Structural,^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Geochronological and Rheological Feature Analysis of the Guoxuepu Shear Zone:Indications for the Jitang Metamorphic Complex in the Northern Lancangjiang Zone

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.

Phase equilibrium modelling of the amphibolite facies metamorphism in the Yelapa-Chimo Metamorphic Complex, Mexico

The Yelapa-Chimo Metamorphic Complex forms part of the Jalisco Block in western Mexico and exposes a wide range of Early Cretaceous metamorphic rocks;such as paragneiss,orthogneiss,amphibolites,and migmatites.However,the pressure-temperature(P-T)conditions of metamorphism and partial melting remain poorly studied in the region.To elucidate metamorphic P-T conditions,phase equilibrium modelling was applied to two sillimanite-garnet paragneisses,one amphibole-orthogneiss,and one amphibolite.Sillimanite-garnet paragneisses exhibit a lepidoblastic texture with a biotite+sillimanite+kyanite+garnet+quartz+plagioclase+K-feldspar mineral assemblage.Amphibole-orthogneiss and amphibolite display a nematoblastic texture with an amphibole+(1)plagioclase+quartz+(1)titanite assemblage and an amphibole+(2)plagioclase+(2)titanite+ilmenite retrograde mineral assemblage.Pseudosections calculated for the two sillimanite-garnet paragneiss samples show P-T peak conditions at~6-7.5 kbar and~725-740℃.The results for amphibole-orthogneiss and the amphibolite yield P-T peak conditions at~8.5-10 kbar and~690-710℃.The mode models imply that metasedimentary and metaigneous units can produce up to~20 vol%and~10 vol%of melt,respectively.Modelling within a closed system during isobaric heating suggests that melt compositions of metasedimentary and metaigneous units are likely to have direct implications for the petrogenesis of the Puerto Vallarta Batholith.Our new data indicate that the Yelapa-Chimo Metamorphic Complex evolved through a metamorphic gradient between~23-33℃km^-1and the metamorphic rocks formed at depths between~22 km and~30 km with a burial rate of~2.0 km Ma^-1.Finally,the P-T data for both metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks provide new constraints on an accretionary framework,which is responsible for generating metamorphism and partial melting in the YelapaChimo Metamorphic Complex during the Early Cretaceous.

Structural Analysis for Qazzaz Metamorphic Core Complex,Northwestern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

Identifying deformational mechanisms and associated structures at various scales,ranging from regional-scale structures to microscopic fabric,is crucial for the assessment of tectonic development.Thirty-three samples were taken from the Qazzaz metamorphic core complex to estimate the finite strain for felsic and mafic minerals.These samples included gneisses rocks,monzogranite,and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks for both the Thalbah and Bayda groups.Using the Rf/j and Fry methods,the axial ratios(XZ)range about 2.20 to 7.10 and 1.90 to 9.10,respectively.For various rock units,the strain measurements show moderate to highly deformation.Most of the observed samples show shallow WNW dipping along a N to WNW trend of finite strain(X).The short axes(Z)based to be subvertical foliation related with a subhorizontal foliation.The results demonstrate that contacts generated at semi-brittle to ductile deformation and that the strain of magnitude has the same value for different lithologic units.It concluded that nappe generation in orogens results from pure shear deformation.

Tectonic evolvement of metamorphic complexes at Jilin paleocontinental margin during the transition from late Archaean to early Proterozoic

The kinematics and dynamical process of tectonic evolvement of metamorphic complexes at the interim from late Archaean to early Proterozoic is one of the key problems in geosciences. For the disputation on the genesis of metamorphic complexes at the margin of Jilin palaeocontinent, this paper takes the example of Banshigou region, Jilin Province to discuss the dynamical evolution of palaeocontinent during the transition from late Archaean to early Pro- terozoic (2600—2000 Ma). On the time sequence, from center to palaeocontinental margin, it shows a series of dynamical movements including underplating, horizontal movement, subduc- tion, intraplate extension and separation. And its corresponding sequence of kinematical modes is as follows: vertical movement, horizontal movement, extension and shearing in contact zone, uplift-sliding movement in paleocontinental margin and interformational sliding, resulting in such tectonite sequence, tectonic gneiss, gneissic complex, gneissic complex-mylonite, mylonite and fracture cleavage-mylonite, which consist of the main body of metamorphic complexes. Their palaeostresses are: < 20, 20.40, 21.72, 28.80 and 30.8-69.8 MPa respectively. The deforma- tional metamorphic temperature is between hornblende and low-grade greenschist facies. The general deformational characters of Jilin palaeocontinent reflect a complete dynamic system of crust evolution, which indicates that the formation of the metamorphic complexes and the tec- tonic evolution are altered from vertical movement to compression to extension. It also indicates a continuous tectonic transformation from deep to shallow, and from ductile to brittle. The trans- formation between different dynamic mechanisms not only forms tectonic rocks, but also benefits the linking up, exchange and enrichment with rock-forming minerals and ore-forming elements. This research is helpful to classifying regional tectonic events and making further study on the evolution of palaeocontinental dynamics.

Tonian–Ediacaran Tectonometamorphic History of the Sa'al Complex,Sinai(Egypt):Implications for the Tectonostratigraphic Framework of the Northern Arabian–Nubian Shield

The Sa'al Metamorphic Complex(SMC;southern Sinai)encompasses the oldest arc rocks in the Arabian–Nubian Shield,comprising two non-consanguineous metavolcanic successions(the Agramiya Group and the Post-Ra'ayan Formation)separated by the metasediments of the Ra'ayan Formation.It experienced three distinct deformational events(D_(1)–D_(3))and two low-medium grade regional metamorphic events(M_1–M_(2)).The Agramiya Group and the Ra'ayan Formation experienced all tectonometamorphic events(D_1–D_(3)and M_(1)–M_(2)),whereas the Post-Ra'ayan volcanic rocks were only affected by the D_(3)and M_(2)events.D_(1)is an extensional event and is connected to the late Rodinia break-up(~Tonian;900–870 Ma).The M_(1)metamorphism variably affected the older Agramiya Group,the rhyolitic tuffs experiencing lower to upper greenschist facies conditions and the basic and intermediate volcanic rocks undergoing amphibolite facies metamorphism.The Ra'ayan Formation metasediments experienced upper greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism.The upper greenschist facies M_(2)affected the youngest Post-Ra'ayan volcanic rocks and other stratigraphic successions.The compressive D_(2)and D_(3)events were coeval with the accretion of dismembered terranes in the assembly of Gondwana.D_(2)can be linked to the Tonian–Cryogenian arc-arc assembly(~880–760 Ma;in Elat and Sinai),whereas D_(3)and the accompanying M_(2)is constrained to 622–600 Ma(Ediacaran).

Multistage Extension and Age Dating of the Xiaoqinling Metamorphic Core Complex,Central China

Abstract There are two extensional systems in the Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex (XMCC). One is the detachment fault system developed along the peripheries of the XMCC, which extended in an ESE-WNW direction and whose upper plate moved towards the WNW. The other extensional system includes the retrograde shear zones and normal faults developed within the XMCC, which represent the collapse of the XMCC. Ar-Ar and K-Ar dating shows that the extension of the detachment fault system continued from 135 to 123 Ma, i.e. in the late stage of its evolution at about 127 Ma. The collapse represented by the extensional system within the XMCC was operative during 120–106 Ma, and its main activity occurred about 116 Ma ago. These suggest that the XMCC experienced two extensional stages in its evolution, i.e., the syn-orogenic regional extension and post-orogenic collapse extension.

Extension of the Louzidian Metamorphic Core Complex and Development of Supradetachment Basins in Southern Chifeng,Inner Mongolia,China

The Louzidian metamorphic core complex (LMCC) in southern Chifeng is located on the northern margin of the North China craton. Structural analyses of the LMCC and its extensional detachment system indicate that the LMCC experienced two-stage extension. The ductile regime experienced top-to-northeast shearing extension and the brittle detachment fault underwent top-down-outwards slipping. Between these two stages, a semi-ductile regime recorded the transition from ductile to brittle. The hanging wall of the detachment fault is similar to those classic supradetachment basins in western North America. Analyses of provenance and paleocurrent directions in the basins show that there were two filling stages. In the early stage, materials came from the southwest margin of the basin and the hanging wall of the detachment system and were transported from southwest to northeast; while in the late stage, deposits were derived from the footwall of the detachment fault and transported outwards to the two sides of the core complex. Since the filling period of the basins is from the late Jurassic to the late Cretaceous and it is coeval with the extension, the two filling stages reflect the two-stage history of the detachment fault. The large-scale late Jurassic underplating in the deep crust of the Chifeng area led to thickening and heating of the middle-upper crust and trigged the extension at depths and volcanism on the surface. In the early Cretaceous the upper plate of the detachment fault moved northeastwards and sediments were transported from southwest to northeast, while in the late Cretaceous the core complex was uplifted rapidly, the original basin was separated by the uplifted core, and lower-plate-derived debris was deposited in the adjacent upper-plate basins of the detachment fault. Evidentially, the development of the supradetachment basins were controlled by the extension and in turn the fillings in the basins recorded information of the extension, which has provided new evidence for kinematic interpretation of the Louzidian core complex.

Application of General Shear Theory to the Study of Formation Mechanism of the Metamorphic Core Complex:A Case Study of Xiaoqinling in Central China

: The kinematic vorticity number and strain of the mylonitic zone related to the detachment fault increase from ESE to WNW along the moving direction of the upper plate of the Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex (XMCC) and the geometry of quartz c-axis fabrics changes progressively from crossed girdles to single girdles in the same direction. Therefore, pure shear is dominant in the ESE part of the XMCC while simple shear becomes increasingly important towards WNW. However, the shear type does not change with the strain across the shear zone, thus the variation of shear type is of significance in indicating the formation mechanism. The granitic plutons within the XMCC came from the deep source and their emplacement was an active and forceful upwelling prior to the detachment faulting. The PTt path demonstrates that magmatism is an important cause for the formation of the XMCC. The formation mechanism of the XMCC is supposed to be active plutonism and passive detachment. Crustal thickening and magmatic doming caused necking extension with pure shear, and magmatic heating and doming resulted in detachment extension with simple shear and formed the XMCC.

The Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex: Constitution, Structure and Evolution

The Liaonan metamorphic core complex （mcc） has a three-layer structure and is constituted by five parts, i.e. a detachment fault zone, an allochthonous upper plate and an supradetachment basin above the fault zone, and highly metamorphosed rocks and intrusive rocks in the lower plate. The allochthonous upper plate is mainly of Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic rocks weakly deformed and metamorphosed in pre-Indosinan stage. Above these rocks is a small-scale supradetachment basin of Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The lower plate is dominated by Archean TTG gneisses with minor amount of supracrustal rocks. The Archean rocks are intruded by late Mesozoic synkinematic monzogranitic and granitic plutons. Different types of fault rocks, providing clues to the evolution of the detachment fault zone, are well-preserved in the fault zone, e.g. mylonitic gneiss, mylonites, brecciated mylonites, microbreccias and pseudotachylites. Lineations in lower plate granitic intrusions have consistent orientation that indicate uniform top-to-NW shearing along the main detachment fault zone. This also provides evidence for the synkinematic characteristics of the granitic plutons in the lower plate. Structural analysis of the different parts in the mcc and isotopic dating of plutonic rocks from the lower plate and mylonitic rocks from detachment fault zone suggest that exhumation of the mcc started with regional crustal extension due to crustal block rotation and tangential shearing. The extension triggered magma formation, upwelling and emplacement. This event ended with appearance of pseudotachylite and fault gauges formed at the uppermost crustal level. U-Pb dating of single zircon grains from granitic rocks in the lower plate gives an age of 130±2.5 Ma, and biotite grains from the main detachment fault zone have ^40Ar-^39Ar ages of 108-119 Ma. Several aspects may provide constraints for the exhumation of the Liaonan mcc. These include regional extensional setting, cover/basement contact, temporal and spatial coupling of extension and magmatism, basin development and evolution of fault tectonites along detachment fault zone. We propose that the exhumation of the Liaonan mcc resulted from regional extension and thinning of crust or lithosphere in eastern North China, and accompanied with synkinematic intrusion of granitic plutons, formation of detachment fault zone, uplifting and exhumation of lower-plate rocks, and appearance of supradetachment basin.

Numerical modeling of metamorphic core complex formation:Implications for the destruction of the North China Craton

Widespread magmatism, metamorphic core complexes(MCCs), and significant lithospheric thinning occurred during the Mesozoic in the North China Craton(NCC). It has been suggested that the coeval exhumation of MCCs with uniform northwest-southeast shear senses and magmatism probably resulted from a decratonization event during the retreat of the paleo-Pacific Plate. Here we used two-dimensional finite element thermomechanical numerical models to investigate critical parameters controlling the formation of MCCs under far-field extensional stress. We observed three end-member deformation modes: the MCC mode, the symmetric-dome mode, and the pure-shear mode. The MCC mode requires a Moho temperature of ≥700 ℃ and an extensional strain rate of ≥5 × 10^(-16)s^(-1), implying that the lithosphere had already thinned when the MCC was formed in the Mesozoic. Considering that the widespread MCCs have the same northwest-southeast extension direction in the NCC, we suggest that the MCCs are surface expressions of both large-scale extension and craton destruction and that rollback of the paleo-Pacific slab might be the common driving force.

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 .

FEM simulation of formation of metamorphic core complex with ANSYS software

This study utilizes ANSYS to establish FEM's model of metamorphic core complex,and used thermal-structure analysis to simulate metamorphic core complex's temperature field and stress field.The metamorphic core complex formation mechanism is discussed.The simulation results show that the temperature field change appearing as the earth surface's temperature is the lowest,and the temperature of metamorphic core complex's nucleus is the highest.The temperature field is higher along with depth increase,and the stress field change appearing as the biggest stress occurs in the nucleus.The next stress field occurs at the top of the cover.

Structural Analysis of Jianglang Metamorphic Core Complex in Western Margin of yangtze Crston,Sichuan Province

There is a belt of metamorphic core complexes in the western margin of the Yangtze craton . The geological setting of the belt is similar to that of the Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes . A typical one in this belt is the Jianglang metamorphic core complex , which has a configuration consisting of three layers : a core complex consisting of Mesoproterozoic schist sequence . a ductile middle slab consisting of Paleozoic meta- sedimentary -basalt characterized by the development of ' folding layer' and an upper cover consisting of Xikang Group which has suffered both buckling and flattening . A detachment fault developed along the contact boundary between the cover and basement causes the omission of Upper Sinian and Cambrian at the base of cover . A lot of normal ductile shear zones developed in the cover causes the thinning of it . All the features show that the early extension results in the thinning of crust , but the formation of the dome and exposure of basement rocks may be the results of superimposing of the E-W directed contraction and the following southward thrusting during Indosinian to Yanshanian orogeny . Syntectonic plutonism and pervasive thermo - metamor-phism in the cover suggest that the thermal uplift also causes the uplift of the MCC .

Metamorphism of the northern Liaoning Complex:Implications for the tectonic evolution of Neoarchean basement of the Eastern Block,North China Craton

As one of the areas where typical late Archean crust is exposed in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton, the northern Laioning Complex consists principally of tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic （TTG） gneisses, massive granitoids and supracrustal rocks. The supracrustal rocks, named the Qingyuan Group, consist of interbedded amphibolite, hornblende granulite, biotite granulite and BIF. Petrological evidence indicates that the amphibolites experienced the early prograde （M1）, peak （M2） and post-peak （M3） metamorphism. The early prograde assemblage （M1） is preserved as mineral inclusions, represented by actinotite ＋ hornblende - plagioclase ＋ epidote ＋ quartz 4- sphene, within garnet porphyroblasts. The peak assemblage （M2） is indicated by garnet ＋ clinopyroxene ＋ hornblende ＋ plagioclase ＋ quartz ＋ ilmenite, which occur as major mineral phases in the rock. The post-peak assemblage （M3） is characterized by the garnet 4- quartz symplectite. The P-T pseudosections in the NCFMASHTO system constructed by using THERMOCALC define the P-T conditions of M1, M2 and M3 at 490-550 C＋（4.5 kbar, 780 810 C/7.65- 8.40 kbar and 630-670 ＋C]8.15-9.40 kbar, respectively. As a result, an anticlockwise P-T path involving isobaric cooling is inferred for the metamorphic evolution of the amphibolites. Such a P-T path suggests that the late Archean metamorphism of the northern Liaoning Complex was related to the intrusion and underplating of mantle-derived magmas. The underplating of voluminous mantle-derived magmas leading to metamorphism with an anticlockwise P-T path involving isobaric cooling may have occurred in continental magmatic arc regions, above hot spots driven by mantle plumes, or in continental rift envi- ronments. A mantle plume model is favored because this model can reasonably interpret many other geological features of late Archean basement rocks from the northern Liaoning Complex in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton as well as their anticlockwise P-T paths involving isobaric cooling.

New Findings in High-Pressure and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt of Tongbaishan-Dabieshan Regions, Central China

The Tongbai Dabieshan high pressure (HP) and ultrahigh pressure (UHP) belt is sandwiched between the Yangtze and the Sinokorean cratons. It connects the Qinling orogenic belt in the west and links toward the east to the Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) belt. At present there is a consensus that the UHP metamorphic rocks are the products of the oblique collision between the Yangtze and Sinokorean cratons during the Triassic. However, there is still a lot of controversies about the formation and exhumation of the HP and UHP metamorphic belts. The present research work on the composition and the structural geometry and kinetics of the HP and UHP metamorphic belt has shown the following new results: (1) The overall structural geometry pattern of Dabieshan is similar to the metamorphic core complex developed in the western North America; (2) The discoveries of HP and UHP metamorphic rocks in the north of Dabieshan indicate that the significance of Shuihou Wuhe fault should be re evaluated; (3) A series of micro structural evidence, including the newly found retrograde granulite facies assemblages in the garnet pyroxenites, substantiate the extensional processes following the collision event; (4) The discovery of partial melting phenomena in the UHP metamorphic belts illuminates the relationship between the HP and UHP metamorphic rocks and their associated granite gneiss. All of these new findings will greatly improve our understanding of the formation and exhumation of the high pressure and ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belts.

Mineralogical Evidence for Regional Metamorphism Overprinted by Contact Metamorphism

The Soursat metamorphic complex （SMC） in northwestern Iran is part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan metamorphic belt. The complex is composed of different metamorphic and plutonic rocks, but is dominated by metapelites composed of garnet, staurolite, kyanite, fibrolite, cordierite, and andalusite. Porphyroblasts in schists have the same fabric, and three stages of schistosity are present. The internal schistosity （Sn） inclusion trails are also offset by conjugate sets of extensional schistosity （Sn＋l） and a second （Sn＋2） that crenulates （Sn＋l）. Polyphase metamorphisms are present in the complex. Garnet, staurolite, kyanite, and fibrolite assemblage preserves conditions during the M1 metamorphic event. This assemblage yields a P-t estimate of 645±11℃ and 6.5±0.5 kbar. Other samples of the central part of SMC contain cordierite and andalusite （M2） overgrowth that yields a P- t estimate of 532±33℃ and 2.1±1.1 kbar.

Precambrian Tectonic Affinity of the Southern Langshan Area, Northeastern Margin of the Alxa Block: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Dating and Lu-Hf Isotopes

The Alxa Block is the westernmost part of the North China Craton(NCC), and is regarded as one of the basement components of the NCC. Its geological evolution is of great significance for the understanding of the NCC.However, the Precambrian basement of the Alxa Block is still poorly studied. In this study, we present new in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from the Diebusige Metamorphic Complex(DMC) which located in the eastern Alxa Block. Field and petrological studies show that the DMC consists mainly of metamorphic supracrustal rocks and minor metamorphic plutonic rocks and has experienced amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. Zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the amphibolite sample yields a crystallization age of 2636 ± 14 Ma and metamorphic ages of 2517–2454 Ma and 1988–1952 Ma, proving the existence of exposed Archean rocks in the Langshan area and indicating that late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic metamorphic events existed in the Alxa Block. Two paragneiss samples show that the magmatic detrital zircons from the DMC yield 207Pb/206Pb ages ranging from 2.48 Ga to 2.10 Ga with two youngest peaks at 2.13 Ga and 2.16 Ga, respectively, and they were also overprinted by metamorphic events at 1.97–1.90 Ga and 1.89–1.79Ga. Compilation of U-Pb ages of magmatic detrital and metamorphic zircons suggested that the main part of the DMC may have been formed at 2.1–2.0 Ga. Zircon Lu-Hf isotope data show that the source materials of the main part of the DMC were originated from the reworking of ancient Archean crust(3.45–2.78 Ga). The Hf isotope characteristics and the tectonothermal event records exhibit different evolution history with the Khondalite Belt and the Yinshan Block and the other basements of the Alxa Block, indicating that the Langshan was likely an independent terrain before the middle Paleoproterozoic and was subjected to the middle to late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal events with the Khondalite Belt as a whole.

The Wulian Metamorphic Core Complex: A Newly Discovered Metamorphic Core Complex along the Sulu Orogenic Belt, Eastern China

Combined with field studies, microscopic observations, and EBSD fabric analysis, we defined a possible Early Cretaceous metamorphic core complex （MCC） in the Wulian area along the Sulu orogenic belt in eastern China. The MCC is of typical Cordilleran type with five elements： （1） a master detachment fault and sheared rocks beneath it, a lower plate of crystalline rockswith （2） middle crust metamorphic rocks, （3） syn-kinematic plutons, （4） an upper plate of weakly deformed Proterozoic metamorphic rocks, and （5） Cretaceous volcanic-sedimentary rocks in the supradetachment basin. Some postkinematic incursions cut across the master detachment fault zone and two plates. In the upper plate, Zhucheng （诸城） Basin basement consists of the Proterozoic Fenzishan （粉子山） Group, Jinning period granite （762–834 Ma）. The s u pr a de tac hme nt ba sin a bo ve the Proterozoic rocks is filled with the Early Cretaceous Laiyang （莱阳） （~135–125 Ma） and Qingshan （青山） groups （120–105 Ma）, as wellas the Late Cretaceous Wangshi （王氏） Group （85–65 Ma）. The detachment fault zone is developed at the base and margin of the superposed basin. Pseudotachylite and micro breccia layers located at the top of the detachment fault. Stretching lineation and foliation are well developed in the ductile shear belt in the detachment faults. The stretching lineation indicates a transport direction of nearly east to west on the whole, while the foliations trend WNW, WSW, and SE. Protomylonite, mylonite, and ultramylonite are universally developed in the faults, transitioning to mylonitic gneiss, and finally to gneiss downward. Microstructure and quartz preferred orientation show that the mylonites formed at high greenschist facies to low greenschist facies as a whole. The footwall metamorphic rock series of the Wulian MCC are chiefly UHP （ultrahigh pressure） metamorphic rocks. Syntectonic rocks developed simultaneously with the Wulian MCC detachment and extension. Geological research has demonstrated that the MCC is associated with small-scale intrusive rocks developing in the vicinity of the detachment faults, for instance, dike. Geochronology results indicate that the denudation of the Wulian MCC occurred at about 135–122 Ma. Its development and exhumation was irrelevant to the Sulu UHP metamorphism zone rapid exhumation during Triassic Period but resulted from the crustal extension of North China Craton and adjacent area.

Deformation characteristics and genesis of the Waziyu metamorphic core complex in western Liaoning of China

The Waziyu metamorphic core complex is situated at the eastern end of the Yanshan tectonic belt.The NNE-striking detachment ductile shear zone in the core complex lies between the Archean metamorphic basement and Fuxin-Yixian rift basin,dips NW gently,and shows corrugation folds.Exposure structures,microstructures,and quartz C-axis fabrics all indicate top-to-the WNW sense of shear,i.e.,ca.285°,for the shear zone.Estimates of the deformation temperatures(ca.550-250°C) demonstrate its mid-crustal origination and progressive deformation from deep to shallow levels.The northern segment of the shear zone shows relatively weak exhumation with exposures of low-temperature mylonites whereas its middle and southern segments have more intense uplifting with exposures of high-temperature mylonites.Biotite and muscovite 40 Ar/39 Ar ages,U-Pb dating results of zircon from dikes and plutons as well as formation ages of the supra-detachment basin all suggest the formation time of 135-100 Ma for the core complex.The formation was also associated with syntectonic emplacement of the Early Cretaceous Shishan pluton.The western margin of the core complex was truncated by the Sunjiawan-Shaohuyingzi brittle normal fault when it uplifted to shallow crust levels,and finally exhumed to near-surface levels.The core complex was developed by the rolling-hinge model under WNW-ESE extension during the Early Cretaceous peak destruction of the North China Craton.Ductile flow did not appear in the lower plate,therefore not supporting the low-crust gravitational collapse.

Determining the key conditions for the formation of metamorphic core complexes by geodynamic modeling and insights into the destruction of North China Craton

Metamorphic core complex(MCC) is characterized by the exhumation of lower crust over a large-scale detachment fault, providing natural records for tectonic extension. MCCs are widely identified in the North China Craton(NCC), which have been intensively studied on their structural and geological characteristics. Yet, the condition for the formation of MCCs and their link with NCC destruction are still in debate. In this study, we perform numerical simulations to investigate MCC formation under extension, with a focus on the effect of crustal rheologies. Results indicate that three end-member modes of deformation may occur: the metamorphic core complex mode, the detachment fault-uplifting mode and the pure shear mode. Weaker lower crust and stronger upper crust may promote the formation of MCC. In contrast, stronger lower crust(>1.3×1021 Pa s) may prohibit the exhumation of lower crust(detachment fault-uplifting mode), while weaker upper crust(<7.8×1021 Pa s) may fail to develop detachment faults(pure shear mode). Given that cratons typically have a strong crust, we suggest that the lower crust of NCC was weakened prior to extension, which promoted the formation of MCC in a later stage under the back-arc extension.