Late Mesozoic basin and range tectonics and related magmatism in Southeast China

During the Late Mesozoic Middle Jurassic--Late Cretaceous, basin and range tectonics and associated magmatism representative of an extensional tectonic setting was widespread in southeastern China as a result of Pacific Plate subduction. Basin tectonics consists of post-orogenic （Type I） and intra-continental extensional basins （Type II）. Type I basins developed in the piedmont and intraland during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, in which coarse-grained terrestrial clastic sediments were deposited. Type II basins formed during intra-continental crustal thinning and were characterized by the development of grabens and half-grabens. Graben basins were mainly generated during the Middle Jurassic and were associated with bimodal volcanism. Sediments in half-grabens are intercalated with rhyolitic tufts and lavas and are Early Cretaceous in age with a dominance of Late Cretaceous-Paleogene red beds. Ranges are composed of granitoids and bimodal volcanic rocks, A-type granites and dome-type metamorphic core complexes. The authors analyzed lithological, geochemical and geochronological features of the Late Mesozoic igneous rock assemblages and proposed some geodynamical constraints on forming the basin and range tectonics of South China. A comparison of the similarities and differences of basin and range tectonics between the eastern and western shores of the Pacific is made, and the geo- dynamical evolution model of the Southeast China Block during Late Mesozoic is discussed. Studied results suggest that the basin and range terrane within South China developed on a pre-Mesozoic folded belt was derived from a polyphase tectonic evolution mainly constrained by subduction of the western Pacific Plate since the Late Mesozoic, leading to formation of various magmatism in a back-arc exten- sional setting. Its geodynamic mechanism can compare with that of basin and range tectonics in the eastern shore of the Pacific. Differences of basin and range tectonics between both shores of the Pacific, such as mantle plume formation, scales of extensional and igneous rock assemblages and the age of basin and range tectonics, were caused mainly by the Yellowstone mantle plume in the eastern shore of the Pacific.

Changes of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Regimes around the Ordos Basin(North China)and their Geodynamic Implications

A synthesis is given in this paper on late Mesozoic deformation pattern in the zones around the Ordos Basin based on lithostratigraphic and structural analyses. A relative chronology of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress evolution was established from the field analyses of fault kinematics and constrained by stratigraphic contact relationships. The results show alternation of tectonic compressional and extensional regimes. The Ordos Basin and its surroundings were in weak N-S to NNE-SSW extension during the Early to Middle Jurassic, which reactivated E-W-trending basement fractures. The tectonic regime changed to a multi-directional compressional one during the Late Jurassic, which resulted in crustal shortening deformation along the marginal zones of the Ordos Basin. Then it changed to an extensional one during the Early Cretaceous, which rifted the western, northwestern and southeastern margins of the Ordos Basin. A NW-SE compression occurred during the Late Cretaceous and caused the termination of sedimentation and uplift of the Ordos Basin. This phased evolution of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress regimes and associated deformation pattern around the Ordos Basin best records the changes in regional geodynamic settings in East Asia, from the Early to Middle Jurassic post-orogenic extension following the Triassic collision between the North and South China Blocks, to the Late Jurassic multi-directional compressions produced by synchronous convergence of the three plates （the Siberian Plate to the north, Paleo-Pacific Plate to the east and Lhasa Block to the west） towards the East Asian continent. Early Cretaceous extension might be the response to collapse and lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton.

U-Pb Dating of Volcanic Rocks and Granites along the Wuyishan Belt:Constraints on Timing of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Events in Southeast China

Five volcanic rock samples and two granite samples taken from the volcanic basins in western Fujian and southern Jiangxi were dated by using the zircon laser albation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U-Pb method. Together with previously dated ages, the dates obtained provide important constraints on the timing of late Mesozoic tectonic events in SE China. The volcanic rock samples yield ages of 183.1±3.5 Ma, ca. 141 Ma to 135.8±1.1 Ma, 100.4±1.5 to 97.6±1.1 Ma, confirming three episodes of late Mesozoic volcanic activities, which peaked at 180±5 Ma, 140±5 Ma and 100±5 Ma, respectively, along the Wuyishan belt. Moreover, based on field investigations of these volcano-sedimentary basins, we have recognized two compressional tectonic events along this belt. The early one was characterized by Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic NNE-trending folds that were intruded by late Jurassic granites; and the late one caused the Lower Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary layer to be tilted. The dated age 152.9±1.4 Ma of the granitic samples from the Hetian granitic pluton in the Changting Basin and that from the Baishiding granitic pluton, 100.2±1.8 Ma, in the Jianning Basin, give the upper boundaries of these two tectonic events respectively. Hence, the late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of SE China was alternated between extension and compression.

A Study of Sr, Nd and O Isotopes of the K-rich Melanocratic Dykes in the Late Mesozoic Gold Field in the Jiaodong Peninsula

Geologic, petrographic and petrochemical studies of the late Mesozoic K-rich melanocratic dykes, including lamprophyres, andesite porphyrites and dacite-porphyry in the gold field system in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, have shown that these dykes are characterized by rich potassium and alkali but poor titanium. They belong to an ultra-high potassic, shoshonitic and high potassic calc-alkaline rock series. The parental magma has relatively high initial strontium ratios ((87Sr/86Sr),=0.70895-0.71140) and low (143Nd/144Nd)1 ratios (varying from 0.51135 to 0.51231); and its δ18Osmow, whole rock values vary from +5.8%c to +10.6%c with a mean of +7.1%c. These features suggest that the source region of the magma is an enriched mantle wedge transformed from a continental lithosphere mantle which has experienced metasomatism by mantle-derived fluids with H2O-dominated fluids that were provided during the underthrusting of an ocean crust. The initial magma was generated by low-degree partial melting of the enriched mantle in its mature stage in the back-arc spreading environment. The evolution of magmas is associated with two trends, i.e., fractional crystallization and mixing with or intensive contamination by palaeo-crust materials or metamorphic rocks. The former process is evident in the gold field system of quartz-vein type, whereas the latter is dominated in the gold field system of the altered-rock type. This conclusion is very important for more detailed study of petrogenesis and mineralization through the crust-mantle interaction (exchange) in the Mesozoic in this region.

Taxonomy and Stratigraphy of Late Mesozoic Anurans and Urodeles from China

Three anurans (Callobatrachus sanyanensis, Liaobatrachus grabaui, Mesophryne beipiaoensis) and six urodeles (Laccotriton subsolanus, Liaoxitriton zhongjiani, Jeholotriton paradoxus, Sinerpeton fengshanensis, Chunerpeton tianyiensis, Liaoxitriton daohugouensis) are reported from the late Mesozoic tuff-interbedded lacustrine deposits (mostly of the Jehol Group) in northeastern China. They document the first discovery of Chinese Mesozoic lissamphibians, and their old geological age, superb preservation condition, and large taxoncmic diversity are unique compared with other findings worldwide. The anurans occupy a higher evolutionary position than typical Jurassic taxa, supporting a post-Late Jurassic age of the fossil horizons. The urodeles all have unicapitate ribs, suggesting an evolutionary grade at the cryptobranchoid level, and are advanced in osteological features over non-urodeles from the Middle and Upper Jurassic in England and Central Asia. Some urodeles (Jeholotriton and Chunerpeton) exhibit neotenic features, representing the earliest occurrence among such findings. Six fossil horizons are rscognized for the known Chinese Mesozoic anurans and urodeles: the Daohugou fossil bed, the Dabeigou Formation, the Lujiatun Bed, Jianshangou Bed and Dawangzhangzi Bed of the Yixian Formation, and the Jiufotang Formation. As implied from the osteological and phylogenetical studies, the geological age of these anurans and urodeles is the Early Cretaceous.

A Possible Long-tailed Bird with a Pygostyle from the Late Mesozoic Yixian Formation, Western Liaoning, China

An incomplete caudal vertebral series (IVPP V11309) from the Yixian Formation of late Mesozoic, Jianshangou area of Beipiao, western Liaoning Province, may represent a new bird. The tail is composed of at least 12 free caudal vertebrae and the most distal 5 caudal vertebrae co-ossified into a pygostyle. The pygostyle is plate-like and slightly curved dorsally. The anterior free caudals are amphiplatyan. The anterior caudal surfaces of the last three free caudals are concave, but their posterior articular surfaces are convex. The pygostyle is regarded as the first appeared flight apparatus during the evolutionary process from Archaeopteryx to neornithes. The pygostyle appeared in most early fossil birds and almost all the modern birds. Although their morphologies are different, they are basically formed by at least four last caudal vertebrae. The specimen V11309 is regarded as a bird rather than a non-avian theropod dinosaur based on the following characters: short caudal vertebrae, numerous pits present on the surfaces of the centra and, a foramen present between the basal part of the fused neural spines, which is similar to that of Struthio camelus. The discoveries of pygostyles from the therizinosauroids and oviraptorosaurs may provide strong evidence for supporting the origin of birds from small theropod dinosaurs. The structure of the pygostyle in specimen V11309 is different from those of Beipiaosaurus (Therizinosauroid) and Nomingia (oviraptorosaur). The most parsimonious interpretation is that these pygostyle-like structures are independently acquired by Beipiaosaurus and Nomingia during their evolutionary process.

Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Jiaodong Peninsula,East China:Implications for crust-mantle interactions and lithospheric thinning of the eastern North China Craton

A section from the Linglong gold deposit on the northwestern Jiaodong Peninsula,East China,containing Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks from mafic and intermediate dikes and felsic intrusions,was chosen to investigate the lithospheric evolution of the eastern North China Craton(NCC).Zircon U-Pb data showed that low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic(~145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous(112-107 Ma),respectively;high-Mg adakitic diorite and mafic dikes were also emplaced during the Early Cretaceous at^139 Ma and ~118 Ma,and 125-145 Ma and 115-120 Ma,respectively.The geochemical data,including whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,imply that the mafic dikes originated from the partial melting of a lithospheric mantle metasomatised through hydrous fluids from a subducted oceanic slab.Low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions originated from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust of the NCC,while high-Mg adakitic diorite dikes originated from the mixing of mafic and felsic melts.Late Mesozoic magmatism showed that lithosphere-derived melts showed a similar source depth and that crust-derived felsic melts originated from the continuously thickened lower crust of the Jiaodong Peninsula from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.We infer that the lower crust of the eastern NCC was thickened through compression and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath the NCC during the Middle Jurassic.Slab rollback of the plate from ~160 Ma resulted in lithospheric thinning and accompanied Late Mesozoic magmatism.

Late Mesozoic Intracontinental Rifting and Basin Formation in Eastern China

? The intensive extensional deformation in the eastern part of the Chinese continent in Late Mesozoic time (J3-K1) caused the formation of largescale fault basin system in Northeastern China block, metamorphic core complexes in North China block and widespread volcanic eruption and granitic intrusive in eastern China. Generally, the deformation has been interpreted as subduction tectonics along the eastern continental margin. We suggest that the combination effect of the subduction and collision in Tethys domain and the subduction from Pacific side and the mantle upwelling beneath the lithosphere. This event controlled the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous tectonic history in eastern China.

Piecemeal Delamination of Thickened Lithosphere Triggered Pulsed Magmatism and Mineralization during Late Mesozoic Intracontinental Orogeny in East Asia

The East Asia continent is characterized by a mosaic architecture with various composing blocks,such as the North and South China blocks,which had been collaged in Late Permian to Triassic in response to the break-up of Pangea.In the Late Mesozoic.

Late Mesozoic Depositional Features and Basin Evolution of the Western Segment of Bailongjiang Uplift Zone in the Songpan Area

On the basis of history study and the depositional study the systematic investigation of late Mesozoic sedimentary features and basin evolution are conducted.The architectural elements analysis of sedimentary environment shows that the depositional environment of the early Jurassic in late Mesozoic basin(Gahai basin) in the study area is lacustrine environment,and is further

TECTONIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TAIWAN CHANNEL AND ITS ENVIRONS IN LATE MESOZOIC

Taiwan Channel and environs developed typical collision structural zones in the Zhejiang-Fujian coast and Taiwan central mountain, analysis of which revealed their Late Mesozoic collision orogenesis.

Petrogenesis of Late Mesozoic Calc-Alkaline Lamprophyres from Sulu UHP Terrane, Eastern China: Implications to Paleo-Pacific Plate Subduction and Destruction of the North China Craton

Destruction of the North China Craton has caused extensive concern on its multiple potential mechanisms including thermal erosion,chemical erosion and delamination.It is widely accepted that thinning of the

The Geochemistry of Late Mesozoic Mafic Dyke Swarms in Fujian Province, Southeast China

Mafic dyke swarms is a special geologic terrain in continent,which can provide us abundant geodynamic information,mafic dyke swarms were an important symbol of the lithospheric extension,which were mainly derived

Structural Evolution of the Eastern Margin of Eurasia in Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic

This paper features the structural evolution of the eastern margin of Eurasia in Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. It is characterized by three stages of development: the riftogenic stage (Jurassic-Early Cretaceous), the platform stage (Late Cretaceous) and the neotectonic one (Paleogene-Quarternary). The boundaries between these stages are distinctly fixed by the geological time limits of planetary range. It is demonstrated that the riftogenic and neotectonic stages were characterized by a high degree of geodynamic activity, and the platform one by a decrease in contrast of tectonic movements. The main river net was formed in the Early Cretaceous and in the Neogene. It experienced a serious reconstruction accompanied by the formation of the Amur River valley being similar to the modern one.

LATE MESOZOIC SUBDUCTION PROCESS BENEATH SOUTHEASTERN CHINA AS REVEALEDBY THE SPATIAL- TEMPORAL PATTERN OFMAGMATISM

Southeastern China covers an extensive area from the lowerreaches of the Yangtze Riverto the southeast coastof China mainland.One of its main geological features isthe extensiveJura- Cretaceous (Yanshanian) magmatism and related metallogenesis. Recently,some re-searchers advocate the mantle plume model as an explanation,but all of their evidences artoo ambiguous.Meanwhile,the seaward convex shape of the SE China coastline,which isdominantly composed of Jura- Cretaceous batholiths and volcanic strata,implies thatit was aconvergent margin between SE China continent and the palaeo- Pacific plate during the lateMesozoic era.Fora betterunderstanding on the relation among magmatism,tectonic regimeand dynamics,the spatial- temporal pattern of late Mesozoic (180 - 90 Ma) igneous rocks isconstructed by nearly2 0 0 isotope age valuesfrom literatures.Among these age values,mostwere obtained by Rb- Sr isochron method,and others from zircon U- Pb or40 Ar- 3

New speices of Late Mesozoic wood fossils from southeastern Mongolia

Three new species of fossil woods are reported from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous in southeastern Mongolia,including Protaxodioxylon mongolense sp. nov. Circoporoxylon mongolense sp. nov. Protocircoporoxylon mongolense sp. nov. The anatomical characters of three new species are described in detail.

Structural Geology and Chronology of Shear Zones along the Shangdan Suture in Qinling Orogenic Belt,China:Implications for Late Mesozoic Intra-Continental Deformation of East Asia

The Shangdan suture zone(SDZ)in the Qinling orogenic belt(QOB)is a key to understanding the East Asia tectonic evolution.The SDZ gives information about convergent processes between the North China Block(NCB)and South China Block(SCB).In the Late Mesozoic,several shear zones evolved along the SDZ boundary that helps us comprehend the collisional deformation between the NCB and SCB,which was neglected in previous studies.These shear zones play an essential role in the tectonic evolution of the East Asia continents.This study focuses on the deformation and geochronology of two shear zones distributed along the SDZ,identified in the Shaliangzi and Maanqiao areas.The shear sense indicators and kinematic vorticity numbers(0.54–0.90)suggest these shear zones have sinistral shear and sub-simple shear deformation kinematics.The quartz’s dynamic recrystallization and c-axis fabric analysis in the Maanqiao shear zone(MSZ)revealed that the MSZ experienced deformation under green-schist facies conditions at∼400–500℃.The Shaliangzi shear zone deformed under amphibolite facies at∼500–700℃.The^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar(muscovite-biotite)dating of samples provided a plateau age of 121–123 Ma.Together with previously published data,our results concluded that QOB was dominated by compressional tectonics during the Late Early Cretaceous.Moreover,we suggested that the Siberian Block moved back to the south and Lhasa-Qiantang-Indochina Block to the north,which promoted intra-continental compressional tectonics.

Recycling of crustal materials and implications for lithospheric thinning: Evidence from Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin, NE China

Late Mesozoic Nb-rich basaltic andesites and high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks from the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin,northeast China,provide important insights into the recycling processes of crustal materials and their role in late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning.The Late Jurassic Nb-rich basaltic andesites(154±4 Ma)are enriched in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements,slightly depleted in high-field-strength elements,and have high TiO_(2),P_(2)O_(5),and Nb contents,and(Nb/Th)PM and Nb/U ratios,which together with the relatively depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions indicate a derivation from a mantle wedge metasomatized by hydrous melts from subducted oceanic crust.The Early Cretaceous high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks(129-117 Ma)are characterized by low Y and heavy rare earth element contents,and high Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios,similar to those of rocks derived from partial melting of an eclogitic source.They also have high Rb/Sr,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O,and Mg#values,and high MgO,Cr,and Ni contents.These geochemical features suggest that the adakitic lavas were derived from partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust,followed by interaction of the resulting melts with mantle material during their ascent.Our data,along with available geological,paleomagnetic,and geophysical evidence,lead us to propose that recycling of Paleo-Pacific oceanic crustal materials into the upper mantle due to flat-slab subduction and rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the late Mesozoic likely provided the precondition for lithospheric thinning in northeast China,with consequent lithospheric delamination causing recycling of continental crustal materials and further lithospheric thinning.

Geochronological, Sedimentary, Structural, and Metallogenic Characteristics of Southeast China during the Mesozoic: A General Review

The tectonic evolution of Southeast China during Late Mesozoic is a prominent topic. Numerous tectonic models on Late Mesozoic evolution ofSoutheast Chinahave been?published in the past 50 years. We synthesized many up-to-date and precise zircon U-Pb ages, sedimentary strata, and regional structures and discussed the oxygen fugacity of magmas and related ore deposits. We also analyzed the most current tectonic models published by some scholars. A multistage tectonic stress evolution history during Late Mesozoic was constructed, which included the following stages: 1) Early-Middle Jurassic (196 - 175 Ma) extension, in which many bimodal volcanics formed;2) Middle-Late Jurassic (165 - 140 Ma) compression, which generated largescale gneissic granites, garnet-bearing granites, stratigraphic hiatus, and nappe structures;3) Early Cretaceous (140 ± 5 - 120 Ma) extension, which formed weakly deformed or undeformed granites, alkali granites, metamorphic core complexes, graben basins, and basic dike swarms;4) Early Cretaceous (120 - 110 Ma) compression, which generated nappe structures, volcanic hiatuses, and garnet-bearing granites;and 5) Early-Late Cretaceous (110 - 80 Ma) extension, which generated largescale bimodal volcanics, basic dike swarms, alkali granites, and graben basins. The Late Mesozoic tectonic evolution ofSoutheast Chinamay be attributed to the drifting history of the Paleo-Pacific plate. The drifting direction of the Paleo-Pacific plate has changed several times since 140 Ma, which led to major changes in the tectonicphenomena from Jurassic to Cretaceous and to the formation of Late Mesozoic mineral deposits.