Chemostratigraphy of Flood Basalts in the Garze-Litang Region and Zongza Block: Implications for Western Extension of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

The Late Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) is commonly regarded as being located in the western part of the Yangtze craton, SW China, with an asymmetrical shape and a small area. This area, however, is just a maximum estimation because some parts of the ELIP were not recognized or dismembered and destroyed during the Triassic to Cenozoic tectonism. In this paper, the chemostratigraphical data of the Zongza block, the Garze-Litang belt and the Songpan-Garze block suggest that the Late Permian basalts in these areas have remarkable similarities to the ELIP basalts in petrography and geochemistry. Flood basalts in the Sanjiangkou area are composed of the lower part of the low-Ti (LT) tholeiite and the upper part of the high-Ti (HT) tholeiite, which is the same as the flood basalts on the western margin of the Yangtze craton. Flood basalts in the Zongza and Songpan-Garze areas, which are far from the Yangtze craton, consist of HT tholeiite only. This is the same as the flood basalts within the Yangtze craton. Therefore we argue that these contemporary basalts all originated from the Emeishan mantle plume, and the ELIP could have a significant westward extension with an outcropped area of over 500,000 km2. This new scenario shows that the LT tholeiite occurs on the western margin of the Yangtze craton, while the HT tholeiite overlying the LT basalts occupies the whole area of the ELIP.

^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating of Xuebaoding Granite in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt,Southwest China,and its Geological Significance

Thus far, our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results. Therefore, in this study, the ^40Ar/^39Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe （SHRIMP） U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared, particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding, to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements. The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U, but a very low value for Th/U. The high U amount, coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons, indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating. Therefore, muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding, gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma. The 4^40Ar/^39Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ^40Ar/^36Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4 （2σ） was very close to the air ratio, indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present. These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma, respectively. Through comparison of both dating methods and their results, we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ^40Ar/^39Ar dating without extra Ar. Based on this evidence, as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites, it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma. Moreover, compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt, the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze. Therefore, ^40Ar/^39Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.

Deformation of the Most Recent Co-seismic Surface Ruptures Along the Garzê–Yushu Fault Zone(Dangjiang Segment)and Tectonic Implications For the Tibetan Plateau

The Garzê–Yushu strike-slip fault in central Tibet is the locus of strong earthquakes（M 〉 7）. The deformation and geometry of the co-seismic surface ruptures are reflected in the surface morphology of the fault and depend on the structure of the upper crust as well as the pre-existing tectonics. Therefore, the most recent co-seismic surface ruptures along the Garzê–Yushu fault zone（Dangjiang segment） reveal the surface deformation of the central Tibetan Plateau. Remote sensing images and field investigations suggest a 85 km long surface rupture zone（striking NW-NWW）, less than 50 m wide, defined by discontinuous fault scarps, right-stepping en echelon tensional cracks and left-stepping mole tracks that point to a left-lateral strike-slip fault. The gullies that cross fault scarps record systematic left-lateral offsets of 1.8 m to 5.0 m owing to the most recent earthquake, with moment magnitude of about M 7.5, in the Dangjiang segment. Geological and geomorphological features suggest that the spatial distribution of the 1738 co-seismic surface rupture zone was controlled by the pre-existing active Garzê–Yushu fault zone（Dangjiang segment）. We confirm that the Garzê–Yushu fault zone, a boundary between the Bayan Har Block to the north and the Qiangtang Block to the south, accommodates the eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau and generates strong earthquakes that release the strain energy owing to the relative motion between the Bayan Har and Qiangtang Blocks.

Crustal structure beneath the Songpan——Garze orogenic belt

The Benzilan-Tangke deep seismic sounding profile in the western Sichuan region passes through the Song-pan-Garze orogenic belt with trend of NNE. Based on the travel times and the related amplitudes of phases in the record sections, the 2-D P-wave crustal structure was ascertained in this paper. The velocity structure has quite strong lateral variation along the profile. The crust is divided into 5 layers, where the first, second and third layer belong to the upper crust, the forth and fifth layer belong to the lower crust. The low velocity anomaly zone gener-ally exists in the central part of the upper crust on the profile, and it integrates into the overlying low velocity basement in the area to the north of Ma'erkang. The crustal structure in the section can be divided into 4 parts: in the south of Garze-Litang fault, between Garze-Litang fault and Xianshuihe fault, between Xianshuihe fault and Longriba fault and in the north of Longriba fault, which are basically coincided with the regional tectonics division. The crustal thickness decreases from southwest to northeast along the profile, that is, from 62 km in the region of the Jinshajiang River to 52 km in the region of the Yellow River. The Moho discontinuity does not obviously change across the Xianshuihe fault based on the PmP phase analysis. The crustal average velocity along the profile is lower, about 6.30 km/s. The Benzilan-Tangke profile reveals that the crust in the study area is orogenic. The Xianshuihe fault belt is located in the central part of the profile, and the velocity is positive anomaly on the upper crust, and negative anomaly on the lower crust and upper mantle. It is considered as a deep tectonic setting in favor of strong earthquake's accumulation and occurrence.

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE GARZE—LITANG PLATE JUNCTION, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE GOLD DEPOSITS

Garez—Litang plate junction lies in the eastern margin of the Nujiang—Lancangjiang—Jinshajiang area, NW\|trendingly and antisigmoidally extending for more than 800km from Zhidoi ,Qinghai through Garze and Litang to Muli ,Sichuan ,with a width of 5～35km .The junction is located in the arcuate turning part of the Alpine—Himalayan—Indosinian Tethyan tectonic domain ,which lies in the structural transition position between the Yangtze plate and the Yidun area . The plate junction represents an important tectonic belt ,which is a composed of a gold mineralization belt in the east Tethyan tectonic domain.(1) Garze—Litang plate junction may be divided into the following structural units:ductile shear zone and fracture system, Paleozoic nappes ,ophiolite \|tectonic blocks,flysch formation in passive continental margin (Triassic Xikang group ),forearc sedimentary formation in active margin (Triassic Yidun group),and such boundary geological bodies as granitoids ,faulted basins and Tertiary nappes.

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 of Triassic Mafic Complexes with MORB/OIB Affinities from the Western Garzê-Litang Ophiolitic Mélange, Central Tibetan Plateau

There is a general consensus that most ophiolites formed above subduction zones(Pearce,2003),particularly during forearc extension at subduction initiation(Shervais,2001;Stern,2004;Whattam and Stern,2011).'Supra-Subduction zone'(SSZ)ophiolites such as the well-studied Tethyan ophiolites,generally display a characteristic sequential evolution from mid-oceanic ridge basalts(MORBs)to island arc tholeiities(IATs)or bonites(BONs)(Pearce,2003;Dilek and Furnes,2009,2011),which were generated in sequence from the decompression melting of asthenospheric mantle and partial melting of subduction-metasomatized depleted mantle(Stern and Bloomer,1992;Dilek and Furnes,2009;Whattam and Stern,2011).However,ophiolites with MORB and/or oceanic-island basalt(OIB)affinities are rare,and their origin and tectonic nature are poorly understood(Boedo et al.,2013;Saccani et al.,2013).It is interesting that the composition of these ophiolites from the central Tibetan Plateau(CTP)is dominated by MORBs and minor OIBs and a distinct lack of IATs and BONs,which is inconsistent with most ophiolites worldwide(Robinson and Zhou,2008;Zhang et al.,2008).But the generation and tectonic nature of these ophiolites are still controversial.*In this study,we present new geochronological,mineralogical and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes in the western Garzê-Litang suture zone(GLS),a typical Paleo-Tethyan suture crossing the CTP(Fig.1).The Triassic ophiolite in the western GLS has been described by Li et al.(2009),who foundthat it mainly consists of gabbros,diabases,pillow basalts and a few metamorphic peridotites.The ophiolite has been tectonically dismembered and crops out in Triassic clastic rocks and limestones as tectonic blocks.The Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes are generally regarded as important fragments of the Triassic ophiolites(e.g.,Jin,2006;Li et al.,2009).Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages of234±3 Ma and 236±2 Ma can be interpreted as formation times of the Chayong and Xiewu mafic complexes,respectively.The basalts and gabbros of the Chayong complexexhibitenrichedMORB(E-MORB)compositional affinities except for a weak depletion of Nb,Ta and Ti relative to the primitive mantle,whereas the basalts and gabbros of the Xiewu complex display distinct E-MORB and OIB affinities.The geochemical features suggest a probable fractionation of olivine±clinopyroxene±plagioclase as well as insignificant crustal contamination.The geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic data reveal that the Chayong mafic rocks may have been derived from depleted MORB-type mantle metasomatized by crustal components and Xiewu mafic rocks from enriched lithosphericmantlemetasomatizedbyOIB-like components.The ratios of Zn/Fet,La/Yb and Sm/Yb indicate that these mafic melts were produced by the partial melting of garnet+minor spinel-bearing peridotite or spinel±minor garnet-bearing peridotite.We propose thatback-arcbasinspreadingassociated with OIB/seamount recycling had occurred in the western GLS at least since the Middle Triassic times,and the decompression melting of the depleted MORB-type asthenospheremantleandpartialmeltingof sub-continental lithosphere were metasomatized by plume-related melts,such as OIBs,which led to the generation of the Chayong and Xiewu mafic melts.

Earthquake fault framework and seismotectonics of the Songpan-Garze region since 1900

Based on 4 781 observed faults （〉2 km length） from a 1：200 000 scale digital geologic map and 5 220 recorded seismic events since the year 1900, 993 earthquake faults are identified within the triangular Songpan-Garze study region. The study area is delineated by the nearly EW-trending East Kunlun fault zone to the north, the NW-trending Xianshuihe fault to the south and the NE-trending Longmenshan thrust belt to the east. Seismicity changes along these earthquake faults, spanning four 10-year intervals since 1970, show that following a strong earthquake swarm, which occurred in the Huya area in the mid-1970s, seismic activity increased from north to south, and migrated eastward along each major strike-slip fault zone. GPS observation data before 2008 indicate a displacement rate across the Xianshuihe fault zone to the south of -6.5- 8.6 mm/a, whereas across the East Kunlun fault zone to the north it was -1.8- 2.2 mm/a. The May 12, 2008 Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred in the southeast corner of the study region, was the result of stable, high-speed left-lateral displacement along the Xianshuihe fault zone, and a sharp eastward bend of the fault trend in response to the presence of crystalline rocks in the Kangding area. Therefore, the 110-year established seismotectonic framework of the Songpan-Garze region can be defined by a network of various earthquake faults and the structural relations of the local earthquake activities.

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.

Analysis on Serum Trace Element Levels of Echinococciasis Patients in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan,China,2011

In Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture inSichuan province, China, 41 echinococciasis patientswho had received surgical treatment were recruitedin the study, and 82 health persons who had livedin Garze for at least 10 years were selected ascontrols. The serum levels of Zn, Se and Cu of thecases and controls were detected. The resultsshowed that most echinococciasis cases weredistributed in Shiqu county （17.1%, 7/41）, and only1 case was distributed in Yajiang county （2.4%）. Themale to female ratio of the cases was 1：1.56. Theechinococciasis patients were mainly aged 30-39years （36.59%, 15/41）. And, the cases aged 20-49years accounted for 68.29% （28/41）. Comparedwith health controls, the serum levels of Zn and Seof the cases significantly declined. However, theserum level of Cu of the cases had no significantlychange. It was confirmed that the serum levels ofZn and Se were interrelated with the prevalence ofechinococciasis.

Analysis on Apparent Resistivity Variations of Garzê Station before the 2013 Lushan M_S 7. 0 Earthquake

A trend increase in apparent resistivity has been observed in the N30°E monitoring direction at Garzê Seismic Station since July 2011. This increase trend in geo-electric resistivity has been observed in the N60°W direction since 2012. During the period of the increase,the national highway No. 317 was expanded in the monitoring area,so the potential electrodes in the N30° E direction had to be moved 10 m towards the current electrodes. We interpreted the electric sounding data of Garzê Seismic Station with a horizontally layered model. Analysis based on this model showed that the shift of potential electrodes can cause a 4 Ω·m rise to the measurements in the N30°E direction. Therefore,apparent resistivity of the two directions increased in the same time in 2012 after offsetting the effects from electrodes shift. Sensitivity coefficients of the two observation directions were also obtained using the model. Sensitivity coefficients of both directions were negative for the shallow layers,which can well explain the unexpected annual variations of GarzêSeismic Station. In order to quantitatively analyze the effects from the expansion of the national highway on the observation,we constructed a finite element model based on the electrical structure. Analysis results also suggested that the expansion of the national highway could only cause a 0. 15 Ω·m decrease in the N60° W monitoring direction and0. 1Ω·m increase in the N30° E direction. Additionally,the valley values of annual variation of 2013 were distinctively higher than that of other years since 2008,meaning that there was an abnormal rise in apparent resistivity in the two observation directions at Garzê Seismic Station before the Lushan earthquake. However,the rise was contrary to the decline variation before the Wenchuan earthquake. Therefore, it is still unsure whether or not the rise variation is related to the Lushan earthquake.

川西九龙白台花岗岩地球化学特征、锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素组成及其稀有金属成矿意义

为揭示川西九龙白台花岗岩成因及其与稀有金属成矿的关系,笔者等对白台花岗岩开展了岩相学、岩石地球化学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学、锆石微量元素地球化学、Hf同位素地球化学测试。结果显示,白台黑云母二长花岗岩具高SiO_(2)(69.01%~70.55%)、高K_(2)O(3.86%~4.99%)、高碱(K_(2)O+Na_(2)O=7.41%~8.18%),低CaO(1.49%~2.2%)、低MgO(0.44%~0.57%)等特征,里特曼指数σ=2.03~2.43,A/CNK=1.07~1.14,为弱过铝质的高钾钙碱性系列岩石;微量元素特征显示相对富集Rb、K等大离子亲石元素,相对亏损Nb、P、Hf等高场强元素;球粒陨石标准化的稀土元素配分模式为明显的轻稀土富集和重稀土亏损的右倾型。白台黑云母二长花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄为(213~212)Ma,ε_(Hf)(t)值为-7.4~-1.1,Hf同位素二阶模式年龄T_(DM2)为(1.6~1.2)Ga。研究结果表明,白台花岗岩形成于后碰撞伸展背景,是在松潘—甘孜地块遭受挤压碰撞后,增厚的岩石圈地幔拆沉,软流圈地幔物质上涌后发生减压熔融形成的晚三叠世I型花岗岩。同时,笔者等认为白台伟晶岩型铍矿床与白台花岗岩密切相关,是该花岗岩体残余岩浆热液分异的产物。

Average slip-rate and recent large earthquake ruptures along the Garzê-Yushu fault

Our field investigation obtains new evidence of the later Quaternary activity and recent large earthquake ruptures of the Garzê-Yushu fault. The average left-lateral slip-rate along the fault is determined to be (12 ± 2) mm/a for the last 50000 years from both offset landforms and ages of the correlative sediments. This result is very close to the estimated average left-lateral slip-rate for the Xianshuihe fault, suggesting that the horizontal movement along the northern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block and the northeastern boundary of the Qiangtang active tectonic block has been basically harmonious during the later Quaternary period. Remains of ground ruptures of recent large earthquakes have been discovered along all 3 segments of the fault, of which, the 1896 rupture on the northwestern segment is at least 70 km long, and its corresponding earthquake could be of moment magnitude 7.3. The latest rupture on the middle segment of the fault has a length of about 180 km, and was produced by an unknown-age large earthquake that could have a moment magnitude of about 7.7. Along the southeastern segment of the fault, the latest unknown-age rupture is about 65 km long and has a maximum left-lateral coseismic displacement of 5.3 m, and its corresponding earthquake is estimated to be as large as about 7.3 of moment magnitude. Based on relevant investigation, an inference has been drawn that the later two large earthquakes probably occurred in 1854 and 1866, respectively. These demonstrate that the individual segments of the studied Garzê-Yushu fault are all able to produce large earthquakes.

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.