabases） and NW-trending （mainly diabasic diorites） dykes and yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 315 and 141 Ma, with eHf（t） values of -8.90 to 7.49 and -23.39 to -7.15 （corresponding to TDM2 values of 850 to 1890 Ma and 737 to 2670 Ma）, respectively. Geochemically these rocks are characterized by low TiO2 （0.91-1.73 wt.%） and MgO （3.04-7.96 wt.%）, and high A1203 （12.5-16.60 wt.%） and K20 （0.60-3.63 wt.%）. Further they are enriched in LREEs and LILEs （Rb, Ba, Th and K）, but depleted in HFSEs （Nb, Ta and Zr）. The tectonic discrimination analysis revealed that the dykes were formed in an intraplate extensional envi- ronment. However, the NW trending dykes show crust-mantle mixed composition, which indicate an extensional tectonic setting with evidence for crustal contamination. The SE China block experienced two main stages of extensional tectonics from late Carboniferous to early Cretaceous. The tectonic evolution of the SE China block from late Devonian to Cretaceous is also evaluated.

Deadly oasis:Recurrent annihilation of Cretaceous desert bryophyte colonies;the role of solar,climate and lithospheric forcing

Many oases(wet interdunes)are sedimentary systems characterized by high-frequency water-level oscillations,marked changes in salinity and intense biological activity at their margins.They are considered to be one of the most challenging environments on Earth for ecosystem development.These dynamic,depositional settings are usually unfavourable for fossilization and subsequent preservation of vegetal remains.This paper describes bryophyte(liverwort)assemblages occurring in three successive horizons interpreted to represent(i)recurrent early successional phases of biological soil crust colonization of wet interdune margins or(ii)exceptional preservation of floating or riparian liverworts in oasis pond waters associated with a progressive fall of the interdune water level.The record of in situ colonization surfaces characterized by delicate(e.g.lignin-free)three-dimensional structures represents an exceptional type of preservation herein associated with a rapid variation in phreatic interdune water level and the subsequent establishment of anoxic and reducing conditions.The occurrence of exceptionally preserved liverwort colonies coincides with the sedimentary record of,at least,three seismite levels in the oasis.Data gathered from the site suggests that the water table of the oasis was controlled by a combination of(i)a positive creation of accommodation space due to subsidence associated with movement on syn-sedimentary extensional faults,and(ii)the rise and fall of the oasis water table controlled by the oscillations of the groundwater system due to orbital changes which appear to drive the variability of the climate system.Rising groundwater levels flooded the oasis soil crusts and lead to the exceptional recurrent preservation of liverwort colonies at the oasis margins.Alternatively,considering the hypothesis of floating or riparian liverworts in the oasis pond waters,the fall in the level of the oasis water table placed the floating liverworts in contact with the oasis bottom sediments.This fall in the level of the oasis water table could indicate a cessation of accommodation space by syn-sedimentary extensional faults and/or a regional lowering of the groundwater system level associated with drought periods.Preliminary results indicate that oasis lamination between liverwort colonies records decadal and sub-decadal cyclicity,related with 11-year Schwabe sunspot and sub-decadal NAO cyclicities,conferring for every sedimentary cycle between liverwort colonies a duration of approximately 200 years,that otherwise matches the expected recurrence period for the De Vries cycle of solar activity.

The Earlier Spreading of South China Sea Basin due to the Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic Extension of South China Block: Structural Styles and Chronological Evidence from the Dulong-Song Chay Metamorphic Dome, Southwest China

To understand the forming and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea basin, new data of the structural styles and geochronology were obtained from the Dulong-Song Chay dome, southeastern Yunnan and northern Vietnam. The structural styles were acquired through field investigation and geo-chronological dating was carried out using zircon SHRIMP Ⅱ U-P and argon isotopic analyses. The South China Sea basin extension occurred firstly at Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic, and then at Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene （32-17 Ma）. The second stage of extension formed immediately after the first stage, and both extensions have a consistent forming mechanism. New structural analysis and geo-chronological data do not support the models of ＂backarc spreading＂ and ＂strike-slip faults producing the extension＂. Then what mechanism resulted in the extension of South China Sea basin？ The data indicate that at least two episodes of major extensional tectonics, i.e. , the D1 deformation at 237-228 Ma resulted in the rising and exhumation of the dome, and D2 deformation at 86-78 Ma overprinted and redeformed the dome. Of them, the D2 shows a consistent forming time, extensional direction and tectonic regime among Dulong-Song Chay dome, South China block and the northern margin of the South China Sea basin. Regional geology has proved that the northern margin of the South China Sea basin belongs to the South China block, therefore, we interpreted that the Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic extensional tectonics occurred in the northern margin of the South China Sea basin due to the intraplate deformation of the South China block, while the Ailaoshan-Red River sinistral slip strengthened the Cenozoic extension in the South China Sea basin.

Miocene Tectonic Evolution from Dextral-Slip Thrusting to Extension in the Nyainqentanglha Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Dextral-slip in the Nyainqentanglha region of Tibet resulted in oblique underthrusting and granite generation in the Early to Middle Miocene, but by the end of the epoch uplift and extensional faulting dominated. The east-west dextral-slip Gangdise fault system merges eastward into the northeast-trending, southeast-dipping Nyainqentanglha thrust system that swings eastward farther north into the dextral-slip North Damxung shear zone and Jiali faults. These faults were took shape by the Early Miocene, and the large Nyainqentanglha granitic batholith formed along the thrust system in 18.3-11.0 Ma as the western block drove under the eastern one. The dextral-slip movement ended at -11 Ma and the batholith rose, as marked by gravitational shearing at 8.6-8.3 Ma, and a new fault system developed. Northwest-trending dextral-slip faults formed to the northwest of the raisen batholith, whereas the northeast-trending South Damxung thrust faults with some sinistral-slip formed to the southeast. The latter are replaced farther to the east by the west-northwest-trending Lhtinzhub thrust faults with dextral-slip. This relatively local uplift that left adjacent Eocene and Miocene deposits preserved was followed by a regional uplift and the initiation of a system of generally north-south grabens in the Late Miocene at -6.5 Ma. The regional uplift of the southern Tibetan Plateau thus appears to have occurred between 8.3 Ma and 6.5 Ma. The Gulu, DamxungYangbajain and Angan graben systems that pass east of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains are locally controlled by the earlier northeast-trending faults. These grabens dominate the subsequent tectonic movement and are still very active as northwest-trending dextral-slip faults northwest of the mountains. The Miocene is a time of great tectonic change that ushered in the modern tectonic regime.

Magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits in magma plumbing systems:Features,formation and exploration

The three most crucial factors for the formation of large and super-large magmatic sulfide deposits are： （1） a large volume of mantle-derived mafic-ultramafic magmas that participated in the formation of the deposits; （2） fractional crystallization and crustal contamination, particularly the input of sulfur from crustal rocks, resulting in sulfide immiscibility and segregation; and （3） the timing of sulfide concentration in the intrusion. The super-large magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits around the world have been found in small mafic-ultramafic intrusions, except for the Sudbury deposit. Studies in the past decade indicated that the intrusions hosting large and super-large magmatic sulfide deposits occur in magma conduits, such as those in China, including Jinchuan （Gansu）, Yangliuping （Sichuan）, Kalatongke （Xinjiang）, and Hongqiling （Jilin）. Magma conduits as open magma systems provide a perfect environment for extensive concentration of immiscible sulfide melts, which have been found to occur along deep regional faults. The origin of many mantle-derived magmas is closely associated with mantle plumes, intracontinental rifts, or post-collisional extension. Although it has been confirmed that sulfide immiscibility results from crustal contamination, grades of sulfide ores are also related to the nature of the parental magmas, the ratio between silicate magma and immiscible sulfide melt, the reaction between the sulfide melts and newly injected silicate magmas, and fractionation of the sulfide melt. The field relationships of the ore-bearing intrusion and the sulfide ore body are controlled by the geological features of the wall rocks. In this paper, we attempt to demonstrate the general characteristics, formation mechanism,tectonic settings, and indicators of magmatic sulfide deposits occurring in magmatic conduits which would provide guidelines for further exploration.

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF LITHOSPHERE EVOLUTION IN THE NORTH CHINA CRATON: THERMAL THINNING VERSUS TECTONIC EXTENSION THINNING

The boundary between lithosphere and asthenosphere essentially represents a thermal boundary (the solidus). Temperature variation across this boundary can lead to the change of lithosphere thickness. In the case of elevated temperatures in a lithospheric layer above 1 200℃, partial melting will begin and the result of that is a thinned lithosphere. The other mechanism that can also thin lithosphere is extension. Stretching during an extension event can result in a thinner and longer lithosphere. The two mechanisms above are the reason why we can alserve large variations in lithosphere thickness spatially across various continents and temporally throughout the geological history.

Late Mesozoic Tectono-Thermal History in the South Margin of Great Xing’an Range,NE China:Insights from Zircon and Apatite(U-Th)/He Ages

The Late Mesozoic tectono-thermal evolution and geodynamic setting of the Great Xing’an Range(GXR),particularly in the south margin,are still ambiguous.In this study,we present original low-temperature thermochronological data of six granitoid samples collected from Maanzi pluton in the south margin of the GXR.The apatite and zircon(U-Th)/He ages vary of 70.8 ± 4.3-119.0 ±7.0 Ma and 120.0 ± 7.1-146.7 ± 8.7 Ma,respectively.Further numerical inverse modeling results reveal that the granitoid plutons experienced a rapid cooling and exhumation stage during Early Cretaceous with a rate of ~5.0-6.0 ℃/Ma and ~0.14-0.17 mm/yr,respectively,including the western minor pluton emplaced during Early Permian and the major pluton crystallized in latest Jurassic,corresponding to the extensional tectonics in NE China.The rapid exhumation processes in the south margin of the GXR during the Early Cretaceous could be related to both the rollback of Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate and the collapse of thickened crust in the Mongol-Okhotsk Orogen.

Late Jurassic Intracontinental Extension and Related Mineralisation in Southwestern Fujian Province of SE China:Insights from Deformation and Syn-Tectonic Granites

Late Mesozoic igneous intrusions and extensional structures in Carboniferous to Permian sequences in the SW Fujian region acted as important controls on the localisation of Fe-polymetallic de-posits.Here we document the identification of extensional deformation at shallow crustal levels and syn-tectonic granites related to normal faults.Based on spatial distribution and structural features,the extensional deformation can be divided into cover-only and basement-intersecting styles.A series of syn-tectonic plutons were emplaced into the footwall of normal faults.Representative samples of the Tangquan Granite have high SiO2(66.4 wt.%-73.9 wt.%)assays and Mg#values(37-59).The samples also have relatively homogenous initial 87Sr/86Sr(0.7083-0.7089)andεNd(-9.2--10.2)values.Geochemical and isotopic evidences indicate that the Tangquan granite originates from a hybrid source including lower crustal-derived felsic and lithospheric mantle-derived mafic magmas.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the granodiorite phase from the pluton crystallised at 161±4 Ma and the monzogranite phase crystallised at 159±1 Ma.Combined with the granitic rocks in a wider region of SE China,the widespread granitic magmatism and polymetallic mineralisation have been synchronous during the Late Mesozoic,probably resulting from extensional tectonics related to the lithospheric thinning.