The Paleocene of Antarctica: Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy,chronostratigraphy and implications for the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana

The Paleocene (66–56 Ma) was a critical time interval for understanding recovery from mass extinction in high palaeolatitudes when global climate was warmer than today. A unique sedimentary succession from Seymour Island (Antarctic Peninsula) provides key reference material from this important phase of the early Cenozoic. Dinoflagellate cyst data from a 376 m thick stratigraphical section, including the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, is correlated with biozones from New Zealand, the East Tasman Plateau and southeastern Australia. A detailed age model is suggested for the López de Bertodano (LDBF) and Sobral (SF) formations based on dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy and U–Pb dating of zircons, supported by correlated magnetostratigraphy and strontium isotope values from macrofossils. The top of the LDBF is confirmed as latest Maastrichtian to earliest Danian (~ 66.2–65.65 Ma) in age. The overlying SF is mostly Danian in age, with an inferred hiatus near the top overlain by sediments dated as ?late Thanetian. Rare Apectodinium homomorphum first appear in the uppermost SF; the earliest in situ record from Antarctica. The distribution of marine and terrestrial fossils from uppermost Cretaceous to Eocene sediments in Patagonia, Antarctica, New Zealand and Australia required both sea and land connections between these fragments of Gondwana. Fossil evidence and reconstructions of Antarctic palaeogeography and palaeotopography reveal evidence for persistent embayments in the proto-Weddell and Ross Sea regions at this time. We conclude that a coastal dispersal route along the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana could explain the fossil distribution without requiring a transAntarctic strait or closely spaced archipelago. A region in the West to East Antarctic boundary zone, elevated until the early Paleogene, perhaps acted as a site for high elevation ice caps. This supports fossil, geochemical and sedimentological evidence for cold climate intervals and significant sea level falls during the Maastrichtian and Paleocene.     

Geodynamic setting of Mesozoic magmatism in NE China and surrounding regions: Perspectives from spatio-temporal distribution patterns of ore deposits

North-eastern China and surrounding regions host some of the best examples of Phanerozoic juvenile crust on the globe. However, the Mesozoic tectonic setting and geodynamic processes in this region remain debated. Here we attempt a systematic analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of ore deposits in NE China and surrounding regions to constrain the geodynamic milieu. From an evaluation of the available geochronological data, we identify five distinct stages of ore formation: 240–205 Ma, 190–165 Ma, 155–145 Ma, 140–120 Ma, and 115–100 Ma. The Triassic (240–205 Ma) magmatism and associated mineralisation occurred during in a post-collisional tectonic setting involving the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The Early-Mid Jurassic (190–165 Ma) events are related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean in the eastern Asian continental margin, whereas in the Erguna block, these are associated with the subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. From 155 to 120 Ma, large-scale continental extension occurred in NE China and surrounding regions. However, the Late Jurassic magmatism and mineralisation events in these areas evolved in a post-orogenic extensional environment of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean subduction system. The early stage of the Early Cretaceous events occurred under the combined effects of the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean. The widespread extension ceased during the late phase of Early Cretaceous (115–100 Ma), following the rapid tectonic changes resulting from the Paleo-Pacific Oceanic plate reconfiguration.     

Provenance of the Eocene Soebi Blanco formation,Bonaire, Leeward Antilles: Correlations with post-Eocene tectonic evolution of northern South America

Middle to upper Eocene fluvial strata in the island of Bonaire contain detrital components that were tracked to Precambrian to Triassic massifs in northern Colombia and Venezuela. These detrital components confirm previous hypothesis suggesting that Bonaire and the Leeward Antilles were attached to South American basement massifs (SABM). These are composed of different fragmented South American blocks (Paraguana, Falcon, Maracaibo, Guajira, Perija, and Santa Marta) representing an Eocene, right-laterally displaced tectonic piercing point along the southern Caribbean plate margin. U–Pb LA-ICP-MS from the metamorphic boulders of the Soebi Blanco Formation in Bonaire yield Grenvillian peaks ages (1000–1200 Ma), while detrital zircons recovered from the sandy matrix of the conglomerates contain populations with peaks of 1000 Ma–1200 Ma, 750–950 Ma, and 200–300 Ma. These populations match with geochronological data reported for the northern South American massifs. Thermochronological results from the metamorphic clasts yield Paleocene–middle Eocene ages (65–50 Ma) that confirm a regional-scale cooling event in this time. These data imply a land connection between the SABM and the Leeward Antilles in late Eocene times, followed by a significant strike slip right-lateral displacement and transtensional basin opening starting in latest Eocene times. The succession of Eocene tectonic events recorded by the Soebi Blanco Formation and adjacent basins is a major tracer of the oblique convergence of the Caribbean plate against the South American margin.     

U–Pb dating of detrital zircon grains in the Paleocene Stumpata Formation,Tethyan Himalaya,Zanskar, India

The sediments deposited on the northern margin of Greater India during the Paleocene allow the timing of collision with the Spontang Ophiolite, the oceanic Kohistan–Dras Arc and Eurasia to be constrained. U–Pb dating of detrital zircon grains from the Danian (61–65 Ma) Stumpata Formation shows a provenance that is typical of the Tethyan Himalaya, but with a significant population of grains from 129 ± 7 Ma also accounting for ∼15% of the total, similar to the synchronous Jidula Formation of south central Tibet. Derivation of these grains from north of the Indus Suture can be ruled out, precluding India’s collision with either Eurasia or the Kohistan–Dras before 61 Ma. Despite the immediate superposition of the Spontang Ophiolite, there are no grains in the Stumpata Formation consistent with erosion from this unit. Either Spontang obduction is younger than previously proposed, or the ophiolite remained submerged and/or uneroded until into the Eocene. The Mesozoic grains correlate well with the timing of ∼130 Ma volcanism in central Tibet, suggesting that this phase of activity is linked to extension across the whole margin of northern India linked to the separation of India from Australia and Antarctica at that time. Mesozoic zircons in younger sedimentary rocks in Tibet suggest a rapid change in provenance, with strong erosion from within or north of the suture zone starting in the Early Eocene following collision. We find no evidence for strongly diachronous collision from central Tibet to the western Himalaya.     

Metallogeny,structural evolution,post-mineral cover distribution and exploration in concealed areas of the northern Chilean Andes

Mineral exploration of prospective areas concealed by extensive post-mineralization cover is growing, being very complex and expensive. The projection of rich and giant Paleocene to early Oligocene porphyry-Cu-Mo belts in northernmost Chilean Andes (17.5–19.5°S) has major exploration potential, but only a few minor deposits have been reported to date, due to the fact that the area is largely covered by post-mineral strata. We integrate the Cenozoic stratigraphic, structural and metallogenic evolution of this sector, in order to identify the most promising regions related to lesser post-mineral cover and the projection of different metallogenic belts. The Paleocene to early Eocene metallogenic belt extends along the Precordillera, with ca. 30 km wide, and includes porphyry-Cu prospects and small Cu (±Mo-Au-Ag) vein and breccia-pipe deposits. Geochronological data indicate an age of 55.5 Ma for an intrusion related to one deposit and ages from 69.5 to 54.5 Ma for hydrothermal alteration in one porphyry-Cu prospect and largest known Cu deposits. The middle Eocene to early Oligocene porphyry belt, in the Western Cordillera farther east, is associated with 46–44 Ma intrusions. It is estimated to be 40-km wide, but is largely concealed by thick post-mineral cover. The youngest Miocene to early Pliocene metallogenic belt, also in the Western Cordillera, is well-exposed and includes Au-Ag epithermal and polymetallic veins and manto-type deposits.The Oligocene-Holocene cover consists of a succession of continental sedimentary and volcanic rocks that overall increase in thickness from 0 to 5000 m, from west to east. These strata are subhorizontal in the west and folded-faulted towards the east. Miocene gentle anticlines and monocline flexures extend along strike for 30–60 km in the Precordillera and were generated by propagation of high-angle east-dipping blind reverse faults with at least 300–900 m of Oligocene bedrock offset. The thickness of cover exceeds 2000 m in the eastern Central Depression, whereas it is generally less than 1000 m in the Precordillera along the Paleocene to early Eocene porphyry-Cu belt and it can reach locally up to 5000 m in the Western Cordillera, above the middle Eocene to early Oligocene belt.In the studied Andean segment, the Miocene to early Pliocene metallogenic belt is superimposed on the Paleocene to Oligocene belts in a 40–50 km wide zone. This overlap may be explained by an accentuated migration of the magmatic front, from east to west, since ca. 25 Ma, as a consequence of subduction slab steepening after a period of magmatic lull and flat subduction from ca. 30–35 to 25 Ma. The identified areas of lesser cover thickness are prone to exploration for concealed deposits, especially along the projection of major porphyry-Cu-Mo belts.     

A multidisciplinary study of the emplacement mechanism of the Qingyang–Jiuhua massif in Southeast China and its tectonic bearings. Part II: Amphibole geobarometry and gravity modeling

The Late Mesozoic geology of the Lower Yangtze area is characterized by extensional sedimentary basins, numerous granitic plutons and several world-class ore deposits. Regionaly, the coeval tectonic and geodynamic framework remains inadequately investigated. In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the regional tectonic context, we performed a multidisciplinary study of the emplacement mechanism of the Qingyang–Jiuhua massif. It consists of the granodioritic Qingyang and the monzogranitic Jiuhua plutons, U–Pb dated at 142 ± 1.0 Ma and 131 ± 2.6 Ma, respectively. Biotite and amphibole cooling ages are 5–8 myr younger. Results deduced from field structural observation, petrographic and magnetic fabrics, paleomagnetism show that this massif was probably vertically emplaced by permissive intrusion coeval with weak regional extension. However, detailed information on the characteristics of this tectonic event and its emplacement depth was not documented. Therefore, we carried out an investigation of amphibole geobarometry and gravity modeling in order to address the emplacement mode of the plutons within their regional tectonic framework. Amphibole data show that the Qingyang–Jiuhua massif was emplaced in the upper crust at a depth between 5 and 12 km. Gravity modeling indicates that the massif is laccolithic. It is characterized by several NE–SW-striking linear thickening zones that we interpret as the feeder roots of the massif. These results led us to conclude that (1) the Qingyang–Jiuhua massif was fed by vertical, NE–SW striking tension gashes; (2) consequently the late Early Cretaceous tectonics in the study area was characterized by NW–SE extension.     

U–Pb detrital zircon data of the Rio Fuerte Formation (NW Mexico): Its peri-Gondwanan provenance and exotic nature in relation to southwestern North America

U–Pb detrital zircon studies in the Rio Fuerte Group, NW Mexico, establish its depositional tectonic setting and its exotic nature in relation to the North American craton. Two metasedimentary samples of the Rio Fuerte Formation yield major age clusters at 453–508 Ma, 547–579 Ma, 726–606 Ma, and sparse quantities of older zircons. The cumulative age plots are quite different from those arising from lower Paleozoic miogeoclinal rocks of southwestern North America and of Cordilleran Paleozoic exotic terranes such as Golconda and Robert Mountains. The relative age-probability plots are similar to some reported from the Mixteco terrane in southern Mexico and from some lower Paleozoic Gondwanan sequences, but they differ from those in the Gondwanan-affinity Oaxaca terrane. Major zircon age clusters indicate deposition in an intraoceanic basin located between a Late Ordovician magmatic arc and either a peri-Gondwanan terrane or northern Gondwanaland. The U–Pb magmatic ages of 151 ± 3 Ma from a granitic pluton and 155 ± 4 Ma from a granitic sill permit a revision of the stratigraphic and tectonic evolution of the Rio Fuerte Group. A regional metamorphism event predating the Late Jurassic magmatism is preliminarily ascribed to the Late Permian amalgamation of Laurentia and Gondwana. The Late Jurassic magmatism, deformation, and regional metamorphism are related to the Nevadan Orogeny.     

The age of supergene manganese deposits in Katanga and its implications for the Neogene evolution of the African Great Lakes Region

Supergene manganese deposits commonly contain K-rich Mn oxides with tunnel structure, such as cryptomelane, which are suitable for radiometric dating using the ³⁹Ar–⁴⁰Ar method. In Africa, Mn deposits have been dated by this method for localities in western and southern parts of the continent, whereas only some preliminary data are available for Central Africa. Here we present new ³⁹Ar–⁴⁰Ar ages for Mn oxide samples of the Kisenge deposit, in southwestern Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The samples represent supergene Mn oxide deposits that formed at the expense of primary Paleoproterozoic rhodochrosite-dominated carbonate ores. Main phases of Mn oxide formation are dated at c. 10.5 Ma, 3.6 Ma and 2.6 Ma for a core that crosses a mineralized interval. The latter shows a decrease in age with increasing depth, recording downward penetration of a weathering front. Surface samples of the Kisenge deposits also record a ≥ c.19.2 Ma phase, as well as c. 15.7 Ma, 14.2 Ma and 13.6 Ma phases. The obtained ages correspond to distinct periods of paleosurface development and stability during the Mio-Pliocene in Katanga. Because Katanga is a key area bordered to the North by the Congo Basin and to the East by the East African Rift System, these ages also provide constraints for the geodynamic evolution of the entire region. For the Mio-Pliocene, the Kisenge deposits record ages that are not systematically found elsewhere in Africa, although the 10.5–11 Ma event corresponds to a roughly simultaneous event in the Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa. The rest of the Katanga paleosurface record differs somewhat from records for other parts of Africa, for which older, Eocene ages have been obtained. This difference is most probably related to the specific regional geodynamic context: uplift of the East African Plateau, with associated erosion, and the opening of the East African Rift System at c. 25 Ma are events whose effects, in the study area, interfere with those of processes responsible for the development of continent-wide paleosurfaces.     

Proto-Andean evolution of the Eastern Cordillera of Peru

The Eastern Cordillera of Peru represents one of the longest (> 1200 km) Paleozoic metamorphic and magmatic belts exposed along the western Andean margin of South America. In this study, we examine the tectonothermal evolution of a key segment of the metasedimentary basement of the Eastern Cordillera of Peru (the Huaytapallana Complex) and demonstrate that it has experienced a hitherto undocumented high-grade orogenic event at 260 Ma (latest Middle Permian) based on U–Pb and Th–Pb monazite age data from paragneisses and U–Pb dating of zircon rims from leucosomes. These ages are interpreted as recording crystallization and are consistent with 255 Ma rutile growth in lower-grade units. U–Pb apatite data (c. 260–230 Ma) in all units are consistent with slow cooling from this 260 Ma metamorphic peak. U–Pb zircon geochronology of pre-tectonic plutons yield ages ranging from c. 302 Ma to c. 260 Ma. These geochronological data are augmented by new U–Pb apatite age data from other segments along the Eastern Cordillera of Peru. A regional synthesis of existing geochronological constraints from the Eastern Cordillera of Peru demonstrates that the margin has experienced a polycyclic orogenic history. Deformation and magmatism occurred at c. 480 Ma and c. 435 Ma during the Famatinian orogenic cycle, was followed by a Late Silurian to Early Carboniferous (c. 420–350 Ma) magmatic and metamorphic gap, and terminated with Gondwanide magmatism and metamorphism at c. 315 Ma and c. 260 Ma. These Famatinian and Gondwanide orogenic phases can be correlated into the Proto-Andean margin of Argentina and Chile and are thus of regional extent. The evolution of the Proto-Andean margin is thus best explained by changes in tectonic plate reorganization in a long-lived Paleozoic accretionary orogen which was undergoing phases of advance and retreat, resulting in magmatic pulses and orogenic phases which can be correlated along the length of the plate boundary.     

Geochronology of the initiation and displacement of the Altyn Strike-Slip Fault,western China

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating studies have been carried out along the Dangjin Pass transect across the Altyn Strike-Slip Fault (ASSF). The samples gave ages of 445.2–454.3 Ma in the Northern Belt, 164.3–178.4 Ma in the Mesozoic Shear Zone and 26.3–36.4 Ma in the Cenozoic Shear Zone. Using the piercing point of the Bashikaogong Fault and the Cangma-Heihe Fault an offset of 350–400 km along the ASSF has been estimated. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of the syntectonic-growth or syntectonic-resetting minerals from the samples within the ASSF belt, and offset estimations from different age piercing points suggest that the ASSF should be initiated in the Middle Jurassic (178.4–160 Ma). Combined with previously reported ages, our studies show that the ASSF is characterized by multi-phase re-activation during 85–100, 25-40 and 8–10 Ma following its initiation in the Middle Jurassic in the regional tectonic setting of convergence between the Indian and Eurasian continents.     

Late Paleozoic subduction–accretion along the southern margin of the North Qinling terrane,central China: Evidence from zircon U-Pb dating and geochemistry of the Wuguan Complex

The Qinling Orogen separating the North China plate from the Yangtze plate is a key area for understanding the timing and process of aggregation between the two plates. Two competing and highly contrasting tectonic models currently exist to explain the timing and nature of collision; one advocates a Devonian continental collision while the other favors a Triassic collision. The Wuguan Complex, between the early Paleozoic North Qinling and the Mesozoic South Qinling terranes, can provide important constraints on the late Paleozoic evolutionary processes of the Qinling Orogen. Metamorphosed sedimentary rock of the Wuguan Complex have a detrital zircon age spectrum with two major peaks at 453 Ma and 800 Ma, several minor age populations of 350–430 Ma and 1000–2868 Ma, and a youngest weighted mean age of 358 ± 3 Ma, indicating a mixed source from the North Qinling terrane. The recrystallized zircons yield a weighted mean age of 333 ± 2 Ma, representing the metamorphic age. Geochemical analyses imply that the sedimentary rocks were originally deposited in an active continental margin dominated by an acidic-arc source with a subordinate mafic-ultramafic source. The youngest population of detrital zircons (358 Ma) suggests that the Wuguan Complex developed as forearc basin along the southern accreted margin of the North Qinling terrane during the early Carboniferous, whereas the ca. 520–460 Ma mafic rocks with E-MORB, N-MORB, OIB or island arc basalt signatures probably derived from the Danfeng Group. In combination with regional data, we suggest that the depositional age of the Wuguan Complex is ca. 389–330 Ma, but it was subsequently incorporated into tectonic mélange by the northward subduction of the Paleo-Qinling Ocean. A long-lived southward-facing subduction-accretionary system in front of the North Qinling terrane probably lasted until at least the early Carboniferous.     

Provenance of Lower Cretaceous Wölong Volcaniclastics in the Tibetan Tethyan Himalaya: Implications for the final breakup of Eastern Gondwana

Lower Cretaceous volcanic lithic arenites, widely distributed in the Tethyan Himalaya, provide insights into the continental breakup of Eastern Gondwana. In southern Tibet they are represented by the Wölong Volcaniclastics. The volcanic rocks that contributed clastic material to the lower parts of this unit were predominantly alkali basalts, whereas rhyolitic/dacitic volcanism becomes the predominant source of the upper strata. Geochemical analyses of basaltic grains and of detrital Cr-spinels from the Wölong Volcaniclastics demonstrate the alkaline character of the volcanism and suggest “within-plate” tectonic setting for the volcanism. Zircon U–Pb ages confirm that this volcanism continued from ～ 140 Ma to ～ 119 Ma. Hf-isotope data on these Early Cretaceous zircons indicate that their parental magmas were mantle-derived, but in the later stage of magmatic activity mantle-derived magmas were mixed with partial melts derived from the continental crust.The Lower Cretaceous volcaniclastics occur along a broad belt paralleling the northern margin of Greater India. The onset of volcaniclastic deposition in the Himalayas appears to become progressively younger toward the west, but it ended synchronously during the Late Albian (～ 102 Ma). The low volume of volcanic rocks and their intra-plate tectonic setting suggest that they are the result of decompressional melting along extensional deep-seated fractures cross-cutting the continental crust, and reflect changes in regional intra-plate tectonic stresses when Greater India began to separate from the Australia–Antarctica supercontinent.     

Malargüe Group (Maastrichtian–Danian) deposits in the Neuquén Andes,Argentina: Implications for the onset of the first Atlantic transgression related to Western Gondwana break-up

The discovery of marine to brackish and fresh-water carbonates in the inner Agrio fold-and-thrust belt at Pichaihue, Neuquén, Argentina, located to the west of the Andean orogenic front, imposes important constraints on the paleogeography of the first Atlantic transgression in the Neuquén Basin related to the break-up of Western Gondwana. The constraints on the timing and areal extent of these deposits shed light on the early uplift history of the southern Andes. These limestones are part of the Maastrichtian–Danian Malargüe Group, which was previously only known from its exposures in the extra-Andean area, representing foreland basin deposits. The presence of stromatolites, oncoids, serpulids, bivalves and gastropods as well as silicified stems of macrophytes indicates a shallow marine, partially brackish environment associated with non-marine deposits. These strata are interfingered with and overlie distal tuffs and proximal pyroclastic flows, whose geochemical characteristics point to a magmatic arc source. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of volcanic zircons of these tuffs yielded an age of 64.3 ± 0.9 Ma that confirms the correlation to the Maastrichtian–Paleocene marine transgression from the Atlantic Ocean. The change in the paleoslope of the basin from Pacific Ocean transgressions to this Atlantic transgression is related to the uplift and deformation of the Agrio fold-and-thrust belt. The Pichaihue Limestone is unconformably deposited on volcanic agglomerates which in turn unconformably overlie Early Cretaceous deposits. Based on these data, it is confirmed that the Cretaceous uplift of the Andes was episodic at these latitudes, with a first pulse in the Cenomanian and a second one in pre-Maastrichtian times. The episodic uplift is also related to an eastward migration of the thrust front and the volcanic arc, related to a previously proposed shallowing of the subduction zone. These episodes were controlled by the Western Gondwana break-up and the beginning of absolute motion of South America toward the west.     

The Neogene and Quaternary of England: landscape evolution,tectonics, climate change and their expression in the geological record

During the Neogene and Quaternary, tectonic and climatic processes have had a profound impact upon landscape evolution in England and, perhaps as far back as 0.9 Ma, patterns of early human occupation. Until the Late Miocene, large-scale plate tectonic processes were the principal drivers of landscape evolution causing localised basin inversion and widespread exhumation. This drove, in places, the erosion of several kilometres of Mesozoic cover rocks and the development of a regional unconformity across England and the North Sea Basin. By the Pliocene, the relative influence of tectonics on landscape evolution waned as the background tectonic stress regime evolved and climatic influences became more prominent. Global-scale climate-forcing increased step-wise during the Plio-Pleistocene amplifying erosional and depositional processes that operated within the landscape. These processes caused differential unloading (uplift) and loading (subsidence) of the crust (‘denudational isostasy’) in areas undergoing net erosion (upland areas and slopes) and deposition (basins). Denudational isostasy amplified during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (c.0.9 Ma) as landscapes become progressively synchronised to large-scale 100 ka ‘eccentricity’ climate forcing. Over the past 0.5 Ma, this has led to the establishment of a robust climate record of individual glacial/interglacial cycles enabling comparison to other regional and global records. During the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition and early Holocene (c.16–7 ka), evidence for more abrupt (millennial/centennial) scale climatic events has been discovered. This indicates that superimposed upon the longer-term pattern of landscape evolution is a more dynamic response of the landscape to local and regional drivers.     

Zircon U–Pb geochronology of the Mesozoic metamorphic rocks and granitoids in the coastal tectonic zone of SE China: Constraints on the timing of Late Mesozoic orogeny

The coastal Changle-Nan’ao tectonic zone of SE China contains important geological records of the Late Mesozoic orogeny and post-orogenic extension in this part of the Asian continent. The folded and metamorphosed T₃–J₁ sedimentary rocks are unconformably overlain by Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks or occur as amphibolite facies enclaves in late Jurassic to early Cretaceous gneissic granites. Moreover, all the metamorphic and/or deformed rocks are intruded by Cretaceous fine-grained granitic plutons or dykes. In order to understand the orogenic development, we undertook a comprehensive zircon U–Pb geochronology on a variety of rock types, including paragneiss, migmatitic gneiss, gneissic granite, leucogranite, and fine-grained granitoids. Zircon U–Pb dating on gneissic granites, migmatitic gneisses, and leucogranite dyke yielded a similar age range of 147–135 Ma. Meanwhile, protoliths of some gneissic granites and migmatitic gneisses are found to be late Jurassic magmatic rocks (ca. 165–150 Ma). The little deformed and unmetamorphosed Cretaceous plutons or dykes were dated at 132–117 Ma. These new age data indicate that the orogeny lasted from late Jurassic (ca. 165 Ma) to early Cretaceous (ca. 135 Ma). The tectonic transition from the syn-kinematic magmatism and migmatization (147–136 Ma) to the post-kinematic plutonism (132–117 Ma) occurred at 136–132 Ma.     

Thermochronological record of Middle–Late Jurassic magmatic reheating to Eocene rift-related rapid cooling in the SE South China Block

We investigate the Mesozoic–Cenozoic thermal history of the Daxi region (central SE South China Block) to evaluate the influence of the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate beneath the SE South China Block along the block's southeast margin on the tectonothermal evolution of the upper plate. We apply a multi-chronological approach that includes U-Pb geochronology on zircon, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on muscovite and biotite from granitic rocks as well as fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He analyses on zircon and apatite from granitic and sedimentary rocks. The Heping granite, located in the Daxi region, has a magmatic age of ca. 441 Ma. The biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of ca. 193 Ma for the Early Jurassic Shibei granite and ca. 160 Ma for the Late Jurassic Fogang granite, respectively, reflect magmatic cooling. The Triassic Longyuanba granite yielded a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of ca. 167 Ma, recording heating to ≥ 350 °C induced by nearby intrusion of Middle Jurassic granites. Zircon fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages from Lower Carboniferous–Lower Jurassic sandstones (140–70 Ma) record continuous cooling during the Cretaceous that followed extensive Middle–Late Jurassic magmatism in the Daxi region. Cretaceous cooling is related to exhumation in an extensional tectonic setting, consistent with lithospheric rebound due to foundering and rollback of the subducted Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. Apatite fission-track (53–42 Ma) and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages (43–36 Ma), and thermal modelling document rapid cooling in the Paleocene–Eocene, which temporally coincides with continental rifting in the SE South China Block in the leadup to the opening of the South China Sea.     

Late Miocene–Quaternary rapid stepwise uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau and its effects on climatic and environmental changes

The way in which the NE Tibetan Plateau uplifted and its impact on climatic change are crucial to understanding the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and the development of the present geomorphology and climate of Central and East Asia. This paper is not a comprehensive review of current thinking but instead synthesises our past decades of work together with a number of new findings. The dating of Late Cenozoic basin sediments and the tectonic geomorphology of the NE Tibetan Plateau demonstrates that the rapid persistent rise of this plateau began ~ 8 ± 1 Ma followed by stepwise accelerated rise at ~ 3.6 Ma, 2.6 Ma, 1.8–1.7 Ma, 1.2–0.6 Ma and 0.15 Ma. The Yellow River basin developed at ~ 1.7 Ma and evolved to its present pattern through stepwise backward-expansion toward its source area in response to the stepwise uplift of the plateau. High-resolution multi-climatic proxy records from the basins and terrace sediments indicate a persistent stepwise accelerated enhancement of the East Asian winter monsoon and drying of the Asian interior coupled with the episodic tectonic uplift since ~ 8 Ma and later also with the global cooling since ~ 3.2 Ma, suggesting a major role for tectonic forcing of the cooling.     

Continental origin of the Bibong eclogite,southwestern Gyeonggi massif,South Korea

Eclogite is a high-pressure (HP) metamorphic rock that provides important information about the subduction of both continental and oceanic crusts. In this study we present SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic data for a suite of the basement gneisses to investigate the origin of the Proterozoic Bibong eclogite in the Hongseong area, South Korea. Zircon grains from the basement felsic gneisses yielded Paleoproterozoic protolith ages ranging from ca. 2197 to 1880 Ma, and were intruded by syenite at ca. 750 Ma. A HP regional metamorphic event of Triassic age (ca. 255–227 Ma) is recorded in the zircon rims of the country rocks, which is also observed in the zircons from the eclogite. The contacts between the Bibong eclogite and its host rocks support an origin for the Proterozoic protoliths, indicating continental intrusions. The Hongseong area thus preserves evidence for the Triassic collision, indicating a tectonic linkage among the northeast Asian continents.     

The Rio Capim volcanic–plutonic–sedimentary belt,São Francisco Craton,Brazil: Geological,geochemical and isotopic evidence for oceanic arc accretion during Palaeoproterozoic continental collision

The collision of oceanic arcs with continents is a common plate tectonic process in the Phanerozoic, but its recognition in the Precambrian is hampered by deformation and metamorphism. The Rio Capim volcanic–plutonic–sedimentary belt lies in sharp tectonic contact with Archaean rocks of the Uauá block in the northern part of the São Francisco craton. Field relationships and high-precision geochronology indicated that the Rio Capim basalts, gabbros, diorites, and dacites were emplaced approximately at 2148–2143 Ma, and later intruded by 2128 Ma-old diorite to tonalite plutons. All rocks were metamorphosed under amphibolite to granulite facies conditions mainly between 2080 Ma and 2070 Ma, but deformation may have lasted until about 2040 Ma as estimated from syn-deformation zircon and titanite grains. The association of basalt, andesite, dacite, and their plutonic counterparts, combined with their positive ε_Nd(t) values and incompatible trace element geochemical signatures similar to island arc magmas, support the proposition that the Rio Capim belt was a Palaeoproteorozoic intra-oceanic arc sequence that collided with a continent, of which the Mesoarchaean Uauá block is a remnant. The implications for the regional evolution and metallogenesis are also discussed.     

The Yarlung suture mélange,Lopu Range,southern Tibet: Provenance of sandstone blocks and transition from oceanic subduction to continental collision

With the aim of better understanding the history of ocean closure and suturing between India and Asia, we conducted a geologic investigation of a siliciclastic matrix tectonic mélange within the western Yarlung suture zone of southern Tibet (Lopu Range region, ~ 50 km northwest of Saga). The siliciclastic matrix mélange includes abundant blocks of ocean plate stratigraphy and sparse blocks of sandstone. Metapelite and metabasite blocks in the mélange exhibit lower greenschist facies mineral assemblages, indicating that they were not deeply subducted. We obtained detrital zircon U-Pb geochronologic and sandstone petrographic data from sandstone blocks in the mélange and sandstone beds from Tethyan Himalayan strata exposed to the south of the suture. The sandstones from both units are all similar in U-Pb detrital zircon age spectra and petrography to the nearby Tethyan Cretaceous–Paleocene Sangdanlin section, which records the earliest appearance (at ~ 59 Ma) of arc-affinity strata deposited conformably on Indian-affinity strata. Two Paleocene sandstones, one of which is a schistose block incorporated in the siliciclastic matrix mélange, yielded indistinguishable maximum depositional ages of ~ 59 Ma. Mesozoic Asian-affinity sandstone blocks previously documented in the siliciclastic matrix mélange 200–500 km along strike to the east are notably absent in the Lopu Range region. We documented a gradational transition in structural style from the block-in-matrix mélange in the northeast to the south-vergent Tethyan thrust belt in the southwest. Blocks of Tethyan Himalayan strata increase in size and the volumetric proportion of matrix decreases from northeast to southwest. We conclude that no arc-affinity sandstone blocks were incorporated into the subduction complex until India-Asia collision at ~ 59 Ma when the Xigaze forearc basin became overfilled and Tethyan Himalayan strata entered the trench. As collision progressed, there was a gradual transition in structural style from block-in-matrix mélange formation to imbricate-style thrust belt formation.