A map of major Precambrian mafic dyke swarms and related units in the North China Craton is compiled, and the features and geological implications of these swarms are demonstrated. The Archean dyke swarms are availabl...A map of major Precambrian mafic dyke swarms and related units in the North China Craton is compiled, and the features and geological implications of these swarms are demonstrated. The Archean dyke swarms are available to portray the early crustal growth and cratonization. The middle Paleoproterozoic(2200–1850 Ma) swarms and related magmatic series could constrain the tectonic evolution: They approve that the craton was amalgamated by two sub-cratons. The late Paleoproterozoic(1800–1600 Ma), Mesoproterozoic(1400–1200 Ma) and Neoproterozoic(1000–800 Ma) series swarms are important in paleogeographic reconstruction: they indicate that North China might have connected with some of the North European and North American cratons during Proterozoic. Dyke swarms are not only geological timescales and tectonic markers but also evolution indicators of lithospheric mantle: they imply a rejuvenation of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle of North China at 1780–1730 Ma. These swarms occurred with several rifts, including the Hengling(2200–1970 Ma), Xuwujia(1970–1880 Ma), Xiong'er(1800–1600 Ma), Yan-Liao(1730–1200 Ma), and Xu-Huai(1000–800 Ma). Among them, the Xuwujia rift was possibly continental arc associated; whereas the others were intra-continental. In addition, the Xiong'er and Xu-Huai rifts were possibly triple junctions along the present southern and southeastern margins of the Craton, respectively. Different tectonic settings of these rifts and dyke swarms would result in diversified series of ore deposits.展开更多
The continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedimentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation occur well in Yiyang of Hunan Province, consisting of a wedge-shaped succession of Neoproterozoic strata that ove...The continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedimentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation occur well in Yiyang of Hunan Province, consisting of a wedge-shaped succession of Neoproterozoic strata that overlie with high-angle unconformity the flysch turbidites of the Lengjiaxi Group in the Upper Mesoproterozoic Eonothem. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating gives a weighted mean age of 814 ( 12 Ma for the dacitic volcanic agglomerates from the lowest part of the volcanic rocks in the Cangshuipu Formation. This age is younger than previously reported values of 921-933 Ma for the volcanic rocks from the Cangshuipu Formation. Our new dating represents the lower boundary age of the Neoproterozoic System in the studied area. The younger age for the Cangshuipu volcanic rocks is supported by the following observations: (1) Lower Neoproterozoic strata (814-1000 Ma) are missing in the studied area; (2) the Nanhua rift system was initiated at about 820 Ma; and (3) an age of ~820 Ma may be taken as the lower boundary timing of the Nanhua System (even Neoproterozoic) in South China.展开更多
Fault formation and evolution in the presence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses has not been investigated extensively in rift basins. The fault systems of Weixinan Sag, Beibuwan Basin of China, which is fully covere...Fault formation and evolution in the presence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses has not been investigated extensively in rift basins. The fault systems of Weixinan Sag, Beibuwan Basin of China, which is fully covered with high-precision 3-D seismic data and is rich in oil-gas resources, have been successfully reproduced by sandbox modeling in this study with inclusion of multiple pre-existing weaknesses in the experimental model. The basic characteristics of fault formation and evolution revealed by sandbox modeling are as follows. 1） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults are formed much earlier than the distant-weakness faults （faults far away from and with little or no relationship to the weakness）. 2） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults develop mainly along or parallel to a pre-existing weakness, while distant-weakness faults develop nearly perpendicular to the extension direction. A complicated fault system can be formed in a fixed direction of extension with the existence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses, and the complicated fault system in the Weixinan Sag formed gradually in a nearly N-S direction with multiple pre-existing weaknesses. 3） The increase in the length and number of faults is closely tied to the nature of pre-existing weaknesses. The sandbox model may provide a new clue to detailed fault system research for oil and gas exploration in rift basins.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2012CB416601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41322018,41072146)The LIPs-Supercontinent Reconstruction Project(www.supercontinent.org)
文摘A map of major Precambrian mafic dyke swarms and related units in the North China Craton is compiled, and the features and geological implications of these swarms are demonstrated. The Archean dyke swarms are available to portray the early crustal growth and cratonization. The middle Paleoproterozoic(2200–1850 Ma) swarms and related magmatic series could constrain the tectonic evolution: They approve that the craton was amalgamated by two sub-cratons. The late Paleoproterozoic(1800–1600 Ma), Mesoproterozoic(1400–1200 Ma) and Neoproterozoic(1000–800 Ma) series swarms are important in paleogeographic reconstruction: they indicate that North China might have connected with some of the North European and North American cratons during Proterozoic. Dyke swarms are not only geological timescales and tectonic markers but also evolution indicators of lithospheric mantle: they imply a rejuvenation of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle of North China at 1780–1730 Ma. These swarms occurred with several rifts, including the Hengling(2200–1970 Ma), Xuwujia(1970–1880 Ma), Xiong'er(1800–1600 Ma), Yan-Liao(1730–1200 Ma), and Xu-Huai(1000–800 Ma). Among them, the Xuwujia rift was possibly continental arc associated; whereas the others were intra-continental. In addition, the Xiong'er and Xu-Huai rifts were possibly triple junctions along the present southern and southeastern margins of the Craton, respectively. Different tectonic settings of these rifts and dyke swarms would result in diversified series of ore deposits.
基金supported both by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grand Nos.40032010-B.40072083 and 49972046)“100 Young Geologists”grant from both Chinese Ministry of Geology and Minera1 Resources and Sichuan Province
文摘The continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedimentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation occur well in Yiyang of Hunan Province, consisting of a wedge-shaped succession of Neoproterozoic strata that overlie with high-angle unconformity the flysch turbidites of the Lengjiaxi Group in the Upper Mesoproterozoic Eonothem. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating gives a weighted mean age of 814 ( 12 Ma for the dacitic volcanic agglomerates from the lowest part of the volcanic rocks in the Cangshuipu Formation. This age is younger than previously reported values of 921-933 Ma for the volcanic rocks from the Cangshuipu Formation. Our new dating represents the lower boundary age of the Neoproterozoic System in the studied area. The younger age for the Cangshuipu volcanic rocks is supported by the following observations: (1) Lower Neoproterozoic strata (814-1000 Ma) are missing in the studied area; (2) the Nanhua rift system was initiated at about 820 Ma; and (3) an age of ~820 Ma may be taken as the lower boundary timing of the Nanhua System (even Neoproterozoic) in South China.
基金supported by China National Major Project of Oil and Gas (2011ZX05023-004-012, 2011ZX05006-006-02-01)China Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 40772086)
文摘Fault formation and evolution in the presence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses has not been investigated extensively in rift basins. The fault systems of Weixinan Sag, Beibuwan Basin of China, which is fully covered with high-precision 3-D seismic data and is rich in oil-gas resources, have been successfully reproduced by sandbox modeling in this study with inclusion of multiple pre-existing weaknesses in the experimental model. The basic characteristics of fault formation and evolution revealed by sandbox modeling are as follows. 1） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults are formed much earlier than the distant-weakness faults （faults far away from and with little or no relationship to the weakness）. 2） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults develop mainly along or parallel to a pre-existing weakness, while distant-weakness faults develop nearly perpendicular to the extension direction. A complicated fault system can be formed in a fixed direction of extension with the existence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses, and the complicated fault system in the Weixinan Sag formed gradually in a nearly N-S direction with multiple pre-existing weaknesses. 3） The increase in the length and number of faults is closely tied to the nature of pre-existing weaknesses. The sandbox model may provide a new clue to detailed fault system research for oil and gas exploration in rift basins.
