鄂西沉积型赤铁矿含矿沉积盆地与成矿作用分析

鄂西是中国沉积型高磷赤铁矿的重要产区,含矿岩系为上泥盆统黄家蹬组和写经寺组,前者主体为近滨亚相沉积,后者为较平坦的远滨带.铁矿化受含矿沉积盆地和岩相古地理环境控制,矿化主要赋存于碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩中.含矿建造层序构成了沉积旋回,与海进-海退相呼应.中泥盆世盆地下陷接受沉积;晚泥盆世下陷加速,在晚泥盆世晚期海水最深.之后盆...     

黑龙江多宝山古生代海盆闭合的岩石学证据

综合研究黑龙江多宝山地区古生代沉积地层、生物化石,通过分析侵入岩岩石地球化学及其锆石U--Pb 同位素测年资料,表明该地区早奥陶世至晚泥盆世早期为海相沉积地层,晚泥盆世晚期为海陆交互相沉积地层,早石炭世为陆相河湖沉积地层。多宝山海盆东南侧出露一套年龄为( 300 ± 3 ～ 357 ± 4) Ma 的花岗岩,其中正长、二长花岗质糜棱岩为后造山花岗岩,碱长花岗岩为造山后A 型花岗岩。表明多宝山海盆于晚泥盆世开始闭合,至早石炭世为陆相河湖沉积,晚石炭世-早二叠世为抬升剥蚀阶段。表现为多宝山地区于早石炭世开始造山,晚石炭世晚期或延至早二叠世发生造山后伸展作用。     

四川龙门山地区中泥盆统金宝石组混合沉积特征

四川龙门山地区是中国泥盆系出露较好、研究程度较高的地区。中泥盆统金宝石组发育由碎屑岩、碳酸盐岩、混积岩组成的混积沉积。本研究以平武县平驿铺剖面和北川县甘溪剖面为切入点,基于实测资料和薄片观察对金宝石组沉积相开展详细研究,认为龙门山地区中泥盆统金宝石组发育河流、碎屑滨岸、陆棚和碳酸盐岩缓坡4种沉积相,沉积演化经历了2个沉积旋回。金宝石组以相混合和原地混合2种方式形成混合沉积。相对海平面的变化、陆源碎屑的供应、碳酸盐生产速率和古气候是引起相混合的主要控制因素,波浪和风暴浪则是引起陆源碎屑和碳酸盐组分混合沉积的主要作用方式。对金宝石组沉积序列、沉积特征及沉积演化过程的研究,有利于增进对龙门山地区泥盆系沉积古环境的认识。     

从弧后盆地到前陆盆地——北祁连造山带奥陶纪—泥盆纪的沉积盆地与构造演化

北祁连加里东期造山带是在新元古代Rodinia联合大陆(Pangea-850)基础上裂解,经由寒武纪裂谷盆地、奥陶纪初期成熟洋盆、奥陶纪中晚期北祁连活动大陆边缘、志留纪—早、中泥盆世碰撞造山而形成的。奥陶纪中、晚期,北祁连、走廊地区中、上奥陶统发育洋壳-岛弧-弧后火山岩,形成典型的沟-弧-盆体系的沉积。志留纪—早、中泥盆世是北祁连-走廊沉积盆地的转换时期。除天祝、古浪、景泰及肃南等局部地区发育下志留统钙碱性系列火山岩以外,全区志留系均以碎屑岩沉积为主。志留系底部多见一套砾岩层。下—中志留统为典型复理石相的浊流沉积。上志留统变为滨浅海相磨拉石沉积。早、中泥盆世雪山群为典型的陆相粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。从空间分布上看,志留系—泥盆系在走廊—北祁连地区也有自北向南厚度加大、粒度变粗的特征,古流以由南向北、来自造山带的古流为特征。北祁连-河西走廊奥陶纪弧后盆地火山岩—志留系复理石-海相磨拉石—中、下泥盆统陆相磨拉石的充填序列以及空间分布特点,反映为典型的弧后盆地向前陆盆地转化的沉积序列。     

宁夏牛首山地区中—上泥盆统沉积相组合特征

在阿拉善和华北陆块南缘结合部位的牛首山地区,出露一套连续的中—上泥盆统陆相沉积组合。该套沉积组合的沉积相和沉积物源区的变化特征,可帮助理解阿拉善和华北陆块及相邻地区晚古生代构造演化。根据野外研究结果,该套沉积组合在牛首山南麓石峡沟地区呈现河流相、湖泊相和小型冲积扇相共同发育的沉积面貌,可分为河道、堤岸、河漫平原、滨湖、浅湖、扇根、扇中和扇端共8个沉积亚相。其中,中泥盆统石峡沟组总体呈现由河流沉积向湖泊沉积过渡,而上泥盆统老君山组则呈现下部为扇根、扇中、扇端亚相与河道亚相的粗碎屑沉积,上部由滨湖沉积向浅湖沉积过渡的沉积组合变化特征。牛首山地区老君山组砾岩层数、厚度及砾石砾径分别呈现向南逐渐减少、减薄和减小的特征。古水流分析结果显示,石峡沟组下部碎屑沉积物来自于北东东—东向物源区,上部沉积物主要来自于南东向物源区,而老君山组沉积物主要来自于北东向物源区。结合前人对老君山组古水流的系统测量、石峡沟组和老君山组砂岩碎屑锆石研究结果以及区域地质资料综合分析,认为中—晚泥盆世时期阿拉善地块东南缘总体具有北高南低的古地理格局,且该时期的沉积物为一套具有向南水体逐渐加深的陆相沉积组合,沉积物源区主要位...     

皖南志留系唐家坞组物源分析:来自碎屑锆石年代学和岩石地球化学的制约

分布于皖南泾县地区的唐家坞组为志留系顶部最晚沉积,其沉积时代和物质来源仍存在争议。对其进行了岩相学、岩石地球化学以及锆石U-Pb年代学等综合研究。岩相学特征表明:研究砂岩以波状消光的石英和变质岩屑为主,磨圆度和分选程度较好;岩石地球化学特征显示砂岩的成分成熟度较高,物源区主要以长英质组分为主,并发生了强烈的化学风化或沉积循环;LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年获得最年轻的单颗粒锆石年龄为424 Ma,可作为唐家坞组沉积时代的下限。结合地层接触关系,限定唐家坞组沉积时代应为志留纪晚期,可能接近华南早古生代造山事件的结束时间。79颗碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄获得主要年龄峰值为981 Ma和756 Ma,次级年龄峰值为2 476 Ma、517 Ma和453 Ma,结合区域上年代学信息,暗示了唐家坞组砂岩的主要物源区为早-中新元古代岩浆岩、新元古代裂谷层序以及震旦纪-奥陶纪沉积岩,同造山期岩浆岩或变质岩也为唐家坞组提供了物源。华南早古生代陆内造山作用导致中奥陶世之前的盆地沉积物、部分盆地基底以及造山期侵入其中的岩浆岩发生强烈的隆升,从而为陆内前陆盆地沉积提供了主要物源,表明华南早古生代造山带与扬子地块东南缘前陆盆地两个构造单元存在盆山物质耦合关系。     

A review of Lower and Middle Palaeozoic biostratigraphy in west peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand in its context within the Sibumasu Terrane

Fossils from the Cambrian to Devonian rocks of southern Thailand, the Langkawi Islands, mainland Kedah, Perlis, north Perak and central West Peninsular Malaysia are listed and reviewed, and their stratigraphy and correlation reassessed. The hitherto anomalous record of the trilobite Dalmanitina from Malaysia is reviewed and found to be of latest Ordovician (Hirnantian) age, rather than Lower Silurian age as previously reported, and is considered a probable synonym of the widespread Mucronaspis mucronata. A new stratigraphical nomenclature is erected for part of the Langkawi, mainland Kedah and Perlis area successions, in which the term Setul Limestone (which stretched from the Ordovician to the Devonian) is abandoned and replaced by the Middle Ordovician Kaki Bukit Limestone, the late Ordovician and early Silurian Tanjong Dendang Formation, the Silurian Mempelam Limestone, and the early Devonian Timah Tasoh Formation, all underlying the paraconformity with the late Devonian Langgun Red Beds. There was a single depositional basin in the generally shallow-water and cratonic areas of southern Thailand, Langkawi, and mainland Kedah and Perlis, in contrast to the deeper-water basin of north Perak. Only Silurian rocks are dated with certainty within another basin in central West Malaysia, near Kuala Lumpur, which were also cratonic and shallow-water, although to the east in west Pahang there are basal Devonian deeper-water sediments with graptolites. The area is reviewed in its position within the Sibumasu Terrane, which, in the Palaeozoic, also included central and northern Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and southwest China (part of Yunnan Province).     

昆仑造山带早-中泥盆世沉积特征及盆地性质探讨

昆仑造山带基本构造—地层格架奠基于古生代,是早古生代和晚古生代洋陆转换、碰撞造山的结果。早古生代末的加里东碰撞造山运动,使早古生代洋盆闭合,昆仑地区整体抬升为陆,作为造山运动的沉积响应,在结合带的山前地区形成早—中泥盆世前陆盆地沉积。东昆仑下—中泥盆统分布于昆中、昆南区,北部为深海、次深海盆地沉积和浅海陆棚及海陆过渡相沉积,南部为滨浅海沉积,沉积物在三维空间上具有北厚南薄的楔状体特点。时间序列上表现为深海、次深海—浅海陆棚—海陆交互相特征,反映沉积盆地向上变浅的规律。物源主要来源于北部北昆仑早古生代造山带,南部为次要物源区。由于其发育于志留纪末祁漫塔格洋盆闭合后的俯冲陆块之上,反映其具有周缘前陆盆地沉积的总体特征。西昆仑只在昆北区发育中泥盆统,西南部主要为深海、次深海盆地沉积,上部发育滨浅海沉积,北部及塔里木南部边缘为滨浅海沉积,沉积物在三维空间上具有西南厚东北薄的楔状体特点。时间序列上表现为深海、半深海—浅海—海陆交互—陆相沉积特点,亦表现为沉积盆地向上变浅的规律。物源主要来源于西南造山带,东北部塔里木古陆为次要物源区。结合该套地层发育于奥陶纪末库地洋盆闭合后的中昆仑岩浆弧后的昆北地区,反映其具有弧后前陆盆地沉积的总体特征。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘岐山地区中奥陶统沉积特征及沉积环境研究

本文通过野外剖面实测、样品采集、薄片鉴定等手段,收集地球化学数据及前人研究材料,对岐山地区岩性组合、沉积构造进行了研究,分析其中奥陶统沉积环境演化过程。结果表明,岐山地区在中奥陶统下马家沟组早期沉积白云岩,为局限海台地环境;下马家沟组中、晚期沉积中厚层状灰岩,为开阔海台地环境;上马家沟组沉积厚层的纹层状灰岩夹碎屑流、浊流等深水沉积建造,水体逐渐加深,并进入台地前缘斜坡沉积环境;峰峰组发育厚层的纹层状灰岩,为台地前缘斜坡环境并向深水海盆靠近。由此判断岐山地区应为南缘凹陷上,除淳化-旬邑次级凹陷以外的另一个水体更深、坡度更大的次级凹陷。     

阿尔泰铁木尔特铅锌矿床的碳质流体组合及其地质意义

铁木尔特铅锌矿是阿尔泰克兰盆地内最主要的VMS型矿床。矿床受控于阿巴宫-库尔提断裂,铅锌矿体分布于该断裂NE逆冲盘的下泥盆统康布铁堡组地层绿泥石英片岩、大理岩或层状矽卡岩中。矿体形态多呈透镜状、似层状,并整合产于变质岩系中,发育多含矿化层。金属矿物有方铅矿、闪锌矿、黄铜矿、黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿等。铁木尔特铅锌矿床晚期发育多金属硫化物石英脉,至少可识别出3个流体包裹体组合（FIA）。FIO为高盐度流体包裹体组合,主要为含子矿物的多相包裹体（L-V-S型）,部分为气液两相包裹体（L-V型）,局限于单个石英颗粒内,包裹体呈无序分布,或呈孤立的单个包裹体分布,包裹体的最终均一温度322—422．5℃。F11为次生的CO2-H2O流体包裹体组合,主要由单相（LCO2）和两相（LCO2-LH2O）的富CO2包裹体组成,呈线性分布,穿透石英颗粒边界,明显属于次生包裹体范畴。FI2为碳质（CO2-CH4）流体包裹体组合,广泛发育,包裹体主要由单相（LCO2、LCO2-CH4或LCO2-N2）、少量两相（LCO2-LH2O）富CO2包裹体组成,大小5μm-20μm,成群定向分布,穿透石英颗粒边界并切断FI1,是晚于FI1的次生包裹体组合,反映晚期较大的构造一流体活动。对FI2的详细研究表明,LCO2型包裹体的TmCO2=-63．3～-57．7℃,ThCO2=-27．5～＋29．7℃;LCO2-CH4型或LCO2-N2型包裹体的TmCO2=-80．5～-5．5℃,LhCO2=-56．0～-25．0℃;LCO2-LH2O型包裹体CO2相的ThCO2=-66．9--0．9℃,ThCO2=-13．3～＋2．3℃,包裹体的最终均一温度Th,total=243．1—361．1℃。铁木尔特次生碳质流体组合,萨热阔布金矿主成矿阶段、赛都-多拉纳含金剪切带中早期透镜状石英脉碳质流体组合,以及阿舍勒等矿床的次生碳质流体组合,都具有相似的流体性质,均为高密度的CO2-CH4-N2流体,其来源与石炭-二叠造山作用主期的区域动力热流变质作用有关。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111001113

The Rheic Ocean was one of the most important oceans of the Paleozoic Era.It lay between Laurentia and Gondwana from the Early Ordovician and closed to produce the vast Ouachita-Alleghanian -Variscan orogen during the assembly of Pangea.Rifting began in the Cambrian as a continuation of Neoproterozoic orogenic activity and the ocean opened in the Early Ordovician with the separation of several Neoproterozoic arc terranes from the continental margin of northern Gondwana along the line of a former suture.The rapid rate of ocean opening suggests it was driven by slab pull in the outboard lapetus Ocean.The ocean reached its greatest width with the closure of lapetus and the accretion of the periGondwanan arc terranes to Laurentia in the Silurian.Ocean closure began in the Devonian and continued through the Mississippian as Gondwana sutured to Laurussia to form Pangea.The ocean consequently plays a dominant role in the Appalachian-Ouachita orogeny of North America,in the basement geology of southern Europe,and in the Paleozoic sedimentary,structural and tectonothermal record from Middle America to the Middle East.Its closure brought the Paleozoic Era to an end.     

Provenance analysis of the Paleozoic sequences of the northern Gondwana margin in NW Iberia: Passive margin to Variscan collision and orocline development

The Cantabrian Zone of NW Iberia preserves a voluminous, almost continuous, sedimentary sequence that ranges from Neoproterozoic to Early Permian in age. Its tectonic setting is controversial and recent hypotheses include (i) passive margin deposition along the northern margin of Gondwana or (ii) an active continental margin or (iii) a drifting ribbon continent. In this paper we present detrital zircon U–Pb laser ablation age data from 13 samples taken in detrital rocks from the Cantabrian Zone sequence ranging from Early Silurian to Early Permian in depositional age. The obtained results, together with previously published detrital zircon ages from Ediacaran–Ordovician strata, allow a comprehensive analysis of changing provenance through time. Collectively, these data indicate that this portion of Iberia was part of the passive margin of Gondwana at least from Ordovician to Late Devonian times. Zircon populations in all samples show strong similarities with the Sahara Craton and with zircons found in Libya, suggesting that NW Iberia occupied a paleoposition close to those regions of present-day northern Africa during this time interval. Changes in provenance in the Late Devonian are attributed to the onset of the collision between Gondwana and Laurussia.Additionally, the Middle Carboniferous to Permian samples record populations consistent with the recycling of older sedimentary sequences and exhumation of the igneous rocks formed before and during the Variscan orogeny. Late-Devonian to Permian samples yield zircon populations that reflect topographic changes produced during the Variscan orogeny and development of the lithospheric scale oroclinal buckling.     

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘中奥陶统地球化学特征及古环境意义

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘位于中国东西部构造接合区,其奥陶纪末期构造体制的改变引起了广泛关注。选取老石旦剖面中奥陶统碳酸盐岩作为研究对象,通过地球化学分析,恢复其古环境特征并探索盆地西缘中奥陶世构造体制改变在沉积学与地球化学方面的响应。结果显示:(1)三道坎组和桌子山组碳酸盐岩δ¹⁸O为-5.2‰~-8.9‰,平均值为-7.0‰;δ¹³C为1.3‰~-1.8‰,平均值为-0.1‰。δ¹⁸O自下而上不断增加,并在顶部出现小幅降低。δ¹³C与δ¹⁸O变化趋势相似。(2)古环境特征表现为从三道坎组到桌子山组,水温经历了初期震荡,从32.7 ℃缓慢降至15.7 ℃。古盐度Z值呈不断增加的趋势,反映出该沉积期水体加深、盐度不断升高。(3)主量、微量元素指标反映出研究区中奥陶世沉积水体不断加深,从三道坎组到桌子山组陆源碎屑物质含量逐渐降低,指示沉积环境由局限台地向开阔台地转变。结合研究区中奥陶统构造背景,认为中奥陶世鄂尔多斯盆地西缘已经处于前陆盆地的构造体制下,逐渐受到阿拉善地块和华北板块碰撞造山影响,盆地呈现西北高、东南低的古地貌特征,从而导致蒸发浓缩的富钾卤水向东南部汇聚;因此,陕北盐盆东南部次级凹陷是海相钾盐矿床的重点勘探靶区。     

北祁连-河西走廊志留纪和泥盆纪古地理及其对同造山过程的沉积响应

北祁连-河西走廊志留系包括下志留统鹿角沟砾岩和肮脏沟组、中志留统泉脑沟山组和上志留统旱峡组，泥盆系包括中、下泥盆统老君山组和上泥盆统沙流水组。鹿角沟砾岩为水下冲积扇沉积，断续分布于北祁连西段。肮脏沟组在北祁连-河西走廊分布广泛，主要为半深海碎屑复理石沉积。泉脑沟山组和旱峡组分布于北祁连和河西走廊西段，前者以浅海相砂泥岩和泥灰岩为主，后者以滨海潮坪-浅海碎屑岩沉积为主。老君山组分布于古祁连山山前和山间盆地，为粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。沙流水组分布于河西走廊东段，为湖相沉积。区域古地理分析表明，北祁连-河西走廊志留纪-泥盆纪的古地理主要受北祁连加里东-早海西期不规则造山作用控制。鹿角沟砾岩标志着弧-陆碰撞最早发生于早志留世早期。早志留世北祁连-河西走廊由弧后残余盆地向前陆盆地转化。中、晚志留世北祁连东段剧烈造山并与阿拉善古陆的连接，前陆盆地限于北祁连-河西走廊西段。志留纪末期为北祁连的主造山期，泥盆纪形成高峻的古祁连山。早、中泥盆世形成山前和山间盆地的粗碎屑磨拉石沉积。晚泥盆世造山带西段造山作用剧烈，形成剥蚀区。东段造山作用微弱，山地被剥蚀，山前形成湖泊相的晚泥盆世沉积。     

塔里木盆地早古生代晚期构造-沉积响应

摘要：伴随相对海平面由上升转为下降的周期变化,塔里木盆地在早古生代经历了一次大规模的扩张→挤压→隆升的开合旋回,早期(震旦纪—中奥陶世)处于拉张的构造背景下,呈现西台(碳酸盐台地)东盆(满加尔．库鲁克塔格深水盆地)的古地理格局。中西部广大地区沉积了巨厚的浅水台地相碳酸盐岩,以中晚寒武世的下丘里塔格群和早中奥陶世的上丘里塔格群为标志;东部的满加尔-库鲁克塔格则以厚度不大的远洋硅-灰泥沉积为主。盆地构造性质的转换及沉积古地理的巨大改变发生于中奥陶世中晚期,以塔中、塔北的隆起和塘古孜巴斯坳陷及阿瓦提-满加尔坳陷的形成为标志,呈近南北向隆-坳相问的盆地格局。沉积记录的响应表现为碳酸盐台地的消失、陆源物质的逐渐注入和向上变粗、火山活动和火山碎屑的出现以及巨厚砂泥质浊积岩在塔东盆地内的充填等。因此,中晚奥陶世—中泥盆世是塔里木盆地海域逐渐萎缩、盆地不断隆升和相对海平面逐渐下降的一个过程。     

Detrital zircons U–Pb SHRIMP ages and provenance of La Modesta Formation,Patagonia Argentina

This paper summarizes the geology of the Paleozoic La Modesta Formation in Patagonia, Argentina, and presents new SHRIMP U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from muscovite-chlorite schist and tourmalinite. Also complementary geochemical and lead isotopic data are presented, indicating that the protoliths were formed from upper crustal rocks by the contribution of a large input from recycled (or felsic) sources. The maximum age of sedimentation of La Modesta Formation is about 446 ± 6 Ma. The basin closure (or eventually a paleocurrent shift) occurs at Lower Devonian before the exhumation of the Middle-Devonian granitoids of the Rio Deseado Complex (Deseado Massif). Many of the detrital zircons are igneous and record Ordovician ages, with a prominent Lower Ordovician-age peak at approximately 473 Ma. Most favourable candidates to provide the younger zircons in the basin would Ordovician granites of the Rio Deseado Complex (Deseado Massif) and Punta Sierra Plutonic Complex (Somun Cura Massif). Older zircons have peaks of different importance (including Brasiliano and Grenvillian ages) between 530 and 700, 750–1500, 1750–2000 and 2550–2700 Ma. La Modesta Formation is also a potential area of materials (detrital zircon) to the basin where the rocks of the Eastern Andean Metamorphic Complex and equivalent formations of the Andean region were generated.     

秦岭造山带泥盆系热水沉积岩相应用研究及实例

构造-热水沉积岩相与盆地的古地理环境, 热水沉积岩相与热水沉积成矿,热(水) 流体岩相与构造背景、构造古地理,它们之间有密切地内在联系.应用热水沉积岩相、沉积相及沉积体系分析方法，对凤县铅硐山-双石铺三级构造热水成矿盆地进行研究。     

秦岭造山带泥盆系热水沉积岩相应用研究及实例

构造-热水沉积岩相与盆地的古地理环境,热水沉积岩相与热水沉积成矿,热 (水 )流体岩相与构造背景、构造古地理,它们之间有密切地内在联系.应用热水沉积岩相、沉积相及沉积体系分析方法,对凤县铅硐山-双石铺三级构造热水成矿盆地进行研究.     

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘奥陶纪沉积充填记录的关键时限及其构造意义

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘上、下古生界呈现明显的角度不整合,标志着该区卷入了加里东造山带变形。本文以盆地内奥陶纪沉积充填记录为线索,利用地层序列中沉积凝灰岩的锫石U-Pb同位素测年,结合秦岭造山带岩体年代学研究成果,探讨了秦岭加里东期构造事件的发生与发展过程。研究表明:1)奥陶系沉积时期,沉积序列经历了海侵至海退的完整旋回,中奥陶世马五期海退序列开始,晚奥陶世背锅山期海水自鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘完全退出;2)晚奥陶世平凉期至背锅山期,地层序列中凝灰岩、滑塌构造、滑塌角砾岩普遍发育,滑塌构造和滑塌角砾岩的直接触发因素是构造活动引发的地震,构造活动性明显加强;3)中奥陶世马五期海退序列的开始,孕育着秦岭洋壳板块开始向北俯冲,时限大约为475~463 Ma;4)晚奥陶世平凉期,沉积序列中重力流、滑塌构造和凝灰岩普遍发育,孕育着秦岭洋向北的俯冲碰撞进入了高峰阶段,其时限大约为454~450 Ma。     

Carboniferous–Permian Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Environment of Southeastern Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on Final Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

In this paper we discuss the timing of final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean based on the field investigations of the Carboniferous–Permian stratigraphic sequences and sedimentary environments in southeastern Inner Mongolia combined with the geology of its neighboring areas. Studies show that during the Carboniferous–Permian in the eastern segment of the Tianshan-Hinggan Orogenic System, there was a giant ENE–NE-trending littoral-neritic to continental sedimentary basin, starting in the west from Ejinqi eastwards through southeastern Inner Mongolia into Jilin and Heilongjiang. The distribution of the Lower Carboniferous in the vast area is sparse. The Late Carboniferous or Permian volcanic-sedimentary rocks always unconformably overlie the Devonian or older units. The Upper Carboniferous–Middle Permian is dominated by littoral-neritic deposits and the Upper Permian, by continental deposits. The Late Carboniferous–Permian has no trace of subduction-collision orogeny, implying the basin gradually disappeared by shrinking and shallowing. In addition, it is of interest to note that the Ondor Sum and Hegenshan ophiolitic mélanges were formed in the pre-Late Silurian and pre-Late Devonian respectively, and the Solonker ophiolitic mélange formed in the pre-Late Carboniferous. All the evidence indicates that the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean had closed before the Late Carboniferous, and most likely before the latest Devonian (Famennian).