Experimental Na-K distribution between amphiboles and aqueous chloride solutions, and a mixing model along the richterite – K-richterite join

The cation exchange equilibrium has been investigated by hydrothermal experiments at 700 and 800°C at 200 MPa. To avoid equilibration problems of conventional exchange experiments, we synthesized amphiboles with an excess fluid allowing exchange between solid and fluid during the experiment. The exchangeable cations Na and K were provided as excess 1 to 2n chloridic solution. These exchange syntheses can be described by the reaction equation with ^(aq) for hydroxides and chlorides in aqueous solutions and _{( s )} and _{( p )}?=?start and product fluid. The amphiboles grew in presence of the exchange fluid and adjusted their stoichiometry in equilibrium with the fluid phase. The solid products consist of more than 99% amphibole (Na,K-richterite_ss) with traces of diopside and quartz. The amphiboles are up to 1?mm long and often ≈ 40 μm thick. Detailed EMP- and HRTEM-observations show that they are chemically homogeneous and structurally wellordered. The experimental results give consistent phase relations in the reciprocal ternary system Na-richterite–K-richterite–NaCl–KCl. We analysed the product fluid with AAS- and ICP-methods. The Na-K distribution coefficients between fluid and amphiboles of the richterite–K-richterite join are close to unity at 700°C and 800°C at 200 MPa. Small systematic deviations are explained by a symmetric solution model for the A-position of the amphiboles. Using ideal mixing for H₂O-NaCl-KCl fluids, a mixing model for the system richterite–K-richterite is presented. We suggest that the composition of richterite solid solutions can be used as a sensor for NaCl/KCl-ratios in metamorphic fluids.     

A Mössbauer and FTIR study of synthetic amphiboles along the magnesioriebeckite – ferri-clinoholmquistite join

A series of amphiboles along the magnesioriebeckite—Na₂Mg₃Fe³⁺ ₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂– ferri-clinoholmquistite—Li₂Mg₃Fe³⁺ ₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)2 - join, defined by the ^BLi^B Na_–1 exchange vector, were hydrothermally synthesized at 700°C, 0.4 GPa, NNO + 1 redox conditions. Powder XRD and SEM-EDAX showed a very high (> 90%) amphibole yield for all samples. X-ray patterns were indexed in the C2/m space group; refined cell-parameters show a linear decrease of a and as a function of chemistry. IR spectra in the OH-stretching region show four main and rather sharp bands; these are assigned to Mg and Fe²⁺ at M(1,3), and indicate that the obtained amphiboles depart from the nominal octahedral composition (^M1,3Mg₃). The IR spectra also show that there is an increasing filling-up of the A-site for increasing Na in the system (increasing solid-solution toward, arfvedsonite). Mössbauer spectra show four well-defined quadrupole doublets which are assigned to Fe³⁺ at M2 and to Fe²⁺ at M1, M3 and M4, respectively. The Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ content derived from fitted peak areas show variable Fe³⁺ concentration along the series. Mössbauer spectra also show a distinct alteration of ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters with changing Na–Li at M4. The most evident variation is observed for the quadrupole splitting of Fe³⁺ at M2, which increases by 50% from ferri-clinoholmquistite to magnesio-riebeckite; this suggest that the M2 octahedron in ferri-clinoholmquistite is much closer to the ideal geometry than the M2 octahedron in magnesio-riebeckite. Mössbauer spectra show also a well-defined increase in the Fe²⁺ quadrupole splitting of the M1 and M3 octahedra, which is attributed to the Na–Li distribution at the B-sites.     

Thermodynamic mixing behavior of synthetic Ca-Tschermak–diopside pyroxene solid solutions: III. An analysis of IR line broadening and heat of mixing behavior

A series of synthetic Ca-Tschermak–diopside (CaAlAlSiO₆–CaMgSi₂O₆) clinopyroxenes were investigated by powder infrared spectroscopy at room temperature in the wavenumber range 80–2,000 cm⁻¹. Measurable local structural heterogeneities in the crystals are suggested by the line broadening parameter, Δcorr that are observed for intermediate solid-solution compositions. The broadening is most pronounced in the high wavenumber region of the IR spectra that contains stretching modes involving the TO₄ polyhedra. The effective line widths for three selected wavenumber regions deviate positively from linear behavior. This is also observed for the enthalpy of mixing of this solid solution. The relationship between “excess Δcorr”, δΔcorr, and heat of mixing, ΔH _mix, behavior was investigated for this clinopyroxene series and for several other binary silicate solid solutions. The ΔH _mix versus δΔcorr slope values show a linear relationship with respect to the integrated excess volume of the various solid solutions.     

An experimental study of dissolution–reprecipitation in fluorapatite: fluid infiltration and the formation of monazite

In a series of timed experiments, monazite inclusions are induced to form in the Durango fluorapatite using 1 and 2 N HCl and H₂SO₄ solutions at temperatures of 300, 600, and 900°C and pressures of 500 and 1,000 MPa. The monazite inclusions form only in reacted areas, i.e. depleted in (Y+REE)+Si+Na+S+Cl. In the HCl experiments, the reaction front between the reacted and unreacted regions is sharp, whereas in the H₂SO₄ experiments it ranges from sharp to diffuse. In the 1 N HCl experiments, Ostwald ripening of the monazite inclusions took place both as a function of increased reaction time as well as increased temperature and pressure. Monazite growth was more sluggish in the H₂SO₄ experiments. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) investigation of foils cut across the reaction boundary in a fluorapatite from the 1 N HCl experiment (600°C and 500 MPa) indicate that the reacted region along the reaction front is characterized by numerous, sub-parallel, 10–20 nm diameter nano-channels. TEM investigation of foils cut from a reacted region in a fluorapatite from the 1 N H₂SO₄ experiment at 900°C and 1,000 MPa indicates a pervasive nano-porosity, with the monazite inclusions being in direct contact with the surrounding fluorapatite. For either set of experiments, reacted areas in the fluorapatite are interpreted as replacement reactions, which proceed via a moving interface or reaction front associated with what is essentially a simultaneous dissolution–reprecipitation process. The formation of a micro- and nano-porosity in the metasomatised regions of the fluorapatite allows fluids to permeate the reacted areas. This permits rapid mass transfer in the form of fluid-aided diffusion of cations to and from the growing monazite inclusions. Nano-channels and nano-pores also serve as sites for nucleation and the subsequent growth of the monazite inclusions.     

Evaluation of the effects of uncertainty on the predictions of landslide occurrences using the Shannon entropy theory and Dempster–Shafer theory

Natural Hazards - One of the requirements for planning and decision-making to develop the infrastructures is to prepare the landslide occurrence hazard map. For this purpose, in this article, the...     

Ecology of the bottom fauna and bioaccumulation of trace metals along the Lena River–Laptev Sea transect

The first data on ecology and trace metal (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb) bioaccumulation by macrozoobenthic organisms in area along the 130°E meridional transect from shallow water near the Lena River’s delta till the 78°N are presented. At the newly discovered methane seeps in the shallow Laptev Sea areas (72 m depth), a higher total abundance and biomass compared with background stations were recorded. In carbonate shells and soft tissues of Bivalvia Portlandia arctica and Astarte borealis, the high concentrations of Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni and Co were detected that varied in dependence from sampling site. In the dominating taxa of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea), there were found no significant differences between majority of trace metal content in organisms inhabiting the seeps area and background ones. An elevated content of some metals was detected in the Asteroidea bodies that may be attributed to its trophic behavior (deposit feeder).     

Estimates of heat flow and heat production and a thermal model of the São Francisco craton

An updated analysis of geothermal data from the highland area of eastern Brazil has been carried out and the characteristics of regional variations in geothermal gradients and heat flow examined. The database employed includes results of geothermal measurements at 45 localities. The results indicate that the Salvador craton and the adjacent metamorphic fold belts northeastern parts of the study area are characterized by geothermal gradients in the range of 6–17°C/km. The estimated heat flow values fall in the range of 28–53 mW/m², with low values in the cratonic area relative to the fold belts. On the other hand, the São Francisco craton and the intracratonic São Francisco sedimentary basin in the southwestern parts are characterized by relatively higher gradient values, in the range of 14–42°C/km, with the corresponding heat flow values falling in the range of 36–89 mW/m². Maps of regional variations indicate that high heat flow anomaly in the São Francisco craton is limited to areas of sedimentary cover, to the west of the Espinhaço mountain belt. Crustal thermal models have been developed to examine the implications of the observed intracratonic variations in heat flow. The thermal models take into consideration variation of thermal conductivity with temperature as well as change of radiogenic heat generation with depth. Vertical distributions of seismic velocities were used in obtaining estimates of radiogenic heat production in crustal layers. Crustal temperatures are calculated based on a procedure that makes simultaneous use of the Kirchoff and Generalized Integral Transforms, providing thereby analytical solutions in 2D and 3D geometry. The results point to temperature variations of up to 300°C at the Moho depth, between the northern Salvador and southern São Francisco cratons. There are indications that differences in rheological properties, related to thermal field, are responsible for the contrasting styles of deformation patterns in the adjacent metamorphic fold belts.     

Non-ideal mixing in the phlogopite-annite binary: constraints from experimental data on Mg−Fe partitioning and a reformulation of the biotite-garnet geothermometer

The existing experimental data [Ferry and Spear 1978; Perchuk and Lavrent'eva 1983] on Mg?Fe partitioning between garnet and biotite are disparate. The underlying assumption of ideal Mg?Fe exchange between the minerals has been examined on the basis of recently available thermochemical data. Using the updated mixing parameters for the pyrope-almandine asymmetric regular solution as inputs [Ganguly and Saxena 1984; Hackler and Wood 1984], thermodynamic analysis points to non-ideal mixing in the phlogopite-annite binary in the temperature range of 550°C–950°C. The non-ideality can be approximated by a temperature-independent, one constant Margules parameter. The retrieved values for enthalpy of mixing for Mg?Fe biotites and the standard state enthalpy and entropy changes of the exchange reaction were combined with existing thermochemical data on grossular-pyrope and grossular-almandine binaries to obtain geothermometric expressions for Mg?Fe fractionation between biotite and garnet. [T in K] $$\begin{gathered} {\text{T(HW) = [20286 + 0}}{\text{.0193P - \{ 2080(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} {\text{ - 6350(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} \hfill \\ {\text{ - 13807(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{) + 8540(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 4215(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)\} + 4441}}{{{\text{(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} {{\text{[13}}{\text{.138}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{[13}}{\text{.138}}}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 8}}{\text{.3143 InK}}_{\text{D}} {\text{ + 6}}{\text{.276(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )] \hfill \\ {\text{T(GS) = [13538 + 0}}{\text{.0193P - \{ 837(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )^{\text{2}} {\text{ - 10460(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )^2 \hfill \\ {\text{ - 13807(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )(1{\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{) + 19246(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}{{{\text{ + 5649(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{\} + 7972(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{ + 5649(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{\} + 7972(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} {{\text{[6}}{\text{.778}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{[6}}{\text{.778}}}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 8}}{\text{.3143InK}}_{\text{D}} {\text{ + 6}}{\text{.276(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )(1{\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )] \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The reformulated geothermometer is an improvement over existing biotite-garnet geothermometers because it reconciles the experimental data sets on Fe?Mg partitioning between the two phases and is based on updated activity-composition relationship in Fe?Mg?Ca garnet solid solutions.     

Crustal Structure of the Crimean Mountains along the Sevastopol–Kerch Profile from the Results of DSS and Local Seismic Tomography

The paper discusses the velocity structure of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains from the results of active and passive seismic experiments. Based on a new interpretation of seismic data from the old Sevastopol–Kerch DSS profile by modern full-wave seismic modeling methods, a velocity model of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains has been constructed for the first time. This model shows the significant differences in the structure of two crustal blocks: (1) one characterized by higher velocities and located in the western and central Crimean Mountains, and (2) the other characterized by lower velocities and located in the east, in the Feodosiya–Kerch zone, which are subdivided by a basement uplift (Starokrymskoe Uplift). The former block is characterized by a more complex structure, with the Moho traced at depths of 43 and 55 km, forming two Moho discontinuities: the upper one corresponds to the platform stage, and the lower one, formed presumably at the Alpine stage of tectogenesis as a result of underthrusting of the East Black Sea microplate beneath the southern margin of the Scythian Plate in Crimea. At depths of 7–11 km, velocity inversion zone has been identified, indicating horizontal layering of the crust. Local seismic tomography using the data on weak earthquakes (m_b ≤ 3) recorded by the Crimean seismological network allowed us to obtain data on the crustal structure beneath the Crimean Mountains at depths of 10–30 km. The crustal structure at these depths is characterized by the presence of several high-velocity crustal bodies in the vicinity of cities Yalta, Alushta, and Sudak, with earthquake hypocenters clustered within these bodies. Comparison of this velocity model of the Crimean Mountains with the seismicity distribution and with the results from reconstruction of paleo- and present-day stress fields from field tectonophysical study and earthquake focal mechanisms allowed the conclusion that the Crimean Mountains were formed as a result of on mature crust at the southern margin of the East European Platform and Scythian Plate, resulting from processes during various phases of Cimmerian and Alpine tectogenesis in the compressional and transpressional geodynamic settings. The collisional process is ongoing at the present-day stage, as supported by high seismicity and uplift of the Crimean Mountains.     

Origin and geodynamic evolution of Late Paleogene magmatic associations along the Periadriatic–Sava–Vardar magmatic belt

Along the Periadriatic Lineament in the Alps and the Sava–Vardar Zone of the Dinarides and Hellenides, Paleogene magmatic associations form a continuous belt, about 1700 km long. The following magmatic associations occur: (1) Eocene granitoids; (2) Oligocene granitoids including tonalites; (3) Oligocene shoshonite and calc-alkaline volcanics with lamprophyres; (4) Egerian–Eggenburgian (Chattian) calc-alkaline volcanics and granitoids. All of these magmatic associations are constrained by radiometric ages, which indicate that the magmatic activity was mainly restricted to the time span between 55 and 29 Ma. These igneous rocks form, both at surface and in the subsurface, the distinct linear Periadriatic–Sava–Vardar magmatic belt, with three strikes that are controlled by the indentation of Apulia and Moesia and accompanying strike-slip faulting. The geology, seismicity, seismic tomography and magnetic anomalies within this belt suggest that it has been generated in the African–Eurasian suture zone. Based on published analytical data, the petrology, major and trace element contents and Sr, Nd and O isotopic composition of each magmatic association are briefly defined. These data show that Eocene and Oligocene magmatic associations of the Late Paleogene Periadriatic–Sava–Vardar magmatic belt originated along a consuming plate margin. Based on isotopic systems, two main rock groups can be distinguished: (1) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7036–0.7080 and δ¹⁸O = 5.9–7.2‰, indicating basaltic partial melts derived from a continental mantle–lithosphere, and (2) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7090–72131 and δ¹⁸O = 7.3–11.5‰, indicating crustal assimilation and melting. The mantle sources for the primary basalt melts are metasomatized garnet peridotites and/or spinel lherzolites and phlogopite lherzolites of upper mantle wedge origin. The geodynamic evolution of the plutonic and volcanic associations of the Periadriatic–Sava–Vardar magmatic belt was related to the Africa–Eurasia suture zone that was dominated by break-off of the subducted lithospheric slab of Mesozoic oceanic crust, at depths of 90–100 km. This is indicated by their contemporaneity along the 1700 km long belt.     

Three-Dimensional Density Distribution and Seismic Activity along the Guxiang–Tongmai Segment of the Jiali Fault, Tibet

The Guxiang–Tongmai segment of the Jiali fault is situated northeast of the Namche Barwa Syntaxis in northeastern Tibet. It is one of the most active strike-slip faults near the syntaxis and plays a pivotal role in the examination of seismic activity within the eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. New study in the research region has yielded a 1:200000 gravity dataset covering an area 1500 km2. Using wavelet transform multiscale decomposition, scratch analysis techniques, and 3D gravity inversion methods, gravity anomalies, fault distributions, and density structures were determined across various scales. Through the integration of our new gravity data with other geophysical and geological information, our findings demonstrate substantial variations in the overall crustal density within the region, with the fault distribution closely linked to these density fluctuations. Disparities in stratigraphic density are important causes of variations in the capacity of geological formations to endure regional tectonic stress. Earthquakes are predominantly concentrated within the density transition zone and are primarily situated in regions of elevated density. The hanging wall stress within the Guxiang–Tongmai segment of the Jiali fault exhibits a notable concentration, marked by pronounced anisotropy, and is positioned within the density differential zone, which is prone to earthquakes.     

Fracture mechanism of rock collapse in the freeze–thaw zone of the eastern Sichuan–Tibet Mountains under seasonal fluctuating combinations of water and heat

Natural Hazards - In the freeze–thaw zone of the eastern Sichuan–Tibet Mountains, the phases of water in cracks show strong seasonal variations, which significantly affect the stability...     

Interblock zones of the northwestern Baikal rift: results of geological and geophysical studies along the Bayandai Village–Cape Krestovskii profile

The structure of the Earth’s crust at the junction of the Siberian craton and Sayan–Baikal Fold Belt was studied along the Bayandai Village–Cape Krestovskii profile (85 km long) by a set of geological and geophysical methods: structural survey, interpretation of long-distance photographs, emanation survey, electrical prospecting with self-potential (SP) and direct-current (DC) resistivity profiling, magnetotelluric sounding, magnetic survey, and hydrogeochemical sampling of water objects. Interpretation of the data refined the main features of the tectonic structure of western Cisbaikalia and revealed the disruption pattern and hierarchic zone–block structure of the Earth’s crust. The Obruchev fault system (≈50 km wide), which is the northwestern shoulder of the Baikal Rift, is the main interblock zone of the studied region. It consists of the Morskoi, Primorskii, and Prikhrebtovyi interblock zones, traced from depths of tens of kilometers and widening near the surface owing to superior structures. The studies gave an insight into the regularities in the occurrence of interblock zones and the criteria for their identification in different geologic-geophysical fields. An efficient complex of methods for mapping the Earth’s crust zone–block structure is proposed.     

Age constraints on the formation and emplacement of Neoproterozoic ophiolites along the Allaqi–Heiani Suture,South Eastern Desert of Egypt

Ophiolites are key components of the Neoproterozoic Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS). Understanding when they formed and were emplaced is crucial for understanding the evolution of the ANS because their ages tell when seafloor spreading and terrane accretion occurred. The Yanbu–Onib–Sol Hamed–Gerf–Allaqi–Heiani (YOSHGAH) suture and ophiolite belt can be traced ∼ 600 km across the Nubian and Arabian shields. We report five new SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from igneous rocks along the Allaqi segment of the YOSHGAH suture in southernmost Egypt and use these data in conjunction with other age constraints to evaluate YOSHGAH suture evolution. Ophiolitic layered gabbro gave a concordia age of 730 ± 6 Ma, and a metadacite from overlying arc-type metavolcanic rocks yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 733 ± 7 Ma, indicating ophiolite formation at ∼ 730 Ma. Ophiolite emplacement is also constrained by intrusive bodies: a gabbro yielded a concordia age of 697 ± 5 Ma, and a quartz-diorite yielded a concordia age of 709 ± 4 Ma. Cessation of deformation is constrained by syn- to post-tectonic granite with a concordia age of 629 ± 5 Ma. These new data, combined with published zircon ages for ophiolites and stitching plutons from the YOSHGAH suture zone, suggest a 2-stage evolution for the YOSHGAH ophiolite belt (∼ 810–780 Ma and ∼ 730–750 Ma) and indicate that accretion between the Gabgaba–Gebeit–Hijaz terranes to the south and the SE Desert–Midyan terranes to the north occurred as early as 730 Ma and no later than 709 ± 4 Ma.     

Petrogenetic variability along the North–South Propagating Spreading Center of the North Fiji Basin

Summary Previous studies on propagating rifts suggested that segmentation of a spreading axis could represent the superficial mark of mantle behavior (Sinton et al., 1983; Nicolas, 1989; Gente et al., 1995). The study of North–South Propagating Spreading Center (NS-PSC) from the North Fiji Basin (NFB) brings new insights to this debate. Basalts from the central part of the propagator have more variable incompatible and isotopic ratios then those from its northern tip. A model of dynamic partial melting of a thermally and slightly geochemically and isotopically heterogeneous mantle is proposed. Beneath the central segment, the partial fusion starts deeper (ca. 30km) and reaches a higher rate (ca. 22%). Further open system differentiation occurs within shallow permanent magma reservoirs along most of the central segment. Below the segment closest to the tip of the propagator the partial fusion starts shallower (ca. 25km) and stays at a lower rate (ca. 16%). The maximum of differentiation occurs close to the propagator, in small, periodically disconnected, magma bodies resulting in the production of ferrobasalts close to the tip. In order to explain these variations, the presence of an asthenospheric diapir focused beneath the central part of the NS-PSC is proposed. The petrogenetic processes of propagating spreading centers of mature oceanic basins or back-arc basins are identical.     

Mesozoic collision-related magmatism and crust–mantle interaction along the Anhui segment of the Yangtze River Valley,east-central China

The middle segment of the Yangtze River Deep Fault Belt, located in the foreland of the Dabie orogen, contains widely exposed volcanic–intrusive complexes that formed during two episodes of magmatism (post-collisional and post-orogenic), reflecting crust–mantle interactions during the Late Jurassic (J₃) to Early Cretaceous (K₁). This article summarizes research on the Mesozoic igneous suites and xenolith suites in the area along the Yangtze River. ‘Post-collisional magmatism’ occurred during lithospheric extension at ～145–130 Ma. Its beginning and end are marked by gabbroic xenoliths and pyroxene cumulates within intrusions at Tongling, and by alkali-rich magmatic rocks. The association includes peraluminous silicic rocks and metaluminous mafic–felsic igneous suites, ranging from medium-K to high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic compositions. Taking the Tongling region as an example, quartz monzodiorite yields a sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U–Pb age of 139.5 ± 2.9 Ma, and granodiorite yields an age of 135.5 ± 4.4 Ma. These intrusive rocks contain 52.79–66.46 wt.% SiO₂, 13.12–17.73 wt.% Al₂O₃, 1.37–4.62 wt.% MgO, 3.86–6.84 wt.% FeO^T, and 4.71–7.87 wt.% total alkalis (Na₂O?+?K₂O). ACNK values range from 0.62 to 1.20, and ANK values from 1.45 to 3.48. ‘Post-orogenic magmatism’ occurred during lithospheric delamination at ～130–120 Ma. The start of magmatism was marked by the formation of gabbro containing spinel lherzolite xenoliths in the Nanjing–Wuhu Basin (NWB), and its end was marked by the generation of feldspathoid phenocryst-bearing phonolite in the NWB and the Lujiang–Zongyang Basin (LZB), respectively. The association that formed during this episode ranges from alkaline to peralkaline. Taking the Niangniangshan Formation in the NWB as an example, the Nosite phonolite yields a whole-rock monomineral Rb–Sr isochron age of 120 ± 9 Ma, and contains 49.92–60.09 wt.% SiO₂, 17.67–20.65 wt.% Al₂O₃, 0.08–2.45 wt.% MgO, 1.32–6.62 wt.% FeO^T, and 9.24–13.92 wt.% total alkalis (Na₂O?+?K₂O). ACNK values range from 0.72 to 1.24, and ANK values from 1.03 to 1.35.

The two magmatisms correspond to two episodes of crust–mantle interaction. The first involved intensive interaction between middle–lower crust and underplated basaltic magma derived from the upper mantle lithosphere, whereas the second involved minor interaction between the middle–lower crust and basaltic magma derived from the lower lithospheric mantle.     

Tectonic evolution of the southwestern margin of Pangea and its global implications: Evidence from the mid Permian–Triassic magmatism along the Chilean-Argentine border

The tectonic evolution of the southwestern margin of Pangea supercontinent is represented by the extensive late Paleozoic–Triassic magmatism along the southwestern margin of South America, including the Chilean Frontal Andes batholiths as part of the Choiyoi province. Several models have proposed cessation of subduction as the reason behind the vast amounts of felsic magmatism and apparent lack of typical arc magmas. Here, new U-Pb in zircon ages, and geochemical and isotope analyses (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Re-Os) indicate that mid Permian–Triassic granitic magmatism originated in a subduction-related extensional setting (slab rollback). Subduction and anatexis of lower continental crust were the main magma-generation mechanisms, the latter caused by asthenospheric upwelling, decompression and subsequent accumulation of underplated basalts. A comparison with coeval igneous units along the Chilean-Argentine border allows extension of this model from at least 21° to 40°S. The key elements triggering slab rollback are low subduction plate velocities and convergence rates, which can be attributed to the assembly of Pangea supercontinent (mid Permian–Triassic). Therefore, subduction of the oceanic plate beneath South America has been a continuous process from early Paleozoic times onwards—rather than having a period without subduction before the onset of the Andean cycle as previous models have invoked. New geochronological constraints indicate that the peak of the voluminous crustal-derived magmatism and related explosive volcanism (Choiyoi province) was contemporaneous with the emplacement of the Emeishan and Siberian Traps LIPs, potentially conditioning the Earth system for the environmental collapse and biotic crises related to those LIPs. The observed tectonic changes, magmatism and related environmental implications could potentially be linked to the assembly of Pangea supercontinent.