新疆东天山红云滩地区构造-热演化探讨:来自Ar-Ar和(U-Th)/He热年代学的约束

红云滩岩体位于东天山觉罗塔格西部,对其进行热演化历史研究对于揭示觉罗塔格地区乃至整个东天山地区的构造-热演化历史具有重要意义。本文对红云滩岩体进行黑云母Ar-Ar、锆石(U-Th)/He和磷灰石(U-Th)/He测年,并结合前人的锆石U-Pb测年结果,精细刻画出该岩体自形成以后经历的热演化过程,并据此识别出东天山红云滩地区发生过多期快速抬升冷却事件。黑云母阶段升温Ar-Ar法同位素定年得到的坪年龄为316.9±1.8Ma,单颗粒锆石和磷灰石(U-Th)/He同位素定年得到的平均年龄分别为213.7±9.6Ma和65.5±1.3Ma。热年代学数据及模拟结果表明东天山红云滩地区自晚古生代以来经历了3个快速冷却阶段,分别为:晚石炭世至早二叠世(ca.330~296Ma)、晚三叠世(222~220Ma)、晚白垩世(91~77Ma)。其中,晚石炭世至早二叠世的快速冷却作用是岩体侵位后与围岩热传导冷却及伴随天山造山隆升冷却综合作用的结果,晚三叠世和晚白垩世的两期快速冷却事件分别与羌塘-欧亚板块、Kohistan-Dras岛弧-拉萨地块碰撞的远程效应造成的东天山地区隆升作用有关。新生代以来,红云滩岩体所在的阿奇山-雅满苏地区构造活动相对较弱,未发生较为明显的隆升作用,与天山西段新生代的构造活动有着明显的差异。     

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。     

中新生代天山剥蚀与塔里木盆地北缘沉积耦合过程:新疆库车河剖面的低温热年代学证据

天山造山带中新生代快速剥露对于了解天山构造演化过程意义重大.然而,人们对于中新生代精确的冷却时间还一直存在争议.本文报道了塔里木盆地北缘库车河剖面中生界砂岩中碎屑磷灰石裂变径迹数据和早二叠世流纹岩热史演化模拟结果. 热年代学年龄趋势显示碎屑磷灰石裂变径迹的主要年龄组分为143.0~148.9 Ma和35.7~38.1 Ma,其中较年轻的组分已经完全重置,揭示了库车坳陷的剥露信息. 热史模拟结果显示了160~140 Ma的快速冷却事件. 结合库车河剖面前人的碎屑锆石U-Pb和重矿物数据,笔者认为欧亚南缘拉萨地体的拼贴是通过刚性的塔里木将挤压应力传递至天山,导致其在晚侏罗世?早白垩世强烈隆升剥蚀,大量碎屑被搬运沉积在塔里木盆地北缘,造成库车坳陷中广泛发育的早白垩世亚格列木组砾岩及其与晚侏罗世地层之间的角度不整合. 在欧亚板块南缘多块体持续拼贴的远程效应下,天山经历始新世快速隆升变形,变形持续向南扩展,导致库车坳陷在晚始新世遭受变形和抬升.      

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.     

天山、西昆仑山中、新生代幕式活动的磷灰石裂变径迹记录

通过对天山独山子—库车公路、西昆仑山新疆—西藏公路出露的7个花岗岩样品的磷灰石裂变径迹分析，研究了天山、西昆仑山脉低温（＜110℃）热历史。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄范围为（9.6±0.8）～（89.2±2.3）Ma，平均裂变径迹长度变化范围为（7.9±3.7）～（11.6±1.9）μm。磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映冷却作用时代，地质资料和磷灰石裂变径迹分析数据表明，天山在白垩纪存在一次抬升作用，天山和西昆仑山在中新世发生另一次抬升作用。     

中、新生代天山隆升过程及其与准噶尔、阿尔泰山比较研究

根据穿越天山地质剖面观察、系统裂变径迹(FT)测年年龄与热演化模拟结果分析,并综合前人研究结果,天山陆内造山带中、新生代主要经历2次明显的隆升事件,分别为晚侏罗世—早白垩世和中新世以来(25~0Ma)。从天山地区磷灰石FT年龄结果来看,主要记录了早期隆升年龄,但热演化模拟结果显示普遍经历了中新世以来的快速隆升。在天山北缘从盆山边缘的近25Ma开始隆升到前缘带的现今活动,表明天山陆内造山带在隆升的同时还逐渐“增生”扩展。系统研究和分析表明,东西准噶尔和阿尔泰地区则主要记录了晚中生代以来的持续隆升过程,新生代构造活动不明显或强度相对天山要弱。上述事实表明,天山及其中亚地区新生代的陆内活动是受喜马拉雅碰撞与青藏高原隆升的影响,具有向北渐弱的特征。     

阿齐山—雅满苏地区中-新生代构造隆升裂变径迹 证据:兼论构造活动对核废选址场的意义

构造活动性是核废处置场评价的一项基本判别要素。文中通过对东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区磷灰石裂变径迹测年及 构造隆升剥蚀过程的模拟来评价核废处置场的构造活动性。结果表明阿齐山—雅满苏地区样品磷灰石裂变径迹年龄集中分 布在81.7~51.4 Ma之间,反映出东天山地区晚白垩世—始新世存在一次明显的构造冷却事件,这与天山地区晚白垩世的抬 升剥露事件相一致。磷灰石裂变径迹长度介于13.60±0.11~14.36±0.10 μm之间,其长度标准差为0.98~1.22 μm,显示该区 磷灰石径迹形成后没有发生过明显的退火作用。根据地温梯度计算得到晚白垩世—始新世东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区隆升 剥蚀速率为270~580 m/Ma。现有地质资料及热史模拟结果表明,东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区在晚白垩世—始新世(84~49 Ma)期间经历了强烈的构造隆升—剥露事件,自始新世以后50 Ma以来,地壳处于稳定状态,新生代构造活动不明显,其 活动强度明显有别于天山其他地段。东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区现在的构造地貌基本继承了晚白垩世的特征,处于构造活 动平稳期,符合核废处置场选址的构造要求。     

An Upper Cretaceous paleo-aquifer system in the Eromanga Basin of the central Gawler Craton,South Australia: evidence from apatite fission track thermochronology

An apatite fission track (AFT) study of crystalline basement in the central Gawler Craton reveals apparent ages in the range of ca 430–58 Ma. The majority of samples underwent protracted monotonic cooling related to regional Paleozoic exhumation, consistent with long-term crustal stability as expected for cratonic interiors. However, multiple samples show evidence of Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene reheating, indicating a more dynamic low-temperature history. Inverse time–temperature modelling of AFT data indicates varying degrees of thermal overprinting between ～60 and 110°C, with substantially overprinted and negligibly overprinted samples in close proximity (<1 km). Time–temperature histories for samples that experienced thermal overprinting reveal localised Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene (ca 100–50 Ma) heating that is significantly younger than the Paleozoic–early Mesozoic exhumation recorded regionally. The highly localised nature and non-systematic patterns of overprinting combined with the lack of major Mesozoic or Cenozoic fault structures are not consistent with a regional thermal event associated with substantial reburial and later exhumation. Rather, localised reheating was most likely caused by heated groundwater from the once-overlying Mesozoic Eromanga Basin aquifer system, whose modern discharge margin (～400 km north of the study area) is marked by thermal mound springs that produce fluids with temperatures up to 100°C. Only basement rocks in close proximity to fluid pathways in the overlying aquifer would have recorded reheating, resulting in the observed sporadic distribution of partially overprinted samples. Thermal history modelling indicates rejuvenated apatite grains cooled to near-surface temperatures in the latest Cretaceous–Paleogene. This was likely in response to local removal of the overlying Eromanga Basin aquifer unit due to a relatively minor degree of exhumation (≤1 km) recorded regionally, which consequently disrupted the anomalous heating mechanism. These results show that the flow of heated groundwater is a feasible reheating mechanism for low-temperature thermochronometers, resulting in cooling patterns that may become decoupled from exhumation in cratonic interiors.     

西准噶尔晚古生代花岗岩类侵入体(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar热年代学

西准噶尔成矿带夹持在天山断裂与额尔齐斯断裂之间,是中亚成矿域西部的核心区域之一,广泛发育晚古生代深成岩浆活动、走滑断裂构造和斑岩铜矿、造山型金矿成矿作用。本文在西准噶尔成矿带包古图岩体、康德岩体、加曼岩体、库鲁木苏岩体、别鲁阿嘎希岩体、哈图岩体、阿克巴斯套岩体、庙尔沟岩体、克拉玛依岩体及红山岩体采集12个样品,通过黑云母和钾长石(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar阶段升温测年,给出了该地区(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar冷却年龄。其中,黑云母(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar年龄处在326~302 Ma范围内,钾长石(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar年龄为297~264 Ma,反映了西准噶尔地区晚石炭世-中二叠世的区域中温冷却历史。结合前人报道的锆石U-Pb、角闪石(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar、辉钼矿Re-Os、磷灰石裂变径迹等年龄数据,构建了西准噶尔成矿带晚古生代岩浆侵入,成矿作用与构造抬升,以及晚中生代剥露过程的整个热历史;并与区域左行走滑断裂活动的时间进行了对比,讨论了(40)~Ar/(39)~Ar冷却年龄的构造意义。     

彬县-铜川地区延长组油页岩晚白垩世以来的抬升剥蚀与冷却历史

利用古温标与热年代学数据共同恢复油页岩的隆升冷却历史对于研究油页岩成矿的热背景有着重要的理论意义.利用钻孔ZK900磷灰石（U-Th）/He测年数据,结合已有的永参1井磷灰石裂变径迹资料分别获得铜川地区和彬县地区延长组油页岩晚白垩世以来的古地温、抬升冷却期次、抬升冷却速率及剥蚀厚度等数据,并对比了两个地区油页岩经历的构造热演化史的差异性.ZK900钻孔长6、长9和长10段磷灰石He年龄均值依次为43.83 Ma、31.87 Ma和22.88 Ma.铜川地区油页岩晚白垩世以来经历了97~40 Ma快速抬升、40~8 Ma缓慢抬升和8 Ma以来快速抬升3个阶段,剥蚀厚度及抬升速率分别为600 m、10.5 m/Ma,10 m、0.3 m/Ma和1 290 m、161.3 m/Ma,对应的古温度及冷却速率分别为100~60 ℃、0.70 ℃/Ma,60~50 ℃、0.22 ℃/Ma和50~25 ℃、2.90 ℃/Ma.彬县地区延长组油页岩晚白垩世以来经历了3期抬升冷却过程:97~40 Ma,持续抬升冷却（130~75 ℃）,冷却速率为0.96 ℃/Ma,抬升速率为14.4 m/Ma,剥蚀厚度820 m;40~8 Ma温度基本未变（75~70 ℃）,抬升/冷却速率均很低,分别为1.9 m/Ma与0.16 ℃/Ma,剥蚀厚度60 m;8 Ma以来急剧降温（70~31 ℃）,抬升速率125 m/Ma,冷却速率4.88 ℃/Ma,剥蚀厚度1 000 m.彬县-铜川地区三叠系油页岩晚白垩世以来经历了3个抬升阶段,始新世40 Ma和中新世8 Ma为该套油页岩成矿后期冷却的关键时刻.研究表明,彬县地区和铜川地区抬升冷却和剥蚀历史具有一定的差异性,在今后油页岩成矿及后期改造研究中应区别分析.      

伊犁盆地白垩纪剥露事件的裂变径迹证据

本文利用砂岩中磷灰石的裂变径迹方法, 研究了伊犁盆地中生代抬升-剥露事件。根据磷灰石裂变径迹测年结果, 开展了温度-时间热模拟反演研究, 结果揭示出伊犁盆地在115~95Ma期间存在一期重要的抬升-剥露冷却事件, 剥蚀量至少可达1.8km, 剥蚀速率至少为0.09mm/a。区域资料对比分析表明中晚白垩世的抬升剥露事件, 在天山地区乃至整个新疆的造山带普遍存在。      

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.     

中吉天山隆升时代对比——裂变径迹年代学证据

中吉天山成矿带境内外天山在成矿时代、矿产种类、矿床规模等多方面存在重大差异。它们的成矿条件基本类似,是否因为保存条件的不同而产生这种差异值得关注。文章对采自吉尔吉斯斯坦北天山(境外西天山)的磷灰石样品进行了裂变径迹测试分析和温度-时间反演模拟研究,表明吉尔吉斯斯坦北天山在中新生代发生了四期抬升剥露作用,分别为晚侏罗世、晚白垩世、始新世和渐新世,且不同区域其抬升剥露史也不相同:晚侏罗世的抬升局限于伊塞克湖南岸的泰尔斯山脉,始新世的抬升主要发生在伊塞克湖南北两侧的泰尔斯山脉和昆格山脉,晚白垩世和渐新世的抬升为吉尔吉斯斯坦北天山整体抬升。与东部境内西天山对比表明,境内西天山整体隆升时间较早,历时较长,有可能隆升剥蚀程度超过境外西天山,从而造成了成矿方面的重大差异。     

New Discovery of the Early Cretaceous Volcanic Rocks on the Barton Peninsula, King George Island,Antarctica and Its Geological Significance

Ages determined with the 40Ar/39Ar isotopic system affirms the Early Cretaceous volcanic activity in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Two specimens of basaltic andesite collected from the lowermost volcanic sequence of the peninsula were irradiated and analyzed in different experiments, yielding an identical age spectrum, and two magmatic thermal events of the Early Cretaceous (120.4± 1.6 Ma, 119± 1 Ma) and Early Tertiary (53.1± 1.5 Ma, 52± 1 Ma) are distinguished. The former is interpreted to represent the primary cooling age of basaltic andesite, whereas the latter is the thermal reset age caused by the intrusion of granitic pluton. These new ages clearly indicate that volcanism was active during the Early Cretaceous on the Barton Peninsula and that intensive hydrothermal alteration and mineralization of Mesozoic volcanic rocks resulted from Tertiary magmatism.     

中新生代天山地区隆升历史的裂变径迹证据

本文对天山及其两侧盆地的8条典型地质剖面进行了大量的磷灰石裂变径迹测试,重点分析了天山地区不同区域的抬升历史的差异。结果表明天山主要经历4次构造抬升过程,每次抬升的范围并不相同,且存在东西差异:①早白垩世抬升,在天山南北两侧都有发生,且南边抬升早,北边抬升晚。本次抬升导致早中侏罗世天山地区准平原化状态开始解体,盆山分异开始出现;②晚白垩世抬升,从约96Ma开始,天山南侧为盆山同升的区域性隆升,天山北侧的抬升主要发生在东部地区;③古近纪抬升,从约46Ma开始,主要发生在中天山和南天山,造成天山两侧盆地物源区的重大变化,本次抬升为印度-亚洲碰撞在天山地区产生的最早的远程效应;④中新世以来的抬升,从约25Ma开始,主要发生在库车盆地北缘和北天山—准噶尔南缘。从抬升剥蚀量来看,从东向西逐渐变大。     

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic Exhumation History of the Lüliang Mountains, North China Craton: Constraint from Fission-track Thermochronology

The Lüliang Mountains, located in the North China Craton, is a relatively stable block, but it has experienced uplift and denudation since the late Mesozoic. We hence aim to explore its time and rate of the exhumation by the fission-track method. The results show that, no matter what type rocks are, the pooled ages of zircon and apatite fission-track range from 60.0 to 93.7 Ma and 28.6 to 43.3 Ma, respectively; all of the apatite fission-track length distributions are unimodal and yield a mean length of ~13?μm; and the thermal history modeling results based on apatite fission-track data indicate that the time-temperature paths exhibit similar patterns and the cooling has been accelerated for each sample since the Pliocene (c.5 Ma). Therefore, we can conclude that a successive cooling, probably involving two slow (during c.75-35 Ma and 35-5 Ma) and one rapid (during c.5 Ma-0 Ma) cooling, has occurred through the exhumation of the Lüliang Mountains since the late Cretaceous. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady-state geothermal gradient of 35°C/km. Combined with the tectonic setting, this exhumation may be the resultant effect from the surrounding plate interactions, and it has been accelerated since c.5 Ma predominantly due to the India-Eurasia collision.     

内蒙古突泉—科尔沁右翼中旗地区中生代花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

内蒙古突泉—科尔沁右翼中旗地区位于大兴安岭中南段,中生代岩浆活动较为频繁,岩浆作用形成的岩石类型主要包括花岗闪长岩、正长花岗岩、二长花岗岩和花岗斑岩等。鉴于目前研究区地质资料缺乏对整个突泉—科右中旗地区中生代花岗岩较为完善的研究和论述,笔者旨在对全区范围内的中生代花岗岩进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄测定,同时在总结前人资料的基础上划分该地区不同的中生代岩浆作用期次,进而讨论本区不同花岗岩所代表的地质意义。花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄测试结果表明,孟恩陶勒盖花岗闪长岩的形成时代为（241.2±2.8） Ma,杜尔基镇南部正长花岗岩的形成时代为（148.2±1.0） Ma,宝格吐岩体的花岗闪长岩的形成时代为（226.0±1.1） Ma,马家屯花岗斑岩的形成时代为（124.6±1.1） Ma,这与广泛分布于本区中生代火山岩的形成时代较为一致。结合前人研究成果以及邻区的地质资料,认为本区岩浆活动可以划分为中—晚三叠世、晚侏罗世和早白垩世;中—晚三叠世花岗岩可能属于古亚洲洋闭合造山后岩石圈伸展作用的产物,而晚侏罗世花岗岩的形成可能与中侏罗世蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合后岩石圈伸展作用有关,早白垩世花岗岩可能反映了板内拉张的构造背景。     

From emplacement to unroofing: thermal history of the Jiazishan gabbro, Sulu UHP terrane, China

On the eastern extremity of the Jiaodong peninsula, China, shoshonitic magmas have been injected into the supracrustal rocks of the Sulu ultra-high pressure (UHP) terrane during the crustal exhumation phase. These granitoids (collectively termed the Shidao igneous complex or Jiazishan alkaline complex) show geochemical and isotopic signatures of an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle and intruded soon after the subducted Yangtze crust had reached peak metamorphic pressure conditions (240–220 Ma). We have applied various geochronometers to an alkali-gabbro sample from the Jiazishan pluton and the results allow reconstruction of the Triassic-to-present thermal history. Initial rapid cooling of the gabbro at crustal depths is indicated by the close agreement between the Sm-Nd mineral isochron age (228?±?36 Ma) and the Rb-Sr biotite age (207?±?1) Ma. This interpretation is confirmed by previously published U-Pb zircon ages (225–209 Ma), and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar amphibole and K-feldspar ages (～214 Ma) from the Jiazishan syenites. A titanite fission-track age of 166?±?8 Ma (closure temperature range 285–240°C) records widespread Jurassic magmatism in the Jiaodong peninsula, indicating that the gabbro reached upper crustal levels before it was reheated by nearby Jurassic plutons. A subsequent cooling and reheating event is indicated by an apatite fission-track age of 106?±?6 Ma which coincides with the emplacement of the adjacent Weideshan pluton (108?±?2 Ma) and postdates a period of regional lithospheric thinning beneath eastern China. A period of slow cooling (or thermal stability) from late Cretaceous to early Tertiary, documented by an apatite (U-Th)/He age of 39?±?5 Ma, was followed by a final stage of more enhanced cooling since the late Eocene. Results of this work imply that the eastern Sulu terrane has experienced a complex cooling and reheating history. Our data are consistent with a model of initial rapid cooling (sudden exhumation) of the UHP terrane, driven by the release of buoyancy forces, followed by two progressively slower cooling intervals (both after renewed crustal reheating) during the Jurassic and Cretaceous.     

Burial and exhumation history of the Xigaze forearc basin,Yarlung suture zone. Tibet

The Cretaceous-Eocene Xigaze forearc basin is a crucial data archive for understanding the tectonic history of the Asian continental margin prior to and following collision with India during the early Cenozoic Era. This study reports apatite and zircon(U-Th)/He thermochronologic data from fourteen samples from Albian-Ypresian Xigaze forearc strata to determine the degree and timing of heating(burial) and subsequent cooling(exhumation) of two localities along the Yarlung suture zone(YSZ) near the towns of Saga and Lazi. Thirty-seven individual zircon He ages range from 31.5 ± 0.8 Ma to6.06 ± 0.18 Ma,with the majority of grains yielding ages between 30 Ma and 10 Ma. Twenty apatite He ages range from 12.7 ± 0.5 Ma to 3.9 ± 0.3 Ma,with the majority of grains yielding ages between 9 Ma and 4 Ma. These ages suggest that the Xigaze forearc basin was heated to 140-200 ℃ prior to cooling in Oligocene-Miocene time. Thermal modeling supports this interpretation and shows that the samples were buried to maximum temperatures of ～140-200 0 C by 35-21 Ma, immediately followed by the onset of exhumation. The zircon He and apatite He dataset and thermal modeling results indicate rapid exhumation from ～21 Ma to 15 Ma, and at ～4 Ma. The 21-15 Ma thermochronometric signal appears to be regionally extensive, affecting all the lithotectonic units of the YSZ, and coincides with movement along the north-vergent Great Counter Thrust system. Thrusting, coupled with enhanced erosion possibly related to the paleo-Yarlung River, likely drove Early Miocene cooling of the Xigaze forearc basin.In contrast, the younger phase of rapid exhumation at ～4 Ma was likely driven by enhanced rock uplift in the footwall of north-striking rifts that cross-cut the YSZ.     

Late Mesozoic‐Cenozoic exhumation history of the Lesser Hinggan Mountains,NE China,revealed by fission track thermochronology

This study uses zircon and apatite fission‐track (FT) analyses to reveal the exhumation history of the granitoid samples collected from the Lesser Hinggan Mountains, northeast China. A southeast to northwest transect across the Lesser Hinggan Mountains yielded zircon FT ages between 89.8 ± 5.7 and 100.4 ± 8.6 Ma, and apatite FT ages between 50.6 ± 13.8 and 74.3 ± 4.5 Ma with mean track lengths between 11.7 ± 2.0 and 12.8 ± 1.7 µm. FT results and modelling identify three stages in sample cooling history spanning the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Stage one records rapid cooling from the closure temperature of zircon FT to the high temperature part of the apatite FT partial annealing zone (∼210–110 °C) during ca. 95 to 65 Ma. Stage two records a period of relative slow cooling (∼110–60 °C) taking place between ca. 65 and 20 Ma, suggesting that the granitoids had been exhumed to the depth of ∼1−2 km. Final stage cooling (60–20 °C) occurred since the Miocene at an accelerated rate bringing the sampled rocks to the Earth's surface. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady‐state geothermal gradient of 35 °C/km. Integrated with the tectonic setting, this exhumation is possibly led by the Pacific Plate subduction combined with intracontinental orogeny associated with asthenospheric upwelling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.