青藏高原狮泉河-拉果错-永珠-嘉黎蛇绿混杂岩带时空结构与构造演化

青藏高原中部狮泉河-拉果错-永珠-嘉黎蛇绿混杂岩带（简称SYMZ）位于班公湖-怒江缝合带与雅鲁藏布江缝合带之间,其构造属性存在很大争议,制约了对青藏高原多岛弧盆系构造演化的理解.根据新的地质调查资料、研究成果并结合分析数据,系统总结了该蛇绿混杂岩带的地质特征,讨论了其构造演化过程.一系列新资料及新认识表明SYMZ是分割北拉萨地块和中拉萨地块的一条独立的蛇绿混杂岩带,是特提斯构造域多岛弧盆系的组成部分.在狮泉河、拉果错、阿索、永珠、凯蒙等地发育比较典型的蛇绿岩组合,高精度年代学数据指示洋盆主体发育于178~160 Ma,比班公湖-怒江洋盆主体发育时限（188~162 Ma）要晚10 Ma左右,阿索一带蛇绿岩残片记录洋盆一直持续到113 Ma.SYMZ侏罗纪基性岩具有MORB型（洋中脊玄武岩）和IAT型（岛弧拉斑玄武岩）火山岩的地球化学性质,属于洋内弧型和洋中脊型蛇绿混杂岩;早白垩世基性岩具MORB和火山弧玄武岩的双重特性,指示其很可能形成于SSZ的构造环境,不同于同时期班公湖-怒江特提斯受地幔柱热点影响的洋盆性质.同时,在拉果错、永珠、凯蒙等地区识别出侏罗纪前弧玻安岩及玻玄岩系列,一致指示SYMZ洋壳发生过洋内俯冲.在此基础上,结合区域地质资料,构建了SYMZ特提斯洋的时空格架及构造演化历史,认为经历了晚三叠世-早侏罗世洋盆裂解-扩张、中-晚侏罗世洋内俯冲、早白垩世俯冲消减和早白垩世末期洋盆消亡四个阶段,为特提斯洋的构造演化及大地构造过程再造提供了重要的地质学证据.      

关于雅鲁藏布江缝合带(东段)的新认识

国内外不少地质学家大都将雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩带视为印度板块与亚洲板块之间的缝合带。但是,笔者等在喜玛拉雅造山带的东段即仁布-康马一线以东地区的研究却发现,在雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩带的南侧发育着一个宽大的增生杂岩体,它与雅江蛇绿岩是同一大洋即特提斯喜玛拉雅洋俯冲消减的产物,前者代表着特提斯喜玛拉雅洋消亡遗迹的主体,是印度板块与拉萨地块之间缝合带的主要组成部分;而后者代表的是俯冲带与拉萨地块之间的残余洋壳,它由北向南仰冲,构成日喀则-桑日弧前盆地前缘脊和南部基底,因而其不代表主缝合带。北喜玛拉雅增生杂岩体的发现改变了以Gansser(1964)为代表提出的喜玛拉雅造山带的构造模式,为重新审视印度板块与拉萨地块缝合作用过程提供了一个重要的地质制约和新的研究途径。     

藏北商旭金矿床的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

商旭金矿床处于班公湖—怒江缝合带中段南侧,位于藏北双湖县境内,是班公湖—怒江缝合带已发现的一例造山型金矿。本文选择该矿床木嘎岗日群(J1-2M)的变质砂岩进行碎屑锆石U-Pb定年研究,以期获得碎屑沉积物物源区的丰富信息。随机选取114颗锆石进行分析,可知:(1)锆石颗粒大小在80~150μm之间,绝大多数锆石颗粒的Th/U比值0.4;(2)年龄分布范围在223~2 615 Ma之间,年龄峰值分别为280 Ma、451 Ma、908 Ma、1 900 Ma和2 430 Ma。将商旭矿区碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄谱图分别与拉萨地块、羌塘地块沉积岩的碎屑锆石年龄谱图对比分析,获得如下初步结论:该区的沉积物的最大沉积年龄为223 Ma,峰值为908 Ma的年龄群,可比于南羌塘沉积岩的碎屑锆石年龄峰值(~950 Ma),明显不同于拉萨地块沉积岩的碎屑锆石年龄峰值(~1 170 Ma)。综合分析表明,该区的沉积物可能为班公湖—怒江洋残余洋盆的产物,暗示班公湖—怒江洋壳在中生代存在北向俯冲。     

初论秦祁昆缝合系

中央造山带范围内的诸多新元古代晚期至早古生代蛇绿岩带可视为一个系统－昆祁秦缝合系。它大致可分西、中、东三段。西段包括库地－苏巴什和麻扎－康西瓦两条缝合带及西昆中微地块；中段包括阿尔金、北祁连、柴达木北缘、祁漫塔格－乌妥、及东昆仑南缘5条缝合带和中－南祁连、柴达木、阿牙克库木及玛沁4个较大的微地块及诸多较小的微地块；东段为商丹缝合带和勉略缝合带及其所夹持的秦中－大别微地块。昆祁秦缝合系是Rodinia超大陆经历了早－中震旦纪（约780－600Ma)初期裂解阶段、晚震旦世－奥陶纪（约600－440Ma）昆祁秦多岛洋阶段、晚奥陶世－早志留纪（约440－400Ma)昆祁秦多岛洋闭合阶段，形成的一个包含若干条缝合带和若干个微地块的体系，是中央造山带的基础。     

西藏改则洞错地区白垩纪火山岩锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素组成及对班公-怒江洋俯冲闭合的制约

班公湖—怒江缝合带是青藏高原内一条重要的缝合带,其俯冲极性和闭合时限一直存在着争议,这无疑限制了我们对青藏高原演化历史的认识。本文对仲岗安山玄武岩和一套新发现的晚白垩世安山岩进行研究,获得了其锆石U-Pb年龄分别为123.75±0.92 Ma和74.23±0.76 Ma。仲岗安山玄武岩锆石的ε_(Hf)(t)值为-7.3~+4.4,具有岛弧玄武岩特征,指示班公湖—怒江洋盆在该地区仍然继续向北俯冲;晚白垩世安山岩锆石的ε_(Hf)(t)值为+3.1~+11.1,其可能是亏损地幔混熔了部分的陆壳物质而形成的,且不整合在蛇绿岩之上。结合区域资料本文认为班公湖—怒江洋盆在改则地区的闭合时限在100~75 Ma之间。     

南天山—北山—索伦—长春缝合带的性质与演化

南天山—北山—索伦—长春缝合带作为古亚洲洋的最终闭合位置,其形成与演化特征一直以来都是中亚造山带相关研究的焦点与热点问题。对于该缝合带形成时代以及俯冲极性等方面的研究,有利于揭示中亚造山带的增生与演化历史,为古亚洲洋构造演化模型的建立提供理论支持。笔者等依据南天山—北山—索伦—长春缝合带内的大地构造背景、构造岩石组成、闭合方式和闭合时代的差异,自西向东将其分为4段：① 南天山缝合带位于缝合带西段,形成于塔里木板块向北俯冲与哈萨克斯坦—伊犁地块发生拼贴的过程中,根据高压变质年龄、钉合岩体以及不整合盖层等证据来综合分析,其闭合时代应为晚石炭世;② 北山缝合带位于缝合带中段,形成于敦煌地块和阿拉善地块向北俯冲与北部图瓦—蒙古板块发生拼贴的过程中,根据带内蛇绿岩的年代学证据限定其闭合时代应为早—中二叠世。阿拉善地块北缘的两条蛇绿岩带作为北山缝合带与索伦—长春缝合带之间的连接带,分别代表了古亚洲洋在该区域闭合时形成的缝合带和弧后盆地,其形成时代应当为中二叠世—晚二叠世早期;③ 索伦—长春缝合带位于缝合带中—东段,古亚洲洋在该地区同时发生了南北两侧的双向俯冲,两侧地块在中二叠世—早三叠世完成拼贴;④长春—延吉缝合带形成于中三叠世前后华北板块与佳木斯—兴凯地块的俯冲增生过程中,其较西侧索伦—长春缝合带的形成时间（270~250 Ma）晚20~30 Ma。因此长春—延吉缝合带与索伦—长春缝合带的形成时代与构造背景存在显著的差异,不属于其东延部分。在上述分析基础上,笔者等认为古亚洲洋沿南天山—北山—索伦—长春缝合带自西向东发生了4个阶段的演化过程,闭合时代自西向东逐渐变年轻,整个过程从晚石炭世一直持续到了三叠世,其中长春—延吉缝合带记录了古亚洲洋和古太平洋构造域叠加与转换的地质过程。     

西藏西部与班公湖特提斯洋盆俯冲相关的火成岩年代学和地球化学

对青藏高原西北部班公湖缝合带开展了野外地质调查,初步查明区内缝合带至少包含日土和狮泉河-改则两条蛇绿岩带。在两条蛇绿岩带北侧发现各有两期岛弧型岩浆岩发育,且形成时间严格对应。岩石地球化学分析表明,班公湖缝合带岛弧型岩浆岩的共同特征是富集大离子不相容元素Rb、Th、K和Pb;强烈亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta和Ti;Ba在微量元素蛛网图中总是相对亏损,这些特征说明班公湖地区存在两条俯冲带。从演化序列看,俯冲初期岩石属中钾钙碱性系列,之后岛弧岩浆作用向高钾钙碱性系列演变。锆石U—PbLA—ICPMS定年结果表明,北面的日土俯冲带洋壳俯冲从辉长岩墙开始,时代为（165．5±1．9）Ma（MSWD=1．16）,在159Ma时岛弧岩浆作用规模增大,形成小型的花岗岩基;南面的狮泉河-改则俯冲带一开始俯冲（（166．4±2．0）Ma,MSWD=3．0）就有较大规模的石英闪长岩体侵入,之后岩浆作用减弱,到159．4Ma时只有一些小体积的花岗斑岩和闪长玢岩侵入。根据岛弧岩浆作用规模,认为班公湖中特提斯洋盆的俯冲一开始是以狮泉河俯冲带为主,之后狮泉河俯冲带的俯冲作用逐渐减弱。到晚侏罗世初（159Ma）北面的日土俯冲带成为洋壳俯冲的主体。鉴于两条岛弧火成岩带在空间配置上都位于由基性-超基性岩构成的蛇绿岩带北侧,地球化学上显示陆缘弧特征,因此,认为班公湖中特提斯洋盆应该是在中侏罗世晚期（约166Ma）沿日土和狮泉河两条俯冲带同时向北俯冲,构造属性上可能不是一个统一的大洋,而是包含了多个局限性洋盆。     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带西段洞错蛇绿岩中的辉长岩锆石U-Pb年代学及地质意义

洞错蛇绿岩位于班公湖-怒江缝合带西段阿里地区,前人对其空间展布、构造环境及成因有过一定的探讨,但研究程度薄弱.选择洞错蛇绿岩中的辉长岩为研究对象,对其开展详细的岩相学、地球化学、年代学等工作,解读洋盆的形成时间及构造环境.结果表明,辉长岩与N-MORB相比具有较高的Mg#,低K、Na、P和Ti的元素特征,亏损Hf、Zr、Nb等高场强元素（HFSE）,具有轻稀土亏损型配分模式,表明可能源于N-MORB型亏损地幔源区.地球化学元素研究表明辉长岩岩浆源自亏损的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩~30%部分熔融,可能形成于与洋内俯冲相关的岛弧或者弧前构造环境,属于SSZ型蛇绿岩.辉长岩锆石的U-Pb测年指示其结晶年龄为222±4.8 Ma（MSWD=0.5,n=28）,代表了辉长岩的形成年龄,佐证了洞错蛇绿岩形成于晚三叠世,表明班公湖-怒江特提斯洋盆从晚三叠世开始存在洋内俯冲消减地质作用.      

东昆仑阿尼玛卿地区古特提斯火山作用和板块构造体系

东昆仑阿尼玛卿蛇绿岩带标志古特提斯洋关闭后的板块缝合带。在该缝合带及周围识别出4套与洋盆扩张和俯冲作用有关的火山岩,由南至北,分别为洋底玄武岩、岛弧火山岩、弧后盆地玄武岩和后碰撞火山岩。板块构造体系说明洋壳俯冲极性从南向北。已有年代学证据表明:阿尼玛卿洋盆的开启时代至少可以早到晚石炭世(308Ma),洋盆关闭可能在早三叠世;岛弧火山岩的时代为晚二叠世(260Ma);弧后盆地火山岩的时代为早中三叠世;后碰撞火山岩的时代为晚三叠世。三叠纪沿缝合带及其北部形成了一系列巨大的左旋走滑断裂系,包括东昆仑南缘左旋走滑断裂(200~220Ma)、阿尔金断裂的早期走滑剪切断裂系(220~230Ma)以及南祁连南缘巨型左旋走滑断裂(240~250Ma)。认为它们形成于阿尼玛卿古特提斯洋的关闭和斜向碰撞作用,但主要在俯冲板块折返阶段或逆冲岩片的抬升阶段,其时也是后碰撞岩浆活动和火山喷发阶段。     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带--深部地球物理结构给出的启示

通过跨越缝合带的综合地球物理和地质调查研究，查明了地质上推测的“班公湖一怒江缝合带”的深部结构和构造，提出了下述观点：现有资料尚不足以证明，“班公湖一怒江缝合带”是严格意义上的缝合带，而趋向表明是一个老的弧后拉张区，在后来的印度大陆与拉萨地块碰撞挤压过程中，先是沉积了巨厚的第三纪地层，仅在20Ma(?)以来才转变成挤压体制，形成多条逆冲断裂；纳木错一申扎逆冲的蛇绿岩片带代表着侏罗纪洋的主要缝合带位置，在其闭合过程中洋壳与陆壳一起向北发生俯冲，并形成班戈岩带所代表的岩浆弧，在岩浆弧后出现了拉张区；下地壳向北挤压增厚，物理性质不同的上、下地壳之间相互运动而形成了一条缓倾的剪切片理化带，南北长达300km，命名为主羌塘逆冲断裂带(MQT)；并使班戈岩片整体向南逆推上去，致使地壳分层增厚；在拉张期伦坡拉小地块向下运动，20Ma以后转变成压缩体制后又开始向上逆推，再加上后期的剥蚀，致使班戈深成岩体出露于地表；唐古拉山、各拉丹冬等年轻的火山岩浆带与地表显示的构造活动无直接关系，推测应是地壳深层作用引起的构造岩浆活动的显示。     

Timing and mechanism of Bangong-Nujiang ophiolite emplacement in the Gerze area of central Tibet

The Bangong-Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ) separates the Lhasa terrane from the Qiangtang terrane and contains remnants of the Bangong-Nujiang oceanic lithosphere (ophiolites). Despite decades of research, when and how the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites were emplaced remains enigmatic. In the Gerze area (western segment of the BNSZ), the geochemistry and provenance discrimination of chromian spinels (Cr-spinels) from the pre-collisional subduction complex (Mugagangri Group) and syn-collisional peripheral foreland basin succession (Wuga Formation) can help us solve this fundamental problem in the BNSZ evolution. This study compares the geochemistry of Cr-spinels from the Mugagangri Group and Wuga Formation with those from the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites. Cr-spinels in the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites have either low TiO₂ (0.01–0.15%) and low Al₂O₃ (11.74–26.76%), indicating an SSZ peridotite origin, or high Al₂O₃ (45.28–49.15%), indicating a MORB peridotite origin. Cr-spinels from the ultramafic fragments within the Mugagangri Group have extremely low TiO₂ (<0.06%) and geochemically overlap with those from the Dong Co ophiolite, suggesting that these ultramafic fragments were sourced from the Dong Co ophiolite above the subduction zone rather than off-scrapped remnants from the subducting oceanic lithosphere. Compositional fingerprints of detrital Cr-spinels from the Wuga Formation indicate provenance either derived from the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites or recycled from the Mugagangri Group in the north, with minor input possibly from the Lhasa terrane in the south, consistent with the depositional pattern of a peripheral foreland basin. Provenance data reveals that the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites in the Gerze area had been emplaced and exposed to erosion during northward oceanic subduction prior to the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. Contrasting the Tethyan-type Yarlung-Zangbo ophiolites in southern Tibet, the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolites in central Tibet are Cordilleran-type in terms of emplacement mechanism, which were uplifted above sea-level by progressive growth of the subduction complex structurally beneath ophiolite. The emplacement of the Cordilleran-type ophiolites in the western segment of the BNSZ is divided into two stages: (1) intra-oceanic subduction initiation at ~177–179 Ma based mainly on zircon U-Pb dating of plagiogranite from the SSZ-type Laguo Co ophiolite; (2) accretionary emplacement of the ophiolites at ~151–168 Ma constrained by the depositional age of the Mugagangri subduction complex. Final closure of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethyan Ocean may convert the ophiolite emplacement mechanism from “accretionary” to “collisional” at ~150–152 Ma, evidenced by the first development of a peripheral foreland basin.     

Geodynamics of the divergent double subduction along the Bangong-Nujiang tethyan suture zone: Insights from late mesozoic intermediate-mafic rocks in central Tibet

Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone (BNSZ) in central Tibet plays an important role in evaluating the formation and uplift mechanism of Tibetan Plateau. However, its Mesozoic tectonic evolution is ambiguous and intensely debated. In this study, Early Cretacesous adakites and sodium-rich arc rocks are identified in Western Qiangtang (WQ) and Northern Lhasa (NL) sub-terranes. Forty-four adakite samples from both WQ and NL have akin geochemical features, and are derived from partial melting of subducted oceanic crust with amphibole residual. Nineteen sodium-rich samples originated from a mixed source region between crustal sediment and enriched lithospheric mantle. These two parallel arc belts separated by the Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone (BNSZ) represent the divergent double subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethyan Ocean (BNTO). Combined with the previous studies, our new data suggest three significant magmatic flare-ups at ∼240–140 Ma, 135–105 Ma and 92–60 Ma in the WQ and BNSZ, and two at 135–105 Ma and 92–60 Ma in the NL. These asymmetrical magmatic activities indicate that the southern subduction may have commenced at about 135 Ma and experienced slab breakoff at the latest Early Cretaceous, and the northern subduction could trace back to L-Triassic (228 Ma) and experienced episodic low-angle subduction, slab rollback (190-140 Ma) and oceanic ridge subduction (135-100 Ma). The 100–92 Ma magmatic gap, 92–60 Ma magmatic flare-up and L-Cretaceous angular unconformities indicate that the double-sided subduction of the BNTO resulted in soft collision with oceanic lithosphere detachment.     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带中段构造特征及成因模式新见解

雅鲁藏布江缝合带中的蛇绿岩在西藏南部不同地段,表现形式并不相同.通过对缝合带中段的构造特征及蛇绿岩组合特征的深入研究,认为印度板块的大陆地壳北缘具有特殊的波状弯曲的几何边界--东西两端为向北突出的犄角,构造结之间为向南突出的弧形边界.这种特殊的边界条件,在新特提斯洋俯冲碰撞过程中,新特提斯洋首先在突出结点处完成关闭,而...     

Early Cretaceous subduction initiation beneath southern Tibet caused the northward flight of India

Collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates formed the ～2500 km long Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone and produced the Himalaya mountains and Tibetan plateau.Here we offer a new explanation for tectonic events leading to this collision:that the northward flight of India was caused by an Early Cretaceous episode of subduction initiation on the southern margin of Tibet.Compiled data for ophiolites along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone show restricted ages between 120 Ma and 130 Ma,and their supra-subduction zone affinities are best explained by seafloor spreading in what became the forearc of a north-dipping subduction zone on the southern margin of Tibet.The subsequent evolution of this new subduction zone is revealed by integrating data for arcrelated igneous rocks of the Lhasa terrane and Xigaze forearc basin deposits.Strong slab pull from this new subduction zone triggered the rifting of India from East Gondwana in Early Cretaceous time and pulled it northward to collide with Tibet in Early Paleogene time.     

西藏南部过铝花岗岩的分布及其意义

本文从西藏南部过铝花岗岩的岩带划分、空间分布和岩浆活动的峰期、规模等方面，总结了西藏南部过铝花岗岩时空分布的基本特点和规律：过铝花岗岩岩浆活动始于早侏罗世，在中新世达到峰期，且主要集中在20～10Ma；岩石类型主要有电气石花岗岩、白云母花岗岩和二云母花岗岩；冈底斯带过铝花岗岩岩浆活动具有由东到西、由南向北的迁移活动规律；西藏南部过铝花岗岩的形成时代可划分为5期。     

Geochemical and zircon U–Pb age constraints on the origin of the Mesozoic Xigaze ophiolite,Yarlung Zangbo suture zone,SW China

The Mesozoic Xigaze ophiolite is a key to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone. Although many studies have been reported, the formation age and petrogenesis of the Xigaze ophiolite remain controversial. In this paper, new geochronological and geochemical data for mafic dikes (diabase, dolerite), lavas, and gabbros of the Xigaze ophiolite are provided to constrain the origin of the Xigaze ophiolite. Combined with previous studies, three new zircon U–Pb ages of samples from two gabbro and one dolerite samples show that the Xigaze ophiolite was produced at two distinct stages of 174–149 Ma and 137–123 Ma. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that these rocks exhibit N-MORB-like features, but the gabbros are more depleted in trace elements and belong to cumulates. Geochemical characters, combined with their positive ε_Nd(t) values (+3.2 to +9.6), suggest that these samples originated from depleted mantle sources with minor influence of slab-derived fluids. Considering the previous studies on the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, the Xigaze ophiolite was likely generated in an active continental margin fore-arc basin with a multistage model associated with the northward subduction of the Yarlung Zangbo Neo-Tethys Ocean beneath the Lhasa terrane. The Middle–Late Jurassic ophiolitic massifs (174–149 Ma) were produced as the result of slab rollback and were followed by subsequent slab break-off at ~ 150 Ma. The fore-arc lithosphere may be frozen at ~150–137 Ma, consistent with the termination of the Gangdese arc magmatism during this period. The Early Cretaceous ophiolitic massifs (137–123 Ma) were developed in relation to the reinitiation of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere subduction, the retreat of the subduction zone, and the creation of a fore-arc basin with strong hyperextension in a new cycle.     

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

Petrology,geochemistry and geochronology of the Zhongcang ophiolite,northern Tibet: implications for the evolution of the Bangong-Nujiang Ocean

Ophiolites are widespread along the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone, northern Tibet. However, it is still debated on the formation ages and tectonic evolution process of these ophiolites. The Zhongcang ophiolite is a typical ophiolite in the western part of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone. It is composed of serpentinized peridotite, cumulate and isotropic gabbros, massive and pillow basalts, basaltic volcanic breccia, and minor red chert. Zircon SHRIMP Ue Pb dating for the isotropic gabbro yielded weighted mean age of 163.4 ± 1.8 Ma. Positive zircon ε Hf(t) values(+15.0 to +20.2) and mantle-like σ~(18)O values(5.29 ±0.21)% indicate that the isotropic gabbros were derived from a long-term depleted mantle source. The isotropic gabbros have normal mid-ocean ridge basalt(N-MORB) like immobile element patterns with high Mg O, low TiO_2 and moderate rare earth element(REE) abundances, and negative Nb,Ti, Zr and Hf anomalies. Basalts show typical oceanic island basalt(OIB) geochemical features, and they are similar to those of OIB-type rocks of the Early Cretaceous Zhongcang oceanic plateau within the Bangong-Nujiang Ocean. Together with these data, we suggest that the Zhongcang ophiolite was probably formed by the subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Ocean during the Middle Jurassic. The subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethyan Ocean could begin in the Earlye Middle Jurassic and continue to the Early Cretaceous, and finally continental collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes at the west Bangong-Nujiang suture zone probably has taken place later than the Early Cretaceous(ca. 110 Ma).     

ACCRETION OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS INTRA- OCEANIC ISLAND ARC TO INDIA: EVIDENCE FROM THE YARLUNG ZANGBO SUTURE ZONE

ACCRETION OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS INTRA- OCEANIC ISLAND ARC TO INDIA: EVIDENCE FROM THE YARLUNG ZANGBO SUTURE ZONE     

Middle Jurassic—early Cretaceous radiolarian assemblages of the western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone: Implications for the evolution of the Neo-Tethys

Cherts in the Zhongba mélange of the western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) contain well preserved radiolarian assemblages. These radiolarian assemblages indicate that the Zhongba mélange has middle Jurassic–early Cretaceous remnant, are coeval with those from the central and eastern parts of the YZSZ. Cherts from the Najiu area yield Aalenian to Aptian radiolarians, while cherts interbedded with siliceous mudstones from the Bielongjiala area yield Aptian radiolarians, indicating that terrigenous-derived sediments were deposited during early Aptian. The above observations indicate that the entire YZSZ have a similar geochronological framework and thus they underwent similar geological evolution: (1) during the Jurassic, the Neo-Tethys was a wide ocean with pelagic sediments distal from continents; (2) during the Cretaceous (around 130–120 Ma), the Neo-Tethys started to subduct along the southern margin of the Lhasa block, and terrigenous-derived siliceous mudstone began deposition.