The Lanshantou Kyanite-bearing Eclogite with Coesite Inclusions in the Sulu Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt and Its PTt Path

Coesite inclusions are found in kyanite from the Lanshantou eclogite in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt. This discovery extends the stable region of kyanite to over 2.4 GPa. As an important UHP metamorphic belt in China, the Sulu eclogite belt is the product of A-subduction induced by strong compression of the Yellow Sea terrane to the Jiaodong-northereastern Jiangsu terrane during the interaction of the Eurasian plate and Palaeo-Pacific plate in the Indosinian. It stretches about 350 km and contains over 1000 eclogite bodies. Most eclogites in this belt belong to Groups B and C in the classification of Coleman et al., and commonly contain kyanite, while the Lanshantou eclogite belongs to Group A and contains coesite. The MgO, CaO and FeO contents in garnet and pyroxene show regular variation from the core to the rim, which reveals the PTt paths of progressive metamorphism during the Early Mesozoic (240-200 Ma) and retrogressive metamorphism during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic exhumation.

Investigation of Curie Point Depth in Sulu Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt,Eastern China

The Curie point depth of continental crust can reflect the regional tectonic pattern and geothermal structures. Analysis of magnetism is an efficient way to obtain the Curie point depth on a regional scale. This study systematically investigated the Curie point depth of Sulu （苏鲁） ultrahigh pressure （UHP） metamorphic belt （33°40＇N to 36°20＇N and 118°E to 120°E, ca. 60 000 km^2）, eastern China using aeromagnetic data. The results show that the Curie point depth of the Sulu region varies from 18.5 to 27 km. The shallowest Curie point depth （ca. 18.5 km） is located in Subei （苏北） subsidence, where the estimated temperature gradient value is about 31.35℃/km, which is comparable with the measured value of 30 ℃/km. In addition, a two-dimensional numerical solution of the heat conduction was used to calculate the temperature field to a depth of 30 km along the profile from Tancheng （郯城） to Lianshui （涟水） with a length of 139 km. The steady state model solved using the finite element method shows that the temperature around the Curie point depth is about 585.36 ℃, which is close to the Curie temperature （580℃） of magnetite at atmospheric pressure. These results provide new insights into the tectonic and continuous thermal structures of the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt.

Deep structures of the east Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, East China

The geophysical investigations with seismic and MT methods were carried out in the east Dabie Mountain area in 1997, producing detailed results about crustal structures with good compatibility between different geophysical methods. After integrated interpretation of both avail-able geophysical and geological data, the author compiles a crustal tectonic section across the east Dabie Mountain (Plate II), which provides much more structural details with improved reliabil-ity due to geophysical constraints applied to the deep structures. The east Dabie orogenic belt can be divided into 4 geologic units from north to south: the north Huaiyang, the north Dabie, the south Dabie and the Susong. The Mesozoic northward subduction of the Yangtze craton caused the Yangtze crust to insert into the middle and lower crust of the Susong high-pressure metamorphic zone, while the middle and lower crust below the north Huaiyang and the Hefei basin contains the basement of the Sino-Korean craton. The middle and lower crust of the south Dabie is rather dif-ferent from that of the north Dabie, showing that the north and the south Dabie had different evolu-tional trajectories and should not belong to a single tectonic unit. The current crustal pattern has resulted mainly from deformation caused by the post-collisional intracontinental subduction of both the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons before the late Jurassic, and deformation caused by later crustal extension including doming and unroofing around the north Dabie. It can be inferred that the suture zone of the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korea and the Yangtze was located along the Xiaotian-Mozitan fault zone, which contains a group of normal faults dipping north in the upper crust, but becomes steep thrusts of dipping south in the middle crust, accompanied by ex-tensive deformation between this fault zone and the Hefei basin. The middle crust below the north Huaiyang unit is connected to the basement of the Sino-Korean craton, showing the plate com-pressional convergence between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons in the post-collisional stage. The influence of this convergent event reached as far as to Huainan, the northern boundary of the Hefei basin. As a clear reflection appears at 22s TWT in the stack reflection sections, the lithospheric thickness of the east Dabie is about 78 km. The newly obtained geophysical data in-dicate that the thickness of the east Dabie UHPM rock slices is no more than 8 km, therefore they do not present evidences to support the hypothesis involved in whole-plate exhumation of the UHPM terranes.

Lithospheric seismic fabrics of Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt

Calibration of seismic reflectors appearing in the crust of the Chinese continent sci- entific drilling site can be completed through the correlation studies between direct evidences, such as the drill cores, and geophysical signatures; therefore the interpretation of geophysical data could produce reliable results of crustal structure and composition. On the other hand, there are two Cenozoic volcanoes close to the scientific drilling site; analyzing composition of xenoliths existent in the volcanoes and evaluating their seismic velocities can also offer information about the mantle and lower crust. After the calibration via cores and well-logging data, the seismic re- flectors appearing in the UHP belt can be caused by lithological changes within the UHP rock slice, ductile shearing rock-suites, and later fracture zones. Among these sources, ductile shearing resulted in displacement and detachment of original rock-sheets, producing some rock-interbeds of several hundred meters thick that are named the ductile shearing rock-suites. A suite consists of mylonized gneiss and eclogite slices that underwent shearing, becoming the major mechanism responsible to generate regional strong reflections. The UHP rock-slice is characterized by complicated structures and high density, high seismic velocity and high electri- cal resistivity, its thickness is usually less than 11 km. Velocity and density of the gneiss-layer beneath gradually tend to normal with increasing depth. Based on the xenoliths we can infer that the middle crust contains a lot of gneisses, and the lower crust consists of different granulites. The lithospheric mantle has multi-layer structures and consists mainly of spinal lherzolite and harzburgite, implying late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning. The seismic fabrics with different ori- gins were possible products of different geodynamic processes. For instance, the UHP rock-slice was produced by the UHP metamorphic process and the exhumation of subducted supercrustal rocks after the Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons; whilst the ductile shearing rock-suites resulted from shearing deformation processes during the subduction and exhumation. The normal velocity below the UHP rock-slice was correlated with Mesozoic exten- sion processes in the area. Through careful calibration of seismic reflectors and analyzing xeno- liths, one can find the relationship between the causes of seismic reflectors and corresponding geodynamic processes, offering a new basis for reconstruction of regional dynamic evolution history.

Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Anomalies of the Sulu Ultrahigh-Pressure(UHP) Metamorphic Belt,Eastern China

The Sulu ultra-high pressure(UHP)metamorphic belt in Eastern China is well known as the eastern extension of the Qingling-Dabie orogenic belt formed by subduction and collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons.The main hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling(CCSD)project is located at the southern segment of the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt(34°25′N/118°40′E),about 17 km southwest of Donghai County.Integrated geophysical investigations using gravity,magnetic,deep

Retrogressive Microstructures: A Key to Post-Collisional Uplift and Extension Tectonics of Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks from Dabie Orogenic Belt, China

A wealth of retrogressive microstructures have been discovered from the UHP metamorphic rocks in Dabie orogenic belt, namely, the ultrahigh-pressure (URP) eclogites, jadeite quartzites and kyanite-zoisite-quartz vein. The most important are pseudomorphic replacements of UHP minerals like coesite, the corona reaction textures iuduced by solid-solid reactions as well as the corona and symplectites induced by reactions involving fluid. According to the textural relationships the sequence of mineral Paragenesis and the metamorphic stages in the UHP eclogites can be delineated; the mineral geobarothermometry of the various stages of retrograde metamorphism is studied and a clockwise, nearly isothermal decompressive metamorphic PT-trajectory for the UHP eclogites can be reconstructed. In terms of the PT-trajectory the two stage post collision uplirt and exhumation processes are reflected. When the UHP metumorphic rocks extruded to the lower-middle crust partial melting happened which bad in turn caused tke crustal extension and the further exhumation or the UHP metomorphic rocks. Based on the field strain analysis combined with geochronological data a scenario or post collision uplift aud exhumation model is presented.

^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating of Deformation Events and Reconstruction of Exhumation of Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks in Donghai, East China

Recent investigations reveal that the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks in the Donghai region of East China underwent ductile and transitional ductile-brittle structural events during their exhumation. The earlier ductile deformation took place under the condition of amphibolite facies and the later transitional ductile-brittle deformation under the condition of greenschist facies. The hanging walls moved southeastward during both of these two events. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of muscovites from muscovite-plagioclase schists in the Haizhou phosphorous mine, which are structurally overlain by UHPM rocks, yields a plateau age of 218.0±2.9 Ma and isochron age of 219.8Ma, indicating that the earlier event of the ampibolite-facies deformation probably took place about 220 Ma ago. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of oriented amphiboles parallel to the movement direction of the hanging wall on a decollement plane yields a plateau age of 213.1±0.3 Ma and isochron age of 213.4±4.1 Ma, probably representing the age of the later event. The dating of pegmatitic biotites and K-feldspars near the decollement plane from the eastern Fangshan area yield plateau ages of 203.4±0.3 Ma, 203.6±0.4 Ma and 204.8±2.2 Ma, and isochron ages of 204.0±2.0 Ma, 200.6±3.1 Ma and 204.0±5.0 Ma, respectively, implying that the rocks in the studied area had not been cooled down to closing temperature of the dated biotites and K-feldspars until the beginning of the Jurassic (about 204 Ma). The integration of these data with previous chronological ages on the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism lead to a new inference on the exhumation of the UHPM rocks. The UHPM rocks in the area were exhumed at the rate of 3-4 km/Ma from the mantle (about 80-100 km below the earth's surface at about 240 Ma) to the lower crust (at the depth of about 20-30km at 220 Ma), and at the rate of 1-2 km/Ma to the middle crust (at the depth of about 15 km at 213 Ma), and then at the rate of less than 1 km/Ma to the upper crust about 10 km deep at about 204 Ma.

Partial Melting Processes During Exhumation of Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks in Dabieshan, China

Study practice has proved that the ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks iu Dabieshan must have exPerienced botk the retrograde metumorphism and partial melting under decompression and amphibolite-facies conditions during their exhumation from mantel depth to lower-middle crust.The retrometamorphism and partial melting of the ultrahigh pressure rocks in association with thermal state changing in the middle-lower crust, under amphibolite-facies conditions, are important physical and chemical processes. It would result in a great detrease in the integrated yield strength, and the enhancement of the de formabilitY or the rocks, promoting the transition from contractional (collision) to extensional defoemational regime. The statement of tbe retrometamorphism and partial melting of the ultrahigh pressure rocks has proved the in-site model for the ultrahigh pressure rocks in Dabieshan. It not only clarifies the evolutiou from the UHP eclogite to the surrounding gneissic rock (so called UHP gueiss) and to the garnet-beariug roliated granites (non-UHP country rocks), but also provides scientific arguments for the establiskment of the dynamic model of the exhumation of UHP metamorphic rocks in Dabiesban. In general, Purely conductive heat transfer from the crust itself is probably insurficient to produce temperature conditions for partial melting, and additional heat sources must have been present during partial melting. We infer that the partial melting and extensional flow are probably driveu by delamination and magmatic underplating of thickeued lithospkeric mantle following the continental oblique collision.

Partial melting of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks at convergent continental margins: Evidences, melt compositions and physical effects

Ultrahigh-pressure（UHP） metamorphic rocks are distinctive products of crustal deep subduction,and are mainly exposed in continental subduction-collision terranes. UHP slices of continental crust are usually involved in multistage exhumation and partial melting, which has obvious influence on the rheological features of the rocks, and thus significantly affect the dynamic behavior of subducted slices. Moreover,partial melting of UHP rocks have significant influence on element mobility and related isotope behavior within continental subduction zones, which is in turn crucial to chemical differentiation of the continental crust and to crust-mantle interaction.Partial melting can occur before, during or after the peak metamorphism of UHP rocks. Post-peak decompression melting has been better constrained by remelting experiments; however, because of multiple stages of decompression, retrogression and deformation, evidence of former melts in UHP rocks is often erased. Field evidence is among the most reliable criteria to infer partial melting. Glass and nanogranitoid inclusions are generally considered conclusive petrographic evidence. The residual assemblages after melt extraction are also significant to indicate partial melting in some cases. Besides field and petrographic evidence, bulk-rock and zircon trace-element geochemical features are also effective tools for recognizing partial melting of UHP rocks. Phase equilibrium modeling is an important petrological tool that is becoming more and more popular in P-T estimation of the evolution of metamorphic rocks; by taking into account the activity model of silicate melt, it can predict when partial melting occurred if the P-T path of a given rock is provided.UHP silicate melt is commonly leucogranitic and peraluminous in composition with high SiO_2,low MgO, FeO, MnO, TiO_2 and CaO, and variable K_2 O and Na_2 O contents. Mineralogy of nanogranites found in UHP rocks mainly consists of plagioclase ＋ K-feldspar ＋ quartz, plagioclase being commonly albite-rich.Trace element pattern of the melt is characterized by significant enrichment of large ion lithophile elements（LILE）, depletion of heavy rare earth elements（HREE） and high field strength elements（HFSE）,indicating garnet and rutile stability in the residual assemblage. In eclogites, significant Mg-isotope fractionation occurs between garnet and phengite; therefore, Mg isotopes may become an effective indicator for partial melting of eclogites.

Li and B Isotope Systematics of Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphic Rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Program

1 Introduction Recent improvements in the precision of Li and B isotope measurements have demonstrated the potential of these elements in tracing a wide range of geological processes. The Li and B isotope systematics of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks provides a unique opportunity to investigate the behaviour of Li and B during fluid-rock interaction at high temperatures and very high pressures and to constrain the fluid budget and the recycling of subducted crustal materials into the mantle during UHP metamorphism. ……

Post-Collisional Ductile Extensional Tectonic Framework in the UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts in the Dabie-Sulu Region, China

The present-day observable tectonic framework of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic belts in the Dabie-Sulu region was dominantly formed by an extensional process, mostly between 200 and 170 Ma, following the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. The framework that controls the present spatial distribution of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in particular displays the typical features of a Cordilleran-type metamorphic core complex, in which at least four regional-scale, shallow-dipping detachment zones are recognized. Each of these detachment zones corresponds to a pressure gap of 0.5 to 2.0 GPa. The detachment zones separate the rocks exposed in the region into several petrotectonic units with different P-T conditions. The geometry and kinematics of both the detachment zones and the petrotectonic units show that the exhumation of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu region was achieved, at least in part, by non-coaxial ductile flow in the multi-layered detachment zones, and by coaxial vertical shortening and horizontal stretching in the metamorphic units, under amphibolite- to greenschist-facies conditions, and in an extensional regime. All ductile extensional deformations occurred at depths below 10 to 15 km, i.e. below the brittle/ductile deformation transition.

Petrology of the Non-mafic UHP Metamorphic Rocks from a Drillhole in the Southern Sulu Orogenic Belt,Eastern-Central China

The Drillhole ZK703 with a depth of 558 m is located in the Donghai area of the southern Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, eastern China, and penetrates typical UHP eclogites and various non-mafic rocks, including peridotite, gneiss, schist and quartzite. Their protoliths include ultramafic, mafic, intermediate, intermediate-acidic, acidic igneous rocks and sediments. These rocks are intimately interlayered, which are meters to millimeters thick with sharp and nontectonic contacts, suggesting in-situ metamorphism under UHP eclogite facies conditions. The following petrologic features indicate that the non-mafic rocks have experienced early-stage UHP metamorphism together with the eclogites: (1) phengite relics in gneisses and schists contain a high content of Si, up to 3.52 p.f.u. (per formula unit), while amphibolite-facies phengites have considerably low Si content (<3.26 p.f.u.); (2) jadeite relics are found in quartzite and jadeitite; (3) various types of symplectitic coronas and pseud

High- and Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphism and Retrogressive Textures of Gneiss in the Donghai Area——Evidence from gneisses in drillhole ZK2304

In the gneisses from the drillhole ZK2304 of the Donghai area, there have been preserved high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic mineral assemblages, a series of complicated retrogressive textures and relevant metamorphic reactions. In addition to garnet, jadeititic-clinopyroxene and rutile, other peak stage (M2) minerals in some gneisses include phengite, aragonite and coesite or quartz pseudomorphs after coesite. The typical peak-stage mineral assemblages in gneisses are characterized by garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + rutile + coesite, garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + phengite + rutile ± coesite and garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + aragonite + rutile ± coesite. The grossular content (Gro) in garnet is high and may reach 50. 1 mol%. The SiO2 content of phengite ranges from 54.37% to 54.84% with 3.54-3.57 p.f.u. Quartz pseudomorphs after coesite occur as inclusions in garnet.The gneisses of the Donghai area have been subjected to multistage recrystallization and exhibit a closewise P-T evolutional path characterized by the near-isothermal decompression. The inclusion assemblage (Hb+Ep+Bi+Pl+Qz) within garnet and other minerals has recorded a pre-peak stage (Mi) epidote amphibole fades metamorphic event. High- and ultrahigh-pressure peak metamorphism (M2) took place at T=750-860℃ and P>2.7 GPa. The symplectitic assemblages after garnet, jadeitic-clinopyroxene and rutile imply a near-isothermal decompression metamorphism (M3, M4) during the rapid exhumation. Several lines of evidence of petrography and metamorphic reactions indicate that both gneisses and eclogites have experienced ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Donghai area. This research may be of great significance for an in-depth study of the metamorphism and tectonic evolution in the Su-Lu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt.

Precambrian Metamorphism of Tiya－Olokit Metamorphic Belt in Northern Balkal Region and its Metallogeny

The paper deals with results of petrological observations of the Precambrian rocks in the Tiya-Olokit metamorphic belt of the Northern Balkal region. Evoluhon of mstamorphic processes from Archean through to Paleozoic is characterized. Interrelations of metamorphic and ore formation processes are shown .Various genetic types of metamorphism and their metallogeulc speianzation (pyrihc-polylnetallic, gold-sulphide and others) are established.A great number of previously published analyses of garnets, biohtes, amphiholes, pyroxenes and muscovitde from metamorphic rocks have been made use of. The evoluhon of their compositions under progressive zoned metamorphism and diaphthoresis is revealed.

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.

Geochemical Characteristics of Pb Isotope of High-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks and Foliated Granites from HP Unit of Tongbai-Dabie Orogenic Belt

Whole-rock Pb isotopic compositions of the high-pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks, consisting of two-mica albite gneisses and eclogites, and foliated granites from the HP metamorphic unit of the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt are firstly reported in this paper. The results show that the HP metamorphic rocks in different parts of this orogenic belt have similar Pb isotopic compositions. The two- mica albite gneisses have 206 Pb/ 204 Pb=17.657-18.168, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb=15.318-15.573, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb=38.315-38.990, and the eclogites have 206 Pb/ 204 Pb=17.599-18.310, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb=15.465- 15.615 , 208 Pb/ 204 Pb=37.968-39.143. The HP metamorphic rocks are characterized by upper crustal Pb isotopic composition. Although the Pb isotopic composition of the HP metamorphic rocks partly overlaps that of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks, as a whole, the former is higher than the latter. The high radiogenic Pb isotopic composition for the HP metamorphic rocks confirms that the subducted Yangtze continental crust in the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt has the chemical structure of increasing radiogenic Pb isotopic composition from lower crust to upper crust. The foliated granites, intruded in the HP metamorphic rocks post the HP/UHP metamorphism, have 206 Pb/ 204 Pb=17.128-17.434, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb=15.313-15.422 and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb=37.631-38.122, which are obviously different from the Pb isotopic compositions of the HP metamorphic rocks but similar to those of the UHP metamorphic rocks and the foliated garnet-bearing granites in the UHP unit. This shows that the foliated granites from the HP and UHP units have common magma source. Combined with the foliated granites having the geochemical characteristics of A-type granites, it is suggested that the magma for the foliated granites in the UHP and HP unit would be derived from the partial melting of the retrometamorphosed UHP metamorphic rocks exhumed into middle to lower crust, and partial magmas were intruded into the HP unit.

Fluid Activity and Tectonic Evolution in the Northern Qilian High-pressure Metamorphic Belt

The Northern Qilian high-pressure metamorphic belt has experienced multipledeformation-metamorphism, which consists of at least four stages. In 550.8-526 Ma, eclogites wereformed. High temperature and pressure caused the escape of a large quantity of gas-liquid fluidsfrom rocks while silicate melt was generated. In the late stage, small amounts of CO_2 and H_2Oinfiltrating along fractures were introduced. In the formation of glaucophane schist (447-362 Ma),devolatilization reactions were dominated during the subduction-uplift stage of the paleoplate. Inthe uplift-exhumation stage (400-380 Ma) the increase of internal space of fractures in the rocksfavoured fluid infiltration and concentration. These fluids participated in hydration reactions inthe retro-metamorphism. The fluids participating in the mineral reactions have the compositions ofCaCl_2-NaCl-H_2O. In subsequent thrusting (<380 Ma), the metamorphic terrain was uplifted to theshallower crust and ductile-shearing deformation took place, which caused mainly dehydrationreactions of minerals. In a near-surface environment the metamorphic terrain experienced brittledeformation, forming many accompanying fractures. Immiscible CO_2 and low-salinity aqueous fluidsoccurred in these secondary microfractures and were trapped and sealed. The thermodynamic conditionsof different deformation-metamorphic stages of the metamorphic terrain were calculated and thecorresponding P-T-t path was deduced, showing that the metamorphic terrain has experienced aclockwise path indicated by T- and P-rising, and T- and P-falling processes. This reveals that thesubduction zone has undergone multiple tectono-dynamic processes, i.e. initial deep burial,subsequent quick uplift and near-surface tectonism.

On Continent-Continent Point-Collision and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphism

Up to now it is known that almost all ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism of non-impact origin occurred in continent-continent collisional orogenic belt, as has been evidenced by many outcrops in the eastern hemisphere. UHP metamorphic rocks are represented by coesite- and diamond-bearing eclogites and eclogite facies metamorphic rocks formed at 650-800℃ and 2.6-3.5 GPa, and most of the protoliths of UHP rocks are volcanic-sedimentary sequences of continental crust. From these it may be deduced that deep subduction of continental crust may have occurred. However, UHP rocks are exposed on the surface or occur near the surface now, which implies that they have been exhumed from great depths. The mechanism of deep subduction of continental crust and subsequent exhumation has been a hot topic of the research on continental dynamics, but there are divergent views. The focus of the dispute is how deep continental crust is subducted so that UHP rocks can be formed and what mechanism causes it to be subducted to great depths and again exhumed to the shallow surface. Through an analysis of the continental process and mechanical boundary conditions of the Dabie collisional belt-an UHP metamorphic belt where the largest area of UHP rocks in the world is exposed, this paper discusses the variations of viscous stresses and average pressure in the viscous fluid caused by tectonism with rock physical properties and the contribution of the tectonic stresses to production of UHP. Calculation indicates that the anomalous stress state on the irregular boundary of a continental block may give rise to stress concentration and accumulation at local places (where the compressional stress may be 5-9 times higher than those in their surroundings). The tectonic stresses may account for 20-35% of the total UHP. So we may infer that the HP (nigh-pressure)-UHP rocks in the Dabie Mountains were formed at depths of 60-80 km. Thus the authors propose a new genetic model of UHP rocks-the point-collision model. This model conforms to the basic principles of the mechanics and also to the geologic records and process in the Dabie orogenic belt. It can explain why UHP rocks do nol exist along the entire length of the collisional orogen but occur in some particular positions. The authors also propose that the eastern and western corners of the Himalaya collision zone are typical point-collision areas and that almost all UHP metamorphism of continental crustal rocks occurred in the two particular positions.

Crustal structure in Dabieshan UHP metamorphic belt and its tectonic implication

The model of Dabieshan crustal structure has been obtained on the basis of the deep seismic sounding data in thisarea. The 2-D crustal structure shows the feature of the collision orogens and provides some deep geophysicalevidences of the ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt. The 3-D upper-crustal velocity struCture reveals thatthe velocity distribution at 2 km deep obviously relates to the surface geological setting and the UHP metarnorphicbelt has the higher velocity at 5~10 km deep. The observed data of Bouguer gravity anomalies reveal a largerrange of negative anomalies in Dabieshan area while the positive anomalies in the UHP metamorphic belt is calculated from the 3-D upper-crustal velocity structure. The 2-D crustal model along the seismic profile shows thatthe 'root' beneath the orogen is only 4-5 km thick and the velocity in the uppermost mantle changes a little in thelateral direction. The inconsistency between the observed and calculated Bouguer gravity anomalies mainly resultsfrom the crust, and at least the middle-upper crust should yield the negative anomalies. The material density of thecrust in the UHP metamorphic belt should be lower than that in the surrounding areas. This material with lowerdensity relates to the collision processes in which Yangtze crust subducted nor'thward to 100 km deep and thenreturned to the crust.

Elemental geochemistry and Nd isotopic characteristics of the metasedimentary rocks from the metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi: Provenance and tectonically environmental constraints

The metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi, located in the compound terrain within the Cathaysia, Yangtze Block and Caledonian fold zone of South China, is composed dominantly of meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks, with minor amphibolite. These rocks underwent amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks show large variations in major element composition, but have similar REE patterns and trace element composition, incompatible element and LIE enrichments [high Th/Sc ({0.57}-{3.59}), La/Sc ({1.46}-{12.4}), La/Yb ({5.84}-{19.0})] and variable Th/U ratios, with ΣREE=129-296μg/g, δEu={0.51}-{0.86}, and (La/Yb)-N={3.95}-{12.9}. The Nd isotopic model ages t-{DM} of these rocks vary from 1597 to 2124 Ma. Their {}+{143}Nd/+{144}Nd values are low [ε-{Nd}(0)={-11.4} to {-15.8}]. Some conclusions have been drawn as follows: (1) The metamorphic rocks in central Jiangxi Province are likely formed in a tectonic environment at the passive continental margin of the Cathaysia massif. (2) The metamorphosed argillo-arenaceous rocks are composed dominantly of upper crustal-source rocks (Al- and K|rich granitic or/and sedimentary rocks of Early Proterozoic), which experienced good sorting, slow deposition and more intense chemical weathering. (3) According to the whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron ages (1113±49 to 1199±26 Ma) of plagioclase-amphibole (schist) and Nd isotopic model age t-{DM} (1597-2124 Ma) of meta-argillo-arenaceous rocks, the metamorphic belt in central Jiangxi Province was formed during the Middle Proterozoic (1100-1600 Ma).