Geometry and kinematics of brittle deformation in the Central Cameroon Shear Zone (Kékem area): Implication for gold exploration within the Central Africa Fold Belt in Cameroon

The Central Africa Fold Belt(CAFB)is a collision belt endowed with gold deposits in Eastern Cameroon area mined for about 50 years.However,favorable areas for gold exploration are poorly known.This paper presents(1)the kinematics of the brittle deformation in the Kékem area in the SW portion of the Central Cameroon Shear Zone and(2)constraints gold mineralization events with respect to the collisional evolution of the CAFB.The authors interpret that the conjugate ENE to E and NNW to NW trending lineament corresponds to the synthetic(R)and the antithetic(R’)shears,which accompanied the dextral slip along the NE to ENE striking shear.The latter coincides with the last 570-552 Ma D3 dextral simple shear-dominated transpression,which is parallel to the BétaréOya shear zone hosting gold deposits.Gold mineralizations,which mainly occurred during the last dextral shearing,are disseminated within quartz veins associated to Riedel’s previous structures reactivated due to late collisional activities of the CAFB as brittle deformation.Gold mineralizations occurred mainly during the 570-552 Ma D3 event.The reactivation,which might be due to dextral simple shear during mylonitzation,plausibly remobilized the early gold deposits hosted in syn-compressional rocks and/or possibly focused deep-sourced fluid mixed with those released by dehydration.Therefore,the Central Cameroon Shear Zone where Kékem is located,and which shows similar petrographical and structural features to those controling Batouri gold district,is a target area for gold exploration in Cameroon.

A Petrographic and Mineralogical Study of Volcanic Rocks from the Mayaxueshan Area, North Qilian Fold Belt, NW China

The Ordovician volcanic rocks in the Mayaxueshan area have been pervasivelyaltered or metamorphosed and contain abundant secondary minerals such as albite, chlorite, epidote,prehnite, pumpellyite, actinolite, titanite, quartz, and/or calcite. They were denoted as spilitesor spilitic rocks in terms of their petrographic features and mineral assemblages. The metamorphicgrades of the volcanic rocks are equivalent to that of the intercalated metaclastic rocks. Thisindicates that both the spilitic volcanic rocks and metaclastic rocks in the Mayaxueshan area haveformed as a result of Caledonian regional metamorphism. We suggest that the previously denotedspilitic rocks or altered volcanic rocks should be re-denoted as metabasalts or metabasaltic rocks.The metamorphic grade of the volcanic rocks increases with their age: prehnite-pumpellyite faciesfor the upper part of the Middle Ordovician volcanic rocks, prehnite-pumpellyite to lowergreenschist facies for the lower part of the Middle Ordovician volcanic rocks, and lower greenschistfacies for the Lower Ordovician volcanic rocks. The P-T conditions are estimated as T = 240 - 290deg C and P = 1.5-4.5 kbar for the lower part of the Middle Ordovician rocks, and T = approx 300 degC for the Lower Ordovician rocks. The variations of mineral assemblages occurring at differentdomains of the volcanic rocks were controlled by the variations of the effective bulk composition inthose domains during metamorphism. The geochemical characteristics of Mg-Al chromite in theMayaxueshan volcanic rocks are consistent with an origin of island arc environment.

Magnetic Characterization of Amphibolites from the Fomopéa Pluton(West Cameroon):Their Implication in the Pan-African Deformation of the Central African Fold Belt

The Fomopea granitic pluton is emplaced in gnessic and amphibolitic basement. These gneissic and amphibolitic basement rocks are represented in the pluton＇s body as sub-rounded, elongated or stretched xenoliths. Amphibolitic xenoliths display testimonies of two main tectonic events namely： （i） El flattening deformation event characterized by a NW-SE to E-W foliation with a best pole at 246/57 and a mineral stretched lineation with a best line at 293/47; and （ii） E2 compressive event typified by （1） N-S to NNE-SSW steeply dipping foliation; （2） S-type flexion-fold indicating a sinistral shear movement. These amphibolite rocks indicate a magnetic susceptibility magnitude （Km） range from 418 ~SI to 90092 IISI for 87% of the stations showing a ferromagnetic behavior. K-T curves reveal the presence of Ti-poor magnetite as susceptibility mineral carrier. Magnetic foliation and lineation suggest that the N-S strike direction observed in the Bamendou amphibolite is, as pointed out elsewhere in the Central African Fold Belt, of paramount importance in the tectonic evaluation of the Fomopea area, since it has most likely acted as major deformation phase in the second tectonic event in the belt.

The Songpan-Garze Massif: Its Relation to the QinlingFold Belt and Yangtze Platform and Developmental History

Whether there existed the Songpan-Garze massif is a controversial problem. This paper expounds and proves that the old basement of the massif is represented by the pre-Sinian granitic rock series. This massif and the South Qinling fold belt might both be a part of the old Yangtze platform. Rifting generated by the Caledonian orogeny in the terminal Early Palaeozoic caused the massif to be disintegrated from the northwestern part of the Yangtze platform. This disintegration, however, was not thorough, and the rift troughs were later gradually closed and filled up. The Emei taphrogeny that was initiated in the Early Permian Maokou' an Stage involved a second disintegration of this massif from the Yangtze platform. The rift line largely goes along the Muli-Pingwu line. This rifting belongs to synchronous extensional rifting at peripheries of the Yangtze platform and in its interior, showing that the posterior, lateral and interior extension resulting from rapid northward shift of the Yangtze platform led to isolation of this massif together with South Qinling from their adjacent areas. During the Ladinian Stage, the Songpan-Garze massif and southern Qinling sank strongly en masse. This subsidence continued till the end of the Late Triassic when the late Indosinian movement caused the sea trough to be closed and Songpan-Garze1 and southern Qinling to be folded and uplifted and become mountains.

Structural and Chemical Characteristic of Tourmaline, and Mineralogy of Associated Micas from Tourmaline Bearing Quartzite of KombéII (Bafia Group, Central Africa Fold Belt);Implication on the Metamorphic Conditions

Bafia Group is part of the southernmost portion of the Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) in Cameroon. The geological feature of the group is characterized by the presence of metamorphic rocks in which tourmaline had been recognized among accessory minerals. In the present study, attention is focus on the tourmaline bearing quartzite to the southeast of Kombé II. Structure refinement shows that tourmaline is a Fe-dravite with the formula X(Na0.95[]0.05)Y(Mg2.39Fe0.61)Z(Al5.10Mg0.90)(BO3)3T[Si6O18](OH)3[(O,OH)0.88F0.12]. The Fe-dravite is hosted in a Ca-poor quartzite, which is made up, in addition to quartz and tourmaline, of biotite and muscovite. The structure of the dravites shows a low vacancy at the X site, which militates for a crystallization of the tourmaline at a high temperature > 750℃. This is in agreement with previous work which shows that the metamorphic peak in the associated biotite gneiss reaches 825℃. The R1 value of 1.24% means that the crystal structure of the tourmalines is of high quality. The genetical link between gold mineralization and tourmaline should stimulate exploration interest in the study area.

Geochemistry and Geochronology of Peraluminous High-K Granitic Leucosomes of YaoundéSeries (Cameroon): Evidence for a Unique Pan-African Magmatism and Melting Event in North Equatorial Fold Belt

Geochemical and geochronological studies have been carry out on the leucosomes of Yaoundé series with the aims to identify the magma sources and to indicate their production periods and emplacement within the formations of the Pan-African North-Equatorial Fold Belt (PANEFB) in Cameroon. The Yaoundé series belongs to the Southern domain of the PANEFB and it is composed of migmatites in which two types of granitic leucosomes (in situ leucosomes and injected leucosomes) have been distinguished. These rocks display characteristic of calc-alkaline (in situ leucosomes) and high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series (injected leucosomes). All the rocks are peraluminous with in situ leucosomes conform to S-type and injected leucosomes conform to I- and S-type granitoids. Major and trace elements composition reveal that in situ leucosomes derived from the partial melting of the host metapelite whereas injected leucosomes derived from the melting of metagreywacke. These sources are similar to those of granitoids from central and northern domains of the PANEFB. Th-U-Pb dating by electron microprobe (EMP) and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating on zircon have been used to constraints the melting event and emplacement of leucosomes in Yaoundé series. Th-U-Pb monazite dating, undertaken in two samples of leucosomes, gives two groups of monazite ages. The older group gives an age of 658 Ma whereas the age of younger group is 592 Ma. U-Pb dating of zircons from the leucosomes reveals a Pan-African age ranging from 626 to 654 Ma whereas zircons from metapelitic host rock reveal the overprinting of an early Pan-African event 911 - 1127 Ma on Palaeoproterozoic (2127 Ma) inheritance. These data clearly indicate that the host rocks of leucosomes of Yaoundé series have been firstly metamorphosed during Tonien-Stenien period (911 - 1127 Ma) and reveal the existence of extended unique melting event (592 and 658 Ma) in the Yaoundé series which is contemporaneous with the magmatism responsible for the emplacement of granitoids in the other domains of the PANEFB.

Petrogenetic study of Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks of North Delhi fold belt, NW Indian shield: implications for mantle conditions during Proterozoic

Mesoproterozoic North Delhi fold belt of NW Indian shield comprises three volcano-sedimentary basins viz. Bayana, Alwar and Khetri aligned parallel to each other from east to west. Each basin contains excellent exposures of mafic volcanic rocks. Major, trace and rare earth element abundances of volcanic rocks of the three basins are significantly diverse. Bayana and Alwar volcanics are tholeiites bearing close similarity with low Ticontinental flood basalts. However, Bayana volcanics are characteristically enriched in incompatible trace elements and REEs while Alwar volcanics display least enriched incompatible trace element abundances and flat REE patterns. The Khetri volcanics exhibit a transitional composition between tholeiite and calc-alkaline basalts. REE based source modeling suggests that Bayana suite was formed from the melts derived from 1 % to 10 %(avg.4 %) of the partial melting of a spinel lherzolite source giving a residual mineralogy of 56 % Olv, 25 % Opx and19 % Cpx. Whereas Alwar suite evolved through 12 %–20 %(avg. 15 %) partial melting of the same source with a residual mineralogy 61 % Olv, 25 % Opx and 14 % Cpx.Khetri volcanics are exposed at two localities Kolihan and Madhan–Kudhan. The Kolihan volcanics were derived from 1 % to 6 %(avg. 4 %) partial melting with residualmineralogy 56 % Olv, 25 % Opx and 19 % Cpx whereas the magma of Madhan Kudhan volcanic suite was generated by 15%–30 % partial melting of the same source leaving behind 64 % Olv, 25 % Opx and 11 % Cpx as residual mineralogy. This source modeling proves that melts of Bayana and Alwar tholeiites were generated by partial melting of a common source within the spinel stability field under the influence of mantle plume. During the course of ascent, Bayana melts were crustally contaminated but Alwar melts remained unaffected. There was two tier magma production in Khetri region, one from the partial melting of the mantle wedge overlying the subducted oceanic plate which formed Kolihan suite and two the melting of the subducted plate itself generating Madhan–Kudhan volcanics. It is interpreted that during Mesoproterozoic(1,800 Ma), the continental lithosphere of NW Indian shield suffered stretching, attenuation and fracturing in response to a rising plume. Consequently, differential crustal extension coupled with variable attenuation brought the asthenosphere to shallower setting which led to the production of tholeiitic melts. These melts enroute to the surface suffered variable lithospheric contamination depending upon the thickness of traversed crust. The Khetri basin attained maturity which resulted in the generation of true oceanic crust and its subsequent destruction through subduction. The spatial existence of three suites of mafic volcanics of diverse chemical signatures is best example of subduction–plume interaction. It is therefore, proposed that the Mesoproterozoic crust of NW Indian shield has evolved through the operation of a complete Wilson cycle at about1,832 Ma, the age of mafic volcanics of Khetri basin.

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE YANGTZE PASSIVE MARGIN AND SONGPAN GARZ? FOLD BELT, CHINA

The Songpan Garzê Fold Belt records Triassic shortening of a relict Palaeo\|Tethyan basin during assembly and accretion of the Cimmerian continental chain to Laurasia’s southern margin. Enclosed by palaeo\|Laurasia and the Cimmerian fragments of Qiangtang (North Tibet) and Yangtze (South China), the Songpan Garzê Fold Belt was shortened by more than 50% during the Indosinian Orogeny c.200Ma. [BW(D(S,,)G2*7][BHDWG2*7,WK*2,WK5,WK15*2,WK17*2,WK*2W] 2000,7(增刊) 地 学 前 缘 [FK(K+6mm。17*2] 4\ Major Topic:Geology of the Inner Tibetan Plateau [BW(S(S,,)G2*7][BHDWG2*7,WK*2,WK17*2,WK15*2,WK5,WK*2W] [FK(K+6mm。17*2] 4\ Major Topic:Geology of the Inner Tibetan Plateau 地 学 前 缘 2000,7(增刊)South\|directed Indosinian compression decolléd onlapping basin sediments from the Yangtze Block’s passive margin—reactivating the margin’s tiered geometry and partitioning strain into margin\|normal and margin\|parallel structures on a large scale. Margin\|normal transport of the allochthonous sedimentary pile was accommodated by southeast\|directed nappe propagation in the Longmen Mountains Thrust—Nappe Belt, whilst conjugate, margin\|parallel (southwest\|directed) transport was accommodated by a flat\|lying detachment at the base of the sedimentary pile.The later is characteristic of deformation of the greater Songpan Garzê Fold Belt.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications of the Early Triassic Nianzi Adakitic Granite Unit in the Yanshan Fold and Thrust Belt:New Constraints from U-Pb Geochronology and Sr-Nd-Hf Isotopes

The Nianzi granite unit,which includes the Nianzi,Xiaolianghou and Xiawopu granitic intrusions,is a significant component of the northern part of the North China Craton(NCC)and is situated in the Yanshan fold and thrust belt(YFTB).However,there is still debate regarding the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB during the late Permian to Triassic period,specifically regarding the timing of subduction and collision between the NCC and the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The Nianzi granite unit exhibits unique petrological,geochronological and geochemical signatures that shed light on the tectonic evolutionary history of the YFTB.This study presents detailed petrology,whole-rock geochemistry,together with Sr-Nd isotopic,zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic data of the granites within the Nianzi granite unit.Our findings demonstrate that the granites primarily consist of subhedral K-feldspar,plagioclase,quartz,minor biotite and hornblende,with accessory titanite,apatite,magnetite and zircon.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the Xiaolianghou granite was emplaced at 247.5±0.62 Ma.Additionally,the adakitic characteristics of the Nianzi,Xiawopu and Xiaolianghou granitic intrusions,such as high Sr and Ba contents and high ratios of Sr/Y and(La/Yb)N,combined with negative Sr-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopes(87Sr/86Sr)i=0.705681–0.7057433,εNd(t)=−21.98 to−20.97,zirconεHf(t)=−20.26 to−9.92,as well as the I-type granite features of high SiO_(2),Na_(2)O and K_(2)O/Na_(2)O ratios,enriched Rb,K,Sr and Ba,along with depleted Th,U,Nb,Ta,P and Ti,suggest that the Nianzi granitic unit was mainly derived from the partial melting of a thickened lower crust containing hydrous,calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline,mafic to intermediate metamorphic rocks.In light of these parameters,we further integrate our data with previous studies and conclude that the Nianzi granitic unit was generated in a post-collisional extensional environment during the Early Triassic.

Geochemistry,Zircon U-Pb Age and Hf Isotopic Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the Silurian Rhyolites in the Loei Fold Belt and Their Tectonic Implications

Zircon U-Pb dating, Lu-Hf isotopic and geochemical data for the Silurian rhyolites from the Loei fold belt are presented to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonic settings. The rhyolites give a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 423.7±2.7 Ma, and are characterized by high SiO2, Al2O3, K2 O and low MnO, MgO and P2O5. All samples are enriched in LILEs（e.g., Ba, K, Pb） and LREEs and depleted in HFSEs（e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti） with obvious negative Eu-anomalies（δEu=0.56–0.63）. The calc-alkaline rhyolites are typical arc-related rocks. The Loei rhyolites have high A/CNK ratios（1.19–1.34） and positive εHf（t）（4.03–5.38）, which can be interpreted as partial melting of juvenile crustal materials followed by multistage melting and differentiation, similar to highly fractional I-type rocks. Combined with regional geological surveys, the Loei rhyolites should be formed in a volcanic arc environment and may be in contact with the Truong Son fold belt during the Early Paleozoic. Moreover, the Simao Block might be in contiguity with the Indochina Block during Silurian.

Middle Triassic Radiolarians from Cherts/Siliceous Shales in an Extensional Basin in the Sukhothai Fold Belt,Northern Thailand

More than thirty species of radiolarians are described from maroon chert and siliceous shales from the Den Chai and Santisuk sections in the east of the Sukhothai fold belt. The fauna obtained from Den Chai comprises Muelleritortis cochleata cochleata, M. cochleata tumidospina, M. expansa, Triassocampe deweveri, T. coronata, T. scalaris, Annulotriassocampe companilis, A. multisegmantatus, A. sulovensis, Pseudostylosphaera coccostyla coccostyla, P. imperspicua, Canoptum inornatus, C. levis, Corum kraineri, Spongoserrula rarauana, Orbiculiforma karnica and others. The assemblage may be correlated with those reported in the Fang-Chiang Dao and Lumphun areas in the north of Thailand and in the ChangningMenglian belt of western Yunnan, South China and suggests a late Ladinian（Middle Triassic） age. The radiolarian fauna from the Santisuk Section comprises Muelleritortis cochleata cochleata, M. sp., Striatotrissocampe nodosoannulata, Triassocampe. deweveri, T. sp., Pseudogodia？ sp., Pseudostylosphaera coccostyla coccostyla, Archaeocenosphera sp., Annulotriassocampe multisegmantis, Pseudostylosphaera sp., and others which indicates a late Ladinian age. Middle Triassic radiolarian chert and siliceous shale from Den Chai and Santisuk are interpreted as having been deposited in an extensional continental margin within the Sukhothai fold belt and not in the Devonian–Permian back-arc basin of the Nan suture. These deep marine sequences were deposited in a subsiding continental margin in the Lampang-Phrae Basin. We consider these sequences to be part of the Hong Hoi Formation（Anisian–Ladinian） of the Lampang Group which, in turn, may be compared to the Choushui Formation and other associated Middle Triassic formations in the Simao Basin of South China.

Fluid Inclusion Characteristics of Tungsten Mineralization in the Agargaon Area of Sakoli Fold Belt, Central India

The Lower to Middle Proterozoic Sakoli fold belt in Central India forms a triangular belt with significant mineralization of strategic minerals.The Sakoli fold belt comprises metasediments,felsic and mafic volcanics with metabasalts bounded by the gneissic-migmatitic terrain.The last pulses of granitic activity in the form of quartz lenses intrude the metasediments and are associated with tungsten mineralization.The metasediments are intruded by the quartz veins and tourmaline breccias trending 60°N to 65°E and 60°S to 65°W and are parallel to the regional structural foliations.The tungsten mineralization in this area is restricted to tourmaline-quartz mica greisens and quartz veins.The NE-SW trending foliated contact zones of chlorite mica schist and porphyritic granite/gneisses have served as easy channels for the mineralizing vapours and solutions to percolate,which formed ore bearing greisens and quartz veins.This mineralization is erratic and manifested by sparse and sporadic disseminations of wolframite and scheelite associated with minor amount of molybdenite and chalcopyrite.The fluid inclusion microthermometry on mineralized quartz veins and quartz-tourmaline veins reveals the existence of a metamorphogenic aqueous-gaseous(H2O-CO2+NaCl)fluid that underwent phase separation and gave rise to gaseous(CO2)inclusion.The salinity of tungsten mineralizations varies from low to high(1.32 wt.%to 40.44 wt.%NaCl eq.).The estimated P-T range of tungsten mineralization varies from 1.2 to 2.2 kbar at 280 to 390℃.Raman spectroscopy reveals that the fluid inclusions mainly contain H2O and CO2 with rarely H2S and CH4.Stable isotopic data reveal that the sulfur isotope fractions from the depositsδ^34S ranging from+3.1‰to+3.35‰,suggesting the deep crustal source for the sulfur,which can be further interpreted as a single(magmatic)supply of sulfur during magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization.The studies reveal the presence of chlorides such as FeCl2/MgCl2 and CaCl2,indicating the involvement of chloride complexes in transportation of tungsten to the fluid system and the evolution of the ore-forming fluids by mixing or immiscibility of high-temperature,high-salinity magmatic fluids and low-temperature,low-salinity fluids in hydrothermal system,and also representing magmatic-hydrothermal interactions contributed wolframite and scheelite with minor amount of molybdenite and chalcopyrite.

Petrogenesis of Indosinian volcanic rocks in Songpan-Garze fold belt of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau:New evidence for lithospheric delamination

In the Songpan-Garze fold belt of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, an Indosinian lithospheric delamination model has been proposed, based on previous investigation of widespread granitoids. However, this model lacks comparable information from volcanism in the area. During the Indosinian delamination in the Songpan-Garze fold belt, whether partial melting of litho- spheric mantle taken place is debated. This paper reports U-Pb zircon LA-ICP-MS ages, geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions from the Aba and Wasai calc-alkaline volcanic rocks in the central Songpan-Garze fold belt. Obtained magma crystallization ages are 210±3 Ma for the Aba andesite and 205±1 Ma for the Wasai andesite. These are consistent with magma crystallization ages of the late Indosinian granitoids in the Songpan-Garze fold belt that formed in a post-collisional tectonic setting. The Aba and Wasai andesites have distinct geochemical singnatures. The former has higher Al2O3, K2O, Rb but lower Na2O, Ba and Sr contents, suggesting differences in their magmatic evolution. The Aba andesites have ISr values of 0.7070-0.7076 and εNd(t) values of -3.9 to -5.3, and the Wasai andesites have ISr values of 0.7075-0.7077 and εNd(t) values of -3.6 to -3.9. Zircons show εHf(t) values of -3.7 to 0.3 for the Aba andesites and -2.7 to 5.5 for the Wasai andesites. Geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions indicate that fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation processes are not key roles for their magma evolution, implying that their chemical compositions are those of primary melts. We suggest that the magma of the Aba andesites originated predominantly from a crustal source, with a minor mantle-derived component. The source region of the magma was likely at the crust-mantle boundary. The magma of the Wasai andesites resulted from partial melting of lithospheric mantle, which was probably metasomatized by fluids so that it was amphibole bearing. The petrogenesis of the Aba and Wasai andesites provides an additional evidence for the lithospheric delamination in the the Songpan-Garze fold belt, indicating that this process invoked mantle asthenosphere upwelling and caused the partial melting of remaining lithospheric mantle.

Salt-related structural styles of Kuqa foreland fold belt,northern Tarim basin

The salt beds of Lower Tertiary developed in the mid-segment of Kuqa foreland fold belt, northern Tarim basin. They considerably controlled structural deformation of the belt. Ac- cording to the field observation, seismic profile interpretation and drilling data, three different structural styles of supra-salt, intra-salt and sub-salt occurred in the Kuqa foreland fold belt. Su- pra-salt structural styles mainly include thrust faults and fault-related sags. Intra-slat structural styles essentially are salt-pillows, intra-salt faults and folds, and salt weld structures. Sub-salt structural styles mainly consist of imbricated thrust faults, duplex structures, pop-up and fault-related folds. It is indicated that great differences exist among supra-salt, intra-salt and sub-salt structures of Kuqa foreland fold belt. The salt-related structures were formed in the same structural stress field. The dynamic mechanism of the salt-related structures is mainly associated with gravitation, compression and plastic flow of salt beds.

Cretaceous synfolding remagnetization components revealing tectonic rotation of the middle Yangtze fold belt

To reveal the deformation process of the middle Yangtze fold belt, we conducted a paleomagnetic study on Middle Triassic limestones and Middle to Late Jurassic sandstones from Wanzhou, Chongqing. Stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization were used to isolate the multi-component re- manent magnetizations. The Jurassic samples were overprinted by recent geomagnetic field, while three magnetization components were isolated from the Middle Triassic samples. A low temperature component (LTC) was isolated at temperatures below 200℃, an intermediate temperature component (ITC) at 200―360℃ and a high temperature component (HTC) at 400―460℃. The LTC is distributed around the present-day Earth magnetic field, probably a viscous component. Stepwise unfolding indi- cates that the maximum precision parameters of ITC and HTC components are achieved at 33±8% and 50±27% (with 95% confidence) unfolding, respectively. The best-clustered ITC mean direction, Dec = 11.2°, Inc = 45.2° (α95 = 4.5°, N = 34), corresponding to a paleopole at 79.3°N, 219.5°E (dp = 3.6°, dm = 5.7°), is consistent with the Cretaceous reference direction of the South China Block (SCB). The best-clustered HTC mean direction (taking 70% unfolding), Dec = 24.2°, Inc =49.0° (α95 = 3.6°, N = 23), corresponding to a paleopole at 69.2°N, 195.5°E (dp =3.1°, dm = 4.8°), suggests a clockwise rotation of 12.8°±3.5°. These synfolding remagnetization components clearly reveal that a clockwise rotation happened at the middle stage of folding, thus supporting that at least part of the variation in fold axis strikes is due to orocline rotation. Combined with published data, our analysis indicates that the Wan- zhou-Xiangxi segment of the middle Yangtze fold belt experienced oroclinal bending. Furthermore, a published post-folding component isolated from the Middle Triassic Puqi Formation suggests a 27.5°±5.8° clockwise rotation, confirming that at least 50% of the observed clockwise rotations in the eastern middle Yangtze fold belt can be attributed to oroclinal bending. The remagnetization data and geological evidence observed in the middle Yangtze fold belt suggest that collision between SCB and North China Block (NCB) probably lasted till the early period of Early Cretaceous.

Structural Evolution of the Eastern Qiulitagh Fold and Thrust Belt,Northern Tarim Basin,China

The eastern Qiulitagh fold and thrust belt （EQFTB） is part of the active Kuqa fold and thrust belts of the northern Tarim Basin. Seismic reflection profiles have been integrated with surface geologic and drill data to examine the deformation and structure style of the EQFTB, particularly the deformational history of the Dina 2 gas field. Seismic interpretations suggest that Dongqiu 8 is overall a duplex structure developed beneath a passive roof thrust, which generated from a tipline in the Miocene Jidike Formation, and the sole thrust was initiated from the same Jidike Formation evaporite zone that extends westward beneath the Kuqatawu anticline. Dongqiu 5 is a pop-up structure at the western part of the EQFTB, also developed beneath the Jidike Formation evaporite. Very gentle basement dip and steep dipping topographic slope in the EQFTB suggest that the Jidike Formation salt provides effective decoupling. The strong deformation in the EQFTB appears to have developed further south, in an area where evaporite may be lacking. Since the Pliocene, the EQFTB has moved farther south over the evaporite and reached the Yaken area. Restoring a balanced cross-section suggests that the minimum shortening across the EQFTB is more than 7800 m. Assuming that this shortening occurred during the 5.3 Ma timespan, the shortening rate is approximately 1.47 mm/year.

A Large-scale Tertiary Salt Nappe Complex in the Leading Edge of the Kuqa Foreland Fold-Thrust Belt, the Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The tectono-stratigraphic sequences of the Kuqa foreland fold-thrust belt in the northern Tarim basin, northwest China, can be divided into the Mesozoic sub-salt sequence, the Paleocene-Eocene salt sequence and the Oligocene-Quaternary supra-salt sequence. The salt sequence is composed mainly of light grey halite, gypsum, marl and brown elastics. A variety of salt-related structures have developed in the Kuqa foreland fold belt, in which the most fascinating structures are salt nappe complex. Based on field observation, seismic interpretation and drilling data, a large-scale salt nappe complex has been identified. It trends approximately east-west for over 200 km and occurs along the west Qiulitag Mountains. Its thrusting displacement is over 30 km. The salt nappe complex appears as an arcuate zone projecting southwestwards along the leading edge of the Kuqa foreland fold belt. The major thrust fault is developed along the Paleocene-Eocene salt beds. The allochthonous nappes comprise large north-dipping faulting monoclines which are made up of Paleocene-Pliocene sediments. Geological analysis and cross-section restoration revealed that the salt nappes were mainly formed at the late Himalayan stage (c.a. 1.64 Ma BP) and have been active until the present day. Because of inhomogeneous thrusting, a great difference may exist in thrust displacement, thrust occurrence, superimposition of allochthonous and autochthonous sequences and the development of the salt-related structures, which indicates the segmentation along the salt nappes. Regional compression, gravitational gliding and spreading controlled the formation and evolution of the salt nappe complex in the Kuqa foreland fold belt.

Physical Modeling of Fold-and-Thrust Belt Evolution and Triangle Zone Development:Dabashan Foreland Belt(Northeast Sichuan basin,China) as an Example

Triangle zones, generally found in foreland fold-and-thrust belts, serve as favorable objects of petroleum exploration. Taking the Dabashan foreland belt as an example, we studied the formation and development of triangle zones, and investigated the effect of d^collements and the mechanical contrast of lithology by employing the method of physical modeling. Four experimental models were conducted in the work. The results showed that ＇sand wedges＇ grew episodically, recorded by deformational length, height and slope angle. The height versus shortening rate presented an S-shape curve, and uplifting occurred successively in the direction of the foreland belt. During the formation of the triangle zone, layer-parallel shortening took place at the outset; deformation decoupling then occurred between the upper and lower brittle layers, divided by a middle-embedded silicone polymers layer. The upper brittle layers deformed mainly by folding, while the lower sand layers by thrusting. As shortening continued, the geometry of a triangle zone was altered. We consider that the triangle zone in the Dabashan foreland belt was modified from an early one based on available seismic profiles and the experimental results. In addition, dccollements and mechanical contrast impose significant influence on structural development, which can directly give rise to structural discrepancies. More d^collements and obvious mechanical contrast between brittle layers can promote the coupling between the upper and lower brittle layers. Basal d^collement controls the whole deformation and decreases the slope angle of the wedge, while roof d^collement determines whether a triangle zone can be formed.

Indosinian Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belt Bordering Yunnan and Guangxi, China

Recent discoveries of ophiolites indicate that there must be a Palaeotethyan geosuture zone bordering China and Vietnam, which separates the Vietbac block from the South China subcontinent. The Indosinian foreland fold-and-thrust belt bordering Yunnan and Guangxi provided further evidence for the palaeotethysides. The oceanic crust was subducted southwestwards while the magmatic arc migrated northeastwards, and the continent-arc collision occurred in the Late Triassic with the thrusting being extended towards the north or northeast. The features of thrust-nappe structure are discussed, which proved the continental margin of the Palaeotethyan ocean there to be a complicated one. A face-to-face collision occurred first along the NW-striking segment and then along the ENE-striking segment accompanied by transpression or oblique thrusting occurring along the NW-striking one.

Sedimentology of Marl and Marly Limestone Sequence of Upper Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation from Northern Kalachitta Range, Attock Hazara Fold and Thrust Belt, Pakistan

Upper Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation is well exposed in the Attock Hazara Fold and Thrust Belt (AHFTB) and shows significant lateral and vertical variations in lithology. The present work deals with the sedimentological studies of marl and marly limestone sequence of Kawagarh Formation exposed at the Bagh Neelab, Ghariala north and Sojhanda villages in Northern Kalachitta Range. Detailed petrographic studies of marly limestone and hard marl substrate show that planktons and oysters are the main skeletal constituents of studied samples and clay and detrital quartz mainly composed the non skeletal fraction. X-Ray diffraction analyses of selected marl samples confirm the petrographic data. On the basis of skeletal and non skeletal content, two microfacies—marl microfacies and Planktonic microfacies are constructed. The faunal content, their paleoecology and detrital content of microfacies suggest that marl and marly limestone sequence of Kawagarh Formation was deposited over the mid and outer ramp settings.