Textural,geochemical and mineralogical evidence for the origin of peoria loess in Central and Southern Nebraska,USA

Possible sources of Peoria loess in central Nebraska have been investigated through the fingerprinting of the textural, geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the loess and possible source sediments, with statistical comparison of the textural and compositional fingerprints. The results of the investigation contrast with the ‘desert loess’ model proposed by Lugn (1960), and are instead consistent with the derivation of the Peoria loess in Nebraska primarily from fluvio-glacial outwash sediments carried by the ancestral North and South Platte River systems from the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges during the late Pleistocene.     

Gold deposits in the representative gold concentration districts,North China Craton

<正>North China Craton(NCC)is the most important gold occurrence region in China,and also one of the most important gold districts in the world(Wei et al.,1994;Zhou et al.,2002;Goldfarb et al.,2014).Gold deposits in the region are mostly distributed in the margins of the NCC.Main gold concentration districts include Jiaodong in the eastern margin,     

Petrological models of the oceanic lithosphere: Geophysical and geochemical tests

Petrological models of the oceanic lithosphere are tested to satisfy geophysical and geochemical constraints within the framework of plate tectonics. Quartz eclogite, olivine eclogite, peridotite and dunite are considered as the material of the lithosphere. The temperature at the base of the lithosphere is assumed to be the solidus temperature. This temperature, the thermal conductivity, and the heat flow and topography changes with age are used as the geophysical constraints. The compressional wave velocity-depth profile is used to select preferred models. Among geophysically successful models, high-temperature models are preferred to wet low-temperature models, because the low-temperature models have difficulties in explaining the mechanism of generation of oceanic basalt magmas. A preferred model is a two-layer model 70 km thick consisting of peridotite at the upper lithosphere and olivine eclogite at the lower lithosphere bounded at the base by the dry solidus.     

地震层析成像在华北克拉通地区的研究进展

综述了地震层析成像方法在华北克拉通地区的研究成果,探讨研究中存在的问题及其研究前景.近年来很多层析成像方法在该地区获得了高分辨率的地壳、上地幔的速度结构,为研究构造运动以及深部的动力学过程提供了线索与约束.许多研究针对发震构造以及华北克拉通破坏等科学问题做了深入的探讨.地震层析成像技术仍然面临很大的挑战.比如速度间断面...     

华北克拉通岩石圈三维密度结构

显生宙以来华北克拉通岩石圈遭到破坏,这一现象的科学问题已受到世界地学家广泛关注.本文首先将地震层析成像反演得到的P波速度扰动转化为密度扰动,以此作为初始密度模型,然后利用布格重力异常反演得到了华北克拉通岩石圈高分辨三维密度结构.为了避开大型稀疏矩阵求逆计算,提高计算效率,我们将代数重构技术用于密度反演解算.反演结果表明:华北克拉通岩石圈密度在横向和纵向上均存在明显的不均匀性,密度分布形态与地表构造格局有很好的相关性;研究区地壳整体表现为低密度异常,地壳以下岩石圈部分则以高密度异常为主;鄂尔多斯块体地壳范围内以低密度异常为主,80～120 km深度上为呈南北两端集中分布的高密度异常,并分别与秦岭造山带和阴山造山带的高密度异常分布相连,这暗示了鄂尔多斯块体可能受到了来自其南北两端造山带深部动力学过程的影响;80～ 120 km深度上,华北克拉通东部地区呈现出显著的南北向非均匀的高密度异常,这表明遭到破坏后该地区上地幔物质分布具有强烈的南北向非均匀性.     

华北克拉通岩石圈有效弹性厚度及其各向异性

华北克拉通是典型的克拉通破坏的区域,研究该区域的岩石圈有效弹性厚度(Te)及其各向异性特征有助于了解华北克拉通的强度构造及破坏机制.我们根据空间分辨率为30″×30″的地形数据和由自由空气异常解算得到的完全布格重力异常数据,利用Fan小波分析方法计算了两者之间的相关性,并基于Forsyth理论和正交各向异性薄板模型计算了华北克拉通地区的岩石圈Te和其各向异性分布情况.结果表明:(1) 从各向同性Te分布来看,华北克拉通岩石圈在东部、中部和西部存在着明显的差异.鄂尔多斯地块、河淮盆地的Te值均较高;中华北克拉通、南北重力梯度带及鲁西隆起Te值较低,约10~25 km;郯庐断裂带两侧Te有非常大的差异,西侧的Te明显小于东侧,推测郯庐断裂带在华北克拉通破坏过程中起着非常重要的作用.(2) 从Te的各向异性来看,不同块体Te各向异性的大小或方向存在差异,并且研究区内地震大多分布在Te各向异性大小或方向转变的区域.(3) 从地震波SKS各向异性和Te各向异性的比较来看,在华北克拉通西部阿拉善块体岩石圈变形趋于垂直连贯变形模式;鄂尔多斯地区各向异性源自历史构造事件的"化石"各向异性;山西裂谷带地区Te的弱轴方向和SKS的快波方向平行,而在山西裂谷带南部的秦岭—大别区域,SKS快波方向和Te弱轴方向相垂直,这可能与地幔热物质上涌等作用有关.此外,Te各向异性与现今构造应力场间的相关性不明显,体现出华北克拉通复杂的构造应力特征.     

Crustal deformation and dynamics of Early Cretaceous in the North China Craton

The Early Cretaceous represents a peak period of the North China Craton(NCC) destruction. A comprehensive analysis of crustal deformation during this period can reveal processes and dynamics of the destruction. The peak destruction of the NCC was associated with intense extension whose representative deformation products are metamorphic core complexes(MCCs), extensional domes and rifted basins. These MCCs occurred along both northern and southern margins of the NCC, and resulted from synchronous extension and magmatism, showing difference from the typical orogen-type MCCs in many aspects.The MCCs of the Early Cretaceous were replaced by extensional domes under relatively weak extension and uplift. In contrast to a major depression-type basin of the Early Cretaceous in the western NCC, rifted basins of the same age in the eastern NCC appeared as medium-to small-scale ones extensively. In the eastern NCC, the rifted basins north of the Bohai Bay are characterized by a feature similar to an active rift whereas those south of the Bohai present similarity to a passive rift. Various sorts of extensional structures developed during the peak destruction indicate a stable stress state of NE-SE extension over the entire central to eastern NCC, consistent with the plate margin-driven stress field. Spatial distribution of the extensional structures presents an 1800 km wide back-arc extension region in the central to eastern NCC, consistent with the Paleo-Pacific slab rollback model following flat subduction. Temporal-spatial variation of initial extension and volcanic activity during the peak period also supports the rollback model right after the flat oceanic slab. The crustal deformation evolution demonstrates that the peak destruction of the NCC took place after the B-episode compression of the Yanshan Movement of the earliest Early Cretaceous and terminated with onset of the C-episode compression of the earliest Late Cretaceous.     

华北克拉通中西部地区地壳厚度与波速比研究

本文使用华北科学台阵和中国国家地震台网164个地震台站记录的远震波形资料,用最大反褶积方法提取接收函数,采用接收函数H-k叠加方法得到了各台站下方的地壳厚度和波速比.研究结果表明, 华北克拉通中西部地区的地壳厚度由东向西加深,其中东部的华北平原地区地壳厚度介于30~33 km ,中部的燕山—太行地区地壳厚度介于33~40 km之间,西部的鄂尔多斯块体地壳厚达40~42 km.研究显示该区的地壳平均波速比与地壳厚度没有明显相关性,这可能与该区地壳厚度、地壳组成横向变化异常强烈有关.研究区的地壳平均波速比介于1.68~1.86之间,东部盆地地区台站下方的波速比变化较大,多数分布于1.70~1.80之间;山区平均波速比主要集中分布于1.70 ~ 1.77之间,暗示山区块体较东部盆地地区地壳组成更富长英质,而缺少铁镁质成分.该区地壳厚度与地形高度具有很好的相关性,其斜率为6.6,较青藏高原东缘地区的斜率更高,通过分析表明,华北克拉通中西部地区上地幔顶部岩石密度相对较低,为古老的、低密度难熔的、富镁贫铁的克拉通,可为地壳提供更大的浮力.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age, geochemical, Sr-Nd isotopic, and in-situ Hf isotopic data of the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian plutons in the northern margin of the North China Craton

The main rock types of the Boluonuo and Daguangding plutons are diorite, quartz diorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and subordinate plagioclase-bearing hornblendite and hornblende gabbro. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for a quartz diorite of the Boluonuo pluton suggests that the pluton was emplaced at about 296±4 Ma. Plagioclase-bearing hornblendites show typical cumulative textures, which, in combination with their convex-upward REE patterns and the large variation of compatible elements such as Co, V and Sc, suggests that these hornblendites formed through accumulation of hornblende during magma evolution. Microgranular mafic enclaves (MMEs) are common in the Boluonuo and Daguangding intermediate to felsic plutons. Many plagioclase grains show compositional and textural disequilibrium, with calcium-rich cores (An 46-50 ) mantled abruptly by sodium-rich plagioclase (An 26-33 ). Whole-rock samples of the plutons are characterized by quite negative ε Nd (t) values (-16.5 to -11.8) and ε Hf (t) values (-22.5 to-16.8), and the ε Nd (t) values are negatively correlated with silica contents. All these features suggest that the intermediate to felsic plutons formed through magma mixing of enriched mantle-derived, evolved basaltic magma with granitic, crustal melts, followed by fractional crystallization of mainly hornblende and small amounts of pyroxene, apatite and zircon. The hornblende-dominated fractionation contributed significantly to the adakite-like features of the intermediate to felsic plutons, like the high Sr and Sr/Y ratios and low Yb abundance. In addition, the Boluonuo and Daguang- ding plutons are highly enriched in LILEs (e.g., Ba and Sr), but depleted in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Zr and Ti), which is typical of arc magmas. Therefore, the formation of Boluonuo and Daguangding plutons was probably related to the subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic slab beneath the North China Craton in the Paleozoic.     

Geodynamics of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization in the North China Craton

The North China Craton(NCC) experienced strong destruction(i.e., decratonization) during the Mesozoic, which triggered intensive magmatism, tectonism and thermal events and formed large-scale gold and other metal deposits in the eastern part of the craton. However, how the decratonization controls the formation and distribution of large-scale of gold and other metal deposits is not very clear. Based on a large number of published data and new results, this paper systematically summarizes all the data for the rock assemblages, chronology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of Mesozoic magmatic rocks, as well as for the mineralizing ages of gold and other metal deposits and the evolution of the Mesozoic basins in the eastern NCC. The results are used to restore the extensional rates of Mesozoic to Cenozoic basins and the strike-slip distance of the Tanlu Fault, to ascertain the location of the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction zones during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic, and to reconstruct the temporal and spatial distribution of Mesozoic gold and other metal deposits and magmatic rocks in the eastern NCC. It is obtained that the magmatism and mineralization in the eastern NCC westward migrate from east to west during the Early to Middle Jurassic, but they eastward migrate from west to east during the Early Cretaceous. The metallogenesis of these deposits is genetically related to magmatism, and the magmas provided some ore-forming materials and fluids for the generation of metal deposits. The geodynamic mechanism of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization is proposed, i.e., the westward low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab beneath the NCC formed continental magmatic arc with plenty of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the Jurassic, similar to the Andean continental arc in South America. The mantle wedge was metasomatized by the fluids/melts derived from the subducting slab, laying a material foundation for hydrothermal mineralization in the Early Cretaceous. While the rollback of the subducting slab with gradually increasing subduction angle and the retreat of the subduction zones during the Early Cretaceous induced strong destruction of the craton and the formation of extensive magmatic rocks and large-scale gold and other metal deposits.     

Discovery of the Early Mesozoic granulite xenoliths in North China Craton

The discovery of the Early Mesozoic basic granulite xenoliths in the Harqin area of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (for short Inner Mongolia) is reported for the first time in this paper. According to the mineral assemblage the xenoliths include two-pyroxene granulite, clinopyroxene granulite, and hypersthene granulite. Their protolytes are mainly gabbroite rocks. The zircon U?Pb age of the granulite xenoliths is 251 Ma, and K?Ar age of the hypersthene is 229 Ma. They represent the times of metamorphism and cooling of the granulite facies respectively. The host rock of the xenoliths is Early Mesozoic biotite-quartz diorites, whose whole-rock K?Ar age is 219 Ma. This discovery confirms existence of an Early Mesozoic underplating in the North China Craton, which is of much importance in research on the Early Mesozoic mantle-crust interaction in the concerned area.     

Geochronology,petrology,and geochemistry of the Yaojiazhuang ultramafic-syenitic complex from the North China Craton

The Yaojiazhuang ultramafic-syenitic complex is one of the representative Triassic alkaline plutons on the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Based on detailed study of the zircon U-Pb age,petrological,mineralogical,and geochemical data of the complex,the characteristics of the magmas system,the petrogenesis of different rock types,and the nature of the mantle source were discussed to provide new constraints on the origin and tectonic setting of the Triassic alkaline belt.Cumulus ultramafic rocks,clinopyroxene-syenites and syenites are the main rock types of the complex.The zircons from the syenites yielded a U-Pb age of 209 Ma.Diopside-augite,biotite,and sanidine-orthoclase are the major minerals,with subordinate apatite and magnetite.Rocks from the complex are enriched in large ion lithophile elements(LILE)and light rare earth elements(LREE),depleted in high field strength elements(HFSE)and heavy rare earth elements(HREE),and the initial 87Sr/86Sr ranges from 0.7057 to 0.7061 and ε Nd(t)from-9.4 to-11.4.Mineralogy and geochemical data demonstrate that the parent magma of the complex is SiO2-undersaturated ultrapotassic alkaline-peralkaline,and is characterized by high CaO content and fluid compositions(P2O5,CO2,H2O),and by high oxygen fugacity and high temperature.The complex was originated from a phlogopite-clinopyroxenite-rich lithospheric mantle source in the garnet-stable area(> 80 km)that had previously been metasomatized by melts/fluids from altered oceanic crust.The parent magma has been contaminated by little ancient TTG gneisses during magma emplacement.The development of the Yaojiazhuang complex indicates that the northern margin of the NCC has entered into an extensively extensional regime in the Late Triassic.     

华北克拉通地区基于程函方程的面波层析成像

利用布设在华北克拉通地区的流动和固定地震台站记录到的地震波数据,使用基于程函方程的面波成像方法获得了整个华北克拉通地区瑞利波15~150 s周期的相速度,并反演了研究区S波速度结构.中长周期相速度结果显示,在上地幔及岩石圈深度范围内,燕山地区表现为高速特征,华北克拉通中部大同盆地及其以南地区、太行山等区域的低速体与华北盆地的低速体相连,呈现大面积的低速异常,低速体的速度值比青藏高原东北缘的速度值更低;S波速度显示鄂尔多斯岩石圈厚度较厚,克拉通中部和华北盆地岩石圈厚度相差不大,燕山地区岩石圈厚度要厚于华北盆地.本文认为华北克拉通岩石圈破坏存在分区性,克拉通中部和燕山地区均存在一定的克拉通破坏,但破坏程度不同,鄂尔多斯地块北部存在局部克拉通改造,但克拉通稳定性特征依然存在;破坏的主要动力学来源更可能是太平洋板块的西向俯冲.研究发现克拉通中部和东部的强震分布区与克拉通破坏区域重合,大部分强震发生在岩石圈强度边界上,分析认为岩石圈强度的差异是岩石圈强度边界上显示出较高的强震活动性的原因.

     

华北地区地壳厚度与泊松比研究

华北地区地壳结构和物理性质是研究华北克拉通破坏机制的重要依据.本文通过收集分布在华北克拉通区域的323个宽频带地震台记录到的2007年8月到2009年3月间发生在全球范围内6.5级到8.5级的共93个远震事件的波形资料,较完整地得到了华北及其周边区域台站下方的接收函数、地壳厚度和泊松比分布情况.研究发现:(1)华北克拉通地壳厚度大范围减薄不仅仅发生在东部,而是已经到达南北重力梯度带附近; (2)在鄂尔多斯的周边裂谷盆地,地壳也出现了减薄现象; 周边裂谷区的泊松比大于鄂尔多斯内部,局部区域的泊松比高达0.3左右; (3)从地壳厚度和地形的相关性来看,华北地区的地壳厚度与地表地形存在着明显负相关的关系,这与艾利均衡假说相一致,可能意味着华北地区的地壳正在经历着缓慢的破坏与均衡同时进行的过程; 而华北克拉通中西部和东北部则显示出明显的不均衡现象.     

Major tectonic units of the North China Craton and their Paleoproterozoic assembly

In the last decade, Chinese geologists have made a remarkable progress in studies on thelithology, structural style, metamorphic evolution, geochemistry and geochronology of the North China Craton, including recognition of numerous tonalitic-trondhjemitic…     

华北克拉通热结构差异性特征及其意义

华北克拉通破坏存在空间上的差异性,至今其内在的动力学机制仍存在较大的争议,这种差异性在岩石圈热结构上必然有所表现.广义上岩石圈热结构包括热流结构、温度场结构和热岩石圈厚度,是揭示岩石圈演化及其内在动力学过程的重要基础.基于二维地震剖面和大地热流数据,建立二维稳态热传导有限元模型,对华北克拉通东部岩石圈热结构进行模拟计算并与西部进行对比分析,在此基础上对比热岩石圈与地震岩石圈厚度差异的变化.结果显示,华北克拉通东、西部岩石圈热结构有着较为明显的差异,地幔热流值波动范围分别在24~44/20.5~24.5 mW·m-2,壳幔比1.61~0.70/1.84~1.51,以1300℃等温线计算得到的热岩石圈厚度变化范围在75~139 km/128~162 km.华北克拉通东部相对西部有着较高的深部地幔热流值和较小的地震/热岩石圈厚度差异,这可能意味着东部软流圈地幔有效黏度相比西部低,估算差异可达2~3个数量级.     

High oxygen fugacity magma:implication for the destruction of the North China Craton

The mechanism of lithospheric removal and destruction of the North China Craton(NCC)has been hotly debated for decades.It is now generally accepted that the subduction of the(Paleo)-Pacific plate played an important role in this process.However,how the plate subduction contributed to the craton destruction remains unclear.Here we report high oxygen fugacity(fO2)characteristics of the Yunmengshan granite,e.g.,hematitemagnetite intergrowth supported by zircon Ce^4+/Ce^3+ratios and apatite Mn oxygen fugacity indicator.High fO2 magmas are widely discovered in Late Mesozoic(160-130 Ma)adakitic rocks in central NCC.The origin of high fO2 magma is likely related to the input of the"oxidized mantle components",which shows a dose connection between plate subduction and destruction of the craton.The research area is^1500 km away from the current Pacific subduction zone.Considering the back-arc extension of Japan Sea since the Cretaceous,this distance may be shortened to^800 km,which is still too far for normal plate subduction.Ridge subduction is the best candidate that was responsible for the large scale magmatism and the destruction of the NCC.Massive slab-derived fluids and/or melts were liberated into an overlying mantle wedge and modified the lithospheric mantle.Rollback of the subducting plate induced the large-scale upwelling of asthenospheric mantle and triggered the formation of extensive high fO2 intraplate magmas.     

Precambrian mafic dyke swarms in the North China Craton and their geological implications

A map of major Precambrian mafic dyke swarms and related units in the North China Craton is compiled, and the features and geological implications of these swarms are demonstrated. The Archean dyke swarms are available to portray the early crustal growth and cratonization. The middle Paleoproterozoic(2200–1850 Ma) swarms and related magmatic series could constrain the tectonic evolution: They approve that the craton was amalgamated by two sub-cratons. The late Paleoproterozoic(1800–1600 Ma), Mesoproterozoic(1400–1200 Ma) and Neoproterozoic(1000–800 Ma) series swarms are important in paleogeographic reconstruction: they indicate that North China might have connected with some of the North European and North American cratons during Proterozoic. Dyke swarms are not only geological timescales and tectonic markers but also evolution indicators of lithospheric mantle: they imply a rejuvenation of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle of North China at 1780–1730 Ma. These swarms occurred with several rifts, including the Hengling(2200–1970 Ma), Xuwujia(1970–1880 Ma), Xiong'er(1800–1600 Ma), Yan-Liao(1730–1200 Ma), and Xu-Huai(1000–800 Ma). Among them, the Xuwujia rift was possibly continental arc associated; whereas the others were intra-continental. In addition, the Xiong'er and Xu-Huai rifts were possibly triple junctions along the present southern and southeastern margins of the Craton, respectively. Different tectonic settings of these rifts and dyke swarms would result in diversified series of ore deposits.     

Triassic magmatism and its relation to decratonization in the eastern North China Craton

Lithospheric removal and destruction of the North China Craton have been hotly discussed recently. It has been confirmed that the timing of a strong lithospheric removal took place in Late Mesozoic; however, little is known about when the lithospheric removal was initiated and how the Late Permian to Early Triassic deep subduction of Yangtze continental crust affected the cratonic destruction. This paper presents an overview on the temporal and spatial framework and geochemical characteristics of the Triass...     

Insight into craton evolution: Constraints from shear wave splitting in the North China Craton

The multi-episodic tectonic activities from the Precambrian to Cenozoic, including nucleus formation, cratonic amalgamation, and rejuvenation, make the North China Craton (NCC) an ideal natural laboratory for studying craton evolution. Spatial change in the upper deformation records is an important aspect for understanding cratonic formation and rejuvenation. In this study, we performed seismic shear wave splitting analysis using SKS phases from 50 portable stations. Two different methodologies, shear wave splitting measurement and amplitude analysis of transverse/radial components, produced mutually consistent splitting results. These results showed that the seismic anisotropy beneath the Ordos Block can be divided into three subgroups reflecting the tectonic control. Combining these results with those from previous splitting studies in the eastern NCC, we suggest that the Proterozoic amalgamation generated the seismic anisotropy in the boundary zone between the Ordos Block and the Trans-North China Orogen, while the anisotropy in the eastern Trans-North China Orogen and eastern NCC were possibly associated with the lithospheric rejuvenation during the Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic.