Progressive development of structures in a ductile shear zone

In the Singhbhum Shear Zone of eastern India successive generations of folds grew in response to a progressive ductile shearing. During this deformation a mylonitic foliation was initiated and was repeatedly transposed. The majority of fold hinges were formed in an arcuate manner at low angles to the Y-axis in an E-W trending subhorizontal position and major segments of the fold hinges were then rotated towards the down-dip northerly plunging X-axis. The striping and intersection lineations were rotated in the same manner. The down-dip mylonitic lineation is a composite structure represented by rotated early lineations and newly superimposed stretching lineations. The consistent asymmetry of the folds, the angular relations between C and S surfaces and the evidence of two-dimensional boudinage indicate that the deformation was non-coaxial, but with a flattening type of strain with λ₁ ⪢ λ₂. The degree of non-coaxiality varied both in space and time. From the progressive development of mesoscopic structures it is concluded that the 2–3 km wide belt of ductile shear gave rise to successive anastomosing shear zones of mesoscopic scale. When a new set of shear lenses was superimposed on already sheared rocks, the preexisting foliation generally lay at a low angle to the lenses. No new folds developed where the acute angle was sympathetic to the sense of shear displacements. Where the acute angle was counter to the sense of shear, the pre-existing foliation, lying in the instantaneous shortening field, was deformed into a set of asymmetric folds.     

Kinematic analysis using AMS data from a deformed granitoid

This study highlights the usefulness of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility data from a deformed granitoid in deciphering its kinematic evolution vis-à-vis shear zone. Data are presented from the Chakradharpur Granitoid (CKPG) that lies to the north of the northerly dipping, ENE–WSW striking Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ; eastern India). Whilst the foliation recorded in the field in some parts of the granitoid is parallel to the SSZ, the magnetic foliation is N54°E/90° (mean orientation). It is suggested that the magnetic fabric provides a window into an evolutionary stage prior to the final shearing/thrusting event, the evidence of which is preserved on the mesoscopic scale. It is envisaged that during the initial stages of deformation there was simple shear along the evolving SSZ that resulted in sinistral strike-slip movement; the vorticity axis at this stage was steeply plunging and sense of rotation was anticlockwise. Space was generated in a direction ∼N25°E (perpendicular to maximum-Instantaneous Stretching Axis) into which CKPG emplaced synchronously with regional deformation and evolving SSZ. With continued deformation, there was thrusting along the SSZ. The vorticity axis flipped to a sub-horizontal orientation, thus leading to the development of down-dip stretching lineations and sheath folds within the SSZ. However, at the same time, the vorticity axis responsible for fabric evolution within the syntectonically crystallizing/cooling CKPG was steeply plunging with clockwise rotation. The magnetic foliation (mean orientation N54°E/90°) developed during the final stage of syntectonic crystallization. However, deformation in the region and thrusting along the SSZ continued even after the CKPG had fully crystallized and solidified, which led to the development of the ENE–WSW striking mesoscopic foliation that is parallel with the SSZ. We propose that the angle between the magnetic foliation and the SSZ/foliation recorded in the field, enables to decipher the kinematic vorticity number of flow responsible for fabric evolution of the CKPG. It is concluded that transpression was an important mechanism, and during regional deformation, whilst the SSZ developed structures by dominantly simple shear, the CKPG underwent dominantly pure shear.     

A study of mylonites from parts of the Salem-Attur shear zone (Tamil Nadu) and its tectonic implications

The E-W running Salem-Attur shear zone demarcates the tectonic boundary between Archaean Dharwar Craton in the north and Proterozoic Southern granulite terrane in the south. This study reveals that the shear zone is a low angle thrust. The thrust zone is around 10 m thick and it merges with the main shear zone along the strike. The thrust is developed on charnockite near Odyarpatti, which is retrograded into schists. Further, it is marked by gently dipping mylonitic foliation and subhorizontal lineation. The S-C fabric, mantled porphyroclasts and intragranular faults indicate northeasterly slip along the thrust. Recumbent shear folds SF₁ are developed within the thrust zone. The thrust has been folded by late stage F₂ fold which has brought variation in the orientation of the mylonitic foliation from subhorizontal to vertical attitude; the mylonitic lineations have been rotated to subvertical orientation also. Additionally, the F₂ crenulations and shear cleavages and intersection lineations are superimposed on the mylonitic fabric. Thrusting along the Salem-Attur shear zone is probably the cause for upliftment of the charnockites to the upper crust. Post-upliftment stage has witnessed brittle deformation in the form of development of shear fractures in NNE-SSW and E-W directions. Pseudotachylites are emplaced along these fractures.     

Singhbhum Shear Zone: Structural transition and a kinematic model

The northern fold belt away from the Singhbhum Shear Zone displays a set of folds on bedding. The folds are sub-horizontal with E-W to ESE striking steep axial surfaces. In contrast, the folds in the Singhbhum Shear Zone developed on a mylonitic foliation and have a reclined geometry with northerly trending axes. There is a transitional zone between the two, where the bedding and the cleavage have become parallel by isoclinal folding and two sets of reclined folds have developed by deforming the bedding—parallel cleavage. Southward from the northern fold belt the intensity of deformation increases, the folds become tightened and overturned towards the south while the fold hinges are rotated from the sub-horizontal position to a down-dip attitude. Recognition of the transitional zone and the identification of the overlapping character of deformation in the shear zone and the northern belt enable the formulation of a bulk kinematic model for the area as a whole.     

Evolution of microstructures in Precambrian shear zones: An example from eastern India

Shear zones are areas of intense deformation in localized zones which can be used as natural laboratories for studying deformation characteristics. Metre to-micro scale structures that develop in response to a progressive simple shear in a shear zone are characterized by a protracted history of deformation and are immensely useful in delineating the history of progressive deformation. To decipher these localized zones of deformation and to establish the continuous non-coaxial character of deformation, detail microstructural studies are very useful. Singhbhum shear zone (SSZ), a regional Precambrian tectonic dislocation zone in eastern India, depicting a top-to-south thrust movement of the hanging wall provides a scope for studying microstructural characteristics developed in response to a progressive shear at mid-crustal level. SSZ is characterized by intense stretching lineation, isoclinal folds, shear planes, superposed schistosity and deformed quartz veins. Quasi-plastic (QP) deformation mechanisms were predominantly active in the SSZ. The overprinting relationship between the earlier and later schistosity with a consistent sense of shear indicates that earlier schistosity is transposed to later schistosity through the intermediate stages of crenulation cleavage during a progressive non-coaxial deformation. The recrystallization of quartz in mylonitic quartzite suggests protracted history of deformation. The analysis of the character of quartz grains of both the porphyroclasts and recrystallized grains suggests that strain was partitioned between the most intensely deformed central part of the shear zone and the shear-related deformation zone outside the central part of the shear zone.     

Foliation development and refraction in metamorphic rocks: reactivation of earlier foliations and decrenulation due to shifting patterns of deformation partitioning

Abstract Reactivation of early foliations accounts for much of the progressive strain at more advanced stages of deformation. Its role has generally been insufficiently emphasized because evidence is best preserved where porphyroblasts which contain inclusion trails are present. Reactivation occurs when progressive shearing, operating in a synthetic anastomosing fashion parallel to the axial planes of folds, changes to a combination of coarse- and finescale zones of progressive shearing, some of which operate antithetically relative to the bulk shear on a fold limb. Reactivation of earlier foliations occurs in these latter zones. Reactivation decrenulates pre-existing or just-formed crenulations, generating shearing along the decrenulated or rotated pre-existing foliation planes. Partitioning of deformation within these foliation planes, such that phyllosilicates and/or graphite take up progressive shearing strain and other minerals accommodate progressive shortening strain, causes dissolution of these other minerals. This results in concentration of the phyllosilicates in a similar, but more penetrative manner to the formation of a differentiated crenulation cleavage, except that the foliation can form or intensify on a fold limb at a considerable angle to the axial plane of synchronous macroscopic folds. Reactivation can generate bedding-parallel schistosity in multideformed and metamorphosed terrains without associated folds. Heterogeneous reactivation of bedding generates rootless intrafolial folds with sigmoidal axial planes from formerly through-going structures. Reactivation causes rotation or ‘refraction’of axial-plane foliations (forming in the same deformation event causing reactivation) in those beds or zones in which an earlier foliation has been reactivated, and results in destruction of the originally axial-plane foliation at high strains. Reactivation also provides a simple explanation for the apparently ‘wrong sense’, but normally observed ‘rotation’of garnet porphyroblasts, whereby the external foliation has undergone rotation due to antithetic shear on the reactivated foliation. Alternatively, the rotation of the external foliation can be due to its reactivation in a subsequent deformation event. Porphyroblasts with inclusion trails commonly preserve evidence of reactivation of earlier foliations and therefore can be used to identify the presence of a deformation that has not been recognized by normal geometric methods, because of penetrative reactivation. Reactivation often reverses the asymmetry between pre-existing foliations and bedding on one limb of a later fold, leading to problems in the geometric analysis of an area when the location of early fold hinges is essential. The stretching lineation in a reactivated foliation can be radically reoriented, potentially causing major errors in determining movement directions in mylonitic schistosities in folded thrusts. Geometric relationships which result from reactivation of foliations around porphyroblasts can be used to aid determination of the timing of the growth of porphyroblasts relative to deformation events. Other aspects of reactivation, however, can lead to complications in timing of porphyroblast growth if the presence of this phenomenon is not recognized; for example, D₂-grown porphyroblasts may be dissolved against reactivated S₁ and hence appear to have grown syn-D₁.     

Foliations and shear sense: A modern approach to an old problem

Argument about shear on foliations began in the mid 19^th century and continues to the present day. It results from varying interpretations of what takes place during the development of different types of foliations ranging from slaty cleavages through differentiated crenulation cleavages, schistosity and gneissosity to mylonites. Computer modelling, quantitative microstructural work and monazite dating have provided a unique solution through access to the history of foliation development preserved by porphyroblasts. All foliations involve shear in their development and most can be used to derive a shear sense. The shear sense obtained is consistent between foliation types and accords with recent computer modelling of these structures preserved within porphyroblasts relative to those in the matrix. The asymmetry of curving foliation into a locally developing new one allows determination of the shear sense along the latter foliation in most rocks. The problem of shear on fold limbs and parallelism of foliation and the flattening plane of the strain ellipse is resolved through the partitioning of shearing and shortening components of deformation into zones that anastomose around ellipsoidal domains lying parallel to the XY plane. Conflicts in shear sense occur if multiple reuse or reactivation of foliations is not recognized and allowed for but are readily resolved if taken into account.     

Shear fracture pattern and microstructural evolution in transpressional fault zones from field and laboratory studies

Zones of transpressional shear deformation accommodate strike-slip and oblique-slip displacements. Field work in a transpressive shear zone, and transpressional analogue clay-box modelling, show that a P-oriented foliation and associated P-shears are preferentially developed over the more common R₁ Riedel-shears. The Carboneras fault system (CFS) in SE Spain is a left-lateral transpressional shear zone with an internal geometry characterized by first-order Y-oriented faults and widespread P-oriented second-order faults. The mesoscopic to microscopic gouge fabric reflects the regional architecture of the shear zone being dominated by a pervasive Poriented foliation and discrete Y- and P-shears. Friction experiments carried out to investigate the textural evolution of gouge fabrics showed four textural stages of fabric development, from foliation formation to extreme shear localization resulting in cross-gouge failure. Transpression clay-box models favoured the formation of secondary P-oriented shear fractures and P-oriented shear lenses. Further deformation caused differential shear lens rotation and shear lens orientations closer to the mean displacement direction. Our field studies and laboratory analogue experiments indicate that shear zones dominated by P-shears are diagnostic of a transpressional deformation regime.     

辽南中生代造山期缩短滑脱与晚造山伸展拆离构造

该区的构造格局主要由早期近东西向紧闭的褶皱带和晚期北北东向构造组成。早期的南北向缩短构造以龙王庙平卧褶皱和大小长山岛的直立紧闭褶皱为代表,分别具有扇状间隔性压溶劈理和透入性轴面片理,褶面倒向以北为主。北北东向构造切割近东西向构造,表层表现为北西西向薄皮逆冲推覆构造,浅层构造具有扇状压溶劈理的紧闭褶皱,深层表现为基底与盖层间的拆离断层及其下的韧性剪切带。早期的研究者将该断层作为辽南推覆构造底部的滑脱面,现今则压倒性地采用变质核杂岩的构造理念。根据相关剪切带早期面内褶皱发育,晚期伸展褶劈理发育,通过运动学涡度和应力状态分析,论证早期滑脱-推覆到晚期伸展拆离的演化过程。野外观测证明,辽南基底变质岩西侧的金州断层为一伸展拆离断层,它切割东侧的董家沟断层,前者平行于下伏糜棱岩中的同向伸展褶劈理,后者平行下伏糜棱岩的糜棱面理。金州拆离断层的形成及其东侧的隆起标志着辽南构造体制从缩短到伸展的转折。根据相关的年代学研究,这一构造体制转化发生在早白垩世(约120～107 Ma)。该区最新的构造事件是北东-南西向的缩短,相关的北北东向的右行走滑断层与晚白垩世以来的郯庐断层活动方式一致。     

Successive development of plane noncylindrical folds in progressive deformation

In the history of superposed deformations of the iron formations at the western border of the Kolar Gold Field in S India, an important event was the successive growth of broadly coaxial plane noncylindrical folds in course of a progressive deformation concomitant with development of ductile mesoscopic shear zones. The noncylindrical folds were initiated as active folds by the creation of a buckling instability at successive stages on newly developed foliation surfaces. The nucleation of noncylindrical folds and the subsequent axial-plane folding of the tightened mature folds are explained by the mechanical inhomogeneity of the rocks and the heterogeneous character of strain. The correlation between increasing tightness and increasing noncylindricity of the folds indicates that the initial curvatures of hinge lines were accentuated by an extension parallel to the subhorizontal stretching lineation. From the patterns of deformed lineations over folds of varying tightnesses, it is concluded that the passive accentuation of hinge-line curvatures was mostly achieved when the folds had already become isoclinal or very tight.     

贺兰山北段古元古代结晶基底变形特征及其区域构造意义

贺兰山北段结晶基底中保留有不同程度的韧性变形剪切带.通过详细的野外考察和室内显微构造研究,明确贺兰山北段的古元古代基底经历了4期韧性剪切变形:(1)早期顺层剪切带表现出中下部地壳层次的变形样式,运动学特征一致反映了近南北向的伸展;(2)麻粒岩相变质的糜棱片麻岩剪切带为南北向挤压的产物,导致经历高温高压变质的孔兹岩系从下地壳向中部地壳抬升;(3)高级糜棱岩(低角闪岩相-高绿片岩相)剪切带涉及的2次伸展运动(北西-南东向伸展和北东-南西向伸展)使得基底进一步向中部地壳抬升,可能发生在形成孔兹岩系的同一造山运动的晚期伸展垮塌过程中;(4)北东-近东西向左行逆冲绿片岩相糜棱岩剪切带则将结晶基底抬升到中上部地壳层次,其运动学特征与高级糜棱岩剪切带明显不同,可能是另一造山运动的产物.贺兰山北段与大青山-乌拉山地区有相似的韧性剪切带和构造变形,表明华北克拉通西部北缘存在一致的近东西走向的古元古代碰撞造山运动以及随后另一造山运动的改造.     

Progressive deformation across a ductile shear zone: an example from the Singhbhum Shear Zone,eastern India

Structural investigations in the Precambrian Singhbhum Shear Zone of eastern India document an intimate relationship between micro- to meso-scale structures and the deformation history. Shear zone rocks are characterized by composite foliation, a well-developed stretching lineation, folds, shear planes, and quartz veins. These structures reflect thrusting of the Proterozoic north Singhbhum hanging wall block over the Archaean south Singhbhum footwall block. Microstructural analysis of multiple foliation and mylonitic rocks within the shear zone helps to define its progressive evolution. During progressive deformation, overprinting of microstructures resulted in incomplete transposition or complete erasing of previously formed structures and mineral assemblages, allowing room for new dynamic equilibrium structures to form. The dominant deformation mechanism was dissolution–recrystallization, with locally important fluid circulation responsible for transformation of the quartzo-feldspathic mass into phyllonite, and quartzites and schists into mylonite. Textural features suggest that the bulk deformation was non-coaxial, evolving from dominant pure shear in the early stage followed by simple shear in a single progressive strain history of the Singhbhum Shear Zone.     

S-C Mylonites

Two types of foliations are commonly developed in mylonites and mylonitic rocks: (a) S-surfaces related to the accumulation of finite strain and (b) C-surfaces related to displacement discontinuities or zones of relatively high shear strain. There are two types of S-C mylonites. Type I S-C mylonites, described by Berthé et al., typically occur in deformed granitoids. They involve narrow zones of intense shear strain which cut across (mylonitic) foliation.Type II S-C mylonites (described here) have widespread occurrence in quartz-mica rocks involved in zones of intense non-coaxial laminar flow. The C-surfaces are defined by trails of mica ‘fish’ formed as the result of microscopic displacement discontinuities or zones of very high shear strain. The S-surfaces are defined by oblique foliations in the adjacent quartz aggregates, formed as the result of dynamic recrystallization which periodically resets the ‘finite-strain clock’. These oblique foliations are characterized by grain elongations, alignments of segments of the grain boundary enveloping surfaces, and by trails of grains with similar c-axis orientations.Examples of this aspect of foliation development in mylonitic rocks are so widespread that we suggest the creation of a broad class of S-C tectonites, and a deviation from the general tradition of purely geometric analysis of foliation and time relationships. Kinematic indicators such as those discussed here allow the recognition of kilometre-scale zones of intense non-coaxial laminar flow in crustal rocks, and unambiguous determination of the sense of shear.     

Triassic Collisional Structures and Post—Collisional Deformation of Bixiling UHP Rock Stack： Insights for Tectonic Evolution of UHP Metamorphic Belt in Dabie Massif, Central China

Detailed three-dimensional structural studies indicate that the Bixiling area,Dabie massif,central Chian shows the deepest exposed levels of the orogenic wedge formed during the Triassic Yangtze0Sino-Korean continental collision.New1:10000 scale structural mapping,combined with detailed petrological analysis in this area,has enabled us to accurately distinguish structures related to the Trias-sic continental collision from those related to post-collisional deformation in the ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic unit.The collisional or compressional structures include the massive eclogite with a weak foliation,foliated eclogite or UHP ductile shear zones,as well as upper amphibolite facies shear zones,whereas the post-collisional deformation is characterized by a regionally,flat-lying foliation con-taining stretching lineations and common reclined folds .The former is present exclusively in the eclogite lenses and their margins,representing orogenic thickening or syn-collisional events,while the latter was best occurred on variable scales under amphibolite facies conditions,showing sub-vertical,extreme short-ening and ductile thinning of the metamorphic rock stack.The eclogite facies tectonites that have a marked fabric discordance to the penetrative amphibolite facies extension flow fabric are common.It is emphasized that an extensional tectonic setting following the collision-orogenic thickening stage was,at least partly,responsible for exhumation of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie massif.A new tec-tionic evolution model is proposed for the UHP metamorphic belt on the scale of the Dabie massif.The Bixiling area thus provides a window,from which the dynamic processes concerning the formation and exhumation of the UHP rocks can be observed.Regional studies in the Dabie Mountains have confirmed this interpretation.     

Geodynamic setting and emplacement of mylonitic granitoids within the North Golpayegan shear zone,Iran

The metamorphic complex of the North Golpayegan is part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. There are at least three distinct stages of deformation in this complex. Throughout the first stage, Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks have experienced regional metamorphism during Late Jurassic tectonic events related to the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere under the Iranian microcontinent. During the second deformation stage in the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene, the rocks have been mylonitized. The third stage of deformation in the region has led to folding and faulting superimposed on previous structures, and to exhumation of the metamorphic complex. This stage has determined the current morphology and N70E strike of the complex. The mylonitic zones of the second stage of deformation have been formed along the dextral transpressional faults. During the third stage of deformation and exhumation of the metamorphic complex, the mylonitic zones have been uplifted to the surface. The granitoids in the metamorphic complex have been injected along the extensional shear fractures related to the dextral transpressional displacements. The granitoids have been transformed into mylonites within the synthetic or antithetic shear zones. These granitoids are recognized as syncollision type (CCG) and have been formed at the end of orogenic events synchronous to the collision between the Arabian and the Iranian plates at the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene.     

Secondary cleavages in ductile shear zones

Secondary cleavages developed at late stages in ductile shear zones show several features that are inconsistent with progressive simple shear in the zone. These are: the orientation of a single secondary cleavage oblique to the shear zone boundaries; conjugate sets with opposite senses of shear, and multiple sets with the same sense of shear. These features can be explained if the bulk flow is partitioned into slip along discrete failure planes parallel to the primary foliation (S), coaxial stretching along the foliation, and spin.     

白云鄂博矿区北部韧性剪切带特征及其构造意义

在白云鄂博主矿北西约6.5km处的查干楚鲁一带,有一条近东西向延伸的断层带,前人在该带中部识别出了蛇绿岩混杂堆积。本文作者在蛇绿岩东部的大理岩质糜棱岩中发现鞘褶皱、拉伸线理及旋转碎斑系等变形构造,在大理岩周围发现石英岩型宏观压力影构造,在变质石英砂岩中识别出褶劈理以及方解石脉等相关构造,在这条东西向断裂带北边发现典型的黄铁矿型压力影。根据上述特征判断,查干楚鲁一带为一条近东西向延伸的韧性剪切带,同时具有NEE—SWW向逆左旋走滑的特征。该带揭示出蒙古洋板块与华北板块在晚古生代汇聚拼合的基本格局。     

Quartz fabrics in shear-zone mylonites: Evidence for a major imprint due to late strain increments

Geometrical relations between quartz C-axis fabrics, textures, microstructures and macroscopic structural elements (foliation, lineation, folds…) in mylonitic shear zones suggest that the C-axis fabric mostly reflects the late-stage deformation history. Three examples of mylonitic thrust zones are presented: the Eastern Alps, where the direction of shearing inferred from the quartz fabric results from a late deformation oblique to the overall thrusting; the Caledonides nappes and the Himalayan Main Central Thrust zone, where, through a similar reasoning, the fabrics would also reflect late strain increments though the direction of shearing deduced from quartz fabric remains parallel to the overall thrusting direction. Hence, the sense of shear and the shear strain component deduced from the orientation of C-axis girdles relative to the finite strain ellipsoid axes are not simply related nor representative of the entire deformation history.     

三维参照变形及应变相研究评述

三维参照变形和应变相是最近构造地质学领域中取得的重要进展,三维参照变形是理想化的三维变形分类,每一参照变形是共轴级分（拉伸、压扁或纯剪）和与其垂直的简单切组分同时作用的产物,三种可能的面理取向和三种可能的线理取向的不同组合构成六咱应变相,三维参照变形和应变相研究证明糜陵面理未必平行剪切带,可与剪切带斜交,甚至垂直,线理未必与剪切方向一致,可与剪切方向斜交,甚至垂直,出现横向面理时,剪切指向标志位于该面理内,出现横向线理时,剪切指向出现在与线理垂直的ａｃ面理内,三维变形分析不公可解决三维分析难以解释的横向面理和线理,而且可确定共轴组分的类型及其与单剪组分的结合方式。