Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphism and Tectonic Evolution of Southwestern Tianshan Orogenic Belt, China: A Comprehensive Review

Recently, a huge ultrahigh-pressure(UHP) metamorphic belt of oceanic-type has been recognized in southwestern(SW) Tianshan, China. Petrological studies show that the UHP metamorphic rocks of SW Tianshan orogenic belt include mafic eclogites and blueschists, pelitic garnet phengite schists, marbles and serpentinites. The well-preserved coesite inclusions were commonly found in eclogites, garnet phengite schists and marbles. Ti-clinohumite and Ti-chondrodite have been identified in UHP metamorphic serpentinites. Based on the PT pseudosection calculation and combined U-Pb zircon dating, the P-T-t path has been outlined as four stages: cold subduction to UHP conditions before^320 Ma whose peak ultrahigh pressure is about 30 kbar at 500 ℃, heating decompression from the Pmax to the Tmax stage before 305 Ma whose peak temperature is about 600 ℃ at 22 kbar, then the early cold exhumation from amphibolite eclogite facies to epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism before 220 Ma and the last tectonic exhumation from epidote amphibolite facies to greenschist facies metamorphism. Combining with the syn-subduction arc-like 333-326 Ma granitic rocks and 280-260 Ma S-type granites in the coeval low-pressure and high-temperature(LP-HT) metamorphic belt, the tectonic evolution of Tianshan UHP metamorphic belt during late Cambrian to early Triassic has been proposed in this paper.

Extensional Tectonic Framework of Post High and Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphism in Dabieshan,China

The most prominent feature of the extensional tectonic framework of post high pressure (HP) and ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism in Dabieshan is the development of the multi layered extension detachment zones surrounding the core of the Luotian dome, and the separation of the UHP, HP and epidote blueschist units by the detachment zones, which form the vertically stacking sheet like slices of the HP and UHP metamorphic rocks. From the core outwards, exist the HP and UHP rock barren Dabie complex, UHP unit, HP unit and epidote blueschist unit. The extension tectonics of post HP and UHP metamorphic event constrain the distribution and present configuration of the HP and UHP metamorphic rocks, and the extensional tectonic framework bears some similarities to the Cordillera metamorphic core complex. It is suggested that partial melting happened in the Dabie gneiss complex (DGC) and UHP unit contemporaneously with the extrusion of UHP metamorphic rocks into the lower-middle crust. The formation and emplacement of the migmatite and granites are the response to the change in thermal state, facilitating the transfer from the compressive regime to extensional regime in the crust. The large scale crustal extension and uplift and the accompanying anatexis in Dabieshan are probably related to the delamination and magmatic underplating in the mantle and the lower crust.

Elastic and Seismic Properties of Dabie-Sulu Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphic Rocks

Lame modulus （λ） and shear modulus （μ） are among the most important, intrinsic, elastic constants of rocks. Using 7. and μ could be much more advantageous than using P- and S-wave velocities （Vp and Vs）. Here we quantified these equivalent isotropic elastic moduli for 115 representative rocks from the ultrahigh pressure （UHP） metamorphic terrane of the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt （China） and their variations with pressure （P）, temperature （T）, density （p）, Vp, Vs and mineralogical composition. Both moduli increase nonlinearly and linearly with increasing pressure at low （〈200-300 MPa） and high （〉200-300 MPa） pressures, respectively. In the regime of high pressures, 7. and IX decrease quasi-linearly with increasing temperature with temperature derivatives dλ/dT and dμ/dT generally in the range of -10×10-3 to -1×10-3 GPa/℃. Dehydration of water-bearing minerals such as serpentine in peridotites and chlorite in retrograde eciogites results in an abrupt drop in 7. while μ remains almost unchanged. In Z-p, μ-p and 7.-IX plots, the main categories of UHP rocks can be characterized. Serpentinization leads to significant decreases in μ and 7. as serpentine has extremely low values of Z, μ and p. Eclogites, common mafic rocks （mafic gneiss, metagabbro and amphibolite）, and felsic rocks （orthogneiss and paragneiss） have high, moderate and low μ and λ values, respectively. For pyroxenes and olivines, λ increases but μ decreases with increasing Fe/Mg ratios. For plagioclase feldspars, both Z and μ exhibit a significant positive correlation with anorthite content. SiO2-rich felsic rocks and quartzites are deviated remarkably from the general trend lines of the acid-intermediate-mafic rocks in Vs-p, μ-p, λ-Vp,λ-Vs and μ-λ diagrams because quartz has extremely low λ （-8.1 GPa） and p （2.65 g/cm3） but moderate μ （44.4 GPa） values. Increasing the contents of garnet, rutile, ilmenite and magnetite results in a significant increase in the λ and μ values of the UHP metamorphic rocks. However, either λ or μ is insensitive to the compositional variations for pyralspite （pyrope-almandine-spessartine） solution series. The results provide potentially improved constraints on characterization of crustal composition based on the elastic properties of rocks and in situ seismic data from deep continental roots.

The Metamorphic Evolution and Tectonic Significance of the Sumdo High and Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphic Terrane, Central-South Lhasa Block, Tibet

Asthemaintectoniccomponentofthe Himalayan–Tibetan orogen,the Lhasa terrane has received much attention as it records the entire history of the orogeny.The occurrence of high pressure eclogite in the Sumdo complex in central Lhasa terrane has a significant importance on the understanding of the Paleo-Tethys subduction and plate itineration processes in this area.The petrological,geochemical and geochronological data of eclogite and associated blueschist and garnet-bearing mica schist from Sumdo,Jilang and Bailang area have been briefly reviewed to explore the origin and metamorphic evolution of this suture.Eclogites from the Sumdo complex have experienced low temperature,high pressure to ultrahigh pressure metamorphism,revealing a fastsubduction and exhumation process in a typical oceanic subduction zone.The large P-T range between different eclogites in the literature may be affected by the big error of unappropriated using geothermobarometry and may also because of slices of subducted blocks derived from different depths juxtapose together during exhumation.By summarizing the U-Pb,Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd ages of eclogites,the eclogite facies metamorphism is likely to occur in early Triassic during 245-225 Ma,but not the previously accepted late Permian at ca.260 Ma by the reinterpretation of the former geochronological data from literature.The opening of Paleo-Tethys Ocean between the Lhasa terrane initiate prior to ca.280 Ma and ultimate closure to integrate the Lhasa terrane was no earlier than225 Ma and may triggered by the initial subduction of Bangong-Nujiang Tethys Ocean in the north.

PRESSURE GRADIENT FROM THE CONTRIBUTION OF BOTH GEOTHERMAL AND GRAVITY IN THE LITHOSPHERE

The pressure gradient of the lithosphere is a key to explaining various geological processes, and varies also in time and space similar to the geothermal gradient. In this paper a correlation formula of geothermal gradients and pressure gradients was built with the thermocomprestion coefficients. Based on this formula, the article has studied the relation between the pressure gradients and the geothermal gradients in the lithosphere, and the results indicate that the pressure gradient in the lithosphere is nonlinear, and its minimum value is the lithostatic gradient, and that the pressure gradient of the lithosphere will increase obviously with the contribution of both geothermal and gravity, and could be twice times more than the lithostatic gradient.

Kanfenggou UHP Metamorphic Fragment in Eastern Qinling Orogen and Its Relationship to Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts, Central China

In the Central Orogenic Belt, China, two UHP metamorphic belts are discriminated mainly based on a detailed structural analysis of the Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment exposed in the eastern Qinling orogen, and together with previous regional structural, petrological and geochronological data at the scale of the orogenic domain. The first one corresponds to the South Altun North Qaidam North Qinling UHP metamorphic belt. The other is the Dabie Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts. The two UHP metamorphic belts are separated by a series of tectonic slices composed by the Qinling rock group, Danfeng rock group and Liuling or Foziling rock group etc. respectively, and are different in age of the peak UHP metamorphism and geodynamic implications for continental deep subduction and collision. Regional field and petrological relationships suggest that the Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment that contains a large volume of the coesite and microdiamond bearing eclogite lenses is compatible with the structures recognized in the South Altun and North Qaidam UHP metamorphic fragments exposed in the western part of China, thereby forming a large UHP metamorphic belt up to 1 000 km long along the orogen strike. This UHP metamorphic belt represents an intercontinental deep subduction and collision belt between the Yangtze and Sino Korean cratons, occurred during the Paleozoic. On the other hand, the well constrained Dabie Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts occurred mainly during Triassic time (250-220 Ma), and were produced by the intracontinental deep subduction and collision within the Yangtze craton. The Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment does not appear to link with the Dabie Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts along the orogen. There is no reason to assume the two UHP metamorphic belts as a single giant deep subduction and collision zone in the Central Orogenic Belt situated between the Yangtze and Sino Korean cratons. Therefore, any dynamic model for the orogen must account for the development of UHP metamorphic rocks belonging to the separate two tectonic belts of different age and tectono metamorphic history.

Mechanical Nature of Gravity and Tectonic Forces

There are two models of ultrahigh pressure metamorphism (UHPM) zone in Dabie: the model of under thrusting returning which even arrives at the mantle and the superimposed model of tectonics in the crust. There are two points of view in the argument about formation depth of ultrahigh pressure metamorphism: (1) the depth can be calculated by hydrostatic equation; (2) the high pressure was composed of gravity, tectonic and other forces instead of merely gravity force. Some misunderstandings of mechanical conceptions presented in the paper showing the hydrostatic viewpoints should be open to question. The main conceptions are: (1) the confining pressure was only formed by gravity, and the differential stress was only formed by tectonic force; (2) the differential stress is not big enough to lead to form ultrahigh pressure metamorphism; (3) once tectonic overpressure goes beyond the limited strength of rocks the tectonic force would disappear and the rocks would be broken or rheomorphied at the same time. A short discussion in basic mechanics is made in this paper for a perfect process for discussing the argument.

Methods for Calculation of Geogenetic Depth

Some current methods for the calculation of the geogenetic depth are based on the hydrostatic model, it is induced that the depth in certain underground place is equal to the pressure divided by the specific weight of rock, on the assumption that the rock is hydrostatic and overlain by no other force but gravity. However, most of rock is in a deformation environment and non hydrostatic state, especially in an orogenic belt, so that the calculated depth may be exaggerated in comparison with the actual depth according to the hydrostatic formula. In the finite slight deformation and elastic model, the relative actual depth value from the 3 axis strain data was obtained with the measurement of strain including that of superimposed tectonic forces but excluding that of time factor for the strain. If some data on the strain speed are obtained, the depth would be more realistically calculated according to the rheological model because the geological body often experiences long term creep strains.

Two Discrete UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts in the Central Orogenic Belt, China

An attempt is made to confirm the existence of the two discrete UHP and HP metamorphic belts in the central orogenic belt in China. Detailed geological mapping and structural and petrological analyses of the Kanfenggou （看丰沟 ） and Xiangfanggou （ 香坊沟 ） slices exposed in the eastern Qinling （秦岭） orogen indicate that they experienced ultrahigh pressure and high pressure metamorphism, respectively. The former, situated in northern Qinling, contains a large volume of fine-grained coesite and quartz pseudomorphs after coesite- and microdiamond-bearing eclogite lenses, whereas the latter, located in southern Qinling, preserves the relicts of a high pressure metamorphic mineral assemblage. Based on extensive fieldwork together with compilations at the scale of the orogenic belt, and a comparison of Pb isotopic compositions between the UHP metamorphic rocks from Kanfenggou slice and the Dabie UHP metamorphic belt, we propose that there are at least two discrete ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belts with different ages and tectonic evolution within the central orogenic belt in China. The first is the South AItun-North Qaidam-North Qinling ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt of Early Paleozoic age （ -500 -400 Ma）. The Kanfenggou ultrahigh pressure slab is located at its eastern segment. The second is the well constrained Dabie （ 大别 ）-Sulu （苏鲁 ） ultrahigh/high pressure metamorphic belt of Triassic age （-250-220 Ma）. The Xiangfanggou high pressure metamorphic slab is a westward extension of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh/high pressure metamorphic belt. The Pb isotopic compositions of the UHP metamorphic rocks from Kanfenggou UHP fragment in East Qinling are different from those of the UHP rocks in Dabie UHP metamorphic belt, but are consistent with those of the rocks from the Qinling rock group and Erlangping （二郎坪） rock group. The East Qinling UHP metamorphic belt does not appear to link with the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic belt. These two ultrahigh metamorphic belts are separated by the suture-like Shangnan （ 商南 ）-Danfeng （丹凤 ） fault system or Guishan （ 龟山 ）-Meishan （ 梅山） fault, and a series of fault-bounded tectonic slices with different ages and rock assemblages. The Early Paleozoic ultrahigh metamorphic belt towards the east cannot be linked to the Triassic Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh/high pressure metamorphic belt, and so does not form a huge ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt extending more than 4 000 km in the central orogenic belt. In addition, the South Altun-North Qaidam- North Qinling ultrahigh metamorphic belt probably represents an intercontinental deep subduction/ collision belt between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons, occurring during the Early Paleozoic. The Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh/high pressure belt may have been formed by an intracontinental deep subduction/ collision process occurring in the northern part of the Yangtze craton during the Triassic. It is suggested that the two phase crustal subduction/collision processes, with an interval of 4200--300 Ma, responsible for the formation of the two ultrahigh/high pressure metamorphic belts occurred along spatially different belts within the central orogenic belt, China.

A Study on the Classification and Well-Logging Identification of Eclogite in the Main Hole of Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project

Eclogite, one of the important lithologies in the main hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling （CCSD） Project, exists above the depth of 3 245 m and has distinctive responses of gamma-ray, compensating density and neutron well-logging, and so on. In this study, according to the diversities of minerals and chemical components and well-logging responses, edogites are classified from three aspects of origin, content of oxygen, and sub-mineral. We studied the logging identification method for eclogite sub-classes based on multi-element statistics and reconstructed 11 kinds of eclogite. As a result, eclogites can be divided into 6 types using well logs. In the light of this recognition, the eclogite in the main hole is divided into 20 sections, and the distribution characters of all sub-classes of eclogite are analyzed, which will provide important data for geological research of CCSD.

Upper Limit for Rheological Strength of Crust in Continental Subduction Zone:Constraints Imposed by Laboratory Experiments

The transitional pressure of quartz coesite under the differential stress and highly strained conditions is far from the pressure of the stable field under the static pressure. Therefore, the effect of the differential stress should be considered when the depth of petrogenesis is estimated about ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks. The rheological strength of typical ultrahigh pressure rocks in continental subduction zone was derived from the results of the laboratory experiments. The results indicate the following three points. (1) The rheological strength of gabbro, similar to that of eclogite, is smaller than that of clinopyroxenite on the same condition. (2) The calculated strength of rocks (gabbro, eclogite and clinopyroxenite) related to UHPM decreases by nearly one order of magnitude with the temperature rising by 100 ℃ in the range between 600 and 900 ℃. The calculated strength is far greater than the faulting strength of rocks at 600 ℃, and is in several hundred to more than one thousand mega pascals at 700-800 ℃, which suggests that those rocks are located in the brittle deformation region at 600 ℃, but are in the semi brittle to plastic deformation region at 700-800 ℃. Obviously, the 700 ℃ is a brittle plastic transition boundary. (3) The calculated rheological strength in the localized deformation zone on a higher strain rate condition (1.6×10 -12 s -l ) is 2-5 times more than that in the distributed deformation zone on a lower strain rate condition (1.6×10 -14 s -1 ). The average rheological stress (1 600 MPa) at the strain rate of 10 -12 s -1 stands for the ultimate differential stress of UHPM rocks in the semi brittle flow field, and the average rheological stress (550-950 MPa) at the strain rate of l0 -14 - 10 -13 s -l stands for the ultimate differential stress of UHPM rocks in the plastic flow field, suggesting that the depth for the formation of UHPM rocks is more than 20-60 km below the depth estimated under static pressure condition due to the effect of the differential stress.

A Preliminary Study on Paleomagnetism and Rock Magnetism of Eclogite from the Maobei Area

A preliminary study of paleomagnetism and rock magnetism has been done on 55 eclogite samples collected from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling （CCSD） site at the Maobei （毛北） area, Donghai （东海） County, Jiangsu （江苏） Province. Also the isothermal remanence, hysteresis loop, magnetic fabric, thermal susceptibility were measured, and analyses were made by electron-probe and scanning electric microscope on some samples synchronously. The result indicates that there are two groups of stable remanence, the normal and reversed magnetization. The remanence orientations are： D=94.3°, I=-29.1° and D=273.7°, I=15.4°, respectively. The magnetization intensity and the density of the samples which carry the normal magnetization are very different from those bearing reversed magnetization. The magnetic anisotropy is weak, and the minimum axis is hardly determined. The isothermal remanence and the hysteresis loop show that the magnetic carriers of the eclogite are likely SD （single domain） and PSD （pseudo.single domain） magnetite. According to the magnetic property, the cause of formation of magnetic carriers, the mechanism of the remanence, and the significance for the tectonics are discussed.

An oxygen isotope study of quartz veins within eclogites from the Dabie terrane

The oxygen isotope composition of minerals from quartz veins and host eclogites in the Dabie terrane was measured in order to place geochemical constraints on the origin and transport of metamorphic fluid. The results are discussed together with structural and petrological relationships between quartz vein and wallrock. The quartz veins can be temporally classified into three groups: (1) synmetamorphic vein which would be formed prior to eclogite-facies recrystallization when they were exhumated from mantle depths to deep crustal levels; (2) early retrogressive vein which was formed in the early stage of eclogite exhumation subsequent to the recrystallization, the vein-forming fluid is still relevant to the eclogites; (3) late retrogressive vein which was formed in the late stage of eclogite exhumation from deep crustal to upper crustal levels, oxygen isotope fractionation between vein quartz and host eclogite significantly deviates from equilibrium values and the vein-forming fluid was principally derived from granitic gneiss hosting the eclogites. For the synmetamorphic vein, it appears that local advective transport of fluid is the predominant mechanism in the processes of vein precipitation; the scale of oxygen isotope homogenization within the veins is much larger than that within the associated eclogites. The vein-forming fluid would be derived from the exsolution of dissolved hydroxyls within eclogite minerals due to significant pressure decrease. Fluid flow prior to the eclogite-facies recrystallization and the early retrogression may occur mainly along pressure gradients.

Well Logging Responses of UHP Metamorphic Rocks from CCSD Main Hole in Sulu Terrane,Eastern Central China

The lithologies of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling main hole （CCSD-MH） are mainly comprised of orthogneiss,paragneiss,eclogite,amphibolite,and ultramafic rocks.The statistical results of logs of CCSD-MH indicate that ultramafic rocks are characterized by very high CNL （neutron log） and very low GR （gamma ray log） and RD （resistivity log）;eclogites are characterized by high DEN （density）,VP （P-wave velocity） and PE （photoelectric absorption capture cross section）;orthogneiss and paragneiss are characterized by high GR,U （uranium content）,Th （thorium content）,K （potassium content） and RD,and low DEN,PE,and CNL;logging values of amphibolite are between the logging values of eclogites and paragneiss.In addition,the logs could reflect the degree of retrograde metamorphism of eclogites.The upper section （100-2 000 m） shows higher DEN,PE,VP,and lower GR,U,Th,K,RD than the lower section （2 000-5 000 m）.Most logs of the upper section are more fluctuant than those of the lower section.This indicates that the upper section has more heterogeneities than the lower section.The cross plots of logs indicate that DEN,GR,K,and CNL are more powerful in identifying ultrahigh pressure metamorphic （UHPM） rocks at the CCSD-MH.GR value of the rocks from CCSD-MH shows obviously an increasing trend from ultramafic rock （the most mafic rocks at CCSD-MH） to orthogneiss （the most acid rocks at CCSD-MH）.On the contrary,DEN value decreases from the ultramafic rock to the orthogneiss.CNL log is a good indicator of the content of structure water in crystalline rocks.