The Influence of the Closure of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean on Southern South China:Evidences from Kinematics and^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Geochronology of the Rongxian Ductile Shear Zone in Southeastern Guangxi

The Triassic was a crucial period in the tectonic evolution of the South China Block.Research on tectonic deformation during this period provides information on intracontinental orogenic mechanisms in South China.In this study,alongside thermochronological analyses,we examine the macroscopic and microscopic structural features of the Rongxian ductile shear zone,located south of the Darongshan granite in the southeastern part of Guangxi Province,on the southern margin of South China.Sinistral shear is indicated by the characteristics of rotatedσ-type feldspar porphyroclasts,stretching lineations defined by elongated quartz grains and the orientations of quartz c-axes.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from two samples of granitic mylonite and one of granite yielded ages of ca.256 Ma.Furthermore,two samples of granitic mylonite yield muscovite^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar plateau ages of 249-246 Ma.These results indicate that the Rongxian ductile shear zone resulted from Early Triassic deformation of the late Permian Darongshan granite.This deformation was likely related to the closure of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent collision of the South China and Indochina blocks,during the early stage of the Indosinian orogeny.

Deformation characteristics of granitic rocks in Erguna ductile shear zone,NE China

The Erguna ductile shear zone is situated in the Erguna Massif,which has been exposed along the eastern bank of the Erguna River in northeastern China.The authors present comprehensive study results on the macro-and micro-structures,finite strain and kinematic vorticity,quartz electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)fabrics,and geochronology of granitic rocks in the Erguna ductile shear zone.The deformed granitic rocks have experienced significant SE-trending dextral strike-slip shearing.Finite strain and kinematic vorticity in all deformed granitic rocks indicate that the deformation is characterized by simple sheardominated general shearing with S-L tectonites.Mineral deformation behaviors and quartz C-axis textures demonstrate that the deformed granitic rocks developed under greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions at deformation temperatures ranging from 450 to 550℃.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages indicate that these granitic rocks were formed in Early Triassic(~248.6 Ma)and Early Cretaceous(~136.7 Ma).All the evidence indicates that this deformation may have occurred in Early Cretaceous and was related to the compression resulting from the final closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.

The Early Mesozoic NE-SW Extensional Model and Exhumation Processes at the Southeastern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Insights from the Strain and Kinematic Vorticity Analysis of the Sonid Zuoqi Ductile Detachment Zone

The Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is located at the southeastern margin of the Central Asian orogenic belt(CAOB),striking EW and dipping to the S.The major rock type of the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is mylonite derived from granite.The sequence of mylonite features is:(1)S and C foliations of mylonite,and(2)extensional crenulation cleavage(ecc)or C′and the kinematic vorticity(Wk)value changed from 0.70 to 0.95 and from 0.37 to 0.69,respectively;the strain type of the mylonites within the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is compressional to planar strain.The strong deformation mylonite and Halatu plutons yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 244 Ma and a zircon(U-Th)/He age of 214 Ma,respectively.Based on the strain and kinematic vorticity analysis,together with the zircon U-Pb and zircon(U-Th)/He ages and the regional tectonic background,the study area experienced three stage evolution:tangential simpleshear(244 Ma),simple-shear-dominated general shear represented by upper crustal extension(224 Ma)and pure-shear-dominated general shear represented by the Halatu pluton doming(214 Ma),which constrained the early Mesozoic NE-SW crustal extension at the southeastern margin of the CAOB.This NE-SW extension probably originated from the postorogenic extensional collapse of the CAOB,subsequent exhumation being controlled by the far afield effects of the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt.

Understanding ductile-to-brittle transition of metallic glasses from shear transformation zone dilatation

A theoretical model that takes into account the flee-volume aided cooperative shearing of shear transformation zones （STZs） is developed to quantitatively understand the ductile-to-brittle transition （DBT） of metallic glasses. The STZ dilatational strain is defined as the ratio of STZ-activated free volume to STZ volume itself. The model demonstrates that the STZ dilatational strain will increase drastically and exceed the characteristic shear strain of STZ as temperature decreases below a critical value. This critical temperature is in good agreement with the experimentally measured DBT temperature. Our results suggest that the DBT of metallic glasses is underpinned by the transition of atomic-cluster motions from STZ-tvpe rearrangements to dilatational processes （termed tension transformation zones （TrZs））.

A Large Ductile Sinistral Strike-Slip Shear Zone and Its Movement Timing in the South Qilian Mountains, Western China

There is a large ductile shear zone, 2 km wide and more than 350 km long, inthe South Qilian Mountains, western China. It is composed of volcanic, granitic and calcareousmylonites. The microstructures of the ductile shear zone show nearly E-W extending subverticalfoliation, horizontal and oblique stretching lineations, shearing sense from sinistral to obliquesinistral strike-slip from east to west, 'A' type folds and abundant granitic veins. Measuredlattice preferred orientations (LPOs) of the mylonitic and recrystallized quartz of the graniticmylonite in the west segment suggest a strong LPO characterized by the dominant slip systems (1010) formed at high temperature (>650 deg C). K-feldspar of the mylonite shows an ^(39)Ar/^(40)Arhigh-temperature plateau age of 243.3 +- 1.3 Ma, and biotite, 250.5 +- 0.5 Ma, which represent theformation age of the ductile shear zone. The ^(39)Ar/^(40)Ar plateau ages of 169.7 +- 0.3 Ma and160.6 +- 0.1 Ma and the ^(39)Ar/^(40)Ar isochron ages of 166.99 +- 2.37 Ma and 160.6 +- 0.1 Ma ofbiotites in the mylonite represent the subsequent deformation age. These ages indicate that thisductile shear zone is similar to the Altun and South Kunlun sinistral ductile shear zones in itsages of movement, formation, reactivation and duration.

Analysis of the Ore-Controlling Structure of Ductile Shear Zone Type Gold Deposit in Southern Beishan Area, Gansu, Northwest China

The ductile shear zone-type gold deposit is a kind that both the ore-forming mechanism and ore-controlling factors are closely related to the ductile shear zone and its evolution. Ductile shear zone develops in Beishan area, Gansu of Northwest China, and develops especially well in the south belt. The controls of the ductile shear zone on gold deposits are as follows. （1） The regional distribution of gold deposits （and gold spots） is controlled by the ductile shear zone. （2） The ductile-brittle shear zone is formed in the evolution process of ductile shear zone and both are only ore-bearing structures and control the shape, attitude, scale, and distribution of mineralization zones and ore-bodies. （3） Compresso-shear ductile deformation results in that the main kind of gold mineralization is altered mylonite type and the main alteralization is metasomatic. （4） Ore-bearing fracture systems are mainly P-type ones, some D-type and R-type ones, but only individual R＇-type and T-type ones. （5） Dynamic differen- tiation and dynamic metamorphic hydrothermal solution resulting from ductile deformation is one of the sources of ore-forming fluid of gold mineralization, and this is identical with that ore-forming materials are mainly from metamorphic rocks, and ore-forming fluid is mainly composed of metamorphic water, and with the fluid inclusion and geo-chemical characteristics of the deposit. （6） There is a negative correlation between the gold abundance and susceptibility anlsotropy （P） of the altered mylonlte samples from the deposit, which shows that the gold mineralization is slightly later than the structural deformation. All above further expound the ore-forming model of the ductile shear zone type of gold deposits.

Transportation of REE in the Ductile Shear Zone in Hetai Gold Deposit, Guangdong Province

The REE transportation in two sorts of mylonites of ductile shear zone, in Hetai gold deposit, Guangdong province was studied. The results show that there is REE compositional variation regularly in the ductile shear zone. When mica-quartz schist and migmatite are changing into mylonites or ultramylonites, i.e., along with intensifying deformation, the contents of each rare earth element and the total contents of the LREE, HREE and REE increase or decrease regularly, but the REE patterns of the rock are accordant. The isocon diagram of the tectonic rocks before and after deformation shows that the REE compositional variation of the mylonites or ultramylonites are very small, but there is a few REE moving in or out in the rock deformation. The reason of the REE compositional variation is that there are volume change and fluid flow in the rock deformation, and it leads to the LREE relative enrichment and HREE relative loss.

Sequence of Ductile Shear Zones in UHP Metamorphic Province with in Dabie Massif,China

Structural studies in the Dabie massif show that distribution of strain is extremely heterogeneous and illustrates the pattern of deformation partitioning in the ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphic province on all scales. Based on the field structural analysis along with microstructural observation, at least five widespread episodes of ductile shear zone systems are identified by using geometric, kinematic and rheological indicators and they constitute a shear zone sequence in the UHP metamorphic province within the Dabie massif (DM), China. Each shear zone system, for example, the UHP eclogite facies shear zone system in the sequence, exhibits its own features including geometric styles, mineral assemblages, metamorphic pt conditions and deformation regimes during the formation of such shear zone system. Detailed macro and micro scopical features of different episodes of the shear zones are given with respect to mechanism of strain localization and deformation partitioning. The tectonic significance during the creation and exhumation of the UHP metamorphic rocks is evaluated briefly, as well. It is argued that the ductile shear zones in the UHP metamorphic province play an important role in the Dabie mountain building geodynamic process.

Timing of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze and Cathysian Convergence： Constraint from U-Pb Geochronology of Hydrothermal Zircons from Mafic Mylonite within the Shoucheng-Piaoli Ductile Shear Zone, Northern Guangxi

Objective The northern Guangxi region is in the southwestern part of the Southern China continent,which is located at the junction of the southwest section of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze block and Cathaysian block.A series of NNE-trending ductile shear zones are developed in this region,and these ductile shear zones are mostly previously suggested boundary faults of the Early Paleozoic Yangtze block and Cathaysian block,such as the Shoucheng–Piaoli ductile shear zone in Northern Guangxi （Meng Yuanku et al., 2016; Zhang Xuefeng et al., 2015）.

Characteristics of Compositional Migration in Mylonites from the Ductile Shear Zones of the Southern Tancheng-Lujiang Fault Belt, Eastern Anhui Province

On the basis of field geology, three typical ductile shear zones in the southern part of the Tancheng-Lujiang fault belt have been chosen for a detailed study. Altogether ten samples of the tectonites have been collected for this study. The paper is focused on a comprehensive study of the tectonites in the medium-lower horizons of the ductile shear zones. The mineral compositions of the rocks are analyzed with EPMA and some typical whole-rock samples analyzed by chemical and ICP methods. Based on the comprehensive study of the characteristics of the deformation, the mineral assemblages and the changes of chemical composition of the bulk rocks, this paper presents a discussion on the relationship between the volume loss, the fluid flow and compositional changes during mylonitization of the ductile shear zones in this region. Our study shows that there are a large amount of fluids flowing through the shear zones during the process of mylonization, accompanied by the loss of rock volume and migration of elements and components. Modelling calculation results under different saturation conditions of fluids show that the maximum volume loss of the tectonites is about 60% relative to their protolith, while the fluid/rock ratio ranges from 10 to 103 in different ductile shear zones.

The aggregation characteristics and formation mechanism of nanoparticles in ductile shear zone

1 Introduction Nanoparticles are widely found in the ductile shear zone and it is considered to have a close relation with faulting.The sizes of these nanoparticles are generallyless than 100 nm.They have a variety of morphologies like globular structure rod-like and tubular,by the order aggregating of these nanoparticles various aggregations

CRACK TIP STRUCTURE AND DUCTILE-BRITTLE TRANSITION IN BULK SINGLE CRYSTALS

Based on the crack tip structure a new model of ductile -brittle transition was proposed. Using this new model we calculated the dependence of the transition temperature-strain rate over a wide range of strain rate. Finally the significance of this new model is discussed in detail.

Study on the Physical and Chemical Conditionsof Ore Formation of Hetai Ductile Shear Zone-Hosted Gold Deposit and Discovery of Melt Inclusions

The Hetai ductile shear zone-hosted gold deposit occurs in the deep-seated fault mylonite zone of the Sinian-Silurian metamorphic rock series. In this study there have been discovered melt inclusions, fluid-melt inclusions and organic inclusions in ore-bearing quartz veins of the ore deposit and mylonite for the first time. The homogenization temperatures of the various types of inclusions are 160℃, 180-350℃, 530℃ and 870℃ for organic inclusions, liquid inclusions, two-phase immiscible liquid inclusions and melt inclusions, respectively. Ore fluid is categorized as the neutral to basic K\++-Ca\+\{2+\}-Mg\+\{2+\}-Na\++-SO\+\{2-\}\-4-HCO\+-\-3-Cl\+- system. The contents of trace gases follow a descending order of H\-2O>CO\-2>CH\-4> (or <) H\-2>CO>C\-2H\-2>C\-2H\-6>O\-2>N\-2. The concentrations of K\++, Ca\+\{2+\}, SO\+\{2-\}\-4, HCO\+-\-3, Cl\+-, H\-2O and C\-2H\-2 in fluid inclusions are related to the contents of gold and the Au/Ag ratios in ores from different levels of the gold deposit.This is significant for deep ore prospecting in the region. Daughter minerals in melt inclusions were analyzed using SEM. Quartz, orthoclase, wollastonite and other silicate minerals were identified. They were formed in different mineral assemblages. This analysis further proves the existence of melt inclusions in ore veins. Sedimentary metamorphic rocks could form silicate melts during metamorphic anatexis and dynamic metamorphism, which possess melt-solution characteristics. Ore formation is related to the multi-stage forming process of silicate melt and fluid.

Petrological Study on the Ductile Shear Zones in the Core of the Eastern Qinling Orogenic Belt in Western Henan

A series of ductile shear zones of the overthrust and strike-slip-types and related ductile shear metamorphicrocks, including tectonic melange and mylonites. were formed in the core of the Qinling orogenic belt in thecourse of the Caledonian-Indosinian ductilc and brittle-ductile reworking. The study on their petrography. va-riations in composition and conditions of formation is conducive to revealing the metamorphism-deformationhistory of the core of the Qinling orogenic belt and further to understanding the dynamic mechanism of its evo-lution.

Introduction of Simulating the Motion of Rigid Ellipsoidal Objects in Ductile Shear Zone Based on the Jeffery's Theory

Rigid ellipsoidal objects(gravels and porphyroclasts)in ductile zone is an important factor to indicate the kinematics and dynamics.Jeffery’s theory(Jeffery G,1922),a quantitative research method,for the rotation ofthe rigid objects(no deformation)in the Newtonian fluid of the simple deformation field has been widely applied by geologists to the study of fabrics in rocks.The theory

Microcosmic analysis of ductile shearing zones of coal seams of brittle deformation domain in superficial lithosphere

The ductile shearing zones of coal seams in a brittle deformation domain in super-ficial lithosphere are put forward based on the study on bedding shearing and ductile rheology of coal seams. The macrocosmic and microcosmic characteristics include wrinkle fold, mymonitized zones and ductile planar structure of coal seams, etc., while the microcosmic characteristics may also include different optic-axis fabrics and the anisotropy of vitrinite reflectance as well as the change of chemical structure and organic geochemistry components. The forming mechanism is analyzed and the strain environment of ductile shearing zones of coal seams discussed. The result indicates that, in the superficial brittle deformation domain, the coal seams are easy to be deformed, resulting in not only brittle deformation but also ductile shearing deformation under the action of force. Because of simple shearing stress, the interlayer gliding or ductile rheology may take place between coal seams and wall rocks. Therefore, many ductile shearing zones come into being in superficial lithosphere (<5 km). The research on ductile shearing zone of brittle de-formation domain in superficial lithosphere is significant not only theoretically for the study of ductile shearing and ductile rheology of the lithosphere but also practically for the structural movement of coal seams, the formation and accumulation of coal-bed methane, and the preven-tion and harness of gas burst in coal mine.

New Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Post-kinematic Granitic Plutons in the Diancang Shan Metamorphic Massif along the Ailao Shan-Red River Shear Zone and Its Geological Implications

The Ailao Shan-Red River fault zone is the boundary between the Yangtze block to the northeast and the Indochina block to the southwest.It is an important tectonic zone due to its role in the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina block during and subsequent to the Indian-Eurasian collision.Diancang Shan（DCS） high-grade metamorphic complex,located at the northwest extension along the Ailao Shan-Red River（ASRR） shear zone,is a representative metamorphic complex of the ASRR tectonic belt.Structural and microstructural analysis of sheared rocks in the high-grade metamorphic rocks reveals that they are coherent with solid-state high-temperature ductile deformation,which is attributed to left-lateral shearing along the ASRR shear zone.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb geochronological and microstructural studies of the post-kinematic granitic plutons provide a straightforward time constraint on the termination ductile left-lateral shearing and exhumation of the metamorphic massif in the ASRR shear zone.It is suggested that the left-lateral shearing along the ASRR shear zone ended at ca.21 Ma at relative lower-temperature or decreasing temperature conditions.During or after the emplacement of the young dikes at ca.21 Ma,rapid brittle deformation event occurred,which makes the DCS massif start fast uplift/exhumation and cooling to a shallow crustal level.

Multi-Layered Low-Angle Ductile Detachment System in Dabie-Sulu UHPM and HPM Belts, China

The present-day observed crustal-scale tectonic style of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UH-PM) and high-pressure metamorphic (HPM ) belts in the Dabie-Sulu region was dominantly formedby extensional processes, postdating the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. The extensional structures overprinting the previous structures related to contraction that produced the thickened continental crust of the UHPM and HPM belts, in particular display the typical features of a Cordilleran-type metamorphic core complex, in which at least four regionalscale, low-angle ductile shear zones that constitute a detachment system, are recognized in the Dabie region. In the Sulu region, the extensionaI structures show in the form of small-scale domes or a regional-scale SE-dipping pseudo-monocline. The geometry and the kinematics of tbe detachment zones are briefly described and their significance for the exhumation of UHPM and HPM rocks is discussed. It is iniliated that the subhorizontal crustal-scale extensional flow in the middle-lower crust, under amphibolite- to greenschist-facies conditions, was an important tectonothermal process at 200- 170 Ma and the exhumation or the UHPM and HPM rocks was achieved at least in part along multi-layered detachment zones. The regional detachment system has been the main factor enabling UHPM and HPM rocks to be brought from middle-lower crustal levels to middle-upper crustal levels.

Structural Relationship between Brittle Deformation and Paleozoic to Mesozoic Basalt Dykes in the Precambrian Basement of the Southern Continental Part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

The work is a vivid description of the structural relationship between brittle deformation of the Precambrian basement in the southern continental part of the Cameroon Line and intrusive Paleozoic and Mesozoic basalt dykes swarms. A multidisciplinary approach that involves a combination of remote sensing techniques and field studies show that the major trend of brittle structures correspond to well-known regional structures: N70°E (Adamawa Shear Zone), N135°E (upper Benue trend) and N30°E (Cameroon Volcanic Line) corresponding to E-W and N-S directions respectively. Basalt dykes are associated to NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE oriented fractures. An integration of the available information on brittle structures and basalt dykes directions suggest an emplacement of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic basalt dykes structurally controlled by Precambrian structures that were originated through Riedel’s fracture kinematic model with dextral strike-slip Adamawa Shear Zone as the main shear zone during late stage of the Pan-African collision. Spatially, the restriction of the basalt dykes to the corridor of the Adamawa Shear Zone indicate that a rejuvenation of Precambrian faults may very well be the origin of the dykes with possibility that they may have been reworked several times during the Phanerozoic eon.

Strain Localized Deformation Variation of a Small-Scale Ductile Shear Zone

A continental-scale strike-slip shear zone frequently presents a long-lasting deformation and physical expression of strain localization in a middle to lower crustal level.However,the deformation evolution of strain localization at a small-scale remains unclear.This study investigated<10 cm wide shear zones developing in undeformed granodiorites exposed at the boundary of the continental-scale Gaoligong strike-slip shear zone.The small-scale ductile shear zones exhibit a typical transition from protomylonite,mylonite to extremely deformed ultramylonite,and decreasing mineral size from coarse-grained aggregates to extremely fine-grained mixed phases.Shearing sense indicators such as hornblende and feldspar porphyroclasts in the shear zone are the more significantly low-strain zone of mylonite.The microstructure and EBSD results revealed that the small-scale shear zone experienced ductile deformation under medium-high temperature conditions.Quartz aggregates suggested a consistent temperature with an irregular feature,exhibiting a dominated high-temperature prism <a> slip system.Additionally,coarse-grained aggregates in the mylonite of the shear zone were deformed predominantly by dislocation creep,while ultra-plastic flow by viscous grain boundary sliding was an essential deformation process in the extremely fine-grained(~50μm)mixed-phases in the ultramylonite.Microstructural-derived strain rates calculated from quartz paleopiezometry were on the order of 10^(-15) to 10^(-13) s^(-1)from low-strain mylonite to high strained ultramylonite.The localization and strain ratelimited process was fluid-assisted precipitation presenting transitions of compositions as hydrous retrogression of hornblende to mica during increasing deformation and exhumation.Furthermore,the potential occurrence of the small-scale shear zone was initiated at a middle-deep crust seated crustal condition dominated by the temperature-controlled formation and rheological weakening.