Apatite fission track thermochronology of the Precambrian Aksu blueschist, NW China: Implications for thermo–tectonic evolution of the north Tarim basement

The Precambrian Aksu blueschist is located in the northwestern margin of the Tarim Block, NW China. In recent decades, many studies were carried out with focus on the metamorphic age. However, a complete understanding of the evolution of the Tarim Block requires the cooling history of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the time–temperature paths as determined by low-temperature thermochronometry. Therefore, apatite fission track (AFT) technique was applied on the Precambrian Aksu blueschist to reveal the thermo–tectonic evolution of the north Tarim basement. All of the six blueschist samples analysed in this study yielded AFT ages spanning 107.5–62.5 Ma, much younger than the blueschist facies metamorphic age of Neoproterozoic, and confined track lengths are between 10.46 and 12.12 µm. Based on regional stratigraphic sequences, the AFT thermal history modeling as well as previous chronological results, the thermo–tectonic evolution of the Aksu blueschist can be roughly reconstructed with four stages: (1) the Precambrain Aksu blueschist exhumed to the surface soon after its formation. Erosion during the Early Sinian is indicated by the lack of sedimentation until the Late Sinian; (2) the Late Sinian strata are continuous, while the Middle–Upper Silurian and the Lower–Middle Carboniferous strata are absent. The total thickness of the Late Sinian and Paleozoic strata probably reached 10,000 m and resulted in the total annealing and thermal resetting of AFT ages; (3) the AFT ages in the Cretaceous are related with the widespread uplift in Tian Shan and its adjacent regions that restarted the AFT clock during the Late Mesozoic. These reflect a distant effect of the collision of the Lhasa terrane with Eurasia in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous; and (4) sediments of Cenozoic are documented in the Aksu area. The Aksu blueschist was heated to partial annealing zone with the overlying Cenozoic sediments. During Miocene time, the Aksu blueschist was re-exhumed which was probably a distant response to the ongoing India–Eurasia convergence.     

Cenozoic uplift and subsidence in the North Atlantic region: Geological evidence revisited

The topographic evolution of the “passive” margins of the North Atlantic during the last 65 Myr is the subject of extensive debate due to inherent limitations of the geological, geomorphological and geophysical methods used for studies of uplift and subsidence. We have compiled a database of sign, time and amplitude (where possible) of topographic changes in the North Atlantic region during the Cenozoic (65–0 Ma). Our compilation is based on published results from reflection seismic studies, AFT (apatite fission track) studies, VR (vitrinite reflectance) trends, maximum burial, sediment supply studies, mass balance calculations and extrapolation of seismic profiles to onshore geomorphological features. The integration of about 200 published results reveal a clear pattern of topographic changes in the North Atlantic region during the Cenozoic: (1) The first major phase of Cenozoic regional uplift occurred in the late Palaeocene–early Eocene (ca 60–50 Ma), probably related to the break-up of the North Atlantic between Europe and Greenland, as indicated by the northward propagation of uplift. It was preceded by middle Palaeocene uplift and over-deepening of some basins of the North Sea and the surrounding areas. (2) A regional increase in subsidence in the offshore marginal areas of Norway, the northern North Sea, the northern British Isles and west Greenland took place in the Eocene (ca 57–35 Ma). (3) The Oligocene and Miocene (35–5 Ma) were characterized by regional tectonic quiescence, with only localised uplift, probably related to changes in plate dynamics. (4) The second major phase of regional uplift that affected all marginal areas of the North Atlantic occurred in the Plio-Pleistocene (5–0 Ma). Its amplitude was enhanced by erosion-driven glacio-isostatic compensation. Despite inconclusive evidence, this phase is likely to be ongoing at present.     

Maturity of central Madagascar's landscape — Low-temperature thermochronological constraints

Low-temperature thermochronological data from two profiles across central Madagascar give apatite fission track and apatite (U–Th)/He ages ranging between 258 Ma and 176 Ma and from 239 Ma to 48 Ma, respectively. Thermal models derived from these data, as well as modelling of basement denudation and the sedimentary record, indicate that first order topography of central Madagascar developed mainly due to flexural uplift during Mesozoic times. This was in response to successive erosion and depositional loading associated with the sedimentation in the Morondava and Majunga basins, both of which are now exposed along the western margin of Madagascar. Our data suggest that the eastern margin of the island had a similar denudation history and was probably at a similar topographic level before the late Cretaceous break-up of Madagascar and the India/Seychelles block. Cretaceous normal faulting, without major amounts of denudation, led to the development of the present east coast topography defined by a tectonically juvenile escarpment. In the centre of the island Cenozoic tectonics and volcanism has had a minor and localised influence on the landscape of central Madagascar.     

A fission-track and (U–Th)/He thermochronometric study of the northern margin of the South China Sea: An example of a complex passive margin

Zircon fission track (ZFT), apatite fission track (AFT) and (U–Th)/He thermochronometric data are used to reconstruct the Cenozoic exhumation history of the South China continental margin. A south to north sample transect from coast to continental interior yielded ZFT ages between 116.6 ± 4.7 Ma and 87.3 ± 4.0, indicating that by the Late Cretaceous samples were at depths of 5–6 km in the upper crust. Apatite FT ages range between 60.9 ± 3.6 and 37.3 ± 2.3 Ma with mean track lengths between 13.26 ± 0.16 µm and 13.95 ± 0.19 µm whilst AHe ages are marginally younger 47.5 ± 1.9–15.3 ± 0.5 Ma. These results show the sampled rocks resided in the top 1–1.5 km of the crust for most of the Cenozoic. Thermal history modeling of the combined FT and (U–Th)/He datasets reveal a common three stage cooling history which differed systematically in timing inland away from the rifted margin. 1) Initial phase of rapid cooling that youngs to the north, 2) a period of relative (but not perfect) thermal stasis at ~ 70–60 °C which increases in duration from the south to the north; 3) final-stage cooling to surface temperatures that initiated in all samples between 15 and 10 Ma. The timing and pattern of rock uplift and erosion does not fit with conventional passive margin landscape models that require youngest exhumation ages to be concentrated at or close to the rifted margin. The history of South China margin is more complex aided by weakened crust from the active margin period that immediately preceded rifting and opening of the South China Sea. This rheological inheritance created a transition zone of steeply thinned crust that served as a flexural filter disconnecting the northern margin of the South China block and site of active rifting to the south. Consequently whilst the South China margin displays many features of a rifted continental margin its exhumation history does not conform to conventional images of a passive margin.     

南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来地层剥蚀的磷灰石裂变径迹分析

南黄海中部隆起自印支期以来经历显著的构造隆升及剥蚀过程.基于大陆架科学钻探CSDP-2井的钻井岩心,应用磷灰石裂变径迹技术研究了南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来的剥蚀过程及响应特征.所获得的8个磷灰石样品的裂变径迹年龄显示出两个年龄组,除单个样品为38±3 Ma外,其余样品都集中在（52±4）~（65±5）Ma范围内,基本反映了同一期构造热事件年龄,并且均远小于样品所处的二叠纪年龄,表明样品完全退火并记录了晚白垩世以来的热历史.样品热史模拟结果表明,基于泥岩镜质体反射率计算的最高古地温处于样品退火带温区范围内,各样品从晚白垩世早期（约100 Ma）以来经历持续的降温过程,在约80~75 Ma开始进入部分退火带.南黄海中部隆起第一期快速冷却降温过程出现在晚白垩世末期,并持续至古新世早期,随后进入古近纪表现为持续相对缓慢的降温过程,降温幅度约30 ℃,渐新世末期到中新世早期存在另一期快速冷却过程.热史模拟结果较好地指示了南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来的地层剥蚀响应特征.      

Cretaceous and Cenozoic cooling history across the ultrahigh pressure Tongbai–Dabie belt, central China, from apatite fission-track thermochronology

The crystalline terrane of the Tongbai–Dabie region, central China, comprising the Earth's largest ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) exposure was formed during Triassic collision between the Sino–Korean and Yangtze cratons. New apatite fission-track (AFT) data presented here from the UHP terrane, extends over a significantly greater area than reported in previous studies, and includes the (eastern) Dabie, the Hong'an (northwestern Dabie) and Tongbai regions. The new data yield ages ranging from 44 ± 3 to 142 ± 36 Ma and mean track lengths between 10 and 14.4 μm. Thermal history models based on the AFT data taken together with published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, K–Ar, apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He and U–Pb data, exhibit a three-stage cooling pattern that is similar across the study region, commencing with an Early Cretaceous rapid cooling event, followed by a period of relative thermal stability during which rocks remained at temperatures within the AFT partial annealing zone (60–110 °C) and ending with a possible renewed phase of accelerated cooling during Pliocene to Recent time. The first cooling phase followed large-scale transtensional deformation between 140 and 110 Ma and is related to Early Cretaceous eastward tectonic escape and Pacific back arc extension. Between this phase and the subsequent slow cooling phase, a transition period from 120 to 80 Ma (to 70 to 45 Ma along the Tan–Lu fault) was characterised by a relatively low cooling rate (3–5 °C/Ma). This transition is likely related to a tectonic response associated with the mid-Cretaceous subduction of the Izanagi–Pacific plate as well as lithospheric extension and thinning in eastern Asia. The present regional AFT age pattern is therefore basically controlled by the Early Cretaceous rapid cooling event, but finally shaped through active Cenozoic faulting. Following the transition phase the subsequent slow cooling phase pattern implies a net reduction in horizontal compressional stress corresponding to increased extension rates along the continental margin due to the decrease in plate convergence. Modelling of the AFT data suggests a possible Pliocene–Recent cooling episode, which may be supported by increased rates of sedimentation observed in adjacent basins. This cooling phase may be interpreted as a response to the far-field effects of the frontal India–Eurasia collision to the west. Approximate estimates suggest that the total amount of post 120 Ma denudation across the UHP orogen ranged from 2.4 to 13.2 km for different tectonic blocks and ranged from 0.8 to 9.7 km during the Cretaceous to between 1.7 and 3.8 km during the Cenozoic.     

Linking source and sink: Evaluating the balance between onshore erosion and offshore sediment accumulation since Gondwana break-up, South Africa

The geomorphic origin and evolution of the tectonically unique interior highland of southern Africa, the Kalahari Plateau, and its flanking low-lying coastal planes, remain largely unresolved because of a lack of regional quantitative analyses of its uplift and erosion history. Here we focus on the southern Cape, South Africa and link onshore denudation, based on new apatite fission track thermochronology results, to offshore sediment accumulation, using abundant well data and a seismic reflection profile. We attempt to relate source and sink in order to resolve some first order issues concerning timing of the exhumation and development of the topographic features of southern Africa. The volume of sediment accumulated off South Africa's south coast is calculated using 173 wells and a seismic reflection profile. A total, uncompacted, sediment volume of 268,500 km³ accumulated off South Africa's south coasts since  136 Ma, in the Outeniqua and Southern Outeniqua Basins. Accumulation volumes and rates were highest in the early Cretaceous (48,800 × 10⁴ km³ at  8150 km³/Ma from  136 to 130 Ma, and 57,500 × 10⁴ km³ at 5750 km³/Ma from  130 to 120 Ma) and mid–late Cretaceous (83,700 × 10⁴ km³ at 3200 km³/Ma from  93 to 67 Ma). Volumes and accumulation rates were lowest for the early–mid-Cretaceous (47,400 × 10⁴ km³ at 1750 km³/Ma from  120 to 93 Ma) and the Cenozoic (31,200 × 10⁴ km³ at 450 km³/Ma from  67 to 0 Ma). Although our analysis shows that the accumulated volume of offshore sediments does not match the calculated volume of onshore erosion, as quantified through apatite fission track thermochronology (e.g. Tinker, J.H., de Wit, M.J., Brown, R., 2008. Mesozoic exhumation of the 439 southern Cape, South Africa, quantified using apatite fission track thermochronology. Tectonophysics, doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2007.10.009), the timing of increased sediment accumulation closely matches the timing of increased onshore denudation. This suggests that the greatest volumes of material were transported from source to sink during two distinct Cretaceous episodes, and that the processes driving onshore denudation decreased by an order of magnitude during the Cenozoic.     

龙门山冲断隆升及其走向差异的裂变径迹证据

大量的低温年代学研究用来讨论龙门山晚新生代的隆升,但很少涉及其走向差异和中生代隆升。本文分别沿龙门山北、中、南段3条剖面进行了锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测试,结合已有的热年代学数据,以期揭示整个中-新生代期间龙门山隆升历史及其时空变化。中生代以来,龙门山主要有印支期(约200 Ma)、早白垩世末(约100 Ma)、早新生代(65～30 Ma)以及晚中新世(15～9 Ma)等或快或慢的冷却事件,总体上经历了中生代至早新生代的缓慢冷却和晚新生代快速冷却2个阶段,快速剥露开始于15～9 Ma,剥蚀速率由早期的0.1 mm/a增加到0.15～0.3 mm/a左右,局部可达0.9 mm/a左右。走向上,龙门山北段相对偏小的锆石裂变径迹年龄和相对偏大的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映其在中生代较中、南段隆升更快,而裂变径迹年龄总体上从北段向中、南段减小,表明中、南段在新生代发生了更快的隆升。倾向上,多种热年代学数据显示新生代期间在北川断裂和彭灌断裂两侧存在明显的差异剥露,这种差异在中、南段表现比北段更为突出。龙门山晚新生代快速隆升和剥露是青藏高原区域隆升背景上叠加的冲断活动所致,而非下地壳流动驱动。     

燕山及邻区晚白垩世以来山脉隆升历史的低温热年代学证据

本文根据以裂变径迹测年为主的低温热年代学方法，认为燕山及邻区在晚白垩世进入区域性伸展构造环境以来经历了造山带伸展裂解引发的6次强烈差异升降运动，分别发生在120～105Ma、95～85Ma、60～50Ma、38Ma左右、25～20Ma和10～5Ma，造成燕山及邻区约7～8km的剥蚀量。而在相邻两次强烈差异升降运动期之间的相对构造稳定期，则形成了燕山—太行山地5期夷平面以及周缘盆地多期沉积间断。燕山与邻区盆地之间晚中新世以来的快速差异升降运动导致燕山及邻区现今盆—山构造—地貌格局。     

Thermotectonic evolution of Precambrian basement rocks of the Kuruktag uplift,NE Tarim craton,China: evidence from apatite fission-track data

The Kuruktag uplift is located directly northeast of the Tarim craton in northwestern China. Neoarchaean-to-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks crop out widely in the uplift; thus, it is especially suited for a more complete understanding of the thermal evolution of the Tarim craton. Apatite fission-track (AFT) methods were used to study the exhumation history and cooling of these Precambrian crystalline rocks. Nine apatite-bearing samples were collected from both sides of the Xingdi fault transecting the Kuruktag uplift. Pooled ages range from 146.0 ± 13.4 to 67.6 ± 6.7 Ma, with mean track lengths between 11.79 ± 0.14 and 12.48 ± 0.10 μm. These samples can be divided into three groups based on age and structural position. Group A consists of five samples with AFT apparent ages of about 100–110 Ma and is generally associated with undeformed areas. Group B comprises three specimens with AFT apparent ages lower than 80 Ma and is mostly associated with hanging wall environments close to faults. Group C is a single apatite sample with the oldest relative apparent age, 146.0 ± 13.4 Ma. The modelled thermal history indicates four periods of exhumation in the Kuruktag uplift: late-Early Jurassic (180 Ma); Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (144–118 Ma); early-Late Cretaceous (94–82 Ma); and late Cenozoic (about 10 Ma). These cooling events, identified by AFT data, are assumed to reflect far-field effects from multi-stage collisions and accretions of terranes along the south Asian continental margin.     

宁芜、庐枞盆地玢岩铁矿成矿深度及成矿后抬升、剥蚀情况: 来自磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

矿床形成深度及成矿后的变化与保存是目前深部找矿亟待解决的关键问题.选取4个成矿年龄均为130 Ma左右的典型玢岩铁矿, 分别为宁芜盆地中矿体已经出露地表并经受过剥蚀的东山铁矿和矿体埋藏距地表 40 m以下的梅山铁矿, 庐枞盆地中矿体埋藏距地表400 m以下的罗河铁矿和矿体埋藏距地表600 m以下的泥河铁矿, 采用双重定年技术对这4个矿床主成矿阶段矿石矿物组合中的磷灰石进行了裂变径迹研究.结果显示: (1)东山铁矿AFT合并年龄为106.3±5.4 Ma, 梅山铁矿为94.2±4.0 Ma, 罗河铁矿为81.3±4.0 Ma, 泥河铁矿为79.1±3.3 Ma, 且AFT年龄和围限径迹长度随样品埋藏深度减小而增大, 分别更接近成矿年龄和原始径迹长度, 显示4个矿床成矿后差异抬升剥蚀作用导致磷灰石样品通过部分退火带时的冷却速率存在差别; (2)热史模拟反映这4个矿床成矿后均经历了早期短暂快速冷却和后期长期缓慢冷却2个阶段, 两阶段之间的拐点温度接近, 对应深度为1.7~1.8 km, 结合其他证据证明宁芜、庐枞盆地玢岩铁矿成矿深度均为2 km左右.说明这4个矿床现今埋藏深度的差异主要是由于成矿后的抬升、剥蚀作用导致.(3)自110 Ma以来宁芜盆地的整体抬升剥蚀幅度大于庐枞盆地, 导致宁芜盆地大部分玢岩铁矿矿体接近或暴露地表.2个盆地早期抬升剥蚀作用与区域性黄桥事件同步.      

Partitioning of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin in the central South China Block by exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains during a transition from extensional to compressional tectonics?

The formation of a series of intermountain basins is likely to indicate a geodynamic transition, especially in the case of such basins within the central South China Block (CSCB). Determining whether or not these numerous intermountain basins represent a division of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin by exhumation of Xuefeng Mountains, is key to understanding the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic tectonics of the South China Block (SCB). Here we present apatite fission track (AFT) data and time–temperature modeling in order to reconstruct the evolution history of the Pan-Yangtze Basin. Fourteen rock samples were taken from a NE–SW-trending mountain–basin system within the CSCB, including, from west to east, the Wuling Mountains (Wuling Shan), the south and north Mayang basins, the Xuefeng Mountains (Xuefeng Shan) and the Hengyang Basin. Cretaceous lacustrine sequences are well preserved in the south and north Mayang and Hengyang basins, and sporadically crop out in the Xuefeng Mountains, whereas Paleogene piedmont proluvial–lacustrine sequences are only found in the south Mayang and Hengyang basins. AFT results indicate that the Wuling and Xuefeng mountains underwent rapid denudation post-84 Ma, whereas the south and north Mayang basins were more slowly uplifted from 67 and 84 Ma, respectively. Following a quiescent period from 32 to 19 Ma, both the mountains and basins have been rapidly denuded since 19 Ma. Both the AFT data and sedimentary facies changes suggest that the Cretaceous deposits that cover the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins through to the Xuefeng Mountains define the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin. Integrating our results with tectonic background for the SCB, we propose that rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate produced the Pan-Yangtze Basin, which was divided into the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins by the abrupt uplift and exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains from 84 Ma to present, apart from a period of tectonic inactivity from 32 to 19 Ma. This late Late Cretaceous to Paleogene denudation resulted from movement on the Ziluo strike–slip fault, which formed due to intra-continental compression most likely associated with the Eurasia–Indian plate subduction and collision. Sinistral transpression along the Ailao Shan–Red River Fault at 34–17 Ma probably transformed this compression to the extrusion of the Indochina Block, and produced the quiescent window period from 32 to 19 Ma for the mountain–basin system in the CSCB. Therefore, the initiation of exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains at 84 Ma indicates a switch in tectonic regime from Cretaceous extension to late Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic compression.     

Shape and amount of the Quaternary uplift of the western Rhenish shield and the Ardennes (western Europe)

A good evaluation of the Quaternary uplift of the Rhenish shield is a key element for the understanding of the Cenozoic geodynamics of the western European platform in front of the alpine arc. Previous maps of the massif uplift relied on fluvial incision data since the time of the rivers' Younger Main Terrace to infer a maximum post-0.73 Ma uplift of ~ 290 m in the SE Eifel. Here, we propose a new interpretation of the incision data of the intra-massif streams, where anomalies in the terrace profiles would result from knickpoint retreat in the tributaries of the main rivers rather than from tectonic deformation. We also use additional geomorphological data referring to (1) deformed Tertiary planation surfaces, (2) the history of stream piracy that severely affected the Meuse basin in the last 1 Ma, and (3) incision data outside the Rhenish shield. A new map of the post-0.73 Ma uplift of the Rhenish shield is drawn on the basis of this enlarged dataset. It reduces the maximum amount of tectonic uplift in the SE Eifel to ~ 140 m and modifies the general shape of the uplift, namely straightening its E–W profile. It is also suggested that an uplift wave migrated across the massif, starting from its southern margin in the early Pleistocene and currently showing the highest intensity of uplift in the northern Ardennes and Eifel. These features seem to favour an uplift mechanism chiefly related to lithospheric folding and minimize the impact on the topography of a more local Eifel plume.     

Long-term landscape evolution of the northeastern margin of the Bohemian Massif: apatite fission-track data from the Erzgebirge (Germany)

To study the relative and absolute timing of post-Variscan cooling and denudation processes in the Erzgebirge of the Mid-European Variscides, eight samples for apatite fission-track (AFT) analysis were collected from a ~1,300 m drill-core. The fission-track data reveal two stages of accelerated cooling through the apatite partial annealing zone (APAZ; i.e., 110±10–60 °C) in the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous and in the late Cenozoic, respectively. Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous cooling corresponding to denudation of 1.5–5.9 km has been related to wrench tectonics along the Elbe Zone during Triassic-Jurassic Pangea breakup. Late Cenozoic exhumation of 2.1–5.6 km, and the increase of the geothermal gradient from 17±5 °C km^–1 (Oligocene/Miocene) to 25–27 °C km^–1 (recent) is likely connected to the formation of the Eger Graben starting from the Oligocene, as a result of the late Alpine orogenic phases.     

Evolution of the West Andean Escarpment at 18°S (N. Chile) during the last 25 Ma: uplift, erosion and collapse through time

The geological record of the Western Andean Escarpment (WARP) reveals episodes of uplift, erosion, volcanism and sedimentation. The lithological sequence at 18°S comprises a thick pile of Azapa Conglomerates (25–19 Ma), an overlying series of widespread rhyodacitic Oxaya Ignimbrites (up to 900 m thick, ca. 19 Ma), which are in turn covered by a series of mafic andesite shield volcanoes. Between 19 and 12 Ma, the surface of the Oxaya Ignimbrites evolved into a large monocline on the western slope of the Andes. A giant antithetically rotated block (Oxaya Block, 80 km×20 km) formed on this slope at about 10–12 Ma and resulted in an easterly dip and a reversed drainage on the block's surface. Morphology, topography and stratigraphic observations argue for a gravitational cause of this rotation. A “secondary” gravitational collapse (50 km³), extending 25 km to the west occurred on the steep western front of the Oxaya Block. Alluvial and fluvial sediments (11–2.7 Ma) accumulated in a half graben to the east of the tilted block and were later thrust over by the rocks of the escarpment wall, indicating further shortening between 8 and 6 Ma. Flatlying Upper Miocene sediments (<5.5 Ma) and the 2.7 Ma Lauca–Peréz Ignimbrite have not been significantly shortened since 6 Ma, suggesting that recent uplift is at least partly caused by regional tilting of the Western Andean slope.     

Late Cretaceous‐Cenozoic Multi‐Stage Denudation at the Western Ordos Block: Constraints by the Apatite Fission Track Dating on the Langshan

The apatite fission track dating of samples from the Dabashan(i.e., the Langshan in the northeastern Alxa Block) by the laser ablation method and their thermal history modeling of AFT ages are conducted in this study. The obtained results and lines of geological evidence in the study region indicate that the Langshan has experienced complicated tectonic-thermal events during the the Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic. Firstly, it experienced a tectonic-thermal event in the Late Cretaceous(~90–70 Ma). The event had little relation with the oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate along the eastern Eurasian Plate, but was related to the Neo-Tethys subduction and compression between the Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block. Secondly, it underwent the dextral slip faulting in the Eocene(~50–45 Ma). The strike slip fault may develop in the same tectonic setting as sinistral slip faults in southern Mongolia and thrusts in West Qinling to the southwest Ordos Block in the same period, which is the remote far-field response to the India-Eurasia collision. Thirdly, the tectonic thermal event existed in the late Cenozoic(since ~10 Ma), thermal modeling shows that several samples began their denudation from upper region of partial annealing zone(PAZ), and the denudation may have a great relationship with the growth of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to the northeast. In addition, the AFT ages of Langshan indicate that the main body of the Langshan may be an upper part of fossil PAZ of the Late Cretaceous(~70 Ma). The fossil PAZ were destroyed and deformed by tectonic events repeatedly in the Cenozoic along with the denudation.     

Solid sedimentation rates history of the Southern African continental margins: Implications for the uplift history of the South African Plateau

The Cretaceous and Cenozoic fill of the continental margins of southern Africa (South‐East Atlantic and Agulhas Margins) contains a continuous record of sediment supplied from the South African Plateau (SAP) for the past 134 million years. Estimates of solid sediment volumes deposited offshore were calculated from isopach maps and extrapolated vertical cross‐sections derived from a large amount of industrial geophysical data. Solid phase volumes and accumulation rates were calculated for six epochs: Lower Cretaceous (134–113 Ma), Mid Cretaceous (113–93.5 Ma), Upper Cretaceous (93.5–81 and 81–66 Ma), Palaeogene (66–25 Ma), Neogene (25–0 Ma). Our new compilation demonstrates the existence of two periods of elevated flux. The most important one occurs in the late Cretaceous (93.5–66 Ma) and was synchronous with an acceleration of onshore denudation as shown by thermochronometric data. After a period of extremely low accumulation rate, the second phase of elevated flux started in the Oligocene (~30–25 Ma) until present‐day. From these observations we suggest that the main phase of uplift of the SAP took place during the Upper Cretaceous. Two mechanisms, namely uplift caused by lithospheric delamination or by dynamic topography caused by the continent moving over the African Superplume, are viable explanations for our observations. The more recent and lower amplitude episode of enhanced accumulation rates is likely to correspond to a second period of uplift, potentially associated with the onset of uplift and extension along the East African Rift System.     

Mesozoic exhumation history and palaeolandscape of the Iberian Massif in eastern Galicia from apatite fission-track and (U+Th)/He data

Apatite fission-track (AFT) and (U+Th)/He (AHe) data, combined with time–temperature inverse modelling, reveal the cooling and exhumation history of the Iberian Massif in eastern Galicia since the Mesozoic. The continuous cooling at various rates correlates with variation of tectonic boundary conditions in the adjacent continental margins. The data provide constraints on the 10⁷ timescale longevity of a relict paleolandscape. AFT ages range from 68 to 174 Ma with mean track lengths of 10.7 ± 2.6 to 12.6 ± 1.8 μm, and AHe ages range from 73 to 147 Ma. Fastest exhumation (≈0.25 km/Ma) occurred during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous main episode of rifting in the adjacent western and northern margins. Exhumation rates have decreased since then and have been approximately one order of magnitude lower. Across inland Galicia, the AFT data are consistent with Early Cretaceous movement on post-Variscan NE trending faults. This is coeval with an extensional episode offshore. The AHe data in this region indicate less than 1.7 km of denudation in the last 100 Ma. This low exhumation suggests the attainment of a mature landscape during Late Cretaceous post-rift tectonic stability, whose remains are still preserved. The low and steady rate of denudation prevailed across inland Galicia despite minor N–S shortening in the northern margin since ≈45 Ma ago. In north Galicia, rock uplift in response to NW strike-slip faulting since Early Oligocene to Early Miocene has caused insufficient exhumation (<3 km) to remove the Mesozoic cooling signal recorded by the AFT data.     

松辽盆地新生代构造演化对砂岩型铀矿成矿的控制作用——来自磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

本文针对松辽盆地北部隆起区的4个钻孔13件样品系统展开了磷灰石裂变径迹测试,揭示了松辽盆地新生代构造演化对砂岩型铀矿床的限制作用。13件磷灰石裂变径迹测试结果表明,松辽盆地北部晚白垩世以来的构造演化过程主要经历了3期快速隆升事件:(1)晚白垩世—始新世(71～48 Ma),期间以8～56 m/Ma的平均速率隆升,盆地北部整体呈抬升状态;(2)早渐新世—中新世(36～18 Ma),期间以24～49 m/Ma的平均速率隆升,盆地北部呈差异性抬升过程,第二期抬升事件隆升强度和持续时间较第一期抬升事件略低;(3)中新世-至今(18～0 Ma),期间以2～19 m/Ma的平均速率隆升,盆地北部缓慢抬升,构造活动较弱,三期构造抬升事件与太平洋板块俯冲速率和方向转向密切相关。结合前人低温热年代学数据,针对南部地区钱家店铀矿床成矿年代学成果研究发现,新生代以来的构造抬升事件伴生其后均成藏有砂岩型铀矿,砂岩型铀成矿与新生代构造密切相关,尤其与中新世末次隆升事件紧密相关,成矿过程延续至今。     

川东南地区燕山期以来的隆升剥蚀历史研究

川东南地区侏罗系砂岩的磷灰石裂变径迹T—t热史模拟表明,燕山期以来研究区经历了两个阶段的隆升剥蚀。127～105Ma为初始缓慢隆升阶段,隆升剥蚀速率约为5m／Ma,使106m厚的早白垩世地层被剥蚀;105～75Ma间转入快速沉降,75～0Ma由快速沉降转入全面不等速隆升。其中,75—65Ma为快速隆升．隆升剥蚀速率为28m／Ma;65～20Ma为缓慢隆升,隆升剥蚀速率为14m／Ma;20～10Ma期间,研究区由缓慢隆升转为急剧隆升,隆井剥蚀速率为147m／Ma;10Ma到现今,该地区再次由快速隆升转为缓慢隆升。隆升剥蚀速率为10m／Ma。燕山期以来的隆升使大约2580m厚的地层被剥蚀掉。