天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中原地海绿石的沉积学意义

天津蓟县剖面中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石灰岩中普遍发育海绿石。野外观察表明,海绿石主要分布在叠层石柱体间的泥晶灰岩中,呈薄膜状富集在叠层石鞘外缘;微观特征分析表明,海绿石呈不规则状的胶体形式,显示了原地海绿石的基本特点。电子探针的组分分析表明,铁岭组中的海绿石为中成熟度的海绿石。由于产在潮下高能柱状叠层石灰岩中,铁岭组中的海绿石并不反映低沉积速率或沉积间断的沉积条件,与现代海绿石的形成环境具有明显的差异。因此,中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中的中成熟度原地海绿石是特殊沉积背景下的独特产物,为研究海绿石在地质历史时期产出的多样性提供了一个重要实例。     

天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中原地海绿石的沉积学意义

天津蓟县剖面中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石灰岩中普遍发育海绿石。野外观察表明,海绿石主要分布在叠层石柱体间的泥晶灰岩中,呈薄膜状富集在叠层石鞘外缘;微观特征分析表明,海绿石呈不规则状的胶体形式,显示了原地海绿石的基本特点。电子探针的组分分析表明,铁岭组中的海绿石为中成熟度的海绿石。由于产在潮下高能柱状叠层石灰岩中,铁岭组中的海绿石并不反映低沉积速率或沉积间断的沉积条件,与现代海绿石的形成环境具有明显的差异。因此,中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中的中成熟度原地海绿石是特殊沉积背景下的独特产物,为研究海绿石在地质历史时期产出的多样性提供了一个重要实例。     

叠层石中的海绿石化和黄铁矿化:以天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组为例*

作为微生物碳酸盐岩的主要类型之一,叠层石是微生物席的主要建造物已成为共识。天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石生物礁灰岩发育,其中的细粒叠层石被前人解释为微生物席捕获碳酸盐泥的微生物建造物,使得其既不同于现代叠层石,也不同于显生宙尤其是寒武纪的叠层石。更为特殊的是,这些叠层石中的海绿石和黄铁矿代表着2种特殊的矿化作用,其中研究区普遍产出的黄铁矿,作为硫酸盐还原细菌的产物,是了解古代微生物的窗口;而发育在高能浅海的海绿石,产出环境不同于现代海绿石,不能作为慢速沉积环境的指示矿物,亦不具有沉积间断的地质意义。2种矿化作用表明铁岭组叠层石是由沉淀作用而非捕获碳酸盐泥形成,这为了解中元古代叠层石的形成和特征提供了一些有益的线索。     

Molar Tooth Structure: a Contribution from the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation, Tianjin City, North China

Molar-tooth (MT) structure is an enigmatic sedimentary structure consisting of variously-shaped cracks and voids filled with a characteristically uniform, equant calcite microspar. It is globally distributed but temporally restricted to rocks from Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic age. The origin of MT structures has been debated for more than a century and the topic continues to be highly contentious. Some features of MT structure occurring in micritic limestones of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation (ca. 1500 Ma to ca. 1400 Ma), Jixian section, Tianjin City, North China show that: 1) there is a definite interface or lining, rich in organic material and pyrite, between the MT crack-filling calcite microspar and the micritic host rock, which is also rich in organic matter; 2) the micritic host rocks are notable for the absence of stromatolites and microbial laminites; 3) distinctive conglomeratic lag deposits made up of intraclasts of MT microspar result from storm reworking of the MT structures; 4) the MT structure is associated with possible algal megafossils such as Chuaria; 5) the MT microspar is made up of the larger calcite crystal and the MT crack is marked by the diversity of configurations; 6) both the TOC content and the carbon-isotopic value (δ13CPDB) among the host rock, the MT microspar and the possible algae fossil are obviously different. For the forming mechanism of the Gaoyuzhuang MT structure, these features can still indicate that: A) the MT microspar was formed by rapid precipitation and lithification; B) the MT microspar precipitated directly within the cracks; C) the decomposition of organic matter within the host micrite might be the chief mechanism producing gas bubbles; D) microscale gas-sediment interaction led to the generation of the MT cracks and the precipitation of microspar therein; E) the MT cracks might represent the track of migration and expansion of gas bubbles, and that the recrystallization of host micrites cannot be eliminated during forming process of the MT microspar; F) the MT structure is occurred in early diagenetic period; and G) the formation of MT microspars is a complex diagenetic process. Therefore, model of the microbially-induced gas-bubble expansion and migration is the best interpretation for the formation of the MT structure. Effectively, MT structures are a type of sedimentary structure that is formed in the early diagenetic period and is related to microbial activities and organic matter degradation.     

Large earthquake‐triggered liquefaction mounds and a carbonate sand volcano in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation,Beijing, North China

Ten well‐preserved, earthquake‐triggered liquefaction mounds and a carbonate sand volcano have been found in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation (1550–1400 Ma) in the Beijing area, North China. These features crop out in a roadcut near Zhuanghuwa Village. All ten mounds occur in the same sedimentary layer and have rounded shapes with some concentric and radial fissures arising from the centre. They range from 1.5 to 4 m in diameter and from 10 cm to 30 cm in height. The carbonate sand volcano has a diameter of 110 cm and the ‘crater’ at the top has a depth of about 30 cm. Associated with these mounds and the sand volcano are many ‘normal’ sedimentary structures and numerous soft‐sediment deformation structures. The former include ripple marks, cross‐bedding, stromatolites and desiccation cracks, indicating deposition in a stable shallow‐water peritidal platform environment. The latter include intrastratal faults and folds, seismically formed breccias and carbonate clastic dykes. The morphological features and the genesis of these liquefaction mounds are very similar to mounds formed recently by the great Wenchuan Earthquake of China (2008). Detailed thin‐section study of the mounds found no signs of any kind of biological constructional process; instead it reveals some obvious fluidification and liquefaction characteristics. Comparative studies have shown that these features are probably the products of Mesoproterozoic earthquake activity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中元古代晚期浅海高能沉积环境中的海绿石:以天津蓟县剖面铁岭组为例

海绿石是一种富钾、富铁的含水层状铝硅酸盐矿物,在沉积学领域常被作为一种普遍的指相矿物。多年研究的结果表明,现代海绿石主要形成在慢速、弱还原的较深水环境中,而且还可以作为"凝缩段"的识别标志之一。天津蓟县剖面中元古界铁岭组第二段灰岩中的海绿石,产在高能叠层石岩礁之中,主要以胶体形式富集在叠层石和均一石的边界上,代表较为典型的原地海绿石;较高的氧化钾含量(大于8%)而显示出高成熟海绿石的特点。很明显,铁岭组二段灰岩中的原地高成熟海绿石,不但不能作为"凝缩段"的识别标志,而且也不是长时间地层间断的产物。由于形成在正常高能浅海环境,而且处于中元古代末期,与现代沉积中的海绿石存在较大的差异,可能代表了中元古代末期的正常浅海还处于含氧量不够充分的弱还原状态,最终使铁岭组灰岩中的海绿石成为前寒武纪海绿石产出的一个典型代表,也间接的表明了在漫长的地质历史演变过程中海绿石产出的多样性特点。     

Molar‐Tooth Structure from the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation in Lingyuan,Yanshan Region,North China,and Geological Implications

Although its origin has not yet reached a consensus so far, MTS (Molar-Tooth Structure) has been documented for more than 100 years. Current study reports a discovery of MTS from the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation, Lingyuan, Yanshan Region, North China, and the features and geological implications of MTS are further discussed. Here, straitigraphic horizons of MTS’s occurrences show that it was mainly located within the top part of the Wumishan Formation, i.e., limestone unit. Four kinds of morphology of MTS, i.e., fine fusiform, debris, ribbon, ptigmatic and nodular (irregular), were recognized and thought to be highly related to the sedimentary environments and facies. Geochemistry of MTS including oxides, trace elements and C, O and Sr isotopes indicates that the horizons of MTS-bearing is of higher Sr/Ba and Ca/Mg ratios, lower positive δ13C and highly negative δ18O values than the adjacent stratigraphic levels of rare MTS. Lithology, morphology and geochemistry of MTS in the Wumishan Formation suggest that MTS occurs mainly in shallow subtidal near the storm wave base, which is typically characterized by warm temperature, oversaturated calcium carbonate seawater and high organic productivity. Furthermore, occasional enrichment of algae bacteria here is more favorable for the calcification of calcium oozes and catalytic for MTS. C isotope composition of the Wumishan Formation and MTS of this study is well correlated with that of the Mesoproterozoic Belt Supergroup, North America and Riphean, Siberia, suggesting that MTS acts as a sedimentary record responding to global changes and is a perfect indicator in Precambrian stratigraphic correlation worldwide.     

华北地台中元古代串岭沟组页岩中的砂脉构造:17亿年前甲烷气逃逸的沉积标识?

华北地台中元古界串岭沟组暗色页岩中发育一种特殊的砂质脉状构造;层面上表现为不规则密集分布的细砂脊,垂向上由不连续薄砂层和近于直立的"肠状"砂脉体相交互组成.浅色砂脉由较纯的石英粉砂-细砂组成,含微量自生白云石、菱铁矿及微晶碳酸盐岩斑块,与黑色泥质围岩边界截然.研究表明,砂脉构造可能是在早期成岩阶段前由来自薄砂层的细-粉砂灌入甲烷缓慢逃逸通道而成,并由于压实缩短而褶皱成"肠状".薄砂层与黑色页岩形成的能量条件完全不同,可能系由风暴将海岸带或砂坝细砂带入低能环境而形成;甲烷源自沉积中埋藏的微生物席腐烂分解.围岩层面有微生物席成因微皱痕和气体逃逸形成的气泡构造,围岩中发现有细菌化石和草霉状黄铁矿.串岭沟组中密集发育的砂脉构造是目前地层中识别的最古老的甲烷排放证据,并有可能作为指示地质时期陆源碎屑沉积环境甲烷逃逸的沉积标识.大量高效温室气体进入大气圈可能是导致元古宙地球表层高温室气候和无冰川发育的重要原因.     

中-新元古界标准剖面蓟县系首获高精度年龄制约——蓟县剖面雾迷山组和铁岭组斑脱岩锆石SHRIMPU-Pb同位素定年研究

近期在蓟县中-新元古界标准剖面铁岭组和雾迷山组首次发现斑脱岩、并测得其锆石SHRIMP U-Pb同位素年龄为~1440Ma(1439±14Ma)和~1485Ma(1483±13Ma和1487±16Ma),这标志着这条传统的标准剖面上以碳酸盐岩为主体的蓟县系上部的两个重要组,从此也获得了直接的、高精度的锆石U-Pb同位素年龄约束。这是华北中-新元古界标准剖面蓟县系相关地层单位首次获得直接而精确的锆石U-Pb同位素年龄约束,也是在整个华北北缘燕山地区雾迷山组内部首次获得精确的直接定年。这一进展为闻名中外的天津蓟县剖面中-新元古界年代地层格架的正确厘定、以及今后继续作为华北该阶段的标准剖面,并与国内外其他地区相关地层的正确对比等,提供了新的、精确的年代学"锚点",因而具有重要的科学和实际意义。     

Melting of enriched Archean subcontinental lithospheric mantle: Evidence from the ca. 1760 Ma volcanic rocks of the Xiong’er Group,southern margin of the North China Craton

The Xiong’er Group is an important geologic unit in the southern margin of the North China Craton. It is dominated by the volcanic rocks, dated at 1763 ± 15 Ma, that have SiO₂ contents ranging from 52.10 wt% to 73.51 wt%. These volcanic rocks are sub-alkaline and can be classified into three subgroups: basaltic andesites, andesites and rhyolites. They unexceptionally show enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) and share similar trace element patterns. Depletions in Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti relative to the adjacent elements are evident for all the samples. The volcanic rocks are evolved with low MgO contents (0.29–5.88 wt%) and accordingly low Mg^# values of 11–53. The Nd isotopes are enriched and show a weak variation with ?_Nd(t) = −7.12 to −9.63. Zircon Hf isotopes are also enriched with ?_Hf(t) = −12.02 ± 0.45. The volcanic rocks of the Xiong’er Group are interpreted to represent fractional crystallization of a common mantle source. The volcanic rocks might have been generated by high-degree partial melting of a lithospheric mantle that was originally modified by the oceanic subduction in the Late Archean. This brings a correlation with the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle in an extensional setting during breakup of the Columbia supercontinent in the late Paleoproterozoic, rather than in an arc setting. The elevated SiO₂ contents and evolved radiogenic isotope features indicate the possible incorporation into their source of lower crustal materials that have similar Nd isotopic characteristics to the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The existence of extensive Xiong’er volcanic rocks (60,000 km²) indicates an early large-scale subduction-related metasomatism in the area and probably suggest a flat subduction model for the plate-margin magmatism in the Late Archean.     

Fine‐grained meandering systems of the Lower Permian Clear Fork Formation of north‐central Texas,USA: Lateral and oblique accretion on an arid plain

Facies models that adequately represent the diverse range of fine‐grained fluvial systems are currently lacking from the literature. In this paper, the spectrum of these systems on the arid plains of western equatorial Pangea is explored, as well as the source and nature of the fine‐grained sediments. Eight fluvial elements in the Early Permian Clear Fork Formation of north‐central Texas represent channel systems up to 7 m deep with coarse basal deposits, three types of lateral‐accretion deposits and sandstone sheets, with laminated, disrupted and massive mudstones laid down in abandoned channels and on floodplains. The three fine‐grained fluvial styles represent a continuum between two end‐members: sustained lateral accretion of bedload composed of quartzose sediments and mud aggregates on point bars, and oblique accretion of suspended sediment on steep accretionary benches and banks with limited lateral migration. This spectrum is controlled, in part, by grain size and the proportion of suspended to bedload sediments. The presence of rarely documented swept ripples on exhumed accretion surfaces is attributed to rapid decline in water levels and downstream re‐entry of overbank floodwaters into the channel. Rill casts, roots and disrupted mudstones low down in channel bodies indicate periods of near‐dryness. Laterally extensive sheet sandstones were formed by episodic flows in broad, sandbed channels. The fluvial sediments were primarily intrabasinally sourced with extrabasinal sediments brought in during major floods from upland source areas or reworked from local storage in the basin, representing a supply limited system. The upward change in cement composition from mainly calcite and ankerite to dolomite and gypsum with minor celestine implies increasingly saline groundwater and progressive aridification, supporting Late Palaeozoic palaeoclimatic models. By integrating petrographic data with sedimentology, a plethora of information about ancient landscapes and climate is provided, allowing a fuller comparison between the Clear Fork Formation and modern dryland alluvial plains.     

华北吕梁地区汉高山群和小两岭组的地层时代——火山岩锆石U-Pb年龄的约束

华北吕梁地区出露的以陆源碎屑沉积为主的汉高山群为中元古界底界界线层型的理想候选剖面,其时代的确定对认识华北前寒武纪地质演化历史及初始盖层的确定及Nuna超大陆聚散的研究具有重要的意义.目前,汉高山群的时代、划分对比及其意义还存在较大争议.本研究使用SHRIMP(二次离子质谱仪)对汉高山群安山岩中的锆石进行了 U-Pb同...     

Palaeoproterozoic tectonothermal evolution and deep crustal processes in the Jiao‐Liao‐Ji Belt,North China Craton: a review

The Palaeoproterozoic Jiao‐Liao‐Ji Belt is located in the eastern margin of the Eastern Block of the North China Craton. In this paper, we synthesize the tectonothermal evolution and deep crustal processes in the Jiao‐Liao‐Ji Belt based on recent information. A mantle plume‐related underplating from 2.53 to 2.36 Ga is envisaged which led to the emplacement of the 2.47–2.33 Ga alkali granite plutons and mafic dyke swarms, followed by the development of the Jiao‐Liao‐Ji Rift and bi‐modal volcanism. The underplating resulted not only in different sedimentary environments in the upper crust, but also in a differentiation of the initial thermal structure in the rift. This controlled the metamorphism and style of P‐T‐t paths in the different parts of the rift. Subsequent underplating resulted in the emplacement of the A‐type Liaoji granites of ca. 2.17 Ga in the lower crust, and the formation of associated pegmatites of 2.2 and 2.0 Ga, together with the development of a bedding‐parallel extension. However, the main orogeny occurred between 1.93 and 1.88 Ga with closing of the rift, compressional deformation and high‐pressure granulite metamorphism in the southern part of the orogen. Subsequently, lithospheric blocks were possibly delaminated at ∼1.85 Ga; anorogenic magmatic rocks such as rapakivi granite, alkaline granites and syenite were intruded, and pegmatite veins and mafic dyke swarms were emplaced cross‐cutting all the earlier structural traces. We identify that the underplating styles, collision processes and delamination types in the deep lithosphere controlled the tectonothermal evolution of the crust in the Jiao‐Liao‐Ji region. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrothermal Mineralization on the Mesoproterozoic Passive Continental Margins of China： A Case Study of the Langshan-Zha＇ertaishan Belt, Inner Mongolia, China

Most ore-forming characteristics of the Langshan-Zha‘ertaishan hydrothermal exhalation belt, which consists of the Dongshengmiao, Huogeqi, Tanyaokou and Jiashengpan large-superlarge Zn-Pb-Cu-Fe sulfide deposits, are most similar to those of Mesoproterozoic SEDEX-type provinces of the world. The characteristics include: (1) All deposits of this type in the belt occur in third-order fault-basins in the Langshan-Zha‘ertaishan aulacogen along the northern margin of the North China Platform; (2) these deposits with all their orebodies hosted in the Mesoproterozoic impure dolomite-marble and carbonaceous phyllite (or schists) have an apparent stratabound nature; ores display laminated and banded structures, showing clear depositional features; (3) there is some evidence of syn-sedimentary faulting, which to a certain extent accounts for the temporal and spatial distribution and the size of the orebodies in all deposits and the formation of intrabed conglomerates and breccias; (4) they show lateral and vertical zonation of sulfides; (5) The Cu/(Pb Zn Cu) ratio of the large and thick Pb Zn Cu orebodies gradually decreases from bottom to top; and (6) barite is interbedded with pyrites and sometimes with sphalerite. However, some characteristics such as the Co/Ni radio of the pyrites, the volcanism, for example, of the Langshan-Zha‘ertalshan metallogenic belt, are different from those of the typical SEDEX deposits of the world. The meta-basic volcanic rock in Huogeqi, the sodic bimodal volcanic rocks in the Dongshengmiao and potassic bimodal-volcanic rocks with blastoporphyfitic and blasto-glomeroporphyritic texture as well as blasto-amygdaloidal structure in the Tanyaokou deposits have been discovered in the only ore-bearing second formation of the Langshan Group in the past 10 years. The metallogeny of some deposits hosted in the Langshan Group is closely related to syn-sedimentary volcanism based on the following facts: most of the lead isotopes in sphalerite, galena, pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite plot on both sides of the line for the mantle or between the lines for the mantle and lower crust in the lead isotope composition diagram; cobalt content of some pyrites samples is much higher than the nickel content (Co/Ni= 11.91-12.19). Some volcanic blocks and debris have been picked out from some pyritic and pyrrhotitic ores. All Zn-Pb-Cu-Fe sulfide orebodies in these deposits occur in the strata overlying metamorphic volcanic rocks in the only ore-bearing second formation. In the Jiashengpan deposit that lacks syn-sedimentary volcanic rocks in the host succession only Pb and Zn ores occur without Cu ore, but in the Dongshengmiao, Tanyaokou and Huogeqi deposits with syn-sedimentary volcanic rocks in the host succession Cu ores occur. This indicates a relatively higher ore-forming temperature. The process of synsedimentary volcanic eruption directly supplied some ore-forming elements, and resulted in secular geothermal anomaly favorable for the circulation of a submarine convective hydrothermal system, which accounts for the precipitation of deep mineralizing fluids exhaling into anoxidic basins along the syn-sedimentary fault system in the Langshan-Zha‘ertai rift. The Dongshengmiao, Tanyaokou, and Huogeqi deposits hosted in the Langshan Group appear to be a transitional type of mineral deposit between SEDEX and VMS-types but with a bias towards SEDEX, while the Jiashengpan deposit hosted in the Zha‘ertai Group is of a characteristic SEDEX type. This evidence, together with other new discoveries of Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks and the features of lithogeny and metallogeny of the Bayun Obo deposit in the neighborhood emphasize the diversity, complexity and uniqueness of the Mesoproterozoic Langshan-Zha‘ertal-Bayun Obo ore belt.     

Geochemistry and SHRIMP U‐Pb Zircon Dating of Mafic Rocks North of Zunhua City,Eastern Hebei,North China Craton: Paleoproterozoic Gabbro rather than Neoarchean Ophiolite

Abundant mafic-ultramafic blocks and dikes occur in the area north of Zunhua City, eastern Hebei Province, and were previously suggested to be part of a late Archean ophiolitic assemblage. We employed SHRIMP zircon dating and a geochemical study on these mafic and surrounding rocks to test the ophiolite hypothesis. The SHRIMP data suggest that three metagabbro samples were metamorphosed at ～1.8 Ga. Numerous ～2.5 Ga zircons display strong oscillatory zoning, characteristic of zircons from granitoid rocks but not from gabbro, so we suggest that these are xenocrystic grains. The age of these xenocrystic zircons and their metamorpbic rims suggests that these mafic blocks formed in Paleoproterozoic. The surrounding gneiss of intermediate composition also contains 2.5 Ga zircons with oscillatory zoning and 1.8 Ga metamorphic rims. Fractionated REE patterns and Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf negative anomalies to variable extent were observed in the mafic blocks and surrounding rocks, also supporting a significant difference in the chemistry of ophiolitic rocks. Our data suggest that many mafic blocks in northern Zunhua are not part of a late Archean ophiolite complex but part of a tectonically dismembered Paleoproterozoic intrusive gabbro complex. This study shows that late Paleoproterozoic metamorphism occurred in the western part of eastern Hebei Province.     

Laser Ablation ICP‐MS U‐Pb Zircon Geochronology of Granitoids and Quartz Veins in the Shihu Gold Mine,Taihang Orogen,North China: Timing of Gold‐mineralization and Tectonic Implications

The Shihu gold deposit, situated in the Taihang Mesozoic orogen of the North China Craton (NCC), is hosted by ductile-brittle faults within Archean metamorphic core complex. The deposit is characterized by gold-bearing quartz-polymetallic sulfides veins. The Mapeng granitoids stock and intermediate-basic dikes intruded the metamorphic basement rocks, and are spatially related to gold mineralization. Detailed laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon ages of the granitic rocks, dykes and mineralized quartz veins in the studied area reveal its magmatic and mineralized history. The mineralized quartz veins contain inherited zircons with ages of about 2.55 Ga and 1.84 Ga, probably coming from the basement. These two Precambrian events are coeval with those in other parts of the NCC. The Mapeng granitoid stock, the largest intrusion in the area, was emplaced at ca. 130 Ma, and is coeval with magmatic zircon populations from diorites and quartz diorite pophyrites in the same region. The ca. 130 Ma magmatism and gold mineralization were most likely related to an underplating event that took place in the Taihang orogen at Late Mesozoic. The timing of gold mineralization with respect to felsic magmatism in the area is similar to those observed in other major gold-producing provinces in the NCC. This episode is simultaneous with those in the eastern margin of NCC, indicative of a widespread late Yanshanian metallogenic event that was a response to the Early Cretaceous lithosphere in the eastern NCC, in which the mesothermal gold deposits were formed from similar tectono-magmatic environments.     

Guandishan Granitoids of the Paleoproterozoic Lüliang Metamorphic Complex in the Trans-North China Orogen: SHRIMP Zircon Ages, Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

Abstract: The Paleoproterozoic Lüliang Metamorphic Complex (PLMC) is situated in the middle segment of the western margin of the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), North China Craton (NCC). As the most important lithological assemblages in the southern part of the PLMC, Guandishan granitoids consist of early gneissic tonalities, granodiorites and gneissic monzogranites, and younger gneissic to massive monzogranites. Petrochemical features reveal that the early gneissic tonalities and granodiorites belong to the medium-K calc-alkaline series; the early gneissic monzogranites are transitional from high-K calc-alkaline to the shoshonite series; the younger gneissic to massive monzogranites belong to the high-k calc-alkaline series, and all rocks are characterized by right-declined REE patterns and negative Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti anomalies in the primitive mantle normalized spidergrams. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic dating reveals that the early gneissic tonalities and granodiorites formed at ~2.17 Ga, the early gneissic monzogranites at ~2.06 Ga, and the younger gneissic to massive monzogranites at ~1.84 Ga. Sm–Nd isotopic data show that the early gneissic tonalities and granodiorites have εNd(t) values of +0.48 to ?3.19 with Nd-depleted mantle model ages (TDM) of 2.76–2.47 Ga, and early gneissic monzogranites have εNd(t) values of ?0.53 to ?2.51 with TDM of 2.61–2.43 Ga, and the younger gneissic monzogranites have εNd(t) values of ?6.41 to ?2.78 with a TDM of 2.69–2.52 Ga.These geochemical and isotopic data indicate that the early gneissic tonalities, granodiorites, and monzogranites were derived from the partial melting of metamorphosed basaltic and pelitic rocks, respectively, in a continental arc setting. The younger gneissic to massive monzogranites were derived by partial melting of metamorphosed greywackes within the continental crust. Combined with previously regional data, we suggest that the Paleoproterozoic granitoid magmatism in the Guandishan granitoids of the PLMC may provide the best geological signature for the complete spectrum of Paleoproterozoic geodynamic processes in the Trans-North China Orogen from oceanic subduction, through collisional orogenesis, to post-orogenic extension and uplift.     

Formation of the Jurassic Changboshan‐Xieniqishan highly fractionated I‐type granites,northeastern China: implication for the partial melting of juvenile crust induced by asthenospheric mantle upwelling

Zircon U–Pb ages, major and trace elements, and Sr, Nd and Hf isotope compositions of the Changboshan‐Xieniqishan (CX) intrusion from the Great Xing'an Range (GXAR), northeastern China, were studied to investigate its derivation, evolution and geodynamic significance. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U–Pb dating yields an emplacement age of 161 ± 2 Ma for the CX intrusion. Bulk‐rock analyses show that this intrusion is characterized by high SiO₂, Na₂O and K₂O, but low MgO, CaO and P₂O₅. They are enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, with marked Eu anomalies (mostly from 0.36 to 0.65), and depleted in heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements. Most samples have relatively low (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i values (0.70423–0.70457), with ε_Nd(t) fluctuating between −0.4 and 2.3. The ε_Hf(t) for zircons varies from 5.4 to 8.7. Sr–Nd isotope modelling results, in combination with young Nd and Hf model ages (760–986 and 549–728 Ma, respectively) and the presence of relict zircons, indicate that the CX intrusion may originate from the partial melting of juvenile crust, with minor contamination of recycled crustal components, and then underwent extensive fractional crystallization of K‐feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, sphene, apatite, zircon and allanite. Considering the widespread presence of granitoids with coeval volcanic rocks, we contend that the CX intrusion formed in an extensional environment related to the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle induced by the subduction of the Palaeo‐Pacific plate, rather than a lithospheric delamination model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diagenesis and Very Low‐grade Metamorphism of the Upper Permian Yangjiagou Formation in Eastern Changchun,China: Evidence from Clay Mineral Geothermobarometers

The metamorphic conditions of the Upper Permian Yangjiagou Formation in eastern Changchun, China, were evaluated based on the mineral assemblage, illite crystallinity, illite polytypism,the b dimension of illite, and the chemical composition of chlorite. The pelitic rocks in the Yangjiagou Formation are characterized by illite + kaolinite + chlorite ± mixed-layer chlorite/smectite and detrital quartz + plagioclase. Illite in the formation has a crystallinity of 0.38-0.55 and comprises mixed 2 M_1 and1 M_d polytypes, indicating a metamorphic temperature of 200℃. Based on the chemical composition of chlorite and the chlorite geothermometer, we estimated diagenetic to very low-grade metamorphic conditions with temperatures of 185℃～204℃. The b dimension of illite varies from 8.992 A to 9.005 A.We used a mathematical algorithm to extend Guidotti and Sassi's(1986) diagram relating illite b dimension with temperature and pressure, and used this diagram, together with illite crystallinity and chlorite chemical composition, to semi-quantitatively estimate the formation pressure at1.2 kbar. These reveal that the Yangjiagou Formation has experienced very low-grade metamorphism.     

Destruction of the Northern Margin of the North China Craton in Mid‐Late Triassic: Evidence from Asthenosphere‐derived Mafic Enclaves in the Jiefangyingzi Granitic Pluton from the Chifeng Area,Southern Inner Mongolia

The petrology, geochronology and geochemistry of the mafic enclaves in the Mid-Late Triassic Jiefangyingzi pluton from Chifeng area, southern Inner Mongolia, in China are studied to reveal their petrogenetic relationship with the host pluton. Furthermore, the coeval magmatic assemblage and its petrogenesis on the northern margin of the North China craton(NCC) are studied synthetically to elucidate their tectonic setting and the implications for the destruction of the NCC. Zircon U-Pb dating reve...