Tectonic Constraints on the Transformation of Paleozoic Framework of Uplift and Depression in the Ordos Area

During the Paleozoic, the Ordos area in the western North China Plate was located at the intersecting position of microplates and controlled by their interaction. The structural framework in the Ordos area, which underwent transformations in the Ordovician, the Carboniferous and the Permian respectively, was dominated by the alternation of uplift and depression. The transformations of structural framework are utilized as the clues to investigate the microplates＇ interacting type and its response in the Ordos area. According to the regional structural evolution, the Ordos area is simplified into an isopachous, isotropic and elastic shell model, and under proposed various boundary conditions, three series of numerical simulations corresponding to the three structural transformations are carried out to determine the detailed tectonic constraints. Numerical simulations reveal that the structure of the uplift and depression, which is similar to the actual pattern, develops only under one special boundary condition in each of the three series, indicating that the structural framework responds to the unique tectonic background. The simulation results show that in the Early Paleozoic, the L-shaped paleouplift formed nearby the southwestern corner of the Ordos area because the intensity of the compressions in the southern and western boundaries resulting from the ocean-continent collisions was similar. In the Late Paleozoic, it evolved into continent-continent （or arc-continent） interaction in the southern and northern boundaries; in the preliminary stage of the interaction, since the interface between the North China Plate and the plates on the south and north was narrow, the relative acting force was little and the regional western boundary immobile, and the structural framework in the basin was characterized by the N-S trending slender-waist-shaped uplift; as the interface between the plates expanded gradually, the extrusive force in the southern and northern boundaries of the North China Plate increased, resulting in the paleogeographic divisions showing E-W trending, and, the western boundary of the basin was extruded westward due to the intense compression inducing the local NE trending of paleogeographic division in the central area. The simulation results further reflect that the symmetry of the uplift-depression pattern is restricted by that of the boundary conditions, suggesting that the Paleozoic structural transformations of the Ordos area under boundary constraints accord with the universal physical symmetrical principle.

Reconstruction of Ore-controlling Structures Resulting from Magmatic Intrusion into the Tongling Ore Cluster Area during the Yanshanian Epoch

The Tongling ore cluster area experienced intensive compression and associated shearing during the Indosinian-Yanshanian Epoch, which formed a trunk ore-controlling fold and fault system in the caprock. The magmatic intrusion in the Yanshanian Epoch induced a multi-stage unmixing of poly-phase fluids, resulting in mineralization characterized by multi-layer, wide-range, and multiform styles. The magmatic intrusion in the Tongling area not only supplied the essential ore-forming materials, but also reconstructed the ore-controlling structures according to a trend surface simulation of the following five strata boundaries： Silurian-Devonian, Devonian-Carboniferous, Carboniferous- Permian, Middle Permian-Upper Permian and Permian -Triassic. The result of this simulation shows that there exists a significant difference between the strata in the upper part and those in the lower. The lower trend surfaces are antiform whereas the upper trend surfaces are synform. In addition, superposing of the trend surfaces of adjacent bed boundaries （such as, Silurian-Devonian boundary superposed upon Devonian-Carboniferous boundary） shows that the lower trend surface always pierces the one above. Moreover, the position and orientation of the pierced parts of the different superposed trend surfaces are similar and show E-W-trending zonal distribution in accordance with the distribution of the regional E-W-trending magmatic-metallogenic belt. Based on comprehensive analysis of the mechanical properties of the strata, structural deformation mechanisms, and field phenomena, it seems that the special characteristics of the stratal trend surface resulted from jacking due to magmatic intrusion into the caprock previously controlled by an E-W-trending basement fault. Therefore, it is deduced that the major ore-controlling structures, which formed during regional horizontal compression, were reconstructed by the vertical jacking function of ore-forming magmas during the Yanshanian Epoch. During the ore-forming process, the local vertical jacking of magmas, coupled with the regional horizontal compression, optimized an extensive environment in the fluid- conduit network and accelerated the unmixing of poly-phase fluids following magmatic emplacement. Jacking also strengthened the vertical and lateral fluid-guiding structures, supplying more suitable physical conditions for multi-layer emplacement and wide-ranging transport of poly-phase fluids.

Structure Refinement of Cs-rich Na-Li Beryl and Analysis of Its Typomorphic Characteristics of Configurations

The tabular beryl found in Huya Country, Sichuan Province is a rare and special member among beryls. Chemical analysis reveals that the beryl is a new type of Cs-rich Na-Li beryl, and the content of alkalis （Li20, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O, Cs2O） is up to 2.41%. The CCD system on the SMART APEX four circle single crystal diffractometer was used in this experiment to determine the structure of the sample accurately. The beryl belongs to the hexagonal system; its space group is P6/mcc. The dimensions of the unit cell are as follows： a = 0.91961（3） nm, c = 0.91969（7） nm, c/a = 1.0000, V= 0.67357 nm3, 7 = 120°, α= 90°, β = 90°. The accurate atomic coordinates of alkali metal ions and other crystallographic parameters are also obtained： Z = 2, the calculated density D = 2.754 g/cm^3 and final R （ I 〉 2 σ （/3）= 0.046 for 5597 reflections. The crystal structure was described by coordination polyhedron. Based on the data gained, a three-dimensional graph of the crystal structure of tabular beryl was made with the ATOMS 6.0 software. The refinement of crystal structure indicates that there are two main reasons for the cause of the tabular configuration： （1） The substitution of Be by Li into the tetrahedral framework weakened the stacked six-sided rings [Si6O18]^12- of the tetrahedral Si; （2） Alkalis （mainly Na and Cs） are too large to substitute in four-fold or six-fold coordination within the structure and are accommodated in the vacant channel. The accommodation of these alkalis strengthened the structure of six-sided rings of the tetrahedral Si. And other alkali metal ions and free volatile molecules such as H2O and CO2 occupy variable positions in the channel. The equation of the electrovalence is Li＋＋Na＋→Be^2＋. According to structural and compositional differences, the monoclinic crystal of tabular beryl is considered to be a new member of the beryl group. Chemical constraints of the environment, namely, the bulk-rock chemistry and the fluid-phase composition and physical-chemical conditions during the growth of the mineral may account for these occurrences of rare elements. In addition, that Li and Be have appro^mate physical parameters is also the key factor for the substitution. The direction of the mineralized hydrothermal liquid and the special occurrence conditions of the beryl such as the pH, temperature and pressure are also considered to be the main causes of the configuration of the tabular beryl.

The Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex: Constitution, Structure and Evolution

The Liaonan metamorphic core complex （mcc） has a three-layer structure and is constituted by five parts, i.e. a detachment fault zone, an allochthonous upper plate and an supradetachment basin above the fault zone, and highly metamorphosed rocks and intrusive rocks in the lower plate. The allochthonous upper plate is mainly of Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic rocks weakly deformed and metamorphosed in pre-Indosinan stage. Above these rocks is a small-scale supradetachment basin of Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The lower plate is dominated by Archean TTG gneisses with minor amount of supracrustal rocks. The Archean rocks are intruded by late Mesozoic synkinematic monzogranitic and granitic plutons. Different types of fault rocks, providing clues to the evolution of the detachment fault zone, are well-preserved in the fault zone, e.g. mylonitic gneiss, mylonites, brecciated mylonites, microbreccias and pseudotachylites. Lineations in lower plate granitic intrusions have consistent orientation that indicate uniform top-to-NW shearing along the main detachment fault zone. This also provides evidence for the synkinematic characteristics of the granitic plutons in the lower plate. Structural analysis of the different parts in the mcc and isotopic dating of plutonic rocks from the lower plate and mylonitic rocks from detachment fault zone suggest that exhumation of the mcc started with regional crustal extension due to crustal block rotation and tangential shearing. The extension triggered magma formation, upwelling and emplacement. This event ended with appearance of pseudotachylite and fault gauges formed at the uppermost crustal level. U-Pb dating of single zircon grains from granitic rocks in the lower plate gives an age of 130±2.5 Ma, and biotite grains from the main detachment fault zone have ^40Ar-^39Ar ages of 108-119 Ma. Several aspects may provide constraints for the exhumation of the Liaonan mcc. These include regional extensional setting, cover/basement contact, temporal and spatial coupling of extension and magmatism, basin development and evolution of fault tectonites along detachment fault zone. We propose that the exhumation of the Liaonan mcc resulted from regional extension and thinning of crust or lithosphere in eastern North China, and accompanied with synkinematic intrusion of granitic plutons, formation of detachment fault zone, uplifting and exhumation of lower-plate rocks, and appearance of supradetachment basin.

Late Paleozoic Fluid Systems and Their Ore-forming Effects in the Yuebei Basin,Northern Guangdong,China

Based on detailed and systematic researches of the geology of ore deposits, fluid inclusions and isotope geochemistry etc., and regarding the Late Paleozoic fluid system of the Yuebei Basin as an integrated object in this paper, we have revealed the temporo-spatial evolution law of the basin＇s fluid system and discussed its ore-forming effects by simulating and analyzing the distribution of ore-forming elements, the fluid thermodynamics and dynamics of evolution processes of this basin. The results show that Late Paleozoic ore-forming fluid systems of the Yuebei Basin include four basic types as follows. （1） The sea floor volcanic-exhalation system developed during the rapid basin slip-extension stage in the Mid-Late Devonian, which affected the Dabaoshan region. It thus formed the Dabaoshan-type Cu-Pb-Zn-Fe sea floor volcanic-exhalation sedimentary deposits. （2） The compaction fluid system developed during the stable spreading and thermal subsidence-compression stage of the basin in the Mid-Late Devonian. The range of its effects extended all over the whole basin. It resulted in filling-metasomatic deposits, such as the Hongyan-type pyrite deposits and pyrite sheet within the Fankou-type Cu-Pb-Zn-S deposits. （3） The hot water circulation system of sea floor developed during the stage of basin uplifting and micro-aulacogen from the late Late Carboniferous to Middle Carboniferous. The range of its effects covered the Fankou region. It thus formed MVT deposits, such as the main orebody of the Fankou-type Pb-Zn-S deposits. （4） The gravity fluid system developed during the stage of fold uplifting and the basin closed from Middle Triassic to Jurassic, forming groundwater hydrothermal deposits, e.g. the veinlet Pb-Zn-calcite orebodies of the Fankou-type Pb-Zn- S deposits. Migration and concentration of the ore-forming fluids were constrained by the state of temporo-spatial distribution of its fluid potential. Growth faults not only converged the fluids and drove them to move upwards, but also the fluids often crossed the faults to the edges of the basin at the bottom of these faults and the lithologic interfaces, and even migrated to the basin＇s edges from top to bottom along the faults, which may be one of the basic reasons for the stratabound deposits to cluster mainly along the contemporaneous faults on the inner border of the basin. The superposed mineralization resulting from the multi-stage activity of contemporaneous faults and ore-forming fluid systems in the basin may be one of the key factors for forming superlarge ore deposits.

The Cathaysia Flora and the Mixed Late Permian Cathaysian-Angaran Floras in East Asia

The Cathaysla flora, one of the most prominent floras of the Carboniferous and Permian, was mainly distributed In East Asia and was characterized by numerous endemic elements. China Is one of the most Important localities of the Cathaysla flora and It ;s also the center of origin of this flora. This paper reviews and discusses the characteristics of the Cathaysla flora and the blogeographlcally mixed Permian Cathayslan-Angaran floras of East Asia. In addition, the formative mechanism of the mixed Permian floras Is also discussed.