Latest Miocene and Pleistocene ages of faulting, determined by 40Ar/39Ar single-crystal dating of airfall tuff and silicic extrusives of the Erciyes Basin, central Turkey: evidence for intraplate deformation related to the tectonic escape of Anatolia

The Ericiyes Basin is a trans‐tensional basin situated 20 km north of the regional Ecemi? Fault Zone. Recently it has been hypothesized that faulting within the Erciyes Basin links with the Ecemi? Fault Zone further south as part of a regional Central Anatolian Fault Zone. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks adjacent to faults, both along the margins and in the centre of the Erciyes Basin, constrains the timing of basin inception and later faulting. Extensional faulting occurred along the eastern and western margins of the basin during the Early Messinian (latest Miocene). Sinistral and minor normal faulting were active along the axis of the basin during the early Pleistocene. These fault timings are similar to those inferred for the Ecemi? Fault Zone further south, and support the hypothesis that faulting within the Erciyes Basin and the Ecemi? Fault Zone are indeed linked.     

A multiple-approach radiometric age estimate for the Rotoiti and Earthquake Flat eruptions,New Zealand,with implications for the MIS 4/3 boundary

Pyroclastic fall deposits of the paired Rotoiti and Earthquake Flat eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand) combine to form a widespread isochronous horizon over much of northern New Zealand and the southwest Pacific. This horizon is important for correlating climatic and environmental changes during the Last Glacial period, but has been the subject of numerous disparate age estimates between 35.1±2.8 and 71±6 ka (all errors are 1 s.d.), obtained by a variety of techniques. A potassium–argon (K–Ar) age of 64±4 ka was previously determined on bracketing lavas at Mayor Island volcano, offshore from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. We present a new, more-precise ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determination on a lava flow on Mayor Island, that shortly post-dates the Rotoiti/Earthquake Flat fall deposits, of 58.5±1.1 ka. This value, coupled with existing ages from underlying lavas, yield a new estimate for the age of the combined eruptions of 61.0±1.4 ka, which is consistent with U–Th disequilibrium model-age data for zircons from the Rotoiti deposits. Direct ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations of plagioclase and biotite from the Rotoiti and Earthquake Flat eruption products yield variable values between 49.6±2.8 and 125.3±10.0 ka, with the scatter attributed to low radiogenic Ar yields, and/or alteration, and/or inheritance of xenocrystic material with inherited Ar. Rotoiti/Earthquake Flat fall deposits occur in New Zealand in association with palynological indicators of mild climate, attributed to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and thus used to suggest an age that is post-59 ka. The natures of the criteria used to define the MIS 4/3 boundary in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, however, imply that the new 61 ka age for the Rotoiti/Earthquake Flat eruption deposits will provide the inverse, namely, a more accurate isochronous marker for correlating diverse changes across the MIS 4/3 boundary in the southwest Pacific.     

Crystallization and eruption ages of Breccia Museo (Campi Flegrei caldera,Italy) plutonic clasts and their relation to the Campanian ignimbrite

The Campi Flegrei volcanic district (Naples region, Italy) is a 12-km-wide, restless caldera system that has erupted at least six voluminous ignimbrites during the late Pleistocene, including the >300 km³ Campanian ignimbrite (CI) which originated from the largest known volcanic event of the Mediterranean region. The Breccia Museo (BM), a petrologically heterogeneous and stratigraphically complex volcanic deposit extending over 200 km² in close proximity to Campi Flegrei, has long remained contentious regarding its age and stratigraphic relation to the CI. Here, we present crystallization and eruption ages for BM plutonic ejecta clasts that were determined via uranium decay series and (U–Th)/He dating of zircon, respectively. Despite mineralogical and textural heterogeneity of these syenitic clasts, their U–Th zircon rim crystallization ages are indistinguishable with an average age of 49.7 ± 2.5 ka (2σ errors; mean square of weighted deviates MSWD = 1.2; n = 34). A subset of these crystals was used to obtain disequilibrium-corrected (U–Th)/He zircon ages which average 41.7 ± 1.8 ka (probability of fit P = 0.54; n = 15). This age closely overlaps with published CI ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar eruption ages (40.6 ± 0.1 ka) after recalibration to recently revised flux monitor ages. Concordant eruption ages for BM and CI agree with previous chemostratigraphic and paleomagnetic correlations, suggesting their origin from the same eruption. However, they are at variance with recalibrated ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages which have BM postdate CI by 3 ± 1 ka. BM syenites show similar geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopical features of pre-caldera rocks erupted between 58 and 46 ka, but are distinctive from subsequent caldera-forming magmas. Energy-constrained assimilation and fractional crystallization modeling of Nd–Sr isotopic data suggests that pre-caldera magmas formed a carapace of BM-type intrusions in a mid-crust magma chamber (≥8 km depth) shielding the younger CI magma from contamination by Hercynian basement wall rocks. An ~41–50 ka hiatus in crystallization ages implies rapid solidification of these pre-CI intrusions. This argues against protracted pre-eruptive storage of a large volume of CI magma at shallow crustal levels.     

Stable isotopic evidence for Middle Pleistocene environmental change from a loess‐paleosol sequence: Kärlich,Germany

Loess‐paleosol sequences are important terrestrial archives of palaeoenvironmental change. Such sequences are rich in pedogenic carbonate, the oxygen and carbon isotopic values of which can provide important palaeoenvironmental information. Although some studies have pioneered the use of O and C isotopes in loess‐paleosol sequences, they are not routinely used as palaeoclimate proxies. In this study we analysed the sedimentology, micromorphology, geochronology and isotopic geochemistry of a Middle Pleistocene loess‐paleosol section, located at Kärlich, Germany. The section studied correlates with the Elsterian glacial (MIS 12) and Holsteinian interglacial (MIS 11). Embedded tephra layers yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 466±3 ka, 447±1 ka and 361±3 ka. The sedimentology and micromorphology of the sequence record a shift from accretionary loess accumulation (MIS 12) to prolonged pedogenesis at a stable land surface (MIS 11). Soil carbonate δ¹⁸O values record an enrichment of ～3‰ during the accumulation of the loess, reaching peak values comparable with those found in the MIS 11 soil. The δ¹⁸O signal is interpreted as reflecting temperature, highlighting the potential of δ¹⁸O analysis of European loess soil carbonates as a means of reconstructing palaeotemperature history.     

^40Ar-^39 Ar Dating of Quartz from Ore in the Baiyangping Cu-Co Polymetallic Ore-Concentrated Area, Lanping Basin, Yunnan

⁴⁰Ar−³⁹Ar fast neutron activation age spectrum of quartz in ore collected from the Baiyangping Cu−Co polymetallic ore-concentrated area, Lanping Basin, is saddle-shaped. The plateau age, minimum appearance age and isochron age shown on the spectra are 56.53±0.43 Ma, 55.52±1.78 Ma and 55.90±0.29 Ma respectively. The age data are consistent with each other within 1σ uncertainties. Because the given initial⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value of 294.7±1.14 is very close to Nier's value (295.5±5), both plateau and isochron ages may be considered as the forming time of quartz. So the age of 55.90–56.53 Ma represents the forming age of ore deposits. It is obvious that the ore deposits were formed during the Early Himalayan period. This research project was granted by the State Basic Research, Development and Planning Program (G1999043208) and the Foundation Projects of Yunnan Provincial Education Department (No. 0142104).     

Studying travertines for neotectonics investigations: Middle–Late Pleistocene syn-tectonic travertine deposition at Serre di Rapolano (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Middle–Late Pleistocene tectonic activity has been inferred through studies on travertine deposits exposed in a tract of the hinterland Northern Apennines. A detailed study on the relationships between tectonics and travertine deposition coupled with ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U age determination of travertines at Cava Oliviera quarry, located close to Serre di Rapolano village (southern Tuscany, Northern Apennines), allowed us to recognise Pleistocene faults, whose activity has been referred to 157–24 ka, at least. Travertine deposition was tectonically controlled by WSW-ENE striking, oblique and normal faults, associated to a main fault (named as the Violante Fault). This structure dissected a regional normal fault (known as the Rapolano Fault) Early–Middle Pliocene in age, which bounded the eastern side of the Pliocene Siena Basin, and gave rise to space accommodation for clayey and sandy marine sediments. Hydrothermal circulation (and related travertine deposition) was favoured by the damaging enhancement due to the fault–fault intersection. Tectonic activity has been also documented by deformation recorded by travertines, which suggest a main tectonic event between 64 ± 5 and 40 ± 5 ka. The tectonic activity described for the study area agrees with the Quaternary tectonic evolution documented in the surrounding areas (e.g. Mt. Amiata and Mt. Vulsini), as well as the Tyrrhenian margin of the Central Apennines, indicating that a widespread tectonic activity affected the inner part of the Apennines until the latest Quaternary.     

Sericitic alteration at the La Crocetta deposit (Elba Island,Italy): interplay between magmatism,tectonics and hydrothermal activity

The La Crocetta mine near Porto Azzurro (Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy) is an important producer of raw material for the ceramic industry. Exploitation focuses on a pervasively sericitized porphyritic aplite of the Tuscan Magmatic Province, locally known as "eurite", which underwent significant potassium enrichment during sericitic alteration. Eurites are located along the hanging wall of the Elba Centrale Fault, a low-angle extensional lineament of regional significance. A later carbonatization stage, apparently associated with high-angle extensional tectonics, locally overprinted the sericitized facies. It is expressed by carbonate ± pyrite ± quartz veins, with adverse effects on ore quality. Sericitization was accompanied by addition of potassium, and loss of Na (± Ca, Fe). Rubidium was not enriched along with potassium during sericitization, contrary to what would be expected for interaction with late-magmatic fluids. New ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar data from eurites provide an isochron age of about 6.7 Ma for the sericitization, whereas the age of the unaltered protolith is ca. 8.8 Ma. Field evidence indicates the Elba Centrale Fault to be the main channel for the hydrothermal fluids. On the other hand, the involvement of heat and/or fluids contributed by the Porto Azzurro pluton, which crops out in the La Crocetta area, is ruled out by field, geochemical and geochronological data (⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age of Porto Azzurro =5.9 Ma, i.e. significantly younger than the sericitization event). Fluid inclusion studies suggest that sericitization was associated with a low-temperature (<250 °C) hydrothermal system. Fluids were locally boiling, of variable salinity (4–17 wt% NaCl equiv.), and contained some CO₂ (XCO₂≤0.027). Their ultimate source is not unequivocally constrained; meteoric and/or magmatic contributions may be possible. Low-salinity (≤2.6 wt% NaCl equiv.), low-temperature (<250 °C) fluids are associated with the late carbonate veining. They are considered to be of dominantly meteoric nature because of their low salinity. In summary, sericitization at La Crocetta is regarded as the product of a detachment fault-related, low temperature hydrothermal system, resulting from the structurally controlled focusing of meteoric and possibly magmatic fluids. Hence, potential targets for exploration for similar resources are represented by aplitic bodies located in the hanging wall of Elba Centrale Fault. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00126-002-0279-2.     

Global Correlation of the 223 ka Pringle Falls Event

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages link records of anomalous geomagnetic field behavior from western North America and New Zealand, and suggest that a reversal event occurred at 223 ± 4 ka (± 1σ). Virtual geomagnetic poles from the Pringle Falls event recorded in both hemispheres lie on a common transition path, suggesting that the geomagnetic field during this interval was dominated by a dipolar component. The Pringle Falls event therefore may be a reverse polarity subchron within the Brunhes Normal Chron.     

Introduction

Manisa Fault is a geomorphologically distinct normal dip-slip fault, which oversees the southern edge of the Manisa Graben that is a continuum of the Gediz Graben towards the west. This study aims to determine the neotectonic activity of the Manisa Fault and the most recent time of the change in its stress condition through age-dating data obtained by using ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dating methodology applied on the calcite coating that develops over hanging-wall of the Manisa Fault and the calcite veins that occur as fracture fillings. The age of the calcite precipitations associated with the Manisa Fault was determined to be between 307?±?203 and 444?±?101?ka by using the ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dating method. Evaluation of the carbonate precipitations on the Manisa Fault along with the age data and the kinematic indicators ascertained that the Manisa Fault switched to a dip-slip normal faulting character from Middle Pleistocene onwards and that the region was under the effect of a NE–SW directional extensional regime. In addition, the opening rate was attempted to be determined using the roll-over anticline structure that advanced depending upon the movement of the fault on the upper horizontal strata of colluviums, which developed in association with the Manisa Fault. Along with the evaluation of the rise in the horizontal stratification in colluvium and the obtained age data, opening rate of the Manisa Fault was determined as 0.01?mm?y^?1.     

Evaluation of 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Authigenic Illites in Determining Hydrocarbon Charge Timing: A Case Study from the Silurian Bituminous Sandstone Reservoirs,Tarim Basin,China

The Silurian bituminous sandstones(SBS) in the Tarim Basin, China are important basinwide reservoirs with an estimated area of approximately 249000 km2. We investigated the ages of authigenic illites in the SBS reservoirs and constrained their formation timing by using the ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar step wise heating method. The age spectra, ~(39)Ar recoil loss and their controlling factors were investigated systematically. The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar ages were compared with the conventional K/Ar ages of identical clay fractions. The clay in the SBS reservoirs is dominated by orderly mixed-layer illite/smectite(I/S) with 5%–30% smectite layers. The I/S minerals morphology comprises primarily honeycomb, short filamentous and curved-lath particles, characteristic of authigenic illites. The unencapsulated ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar total gas ages(UTGA) of the authigenic illites range from 188.56 ± 6.20 Ma to 491.86 ± 27.68 Ma, which are 7% to 103% older than the corresponding K/Ar ages of 124.87 ± 1.11 Ma to 383.45 ± 2.80 Ma, respectively. The K-Ar ages indicate multistage accumulations with distinct distribution patterns in the Tarim Basin: older(late Caledonian-early Hercynian) around the basin margin, younger(late Hercynian) in the basin centre, and the youngest(middle to late Yanshanian) in the Ha-6 well-block, central area of the North Uplift. The age difference is believed to have been caused by the ~(39)Ar recoil loss during the irradiation process. Compared with the K/Ar ages, the estimated ~(39)Ar recoil losses in this study are in the range from 7% to 51%. The ~(39)Ar recoil loss appears to increase not only with the decreasing particle sizes of the I/S, but also with increasing percentage of smectite layers(IR) of the I/S, and smectite layer content(SLC) of the samples. We conclude that due to significant ~(39)Ar recoil losses, UTGA may not offer any meaningful geological ages of the authigenic illite formation in the SBS and thus can not be used to represent the hydrocarbon charge timing. ~(39)Ar recoil losses during ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating can not be neglected when dating fine authigenic illite, especially when the ordered mixed-layer I/S containing small amount of smectite layers(IR30%) in the reservoir formations. Compared with the unencapsulated Ar-Ar method, the conventional K-Ar method is less complicated, more accurate and reliable in dating authigenic illites in petroleum reservoirs.     

A new 40Ar/39Ar eruption age for the Mount Widderin volcano,Newer Volcanic Province,Australia, with implications for eruption frequency in the region

The Mount Widderin shield volcano is located near Skipton, western Victoria, in the Western Plains subprovince of the monogenetic Pliocene–Holocene Newer Volcanic Province (NVP). Radiometric ages for lavas in the Hamilton–Skipton–Derrinallum area are few, owing to limited suitable outcrop for K–Ar or ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology studies. Existing age constraints for flows in this area have been inferred from Regolith Landform Units (RLUs), complemented by a small number of K–Ar studies on ≥1 Ma flows. Although the RLU approach provides a valuable overview of relative eruption ages across the NVP, it is of limited use in eruption frequency studies. Additional radio-isotopic ages are required to refine age ranges for individual RLUs, and to validate previous assignment of individual flows to specific RLUs. We report a new, high-precision ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 389 ± 8 ka (2σ) for a Mount Widderin basalt sample. Based on this age and geomorphic observations, we propose that both the Widderin and Elephant lava flows be reassigned from the Eccles RLU to the Rouse RLU. We use the 389 ± 8 ka (2σ) age for Widderin, along with published K–Ar ages, to anchor a stratigraphic sequence of 15 individual flows in the Hamilton–Skipton–Derrinallum area, demonstrating that intermittent volcanism has occurred in this area from ≥3 Ma to ≤0.389 Ma. Within the limits of available data for the NVP, this time span of volcanic activity is second only to that of the Melbourne area. We consider the significance of the Widderin eruption age, in conjunction with published age constraints for maars and scoria cones of the Western Plains subprovince, building on previous studies that have focused solely on lava flow ages. The inclusion of the additional data weakens the argument for a decrease in volcanic activity after ca 0.9 Ma as implied by published ages for lava flows only. Additional detailed combined geochronology–geomorphology studies of lavas, scoria cones and maars in strategically selected small areas are advocated to better understand eruption frequency across the NVP.     

Paleogeographic evolution of the Southern Pannonian Basin: 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the Miocene continental series of Northern Croatia

The Pannonian Basin, originating during the Early Miocene, is a large extensional basin incorporated between Alpine, Carpathian and Dinaride fold-thrust belts. Back-arc extensional tectonics triggered deposition of up to 500-m-thick continental fluvio-lacustrine deposits distributed in numerous sub-basins of the Southern Pannonian Basin. Extensive andesitic and dacitic volcanism accompanied the syn-rift deposition and caused a number of pyroclastic intercalations. Here, we analyze two volcanic ash layers located at the base and top of the continental series. The lowermost ash from Mt. Kalnik yielded an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 18.07?±?0.07?Ma. This indicates that the marine-continental transition in the Slovenia-Zagorje Basin, coinciding with the onset of rifting tectonics in the Southern Pannonian Basin, occurs roughly at the Eggenburgian/Ottnangian boundary of the regional Paratethys time scale. This age proves the synchronicity of initial rifting in the Southern Pannonian Basin with the beginning of sedimentation in the Dinaride Lake System. Beside geodynamic evolution, the two regions also share a biotic evolutionary history: both belong to the same ecoregion, which we designate here as the Illyrian Bioprovince. The youngest volcanic ash level is sampled at the Glina and Karlovac sub-depressions, and both sites yield the same ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 15.91?±?0.06 and 16.03?±?0.06?Ma, respectively. This indicates that lacustrine sedimentation in the Southern Pannonian Basin continued at least until the earliest Badenian. The present results provide not only important bench marks on duration of initial synrift in the Pannonian Basin System, but also deliver substantial backbone data for paleogeographic reconstructions in Central and Southeastern Europe around the Early–Middle Miocene transition.     

Karstification as geomorphological evidence of river incision: the karst of Cousance and the Marne valley (eastern Paris Basin)

The Cousance karst (located between the valleys of the Saulx and Marne) has been studied to determine the temporal records of river incision in the eastern Paris Basin, around the ANDRA experimental nuclear waste repository. Two generations of karst are recognized. The first is a palaeophreatic karst indicative of an old base level, now uplifted +75 m above the underground streams. It is underlain and drained by a second generation of karst with active sinks, which records the vertical evolution following the entrenchment of the River Marne. Ten U/Th dates of speleothems from shafts in the karst show that there were discontinuous growth episodes, mainly during isotopic stages 3 and 5 (between 102.4 ± 1.2 and 49.4 ± 0.4 ka bp ) but also during isotopic stage 2 at 16.3 ± 0.1 and 20.9 ± 0.3 ka bp . These dates provide an absolute age limit for the start of vertical development of the karst, at the latest during isotope stage 5c.     

Pleistocene forest on Tenerife's southern coast: a case study of Montaña Negra

Montaña Negra is a 121 m cinder cone in the Bandas del Sur region of southern Tenerife. Formed in the Middle Pleistocene, it comprises alternating phonolitic pumice deposits and scoria layers; the latter are extremely fossiliferous with good taphonomical fidelity. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determination provides new dates of 302 ± 7.6 ka and 299.9 ± 11.4 ka for the Lower and Upper Aldea Blanca pumice fall deposits, respectively. This chronological constraint allows comparison of the palaeo‐habitat with the global climate at the time of pyroclastic activity. Abundant terrestrial gastropod species and rare disarticulated Coleoptera fragments are to be found. The occurrence of the endemic semi‐slug genus Plutonia (Family Vitrinidae) is significant in indicating a woodland habitat in the region during the Middle Pleistocene. We suggest that this may have been forest, possibly dominated by laurel, which is in stark contrast to the present‐day semi‐desert. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

蓟县剖面杨庄组和雾迷山组形成年龄的研究

对蓟县剖面杨庄组和雾迷山组白云岩中条带状燧石采用⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar阶段加热技术和Cl-Ar相关性,消除了样品中次生流体包体及过剩Ar的干扰,从而获得燧石⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar等时年龄。结果表明高于庄组-杨庄组、杨庄组-雾迷组和雾迷山-洪水庄组的界限年龄分别是1380、1310和1207Ma.     

The tectonic evolution of Cenozoic extensional basins,northeast Brazil: Geochronological constraints from continental basalt 40Ar/39Ar ages

The Boa Vista and Cubati Basins, Paraíba, Brazil, are NW–SE extension-related intracratonic basins that resulted from tectonic stresses after the opening of the South Atlantic. These basins contain lacustrine fossiliferous sediments, bentonite beds, and basalt flows that preserve Cenozoic continental records. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages for six whole-rocks from two distinct basaltic flows underlying the sediments in the Boa Vista basin are 27.3 ± 0.8 and 25.4 ± 1.3 Ma, while three grains from a basaltic flow overlying the sediments yield 22.0 ± 0.2 Ma. The sediments at the nearby Cubati Basin are overlain by a basalt flow with ages of ∼25.4 Ma. Three whole-rocks from an NE–SW-trending trachytic dyke cross cutting the sediments at the Boa Vista Basin yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of ∼12.45 ± 0.06, 12.59 ± 0.07, and 12.58 ± 0.07 Ma. Three whole-rocks from a nearby volcanic plug (Chupador) yield an age of 23.4 ± 0.1 Ma. The geochronological results combined with stratigraphic correlations between the two basins allow bracketing the age of the main sedimentary and bentonic units within the Boa Vista and Cubati Basins between 25.5 ± 1.3 and 24.9 ± 0.1 Ma. The ages, combined with field observations reveal that the formation of the Boa Vista and Cubati basins is associated with mantle-derived magmas channelled through reactivated Precambrian shear zones. Our geochronological results suggest that a temporal link with the Fernando de Noronha and Saint Helena hot spots can be excluded as possible sources of the Boa Vista and Cubati magmas. Rather, the extensional tectonics in the 30–20 Ma interval, long after Gondwana break-up, may be associated with the re-activation of continental-scale shear zones that channelled small batches of mantle-derived magmas.     

New Discovery of the Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks on the Barton Peninsula, King George Island,Antarctica and Its Geological Significance

Ages determined with the 40Ar/39Ar isotopic system affirms the Early Cretaceous volcanic activity in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Two specimens of basaltic andesite collected from the lowermost volcanic sequence of the peninsula were irradiated and analyzed in different experiments, yielding an identical age spectrum, and two magmatic thermal events of the Early Cretaceous (120.4± 1.6 Ma, 119± 1 Ma) and Early Tertiary (53.1± 1.5 Ma, 52± 1 Ma) are distinguished. The former is interpreted to represent the primary cooling age of basaltic andesite, whereas the latter is the thermal reset age caused by the intrusion of granitic pluton. These new ages clearly indicate that volcanism was active during the Early Cretaceous on the Barton Peninsula and that intensive hydrothermal alteration and mineralization of Mesozoic volcanic rocks resulted from Tertiary magmatism.     

东昆仑祁漫塔格花岗片麻岩记录的岩浆和变质事件

东昆仑青海祁漫塔格尕林格一带原定为金水口群的眼球状花岗片麻岩,实际为新元古代早期形成的花岗岩.采用SHRIMP和LA-MC-ICP-MS两种方法对其中的锆石进行了测试,获得的年龄分别为938±5Ma和938±2Ma,代表了花岗岩的形成时代.花岗岩地球化学特征显示为S-型,属于钙碱性系列的弱过铝-过铝质花岗岩,εNd(0)为-9.4～-11.7,εNd(t=938Ma)为-0.6～-3.2,显示低的负值,tDM为1.6 ～2.1Ga,推测其源岩与白沙河岩组类似.东昆仑东段、柴北缘以及阿尔金均有1000～900Ma的花岗岩形成,表明这次岩浆活动比较广泛,可能与我国西部不同陆块间的汇聚有关,是我国西部新元古代克拉通基底形成的反映,同时也响应于全球Rodinia超大陆的形成.花岗片麻岩中1粒锆石边部获得了416±11Ma的年龄,与区域上志留-泥盆纪花岗岩形成时代一致,代表了新元古代花岗岩发生变质作用的时代,其中白云母40Ar/39Ar的坪年龄和等时线年龄为406±2Ma,代表了变质花岗岩的冷却年龄,这些年龄表明新元古代花岗岩卷入了古生代中期与祁漫塔格洋/海盆关闭有关的造山事件.     

Late Jurassic intraplate faulting in eastern Australia: A link to subduction in eastern Gondwana and plate tectonic reorganisation

Eastern Gondwana was subjected to subduction processes during the Middle-Late Jurassic, but how these processes affected intraplate deformation in eastern Australia is poorly understood. Here we present ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, K-Ar, and Rb-Sr geochronological data from illitic clay-bearing fault gouges associated with the northern part of the 200 km long, N-striking, dextral strike-slip, Demon Fault in eastern Australia. We show a major range of geochronological ages at 162.99 ± 0.74–152.1 ± 4.8 Ma, indicating that the Demon Fault was active during the Late Jurassic. This period partially coincides with the Middle-Late Jurassic deposition of widespread ash-fall tuffs in the Clarence-Moreton, Surat, and Eromanga basins. We propose that Middle-Late Jurassic intraplate tectonism in eastern Australia was influenced by subduction processes farther east, which produced extensive calc-alkaline magmatism in New Zealand from ~170 Ma. A global plate reorganisation event, related to the development of Early-Middle Jurassic sea-floor spreading of the Pacific Plate, possibly acted as the driving mechanism responsible for the intensification of magmatism and intraplate faulting in eastern Gondwana.     

Episodic intraplate deformation of stable continental margins: evidence from Late Neogene and Quaternary marine terraces,Cape Liptrap,Southeastern Australia

The Waratah Fault is a northeast trending, high angle, reverse fault in the Late Paleozoic Lachlan Fold Belt at Cape Liptrap on the Southeastern Australian Coast. It is susceptible to reactivation in the modern intraplate stress field in Southeast Australia and exhibits Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene reactivation. Radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) dating of marine terraces on Cape Liptrap are used to constrain rates of displacement across the reactivated Waratah Fault. Six marine terraces, numbered Qt₆–Tt₁ (youngest to oldest), are well developed at Cape Liptrap with altitudes ranging from ～1.5 m to ～170 m amsl, respectively. On the lowest terrace, Qt₆, barnacles in wave-cut notches ～1.5 m amsl, yielded a radiocarbon age of 6090–5880 Cal BP, and reflect the local mid-Holocene sea level highstand. Qt₅ yielded four OSL ages from scattered locations around the cape ranging from ～80 ka to ～130 ka. It formed during the Last Interglacial sea level highstand (MIS 5e) at ～125 ka. Inner edge elevations (approximate paleo high tide line) for Qt₅ occur at distinctly different elevations on opposite sides of the Waratah Fault. Offsets of the inner edges across the fault range from 1.3 m to 5.1 m with displacement rates ranging from 0.01 mm/a to 0.04 mm/a. The most extensive terrace, Tt₄, yielded four Early Pleistocene cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) ages: two apparent burial ages of 0.858 Ma ± 0.16 Ma and 1.25 Ma ± 0.265 Ma, and two apparent exposure ages of 1.071 Ma ± 0.071 Ma (¹⁰Be) and 0.798 Ma ± 0.066 Ma (²⁶Al). Allowing for muonic production effects from insufficient burial depths, the depth corrected CRN burial ages are 1.8 Ma ± 0.56 Ma and 2.52 Ma ± 0.88 Ma, or Late Pliocene. A Late Pliocene age is our preferred age. Offsets of Tt₄ across the Waratah Fault range from a minimum of ～20 m for terrace surface treads to a maximum of ～70 m for terrace bedrock straths. Calculated displacement rates for Tt₄ range from 0.01 mm/a to 0.04 mm/a (using a Late Pliocene age, ～2 Ma), identical to the rates calculated for the Last Interglacial terrace, Qt₅. This indicates that deformation at Cape Liptrap has been ongoing at similar time-averaged rates at least since the Late Pliocene. The upper terraces in the sequence, Tt₃ (～110 m amsl), Tt₂ (～140 m) and Tt₁ (～180 m) are undated, but most likely correlate to sea level highstands in the Neogene. Terraces Tt1–Tt4 show an increasing northward tilt with age.The Waratah Fault forms a prominent structural boundary in the Lachlan Fold Belt discernible from airborne magnetic and bouger gravity anomalies. Seismicity and deformation are episodic. Episodic movement on the Waratah Fault may be coincident with sea level highstands since the Late Pliocene, possibly from increased loading and elevated pore pressure within the fault zone. This suggests that intervals between major seismic events could be on the order of 100 ka.