THE LITHOSPHERIC EVOLUTION IN THE QIANGTANG BLOCK OF NORTHERN TIBET PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM CENOZOIC VOLCANISM

THE LITHOSPHERIC EVOLUTION IN THE QIANGTANG BLOCK OF NORTHERN TIBET PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM CENOZOIC VOLCANISM     

Early Pleistocene magmatism in the central part of the Greater Caucasus

An isotope-geochronological study of young magmatism in the central part of the Greater Caucasus (Kazbek neovolcanic area) on the territory of Russia and Georgia has been carried out. It was proved for the first time that, in the Early Pleistocene, there was a separate impulse of magmatic activity in this area. The area of endogenic activity for the period identified was contoured on the basis of the integrated isotope-geochronological, petrological-geochemical, and geological data. It has been shown that the Early Pleistocene volcanism inherits the area of Neogene volcanism in the Kazbek region and, therefore, presents the final impulse of the second (Pliocene) stage of the Late Cenozoic magmatism. Thus, Early Pleistocene volcanism was not a precursor of Late Quaternary magmatism as the latter has other spatial patterns of the location of volcanic centers.     

长江源区新生代火山岩的年代学研究

长江源区的火山岩包含了青藏高原北部新生代火山岩形成及演化的全部信息，其年代学研究对查明青藏高原北部新生代火山活动时空演化具有重要意义。通过K—Ar同位素年代学研究，将长江源区新生代的火山活动划分为3期：第Ⅰ期(40．1-35．1Ma)火山喷发较弱，形成小范围分布的细粒安粗岩和斑状粗面岩；第Ⅱ期(26．5～17．6Ma)火山喷溢最为强烈，形成大面积厚层黑色气孔状安粗岩；第Ⅲ期(5．5-4．61Ma)由潜火山作用形成球粒状、斑状粗面岩岩丘。长江源区3个期次的火山喷发与青藏高原北部火山活动的阶段性相对应。长江源区新生代火山岩的演化特征为：从早到晚，岩石系列由高钾钙碱性系列→钾玄岩系列演化；岩性由安粗岩→粗面岩演化。     

K—Ar Geochronology and Evolution of Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks in Eastrn China

Cenozoic volcanic rocks widespread in eastern China constitute an important part of the circum-Pacific volcanic belt.This paper presents more than 150K-Ar dates and a great deal of petrochemical analysis data from the Cenozoic volcanic rocks distributed in Tengchong,China‘s southeast coast,Shandong,Hebei,Nei Monggol and Northeast China.An integrated study shows that ubiquitous but uneven volcanic activities prevailed from the Eogene to the Holocene,characterized as being multi-eqisodic and multicycled.For example,in the Paleocene(67-58Ma),Eocene(57-37.5Ma),Miocene(22-18,16-19Ma),Pliocene(8-3Ma),and Early Pleistocene-Middle Pleistocene(1.2-0.5Ma) there were upsurges of volcanism,while in the Oligocene there was a repose period.In space,the older Eogene volcanic rocks are distributed within the region or in the central part of the NE-NNE-striking fault depression,while the younger Neogene and Quaternary volcanic rocks are distributed in the eastern and western parts.Petrologically,they belong essentially to tholeiite-series and alkali-series basalts,with alkalinity in the rocks increasing from old to youg.The above regularities are controlled by both global plate movement and regional inherent tectonic pattern.     

Sources and geodynamics of the Late Cenozoic volcanism of Central Mongolia: Evidence from isotope-geochemical studies

In the Late Cenozoic, the volcanism of the South Khangai Volcanic Region (SKhVR) spanned the Khangai Range and its framing. Geochronological, petrochemical, geochemical, and isotope studies were performed for volcanic rocks of this region, which are represented by high-K basic and intermediate rocks of OIB affinity. Initial Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios in the volcanic rocks of the SKhVR are close to those of the volcanic rocks of Pitcairn Island and form trends between PREMA, EMI, and EMII sources.     

Volcanism of the southern part of the Sredinny Range of Kamchatka in the Neogene-Quaternary

Based on the geochemical characteristics of the Miocene-Quaternary volcanic rocks of the Sredinny Range of Kamchatka, we divide it into northern and southern provinces; the latter comprises the “eastern”, “western”, and “central” flanks. We present new data on the composition of Neogene-Quaternary volcanic rocks in the southern part of the Sredinny Range of Kamchatka: Khangar and Icha volcanic massifs and Mt. Yurtinaya on the “western” flank, Bystrinsky and Kozyrevsky Ridges on the “eastern” flank, and Anaunsky Dol and Uksichan massif located in between. We show systematic differences in the composition of rocks from the “western” and “eastern” flanks. During the Neogene, a typical island-arc volcanism took place within the “eastern” flank. Quaternary volcanic rocks of this area have both island-arc and within-plate geochemical features. We propose to call rocks of this type hybrid rocks. Within the “western” flank, hybrid volcanism has been manifested since the Neogene, while typical island-arc rocks are not found. Magma generation processes on the “western” flank of the Sredinny Ridge are influenced by an enriched mantle source; the effect of fluid is less pronounced here as compared to the rocks of the “eastern” flank, where it is clearly traced.     

Age and origin of Miocene gabbroid intrusions in the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus

The results of isotope-geochronological and petrological-geochemical study are reported for Neogene mafic intrusive rocks distributed in the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia). It is shown that the young plutonic bodies were formed here in two magmatic stages: in the Middle Miocene (around 15.5 Ma) and in the terminal Miocene (9-7.5 Ma). The first age group includes a microsyenitic massif in Guria (Western Georgia), which was formed in a setting of active continental margin related to the subduction of oceanic part of the Arabian plate beneath the Transcaucasus. The Late Miocene intrusive magmatism already records the incipient within-plate activity: small polyphase bodies of alkaline gabbroids and lamprophyres of Samtskhe (South Georgia) dated around 9-8.5 Ma and teschenite intrusions of Guria dated at 7.5Ma. Petrological-geochemical and isotope-geochemical data indicate that the parental melts of the rocks of all studied Neogene plutonic bodies of the Lesser Caucasus were derived from a single mantle source. Its characteristics are close to those of a Common hypothetical reservoir, which is usually regarded as a source of oceanic and continental hot spot basalts (OIB) but shows some regional peculiarity. The role of crustal assimilation and crystallization differentiation in the genesis of the Miocene rocks of Guria was limited, which is related to the rapid ascent of deep melts to the surface (in a setting of local extension) without intense interaction with host sequences under the absence of consolidated continental lithosphere beneath this part of the Transcaucasus. The parental mantle-derived magmas of the Neogene gabbroids of Samtskhe were strongly contributed by upper crustal material, which caused a change in their isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr up to 0.70465, ?_Nd up to + 2.8) and geochemical characteristics relative to the regional mantle source. In addition, the crustal contamination of mantle basic melts during the late phases of the Samtskhe plutonic bodies formation led to their intense fractionation with precipitation of mainly olivine and pyroxene. The larger scale mantle-crustal interaction during formation of the Samtskhe intrusions was probably related to the fact that the upper lithosphere in this sector of the Transcaucasus contained large Paleozoic blocks, which were made up of granite-metamorphic complexes and prevented a rapid ascent of mantle melts to the surface. The rocks of these blocks were presumably assimilated by mantle magmas in the intermediate chambers at the upper crustal levels.     

Review Section

ABSTRACT

The petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry of the early Permian volcanic rocks from Houtoumiao area, south Xiwuqi County in central Inner Mongolia of China, are studied to elucidate the early Permian tectonic setting of the region. The volcanic rocks, which are interbedded with sandstone, feature both mafic and felsic compositions and show a bimodal nature. Zircon U–Pb dating reveals that the volcanic rocks formed at 274–278 Ma, similar to the ages of bimodal magmatism in neighbouring areas. The mafic rocks are composed of tholeiitic basalt, basaltic andesite, basaltic trachyandesite, and trachyandesite. They are rich in Th, U, and LILEs, depleted in HFSEs Nb, Ta, and Ti, and have positive ε_Nd(t) values (+3.6 to +7.9). Geochemical analyses indicate that the mafic rocks originated from metasomatized lithospheric mantle. The felsic volcanic rocks are mainly rhyolite, with minor trachyte and dacite. They have different evolutionary tendencies of major elements, chondrite-normalized REE patterns, and isotopic compositions from the mafic volcanic rocks, which preclude formation by fractional crystallization of mafic melts. The ε_Nd(t) values of the felsic rocks are similar to those of the Carboniferous Baolidao arc rocks in the region. It is suggested that Permian felsic melts originated from the partial melting of Carboniferous juvenile arc-related rocks. By comparison with typical Cenozoic bimodal volcanism associated with several tectonic settings, including rift, post-collisional setting, back-arc basin, and the Basin and Range, USA, the bimodal volcanic rocks in central Inner Mongolia display similar petrological and geochemical characteristics to the rocks from back-arc basin and the Basin and Range, USA. Based on the analysis of regional geological data, it is inferred that the early Permian bimodal volcanic rocks in the study area formed on an extensional continental margin of the Siberian palaeoplate after late Carboniferous subduction–accretion.     

40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Neogene-Quaternary Harrat Al-Madinah intercontinental volcanic field,Saudi Arabia: Implications for duration and migration of volcanic activity

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages, based on incremental heating techniques for groundmass separates of 25 samples, are presented for the Harrat Al-Madinah volcanic field, part of Harrat Rahat in the north western part of the Arabian plate. This area is an active volcanic field characterized by the occurrence of two historical eruptions approximately in 641 and 1256 AD. Field investigations of the main volcanic landforms indicate dominantly monogenetic strombolian eruptions, in addition to local more explosive eruptions. The lavas consist mainly of olivine basalt and hawaiite flows with minor evolved rocks of mugearite, benmoreite, and trachyte that occur mainly as domes, tuff cones and occasionally as lava flows. Previous K/Ar dating shows that the Harrat Al-Madinah lava flows and associated domes comprise seven units spanning an age range of ca. 1.7 Ma–Recent. The new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations confirm, to a great extent, the previously obtained K/Ar ages in the sense that no major systematic biases were found in the general stratigraphy of the different flow units. However, the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages show that volcanism in this area began in the Neogene (∼10 Ma) and continued to Recent, with the most voluminous eruptions occurring in the Quaternary. Neogene volcanism occurred in at least three pulses around 10, 5 and 2 Ma, whereas Quaternary volcanism produced at least seven units reflecting lava flow emplacement in the time period of 1.90 Ma–Recent. Thus, the whole duration of volcanic activity in the Harrat Al-Madinah (10 Ma–Recent) appears much longer than that previously identified. The longevity of volcanism in the same part of the moving Arabian plate and absence of evidence for uni-directional migration of volcanic activity indicate that there is no fixed plume beneath this region. The NNW-trending distribution of the volcanic vents is parallel to the Red Sea, and suggests their origin is related to periodic extensional episodes along the reactivated Red Sea fault system.     

Formation of the Late Cenozoic volcanic complexes of the Lesser Caucasus

The paper considers the role of the lithospheric mantle and asthenosphere during the Late Cenozoic collision volcanism of the Lesser Caucasus. The results of petrogeochemical studies show that the products of volcanism of the West Volcanic Zone of Armenia and the calc-alkaline andesite–dacite–rhyodacite complex of the Neogene Kelbadzhar and Karabakh plateaus were formed from an enriched source in a suprasubduction setting. Late Pliocene–Quaternary moderately alkaline and alkaline volcanic rocks of the Lesser Caucasus differ in petrogeochemistry from suprasubduction volcanic rocks. In trace element contents and patterns, they are similar to rocks formed from an enriched mantle source. Comparative analysis of the geological and geophysical data suggests the model of lithospheric slab break-off of the thickened lithosphere as the triggering mechanism for Late Cenozoic magmatism of the Lesser Caucasus.     

西准噶尔萨吾尔地区二叠纪火山活动规律

西准噶尔萨吾尔地区位于新疆阿勒泰的吉木乃县及塔城地区和丰县。区内泥盆纪—二叠纪均有火山活动,其中二叠纪火山作用尤为强烈。二叠纪火山岩地层包括哈尔加乌组和卡拉岗组,哈尔加乌组为一套陆相中基性-中性火山岩及火山碎屑岩,卡拉岗组为一套陆相中基性-中酸性火山岩及火山碎屑岩。哈尔加乌—卡拉岗旋回火山岩主要岩性包括橄榄玄武岩、玄武岩、粗玄岩、安山岩、粗安岩、流纹岩、火山碎屑岩等。根据火山岩地层综合剖面以及火山岩的岩石学、岩相学特征,萨吾尔地区二叠纪火山活动由早至晚可分为5个阶段:中性喷发阶段、间歇性基性喷发阶段、酸性爆发及喷溢阶段、小规模中性间歇性爆发及喷溢阶段、基性喷发阶段;火山岩为陆相火山岩,具有双峰式特征,形成于伸展的构造背景下。     

Late Miocene calc-alkalic volcanism in northwestern Mexico: an expression of rift or subduction-related magmatism?

Magmatism in NW Mexico records a Late Miocene transformation from convergence to extension in the Gulf of California rift system. Miocene calc-alkalic rocks in the Baja California peninsula are related to the final subduction of the Farallon plate system, but the heterogeneous nature of volcanism younger than 12.5 Ma has led to conflicting tectonic interpretations. Neogene volcanic rocks in the Sierra Santa Ursula, Sonora, were emplaced in three magma pulses, according to mapping, K–Ar geochronology, and geochemistry. From 23.5 to 15 and 14 to 11.4 Ma, calc-alkalic rocks show an arc-like signature. The 12–11 Ma calc-alkalic dacites, however, are characterized by higher K, Rb, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, and light REE abundances than are the older rocks. The timing, petrography, and geochemistry of the 12–11 Ma rocks are interpreted to reflect postsubduction magmatism. A change in magma chemistry from predominantly calc-alkalic to tholeiitic rocks at 10.3 Ma corresponds to orthogonal extension during early Gulf of California evolution. Sr, Nd, and Pb radiogenic isotope signatures show minor changes over time. The volcanic record for 20–12.5 Ma at Sierra Santa Ursula and adjacent areas is consistent with the reconstructed history of the Guadalupe microplate. The interval of magmatism produced from 12 to 11 Ma appears to reflect changes in plate geometry during the transition from subduction to rifting.     

腾冲上新统芒棒组地质时代及沉积环境

摘要：腾冲地区新生代地层分布广泛，其中又以芒棒组出露较为完整，由河流相、湖泊相及沼泽相碎屑岩夹火山岩中火山沉积岩组成，含丰富的植物化石和硅藻化石。依据化石研究及用K-Ar、Rh-Sr法测获同位素年龄，芒棒组应属新近纪上新世。植物化石显示腾冲地区上新世时期气候，比现今亚热带炎热干燥气候较温凉而湿润，反映该区从新近纪上新世至第四纪，气候有从凉变暖的演变趋势。     

西昆仑阿什库勒火山群地质特征和活动分期

阿什库勒火山群作为青藏高原内最新期的北部昆仑火山群的典型代表,长期以来一直受到国内外地学界的广泛关注。我们通过对阿什库勒盆地火山区的野外地质地貌考察,研究了阿什库勒盆地内第四纪火山活动历史,完成了阿什库勒火山群重要火山锥体的1∶2000火山机构图。同时,对系统采集于不同火山机构和部位的20个火山岩样品进行了系列Ar-Ar同位素年代测试分析,获得了翔实的研究区不同火山岩石单元的绝对年龄数据。结合野外地质地貌考察结果,讨论了阿什库勒盆地的火山活动的第四纪时期活动历史,并将主要活动时期进一步划分为早更新世早期、早更新世中期、中更新世早期、中更新世晚期、晚更新世期和全新世期六期,取得了与前人有关该研究区火山活动历史和活动期次类似的划分方案,并补充了新的年代学证据。研究成果弥补了藏北高原西部由于恶劣工作环境而造成的第四纪火山学研究的不足。     

大兴安岭诺敏河第四纪火山岩分期:岩石学、年代学与火山地质特征

大兴安岭北段诺敏河第四纪火山24座,分布于诺敏河及其支流毕拉河和甘河支流奎勒河,火山岩分布面积约600km2。诺敏河火山岩均属于钾质系列火山岩(K2O含量2%～4%,且K2O>Na2O-2%),类似于邻区五大连池-科洛钾质火山岩,具有来自类似的富钾地幔源区。但诺敏河火山岩的K2O含量明显低于五大连池-科洛火山岩的K2O含量(一般4%～6%)。东北地区和内蒙东部处于中亚造山带东段,从古生代到新生代,多重构造-岩浆活动导致火山岩源区地球化学非均一性和火山岩的多样性。根据本文提出的火山岩K-Ar年龄(2.3～0.128Ma)及火山地质特征,可将诺敏河第四纪火山岩分为四期。早期(早更新世)火山活动主要沿诺敏河和奎勒河流域分布,火山产物多被晚期沉积物或火山产物所覆盖。中更新世保留的火山锥体及熔岩流是诺敏河第四纪火山产物的主体,表明是第四纪火山活动的高潮期。晚更新世-全新世火山活动限于毕拉河流域,典型的四方山火山和马鞍山火山是该时期火山活动的代表作,保留了较完好的火山地质地貌特征。从火山产物的时空展布,推测诺敏河第四纪火山活动有从东向西发展的趋势。     

THE EARLY UPLIFT IN NORTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM THE STUDY ON CENOZOIC VOLCANIC ROCKS IN QIANGTANG REGION

THE EARLY UPLIFT IN NORTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU: EVIDENCE FROM THE STUDY ON CENOZOIC VOLCANIC ROCKS IN QIANGTANG REGION     

Geochronology of Pliocene volcanism in the Dzhavakheti Highland (the Lesser Caucasus). Part 1: Western part of the Dzhavakheti Highland

Isotopic-geochronological study of the Pliocene magmatic activity in western part of the Dzhavakheti Highland (northwestern region of the Lesser Caucasus) is carried out. The results obtained imply that the Pliocene magmatic activity lasted in this part of the highland approximately 2 million years from 3.75 to 1.75–1.55 Ma. As is established, the studied volcanic rocks correspond in composition mostly to K-Na subalkaline and more abundant normal basalts. Time constraints of main phases in development of basic volcanism within the study region are figured out. We assume that individual pulses of silicic to moderately silicic volcanism presumably took place in the Dzhavakheti Highland about 3.2 and 2.5 Ma ago.     

Late Cenozoic Volcanism of the Vitim Depression and Its Correlation with the Vitim Lava Plateau (Western Transbaikalia) according to K–Ar Geochronology

New data on the geology, age, and composition of the Late Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Vitim Depression, a satellite of the Vitim Lava Plateau (VLP), have been obtained. Two-stage volcanic activity has been revealed. In the Middle Miocene (14–13 Ma), a basalt and trachybasalt (hawaiite) lava covers were formed. In the Pleistocene (1.6–0.7 Ma), basanite erupted from scoria cones. Both stages of volcanism were coeval to similar pulses of volcanism within the VLP. However, unlike the latter, there were no Pliocene and Late Miocene eruptions within the Vitim Depression. Additionally, the Vitim Depression basalts have depleted geochemical characteristics comparative to those of the VLP. These features of the Vitim Depression volcanics imply their autonomous formation, whereas the synchroneity of the initial and final stages of volcanism in the depression and in the VLP reflects the existence of a common regulating mechanism of igneous activity.     

U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope ratios of magmatic zircons from the Iberian Pyrite Belt

A geochronology and Hf isotope study, using laser ablation-ICP-MS analysis of zircon grains, has been conducted to date felsic volcanic rocks from the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and to establish possible sources for these rocks. The ages obtained range from the Famennian to the Tournaisian, with the oldest ages reported in the Belt so far being identified in its southwestern part (Cercal area). Results also indicate that within each area, volcanism may have extended for significant periods of time. This suggests that caution is needed in interpreting possible migration trends for the volcanism, as the exact stratigraphic position of the sampled rocks is not always clear. Despite of this, the new data, coupled with previously reported information, suggests that volcanism migrated within the basin from the southwest to the northeast (present day coordinates). Projection from initial zircon ?Hf values towards the depleted mantle evolution curve, via an intermediate reservoir, allows the calculation of Hf protolith model ages that are predominantly Meso-Proterozoic. This is compatible with acid magmas resulting from the fusion of Phyllite–Quartzite (PQ) Formation metasedimentary rocks, which are beneath the volcanic rocks. This is because zircon grains from one PQ Formation sample provided Late Neo-Proterozoic ages and Paleo-Proterozoic to Late Archean U–Pb ages, and the Hf isotope signatures of these zircons can be expected to mix during fusion and result in protolith model ages that would be intermediate between the two U–Pb age populations, as recorded. Further supporting this source for the magmas, the distribution of U–Pb ages of (pre-Variscan) inherited zircon grains in the volcanic rocks is very similar to that shown by the detrital zircon grains from a PQ sample.     

中国新生代火山岩岩石学、地球化学与年代学研究进展

回顾了我国近五年来在新生代火山岩的岩石学、地球化学与年代学方面所取得的主要进展。重点总结了中国东部与青藏高原的新生代火山岩的时空分布特征,包括年代学数据成果和岩石学资料;回顾中国东部与青藏高原新生代火山岩的岩石成因和深部动力学过程研究,介绍了目前对于长白山天池火山、中国东部新生代玄武岩、青藏高原的地球动力学过程、钾质-超钾质火山岩、高镁钾质火山岩等研究已获得的主要成果和认识;提出了中国新生代火山岩研究中存在的问题以及进一步工作的建议。