Analysis of airborne magnetic and gravity anomalies of peninsular shield, India integrated with seismic and magnetotelluric results and gravity anomalies of Madagascar, Sri Lanka and East Antarctica

Modelling of gravity and airborne magnetic data integrated with seismic studies suggest that the linear gravity and magnetic anomalies associated with Moyar Bhavani Shear Zone (MBSZ) and Palghat Cauvery Shear Zone (PCSZ) are caused by high density and high susceptibility rocks in upper crust which may represent mafic lower crustal rocks. This along with thick crust (44–45 km) under the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) indicates collision of Dharwar craton towards north and SGT towards south with N–S directed compression during 2.6–2.5 Ga. This collision may be related to contemporary collision northwards between Eastern Madagascar–Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) and Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC). Arcuate shaped N and S-verging thrusts, MBSZ-Mettur Shear and PCSZ-Gangavalli Shear, respectively across Cauvery Shear zone system (CSZ) in SGT also suggest that the WDC, EDC and SGT might have collided almost simultaneously during 2.6–2.5 Ga due to NW–SE directed compressional forces with CSZ as central core complex in plate tectonics paradigm preserving rocks of oceanic affinity. Gravity anomalies of schist belts of WDC suggest marginal and intra arc basin setting.The gravity highs of EGFB along east coast of India and regional gravity low over East Antarctica are attributed to thrusted high-density lower crustal/upper mantle rocks at a depth of 5–6 km along W-verging thrust, which is supported by high seismic velocity and crustal thickening, respectively. It may represent a collision zone at about 1.0 Ga between India and East Antarctica. Paired gravity anomalies in the central part of Sri Lanka related to high density intrusives under western margin of Highland Complex and crustal thickening (40 km) along eastern margin of Highland Complex with several arc type magmatic rocks of about 1.0 Ga in Vijayan Complex towards the east may represent collision between them with W-verging thrust as in case of EGFB. The gravity high of Sri Lanka in the central part falls in line with that of EGFB, in case it is fitted in Gulf of Mannar and may represent the extension of this orogeny in Sri Lanka.     

Evidence for Proterozoic Collision from Airborne Magnetic and Gravity Studies in Southern Granulite Terrain, India and Signatures of Recent Tectonic Activity in the Palghat Gap

The composite airborne total intensity map of the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) at an average elevation of 7000' (≈ 2100 m) shows bands of bipolar regional magnetic anomalies parallel to the structural trends suggesting the distribution of mafic/ultramafic rocks that are controlled by regional structures/shear zones and thrusts in this region. The spectrum and the apparent susceptibility map computed from the observed airborne magnetic anomalies provide bands of high susceptibility zones in the upper crust associated with known shear zones/thrusts such as Transition Zone, Moyar-Bhavani and Palghat-Cauvery Shear Zones (MBSZ and PCSZ). The quantitative modelling of magnetic anomalies across Transition Zone, MBSZ and PCSZ suggest the presence of mafic rocks of susceptibility (1.5-4.0 × 10⁻³ CGS units) in upper crust from 8-10 km extending up to about 21-22 km, which may represent the level of Curie point geotherm as indicated by high upper mantle heat flow in this section.Two sets of paired gravity anomalies in SGT and their modelling with seismic constraints suggest gravity highs and lows to be caused by high density mafic rocks along Transition Zone and Cauvery Shear Zone (CSZ) in the upper crust at depth of 6-8 km and crustal thickening of 45-46 km south of them, respectively. High susceptibility and high density rocks (2.8 g/cm³) along these shear zones supported by high velocity, high conductivity and tectonic settings suggest lower crustal mafic/ultramafic granulite rocks thrusted along them. These signatures with lower crustal rocks of metamorphic ages of 2.6-2.5 Ga north of PCSZ and Neoproterozoic period (0.6-0.5 Ga) south of it suggest that the SGT represents mosaic of accreted crust due to compression and thrusting. These observations along with N-verging thrusts and dipping reflectors from Dharwar Craton to SGT suggest two stages of N-S directed compression: (i) between Dharwar Craton and northern block of SGT during 2.6-2.5 Ga with Transition Zone and Moyar Shear towards the west as thrust, and (ii) between northern and southern blocks of SGT with CSZ as collision zone and PCSZ as thrust during Neoproterozoic period (0.6-0.5 Ga). The latter event may even represent just a compressive phase without any collision related to Pan-African event. The proposed sutures in both these cases separate gravity highs and lows of paired gravity anomalies towards north and south, respectively. The magnetic anomalies and causative sources related to Moyar Shear, MBSZ and PCSZ join with those due to Transition Zone, Mettur and Gangavalli Shears in their eastern parts, respectively to form an arcuate-shaped diffused collision zone during 2.6-2.5 Ga.Most of the Proterozoic collision zones are highlands/plateaus but the CSZ also known as the Palghat Gap represents a low lying strip of 80-100 km width, which however, appears to be related to recent tectonic activities as indicated by high upper mantle heat flow and thin crust in this section. It is supported by low density, low velocity and high conductive layer under CSZ and seismic activity in this region as observed in case of passive rift valleys. They may be caused by asthenospheric upwarping along pre-existing faults/thrusts (MBSZ and PCSZ) due to plate tectonic forces after the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates since Miocene time.     

Mafic and ultramafic magmatism and associated mineralization in the Dharwar craton,southern India

Evidence of mafic and ultramafic magmatism exists in many parts of the Dharwar craton which is divided into two blocks, the West Dharwar Craton (WDC) and the East Dharwar Craton (EDC). The mafic-ultramafic rocks occur in supracrustal/greenstone belts and in numerous enclaves and slivers in the WDC. The oldest recorded maficultramafic rocks, which are mainly komatiitic in nature, are preserved in the Sargur Group which is more than 3.3–3.4 Ga old, the youngest being manifested by 63–76 Ma old mafic dyke magmatism, possibly related to Deccan volcanism. In the Sargur Group, ultramafics rocks greatly dominate over mafic lithological units. Both extrusive and intrusive varieties, the latter in the form of differentiated layered complexes, occur. Mafic volcanics exists in all the greenstone belts of the eastern block and in the Bababudan and Western Ghats belts of the western block. In addition to the Sargur Group where stratigraphic sequences are unclear, mafic magmatism is recorded in three different formations of the Bababudan Group and two sub-divisions of the Shimoga and Chitradurga Groups where basaltic flows are conspicuous. In the well studied greenstone belts of Kolar and Hutti in the EDC, three to four different Formations of mafic volcanic rocks have been mapped. Isotopic dating has indicated that while mafic magmatism in the greenstone belts of the EDC covers only a short time span of between 2.65 to 2.75 Ga, those in the Dharwar Supergroup of the WDC cover a much longer time span from 3.35 to 2.5 Ga. Mafic dyke magmatism has taken place repeatedly from 2.45 Ga to about 1.0 Ga, but, the peak of emplacement was between 1.8 and 1.4 Ga when the densely developed swarms on the western and south western portions of the Cuddapah Basin and in the central part of Karnataka, were intruded. Emplacement of potassic ultramafic magma in the form of kimberlite-lamproite which is confined to the EDC, is a later magmatic event that took place between 1.4 Ga and 0.8 Ga. From a mineralization perspective, mafic magmatism of the supracrustal groups of the WDC and the greenstone belts of the EDC are the most important. V-Ti-magnetite bands constitute the most common deposit type recorded in the mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Sargur Group with commercially exploitable chromite deposits occurring in a number of belts. PGE mineralization of possible commercial value has so far been recorded in a single mafic-ultramafic complex, while copper-nickel mineralization occurs at certain localities in the Sargur and Chitradurga Groups. Gold mineralization hosted by mafic (occasionally ultramafic) rocks has been noted in many of the old workings located in supracrustal groups of rocks in the WDC and in the greenstone belts of EDC. Economically exploitable mineralization, however, occurs mainly in the greenstone belts of the Kolar, Ramagiri-Penkacherla and Hutti-Maski and along the eastern margin of the Chitradurga belt, where it is associated with a major N-S striking thrust zone separating the WDC from the EDC. Gold deposits of the eastern greenstone belts are comparable to those of the younger greenstone belts of Canada, Zimbabwe and Australia where the mineralization is associated with quartz carbonate veins often in iron-rich metabasic rocks. The gold was emplaced as hydrothermal fluids, derived from early komatiitic and tholeiitic magmas, and injected into suitable dilatent structures. The other common type of mineralization associated with the ultramafic rocks of the Sargur Group and supracrustal belts, particularly of the WDC, are asbestos and soapstone, related to autometamorphism/metasomatism. Ruby/sapphire deposits occur in places at the contacts of ultramafic rocks with the Peninsular Gneiss, and are related to contact metamorphism and metasomatism. Mineable magnesite deposits related to low-temperature hydrothermal/lateritic alteration exist in the zone of weathering, particularly in the more olivine-rich rocks. Recent spurt in diamond exploration is offering promise of discovering economically workable diamondiferous kimberlite/lamproite intrusions in the EDC.     

Tectonic amalgamation of crustal blocks along Gadag-Mandya Shear Zone in Dharwar Craton of southern India

The crustal scale Shear Zone that can be traced from Gadag in the north to Mandya in the south in Dharwar Craton of southern India is considered as the boundary between two subcratonic blocks namely the Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) and the Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) in published literature. The present study on the Gadag-Mandya Shear Zone (GMSZ) in the Javanahalli-Hagalvadi sector has brought out a detailed account on the disposition, geometry and kinematics of the shear zone, and also the distinctive structural patterns of the two adjacent supracrustal belts, namely the Chitradurga schist belt (CSB) in the west and Javanahalli schist belt (JSB) in the east. The JSB has an overall N-S striking and gentle easterly dipping geometry, the structural features of which are indicative of a predominant noncoaxial deformation and westward transportation of the supracrustal assemblage. In contrast, deformation in the CSB, which is defined mainly by a flattening type of strain, has produced an overall verticality of the structures (dominant foliation, axial planes of regional folds).     

Crustal growth processes as illustrated by the Neoarchaean intraoceanic magmatism from Gadwal greenstone belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India

Geochemical studies on metavolcanic rocks of the Gadwal greenstone belt (GGB), eastern Dharwar craton, have documented several rock types that are indicative of subduction zone tectonics reflecting on the crustal growth processes in the Dharwar craton. The dominance of komatiites in the western Dharwar craton (WDC) and the arc volcanics in the eastern Dharwar craton (EDC) is an indication for the predominance of plume magmatism in the WDC and the intraoceanic subduction zone processes in EDC which together played a significant role in the growth and evolution of continental crust in the Dharwar craton. Boninites of GGB are high calcic type with high MgO (13–24 wt.%) and a characteristic MREE depleted U-shaped REE patterns whereas the basalts have flat REE patterns with no Eu anomalies. Nb-enriched basalts exhibit slightly fractionated REE patterns with high Nb (8–26 ppm) content compared to arc basalts. Adakites of GGB are Sr depleted with highly fractionated REE patterns and no Eu anomaly compared to rhyolites. The occurrence of boninites along with arc basalts, Nb-enriched basalts–basalt–andesite–dacite–rhyolites and adakites association in Gadwal greenstone belt indicate the intraoceanic subduction zone processes with a clear cut evidence of partial melting of metasomatized mantle wedge (boninites), melting of subducting slab (adakites) and residue of adakite–wedge hybridization (Nb-enriched basalts) which have played a significant role in the growth of continental crust in the Dharwar craton during the Neoarchaean.     

Continental lithospheric evolution: Constraints from the geochemistry of felsic volcanic rocks in the Dharwar Craton,India

Felsic magmatism associated with ocean–ocean and ocean–continent subduction processes provide important evidence for distinct episodes of crust-generation and continental lithospheric evolution. Rhyolites constitute an integral component of the tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalt–andesite–dacite–rhyolite (BADR) association and contribute to crustal growth processes at convergent plate margins. The evolution of the Dharwar Craton of southern peninsular India during Meso- to Neoarchean times was marked by extensive development of greenstone belts. These granite-greenstone terranes have distinct volcano-sedimentary associations consistent with their geodynamic setting. The present study deals with geochemistry of rhyolites from the Chitradurga-Shimoga greenstone belts of western (WDC) and the Gadwal-Kadiri greenstone belts of eastern (EDC) sectors of Dharwar Craton to compare and evaluate their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting and their control on the continental lithospheric evolution of the Dharwar Craton. At a similar range of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, the rhyolites of WDC are more potassic, whereas the EDC rhyolites are more sodic and less magnesian with slight increase in TiO₂. Minor increase in MgO content of WDC rhyolites reflects their ferromagnesian trace elements which are comparatively lower in the rhyolites of EDC. The relative enrichment in LILE (K, Rb) and depletion in HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) marked by negative Nb–Ta, Zr–Hf and Ti anomalies endorse the convergent margin processes for the generation of rhyolites of both the sectors of Dharwar Craton. The high silica potassic rhyolites of Shimoga and Chitradurga greenstone belts of WDC showing prominent negative Eu and Ti anomalies, flat HREE patterns correspond to Type 3 rhyolites and clearly point towards their generation and emplacement in an active continental margin environment. The geochemical characteristics of Gadwal and Kadiri rhyolites from eastern Dharwar Craton marked by aluminous compositions with low and fractionated HREE patterns and minor negative Eu anomalies are in conformity with Type 1 rhyolites and suggest that they were erupted in an intraoceanic island arc system. The overall geochemical systematics of the rhyolites from both the sectors of Dharwar Craton suggest a change in the geodynamic conditions from intraoceanic island arc of eastern Dharwar Craton and an active continental margin of western Dharwar marked by ocean–ocean subduction and migration of oceanic arc towards a continent followed by arc-continent collision that contributed for the evolution of continental lithosphere in the Dharwar Craton.     

Long wavelength gravity anomalies over India: Crustal and lithospheric structures and its flexure

Long wavelength gravity anomalies over India were obtained from terrestrial gravity data through two independent methods: (i) wavelength filtering and (ii) removing crustal effects. The gravity fields due to the lithospheric mantle obtained from two methods were quite comparable. The long wavelength gravity anomalies were interpreted in terms of variations in the depth of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) and the Moho with appropriate densities, that are constrained from seismic results at certain points. Modeling of the long wavelength gravity anomaly along a N–S profile (77°E) suggest that the thickness of the lithosphere for a density contrast of 0.05 g/cm³ with the asthenosphere is maximum of ∼190 km along the Himalayan front that reduces to ∼155 km under the southern part of the Ganga and the Vindhyan basins increasing to ∼175 km south of the Satpura Mobile belt, reducing to ∼155–140 km under the Eastern Dharwar craton (EDC) and from there consistently decreasing south wards to ∼120 km under the southernmost part of India, known as Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT).The crustal model clearly shows three distinct terrains of different bulk densities, and thicknesses, north of the SMB under the Ganga and the Vindhyan basins, and south of it the Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) and the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) of bulk densities 2.87, 2.90 and 2.96 g/cm³, respectively. It is confirmed from the exposed rock types as the SGT is composed of high bulk density lower crustal rocks and mafic/ultramafic intrusives while the EDC represent typical granite/gneisses rocks and the basement under the Vindhyan and Ganga basins towards the north are composed of Bundelkhand granite massif of the lower density. The crustal thickness along this profile varies from ∼37–38 km under the EDC, increasing to ∼40–45 km under the SGT and ∼40–42 km under the northern part of the Ganga basin with a bulge up to ∼36 km under its southern part. Reduced lithospheric and crustal thicknesses under the Vindhyan and the Ganga basins are attributed to the lithospheric flexure of the Indian plate due to Himalaya. Crustal bulge due to lithospheric flexure is well reflected in isostatic Moho based on flexural model of average effective elastic thickness of ∼40 km. Lithospheric flexure causes high heat flow that is aided by large crustal scale fault system of mobile belts and their extensions northwards in this section, which may be responsible for lower crustal bulk density in the northern part. A low density and high thermal regime in north India north of the SMB compared to south India, however does not conform to the high S-wave velocity in the northern part and thus it is attributed to changes in composition between the northern and the southern parts indicating a reworked lithosphere. Some of the long wavelength gravity anomalies along the east and the west coasts of India are attributed to the intrusives that caused the breakup of India from Antarctica, and Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles along the east and the west coasts of India, respectively.     

Deep Crustal Electrical Signatures of Eastern Dharwar Craton, India

Wide band magnetotelluric (MT) investigations were carried out along a profile from Kavali in the east to Anantapur towards west across the Eastern Ghat Granulite Terrain (EGGT), Eastern Dhanvar Craton (EDC) and a Proterozoic Cuddapah Basin. This 300 km long profile was covered with 20 stations at an interval of 12–18 km. The MT data is subjected to robust processing, decomposition and static shift correction before deriving a 2-D model. The model shows a resistive crust (−10,000–30,000 ohm-m) to a depth of 8–10 km towards west of the Cuddapah basin. The mid crust is less resistive (about 500 ohm-m) and the lower crust with a slight increase in resistivity (about 1,500 ohm-m) in the depth range of 20–22 km. The resistivity picture to the east of the Cuddapah basin also showed a different deep crustal structure. The resistivity of upper crust is about 5,000 ohm-m and about 200 ohm-m for mid and lower crust. The sediment resistivity of Cuddapah basin is of the order of 15–20 ohm-m. MT model has shown good correlation with results from other geophysical studies like deep seismic sounding (DSS), gravity and magnetics. The results indicate that the lower crustal layers are of intermediate type showing hydrous composition in Eastern Dhanvar Craton.     

Crustal structure of the southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure orogen and Yangtze foreland from deep seismic reflection profiling

A new 140‐km‐long seismic reflection profile provides a high‐resolution crustal‐scale image of the southern Dabieshan high‐pressure (HP) metamorphic belt and the Yangtze foreland fold‐and‐thrust belt. The seismic image of the stacked section shows that the southern Dabieshan metamorphic terrane and Yangtze foreland belt are separated by a large north‐dipping fault. In the foreland the upper crust is dominated by a series of folds and thrusts formed during the collisional stage in the mid‐Triassic; it was reworked by crustal extension resulting in the formation of a late Jurassic and Cretaceous red‐bed basin. The southern Dabieshan profile shows stacked crustal slabs developed along the margin of the collisional orogenic belt. The Moho reflectors at 10–11 s (～30–33 km) are seismically prominent and segmented by a number of south‐verging thrusts that were probably developed by foreland‐directed thrusting of the deeply subducted continental crust during exhumation. The seismic reflection profile suggests that structures related to the Triassic–Jurassic subduction and exhumation of the Yangtze plate are preserved despite the severe crustal extension superimposed during the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic.     

内蒙古中—东部地区基底岩石、花岗岩和玄武岩的Nd同位素组成及其对该区地壳演化的指示

对出露于内蒙古地区的华北地台北缘中段及兴蒙造山带内共21件不同岩性的样品进行Nd同位素研究。这些样品的Nd模式年龄值表明:兴蒙造山带与华北地台具完全不同的特征,兴蒙造山带以年轻的亏损地幔模式年龄为特征(tDM=0.4~1.1 Ga),普遍低于华北地台西段的tDM值(1.8~3.4 Ga)。锡林浩特地块作为独立块体具与兴蒙造山带不同的特征,锡林浩特地块的亏损地幔模式年龄介于兴蒙造山带年龄与华北地台年龄之间。Nd模式年龄计算结果表明内蒙古地区华北地台北缘的地壳增生事件主要集中于中元古代之前,而兴蒙造山带地壳增生事件自新元古代开始。通过对内蒙古地区华北地台北缘εNd(t)值随时间的变化分析可知,在中元古代及海西期均存在古老地壳的再循环及新地壳的增生事件。内蒙古兴蒙造山带地壳增生速率表明该区地壳主要增生事件发生于1 000~700 M a,其后形成的岩浆岩所反映的增生过程表明有古老地壳组分的参与。     

Seismic signatures of a proterozoic thermal plume below southwestern part of the Cuddapah Basin,Dharwar craton

Origin and evolutionary history of the Cuddapah Basin in SE India has remained a subject of considerable speculation whether it was evolved through vertical tectonic movements, extentional stretching or even cometary impact. Based on detailed seismic and other geophysical studies (Gravity, magnetotelluric and heat flow), we have delineated signatures of a possible deep seated mantle plume below southwestern part of the Cuddapah Basin, which may have been responsible for the 1.1 Ga kimberlitic magmatism in the eastern part of the Dharwar craton (EDC). The thermal anomaly associated with this mantle plume appears to have resulted into 15–20 km thick magmatic underplating (Vp: 7.10–7.30 km/s; density 3.07–3.16 g/cm³) below the Parnapalle region of the southwestern Cuddapah Basin, which also coincides with the high gravity and high conductivity anomaly. The massive underplating led to thickening of the crust to about 40–44 km below southwestern part of the Cuddapah Basin, compared to about 34± 2 km in the surrounding regions of EDC, indicating thermal restructuring of the crust / mantle boundary. This plume, which was apparently active in an area of about 500 km radius, may have also affected the Closepet granitic region, which is ∼100 km west of Cuddapah Basin.     

华北克拉通中部在古元古代时是一个造山带吗？

文中报道了笔者对华北古元古代花岗岩研究的初步结果,指出在2.0Ga前,华北东西两块地壳厚度明显不同,大体以太原为界,东部地壳很薄,中部很厚,西部较厚;至1.9~1.8Ga,在华北北部可能存在一个地壳加厚的区域,大体是东西向(或NEE向)展布的;至1.8Ga以后,华北克拉通整体垮塌了。笔者分析了现有资料,认为华北晚太古代和古元古代期间存在洋壳的依据不足,华北中部带为一造山带和碰撞带的见解也是值得进一步商榷的。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000388

The AravallieDelhi and Satpura Mobile Belts(ADMB and SMB)and the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)in India form major Proterozoic mobile belts with adjoining cratons and contemporary basins.The most convincing features of the ADMB and the SMB have been the crustal layers dipping from both sides in opposite directions,crustal thickening(w45 km)and high density and high conductivity rocks in upper/lower crust associated with faults/thrusts.These observations indicate convergence while domal type refectors in the lower crust suggest an extensional rifting phase.In case of the SMB,even the remnant of the subducting slab characterized by high conductive and low density slab in lithospheric mantle up to w120 km across the PurnaeGodavari river faults has been traced which may be caused by fuids due to metamorphism.Subduction related intrusives of the SMB south of it and the ADMB west of it suggest NeS and EeW directed convergence and subduction during MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.The simultaneous EeW convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and Marwar craton(Western Rajasthan)across the ADMB and the NeS convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and the Bhandara and Dharwar cratons across the SMB suggest that the forces of convergence might have been in a NEeSW direction with EeW and NeS components in the two cases,respectively.This explains the arcuate shaped collision zone of the ADMB and the SMB which are connected in their western part.The Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)also shows signatures of E eW directed MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence with East Antarctica similar to ADMB in north India.Foreland basins such as Vindhyan(ADMBeSMB),and Kurnool(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks were formed during this convergence.Older rocks such as Aravalli(ADMB),MahakoshaleBijawar(SMB),and Cuddapah(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks with several basic/ultrabasic intrusives along these mobile belts,plausibly formed during an earlier episode of rifting during PaleoeMesoproterozoic period.They are highly disturbed and deformed due to subsequent MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.As these Paleoproterozoic basins are characterized by large scale basic/ultrabasic intrusives that are considerably wide spread,it is suggested that a plume/superplume might have existed under the Indian cratons at that time which was responsible for the breakup of these cratons.Further,the presence of older intrusives in these mobile belts suggests that there might have been some form of convergence also during Paleoproterozoic period.     

龙门山地区上地壳的拱曲冲断作用及其深部动力学机制探讨

地形地貌与区域地质构造分析揭示,龙门山一带上地壳的汇聚作用表现为松潘－甘孜块体东缘的褶皱拱曲与扬子克拉通西缘的高角度叠瓦状冲断,近地表形成了一个巨大的北东向展布的拱曲冲断构造带。松潘－甘孜块体东缘的拱起预示着可能有来自深部的顶托。人工地震测深得到的地壳P波速度结构剖面也揭示,松潘－甘孜块体东缘上地壳普遍有较大范围的拱起,上地壳底部的低速层也同步抬升,其隆起范围与近地表的拱曲冲断带比较一致,说明很可能存在来自中下地壳的上拱作用。面波层析成像揭示松潘－甘孜块体与扬子克拉通具有截然不同的壳幔结构,扬子克拉通速度较高,且不存在低速夹层; 而松潘－甘孜块体速度偏低,地壳明显增厚,且下地壳及地幔上部存在S波低速层,地幔低速层上涌至壳幔过渡带,甚至侵入四川盆地之下,且上涌的范围与地表拱曲冲断带恰巧吻合,推测地幔盖层与下地壳塑性软弱物质的局部上涌促成了上地壳的拱曲。2008年汶川8.0级地震发生在拱曲冲断带中段,最大同震位移场位于龙门山拱曲冲断带及四川盆地西缘,揭示松潘－甘孜块体东缘的拱曲与扬子克拉通西缘的冲断共同受制于两大块体最新的汇聚作用。认为龙门山拱曲冲断构造带是陆内汇聚与壳幔通道流上涌联合作用的结果。爆破地震测深与地震层析成像不显示陆内俯冲图像,两大地块之间中地壳以下似为一近直立的汇聚带,这一构造格架将物质迁移主要限于垂向上,有利于龙门山保持大地形高差,而四川盆地一侧则因难以形成大的构造负载,前陆凹陷作用不显著。     

中国岩石圈的基本特征

中国及邻区岩石圈结构构造十分复杂,并具有若干明显的特点:中国大陆地壳西厚东薄、南厚北薄,青藏高原地壳平均厚度为60~65 km,最厚达80 km;东部地区一般为30~35 km,南中国海中央海盆平均只有5 km;中国大陆地壳平均厚度为476 km,大大超过全球地壳392 km的平均厚度。中国大陆及邻区岩石圈亦呈西厚东薄、南厚北薄的变化趋势,青藏高原及西北地区岩石圈平均厚度为165 km,塔里木盆地中东部、帕米尔与昌都地区岩石圈厚度可达180~200 km。大兴安岭-太行山-武陵山以东,包括边缘海为岩石圈减薄区,厚度为50~85 km。西部岩石圈、软流圈“层状结构”明显,反映了板块碰撞汇聚的动力学环境;东部岩石圈、软流圈呈“块状镶嵌结构”,岩石圈薄,软流圈厚,反映了地壳拉张、软流圈物质上涌的特点,并在东亚及西太平洋地区85~250 km深处形成一巨型低速异常体。中国东部上、下地壳及地壳、岩石圈地幔之间普遍存在“上老下新”年龄结构。     

Precambrian mafic magmatism in the Western Dharwar Craton,southern India

Mafic rocks of Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) belong to two greenstone cycles of Sargur Group (3.1–3.3 Ga) and Dharwar Supergroup (2.6–2.8 Ga), belonging to different depositional environments. Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms (2.4, 2.0–2.2 and 1.6 Ga) constitute the third important cycle. Mafic rocks of Sargur Group mainly constitute a komatiitic-tholeiite suite, closely associated with layered basic-ultrabasic complexes. They form linear ultramaficmafic belts, and scattered enclaves associated with orthoquartzite-carbonate-pelite-BIF suite. Since the country rocks of Peninsular Gneiss intrude these rocks and dismember them, stratigraphy of Sargur Group is largely conceptual and its tectonic environment speculative. It is believed that the Sargur tholeiites are not fractionated from komatiites, but might have been generated and evolved from a similar mantle source at shallower depths. The layered basic-ultrabasic complexes are believed to be products of fractionation from tholeiitic parent magma. The Dharwar mafic rocks are essentially a bimodal basalt-rhyolite association that is dominated by Fe-rich and normal tholeiites. Calc-alkaline basalts and andesites are nearly absent, but reference to their presence in literature pertains mainly to carbonated, spilitized and altered tholeiitic suites. Geochemical discrimination diagrams of Dharwar lavas favour island arc settings that include fore-, intra- and back-arcs. The Dharwar mafic rocks are possibly derived by partial melting of a lherzolite mantle source and involved in fractionation of olivine and pyroxene followed by plagioclase. Distinctive differences in the petrography and geochemistry of mafic rocks across regional unconformities between Sargur Group and Dharwar Supergroup provide clinching evidences in favour of distinguishing two greenstone cycles in the craton. This has also negated the earlier preliminary attempts to lump together all mafic volcanics into a single contemporaneous suite, leading to erroneous interpretations. After giving allowances for differences in depositional and tectonic settings, the chemical distinction between Sargur and Dharwar mafic suites throws light on secular variations and crustal evolution. Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms of three major periods (2.4, 2.0–2.2 and 1.6 Ga) occur around Tiptur and Hunsur. The dykes also conform to the regional metamorphic gradient, with greenschist facies in the north and granulite facies in the south, resulting from the tilt of the craton towards north, exposing progressively deeper crustal levels towards the south. The low-grade terrain in the north does not have recognizable swarms, but the Tiptur swarm consists essentially of amphibolites and Hunsur swarm mainly of basic granulites, all of them preserving cross-cutting relations with host rocks, chilled margins and relict igneous textures. There are also younger dolerite dykes scattered throughout the craton that are unaffected by this metamorphic zonation. Large-scale geochemical, geochronological and palaeomagnetic data acquisition through state-of-the-art instrumentation is urgently needed in the Dharwar craton to catch up with contemporary advancements in the classical greenstone terrains of the world.     

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of stromatolitic carbonates from the greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin of Peninsular India

Oldest rocks are sparsely distributed within the Dharwar Craton and little is known about their involvement in the sedimentary sequences which are present in the Archean greenstone successions and the Proterozoic Cuddapah basin.Stromatolitic carbonates are well preserved in the Neoarchean greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah Basin of Peninsular India displaying varied morphological and geochemical characteristics.In this study,we report results from U-Pb geochronology and trace element composition of the detrital zircons from stromatolitic carbonates present within the Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin to understand the provenance and time of accretion and deposition.The UPb ages of the detrital zircons from the Bhimasamudra and Marikanve stromatolites of the Chitradurga greenstone belt of Dharwar Craton display ages of 3426±26 Ma to 2650±38 Ma whereas the Sandur stromatolites gave an age of 3508±29 Ma to 2926±36 Ma suggesting Paleo-to Neoarchean provenance.The U-Pb detrital zircons of the Tadpatri stromatolites gave an age of 2761±31 Ma to1672±38 Ma suggesting Neoarchean to Mesoproterozoic provenance.The Rare Earth Element(REE)patterns of the studied detrital zircons from Archean Dharwar Craton and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin display depletion in light rare earth elements(LREE)and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements(HREE)with pronounced positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies,typical of magmatic zircons.The trace element composition and their relationship collectively indicate a mixed granitoid and mafic source for both the Dharwar and Cuddapah stromatolites.The 3508±29 Ma age of the detrital zircons support the existence of 3.5 Ga crust in the Western Dharwar Craton.The overall detrital zircon ages(3.5-2.7 Ga)obtained from the stromatolitic carbonates of Archean greenstone belts and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin(2.7-1.6 Ga)collectively reflect on^800-900 Ma duration for the Precambrian stromatolite deposition in the Dharwar Craton.     

Saudi Arabian seismic-refraction profile: A traveltime interpretation of crustal and upper mantle structure

The crustal and upper mantle compressional-wave velocity structure across the southwestern Arabian Shield has been investigated by a 1000-km-long seismic refraction profile. The profile begins in Mesozoic cover rocks near Riyadh on the Arabian Platform, trends southwesterly across three major Precambrian tectonic provinces, traverses Cenozoic rocks of the coastal plain near Jizan, and terminates at the outer edge of the Farasan Bank in the southern Red Sea. More than 500 surveyed recording sites were occupied, and six shot points were used, including one in the Red Sea.Two-dimensional ray-tracing techniques, used to analyze amplitude-normalized record sections indicate that the Arabian Shield is composed, to first order, of two layers, each about 20 km thick, with average velocities of about 6.3 km/s and 7.0 km/s, respectively. West of the Shield-Red Sea margin, the crust thins to a total thickness of less than 20 km, beyond which the Red Sea shelf and coastal plain are interpreted to be underlain by oceanic crust.A major crustal inhomogeneity at the northeast end of the profile probably represents the suture zone between two crustal blocks of different composition. Elsewhere along the profile, several high-velocity anomalies in the upper crust correlate with mapped gneiss domes, the most prominent of which is the Khamis Mushayt gneiss. Based on their velocities, these domes may constitute areas where lower crustal rocks have been raised some 20 km. Two intracrustal reflectors in the center of the Shield at 13 km depth probably represent the tops of mafic intrusives.The Mohorovičić discontinuity beneath the Shield varies from a depth of 43 km and mantle velocity of 8.2 km/s in the northeast to a depth of 38 km and mantle velocity of 8.0 km/s depth in the southwest near the Shield-Red Sea transition. Two velocity discontinuities occur in the upper mantle, at 59 and 70 km depth.The crustal and upper mantle velocity structure of the Arabian Shield is interpreted as revealing a complex crust derived from the suturing of island arcs in the Precarnbrian. The Shield is currently flanked by the active spreading boundary in the Red Sea.     

Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope systematics and geochemical studies on metavolcanic rocks from Peddavura greenstone belt: Evidence for presence of Mesoarchean continental crust in easternmost part of Dharwar Craton,India

Linear, north–south trending Peddavura greenstone belt occurs in easternmost part of the Dharwar Craton. It consists of pillowed basalts, basaltic andesites, andesites (BBA) and rhyolites interlayered with ferruginous chert that were formed under submarine condition. Rhyolites were divided into type-I and II based on their REE abundances and HREE fractionation. Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope studies were carried out on the rock types to understand the evolution of the Dharwar Craton. Due to source heterogeneity Sm–Nd isotope system has not yielded any precise age. Rb–Sr whole-rock isochron age of 2551 ± 19 (MSWD = 1.16) Ma for BBA group could represent time of seafloor metamorphism after the formation of basaltic rocks. Magmas representing BBA group of samples do not show evidence for crustal contamination while magmas representing type-II rhyolites had undergone variable extents of assimilation of Mesoarchean continental crust (>3.3 Ga) as evident from their initial ε _Nd isotope values. Trace element and Nd isotope characteristics of type I rhyolites are consistent with model of generation of their magmas by partial melting of mixed sources consisting of basalt and oceanic sediments with continental crustal components. Thus this study shows evidence for presence of Mesoarchean continental crust in Peddavura area in eastern part of Dharwar Craton.     

The crustal structure of the Guayana Shield, Venezuela, from seismic refraction and gravity data

We present results from a seismic refraction experiment on the northern margin of the Guayana Shield performed during June 1998, along nine profiles of up to 320 km length, using the daily blasts of the Cerro Bolívar mines as energy source, as well as from gravimetric measurements. Clear Moho arrivals can be observed on the main E–W profile on the shield, whereas the profiles entering the Oriental Basin to the north are more noisy. The crustal thickness of the shield is unusually high with up to 46 km on the Archean segment in the west and 43 km on the Proterozoic segment in the east. A 20 km thick upper crust with P-wave velocities between 6.0 and 6.3 km/s can be separated from a lower crust with velocities ranging from 6.5 to 7.2 km/s. A lower crustal low velocity zone with a velocity reduction to 6.3 km/s is observed between 25 and 25 km depth. The average crustal velocity is 6.5 km/s. The changes in the Bouguer Anomaly, positive (30 mGal) in the west and negative (−20 mGal) in the east, cannot be explained by the observed seismic crustal features alone. Lateral variations in the crust or in the upper mantle must be responsible for these observations.