Metamorphic zonations on presumably subducted lithospheric plates from Japan,California and the Alps

High-pressure blueschist-type mineral parageneses from the Sanbagawa belt of southwestern Japan, the Franciscan terrane of western California and the Sesia zone, Pennine and Helvetic realms of the central Alps may reflect metamorphic conditions attending lithospheric plate descent. The observed progressive metamorphic sequences seemingly have developed chiefly, but not exclusively within the confines of oceanic crust, and evidently mark the suture zones between pairs of convergent lithospheric plates. The downgoing slabs have developed relatively near-surface (1) zeolitized rocks and apparently at successively greater depths (2) pumpellyite-bearing rocks, (3) greenschists and/or blueschists, and (4) albite-amphibolites; eclogitic assemblages are characteristic of the highergrade environments. The sense of metamorphic progression (1)→(2)→(3)→(4) marks the direction of presumed lithospheric underflow. Profound pressure discontinuities revealed by mineral assemblage contrasts across the plate junctions indicate that the high-pressure terranes must have risen great distances subsequent to the blueschist-type recrystallization. This conclusion is supported in California and the Alps by the exposure of rocks interpreted as basal portions of the oceanic or continental crust+upper mantle in the overlying lithospheric slabs; such sections appear to have been dragged upwards adjacent to the plate junctions during the buoyant rise of the underlying and subducted blueschistic slabs subsequent to active plate convergence. The exposed widths of the high-pressure metamorphic belts roughly correlate with the depths of inferred crustal subduction now exhumed of 25–35 km or more.     

中国大陆构造及动力学若干问题的认识

中国(东亚)大陆受特提斯、古亚洲和太平洋构造体系的制约,具有复杂的地体构架和特殊的岩石圈结构。本文从地学前沿——大陆动力学的视野出发,围绕中国大陆构造及动力学四个方面的研究,总结已有的进展并提出新的思考:①中国大陆板块下的构造和整个地幔运动的构架:地震层析资料揭示西太平洋板片向西俯冲到东亚大陆之下,其倾角逐渐减小,最后近水平地插进400～600km深度的地幔过渡带中,成为箕状几何形态的超深俯冲板片。印度岩石圈板片超深俯冲至青藏高原之下～800km的深度,在喜马拉雅西构造结部位发生双向不对称深俯冲,印度岩石圈板片向东俯冲至东构造结东侧之下300～500km的深度。②中国大陆变质基底的再活化:中国大陆的大部分陆块未受显生宙以来构造、变质和岩浆事件的改造与激活,在冈瓦纳大陆北缘的印度陆块和阿拉伯陆块北缘还发育有形成于泛非期(530～470Ma)的造山带,其影响范围至高喜马拉雅、拉萨地体和三江地区。新生代的变质活化普遍出现在喜马拉雅、南迦巴瓦、拉萨地体和三江-缅甸地区,最新的变质年龄仅2～1Ma(南迦巴瓦)。③中国主要高压-超高压变质带的大地构造背景及深俯冲-折返机制:中国及邻区含榴辉岩的高压-超高压(HP/UHP)变质带有洋壳(深)俯冲和陆壳(深)俯冲之分。青藏高原中,大部分洋壳俯冲形成的高压/超高压变质带与原-古特提斯洋盆中诸多微陆块之间的小洋盆的汇聚碰撞有关,陆壳深俯冲作用有两种机制,它们分别是大陆块之间剪式碰撞和撕裂式岩石圈舌形板片的深俯冲。④中国大陆造山带的深部物质可经3类机制挤出,即深部地壳物质"牙膏式"挤出、侧向挤出和"挤压转换式"挤出。     

超高压变质带的全球分布及其大地构造意义

对全球28个超高压变质岩产地的地质对比研究发现,超高压变质带的发育,与弧-陆和陆-陆碰撞造山带关系密切。碰撞造山带多发育于活动的大陆边缘。在那里,冷的陆壳物质可以深俯冲到另一个相对稳定的未俯冲的板块之下,其深度可以超过90~120 km,在高压达>2.5 GPa和温度约600℃或更高条件下,导致超高压特征矿物如,柯石英、金刚石等的生成。在空间分布上,超高压变质带集中于欧亚大陆及其周缘,澳洲和北美目前尚未有报道。从时代上看,超高压变质带多出现于显生宙,前寒武纪只有晚元古代（泛非运动期）少数两例。说明以超高压变质带为特征的碰撞造山作用,是显生宙以来,陆壳增生达到一定的规模后,才出现的构造体制;Rodinia和Pangea古大陆的裂解,使地温梯度降低,从而有利于超高压变质带的生成。     

Channelized fluids in subducted continental crust: constraints from δD–δ18O of quartz and fluid inclusions in quartz veins from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project

Fluid inclusions hosted by quartz veins in high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure (HP-UHP) metamorphic rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) Project main drillhole have low, varied hydrogen isotopic compositions (δD?=??97‰ to??69‰). Quartz δ¹⁸O values range from??2.5‰ to 9.6‰; fluid inclusions hosted in quartz have correspondingly low δ¹⁸O values of??11.66‰ to 0.93‰ (T _h?=?171.2～318.8°C). The low δD and δ¹⁸O isotopic data indicate that protoliths of some CCSD HP-UHP metamorphic rocks reacted with meteoric water at high latitude near the surface before being subducted to great depth. In addition, the δ¹⁸O of the quartz veins and fluid inclusions vary greatly with the drillhole depth. Lower δ¹⁸O values occur at depths of ～900–1000 m and ～2700 m, whereas higher values characterize rocks at depths of about 1770 m and 4000 m, correlating roughly with those of wall-rock minerals. Given that the peak metamorphic temperature of the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic rocks was about 800°C or higher, much higher than the closure temperature of oxygen isotopes in quartz under wet conditions, such synchronous variations can be explained by re-equilibration. In contrast, δD values of fluid inclusions show a different relationship with depth. This is probably because oxygen is a major element of both fluids and silicates and is much more abundant in the quartz veins and silicate minerals than is hydrogen. The oxygen isotope composition of fluid inclusions is evidently more susceptible to late-stage re-equilibration with silicate minerals than is the hydrogen isotope composition. Therefore, different δD and δ¹⁸O patterns imply that dramatic fluid migration occurred, whereas the co-variation of oxygen isotopes in fluid inclusions, quartz veins, and wall-rock minerals can be better interpreted by re-equilibration during exhumation.

Quartz veins in the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic terrane are the product of high-Si fluids. Given that channelized fluid migration is much faster than pervasive flow, and that the veins formed through precipitation of quartz from high-Si fluids, the abundant veins indicate significant fluid mobilization and migration within this subducted continental slab. Many mineral reactions can produce high-Si fluids. For UHP metamorphic rocks, major dehydration during subduction occurred when pressure–temperature conditions exceeded the stability of lawsonite. In contrast, for low-temperature eclogites and other HP metamorphic rocks with peak metamorphic P–T conditions within the stability field of lawsonite, dehydration and associated high-Si fluid release may have occurred as hydrous minerals were destabilized at lower pressure during exhumation. Because subduction is a continuous process whereas only a minor fraction of the subducted slabs returns to the surface, dehydration during underflow is more prevalent than exhumation even in subducted continental crust, which is considerably drier than altered oceanic crust.     

Archean Regional Metamorphism of the Isua Supracrustal Belt,Southern West Greenland: Implications for a Driving Force for Archean Plate Tectonics

The Isua supracrustal belt (～3.8 Ga) constitutes the oldest accretionary complex in the world. Petrochemical and geothermobarometric studies of more than 1500 rock samples of the Isua belt have enabled us to estimate the extent of regional metamorphism, the petrotectonic environment, and the subduction-zone geothermal gradient in the Archean. The following line of evidence indicates progressive, prograde metamorphism from greenschist (Zone A) through albite-epidote-amphibolite (Zone B) to amphibolite facies (Zones C and D) in the northeastern part of the Isua supracrustal belt: (1) the systematic change of mineral paragenesis in metabasites and metapelites; (2) progressive change of the composition of major metamorphic minerals, including plagioclase, amphibole, chlorite, epidote, and garnet; (3) normal zoning of amphibole and garnet; and (4) the absence of relict minerals of high-grade amphibolitic metamorphism even in the lowest metamorphic zone. Metabasites of the Isua belt vary extremely in Mg#, causing a complex mineral paragenesis throughout the area. For example, a high FeO content of metabasites expands the stability field of hornblende to both lower and higher grades. The compositional and mineralogical characteristics above also indicate that the Isua supracrustal belt underwent a single regional metamorphic event, involving minor contact metamorphism and mylonitization; however, weak ocean-floor metamorphism and low-grade regional metamorphism during accretion cannot be ruled out.

Metamorphic pressures and temperatures are estimated to be 5–7 kbar from garnet-hornblende-plagioclase-quartz geobarometry and 380–550°C from garnet-biotite geothermometry in Zones B to D. These P-T estimates indicate an intermediate P/T ratio metamorphic facies series. Geological investigations and chronological constraints of the Isua metamorphic belt indicate that the regional metamorphism was related to the subduction of Archean lithosphere, and records a geothermal gradient for the Archean subduction zone that is much higher than geotherms for Phanerozoic subduction zones. The high geothermal gradient may have resulted from the young age of subducted lithosphere and high potential temperature of the mantle. The Archean high geothermal gradient led to melting of thick oceanic crust in a thin, descending oceanic plate, creating many huge granitic (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite [TTG]) batholiths. Slab melting changed the oceanic crust (density = 3.07) to denser garnet-bearing assemblages (density = 3.55), implying that TTG melt extraction provided a potential driving force for Archean plate tectonics.     

Alpine and Pacific styles of Phanerozoic mountain building: subduction-zone petrogenesis of continental crust

A broad continuum exists between two distinct end-member types of mountain building. Alpine-type orogenic belts develop during subduction of an ocean basin between two continental blocks, resulting in collision. They are characterized by an imbricate sequence of oceanward verging nappes; some Alpine belts exhibit superimposed late-stage backthrusting. Sediments are chiefly platform carbonates and siliciclastics, in some cases associated with minor amounts of bimodal volcanics; pre-existing granitic gneisses and related continental rocks constitute an autochthonous–parautochthonous basement. Metamorphism of deeply subducted portions of the orogen ranges from relatively high-pressure (HP) to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP). Calcalkaline volcanic–plutonic rocks are rare, and have peraluminous, S-type bulk compositions. In contrast, Pacific-type orogens develop within and landward from long-sustained oceanic subduction zones. They consist of an outboard oceanic trench–accretionary prism, and an inboard continental margin–island arc. The oceanic assemblage consists of first-cycle, in-part mélanged volcaniclastics, and minor but widespread cherts ± deep-water carbonates, intimately mixed with disaggregated ophiolites. The section recrystallized under HP conditions. Recumbent fold vergence is oceanward. A massive, slightly older to coeval calcalkaline arc is sited landward from the trench complex on the stable, non-subducted plate. It consists of abundant, dominantly intermediate, metaluminous, I-type volcanics resting on old crust; both assemblages are thrown into open folds, intruded by comagmatic I-type granitoids, and metamorphosed locally to regionally under high-T, low-P conditions. In the subduction channel of collisional and outboard Circumpacific terranes, combined extension above and subduction below allows buoyancy-driven ascent of ductile, thin-aspect ratio slices of HP–UHP complexes to midcrustal levels, where most closely approached neutral buoyancy; exposure of rising sheets caused by erosion and gravitational collapse results in moderate amounts of sedimentary debris because exhumed sialic slivers are of modest volume. At massive sialic buildups associated with convergent plate cuSPS (syntaxes), tectonic aneurysms may help transport HP–UHP complexes from mid- to upper-crustal levels. The closure of relatively small ocean basins that typify many intracratonic suture zones provides only limited production of intermediate and silicic melts, so volcanic–plutonic belts are poorly developed in Alpine orogens compared with Circumpacific convergent plate junctions. Generation of a calcalkaline arc mainly depends on volatile evolution at the depth of magma generation. Phase equilibrium studies show that, under typical subduction-zone P–T trajectories, clinoamphibole ± Ca–Al hydrous silicates constitute the major hydroxyl-bearing phases in deep-seated metamorphic rocks of MORB composition; other hydrous minerals are of minor abundance. Ca and Na clinoamphiboles dehydrate at pressures of above approximately 2 GPa, but low-temperature devolatilization may be delayed by pressure overstepping; thus metabasaltic blueschists and amphibolites expel H₂O at melt-generation depths, and commonly achieve stable eclogitic assemblages. Partly serpentinized mantle beneath the oceanic crust dehydrates at roughly comparable conditions. For reasonable subduction-zone geothermal gradients however, white micas ± biotites remain stable to pressures >3 GPa. Accordingly, attending descent to depths of >100 km, mica-rich quartzofeldspathic lithologies that constitute much of the continental crust fail to evolve substantial amounts of H₂O, and transform incompletely to stable eclogite-facies assemblages. Underflow of amphibolitized oceanic lithosphere thus generates most of the deep-seated volatile flux, and the consequent partial melting to produce the calcalkaline suite, along and above a subduction zone; where large volumes of micaceous intermediate and felsic crustal materials are carried down to great depths, volatile flux severely diminishes. Thus, continental collision in general does not produce a volcanic–plutonic arc whereas in contrast, the long-continued contemporaneous underflow of oceanic lithosphere does.     

Asymmetric dynamics at subduction zones derived from plate kinematic constraints

The lithospheric sinking along subduction zones is part of the mantle convection. Therefore, computing the volume of lithosphere recycled within the mantle by subducting slabs quantifies the equivalent amount of mantle that should be displaced, for the mass conservation criterion. The rate of subduction is constrained by the convergence rate between upper and lower plates and the motion of the subduction hinge H that may either converge or diverge relative to the upper plate. Here, starting from the analysis of the slab hinge kinematics, we evaluate the subduction rate at 31 subduction zones worldwide, useful to compute volumes of sinking lithosphere into the mantle. Our results show that ∼190 km³/yr and ∼88 km³/yr of lithospheric slabs are currently subducting below H-divergent and H-convergent subduction zones, respectively. We also propose supporting numerical models providing asymmetric volumes of the subducted lithosphere, using the subduction rate instead of plate convergence, as boundary condition. Furthermore, H-divergent subduction zones appear to be coincident with subductions having “westward”-directed slabs, whereas H-convergent subduction zones are mostly compatible with those that have “eastward-to-northeastward”-directed slabs. On the basis of this geographical polarity, our lithospheric volume estimation gives ∼214 km³/yr and ∼88 km³/yr of subducting lithosphere, respectively. This entails that W-directed subduction zones contribute more than twice in lithospheric sinking into the mantle with respect to E-to-NE-directed ones. In accordance with the conservation of mass principle, this volumetric asymmetry in the mantle suggests a displacement of ∼120 km³/yr of mantle material from west to east, providing a constraint for global asymmetric mantle convection.     

Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

Iranshahr blueschist: subduction of the inner Makran oceanic crust

The Makran accretionary prism in SE Iran and SW Pakistan is one of the most extensive subduction accretions on Earth. It is characterized by intense folding, thrust faulting and dislocation of the Cenozoic units that consist of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Rock units forming the northern Makran ophiolites are amalgamated as a mélange. Metamorphic rocks, including greenschist, amphibolite and blueschist, resulted from metamorphism of mafic rocks and serpentinites. In spite of the geodynamic significance of blueschist in this area, it has been rarely studied. Peak metamorphic phases of the northern Makran mafic blueschist in the Iranshahr area are glaucophane, phengite, quartz±omphacite+epidote. Post peak minerals are chlorite, albite and calcic amphibole. Blueschist facies metasedimentary rocks contain garnet, phengite, albite and epidote in the matrix and as inclusions in glaucophane. The calculated P–T pseudosection for a representative metabasic glaucophane schist yields peak pressure and temperature of 11.5–15 kbar at 400–510 °C. These rocks experienced retrograde metamorphism from blueschist to greenschist facies (350–450 °C and 7–8 kbar) during exhumation. A back arc basin was formed due to northward subduction of Neotethys under Eurasia (Lut block). Exhumation of the high‐pressure metamorphic rocks in northern Makran occurred contemporarily with subduction. Several reverse faults played an important role in exhumation of the ophiolitic and HP‐LT rocks. The presence of serpentinite shows the possible role of a serpentinite diapir for exhumation of the blueschist. A tectonic model is proposed here for metamorphism and exhumation of oceanic crust and accretionary sedimentary rocks of the Makran area. Vast accretion of subducted materials caused southward migration of the shore.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating from Sulu-Dabie dolomitic marble, eastern China: constraints on prograde, ultrahigh-pressure and retrograde metamorphic ages

Laser Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that zircon from Sulu‐Dabie dolomitic marbles is characterized by distinctive domains of inherited (detrital), prograde, ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) and retrograde metamorphic growths. The inherited zircon domains are dark‐luminescent in CL images and contain mineral inclusions of Qtz + Cal + Ap. The prograde metamorphic domains are white‐luminescent in CL images and preserve a quartz eclogite facies assemblage of Qtz + Dol + Grt + Omp + Phe + Ap, formed at 542–693 °C and 1.8–2.1 GPa. In contrast, the UHP metamorphic domains are grey‐luminescent in CL images, retain the UHP assemblage of Coe + Grt + Omp + Arg + Mgs + Ap, and record UHP conditions of 739–866 °C and >5.5 GPa. The outermost retrograde rims have dark‐luminescent CL images, and contain low‐P minerals such as calcite, related to the regional amphibolite facies retrogression. Laser ablation ICP‐MS trace‐element data show striking difference between the inherited cores of mostly magmatic origin and zircon domains grown in response to prograde, UHP and retrograde metamorphism. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating on these zoned zircon identified four discrete ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age groups: 1823–503 Ma is recorded in the inherited (detrital) zircon derived from various Proterozoic protoliths, the prograde domains record the quartz eclogite facies metamorphism at 254–239 Ma, the UHP growth domains occurred at 238–230 Ma, and the late amphibolite facies retrogressive overprint in the outermost rims was restricted to 218–206 Ma. Thus, Proterozoic continental materials of the Yangtze craton were subducted to 55–60 km depth during the Early Triassic and recrystallized at quartz eclogite facies conditions. Then these metamorphic rocks were further subducted to depths of 165–175 km in the Middle Triassic and experienced UHP metamorphism, and finally these UHP metamorphic rocks were exhumed to mid‐crustal levels (about 30 km) in the Late Triassic and overprinted by regional amphibolite facies metamorphism. The subduction and exhumation rates deduced from the SHRIMP data and metamorphic P–T conditions are 9–10 km Myr^?1 and 6.4 km Myr^?1, respectively, and these rapid subduction–exhumation rates may explain the obtained P–T–t path. Such a fast exhumation suggests that Sulu‐Dabie UHP rocks that returned towards crustal depths were driven by buoyant forces, caused as a consequence of slab breakoff at mantle depth.     

Geophysical profiling across the Sulu ultra-high-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern China

The largest ultra-high pressure metamorphic (UHPM) belt in the world is located along the Dabie–Sulu region, which tectonically belongs to the east part of the central orogenic belt of China. Integrated geophysical investigations of using deep seismic reflection, MT, and geothermal observations have been carried out in the Sulu area since 1997. The results of integrated interpretation suggest the existence of three features: (1) a rift beneath the Lianshui basin by the Jiashan–Xionshui fault; (2) a special crustal pattern, called the magmatic multi-arch structure occurs beneath the northern Sulu UHPM zone; and (3) a northwest-dipping regional thrust crosses the Sulu crust, representing the intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belts after collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. A magmatic multi-arch structure consists of some arched reflectors that occur in both the lower and the upper crust where arched reflectors coincide with granitoid plutons. The multi-arch structures are common in eastern China where many Mesozoic granitoid plutons of different scales occur. The crustal structures in the Sulu metamorphic belts resulted from intensive dynamic processes following the Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. The formation and exhumation of UHPM rocks followed the collision, and then intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Dabie–Sulu terranes took place in the early and middle Jurassic. In the late Jurassic, the Sulu lithosphere turned to an extensional regime, large-scale granitic intrusions occurred in eastern China; these likely resulted from lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric uplifting. The granitic intrusions came to a climax during the Cretaceous and were followed by rifting along existing faults in the early Eogene, resulting in many petroleum basins. The granitoid emplacement that generated the magmatic multi-arch structure and the rift were consequences of the lithospheric thinning process, and deep intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belt might partially contribute to the lithospheric thinning.     

大陆俯冲作用及青藏高原周缘造山带的崛起

青藏高原周缘造山带于新生代时崛起。周缘造山带中古老变质地体的折返与3种挤 出作用方式有关：喜马拉雅"逆冲－伸展"型挤出、祁连山"反向逆冲"型挤出和阿尔金"逆冲－转换"型挤出。据地质与地球物理综合研究推测,造山带的折返与周缘大陆岩石圈向内的俯冲作用有关：印度板块岩石圈向北俯冲至雅鲁藏布江缝合带下约 200 km处,西伯利亚板块往南低角度插入祁连山 40 km以下,塔里木地块沿阿尔金北缘边冲断层呈铲式往南俯冲于阿尔金山下100km处,扬子地块呈入体插入青藏高原东部中地壳下面。是否存在扬子地块往西运动及大陆俯冲作用尚待探究。     

负浮力是板块运动的驱动力吗?关于岩石断裂力学的讨论

本文从岩石断裂力学的角度,讨论了俯冲板块下拉牵引力(负浮力)作为板块运动初始驱动力的可能性。笔者总结已发表的岩石抗张强度的岩石力学实验结果,并和现在普遍认为的负浮力的数量级进行对比分析,结果表明大洋岩石圈上部岩石强度较低,仅有n×10 MPa。虽然随着温度和压力的增加岩石圈的强度不断增强,但是在板块俯冲的初始阶段,大洋岩石圈可能无法承受拖曳板块运动高达n×10² MPa的应力。此外,构造模拟、热开裂、疲劳断裂、俯冲挠曲、俯冲脱水以及熔融作用等地质现象的分析,也表明俯冲板块的负浮力作为板块运动初始驱动力是不符合客观事实的。     

Metacraton: Nature,genesis and behavior

In this paper, we show with examples that cratons involved in intercontinental collisions in a lower plate position are often affected by orogenic events, leading to the transformation of their margins. In some cases, craton interiors can also be shaped by intense collisional processes, leading to the generation of intracratonic orogenic belts. We propose to call these events “metacratonization” and the resulting lithospheric tract “metacraton”. Metacratons can appear similar to typical orogenic belts (i.e. active margin transformed by collisional processes) but are actually sharply different. Their main distinctive characteristics (not all are present in each metacraton) are: (1) absence of pre-collisional events; (2) absence of lithospheric thickening, high-pressure metamorphism being generated by subduction, leading to high gradient in strain and metamorphic intensity; (3) preservation of allochthonous pre-collisional oceanic terranes; (4) abundant post-collisional magmatism associated with shear zones but not with lithospheric thickening; (5) presence of high-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism associated with post-collisional magmatism; (6) intracontinental orogenic belts unrelated to subduction and oceanic basin closures. Reactivation of the rigid but fractured metacratonic lithosphere will cause doming, asthenospheric volcanism emplacement, and mineralizations due to repetitive mineral enrichments. This paper provides several geological cases exemplifying these different metacratonic features in Scandinavia, Sahara, Central Africa and elsewhere. A special focus is given to the Saharan Metacraton because it is where the term “metacraton” originated and it is a vastly expanded tract of continental crust (5,000,000 km²). Metacratonization is a common process in the Earth's history. Considering the metacraton concept in geological studies is crucial for understanding the behavior of cratons and their partial destruction.     

泥质岩脱水作用的高压差热实验研究

俯冲带变质脱水作用对俯冲带的流体形成、岩浆起源和演化起着重要的控制作用。泥质岩是俯冲板块表层沉积物的典型代表,本文以天然泥质岩为对象,成功运用高压差热分析(HP-DTA)方法对其在1．5-4．0GPa下的脱水温度进行了实验研究。结果表明,泥质岩的脱水温度与压力呈很好的负相关关系。通过与冷、热俯冲带地热梯度线比较,确定了泥质岩在俯冲带深部发生变质脱水作用的深度范围(75-145 km),为岛弧岩浆源区位置的解释提供了实验证据。     

Mineral Composition and Metamorphic P—T Conditions of the Eclogitic Rocks in the Eastern Dabie Mountains and Their Genetic Implication1

Abstract There are obvious differences in the mineral assemblage and metamorphic P—T conditions between the eclogites from the northern and southern parts of the eastern Dabie Mountains. Those from the northern part of the mountains are developed in Alpine peridotite and gneiss. They have a mineral assemblage of garnet+diopside with no quartz, and were formed at temperatures of 600 ° ?740 °C. Those from the southern part are developed in gneiss and marble. They consist of garnet+omphacite+less quartz and were metamorphosed at temperatures in the range of 650 ° ?8000 °C. These differences suggest that the former may be formed during the metamorphism of the deep subducted oceanic crust, whereas the latter may be genetically related to the subduction of the continental crust in this area.     

华北克拉通的形成以及早期板块构造

地球上最早的地壳岩石是高钠的花岗质(TTG)岩石,但是否有更老的洋壳存在过、以及陆壳是怎样形成的,涉及到地球动力学几乎所有的问题。其中板块构造是在什么时候开始的,就是个延续了数十年热度不减的前沿科学问题。流行的说法是板块构造始于新元古代,也有一些学者认为在新太古代就已经开始,或者认为自从地球上有了水的记录,就开始有板块构造。在众多的判别板块构造的标志中,蛇绿岩残片和古老的高压变质岩无疑是两个最具影响力的问题。前者可以确定有远古的古老洋壳存在过并成为缝合带中的残片,后者可以指示曾有地表的岩石单元被俯冲到深部,是俯冲、消减与碰撞的岩石学证据。本文在讨论和比较了太古宙绿岩带与蛇绿岩,以及早前寒武纪高温高压(HTHP)麻粒岩/高温—超高温(HT-UHT)麻粒岩与造山带高压变质带之后,认为尚不能作为板块构造的证据。本文还对华北的新太古代末的稳定大陆形成以及古元古代活动带的裂谷-俯冲-碰撞进行了论述。提出华北克拉通在新太古代末的绿岩带-高级区格局可能标志着热体制下有限的横向活动构造,微陆块被火山-沉积岩系焊接,随后发生变质作用和花岗岩化,完成稳定大陆的克拉通化过程。其构造机制可能是适度规模且多发的地幔柱构造控制下小尺度的横向构造运动的机制。华北克拉通的古元古代活动带有与绿岩带-高级区不同的构造样式,表壳岩带状分布,经受了强烈的变形以及中级变质作用,伴随花岗岩的侵入,虽然没有蛇绿岩和高压变质带,但已表现出板块构造的雏形特征。     

Dehydration and anatexis of UHP metagranite during continental collision in the Sulu orogen

Dehydration and anatexis of ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks during continental collision are two key processes that have great bearing on the physicochemical properties of deeply subducted continental crust at mantle depths. Determining the time and P–T conditions at which such events take place is needed to understand subduction‐zone tectonism. A combined petrological and zirconological study of UHP metagranite from the Sulu orogen reveals differential behaviours of dehydration and anatexis between two samples from the same UHP slice. The zircon mantle domains in one sample record eclogite facies dehydration metamorphism at 236 ± 5 Ma during subduction, exhibiting low REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns without negative Eu anomalies, low Th, Nb and Ta contents, low temperatures of 651–750 °C and inclusions of quartz, apatite and jadeite. A second mantle domain records high‐T anatexis at 223 ± 3 Ma during exhumation, showing high REE contents, steeper MREE–HREE patterns with marked negative Eu anomalies, high Hf, Nb, Ta, Th and U contents, high temperatures of 698–879 °C and multiphase solid inclusions of albite + muscovite + quartz. In contrast, in a second sample, one zircon mantle domain records limited hydration anatexis at 237 ± 3 Ma during subduction, exhibiting high REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns with marked negative Eu anomalies, high Hf, Nb, Ta, Th and U contents, medium temperatures of 601–717 °C and multiphase solid inclusions of albite + muscovite + hydrohalite. A second mantle domain in this sample records a low‐T dehydration metamorphism throughout the whole continental collision in the Triassic, showing low REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns with weakly negative Eu anomalies, low Th, Nb and Ta contents, low temperatures of 524–669 °C and anhydrite + gas inclusions. Garnet, phengite and allanite/epidote in these two samples also exhibit different variations in texture and major‐trace element compositions, in accordance with the zircon records. The distinct P–T–t paths for these two samples suggest separate processes of dehydration and anatexis, which are ascribed to the different geothermal gradients at different positions inside the same crustal slice during continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. Therefore, the subducting continental crust underwent variable extents of dehydration and anatexis in response to the change in subduction‐zone P–T conditions.     

Orogens and slabs vs. their direction of subduction

Subduction zones appear primarily controlled by the polarity of their direction, i.e., W-directed or E- to NNE-directed, probably due to the westward drift of the lithosphere relative to the asthenosphere. The decollement planes behave differently in the two end-members. In the W-directed subduction zone, the decollement of the plate to the east is warped and subducted, whereas in the E- to NNE-directed, it is ramping upward at the surface. There are W-directed subduction zones that work also in absence of active convergence like the Carpathians or the Apennines. W-directed subduction zones have shorter life (30–40 Ma) than E- or NE-directed subduction zones (even longer than 100 Ma). The different decollements in the two end-members of subduction should control different PTt paths and, therefore, generate variable metamorphic assemblages in the associated accretionary wedges and orogens. These asymmetries also determine different topographic and structural evolutions that are marked by low topography and a fast `eastward' migrating structural wave along W-directed subduction zones, whereas the topography and the structure are rapidly growing upward and expanding laterally along the opposite subduction zones. The magmatic pair calc-alkaline and alkaline–tholeiitic volcanic products of the island arc and the back-arc basin characterise the W-directed subduction zones. Magmatic rocks associated with E- or NE-directed subduction zones have higher abundances of incompatible elements, and mainly consist of calc-alkaline–shoshonitic suites, with large volumes of batholithic intrusions and porphyry copper ore deposits. The subduction zones surrounding the Adriatic plate in the central Mediterranean confirm the differences among subduction zones as primarily controlled by the geographic polarity of the main direction of the slab. The western margin of the Adriatic plate contemporaneously overridden and underthrust Europe toward the `west' to generate, respectively, the Alps and the Apennines, while the eastern margin subducted under the Dinarides–Hellenides. These belts confirm the characters of the end-members of subduction zones as a function of their geographic polarity similarly to the Pacific subduction zones.     

21世纪最初十年变质岩石学研究进展

21世纪以来变质岩石学发展迅猛.对大型俯冲带和造山带综合数值模拟研究,所得到的变质作用p-T-t与以往一维热模拟结果很不相同;利用内部一致性热力学数据库,进行变质相平衡的定量研究,改变了人们对变质反应和相平衡关系的理解,开辟了定量研究变质作用的新阶段;超高压变质作用的深入研究,发现了更多超高压变质作用的标志及地体,指示陆壳俯冲深度可能达300～350 km,并对地壳岩石深俯冲的机理及变质作用演化进行了进一步探讨;对麻粒岩尤其是高压和超高温麻粒岩的研究,进一步了解了麻粒岩相条件下的深熔作用与熔体演化机理,为认识早前寒武纪的板块作用与造山过程提供了新的窗口;利用多种方法对俯冲带变质流体的研究,为深刻认识俯冲带的岩浆作用及地幔演化提供了更为广阔的视野.