New paleomagnetic results from Ceno-Mesozoic volcanic rocks along southern rim of the Tarim Basin,China*

Paleomagnetic samples were collected from four localities located in the southern rim of the Tarim basin. The samples were taken from volcanic rocks erupted between Jurassic and Quaternary. Detailed analysis of all samples has been carried out with progressive thermal demagnetization. A characteristic remanence (ChRM) with higher unblocking temperature has been isolated from all samples. The pole position from the middle Jurassic is at 52.5°N, 187.9°E(dp = 3.7°,dm =6.5°); the directions of the ChRM of Cretaceous correspond to a paleopole at 69.7°N, 211.6°E (dp = 9.8°,dm = 15.9°); the Quaternary pole from the Pulu site is at 79. 9°N, 183.1°E(dp = 1.6°.dm =2.4°). On the basis of these new paleomagnetic data, tectonic evolution of Tarim block is presented.     

塔里木地块奥陶纪古地磁新结果及其构造意义

本文报道塔里木地块阿克苏—柯坪—巴楚地区奥陶纪古地磁研究新结果.对采自44个采点的灰岩、泥灰岩及泥质砂岩样品的系统岩石磁学和古地磁学研究表明,所有样品可分成两组：第一类样品以赤铁矿和少量磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,该类样品通常可分离出特征剩磁组分A;第二类样品以磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,系统退磁揭示出这类样品中存在特征剩磁组分B.特征剩磁组分A分布于绝大多数奥陶纪样品中,具有双极性,但褶皱检验结果为负,推测其可能为新生代重磁化.特征剩磁组分B仅能从少部分中晚奥陶世样品中分离出,但褶皱检验结果为正,且其所对应古地磁极位置（40.7°S,183.3°E,dp/dm=4.8°/6.9°）与塔里木地块古生代中期以来的古地磁极位置显著差别,表明其很可能为岩石形成时期所获得的原生剩磁.古地磁结果表明塔里木地块中晚奥陶世位于南半球中低纬度地区,很可能与扬子地块一起位于冈瓦纳古大陆的边缘;中晚奥陶世之后,塔里木地块通过大幅度北向漂移和顺时针旋转,逐步与冈瓦纳大陆分离、并越过古赤道;至晚石炭世,塔里木地块已到达古亚洲洋构造域的南缘.     

Further paleomagnetic results for the San Juan volcanic field of southern Colorado

Combining paleomagnetic data for 17 new sites from the northwest portion of the (Oligocene) San Juan volcanic field of southern Colorado with data for 29 sites previously published yields a paleomagnetic pole at 85°N, 114°E (with a 95% confidence circle of 7.5° radius). A further combination of the San Juan data with the results of other studies on rocks of Oligocene age from tectonically stable parts of North America gives a mid-Tertiary reference pole located at 81°N, 132.5°E, with a confidence circle of approximately 4°. Mid-Tertiary paleomagnetic poles for the western edge of the continent diverge markedly from this reference pole.     

New paleomagnetic results from the Neoproterozoic successions in southern North China Block and paleogeographic implications

A total of 312 oriented core samples collected from the Neoproterozoic to lower Cambrian strata in the Lushan region of western Henan Province, southern North China Block, were subjected to stepwise demagnetization. After removing recent and possibly Mesozoic overprint components, inferred primary magnetic remanence was isolated from the Precambrian Dongjia, Sanjiaotang and Cuizhuang Formations. Our new results, together with selected previous results, suggest that the North China Block was in low latitudinal positions for most of the studied time interval. Through comparison with paleogeographic positions of other continents, we suggest that the NCB could have been closed to Siberia during the ca. 800-600 Ma interval.     

New paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric results for Early Cretaceous rocks from the Turpan intramontane basin,east Tianshan,northwest China

~~New paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric results for Early Cretaceous rocks from the Turpan intramontane basin,east Tianshan,northwest China~~     

羌北地块中-晚侏罗世雁石坪群古地磁新结果

本文报道青藏高原羌北地区中-晚侏罗世雁石坪群古地磁新结果.对采自青海省格尔木市唐古拉山乡雁石坪剖面(33.6°N, 92.1°E)11个灰岩采点(118块)和10个碎屑岩采点(99块)定向样品系统古地磁学研究表明,大部分样品的退磁曲线具有双分量特征.低温分量方向在地理坐标系下较为集中,应该为地层褶皱之后的黏滞剩磁.高温特征剩磁分量方向可分为两类:(1)索瓦组(J₃s)和布曲组(J₂b)灰岩,以磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,高温特征剩磁分量(D_s=355.7°,I_s=42.1°,k=58.2,α₉₅=6°)可通过99%置信度的褶皱检验.(2)雪山组(J₂x)和雀莫错组(J₂q)碎屑岩,以赤铁矿、磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,高温特征剩磁分量(D_s=3.3°,I_s=28.9°,k=30.7,α₉₅=8.9°)可通过95%置信度的倒转检验和99%置信度的褶皱检验.两组分量都应该是岩石形成时的原生剩磁信息.碎屑岩组的磁倾角比灰岩组偏低13°左右,其剩磁方向很可能存在着与压实作用相关的剩磁倾角变浅的状况.本文取灰岩组平均磁化方向作为雁石坪群的原生剩磁分量,获得羌北地区雁石坪群古磁极位置:80.0°N,295.2°E(dp/dm=7.4/4.5).古地磁结果表明,羌北-昌都地区晚石炭-晚二叠世期间位于南纬中低纬度地区,早三叠世以后开始大规模北向漂移,至中-晚侏罗世已到达24.3°N.其快速北向运动主要发生在早三叠至早侏罗世期间(3500 km左右),与现今位置相比中晚侏罗世之后的北向迁移总量为900 km左右.     

Cenozoic paleomagnetic results and phanerozoic apparent polar wandering path of Tarim Block*

New paleornagnetic data from Cenozoic rocks in Tarim enable people to revise the Phanerozoic apparent polar wandering path (APWP) of this block. This modified Tarim APWA is supported by data from other Chinese blocks. On the basis of the APWA, it is concluded that Tarim rode on a plate subducting under the Kazakhstan plate between Carboniferous and Permian time. By the Late Permian, subduction had finished. The APWP also revealed that tectonic evolution of the Tarim was characterized by northern latitudinal displacement during the Paleozoic time, while Tarim remained at relative low latitude (about 20°) until1 Cretaceous.     

The tectonic and geomagnetic significance of paleomagnetic observations from volcanic rocks from central Afar, Africa

Deformation throughout Afar over the past 2 myr has been characterized by widespread and intense crustal fragmentation that results from inhomogeneous extension across the region. In eastern Afar, this situation has evolved to localized extension associated with the westward propagation of the Gulf of Aden/Gulf of Tadjurah seafloor spreading system into the Asal–Ghoubbet Rift. During the gradual process of rift propagation and localization, crustal blocks in eastern Afar sustained clockwise rotations of 11°. To better understand the processes of rift propagation and localization and how they affect the rest of Afar, we have collected and analyzed over 400 oriented paleomagnetic samples from 67 lava flows from central and southern Afar. Unlike eastern Afar, the mean paleomagnetic direction from central Afar indicates that vertical-axis rotations are statistically insignificant (3.6°±4.4°), though small clockwise rotations (<8°) are permitted. Thus, propagation and localization in central Afar have not had the same influence in causing crustal block rotations or, perhaps more likely, have not reached the same stage of evolution as seen in eastern Afar. In addition, several of the lava flows record intriguing geomagnetic field behavior associated with polarity transitions, excursions, or large secular variation events. Interestingly, the transitional or anomalous virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) tend to cluster in two nearly antipodal regions, one in the northern Pacific Ocean and the other in the southwest Indian Ocean. One lava flow has recorded both of the antipodal transitional components, with the two components residing in magnetic minerals with unblocking temperatures above and below 500°C, respectively. Reheating and partial remagnetization by the overlying flow cannot explain either of the transitional directions because both differ significantly from that of the reversely magnetized overlying flow. The high-temperature component gives a VGP in the northern Pacific, whereas the lower-temperature component gives a nearly antipodal VGP south of Cape Town, South Africa. Hence, the configuration of the geomagnetic field appears to have jumped nearly instantaneously from a northern-hemisphere transitional state to a southern-hemisphere one during this normal-to-reverse polarity transition.     

Petrogenetic implications of uranium abundances in volcanic rocks from southern Peru

The content of uranium of andesitic rocks of southern Peru varies according to the distance from the Peru-Chile trench, as has been observed for other trace elements geochemically associated with K. The highest contents found in these rocks may exceed the estimated U content of the upper crust. This enrichment may be related to a variable degree of partial melting and/or crustal contamination of the same source material.     

羌北地块早-中志留世古地磁学初步研究结果及其构造意义

本文报道羌北地块早-中志留世龙木措组灰岩古地磁研究初步结果,据此探讨羌北地块早-中志留世的古位置及其起源问题.在日土县龙木措北岸（34.4°N,80.3°E）龙木措组中采集了10个采点,共125块古地磁独立定向样品.岩相学与岩石磁学结果表明样品中主要载磁矿物为磁铁矿.系统热退磁与交变退磁显示,退磁曲线具有双分量或单分量特征,单分量方向与双分量中稳定趋向原点的高温/高场分量方向一致,在采点水平下的平均方向为D_s=321.8°,I_s=41.7°,k_s=31.1,α₉₅=10.1°,N=8,该平均方向在样品水平下可通过C级倒转检验,对应的古地磁极位置（λ_p=-55.3°N,φ_p=163.3°E（dp/dm=7.6°/12.4°））显著区别于羌北地块晚古生代以来可靠的古地磁极位置,可能代表了岩石形成时的原生剩磁方向.结合地质学证据,本文提出羌北地块早-中志留世位于南半球低纬度地区（古纬度为24.0°S）,此时羌北地块可能与华南地块位置接近,位于冈瓦纳大陆的印度板块北侧古大洋中.

     

印欧大陆碰撞前亚洲大陆南缘古位置再研究:林周盆地上白垩统红层的古地磁新结果

拉萨地块林周盆地白垩系红层的古地磁数据一直都有较大争议.过去认为磁倾角变浅可能是造成这些分歧的主要原因.我们在林周盆地设兴组背斜两翼进行了系统的古地磁采样,15个采样点的特征剩磁分量在倾斜校正和倾伏褶皱校正后平均方向为D=339.3°,I=22.9°(α_(95)=5.1°).特征剩磁分量在大约69%展开时获得最大集中,表明其为同褶皱重磁化;此时平均方向为D=339.1°,I=27.3°(α_(95)=4.1°),对应的古地磁极为65.4°N,327.5°E(A_(95)=3.5°),参考点29.3°N/88.5°E的古纬度为15.0°N±3.5°.薄片镜下分析显示赤铁矿为次生矿物,岩石磁组构(AMS)也表现为过渡型构造变形组构.样品的特征剩磁方向应为重磁化的结果,E/I(elongation vs inclination)校正法显示特征剩磁方向并没有发生倾角变浅.根据区域构造,重磁化时代约为72.4±1.8 Ma到64.4±0.6 Ma.综合考虑拉萨地块东西部的古地磁数据以及地震层析成像资料后我们认为,碰撞前拉萨地块大约呈NW-SE向准线性分布,并处于~10°N-15.0°N;自~70 Ma以来,拉萨地块与稳定欧亚大陆之间至少存在1200±400 km(11.1°±3.5°)的南北向构造缩短量;印度大陆与欧亚大陆的碰撞不应晚于55 Ma.     

Petrology of volcanic rocks from anjouan,comores archipelago

Anjouan is an extinct and substantially denuded volcanic island, belonging to the Comores Archipelago, a chain of volcanic islands in the northern Mozambique Channel. Volcanism was probably controlled by a complex regional stress pattern, closely implicated with the recent geotectonic evolution of East Africa and the western Indian Ocean. On Anjouan a lengthy period of shield construction was succeeded by fissure-controlled eruptions forming three extended peninsulas to the north, south and west. A ‘rejuvenescent’ phase of activity erupted lavas on to an erosional surface formed during a period of quiescence following build-up of the main volcanic edifice. Lavas of the shield-building stage comprise ankaramites, oceanites and olivine basalts, with minor development of hawaiites and trachytes. The fissure controlled eruptions are also mainly basaltic although generally more alkaline, while rejuvenescent lavas comprise basanites and a significant proportion of derivatives following a trend towards phonolite. Coarse-grained xenoliths are found in lavas of the latter two phases, while a gabbroic intrusion (the ‘Tatinga Intrusion’) is exposed in the centrally-situated Cirque de Bambao in the vicinity of N’Tingui (1595 m). The main chemical trends and petrographic characteristics of the Anjouan lavas are related to the eruptive sequence.     

Origin of the rhyolitic rocks of the taupo volcanic zone, New Zealand

Major element, Rb, Sr, Ba, Cr and V analyses as well as 13 new rare earth element (REE) analyses are presented for the greywacke basement surrounding the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ). On this basis the basement rocks are divided into a Western Basement of approximately andesitic composition ( 62% SiO₂) and an Eastern Basement of approximately granodiorite composition ( 75% SiO₂). These analyses, 5 new REE analyses for the rhyolites, and published data for the volcanic rocks of TVZ are used to investigate the petrogenesis of rhyolitic rocks in the area.Least-squares mixing calculations for major elements show that 88% fractional crystallisation of high-alumina basalt produces a liquid of rhyolitic bulk composition, but Rayleigh fractionation models show that the trace element concentrations of the rhyolites are inconsistent with basalt fractionation. 57% fractionation of the assemblage plagioclase (35.6%), orthopyroxene (9.7%), clinopyroxene (7.8%), ilmenite (0.6%) and magnetite (3.4%) from a plagioclase-pyroxene andesite can produce liquids of rhyolitic bulk composition. REE concentrations produced by this model are consistent with those observed in the rhyolites but predicted Ba and Rb values are lower and V concentrations are higher than those in the rhyolites. Andesite fractionation also produces an unrealistic fractionation of the Cr/V ratio.A non-modal melting model involving 35% melting of a granulitic assemblage (plagioclase + quartz + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + biotite + magnetite + cordierite) with a bulk composition equivalent to the Western Basement can reproduce the REE pattern of the rhyolites as well as the concentrations of Rb and Ba. Sr values remain anomalously high, but the Cr/V ratio does not indicate fractionation. Absolute values of Cr and V are within the uncertainties of published crystal—liquid partition coefficients. The rhyolites have relatively flat REE patterns (La/Yb 7.5), as do the greywackes (La/Yb 8.2), so it is therefore unlikely that the rhyolites equilibrated with a garnet or amphibole-bearing assemblage.     

Chronological dating and tectonic implications of late Cenozoic volcanic rocks and lacustrine sequence in Oiyug Basin of southern Tibet

Reconstruction of uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau is crucial for understanding its environmental impacts. The Oiyug Basin in southern Tibet contains multiple periods of sedimentary sequences and volcanic rocks that span much of the Cenozoic and has great potential for further studying this issue. However, these strata were poorly dated. This paper presents a chronological study of the 145 m thick and horizontally-distributed lacustrine sequence using paleomagnetic method as well as a K-Ar dating of the underlying volcanic rocks. Based on these dating results, a chronostratigraphic framework and the basin-developmental history have been established for the past 15 Ma, during which three tectonic stages are identified. The period of 15-8.1 Ma is characterized by intense volcanic activities involving at least three major eruptions. Subsequently, the basin came into a tectonically quiescent period and a lacustrine sedimentary sequence was developed. Around 2.5 Ma, an N-S fault occurred across the southern margin of the basin, leading to the disappearance of the lake environment and the development of the Oiyug River. The Gyirong basin on northern slope of the Himalayas shows a similar basin developmental history and thus there is a good agreement in tectonic activities between the Himalayan and Gangdise orogenic belts. Therefore, the tectonic evolution stages experienced by the Oiyug Basin during the past 15 Ma could have a regional significance for southern Tibet. The chronological data obtained from this study may provide some constraints for further studies with regard to the tectonic processes and environmental changes in southern Tibetan Plateau.     

海南岛早白垩世红层磁组构和古地磁新结果

海南岛白垩纪红层是迄今产出古地磁结果最多的地层,但古地磁结果难以在海南岛周边古地磁结果和地质限制条件下作出合理解释.为了更好地认识海南岛白垩纪红层古地磁方向的可靠性,我们对采自前人工作地区的14个采点132个样品开展了古地磁和磁组构的综合研究.磁化率各向异性测试显示14个采点样品平均各向异性度为1.018,线理度为1.014,面理度为1.004.各采点磁化率椭球体最小轴显著偏离地层法线,没有反映出沉积或压实特征.野外调查发现采点区域的节理组交线(代表中间应力轴)与磁化率椭球体中间轴一致,意味着采点磁性矿物的排列方位很可能因构造应力影响发生改变.逐步热退磁显示14个采点分离出的特征剩磁解阻温度高于660℃,方向区别于现代地磁场方向;褶皱检验表明在褶皱展平度为80.4%(95%置信范围内褶皱展平度为77%±12.2%)时精度参数达最大,对应方向为D=359.9°, I=43.4°,κ=70.2,α95=4.8°,与前人的古地磁方向一致.通过与华南地块参考极对比,以及综合分析海南岛围区古地磁和地质限制条件,表明该古地磁方向是不协调的.我们认为前人和本文采样红层剩磁很可能在沉积时获得,但在沉积后受到区域构造应力的影响,致使磁性矿物排列改变,从而导致古地磁方向也发生变化.因此,我们认为这些样品所记录的古地磁方向不能准确反映海南岛白垩纪古纬度.     

The geology and structural relationships of the southern Lebombo volcanic and intrusive rocks,South Africa

A brief account is presented for the Lebombo volcanic succession which crops out in Natal, South Africa. The volcanic belt is of late Karoo age and is composed of a thick sequence of basaltic lavas (Sabie River Formation) overlain by an equally voluminous succession of acid-flows (Jozini Formation) erupted over a period of about 70 m.y. Field relationships indicate that the Lebombo basalt pile consists of simple and compound flow units. The rhyolite succession consists of thick (80–284 m) flows units characterised by features found in both ignimbrites and rhyolitic lavas respectively. It is postulated that they were extruded as high temperature, low volatile pyroclastic flows. The Bumbeni volcanic complex which crops out near the southern termination of the Lebombo mountains, disconformably overlies the Jozini Formation and is characterised by a suite of rocks that includes rhyolite lavas, air-fall and ash-flow tuffs, syenite intrusions and basic-intermediate lavas. Dolerite dykes are ubiquitous throughout the succession and an extremely dense concentration of basic intrusions located along the western margin of the belt gives rise to the Rooi Rand dyke swarm. Rare sill-forms are found associated with the mafic volcanies. Acid intrusives are represented by simple and composite quartz-porphyry intrusions and rhyolite dykes. The structure of the Lebombo is that of a faulted monocline, tilted to the east, developed prior to the fragmentation of eastern Gondwanaland. The volcanic belt is located at the tectonic contact between two major Precambrian elements, the 3,000 m.y. Kaapvaal craton to the west and the southerly extension of the 550 m.y. Mozambique belt to the east. It is bounded to the south by the 1,000 m.y. old Natal-Namaqua mobile belt.     

Significance of fossilized microbes from the Cambrian stromatolites in the Tarim Basin,Northwest China

Samples of the Cambrian microbial dolomites were collected from Penglaiba section,a well-exposed stratigraphic section in the northwestern area of the Tarim Basin.This study provides an analogue for mediated dolomites that can precipitate in microbial mats and biofilms.The Cambrian stromatolitic dolomites were studied using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.The results are as follows:(1)dolomites with 50 nm to 100 nm spherical nanostructures are aggregated into minerals of larger sphericities;(2)nanospherical dolomites of 50 nm to 170 nm diameter are densely arranged as dumbbell-shaped or chained aggregates;(3)silicified filaments,as well as dumbbell-shaped and chain arrangements,are preserved as important microstructures.On the basis of sedimentological,compositional,geochemical,and petrographic data,the microstructures were interpreted as nanoglobules that function as bacteria in the nucleation and filament mineralization stages.The microstructures function as such because they are wrapped in extracellular polymeric substance(EPS)or mucus and mineralized fossils.Silicification accounts for the exceptional preservation of microbial mat structures,including biofilms,as well as filamentous and coccoid microbes.In addition,EPS process is capable of binding different elements,with preference for Si,Mg,and Ca.Such suitable composition favors microbe mineralization and dolomite nucleation on organic substrates.These microscopic structures suggest bacterial mineralization and provide visual evidence for the origin of microbial dolomites.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Early Cretaceous high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks in the Laiyang Basin of the Sulu Belt, eastern China

Abstract Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline volcanism occurring in the Laiyang Basin north of the Sulu high‐pressure to ultrahigh‐pressure (HP‐UHP) Metamorphic Belt, eastern China, comprises a wide spectrum of rock types, ranging from trachybasalts to trachydacites. The basaltic–andesitic rocks erupted at 107–105 Ma, spanning an SiO₂ range of 50.1–59.6% and an MgO range of 2.6–7.2%, and are characterized by large ion lithophile element (LILE; e.g. Ba and K) and light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, high field strength element (HFSE) depletion and highly radiogenic Sr but non‐radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.70750–0.70931; ?_Nd(t) = ?17.9 ? ?15.6). The geochemical similarities between these rocks and the earlier Sulu Belt lamprophyres suggest that both types of mafic rocks were derived from similar mantle sources with LILE and LREE enrichment. Thus, the Wulian–Qingdao–Yantai Fault that separates the two terranes at the surface should not be considered as a lithospheric boundary between the North China and Yangtze blocks. The felsic lavas erupted at 93–91 Ma, spanning an SiO₂ range of 61.6–67.0% and an MgO range of 1.1–2.6%, and show a trace element geochemistry similar to the basaltic rocks, but with higher radiogenic Sr and even lower Nd isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.70957–0.71109; ?_Nd(t) = ?19.1 ? ?17.5), similar to I‐type granitoids in the Sulu Belt. A crustal origin was proposed to explain their compositions (which are comparable to those of experimental slab melts), the >10 Ma eruption interval and the compositional gaps in some elements (e.g. P, Ti and Sr) between them and the older basaltic–andesitic rocks. These melts were derived from predominant metaigneous protoliths containing mafic accumulative counterparts of the basaltic–andesitic and/or lamprophyric magmas. The extensive extrusion of Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline rocks in the Laiyang Basin favored an extensional regime in response to the progressive attenuation of the thickened lithosphere and orogenic collapse, as reflected in the development of the basin from a foreland basin (before the end of the Jurassic period) to a fault basin (since the Early Cretaceous period).