Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

下地壳拆沉作用及大陆地壳演化

讨论了下地壳拆沉作用的地球化学示踪方法,并以近来对秦岭－大别造山带和美国西部内华达岩基地区的研究成果为例,说明了下地壳拆沉在两地区壳－幔演化方面可能起的重要作用。     

地壳深俯冲与富钾火山岩成因

富钾火山岩是一类兼具壳幔双重地球化学特征的特殊岩石组合 ,它们不可能由亏损或原始地幔所派生 ,成岩过程中必须有地壳物质的参与 ,将地壳物质引入富钾火山岩成岩过程的主要动力机制即是深俯冲作用。洋壳和陆壳均可以通过俯冲进入地幔 ,俯冲地壳物质析出流体对地幔岩石的交代作用是导致富钾火山岩具特殊地球化学特征的主要原因。根据对大别—苏鲁造山带南北两侧晚中生代富钾火山岩的实例研究 ,表明该区火山岩的形成均受到了俯冲洋壳析出流体的交代作用 ,但造山带北侧富钾火山岩的形成还叠加了俯冲的扬子陆壳析出流体的交代作用 ,是多次富集事件综合作用的结果。文中还对富钾火山岩成因研究中值得进一步深入探索的问题进行了讨论。     

The Ivrea—Verbano and Strona-Ceneri Zones, Northern Italy: A cross-section of the continental crust—New evidence from seismic velocities of rock samples

Seismic velocities under confining pressures to 10 kbar have been measured for rocks of the Ivrea—Verbano and Strona—Ceneri Zones of northern Italy, a metamorphic complex thought to represent a cross-section of the continental crust and crust—mantle boundary. Laboratory-determined compressional wave velocities for schists and gneisses of the amphibolite facies found in the upper levels of the section (having an average density of 2.74 g/cm³) average 6.45 km/sec at pressures between 6 and 10 kbar. These increase with depth to values greater than 7.1 km/sec for amphibolites and rocks of the amphibolite—granulite facies transition and to 7.5 km/sec. (average density 3.06 g/cm³) in intermediate and mafic granulite facies rocks near the base of the section. Compressional wave velocities then abruptly increase to 8.5 km/sec in ultramafic complexes near the Insubric Line. Regional geophysical surveys show that P_g is 6.0 km/sec (density of 2.7 g/cm³), P* is 7.2–7.4 km/sec (density of 3.1 g/cm³) and P_n is 8.1 km/sec, values which are in agreement with the laboratory data when effects of temperature are taken into consideration. Estimated thicknesses of exposed rock units are in reasonable agreement with thicknesses determined for crustal layers in seismic refraction experiments. The agreement between the regional crustal structure and the laboratory-determined values of velocity and density provides strong evidence for the hypothesis that the rocks of this metamorphic complex represent a cross-section of the continental crust of the Po Basin.Using the Ivrea—Verbano and Strona—Ceneri sequence as a model of the continental crust, the crust of northern Italy is shown to consist of a thick series of metamorphic rocks with greenschist facies rocks occupying the uppermost levels. These grade downward into amphibolite facies gneisses and schists with occasional granitic intrusives. The Conrad discontinuity is marked by a change from silicic and intermediate amphibolite facies gneisses to intermediate and mafic granulite facies rocks in which hydrous minerals diminish in abundance and thus represents a distinct transition in terms of both composition and metamorphic grade. The lower crust is dominated by a heterogeneous series of mafic and metapelitic rocks in the granulite facies. Importantly, metasedimentary rocks of intermediate silica content found in the complex can have compressional wave velocities equivalent to velocities in mafic rocks suggesting that the lower continental crust everywhere is not necessarily mafic in composition. Ultramafic complexes near the Insubric Line may represent the upper mantle of the continent and their setting suggests that the continental crust-upper mantle boundary is sharp and is not isochemical.     

中国东部地壳元素丰度与岩石平均化学组成研究

迄今我们习用的地壳化学元素丰度和岩石平均化学组成的文献值大多是收集的汇编数据,不少微量元素特别是贵金属等难测元素的丰度所依据的样品的代表性和测试质量难以考证,其值存在着颇大的不确定度。本研究立足于实测资料,在中国东部系统采集了各类火成岩和变质杂岩体及各时代的标准地层剖面岩石样品28253个,组合成2718个分析样。采用中子活化等15种可靠分析方法测试,以国家一级标准物质作质量监控。求得的华北地台地壳、中国东部上地壳和出露地壳及各类岩石的78种化学元素丰度,显著改善了地壳和岩石的化学元素丰度,填补了多种岩石微量元素丰度的空白。     

大陆中部地壳应变局部化与应变弱化

大陆岩石圈流变学研究是构造地质学学科发展的必然,也是发展板块构造理论、探索大陆板块内部变形与动力学演化的核心问题。大陆中部地壳是大陆岩石圈中一个具有特殊性的圈层,其主要成分以花岗质岩石为代表,位于岩石脆-韧性转变域。在中部地壳层次上,岩石既具有脆性变形特点,又具有韧性变形属性,而且常常表现出多种流变强度。研究成果显示,中部地壳岩石流变具有许多特殊性:1)应变局部化是中部地壳流动最为典型表现形式;2)存在大陆地壳多震层:多震与强震,显示出中部地壳既弱又强的流变学属性;3)液/岩反应强烈,流体相直接影响着岩石的流变性;4)在许多地区存在有地球物理异常体(低速高导体)。大陆中部地壳应变局部化是板块相互作用过程中地壳层次上应变积累与集中的重要表现。在宏观尺度、中小型尺度和微观尺度上都有着重要的构造特点。地壳岩石的应变弱化,是诱发应变局部化的主要机制。多种形式的水致弱化(包括液压致裂、反应弱化、水解弱化等)与结构弱化(包括细粒化、晶格取向、成分分带性等)对于应变局部化具有重要的贡献。大陆地壳岩石流变学、中部地壳弱化与应变局部化研究,是未来岩石圈流变学研究的重要方向。     

海南岛古元宙变质基底性质和地壳增生的Nd、Pb同位素制约

基于海南地壳各类型岩石的63个样品Nd和Pb同位素分析数据,研究了海南地块元古宙地壳变质基底的时代、特征和演化。研究结果表明,海南岛元古宙变质基底成熟度低,基底变质岩系的母岩物质来源于长期亏损的地幔源区,主要形成时代为古元古宙晚期－新元古宙;不同时代花岗岩具有较高的εNd(t)值和较低的Nd模式年龄,主要形成于幔源物质参与下的或含地幔成分较多的初生地壳再循环。地壳增生具幕式增生的特点,并在2．0Ga、1.7Ga、1.2Ga出现高峰;Pb同位素组成既不同于扬子地块又不同于华夏地块,介于两地块之间,和Nd同位素特征具有一致或耦合关系。结合海南岛地质特征,初步认为不能单纯地将海南岛基底理解为华南地块统一南延部分或是华夏古陆的部分,可能为不同的构造块体。     

Strontium isotopic compositions of Mesozoic granitic rocks in the Hida belt, central Japan: diversities of magma sources and of processes of magma evolution in a continental margin area

The Sr isotopic compositions of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Funatsu granitic rocks in the Hida belt, Japan, were determined and variations of the compositions within single intrusions and on a regional scale were compared with previously reported data.

Relatively low and constant (or narrow range of) initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of granitic rocks within an intrusion (0.7044-0.7055) are found mostly in the outer part of the belt, while intrusions with high and wide ranges of initial ratios (0.7056-0.7105) are situated in the inner part. This difference in initial ratios within an intrusion is due to the different degrees of mixing between the parental mafic magma from the lower crust or upper mantle and the middle to upper crustal (or crust-derived) materials. On a regional scale, a smooth and regular increase of the ratios from 0.7044 to 0.7057, from outer to inner part, is outlined by the lowest ratio in each intrusion and this almost coincides with a trend given by the ratios of mafic rocks (or mafic enclaves) in the intrusion. This suggests a gradual change of source materials in the lower crust or upper mantle. The degree of crustal contributions to the parental magma, lesser in the outer part and larger in the inner part of the Hida belt, shows close relationships to some geophysical factors, such as the emplacement depth and uplift rate of mafic magma from deeper levels and stress state (extensional or compressional) in the middle to upper crustal levels. These factors are probably due to the plate tectonic configuration in the continental margin area where the Hida belt was included.     

榴辉岩的弹性波速评述

文中评述了榴辉岩的密度和高温高压下的纵波速度、速度各向异性、泊松比以及榴辉岩声软化现象的成因 ,着重介绍了榴辉岩的密度和波速对探讨岩石圈物质组成、莫霍界面性质、超高压岩石对实现壳幔物质交换的重要意义。榴辉岩的密度为 3 2～ 3 6 5g·cm-3 ,其中超高压榴辉岩具有更高的密度 (3 4～ 3 6 5g·cm-3 )。榴辉岩的纵波速度 (vp)在 1GPa时为 7 3～8 9km·s-1,其裂隙闭合压力可能高于 1GPa。榴辉岩的压力系数为 0 3～ 0 4km·s-1·GPa-1,温度系数为 - 3 4× 10 -4 km·s-1·℃ -1。它具有最弱的vP 各向异性 (<3% )。超高压榴辉岩的泊松比为 0 2 54～ 0 2 75。大别山榴辉岩的密度和波速研究表明 ,现今的大别山深部地壳可能依然存在榴辉岩 ,但数量应很少 ;大别山上地幔具有同超高压榴辉岩类似的弹性特征 ;拆沉作用是解释超高压榴辉岩折返机制的重要模式之一 ;榴辉岩的形成过程包含了壳幔物质循环作用 ,一部分榴辉岩已拆沉进入深部地幔 ,另一部分则快速折返至地壳内或通过其他构造作用进一步抬升、暴露地表。     

The Yermakovsky deposit,Western Transbaikal Region,Russia: Isotopic and geochemical parameters and sources of beryllium-bearing granitoids and other rocks

An isotopic study of igneous and metamorphic rocks has been carried out at the Yermakovsky bertrandite-phenakite-fluorite deposit. It has been established that the model age of the schists pertaining to the Zun-Morino Formation is 1360–1260 Ma. In Nd and Sr isotopic composition, these schists deviate from the isotopic composition of the continental crust and are close in this respect to the enriched mantle reservoir (EM-II). The model age of carbonate rocks of the Zun-Morino Formation is 1330–1020 Ma. The Middle Riphean model age of the Zun-Morino Formation is interpreted as the age of its protolith. According to the Sr and Nd isotopic data, all preore igneous rocks (granitic dikes, gabbroic rocks, and gneissose granite of the Tsagan Complex) were formed with the participation of continental crustal material. Synore basic dikes, alkali leucogranite stock, and syenite intrusion are considered to be mixtures of mantle components (DM+HIMU) and various continental crustal components (Tsagan gneissose granite, crystalline schists, the mean composition of granitoids of the Angara-Vitim batholith as an estimate of average composition of the regional continental crust). Synore igneous rocks are genetically cognate and related to the magmatic activity in the Western Transbaikal Rift Zone presumably formed in the Triassic under effect of a mantle plume.     

Geology, Geochemistry and Origin of the Hongshan Porphyry-Cryptoexplosive Breccia Type Copper Deposit in Huichang County, Jiangxi Prvince

The Hongshan porphyry-cryptoexplosive breccia type copper deposit occurs in a metamorphic rockseries of the Mesoproterozoic Zhongcun Group. Orebodies are distributed inside and outside porphyry-cryptoexplosive breccia pipes. The deposit involves five ore-forming types, Le the porphyry type, crytoexplosivebreccia type. contact-zone veinlet-disseminated type, in-pipe fracture-zone filling-replacement type and out-of-pipetracture-zone filling-replacement type, forming an ore-forming system of "five ore-forming types within a singlerock body" Fluid inclusion and isotope geochemical studies indicate the following: S, Pb, O and Sr were derivedfrom the lower crust, Nd was derived from the continental crust or depleted mantle and rare earth elements (REE)and trace elements have the crustal source characters; fluids consist dominantly of formation water, metamorphic wa-ter and meteoric water with a part of magmatic mater; heat came from porphyry while the latter originated from par-tial melting caused by shear heating in the lower crust and upper mantle. According to its origin the deposit is classi-fied as the hypabyssal and near-surface, meso-and hypothermal copper deposit ussociated with the late Yanshanianporphyry-cryptoexplosive breccia.     

Two-dimensional numerical modeling of tectonic and metamorphic histories at active continental margins

The evolution of an active continental margin is simulated in two dimensions, using a finite difference thermomechanical code with half-staggered grid and marker-in-cell technique. The effect of mechanical properties, changing as a function of P and T, assigned to different crustal layers and mantle materials in the simple starting structure is discussed for a set of numerical models. For each model, representative P–T paths are displayed for selected markers. Both the intensity of subduction erosion and the size of the frontal accretionary wedge are strongly dependent on the rheology chosen for the overriding continental crust. Tectonically eroded upper and lower continental crust is carried down to form a broad orogenic wedge, intermingling with detached oceanic crust and sediments from the subducted plate and hydrated mantle material from the overriding plate. A small portion of the continental crust and trench sediments is carried further down into a narrow subduction channel, intermingling with oceanic crust and hydrated mantle material, and to some extent extruded to the rear of the orogenic wedge underplating the overriding continental crust. The exhumation rates for (ultra)high pressure rocks can exceed subduction and burial rates by a factor of 1.5–3, when forced return flow in the hanging wall portion of the self-organizing subduction channel is focused. The simulations suggest that a minimum rate of subduction is required for the formation of a subduction channel, because buoyancy forces may outweigh drag forces for slow subduction. For a weak upper continental crust, simulated by a high pore pressure coefficient in the brittle regime, the orogenic wedge and megascale melange reach a mid- to upper-crustal position within 10–20 Myr (after 400–600 km of subduction). For a strong upper crust, a continental lid persists over the entire time span covered by the simulation. The structural pattern is similar in all cases, with four zones from trench toward arc: (a) an accretionary complex of low-grade metamorphic sedimentary material; (b) a wedge of mainly continental crust, with medium-grade HP metamorphic overprint, wound up and stretched in a marble cake fashion to appear as nappes with alternating upper and lower crustal provenance, and minor oceanic or hydrated mantle interleaved material; (c) a megascale melange composed of high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic oceanic and continental crust, and hydrated mantle, all extruded from the subduction channel; (d) zone represents the upward tilted frontal part of the remaining upper plate lid in the case of a weak upper crust. The shape of the P–T paths and the time scales correspond to those typically recorded in orogenic belts. Comparison of the numerical results with the European Alps reveals some similarities in their gross structural and metamorphic pattern exposed after collision. A similar structure may be developed at depth beneath the forearc of the Andes, where the importance of subduction erosion is well documented, and where a strong upper crust forms a stable lid.     

Migration-circulation processes and enrichment-mineralization mechanism of lithium-beryllium elements in the continental crust.SCIEI北大核心CSCD

锂铍金属是世界关键金属资源,矿床类型多样,成矿作用发生在大陆地壳。但大陆地壳中锂铍元素的迁移-循环规律及不同锂铍矿床间的成因联系尚不清楚。本文系统地总结与梳理了大陆地壳结构与物质循环特征和不同类型锂铍金属矿床间的成因联系,提出大陆地壳锂铍循环-成矿系统的概念与模型,并将大陆地壳锂铍的迁移与循环划分为四个过程:变质过程、深熔过程、花岗岩浆过程、花岗质岩浆岩风化、淋滤与蚀变的浅-表生过程。沉积岩中锂铍元素在变质过程中可富集到一些变质矿物中,一些富锂铍黏土矿物也在变质过程转变成新的富锂铍变质矿物(如绿泥石、云母与堇青石);地壳深熔过程使得锂铍元素从变质矿物中释放出来并聚集在花岗岩浆中,麻粒岩相深熔(如黑云母脱水熔融与堇青石分解熔融)可能是锂铍大规模成矿的主要熔融方式;绝大多数锂铍矿床与花岗岩浆及其岩浆岩有关,是花岗岩浆与花岗质岩浆岩在不同演化阶段与不同方式富集成矿的结果;浅-表生过程对锂铍花岗岩-伟晶岩和流纹岩与流纹质凝灰岩的物理化学改造,可形成盐湖卤水型锂矿床、黏土型锂矿床以及各种次生锂铍矿床。变质过程中锂铍的迁移与富集机制,大型-超大型花岗岩-伟晶岩型锂铍矿床形成条件与关键控制因素等问题,是亟待研究与思考的科学问题。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000948

The formation of continents involves a combination of magmatic and metamorphic processes. These processes become indistinguishable at the crust-mantle interface, where the pressure-temperature(P-T)conditions of(ultra) high-temperature granulites and magmatic rocks are similar. Continents grow laterally, by magmatic activity above oceanic subduction zones(high-pressure metamorphic setting), and vertically by accumulation of mantle-derived magmas at the base of the crust(high-temperature metamorphic setting). Both events are separated from each other in time; the vertical accretion postdating lateral growth by several tens of millions of years. Fluid inclusion data indicate that during the high-temperature metamorphic episode the granulite lower crust is invaded by large amounts of low H_2O-activity fluids including high-density CO_2 and concentrated saline solutions(brines). These fluids are expelled from the lower crust to higher crustal levels at the end of the high-grade metamorphic event. The final amalgamation of supercontinents corresponds to episodes of ultra-high temperature metamorphism involving large-scale accumulation of these low-water activity fluids in the lower crust.This accumulation causes tectonic instability, which together with the heat input from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, leads to the disruption of supercontinents. Thus, the fragmentation of a supercontinent is already programmed at the time of its amalgamation.     

On the origin and fluid content of some rare crustal xenoliths and their bearing on the structure and evolution of the crust beneath the Bakony–Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (W-Hungary)

Rarely occurring clinopyroxene-plagioclase bearing, felsic granulite and skarn xenoliths were studied from the mantle and crustal xenolith-bearing alkaline basaltic and pyroclastic localities of the Bakony–Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (W-Hungary). Geobarometry and geothermometry of the xenoliths made it possible to categorise them in three groups according to their depth of formation. The first group formed in the lower crust together with mafic and metasedimentary granulites. The second group represents magmatic intrusions of the middle crust, and the third one comprises contact metamorphic rocks of relatively shallow origin. The calculated pressure difference from the core and rim compositions of plagioclase and clinopyroxene as well as garnet breakdown reactions in some xenoliths show evidence for pressure decrease due to crustal thinning both in lower crustal and middle crustal xenoliths during formation of the Pannonian Basin. Fluid inclusion studies reveal the dominance of the CO₂-rich fluids in the whole crustal section in contrast with fluids found in mafic garnet-bearing xenoliths. Crustal stratigraphy was constructed for the periods prior to the extension and after the extension on the basis of geobarometry and geophysical data. On the basis of mineral stabilities and geothermo-barometry, we estimated that the pre-extensional thickness of the lower and upper crust may have been 27–34 and 26–28?km, respectively. Comparison of pre-extensional and present-day thickness of the lower and upper crust indicate that thinning affected both the lower and the upper portion of the crust but on a different scale. The calculated thinning factors are between 2.25 and 3.4 for the lower crust and 1.3–1.56 for the upper crust.     

大陆下地壳流动:渠流还是层流?

大量的地质、地球物理、地球化学、实验和模拟资料证明大陆岩石圈存在壳内流层,目前创建了渠流和层流两种假说来解释大陆下地壳的流动规律和流动机理。渠流模式是指厚地壳、高地势的造山带或高原中、下地壳低粘度物质在地貌负荷的侧向压力梯度或剥蚀作用驱动下从山根向外侧向扩张。笔者在研究青藏高原的基础上于1992年提出的层流模式是指在大陆边缘俯冲板片脱水熔融和大陆内部地幔柱(枝)底辟上隆的热动力及其相关的重力驱动下的盆山地壳物质循环系统,盆地热软化下地壳物质在重力作用下顺层流向相邻的山根,盆地地壳减薄,造山带地壳加厚,加厚的下地壳部分熔融物质带动深层变质岩向上运动,热-重力派生的垂直主应力形成热隆伸展的变质核杂岩和低角度拆离断层,隆升的山体在重力势能作用下侧向扩张,盆山边界形成逆冲推覆和滑覆构造,同时遭受强烈的剥蚀作用,造山带源粗碎屑沉积物快速堆积在盆缘受下地壳拖曳的壳内有限俯冲坳陷带内。渠流构造和层流构造在大陆板内变形、中下地壳韧性挤出、造山带的挤压和伸展同步转换、中深变质岩的韧性变形及剥露过程、部分熔融及岩浆活动等方面存在相似之处,但是,在发育背景、产出部位、流层边界、流层规模、流动型式、流动体制、流动方向、流动物质、流动效应、流动时间、驱动力等方面存在本质的差异。渠流构造基本上可作为层流构造时空结构中的一个组成部分,层流的驱动力是热能和重力,而不是地表剥蚀作用和山体负荷作用。从全球角度来看,层流只是地球多级物质循环流动系统的一个组成部分。     

Geodynamics of the Early Precambrian,Part 2: Formation of continental crust and sedimentary basins,specificity of the lithosphere

This part of work is aimed at consideration of problems concerning evolution of geodynamic processes based on characteristic structures of the Early Precambrian and their rocks. Considered in the paper are structures characterizing existence of mature continental crust (sedimentary basins), development of the crust (metamorphic belts and granitoids) and underlying upper mantle (lithospheric keel), and amalgamation of crustal domains (continents, microcontinents, terrains) into supercontinents. Geodynamic phenomena of the Early Precambrian comparable with the Phanerozoic ones are distinguishable, on the one hand, and their changes with time of evolutionary character are detectable, on the other. The latter are satisfactorily explainable by secular lowering of the mantle temperature in general and above the top of mantle plumes.     

A horizontal tectonic regime in the Archaean of Greenland and its implications for early crustal thickening

The Archaean complex of Greenland consists of a layered sequence of gneisses whose history can be traced back from 2,600 m.y. to before 3,750 m.y. ago. Quartzo-feldspathic gneisses that are considered to be derived from intrusive granitic rocks make up more than 80% of the complex. They were emplaced during at least two separate periods of plutonism. The remainder of the complex consists of supracrustal rocks, mainly amphibolites and semipelitic gneisses with smaller amounts of quartzite and calcarous rocks, and metamorphosed basic igneous rocks dominated by leucogabbros and anorthosites. Lithologic units of different ages and provenances were intercalated by nappe-like folding and thrusting and were intruded by syntectonic sheets of calc-alkaline granitic rocks. The resulting sequence was repeatedly folded and deformed under high grade metamorphic conditions and the layering was further emphasised. This combination nappe-like folding, thrusting and granite injection is considered to have resulted in a considerable amount of crustal thickening. Granulite facies metamorphism ensued at depth as the base of the thickened sialic mass dried out. In this way a stable continental mass was formed with a refractory base of high grade rocks depleted in radioactive elements. It is suggested that the driving force responsible for the folding, thrusting and generation and intrusion of calc-alkaline magmas was some form of sub-horizontal movement within the mantle and between the mantle and thin crust. This dominantly horizontal tectonic regime is contrasted with the dominantly vertical tectonic regime described from the greenstone belt—granite terrain of southern Africa.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001065

It has been thought that granitic crust,having been formed on the surface,must have survived through the Earth’s evolution because of its buoyancy.At subduction zones continental crust is predominantly created by arc magmatism and is returned to the mantle via sediment subduction,subduction erosion, and continental subduction.Granitic rocks,the major constituent of the continental crust,are lighter than the mantle at depths shallower than 270 km,but we show here,based on first principles calculations, that beneath 270 km they have negative buoyancy compared to the surrounding material in the upper mantle and transition zone,and thus can be subducted in the depth range of 270-660 km.This suggests that there can be two reservoirs of granitic material in the Earth,one on the surface and the other at the base of the mantle transition zone(MTZ).The accumulated volume of subducted granitic material at the base of the MTZ might amount to about six times the present volume of the continental crust.Our calculations also show that the seismic velocities of granitic material in the depth range from 270 to 660 km are faster than those of the surrounding mantle.This could explain the anomalous seismic-wave velocities observed around 660 km depth.The observed seismic scatterers and reported splitting of the 660 km discontinuity could be due to jadeite dissociation,chemical discontinuities between granitic material and the surrounding mantle,or a combination thereof.     

大陆俯冲带超高压变质岩部分熔融与壳幔相互作用研究进展

自20世纪80年代在大陆地壳岩石中发现柯石英和金刚石等超高压变质矿物以来,大陆深俯冲和超高压变质作用就成为了固体地球科学研究的前沿和热点领域之一。经过三十余年的研究,已经在大陆地壳的俯冲深度、深俯冲岩石变质P-T-t轨迹、俯冲地壳岩石的折返机制、深俯冲岩石的原岩性质、大陆碰撞过程中的熔/流体活动与元素活动性、俯冲隧道内部不同类型壳幔相互作用、碰撞后岩浆岩的成因、大陆碰撞造山带成矿作用等方面取得了许多重要成果。本文重点对大陆俯冲带超高压岩石部分熔融和不同类型壳幔相互作用近十年来的研究进展进行回顾和总结,并对存在的相关科学问题和未来的研究方向进行了展望。深俯冲大陆地壳的部分熔融主要出现在两个阶段:折返的初期阶段和碰撞后阶段,前者产生了碱性熔体,后者产生了钙碱性熔体。大陆俯冲带壳幔相互作用有两种类型,涉及地幔楔与两种俯冲带流体的交代反应:一是来自深俯冲陆壳的变质脱水/熔融,二是来自先前俯冲古洋壳的变质脱水/熔融。