秦岭发现金刚石:横贯中国中部巨型超高压变质带新证据及古生代和中生代两期深俯冲作用的识别

在秦岭北带榴辉岩及其围岩片麻岩的锆石中发现金刚石和大量石墨包裹体。金刚石具典型的1331～1334cm~(-1)拉曼谱峰。变质金刚石的发现证明秦岭北带榴辉岩及其围岩片麻岩经历了超高压变质作用,其俯冲深度>120 km。片麻岩锆石的SHRIMP定年表明,锆石核部代表岩浆事件的年龄或之前的残核年龄为1200～1800 Ma,超高压变质新增生边部的年龄为507±38 Ma,属早古生代。认为北秦岭超高压变质带与印支期大别超高压变质带(240～200 Ma)是时空上两个带。北秦岭超高压变质带向西可以与南阿尔金—柴北缘早古生代(490～440Ma)超高压变质带相连,向东与大别西北部的熊店和浒湾早古生代榴辉岩(420～400 Ma)相连,组成一条沿中央造山带北部分布的加里东期超高压变质带。认为主要分布在大别山南部的印支期超高压变质带应与南秦岭的高压蓝片岩带相连,组成一条分布在中央造山带南部的印支期高压超高压变质带。北秦岭超高压变质带的发现,为中央造山带存在一条西起阿尔金,东至苏鲁的近4000 km的世界上最大的一条超高压变质带的确定提供了新的关键性证据。而沿中央造山带分布的两条超高压变质带说明:①中国南北大陆在早古生代就已拼接在一起,其后,又有印支期的俯冲和碰撞叠加,加里东期超高压变质带主要分布在北部,后者在南部,两者时     

大别山超高压变质岩折返机制与华北-华南陆块碰撞过程

古地磁研究表明华北和华南陆块的碰撞始于三叠纪初 ,止于晚侏罗世 ;同位素年代学研究及大别山北部中—上侏罗统砾岩层中榴辉岩砾石的发现表明大别山超高压变质岩形成于三叠纪初 ,并在中—晚侏罗世出露于地表。因此 ,超高压变质岩是在陆陆碰撞过程中完成它的折返出露过程。揭示超高压变质岩的折返历史与机制有助于我们认识大陆的碰撞过程。大别山超高压变质岩及其围岩θ t冷却曲线显示超高压变质岩从 80 0℃到 3 0 0℃经历了三个阶段 :( 2 2 6± 3 )～ ( 2 1 9± 7)Ma期间从80 0℃到 5 0 0℃的第一次快速冷却 ,1 80～ 1 70Ma期间从 4 5 0℃到 3 0 0℃的第二次快速冷却 )和介于两者之间的等温过程。这一具有两次快速冷却的θ t曲线已被近年来的若干年代学数据所证实。超高压变质岩的两次快速冷却事件反映了两次快速抬升过程。在东秦岭及苏鲁地体东端发育的同碰撞花岗岩U Pb年龄值为 2 2 5～ 2 0 5Ma,与超高压变质岩第一次快速冷却时代吻合。这种时代耦合关系表明俯冲板片断离可能是超高压变质岩第一次快速抬升和冷却的重要机制。大别山Pb同位素填图揭示出南大别带超高压变质岩具有高反射成因Pb特征 ,因而源于俯冲的上地壳 ;而北大别带超高压变质岩具有低放射成因Pb特征 ,源于俯冲长英质下地壳。这表明在俯     

大陆造山运动：从大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲、碰撞、折返的时限——以北祁连山、柴北缘为例

北祁连山和柴北缘是典型的早古生代大陆造山带,分别发育有北祁连山大洋型俯冲缝合带和柴北缘大陆型俯冲碰撞带.作为早古生代大洋冷俯冲的典型代表,北祁连山经历了从新元古代-寒武纪大洋扩张、奥陶纪俯冲和闭合及早泥盆世隆升造山的过程.高压变质岩变质年龄为490～440Ma,证明古祁连洋经历了至少50m．y．的俯冲过程.柴北缘超高压变质带是大陆深俯冲的结果,岩石学、地球化学和同位素年代学表明,柴北缘超高压变质带中榴辉岩的原岩分别来自洋壳和陆壳两种环境.高压/超高压变质的蛇绿岩原岩的年龄为517±11Ma,与祁连山蛇绿岩年龄一致.榴辉岩早期的变质年龄为443～473Ma,与祁连山高压变质年龄一致,代表大洋地壳俯冲的时代,而柯石英片麻岩和石榴橄榄岩所限定的超高压变质时代为420～426Ma,代表大陆俯冲的年龄.从大洋俯冲结束到大陆俯冲最大深度的转换时间最少需要20m．y．.自420Ma起,俯冲的大洋岩石圈与跟随俯冲的大陆岩石圈断离,大陆地壳开始折返,发生隆升和造山.北祁连山和柴北缘两个不同类型的高压-超高压变质带反映了早古生代从大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲、隆升折返的造山过程.     

柴北缘超高压变质带：从大洋到大陆的深俯冲过程

    柴北缘超高压变质带同我国大别- 苏鲁造山带类似,同属典型的大陆型俯冲碰撞带。柯石英在榴辉岩和片麻岩中均 有发现,且石榴橄榄岩锆石中含有金刚石。本文从岩石学、温压计算、地球化学和年代学四个方面,对此带中的鱼卡、绿 梁山、锡铁山和都兰4 个榴辉岩和石榴橄榄岩出露地区近些年的研究进展进行了系统详细的综述。与典型的大陆型俯冲碰 撞带不同,柴北缘超高压变质带保存了早期陆壳俯冲前发生的洋壳深俯冲的证据。因此,结合现有数据,本文对柴北缘超 高压变质带从大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲碰撞的构造演化模式进行了探讨。     

南苏鲁造山带的超高压变质岩及岩石化学研究

在南苏鲁造山带核部，古老的表壳岩和花岗质侵人岩经历了三叠纪的超高压变质作用，在超高压变质岩石抬升过程中经历了强烈的角闪岩相退变质作用改造。据岩相学和岩石化学研究，可以区分出六大类典型超高压变质岩：榴辉岩、石榴石橄榄岩、石英硬玉岩、石榴石多硅白云母片岩、硬玉石英岩和石榴石绿辉石文石岩。这些岩石的角闪岩相退变质产物分别是斜长角闪岩、蛇纹岩、长英质片麻岩、长石石英云母片岩、石英岩和大理岩。地球化学研究揭示，榴辉岩的原岩很可能是形成在大陆内部构造环境的拉斑玄武岩，而石榴石橄榄岩可能是起源于亏损的残余地幔。石英硬玉岩原岩包括正变质的花岗岩和奥长花岗岩、副变质的酸性火山碎屑岩和长石石英砂岩。大面积分布的古老花岗岩很可能是形成在大陆或大陆边缘环境。长石石英云母片岩、石英岩和大理岩的原岩为沉积岩，与副变质的长英质片麻岩和基性火山岩—起构成了古老的表壳岩组合。双峰式的酸性和基性火山岩组合的存在也证明部分表壳岩是形成在大陆环境。因此，可以推测南苏鲁造山带核部的超高压变质岩原岩为形成在大陆板内环境的沉积岩—酸性和基性火山岩—花岗岩和奥长花岗岩建造。     

MORPHOLOGY AND INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE KAMENSK AND GUSEV ASTROBLEMES

The Kokchetav and Dabie Shan complexes are typical examples of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic complexes (UHPM) and are important units of the largest suture zones within the Eurasian continent. The Dabie Shan complex is located in the center of a long Permian-Triassic high-pressure (HP) belt between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. Other members of this belt are the Sulu region of of NE China, the Imjingang belt in Korea, the Sangun and Marginal Hida belts in Kyushu, the Spassk zone in the Sikhote-Alin of the Russian Far East, and the Bikou, Animaqing, Ailaoshan, and Lancang belts in China bounding the western margin of the Yangtze craton. The Kokchetav complex is located in the center of the largest Early Paleozoic HP belt in Asia, which includes the North Qilian complex, the Kekesu and Atbashi zones of the Tien Shan, and the Aktyuz and Makbal areas in the North Kyrgyz Range.

The structure of the Kokchetav complex is interpreted as a mega-melange zone that consists of seven tectonic units separated by tectonic thrusts or faults. There are many similarities between the Kokchetav and Dabie Shan tectonic units. Principal differences relate to the rocks of coeval island-arc series abundantly exposed in the Kokchetav area, but absent in the Dabie Shan, and to the ongoing subduction and island-arc magmatism in Kokchetav after the collision and UHP metamorphism compared to the final collision after UHP metamorphism in the Dabie Shan.

The Caledonian Kokchetav complex formed in the Early Paleozoic, whereas the Indosinian Dabie Shan complex formed in the Early Mesozoic; however, both complexes are characterized by a close succession of events and the occurrence of a Late Proterozoic protolith. In both cases magmatic events occurred in 150-m.y. intervals. Retrograde stages, cooling histories, and exhumation processes are similar for both complexes.

Comparison of mineral assemblages in those complexes indicates higher temperature and pressure in the Kokchetav peak assemblages. The best containers for preserved UHP mineral assemblages are metacarbonate rocks and zircon and garnet from metapelites and felsic rocks in both regions. The Dabie Shan UHP assemblages are better preserved than the Kokchetav ones, which has to do either with their higher temperature or with specific kinetics. Oxidation conditions deduced from mineral distributions, mineral chemistry, and composition of fluid inclusions indicate the higher oxygen potential in the Dabie Shan than in the Kokchetav rocks.

The comparison allows us to conclude the following:

1. The small size of sheets and blocks of UHPM rocks supports a model for reverse flows within a subduction-accretionary wedge or tectonic exhumation of thin sheets, but not uplifting of large blocks.

2. The preservation of coesite and diamond, and the presence of thin reactionary rims (primarily in the Dabie Shan), provides evidence for a very short time of retrograde reactions and high velocity of block uplifting. Thus, three exhumation stages are accepted: (1) superfast uplifting; (2) rapid uplifting up to the sole of the continental crust; and (3) slow uplifting within the continental crust. In the Kokchetav complex, the first stage is absent.

3. For the Dabie Shan we suggest a complex scenario implying two-stage subduction and subsequent collision. Comparison with the Kokchetav complex shows that UHP metamorphism is not likely to have resulted from a collision, but the latter was responsible for the superfast exhumation of thin sheets of UHPM rocks from depths of over 100 km.     

Formation Depth Estimation of Coesite-Bearing Eclogite in Dabie UHPM Zone, China： Constrained by Isotopic Studies

The formation depth of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) zone influences not only our understanding of formation mechanism and evolution processes of collision orogenic belt, but also the studies on earth's interior and geodynamic processes. In this study, the isotopic data of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie UHPM zone are discussed to give constraints on the formation depth in the Dabie UHPM zone. The εSr of eclogite in the Dabie UHPM zone varies from 18 to 42, and the εNd varies from -6.1 to -17, both of them show the characters of isotopic disequilibrium. The oxygen isotope studies indicate that the protoliths of these UHPM rocks have experienced oxygen isotope exchange with meteoric water (or sea water) before metamorphism and no significant changes in the processes of metamorphism on their oxygen isotope composition have been recorded in these rocks. Except for one sample from Bixiling, all samples of eclogite from Dabie UHPM zone show the 3He/4He ratios from 0.79×10-7 to 9.35×10-7, indicating the important contribution of He from continental crust. All Sr, Nd, O and He isotopic studies indicate that the UHPM rocks retain the isotopic characteristics of their protoliths of crust origin. No significant influence of mantle materials has been found in these metamorphic rocks. Trying to explain above isotopic characteristics, some researchers assume that the speeds of dipping thrust and uplifting of rocks were both very high. In this condition, there will not be enough time for isotopic exchange between crust protolith and mantle materials. Therefore, we can not see the tracer of mantle materials in these UHPM rocks. However, this assumption can not be justified with available knowledge. Firstly, it was estimated that the whole process of UHPM took at least 15 Ma. During such a long period, and at the metamorphic temperature of ≥700 ℃, the protolith of crust origin can not escape from isotopic exchange with mantle materials if the UHPM have happened in the mantle depth of ≥100 km. In contrast, all problems will be dismissed if we assume that the UHPM have happened at the depth still in crust.     

柴北缘超高压变质带变质泥质岩碎屑锆石年代学研究及其地质意义

柴北缘超高压变质带作为中国西部深俯冲的一个研究热点,对其变质泥质岩的碎屑锆石年龄研究对了解此区内深俯冲大陆的前寒武纪演化历史,及与华北克拉通及华南克拉通的亲缘性讨论具有重要意义。本文选取柴北缘超高压变质带中绿梁山和都兰的变质泥质岩,筛选锆石利用LA-ICP-MS进行定年并讨论其地质意义。实验结果表明碎屑锆石年龄分为三个组别集中,分别是1100Ma、1000~800Ma和800~500Ma,并分别代表了古老的结晶基底、与Rodinia超大陆相关的碰撞和裂解事件以及古祁连洋的演化。板块亲缘性分析表明柴达木-祁连地区可能与扬子克拉通西缘具有亲缘性,可能作为扬子克拉通西缘的延伸而与扬子克拉通相连。通过结合碎屑锆石数据及板块亲缘性分析并对比现今西太平洋边缘的演化模式,本文提出了一个在早古生代北祁连为主动大陆边缘,柴北缘为被动大陆边缘;在祁连地体北侧的古祁连洋闭合后柴北缘转变为主动大陆边缘的构造演化模式。     

大别山石马地区超高压变质岩角闪岩相变形的Rb-Sr同位素年龄及其构造意义

角闪岩相变形是大别山超高压变质岩的主期变形 ,露头和显微尺度的构造要素主要由这期变形产生 ,通过对超高压变质岩带内韧性剪切带中花岗片麻岩的Rb -Sr同位素年龄测定 ,获得一条变形花岗片麻岩的全岩 -白云母内部等时线年龄 ,表明超高压变质岩的角闪岩相变形产生于180Ma左右 ,超高压变质岩的主期变形确实为同角闪岩相变质期变形 ,该年龄与超高压变质岩的第二次快速冷却年龄一致 ,由此证实超高压变质岩在180Ma左右快速从下地壳折返至中地壳     

Exhumation mechanisms of melt‐bearing ultrahigh pressure crustal rocks during collision of spontaneously moving plates

A series of 2D petrological–thermomechanical numerical experiments was conducted to: (i) characterize the variability of exhumation mechanisms of ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks during collision of spontaneously moving plates and (ii) study the possible geodynamic effects of melting at ultrahigh pressure conditions for the exhumation of high‐temperature–ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (HT–UHPM) rocks. To this end, the models include fluid‐ and melt‐induced weakening of rocks. Five distinct modes of exhumation of (U)HPM rocks associated with changes in several parameters in the models of plate collision and continent subduction are identified as follows: vertical crustal extrusion, large‐scale crustal stacking, shallow crustal delamination, trans‐lithospheric diapirism, and channel flow. The variation in exhumation mechanisms for (U)HPM rocks in numerical models of collision driven by spontaneously moving plates contrasts with the domination of the channel flow mode of exhumation in a majority of the published results from numerical models of collision that used a prescribed plate convergence velocity and/or did not include fluid‐ and melt‐induced weakening of rocks. This difference in the range of exhumation mechanisms suggests that the prescribed convergence velocity condition and the neglect of fluid‐ and melt‐related weakening effects in the earlier models may inhibit development of several important collisional processes found in our experiments, such as slab breakoff, vertical crustal extrusion, large‐scale stacking, shallow crustal delamination and relamination, and eduction of the continental plate. Consequently, the significance of channel flow for the exhumation of UHPM rocks may have been overstated based on the results of the earlier numerical experiments. In addition, the results from this study extend over a larger proportion of the high‐temperature range of P–T conditions documented from UHPM rocks, including those retrieved from HT–UHPM rocks, than the results of experiments from previous numerical models. In particular, the highest peak metamorphic temperatures (up to 1000 °C) are recorded in the case of the vertical crustal extrusion model in which subducted continental crust is subjected to a period of prolonged heating by asthenospheric mantle abutting the continental side of the vertically hanging slab. Nonetheless, some extreme temperature conditions which have been suggested for the Kokchetav and Bohemian massifs, perhaps up to 1100–1200 °C, are still to be achieved in experiments using numerical models.     

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度的同位素限制

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度是各国地质学家十分关心的问题。它不仅影响对碰撞造山带形成机制和演化过程的认识,而且影响对地球深部状况及地球动力学的研究。该文对大别山超高压变质岩已有同位素资料进行了分析与讨论。大别山榴辉岩的ε_Nd为-6.2~-17,ε_Sr为18~42,且显示明显的Nd同位素的不平衡现象。大别山榴辉岩的氧同位素组成研究表明,这些榴辉岩的原岩在超高压变质前,不同程度地与贫18O的大气降水(或海水)发生过氧同位素交换,且在超高压变质过程中依然保留了这些痕迹。除一个样品外,大别-苏鲁地区的榴辉岩的3He/4He比值都落在0.79×10-7~9.35×10-7范围内,显示陆壳岩石来源He的重要贡献。所有Sr-Nd、O和He同位素研究均表明:超高压变质岩保存着表壳岩石原岩的同位素特征,而未显示变质时受到地幔物质的明显影响。对于超高压变质岩的上述同位素特征,有人认为是由于大别山造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快造成的。由于造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快,表壳岩石原岩变质时来不及与地幔物质发生交换,故没有留下地幔物质参与的痕迹。该研究认为这种解释有些勉强,因为大别造山带俯冲和折返时间至少需要15Ma.在如此长的时间内,在100多公里地幔深处高于700℃的高温下发生超高压变质作用,表壳岩石原岩不可能不与地幔物质发生同位素交换。相反,如果认为大别山超高压变质岩就在地壳内形成,则大别山超高压变质岩同位素的所有特征就很好解释了。      

柴达木盆地北缘新元古代-早古生代大洋的形成、发展和消亡

柴达木盆地北缘构造带是一条典型的早古生代造山带,是由陆壳深俯冲形成的高压/超高压变质带,产于其中的高压/超高压变质岩石原岩形成时代普遍大于750Ma,原岩的性质为陆壳属性,但柴北缘东段都兰沙柳河地区出露的含柯石英榴辉岩原岩的形成时代为516Ma,原岩的性质为洋壳属性,证实柴北缘局部地段还存在洋壳深俯冲,柴北缘地区可能记录了从大洋俯冲到大陆俯冲再到碰撞造山这一完整的演化历史。本文主要从岩石学、年代学、地球化学以及同位素地球化学等方面对柴北缘地区陆壳深俯冲前新元古代-早古生代大洋发展与演化的岩石记录进行了系统总结,认为柴北缘地区在700~850Ma时受Rodinia超大陆裂解事件的影响发生了裂解;535~700Ma时在裂解事件的基础上形成了一个新元古代-早古生代的大洋,沿柴北缘连续分布的岩石记录表明该洋盆可能在早古生代已具有一定的规模;460~535Ma时该洋壳发生了俯冲消减作用;450~460Ma期间洋盆闭合消失。这一认识对全面深入了解柴北缘高压/超高压变质带早古生代构造演化历史具有重要意义。     

北阿尔金喀腊大湾地区4337高地北花岗闪长岩 SHRIMP U-Pb定年及其构造意义

喀腊大湾位于北阿尔金中东段,为北东向阿尔金断裂与东西向阿尔金北缘断裂所夹持,区内遍布中酸性侵入岩。笔者选取喀腊大湾地区4337高地北花岗闪长岩岩体为研究对象来反演喀腊大湾地区构造演化。岩石地球化学数据表明,岩体为高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩,可能是下地壳中钾和高钾变质玄武岩在高压条件下部分熔融形成的。4337高地北花岗闪长岩岩体锆石 SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为(494.4 ± 5.5)Ma,表明其为晚寒武世岩浆活动的产物。结合岩体的地球化学、微量元素构造环境判别图解、年代学和区域地质背景的特征,判定其形成于与俯冲有关的活动陆缘(大陆弧)构造环境。同时,结合前人对喀腊大湾地区岩浆岩的研究,认为该区在早古生代发育一条活动陆缘(大陆弧)岩浆岩带,指示北阿尔金局限洋盆在晚寒武世早中奥陶世向南俯冲在中阿尔金地块之下。通过对比北阿尔金东西段报道的中酸性侵入岩年龄数据,认为北阿尔金局限洋盆西段经历了更长时间的俯冲,整体呈东早西晚的剪刀状闭合。     

中天山北缘大型右旋走滑韧剪带研究

中天山北缘是一个近 EW向的大型右旋走滑韧剪带。宏、微观构造尺度的运动学研究表明 ,该带经历过至少二期韧性变形作用。第一期为从南向北的逆冲推覆韧剪变形 ,时代为中—晚志留世 ,以米什沟剖面为代表 ,对应于早古生代洋壳从北向南俯冲及稍后吐哈陆块朝中天山岛弧的碰撞事件。第二期为沿 EW方向的右旋走滑韧性变形 ,其构造形迹广泛分布于中天山北缘带各个地段 ;北天山石炭纪火山岩已卷入该期构造活动 ,走滑时代为晚石炭世—早二叠世 ,对应于晚石炭世塔里木与西伯利亚两大板块碰撞造山诱发的陆内变形、走滑剪切。走滑带中新生白云母 4 0 Ar/39Ar年龄为 ( 2 69± 5) Ma。剪切面理、拉伸线理、矿物韧剪构造、石英 C轴组构提供了构造运动学证据 ;地层不整合及同位素测年值提供了变形时间证据。二叠纪以后的构造事件也影响到中天山北缘带 ,但只有脆性变形形迹 ,无韧性剪切。最后对本区古生代构造演化进行了讨论     

走滑断裂对超高压变质岩石折返的贡献及青藏高原北部白垩纪隆升之新思考

青藏高原已识别出柴北缘、南阿尔金和高喜马拉雅三条超高压变质带。这些超高压变质带提供了一个不可多得的研究超高压变质岩石形成和折返的机会。柴北缘超高压变质带位于阿尔金断裂的东边,是柴达木—东昆仑地体与祁连—阿尔金微地体和阿拉善—敦煌地体碰撞的产物,由榴辉岩、石榴石橄榄岩和含柯石英片麻岩组成,榴辉岩形成时代500~440Ma,峰期超高压变质年龄440Ma。南阿尔金超高压变质带位于阿尔金断裂带的西边,以产出榴辉岩和石榴石橄榄岩为特征,榴辉岩形成时代为500Ma。南阿尔金超高压变质带被认为是柴北缘超高压变质带的西延,两者被阿尔金断裂左旋位移约400km。阿尔金断裂是巨大的深度>200km的岩石圈走滑断裂,断裂的活动时代至少早到240~220Ma,认为走滑过程中伴随的隆升作用有可能为柴北缘和南阿尔金超高压变质岩石的折返和出露地表做出了贡献,其中阿尔金断裂起到了类似剪刀型断裂的作用。高喜马拉雅超高压变质带在巴基斯坦和印度被发现,以榴辉岩中含柯石英或金刚石为特征,榴辉岩的超高压变质年龄为46Ma,表明超高压变质岩石发生在雅鲁藏布江缝合线关闭后并快速折返。喀喇昆仑断裂走滑过程中伴随的抬升作用则可能对高喜马拉雅地区超高压变质岩石的折返和出露地表做出贡献。在中国东部出露的大别—苏鲁超高压变质带被巨大郯庐断裂左旋走滑位移约500km,可以看作是走滑作用伴随的抬升运动对超高压变质岩石的最后折返和出露地表做出重要贡献的又一例证。青藏高原的隆升通常被认为是印度板块和欧亚大陆新生代以来的碰撞结果。根据高原北部断裂的时代、火山活动和沉积盆地的形成,我们提出高原的隆升是两次俯冲碰撞的结果。第一次发生在中特提斯班公湖-怒江洋盆在白垩纪时期的关闭,其时由于北部来自塔里木盆地和北中国板块及东部来自太平洋板块俯冲产生的抵柱效应,高原北部开始隆升;第二次发生在印度板块的新生代俯冲碰撞作用,造成高原的整体抬升,由此可以解释高原北部平均海拔(5000m)要高于高原南部(平均海拔4000m)。     

Timing of Magma Mixing in the Gangdisě Magmatic Belt during the India-Asia Collision： Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating

Abstract  Abundant mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) extensively distribute in granitoids in the Gangdisê giant magmatic belt, within which the Qüxü batholith is the most typical MME‐bearing pluton. Systematic sampling for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro nearby at two locations in the Qüxü batholith, and subsequent zircon SHRIMP II U‐Pb dating have been conducted. Two sets of isotopic ages for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro are 50.4±1.3 Ma, 51.2±1.1 Ma, 47.0±1 Ma and 49.3±1.7 Ma, 48.9±1.1 Ma, 49.9±1.7 Ma, respectively. It thus rules out the possibilities of mafic microgranular enclaves being refractory residues after partial melting of magma source region, or being xenoliths of country rocks or later intrusions. Therefore, it is believed that the three types of rocks mentioned above likely formed in the same magmatic event, i.e., they formed by magma mixing in the Eocene (c. 50 Ma). Compositionally, granitoid host rocks incline towards acidic end member involved in magma mixing, gabbros are akin to basic end member and mafic microgranular enclaves are the incompletely mixed basic magma clots trapped in acidic magma. The isotopic dating also suggested that huge‐scale magma mixing in the Gangdisê belt took place 15–20 million years after the initiation of the India‐Asia continental collision, genetically related to the underplating of subduction‐collision‐induced basic magma at the base of the continental crust. Underplating and magma mixing were likely the main process of mass‐energy exchange between the mantle and the crust during the continental collision, and greatly contributed to the accretion of the continental crust, the evolution of the lithosphere and related mineralization beneath the portion of the Tibetan Plateau to the north of the collision zone.     

Palaeoproterozoic arc magmatism and collision in Liaodong Peninsula (north-east China)

In the north‐eastern part of the North China Block, a mafic magmatic belt consisting of mafic–ultramafic rocks and marine sedimentary rocks crops out between the northern Archean Anshan Block and a southern Palaeoproterozoic Block. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar amphibole ages around 1.9 Ga from gabbros, and trace element analyses of gabbros, pyroxenite and shale show that these rocks formed along a Palaeoproterozoic active continental margin. The mafic magmatic belt is interpreted as an arc developed above a south‐directed subduction zone, which was subsequently overthrust to the north upon the Anshan Archean Block. This study provides a new example agreeing with increasing evidence supporting plate mobility and thrust tectonics during the Palaeoproterozoic. These new insights must be considered with regard to the formation of the North China Block by magmatic accretion and tectonic collision.     

SHRIMP Geochronology of Volcanics of the Zhangjiakou and Yixian Formations, Northern Hebei Province, with a Discussion on the Age of the Xing＇anling Group of the Great Hinggan Mountains and Volcanic Strata of the Southeastern Coastal Area

A zircon U-Pb geochronological study on the volcanic rocks reveals that both of the Zhangjiakou and Yixian Formations, northern Hebei Province, are of the Early Cretaceous, with ages of 135-130 Ma and 129-120 Ma, respectively. It is pointed out that the ages of sedimentary basins and volcanism in the northern Hebei -western Liaoning area become younger from west to east, i. e. the volcanism of the Luanping Basin commenced at c. 135 Ma, the Luotuo Mount area of the Chengde Basin c. 130 Ma, and western Liaoning c. 128 Ma. With a correlation of geochronological stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, we deduce that the Xing‘anling Group, which comprises the Great Hinggan Mountains volcanic rock belt in eastern China, is predominantly of the early-middle Early Cretaceous, while the Jiande and Shimaoshan Groups and their equivalents, which form the volcanic rock belt in the southeastern coast area of China, are of the mid-late Early Cretaceous, and both the Jehol and Jiande Biotas are of the Early Cretaceous, not Late Jurassic or Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. Combining the characteristics of the volcanic rocks and, in a large area, hiatus in the strata of the Late Jurassic or Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous between the formations mentioned above and the underlying sequences, we can make the conclusion that, in the Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous, the eastern China region was of high relief or plateau, where widespread post-orogenic volcanic series of the Early Cretaceous obviously became younger from inland in the west to continental margin in the east. This is not the result of an oceanward accretion of the subduction belt between the Paleo-Pacific ocean plate and the Asian continent, but rather reflects the extension feature, i.e. after the closure of the Paleo-Pacific ocean, the Paleo-Pacific ancient continent collided with the Asian continent and reached the peak of orogenesis, and then the compression waned and resulted in the retreating of the post-orogenic extension from outer orogenic zone to inner part (or collision zone). The determination of the eruption age of the volcanics of the Zhangjiakou Formation definitely constrains the switch period, which began in the Indosinian and finished in the Yanshanian, that is, 140-135 Ma. The switch is concretely the change from the approximate E-W Paleo-Asian tectonic system to the NE to NNE Pacific system, and the period is also the apex of a continent-continent collision and orogenesis of subduction, being consumed and eventually disappearing of the Paleo-Pacific ancient continent, and all the processes commenced in the Indosinian. While the following post-orogenic large-scale eruption in the Early Cretaceous marks the final completeness of the Paleo-Pacific structure dynamics system.     

Thermal Evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone on the Eastern Margin of the Dabie Mountains and Its Tectonic Implications

Five samples of muscovite from mylonites of the earlier Tanlu ductile shear zone on the eastern margin of the Dabie Mountains yield 40Ar/39Ar ages ranging from 178 Ma to 196 Ma. Three of them have reliable plateau ages of 188.7±0.7 Ma, 189.7±0.6 Ma and 192.5±0.7 Ma respectively, which indicates a syn-orogenic, sinistral strike-slip thermal event. This displacement movement derived from the continent-continent collision of the North and South China blocks took place in the Early Jurassic and after uplifting of high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure slabs to the mid-crust. It is suggested that during the collision the Tanlu fault zone was an intracontinental transform fault caused by differential subduction speeds. The 40Ar/39Ar ages of mylonite whole-rock and muscovite from the later Tanlu ductile shear zone suggest another sinistral strike-slip cooling event at 128 Ma. During this strike-slip faulting, large-scale intrusion and doming uplift occurred in the eastern part of the Dabie orogenic belt. Data o     

Palaeozoic collisional tectonics and magmatism of the Chinese Tien Shan, central Asia

The Chinese Tien Shan range is a Palaeozoic orogenic belt which contains two collision zones. The older, southern collision accreted a north-facing passive continental margin on the north side of the Tarim Block to an active continental margin on the south side of an elongate continental tract, the Central Tien Shan. Collision occurred along the Qinbulak-Qawabulak Fault (Southern Tien Shan suture). The time of the collision is poorly constrained, but was probably in in the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous. We propose this age because of a major disconformity at this time along the north side of the Tarim Block, and because the Youshugou ophiolite is imbricated with Middle Devonian sediments. A younger, probably Late Carboniferous-Early Permian collision along the North Tien Shan Fault (Northern Tien Shan suture) accreted the northern side of the Central Tien Shan to an island arc which lay to its north, the North Tien Shan arc. This collision is bracketed by the Middle Carboniferous termination of arc magmatism and the appearance of Late Carboniferous or Early Permian elastics in a foreland basin developed over the extinct arc. Thrust sheets generated by the collision are proposed as the tectonic load responsible for the subsidence of this basin. Post-collisional, but Palaeozoic, dextral shear occurred along the northern suture zone, this was accompanied by the intrusion of basic and acidic magmas in the Central Tien Shan. Late Palaeozoic basic igneous rocks from all three lithospheric blocks represented in the Tien Shan possess chemical characteristics associated with generation in supra-subduction zone environments, even though many post-date one or both collisions. Rocks from each block also possess distinctive trace element chemistries, which supports the three-fold structural division of the orogenic belt. It is unclear whether the chemical differences represent different source characteristics, or are due to different episodes of magmatism being juxtaposed by later dextral strike-slip fault motions. Because the southern collision zone in the Tien Shan is the older of the two, the Tarim Block sensu stricto collided not with the Eurasian landmass, but with a continental block which was itself separated from Eurasia by at least one ocean. The destruction of this ocean in Late Carboniferous-Early Permian times represented the final elimination of all oceanic basins from this part of central Asia.