As one of the mélanges in the southern side of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, the Saiqu mélange in southern Tibet is important for understanding the evolution of the Neo-Tethys ocean. The age of the Saiqu m...As one of the mélanges in the southern side of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, the Saiqu mélange in southern Tibet is important for understanding the evolution of the Neo-Tethys ocean. The age of the Saiqu mélange, however, has been debated due to the lack of reliable fossil evidence in matrix strata. Based on lithological similarities with platform strata in southern Tibet and limited fossils from exotic blocks, previous studies variously ascribed the Saiqu mélange to be Triassic in general, Late Triassic, or Late Cretaceous. Here we reported planktonic foraminiferal faunas from the matrix strata of the Saiqu mélange. The new fossils yield a Late Cretaceous age, which is so far the best age constraint for the mélange. Regional stratigraphic correlation indicates that the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) in Saiqu may be time equivalent to the CORBs of the Zongzhuo Formation in neighboring regions. Thus the Saiqu m^lange should be correlated to the Upper Cretaceous Zongzhuo Formation rather than the Triassic Xiukang Group, as previously suggested.展开更多
The geometry of the Dabie Mountains is manifested in terms of the distribution of petro-tectonic units in three dimensions. It is identified into three segments from east to west, four horizons in vertical profiles an...The geometry of the Dabie Mountains is manifested in terms of the distribution of petro-tectonic units in three dimensions. It is identified into three segments from east to west, four horizons in vertical profiles and eight petro- tectonic units from north to south. Three segments are the east, middle and west segments. Four horizons, from top to bottom, are two different meta-tectonic mélange in the uppermost part, underthrust basement and cover below them, and mantle at the bottom of the profiles. Eight petro-tectonic units from north to south are: (1) the hinterland basin, (2) the meta -flysch, (3) the ultramafic rock belt (UM) + Sujiahe eclogite belt (SH), (4) eclogite belt 2 (Ec2) with most eclogites of continental affinity, (5) eclogite belt 1 (Ecl1) with some eclogite of oceanic affinity, (6) the Dabie complex or underthrust basement of the Yangtze continent, (7) the Susong and Zhangbaling Groups or underthrust cover of the Yangtze continent and (8) the foreland belt. The (3), (4) and (5) units belong to meta-tectonic mélange. Some ultrahigh pressure metamorphic minerals such as coesite and micro-diamonds have been found in (3) and (4) units; a possible ultrahigh pressure mineral, clinozoisite aggregate pseudomorph after lawsonite, was found in unit (5). The three tectonic units are speculated to be coherent initially; the UM and SH units are suggested to be the root belt in the east, middle and west segments respectively. The kinematics of the Dabie orogen is divided into three stages: top-to-south thrusting during the eclogite-granulite facies metamorphism, top-to-north extension during the amphibolite metamorphic stage, and faults or shear bands of brittle deformation and greenschist facies metamorphism were formed in the post-orogenic stage since the Late Jurassic and the movement pictures of these faults is different from each other.展开更多
The garnet amphibolites from the newly identified Wanhe ophiolitic mélange in the Changning-Menglian suture zone(CMSZ)provide a probe to elucidate the evolution of the Triassic Palaeo-Tethys.An integrated petrolo...The garnet amphibolites from the newly identified Wanhe ophiolitic mélange in the Changning-Menglian suture zone(CMSZ)provide a probe to elucidate the evolution of the Triassic Palaeo-Tethys.An integrated petrologic,phase equilibria modeling and geochronological study of the garnet amphibolites,southeast Tibetan Plateau,shows that the garnet amphibolites have a peak mineral assemblage of garnet,glaucophane,lawsonite,chlorite,rutile,phengite and quartz,and a clockwise P-T path with a prograde segment from blueschist-facies to eclogite-facies with a peak-metamorphic P-T conditions of 2000–2100 MPa and 495–515℃,indicating a cold geothermal gradient of about 240–260℃/GPa.Theretrograde metamorphic P-T path is characterized by nearly isothermal decompression to lower amphibolite-facies and subsequent cooling to greenschist-facies.The metamorphic zircons have fractionated HREE patterns and significant negative Eu anomalies,and therefore the obtained zircon U-Pb age of 231±1.5 Ma is interpreted to be the timing of the amphibolite facies metamorphism occurrence.The present study probably indicates that the garnet amphibolites in the Wanhe ophiolitic mélange was the retrograded highpressure eclogite-facies blueschist,instead of the previously proposed eclogites,and the garnet amphibolites recorded the subduction and exhumation process of the Palaeo-Tethys Oceanic crust in the Triassic.展开更多
Wanbaogou Group-complex is a suit of melange aggregation of the EasternKunlun orogenic belt, which is divided into two parts, i.e. the exotic blocks and the matrix strata.Based on stromatolite fossils yielded in the e...Wanbaogou Group-complex is a suit of melange aggregation of the EasternKunlun orogenic belt, which is divided into two parts, i.e. the exotic blocks and the matrix strata.Based on stromatolite fossils yielded in the exotic blocks, the age of this group-complex was oncedefined to the Precambrian. Recently, two Paleogene palynological assemblages have been found insamples from the matrix strata of the Upper Part in this group-complex by the authors: in ascendingorder, the Al-nipollenites-Quercoidites assemblage of Late Eocene and theCaryapollenites-Pinuspollenites assemblage of Early Oligocene. Those results show that the matrixstrata of this melange were mainly formed in Paleogene, and the event causing mixture should be aHimalayan Movement Phase. This paper is designed to provide some detailed evidence for determiningthe age of the matrix strata in this group-complex based upon study at the Kunlunqiao Section, whichwould be of important geological significance for further understanding this group-complex as asuit of melange aggregation and establishing or improving the stratigraphic framework of the studiedregion. The new finding will certainly benefit from now on the investigation on geotectonic andsedimentary evolution of Eastern Kunlun.展开更多
The Nan-Uttaradit suture is marked by a narrow N-S trending and discontinuous ophiolite belt in northern Thailand. This suture zone is a mélange composed of gabbro, tholeiitic meta- basalt, andesite and radiolari...The Nan-Uttaradit suture is marked by a narrow N-S trending and discontinuous ophiolite belt in northern Thailand. This suture zone is a mélange composed of gabbro, tholeiitic meta- basalt, andesite and radiolarian chert. Samples of gabbro and meta-basalt in the Nan-Uttaradit suture yield zircon U-Pb ages of 311±10 and 316±3 Ma, respectively, interpreted as the crystallization ages of the rocks, suggesting the Nan-Uttaradit Ocean existed in the Late Carboniferous. Our results indicate that the Nan-Uttaradit Ocean co-existed with the Ailaoshan-Jinshajiang Ocean to the north and was probably an along-strike extension of the latter.展开更多
This study focuses on the zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Bairiqiete granodiorite intrusion (rock mass) from the Buqingshan tectonic mélange belt in the southern margin of East Kunlun.The resu...This study focuses on the zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Bairiqiete granodiorite intrusion (rock mass) from the Buqingshan tectonic mélange belt in the southern margin of East Kunlun.The results show that the zircons are characterized by internal oscillatory zoning and high Th/U (0.14-0.80),indicative of an igneous origin.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from the Bairiqiete granodiorite yielded an age of 439.0 ± 1.9 Ma (MSWD =0.34),implying that the Bairiqiete granodiorite formed in the early Silurian.Geochemical analyses show that the rocks are medium-K calc-alkaline,relatively high in Al2O3 (14.57-18.34 wt%) and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous.Rare-earth elements have low concentrations (45.49-168.31 ppm) and incline rightward with weak negative to weak positive Eu anomalies (δEu =0.64-1.34).Trace-element geochemistry is characterized by negative anomalies of Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf and Ti and positive anomalies of Rb,Th and Ba.Moreover,the rocks have similar geochemical features with adakites.The Bairiqiete granodiorite appears to have a continental crust source and formed in a subduction-related island-arc setting.The Bairiqiete granodiorite was formed due to partial melting of the lower crust and suggests subduction in the Buqingshan area of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.展开更多
Glaucophane in Shuangjiang area, West Yunnan Province, supplies a chance for studying south segment of Lancangjiang tectonic zone. But people are at odds as to whether two stage glaucophane exists or not, glaucophane...Glaucophane in Shuangjiang area, West Yunnan Province, supplies a chance for studying south segment of Lancangjiang tectonic zone. But people are at odds as to whether two stage glaucophane exists or not, glaucophane is the result of dynamic metamorphism later, or indicates a high P/T metamorphic belt when Paleozoic Tethys Sea closed. Authors discover in a recent research that there is only one stage glaucophane in Shuangjiang area, and three blueschist belts are distributed near N S tending, and glaucophane in Shuangjiang area is related to the eastward subduction of Changning Menglian basin.展开更多
The subduction channel is defined as a relatively thin and weak zone with coherent kinematics between the descending and overriding plates during subduction.The materials in the channel,showing the characteristics of ...The subduction channel is defined as a relatively thin and weak zone with coherent kinematics between the descending and overriding plates during subduction.The materials in the channel,showing the characteristics of mélange,consist of low-density,low-viscosity,highly sheared metasediments and/or serpentinite-rich matrix with relatively rigid blocks.The channel materials flow downwards and upwards,forming a kind of channel convection.Based on geophysical and geological observations on active oceanic subduction zones,combined with numerical simulations,the subduction channel model was initially set to shallow depths<30 km.With the development of numerical simulation technology and fossil subduction zone investigations,the subduction channel model was extended to depths of 80-100 km to describe deeper geodynamic environments of oceanic subduction zones and explore the exhumation of high to ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks.It is also extended to continental subduction zones in order to explain the exhumation of metamorphic rocks in different grades as well as fluid activity and crust-mantle interaction during continental subduction.Although there are a series of differences in material composition and slab/mantle interface property between the upper and lower plates,continental subduction channels exhibit many similarities in structure and dynamics to oceanic subduction channels.Existing studies have provided a fundamental understanding of the structural and dynamic characteristics of subduction channels,but many problems still need to be solved and clarified.In particular,the fundamental characteristics of subduction channels obtained by numerical simulation need to be confirmed and modified through geological investigations of fossil subduction channels.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,Grant No.2006CB701400)the Project of the Geological Survey of China(Grant Nos.H45C004004,G45C001004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40472011).
文摘As one of the mélanges in the southern side of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, the Saiqu mélange in southern Tibet is important for understanding the evolution of the Neo-Tethys ocean. The age of the Saiqu mélange, however, has been debated due to the lack of reliable fossil evidence in matrix strata. Based on lithological similarities with platform strata in southern Tibet and limited fossils from exotic blocks, previous studies variously ascribed the Saiqu mélange to be Triassic in general, Late Triassic, or Late Cretaceous. Here we reported planktonic foraminiferal faunas from the matrix strata of the Saiqu mélange. The new fossils yield a Late Cretaceous age, which is so far the best age constraint for the mélange. Regional stratigraphic correlation indicates that the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) in Saiqu may be time equivalent to the CORBs of the Zongzhuo Formation in neighboring regions. Thus the Saiqu m^lange should be correlated to the Upper Cretaceous Zongzhuo Formation rather than the Triassic Xiukang Group, as previously suggested.
基金financed by 973 Chinese National Key Project for Basic Research(2003CB716500)the Scientific Investigation of Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project(2001 CCB00900)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40172079),Anhui Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
文摘The geometry of the Dabie Mountains is manifested in terms of the distribution of petro-tectonic units in three dimensions. It is identified into three segments from east to west, four horizons in vertical profiles and eight petro- tectonic units from north to south. Three segments are the east, middle and west segments. Four horizons, from top to bottom, are two different meta-tectonic mélange in the uppermost part, underthrust basement and cover below them, and mantle at the bottom of the profiles. Eight petro-tectonic units from north to south are: (1) the hinterland basin, (2) the meta -flysch, (3) the ultramafic rock belt (UM) + Sujiahe eclogite belt (SH), (4) eclogite belt 2 (Ec2) with most eclogites of continental affinity, (5) eclogite belt 1 (Ecl1) with some eclogite of oceanic affinity, (6) the Dabie complex or underthrust basement of the Yangtze continent, (7) the Susong and Zhangbaling Groups or underthrust cover of the Yangtze continent and (8) the foreland belt. The (3), (4) and (5) units belong to meta-tectonic mélange. Some ultrahigh pressure metamorphic minerals such as coesite and micro-diamonds have been found in (3) and (4) units; a possible ultrahigh pressure mineral, clinozoisite aggregate pseudomorph after lawsonite, was found in unit (5). The three tectonic units are speculated to be coherent initially; the UM and SH units are suggested to be the root belt in the east, middle and west segments respectively. The kinematics of the Dabie orogen is divided into three stages: top-to-south thrusting during the eclogite-granulite facies metamorphism, top-to-north extension during the amphibolite metamorphic stage, and faults or shear bands of brittle deformation and greenschist facies metamorphism were formed in the post-orogenic stage since the Late Jurassic and the movement pictures of these faults is different from each other.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41802071,41773026 and 41303028)the Geological Survey of China-Nepal railway(202008000000180117).
文摘The garnet amphibolites from the newly identified Wanhe ophiolitic mélange in the Changning-Menglian suture zone(CMSZ)provide a probe to elucidate the evolution of the Triassic Palaeo-Tethys.An integrated petrologic,phase equilibria modeling and geochronological study of the garnet amphibolites,southeast Tibetan Plateau,shows that the garnet amphibolites have a peak mineral assemblage of garnet,glaucophane,lawsonite,chlorite,rutile,phengite and quartz,and a clockwise P-T path with a prograde segment from blueschist-facies to eclogite-facies with a peak-metamorphic P-T conditions of 2000–2100 MPa and 495–515℃,indicating a cold geothermal gradient of about 240–260℃/GPa.Theretrograde metamorphic P-T path is characterized by nearly isothermal decompression to lower amphibolite-facies and subsequent cooling to greenschist-facies.The metamorphic zircons have fractionated HREE patterns and significant negative Eu anomalies,and therefore the obtained zircon U-Pb age of 231±1.5 Ma is interpreted to be the timing of the amphibolite facies metamorphism occurrence.The present study probably indicates that the garnet amphibolites in the Wanhe ophiolitic mélange was the retrograded highpressure eclogite-facies blueschist,instead of the previously proposed eclogites,and the garnet amphibolites recorded the subduction and exhumation process of the Palaeo-Tethys Oceanic crust in the Triassic.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40272019)the China Geological Survey(Grant No.200313000054).
文摘Wanbaogou Group-complex is a suit of melange aggregation of the EasternKunlun orogenic belt, which is divided into two parts, i.e. the exotic blocks and the matrix strata.Based on stromatolite fossils yielded in the exotic blocks, the age of this group-complex was oncedefined to the Precambrian. Recently, two Paleogene palynological assemblages have been found insamples from the matrix strata of the Upper Part in this group-complex by the authors: in ascendingorder, the Al-nipollenites-Quercoidites assemblage of Late Eocene and theCaryapollenites-Pinuspollenites assemblage of Early Oligocene. Those results show that the matrixstrata of this melange were mainly formed in Paleogene, and the event causing mixture should be aHimalayan Movement Phase. This paper is designed to provide some detailed evidence for determiningthe age of the matrix strata in this group-complex based upon study at the Kunlunqiao Section, whichwould be of important geological significance for further understanding this group-complex as asuit of melange aggregation and establishing or improving the stratigraphic framework of the studiedregion. The new finding will certainly benefit from now on the investigation on geotectonic andsedimentary evolution of Eastern Kunlun.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41172202,41190073,41302178)the China Geological Survey(No.1212011121256)the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources,China University of Geosciences in Wuhan(No.MSFGPMR201402)
文摘The Nan-Uttaradit suture is marked by a narrow N-S trending and discontinuous ophiolite belt in northern Thailand. This suture zone is a mélange composed of gabbro, tholeiitic meta- basalt, andesite and radiolarian chert. Samples of gabbro and meta-basalt in the Nan-Uttaradit suture yield zircon U-Pb ages of 311±10 and 316±3 Ma, respectively, interpreted as the crystallization ages of the rocks, suggesting the Nan-Uttaradit Ocean existed in the Late Carboniferous. Our results indicate that the Nan-Uttaradit Ocean co-existed with the Ailaoshan-Jinshajiang Ocean to the north and was probably an along-strike extension of the latter.
基金supported financially by the National Nature Sciences Foundation of China (No. 41172186)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. CHD2011TD020)+1 种基金the Commonweal Geological SurveyThe Aluminum Corporation of China and the Land-Resources Department of Qinghai Province (No. 200801)
文摘This study focuses on the zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Bairiqiete granodiorite intrusion (rock mass) from the Buqingshan tectonic mélange belt in the southern margin of East Kunlun.The results show that the zircons are characterized by internal oscillatory zoning and high Th/U (0.14-0.80),indicative of an igneous origin.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from the Bairiqiete granodiorite yielded an age of 439.0 ± 1.9 Ma (MSWD =0.34),implying that the Bairiqiete granodiorite formed in the early Silurian.Geochemical analyses show that the rocks are medium-K calc-alkaline,relatively high in Al2O3 (14.57-18.34 wt%) and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous.Rare-earth elements have low concentrations (45.49-168.31 ppm) and incline rightward with weak negative to weak positive Eu anomalies (δEu =0.64-1.34).Trace-element geochemistry is characterized by negative anomalies of Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf and Ti and positive anomalies of Rb,Th and Ba.Moreover,the rocks have similar geochemical features with adakites.The Bairiqiete granodiorite appears to have a continental crust source and formed in a subduction-related island-arc setting.The Bairiqiete granodiorite was formed due to partial melting of the lower crust and suggests subduction in the Buqingshan area of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.
文摘Glaucophane in Shuangjiang area, West Yunnan Province, supplies a chance for studying south segment of Lancangjiang tectonic zone. But people are at odds as to whether two stage glaucophane exists or not, glaucophane is the result of dynamic metamorphism later, or indicates a high P/T metamorphic belt when Paleozoic Tethys Sea closed. Authors discover in a recent research that there is only one stage glaucophane in Shuangjiang area, and three blueschist belts are distributed near N S tending, and glaucophane in Shuangjiang area is related to the eastward subduction of Changning Menglian basin.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41572180 and 41630207).
文摘The subduction channel is defined as a relatively thin and weak zone with coherent kinematics between the descending and overriding plates during subduction.The materials in the channel,showing the characteristics of mélange,consist of low-density,low-viscosity,highly sheared metasediments and/or serpentinite-rich matrix with relatively rigid blocks.The channel materials flow downwards and upwards,forming a kind of channel convection.Based on geophysical and geological observations on active oceanic subduction zones,combined with numerical simulations,the subduction channel model was initially set to shallow depths<30 km.With the development of numerical simulation technology and fossil subduction zone investigations,the subduction channel model was extended to depths of 80-100 km to describe deeper geodynamic environments of oceanic subduction zones and explore the exhumation of high to ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks.It is also extended to continental subduction zones in order to explain the exhumation of metamorphic rocks in different grades as well as fluid activity and crust-mantle interaction during continental subduction.Although there are a series of differences in material composition and slab/mantle interface property between the upper and lower plates,continental subduction channels exhibit many similarities in structure and dynamics to oceanic subduction channels.Existing studies have provided a fundamental understanding of the structural and dynamic characteristics of subduction channels,but many problems still need to be solved and clarified.In particular,the fundamental characteristics of subduction channels obtained by numerical simulation need to be confirmed and modified through geological investigations of fossil subduction channels.