Paleocene–early Eocene post-subduction magmatism in Sikhote-Alin(Far East Russia):New constraints for the tectonic history of the Izanagi-Pacific ridge and the East Asian continental margin

New isotopic,geochemical and geochronological data justify the widespread occurrence of middle Paleocene to early Eocene(60–53 Ma) post-subduction felsic magmatism across the entire Sikhote-Alin territory(southeastern Russia),conform with previous observations in Northeast China,the southern Korean Peninsula,and the Inner Zone of Japan.This igneous activity in East Asia coincided with the reactivation(after tectonic quiescence between ～93–60 Ma) of left-lateral strike-slip displacements along the Tan-Lu and Central Sikhote-Alin faults and with the post-60 Ma cessation of subduction/accretion recorded in the Shimanto belt of SW Japan.The SikhoteAlin post-subduction igneous A-type rocks present diverse mineralogical and geochemical features that suggest interactions of the subducting plate with anhydrous mantle upwelling through slab tears in the continental margin.The middle Paleocene–early Eocene magmatism is not related to subduction but is synchronous with strikeslip tectonics and the termination of accretionary prism development,suggesting a shift in tectonic regime from oceanic plate subduction at a convergent margin to parallel sliding and initiation of a transform continental margin.These new observations are inconsistent with the current tectonic model of 60–50 Ma Izanagi-Pacific ridge subduction beneath East Asian continental margin.     

东海西湖凹陷渐新统花港组海绿石的发现及其意义

在西湖凹陷渐新统花港组中首次发现非正常海相海绿石。可分为三种类型:即团粒状海绿石、胶结物海绿石和碎屑假象海绿石。前两者属沉积过程或成岩初期的产物。通过沉积学研究，结合微量元素及介质条件分析认为，花港组总体为滨岸湖泊三角洲－河流体系，但是曾程度不同地受到海水或咸水-半咸水影响。花港组的时代就可能归属为始新统。这一认识上的突破除了花港组年代地层的对比意义以外，还将引起对盆地演化阶段、沉积体系空间配置及油气有利相带预测等问题的重新认识。     

Lermontovskoe Tungsten Skarn Deposit: the Oldest Mineralization in the Sikhote-Alin Orogen, Far East Russia

Abstract. Lermontovskoe tungsten skarn deposit in central Sikhote-Alin is concluded to have formed at 132 Ma in the Early Cretaceous, based on K-Ar age data for muscovite concentrates from high-grade scheelite ore and greisenized granite. Late Paleozoic limestone in Jurassic - early Early Cretaceous accretionary complexes was replaced during hydrothermal activity related to the Lermontovskoe granodiorite stock of reduced type. The ores, characterized by Mo-poor scheelite and Fe^3+- poor mineral assemblages, indicate that this deposit is a reduced-type tungsten skarn (Sato, 1980, 1982), in accordance with the reduced nature of the granodiorite stock.
The Lermontovskoe deposit, the oldest mineralization so far known in the Sikhote-Alin orogen, formed in the initial stage of Early Cretaceous felsic magmatism. The magmatism began shortly after the accretionary tectonics ceased, suggesting an abrupt change of subduction system. Style of the Early Cretaceous magmatism and mineralization is significantly different between central Sikhote-Alin and Northeast Japan; reduced-type and oxidized-type, respectively. The different styles may reflect different tectonic environments; compressional and extensional, respectively. These two areas, which were closer together before the opening of the Japan Sea in the Miocene, may have been juxtaposed under a transpressional tectonic regime after the magmatism.     

Tectonic uplift history of the Yitong Basin since the Oligocene,Northeast China：Evidence from apatite fission track ages and geological relationship

The Yitong Basin is an oil-bearing basin with unique characteristics in Northeast China. On the basis of apatite fission track ages and geological relationship, the tectonic uplift history of the Yitong Basin since the Oligo-cene was discussed. Based on apatite fission track analysis of five samples from the Luxiang and Chaluhe fault de-pressions and basin modeling study, it can be concluded that since the Oligocene (36.6 Ma) in the Yitong Basin, the Chaluhe fault depression has undergone two episodes of uplift during 24.9–19.1 Ma and 6.9–4.9 Ma. And the Luxi-ang fault depression also had undergone two episodes of uplift during 30–27.8 Ma and 22.6–11.1 Ma. Moreover, the average apparent exhumation rates for the Chaluhe fault depression and Luxiang fault depression, could be calcu-lated to be 70.34 and 60.33 m/Ma since 21.8 Ma and 18.9 Ma, respectively. The results of thermochronological analysis can also be supported by the evidence from geological relationships such as geodynamics, volcanic activity, and stratigraphic division and correlation.     

Mesozoic paleogeography of the Northwestern Sikhote-Alin fold system (Far East)

Paleogeographic schemes (Late Triassic; Early, Middle, and Late Jurassic; and Cretaceous) were constructed for the northwestern part of the Sikhote-Alin fold system. The paleoenvironmental reconstructions require more detailed and comprehensive schemes of the tectonic zoning, which will provide a basis for the reconstruction of the Late Jurassic-Cretaceous events at the convergent plate boundary along the east Eurasian margin.     

The geological history and geodynamics of the Earth

The Earth formed through a hot accretion process. Almost simultaneously, the core and the mantle were separated from each other. At the final stages of the accretion process, the outer layer approximately 2000 km thick was molten, thus representing a magma ocean. This magma ocean produced the primary crust of the Earth. Surface waters were precipitated from the atmosphere and released from the crystallizing magma ocean. The plate tectonic processes started at around 4.3 to 4 Ga BP. In the Archean, the overall tectonic mechanism was quite specific, due to substantially higher mantle temperature and thicker oceanic crust. The normal plate tectonics acted during the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic with the periodic assembly of continents, which are known as supercontinent cycles.     

Upwelling of Deep-seated Fluid in the Sikhote-Alin Region,Far East of the Eurasian Plate

Aquatic Geochemistry - Spring waters with high-pCO2 content are widely distributed in the Sikhote-Alin region in Russia. Mukhen spa is one such spring located in the northern Sikhote-Alin region....     

新疆东昆仑卡尔瓦西地区马尔争组牙形石的发现及地质意义

通过分析新疆东昆仑卡尔瓦西地区马尔争组中上段地层,揭示该套地层的沉积旋回及韵律特征。沉积标志和微量元素分析表明,该区马尔争组地层为浅海至半深海碳酸盐台地相沉积。对研究区马尔争组采集的牙形石标本进行研究和分析,10件样品中采集到2枚Neogondolella regale化石标本,该牙形石广泛分布于早三叠世斯派斯特期末期—中三叠世安尼期早期。因此,该区原定为二叠系马尔争组的形成时代可能是早中三叠世。     

Petrogeochemical aspects of the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene ignimbrite volcanism of East Sikhote-Alin

The chemical and trace-element features of the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene ignimbrite complexes of East Sikhote Alin are discussed. The Turonian-Campanian volcanic rocks of the Primorsky Complex compose linear structure of the Eastern Sikhote Alin volcanic belt. They are represented by crystalrich rhyolitic, rhyodacitic, and dacitic S-type plateau ignimbrites produced by fissure eruptions of acid magmas. The Maastrichtian-Paleocene volcanic rocks occur as isolated volcanic depression and caldera structures, which have no structural and spatial relations with the volcanic belt. This period is characterized by bimodal volcanism. The Samarginsky, Dorofeevsky, and Severyansky volcanic complexes are made up of basalt-andesite-dacite lavas and pyroclastic rocks, while the Levosobolevsky and Siyanovsky complexes are comprised of rhyolitic and dacitic tuffs and ignimbrites. Petrogeochemically, the felsic volcanic rocks are close to the S-type plateau ignimbrites of the Primorsky Complex. The Paleocene-Early Eocene silicic volcanics of the Bogopolsky Complex are represented by S- and A-type dacitic and rhyolitic tuffs and ignimbrites filling collapsed calderas. The eruption of A-type ferroan hyaloignimbrites occurred at the final stage of the Paleogene volcanism (Bogopolsky Complex). The magmatic rocks show well expressed mineralogical and geochemical evidence for the interaction between the crustal magmas and enriched sublithospheric mantle. It was shown that the revealed differences in the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the ignimbrite complexes are indicative of a change in the geodynamic regime of the Asian active continental margin at the Mesozoic-Cenozoic transition.     

The new geological map of East Greenland

NE Greenland has seen epic polar exploration, bitter territorial disputes, scientific skulduggery but contains some of the world's most striking scenery and geology. It is now documented with a new geological map from 70°N to 82°N, which documents the architecture of the Caledonian mountain range over 1300km.     

The geological history of insect-related plant damage

Biological damage to plants is commonly found from the Devonian but occurs most commonly from the Cretaceous. Damage inflicted on plants whilst they were alive may trigger a pathological response involving the growth of abnormal tissues. Much of the damage is caused by arthropods, particularly insects. Whilst some damage is non-taxon specific, such as simple feeding traces, other damage, such as leaf mines, galls or bark boring, may reveal the co-evolution of host specific taxa and the timing of such interactions. Damaged plants, particularly from the Cretaceous and Tertiary are described and illustrated. The geological history of the evolution of insect-related plant damage is briefly reviewed. Increased variety in the pathological response of plants is seen from the Cretaceous with the evolution of the angiosperms and diversification of numerous insect groups.     

Late early Oligocene East Asian summer monsoon in the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from a palynological record from the Lanzhou Basin,China

The latest Early Oligocene record from the Lanzhou Basin, northeast Tibetan Plateau, presents an opportunity to investigate early stage of the Asian monsoon patterns due to its special location. The record provides insights into the global zonal climate and the development of the non-zonal monsoon system. The study identifies possible links between factors governing the monsoonal patters and paleoaltimetry of the Tibetan Plateau. Sporomorphs results indicate the dominance of arboreal plants (both coniferous and broad-leaved) corresponding to a wetter environment, while xerophytes were rare. Based on the Coexistence Approach (CA), the climate of the Lanzhou Basin is likely to have been similar to that of present-day sites in Southeast China, i.e., characterized by relatively high precipitation and a warm climate. Both qualitative analysis of the sporomorph assemblages and quantitative calculations indicate that monsoons similar to those of the present daywere formed in East Asia and reached the Lanzhou region in inner Asia. High percentages of Picea, generally associated with the relatively high topography of the NE Tibetan Plateau, correlate well with the high paleoaltimetry of the main Tibetan Plateau during the Oligocene. Thus, the East Asian monsoon during this time can be closely linked to an uplifted Tibetan Plateau, following modeled relationships between the Tibetan Plateau and monsoon patterns. However, we believe such high precipitation may have mainly resulted from the orographic barrier, rather than being driven by zonal climate factors. Further investigation into the extent of, and controls on, the region of high precipitation should help clarify the role of these processes.     

东海盆地西湖凹陷渐新统花港组地震相特征及沉积相分布

选择可信度较高的地震反射构造和外部形态,结合地震反射振幅、连续性等反射结构参数,对东海盆地西湖凹陷渐新统花港组的地震相进行了划分命名。在研究区4个四级地震层序中共识别出前积地震相、下凹状地震相、丘状地震相及平行—亚平行地震相(包括D1、D2、D3、D4四类亚相)等多种类型。这些地震相在平面分布上具有差异性,而在垂向演化上具有继承性。应用钻井/测井相等其他地质资料对地震相进行验证和约束解释,确定了区内目的层段以陆相沉积环境为主,主要发育辫状河流相、湖泊三角洲相、滨浅湖相及浅湖相,东部地形陡,发育扇三角洲。     

Oligocene to Recent tectonic history of the Central Solomon intra-arc basin as determined from marine seismic reflection data and compilation of onland geology

Systematic analysis of a grid of 3450 km of multichannel seismic reflection lines from the Solomon Islands constrains the late Tertiary sedimentary and tectonic history of the Solomon Island arc and its convergent interaction with the Cretaceous Ontong Java oceanic plateau (OJP). The OJP, the largest oceanic plateau on Earth, subducted beneath the northern edge of the Solomon arc in the late Neogene, but the timing and consequences of this obliquely convergent event and its role in the subduction polarity reversal process remain poorly constrained. The Central Solomon intra-arc basin (CSB), which developed in Oligocene to Recent time above the Solomon arc, provides a valuable record of the tectonic environment prior to and accompanying the OJP convergent event and the subsequent arc polarity reversal. Recognition of regionally extensive stratigraphic sequences—whose ages can be inferred from marine sedimentary sections exposed onland in the Solomon Islands—indicate four distinct tectonic phases affecting the Solomon Island arc. Phase 1: Late Oligocene–Late Miocene rifting of the northeast-facing Solomon Island arc produced basal, normal-fault-controlled, asymmetrical sequences of the CSB; the proto-North Solomon trench was probably much closer to the CSB and is inferred to coincide with the trace of the present-day Kia-Kaipito-Korigole (KKK) fault zone; this protracted period of intra-arc extension shows no evidence for interruption by an early Miocene period of convergent “soft docking” of the Ontong Java Plateau as proposed by previous workers. Phase 2: Late Miocene–Pliocene oblique convergence of the Ontong Java Plateau at the proto-North Solomon trench (KKK fault zone) and folding of the CSB and formation of the Malaita accretionary prism (MAP); the highly oblique and diachronous convergence between the Ontong Java plateau and the Solomon arc terminates intra-arc extension first in the southeast (Russell subbasin of the CSB) during the Late Miocene and later during the Pliocene in the northwest (Shortland subbasin of the CSB); folds in the CSB form by inversion of normal faults formed during Phase 1; Phinney et al. [Sequence stratigraphy, structural style, and age of deformation of the Malaita accretionary prism (Solomon arc-Ontong Java Plateau convergent zone)] show a coeval pattern of southeast to northwest younging in folding and faulting of the MAP. Phase 3: Late Pliocene–early Pleistocene arc polarity reversal and subduction initiation at the San Cristobal trench. Effects of this event in the CSB include the formation of a chain of volcanoes above the subducting Australia plate at the San Cristobal trench, the formation of the broad synclinal structure of the CSB with evidence for truncation at the uplifted flanks, and widespread occurrence of slides and “seismites” (deposits formed by seismic shaking). Phase 4: Pleistocene to Recent continued shortening and synclinal subsidence of the CSB. Continued Australia-Pacific oblique plate convergence has led to deepening of the submarine, elongate basin axis of the synclinal CSB and uplift of the dual chain of the islands on its flanks.     

The geological history of the Isle of Wight: an overview of the ‘diamond in Britain's geological crown’

The geology of the Isle of Wight has attracted both the amateur and professional geologist alike for well over two centuries. It presents a cornucopia of things geological and offers a window into the fascinating story of the geological history and landscape development of southern England, as well as an important teaching resource for all levels of study from primary education through to academic research.This paper provides a geological framework and a summary of the history of research as context for the papers in this issue can be placed. Inevitably, it can only offer a précis of the huge amount of information available, but it is hoped will also give added impetus to further investigation of the literature or, indeed, new research.The island offers a field workshop for topics such as lithostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, tectonics and climate change; studies that are becoming ever more international in their influence. There are 15 Sites of Special Scientific Interest designated because of their geological importance and a number of these are internationally significant.After a brief discussion on the concealed geology, this paper concentrates on an outline of the near-surface geology on the coast and inland, and introduces a different view on the structure of the Cretaceous and Palaeogene strata. The enigmatic Quaternary deposits are discussed particularly with reference to the development of the Solent River, human occupation and climate change.