Translation and the resolution of the pluton space problem

The Late Cretaceous Mono Creek granite has a pronounced NW–SE elongate shape, 60 km long by 10 km wide, characteristic of plutons from the eastern Sierra Nevada batholith. An 8 km-wide bulge exists on the NE side of this pluton, which exhibits evidence of forceful emplacement (or in-situ ballooning), such as deflection of metamorphic wallrock and igneous foliation, and the orientation of fracture patterns. Three-dimensional strain analysis indicates that wallrock strains do not provide enough volume to accommodate the emplacement of the bulge, a recurring problem in studies of plutonic terranes.We suggest that emplacement of the Mono Creek bulge was accommodated by all components of the three-dimensional displacement field—including translation, rotation, and pure strain (shape change)—of the surrounding units. Classical strain analysis only addresses the rotation and pure strain components, and is incapable of quantifying the translation component. However, our analysis suggests that translation plays the dominant role in the emplacement process. A shell model of translation of the surrounding igneous and metamorphic units is proposed for the Mono Creek bulge, which suggests that the translation component decreases dramatically away from the intrusion, consistent with the observed geology and finite strain analysis. We propose that translation is the solution to the recurring pluton `space' problem, either through tectonically controlled (passive) or magmatically controlled (active) movement of the wallrocks. Translation is generally the neglected component of the displacement field, but it may often be evaluated through judicious use of finite strain analysis and tectonic reconstruction.     

Strain fields and foliation trajectories around pre-, syn-, and post-tectonic plutons in coaxially deformed terranes

This paper determines, using simple mathematical models, maps of strain fields and foliation trajectories in the neighbourhood of plutonic bodies intruded into a region before, during, and after a lateral compression. The analyses reveal contrasting features for the three cases, which may be useful in distinguishing pre-, syn-, and post-tectonic plutons in coaxially deformed terranes. The theoretically calibrated strain variation curve, along the regional shortening direction, around a pretectonic, rigid plutonic body shows a zone of strain increase (relative to the far-field strain), whereas that around a syntectonic pluton shows a zone of strain decrease along with a zone of strain increase. The foliations deflect outward from a pretectonic pluton, but they bend towards a syntectonic pluton. The analysis also reveals that syntectonic plutons are likely to be elliptical in plan with axial ratio directly dependent on the ratio of the pluton's stress to the tectonic stress. Tectonic foliations deflect away from post-tectonic plutons. However, the foliated area around a post-tectonic pluton is systematically divided into two sets of zones one characterized by foliations showing compressional features, the other showing extensional features.     

地球内部物质、能量交换与资源和灾害

通过对凤凰山岩体接触带的变质与变形特征、显微构造及变形缩短量的计算 ,分析了凤凰山岩体侵位与接触带变形及区域变形的关系。通过接触带变质矿物变形特征的研究 ,揭示了热变质作用与侵位变形的同时性 ;接触带构造变形研究表明 ,岩体周围发育的流变褶皱、韧性剪切带、压溶缝合线等与岩体左旋上升与汽球膨胀侵位有关 ;围岩缩短量的计算结果表明 ,岩体侵位过程造成强烈的围岩缩短是一种强力侵位机制。研究表明 ,凤凰山岩体侵位是在区域NNE向水平左旋剪切应力场作用下完成的。岩体接触带变形是NNE向水平左旋剪切应力与横向推挤的侵位应力联合作用下形成的。     

Geology and paleomagnetism of El Potrero pluton, Baja California: Understanding criteria for timing of deformation and evidence of pluton tilt during batholith growth

The 102 Ma El Potrero pluton, in the western foothills of Sierra San Pedro Mártir, in north-central Baja California, was emplaced during a long period of contractional deformation bracketed between 132 and 85 Ma that affected this segment of the Peninsular Ranges Batholith. The pluton records regional and emplacement related deformation manifested by: (1) a solid-state fabric developed on its eastern contact, which is produced by eastward lateral pluton expansion; (2) cleavage triple point zones in the host-rock NW and SE of the pluton; (3) subhorizontal ductile shear zones indicative of top-to-the-east transport; (4) magmatic and tectonic foliations parallel to regional structural trends and regional shear zones; (5) variable axial ratios of microgranitoid enclaves close to pluton–wall rock contacts; (6) evidence of brittle-emplacement mechanisms in the western border of the pluton, which contrast with features indicating mainly ductile mechanisms toward the east; and, (7) markedly discordant paleomagnetic directions that suggest emplacement in an active tectonic setting. The overall mean for 9 accepted paleomagnetic sites is Dec = 34.6°, I = 25.7° (k = 88.3, α₉₅ = 5.5°), and is deviated  35° with respect to the reference cratonic direction. This magnetization is interpreted to indicate a combination of tilt due to initial drag during vertical diapiric ascent (or westward lateral-oblique expansion) of the adjacent San Pedro Mártir pluton and later rotation ( 15°) by Rosarito Fault activity in the southwest; this rotation may have occurred as eastward contraction acted to fill the space emptied by the ascending San Pedro Mártir pluton. The Rosarito fault may have tilted several plutons in the area (Sierra San Pedro Mártir, El Potrero, San José, and Encinosa). Magnetic susceptibility fabrics for 13 sites reflect mostly emplacement-related stress and regional stress. Paleomagnetic data and structural observations lead us to interpret the El Potrero pluton as a syntectonic pluton, emplaced within a regional shear zone delimited by the Main Mártir Thrust and the younger Rosarito Fault.     

Time relationship between regional deformation and fabric development in the Peralimala pluton,South India — Inferences from magnetic fabric

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is investigated in samples of Peralimala (PM) pluton (ca. 550 Ma) and adjacent gneiss, gabbro, mylonite and amphibolite from the Moyar Shear Zone (MSZ), Southern Granulite Terrane (SGT) with an aim to decipher the time-relationship between fabric development in the pluton and regional tectonics. Magnetic foliation recorded in the PM pluton is sub-parallel to the WNW-ESE striking MSZ. Magnetic foliation and lineation trajectories are sigmoidal and curve into the shear zone. A dextral sense of shear is deciphered from the trajectories, which is similar to that reported within the MSZ in some earlier studies. It is inferred that the PM pluton has developed post-emplacement deformation-fabric related to reactivation of the MSZ during Pan-African age. Based on the data and existing information about regional tectonics of the area, the possibility of the (a) PM pluton being a Deformed Alkali Rock and Carbonatite (DARC) and (b) MSZ marking an ancient suture zone, is discussed.     

The mantled gneiss domes of Kuopio (Finland): Interfering diapirs

Finite strain data from the Kuopio mantled gneiss domes are described. Synclines located between two domes have flattening-type strains while those situated between more than two domes exhibit constrictional strains. Cleavage trajectory patterns show that cleavage tends to parallel the dome boundaries and encloses characteristic points termed “cleavage triple points”, at junctions of synclines. The stretching lineation is generally steeply plunging in a mean southwest direction. Folds range from inclined to reclined. Their asymmetry is apparently related to irregularities in the cover-basement boundary. Two shear components of the deformation have been deduced from available data. The major one is steeply plunging and is well exhibited by cleavage fans, steeply plunging lineations and finite-strain gradients. The second shear component is horizontal, as deduced from asymmetric folds and other small-scale structures, and is controlled by bosses and dimples in the cover-basement boundaries.The described structural features are explained in terms of interference between progressively inflating neighbouring diapirs. Furthermore, some of these features, such as cleavage triple points, flattening between two domes and constriction between three or more domes, and horizontal shear components controlled by cover-basement boundary irregularities, could be used as criteria of diapirism. A model of progressive dome interference is presented in which each dome inflates and interacts with neighbours. Such a model could possibly be applied to other orogenic situations with closely spaced diapirs, e.g., Archean greenstone belts or granite-rich orogenic belts.     

Kinematics of large syn-orogenic intrusions: example of the Lower Proterozoic Saraya batholith (Eastern Senegal)

The large Saraya batholith intruded the Lower Proterozoic sequences of Eastern Senegal. Structural analysis indicates that this large granitic batholith corresponds to a composite body consisting of several coalescent plutons and interfering diapirs. Interpretation of the structural fabric patterns in these plutons and in the host-rocks constitutes the basis of a hypothetical model of initiation, ascent and emplacement as follows: (1.) development of a deep N-S granitic ridge controled by a major crustal fracture generated by an earlier extensional phase re-activated by a strike-slip fault which, probably, would facilitate segregation, collection and ascent of magmas; (2.) intrusion and splitting up of the ridge into several diapirs which ascended simultaneously and separately in a setting of a N-S sinistral transcurrent deformation inducing a transverse NW-SE shortening and forceful emplacement of plutons and (3.) final emplacement characterized by interference between regional deformation and pluton ‘ballooning’, the latter leading to the coalescence of intrusions and to the formation of a larger, apparently homogeneous body. This model could be extended to the other large Birimian batholiths of the Lower Proterozoic in Eastern Senegal.     

Fault-controlled pluton emplacement in the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt of southwest Montana,USA

Problems associated with syncompressional pluton emplacement center on the need to make room for magma in environments where crustal shortening, not extension, occurs on a regional scale. New structural data from the Pioneer and Boulder batholiths of southwest Montana, USA, suggest emplacement at the top of frontal thrust ramps as composite tabular bodies at crustal depths between 1 and 10 km. Frontal thrust facilitated pluton emplacement was accommodated by: (1) a magma feeder zone created along the ramp interface; (2) providing ‘releasing steps’ at ramp tops that serve as initial points of emplacement and subsequent pluton growth; and (3) localizing antithetic back-thrusts that assist in pluton ascent. A model of magma emplacement is proposed that involves these elements. This model for syntectonic ramp-top emplacement of plutons helps explain how space is made for plutons within fold-and-thrust belts.     

Nested plutons as megageopetal structures: The Merrimac plutons,northern Sierra Nevada,California

Contacts within nested plutons are crucial for constraining the relative timing of pluton emplacement and the internal geometry of composite plutons. Exposures in orogenic belts are commonly discontinuous, however, disguising these contacts. In this paper, the Merrimac plutons in the northern Sierra Nevada of California are used as an example of how composition and foliation patterns can allow the definition of unexposed contacts and identify nested plutons. Image analysis techniques were used to determine modal compositions of a total of 52 samples from the Merrimac plutons. The integrated analysis of compositional data and foliations patterns reveals a critical contact within the plutons, and suggests that the Merrimac plutons indicate way-up towards the north-east at the time of emplacement 142 ± 3 Ma ago. This paper provides guidelines for recognizing nested plutons in poorly exposed areas and shows that consistent structural and compositional assymmetries within nested plutons can be used as regional top-direction indicators.     

The Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith (Pampean Ranges,Argentina): structural evidences,emplacement and timing of the intrusion

Within the southern part of the Sierra Pampeanas (the Sierra de San Luis, Argentina), a series of extensive intrusive bodies are regarded to post-date the Famatinian cycle but were emplaced during the Achalian, a period of heterogeneous deformation along crustal scale fault zones. The largest of those is the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith that is situated at the northern end of the transpressive, sinistral Guzmán shear zone. This composite pluton exhibits three sub-domains that comprise two granitoid sub-units each: The southern Potrerillos stock (muscovite-bearing red granite and biotite-bearing red granite) and the central (biotite porphyritic granite and giant porphyritic granite) and northern domain (equigranular granite and porphyritic granite) of the Las Chacras stock. The crystallisation ages of the biotite porphyritic granite is around 381 Ma (U/Pb on zircons and Pb/Pb on sphene), while the host rock was already cooled below 350 °C at 420 Ma. Thermal modelling approaches favour a pulsed intrusion with a duration of 1.5 Ma. The emplacement was followed by rapid cooling below the muscovite cooling temperature. Biotite cooling ages in different sub-units reflect either a long-lasting cooling history of approximately 30 Ma (which is supported by the modelling) or a reheating effect at around 350 Ma. Devonian-age determinations on the fault rocks and granitoids point to a syn-tectonic emplacement of the batholith. The pluton is interpreted to be positioned at the crossover of sinistral shear zones. The origin of this NNE directed extensional setting in a transpressive regime seems to be related to the transfer of displacement along a secondary set of NNW-trending sinistral faults. The final emplacement is due to a subsequent ballooning of the batholith following the direction of space creation. This model is based on the relative timing of the emplacement sequence and macroscopically visible planar fabrics in the field as well as magnetic fabric data. Our results indicate that the emplacement is syn-kinematic with respect to the Achalian deformation event.     

Structure of Hood Lake syenite — an undeformed Archean Pluton in the western Superior Province,southern Canadian Shield

The Hood Lake syenite is a late Archean pluton that has escaped significant tectonic deformation. The intrusive contact dips inward in most localities, which provides some constraint of its three-dimensional geometry. The pluton has a concordant planar fabric of perthite megacrysts, and could have grown by mature diapirism (‘mushrooming’) as well as by in-situ ballooning. Only magmatic diapirism seems to be capable of explaining the heart-like map pattern of the pluton and its location at the junction of two vertical zones of weakness, a regional fault and a ductile shear zone.     

铜陵凤凰山岩体SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄与构造变形及其对岩体侵位动力学背景的制约

地球动力环境对岩浆来源和侵位机制具有重要的控制作用.铜陵矿集区中生代中酸性侵入岩和大规模成矿作用有密切关系.凤凰山岩体为凤凰山矿田的主要组成部分, 主要岩石类型为花岗闪长岩、石英二长闪长岩.根据精确锆石SHRIMP测年结果, 凤凰山岩体206Pb/238U年龄为(144.2±2.3) Ma, 是晚侏罗世形成的一个典型岩体, 和铜陵矿集区主要成矿岩体的形成时代一致.接触带构造变形特征显示岩体侵位受控于区域左旋剪切应力场作用.内部构造变形特征表明凤凰山岩体在深部主要为左旋螺旋式强力上升, 浅部为气球膨胀式主动侵位.岩体形成时代及构造变形特征表现出晚侏罗世铜陵矿集区和成矿有关的侵入岩系列的形成可能和古太平洋板块的向北斜向俯冲所导致的左旋剪切应力场有关.      

Subsolidus physical and chemical mixing of granite and gabbro during mylonitization, South Victoria Land, Antarctica

At Dromedary Massif, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, a suite of coarse-grained granite dykes cross-cuts a gabbro pluton which has been partially metamorphosed at amphibolite facies. During regional deformation, strain has been inhomogeneously distributed through the gabbro pluton and has been concentrated in granite dykes. In zones of relatively high strain, the granite dykes have developed a mylonitic fabric. A high strain gradient between granitic mylonite and metagabbroic host rock has induced isochemical mylonitization of the margin of the host. This grain size reduction allowed chemical diffusion between granitic and metagabbroic mylonites, resulting in a marginal zone of biotite-rich mylonite with intermediate composition. Biotite-rich mylonite decoupled from metagabbroic mylonite and flowed with granitic mylonite. Continued folding and transposition of granitic mylonite and biotite-rich mylonite has produced compositionally banded mylonite zones through thorough and irreversible mixing of the two lithologies.     

北京西山房山岩体西北部强变形带的成因新解

北京西山房山岩体西北缘不对称发育一条弧形塑性强变形带,前人根据岩体东南部组构缓倾和岩体内部强应变分布特征提出岩浆斜向底辟侵位模式(王人镜等,1990;张吉顺和李志中,1990)。本文在前人研究的基础上,对房山岩体的组构进行系统观测,研究了西北缘固态塑性强变形带地质特征,着重探讨了岩体侵位时围岩热结构状态。文章认为岩浆同侵位固态塑性强变形带的形成需要早期岩浆进入准固态-固态和后期岩浆膨胀动力这两个必要条件。房山岩体西北部的强变形带是由于岩体侵位时西部围岩的温度较低,岩浆较早进入准固态-固态,后期岩浆侵位时膨胀动力双重因素造成的,提出了围岩热结构状态是房山岩体不对称的固态塑性强变形带的控制因素,而不是岩浆斜向底辟侵位的结果。这一研究成果不仅较合理地解释了房山岩体强变形带不对称发育特征,而且对研究同类花岗质岩体的定位机制有一定启示意义。     

Emplacement of the Ardara pluton (Ireland): new constraints from magnetic fabrics, rock fabrics and age dating

The Ardara pluton as part of the Donegal batholith was intruded into Neoproterozoic metasediments and metadolerites at mid-crustal levels. The emplacement mechanism of the Ardara granite is very controversial, and mechanisms ranging from diapirism, ballooning and stoping followed by nested diapirism have been proposed. Magnetic fabrics, rock fabrics and K/Ar dating of micas are used here to constrain the emplacement history. The compositional zoning of the Ardara pluton is clearly reflected in the different bulk magnetic susceptibilities between the outer quartz monzodiorite and the central granodiorite, whereas the intervening tonalite is of intermediate nature. The magnetic carriers are characterized by the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility (AMS), thermomagnetic measurements and through high field analyses (HFA). The separation of the ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic contributions revealed that biotite and magnetite control the AMS in the quartz monzodiorite. Both minerals are oriented in such a way that their summed contribution is constructive and originates from the shape fabric of magnetite and the texture of biotite. Biotite is responsible mainly for the AMS in the tonalite and granodiorite. The magnetic foliation can be directly related to the macroscopic foliation and also to the D4 structures in the country rocks. The foliation is consistent with the geometry of the roughly circular shape and has a mostly steep to vertical dip. Towards the central granodiorite the magnetic foliation dies out, although plagioclase texture measurements indicate a weak magmatic shape fabric. With the exception of the tail, the K_max axes (magnetic lineation) vary from steeply to gently plunging. The so-called lineation factor is approximately 1.01 and therefore points to a less significant axial symmetry. These observations coincide with strain estimates on mafic enclaves that show a very consistent pattern of K ∼0 flattening strain. Texture analyses of biotite and quartz additionally support the observations made by the strain analyses and the magnetic fabric data. Microstructural investigations give evidence that the fabrics are associated with the emplacement over a range of temperatures from truly magmatic to high-temperature solid-state conditions. The age of the intrusion is still under discussion, but a new cooling age was determined by K/Ar dating of biotite at 403.7±8 Ma corresponding to a temperature range between 450 and 300°C. For a mylonite along the southern contact between the Ardara pluton and the country rock a K/Ar muscovite age of 378.8±7 Ma indicates a minimum age for the shear zone when the Ardara pluton must have already been cooled down below 350±50°C. Received: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 28 December 1999     

青海南山黑马河岩体岩浆混合成因的岩石地球化学和年代学证据及其构造意义

黑马河岩体位于西秦岭北缘青海南山构造带内,岩体中发育大量闪长质包体,但对其成因却有一定的争议.从岩石学、矿物学、地球化学和年代学等方面对黑马河岩体花岗闪长岩及其中的闪长质包体进行了详细研究.包体的野外产出状态、形态、结构构造和矿物学特征均显示出,它们是基性岩浆注入到中酸性岩浆中快速冷凝结晶的产物.在主量元素协变图解中,花岗闪长岩和闪长质包体显示出壳幔岩浆混合作用的趋势.另外,两者稀土总量和相似的稀土元素配分模式及Eu负异常程度,也显示二者具有岩浆混合的特征.LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,花岗闪长岩形成于246 Ma,闪长质包体形成于245 Ma,两者具有几乎一致的结晶年龄,排除了包体为源区难熔残余或围岩捕掳体的可能性,也排除了基性岩浆在花岗质岩浆固结后再侵入的可能性.结合区域地质资料,认为黑马河岩体形成于西秦岭北缘有限小洋盆向南的俯冲阶段,青海南山构造带与天峻南山一带具有相同的构造岩浆演化历史.      

Inclusion trail patterns in porphyroblasts from the Foothills Terrane,California: a record of orogenesis or local strain heterogeneity?

A major problem with the current use of porphyroblast–matrix microstructural relationships to infer orogenic histories, such as multiple orthogonal orogenic events, is that other evidence for these events is typically lacking. For example, a comparison of regional relationships and local structures formed in and adjacent to porphyroblasts present in contact aureoles in the Foothills Terrane, Sierra Nevada, California, shows that: (1) except in shear zones, contact aureoles and local zones along lithological contacts, the Foothills Terrane has a single regional cleavage, although locally formed by multiple processes; (2) the regional cleavage and locally developed porphyroblast inclusion trails have variable orientations, and neither dataset supports the formation of dominantly subhorizontal and subvertical cleavages in this orogen; (3) structural and metamorphic heterogeneities occur at all scales and can markedly affect inclusion trail patterns in porphyroblasts; (4) complex porphyroblast growth features and internal inclusion trail patterns can form in porphyroblasts that grow during short time intervals in contact aureoles, indicating that local complexity in porphyroblasts does not imply regional complexity. Because of these conclusions, multiple datasets, rather than data acquired only from porphyroblasts, should be considered when attempting to understand the evolution of orogens. Furthermore, using microstructural information preserved only in porphyroblasts to infer orogenic processes and plate motions is generally unjustified.     

Oblique diapirism: the criffel granodiorite/granite zoned pluton (southwest Scotland)

Strain trajectories, strain gradients and quartz (c) fabrics have been used to propose an emplacement history of the Criffel zoned pluton. Strain has been estimated from the microdioritic xenoliths included in the outer granodiorite; textural criteria have been used to complete the pattern of strain variations throughout the pluton. Strain gradients are found to be related to the granodiorite/granite boundary zone, with highest strain towards the northeast side of the pluton, giving an asymmetric horseshoe pattern. Quartz (c) fabrics allow two strain histories to be distinguished within the pluton: an early coaxial flattening in the granodiorite followed by a non-coaxial deformation in the granite and the adjacent granodiorite. These features are interpreted as the result of an oblique diapiric intrusion of the inner granite into the partially emplaced and crystallized granodiorite.     

Incremental emplacement and syn-tectonic deformation of Late Triassic granites in the Qinling Orogen: Structural and geochronological constraints

Granitoids are important components of major orogenic belts, and provide important information about the regional geodynamic evolution. The emplacement mechanism of granite plutons and its relationship with regional tectonics has long been discussed, although it still remains debated. The Qinling Orogen within the Central China Orogen was marked by the emplacement of numerous Late Triassic granitic plutons. Although the petrology, geochemistry and geochronology of these intrusions have been addressed in various studies, their tectonic setting remains controversial, particularly since the structural aspects not been evaluated in detail. In this study, we attempt to reconstruct the emplacement process of the Late Triassic Dongjiangkou pluton in the South Qinling Belt. Field observations show extensive syn-plutonic deformations both in the pluton and its contact zones. Microstructural observations demonstrate that fabrics in the pluton were mainly acquired during submagmatic flow to high-T solid-state deformation. Zircon U–Pb ages reveal that the pluton is a composite intrusion which is composed of two juxtaposed small plutons with distinct ages (~210 Ma and ~200 Ma). Al-in-hornblende thermobarometer indicates that the pluton was formed at depths ranging from 4.7 km to 8.8 km, with an increasing depth trend from the inner unit to the outer unit. Distribution of the internal fabrics shows two concentric patterns which are concordant with pluton margins at the pluton scale and were probably induced by the regional sinistral transpression. Integrating these analyses, an incremental emplacement model is proposed for the syn-tectonic pluton. This model not only solves the ‘room problem’ but also accounts for the zoned petrological features of the pluton. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that the Late Triassic granite plutons in the Qinling Orogen were emplaced under a syn-collisional convergence setting, and that the granite magmatism was probably controlled by regional tectonics. Additionally, the incremental emplacement model may be a common mechanism for the Late Triassic granite plutons.     

A computer model of sheath-nappes formed during crustal shear in the Western Gneiss Region,central Norwegian Caledonides

The eastern Western Gneiss Region of central Norway is part of the deepest exposed Norwegian Caledonides, where basement gneisses and an overlying thrust-nappe sequence have been folded into large fold-nappes. Structural analysis of a fold-nappe within the central part of the district (the Grøvudal area) suggests that it has a strongly sheath-like form, and that other fold-nappes of the Western Gneiss Region may also have sheath-like forms. The structural history within the Grøvudal area is dominated by intense east-directed subhorizontal shear in an overthrust sense, followed by asymmetric refolding with an easterly vergence. A computer-generated kinematic model was developed to test whether the regional interference patterns could be explained by sheath-fold development during this type of deformation. The computer model shows that the major regional interference patterns could have been formed by such a kinematic history, but does not rule out other possibile histories. The proposed kinematic history is, however, compatible with the regional tectonic history of the main Caledonian nappe pile, suggesting that the complex nappe interference patterns typical of the region were formed in a kinematically simple, but intense, ductile deformation associated with Caledonian continental imbrication.