念扎金矿床热历史:锆石U-Pb、(U-Th)/He及磷灰石裂变径迹年代学的制约

念扎金矿床是近年来最新发现的位于雅鲁藏布江缝合带南侧仁布构造混杂岩带与蚀变闪长岩接触带的大型造山型金矿床.为约束念扎矿床的冷却及剥露历史,利用锆石的U-Pb、(U-Th)/He及磷灰石裂变径迹定年对新鲜及矿化闪长岩年龄进行测定.结果表明,新鲜闪长岩锆石U-Pb年龄为(46.32±0.53)Ma,(U-Th)/He年龄介于(7.14±0.24)Ma到(9.80±0.27)Ma,矿化闪长岩锆石(U-Th)/He年龄介于(8.38±0.24)Ma到(11.19±0.31)Ma之间,两件矿化闪长岩磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分别为(5.9±0.5)Ma和(5.3±1.0)Ma.念扎金矿床自闪长岩固结以来经历了两次快速冷却过程:第一次是从46.3 Ma开始持续到43.6 Ma,温度从750℃降至350℃,冷却速率高达约148℃/Ma;第二次为8.5~2.0 Ma,温度从约200℃降至30℃,冷却速率为26℃/Ma.念扎矿床成矿深度为9.7 km;在8.5 Ma时,矿床被抬升至4.6 km处;从8.5~5.6 Ma,矿床抬升至2.8 km;从5.6~2.0 Ma,念扎矿床被剥露至地表.     

新疆东天山红云滩地区构造-热演化探讨:来自Ar-Ar和(U-Th)/He热年代学的约束

红云滩岩体位于东天山觉罗塔格西部,对其进行热演化历史研究对于揭示觉罗塔格地区乃至整个东天山地区的构造-热演化历史具有重要意义。本文对红云滩岩体进行黑云母Ar-Ar、锆石(U-Th)/He和磷灰石(U-Th)/He测年,并结合前人的锆石U-Pb测年结果,精细刻画出该岩体自形成以后经历的热演化过程,并据此识别出东天山红云滩地区发生过多期快速抬升冷却事件。黑云母阶段升温Ar-Ar法同位素定年得到的坪年龄为316.9±1.8Ma,单颗粒锆石和磷灰石(U-Th)/He同位素定年得到的平均年龄分别为213.7±9.6Ma和65.5±1.3Ma。热年代学数据及模拟结果表明东天山红云滩地区自晚古生代以来经历了3个快速冷却阶段,分别为:晚石炭世至早二叠世(ca.330~296Ma)、晚三叠世(222~220Ma)、晚白垩世(91~77Ma)。其中,晚石炭世至早二叠世的快速冷却作用是岩体侵位后与围岩热传导冷却及伴随天山造山隆升冷却综合作用的结果,晚三叠世和晚白垩世的两期快速冷却事件分别与羌塘-欧亚板块、Kohistan-Dras岛弧-拉萨地块碰撞的远程效应造成的东天山地区隆升作用有关。新生代以来,红云滩岩体所在的阿奇山-雅满苏地区构造活动相对较弱,未发生较为明显的隆升作用,与天山西段新生代的构造活动有着明显的差异。     

Apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology from the Archean Tanzania Craton: Contributions to cooling histories of Tanzanian basement rocks

Borehole and surface samples from the Archean Tanzania Craton were analysed for apatite fission track(AFT) and(U-Th)/He data with the aim of deciphering cooling histories of the basement rocks. Fission track dates from borehole and outcrop samples are Carboniferous-Permian(345± 33.3 Ma to271±31.7 Ma) whereas(U-Th)/He dates are Carboniferous-Triassic(336±45.8 Ma to 213±29 Ma) for outcrop grains and are consistently younger than corresponding AFT dates. Single grain(U-Th)/He dates from the borehole are likely to be flawed by excessive helium implantation due to their very low effective uranium contents, radiation damage and grain sizes. All AFT and(U-Th)/He dates are significantly younger than the stratigraphic ages of their host rocks, implying that the samples have experienced Phanerozoic elevated paleo-temperatures. Considerations of the data indicate removal of up to 9 km overburden since the Palaeozoic.Thermal modelling reveals a protracted rapid cooling event commencing during the early Carboniferous(ca. 350 Ma) at rates of 46 m/Ma ending in the Triassic(ca. 220 Ma). The model also suggests minor cooling during the Cretaceous of the samples to surface temperatures. The suggested later cooling event remains to be tested. The major cooling phase during the Carboniferous is interpreted to be associated with compressional tectonics during the Variscan Orogeny sensu far field induced stresses. Coeval sedimentation in the Karoo basins in the region suggests that most of the cooling of cratonic rocks during the Carboniferous was associated with denudation.     

青海东昆仑西藏大沟金矿床花岗闪长斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学及其成矿意义

利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,对位于东昆仑地区巴颜喀拉成矿带的西藏大沟金矿床进行研究,首次获得与成矿有密切关系的花岗闪长斑岩加权平均年龄为（225.0±1.2）Ma,厘定为晚三叠世;岩石明显富集大离子亲石元素（Rb、Sr、Ba、K）、轻稀土元素和Pb,明显亏损高场强元素（如Nb、Ta、P、Ti）,显示轻稀土元素强烈富集的右倾式稀土配分型式。结合东昆仑地区区域构造演化及金矿成矿年代学资料分析认为,西藏大沟金矿床花岗闪长斑岩形成于挤压向伸展转换阶段,西藏大沟金矿床成矿时间应介于225.0~218.6 Ma,属晚三叠世。      

川东北地区构造-热演化探讨——来自（U-Th）／He年龄和Ro的约束

利用镜质组反射率和磷灰石与锆石的(U-Th)/He年龄一起模拟了川东北地区三叠纪以来的构造-热演化特征。结果表明早三叠世的热流值在51～66mW/m2,自晚三叠世至白垩纪随盆地性质由前陆盆地演化为陆内坳陷盆地,热流缓慢降低直至现今的44.5mW/m2。但在晚白垩世—古新世时期受燕山晚期构造运动的影响,热流有一个微弱增高的现象。同时,磷灰石和锆石的He年龄揭示了川东北地区大致在晚白垩世期间开始隆升且抬升剥蚀量较大。因此,磷灰石和锆石的(U-Th)/He年龄可以揭示后期详细的冷却历史。     

湘中龙山大型金锑矿床成矿时代研究——黄铁矿Re-Os和锆石U-Th/He定年

龙山金锑矿床是湘中锑-金矿集区最重要的矿床之一,因缺少适合传统放射性同位素定年的矿物,其成矿时代以往未得到很好的限定,制约了对矿床成因的认识。由于分析测试技术的进步,Re-Os同位素定年技术得到了发展,可对热液矿床中形成的低Re、Os含量的硫化物进行较准确可靠的年龄测定,从而可为低温热液矿床的形成时代提供有效制约。锆石U-Th/He同位素定年,也是近年发展和成熟起来的定年技术,对低温热事件极其敏感,同样是约束低温成矿年龄的重要手段之一。本文采用矿床中黄铁矿Re-Os同位素和蚀变围岩中受成矿热事件影响的锆石U-Th/He同位素定年技术,对龙山金锑矿床的成矿时代进行了研究。定年结果显示:热液成因黄铁矿的Re-Os等时线年龄为195±36Ma,对应于印支晚期;锆石U-Th/He年龄为51.2~133.3Ma,经Ft校正后,U-Th/He年龄分布于93.78~258.29Ma之间,平均值为160.7±7.3Ma,对应于燕山早期。该矿床可能发生了200Ma和160Ma的两次成矿作用;或者矿床形成于200Ma左右,但是受到了160Ma左右岩浆热事件的改造,黄铁矿Re-Os年龄代表成矿年龄,而锆石U-Th/He年龄则代表第二期热事件发生的时间。无论是200Ma左右一次成矿,还是另有160Ma左右的成矿作用叠加,这两个年龄分别与区内两期岩浆活动的时间相当,这表明岩浆事件对驱动矿床的形成发挥了重要的作用。     

Duluth Complex FC1 Apatite and Zircon: Reference Materials for (U-Th)/He Dating?

The accuracy and validation of geo- and thermochronological dating hinges on the availability of well-characterised age reference materials. The Mesoproterozoic gabbroic anorthosite FC1 from the Duluth Complex, Minnesota is a reference material for zircon U-Pb and a suggested reference material for apatite fission-track dating. We evaluate FC1 as (U-Th)/He reference material, and determine its apatite U-Pb, and zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He age. Our dating results constrain the thermal history of FC1, showing that fast cooling occurred between ~ 1099 and 1040 Ma from ≥ 600 °C to ~ 200 °C. The zircon (U-Th)/He data from air-abraded grains give a robust isochron age of 1037 ± 25 Ma (2s) without overdispersion. The within-grain homogeneity of U and Th, the availability of FC1 zircon, and the absence of radiation-damage effects on the (U-Th)/He age support its use as reference material. Unabraded zircon grains give lower and more dispersed ages, highlighting the usefulness of air abrasion to control for α-ejection in (U-Th)/He dating. Our apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He single-grain ages vary between 180 and 300 Ma. Their wide dispersion argues against the use of FC1 apatite as (U-Th-Sm)/He reference material and makes the interpretation of their low-temperature thermal history complicated.     

Early Mesozoic tectono-magmatic activity and mineralization in Northeast China: evidence from Re–Os to U–Pb studies of the Taipingchuan porphyry Cu–Mo deposit in the Derbugan metallogenic belt

The Taipingchuan Cu–Mo deposit is a recently discovered large porphyry deposit located in the north of the Derbugan metallogenic belt of northeastern China. The geochronological data of the deposit yielded a Late Triassic zircon U–Pb age of 202 ± 6 Ma from a granodiorite porphyry that hosts the Cu–Mo mineralization. Measured Re–Os isotopes of seven disseminated molybdenite samples yielded an isochron age of 200 ± 5 Ma with mean square of weighted deviates of 2.7, while those of seven veinlet molybdenite samples also produced an isochron age of 200.1 ± 2.5 Ma and mean square of weighted deviates of 3.3. These isochron ages show that a Cu–Mo mineralization event occurred at ca. 200 Ma. Based on regional tectonic evolution, we propose that the Late Triassic Cu–Mo mineralization of the host porphyry in the Derbugan metallogenic belt was mainly associated with the subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean slab under the Ergun block, contrary to previous suggestion that it was related to the subduction of the Mesozoic Palaeo-Pacific plate.     

青海昆仑河北地区岩浆活动、金矿成矿特征及找矿前景分析

青海昆仑河北地区靠近昆中断裂带,经历早古生代、晚古生代—中生代多期岩浆活动,近年来自西至东陆续发现黑海北、拉陵灶火、苏海图、加祖它士西、向阳沟、加祖它士东、大灶火、黑刺沟等多个金矿床（点）,形成一条东西长度近150 km长的成矿带。文章在总结带内金矿成矿基本特征基础上,选取黑海北金矿和加祖它士东金矿的赋矿围岩开展锆石U-Pb定年,结果显示黑海北硅化二长花岗岩锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为443±8 Ma,形成于原特提斯洋向柴达木地块俯冲碰撞后伸展环境;加祖它士东的花岗闪长岩脉含有较多的继承锆石,锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为250±1 Ma,继承锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为420±2 Ma,加祖它士东花岗闪长岩侵位于古特提斯洋向北俯冲背景下的大陆弧构造环境。综合分析认为昆仑河北地区金矿成矿作用与早中生代三叠纪岩浆活动关系更为密切,其矿床类型存在造山型金矿与岩浆热液型金矿两种不同认识。昆仑河北地区土壤化探异常、低阻高极化激电异常、主要断裂（穿矿区）的次级断裂形成的蚀变破碎带等可以作为区内主要的找矿标志,推测该成矿带具有较大的找矿前景。      

胶西北玲珑、焦家金矿田锆石(U-Th)/He年龄及其对成矿后剥露程度的指示

玲珑和焦家矿田是胶西北地区最负盛名的两个金矿田.目前有关这两个矿田成矿研究的成果已十分丰富,但是,成矿后隆升剥蚀程度的研究尚属空白.为此,利用最近兴起的低温热年代学技术,对两个矿田成矿后剥露程度进行了尝试研究.结果表明,玲珑矿田锆石(U-Th)/He年龄主要为80~100 Ma,焦家矿田锆石(U-Th)/He年龄主要为90~105 Ma.这些年龄与前人运用其他方法获得的成岩成矿年龄不同,其不是本区岩浆－热液成矿事件的年龄,而是成矿后花岗岩隆升剥蚀的热年龄.基于锆石(U-Th)/He年龄制约,估算本区成矿后隆升剥蚀速率大致与全球造山型金矿剥露速率相当(大约60 m/Ma).玲珑矿田总体比焦家矿田成矿后多剥露了600~900 m,焦家矿田深部找矿潜力应比玲珑矿田大.      

新疆西准噶尔苏云河斑岩型钼矿的剥露和保存条件:来自裂变径迹和(U-Th)/He热年代学的约束

斑岩型矿床多形成于汇聚型板块边界。由于其较浅的就位深度,大部分古老的斑岩型矿床很容易受到后期的剥蚀而消失殆尽。研究斑岩型矿床成矿后的埋藏和去顶过程对于深入理解矿床的保存条件和区域找矿前景至关重要。新疆西准噶尔西部的苏云河斑岩型钼矿床形成于晚石炭世,是一处保存良好的斑岩型矿床,为我们研究前中生代斑岩成矿系统的保存条件提供了天然的实验室。本文首次针对该矿床开展了锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹与锆石(U-Th)/He低温热年代学分析,结合热历史反演模拟以及前人的年代学数据显示,苏云河斑岩钼矿的蚀变过程至少持续了55Myr。在早二叠世到中三叠世,矿区接受5.2～8.1km厚的沉积物覆盖。中三叠世至早白垩世(240～120Ma),矿床经历了快速剥露作用,剥露速率为49.0～56.7m/Myr,去顶量为7.4～9.2km。早白垩世(120Ma)至今为缓慢剥露阶段,剥露速率为6.7～21.7m/Myr,去顶量为0.8～2.6km。中三叠世至早白垩世的快速冷却事件可能并不是特定构造事件(比如:南部羌塘和昆仑-柴达木碰撞或者羌塘和拉萨碰撞)远程效应的产物,而与区域内走滑断层的活化密切相关。而矿床早期沉积的巨厚盖层以及早白垩世以来干旱气候和缓慢剥露,为石炭-二叠纪斑岩型钼矿得以保存提供了条件。     

广东阳春锡山钨锡矿床成岩成矿年代学研究

为了精确厘定锡山钨锡矿床成岩成矿时代,本文分别对锡山岩体斑状二长花岗岩和矿体开展了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb和石英Rb-Sr年代学研究,获得的锆石U-Pb年龄为103±3Ma,石英矿物Rb-Sr等时线年龄为94±12Ma,两者在测定误差内一致,表明锡山岩体晚阶段形成的花岗岩在时间和空间上与成矿作用有明显的耦合关系,其成岩成矿作用发生在早白垩世晚期。锡山成岩成矿的动力学背景应与早白垩世晚期南岭地区的岩石圈伸展拉张引发的大规模岩浆活动有关。     

辽东五龙金矿围岩片麻状花岗岩的侵位和变形时代:SHRIMP U-Pb年代学制约

为了确定五龙金矿围岩的侵位和变形时代,进一步探讨辽东地区晚中生代构造体制转折时限,采用岩相学观察和锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年技术,对辽东五龙大型金矿的围岩五龙岩体、侵入五龙岩体中的花岗斑岩脉和三股流岩体进行了研究。结果表明,五龙岩体具弱片麻状、片麻状构造,花岗斑岩脉也发生了变形作用,三股流岩体未发生变形作用。五龙岩体SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为（159.2±1.9） Ma和（160.0±1.4） Ma,花岗斑岩SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为（132.14±0.85） Ma,三股流岩体SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为122~124 Ma。辽东五龙岩体经历的推覆、挤压事件止于132~124 Ma。辽东地区晚侏罗世的推覆、挤压事件与古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆俯冲作用关系密切,五龙金矿的成矿大地构造背景亦与此次俯冲有关。     

Nature and origin of Mesozoic granitoids and associated mineralization in the Sanjiang Tethys Orogeny,SW China: the Xiuwacu complex example

ABSTRACT

The magmatic generation for the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic (~215–200 Ma) and Early Cretaceous–Late Cretaceous (~108–79 Ma) post-collisional granites in the Sanjiang Tethys orogeny remain enigmatic. The Xiuwacu complex, located in the southern Yidun Terrane, consists of biotite granite with a weight mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 199.8 ± 2.5 Ma, aplite granite of 108.2 ± 2.3 Ma, monzogranite porphyry of 80.8 ± 1.0 Ma, and diorite enclaves of 79.2 ± 0.9 Ma and 77.9 ± 0.8 Ma. The Late Triassic biotite granites show I-type granite affinities, with high SiO₂ contents, high Mg^# values, high zircon δ¹⁸O values, and negative whole-rock ?Nd(t) values, indicating a predominant ancient crustal source with the input of juvenile materials. Their fractionated REE patterns and concave-upward middle-to-heavy REE patterns require garnet-bearing amphibolite as the melt source. The Cretaceous highly fractionated aplite granites and monzogranite porphyries have relatively high SiO₂ contents, high (Na₂O + K₂O)/CaO ratios, high zircon δ¹⁸O values, and enriched whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic signatures, suggesting that their parent magmas were likely originated from the ancient middle- to lower crust. Their significant negative Eu anomalies and obvious depletions in Nb, Sr, and Ti demonstrate that the Cretaceous granitic magmas had experienced more fractionation than the Late Triassic felsic magmas. The Late Cretaceous diorite enclaves show low SiO₂ contents, high Mg^# values, and high zircon δ¹⁸O values, suggesting that they were probably derived from the partial melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle enriched by the Late Triassic subduction. The Late Triassic–Early Jurassic and Early Cretaceous–Late Cretaceous magmatism witnessed the post-collisional setting and intraplate extensional setting in response to the slab break-off and lithospheric-scale transtensional faulting, respectively. The partial melting of subduction-modified lithospheric mantle or/and residual sulphide cumulates within the lower crust during the origination of Late Cretaceous magmas could have provided metals for the formation of Xiuwacu deposit.     

Cooling and exhumation of the mid-Jurassic porphyry copper systems in Dexing City,SE China: insights from geo- and thermochronology

The Dexing porphyry copper and Yinshan polymetallic deposits in Dexing City, southeastern China are both giant porphyry ore systems. Located 15 km apart, they formed synchronously and share a similar magma source and metallogenic evolution, but their metal endowment, dominant rock types, and alteration assemblages differ significantly. In this contribution, we investigate the cause of these distinctions through new molybdenite Re–Os ages and zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He thermochronology data. Dexing has a molybdenite Re–Os age of ~170.3 Ma, zircon (U–Th)/He (ZHe) ages of 110 to 120 Ma and apatite (U–Th)/He (AHe) ages of 7 to 9 Ma. In contrast, Yinshan has older ZHe ages of 128 to 140 Ma and an AHe age of ~30 Ma. Viewed in combination with previously published data, we conclude that the apparently slow cooling experienced by these bodies is primarily a reflection of their experiencing multiple episodes of thermal disturbance. We tentatively infer that both deposits were exposed in the Late Miocene or more recent time, with the Dexing deposit more deeply exhumed than Yinshan. Our study has exploration implications for deeper porphyry-style ores at Yinshan and for porphyry deposits in non-arc (intraplate) settings in general.     

松潘-甘孜褶皱带南部上三叠统物源及构造抬升:碎屑锆石年代学和Hf同位素证据

碎屑锆石年代学不但能够限定地层沉积开始的最大时限,还能为示踪沉积物源区提供关键信息。中国西南部的松潘-甘孜褶皱带广泛出露一套巨厚的三叠纪复理石沉积,其物源区和可能存在的同期抬升与剥蚀历史并未得到很好约束。本文获得的松潘-甘孜褶皱带南部雅江地区上三叠统四套地层（由老至新分别为侏倭组、新都桥组、两河口组和雅江组）5件砂岩样品的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄和锆石Hf同位素数据表明,最年轻锆石年龄指示侏倭组从~229Ma后开始沉积,新都桥组则从~223Ma后开始沉积。碎屑锆石年龄频谱图显示四套地层都具有中奥陶世-早泥盆世（465~398Ma）和中二叠世-晚三叠世（271~225Ma）的年龄峰。除两河口组外的其他三套地层还具有较强的古元古代（1.90~1.86Ga）和新元古代（872~712Ma）的年龄峰。锆石Hf同位素显示松潘-甘孜褶皱带南部上三叠统小于300Ma的锆石颗粒主要来自峨眉山大火成岩省和义敦岩浆弧。本文物源区示踪结果表明,华南板块和义敦地体可能为松潘-甘孜褶皱带南部地层的主要物源区。晚三叠世由于周缘地体的强烈汇聚,松潘-甘孜褶皱带在小于~18Myr的时间内经历了快速的隆升和剥蚀作用,剥蚀产生的碎屑物质被搬运至四川盆地的西缘再沉积。     

胶西北焦家断裂带成矿后断裂活动对焦家式金矿破坏作用及找矿方向探讨

本文以焦家断裂带深部上盘发现金矿体的地质事实为依据，将焦家断裂在成矿后对矿体的破坏作用作为讨论重点，根据现今焦家断裂上、下盘金矿体以断层泥为界，有被错断的明显特征，指出发育在焦家断裂主断裂面中的断层泥为成矿后断裂活动的产物。依据上、下盘金矿在矿石类型、围岩蚀变、矿石矿物、成矿阶段等方面具有极为相似一致特征，提出在117.69~121 Ma成矿期，焦家断裂带中的上、下盘蚀变岩型金矿统一形成于深度3~9 km之间成矿期的焦家断裂带中，二者在成矿时具有时、空上的完全统一性。受焦家断裂总体正断层效应影响，现今焦家断裂深部新发现的上盘金矿（化）体应为下盘金矿（化）体被错断的部分。     

胶西北焦家断裂带成矿后断裂活动对焦家式金矿破坏作用及找矿方向探讨

本文以焦家断裂带深部上盘发现金矿体的地质事实为依据,将焦家断裂在成矿后对矿体的破坏作用作为讨论重点,根据现今焦家断裂上、下盘金矿体以断层泥为界,有被错断的明显特征,指出发育在焦家断裂主断裂面中的断层泥为成矿后断裂活动的产物.依据上、下盘金矿在矿石类型、围岩蚀变、矿石矿物、成矿阶段等方面具有极为相似一致特征,提出在117...     

Thermochronological record of Middle–Late Jurassic magmatic reheating to Eocene rift-related rapid cooling in the SE South China Block

We investigate the Mesozoic–Cenozoic thermal history of the Daxi region (central SE South China Block) to evaluate the influence of the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate beneath the SE South China Block along the block's southeast margin on the tectonothermal evolution of the upper plate. We apply a multi-chronological approach that includes U-Pb geochronology on zircon, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on muscovite and biotite from granitic rocks as well as fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He analyses on zircon and apatite from granitic and sedimentary rocks. The Heping granite, located in the Daxi region, has a magmatic age of ca. 441 Ma. The biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of ca. 193 Ma for the Early Jurassic Shibei granite and ca. 160 Ma for the Late Jurassic Fogang granite, respectively, reflect magmatic cooling. The Triassic Longyuanba granite yielded a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of ca. 167 Ma, recording heating to ≥ 350 °C induced by nearby intrusion of Middle Jurassic granites. Zircon fission-track and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages from Lower Carboniferous–Lower Jurassic sandstones (140–70 Ma) record continuous cooling during the Cretaceous that followed extensive Middle–Late Jurassic magmatism in the Daxi region. Cretaceous cooling is related to exhumation in an extensional tectonic setting, consistent with lithospheric rebound due to foundering and rollback of the subducted Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate. Apatite fission-track (53–42 Ma) and (U-Th-Sm)/He ages (43–36 Ma), and thermal modelling document rapid cooling in the Paleocene–Eocene, which temporally coincides with continental rifting in the SE South China Block in the leadup to the opening of the South China Sea.     

Estimating displacement along the Brenner Fault and orogen-parallel extension in the Eastern Alps

The major structure accommodating orogen-parallel extension in the Eastern Alps is inferred to be the Brenner Fault, which forms the western boundary of the Tauern Window. The estimated amount of extension along this fault varies from a minimum of 10–20 km to a maximum of >70 km. All investigations that have attempted to constrain this amount of extension have calculated the fault plane parallel displacement required to restore the difference in structural level between footwall and hanging wall as constrained by geobarometry. However, these calculations neglected the component of exhumation of the footwall resulting from folding and erosion. Therefore, the total amount of extensional displacement was systematically overestimated. In the present study, we project a tectonic marker surface from the footwall and hanging wall of the Brenner Fault onto a N–S-striking cross section. This marker surface, which is the base of the Patscherkofel unit in the footwall and the base of the Ötztal basement in the hanging wall, is inferred to have occupied the same structural level in the hanging wall and footwall of the Brenner Fault before its activity. Therefore, the difference in height between the marker projected from the footwall and from the hanging wall is a measure of the vertical offset across the Brenner Fault. This construction shows that the vertical offset of the marker horizon on both sides of the Brenner Fault varies strongly and continuously along strike of the Brenner Fault, attaining a maximum value of 15 km at the hinge of the folded footwall (Tauern Dome). The along-strike change of vertical offset is explained by large-scale upright folding of the footwall that did not affect the hanging wall of the Brenner Fault. Therefore, the difference in vertical offset of 10 km between the area of the Brenner Pass and the area immediately south of Innsbruck corresponds to the shortening (upright folding) component of exhumation of the footwall. The remaining 5 km of vertical offset must be attributed to extensional deformation. The Brenner Fault itself is barely folded, its dip varies between 20 and 70°, and it crosscuts the upright folds of the western Tauern Window. Given the offset of 5 km, the dip of the fault constrains the extensional displacement to be between 2 and 14 km. We conclude that the Tauern Window was exhumed primarily by folding and erosion, not by extensional unroofing.