冀北太古代花岗质片麻岩的成因

冀北是华北克拉通早前寒武纪变质基底的主要出露地区之一。分布于承德-滦平和赤城-张家口地区的新太古代花岗质片麻岩主要由英云闪长岩、奥长花岗岩、花岗闪长岩和二长花岗岩(TTGM)组成,构成了低钾、中钾和高钾钙碱性三个岩石化学系列。二长花岗质片麻岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb和Lu-Hf同位素特征揭示其岩浆结晶年龄为2509±10Ma。全岩岩石化学、Sm-Nd同位素和锆石Lu-Hf同位素研究表明:(1)低钾钙碱性系列的岩石形成于拉班玄武质岩石的低度部分熔融;(2)中钾钙碱性系列岩石主要形成于玄武质岩石和杂砂岩的部分熔融,局部存在英云闪长质片麻岩的部分熔融;(3)高钾钙碱性系列的岩石形成于以高钾中酸性火山岩为主要成分的杂砂岩的部分熔融。结合近年来冀北早前寒武纪地质研究成果,这些太古代花岗质片麻岩全岩Sm-Nd同位素和锆石Lu-Hf同位素特征揭示~2.7Ga是本区太古代地壳的主要生长期。在新太古代发生了大规模的火山喷发,火山物质形成后不久发生部分熔融形成花岗质岩浆,接着发生变质、变形作用。这些花岗质片麻岩的形成与南美洲西海岸的构造-岩浆活动特征有类似之处,可能反映了太古代末期冀北地区从活动大陆边缘地壳增生、加厚到弧后伸展转化的动力学背景。     

新元古代宝兴杂岩的岩石成因及其对扬子西缘构造环境的制约

位于扬子克拉通西缘的新元古代宝兴杂岩主要由中低级变质的辉长质片麻岩、闪长质片麻岩、英云闪长质到花岗闪长质片麻岩和块状二长花岗岩组成。岩石地球化学和Sm-Nd同位素特征表明,辉长质片麻岩和闪长质片麻岩为同源岩浆演化序列,原始岩浆起源于亏损地幔尖晶石橄榄岩的部分熔融,在上升和侵位过程中受到了地壳岩石强烈混染。英云闪长质和花岗闪长质岩浆形成于下地壳玄武质岩石部分熔融,而二长花岗质岩浆形成于杂砂岩的部分熔融。综合分析宝兴杂岩的岩石组合、微量元素和同位素特征,该杂岩体最有可能形成于新元古代活动大陆边缘火山弧构造背景,并可能经历了碰撞过程。     

锦州-迁安太古宙赞岐岩类片麻岩成因及其动力学意义

详细的野外地质调查和综合研究表明冀东-辽西南部地区太古宙变质基底主要由富钾花岗质岩石组成,由锦州至迁安构成一条NEE向延伸200余千米的富钾花岗质岩石带。这些富钾花岗质岩石主要由似斑状/中粒石英二长闪长质-花岗闪长质-二长花岗质片麻岩和中粒二长花岗岩-正长花岗岩构成。全岩地球化学分析表明这些石英二长闪长质-花岗闪长质-二长花岗质片麻岩具有高FeO~T、MgO、K_2O和Mg~#值的地球化学特征,与全球范围内中-新太古宙赞歧岩类相似。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素定年结果表明这些岩石形成于2546~2543Ma。岩石成因研究表明这些赞歧岩类片麻岩形成于俯冲板片及其拖曳的洋壳沉积物、增生楔物质的熔体和受俯冲流体、熔体交代的地幔楔之间相互作用引发的一系列的岩浆作用。这一多样化的赞岐岩类岩浆作用形成了一条新太古代赞岐岩类带,该赞岐岩类带反映了冀东-辽西南部地区新太古代从NNW向SSE向板片热俯冲的动力学体制。     

前寒武纪地球动力学(Ⅶ):早期大陆地壳的形成与演化

冥古宙到太古宙大陆地壳主要由花岗质片麻岩区和绿岩带构造单元组成。大量的研究表明,以花岗质岩石出现为标志的大陆地壳最早的碎屑锆石记录为约4.4Ga,最早的英云闪长质-花岗闪长质片麻岩形成于约4.03Ga,最早的绿岩带层序形成于约3.8Ga。冥古宙到始—古太古代时期的花岗质片麻岩区主要由英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质片麻岩组成(TTG片麻岩),中—新太古代,尤其是新太古代晚期TTG片麻岩仍然为花岗质片麻岩区的主要岩石组成,但是花岗质片麻岩的成分出现了明显的多样化趋势,最明显的标志就是出现了大量的花岗闪长岩-二长花岗岩-碱长花岗岩组合。绿岩带的组成较为复杂,早期科马提岩、拉斑玄武岩等铁镁质火山岩占主导地位,组合有BIF等沉积层序,尤其是科马提岩的出现标志着高温地幔岩浆作用占主导作用。而晚期绿岩带科马提岩占的比重已经明显较少,大量出现拉斑玄武质-钙碱性玄武质到英安质火山岩和副变质沉积层序,局部出现类玻安岩、埃达克岩的变质火山岩记录。地球动力学体制研究表明,冥古宙到古太古代以地幔柱构造体制占主导地位,从始太古代到古太古代(3.0Ga)地幔柱活动和地幔对流使岩石圈不断加厚。在地幔对流沉降部位,由于地幔对流的拖曳使其铁镁质地壳逆冲堆垛并不断增厚,其深部发生麻粒岩相-榴辉岩相变质、部分熔融形成初始的大陆地壳花岗质岩石,并孕育了早期高温状态的板块热俯冲。中太古代晚期和新太古代初期形成了以榴辉岩为标志的类现代板片俯冲的构造体制,新太古代末期尽管地幔柱构造体制在局部仍起重要作用,但是类现代板片俯冲构造体制已经成为这一时期主导的动力学体制。     

海南岛昌江灰色片麻岩包体及其地球化学特征

灰色片麻岩包体出露于海南岛昌江中元古代花岗质岩石中,主要由花岗闪长质-英云间长质片麻岩及其糜棱岩组成,遭受过强烈的剪切作用和变质作用,野外产出与岩石矿物学特点及其地球化学特征均表明灰色片麻岩是正片麻岩,是以片麻岩形式存在的高Al型英云间长岩-花岗间长岩深成岩体。具有轻稀土富集型和轻稀土亏损型两种分配模式,岩石成因复杂,其Nd模式年龄为2735～2791Ma,说明海南岛存在太古宙古陆壳。||关键词##4灰色片麻岩包体;;英云间长岩-花岗间长岩;;地球化学特征;;海南昌江     

冀东-辽西太古宙火成岩岩石组合和动力学意义

冀东-辽西地区是华北克拉通北部出露面积最大的太古宙变质基底区.经过岩石组合填图和综合研究,将其太古宙变质火成岩分为2.64~2.60 Ga MORB型拉斑玄武质火山岩、2.61~2.52 Ga拉斑玄武质-钙碱性变质火山岩、2.52~2.50 Ga浅变质钙碱性火山岩组合和2.54~2.50 Ga英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质片麻岩、2.54~2.51 Ga闪长质-石英闪长质-英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质片麻岩、2.54~2.51 Ga紫苏花岗闪长质-紫苏花岗质岩石、2.57~2.52 Ga闪长质-石英二长闪长质-花岗闪长质-二长花岗质片麻岩和2.53~2.51 Ga弱片麻状到块状二长花岗质-正长花岗质深成侵入体岩石组合.这些岩石组合从东北部的辽西阜新到西南部的遵化马兰峪地区呈现出条带状时-空分布特征.变质作用研究揭示了青龙-上营-洒河桥-马兰峪为高压麻粒岩带,记录了ITD型PTt轨迹,与NNW-NW向SSE-SE方向逆冲推覆构造相伴生;而三屯营-太平寨高温麻粒岩带,记录了IBC型PTt轨迹,与锦州-兴城-安子岭-界岭口-太平寨-三屯营伸展-底劈构造带相伴生.综合分析表明冀东-辽西太古宙晚期的构造-岩浆活动形成于热造山带型俯冲-弧后伸展到碰撞隆升的侧向增生动力学过程.      

中条山涑水杂岩中TTG片麻岩的锆石Hf同位素特征及其形成环境

中条山前寒武纪涑水杂岩主要由西姚和寨子英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质(TTG)片麻岩、横岭关和北峪钙碱性花岗质岩石组成。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年代学研究表明,西姚石英闪长质片麻岩~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb加权平均年龄为2536±8Ma,是新太古代的产物;西姚和寨子TTG片麻岩及横岭关和北峪钙碱性花岗质岩石岩浆锆石Hf同位素组成ε_(Hf)(t)全为正值,且在t-ε_(Hf)(t)图解上,落在2.6～3.1Ga地壳演化线范围内。北峪钙碱性花岗质岩石中三个继承锆石核的~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb加权平均年龄为2633±84Ma,其锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值为-2.0～ 5.6。前寒武纪涑水杂岩中花岗质岩石的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石Hf同位素特征揭示它们最可能形成于新太古代到古元古代,岩浆主要来源于约2650Ma初生地壳的部分熔融,并有更古老的地壳物质的加入。     

冀西北赤城太古代英云闪长质、花岗闪长质片麻岩的地球化学

作者通过对冀西北张家口-赤城地区广泛出露的所谓混合岩化黑云斜长片麻岩的地质、矿物、岩石和地球化学研究，确定了它们是太古代的英云闪长质、花岗闪长质片麻岩，并且认为它们不是变质的火山-沉积岩，而是地壳中先存的镁铁质角闪岩或麻粒岩的重熔岩浆在固结或半固结状态下被长英质麻粒岩部分熔融产生的熔浆混合、交代形成的产物。     

山东胶南-威海造山带荣成岩套花岗质片麻岩的形成时代——锆石SHRIMPU-Pb定年

胶南-威海造山带荣成岩套花岗质片麻岩由闪长质片麻岩-石英闪长质片麻岩-英云闪长质片麻-一奥长花岗质片麻岩-花岗闪长质片麻岩-黑云二长花岗质片麻岩-二长花岗质片麻岩类组成,早期为TTG质花岗岩,晚期为二长花岗岩类。自早到晚存在明显的富钾演化特征。根据新的SHRIMPU-Pb锆石定年结果,该岩套早期闪长质片麻岩年龄为（741±10）Ma,英云闪长质片麻岩年龄为780-760Ma。晚期二长花岗质片麻岩年龄为760-714Ma。所以,可把荣成岩套花岗岩时代限定在800-700Ma之间（南华纪）,其形成与华北克拉通岩石圈减薄有关。     

辽西太古代建平变质杂岩的地球化学和变质作用的PTt轨迹

太古代建平变质杂岩主要由高Na/K比的、原岩为英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩系列(TTG)侵入岩的中性麻粒岩和片麻岩、少量变沉积岩、基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪岩和变超基性岩组成。各类岩石具有明显不同的地球化学特征。结合野外关系考虑,斜长角闪岩和基性麻粒岩可与世界其他高级区内的变质拉斑玄武岩对比;TTG片麻岩,中性麻粒岩、紫苏花岗岩和斜长质片麻岩可能由镁铁质源岩部分熔融而成。变质作用的演化轨迹为反时针型。因此,本区可与冀东、内蒙、南印度和苏格兰的刘易斯等高级地体对比。     

华北克拉通北缘东段“开原岩群”的解体及重新认识

根据近年来的同位素年代学资料,对分布于辽北地区的一套构造变质岩系（"开原岩群"或"清河镇岩群"）进行了重新认识和划分,并将其重新定义为清河构造混杂岩,由中太古代、新太古代、中元古代、新元古代、二叠纪等不同时代、不同构造环境的地质体组成.其中,中太古代、新太古代、中元古代岩石来自华北克拉通,而新元古代、二叠纪岩石则来自兴蒙造山带.将原沈家堡子岩组重新划分为新太古代变质表壳岩和中-新太古代变质深成岩,原板石沟岩组（或芦家堡子岩组）厘定为中元古代石门岩组,原照北山岩组重新划分为新元古代南平岩片和晚二叠世照北山岩组,将原佟家屯岩组和尖山子火山岩合并为晚二叠世佟家屯岩组.最后,提出了清河构造混杂岩带为华北克拉通与兴蒙造山带的界线以及古亚洲洋在华北板块北缘东段的最终闭合时间为中三叠世早期（约245Ma）的认识.     

辽西地区中元古代变质岩系的初步研究

辽西地区中元古代变质表壳岩包括石英岩、千枚岩-片岩、大理岩及细粒长英质片麻岩和少量阳起石片岩,为中酸性火山活动及钙碱性玄武岩活动之后的海进型沉积旋回,显示出一套较为连续的火山-沉积系列。变质深成岩以斜长花岗质片麻岩为主体。根据同位素测年、微古植物化石分析及与地层的接触关系等,厘定它们为中元古代产物。在中元古代该区经历了大陆边缘岛弧的形成、发展过程。     

华北克拉通南部早前寒武纪基底形成与演化

简要总结了华北克拉通南部鲁山地区、小秦岭地区、登封及中条山地区的早前寒武纪地质事件序列及其地质意义,并对各地区地质特征和变质演化特点进行对比。结合前人研究工作,初步探讨了华北克拉通南部早前寒武纪基底的演化特点、陆壳形成的主要时期和华北南部基底的构造区划等问题,提出几点认识:1)华北克拉通南部鲁山、中条山、小秦岭等地区均有2.7~2.9Ga岩石记录,以英云闪长质-奥长花岗质-花岗闪长质(TTG)岩石为主,它们共同构成华北南缘的古老结晶基底,并经历了新太古代晚期~2.5Ga构造-热事件,标志着华北克拉通南部在新太古代末期可能已经形成统一基底;2)华北克拉通南部主要的陆壳形成时期为中太古代晚期-新太古代,与全球其他主要克拉通一致,而古元古代早-中期则以地壳再循环为主;3)综合地质、地球化学等特点,将华北南部鲁山-小秦岭地区和中条山等地区划归为"南部古陆块",并提出该陆块呈现为一个大型的倾伏向斜构造,可能在新太古代晚期已经形成,其枢纽向南东倾斜。"南部古陆块"在新太古代末期与其它微陆块拼合,并发生了变质作用和陆壳的活化与再循环,共同指示新太古代晚期华北克拉通统一基底的形成。     

冀西北尚义黄土窑地区尚义杂岩和红旗营子群的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年及地质意义

尚义杂岩是冀西北地区有代表性的变质地质体,由变质表壳岩和侵入岩组成。其中的变质表壳岩曾认为是新太古代晚期蛇绿岩洋壳残片。该区也有红旗营子群存在。我们对尚义黄土窑地区尚义杂岩和红旗营子群不同类型岩石进行了锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年。含石榴黑云斜长片麻岩(HB1410)核部锆石年龄为310~2500Ma,边部变质锆石年龄为255Ma左右。黑云片麻岩(HB1411)和石英岩(HB1415)碎屑锆石年龄都为2.5Ga左右。辉长岩(HB1518)和石英闪长岩(HB1519)岩浆锆石年龄为278~279Ma。根据这些资料和前人研究,该地区的原红旗营子群和尚义杂岩变质表壳岩主体可能不是新太古代地质作用产物,而是形成于晚古生代,由不同时代地质体组成的构造杂岩。不存在所谓的太古宙蛇绿岩残片。晚古生代时期,中亚造山带对华北克拉通北缘的影响十分强烈。     

Late Neoarchean volcanic rocks in the southern Liaoning Terrane and their tectonic implications for the formation of the eastern North China Craton

The late Neoarchean metamorphosed volcanic rocks in the southern Liaoning Terrane (SLT) of the eastern North China Craton (NCC) are mainly composed of amphibolites and felsic gneisses and can be chemically classified as basalt (Group#1), basaltic andesite (Group#2), dacite (Group#3) and rhyodacite (Group#4). LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Th–Pb dating reveals that they formed at ~2.53–2.51 ​Ga. Group#1 samples are characterized by approximately flat chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns with low (La/Yb)_N ratios and a narrow range of (Hf/Sm)_N ratios, and their magmatic precursors were generated by partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge weakly metasomatized by subducted slab fluids. Compared to Group#1 samples, Group#2 samples display strongly fractionated REE patterns with higher (La/Yb)_N ratios and more scattered (Hf/Sm)_N ratios, indicative of a depleted mantle wedge that had been intensely metasomatized by slab-derived melts and fluids. Group#3 samples are characterized by high MgO and transition trace element concentrations and fractionated REE patterns, which resemble typical high-Si adakites, and the magmatic precursors were derived from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab. Group#4 samples have the highest SiO₂ and the lowest MgO and transition trace element contents, and were derived from partial melting of basaltic rocks at lower crust levels. Integrating these tholeiitic to calc-alkaline volcanic rocks with the mass of contemporaneous dioritic-tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic gneisses, the late Neoarchean volcanic rocks in the SLT were most likely produced in an active continental margin. Furthermore, the affinities in lithological assemblages, metamorphism and tectonic regime among SLT, eastern Hebei to western Liaoning Terrane (EH–WLT), northern Liaoning to southern Jilin Terrane (NL–SJT), Anshan-Benxi continental nucleus (ABN) and Yishui complex (YSC) collectively indicate that an integral and much larger continental block had been formed in the late Neoarchean and the craton-scale lateral accretion was a dominantly geodynamic mechanism in the eastern NCC.     

Discovery and Geological Significance of Neoproterozoic Metamorphic Granite in Jimo, Shandong Province, Eastern China

During the 1:50000 regional geological survey in Jimo,east Shandong Province,Paleoproterozoic metamorphic supracrustal rocks and Neoproterozoic metamorphic plutonite were newly discovered. These rocks displayed inclusions which had occurred in the Mesozoic granite,and the main lithologies are schist,granulite,marble,and granitic gneiss. Geochemical analyses suggest that Neoproterozoic metamorphic plutonite are characterized by high-K,metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. They are enriched in LILE and depleted in HFSE,with moderately enrichment of LREE,weak fractionation of LREE from HREE and negative Eu anomalies. The surface age of plutonic rocks in the survey area is 770.2±2.4 Ma,representing the age of magma crystallization,which is agreement with the the Neoproterozoic magmatic event after Rodinia supercontinent in the northern margin of Southern China continental block. In addition,the age of sporadic distribution(298 Ma and 269 Ma) is mixed zircon age,representing the rocks experienced metamorphism in Indosinian period. According to the associated mineral assemblages,and the characteristic metamorphic minerals and temperature pressure conditions,four metamorphic facies were identified,including amphibolitic,epidote amphibolite,greenschist,and mid-high pressure greenschist. Analysis of tectonic setting suggests that granitic gneiss is formed in an extensional environment and was involved from the continental margin magmatic arc to intraplate environment. Jimo is distributed in the east of Zhuwu fault,and has the same Spatial distribution location with the Weihai uplift UHP metamorphic belt rocks. The metamorphic rocks in Jimo area have similar geochemical characteristics of elements,tectonic setting and retrograde metamorphism with that in the Sulu UHP metamorphic belt. Therefore,Zhuwu fault may be the boundary fault of Sulu UHP metamorphic belt.     

Timing of late Neoarchean to late Paleoproterozoic events in the North China Craton: SHRIMP U–Pb dating and LA-ICP-MS Hf isotope analysis of zircons from magmatic and metamorphic rocks in the Santunying area,eastern Hebei

Santunying is an important area for revealing nature of the late Neoarchean tectono-magmato-thermal events in the eastern Hebei part of the North China Craton. It is mainly composed of meta-intrusive rocks. Supracrustal rocks sporadically occur in the meta-intrusive rocks. The meta-intrusive rocks are subdivided into the Santunying tonalitic gneiss, Qiuhuayu tonalitic-trondhjemitic gneiss, Xiaoguanzhuang dioritic gneiss and Qingyangshu meta-gabbro. Respectively, SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating on fourteen samples yielded weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2525–2537, 2532–2546, 2530–2544 and ∼2531 Ma for magmatic zircons from them. Dioritic gneiss of the Xiaoguanzhuang gneiss contain abundant 2544–3487 Ma xenocrystic zircons. SHRIMP U–Pb dating on a garnet-biotite gneiss sample yielded a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2537 Ma for detrital zircons. All rocks underwent strong metamorphism, deformation and anatexis, resulting in formation of leucosomes and residues, with some leucosomes concentrating to form large veins. They record a strong late Neoarchean event by metamorphic zircon ages of 2489–2519 Ma. Some rocks also record metamorphic zircon ages of 1772–1843 Ma. Magmatic zircons from the magmatic rocks show large variations in ε_Hf(t) values ranging from −1.7 to +8.7. Combined with early studies, conclusions are: 1) Intrusive rocks with the involvement of mantle-derived materials have a narrow range of magmatic zircon ages from 2525 to 2546 Ma, and supracrustal rocks were formed during the same period. 2) Ancient crustal remnants (>2600 Ma) are present, consistent with the late Neoarchean arc magmatism involving older continental crust, similar to Phanerozoic Andean margins. 3) The Archean basement underwent a strong tectonothermal event at the end of the Neoarchean, with the metamorphic zircon ages being 10–30 million years younger than the timing of magmatism, a common feature of the North China Craton. 4) A late Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal event widely occurred in the western part of eastern Hebei, which is linked with regional ductile deformation.     

华北克拉通中东部新太古代晚期变质火山岩及动力学体制

热状态和壳幔岩浆作用是理解早期地壳形成演化动力学机制的关键.华北克拉通是世界范围内为数不多的保存有大量新太古代晚期(约26～25亿年)变质火山岩记录的克拉通之一,对揭示全球新太古代晚期壳-幔动力学演化过程具有重要的指示意义.在我们研究组近期关于华北克拉通中东部中新太古代热状态和地壳厚度研究基础上,本文收集并整理了726...     

冀西北怀安杂岩的年代学、地球化学、Nd-Hf-O同位素组成及其地质意义

冀西北地区怀安杂岩由变质表壳岩和变质深成岩组成,其中变质表壳岩的形成时代、怀安杂岩的构造背景以及其与孔兹岩带间的关系一直存在较大争议.本文对怀安杂岩的几处代表性露头进行了详细野外考察,对4件样品进行了岩石学、锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年、同位素和元素地球化学分析.所有样品都给出了1.86~1.81 Ga的变质锆石年龄,进一步支持怀安杂岩广泛遭受到古元古代晚期变质作用改造的认识.侵入/包裹含BIF表壳岩组合的变质辉长岩（HB1425）和片麻状英云闪长岩（HB1426）分别给出了~2.5 Ga和2.55 Ga的形成年龄,限制表壳岩形成时代老于2.55 Ga,推测为新太古代表壳岩.浅粒岩（HB1431）和紫苏石榴黑云斜长片麻岩（HB1435）中最老的碎屑锆石分别为2.46 Ga和2.51 Ga,可能还存在古元古代的碎屑锆石,表明它们都为古元古代表壳岩.上述结果进一步确定了怀安杂岩中发育两期表壳岩组合.变质辉长岩和片麻状英云闪长岩的全岩ε_Nd（t）、T_DM1和T_DM2分别为+2.19~+3.06、2.67~2.75 Ga和2.67~2.69 Ga,表明其物源区不存在较大规模的古老陆壳物质,新太古代是怀安地区主要陆壳生长期.变质辉长岩中~1.82 Ga变质锆石中较多具有正的ε_Hf（t）值,最高可达11.1,最可能的解释是古元古代变质过程存在地幔添加作用.锆石的O同位素分析显示区域上可能存在低δ18O的岩石,在古元古代变质过程中,可能存在低δ18O流体对锆石的改造.怀安杂岩和西部孔兹岩带中不同类型岩石的比例明显不同,但两者都同样发育新太古代和古元古代的双层地壳结构,怀安杂岩或许代表孔兹岩带剥蚀更深而出露的深部地壳部分.      

Aspects of magmatism and plate tectonics in the Precambrian of England and Wales

The geological features of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks comprising the Precambrian of England and Wales suggest formation in one or more Precambrian orogenic cycles. They are now interpreted in terms of plate tectonics. Evidence for Late Proterozoic plate subduction in the Mona Complex of Anglesey is suggested by the association of pillow lavas, cherts, high P/T metamorphic rocks and by the occurrence of gabbros and serpentinites with similar features to rocks believed to comprise the oceanic crust. Precambrian rocks in England and South Wales include calc-alkaline plutonic complexes (Malvern and Johnston Complexes), calc-alkaline lavas (Uriconian and Charnian) and basic and intermediate intrusions of tholeiitic affinity (dykes in the plutonic complexes and granophyric diorites in Charnwood Forest). The features of these rocks indicate formation in a continental margin setting and this is consistent with features of the Rushton Schist and Primrose Hill “gneiss” which suggest that they predate the Late Proterozoic orogenic activity. This evidence is consistent with plate tectonic models involving oceanic plate subduction below the Mona Complex from an ocean to the northwest, or from a small ocean basin southeast of the complex. The Warren House lavas show some affinities to ocean floor basalts and are problematic with regard to the Precambrian history of the area.