The Type and Evolution of Neoproterozoic Sedimentary Basin in the Dahongshan Region,Northern Margin of the Yangtze Block:An Insight from Sedimentary Characteristics of the Huashan Group

Objective The Huashan group（composed of the lower Hongshansi Formation and the upper Liufangzui Formation）is an important Neoproterozoic stratigraphic unit along the northern margin of the Yangtze Block.Previous documents have focused on the geochronological and geochemical aspects of the Neoproterozoic sedimentary basin in the Dahongshan region.However.

New Insights into the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation of Northern Qiangtang, Tibet, China： Constraints from U-Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes of Detrital and Magmatic Zircons

We report here U-Pb age and in situ Hf isotopic results for detrital and magmatic zircons from one conglomerate and four tuffite samples from the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation across the North Qiangtang depression, Tibet. Coupled with previously published data in the region, this paper proposes new insights into the geochronological framework for the Nadigangri Formation. The deposition ages of tuffite from top to bottom in the Woruo Mountain, Quem Co and Dongqu River, are 203 Ma, 226 Ma, 221.5 Ma and 221.1 Ma, respectively. The detrital zircons yield a younger cluster of ages of 201.5-225 Ma from the conglomerate of the Quem Co Formation. The Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation defines a temporal range approximately between 201 and 225 Ma （Norian-Rhaetian）, including three predominant groups of 220-225 Ma, 210-217 Ma and 201-205 Ma, which correspond with the three main rifting episodes of initial rifting, further rifting and final rifting. Positive ~Hf（t） value and low model ages in younger detrital zircons suggests a juvenile character. However, the Hf isotopes of magmatic zircons display the presence of reworked ancient crust with 1.1-1.8 Ga. These results provide strong constraints not only on the temporal range of the Late Triassic Nadigangri Formation, but also on the onset of the Qiangtang Mesozoic rift basin.

Formation and Evolution of a Paleosol across the Lower Silurian-Lower Permian Boundary in Zunyi District,Northern Guizhou,China and Its Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate Implications

This paper presents a set of bulk geochemical and mineralogical data from a paleoweathering profile located in Zunyi District, Northern Guizhou, China. It was formed at the top of the Hanjiadian Formation of the Lower Silurian. A truncated, argillic, gleyed, kryptic paleospodosol is recognized in the paleoweathering profile. Ratios of immobile elements（Ti/Zr, Ti/Al） and their binary（e.g., Nb vs. Zr/TiO_2 and Th/Sc vs. Zr/Sc）, triangular diagrams（La-Th-Sc, Th-ScZr/10, Zr-Cr-Ga） reflect that the Gaojiayan paleosol is the product of in-situ weathering of gray-green silty mudstone of the underlying Hanjiadian Formation. Mass balance calculations indicate K enrichment and Na enrichment in the upper and lower portions of paleosol, respectively. These findings both are the results of transgression, which brings substantial concentrations of such elements as K, Na, and Sr. In particular, K enrichment is achieved by the illitization of kaolinite. The biological processes of terrestrial vascular plants also enhance K concentration, especially at the top of the paleosol. Na enrichment is a consequence of albitization and/or adsorption by clay minerals through cation exchange. The mass distributions and relative mass changes of rare earth elements（REEs） in the studied profile display characteristics of vertical zonation. Three peaks in total REEs content are observed, indicating two paleoclimatic or paleoenvironmental changes. Mineralogical characteristics indicate that the paleoclimate changed first from warm and humid to cold and dry and later, to dry and lightly warmer. The corresponding soil environment varies from weakly acidic to strongly alkaline and later, to weakly acidic. Mass translocation characteristics of REEs and several transition metals suggest that the Gaojiayan paleosol may have undergone top erosion.

Middle-Late Pleistocene Paleo-Climate and Paleo-Altimetry of the Centre of Tibetan Plateau Indicated by the Sporopollen Record of Well QZ-4

The core sample from well QZ-4 is an important climate archive for the central Tibetan Plateau in the middle-late Pleistocene. In this work, a detailed pollen analysis of it is carried out to provide a preliminary insight into the paleo-climate and paleo-altimetry change in the central Tibetan Plateau. It can be concluded that the pollen assemblage can be obviously divided into two pollen zones, Pollen zone I (251.1 - 314 m in depth, 120.0 - 345.8 ka BP.) and Pollen zone II (200 - 251.1 m in depth, 105.4 - 120 ka BP.). The paleo-climate during pollen zone I deposition period was comparatively colder and wetter than it during the pollen zone II deposition period. After Gonghe Movement, the center of Tibetan Plateau was uplifted about 300 m (from 3500 - 3700 m to 3800 - 4000 m in elevation). The wind was changed from horizontal or downward direction to upward direction, in the study area. In the central of Tibetan Plateau, the climate change seems to be mainly driven by global climate change, and that tectonic uplift may have been a subordinate influence at the middle-late Pleistocene.

Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Middle Permian Siliceous Clastics and Basalt from Central Qiangtang, Northern Tibet: Implications for the Evolution of Permian

In this study, we report zircon U-Pb age and geochemical data on the Middle Permian siliceous clastics and basalt samples of Lugu Formation collected in the Yaqu region from central Qiangtang. Combined with the published data, we establish the spatial and temporal evolution of the rift in central Qiangtang from the Early to Late Permian. Zircon U-Pb dating by LA-ICP-MS yields a concordant age with a weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U age of 266.6±2.8 Ma(n=6, MSWD=0.55) for the basalt. The results of detrital zircons from the siliceous clastics exhibit a prominent population of 257–270 Ma with a maximum depositional age of 265.4±2.6 Ma(n=19, MSWD=2.7) and three minor populations with peak ages of 450, 700–800, 1 800 Ma, as well as one older age of 2 039 Ma, generally coinciding with the geological events that occurred at different epochs in Qiangtang. The basalts display enrichments in highfield-strength elements(HFSE) such as Th, Ta and Hf, but show relative depletion in large-ion-lithophile elements(LILE) such as Ba, K and Sr, as well as slight depletion in Nb and exhibiting no Eu anomalies. All the samples are distributed in the within-plate setting on the Zr vs. Zr/Y and Th/Hf vs. Ta/Hf discrimination diagrams. The integration of these new data together with the regional geological background indicates that the Lugu Formation was formed in a continental rift-related setting of the central Qiangtang terrane during the Middle Permian. We propose a temporal and spatial framework that the continental rift opened as a result of the break-up of Gondwana during the Early Permian, ran to its peak in the Middle Permian and closed in the Late Permian(290–257 Ma), which could be a key constraint on the Permian evolution of Qiangtang.