Field evidences from northern Dead Sea Fault Zone (South Turkey): New findings for the initiation age and slip rate

The left-lateral strike–slip Dead Sea Fault Zone (DSFZ) extends from the Red Sea in the south to the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) in the north. This study examines the northern part of the DSFZ around Amik Basin and presents surface and subsurface geological evidence for the Quaternary activity and initiation age of the northernmost DSFZ. The DSFZ extends N–S in the south of the Amik Basin where clear geological and morphological evidence exists for faulting. Geological observations around Amik Basin, analyses of borehole data and electrical resistivity profiles within the Amik Basin indicate that the activity of the northern DSFZ started after Pliocene in the Amik Basin. Subsurface data in the basin suggest that the DSFZ offsets a pre-Quaternary basin sinistrally by about 7.9 km. The offset pre-Quaternary basin suggests at least 4.94 ± 0.13 mm/year slip rate for the northern part of the DSFZ. The Karasu Fault Zone (KFZ) extends in an en-echelon pattern along the western margin of the Karasu Valley and it transfers the significant amount of slip from DSFZ to the EAFZ.     

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.     

阿尔金断裂系西段——康西瓦断裂的 晚第四纪构造地貌特征研究*

阿尔金断裂带是青藏高原北部的一条大型左旋走滑断裂带,近EW向延伸2000多公里, 它构成了青藏高原与塔里木盆地之间的重要地质边界。康西瓦断裂位于阿尔金断裂带西段, 呈WNW-ESE向延伸约 700km。文章在高分辨率卫星遥感图像(印度遥感卫星5.8m分辨率)和数字高程地形模型(DEM)数据分析的基础上,并结合野外构造地貌考察观测,对康西瓦断裂的第四纪构造活动及其地貌特征进行了初步研究。沿断裂带发育的系统错断水系、错断冲积扇、挤压脊、走滑拉分盆地等典型构造地貌特征表明,该断裂晚第四纪经历了强烈的左旋走滑活动。同时,研究还揭示沿康西瓦断裂发育了一条长约80km的地表地震破裂带,最大同震左旋水平错位为4m,估算产生该地表破裂带的地震是一矩震级为M_w7.3的大地震。 另外,文章根据不同年代地表地貌特征的左旋错位距离,估算出康西瓦断裂晚第四纪以来的长期走滑速率为8~12mm/a,远低于早期估算的20~30mm/a,但是与阿尔金断裂带中、东段的地质估算结果9±2mm/a及GPS测量结果9±4mm/a接近。     

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

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

The tectonic evolution of the Qiongdongnan Basin in the northern margin of the South China Sea

Qiongdongnan Basin is a Cenozoic rift basin located on the northern passive continental margin of the South China Sea. Due to a lack of geologic observations, its evolution was not clear in the past. However, recently acquired 2-D seismic reflection data provide an opportunity to investigate its tectonic evolution. It shows that the Qiongdongnan Basin comprises a main rift zone which is 50–100 km wide and more than 400 km long. The main rift zone is arcuate in map view and its orientation changes from ENE–WSW in the west to nearly E–W in the east. It can be divided into three major segments. The generally linear fault trace shown by many border faults in map view implies that the eastern and middle segments were controlled by faults reactivated from NE to ENE trending and nearly E–W trending pre-existing fabrics, respectively. The western segment was controlled by a left-lateral strike-slip fault. The fault patterns shown by the central and eastern segments indicate that the extension direction for the opening of the rift basin was dominantly NW–SE. A semi-quantitative analysis of the fault cut-offs identifies three stages of rifting evolution: (1) 40.4–33.9 Ma, sparsely distributed NE-trending faults formed mainly in the western and the central part of the study area; (2) 33.9–28.4 Ma, the main rift zone formed and the area influenced by faulting was extended into the eastern part of the study area and (3) 28.4–20.4 Ma, the subsidence area was further enlarged but mainly extended into the flanking area of the main rift zone. In addition, Estimates of extensional strain along NW–SE-trending seismic profiles, which cross the main rift zone, vary between 15 and 39 km, which are generally comparable to the sinistral displacement on the Red River Fault Zone offshore, implying that this fault zone, in terms of sinistral motion, terminated at a location near the southern end of the Yinggehai Basin. Finally, these observations let us to favour a hybrid model for the opening of the South China Sea and probably the Qiongdongnan Basin.     

Zircon U–Pb ages of the Mianning–Dechang syenites,Sichuan Province,southwestern China: Constraints on the giant REE mineralization belt and its regional geological setting

The Himalayan Mianning–Dechang (MD) rare earth element (REE) belt in western Sichuan Province, southwestern China, is approximately 270 km long and 15 km wide, and contains total reserves of more than 3 Mt of light REEs (LREEs), comprising one giant (Maoniuping), one large (Dalucao), two small–medium-sized (Muluozhai and Lizhuang), and numerous smaller REE deposits. The belt occurs within the eastern Indo-Asian collision zone (EIACZ), where its location is controlled by large-scale strike-slip faults and tensional fissure zones. Himalayan carbonatite–syenite complexes consist predominantly of alkaline syenite stocks and carbonatite sills or dikes that host REE mineralization. Previous studies have reported inconsistent ages for alkaline magmatism syenite formation and REE mineralization. Here, we present new results of sensitive high-resolution ion micro-probe U–Pb dating of zircons from syenites from the Dalucao, Maoniuping, Lizhuang and Diaoloushan areas, the first systematic and precise age determinations for these rocks in the MD belt. The new data give concordant ages of 12.13 ± 0.19 and 11.32 ± 0.23 Ma for the Dalucao deposit, 22.81 ± 0.31 and 21.3 ± 0.4 Ma for Maoniuping, 26.77 ± 0.32 Ma for Muluozhai, and 27.41 ± 0.35 Ma for Lizhuang. These ages, which should be regarded as maximum ages for the REE mineralization in the study area, can be split into two groups, i.e. 11–12 Ma in the southern part of the MD belt and 12–27 Ma in the northern part, suggesting a progression of magmatism from north to south. These data suggest that the majority of carbonatite–syenite magmatism within the EIACZ occurred during the main stage of Himalayan metallogenesis. The ages presented in this study suggest that strike-slip shear along the MD belt was initiated at ca. 27 Ma and ended ca. 12 Ma. This timing is consistent with movements along the adjacent Ailaoshan–Red River strike-slip fault in southeastern Tibet (to the south of the MD belt) and one of the three Cenozoic strike-slip faults in eastern Tibet. Ascent of an asthenospheric mantle diapir beneath the EIACZ in the Cenozoic may have provided a thermal mechanism for the generation of magmas that formed the carbonatite–syenite complexes in the study area. Alternatitvely, the magmas may have been generated by decompression melting associated with the transition from a transpressional to a transtensional regime at 38–40 Ma. The precise age results for syenite magmatism in the study area indicate that this transition occurred prior to carbonatite–syenite magmatism and the formation of the MD REE belt, which is consistent with the regional tectonic model.     

Relationships between porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization in the Jinshajiang–Red River metallogenic belt and tectonic activity: Constraints from zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology

The Jinshajiang–Red River porphyry Cu–Mo metallogenic belt is an important Cenozoic porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization concentrating zone in the eastern Indo‐Asian collision zone. New zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os ages and compilation of previously published ages indicate that porphyry Cu–Mo deposits in the belt did not form at the same time, i.e., the porphyry emplacement and relevant Cu–Mo mineralization ages of the Ailaoshan–Red River ore belt in south range from 36.3 Ma to 34.6 Ma, and from 36.0 Ma to 33.9 Ma, respectively, which are obviously younger than the porphyry emplacement ages of 43.8–36.9 Ma and the relevant Cu–Mo mineralization ages of 41.6–35.8 Ma of the Yulong ore belt in north. Tectonic studies indicated that the Jinshajiang fault system in north and Ailaoshan–Red River fault system in south of the Jinsjiang–Red river belt had different strike-slip patterns and ages. The right-lateral strike-slip motion of the Jinshajiang fault system initiated at ca. 43 Ma with corresponding formation of the Yulong porphyry Cu–Mo system, whereas the left-lateral strike-slip motion of the Ailaoshan–Red River fault system initiated at ca. 36 Ma with corresponding formation of the Ailaoshan–Red River porphyry Cu–Mo system. Therefore, the different ages of porphyry Cu–Mo systems, between in north and south of the Jinshajiang–Red River belt, indicate that the porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization is closely related to the divergent strike-slip movements between the Jinshajiang and Ailaoshan–Red River strike-slip faulting resulted from the Indo‐Asian collision. The tanslithospheric Jinshajiang–Red River faulting caused partial melting of the enriched mantle sources of alkali-rich porphyries by depressurization or/and asthenospheric heating, and facilitated the migration of alkali-rich magmas and the corresponding formation of alkali-rich porphyries and relevant Cu–Mo deposits in the belt.     

Western Tibet relief evolution since the Oligo-Miocene

Western Tibet, between the Karakorum fault and the Gozha–Longmu Co fault system, is mostly internally drained and has a 1.5–2 km amplitude relief with km-large valleys. We investigate the origin of this peculiar morphology by combining a topography analysis and a study of the Cenozoic sedimentation in this area. Cenozoic continental strata correspond to a proximal, detrital fan deposition, and uncomformably rest on a palaeorelief similar to the modern one. Zircon U–Pb dating from trachytic flows interbedded within the Cenozoic continental sediments indicates that detrital sedimentation occurred at least between ca 24 and 20 Ma in the Shiquanhe basin, while K/Ar ages suggest it may have started since ~ 37 Ma in the Zapug basin. The distribution of continental deposits shows that present-day morphology features, including km-large, 1500 m-deep valleys, were already formed by Early Miocene times. We suggest that today's internally drained western Tibet was externally drained, at least during late Miocene, contemporaneously with early motion along the Karakorum Fault. Detailed study of the present day river network is compatible with a dextral offset on the Karakorum Fault of 250 km at a rate of ~ 10 ± 1 mm/yr. Displacement along the Karakorum fault possibly induced the shift from external to an internal drainage system, by damming of the Bangong Co ~ 4 Ma ago, leading to the isolation and preservation of the western Tibet relief.     

Tectonometamorphic evolution of Seram and Ambon,eastern Indonesia: Insights from 40Ar/39Ar geochronology

The island of Seram, eastern Indonesia, experienced a complex Neogene history of multiple metamorphic and deformational events driven by Australia–SE Asia collision. Geological mapping, and structural and petrographic analysis has identified two main phases in the island's tectonic, metamorphic, and magmatic evolution: (1) an initial episode of extreme extension that exhumed hot lherzolites from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle and drove ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism and melting of adjacent continental crust; and (2) subsequent episodes of extensional detachment faulting and strike-slip faulting that further exhumed granulites and mantle rocks across Seram and Ambon. Here we present the results of sixteen ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar furnace step heating experiments on white mica, biotite, and phlogopite for a suite of twelve rocks that were targeted to further unravel Seram's tectonic and metamorphic history. Despite a wide lithological and structural diversity among the samples, there is a remarkable degree of correlation between the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages recorded by different rock types situated in different structural settings, recording thermal events at 16 Ma, 5.7 Ma, 4.5 Ma, and 3.4 Ma. These frequently measured ages are defined, in most instances, by two or more ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages that are identical within error. At 16 Ma, a major kyanite-grade metamorphic event affected the Tehoru Formation across western and central Seram, coincident with ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism and melting of granulite-facies rocks comprising the Kobipoto Complex, and the intrusion of lamprophyres. Later, at 5.7 Ma, Kobipoto Complex rocks were exhumed beneath extensional detachment faults on the Kaibobo Peninsula of western Seram, heating and shearing adjacent Tehoru Formation schists to form Taunusa Complex gneisses. Then, at 4.5 Ma, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages record deformation within the Kawa Shear Zone (central Seram) and overprinting of detachment faults in western Seram. Finally, at 3.4 Ma, Kobipoto Complex migmatites were exhumed on Ambon, at the same time as deformation within the Kawa Shear Zone and further overprinting of detachments in western Seram. These ages support there having been multiple synchronised episodes of high-temperature extension and strike-slip faulting, interpreted to be the result of Western Seram having been ripped off from SE Sulawesi, extended, and dragged east by subduction rollback of the Banda Slab.     

康西瓦断裂带晚新生代构造地貌特征及其构造意义

文章详细调查了康西瓦断裂带发育的断层崖、断层陡坎、地震破裂带、错断山脊、拉分盆地、挤压脊、偏心洪积扇、错断水系等新构造运动形迹,这些新构造运动形迹表明了康西瓦断裂带在晚新生代以来发生了强烈的左旋走滑运动,并兼有正滑运动分量。数字地形高程模型(DEM)分析表明康西瓦断裂西端终止于塔什库尔干谷地东部的瓦恰河谷内,东端与著名的阿尔金断裂带相连。如果以喀拉喀什河和玉龙喀什河为参照系,康西瓦断裂晚新生代以来的左旋走滑累积位移量可达 80～85km,根据断裂带 8～12mm/a的长期走滑速率,推测康西瓦断裂带新生代以来的左旋走滑运动开始于约10Ma。结合我们获得的断裂带两侧岩浆岩的年龄,表明康西瓦断裂带左旋走滑运动的开始时代为晚中新世,现今康西瓦地区的构造地貌格局很可能是中新世晚期以来强烈的左旋走滑运动形成的。     

Preservation and exhumation history of the Harizha-Halongxiuma mining area in the East Kunlun Range,Northeastern Tibetan Plateau,China

The extent to which ore bodies are preserved in orogenic belts remains a poorly understood area of ore deposit research. Using zircon and apatite fission track analysis together with apatite (U-Th)/He dating we constrained the erosion history of the ore bodies in the Harizha–Halongxiuma mining area of the East Kunlun Range, Northern Tibetan Plateau, China. Apatite fission-track ages range from 114 ± 8 to 87 ± 6 Ma, with mean track lengths varying from 11.4 ± 1.9 to 12.9 ± 2.0 μm. Zircon fission-track ages vary from 205 ± 14 to 142 ± 7 Ma. In addition, apatite (U–Th)/He dating yielded ages of 60–56 Ma. The thermal history of Jiapigou was modelled based on the apatite fission-track data, including ages and track lengths, with constraints of zircon fission-track ages and (U-Th)/He ages. The exhumation history of the Harizha–Halongxiuma mining area was reconstructed with these age data, revealing that since the early Mesozoic the area has undergone three cooling stages: (1) rapid cooling from 175 ± 30 Ma to 100 ± 10 Ma with a cooling rate and inferred exhumation of 2.0 ± 0.8 °C/Myr and 4.3 ± 1.7 km, respectively; (2) a relatively stable stage from 100 ± 10 Ma to 40 ± 10 Ma with a cooling rate and inferred exhumation of 0.3 ± 0.1 °C/Myr and 0.5 ± 0.2 km, respectively; and (3) rapid cooling since 40 ± 10 Ma with a cooling rate and inferred exhumation of 1.2 ± 0.6 °C/Myr and 1.4 ± 0.4 km, respectively. This exhumation history is consistent with the subduction process of Pacific plate and the strike slip movements of Dunmi fault. The total exhumation after main mineralization is calculated to be 7.6 ± 3.2 km, suggesting that ore bodies in the Harizha–Halongxiuma mining area remain partially preserved.     

Plio-Quaternary stress states in NE Iran: Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud mountain ranges

NE Iran, including the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains, comprises the northeastern boundary of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone. This study focuses on the evolution of the Plio-Quaternary tectonic regimes of northeast Iran. We present evidence for drastic temporal changes in the stress state by inversion of both geologically and seismically determined fault slip vectors. The inversions of fault kinematics data reveal distinct temporal changes in states of stress during the Plio-Quaternary (since ～ 5 Ma). The paleostress state is characterized by a regional transpressional tectonic regime with a mean N140 ± 10°E trending horizontal maximum stress axis (σ₁). The youngest (modern) state of stress shows two distinct strike-slip and compressional tectonic regimes with a regional mean of N030 ± 15°E trending horizontal σ₁. The change from the paleostress to modern stress states has occurred through an intermediate stress field characterized by a mean regional N trending σ₁. The inversion analysis of earthquake focal mechanisms reveals a homogeneous, transpressional tectonic regime with a regional N023 ± 5°E trending σ₁. The modern stress state, deduced from the youngest fault kinematics data, is in close agreement with the present-day stress state given by the inversions of earthquake focal mechanisms. According to our data and the deduced results, in northeast Iran, the Arabia–Eurasia convergence is taken up by strike-slip faulting along NE trending left-lateral and NNW trending right-lateral faults, as well as reverse to oblique-slip reverse faulting along NW trending faults. Such a structural assemblage is involved in a mechanically compatible and homogeneous modern stress field. This implies that no strain and/or stress partitioning or systematic block rotations have occurred in the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains. The Plio-Quaternary stress changes documented in this paper call into question the extrapolation of the present-day seismic and GPS-derived deformation rates over geological time intervals encompassing tens of millions of years.     

Basin architecture and evolution in the Mount Isa mineral province,northern Australia: Constraints from deep seismic reflection profiling and implications for ore genesis

Deep seismic reflection profiling confirms that the Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic Mount Isa mineral province comprises three vertically stacked and partially inverted sedimentary basins preserving a record of intracontinental rifting followed by passive margin formation. Passive margin conditions were established no later than 1655 Ma before being interrupted by plate convergence, crustal shortening and basin-wide inversion at 1640 Ma in both the 1730–1640 Ma Calvert and 1790–1740 Ma Leichhardt superbasins. Crustal extension and thinning resumed after 1640 Ma with formation of the 1635–1575 Ma Isa Superbasin and continued up to ca. 1615 Ma when extensional faulting ceased and a further episode of basin inversion commenced. The 1575 Ma Century Pb–Zn ore-body is hosted by syn-inversion sediments deposited during the initial stages of the Isan Orogeny with basin inversion accommodated on east- or northeast-dipping reactivated intrabasinal extensional faults and footwall shortcut thrusts. These structures extend to considerable depths and served as fluid conduits during basin inversion, tapping thick syn-rift sequences of immature siliciclastic sediments floored by bimodal volcanic sequences from which the bulk of metals and mineralising fluids are thought to have been sourced. Basin inversion and fluid expulsion at this stage were entirely submarine consistent with a syn-sedimentary to early diagenetic origin for Pb–Zn mineralisation at, or close to, the seafloor. Farther east, a change from platform carbonates to deeper water continental slope deposits (Kuridala and Soldiers Cap groups) marks the position of the original shelf break along which the north–south-striking Selwyn-Mount Dore structural corridor developed. This corridor served as a locus for strain partitioning, fluid flow and iron oxide–copper–gold mineralisation during and subsequent to the onset of basin inversion and peak metamorphism in the Isan Orogeny at 1585 Ma. An episode of post-orogenic strike-slip faulting and hydrothermal alteration associated with the subvertical Cloncurry Fault Zone overprints west- to southwest-dipping shear zones that extend beneath the Cannington Pb–Zn deposit and are antithetic to inverted extensional faults farther west in the same sub-basin. Successive episodes of basin inversion and mineralisation were driven by changes in the external stress field and related plate tectonic environment as evidenced by a corresponding match to bends in the polar wander path for northern Australia. An analogous passive margin setting has been described for Pb–Zn mineralisation in the Paleozoic Selwyn Basin of western Canada.     

Syn-kinematic emplacement of the Pangong metamorphic and magmatic complex along the Karakorum Fault (N Ladakh)

This paper investigates the age, P–T conditions and kinematics of Karakorum Fault (KF) zone rocks in the NW part of the Himalaya–Karakorum belt. Granulite to greenschist facies assemblages were developed within the KF zone during strike-slip shearing. The granulites were formed at high temperature (800 °C, 5.5 kbar), were subsequently retromorphosed into the amphibolite facies (700–750 °C, 4–5 kbar) and the greenschist facies (350–400 °C, 3–4 kbar). The Tangtse granite emplaced syn-kinematically at the contact between a LT and the HT granulite facies. Intrusion occurred during the juxtaposition of the two units under amphibolite conditions. Microstructures observed within the Tangtse granite exhibit a syn-magmatic dextral S–C fabric. Compiled U–Pb and Ar–Ar data show that in the central KF segment, granulite facies metamorphism occurred at a minimum age of 32 Ma, subsequent amphibolite facies metamorphism at 20–18 Ma. Further shearing under amphibolite facies (650–500 °C) was recorded at 13.6 ± 0.9 Ma, and greenschist-facies mica growth at 11 Ma. These data give further constrains to the age of initiation and depth of the Karakorum Fault. The granulite-facies conditions suggest that the KF, accommodating the lateral extrusion of Tibet, could be at least a crustal or even a Lithosphere-scale shear zone comparable to other peri-Himalayan faults.     

Late Quaternary river terrace sequences in the eastern Kunlun Range,northern Tibet: A combined record of climatic change and surface uplift

The Kunlun Range, a reactivated orogenic belt, constitutes the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The extreme relief and major landforms of the Kunlun Range are a product of late Cenozoic tectonics and erosion. However, well-developed late Quaternary terraces that occur along the northern slope of the Kunlun Range probably resulted from climatic change rather than surface uplift. The terrace sequences formed in thick Quaternary valley fills and have total incision depths of 50–60 m. Optically stimulated luminescence dating was employed to place time controls on the valley fills and associated terraces. Dating results suggest that periods of significant aggradation were synchronous between different rivers and correspond to the last glacial stage. The abrupt change from aggradation to incision occurred between 21.9 ± 2.7 and 16 ± 2.2 ka, coincident with the last glacial–interglacial transition. Additional terraces developed during the late glacial period and early to middle Holocene. Based on a broader set of chronological data in northern Tibet, at least four regional incision periods can be recognized. Chronological data, terrace elevation profiles, and climate proxy records suggest that these terracing periods were triggered by cool and/or wet climatic conditions. A geometric survey of the riverbed longitudinal profile suggests that surface uplift serves as a potential dynamic forcing for long-term incision. A model is proposed for terrace formation as a response to climatic perturbation in an uplifted mountain range.     

青藏高原中部第四纪左旋剪切变形的地表地质证据

在青藏铁路的格尔木—拉萨段进行的活动断裂调查发现,在沱沱河—五道梁之间宽约150km的地段内发育了多条由北西西向次级断层左列分布构成的北西西向和北西向左旋张扭性断裂带,在断裂带之间则发育"S"型的北东向裂陷盆地和雁列分布的菱形裂陷盆地,盆地边界断裂也为左旋张扭性质。上述断裂带和裂陷带主要形成于第四纪,它们构成了宽约150km的不均匀的左旋简单剪切变形域,该变形域的整体活动性较弱,属于弱的不均匀剪切变形域。但其中的二道沟断陷盆地是个例外,该盆地边界断裂的垂直活动速率约为0 5mm/a,左旋活动速率介于0 8～1 0mm/a之间。而在整个左旋剪切变形带累计的左旋走滑速率不会超过6mm/a,它们所调节的昆仑山与唐古拉山之间的地壳南北缩短量也可能仅占总缩短量的15%～30%。上述弱剪切变形域与强烈左旋走滑的昆仑断裂系共同构成了高原中部的左旋剪切变形带,它们在印度板块与欧亚板块强烈碰撞的构造动力学背景下,起着调节青藏高原南北向缩短的重要作用。     

Late Quaternary activity and dextral strike-slip movement on the Karakax Fault Zone, northwest Tibet

Field observations and interpretations of satellite images reveal that the westernmost segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault (called Karakax Fault Zone) striking WNW located in the northwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has distinctive geomorphic and tectonic features indicative of right-lateral strike-slip fault in the Late Quaternary. South-flowing gullies and N–S-trending ridges are systematically deflected and offset by up to ~ 1250 m, and Late Pleistocene–Holocene alluvial fans and small gullies that incise south-sloping fans record dextral offset up to ~ 150 m along the fault zone. Fault scarps developed on alluvial fans vary in height from 1 to 24 m. Riedel composite fabrics of foliated cataclastic rocks including cataclasite and fault gouge developed in the shear zone indicate a principal right-lateral shear sense with a thrust component. Based on offset Late Quaternary alluvial fans, ¹⁴C ages and composite fabrics of cataclastic fault rocks, it is inferred that the average right-lateral strike-slip rate along the Karakax Fault Zone is ~ 9 mm/a in the Late Quaternary, with a vertical component of ~ 2 mm/a, and that a M 7.5 morphogenic earthquake occurred along this fault in 1902. We suggest that right-lateral slip in the Late Quaternary along the WNW-trending Karakax Fault Zone is caused by escape tectonics that accommodate north–south shortening of the western Tibetan Plateau due to ongoing northward penetration of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate.     

Variable behavior of the Dead Sea Fault along the southern Arava segment from GPS measurements

The Dead Sea Fault is a major strike-slip fault bounding the Arabia plate and the Sinai subplate. On the basis of three GPS campaign measurements, 12 years apart, at 19 sites distributed in Israel and Jordan, complemented by Israeli permanent stations, we compute the present-day deformation across the Wadi Arava fault, the southern segment of the Dead Sea Fault. Elastic locked-fault modelling of fault-parallel velocities provides a slip rate of 4.7 ± 0.7 mm/yr and a locking depth of 11.6 ± 5.3 km in its central part. Along its northern part, south of the Dead Sea, the simple model proposed for the central profile does not fit the velocity field well. To fit the data, two faults have to be taken into account, on both sides of the sedimentary basin of the Dead Sea, each fault accommodating ∼ 2 mm/yr. Locking depths are small (less than 2 km on the western branch, ∼ 6 km on the eastern branch). Along the southern profile, we are once again unable to fit the data using the simple model, similar to the central profile. It is very difficult to propose a velocity greater than 4 mm/yr, i.e. smaller than that along the central profile. This leads us to propose that a part of the relative movement from Sinai to Arabia is accommodated along faults located west of our profiles.     

Differential Late Paleozoic active margin evolution in South-Central Chile (37°S–40°S) – the Lanalhue Fault Zone

The N–S oriented Coastal Cordillera of South Central Chile shows marked lithological contrasts along strike at ∼38°S. Here, the sinistral NW–SE-striking Lanalhue Fault Zone (nomen novum) juxtaposes Permo-Carboniferous magmatic arc granitoids and associated, frontally accreted metasediments (Eastern Series) in the northeast with a Late Carboniferous to Triassic basal-accretionary forearc wedge complex (Western Series) in the southwest. The fault is interpreted as an initially ductile deformation zone with divergent character, located in the eastern flank of the basally growing, upwarping, and exhuming Western Series. It was later transformed and reactivated as a semiductile to brittle sinistral transform fault. Rb–Sr data and fluid inclusion studies of late-stage fault-related mineralizations revealed Early Permian ages between 280 and 270 Ma for fault activity, with subsequent minor erosion. Regionally, crystallization of arc intrusives and related metamorphism occurred between ∼306 and ∼286 Ma, preceded by early increments of convergence-related deformation. Basal Western Series accretion started at >290 Ma and lasted to ∼250 Ma. North of the Lanalhue fault, Late Paleozoic magmatic arc granitoids are nearly 100 km closer to the present day Andean trench than further south. We hypothesize that this marked difference in paleo-forearc width is due to an Early Permian period of subduction erosion north of 38°S, contrasting with ongoing accretion further south, which kinematically triggered the evolution of the Lanalhue Fault Zone. Permo-Triassic margin segmentation was due to differential forearc accretion and denudation characteristics, and is now expressed in contrasting lithologies and metamorphic signatures in todays Andean forearc region north and south of the Lanalhue Fault Zone.     

Late Quaternary–Holocene evolution of Dun structure and the Himalayan Frontal Fault zone of the Garhwal Sub-Himalaya,NW India

Dun structures are common in the Sub-Himalayan zone of the Himalaya bounded by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). They are broad synclinal longitudinal valleys formed as a consequence of the exhumation of the range front of the Himalaya. In the Garhwal Sub-Himalaya, these structures have grown since 0.5 Ma, with the peak activity postdating ∼100 ka. A series of out-of-sequence deformation structures have been identified within the MBT-HFT-bounded Dun structures. They are identified on the basis of geomorphic, post-100 ka stratigraphic, and structural expressions, with activity as young as the early Holocene. To the south of the range front of the Himalaya, uplift has been observed in the Piedmont Zone, with peculiar active tectonic geomorphic expressions. Piedmont sediments of 15–5 ka, determined by Optically Simulated Luminescence (OSL), have been affected by the above uplift. The complete tectonic scenario has been analyzed and an attempt has been made to delineate the sequential evolution of these structures during the post-100 ka period (Late Quaternary–Holocene) in the Himalayan range front.