Mesoproterozoic evolution of the R��o de la Plata Craton in Uruguay: at the heart of Rodinia?

Mesoproterozoic volcanosedimentary units and tectonic events occurring in the Río de la Plata Craton (RPC) are reviewed. A belt consisting of volcanosedimentary successions exhibiting greenschist-facies metamorphism is exposed in the eastern RPC (Nico Pérez Terrane) in Uruguay. The Parque UTE Group consists of basic volcanics and gabbros at the base (1,492?±?4?Ma, U?CPb on zircon), carbonates in its middle part and interbedded carbonates, shales and acid volcanics (1,429?±?21?Ma, U?CPb on zircon) at the top. The Mina Verdún Group is made up of rhyolites and acid pyroclastics at its base and top, and Conophyton-bearing limestones and massive dolostones in the middle. A U?CPb LA-ICP MS zircon age of 1,433?±?6?Ma is reported here for lapilli-tuffs at the base of the Mina Verdún Group (Cerro de las Víboras Formation). This age shows that the Mina Verdún Group immediately postdates the Parque UTE Group, a fact supported by carbon isotope chemostratigraphy. Both units were deformed and metamorphosed between 1.25 and 1.20?Ga, as shown by K?CAr and Ar?CAr ages. This tectonic event affected most of the RPC and led to the accretion of the Nico Pérez Terrane to the remainder of the RPC along the Sarandí del Yí megashear. We report a U?CPb LA-ICP MS zircon age (upper intercept) of 3,096?±?45?Ma for metatonalites of the La China Complex (Nico Pérez Terrane), which yield a lower intercept age of 1,252?Ma. A proto-Andean, Mesoproterozoic belt is envisaged to account for abundant Mesoproterozoic detrital zircon ages occurring in Ediacaran sandstones of the RPC. If the RPC is fringed at both sides by Mesoproterozoic, Grenville-aged belts it is likely that it occupied a rather central position in Rodinia. A possible location between Laurentia and the Kalahari Craton, and to the south of Amazonia, is suggested.     

Accretion of Grenvillian terranes to the southwestern border of the R��o de la Plata craton, western Argentina

A comprehensive review of the geological, geochronological, and isotopic features of the Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian terranes attached to the southwest of the Río de la Plata craton in Early Paleozoic times is presented in this paper. They are grouped into the northern (sierras de Umango, Maz and del Espinal and surroundings), central (Sierra de Pie de Palo, southern Precordillera and Frontal Cordillera), and southern (San Rafael and Las Matras Blocks) segments. The Mesoproterozoic basement consists mainly of arc related, intermediate to acidic and mafic?Cultramafic rocks of 1,244?C1,027?Ma, with juvenile, Laurentian affinity. Exception to it is the Maz Group, with a protracted history and reworked character. They are affected by 846?C570?Ma, extensional magmatism in the northern and central segments, which represents the Neoproterozoic breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. Successive passive margin sedimentation is registered in Late Neoproterozoic (~640?C580?Ma) and Cambro-Ordovician (~550?C470?Ma) times. The southern segment is noted for the younger sedimentation alone, and for showing the exclusive primary unconformable relationship between the Mesoproterozoic basement and Early Ordovician cover. The effects of Early Paleozoic Famatinian orogeny, associated with the collisions of Cuyania and Chilenia terranes, are recorded as main phase (480?C450?Ma), late phase (440?C420?Ma), and Chanic phase (400?C360?Ma). Among them, the tectonothermal climax is the Ordovician main phase, to which klippe and nappe structures typical of collisional orogens are related in the northern and central segments. Preliminary data allow us to suggest a set of paired metamorphic belts, with an outboard high-P/T belt, and an inboard Barrowian P/T belt.     

Trophic Impacts of Marine Mammals and Seabirds in the Río de la Plata Estuary and the Nearshore Oceanic Ecosystem

As top predators, marine mammals and seabirds play an important role in structuring marine ecosystems, and their trophic role have become a major issue. In this study, we quantify the trophic impact of marine mammals and seabirds in the Río de la Plata estuary based on a previous trophic mass balance model of this estuary. The model comprised 37 functional groups: 3 species of marine mammals (2 cetaceans: Tursiops truncatus, Pontoporia blainvillei and 1 pinniped: Otaria flavescens), 1 coastal bird group comprising 11 species, 17 fish, 12 invertebrates, 2 zooplanktons, 1 phytoplankton, detritus, and 5 fishing fleets. Model results showed that seabirds, O. flavescens and P. blainvillei, are apex predators, with high levels of niche overlap among them, suggesting competition for similar resources such as fish species. Marine mammals and seabirds produce negative effects on commercially important species, while, at the same time, indirect positive effects (increase of the biomass) were also detected in some groups related to trophic cascade effects.     

The Tandilia System of Argentina as a southern extension of the R��o de la Plata craton: an overview

The southernmost outcrops of the Río de la Plata cratonic region are exposed in the Tandilia System in eastern Argentina. The geological evolution comprises mainly an igneous-metamorphic Paleoproterozoic basement named Buenos Aires Complex, which is covered by Neoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic sedimentary units which display subhorizontal bedding. The basement of calc-alkaline signature consists mainly of granitic-tonalitic gneisses, migmatites, amphibolites, some ultramafic rocks, and granitoid plutons. Subordinate rock-types include schists, marbles, and dykes of acid and mafic composition. Tandilia was recognized as an important shear belt district with mylonite rocks derived mainly from granitoids. The tectonic scenario seems related to juvenile accretion event (2.25?C2.12?Ga) along an active continental margin, followed by continental collision (2.1?C2.08?Ga) after U?CPb zircon data. The collisional tectonic setting caused thrusting and transcurrent faulting favouring the anatexis of the crustal rocks. The tholeiitic dykes constrain the time of crustal extension associated with the last stages of the belt evolution. The basement was preserved from younger orogenies such as those of the Brasiliano cycle. After a long paleoweathering process, the Sierras Bayas Group (c. 185?m thick) represents a record of the first Neoproterozoic sedimentary unit (siliciclastic, dolostones, shales, limestones), superposed by Cerro Negro Formation (c. 150?C400?m thick, siliciclastics) assigned to Upper Neoproterozoic age. The final sedimentary transgression during Early Paleozoic was the Balcarce Formation (c. 90?C450?m thick) deposited over all the mentioned Precambrian units. Based on all the geological background, a tectonic evolution is offered.     

The R��o de la Plata Craton: a review of units, boundaries, ages and isotopic signature

A review of the lithostratigraphic units in the Río de la Plata Craton and of new and previously published geochronological, isotopic and geophysical data is presented. Sm?CNd T_DM model ages between 2.6 and 2.2?Ga characterize the Piedra Alta Terrane of this craton. Crystallization ages between 2.2 and 2.1?Ga for the metamorphic protoliths and 2.1?C2.0?Ga for the post-orogenic granitoids indicate juvenile crust, followed by a short period of crustal recycling. Cratonization of this terrane occurred during the late Paleoproterozoic. Younger overprinting is not observed, suggesting it had a thick and strong lithosphere in the Neoproterozoic. A similar scenario is indicated for the Tandilia Belt of Argentina. Sm?CNd T_DM model ages for the Nico Pérez Terrane show two main events of crustal growth (3.0?C2.6?and 2.3?C1.6?Ga). The crystallization ages on zircon ranges between 3.1 and 0.57?Ga, which is evidence for long-lived crustal reworking. The age for cratonization is still uncertain. In the Taquarembó Block, which is considered the prolongation of the Nico Pérez Terrane in southern Brazil, a similar scenario can be observed. These differences together with contrasting geophysical signatures support the redefinition of the Río de la Plata Craton comprising only the Piedra Alta Terrane and the Tandilia Belt. The Sarandí del Yí Shear Zone is regarded as the eastern margin of this Craton.     

Large geographic and temporal extensions of the Río de la Plata Craton,South America,and its metacratonic eastern margin

Integration of existing isotopic and geological data allows a reconsideration of the distribution and age of the Río de la Plata Craton within South America. The reinterpretation increases the area of the craton to about 2,400,000 km² with implications for the tectonic map of South America and for global reconstruction of palaeocontinents. Four areas previously considered as separate cratons (Luís Alves, Curitiba, Tebicuary, and Paranapanema) are interpreted as part of the same Río de la Plata Craton. The craton is organized into six provinces and domains: Buenos Aires–Piedra Alta, Taquarembó, Tebicuary, Luís Alves, Encantadas, and Nico Pérez. The term ‘Transplatense’ is proposed to replace ‘Trans-Amazonian’ for Rhyacian events that occurred within the Río de la Plata Craton. The craton is formed not only by dominant Rhyacian rocks and local Archaean rocks, but also by Statherian and Mesoproterozoic rocks. The domains are all partially to totally covered by Phanerozoic basins (Paraná, Chacoparanense, Claromecó, Salado, Balcarce, and Colorado) which makes their investigation difficult. The Ediacaran–Cambrian collisions of the Brasilian orogen generated tectonic mixtures of orogenic and cratonic zones. This is more evident in the eastern margin of the craton, which behaved as a metacraton.     

Theorising middle class consumption from the global South: A study of everyday ethics in South Africa’s Western Cape

Emerging research on the increasing significance of consumption in the global South is concerned with its links to the globalizing middle classes. Against the backdrop of optimism invested in the new global middle classes to fuel consumption-led growth, this paper contributes to new debate about the articulations and significance of ethical consumption in the global South. Missing from much current mainstream policy, media and academic debate is acknowledgement of the diversity of the global middle classes and an understanding of how ethical interpretations and behaviour differ in various consumer markets around the world. In response, this paper draws on qualitative research in South Africa’s Western Cape to explore the cultural significance of everyday ethical realities in shaping consumption in the global South. In addition to addressing the relative absence of research into ethical consumption in global South contexts, the paper makes two key contributions based our findings. First, it challenges the tendency, particularly in economic discourses, to generalise about the ‘new’ global middle class consumers by highlighting the significance of locality and context in shaping consumption practices in the Western Cape; specifically it finds that, for diverse middle class consumers, thrift is an important ethical choice and practice determining consumption patterns. Second, it highlights the significance of everyday ethical practices in shaping consumption in the Western Cape, focusing specifically on how thrift is imbricated in concerns with not just economic constraint, but also care, habit and aspiration. The paper concludes with reflections on the wider implications of these findings and suggests that they illustrate a need to theorise ethical consumption from contexts in the global South, on their own terms.     

Tracing the position of the South China block in Gondwana: U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes of Devonian detrital zircons

U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology from Lower Devonian quartz arenites of the northwestern margin of the Yangtze block yields dominant early Neoproterozoic (0.85–1.0 Ga), Pan-African (0.5–0.65 Ga) and middle Neoproterozoic (0.68–0.8 Ga) age populations and minor Mesoproterozoic to middle Mesoarchean (1.0–3.0 Ga) ages. Middle Mesoarchean to Mesoproterozoic rocks, however, are widespread in the South China block. Although Hf isotopic compositions show both juvenile crustal growth and crustal reworking for all the age groupings, the crust growth, essentially mantle-derived, occurred mainly around 3.1 Ga, 1.9 Ga and 1.0 Ga, respectively. Zircon typology and youngest grain ages indicate that this suite of quartz arenites was the product of multiphase reworking. Abundant magmatic zircon detritus with concordant U–Pb Grenvillian and Pan-African ages, together with accompanying various ε_Hf(t) values, indicate an exotic provenance for the quartz arenite external to the South China block. Qualitative comparisons of age spectra for the late Neoproterozoic sediments of the Cathaysian Block, early Paleozoic sediments of pre-rift Tethyan Himalaya sequence in North India and lower Paleozoic sandstone from the Perth Basin in West Australia, show that they all have two the largest age clusters representing Grenvillian and Pan-African orogenic episodes. The resemblance of these age spectra and zircon typology suggests that the most likely source for the Lower Devonian quartz arenites of the South China block was the East African Orogen and Kuunga Orogen for their early Grenvillian and Pan-African populations, whereas the Hannan–Panxi arc, Jiangnan orogen, and the Yangtze block basements might have contributed to the detrital zircon grains of the Neoproterozoic and Pre-Grenvillian ages. Hf isotopic data indicate that the crustal evolution of the drainage area matches well with the episodic crust generation of Gondwana. These results imply that the previously suggested position of the SCB in Gondwana should be re-evaluated, and the South China block should be linked with North India and West Australia as a part of East Gondwana during the assembly of Gondwana, rather than a discrete continent block in the paleo-Pacific.     

The basement of the Punta del Este Terrane (Uruguay): an African Mesoproterozoic fragment at the eastern border of the South American R��o de La Plata craton

The Punta del Este Terrane (eastern Uruguay) lies in a complex Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano/Pan-African) orogenic zone considered to contain a suture between South American terranes to the west of Major Gercino?CSierra Ballena Suture Zone and eastern African affinities terranes. Zircon cores from Punta del Este Terrane basement orthogneisses have U?CPb ages of ca. 1,000?Ma, which indicate an lineage with the Namaqua Belt in Southwestern Africa. U?CPb zircon ages also provide the following information on the Punta del Este terrane: the orthogneisses containing the ca. 1,000?Ma inheritance formed at ca. 750?Ma; in contrast to the related terranes now in Africa, reworking of the Punta del Este Terrane during Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenesis was very intense, reaching granulite facies at ca. 640?Ma. The termination of the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny is marked by formation of acid volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks at ca. 570?Ma (Sierra de Aguirre Formation), formation of late sedimentary basins (San Carlos Formation) and then intrusion at ca. 535?Ma of post-tectonic granitoids (Santa Teresa and José Ignacio batholiths). The Punta del Este Terrane and unrelated western terranes represented by the Dom Feliciano Belt and the Río de La Plata Craton were in their present positions by ca. 535?Ma.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of a rare ultramafic lamprophyre in the Tandilia belt basement,Río de la Plata Craton,Argentina

A metre-thick ultramafic lamprophyre dyke intrudes the basement of the Tandilia belt at the Sierra Alta de Vela, Argentina. A petrological and geochemical study of this rock and associated small dykes indicates a predominantly calc-alkaline trend. Phlogopite K–Ar dating of the ultramafic lamprophyre gave a minimum age of 1928 ± 54 Ma as a late event of the Transamazonian Orogeny, which is well represented in the basement of the Tandilia belt.An electron microprobe study indicates the presence of phlogopite, albite, chromite and Cr-rich phenocrysts and Cr-free microphenocrysts of diopside as primary minerals. Subsequent to deformation at the contacts with the wall rock, metasomatism generated strongly zoned amphibole (edenite, pargasite, Mg-hastingite and tremolite compositions) and andradite as well as chlorite, sericite, albite, apatite and calcite. The central zone of the lamprophyre is almost undeformed and exhibits some ocellar texture. Geochemical and isotopic signatures of the lamprophyre suggest that its magma source may have previously undergone incompatible element enrichment of the mantle source, representing the original precursor magma for the calc-alkaline dyke series of the Sierra Alta de Vela.     

Significance of graphite inclusion occurrence in the minerals of the San Miguel skarn for the Palaeoproterozoic basement of Tandilia Belt (Argentina) and for the Río de la Plata Craton

Graphite in Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic rocks has been a subject of interest since it could represent an evidence of early life on Earth. In the Palaeoproterozoic basement of the Tandilia Belt, graphite was found both in fluid inclusions (FI) hosted in the San Miguel skarn calc-silicate minerals, and as solid inclusions in calcite crystals from the protolithic marble (a¹³C enriched carbonate from the “Lomagundi-Jatuli event”). FI microthermometry and oxygen stable isotope ratios indicated the skarn minerals formation within the range of 630–650 °C (at ∼5 kbars) and ∼642–654 °C, respectively. Also, the characterisation of the metasomatic fluid (of a low salinity <7 wt% NaCl eq. NaClH₂O/NaClKClH₂O aqueous system) pointed out that the zonal crystallisation pattern shown by the skarn minerals (wollastonite-vesuvianite, grossular-diopside-calcite and diopside-calcite zones in the exoskarn, and grossular-diopside and diopside-calcic plagioclase zones in the endoskarn) responds to the increase of the involved cation activity gradients (Ca²⁺-Si⁴⁺-Mg²⁺-Fe^2+/3+-Al³⁺) and not to significant changes in the temperature or concentration of CO₂ in the system. Variation in the crystallinity degree of the graphite hosted in the skarn minerals and in marble calcite, shown by Raman spectroscopy, would indicate that the graphite could have been formed from the ripening of organic matter present in the sedimentary rocks during the metamorphic-metasomatic event (Transamazonian Orogeny). In this sense, the increase of the organic carbon productivity in the oceans during the Palaeoproterozoic, represented by the “Lomagundi-Jatuli event”, would support this graphite origin and also the possible existence of a marine sedimentary basin in the previous stages of the Río de la Plata amalgamation (Siderian-Rhyacian), in the San Miguel area of the Tandilia Belt.     

Provenance and tectonic setting of Neoproterozoic sedimentary sequences in the South China Block: evidence from detrital zircon ages and Hf–Nd isotopes

Neoproterozoic sedimentary sequences in the South China Block provide great opportunity to examine the tectonic evolution and crustal accretion during this period. This study presents U–Pb ages and Hf isotope composition of detrital zircons and Nd isotope composition of whole rocks of the Neoproterozoic sequences from the Yangtze Block, part of the South China Block. Age patterns of detrital zircons imply that the source area experienced three major periods of magmatic activity at 2,300–2,560, 1,900–2,100 and 770–1,000?Ma and two major episodes of juvenile crust accretion at 2,600–3,400 and 770–1,000?Ma. The maximum age of the Gucheng glaciation can be restricted at?~768?Ma from the youngest detrital zircon ages, probably corresponding to the Kaigas glaciation rather than to the Sturtian glaciation. High La/Sc ratio and low Cr/Th, Sc/Th and Co/Th ratios of the sedimentary rocks point to a derivation from dominantly felsic upper continental crustal sources, whereas large variation of ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values indicates that mantle-derived magmatic rocks also provided material to the sedimentary sequences in different degrees. The shift in ε_Nd(t) values of whole rocks and U–Pb age spectra of detrital zircons records the evolution from a back-arc to retro-arc foreland to a rift basin. Age distribution of detrital zircons from the Neoproterozoic sequences, compared with those of the major crustal blocks of Rodinia, implies that the position of the Yangtze Block was probably adjacent to northern India rather than between Australia and Laurentia before the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.     

Platinum-group element distribution in base-metal sulfides of the UG2 chromitite,Bushveld Complex,South Africa—a reconnaissance study

Two drill cores of the UG2 chromitite from the eastern and western Bushveld Complex were studied by whole-rock analysis, ore microscopy, SEM/Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis. The top and base of the UG2 main seam have the highest bulk-rock Pd and Pt concentrations. Sulfides mostly occur as aggregates of pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and rare pyrrhotite and pyrite or as individual grains associated mostly with chromite grains. In situ LA-ICP-MS analyses reveal that pentlandite carries distinctly elevated platinum-group element (PGE) contents. In contrast, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite contain very low PGE concentrations. Pentlandite shows average maximum values of 350–1,000 ppm Pd, 200 ppm Rh, 130–175 ppm Ru, 20 ppm Os, and 150 ppm Ir, and is the principal host of Pd and Rh in the studied ores of the UG2. Mass balance calculations were conducted for samples representing the UG2 main seam of the drill core DT46, eastern Bushveld. Pentlandite consistently hosts elevated contents of the whole-rock Pd (up to 55 %) and Rh (up to 46 %), and erratic contents of Os (up to 50 %), Ir (2 to 17 %), and Ru (1–39 %). Platinum-group mineral (PGM) investigations support these mass balance results; most of the PGM are Pt-dominant such as braggite/cooperite and Pt-Fe alloys or laurite (carrying elevated concentrations of Os and Ir). Palladium and Rh-bearing PGM are rare. Both PGE concentrations and their distribution in base-metal sulfides (BMS) in the UG2 largely resemble that of the Merensky Reef, as most of the Pd and Rh are incorporated in pentlandite, whereas pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite are almost devoid of PGE.     

Lithostratigraphy, Sedimentology, and Provenance of the Balfour Formation (Beaufort Group) in the Fort Beaufort–Alice Area, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract: The Balfour Formation has a pronounced lithological variation that is characterized by alternating sandstone- and mudstone-dominated members. The sandstone-dominated Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members are composed of lithofacies that range from intraformational conglomerates to fine-grained sediments, whereas the mudstone-dominated members (Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg, and Palingkloof) are dominated by the facies Fm and Fl. Petrography, geochemistry, and a paleocurrent analysis indicated that the source rock of the Balfour Formation was to south east and the rocks had a transitional/dissected magmatic arc signature. The sandstones-rich members were deposited by seasonal and ephemeral high-energy, low-sinuous streams, and the fine-grained-rich members were formed by ephemeral meandering streams. The paleoclimates have been equated to present temperate climates; they were semiarid becoming arid towards the top of the Balfour Formation. This has been determined by reconstructing the paleolatitude of the Karoo Basin, geochemistry, paleontology, sedimentary structures, and other rock properties, like color.     

Development and validation of a storm surge forecasting/hindcasting modelling system for the extensive Río de la Plata Estuary and its adjacent Continental Shelf

Natural Hazards - The Río de la Plata (RdP) Estuary is affected by significant surges several times per year. This phenomenon has historically caused catastrophic water-level enlargements of...     

Provenance and paleogeography of Carboniferous–Permian strata in the Bayanhot Basin: Constraints from sedimentary records and detrital zircon geochronology

The Bayanhot Basin is a superimposed basin that experienced multiple-staged tectonic movements; it is in the eastern Alxa Block, adjacent to the North China Craton(NCC) and the North Qilian Orogenic Belt(NQOB).There are well-developed Paleozoic–Cenozoic strata in this basin, and these provide a crucial window to a greater understanding of the amalgamation process and source-to-sink relationships between the Alxa Block and surrounding tectonic units.However, due to intensive post-depositional modification, and lack of subsurface data,several fundamental issues—including the distribution and evolution of the depositional systems, provenance supplies and source-to-sink relationships during the Carboniferous– Permian remain unclear and thus hinder hydrocarbon exploration and limit the geological understanding of this basin.Employing integrated outcrop surveys, new drilling data, and detrital zircon dating, this study examines the paleogeographic distribution and evolution, and provenance characteristics of the Carboniferous–Permian strata in the Bayanhot Basin.Our results show that the Bayanhot Basin experienced a long-term depositional evolution process from transgression to retrogression during the Carboniferous–late Permian.The transgression extent could reach the central basin in the early Carboniferous.The maximum regional transgression occurred in the early Permian and might connect the Qilian and North China seas with each other.Subsequently, a gradual regression followed until the end of the Permian.The northwestern NCC appeared as a paleo-uplift area and served as a sediments provenance area for the Alxa Block at that time.The NCC, Bayanwula Mountain, and NQOB jointly served as major provenances during the Carboniferous–Permian.There was no ocean separation, nor was there an orogenic belt between the Alxa Block and the NCC that provided sediments for both sides during the Carboniferous–Permian.The accretion of the Alxa and North China blocks should have been completed before the Carboniferous period.     

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope geochemistry of thermal springs of the Western Cape, South Africa: Recharge at high altitude?

A number of thermal springs with temperature up to 64°C are found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The average δ¹³C value of gas (CO₂+CH₄) released at three springs is −22, which is consistent with an entirely biogenic origin for the C and supports previous investigations which showed that the springs are not associated with recent or nascent volcanic activity. Most springs issue from rocks of the Table Mountain Group, where faulted and highly jointed quartzites and sandstones of the Cape Fold Belt act as the main deep aquifer. The δD and δ¹⁸O values of the springs range from −46 to −18 and from −7.3 to −3.9, respectively. Although the thermal springs have isotope compositions that plot close to the local meteoric water line, their δD and δ¹⁸O values are significantly lower than ambient meteoric water or groundwater. It is, therefore, suggested that the recharge of most of the thermal springs is at a significantly higher altitude than the spring itself. The isotope ratios decrease wuth increasing distance from the west coast of South Africa, which is in part related to the continental effect. However, a negative correlation between the spring water temperature and the δ¹⁸O value in the thermal springs closest to the west coast indicates a progressive in increase in the average altitude of recharge away from the coast.     

Provenance of Oligocene–Miocene sediments in the Subei area,eastern Altyn Tagh fault and its geological implications: Evidence from detrital zircons LA-ICP-MS U–Pb chronology

Oligocene–Miocene strata in the Subei and Xiaobiegai basins of the Subei area, located in the eastern Altyn Tagh fault (ATF), northern Tibetan Plateau, record important characteristics of the ATF evolution. Detrital zircons laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb ages from two samples, together with paleocurrent directions and clastic composition in the Xishuigou section demonstrate that sediments in the Subei basin originated from the Danghenanshan range along its southern margin. Detrital zircons U–Pb ages from three samples in the Xiaobiegai basin, together with paleocurrent directions and clastic composition, indicate that sediments in the Xiaobiegai basin may partly originate from terranes along the northeastern margin of the basin in addition to the Danghenanshan range. Our results, combined with regional evolution, suggest that the Xiaobiegai and the Subei basins was a combined basin in Oligocene–early Miocene. This basin was folded, tilted, and dislocated at ca. 8 Ma by rapid uplift of the northern Tibetan plateau and rapid strike-slip of the ATF. As a result, the Subei basin became a thrust–fold belt of the Danghenanshan range front, and the Xiaobiegai basin grew into an intermontane basin in the northeastern part of the Danghenanshan range. Thus, the Subei area gradually acquired its present morphotectonic patterns.     

Late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic tectonic and palaeogeographic evolution of central China: evidence from U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope systematics of detrital zircons from the western Qinling region

The western Qinling region of central China is situated centrally in the Kunlun, Qilian, Qinling, Longmenshan, and Songpan–Ganzi orogens. Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic sediments deposited here may provide keys to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Palaeo-Tethys and collision of the North China and Yangtze Cratons. We conducted in situ U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope analyses of 568 detrital zircons collected from Upper Palaeozoic to Mesozoic sandstones in the central Qinling block, Taohe depression, and Bailongjiang block in western Qinling to constrain the sources of these sandstones. Our results reveal that the Bailongjiang block has affinities with the Yangtze Craton, from which it may have been rifted. Therefore, the Palaeo-Tethyan Animaqen suture between the two cratons lies north of the Bailongjiang block. We identified the North China Craton as the main source for Triassic flysch in central China. It is possible that the Bailongjiang block could have blocked detritus shed from the North China Craton into the main depositional basins in the Songpan–Ganzi area. The dominance of 300–200 Ma detrital zircons of metamorphic origin in Lower Jurassic sandstones indicates that the Dabie–Qinling orogen was elevated during Early Jurassic time. In addition, our Lu–Hf isotopic results also reveal that Phanerozoic igneous rocks in central China were mostly products of crustal reworking with insignificant formation of juvenile crust.