From nappe stacking to exhumation: Cretaceous tectonics in the Apuseni Mountains (Romania)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - New Ar–Ar muscovite and Rb–Sr biotite age data in combination with structural analyses from the Apuseni Mountains provide new constraints on...     

Provenance and geochronology of Cenozoic sandstones of northern Borneo

The Crocker Fan of Sabah was deposited during subduction of the Proto-South China Sea between the Eocene and Early Miocene. Collision of South China microcontinental blocks with Borneo in the Early Miocene terminated deep water sedimentation and resulted in the major regional Top Crocker Unconformity (TCU). Sedimentation of fluvio-deltaic and shallow marine character resumed in the late Early Miocene. The Crocker Fan sandstones were derived from nearby sources in Borneo and nearby SE Asia, rather than distant Asian and Himalayan sources. The Crocker Fan sandstones have a mature composition, but their textures and heavy mineralogy indicate they are first-cycle sandstones, mostly derived from nearby granitic source rocks, with some input of metamorphic, sedimentary and ophiolitic material. The discrepancy between compositional maturity and textural immaturity is attributed to the effects of tropical weathering. U–Pb ages of detrital zircons are predominantly Mesozoic. In the Eocene sandstones Cretaceous zircons dominate and suggest derivation from granites of the Schwaner Mountains of southern Borneo. In Oligocene sandstones Permian–Triassic and Palaeoproterozoic zircons become more important, and are interpreted to be derived from Permian–Triassic granites and Proterozoic basement of the Malay Tin Belt. Miocene fluvio-deltaic and shallow marine sandstones above the TCU were mostly recycled from the deformed Crocker Fan in the rising central mountain range of Borneo. The provenance of the Tajau Sandstone Member of the Lower Miocene Kudat Formation in north Sabah is strikingly different from other Miocene and older sandstones. Sediment was derived mainly from granitic and high-grade metamorphic source rocks. No such rocks existed in Borneo during the Early Miocene, but potential sources are present on Palawan, to the north of Borneo. They represent continental crust from South China and subduction-related metamorphic rocks which formed an elevated region in the Early Miocene which briefly supplied sediment to north Sabah.     

Provenance of late Palaeozoic metasediments of the Patagonian proto-Pacific margin (southernmost Chile and Argentina)

In this provenance study of late Palaeozoic metasediments of the Eastern Andean Metamorphic Complex (EAMC) along the south Patagonian proto-Pacific margin of Gondwana, the palaeogeological setting of the continental margin in Devonian–Carboniferous and Permian times is reconstructed. The study is based on detrital heavy mineral contents, chemical compositions of tourmaline grains, and whole rock element and Nd-Sr isotopic compositions. Element and isotopic compositions reveal that Devonian–Carboniferous metaturbidites deposited before the development of a Late Carboniferous–Permian magmatic arc along the margin were mainly fed from felsic, recycled, old continental rocks. The last recycling phase involved erosion of metasediments that were exposed in Patagonia. Feeder systems to the basin cut either through epidote-rich or garnet-rich metasediments. In Permian time, EAMC metaturbidites were deposited next to the evolving magmatic arc and were derived from felsic, crustal rocks. Two provenance domains are recognised. The metasediments of the northern one are chemically similar to those of the Devonian–Carboniferous metasediments. This domain was fed from the metasedimentary host rocks of the magmatic arc. The southern domain probably was fed from the arc proper, as indicated mainly by the dominance of metaplutonic lithic fragments, abundant detrital biotite, and the major element composition of the metasediments.     

Provenance of Clay Minerals in the Amami Sankaku Basin and Their Paleoclimate Implications Since Late Pleistocene

We analyzed the clay mineral assemblages, content and mineralogical characteristics of Hole U1438A sediment recovered from Amami Sankaku Basin during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) expedition 351. The results show that the clay minerals are mainly composed of illite (average 57%), smectite (average 26%), chlorite (average 14%) and minor kaolinite(average 3%). The crystallinity of illite in all samples are good (<0.4 Δ° 2θ), and the chemical indexes of illite in all samples are low (<0.4). Both indicate that illite in Hole U1438A formed in cold and dry climate. By comparing clay mineral assemblages of hole U1438A and the potential sediment sources, we suggest that smectite be mainly derived from the volcanic materials around Amami Sankaku Basin. Illite, chlorite and kaolinite are mainly derived from the Asian dust. The ratios of (illite+chlorite)/smectite show a phased increase over the last 350 ka, which is consistent with the cold and drying trend of the Asian continent since late Pleistocene. The high ratios of (illite+chlorite)/smectite and (illite+chlorite)/kaolinite during glacial period indicate that much more Asian dust was input into the Amami Sankaku Basin, which are responded to the aridity of Asian continent and strengthened east Asian Monsoon during glacial period.     

苏北盆地东台坳陷古近系碎屑岩物源分析

苏北盆地东台坳陷砂岩统计结果表明,碎屑岩岩屑以火成岩和变质岩岩屑为主,早期（泰州组）以火成岩岩屑为主,晚期（古新统）以变质岩岩屑为主。Dickinson三角投图表明,物源区的大地构造背景属于再旋回造山带。东台坳陷重矿物纵向上变化特征指示古近纪三垛组沉积时期,物源区隆升强烈,剥蚀加速,导致不稳定重矿物显著增加。物源区对比结果揭示出张八岭隆起带是东台坳陷碎屑岩的主要物源区, 其抬升过程对苏北盆地古近系的沉降活动具有强烈的控制作用。     

Late- and post-Variscan cooling and exhumation history of the northern Rhenish massif and the southern Ruhr Basin: new constraints from fission-track analysis

Apatite fission-track analyses were carried out on outcrop and core samples from the Rhenish massif and the Carboniferous Ruhr Basin/Germany in order to study the late- and post-Variscan thermal and exhumation history. Apatite fission-track ages range from 291±15 Ma (lower Permian) to 136±7 Ma (lower Cretaceous) and mean track lengths vary between 11.6 m and 13.9 m, mostly displaying unimodal distributions with narrow standard deviations. All apatite fission-track ages are younger than the corresponding sample stratigraphic age, indicating substantial post-depositional annealing of the apatite fission-tracks. This agrees with results from maturity modelling, which indicates 3500–7000 m eroded Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary cover. Numerical modelling of apatite fission-track data predicts onset of exhumation and cooling not earlier than 320 Ma in the Rhenish massif and 300 Ma in the Ruhr Basin, generally followed by late Carboniferous–Triassic cooling to below 50–60°C. Rapid late Variscan cooling was followed by moderate Mesozoic cooling rates of 0.1–0.2°C/Ma, converting into denudation rates of <1 mm/a (assuming a stable geothermal gradient of 30°C/km). Modelling results also give evidence for some late Triassic and early Jurassic heating and/or burial, which is supported by sedimentary rocks of the same age preserved at the rim of the lower Rhine Basin and in the subsurface of the Central and Northern Ruhr Basin. Cenozoic exhumation and cooling of the Rhenish massif is interpreted as an isostatic response to former erosion and major base-level fall caused by the subsidence in the lower Rhine Basin.     

Heavy mineral characteristics of the Neogene–Quaternary sediments from the southern part of the Blagoevgrad Basin, SW Bulgaria

The Blagoevgrad Basin, a graben filled with Neogene–Quaternary continental sedimentary successions, is one of the most prospective placer-gold bearing regions in southwestern Bulgaria. The Quaternary sediments have been well explored and economically prospective areas have been identified. Previous studies indicated very limited occurrences of placer gold in the Neogene sediments, the genesis of which is connected with resedimentation of Paleogene sediments from the adjacent Bobov dol Basin to the north. From these previous studies, a detailed allo- and lithostratigraphic scheme, and paleogeographic models were developed.The present study aimed to evaluate the plausibility of the existing stratigraphic schemes and paleogeographic models for the area, through detailed study of the heavy mineral fraction of the Neogene and part of the Quaternary sediments from the southern part of the Blagoevgrad Basin. Additional objectives were to determine the mode of occurrence and the stratigraphic position of the placer gold in the Neogene sediments, and to investigate possible source areas. Special attention was paid to the mineral composition and the structure of the opaque detrital Fe–Ti oxide minerals, and the typologic features of the zircons. The results obtained could be used as a provenance indicator and for determination of the nature of the source area and the processes that operated therein.A very important finding is the discovery of placer gold in an additional three Neogene units. The morphologic features of the gold grains indicate short transport or proximity to the primary source. This interpretation is inconsistent with existing hypotheses on the origin and presence of the gold in the sediments of the basin. The characteristics of the magnetic heavy mineral fraction, and the morphologic features of zircon grains in auriferous samples, indicate the diorites and gabbro-diorites from the Strouma Diorite Group, which outcrop along the eastern edge of the graben, as a possible source.The stratigraphic distribution of the heavy minerals fully supports the plausibility of the existing detailed allo- and lithostratigraphic subdivision, and the paleogeographic model for the development of the southern part of the basin. Also, the results provide support for the soundness of an allostratigraphic approach for the study and exploration of placer deposits in basins similar to the Blagoevgrad.     

北祁连山高压变质带的变形和变质特征及其对俯冲带折返的意义

北祁连造山带是早古生代大洋板块"冷"俯冲的典型地区,形成了一系列高压低温变质的岩石组合.基性榴辉岩是俯冲洋壳变质的产物,根据其结构构造特征可以划分为(1)粒状榴辉岩,峰期变质矿物组合为Grt+Omp+Phn+Rut±Lws,硬柱石呈包裹体和假象分布于石榴石内,变质温压条件T=465～508℃,P=2.30～2.60GPa.(2)片状榴辉岩,岩石具片状构造,其共生矿物组合Omp+Czo/Ep+Phn+Gln构成透入性面理S1和线理L1,以及宏观和显微同斜褶皱F1.其峰期变质温压条件为T=466～510℃,P=1.9～2.2GPa.(3)蓝片岩相退化变质榴辉岩,蓝片岩相变质矿物Gln+Ep+Phn±Ab强烈交代榴辉岩相矿物,并发生强烈D2期变形作用,岩石形成明显的透入性面理S2和线理L2,以及同斜剪切褶皱F2.蓝闪石和多硅白云母线理的统计揭示D2期变形以斜向走滑剪切为主,与D1期变形的榴辉岩的运动学特征大体相似.D2同变质的温压条件为T=422～487℃,P=1.15～1.37GPa.高压变质带晚期的绿片岩相叠加和D3期变形,形成透入性面理S3和线理L3,其运动特征为近于垂直构造线的逆冲剪切.结合榴辉岩变形特征,变质温压条件和同位素年代学资料,我们认为退变质的强弱与变形程度有密切关系.峰期变质后的榴辉岩经过早期绿帘石榴辉岩相到蓝片岩相斜向走滑剪切,和晚期绿片岩相逆冲,在泥盆纪早期快速折返的出露地表.     

松辽盆地西南部钱家店铀矿床物源分析及铀成矿意义

基于开鲁盆地钱家店铀矿床姚下段砂岩的碎屑组分分析、重矿物组合特征以及稀土元素分析,探讨了该砂岩型铀矿的物质来源及矿质来源。碎屑组分分析指示该地区姚下段砂岩碎屑矿物以石英为主,碱性长石次之,岩屑类型丰富且含量较高;重矿物组合特征反映出姚下段重矿物以稳定矿物钛磁铁矿、白钛石、锆石和石榴石等为主,不稳定矿物绿帘石、硬绿泥石及黑云母含量较少;稀土元素特征显示出蚀源区花岗岩与过渡带相似的REE分布模式,花岗岩的ΣREE值与过渡带的ΣREE值较接近,且均具有铕负异常。综上所述,钱家店地区姚家组下段沉积显示了多物源体系的特征,碎屑矿物以中酸性岩浆岩来源为主,变质岩来源碎屑为辅;物源主要有3大方向：西北部舍伯吐凸起物源、东部架玛吐凸起物源及南部的燕山造山带物源,物源总体以南部燕山造山带为主,同时受多方向物源的共同控制。燕山晚期中酸性富铀岩浆岩在钱家店铀矿床铀源供给方面扮演了重要的角色。     

巴彦浩特盆地石炭系物源及沉积相研究

通过岩石薄片分析和石英阴极发光特征,对巴彦浩特盆地石炭系进行物源分析.结果表明,该盆地石炭系存在北部阿拉善古陆、东南部陇西古陆、西部龙首山隆起及东部骡子山隆起4个物源方向,母岩分别为太古界及元古界变质岩、前石炭系沉积岩及加里东期岩浆岩.古物源与沉积体系具良好空间配置关系,通过野外剖面观察,结合物源和相标志,认为研究区石炭系早期主要受阿拉善古陆影响,发育障壁海岸和混积陆棚相,中晚期受多物源共同影响,发育障壁海岸、无障壁海岸、扇三角洲、曲流河三角洲和混积陆棚相.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东南部二叠系物源分析

近几年鄂尔多斯盆地东南部上古生界陆续发现新的天然气区带,显示出巨大的勘探潜力,因此对盆地东南部二叠系物源的研究对于确定储集砂体展布规律具有重要价值。以钻测井、岩心及周边露头资料为基础,通过露头剖面古流向测定、重矿物分析、边缘相分析、相带分析的方法,确定了研究区二叠系的物源方向;研究认为鄂尔多斯盆地东南部二叠系山西组与石盒子组物源可分为北北东、北北西及南部三个方向,以延安为中心区域属于汇水区;山2段南部物源影响范围较大,影响到延安以北区域;盒8段北部物源范围较大,越过了延安,相应的南部物源范围后撤。     

Thermochronological constraints of the exhumation and uplift of the Sierra de Pie de Palo,NW Argentina

The Sierra de Pie de Palo located between 67°30′–68°30′ W and 31°00′–32°00′ S in the Argentine Western Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina is a distinct basement range, which lacks thermochronological data deciphering its exhumation and uplift history below 200 °C. Integrated cooling histories constrained by apatite fission-track data as well as (U–Th)/He measurements of zircon and apatite reveal that the structural evolution of this mountain range commenced during the Late Paleozoic and was mainly controlled by tectonically triggered erosion. Following further erosional controlled exhumation in a more or less extensional regime during the Mesozoic, the modern topography was generated by denudation in the Paleogene during the early stage of the Andean deformation, whereupon deformation propagated towards the west since the Late Mesozoic to Paleogene. This evolution is characterised by a total of 3.7–4.2 km vertical rock uplift and by 1.7–2.2 km exhumation with a rate of 0.03–0.04 mm/a within the Sierra de Pie de Palo since ca. 60 Ma. Onset of uplift of peak level is also referred to that time resulting in a less Pliocene amount of uplift than previously assumed.     

From source terrains of the Eastern Alps to the Molasse Basin: Detrital record of non-steady-state exhumation

Fission-track cooling ages of detrital apatite (AFT) in the East Alpine Molasse Basin display age groups corresponding to geodynamic events in the orogen since Jurassic times. These age groups are typical of certain thermotectonic units, which formed a patchwork in the Swiss and Eastern Alps. By a combination of petrographic and thermochronologic data, progressive erosion of source terrains is monitored in different catchments since the Oligocene. The AFT cooling ages show a decrease in lag time until when rapidly cooled debris derived from tectonically exhumed core complexes became exposed. After termination of tectonic exhumation, lag times of debris derived from the core complexes increased. Neither on the scale of the entire Eastern Alps, or on the scale of individual catchments, steady-state exhumation is observed, due to the highly dynamic changes of exhumation rates since Late Eocene collision.     

大别山中生代钾质岩浆作用与超高压变质地体的剥露机理

在已知的超高压变质地体中, 大别山是碰撞后花岗岩类侵入作用最为强烈的唯一地区。这里, 中生代的钾玄岩系列和高钾钙碱性系列的侵入岩, 可以依其年龄和组成特征划分为３ 组。第 Ｉ组, 主要由晚三叠世 （约２１０ Ｍａ） 二长闪长岩 辉长岩体组成, 它可能是在板片断离过程中富集的大陆岩石圈地幔部分熔融的产物 （板片断离型）; 第 Ｉ Ｉ组, 由中侏罗世－ 早白垩世 （１６０～１２０ Ｍａ） 的角闪石英二长岩、黑云母二长花岗岩和正长花岗岩组成, 主要是由幔源岩浆的分离结晶与地壳混染共同作用的产物 （岩浆底垫型）; 第 Ｉ Ｉ Ｉ组, 以白垩纪 （１２５～９５ Ｍａ） 的花岗岩和花岗斑岩为代表, 是在热穹窿作用过程中大别杂岩深熔作用和高度演化的产物 （穹窿型）。大别山超高压变质岩通过地幔的剥露可能与晚三叠世—早侏罗世的板片断离有关, 而大规模的岩浆侵位与超高压变质岩的快速剥露相伴出现说明, 岩浆底垫和岩浆漂浮作用可能在大别山中侏罗世—早白垩世的快速剥露中发挥了重要作用。     

Jurassic extension and Cenozoic inversion tectonics in the Asturian Basin,NW Iberian Peninsula: 3D structural model and kinematic evolution

We constructed a geological map, a 3D model and cross-sections, carried out a structural analysis, determined the stress fields and tectonic transport vectors, restored a cross section and performed a subsidence analysis to unravel the kinematic evolution of the NE emerged portion of the Asturian Basin (NW Iberian Peninsula), where Jurassic rocks crop out. The major folds run NW-SE, normal faults exhibit three dominant orientations: NW-SE, NE-SW and E-W, and thrusts display E-W strikes. After Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic thermal subsidence, Middle Jurassic doming occurred, accompanied by normal faulting, high heat flow and basin uplift, followed by Upper Jurassic high-rate basin subsidence. Another extensional event, possibly during Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, caused an increment in the normal faults displacement. A contractional event, probably of Cenozoic age, led to selective and irregularly distributed buttressing and fault reactivation as reverse or strike-slip faults, and folding and/or offset of some previous faults by new generation folds and thrusts. The Middle Jurassic event could be a precursor of the Bay of Biscay and North Atlantic opening that occurred from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, whereas the Cenozoic event would be responsible for the Pyrenean and Cantabrian ranges and the partial closure of the Bay of Biscay.     

松辽盆地北部白垩纪末反转变形的三维构造物理模拟

构造物理模拟对构造反转机制分析和地震资料的构造解释和模型建立至关重要.作者在深入研究松辽盆地的基底、形成发育和改造史的基础上,对松辽盆地进行6次能再现可重复性的三维构造物理模拟,探讨了断陷盆地晚期反转变形的动态过程,表明在同一构造应力场作用下因受基底中构造边界的制约而可能产生多组方向的背斜构造带.先存的边界条件还决定了晚期变形的产状：断面缓的一侧率先变形,对应的背斜带翼部陡且褶皱幅度大;它还制约了呈雁列式展布的正断层的发育.松辽盆地不同方向的正向二级背斜构造带均为明水组沉积后（白垩纪末）同一挤压应力场作用的结果,该期反转变形控制了新生代松辽地区的沉积发育.     

苏北盆地高邮-海安地区晚白垩世泰州组沉积相及物源分析

发生在晚白垩世的仪征运动,使泰州组不整合覆盖于赤山组或紫红色浦口组之上.促使了本区南断北超、南陡北缓的箕状断陷的形成与发展,由此导致本区泰一段冲积扇、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、半深湖泊沉积相当发育.从盆地边缘到盆地中心,沉积相逐渐由冲积扇沉积渐变为扇三角洲、浅湖、半深湖相沉积.泰二段沉积时期是本区最大湖侵期,半深水湖泊相最为发育.通过对重矿物组合、砂(砾)岩百分含量等值线图及沉积相展布格局等分析认为,本区泰州组沉积时期的物源主要来自南部的苏南隆起、北部的建湖隆起.     

庆阳-合水地区长8油层组沉积物源分析

物源分析对砂岩储层的展布与分析预测具有重要的意义。通过对鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘庆阳-合水地区上三叠统延长组长8油层组的砂岩重矿物组合、轻矿物组合及砂岩岩屑组分的平面分布特征分析,判断了庆阳-合水地区的沉积物源方向。研究表明,庆阳-合水地区存在两大物源和古流沉积体系,即西南方向的庆阳沉积古流体系和南部方向的合水沉积古流体系;长82亚组沉积期以南部的沉积古流体系为主,而长81亚组沉积期以西南部的沉积古流体系为主;重矿物组合特征分析显示长81亚组沉积期合水区带混源现象明显。     

共和盆地东北部新生代沉积物源及其地质意义

共和盆地处于秦岭、祁连、昆仑造山系相互叠置的关键区域,盆地及周缘造山带记录的构造、岩浆、变质、沉积作用事件复杂多样,是研究青藏高原北部构造-沉积演化的关键位置。本文以多口钻井的岩心为基础,结合区域地质调查资料对共和盆地东北部进行了岩石组合、沉积类型和沉积相特征分析、碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学、砂岩组分和重矿物分析,明确了共和凹陷新生代的沉积特征、地层发育格架、沉积相类型、沉积物源及构造-沉积演化过程。碎屑锆石年代学分析结果揭示了共和凹陷新生代砂岩具有200~300Ma、400~500Ma、750~1000Ma、1800~2000Ma以及2400~2550Ma的年龄峰值,且主要集中在200~300Ma和400~500Ma,表明三叠纪的侵入岩及浅变质岩是其主要物源。砂岩组分和重矿物分析结果记录到共和盆地东北部在咸水河组和临夏组沉积之间发生过一次构造环境转变,其时共和凹陷的沉积物源发生变化,来自青海南山的物质供给增加。共和盆地东北部共和凹陷新生代沉积物在西宁组-咸水河组沉积时物源方向为NEE方向,而在临夏组沉积时物源方向为NNE方向。青海南山的隆起主要发生在晚中新世-上新世,分隔了青海湖盆地与共和盆地。

     

Formation, subduction, and exhumation of Penninic oceanic crust in the Eastern Alps: time constraints from Ar/Ar geochronology

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology places time constraints on several stages of the evolution of the Penninic realm in the Eastern Alps. A 186±2 Ma age for seafloor hydrothermal metamorphic biotite from the Reckner Ophiolite Complex of the Pennine–Austroalpine transition suggests that Penninic ocean spreading occurred in the Eastern Alps as early as the Toarcian (late Early Jurassic). A 57±3 Ma amphibole from the Penninic subduction–accretion Rechnitz Complex dates high-pressure metamorphism and records a snapshot in the evolution of the Penninic accretionary wedge. High-pressure amphibole, phengite, and phengite+paragonite mixtures from the Penninic Eclogite Zone of the Tauern Window document exhumation through ≤15 kbar and >500 °C at 42 Ma to 10 kbar and 400 °C at 39 Ma. The Tauern Eclogite Zone pressure–temperature path shows isothermal decompression at mantle depths and rapid cooling in the crust, suggesting rapid exhumation. Assuming exhumation rates slower or equal to high-pressure–ultrahigh-pressure terrains in the Western Alps, Tauern Eclogite Zone peak pressures were reached not long before our high-pressure amphibole age, probably at ≤45 Ma, in accordance with dates from the Western Alps. A late-stage thermal overprint, common to the entire Penninic thrust system, occurred within the Tauern Eclogite Zone rocks at 35 Ma. The high-pressure peak and switch from burial to exhumation of the Tauern Eclogite Zone is likely to date slab breakoff in the Alpine orogen. This is in contrast to the long-lasting and foreland-propagating Franciscan-style subduction–accretion processes that are recorded in the Rechnitz Complex.