Plate tectonics,flood basalts and the evolution of Earth’s oceans

The chemical composition of the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) indicates that the present‐day thermal budget of Earth is likely to be characterized by a significant excess of surface heat loss over internal heat generation, indicating an important role of secular cooling in Earth’s history. When combined with petrological constraints on the degree of secular cooling, this thermal budget places a tight constraint on permissible heat‐flow scaling for mantle convection, along with implications for the operation of plate tectonics on Earth, the history of mantle plumes and flood basalt magmatism, and the origin and evolution of Earth’s oceans. In the presence of plate tectonics, hotter mantle may have convected more slowly because it generates thicker dehydrated lithosphere, which could slow down subduction. The intervals of globally synchronous orogenies are consistent with the predicted variation of plate velocity for the last 3.6 Gyr. Hotter mantle also produces thicker, buoyant basaltic crust, and the subductability of oceanic lithosphere is a critical factor regarding the emergence of plate tectonics before the Proterozoic. Moreover, sluggish convection in the past is equivalent to reduced secular cooling, thus suggesting a more minor role of mantle plumes in the early Earth. Finally, deeper ocean basins are possible with slower plate motion in the past, and Earth’s oceans in the Archean is suggested to have had about twice as much water as today, and the mantle may have started as dry and have been gradually hydrated by subduction. The global water cycle may thus be dominated by regassing, rather than degassing, pointing towards the impact origin of Earth’s oceans, which is shown to be supported by the revised composition of the BSE.     

Recent Advance in the Interior Structure and Dynamics of Venus

Venus is similar to the Earth in size， mass， composition and distance to the sun. However， Venus has neither plate tectonics nor dynamo that exists on the Earth. The lithosphere of Venus is very thick based on its topography and gravity. The admittance and correlation between Venusian geoid and topography are very high， suggesting that they are strongly influenced by the internal dynamical process of Venus. Analyses show that there may be 10 Hawaii-like mantle plumes in Venusian mantle. Data from Venus Express has shown evidence for recent active volcanism among several of these plumes. The distribution of impact craters on Venus shows that Venusian surface has a young age and the age is averaged about 500 Ma， suggesting that Venus may have experienced a global resurfacing event. However， whether this resurfacing is catastrophic or equilibrium is still under debate. It is also unclear whether Venus had plate tectonics in the past， is it always in stagnant lid regime， or might it have an entirely different mode？In general， the style of mantle convection on Venus is quite different from that of the Earth which is manifested by the plate tectonics. Here we reviewed the main observations including gravity， topography and surface tectonics which provide constrains on the interior structure and dynamics of Venus， and recent advance in the interior structure and dynamics of Venus. This review aims to provide new insights into the interior dynamics of Venus.     

地幔柱构造理论研究若干问题及研究进展

介绍了目前地幔柱构造理论研究中若干重要问题和最新进展,许多证据显示,地幔柱是严自于核幔边界附近的Ｄ″层发生热扰动并产生地幔柱的热动力源于外地核的不均匀加热作用;一个新启动的地幔柱在穿过整个地幔的缓慢上升过程会形成巨大球状顶冠和狭窄尾柱;地幔柱巨大球状顶冠会导致地壳发生上隆、区域变质作用、地壳深熔作用、构造变形作用和大规模火山作用,形成大陆或大洋溢流玄武岩;地幔柱狭窄尾柱的长期活动会在上覆运动板块上     

行星构造:寻求地球演化的踪迹

地质构造是记录地球内、外动力地质作用过程的标志。和地球相似,太阳系其他天体上也发育丰富的地质构造。以研究天体表面的地质构造及其动力学机制为目的的"行星构造学"是建立在构造地质学、遥感地质学和地球物理学等学科基础上的一门新兴前沿学科。由于天体的大小、组分和轨道位置不同,表面构造特征及其形成机制各异。对比研究地球和其他天体上的构造特征,是完善地球动力学的重要途径。水星和月球的热演化轨迹大致相同,内部持续冷却造成全球收缩,表面形成大量的挤压构造,而伸展构造仅局部发育。火星的岩石圈主要通过热传导散热,表面发育大量的挤压构造,且其形成时间可能呈单峰式分布。同时,火星表面的伸展和挤压构造和大火山群紧密相关,表明深部动力过程影响了火星上的区域构造。金星和地球的大小相似,但金星表面的最大年龄远小于地球大陆地壳的平均年龄,~80%的早期地质记录完全被后期的岩浆-构造活动抹去,表面发育大量的火山-深大裂谷系,说明"幔柱"活动对金星的构造演化至关重要,因此热传导可能也是当前金星岩石圈的主要散热方式。以上天体的岩石圈形变均以垂直运动为主。在外太阳系,一些卫星的表壳主要由冰水和其他挥发分组成,有些卫星存在下伏的液态水圈,潮汐作用可能是驱动其构造演化的主要动力。在特殊的应力来源和物质特性的共同作用下,在这些卫星上发育大量的走滑断层和疑似俯冲消减带。行星地质构造从能量和物质属性的角度探究构造运动的物理和化学过程,与地球动力学研究相辅相成,对揭示地球早期动力学过程的关键科学问题具有重要的指示意义。     

Mantle plumes of Central Asia (Northeast Asia) and their role in forming endogenous deposits

The Phanerozoic within-plate magmatism and the related deposits of Siberia are reviewed. The formation of post-perovskite at about 2.5 Ga in the Earth’s interior and the isotope characteristics of within-plate igneous rocks have shown that plate tectonics and deep geodynamics started to operate at about 2–2.5 Ga. The assembly and breakup of supercontinents under the effect of the superplumes formed in layer D″ is considered. Thus, the supercontinent–superplume cycles spanning about 700 Ma are recognized in the Earth’s history.The manifestations of the within-plate magmatic activity are found throughout the whole Phanerozoic. It was demonstrated earlier that between 570 and 160 Ma, the Siberian continent drifted within the African hot mantle field or large low shear velocity province (LLSVP). At least four plumes, excluding the superplume leading to the breakup of Rodinia at 750 Ma, interacted with the Siberian continent. The superplume leading to the breakup of Rodinia was also responsible for the origin of ultramafic intrusions with carbonatites hosting rare-metal (Nb, Ta, REE) mineralization as well as ultramafic–mafic intrusions with Cu–Ni–Pt mineralization localized along the rift zones.The plumes originated in other Phanerozoic cycles formed most likely at the lower-upper mantle boundary, where most of the stagnant slabs is accumulated. Those plumes were responsible for the origin of within-plate igneous rocks. The granitic batholiths formed in the centers of zonal area surrounded by rift zones containing abundant rare-metal intrusions with rare-metal mineralization. Gold, tin, base metal, and porphyry copper deposits are also related to these zonal area.The studies have shown that the formation of folded zones and related deposits which surround these zones as well as the structures of cratons and their metallogenic specialization should be considered in terms of both plate tectonics and plume tectonics.     

On the evolution of terrestrial planets:Bi-stability,stochastic effects,and the non-uniqueness of tectonic states

The Earth is the only body in the solar system for which significant observational constraints are accessible to such a degree that they can be used to discriminate between competing models of Earth's tectonic evolution.It is a natural tendency to use observations of the Earth to inform more general models of planetary evolution.However,our understating of Earth's evolution is far from complete.In recent years,there has been growing geodynamic and geochemical evidence that suggests that plate tectonics may not have operated on the early Earth,with both the timing of its onset and the length of its activity far from certain.Recently,the potential of tectonic bi-stability(multiple stable,energetically allowed solutions)has been shown to be dynamically viable,both from analytical analysis and through numeric experiments in two and three dimensions.This indicates that multiple tectonic modes may operate on a single planetary body at different times within its temporal evolution.It also allows for the potential that feedback mechanisms between the internal dynamics and surface processes(e.g.,surface temperature changes driven by long term climate evolution),acting at different thermal evolution times,can cause terrestrial worlds to alternate between multiple tectonic states over giga-year timescales.The implication within this framework is that terrestrial planets have the potential to migrate through tectonic regimes at similar‘thermal evolution times'(e.g.,points were they have a similar bulk mantle temperature and energies),but at very different'temporal times'(time since planetary formation).It can be further shown that identical planets at similar stages of their evolution may exhibit different tectonic regimes due to random variations.Here,we will discuss constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Earth and present a novel framework of planetary evolution that moves toward probabilistic arguments based on general physical principals,as opposed to particular rheologies,and incorporates the potential of tectonic regime transitions and multiple tectonics states being viable at equivalent physical and chemical conditions.     

星地碰撞的板块构造效应

板块构造是一种全球大地构造理论.它以洋底扩张、洋壳边缘俯冲及转换断层为主要构造活动形式,配以地幔对流为原动力,建立一套颇具魅力的板块构造机制理论,被受到广泛认同.但也存在一些重要问题,主要是其地幔对流理念难以令人信服和对海陆格局变迁问题没提出明确的动力机制.在阐明造成板块构造理论这两方面困难问题的主要理由之后,介绍了星地碰撞事件的存在状况及其动力作用,着重论述了大规模星地碰撞的动力作用强大,对全球地质构造活动都有重要影响,板块构造也难以避免;星地碰撞的强烈冲击作用,有能力造成洋底开裂或使大陆裂解.据此设想,可用"星地撞击成缝,减压诱发岩浆上侵"的模式,取代与地球内部层圈结构相抵触的"地幔对流"模式来解释洋底扩张;并以星地碰撞发生地点的随机变化性作为大规模海陆格局变迁的主控原因.如此,则可有助于上述板块构造理论中存在的两大难题的解决.     

Did the transition to plate tectonics cause Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth?

When Earth's tectonic style transitioned from stagnant lid (single plate) to the modern episode of plate tectonics is important but unresolved, and all lines of evidence should be considered, including the climate record. The transition should have disturbed the oceans and atmosphere by redistributing continents, increasing explosive arc volcanism, stimulating mantle plumes and disrupting climate equilibrium established by the previous balance of silicate‐weathering greenhouse gas feedbacks. Formation of subduction zones would redistribute mass sufficiently to cause true polar wander if the subducted slabs were added in the upper mantle at intermediate to high latitudes. The Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth climate crisis may reflect this transition. The transition to plate tectonics is compatible with nearly all proposed geodynamic and oceanographic triggers for Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth events, and could also have contributed to biological triggers. Only extraterrestrial triggers cannot be reconciled with the hypothesis that the Neoproterozoic climate crisis was caused by a prolonged (200–250 m.y.) transition to plate tectonics.     

华北克拉通的形成以及早期板块构造

地球上最早的地壳岩石是高钠的花岗质(TTG)岩石,但是否有更老的洋壳存在过、以及陆壳是怎样形成的,涉及到地球动力学几乎所有的问题。其中板块构造是在什么时候开始的,就是个延续了数十年热度不减的前沿科学问题。流行的说法是板块构造始于新元古代,也有一些学者认为在新太古代就已经开始,或者认为自从地球上有了水的记录,就开始有板块构造。在众多的判别板块构造的标志中,蛇绿岩残片和古老的高压变质岩无疑是两个最具影响力的问题。前者可以确定有远古的古老洋壳存在过并成为缝合带中的残片,后者可以指示曾有地表的岩石单元被俯冲到深部,是俯冲、消减与碰撞的岩石学证据。本文在讨论和比较了太古宙绿岩带与蛇绿岩,以及早前寒武纪高温高压(HTHP)麻粒岩/高温—超高温(HT-UHT)麻粒岩与造山带高压变质带之后,认为尚不能作为板块构造的证据。本文还对华北的新太古代末的稳定大陆形成以及古元古代活动带的裂谷-俯冲-碰撞进行了论述。提出华北克拉通在新太古代末的绿岩带-高级区格局可能标志着热体制下有限的横向活动构造,微陆块被火山-沉积岩系焊接,随后发生变质作用和花岗岩化,完成稳定大陆的克拉通化过程。其构造机制可能是适度规模且多发的地幔柱构造控制下小尺度的横向构造运动的机制。华北克拉通的古元古代活动带有与绿岩带-高级区不同的构造样式,表壳岩带状分布,经受了强烈的变形以及中级变质作用,伴随花岗岩的侵入,虽然没有蛇绿岩和高压变质带,但已表现出板块构造的雏形特征。     

微板块与大板块：基本原理与范式转换

传统板块构造理论50多年来一直是占统治地位的地学理论，是理解固体地球运行的基本范式，但遇到三大难题：板块起源、板内变形和板块驱动力。针对这三大难题，微板块构造理论试图开拓一个全球构造研究的新范式。本文通过与传统板块构造理论中基本原理的逐条对比，阐明了微板块构造理论的基本原理和优势及其对传统板块构造理论的拓展。微板块构造范式既不同于传统板块构造范式，又不同于地幔柱范式，是两者的重要补充与拓展。文中着重从几何学、运动学、动力学、适用范围、理论出发点、理论假设与预测的角度，阐明了大板块与微板块的异同，并探讨了两者的转换关系及其转换机制的多样性，介绍了微板块生长成为大板块的4种途径、大〖JP2〗板块破碎为微板块的3种转换模式，探索了前板块构造体制下微地块在非线性地球系统中通过自组织、自生长等方式，进化为板块体制下微板块的自然选择过程。本文还提出陆壳型微地块是密度选择的结果，其密度决定了其保存机制，这是陆壳起源的根本；〖JP〗微地块向微板块的转变是刚性选择的结果，其刚性是初始板块构造体制起始的必要条件；微板块不对称俯冲或对流型式的转变是热选择的结果，其热不对称性是现代板块构造体制起始的必要条件。     

The Orosirian (1800–2050 Ma) plate tectonic episode: Key for reconstructing the Proterozoic tectonic record

Eight lines of evidence indicate that the Orosirian Period in mid-Paleoproterozoic time was characterized by plate tectonics: ophiolites, low T/P metamorphism including eclogites, passive margin formation, tall mountains, paleomagnetic constraints, ore deposits, abundant S-type granites, and seismic images of paleo-subduction zones. This plate tectonic episode occurred about 1 billion years earlier than the present plate tectonic episode began in Neoproterozoic time. The two plate tectonic episodes bracket the ‘Boring Billion’, which may have been a protracted single lid tectonic episode that began when the supercontinent Nuna or Columbia formed. Recognition of multiple lines of evidence for Orosirian plate tectonics demonstrates that Earth’s tectonic style can be reconstructed with some confidence back to at least Early Paleoproterozoic time, and thus the absence of compelling evidence for Mesoproterozoic plate tectonics is not obvious due to poor preservation. A tectono-magmatic lull ～2.3 Ga suggests an earlier episode of single lid tectonics. Evidence for two episodes of plate tectonics and two episodes of single lid tectonics indicates that Earth switched between single lid and plate tectonics multiple times during the last 2.4 Ga.     

Extraterrestrial factors and their role in the Earth’s tectonic evolution in the Early Precambrian

The paper is focused on the fundamental problem of influence of extraterrestrial factors on the Earth’s geologic and tectonic evolution. Extraterrestrial factors played a decisive role in the Earth’s genesis, the formation of the first Hadean continental crust, and the beginning of the Archean era. Their significant influence persisted in the later epochs: Even in the Phanerozoic, extraterrestrial factors might have had a considerable influence on the environment. The sialic cores of protocontinental crust (4.4-3.9 Ga) with first-generation greenstone zones (3.8-3.2 Ga) and the global system of granite-greenstone belts (3.1-2.7 Ga) formed in the rotation-plume regime, mainly in the subequatorial hot belt. The formation of these global structures was, to a large extent, influenced by asteroid impacts, which caused the impact-triggered genesis of mantle plumes. Dramatic changes in the subsequent geologic history began at 2.7-2.0 Ga; at 2.0 Ga they terminated with the Moon’s transition to an orbit similar to the present-day one (50 ± 3 Earth’s radii), accompanied by the abrupt slowdown of the Earth’s axial rotation, the termination of formation of the layer D", and the start of recent plate tectonics, which is accompanied by the plume tectonics.     

运用开合旋构造观探究地球内部是如何运行的

地球上一切物质都是做开合运动的。以热力(热能)驱动物质上浮运动定义为开;以重力(势能)驱动物质下沉的运动定义为合。开合运动具有垂直开合与水平开合的同步统一性和开合相互依存、相互对立、相互转化两个重要特性。因而在旋转运动的统领和调剂下,将所有地球物质、构造、能量等从无序状态转化到有序状态,最后建成了动态稳定平衡的开合旋构造体系。所以,动态稳定平衡体系的形成、破坏、修复不断旋回式演化就是研究地球内部运行的基础和有效方法。为此,我们在垂向上划分了8个开合构造旋回和地壳(球面)开合构造体系,组成了地球四维运行系统。动态稳定平衡体系的建立是遵循重力均衡准则、最小内能原理(结晶化)、几何优选方位(垂直地心)生长和横向物质均匀化4条自然规律的长期作用而实现的,其中重力均衡是主导的。大约40亿年时,地幔岩石圈形成,它像一个球形锅盖盖住热地球,初步建成了稳定的开合旋构造体系,使地球长期进入动态稳定平衡发展阶段。尔后,每次重大地质事件(失衡运动)就是把岩石圈地幔捅个窟窿或撕开一条裂缝,破坏该地区的开合平衡。旋转运动和开合运动迅速将其恢复达到新的平衡,从而构成一个开合旋回,目前地球已经历了8个大旋回。板块构造仅研究最新4个旋回的岩石圈地幔是如何被捅破及被修复的规律并总结相关的理论,因而它在时间上和空间上都有局限性,不属于全球构造。地球类比为一个生命体,其运行系统中的内部结构和功能比较齐全:包含有开合运动、旋转运动和失衡运动组成的运动系统;起“血液”作用的地质流体、贮存和制造“血液”的“心脏”——地核和联系各种“血液”的地幔柱组成的“血液”系统;以重力均衡为准则,由四个重力均衡面、四个开合转换带和球面两条质量均衡线构成的地球平衡系统。由于开与合的转换具有自发形成和自我调剂的功能,所以开与合相互依存、相互对立、相互转化,是地球内部运行体系基本的动力机制和主要的动因。开合转换的本质是热能和势能的转换,驱动失衡运动的主要内因是高温、高压流体超临界爆裂;主要外因是陨击作用。     

When did plate tectonics begin?

The plate tectonic paradigm has been the dominant model for understanding the solid Earth for over 40 years. However, although the model is hugely successful, there is still great uncertainty as to when the plate tectonic process began. Two recent papers have highlighted this difficulty by proposing two very different start times for plate tectonics. One model argues that plate tectonic processes took over from an earlier (unspecified) tectonic regime in a hotter, younger Earth at 1.0 Ga, whereas the other proposes a much earlier start at 4.4–4.5 Ga, and within a 100 Ma of planetary accretion. This feature discusses the evidence for the early and late start hypotheses and argues for a middle position in which plate tectonic processes began during the Archaean (>2.5 Ga ago).     

早期地球的热管构造:来自木卫一的启示

构造体制极大地制约着地球和其他太阳系类地天体（类地行星、岩石质卫星和小行星等）的地表散热、内部温度和物质演化。现有的少量地质记录表明，地球在板块构造启动之前就存在非常活跃的"前板块构造"运动并可能对其早期壳幔分异产生了重要的影响，在这些构造体制下，物质和能量循环的规模和速率可能是后续的板块运动无法比拟的。但受限于早期地质记录的稀缺以及研究手段不成熟等因素，对前板块构造运动的研究一直被学界所忽视，人们对其的认识主要局限于停滞盖层（stagnant-lid tectonics）等。长期以来的空间探测和地基观测表明，木星系统的木卫一存在大规模的火山活动，随之形成了极高的地表热流和地表更新速率以及活跃的造山作用。这些观测事实不同寻常，颠覆了人们对类地天体构造演化模式的一些固有认识，需要新的构造模式——"热管构造"（heat-pipe tectonics）予以解释，其涵义为：类似木卫一上的大规模火山作用可使类地天体的软流圈-岩石圈-地表之间发生快速的物质和能量循环，该循环以岩浆的形成-上升-喷发-冷却和沉降-折返为主要形式，可将天体内部的热散快速散发到外太空。上述过程涉及类地天体内、外部之间物质的大规模、快速迁移和相变，其导热原理与热管相同，因而被称为"热管构造"，其散热效率远高于现今大多数类地天体单纯依赖岩石圈进行内外热传导的停滞盖层构造，以及地球上以板块的形成和俯冲过程主导内部散热的板块构造体制。尽管早期地球与木卫一在内生热机制等方面存在显著差异，但二者的内部温度和内生热率较高，导致其岩浆作用总体均较为活跃，这些关键动力学特征的相似性暗示其构造体制可能类似。因此，研究木卫一的热管构造体制对揭示地球的前板块构造的性质和演化有重要的启示意义。本文综述了近40年来人类对木卫一的主要探测成果，论述了热管构造提出的必要性和依据，总结了该构造体制的特征和发生条件，讨论了早期地球发生热管构造的可能性。早期地球可能经历了热管构造阶段，期间地球通过大规模火山作用散发了内部热量、促进了壳幔分异，并在地球内生热作用减弱、热管构造不能继续维持时被板块构造等取代。由于热管构造的垂向物质循环较为强烈，不利于保留TTG等低密度的壳幔分异产物，我们依据TTG大规模形成的时间上限推测：地球发生热管构造时间可能限于冥古宙-始太古代时期（约38亿年以前）。由于前板块构造时期地球自身的地质记录十分有限，对其热管构造体制的性质和确切的形成条件等很大程度上需要从木卫一获得答案。     

类地行星热物理条件与热演化影响因素分析——以火星地幔热柱演化为例

太阳系内类地行星具有相似的岩石层包围金属核的圈层结构,在行星幔的热演化历史起源方面具有同时性和同源性,并且都在早期变形重力位能加热的基础上随放射性热能衰减而冷却。但是,由于半径、密度、粘度以及表层构造属性等物理条件的差异,其热演化历史各具特色。依据基本的热对流和热传导方程,我们计算分析了类地行星热物理条件差异对行星幔热演化历史的影响。计算表明,类地行星热演化的早期,行星幔热对流是主要的散热方式。半径较大的行星表面热流密度大,平均散热量也大。半径较小的行星内部温差小,粘滞系数高,对流能力低,提早进入传导散热状态,且传导散热的岩石层也比大行星厚。不同边界层热物理条件下,类地行星幔热演化历史会分别出现逐渐冷却的平稳式、包含热柱上涌的波动式、行星幔幕次翻转的周期式等特点不同的热演化过程。火星内部曾经存在的地幔热柱构造与火星地幔热动力学演化过程密切相关。我们从火星地幔热动力学演化模型出发,定量计算与地幔热柱构造演化相关的地幔热动力学演化特征,通过三维球壳数值模拟,研究了火星地幔热演化历史上可能存在的热柱活动造成的火星热演化历史的非单调变化,火星地幔对流环结构随时间的演变方式,以及与边界相关的地幔热柱对火星地形的影响。     

早前寒武纪洋壳的地质记录及其板块构造意义

元古宙蛇绿岩的不断发现表明威尔逊旋回至少在早元古代已经明显起作用，部分太古宙绿岩带由不同的构造单元拼合而成，并发育不同于显生宙蛇绿岩的大洋壳岩石组合，地幔柱在早太古代构造演化过程中起重要作用，是板块构造的重要补充机制，地球早期热产量较高，可能是造成板块规模较小，洋壳较厚，板块运动速度较快的原因，并以缓倾角俯冲为特征。     

从变质作用观看板块构造何时在华北克拉通开始

了解板块构造在地球上何时和怎样开始的是地球科学领域还没有解决的重要问题之一。作为板块运动的最终结果,大陆碰撞造山带是识别地球历史演化中板块构造机制起主导作用的重要标志。大陆碰撞带变质作用一般以顺时针p-T轨迹演化为特征,尤其伴有峰期变质之后的等温减压过程。这样,具有峰后等温减压过程的顺时针p-T轨迹是识别地球早期的板块构造作用的重要标志之一。作为世界上最古老的克拉通陆块之一,华北克拉通基底岩石变质作用p-T演化在过去几年已得到广泛深入的研究,使得该克拉通可能成为应用大规模变质作用p-T轨迹途径来探讨构造环境和构造演化过程的最佳场所。构造上,华北克拉通可划分为三个小的陆块(东部陆块、阴山陆块和鄂尔多斯陆块)和三个古元古代活动带(华北中部碰撞带、孔兹岩带和胶—辽—吉带)。东部陆块和阴山陆块新太古代基底岩石变质作用具有等压冷却型逆时针p-T演化轨迹特征,反映变质作用热源与大量地幔岩浆底板垫托或侵位有关。尽管理论上这样大规模的地幔岩浆可形成在大陆岩浆弧、地幔柱或大陆裂谷环境,只有地幔柱模式才能合理地解释东部陆块和阴山陆块新太古代基底岩石时空分布、岩石组合和构造特征。这样,地幔柱可能是主导东部陆块和阴山陆块新太古代地壳形成和演化的主要构造机制,而板块构造在晚太古宙并不是其主要的构造机制。古元古代孔兹岩带和华北中部碰撞带基底岩石变质作用均具有等温减压型顺时针p-T演化特征,反映两造山带都经历地壳加厚和随后的隆升剥蚀构造过程。这样的构造过程是板块构造体制下的碰撞造山带的典型标志。古元古代胶—辽—吉带可进一步划分为南部带和北部带,其中南部带基底岩石具有逆时针p-T演化特征,而北部带基地岩石具有顺时针p-T演化特征,也反映板块构造机制下的产物。现代规模的板块构造在华北克拉通上的启动时间可以由三个活动带中最老的与板块俯冲有关的新生地壳形成时间来大致标定。目前,华北克拉通内部三个活动带中可识别出来的最老的与板块俯冲有关的新生地壳是华北中部碰撞带2·56Ga五台花岗岩,它们的形成可能大致标志着现代样式的板块构造在华北克拉通大规模作用的开始。     

Voyage of the Indian subcontinent since Pangea breakup and driving force of supercontinent cycles: Insights on dynamics from numerical modeling

Recent advances in three-dimensional numerical simulations of mantle convection have aided in approximately reproducing continental movement since the Pangea breakup at 200 Ma. These have also led to a better understanding of the thermal and mechanical coupling between mantle convection and surface plate motion and predictions of the configuration of the next supercontinent. The simulations of mantle convection from 200 Ma to the present reveals that the development of large-scale cold mantle downwellings in the North Tethys Ocean at the earlier stage of the Pangea breakup triggered the northward movement of the Indian subcontinent. The model of high temperature anomaly region beneath Pangea resulting from the thermal insulation effect support the breakup of Pangea in the real Earth time scale, as also suggested in previous geological and geodynamic models. However, considering the low radioactive heat generation rate of the depleted upper mantle, the high temperature anomaly region might have been generated by upwelling plumes with contribution of deep subducted TTG(tonalite-trondhjemite-granite) materials enriched in radiogenic elements. Integrating the numerical results of mantle convection from 200 Ma to the present, and from the present to the future, it is considered that the mantle drag force acting on the base of continents may be comparable to the slab pull force, which implies that convection in the shallower part of the mantle is strongly coupled with surface plate motion.     

The controversy over plumes: Who is actually right?

The current state of the theory of mantle plumes and its relation to classic plate tectonics show that the “plume” line of geodynamic research is in a period of serious crisis. The number of publications criticizing this concept is steadily increasing. The initial suggestions of plumes’ advocates are disputed, and not without grounds. Questions have been raised as to whether all plumes are derived from the mantle-core interface; whether they all have a wide head and a narrow tail; whether they are always accompanied by uplifting of the Earth’s surface; and whether they can be reliably identified by geochemical signatures, e.g., by the helium-isotope ratio. Rather convincing evidence indicates that plumes cannot be regarded as a strictly fixed reference frame for moving lithospheric plates. More generally, the very existence of plumes has become the subject of debate. Alternative ideas contend that all plumes, or hot spots, are directly related to plate-tectonic mechanisms and appear as a result of shallow tectonic stress, subsequent decompression, and melting of the mantle enriched in basaltic material. Attempts have been made to explain the regular variation in age of volcanoes in ocean ridges by the crack propagation mechanism or by drift of melted segregations of enriched mantle in a nearly horizontal asthenospheric flow. In the author’s opinion, the crisis may be overcome by returning to the beginnings of the plume concept and by providing an adequate specification of plume attributes. Only mantle flows with sources situated below the asthenosphere should be referred to as plumes. These flows are not directly related to such plate-tectonic mechanisms as passive rifting and decompression melting in the upper asthenosphere and are marked by time-progressive volcanic chains; their subasthenospheric roots are detected in seismic tomographic images. Such plumes are mostly located at the margins of superswells, regions of attenuation of seismic waves at the mantle-core interface.