The Cretaceous tectonic event in the Qiangtang Basin and its implications for hydrocarbon accumulation

The tectonic event during Cretaceous and its relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation in the Qiangtang Basin is discussed based on zircon U-Pb dating and the study of deformation, thermochronology and hydrocarbon formation. LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the tectonic event took place during the Early-Late Cretaceous （125-75Ma）. The event not only established the framework and the styles of structural traps in the basin, but also led to the cessation of the first hydrocarbon formation and the destruction of previous oil pools. The light crude oil in the basin was formed during the second hydrocarbon formation stage in the Cenozoic, and ancient structural traps formed during the Cretaceous event are promising targets for oil and gas exploration.

Meso-Cenozoic Tectonic Events Recorded by Apatite Fission Track in the Northern Longmen-Micang Mountains Region

There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migration. Apatite fission track （AFT） analyses of 15 samples collected from this area yield apparent ages varying from 30.3±4.2 Ma to 111.7±9.0 Ma and confined-track-lengths ranging from 10.6±0.3 pm to 12.4±0.1 μm. Four specific groups were identified on the basis of the Track Age Spectrum Calculation （TASC） patterns, i.e., 143-112 Ma, 93.6-88 Ma, 42-40 Ma and -25.6 Ma. These age groups correspond to the spatial distributions of datasets and may represent four tectonic events. Together with the regional deformation patterns, the four age groups are interpreted to indicate tectonic superposition, transition and migration during the Meso-Cenozoic with the following possible order： （1） the Micang Mountains belt was dominated by the E-W trending structure during 143-112 Ma; （2） the contraction of the Longmen Mountains belt from the NW to the SE during 93.6-88 Ma led to the superposition of the NE-trending structures over the E-W trendinding structures; （3） dextral strike-slip shear dominated the Longmen Mountains belt at 42-40 Ma; （4） westward migration of the active tectonic belt occurred from 93.6-25.6 Ma in a break-back sequence in the northern Longmen Mountains belt. The Late Cenozoic tectonics in the northern Longmen Mountains belt are characterized by the dextral strike-slip shear and the occurrence of westward break-back sequence of deformations. As a result, north-south differences in deformations along the Longmen Mountains belt were intensified since the Miocene time and strains were mainly accumulated in the hinterland of the Longmen Mountains instead of being propagated to the foreland basin.

Late Ordovician to Early Silurian Tectonic Events in the Himalayan Terrain

ObjectiveThe Himalaya terrain together with the ribbon terrains （e.g., Lhasa, Qiangtang, and Sibumasu blocks） of the Gondwana supercontinent has experienced episodic tectonic events since the Neoproterozoic. However, almost not any documentation with regard to the tectonic processes links the peri-Gondwana subduction between 510-480 Ma with the Carboniferous-Permian （-360-260 Ma） continental rifting event. This possible link is important for testing and formulating the tectonic model for the evolution of the present-day Himalayan orogenic belt, if we consider this belt has also experienced typical Wilson cycle plate tectonics. Recently, we have found several lines of evidence which imply that the Himalayan terrain and possibly other ribbon terrains of the eastern Gondwana have experienced unrecognized tectonic processes during the Late Ordovician to Early Silurian.

Baiyun Movement: A Significant Tectonic Event on Oligocene/Miocene Boundary in the Northern South China Sea and Its Regional Implications

A significant geologic event occurred on the Oligocene/Miocene boundary at 23.8 Ma in the northern South China Sea, which is named the Baiyun （白云） movement in this article. This event strongly affected not only the South China Sea, but also East Asia. After the Baiyun event, the ridge of seafloor spreading of the South China Sea jumped southward and rotated counterclockwise, and a strong subsidence occurred in the Baiyun sag of the Pearl River Mouth basin. The shelf break shifted suddenly from the south to the north of the Baiyun sag, and the deposition environment in this sag changed from continental shelf with neritic deposition to continental slope with deep-water deposition. Sediment geochemistry study indicated that the Baiyun event played a key role in the rapid change of sediment provenance for the Pearl River Mouth basin. Between 32 and 23.8 Ma, the source of sediments was mainly from the granites in South China, while after 23.8 Ma some sediments might have come from the eastern Himalaya, as the Pearl River drainage extended westward after the uplift of Tibet since that time. The Baiyun event led to a great change in the drainage framework of the paleo- Pearl River, sediment types and the depositional environments in the Pearl River Mouth basin, and relative sea level of the northern South China Sea, as well as sedimentation and hydrocarbon accumulation in the area.

Revised Chronostratigraphic Framework of the Metamorphic Strata in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt,South China and its Tectonic Implications

In a re-study of regional geology by the China Geological Survey （CGS）, the key problem is in the stratigraphical division and correlation. According to the new isotopic dating of the Mesoand Neoproterozoic in China, there have been great changes in the strata correlation and tectonic explanation. The authors obtained four zircon sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe （SHRIMP） U- Pb datings from the bentonite of the Lengjiaxi Group （822±10 Ma, 823±12 Ma and 834±11 Ma） and Banxi Group （802.6±7.6 Ma） in north Hunan Province, which is considered to be the middle part of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt. On the basis of the zircon dating mentioned above, the end of the Wuling orogen is first limited in the period from 822 Ma to 802 Ma in one continued outcrop （Lucheng section） in Linxiang city, Hunan Province. Combining a series of new zircon U-Pb datings in the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, several Neoproterozoic volcanic events and distribution of the metamorphic rocks in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt have been distinguished. In the context of the global geodynamics, it is useful to set up a practical and high precision chronological framework and basic and unified late Precambrian section in South China.

Classification of Complex Reservoirs in Superimposed Basins of Western China

Many of the sedimentary basins in western China were formed through the superposition and compounding of at least two previously developed sedimentary basins and in general they can be termed as complex superimposed basins. The distinct differences between these basins and monotype basins are their discontinuous stratigraphic sedimentation, stratigraphic structure and stratigraphic stress-strain action over geological history. Based on the correlation of chronological age on structural sections, superimposed basins can be divided into five types in this study： （1） continuous sedimentation type superimposed basins, （2） middle and late stratigraphic superimposed basins, （3） early and late stratigraphic superimposed basins, （4） early and middle stratigraphic superimposed basins, and （5） long-term exposed superimposed basins. Multiple source-reservoir-caprock assemblages have developed in such basins. In addition, multi-stage hydrocarbon generation and expulsion, multiple sources, polycyclic hydrocarbon accumulation and multiple-type hydrocarbon reservoirs adjustment, reformation and destruction have occurred in these basins. The complex reservoirs that have been discovered widely in the superimposed basins to date have remarkably different geologic features from primary reservoirs, and the root causes of this are folding, denudation and the fracture effect caused by multiphase tectonic events in the superimposed basins as well as associated seepage, diffusion, spilling, oxidation, degradation and cracking. Based on their genesis characteristics, complex reservoirs are divided into five categories： （1） primary reservoirs, （2） trap adjustment type reservoirs, （3） component variant reservoirs, （4） phase conversion type reservoirs and （5） scale-reformed reservoirs.

Construction of the Continental Asia in Phanerozoic:A Review

This is a review of the formation and tectonic evolution of the continental Asia in Phanerozoic.The continental Asia has formed on the bases of some pre-Cambrian cratons,such as the Siberia,India,Arabia,North China,Tarim,South China,and Indochina,through multi-stage plate convergence and collisional collages in Phanerozoic.The north-central Asia had experienced the expansion and subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO)in the early Paleozoic and the closure of the PAO in the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic,forming the PAO regime and Central Asian orogenic belt(CAOB).In the core of the CAOB,the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean(MOO)opened with limited expansion in the Early Permian and finally closed in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous.The south-central Asia had experienced mainly multi-stage oceanic opening,subduction and collision evolution in the Tethys Ocean,forming the Tethys regime and Himalaya-Tibetan orogenic belt.In eastern Asia,the plate subduction and continental margin orogeny on western margin of the Pacific Ocean,forms the West Pacific regime and West Pacific orogenic belt.The PAO,Tethys,and West Pacific regimes,together with Precambrian cratons among or surrounding them,made up the major tectonic and dynamic systems of the continental Asia in Phanerozoic.Major tectonic events,such as the Early Paleozoic Qilian,Uralian,and Dunhuang orogeneses,the late Paleozoic East Junggar,Tianshan and West Junggar orogeneses,the Middle to Late Permian Ailaoshan orogeny and NorthSouth Lhasa collision,the early Mesozoic Indochina-South China and North-South China collisions,the late Mesozoic Mongolia-Okhotsk orogeny,Lhasa-Qiangtang collision,and intra-continental Yanshanian orogeny,and the Cenozoic IndoAsian,Arab-Asian,and West Pacific margin collisions,constrained the formation and evolution of the continental Asia.The complex dynamic systems have left large number of deformation features,such as large-scale strike-slip faults,thrustfold systems and extensional detachments on the continental Asia.Based on past tectonics,a future supercontinent,the Ameurasia,is prospected for the development of the Asia in ca.250 Myr.

Detrital Zircon Dating of Meso-and Neoproterozoic Rocks in North China and Its Implications

New dates from Meso- and Neoproterozoic strata contribute to the recently defined Precambrian stratigraphical timescale of China agreed by the Subcommission on the Precambrian System, and the National Commission on Stratigraphy of China on Nov. 24, 2009. First, the age range of the Changcheng System, including the Changzhougou, Chuanlinggou, Tuanshanzi and Dahongyu formations has been constrained to 1.8-1.6 Ga. Second, the Jixian System including the Gaoyuzhuang,Yangzhuang, Wumishan, Hongshuizhuang and Tieling formations has been constrained to 1.6-1.4 Ga.Third, an as-yet unnamed （undefined） system （1.4-1.0 Ga） is only developed in the Xiamaling Formation at the Jixian section, Tianjing. Fourth, the Qingbaikou System, including the Luotuoling and Jing＇eryu formations has been constrained to 1.0-0.78 Ga. Fifth, the Nanhuan System ranges between 780-635 Ma, and the Sinian System is within 635-542 Ma. However, according to a series of SHRIMP U-Pb dates from the late Precambrian in the Jiangnan Orogen Belt in South China Platform, the constrained strata will be redefined as in the upper part of the Qingbaikou System. To aid global geodynamies, it is useful to denote a late Precambrian section with unified, precise and high-precision chronological dating; this is here defined in North China Block and Jiaoliao-Korean Block. However, the Neoproterozoic Qingbaikou study in North China will be influence in whole Meso- and Neoproterozoic in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in between the Yangtze Block and the Cathaysia Block in South China.

Late-Stage Reservoir Formation Effect and Its Dynamic Mechanisms in Complex Superimposed Basins

Complex superimposed basins exhibit multi-stage tectonic events and multi-stage reservoir formation; hydrocarbon reservoirs formed in the early stage have generally late-stage genesis characteristics after undergoing adjustment, reconstruction and destruction of later-stage multiple tectonic events. In this paper, this phenomenon is called the late-stage reservoir formation effect. The late-stage reservoir formation effect is a basic feature of oil and gas-forming reservoirs in complex superimposed basins, revealing not only multi-stage character, relevance and complexity of oil and gas- forming reservoirs in superimposed basins but also the importance of late-stage reservoir formation. Late-stage reservoir formation is not a basic feature of oil and gas forming reservoir in superimposed basins. Multi-stage reservoir formation only characterizes one aspect of oil and gas-forming reservoir in superimposed basins and does not represent fully the complexity of oil and gas-forming reservoir in superimposed basins. We suggest using ＂late-stage reservoir formation effect＂ to replace the ＂late-stage reservoir formation＂ concept to guide the exploration of complex reservoirs in superimposed basins. Under current geologic conditions, the late-stage reservoir formation effect is represented mainly by four basic forms： phase transformation, scale reconstruction, component variation and trap adjustment. The late-stage reservoir formation effect is produced by two kinds of geologic processes： first, the oil and gas retention function of various geologic thresholds （hydrocarbon expulsion threshold, hydrocarbon migration threshold, and hydrocarbon accumulating threshold） causes the actual time of oil and gas reservoir formation to be later than the time of generation of large amounts of hydrocarbon in a conventional sense, producing the late-stage reservoir formation effect; second, multiple types of tectonic events （continuously strong reconstruction, early-stage strong reconstruction, middle-stage strong reconstruction, late-stage strong reconstruction and long-term stable sedimentation） after oil and gas reservoir formation lead to adjustment, reconstruction and destruction of reservoirs formed earlier, and form new secondary hydrocarbon reservoirs due to the late-stage reservoir formation effect.

The Influence of an Interdependent Structures on the Post-Mesozoic Evolution of the Eastern Flank of the Mongol-Okhotsk Orogenic Belt

Based on the analysis of known geodynamic models that explain the processes in various geodynamic settings of the Meso-Cenozoic stages of the development of continental margins and the tectonic-magmatic events accompanying these processes, as well as on the basis of our own data obtained as a result of many years of research on the axial structure of the Central Asian Fold Belt-Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt and the influence of interdependent structures on the post-Mesozoic evolution of the eastern flank of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt was substantiated by us. The closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk basin due to the approach of the Siberian and North China cratons was accompanied by a change in geodynamic conditions: subduction, collision, intraplate-rift and was reflected in the formation of synchronous igneous complexes in the frame of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt. In the northern frame of the belt, the distribution of magmatites is cut off by the structure of the Selenga-Stanovoy superterrane in the west. The northern boundary of the superterrane is the zone of the Dzheltulak fault. In the south, it borders on the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt along the zone of tectonic melange. We believe that evolutionary processes within the orogenic belt and its framing continued into the post-Mesozoic time after the final formation of the belt as an orogen. The position of the Selenga-Stanovoy superterrane in the late Mesozoic did not correspond to the modern one. The structures of the Central Asian fold belt located between the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt and the Siberian craton in the Cenozoic were influenced by collisional processes occurring between the Indian and Eurasian plates. And these processes were not only the “driving force” for the movement of the Selenga-Stanovoy superterrane in the post-Mesozoic time, but also changed the structure of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogen, dividing it into two flanks.

Meso-Archean to Mid-Paleozoic Granitoids in Oulad Dlim Massif(the Pericratonic Terrane of the Reguibat Shield,West African Craton,Morocco):Petrology,Geochemistry,Geochronology and Geological Implications

The Oulad Dlim Massif,adjacent to the Reguibat Shield in South Morocco was considered up to now as part of the Variscan belt(Mauritanides)with a polyphase geologic history and a complex geodynamic evolution implicating oceans closures and accretion of exotic terranes(Avalonian and Meguman)during the Variscan-Alleghanian orogeny.The use of modern technology to characterize the petrology,the geochemistry and the geochronology of the lithological units forming this region,combined to field surveys has led to an updated geological architecture and different geological history.The Oulad Dlim Massif is mainly a deformed Archean terrane,as recorded by its eastern and western sectors,dominated in its central part by a bimodal felsic-mafic magmatism forming the Ediacaran sector.The study of these magmatic complexes supports strongly the intracontinental origin of this bimodal magmatism vs.the oceanic origin published before in literature.The exploration of this massif conducted also to the identification of a Silurian-Devonian sector in the western part.Therefore,up to date,different magmatic events lasting from the Meso-Archean to the Cretaceous are recorded in the Oulad Dlim Massif rocks,among them different generations of granitoids are reported.New data on granitoids from the Ediacaran sector are presented in this paper.This recent data demonstrates that Oulad Dlim Massif has been affected by the main Ediacaran–Cambrian extensional event widely documented in other structural domains of Morocco and other parts of North Gondwana.Additionally,the study of the Silurian-Devonian sector rocks highlighted the presence of a Caledonian tectonic event challenging the ideas about the paleogeography of this part of northwestern Africa and its geological evolution during the Paleozoic.However,despite the significant contribution of this extensive survey and the abundance of data on the Oulad Dlim Massif,more studies are required to reconstruct the puzzle at plate tectonic scale.