Crustal growth and tectonic evolution of the Tianshan orogenic belt,NW China: A receiver function analysis

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) represents the world's largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen, the major phase of which was built during the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The Tianshan orogenic belt forms the southwestern segment of the CAOB and has been the focus of investigations related to the evolution of the CAOB. Here we present results from an analysis of the crustal structure and upper mantle discontinuity beneath the Chinese Tianshan by employing H-k stacking technique as well as depth domain and synthetic receiver functions. Our results identify a double peak of Moho Ps in the Tianshan orogenic belt, suggesting the possibility of insertion of the lower crust of the Tarim Basin into this belt, with the latter retaining its initial crustal architecture. Our results provide insights into the dynamics of northward extrusion and the N–S trending crustal shortening of the Tianshan orogen during the convergence of the India and Eurasia blocks.     

兴蒙造山带及邻区地壳速度结构特征

兴蒙造山带位于中亚造山带东段, 作为古亚洲构造域的重要组成部分, 由西伯利亚板块与华北板块碰撞拼合而成, 其经历了大陆裂解、洋盆扩张、洋壳俯冲消减和碰撞拼合造山等复杂的构造演化过程.为了利用壳幔结构约束造山带演化的深部过程, 跨越华北地块北缘、松辽—锡林浩特地块、兴安地块以及索伦—西拉木伦缝合带和二连—贺根山缝合带, 实施了一条520 km长的深地震测深剖面, 获得了高质量的人工源大当量的宽角反射和折射地震资料, 并采用地震动力学射线方法获得地壳速度结构.结果显示: (1)研究区地壳平均速度为6.15~6.3 km·s^-1, Pn波速度为7.8~8.2 km·s^-1; (2)地壳厚度约为36.1~42.2 km, 最厚位置(~42.2 km)对应地表大兴安岭主峰, 说明大兴安岭在此位置存在山根; (3)地壳速度在1.5~6.8 km·s^-1范围内, 认为在该区地壳内不存在洋壳物质; (4)主要断裂带或缝合带位于速度等值线变化剧烈的梯度带上; (5)速度结构显示研究区具有明显的横向分区和纵向分层的特点.地壳内速度剧烈变化特征表明兴蒙造山带的地壳物质组成不均匀, 尤其中下地壳, 速度等值线起伏剧烈.这种复杂的地壳速度结构应该与中生代以来多板块汇聚引发的多期区域性伸展和挤压作用有关.

     

The structural characteristics,age of origin,and tectonic attribute of the Erguna Fault,NE China

The Erguna Fault runs along the east bank of the Erguna River in NE China and is a large-scale ductile shear zone comprising granitic mylonites. This paper reports on the geometry, kinematic indicators, and 40Ar/39 Ar biotite ages of the granitic mylonites, to constrain the structural characteristics, forming age, and tectonic attribute of the Erguna ductile shear zone. The zone strikes NE and records a top-to-the-NW sense of shear. A mylonitic foliation and stretching lineation are well developed in the mylonites, which are classified as S-L tectonites. Logarithmic flinn parameters(1.18–2.35) indicate elongate strain which approximates to plane strain. Kinematic vorticity numbers are 0.42–0.92 and 0.48–0.94, based on the polar Mohr diagram and the oblique foliation in quartz ribbons, respectively, suggesting that the ductile shear zone formed under general shear, or a combination of simple and pure shear. According to finite strain and kinematic vorticity analyses, the Erguna Fault is a lengthening-thinning ductile shear zone that formed by extension. The deformation behavior of minerals in the mylonites indicates that the fault was the site of three stages of deformation: an initial stage of middle- to deep-level, high-temperature shear, a post-stress recovery phase of high-temperature static recrystallization, and a final phase of low-temperature uplift and cooling. The 40Ar/39 Ar plateau ages of biotite from the granitic mylonites are 106.16 ± 0.79 and 111.55 ± 0.67 Ma, which constrain the timing of low-temperature uplift and cooling but are younger than the ages of metamorphic core complexes(MCCs) in the Transbaikalia-northeast Mongolia region. Using measured geological sections, microtectonics, estimates of finite strain and kinematic vorticity, and regional correlations and geochronology, we conclude that the Erguna Fault is an Early Cretaceous, NNE-trending, large-scale, sub-horizontal, and extensional ductile shear zone. It shares a similar tectonic background with the MCCs, volcanic fault basins, and large and super-large volcanic-hydrothermal deposits in Transbaikalia-northeast Mongolia and the western Great Khingan Mountains, all of which are the result of overthickened crust that gravitationally collapsed and extended in the Early Cretaceous after plate collision along the present-day Sino-Russia-Mongolia border tract.     

Crustal structure of the eastern Dabie orogenic belt from the seismic tomography and wide-angle reflection studies

IntroductionDuringtheMarchof1997,anactive-sourceseismicexperimentwasundertakenbyajointSino-GermanseismicprojecttoinvestigatethesubsurfacestructurebeneaththeDabieUHPMbeltwithintheframeworkofinternationalContinentalScientificDrillingProgramme(ICDP).ThetargetareaislocatedbetweenYuexiandQianshaninAnhuiProvince,andgeologicallyonthejunctureoftheDabieorogenicbeltandtheTanlufault(Figurel).Thisexperimentisparticularlydesignedsinthefieldcombinedwiththeinterestsofseismictomographyandwide-anglere…     

Paleomagnetic study on orogenic belt: An example from Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks,Inner Mongolia,China

Since the 1990s, a large number of paleomagneticstudies have been carried out in the North China block(NCB) and Tarim block[1-8], and more and more geo-physicists recently believe that the last collision andconvergence between Siberia and the Mongolia-NorthChina plate happened in the Late Jurassic, which wascontributed to a paleomagnetic study on these areas byZhao and his colleagues[2]. However, we lack paleo-magnetic results obtained directly from the orogenicbelt between Siberia and th…     

Geometry,kinematics and evolution of the Tongbai orogenic belt

1 Introduction spectively[2,3]. Several tectonic units such as the Bei- The Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt has attracted huaiyang, north Dabie, south Dabie and Susong belts worldwide attention by its very complex and abundant have been recognized in eastern Dabie[4]. Nine tec- geological characters, and has been a “hot point” of tonic units have been recognized in western Dabie and international geological research[1]. A vast amount of a more detailed division has been suggested especially …     

秦岭造山带与邻域华北克拉通和扬子克拉通的壳、幔精细速度结构与深层过程

秦岭造山带与其南北两侧华北克拉通和扬子克拉通属三大构造单元,不论其各构造单元体还是其界带构造均甚为复杂,并受到多期次构造运动的制约,形成了大陆内部特异的造山过程.尽管在这一地域曾做过大量的地表地质工作和一些相关的地球物理工作,但对其壳、幔精细结构、深层动力过程,特别是同步穿越华北克拉通、秦岭-大巴造山带和扬子克拉通系统的耦合研究甚少.为了研究和探索该地域的壳、幔精细速度结构和其形成的深层过程,专门布置了一条北起榆林,向南经咸阳、宁陕直抵涪陵长达1000 km的高精度地震宽角反射、折射波场探测剖面.通过剖面辖区高分辨率的数据采集,数据处理、反演和壳、幔层、块精细速度结构,发现剖面辖区深部壳、幔结构存在特异的速度和结构变化,并厘定了一系列的新认识.研究结果表明:(1)秦岭—大巴造山带具有同一基底,其形成乃为结晶基底隆升所致,即它的形成仅涉及到上地壳的受力变形和空间状态.造山带与其南、北两侧的前陆盆地为陆内造山过程中同一深层过程的产物,但其沉积速率和形态却不相同.华北克拉通与秦岭造山带之间前陆盆地Bfc拉张为该区Moho界面的局部隆升所致.(2)首次提出了沿1000 km长剖面连续的沉积建造、结晶基底、上地壳、下地壳和上地幔顶部的层、块速度结构和各界面的起伏变化与空间状态.基于地震波边界场响应厘定了华北克拉通、秦岭—大巴造山带和扬子克拉通的分区界带.论述了三大构造单元各自的内部结构和其相邻界域的速度变化特征.(3)该区大陆内部速度结构和不同类型断裂分布及层序在华北克拉通、秦岭—大巴造山带、扬子克拉通三大块体地域存在显著差异.不同规模、层次与产状的断裂分布反映出它们在变形行为和机制上及所受构造运动的制约上均存在明显的差异.     

Petrogenesis of Songshugou dunite body in the Qinling orogenic belt,Central China: Constraints from geochemistry and melt inclusions

The chemical variation of the Earth’s mantle rocks has been interpreted to reflect multiple episodes of partial melting. With the increasing of melt generation and extraction, the readily molten minerals and incompatible elements decrease in the residual mantle peridotite. The present-day gladiate of the Earth, however, cannot cause mantle batch melting[1], nor 40% partial melting that allows pyroxenes to be completely dissolved into melt and forms dunite[2,3]. Recent studies show that mantl…     

Effects of melt percolation on the Re-Os systematics of continental mantle lithosphere: A case study of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Heilongjiang,NE China

Os isotope ratios of mantle peridotites have been considered to be largely immune to recent melt-rock interaction. However, Os isotope ratios and PGE (Platinum group elements) concentrations of the Yong’an xenoliths have been significantly modified by melt percolation, and are not suitable for determining the formation age of lithosphere mantle in Yong’an. In this study, the Yong’an spinel peridotite xenoliths are divided into two groups: N-Type and E-Type. The N-Type group including cpx (clinopyroxene)-poor lherzolite and harzburgite, shows a large variation of Cr#(sp) (13.2-48) and sulfur contents (from 171 ppm to below detection limit), whereas the E-Type peridotites are mainly refractory harzburgites and are characterized by high Cr#(sp) (35.3-42.2) and overall low sulfur contents (below 51 ppm). Both types show similar major and REE (rare earth element) patterns. Furthermore, the N-Type peridotites display a restricted range of iridium-group PGE (IPGE), Os/Ir and Ru/Ir ratios (Os/Ir = 0.64-1.12, Ru/Ir = 1.52-1.79) and variable palladium-group PGE (PPGE) contents (3.4-14.9 ppb), whereas the E-Type peridotites show a large variation of Os/Ir and Ru/Ir ratios (Os/Ir = 0.33-0.84, Ru/Ir = 0.94-1.6), and a restricted range of PPGE (4.3-6.9 ppb). 187Os/188Os ratios of E-Type peridotites are higher than those of N-Type peridotites at comparable fertility levels. These results suggest that N-Type peridotites may have been overprinted by metasomatism via small melt fractions, in which the percolation of the volatile-rich, small melt fractions only resulted in LILE (large ion lithophile element) enrichment of clinopyroxene, and their whole rock PGE contents and Re-Os isotope values were little changed. Moreover, E-Type peridotites may have been modified by melt-rock reaction involving relatively large melt fractions, which may result in the formation of secondary cpx and olivine and the removal of IPGE-bearing minerals such as Ru-Os-(Ir) alloys or laurite, followed by precipitation of secondary sulfides from melt with radiogenic isotopic signature.     

Response analysis of rainfall–runoff processes using wavelet transform: a case study of the alpine meadow belt

Rainfall–runoff processes appear to be highly nonlinear in Bayinbluk watersheds of the northwestern China. In this study, the time‐scale wavelet transform has been used for the analysis of this nonstationary system. The Haar and Morlet wavelet transform were used to analyse the rainfall–runoff conversion relationship. Wavelet power spectrum and change point methods are also employed to analyse rainfall rates and runoffs measured at daily to half‐hourly sampling rate. The four experimental sites (Luoto, Haer, Kuce and Shengl) are located in the Tianshan Mountains (Xinjiang province, China). Correlation analysis and wavelet transform are first applied to runoff process in different underlying surfaces. Wavelet analyses of rainfall rates and runoffs also give meaningful information on the temporal variability of the rainfall–runoff relationship. Change point and wavelet power spectrum analysis provide simple interpretation of energy distribution between different scales. The results indicate that wavelet transform is a good method for analysing the nonlinear relationship of temporal–spatial responses between rainfall and runoff. This method allowed quantification of the processes affecting runoff and provided an insight into their implications in surface water management. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age and significance of Early Paleozoic volcanic rocks in East Kunlun orogenic belt, Qinghai Province, China

A great deal of practical data in recent years have proved that the East Kunlun orogenic belt and even the China central orogenic belt are complex orogenic belts that underwent polycycle orogenic evolvement[1―7]. Each orogenic cycle has left a compositional print, the multi-period ophiolites[4―6] and various types of tec-tono-magmatic production in the same orogenic belt. There is a suite of shallow metamorphic volcanic rocks in the Nuomuhong area in the east part of the East Kunlun orogen…     

中国南北地震带北段及其周缘地壳厚度与泊松比研究

本文利用中国地震科学探测台阵2013—2015年在南北地震带北段及其周缘架设的673个台站所记录到的远震波形所提取到的接收函数并应用H-κ扫描方法获取了南北地震带北段及其周缘的地壳厚度和泊松比,结果显示研究区地壳厚度从青藏高原东北缘向鄂尔多斯块体逐渐减小,从65 km逐渐减薄至40 km,不同块体之间地壳厚度存在明显差异.祁连造山带西部地壳厚度超过60 km,而东部地壳厚度仅为约50 km左右,表明祁连造山带东、西部地壳增厚变形存在着明显差异.西秦岭造山带地壳厚度从60 km减薄到40 km,其东部具有较薄的地壳厚度可能经历了拆沉.阿拉善块体作为华北克拉通西部块体的一部分,西部地壳厚度约50 km,而东部约45 km,表明阿拉善块体西部由于印度—欧亚板块碰撞也受到了活化改造,其克拉通性质只在其中东部残留.研究区泊松比变化范围为0.20~0.31,平均泊松比约0.25,表明地壳主要由长英质矿物组成,较高的泊松比主要分布在六盘山断裂带和银川—河套地堑.研究结果显示地壳厚度与高程之间具有较好的相关性,表明地壳整体上处于相对均衡的状态,而西秦岭造山带和祁连造山带东部的部分区域地壳可能处于不均衡状态.

     

Framework and evolution of the middle Paleozoic orogenic belt between Siberian and North China Plates in northern Inner Mongolia

A middle Paleozoic subduction-collision orogenic belt between the Siberian and North China Plates has been recognized in Xilinhot-the south of Sonid Left Banner-Erdaojing area, northern Inner Mongolia, China. It comprises five subunits: mélange belt, foreland deformation belt, molasse and littoral basin, are diorite series and syncollision granitoid series. Evolution history of the orogenic belt can be divided into subduction stage (500-400 Ma) and collision stage (400-320 Ma). The formation of the orogenic belt caused the convergence between the Siberian and North China Plates during the late Devonian. Suture zone corresponding to the mélange belt extends from Erdaojing, Qagan Ura to Honggor. Project supported by Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation in Hong Kong.     

Petrology and geochemistry of ultrahigh‐temperature granulites from the South Altay orogenic belt,northwestern China: Implications for metamorphic evolution and protolith composition

Ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) granulites in the South Altay orogenic belt of Northwestern China provide important clues for the lower crustal components and tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the Paleozoic. In this paper, we studied whole‐rock geochemistry and mineral characteristics to understand the protolith and metamorphic evolution of the Altay UHT granulite. The Altay granulite shows negative discriminant function values (DF) of ?9.27 to ?3.95, indicating a sedimentary origin, probably an argillaceous rock. The peak metamorphic temperature–pressure conditions of 920–1010 °C and > 9 kbar were estimated from the geothermobarometry, together with the stability of spinel (low ZnO) + quartz and orthopyroxene (Al₂O₃ up to 9.2 wt.%) + sillimanite + quartz in the Altay UHT rock, indicate a UHT metamorphic condition has been achieved. Two stages of retrograde conditions are recognized in these rocks; the first is an isothermal decompression to approx. 750 °C at 5.2–5.8 kbar at the early stage, and the second is the cooling down to 520–550 °C at 4.8–5.2 kbar. Combined with previous study, the formation of the Altay UHT pelitic granulite with a clockwise retrograde P–T path is inferred to be related with collisional and accretional orogenic process between the Siberian and Kazakhstan–Junggar plates.     

Secondary flows and the pool-riffle unit: A case study of the processes of meander development

The major bedforms of gravel bed rivers, whether braided, meandering or straight, may be usefully resolved into pool-riffle units, each comprising a single scour pool together with an associated depositional shoal downstream. At low flow, the latter may be characterized by a single emergent bar-head and submerged riffle, or by a variety of remnant braid bars, depending upon the type of channel. Identification of pool-riffle units and observation of associated flow structures on a small meandering stream in northwest England has demonstrated important links between bedforms, flow patterns and channel change. Each unit appears to be associated with a systematic pattern of secondary flows, which are able to modify the bedforms and initiate meander development. Feedback links between plan morphology, flow patterns and erosive and depositional forces within these units ensure that each stage of meander growth has a characteristic style of channel change. Consequently, meanders tend to evolve by regular cycles of increasing curvature and complexity.     

Distribution and assessment of hydrogeochemical processes of F-rich groundwater using PCA model:a case study in the Yuncheng Basin,China

Hydrogeochemistry and factor analysis were conducted together to assess the distribution and the major geochemical processes in fluoride-contaminated shallow groundwater in the Yuncheng Basin.Spatially,fluoride concentration was low(<1.5 mg/L)in the southern piedmont plain,medium(<4 mg/L)in the central basin,and high(up to 14.1 mg/L)in Kaolao lowland areas in shallow aquifers.A three-factor principal component analysis model explained over 75.1%of the total variance.Sediment weathering leaching and evapotranspiration were recognized as the first primary hydrochemical processes response for the groundwater chemistry and explained the largest portion(42.1%)of the total variance.Factor two reflects the negative influence of human activities,with a positive loading of NO3^-and HCO3^-,and negative loading of well depth.Fluoride-bearing mineral dissolution and alkaline condition was ranked as the third factors responding for groundwater chemistry and explained 11.2%of the total variance.     

Settling-velocity distributions and sorting processes on a longitudinal dune: A case study

The processes acting on a longitudinal dune are inferred from the response in the area size-sorting characteristics of the sediment of the active layer. The sediment size distributions are determined by settling and are best described by a log-hyperbolic model which provides the most information on size-sorting processes. Size-sorting characteristics are markedly different across the low round-crested part of the dune from cross-sections of the high more sharp-crested part. This results in changes in textural parameters along the lee-side consistent with changes in the lee-side separation vortex. This is the first time that the effect of wind speed up on the lee-side is observed to be reflected in the sediment; it can only be detected with the very sensitive log-hyperbolic parameters.     

Paleomagnetic study of the Eocene Quxu pluton of the Gangdese belt: Crustal deformation along the Indus-Zangbo suture zone in southern Tibet

Forty-five samples have been collected at nine sites on the 42.5 Ma Quxu pluton (90°50′E, 29°20′N) in the Gangdese batholith. Westerly declination (D = −48°and−83°) is observed in primary magnetizations from two sites about 25 km from the Indus-Zangbo suture zone after thermal demagnetization. This direction is consistent with the westerly paleomagnetic directions of the crustal blocks in other areas along the Indus-Zangbo suture zone. The Quxu pluton of the Gangdese Belt was rotated in a “domino style” deformation process as a part of a long (840 km) and narrow (less than 100 km) deformed zone between the India-Eurasia continents associated with the collision of India since 42.5 Ma. The pluton, between 11 km and 14 km from the suture acquired the secondary magnetization (D = −28°and−39°) during a cataclastic metamorphic process at sometime during the ‘domino style’ deformation. The primary magnetization was completely destroyed in the pluton within 11 km of the suture during slow cooling at the uplift stage and was replaced by thermoviscous remanent magnetization parallel to the present axial dipole field.     

综合数据分析青藏高原东北缘六盘山地区构造形变及其构造成因独特性探讨

青藏高原边缘是研究青藏高原构造生长的重要场所.然而,青臧高原各边界却呈现出不同的地貌形态响应.尤其是青藏高原东北缘的六盘山地区,与青藏高原东缘相比,它与邻近稳定鄂尔多斯地台之间表现出了截然不同的地形变化.青藏高原东边界所对应的龙门山构造带呈现出高陡的地貌形态：在100 km范围内,海拔高程从四川盆地的500 m陡升至临近的龙门山构造带的3500 m.而青藏高原东北边界所对应的六盘山构造带则与邻近的鄂尔多斯盆地表现为宽缓的地形变化.之前由于缺少高精度的数据资料,对造成这一地表形态差异所对应的地壳结构缺少必要的了解.在本次研究中,将着重利用前期在青藏高原东北缘六盘山地区所获得的165 km长高分辨率深反射地震数据,并结合在此区域所获得的航磁数据资料进行该地区地壳结构的综合解释,得出青藏高原东北缘—鄂尔多斯地块构造转换带的地壳结构变形模型.研究表明六盘山地区主要物质组成为构造增生楔,其两侧分别存在陇西火山岛弧和鄂尔多斯结晶基底.高原生长所产生的构造应力并不能使相对松散的构造增生楔无限制的抬高而是容易发生重力坍塌,从而造成六盘山地区比较宽缓的地形结构.同时本文还将此地壳结构研究结果与前人在青藏高原东缘所获得的地壳结构及变形机制进行对比分析,探讨这两个地区的构造变形模式,并找出两个地区的构造变形共性和差异.研究结果也将为了解青藏高原侧向构造生长过程提供理论和数据支持.