The Triassic of the Thakkhola (Nepal). I: stratigraphy and paleoenvironment of a north-east Gondwanan rifted margin

The Mesozoic sediments of Thakkhola (central Nepal) were deposited on a broad eastern north Gondwanan passive margin at mid-latitudes (28–41 °S) facing the Southern Tethys ocean to the north. The facies is strikingly similar over a distance of several thousand kilometres from Ladakh in the west to Tibet and to the paleogeographically adjacent north-west Australian margin (Exmouth Plateau, ODP Legs 122/123) and Timor in the east. Late Paleozoic rifting led to the opening of the Neo-Tethys ocean in Early Triassic times. An almost uninterrupted about 2 km thick sequence of syn-rift sediments was deposited on a slowly subsiding shelf and slope from Early Triassic to late Valanginian times when break-up between Gondwana (north-west Australia) and Greater India formed the proto-Indian Ocean. The sedimentation is controlled by (1) global events (eustasy; climatic/oceanographic changes due to latitudinal drift; plate reorganization leading to rift-type block-faulting) and (2) local factors, such as varying fluvio-deltaic sediment input, especially during Permian and late Norian times. Sea level was extremely low in Permian, high in Carnian and low again during Rhaeto-Liassic times. Third-order sea-level cycles may have occurred in the Early Triassic and late Norian to Rhaeto-Liassic. During the Permian pure quartz sand and gravel were deposited as shallowing upward series of submarine channel or barrier island sands. The high compositional maturity is typical of a stable craton-type hinterland, uplifted during a major rifting episode. During the early Triassic a 20–30 m thick condensed sequence of nodular ‘ammonitico rosso’-type marlstone with a ‘pelagic’ fauna was deposited (Tamba Kurkur Formation). This indicates tectonic subsidence and sediment starvation during the transgression of the Neo-Tethys ocean. During Carnian times a 400 m thick sequence of fining upward, filament-rich wackestone/shale cycles was deposited in a bathyal environment (Mukut Formation). This is overlain by about 300 m of sandy shale and siltstone intercalated with quartz-rich bioclastic grain- to rudstone (Tarap Shale Formation, late Carnian-Norian). The upper Norian to (?lower) Rhaetian Quartzite Formation consists of (sub)arkosic sandstones and pure quartz arenites, indicating different sediment sources. The fluvio-deltaic sandstones are intercalated with silty shale, coal and bioclastic limestone, as well as mixed siliciclastic-bioclastic rocks. The depositional environment was marginal marine to shallow subtidal. The fluvio-deltaic influence decreased towards the overlying carbonates of Rhaeto-Liassic (?) age (Jomosom Formation correlative with the Kioto Limestone), when the region entered tropical paleolatitudes resulting in platform carbonates.     

Discussion of the Relationships Between the Gondwana and Eastern China Block: Paleomagnetic Constraints

The time when Gondwana finally formed is still debatable (Powell and Pisarevsky, 2002; Meert, 2003). Paleomagnetic data have demonstrated that the appar-ent polar wander paths (APWPs) for the main conti-nental blocks of Gondwana are in good agreement from Early Cambrian to at least 260 Ma under the widely accepted Gondwana fit (see Li & Powell, 2001, Fig. 6). This is especially the case for Australia and Africa, of which APWPs are best defined and near identical. This indicates that the main amalgamation of East Gondwana and African blocks has likely com-pleted since the Early Cambrian.     

A Late Cretaceous pole for the Pacific plate: implications for apparent and true polar wander and the drift of hotspots

We present a Late Cretaceous (81 Ma) pole position for the Pacific plate derived from paleomagnetic analyses of basalt samples from Detroit Seamount (of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamounts) that were oriented using Brunhes-age overprints. This pole is at much higher latitudes than the previously published Late Cretaceous pole positions based on the modeling of magnetic anomalies observed during marine surveys over seamounts. Our new pole suggests that the Pacific plate would have moved rapidly between 95 and 81 Ma at speeds as high as 19.8 (−10.8/+11.2) cm/year. The Pacific plate at this time was smaller than the present-day plate and had a substantial subducting boundary. The high-velocity estimates are comparable with those of other paleoplates having similar characteristics. Therefore, plate tectonic driving forces can explain the motion and there is no need to invoke true polar wander. Decreases in mantle drag associated with vigorous Late Cretaceous volcanism in the Pacific, however, may have contributed to the rapid plate speed. The new pole position, together with other reliable paleomagnetic indicators of Pacific apparent polar wander, further supports the notion of drift of the Hawaiian hotspot during the Late Cretaceous.     

Late Triassic sedimentary records in the northern Tethyan Himalaya:Tectonic link with Greater India

The Upper Triassic flysch sediments(Nieru Formation and Langjiexue Group)exposed in the Eastern Tethyan Himalayan Sequence are crucial for unraveling the controversial paleogeography and paleotectonics of the Himalayan orogen.This work reports new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and whole-rock geochemical data for clastic rocks from flysch strata in the Shannan area.The mineral modal composition data suggest that these units were mainly sourced from recycled orogen provenances.The chemical compositions of the sandstones in the strata are similar to the chemical composition of upper continental crust.These rocks have relatively low Chemical Index of Alteration values(with an average of 62)and Index of Compositional Variability values(0.69),indicating that they experienced weak weathering and were mainly derived from a mature source.The geochemical compositions of the Upper Triassic strata are similar to those of graywackes from continental island arcs and are indicative of an acidicintermediate igneous source.Furthermore,hornblende and feldspar experienced decomposition in the provenance,and the sediment became enriched in zircon and monazite during sediment transport.The detrital zircons in the strata feature two main age peaks at 225-275 Ma and 500-600 Ma,nearly continuous Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic ages,and a broad inconspicuous cluster in the Tonian-Stenian(800-1200 Ma).The detrital zircons from the Upper Triassic sandstones in the study area lack peaks at 300-325 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa block)and 1150-1200 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa and West Australia blocks).Therefore,neither the Lhasa block nor the West Australia blocks likely acted as the main provenance of the Upper Triassic strata.Newly discovered Permian-Triassic basalt and mafic dikes in the Himalayas could have provided the 225-275 Ma detrital zircons.Therefore,Indian and Himalayan units were the main provenances of the flysch strata.The Tethyan Himalaya was part of the northern passive margin and was not an exotic terrane separated from India during the Permian to Early Cretaceous.This evidence suggests that the Neo-Tethyan ocean opened prior to the Late Triassic and that the Upper Triassic deposits were derived from continental crustal fragments adjacent to the northern passive continental margin of Greater India.     

特提斯喜马拉雅带中段东部三叠纪火山岩的地球化学和岩石成因

三叠纪火山岩分布于特提斯喜马拉雅带中段东部,古地理上位于大印度北东部.分别采用原子吸收分光度法、ICP-MS和全岩同位素稀释法对三叠纪火山岩的主量元素、微量元素和Sr-Nd同位素进行了分析,并用来研究其成分特征和成因.岩相学和地球化学指标显示三叠纪火山岩为玄武岩,MgO含量均很低（范围在4.27%～7.72%）,属于演化岩浆.早三叠世热马组和中三叠世桑康组具有较高的TiO2、TFeO和P2O5含量,稀土元素总量和轻重稀土元素的分馏程度均较高,Ti/V、Ti/Y、Zr/Y比值较高,富集高场强元素（如Nb、Zr等）,地球化学特征与峨眉山高Ti玄武岩相似,以更富集La、Ce、Zr、Hf等元素而有别于夏威夷碱性玄武岩,它们属大陆边缘裂谷背景的具有OIB型地球化学特征的碱性玄武岩;晚三叠世涅如组玄武岩以较低TiO2、TFeO和P2O5含量为特征,稀土元素总量和轻重稀土分馏程度均较低,高场强元素（如Nb、Zr等）丰度很低,为大陆边缘裂谷背景的具有E-MORB地球化学特征的拉斑玄武岩.三叠纪玄武岩Nd同位素组成随时间从轻度富集到亏损（εNd（t）=-1.2→-0.5→4.4）,指示岩浆源区具有从轻度富集到亏损的演化趋势.不相容元素（如La/Sm、La/Ta以及（Th/Ta）PM、（La/Nb）PM等）指示热马组和桑康组玄武岩遭受了一定程度下地壳混染,而涅如组没有遭受地壳混染.热马组和桑康组玄武岩还显示岩石圈地幔物质的印记,并与石榴石相二辉橄榄岩的低度部分熔融有关,而涅如组玄武岩除了具有E-MORB特征外,还与尖晶石相二辉橄榄岩的较高程度部分熔融有关.它们被解释为上涌的软流圈地幔物质与岩石圈地幔物质混合后在不同程度的拉张背景下发生减压熔融的产物.特提斯喜马拉雅带的三叠纪裂谷作用很可能具有主动裂谷作用的性质,较小规模的火山岩浆作用可用裂谷带之下上涌的地幔物质由于传导作用而变冷或正在孕育的地幔柱成因模式来解释.     

Tectonics of the Akamas and Mamonia ophiolites, Western Cyprus: magnetic petrofabrics and paleomagnetism

The Akamas ophiolite is shown to be a distal, off-axis extension of the main outcrop of Cretaceous ophiolite in the Troodos complex of Cyprus. Mantle-sequence harzburgites of both ophiolites share similarly oriented mantle-flow fabrics and the same Tertiary magnetizations acquired during exhumation. However, compared with the Troodos mantle sequence rocks, the Akamas ferromagnetic mineralogy is more oxidized and remanences with lower blocking temperatures were acquired chemically. Paleopoles calculated from published vectors and our own new data define an apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the Troodos microplate. The APWP shows that between 88 and 50 Ma the Troodos microplate was equatorial and the vertical axis for its 60° anticlockwise rotation was located within the microplate. Subsequently, the microplate drifted northward to 34°N with minor anticlockwise rotation at a reduced rate. That requires microplate-rotation about a vertical axis located to the west of Cyprus in the last 50 Ma. The allochthonous Triassic Mamonia terrane docked with the Cretaceous Troodos terrane in SW Cyprus. Within it, disrupted tectonized ophiolite has been regarded as part of a Triassic ocean floor or as sheared fragments of Cretaceous Troodos ophiolite, incorporated into the Mamonia terrane when it docked with the Troodos terrane. Whatever their provenance, their paleomagnetic signals postdate their penetrative deformation and metamorphism and their paleopoles may still be used to track their post-strain motion. Our calculations of paleopoles from published vectors for the Mamonia terrane smear along an extension of the APWP for the Troodos microplate that is, moreover, concentric with the Troodos microplate. This suggests that the paleopole dispersion of the Triassic Mamonia rocks and their post-magnetization disruption occurred during their accretion onto the anticlockwise-spinning Troodos microplate.     

Sedimentary record of Late Paleozoic rift and break-up in Northern Gondwana: a case history from the Thini Chu Group and Tamba-Kurkur Formation (Dolpo Tethys Himalaya,Nepal)

The Gottero unit of the Northern Apennines, Italy, is representative of the sedimentary cover of the Ligure-Piemontese oceanic lithosphere. This unit consists of a thick sedimentary sequence that includes Valanginian-Santonian pelagic deposits and Campanian-early Paleocene turbiditic deposits. The latter are overlain by early Paleocene trench deposits related to frontal tectonic erosion of the accretionary wedge slope. This sequence is interpreted as recording trenchward motion of the oceanic lithosphere.

The Gottero unit records a pre-Late Oligocene, complex deformation history related to subduction and accretion events. This deformation history has developed through underthrusting (D1a), underplating (D1b and D1c) and later exhumation (D2a and D2b) episodes. The folding phase related to the main underplating sub-phase (D1b) is predated by a sub-phase (D1a) connected to rapid fluid escape and followed by a sub-phase dominated by the development of shear zones (D1c). The D1b sub-phase is characterized by similar folds and a slaty cleavage developed under P/T conditions of 0.4GPa/210°-270 °C. The D1c sub-phase, characterized by west-verging thrusts, is particularly signficative in understanding the dynamics of the Ligure-Piemontese accretionary wedge because it testifies active shortening of the Gottero unit also after its transfer to the prism. In addition, sub-phase D1c represents the transition from the sub-phases connected to accretion and the tectonics dominated by extension, characterized by parallel folds and low-to high-angle normal faults. The gravity driven extension is represented by the D2a and D2b sub-phases and can be interpreted as the result of the thicknening of the Ligure-Piemontese accretionary wedge, produced by continuous underplating at its base but also by shortening of the previously underplated units. These final tectonic events resulted in the exhumation of the Gottero unit to the surface during the Early Oligocene, when this Unit became one of the source areas of the conglomerates deposited in the Tertiary Piedmont basin.

This deformation history suggests the occurrence of a complex sequence of deformations during the transition from accretion to exhumation, even in the intermediate levels of the accretionary wedge.     

A late Neoproterozoic paleomagnetic pole for the Congo craton: Tectonic setting, paleomagnetism and geochronology of the Nola dike swarm (Central African Republic)

New structural, geochronological and paleomagnetic data were obtained on dolerite dikes of the Nola region (Central African Republic) at the northern border of the Congo craton. In this region, metavolcanic successions were thrust southward onto the craton during the Panafrican orogenic events. Our structural data reveal at least two structural klippes south of the present-day limits of the Panafrican nappe suggesting that it has once covered the whole Nola region, promoting the pervasive hydrothermal greenschist metamorphism observed in the underlying cratonic basement and also in the intrusive dolerite dikes. Paleomagnetic measurements revealed a stable dual-polarity low-inclination magnetization component in nine dikes (47 samples), carried by pyrrhotite and magnetite. This component corresponds to a paleopole at 304.8°E and 61.8°S (dp = 5.4, dm = 10.7) graded at Q = 6. Both metamorphism and magnetic resetting were dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method on amphibole grains separated from the dikes at 571 ± 6 Ma. The Nola pole is the first well-dated paleomagnetic pole for the Congo craton between 580 and 550 Ma. It marks a sudden change in direction of the Congo craton apparent polar wander path at the waning stages of the Panafrican orogenic events.     

The Mid-Carboniferous to Lowermost Permian succession of Spiti (Po Group and Ganmachidam Formation; Tethys Himalaya,Northern India): Gondwana glaciation and rifting of Neo-Tethys.

Abstract

The upper Lower Carboniferous to lowermost Permian terrigenous succession of the Spiti Valley can be subdivided into five formations (Thabo Formation, Fenestella Shale, Kabjima Quartzarenite, Chichong Formation and Ganmachidam Diamictite), here described in detail and subdivided into members or lithozones.

The Po Group, overlying the platform carbonates and gypsum deposits of the Lipak Formation, records an increase of subarkosic to quartzarenitic terrigenous detritus derived from uplift and erosion of continental blocks in the south during the initial stage of Neo-Tethyan rifting. Increasing mineralogic stability through the Thabo Formation broadly coincides with a climate change from tropical arid to temperate humid conditions during the Visean-Serpukhovian. The Fenestella Shale, containing rich brachiopod associations of Bashkirian age, documents a stage of widespread subsidence and transgression, followed by the regressive Kabjima Quartzarenite, which records recycling of quartzose sedimentary sequences in the south.

The Chichong Formation marks another transgressive event, associated with a significant increase of granitoid detritus, partly from nearby Lesser to High Himalayan source areas. Chaetetid, cephalopod and brachiopod faunas hint at a Moscovian age for the “Chaetetid beds”, at the top of which varve-like lamination and scattered pebbles suggest glacially influenced deposition. The overlying glacio-fluvial (?) cobble conglomerates (“Pebbly beds”) reflect onset of rapid tectonic uplift.

Abundant detritus from sedimentary rocks characterizes the overlying Ganmachidam Diamictite, deposited in glacio-marine environments; cold-water marine faunas of Asselian age occur in its middle part. Erosion of progressively older pre-rift sedimentary successions is ascribed to basin inversion, associated with unroofing of anatectic granitoids of the Lesser and High Himalayas. Basaltic to rhyolitic volcanic detritus documents alkalic magmatism at the climax of continental rifting.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Loch Doon Granite Complex, Southern Uplands of Scotland: The Late Caledonian palaeomagnetic record and an Early Devonian episode of True Polar Wander

The Southern Uplands terrane is an Ordovician–Silurian back-arc/foreland basin emplaced at the northern margin of the Iapetus Ocean and intruded by granite complexes including Loch Doon (408.3 ± 1.5 Ma) during Early Devonian times. Protracted cooling of this 130 km³ intrusion recorded magnetic remanence comprising a predominant (‘A’) magnetisation linked to initial cooling with dual polarity and mean direction D / I = 237 / 64° (α₉₅ = 4°, palaeopole at 316°E, 21°N). Subsidiary magnetisations include Mesozoic remanence correlating with extensional tectonism in the adjoining Irish Sea Basin (‘B’, D / I = 234/− 59°) and minority populations (‘C’, D / I = 106/− 2° and ‘D’, D / I = 199/1°) recording emplacement of younger ( 395 Ma) granites in adjoining terranes and the Variscan orogenic event. The ‘A’ directions have an arcuate distribution identifying anticlockwise rotation during cooling. A comparable rotation is identified in the Orthotectonic Caledonides to the north and the Paratectonic Caledonides to the south following closure of Iapetus. Continental motion from midsoutherly latitudes ( 40°S) at 408 Ma to equatorial palaeolatitudes by  395 Ma is identified and implies minimum rates of continental movement between 430 and 390 Ma of 30–70 cm/year, more than double maximum rates induced by plate forces and interpreted as a signature of true polar wander. Silurian–Devonian palaeomagnetic data from the British–Scandinavian Caledonides define a 430–385 Ma closed loop comparable to the distributed contemporaneous palaeomagnetic poles from Gondwana. They reconcile pre-430 Ma and post-380 Ma APW from this supercontinent and show that Laurentia–Baltica–Avalonia lay to the west of South America with a relict Rheic Ocean opening to the north which closed to produce Variscan orogeny by a combination of pivotal closure and right lateral transpression.     

Late Triassic initial closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean in the western segment: Constraints from sedimentological,detrital zircon ages and paleomagnetic evidence

The Mesozoic evolution of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean (MOO) has significantly affected the configuration of the modern Asian continent. Although a scissor-like closure of the MOO has long been proposed, when and how the MOO closed are still hotly debated, especially the timing of initial closure of the MOO in its western segment, hindering our understanding of both the evolution of the MOO and tectonics of the northern Asian continent. In order to uncover the timing of initial closure of the MOO, we performed a multidisciplinary study in sedimentology, detrital zircon U-Pb dating and paleomagnetic on the Late Triassic clastic strata from the Tarvagatay Block and the Amuria Block (AMB) on the both sides of the Mongol-Okhotsk Suture. The upper Triassic strata on both sides of the suture were dominated by plant fossil-bearing alluvial-fluvial facies sediments, which unconformably overlain pre-Triassic geological units, indicating a terrestrial setting after the closure of the MOO. Detrital zircon U-Pb dating results revealed consistent age distribution patterns for samples from both sides of the suture with a predominant peak at ∼253–251 Ma and a secondary peak at ∼359–357 Ma, representing two main arc magmatic events during the bidirectional subduction of the MOO in the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous and Late Permian-Early Triassic. Coeval Late Triassic paleomagnetic poles were obtained from the northern AMB and Tarvagatay Block, revealing a comparable paleolatitude of the AMB (∼31–33°) and Tarvagatay Block (∼32–34°) in the Late Triassic, arguing for that the western segment of the MOO should have closed at the Late Triassic. The compilation of sedimentology, detrital zircon U-Pb dating, magmatic and paleomagnetic evidence provides integrated constraints on the Late Triassic initial closure of the MOO in its western segment.     

The age and formation mechanisms of Late Triassic fissure deposits,Gloucestershire, England: Comments on Mussini,G. et al. (2020). Anatomy of a Late Triassic Bristol fissure: Tytherington fissure 2

In the Late Triassic the landscape NE of present-day Bristol, SW England was dominated by Carboniferous Limestone ridges and cuestas that became progressively buried by continental Mercia Mudstones and finally inundated during the Rhaetian marine transgression. Mussini et al. (2020) adopt the assertions of earlier collaborators back to Whiteside and Marshall (2008) that terrestrial vertebrate assemblages from sediments contained within karstic fissure systems in the former limestone ridges at Cromhall, Tytherington and elsewhere are restricted to the Rhaetian. We review and reject the sedimentological, stratigraphic, geomorphological and topographic arguments for this and reassert a long pre-Rhaetian (Norian) history for the vertebrate-bearing fissure systems at both Tytherington and Cromhall. We also reject the contemporaneous Rhaetian freshwater-seawater mixing zone dissolution model for the fissure systems adopted by Mussini et al. (2020) and reaffirm that the Tytherington and Cromhall fissures developed as conduit caves with a long Triassic history. Applying a new regional study of the Rhaetian transgressive surface, we also show that whilst the fissures at Cromhall remained sealed after the Norian, those at nearby Tytherington were re-exposed in the Late Rhaetian. Already partially filled with Norian sediments, the Tytherington fissures were subject to reworking on the seabed. Internal collapses, probably triggered by well documented repeated regional seismicity, led to the chaotic state of the Tytherington fills when downward moving Rhaetian marine components came to lie amongst and mix with earlier Norian terrestrial sediments. The vertebrate associations in the Tytherington fissures therefore contain a substantial Rhaetian input whilst those at Cromhall do not.     

Geomorphological and Pedological Investigations on the Glacial History of the Kali Gandaki (Nepal Himalaya)

In semi-arid orographic left tributaries of the Kali Gandaki at the northern and western flank of the Nilgiri Himal, glacio-geomorphological and pedological investigations were carried out on prehistoric moraines. Geomorphological relief analysis was derived from other literature and the own fieldwork of the author. The resulting glacial chronology was used as benchmark to explore the limits of different pedological dating methods regarding the degree of soil development. These methods are based on iron fractionation, total element contents and particle size distribution. In general the different glacial stages are mirrored correctly in the relative graduation of soil development. The ratio of well crystallised pedogenic iron-oxides to the total iron content and the ratio fine clay to total clay are most suitable, because they are almost independent from existing changes in the lithological composition. The total element based weathering indices are less suitable, because they react highly sensitive to the geology dependent shift to higher carbonate contents. Most of the grain size based weathering indices are inapplicable because of the typically high textural variability within till deposits.     

U-Pb-Hf isotopic data from detrital zircons in late Carboniferous and Mid-Late Triassic sandstones,and also Carboniferous granites from the Tauride and Anatolide continental units in S Turkey: implications for Tethyan palaeogeography

ABSTRACT

Zircons from Carboniferous sandstones (three samples) and Mid-Late Triassic sandstones (four samples) from the Tauride and Anatolide continental units were analysed for U-Pb-Hf isotopes. For comparison, zircons were also analysed from Carboniferous granites of the Afyon Zone, Anatolides (three samples). A NE African/Arabian source is inferred for both the Carboniferous sandstones of the Taurides (Alada?) and the Anatolides (Konya Complex). In contrast, the Carboniferous Karaburun Melange is characterised by a NW African provenance. A prominent Devonian population occurs in the Carboniferous Karaburun Melange, characterised by mainly positive ε_Hf(t) values that differ significantly from those of the Devonian granites of the Sakarya continental crustal unit (Pontides). Middle-Late Triassic Tauride sandstones include minor Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic zircons. In contrast, Devonian and Carboniferous zircons are relatively abundant in Late Triassic sandstones of the Karaburun Peninsula. The Hf isotopic compositions of 25 Carboniferous-aged zircons from three samples of Mid-Late Triassic sandstone and one of Late Carboniferous age (one sample) overlap with the ε_Hf(t) values of Carboniferous arc-type granites in the Anatolides. Taking account of the available U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic data from comparative crustal units, the Devonian zircon populations from the melanges in the Karaburun Peninsula and the Konya Complex are inferred to have a westerly source (e.g. granitic rocks of Aegean region or central Europe). A tectonic model is proposed in which Palaeozoic Tethys sutured during the late Carboniferous in the west (Aegean region westwards), leaving an eastward-widening oceanic gulf in which sandstone turbidites accumulated, including Devonian zircons.     

Fold-Thrust-Belt Structure of the Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt: A Proposed Correlation Between India and Antarctica in Gondwana

The Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt along the east coast of India shares a thrusted lower contact with the surrounding cratons. The thrust, known as the Terrane Boundary shear zone, is associated with two large lateral ramps resulting in a curved outline on the northwestern corner of the mobile belt. The Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt is divided into two lithotectonic units, the Lathore Group and the Turekela Group, based on their lithological assemblages and deformational history. On the basis of published data from a Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profile of the Eastern Ghats crust, the Terrane Boundary Shear Zone is considered to be listric in nature and acts as the sole thrust between craton and mobile belt. The Lathore and Turekela Groups are nappes. With this structural configuration the NW part is described as a fold thrust belt. However, the thrusting postdates folding and granulite metamorphism that occurred in the Eastern Ghats, as in the Caledonide type of fold thrust belt of NW Scotland. The Terrane Boundary Shear Zone is interpreted to be contiguous with the Rayner-Napier boundary of the Enderby Land in a Gondwana assembly.     

The first Surijokocixiidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from the Triassic of China

A planthopper originally assigned to the genus Boreocixius in Surijokocixiidae (Surijokocixioidea, Fulgoromorpha) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of Tongchuan in Shaanxi, northwestern China is described as Boreocixius tongchuanensis Zhang et al. sp. nov. As the third species ascribed to the genus, it differs from its congeners in having the much larger tegmen with postnodal veinlets and pigmented bands, providing new morphological information for Boreocixius. The establishment of the new species further increases the diversity of Boreocixius and Surijokocixiidae as well.     

泸州-开江古隆起对川东三叠纪成盐成钾环境的控制作用

泸州-开江古隆起的活动对早中三叠世川东盐类矿床的形成具有重要影响。本文通过川东三叠纪不同成盐阶段古构造特征、石盐及杂卤石的分布和古隆起不同位置含盐系的岩性组合对比等综合研究发现,古隆起相对周缘地形较高,其内部及边缘发育的小盐洼(如长寿地区)由于其水浅、盆小、蒸发速率快,有利于卤水浓缩形成原生杂卤石,也是可溶性钾盐的潜力区;早中三叠世之间发生了大规模的火山活动,成钾的物质来源更加丰富,富钾、镁离子卤水迁移渗流至厚层膏岩层中形成次生杂卤石岩,形成该时期川东杂卤石广布,且范围明显超过石盐岩的格局。     

The age of the Tunas formation in the Sauce Grande basin-Ventana foldbelt (Argentina): Implications for the Permian evolution of the southwestern margin of Gondwana

New SHRIMP radiogenic isotope dating on zircons in tuffs (280.8 ± 1.9 Ma) confirms the Early Permian (Artinskian) age of the uppermost section of the Tunas Formation. Tuff-rich levels in the Tunas Formation are exposed in the Ventana foldbelt of central Argentina; they are part of a deltaic to fluvial section corresponding to the late overfilled stage of the Late Paleozoic Sauce Grande foreland basin. Recent SHRIMP dating of zircons from the basal Choiyoi volcanics exposed in western Argentina yielded an age of 281.4 ± 2.5 Ma (Rocha-Campos et al., 2011). The new data for the Tunas tuffs suggest that the volcanism present in the Sauce Grande basin can be considered as the distal equivalent of the earliest episodes of the Choiyoi volcanism of western Argentina. From the palaeoclimatic viewpoint the new Tunas SHRIMP age confirms that by early Artinskian glacial conditions ceased in the Sauce Grande basin and, probably, in adajacent basins in western Gondwana.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Salma dike, Raniganj coalfield (Lower Gondwana), eastern India: linkage with Rajmahal or Deccan volcanic activity?

The Gondwana (Early Permian to Early Cretaceous) basins of eastern India have been intruded by ultramafic–ultrapotassic (minette, lamproite and orangeite) and mafic (dolerite) rocks. The Salma dike is the most prominent among mafic intrusives in the Raniganj basin. This dike is tholeiitic in composition; MgO varies from 5.4 to 6.3% and the mg number from 54 to 59. In general, the major and trace element abundances are uniform both along and across the strike. There is geochemical and mineralogical evidence for fractional crystallization. The chondrite normalized REE pattern of the Salma dike (La/Yb_n=3.5) is similar to that of Deccan dikes of the Son–Narmada rift zone, western India. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr varies from 0.70552 to 0.70671 suggesting assimilation of crustal material. Some trace element abundances (e.g. Ti, Zr, Y) of the Salma dike are comparable to Group I Rajmahal basalts. The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar whole rock age of 65 Ma for the Salma dike is less than the ca. 114 Ma age for the Rajmahal basalt, but is similar to the generally accepted age for Deccan volcanic rocks. Despite geographical proximity with the Rajmahal basalt, the Salma dike is believed to be related to late phase of Deccan volcanic activity.