鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘白垩纪以来构造演化的裂变径迹证据

鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘处于渭北隆起、晋西挠褶带和东秦岭造山带的转折地带,构造位置独特,演化历史复杂.本文选取东缘韩城地区和南缘东秦岭洛南地区上三叠统延长组为研究对象,采集6件砂岩样品进行锆石、磷灰石裂变径迹分析,对关键构造-热事件提供热年代学约束,恢复盆地东南缘不同构造带的热演化史,深化对盆地东南部油气资源赋存条件的认识,以期实现油气勘探的新突破.研究表明韩城和洛南地区的抬升冷却史存在明显差异.磷灰石裂变径迹年龄表现为从南到北减小的趋势.东缘韩城剖面磷灰石裂变径迹记录51.6~66.3 Ma、33 Ma两次抬升冷却的峰值年龄.南缘洛南剖面锆石裂变径迹年龄和磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分别记录89~106 Ma和59~66 Ma的冷却抬升年龄.洛南地区抬升冷却时间较早,剥蚀速率（106 m/Ma）大于韩城地区（68 m/Ma）,且持续时间长.磷灰石裂变径迹（Apatite Fission Track,AFT）热史模拟显示,晚中生代,受燕山运动的影响,东秦岭地区发生强烈的构造岩浆事件,洛南地区热演化程度明显高于韩城地区.洛南剖面的热演化主要受岩浆活动的控制,韩城剖面为埋藏增温型.鄂尔多斯盆地东南缘的裂变径迹年龄格局基本受控于白垩纪以来的抬升冷却事件.     

合肥盆地构造热演化的裂变径迹证据

运用裂变径迹分析方法,探讨分析了合肥盆地中新生代的构造热演化特征. 上白垩统和古近系下段样品的磷灰石裂变径迹（AFT）数据主体表现为靠近部分退火带顶部温度(±65℃)有轻度退火,由此估算晚白垩世至古近纪早期合肥盆地断陷阶段的古地温梯度接近38℃/km,高于盆地现今地温梯度(27.5℃/km).下白垩统、侏罗系及二叠系样品的AFT年龄(97.5～2.5Ma)和锆石裂变径迹(ZFT)年龄(118～104Ma)均明显小于其相应的地层年龄,AFT年龄－深度分布呈现冷却型曲线形态,且由古部分退火带、冷却带或前完全退火带及其深部的今部分退火带组成,指示早白垩世的一次构造热事件和其随后的抬升冷却过程. 基于AFT曲线的温度分带模式和流体包裹体测温数据的综合约束,推算合肥盆地早白垩世走滑压陷阶段的古地温梯度接近67℃/km. 径迹年龄分布、AFT曲线拐点年龄和区域抬升剥蚀时间的对比分析结果表明,合肥盆地在早白垩世构造热事件之后的104Ma以来总体处于抬升冷却过程,后期快速抬升冷却事件主要发生在±55Ma.     

渤海湾盆地晚中生代构造地层划分及对比:对燕山运动的启示

通过对渤海湾盆地中生代地层同位素年代学研究、地震资料解释和测井、录井资料分析,将渤海湾盆地中生代地层划分为下-中三叠统、下-中侏罗统、上侏罗统、下白垩统、上白垩统等五个构造层.通过碎屑锆石的分析,渤海湾盆地碎屑岩记录了两期侏罗纪的岩浆活动,分别为180～175Ma、160～152Ma,可分别与燕山地区南大岭组和髫髻山组对应.但是,由于在渤海湾盆地没有直接发现侏罗纪火山岩,推测这两期活动可能主要集中在华北克拉通周缘而不是内部.通过火山岩和火山碎屑岩锆石的分析,渤海湾盆地早白垩世的岩浆活动主要有两期,分别为120～125Ma、110～100Ma,可以和华北克拉通东部岩浆活动对应.这些锆石年龄唯独缺乏了在华北克拉通北缘极其常见的土城子后期和张家口期火山活动,这可能与渤海湾盆地在晚侏罗世后期抬升有关.通过对比渤海湾盆地与燕山构造带中东段造山带中生代盆地构造和沉积地层发育过程,发现两者总体可以对比,但是也存在明显的差异.燕山构造带中东段缺少早-中三叠世的地层,渤海湾盆地缺失晚侏罗世晚期-早白垩世早期的地层.结合燕山构造带中东段晚中生代沉积构造相关研究成果,本文认为渤海湾盆地及其周缘燕山运动A幕表现微弱,而燕山运动B幕对渤海湾盆地及其周缘均产生了强烈的影响.目前的资料表明其表现方式存在差异,渤海湾盆地表现为垂直隆升,华北克拉通北缘表现为水平挤压隆升.     

南天山欧西达坂岩体热演化历史与隆升过程分析——来自Ar-Ar和(U-Th)/He热年代学的证据

天山造山带晚古生代以来的隆升剥露过程与带内矿床形成后的保存潜力密切相关.本文报道了新的角闪石/斜长石Ar-Ar年龄和锆石/磷灰石(U-Th)/He年龄,为重建南天山中段地区欧西达坂岩体完整的构造-热演化历史提供年代学基础,结合前人研究成果分析了冷却速率及剥蚀速率变化特征,对南天山中段晚古生代以来的热演化历史及隆升剥蚀历史进行了探讨.同位素定年结果显示,角闪石Ar-Ar坪年龄为(382.6±3.6)Ma,斜长石Ar-Ar加权平均年龄为(265.8±4.9)Ma,锆石与磷灰石(U-Th)/He年龄分别为(185.8±4.3)和(31.1±2.9)Ma.热演化历史及模拟结果表明,南天山中段地区晚古生代至今的构造-热演化历史可以大致分为5个阶段:(1)志留纪末至晚泥盆世岩体平均冷却速率约7.84℃/Myr;(2)晚泥盆世至中二叠世末期,岩体的平均冷却速率约2.07℃/Myr;(3)中二叠世末到始新世中期岩体平均冷却速率降至0.68℃/Myr,此期间总体地质运动较为平缓;(4)新生代始新世期间(约46~35Ma)南天山中段地区发生了一期快速隆升剥蚀事件,岩体冷却速率突升至5.00℃/Myr,剥蚀量达到1.83km,平均剥蚀速率0.17mm/a;(5)始新世中期(约35Ma)至今,平均冷却速率约为1.14℃/Myr,隆升速度仍然较快,剥蚀量约为1.33km,平均剥蚀速率约0.04mm/a.新生代以来天山的剧烈隆起抬升受控于印亚碰撞的远程效应,远程作用在天山的响应具有一定的滞后效应.     

孔雀河斜坡与库鲁克塔格隆起构造事件的裂变径迹证据

文章以塔里木盆地东北缘库鲁克塔格隆起与孔雀河斜坡盆山系统为主要研究对象,在该地区露头和钻井样品开展碎屑磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹研究,对库鲁克塔格构造演化中关键构造事件提供热年代学约束.锆石样品在加里东晚期-早海西期达到最大古地温,之后经历了长期的抬升降温过程,锆石最小峰值年龄记录了371~392 Ma和328~305.7 Ma二次构造抬升年龄;在晚侏罗-晚白垩世,样品逐渐退出磷灰石部分退火带底界,磷灰石裂变径迹记录了134.5~164 Ma、73~100 Ma和35.4 Ma三次构造抬升事件年龄,其中73~100 Ma为主要构造抬升年龄.海西期构造事件年龄反映了孔雀河斜坡由沉降转入剥蚀演化阶段,对油气藏的形成具有重要意义;晚白垩世构造事件则反映了库鲁克塔格山的强烈隆升.     

大别造山带磷灰石裂变径迹(AFT)年代学研究

大别山花岗岩与变质岩的AFT热年代分布于96.4~41.9 Ma之间, 围限径迹长度为11.5~14.0 μm. 热年代代表岩石差异通过100℃等温面时的冷却时代, 这种差异性主要受控于NNE向区域构造. 在北淮阳与合肥盆地, 沉积岩样品(侏罗纪~早第三纪)AFT年代为128.8~62.0 Ma, 围限径迹长度为8.6~11.9 μm, 它们更多反映盆地埋藏加热的信息. 合肥盆地与大别造山带之间存在构造耦合关系. 95~90 Ma属于大别山构造推隆取代伸展热窿的转折期, 其成因可能与西太平洋域汇聚变化特性有关; 商城-麻城与郯-庐两断裂之间左旋差异走滑与构造推隆作用, 使得大别腹地伸展热窿在晚白垩世急剧萎缩. 早第三纪时期, 受西太平洋域汇聚速率急剧下降的影响, 欧亚东缘表现出广泛的拉张环境, 大别山60~40 Ma带状热异常应与这种拉张作用有关; 郯-庐热中心的冷却(70~40 Ma)要比商城-麻城热中心(60~55 Ma)缓慢, 而大别腹地热隆区(60~40 Ma)属于伸展热窿萎缩之残留. 大别山早第三纪还遭受喜马拉雅山碰撞域的远场影响, 这种影响多通过NWW向断裂来实现构造传递; 进入渐新世~中新世, 大别山冷却波动仍显现区域差异性, 它们在时间上与南海盆地扩张、关闭事件相近.     

青藏高原东缘峨眉山新生代加速抬升剥蚀作用

本文通过峨眉山基底卷入构造带低温热年代学（磷灰石和锆石裂变径迹、锆石（U-Th）/He）研究,结合典型构造-热结构特征诠释峨眉山晚中-新生代冲断扩展变形与热年代学耦合性.峨眉山磷灰石裂变径迹（AFT）和锆石（U-Th）/He（ZHe）年龄值分别为4~30 Ma和16~118 Ma.ZHe年龄与海拔高程关系揭示出ZHe系统抬升剥蚀残存的部分滞留带（PRZ）.低温热年代学年龄与峨眉山构造分带性具有明显相关性特征：万年寺逆断层上盘基底卷入构造带AFT年龄普遍小于10 Ma,万年寺逆断层下盘扩展变形带AFT年龄普遍大于10 Ma;且空间上AFT年龄与断裂带具有明显相关性,它揭示出峨眉山扩展变形带中新世晚期以来断层冲断缩短构造活动.低温热年代学热史模拟揭示峨眉山构造带晚白垩世以来的多阶段性加速抬升剥蚀过程,基底卷入构造带岩石隆升幅度大约达到7~8 km,渐新世以来抬升剥蚀速率达0.2~0.4 mm·a^-1,其新生代多阶段性构造隆升动力学与青藏高原多板块间碰撞过程及其始新世大规模物质东向扩展过程密切相关.

     

大巴山弧形构造带形成与两侧隆起的关系:FT和(U-Th)/He低温热年代约束

FT和(U-Th)/He低温热年代与区域冷却特性表明,南大巴山弧形带在153～100Ma时期以快速冷却抬升(1.44～1.90℃/Ma)为特征,这一构造期既不同于因秦岭晚造山挤压(J1+2)引发的盆地快速沉降,也不同于100～45Ma时期的缓慢冷却与构造抬升.这种快速冷却抬升与弧形带两侧的黄陵隆起(160～126Ma,冷却速率为2.22～3.17℃/Ma)、汉南-米仓山隆起(南部150～125Ma,冷却速率为4.91℃/Ma;北部150～105Ma,冷却速率为2.11℃/Ma)存在很好的区域一致性.综合弧形带与两侧隆起的差异冷却特性以及与北大巴武当地块冷却曲线的对比分析,本文认为南大巴山弧形构造带形成于153～100Ma,主要与扬子板块总体上主动向北西的推挤作用同时遭受汉南、黄陵两个基底隆起的阻挡促使秦岭造山带被动向南西低角度弧形逆冲推覆过程有关.南大巴山弧形带及其两侧隆起在约45Ma还经历了一次较为快速的抬升作用,这一构造抬升在时间上与青藏碰撞造山事件是一致的.     

滇西临沧花岗岩基新生代剥蚀冷却的裂变径迹证据

为揭示临沧花岗岩基的剥蚀冷却历史,探讨印藏碰撞对滇西的影响,对6块临沧花岗岩基样品进行锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测定,并利用模拟退火法对其中5块样品的磷灰石裂变径迹数据进行非线性热史反演,估算了不同时期的剥蚀量和抬升量. 结果表明,岩基自印藏陆陆碰撞以来经历了两期冷却事件,早期冷却速率仅5～10 ℃/Ma,晚期冷却速率明显增高,特别是近3 Ma以来的冷却速率达到16～20 ℃/Ma;两期总剥蚀厚度可达3300～3500 m. 分析表明冷却事件与印藏碰撞关系密切,早期冷却是在印藏碰撞影响下,临沧岩基卷入逆冲推覆运动而遭遇抬升、剥蚀的结果;晚期冷却则是上新世以来,特别是3Ma以来岩基经受整体的强烈抬升、剥蚀的结果,该期构造抬升量约为672～1263 m;裂变径迹资料还揭示印藏碰撞先影响南部岩体,随后才波及到岩基中北段.     

贺兰山隆升时限及其演化

贺兰山横亘于鄂尔多斯盆地西北缘,其隆升时限与盆地的构造属性和发展演化密切相关.对其隆起的时间前人有晚三叠世、晚侏罗世等多种认识.对贺兰山现存地层的分布和岩浆及热液活动等资料分析,认为晚三叠世-中侏罗世贺兰山并未隆升,其隆起时间应在中侏罗世之后.通过对与贺兰山相邻的银川地堑沉积地层及沉降速率的研究,指出贺兰山大规模隆升时间为始新世,在上新世以来发生了快速隆升.根据对不同时代样品磷灰石和锆石裂变径迹测试结果的分析,精细刻画了贺兰山的隆升-冷却过程,指出其隆升至少经历了晚侏罗世—早白垩世初、早白垩世中晚期、晚白垩世和始新世以来4个阶段.其中,晚白垩世和始新世以来的隆升最为明显.早白垩世中晚期为区域冷却过程.综合分析和总结各方面研究结果,认为贺兰山隆升的最早时间在晚侏罗世,此时隆升规模较为局限;晚白垩世的隆升与鄂尔多斯盆地整体的抬升相对应;始新世开始发生大规模的隆升,上新世隆升速率进一步加快.     

中扬子江汉平原簰洲湾地区中、新生代构造-热演化史

本文综合运用磷灰石-锆石裂变径迹和（U-Th）/He、镜质体反射率及盆地模拟等手段,深入细致地探讨了中扬子江汉平原簰洲湾地区中、新生代构造-热史演化过程.研究结果表明,研究区中-新生代大规模构造抬升剥蚀、地层冷却事件始于早白垩世（140-130 Ma）;大规模抬升冷却过程主要发生在早白垩世中后期至晚白垩世.研究区虽然可能存在一定厚度的晚白垩世-古近纪地层沉积,总体沉积规模相对较小.综合分析认为,区内应该存在较大厚度的中侏罗统或/和上侏罗统乃至早白垩世地层的沉积;而现今残存中生代中、上侏罗统地层相对较薄,主要是由于后期持续构造抬升剥蚀造成的,估计总剥蚀厚度约4300 m左右.区内中生代地层在早白垩世达到最大古地温,而不是在古近纪沉积末期;上三叠统地层最大古地温在170~190℃之间.热史分析结果表明,区内古生代古热流相对稳定,平均热流在53.64 mW·m-2;早侏罗世末期古热流开始降低,在早白垩世初期古热流约为48.38 mW·m-2.     

Geochemical and geochronological constraints on the origin and emplacement of the Shimo-ondori diorites in Shikoku,Southwest Japan

In this study, the LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of the Shimo-ondori diorites in the Shimanto accretionary complex of SW Japan provides ~130 Ma, representing the timing of their crystallization ages. Combined with the geological occurrence, that age clearly indicates that the diorites occur as blocks, not as intrusive rocks as suggested by previous studies. Moreover, the ages of the Shimo-ondori diorites are suggesstive that they could be influential for the estimate of the early-Cretaceous tectonic evolution for the eastern Asian margin. Their whole-rock chemical compositions show high MgO, Ni and Cr contents, and low total FeO/MgO ratios, indicating that they were crystallized from high magnesian andesite (HMA) magmas. Moreover, their TiO₂ and REE compositions suggest that they were formed by the same processes as the sanukites. And, the zircon Hf isotopic ratios (ε_Hf [~130 Ma] = +9.9 − +17.5), which is close to or slightly lower than that of the ~130 Ma depleted mantle, suggest that the wedge-mantle materials were predominantly involved in the formation of the dioritic magmas. Their geochronological and geochemical similarities of the Shimo-ondori diorites with the early Cretaceous adakites and HMAs in the eastern Asian margin suggest that they might have been formed possibly by the same slab rollback of the Izanagi plate at the early Cretaceous. After the crystallization of the Shimo-ondori diorites, they were delivered and deposited as blocks in a trench site with the surrounding sedimentary rocks of the Shimanto accretionary complex.     

Age and significance of the North Pyrenean metamorphism

³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar and ⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr studies of some metamorphic minerals from the North Pyrenean zone indicate that they crystallized about 92–104 m.y. ago on the east, 85 m.y. or older on the west. An amphibole from a lherzolite in the eastern area gives a plateau age at 103 m.y. The North Pyrenean metamorphism is shown to be a thermal effect of forcible lherzolite emplacement along the North Pyrenean zone. This latter process is related to the early breakup of the Europe-Iberia plate during the middle Cretaceous time.     

Ar/Ar ages and paleomagnetism of São Miguel lavas, Azores

We present new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and paleomagnetic data for São Miguel island, Azores. Paleomagnetic samples were obtained for 34 flows and one dike; successful mean paleomagnetic directions were obtained for 28 of these 35 sites. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations on 12 flows from the Nordeste complex were attempted successfully: ages obtained are between 0.78 Ma and 0.88 Ma, in contrast to published K–Ar ages of 1 Ma to 4 Ma. Our radiometric ages are consistent with the reverse polarity paleomagnetic field directions, and indicate that the entire exposed part of the Nordeste complex is of a late Matuyama age. The duration of volcanism across São Miguel is significantly less than previously believed, which has important implications for regional melt generation processes, and temporal sampling of the geomagnetic field. Observed stable isotope and trace element trends across the island can be explained, at least in part, by communication between different magma source regions at depth. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate that our normal polarity paleomagnetic data sample at least 0.1 Myr (0–0.1 Ma) and up to 0.78 Myr (0–0.78 Ma) of paleosecular variation and our reverse polarity data sample approximately 0.1 Myr (0.78–0.88 Ma) of paleosecular variation. Our results demonstrate that precise radiometric dating of numerous flows sampled is essential to accurate inferences of long-term geomagnetic field behavior. Negative inclination anomalies are observed for both the normal and reverse polarity time-averaged field. Within the data uncertainties, normal and reverse polarity field directions are antipodal, but the reverse polarity field shows a significant deviation from a geocentric axial dipole direction.     

Granite generation and rapid unroofing related to strike-slip faulting, Aysén, Chile

A stock of biotite-muscovite-garnet leucogranite crops out in the lower course of Río Cisnes as an unusual minor lithology within the predominantly dioritic to tonalitic North Patagonian Batholith. Foliated and unfoliated varieties are present—the former are nearer to the main lineament of the Liquin˜e-Ofqui Fault Zone (LOFZ). Two-feldspar thermometry indicates equilibration temperatures above 600°C, for pressures probably not over 3 kbar, as suggested by the Mn-rich garnet composition. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron age of 9.6 ± 0.4 Ma (1σ error) probably indicates the time of magma crystallization. ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of 6.6 ± 0.3 Ma on muscovite and 5.5 ± 0.4 Ma on biotite are cooling ages from which a moderate average uplift/denudation rate ( 1 mm/yr) may be calculated. Paucity of occurrence, distribution close to the LOFZ and a near minimum-melt composition all suggest that the leucogranite magma was derived by partial melting of the lower crust, perhaps by decompression melting at a time when uplift/denudation rates were high (4 mm/yr or more are required). Regional evidence for rapid Holocene uplift in the immediate vicinity of the LOFZ substantiates the feasibility of the proposed petrogenetic model, which may be valid in other strike-slip orogenic environments.     

Systematics of xenocrystic contamination: preservation of discrete feldspar populations at McCullough Pass Caldera revealed by Ar/Ar dating

Single crystal ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of K-feldspars from silicic volcanic rocks containing xenocrysts often yields a spectrum of ages slightly older than those of juvenile sanidine phenocrysts. In contrast, feldspars from thin, low-volume units of the Tertiary (14 Ma) McCullough Pass Tuff define discrete age populations at 14 Ma, 15 Ma, and 1.3 Ga, reflecting the time of eruption, xenocrysts from an older ignimbrite exposed in the caldera wall, and Proterozoic basement K-feldspars, respectively. Conductive cooling and diffusion modelling suggests preservation of such discrete populations is likely only when xenocrystic material is incorporated into the magma very near or at the surface, or is engulfed in thin, rapidly cooled pyroclastic flows during emplacement. Incorporation of xenocrysts into the subvolcanic magma chamber, into thick rhyolite domes or lava flows, or into large, welded ignimbrite sheets will result in partial or total resetting of the K/Ar isotopic system. Similarly, petrographic evidence such as exsolution lamellae may be homogenized under these conditions but not in thin ignimbrites. Extremely low diffusion rates for disordering of the Al–Si tetrahedral siting of basement feldspars suggests that they will retain their ordered structural state given rhyolitic magma temperatures. Thus, even when petrographic and K/Ar isotopic evidence for xenocrystic contamination is obscured, it may be preserved in the form of Al–Si ordering.     

华北克拉通热结构差异性特征及其意义

华北克拉通破坏存在空间上的差异性,至今其内在的动力学机制仍存在较大的争议,这种差异性在岩石圈热结构上必然有所表现.广义上岩石圈热结构包括热流结构、温度场结构和热岩石圈厚度,是揭示岩石圈演化及其内在动力学过程的重要基础.基于二维地震剖面和大地热流数据,建立二维稳态热传导有限元模型,对华北克拉通东部岩石圈热结构进行模拟计算并与西部进行对比分析,在此基础上对比热岩石圈与地震岩石圈厚度差异的变化.结果显示,华北克拉通东、西部岩石圈热结构有着较为明显的差异,地幔热流值波动范围分别在24~44/20.5~24.5 mW·m-2,壳幔比1.61~0.70/1.84~1.51,以1300℃等温线计算得到的热岩石圈厚度变化范围在75~139 km/128~162 km.华北克拉通东部相对西部有着较高的深部地幔热流值和较小的地震/热岩石圈厚度差异,这可能意味着东部软流圈地幔有效黏度相比西部低,估算差异可达2~3个数量级.     

Renewed profile of the Mesozoic magmatism in Korean Peninsula: Regional correlation and broader implication for cratonic destruction in the North China Craton

Widespread Mesozoic magmatism occurs in the Korean Peninsula (KP). The status quo is poles apart between the northern and southern parts in characterizing its distribution and nature, with the nearly absence of any related information in North Korea. We have the opportunity to have conducted geological investigations in North Korea and South Korea during the past ten years through international cooperation programs. This led to the revelation of a number of granitoids and related volcanic rocks and thus facilitates the comparison with those in East China and Japan. Mesozoic granitoids in the KP can be divisible into three age groups: the Triassic group with a peak age of ~220 Ma, the Jurassic one of ~190–170 Ma and the late Early Cretaceous one of ~110 Ma. The Triassic intrusions include syenite, calc-alkaline to alkaline granite and minor kimberlite in the Pyeongnam Basin of North Korea. They have been considered to form in post-orogenic settings related to the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) or the Dabie-Sulu Orogenic Belt (DSOB). The Jurassic granitoids constitute extensive occurrence in the KP and are termed as the Daebo-period magmatism. They correlate well with coeval counterparts in NE China encompassing the northeastern part of the North China Craton (NCC) and the eastern segment of the CAOB. They commonly consist of biotite or two-mica granites and granodiorites, with some containing small dark diorite enclaves. On one hand, Early Jurassic to early Middle Jurassic magmatic rocks are rare in most areas of the NCC, whilst Middle-Late Jurassic ones are not developed in the KP. On the other hand, both NCC and KP host abundant Cretaceous granites. However, the present data revealed contrasting age peaks, with ~130–125 Ma in the NCC and ~110–105 Ma in the KP. Cretaceous granites in the KP comprise the dominant biotite granites and a few amphibole granites. The former exhibit mildly fractionated REE patterns and zircon ε _Hf(t) values from -15 to -25, whereas the latter feature strongly fractionated REE patterns and zircon ε _Hf(t) values from -10 to -1. Both granites contain inherited zircons of ~1.8–1.9 or ~2.5 Ga. These geochemical characters testify to their derivation from re-melting distinct protoliths in ancient basement. Another Cretaceous magmatic sub-event has been entitled as the Gyeongsang volcanism, which is composed of bimodal calc-alkaline volcanic rocks of 94–55 Ma and granitic-hypabyssal granitic bodies of 72–70 Ma. Synthesizing the Mesozoic magmatic rocks across the KP, NCC and Japan can lead to the following highlights: (1) All Triassic granites in the NCC, KP and Japan have similar characteristics in petrology, chronology and geochemistry. Therefore, the NCC, KP and Japan tend to share the same tectonic setting during the Triassic, seemingly within the context of Indosinian orogensis. (2) Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous magmatic rocks in the NCC seem to define two episodes: episode A from 175 to 157 Ma and episode B from 157 to 135 Ma. Jurassic magmatic rocks in the KP span in age mainly from 190 to 170 Ma, whereas 160–135 Ma ones are rare. With the exception of ~197 Ma Funatsu granite, Jurassic magmatic rocks are absent in Japan. (3) Cretaceous granites in the KP have a peak age of ~110, ~20 Ma younger than those in the NCC, while Japan is exempt from ~130–100 Ma granites. (4) The spatial-temporal distribution and migratory characteristics of the Jurassic-Cretaceous magmatic rocks in Japan, KP, and NE China-North China indicate that the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate might not be operative before Late Cretaceous (~130–120 Ma). (5) Late Cretaceous magmatic rocks (~90–60 Ma) occur in the southwestern corner of the KP and also in Japan, coinciding with the metamorphic age of ~90–70 Ma in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt of Japan. The magmatic-metamorphic rock associations and their spatial distribution demonstrate the affinities of sequentially subduction zone, island arc and back-arc basin from Japan to Korea, arguing for the Pacific plate subduction during Late Cretaceous. (6) This study raises another possibility that the Mesozoic cratonic destruction in the NCC, which mainly occurred during ~150–120 Ma, might not only be due to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate, but also owe much to the intraplate geodynamic forces triggered by other adjacent continental plates like the Eurasian and Indian plates.     

40Ar/39Ar ages of blueschist facies pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains, western China

Abstract   Pelitic schists from Qingshuigou in the Northern Qilian Mountains of China contain mainly glaucophane, garnet, white mica, clinozoisite, chlorite and piemontite. Isotopic age dating of these schists provides new constraints on the formation of the high-grade blueschists at Qingshuigou. White mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages range from 442.1 to 447.5 Ma (total fusion age of single grain) and from 445.7 to 453.9 Ma (integrated age of white mica concentrates). These ages (442.1–453.9 Ma) represent the peak metamorphic ages or cooling ages of the blueschists during exhumation shortly after peak metamorphism. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates in the present study are similar to ages previously reported for eclogites and blueschists in the area; this suggests that both the eclogites and pelitic sediments underwent high-grade metamorphism during the same subduction event. From this chronological evidence and the presence of well-developed Silurian remnant-sea flysch and Devonian molasse, it is concluded that the Northern Qilian Ocean had closed by the end of the Ordovician, and rapid orogenic uplift followed in the Devonian.