Discovery of metamorphic diamonds in central China: an indication of a > 4000-km-long zone of deep subduction resulting from multiple continental collisions

The Central Orogenic Belt (COB) of China is a major continental collision zone that contains extensive outcrops of deeply subducted and exhumed rocks at both the eastern and the western end of the belt. Here we report discovery of microdiamonds from both eclogites and felsic gneisses in the North Qinling zone in the central portion of the COB. This discovery demonstrates that the country rocks of continental affinity shared in the ultra‐high‐pressure metamorphic (UHPM) event and provides a bridge connecting the two previously recognized UHPM terranes, thereby establishing the existence of a UHPM belt extending more than 4000 km. Geochronological dating yields Early Palaeozoic ages in the west and Early Mesozoic ages in the east, recording two separate continental collisions overprinted within the COB. Occurrence of UHP metamorphism during recurrent continental collision here and in the Alps suggests that deep subduction of continental material during such collisions is probably common rather than exceptional, with significant implications for processes of plate tectonic reorganization and mantle mixing over time.     

大洋地幔橄榄岩-铬铁矿中的金刚石和深地幔再循环

全球多地蛇绿岩型地幔橄榄岩和铬铁矿中发现微粒金刚石,并在中国西藏南部和俄罗斯乌拉尔北部的蛇绿岩铬铁矿中发现原位产出的金刚石,认为是地球上金刚石的一种新的产出类型,不同于金伯利岩型金刚石和超高压变质型金刚石。它们与呈斯石英假象的柯石英、高压相的铬铁矿和青松矿等高压矿物以及碳硅石和单质矿物等强还原矿物伴生,指示蛇绿岩中的这些矿物组合形成于深度150~300 km或者更深的地幔。金刚石具有很轻的C同位素组成（δ13C-18‰~-28‰）,并出现多种含Mn矿物和壳源成分包裹体。研究认为它们曾是早期深俯冲的地壳物质,达到>300 km深部地幔或地幔过渡带后,经历了熔融并产生新的流体,后者在上升过程中结晶成新的超高压、强还原矿物组合,通过地幔对流或地幔柱作用被带回到浅部地幔,由此建立了一个俯冲物质深地幔再循环的新模式。蛇绿岩型地幔橄榄岩和铬铁矿中发现金刚石等深部矿物,质疑了蛇绿岩铬铁矿形成于浅部地幔的已有认识,引发了一系列新的科学问题,提出了新的研究方向。      

大洋板块拖曳窄条陆壳俯冲——大规模超高压变质形成的构造条件

超高压变质岩生成问题中解决低密度大陆地壳深俯冲力学机制是一个关键问题。虽然俯冲地幔岩石可以裹携十几千米乃至几十千米尺度的陆壳块体到超高压变质深度，大规模的陆壳深俯冲需要特殊的构造条件。新西兰南岛北端研究表明，俯冲大洋板块能携带宽度达150km左右的窄条陆壳克服浮力达到超高压变质深度，而大陆板块碰撞的主体则浮在岩石圈上形成走滑断层。苏鲁-大别可能曾存在类似的构造条件：苏鲁西侧俯冲海洋板片首先拖曳苏鲁陆壳俯冲到超高压变质深度；随后大别以西俯冲大洋板片拖曳大别至超高压变质深度，而陆壳浮力导致苏鲁陆壳停止俯冲，飘浮的陆壳被北推而形成郯庐断裂；秦岭陆陆碰撞造山后大别超高压陆壳也折返；秦岭作为典型造山带，虽然不排除零星超高压变质的可能，但不具备大规模超高压变质的条件。     

超高压变质岩中柯石英-石英相变动力学研究的评述

含柯石英超高压变质岩的发现是陆过 幔深部俯冲的岩石学语气也揭示了深部变质深种物折返地表的可能性。超高压变质岩的开 折返机制是当前地球科学中最有挑战性的前沿课题之一,具有深刻的大陆动力学意义。     

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度的同位素限制

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度是各国地质学家十分关心的问题。它不仅影响对碰撞造山带形成机制和演化过程的认识,而且影响对地球深部状况及地球动力学的研究。该文对大别山超高压变质岩已有同位素资料进行了分析与讨论。大别山榴辉岩的ε_Nd为-6.2~-17,ε_Sr为18~42,且显示明显的Nd同位素的不平衡现象。大别山榴辉岩的氧同位素组成研究表明,这些榴辉岩的原岩在超高压变质前,不同程度地与贫18O的大气降水(或海水)发生过氧同位素交换,且在超高压变质过程中依然保留了这些痕迹。除一个样品外,大别-苏鲁地区的榴辉岩的3He/4He比值都落在0.79×10-7~9.35×10-7范围内,显示陆壳岩石来源He的重要贡献。所有Sr-Nd、O和He同位素研究均表明:超高压变质岩保存着表壳岩石原岩的同位素特征,而未显示变质时受到地幔物质的明显影响。对于超高压变质岩的上述同位素特征,有人认为是由于大别山造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快造成的。由于造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快,表壳岩石原岩变质时来不及与地幔物质发生交换,故没有留下地幔物质参与的痕迹。该研究认为这种解释有些勉强,因为大别造山带俯冲和折返时间至少需要15Ma.在如此长的时间内,在100多公里地幔深处高于700℃的高温下发生超高压变质作用,表壳岩石原岩不可能不与地幔物质发生同位素交换。相反,如果认为大别山超高压变质岩就在地壳内形成,则大别山超高压变质岩同位素的所有特征就很好解释了。      

Preservation/exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure subduction complexes

Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes reflect subduction of continental crust to depths of 90–140 km in Phanerozoic contractional orogens. Rocks are intensely overprinted by lower pressure mineral assemblages; traces of relict UHP phases are preserved only under kinetically inhibiting circumstances. Most UHP complexes present in the upper crust are thin, imbricate sheets consisting chiefly of felsic units ± serpentinites; dense mafic and peridotitic rocks make up less than  10% of each exhumed subduction complex. Roundtrip prograde–retrograde P–T paths are completed in 10–20 Myr, and rates of ascent to mid-crustal levels approximate descent velocities. Late-stage domical uplifts typify many UHP complexes.

Sialic crust may be deeply subducted, reflecting profound underflow of an oceanic plate prior to collisional suturing. Exhumation involves decompression through the P–T stability fields of lower pressure metamorphic facies. Scattered UHP relics are retained in strong, refractory, watertight host minerals (e.g., zircon, pyroxene, garnet) typified by low rates of intracrystalline diffusion. Isolation of such inclusions from the recrystallizing rock matrix impedes back reaction. Thin-aspect ratio, ductile-deformed nappes are formed in the subduction zone; heat is conducted away from UHP complexes as they rise along the subduction channel. The low aggregate density of continental crust is much less than that of the mantle it displaces during underflow; its rapid ascent to mid-crustal levels is driven by buoyancy. Return to shallow levels does not require removal of the overlying mantle wedge. Late-stage underplating, structural contraction, tectonic aneurysms and/or plate shallowing convey mid-crustal UHP décollements surfaceward in domical uplifts where they are exposed by erosion. Unless these situations are mutually satisfied, UHP complexes are completely transformed to low-pressure assemblages, obliterating all evidence of profound subduction.     

Formation Depth Estimation of Coesite-Bearing Eclogite in Dabie UHPM Zone, China： Constrained by Isotopic Studies

The formation depth of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) zone influences not only our understanding of formation mechanism and evolution processes of collision orogenic belt, but also the studies on earth's interior and geodynamic processes. In this study, the isotopic data of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie UHPM zone are discussed to give constraints on the formation depth in the Dabie UHPM zone. The εSr of eclogite in the Dabie UHPM zone varies from 18 to 42, and the εNd varies from -6.1 to -17, both of them show the characters of isotopic disequilibrium. The oxygen isotope studies indicate that the protoliths of these UHPM rocks have experienced oxygen isotope exchange with meteoric water (or sea water) before metamorphism and no significant changes in the processes of metamorphism on their oxygen isotope composition have been recorded in these rocks. Except for one sample from Bixiling, all samples of eclogite from Dabie UHPM zone show the 3He/4He ratios from 0.79×10-7 to 9.35×10-7, indicating the important contribution of He from continental crust. All Sr, Nd, O and He isotopic studies indicate that the UHPM rocks retain the isotopic characteristics of their protoliths of crust origin. No significant influence of mantle materials has been found in these metamorphic rocks. Trying to explain above isotopic characteristics, some researchers assume that the speeds of dipping thrust and uplifting of rocks were both very high. In this condition, there will not be enough time for isotopic exchange between crust protolith and mantle materials. Therefore, we can not see the tracer of mantle materials in these UHPM rocks. However, this assumption can not be justified with available knowledge. Firstly, it was estimated that the whole process of UHPM took at least 15 Ma. During such a long period, and at the metamorphic temperature of ≥700 ℃, the protolith of crust origin can not escape from isotopic exchange with mantle materials if the UHPM have happened in the mantle depth of ≥100 km. In contrast, all problems will be dismissed if we assume that the UHPM have happened at the depth still in crust.     

A general model for the intrusion and evolution of 'mantle' garnet peridotites in high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure metamorphic terranes

Garnet‐bearing peridotite lenses are minor but significant components of most metamorphic terranes characterized by high‐temperature eclogite facies assemblages. Most peridotite intrudes when slabs of continental crust are subducted deeply (60–120 km) into the mantle, usually by following oceanic lithosphere down an established subduction zone. Peridotite is transferred from the resulting mantle wedge into the crustal footwall through brittle and/or ductile mechanisms. These ‘mantle’ peridotites vary petrographically, chemically, isotopically, chronologically and thermobarometrically from orogen to orogen, within orogens and even within individual terranes. The variations reflect: (1) derivation from different mantle sources (oceanic or continental lithosphere, asthenosphere); (2) perturbations while the mantle wedges were above subducting oceanic lithosphere; and (3) changes within the host crustal slabs during intrusion, subduction and exhumation. Peridotite caught within mantle wedges above oceanic subduction zones will tend to recrystallize and be contaminated by fluids derived from the subducting oceanic crust. These ‘subduction zone peridotites’ intrude during the subsequent subduction of continental crust. Low‐pressure protoliths introduced at shallow (serpentinite, plagioclase peridotite) and intermediate (spinel peridotite) mantle depths (20–50 km) may be carried to deeper levels within the host slab and undergo high‐pressure metamorphism along with the enclosing rocks. If subducted deeply enough, the peridotites will develop garnet‐bearing assemblages that are isofacial with, and give the same recrystallization ages as, the eclogite facies country rocks. Peridotites introduced at deeper levels (50–120 km) may already contain garnet when they intrude and will not necessarily be isofacial or isochronous with the enclosing crustal rocks. Some garnet peridotites recrystallize from spinel peridotite precursors at very high temperatures (c. 1200 °C) and may derive ultimately from the asthenosphere. Other peridotites are from old (>1 Ga), cold (c. 850 °C), subcontinental mantle (‘relict peridotites’) and seem to require the development of major intra‐cratonic faults to effect their intrusion.     

大别山低级变质岩的构造背景

大别山南北两侧的浅变质岩是碰撞造山以前洋壳俯冲造山阶段的重要组成部分。木兰山片岩或张八岭群是俯冲的洋壳;苏家河群、信阳群和佛子岭群是由洋壳俯冲形成的海沟沉积,并因俯冲过程中的前进变形而形成增生楔;杨山煤系和梅山群是石炭纪弧前盆地沉积,并因俯冲过程中的前进变形而被增生楔逆掩。宿松群是扬子大陆被动边缘沉积,不是俯冲造山带的成员。因洋壳俯冲形成的弧和弧后盆地可能已被新生界沉积物掩盖。高压—超高压变质带是碰撞造山后期从深部折返的外来体。高压—超高压变质带正好处于洋壳和增生楔之间,破坏了早期洋壳俯冲造山带的完整性,使得洋壳俯冲造山阶段的特征被破坏,因而不易辨别。俯冲造山阶段应为奥陶纪到泥盆纪,碰撞造山阶段应从二叠纪开始。     

大别山低级变质岩的构造背景

大别山南北两侧的浅变质岩是碰撞造山以前洋壳俯冲造山阶段的重要组成部分。木兰山片岩或张八岭群是俯冲的洋壳;苏家河群、信阳群和佛子岭群是由洋壳俯冲形成的海沟沉积,并因俯冲过程中的前进变形而形成增生楔;杨山煤系和梅山群是石炭纪弧前盆地沉积,并因俯冲过程中的前进变形而被增生楔逆掩。宿松群是扬子大陆被动边缘沉积,不是俯冲造山带的成员。因洋壳俯冲形成的弧和弧后盆地可能已被新生界沉积物掩盖。高压-超高压变质带是碰撞造山后期从深部折返的外来体。高压-超高压变质带正好处于洋壳和增生楔之间,破坏了早期洋壳俯冲造山带的完整性,使得洋壳俯冲造山阶段的特征被破坏,因而不易辨别。俯冲造山阶段应为奥陶纪到泥盆纪,碰撞造山阶段应从二叠纪开始。     

蛇绿岩型金刚石和铬铁矿深部成因

地球上的原生金刚石主要有3种产出类型,分别来自大陆克拉通下的深部地幔金伯利岩型金刚石、板块边界深俯冲变质岩中超高压变质型金刚石,和陨石坑中的陨石撞击型金刚石。在全球5个造山带的10处蛇绿岩的地幔橄榄岩或铬铁矿中均发现金刚石和其他超高压矿物的基础上,我们提出地球上一种新的天然金刚石产出类型,命名为蛇绿岩型金刚石。认为蛇绿岩型金刚石普遍存在于大洋岩石圈的地幔橄榄岩中,并提出蛇绿岩型金刚石和铬铁矿的深部成因模式。认为早期俯冲的地壳物质到达地幔过渡带(410~660 km深度)后被肢解,加入到周围的强还原流体和熔体中,当熔融物质向上运移到地幔过渡带顶部,铬铁矿和周围的地幔岩石以及流体中的金刚石等深部矿物一并结晶,之后,携带金刚石的铬铁矿和地幔岩石被上涌的地幔柱带至浅部,经历了洋盆的拉张和俯冲阶段,最终在板块边缘就位。     

Metamorphic zonations on presumably subducted lithospheric plates from Japan,California and the Alps

High-pressure blueschist-type mineral parageneses from the Sanbagawa belt of southwestern Japan, the Franciscan terrane of western California and the Sesia zone, Pennine and Helvetic realms of the central Alps may reflect metamorphic conditions attending lithospheric plate descent. The observed progressive metamorphic sequences seemingly have developed chiefly, but not exclusively within the confines of oceanic crust, and evidently mark the suture zones between pairs of convergent lithospheric plates. The downgoing slabs have developed relatively near-surface (1) zeolitized rocks and apparently at successively greater depths (2) pumpellyite-bearing rocks, (3) greenschists and/or blueschists, and (4) albite-amphibolites; eclogitic assemblages are characteristic of the highergrade environments. The sense of metamorphic progression (1)→(2)→(3)→(4) marks the direction of presumed lithospheric underflow. Profound pressure discontinuities revealed by mineral assemblage contrasts across the plate junctions indicate that the high-pressure terranes must have risen great distances subsequent to the blueschist-type recrystallization. This conclusion is supported in California and the Alps by the exposure of rocks interpreted as basal portions of the oceanic or continental crust+upper mantle in the overlying lithospheric slabs; such sections appear to have been dragged upwards adjacent to the plate junctions during the buoyant rise of the underlying and subducted blueschistic slabs subsequent to active plate convergence. The exposed widths of the high-pressure metamorphic belts roughly correlate with the depths of inferred crustal subduction now exhumed of 25–35 km or more.     

Petrology and geochronology of ultrahigh-pressure granitic gneiss from South Dulan,North Qaidam belt,NW China

abstract

An integrated study including petrography, mineral chemistry, metamorphic P–T path modelling, and zircon U–Pb dating was conducted on a granitic gneiss and enclosed eclogite from South Dulan, North Qaidam UHP (ultrahigh-pressure) belt. The result shows that the granitic gneiss underwent a clockwise P–T path with a peak-P stage at 655–745°C, 30–34 kbar, and a subsequent peak-T stage at 815–870°C, 14–18 kbar, which is similar to the P–T estimates reported for coesite-bearing continental-type eclogites in this region. The enclosed eclogite resembles an olivine–pyroxene-rich cumulate in Qaidam block. It has a similar prograde P–T path with the country gneiss and experienced a peak-P stage of 682–748°C at 27–34 kbar. Zircon U–Pb dating yields an eclogite-facies metamorphic age of 447 ± 2 Ma for the granitic gneiss and 445 ± 6 Ma for the enclosed eclogite. These ages agree with metamorphic ages obtained from paragneisses (427–439 Ma), coesite-bearing continental-type eclogites (430–451 Ma), and UHPM (ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic) oceanic crust–mantle sequence (440–445 Ma) from South Dulan, as well as UHP eclogites, garnet peridotite, and gneisses from other units (460–420 Ma) within this belt reported by others. Similar metamorphic ages as well as P–T evolution documented in gneisses and intercalated eclogites imply that both rocks experienced a coeval UHP event. Summarizing all the published geochronology data, we argue that the North Qaidam UHP belt was mainly formed by continental deep subduction at ~460 to ~420 Ma. The UHPM oceanic crust-mantle sequence in South Dulan may represent oceanic lithosphere in the transition zone between oceanic and continental crust, which was dragged upward by the exhumed continental rocks after break-off of the dense oceanic crust.     

Prograde high- to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and exhumation of oceanic sediments at Lago di Cignana, Zermatt-Saas Zone, western Alps

Pelagic metasediments and MORB-type metabasalts of the former Tethyan oceanic crust at Cignana, Valtournanche, Italy, experienced UHP metamorphism and subsequent exhumation during the Early to Late Tertiary. Maximum PT conditions attained during UHP metamorphism were 600–630 °C, 2.7–2.9 GPa, which resulted in the formation of coesite-glaucophane-eclogites in the basaltic layer and of garnet-dolomite-aragonite-lawsonite-coesite-phengite-bearing calc-schists and garnet-phengite-coesite-schists with variable amounts of epidote, talc, dolomite, Na-pyroxene and Na-amphibole in the overlying metasediments. During subduction the rocks followed a prograde HP/UHP path which in correspondance with the Jurassic age of the Tethyan crust reflects the thermal influence of relatively old and cold lithosphere and of low to moderate shear heating. Inflections on the prograde metamorphic path may correspond to thermal effects that arise from a decrease in shear heating due to brittle-plastic transition in the quartz-aragonite-dominated rocks, induced convection in the asthenospheric mantle wedge and/or heat consumption by endothermic reactions over a restricted PT segment during subduction. After detachment from the downgoing slab some 50–70 Ma before present, the Cignana crustal slice was first exhumed to ca. 60 km and concomitantly cooled to ca. 550 °C, tracing back the UHP/HP prograde path displaced by 50–80 °C to higher temperatures. Exhumation at this stage is likely to have occurred in the Benioff zone, while the subduction of cool lithosphere was going on. Subsequently, the rocks were near-isothermally exhumed to ca. 30 km, followed by concomitant decompression and cooling to surface conditions (at < 500 °C, < 1 GPa). During this last stage the UHPM slice arrived at its present tectonic position with respect to the overlying greenschist-facies Combin zone. In contrast to the well-preserved HP/UHPM record of the coesite-glaucophane eclogites, the HP/UHP assemblages of the metasediments have been largely obliterated during exhumation. Relics from which the metamorphic evolution of the rocks during prograde HP metamorphism and the UHP stage can be retrieved are restricted to rigid low-diffusion minerals like garnet, dolomite, tourmaline and apatite.     

地质历史中板块构造启动时间

地质历史中板块构造是何时开始启动的长期存在着激烈的争论,最极端的一是认为板块构造在新元古代的800 Ma前开始,二是在冥古宙4.3 Ga就已启动,多数学者认为在太古宙末开始启动。确定板块构造启动时间主要依据以下几方面:(1)地球动力学特点,如地幔的热状态以及粘塑性地幔对流模拟表明,板块构造可能是在地球热和冷停滞状态之间演化的一个相。在太古宙较热的地球中,板片强度低,板片的频繁断离阻止了形成类似现代样式的长期俯冲体系,太古宙的板块构造是短期的、阵发性的;(2)代表俯冲的标志的蛇绿岩、蓝片岩和超高压(UHP)变质地体;(3)具有弧特征的岩石组合,如拉斑玄武岩-安山岩-英安岩-流纹岩及英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩(TTG)岩套;(4)增生楔中混杂岩和大洋板块地层、前陆盆地、大陆裂谷、双变质带、造山带;(5)与俯冲带关系密切的造山型Au矿、斑岩Cu矿和浅成热液矿床、火山岩型块状硫化物矿床(VHMS),它们最早出现的年龄一致在3.5~3.1 Ga,指示了板块构造的开始;(6)世界不同地区大陆的Ni/Co、Cr/Zn比值随沉积年龄变年轻而降低,陆壳从3.0 Ga前的镁铁质转变为2.5 Ga时的长英质,表明全球板块构造的启动应在3.0 Ga的古中太古代;(7)冥古宙锆石、太古宙金刚石中矿物包裹体及Hf、O、C、N同位素组成研究表明,冥古宙地球表面存在类似板块汇聚边缘,太古宙含有大陆沉积物的海洋岩石圈俯冲进入地幔。     

柴北缘超高压变质带：从大洋到大陆的深俯冲过程

    柴北缘超高压变质带同我国大别- 苏鲁造山带类似,同属典型的大陆型俯冲碰撞带。柯石英在榴辉岩和片麻岩中均 有发现,且石榴橄榄岩锆石中含有金刚石。本文从岩石学、温压计算、地球化学和年代学四个方面,对此带中的鱼卡、绿 梁山、锡铁山和都兰4 个榴辉岩和石榴橄榄岩出露地区近些年的研究进展进行了系统详细的综述。与典型的大陆型俯冲碰 撞带不同,柴北缘超高压变质带保存了早期陆壳俯冲前发生的洋壳深俯冲的证据。因此,结合现有数据,本文对柴北缘超 高压变质带从大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲碰撞的构造演化模式进行了探讨。     

变质作用、板块构造及超级大陆旋回

麻粒岩相超高温变质作用（GUHTM）主要发育于新太古代至寒武纪岩石中;推测在深部较年轻的,特别是新生代造山带岩石中也会有GUHTM存在。岩石中最初出现GUHTM记录意味着产生瞬时极高热流处的地球动力学发生了改变。许多GUHTM带可能发育于类似现代大陆弧后的构造背景中。在较热的地球上,超大陆及其裂解形成的循环组合,尤其是经岩石圈减薄的洋盆卷入到其外翻过程中可能产生比现代太平洋边缘更热的大陆弧后。中温榴辉岩 高压麻粒岩相变质作用（EHPGM）也是最先发现于新太古代岩石记录中,并发育于从元古宙至古生代岩石中。EHPGM带是对GUHTM带的补充,并经常认为是记录了从俯冲至碰撞造山作用的过程。在元古宙岩石记录中的蓝片岩明显记录了与现代俯冲作用相关的低热流梯度。以发育柯石英(±硬柱石)或金刚石为特征的硬柱石蓝片岩和榴辉岩（高压变质作用,HPM）及超高压变质岩（UHPM）主要是在显生宙形成。HPMUHPM记录了显生宙俯冲碰撞造山带早期碰撞过程中的低热流梯度及陆壳的深俯冲作用。尽管与直觉不同,在超级大陆聚敛期（Wilson旋回洋盆打开和关闭）的大陆地块增生过程,许多HPMUHPM带看来确实是通过小洋盆关闭而发育起来的,反映双重热体制的双重变质带仅发育于新太古代以来的岩石记录中。双重热体制是现代板块构造的特点,而双重变质作用则是板块构造在岩石记录中的特征性标志。尽管构造样式很可能不同,新太古代以来GUHTM和EHPGM带的发育证明“元古宙板块构造体制”的开始。以冷俯冲和大陆地壳深俯冲至地幔,以及其中的部分又从深达300 km处发生折返为标志,“元古宙板块构造体制”在新元古代进化为“现代板块构造体制”,这个转变可由岩石中的HPMUHPM证明。记录这种极端条件的变质带年龄是不一致的,而变质作用发生时间与各大陆岩石圈聚合到超级克拉通（如Superia/Sclavia）或超级大陆（如Nuna (Columbia), Rodinia, Gondwana, 和Pangea）的时间却是一致的。     

大别山超高压变质岩折返机制与华北-华南陆块碰撞过程

古地磁研究表明华北和华南陆块的碰撞始于三叠纪初 ,止于晚侏罗世 ;同位素年代学研究及大别山北部中—上侏罗统砾岩层中榴辉岩砾石的发现表明大别山超高压变质岩形成于三叠纪初 ,并在中—晚侏罗世出露于地表。因此 ,超高压变质岩是在陆陆碰撞过程中完成它的折返出露过程。揭示超高压变质岩的折返历史与机制有助于我们认识大陆的碰撞过程。大别山超高压变质岩及其围岩θ t冷却曲线显示超高压变质岩从 80 0℃到 3 0 0℃经历了三个阶段 :( 2 2 6± 3 )～ ( 2 1 9± 7)Ma期间从80 0℃到 5 0 0℃的第一次快速冷却 ,1 80～ 1 70Ma期间从 4 5 0℃到 3 0 0℃的第二次快速冷却 )和介于两者之间的等温过程。这一具有两次快速冷却的θ t曲线已被近年来的若干年代学数据所证实。超高压变质岩的两次快速冷却事件反映了两次快速抬升过程。在东秦岭及苏鲁地体东端发育的同碰撞花岗岩U Pb年龄值为 2 2 5～ 2 0 5Ma,与超高压变质岩第一次快速冷却时代吻合。这种时代耦合关系表明俯冲板片断离可能是超高压变质岩第一次快速抬升和冷却的重要机制。大别山Pb同位素填图揭示出南大别带超高压变质岩具有高反射成因Pb特征 ,因而源于俯冲的上地壳 ;而北大别带超高压变质岩具有低放射成因Pb特征 ,源于俯冲长英质下地壳。这表明在俯     

The Kokchetav Massif,Kazakhstan: “Type locality” of diamond-bearing UHP metamorphic rocks

After the discovery of metamorphic coesite in crustal rocks from the Western Alps (Italy) and the Western gneiss region (Norway) in the mid 1980s of the last century, metamorphic diamond was observed only a few years later “in situ” in the Kokchetav Massif (Kazakhstan). Findings of such coesite- and diamond-bearing ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHP) rocks with protoliths formed or embedded in crustal levels and subsequently experienced PT-conditions within or even higher than the coesite stability field have dramatically changed our geodynamic view of orogenetic processes. These occurrences provide evidence that crustal rocks were subducted into mantle depths and exhumed to the surface. Recent studies even suggest continental subduction to depths exceeding 300 km. These rocks have been extensively studied and many new and important observations have been made. Thus far, more than 350 papers have been published on various aspects of Kokchetav UHP rocks.The Kokchetav Massif of northern Kazakhstan is part of one of the largest suture zones in Central Asia and contains slices of HP and UHP metamorphic rocks. Classical UHP rocks mainly occur in the Kumdy Kol, Barchi Kol and Kulet areas, and include a large variety of lithologies such as calcsilicate rocks, eclogite, gneisses, schists, marbles of various compositions, garnet–pyroxene–quartz rocks, and garnet peridotite. Most of them contain microdiamonds; some of which reach a grain size of 200 μm. Most diamond grains show cuboid shapes but in rare cases, diamonds within clinozoisite gneiss from Barchi Kol occur as octahhedral form. Microdiamonds contain highly potassic fluid inclusions, as well as solid inclusions like carbonates, silicates and metal sulfides, which favour the idea of diamond formation from a C–O–H bearing fluid. Nitrogen isotope data and negative δ¹³C values of Kokchetav diamonds indicate a metasedimentary origin.PT-estimates of Kokchetav UHP rocks yield peak metamorphic conditions of at least 43 kbar at temperatures of about 950–1000 °C. Some zircon separates show inherited Proterozoic cores and 537–530 Ma UHP metamorphic mantle zones. Several Ar–Ar-ages on micas scatter around 529–528 and 521–517 Ma and reflect different stages of the exhumation history. Migmatization occurred during exhumation at about 526–520 Ma.Isotopic studies on calcsilicate rocks confirm a metasedimentary origin: δ¹⁸O values of garnet and clinopyroxene of a layered calcsilicate rock rule out the possibility having a primitive mantle protolith. Similar studies on eclogites indicate their basaltic protolith having experienced water–rock interaction prior to UHP metamorphism.A number of unique mineralogical findings have been made on Kokchetav UHP rocks. K-feldspar exsolutions in clinopyroxene demonstrate that potassium can be incorporated into the cpx-structure under upper mantle pressures. Other significant observations are coesite exsolutions in titanite, quartz-rods in cpx, the discovery of K-tourmaline as well as new minerals like kokchetavite, a hexagonal polymorph of K-feldspar and kumdykolite, an orthorhombic polymorph of albite.The Kokchetav UHP rocks represent a unique and challenging stomping ground for geoscientists of various disciplines. From crystallography, petrology and geochemistry to geophysics and geodynamics/geotectonics – it concerns all who are interested in the diverse metamorphic processes under upper mantle conditions.     

Geophysical profiling across the Sulu ultra-high-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern China

The largest ultra-high pressure metamorphic (UHPM) belt in the world is located along the Dabie–Sulu region, which tectonically belongs to the east part of the central orogenic belt of China. Integrated geophysical investigations of using deep seismic reflection, MT, and geothermal observations have been carried out in the Sulu area since 1997. The results of integrated interpretation suggest the existence of three features: (1) a rift beneath the Lianshui basin by the Jiashan–Xionshui fault; (2) a special crustal pattern, called the magmatic multi-arch structure occurs beneath the northern Sulu UHPM zone; and (3) a northwest-dipping regional thrust crosses the Sulu crust, representing the intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belts after collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. A magmatic multi-arch structure consists of some arched reflectors that occur in both the lower and the upper crust where arched reflectors coincide with granitoid plutons. The multi-arch structures are common in eastern China where many Mesozoic granitoid plutons of different scales occur. The crustal structures in the Sulu metamorphic belts resulted from intensive dynamic processes following the Triassic collision between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. The formation and exhumation of UHPM rocks followed the collision, and then intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Dabie–Sulu terranes took place in the early and middle Jurassic. In the late Jurassic, the Sulu lithosphere turned to an extensional regime, large-scale granitic intrusions occurred in eastern China; these likely resulted from lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric uplifting. The granitic intrusions came to a climax during the Cretaceous and were followed by rifting along existing faults in the early Eogene, resulting in many petroleum basins. The granitoid emplacement that generated the magmatic multi-arch structure and the rift were consequences of the lithospheric thinning process, and deep intracontinental subduction of the Yangtze craton beneath the Sulu metamorphic belt might partially contribute to the lithospheric thinning.