合肥盆地东部中-新生代的演化及其对郯庐断裂带活动的响应

合肥盆地的沉积作用与其东缘的郯庐断裂带演化有着良好的耦合关系。侏罗纪盆地发育主要受大别造山带演化控制,东部可见对同造山期郯庐断裂带左旋转换走滑的沉积响应。盆地内朱巷组的沉积是对早白垩世早期郯庐断裂再次发生陆内左行平移的响应,该时期成盆模式为一走滑—挠曲盆地。盆地内上白垩统—古近系的形成是对这期间郯庐断裂带伸展活动的响应,盆地具区域性伸展(双向伸展)的特征。盆地东部自新近纪以来的抬升、消亡与东缘反转构造的存在,指示了郯庐断裂带的逆冲活动。盆地东部的沉积记录结合近年来郯庐断裂带内部构造与同位素年代学的最新研究成果,指示该断裂带中-新生代经历了4个演化阶段:同造山期的左旋转换走滑、早白垩世早期的陆内左行平移、晚白垩世—古近纪的伸展运动和新近纪以来的逆冲活动。     

合肥盆地中新生代三维埋藏史分析

在合肥盆地地震资料的基础上,求得现今盆地内部中新生代各个地层的厚度分布。并通过回剥技术模拟盆地埋藏史,获得合肥盆地中生代以来三维演化历史。结果显示中生代以来,合肥盆地沉积地层最厚超过万米,中上侏罗统为主要沉积地层;三维埋藏史揭示合肥盆地的中新生代沉积演化历史受大别造山带和郯庐断裂带的共同控制,盆地沉积中心的迁移与大别造山带和郯庐断裂的活动密切相关。     

大别高压—超高压变质岩剥露历史在合肥盆地的记录

位于大别造山带北部的合肥盆地,其中的沉积是造山带剥露历史的重要记录。自生伊利石K—Ar测年,证实了合肥盆地中部安参1井自上而下钻遇了下白垩统,上、中、下侏罗统,下二叠统和上石炭统地层,下伏为奥陶系。中生界砂岩碎屑组分分析,表明其源区为大别造山带。安参1井内下二叠统砂岩不含造山带来源的碎屑多硅白云母。自下侏罗统至下白垩统,钻遇的砂岩中连续出现了丰富的碎屑多硅白云母(Si>3．3)。这不但指示大别造山带是合肥盆地的主要物源区,也限定了大别高压—超高压变质岩在早侏罗世早期就已经剥露地表．继而连续出露。     

前陆沉积与变形对郯庐断裂带同造山运动的制约

郯庐断裂带两侧的前陆沉积及其变形现象,揭示了该断裂带同造山活动的大量信息。合肥盆地东侧的郯庐断裂带旁,侏罗系沉积时出现了沉降中心与边缘相,显示这期间郯庐断裂带所处的张八岭隆起已移位至盆地东侧。砂岩的端元组份分析与碎屑白云母的电子探针分析显示,下扬子地区弧形展布的黄马青群与象山群前陆沉积的物源区为大别——苏鲁造山带,属于原地沉积,表明造山期郯庐断裂带已经出现。大别与苏鲁造山带周边都出现了强烈的前陆褶皱冲断带。合肥盆地前侏罗系基底上印支期的逆冲断层,在郯庐断裂带旁侧明显增多,指示该断裂带曾发生过同造山活动。下扬子地区前陆构造走向向郯庐断裂带方向偏转,反映它们形成时受到了郯庐断裂带左旋走滑运动的影响。这一系列前陆沉积与变形特征,指示郯庐断裂带在华北与华南板块的碰撞造山中以陆内变换断层的型式出现。该断裂带造山期运动中,东盘为主动盘,并发生了显著的逆时针旋转。独特的徐宿弧形逆冲——推覆构造,表明造山期郯庐断裂带左行平移幅度达350km。在该断裂带早白垩世的第二次平移中,断裂带向北延伸,又发生了约200km的左行平移。     

合肥盆地南部侏罗系砂岩碎屑组分及其物源构造属性

根据侏罗系砂岩碎屑的岩矿组成及主元素地球化学分析, 认为合肥盆地南部侏罗系物源主要来自大别造山带, 具有明显的陆壳岛弧混杂属性。主要物源类型经历了下—中侏罗统的 “再旋回造山带”类型向上侏罗统 “弧造山带”类型的复杂演变, 期间中侏罗世特别是相当于凤凰台组时期由于强烈的剥离作用, 大别造山带切割的 （ｄｉｓｓｅｃｔｅｄ） 岩浆弧物源已有所暴露。据古地理恢复, 推断侏罗纪合肥盆地南部沉积演化曾受控于挤压动力体制, 极可能与扬子板块进一步陆内俯冲作用有关     

大别-郯庐-苏鲁造山带复合旋转拼贴作用

郯庐断裂带的成生演化与含超高压变质带(UHP)的大别及苏鲁造山带存在较密切的时空关系。郯庐断裂带所在的构造位置应是晚二叠世华北与扬子地块碰撞时的根带。UHP岩石的折返过程可能发生于华北、扬子地块的大角度旋转、拼合过程中。在华北与扬子地块的造山后期或者造山期后的构造变形中所记录的构造形迹经晚中生代以来的中国东部构造变形叠加而逐渐呈现复杂的构造组合,所谓“郯庐断裂带”的走滑平移即其中的一种运动方式。华北与扬子地块碰撞造山作用与陆内变形最终造就了大别—郯庐—苏鲁复合造山带。     

大别山东缘郯庐两期走滑剪切带形成的温压条件与造山带折返的关系

郯庐断裂带与大别造山带在大别山东缘相复合 ,并将大别—苏鲁造山带左行错开达 5 0 0km。本文以大别山东缘为研究背景 ,通过对郯庐断裂带两期左旋走滑韧性剪切带温压条件的估算及热年代学信息的分析 ,来探讨大别造山带在早侏罗—早白垩世之间的折返历史与隆升量。通过矿物组合、矿物变形特征以及白云母—绿泥石地质温度计得到郯庐早、晚两期剪切带的形成温度均为 4 0 0～ 4 5 0℃。通过多硅白云母Si原子数地质压力计计算得到早、晚两期剪切带的形成压力分别为 0 .2 5～ 0 .36GPa和 0 .2 4～ 0 .39GPa。考虑到剪切摩擦加热和构造超压的影响 ,笔者推断郯庐两期走滑剪切带形成的最大深度均不超过 12km ,且两期走滑剪切带的形成深度至多相差 1～2km。郯庐断裂带在约 190Ma和 12 8Ma经历了两期走滑冷却事件 ,而在此期间 ,大别造山带东缘经历了一个构造平静期 ,基本没有发生隆升。根据郯庐断裂带的信息 ,造山带在早白垩世的热隆事件中的隆升幅度小于 12km。     

从郯庐断裂带两侧的“盆”“山”耦合演化看前白垩纪“郯庐断裂带”的性质

郯庐断裂带的前身是3条重要的边界断裂（古郯庐断裂、辽渤断裂和敦化-密山断裂）,因而前白垩纪其两侧的“盆”“山”发育分属不同的造山动力学和成盆动力学系统。其西．扬子微大陆与华北微大陆之间的秦岭-大别造山带是印支期的碰撞造山带,兴-蒙造山带是海西期的阿尔泰型（增生弧型）造山带,燕山运动时两者都成为陆内造山带。“郯庐断裂带”以东,苏鲁造山带是苏皖地块与胶辽微大陆之间的燕山期碰撞造山带,延吉-清津造山带是胶辽微大陆与兴凯地块之间的印支期碰撞造山带;更北则是由一系列外来地体沿敦化-密山断裂拼贴在西伯利亚次大陆之上而形成的斜向汇聚-剪切造山带（属板间造山带）。在此基础上,分为海西-印支期、侏罗纪和白垩纪3个时代,详细剖析了“郯庐断裂带”两侧与上述造山作用耦合的典型的磨拉石盆地和火山岩盆地的演化及其对比,证实前白垩纪“郯庐断裂带”两侧的盆地各有其独立的发育史,不是被郯庐断裂带左行平移错断的同一个盆地。对“郯庐断裂带”两侧古生代-三叠纪陆表海的研究进一步证实其西的扬子微大陆、华北微大陆、布列亚-佳木斯地块与其东的苏皖地块、胶辽微大陆、兴凯地块曾分属独立的构造单元。早白垩世时,随着新特提斯洋的部分闭合,亚洲大陆的雏形出现,上述3条边界断裂连接成郯庐断裂带并成为陆内的左行走滑断层。     

从郯庐断裂带两侧的“盆”“山”耦合演化 看前白垩纪“郯庐断裂带”的性质

郯庐断裂带的前身是3条重要的边界断裂（古郯庐断裂、辽渤断裂和敦化-密山断裂）,因而前白垩纪其两侧的“盆”“山”发育分属不同的造山动力学和成盆动力学系统。其西．扬子微大陆与华北微大陆之间的秦岭-大别造山带是印支期的碰撞造山带,兴-蒙造山带是海西期的阿尔泰型（增生弧型）造山带,燕山运动时两者都成为陆内造山带。“郯庐断裂带”以东,苏鲁造山带是苏皖地块与胶辽微大陆之间的燕山期碰撞造山带,延吉-清津造山带是胶辽微大陆与兴凯地块之间的印支期碰撞造山带;更北则是由一系列外来地体沿敦化-密山断裂拼贴在西伯利亚次大陆之上而形成的斜向汇聚-剪切造山带（属板间造山带）。在此基础上,分为海西-印支期、侏罗纪和白垩纪3个时代,详细剖析了“郯庐断裂带”两侧与上述造山作用耦合的典型的磨拉石盆地和火山岩盆地的演化及其对比,证实前白垩纪“郯庐断裂带”两侧的盆地各有其独立的发育史,不是被郯庐断裂带左行平移错断的同一个盆地。对“郯庐断裂带”两侧古生代-三叠纪陆表海的研究进一步证实其西的扬子微大陆、华北微大陆、布列亚-佳木斯地块与其东的苏皖地块、胶辽微大陆、兴凯地块曾分属独立的构造单元。早白垩世时,随着新特提斯洋的部分闭合,亚洲大陆的雏形出现,上述3条边界断裂连接成郯庐断裂带并成为陆内的左行走滑断层。     

郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起段晚中生代岩浆岩继承锆石U-Pb年代学:源区属性及构造意义

大别与苏鲁造山带之间的郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起段,构成了华北与扬子板块之间的断裂边界。该边界带的深部结构状态长期以来存在着不同的认识。本文利用张八岭隆起带沿线出露的晚中生代岩浆岩中继承锆石U-Pb年代学信息,结合地球物理资料及Nd、Pb、Hf同位素资料,分析了其深部的岩浆源区属性及结构状态。张八岭隆起带北段晚中生代岩浆岩继承锆石年龄以1.9~2.7Ga为主,最大峰值年龄为2.5Ga;南段继承锆石年龄以2.2~2.6Ga为主,峰值年龄也为2.5Ga;郯庐断裂带庐江段则以含大量新元古代锆石为特征,在0.7Ga形成显著的分布峰值,并有早元古和少量太古代年龄信息。分析结果表明,张八岭隆起带北段的晚中生代岩浆岩源区为华北下地壳,南段的源区兼有华北和扬子陆壳的信息,而更南部庐江段则以扬子地壳源区为特征。电法剖面揭示,郯庐断裂主边界在张八岭隆起带下向南东倾斜,从而深部存在华北地壳;而南部庐江段转变为向北西陡倾,从而深部皆为扬子地壳。郯庐断裂深部产状特征支持其印支期应为斜向汇聚边界。而其中三叠纪继承锆石的缺失指示隆起带上变质岩应为原地岩石,而非来自大别造山带。     

合肥盆地圆筒山组物源分析及其地质意义：来自碎屑锆石的证据

合肥盆地位于华北板块东南缘,形成于华南、华北板块碰撞过程中。合肥盆地形成时表现为大别造山带向北逆冲形成的前陆挠曲盆地,早白垩世在区域伸展背景下转变为断陷盆地。中侏罗统圆筒山组是合肥盆地前陆挠曲阶段的沉积地层之一,主要表现为湖泊相沉积,与下伏的防虎山组典型的河流相沉积明显不同。为了获得圆筒山组更详细的物源信息,对肥西地区出露的圆筒山组紫红色粉砂岩开展了碎屑锆石LA-ICP MS U-Pb定年。定年结果显示,两个粉砂岩样品均获得了约2.0 Ga和约770 Ma两个主要峰值以及约2.4 Ga次要峰值。该特征与扬子板块锆石年龄分布特征几乎完全一致,指示圆筒山组物源应来自扬子板块。考虑到盆地地层的物源不应来自其周边隆起区分水岭的另一侧,因而推测圆筒山组物源应来自张八岭隆起中侏罗世时地表出露岩石。在燕山运动A幕影响下,下扬子地区发生逆冲褶皱活动,张八岭隆起发生明显隆升,上部岩石被剥蚀殆尽,仅保留现今出露的新元古代张八岭群及肥东杂岩,被剥蚀的岩石搬运沉积于合肥盆地内,形成圆筒山组。     

合肥盆地早侏罗世防虎山组沉积岩碎屑锆石的矿物包裹体及内部结构

防虎山组的下部砂岩地层是合肥盆地最古老的中生代沉积地层,在样品FH4中选出了碎屑锆石,通过显微激光拉曼光谱、电子探针的研究发现,锆石中含有柯石英、绿辉石、多硅白云母等典型的高压-超高压(HP-UHP)矿物包裹体、熔体玻璃包裹体以及磷灰石、石英、斜长石、白云母等矿物包裹体。结合阴极发光图像所揭示的锆石内部结构的分析以及锆石的微区测年数据,对碎屑锆石的物源进行了讨论。HP-UHP矿物包裹体在具有三叠纪年龄的变质碎屑锆石中的发现,进一步证明大别造山带高压-超高压岩石在早侏罗世时期已经出露地表并为合肥盆地提供了重要物源;碎屑锆石内部结构及成因的多样性表明当时作为源区的大别造山带岩石的复杂性。     

Sedimentary provenance of the Hengyang and Mayang basins,SE China,and implications for the Mesozoic topographic change in South China Craton: Evidence from detrital zircon geochronology

Detrital zircon U–Pb data from sedimentary rocks in the Hengyang and Mayang basins, SE China reveal a change in basin provenance during or after Early Cretaceous. The results imply a provenance of the sediment from the North China Craton and Dabie Orogen for the Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic sandstones and from the Indosinian granitic plutons in the South China Craton for the Lower Cretaceous sandstones. The 90–120 Ma age group in the Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Hengyang Basin is correlated with Cretaceous volcanism along the southeastern margin of South China, suggesting a coastal mountain belt have existed during the Late Cretaceous. The sediment provenance of the basins and topographic evolution revealed by the geochronological data in this study are consistent with a Mesozoic tectonic setting from Early Mesozoic intra-continental compression through late Mesozoic Pacific Plate subduction in SE China.     

大别山东南麓中新生代碎屑岩地球化学特征及其对物源的制约

位于大别山东南麓的安庆-潜山地区中新生代碎屑岩比较发育,主元素分析表明,砂岩主要为杂砂岩,其次是岩屑砂岩和长石砂岩。根据主元素、微量元素和稀土元素特征值分析结果,中、上三叠统和下、中侏罗统的源岩来源广泛,属于大陆岛弧、活动大陆边缘和被动大陆边缘构造背景,可能反映了前陆盆地物源的二元特征。古近系源岩主要为活动大陆边缘和大陆岛弧构造环境,说明物源仅来自大别山造山带。稀土元素比值及相关系数分析揭示,中晚三叠世黄马青群的源岩主要为宿松群的长英质片岩、浅粒岩以及大别杂岩,侏罗纪磨山组大致类似于大别群的花岗片麻岩,罗岭组与大别群比较类似。显示大别山造山带在中晚三叠世已经隆升并遭受剥露。     

从源到汇:大别造山带物源区与合肥盆地南缘中生代沉积耦合关系——来自碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄证据

形成于印支期的大别造山带和周缘中生代盆地构成了一级源汇系统,其中位于造山带北缘的合肥盆地中生代地层发育,且以盆地南缘出露最好,这为盆山源汇系统研究提供了理想的沉积记录。笔者从合肥盆地南缘采集了10个砂岩样品和1个砾岩样品,进行锆石U/Pb (LA-ICP-MS)定年分析,获得了742个有效年龄(置信度不小于85%),范围为113±3. 6-2983 Ma。这些碎屑锆石年龄谱可以被分为5个年龄段:113-137 Ma,峰值131 Ma; 184-273 Ma,峰值226 Ma; 274-517. 3 Ma,具有2个峰值280 Ma和474 Ma; 532-856. 6 Ma,具有3个峰值572 Ma、649 Ma和772 Ma; 1786-2600 Ma,具有2个峰值2035 Ma和2506 Ma。同时,总结了物源区大别造山带不同单元锆石U-Pb年龄特征。根据锆石U/Pb年龄和Th/U值,发现这5个年龄段比较准确地记录了物源区地质体,分别是早白垩世的岩浆岩、大别山高压—超高压变质岩、北淮阳的浅变质岩、北大别的正片麻岩和卢镇关群变质岩。根据锆石最小年龄,修正了合肥盆地南缘中生代地层格架,为源汇系统研究确立了时间框架。合肥盆地南缘中生代沉积可以分为4个演化阶段:晚三叠世瑞替期—早侏罗世辛涅缪斯期、中—晚侏罗世、早白垩世早期和早白垩世晚期,并据此确定了每个阶段主要物源区特征及其时空变化。碎屑锆石U/Pb年龄和Th/U值限定了大别造山带仅存在三叠纪的超高压变质作用,且超高压变质岩折返到地表的最早时间是晚三叠世瑞替期,大别造山带大陆岛弧发育的时间是新元古代。上述研究结果不仅为恢复大别造山带构造古地理做出了新的贡献,而且更为盆山源汇系统研究提供了一个实例。     

Petrography of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sandstones in the Kutch Basin,western India:Implications on provenance and basin evolution

This paper investigates the provenance of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sediments in the Kutch Basin, western India, on the basis of mineralogical investigations of sandstones composition(Quartz-Feldspar-Lithic(QFL)fragment), Zircon-Tourmaline-Rutile(ZTR) index, and mineral chemistry of heavy detrital minerals of the framework.The study also examines the compositional variation of the sandstone in relation to the evolution of the Kutch Basin, which originated as a rift basin during the Late Triassic and evolved into a passive margin basin by the end Cretaceous. This study analyzes sandstone samples of Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations of Middle Jurassic,Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, respectively, in the Kutch Mainland. Sandstones record a compositional evolution from arkosic to subarkosic as the feldspar content decreases from 68% in the Jhumara Formation to 27%in the Bhuj Formation with intermediate values in the Jhuran Formation. The QFL modal composition indicates basement uplifted and transitional continental settings at source. Heavy mineral content of these sandstones reveals the occurrence of zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, apatite, monazite and opaque minerals. Sub-rounded to well-rounded zircon grains indicate a polycyclic origin. ZTR indices for samples in Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations are 25%, 30% and 50% respectively. Chemistry of opaque minerals reveals the occurrence of detrital varieties such as ilmenite, rutile, hematite/magnetite and pyrite, in a decreasing order of abundances. Chemistry of ilmenites in the Jhumara Formation reveals its derivation from dual felsic igneous and metabasic source, while those in Jhuran and Bhuj Formations indicate a metabasic derivation. Chemistry of garnet reveals predominantly Fe-rich(almandine) variety of metabasic origin. X-ray microscopic study provides the percentage of heavy minerals ranging from 3% to 5.26%. QFL detrital modes reflect the evolution of the basin from an active rift to a passive margin basin during the Mesozoic. Integration of results from QFL modal composition of the sandstones, heavy mineral analysis and mineral chemistry, suggests sediment supply from both northern and eastern highlands during the Middle Jurassic. The uplift along the Kutch Mainland Fault in the Early Cretaceous results in curtailment of sediment input from north.     

Late Jurassic-Cretaceous fluvial evolution of central Africa: Insights from the Kasai-Congo Basin,Democratic Republic Congo

The Congo Basin in central Africa is one of the largest intracratonic sedimentary basins in the world. The geological knowledge of Congo Basin is mainly based on studies from the central part of the basin (“Cuvette Centrale”). We present the results of sedimentary provenance investigations of the Jurassic–Cretaceous strata from the southwestern part of the basin, called the Kasai region. This study combines sandstone petrography with U-Pb and Lu-Hf analyses of detrital zircons to assess the stratigraphy, sedimentary provenance and drainage history of the Upper Jurassic-Cretaceous strata in the Kasai region. The stratigraphy is subdivided into a single Upper Jurassic unit (J1) and four Cretaceous units (C1–C4). Petrographically, sandstones from all units except the conglomeratic C3 are texturally and compositionally mature, dominated by quartzarenite and subarkosic compositions. These characteristics can be attributed to considerable recycling of older sedimentary strata and crustal sources, along with long distance fluvial and aeolian processes. The analyses of fifteen detrital zircon samples from the Upper Jurassic–Cretaceous strata yielded mainly Archean and Proterozoic zircons. This result suggests that sandstones are likely sourced from the underlying Archean-Paleoproterozoic Congo–Kasai Craton and from nearby Proterozoic mobile belts, particularly the Irumide and Lufilian Belts to the south of the basin. The dominance of Archean and Proterozoic detrital zircons in Upper Jurassic–Cretaceous strata suggests that the Kasai portion of the Congo Basin experienced exhumation and erosion, which is possibly associated with far-field reactivation of Archean and Proterozoic structures during and following Gondwana rifting in the late Mesozoic. A large fluvial drainage network sourced from the south of the basin, is interpreted to have developed across central Africa during the Late Jurassic–Cretaceous. This fluvial system is believed to have flowed northward across the Congo Basin and ultimately drained into a wrench fault system called the Central African Shear Zone, which extends in an ENE direction from the Gulf of Guinea through Cameroon into Sudan and Kenya.     

Early Mesozoic unroofing pattern of the Dabie Mountains (China): Constraints from the U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology and Si-in-white mica analysis of synorogenic sediments in the Jianghan Basin

This paper presents the results of an integrated U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology and Si-in-white mica analysis for synorogenic sediments in the Jianghan Basin to the south of the Dabie Orogen. The results provide an improved understanding of the provenance of these sediments and the unroofing pattern of the early Mesozoic Dabie Mountain. Si contents of detrital white micas range from 3.09 to 3.34 atoms pfu for the upper Triassic sandstones whereas 3.06 to 3.59 atoms pfu for the lower and middle Jurassic sandstones. The majority of detrital white micas in the lower Jurassic sandstones is phengitic and originated exclusively from the Dabie high- to ultrahigh- pressure rocks. The U-Pb dating results of the detrital zircons for seven samples suggest that these synorogenic sediments have a significant change of provenance from late Triassic to early and middle Jurassic. For the upper Triassic sandstone, the U-Pb age clusters of these zircons are characterized by ~ 420-450 Ma, ~ 750-820 Ma, ~ 1050-1200 Ma and ~ 2500 Ma with minor Luliangian (~ 1700–2000 Ma) components. In contrast, the zircon ages of the Jurassic sandstones are dominated by the Luliangian (~ 1700–2000 Ma) ages with only minor Caledonian (~ 420-450 Ma) and Greenville (~ 1050-1200 Ma) ages. In combination with other available geological data, it can be concluded that the Dabie HP-UHP rocks might initially be exposed to the surface at the beginning of early Jurassic (~ 190 Ma). The Jiangnan terrain (also named “Jiangnan old continental in Chinese) to the south of the Jianghan basin provided the predominant supply of upper Triassic sediments, whereas the Paleoproterozoic Yangtze crustal materials (overlying the present Dabie Complex at the time) were the important provenance of the Jurassic sediments in the Jianghan basin.     

Sedimentary response to the paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton during the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic

With the aim of constraining the influence of the surrounding plates on the Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern North China Craton (NCC), we undertook new U–Pb and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons obtained from ten samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic sediments in the Luoyang Basin and Dengfeng area. Samples of upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic strata were obtained from the Taiyuan, Xiashihezi, Shangshihezi, Shiqianfeng, Ermaying, Shangyoufangzhuang, Upper Jurassic unnamed, and Lower Cretaceous unnamed formations (from oldest to youngest). On the basis of the youngest zircon ages, combined with the age-diagnostic fossils, and volcanic interlayer, we propose that the Taiyuan Formation (youngest zircon age of 439 Ma) formed during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian, the Xiashihezi Formation (276 Ma) during the Early Permian, the Shangshihezi (376 Ma) and Shiqianfeng (279 Ma) formations during the Middle–Late Permian, the Ermaying Group (232 Ma) and Shangyoufangzhuang Formation (230 and 210 Ma) during the Late Triassic, the Jurassic unnamed formation (154 Ma) during the Late Jurassic, and the Cretaceous unnamed formation (158 Ma) during the Early Cretaceous. These results, together with previously published data, indicate that: (1) Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian sandstones were sourced from the Northern Qinling Orogen (NQO); (2) Lower Permian sandstones were formed mainly from material derived from the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB) on the northern margin of the NCC with only minor material from the NQO; (3) Middle–Upper Permian sandstones were derived primarily from the NQO, with only a small contribution from the YYOB; (4) Upper Triassic sandstones were sourced mainly from the YYOB and contain only minor amounts of material from the NQO; (5) Upper Jurassic sandstones were derived from material sourced from the NQO; and (6) Lower Cretaceous conglomerate was formed mainly from recycled earlier detritus.The provenance shift in the Upper Carboniferous–Mesozoic sediments within the study area indicates that the YYOB was strongly uplifted twice, first in relation to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate beneath the northern margin of the NCC during the Early Permian, and subsequently in relation to collision between the southern Mongolian Plate and the northern margin of the NCC during the Late Triassic. The three episodes of tectonic uplift of the NQO were probably related to collision between the North and South Qinling terranes, northward subduction of the Mianlue Ocean Plate, and collision between the Yangtze Craton and the southern margin of the NCC during the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, Middle–Late Permian, and Late Jurassic, respectively. The southern margin of the central NCC was rapidly uplifted and eroded during the Early Cretaceous.