A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province （LIP）, SW China was investigated for laser microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. There ar...A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province （LIP）, SW China was investigated for laser microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. There are two ^40Ar/^39Ar age groups for these basalts, corresponding to 259-246 Ma and 177-137 Ma, respectively. A well-defined isochron gives an eruption age of huge quantities of mafic magmas at 258.9±3.4 Ma, which is identical to previous dating and paleontological data. Much younger ^40Ar/^39Ar ages for some basalts with Iow-greenschist metamorphic facies probably recorded a late thermo-tectonic event caused by collision between the Yangtze and Qiangtang continental blocks during the Mesozoic, which resulted in the reset of argon isotope system. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age data, we present here, combined with previous dating and paleontological data, suggest relatively short duration （about 3 Ma） of mafic volcanism, which have important implication on mantle plume genesis of the Emeishan continental flood basalts in the LIP.展开更多
The Jitang metamorphic complex is key to studying the tectonic evolution of the Northern Lancangjiang zone.Through structural-lithological mapping,structural analysis and laboratory testing,the composition of the Jita...The Jitang metamorphic complex is key to studying the tectonic evolution of the Northern Lancangjiang zone.Through structural-lithological mapping,structural analysis and laboratory testing,the composition of the Jitang metamorphic complex was determined.The macro-and microstructural analyses of the ductile detachment shear zone(Guoxuepu ductile shear zone,2–4 km wide)between the metamorphic complex and the overlying sedimentary cap show that the shear sense of the ductile shear zones is top-to-the-southeast.The presence of various deformation features and quartz C-axis electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)fabric analysis suggests multiple deformation events occurring at different temperatures.The average stress is 25.68 MPa,with the strain rates(έ)ranging from 9.77×10^(−14)s^(−1)to 6.52×10^(−16)s^(−1).The finite strain of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone indicates an elongated strain pattern.The average kinematic vorticity of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone is 0.88,implying that the shear zone is dominated by simple shear.The muscovite selected from the protomylonite samples in the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone yields a 40Ar-39Ar age of 60.09±0.38 Ma.It is suggested that,coeval with the initial Indo–Eurasian collision,the development of strike-slip faults led to a weak and unstable crust,upwelling of lower crust magma,then induced the detachment of the Jitang metamorphic complex in the Eocene.展开更多
Recent investigations reveal that the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks in the Donghai region of East China underwent ductile and transitional ductile-brittle structural events during their exhumation. The e...Recent investigations reveal that the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks in the Donghai region of East China underwent ductile and transitional ductile-brittle structural events during their exhumation. The earlier ductile deformation took place under the condition of amphibolite facies and the later transitional ductile-brittle deformation under the condition of greenschist facies. The hanging walls moved southeastward during both of these two events. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of muscovites from muscovite-plagioclase schists in the Haizhou phosphorous mine, which are structurally overlain by UHPM rocks, yields a plateau age of 218.0±2.9 Ma and isochron age of 219.8Ma, indicating that the earlier event of the ampibolite-facies deformation probably took place about 220 Ma ago. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of oriented amphiboles parallel to the movement direction of the hanging wall on a decollement plane yields a plateau age of 213.1±0.3 Ma and isochron age of 213.4±4.1 Ma, probably representing the age of the later event. The dating of pegmatitic biotites and K-feldspars near the decollement plane from the eastern Fangshan area yield plateau ages of 203.4±0.3 Ma, 203.6±0.4 Ma and 204.8±2.2 Ma, and isochron ages of 204.0±2.0 Ma, 200.6±3.1 Ma and 204.0±5.0 Ma, respectively, implying that the rocks in the studied area had not been cooled down to closing temperature of the dated biotites and K-feldspars until the beginning of the Jurassic (about 204 Ma). The integration of these data with previous chronological ages on the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism lead to a new inference on the exhumation of the UHPM rocks. The UHPM rocks in the area were exhumed at the rate of 3-4 km/Ma from the mantle (about 80-100 km below the earth's surface at about 240 Ma) to the lower crust (at the depth of about 20-30km at 220 Ma), and at the rate of 1-2 km/Ma to the middle crust (at the depth of about 15 km at 213 Ma), and then at the rate of less than 1 km/Ma to the upper crust about 10 km deep at about 204 Ma.展开更多
40Ar-39Ar dating of albite from the Meishan and Taocun iron deposits yields plateau ages of 122.90±0.16 Ma and 124.89±0.30 Ma, and isochron ages of 122.60±0.16 Ma and 124.90±0.29 Ma, respectively. ...40Ar-39Ar dating of albite from the Meishan and Taocun iron deposits yields plateau ages of 122.90±0.16 Ma and 124.89±0.30 Ma, and isochron ages of 122.60±0.16 Ma and 124.90±0.29 Ma, respectively. Phlogopite from the Zhongshan-Gushan ore field has a plateau age of 126.7±0.17 Ma and an isochron age of 127.21±1.63 Ma. Analysis of regional geodynamic evolution of the middle-lower Yangtze River region suggests that the porphyry iron deposits were formed as a result of large-scale lithosphere delamination and strong sinistral strike-slip movement of the Tancheng Lujiang fault zone. The copper, molybdenum and gold deposit system in the middle-lower Yangtze River region was formed during the stress transition period of the eastern China continent.展开更多
Four samples of plagioclase and biotite from the Shaxi porphyry in the lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt were analyzed for age determination with the ^40 Ar/^39Ar method. The results yield reproducible ages ...Four samples of plagioclase and biotite from the Shaxi porphyry in the lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt were analyzed for age determination with the ^40 Ar/^39Ar method. The results yield reproducible ages of 126 Ma to 135 Ma with a high level of confidence according to the agreement between isochron and plateau ages. The four Ar-Ar ages are relatively consistent within the analytical error. These ages are also consistent with, but more precise than, previous K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages and thus provide better constraints on the time of porphyry formation and associated Cu-Au mineralization along the middle to lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt. The ages of 126 to 135 Ma are interpreted to represent the intrusive time of the Shaxi porphyry, so that the Cu-Au mineralization should have occurred later due to the post-magmatic hydrothermal event.展开更多
Thus far, our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results. Therefore, in this study,...Thus far, our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results. Therefore, in this study, the ^40Ar/^39Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe （SHRIMP） U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared, particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding, to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements. The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U, but a very low value for Th/U. The high U amount, coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons, indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating. Therefore, muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding, gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma. The 4^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ^40Ar/^36Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4 （2σ） was very close to the air ratio, indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present. These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma, respectively. Through comparison of both dating methods and their results, we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating without extra Ar. Based on this evidence, as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites, it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma. Moreover, compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt, the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze. Therefore, ^40Ar/^39Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.展开更多
Increasing world-class, high-grade, and metals-enriched supergene manganese ore deposits have been discovered in the last two decades, making them more and more economically important. However, data on the timing and ...Increasing world-class, high-grade, and metals-enriched supergene manganese ore deposits have been discovered in the last two decades, making them more and more economically important. However, data on the timing and duration of their formation are sparse, mainly due to the difficulties extracting datable minerals suited to traditional radiometric dating methods. Hollandite, cryptomelane, coronadite, todorokite, and manjiroite are common manganese oxide minerals in supergene environments. These minerals host potassium of variable amounts from 0.1 wt% to 5.0 wt% in their structural sites. This geochemical property provides possibility to date supergene manganese ores by using K-Ar and 40Ar/ 39Ar methods. In this study, we perform 40Ar/ 39Ar dating on a 7.1-cm-thick botryoidal manganese nodule from an ancient weathering profile at Mount Tabor, central Queensland, Australia. Laser microprobe incremental analyses of distinct growth bands, from the inner core through the intermediate bands to the outermost crusts of the nodule, have yielded high quality 40Ar/ 39Ar ages at 27.3 Ma, 20.9 Ma, 19.2 Ma, and 16.1 Ma, respectively. The age results permit preliminary estimates on the average growth rates of the nodule varying from 4.7×10 -3 mm/ka to 7.6×10 -3 mm/ka to 9.0×10 -3 mm/ka, from the core to the rim. Results of this study are of significance in our understanding of the mode, mechanism, process, and climatic conditions in the formation of supergene manganese ore deposits.展开更多
The Chayu area is located at the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.This region was considered to be in the southeastward extension of the Lhasa Block,bounded by Nujiang suture zone in the north and Yarl...The Chayu area is located at the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.This region was considered to be in the southeastward extension of the Lhasa Block,bounded by Nujiang suture zone in the north and Yarlung Zangbo suture zone in the south.The Demala Group complex,a set of high-grade metamorphic gneisses widely distributed in the Chayu area,is known as the Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Lhasa Block in the area.According to field-based investigations and microstructure analysis,the Demala Group complex is considered to mainly consist of banded biotite plagiogneisses,biotite quartzofeldspathic gneiss,granitic gneiss,amphibolite,mica schist,and quartz schist,with many leucogranite veins.The zircon U-Pb ages of two granitic gneiss samples are 205±1 Ma and 218±1 Ma,respectively,representing the ages of their protoliths.The zircons from two biotite plagiogneisses samples show core-rim structures.The U-Pb ages of the cores are mainly 644–446 Ma,1213–865 Ma,and 1780–1400 Ma,reflecting the age characteristics of clastic zircons during sedimentation of the original rocks.The U-Pb ages of the rims are from 203±2 Ma to 190±1 Ma,which represent the age of metamorphism.The zircon U-Pb ages of one sample taken from the leucogranite veins that cut through granitic gneiss foliation range from 24 Ma to 22 Ma,interpreted as the age of the anatexis in the Demala Group complex.Biotite and muscovite separates were selected from the granitic gneiss,banded gneiss,and leucogranite veins for 40Ar/39Ar dating.The plateau ages of three muscovite samples are 16.56±0.21 Ma,16.90±0.21 Ma,and 23.40±0.31 Ma,and the plateau ages of four biotite samples are 16.70±0.24 Ma,16.14±0.19 Ma,15.88±0.20 Ma,and 14.39±0.20 Ma.The mica Ar-Ar ages can reveal the exhumation and cooling history of the Demala Group complex.Combined with the previous research results of the Demala Group complex,the authors refer that the Demala Group complex should be a set of metamorphic complex.The complex includes not only Precambrian basement metamorphic rock series,but also Paleozoic sedimentary rock and Mesozoic granitic rock.Based on the deformation characteristics,the authors concluded that two stages of the metamorphism and deformation can be revealed in the Demala Group complex since the Mesozoic,namely Late Triassic-Early Jurassic(203–190 Ma)and Oligocene–Miocene(24–14 Ma).The early stage of metamorphism(ranging from 203–190 Ma)was related to the Late Triassic tectono-magmatism in the area.The anatexis and uplifting-exhumation of the later stage(24–14 Ma)were related to the shearing of the Jiali strike-slip fault zone.The Miocene structures are response to the large-scale southeastward escape of crustal materials and block rotation in Southeast Tibet after India-Eurasia collision.展开更多
基金supported by a Youth Foundation from the former Ministry of GeologyMineral Resources and an 0utstanding Youth Foundation from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant 40425014).
文摘A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province （LIP）, SW China was investigated for laser microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. There are two ^40Ar/^39Ar age groups for these basalts, corresponding to 259-246 Ma and 177-137 Ma, respectively. A well-defined isochron gives an eruption age of huge quantities of mafic magmas at 258.9±3.4 Ma, which is identical to previous dating and paleontological data. Much younger ^40Ar/^39Ar ages for some basalts with Iow-greenschist metamorphic facies probably recorded a late thermo-tectonic event caused by collision between the Yangtze and Qiangtang continental blocks during the Mesozoic, which resulted in the reset of argon isotope system. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age data, we present here, combined with previous dating and paleontological data, suggest relatively short duration （about 3 Ma） of mafic volcanism, which have important implication on mantle plume genesis of the Emeishan continental flood basalts in the LIP.
基金financially supported by the China Geological Survey Scientific Research Project(Grant Nos.DD20190167 and DD20190053)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42172259).
文摘The Jitang metamorphic complex is key to studying the tectonic evolution of the Northern Lancangjiang zone.Through structural-lithological mapping,structural analysis and laboratory testing,the composition of the Jitang metamorphic complex was determined.The macro-and microstructural analyses of the ductile detachment shear zone(Guoxuepu ductile shear zone,2–4 km wide)between the metamorphic complex and the overlying sedimentary cap show that the shear sense of the ductile shear zones is top-to-the-southeast.The presence of various deformation features and quartz C-axis electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)fabric analysis suggests multiple deformation events occurring at different temperatures.The average stress is 25.68 MPa,with the strain rates(έ)ranging from 9.77×10^(−14)s^(−1)to 6.52×10^(−16)s^(−1).The finite strain of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone indicates an elongated strain pattern.The average kinematic vorticity of the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone is 0.88,implying that the shear zone is dominated by simple shear.The muscovite selected from the protomylonite samples in the Guoxuepu ductile shear zone yields a 40Ar-39Ar age of 60.09±0.38 Ma.It is suggested that,coeval with the initial Indo–Eurasian collision,the development of strike-slip faults led to a weak and unstable crust,upwelling of lower crust magma,then induced the detachment of the Jitang metamorphic complex in the Eocene.
文摘Recent investigations reveal that the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks in the Donghai region of East China underwent ductile and transitional ductile-brittle structural events during their exhumation. The earlier ductile deformation took place under the condition of amphibolite facies and the later transitional ductile-brittle deformation under the condition of greenschist facies. The hanging walls moved southeastward during both of these two events. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of muscovites from muscovite-plagioclase schists in the Haizhou phosphorous mine, which are structurally overlain by UHPM rocks, yields a plateau age of 218.0±2.9 Ma and isochron age of 219.8Ma, indicating that the earlier event of the ampibolite-facies deformation probably took place about 220 Ma ago. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of oriented amphiboles parallel to the movement direction of the hanging wall on a decollement plane yields a plateau age of 213.1±0.3 Ma and isochron age of 213.4±4.1 Ma, probably representing the age of the later event. The dating of pegmatitic biotites and K-feldspars near the decollement plane from the eastern Fangshan area yield plateau ages of 203.4±0.3 Ma, 203.6±0.4 Ma and 204.8±2.2 Ma, and isochron ages of 204.0±2.0 Ma, 200.6±3.1 Ma and 204.0±5.0 Ma, respectively, implying that the rocks in the studied area had not been cooled down to closing temperature of the dated biotites and K-feldspars until the beginning of the Jurassic (about 204 Ma). The integration of these data with previous chronological ages on the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism lead to a new inference on the exhumation of the UHPM rocks. The UHPM rocks in the area were exhumed at the rate of 3-4 km/Ma from the mantle (about 80-100 km below the earth's surface at about 240 Ma) to the lower crust (at the depth of about 20-30km at 220 Ma), and at the rate of 1-2 km/Ma to the middle crust (at the depth of about 15 km at 213 Ma), and then at the rate of less than 1 km/Ma to the upper crust about 10 km deep at about 204 Ma.
基金the State Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.G1999043206)
文摘40Ar-39Ar dating of albite from the Meishan and Taocun iron deposits yields plateau ages of 122.90±0.16 Ma and 124.89±0.30 Ma, and isochron ages of 122.60±0.16 Ma and 124.90±0.29 Ma, respectively. Phlogopite from the Zhongshan-Gushan ore field has a plateau age of 126.7±0.17 Ma and an isochron age of 127.21±1.63 Ma. Analysis of regional geodynamic evolution of the middle-lower Yangtze River region suggests that the porphyry iron deposits were formed as a result of large-scale lithosphere delamination and strong sinistral strike-slip movement of the Tancheng Lujiang fault zone. The copper, molybdenum and gold deposit system in the middle-lower Yangtze River region was formed during the stress transition period of the eastern China continent.
基金This study is supported by funds from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China （2006CB403500） ； National Natural Science Foundation of China （40473021）.
文摘Four samples of plagioclase and biotite from the Shaxi porphyry in the lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt were analyzed for age determination with the ^40 Ar/^39Ar method. The results yield reproducible ages of 126 Ma to 135 Ma with a high level of confidence according to the agreement between isochron and plateau ages. The four Ar-Ar ages are relatively consistent within the analytical error. These ages are also consistent with, but more precise than, previous K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages and thus provide better constraints on the time of porphyry formation and associated Cu-Au mineralization along the middle to lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt. The ages of 126 to 135 Ma are interpreted to represent the intrusive time of the Shaxi porphyry, so that the Cu-Au mineralization should have occurred later due to the post-magmatic hydrothermal event.
基金funded by the Major State Basic Research Program of China (2009CB421008)the Program for the New Century Excellent Talents in China(NCET-07-0771) +1 种基金the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University,"111"Project(No.B07011)State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources(No.GPMR200838,GPMR0736)
文摘Thus far, our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results. Therefore, in this study, the ^40Ar/^39Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe （SHRIMP） U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared, particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding, to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements. The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U, but a very low value for Th/U. The high U amount, coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons, indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating. Therefore, muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding, gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma. The 4^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ^40Ar/^36Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4 （2σ） was very close to the air ratio, indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present. These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma, respectively. Through comparison of both dating methods and their results, we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating without extra Ar. Based on this evidence, as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites, it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma. Moreover, compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt, the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze. Therefore, ^40Ar/^39Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.
文摘Increasing world-class, high-grade, and metals-enriched supergene manganese ore deposits have been discovered in the last two decades, making them more and more economically important. However, data on the timing and duration of their formation are sparse, mainly due to the difficulties extracting datable minerals suited to traditional radiometric dating methods. Hollandite, cryptomelane, coronadite, todorokite, and manjiroite are common manganese oxide minerals in supergene environments. These minerals host potassium of variable amounts from 0.1 wt% to 5.0 wt% in their structural sites. This geochemical property provides possibility to date supergene manganese ores by using K-Ar and 40Ar/ 39Ar methods. In this study, we perform 40Ar/ 39Ar dating on a 7.1-cm-thick botryoidal manganese nodule from an ancient weathering profile at Mount Tabor, central Queensland, Australia. Laser microprobe incremental analyses of distinct growth bands, from the inner core through the intermediate bands to the outermost crusts of the nodule, have yielded high quality 40Ar/ 39Ar ages at 27.3 Ma, 20.9 Ma, 19.2 Ma, and 16.1 Ma, respectively. The age results permit preliminary estimates on the average growth rates of the nodule varying from 4.7×10 -3 mm/ka to 7.6×10 -3 mm/ka to 9.0×10 -3 mm/ka, from the core to the rim. Results of this study are of significance in our understanding of the mode, mechanism, process, and climatic conditions in the formation of supergene manganese ore deposits.
基金a project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(41773026)two geological survey projects initiated by the China Geological Survey(DD20190053,DD20160021).
文摘The Chayu area is located at the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.This region was considered to be in the southeastward extension of the Lhasa Block,bounded by Nujiang suture zone in the north and Yarlung Zangbo suture zone in the south.The Demala Group complex,a set of high-grade metamorphic gneisses widely distributed in the Chayu area,is known as the Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Lhasa Block in the area.According to field-based investigations and microstructure analysis,the Demala Group complex is considered to mainly consist of banded biotite plagiogneisses,biotite quartzofeldspathic gneiss,granitic gneiss,amphibolite,mica schist,and quartz schist,with many leucogranite veins.The zircon U-Pb ages of two granitic gneiss samples are 205±1 Ma and 218±1 Ma,respectively,representing the ages of their protoliths.The zircons from two biotite plagiogneisses samples show core-rim structures.The U-Pb ages of the cores are mainly 644–446 Ma,1213–865 Ma,and 1780–1400 Ma,reflecting the age characteristics of clastic zircons during sedimentation of the original rocks.The U-Pb ages of the rims are from 203±2 Ma to 190±1 Ma,which represent the age of metamorphism.The zircon U-Pb ages of one sample taken from the leucogranite veins that cut through granitic gneiss foliation range from 24 Ma to 22 Ma,interpreted as the age of the anatexis in the Demala Group complex.Biotite and muscovite separates were selected from the granitic gneiss,banded gneiss,and leucogranite veins for 40Ar/39Ar dating.The plateau ages of three muscovite samples are 16.56±0.21 Ma,16.90±0.21 Ma,and 23.40±0.31 Ma,and the plateau ages of four biotite samples are 16.70±0.24 Ma,16.14±0.19 Ma,15.88±0.20 Ma,and 14.39±0.20 Ma.The mica Ar-Ar ages can reveal the exhumation and cooling history of the Demala Group complex.Combined with the previous research results of the Demala Group complex,the authors refer that the Demala Group complex should be a set of metamorphic complex.The complex includes not only Precambrian basement metamorphic rock series,but also Paleozoic sedimentary rock and Mesozoic granitic rock.Based on the deformation characteristics,the authors concluded that two stages of the metamorphism and deformation can be revealed in the Demala Group complex since the Mesozoic,namely Late Triassic-Early Jurassic(203–190 Ma)and Oligocene–Miocene(24–14 Ma).The early stage of metamorphism(ranging from 203–190 Ma)was related to the Late Triassic tectono-magmatism in the area.The anatexis and uplifting-exhumation of the later stage(24–14 Ma)were related to the shearing of the Jiali strike-slip fault zone.The Miocene structures are response to the large-scale southeastward escape of crustal materials and block rotation in Southeast Tibet after India-Eurasia collision.
