Regional geological and tectonic structures of the North Sea area from potential field modelling

The spatial distribution of large-scale crustal domains and their boundaries are investigated in the North Sea area by combining gravity, magnetic and seismic data. The North Sea is situated on the plates of three continents, Avalonia, Laurentia and Baltica, which collided during the Caledonian orogeny in the middle Palaeozoic. The location and continuation of the collisional sutures are debated. We apply filters and transformations to potential field data to focus on the crystalline crust and uppermost mantle on a regional scale in order to extract new information on continental sutures. The transformations reveal intrinsic features of crustal transitions between the Caledonian plates and their relation to later extensional structures. The transformations include the Hough Transform applied to the gravity field, calculation of fractional derivatives and integrals of the gravity and magnetic fields, the pseudogravity field and the horizontal gradient field as well as upward continuation. The results indicate a fundamental difference between the lithosphere of Avalonia, Laurentia and Baltica. The location of the Mesozoic rift system (the Central Graben and Viking Graben), may have been partly determined by the presence of the sutures between these three plate, indicative of extensional reactivation of compressional structures. A significant lineament across the entire North Sea between Scotland and North Germany indicates that the lower crust of Baltica provenance may extend as far south-westward as to this lineament. Comparison of the power spectra of the gravity field in five selected areas shows significant differences in the long wavelength components between the areas north and south of the lineament corresponding to differences in crustal properties. This lineament could represent the suture between lithosphere of Caledonian origin (Avalonia) versus lithosphere of Precambrian origin (Baltica) in the lower crust and upper mantle. If this is the case, the lineament is the missing link in the reconstruction of the triple plate collision.     

Late Neoarchean volcanic rocks in the southern Liaoning Terrane and their tectonic implications for the formation of the eastern North China Craton

The late Neoarchean metamorphosed volcanic rocks in the southern Liaoning Terrane (SLT) of the eastern North China Craton (NCC) are mainly composed of amphibolites and felsic gneisses and can be chemically classified as basalt (Group#1), basaltic andesite (Group#2), dacite (Group#3) and rhyodacite (Group#4). LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Th–Pb dating reveals that they formed at ~2.53–2.51 ​Ga. Group#1 samples are characterized by approximately flat chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns with low (La/Yb)_N ratios and a narrow range of (Hf/Sm)_N ratios, and their magmatic precursors were generated by partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge weakly metasomatized by subducted slab fluids. Compared to Group#1 samples, Group#2 samples display strongly fractionated REE patterns with higher (La/Yb)_N ratios and more scattered (Hf/Sm)_N ratios, indicative of a depleted mantle wedge that had been intensely metasomatized by slab-derived melts and fluids. Group#3 samples are characterized by high MgO and transition trace element concentrations and fractionated REE patterns, which resemble typical high-Si adakites, and the magmatic precursors were derived from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab. Group#4 samples have the highest SiO₂ and the lowest MgO and transition trace element contents, and were derived from partial melting of basaltic rocks at lower crust levels. Integrating these tholeiitic to calc-alkaline volcanic rocks with the mass of contemporaneous dioritic-tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic gneisses, the late Neoarchean volcanic rocks in the SLT were most likely produced in an active continental margin. Furthermore, the affinities in lithological assemblages, metamorphism and tectonic regime among SLT, eastern Hebei to western Liaoning Terrane (EH–WLT), northern Liaoning to southern Jilin Terrane (NL–SJT), Anshan-Benxi continental nucleus (ABN) and Yishui complex (YSC) collectively indicate that an integral and much larger continental block had been formed in the late Neoarchean and the craton-scale lateral accretion was a dominantly geodynamic mechanism in the eastern NCC.     

北秦岭高压-超高压岩石的多期变质时代及其地质意义

在岩相学观察和锆石CL图像研究的基础上,利用LA-ICP-MS原位微区定年分析方法,本文确定北秦岭清油河退变榴辉岩的峰期变质时代为490±6Ma,退变质时代为453±9Ma,原岩形成时代为655±9Ma;松树沟超高压长英质片麻岩的峰期变质时代为497±8Ma,两期退变质时代分别为448±4Ma和421±2Ma,原岩形成时代上限832±25Ma;寨根石榴石辉石岩的峰期变质时代为498±2Ma,中压麻粒岩相退变质时代为450±3Ma,角闪岩相退变质时代为426±1Ma,原岩形成时代为573±40Ma;西峡北榴闪岩的角闪岩相变质时代为423±3Ma,原岩形成时代为843±7Ma。新确定的这些岩石的峰期变质时代与前人已报导的区内高压-超高压岩石的峰期变质时代在误差范围内基本一致,结合区内高压-超高压岩石不仅分布在秦岭岩群北缘的官坡-双槐树一带,而且断续出露在秦岭岩群中部或偏南侧的清油河北-松树沟-寨根北甚至西峡北东西一线,进一步表明它们应是同一期构造地质事件的产物。北秦岭已发现的全部正变质的高压-超高压岩石均呈透镜体状分布在围岩片麻岩中,松树沟超高压长英质片麻岩的原岩为典型的陆壳沉积物,因此,这些高压-超高压岩石的形成可能都是陆壳俯冲-深俯冲作用的产物。结合岩相学观察、锆石CL图像和锆石U-Pb定年表明,这些高压-超高压岩石在～500Ma经历了峰期变质作用后,又分别在～450Ma和～420Ma遭受了中压麻粒岩相和或角闪岩相退变质作用的叠加,充分说明这些高压-超高压岩石经历了一个完整的由陆壳俯冲-深俯冲、之后连续两次抬升的构造演化过程。另外,本次研究新获得的这些岩石的原岩形成时代介于843±7Ma～573±40Ma之间,结合官坡榴辉岩的原岩形成时代为791～814Ma以及松树沟榴闪岩原岩时代为787±16Ma的研究,共同表明北秦岭高压-超高压岩石的原岩形成时代均为新元古代,因此,限定俯冲-深俯冲的陆壳物质应来自形成时代为新元古代的大陆地壳或地质体。结合区域地质背景和前人研究成果综合分析,本文初步认为,北秦岭高压-超高压变质岩带的形成是商丹洋向北俯冲拖曳南秦岭新元古代陆壳物质在～500Ma发生陆壳俯冲-深俯冲作用的产物,之后在～450Ma与～420Ma经历了两期抬升。     

华北克拉通南缘中-新元古代沉积地层对比研究及其地质意义

华北克拉通南缘新太古代-古元古代变质结晶基底之上不整合覆盖着巨厚的中-新元古代陆源碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩沉积盖层,根据沉积建造特征,将其划分为三个不同的地层分布小区,分别为嵩箕地层小区、渑池-确山地层小区和熊耳山地层小区.嵩箕小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地东北缘,以硅质碎屑岩(砂岩)为主,渑池-确山地层小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地北缘,以硅质碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩(白云岩)过渡相为主,熊耳山地层小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地南缘,以碳酸盐岩为主.本文通过对三个地层小区的沉积地层剖面和岩石学特征进行研究,认为华北南缘从中元古代开始处于河流相-浅海相的沉积环境,从南向北,海水由深变浅.根据地层的岩性、沉积构造及其组合特征,将其划分为低水位、海侵和高水位沉积体系,最大海侵时期为青白口系早期.通过对熊耳山地区的官道口群的岩相学和地球化学分析,并结合其已有的碎屑锆石年龄和另外两个地层小区的五佛山群和汝阳群的碎屑锆石年龄以及它们的地球化学特征,表明三个地层区的沉积地层在中元古代均处于被动大陆边缘环境,而新元古代则可能处于与大陆岛弧相关的沉积盆地,这一结果表明从中元古代到新元古代华北南缘可能受到秦岭造山带早期微陆块俯冲碰撞的影响,由被动大陆边缘向活动大陆边缘过渡的过程.三套地层最年轻的碎屑锆石207 Pb/206Pb年龄基本上在1600Ma左右,从而限定了其最大沉积时代不早于1600Ma.其锆石年龄大多数都分布于古元古代(1700 ～ 2400Ma),太古代的年龄极少,说明其物源区以古元古代的地质体为主,且碎屑锆石年龄峰值为～ 1.93Ga,反映了华北南缘在～1.93Ga发生过重要的构造-热事件,与华北克拉通古元古代中期发生的变质作用时间(～ 1.91Ga)一致.三套沉积地层的碎屑锆石εHf(t)值变化较大(-20～ +6),表明既有新生地壳物质的加入,也有古老地壳物质的再循环.Hf两阶段模式年龄分布于2.3～3.8Ga之间,明显大于其207pb/206pb年龄,大部分锆石的Hf同位素组成集中于2.6Ga和3.0Ga地壳演化线区域内,峰值为2.75Ga,表明2.75Ga左右是华北克拉通南缘重要的陆壳生长期.     

Distinct variations of crustal shear wave velocity structure and radial anisotropy beneath the North China Craton and tectonic implications

This study presents the crustal shear wave velocity structure and radial anisotropy along two linear seismic arrays across the North China Craton (NCC) from ambient noise tomography. About a half to one year long ambient noise data from 87 stations were used for obtaining the inter-station surface wave empirical Green's functions (EGFs) from cross-correlation. Rayleigh and Love dispersion curves within the period band 5–30 s were measured from the EGFs of the vertical and transverse components, respectively. These dispersion data were then used to determine the crustal shear wave velocity structure (V_SV and V_SH) and radial anisotropy (2(V_SH ? V_SV) / (V_SH + V_SV)) from point-wise linear inversion with constraints from receiver function analysis. Our results reveal substantial structural variations among different parts of the NCC. The Bohai Bay Basin in the eastern NCC is underlain by a thin crust (~ 30 km) with relatively low velocities (particularly V_SV) and large positive radial anisotropy in the middle to lower crust. Such a crustal structure is no longer of a cratonic type and may have resulted from the widespread tectonic extension and intensive magmatism in this region since late Mesozoic. Beneath the Ordos Basin in the western NCC, the crust is relatively thicker (≥ 40 km) and well stratified, and presents a large-scale low velocity zone in the middle to lower crust and overall weak radial anisotropy except for a localized lower crust anomaly. The overall structural features of this region resemble those of typical Precambrian shields, in agreement with the long-term stability of the region. The crustal structure under the Trans North China Orogen (TNCO, central NCC) is more complicated and characterized by smaller scale velocity variations, strong positive radial anisotropy in the middle crust and rapid change to weak-to-negative anisotropy in the lower crust. These features may reflect complex deformations and crust–mantle interactions, probably associated with tectonic extension and magmatic underplating during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic evolution of the region. Our structural images in combination with previous seismic, geological and geochemical observations suggest that the Phanerozoic lithospheric reactivation and destruction processes may have affected the crust (especially the middle and lower crust) of the eastern NCC, and the effect probably extended to the TNCO, but may have minor influence on the crust of the western part of the craton.     

北山南部二叠纪海相玄武岩地球化学特征及其构造意义

基于北山南部晚古生代构造演化争议较大,本文对该区4条下—中二叠统代表剖面中的玄武岩进行了岩相学、元素地球化学、及全岩Sr- Nd同位素等研究;并对地层中的中酸性火山岩进行了锆石U- Pb定年。获得英安岩与安山岩的锆石U- Pb年龄分别为289. 5±2. 3Ma和267. 8±3. 1Ma,结合已发表年龄数据及古生物资料,明确了火山岩的喷发时代介于早二叠世亚丁斯克期—中二叠世沃德期。该套玄武岩产于海相地层中,主体为拉斑玄武岩系列;氧化物含量变化较大,TiO 2 含量中等(0. 9%~2. 53%);轻重稀土分馏不明显［(La/Yb) N=1. 6~6. 2］,且无显著Eu异常( δ Eu为0. 79~1. 19);不同程度亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P等元素,富集La、Ce、Nd、Zr等元素;ε Nd ( t ) 值介于1. 4~10. 9,( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i 值为0. 703365~0. 707285。玄武岩源区为受俯冲物质改造的软流圈地幔,经不同程度熔融所形成;既与岛弧或陆缘弧所产生的火山岩有所差别,又不同于地幔柱或热点所产生的玄武岩,在各判别图解中,大多投入板内玄武岩(WPB)或洋脊玄武岩(MORB)。结合该区域其他地质资料,推测该套玄武岩的产生与北山南部加厚岩石圈的拆沉作用有关。     

滇西澜沧江南段眼球状花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

滇西澜沧江构造带与昌宁-孟连古特提斯缝合带空间配置关系密切,其花岗质岩浆作用的研究对于揭示三江地区古特提斯演化过程及其动力学背景具有重要的地质意义。本文针对澜沧江南段时代不明的眼球状花岗岩开展了高精度的锆石U-Pb年代学、元素地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素组成研究。定年结果显示,2个眼球状花岗岩和1个糜棱岩化花岗岩分别给出了213 Ma、216 Ma和211 Ma的岩浆结晶年龄,与公认的晚三叠世临沧花岗岩、小定西组和芒汇河组"双峰式"火山岩时代一致,而不是1:20万地质图上标绘的古生代或者中三叠世岩浆岩。地球化学特征上,眼球状花岗质岩石与临沧花岗岩基主体相似,显示出典型S型花岗岩的特征,可能来源于中上地壳变沉积岩的部分熔融。结合区域上的研究资料,认为该期岩浆作用是澜沧江构造带古特提斯演化晚期阶段-碰撞后伸展构造背景下的产物。     

华北地台南缘张士英岩体的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb测年、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

张士英岩体位于华北地台南缘,岩石类型包括钾长花岗岩、似斑状花岗岩和石英斑岩脉,其中只在钾长花岗岩中发育有暗色岩石包体,在包体和寄主岩中发育反映岩浆混合作用的岩石结构。钾长花岗岩、似斑状花岗岩和石英斑岩脉的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄分别为107.3±2.4Ma、106.7±2.5Ma和101±3Ma。锆石Hf同位素分析结果显示,钾长花岗岩的锆石εHf(t)为-15.96～-20.80,单阶段模式年龄(tDM1)为1396～1643Ma,两阶段模式年龄(tDM2)为1880～2018Ma;似斑状花岗岩的锆石εHf(t)为-18.97～-22.18,tDM1为1512～1640Ma,tDM2为1925～2080Ma;除了一粒年龄为2.6Ga的锆石具有εHf(t)为-0.71、tDM1为2943Ma和tDM2为3036Ma的组成,石英斑岩的锆石εHf(t)为-23.41～-27.95,tDM1为1678～1896Ma,tDM2为2144～2330Ma。这些数据暗示,除了存在少量太古宙地壳物质的贡献外,张士英岩体的物质来源可能主要为1.9～2.3Ga期间形成的新生地壳,但也不排除古老地壳与富集地幔源混合的可能。综合分析前人研究成果表明,在太平洋板块俯冲方向发生转变的过程中,先存断裂带发生拉张。张士英岩体与中国东部同期岩浆活动一起可能形成于这种受断裂带控制的伸展环境。     

Geomorphic observations from southwestern terminus of Palghat Gap,south India and their tectonic implications

The region around Wadakkancheri, Trichur District, Kerala is known for microseismic activity, since 1989. Studies, subsequent to 2nd December 1994 (M =4.3) earthquake, identified a south dipping active fault (Desamangalam Fault) that may have influenced the course of Bharathapuzha River. The ongoing seismicity is concentrated on southeast of Wadakkancheri and the present study concentrated further south of Desamangalam Fault. The present study identifies the northwestern continuity of NW–SE trending Periyar lineament, which appears to have been segmented in the area. To identify the subtle landform modifications induced by ongoing tectonic adjustments, we focused on morphometric analysis. The NW–SE trending lineaments appear to be controlling the sinuosity of smaller rivers in the area, and most of the elongated drainage basins follow the same trend. The anomalies shown in conventional morphometric parameters, used for defining basins, are also closely associated with the NW–SE trending Periyar lineament/s. A number of brittle faults that appear to have been moved are consistent with the present stress regime and these are identified along the NW–SE trending lineaments. The current seismic activities also coincide with the zone of these lineaments as well as at the southeastern end of Periyar lineament. These observations suggest that the NW–SE trending Periyar lineaments/faults may be responding to the present N–S trending compressional stress regime and reflected as the subtle readjustments of the drainage configuration in the area.     

大别造山带南缘浅粒岩的锆石U－Pb年龄及其地质意义

在大别造山带,出露大量的浅粒岩,本文就其南缘宿松岩群和与之北侧毗邻的大别岩群中的2个浅粒岩样品进行锆石U-Pb年龄测定,结果表明宿松岩群的浅粒岩形成于新元古代早期(866±48Ma),大别岩群中的浅粒岩的原岩则形成于中元古代末期(1159±80Ma),并受到加里东期构造热事件的影响(479±16Ma)。这为宿松岩群形成时代的确定以及与大别岩群中的浅粒岩层对比提供一条重要的证据。     

安徽北淮阳复向斜形成时间及其构造意义

本文运用盆-山耦合的研究方法,探讨了北淮阳复向斜的形成。石炭纪以后、晚三叠世以前,华北南部的淮南地区和北淮阳地区的沉积特征和构造特征是可以对比的。北淮阳构造带叠加复式向斜和淮南复向斜及“徐宿弧”具有相似的褶皱构造形态、轴迹展布方向和矿物拉伸线理方向,并在统一的应力体制下产生,系北西西向左行走滑作用的强制性褶皱。据此,间接地确定了北淮阳复向斜的形成时间为中—晚三叠世。大别地块的隆升可能是大陆折返过程中“构造挤出”的结果,导致不同类型和不同等级变质岩共存在一起,形成构造加积杂岩。     

华北克拉通南缘潘河~1.5Ga正长岩的厘定及其构造意义

华北克拉通是否曾是Columbia超大陆的组成部分并具有一致的裂解过程一直存在争议,而已知的中元古代非造山岩浆组合集中分布于华北克拉通北缘是引起有关裂解过程争论的重要原因。作者近来在华北克拉通南缘,河南省卢氏县潘河地区,厘定了一组中元古代走向近东西的正长岩脉群。正长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为1469±8Ma(MSWD=1.4)。岩石类型主要为黑云母正长岩,局部有少量霞石正长岩。岩体的SiO2变化于51.3%～65.7%之间,碱含量较高,K2O+Na2O总量8.32%～13.0%,铝含量较高(Al2O3=18.7%～20.0%),为碱性过铝质岩类。岩体轻重稀土分馏较为显著(La/Yb)N=14.5～34.5,具有显著的Eu负异常(δEu=0.2～0.3),强烈富集Rb、Ba、Th等大离子亲石元素和Nb、Ta、Nd、Tb等高场强元素,而Sr、Ti、P、Eu等元素显著亏损。岩石εHf(t)=-14.79～+8.16,Hf模式年龄为2.93～1.74Ga,指示成岩物质主要来源于富集岩石圈地幔的部分熔融并有地壳物质的加入。岩体形成于板内伸展构造环境,这表明华北克拉通的南缘也同时记录了华北克拉通曾经在中元古代发生过大规模的伸展作用,其伸展过程可能与Columbia超大陆的裂解有关。     

华北克拉通南缘1600Ma麻坪A型花岗岩的成因及其地质意义

麻坪花岗岩体产于华北克拉通南缘,岩石类型主要为花岗斑岩,具斑状结构,斑晶主要为钾长石和石英。LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,岩体的形成时代为1600Ma。所有样品高SiO 2(70.51%~75.69%)、富碱(K2O+Na2O=7.42%~10.27%,K2O/Na2O23),贫MgO(0.24%~0.58%)、CaO(0.06%~0.12%)、P2O5(0.04%~0.08%)和MnO(0.01%),以及Eu、Sr和Ti负异常,表明它们在演化过程中经历了钾长石、斜长石、铁钛氧化物等的分离结晶作用。它们高的铝饱和指数(A/CNK1.11),显示强过铝质特征。然而,麻坪花岗斑岩高的Ga/Al比值以及高的锆石饱和温度(870~953℃),显示典型的A型花岗岩特征。因此,麻坪花岗斑岩为强过铝质A型花岗岩。麻坪花岗斑岩的地球化学特征、锆石Hf同位素组成以及二阶段模式年龄表明其来自太华群高温条件下部分熔融,同时基性岩浆的底侵作用为之提供了相应的热源。麻坪花岗斑岩的产生是裂谷岩浆活动的产物,其形成可能与Columbia超大陆的裂解有关。     

张广才岭南段两个侏罗纪花岗岩体的地球化学特征及其地质意义

通过LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和岩石化学分析,研究了张广才岭南段上营北岩体和帽儿山岩体的形成年代,地球化学特征和形成环境。上营北岩体为中粗粒钾长花岗岩,帽儿山岩体为中细粒黑云母钾长花岗岩。上营北岩体的加权平均年龄为178.9±2.7 Ma,帽儿山岩体为183.7±2.4 Ma,均为早侏罗世侵入岩。上营北岩体和帽儿山岩体主量元素都具有Si O_2和K_2O含量较高,Ti O_2、Mg O、Ca O含量较低,TFe O/Mg O值较高的特点;上营北岩体A/CNK=0.98~1.08,里特曼指数σ=1.51~2.66;帽儿山岩体含铝指数A/CNK=1.00~1.01,里特曼指数σ=2.12~2.36。上营北岩体稀土元素配分模式为海鸥型,轻重稀土分馏不明显;帽儿山岩体稀土元素配分模式为右倾型,轻稀土较重稀土富集;两个岩体均富集Rb、K,Ba、Nb、Ta、Sr、Ti、P、Ho、Er、U、Eu等元素出现不同程度的亏损。地球化学特征分析显示上营北岩体和帽儿山岩体均为A_2型花岗岩,为后造山型花岗岩,形成于兴蒙造山带后造山的伸展环境。     

南海南、北陆缘中生代构造层序及其沉积环境

新生代海底扩张,使南海陆缘分为南、北两部分。南部礼乐地块与南海北缘在扩张之前构成了统一的活动陆缘。通过对南、北陆缘的钻井研究和井旁地震剖面解释,发现二者的中生界均具有4 个地震层序及3 个构造层。南北陆缘构造层序及物源分析表明,早白垩世礼乐地块与南海北缘曾发生碰撞拼贴。早白垩世的南海北缘地区沉积环境由海陆过渡相向陆相演化,相应的礼乐地区是由浅海相向滨海相演化,二者反映出相同的向上变浅旋回,说明在南、北陆缘拼贴之后,两者具有了统一的构造沉积背景。到晚白垩世末,两区均隆升为陆,且遭受剥蚀; 南海北缘地区上白垩统部分被剥蚀,而距俯冲边界更近的礼乐地区上白垩统则被剥蚀殆尽。     

龙王(石童)A型花岗岩地球化学特征及其地球动力学意义

龙王花岗岩岩体产于华北克拉通南缘,岩石类型主要为黑云母钾长花岗岩,局部见有霓辉石花岗岩。岩体高硅(SiO2=72.17%～76.82%)、富碱(K2O+Na2O=8.28%～10.22%,K2O/Na2O>1),碱性指数AI(agpaitic index)=0.84～0.95,分异指数DI=95～97,铝指数ASI(aluminium saturation index)=0.96～1.13。含铁指数高(FeO/(FeO+Mg)=0.90～0.99),岩石为准铝质至弱过铝质、碱性—碱钙性、铁质A型花岗岩。岩石富集大离子亲石元素,稀土元素含量很高(854～1572μg/g);高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf)的富集程度明显低于大离子亲石元素,因此在微量元素蛛网图上呈相对亏损特征;岩石显著亏损Ba、Sr、Ti、Pb;εNd(t)=-4.5～-7.2,Nd模式年龄为2.3～2.5Ga。εHf(t)=-1.11～-5.26,模式年龄tHf1=2.1～2.3Ga,tHf2=2.4～2.6Ga。黑云母钾长花岗岩中的锆石主要为无色透明柱状晶体,CL图像多数显示清晰的岩浆成因的韵律环带结构,锆石LA-ICPMSU-Pb年龄为...     

Coexisting tectonic settings: the example of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea

We performed geodetic strain rate analyses in southern Italy, using new GPS velocities. Two-dimensional strain and rotation rate fields were estimated and results show that most of the shortening is distributed in the northern Sicily offshore. Extension becomes more evident and comparable with shortening on the eastern side of the same margin, and greater in the eastern Sicily offshore. Principal shortening and extension rate axes are consistent with long-term geological features: seismic reflection profiles show both active compressive and extensional faults affecting Pleistocene strata. We show evidence for contemporaneous extension and transtension in the Cefalù Basin. Combining geodetic data and geological features point to the coexistence of independent geodynamic processes, i.e., the active E–W backarc spreading in the hangingwall of the Apennines subduction zone and shortening along the southern margin of the Tyrrhenian backarc basin operated by the NNW-motion of Africa relative to Eurasia.     

Metamorphism and deformation of blueschist belts and their tectonic implications, North Qilian Mountains, China

Abstract Two blueschist belts in the North Qilian Mountains occur in Middle Cambrian and Lower Ordovician strata and strike N30–35°W for about 500 km along the Caledonian fold belt on the south-west margin of the Sino-Korean plate. The styles of metamorphism and deformation are quite different in the two belts. The Middle Cambrian to Ordovician rocks in the high-grade belt are mainly blueschists and C-type eclogites in which six phases of lower and upper crustal deformation have been recognized. The rocks contain glaucophane, phengite, epidote, clinozoisite, chlorite, garnet, stilpnomelane, piedmontite, albite, titanite and quartz. The estimated P–T conditions of eclogites are 340 ± 10°C, 8 ± 1 kbar and, of blueschist, >380°C, 6–7 kbar. The Ordovician rocks in the low-grade belt are characterized by ductile to brittle deformation in the middle to upper crust. The low-grade blueschists contain glaucophane, lawsonite, pumpellyite, aragonite, albite and chlorite. The estimated P–T conditions are 150–250°C and 4–7 kbar.
K–Ar and ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar geochronology on glaucophane and phengite from the high-grade blueschist belt suggest two stages of metamorphism at 460–440 and 400–380 Ma, which may represent the times of subduction and orogeny. The subduction metamorphism of the northern low-grade blueschist belt took place approximately at the end of the Ordovician.     

南阿尔金地区榴辉岩特征及意义

野外地质调查工作表明,阿尔金地区西起且末河到茫崖长达300km范围内的"阿尔金山岩群"中多处出露榴辉岩透镜体。榴辉岩在产状和岩石学特征上可以分为两种:第1种是中细粒结构,块状构造,退化变质较弱,围岩多与片麻状花岗岩或花岗闪长岩关系密切;第2种是细粒结构,片麻状构造,具有透入性片麻理,有明显退化变质现象,围岩多与大理岩、黑云变粒岩、石英片岩等关系密切。在分布上,榴辉岩限于古元古代"阿尔金山岩群"中,含有榴辉岩的阿尔金构造杂岩带是柴达木盆地北缘碰撞杂岩带的西延部分。