Upper mantle P-wave tomography across the Longmenshan fault belt from passive-source seismic observations along Aba-Longquanshan profile

A passive seismic experiment across the Longmenshan (LMS) fault belt had been conducted between August 2006 and July 2007 for the understanding of geodynamic process between the Eastern Tibet and Sichuan basin. We herein collected 3677 first P arrival times with high precision from seismograms of 288 teleseismic events so as to reconstruct the upper mantle velocity structure. Our results show that the depth of the Lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) changes from 70 km beneath Eastern Tibet to about 110 km beneath Longquanshan, Sichuan Basin, which is consistent with the receiver function imaging results. The very thin mantle part of the lithosphere beneath Eastern Tibet may suggest the lithosphere delamination due to strong interaction between the Tibetan eastward escaping flow and the rigid resisting Sichuan basin, which can be further supported by the existences of two high-velocity anomalies beneath LAB in our imaging result. We also find there are two related low-velocity anomalies beneath the LMS fault belt, which may indicate magmatic upwelling from lithosphere delamination and account for the origin of tremendous energy needed by the devastating Wenchuan earthquake.     

P-wave tomography and dynamics of the crust and upper mantle beneath western Tibet

The continental collision between the Indian and Asian plates plays a key role in the geologic and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan plateau. In this article we present high-resolution tomographic images of the crust and upper mantle derived from a large number of high-quality seismic data from the ANTILOPE project in western Tibet. Both local and distant earthquakes were used in this study and 35,115 P-wave arrival times were manually picked from the original seismograms. Geological and geochemical results suggested that the subducting Indian plate has reached northward to the Lhasa terrane, whereas our new tomography shows that the Indian plate is currently sub-horizontal and underthrusting to the Jinsha river suture at depths of ~ 100 to ~ 250 km, suggesting that the subduction process has evolved over time. The Asian plate is also imaged clearly from the surface to a depth of ~ 100 km by our tomography, and it is located under the Tarim Basin north of the Altyn Tagh Fault. There is no obvious evidence to show that the Asian plate has subducted beneath western Tibet. The Indian and Asian plates are separated by a prominent low-velocity zone under northern Tibet. We attribute the low-velocity zone to mantle upwelling, which may account for the warm crust and upper mantle beneath that region, and thus explain the different features of magmatism between southern and northern Tibet. But the upwelling may not penetrate through the whole crust. We propose a revised geodynamic model and suggest that the high-velocity zones under Lhasa terrane may reflect a cold crust which has interrupted the crustal flow under the westernmost Tibetan plateau.     

Amount of Asian lithospheric mantle subducted during the India/Asia collision

Body wave seismic tomography is a successful technique for mapping lithospheric material sinking into the mantle. Focusing on the India/Asia collision zone, we postulate the existence of several Asian continental slabs, based on seismic global tomography. We observe a lower mantle positive anomaly between 1100 and 900 km depths, that we interpret as the signature of a past subduction process of Asian lithosphere, based on the anomaly position relative to positive anomalies related to Indian continental slab. We propose that this anomaly provides evidence for south dipping subduction of North Tibet lithospheric mantle, occurring along 3000 km parallel to the Southern Asian margin, and beginning soon after the 45 Ma break-off that detached the Tethys oceanic slab from the Indian continent. We estimate the maximum length of the slab related to the anomaly to be 400 km. Adding 200 km of presently Asian subducting slab beneath Central Tibet, the amount of Asian lithospheric mantle absorbed by continental subduction during the collision is at most 600 km. Using global seismic tomography to resolve the geometry of Asian continent at the onset of collision, we estimate that the convergence absorbed by Asia during the indentation process is ~ 1300 km. We conclude that Asian continental subduction could accommodate at most 45% of the Asian convergence. The rest of the convergence could have been accommodated by a combination of extrusion and shallow subduction/underthrusting processes. Continental subduction is therefore a major lithospheric process involved in intraplate tectonics of a supercontinent like Eurasia.     

Lithospheric structure and crust–mantle decoupling in the southeast edge of the Tibetan Plateau

Convergence between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate has resulted in the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, and understanding the associated dynamical processes requires investigation of the structures of the crust and the lithosphere of the Tibetan Plateau. Yunnan is located in the southwest edge of the plateau and adjacent to Myanmar to the west. Previous observations have confirmed that there is a sharp transition in mantle anisotropy in this area, as well as clockwise rotations of the surface velocity, surface strain, and fault orientation. We use S receiver functions from 54 permanent broad-band stations to investigate the structures of the crust and the lithosphere beneath Yunnan. The depth of the Moho is found to range from 36 to 40 km beneath southern Yunnan and from 55 to 60 km beneath northwestern Yunnan, with a dramatic variation across latitude 25–26°N. The depth of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) ranges from 180 km to less than 70 km, also varying abruptly across latitude 25–26°N, which is consistent with the sudden change of the fast S-wave direction (from NW–SE to E–W across 26–28°N). In the north of the transition belt, the lithosphere is driven by asthenospheric flow from Tibet, and the crust and the upper mantle are mechanically coupled and moving southward. Because the northeastward movement of the crust in the Burma micro-plate is absorbed by the right-lateral Sagaing Fault, the crust in Yunnan keeps the original southward movement. However, in the south of the transition belt, the northeastward mantle flow from Myanmar and the southward mantle flow from Tibet interact and evolve into an eastward flow (by momentum conservation) as shown by the structure of the LAB. This resulting mantle flow has a direction different from that of the crustal movement. It is concluded that the Sagaing Fault causes the west boundary condition of the crust to be different from that of the lithospheric mantle, thus leading to crust–mantle decoupling in Yunnan.     

Lithospheric mantle structure of the Siberian craton inferred from the superlong Meteorite and Rift seismic profiles

Modeling of the seismic, thermal, and density structure of the Siberian craton lithospheric mantle at depths of 100-300 km has been performed along the superlong Meteorite and Rift seismic profiles. The 2D velocity sections reflect the specific features of the internal structure of the craton: lateral inhomogeneities, seismic-boundary relief at depths of ~ 100, 150, 240, and 300 km, velocities of 8.3-8.7 km/s, and the lack of low-velocity zone in the lower lithosphere. Mapping of the thermal state along the Meteorite and Rift profiles shows a significant temperature decrease in the cratonic mantle as compared with the average temperatures of the surrounding Phanerozoic mantle (> 300 °C) estimated from the global reference model AK135. Lateral temperature variations, reflecting the thermal anomalies in the cratonic keel, are observed at depths of < 200 km (with some decrease in temperature in the central part of the craton), whereas at depths of > 200 km, temperature variations are negligible. This suggests the preservation of residual thermal perturbations at the base of the lithosphere, which must lead to the temperature equalization in the transition zone between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. Variations in chemical composition have a negligible effect on the thermal state but affect strongly the density structure of the mantle. The results of modeling admit a significant fertilization of matter at depths more than 180-200 km and stratification of the cratonic mantle by chemical composition. The thicknesses of chemical (petrologic) and thermal boundary layers beneath the Siberian craton are estimated. The petrologic lithosphere is localized at depths of ~ 200 km. The bottom of the thermal boundary layer is close to the 1450 °C isotherm and is localized at a depth of 300 km, which agrees with heat flow and seismic-tomography data.     

Anomalous crustal and lithospheric mantle structure of southern part of the Vindhyan Basin and its geodynamic implications

Tectonically active Vindhyan intracratonic basin situated in central India, forms one of the largest Proterozoic sedimentary basins of the world. Possibility of hydrocarbon occurrences in thick sediments of the southern part of this basin, has led to surge in geological and geophysical investigations by various agencies. An attempt to synthesize such multiparametric data in an integrated manner, has provided a new understanding to the prevailing crustal configuration, thermal regime and nature of its geodynamic evolution. Apparently, this region has been subjected to sustained uplift, erosion and magmatism followed by crustal extension, rifting and subsidence due to episodic thermal interaction of the crust with the hot underlying mantle. Almost 5–6 km thick sedimentation took place in the deep faulted Jabera Basin, either directly over the Bijawar/Mahakoshal group of mafic rocks or high velocity-high density exhumed middle part of the crust. Detailed gravity observations indicate further extension of the basin probably beyond NSL rift in the south. A high heat flow of about 78 mW/m² has also been estimated for this basin, which is characterized by extremely high Moho temperatures (exceeding 1000 °C) and mantle heat flow (56 mW/m²) besides a very thin lithospheric lid of only about 50 km. Many areas of this terrain are thickly underplated by infused magmas and from some segments, granitic–gneissic upper crust has either been completely eroded or now only a thin veneer of such rocks exists due to sustained exhumation of deep seated rocks. A 5–8 km thick retrogressed metasomatized zone, with significantly reduced velocities, has also been identified around mid to lower crustal transition.     

Thermochemical structure of the North China Craton from multi-observable probabilistic inversion: Extent and causes of cratonic lithosphere modification

We present a 3D thermochemical model of the North China Craton (NCC) from the surface down to 350 km by jointly inverting surface wave phase velocity data, geoid height, surface heat flow and absolute elevation with a multi-observable probabilistic inversion method. Our model reveals a thin (~ 65–100 km) and chemically fertile lithosphere (87 < Mg# < 90) beneath the Eastern NCC, consistent with independent results from mantle xenoliths, and supports the idea that the Eastern NCC experienced significant lithospheric destruction and refertilization during the Phanerozoic. In contrast, beneath the Trans-North China Orogen, Inner Mongolia Suture Zone and Yinshan belt, we observe a more heterogeneous (chemically and thermally) lithosphere, indicating that these areas have been partly involved in lithospheric modification and mechanical erosion at multiple scales. A cold and chemically refractory (Mg# > 90) lithospheric mantle is imaged beneath the central TNCO and Ordos Block, reaching depths > 260 km. This lithospheric “keel” is surrounded to the east by a high-temperature sublithospheric anomaly that originates at depths > 280 km. The spatial distribution of this anomaly and its correlation with the location of recent volcanism in the region suggest that the anomaly represents a deep mantle upwelling being diverted by the cratonic keel and spreading onto regions of shallow lithosphere. Our results indicate that the present-day thermochemical structure beneath the NCC is the result of a complex interaction between a large-scale return flow associated with the subduction of the Pacific slab and the shallow lithospheric structure.     

An overview of the crustal structure of the Tibetan plateau after 35 years of deep seismic soundings

Since the pioneer wide-angle seismic profile along the Yadong–Gulu rift acquired in 1974 by the ex-Institute of Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), several research programs aimed to deep geophysics, performed thanks to the participation of Chinese national and international institutions, have been developed during last 35 years, including 23 wide-angle seismic profiles with total length of about 6000 km. These profiles are unevenly distributed, most of them in eastern Tibet and few profiles in western Tibet. In this paper, we make a summarized presentation of all these wide-angle seismic profiles and provide an overall view of the seismic velocity structure of the crust beneath the broad Tibetan plateau, which is the product of the continuous convergence and collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates since about 50 Ma ago. Different patterns of crustal thickness variation related to the tectonic blocks and along suture zones of the region are displayed. The crust thickness is confirmed to be about 70–75 km under southern Tibet, and 60–65 km under northern, northeastern and southeastern Tibet. The leading edge of the subducted lithosphere reaches the northern margin of the plateau and directly contacts with Tarim Basin. Westward of the 90°E boundary, the Indian crust is moving towards the northern edge of the plateau and collides with Tarim Basin at 80°E while reach the Bangong–Nujiang suture belt at 88°E; eastward of the 90°E boundary, the northern edge of the crust should be at 50–100 km south of Bangong–Nujiang suture. The results supply helpful constrains to understand the mechanism of the continent–continent collision and its consequences in the plateau and neighbouring areas.     

Seismic structure and rheology of the crust under mainland China

The crust and upper mantle in mainland China were relatively densely probed with wide-angle seismic profiling since 1958, and the data have provided constraints on the amalgamation and lithosphere deformation of the continent. Based on the collection and digitization of crustal P-wave velocity models along related wide-angle seismic profiles, we construct several crustal transects across major tectonic units in mainland China. In our study, we analyzed the seismic activity, and seismic energy releases during 1970 and 2010 along them. We present seismogenic layer distribution and calculate the yield stress envelopes of the lithosphere along the transects, yielding a better understanding of the lithosphere rheology strength beneath mainland China. Our results demonstrate that the crustal thicknesses of different tectonic provinces are distinctively different in mainland China. The average crustal thickness is greater than 65 km beneath the Tibetan Plateau, about 35 km beneath South China, and about 36–38 km beneath North China and Northeastern China. For the basins, the thickness is ~ 55 km beneath Qaidam, ~ 50 km beneath Tarim, ~ 40 km beneath Sichuan and ~ 35 km beneath Songliao. Our study also shows that the average seismic P-wave velocity is usually slower than the global average, equivalent with a more felsic composition of crust beneath the four tectonic blocks of mainland China resulting from the complex process of lithospheric evolution during Triassic and Cenozoic continent–continent and Mesozoic ocean–continent collisions. We identify characteristically different patterns of seismic activity distribution in different tectonic blocks, with bi-, or even tri-peak distribution of seismic concentration in South Tibet, which may suggest that crustal architecture and composition exert important control role in lithosphere deformation. The calculated yield stress envelopes of lithosphere in mainland China can be divided into three groups. The results indicate that the lithosphere rheology structure can be described by jelly sandwich model in eastern China, and crème brulee models with weak and strong lower crust corresponding to lithosphere beneath the western China and Kunlun orogenic belts, respectively. The spatial distribution of lithospheric rheology structure may provide important constraints on understanding of intra- or inter-plate deformation mechanism, and more studies are needed to further understand the tectonic process(es) accompanying different lithosphere rheology structures.     

Geophysical constraints on geodynamic processes at convergent margins: A global perspective

Convergent margins, being the boundaries between colliding lithospheric plates, form the most disastrous areas in the world due to intensive, strong seismicity and volcanism. We review global geophysical data in order to illustrate the effects of the plate tectonic processes at convergent margins on the crustal and upper mantle structure, seismicity, and geometry of subducting slab. We present global maps of free-air and Bouguer gravity anomalies, heat flow, seismicity, seismic Vs anomalies in the upper mantle, and plate convergence rate, as well as 20 profiles across different convergent margins. A global analysis of these data for three types of convergent margins, formed by ocean–ocean, ocean–continent, and continent–continent collisions, allows us to recognize the following patterns. (1) Plate convergence rate depends on the type of convergent margins and it is significantly larger when, at least, one of the plates is oceanic. However, the oldest oceanic plate in the Pacific ocean has the smallest convergence rate. (2) The presence of an oceanic plate is, in general, required for generation of high-magnitude (M > 8.0) earthquakes and for generating intermediate and deep seismicity along the convergent margins. When oceanic slabs subduct beneath a continent, a gap in the seismogenic zone exists at depths between ca. 250 km and 500 km. Given that the seismogenic zone terminates at ca. 200 km depth in case of continent–continent collision, we propose oceanic origin of subducting slabs beneath the Zagros, the Pamir, and the Vrancea zone. (3) Dip angle of the subducting slab in continent–ocean collision does not correlate neither with the age of subducting oceanic slab, nor with the convergence rate. For ocean–ocean subduction, clear trends are recognized: steeply dipping slabs are characteristic of young subducting plates and of oceanic plates with high convergence rate, with slab rotation towards a near-vertical dip angle at depths below ca. 500 km at very high convergence rate. (4) Local isostasy is not satisfied at the convergent margins as evidenced by strong free air gravity anomalies of positive and negative signs. However, near-isostatic equilibrium may exist in broad zones of distributed deformation such as Tibet. (5) No systematic patterns are recognized in heat flow data due to strong heterogeneity of measured values which are strongly affected by hydrothermal circulation, magmatic activity, crustal faulting, horizontal heat transfer, and also due to low number of heat flow measurements across many margins. (6) Low upper mantle Vs seismic velocities beneath the convergent margins are restricted to the upper 150 km and may be related to mantle wedge melting which is confined to shallow mantle levels.     

Density structure of the cratonic mantle in Southern Africa: 2. Correlations with kimberlite distribution,seismic velocities,and Moho sharpness

We present a new regional model for the depth-averaged density structure of the cratonic lithospheric mantle in southern Africa constrained on a 30′ × 30′ grid and discuss it in relation to regional seismic models for the crust and upper mantle, geochemical data on kimberlite-hosted mantle xenoliths, and data on kimberlite ages and distribution. Our calculations of mantle density are based on free-board constraints, account for mantle contribution to surface topography of ca. 0.5–1.0 km, and have uncertainty ranging from ca. 0.01 g/cm³ for the Archean terrains to ca. 0.03 g/cm³ for the adjacent fold belts. We demonstrate that in southern Africa, the lithospheric mantle has a general trend in mantle density increase from Archean to younger lithospheric terranes. Density of the Kaapvaal mantle is typically cratonic, with a subtle difference between the eastern, more depleted, (3.31–3.33 g/cm³) and the western (3.32–3.34 g/cm³) blocks. The Witwatersrand basin and the Bushveld Intrusion Complex appear as distinct blocks with an increased mantle density (3.34–3.35 g/cm³) with values typical of Proterozoic rather than Archean mantle. We attribute a significantly increased mantle density in these tectonic units and beneath the Archean Limpopo belt (3.34–3.37 g/cm³) to melt-metasomatism with an addition of a basaltic component. The Proterozoic Kheis, Okwa, and Namaqua–Natal belts and the Western Cape Fold Belt with the late Proterozoic basement have an overall fertile mantle (ca. 3.37 g/cm³) with local (100–300 km across) low-density (down to 3.34 g/cm³) and high-density (up to 3.41 g/cm³) anomalies. High (3.40–3.42 g/cm³) mantle densities beneath the Eastern Cape Fold belt require the presence of a significant amount of eclogite in the mantle, such as associated with subducted oceanic slabs.We find a strong correlation between the calculated density of the lithospheric mantle, the crustal structure, the spatial pattern of kimberlites, and their emplacement ages. (1) Blocks with the lowest values of mantle density (ca. 3.30 g/cm³) are not sampled by kimberlites and may represent the “pristine” Archean mantle. (2) Young (< 90 Ma) Group I kimberlites sample mantle with higher density (3.35 ± 0.03 g/cm³) than the older Group II kimberlites (3.33 ± 0.01 g/cm³), but the results may be biased by incomplete information on kimberlite ages. (3) Diamondiferous kimberlites are characteristic of regions with a low-density cratonic mantle (3.32–3.35 g/cm³), while non-diamondiferous kimberlites sample mantle with a broad range of density values. (4) Kimberlite-rich regions have a strong seismic velocity contrast at the Moho, thin crust (35–40 km) and low-density (3.32–3.33 g/cm³) mantle, while kimberlite-poor regions have a transitional Moho, thick crust (40–50 km), and denser mantle (3.34–3.36 g/cm³). We explain this pattern by a lithosphere-scale (presumably, pre-kimberlite) magmatic event in kimberlite-poor regions, which affected the Moho sharpness and the crustal thickness through magmatic underplating and modified the composition and rheology of the lithospheric mantle to make it unfavorable for consequent kimberlite eruptions. (5) Density anomalies in the lithospheric mantle show inverse correlation with seismic Vp, Vs velocities at 100–150 km depth. However, this correlation is weaker than reported in experimental studies and indicates that density-velocity relationship in the cratonic mantle is strongly non-unique.     

Mineral chemistry and zircon geochronology of xenocrysts and altered mantle and crustal xenoliths from the Aries micaceous kimberlite: Constraints on the composition and age of the central Kimberley Craton,Western Australia

The Neoproterozoic (∼ 820 Ma) Aries micaceous kimberlite intrudes the central Kimberley Basin, northern Western Australia, and has yielded a suite of 27 serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths, including spinel-bearing and rare, metasomatised, phlogopite–biotite and rutile-bearing types, along with minor granite xenoliths. Proton-microprobe trace-element analysis of pyrope and chromian spinel grains derived from heavy mineral concentrates from the kimberlite has been used to define a ∼ 35–40 mW/m² Proterozoic geotherm for the central Kimberley Craton. Lherzolitic chromian pyrope highly depleted in Zr and Y, and Cr-rich magnesiochromite xenocrysts (class 1), probably were derived from depleted garnet peridotite mantle at ∼ 150 km depth. Sampling of shallower levels of the lithospheric mantle by kimberlite magmas in the north and north-extension lobes entrained high-Fe chromite xenocrysts (class 2), and aluminous spinel-bearing xenoliths, where both spinel compositions are anomalously Fe-rich for spinels from mantle xenoliths. This Fe-enrichment may have resulted from Fe–Mg exchange with olivine during slow cooling of the peridotite host rocks. Fine exsolution rods of aluminous spinel in diopside and zircon in rutile grains in spinel- and rutile-bearing serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths, respectively, suggest nearly isobaric cooling of host rocks in the lithospheric mantle, and indicate that at least some aluminous spinel in spinel-facies peridotites formed through exsolution from chromian diopside. Fe–Ti-rich metasomatism in the spinel-facies Kimberley mantle probably produced high-Ti phlogopite–biotite + rutile and Ti, V, Zn, Ni-enriched aluminous spinel ± ilmenite associations in several ultramafic xenoliths. U–Pb SHRIMP ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon ages for one granite (1851 ± 10 Ma) and two serpentinised ultramafic xenoliths (1845 ± 30 Ma; 1861 ± 31 Ma) indicate that the granitic basement and lower crust beneath the central Kimberley Basin are at least Palaeoproterozoic in age. However, Hf-isotope analyses of the zircons in the ultramafic xenoliths suggest that the underlying lithospheric mantle is at least late Archean in age.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001065

It has been thought that granitic crust,having been formed on the surface,must have survived through the Earth’s evolution because of its buoyancy.At subduction zones continental crust is predominantly created by arc magmatism and is returned to the mantle via sediment subduction,subduction erosion, and continental subduction.Granitic rocks,the major constituent of the continental crust,are lighter than the mantle at depths shallower than 270 km,but we show here,based on first principles calculations, that beneath 270 km they have negative buoyancy compared to the surrounding material in the upper mantle and transition zone,and thus can be subducted in the depth range of 270-660 km.This suggests that there can be two reservoirs of granitic material in the Earth,one on the surface and the other at the base of the mantle transition zone(MTZ).The accumulated volume of subducted granitic material at the base of the MTZ might amount to about six times the present volume of the continental crust.Our calculations also show that the seismic velocities of granitic material in the depth range from 270 to 660 km are faster than those of the surrounding mantle.This could explain the anomalous seismic-wave velocities observed around 660 km depth.The observed seismic scatterers and reported splitting of the 660 km discontinuity could be due to jadeite dissociation,chemical discontinuities between granitic material and the surrounding mantle,or a combination thereof.     

A Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic reconstruction of the Southwest Pacific region: Tectonics controlled by subduction and slab rollback processes

A Cenozoic tectonic reconstruction is presented for the Southwest Pacific region located east of Australia. The reconstruction is constrained by large geological and geophysical datasets and recalculated rotation parameters for Pacific–Australia and Lord Howe Rise–Pacific relative plate motion. The reconstruction is based on a conceptual tectonic model in which the large-scale structures of the region are manifestations of slab rollback and backarc extension processes. The current paradigm proclaims that the southwestern Pacific plate boundary was a west-dipping subduction boundary only since the Middle Eocene. The new reconstruction provides kinematic evidence that this configuration was already established in the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene. From ∼ 82 to ∼ 52 Ma, subduction was primarily accomplished by east and northeast-directed rollback of the Pacific slab, accommodating opening of the New Caledonia, South Loyalty, Coral Sea and Pocklington backarc basins and partly accommodating spreading in the Tasman Sea. The total amount of east-directed rollback of the Pacific slab that took place from ∼ 82 Ma to ∼ 52 Ma is estimated to be at least 1200 km. A large percentage of this rollback accommodated opening of the South Loyalty Basin, a north–south trending backarc basin. It is estimated from kinematic and geological constraints that the east–west width of the basin was at least ∼ 750 km. The South Loyalty and Pocklington backarc basins were subducted in the Eocene to earliest Miocene along the newly formed New Caledonia and Pocklington subduction zones. This culminated in southwestward and southward obduction of ophiolites in New Caledonia, Northland and New Guinea in the latest Eocene to earliest Miocene. It is suggested that the formation of these new subduction zones was triggered by a change in Pacific–Australia relative motion at ∼ 50 Ma. Two additional phases of eastward rollback of the Pacific slab followed, one during opening of the South Fiji Basin and Norfolk Basin in the Oligocene to Early Miocene (up to ∼ 650 km of rollback), and one during opening of the Lau Basin in the latest Miocene to Present (up to ∼ 400 km of rollback). Two new subduction zones formed in the Miocene, the south-dipping Trobriand subduction zone along which the Solomon Sea backarc Basin subducted and the north-dipping New Britain–San Cristobal–New Hebrides subduction zone, along which the Solomon Sea backarc Basin subducted in the west and the North Loyalty–South Fiji backarc Basin and remnants of the South Loyalty–Santa Cruz backarc Basin subducted in the east. Clockwise rollback of the New Hebrides section resulted in formation of the North Fiji Basin. The reconstruction provides explanations for the formation of new subduction zones and for the initiation and termination of opening of the marginal basins by either initiation of subduction of buoyant lithosphere, a change in plate kinematics or slab–mantle interaction.     

Deciphering an Archean mantle plume: Abitibi greenstone belt,Canada

The 2724–2722 Ma Stoughton-Roquemaure Group (SRG) of the Abitibi greenstone belt (the Archean Superior Province, Canada) is a ≤ 2 km thick komatiite–basalt succession intermittently exposed for about 50 km along strike. The ultramafic and mafic rocks occur mainly as pillowed, brecciated, and massive flows with well preserved spinifex textures in the komatiites. Volcanological, comparative stratigraphic and geochemical studies of the group along a volcanic marker horizon at the base of the succession allow the assessment of magma emplacement processes and mantle source rocks. Major feeder channels, secondary distributary tubes surrounded by pillowed flows with minor breccias and hyaloclastites display facies architecture of small volume flow fields (1–2 km³). Within the SRG, Al-depleted (ADK; Barberton-type) and Al-undepleted (AUK; Munro-type) komatiitic lavas are intercalated with tholeiitic basalt flows at a m- to 10s of m scale. Basalts and komatiites are inferred to be mantle plume-related; both rock types form two groups with characteristics of ADK and AUK including Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ~ 9–12 for ADK versus 17–22 for AUK, as well as (Gd/Yb)_n with > 1.3 versus ~ 1, respectively. The interdigitation of compositionally different flow units, limited extent of SRG volcanic rocks and facies architecture with the prevalence of small volume flows argue for a relatively small, heterogeneous mantle plume during the incipient stage of the evolution of the Archean Abitibi belt. Assuming that the scale of heterogeneities is comparable to the field expression of compositional changes and stratigraphy, it can be suggested that geochemical plume ‘layering’ is on 10s to 100s of m-scale. The evolution of this Archean mantle plume from inception to demise compares favorably with the Yellowstone hotspot which is assumed to have developed over 17 m.y. and had a diameter of about 300 km.     

Mapping crustal structure beneath southern Tibet: Seismic evidence for continental crustal underthrusting

Receiver function imaging along a temporary seismic array (ANTILOPE-2) reveals detailed information of the underthrusting of the Indian crust in southern Tibet. The Moho dips northward from ~ 50 km to 80 km beneath the Himalaya terrane, and locally reaches ~ 85 km beneath the Indus–Yalung suture. It remains at ~ 80 km depth across the Lhasa terrane, and shallows to ~ 70 km depth under the Qiangtang terrane. An intra-crustal interface at ~ 60 km beneath the Lhasa terrane can be clearly followed southward through the Main Himalaya Thrust and connects the Main Boundary Thrust at the surface, which represents the border of the Indian crust that is underthrusting until south of the Bangong–Nujiang Suture. A mid-crustal low velocity zone is observed at depths of 14–30 km beneath the Lhasa and Himalaya terranes probably formed by partial melt and/or aqueous fluids.     

Density heterogeneity of the cratonic lithosphere: A case study of the Siberian Craton

Using free-board modeling, we examine a vertically-averaged mantle density beneath the Archean–Proterozoic Siberian Craton in the layer from the Moho down to base of the chemical boundary layer (CBL). Two models are tested: in Model 1 the base of the CBL coincides with the LAB, whereas in Model 2 the base of the CBL is at a 180 km depth. The uncertainty of density model is < 0.02 t/m³ or < 0.6% with respect to primitive mantle. The results, calculated at in situ and at room temperature (SPT) conditions, indicate a heterogeneous density structure of the Siberian lithospheric mantle with a strong correlation between mantle density variations and the tectonic setting. Three types of cratonic mantle are recognized from mantle density anomalies. ‘Pristine’ cratonic regions not sampled by kimberlites have the strongest depletion with density deficit of 1.8–3.0% (and SPT density of 3.29–3.33 t/m³ as compared to 3.39 t/m³ of primitive mantle). Cratonic mantle affected by magmatism (including the kimberlite provinces) has a typical density deficit of 1.0–1.5%, indicative of a metasomatic melt-enrichment. Intracratonic sedimentary basins have a high density mantle (3.38–3.40 t/m³ at SPT) which suggests, at least partial, eclogitization. Moderate density anomalies beneath the Tunguska Basin imply that the source of the Siberian LIP lies outside of the Craton. In situ mantle density is used to test the isopycnic condition of the Siberian Craton. Both CBL thickness models indicate significant lateral variations in the isopycnic state, correlated with mantle depletion and best achieved for the Anabar Shield region and other intracratonic domains with a strongly depleted mantle. A comparison of synthetic Mg# for the bulk lithospheric mantle calculated from density with Mg# from petrological studies of peridotite xenoliths from the Siberian kimberlites suggests that melt migration may produce local patches of metasomatic material in the overall depleted mantle.     

Zircon U–Pb ages of the Mianning–Dechang syenites,Sichuan Province,southwestern China: Constraints on the giant REE mineralization belt and its regional geological setting

The Himalayan Mianning–Dechang (MD) rare earth element (REE) belt in western Sichuan Province, southwestern China, is approximately 270 km long and 15 km wide, and contains total reserves of more than 3 Mt of light REEs (LREEs), comprising one giant (Maoniuping), one large (Dalucao), two small–medium-sized (Muluozhai and Lizhuang), and numerous smaller REE deposits. The belt occurs within the eastern Indo-Asian collision zone (EIACZ), where its location is controlled by large-scale strike-slip faults and tensional fissure zones. Himalayan carbonatite–syenite complexes consist predominantly of alkaline syenite stocks and carbonatite sills or dikes that host REE mineralization. Previous studies have reported inconsistent ages for alkaline magmatism syenite formation and REE mineralization. Here, we present new results of sensitive high-resolution ion micro-probe U–Pb dating of zircons from syenites from the Dalucao, Maoniuping, Lizhuang and Diaoloushan areas, the first systematic and precise age determinations for these rocks in the MD belt. The new data give concordant ages of 12.13 ± 0.19 and 11.32 ± 0.23 Ma for the Dalucao deposit, 22.81 ± 0.31 and 21.3 ± 0.4 Ma for Maoniuping, 26.77 ± 0.32 Ma for Muluozhai, and 27.41 ± 0.35 Ma for Lizhuang. These ages, which should be regarded as maximum ages for the REE mineralization in the study area, can be split into two groups, i.e. 11–12 Ma in the southern part of the MD belt and 12–27 Ma in the northern part, suggesting a progression of magmatism from north to south. These data suggest that the majority of carbonatite–syenite magmatism within the EIACZ occurred during the main stage of Himalayan metallogenesis. The ages presented in this study suggest that strike-slip shear along the MD belt was initiated at ca. 27 Ma and ended ca. 12 Ma. This timing is consistent with movements along the adjacent Ailaoshan–Red River strike-slip fault in southeastern Tibet (to the south of the MD belt) and one of the three Cenozoic strike-slip faults in eastern Tibet. Ascent of an asthenospheric mantle diapir beneath the EIACZ in the Cenozoic may have provided a thermal mechanism for the generation of magmas that formed the carbonatite–syenite complexes in the study area. Alternatitvely, the magmas may have been generated by decompression melting associated with the transition from a transpressional to a transtensional regime at 38–40 Ma. The precise age results for syenite magmatism in the study area indicate that this transition occurred prior to carbonatite–syenite magmatism and the formation of the MD REE belt, which is consistent with the regional tectonic model.     

3D thermal structure of the continental lithosphere beneath China and adjacent regions

Based on the Crust2.0 model and the topography data of Chinese continent and its adjacent regions, a three-dimensional finite element model is constructed in terms of the spherical coordinate system. In our numerical model, the average annual ground temperature from 195 meteorological stations and temperature of upper mantle derived from the seismic velocities are adopted as the top and bottom boundary conditions, respectively. The observed thermal conductivity and heat production from P wave velocity based on empirical formula are employed in our numerical model as well. The comparison between the calculated and observed surface heat flow proved that our results are reliable. The temperature beneath the Precambrian cratons is lower than that of other areas for 100–300 °C also. The typical temperature rang at the Moho is estimated to be 800–1000 °C beneath the Tibetan plateau and 500–700 °C beneath the Precambrian cratons (such as Indian plate, Sichuan basin, South China, North China and Tarim), respectively. The thermal state in the eastern part of Sino-Korean craton at the depth deeper than 60 km indicates that it was destructed. The thermal structure in center of Tibetan plateau (especially beneath Qiangtang area) supports the proposed flow of lower crustal or upper mantle material to the east. Generally, the distribution of volcanoes in Chinese continent is consistent with the high temperature areas in the crust or upper mantle. There are many obvious thermal transition zones across the orogenic belts. The thermal transition zone between eastern and western parts in the crust of Chinese continent is consistent with the north–south seismic zone.     

Post-collisional ultrapotassic rocks and mantle xenoliths in the Sailipu volcanic field of Lhasa terrane,south Tibet: Petrological and geochemical constraints on mantle source and geodynamic setting

Post-collisional ultrapotassic magmatic rocks (15.2–18.8 Ma), containing mantle xenoliths, are extensively distributed in the Sailipu volcanic field of the Lhasa terrane in south Tibet. They could be subdivided into high-MgO and low-MgO subgroups based on their petrological and geochemical characteristics. The high-MgO subgroup has olivine-I (Fo_87–92), phlogopite and clinopyroxene as phenocryst phases, while the low-MgO subgroup consists mainly of phlogopite, clinopyroxene and olivine-II (Fo_77–89). These ultrapotassic magmatic rocks have high MgO (4.6–14.5 wt%), Ni (145–346 ppm), Cr (289–610 ppm) contents, and display enrichment in light rare earth element (REE) over heavy REE and enriched large ion lithophile elements (LILE) relative to high field strength elements (HFSE) with strongly negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies in primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagrams. They have extremely radiogenic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i (0.7167–0.7274) and unradiogenic (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i (0.5118–0.5120), high (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (15.740–15.816) and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (39.661–39.827) at a given (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (18.363–18.790) with high δ¹⁸O values (7.3–9.7‰). Strongly linear correlations between depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt-source mantle (DMM) and the Indian continental crust (HHCS) in Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotopic diagrams indicate that the geochemical features could result from reaction between mantle peridotite and enriched components (fluids and melts) released by the eclogitized Indian continental crust (HHCS) in the mantle wedge. The high-MgO (13.7–14.5 wt%) subgroup displays higher (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i, lower (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i and (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i ratios and lower δ¹⁸O values compared with the low-MgO (4.6–8.8 wt%) subgroup. High Ni (850–4862 ppm) contents of olivine phenocrysts and high whole-rock SiO₂, NiO, low CaO contents indicate that the low-MgO ultrapotassic magmatic rocks are derived from partial melting of olivine-poor mantle pyroxenite. However, lower Ni concentrations of olivine phenocryst and lower whole-rock SiO₂, NiO, higher CaO contents of the high-MgO ultrapotassic rocks may indicate their peridotite mantle source. This could be attributed to different amounts of silicate-rich components added into the mantle sources of the parental magmas in the mantle wedge caused by the northward subduction of the Indian continental lithosphere. The reaction-formed websterite xenoliths, reported for the first time in this study, are made up of anhedral and interlocking clinopyroxene (45–65 vol%) and orthopyroxene (30–50 vol%) with minor phlogopite (< 3 vol%) and quartz (< 2 vol%) and are suggested to be formed by silicate metasomatism of the mantle peridotite. The harzburgites, another major type of mantle xenolith in south Tibet, have a mineral assemblage of olivine (60–75 vol%), orthopyroxene (20–35 vol%), clinopyroxene (< 3 vol%), phlogopite (< 2 vol%) and spinel (< 2 vol%) and may have experienced subduction-related metasomatism. Combined with two types of ultrapotassic magmas, we propose that compositions of mantle wedge beneath south Tibet may gradually evolve from harzburgite through lherzolite to websterite with strong metasomatism of silicate-rich components in their mantle source region. Partial melting of the enriched mantle sources could be triggered by rollback of Indian continental slab during 25–8 Ma in south Tibet.