Zircon and apatite fission track analyses on mineralization ages and tectonic activities of Tuwu-Yandong porphyry copper deposit in northern Xinjiang, China

The mineralization ages reported in the past in the Tuwu-Yandong copper district not only are different,but also fall into the Hercynian epoch.This study has achieved 9 zircon and 7 apatite fission track analysis results.The zircon fission track ages range from 158 Ma to 289 Ma and the apatite ages are between 64 Ma and 140 Ma.The mineralization accords with the regional tectonics in the copper district.We consider that the zircon fission track age could reveal the mineralization age based on annealing zone temperature of 140―300℃ and retention temperature of ～250℃ for zircon fission track,and metallogenetic temperature of 120―350℃ in this ore district.Total three mineralization epochs have been identified,i.e.,289―276 Ma,232―200 Ma and 165―158 Ma,and indicate occurrence of the min-eralization in the Indosinian and Yanshan epochs.Corresponding to apatite fission track ages,the three tectonic-mineralizing epochs are 140―132 Ma,109―97 Ma and 64 Ma,which means age at about 100℃ after the mineralization.The three epochs lasted 146 Ma,108 Ma and about 100 Ma from ～250℃ to ～100℃ and trend decrease from early to late.It is shown by the fission track modeling that this district underwent three stages of geological thermal histories,stable in Cretaceous and cooling both before Cretaceous and after 20 Ma.     

Fission track and U–Pb zircon ages of psammitic rocks from the Harushinai unit,Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks,central Hokkaido,Japan: constraints on metamorphic histories

Accurate pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) paths of rocks from sedimentation through maximum burial to exhumation are needed to determine the processes and mechanisms that form high‐pressure and low‐temperature type metamorphic rocks. Here, we present a new method combining laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) U–Pb with fission track (FT) dates for detrital zircons from two psammitic rock samples collected from the Harushinai unit of the Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks. The concordant zircon U–Pb ages for these samples vary markedly, from 1980 to 95 Ma, with the youngest age clusters in both samples yielding Albian‐Cenomanian weighted mean ages of 100.8 ± 1.1 and 99.3 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ uncertainties). The zircon U–Pb ages were not reset by high‐P/T type metamorphism, because there is no indication of overgrowth within the zircons with igneous oscillatory zoning. Therefore, these weighted mean ages are indicative of the maximum age of deposition of protolithic material. By comparison, the zircon FT data yield a pooled age of ca. 90 Ma, which is almost the same as the weighted mean age of the youngest U–Pb age cluster. This indicates that the zircon FT ages were reset at ca. 90 Ma while still at their source, but have not been reset since. This conclusion is supported by recorded temperature conditions of less than about 300 °C (the closure temperature of zircon FTs), as estimated from microstructures in the deformed detrital quartz grains in psammitic rocks, and no shortening of fission track lengths in the zircon. Combining these new data with previously reported white mica K–Ar ages indicates that the Harushinai unit was deposited after ca. 100 Ma, and underwent burial to its maximum depth before being subjected to a localized thermal overprint during exhumation at ca. 58 Ma.     

华山岩体中、新生代抬升的裂变径迹证据

对采自华山岩体不同高度的磷灰石样品进行裂变径迹分析 ,所得结果结合相关地质资料认为 :(1)华山岩体抬升至少始于渐新世或始新世 ;(2 )华山主峰及北峰间可能发育一条对应于华山山前断裂的次级正断层 ,断距约 340m ;(3)据华山北峰样品研究 ,其各时段的平均抬升速率依次为2 9 2 6～ 2 5 0 5Ma ,V =0 183mm/a ;2 5 0 5～ 2 3 2 7Ma ,V =0 152mm/a ;2 3 2 7～ 2 0 59Ma ,V =0 0 19mm/a     

Thermal effects of Caledonian foreland basin formation,based on fission track analyses applied on basement rocks in central Sweden

Increasing evidence from fission track studies in Sweden indicate that large parts of the Fennoscandian Shield have been affected by a large-scale thermotectonic event in the Palaeozoic. In this study the results of 17 apatite fission track analyses from central Sweden are presented collected along three NW–SE transects trending from the Bothnian Sea to the Caledonides. On the Bothnian coast samples have been collected directly from the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain. The sedimentary cover protecting this surface until recently is responsible for the thermal increase detected through apatite fission track (FT) thermochronology.The apatite FT ages range between 516 ± 46 Ma (±1σ) on the Bothnian coast around sea level to 191 ± 11 Ma in the Caledonides (～500–1500 m.a.s.l.). The mean track lengths vary from 11.3 ± 2.2 μm (±1σ) in the east to 14.2 ± 2.8 μm in the west, indicating a longer stay in the PAZ in the east, versus a continuous cooling pattern in the west. This pattern in combination with other geological constraints indicates that the crystalline basement rocks near the Caledonian deformation front in the west experienced higher temperatures after the formation of the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain followed by denudation, compared with the basement rocks in the east near the Bothnian coast.The apatite FT data near the Caledonian deformation front indicates prevailing temperatures of more than 110 ± 10 °C prior to the Mid Palaeozoic, causing a resetting of the apatite fission track clock. The temperatures were progressively lower away from the deformation front. Apatite fission track analysis of samples collected from the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain along the Bothnian coast indicate maximum temperatures of 90 ± 15 °C during Late Silurian–Early Devonian time. This heating event is argued to be the result of burial beneath a developing foreland basin in front of the Caledonian orogeny. Assuming a geothermal gradient of 20 °C/km, this temperature increase can be converted to a total burial of the samples. The resulting geometry of this basin can be described as an asymmetrical basin at least 3.5 km deep in the vicinity of the Caledonian deformation front decreasing to about 2.5 km on the Bothnian coast, continuing further onto Finland. The width of this basin was in thus in the order of 600 km. Whether this was formed completely synorogenic or partly synorogenic, broadening after cessation of the orogeny, could not be revealed.The Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic thermal evolution of this area is related to the extensional tectonics in the North Atlantic Domain.     

Age and intensity of thermal events by fission track analysis: The Ries impact crater

A thermal event reduces the number of previously registered fission tracks in a mineral dependent upon the track retention properties of the individual mineral. Apatite, sphene and zircon have retention properties over a wide range of temperatures (from 100° to 550°C); apatite data reveal information at lowest temperatures while sphene and zircon data are useful for higher temperatures.Thermal events within this temperature range of 100°C to about 550°C are suitable for study with this technique. The age of the event is determined from samples in which the fission tracks are completely erased, while minerals containing partially removed (erased) tracks provide information on the temperatures occurring during the thermal event.As a test case, the analysis of the temperatures developed by the meteorite impact which produced the Ries crater at 14.7 m.y. ago is presented.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘白垩纪以来构造演化的裂变径迹证据

鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘处于渭北隆起、晋西挠褶带和东秦岭造山带的转折地带,构造位置独特,演化历史复杂.本文选取东缘韩城地区和南缘东秦岭洛南地区上三叠统延长组为研究对象,采集6件砂岩样品进行锆石、磷灰石裂变径迹分析,对关键构造-热事件提供热年代学约束,恢复盆地东南缘不同构造带的热演化史,深化对盆地东南部油气资源赋存条件的认识,以期实现油气勘探的新突破.研究表明韩城和洛南地区的抬升冷却史存在明显差异.磷灰石裂变径迹年龄表现为从南到北减小的趋势.东缘韩城剖面磷灰石裂变径迹记录51.6~66.3 Ma、33 Ma两次抬升冷却的峰值年龄.南缘洛南剖面锆石裂变径迹年龄和磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分别记录89~106 Ma和59~66 Ma的冷却抬升年龄.洛南地区抬升冷却时间较早,剥蚀速率(106m/Ma)大于韩城地区(68m/Ma),且持续时间长.磷灰石裂变径迹(Apatite Fission Track,AFT)热史模拟显示,晚中生代,受燕山运动的影响,东秦岭地区发生强烈的构造岩浆事件,洛南地区热演化程度明显高于韩城地区.洛南剖面的热演化主要受岩浆活动的控制,韩城剖面为埋藏增温型.鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘的裂变径迹年龄格局基本受控于白垩纪以来的抬升冷却事件.     

柴达木盆地现今大地热流与晚古生代以来构造-热演化

依据钻孔系统稳态测温、静井温度资料与实测热导率数据分析了柴达木盆地地温场分布特征,建立了柴达木盆地热导率柱,新增了17个大地热流数据.柴达木盆地现今地温梯度介于17.1~38.6℃·km-1,平均为28.6±4.6℃·km-1,大地热流介于32.9~70.4mW·m-2,平均55.1±7.9mW·m-2.盆地不同构造单元地温场存在差异,昆北逆冲带、一里坪坳陷属于"高温区",祁南逆冲带属于"中温区",三湖坳陷、德令哈坳陷及欧龙布鲁克隆起属于"低温区",盆地现今地温场分布特征受控于地壳深部结构、盆地构造等因素.以现今地温场为基础,采用磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹年龄分布特征定性分析与径迹长度分布数据定量模拟相结合,研究了柴达木盆地晚古生代以来的沉积埋藏、抬升剥蚀和热演化史,并结合区域构造背景,对柴达木盆地构造演化过程进行了探讨,研究表明柴达木盆地晚古生代以来经历了六期(254.0—199 Ma,177—148.6 Ma,87—62 Ma,41.1—33.6 Ma,9.6—7.1 Ma,2.9—1.8 Ma)构造运动,六期构造事件与研究区构造演化的动力学背景相吻合.其中白垩纪末期(87—62 Ma)的构造事件导致了柴达木盆地东部隆升并遭受剥蚀,欧龙布鲁克隆起形成雏形,柴达木盆地北缘在弱挤压环境下形成坳陷盆地;中新世末的两期构造事件(9.6—7.1 Ma和2.9—1.8 Ma)使柴达木盆地遭受强烈挤压,盆地快速隆升,构造变形强烈,基本形成现今的构造面貌.     

Northward younging zircon fission‐track ages from 13 to 2 Ma in the eastern extension of the Kathmandu nappe and underlying Lesser Himalayan sediments distributed to the south of Mt. Everest

This study is concerned with the tectono‐thermal history of the Kathmandu nappe and the underlying Lesser Himalayan sediments (LHS) that are distributed in eastern Nepal. We carried out zircon fission‐track(ZFT) dating and obtained 16 ZFT ages from the eastern extension of the Kathmandu nappe, the Higher Himalayan Crystalline, Kuncha nappe, and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone. The ZFT ages of the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe range from 13.0 ±0.8 Ma to 10.7 ±0.7 Ma and exhibit a northward‐younging tendency. These Middle Miocene ZFT ages indicate that the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe remained at a temperature above 240 °C until the termination of its southward emplacement at 12–11 Ma. The ZFT ages of the LHS range from 11.1 ±0.9 Ma in the southern part of the Okhaldhunga Window to 2.4 ±0.3 Ma of the augen gneiss in the northern margin and also exhibit a northward‐younging age distribution. The ZFT ages show the northward‐younging linear distribution pattern (?0.16 Ma/km) along the across‐strikesection from the frontal part of the Kathmandu nappe to the root zone, without a significant age gap. This distribution pattern indicates that the Kathmandu nappe, the underlying MCT zone, and the Kuncha nappe cooled from the frontal zone to the root zone as a thermally united geologic body at a temperature below 240 °C. An older ZFT age (456.3 ±24.3 Ma), which was partially reset at the axial part of the Midland anticlinorium in the central part of the Okhaldhunga Window, was explained by downward heating from the “hot” Kathmandu nappe. The above evidence supported a model that southward emplacement of the hot Kathmandu nappe resulted in a thermal imprint on the upper part of the LHS; however, the lower part did not reach 240 °C.     

Spatial distribution of the apatite fission‐track ages in the Toki granite,central Japan: Exhumation rate of a Cretaceous pluton emplaced in the East Asian continental margin

The Cretaceous Toki granitic pluton of the Tono district, central Japan was emplaced in the East Asian continental margin at about 70 Ma. The Toki granite has apatite fission‐track (AFT) ages ranging from 52.1 ±2.8 Ma to 37.1 ±3.6 Ma (number of measurements, n = 33); this indicates the three‐dimensional thermal evolution during the pluton's low‐temperature history (temperature in the AFT partial annealing zone: 60–120 °C). The majority of the Toki granite has a spatial distribution of older ages in the shallower parts and younger ages in the deeper parts, representing that the shallower regions arrived (were exhumed) at the AFT closure depth earlier than the deeper regions. Such a cooling pattern was predominantly constrained by the exhumation of the Toki granitic pluton and was related to the regional denudation of the Tono district. The age–elevation relationships (AERs) of the Toki granite indicate a fast exhumation rate of about 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year between 50 Ma and 40 Ma. The AFT inverse calculation using HeFTy program gives time‐temperature paths (t–T paths), suggesting that the pluton experienced continuous slow cooling without massive reheating since about 40 Ma until the present day. A combination of the AERs and AFT inverse calculations represents the following exhumation history of the Toki granite: (i) the fast exhumation at a rate of 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year between 50 Ma and 40 Ma; (ii) slow exhumation at less than 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year after 40 Ma; and (iii) exposure at the surface prior to 30–20 Ma. The Tono district, which contains the Toki granite, underwent slow denudation at a rate of less than 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year within the East Asian continental margin before the Japan Sea opening at 25–15 Ma and then within the Southwest Japan Arc after the Japan Sea opening, which is in good agreement with representative denudation rates obtained in low‐relief hill and plain fields.     

The thermal history and uplift process of the Ouxidaban pluton in the South Tianshan orogen: Evidence from Ar-Ar and (U-Th)/He

The uplift and exhumation process in the Tianshan orogen since the late Paleozoic were likely related to the preservation of ore deposits. This study involved reconstructing the whole tectonic thermal history of the Ouxidaban pluton in central South Tianshan Mountains based on hornblende/plagioclase Ar-Ar and zircon/apatite(U-Th)/He methods. The thermal history and uplift process of central South Tianshan Mountains since the late Paleozoic were analyzed according to the results of previous works and cooling/exhumation rate features. The hornblende yields a plateau age of 382.6±3.6 Ma, and the plagioclase yields a weighted mean age of 265.8±4.9 Ma. The Ouxidaban pluton yields weighted mean zircon(U-Th)/He age of 185.8±4.3 Ma and apatite(U-Th)/He age of 31.1±2.9 Ma, respectively. Five stages of tectonic thermal history of South Tianshan Mountains since the late Paleozoic could be discriminated by the cooling curve and modeling simulation:(1) from the latest Silurian to Late Devonian, the average cooling rate of the Ouxidaban pluton was 7.84°C/Ma;(2) from the Late Devonian to the latest Middle Permian, the average cooling rate was about 2.07°C/Ma;(3) from the latest Middle Permian to the middle Eocene, the cooling rate decreased to about 0.68°C/Ma, suggesting that the tectonic activity was gentle at this time;(4) a sudden increase of the cooling rate(5.00°C/Ma) and the exhumation rate(0.17 mm/a), and crustal exhumation of ~1.83 km indicated that the Ouxidaban pluton would suffer a rapid uplift event during the Eocene(~46?35 Ma);(5) since the middle Eocene, the rapid uplift was sustained, and the average cooling rate since then has been 1.14°C/Ma with an exhumation rate of about 0.04 mm/a and an exhumation thickness of 1.33 km. The strong uplift since the Cenozoic would be related to a far-field effect from the Indian and Eurasian plates' collision. However, it was hysteretic that the remote effect was observed in the Tianshan orogenic belt.     

Fission-track-age records of the Mesozoic tectonic-events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin,China

Based on the analysis of apatite and zircon fission track (FT), the FT age distribution and the peck-ages of the Mesozoic tectonic events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin (OB) were discussed. (1) The early event mainly occurred at 213–194 Ma with a peck-age of 205 Ma, and corresponded to the tectonic uplift and the mega-clastic deposit in the southwest OB during the Late Triassic. (2) The middle event included at least two episodes. One was at 165–141 Ma with a peck-age of 150 Ma, and the other was at 115–113 Ma with a peck-age of 114 Ma, corresponding to the over-thrusting and the mega-clastic deposits in the southwest OB during the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. (3) The late event mainly demonstrated the regional uplifting and included at least two episodes. One was at 100–81 Ma with a peck-age of 90 Ma, and the other was at 66–59 Ma with a peck-age of 63 Ma. Additionally, the relationship analysis of the tectonic event and the mineralizing chronology revealed that the extreme environment of the peck-age event and the subsequent moderate activity could be the key factors of the multiple resources coupling and coexistence in the OB.

     

Metamorphic and cooling history of the Shimanto accretionary complex,Kyushu, Southwest Japan: Implications for the timing of out‐of‐sequence thrusting

Illite crystallinity, K–Ar dating of illite, and fission‐track dating of zircon are analyzed in the hanging wall (Sampodake unit) and footwall (Mikado unit) of a seismogenic out‐of‐sequence thrust (Nobeoka thrust) within the Shimanto accretionary complex of central Kyushu, southwest Japan. The obtained metamorphic temperatures, and timing of metamorphism and cooling, reveal the tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the complex, and related development of the Nobeoka thrust. Illite crystallinity data indicate that the Late Cretaceous Sampodake unit was metamorphosed at temperatures of around 300 to 310°C, while the Middle Eocene Mikado unit was metamorphosed at 260 to 300°C. Illite K–Ar ages and zircon fission‐track ages constrain the timing of metamorphism of the Sampodake unit to the early Middle Eocene (46 to 50 Ma, mean = 48 Ma). Metamorphism of the Mikado unit occurred no earlier than 40 Ma, which is the youngest depositional age of the unit. The Nobeoka thrust is inferred to have been active during about 40 to 48 Ma, as the Sampodake unit started its post metamorphic cooling after 48 Ma and was thrust over the Mikado unit at about 40 Ma along the Nobeoka thrust. These results indicate that the Nobeoka thrust was active for more than 10 million years.     

Characteristics of fission tracks in zircon: Applications to Geochronology and Cosmology

We describe a simple method for nearly isotropic revelation of fission tracks in zircon. The etchant is an equivolume mixture of 48% HF and 98% H₂SO₄; etching is carried out under pressure at 150° – 180°C. For fossil track densities above ～ 5 × 10⁶, the etching time is strongly anticorrelated with track density. The total etchable fission fragment track length (2 fragments) is 11 ± 0.5 μm. The length distribution is sharply peaked; the standard deviation in different samples is ± (0.7 – 0.8) μm. Thermal annealing studies indicate a lower activation energy for track fading than was previously repoted using a phosphoric acid etchant. A practical chemical dissolution method is described for quantitatively recovering zircon crystals from rock samples; this method should find application in fission track dating of even zircon poor rocks.     

The petrogenesis and implications of deformed late Caledonian–early Hercynian granites in the Wuyi area,South China

Precambrian basement rocks have been affected by Caledonian thermal metamorphism. Caledonian‐aged zircon grains from Precambrian basement rocks may have resulted from thermal metamorphism. However, Hercynian ages are rarely recorded. Zircon U–Pb Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) dating reveals that zircon ages from the Huyan, Lingdou, and Pengkou granitic plutons can be divided into two groups: one group with ages of 398.9 ±5.3 Ma, 399 ±5 Ma, and 410.2 ±5.4 Ma; and a second group with ages of 354 ±11 Ma, 364.6 ±6.7 Ma, and 368 ±14 Ma. The group of zircon U–Pb ages dated at 410–400 Ma represent Caledonian magmatism, whereas the 368–354 Ma ages represent the age of deformation, which produced gneissosity. The three plutons share geochemical characteristics with S‐type granites and belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline series of peraluminous rocks. They have (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.710 45–0.724 68 and εNd(t) values of ?7.33 to ?10.74, with two‐stage Nd model ages (T_DM2) ranging from 1.84 Ga to 2.10 Ga. Magmatic zircon εHf(t) values range from ?3.79 to ?8.44, and have T_DMC ages of 1.65–1.93 Ga. The data suggest that these granites formed by partial melting of Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic continental crust. A collision occurred between the Wuyi and Minyue microcontinents within the Cathaysia Block and formed S‐type granite in the southwest Fujian province. The ca 360 Ma zircon U–Pb ages can represent a newly recognized period of deformation which coincided with the formation of the unified Cathaysia Block.     

Northward cooling of the Kuncha nappe and downward heating of the Lesser Himalayan autochthon distributed to the south of Mt. Annapurna,western central Nepal

We investigated the tectonothermal history of the Lesser Himalayan sediments (LHS), which are tectonically overlain by the Higher Himalayan Crystalline. Fission‐track dating and the track length measurement of detrital zircons obtained from the Kuncha nappe and the Lesser Himalayan autochthonous sediments in western central Nepal revealed northward cooling of the nappe and possible downward heating of the autochthon by the overlying hot nappe. Nine zircon fission‐track (ZFT) ages of the nappe showed northward‐younging linear distribution from 11.6 Ma in the front at Tamghas, 6 Ma in the central at Naudanda, and 1.6 Ma in the northernmost point at Tatopani. Thermochronological invert calculation of the ZFT length elucidated that the Kuncha nappe gradually cooled down (30 °C/Myr) at the front and rapidly cooled down (120 °C/Myr) at the root zone. In contrast, the ZFT age of the Chappani Formation, located just beneath the Kuncha nappe in the central part, demonstrated a totally reset age of 6.8 Ma, whereas the Virkot Formation, structurally far from the nappe, yielded a partially reset age of 457.3 Ma. This suggests that the LHS underwent downward heating, resulting in a thermal print on the upper part of the LHS; however, the thermal effect was not sufficient to anneal ZFT totally in the deeper part. Presently, the nappe cover is eroded and denuded from this area. Detrital zircons from the Chappani Formation in Tansen area to the south of the Bari Gad Fault did not show any evidence of annealing, suggesting that nappe never covered the LHS distributed to the south of the fault.     

Rapid cooling and geospeedometry of granitic rocks exhumation within a volcanic arc: A case study from the Central Slovakian Neovolcanic Field (Western Carpathians)

U–Pb Sensitive High‐Resolution Ion MicroProbe (SHRIMP) dating of zircon in combination with (U–Th)/He dating of zircon and apatite is applied to constrain the emplacement and exhumation history of the youngest granitic rocks in the Western Carpathians collected in the Central Slovakian Neovolcanic Field. Two samples of diorite from the locality Banky, and granodiorite from Banská Hodru?a yield the U–Pb zircon concordia ages of 15.21 ±0.19 Ma and 12.92 ±0.27 Ma, respectively, recording the time of zircon crystallization and the intrusions’ emplacement. Zircon (U–Th)/He ages of 14.70 ±0.94 (Banky) and 12.65 ±0.61 Ma (Banská Hodru?a), and apatite (U–Th)/He ages of 14.45 ±0.70 Ma (diorite) and 12.26 ±0.77 Ma (granodiorite) are less than 1 Myr younger than the corresponding zircon U–Pb ages. For both diorite and granodiorite rocks their chronological data thus document a simple cooling process from magmatic crystallization/solidification temperatures to near‐surface temperatures in the Middle Miocene, without subsequent reheating. Geospeedometry data suggest for rapid cooling at an average rate of 678 ±158 °C/Myr, and the exhumation rate of 5 mm/year corresponding to active tectonic‐forced exhumation. The quick cooling is interpreted to record the exhumation of the studied granitic rocks complex that closely followed its emplacement, and was likely accompanied by a drop in the paleo‐geothermal gradient due to cessation of volcanic activity in the area.     

Thermo-tectonic history of Ryoke Basement in Hohi volcanic zone, northeast Kyushu, Japan: Constraints from fission track thermochronology

Abstract Apatite and zircon fission track ages from Ryoke Belt basement in northeast Kyushu show late Cretaceous, middle to late Eocene, middle Miocene and Quaternary groupings. The basement cooled through 240 ± 25°C, the closure temperature for fission tracks in zircon, mainly during the interval 74-90 Ma as a result of uplift and denudation, the pattern being uniform across northeast Kyushu. In combination with published K-Ar ages and the Turonian-Santonian age of sedimentation in the Onogawa Basin, active suturing along the Median Tectonic Line from 100-80 Ma, at least, is inferred. Ryoke Belt rocks along the northern margin of Hohi volcanic zone (HVZ) cooled rapidly through ∼100°C to less than 50°C during the middle Eocene to Oligocene, associated with 2.5-3.5 km of denudation. The timing of this cooling follows peak heating in the Eocene-Oligocene part (Murotohanto subbelt) of the Shimanto Belt in Muroto Peninsula (Shikoku) inferred previously, and coincides with the 43 Ma change in convergence direction of the Pacific-Eurasian plate and the demise of the Kula-Pacific spreading centre. Ryoke Belt rocks along the southern margin of HVZ have weighted mean apatite fission track ages of 15.3 ± 3.1 Ma. These reset ages are attributed to an increase in geothermal gradient in the middle Miocene combined with rapid denudation and uplift of at least 1.4 km. These ages indicate that heating of the overriding plate associated with the middle Miocene start of subduction of hot Shikoku Basin lithosphere extended into the Ryoke Belt in northeast Kyushu. Pleistocene apatite fission track ages from Ryoke Belt granites at depth in the centre of HVZ are due to modern annealing in a geothermal environment.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩热演化史与隆升过程分析

运用LA-ICP MS锆石U-Pb定年、角闪石和黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar定年、锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹(FT)分析等构造热年代学研究方法,探讨分析了鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩的热演化历史及其抬升冷却过程.紫金山侵入岩主要由次透辉二长岩和正长岩组成,锆石U-Pb测年给出的岩浆侵位-结晶年龄为136.7 Ma,角闪石和黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar测年获得的岩浆结晶-固结年龄集中在133.1~130.4 Ma,表明紫金山侵入岩主要形成于早白垩世的136.7~130.4 Ma.侵入岩T-t轨迹与磷灰石FT模拟热史路径综合揭示了鄂尔多斯盆地东缘紫金山侵入岩抬升冷却的三个构造热演化阶段:1) 136~120 Ma侵位岩浆结晶-固结阶段,岩体平均冷却速率高达52 ℃/Ma;2) 120~30 Ma岩体相对缓慢抬升冷却阶段,平均抬升冷却速率为2.5 ℃/Ma;3) 30 Ma以来岩体快速抬升冷却阶段,平均抬升冷却速率3.6 ℃/Ma,尤以近10 Ma以来的快速抬升冷却最为显著,抬升冷却速率接近7 ℃/Ma.结合区域构造动力学环境分析认为,鄂尔多斯盆地东缘的紫金山岩浆活动与华北克拉通早白垩世构造体制转换过程的大规模岩浆活动属于相同时期、统一构造作用的产物,早白垩世末期以来由慢到快的差异抬升过程主要受控于华北克拉通东部(古)太平洋体系与其西南部特提斯体系之间相互联合、彼此消长的构造作用.     

Zircon fission‐track and U–Pb double dating using femtosecond laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry: A technical note

We present a new LA–ICP–MS system for zircon fission‐track (FT) and U–Pb double dating, whereby a femtosecond laser combined with galvanometric optics simultaneously ablates multiple spots to measure average surface U contents. The U contents of zircon measured by LA–ICP–MS and standardized with the NIST SRM610 glass are comparable to those measured by the induced FT method, and have smaller analytical errors. LA–ICP–MS FT dating of seven zircon samples including three IUGS age standards is as accurate as the external detector method, but can give a higher‐precision age depending on the counting statistics of the U content measurement. Double dating of the IUGS age standards gives FT and U–Pb ages that are in agreement. A chip of the Nancy 91500 zircon has a homogeneous U content of 84 ppm, suggesting the possibility of using this zircon as a matrix‐matched U‐standard for FT dating. When using the Nancy 91500 zircon as a U‐standard, a zeta calibration value of 42–43 year cm² for LA–ICP–MS FT dating is obtained. While this value is strictly valid only for the particular session, it can serve as a reference for other studies.     

Fission track geochronology of King Island,Bass Strait,Australia: Relationship to continental rifting

Fission track ages have been determined on sphene and apatite from the granitic rocks of King Island in Bass Strait, southeastern Australia. In all cases sphene and apatite ages are markedly discordant. Sphene ages compare very closely to earlier KAr measurements and indicate an emplacement age of about 350 m.y. for the east coast group of granites and their important scheelite mineralization. Apatite ages are all younger by about 80–200 m.y. suggesting that fission tracks were not fully retained in this mineral until the Cretaceous. During the Cretaceous King Island was at the edge of the developing Otway Rift Valley which resulted in the breakup of Australia and Antarctica. Uplift of the basement rocks along the rift margin with consequent rapid erosion allowed the apatites to cool below about 110°C and begin accumulating fission tracks for the first time. Differing degrees of uplift, at least partly fault controlled, have produced a regular pattern of apatite ages across the island. A relationship between apatite fission track ages and continental breakup may be a widespread phenomenon which could give valuable insight into the thermal and tectonic development of rifted continental margins.