中国东北远离海沟陆内弧后扩张形成新生代火山的深部地球动力学背景

板块俯冲时海沟位置存在不变、前进和后撤 3种情况 ,后撤俯冲可能造成弧后扩张 .层析成像等资料显示 :太平洋板块低角度俯冲到欧亚板块之下后没有穿透 670km相变界面 ,而是平卧于该界面之上 .这种平卧过程可能始于 2 8Ma前 .地球动力学计算表明 :俯冲板片前缘触及上下地幔相变界面而受阻平卧时 ,有利于形成后撤俯冲和弧后扩张 .中国东北火山形成很可能属于这种后撤俯冲、远离海沟陆内弧后引张、地幔热物质上涌、减压熔融的情况 .     

中国东北远离海沟陆内弧后扩张形成新生代火山的深部地球动力学背景

板块俯冲时海沟位置存在不变、前进和后撤3种情况, 后撤俯冲可能造成弧后扩张. 层析成像等资料显示:太平洋板块低角度俯冲到欧亚板块之下后没有穿透670 km相变界面, 而是平卧于该界面之上.这种平卧过程可能始于28 Ma前. 地球动力学计算表明:俯冲板片前缘触及上下地幔相变界面而受阻平卧时, 有利于形成后撤俯冲和弧后扩张. 中国东北火山形成很可能属于这种后撤俯冲、远离海沟陆内弧后引张、地幔热物质上涌、减压熔融的情况.      

巽他大陆及其邻区的地壳结构及其构造意义:来自远震接收函数的约束

巽他大陆位于欧亚板块、印度—澳大利亚板块和太平洋板块俯冲汇聚区域,其地壳结构特征是揭示洋陆过渡带演化及物质能量交换机制的重要依据.本文对巽他大陆及其周缘 19 个宽频带地震台站记录的远震波形进行 P波接收函数分析和H-κ叠加处理,获取了每个台站下方的地壳厚度和平均地壳波速比信息.为了减少参数的主观选择对结果带来的不确定性,研究采用了多种参数组合、综合约束策略.将本文结果与前人 146 个宽频带台站接收函数的研究结果进行整合,我们获得了巽他大陆地区地壳厚度和平均地壳波速比分布,并统计分析了两者的相关性.结果显示:巽他大陆地壳总体较薄,平均地壳厚度约为32 km,远低于全球造山带平均值,而与全球拉张型地壳平均厚度较为接近,可能反映研究区地壳整体处于拉张应力状态;而呵叻高原盆地地区地壳相对较厚,平均约38 km,与周缘地区明显不同.火山弧地区平均地壳波速比普遍大于 1.81,甚至达 1.87以上,并且壳内广泛分布低速层,可能受到了火山弧地区熔融物质的影响;非火山弧地区平均地壳波速比则普遍小于 1.76,反映地壳组分以长英质成分为主;局部地区高于 1.81,甚至高达 1.99,表明地壳以铁镁质成分为主或存在部分熔融,可能与铁镁质岩浆底侵作用或地幔热物质上涌有关.中南半岛中西部、婆罗洲西北部和马来半岛中部莫霍面 Ps转换波和多次波不明显而且具有多峰特征,可能表明该区域经历了复杂的壳幔相互作用.巽他大陆地区地壳厚度和平均地壳波速比总体无明显相关性,说明上地壳和下地壳结构和成分横向变化复杂;但中南半岛内部呵叻高原附近和东南部火山区两者均呈负相关性,与周围地区明显不同.综合区域构造背景和其他多种地球物理观测,推测稳定的呵叻高原盆地阻挡了印支地块的侧向挤出,处于挤压应力环境并发生上地壳增厚;而东南部火山区则处于拉张应力环境并存在基性岩浆底侵,可能与地幔物质上涌有关.     

青藏高原中南部的深部地球动力学过程 —Hi-Climb剖面北段接收函数和走时残差分析

青藏高原中南部Hi-Climb宽频地震探测剖面北段接收函数偏移和走时残差分析表明, 青藏高原中、西部岩石圈结构特征存在明显的不同. 青藏高原中部, 印度板块向北俯冲到羌塘地体之下, 在羌塘地体中南部达到最大的俯冲深度, 拆沉的印度岩石圈板片残留在拉萨地体中部附近之下, 深度可能超过上地幔转换带上界面; 青藏高原西部, 印度板块向北低角度俯冲, 可能俯冲到塔里木块体之下. 由于青藏高原中、西部印度板块俯冲模式的差异, 上涌地幔物质受到西部低角度俯冲印度岩石圈的阻挡, 使得地幔上涌物质更多的向东流动, 造成高原中部地区深部热物质向东侧向流动.     

西太平洋板片俯冲与后撤引起华北东部地幔置换并导致陆内盆-山耦合

华北中生代构造-岩浆活动频繁,深部岩石圈地幔性质发生变化,即克拉通发生活化作用.活化作用大致可分为三个阶段:(1)晚古生代至早侏罗世(至~170Ma),(2)中侏罗世至早白垩世早期(160~140Ma),(3)早白垩世至新生代(~140Ma以来).其中后两个阶段与古太平洋板片俯冲及后撤导致华北东部深部的岩石圈地幔置换并引起陆内浅部的盆山耦合过程是本文讨论的重点.在第一阶段,古亚洲洋俯冲和关闭引起华北北缘经历弧后拉张、碰撞挤压及碰撞后伸展等构造-岩浆活动,而且造成陆块边缘完整性的机械破坏和地幔性质的化学改造,成为后续软流圈物质上涌的通道和岩浆活动的优先发生区;受华南陆块俯冲的影响,华北南缘也发生了类似的过程.在第二阶段,蒙古鄂霍次克洋闭合及古太平洋板片俯冲剪切,引起华北北缘的两次近S-N向的挤压作用(燕山运动的A、B幕),近E-W向分布的陆缘盆地被晚中生代岩体和NE-SW断裂肢解为零星分布的盆岭省,岩浆作用由东北角向西迁移进入地块内部,同时郯庐断裂的性质由左行走滑转换为正断层,华北由早期的近S-N向的压扭性背景进入NW-SE向的弧后拉张阶段.第三阶段是华北克拉通破坏和岩石圈地幔增生的关键时期,深部难熔的克拉通型地幔被饱满的大洋型地幔置换,实现岩石圈大幅度减薄后的小幅增生增厚过程;浅部的表现是岩浆作用持续向东南迁移,陆内岩石圈薄弱带优先发生伸展变形,包括在早白垩世(140~110Ma)中部带侏罗纪逆冲断层反转为正断层、郯庐断裂的持续拉张引起中地壳拆离和大渤海湾盆地的沉降;晚白垩世至今(110Ma~),中部山带发生断陷作用形成汾渭盆地和沁水盆地,大渤海盆地内部断陷形成盆-山相间的地貌特征,苏鲁造山带则发育莱阳盆地等.华北克拉通规模小并发育陆内薄弱带,是克拉通容易破坏的内因.具这种特性的克拉通容易受周边多个俯冲构造域和上涌软流圈物质的共同影响.晚中生代(~160Ma)以来,华北克拉通破坏主要表现为周边块体的俯冲导致软流圈物质上涌、岩石圈减薄和浅部地壳滑脱,岩石圈薄弱带处(如中部山带)出现褶皱和逆冲,实现伸展背景下的局部挤压;俯冲板块后撤(~140Ma)则使上涌的软流圈回落形成岩石圈并实现地幔小幅增生置换(~125Ma)与伸展背景下浅部地壳断陷和成盆过程.因此,西太平洋板片俯冲和后撤是引起华北东部深部岩石圈地幔置换并导致陆内浅部盆-山耦合的外在动力来源,表明华北克拉通破坏是地块内部与地块边缘、深部过程与浅部盆-山耦合响应的综合地质记录,我们认为这也是燕山运动的本质.     

青藏高原P波速度层析成像与岩石圈结构

利用中国西部地震台网的数据,通过体波层析成像反演了青藏高原及邻域的三维P波速度结构.根据地壳和上地幔的速度变化和构造特征,重点讨论了下地壳流动、地幔上涌、岩石圈减薄以及与藏北新生代火山岩和藏南裂谷系的关系等问题.分析表明,青藏高原中、下地壳平均速度偏低,低速区主要分布在拉萨和羌塘块体内部,随着深度的增加逐渐扩大到松潘—甘孜块体.上述低速区之间多被高速带分隔,暗示地壳中、下部的韧性变形被限制在特定的区域,不太适于产生贯穿整个青藏高原的大规模横向流动.此外,地幔上涌也并非普遍发生于整个青藏高原,而是集中在羌塘、松潘—甘孜以及喜马拉雅东构造结附近,导致上述区域的岩石圈地幔较薄,并且伴生火山活动和岩浆作用.此外,由于印度大陆岩石圈在向北俯冲,板片下沉过程中引起地幔上涌,热流物质有可能上升进入地壳,这一作用对藏北新生代火山岩和藏南裂谷系的形成以及中、下地壳的韧性变形产生了明显的影响.     

俯冲带中的水迁移

水从俯冲地壳迁移到地幔主要受地壳中含水矿物的稳定性支配,而俯冲带的热结构是决定俯冲地壳在哪个深度发生脱水的关键.大洋俯冲带的地温梯度变化很大,既有冷俯冲带也有热俯冲带,但是地震活动和弧火山作用在冷俯冲带相对突出.大陆俯冲带的地温梯度较低,地壳岩石总是在冷俯冲带发生变质作用,但是缺乏同俯冲弧火山作用.超冷俯冲带地温梯度很低(?5℃/km),俯冲地壳中的硬柱石可以把水带到?300km的深度.热俯冲带地温梯度很高(25℃/km),俯冲地壳在浅部就大量脱水,在80km的深度会产生长英质熔体.由于水大量溶解在这种熔体中,结果只有少量的水会运移到80~160km的弧下深度.在这两种脱水方式之外还存在大量介于两者之间的方式,使得俯冲带表现出多种水迁移现象.在暖俯冲带,低温/低压含水矿物在俯冲到60~80km的弧前深度时就发生分解,释放出大量的水.在冷俯冲带,低温/低压含水矿物随俯冲深度增加转变成低温/高压含水矿物,允许大量的水被迁移到弧下深度.无论在何种情况下,俯冲地壳的脱水不仅启动了地震活动,而且引起了地幔楔的水化.不过,总有少量水被超高压含水矿物和名义上无水矿物带至更深部地幔.俯冲板片之上的地幔楔并没有因为水的加入而立即发生部分熔融引起弧火山作用,而是首先在板片-地幔界面上发生水化.由于这里温度最低,比水化橄榄岩的湿固相线要低几百度,结果直到水化橄榄岩受到加热之后才能发生部分熔融.因此,弧火山作用一般发生在地幔楔被流体交代之后的某个时间.     

大陆深俯冲过程中的熔/流体成分与地球化学分异

板块俯冲是地球内部系统最为宏伟的地质过程,是实现地球表面-内部物质和能量交换、大陆地壳生长以及壳/幔相互作用的重要场所,广泛深刻地影响着地壳的增生与消亡、火山和地震活动、地球表层物质循环、矿产资源分布、大陆造山运动、大陆的聚合及裂解等与人类生活息息相关的地质过程,因此一直是固体地球科学研究所关注的热点.20世纪80年代中期关于大陆地壳能够俯冲进入地幔深度并大部分折返地表的发现,是俯冲带研究和板块构造理论的革命性进展.相较于俯冲洋壳,大陆地壳具有较冷、较干、较轻的特点,同时,俯冲陆壳与地幔相比具有更加不均一的性质和化学成分以及同位素组成,因此在局部而言会对上覆大陆岩石圈和大陆板块汇聚边界的结构、组成、变形和演化进程造成巨大影响.在大陆俯冲过程中,拆离的地壳碎块和岩片在俯冲隧道内受到构造剪切,促使其经历变质脱水和部分熔融,产生各种流体和熔体.这些熔/流体的产生和演化在俯冲带壳/幔相互作用过程中扮演着非常重要的角色,是俯冲过程中发生元素迁移、同位素分馏以及交代上覆地幔楔的不可或缺的介质.本文综合国际上近年来有关俯冲带研究的最新进展,总结了有关俯冲带流体和熔体的类型、存在条件、化学组成、熔体/流体-地幔相互作用的特点,同时对于与大陆俯冲带流体相关的特征性元素(Nb-Ta-V)迁移和最新的非传统稳定同位素(Li-Mg)研究进行了系统介绍,期望为中国读者较全面地认识板块俯冲过程中的熔/流体活动和元素迁移以及了解并运用Li和Mg同位素作为新兴的示踪手段提供一定帮助.     

西太平洋板块向我国东北地区深部俯冲的数值模拟

本文采用依赖温度的黏度结构以及考虑海洋板块和大陆板块厚度差异等特征,以太平洋板块向欧亚板块会聚速率作为板块速度的主要约束,通过变化海沟后撤速度模型,数值模拟西太平洋板块向中国东北的俯冲过程.结果表明,要产生类似于中国东北之下低角度的板片俯冲,海沟后撤是重要条件;而上下地幔黏度的较大差异是决定俯冲板片不穿透660 km相变面的决定因素;西太平洋板块向欧亚板块的俯冲应早于70 Ma B.P.,海沟后撤速度可能小于一些地质学家估计的45 mm/a, 而且可能是分阶段变化的;速度场表明运动学模型的反过程：大陆岩石圈之下物质的不断水平向东的流动和推挤可能成为海沟后撤的力源之一,地幔物质的这种东向流动可能与印度板块挤压碰撞欧亚板块有关,沿欧亚板块东缘的扩张构造可能是太平洋-欧亚板块运动和印度-欧亚板块运动的综合效应.     

大陆下地壳层流作用及其大陆动力学意义

大量的地质和地球物理资料表明 ,年轻的大陆构造活动区的下地壳可能因热软化而出现透入性非地震式顺层韧性流动 ,这种下地壳层流作用驱动大陆上地壳发生地震式脆性断块运动 ,形成盆山格局 ,发生圈层耦合。大陆下地壳低粘度物质顺层流动可能是在地幔岩浆底侵作用为下地壳提供热能和添加幔源物质的基础上 ,并在地幔上升派生的重力和剪切力作用下 ,造成大陆下地壳热软化物质从盆地下部的幔隆区顺层流向相邻造山带之下的幔拗区。在下地壳层流过程中 ,地温场和速度场发生变     

Numerical models of subduction of the oceanic crust with basaltic plateaus

Light continents and islands characterized by a crustal thickness of more than 30 km float over a convective mantle, while the thin basaltic oceanic crust sinks completely in subduction zones. The normal oceanic crust is 7 km thick. However, anomalously thick basaltic plateaus forming as a result of emplacement of mantle plumes into moving oceanic lithospheric plates are also pulled into the mantle. One of the largest basaltic plateaus is the Ontong Java plateau on the Pacific plate, which arose during the intrusion of a giant superplume into the plate ～100 Myr ago. Notwithstanding its large thickness (averaging ～30 km), the Ontong Java plateau is still experiencing slow subduction. On the basis of numerical modeling, the paper analyzes the oceanic crust subduction process as a function of the mantle convection vigorousness and the density, thickness, viscosity, and shape of the crust. Even a simplified model of thermocompositional convection in the upper mantle is capable of explaining the observed facts indicating that the oceanic crust and sediments are pulled into the mantle and the continental crust is floating on the mantle.     

On the initiation of subduction zones

Analysis of the relation between intraplate stress fields and lithospheric rheology leads to greater insight into the role that initiation of subduction plays in the tectonic evolution of the lithosphere. Numerical model studies show that if after a short evolution of a passive margin (time span a few tens of million years) subduction has not yet started, continued aging of the passive margin alone does not result in conditions more favorable for transformation into an active margin.Although much geological evidence is available in supporting the key role small ocean basins play in orogeny and ophiolite emplacement, evolutionary frameworks of the Wilson cycle usually are cast in terms of opening and closing of wide ocean basins. We propose a more limited role for large oceans in the Wilson cycle concept. In general, initiation of subduction at passive margins requires the action of external plate-tectonic forces, which will be most effective for young passive margins prestressed by thick sedimentary loads. It is not clear how major subduction zones (such as those presently ringing the Pacific Basin) form but it is unlikely they form merely by aging of oceanic lithosphere. Conditions likely to exist in very young oceanic regions are quite favorable for the development of subduction zones, which might explain the lack of preservation of back-arc basins and marginal seas.Plate reorganizations probably occur predominantly by the formation of new spreading ridges, because stress relaxation in the lithosphere takes place much more efficiently through this process than through the formation of new subduction zones.     

南海瑞雷面波群速度层析成像及其地球动力学意义

南海处于欧亚板块、 菲律宾海板块、 太平洋板块和印度-澳大利亚板块的交汇处, 其地质和构造作用十分复杂．通过面波群速度成像, 给出了南海及邻区的三维横波速度分布并分析了其地球动力学意义．南海西部和南部新布设的地震台站使得利用单台法时路径覆盖比过去更好. 特别是在华南地区, 新的台站分布能够弥补该地区地震少且台站少造成的射线密度不够的缺点． 首先运用多重滤波法得到南海周边48个台站周期为14——130 s范围内的基阶瑞雷波频散曲线图; 接着通过子空间反演得到整个区域在不同周期时的群速度分布; 最后通过阻尼最小二乘反演得到不同深度切片上的横波速度分布及不同纵剖面上的横波速度分布． 结果显示: ① 海盆速度较高, 且速度分布很好地勾勒出海盆的轮廓. 浅层较高的横波速度说明海盆都具有洋壳性质, 而深部较高的横波速度则可能对应扩张中心生成洋壳后残留的高速物质． 不同海盆速度上的差异与它们的热流值和年龄大小一致．海盆下的高速异常在60 km以下消失, 且在一定深度范围内由低速区替代． 在低速区下200 km深度, 在南海海盆观测到一条NE-SW走向的高速异常, 可能与古俯冲带有关. ② 环南海出现明显的高速区, 对应俯冲带特征, 且这些高速区速度差异明显且有间断, 说明俯冲带的非均质性和俯冲角度的差异. ③ 在环南海高速区内侧（向南海侧）观测到不连续的低速区． 在浅层, 这些低速区反映了沉积层和地壳的厚度特征. 在地幔, 这些低速区可能对应于古太平洋俯冲带的地幔楔或者也可能反映了南海海盆停止扩张后残留的地幔熔融物质. ④ 南海海盆岩石圈的厚度为60——85 km．      

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.     

The seismogenic zone of subduction thrust faults

Abstract Subduction thrust faults generate earthquakes over a limited depth range. They are aseismic in their seaward updip portions and landward downdip of a critical point. The seaward shallow aseismic zone, commonly beneath accreted sediments, may be a consequence of unconsolidated sediments, especially stable-sliding smectite clays. Such clays are dehydrated and the fault may become seismogenic where the temperature reaches 100--150°C, that is, at a 5--15 km depth. Two factors may determine the downdip seismogenic limit. For subduction of young hot oceanic lithosphere beneath large accretionary sedimentary prisms and beneath continental crust, the transition to aseismic stable sliding is temperature controlled. The maximum temperature for seismic behavior in crustal rocks is ～ 350°C, regardless of the presence of water. In addition, great earthquake ruptures initiated at less than this temperature may propagate with decreasing slip to where the temperature is ～ 450°C. For subduction beneath thin island arc crust and beneath continental crust in some areas, the forearc mantle is reached by the thrust shallower than the 350°C temperature. The forearc upper mantle probably is aseismic because of stable-sliding serpentinite hydrated by water from the underthrusting oceanic crust and sediments. For many subduction zones the downdip seismogenic width defined by these limits is much less than previously assumed. Within the narrowly defined seismic zone, most of the convergence may occur in earthquakes. Numerical thermal models have been employed to estimate temperatures on the subduction thrust planes of four continental subduction zones. For Cascadia and Southwest Japan where very young and hot plates are subducting, the downdip seismogenic limit on the subduction thrust is thermally controlled and is shallow. For Alaska and most of Chile, the forearc mantle is reached before the critical temperature, and mantle serpentinite provides the limit. In all four regions, the seismogenic zones so defined agree with estimates of the extent of great earthquake rupture, and with the downdip extent of the interseismic locked zone.     

中国东部海域岩石圈结构面波层析成像

本文通过面波层析成像得到了中国东部海域及邻近地区的地壳上地幔S波速度图像,给出了主要构造单元的区划及其结构特征,并讨论了速度结构与现今构造活动及构造演化历史的关系.研究区内中下地壳的平均速度与地震活动存在比较显著的关系,强震基本都发生在低速区内或高低速过渡区.太行山以东地壳内存在几条北西向低速带,其中张家口—渤海地震带下方的低速带最为显著.东部海域划分成北黄海、南黄海、东海、和冲绳海槽等4个构造块体.北黄海具有较薄较高速的岩石圈,与南华北盆地类似,推测是中生代特提斯洋向北俯冲造成岩石圈减薄的遗迹.北华北地区具有低速的地壳和较厚的岩石圈,岩石圈地幔速度偏低且上下比较均匀,可能反映中生代沿北方缝合带持续碰撞作用的特点.南黄海具有相对较厚的岩石圈,较多地保存了下扬子克拉通的特征.在下扬子与华北地块的拼合过程中,洋壳俯冲可能是北黄海和苏皖地区上地幔低速特征的成因.在125°E以东的朝鲜半岛地区未发现这一拼合过程的遗迹.有可能整个朝鲜半岛都是华北地块的一部分;但也有可能是太平洋俯冲和日本海张开的作用完全改造了朝鲜半岛的岩石圈上地幔,抹去了以往构造运动的痕迹.东海地区的地壳厚度,特别是岩石圈厚度向冲绳海槽方向减小,反映出菲律宾海板块俯冲在弧后广大地区都有影响.冲绳海槽地区可见俯冲的菲律宾海板片以及板片上方显著低速的地壳和上地幔,为冲绳海槽的弧后扩张机制提供了证据.     

Subduction and retreating of the western Pacific plate resulted in lithospheric mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain respond in the North China Craton

The North China Craton (NCC) witnessed Mesozoic vigorous tectono-thermal activities and transition in the nature of deep lithosphere. These processes took place in three periods: (1) Late Paleozoic to Early Jurassic (～170 Ma); (2) Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (160–140 Ma); (3) Early Cretaceous to Cenozoic (140 Ma to present). The last two stages saw the lithospheric mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain response within the North China Craton due to subduction and retreating of the Paleo-Pacific plate, and is the emphasis in this paper. In the first period, the subduction and closure of the Paleo- Asian Ocean triggered the back-arc extension, syn-collisional compression and then post-collisional extension accompanied by ubiquitous magmatism along the northern margin of the NCC. Similar processes happened in the southern margin of the craton as the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys ocean and collision with the South China Block. These processes had caused the chemical modification and mechanical destruction of the cratonic margins. The margins could serve as conduits for the asthenosphere upwelling and had the priority for magmatism and deformation. The second period saw the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk ocean and the shear deformation and magmatism induced by the drifting of the Paleo-Pacific slab. The former led to two pulse of N-S trending compression (Episodes A and B of the Yanshan Movement) and thus the pre-existing continental marginal basins were disintegrated into sporadically basin and range province by the Mesozoic magmatic plutons and NE-SW trending faults. With the anticlockwise rotation of the Paleo-Pacific moving direction, the subduction-related magmatism migrated into the inner part of the craton and the Tanlu fault became normal fault from a sinistral one. The NCC thus turned into a back-arc extension setting at the end of this period. In the third period, the refractory subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) was firstly remarkably eroded and thinned by the subduction-induced asthenospheric upwelling, especially those beneath the weak zones (i.e., cratonic margins and the lithospheric Tanlu fault zone). Then a slightly lithospheric thickening occurred when the upwelled asthenosphere got cool and transformed to be lithospheric mantle accreted (～125 Ma) beneath the thinned SCLM. Besides, the magmatism continuously moved southeastward and the extensional deformations preferentially developed in weak zones, which include the Early Cenozoic normal fault transformed from the Jurassic thrust in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt, the crustal detachment and the subsidence of Bohai basin caused by the continuous normal strike slip of the Tanlu fault, the Cenozoic graben basins originated from the fault depression in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt, the Bohai Basin and the Sulu Orogenic belt. With small block size, inner lithospheric weak zones and the surrounding subductions/collisions, the Mesozoic NCC was characterized by (1) lithospheric thinning and crustal detachment triggered by the subduction-induced asthenospheric upwelling. Local crustal contraction and orogenesis appeared in the Trans-North Orogenic Belt coupled with the crustal detachment; (2) then upwelled asthenosphere got cool to be newly-accreted lithospheric mantle and crustal grabens and basin subsidence happened, as a result of the subduction zone retreating. Therefore, the subduction and retreating of the western Pacific plate is the outside dynamics which resulted in mantle replacement and coupled basin-mountain respond within the North China Craton. We consider that the Mesozoic decratonization of the North China Craton, or the Yanshan Movement, is a comprehensive consequence of complex geological processes proceeding surrounding and within craton, involving both the deep lithospheric mantle and shallow continental crust.     

Pacific-type orogeny revisited: Miyashiro-type orogeny proposed

Abstract The concept of Pacific-type orogeny is revised, based on an assessment of geologic data collected from the Japanese Islands during the past 25 years. The formation of a passive continental margin after the birth of the Pacific Ocean at 600 Ma was followed by the initiation of oceanic plate subduction at 450 Ma. Since then, four episodes of Pacific-type orogeny have occurred to create an orogenic belt 400 km wide that gradually grew both oceanward and downward. The orogenic belt consists mainly of an accretionary complex tectonically interlayered with thin (<2 km thick), subhorizontal, high-P/T regional metamorphic belts. Both the accretionary complex and the high-P/T rocks were intruded by granitoids ～100 million years after the formation of the accretionary complex. The intrusion of calc-alkaline (CA) plutons was synchronous with the exhumation of high-P/T schist belts. Ages from microfossils and K-Ar analysis suggest that the orogenic climax happened at a time of mid-oceanic ridge subduction. The orogenic climax was characterized by the formation of major subhorizontal orogenic structures, the exhumation of high-P/T schist belts by wedge extrusion and subsequent domed uplift, and the intrusion-extrusion of CA magma dominantly produced by slab melting. The orogenic climax ended soon after ridge subduction, and thereafter a new Pacific-type orogeny began. A single Pacific-type orogenic cycle may correspond to the interaction of the Asian continental margin with one major Pacific oceanic plate. Ophiolites in Japan occur as accreted material and are not of island-arc but of plume origin. They presumably formed after the birth of the southern Pacific superplume at 600 Ma, and did not modify the cordilleran-type orogeny in a major way. Microplates, fore-arc slivers, intra-oceanic arc collisions and the opening of back-arc basins clearly contributed to cordilleran orogenesis. However, they were of secondary importance and served only to modify pre-existing major orogenic components. The most important cause of cordilleran-type orogeny is the subduction of a mid-oceanic ridge, by which the volume of continental crust increases through the transfer of granitic melt from the subducting oceanic crust to an orogenic welt. Accretionary complexes are composed mainly of recycled granitic sediments with minor amounts of oceanic material, which indicate that the accretion of oceanic material, including huge oceanic plateaus, was not significant for orogenic growth. Instead, the formation and intrusion of granitoids are the keys to continental growth, which is the most important process in Pacific-type orogeny. Collision-type orogeny does not increase the volume of continental crust. The name ‘Miyashiro-type orogeny’ is proposed for this revised concept of Pacific-type or cordilleran-type orogeny, in order to commemorate Professor A. Miyashiro's many contributions to a better understanding of orogenesis.