Geochemistry and spatial distribution of OIB and MORB in A’nyemaqen ophiolite zone: Evidence of Majixue-shan ancient ridge-centered hotspot

The mafic volcanic association is made up of OIB, E-MORB and N-MORB in the A'nyemaqen Paleozoic ophiolites. Compared with the same type rocks in the world, the mafic rocks generally display lower Nb/U and Ce/Pb ratios and some have Nb depletion and Pb enrichment. The OIB are LREE-enriched with (La/Yb)N =5―20, N-MORB are LREE-depleted with (La/Yb)N = 0.41―0.5. The OIB are featured by incompatible element enrichment and the N-MORB are obviously depleted with some metasomatic ef- fect, and E-MORB are geochemically intermediated. These rocks are distributed around the Majixue- shan OIB and gabbros in a thickness greater than a thousand meters and transitionally change along the ophiolite extension in a west-east direction, showing a symmetric distribution pattern as centered by the Majixueshan OIB, that is, from N-MORB, OIB and E-MORB association in the Dur'ngoi area to OIB in the Majixueshan area and then to N-MORB, OIB and E-MORB assemblage again in the Buqing- shan area. By consideration of the rock association, the rock spatial distribution and the thickness of the mafic rocks in the Majixueshan, coupled with the metasomatic relationship between the OIB and MORB sources, it can be argued that the Majixueshan probably corresponds to an ancient hotspot or an ocean island formed by mantle plume on the A'nyemaqeh ocean ridge, that is the ridge-centered hotspot, tectonically similar to the present-day Iceland hotspot.     

Geochemistry and spatial distribution of late-Paleozoic mafic volcanic rocks in the surrounding areas of the Gonghe Basin: Implications for Majixueshan triple-junction and east Paleotethyan archipelagic ocean

The late-Paleozoic mafic volcanic rocks occurring in the surrounding areas of the Gonghe basin are distributed in the A'nyêmaqên ophiolite zone, Zongwulong tectonic zone and Kuhai-Saishitang volcanic zone. The mafic volcanics in the A'nyêmaqên zone formed an ancient ridge-centered hotspot around the Majixueshan OIB, the Kuhai-Saishitang mafic rocks consist of E-MORB and continental rift basalts and the Zongwulong volcanic rocks are enriched N-MORB. The regionally low Nb/U and Ce/Pb ratios reflect the influence of the OIB material on the mafic magma source. From geochemistry, spatial distribution and tectonic relationship of the mafic rocks, an ancient triple-junction centered at the Majixueshan can be inferred. The existence of the Kuhai-Saishitang aulacogen may have provided a tectonic channel for the Majixueshan OIB materials metasomatizing the magma source for the Zongwulong rocks. The formation of the triple-junction and the rifting of the Zongwulong zone have separated the orogens and massifs in the region.     

Geology and geochemistry of the Bingdaban ophiolitic mélange in the boundary fault zone on the northern Central Tianshan Belt,and its tectonic implications

The properties and tectonic significance of the fault bound zone on the northern margin of the Central Tianshan belt are key issues to understand the tectonic framework and evolutionary history of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt. Based on the geological and geochemical studies in the Tianshan orogenic belt, it is suggested that the ophiolitic slices found in the Bingdaban area represent the remaining oceanic crust of the Early Paleozoic ocean between the Hazakstan and Zhungaer blocks. Mainly com-posed of basalts, gabbros and diabases, the ophiolites were overthrust onto the boundary fault be-tween the Northern Tianshan and Central Tianshan belts. The major element geochemistry is charac-terized by high TiO2 (1.50%-2.25%) and MgO (6.64%-9.35%), low K2O (0.06%-0.41%) and P2O5 (0.1%-0.2%), and Na2O>K2O as well. Low ΣREE and depletion in LREE indicate that the original magma was derived from a depleted mantle source. Compared with a primitive mantle, the geochemistry of the basalts from the Bingdaban area is featureded by depletion in Th, U, Nb, La, Ce and Pr, and unfrac-tionated in HFS elements. The ratios of Zr/Nb, Nb/La, Hf/Ta, Th/Yb and Hf/Th are similar to those of the typical N-MORB. It can be interpreted that the basalts in the Bingdaban area were derived from a de-pleted mantle source, and formed in a matured mid-oceanic ridge setting during the matured evolu-tionary stage of the Northern Tianshan ocean. In comparison with the basalts, the diabases from the Bingdaban area show higher contents of Al2O3, ∑REE and HFS elements as well as unfractionated incompatible elements except Cs, Rb and Ba, and about 10 times the values of the primitive mantle. Thus, the diabases are thought to be derived from a primitive mantle and similar to the typical E-MORB. The diabases also have slight Nb depletion accompanying no apparent Th enrichment compared with N-MORB. From studies of the regional geology and all above evidence, it can be suggested that the diabases from the Bingdaban area were formed in the mid-oceanic ridge of the Northern Tianshan ocean during the initial spreading stage.     

Geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic characteristics of the Mugouriwang Cenozoic volcanic rocks from Tibetan Plateau:Constraints on mantle source of the underplated basic magma

The Mugouriwang Cenozoic volcanic rocks exposed in the north Qiangtang Block of Tibetan Plateau are mainly composed of basalt and andesitic-basalt,both characterized by the lower SiO2 (51%―54%),high refractory elements (i.e. Mg,Cr,Ni) as well as the moderate enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to a slight depleted in Eu and high strength field elements (HFSE,i.e. Nb,Ta,Ti). Be-sides,the fairly low Sm/Yb value (3.07―4.35) could signify that the rocks should be derived directly from partial melting of the spinel lherzolite at the upper part of the asthenosphere. These rocks have radiogenic Sr and Pb (87Sr/86Sr = 0.705339 to 0.705667; 208Pb/204Pb = 38.8192 to 38.8937; 207Pb/204Pb = 15.6093 to 15.6245; 206Pb/204Pb = 18.6246 to 18.6383),and non-radiogenic Nd (143Nd/144Nd = 0.512604 to 0.512639; εNd = 0.02 to -0.66) in agreement with those values of the BSE mantle reservoir. The DUPAL anomaly of the rocks can be evidently attested by the △8/4Pb = 66.82 to 74.53 ,△7/4Pb = 9.88 to 11.42,△Sr>50,implying that the Mugouriwang volcanic rock is likely to be generated by partial melting of a Gondwana-bearing asthenospheric mantle ever matasomatised by the fluid from subduction zone. Depending on the previous study on the high-K calc-alkaline intermediate-felsic volcanics in the study area,this paper proposed that the fluids derived from the subducted Lhasa Block metasomatised the asthenosphere beneath the Qiangtang Block,and induced its partial melting,and then the melt under-plated the thickened Qiangtang lithosphere and caused the generation of the Cenozoic adakite-like felsic magmas in the Qiangtang region.     

Distribution and significance of C~_(40) alkanes in the extracts of Cretaceous source rocks from the Songliao Basin

Source rock extracts and crude oils from the Songliao Basin were analyzed by high-temperature gas chromatography (HTGC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HTGC-MS) and gas chromatography-isotope ratio-mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), for high molecular-weight alkanes. The distributions of n-alkanes in the Nenjiang Formation extracts are in the C14―C63 range; a bimodal distribution occurs in the C-21 and C21―40 regions. The C30―C37 n-alkanes are accompanied by C29―C35 hopanes, whereas the high molecular-weight C45―C47 n-alkanes co-occur with abundant isoalkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The high δ 13C values of the n-alkanes and the microscopic maceral compositions indicate a highly diversified organic source input for the Nenjiang Formation source rocks, ranging from aquatic plants, blue alge-bacteria, to land plant material. In contrast, n-alkanes in the rock extracts of the Qingshankou Formation are characterized by a single modal distribution, with relatively low abundances of C29―C35 hopanes, but high molecular-weight isoalkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The relatively low δ 13C values of C22―C44 n-alkanes and organic material compositions indicate that the source rocks in the Qingshankou Formation contain dominantly type I algal organic matter. The relative abundance of C 40 compounds in source rocks changes little at low maturity stage, but decreases drastically at higher maturity levels, with a concurrent reduction in the odd/even carbon predominance. In crude oils, in contrast, the relative abundance of C 40 compounds appears to relate closely with the oil source and oil viscosity.     

Geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks of the Sonakhan and Mahakoshal greenstone belts,Central India:Implications for paleoweathering,paleogeography and mechanisms of greenstone belt development

A comparative study of the Precambrian Sonakhan(SGB)and Mahakoshal(MGB)greenstones belts of Central India has been undertaken to decipher their provenance,paleoweathering,paleogeography,and tectonics.As compared to the Upper Continental Crust(UCC),the MGB samples are enriched while the SGB samples are depleted in mafic elements indicating the presence of mafic rocks in the source of the MGB.This is complemented by the Ni–Cr diagram.The REE concentrations,LREE fractionated patterns and negative Eu anomalies of the MGB and SGB samples indicate derivation of sediments from a highly fractionated granitic source.Since MGB samples also contain the geochemical signature of mafic rocks,it is,therefore proposed that the MGB clastic load were derived from two sources(mafic+felsic)with arc character.This is attested by Cr and Zr relationships,and LILE enrichment,and HFSE depletion.These features suggest that the SGB developed as autochthonous while the MGB developed as an allochthonous belt.The chemical alteration indices such as chemical index of alteration(CIA),plagioclase index of alteration(PIA),and index of compositional variability for MGB samples indicate that they were dominantly derived as the first cycle(with minor recycled)sediments from bimodal sources(dominantly continental arcs)by intense chemical weathering as compared to the SGB samples,which were derived from felsic sources(dominantly cratonic rocks),and partly by recycling through a low chemical weathering.The CIA and PIA values of the samples reveal a change in the climatic conditions from Late Archean to Late Paleoproterozoic.Such change is interpreted in terms of migration of the Indian plate from high latitudes in the Late Archean to lower latitudes during the Late Paleoproterozoic.This is consistent with the paleomagnetic data that placed India in the configuration of 2.45 Ga Ur and 1.78 Ga Columbia supercontinents.     

The Xiamaling oil shale generated through Rhodophyta over 800 Ma ago

A suit of oil shales, predominated by black argillaceous silicalite and finely laminated black-brown shale, has been discovered in a set of carbonaceous-siliceous mudstone formations (350 m in thickness) in the third member of Xiamaling Formation of the Upper Proterozoic Qingbaikou Series (900―873 MaBP), Xiahuayuan, Hebei Province, China. The oil shale, combustible with strong bitumen odour, has su- per-high TOC contents ranging from 21.4% to 22.9%, bitumen “A” contents from 0.58% to 0.88% and oil length from 5.29% to 10.57%. The ultrathin section observation of the shale and the identification of its kerogen demonstrate that its hydrocarbon-generative parent material is mainly benthonic Rhodophyta whose specific tetrasporangia are legible and abundant. It is rarely reported in the literature that such a hydrocarbon-generative parent material, composed mainly of Rhodophyta and with extraordinarily high contents of TOC and bitumen “A”, developed into a set of high-quality source rocks. The extracts of the oil shale are characteristic of richness in 17α(H)-diahopanes and n-alkyl tricyclic terpenoids but low in steranes. Such a biomarker feature is obviously different from that of the extracts from other Proterozoic marine carbonate source rocks of the studied area. Since the biological constitution of this oil shale is rather simple, it is clear that these biomarkers most likely represent to certain extent the specific mo- lecular constitutions of the benthonic Rhodophyta identified in the ultrathin sections of the samples. Studies on its lithologic association and depositional sequences suggest that this suit of the carbona- ceous-siliceous mudstone formation, which contains oil shales, was probably developed in an under- compensation deep-bay environment when a maximum transgression occurred during the formation of the third member of Xiamaling Formation. The high concentration of SiO2 in this organic-rich rock and the positive correlation between TOC and some trace elements such as P, Cu, Ni, W and Mo indicate that this suit of rocks was affected by activities of bottom thermal currents as deposited.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages and trace element geochemistry of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur''''ngoi diorite in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt, Qinghai, Western China and their geological implications

Timing of the intermediate-basic igneous rocks developed in the area of Kuhai-A'nyêmaqên along the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt is a controversial issue. This paper presents new zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating data for igneous zircons from the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur'ngoi diorite in the Kuhai-A'nyemaqen tectonic belt, which are 555±9 Ma and 493±6 Ma, respectively. The trace element geochemical features of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur'ngoi diorite are similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB) and island arc basalts (IAB), respectively. Thus, the Kuhai gabbro with the age of 555±9 Ma and OIB geochemical features is similar to the Yushigou oceanic ophiolite in the North Qilian orogen, whereas the Dur'ngoi diorite with the age of 493±6 Ma and IAB geochemical features is similar to the island arc volcanic rocks developed in the north Qaidam. The Late Neoproterozoic to Early Ordovician ophiolite complex in the area of Kuhai-A'nyêmaqên suggests that the southern margin of the "Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun" archipelagic ocean in this period was located in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt. Therefore, the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt in the early Paleozoic is not comparable to the Mianlüe tectonic belt in the Qinling orogenic belt.     

Lithological and Si–O–S isotope geochemistry: constraints on the origin and genetic environment of the selenium (Se)-rich siliceous rocks in Enshi,Hubei Province,China

Se-rich black rock series of the Middle and Late Permian system is widely distributed in Enshi Prefecture with an exposed area of 850 km~2,among which the unique Yutangba black rock series independent selenium deposit with industrial mining significance in the world is produced.However,the source and metallogenic mechanisms of Se are still controversial.In general,terrestrial weathering and submarine hydrothermal processes are the main source end members of Si and Se,and the related siliceous rocks record the deposition process of Si and Se from different sources.The study of lithofacies and paleogeography shows that western Hubei belongs to the near eastwest turn of the Yangzi platform in the Middle and Late Permian and becomes an inter-platform basin with nearly north-south direction.Therefore,the comparative study of the Yutangba deposit and the selenium-rich black rock series in the northern Shadi with high selenium content is expected to reveal the provenance evolution of the two sections in space,and further restrict the Se mineralization mechanism in the Enshi basin.From the element geochemistry study,the black rock series in two study areas may have formed in a transitional position of either the continental margin or continental slope,in the process of sedimentary,more terrigenous clastic materials entered.They are rich in lithophile elements V and Cr.δU 1.0,U/Th and V/(V+Ni) ratio indicate that the Se-rich strata of black rock series in the Enshi areas occurred in an anoxic reducing environment and formed in an environment between the ocean basin and the continental margin.From Si-O isotope geochemistry,the original Si source of the study area is thought to relate to a volcanic eruption,which leads to the enrichment of Si in the seawater.The determined values of S isotope in the black rock series of the two study areas both show the characteristics related to organic reduction/biogenic.     

Two types of the crust-mantle interaction in continental subduction zones

Plate subduction is an important mechanism for exchanging the mass and energy between the mantle and the crust,and the igneous rocks in subduction zones are the important carriers for studying the recycling of crustal materials and the crust-mantle interaction.This study presents a review of geochronology and geochemistry for postcollisional mafic igneous rocks from the Hong’an-Dabie-Sulu orogens and the southeastern edge of the North China Block.The available results indicate two types of the crust-mantle interaction in the continental subduction zone,which are represented by two types of mafic igneous rocks with distinct geochemical compositions.The first type of rocks exhibit arc-like trace element distribution patterns(i.e.enrichment of LILE,LREE and Pb,but depletion of HFSE)and enriched radiogenic Sr-Nd isotope compositions,whereas the second type of rocks show OIB-like trace element distribution patterns(i.e.enrichment of LILE and LREE,but no depletion of HFSE)and depleted radiogenic Sr-Nd isotope compositions.Both of them have variable zircon O isotope compositions,which are different from those of the normal mantle zircon,and contain residual crustal zircons.These geochemical features indicate that the two types of mafic igneous rocks were originated from the different natures of mantle sources.The mantle source for the second type of rocks would be generated by reaction of the overlying juvenile lithospheric mantle with felsic melts originated from previously subducted oceanic crust,whereas the mantle source for the first type of rocks would be generated by reaction of the overlying ancient lithospheric mantle of the North China Block with felsic melts from subsequently subducted continental crust of the South China Block.Therefore,there exist two types of the crust-mantle interaction in the continental subduction zone,and the postcollisional mafic igneous rocks provide petrological and geochemical records of the slab-mantle interactions in continental collision orogens.     

The geochemical characteristics,geochronology and tectonic significance of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Santanghu area in northeastern Xinjiang,China

The Santanghu area is located on the northeastern margin of the Junggar Basin,northern Xinjiang,Northwest China.The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in this area are widely distributed in Kaokesaiergaishan,Santanghu,Daheishan and Naomaohu districts,which are located to the north of the Kalameili Fault.These rocks,sourced from a cognate magma,consist of basic,intermediate,and acidic lavas,and pyroclastic rock.The basic volcanic rocks are enriched with large-ion lithophile elements(LILE),but are relatively depleted in high field strength elements(HFSE),and have an obvious negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomaly.They were most probably derived from a depleted mantle source,and during their ascent,these magmas were not contaminated by the crustal material as they underwent magma crystallization differentiation.Based on the Carboniferous volcanic assemblage and geochemical data,it is apparent that the early Carboniferous volcanism occurred in a subduction-related tectonic setting.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb analyses constrain the age of the andesite within the volcanic rocks as the early Carboniferous(328.9-331.3 Ma).Combined with the regional geological record,comprehensive analysis of the isotope geochronological data indicates that the subduction of the Junggar Ocean predates the early Carboniferous,and that the Santanghu island arc magmatism was induced by the subduction of the Junggar Ocean in the Carboniferous.     

Spatial distribution of surface rock fragment on hill-slopes in a small catchment in wind-water erosion crisscross region of the Loess Plateau

The cover and size distributions of surface rock fragment in hillslopes were investigated by using digital photographing and treating technique in a small catchment in wind-water erosion crisscross region of the Loess Plateau. The results indicated that the maximal cover of rock fragment was pre-sented at mid-position in steep hillslope. Rock fragment presented a general decreasing-trend along the hillslope in gentle hillslope. Rock fragment cover was positively related to gradient, rock fragment size decreased generally along the hillslope, and the size reduced with the gradient. The mean size of rock fragment was at a range of 6―20 mm in the steep hillslope, rock fragment size > 50 mm was rarely presented. The covers of rock fragment at different positions were markedly related to the quantities of rock fragment < 40 mm. The area of rock fragment of 2―50 mm accounted for 60% or more of the total area, dominating the distribution of rock fragment in the hillslopes.     

The fragment of Paleo-Tethys ophiolite from central Qiangtang, Tibet:Geochemical evidence of meta-basites in Guoganjianian

N-MORB-type metabasites are discovered in the Guoganjianian area, central Qiangtang, Tibet, which are mainly metagabbro with cumulate structure and metabasalt. The rocks are distributed nearly from west to east unconformably underlying the Wanghuling Group of upper Triassic. On the basis of geo- chemical analysis, we find that the content of SiO2 is 43.03%―53.42%, and TiO2 1%―2.67%, Al2O3 16.75%―21.52%, CaO 7.03%―11.13%, K2O 0.05%―0.38%; the REE pattern is slight depletion or flat, and the trace spider diagram is like that of N-MORB, so we consider that the metabasite was formed under the setting of mid-ocean ridge or adult back-arc basin, and it is the fragment of Paleo-Tethys ophiolite.     

Mantle plume:the dynamic setting of the origin of Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang,Shaanxi Province,Southern Qinling Block,China

The mafic dykes(dolerites) during the Early Paleozoic are widely spread in Langao-Ziyang,southern Qiling Block,and the investigation on these dykes are very important.Previous studies have mainly focused on the Silurian mafic dykes;however,research on the Earlier Paleozoic mafic dykes is relatively weak at present.Therefore,the overall understanding of the mantle source and genetic dynamic setting during the Early Paleozoic in this area is lacking.To study the accurate age and origin of the Early Paleozoic mafic dykes in Ziyang,southern Shaanxi Province,the mafic dykes from dabacunand Qinmingzhai were selected and the petrology,zircon U-Pb chronology,geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes were studied.Analysis indicates that the mafic dykes studied are mainly composed of dolerite,and they are the products of the Early Ordovician(475.8-480.7 Ma).Furthermore,the dolerites belong to alkaline rock series,and they are characterized by enrichment in LREE,Rb,Ba,Sr,Nb,(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i=0.7020-0.7050,ε_(Nd)(t)=3.0-4.0),εHf(t)=4.5-12.1,~(176)Hf/~(177)Hf=0.282681-0.282844.This suggests that the mafic dyke were derived from the partial melting of a depleted lithospheric mantle,and the genetic process is mainly controlled by the mantle plume based on the discussion of the genetic model.Furthermore,the genetic process experienced the separation and crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene at the same time,with little crustal contamination.     

Migration and enrichment of trace elements of Lower Palaeozoic carbonate rock strata in Beijing

Analyses of trace elements of the Lower Palaeozoic carbonate rock strata in Beijing show that the contents of As, Hg, F increase from primary carbonate rocks to weathered carbonate rocks and from primary carbonate rocks to the soil coexisting with carbonate rocks, but the distribution regularity of S is not obvious. In the whole weathered stages, the sorption of As is mainly affected by Fe2O3. In soil Fe2O3 is also the main affecting factor of Hg enrichment. The main existing forms of Hg in primary carbonate rocks should simply be physical adsorption, coprecipitation and false isomorphous form between surface of carbonate rock and Hg. In soil the enrichment of F has little relationship with sul-fides and Fe2O3. In primary carbonate rocks, F is mainly absorbed by sulfides and clay minerals, etc. Weathered samples have closer genetic relationships with primary carbonate rocks. This also implies that weathered carbonate rocks have the close existing forms to that of primary carbonate rocks. In primary carbonate rocks FeS2 and FeS are the main forms of S, and sulfides have fixation effect on some heavy metals, whereas in weathered carbonate rocks and soil the fixation effect is weakened.     

Geothermal and fluid flowing simulation of ore-forming antimony deposits in Xikuangshan

1 Introduction The Mid-Hunan Basin is located in the south mar- gin of the Ancient Island Arc of Dong’an-Xuefeng and the north part of the interarc basin of Hercynian- Indosinian in Hunan-Guangxi. The basement rock of the basin, which is mainly distributed along the mar- ginal area of the basin and some interior sub-uplifts, is composed of pre-Devonian epimetamorphic-clastic rocks in great thickness, and the cap rock of the basin are dominated by carbonate rock and clastic rocks of Paleo…     

Zircon SHRIMP geochronology and Nd-Pb isotopic characteristics of the meta-basalt in the central part of Tibetan Plateau’s Qiangtang region

A small-sized meta-basic rock system is discovered in Qilongwuru Gully of Central Qiangtang’s Shuanghu region and contains a meta-basalt and garnet-bearing plagioclase amphibolite.The zircon U/Pb age of this meta-basalt by SHRIMP analysis is463.3±4.7 Ma,suggesting that this lava formed in the Middle Ordovician,and is consistent with that of the meta-basic rocks in the Taoxing Lake and Guoganjianian Mountain ophiolite found in the Qiangtang plate.As this lava system bears similar geochemistry to N-MORB,it might be a component of ophiolite that represents the trail of the extinction of the Proto-Tethys,suggesting that the formation of Proto-Tethys oceanic basin in the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture zone could date as far back as to the Middle Ordovician.Isotopic geochemical analysis indicates that the magma source area consists of both depleted mantle(DM)and enriched mantle(EMII)end members and bears Dupal anomaly,similar to that of the Paleo-Tethys in the Neo-Tethys represented by the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone,the Paleo-Tethys represented by the Changning-Menglian suture zone,and the Paleo-Tethys in Sanjiang region.This suggests that they have inherited the attribute of the Proto-Tethys mantle domain,and the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture zone may be a representative of the northern boundary of Gondwana.     

Petrogenesis and dating of the Kangding complex,Sichuan Province

The Kangding group, also known as the Kangding complex, includes granulites, amphibolites, felsic gneisses and gneissic granites that are distributed along a belt from Kangding, Mianning to Panzhihua, in Sichuan Province. The complex has long been thought to represent the crystalline basement of the Yangtze block. On the basis of U-Pb and Pb-Pb whole rock ages[1,2] , and of similarities in metamorphic fa-cies and association of metamorphic rocks with typical Archean high grade terrains, t…     

The Permian seamount stratigraphic sequence in Chiang Mai,North Thailand and its tectogeographic significance

The widespread Permian carbonate strata outcropped in northwestern Thailand are considered as the evidence for the Late Paleozoic shallow Tethys. Our investigation, however, shows that basalt can be discovered usually under the Permian carbonate sequence in Chiang Mai-Fang area, northwestern Thailand. The basalt belongs to subalkalic basalt and potassic trachybasalt. They are characterized by high P and Ti in major elements, by high content, enriching LREE, lacking δEu anomaly in rare earth elements, and by enrichment of the large ion lithophile element (LILE) (K, Rb, Ba) and high field strength element (HFSE) (Nb, Ta, Zr) in trace elements, which can be compared with the characters of the oceanic island basalt in Three Rivers (Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nujiang River) area, southwestern China. Therefore, the Permian carbonate in the studied area was deposited on a sea-mount, rather than on a stable carbonate platform. The oceanic basin is correlated to the Late Paleozoic ocean represented by the Changning-Menglian Belt in southwestern China and they are a major basin of the Paleo-Tethyan Archipelagoes Ocean. The result indicates nonexistence of a Shan-Thai Block in the Late Paleozoic.     

The age and tectonic environment of the rhyolitic rocks on the western side of Wuyi Mountain,South China

During the geological survey of the metamorphic rocks in Xingning-Wuhua region on the western side of Wuyi Mountain, South China, we discovered the Neoproterozoic rhyolite and rhyolitic greywacke for the first time that outcrop in the Proterozoic metamorphic rocks near Jingnan Town of Xingning County, eastern Guangdong Province. A systematic research on petrology, geochemistry and geochronology of rhyolitic rocks was conducted to understand their tectonic setting and formation age. The Jingnan rhyolite is interbedded with a coeval greywacke, with a total thickness of 60 m; both rhyolite and greywacke display a similar folding and metamorphic pattern. Meta-rhyolite consists of groundmass and phenocrystals including sanidine, orthoclase, and quartz with distinct undulose extinction; the groundmass has been recrystallized into fine-grain feldspar, quartz and sericite aggregation. Meta-greywacke is composed of crystallinoclastic grains (sanidine, orthoclase, quartz and oligoclase) and clay groundmass. Zircon grains used for the SHRIMP U-Pb analysis are light brown-colored and euhedral or subeuhedral. Dating data suggest two age groups; eight grains of magmatype zircon with an idiomorphic form yield an age of 972±8 Ma, and the other seven weakly corroded grains of zircon with euhedral to subeuhedral shape construct an average age of 1097±11 Ma, which were captured from older rocks by an uplifting magma, implying that a late Mesoproterozoic basement exists in the Nanling region. In addition, one Paleoproterozoic age, 2035±11 Ma, is obtained from a rounded detrital zircon, indicating that a Paleoproterozoic thermal event took place in the South China. Geochemically, the Jingnan rhyolitic rocks are characterized by high K2O content, intermediate Al2O3 content, with the ACNK value 0.98―1.11, and belonging to high-K alkaline series. They are rich in ΣREE, Rb, Th and Ce, depleted in Ba, Sr, Eu, Ti, P and Nb-Ta, and with moderate negative Eu and Sr anomalies. These features indicate that the Jingnan volcanic rocks have an affinity of continental arc that is similar to those of acid volcanic rocks in the SE-China Coastal Region, in other words, a Neoproterozoic tectonomagma event might have taken place in the western Wuyi region, leading to an eruption of high-K calc-alkaline granitic magma.