Cretaceous Rocks of the Penzhina Bay: Mineralogy,Petrography, and Geodynamic Sedimentation Conditions

Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanosedimentary rocks from northwestern Kamchatka are considered. The stadial analysis has revealed variable impacts of three major provenances upon the Cretaceous Penzhina sedimentary basin. The provenances were composed of volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks (Uda–Murgal island arc and Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt) and granitic–metamorphic rocks (the mature Asian continental margin). Sediments were largely accumulated owing to the erosion of island-arc volcanics during reactivation of the Uda–Murgal island arc (Hauterivian–Barremian) or the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt (middle Albian–Cenomanian). Eroded granitic–metamorphic rocks of the mature Asian continental margin (Berriasian–Valanginian) or Asian metamorphic–volcanic rocks (Santonian–Campanian) were supplied to the basin during tectonically quiet periods (Berriasian–Valanginian and late Cenomanian–Campanian). Compositional changes in provenances were related to active tectonic processes at the continental margin, including evolution and closure of the Uda–Murgal island-arc system and origin of the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt. The postsedimentary modification of Cretaceous rocks deposited in forearc trough beyond the tectonically active accretionary prism is characterized by a low degree of clastic component alteration.     

龙江盆地西缘中侏罗统万宝组物源分析:来自碎屑锆石年代学和岩石地球化学的制约

龙江盆地是新厘定的松辽盆地外围中新生代盆地之一。有关该盆地中的沉积物特征及物源区大地构造背景是亟待解决的问题之一。通过对龙江盆地中侏罗统万宝组碎屑岩的砂岩碎屑组分、重矿物组合、岩石地球化学及锆石U-Pb年代学等进行研究,可以推测出物源的相关特征:(1)砂岩碎屑组分和重矿物组合反映了万宝组母岩以中酸性岩浆岩和中低级变质岩为主、含有少量中基性岩浆岩的特点;(2)地球化学特征显示,龙江盆地万宝组沉积物轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损,配分曲线表现出平缓的右倾模式,微量元素呈规律性变化,富集高场强元素(HFSE)Cs、Th、U,亏损Nb、P和Ti,具有与上地壳相似的地球化学特征;(3)碎屑锆石显示4组年龄峰值,主要峰值为167 5Ma,次要峰值为236 4Ma、309 1Ma和363 2Ma,反映了万宝组沉积物具有多物源的特点,母岩主要来自于中侏罗世火山岩,其次来自于晚泥盆世三叠纪的岩浆活动产物。综合分析认为,龙江盆地万宝组的物源具有长英质和中性火山岩特征,大部分来自于上地壳,原岩形成于活动大陆边缘背景下的大陆岛弧环境,中侏罗世沉积演化可能受到与古太平洋板块俯冲作用和蒙古鄂霍茨克缝合带演化双重作用的影响。该研究成果可为龙江盆地沉积演化分析和古地理环境恢复提供重要依据。     

孙吴-嘉荫盆地白垩系淘淇河组-太平林场组砂岩主量元素的地球化学特征

沉积盆地中砂岩的地球化学特征主要受物源区控制,碎屑岩的地球化学成分可揭示沉积物的地质信息.笔者通过对孙吴-嘉荫盆地白垩系淘淇河组-太平林场组砂岩的主量元素地球化学特征分析,结合砂岩薄片碎屑成分统计表明:淘淇河组-太平林场组时期物源区的大地构造背景主要为活动大陆边缘,包括大陆岛弧和大洋岛弧.物源区母岩类型主要为花岗岩,中酸性火山岩及低级变质岩.盆地不同位置物源区的大地构造背景和母岩类型有所不同.结合区域地质资料综合分析认为:在淘淇河组-太平林场组沉积时期,小兴安岭仅在太平林场组时期不是盆地主要物源区,而佳木斯地块一直是盆地东部的一个主要物源区.     

山东青岛地区灵山岛早白垩世碎屑岩锆石U-Pb-Hf同位素特征及其大地构造意义

苏鲁造山带东缘的灵山岛上发育有早白垩世碎屑岩,目前人们对其沉积的精确时代、成因机制和大地构造环境仍然存在着广泛的争议.利用LA-ICP-MS的方法对灵山岛上两套碎屑岩进行了锆石U-Pb测年,并对特征年龄谱中的代表性碎屑锆石进行了Lu-Hf同位素分析.结果表明:（1）碎屑锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,莱阳群法家茔组和青山群八亩地组下部的碎屑岩沉积时代分别为127±3 Ma和128±4 Ma,表明两套碎屑岩都是早白垩世中晚期的沉积产物;（2）灵山岛上两套碎屑岩具有完全相似的年龄谱以及锆石Hf同位素组成,表明发育软沉积变形的粉砂岩、泥岩和上覆的含砾粗砂岩具有相似的物源,并且源区组成较为单一,主要以亲华北的胶北地体为主,其次的物源区为苏鲁造山带;（3）胶莱盆地下白垩统莱阳群和灵山岛下白垩统莱阳群的碎屑锆石年龄谱对比表明,灵山岛上的莱阳群碎屑岩明显不同于胶莱盆地的莱阳群,暗示在早白垩世时,灵山岛上的两套碎屑岩可能受到区域断裂的控制,沉积于一个相对独立的盆地.综合结果表明,灵山岛地区莱阳群法家茔组可能沉积于断陷湖盆的萎缩期,早期的沉积以湖相为主,晚期主要以河流相为主,在此期间遭受到了强烈的火山地震作用,诱发了下部的湖相的砂泥岩发生大规模的滑塌和软沉积变形.      

Variations of Oxygen Isotopic Composition in Magmas of Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanic Belt

Doklady Earth Sciences - First data on oxygen isotopic composition in phenocrysts in volcanic rocks from Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt (106–78 Ma, North-Eastern Russia) together with...     

Post-collisional magmatism of western Chukotka and Early Cretaceous tectonic rearrangement in northeastern Asia

The paper presents new data on the isotopic age and chemical composition of volcanic rocks from the Tytyl’veem and Mangazeika basins of western Chukotka superposed on Mesozoides of the Verkhoyansk–Chukotka Tectonic Region. The results of SIMS U–Pb zircon dating (121.4 ± 2.8 and 118.0 ± 2.0 Ma) corroborate the Aptian age of the Tytyl’veem Formation. This age, in turn, indicates its formation after closure of the South Anyui ocean (Neocomian), but before origination of the Okhotsk–Chukotka Belt (Albian–Campanian). Post-collisional Aptian igneous rocks are widespread in the northern Verkhoyansk–Chukotka Tectonic Region; the legth of the corresponding igneous province is no less than 1400 km. In geochemical characteristics, the post-collisional volcanic rocks occurring in Western Chukotka are similar with the rocks from Andean-type igneous belts.     

西秦岭造山带徽成盆地早白垩世地层物源综合分析

徽成盆地是西秦岭造山带内一个具有代表性的盆地,保留较完整的地层记录.早白垩世田家坝组、周家湾组和鸡山组为一套砂砾岩沉积组合序列.本文通过对早白垩世砂岩的古水流恢复、砾石成分与含量、重矿物和地球化学分析,对沉积岩物源区特征和原型盆地进行探讨.古水流恢复和砾石成分统计表明,沉积物主要是近源堆积,主要来自于盆地南缘和北部.重矿物研究结果表明,早白垩世砂岩母岩以岩浆岩为主,并有少量变质岩/沉积岩.地球化学分析表明,早白垩世砂岩为成熟度较低的硬砂岩和长石/岩屑砂屑岩.稀土元素标准化配分曲线呈现轻稀土富集、重稀土平坦和弱Eu负异常特征.砂岩物源区组成判别图研究表明,早白垩世砂岩的物源区主要出露长英质火山岩.砂岩源区构造环境判别图解及特征指数分析表明,早白垩世砂岩源区主要形成于大陆岛弧和活动大陆边缘.结合区域资料和前人研究,表明早白垩世徽成地区发育走滑拉分盆地.     

East Sakhalin island arc paleosystem of the Sea of Okhotsk region

It has been established that volcanic rocks of the Schmidt, Rymnik, and Terpeniya terranes are fragments of the compound Early to Late Cretaceous-Paleogene East Sakhalin island arc system of the Sea of Okhotsk region. This island arc paleosystem was composed of back-arc volcano-plutonic belt, frontal volcanic island arc, fore-arc, inter-arc, and back-arc basins, and the Sakhalin marginal paleobasin. The continental volcanic rocks dominate in the back-arc volcano-plutonic belt and frontal volcanic island arc. The petrochemical composition of basalts, basaltic andesites, andesites, and trachytes from the frontal island arc formed in submarine conditions are typical of oceanic island arc or marginal sea rocks (IAB). The petrochemical composition of volcanic rocks from the island arc structures indicates its formation on the heterogeneous basement including the continental and oceanic blocks.     

漠河盆地中侏罗世沉积源区分析及地质意义

漠河盆地位于额尔古纳地块北缘,其北为蒙古-鄂霍茨克造山带,与紧邻的俄罗斯上阿穆尔盆地在中生代时期同属一个盆地。漠河盆地中侏罗统包括绣峰组、二十二站组、额木尔河组和开库康组。根据盆地碎屑岩中的砾石、岩屑和重矿物的组合特征,确定母岩类型以变质岩和中酸性火成岩为主,少量沉积岩和基性火成岩;结合古水流方向,确定盆地沉积物源主要来自南侧。沉积物源具有多源性:其一为陆块抬升基底,其二为切割的岩浆弧。与区域岩石对比分析表明,陆块抬升基底可能来自古元古界兴华渡口群和寒武系兴隆群,切割的岩浆弧与古生代同碰撞和后碰撞花岗质岩石及早中生代中酸性火成岩有关。根据母岩供给特点,认为中侏罗世沉积时期漠河盆地不是典型的前陆盆地,而应是挤压背景下形成的挤压挠曲盆地或山间盆地。     

GENESIS OF COPPER MINERALIZATION IN THE WESTERN KOHISTAN ISLAND ARC TERRANE,NW HIMALAYA—HINDUKUSH, N. PAKISTAN

GENESIS OF COPPER MINERALIZATION IN THE WESTERN KOHISTAN ISLAND ARC TERRANE,NW HIMALAYA—HINDUKUSH, N. PAKISTAN     

合肥盆地中生代地层时代与源区的碎屑锆石证据

合肥盆地位于大别造山带北侧、郯庐断裂带西侧,其发育过程与这两大构造带演化密切相关。本次工作对合肥盆地南部与东部出露的中生代砂岩与火山岩进行了锆石年代学研究,从而限定了各组地层的沉积时代,确定了火山岩喷发时间,指示了沉积物的源区。这些年代学数据表明,合肥盆地南部的中生代碎屑岩自下而上分别为下侏罗统防虎山组、中侏罗统圆筒山组或三尖铺组、下白垩统凤凰台组与周公山组(或黑石渡组)与上白垩统戚家桥组,其间缺失上侏罗统。盆地东部白垩系自下而上为下白垩统朱巷组与响导铺组和上白垩统张桥组。该盆地出露的毛坦厂组或白大畈组火山岩喷发时代皆为早白垩世(130～120 Ma)。盆地南部的下——中侏罗统及白垩系源区皆为大别造山带,分别对应该造山带的后造山隆升与造山后伸展隆升。而盆地东部白垩系的源区始终为东侧的张八岭隆起带,后者属于郯庐断裂带伸展活动中的上升盘。     

Trace elements and characteristics of the sources of clastic material in the Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary formations of the eastern zones of the Southern Urals

This paper focuses on the characteristics of possible provenances for the Devonian and Carboniferous clastic complexes of the eastern zones of the Southern and, in part, Central Urals on the basis of the investigation of trace- and rare-earth element geochemistry, accounting for petrographic evidence. It was found that the material of basic and silicic volcanics, ultrabasic rocks, and metamorphic complexes influenced the geochemical characteristics of the clastic rocks. It was shown that the main sources of the Devonian clastic material were probably subalkaline volcanic rocks from an ensialic oceanic island arc similar to the Silurian arc of the Central Urals, including displaced ones, and the main sources of the Carboniferous sediments were Devonian island-arc complexes and, in part, continental margin volcanics. An eastern source of material existed probably in the Carboniferous in the southern part of the Eastern Ural megazone. The geochemical features of the sedimentary rocks of the Irendyk Formation (upper Emsian-Eifelian) indicate a differentiated source of clastic material.     

Petrography and geochemistry of the late Eocene–early Oligocene submarine fans and shelf deposits on Lemnos Island,NE Greece. Implications for provenance and tectonic setting

Provenance and tectonic history of the late Eocene‐early Oligocene submarine fans and shelf deposits on Lemnos Island, NE Greece, were studied using sandstone framework composition, sedimentological data and sandstone and mudstone geochemistry. The resulting tectonic–sedimentological model is based on the late Eocene–early Oligocene Lemnos Island being in a forearc basin with the outer arc ridge as a major sediment source. Modal petrographic analysis of the studied sandstones shows that the source area comprises sedimentary, metamorphic and plutonic igneous rocks deposited in the studied area in a recycled orogenic environment. Moreover, within the above sediments, the minor occurrence of volcanic fragments suggests little or no influence of a volcanic source. Provenance results, based on major, trace and rare earth element (REE) data, suggest an active continental margin/continental island arc signature. All the samples are LREE, enriched relative to HREE, with a flat HREE pattern and positive Eu anomalies, suggesting that the processes of intracrustal differentiation (involving plagioclase fractionation) were not of great importance. Results derived from the multi‐element diagrams also suggest an active margin character, and a mafic/ultramafic source rock composition, while the positive anomaly of Zr that can be attributed to a passive continental margin source, is most likely associated with reworking and sorting during sediment transfer. Palaeocurrents, with a NE–NNE direction, indicate a northeast flow, towards the location of the late Eocene–early Oligocene magmatic belt in the north‐east Aegean region. Conglomerates are composed of chert, gneiss and igneous fragments, such as basalts and gabbros, suggesting this outer arc ridge as a likely source area. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东昆仑造山带早古生代—早中生代构造演化的沉积地球化学记录

东昆仑地区发育一套显生宙碎屑岩地层,包括下寒武统沙松乌拉组、中—上奥陶统纳赤台群、上石炭统—下二叠统浩特洛哇组、下三叠统洪水川组、中三叠统希里科特组以及上三叠统八宝山组。研究区砂岩的CIA值反映沙松乌拉组砂岩源区化学风化程度较高,其余各组砂岩源区化学风化程度较低。主量和微量元素研究结果表明各组砂岩源区以长英质岩石为主,包含少量中性成分。La、Ce、Th、U、∑REE含量和La/Sc、Th/Sc、Sc/Cr、La/Y比值指示沙松乌拉组和纳赤台群砂岩沉积环境为大陆岛弧或活动大陆边缘,浩特洛哇组砂岩形成于被动大陆边缘环境,洪水川组砂岩沉积环境为活动大陆边缘,希里科特组砂岩的微量元素含量及其比值接近于活动大陆边缘和被动大陆边缘,八宝山组砂岩沉积环境为活动大陆边缘。综合分析认为沙松乌拉组和纳赤台群砂岩形成于原特提斯洋俯冲阶段,浩特洛哇组砂岩形成于古特提斯洋持续扩张阶段,洪水川组砂岩形成于古特提斯洋俯冲阶段,希里科特组砂岩形成于陆(弧)陆初始碰撞阶段,八宝山组砂岩形成于陆陆全面碰撞—碰撞后阶段。     

Sedimentology,provenance and geochronology of the Miocene Qiuwu Formation: Implication for the uplift history of Southern Tibet

Located on the south of the Gangdese,the Qiuwu Formation has traditionally been considered as Eocene coal-bearing clastic sediments consisting of sandstone,mudstone and conglomerate,unconformably on top of Gangdese batholith.However,its precise age and depositional environment remain ambiguous.Here,we present a newly measured stratigraphic section near the Ngamring County,western Xigaze.Detrital zircon U-Pb ages were also applied to trace the provenance of sediments and to constrain the maximum depositional age of the Qiuwu Formation.Sedimentary facies analyses indicate subaqueous fan and alluvial fan depositional environments.Clast composition of the conglomerate is dominated by magmatic rocks at the lower part,while chert and mafic detritus occur in the upper part,suggesting a southern source.Sandstone modal analyses indicate that the compositions of quartz,feldspar and lithic grains changed from transitional arc to dissected arc,implying the unroofing of the Gangdese arc.Detrital zircon U-Pb ages of the Qiuwu Formation are compared with those from Gangdese magmatic rocks and Yarlung-Zangbo ophiolites,suggesting that the Gangdese arc is a main source of the Qiuwu detritus and that the southern source played a role during the later stage.The major peak of detrital zircon ages is at 45-55 Ma,which corresponds to Linzizong volcanic rocks in southern Gangdese arc.The weighted mean age of the five youngest zircons from the lower part of the section is 21.0 ± 2.2 Ma,suggesting that the Qiuwu Formation was deposited in early Miocene,coeval with other conglomerates exposed along the southern margin of Gangdese.Combining new observations with previously published data,we propose that the provenance of the Qiuwu Formation had shifted from a single northern source to double sources from both the north and the south.Activities of Great Counter Thrust were primarily responsible for the shift by making the south area a high elevation to provide sediments for the Qiuwu Formation.     

北祁连东段景泰地区下古生界两套砂岩微量元素和稀土元素特征及其构造意义

早奥陶世和早志留世是北祁连加里东造山带构造演化和盆地转变的关键时期。在造山带东段景泰地区,下奥陶统阴沟组和下志留统肮脏沟组两套砂岩的微量元素和稀土元素特征显示,阴沟组杂砂岩样品（Cj1和Cj3）具有最小的Eu/Eu*及最大的Th/Sc和REE,肮脏沟组杂砂岩具有较小的Eu/Eu*和较大的Th/Sc及REE;阴沟组岩屑砂岩样品（Cj13、Cj15和Cj18）具有最大的Eu/Eu*及最小的Th/Sc、REE和La/Yb。多个物源、构造背景判别图解和多元素蛛网图分析表明,阴沟组杂砂岩样品具大陆边缘的构造背景,主要物源为大陆上地壳再旋回沉积物和长英质岩石;岩屑砂岩样品为岛弧构造背景,以中基性安山质岩石为主要物源,可能受陆源物质的微弱影响。肮脏沟组杂砂岩构造背景复杂,表现出大陆岛弧、活动陆缘和被动陆缘三种环境共存的特点,受中基性火山弧物质、长英质岩石和再旋回沉积岩的混合物源的影响。两套砂岩的元素特征表明二者可能具有相似的源区。阴沟组杂砂岩源区可能为阿拉善地块南缘海原群变沉积岩或其他相似的陆源再旋回沉积物,砂岩碎屑以来自初始火山弧物质为主,以石灰沟岛弧型中基性火山岩作为其源岩最合适。阴沟组形成于初始弧后盆地环境,是岛弧活动的直接记录。肮脏沟组可能的源岩为阿拉善地块南缘海原群变沉积岩和中高等成熟度的石灰沟岛弧型火山岩及海原群岛弧型变火山岩,沉积于弧后前陆盆地,对构造环境的反映存在滞后性。     

Mesozoic syncollision siliciclastic sediments of the Bols’shoi Lyakhov Island (New Siberian Islands)

Graywackes and shales of the Bols’shoi Lyakhov Island originally attributed to the Mesozoic were subsequently considered based on microfossils as the Late Proterozoic in age. At present, these sediments in the greater part of the island are dated back to the Permian based on palynological assemblages. In the examined area of the island, this siliciclastic complex is intensely deformed and tectonically juxtaposed with blocks of oceanic and island-arc rocks exhumed along the South Anyui suture. The complex is largely composed of turbidites with members displaying hummocky cross-stratification. The studied mineral and geochemical characteristics of the rocks defined three provenances of clastic material: volcanic island arc, sedimentary cover and/or basement of the ancient platform, and exotic blocks of oceanic and island-arc rocks such as serpentinites and amphibolites. All the rock associations represent elements of an orogenic structure that originated by collision of the New Siberian continental block with the Anyui-Svyatoi Nos island arc. Flyschoid sediments accumulated in a foredeep in front of the latter structure in the course of collision. The Late Jurassic volcanics belonging to the Anyui-Svyatoi Nos island arc determine the lower age limit of syncollision siliciclastic rocks. Presence of Late Jurassic zircons in sandstones of the flyschoid sequence in Bols’shoi Lyakhov Island is confirmed by the fission-track dating. The upper age limit is determined by the Aptian-Albian postcollision granites and diorites intruding the siliciclastic complex. Consequently, the flyschoid sequence is within stratigraphic range from the terminal Late Jurassic to Neocomian. It appears that Permian age of sediments suggested earlier is based on redeposited organic remains. The same Late Jurassic-Neocomian age and lithology are characteristic of fossiliferous siliciclastic sequences of the Stolbovoi and Malyi Lyakhov islands, the New Siberian Archipelago, and of graywackes in the South Anyui area in Chukchi Peninsula. All these sediments accumulated in a spacious foredeep that formed in the course the late Cimmerian orogeny along the southern margin of the Arctic continental block.     

滇东南八布早二叠世含火山岩屑砂岩指示古特提斯洋俯冲

滇东南八布基性/超基性岩体被认为代表洋壳残片,与越北Song Hien构造带内的蛇绿岩体共同构成八布-Song Hien古特提斯缝合带的重要岩石记录,是认识华南西南缘古特提斯构造演化的重要窗口.环绕八布基性/超基性岩体分布大面积碎屑岩系,内夹有硅质岩序列,长期以来被认为是三叠纪浊流沉积,但缺少确切的古生物化石和放射性年代学证据.为确定这套碎屑岩的沉积时代和物质来源,对紧邻八布岩体的龙林西含火山岩屑砂砾岩进行LA-ICPMS碎屑锆石U-Pb同位素和微量元素分析.结果显示,碎屑锆石年龄谱与华南西南缘的二叠系-三叠系年龄谱明显不同,但与Song Hien构造带晚二叠世砂岩和哀牢山带绿春二叠纪砂岩年龄谱相似.最年轻锆石年龄组约为285Ma,在微量元素组成上与弧/造山型岩浆结晶锆石一致,对应于安山质-流纹质火山岩屑,指示早二叠世火山岩浆活动.结合碎屑锆石年龄谱的对比分析和八布村东硅质岩序列的新发现,结果表明八布碎屑岩的沉积时代应为早二叠世,而非中三叠世,其早二叠世火山岩源区与八布-Song Hien古特提斯洋俯冲有关.      

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

From back-arc rifting to arc accretion: the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous evolution of the Guerrero terrane recorded by a major provenance change in sandstones from the Sierra de los Cuarzos area,central Mexico

The Guerrero terrane is composed of Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous arc assemblages that were rifted from the North American continental mainland during Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous back-arc spreading within the Arperos Basin, and subsequently accreted back to the continental margin in the late Aptian. The Sierra de los Cuarzos area is located just 50 km east of the Guerrero terrane suture belt and, therefore, its stratigraphic record should be highly sensitive to first-order tectonic changes. Two Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous clastic units were recognized in the Sierra de los Cuarzos area. The Sierra de los Cuarzos Formation is the lowermost exposed stratigraphic unit. Petrographic data and U-Pb zircon ages suggest that the Sierra de los Cuarzos Formation was derived from quartz-rich sedimentary and igneous sources within the North American continental mainland. The Sierra de los Cuarzos Formation is overlain by the Pelones Formation, which is composed of volcanoclastic sandstones derived from a mix of sources that include the mafic arc assemblages of the Guerrero terrane and quartz-rich sedimentary and volcanic rocks exposed in the continental mainland. The provenance change documented in the Sierra de los Cuarzos area suggests that the Pelones Formation was deposited when the Arperos Basin was closed and the Guerrero terrane was colliding with the North American continental mainland. Based on these data, we interpret the Pelones Formation as the syn-tectonic stratigraphic record associated with the accretion of the Guerrero terrane.