Late Paleozoic brachiopod faunas of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, and their paleobiogeographic and tectonic implications

Abstract    Late Paleozoic (Middle Devonian, Early Carboniferous and Middle Permian) brachiopod faunas of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, are closely related paleobiogeographically to those of the Xinjiang–Inner Mongolia–Jilin region, northwest–northeast China. This relationship suggests that the South Kitakami Belt was part of the trench or continental shelf bordering the northern and eastern margins of North China (Sino-Korea) during the Middle Devonian to Middle Permian times. Among the three models on the origin and tectonic development of the South Kitakami Belt, the strike–slip model is most consistent, but both the microcontinent model and the nappe model have considerable inconsistencies with the above paleobiogeographic and paleogeographic evidence.     

沂沭断裂带中段基底韧性剪切带

在沂沭断裂带中段的泰山群结晶基底中,存在着一系列北东、北北东走向的左行韧性剪切带。对其中发育糜棱岩的韧性剪切带的结构构造、应变测量、变形岩石的显微构造、显微组构以及长石粒度和含量的变化规律进行了观测分析。讨论了韧性剪切带的变形条件和机制。及其递进发展的趋势。指出基底韧性剪切带是沂沭断裂带元古宙时期断裂活动时在地壳较深层次上形成的构造表象。在此基础上,讨论了地壳不同层次上的断裂变形及断裂岩石的综合分类问题     

Recognition of an Early Triassic accretionary complex in the Nedamo Belt of the Kitakami Massif,Northeast Japan: New evidence for correlation with Southwest Japan

The Kitakami Massif of the Tohoku district, Northeast Japan, consists mainly of the South Kitakami Belt (Silurian–Cretaceous forearc shallow-marine sediments, granitoids, and forearc ophiolite) and the North Kitakami Belt (a Jurassic accretionary complex). The Nedamo Belt (a Carboniferous accretionary complex) occurs as a small unit between those two belts. An accretionary unit in the Nedamo Belt is lithologically divided into the Early Carboniferous Tsunatori Unit and the age-unknown Takinosawa Unit. In order to constrain the accretionary age of the Takinosawa Unit, detrital zircon U–Pb dating was conducted. The new data revealed that the youngest cluster ages from sandstone and tuffaceous rock are 257–248 Ma and 288–281 Ma, respectively. The Early Triassic depositional age of the sandstone may correspond to a period of intense magmatic activity in the eastern margin of the paleo-Asian continent. A 30–40 my interval between the youngest cluster ages of the sandstone and the tuffaceous rock can be explained by the absence of syn-sedimentary zircon in the tuffaceous rock. The new detrital zircon data suggest that the Takinosawa Unit can be distinguished as an Early Triassic accretionary complex distinct from the Early Carboniferous Tsunatori Unit. This recognition establishes a long-duration northeastward younging polarity of accretionary units, from the Carboniferous to Early Cretaceous, in the northern Kitakami Massif. Lithological features and detrital zircon spectra suggest that the Early Triassic Takinosawa Unit in the Nedamo Belt is comparable with the Hisone and Shingai units in the Kurosegawa Belt in Shikoku. The existence of this Early Triassic accretionary complex strongly supports a pre-Jurassic geotectonic correlation and similarity between Southwest and Northeast Japan.     

Sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin in the West Qinling Mountains and associated constraints on Mesozoic intracontinental tectonic evolution

The Qinling Orogenic Belt is divided commonly by the Fengxian-Taibai strike-slip shear zone and the Huicheng Basin into the East and West Qinling mountains,which show significant geological differences after the Indosinian orogeny.The Fengxian-Taibai fault zone and the Meso-Cenozoic Huicheng Basin,situated at the boundary of the East and West Qinling,provide a natural laboratory for tectonic analysis and sedimentological study of intracontinental tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt.In order to explain the dynamic development of the Huicheng Basin and elucidate its post-orogenic tectonic evolution at the junction of the East and West Qinling,we studied the geometry and kinematics of fault zones between the blocks of West Qinling,as well as the sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin.First,we found that after the collisional orogeny in the Late Triassic,post-orogenic extensional collapse occurred in the Early and Middle Jurassic within the Qinling Orogenic Belt,resulting in a series of rift basins.Second,in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous,a NE-SW compressive stress field caused large-scale sinistral strike-slip faults in the Qinling Orogenic Belt,causing intracontinental escape tectonics at the junction of the East and West Qinling,including eastward finite escape of the East Qinling micro-plate and southwest lateral escape of the Bikou Terrane.Meanwhile,the strike-slip-related Early Cretaceous sedimentary basin was formed with a right-order echelon arrangement in sinistral shear zones along the southern margin of the Huicheng fault.Overall during the Mesozoic,the Huicheng Basin and surrounding areas experienced four tectonic evolutionary stages,including extensional rift basin development in the Early and Middle Jurassic,intense compressive uplift in the Late Jurassic,formation of a strike-slip extensional basin in the Early Cretaceous,and compressive uplift in the Late Cretaceous.     

Timing of dextral oblique subduction along the eastern margin of the Asian continent in the Late Cretaceous: Evidence from the accretionary complex of the Shimanto Belt in the Kii Peninsula, Southwest Japan

Paleomagnetic studies and hotspot track analyses show that the Kula Plate was subducted dextrally with respect to the Eurasian Plate from the Coniacian to Campanian. However, geological evidence for dextral subduction of the Kula Plate has not been reported from Southwest Japan. Studies of the Coniacian to lower Campanian Miyama Formation of the Shimanto Belt reveal that the mélange fabrics show a dextral sense of shear both at outcrop and microscopic scales. In addition, thrust systems at map-scale also show dextral shearing. Restored shear directions in the mélange indicate dextral oblique subduction of an oceanic plate. This indicates that the Kula Plate subducted dextrally along the eastern margin of Asia during the Coniacian to early Campanian. Combinations with other published kinematic and age constraints suggest that Southwest Japan experienced a change from sinistral to dextral and back to sinistral shear between 89–76 Ma. This history is compatible with global-scale plate reconstructions and places good constraints on the timing of plate boundary interaction with the Cretaceous East Asian margin.     

Slab-fluid metasomatism in the Early Paleozoic forearc mantle deduced from the Motai serpentinites,South Kitakami Belt,northeast Japan

The present study examines the petrology and geochemistry of the Early Paleozoic Motai serpentinites, the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, to reveal the subduction processes and tectonics in the convergent margin of the Early Paleozoic proto-East Asian continent. Protoliths of the serpentinites are estimated to be harzburgite to dunite based on the observed amounts of bastite (orthopyroxene pseudomorph). Relic chromian spinel Cr# [=Cr/(Cr + Al)] increases with decreasing amount of bastite. The compositional range of chromian spinel is similar to that found in the Mariana forearc serpentinites. This fact suggests that the protoliths of the serpentinites are depleted mantle peridotites developed beneath the forearc regions of a subduction zone. The Motai serpentinites are divided into two types, namely, Types 1 and 2 serpentinites; the former are characterized by fine-grained antigorite and lack of olivine, and the latter have coarse-grained antigorite and inclusion-rich olivine. Ca-amphibole occurs as isolated crystals or vein-like aggregates in the Type 1 serpentinites and as needle-shaped minerals in the Type 2 serpentinites. Ca-amphibole of the Type 1 serpentinites is more enriched in LILEs and LREEs, suggesting the influence of hydrous fluids derived from slabs. By contrast, the mineral assemblage, mineral chemistry, and field distribution of the Type 2 serpentinites reflect the thermal effect of contact metamorphism by Cretaceous granite. The Ca-amphibole of the Type 1 serpentinites is different from that of the Hayachine–Miyamori Ophiolite in terms of origin; the latter was formed by the infiltration of melts produced in an Early Paleozoic arc–backarc system. Chemical characteristics of the Ca-amphibole in the ultramafic rocks in the South Kitakami Belt reflect the tectonics of an Early Paleozoic mantle wedge, and the formation of the Motai metamorphic rocks in the forearc region of the Hayachine–Miyamori subduction zone system, which occurred at the Early Paleozoic proto-East Asian continental margin.     

A magnetotelluric study of the Damara Belt in Namibia: 1. Regional scale conductivity anomalies

The Namibian margin is dominated by the late Proterozoic to early Cambrian fold belts of the Damara Orogen, which wrap around and separate the Congo and Kalahari Cratons. This mosaic of relatively ‘soft’ fold belts and ‘hard’ cratons apparently controlled the path for the opening of the South Atlantic in the early Cretaceous. The continents split along the coast-parallel fold belts of the Damara Orogen while the inland fold belt (Damara Belt) was effected by extension and widespread igneous intrusion but never developed to the rift stage. This paper is concerned with the interpretation of magnetotelluric (MT) data along a 200 km NW-SE profile across the Damara Belt in NW Namibia. The regional, two-dimensional electrical resistivity model and the induction vector data exhibit three distinctive zones: (i) a generally very resistive upper crust which is typical for the granites and metasediments of the Damara Belt, (ii) two subvertical conductors in upper to mid-crustal levels which correlate with major tectonic zone boundaries and (iii) a highly conductive middle to lower crust in the southern part of the profile. The geometry of the conductive structures could reflect a regional shear system in which upper crustal listric faults pass into a detachment zone in the middle crust. We interpret the high electrical conductivity in terms of graphite (or other forms of mineralization) enrichment along the shear planes. This zone of crustal weakness may have originated in Pre-Damara times and had probably experienced several episodes of crustal reactivation before the intrusion of basaltic dike swarms during the Cretaceous rifting and magmatism associated with the opening of the South Atlantic.     

Serpentinite textural evolution related to tectonically controlled solid-state intrusion along the Kurosegawa Belt, northwestern Kanto Mountains, central Japan

Abstract   Serpentinite bodies in the Kurosegawa Belt are mapped along fault boundaries between the Cretaceous Sanchu Group (forearc basin-fill sediments) and the rocks of the Southern Chichibu Belt (Jurassic to Early Cretaceous accretionary prism) in the northwestern Kanto Mountains, central Japan. The serpentinites were divided into three types based on microtextures and combinations of serpentine minerals: massive, antigorite and chrysotile serpentinites. Massive serpentinite retains initial pseudomorphic textures without any deformation after serpentinization. Antigorite serpentinite exhibits shape-preferred orientation of antigorite replacing the original lizardite and/or chrysotile to form pseudomorphs. It has porphyroclasts of chromian spinel, and is characterized by ductile deformation under relatively high-pressure–temperature conditions. Chrysotile serpentinite shows evidence for overprinting of pre-existing serpentinite features under shallow, low-temperature conditions. It exhibits unidirectional development of chrysotile fibers. Foliations in antigorite and chrysotile serpentinites strike parallel to the elongate direction of the serpentinite bodies, suggesting a continuous deformation during solid-state intrusion along the fault zones after undergoing complete serpentinization at deeper levels (lower crust and upper mantle).     

Study of thrust and nappe tectonics in the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula, China

Thrust and nappe tectonics have affected the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula, the easternmost terminal of the Sulu Ultra-high Pressure Metamorphic Belt. Four nappes have been mapped, named respectively the Shidao, Rongcheng, Mishan and Mouping nappes. The methods used included multi-scale struc- tural analysis and structural chronology analysis. These nappes define four deep level slip-thrust shear zones that were mainly active in the Mesozoic. The amount of ductile deformation decreases from the Shidao to Rongcheng to Mouping to Mishan shear zones, and shows an inverse relationship with temperature. 40Ar/39Ar chronological analysis and the chronological results of former workers reveal four movement steps defined by the development of thrusts and nappes in the late Triassic (210-180 Ma), extensional movement from the Jurassic to early Cretaceous (180-130 Ma), slip-thrust movement in the Early Cretaceous (130-120 Ma), and extensional movement since the Late Cretaceous (120 Ma). The order of boundary shear zone motion in the period of slip-thrust movement during the Early Cre- taceous (130-120 Ma) was along the Shidao, Rongcheng, Mouping and finally the Mishan shear zone. This resulted in clockwise rotation of the nappes relative to block west to the Tan-Lu Faults. Because of the similar evolutionary history of the Tan-Lu Faults and the thrust and nappe structure in the eastern Jiaodong Peninsula, slip dislocation along the Tan-Lu Faults might have been absorbed by thrust and nappe tectonics in the Jiaodong area in the Mesozoic era, resulting in much less dislocation on the Tan-Lu faults in North Eastern China than that in south along the Jiaodong Peninsula.     

Structural evidence for large-scale top-to-the-north normal displacement along the Median Tectonic Line in southwest Japan

Abstract   The Median Tectonic Line (MTL) is a first-order tectonic boundary that separates the Sanbagawa and Ryoke Metamorphic Belts. Strike-slip movements on the MTL have been well documented by many workers. New field based structural studies in the Sanbagawa Belt close to the MTL reveal a large number of secondary faults and semibrittle shear bands indicating a top-to-the-north normal sense of displacement. The strikes of these shear zones and their spatial distributions suggest that development of these structures is related to movements on the MTL. These results imply that the MTL has a large-scale normal shear component on a regional scale that can help account for the exhumation of the Sanbagawa Belt. Our proposed history of the MTL can also account for changes in the geometry of folds in the Sanbagawa Belt.     

Paleostress reconstructions based on calcite twins in the Joseon Supergroup, northeastern Ogcheon Belt (South Korea)

Abstract   Paleostress of the Joseon Supergroup in the northeastern part of the Ogcheon Belt, South Korea, is reconstructed in the Jecheon–Danyang area with the help of calcite twinning. In the study area, the average twin thickness and intensity increase with the total twin strain increase. From the appearance of twins, the average twin thickness and intensity, and the total twin strain, it is estimated that calcite twins were produced under temperatures lower than 200°C. The maximum shortening axis in the study area changes orientation from northeast–southwest to NNW–SSE or northwest–southeast, and finally to north–south. We suggest these three distinct stages with different orientations of the maximum shortening axis can be correlated with: (i) the Paleozoic to Early Jurassic Songrim orogeny; (ii) the Early Jurassic to Late Jurassic Daebo orogeny; and (iii) the Cretaceous Bulgugsa orogeny.     

Cretaceous granitoids and their zircon U–Pb ages across the south‐central part of the Abukuma Highland,Japan

Zircons separated from Cretaceous granitoids are dated from a south‐central transect of the Abukuma metamorphic and granitic terrane. The zircon ages do not follow ‘older’ and ‘younger’ granitoid ages that are used conventionally. In the western part of the study area (Zones I, II and III) where the Takanuki and Gosaisho metamorphic rocks are exposed, the Iritono quartz dioritic stock intruding the greenschist facies rocks in Zone III exhibits the oldest age of 121 Ma in the studied region. Quartz diorite located northward shows 112 Ma, but the other four granitoids intruding into the Takanuki and Gosaisho metamorphic rocks are younger and 103–99 Ma. Two‐mica and biotite granites belong to the youngest age group of 99 Ma. The granitic activities of both the Abukuma and Ryoke belts were initiated by intrusion of quartz dioritic magmas and were ended by two‐mica granite activity. The ages of the eastern two batholiths vary from 110 to 106 Ma (four samples), and show no age common to the Kitakami granitoids farther to the north. Throughout the Japanese Islands arc, Cretaceous granitic activities became younger toward the marginal sea side from the Kitakami Mountains, to the Abukuma Highland, and the Ryoke Belt, then to the Sanin belt of the Inner Zone of Southwest Japan.     

Paleocene large-scale normal faulting along the Median Tectonic Line, western Shikoku, Japan

Abstract   The Median Tectonic Line (MTL) in southwest Japan, a major east–west-trending arc-parallel fault, has been defined as the boundary fault between the Cretaceous Sambagawa metamorphic rocks and Ryoke granitic and metamorphic rocks, which are unconformably covered by the Upper Cretaceous Izumi Group. The juxtaposition by faulting occurred after the deposition of the Izumi Group. Based on detailed fieldwork and previous studies, the authors reconstruct the kinematic history along the MTL during the Paleogene period, which has not been fully understood before. It is noted that although the strata of the Izumi Group along the MTL dip gently, east–west-trending north-vergent folds with the wavelength of ∼300 m commonly develop up to 2 km north from the MTL. Along the MTL, a disturbed zone of the Izumi Group up to 400 m thick, defined by the development of boudinage structures with the transverse boudin axis dipping nearly parallel to the MTL, occurs. Furthermore, east–west-trending north-vergent folds with the wavelength of 1–5 m develop within the distance up to 60 m from the MTL. The disturbed zone with the map-scale north-vergent folds along the MTL, strongly suggests that they formed due to normal faulting with a top-to-the-north sense along the MTL. Considering that the normal faulting is associated with the final exhumation of the Sambagawa metamorphic rocks, and its juxtaposition against the Izumi Group at depth, this perhaps occurred before the denudation of the Sambagawa metamorphic rocks indicated by the deposition of the Lower Eocene Hiwada-toge Formation. Dynamic equilibrium between crustal thickening at depth (underplating) and extension at shallow level is a plausible explanation for the normal faulting because the arc-normal extension suggests gravity as the driving force.     

南大巴山前陆褶皱带荆竹坝—石窝剖面磁组构特征及其对构造演化的制约

通过野外构造观测、岩石磁学与磁组构综合分析,本文研究了南大巴山前陆褶皱带荆竹坝—石窝剖面的叠加构造特征及其形成演化.从北东向南西,剖面构造变形总体呈减弱趋势,褶皱轴面总体倾向北东,大尺度褶皱枢纽均以小角度向北西倾伏.古应力分析显示最大主压应力为北东—南西向,反映以南大巴山的推覆为主.剖面J₃之前的采样层位主要表现为变形组构,而J₃-K₁的采样层位则表现为初始弱变形组构.磁线理呈NW-SE向的优势方位,与剖面主构造线基本平行,主要反映来自南大巴山的推覆挤压.剖面发育特殊磁组构：①磁面理与地层面斜交,主要与褶皱作用中的平行层简单剪切相关;②磁线理均不同程度斜交于地层走向,指示构造叠加背景.沿剖面北东向南西区段K_min的倾伏角随构造变形强度减弱而增大,据此相关性可将K_min的倾伏角作为判别弱变形沉积岩变形强度的标志.本文认为,在晚侏罗世以南大巴山的推覆为主而米仓山短轴背斜与川东褶皱带挤压次之的联合作用使南大巴山前陆褶皱带具有构造叠加特征,之后的早白垩世仍主要表现为南大巴山的推覆,而其他两个方向的挤压较之前相对较弱.该结果也反映了秦岭J₃-K₁陆内造山作用及燕山期雪峰陆内构造变形的影响,为探索陆内构造与陆内造山的大陆动力学提供了佐证.     

U–Pb dating of detrital zircon from Permian successions of the South Kitakami Belt,Northeast Japan: Clues to the paleogeography of the belt

The South Kitakami Belt in the northeast Japan is unique in presence of a thick Paleozoic–Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. The Permian sedimentary succession in the Maiya area of this belt is divided into the Nishikori, Tenjinnoki, and Toyoma formations, in ascending stratigraphic order. The Tenjinnoki Formation includes the Yamazaki Conglomerate Member containing granitic clasts. We performed U–Pb dating for detrital zircon of one sample of tuffaceous sandstone from the Nishikori Formation, six samples of sandstone from the Tenjinnoki and Toyoma formations, and five granitic clasts from the Yamazaki Conglomerate using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Our dating results show that the tuffaceous sandstone sample has two age peaks at 287 and 301 Ma for the Nishikori Formation, three age peaks at 320–300, 290, and 270 Ma for the Tenjinnoki and Toyoma Formation, and ages of 311, 300, and 270 Ma from granitic clasts of the Yamazaki Conglomerate. In addition, older ages of 452–435 and 380 Ma were obtained from some zircon grains of the sandstone and granitic clasts. Our results suggest igneous activity in these periods. The South Kitakami Belt's origin with respect to continental blocks has been discussed in regard of the margin of North China Block or South China Block. Based on the stratigraphic ages and timing of igneous activity, we conclude that during the Permian the South Kitakami Belt was located at the margin of the South Central Asian Orogenic Belt, near the Solonker-Xra Moron-Changchun suture and the North China Block in East Asia.     

Paleostress fields from calcite twins in the Pyeongan Supergroup, South Korea

Abstract   Paleostress fields of the Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic Pyeongan Supergroup that is distributed along the northeastern part of the Ogcheon Belt in South Korea were investigated using the calcite strain gauge (CSG) technique. Combining the results of this study with those of other studies investigating the relationship between twin strain, twin density and width, which are used as indicators of deformation conditions in the natural low-temperature deformation of limestone, it was estimated that calcite twins in the study area were probably formed at temperatures lower than 170°C. From two samples, two different principal paleostress directions were inferred from calcite twins, while only one direction was inferred from two other samples. This result suggests that deformation occurred during two or more different tectonic events in the Pyeongan Supergroup during the Mesozoic era. The maximum shortening axis was oriented in two directions, northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast, respectively, which coincide well with the paleostress directions inferred from the stress inversion for many fault sets. Combining the results of the paleostress analysis from this and other studies, we hypothesize that the directions of the maximum shortening axis in the Pyeongan Supergroup changed from northeast–southwest during the pre-Daebo orogeny period (Late Triassic period) to northwest–southeast during the syn-Daebo orogeny period (Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period) in the Mesozoic era.     

Transpressional tectonics of the Mineoka Ophiolite Belt in a trench–trench–trench-type triple junction, Boso Peninsula, Japan

Abstract   Structures developed in metamorphic and plutonic blocks that occur as knockers in the Mineoka Ophiolite Belt in the Boso Peninsula, central Japan, were analyzed. The aim was to understand the incorporation processes of blocks of metamorphic and plutonic rocks with an arc signature into the serpentinite mélange of the Mineoka Ophiolite Belt in relation to changes in metamorphic conditions during emplacement. Several stages of deformation during retrogressive metamorphism were identified: the first faulting stage had two substage shearing events (mylonitization) under ductile conditions inside the crystalline blocks in relatively deeper levels; and the second stage had brittle faulting and brecciation along the boundaries between the host serpentinite bodies in relatively shallower levels (zeolite facies). The first deformation occurred during uplift before emplacement. The blocks were intensively sheared by the first deformation event, and developed numerous shear planes with spacing of a few centimeters. The displacement and width of each shear plane were a few centimeters and a few millimeters, respectively, at most. In contrast, the fault zone of the second shearing stage reached a few meters in width and developed during emplacement of the Mineoka Ophiolite. Both stages occurred under a right-lateral transpressional regime, in which thrust-faulting was associated with strike-slip faulting. Such displacement on an outcrop scale is consistent with the present tectonics of the Mineoka Belt. This implies that the same tectonic stress has been operating in the Boso trench–trench–trench-type triple junction area in the northwest corner of the Pacific since the emplacement of the Mineoka Ophiolite. The Mineoka Ophiolite Belt must have worked as a forearc sliver fault during the formation of a Neogene accretionary prism further south.     

Influence of Neoproterozoic tectonic fabric on the origin of the Potiguar Basin,northeastern Brazil and its links with West Africa based on gravity and magnetic data

The Potiguar Basin is a ∼6,000 m thick aborted NE-trending rift that was formed during the Cretaceous in the continental margin of northeastern Brazil. Its ∼E–W-trending offshore faults form part of the successful continental margin rift that evolved into the South Atlantic Ocean. The region represents one of the most significant pre-Pangea breakup piercing points between eastern South America and West Africa. We used gravity, aeromagnetic, and geological data to assess the role of reactivated Precambrian shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the development of the Potiguar Basin from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic. We also looked for possible links between these structures in northeastern Brazil and their continuation in West Africa. Our results indicate that the major fault systems of the Potiguar Basin were superimposed on the Precambrian fabric. Both gravity and magnetic maps show lineaments related to the shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the Precambrian crystalline basement, which also characterize the architecture of the rift. For example, the Carnaubais fault, the master fault of the rift system, represents the reactivation of the Portalegre shear zone, the major tectonic boundary between Precambrian terrains in the crystalline basement. In addition, part of the Moho topography is controlled by these shear zones and developed during the period of main rift extension in the Neocomian. The shear zones bounding the Potiguar rift system continue in West Africa around and underneath the Benue Basin, where fault reactivation also took place.     

Tectonic boundaries within the Grenville province of the Canadian shield

Recent work in a previously little-known part of the Central Gneiss Belt of the southwestern Grenville Province has outlined a regional structural pattern made by a number of geologically distinctive domains that are separated by broad ductile shear zones. Characteristics rock assemblages, metamorphism, geophysical signatures and structural trends are modified or truncated at domain margins. Bounding high strain zones contain mylonite and other forms of tectonically modified gneiss, formed under at least middle amphibolite facies conditions, within which kinematic indicators imply a northwesterly sense of overriding or lateral sliding between adjacent crustal masses. Similar kinematics also apply at the margin of the Central Metasedimentary Belt to the southeast and along the Grenville Front to the northwest. A scenario involving northwesterly stacking of large crustal blocks and slices at relatively deep level can account for the observed relationships and implies a period of crustal thickening that may represent the culmination of the Grenvillian Orogeny in this region.     

Subduction and retreating of the western Pacific plate resulted in lithospheric mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain respond in the North China Craton

The North China Craton (NCC) witnessed Mesozoic vigorous tectono-thermal activities and transition in the nature of deep lithosphere. These processes took place in three periods: (1) Late Paleozoic to Early Jurassic (～170 Ma); (2) Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (160–140 Ma); (3) Early Cretaceous to Cenozoic (140 Ma to present). The last two stages saw the lithospheric mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain response within the North China Craton due to subduction and retreating of the Paleo-Pacific plate, and is the emphasis in this paper. In the first period, the subduction and closure of the Paleo- Asian Ocean triggered the back-arc extension, syn-collisional compression and then post-collisional extension accompanied by ubiquitous magmatism along the northern margin of the NCC. Similar processes happened in the southern margin of the craton as the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys ocean and collision with the South China Block. These processes had caused the chemical modification and mechanical destruction of the cratonic margins. The margins could serve as conduits for the asthenosphere upwelling and had the priority for magmatism and deformation. The second period saw the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk ocean and the shear deformation and magmatism induced by the drifting of the Paleo-Pacific slab. The former led to two pulse of N-S trending compression (Episodes A and B of the Yanshan Movement) and thus the pre-existing continental marginal basins were disintegrated into sporadically basin and range province by the Mesozoic magmatic plutons and NE-SW trending faults. With the anticlockwise rotation of the Paleo-Pacific moving direction, the subduction-related magmatism migrated into the inner part of the craton and the Tanlu fault became normal fault from a sinistral one. The NCC thus turned into a back-arc extension setting at the end of this period. In the third period, the refractory subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) was firstly remarkably eroded and thinned by the subduction-induced asthenospheric upwelling, especially those beneath the weak zones (i.e., cratonic margins and the lithospheric Tanlu fault zone). Then a slightly lithospheric thickening occurred when the upwelled asthenosphere got cool and transformed to be lithospheric mantle accreted (～125 Ma) beneath the thinned SCLM. Besides, the magmatism continuously moved southeastward and the extensional deformations preferentially developed in weak zones, which include the Early Cenozoic normal fault transformed from the Jurassic thrust in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt, the crustal detachment and the subsidence of Bohai basin caused by the continuous normal strike slip of the Tanlu fault, the Cenozoic graben basins originated from the fault depression in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt, the Bohai Basin and the Sulu Orogenic belt. With small block size, inner lithospheric weak zones and the surrounding subductions/collisions, the Mesozoic NCC was characterized by (1) lithospheric thinning and crustal detachment triggered by the subduction-induced asthenospheric upwelling. Local crustal contraction and orogenesis appeared in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt coupled with the crustal detachment; (2) then upwelled asthenosphere got cool to be newly-accreted lithospheric mantle and crustal grabens and basin subsidence happened, as a result of the subduction zone retreating. Therefore, the subduction and retreating of the western Pacific plate is the outside dynamics which resulted in mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain respond within the North China Craton. We consider that the Mesozoic decratonization of the North China Craton, or the Yanshan Movement, is a comprehensive consequence of complex geological processes proceeding surrounding and within craton, involving both the deep lithospheric mantle and shallow continental crust.