Influencing mechanism and hydrogeological implications of water level fluctuation of lakes in the northern Qaidam Basin,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qaidam Basin(QB)is a concentrated distribution area and chemical industrial bases of salt lakes in China.Lakes in the QB have been expanding during the past 20 years.Rapid lake expansion resulted in some considerable scientific issues on the protection of salt lake resources and infrastructure,and monitoring of hydrological processes at the lake-basin scale.Although the spatial-temporal trends of lake changes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP)have been well documented,the underlying influencing mechanism and hydrogeological implications of rapid lake changes in the QB are not well understood.Three lakes in the northern QB were selected to investigate lake water level fluctuations on different time scales based on extensive in-situ monitoring and satellite observations.The influencing mechanism and hydrogeological implications of rapid changes of terminal lakes were discussed in combination with the reported increasing precipitation rate and mass balance of glaciers in the northern QTP.Results reveal the following:(1)the fluctuation pattern of Sugan Lake was asynchronous and out of phase with that of Xiao Qaidam and Toson lakes during the monitoring period;(2)Sugan Lake water rose gradually,and the rise interval was from late April to early July.In contrast,Xiao Qaidam and Toson lakes took on a rapid and steep rise,and the rise intervalwas from late July to September;(3)the influencing mechanisms for rapid lake fluctuations are controlled by different factors:glacier and snow melting with increasing temperature for Sugan Lake and increasing precipitation for Xiao Qaidam and Toson lakes;(4)in accordance with different intervals and influencing mechanisms of rapid lake expansions in the QB,hydrological risk precaution of lakes and corresponding river catchments was conducted in different parts of the basin.This study provided an important scientific basis for assessing the hydrological process and hydrological risk precaution,and protection of salt lake resources along with rapid lake expansions in the arid area.

Analysis on Structural Control of Coal Distribution in the Northern Qaidam Basin,NW China

The distribution of the Jurassic coal measures in the northern Qaidam Basin is obviously controlled by the regional structures. Based on the existing data of coalfield exploration and combined with the analysis of coalfield basement structures, features of the main faults, and the distribution of coal measures, this paper brings forward a scheme of coalfield tectonic divisional units and the definition of the coal-controlling structural styles in the northern Qaidam Basin. The structure control of the distribution of coal measures is further discussed. Several stages of regional tectonic activities since the Indosinian has led to the distribution of coal measures into the characteristics of zonation from the north to south and block from east to west. The results indicate that the structural deformations are the most intense in the front of the three uplifted belts, which are characterized by the combination of thrusts. The coal measures are uplifted to the shallow formations, and are easy to be exploited, but the scale of mines is small because of serious damages by the coal distribution. On the contrary, the stress and strain are weak in the three depressions, with the coal-controlling structural styles being mainly the thrust-fold and thrust-monocline combinations. The distribution of coals in the depressions is relatively stable. The shallower part of the depression will become the key areas for exploration and development of coal resources in the northern Qaidam Basin.

Dual Control of Depositional Facies on Uranium Mineralization in Coal-bearing Series： Examples from the Tuanyushan Area of the Northern Qaidam Basin, NW China

The uranium deposits in the Tuanyushan area of northern Qaidam Basin commonly occur in coal-bearing series. To decipher the U-enrichment mechanism and controlling factors in this area, a database of 72 drill cores, including 56 well-logs and 3 sampling wells, was examined for sedimentology and geochemistry in relation to uranium concentrations. The results show that coal-bearing series can influence uranium mineralization from two aspects, i.e., spatial distribution and dynamic control. Five types of uranium-bearing rocks are recognized, mainly occurring in the braided river and braided delta sedimentary facies, among which sandstones near the coals are the most important. The lithological associations of sandstone-type uranium deposits can be classified into three subtypes, termed as U-coal type, coal-U-coal type, and coal-U type, respectively. The coal and fine siliciclastic rocks in the coal- bearing series confined the U-rich fluid flow and uranium accumulation in the sandstone near them. Thus, the coal-bearing series can provide good accommodations for uranium mineralization. Coals and organic matters in the coal-bearing series may have served as reducing agents and absorbing barriers. Methane is deemed to be the main acidolysis hydrocarbon in the U-bearing beds, which shows a positive correlation with U-content in the sandstones in the coal-bearing series. Additionally, the 613C in the carbonate cements of the U-bearing sandstones indicates that the organic matters, associated with the coal around the sandstones, were involved in the carbonation, one important component of alteration in the Tuanyushan area. Recognition of the dual control of coal-bearing series on the uranium mineralization is significant for the development of coal circular economy, environmental protection during coal utilization and the security of national rare metal resources.

Detrital apatite fission track constraints on Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China： Evidence from Cenozoic strata in Lulehe section, Northern Qaidam Basin

The Northern Qaidam Basin is located at the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It contains very thick Cenozoic terrestrial clastic sediments, which records the formation of the northern Qaidam Basin due to compressional deformation during the Indo-Asian collision. In this paper, we used detrital apatite fission-track thermochronology, including 4 sandstones and 2 conglomerates samples from the Lulehe section, to reveal the Cenozoic evolution of the northern Qaidam Basin. Fission-track dating indicated the source region of the Lulehe section has experiencedimportant cooling and uplifting in the Late Cretaceous(at ~85.1 Ma and ~65 Ma) and the Eocene(~52 Ma), respectively. The AFT age distribution on the section suggested that the provenance of Lulehe section sediments were mainly derived from the south Qilian Shan(Qilian Mountains) and Altun Shan(Altun Mountains), and two significantly provenance changes may occur at 43.4-46.1 Ma and ~37.8 Ma, respectively. The results may have strong constrains on the Cenozoic deformation and tectonic evolution of the northern Qaidam Basin and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Characteristics of late cretaceous faults of the eastern segment of the northern Qaidam basin, NW China

The Late Cretaceous tectonic upheaval was an important event during the evolution of the Qaidam Basin, resulting in the omission of the Upper Cretaceous in the whole basin and unconformities between the Paleogene sequence and pre-K2 strata. Inte-grating geological and geophysical data, two different groups of Late Cretaceous faults were recognized in the study area, one group consisting of E-W extending strike-slip faults (e.g., the Maxian and Yema-Jinan faults in the Mahai area, which caused an E-W omission zone of Mesozoic), while the other one has NW-SE thrust faults, resulting in NW-SE fold-and-thrust belts. Considering the different strikes and scale of these two groups, a simple-shear model has been employed to explain this structural phenomenon. The NW-SE thrust faults were thought to be subsidiary to the E-W strike-slip faults. Putting this into the framework of the Cretaceous paleogeographic environment of central Asia, it is inferred that this tectonic event of the Qaidam Basin is a response to the continuous northward drifting of the India plate.

Cenozoic Environmental Changes in the Northern Qaidam Basin Inferred from n-alkane Records

Cenozoic climatic and environmental changes in the arid Asian interior, and their possible relations with global climatic changes and the Tibetan Plateau uplift, have been intensively investigated and debated over past decades. Here we present 40-Myr （million years）-long n-alkane records from a continuous Cenozoic sediment sequence in the Dahonggou Section, Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau, to infer environmental changes in the northern basin. A set of n-alkane indexes, including ACL, CPI and Paq, vary substantially and consistently throughout the records, which are interpreted to reflect relative contributions from terrestrial vascular plants vs. aquatic macrophytes, and thus indicate depositional environments. ACL values vary between 21 and 30; CP1 values range from 1.0 to 8.0; and Paq values change from 〈0.1 to 0.8 over the past 40-Myr. We have roughly identified two periods, at 25.8-21.0 Ma （million years ago） and 13.0-17.5 Ma, with higher ACL and CPI and lower Paq values indicating predominant lacustrine environments. Lower ACL and CPI values, together with higher Paq values, occurred at 〉25.8 Ma, 17.5-21.0 Ma, and 〈13.0 Ma, corresponding to alluvial fan/river deltaic deposits and shallow lacustrine settings, consistent with the observed features in sedimentological facies. The inferred Cenozoic environmental changes in the northern Qaidam Basin appear to correspond to global climatic changes.

Coal-Forming Model in the Context of Non-marine Sequence Stratigraphy:A Case Study of Jurassic Coal Measures in Northern Qaidam Basin,Northwestern China

Previous studies of coal sequence stratigraphy have concentrated on coals associated with paralic depositional systems.Little attention has been paid to their counterparts in non-marine intra-mountain coal basins.The northern Qaidam Basin of northwestern China has been extensively developed with abundant oil and gas as well as coal resources in its Jurassic non-marine successions.A total of six sedimentary systems of the Early and Middle Jurassic

Reservoir Quality and Controlling Mechanism of the Upper Paleogene Fine-Grained Sandstones in Lacustrine Basin in the Hinterlands of Northern Qaidam Basin,NW China

The Upper Paleogene lacustrine fine-grained sandstones in the hinterlands of the northern Qaidam Basin mainly contain two sweet spot intervals.Fracture/fault,microfacies,petrology,pore features,diagenesis,etc.,were innovatively combined to confirm the controlling factors on the reservoir quality of shallow delta-lacustrine fine-grained sandstones.The diagenesis of the original lake/surface/meteoric freshwater and acidic fluids related to the faults and unconformity occurred in an open geochemical system.Comprehensive analysis shows that the Upper Paleogene fine-grained sandstones were primarily formed in the early diagenetic B substage to the middle diagenetic A substage.Reservoir quality was controlled by fault systems,microfacies,burial-thermal history,diagenesis,hydrocarbon charging events(HCE),and abnormally high pressure.Shallow and deep double fault systems are the pathways for fluid flow and hydrocarbon migration.Sandstones developed in the high energy settings such as overwater(ODC)and underwater distributary channels(UDC)provide the material foundation for reservoirs.Moderate burial depth(3000-4000 m),moderate geothermal field(2.7-3.2℃/100 m),and late HCE(later than E3)represent the important factors to protect and improve pore volume.Meteoric freshwater with high concentrations of CO_(2)and organic acids from thermal decarboxylation are the main fluids leading to the dissolution and reformation of feldspar,rock fragments,calcite and anhydrite cements.Abnormally high pressure caused by the undercompaction in a large set of argillaceous rocks is the key to form high-quality reservoirs.Abnormal pressure zones reduced and inhibited the damage of compaction and quartz overgrowth to reservoir pores,allowing them to be better preserved.A reservoir quality evaluation model with bidirectional migration pathways,rich in clay minerals,poor in cements,superimposed dissolution and abnormally high pressure was proposed for the ODC/UDC finegrained sandstones.This model will facilitate the future development of fine-grained sandstone reservoirs both in the Upper Paleogene of the Qaidam Basin and elsewhere.

Lacustrine basin evolution and coal accumulation of the Middle Jurassic in the Saishiteng coalfield, northern Qaidam Basin, China

Based on an extensive borehole survey of the Middle Jurassic coat-bearing sequences in the Saishiteng coalfield, northern Qaidam Basin （NQB）, a total of 20 rock types and 5 sedimentary facies were identified, including braided river, meandering river, braided delta, meandering river delta, and lacustrine facies. The distribution of rock types and sedimentary facies contributed to the reconstruction of three periods＇ sedimentary facies maps of the Middle Jurassic in the Saishiteng coalfield, namely, the Dameigou age, the early Shimengou age and the late Shimengou age. That also provided the basis for the development of a three-stage depositional model of the Middle Jurassic in the NQB, indicating the lacustrine basin of the NQB in the Dameigou age and early Shimengou age were corresponding to an overfill basin, and that in the late Shimengou age was related to a balanced-fill basin. The analysis of the stability and structure of coat seams based on sedimentary facies maps showed that the preferred coal-forming facies in the Saishiteng coalfield were inter-delta bay and interdistributary bay of lower delta plain in the Dameigou age. In particular, the swamps that developed on the subaqueous pataeohigh favored the development of thick coat seams. Thus, ruinable coal seams may also be found along the Pingtai pataeohigh in the western part of the Saishiteng coalfield.

Paleomagnetic constraints on Paleogene-Neogene rotation and paleo-stress in the northern Qaidam Basin

Knowing the rotation and paleo-stress history in Qaidam Basin is a fundamental parameter to quantify the mechanism of intracontinental deformation in Tibetan Plateau.However,few studies have been conducted on tectonic rotation and stress evolution over long timescales in the Qaidam Basin.Here,we report new magnetic declination and the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility(AMS)from a~52–7 Ma sequence of fluvial and lacustrine sediments in the Dahonggou(DHG)section in the northern Qaidam Basin.The magnetic declination revealed that the northern Qaidam Basin underwent a clockwise rotation 25.1°±8.6°during~33–17 Ma,followed by a counterclockwise rotation 16.9°±6.8°during~17–13.5 Ma.The AMS results showed that the“earliest deformation”fabrics were interrupted by the“pencil structure”fabrics in the intervals of~52–45 and~21–15 Ma.The interruption,synchronous with the marked deceleration of the India-Asia convergence rate,indicates pulse of strong tectonic compressive stress.In addition,the AMS results documented a transition in stress direction from S-N to SW-NE at~15 Ma,suggesting a kinematic shift in the northeastern TP.Our constraints on the rotation and stress from the northern Qaidam Basin support the two-stage evolution of the Altyn Tagh Fault(ATF).The fast-rate slip motion on the ATF during the early Oligocene caused the clockwise rotation in the northern Qaidam Basin;the second stage with enhanced thrusting since the middle Miocene caused extensive crustal shortening and dispersive NW-trending folds and faults in the Qaidam Basin and the northeastern TP.

Benthic macro red alga:A new possible bio-precursor of Jurassic mudstone source rocks in the northern Qaidam Basin,northwestern China

Whether benthic macroalga can be an important type of bio-precursor of source rocks is a contentious issue in source-rock studies,and has not been well understood.This paper represents a case study of Jurassic mudstone source rocks from the northern Qaidam Basin,northwestern China,in which the benthic macro red algae were recognized for the first time based on combined organic petrological and biomarker works.We found not only cystocarps in the algae,representative of rhodophyta,but also diahopanes,which are diagnostic biomarkers of such algae.Thus,as many reservoired oils in the northern Qaidam Basin contain abundant diahopanes,it may indicate that the red algae have contributed to hydrocarbon accumulation.This was confirmed by integrated geological and geochemical analyses.Hence,this study provides new evidence for macroalga-generated hydrocarbons.

Carbon and oxygen isotopic constraints on paleoclimate and paleoelevation of the southwestern Qaidam basin, northern Tibetan Plateau

We investigate the growth of the northern Tibetan Plateau and associated climate change by applying oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions in Cenozoic strata in the southwestern Qaidam basin. The X-ray diffraction and isotopic studies reveal that the carbonate minerals are mainly authigenic and they do not preserve any evidence for detrital carbonate and diagenesis. The isotope data show large fluctuations in the δ^(18)O and δ^(13)C values in the middle-late Eocene, indicating relatively warm and seasonal dry climate.The positive correlation of the δ^(18)O and δ^(13)C values in the Oligocene and the positive shift of the δ^(13)C values from the Eocene to Oligocene suggest that the climate changed to arid in the Oligocene. However,the δ^(18) values show negative shift, which is closely related to the global cooling event. During the Miocene, the δ^(13)C values vary between-2‰ and-4‰, whereas the δ^(18)O values show continuous negative shift. The mean δ^(18) values decrease from-8.5‰, in the early Miocene to-10.0‰, in the late Miocene. The stable isotope-based paleoaltimetry results suggest that the elevation of the southwestern Qaidam basin was approximately 1500 m in the middle-late Eocene and Oligocene. Subsequently, during Miocene the crustal uplift process started and the elevation reached approximately 2000 m in the early Miocene and 2500 m in the late Miocene, which suggests large-scale growth of the northern Tibet Plateau during the Miocene.

Two Contrasting Eclogite Types on the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin, Western China

Eclogites have been recently discovered in the Xitieshan area in the middlesegment of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin. These eclogites, together with those recognizedearlier in the Yuka area of the western segment of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin and inthe Dulan area of the eastern segment of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin, form an eclogitebelt with a length of 350 km. A comparison of the eclogites from the Yuka and Xitieshan areassuggests that they show different country rocks, microtextures, mineral assemblages, and especially,different peak temperatures, PT paths during decompression and isotopic features. Eclogites fromthe Yuka area bear evidence of prograde metamorphism, such as prograde mineral relics in garnet andgrowth zoning of garnet, and hairpin-shaped PT paths with coincidence of the baric and thermal peaksof metamorphism, which reflect rapid burial and uplift. Sm-Nd isotopic determination shows obviousSm-Nd disequilibrium, and no isochron ages of Early Paleozoic metamorphism was obtained. On thecontrary, the Xitieshan eclogite was subjected to metamorphism of higher eclogite-facies andpost-eclogite-facies temperatures, showing an obvious granulite-facies overprint. A tentative PTpath for the Xitieshan area suggests that the baric peak preceded the thermal culmination. Wholerock-garnet-omphacite Sm-Nd isotopic data give an isochron age in the Early Paleozoic. Thedifferences between the two eclogites imply their different tectonic-thermal history during theirburial and uplift.

Application of channel-belt scaling relationship to Middle Jurassic source-to-sink system in the Saishiteng area of the northern Qaidam Basin,NW China

Palaeodrainage basin,as an important component of the source-to-sink system,contains critical information on provenance and palaeoenvironment.Previous studies indicate that the scaling relationships of source-to-sink system components generally follow power laws,and channel-belt thickness represents a reliable first-order proxy for the drainage area.In this study,a database of borehole cores and geophysical well logs of the Jurassic coal measures from Saishiteng area in the northern Qaidam Basin was used to reconstruct the palaeogeography,and to identify single-story channel-belts.Three palaeochannels,namely,River A,River B and River C,were identified which were persistent throughout the Dameigou and Shimengou Formations during the Middle Jurassic.The mean channel-belt thicknesses of River A,River B and River C in the Dameigou Formation were 9.8 m,8.9 m and 7.9 m,respectively,and those in the Shimengou Formation were 7.4 m,6.2 m and 5.4 m,respectively.We estimate the drainage area of three major rivers by using scaling relationships between drainage area and channel-belt thickness.The drainage areas of River A,River B and River C in the Dameigou Formation were 63.0×10~3 km^2,50.1×10~3 km^2 and 37.7×10~3 km^2,respectively,and those in the Shimengou Formation were 32.3×10~3 km^2,21.2×10~3 km^2 and15.3×10~3 km^2,respectively.The drainage basin lengths of River A,River B and River C in the Dameigou Formation were 300.4 km,239 km and 180.2 km,respectively,and those in the Shimengou Formation were 154.3 km,101.3 km and 73.1 km,respectively.For both the Dameigou and Shimengou Formations,River A showed the largest scale,followed by River B and River C succeedingly,which was mainly determined by the stretch direction of provenance in the southern Qilian Mountains.The variations of channel-belt thickness,drainage area and drainage basin length between Dameigou and Shimengou Formations are the response of source-to-sink system to the transformation from extension to compression depression during the Middle Jurassic in the northern Qaidam Basin.

Quantitative identification of coal-type gas and oil-type gas in source-mixed gas at the northern margin of Qaidam Basin

The current study tested the gas component and carbon isotopic composition of gas samples from 6 oilgas fields at the northern margin of Qaidam Basin, and established a chart to quantitatively identify the mixing ratio of source-mixed gas. Besides, this research quantitatively investigated the natural gas generated by different types of organic matter. The results show that different ratios of source-mixed gas exist in the 6 oil-gas fields at the northern margin of Qaidam Basin. Among them, Mabei has the highest mixing ratio of coal-type gas, followed by Nanbaxian, Mahai, Lenghu-4, Lenghu-3 and Lenghu-5, with the ratios of coal-type gas 91%, 87%, 83%, 66%, 55% and 36%, respectively. Lenghu-3 and Lenghu-4 oil-gas fields were mainly filled by coal-type gas earlier. For Lenghu-3, the gas was mainly generated from low matured source rocks in lower Jurassic Series of Lengxi sub-sag. For Lenghu-4, the gas was mainly generated from humus-mature source rocks in lower Jurassic Series of the northern slope of Kunteyi sub-sag. Gas in Lenghu-5 was mainly later filled oil-type gas, which was generated from high matured sapropelics in lower Jurassic Series of Kunteyi sub-sag. Earlier filled coal-type gas was the main part of Mahai, Nanbaxian and Mabei oil-gas fields. Gas source of Mahai was mainly generated from high mature humics in lower Jurassic Series of Yibei sub-sag; for Nanbaxian, the gas was mainly generated from high matured humics in middle-lower Jurassic Series of Saishiteng sub-sag; for Mabei, the gas was mainly generated from humus-mature source rocks in middle Jurassic Series of Yuqia sub-sag.

Characteristics and genesis of clay minerals in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin

以便在 Qaidam 盆的北边缘开发适当水库保护措施并且改进它的油和煤气的恢复效率，从从 Qaidam 盆的北边缘的十一件泥土岩石样品的泥土矿物质的特征用X光检查衍射分析被调查，扫描电子显微镜( SEM )和精力光谱分析。主要的烃水库的克莱矿物质作文和分发特征，即从侏罗记和 Paleogene 鈥揘e ogene，被探索。我们分析了影响了这些属性的主要因素。结果证明在北边缘的主要泥土矿物质是绿泥石， kaolinite， illite，绿土和 illite/smectite inter-stratified 矿物质。Illite 是在这个区域的最广泛地散布的泥土矿物质。绿泥石主要在全部晚第三纪并且在 Paleogene 的浅地平线被发现。绿土在浅 Paleogene 鈥揘e ogene 被充实。在侏罗记有大量 kaolinite 和 illite/smectite inter-stratified 矿物质。在这个区域影响泥土矿物质的不同发展的主要因素是父母岩石，古气候和 paleowater 媒介条件的性质，成岩作用转变，构造并且地面条件。

Geological factors associated with unsuccessful exploration wells in the northern margin of the Qaidam basin

We investigated the geological factors associated with unsuccessful exploration wells in the northern margin of the Qaidam basin to better understand their cause.The structural situation,the hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism and unsuccessful well data collected from 1996 to 2005 were studied.The results show that the main geological factors associated with unsuccessful exploration wells are a lack of effective source rocks and a lack of effective traps,as well as the migration-accumulation conditions that exist in this area.The basin was reformed by Meso-Cenozoic tectonic evolution.Multi-stage tectonic activities have both positive and negative effects on hydrocarbon accumulation.Source rocks distribution,effective migration channels,effective traps and the tectonic evolution effects on hydrocarbons should be the key objects for further studies.

巨厚煤层物质组成特征与成因机制——以柴北缘鱼卡地区中侏罗统为例

厚煤层蕴含着丰富的地质信息,在全球碳循环中扮演着重要的角色。国内外深时地层中厚煤层广泛分布,近年来其成因机制逐渐成为煤地质学的研究热点。为明晰等时层序地层格架中的巨厚煤层的物质组成特征与形成机理,选取柴北缘鱼卡地区中侏罗统层序S1湖侵体系域发育的巨厚煤层M7为研究对象,等间隔连续采样并进行室内显微组分与矿物鉴定,依据煤层关键界面的识别原理、显微组分与矿物的古环境指示意义进行综合分析。结果显示:显微组分中镜质组体积分数最高(48.5%),惰质组体积分数同样较高(37.22%),类脂组所占比例很低,仅为3.32%。矿物组分体积分数较为稳定,平均值为10.96%。依据煤层与碎屑沉积的交替出现、显微组分与矿物体积分数在垂向上的变化趋势,识别出了多种关键界面,包括陆化面(TeS)、陆地暴露面(ExS)、沼泽化面(PaS)、湖侵淹没面(GUTS)与可容空间转换面(ARS)。沿沉积倾向在向陆与向湖方向分别选择钻孔,与鱼卡煤矿对比分析沼泽环境垂向演化过程。鱼卡煤矿巨厚煤层M7识别出4个沉积旋回,向陆以及向湖方向的YQ6–22与YQ6–12中由陆源碎屑、湖相沉积所分隔的M7–1—M7–3则均识别出3个沉积旋回。发现了巨厚煤层中蕴含的高分辨率层序,经过分析划分为4个四级层序,结合煤层中关键界面所对应的层序界面,揭示了巨厚煤层的成因机制。建立了层序地层格架中的多期泥炭沼泽垂向叠置模式,可进一步应用于国内外更多深时地层中巨厚煤层的研究。

柴北缘尕海南山晚志留世—晚泥盆世火山岩浆组合对早古生代造山后伸展时限的约束

柴达木盆地北缘(柴北缘)构造带经历了早古生代的大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲,形成了广为人知的柴北缘超高压变质带。早古生代造山带何时开始垮塌一直存在争论,火山岩和侵入岩作为深地岩石探针能为约束地壳活动提供关键制约。应用锆石LA–ICP–MS U–Pb年代学和Lu–Hf同位素方法对柴北缘东段尕海南山地区出露的牦牛山组火山碎屑岩和侵入其中的花岗岩开展研究。锆石U–Pb年代学结果显示,牦牛山组火山碎屑岩的形成时代约为423 Ma,侵入其中的花岗岩的形成时代为370 Ma,表明火山岩喷发的年龄在晚志留世,后期侵入的花岗岩结晶年龄为晚泥盆世;锆石Lu–Hf同位素结果显示,晚志留世熔结凝灰岩ε_(Hf)(t)值集中在–11.5~–8.3,其两阶段Hf模式年龄集中在1945~2133 Ma,显示火山岩主要源于古老地壳物质熔融;而晚泥盆世侵入的花岗岩的ε_(Hf)(t)值分布在3.9~9.1,其两阶段的Hf模式年龄集中在792~1118 Ma,显示花岗岩主要源于中—新元古代地壳物质的部分熔融。结合对区域地质、岩石学等资料的综合分析认为,晚志留世—早泥盆世时期,大陆深俯冲导致的强烈造山作用造成柴北缘地壳发生明显加厚,加厚的欧龙布鲁克地壳基底发生部分熔融,形成了该时期的火山岩;晚泥盆世时期,加厚地壳的拆沉作用导致软流圈地幔上涌,引发区域地壳伸展,上涌的软流圈物质与地壳相互作用并发生部分熔融作用。因此区域牦牛山组形成时代跨度较大,不能笼统地用牦牛山组代表造山结束的时限,晚泥盆世岩浆岩的出现才预示着柴北缘地区进入显著的地壳伸展状态。

柴达木盆地北缘断裂锡铁山-阿木尼克山段第四纪晚期古地震活动性

柴达木盆地北缘断裂带是青藏高原北部的一条区域性活动断裂带,构成了柴达木盆地北部和祁连山的边界断裂,研究其第四纪晚期古地震活动对于理解柴达木盆地北缘断裂带地震复发周期、地震危险性等具有重要意义。通过地质考察、遥感解译、探槽开挖及OSL地质测年、古地震期次分析等,对柴达木盆地北缘断裂(锡铁山-阿木尼克山段)古地震事件进行了研究。研究表明:探槽剖面共揭露了5次比较可靠的古地震事件,发震时间分别为:事件E1距今约60 a;事件E23.1±0.3~3.4±0.3 ka;事件E37.5±0.3~8.1±0.3 ka;事件E410.1±0.4~11.4±0.4 ka;事件E512.1±0.4~12.8±0.4 ka。利用古地震逐次限定法认为柴达木盆地北缘断裂(锡铁山-阿木尼克山段)地震复发周期为2.6~3.4 ka。阿木尼克山段最新离逝时间为60年前,锡铁山段最新离逝时间为3.1±0.3 ka,分析认为柴达木盆地北缘断裂锡铁山段未来遭遇破坏性地震的可能性大于阿木尼克山段。该结果可以更好地了解柴达木盆地北缘断裂的古地震期次、复发间隔等,对地震预报预测及评价该断裂未来地震危险性具有一定的指导意义。