P-Wave Velocity in Rocks of Dabieshan, China at High Pressure and High Temperature: Constraints for Composition of Lower Crust and Crust-Mantle Recycling

P-wave velocities in the rocks of Dabieshan, central China were measured at pressures up to 5.0 GPa and temperatures up to 1 300℃. The ultrahigh pressure eclogites have the highest density and P-wave velocity (Vp) and lower anisotropy. Pressure derivatives of the eclogites range from 0. 22 to 0. 33 km. s-1 GPa-1. Average temperature derivative of the eclogites is - 3. 41×10-4 km. s-1. °C -1. The density and VP of the eclogites imply that there will be two united possibilities related to crust-mantle recycling after the eclogite formed in the deep lithosphere. One is that some eclogites in the deep lithosphere were detached and sunk into deeper mantle due to their denser density. Another is that some eclogites returned to the crust and exposed to the surface.Small amounts (<12%) of eclogites may be still exist in the deep crust beneath Dabieshan based on our calculation.

Lower crustal attenuation in northeastern Tibetan Plateau from ML amplitude

This study investigated the crustal attenuation structures of Sg and Lg waves of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.We collected ML amplitude data recorded at 168 permanent stations between 1985 and 2016 and 11 temporary broadband stations between 2014 and 2016.Detailed Q0 variation maps of Sg and Lg waves were obtained by applying ML amplitude tomography.The average Q0 values of the Sg and Lg wave were 440 and 220,respectively.Relatively high attenuation anomalies of both waves appeared in the central and eastern regions of the Bayan Har Block and the east edge of the Qiangtang Block,which may be related to partial melting,high geotemperature,and strong tectonic processes.High attenuation anomalies were also found in the Qilian Orogenic Belt and Hetao Graben,which may be related to their active tectonic behavior and densely distributed faults.The relatively low attenuation anomalies of both waves were revealed in the Alax and Ordos blocks,Qaidam,Tarim,Qinghai Lake,and Gonghe basins,which can be explained by the tectonically stable properties and ancient composition of geological elements.These results indicate that the path between the highly attenuated lower crust of the Bayan Har Block and the Qilian Orogenic Belt is obstructed by three adjacent low attenuated areas(i.e.,the Qilian,Qinghai Lake,and Gonghe basins);thus,it appears unlikely that a crustal flow channel from the interior of the Tibetan Plateau to the Qilian Orogenic Belt will form.

Hydrous Juvenile Lower Crust at the Western Yangtze Craton Margin as the Main Source of the Beiya Porphyry-skarn Au Deposit

The Beiya porphyry-skarn Au deposit is one of the largest gold deposits in China,temporally and spatially associated with Eocene intrusions in a post-collisional setting in western Yunnan,China.In this study,we report new whole-rock geochemistry,Sr-Nd isotope,zircon U-Pb geochronology and in situ zircon Hf-O isotopes of quartz-monzonite and biotite-monzonite porphyries from the Beiya deposit.The porphyry-skarn mineralization at the Beiya deposit is mainly associated with the quartz monzonite porphyry(35.8±0.6 Ma),while the biotite-monzonite porphyry(34.3±0.5 Ma)represents a post-mineralization intrusion crosscutting the main orebodies and the quartz-monzonite porphyry.Both intrusions have high-K and adakitic composition and are characterized by high Sr/Y ratios,high SiO_(2)and Al_(2)O_(3)concentrations(SiO_(2)=69.80-73.86 wt%;Al_(2)O_(3)=14.11-15.19 wt%),and low MgO,Cr,and Ni concentrations(MgO=0.2-1.0 wt%;Cr=1.76-11.13 ppm;Ni=2.52-11.72 ppm).Their Sr-Nd isotope compositions(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7066-0.7077;εNd(t)=−5.3 to−1.5)are consistent with the lower crustal-derived amphibolite xenoliths(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7060-0.7100;εNd(t)=−10.0 to 0.0),indicating that they might be derived from a thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton.The biotite-monzonite porphyry has lower zirconδ^(18)O values of+5.3‰to+6.8‰and higherεHf(t)values of−2.3 to+5.5 than those of the quartz-monzonite porphyry withδ^(18)O values of+7.1‰to+8.2‰andεHf(t)values of−3.8 to+1.5,implying that they were derived from different parts of the lower crust.High Ba/La and Pb/Ce ratios suggest that the quartz-monzonite porphyry is derived from a volatiles-rich reservoir.Relatively higher La/Yb,Sm/Yb and Dy/Yb ratios of the biotite-monzonite porphyry indicate residual garnet in the source,indicating a deeper source than that of the quartz-monzonite porphyry.The hydrous components should be represented by the amphibole-rich lithologies,which has relatively shallower depth than that of the garnet-bearing mafic thickened lower crust.Our data suggest that the mineralized quartz-monzonite porphyry at the Beiya deposit is derived from partial melting of amphibole-rich lithologies in the upper part of the thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton,while the post-mineralization biotite-monzonite porphyry is derived from the basal,and volatiles-poor,part of the juvenile lower crust.

Exposed Cross-section of the Archaean Lower Crustin the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia Border Region:Problems and Prospects

The Archaean lower crust represented by granulite facies rocks, which is rare in China, is found to be exposed in the Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia border region. Studies of the regional structure and deformation and metamorphism of the region indicate that there occurred at least two phases of deformation and metamorphism in the region. Early-phase nearly E-W-directed deformational structure is well preserved in the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua area. Observations of the features of the geological structure from north to south (in the Hengshan metamorphic terrain) have revealed a possible exposed cross-section through the Archaean lower crust. The structure was superimposed by a NE-SW-trending high-temperature ductile shear zone in the Datong area in the late phase, thus reworking the Archaean sequence.

The role of fluids in the lower crust and upper mantle:A tribute to Jacques Touret

This special issue of Geoscience Frontiers is a tribute volume honoring the life and career of Jacques Touret. A set of research papers has been assembled, which broadly reflect his research interests over his 50 plus year career. These papers Focus on the role that fluids play during the Formation and evolution of the Earth＇s crust. Below I provide a brief summary of the life of Jacques Touret, along with a select bibliography of his more important papers. This is then followed by a brief introduction to the papers assembled for this special issue.

GEOCHEMISTRY OF EARLY CRETACEOUS TRACHYTES OF DONGLINGTAI FORMATION FROM THE XISHAN AREA, BEIJING: CONSTRAINTS ON MELTING OF LOWER MAFIC CRUST

The early Cretaceous trachytes of Donglingtai Formation in Xishan, Beijing are characterized by slight Eu negative anomaly and significant enrichment in LREE, LILE (Ba, K and Sr) and depletion of Nb-Ta-Ti, Th-U. These trachytes have been highly enriched by Sr and Nd isotopic signatures (87Sr/86Sr(t)= 0.70638～ 0.70672, εNd(t) = -16.3～ -15.7), overlapping Sr-Nd isotopic range of late Mesozoic mafic igneous rocks in the region. Taking into account Nb-Ta fractionation and high Zr/Sm ratio for these trachytes, we consider that the trachytes of Donglingtai Formation are derived from the garnet-bearing amphibolite in the lower crust composed of garnet + plagioclase ± amphibole ± pyroxene residual phases. On the basis of the melting experimental results of crustal materials and regional extensional tectonics during late Mesozoic, it is concluded that the thermal input from underplating basaltic melt results in the partial melting of lower continental crust to generate the trachytes of Donglingtai Formation. And the characteristics of high Sr and Ba for these trachytes suggest that part of underplating basalts should take a share in partial melting at least.

大陆下地壳

大陆下地壳是连接岩石圈地幔和上地壳的“纽带”,是地壳与地幔交换最活跃的部位。上地幔与下地壳的部分熔融及下地壳一些岩石的拆沉还可直接导致壳-幔物质的交换、循环与重组。换言之,下地壳是壳-幔作用的一个极其重要的场所,底垫、拆沉、深熔、高级变质和其他作用都在下地壳中发生和实现。然而,下地壳是以往研究地球深部和浅部关系时被“跳”过去的部位,没有得到足够的重视。克拉通化定义为大陆原来混沌的原地壳分异并形成稳定的上地壳和下地壳,并由此构建了稳定的壳-幔结构,这种空前的稳定关系从形成起一直维持到现在,是大陆演化、洋-陆与壳-幔相互作用的基础。在板块边界的造山过程中,如洋-陆的俯冲碰撞特别是陆-陆碰撞,可以形成不同大陆地块的陆壳叠置、加厚、垮塌、拆沉、底垫和重新稳定,在造山带根部形成新的下地壳,即造山带型下地壳。本文重点讨论了克拉通型下地壳演化过程,强调了其动力学意义及其在大陆动力学研究中的重要地位,建议在深地研究和学科布局中给与充分重视。

中下地壳切向分层流变的结果:喜马拉雅东段雅拉香波片麻岩穹隆

大陆中、下地壳切向(近水平)分层固态流动变形是地壳物质流动的重要形式之一,也是片麻岩穹隆的重要形成机制。雅拉香波穹隆位于特提斯喜马拉雅构造带的最东段,出露不同变质级别和时代的岩石地层,发育强烈的韧性剪切变形以及多期岩浆事件,是研究造山过程中构造变形和岩浆历史的天然实验室。本文以该穹隆为研究对象,进行了详细的野外构造解析和显微观察等工作,总结出以下三个特点:(1)雅拉香波穹隆内不同构造层次的岩石经历了相同的构造体制和不同变形条件改造:从浅部到深部,变形温度逐渐递增,由390℃到600℃;差应力逐渐减小,从24.58MPa减少至8.72MPa;应变速率逐渐加快,从1.27×10^(-13)~1.28×10^(-13)/s增加到5.19×10^(-11)~5.21×10^(-11)/s。以上体现了地壳活动带强烈的分层流变特点。(2)结合前人研究划分了穹隆变形的三个期次(D_(1)、D_(2)和D_(3)),其中D_(1)表现为上盘向南的剪切方向,D_(2)则表现为上盘向北的剪切方向。进一步,将主要变形期次D_(2)进一步划分为两个阶段,早期主要是以单剪为主导的剪切作用类型,而晚期则是以纯剪为主导的剪切作用类型。(3)根据D_(2)面理和线理的产状分布特点,可以得出,深部岩石线理的倾伏角近水平,而浅层次岩石的线理倾伏角近竖直。基于以上研究表明,雅拉香波穹隆各部分岩石均遭受了不同程度的剪切改造,不同构造层次的岩石具有几何学上的一致性以及运动学上的解耦,体现了穹隆发育过程中运动方向上的转变。结合穹隆各部位线理的倾伏角的变化规律,本文认为雅拉香波穹隆记录了中下地壳分层流动的过程,穹隆的形成主要受中下地壳近水平切向流动控制,辅以垂向流动的改造。

滇西古近纪钾质—超钾质岩浆岩成岩成矿作用及构造意义

滇西地区广泛发育古近纪钾质—超钾质岩浆岩,形成沿金沙江—哀牢山断裂带富碱岩浆岩带,因缺乏对该钾质—超钾质岩浆岩带的系统研究,岩石成因及其与成矿之间的关系尚存在诸多争论。通过收集该富碱岩浆岩带已发表的全岩主微量元素、Sr-Nd同位素、锆石Hf同位素及年代学数据,根据构造位置,将该岩带划分为南、中、北岩带3个部分。通过系统对比分析得出:滇西古近纪钾质—超钾质岩浆岩成岩年龄基本一致,峰值为35 Ma,为同一期构造热事件的产物;基性—超基性和中酸性岩类具有不同成因,前者富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),亏损高场强元素(HFSE),高(87Sr/86Sr)i比值,低εNd(t)值,可能来源于板片交代的富集岩石圈地幔,后者具有较高的SiO2含量,可能为壳幔混合的产物;基性—超基性和中酸性岩类的形成均与金沙江—哀牢山断裂的剪切走滑和拉伸作用相关,是同一构造热事件下岩石圈不同深度部分熔融的产物;南中岩带钾质—超钾质岩浆岩与斑岩型金—(铜—钼)矿床关系密切,其岩浆形成过程可能为成矿提供了高氧逸度和含水量的有利条件,以及成矿物质和成矿流体。

Crustal Structure across the Northwestern Margin of South China Sea:Evidence for Magma-poor Rifting from a Wide-angle Seismic Profile

We present results from a 484 km wide-angle seismic profilie acquired in the northwest part of the South China Sea （SCS） during OBS2006 cruise. The line that runs along a previously acquired multi-channel seismic line （SO49-18） crosses the continental slope of the northern margin, the Northwest Subbasin （NWSB） of the South China Sea, the Zhongsha Massif and partly the oceanic basin of the South China Sea. Seismic sections recorded on 13 ocean-bottom seismometers were used to identify refracted phases from the crustal layer and also reflected phases from the crust-mantle boundary （Moho）. Inversion of the traveltimes using a simple start model reveals crustal images in the study area. The velocity model shows that crustal thickness below the continental slope is between 14 and 23 kin. The continental part of the line is characterized by gentle landward mantle uplift and an abrupt oeeanward one. The velocities in the lower crust do not exceed 6.9 km/s. With the new data we can exclude a high-velocity lower crustal body （velocities above 7.0 kin/s） at the location of the line. We conclude that this part of the South China Sea margin developed by a magma-poor rifting. Both, the NWSB and the Southwest Sub-basin （SWSB） reveal velocities typical for oceanic crust with crustal thickness between 5 and 7 kin. The Zhongsha Massif in between is extremely stretched with only 6-10 km continental crust left. Crustal velocity is below 6.5 kin/s; possibly indicating the absence of the lower crust. Multi-channel seismic profile shows that the Yitongansha Uplift in the slope area and the Zhongsha Massif are only mildly deformed. We considered them as rigid continent blocks which acted as rift shoulders of the main rift subsequently resulting in the formation of the Northwest Sub-basin. The extension was mainly accommodated by a ductile lower crustal flows, which might have been extremely attenuated and flow into the oceanic basin during the spreading stage. We compared the crustal structures along the northern margin and found an east-west thicken trend of the crust below the continent slope. This might be contributed by the east-west sea-floor spreading along the continental margin.

The Significance of Crust Structure and Continental Dynamics Inferred from Receiver Functions in West Yunnan

In our study we collected the teleseismic record of 31 broadband stations and 9 PASSCAL stations in West Yunnan, as well as extracted more than a million receiver functions. Using the waveform model and stacking techniques, we calculated the earth crust thicknesses and Vp/Vs ratios below the stations and obtained 35 valid data points. At the same time, we evenly stacked the receiver functions at the same station and superimposed the two profiles＇ cross sections of the main tectonic units. The results show a clear difference between the crust thicknesses of different tectonic units. Because of the magma underplatting and delimanition of the lower crust in the role of deep process, the West Yunnan＇s crust can be divided two kinds-mafic-ultramafic and feldspathic crusts. The research also shows that the mafic-ultramafic crust corresponds to a good background of mineralization. The delamination of the lower crust is one of the leading causes for moderate to strong earthquake prone in central Yunnan. The thinner crust and high velocity ratio as well as the multimodal structure of Ps in the Tengchong volcanic area confirms existence of a deep process of the strong magma underplating. Due to the basic crust structure and nature, it is believed that the Honghe fault is a main suture of the Gondwana and Eurasia continents.

Crust1.0地壳模型及其应用:以长江中下游成矿带为例

地壳是地球系统的重要组成部分,了解各圈层的结构及相互作用是研究地球物质深部交互过程的核心问题,如何探测地壳内部的物质组成和形态结构一直是地球系统科学的研究热点。随着海量地球探测数据的积累和挖掘,地球科学学家提出了不同细节层次的地壳模型,当前最为详细,分辨率最高的全球地壳模型是Crust1.0地壳模型。本文首先详细介绍了Crust1.0地壳模型沉积层厚度和壳幔密度差的数据来源和分布特征。然后,基于Crust1.0地壳模型信息,对长江中下游成矿带及邻区的卫星重力数据进行沉积层校正后,采用变密度界面计算方法,获得的长江中下游地区的Moho界面深度分布。长江中下游成矿带的Moho面形态呈现为"V"字型幔隆带,通过分析矿床、岩体及深大断裂的分布规律与幔隆带形成的关系,进一步证实了长江中下游成矿带深部的地幔隆起是形成巨型矿床的根本原因。研究结果表明,Crust1.0在研究区域地壳结构、成矿动力学深部背景等基础地学和地球系统科学研究中具有广泛的应用前景。

The off-crust origin of granite batholiths

Granitod batholiths of I-type features （mostly granodiorites and tonalites）, and particularly those forming the large plutonic associations of active continental margins and intracontinental collisional belts, represent the most outstanding magmatic episodes occurred in the continental crust. The origin of magmas, however, remains controversial. The application of principles from phase equilibria is crucial to understand the problem of granitoid magma generation. An adequate comparison between rock com- positions and experimental liquids has been addressed by using a projected compositional space in the plane F（Fe ＋ Mg）-Anorthite-Orthoclase. Many calc-alkaline granitoid trends can be considered cotectic liquids. Assimilation of country rocks and other not-cotectic processes are identified in the projected diagram. The identification of cotectic patterns in batholith implies high temperatures of magma segregation and fractionation （or partial melting） from an intermediate （andesitic） source. The com- parison of batholiths with lower crust granulites, in terms of major-element geochemistry, yields that both represent liquids and solid residues respectively from a common andesitic system. This is compatible with magmas being formed by melting, and eventual reaction with the peridotite mantle, of subducted mOlanges that are finally relaminated as magmas to the lower crust. Thus, the off-crust generation of granitoids batholiths constitutes a new paradigm in which important geological implica- tions can be satisfactorily explained. Geochemical features of Cordilleran-type batholiths are totally compatible with this new conception.

Composition and evolution of the continental crust:Retrospect and prospect

Until the middle of the 20th century,the continental crust was considered to be dominantly granitic.This hypothesis was revised after the Second World War when several new studies led to the realization that the continental crust is dominantly made of metamorphic rocks.Magmatic rocks were emplaced at peak metamorphic conditions in domains,which can be defined by geophysical discontinuities.Low to medium-grade metamorphic rocks constitute the upper crust,granitic migmatites and intrusive granites occur in the middle crust,and the lower crust,situated between the Conrad and Moho discontinuities,comprises charnockites and granulites.The continental crust acquired its final structure during metamorphic episodes associated with mantle upwelling,which mostly occurred in supercontinents prior to their disruption,during which the base of the crust experienced ultrahigh temperatures(>1000℃,ultrahigh temperature granulite-facies metamorphism).Heat is provided by underplating of mantle-derived mafic magmas,as well as by a massive influx of low H_(2)O activity mantle fluids,i.e.high-density CO_(2) and highsalinity brines.These fluids are initially stored in ultrahigh temperature domains,and subsequently infiltrate the lower crust,where they generate anhydrous granulite mineral assemblages.The brines can reach upper crustal levels,possibly even the surface,along major shear zones,where granitoids are generated through brine streaming in addition to those formed by dehydration melting in upper crustal levels.

Sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas,Tongling, China

Sulphide inclusions, which represent melts trapped in the minerals of magmatic rocks and xenoliths, provide important clues to the behaviour of immiscible sulphide liquids during the evolution of magmas and the formation of NieCueFe deposits. We describe sulphide inclusions from unique ultramafic clots within mafic xenoliths, from the mafic xenoliths themselves, and from the three silica-rich host plutons in Tongling, China. For the first time, we are able to propose a general framework model for the evolution of sulphide melts during the evolution of mafic to felsic magmas from the upper mantle to the upper crust. The model improves our understanding of the sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas, and provides insight into the formation of stratabound skarn-type FeeCu polymetallic deposits associated with felsic magmatism, thus promising to play an important role during prospecting for such deposits.

Velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle in Xingtai earthquake region and its adjacent area

Two seismic refraction profiles which are perpendicular to each other, running through Xingtai earthquake region,reveal the anomalous variations of crust-mantle velocity structure and deep tectonics. Pg wave attenuatesrapidly with distance in the earthquake region. A group of strong reflections from a depth of 21. 0 km can be identified along the section from Longyao to the piedmont of Taihang Mountain, but P. waves characterized generally by strong amplitude are not obvious. Under the earthquake region and its western neighboring region, thecrustal velocity structure features high and low velocities changed alternatively. From North China plain toShanxi plateau, the velocity at the top of the upper mantle decreases progressively, while crustal thickness increases by 11 km. Moho uplifts locally in the earthquake region. The crustal fault stretching deeply to Moho andthe discontinuous sections of Moho in the earthquake region are supposed to be the channels and zones for magmatic intrusion. The uplifting of upper mantle and magmatic intrusion are responsible for the formation ofanomalous crust-mantle structures and extending basins, and for the occurrence of Xingtai earthquake as well.

Magnetic Petrology of Archean High-Grade Terrains: Window into Deep Crustal Structure and Geodynamic Processes

The major results about magnetic petrology of Archearn high grade terrains in the world are reviewed in this article, focusing on the relationship between rock magnetism and deformation, and metamorphism and intensity of magnetization of the lower continental crust. The important problems about the magnetic study of rocks for high grade terrains are advanced.

Crustal structure along the Zhenkang-Luxi deep seismic sounding profile in Yunnan derived from receiver functions

The crustal thicknesses and the Poisson’s ratios under the seismic stations can be calculated by receiver function method with H-κ stacking effectively. But the stacking results are affected to some extent by the average crustal P-wave velocity. To eliminate this effect and get more accurate crustal structure along the Zhenkang-Luxi deep seismic sounding profile which lies in Yunnan Province, we calculate the receiver functions from the teleseismic events recorded by 11 temporary stations as well as 5 permanent ones along the profile and carry out the stacking with Vp obtained from the profile in this study. Our study shows that the crustal thicknesses along the Zhenkang-Luxi profile range from 34.8 km to 41.8 km with an average of 39 km. The crust is thicker in the middle part of the profile and thinner in both sides in general. Dramatic changes of crustal thickness about 3 km are detected across both the Lancangjiang fault and the Xiaojiang fault, which implies that these faults cut through the Moho. The lowest Poisson’s ratio under the stations is 0.22 and the highest is 0.27 with the mean of 0.25, which is lower than the global average value 0.27 in the continental crust. It suggests that most of the crust along the profile lacks mafic component, but contains more felsic substance. The low Poisson’s ratio also indicates that there is no satisfying condition for partial melting. We deduce that the material flow in the middle-lower crust in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau may occur only in the north region of 24°N.

Geochronology and geochemistry of the W-Mo-ore-related granitic rocks from eastern Ningzhen,lower Yangtze river belt,eastern China

Here we present zircon U–Pb–Hf and wholerock major and trace element studies of eastern Ningzhen W-Mo-ore-related magmatic rocks,Yushan and Longwangshan granitic rocks,to constrain their form timing,magma sources,and tectonic settings.The results showed that the two plutons were formed in the Early Cretaceous with;Pb/;U ages of 107.8±1.2 and 105.2±1.5 Ma(;Pb/;U),respectively.The trapped/residual zircons are mainly distributed in 2.0–2.5 Ga.The two intrusions are characterized by high silicon(68.60–73.99%),high aluminum(13.56–15.02%),high Mg#(47–55),high Sr,Sr/Y,LaN/YN,and low Yb,falling into high Mg#adakitic rock region.The zirconεHf(t)values of the two intrusions range from-24.8 to-13.2,indicating an ancient continental crust in their magma sources.The average Ti-inzircon temperature is 689°C,slightly higher than those of other high-Mg adakitic rocks in the lower Yangtze River belt,but lower than those of high-Mg adakitic rocks in the Southern Tanlu Fault(STLF).Zircon Ce;/Ce;show low oxygen fugacity(LWS-1:3–400,average 92;sample ZYS-4:9–382,average 93).These geochemical features indicate a thickened lower continental crust in the Eastern Ningzhen region in a subduction setting.Comparing the geochemical characteristics of the eastern Ningzhen to the western Ningzhen and other areas in the Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(LYRMB)and the high-Mg ore-barren adakitic rocks of the STLF,we propose that the magmatic rocks from eastern Ningzhen may be mainly from a thickened lower continental crust that hybridized with a very small part of mantle sources,while the west Ningzhen magmatic rocks may have experienced a higher degree of mantle contaminations in their source.The metallogenic differences between the eastern(W–Mo)and western(Cu–Fe–Pb–Zn)parts of Ningzhen also indicate different proportions of crustal materials in their magma source.

新时代花岗岩的新理论:花岗岩四阶段理论探讨

花岗岩的成因既是古老的问题,也是当前急迫的科学前沿。100年前花岗岩的火成论与变成论之争,以火成论压倒变成论而收兵。近百年的研究证明,火成论并非完美,关键是玄武岩浆分离结晶成花岗岩的机理受到严峻的挑战。而今,花岗岩源自下地壳变质出熔已经成为不争的事实,说明花岗岩的源头是变质岩。关于花岗岩成因的理论很多,经过多年的筛选,可能花岗岩形成的四阶段理论(从产生、分凝、上升到侵位)是比较合适的。在对该理论详细研究的基础上,本文提出了一个新的花岗岩四阶段理论:从产生、形成、上升到侵位。这是对花岗岩形成过程的描述。如果强调花岗岩形成的机理,则可表述为从出熔、聚集、上升到侵位。四个阶段分为两段:产生和形成(出熔和聚集)是升温过程;上升和侵位是降温过程。该理论的核心是本文提出的“下地壳岩浆房”的猜想,这指的是由部分熔融产生的熔体经聚集形成的巨大空间。首先,这个猜想解决了下地壳岩浆的空间占位问题。由于下地壳原地部分熔融熔出的产物(熔体+残留体)仅仅是物质组成形式发生了变化,不存在空间占位问题,下地壳总体积基本不变。只要存在持续的地幔加热过程,岩浆房体积可以逐渐增大一直到变得非常大。其次,关于花岗岩上升的驱动力问题,我们认为,可能正是下地壳岩浆房上覆的几十公里厚的地层静压力,在岩浆房沿着破裂带溢出时转换为巨大的压力驱使岩浆向上运移,而非岩浆自身的浮力。因此,从理论上,花岗岩上升的速度是非常快的,地质上几乎是瞬间实现的。再次,本理论还合理地解释了花岗岩侵位空间这个古老的难题:下地壳岩浆房上升移出,原先的空间即刻被上覆地层压实填充,造成上覆地层的塌陷,并传递到脆性的上地壳;同时引起上地壳支撑薄弱部位出现构造真空,为上升的岩浆提供驻足空间而完成岩浆侵位过程。很明显,从下地壳岩浆房的消失、转移到上地壳岩浆侵位,实现了空间的置换。看来,“下地壳岩浆房”概念的提出,较好地解决了花岗岩许多传统争议问题。猜想需要论证和证伪,为了深入研究上述问题,本文建议建立两门边缘学科:变质岩浆岩石学和物理地质学。