河西走廊平山湖盆地早白垩世构造变形期次及其碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄约束

河西走廊北部的平山湖盆地,被围限于龙首山、北大山和合黎山之间,是一个在早白垩世受南北两侧逆冲断层共同控制形成并发展的盆地。笔者通过研究盆地内下白垩统沉积特征、构造变形、生长地层以及碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学特征,划分了平山湖盆地在早白垩世的构造演化期次,并恢复其形成演化过程。盆地内发育一套由下向上总体变细的下白垩统庙沟群沉积序列,盆地内构造变形以NE-SW向挤压和近E-W向伸展为主,庙沟群上岩组的碎屑锆石最小年龄为(129.3±1.8)Ma,可能代表了地层沉积和同期地堑发育的最早时间。由此得出,在早白垩世早期发育挤压构造盆地,同构造生长地层为挤压盆地的形成与构造演化提供了时代约束;在早白垩世晚期发育伸展断陷盆地,由挤压到伸展的转换时间晚于129.3 Ma。     

150 Million year history of North China Craton disruption preserved in Mesozoic sediments of the Ordos basin

ABSTRACT

The Ordos Basin, situated in the western part of the North China Craton, preserves the 150-million-year history of North China Craton disruption. Those sedimentary sources from Late Triassic to early Middle Jurassic are controlled by the southern Qinling orogenic belt and northern Yinshan orogenic belt. The Middle and Late Jurassic deposits are received from south, north, east, and west of the Ordos Basin. The Cretaceous deposits are composed of aeolian deposits, probably derived from the plateau to the east. The Ordos Basin records four stages of volcanism in the Mesozoic–Late Triassic (230–220 Ma), Early Jurassic (176 Ma), Middle Jurassic (161 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (132 Ma). Late Triassic and Early Jurassic tuff develop in the southern part of the Ordos Basin, Middle Jurassic in the northeastern part, while Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks have a banding distribution along the eastern part. Mesozoic tectonic evolution can be divided into five stages according to sedimentary and volcanic records: Late Triassic extension in a N–S direction (230–220 Ma), Late Triassic compression in a N–S direction (220–210 Ma), Late Triassic–Early Jurassic–Middle Jurassic extension in a N–S direction (210–168 Ma), Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous compression in both N–S and E–W directions (168–136 Ma), and Early Cretaceous extension in a NE–SW direction (136–132 Ma).     

Sedimentary provenance of the Hengyang and Mayang basins,SE China,and implications for the Mesozoic topographic change in South China Craton: Evidence from detrital zircon geochronology

Detrital zircon U–Pb data from sedimentary rocks in the Hengyang and Mayang basins, SE China reveal a change in basin provenance during or after Early Cretaceous. The results imply a provenance of the sediment from the North China Craton and Dabie Orogen for the Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic sandstones and from the Indosinian granitic plutons in the South China Craton for the Lower Cretaceous sandstones. The 90–120 Ma age group in the Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Hengyang Basin is correlated with Cretaceous volcanism along the southeastern margin of South China, suggesting a coastal mountain belt have existed during the Late Cretaceous. The sediment provenance of the basins and topographic evolution revealed by the geochronological data in this study are consistent with a Mesozoic tectonic setting from Early Mesozoic intra-continental compression through late Mesozoic Pacific Plate subduction in SE China.     

宁武盆地及周缘岩体裂变径迹对山西地块中—新生代构造演化的约束

宁武盆地及周缘岩体的抬升剥蚀对于山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有重要的指示意义。本文对宁武盆地及周缘岩体进行裂变径迹分析,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄97～47 Ma,锆石裂变径迹年龄161～141 Ma。裂变径迹记录了早白垩世早期(145～125 Ma)、晚白垩世(85～70 Ma)、古新世晚期—始新世早期(59～53 Ma)和渐新世晚期(28 Ma)的4次抬升剥蚀事件。综合分析山西地块的裂变径迹数据,表明隆起区晚古生代以来发生了多期抬升剥蚀事件。山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有时空差异。周缘岩体样品的裂变径迹年龄大于盆地内沉积地层样品的年龄,指示了周缘山体先于盆地抬升剥蚀。晋东北抬升剥蚀时限早于晋西南。山西裂谷系西南端裂开较早。裂谷系发育具有由南向北扩展的特征,这与地层保留记录相一致。山西地块现今地貌格局是在中生代发育一系列雁行状排列的复背斜和复向斜构造基础上发展而成的。     

山东胶莱盆地构造变形及形成演化——以王氏群和大盛群变形分析为例

胶莱盆地是形成于中生代晚侏罗世的陆相盆地，构造变形较为复杂。在野外断裂构造变形观测的基础上，结合年代学数据和地层沉积序列，确立了胶莱盆地白垩纪的变形演化历史。总体上，胶莱盆地在形成和演化过程中沉积了3套地层，经历了多个构造变形阶段。其中，发生在白垩纪的变形阶段主要有：(1)早白垩世早期，鲁东地区受区域近E—W向引张应力场控制，胶莱盆地发生大规模的火山喷发，喷发间歇期沉积了大盛群；早白垩世晚期，受强烈的区域性NW—SE向挤压，胶莱盆地褶皱回返。(2)晚白垩世早期，在区域近S—N向引张应力作用下，诸城断陷盆地发育，王氏群沉积；晚白垩世晚期，胶莱盆地受区域性NE—SW向挤压，导致王氏群褶皱变形。     

Partitioning of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin in the central South China Block by exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains during a transition from extensional to compressional tectonics?

The formation of a series of intermountain basins is likely to indicate a geodynamic transition, especially in the case of such basins within the central South China Block (CSCB). Determining whether or not these numerous intermountain basins represent a division of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin by exhumation of Xuefeng Mountains, is key to understanding the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic tectonics of the South China Block (SCB). Here we present apatite fission track (AFT) data and time–temperature modeling in order to reconstruct the evolution history of the Pan-Yangtze Basin. Fourteen rock samples were taken from a NE–SW-trending mountain–basin system within the CSCB, including, from west to east, the Wuling Mountains (Wuling Shan), the south and north Mayang basins, the Xuefeng Mountains (Xuefeng Shan) and the Hengyang Basin. Cretaceous lacustrine sequences are well preserved in the south and north Mayang and Hengyang basins, and sporadically crop out in the Xuefeng Mountains, whereas Paleogene piedmont proluvial–lacustrine sequences are only found in the south Mayang and Hengyang basins. AFT results indicate that the Wuling and Xuefeng mountains underwent rapid denudation post-84 Ma, whereas the south and north Mayang basins were more slowly uplifted from 67 and 84 Ma, respectively. Following a quiescent period from 32 to 19 Ma, both the mountains and basins have been rapidly denuded since 19 Ma. Both the AFT data and sedimentary facies changes suggest that the Cretaceous deposits that cover the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins through to the Xuefeng Mountains define the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin. Integrating our results with tectonic background for the SCB, we propose that rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate produced the Pan-Yangtze Basin, which was divided into the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins by the abrupt uplift and exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains from 84 Ma to present, apart from a period of tectonic inactivity from 32 to 19 Ma. This late Late Cretaceous to Paleogene denudation resulted from movement on the Ziluo strike–slip fault, which formed due to intra-continental compression most likely associated with the Eurasia–Indian plate subduction and collision. Sinistral transpression along the Ailao Shan–Red River Fault at 34–17 Ma probably transformed this compression to the extrusion of the Indochina Block, and produced the quiescent window period from 32 to 19 Ma for the mountain–basin system in the CSCB. Therefore, the initiation of exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains at 84 Ma indicates a switch in tectonic regime from Cretaceous extension to late Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic compression.     

扬子北缘晚造山阶段弧形构造特征与盆地演化

扬子北缘晚造山阶段(即晚侏罗世—晚白垩世)发育以弧形构造为特征的前陆薄皮逆冲—褶皱构造,包括了沿秦岭—大别造山带发育的北西向的大洪山和大巴山弧形带,以及沿江南—雪峰造山带发育的北东向的川东—湘鄂西弧形带。详细的构造解析、盆地沉积及物源特征综合分析表明,弧形构造不仅将早期的前陆序列卷入变形,并且控制了晚侏罗世—晚白垩世的盆地演化和古地理格局。总结扬子北缘晚造山阶段的盆山演化特征,可以将其划分为3个阶段:(1)晚侏罗世—早白垩世早期,大洪山和大巴山弧形带的发育控制了四川盆地东北部及秭归盆地上侏罗统蓬莱镇组的沉积,川东—湘鄂西弧形带限制了盆地的东南边界,加之位于四川盆地西部的龙门山逆冲带,三面围限构成具前渊沉降的克拉通内盆地或称为“墙围盆地”(walled sedimentary basin);(2)早白垩世中期—早白垩世晚期,大洪山和大巴山弧形带的逆冲构造变形逐渐减弱,而川东—湘鄂西弧形带继续向北西扩展,构造线呈北东向展布,在弧形带前缘的宜昌地区形成沉积中心,并覆盖了现今的黄陵背斜;(3)晚白垩世,川东—湘鄂西弧形带继续向北西推进,构造线呈北北东向展布,弧形带北翼的黄陵背斜初始隆起,沉积中心分别位于北翼宜昌地区及南翼习水地区。与此同时,在弧形带内部薄皮构造的向斜部位形成楔顶沉积,发育如恩施盆地、黔江盆地、来凤盆地等一系列规模较小的背驼式盆地。     

海拉尔盆地火山岩的锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

海拉尔盆地位于大兴安岭西侧,盆内存在多套火山-沉积岩组合.通过对海拉尔盆地Chu8井等4处火山岩样品进行的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究,探讨了海拉尔盆地火山岩的形成时代和构造背景,为盆内和邻区地层对比以及大兴安岭地区构造演化提供了依据.研究区4个火山岩样品的锆石均呈自形-半自形晶,显示出典型的岩浆生长环带,结合其高的Th/U比值(0.22~1.50),说明其属于岩浆成因.测年结果表明,海拉尔盆地布达特群确实存在时代为晚三叠世-早侏罗世(214.4±4.3 Ma)的火山岩,结合前人研究,可将盆内火山作用划分为4期:分别为中-晚石炭世基底岩浆岩(320~290 Ma);晚三叠世-早侏罗世早期布特达特群火山碎屑岩组(224~197 Ma);晚侏罗世-早白垩世早期塔木兰沟组(152~138 Ma);早白垩世晚期铜钵庙组(128~117 Ma).大兴安岭地区各期岩浆作用的地球化学特征、时空分布特征以及盆地地震剖面特征表明,中-晚石炭世基底岩浆岩(320~290 Ma)是额尔古纳-兴安地块和松嫩地块碰撞造山后的伸展背景下形成的;晚三叠世-早侏罗世早期火山岩(224~197 Ma)是古亚洲洋闭合后的伸展背景下形成的,该期火山岩的发现说明古亚洲洋构造域对大兴安岭地区的影响至少延续到早侏罗世早期(197 Ma),而该区域蒙古-鄂霍茨克洋的俯冲碰撞最早可能开始于早侏罗世以后;晚侏罗世-早白垩世早期(152~138 Ma)和早白垩世晚期(128~117 Ma)火山岩的形成均与蒙古-鄂霍茨克洋碰撞闭合后的伸展作用有关.盆内部分火山岩样品中存在古元古代-新元古代捕获的锆石,这表明额尔古纳地块和兴安地块很可能存在着元古代结晶基底.      

大同盆地地质特征及构造演化研究

通过对大同盆地内沉积地层的岩性、结构、厚度等地质特征及相应的沉积环境和沉积相进行研究,结合构造的演化及控制作用,认为大同盆地形成于中生代晚侏罗世末期—早白垩世早期,其构造演化可分划为白垩纪箕状断陷形成、新近纪典型箕状断陷发育和第四纪盆地定型3个阶段。该区充填历程复杂,包括3个构造层,分别为白垩纪初始沉降、新近纪快速断陷、第四纪盆地扩展坳陷;3期断裂发育期,分别为白垩纪早期、保德组沉积早期及泥河湾组沉积晚期;5个不整合面。大同盆地及其周边地区,在燕山运动以前存在EW向褶皱构造,燕山运动后NW—SE向的挤压作用叠加在近EW向构造之上。此后尽管遭受了十分强烈的剥蚀作用,但是在近EW向和NE向两组褶皱向斜核部的叠加部位,仍残留晚古生代及中生代地层。     

Mesozoic to Cenozoic retroarc basin evolution during changes in tectonic regime,southern Central Andes (31–33°S): Insights from zircon U-Pb geochronology

The southern Central Andes of Argentina and Chile (27–40°S) are the product of deformation, arc magmatism, and basin evolution above a long-lived subduction system. With sufficient timing and provenance constraints, Andean stratigraphic and structural records enable delineation of Mesozoic-Cenozoic variations in subsidence and tectonic regime. For the La Ramada Basin in the High Andes at ∼31–33°S, new assessments of provenance and depositional age provided by detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology help resolve deformational patterns and subsidence mechanisms over the past ∼200 Myr. Marine and nonmarine clastic deposits recorded the unroofing of basin margins and sediment contributions from the Andean magmatic arc during Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous extension, thermal subsidence, and possible slab rollback. Subsequent sediment delivery from the Coastal Cordillera corresponded with initial flexural accommodation in the La Ramada Basin during Andean shortening of late Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous age. The architecture of the foreland basin was influenced by the distribution of precursor extensional depocenters, suggesting that inherited basin geometries provided important controls on later flexural subsidence and basin evolution. Following latest Cretaceous to early Paleogene tectonic quiescence and a depositional hiatus, newly dated deposits in the western La Ramada Basin provide evidence for a late Paleogene episode of intra-arc and proximal retroarc extension (development of the Abanico Basin, principally in Chile, at ∼28–44°S). Inversion of this late Paleogene extensional basin system during Neogene compression indicates the southern Central Andes were produced by at least two punctuated episodes of shortening and uplift of Late Cretaceous and Neogene age.     

江南东段地区NE-SW向断裂带断层滑移矢量反演及其大地构造意义

华南中-新生代构造演化受太平洋构造域和特提斯洋构造域的联合控制.以江南东段NE-SW向景德镇-歙县剪切带和球川-萧山断裂中发育的脆性断层为研究对象,利用野外交切关系和断层滑移矢量反演方法厘定了7期构造变形序列并反演了各期古构造应力场,讨论了断层活动的时代及其动力学.白垩纪至新生代研究区7期古构造应力场分别为:(1)早白垩世早期(136～125Ma)NW-SE向伸展;(2)早白垩世晚期(125～107Ma)N-S向挤压和E-W向伸展;(3)早白垩世末期至晚白垩世早期(105～86Ma)NW-SE向伸展;(4)白垩世中期(86～80Ma)NW-SE向挤压和NE-SW向伸展;(5)晚白垩世晚期至始新世末期(80～36Ma)N-S向伸展;(6)始新世末期至渐新世早期(36～30Ma)NE-SW向挤压和NW-SE向伸展;(7)渐新世早期至中新世中期(30～17Ma)NE-SW向伸展.结合区域地质研究表明,第1期至第4期古构造应力场与古太平洋构造域的板片后撤、俯冲以及微块体(菲律宾地块)间的碰撞作用有关;第5期伸展作用受控于新特提斯构造域俯冲板片后撤,而第6期和第7期古构造应力场主要与印-亚碰撞的远程效应有关.白垩纪至新生代,华南东部受伸展构造体制和走滑构造体制的交替控制.先存断裂的发育可能是导致华南晚中生代走滑构造体制的主要控制因素.     

中-新生代塔里木与中亚盐湖链蒸发岩沉积及其控制因素初探

全球性的构造运动末期一般伴着海退和干旱的气候环境,而蒸发岩沉积与大地构造条件紧密相关。中亚卡拉库姆盆地、阿富汗_塔吉克盆地、塔里木盆地自晚侏罗世至中新世以来至少发生了3次大规模海侵_海退旋回,每次海侵_海退均受特提斯构造事件控制。卡拉库姆盆地、阿富汗_塔吉克盆地为晚侏罗世—早白垩世蒸发岩沉积、塔里木盆地的莎车次级盆地为晚白垩世—古新世蒸发岩沉积,库车次级盆地为古新世—中新世蒸发岩沉积,形成特提斯构造域自西向东蒸发岩沉积时代逐渐变新的盐湖链。中亚及塔里木盐湖链在海侵_海退旋回的控制下,至少发生5次大规模的蒸发岩沉积,发育2种不同的蒸发岩沉积序列,分别对应3次海退期蒸发岩沉积序列及2次断续海侵期蒸发岩沉积序列,具体为晚侏罗世晚期(海退期)卡拉库姆盆地、阿富汗_塔吉克盆地蒸发岩沉积;早白垩世—晚白垩世早期(断续海侵期)阿富汗_塔吉克盆地蒸发岩沉积;晚白垩世晚期(海退期)莎车次级盆地蒸发岩沉积;古新世—中新世(断续海侵期)莎车次级盆地、库车次级盆地蒸发岩沉积;中新世晚期—上新世早期(海退期)库车次级盆地蒸发岩沉积。塔里木与中亚古盐湖发育受控于特提斯构造事件及海侵_海退旋回,而海侵_海退旋回又控制2种不同的蒸发岩沉积序列。蒸发岩沉积序列、古盐湖演化阶段、蒸发岩物质来源、沉积环境决定了盐类矿物沉积类型(单一化学岩型、陆缘碎屑岩_化学岩型),卡拉库姆盆地、阿富汗_塔吉克盆地盐类矿物与塔里木盆地相比,种类简单,反映了盆地化学岩与陆源碎屑_化学岩沉积的区别及后期构造运动对盐类矿物种类的主控作用。     

贵州赤水地区晚白垩世古流向特征及构造意义

贵州赤水地区位于四川盆地西南缘,晚白垩世时期该地区沉积了一套厚达1300m的陆相地层。本文通过地表露头的古流向野外观测和室内分析,详细研究赤水地区晚白垩世沉积充填过程及构造意义。赤水地区晚白垩世早期辫状河的古流向为自北东向南西,表明碎屑物源主要来自盆地北侧和东侧。根据物源、地层分布及区域地质背景推断,赤水地区晚白垩世的陆相沉积盆地属于陆内前陆盆地,陆内造山带位于盆地东侧。晚白垩世陆内前陆盆地的形成,可能受控于此阶段华南的构造挤压事件形成的陆内造山作用。     

鄂尔多斯盆地东南南召地区中生代以来的构造演化研究——来自低温热年代学的证据

有关鄂尔多斯三叠纪原型盆地的东南向展布情况不是非常明确,之前有研究表明其东南缘可能位于南召地区,对该区构造演化过程开展研究,可为鄂尔多斯三叠纪原型盆地研究提供重要信息。因此,为了研究南召地区中生代以来的构造演化史及其与鄂尔多斯盆地之间的关系,本文对研究区3条野外剖面上3件三叠系样品开展锆石、磷灰石裂变径迹研究。其锆石裂变径迹年龄为270±15~181±8Ma,与地层年龄相近或大于地层年龄,不能很好地反映地层经历的构造改造时限,可能更多地代表了物源区的信息。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄为57±3~47±5Ma,结合裂变径迹年龄和热史模拟,本文认为南召地区自三叠纪以来经历了4期较大规模的构造改造,早期是三叠纪末遭受了秦岭造山带强烈逆冲推覆对本区的影响;中期是中晚侏罗世到晚白垩世初;晚期是晚白垩世;末期是喜马拉雅期,4期构造改造均与秦岭造山带的构造演化息息相关。此外,通过与鄂尔多斯盆地周缘地区展开对比,发现二者构造演化过程具有相似的时限性,从构造演化的角度支持南召地区属于鄂尔多斯原型盆地的观点。     

鲁西隆起晚中生代盆地重矿物组合分析及其构造响应

本文以鲁西隆起区盆地及周边盆地砂岩中碎屑重矿物为研究对象,通过重矿物的稳定性分析,以及通过不同源区重矿物组合的差异,探讨了鲁西隆起及周边地区晚中生代以来的物源及构造演化过程。研究结果显示,鲁西盆地中生代早期早中侏罗纪时期主要源区为鲁西隆起,中晚侏罗纪时期主要物源为胶东地区和鲁西隆起,而早白垩世时期主要物源为胶东地区,其次才是鲁西隆起。晚白垩世沂沭断裂带盆地物源主要是鲁西隆起和胶东地区,鲁西隆起贡献量大于胶东地区。重矿物的稳定性也折射出源区构造演化历史。早-中侏罗世至中-晚侏罗世,鲁西盆地重矿物物源由鲁西隆起向胶东地区的显著转变,暗示着苏鲁造山带自三叠纪形成之后,经折返抬升,至晚侏罗世之前已经到达地表。重矿物的含量变化显示,早白垩世中期和晚白垩世中期鲁西盆地内沉积了大量的鲁西变质岩矿物组合,并且不稳定重矿物含量急剧增加,我们推测鲁西在早白垩世晚期、晚白垩世中期存在两次构造抬升。     

华北北部中新生代构造体制的转换过程

华北北部位于古亚洲和太平洋两大全球性构造域的交叠部位,其中新生代断裂演化、区域性不整合界面和盆地演化的地质事实显示华北北部中新生代存在5个挤压作用时期。自老至新为:①中三叠世末挤压期(老虎沟组或杏石口组前挤压期,峰值年龄 ≥ 215Ma);②早侏罗世末挤压期(海房沟组或九龙山组前挤压期,峰值年龄 ≥ 178Ma);③晚侏罗世末挤压期(义县组或东岭台组前挤压期,峰值年龄 ≥ 135Ma);④晚白垩世末挤压期(古近系前挤压期,峰值年龄65Ma);⑤古近纪末挤压期(新近纪前挤压期,峰值年龄25Ma).5个挤压期在时间上相对较短,并为6个时间较长,构造运动相对和缓或伸展的成盆沉积期一一隔开。6个成盆沉积期包括:早中三叠世、晚三叠世-早侏罗世、中晚侏罗世、白垩纪、古近纪、新近纪-第四纪。其中,中晚侏罗世、白垩纪、古近纪、新近纪-第四纪具有明显的伸展作用特征。也就是说,华北北部中新生代的构造演化过程是在前中生代华北克拉通岩石圈基础上发育起来的克拉通内(陆内或板内)成盆沉积与挤压变形的交替演化过程,在这一构造演化过程中,挤压作用和伸展作用均占有重要位置,总体来讲,挤压作用由强变弱,伸展作用由弱变强。伸展作用持续的时间长,挤压作用持续时间则相对较短。挤压作用和伸展作用交替出现,挤压构造和伸展构造间互发育。华北北部中新生代这种构造体制的转换过程,记录了从古亚洲洋构造域汇聚构造体制向太平洋构造域俯冲构造体制转换的大陆动力学过程。      

羌塘盆地中生代构造属性

通过对羌塘盆地南北两侧构造带地质特征、构造演化历程及盆地内部中生代地层充填特征的分析,探讨了羌塘盆地中生代构造属性及地球动力学机制。研究表明:羌塘盆地经历了早、中三叠世前陆盆地,晚三叠世早、中期被动陆缘盆地,晚三叠世晚期—侏罗纪羌北前陆盆地和羌南陆被动陆缘裂陷—坳陷盆地及早白垩世前陆盆地等地质演化历程;盆地南北边界构造带复杂而有序的地球动力学环境和构造演化,决定了羌塘盆地中生代为一复杂的多旋回叠合盆地。     

The Cretaceous sedimentary history of the Pindos Basin (Greece)

The Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Pindos Zone in western Greece document the evolution of a Tethyan deep-water basin. New sedimentological and micropalaeontological studies reveal a complex basin history. Siliceous sediments with abundant radiolaria and organic-rich facies prevailed up to the early Late Cretaceous. Within the sediment-starved pre-Middle Cenomanian, marked black shale levels appear that are probably linked to oceanic anoxic events. At the change from the late Early to the early Middle Cenomanian, the sedimentary regime altered abruptly. The early Late Cretaceous is characterized by major calcareous redepositional events (orbitoline horizons) and often associated siliciclastic turbidite deposition (submarine-fan environments). In the late Late Cretaceous, carbonate supply increased rapidly, resulting in the evolution of a carbonate slope and basin-plain setting. Pelagic and allodapic limestones recorded basinwide blooms in planktonic foraminifera (elevata event) and a polyphase redepositional history that is interpreted to reflect the sensitivity of the basin to the tectonic evolution of Apulia.     

Spatial–temporal relationships of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in NE China: Constraints on tectonic overprinting and transformations between multiple tectonic regimes

LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical data are presented for the Mesozoic volcanic rocks in northeast China, with the aim of determining the tectonic settings of the volcanism and constraining the timing of the overprinting and transformations between the Paleo-Asian Ocean, Mongol–Okhotsk, and circum-Pacific tectonic regimes. The new ages, together with other available age data from the literature, indicate that Mesozoic volcanism in NE China can be subdivided into six episodes: Late Triassic (228–201 Ma), Early–Middle Jurassic (190–173 Ma), Middle–Late Jurassic (166–155 Ma), early Early Cretaceous (145–138 Ma), late Early Cretaceous (133–106 Ma), and Late Cretaceous (97–88 Ma). The Late Triassic volcanic rocks occur in the Lesser Xing’an–Zhangguangcai Ranges, where the volcanic rocks are bimodal, and in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces where the volcanics are A-type rhyolites, implying that they formed in an extensional environment after the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The Early–Middle Jurassic (190–173 Ma) volcanic rocks, both in the Erguna Massif and the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces, belong chemically to the calc-alkaline series, implying an active continental margin setting. The volcanics in the Erguna Massif are related to the subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate beneath the Massif, and those in the eastern Jilin–Heilongjiang provinces are related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent. The coeval bimodal volcanic rocks in the Lesser Xing’an–Zhangguangcai Ranges were probably formed under an extensional environment similar to a backarc setting of double-direction subduction. Volcanic rocks of Middle–Late Jurassic (155–166 Ma) and early Early Cretaceous (145–138 Ma) age only occur in the Great Xing’an Range and the northern Hebei and western Liaoning provinces (limited to the west of the Songliao Basin), and they belong chemically to high-K calc-alkaline series and A-type rhyolites, respectively. Combined with the regional unconformity and thrust structures in the northern Hebei and western Liaoning provinces, we conclude that these volcanics formed during a collapse or delamination of a thickened continental crust related to the evolution of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt. The late Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks, widely distributed in NE China, belong chemically to a low- to medium-K calc-alkaline series in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces (i.e., the Eurasian continental margin), and to a bimodal volcanic rock association within both the Songliao Basin and the Great Xing’an Range. The volcanics in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces formed in an active continental margin setting related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent, and the bimodal volcanics formed under an extensional environment related either to a backarc setting or to delamination of a thickened crust, or both. Late Cretaceous volcanics, limited to the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces and the eastern North China Craton (NCC), consist of calc-alkaline rocks in the eastern Heilongjiang–Jilin provinces and alkaline basalts in the eastern NCC, suggesting that the former originated during subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent, whereas the latter formed in an extensional environment similar to a backarc setting. Taking all this into account, we conclude that (1) the transformation from the Paleo-Asian Ocean regime to the circum-Pacific tectonic regime happened during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic; (2) the effect of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture belt on NE China was mainly in the Early Jurassic, Middle–Late Jurassic, and early Early Cretaceous; and (3) the late Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous volcanics can be attributed to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent.     

From foredeep to orogenic wedge-top: The Cretaceous Songliao retroforeland basin,China

Songliao Basin, the largest Mesozoic intracontinental nonmarine basin in eastern China, initiated during the latest Jurassic as a backarc extensional basin; rifting failed and thermal cooling controlled subsidence through the early Late Cretaceous. Integrating 2-D and 3D reflection seismic and borehole data with regional geological studies, we interpret sedimentary sequence and structural patterns of the Coniacian-Maastrichtian fill of Songliao Basin as defining a retroforeland basin system developed after 88 Ma (marked by the T11 unconformity in the basin), including (1) significant increase in the thickness of the Nenjiang Formation eastward towards orogenic highlands of the Zhangguangcai Range and the convergent continental margin; (2) a shift of detrital provenance in the basin from north to southeast; and (3) propagation of E-W shortened structures, increasing eastward in amplitude, frequency, and degree of inversion toward the orogen. During latest Cretaceous, foreland basin fill progressively deformed, as the foredeep evolved to a wedge-top tectonic setting, marked by the basin-wide T04 unconformity within the upper Nenjiang Formation at 81.6 Ma. Much of the basin was brought into the orogenic wedge and eroded by the end of the Cretaceous. Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous backarc rifting of uncratonized basement comprised of accreted terranes likely facilitated and localized the foreland. Synrift normal faults reactivated and extensively inverted as thrust faults are prominent in the eastern 1/3 of the basin, whereas folds developed above detachments in shaley early post-rift strata dominate the western 2/3 of the basin. Songliao foreland development likely was driven by changing plate dynamics and collision along the Pacific margin after 88 Ma.