日本南海弧前西端之下俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭的地震构造意义

作为菲律宾海板块残余岛弧的九州—帕劳海岭正沿着日本南海海槽的最西端俯冲于欧亚板块之下。沿走向布设的地震反射剖面显示出沿弧前增生楔前缘俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭70km宽的构造影像。地磁异常特征、海底地形特征、广角折射数据和陆地地貌证据等使得我们能够将俯冲海岭在弧前的延伸段一直追踪至九州岛的东部。正在俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭携带有大量冗余物质,可能具有相对较大浮力,因此在深部俯冲时与上覆板块的碰撞具有较大的抗性。有鉴于此,我们推测在俯冲海岭和上覆板块基底的接触区之间存在局部大应力构造。此局部大应力区人们已标出有历史冲断层型中等级别地震(6~7级)。当九州—帕劳海岭俯冲至深部时,漂浮的俯冲海岭其两侧的翼部更容易被撕裂而形成板块破裂。我们认为,俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭在深部不仅起到地震凹凸体的作用,而且产生板块破裂作为地震障碍体抑制邻近的日向段巨大逆冲地震的破裂传播。     

松辽盆地北部浅部基底推覆伸展作用的地震学证据与地质意义

已经利用近垂直反射地震叠偏剖面得到太平洋板块西向俯冲远程应力场形成上部地壳滑脱断裂的证据,在此基础上,利用油气地震叠偏剖面发现中远程的蒙古—鄂霍茨克缝合带、远程的太平洋板块西向俯冲带在松辽盆地滨北地区浅部基底共同作用形成的逆冲推覆断裂系统.该断裂系统基本呈双向形式,纵向与横向上表现出不均匀的强度,向西逆冲推覆的断裂系统厚度范围可达到约3~4 km,向东的断裂系统厚度范围可达到约1~2 km,断裂系统组构比较复杂.经过对控盆断裂孙吴—双辽断裂两侧地球物理场分布特征的分析,认为松辽盆地浅部基底的逆冲推覆断裂系统是叠加在孙吴—双辽断裂之上的新的断裂系统.考虑到蒙古—鄂霍茨克缝合带在远离1000多公里之外所产生的内蒙古阴山—燕山大型逆冲推覆断裂带以及松辽盆地的区域构造位置,认为在松辽盆地南部和滨北地区孙吴—双辽断裂构造线之外也应该存在浅部基底内的逆冲推覆断裂.     

马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔前缘构造变形和精细结构

马尼拉俯冲带是南海的东部边界,记录了南海形成演化的关键信息,同时也是地震和海啸多发区域.本文利用过马尼拉俯冲带北段的高分辨率多道地震剖面,分析了研究区内海盆和海沟的沉积特征,精细刻画了区内增生楔前缘的构造变形、结构以及岩浆活动特征.研究区内增生楔下陆坡部分由盲冲断层、构造楔和叠瓦逆冲断层构成,逆冲断层归并于一条位于下中新统的滑脱面上,滑脱面向海方向的展布明显受到增生楔之下埋藏海山和基底隆起的影响;上陆坡的反射特征则因变形强烈和岩浆作用而难以识别;岩浆活动开始于晚中新世末期并持续至第四纪.马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔的形成时间早于16.5 Ma,并通过前展式逆冲向南海方向扩展;马尼拉俯冲带的初始形成时间可能在晚渐新世,而此时南海海盆扩张仍在持续.南海东北缘19°N-21°N区域为南海北部陆坡向海盆的延伸,高度减薄的陆壳的俯冲造成马尼拉海沟北段几何形态明显地向东凹进.     

西南天山北东东走向断裂的晚第四纪活动特征及在天山构造变形中的作用

天山是远离板块边界的陆内造山带,特点是构造变形复杂强烈,强震多发。天山南北向的变形速率约为20mm/a,约为印度板块与欧亚板块汇聚速率的一半左右,这一变形量是如何被天山吸收的,天山的构造变形又是如何进行的,其构造样式如何?这些关键性问题目前仍存在较大的争论。天山地区主要发育有3组构造带,最显著的是位于南北两侧山前与山体近乎平行的逆断层—褶皱带,同时,在山体内部还发育有一系列NW向的右旋走滑断裂和NEE向的左旋走滑断裂,这些断裂共同控制了天山的新生代构造变形。目前,对于天山山前的逆断裂系统晚第四纪变形特征和滑动速率等方面研究非常丰富,对天山内部NW向的右旋走滑断裂晚第四纪活动特征也有一些定量数据,而对NEE向断裂晚第四纪以来的活动特征目前尚处空白状态。本文以迈丹断裂为切入点,通过对该断裂晚第四纪以来的运动学特征、滑动速率和古地震活动特征等资料的详细研究,获得西南天山地区NEE向断裂晚第四纪活动参数,同时,通过收集和补充调查天山其他主要活动断裂晚第四纪以来的运动特征,完善天山活动断裂几何学和运动学图像;结合已有研究资料、地震活动特征和GPS数据,研究天山内部不同方向、不同运动性质的断裂的活动特征,分析天山这些断裂在天山的构造变形中发挥了怎样的作用,在此基础上进一步研究天山地区的构造变形样式及其与地震的关系。本文得到的主要认识有:迈丹断裂东段控制的阿合奇谷地内发育有多级晚第四纪地貌面,利用光释光、10Be暴露年龄以及14C等方法对玉山古溪两岸的阶地年龄进行了限定,并与气候变化序列进行了比对,得到阶地的废弃形成发生在间冰期或者冰期—间冰期的转换阶段。玉山古溪T6阶地(~20ka)之前,河流平均下切速率与迈丹断裂的活动速率基本一致,表明晚更新世晚期之前,河流的下切与阶地的形成主要受迈丹断裂活动影响,是构造隆升导致的河流快速下切。~20ka之后河流的下切速率开始增大,至全新世中晚期,河流下切速率甚至达到~12mm/a,远远大于断裂的活动速率,表明晚更新世末期以来,河流的下切与阶地的形成主要受气候因素驱动。全新世以来河流下切速率的快速增大,很可能是由于全新世期间气候快速波动造成的。迈丹断裂是一条全新世活动断裂,该断裂晚第四纪以来,以逆冲兼左旋走滑为主,通过精细测量被断错的晚第四纪地貌面和年代学测定,得到断裂的逆冲滑动速率为(1.24±0.20)mm/a,左旋走滑速率为(1.74±0.61)mm/a。迈丹断裂晚第四纪期间发生过多期断错地表的古地震事件,古地震平均复发间隔为3370~4265a,断裂最新一次古地震事件发生在1.76ka之后。迈丹断裂是柯坪推覆构造的根部断裂,该断裂晚第四纪以来发生过多次断错地表的强震事件。古地震研究表明,推覆体前缘的柯坪断裂晚第四纪以来也发生过多期古地震事件,而且两条构造上古地震事件的发生年代很接近,尽管我们并不能确定迈丹断裂最新一次古地震事件是否与柯坪塔格断裂上的是否为同一次事件,但这一现象反映该地区地震破裂存在两种可能:(1)迈丹断裂与柯坪塔格断裂上最新一次古地震事件是同一次事件,这表明迈丹断裂与柯坪塔格断裂具有级联破裂的特征;(2)迈丹断裂上最新一次古地震事件与柯坪塔格断裂上的不是同一期事件,分别单独破裂,虽然两条断裂上的古地震事件不是同期破裂,但均发生在~1.7ka之后,时间间隔不长,表明柯坪推覆构造根部的迈丹断裂和前缘的柯坪塔格断裂之间可能存在相互的影响或关联,柯坪地区的强震活动具有丛集发生的特征。迈丹断裂晚第四纪活动的发现,表明西南天山柯坪推覆构造与天山其他地区的推覆构造变形模式不同,推覆体最前缘的柯坪断裂活动强烈,而根部断裂晚第四纪以来也有很强的活动,断裂的新活动并没有完全迁移到推覆体前缘的新生构造带上,这可能是一种无序或反序的构造变形模式。西南天山地区的左旋走滑运动主要发生在推覆体根部的迈丹断裂上,推覆体前缘的逆断裂—背斜以逆冲运动为主,没有明显的走滑运动。GPS资料表明,普昌断裂以西的地区,应变没有完全闭锁集中在根部的迈丹断裂上,一部分应变通过滑脱面传递到前缘的逆断裂-背斜带上;在柯坪推覆构造的东部地区,从根部的迈丹断裂至前缘的柯坪塔格断裂可能是一个孕震体系,震间的形变主要在推覆体根部的构造上闭锁,前缘构造基本没有明显变形,这可能是柯坪推覆构造东西两侧中小地震活动存在明显差异的主要原因。西南天山还发育有两条NEE走向的断裂,通过变形地貌测量与年代学测定得到那拉提断裂晚第四纪以来以左旋逆冲运动为主,断裂逆冲速率~2.1 mm/a,左旋走滑速率为~2.5mm/a;克敏断裂也是一条左旋走滑断裂,断裂的左旋走滑速率为~1.5mm/a。西南天山3条NEE向的断裂带吸收了~6mm/a的左旋走滑运动,与塔里木斜向俯冲造成的左旋走滑运动量基本一致,这表明塔里木斜向俯冲造成的左旋走滑运动在西南天山地区基本被分解吸收。西南天山地区吸收了塔里木向天山俯冲汇聚绝大部分的压缩速率和左旋剪切运动,挤压缩短在山体内部和山前的新生褶皱带上均有分配,左旋剪切则主要发生在天山内部高角度的边界断裂上,整个西南天山构成了一个大型的花状构造。在天山南北两侧,构造变形以逆断层为代表的地壳缩短和增厚为特征,而天山内部则为一个大型的剪切带,同时还具有明显的逆冲运动。天山地区主要存在两组走滑断裂,一是NEE向的左旋走滑构造,另一组是NW-NWW向的右旋走滑断裂,这两组断裂主要发育在天山内部,但这些断裂共同调节了山体内部的走滑剪切运动,山体内部高角度的走滑逆冲断裂与山前低倾角的逆冲断裂系共同组成了天山构造变形图像。天山地区的压缩变形主要分布在天山南北两侧的山前地区,而天山内部的活动断裂则具有明显的走滑分量,在剖面上,整个天山形成了一个大型的花状构造。尽管天山整体的构造变形为西强东弱,不同地区变形强度和幅度差异较大,但是天山南北和东西两侧的构造变形样式还是基本对称的。受塔里木块体向北的挤压作用,西南天山地区总体走向为NEE向,南天山东段整体则呈NWW走向,与塔里木与南天山的分界断裂在形态上构成一个"三角形"向北楔入。整个西南天山内部是一个大型的左旋剪切带,南天山东段整体为右旋走滑性质,塔里木和南天山之间的边界断裂以逆冲运动为主。在天山北部受到刚性准噶尔地块阻挡的作用下,北天山西段构造线整体NW-NWW向,而90°E以东的北天山地区构造线整体为NEE走向,与近东西走向的准噶尔与北天山的分界断裂在形态上构成一个倒"三角形"向南楔入。北天山西段右旋走滑性质的博—阿断裂和喀什河断裂所围限的楔形块体整体向西运动,北天山东段NEE向的左旋走滑断裂构成了倒"三角楔"的东边界,准噶尔与北天山的分界逆冲断裂带是"三角楔"的底界。在近南北向的挤压应力下,天山的构造变形整体以压缩变形为主,山体内部发育的一系列走滑构造带表明,天山在东西方向上还存在一定的侧向挤出,这些走滑断裂调节了天山不同地区压缩量的差异。地质数据和GPS资料均证实,天山地区逆冲运动量要明显大于走滑分量,山体内部走滑断裂所控制的块体虽然存在向东西两侧的侧向挤出,但与南北向最大达~18mm/a的压缩速率相比,变形速率不高,侧向挤出幅度有限。     

西南天山柯坪逆冲推覆构造带的地壳缩短分析

柯坪逆冲推覆构造带是西南天山山前晚新生代以来形成的活动逆断裂-褶皱带,由5~6排近平行的弧形褶皱带组成,出露地层为寒武系—第四系。背斜形态多为复式箱状背斜和不对称的斜歪背斜,分别与断层弯曲背斜和断层扩展背斜的几何形态一致。地震勘探资料显示,各褶皱带前缘活动逆断裂在深部归并于统一的、由寒武系中的石膏层组成的滑脱面。滑脱面深度具有南浅北深、东浅西深的特点,皮羌断裂西侧滑脱面深度约为9km,东侧滑脱面深度为5km。在柯坪逆冲推覆构造中部的皮羌断裂东西两侧各5km和8km的位置,以断层弯曲褶皱和断层扩展褶皱构造模型为指导,用线长平衡的方法完成了2条长度分别为78km和73km的平衡地质剖面,恢复到变形前的形态后计算出这2条剖面上的地壳缩短量分别为40km和45km,缩短率为33%和37%。由于对柯坪逆冲推覆构造开始形成时间的证据较少,所以要计算长期的缩短速率是比较困难的。对比天山南麓库车活动逆断裂-褶皱带的形成时代,以及柯坪逆冲推覆构造与印干断裂的关系,认为柯坪逆冲推覆构造形成于第四纪早期的西域砾岩沉积阶段,按距今2.5Ma计算,柯坪逆冲推覆构造的地壳缩短速率是15.4~17.3mm/a     

大别山东南麓薄皮构造及地体碰撞拼贴

大别山东南麓有两套薄皮构造，以韧性剪切带为代表的韧性－半韧性薄皮构造和以逆冲推覆为特征的半脆性－脆性薄皮构造，后者可划分出六个一级薄皮层片体，总体上呈倒序迭瓦状结构，地球物理资料等证实大别地体爷冲于扬子地体之上，两者是以缓倾角断裂为边界的斜接碰撞，其南界为郯断裂南端、襄广断裂南东段及其间的隐伏拆离断层，主拼贴断裂在地表分枝为数条层滑－逆冲断裂，主体碰撞时代为225－75Ma，最终拼贴时代可延续到33－23Ma，韧性一半韧性薄皮构造形成于碰撞中、晚期，而半脆性－脆性薄皮构造则地碰撞末期及后造山期，在扬子地体俯冲过程中，俯冲于大别地体之下的盖层层片体被逐片“铲出”，呈上老下新的迭瓦状结构，广泛发育的薄皮构造调节了地体碰撞拼贴造成的强烈压缩变形。     

平板俯冲及其地质效应的研究进展:观测与模拟

平板俯冲是指大洋板块以低角度(10°)或近水平方式下插到上覆板块之下的俯冲样式,仅占现今全球俯冲带的10%.相对于高角度俯冲,平板俯冲对上覆板块内部造成的影响更加显著,引发的地震强度更大,因此平板俯冲具有重要的研究意义.典型平板俯冲所引起的变形会从海沟向上覆大陆内部逐渐传递,并形成一个宽阔的岩浆带.平板俯冲的形成机制仍存在争议,主要包括大洋高原的浮力效应、上覆板块逆冲、板块吸力和海沟后撤等.文章系统分析和总结了以往有关平板俯冲的研究成果,归纳了平板俯冲所产生的地质效应(包括陆内造山和岩浆作用),并着重从数值模拟角度综述了平板俯冲形成机制的研究现状.通过对比得出,在控制平板俯冲形成的各种因素中,上覆板块逆冲和大洋高原是最为关键的两个因素,板块吸力虽有助于俯冲角度的减小,但不足以成为形成平板俯冲的独立条件,而海沟后撤则是形成平板俯冲的必要条件.今后基于数值模拟探索平板俯冲形成机制的工作,需要结合地质、地球物理观测数据,并将洋壳榴辉岩化(负浮力)与大洋岩石圈地幔蛇纹石化(正浮力)的影响加入到模型中,开展三维高分辨率热-力学模拟研究.     

活动推覆构造区潜在震源的边界和震级上限——以1902年阿图什8(1/4)级地震构造区为例

1902年阿图什81/4级地震发生在西南天山山前推覆构造体中,逆冲推覆构造由推覆体的根部断裂、推覆体、滑脱断层和前缘逆断裂-褶皱等组成,大地震的发震断裂往往是推覆构造的根部断裂,而地震地表破裂和同震褶皱隆起则位于山前逆断层-褶皱带内。高震级的潜在震源区(MU7.5)对应于低速的天山地块和高速的塔里木地块之间的根带断裂,其长度对应于推覆体根带断裂的长度,宽度对应于根带隐伏逆冲断裂在地表的投影宽度。推覆体前缘的每个活动逆断裂-背斜对应于一个潜在震源(MU≤7.5),其长度与活动逆断裂-背斜的长度相等,宽度应覆盖活动褶皱的两翼。潜在震源的矩震级上限由W-C统计关系式确定,其中发震断裂的面积为活动褶皱的长度与隐伏断坡宽度的乘积。     

准噶尔盆地东缘构造:阿尔泰与北天山造山带交接转换的陆内过程

准噶尔盆地位于中亚造山带西段,地表地质已有大量成果,但对该盆地深部结构构造研究相对薄弱,这制约了对该区构造演化的认识.通过对研究区大量二维地震剖面的详细构造解释,揭示出准噶尔盆地东缘主要的逆冲断裂有:乌伦古东、红盆、红盆南、喀拉萨依、滴水泉北、滴水泉南和沙西等断裂.断裂整体组合表现为向北西发散、向南东收敛的逆冲-走滑构造特征,可分为三组构造体系.北部叠瓦式褶皱-逆冲体系位于研究区北部,走向北西,倾向北东,表现为自北向南的叠瓦式逆冲推覆构造,整体上具有北老南新的特征,断裂最早形成于石炭纪,之后向南不断拓展.中部逆冲-走滑体系位于研究区中部,近东西走向,断面陡立,印支期为左行压扭,燕山期发生右行走滑,伴生少量小型正断层.南部褶皱-逆冲体系位于研究区南部,北东走向,倾向北西,分支断裂主体均为走向北东的逆断层.全区断层相关褶皱常见有断展和断弯褶皱.区域构造对比表明,在南阿尔泰和北天山两大造山带的挤压汇聚作用下,准噶尔盆地东缘在三叠纪-早白垩世期间持续发生陆内变形.其中研究区北部主控断裂指示了自北向南的逆冲推覆,动力来自南阿尔泰造山带的持续挤压;南部褶皱不对称性和主逆冲断层指示动力来自北天山造山带的持续挤压;中部走滑断裂早期逆冲作用较强,后期叠加走滑构造,是南、北两大动力系统发生复杂交接转换的结果,并调节了盆地内部次级块体的运动,使其向西挤出.     

新疆主要逆断层-褶皱构造区基本地震构造征与潜在震源划分问题

本文介绍了新疆主要逆断层-褶皱构造区的基本特征,并对其潜在震源划分问题进行了初步的讨论.北天山山前推覆构造及乌鲁木齐以南的逆断裂.褶皱构造相对比较简单,由根部断裂、推覆体和前缘逆断裂.褶皱构造所组成;强地震的极震区或地震动的高值区可能位于推覆构造的根部断裂附近,而地震地表破裂和同震地表变形则位于山前逆断层.褶皱带内.南天山的柯坪推覆构造、库车推覆构造、帕米尔东北缘的弧形推覆构造,虽然也由多排逆断裂.褶皱构造带组成,但是其中的规模巨大、发育时间较长的逆断裂.背斜带,往往具备发生强震的条件.强震的极震区分布与地震地表断层位置比较一致,可作为强震的潜在震源.盆地内的新的盲逆断层.褶皱构造也具备发生6.5-7.0级地震的能力,应作为震级上限为7.0级的潜在震源.由于对逆断层.褶皱构造的深浅构造关系及发震模型认识的不足,在潜在震源划分中应考虑这种不确定性.同时在潜在震源区划分中,还应考虑地震构造区的地震活动历史及构造活动性参数.     

Deformable backstop as seaward end of coseismic slip in the Nankai Trough seismogenic zone

Wide-angle seismic surveys performed in the last decade have clarified the 3-D crustal structure along the Nankai Trough. The geometry and velocity structure of the southwestern Japan subduction zone are now well constrained. Comparing these observations with the rupture distribution of historic great thrust earthquakes, it appears that the coseismic rupture occurred along plate boundaries deeper than the wedge/backstop boundary (the boundary between the Neogene-Quaternary accretionary wedge and the crust forming the backstop). From the view of spatial relationship, both rupture distributions of the last two large events and the crust forming the backstop are considerably retreated from the trough axis in the west and east off the Kii Peninsula. In both areas, seamount or ridge subduction is apparent in seismic results, geomorphological data and geomagnetic data. The landward indentation of the deformable backstop, which corresponds to the crustal block of old accreted sediments, may be formed by seamount subduction according to published results of sandbox modeling. In particular, the subducted seamount may be a structural factor affecting the recession of the crustal block forming the backstop.     

Oblique subduction, collision of microcontinents and subduction of oceanic ridge: Their implications on the Cretaceous tectonics of Japan

Abstract The Izanagi plate subducted rapidly and obliquely under the accretionary terrane of Japan in the Cretaceous before 85 Ma. A chain of microcontinents collided with it at about 140 Ma. In southwest Japan the major part of it subducted thereafter, but in northeast Japan it accreted and the trench jumped oceanward, resulting in a curved volcanic front. The oblique subduction and the underplated microcon-tinent caused uplifting of high-pressure (high-P) metamorphic rocks and large scale crustal shortening in southwest Japan. The oblique subduction caused left-lateral faulting and ductile shearing in northeast Japan. The arc sliver crossed over the high-temperature (high-T) zone of arc magmatism, resulting in a wide high-T metamorphosed belt. At about 85 Ma, the subduction mode changed from oblique to normal and the tectonic mode changed drastically. Just after this the Kula/Pacific ridge subducted and the subduction rate of the Pacific plate decreased gradually, causing the intrusion of huge amounts of granite magma and the eruption of acidic volcanics from large cauldrons. The oblique subduction of the Pacific plate resumed at 53 Ma and the left-lateral faults were reactivated.     

Geomorphological study on a clastic accretionary prism: The Nankai Trough

Abstract The Nankai Trough, off southwest Japan, is one of the best sites for the study of geomorphic characteristics of a clastic accretionary prism. A recent multibeam survey over the central and eastern parts of the Nankai accretionary prism has revealed a large variation of the topography along the trough axis. Analysis of the bathymetric data suggests the existence of prism deformational features of different scales, such as depressions, embayment structures and cusps. These structures are the results of slope instability caused by basement relief of subducted oceanic plate. Unstable slopes recover by new accretion and development of a low angle thrust. Small-scale deformation due to the subduction of a small isolated seamount is then adjusted to the regional trend. By contrast, a 30 km indentation of the wedge observed in the eastern part of the Nankai Trough, the Tenryu Cusp, has seemed to retain its geometry. The subducted Philippine Sea plate has deformed greatly near the eastern end of the Nankai Trough, because of the collision between the Izu-Ogasawara (Bonin) arc and central Japan. Therefore, the indentation may be the result of the continuous subduction of a basement high, such as the Zenisu Ridge, which has been formed under north-south compression due to the arc-arc collision.     

Cretaceous episodic growth of the Japanese Islands

Abstract The Japanese Islands formed rapidly in situ along the eastern Asian continental margin in the Cretaceous due to both tectonic and magmatic processes. In the Early Cretaceous, huge oceanic plateaus created by the mid-Panthalassa super plume accreted with the continental margin. This tectonic interaction of oceanic plateau with continental crust is one of the significant tectonic processes responsible for continental growth in subduction zones. In the Japanese Islands, Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene continental growth is much more episodic and drastic. At this time the continental margin uplifted regionally, and intra-continent collision tectonics took place in the northern part of the Asian continent. The uplifting event appears to have been caused by the subduction of very young oceanic crust (i.e. the Izanagi-Kula Plate) along the continental margin. Magmatism was also very active, and melting of the young oceanic slab appears to have resulted in ubiquitous plutons in the continental margin. Regional uplift of the continental margin and intra-continent collision tectonics promoted erosion of the uplifted area, and a large amount of terrigenous sediment was abruptly supplied to the trench. As a result of the rapid supply of terrigenous detritus, the accretionary complexes (the Hidaka Belt in Hokkaido and the Shimanto Belt in Southwest Japan) grew rapidly in the subduction zone. The rapid growth of the accretionary complexes and the subduction of very young, buoyant oceanic crust caused the extrusion of a high-P/T metamorphic wedge from the deep levels of the subduction zone. Episodic growth of the Late Cretaceous Japanese Islands suggests that subduction of very young oceanic crust and/or ridge subduction are very significant for the formation of new continental crust in subduction zones.     

Morphologic and geologic effects of the subduction of bathymetric highs

Morphologic and geologic observations suggest that subduction of bathymetric highs, such as aseismic ridges, chains of seamounts, and fracture zones, are important in the development of many forearc features and that those features form during relatively brief episodes of intense tectonism. A bathymetric high obliquely entering a subduction zone tends to compress sediments along its leading edge, resulting in arcward compression of the accretionary wedge. A landward deflection of the trench axis and a steepened inner wall result from this deformation. If a significant component of oblique slip occurs along the subduction zone, then along-strike movement of the accretionary wedge may also occur. Stresses resulting from subduction of bathymetric features with sufficient buoyancy or high relief extend farther landward than in the case of smaller, less buoyant features, inducing uplift of the leading edge of the overriding plate. Tectonic erosion of the base of the overriding plate and along-strike transport of are material may also occur. The accelerated tectonism observed along several convergent margins can be attributed to the consumption of bathymetric irregularities on the seafloor rather than temporally abrupt changes in rates and directions of plate motions or other episodic events in the accretionary prism.     

Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the Andaman–Sumatra subduction margin: Current understanding

The Andaman–Sumatra margin displays a unique set‐up of extensional subduction–accretion complexes, which are the Java Trench, a tectonic (outer arc) prism, a sliver plate, a forearc, oceanic rises, inner‐arc volcanoes, and an extensional back‐arc with active spreading. Existing knowledge is reviewed in this paper, and some new data on the surface and subsurface signatures for operative geotectonics of this margin is analyzed. Subduction‐related deformation along the trench has been operating either continuously or intermittently since the Cretaceous. The oblique subduction has initiated strike–slip motion in the northern Sumatra–Andaman sector, and has formed a sliver plate between the subduction zone and a complex, right‐lateral fault system. The sliver fault, initiated in the Eocene, extended through the outer‐arc ridge offshore from Sumatra, and continued through the Andaman Sea connecting the Sagaing Fault in the north. Dominance of regional plate dynamics over simple subduction‐related accretionary processes led to the development and evolution of sedimentary basins of widely varied tectonic character along this margin. A number of north–south‐trending dismembered ophiolite slices of Cretaceous age, occurring at different structural levels with Eocene trench‐slope sediments, were uplifted and emplaced by a series of east‐dipping thrusts to shape the outer‐arc prism. North–south and east–west strike–slip faults controlled the subsidence, resulting in the development of a forearc basins and record Oligocene to Miocene–Pliocene sedimentation within mixed siliciclastic–carbonate systems. The opening of the Andaman Sea back‐arc occurred in two phases: an early (～11 Ma) stretching and rifting, followed by spreading since 4–5 Ma. The history of inner‐arc volcanic activity in the Andaman region extends to the early Miocene, and since the Miocene arc volcanism has been associated with an evolution from felsic to basaltic composition.     

Subduction of continental margins and the uplift of high-pressure metamorphic rocks

The mechanism by which high-pressure metamorphosed continental material is emplaced at high structural levels is a major unsolved problem of collisional orogenesis. We suggest that the emplacement results from partial subduction of the continental margin which, because of its high flexural rigidity, produces a rapid change in the trajectory of the descending slab. We assume a two-fold increase in effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere as the continental margin approaches the subduction zone, and calculate the flexural profile of a thin plate for progressive downward migration of the zone of increased rigidity. We assess the effect of changes in the flexural profile on the overlying accretionary prism and mantle wedge as the continent approaches by estimating the extra stresses that are imposed on the wedge due to the bending moment exerted by the continental part of the plate. The wedges overlying the subduction zones, and the subducting slab itself, experience substantial extra compressional stress at depths of around 100 km, and extensional stress at shallower depths, as the continental margin passes through the zone of maximum curvature. The magnitudes of such extra stresses are probably adequate to effect significant deformation of the wedge and/or the descending plate, and are experienced in a time interval of less than 5 m.y. for typical subduction rates. The spatial variation of yield stresses in the region of the wedge and descending slab indicates that much of this deformation may be taken up in the crustal part of the descending slab, which is the weakest region in the deeper parts of the subduction zone. This may result in rapid upward migration of the crust of the partially subducted continental margin, against the flow of subduction. High-pressure metamorphosed terranes emplaced by the mechanism envisaged in this paper would be bounded by thrust faults below and normal faults above. Movement on the faults would have been coeval, and would have resulted in rapid unroofing of the high-pressure terranes, synchronous with arrival of the continental margin at the subduction zone and, therefore, relatively early in the history of a collisional orogen.     

A deep section of accretionary complex: Susunai Complex in Sakhalin Island, Northwest Pacific Margin

Abstract A deep section of accretionary complex, the metamorphosed Susunai Complex, is observed on Sakhalin Is., Russia. High pressure part of pumpellyite-actinolite facies metavolcanics, metacherts and metapelites are well exposed and constitute a tectonic pile preserving primary structures related to underplating of the oceanic crust. Three stages of deformation, D₁ through D₃, suggest successive deformation during subduction, underplating and exhumation of the complex. Oceanic material in the complex is more abundant than other well documented ancient accretionary complexes (e.g. the Shimanto Belt in southwest Japan and the Ghost Rocks Formation in Alaska), which were shallowly underplated. At Susunai, deep down-stepping of a décollément has scraped off the upper part of the oceanic crust, primarily the pillowed basalt horizon. This down-stepping results from crustal weakening as overpressured water is released from the fractured oceanic crust during metamorphism.     

Geodynamic significance of ophiolites within the Calabrian Arc

Abstract Slices of oceanic lithosphere belonging to the neo‐Tethys realm crop out discontinuously in the northern Calabrian Arc, Southern Apennines. They consist of high‐pressure–low‐temperature metamorphic ophiolitic sequences formed from metaultramafics, metabasites and alternating metapelites, metarenites, marbles and calcschist. Ophiolites occupy an intermediate position in the northern Calabrian Arc nappe pile, situated between overlying Hercynian continental crust and the underlying Apenninic limestone units. In the literature, these ophiolitic sequences are subdivided into several tectonometamorphic units. Geochemical characteristics indicate that metabasites were derived from subalkaline basalts with tholeiitic affinity (transitional mid‐oceanic ridge basalt type), and a harzburgitic‐lherzolitic protolith is suggested for the serpentinites. The pressure–temperature‐deformation paths of the metabasites from different outcrops display similar features: (i) the prograde segment follows a typical Alpine geothermal gradient up to a metamorphic climax at 350°C and 0.9 GPa and crystallization of the high‐pressure mineral assemblage occurs along a pervasive foliation developed during a compressive tectonic event; and (ii) the retrogression path can be subdivided in two segments, the first is characterized by nearly isothermal decompression to approximately 400°C and 0.3 GPa and the second follows a cooling trajectory. During low‐pressure conditions, a second deformation event produces millimetric to decametric scale asymmetric folds that describe west‐verging major structures. The third deformation event is characterized by brittle extensional structures. The tectonometamorphic evolution of the ophiolitic sequences from the different outcrops is similar. Both thermobarometric modeling and tectonic history indicate that the studied rocks underwent Alpine subduction and exhumation processes as tectonic slices inside a west‐verging accretionary wedge. The subduction of oceanic lithosphere was towards the present east; therefore, the Hercynian continental crust, overthrusted on the ophiolitic accretionary wedge after the neo‐Tethys closure, was part of the African paleomargin or a continental microplate between Africa and Europe.