Late stage thermal history of the Songliao Basin and its tectonic implications: Evidence from apatite fission track (AFT) analyses

Apatite Fission Track (AFT) data from the Songliao Basin indicates that the late stage tectonic movements in the Songliao Basin have zoning in space and episodes in time. The late stage tectonic movements started from the east part of the basin and migrated westward. AFT ages in the east part of the basin are older than those in the west part of the basin, suggesting that the uplift occurred earlier in the east than in the west. The denudation thickness in the east part of the basin is significantly greater than that in the centre and west. The thermal history evolved two episodes of rapid cooling and subsequent slow cooling processes. Age-depth relationship derived from the AFT data indicates a four-episode denudation history. Further Monte Carlo random simulation of the AFT data reveals the four changing points of the thermal evolution at 65 Ma, 43.5 Ma, 28 Ma and 15 Ma, respectively. The uplifting and denudation rates from different episodes of evolution are proportional to the plate convergence rate. Based on the above analyses and the regional geologic background, it is concluded that the late stage thermal events in the Songliao Basin are the far field response to the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Eurasian Plate. The first episode of the rapid cooling probably started at the end of the Nenjiang Formation, climaxed at the end of the Cretaceous and ceased at the Late Eocene. The subsequent slow cooling lasts another 15 Ma. The first episode of the evolution is the far field response to the major episode of the Yanshan Movement and subsequent series of the tectonic reorganization, especially the directional change of the Pacific Movement and also the subduction of the Indian Plate underneath the Eurasian Plate. While the second episode of the evolution is the far field response to the extension and closure of the Sea of Japan. Extension led to the migration and converging of the mantle heat flow to the Sea of Japan and resulted in the rapid cooling of the Songliao Basin.     

磷灰石裂变径迹退火动力学模型研究进展综述

裂变径迹退火过程是非线性动力学过程，在一系列磷灰石裂变径迹室内退火实验基础上，研究者提出许多经验退火模型，其中扇型模型与实验数据拟合最好，多组分退火模型将扇型模型的应用扩展到复杂物源成分的磷灰石，理论物理退火模型建立在原子尺度动力机制上，并经由实验数据确定具物理意义的未知参数，目前还不如经验模型成功，室内退火实验表明除了温度、受热时间，退火行为与磷灰石的化学成分，径迹与结晶c轴的方位关系、由Dpar定量表征的颗粒溶蚀度等因素有密切关系。     

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.     

Dating of altered mafic intrusions by applying a zircon fission track thermochronometer to baked country rock,and implications for the timing of volcanic activity during the opening of the Japan Sea

Once a mafic intrusive rock has become altered, it is generally difficult to obtain a reliable intrusion age using conventional isotopic dating methods. To overcome this problem, this study used zircon fission track (ZFT) thermochronometry to determine the timing of crystallization of altered mafic intrusions. ZFT dating was carried out on samples of baked granite country rock adjacent to dolerite dikes (5–10 m thick) in the Takato area of central Japan. Three granite samples collected within 8 mm of a dike contact yielded consistent ZFT ages of 17–16 Ma, with confined track lengths indicative of the complete annealing of pre‐existing tracks by reheating due to dike intrusion. An older ZFT age was obtained for one granite sample collected within 20 mm of the contact, but confined track length measurements indicate that this is an incompletely reset age that lies between the ZFT age of the unbaked granitic country rocks (ca. 55 Ma) and the emplacement age of the dike. Petrographic examinations suggest that post‐intrusion hydrothermal activity did not influence the ZFT ages. We conclude that the 17–16 Ma ZFT age represents the emplacement age of the dikes. Our results show that ZFT dating of baked country rock is an effective tool for dating altered mafic intrusions, for which other dating techniques are not applicable. In the eastern part of Southwest Japan, dispersed volcanic activity occurred in the late Early to early Middle Miocene (18–15 Ma), and the volcanic belt extended into the forearc. This pulse of activity was possibly related to the injection of asthenospheric material into the trench‐side mantle wedge beneath the Japan arc. We also present young apatite fission track ages (ca. 4 Ma) that may reflect a Middle Miocene or later thermal event associated with local magmatic activity near the Takato area.     

New progresses on geothermal history of Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang, China

A comprehensive study on geothermal history of the Turpan-Hami Basin by vitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusion geothermometry, apatite fission track and⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar dating displays that the main effects influencing geotemperature distribution are burial depth of the basement, heat flow, magmatic activities, as well as tectonic movement, having a rugulation to be higher in the east and north, lower in the west and south, as well as higher in the past and lower at the present. The heat of the mantle source and the Indo-China tectonic thermal event have extremely influenced maturation of source rocks of the upper Lower Permian and the Middle and Upper Triassic in the lndo-China epoch. While, the geothermal gradient and the weak tectonic geothermal event of the Early Yanshan Movement provided necessary heat for the maturation of source rock in coal-bearing strata of the Middle and Lower Jurassic.     

孔雀河斜坡与库鲁克塔格隆起构造事件的裂变径迹证据

文章以塔里木盆地东北缘库鲁克塔格隆起与孔雀河斜坡盆山系统为主要研究对象,在该地区露头和钻井样品开展碎屑磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹研究,对库鲁克塔格构造演化中关键构造事件提供热年代学约束.锆石样品在加里东晚期-早海西期达到最大古地温,之后经历了长期的抬升降温过程,锆石最小峰值年龄记录了371~392 Ma和328~305.7 Ma二次构造抬升年龄;在晚侏罗-晚白垩世,样品逐渐退出磷灰石部分退火带底界,磷灰石裂变径迹记录了134.5~164 Ma、73~100 Ma和35.4 Ma三次构造抬升事件年龄,其中73~100 Ma为主要构造抬升年龄.海西期构造事件年龄反映了孔雀河斜坡由沉降转入剥蚀演化阶段,对油气藏的形成具有重要意义;晚白垩世构造事件则反映了库鲁克塔格山的强烈隆升.     

应用裂变径迹不同模式约束岩体冷却史的初步探讨—以滇西独龙江岩体为例

在利用磷灰石裂变径迹热年代学方法来约束岩体冷却史的应用中,由于地质条件和磷灰石退火性质的限制,表观年龄往往不能直接代表特定地质事件的时间.利用封闭径迹的长度直方图模式和高程-年龄模式可定性地反映出岩体冷却史是否遭受过干扰.平均径迹长度-年龄(或香蕉图)模式、径迹年龄谱模式以及反演模拟在某种程度上可用来限定地质过程中冷却启动的时间.然而,对于多阶段的冷却史,模式和模拟分析的不确定性仍较显著,对早期时限的定量揭示仍是研究和应用中的一个难点.只有结合多种方法、模式和模拟的运用并考虑地质背景才能较清晰地约束岩体的冷却历史.     

秦岭太白山新生代隆升冷却历史的磷灰石裂变径迹分析

伸展正断层下盘的冷却历史记录了主要伸展变形的时间及幅度.太白山位于秦岭北缘,作为伸展正断层的下盘,其新生代伸展隆升冷却历史有助于我们更好地理解渭河盆地的伸展变形时间及其幅度.本文利用磷灰石裂变径迹分析方法对太白山的冷却历史进行了研究.来自太白山总计17个样品的磷灰石裂变径迹数据及热历史模拟揭示出山体经历了始于约48 Ma的小幅度快速抬升冷却阶段,和始于约9.6 Ma的大幅度快速抬升冷却阶段;分别对应平行于秦岭北缘山脉的两阶段伸展变形.始于约48 Ma的伸展变形可能是印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞作用在大陆内部的远场响应,而始于约9.6 Ma的快速伸展变形可能与青藏高原在该时期快速隆升和对外扩展有关.     

五台山新生代隆升剥露的磷灰石裂变径迹研究

五台山是中国三级地貌重要分界线之一太行山脉海拔最高的山,其隆升历史的研究对中国三级地貌形成时代的确定具有重要意义.沿五台山最高峰北台顶向北自上而下至山根和阜平县境内长城岭地区海拔最高点向东自上而下至山根两条剖面,分别采集一系列岩石样品,最后挑选16个样品进行磷灰石裂变径迹研究.通过对封闭径迹长度分布直方图的分析,表明五台山样品自晚白垩纪末以来一直在单调冷却,即五台山在持续地隆升;通过对样品径迹年龄-高程图的分析,同时结合热史模拟及Excel数据拟合,表明晚白垩纪末以来五台山的隆升为分阶段幕式过程,共经历了三期快速隆升：74～58 Ma、46～31 Ma及15 Ma左右.五台山晚白垩纪末以来的隆升与太行山其他地区及周边张宣隆起、泰山等其他山系的隆升在时间上存在对应关系,所以,五台山新生代隆升为区域性构造演化的一部分.     

江西相山铀矿田地貌剥蚀特征及其控矿意义——磷灰石裂变径迹证据

本文以数字高程(DEM)地貌特征分析为基础,采用磷灰石裂变径迹测试和温度-时间反演模拟研究,分析江西相山铀矿田铀成矿后剥蚀程度的差异性,结合已知矿床的成矿特征,探讨地貌剥蚀程度与矿体保存之间的关系,为区域找矿提供指导.通过DEM合成图像和水系分布特征,表明相山铀矿田是一个遭受中等侵蚀的地貌区,相山主峰南北和东西侧地貌侵蚀差异特征明显.统计分析表明,已经发现的铀矿床、点的分布与次级火山机构关系密切,相山南部的次火山机构剥蚀较深,西部次火山机构剥蚀相对弱,而北部和西北部则处于中等剥蚀程度.磷灰石裂变径迹测试结果表明,相山铀矿田的南部和东部开始剥蚀的时间早于西部,但晚于相山主峰的剥蚀.利用磷灰石的裂变径迹长度和温度参数,进一步开展了温度-时间的反演模拟研究,结果显示相山西部快速隆升发生于40~60 Ma之间,相山南部和东部的快速隆升发生于60~75 Ma之间,相山主峰的快速隆升发生于75~100 Ma之间,表明相山主峰、相山东部及南部较西部经历了较长时间的剥蚀.结合现今区域地质体出露特征及铀矿化蚀变类型的空间展布规律、成矿深度的估算等,推测相山铀矿田东部和南部剥蚀程度较深,早期可能形成的中低温铀矿体被剥蚀殆尽;北部剥蚀程度中等,地表出露了形成深度稍深的碱交代蚀变矿床;而西部剥蚀程度较低,地表发育浅部低温成矿的酸交代蚀变铀矿床.据此推断,相山铀矿田的西部深部具有很好的找矿潜力.     

江西相山铀矿田地貌剥蚀特征及其控矿意义——磷灰石裂变径迹证据

本文以数字高程(DEM)地貌特征分析为基础,采用磷灰石裂变径迹测试和温度-时间反演模拟研究,分析江西相山铀矿田铀成矿后剥蚀程度的差异性,结合已知矿床的成矿特征,探讨地貌剥蚀程度与矿体保存之间的关系,为区域找矿提供指导.通过DEM合成图像和水系分布特征,表明相山铀矿田是一个遭受中等侵蚀的地貌区,相山主峰南北和东西侧地貌侵蚀差异特征明显.统计分析表明,已经发现的铀矿床、点的分布与次级火山机构关系密切,相山南部的次火山机构剥蚀较深,西部次火山机构剥蚀相对弱,而北部和西北部则处于中等剥蚀程度.磷灰石裂变径迹测试结果表明,相山铀矿田的南部和东部开始剥蚀的时间早于西部,但晚于相山主峰的剥蚀.利用磷灰石的裂变径迹长度和温度参数,进一步开展了温度-时间的反演模拟研究,结果显示相山西部快速隆升发生于40~60 Ma之间,相山南部和东部的快速隆升发生于60~75 Ma之间,相山主峰的快速隆升发生于75~100 Ma之间,表明相山主峰、相山东部及南部较西部经历了较长时间的剥蚀.结合现今区域地质体出露特征及铀矿化蚀变类型的空间展布规律、成矿深度的估算等,推测相山铀矿田东部和南部剥蚀程度较深,早期可能形成的中低温铀矿体被剥蚀殆尽;北部剥蚀程度中等,地表出露了形成深度稍深的碱交代蚀变矿床;而西部剥蚀程度较低,地表发育浅部低温成矿的酸交代蚀变铀矿床.据此推断,相山铀矿田的西部深部具有很好的找矿潜力.     

Heat influx and exhumation of the Shimanto accretionary complex: Miocene fission track ages from the Kii Peninsula, southwest Japan

Abstract   To determine how local geological events contributed to the evolution of accretionary complexes and eventual exposure of rocks with different structural levels, geochronological mapping was carried out using fission track (FT) analysis at the Kii Peninsula, southwest Japan. At this site, the original zonal structure of Cretaceous accretionary complexes parallel to the subduction zone is disturbed by the northward projection of the Shimanto accretionary complex. Twenty-six zircon FT ages were obtained from an area of ∼12 km in an east–west direction and ∼15 km in a north–south direction, and classified into three groups: (i) ages ∼15 Ma (range ∼10–20 Ma), which are distributed along the northwest–southeast valley; (ii) ages of ∼50 Ma in the northwest of the study area; and (iii) ages older than those in Groups 1 and 2. Based on results from eight zircon FT length distributions, the Miocene ages appear to be the result of spatial variations in heat influx and cooling after the regional exhumation of the area, as recorded by FT ages of ∼50 Ma.     

Fission track dating of the Cenozoic uplift in Mabian area, southern Sichuan Province, China

The apparent ages of samples are obtained from fission track dating of apatite samples collected from the fault zones in Mabian area, southern Sichuan Province. In addition, thermal history is simulated from the obtained data by applying AFT Solve Program, to acquire the thermal evolution history of the samples. The result shows that tectonically the Mabian area was relatively stable between 25 and 3 Ma, compared to the inner parts and other marginal areas of the Tibetan Plateau. The studied area had little response to the rapid uplift events that occurred for several times in the Tibetan Plateau during 25-3 Ma. The latest thermal event related to the activity of the Lidian fault zone (about 8 Ma ) is later than that of the Ebian fault zone (18-15 Ma ) to the west, indicating to some extent that the evolution of fault activity in the Mabian area has migrated from west to east. The latest extensive tectonic uplift occurred since about 3 Ma. As compared with the Xianshuihe fault zone, the Mabian area is closer to the east- ern margin of the plateau, while the time of fast cooling event in this area is later than that in the southeast segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone (3.6-3.46 Ma ). It appears to support the assumption of episodic uplift and stepwise outward extension of the eastern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau in late Cenozoic.     

Geochronology of Baogutu porphyry copper deposit in Western Junggar area,Xinjiang of China

Baogutu copper deposit in Western Junggar area is a mesoscopic porphyry deposit found in recent years. Study on its geochronology will help further understand ore genesis and regional ore-forming pattern. A series of small quartz-diorite and granodiorite stocks outcrop at Baogutu area, numbered I―X according to their size. A detailed exploration on Number V stock confirmed it as a mesoscopic scale copper deposit, and various exploration work has been carried out on other stocks with ore-forming evidence. Th...     

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（106 m/Ma）大于韩城地区（68 m/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.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages and trace element geochemistry of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur''''ngoi diorite in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt, Qinghai, Western China and their geological implications

Timing of the intermediate-basic igneous rocks developed in the area of Kuhai-A'nyêmaqên along the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt is a controversial issue. This paper presents new zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating data for igneous zircons from the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur'ngoi diorite in the Kuhai-A'nyemaqen tectonic belt, which are 555±9 Ma and 493±6 Ma, respectively. The trace element geochemical features of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur'ngoi diorite are similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB) and island arc basalts (IAB), respectively. Thus, the Kuhai gabbro with the age of 555±9 Ma and OIB geochemical features is similar to the Yushigou oceanic ophiolite in the North Qilian orogen, whereas the Dur'ngoi diorite with the age of 493±6 Ma and IAB geochemical features is similar to the island arc volcanic rocks developed in the north Qaidam. The Late Neoproterozoic to Early Ordovician ophiolite complex in the area of Kuhai-A'nyêmaqên suggests that the southern margin of the "Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun" archipelagic ocean in this period was located in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt. Therefore, the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt in the early Paleozoic is not comparable to the Mianlüe tectonic belt in the Qinling orogenic belt.     

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.     

Zircon U–Pb ages and tectonic implications of 'Early Paleozoic' granitoids at Yanbian, Jilin Province, northeast China

Abstract   The Yanbian area is located in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) of China and is characterized by widespread Phanerozoic granitic intrusions. It was previously thought that the Yanbian granitoids were mainly emplaced in the Early Paleozoic (so-called 'Caledonian' granitoids), extending east–west along the northern margin of the North China craton. However, few of them have been precisely dated; therefore, five typical 'Caledonian' granitic intrusions (the Huangniling, Dakai, Mengshan, Gaoling and Bailiping batholiths) were selected for U–Pb zircon isotopic study. New-age data show that emplacement of these granitoids extended from the Late Paleozoic to Late Mesozoic (285–116 Ma). This indicates that no 'Caledonian' granitic belt exists along the northern margin of the North China craton. The granitoids can be subdivided into four episodes based on our new data: Early Permian (285 ± 9 Ma), Early Triassic (249–245 Ma), Jurassic (192–168 Ma) and Cretaceous (119–116 Ma). The 285 ± 9 Ma tonalite was most likely related to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Oceanic Plate beneath the North China craton, followed by Triassic (249–245 Ma) syn-collisional monzogranites, representing the collision of the CAOB orogenic collage with the North China craton and final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The Jurassic granitoids resulted from subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate and subsequent collision of the Jiamusi–Khanka Massif with the existing continent, assembled in the Triassic. The Early Cretaceous granitoids formed in an extensional setting along the eastern Asian continental margin.     

Provenance and thermal history of the Bayan Har Group in the western-central Songpan–Ganzi–Bayan Har terrane: Implications for tectonic evolution of the northern Tibetan Plateau

Triassic turbidites dominate the Songpan–Ganzi–Bayan Har (SGBH) terrane of the northern Tibetan Plateau. U‐Pb dating on single detrital zircon grains from the Triassic Bayan Har Group turbidites yield peaks at 400–500 m.y., 900–1000 m.y., 1800–1900 m.y., and 2400–2500 m.y., These results are consistent with recently published U‐Pb zircon ages of pre‐Triassic bedrock in the East Kunlun, Altyn, Qaidam, Qilian and Alaxa areas to the north, suggesting that provenance of the Bayan Har Group may include these rocks. The similarities in the compositions of the lithic arkosic sandstones of the Bayan Har Group with the sandstones of the Lower‐Middle Triassic formations in the East Kunlun terrane to the north also suggests a common northern provenance for both. A well exposed angular unconformity between the Carboniferous–Middle Permian mélange sequences and the overlying Upper Permian or Triassic strata indicates that regional deformation occurred between the Middle and Late Permian. This deformation may have been the result of a soft collision between the Qiangtang terrane and the North China Plate and the closure of the Paleo‐Tethyan oceanic basin. The Bayan Har Group turbidites were then deposited in a re‐opened marine basin on a shelf environment. Fission‐track dating of detrital zircons from the Bayan Har Group sandstones revealed pre‐ and post‐depositional age components, suggesting that the temperatures did not reach the temperatures necessary to anneal retentive zircon fission tracks (250–300°C). A 282–292 m.y. peak age defined by low U concentration, retentive zircons likely reflects a northern granitic source. Euhedral zircons from two lithic arkoses with abundant volcanic fragments in the southern area yielded a ～237 m.y. zircon fission track (ZFT) peak age, likely recording the maximum age of deposition. A dominant post‐depositional 170–185 m.y. ZFT peak age suggests peak temperatures were reached in the Early Jurassic. Some samples appear to record a younger thermal event at ～140 m.y., a short lived event that apparently affected only the least retentive zircons.     

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.