Detrital zircon multi‐chronology,provenance, and low‐grade metamorphism of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex,eastern Shikoku,Southwest Japan: Tectonic evolution in response to igneous activity within a subduction zone

Detrital zircon multi‐chronology combined with provenance and low‐grade metamorphism analyses enables the reinterpretation of the tectonic evolution of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex in Southwest Japan. Detrital zircon U–Pb ages and provenance analysis defines the depositional age of trench‐fill turbidites associated with igneous activity in provenance. Periods of low igneous activity are recorded by youngest single grain zircon U–Pb ages (YSG) that approximate or are older than the depositional ages obtained from radiolarian fossil‐bearing mudstone. Periods of intensive igneous activity recorded by youngest cluster U–Pb ages (YC1σ) that correspond to the younger limits of radiolarian ages. The YC1σ U–Pb ages obtained from sandstones within mélange units provide more accurate younger depositional ages than radiolarian ages derived from mudstone. Determining true depositional ages requires a combination of fossil data, detrital zircon ages, and provenance information. Fission‐track ages using zircons estimated YC1σ U–Pb ages are useful for assessing depositional and annealing ages for the low‐grade metamorphosed accretionary complex. These new dating presented here indicates the following tectonic history of the accretionary wedge. Evolution of the Shimanto accretionary complex from the Albian to the Turonian was caused by the subduction of the Izanagi plate, a process that supplied sediments via the erosion of Permian and Triassic to Early Jurassic granitic rocks and the eruption of minor amounts of Early Cretaceous intermediate volcanic rocks. The complex subsequently underwent intensive igneous activity from the Coniacian to the early Paleocene as a result of the subduction of a hot and young oceanic slab, such as the Kula–Pacific plate. Finally, the major out‐of‐sequence thrusts of the Fukase Fault and the Aki Tectonic Line formed after the middle Eocene, and this reactivation of the Shimanto accretionary complex as a result of the subduction of the Pacific plate.     

Origin of the early Cenozoic belt boundary thrust and Izanagi–Pacific ridge subduction in the western Pacific margin

The belt boundary thrust within the Cretaceous–Neogene accretionary complex of the Shimanto Belt, southwestern Japan, extends for more than ~ 1 000 km along the Japanese islands. A common understanding of the origin of the thrust is that it is an out of sequence thrust as a result of continuous accretion since the late Cretaceous and there is a kinematic reason for its maintaining a critically tapered wedge. The timing of the accretion gap and thrusting, however, coincides with the collision of the Paleocene–early Eocene Izanagi–Pacific spreading ridges with the trench along the western Pacific margin, which has been recently re‐hypothesized as younger than the previous assumption with respect to the Kula‐Pacific ridge subduction during the late Cretaceous. The ridge subduction hypothesis provides a consistent explanation for the cessation of magmatic activity along the continental margin and the presence of an unconformity in the forearc basin. This is not only the case in southwestern Japan, but also along the more northern Asian margin in Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and Sikhote‐Alin. This Paleocene–early Eocene ridge subduction hypothesis is also consistent with recently acquired tomographic images beneath the Asian continent. The timing of the Izanagi–Pacific ridge subduction along the western Pacific margin allows for a revision of the classic hypothesis of a great reorganization of the Pacific Plate motion between ~ 47 Ma and 42 Ma, illustrated by the bend in the Hawaii–Emperor chain, because of the change in subduction torque balance and the Oligocene–Miocene back arc spreading after the ridge subduction in the western Pacific margin.     

Polyphase accretionary tectonics in the Jurassic to Cretaceous accretionary belts of central Japan

Abstract Mesozoic accretionary complexes of the southern Chichibu and the northern Shimanto Belts, widely exposed in the Kanto Mountains, consist of 15 tectonostratigraphic units according to radiolarian biochronologic data. The units show a zonal arrangement of imbricate structure and the age of the terrigenous clastics of each unit indicates successive and systematic southwestward younging. Although rocks in these complexes range in age from Carboniferous to Cretaceous, the trench-fill deposits corresponding to the Hauterivian, the Aptian to Middle Albian and the Turonian are missing. A close relationship between the missing accretionary complexes and the development of strike-slip basins is recognizable. The tectonic nature of the continental margin might have resulted from a change from a convergent into a transform or oblique-slip condition, so that strike-slip basins were formed along the mobile zones on the ancient accretionary complexes. Most terrigenous materials were probably trapped by the strike-slip basins. Then, the accretion of the clastic rock sequence occurred, probably as a result of the small supply of terrigenous materials in the trench. However, in the case of right-angle subduction, terrigenous materials might have been transported to the trench through submarine canyons and deposited there. Thus, the accretionary complexes grew rapidly and thickened. Changes both in oceanic plate motion and in the fluctuation of terrigenous supply due to the sedimentary trap caused pulses of accretionary complex growth during Jurassic and Cretaceous times. In the Kanto Mountains, three tectonic phases are recognized, reflecting the changes of the consuming direction of the oceanic plates along the eastern margin of the Asian continent. These are the Early Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous right-angle subduction of the Izanagi Plate, the Early to early Late Cretaceous strike-slip movement of the Izanagi and Kula Plates, and the late Late Cretaceous right-angle subduction of the Kula Plate.     

Tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex, central Japan: Constraints from a fluid inclusion analysis of syn-tectonic veins

Abstract   Micro-thermometry of water-rich fluid inclusions from two syn-tectonic veins sets ( D1 and D2 veins) in the Otaki Group, part of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex of the Kanto Mountains, central Japan reveals the following tectono-metamorphic evolution. Combining the results of microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions from D1 veins with an assumed geothermal gradient of 20–50°C/km indicates that the temperature and fluid pressure conditions during D1 were 270–300°C and 140–190 MPa, respectively. Peak metamorphic conditions during the development of D2 slaty cleavage involved temperatures in excess of 300°C and fluid pressures greater than 270 MPa, based on analyses of microthermometry of water-rich fluid inclusions from the D2 vein and illite crystallinity. The estimated fluid pressure increased by approximately 80 MPa from D1 accretionary processes to metamorphism and slaty cleavage development during D2 . Assuming that fluid pressure reached lithostatic pressure, the observed increase in fluid pressure can be accounted for by thrusting of the Jurassic Chichibu accretionary complex over the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex. Following thrusting, both accretionary complexes were subjected to metamorphism during the latest Cretaceous.     

Normal faults in an accretionary complex formed at trench-trench-ridge triple junction, as an indicator of angle between the trench and subducted ridge

Abstract Normal faults parallel to the trend of an active ridge are formed in the accretionary prism at trench-trench-ridge triple junction, due to continuous spreading of the subducted ridge. Normal faults are observed in the Nabae and Mugi sub-belts, accretionary zones formed by ridge subduction in the Shimanto Belt. Igneous and sedimentary dykes intrude through the previous normal faults. Using these fault and dyke data, intermediate principal axis of stress relating to the normal faulting is determined, and is fitted to the trend of the subducted ridge. Normal faults formed by ridge subduction are useful for plate reconstruction.     

酒泉盆地群热演化史恢复及其对比研究

酒泉盆地群是由两期不同性质、不同世代盆地叠加而成的 .晚侏罗纪-早白垩世为拉张断陷盆地 ,第三纪以来为挤压坳陷盆地 .酒泉盆地群现今地温梯度及大地热流值都较低 ,地温梯度主要在 2 51- 3 0 0℃ /1 0 0m之间 ,大地热流值在 50- 57mW /m2 之间 .酒泉盆地群中生代晚期为拉张断陷 ,古地温梯度高 ,可达 3 75- 4 50℃ /1 0 0m ,新生代以来地温梯度逐渐降低 ,而花海盆地、酒西盆地石北凹陷沉降幅度小 ,古地温高于今地温 .下白垩统烃源岩热演化程度受古地温控制 .主生烃期仅有一次 ,为早白垩世晚期 .酒西盆地青西凹陷、酒东盆地营尔凹陷在新生代以来大幅度沉降 ,下白垩统烃源岩热演化程度受现今地温控制 .主生烃期有两次 ,一次为早白垩世晚期 ,另一次为晚第三纪以来 ,且以晚第三纪以来为主 .不同盆地及同一盆地不同构造单元由于构造热演化史的不同 ,主生烃期及油气勘探前景明显不同 .     

Cretaceous episodic growth of the Japanese Islands

Abstract The Japanese Islands formed rapidly in situ along the eastern Asian continental margin in the Cretaceous due to both tectonic and magmatic processes. In the Early Cretaceous, huge oceanic plateaus created by the mid-Panthalassa super plume accreted with the continental margin. This tectonic interaction of oceanic plateau with continental crust is one of the significant tectonic processes responsible for continental growth in subduction zones. In the Japanese Islands, Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene continental growth is much more episodic and drastic. At this time the continental margin uplifted regionally, and intra-continent collision tectonics took place in the northern part of the Asian continent. The uplifting event appears to have been caused by the subduction of very young oceanic crust (i.e. the Izanagi-Kula Plate) along the continental margin. Magmatism was also very active, and melting of the young oceanic slab appears to have resulted in ubiquitous plutons in the continental margin. Regional uplift of the continental margin and intra-continent collision tectonics promoted erosion of the uplifted area, and a large amount of terrigenous sediment was abruptly supplied to the trench. As a result of the rapid supply of terrigenous detritus, the accretionary complexes (the Hidaka Belt in Hokkaido and the Shimanto Belt in Southwest Japan) grew rapidly in the subduction zone. The rapid growth of the accretionary complexes and the subduction of very young, buoyant oceanic crust caused the extrusion of a high-P/T metamorphic wedge from the deep levels of the subduction zone. Episodic growth of the Late Cretaceous Japanese Islands suggests that subduction of very young oceanic crust and/or ridge subduction are very significant for the formation of new continental crust in subduction zones.     

Rapid evolution of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu, southwestern Japan

Abstract   Detailed geologic examination of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu revealed that the oceanic plate was composed of Paleocene to Lower Eocene mudstone and siliceous mudstone, lower Middle Eocene red mudstone, and mid-Middle Eocene trench-fill turbidite with siltstone breccia, successively overlying the pre-Eocene oceanic plate. This oceanic plate sequence was overlain by Upper Eocene siltstone. Deposition of the lower Middle Eocene red mudstone was accompanied by basalt flows and it is interbedded with continental felsic tuff, which indicates that the basalt and red mudstone were deposited near the trench just before accretion. The Hyuga Group has very similar geological structure to that of the chert–clastic complexes found in the Jurassic accretionary complexes in Japan: that is, a decollement fault formed in the middle of an oceanic plate sequence, and an imbricate structure formed only in the upper part of the sequence. Thus, it appears that the Hyuga Group was formed by the same accretionary process as the Jurassic accretionary complexes. No accretion occurred before the Middle Eocene, and the rapid accretion of the Hyuga Group was commenced by the supply of coarse terrigenous sediments in the mid-Middle Eocene, when the direction of movement of the Pacific Plate changed. The pre-Eocene oceanic basement and lower Middle Eocene volcanic activity suggest that the oceanic plate partly preserved in the Hyuga Group was very similar to the northern part of the present West Philippine Sea Plate.     

Thermal evolution of the Tertiary Shimanto Belt, Muroto Peninsula, Shikoku, Japan

Abstract The Shimanto accretionary complex on the Muroto Peninsula of Shikoku comprises two major units of Tertiary strata: the Murotohanto Sub-belt (Eocene-Oligocene) and the Nabae Sub-belt (Oligocene-Miocene). Both sub-belts have been affected by thermal overprints following the peak of accretion-related deformation. Palaeotemperatures for the entire Tertiary section range from ～ 140 to 315°C, based upon mean vitrinite reflectance values of 0.9–5.0%R_m. Values of illite crystallinity index are consistent with conditions of advanced diagenesis and anchimetamorphism. Illite/mica b₀ lattice dimensions indicate that burial pressures were probably no greater than 2.5kbar. In general, levels of thermal maturity are higher for the Murotohanto Sub-belt than for the Nabae Sub-belt. The Eocene-Oligocene strata also display a spatial decrease in thermal maturity from south to north and this pattern probably was caused by regional-scale differential uplift following peak heating. Conversely, the palaeothermal structure within the Nabae Sub-belt is fairly uniform, except for the local effects of mafic intrusions at the tip of Cape Muroto. There is a paleotemperature difference of ～ 90°C across the boundary between the Murotohanto and Nabae Sub-belts (Shiina-Narashi fault), and this contrast is consistent with approximately 1200 m of post-metamorphic vertical offset. Subduction prior to Middle Miocene probably involved the Kula or fused Kula-Pacific plate and the background geothermal gradient during the Eocene-Oligocene phase of accretion was ～ 30–35°C/km. Rapid heating of the Shimanto Belt evidently occurred immediately after a Middle Miocene reorganization of the subduction boundary. Hot oceanic lithosphere from the Shikoku Basin first entered the subduction zone at ～ 15 Ma; this event also coincided with the opening of the Sea of Japan and the rapid clockwise rotation of southwest Japan. The background geothermal gradient at that time was ～ 70°C/km. Whether or not all portions of the inherited (Eocene-Oligocene) palaeothermal structure were overprinted during the Middle Miocene remains controversial.     

Jurassic accretion tectonics of Japan

Abstract The Jurassic accretionary complex and coeval granites in Japan represent remnants of the Jurassic arc-trench system developed between the Asian continent and Pacific Ocean. The Jurassic accretionary complex occurs as a large-scale nappe that is tectonically sandwiched between the overlying pre-Jurassic nappes and underlying post-Jurassic nappes. By virtue of new research styles (microfossil mapping and chronometric mapping) the following new views of the Jurassic accretionary complex in Japan, that suggest those for on-land exposed ancient accretionary complexes in general, have been obtained: (i) the accretion age of the Jurassic accretionary complex ranges over ～ 80 million years from the latest Triassic to earliest Cretaceous according to a reconstructed stratigraphy of component rocks (oceanic plate stratigraphy); (ii) the accretionary complex is subdivided into several nappe units, each characterized by unique oceanic plate stratigraphy; (iii) a tectonically downward-younging polarity is observed in the piled nappes; (iv) the Jurassic accretionary complex is composed of coherent-type and chaotic-type units, the former retaining the primary accretionary structures while the latter are characterized by collapsed and secondarily mixed materialslfabrics derived from the former; (v) the chaotic-type units predominate in volume over the coherent-type units; (vi) the accretionary complex suffered from a regional low-grade metamorphism (up to the lower greenschist facies) within ～10–20 million years after the accretion timing; and (vii) the lateral extent of the Jurassic accretionary complex in East Asia is intermittently traced from the Koryak mountains in Russia to North Palawan in the west Philippines for ～6000 km. Discussion focuses on (i) the low preservation ratio of the coherent-type units to the chaotic-type units with respect to frequent subduction erosion by seamount subduction; (ii) absence of the Franciscan-type melange, suggesting sedimentary mixing origin for the chaotic-type unit; (iii) a growth rate of the Jurassic accretionary complex compatible to modern analogues; and (iv) the total volume of the Jurassic accretionary complex in Japan with respect to the most likely terrigeiious elastics source along the 250 Ma continent-continent collision suture in central China (between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze blocks).     

Triassic warm subduction in northeast Turkey: Evidence from the Ağvanis metamorphic rocks

Within the Tethyan realm, data for the subduction history of the Permo–Triassic Tethys in the form of accretionary complexes are scarce, coming mainly from northwest Turkey and Tibet. Herein we present field geological, petrological and geochronological data on a Triassic accretionary complex, the A?vanis metamorphic rocks, from northeast Turkey. The A?vanis metamorphic rocks form a SSE–NNW trending lozenge‐shaped horst, ～20 km long and ～6 km across, bounded by the strands of the active North Anatolian Fault close to the collision zone between the Eastern Pontides and the Menderes–Taurus Block. The rocks consist mainly of greenschist‐ to epidote‐amphibolite‐facies metabasite, phyllite, marble and minor metachert and serpentinite, interpreted as a metamorphic accretionary complex based on the oceanic rock types and ocean island basaltic, mid‐ocean ridge basaltic and island‐arc tholeiitic affinities of the metabasites. This rock assemblage was intruded by stocks and dikes of Early Eocene quartz diorite, leucogranodiorite and dacite porphyry. Metamorphic conditions are estimated to be 470–540°C and ～0.60–0.90 GPa. Stepwise ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of phengite–muscovite separates sampled outside the contact metamorphic aureoles yielded steadily increasing age spectra with the highest incremental stage corresponding to age values ranging from ～180 to 209 Ma, suggesting that the metamorphism occurred at ≥ 209 Ma. Thus, the A?vanis metamorphic rocks represent the vestiges of the Late Triassic or slightly older subduction in northeast Turkey. Estimated P–T conditions indicate higher temperatures than those predicted by steady state thermal models for average subduction zones, and can best be accounted for by a hot subduction zone, similar to the present‐day Cascadia. Contact metamorphic mineral assemblages around an Early Eocene quartz diorite stock, on the other hand, suggest that the present‐day erosion level was at depths of ～14 km during the Early Eocene, indicative of reburial of the metamorphic rocks. Partial disturbance of white‐mica Ar–Ar age spectra was probably caused by the reburial coupled with heat input by igneous activity, which is probably related to thrusting due to the continental collision between Eastern Pontides and the Menderes–Taurus Block.     

Episodic exhumation of accretionary complexes: Fission-track thermochronologic evidence from the Shimanto Belt and its vicinities, southwest Japan

Abstract Apatite and zircon fission-track (FT) analyses of the Shimanto accretionary complex and its vicinities, southwest Japan, unraveled the episodic material migration of the deep interiors of the accretionary complex. Apatite data with 100°C closure temperature (T_e) generally indicate ~10 Ma cooling throughout the Shimanto complex. In contrast, zircon data with 260°C T_e exhibit a wide range of apparent ages as a consequence of paleotemperature increase to the zircon partial annealing zone. In the Muroto and Kyushu regions, maximum temperatures tend to have been higher in the northern, older part of the complex, with indistinguishable temperature differences between coherent and melange units adjacent to each other. It thus suggests, along with vitrinite reflectance data, that older accretionary units occurring to the north sustain greater maximum burial during the accretion-burial-exhumation process. Zircon data suggest two cooling episodes: ~70 Ma cooling at widespread localities in the Cretaceous Shimanto Belt and Sambagawa Belt, and ~15 Ma cooling in the central Kii Peninsula. The former is consistent with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar cooling ages from the Sambagawa Belt, whereas the latter slightly predates the widespread 10 Ma apatite cooling ages. These data imply that the extensive material migration and exhumation took place in and around the Shimanto complex in Late Cretaceous as well as in Middle Miocene. Considering tectonic factors to control evolution of accretionary complexes, the episodic migration is best explained by accelerated accretion of sediments due to increased sediment influx at the ancient Shimanto trench, probably derived from massive volcano-plutonic complexes contemporaneously placed inland. Available geo- and thermochronologic data suggest that extensive magmatism triggered regional exhumation twice in the past 100 Ma, shedding new light on the cordilleran orogeny and paired metamorphism concepts.     

Subduction history of the Paleo-Pacific slab beneath Eurasian continent: Mesozoic-Paleogene magmatic records in Northeast Asia

This paper presents a review on the rock associations, geochemistry, and spatial distribution of Mesozoic-Paleogene igneous rocks in Northeast Asia. The record of magmatism is used to evaluate the spatial-temporal extent and influence of multiple tectonic regimes during the Mesozoic, as well as the onset and history of Paleo-Pacific slab subduction beneath Eurasian continent. Mesozoic-Paleogene magmatism at the continental margin of Northeast Asia can be subdivided into nine stages that took place in the Early-Middle Triassic, Late Triassic, Early Jurassic, Middle Jurassic, Late Jurassic, early Early Cretaceous, late Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, and Paleogene, respectively. The Triassic magmatism is mainly composed of adakitic rocks, bimodal rocks, alkaline igneous rocks, and A-type granites and rhyolites that formed in syn-collisional to post-collisional extensional settings related to the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. However, Triassic calc-alkaline igneous rocks in the Erguna-Xing’an massifs were associated with the southward subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic slab. A passive continental margin setting existed in Northeast Asia during the Triassic. Early Jurassic calc-alkaline igneous rocks have a geochemical affinity to arc-like magmatism, whereas coeval intracontinental magmatism is composed of bimodal igneous rocks and A-type granites. Spatial variations in the potassium contents of Early Jurassic igneous rocks from the continental margin to intracontinental region, together with the presence of an Early Jurassic accretionary complex, reveal that the onset of the Paleo- Pacific slab subduction beneath Eurasian continent occurred in the Early Jurassic. Middle Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous magmatism did not take place at the continental margin of Northeast Asia. This observation, combined with the occurrence of low-altitude biological assemblages and the age population of detrital zircons in an Early Cretaceous accretionary complex, indicates that a strike-slip tectonic regime existed between the continental margin and Paleo-Pacific slab during the Middle Jurassic to early Early Cretaceous. The widespread occurrence of late Early Cretaceous calc-alkaline igneous rocks, I-type granites, and adakitic rocks suggests low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab beneath Eurasian continent at this time. The eastward narrowing of the distribution of igneous rocks from the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene, and the change from an intracontinental to continental margin setting, suggest the eastward movement of Eurasian continent and rollback of the Paleo- Pacific slab at this time.     

Chert–clastic sequence in the Cretaceous Shimanto Accretionary Complex on the central Kii Peninsula,SW Japan

Ocean plate stratigraphy (OPS) within an ancient accretionary complex provides important information for understanding the history of an oceanic plate from its origin at a mid‐ocean ridge to its subduction at a trench. Here, we report a recently discovered chert–clastic sequence (CCS) that comprises a continuous succession from pelagic sediments to terrigenous clastics and which constitutes part of the OPS in the Akataki Complex within the Cretaceous Shimanto Accretionary Complex on the central Kii Peninsula, SW Japan. As well as describing this sequence, we present U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from terrigenous clastic rocks in the CCS, results for which show that the youngest single grain and youngest cluster ages belong to the Santonian–Campanian and are younger than the radiolarian age from the underlying pelagic sedimentary rock (late Albian–Cenomanian). Thus, the CCS records the movement history of the oceanic plate from pelagic sedimentation (until the late Albian–Cenomanian) to a terrigenous sediment supply (Santonian–Campanian).     

Heat influx and exhumation of the Shimanto accretionary complex: Miocene fission track ages from the Kii Peninsula, southwest Japan

Abstract   To determine how local geological events contributed to the evolution of accretionary complexes and eventual exposure of rocks with different structural levels, geochronological mapping was carried out using fission track (FT) analysis at the Kii Peninsula, southwest Japan. At this site, the original zonal structure of Cretaceous accretionary complexes parallel to the subduction zone is disturbed by the northward projection of the Shimanto accretionary complex. Twenty-six zircon FT ages were obtained from an area of ∼12 km in an east–west direction and ∼15 km in a north–south direction, and classified into three groups: (i) ages ∼15 Ma (range ∼10–20 Ma), which are distributed along the northwest–southeast valley; (ii) ages of ∼50 Ma in the northwest of the study area; and (iii) ages older than those in Groups 1 and 2. Based on results from eight zircon FT length distributions, the Miocene ages appear to be the result of spatial variations in heat influx and cooling after the regional exhumation of the area, as recorded by FT ages of ∼50 Ma.     

江汉盆地南部热史与下志留统海相烃源岩成熟度演化研究

应用含油气盆地热史模拟系统, 对江汉盆地南部的钻井资料进行了模拟计算, 恢复了研究区的热史和埋藏史. 在此基础上, 正演了下志留统烃源岩成熟度的演化史. 研究结果表明,江汉盆地在印支期(240 Ma)以前处于稳定的低热流(50～55 mW/m²)状态, 印支期后热流开始整体升高. 潜北断裂以北地区的热流在中燕山期(155 Ma)达到峰值(～72 mW/m²), 断裂以南的热流在晚燕山期(40 Ma)达到峰值(～76 mW/m²). 晚喜山期后, 整个研究区的热流快速下降, 盆地开始冷却. 早三叠世末, 下志留统烃源岩在枝江、当阳、沔阳凹陷一带率先进入生油门限, 早侏罗世至早白垩世末烃源岩进入快速增熟期, 成熟度具有北高南低的特征. 晚白垩世末, 烃源岩热演化特征表现为东强西弱. 到了新近纪末, 烃源岩热演化终止. 研究区热史恢复和下志留统烃源岩成熟度演化的研究为合理评估烃源岩生烃量、排烃量和油气资源量提供了科学依据.     

Alpine tectonic evolution of a Jurassic subduction-accretionary complex: Deformation,kinematics and Ar/Ar age constraints on the Mesozoic low-grade schists of the Circum-Rhodope Belt in the eastern Rhodope-Thrace region,Bulgaria-Greece

Deformation of the Circum-Rhodope Belt Mesozoic (Middle Triassic to earliest Lower Cretaceous) low-grade schists underneath an arc-related ophiolitic magmatic suite and associated sedimentary successions in the eastern Rhodope-Thrace region occurred as a two-episode tectonic process: (i) Late Jurassic deformation of arc to margin units resulting from the eastern Rhodope-Evros arc–Rhodope terrane continental margin collision and accretion to that margin, and (ii) Middle Eocene deformation related to the Tertiary crustal extension and final collision resulting in the closure of the Vardar ocean south of the Rhodope terrane. The first deformational event D₁ is expressed by Late Jurassic NW-N vergent fold generations and the main and subsidiary planar-linear structures. Although overprinting, these structural elements depict uniform bulk north-directed thrust kinematics and are geometrically compatible with the increments of progressive deformation that develops in same greenschist-facies metamorphic grade. It followed the Early-Middle Jurassic magmatic evolution of the eastern Rhodope-Evros arc established on the upper plate of the southward subducting Maliac-Meliata oceanic lithosphere that established the Vardar Ocean in a supra-subduction back-arc setting. This first event resulted in the thrust-related tectonic emplacement of the Mesozoic schists in a supra-crustal level onto the Rhodope continental margin. This Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectonic event related to N-vergent Balkan orogeny is well-constrained by geochronological data and traced at a regional-scale within distinct units of the Carpatho-Balkan Belt. Following subduction reversal towards the north whereby the Vardar Ocean was subducted beneath the Rhodope margin by latest Cretaceous times, the low-grade schists aquired a new position in the upper plate, and hence, the Mesozoic schists are lacking the Cretaceous S-directed tectono-metamorphic episode whose effects are widespread in the underlying high-grade basement. The subduction of the remnant Vardar Ocean located behind the colliding arc since the middle Cretaceous was responsible for its ultimate closure, Early Tertiary collision with the Pelagonian block and extension in the region caused the extensional collapse related to the second deformational event D₂. This extensional episode was experienced passively by the Mesozoic schists located in the hanging wall of the extensional detachments in Eocene times. It resulted in NE-SW oriented open folds representing corrugation antiforms of the extensional detachment surfaces, brittle faulting and burial history beneath thick Eocene sediments as indicated by 42.1–39.7 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar mica plateau ages obtained in the study. The results provide structural constraints for the involvement components of Jurassic paleo-subduction zone in a Late Jurassic arc-continental margin collisional history that contributed to accretion-related crustal growth of the Rhodope terrane.     

Illite crystallinity study of the Cretaceous Shimanto Belt in the Akaishi Mountains, eastern Southwest Japan

Abstract Illite crystallinity (IC) analyses in the Upper Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex of the southern Akaishi Mountains, eastern Southwest Japan confirm the applicability of this technique for evaluating the grade of diagenesis/metamorphism in a sediment-dominated accretionary complex. Reproducibility analyses of IC values show a variance of about 15% from the mean. Data from three traverses, which transect across-strike sections of ∼25 km, clearly demonstrate that the IC distributions have specific overall trends. The IC values belong to the lQwer anchizone and the zone of diagenesis. The IC distributions may be controlled locally by structural features, but there are no distinct relationships with regional-scale geological structures. This may indicate that the heterogeneous geothermal rise affected the pre-existing structural and diagenetic/metamorphic framework of the accretionary sequence. Along-strike variations of grade tend to increase toward the northeast where a Middle Miocene granitoid occurs. Hence, the original diagenetic/metamorphic framework of this part of the Shimanto Belt was presumably overprinted during the Middle Miocene.     

Geological relationship between Anyui Metamorphic Complex and Samarka terrane,Far East Russia

The Anyui Metamorphic Complex (AMC) of Cretaceous age is composed of metachert, schist, gneiss, migmatite and ultramafic rocks, and forms a dome structure within the northernmost part of the Jurassic accretionary complex of the Samarka terrane. The two adjacent geological units are bounded by a fault, but the gradual changes of grain size and crystallinity index of quartz in chert and metachert of the Samarka terrane and the AMC, together with the gradual lithological change, indicate that at least parts of the AMC are metamorphic equivalents of the Samarka rocks. Radiolarian fossils from siliceous mudstone of the Samarka terrane indicates Tithonian age (uppermost Jurassic), and hence, form a slightly later accretion. This signifies that the accretionary complex in the study area is one of the youngest tectonostratigraphic units of the Samarka terrane. The relationship between the Samarka terrane and AMC, as well as their ages and lithologies, are similar to those of the Tamba–Mino–Ashio terrane and Ryoke Metamorphic Complex in southwest Japan. In both areas the lower (younger) part of the Jurassic accretionary complexes were intruded and metamorphosed by Late Cretaceous granitic magma. Crustal development of the Pacific‐type orogen has been achieved by the cycle of: (i) accretion of oceanic materials and turbidites derived from the continent; and (ii) granitic intrusion by the next subduction and accretion events, accompanied by formation of high T/P metamorphic complexes.     

Tectonic thermal history and its significance on the formation of oil and gas accumulation and mineral deposit in Ordos Basin

The analyzing data on stratigraphic temperature measurement, thermal conductivity of the strata and radioactive heat production rate show that the present average geothermal gradient in the Ordos Basin is 2.93 °C/100 m, and the average heat flow value is 61.78 mW/m², which belongs to the mesothermal basin, and the value of the present geothermal gradient and heat flow in the east is higher than that in the west. The sandstone radioactive heat production rate of Zhiluo Group in Dongsheng Uranium deposits of Yimeng uplift is obviously higher in the mudstone, indicating that there exists a uranium anomaly. Based on studies of the present thermal field of the basin, the late-Mesozoic paleotemperature and paleogeothermal gradient are determined by using different kinds of paleotemperature methods. According to the anomaly of the late-Mesozoic paleotemperature gradient and magmatic event age, there was a tectonic thermal event in the early Cretaceous epoch of late-Mesozoic. This article rebuilds tectonic thermal history of different tectonic units by thermal history simulation using basin simulating software. The evolution of oil-gas and coal, and accumulation (mineralization) of mineral uranium are all controlled by the tectonic thermal history in the Ordos basin, especially by the tectonic thermal event that happened in the late Mesozoic. For both the gas source rocks of upper Paleozoic group and lower paleozoic group, the gas was largely generated in the early Cretaceous epoch of the late Mesozoic. The main petroleum generation period for Yanchang Group in Triassic system is the early Cretaceous epoch too, and the highest thermal maturity of the coal of Permo-Carboniferous, Triassic, and Jurassic reaches is the early Cretaceous epoch also. Early Cretaceous epoch is still one of the most important mineralizing periods of uranium.