Geology and tectonics of Japanese islands: A review – The key to understanding the geology of Asia

The age of the major geological units in Japan ranges from Cambrian to Quaternary. Precambrian basement is, however, expected, as the provenance of by detrital clasts of conglomerate, detrital zircons of metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and as metamorphic rocks intruded by 500 Ma granites. Although rocks of Paleozoic age are not widely distributed, rocks and formations of late Mesozoic to Cenozoic can be found easily throughout Japan. Rocks of Jurassic age occur mainly in the Jurassic accretionary complexes, which comprise the backbone of the Japanese archipelago. The western part of Japan is composed mainly of Cretaceous to Paleogene felsic volcanic and plutonic rocks and accretionary complexes. The eastern part of the country is covered extensively by Neogene sedimentary and volcanic rocks. During the Quaternary, volcanoes erupted in various parts of Japan, and alluvial plains were formed along the coastlines of the Japanese Islands. These geological units are divided by age and origin: i.e. Paleozoic continental margin; Paleozoic island arc; Paleozoic accretionary complexes; Mesozoic to Paleogene accretionary complexes and Cenozoic island arcs. These are further subdivided into the following tectonic units, e.g. Hida; Oki; Unazuki; Hida Gaien; Higo; Hitachi; Kurosegawa; South Kitakami; Nagato-Renge; Nedamo; Akiyoshi; Ultra-Tamba; Suo; Maizuru; Mino-Tamba; Chichibu; Chizu; Ryoke; Sanbagawa and Shimanto belts.The geological history of Japan commenced with the breakup of the Rodinia super continent, at about 750 Ma. At about 500 Ma, the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate began to be subducted beneath the continental margin of the South China Block. Since then, Proto-Japan has been located on the convergent margin of East Asia for about 500 Ma. In this tectonic setting, the most significant tectonic events recorded in the geology of Japan are subduction–accretion, paired metamorphism, arc volcanism, back-arc spreading and arc–arc collision. The major accretionary complexes in the Japanese Islands are of Permian, Jurassic and Cretaceous–Paleogene age. These accretionary complexes became altered locally to low-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic, or high-temperature and low-pressure metamorphic rocks. Medium-pressure metamorphic rocks are limited to the Unazuki and Higo belts. Major plutonism occurred in Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic time. Early Paleozoic Cambrian igneous activity is recorded as granites in the South Kitakami Belt. Late Paleozoic igneous activity is recognized in the Hida Belt. During Cretaceous to Paleogene time, extensive igneous activity occurred in Japan. The youngest granite in Japan is the Takidani Granite intruded at about 1–2 Ma. During Cenozoic time, the most important geologic events are back-arc opening and arc–arc collision. The major back-arc basins are the Sea of Japan and the Shikoku and Chishima basins. Arc–arc collision occurred between the Honshu and Izu-Bonin arcs, and the Honshu and Chishima arcs.     

Restoration of Exotic Terranes Along the Median Tectonic Line, Japanese Islands: Overview

This paper reviews recent progress on the geotectonic evolution of exotic Paleozoic terranes in Southwest Japan, namely the Paleo-Ryoke and Kurosegawa terranes. The Paleo-Ryoke Terrane is composed mainly of Permian granitic rocks with hornfels, mid-Cretaceous high-grade metamorphic rocks associated with granitic rocks, and Upper Cretaceous sedimentary cover. They form nappe structures on the Sambagawa metamorphic rocks. The Permian granitic rocks are correlative with granitic clasts in Permian conglomerates in the South Kitakami Terrane, whereas the mid-Cretaceous rocks are correlative with those in the Abukuma Terrane. This correlation suggests that the elements of Northeast Japan to the northeast of the Tanakura Tectonic Line were connected in between the paired metamorphic belt along the Median Tectonic Line, Southwest Japan. The Kurosegawa Terrane is composed of various Paleozoic rocks with serpentinite and occurs as disrupted bodies bounded by faults in the middle part of the Jurassic Chichibu Terrane accretionary complex. It is correlated with the South Kitakami Terrane in Northeast Japan. The constituents of both terranes are considered to have been originally distributed more closely and overlay the Jurassic accretionary terrane as nappes. The current sporadic occurrence of these terranes can possibly be attributed to the difference in erosion level and later stage depression or transtension along strike-slip faults. The constituents of both exotic terranes, especially the Ordovician granite in the Kurosegawa-South Kitakami Terrane and the Permian granite in the Paleo-Ryoke Terrane provide a significant key to reconstructing these exotic terranes by correlating them with Paleozoic granitoids in the eastern Asia continent.     

Mesozoic tectonothermal development of the Sambagawa, Mikabu and Chichibu belts, south-west Japan: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar whole-rock phyllite ages

Abstract Five whole-rock ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages from low-grade sectors of the Sambagawa belt (Besshi nappe complex) range between 87 and 97 Ma. Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Mikabu greenstone belt record well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 96 and 98 Ma. Together these ages suggest that a high-pressure metamorphism occurred in both the Sambagawa and Mikabu belts at c. 90–100 Ma. The northern Chichibu sub-belt may consist of several distinct geochronological units because metamorphic ages increase systematically from north ( c. 110 Ma) to south ( c. 215 Ma). The northern Chichibu sub-belt is correlated with the Kuma nappe complex (Sambagawa belt). Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Kurosegawa terrane display markedly older metamorphic ages than either the Sambagawa or the Chichibu belts.
Accretion of Sambagawa-Chichibu protoliths began prior to the middle Jurrasic. Depositional ages decrease from middle Jurassic (Kuma-Chichibu nappe complex) to c. 100 Ma (Oboke nappe complex) toward lower tectonostratigraphic units. The ages of metamorphic culmination also decrease from upper to lower tectonostratigraphic units. The Kurosegawa belt and the geological units to the south belong to distinctly different terrances than the Sambagawa-Chichibu belts. These have been juxtaposed as a result of transcurrent faulting during the Cretaceous.     

Diverse tectonic settings of formation of the metaigneous rocks in the Jurassic metamorphic accretionary complexes (Refahiye,NE Turkey) and their geodynamic implications

Two isolated metamorphic accretionary complexes of Jurassic age, the Refahiye and Kurtlutepe metamorphic rocks, crop out as tectonic slices within the coeval suprasubduction-zone ophiolite at the southern margin of the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey), close to the ?zmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture. The Refahiye metamorphic rocks are made up of greenschist, marble, serpentinite, phyllite and minor garnet amphibolite, garnet micaschist and metachert. The whole unit was metamorphosed under garnet-amphibolite-facies conditions and strongly retrogressed during exhumation. The Kurtlutepe metamorphic rocks consist of subgreenschist-facies metavolcanics, metavolcaniclastics, marble, calc-phyllite, and minor serpentinite and metachert. Metabasites in the Refahiye metamorphic rocks are represented by four distinct geochemical affinities: (i) cumulate “flavor,” (ii) alkaline oceanic island basalt (OIB), (iii) enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB) and (iv) tholeiitic island arc basalt (IAB). On the other hand, the Kurtlutepe metavolcanic rocks display only tholeiitic to calc-alkaline island arc geochemical affinities. The metabasic rocks with OIB affinities were interpreted as parts of the accreted oceanic islands, and those with E-MORB affinities as parts of accreted ridge segments close to oceanic islands and/or plume-distal mid-ocean ridges with a mantle previously metasomatized by plume components. The metabasic rocks with IAB affinities might have been derived from the overlying suprasubduction ophiolite and/or arc domain by a number of tectonic or sedimentary processes including tectonic slicing of accretionary complex and overlying fore-arc ophiolite, juxtaposition of the magmatic arc with subduction zone by strike slip faults, submarine gravity sliding and debris flows or subduction erosion. However, totally recrystallized nature of the metabasic rocks together with field relations does not allow any inference on the processes involved. The Kurtlutepe metavolcanic rocks might represent collided and accreted oceanic island arc with the subduction zone. Attempted subduction of an intraoceanic island arc may also explain the magmatic lull during Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous in the Eastern Pontides.     

Origin and evolution of the Escambray Massif (Central Cuba): an example of HP/LT rocks exhumed during intraoceanic subduction

High‐pressure (HP) metabasites from the Sancti Spiritus dome (Escambray massif, Central Cuba) have been studied in order to better understand the origin and evolution of the Northern Caribbean boundary plate during the Cretaceous, in a global subduction context. Geochemical and petrological studies of these eclogites reveal two groups with contrasting origins and pre‐subduction metamorphic histories. Eclogites collected from exotic blocks within serpentinite (mélange zone) originated from a N‐MORB type protolith, do not record pre‐eclogitic metamorphic history. Conversely eclogites intercalated in Jurassic metasedimentary rocks (non‐mélange zone) have a calc‐alkaline arc‐like origin and yield evidence for a pre‐subduction metamorphic event in the amphibolite facies. However, all the studied Escambray eclogites underwent the same eclogitic peak (around 600 °C at 16 kbar), and followed a cold thermal gradient during their exhumation (estimated at around 13.5 °C km^?1), which can suggest that this exhumation was coeval with subduction. Concordant geochronological data (Rb/Sr and Ar/Ar) support that the main exhumation of HP/LT rocks from the Sancti Spiritus dome occurred at 70 Ma by top to SW thrusting. The retrograde trajectory of these rocks suggests that the north‐east subduction of the Farallon plate continued after 70 Ma. The set‐off to the exhumation can be correlated with the beginning of the collision between the Bahamas platform and the Cretaceous island arc that induced a change of the subduction kinematics. The contrasting origin and ante‐subduction history of the analysed samples imply that the Escambray massif consists of different geological units that evolved in different environments before their amalgamation during exhumation to form the present unit III of the massif.     

Discovery of Paleozoic rocks at northern margin of Sambagawa terrane,eastern Kyushu,Japan: Petrogenesis,U–Pb geochronology and its tectonic implication

Ordovician diorite-quartz diorite mylonite (Saganoseki quartz diorite) was discovered in Sambagawa metamorphic terrane at the northern margin of Saganoseki Peninsula, Kyushu Island, Japan. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb geochronology revealed that the intrusion age of Saganoseki quartz diorite was 473.3 ​± ​3.6 ​Ma. These rocks show the volcanic arc affinity based on the trace element composition. On the basis of geochronological and geochemical results, Saganoseki quartz diorite is considered to be a member of the Early Paleozoic igneous rocks of the Kurosegawa tectonic zone. Saganoseki quartz diorite is located just south of the Median Tectonic Line (MTL) and is in close contact with the pelitic and psammitic schist without any brittle shear zone. U–Pb ages of detrital zircon grains from two psammitic schists show the estimated sedimentation age of early Late Cretaceous, indicate that these psammitic schists are the member of Sambagawa metamorphic rocks. Together with these results and the mode of occurrence in the field, we argue that the Early Paleozoic igneous rocks of the Kurosegawa tectonic zone existed as an upper structural unit of the Sambagawa terrane. This relationship is the key to reconstruct the Mesozoic tectonics of Japan as a part of East Asia, and its evolution through time.     

Geology of the Gorny Altai subduction–accretion complex, southern Siberia: Tectonic evolution of an Ediacaran–Cambrian intra-oceanic arc-trench system

The Gorny Altai region in southern Siberia is one of the key areas in reconstructing the tectonic evolution of the western segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). This region features various orogenic elements of Late Neoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic age, such as an accretionary complex (AC), high-P/T metamorphic (HP) rocks, and ophiolite (OP), all formed by ancient subduction–accretion processes. This study investigated the detailed geology of the Upper Neoproterozoic to Lower Paleozoic rocks in a traverse between Gorno-Altaisk city and Lake Teletskoy in the northern part of the region, and in the Kurai to Chagan-Uzun area in the southern part. The tectonic units of the studied areas consist of (1) the Ediacaran (=Vendian)–Early Cambrian AC, (2) ca. 630 Ma HP complex, (3) the Ediacaran–Early Cambrian OP complex, (4) the Cryogenian–Cambrian island arc complex, and (5) the Middle Paleozoic fore-arc sedimentary rocks. The AC consists mostly of paleo-atoll limestone and underlying oceanic island basalt with minor amount of chert and serpentinite. The basaltic lavas show petrochemistry similar to modern oceanic plateau basalt. The 630 Ma HP complex records a maximum peak metamorphism at 660 °C and 2.0 GPa that corresponds to 60 km-deep burial in a subduction zone, and exhumation at ca. 570 Ma. The Cryogenian island arc complex includes boninitic rocks that suggest an incipient stage of arc development. The Upper Neoproterozoic–Lower Paleozoic complexes in the Gorno-Altaisk city to Lake Teletskoy and the Kurai to Chagan-Uzun areas are totally involved in a subhorizontal piled-nappe structure, and overprinted by Late Paleozoic strike-slip faulting. The HP complex occurs as a nappe tectonically sandwiched between the non- to weakly metamorphosed AC and the OP complex. These lithologic assemblages and geologic structure newly documented in the Gorny Altai region are essentially similar to those of the circum-Pacific (Miyashiro-type) orogenic belts, such as the Japan Islands in East Asia and the Cordillera in western North America. The Cryogenian boninite-bearing arc volcanism indicates that the initial stage of arc development occurred in a transient setting from a transform zone to an incipient subduction zone. The less abundant of terrigenous clastics from mature continental crust and thick deep-sea chert in the Ediacaran–Early Cambrian AC may suggest that the southern Gorny Altai region evolved in an intra-oceanic arc-trench setting like the modern Mariana arc, rather than along the continental arc of a major continental margin. Based on geological, petrochemical, and geochronological data, we synthesize the Late Neoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic tectonic history of the Gorny Altai region in the western CAOB.     

The Late Riphean–Paleozoic history of the Uda–Vitim island arc system in the Transbaikalian sector of the Paleoasian ocean

New structural, petrological, chemical, isotope, and paleomagnetic data have provided clues to the Late Riphean–Paleozoic history of the Uda–Vitim island arc system (UVIAS) in the Transbaikalian sector of the Paleoasian ocean, as part of the Transbaikalian zone of Paleozoids. The island arc system consists of three units corresponding to main evolution stages: (i) Upper Riphean (Late Baikalian), (ii) Vendian–Lower Paleozoic (Caledonian), and (iii) Middle–Upper Paleozoic (Hercynian). The earliest stage produced the base of the system composed of Late Riphean ophiolite (971–892 Ma, U-Pb) and volcanic (837–789 Ma, U-Pb) and sedimentary rocks (hemipelagic siliceous sediments and dolerite sills) which represent the Barguzin–Vitim oceanic basin and the Kelyana island arc. The main event of the second stage was the formation of the large UVIAS structure (over 150,000 km2) which comprised the Transbaikalian oceanic basin, the forearc and backarc basins, and the volcanic arc itself, and consisted of many volcanic-tectonic units exceeding 100 km² in area (Eravna, Oldynda, Abaga, etc.). Lithology, stratigraphy, major–element compositions, and isotope ages of Vendian–Cambrian volcanic rocks and associated sediments indicate strong differentiation of calc-alkaline series and the origin of the island arc system upon oceanic crust, in a setting similar to that of the today’s Kuriles–Kamchatka island arc system. The Middle–Upper Paleozoic stage completed the long UVIAS history and left its imprint in sedimentary and volcanic rocks in superposed trough basins. The rocks were studied in terms of their biostratigraphic and isotope age constraints, as well as major- and trace-element compositions, and were interpreted as products of weathering and tectonic-magmatic rework of the UVIAS units.     

Late Ordovician to early Silurian calc-alkaline magmatism in the Xiemisitai Mountains,northern West Junggar: a response to the subduction of the Junggar-Balkhash Ocean

Basement exposed in the Placer de Guadalupe–Plomosas uplift in northern Mexico provides important clues for the geologic evolution of the region. The stratigraphic units form stacked thrust sheets of psammitic and calcareous formations, interlayered with magmatic rock. The eastern calcareous and quartzite formations exhibit structures associated with ductile deformation, whereas the upper stratigraphic units only contain structures formed via younger brittle deformation. Porphyry interlayered in the upper Plomosas Formation has a U-Pb zircon age of 171 ± 1 Ma. This age is consistent with its stratigraphic position, interbedded quartzarenites with a maximum depositional age of ~168 Ma. Granite flakes within the Horquilla Formation are dated at 209 ± 3 Ma, and the La Viñata quartzite exhibits a maximum age of ~193 Ma. The Upper Plomosas Formation correlates well with the arc-related Middle Jurassic Nazas Formation of northeastern Mexico, constituting the first report of a Jurassic continental margin arc outcrop in the ‘Central Mexican Gap zone’. We document Late Norian to Bajocian ages for the stratigraphic units cropping out in the Placer de Guadalupe area. The Jurassic age cluster indicates that the Nazas Arc magmatism in the region occurred during the Late Triassic and ended in the Middle Jurassic times. Permian ages previously assigned to these rocks and the occurrence of a Permo–Triassic deformation event have to be dismissed.     

The radiolarian evidence for the accretion of the Fu-saki Formation with the inferred oceanic plate stratigraphy: A case of weakly-metamorphosed accretionary complex in Ishigaki Jima,southern Ryukyu Arc,Japan

The island of Ishigaki Jima, located in the western part of the southern Ryukyu Arc, Japan, is underlain by a basement comprising the Tumuru and Fu-saki formations. The former is a pelitic glaucophane schist with a metamorphic age of 220–190 Ma, and the latter is a weakly metamorphosed accretionary complex, composed mainly of chert, mudstone and sandstone with minor amounts of limestone and mafic rocks. The Fu-saki Formation was weakly metamorphosed at ∼140 Ma. Latest Carboniferous–Early Jurassic microfossils have been obtained from the limestones, cherts and siliceous mudstones of this formation, but no fossils have been collected from the phyllitic mudstones. The radiolarian fauna of the phyllitic mudstones described herein indicates a late Pliensbachian–early Toarcian (Early Jurassic) age. This result, when combined with existing data, enables the reconstruction of an oceanic plate stratigraphy, showing a succession of (in ascending order) Upper Carboniferous–Triassic cherts, Sinemurian–lower Pliensbachian siliceous mudstones and upper Pliensbachian–lower Toarcian phyllitic mudstones and sandstones. The radiolarians from the phyllitic mudstones are important in constraining the timing of the accretion of the Fu-saki Formation to the base of the Tumuru Formation.     

Geochronology of the Duguer range metamorphic rocks,Central Tibet: implications for the changing tectonic setting of the South Qiangtang subterrane

The Duguer area represents one of the few occurrences of high-grade metamorphic rocks in the ‘Central Uplift’ zone of the Qiangtang terrane, central Tibet. The metamorphic rocks consist mainly of orthogneiss, paragneiss, and schist. To better understand the formation of these rocks, seven samples of gneiss and schist from the Duguer area were selected for in situ zircon U–Pb analysis and Ar–Ar dating of metamorphic minerals. The results suggest two distinct metamorphic stages, during the Late Triassic (229–227 Ma) and Late Jurassic (150–149 Ma). These stages correspond to the closure of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean and northward subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Neo-Tethys oceanic crust, respectively. We suggest that the Late Triassic metamorphic rocks of the Duguer area in the central South Qiangtang subterrane provide evidence of continental collision between the North and South Qiangtang subterranes, following the subduction of oceanic crust. It is likely that deep subduction of oceanic crust occurred along the Longmu Co–Shuanghu–Lancangjiang suture zone (LSLSZ), which would have hindered exhumation owing to the high density of oceanic crust. Subsequent break-off and delamination of the subducted oceanic slab at ~220 Ma may have resulted in exhumation of high-pressure and high-grade metamorphic rocks in the South Qiangtang subterrane. The Late Jurassic ages of metamorphism and deformation obtained in this study indicate the occurrence of an Andean-type orogenic event within the South Qiangtang subterrane. This hypothesis is further supported by an apparent age gap in magmatic activity (150–130 Ma) along the magmatic arc, and the absence of Late Jurassic sediments.     

Carboniferous geology and paleogeography of the USSR

A combination of geological and isotopic-geochronological (K/Ar, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, U-Pb-zircon methods) studies indicates that high-pressure-low-(in part, intermediate) temperature metamorphic rocks of both coherent complexes and inclusions in serpentinite melange were formed during Cretaceous and possibly to a small extent during Paleogene time. The original rocks are mostly of Jurassic and Cretaceous age. Pre-Jurassic metamorphic rocks have not been found within the complexes investigated. The metamorphic histories of many Cuban eclogites and garnet amphibolites were complex, but nevertheless reflect only a single Laramide tectono-metamorphic cycle. The discovery that the high-pressure meta-morphic rocks of Cuba are young confirms that major lateral displacement of crustal masses played a very important role in the structural development of the island.     

The mesozoic evolution of the mino terrane, central Japan: A geologic and paleomagnetic synthesis

The Mino tectono-stratigraphic terrane, central Japan, underlain by Permian to Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of various origins, was formed through accretion processes associated with the Mesozoic sea-floor spreading. This conclusion has been reached mainly from the following reasoning:

1. (1) the entire boundary of this terrane is defined by tectonic belts with high-pressure metamorphic rocks and serpentinized ultramafic rocks,

2. (2) the chemistry and petrology of the Permian greenstones demonstrate their affinity with abyssal tholeiitic and alkalic basalts,

3. (3) the widespread, but chaotic, occurrence of Permian greenstones, Triassic cherts, and Jurassic siliceous shales in the younger Jurassic clastic rocks of this terrane suggests extensive post-depositional mixing of strata,

4. (4) the sedimentology of the Jurassic sandstones strongly suggests that they are turbidity-current deposits supplied from cratonic lands,

5. (5) the South-Pacific type fossil assemblage in the Mino terrane shows strong contrast with the North-Pacific type fossil assemblage of the adjacent terranes,

6. (6) the paleomagnetism of the Permian and Jurassic greenstones, the Triassic cherts, and the Jurassic siliceous shales implies long-distance northward drift in Cretaceous time of these rocks from their original low latitudinal regions.

Along with this northward migration, the Mino terrane was accreted with extensive internal deformation to northeast Asia including the present Hida terrane. Recent accumulation of paleomagnetic and paleontologic data in the Pacific peripheral regions appears to support the existence of many allochthonous terranes which migrated from the equatorial regions. The Mino terane may be regarded as one example of these Circum-Pacific allochthons.     

Cathaysian slivers in the Philippine island arc: geochronologic and geochemical evidence from sedimentary formations of the west Central Philippines

The use of geodynamic information contained in sedimentary rocks has only recently been extended into the tectonic reconstruction studies of the Philippine archipelago vis-à-vis the rest of the Southeast Asian region. We present here a comparative assessment of clastic units from the western Central Philippines, particularly from the islands of Mindoro, Panay and Palawan, and propose their likely association with sources of Cathaysian origin. Geochronological data from sedimentary formations in the study areas register U–Pb dating peaks at 185–140 Ma, 140–120 Ma and 112–90 Ma. These are similar to those observed of detrital zircons from rocks of Cathaysian origin in Taiwan and Southern China that chronicle the Yanshanian magmatic events. These same formations also record an older intercept at 1.9–1.85 Ga that likely corresponds to a regional continental orogenic episode recorded in the late Paleoproterozoic Cathaysian block. Major (e.g. Al₂O₃/TiO₂) and trace-element (e.g. Y/Ni vs Cr/V) signatures of these sedimentary formations reflect stronger influences from granitic sources than mafic–ultramafic inputs that should otherwise be expected, considering their current oceanic island arc settings. Their La/Th and Th–Co–Zr/10 ratios also reveal continental island arc and active or passive continental margin depositional settings typical of rocks from the Palawan Microcontinental Block. New geochronological and geochemical data from the clastic rocks of northwest Mindoro, in addition to those already published for the other regions of the Palawan Microcontinental Block, provide further evidence for the amalgamation of fragments of Cathaysian origin within the Philippine island arc system.     

Structural characteristics and tectonisms around the microcontinent in the outer margin of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic geosyncline of Japan

Consideration of the paleogeography and large and small structures in the outer part (the Sakawa Fold Belt) of the Paleozoic—Mesozoic geosyncline of Japan suggests that the main part of the Japanese Islands has grown up not from an arc—trench system but from a marginal sea basin—microcontinent system: the Chichibu Geosyncline and the Kurosegawa — Ofunato Island Arc, Minor structures are superposed in a complicated way and they are analyzed in terms of the concepts of tectonic level and multiple deformation.Stratigraphic evidence shows that an early deformation was pre-middle Triassic in the Chichibu Terrain but northwards in the Sambagawa terrain it may have continued until early Cretaceous in relation to minor scale subduction within the marginal basin. A late Cretaceous phase of deformation produced the greatest crustal shortening in the microcontinent area of the Kurosegawa Tectonic Zone and was nearly contemporaneous with the intrusion of granitic rocks in the Ryoke Zone Younger secondary eugeosynclines were developed by progressive encroachment on the arc—trench gap south of the Kurosegawa zone from late Permian times onwards.     

Kurosegawa Terrane as a Transform Fault Zone in Southwest Japan

The Kurosegawa Terrane intervening in the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous accretionary complexes along the Pacific side of the SW Japanese Islands is a serpentinite mélange zone. It contains various kinds of exotic rocks, for example, granitoids, metamorphic rocks, Siluro-Devonian deposits and is intimately associated with Cretaceous forearc basin deposits. The terrane is regarded as a key to clarify the Mesozoic geotectonic history of the western circum-Pacific orogenic belts. The current model, in which the formation of the Kurosegawa Terrane is attributed to nappe-movement or sinistral strike-slip faulting, can explain neither the mode of occurrence of the Kurosegawa Terrane we observed in eastern Kii Peninsula nor the array of evidence obtained from the Ryoke Terrane southward to the Shimanto Terrane. We suggest a new hypothesis in which the Kurosegawa Terrane was a transform fault zone that originated because of oceanic ridge subduction along the southern margin of the coeval accretionary prism (Butsuzo T.L.) in the late Early Cretaceous. Our model is mainly based on new geological evidence from the Kurosegawa Terrane in eastern Kii Peninsula where the deepest erosion level is exposed due to neotectonic uplift.     

Subdivision of the hida metamorphic complex, central Japan, and its bearing on the geology of the Far East in pre-Sea of Japan time

Petrological and structural characteristics of the regional metamorphic rocks in south-west Japan and in the Korean Peninsula make it possible to speculate on the geological correlation between Japan and the Asian continent prior to the opening of the Sea of Japan, a typical marginal sea. The Hida metamorphic complex, situated on the Sea of Japan side of southwest Japan, is subdivided into two distinct geological units, the Hida gneisses and the Unazuki schists. The Hida gneisses are polymetamorphosed Precambrian rocks, while the Unazuki schists occurring on its eastern and southern sides are low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks originating from Upper Paleozoic deposits. Sedimentary facies and other geological features suggest that the Hida gneisses were the basemen of the Unazuki schists. Consequently, the geotectonic framework of southwest Japan is revised from north to south as follows: Hida gneiss region (Precambrian massif) Unazuki zone (late Permian intermed. metamorphic belt) Circum-Hida tectonic zone (Mid- to Late Paleozoic melange zone) Mino-Tanba terrain (Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic geosynclinal region) and so on.The Unazuki zone is similar to the Okcheon zone in the Korean Peninsula in respect of age, lithology and biofacies of sedimentary rocks as well as the age and type of regional metamorphism. Furthermore, the Hida gneisses and the Gyeonggi polymetamorphosed Precambrian gneisses in the Korean Peninsula are similar in the apparent baric type of metamorphism, radiometric ages and the relationship with the overlying metamorphosed formations. The similarity of the geotectonic frameworks of southwest Japan and the Korean Peninsula suggests that the Unazuki zone and the Okcheon zone once formed a continuous geotectonic unit. Thus we have a new geological coordinate in reconstructing the paleogeography prior to the opening of the Sea of Japan.     

Magmatic and metamorphic evolution of the Shotur Kuh metamorphic complex (Central Iran)

Metamorphic basement rocks, that are exposed beneath the very low-grade to unmetamorphosed Upper Jurassic-Eocene formations north of the Torud fault zone within the Great Kavir Block, were investigated to elucidate the origin of their protoliths and the pressure and temperature conditions of metamorphism. The basement, previously assumed as a pre-Cambrian metamorphic complex, is mostly formed by amphibolite-facies orthogneisses (tonalite, granodiorite, and granite) with amphibolites and small amounts of metasediment-micaschists. Major- and trace-element geochemistry in combination with U–Pb age dating of zircon showed that the protoliths formed during Late Neoproterozoic continental arc magmatism that has also been identified in other tectonic blocks of Central Iran. In addition to quartz, feldspar(s), micas in orthogneisses, and amphibole + plagioclase in amphibolite, all rocks may contain garnet that shows prograde zoning. Kyanite was found only in some Al-rich amphibolite together with gedrite. The PT conditions of the rocks, based on conventional geothermobarometry and the pseudosection method, show a medium-pressure amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Ar–Ar age dating of muscovite reveals that this metamorphism occurred in the Middle Jurassic (166 Ma) and related to the closure of the Neotethyan basin.     

Structural and geochronological relationships of metamorphic soles of eastern Mediterrranean ophiolites to surrounding units: indicators of intra‐oceanic subduction and emplacement

This paper is a synthesis of structural and geochronological data from eastern Mediterranean ophiolitic metamorphic rocks and surrounding units to interpret the intra‐oceanic subduction and ophiolite emplacement mechanism.

Metamorphic rocks occur as discontinuous tectonic slices at the base of the ophiolites, generally between the peridotite tectonites and volcanic‐sedimentary units, and locally in fault zones in the overlying peridotites. They consist essentially of amphibolite, and in lesser quantities, micaschist, quartzite, epidotite and marble.

Geological and geochronological data indicate that recrystallization of the metamorphic rocks occurred in the oceanic environment. The contact between the metamorphic rocks and the hanging‐wall is parallel to the foliation of the metamorphic rocks, and is interpreted as the fossil plane of intra‐oceanic subduction. Structural relationships suggest that intra‐oceanic subduction was situated between two lithospheric blocks separated by an oceanic fracture zone. Therefore the Neotethyan ophiolites with metamorphic soles represent the remnants of the overriding oceanic lithosphere's training slices of the metamorphic rocks at the base.

In the Anatolian region, radiometric dating of metamorphic rocks from the Taurus and Izmir‐Ankara‐Erzincan zone ophiolites yield nearly identical ages. Besides, palaeontological and structural data indicate coeval opening and similar oceanic ridge orientation. Consequently it is highly probable that Taurus and Izmir‐Ankara‐Erzincan zone ophiolites represent fragments of the same oceanic lithosphere derived from a single spreading zone. Palaeontological data from underlying volcanic and sedimentary units point out that the opening of the Neotethyan ocean occurred during Late Permian‐Middle Triassic time in the Iranian‐Oman region, during Middle Triassic in Dinaro‐Hellenic area, and finally during Late Triassic in the Anatolian region.

Radiometric dating of the metamorphic rocks exhibit that the intra‐oceanic thrusting occurred during late Lower‐early Late Jurassic for Dinaro‐Hellenic ophiolites, late Lower‐early Late Cretaceous for Anatolian, Iranian and Oman ophiolites well before their obduction on the Gondwanian continent. Neotethyan ophiolites were obducted onto various sections of the Gondwanian continent from late Upper Jurassic to Palaeocene time, Dinaro‐Hellenic ophiolites during late Upper Jurassic‐early Lower Cretaceous onto the Adriatic promontory, Anatolian, Iranian and Oman ophiolites from late Lower Cretaceous to Palaeocene onto the Aegean, Anatolian and Arabic promontories.     

龙江盆地西缘中侏罗统万宝组物源分析:来自碎屑锆石年代学和岩石地球化学的制约

龙江盆地是新厘定的松辽盆地外围中新生代盆地之一。有关该盆地中的沉积物特征及物源区大地构造背景是亟待解决的问题之一。通过对龙江盆地中侏罗统万宝组碎屑岩的砂岩碎屑组分、重矿物组合、岩石地球化学及锆石U-Pb年代学等进行研究,可以推测出物源的相关特征:(1)砂岩碎屑组分和重矿物组合反映了万宝组母岩以中酸性岩浆岩和中低级变质岩为主、含有少量中基性岩浆岩的特点;(2)地球化学特征显示,龙江盆地万宝组沉积物轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损,配分曲线表现出平缓的右倾模式,微量元素呈规律性变化,富集高场强元素(HFSE)Cs、Th、U,亏损Nb、P和Ti,具有与上地壳相似的地球化学特征;(3)碎屑锆石显示4组年龄峰值,主要峰值为167 5Ma,次要峰值为236 4Ma、309 1Ma和363 2Ma,反映了万宝组沉积物具有多物源的特点,母岩主要来自于中侏罗世火山岩,其次来自于晚泥盆世三叠纪的岩浆活动产物。综合分析认为,龙江盆地万宝组的物源具有长英质和中性火山岩特征,大部分来自于上地壳,原岩形成于活动大陆边缘背景下的大陆岛弧环境,中侏罗世沉积演化可能受到与古太平洋板块俯冲作用和蒙古鄂霍茨克缝合带演化双重作用的影响。该研究成果可为龙江盆地沉积演化分析和古地理环境恢复提供重要依据。