History and modes of Mesozoic accretion in Southeastern Russia

Abstract The history of Mesozoic accretion and growth of the Asia eastern margin, occupied by Southeastern Russia, includes five main events; two main tectonic regimes were responsible for the growth of the continent. In the Triassic-Jurassic, Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous-Paleogene, the subduction of the oceanic lithosphere resulted in the formation of wide accretionary wedges of the Mongol-Okhotsk, Khingan-Okhotsk and Eastern Sikhote-Alin active continental margins, respectively. These stages of the comparatively slow growth of the continent were broken by stages of rapid growth and drastic changes in the shape of the continent, since at these stages large terranes of various tectonic nature collided with active continental margins. At the end of the Early-Middle Jurassic, the Bureya terranes collided with the Mongol-Okhotsk active margin, and at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous there was collision of the Central and Southern Sikhote-Alin terranes with the Khingan-Okhotsk active margin.
Collision-related structural styles in all cases are indicative of oblique collision and great strike-slip motions along the main sutures. The peculiarities of the terrane's geological structure show that prior to collision with the Mongol-Okhotsk and Khingan-Okhotsk active margins, they had already accreted to Asia and then migrated along its margins along the strike-slip faults. The Bureya terranes were squeezed out of the compression zone between Siberia and North China. This compression zone originated after the Paleozoic oceans which divided these cratons had closed. The Khanka terranes and Mesozoic accretionary wedge terranes of the Sikhote-Alin shifted along the strike-slip faults subparallel to the Asia Pacific margin. Strike-slip motions resulted in duplication of the primary tectonic zonation.     

Why did Arabia separate from Africa? Insights from 3-D laboratory experiments

We have performed 3-D scaled lithospheric experiments to investigate the role of the gravitational force exerted by a subducting slab on the deformation of the subducting plate itself. Experiments have been constructed using a dense silicone putty plate, to simulate a thin viscous lithosphere, floating in the middle of a large box filled with glucose syrup, simulating the upper mantle. We examine three different plate configurations: (i) subduction of a uniform oceanic plate, (ii) subduction of an oceanic-continental plate system and, (iii) subduction of a more complex oceanic-continental system simulating the asymmetric Africa-Eurasia system. Each model has been performed with and without the presence of a circular weak zone inside the subducting plate to test the near-surface weakening effect of a plume activity. Our results show that a subducting plate can deform in its interior only if the force distribution varies laterally along the subduction zone, i.e. by the asymmetrical entrance of continental material along the trench. In particular, extensional deformation of the plate occurs when a portion of the subduction zone is locked by the collisional process. The results of this study can be used to analyze the formation of the Arabian plate. We found that intraplate stresses, similar to those that generated the Africa-Arabia break-up, can be related to the Neogene evolution of the northern convergent margin of the African plate, where a lateral change from collision (Mediterranean and Bitlis) to active subduction (Makran) has been described. Second, intraplate stress and strain localization are favored by the presence of a weakness zone, such as the one generated by the Afar plume, producing a pattern of extensional deformation belts resembling the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden rift system.     

The big mantle wedge and decratonic gold deposits

The Circum-Pacific subduction zone is a famous gold metallogenic domain in the world, with two important gold metallogenic provinces, the North China Craton and Nevada, which are related to the destruction of the North China Craton and the Wyoming Craton, respectively. Their ore-forming fluids were possibly derived from the stagnant slab in the mantle transition zone. The oceanic lithospheric mantle usually contains serpentine layers up to thousands of meters thick. During plate subduction, serpentine is dehydrated at depths of 200 km and transformed into high-pressure hydrous minerals, known as Phases A to E, which carries water to the depth of 300 km. The overlying big mantle wedge is hydrated during the breakdown of these hydrous facies in the mantle transition zone. The dehydration of the subducted slab in the big mantle wedge releases sulfur-rich fluid, which extracts gold and other chalcophile elements in the surrounding rocks, forming gold-rich fluid. Because the cratonic geotherm is lower than the water-saturated solidus line of lherzolite, the fluid cannot trigger partial melting. Instead, it induces metasomatism and forms pargasite and other water-bearing minerals when it migrates upward to depths of less than 100 km in the cratonic lithospheric mantle, resulting in a water-and gold-rich weak layer. During the destruction of craton, the weak layer is destabilized, releasing gold-bearing fluids that accelerate the destruction. The ore-forming fluids migrate along the shallow weak zone and are accumulated at shallow depths, and subsequently escape along deep faults during major tectonic events, leading to explosive gold mineralization. The ore-forming fluids are rich in ferrous iron, which releases hydrogen at low pressure through iron hydrolysis. Therefore, decratonic gold deposits are often reduced deposits.     

Recent geodynamic evolution of convergent plate margins and the reconstruction of fossil plate boundaries

Summary The discovery of paleoplates buried in the upper mantle leads to an interpretation of the subduction as a discontinuous process running in cycles and shifting the place of its operation in or against the direction of ocean floor spreading. This mechanism explains the distribution of calc-alkaline volcanism of different age in fossil convergent plate boundaries. The establishment of regular spatial correlation of the aseismic gap in the Wadati-Benioff zones with the distribution of calc-alkaline volcanism enables to reconstruct fossil plate boundaries and to define allochtonous terranes in apparently homogeneous continental plates. The hampering effect of the ocean floor morphology and of the fragments of continental plates approaching the trench, which substantially influences the rates of subduction and the geodynamic history of active continental margins in different domains along the trench, allows us to understand the complicated geological development of continental wedges in fossil convergent plate margins. The establishment of the segmented nature of active subduction zones and the dramatic morphology of the lower limit of the active subducted slab along the trench help us to interpret extensive lateral gaps in volcanic chains overlying active as well as fossil subduction zones.     

Cretaceous episodic growth of the Japanese Islands

Abstract The Japanese Islands formed rapidly in situ along the eastern Asian continental margin in the Cretaceous due to both tectonic and magmatic processes. In the Early Cretaceous, huge oceanic plateaus created by the mid-Panthalassa super plume accreted with the continental margin. This tectonic interaction of oceanic plateau with continental crust is one of the significant tectonic processes responsible for continental growth in subduction zones. In the Japanese Islands, Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene continental growth is much more episodic and drastic. At this time the continental margin uplifted regionally, and intra-continent collision tectonics took place in the northern part of the Asian continent. The uplifting event appears to have been caused by the subduction of very young oceanic crust (i.e. the Izanagi-Kula Plate) along the continental margin. Magmatism was also very active, and melting of the young oceanic slab appears to have resulted in ubiquitous plutons in the continental margin. Regional uplift of the continental margin and intra-continent collision tectonics promoted erosion of the uplifted area, and a large amount of terrigenous sediment was abruptly supplied to the trench. As a result of the rapid supply of terrigenous detritus, the accretionary complexes (the Hidaka Belt in Hokkaido and the Shimanto Belt in Southwest Japan) grew rapidly in the subduction zone. The rapid growth of the accretionary complexes and the subduction of very young, buoyant oceanic crust caused the extrusion of a high-P/T metamorphic wedge from the deep levels of the subduction zone. Episodic growth of the Late Cretaceous Japanese Islands suggests that subduction of very young oceanic crust and/or ridge subduction are very significant for the formation of new continental crust in subduction zones.     

Global variability in subduction thrust zone-forearc systems

Deviations of slip vector azimuths of interplate thrust earthquakes from expected plate convergence directions at oblique subduction zones provide kinematic information about the deformation of forearcs and indirect evidence on the dynamics of the plate boundary. A global survey of slip vectors at major trenches of the world reveals a large variability in the kinematic response of forearcs to shear produced by oblique convergence. The variability in forearc deformation inferred from slip vector deflections is suggested to be caused by variations in forearc rheology rather than in the stresses acting on subduction zone thrust faults. Estimated apparent macroscopic rheologies range from elastic to perfectly plastic (or viscous). Forearc rheologies inferred from slip vectors do not correlate with age of the subducting lithosphere, but continental forearcs or old arcs appear to deform less than oceanic or young arcs. The inferred absence of forearc deformation at continental arcs from this study is counter to inferences drawn from compiled geologic information on forearc faults. Correlations of the apparent forearc rheology with backarc spreading, convergence rate, slab dip, arc curvature, and downdip length of the thrust contact are poor. However, great subduction zone earthquakes occur where forearcs are apparently more elastic (i.e., less deformed by oblique convergence), which suggests that the mechanical properties of forearcs rather than stress magnitude on thrust faults control both the kinematic behavior of forearcs and where great subduction zone earthquakes occur.     

Subduction and terrane collision stabilize the western Kaapvaal craton tectosphere 2.9 billion years ago

Integrative models of crust and mantle structure, age, and growth of the oldest continental nuclei—the Archean cratons—are critical to understanding the processes that stabilize continental lithosphere. For the Kaapvaal craton of southern Africa, conflicting ages of stabilization have been derived from studies of its crust and underlying mantle. New U-Pb zircon geochronological data from the western Kaapvaal craton reveal that two older (3.7 to 3.1 billion year old) continental masses, the Kimberley and Witwatersrand blocks, were juxtaposed by a significantly younger, previously unresolved episode of subduction and terrane collision between 2.93 and 2.88 billion years ago. Geological evidence indicates that convergence was accommodated by subduction beneath the Kimberley block, culminating in collisional suturing in the vicinity of the present-day Colesberg magnetic lineament. The timing of these convergent margin processes is further shown to correlate with the strong peak in Re-Os age distributions of Kimberley block mantle peridotites, eclogites, and eclogite-hosted diamonds. These data thus support the petrogenetic coupling of continental crust and lithospheric mantle through a model of continental arc magmatism, subduction zone mantle wedge processing and terminal collisional advective thickening to form Archean continental tectosphere.     

Seismicity pattern: an indicator of source region of volcanism at convergent plate margins

The results of detailed investigation into the geometry of distribution of earthquakes around and below the volcanoes Korovin, Cleveland, Makushin, Yake-Dake, Oshima, Lewotobi, Fuego, Sangay, Nisyros and Montagne Pelée at convergent plate margins are presented. The ISC hypocentral determinations for the period 1964-1999, based on data of global seismic network and relocated by Engdahl, van der Hilst and Buland, have been used.The aim of this study has been to contribute to the solution of the problem of location of source regions of primary magma for calc-alkaline volcanoes spatially and genetically related to the process of subduction. Several specific features of seismicity pattern were revealed in this context. (i) A clear occurrence of the intermediate-depth aseismic gap (IDAG) in the Wadati-Benioff zone (WBZ) below all investigated active volcanoes. We interpret this part of the subducted slab, which does not contain any teleseismically recorded earthquake with magnitude greater than 4.0, as a partially melted domain of oceanic lithosphere and as a possible source of primary magma for calc-alkaline volcanoes. (ii) A set of earthquakes in the shape of a seismically active column (SAC) seems to exists in the continental wedge below volcanoes Korovin, Makushin and Sangay. The seismically active columns probably reach from the Earth surface down to the aseismic gap in the Wadati-Benioff zone. This points to the possibility that the upper mantle overlying the subducted slab does not contain large melted domains, displays an intense fracturing and is not likely to represent the site of magma generation. (iii) In the continental wedge below the volcanoes Cleveland, Fuego, Nisyros, Yake-Dake, Oshima and Lewotobi, shallow seismicity occurs down to the depth of 50 km. The domain without any earthquakes between the shallow seismically active column and the aseismic gap in the Wadati-Benioff zone in the depth range of 50-100 km does not exclude the melting of the mantle also above the slab. (iv) Any earthquake does not exist in the lithospheric wedge below the volcano Montagne Pelée. The source of primary magma could be located in the subducted slab as well as in the overlying mantle wedge. (v) Frequent aftershock sequences accompanying stronger earthquakes in the seismically active columns indicate high fracturing of the wedge below active volcanoes. (vi) The elongated shape of clusters of epicentres of earthquakes of seismically active columns, as well as stable parameters of the available fault plane solutions, seem to reflect the existence of dominant deeply rooted fracture zones below volcanoes. These facts also favour the location of primary magma in the subducting slab rather than in the overlying wedge.We suppose that melts advancing from the slab toward the Earth surface may trigger the observed earthquakes in the continental wedge that is critically pre-stressed by the process of subduction. However, for definitive conclusions it will be necessary to explain the occurrence of earthquake clusters below some volcanoes and the lack of seismicity below others, taking into account the uncertainty of focal depth determination from global seismological data in some regions.     

Peripheral bulge—a causal mechanism for the Lower/Middle Ordovician unconformity along the western margin of the Northern Appalachians

This report proposes a plate tectonic model that can explain the Early/Middle Ordovician erosional unconformity observed along much of the western margin of the Appalachian orogen. In order for the model to apply, the Taconic allochthons must represent an outer arc (accretionary wedge) and the related subduction zone and Benioff zone must have dipped east (this report reviews the evidence for these assumptions). If these suppositions are correct, then the observed unconformity may have resulted from upwarp along a peripheral bulge (which occurs seaward of present-day oceanic trenches) as the Ordovician continental margin drifted east into the trench. Theoretical calculations show that the amount of uplift experienced by a continental plate over a peripheral bulge is on the order of the amount of uplift observed on the unconformity in Newfoundland. Furthermore, the sequence of events in Taconic times along the western margin of the Appalachian orogen supports the hypothesis that the paleocontinental margin drifted east over a peripheral bulge and on into the trench. The Ordovician shallow-water carbonate bank on the continental margin of the North American plate was uplifted (peripheral bulge) and then rapidly down-dropped to abyssal depths (continental margin entering trench) where it was first covered by flysch and then structurally overlain by the Taconic allochthons (continental margin underthrusting the outer arc). The present western boundary of the maximum relief on the unconformity would delineate the trend and approximate position of the bulge when the craton jammed the subduction zone and ceased convergence with the island arc (in Caradocian times).     

对日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带俯冲特征的地球物理研究:来自重力与震源分布数据的启示

日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带位于太平洋板块、菲律宾海板块和欧亚板块三者的交汇地带,是典型的"俯冲工厂"地区,具有重要的研究意义.本文利用震源分布资料与卫星重力数据对日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带进行了研究.通过空间重力异常反映了俯冲带地区的区域构造形态,在此基础上基于艾利模式计算了均衡异常以反映地壳均衡特征.利用震源分布资料,分别从垂直俯冲带走向与沿俯冲带走向划定了横截剖面(cross-sections)进行了地震提取,讨论了俯冲带地区的Wadati-Benioff带形态特征,并借助于俯冲带地震等深线图直观描述了俯冲带的俯冲形态.在日本俯冲带与伊豆—小笠原俯冲带各选取了一条典型剖面进行了重力2.5D反演,研究了俯冲带地区的壳幔结构特征.研究结果表明,九州—帕劳海脊与IBM岛弧在均衡异常上存在差异,前者已逐渐趋向于地壳均衡.IBM的Wadati-Benioff带存在明显的南北差异,反映出伊豆—小笠原俯冲板片停留在了660km转换带中,而马里亚纳俯冲板片很可能垂直穿过了这一转换带,造成这种南北差异的原因与板块相对运动、岩石圈黏性和年龄差异以及俯冲板片的重力效应等因素有关.在IBM的中部和南部存在板片撕裂现象.日本俯冲带的俯冲洋壳密度随俯冲深度变化较小,洋幔存在一定程度的蛇纹岩化,地幔楔蛇纹岩化作用不典型,海沟处有一范围较小的含水畸变带;伊豆—小笠原俯冲带俯冲洋壳密度随深度增大而明显增大,洋幔蛇纹岩化程度较日本俯冲带低,地幔楔蛇纹岩化作用强烈,板块交汇处存在明显的蛇纹岩底辟.日本俯冲带与IBM俯冲带一线自北向南板片俯冲变陡,两侧板块耦合度降低,与俯冲带两侧的板块运动速率差异有关.     

Prospecting for dead slabs

At subduction zones that have only recently ceased to be active, the lithospheric slab may retain a seismic velocity greater than that of the surrounding mantle even after the slab becomes seismically dead. To seek the subduction zone thought to have been recently active along the western margin of North America, we examined the variation with propagation direction of P-wave travel time residuals from sources at various distances and azimuths to seismograph stations in Washington and California. The uncertainty in source location and origin time was removed by referring the travel-time delay to a nearby station overlying presumably more uniform mantle. An eastward-dipping band of anomalously early arrivals at several stations on the western flank of the Sierra Nevada and California Cascades may imply that a dead slab is present beneath northern California, though a definitive conclusion is premature at present because of a paucity of seismic sources in eastern North America. The position of the dead slab speculatively suggested by the travel-time data is roughly consistent with that predicted by others on the basis of heat flow and geochemistry in the Sierra Nevada, and the southward decrease in the magnitude of the travel-time advance associated with such a slab is in agreement with the history of subduction of the Farallon plate as reconstructed from ocean floor magnetic anomalies and continental tectonic activity.     

智利三联点南部扩张洋脊俯冲区域岩石层热结构的数值模拟

智利三联点(CTJ)位于纳兹卡板块、南极洲板块与南美板块的交界处,由南极洲—纳兹卡板块之间的智利洋脊俯冲到智利海沟而形成.巴塔哥尼亚板片窗的发展是智利洋脊长期扩张俯冲的结果之一.随着纳兹卡板块的不断东向俯冲,纳兹卡板块范围逐渐变小,CTJ同时向北移动.本文采用数值模拟方法,建立了关于洋脊海沟碰撞的简单二维模型,来研究智利三联点南部扩张洋脊俯冲区域岩石层的热结构.模拟结果表明,洋脊的位置、板块相对汇聚速度及上覆大陆板块的存在均对俯冲区域海洋板块的温度结构有着很大影响,并且大陆板块下方海洋板块温度变化最大的位置距洋脊的水平距离与洋脊到板片窗范围的水平距离两者之间具有较好的一致性.同时,当存在两两板块间的相对汇聚时,洋脊右侧大陆板块下表面的温度升高,俯冲带内海洋板块温度接近于地幔温度.纳兹卡板块以7.8 cm·a~(-1)的速度急速俯冲于南美板块之下的过程中,同时伴随着智利洋脊的持续扩张俯冲,在智利三联点南部,南美板块之下纳兹卡板块的温度因而可以更快地达到地幔软流层的约1300℃温度,并最终消亡于地幔之中.     

汕头－吕宋岛岩石圈速度结构与震源构造──台湾浅滩7．3级地震构造之一

汕头－吕宋岛岩石圈速度结构剖面，划分出华南陆缘古生代陆壳、陆架区晚古生代－中生代陆壳、陆坡带中生代－早第三纪过渡壳、新生代南海海盆洋壳及吕宋岛中生代－新生代岛弧陆壳与东吕宋海槽洋壳等地壳构造组分，并确定了上述地壳构造之间的边界断裂构造及其性质。结合地震震源分布及机制，初步确定了华南陆架盆岭构造带北、南两侧地震构造的控震构造与发震构造性质及其震源力学特征；１）指出１９９４年９月１６日台湾浅滩７．３级地震属于板缘壳幔地震及造成一千公里有感范围的原因；２）马尼拉海沟的海底地堑构造与南海海盆岩石圈地幔上隆是马尼拉海沟俯冲带震源显示正断层性质的原因，且为被动的或转换俯冲带；３）东吕宋海槽仍属于菲律宾海俯冲带性质；吕宋岛东西两侧俯冲带岩石圈板片震源深度的准三层分布，可能表明俯冲带岩石圈板片存在相应的低速滑移层。     

Thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan arc: A 2-D numerical analysis

Abstract   The development of voluminous granitic magmatism and widespread high-grade metamorphism in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan have been explained by the subduction of a spreading ridge (Kula–Pacific or Farallon–Izanagi plate boundaries) beneath the Eurasian continent and the formation of a slab window. In the present study, the thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath a continental margin are evaluated through a 2-D numerical simulation. The model results are evaluated by comparison with the Mid-Cretaceous geology of southwest Japan. Of particular interest are the absence of an amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphic belt near the Wadati–Benioff plane, and significant melting of the lower crustal-mafic rocks sufficient to form a large amount of granitic magma. Because none of the model results simultaneously satisfied these two geological interpretations, it is suggested that subduction of plate boundaries in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with the opening of a slab window. According to previous studies, and the results of the present study, two different tectonic scenarios could reasonably explain the geological interpretations for Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan: (i) The spreading ridge did not subduct beneath the Eurasian continent, but was located off the continental margin, implying the continuous subduction of very young oceanic lithosphere; (ii) ridge subduction beneath the continental margin occurred after active spreading had ceased. Consequently, in both tectonic scenarios, the subduction of plate boundaries at the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with a slab window, but very young (hot) oceanic lithosphere.     

三维板块几何形态对大陆深俯冲动力学的制约

大陆深俯冲及超高压变质作用是大陆动力学的重要研究内容,前人进行了系统的地质、地球物理观测以及数值模拟研究.然而,自然界中大陆板块的俯冲、碰撞及造山过程大部分具有明显的沿走向的差异性,这种典型的三维特征可能很大程度上依赖于会聚大陆板块的初始几何学和运动学特征.本文采用三维高分辨率的动力学数值模拟方法,建立了方形大陆板块和楔形大陆板块两种不同的俯冲-碰撞模型,并且俯冲大陆板块侧面与大洋俯冲带相邻.数值模拟结果揭示大洋板块可以持续地俯冲到地幔之中,而大陆板块俯冲到一定深度处,其前端的俯冲板块将发生断离,并进而造成残余的大陆板块俯冲角度的减小.方形大陆俯冲板块的断离深度约为150km,而楔形大陆俯冲板块的断离深度较大,约250~300km,这很大程度上取决于俯冲带中大洋板块的牵引力和大陆板块的负浮力之间的竞争关系.同时,无论方形还是楔形大陆板块俯冲模型中,板块断离后,侧向的大洋俯冲板块仍可以拖曳约60~70km宽的大陆边缘岩石圈持续向下俯冲,揭示了新西兰东部的洋-陆空间转换俯冲带的动力学机制.并且,数值模型与喜马拉雅造山带和秦岭—大别—苏鲁造山带进行了对比,进而对其高压-超高压岩石空间展布沿走向的差异性特征和机制提供了一定的启示.     

Mesozoic mafic magmatism in North China: Implications for thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere

The North China Craton (NCC) has been thinned from >200 km to <100 km in its eastern part. The ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) has been replaced by the juvenile SCLM in the Meoszoic. During this period, the NCC was destructed as indicated by extensive magmatism in the Early Cretaceous. While there is a consensus on the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere in North China, it has been hotly debated about the mechanism of cartonic destruction. This study attempts to provide a resolution to current debates in the view of Mesozoic mafic magmatism in North China. We made a compilation of geochemical data available for Mesozoic mafic igneous rocks in the NCC. The results indicate that these mafic igneous rocks can be categorized into two series, manifesting a dramatic change in the nature of mantle sources at ~121 Ma. Mafic igneous rocks emplaced at this age start to show both oceanic island basalts (OIB)-like trace element distribution patterns and depleted to weakly enriched Sr-Nd isotope compositions. In contrast, mafic igneous rocks emplaced before and after this age exhibit both island arc basalts (IAB)-like trace element distribution patterns and enriched Sr-Nd isotope compositions. This difference indicates a geochemical mutation in the SCLM of North China at ~121 Ma. Although mafic magmatism also took place in the Late Triassic, it was related to exhumation of the deeply subducted South China continental crust because the subduction of Paleo-Pacific slab was not operated at that time. Paleo-Pacific slab started to subduct beneath the eastern margin of Eruasian continent since the Jurrasic. The subducting slab and its overlying SCLM wedge were coupled in the Jurassic, and slab dehydration resulted in hydration and weakening of the cratonic mantle. The mantle sources of ancient IAB-like mafic igneous rocks are a kind of ultramafic metasomatites that were generated by reaction of the cratonic mantle wedge peridotite not only with aqueous solutions derived from dehydration of the subducting Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust in the Jurassic but also with hydrous melts derived from partial melting of the subducting South China continental crust in the Triassic. On the other hand, the mantle sources of juvenile OIB-like mafic igneous rocks are also a kind of ultramafic metasomatites that were generated by reaction of the asthenospheric mantle underneath the North China lithosphere with hydrous felsic melts derived from partial melting of the subducting Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust. The subducting Paleo-Pacific slab became rollback at ~144 Ma. Afterwards the SCLM base was heated by laterally filled asthenospheric mantle, leading to thinning of the hydrated and weakened cratonic mantle. There was extensive bimodal magmatism at 130 to 120 Ma, marking intensive destruction of the cratonic lithosphere. Not only the ultramafic metasomatites in the lower part of the cratonic mantle wedge underwent partial melting to produce mafic igneous rocks showing negative ε_Nd(t) values, depletion in Nb and Ta but enrichment in Pb, but also the lower continent crust overlying the cratonic mantle wedge was heated for extensive felsic magmatism. At the same time, the rollback slab surface was heated by the laterally filled asthenospheric mantle, resulting in partial melting of the previously dehydrated rocks beyond rutile stability on the slab surface. This produce still hydrous felsic melts, which metasomatized the overlying asthenospheric mantle peridotite to generate the ultramafic metasomatites that show positive ε_Nd(t) values, no depletion or even enrichment in Nb and Ta but depletion in Pb. Partial melting of such metasomatites started at ~121 Ma, giving rise to the mafic igneous rocks with juvenile OIB-like geochemical signatures. In this context, the age of ~121 Ma may terminate replacement of the ancient SCLM by the juvenile SCLM in North China. Paleo-Pacific slab was not subducted to the mantle transition zone in the Mesozoic as revealed by modern seismic tomography, and it was subducted at a low angle since the Jurassic, like the subduction of Nazca Plate beneath American continent. This flat subduction would not only chemically metasomatize the cratonic mantle but also physically erode the cratonic mantle. Therefore, the interaction between Paleo-Pacific slab and the cratonic mantle is the first-order geodynamic mechanism for the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere in North China.     

Terrane analysis and accretion in North-East Asia

Abstract A terrane map of North-East Asia at 1:5 000 000 scale has been compiled. The map shows terranes of different types and ages accreted to the North-Asian craton in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic, sub-and superterranes, together with post-amalgamation and post-accretion assemblages. The great Kolyma-Omolon superterrane adjoins the north-east craton margin. It is composed of large angular terranes of continental affinity: craton fragments and fragments of the passive continental margin of Siberia, and island arc, oceanic and turbidite terranes that are unconformably overlain by shallow marine Middle-Upper Jurassic deposits. The superterrane resulted from a long subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust beneath the Alazeya arc. Its south-west boundary is defined by the Late Jurassic Uyandina-Yasachnaya marginal volcanic arc which was brought about by subduction of the oceanic crust that separated the superterrane from Siberia. According to paleomagnetic evidence the width of the basin is estimated to be 1500–2000 km. Accretion of the superterrane to Siberia is dated to the late Late Jurassic-Neocomian. The north-east superterrane boundary is defined by the Lyakhov-South Anyui suture which extends across southern Chukotka up to Alaska. Collision of the superterrane with the Chukotka shelf terrane is dated to the middle of the Cretaceous. The Okhotsk-Chukotka belt, composed of Albian-Late Cretaceous undeformed continental volcan-ites, defines the Cretaceous margin of North Asia. Terranes eastward of the belt are mainly of oceanic affinity: island arc upon oceanic crust, accretion wedge and turbidite terranes, as well as cratonic terranes and fragments of magmatic arcs on the continental crust and metamorphic terranes of unclear origin and age. The time of their accretion is constrained by post-accretionary volcanic belts that extend parallel to the Okhotsk-Chukotka belt but are displaced to the east: the Maastrichtian-Miocene Kamchatka-Koryak belt and the Eocene-Quaternary Central Kamchatka belt which mark active margins of the continent of corresponding ages.     

马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔前缘构造变形和精细结构

马尼拉俯冲带是南海的东部边界,记录了南海形成演化的关键信息,同时也是地震和海啸多发区域.本文利用过马尼拉俯冲带北段的高分辨率多道地震剖面,分析了研究区内海盆和海沟的沉积特征,精细刻画了区内增生楔前缘的构造变形、结构以及岩浆活动特征.研究区内增生楔下陆坡部分由盲冲断层、构造楔和叠瓦逆冲断层构成,逆冲断层归并于一条位于下中新统的滑脱面上,滑脱面向海方向的展布明显受到增生楔之下埋藏海山和基底隆起的影响;上陆坡的反射特征则因变形强烈和岩浆作用而难以识别;岩浆活动开始于晚中新世末期并持续至第四纪.马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔的形成时间早于16.5 Ma,并通过前展式逆冲向南海方向扩展;马尼拉俯冲带的初始形成时间可能在晚渐新世,而此时南海海盆扩张仍在持续.南海东北缘19°N-21°N区域为南海北部陆坡向海盆的延伸,高度减薄的陆壳的俯冲造成马尼拉海沟北段几何形态明显地向东凹进.     

Oblique subduction, collision of microcontinents and subduction of oceanic ridge: Their implications on the Cretaceous tectonics of Japan

Abstract The Izanagi plate subducted rapidly and obliquely under the accretionary terrane of Japan in the Cretaceous before 85 Ma. A chain of microcontinents collided with it at about 140 Ma. In southwest Japan the major part of it subducted thereafter, but in northeast Japan it accreted and the trench jumped oceanward, resulting in a curved volcanic front. The oblique subduction and the underplated microcon-tinent caused uplifting of high-pressure (high-P) metamorphic rocks and large scale crustal shortening in southwest Japan. The oblique subduction caused left-lateral faulting and ductile shearing in northeast Japan. The arc sliver crossed over the high-temperature (high-T) zone of arc magmatism, resulting in a wide high-T metamorphosed belt. At about 85 Ma, the subduction mode changed from oblique to normal and the tectonic mode changed drastically. Just after this the Kula/Pacific ridge subducted and the subduction rate of the Pacific plate decreased gradually, causing the intrusion of huge amounts of granite magma and the eruption of acidic volcanics from large cauldrons. The oblique subduction of the Pacific plate resumed at 53 Ma and the left-lateral faults were reactivated.     

Cretaceous radiolarian fauna from the Kiselyovsky subterrane, the youngest accretionary complex of the Russian continental far east: Paleotectonic and paleogeographic implications

Abstract The Kiselyovsky subterrane is the northeastern section of the Kiselyovsko-Manominsky terrane, a distinguishable tectonic unit in the north of the Sikhote-Alin Range. The terrane has been treated as part of the accretionary wedge belonging to the Khingan-Okhotsk active continental margin, but its structure and stratigraphy have been poorly understood. This paper presents new data on the subterrane structure, lithology and radiolarian biostratigraphy. The following lithostratigraphic units are established in the terrane: a ribbon chert unit, a siliceous mudstone unit and a elastics unit. Abundant Valanginian to late Hauterivian-early Barremian radiolarian assemblages are obtained from the upper part of the chert unit in addition to the known Jurassic radiolarians. The radiolarian age of the lower part of the siliceous mudstone unit (red siliceous mudstone) is determined as early Hauterivian-early Aptian. The unit's upper part (greenish-gray siliceous mudstone and dark-gray silicified mudstone) and the clastics unit contain Albian-Cenomanian assemblages. The arrangement of the units is treated as a chert-elastics sequence, whose vertical lithologic variations indicate environmental changes from a remote ocean to a convergent margin, reflecting an oceanic plate motion towards a subduction zone. The subterrane structure is a stack of imbricated slabs composed of various lithostratigraphic units, and is complicated by folding. The structure's origin is related to subduction-accretion, which occurred in the Albian-Cenomanian. The data presented provide a unique basis for accretionary wedge terranes correlation in the circum-Japan Sea Region, and the Kiselyovsky subterrane is correlated in this study with the synchronous parts of the East Sakhalin, Hidaka and Shimanto terranes. The Albian-Cenomanian radiolarian assemblages were deposited in the Boreal realm, while Valanginian ones are Tethyan; this indicates a long oceanic plate travelling to the north. The former assemblages contain an admixture of older species, redeposited by bottom traction currents and turbidite flows in trench environments.