喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩与印度大陆差异性俯冲

印度与亚洲大陆新生代碰撞-俯冲形成的喜马拉雅造山带核部由高压和超高压变质岩组成.超高压榴辉岩分布在喜马拉雅造山带西段,由石榴石、绿辉石、柯石英、多硅白云母、帘石、蓝晶石和金红石组成.超高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为2.6～2.8GPa和600～620℃,其经历了角闪岩相退变质作用和低程度熔融.超高压榴辉岩的进变质、峰期和退变质年龄分别为～50Ma、45～47Ma和35～40Ma,指示一个快速俯冲与快速折返过程.高压榴辉岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带中-东段,由石榴石、绿辉石、多硅白云母、石英和金红石组成.高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为>2.1GPa和>750℃,叠加了高温麻粒岩相退变质作用与强烈部分熔融.高压榴辉岩的峰期和退变质年龄可能分别是～38 Ma和14～17 Ma,很可能经历了一个缓慢俯冲与缓慢折返过程.喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩的存在表明,印度与亚洲大陆约在51～53Ma碰撞后,印度大陆地壳的西北缘陡俯冲到了地幔深度,导致表壳岩石经历了超高压变质作用,而印度大陆地壳的东北缘平缓俯冲到亚洲大陆之下,导致表壳岩石经历了高压变质作用.     

喜马拉雅造山带的变质作用与部分熔融

喜马拉雅造山带的核心由高级变质岩系和淡色花岗岩构成,是研究碰撞造山作用和板块构造的天然实验室。本文评述了喜马拉雅造山带变质作用和部分熔融研究取得的新进展和存在的争议,主要内容包括:(1)造山带核部具有"三明治"结构,高级变质和部分熔融的高喜马拉雅系列(GHS)夹持在较低级变质的特提斯喜马拉雅系列(THS)和低喜马拉雅系列(LHS)之中,GHS的变质作用程度具有向上和向下部构造层位降低的特征。高喜马拉雅系列主要由高压麻粒岩相到榴辉岩相的变质岩组成,具有1.2~1.6GPa和700~800℃峰期变质条件,顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,其进变质以增温增压为特征,退变质早期为近等温或增温降压过程,晚期为降温降压和近等压降温过程;(2)在造山带西段,紧邻缝合带产出的超高压变质岩具有4.4~4.8GPa和560~760℃的峰期变质条件和顺时针型P-T轨迹,并在退变质中期出现加热过程;(3)尽管造山带的高压和超高压变质岩形成在中、高温条件下,但岩石中的石榴石都保存有明显的主量和微量元素生长成分环带特征;(4)造山带变质核下部发育反转的中、高压型变质序列;(5)在造山带核部,变泥质和长英质麻粒岩的强烈部分熔融主要是增压、增温进变质过程中的白云母和黑云母脱水熔融,和近等温或增温降压过程中的黑云母脱水熔融,可以形成花岗质和英云闪长质熔体。加厚下地壳的高变质温度足以使各种成分岩石(包括基性岩)发生深熔,而不需要外来热源;(6)造山带变质核经历了长期的变质演化过程,其进变质始于~47Ma,峰期变质发生在~25Ma,退变质持续到~15Ma。这些岩石也记录了持续的(超过20Myr)高温变质和部分熔融过程。在造山带西段的超高压变质岩具有~46Ma的峰期变质年龄和~40Ma的退变质年龄,所以经历了一个快速俯冲与折返过程;(7)印度大陆西缘与岛弧的碰撞(造山带西段)和印度大陆东缘与大陆弧的碰撞时间一致,为~50Ma;(8)在造山带西段,印度大陆的深和陡俯冲形成了超高压变质岩;而在造山带中段,印度大陆的平缓俯冲形成了中高压变质岩;(9)构造变质不连续在变质核中广泛存在。多重有序逆冲和无序逆冲导致的岩片叠置控制着造山带的地壳结构;(10)现有的构造模型,包括楔形挤出、隧道流、临界楔和构造楔模型,都不能全面合理地解释造山带变质核部的折返机制。     

东喜马拉雅构造结南迦巴瓦岩群中的石榴辉石岩——印度大陆向欧亚板块之下俯冲至80～100km深度的证据

在东喜马拉雅构造结南迦巴瓦岩群中,石榴辉石岩呈透镜状产于麻粒岩相变质的长英质片麻岩和泥质片岩之中。石榴辉石岩主要由富铁铝榴石的石榴子石和透辉石组成,含少量的金红石、榍石和石英,不含斜长石和角闪石,是榴辉岩相高压变质作用的产物,其原岩相当于基性—超基性层状侵入体中的辉长岩。在高压岩石快速抬升的过程中叠加了麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质作用。石榴辉石岩峰期变质作用的温度和压力条件是800～900°C和2.6～2.8GPa,变质时代可能为50Ma。本研究成果,以及超高压变质岩在西喜马拉雅构造结和榴辉岩在珠穆朗玛峰地区的存在,表明整个喜马拉雅造山带,从西构造结到东构造结,都经历了古近纪的高压、超高压变质作用,证明印度板块向欧亚板块之下的俯冲深度至少达到了80～100km。     

喜马拉雅造山带中段亚东地区石榴角闪岩的成因：岩石学和锆石U- Pb年代学

喜马拉雅造山带中段出露的基性麻粒岩是理解印度大陆前喜马拉雅期演化历史和新生代碰撞造山作用的理想研究对象。本文对亚东多庆湖地区的石榴角闪岩进行了岩石学、全岩主微量元素地球化学和锆石U- Pb年代学研究,揭示了其原岩类型和新生代的变质作用过程。石榴角闪岩的原岩很可能为新元古代(~890 Ma)的玄武岩,具有E- MORB型岩石的地球化学特征。石榴角闪岩具有三期矿物组合：① 进变质矿物组合可能为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英,即石榴子石核部及其中包裹体;② 峰期矿物组合为石榴子石+角闪石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,即石榴子石边部和基质矿物;③ 退变质矿物组合为角闪石+斜方辉石+斜长石+黑云母+石英,包括退变质域和石榴子石边部的后成合晶矿物。矿物温压计和相平衡模拟表明,石榴角闪岩进变质、峰期和退变质条件分别为609~621℃和0. 59~0. 65 GPa、805~845℃和0. 91~1. 04 GPa、825~840℃和0. 61~0. 68 GPa,经历了峰期高压麻粒岩相的变质作用。锆石U- Pb年代学研究表明,石榴角闪岩的峰期变质时间为34. 8~20. 3 Ma,退变质时间为18. 1~17. 7 Ma,可能经历了一个较长期的部分熔融过程。本文研究认为,亚东石榴角闪岩是印度板块向欧亚板块长期俯冲、地壳增厚成因的基性麻粒岩,原岩可能与Rodinia超大陆拼合相关;其以加热埋藏、近等温降压为特征的顺时针P- T轨迹指示了喜马拉雅造山带中段的大喜马拉雅岩系上部构造层位经历了长期持续的地壳增厚和高温麻粒岩相变质作用,以及早中新世(21~17 Ma)相对快速的减压抬升和随后(17 Ma之后)相对缓慢的折返至地表的演化过程。     

喜马拉雅超高压变质作用

喜马拉雅超高压变质带主要由表壳岩石组成,其中的长英质变质岩已经全部退变质,只在基性的榴辉岩中保留有某些超高压变质矿物.这些超高压变质矿物在锆石、石榴石及其他一些化学和机械性质稳定的矿物中以微米级的包裹体形式产出.到目前为止,已经在Tso Morari结晶穹隆和上Kaghan谷高喜马拉雅结晶岩中发现了超高压指示矿物柯石英和多晶石英假像.这2个地区同属一个超高压变质带,具有相似的构造背景、岩石组成及变质年龄.Kaghan谷超高压变质岩形成条件为700～770°C和2.7～3.2 GPa,相当于90～110 km 的上地幔深度,形成年龄为(46.2±0.7) Ma.Tso Morari结晶穹隆中超高压变质岩的形成条件约为750°C和3.9 GPa,形成年龄为(48±1) Ma.上述超高压变质带在其折返过程中普遍经历了强烈的水化和角闪岩相退变质作用.研究表明,印度大陆地壳俯冲的垂向速率为1.1～1.4 cm/a,水平速率为4.5 cm/a,俯冲到约100 km深度时的平均俯冲角度为14～19°.     

南阿尔金高压-超高温麻粒岩变质作用:大陆地壳超深俯冲与折返过程的记录

南阿尔金造山带是目前报道的具有最深俯冲记录的大陆超高压变质带,其内出露有高压-超高温麻粒岩,它们对深入理解大陆地壳岩石超深俯冲与折返过程具有重要意义.介绍了对南阿尔金巴什瓦克地区长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的岩相学、矿物化学、相平衡模拟及锆石U-Pb年代学研究成果.其中基性麻粒岩主要记录了深俯冲大陆地壳折返过程的变质演化:包括高压榴辉岩相、高压-超高温麻粒岩相、低压-超高温麻粒岩相及随后的近等压降温演化阶段;长英质麻粒岩除了记录与基性麻粒岩相似的折返过程外,还记录了从角闪岩相到超高压榴辉岩相的进变质演化过程.结合已有研究资料,确定超高压榴辉岩阶段峰期条件> 7~9 GPa和>1 000℃,可达到斯石英稳定域.锆石年代学显示两种岩石类型的原岩和变质年龄均分别在900 Ma和500 Ma左右.变质作用与年代学研究表明,南阿尔金大陆地壳岩石在早古生代发生超深俯冲至200~300 km后,折返至加厚地壳底部发生高压-超高温变质作用,随后被快速抬升至地壳浅部发生低压-超高温变质作用并经历迅速冷却.      

北秦岭松树沟榴辉岩的确定及其地质意义

松树沟石榴石角闪岩(榴闪岩)呈透镜状产于松树沟超镁铁岩旁侧的斜长角闪岩中,一直以来被认为是形成于接触交代变质或麻粒岩相变质过程。详细岩相学及矿物元素分析,在榴闪岩的基质矿物、石榴石幔部及锆石包体中发现残留的绿辉石,而且石榴石也保存了明显的进变质主、微量元素成分环带,表明松树沟榴闪岩为榴辉岩退变质的产物,至少经历了从角闪岩相到榴辉岩相再到角闪岩相的三阶段顺时针PT演化过程。锆石定年结果得到榴辉岩的变质年龄为500±8Ma,原岩结晶时代为796±16Ma,与秦岭岩群北侧官坡超高压榴辉岩的变质年龄和原岩年龄完全一致,也与北秦岭区域高压-超高压变质时代和原岩的结晶时代一致。表明松树沟榴辉岩与北秦岭造山带已发现的高压-超高压变质岩石一起都应是古生代大陆深俯冲作用的结果,而松树沟超镁铁岩可能是俯冲的大陆板片在折返过程中携带的俯冲隧道中的交代地幔岩。     

喜马拉雅造山带东段错那洞片麻岩穹窿的变质作用及构造意义

错那洞穹窿是喜马拉雅造山带北部发育的一系列片麻岩穹窿之一,因其赋存有超大型稀有金属矿床而倍受关注。本文对错那洞穹窿核部产出的石榴石十字石蓝晶石白云母片岩进行了岩石学、相平衡模拟和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,为揭示穹窿的成因和成矿作用提供了重要限定。岩石学研究表明,石榴石蓝晶石十字石白云母片岩的共生矿物组合是石榴石+蓝晶石+十字石+白云母+斜长石+石英+钛铁矿+金红石,为典型的中压角闪岩相变质岩。相平衡模拟表明岩石的变质温压条件为670℃和9. 0kbar,并未经历部分熔融。锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,片岩的变质作用发生在47～29Ma,即经历了一个较长期(～20Myr)的变质演化过程。结合现有研究成果,我们认为错那洞片麻岩穹窿具有与喜马拉雅造山带北部发育的其它片麻岩穹窿相同的成因,穹窿核部的中级变质岩为高喜马拉雅结晶岩系的上部构造层位,其变质作用发生在印度大陆向拉萨地体之下低角度俯冲过程中;穹窿核部淡色花岗岩是高分异的异地花岗岩,是高喜马拉雅结晶岩系下部高温高压麻粒岩部分熔融所形成的熔体经历高程度分离结晶产物。此外,本文研究成果为印度与亚洲大陆的碰撞时间和性质提供了进一步约束。     

大陆板块俯冲和折返过程中的流体活动：稳定同位素证据

对大别-苏鲁造山带超高压变质岩矿物稳定同位素的系统研究发现，超高压变质过程中存在少量含水流体，但是流体的活动性很小，在不同岩相界面之间缺乏明显的流体渗透；超高压榴辉岩中的石英脉是蜂期变质后含水矿物降压分解和羟基出溶引起的流体流动结果，不是板块俯冲过程中进变质作用的产物；超高压变质岩经历了广泛的角闪岩相退变质作用，退变质流体主要来源于板块折返过程中超高压矿物中溶解经基的降压出溶。     

拉萨地体东南部变质岩的成因与中-新生代造山作用

本文对青藏高原拉萨地体东南部林芝地区分布的变质岩进行了岩石学和年代学研究,结果表明这套岩石在中-新生代经历三期变质作用,形成了三个变质带,它们是:(1)米林变质带,经历了高温中压麻粒岩相峰期变质作用和角闪岩相退变质作用,峰期麻粒岩相的变质作用温、压条件为830～900℃和0.9～1.3GPa,变质时代为90～80Ma的晚白垩世;(2)八一变质带,经历了低压角闪岩相变质作用,变质作用温、压条件为625～679℃,0.4～0.55GPa,变质作用时间为55～50Ma的始新世;(3)布久变质带,经历中压角闪岩相变质作用,变质作用温、压条件为615～663℃和0.5～0.8GPa,变质作用时间为32～26Ma的渐新世。研究表明,拉萨地体东南部的中高级变质岩系的原岩主要由形成在晚古生代的沉积岩和古生代-新生代的岩浆岩组成,变质沉积岩的物质源区具有格林威尔和泛非造山作用的构造热事件记录,表明拉萨地体具有冈瓦纳大陆的构造亲缘性。我们认为,拉萨地体东南部的晚白垩世高温中压变质作用发生在新特提斯大洋岩石圈向拉萨地体之下俯冲所导致的安第斯型造山作用过程中,始新世的低压角闪岩相变质作用发生在印度与欧亚碰撞和深俯冲的新特提斯洋壳断离过程中,而渐新世的中压角闪岩相变质作用发生在印度大陆向欧亚大陆之下的持续俯冲,地壳加厚过程中。因此,拉萨地体东南部的高级变质岩揭示了俯冲/碰撞复合造山带上盘中、下地壳的组成与构造演化历史。     

Tectonic evolution of a composite collision orogen: An overview on the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt in central China

The formation of collisional orogens is a prominent feature in convergent plate margins. It is generally a complex process involving multistage tectonism of compression and extension due to continental subduction and collision. The Paleozoic convergence between the South China Block (SCB) and the North China Block (NCB) is associated with a series of tectonic processes such as oceanic subduction, terrane accretion and continental collision, resulting in the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt. While the arc–continent collision orogeny is significant during the Paleozoic in the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an orogens of central China, the continent–continent collision orogeny is prominent during the early Mesozoic in the Dabie–Sulu orogens of east-central China. This article presents an overview of regional geology, geochronology and geochemistry for the composite orogenic belt. The Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an orogens exhibit the early Paleozoic HP–UHP metamorphism, the Carboniferous HP metamorphism and the Paleozoic arc-type magmatism, but the three tectonothermal events are absent in the Dabie–Sulu orogens. The Triassic UHP metamorphism is prominent in the Dabie–Sulu orogens, but it is absent in the Qinling–Tongbai orogens. The Hong'an orogen records both the HP and UHP metamorphism of Triassic age, and collided continental margins contain both the juvenile and ancient crustal rocks. So do in the Qinling and Tongbai orogens. In contrast, only ancient crustal rocks were involved in the UHP metamorphism in the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt, without involvement of the juvenile arc crust. On the other hand, the deformed and low-grade metamorphosed accretionary wedge was developed on the passive continental margin during subduction in the late Permian to early Triassic along the northern margin of the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt, and it was developed on the passive oceanic margin during subduction in the early Paleozoic along the northern margin of the Qinling orogen.Three episodes of arc–continent collision are suggested to occur during the Paleozoic continental convergence between the SCB and NCB. The first episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the North Qinling unit beneath the Erlangping unit, resulting in UHP metamorphism at ca. 480–490 Ma and the accretion of the North Qinling unit to the NCB. The second episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the Prototethyan oceanic crust beneath an Andes-type continental arc, leading to granulite-facies metamorphism at ca. 420–430 Ma and the accretion of the Shangdan arc terrane to the NCB and reworking of the North Qinling, Erlangping and Kuanping units. The third episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the Paleotethyan oceanic crust, resulting in the HP eclogite-facies metamorphism at ca. 310 Ma in the Hong'an orogen and low-P metamorphism in the Qinling–Tongbai orogens as well as crustal accretion to the NCB. The closure of backarc basins is also associated with the arc–continent collision processes, with the possible cause for granulite-facies metamorphism. The massive continental subduction of the SCB beneath the NCB took place in the Triassic with the final continent–continent collision and UHP metamorphism at ca. 225–240 Ma. Therefore, the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt records the development of plate tectonics from oceanic subduction and arc-type magmatism to arc–continent and continent–continent collision.     

北大别超高压榴辉岩的快速折返与缓慢冷却过程

岩石学研究表明,北大别超高压榴辉岩经过了超高压和高压榴辉岩相变质作用以及麻粒岩相叠加和角闪岩相退变质作用.其中,高压麻粒岩相和角闪岩相变质阶段形成的后成合晶以及石榴子石和单斜辉石等矿物中成分分带的存在,证明该区榴辉岩经历了一个快速折返过程;而不同变质阶段的温度、压力和形成时代,却反映该区榴辉岩在峰期超高压变质作用之后又经历了一个缓慢冷却过程.超高压岩石折返期间的缓慢冷却过程也许正是北大别长期难以发现柯石英和有关超高压证据的重要原因.因此,本文为大别山不同超高压岩片的差异折返模型的建立提供了新的证据.     

胶北地体多期变质事件的P-T-t轨迹及其对胶-辽-吉带形成与演化的制约

胶北地体位于华北克拉通东部陆块胶-辽-吉带南端,主要由闪长质-TTG-花岗质片麻岩、变质表壳岩系和变质镁铁-超镁铁质岩所组成。本文通过对胶北早前寒武纪变质岩系的岩石学、矿物化学、变质反应结构和序列、变质温度和压力估算与同位素年代学资料的综合研究和总结,得出以下重要结论:(1)与华北克拉通东部陆块其它地区太古宙变质基底类似,本区也存在~2500Ma区域性新太古代变质事件,且与本区2550~2500Ma岩浆作用在时间上非常接近,其变质作用发生的时间比岩浆作用要晚10~50Myr,指示本区~2500Ma区域性变质事件可能与大规模的幔源岩浆底侵作用存在密切的成因关系。(2)胶北还存在1950~1850Ma区域性古元古代变质事件,并导致了大量高压基性和泥质麻粒岩的形成,高压基性麻粒岩主要以不规则透镜体、变形岩墙群或岩脉群的形式赋存于闪长质-TTG-花岗质片麻岩之中,并集中分布在安丘-平度-莱西-莱阳-栖霞一带,大致沿北东-南西向断续带状分布,构成了一条长约300km的古元古代高压麻粒岩相变质带。(3)本区古元古代高压麻粒岩以记录近等温减压(ITD)及随后近等压降温(IBC)的顺时针P-T-t轨迹为特征,指示本区变质杂岩在古元古代晚期曾强烈地卷入了与俯冲-拼贴-碰撞造山有关的构造过程,并可能经历了如下复杂的构造演化:(I)在古元古代晚期2000~1950Ma,随着有限大洋地壳的持续俯冲作用,本区各类变质岩的原岩开始经历一次构造增厚事件,并导致了它们的原岩经历了早期绿片岩相-角闪岩相进变质作用;(II)1950~1870Ma,大洋地壳俯冲作用结束,本区开始发生弧-陆拼贴和陆-陆碰撞作用,大陆地壳持续缩短和加厚,在加厚下地壳或岛弧根部带约50km的深度,发生了区域性高压麻粒岩相变质作用,并导致了本区变基性岩和变泥质岩分别形成了石榴石+单斜辉石+斜长石±角闪石±石英±铁-钛氧化物和石榴石+蓝晶石+钾长石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+铁-钛氧化物+熔体的高压麻粒岩相矿物组合。(III)1870~1800Ma,在同碰撞峰期变质结束之后,本区造山作用进入了后碰撞构造折返-伸展演化阶段,先后经历了早期快速构造折返和晚期缓慢冷却降温两个构造热演化阶段。其中,在早期快速构造折返阶段,高压麻粒岩经历了峰后近等温或略微增温减压退变质作用的叠加,高压基性麻粒岩表现为沿石榴石边部形成了含斜方辉石的后成合晶。与此同时,早期快速构造折返阶段还伴随着热松弛和伸展作用,出现一系列的幔源基性岩浆活动,不仅导致了本区大量未经历高压麻粒岩相变质的变基性岩群的形成,同时也诱发了区内大规模的地壳深熔作用的发生。自温度高峰期之后,本区地壳岩石还经历了一个近等压冷却降温过程,并发生了区域性角闪岩相退变质作用,高压基性麻粒岩表现为石榴石和斜方辉石边部常出现含角闪石的退变边或后成合晶。最终,在1800Ma左右,本区含电气石花岗伟晶质岩脉的大量出现,则标志着胶北地体古元古代晚期(2000~1800Ma)俯冲-拼贴-碰撞造山作用的最终结束。     

北秦岭造山带的早古生代多期变质作用

北秦岭造山带的秦岭岩群以高级变质岩石为特征,主要包括少量榴辉岩、高压麻粒岩和区域上广泛分布的麻粒岩-角闪岩相变质岩石。年代学研究显示秦岭岩群中不同岩石记录了多期变质作用。已有的定年资料给出北秦岭官坡地区的榴辉岩的年龄为500Ma左右,代表榴辉岩相的变质时代。结合岩相学资料,对两个高压麻粒岩样品的SHRIMP和LA-ICPMS U-Pb测定分别获得504±7Ma 和506±3Ma的年龄,应代表高压麻粒岩相变质时代。这表明高压麻粒岩和相邻的榴辉岩有相近的变质时代,但形成在造山带中不同的构热造环境中。西峡地区的角闪二辉麻粒岩的U-Pb定年给出两组早古生代年龄,一组为440±2Ma,可能代表了中低压麻粒岩相的变质时代,另一组为426±1Ma,应代表区域角闪岩相的变质时代。桐柏山北部的石榴二辉麻粒岩的U-Pb定年数据给出436±1Ma的年龄,为中压麻粒岩相的变质时代。这些资料表明北秦岭造山带经历了早奥陶世的俯冲和地壳增厚作用,并在晚志留世遭受了广泛的巴罗式区域变质作用。     

大别山高压、超高压变质岩结构构造的演化规律(PTt-D轨迹)

根据大别山高压、超高压变质岩的中尺度-显微构造分析及PTt研究,建立它们的结构和构造随变质作用（前榴辉岩相、超高压变质峰期、前角闪岩相和角闪岩相）有序演化的PTt-D轨迹。这一演化主要包括：在岩石的矿物结构方面从石榴石静态重结晶结构到柯石英假像及放射状张裂隙构造;在岩石组构方面从L>S到L-S和S>L榴辉岩;以及在中尺度构造方面发育的D1和D2变形构造。该PTt-D轨迹同时可以提供有关高压、超高压变质岩折返模式的信息。     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane,Central Tibet

The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet is composed of Precambrian crystalline basement, Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary strata and Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmatic rocks. This terrane has long been accepted as the last crustal block to be accreted with Eurasia prior to its collision with the northward drifting Indian continent in the Cenozoic. Thus, the Lhasa terrane is the key for revealing the origin and evolutionary history of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen. Although previous models on the tectonic development of the orogen have much evidence from the Lhasa terrane, the metamorphic history of this terrane was rarely considered. This paper provides an overview of the temporal and spatial characteristics of metamorphism in the Lhasa terrane based mostly on the recent results from our group, and evaluates the geodynamic settings and tectonic significance. The Lhasa terrane experienced multistage metamorphism, including the Neoproterozoic and Late Paleozoic HP metamorphism in the oceanic subduction realm, the Early Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic MP metamorphism in the continent–continent collisional zone, the Late Cretaceous HT/MP metamorphism in the mid-oceanic ridge subduction zone, and two stages of Cenozoic MP metamorphism in the thickened crust above the continental subduction zone. These metamorphic and associated magmatic events reveal that the Lhasa terrane experienced a complex tectonic evolution from the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic. The main conclusions arising from our synthesis are as follows: (1) The Lhasa block consists of the North and South Lhasa terranes, separated by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent Late Paleozoic suture zone. (2) The crystalline basement of the North Lhasa terrane includes Neoproterozoic oceanic crustal rocks, representing probably the remnants of the Mozambique Ocean derived from the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. (3) The oceanic crustal basement of North Lhasa witnessed a Late Cryogenian (~ 650 Ma) HP metamorphism and an Early Paleozoic (~ 485 Ma) MP metamorphism in the subduction realm associated with the closure of the Mozambique Ocean and the final amalgamation of Eastern and Western Gondwana, suggesting that the North Lhasa terrane might have been partly derived from the northern segment of the East African Orogen. (4) The northern margin of Indian continent, including the North and South Lhasa, and Qiangtang terranes, experienced Early Paleozoic magmatism, indicating an Andean-type orogeny that resulted from the subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean after the final amalgamation of Gondwana. (5) The Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes witnessed Middle Paleozoic (~ 360 Ma) magmatism, suggesting an Andean-type orogeny derived from the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. (6) The closure of Paleo-Tethys Ocean between the North and South Lhasa terranes and subsequent terrane collision resulted in the formation of Late Permian (~ 260 Ma) HP metamorphic belt and Triassic (220 Ma) MP metamorphic belt. (7) The South Lhasa terrane experienced Late Cretaceous (~ 90 Ma) Andean-type orogeny, characterized by the regional HT/MP metamorphism and coeval intrusion of the voluminous Gangdese batholith during the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. (8) During the Early Cenozoic (55–45 Ma), the continent–continent collisional orogeny has led to the thickened crust of the South Lhasa terrane experiencing MP amphibolite-facies metamorphism and syn-collisional magmatism. (9) Following the continuous continent convergence, the South Lhasa terrane also experienced MP metamorphism during Late Eocene (40–30 Ma). (10) During Mesozoic and Cenozoic, two different stages of paired metamorphic belts were formed in the oceanic or continental subduction zones and the middle and lower crust of the hanging wall of the subduction zone. The tectonic imprints from the Lhasa terrane provide excellent examples for understanding metamorphic processes and geodynamics at convergent plate boundaries.     

On Continent-Continent Point-Collision and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphism

Up to now it is known that almost all ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism of non-impact origin occurred in continent-continent collisional orogenic belt, as has been evidenced by many outcrops in the eastern hemisphere. UHP metamorphic rocks are represented by coesite- and diamond-bearing eclogites and eclogite facies metamorphic rocks formed at 650-800℃ and 2.6-3.5 GPa, and most of the protoliths of UHP rocks are volcanic-sedimentary sequences of continental crust. From these it may be deduced that deep subduction of continental crust may have occurred. However, UHP rocks are exposed on the surface or occur near the surface now, which implies that they have been exhumed from great depths. The mechanism of deep subduction of continental crust and subsequent exhumation has been a hot topic of the research on continental dynamics, but there are divergent views. The focus of the dispute is how deep continental crust is subducted so that UHP rocks can be formed and what mechanism causes it to be subducte     

Prograde high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and exhumation of oceanic sediments at Lago di Cignana, Zermatt-Saas Zone, western Alps

Pelagic metasediments and MORB-type metabasalts of the former Tethyan oceanic crust at Cignana, Valtournanche, Italy, experienced UHP metamorphism and subsequent exhumation during the Early to Late Tertiary. Maximum PT conditions attained during UHP metamorphism were 600–630 °C, 2.7–2.9 GPa, which resulted in the formation of coesite-glaucophane-eclogites in the basaltic layer and of garnet-dolomite-aragonite-lawsonite-coesite-phengite-bearing calc-schists and garnet-phengite-coesite-schists with variable amounts of epidote, talc, dolomite, Na-pyroxene and Na-amphibole in the overlying metasediments. During subduction the rocks followed a prograde HP/UHP path which in correspondance with the Jurassic age of the Tethyan crust reflects the thermal influence of relatively old and cold lithosphere and of low to moderate shear heating. Inflections on the prograde metamorphic path may correspond to thermal effects that arise from a decrease in shear heating due to brittle-plastic transition in the quartz-aragonite-dominated rocks, induced convection in the asthenospheric mantle wedge and/or heat consumption by endothermic reactions over a restricted PT segment during subduction. After detachment from the downgoing slab some 50–70 Ma before present, the Cignana crustal slice was first exhumed to ca. 60 km and concomitantly cooled to ca. 550 °C, tracing back the UHP/HP prograde path displaced by 50–80 °C to higher temperatures. Exhumation at this stage is likely to have occurred in the Benioff zone, while the subduction of cool lithosphere was going on. Subsequently, the rocks were near-isothermally exhumed to ca. 30 km, followed by concomitant decompression and cooling to surface conditions (at < 500 °C, < 1 GPa). During this last stage the UHPM slice arrived at its present tectonic position with respect to the overlying greenschist-facies Combin zone. In contrast to the well-preserved HP/UHPM record of the coesite-glaucophane eclogites, the HP/UHP assemblages of the metasediments have been largely obliterated during exhumation. Relics from which the metamorphic evolution of the rocks during prograde HP metamorphism and the UHP stage can be retrieved are restricted to rigid low-diffusion minerals like garnet, dolomite, tourmaline and apatite.     

Tethyan and Indian subduction viewed from the Himalayan high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks

The Himalayan range is one of the best documented continent-collisional belts and provides a natural laboratory for studying subduction processes. High-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure rocks with origins in a variety of protoliths occur in various settings: accretionary wedge, oceanic subduction zone, subducted continental margin and continental collisional zone. Ages and locations of these high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure rocks along the Himalayan belt allow us to evaluate the evolution of this major convergent zone.

(1) Cretaceous (80–100 Ma) blueschists and possibly amphibolites in the Indus Tsangpo Suture zone represent an accretionary wedge developed during the northward subduction of the Tethys Ocean beneath the Asian margin. Their exhumation occurred during the subduction of the Tethys prior to the collision between the Indian and Asian continents.

(2) Eclogitic rocks with unknown age are reported at one location in the Indus Tsangpo Suture zone, east of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis. They may represent subducted Tethyan oceanic lithosphere.

(3) Ultrahigh-pressure rocks on both sides of the western syntaxis (Kaghan and Tso Morari massifs) formed during the early stage of subduction/exhumation of the Indian northern margin at the time of the Paleocene–Eocene boundary.

(4) Granulitized eclogites in the Lesser Himalaya Sequence in southern Tibet formed during the Paleogene underthrusting of the Indian margin beneath southern Tibet, and were exhumed in the Miocene.

These metamorphic rocks provide important constraints on the geometry and evolution of the India–Asia convergent zone during the closure of the Tethys Ocean. The timing of the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Tso Morari massif indicates that the initial contact between the Indian and Asian continents likely occurred in the western syntaxis at 57 ± 1 Ma. West of the western syntaxis, the Higher Himalayan Crystallines were thinned. Rocks equivalent to the Lesser Himalayan Sequence are present north of the Main Central Thrust. Moreover, the pressure metamorphism in the Kaghan massif in the western part of the syntaxis took place later, 7 m.y. after the metamorphism in the eastern part, suggesting that the geometry of the initial contact between the Indian and Asian continents was not linear. The northern edge of the Indian continent in the western part was 300 to 350 km farther south than the area east of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis. Such “en baionnette” geometry is probably produced by north-trending transform faults that initially formed during the Late Paleozoic to Cretaceous Gondwana rifting. Farther east in the southern Tibet, the collision occurred before 50.6 ± 0.2 Ma. Finally, high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure rocks in the western Himalaya formed and exhumed in steep subduction compared to what is now shown in tomographic images and seismologic data.