Detrital zircon age constraints on depositional history and provenance of the Murihiku Supergroup,Murihiku Terrane,North Island,New Zealand

In the Murihiku Terrane of New Zealand, U-Pb detrital zircon ages in Murihiku Supergroup sandstones of Late Triassic, Jurassic and possibly earliest Cretaceous age have a marked youngest age component that is close to, and sometimes coincident with, established biostratigraphic ages, thus reflecting contemporary volcanism. However, youngest Huriwai Group samples yield 137–142 Ma zircon age components (earliest Early Cretaceous) in conflict with palynofloras that suggest only a latest Jurassic age. This is resolved if the age of the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary is lowered to ca. 140 Ma. Older, reworked zircons are mainly Early Jurassic, Late Triassic and Late Permian reflecting an enduring exhumed magmatic arc source nearby. This might be in the adjacent Median Batholith but as a Murihiku sediment source its Jurassic, Triassic and Permian elements are not well-matched in terms of extent, age and bulk compositions. A connection between the Murihiku (proximal forearc) and Waipapa Composite (distal accretionary wedge) terranes is probable, with a common magmatic arc, speculatively situated in the New England Orogen, eastern Australia.     

Very Low-grade Metamorphism in Basement Greywacke Terranes of the Northern and Central North Island, New Zealand

Metamorphism in the late Permian to early Cretaceous North Island basement greywackes has been investigated using petrography and clay mineral crystallinity. Several terranes are represented in the North Island greywackes and the study area includes Murihiku, Manaia Hill, Bay of Islands and Omahuta terranes and the Mélange Zone. Very low-grade metamorphic events in the greywackes have produced mineral assemblages of zeolite to pumpellyite-actinolite greywacke facies. Zeolite facies greywackes are characterized by the assemblage Zeo (Lmt, Anl, Hul)+Qtz±Ab±Cal± Chl±I±I/S* observed in the entire Murihiku terrane and in the eastern part of the Bay of Islands terrane and the Mélange Zone. The entire Manaia Hill, most of the Bay of Islands, the eastern area of the Omahuta terranes and the central part of the Mélange Zone are at prehnite-pumpellyite facies with mineral assemblages of Prh+Qtz+Chl+Pmp+Ab+± Ill±Cal±Lmt. Pumpellyite-actinolite facies with the mineral assemblage of Pmp±Act+Qtz+Ab+Chl±Ep±Ill±Cal±Chl occurs in the western part of the Mélange Zone and the Omahuta terrane.

Illite (IC) and chlorite (ChC) crystallinity values of greywackes are very similar and range from diagenetic zone to anchizone. Metamorphic conditions indicated by the IC and ChC and mineral facies are in excellent agreement and correlate as follows: crystallinity diagenetic-zone with the zeolite mineral facies, crystallinity lower anchizone with prehnite-pumpellyite mineral facies and crystallinity upper anchizone with pumpellyite-actinolite mineral facies. The general increase in the metamorphic grade from east to west, except in Murihiku terrane, is compatible with the sequence of accretion expected in a subduction environment.     

Pre-Middle Jurassic accretionary metamorphism in the southern Klamath Mountains of northern California, USA

Abstract High- P/T metamorphic parageneses are preserved within two late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic assemblages of the southern Klamath Mountains that show contrasting structural styles and mineral parageneses reflecting formation in different parts of a subduction-zone regime. Blueschist facies tectonites of the Stuart Fork terrane represent a coherent subduction complex formed at relatively deep crustal levels, whereas the chaotic metasedimentary mélange of the eastern Hayfork terrane contains a diverse range of metamorphic parageneses reflecting complex structural mixing of metamorphic components at shallower levels. The convergent-margin-type accretionary metamorphism evident in both terranes pre-dates Middle Jurassic low- P/T metamorphism resulting from regional tectonic contraction and magmatism.
The epidote- to lawsonite-zone Stuart Fork blueschists (and eclogites locally) formed at pressures of about 6-11 kbar and temperatures of 250-400° C. Deformed matrix material of the eastern Hayfork mélange formed at similar temperatures but lower pressures, on the order of 3-6 kbar. The mélange contains a diverse assemblage of tectonic blocks that formed under a range of P-T conditions, including those of the blueschist, pumpellyite-actinolite, greenschist and upper greenschist to amphibolite facies.
The succession of mineral parageneses and inferred P-T conditions of the eastern Hayfork blocks reflect those of igneous protolith formation, structural mixing, subduction-zone metamorphism, olistolith transport, and tectonic and erosional denudation. Although temporal relations are not well constrained, the evolution of these terranes is consistent with formation within a single convergent-margin system.     

Origin of the Torlesse Terrane and Coeval Rocks,North Island,New Zealand

On the basis of differing areal extent, age, petrographic modes, and bulk chemical composition, the sandstones of the northern quarter of the Torlesse terrane are subdivided into four new petrofacies. A comparison of these petrofacies with existing South Island Torlesse classifications indicates continuation of the Triassic Rakaia subterrane and Late Jurassic–to–early Cretaceous Pahau subterrane into the central part of the North Island (as Axial-A and Axial-B petrofacies, respectively). The Waioeka petrofacies defines a new and provisional Late Jurassic-to–early Cretaceous Waioeka subterrane that is not present in the South Island. The Omaio petrofacies is common to deformed Albian basement sequences in the Torlesse of both islands, and in the Houhora Complex of Northland.

The composite Torlesse terrane evolved by Early Jurassic accretion of allochthonous Rakaia rocks followed by parautochthonous deposition of Pahau and Waioeka sandstones. Waioeka sandstones are compositionally similar to sandstones in the coeval eastern Waipapa terrane, but may have been dextrally displaced from their original depositional site by up to 300 km since the middle Cretaceous.     

The Nadanhada Terrane

Abstract The Nadanhada terrane, a Jurassic disrupted terrane in Heilongjiang Province of China, is principally composed of Permo- Carboniferous limestone and greenstone, Triassic bedded chert and middle Jurassic siliceous shale, all enclosed within younger (presumably Late Jurassic- Early Cretaceous) clastics. Palaeontological and lithological characteristics and structural features of these formations are entirely identical to those of the Mino terrane of the Japanese Islands. Prior to opening of the Sea of Japan, these terranes formed a single superterrane together with the Western Sikhote-Alin terrane. Tectono-stratigraphic terranes very similar to the Nadanhada and Mino terranes are also found in the Ryukyu are, the Philippines and probably in Borneo. All these terranes constituted a belt of accretionary complexes during Late Jurassic and / or Early Cretaceous time along the eastern continental margin of Asia after completion of the Triassic collage of the Chinese continent.     

Distribution and characteristics of metamorphic belts in the south-eastern Alaska part of the North American Cordillera

The Cordilleran orogen in south-eastern Alaska includes 14 distinct metamorphic belts that make up three major metamorphic complexes, from east to west: the Coast plutonic–metamorphic complex in the Coast Mountains; the Glacier Bay–Chichagof plutonic–metamorphic complex in the central part of the Alexander Archipelago; and the Chugach plutonic–metamorphic complex in the northern outer islands. Each of these complexes is related to a major subduction event. The metamorphic history of the Coast plutonic–metamorphic complex is lengthy and is related to the Late Cretaceous collision of the Alexander and Wrangellia terranes and the Gravina overlap assemblage to the west against the Stikine terrane to the east. The metamorphic history of the Glacier Bay–Chichagof plutonic–metamorphic complex is relatively simple and is related to the roots of a Late Jurassic to late Early Cretaceous island arc. The metamorphic history of the Chugach plutonic–metamorphic complex is complicated and developed during and after the Late Cretaceous collision of the Chugach terrane with the Wrangellia and Alexander terranes. The Coast plutonic–metamorphic complex records both dynamothermal and regional contact metamorphic events related to widespread plutonism within several juxtaposed terranes. Widespread moderate-P/T dynamothermal metamorphism affected most of this complex during the early Late Cretaceous, and local high-P/T metamorphism affected some parts during the middle Late Cretaceous. These events were contemporaneous with low- to moderate-P, high-T metamorphism elsewhere in the complex. Finally, widespread high-P–T conditions affected most of the western part of the complex in a culminating late Late Cretaceous event. The eastern part of the complex contains an older, pre-Late Triassic metamorphic belt that has been locally overprinted by a widespread middle Tertiary thermal event. The Glacier Bay–Chichagof plutonic–metamorphic complex records dominantly regional contact-metamorphic events that affected rocks of the Alexander and Wrangellia terranes. Widespread low-P, high-T assemblages occur adjacent to regionally extensive foliated granitic, dioritic and gabbroic rocks. Two closely related plutonic events are recognized, one of Late Jurassic age and another of late Early and early Late Cretaceous age; the associated metamorphic events are indistinguishable. A small Late Devonian or Early Mississippian dynamothermal belt occurs just north-east of the complex. Two older low-grade regional metamorphic belts on strike with the complex to the south are related to a Cambrian to Ordovician orogeny and to a widespread Middle Silurian to Early Devonian orogeny. The Chugach plutonic–metamorphic complex records a widespread late Late Cretaceous low- to medium/high-P, moderate- T metamorphic event and a local transitional or superposed early Tertiary low-P, high-T regional metamorphic event associated with mesozonal granitic intrusions that affected regionally deformed and metamorphosed rocks of the Chugach terrane. The Chugach complex also includes a post-Late Triassic to pre-Late Jurassic belt with uncertain relations to the younger belts.     

The mesozoic evolution of the mino terrane, central Japan: A geologic and paleomagnetic synthesis

The Mino tectono-stratigraphic terrane, central Japan, underlain by Permian to Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of various origins, was formed through accretion processes associated with the Mesozoic sea-floor spreading. This conclusion has been reached mainly from the following reasoning:

1. (1) the entire boundary of this terrane is defined by tectonic belts with high-pressure metamorphic rocks and serpentinized ultramafic rocks,

2. (2) the chemistry and petrology of the Permian greenstones demonstrate their affinity with abyssal tholeiitic and alkalic basalts,

3. (3) the widespread, but chaotic, occurrence of Permian greenstones, Triassic cherts, and Jurassic siliceous shales in the younger Jurassic clastic rocks of this terrane suggests extensive post-depositional mixing of strata,

4. (4) the sedimentology of the Jurassic sandstones strongly suggests that they are turbidity-current deposits supplied from cratonic lands,

5. (5) the South-Pacific type fossil assemblage in the Mino terrane shows strong contrast with the North-Pacific type fossil assemblage of the adjacent terranes,

6. (6) the paleomagnetism of the Permian and Jurassic greenstones, the Triassic cherts, and the Jurassic siliceous shales implies long-distance northward drift in Cretaceous time of these rocks from their original low latitudinal regions.

Along with this northward migration, the Mino terrane was accreted with extensive internal deformation to northeast Asia including the present Hida terrane. Recent accumulation of paleomagnetic and paleontologic data in the Pacific peripheral regions appears to support the existence of many allochthonous terranes which migrated from the equatorial regions. The Mino terane may be regarded as one example of these Circum-Pacific allochthons.     

Gondwanaland origin, dispersion, and accretion of East and Southeast Asian continental terranes

East and Southeast Asia is a complex assembly of allochthonous continental terranes, island arcs, accretionary complexes and small ocean basins. The boundaries between continental terranes are marked by major fault zones or by sutures recognized by the presence of ophiolites, mélanges and accretionary complexes. Stratigraphical, sedimentological, paleobiogeographical and paleomagnetic data suggest that all of the East and Southeast Asian continental terranes were derived directly or indirectly from the Iran-Himalaya-Australia margin of Gondwanaland. The evolution of the terranes is one of rifting from Gondwanaland, northwards drift and amalgamation/accretion to form present day East Asia. Three continental silvers were rifted from the northeast margin of Gondwanaland in the Silurian-Early Devonian (North China, South China, Indochina/East Malaya, Qamdo-Simao and Tarim terranes), Early-Middle Permian (Sibumasu, Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes) and Late Jurassic (West Burma terrane, Woyla terranes). The northwards drift of these terranes was effected by the opening and closing of three successive Tethys oceans, the Paleo-Tethys, Meso-Tethys and Ceno-Tethys. Terrane assembly took place between the Late Paleozoic and Cenozoic, but the precise timings of amalgamation and accretion are still contentious. Amalgamation of South China and Indochina/East Malaya occurred during the Early Carboniferous along the Song Ma Suture to form “Cathaysialand”. Cathaysialand, together with North China, formed a large continental region within the Paleotethys during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. Paleomagnetic data indicate that this continental region was in equatorial to low northern paleolatitudes which is consistent with the tropical Cathaysian flora developed on these terranes. The Tarim terrane (together with the Kunlun, Qaidam and Ala Shan terranes) accreted to Kazakhstan/Siberia in the Permian. This was followed by the suturing of Sibumasu and Qiangtang to Cathaysialand in the Late Permian-Early Triassic, largely closing the Paleo-Tethys. North and South China were amalgamated in the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic and finally welded to Laurasia around the same time. The Lhasa terrane accreted to the Sibumasu-Qiangtang terrane in the Late Jurassic and the Kurosegawa terrane of Japan, interpreted to be derived from Australian Gondwanaland, accreted to Japanese Eurasia, also in the Late Jurassic. The West Burma and Woyla terranes drifted northwards during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous as the Ceno-Tethys opened and the Meso-Tethys was destroyed by subduction beneath Eurasia and were accreted to proto-Southeast Asia in the Early to Late Cretaceous. The Southwest Borneo and Semitau terranes amalgamated to each other and accreted to Indochina/East Malaya in the Late Cretaceous and the Hainanese terranes probably accreted to South China sometime in the Cretaceous.     

Provenance of Jurassic accretionary complex: Mino terrane, inner zone of south-west Japan – implications for palaeogeography of eastern Asia

Provenance and tectonic history of the Jurassic accretionary complex, Mino terrane, located in the Inner Zone of south‐west Japan, were studied using sandstone framework composition and mudrock geochemistry. Modal analysis of sandstones shows that the tectonic setting of the source area for the studied Mino terrane clastic rocks was uplifted basement, largely dominated by high‐grade metamorphic terrain composed of quartz and feldspar, especially plagioclase. The textural and mineralogical immaturity, extent of alkali and alkaline earth element leaching, low chemical index of alteration values and depleted rare earth element (REE) contents suggest rapid uplift and erosion within the source terrain and a relatively weak weathering intensity. Factor analysis revealed that grain‐size effects governed compositional heterogeneity in the studied sediments. Provenance of the sediments is interpreted as being plagioclase‐enriched felsic basement rock, such as granodiorite, within a continental margin and evolved arc tectonic setting rather than active volcanic arc. Lack of a contribution from active volcanic arcs may have resulted from the cessation of volcanism during the reorganization of the subducting plate system and/or erosion of arc volcanics and exposure of basement. Considering the previous studies on palaeogeography and palaeocurrent reconstruction, the north‐eastern part of the Yeongnam massif in the Korean Peninsula is interpreted as the most probable source area for the studied turbidites. The results of mixing calculation for Mino terrane sediments suggest that Precambrian leucocratic granite and the basement rock of the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin shed large amounts of sediments to the Mino trench, whilst Precambrian granitic gneiss and the Triassic pluton supplied lesser amounts. The results of this study reveal that, although active subduction–accretion processes were occurring, the Mino trench was bordered by continental basement rocks. This knowledge contributes to enhanced understanding of the Jurassic palaeogeography of the east Asia continental margin.     

Restoration of Exotic Terranes Along the Median Tectonic Line, Japanese Islands: Overview

This paper reviews recent progress on the geotectonic evolution of exotic Paleozoic terranes in Southwest Japan, namely the Paleo-Ryoke and Kurosegawa terranes. The Paleo-Ryoke Terrane is composed mainly of Permian granitic rocks with hornfels, mid-Cretaceous high-grade metamorphic rocks associated with granitic rocks, and Upper Cretaceous sedimentary cover. They form nappe structures on the Sambagawa metamorphic rocks. The Permian granitic rocks are correlative with granitic clasts in Permian conglomerates in the South Kitakami Terrane, whereas the mid-Cretaceous rocks are correlative with those in the Abukuma Terrane. This correlation suggests that the elements of Northeast Japan to the northeast of the Tanakura Tectonic Line were connected in between the paired metamorphic belt along the Median Tectonic Line, Southwest Japan. The Kurosegawa Terrane is composed of various Paleozoic rocks with serpentinite and occurs as disrupted bodies bounded by faults in the middle part of the Jurassic Chichibu Terrane accretionary complex. It is correlated with the South Kitakami Terrane in Northeast Japan. The constituents of both terranes are considered to have been originally distributed more closely and overlay the Jurassic accretionary terrane as nappes. The current sporadic occurrence of these terranes can possibly be attributed to the difference in erosion level and later stage depression or transtension along strike-slip faults. The constituents of both exotic terranes, especially the Ordovician granite in the Kurosegawa-South Kitakami Terrane and the Permian granite in the Paleo-Ryoke Terrane provide a significant key to reconstructing these exotic terranes by correlating them with Paleozoic granitoids in the eastern Asia continent.     

High-pressure amphibolite facies dynamic metamorphism and the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of an ancient continental margin, east-central Alaska

Abstract Ductilely deformed amphibolite facies tectonites comprise two adjacent terranes in east-central Alaska. These terranes differ in protoliths, structural level and cooling ages. A structurally complex zone of gently north-dipping tectonites separates the two terranes. The northern, structurally higher Taylor Mountain terrane includes garnet amphibolite, biotite ± hornblende gneiss, marble, quartzite, metachert, pelitic schist and cross-cutting granitoids of intermediate composition (including the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Taylor Mountain batholith). Lithological associations and isotopic data from the granitoids indicate an oceanic or marginal basin origin for the Taylor Mountain terrane. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar metamorphic cooling ages from the Taylor Mountain terrane are latest Triassic to earliest Middle Jurassic. The southern, structurally lower Lake George subterrane of the Yukon-Tanana terrane is made up of quartz-biotite schist and gneiss, augen gneiss, pelitic schist, garnet amphibolite and quartzite; we interpret it to comprise a continental margin and granitoid belt built on North American crust. Metamorphic cooling ages from the Lake George subterrane are almost entirely Early Cretaceous. Geothermobarometric analysis of garnet rims and adjacent phases in garnet amphibolite and pelitic schist from the Taylor Mountain terrane and Lake George subterrane indicate peak metamorphic conditions of 7.5-12 kbar at 555-715° C in the northern part of the Taylor Mountain terrane, in which NNE-vergent shear fabrics are preserved; 6.5-10.8 kbar at 520-670° C within the contact zone between the two terranes, in which NW-vergent shear fabrics predominate; and 6.8-11.8 kbar at 570-700° C in the Lake George subterrane of the Yukon-Tanana terrane, in which NW-vergent shear is recorded in the northern part of the study area and SE-vergent shear in the southern part. Where the two shear-sense directions occur together in the northern Lake George subterrane and, locally, in the contact zone, fabrics that record NW-vergent shear are more penetrative and preceded fabrics that record SE-vergent shear. We interpret the pressure, temperature, kinematic and age data to indicate that the metamorphism of the Taylor Mountain terrane and Lake George subterrane took place during different phases of a latest Palaeozoic through early Mesozoic shortening episode resulting from closure of an ocean basin now represented by klippen of the Seventymile-Slide Mountain terrane. High- to intermediate-pressure metamorphism of the Taylor Mountain terrane took place within a SW-dipping (present-day coordinates) subduction system. High- to intermediate-pressure metamorphism of the Lake George subterrane and the structural contact zone occurred during NW-directed overthrusting of the Taylor Mountain, Seventymile-Slide Mountain and Nisutlin terranes, and imbrication of the continental margin in Jurassic time. The difference in metamorphic cooling ages between the Taylor Mountain terrane and adjacent parts of the Lake George subterrane is best explained by Early Cretaceous unroofing of the Lake George subterrane caused by crustal extension, recorded in its younger top-to-the-SE fabric.     

西藏安多地区早古生代及中生代造山记录:来自安多微陆块-南羌塘锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素研究

安多地区位于青藏高原腹地,为拉萨地体、羌塘地体及安多微陆块的结合部位,是研究拉萨地体、羌塘地体起源以及特提斯造山过程的关键位置。我们对采自安多地区的前中生代基底岩石及侏罗系沉积岩样品进行了岩石学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素研究。研究结果表明:安多花岗片麻岩中锆石同时记录了510～505Ma岩浆年龄以及187Ma变质年龄;187Ma的变质锆石与510～505Ma的岩浆锆石具有相似的Hf同位素模式年龄(1.7～1.5Ga),表明寒武纪花岗岩主要来源于古老地壳重熔。碎屑锆石年代学分析结果揭示了安多微陆块石英岩具有498～484Ma、800～1000Ma和1800～1950Ma的年龄峰值,与南羌塘地体及特提斯喜马拉雅碎屑锆石年龄分布特征相似,表明其在早古生代时位于冈瓦纳大陆北部印度陆块边缘。南羌塘坳陷东南部中侏罗世砂岩及钙质砂岩碎屑锆石年代学分析结果显示其具有182～171Ma、450～600Ma、800～1000Ma、1800～1950Ma及2400～2600Ma的年龄峰值,这种年龄分布特征与安多微陆块及南羌塘地体相似,而与拉萨地体不同,说明南羌塘坳陷东南部下-中侏罗统物源主要来自安多微陆块及南羌塘地体,在早-中侏罗世时安多微陆块与南羌塘地体已经发生了碰撞造山。     

Palaeozoic and Mesozoic tectonic evolution and palaeogeography of East Asian crustal fragments: The Korean Peninsula in context

East and Southeast Asia comprises a complex assembly of allochthonous continental lithospheric crustal fragments (terranes) together with volcanic arcs, and other terranes of oceanic and accretionary complex origins located at the zone of convergence between the Eurasian, Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates. The former wide separation of Asian terranes is indicated by contrasting faunas and floras developed on adjacent terranes due to their prior geographic separation, different palaeoclimates, and biogeographic isolation. The boundaries between Asian terranes are marked by major geological discontinuities (suture zones) that represent former ocean basins that once separated them. In some cases, the ocean basins have been completely destroyed, and terrane boundaries are marked by major fault zones. In other cases, remnants of the ocean basins and of subduction/accretion complexes remain and provide valuable information on the tectonic history of the terranes, the oceans that once separated them, and timings of amalgamation and accretion. The various allochthonous crustal fragments of East Asia have been brought into close juxtaposition by geological convergent plate tectonic processes. The Gondwana-derived East Asia crustal fragments successively rifted and separated from the margin of eastern Gondwana as three elongate continental slivers in the Devonian, Early Permian and Late Triassic–Late Jurassic. As these three continental slivers separated from Gondwana, three successive ocean basins, the Palaeo-Tethys,. Meso-Tethys and Ceno-Tethys, opened between these and Gondwana. Asian terranes progressively sutured to one another during the Palaeozoic to Cenozoic. South China and Indochina probably amalgamated in the Early Carboniferous but alternative scenarios with collision in the Permo–Triassic have been suggested. The Tarim terrane accreted to Eurasia in the Early Permian. The Sibumasu and Qiangtang terranes collided and sutured with Simao/Indochina/East Malaya in the Early–Middle Triassic and the West Sumatra terrane was transported westwards to a position outboard of Sibumasu during this collisional process. The Permo–Triassic also saw the progressive collision between South and North China (with possible extension of this collision being recognised in the Korean Peninsula) culminating in the Late Triassic. North China did not finally weld to Asia until the Late Jurassic. The Lhasa and West Burma terranes accreted to Eurasia in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous and proto East and Southeast Asia had formed. Palaeogeographic reconstructions illustrating the evolution and assembly of Asian crustal fragments during the Phanerozoic are presented.     

New Zealand's Geological Foundations

New Zealand is a fragment of Gondwana that, before Late Cretaceous sea floor spreading, was contiguous with Australia and Antarctica. Only about 10% of the area of continental crust in the wider New Zealand region (Zealandia) is emergent above sea level as the North and South Islands. No Precambrian cratonic core is exposed in onland New Zealand. The Cambrian to Early Cretaceous basement can be described in terms of nine major volcano-sedimentary terranes, three composite regional batholiths, and three regional metamorphic-tectonic belts that overprint the terranes and batholiths.The terranes (from west to east) are: Buller, Takaka, Brook Street, Murihiku, Maitai, Caples, Bay of Islands (part of former Waipapa), Rakaia (older Torlesse) and Pahau (younger Torlesse). The western terranes are intruded by three composite batholith (>100 km²) sized belts of plutons: Karamea-Paparoa, Hohonu and Median, as well as by numerous smaller plutons. Median Batholith (including the Median Tectonic Zone) is a recently-recognised Cordilleran batholith that represents the site of subduction-related magmatism from ca. 375–110 Ma. Parts of the terranes and batholiths are variably metamorphosed and deformed: Devonian and Cretaceous amphibolite-granulite facies gneisses are present in Buller, Takaka, Median and Karamea-Paparoa units; Jurassic-Cretaceous subgreenschist-amphibolite facies Haast Schist overprints the Caples, Bay of Islands and Rakaia Terranes; Cretaceous subgreenschist facies Esk Head and Whakatane Mélanges bound the Pahau Terrane. In the South Island, small areas (<5 km² total) of Devonian, Permian, Triassic and Jurassic Gondwana sequences have been identified. In the North Island a widespread Late Jurassic overlap sequence, Waipa Supergroup (part of former Waipapa Terrane), has recently been proposed.     

Comparative characteristics of the Samarka (Sikhote-Alin) and Ultra-Tamba (Japan) terranes as grounds for correlating fragments of the Jurassic accretionary prism in two regions

Comparative data on tectono-stratigraphic complexes of the Ultra-Tamba terrane (Inner Zone of Japan) and upper structural level of the Samarka terrane in the Jurassic accretionary prism of Sikhote Alin are considered. Structural, lithological, petrographic data and age constraints characterizing rock associations of the terranes show that the latter are similar to a great extent, and consequently the Ultra-Tamba terrane can be regarded as an element of the Tamba-Mino-Ashio accretionary prism of the Jurassic but not Permian age, as it was thought earlier. The considered data substantiate confident structural correlation of both fragments of the Jurassic prism and of two regions in general.     

西藏西北部浅变质石英砂岩岩石学特征及其构造意义

羌塘盆地中央隆起带主要由浅变质石英砂岩组成,由于化石匮乏、变形强烈,长期以来对这套浅变质石英砂岩成因的争议颇大,导致了对藏西北地区前中生代构造演化的认识长期模糊不清,其中,何处才是冈瓦纳大陆北界就是一个长期争论的议题。在西藏西北部,近东西走向的布尔嘎错断裂带将北部的查多岗日地块与南部的南羌塘地块分隔开,浅变质石英砂岩广泛出露于这两地块之内。沿近东西走向布尔嘎错断裂带断续产出的冈玛错蓝片岩、蛇绿岩等岩片大体呈南北向逆冲于浅变质石英砂岩之上,因此早期曾认为布尔嘎错断裂带是冈瓦纳大陆之北界。本文的调查与研究发现查多岗日和南羌塘地块内浅变质石英砂岩岩相学特征完全相同,均主要由石英组成,遭受了绿片岩相的变质作用,形成了钠长石+绿泥石+白云母组合,充填于早期石英颗粒之间,钠长石交代钾长石。这两地的浅变质石英砂岩均被未变质钙质胶结的钾长石石英砂岩平行不整合覆盖。碎屑锆石的阴极发光分析与U-Pb定年结果进一步证实了查多岗日与南羌塘地块内浅变质石英砂岩内的锆石来源完全相同。这些证据充分反映了查多岗日与南羌塘地块早期构造演化过程相似,源自同一大陆。碎屑锆石定年结果进一步表明浅变质石英砂岩的最大沉积年龄为520±8Ma,该岩石再被约480Ma的花岗岩脉侵入,因此其很可能形成于晚寒武世,而不整合面之上沉积岩的最大沉积年龄为460±8Ma,表明该不整合面上、下沉积岩之间存在明显的沉积间断,证实了该平行不整合面形成于奥陶纪。不整合面之下的浅变质石英砂岩因此与杨耀等(2014)报道的荣玛组相同,不整合面之上未变质长石石英砂岩则属于中上奥陶统塔石山组。查多岗日地块因此是西藏境内最北端的冈瓦纳大陆的碎块。在西藏西北部,冈瓦纳大陆北界为龙木错-帮达错-(83°40'E、35°N)-红脊山-荣玛乡。布尔嘎错断裂带不是冈瓦纳大陆之北界。     

Composition of Monocrystalline Detrital and Authigenic Minerals,Metamorphic Grade,and Provenance of Torlesse and Waipapa Graywacke,Central North Island,New Zealand

Sandstones of the juxtaposed and partially coeval quartzofeldspathic Torlesse terrane and volcanogenic Waipapa terrane of North Island, New Zealand, are generally described as having been derived from silicic continental arc and evolved intermediate volcano-plutonic arc sources, respectively. Modal and chemical compositions of the two terranes differ slightly as a result. From textural considerations, their single-grain (unitary) detrital mineral populations are inferred to have been derived largely from the plutonic components in their sources. Intensive microscopic and electron microprobe study of two representative samples shows that the unitary detrital mineral assemblages in the two terranes are virtually identical, comprising quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, white mica, epidote, titanite, pumpellyite, ilmenite, rutile, tourmaline, zircon, and apatite. Detrital chlorite, garnet, and graphite also occur in the Torlesse sample, whereas amphibole, clinopyroxene, and prehnite occur in the Waipapa sample. Authigenic mineral assemblages are also similar, consisting of quartz, albite, chlorite, phengitic mica, epidote, titanite, pumpellyite, pyrite, and calcite. Stilpnomelane and pyrrhotite also occur in the Torlesse sample, and prehnite in the Waipapa specimen. These assemblages define upper prehnite-pumpellyite to lower pumpellyite-actinolite facies conditions (Torlesse) and lower prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphism (Waipapa). By comparison with published compositional data for minerals from plutonic, metamorphic, and volcanic rocks, electron microprobe analyses of individual minerals confirm that the unitary detrital grains in both terranes were largely derived from calc-alkaline S-type granitoid plutonic rocks. Contrasts in mineral compositions between the two terranes show that the Torlesse unitary mineral detritus was derived almost entirely from granodiorite, whereas the Waipapa grains originated from a mixed diorite, monzonite, and granodiorite plutonic component in their source. In neither terrane was detritus derived from granite in the strict sense. Although the plutonic components in their sources are lithologically similar, the compositional contrasts seen indicate that they were not coeval or spatial components of the same terrane. Detailed electron microprobe analysis of unitary detrital phases in low-grade metasedimentary rocks thus enables identification of specific source terrane lithotypes, and hence is a valuable complement to existing petrographic, modal, and chemical approaches that define more generalized provenances.     

藏北羌塘奥陶纪平行不整合面的厘定及其构造意义

西藏羌塘块体有无变质基底、其前新生代构造属性与演化过程是长期争论的议题。本文报道南羌塘块体北部,中、上奥陶统塔石山组底砾岩平行不整合于浅变质中厚层石英砂岩夹薄层泥灰岩之上。近600粒碎屑锆石测年结果表明浅变质石英砂岩的最大沉积年龄为527±7Ma,300余粒碎屑锆石测年结果表明塔石山组底部石英砂岩的最大沉积年龄为471±6Ma。不整合面上、下石英砂岩最大沉积年龄之差达56Myr,表明这两套石英砂岩之间存在明显的沉积间断,证实了该平行不整合面的时代为奥陶纪早期。另一独立的证据是在邻区发现了早奥陶世花岗岩类岩石(471~477Ma)侵位于该浅变质石英岩,因此将不整合面之下的浅变质石英岩暂命名为荣玛组,归入寒武系地层。阴极发光与年代学研究进一步表明不整合面之上的碎屑锆石主要来源于在"泛非"运动晚期形成的结晶岩,为近源锆石,表明"泛非运动"晚期所形成的结晶岩在奥陶纪早期就已隆升,遭受剥蚀,为区内中上奥陶统沉积岩的形成提供物质来源。该奥陶纪平行不整合面的发现,表明南羌塘块体与喜马拉雅、拉萨等块体相似,同属冈瓦纳大陆体系。南、北羌塘早古生代地层系统之间的显著差异表明在寒武-奥陶纪之交,南、北羌塘块体就已被古大洋盆分隔开,开始各自独立演化。     

Australian provenance for Upper Permian to Cretaceous rocks forming accretionary complexes on the New Zealand sector of the Gondwanaland margin

U–Pb (SHRIMP) detrital zircon age patterns are reported for 12 samples of Permian to Cretaceous turbiditic quartzo‐feldspathic sandstone from the Torlesse and Waipapa suspect terranes of New Zealand. Their major Permian to Triassic, and minor Early Palaeozoic and Mesoproterozoic, age components indicate that most sediment was probably derived from the Carboniferous to Triassic New England Orogen in northeastern Australia. Rapid deposition of voluminous Torlesse/Waipapa turbidite fans during the Late Permian to Late Triassic appears to have been directly linked to uplift and exhumation of the magmatically active orogen during the 265–230 Ma Hunter‐Bowen event. This period of cordilleran‐type orogeny allowed transport of large volumes of quartzo‐feldspathic sediment across the convergent Gondwanaland margin. Post‐Triassic depocentres also received (recycled?) sediment from the relict orogen as well as from Jurassic and Cretaceous volcanic provinces now offshore from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The detailed provenance‐age fingerprints provided by the detrital zircon data are also consistent with progressive southward derivation of sediment: from northeastern Queensland during the Permian, southeastern Queensland during the Triassic, and northeastern New South Wales — Lord Howe Rise — Norfolk Ridge during the Jurassic to Cretaceous. Although the dextral sense of displacement is consistent with the tectonic regime during this period, detailed characterisation of source terranes at this scale is hindered by the scarcity of published zircon age data for igneous and sedimentary rocks in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic age components cannot be adequately matched with likely source terranes in the Australian‐Antarctic Precambrian craton, and it is possible they originated in the Proterozoic cores of the Cathaysia and Yangtze Blocks of southeast China.     

Fluvial and lacustrine successions in the youngest part of the Murihiku Supergroup,New Zealand

Fossil-bearing Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous volcaniclastic sandstones and siltstones from the Murihiku Supergroup are described from the Kaimango Syncline South Auckland, New Zealand. These constitute the youngest known sedimentary succession within the Murihiku Supergroup (Murihiku Terrane). We concentrate on the youngest Matira Siltstone Formation which has yielded a rich but relatively low-diversity macroflora of ferns and gymnosperms, diverse miospore palynofloras, with fair to good preservation, and sporadic occurrences of bivalve and gastropod faunas. Collectively, the paleontology and sedimentology of this formation is interpreted to represent paludal and lacustrine deposition, with intercalated sandstones thought to represent fluvial channelised or deltaic settings. U-Pb dating of detrital zircons (DZ) from sandstones in the youngest formations, Mangatara Measures and Matira Siltstone, have provided significant components in the age range 140 to 143 Ma, possibly straddling the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, although miospores suggest a Late Jurassic correlation. Lacustrine and paludal depositional environments have not previously been recognised from the Murihiku Supergroup and this raises the prospect of their enhanced petroleum source rock potential in frontier basins to the north and east of New Zealand.