Trace Element Geochemistry of Magnetite from the Fe(-Cu) Deposits in the Hami Region, Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt, NW China

Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry（LA–ICP–MS） was used to determine the trace element concentrations of magnetite from the Heifengshan, Shuangfengshan, and Shaquanzi Fe（–Cu） deposits in the Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt. The magnetite from these deposits typically contains detectable Mg, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn and Ga. The trace element contents in magnetite generally vary less than one order of magnitude. The subtle variations of trace element concentrations within a magnetite grain and between the magnetite grains in the same sample probably indicate local inhomogeneity of ore–forming fluids. The variations of Co in magnetite between samples are probably due to the mineral proportion of magnetite and pyrite. Factor analysis has discriminated three types of magnetite： Ni–Mn–V–Ti（Factor 1）, Mg–Al–Zn（Factor 2）, and Ga– Co（Factor 3） magnetite. Magnetite from the Heifengshan and Shuangfengshan Fe deposits has similar normalized trace element spider patterns and cannot be discriminated according to these factors. However, magnetite from the Shaquanzi Fe–Cu deposit has affinity to Factor 2 with lower Mg and Al but higher Zn concentrations, indicating that the ore–forming fluids responsible for the Fe–Cu deposit are different from those for Fe deposits. Chemical composition of magnetite indicates that magnetite from these Fe（–Cu） deposits was formed by hydrothermal processes rather than magmatic differentiation. The formation of these Fe（–Cu） deposits may be related to felsic magmatism.

Late Paleozoic Mantle Source Nature of Tianshan Orogen, Northwest China: Evidence from the Geochemistry, Zircon U-Pb Dating, Hf and Whole Rock Sr-Nd-Pb Isotopes of the Mafic Dykes

The Tianshan Orogen(TO)is one of the largest typical accretionary orogenic belts in the world.Of which,the late Paleozoic was a critical era to understand the tectonic and geodynamic transition from accretion to collision.However,the late Paleozoic tectonic evolutionary history,especially for the time of the ocean-continent transition,is still debated although the origin and tectonic settings for the Paleozoic volcanic,felsic igneous magmatism in TO and reginal geology have been done in the last decades.In contrast,the researches on the mafic dykes in TO was not systematically carried out till now.Reginal-scale mafic dykes are commonly regarded as the products created in a extensional setting,and used to identify the major tectonic events such as rifting and continental break-up and further trace the mantle natures and geodynamic mechanism(Halls,1982;Bleeker and Ernst,2006;Li et al.,2008;Ernst et al.,2010;Srivastava,2011;Hou,2012;Peng,2015;Peng et al.,2019).There are widespread late Paleozoic mafic dykes beside the huge of intermediate-acid igneous rocks in the TO,being an idea object to reveal the extensional events,tectonic evolution and the mantle nature and geodynamic processes.We present the ICPMS in situ zircon U–Pb dating,Lu-Hf and whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopes as well as the geochemistry data for these mafic dykes to better constraint their petrogenesis and mantle nature.New zircon U-Pb dating for 12 samples from the representative basic dykes and basalts yield three distinct stages of^332 Ma,316–302 Ma and 288–282 Ma,respectively.In which,the first stage of mafic dykes is mainly occurred in both East Tianshan Orogen(ETO)and West Tianshan Orogen(WTO),and composed of dolerite with minor basalts.The second stage of mafic dyke also can be found in both ETO and WTO.However,in contrast to the first stage of mafic dykes,they have relatively variable rock types from the dolerite/or gabbros to gabbroic diorite.The third stage of mafic dykes are slightly intermediate in composition,and chiefly consist of andesitic-basaltic dolerite with some diorites.They are widely developed not only in both ETO and WTO,but also in the Beishan area to the east of the ETO,indicating a large-scale mafic magmatism in Tianshan and adjacent areas.

Rhenium-Osmium Isotope Constraints on the Origin of the Tianyu Cu-Ni Deposit in the East Tianshan Orogenic Belt, Xinjiang, NW China

The Tianyu Cu-Ni sulfide deposit occurs in the north margin of the Central Tianshan Arc in East Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, NW China. The intrusions consist of gabbro, peridotite, and olivine pyroxenite. The peridotite and pyroxenite are the main host rock for the Cu-Ni ores. Rhenium and osmium isotopic analyses of Ni-and Cu-bearing sulfide minerals from the deposit have been used to determine the source of osmium, and by inference, the sources of ore metals. Sulfide ore samples have Os and Re concentrations varying in the ranges 1.85 to 4.58 ppb and 93.56 to 146.00 ppb, respectively. An initial ^(187)Os/^(188)Os ratio ranges from 0.86 to 1.23 for the ores and the γOs values from 592 to 2227. Osmium isotopic data suggest that the Tianyu intrusion and associated Cu-Ni mineralization has derived from crustal-contaminated mantle melts. The intrusions early show island-arc geochemical signatures, which indicate that the Hulu mafic–ultramafic intrusions, along with the Cu-Ni deposit, formed as a result of subduction of oceanic crust in the Early Permian.

Crust-mantle transitional zone of Tianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin and its geodynamic implication

The traveling time of the reflection waves of each shot point from the crust-mantle tran-sitional zone has been obtained by data processing using wavelet transform to the waves reflectedfrom the crust-mantle transitional zone. The crust-mantle transitional zone of the Xayar-Burjinggeoscience transect can be divided into three sections: the northern margin of the Tarim Basin, theTianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin. The crust-mantle transitional zone is composed mainlyof first-order discontinuity in the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin, but in the Tianshan orogenicbelt, it is composed of 7-8 thin layers which are 2-3 km in thickness and high and Iow alterna-tively in velocity, with a total thickness of about 20km. The discovery of the crust-mantle transi-tional zone of the Tianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin and their differences in tectonic fea-tures provide evidence for the creation of the geodynamic model “lithospheric subduction with in-trusion layers in crust” for the Tianshan orogenic belt.

Finite element simulation of deformation and stress changes of Kalpin-Kemin fault system in the Southwest Tianshan Orogenic Belt

Under the shadow of the far-field effect of the India-Eurasia collision,the Tianshan orogenic belt underwent tectonic re-activation in the Cenozoic,accompanied by strong tectonic deformation and frequent large earthquakes.Bounded by two rigid cratonic blocks located in its north and south,a series of marginal foreland fold-and-thrust belts are developed within the Tianshan orogenic belt and continue to develop to the bilateral pull-apart basins.Meanwhile,the faults in the orogenic belt are reactivated.The deformation caused by thrust-related structure accounts for larger than 50%of the total convergence of the Tianshan Mountains,which results in the most active structure with large earthquakes in the Tianshan area.Therefore,it is of great significance to study the dynamic process of the newly generated and reactivated thrust-nappe structures in Tianshan orogen via numerical modeling.This paper selects a classical cross-section profile in the western segment of the Southwest Tianshan Mountains,which contains the Kalpin-Maidan-Nalati-Kemin fault system from the south to the north.We attempt to establish a two-dimensional plane strain,viscoelastic finite element model,by treating the regional faults as a whole fault system and considering the topography,fault geometry,and GPS data.The displacement and stress fields of the model are retrieved,the short-term cumulative deformation field of the overall fault system is analyzed,and the rate of Coulomb failure stress change of each fault is also considered.The results show that the deformation is concentrated in the middle and southern parts of the Southwest Tianshan Mountains.In contrast,the deformation of the Kemin fault in the north is relatively small.According to the Coulomb failure stress changes of these four faults and the historical earthquake catalog,the potential seismicity of each fault is qualitatively analyzed.Our preliminary results suggest that the possibility of large earthquake occurrence is higher in the Kalpin fault,Maidan fault,and Nalati fault but lower in the Kemin fault in the near future。

Petrogenesis of the Carboniferous Intrusive Rock in the Xiaobaishitou District of East Tianshan,Northwest China:Magma Evolution and Tectonic Significance

The Xiaobaishitou gabbro-diorite pluton comprises a medium-grained gabbro-diorite suite and a fine-grained diorite suite,which intrude the Kawabulag Group in the East Tianshan Orogen of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB).A combination of mineral chemistry,zircon U-Pb age,whole-rock geochemistry,Sr-Nd isotopes,and in situ zircon Hf isotopes for newly found gabbro-diorite from the Xiaobaishitou district in the Central Tianshan Terrane(CTT)is presented to investigate the petrogenesis and tectonic or even crustal evolution of the East Tianshan Orogen.Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS)zircon U-Pb analyses indicate that the gabbro-diorite was formed at 324.7±2.4 Ma.The isolated clinopyroxene formed under higher P-T-fO_(2)melt conditions(10.7–14.6 kbar;1199–1269℃;high fO_(2))than those for the hornblende,plagioclase,and zircon(557–687℃;moderate fO_(2))in the gabbro-diorite,which reveals a multilevel,magmatic storage system.The gabbro-diorite is characterized by fractioned REE patterns,enriched LILEs(e.g.,Ba and Pb),negative anomalies of HFSEs(e.g.,Nb and Ta),and low La/Yb and Sr/Y ratios,which are typically indicative of crustal contamination and accounted for by subduction-related fluids.The rock also characterized by typical features of high compatible elements(MgO=3.14–11.65 wt%,Cr=1–157 ppm,Ni=6–830 ppm),high Mg^(#)(47–74),positiveε_(Hf)(t)values(+5.1 to+10.3)andε_(Nd)(t)values(+2.3 to+4.4).These features suggest that the Xiaobaishitou gabbro-diorite was most likely derived from metasomatic mantle and contaminated minor crustal components.Taking into account the spatial and temporal distribution of the Carboniferous magmatic rocks in the CTT,we suggest the formation of the Xiaobaishitou gabbro-diorite was attributed to southward subduction of the Kangguer Ocean.

Shear wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle underneath the Tianshan orogenic belt

From April, 2003 to September, 2004, a passive broadband seismic array consisting of 60 stations was deployed over the Tianshan orogenic belt by State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration. Among them, 51 stations make up an about 500-km-long profile across the Tianshan Mountains from Kuytun to Kuqa. The receiver function profile and S-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle down to 100 km deep are obtained by using the re-ceiver function method (Liu et al. 1996, 2000). The main results can be summarized as follows: (1) A clear mountain root does not exist beneath the Tianshan Mountains, and the crust-mantle boundaries underneath the stations mostly have transitional structures. This implies that the material differentia-tion between the crust and mantle is not yet accomplished and the orogenic process is still going on. (2) The crust beneath the Tianshan Mountains has laterally blocked structures in direction perpendicular to the mountain strike, and the crust-mantle boundary has a clear dislocation structure. Both of them correspond to each other. (3) The offsets of the Moho discontinuity are highly correlated to the tectonic borders on the surface and that corresponding to the frontal southern Tianshan fault reaches to 14 km. This manifests that large vertical divergent movement took place between different blocks. This sup-ports the discontinuous model of the Tianshan orogeny, and the Tarim block subduction is restricted only to the southern side of the South Tianshan. (4) Inside the upper and middle crust of the Tianshan Mountains exist several low-velocity bodies correlated with high seismicity located on the moun-tain-basin jointures on both sides of the mountain and between different blocks, and the low-velocity bodies on the mountain-basin jointures are inclined obviously to the mountain. This implies that the low-velocity bodies may be correlated closely to the thrust and subduction of the basins on both sides of the mountain, the splicing of adjacent blocks and the fast uplift of the Tianshan Mountains.

Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Implications of the Carboniferous Granitoids in the Dananhu Belt,Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt

This paper presents new LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronology,whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry,and Sr-Nd isotopes systematically on porphyritic granitic and K-feldspar granitic intrusions from the Dananhu belt,eastern Tianshan orogenic belt(ETOB).Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the porphyritic granitic and K-feldspar granitic plutons were formed at 357±3 and 311±3 Ma,respectively.The porphyritic granites show geochemical and isotopic characteristics(high Si O2,low Mg O and Mg^#,depleted Sr-Nd isotopic values(about 0.7034 and 6.13,respectively),with Nb/Ta(13.3–14.7)and Zr/Hf(31.0–33.9)ratios)similar to those of the crustal-derived magmas.The above characteristics suggest they were probably originated from juvenile lower crustal materials.The K-feldspar granites also have high Si O2,low Mg O and Mg^#,depleted Sr-Nd isotopic values(0.7033–0.7046 and 4.41–5.67,respectively).But some trace elements contents vary widely,with variable Nb/Ta(12.7–22.7),Zr/Hf(21.3–36.1)and Nb/La(0.38–1.07)ratios,indicating that the K-feldspar granites were formed by partial melting of juvenile lower crustal materials with old crustal materials.Combined with previous data on Carboniferous granitoids in the Dananhu belt,we infer that all the Carboniferous granitic plutons in the Dananhu belt were most likely emplaced in an island arc environment(Dananhu arc).Subsequently,a tectonic transition from oceanic subduction to post-collisional extension probably occurred in the ETOB.

A finite difference study on the basement structure beneath the Tianshan Orogen

We use the Pg seismic phase along the Korla-Jimsar profile across the Tianshan orogen and the 3D finite difference method to inverse the velocity structure of the upper crust beneath the basement of this mountain. Based on the velocity structure, the Korla-Jimsar profile can be divided into three parts, i.e. the north edge of the Tarim basin, the Tianshan orogen, and the south margin of the Junggar basin. Within the Tianshan there is a pattern of four convexities and three concavities, which correspond to the southern Tianshan, the Yanqi basin, the middle Tianshan, the Turpan basin, and the Bogda Mountains. In the north edge of the Tarim basin, the basement is about 10km deep with small lateral variations of velocity. In the Tianshan the velocity varies greatly laterally. The basement depth of the Yanqi basin is 6 km, which becomes shallow rapidly northward, and almost to the surface at the middle Tianshan. South to Kumux there is a small intermountain basin, where the maximum basement depth is 3 km, and also turns very shallow near Kumux. The Luntai fault, which bounds the Tarim basin and Tianshan, has vertical dislocation of about 5 km. The Turpan basin is covered with so thick a sediment that its basement is 7 km deep. The boundary fault between the Tianshan and Turpan is the Bolohoro fault which is characterized by quick deepening basement and 7 km vertical dislocation. In the Junggar basin the basement is 8 km deep. On the Korla-Jimsar profile, the velocity distribution of the upper crust and the structure are featured by NS symmetry on both sides of the axis of the Middle Tianshan, consistent with the deep structure revealed by this profile. It means that the Tarim ba-sin and the Junggar basin underthrust toward the Tianshan from south and north, respectively. Such a structural style is different from that of another profile, i.e. the Xayar-Burjing profile, sug-gesting that there may be an important tectonic boundary between these two profiles.

Wave coupling between the Tianshan orogen and the deformations in its south and north foreland basins in Cenozoic

Attention has been paid to the deformations in the south and north foreland basins of the Tianshan Mountains and their relations to the tectonic movements of the mountains. Based on the seismic data interpretation and field work,the tectonic features,tectonic styles,controlling factors of deformation,deformation time,and their relationships in the three tectonic units were comparably studied. The Ce-nozoic deformations in the two foreland basins were characterized by zonation from south to north,segmentation from west to east,and layering from deep to shallow. The tectonic styles are compres-sive ones,including both basement-involved and cover-detaching. The two foreland basins underwent several times of deformation in Cenozoic and the deformations were transmitted from the Tianshan orogen to the inner basin. The deformation dynamics of the south and north foreland basins of the Tianshan Mountains can be represented by dynamics of orogenic wedges. In terms of the deformations of the wedges with wave-like features,the concept of a wave orogenic wedge was put forward,and a double wave orogenic wedge model was established.

Geological Characteristics and Metallogenic Setting of Representative Magmatic Cu-Ni Deposits in the Tianshan-Xingmeng Orogenic Belt, Central Asia

A great number of magmatic Cu-Ni deposits(including Kalatongke in Xinjiang and Hongqiling in Jilin) are distributed over a distance of almost 3000 km across the Tianshan-Xingmeng Orogenic Belt, from Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang in the west, to Jilin in eastern China in the east. These deposits were formed during a range of magmatic episodes from the Devonian to the Triassic. Significant magmatic Cu-Ni-Co-PGE deposits were formed from the Devonian period in the Nalati arc(e.g. Jingbulake Cu-Ni in Xinjiang), Carboniferous period in the Puerjin-Ertai arc(e.g. Kalatongke Cu-Ni-Co-PGE in Xinjiang), Carboniferous period in the Dananhu-Touquan arc(e.g. Huangshandong, Xiangshan and Tulaergen in estern Tianshan, Xinjiang) to Triassic period in the Hulan arc(e.g. Hongqiling Cu-Ni in Jilin). In addition to the overall tectonic, geologic and distribution of magmatic Cu-Ni deposits in the Tianshan-Xingmeng Orogenic Belt, the metallogenic setting, deposit geology and mineralization characteristics of each deposit mentioned above are summarized in this paper. Geochronologic data of Cu-Ni deposits indicate that, from west to east, the metallogenic ages in the Tianshan-Xingmeng Orogenic Belt changed with time, namely, from the Late Caledonian(~440 Ma), through the Late Hercynian(300-265 Ma) to the Late Indosinian(225-200 Ma). Such variation could reflect a gradual scissor type closure of the paleo Asian ocean between the Siberia Craton and the North China Craton from west to east.

First Report of Zircon U-Pb Ages from Lubei Cu-Ni Sulfide Deposit in East Tianshan of Central Asian Orogenic Belt, NW China

Objective The East Tianshan mafic-ultramafic rocks belt mainly produced in the eastern Jueluotage belt is an important part of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt （CAOB）. The well- known deposits including Huangshan, Huangshandong, Tulaergen, Hulu, Xiangshan were have been consecutively discovered in this belt （Duan Xingxing et al., 2016）. The new discovery of the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in recent years, which locates in the west of Jueluotage belt, has great significance to the westward extension of the East Tianshan Cu-Ni metallogenic belt. To determine whether the mineralization age of the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit is consistent with other typical deposits, this study conducted zircon U-Pb geochronology on the diorite from the Lubei Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in order to provide new information for further exploring direction of Cu-Ni prospecting in East Tianshan.

Late Permian to Triassic intraplate orogeny of the southern Tianshan and adjacent regions, NW China

The South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions of Central Asia are located in the southwestern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The formation of South Tianshan Orogen was a diachronous, scissors-like process, which took place during the Palaeozoic, and its western segment was accepted as a site of the final collision between the Tarim Craton and the North Asian continent, which occurred in the late Palaeozoic. However, the post-collisional tectonic evolution of the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions remains debatable. Based on previous studies and recent geochronogical data, we suggest that the final collision between the Tarim Craton and the North Asian continent occurred during the late Carboniferous. Therefore, the Permian was a period of intracontinental environment in the southern Tianshan and adjacent regions. We propose that an earlier, small-scale intraplate orogenic stage occurred in late Permian to Triassic time, which was the first intraplate process in the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions. The later large- scale and well-known Neogene to Quaternary intraplate orogeny was induced by the collision between the India subcontinent and the Eurasian plate. The paper presents a new evolutionary model for the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions, which includes seven stages： （I） late Ordovician-early Silurian opening of the South Tianshan Ocean; （11） middle Silurian-middle Devonian subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean beneath an active margin of the North Asian continent; （111） late Devonian-late Carboniferous closure of the South Tianshan Ocean and collision between the Kazakhstan-Yili and Tarirn continental blocks; （IV） early Permian post-collisional magmatism and rifting; （V） late Permian-Triassic the first intraplate orogeny; （Vt） Jurassic-Palaeogene tectonic stagnation and （VII） Neocene-Quaternary intraplate orogeny.

塔里木盆地西北缘乌什西次凹的地层系统和构造特征

乌什西次凹位于塔里木盆地西北缘,隶属于库车坳陷的乌什凹陷。它位于南天山主山脉(哈尔克山)和塔里木盆地柯坪—温宿凸起之间。区域构造格局上,这里是塔里木克拉通向西北自然延伸的部分。次凹北缘的阿合奇断裂是南天山造山带和塔里木克拉通的分界。乌什西次凹内发育与柯坪—温宿凸起相似的晚前寒武纪—古生代地层系统,包括寒武系、奥陶系和石炭系的烃源岩。新近系—第四系碎屑岩建造直接不整合于变形的古生代被动大陆边缘碎屑岩—碳酸盐岩沉积建造之上;剖面上,向南天山方向加厚,向塔里木克拉通方向减薄,呈现典型的前陆盆地剖面结构特征。这是一个晚新生代陆内前陆盆地,叠加在晚海西期—燕山期古隆起之上。这里的构造变形主要有3期,分别是中海西期、晚海西期—印支期和晚喜山期。变形以厚皮冲断构造及其相关褶皱为主,薄皮构造不发育。平面上,主构造线走向NE-SW。剖面上,以南天山向塔里木冲断为主。

Sodium-rich volcanic rocks and their relationships with iron deposits in the Aqishan-Yamansu belt of Eastern Tianshan,NW China

The volcanic rocks hosting the iron deposits in the Aqishan–Yamansu metallogenic belt are sodium-rich.The geochronology,petrography,and geochemistry of minerals and sodium-rich rocks as well as the relationship between these rocks and the iron deposits are studied.Geochemically,the ore-hosting volcanic rocks are sodiumrich(the averages of Na2O and Na2O/K2O are 4.31 wt.%and 8.56,respectively)and belong to the calc-alkaline series.They are enriched in LREEs and LILEs(Ba,U,K,and Sr),but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti).SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of the crystal tuff in the Aqishan Formation and the dacite in the Tugutu Bulak Formation yields ages of 337.5
2.3 Ma(n?15,MSWD?0.85)and 313.0
3.3 Ma(n?13,MSWD?0.74),respectively,indicating that the sodium-rich volcanic rocks formed from the early–late Carboniferous.Electron microprobe data from plagioclases demonstrate that albites and/or oligoclases were formed in the basic–intermediate–acid volcanic rocks.Two stages of albitization are identified,and the latter is likely attributed to the dissolution of iron in the Aqishan–Yamansu belt.The sodium-rich volcanic rocks probably formed by the interaction between volcanic lava and seawater after volcanoes erupted on the seafloor;meanwhile,the albites formed by element substitution in a low-metamorphic environment.The spatiotemporal coupling relationship between sodium-rich volcanic rocks and iron deposits in the Aqishan–Yamansu belt is favorable.Iron dissolved from the dark minerals of basic–intermediate volcanic rocks through sodium metasomatism is one of the material sources for the iron deposits.

A Large-Scale Palaeozoic Dextral Ductile Strike-Slip Zone:the Aqqikkudug-Weiya Zone along the Northern Margin of the Central Tianshan Belt,Xinjiang,NW China

Abstract The nearly E-W-trending Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone, more than 1000 km long and about 30 km wide, is an important segment in the Central Asian tectonic framework. It is distributed along the northern margin of the Central Tianshan belt in Xinjiang, NW China and is composed of mylonitized Early Palaeozoic greywacke, volcanic rocks, ophiolitic blocks as a mélange complex, HP/LT-type bleuschist blocks and mylonitized Neoproterozoic schist, gneiss and orthogneiss. Nearly vertical mylonitic foliation and sub-horizontal stretching lineation define its strike-slip feature; various kinematic indicators, such as asymmetric folds, non-coaxial asymmetric macro- to micro-structures and C-axis fabrics of quartz grains of mylonites, suggest that it is a dextral strike-slip ductile shear zone oriented in a nearly E-W direction characterized by “flower” strusture with thrusting or extruding across the zone toward the two sides and upright folds with gently plunging hinges. The Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone experienced at least two stages of ductile shear tectonic evolution: Early Palaeozoic north vergent thrusting ductile shear and Late Carboniferous-Early Permian strike-slip deformation. The strike-slip ductile shear likely took place during Late Palaeozoic time, dated at 269±5 Ma by the40Ar/39Ar analysis on neo-muscovites. The strike-slip deformation was followed by the Hercynian violent S-type granitic magmatism. Geodynamical analysis suggests that the large-scale dextral strike-slip ductile shearing is likely the result of intracontinental adjustment deformation after the collision of the Siberian continental plate towards the northern margin of the Tarim continental plate during the Late Carboniferous. The Himalayan tectonism locally deformed the zone, marked by final uplift, brittle layer-slip and step-type thrust faults, transcurrent faults and E-W-elongated Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins.

Flysch Trace Fossils from the Hercynian and IndosinianOrogenic Belts of North western China andTheir Palaeoenvironmental Significance

Twenty-three ichnotaxa have been found in the Silurian and Carboniferous turbidites of the Tianshan orogenic belt and the Triassic turbidites of the East Kunlun-West Qinling orogenic belt of northwestern China. They are Acanthorhaphe isp., ?Arthrophycus isp., Aulichnites parkerensis, Chondrites isp., C. intricatus, C. targionii, Cochlichnus anguineus, coprolite, Dendrotichnium haentzscheli, Helminthopsis isp., Helminthopsis abeli, H. hieroglyphica, H. cf. irregularis, Imbrichnus isp., Kunlunichnus qinghaiensis, Laevicyclus rotaeformis, Lophoctenium tianshanensis, Megagrapton isp., Micatuba verso?, Muensteria isp., Neonereites, Palaeophycus, and Zoophycos caudagalli, two of which, namely, Kunlunichnus qinghaiensis and Lophoctenium tianshanensis, are new ichnospecies. The described trace fossils can be grouped into five ichno-assemblages: the Aulichnites-Imbrichnus ichno-assemblage representing turbidity current deposits of a restricted anoxic deep-sea basin, the Lophoctenium ichno-assemblage showing the deep-sea or ocean environments relevant to a plate subduction, the Zoophycos-Helminthopsis ichnoassemblage representing the upper-middle turbidity fan deposits of a pelagic and hemipelagic environment, the Megagrapton-Chondrites ichno-assemblage representing the middle-lower turbidity fan deposits of an oceanic archipelago and the Kunlunichnus ichno-assemblage indicating bathyal turbidity current deposits.

Zircon SHRIMP Dating for the Weiya Pluton, Eastern Tianshan: Its Geological Implications

The timing of the emplacement of the Weiya pluton remains controversial due to the absence of systematic and precise dating. This paper reports zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of different lithologic phases in the Weiya pluton, and discusses the genesis and tectonic environment. The ages of gabbro, quartz syenite, diorite porphyrite and fine-grained granite are 236±6 Ma, 246±6 Ma, 233±8 Ma and 237±8 Ma, respectively. All these phases were formed in early-middle Indosinian （Triassic） in a post-orogenic environment. In addition to underplating, intraplating of mantle-derived magmas is also a substantial mechanism for magma generation and vertical accretion of the continental crust. Granitoid rocks are important products of vertical continental accretion as underplating evolves gradually to intraplating. The existence of post-orogenic Indosinian granites shows that the middle Tianshan orogenic belt underwent an important tectonic conversion from the Paleo-Asian ocean subduction-collision system to the Paleo-Tethys ocean regime.

Geochronology and geochemistry of Late Carboniferous dykes in the Aqishan-Yamansu belt,eastern Tianshan:Evidence for a post-collisional slab breakoff

With aim of providing constraints on the Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),an integrated study was conducted on the geochronological and geochemical data for dioritic,granitic and diabase dykes from the Aqishan-Yamansu belt in the eastern Tianshan,NW China.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the dioritic and granitic dykes were both emplaced in the Late Carboniferous(~311 Ma and^315 Ma).The dioritic dykes show adakitic characteristics and have high Na2 O and positiveεHf(t)values(+12 to+17),which suggest an origin from partial melts of a subducted oceanic slab.The granitic dykes have high SiO2 and K2 O contents and are characterized by en riched light rare earth elements(LREE)and slightly flat heavy rare earth elements(HREE),with negative Eu and Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies.These dykes are alkali-calcic and show geochemical features of highly fractionated Itype granites.Their positiveεHf(t)values(+16 to+17)suggest that they were derived from a juvenile accreted oceanic crustal sou rce.The coeval diabase dykes have low SiO2 and K2 O contents but high TiO2,MgO and Mg#(54-59).They are enriched in LREE and show characteristics of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts(E-MORB).The relatively high Ba/Th,slightly low Th/Ta ratios,and negative Nb-Ta anomalies imply a mantle source metasomatised by slab-derived fluids.Thus,these basic dykes were generated likely by partial melting of the upwelling asthenosphere mantle with a slight influence of slab-derived fluids.Therefore,we suggest that the formation of these Late Carboniferous dykes were triggered by a post-collisional slab breakoff and the Aqishan-Yamansu belt was a continental arc formed by southdipping subduction of the Kangguer oceanic plate.

1-D P- and S-wave velocity models for the collision zone between the northern Tianshan mountain and the Junggar basin based on local earthquake data

We have developed crustal minimum I-D P- and S-wave velocity models of the collision zone between the northern Tianshan mountain and the Junggar basin （86°E-89°E, 43°N-44.5°N）. These two models were created through inversion of 1 370 P- and 1 396 S-wave travel times from 173 well-constrained local earthquakes recorded by the Uriimqi sparse local seismic network and temporary seismic arrays. In contrast to previous models, our results indicate relatively low velocity at both shallow （〈10 km） and deep （30-45 km） depths. The shallow zone is interpreted to be the result of thick surficial sedimentary deposits, whereas the deeper anomaly is interpreted to result from ductile shearing and lower crustal fow. Additionally, we detected several transition layers under the lower crust, which may imply structural complexity of the uppermost mantle in this region. The improved models reduce the RMS residual of earthquake locations by 41.7% from 1.2 to 0.5 seconds. The more accurately located hypocenters appear to correlate with prominent local over-thrusts, which underlie an anticlinal fold belt and several blind faults. Positive station corrections are observed near the Junggar basin, which likely reflects low wave velocity; negative corrections near the Tianshan mountain and Bogda mountain suggest high wave velocity.