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

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

Late Ordovician to Early Silurian Tectonic Events in the Himalayan Terrain

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

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

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

The U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotope Compositions of Detrital Zircons from the Nanhua Group of the Longsheng Region,South China and their Implications for Pan-African Events

It is unclear whether the South China blocks have an affinity with continental Gondwana due to a lack of direct Pan-African magmatic and metamorphic features.In this study,we conducted U-Pb geochronological and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses for detrital zircons from a sandstone of the Chang'an Formation of the Nanhua Group in the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi,with the aim of constraining the timing of sedimentation and information as to its source,as well as seeking evidence for Pan-African events in the South China blocks.The results show that the ages of detrital zircons peaked at 654.7±6.2 Ma,773.2±4.1 Ma and 821.9±6.5 Ma,with some at 920–870 Ma;the youngest age indicates the existence of the Pan-African thermal event.The ε_(Hf)(t)and T_(DM2) values demonstrate that the study area has experienced three stages of crustal growth at 3.0–2.4 Ga,2.1–1.5 Ga and 1.3–0.9 Ga.With intensively distributed Neoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic and granitic plutons emplaced at 830–810 Ma along the southwestern section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and positiveεHf(t)values from a large group of zircon grains,it is proposed that the sediments of the Chang'an Formation(of Nanhua Group)were largely sourced from the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block.Comparison with the zircon age spectra of the Cathaysian block shows that about 79%of the Pan-African aged detrital zircon grains that have TDM2=1352–1031 Ma andεHf(t)=3.68–8.79,were sourced from the recycled Grenvillian crust of the Cathaysian block,suggesting that the Cathaysian block had a close connection with Gondwana.

A planet in transition:The onset of plate tectonics on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga?

Many geological and geochemical changes are recorded on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga.Among the more important of these are the following:(1)increasing proportion of basalts with"arc-like"mantle sources;(2)an increasing abundance of basalts derived from enriched(EM)and depleted(DM)mantle sources;(3)onset of a Great Thermal Divergence in the mantle;(4)a decrease in degree of melting of the mantle;(5)beginning of large lateral plate motions;(6)appearance of eclogite inclusions in diamonds;(7)appearance and rapid increase in frequency of collisional orogens;(8)rapid increase in the production rate of continental crust as recorded by zircon age peaks;(9)appearance of ophiolites in the geologic record,and(10)appearance of global LIP(large igneous province)events some of which correlate with global zircon age peaks.All of these changes may be tied directly or indirectly to cooling of Earth's mantle and corresponding changes in convective style and the strength of the lithosphere,and they may record the gradual onset and propagation of plate tectonics around the planet.To further understand the changes that occurred between 3 and 2 Ga,it is necessary to compare rocks,rock associations,tectonics and geochemistry during and between zircon age peaks.Geochemistry of peak and inter-peak basalts and TTGs needs to be evaluated in terms of geodynamic models that predict the existence of an episodic thermal regime between stagnant-lid and plate tectonic regimes in early planetary evolution.

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

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

Identification of Five Stages of Dike Swarms in the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia Border Area and Its Tectonic Implications

Dike swarms are generally ascribed to intrusion of mantle-source magma result from extension. Basic dike swarms around the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mogolia borders in the northern peripheral area of the North China Craton can be divided into five age groups according to isotopic dating: 1800-1700 Ma, 800-700 Ma, 230 Ma, 140-120 Ma, and 50-40 Ma. Geological, petrological and isotope geochemical features of the five groups is investigated in order to explore the variation of the mantle material composition in the concerned area with time. And the various extensional activities reflected by the five groups of dike swarms are compared with some important tectonic events within the North China Craton as well as around the world during the same period.

A pulse of the Earth: A 27.5-Myr underlying cycle in coordinated geological events over the last 260 Myr

We performed spectral analyses on the ages of 89 well-dated major geological events of the last 260 Myr from the recent geologic literature. These events include times of marine and non-marine extinctions,major ocean-anoxic events, continental flood-basalt eruptions, sea-level fluctuations, global pulses of intraplate magmatism, and times of changes in seafloor-spreading rates and plate reorganizations. The aggregate of all 89 events shows ten clusters in the last 260 Myr, spaced at an average interval of ~ 26.9 Myr, and Fourier analysis of the data yields a spectral peak at 27.5 Myr at the ≥96% confidence level. A shorter period of ~ 8.9 Myr may also be significant in modulating the timing of geologic events.Our results suggest that global geologic events are generally correlated, and seem to come in pulses with an underlying ~ 27.5-Myr cycle. These cyclic pulses of tectonics and climate change may be the result of geophysical processes related to the dynamics of plate tectonics and mantle plumes, or might alternatively be paced by astronomical cycles associated with the Earth’s motions in the Solar System and the Galaxy.

Distribution domains of the Pan-African event in East Antarctica and adjacent areas

The Pan-African event is widely distributed in East Antarctica （EA） craton, including both the coastal regions and interior of the EA. From aspects of the shear zones, granites, pegmatites, time of high-grade metamorphism and detrital zircon age peaks of the downflowing sediments from the inland, the Pan-African event in the EA and adjacent areas in the Gondwana reconstruction, like SE Africa, southern India and SW Australia, was described in the paper. The water or fluid available along the shear zones was responsible for retrogression of the earlier, e.g., Grenville age, high-grade outcrops to later Pan-African amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphism. In geochemistry, the granites are generally anorogenic, ocassionally with some gabbros or dolerite dykes, showing sign of bimodal feature. Meanwhile, the event has influenced most isotopic systems, including the U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr and Ar-Ar systems, giving Pan-African apparent ages. Spatially, the Pan-African event is demonstrated from possibly local granitic magmatism, to wider medium-high grade metamorphism, and mostly widespread in resetting for some isotope systems, suggesting the prevailing thermal effect of the event. Before Gondwana formation, local depressions in the EA may have been filled with sediments, implying the initial breakup period of the Rodinia. The later Pan-Gondwana counterrotating cogs shaped the interstitial fold belts between the continent blocks and formed a set of shear zones. The mafic underplating in the Gondwana may be responsible for the typical features of the Pan-African event. The event may be an overwhelmingly extensional and transcurrent tectonics in mechanism and is a possible response of the plate movement surrounding the continent swarms in the non-stable interior of the yet consolidated Gondwana.

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.

Late Cenozoic Stratigraphic Sequence and Its Implication to Tectonic Evolution, Hejiakouzi Area, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

The Late Cenozoic stratigraphic sequence and its information of tectonic evolution are obtained here through the detailed petrostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic study and research of stratigraphic contact and sedmentary faces of the Cenozoic strata profile, Hejiakouzi area, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The intense Cenozoic tectonic deformation began at 10Ma BP in the Haiyuan-Tongxin Syntaxis, the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and a few deformation events occurred during Late Cenozoic Era.

The Tectonic and Climate Change Across the Oligocene-Miocene Boundary in Northern Tibetan Plateau

From the planktonic foraminiferal and nannofossil events across the Oligocene/Miocene boundary (OMB) to the major transient glaciation at this epoch boundary,Mi-l,the paleoclimate,stratigraphic and paleontologic events showed a prominent change across the OMB.However,the previous work was mainly about the marine deposits,especially the ocean drilling data.Whatever,the continental strata,such as the alluvial and lacustrine sedimentation in

海南岛抱板杂岩记录的多期构造热事件:锆石和独居石U-Pb年代学的制约

抱板杂岩(抱板群)是海南岛目前已发现的最古老前寒武纪结晶基底,记录了多期构造热事件,是研究海南岛大地构造属性的重要窗口。本文通过对海南岛冲卒岭地区抱板杂岩变质沉积岩、变质基性岩和伟晶岩脉的锆石和独居石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究,来确定抱板杂岩所经历的多期构造热事件及其所代表的构造意义。研究结果显示,抱板杂岩主要由中元古代变质沉积岩、花岗质片麻岩和变质基性岩组成,经历了中元古代晚期-新元古代早期(1.3~0.9Ga)、早古生代(470~440Ma)、三叠纪(~230Ma)等多期构造热事件的改造。中元古代晚期-新元古代早期构造热事件与罗迪尼亚超大陆的汇聚有关;早古生代构造热事件与东冈瓦纳古陆北缘的增生造山作用有关;三叠纪构造热事件是印支陆块与华南陆块碰撞拼合的远程响应。综合上述研究成果和区域对比分析,认为海南岛与印支陆块具有相似的前寒武纪结晶基底和多期构造热事件的记录,表明二者具有明显的亲缘关系。

青藏高原1990年以来的M_W≥6.5强震事件及活动构造体系控震效应

深入认识青藏高原陆陆碰撞-挤出构造体系作用下的强震活动特点及未来强震活动趋势,对于区域防震减灾具有重要科学意义。统计分析青藏高原及邻区1900年以来的M≥6.0强震活动发现,青藏高原自1950年西藏墨脱—察隅8.6级大地震以来正处于新一轮相对缓慢的地震能释放期,但1990年以来的强震发生率和地震释放能显示出逐步增高趋势,并可能预示下一轮地震能快速释放期的临近。活动构造体系控震分析表明,青藏高原陆陆碰撞-挤出构造体系中的“多层次挤出-旋转活动构造体系”构成了1990年以来新一轮M_W≥6.5强震活动的主要控震构造,尤其是其中的巴颜喀拉挤出构造单元的强震活动最为显著,指示其目前正处于构造活跃状态,而且这一状态可能仍将持续。综合研究认为,在区域强震活动趋势分析中,充分认识活动构造体系控震效应,将有助于更好地分析判断区域未来强震时空迁移过程及最可能出现的构造部位。考虑到当前强震活动过程中,青藏高原“多层次挤出-旋转活动构造体系”的未来强震活动趋势仍会持续,需要重点关注挤出块体边界上3条大型左旋走滑断裂带,阿尔金—祁连—海原断裂系、东昆仑断裂带和鲜水河—小江断裂带的未来强震危险性,其次是断块内部断裂。

桂东南岑溪—陆川地区斜长角闪岩的年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

文章对桂东南岑溪—陆川地区的斜长角闪岩进行了锆石U-Pb年代学和全岩地球化学分析,研究结果表明,研究区斜长角闪岩的形成时代不早于早古生代(487~428 Ma)。中—新太古代的古老锆石揭示该地区深部可能存在未暴露的太古代结晶基底。全岩地球化学分析显示,样品相对于原始地幔富集大离子亲石元素(LILE)如K、Rb、Ba、Sr等和轻稀土元素,明显亏损高场强元素(HFSE)如Nb、Ta、Ti等,类似于岛弧玄武岩(IAB)的特征。研究区斜长角闪岩由古老俯冲交代的地幔楔熔融而成,可能形成于早古生代碰撞后的岩石圈伸展阶段。

华北克拉通东北缘改造:来自吉林辉南地区构造热事件的古地磁记录

华北克拉通东北缘处于构造运动活跃地区,古地磁研究可为构造演化和岩浆热事件提供依据。笔者在吉林辉南地区中寒武统32个采点共采集246块样品进行了岩石学、岩石磁学及系统热退磁实验。古地磁实验表明,徐庄组砂质泥岩主要磁性矿物是赤铁矿和磁铁矿,张夏组灰岩主要磁性矿物是颗粒较小的磁铁矿和黄铁矿,且均发生了重磁化,并记录了稳定的中温分量,前者中温分量地理坐标平均方向为D/I=10.9°/50.8°,α_(95)=11.7°,对应的极位置为76°N,264.6°E,A_(95)=13°,与早白垩世岩浆活动记录的古地磁极位置一致;后者中温分量地理坐标平均方向为D/I=29.1°/59.0°,α_(95)=6.5°,对应的极位置为68°N,213.7°E,A_(95)=8.4°,与第四纪火山岩记录的古地磁极位置一致。综合区域地质背景分析,早白垩世—第四纪,吉林辉南及邻区古地磁记录的2次较为强烈的构造热事件,以及因敦化-密山断裂带左旋走滑运动造成的北向运移形成的古纬度差,一定程度上对华北克拉通东北缘起到双重改造作用。

东印度洋东经90°海岭的地球物理特征和成因探讨

东经90°海岭发育于东印度洋,自孟加拉沉积扇向南穿越赤道直至印度洋南部布罗肯脊,是世界上最长的线性构造。海岭的形成机制与东印度洋晚白垩世至新生代的多阶段演化有关,由于其跨越赤道、长度大于5 000 km,南北不同区域的构造背景较为复杂,因此,其不同分段的地球物理特征也各具特色。通过分析海岭不同分段的形貌、浅层结构、重磁、地壳厚度及洋底年龄等地质地球物理数据,结合东印度洋海底扩张演化史,探讨了海岭的不同分段的成因机制。结果表明,90°E海岭的形成与板内热点活动、地幔柱-洋中脊相互作用、板块扩张与扩张中心跃迁,以及转换断层等诸多因素有关,是多种地质作用和地质过程综合作用的结果。2°N以北的海岭可能形成于远离扩张中心的印度板块内部,与板内火山作用有关联;18°S以南的部分形成于印度板块与南极洲板块边界转换断层附近;而2°N~18°S之间的中部区域则最为复杂,推测中段的形成受到了凯尔盖朗热点与沃顿扩张脊的相互作用,以及海岭下方的多次洋脊跳跃等因素的影响。分析认为,海岭中段是深入认识海岭成因机制、解决海岭构造演化和动力学机制以及脊-柱相互作用等重大科学问题的关键区域。未来在海岭中段开展地球物理测量及钻探工作,丰富海岭中段的地球物理综合数据,揭示中段不同位置岩石的物质组成与形成年代,是解决上述重大科学问题的必由之路。

含构造煤组合体加载破裂声发射特征试验研究

为研究含构造煤组合体变形破裂过程中煤厚对其声发射特征的影响,对构造煤占比分别为0%、11.11%、20.0%、33.33%、50.0%、62.5%和100.0%的七种含构造煤组合体进行室内单轴压缩声发射试验。结果表明:含构造煤组合体具备全原生煤试件和全构造煤试件两者的声发射特征,即组合体试件压密和弹性阶段声发射信号相对稳定,塑性及破坏阶段的振铃计数和能量的变化更突出,含构造煤组合体的振铃计数稳定区域随着构造煤占比的增加而增加;含构造煤组合体试件的声发射峰值计数和抗压强度随构造煤厚占比的增大而逐渐减小,其变化范围分别为3.24×10~4~1.99×10~4个和22.94~7.65 MPa,且试件的声发射峰值计数和抗压强度与构造煤厚占比之间的拟合曲线呈相似关系;组合体试件中构造煤体的破坏形式主要为张拉剪切复合型破坏并产生局部破碎,原生煤体的破坏形式主要为张拉破坏。随着构造煤占比的增加,加载过程中声发射最大事件数由1 862递减至1 379,组合体的破坏持续时间变长。随着构造煤厚占比的增加,相同轴压时的声发射事件数量越多,近似呈现等比增加关系。

多重构造区叠加影响下矿井冲击地压显现规律

为研究断层-褶曲双重构造影响下巷道应力分布规律及抗冲机制,以唐安煤矿为工程背景,通过FLAC^(3D)建立数值模型,分析了构造类型、断层倾角以及煤体强度对构造影响区应力的影响特征。模拟结果表明,断层-褶曲构造、F3断层倾角为65°、煤体弹性模量为2.6 GPa是引起应力集中发生冲击事件的重要因素。同时分析微震事件监测数据,划分高低能级事件,确定了巷道采掘及服役期间冲击发生原因,并给出了合理的抗冲措施。

Fission-track-age records of the Mesozoic tectonic-events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Based on the analysis of apatite and zircon fission track(FT),the FT age distribution and the peck-ages of the Mesozoic tectonic events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin(OB)were discussed.(1)The early event mainly occurred at 213-194 Ma with a peck-age of 205 Ma,and corresponded to the tectonic uplift and the mega-clastic deposit in the southwest OB during the Late Triassic.(2)The middle event included at least two episodes.One was at 165-141 Ma with a peck-age of 150 Ma,and the other was at 115-113 Ma with a peck-age of 114 Ma,corresponding to the over-thrusting and the mega-clastic deposits in the southwest OB during the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.(3)The late event mainly demonstrated the regional uplifting and included at least two episodes.One was at 100-81 Ma with a peck-age of 90 Ma,and the other was at 66-59 Ma with a peck-age of 63 Ma.Additionally,the relationship analysis of the tectonic event and the mineralizing chronology revealed that the extreme environment of the peck-age event and the subsequent moderate activity could be the key factors of the multiple resources coupling and coexistence in the OB.