A challenge to the concept of slip-lines in extrusion tectonics

Wide-open V-shaped conjugate strike-slip faults in Asia are typically related to extrusion tectonics. However, the tectonic model based on the slip-line theory of plasticity has some critical problems associated with it. The conjugate sets of slip-lines in plane deformation, according to the theory of plasticity should be normal to each another but, in reality, the angles between the conjugate strike-slip faults, which are regarded as slip-lines in extrusion tectonics in the eastern Mediterranean, Tibet-middle Asia, China and the Indochina Peninsular regions, are always more than 90° （on average -110°） in the direction of contraction. Another problem is that the slip-line theory fails to explain how, in some cases, e.g., in the Anatolian area in the eastern Mediterranean, the extrusion rate is much higher than the indent rate. The two major problems are easy to solve in terms of the Maximum-Effective-Moment （MEM） Criterion that predicts that orientations of the shear zones are theoretically at an angle of 54.7° and practically at angles of 55°± 10° with the σ1- or contractional direction. The orientations of the strike-slip faults that accommodate extrusion tectonics are, therefore, fundamentally controlled by the MEM Criterion. When extrusion is along the MEM-orientations, the extruding rate is normally higher than the indenting rate.

Active Faulting Pattern,Present-day Tectonic Stress Field and Block Kinematics in the East Tibetan Plateau

This paper examines major active faults and the present-day tectonic stress field in the East Tibetan Plateau by integrating available data from published literature and proposes a block kinematics model of the region. It shows that the East Tibetan Plateau is dominated by strike-slip and reverse faulting stress regimes and that the maximum horizontal stress is roughly consistent with the contemporary velocity field, except for the west Qinling range where it parallels the striking of the major strike-slip faults. Active tectonics in the East Tibetan Plateau is characterized by three faulting systems. The left-slip Kunlun-Qinling faulting system combines the east Kunlun fault zone, sinistral oblique reverse faults along the Minshan range and two major NEE-striking faults cutting the west Qinling range, which accommodates eastward motion, at 10--14 mm/a, of the Chuan-Qing block. The left-slip Xianshuihe faulting system accommodated clockwise rotation of the Chuan-Dian block. The Longmenshan thrust faulting system forms the eastern margin of the East Tibetan Plateau and has been propagated to the SW of the Sichuan basin. Crustal shortening across the Longmenshan range seems low （2-4 mm/a） and absorbed only a small part of the eastward motion of the Chuan-Qing block. Most of this eastward motion has been transmitted to South China, which is moving SEE-ward at 7-9 mm/a. It is suggested from geophysical data interpretation that the crust and lithosphere of the East Tibetan Plateau is considerably thickened and theologically layered. The upper crust seems to be decoupled from the lower crust through a decollement zone at a depth of 15-20 kin, which involved the Longmenshan fault belt and propagated eastward to the SW of the Sichuan basin. The Wenchuan earthquake was just formed at the bifurcated point of this decollement system. A rheological boundary should exist beneath the Longmenshan fault belt where the lower crust of the East Tibetan Plateau and the lithospheric mantle of the Yangze block are juxtaposed.

Paleomagnetism of Cretaceous Red beds from Eastern Part of South China Block

We performed on paleomagnetic investigation of the Upper Cretaceous red sandstones collected from Fujiau and Guangdong provinces. Significant characteristic directions were isolated by principal comPonent analysis from 22 of 25 and 9 of 14 sampling sites iu Fujian and Guangdong,respectively. Maximum concentration of global mean directions every province is achieved at 70 %and complete (100 % ) untilting for Fujian and Guangdong, respectively. We regarded these mean directions as the Late Cretaceous paleomagnetic directions and calculated virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs); Fujian, Lat. /Lon. = 79. 4°N/210. 3°E (α95= 5. 1°) and Guangdong, Lat. /Lon. = 80. 1°N/193. 4°E (α95=8. 0°). These two VGPs are nearly equal to each other and to a mean VGP from Sichuan Province reported previously. This observation suggests no relative movement among three regions, Fujian, Guangdong and Sichuan, since the Late Cretaceous. Two VGPs from this study are significantly different from previously reported VGPs from the same regions. Further systematic paleomagnetic works are needed to clarify this difference of VGP Positions.

Geochronological Constraints for Boundary Shear Zones between Eastern Ghats Province and Bastar Craton: Implication for the Formation of Granulites and Their Exhumation History

Shear zones in the boundary between Eastern Ghats Province (EGP) and the cratons of Singhbhum in the north and Bastar in the west provide an excellent opportunity to study the tectonics of shear zone development and its timing in relation to the evolutionary history of the granulite suites. Detailed structural, microfabric and quartz C-axis patterns revealed a high temperature shear zone, at the western boundary between EGP and Bastar Craton (BC) around Paikmal. Petrological studies in this shear zone indicated decompression coeval with stretching in the sheared granulites. Geochronological constraints provided here indicate rapid exhumation of deep seated granulites in this boundary shear zone;the timing also is late in relation to the long-lived thermal (granulite formation) event in the EGP. Additionally, our geochronological data demonstrated the ~1600 Ma event in the Eastern Ghats Belt (EGB) involving sedimentation, magmatism, metamorphism and crustal anatexis, as a significant world event.