Geological characteristics and tectonic signifcance of unconformities in Mesoproterozoic successions in the northern margin of the North China Block

Several stratigraphic breaks and unconformities exist in the Mesoproterozoic successions in the northern margin of the North China Block. Geologic characters and spatial distributions of five of these un- conformities, which have resulted from different geological processes, have been studied. The uncon- formity beneath the Dahongyu Formation is interpreted as a breakup unconformity, representing the time of transition from continental rift to passive continental margin. The unconformities beneath the Gaoyuzhuang and the Yangzhuang formations are considered to be the consequence of regional eustatic fluctuations, leading to the exposure of highlands in passive margins during low sea-level stands and transgressive deposition on coastal regions during high sea-level stands. The unconformity atop the Tieling Formation might be caused by uplift due to contractional deformation in a back-arc setting, whereas the uplift after the deposition of the Xiamaling Formation might be attributed to a continental collision event. It is assumed that the occurrences of these unconformities in the Mesoproterozoic successions in the northern margin of the North China Block had a close bearing on the assemblage and breakup of the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents.

The Type and Evolution of Neoproterozoic Sedimentary Basin in the Dahongshan Region,Northern Margin of the Yangtze Block:An Insight from Sedimentary Characteristics of the Huashan Group

Objective The Huashan group（composed of the lower Hongshansi Formation and the upper Liufangzui Formation）is an important Neoproterozoic stratigraphic unit along the northern margin of the Yangtze Block.Previous documents have focused on the geochronological and geochemical aspects of the Neoproterozoic sedimentary basin in the Dahongshan region.However.

New insights of the Cenozoic Rotational Deformation of Crustal Blocks on the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its Tectonic Implications

Objective The lateral extrusion of southeastern edge of the crustal materials around the Tibetan Plateau since the Oligocene is believed to be one of the main inducements of-1300 km latitudinal crustal convergence in the Tibetan Plateau, since the collision of India and Eurasia in the Paleogene. Two end-member models were used to describe the process of lateral extrusion of crustal material on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The ＂tectonic escape＂ model suggests the Indochina Block, Chuandian Fragment and Shan-Thai Block have experienced lateral extrusion along strike-slip fault systems, and the ＂crustal flow＂ model suggests that the upper crust has undergone southeastward escape in the form of ductile deformation, driven by viscous lower crustal flow channels. In addition, the GPS observations surrounding the Tibetan Plateau indicate that crustal materials currently experience clockwise rotation around the Eastern Himalaya syntaxis. This work conducted paleomagnetic studies in the Cretaceous and Paleogene red-beds along the southeastern margin of Tibetan Plateau,

Ca. 1.7 Ga Magmatism on Southwestern Margin of the Yangtze Block: Response to the Breakup of Columbia

This paper presents some data of the Jiaopingdu gabbro and Caiyuanzi granite at the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block,on the geochemical compositions,zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic data.The Jiaopingdu gabbro gives the age of 1721±5 Ma,the Caiyuanzi granite 1732±6 Ma and 1735±4 Ma,and the Wenjiacun porphyry granite 1713±4 Ma,suggesting nearly contemporaneous formation time of the gabbro and granite.The bimodal feature is demonstrated by the gabbro Si O2 content of 44.64-46.87 wt%and granite 73.81-77.03 wt%.In addition,the granite has high content of Si O2 and Na2 O+K2 O,low content of Al2 O3 and Ca O,enriched in REEs(except Eu)and Zr,Nb,Ga and Y,depleted in Sr,implying it belongs to A-type granite geochemistry and origin of within-plate environment.The zirconε(Hf)(t)of the granite and gabbro is at the range of 2-6,which is near the 2.0 Ga evolution line of the crust,implying the parent magma of the gabbro being derived from the depleted mantle and a small amount of crustal material,and the parent magma of the granite from partial melting of the juvenile crust and some ancient crustal material at the same time.Compared with 1.8-1.7 Ga magmatism during breakup of other cratons in the world,we can deduce that the Columbia has initially broken since ca.1.8 Ga,and some continental marginal or intra-continental rifts occurred at ca.1.73 Ga.

Aseismic negative dislocation model and deformation analysis of crustal horizontal movement during 1999--2001 in the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang block

Through numerical simulation for GPS data, aseismic negative dislocation model for crustal horizontal movement during 1999~2001 in the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang block is presented, combined with the spatial distribution of apparent strain field in this area, the characteristics of motion and deformation of active blocks and their boundary faults, together with the place and intensity of strain accumulation are analyzed. It is shown that: a) 9 active blocks appeared totally clockwise motion from eastward by north to eastward by south. Obvious sinistral strike-slip and NE-NEE relative compressive motion between the blocks separated by Qilianshan-Haiyuan fault zone was discovered; b) 20 fault segments (most of them showed compression) locked the relative motion between blocks to varying degrees, among the total, the mid-east segment of Qilianshan fault (containing the place where it meets Riyueshan-Lajishan fault) and the place where it meets Haiyuan fault and Zhuanglanghe fault, more favored accumulation of strain. Moreover, the region where Riyueshan-Lajishan fault meets north boundary of Qaidam block may have strain accumulation to some degree. c) Obtained magnitude of block velocities and locking of their boundaries were less than relevant results for observation in the period of 1993~1999.

Current tectonic deformation and seismogenic characteristics along the northeast margin of Qinghai -Xizang block

Based on the data from repeated precise leveling and across-fault deformation measurements carried out in recent 30 years and the analyzed results from GPS observations made in recent years along the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang block, and combined with the geological structures and seismic activities, some characteristics in regional tectonic deformation and strong earthquake development are studied and approached preliminarily. The results show that: a) The space-time distribution of current tectonic deformation in this area is inhomogeneous with relatively intensive tectonic deformation in the vicinity of main boundary faults and weak deformation in the farther areas. The intensity of vertical differential movement and the deformation status vary with time, and the horizontal movement and deformation are characterized by apparent compression and strike-slip. b) The tectonic stress field generated by the NE-trending continuous compressive movement of Qinghai-Xizang block due to the northward press and collision of India plate is the principal stress for the tectonic deformation and earthquake development in this area. The evolution of space-time distribution of tectonic deformation and seismicity is closely related to the block activity and dynamic evolution of regional tectonic stress field. c) The vertical deformation uplift and high-gradient deformation zones and the obvious fault deformation anomaly appeared along the boundaries of tectonic blocks can be considered as the indicators of hindered block motion and intensified tectonic stress field for strong earthquake development. Usually, the above-mentioned phenomena would be followed by the seismicity of M6.0, but the earthquake might not occur in the place with the maximum movement. The zones with the fault deformation anomaly characterized by tendencious accumulation acceleration turning and the surrounding areas might be the positions for accumulation of strain energy and development and occurrence of strong earthquakes.

The Present Space-Time Motion and Deformation Features of the Northeastern Margin of the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet) Block and Its Adjacent Area

On the basis of Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA), and considering the moderate intrusion of specific block boundaries to different extents, the first-order block motion model is established for the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet) block and the kinematical model for depicting deformation of small regions as well by using GPS observations of three periods (1991, 1999 and 2001). By simulating, we obtained the motion features of the first-order blocks between the large WWN faults on the sides of the studied region, the distribution features of the principal strain rate field and the inhomogeneous motion features with space-time of the faults in the northern boundary of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) block.

Study on the Anomaly of Small Earthquake Activity Before Moderate-strong Earthquake in the Northeast Margin of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Block

26 earthquakes with MS ≥5. 0 have been recorded in the northeast margin of the Qinghai- Xizang (Tibet) block since 1980,22 of which were relatively independent of other moderate- strong earthquakes. Research on the increase of small earthquake activity before the 22 moderate-strong earthquakes has indicated that small earthquake activity was enhanced before 17 of the moderate-strong earthquakes. Though the increased seismicity is a common phenomenon in the northeast margin of the Qinghai-Xizang ( Tibet ) block,we have difficulty in predicting the moderate-strong earthquakes by this phenomenon. In order to predict the moderate-strong earthquakes through the increased seismicity of small earthquakes,this paper attempts to propose a new method, which calculates small earthquake frequency through the change of distribution pattern of small earthquakes, based on the characteristics of small earthquake activity in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) block,and then make primary applications. The result shows that we are able to obtain obvious anomalies in the frequency of small earthquakes before moderate strong earthquakes through the new method,with little spatial range effect on the amplitude of this small earthquake frequency anomaly. We can obtain mid to short-term anomaly indices for moderate-strong earthquakes in the northeast margin of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) block.

Earthquake detection probabilities and completeness magnitude in the northern margin of the Ordos Block

The assessment of the completeness of earthquake catalogs is a prerequisite for studying the patterns of seismic activity.In traditional approaches,the minimum magnitude of completeness(MC)is employed to evaluate catalog completeness,with events below MC being discarded,leading to the underutilization of the data.Detection probability is a more detailed measure of the catalog's completeness than MC;its use results in better model compatibility with data in seismic activity modeling and allows for more comprehensive utilization of seismic observation data across temporal,spatial,and magnitude dimensions.Using the magnitude-rank method and Maximum Curvature(MAXC)methods,we analyzed temporal variations in earthquake catalog completeness,fi nding that MC stabilized after 2010,which closely coincides with improvements in monitoring capabilities and the densifi cation of seismic networks.Employing the probability-based magnitude of completeness(PMC)and entire magnitude range(EMR)methods,grounded in distinct foundational assumptions and computational principles,we analyzed the 2010-2023 earthquake catalog for the northern margin of the Ordos Block,aiming to assess the detection probability of earthquakes and the completeness of the earthquake catalog.The PMC method yielded the detection probability distribution for 76 stations in the distance-magnitude space.A scoring metric was designed based on station detection capabilities for small earthquakes in the near fi eld.From the detection probabilities of stations,we inferred detection probabilities of the network for diff erent magnitude ranges and mapped the spatial distribution of the probability-based completeness magnitude.In the EMR method,we employed a segmented model fi tted to the observed data to determine the detection probability and completeness magnitude for every grid point in the study region.We discussed the sample dependency and low-magnitude failure phenomena of the PMC method,noting the potential overestimation of detection probabilities for lower magnitudes and the underestimation of MC in areas with weaker monitoring capabilities.The results obtained via the two methods support these hypotheses.The assessment results indicate better monitoring capabilities on the eastern side of the study area but worse on the northwest side.The spatial distribution of network monitoring capabilities is uneven,correlating with the distribution of stations and showing signifi cant diff erences in detection capabilities among diff erent stations.The truncation eff ects of data and station selection aff ected the evaluation results at the edges of the study area.Overall,both methods yielded detailed descriptions of the earthquake catalog,but careful selection of calculation parameters or adjustments based on the strengths of diff erent methods is necessary to correct potential biases.

Zircon U/Pb dating and Hf-O isotopes of the Zhouan ultramafic intrusion in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block,SW China:Constraints on the nature of mantle source and timing of the supercontinent Rodinia breakup

The Zhouan ultramafic intrusion in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block is mainly composed of lherzolite. Zircon grains selected from lherzolite are irregular in shape with distinct oscillatory and sector zoning and have Th/U ratios ranging from 0.8 to 10.6, indicating a magmafic origin. The weighted average 206pb/238U age is 637±4 Ma （2σ, n=15）, which can be considered as the crystallization age of the Zhouan intrusion. Zircon grains have δ18O values ranging from 5.2‰to 7.0‰, with an averaged value of 5.8±0.4‰（1 or, n=33）, similar to the mantle δ18O value of zircon. Their 176Hf/177Hf（t） ratios range from 0.282410 to 0.282594 with εHf（t） values ranging from 1.3 to 7.6, lower than the corresponding value of the depleted mantle （~15）, indicating an enriched mantle source. The enriched mantle source may have generated from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle with subducted slab. A number of -635 Ma mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Suizao basin are associated with coeval bimodal volcanics of the Yaolinghe Formation, indicating a continental rift setting. The ~635 Ma magmafic event in this region may represent the product of the last breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block at Neoproterozoic.

U-Pb Zircon Age,Geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf Isotopic Compositions of Neoproterozoic Granitoids in Northwestern Margin of Yangtze Block (South China):Implications for Neoproterozoic Tectonic Evolution

ABSTRACT： The widespread Neoproterozoic magmatism along the Yangtze block carries critical in- formation for understanding the Neoproterozoic evolution of the Yangtze block. In the northwestern margin of the Yangtze block, the Hannan （汉南） intrusive complex includes the Wudumen （五堵门）, Erliba （二里坝） and Zushidian （祖师殿） granitoids. Using LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating method, the Wudumen and Erliba granitoids yielded magma crystallization ages of 785±4 and 778±3 Ma, respectively. Samples from these three granitoids show variable SiO2 contents ranging from 58.8% to 72.6%. They are characterized by enrichment of Al2O3（14.97%-17.87%）, Na2O（3.80%-5.33%） and Sr （504ppm-741 ppm）, and depletion of Y （〈19 ppm） and HREE （e.g., Yb〈1.6 ppm）, resulting in high Sr/Y （29-161） and （La/Yb）N （7.3-27.8） ratios. The geochemical features of the granitoids are comparable with those of adakite. The granitoids have zircon εHdt） values of ＋3.65 to ＋10.05, whole-rock εNd（t） values of -0.09 to ＋2.98 and whole-rock initial ^87Sr/^86Sr ratios of 0.7034-0.7039, indicating that their magma was derived from a juvenile crustal source. Together with geochemical and Hf-Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, it is suggested that the granitoids formed in island-arc setting and originated from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab. The results support a model that the Yangtze block was surrounded by ocean and arc magmatism in its northern and northwestern margins in Neoproterozoic.