New U-Pb age constraints on the upper Banxi Group and synchrony of the Sturtian glaciation in South China

The Nanhua basin in South China hosts well-preserved middle-late Neoproterozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks that are critical for studying the basin evolution, the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia, the nature and dynamics of the "snowball" Earth and diversification of metazoans. Establishing a stratigraphic framework is crucial for better understanding the interactions between tectonic, paleoclimatic and biotic events recorded in the Nanhua basin, but existing stratigraphic correlations remain debated, particularly for pre-Ediacaran strata. Here we report new Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(LA-ICPMS) U-Pb zircon ages from the middle and topmost Wuqiangxi Formation(the upper stratigraphic unit of the Banxi Group) in Siduping, Hunan Province, South China. Two samples show similar age distribution, with two major peaks at ca. 820 Ma and 780 Ma and one minor peak at ca. 910 Ma, suggesting that the Wuqiangxi sandstone was mainly sourced from Neoproterozoic rocks. Two major age peaks correspond to two phases of magmatic events associated with the rifting of the Nanhua basin, and the minor peak at ca. 910 Ma may correspond to the Shuangxiwu volcanic arc magmatism, which represents pre-collision/amalgamation subduction on the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block. The youngest zircon group from the topmost Wuqiangxi Formation has a weighted mean age of 714.6±5.2 Ma, which is likely close to the depositional age of the uppermost Banxi Group. This age, along with the ages reported from other sections, constrains that the Banxi Group was deposited between ca. 820 Ma and ca. 715 Ma. The age of 714.6±5.2 Ma from the top of the Wuqiangxi Formation is indistinguishable with the SIMS U-Pb age of 715.9± 2.8 Ma from the upper Gongdong Formation in the Sibao village section of northern Guangxi, South China. It is also, within uncertainties, overlapped with two TIMS U-Pb ages from pre-Sturtian strata in Oman and Canada. These ages indicate that the Jiangkou(Sturtian) glaciation in South China started at ca. 715 Ma instead of ca. 780 Ma and support a globally synchronous initiation of the Sturtian glaciation at ca. 715 Ma.

Geochronological and Geochemical Evidence for the Sedimentary Transformation from the Banxi Period to Nanhua Glacial Period

Objective There has been considerable debate about the definition of the lower boundary of Nanhua System by far.One definition is based on sedimentary sequence of different stages of basin evolution,focusing on whether deposits of the Banxi Period should be classified as Nanhua System.Another is the onset time of Nanhua glacial period.

关于建立“板溪系”的建议及其基础的讨论--以黔东地区为例

作者在分析黔东新元古代早期沉积时限的基础上,结合前人关于Sturtian冰期、南华系底界、青白口系年代学的最新研究成果,指出华南新元古代裂谷盆地早期沉积(板溪群或与之相当的高涧群、芙蓉溪群、丹洲群、下江群、登山群、历口群等)时限为740～820Ma,是南华纪冰期前的非冰成沉积,是Rodinia裂解机制下的填平补齐沉积;而青白口系沉积可能是与Rodinia形成相关的板块碰撞机制下坳陷盆地沉积,南华系是与国际成冰系相对应的冰期沉积,是华南新元古代裂谷盆地的第一个盖层,因此,将板溪群、下江群等归入南华系或青白口系均不合理。由此提出了"板溪系"概念,它包括板溪群或与之相当的一套楔状地层。结合目前华南裂谷盆地开启年龄和南华纪冰期的起始年龄,板溪纪的时限暂定为850～740Ma。板溪系的提出不仅将有利于解决长期存在的南华系划分对比问题,同时也必将有利于新元古代裂谷盆地早期演化及其与Rodinia超大陆裂解、冰期形成等关系的研究和相关重大气候、环境巨变问题的探讨。

湘黔桂邻区板溪期与南华冰期之间的沉积转换及其地层学涵义

前人一直认为湘黔桂邻区的板溪群及其相当层位的下江群、丹洲群与南华冰期的沉积序列是连续或部分连续的,没有明显的沉积—构造转换界面。本次调查的锦屏隆里剖面、黎平肇兴剖面、从江黎家坡剖面、三江泗里口剖面、罗城黄金友洞剖面等均显示,板溪期与南华冰期的沉积转换非常明显,主要表现是界面上下的地层岩性、岩石结构构造和沉积相类型等迥然不同。其区域表现是:板溪沉积晚期为海退进积序列,从陆块内部到陆块边缘,地层缺失逐渐减少;江口冰期沉积从陆块边缘到陆块内部,显示出明显的渐次海侵上超特征,越靠近边缘早期沉积序列越完整。我们认为这就是前人提出的"雪峰运动"的沉积表现。因此,在扬子东南缘的湘黔桂邻区一带南华系地层序列是相对完整或近似完整的,应是层型剖面和点(GSSP)选择的最有利地区。目前首要问题是要进一步明晰"南华系"含义,而深入研究和探讨南华大冰期沉积前之板溪群及其相当层位地层的构造属性及其与冰期沉积的转换过程则是建立"南华系"的必要前提。

扬子陆块新元古代首次冰期前的区域沉降及其沉积响应研究

赣北及邻区休宁组(莲沱组)与湖北宜昌、通山地区的莲沱组是华南新元古代中期的重要地层单元,但对其沉积大地构造背景和时代归属一直存在不同认识。本文在详细的沉积学调查和区域对比研究基础上,对采自通山石门塘剖面莲沱组底部含砾砂岩、上部的沉凝灰岩和上饶华坛甘岭剖面的上墅组顶部英安岩、休宁组中部沉凝灰岩分别进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,获得通山莲沱组最大沉积年龄为784.0±11.0 Ma,莲沱组中上部沉积年龄约为727.3±6.7 Ma;获得华坛甘岭剖面上墅组顶部英安岩形成年龄为779.0±6.6 Ma、休宁组中部沉积年龄为733.6±5.9 Ma,因此,赣北及邻区的莲沱组或休宁组沉积时限与宜昌地区基本一致。沉积学调查显示,华坛甘岭休宁组沉积构造不发育,主体为冲积扇—滨浅海至深水陆棚相沉积;通山莲沱组沉积构造发育,斜层理、交错层理、沙纹层理及波痕等牵引流沉积构造发育,为河流—三角洲沉积序列。研究认为,在扬子陆块内,浙皖赣邻区的莲沱组(休宁组)与宜昌莲沱组、滇中澄江组及湘黔桂地区的板溪群及其相当地层的上部沉积时限(780~720 Ma)大体相当,为南华冰期开启前在区域热沉降背景下,南华裂谷系的第一套呈区域性展布的裂谷盖沉积。

Geochronology and Tectonic Evolution of the West Section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt

As an important part of South China Old Land, the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt plays a significant role in explaining the assembly and the evolution of the Upper Yangtze Block and Cathaysia, as well as the structure and growth mechanism of continental lithosphere in South China.The Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups are the base strata of the west section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt.Thus, the research of geochronology and tectonic evolution of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups is significant.The maximum sedimentary age of the Lengjiaxi Group is ca.862 Ma, and the minimum is ca.822 Ma.The Zhangjiawan Formation, which is situated in the upper part of the Banxi Group is ca.802 Ma.The Lengjiaxi Group and equivalent strata should thus belong to the Neoproterozoic in age.The Jiangnan Orogenic Belt consisting of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups as important constituents is not a Greenville Orogen Belt（1.3 Ga–1.0 Ga）.The Jiangnan Orogenic Belt is a recyclic orogenic belt, and the prototype basin is a foreland basin with materials derived from the southwest and the sediments belong to the active continental sedimentation.By combining large amounts of dating data of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups as well as equivalent strata, the evolutionary model of the western section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt is established as follows： Before 862 Ma, the South China Ocean was subducted beneath the Upper Yangtze Block, while a continental island arc was formed on the side near the Upper Yangtze Block.The South China Ocean was not closed in this period.From 862 Ma to 822 Ma, the Upper Yangtze Block was collided with Cathaysia; and sediments began to be deposited in the foreland basin between the two blocks.The Lengjiaxi Group and equivalent strata were thus formed and the materials might be derived from the recyclic orogenic belt.From 822 Ma to 802 Ma, Cathaysia continued pushing to the Upper Yangtze Block, experienced the Jinning-Sibao Movement（Wuling Movement）; as result, the folded basement of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt was formed.After 802 Ma, Cathaysia and the Upper Yangtze Block were separated from each other, the Nanhua rift basin was formed and began to receive the sediments of the Banxi Group and equivalent strata.These large amounts of dating data and research results also indicate that before the collision of the Upper Yangtze Block with Cathaysia, materials of the continental crust became less and less from the southwest to the east in the Jiangnan Orogeneic Belt; only island arc and neomagmatic arc were developed in the eastern section.Ocean-continent subduction or continent-continent subduction took place in the western and southern sections, while intra-oceanic subduction occurred in the eastern section.Comprehensive analyses on U-Pb ages and Hf model ages of zircons, the main provenance of the Lengjiaxi Group is Cathaysia.

On the Age of the Ophiolitic Complexes in Northeastern Jiangxi:A Micropaleontological Analysis

The age assignment of cherts from ophiolitic/metamorphic complexes in northeastern Jiangxi is widely regarded as one of the crucial issues in the tectonic interpretation of South China. The ophiolitic and metamorphic complexes in northeastern Jiangxi have been traditionally regarded as part of the Proterozoic “Banxi (=Penhsi) Group” of the Jiangnan Uplift. However, recent reports of Late Paleozoic radiolarians from the rock complexes have caused some researchers to question the traditional interpretation of the tectonic and paleogeographic framework in the region; but other workers are suspicious about these findings. In order to test the validity of the putative radiolarians, we, an interdisciplinary study group including micropaleontologists, tectonic specialists and regional geologists, conducted field investigations and multiple re-samplings of the localities where the reported fossils were collected. Our comprehensive study shows that the chert of the ophiolitic complex and the associated low-grade metamorphic slate yield Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic acritarchs, confirming the traditional view of their age assignment (Proterozoic); on the other hand, no recognizable radiolarian fossils have been discovered therein, thus raising questions about the recently published result of Paleozoic radiolarian findings. Probable causes for the putative radiolarian findings are thus discussed herein. Geochemical characteristics indicate that the chert sedimentation most probably occurred under a continental margin setting.

湘黔桂地区新元古代“下江群”地层划分对比研究——重新启用下江系的探讨

近年来随北方青白口系层型剖面的解体,华南梵净山群及下江群时期地层的归属成为争议较大的问题。中国地层表（2011~2014）将武陵造山运动界面之下的梵净山群及相当地层（870~820Ma）与武陵造山运动界面之上,南华系之下的下江群及相当地层（820~780（720）Ma）一并划归为青白口系,给前寒武系地层划分对比与研究带来不便。在湘黔桂相邻区发育一套武陵造山运动界面之上至南华系（820~720Ma）间,分布广泛、出露完整、层序连续的裂谷盆地沉积建造——“下江群”,为研究解决该问题提供了天然而理想场所与物质基础。本文在对“下江群”时期的泥市群、板溪群、下江（芙蓉溪）群、丹州（高涧）群地层分区、岩石地层详细划分对比、充填序列及岩相古地理特征等研究基础上,认为下江群具有岩石建造组合特征典型,岩石层序序列完整、出露连续及划分标志清楚等优势。结合近年年代地层研究的新进展,提出重启“下江系”,以约束华南、全国新元古代地层划分对比,对完善我国及国际新元古代地层表具有深远意义。

New SHRIMP U-Pb age from the Wuqiangxi Formation of Banxi Group:Implications for rifting and stratigraphic erosion associated with the early Cryogenian (Sturtian) glaciation in South China

In South China, the Wuqiangxi Formation of the Banxi Group and its equivalents underlie the early Cryogenian (Sturtian) glacial deposits but their thickness varies from <200 m to >2000 m. In the Guzhang section of western Hunan, the Wuqiangxi Formation is only 152 m thick, and an ash bed 58 m below the glacial diamictite yielded a SHRIMP U-Pb age of 809.3±8.4 Ma. In contrast, 90 km south of the Guzhang section towards the basin in Zhijiang area where the Wuqiangxi Formation is ～2200 m thick, an age of 725±10 Ma has been reported from the top of this unit, 300 m below the glacial diamictite. These ages provide new evidence for the regional stratigraphic correlation across the Nanhua basin, and suggest unusually large (>2 km) stratigraphic erosion potentially associated with the Sturtian glaciation in South China. The magnitude of erosion may imply significant uplifting and tectonotopography at the onset of the Sturtian glaciation.

Geochronology of middle Neoproterozoic volcanic deposits in Yangtze Craton interior of South China and its implications to tectonic settings

Here we report new SHRIMP dating results of the crystal tuff in Ejiaao Formation of middle Banxi Group in northern Guizhou. The results indicate that the volcanic deposition occurred at ~780 Ma. We also suggests that the igneous activities across Yangtze Craton with diabase dyke swarms and basal volcanic rocks during middle Banxi time are indicative of the episodic, extensive and vigorous great bimodal igneous events during middle Neoproterozoic (825-720 Ma) in South China. The characteristics of the igneous series are contrary to the model claiming they are of island-arc origin, but suggest that they are the records of rifting process and may be related to the episodic plume activities leading to the break-up of Rodinia.

Very low-grade metamorphism of the Meso-Neoproterozoic and the Lower Paleozoic along the profile from Huangtudian to Xianxi in the central-northern part of Hunan Province,China

The Lengjiaxi and Banxi groups of the Meso-Neoproterozoic and the Lower Paleozoic along the profile at Huangtudian-Xianxi of the central-northern Hunan Province, China underwent very low-grade metamorphism. Illite crystallinity (IC) data of the <2 μm fractions range from 0.18-0.21°Δ2θ for the Lengjiaxi Group to 0.19–0.23°Δ2θ for the Banxi Group to 0.20–0.29°Δ2θ for the Sinian to the Lower Paleozoic (Kübler index, corrected with Kisch IC set, 1991). This indicates that the metamorphic grade of the Lengjiaxi Group is in the epizone, the Banxi Group in the epizone-high anchizone, and the Sinian to the Lower Paleozoic mostly in the high anchizone along the profile investigated. The peak metamorphic temperature evaluated is roughly 340–240°C. This result does not agree with the greenschist or subgreenschist facies of the Lengjiaxi and Banxi groups and neither with the lower-greenschist facies or diagenitic zone of the Sinian to the Lower Paleozoic, of which most previous researchers thought. The illites (K-mica) b 0 values range from 0.8989–0.9050 nm for the Lengjiaxi Group to 0.8984–0.9037 nm for the Banxi Group to the Lower Paleozoic. Based on the cumulative frequency curves of illite (K-mica) b 0, the peak metamorphic pressure of the Banxi Group to the Lower Paleozoic along the profile was derived in a low-intermediate pressure type. Illites occur as 2M1 polytype in the Lengjiaxi and Banxi groups and as 2M1+1 M types in some samples of the Lower Paleozoic. This indicates that the transformation of illite polytype from 1M to 2M1 was fulfilled within the high anchizone.