Triassic Collisional Structures and Post—Collisional Deformation of Bixiling UHP Rock Stack： Insights for Tectonic Evolution of UHP Metamorphic Belt in Dabie Massif, Central China

Detailed three-dimensional structural studies indicate that the Bixiling area,Dabie massif,central Chian shows the deepest exposed levels of the orogenic wedge formed during the Triassic Yangtze0Sino-Korean continental collision.New1:10000 scale structural mapping,combined with detailed petrological analysis in this area,has enabled us to accurately distinguish structures related to the Trias-sic continental collision from those related to post-collisional deformation in the ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic unit.The collisional or compressional structures include the massive eclogite with a weak foliation,foliated eclogite or UHP ductile shear zones,as well as upper amphibolite facies shear zones,whereas the post-collisional deformation is characterized by a regionally,flat-lying foliation con-taining stretching lineations and common reclined folds .The former is present exclusively in the eclogite lenses and their margins,representing orogenic thickening or syn-collisional events,while the latter was best occurred on variable scales under amphibolite facies conditions,showing sub-vertical,extreme short-ening and ductile thinning of the metamorphic rock stack.The eclogite facies tectonites that have a marked fabric discordance to the penetrative amphibolite facies extension flow fabric are common.It is emphasized that an extensional tectonic setting following the collision-orogenic thickening stage was,at least partly,responsible for exhumation of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie massif.A new tec-tionic evolution model is proposed for the UHP metamorphic belt on the scale of the Dabie massif.The Bixiling area thus provides a window,from which the dynamic processes concerning the formation and exhumation of the UHP rocks can be observed.Regional studies in the Dabie Mountains have confirmed this interpretation.

Triassic Collisional Structures and Post-Collisional Deformation of Bixiling UHP Rock Stack: Insights for Tectonic Evolution of UHP Metamorphic Belt in Dabie Massif, Central China

Detailed three-dimensional structural studies indicate that the Bixiling area, Dabie massif, central China shows the deepest exposed levels of the orogenic wedge formed during the Triassic Yangtze -Sino-Korean continental collision. New 1 : 10 000 scale structural mapping, combined with detailed petrological analysis in this area, has enabled us to accurately distinguish structures related to the Triassic continental collision from those related to post-collisional deformation in the ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic unit. The collisional or compressional structures include the massive eclogite with a weak foliation, foliated eclogite or UHP ductile shear zones, as well as upper amphibolite facies shear zones, whereas the post-collisional deformation is characterized by a regionally, flat-lying foliation containing stretching lineations and common reclined folds. The former is present exclusively in the eclogite lenses and their margins, representing orogenic thickening or syn-collisional events, while the latter was best occurred on variable scales under amphibolite facies conditions, showing sub-vertical, extreme shortening and ductile thinning of the metamorphic rock stack. The eclogite facies tectonites that have a marked fabric discordance to the penetrative amphibolite facies extension flow fabric are common. It is emphasized that an extensional tectonic setting following the collision-orogenic thickening stage was, at least partly, responsible for exhumation of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie massif. A new tectonic evolution model is proposed for the UHP metamorphic belt on the scale of the Dabie massif. The Bixiling area thus provides a window, from which the dynamic processes concerning the formation and exhumation of the UHP rocks can be observed. Regional studies in the Dabie Mountains have confirmed this interpretation.