俯冲陆壳和洋壳对华北克拉通中生代岩石圈地幔改造的氧同位素记录

来自华北克拉通山东省中生代镁铁质岩石及地幔包体的橄榄石氧同位素组成显示,早白垩世岩石圈地幔主要受到了来自俯冲的华南陆壳不同组分的改造作用,包括镁铁质下地壳和长英质上地壳组分以及少量的海相沉积碳酸盐岩,而晚白垩世的岩石圈地幔则受到了来自俯冲的太平洋板块的改造。早白垩世受俯冲陆壳改造的岩石圈地幔橄榄石相对正常地幔高δ¹⁸O (6.0‰～7.2‰),而晚白垩世被俯冲洋壳改造的局部地幔则相对正常地幔低δ¹⁸O (4.1‰～5.3‰)。板块俯冲作用是导致华北克拉通岩石圈地幔破坏的重要深部机制,三叠纪华南陆壳深俯冲导致了华北克拉通地幔强烈富集相容组分而转变为易熔的岩石圈,早白垩世大规模幔源岩浆的侵位很可能与俯冲大陆板片的整体断离或拆离作用相关;晚中生代以来的太平洋俯冲作用则引发了岩石圈地幔的置换和增生作用,形成了目前新、老地幔共存的格局。     

再论岩石圈地幔蘑菇云构造及其深部成因

根据地球物理资料的分析得到,除了东北吉辽地区太平洋板块向大陆俯冲外,当今中国东部其他地区大陆下都没有俯冲太平洋板块的证据。中生代以来中国东部发生的岩石圈巨变不是太平洋板块向中国大陆的俯冲所造成,而是由于软流圈物质上涌形成蘑菇云构造对岩石圈地幔的改造而引发的重大地质事件。软流圈物质的上涌使岩石圈地幔成为新生地幔与残剩地幔并存的结构,岩石圈被激活,稳定的克拉通地壳褶皱变形,地壳减薄,地震频发,岩浆活动活跃,地面沉降,并形成广袤的西太平洋边缘海。但是岩石圈厚度并未减薄,只是由于岩石圈地幔形成了蘑菇云结构使它的速度降低,与周遍地区的岩石圈结构产生明显差别。蘑菇云地幔发育的地区覆盖整个东南亚西太平洋地区。包括中国东北的中东部、华北的东部、华南的东南缘、马来半岛、印尼、菲律宾、日本海、黄海、东海、南海,加罗林盆地和菲律宾海盆。与这个东南亚西太平洋低速岩石圈地幔相对应,还存在一个巨大的大地椭球面正异常,它应是核幔边界的质量过剩所引起。它与印度洋—西藏地区核幔边界质量亏损引起的负大地椭球面异常孪生,并形成一个控制中国大陆构造的深层动力系统,这个动力系统产生的时代可能为中生代或晚古生代。它们之间的地幔环流造成了东南亚西太平洋岩石圈巨变,并驱动印度板块的北移和青藏高原的隆升。     

早白垩世华北克拉通岩石圈减薄与破坏动力学：兼论古太平洋型活动大陆边缘

早白垩世时期华北克拉通的演化为探索大陆再造提供了典型案例，强烈地壳伸展、岩石圈减薄及克拉通破坏的机理及动力学长期以来一直是争议的焦点。早白垩世岩石圈伸展形成了包括辽南和五莲变质核杂岩在内的地壳伸展构造组合，同时伴随着巨量壳- 幔岩浆活动性，这些构造- 岩浆活动是克拉通岩石圈壳- 幔耦合拆离与解耦拆离作用的结果，可以用克拉通岩石圈壳- 幔拆离模型(parallel extension tectonics)解释。与此同时，具有相似特点(时间、几何学、运动学和动力学)的构造- 岩浆活动遍布包含东北亚、中国华北和华南及俄罗斯远东地区等在内的整个欧亚大陆东部地区，反映在统一构造环境中发展和演化的本质，而华北克拉通成为早白垩世欧亚大陆东部地区岩石圈伸展的典型案例。广布的早白垩世伸展构造东侧紧邻古太平洋板块俯冲作用形成的陆缘增生杂岩带，构成独特的古太平洋型活动大陆边缘。这种大陆边缘保留和记录了与现今西太平洋型和安第斯型活动大陆边缘全然不一致的构造特点，包含增生杂岩(海沟增生楔处)与面状伸展构造域两个构造要素，但缺乏典型的大规模岩浆弧的存在。地幔分层对流对于古太平洋- 欧亚大陆间洋陆相互作用、大陆岩石圈伸展、克拉通岩石圈减薄与破坏提供了重要动力来源，而板块边缘力起着重要的辅助作用。     

从华北克拉通中、西部结构的区域差异性探讨克拉通破坏

详细的深部结构信息是深入认识华北克拉通显生宙改造和破坏的重要依据。基于密集流动地震台阵和固定台网记录的远震P波和S波接收函数资料,获得了跨越华北克拉通东、中、西部的3条剖面的岩石圈和上地幔结构图像,揭示了克拉通不同区域深部结构特征的显著差异。与东部普遍减薄的岩石圈(60～100km)相比,中、西部表现出厚、薄岩石圈共存的强烈横向非均匀性,既在稳定的鄂尔多斯盆地之下保留着厚达200km的岩石圈,又在新生代银川—河套和陕西—山西裂陷区存在厚度<100km的薄岩石圈,差异最大的厚、薄岩石圈仅相距约200km。岩石圈厚度在东、中部边界附近的约100km横向范围内显示出20～40km的迅速增加。岩石圈厚度的快速变化与地表地形从东向西的突然改变以及南北重力梯度带的位置大致吻合,并对应于地壳结构、地幔转换带厚度和660km间断面结构的快速变化。这种从地表到上地幔底部深、浅结构的耦合变化特征表明,东西两侧区域在显生宙可能经历了不同的岩石圈构造演化和深部地幔动力学过程。克拉通东部薄的地壳、岩石圈和厚的地幔转换带以及复杂的660km间断面结构可能与中生代以来太平洋板块深俯冲及其相关过程对这一地区岩石圈的改造和破坏有关;而中、西部存在显著减薄的岩石圈这一观测结果,并结合岩石、地球化学资料表明,克拉通岩石圈改造和减薄不仅发生在东部,而且可能影响了包括中、西部在内的更广泛的区域。岩石圈薄于100km的中、西部裂陷区可能与先前存在于岩石圈中的局部构造薄弱带相联系。这些古老岩石圈薄弱带可能经历了后期构造事件的多次改造,并在新生代印度—欧亚陆陆碰撞过程中被进一步弱化、减薄,最终造成地表裂陷。另一方面,中、西部总体较厚的地壳、岩石圈以及正常偏薄的地幔转换带表明,同太平洋深俯冲对东部的作用相比,包括印度—欧亚大陆碰撞在内的多期热-构造事件对该地区的构造演化影响相对较弱,不足以大范围改造和破坏高强度的克拉通岩石圈地幔根,从而造成了该地区现今岩石圈结构的高度横向不均匀。     

华北克拉通晚中生代壳-幔拆离作用: 岩石流变学约束

大陆岩石圈的流变学结构对于岩石圈深部过程(壳/幔过程)有着深刻的影响,直接表现在岩石圈壳-幔结构与浅部构造上.本文注意到华北克拉通晚中生代岩石圈减薄期间地壳的伸展、拆离与减薄在不同地区的宏观、微观构造及地壳岩石流变学等方面的差异表现与区域变化,以及现今和晚中生代时期岩石圈厚度的不均匀性.讨论了以水为主体的地质流体的存在对于岩石圈流变性的影响.综合克拉通东部与西部地壳/地幔厚度变化特点以及下地壳和上地幔含水性特点,阐述了晚中生代时期华北克拉通岩石圈内部壳幔耦合与解耦的规律,提出了华北岩石圈壳-幔拆离作用模型以解释华北克拉通晚中生代岩石圈减薄的基本现象与深部过程.提出区域性伸展作用是岩石圈减薄的主要动力学因素,东部地区在晚中生代伸展作用过程中壳-幔具有典型的解耦性,上部地壳、下部地壳和岩石圈地幔的变形具有显著差异性.而西部区壳幔总体具有耦合性,下地壳与岩石圈地幔共同构成流变学强度很高且难以变形的岩石圈根.     

活化构造与克拉通破坏的动力学机制研究

热能聚散交替、地幔蠕动是构造–岩浆活化理论创建初期提出的动力学机制假说。深部地质研究开拓了岩浆活化构造动力学研究的深度。许多地球化学家和地球物理学家对中国中新生代构造演化的研究,给热能聚散交替、地幔蠕动假说提供了科学证据。近20年来对华北克拉通破坏的动力机制研究,促进了构造–岩浆活化动力学机制研究的深入。构造–岩浆活化的动力学过程如同克拉通破坏一样,是一个复杂的地质过程:从稳定的地台区到地台活化区,其动力体制的转化既具有渐变到突变的特点,又是呈阶段性发展的;既有时间上的阶段性又有空间上的迁移性。在由地台阶段向地台活化阶段转化的过程中,上地幔化学结构由亏损状态向富集状态转化,地幔交代作用是导致地台活化的先驱事件。中国东部大陆岩石圈减薄的事实证明,控制岩石圈破坏过程中物质交换与能量转换的关键部位发生在壳幔过渡带。通过大陆岩石圈中孔隙波的产生和传播,地幔物质和热量通过壳–幔过渡带传输到地壳中去,导致东部大陆地壳的构造–岩浆活化。由于孔隙波造成物质和热流的向上运动,导致大陆岩石圈热结构发生调整。为了探讨这一机制所导致的上涌流对大陆岩石圈中热结构模式的可能影响,在岩石圈尺度范围内通过数学运算推导出了与上涌流有关的传热问题的理论解。由理论和数值分析获得不同上涌流条件下的大陆岩石圈不同热结构模式与依据地球物理、地质资料获得的大陆岩石圈热结构模式十分吻合。大陆岩石圈内传质传热模型与热能聚集、地幔蠕动是一致的。华北克拉通破坏(地台活化)的数值模拟实验与地质事实证明这是一种主动活化,反映了地幔传导热流与上涌流速率在华北克拉通岩石圈破坏过程中起着的重要作用,而华北克拉通边缘的板块活动是克拉通破坏的导火线。     

Mg同位素示踪中国东部中生代深部碳循环

地球深部碳循环对全球气候变化、生命探索和岩石圈演化的研究具有重要意义。中国东部岩石圈是地球深部碳循环的重要场所,其减薄与破坏与深部碳循环密切相关。中生代太平洋板块俯冲是制约中国东部岩石圈减薄与破坏的关键,对华北克拉通和华南板块的大规模金属成矿作用具有重要作用。笔者等系统阐述了Mg示踪地球深部碳循环原理,例举了镁同位素示踪中国东部深部碳循环的实例,论述了中生代俯冲的古太平洋板块所释放的碳酸盐熔体/流体与地幔相互作用,是造成中国东部地幔具有普遍的轻Mg同位素组成的重要原因。此外,指出轻镁同位素的多解性,提出多同位素联合示踪是未来研究地球深部碳循环的趋势。     

Mg同位素示踪中国东部中生代深部碳循环

地球深部碳循环对全球气候变化、生命探索和岩石圈演化的研究具有重要意义。中国东部岩石圈是地球深部碳循环的重要场所,其减薄与破坏与深部碳循环密切相关。中生代太平洋板块俯冲是制约中国东部岩石圈减薄与破坏的关键,对华北克拉通和华南板块的大规模金属成矿作用具有重要作用。笔者等系统阐述了Mg示踪地球深部碳循环原理,例举了镁同位素示踪中国东部深部碳循环的实例,论述了中生代俯冲的古太平洋板块所释放的碳酸盐熔体/流体与地幔相互作用,是造成中国东部地幔具有普遍的轻Mg同位素组成的重要原因。此外,指出轻镁同位素的多解性,提出多同位素联合示踪是未来研究地球深部碳循环的趋势。     

华北中—新生代大陆岩石圈转型的研究现状与方向 ——兼评“岩石圈减薄”和“克拉通破坏”

对我国大陆岩石圈的持续热点研究领域——华北中-新生代大陆岩石圈巨厚减薄研究中所涉及的问题再次进行了评述,特别是将对问题认识过程与克拉通陆内造山研究相联系。综述了岩石地球化学、地球物理、构造地质等不同学科对中生代华北大陆岩石圈演化特征研究的最新进展,以及对大陆岩石圈诸多学科不同定义内涵及由此产生的讨论。在分述了国际大陆岩石圈研究背景,岩石圈转型的空间特征及时间特征,新技术方法的应用,地表构造体系转折的再认识,以及几种可能的转型机制基础上,再次建议以大陆岩石圈全面转型,即一系列大陆岩石圈地质、物理及化学参量的系统变化,来描述这一大尺度东亚地球动力学过程,并提出目前以“克拉通破坏”作为大陆岩石圈改造研究的提法应予修正。呼吁大力鼓励及进行多学科交叉综合研究,重视各学科新技术新方法的引进及应用。在相关研究中高度重视地球深部圈层相互作用,将中生代全球深部地幔事件对中国东部岩石圈地幔全面转型的影响作为今后研究重点。     

克拉通地幔形成与演化及对大陆命运制约因素的思考

岩石圈地幔属性主要由熔体抽取和交代作用程度共同决定,与岩石圈起源、大陆稳定性、宜居环境演变等密切相关。全球古老大陆的命运差别很大,有的长期稳定、有的遭受破坏,其控制因素可能包括大陆根地幔形成时熔融条件和后续交代改造过程等。本文总结前人研究资料发现,南非克拉通长期处于板块离散背景下,并经历了多期地幔柱活动,岩石圈地幔主体保持难熔属性、局部发生富集;华北克拉通长期处于板块汇聚背景下,并在显生宙发生强烈岩石圈减薄、改造和地幔置换作用,仅局部有难熔地幔残留。我们认为,亟需对不同命运克拉通之下的岩石圈地幔开展早期熔融条件和交代演化历史对比研究,寻找控制大陆命运的先天条件和后天因素。研究结果可以为大陆起源、宜居星球演化等关键科学问题提供制约。

     

Differential destruction of the North China Craton: A tectonic perspective

The North China Craton (NCC) provides one of the classic examples of craton destruction, although the mechanisms and processes of its decratonization are yet to be fully understood. Here we integrate petrological, geochemical, geochronological and geophysical information from the NCC and conclude that the destruction of the craton involved multiple events of circum-craton subduction, which provided the driving force that destabilized mantle convection and tectonically eroded the lithospheric mantle beneath the craton. Furthermore, subducted-slab-derived fluids/melts weakened the subcontinental lithospheric mantle and facilitated thermo-mechanical and chemical erosion of the lithosphere. The more intense destruction beneath the eastern part of the NCC reflects the crucial contribution of Pacific plate subduction from the east that overprinted the mantle lithosphere modified during the early subduction processes. Our study further establishes the close relationship between lithospheric modification via peridotite–melt reactions induced by oceanic plate subduction and cratonic destruction.     

Craton destruction links to the interaction between subduction and mid-lithospheric discontinuity: Implications for the eastern North China Craton

The continental craton is generally considered to be stable, due to its low-density and high viscosity; however, the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere have been observed at various parts of the globe, for example, the eastern North China Craton (NCC). Although a large number of geological and geophysical data have been collected to study the NCC, the mechanisms and dynamic processes are still widely debated. In this study, using 2-D high-resolution thermo-mechanical models, we systematically explore the key constraints on the destruction of cratonic lithosphere. The model results indicate that the craton destruction processes can be strongly influenced by the presence of the so-called mid-lithosphere discontinuity (MLD), and its interaction with subduction. The properties of the MLD layer and the density contrast between the lithospheric mantle and asthenosphere play significant roles in the destruction processes. Specifically, the presence of a deep and low-viscosity MLD layer within the cratonic lithosphere tends to enhance instability of the craton, making it easier for lithosphere destruction. In addition, a relatively thick oceanic crust, high convergence rate, and large initial subduction angles favor the craton destruction. Finally, we compare the model results with the observations of NCC, which indicate that the interaction between the Paleo-Pacific subduction and the MLD layer in the cratonic lithosphere has played an important role in the observed large-scale lithospheric removal of the eastern North China Craton.     

Ancient deep roots for Mesozoic world-class gold deposits in the north China craton:An integrated genetic perspective

The North China Craton(NCC)hosts some of the world-class gold deposits that formed more than 2 billion years after the major orogenic cycles and cratonization.The diverse models for the genesis of these deposits remain equivocal,and mostly focused on the craton margin examples,although synchronous deposits formed in the interior domains.Here we adopt an integrated geological and geophysical perspective to evaluate the possible factors that contributed to the formation of the major gold deposits in the NCC.In the Archean tectonic framework of the NCC,the locations of the major gold deposits fall within or adjacent to greenstone belts or the margins of micro-continents.In the Paleoproterozoic framework,they are markedly aligned along two major collisional sutures-the Trans North China Orogen and the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt.Since the Mesozoic intrusions hosting these deposits do not carry adequate signals for the source of gold,we explore the deep roots based on available geophysical data.We show that the gold deposits are preferentially distributed above zones of uplifted MOHO and shallow LAB corresponding to thinned crust and eroded sub-lithospheric mantle,and that the mineralization is located above regions of high heat flow representing mantle upwelling.The NCC was at the center of a multi-convergent regime during the Mesozoic which intensely churned the mantle and significantly en riched it.The geophysical data on Moho and LAB upwarp from the centre towards east of the craton is more consistent with paleo-Pacific slab subduction from the east exerting the dominant control on lithospheric thinning.Based on these results,and together with an evaluation of the geochemical and isotopic features of the Mesozoic magmatic intrusions hosting the gold mineralization,we propose a genetic model that invokes reworking of ancient Au archives preserved in the lower crust and metasomatised upper mantle and which were generated through multiple subduction,underplating and cumulation events associated with cratonization of the NCC as well as the subduction-collision of Yangtze Craton with the NCC.The heat and material input along zones of heterogeneously thinned lithosphere from a rising turbulent mantle triggered by Mesozoic convergent margins surrounding the craton aided in reworking the deep roots of the ancient Au reservoirs,leading to the major gold metallogeny along craton margins as well as in the interior of the NCC.     

He–Ar isotope geochemistry of iron and gold deposits reveals heterogeneous lithospheric destruction in the North China Craton

The North China Craton (NCC) provides a classic example for extensive destruction of the cratonic lithosphere. The Mesozoic magmatism which contributed to the decratonization of the NCC was also accompanied by the formation of a variety of mineral deposits. In order to gain further insights into the cratonic destruction process, typical iron and gold deposits are investigated here. Helium–argon isotopic data on pyrite, from typical skarn iron deposits of the Beiminghe and Fushan in the Han-Xing district of the central NCC, and the Linglong and Canzhuang gold deposits in the Jiaodong district in the eastern NCC, are presented in this paper. The ³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/⁴He ratios show generally uniform patterns within the individual deposits and reveal a complex evolutionary history of the ore-forming fluids with varying degree of crust–mantle interaction. The ore-forming fluids associated with the gold mineralization at the Jiaodong mine have higher content of fluids of mantle origin with mantle helium ranging from 1.24% to 18.02% (average 6.73%; N = 18). In contrast, the ore-forming fluids related to the iron ore deposits contain less mantle contribution with mantle helium ranging from 0.12% to 4.96% (average 1.29%; N = 10). Our results suggest complex and heterogeneous crust–mantle processes associated with the magmatism and metallogeny, where the lithosphere of the eastern NCC was subjected to more extensive thinning and destruction as compared with that in the western part, consistent with the observations from geophysical studies in the region. Our study demonstrates that fluids associated with the Mesozoic metallogenic processes in the NCC provide useful insights into the geodynamics of destruction and refertilization of the cratonic lithosphere.     

Deep slab subduction and dehydration and their geodynamic consequences: Evidence from seismology and mineral physics

We present new pieces of evidence from seismology and mineral physics for the existence of low-velocity zones in the deep part of the upper mantle wedge and the mantle transition zone that are caused by fluids from the deep subduction and deep dehydration of the Pacific and Philippine Sea slabs under western Pacific and East Asia. The Pacific slab is subducting beneath the Japan Islands and Japan Sea with intermediate-depth and deep earthquakes down to 600 km depth under the East Asia margin, and the slab becomes stagnant in the mantle transition zone under East China. The western edge of the stagnant Pacific slab is roughly coincident with the NE–SW Daxing'Anling-Taihangshan gravity lineament located west of Beijing, approximately 2000 km away from the Japan Trench. The upper mantle above the stagnant slab under East Asia forms a big mantle wedge (BMW). Corner flow in the BMW and deep slab dehydration may have caused asthenospheric upwelling, lithospheric thinning, continental rift systems, and intraplate volcanism in Northeast Asia. The Philippine Sea slab has subducted down to the mantle transition zone depth under Western Japan and Ryukyu back-arc, though the seismicity within the slab occurs only down to 200–300 km depths. Combining with the corner flow in the mantle wedge, deep dehydration of the subducting Pacific slab has affected the morphology of the subducting Philippine Sea slab and its seismicity under Southwest Japan. Slow anomalies are also found in the mantle under the subducting Pacific slab, which may represent small mantle plumes, or hot upwelling associated with the deep slab subduction. Slab dehydration may also take place after a continental plate subducts into the mantle.     

华北克拉通上地幔变形及其动力学意义

华北克拉通从稳定到破坏的演化过程对有关地球动力学的经典理论提出了挑战,研究其独特的演化历史是固体地球科学研究的一项重要内容。上地幔矿物晶体的各向异性记录了上地幔发生构造变形的信息,研究上地幔地震波各向异性能够揭示现今和构造历史时期所发生的构造运动。本文总结了近年来作者在华北克拉通地区所进行的高密度、覆盖广泛的地震波横波分裂观测研究结果。横波分裂的快轴方向与绝对板块运动方向的不一致,以及横波分裂参数快速的空间变化特征表明了华北克拉通的SKS横波分裂主要反映上地幔的变形。观测结果表明：鄂尔多斯块体保留了克拉通较弱的各向异性特征,其西端体现了元古代克拉通拼合的变形特征; 中新生代华北克拉通破坏事件以不同的机制主导了华北克拉通中部和东部的上地幔变形,在东部地区北西—南东向的拉张应力作用使得快轴方向平行于拉张方向,而在中部则因受到较厚岩石圈的阻挡使得地幔流动改变了方向,因此造成了北东和北北东向的岩石圈拉张。     

Episodic widespread magma underplating beneath the North China Craton in the Phanerozoic: Implications for craton destruction

A comprehensive synthesis of U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes of zircons from granulite/pyroxenite xenoliths entrained in Phanerozoic magmatic rocks and inherited xenocrysts from the associated lower crust rocks from various domains of the North China Craton (NCC) provides new insights into understanding the Phanerozoic evolution of the lower crust in this craton. Episodic widespread magma underplating into the ancient lower crust during Phanerozoic has been identified throughout the NCC from early Paleozoic to Cenozoic, broadly corresponding to the Caledonian, Hercynian, Indosinian, Yanshanian, and Himalayan orogenies on the circum-craton mobile belts. The early Paleozoic (410–490 Ma) ages come from xenoliths in the northern and southern margins as well as the central domain of the Eastern Block of the craton which mark the first phase of Phanerozoic magma underplating since the final cratonization of the NCC in the Paleoproterozoic. The magmatism coincided with the northward subduction of the Paleotethysian Ocean in the south and the southward subduction of the Paleoasian Ocean in the north. The subduction not only triggered magma underplating but also led to the emplacement of the diamondiferous kimberlites on the craton, marking the initiation of decratonization. The late Paleozoic event as represented by the 315 Ma garnet pyroxenite and/or lherzolite xenoliths in Hannuoba was restricted to the northern and southern margins of the craton, correlating with the arc magmatism continuous associated with the subduction of the Paleotethysian and Paleoasian Oceans and resulting in the interaction between the melts from subducted slabs and the lithospheric mantle/lower crust. The early Mesozoic event also dominantly occurred in the northern and southern margins and was related with the final closure of the Paleotethysian and Paleoasian Oceans as well as the collisional orogeny between the NCC and the Yangtze Craton. The late Mesozoic (ca. 120 Ma) was a major and widespread magmatic event which manifested throughout the NCC, associated with the geothermal overturn due to the giant south Pacific mantle plume. The Cenozoic magmatism, identified only in the dark clinopyroxenite xenoliths in the Hannuoba, was probably induced by the Himalayan movement in eastern Asia and might also have been influenced by the subduction of the Pacific Ocean to some extent. These widespread and episodic magma underplating or rejuvenation of the ancient lower crust beneath the NCC revealed by U–Pb and Hf isotope data resulted from the corresponding addition of juvenile materials from mantle to lower crust, with a mixing of the old crust with melts. The process inevitably resulted in the compositional modification of the ancient lower crust, similar to the compositional transformation from the refractory lithospheric mantle to a fertile one through the refractory peridotite — infiltrated melt reaction as revealed in the lithospheric mantle beneath the craton.     

Gold metallogeny associated with craton destruction: A geophysical perspective from the North China Craton

Currently ranking as the largest producer of gold in the world, China's gold reserves are spread over 200 major gold deposits and several minor deposits. A large part of these belong to the late Mesozoic gold deposits in the North China Craton (NCC) that occur along craton margins, as well as within the cratonic interior in reactivated paleo sutures, and show a close spatio-temporal relationship with zones of lithospheric thinning and craton destruction. Here we integrate and evaluate geophysical information from the NCC through an analysis of receiver function and tomography that suggest mantle upwelling accompanied by lower crustal or lithospheric delamination. Our results identify that the major gold belts in the NCC are largely located above zones of mantle upwelling and craton destruction. The faults and paleo sutures provided the pathways for migration of ore-bearing fluids, with the granitoids offering favorable conditions for gold deposition.