^3He／^4He Ratios and Heat Flow in the Continental Rift—valley,Eastern China

Heat flow and the origin of helium in natural gases from fault basins of the continental rift-valley in eastern China are discussed in terms of helium isotope geochemistry.³He/⁴He ratios in natural gases from the rift-valley range from 2.23 × 10⁻⁷ to 7.21 × 10⁻⁶, which are directly proportional to the concentration of helium and ΣNHC/ΣHC ratio in natural gases. Geological and isotope geochemical data suggest that helium in natural gases consists predominantly of crustal radio-genic and upper mantle-derived helium. In a simple mixing pattern between crustal He and mantle-derived He, mantle-derived helium in natural gases would account for 10–60%. Calculated values for heat flow (Q) range from 59.7 to 82.4mWm⁻², of which about 60 percent in the rift-valley is derived from the upper mantle. Natural helium reservoirs would be found in the areas where the upper mantle uplifted greatly and heat flow is large in the continental rift-valley. The project is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Helium and carbon isotope variations in Liaodong Peninsula,NE China

Chemical and C–He isotopic compositions have been measured for N₂-rich hydrothermal gases from the Liaodong (abbreviation of East Liaoning Province) Peninsula from which the oldest crustal rocks in China with ⩾3.8 Ga outcrop. With the exception of one sample containing tritogenic ³He and atmospheric ⁴He in Liaoyang, the observed ³He/⁴He ratios from 0.1 Ra to 0.7 Ra indicate 1–8% helium from mantle, 92–98% from crust and 0.1–0.8% from atmosphere. Despite the lack of Quaternary volcanism, such ³He/⁴He ratios suggest, together with geophysical evidences, the existence of intrusive magmas that contain mantle helium and heat within the Liaodong middle-lower crust. The ³He/⁴He ratios are high along the NE-trending Jinzhou faults and gradually decrease with the increase of distance from the faults. Such a spatial distribution suggests that the mantle helium exsolves from magmatic reservoir in the middle-lower crust, becomes focused into the root zones of Jinzhou faults, and subsequently traverses the crust via permeable fault zones. When transversely migrated by groundwater circulation in near surface, mantle helium with high ³He/⁴He ratio may have been further diluted to the observed values by addition of radiogenic helium produced in the crust. This pattern shows strong evidence that the major faults played an important role on mantle-derived components transport from mantle upwards.     

赣南淘锡坑钨矿床He-Ar同位素地球化学研究

华南石英脉型黑钨矿的形成一直被认为是与地壳沉积物质重熔形成的S型花岗岩有关。然而,近年来对南岭中生代成岩成矿机制的研究发现,地幔组分可能参与了钨、锡成矿作用。本文对淘锡坑石英脉型钨多金属矿床与黑钨矿共生的黄铁矿和毒砂中流体包裹体的He、Ar同位素进行了研究。结果显示,上述矿物中流体包裹体的~3He/~4He值为0. 37～2. 11Ra(Ra为空气的~3He/~4He值,1Ra=1. 39×10~(-6)),介于地幔与地壳的~3He/~4He值之间;~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar值为309. 5～383. 6,平均335. 4,略高于大气的~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar比值(295. 5)。研究表明,成矿流体具有壳-幔两端元混合的特征。其中,地壳端元的流体为经过地下循环的低温饱和大气水,地幔端元的流体为矿区隐伏花岗岩体成岩过程中分异出的岩浆流体。结合前人研究成果,认为该矿床的形成与华南中生代燕山期发生的软流圈上涌、岩石圈减薄、地壳伸展等地球动力学作用有密切联系。这种动力学过程为地幔组分带来的热引起地壳沉积物质重熔形成钨多金属成矿花岗岩浆提供了条件。     

Mantle-derived noble gases in ore-forming fluids of the granite-related Yaogangxian tungsten deposit,Southeastern China

More than 90% of the tungsten resources of China are in the Nanling region of South China, and the Yaogangxian vein deposit is the largest tungsten deposit in this region. The tungsten deposits have ages of 150–160 Ma, and are spatially, temporally and genetically related to granites which were previously believed to be produced by crustal anatexis. This paper provides He and Ar isotope data of fluid inclusions in pyrite and arsenopyrite from the Yaogangxian W veins. ³He/⁴He ratios range from 0.41 to 3.03 Ra (where Ra is the ³He/⁴He ratio of air?=?1.39?×?10^?6), and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios from 328 to 1,191. Moreover, there are excellent correlations between He and Ar isotopic compositions. The results suggest that the ore-forming fluids are a mixture between a crustal fluid containing atmospheric Ar and crustal ⁴He and a fluid containing mantle components. It is likely that the former is a low temperature meteoric fluid, and the later is a fluid exsolved from the W-associated granitic magma, which formed by crustal melting induced by intrusion of a mantle-derived magma.     

Spatial variations in 3He/4He ratios along a high strain rate zone,central Japan

A linear zone with high strain rates along the Japan Sea coast, the Niigata-Kobe Tectonic Zone (NKTZ), is considered to be associated with rheological heterogeneities in the lower crust and/or upper mantle. Helium isotope variations along the NKTZ reveal a close association with the geophysical evidence for rheological heterogeneities in the crust and mantle. In the southern NKTZ, the ³He/⁴He ratios lower than 3.4 Ra (Ra denotes the atmospheric ³He/⁴He ratio of 1.4 × 10⁻⁶) could be interpreted as a two-component mixture of helium stored in aqueous fluids driven off the subducting oceanic crust and radiogenic crustal helium. Higher ³He/⁴He ratios are observed in the central NKTZ where Quaternary volcanoes and high-temperature hot springs are concentrated, suggesting that the ³He emanation manifest in the central NKTZ results from the effective transfer of mantle helium by intrusion and degassing of mantle-derived magma in the crust. In the northern NKTZ where two large inland earthquakes occurred recently, there appears to be many samples with ³He/⁴He ratios significantly higher than those observed in the fore-arc side of northeast Japan. A plausible source of mantle helium could be attributed to upward mobilization of aqueous fluids generated by dehydration of the subducting Pacific Plate slab.     

An overview of the earth crust under China

We assess the results of a number of deep seismic soundings performed in China over the last few decades, and study the variations in crustal structure in 18 tectonic units comprised of three platforms and 15 fold systems. Thickness data on 344 Mesozoic–Cenozoic sedimentary basins, as well as data on Moho depth are collected in order to discuss the relationship between the thickness of the basins and the average thickness of the consolidated crust in each tectonic unit. The degree of mirror-image symmetry between Mesozoic–Cenozoic sedimentary basins and the uplifting topmost parts of the mantle is herein analyzed using deep geophysical data on sedimentary basins. By applying standard methods of least-squares analysis to both datasets, we have obtained both the average thickness of the consolidated crust and the mirror-image symmetry factor for every platform and tectonic fold system, thereby allowing us to explore the correlation between the depths of the bottom of the sedimentary basins and the top of the uplifting mantle. The thickness of the consolidated crust in China is found to be between 20 and 63 km, following a pattern of gradual thickening from east to west. Expressed in terms of spatial seismicity and the concentration of seismic energy, and according to the sharing-out of earthquake hypocenters in the top 80 km of the earth, the rheology of the area does not appear to suit the widely accepted “jelly–sandwich” model for the continents, which does not seem to be entirely valid in China. The findings on the mirror-image symmetry factor show that this parameter varies mainly in the range ? 0.5 to ? 1.8 compared with each other tectonic unit. Most of the tectonic systems in China appear to be isostatically compensated. Tibet is an exception, in that the symmetry factor is positive for the Gangdise–Nyainqentanglha (1.0) and Himalayan (0.1) fold systems, implying that these tectonic zones are far from being in the isostatic equilibrium of the other regions. We have also analyzed the zoning characteristics through the logarithmic relationship ln R = ln (h/|a|), using the average thickness of the consolidated crust and the absolute value of the symmetry factor. The key finding is that regardless of geographical location, all the values of R = h/|a| for those sedimentary basins in which oil/gas reservoirs have to date been found, fall into the narrow range of values between 19.38 and 37.40. There is some appeal in a possible relationship involving the ratio of crustal thickness to symmetry factor, more so when the results obtained appear to suggest a prognostic tool for exploratory practice in relation to oil/gas reservoirs.     

贵州晴隆锑矿床成矿流体He-Ar同位素地球化学

晴隆锑矿床是华南中生代低温成矿域右江盆地Au-Sb-As-Hg矿集区内的大型锑矿床,成矿时代约150Ma。本文以该矿床矿石矿物辉锑矿中的流体包裹体为测试对象,研究了成矿流体的He和Ar同位素地球化学。研究表明,成矿流体的~3He/~4He为0.13~0.46Ra(Ra为空气的3He/4He值,1.4×10~(-6)),~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar为305~327,He、Ar同位素组成具有一定程度的正相关;成矿流体由两个端元组成:一是含地壳He的低温饱和空气的雨水,二是含地幔He的高温流体。含地幔He的高温流体可能来自右江盆地下部的侏罗纪壳幔混合成因花岗岩浆,这种岩浆的形成机制与华夏地块侏罗纪与钨锡成矿有关的花岗岩具有相似性。晴隆锑矿床以大气降水为主的成矿流体的加热、循环并浸取矿床围岩"大厂层"下伏地层中的成矿元素而成矿,受深部壳幔混合成因花岗岩浆释放出的含幔源He和岩浆S的热流所驱动。     

中国西部新生代沉积盆地演化

新生代期间中国西部发生了多次强烈的构造运动, 经历了复杂的构造-地貌演化历史.地质构造背景和地球动力学过程则控制了中国西部大陆新生代期间的构造-地貌演化.盆-山系统是中国西部新生代构造的基本格局, 盆-岭体系是中国西部新生代的主要地貌单元.根据盆地的几何学、动力学与构造演化特征, 中国西部新生代盆地可以划分为压陷盆地、断陷盆地、走滑拉分盆地以及残留海-前陆盆地4类.这些新生代封闭盆地均被造山带所围限, 而盆地与山脉之间由挤压型活动断裂(逆冲断层和走滑断层)所分割.新生代以来印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞以及其后印度板块的向北俯冲挤压, 对中国西部新生代沉积盆地的发育和演化产生了重大影响.中国西部新生代盆地构造岩相古地理演化与板块运动和构造隆升之间存在明显的耦合.      

Noble Gas and Stable Isotopic Constraints on the Origin of the Ag–Cu Polymetallic Ore Deposits in the Baiyangping Area,Yunnan Province,SW China

The Lanping basin, Yunnan province, SW China, is located at the juncture of the Eurasian and Indian Plates in the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. The Lanping basin, in the Sanjiang Tethyan metallogenic province, is a significant Cu–Ag–Zn–Pb mineralized belt in China that includes the largest sandstone‐hosted Zn–Pb deposit in the world, the Jinding deposit, as well as several Ag–Cu deposits (the Baiyangping and Jinman deposits). These deposits, with total reserves of over 16.0 Mt Pb + Zn, 0.6 Mt Cu, and 7,000 t Ag, are mainly hosted in Meso‐Cenozoic clastic rocks and are dominantly controlled by two Cenozoic thrust systems developed in the western and eastern segments of the basin. The Baiyangping, Babaoshan, and Hetaoqing ore deposits are representative of the epithermal base metal deposits in the Lanping basin. The microthermometric data show that the ore‐forming fluids for these deposits were low temperature (110–180 °C) and had bimodal distribution of salinity at moderate and mid to high salinities (approximately 2–8 wt.% and 18–26 wt.% NaCl equivalent). The C and O isotope data indicate that the ore‐forming fluids were related to hot basin brines. We present new He and Ar isotope data on volatiles released from fluid inclusions contained in sulfides and in barite in these three deposits. ³He/⁴He ratios of the ore‐forming fluids are 0.01 to 0.14 R/Ra with a mean of 0.07 Ra (where R is the ³He/⁴He ratio and Ra is the ratio for atmospheric helium). This mean value is intermediate to typical ³He/⁴He ratios for the crust (R/Ra = 0.01 to 0.05) and the ratio for air‐saturated water (R/Ra = 1). The mean ratio is also significantly lower than the ratios found for mantle‐derived fluids (R/Ra = 6 to 9). The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of the ore‐forming fluids range from 298 to 382 with a mean of 323. This value is slightly higher than that for the air‐saturated water (295.5). The ³He/⁴He ratios of fluids from the fluid inclusions imply that the ore‐forming fluid for the Baiyangping, Babaoshan, and Hetaoqing deposits was derived from the crust and that any mantle‐derived He was negligible. The content of the radiogenic Ar ranges between 0.2 to 20.4%, and the proportion of air‐derived ⁴⁰Ar averages 94.1%. This indicates that atmospheric Ar was important in the formation of these deposits but that some radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar was derived from crustal rocks. Based on these observations coupled with other geochemical evidence, we suggest that the ore‐forming fluids responsible for the formation of the Ag–Cu–Pb–Zn polymetallic ore deposits in the Baiyangping area of the Lanping basin were mainly derived from crustal fluids. The fluids may have mixed with some amount of air‐saturated water, but there was no significant involvement of mantle‐derived fluids.     

深部物质运动的气体地球化学特征

根据氦同位素地球化学资料讨论了中国东部和云南腾冲地区上地幔的脱气。尽管地球脱气作用主要发生在地球形成时的十亿年间，但是后期的脱气作用仍是影响大气圈演化的主要因素。在两种力学性质不同的构造带──中国东部大陆裂谷和位于欧亚板块与印度板块缝合带的腾冲火山区，采集了天然气样，并分析了气体组分和氦同位素组成，较高的３Ｈｅ／４Ｈｅ值和地质、地球物理资料表明天然气和温泉气中的氦相当一部分是来自上地幔。来自上地幔的氦和其他气体自第三纪以来不断在气藏中聚集或向大气中逃逸。伴有源于上地幔的岩浆活动的地幔脱气是深部物质运动的具体表现形式，它对新生代气候演变可能有直接影响。     

粤北诸广南部铀矿田流体包裹体的氦氩同位素组成及成矿流体来源示踪

粤北诸广南部铀矿田是我国重要的花岗岩型铀矿产地之一,有关诸广南部花岗岩型铀矿田的成因,多年来一直存在较大的争议。本文以诸广南部铀矿田典型铀矿床成矿期萤石、方解石和黄铁矿中流体包裹体为测试对象,研究了成矿流体的He、Ar同位素地球化学。研究表明,萤石流体包裹体的~3He/~4He比值为0. 021～0. 186Ra,~(40) Ar/~(36)比值为298. 4～2515. 7;方解石流体包裹体的3He/4He比值为0. 027～0. 209Ra,~(40) Ar/~(36)比值为295. 9～327. 2;黄铁矿流体包裹体的3He/4He比值为0. 021～1. 543Ra,~(40) Ar/~(36)比值为326. 9～1735. 1; He-Ar同位素系统显示成矿流体的3He/4He比值略高于地壳氦同位素特征值(0. 01～0. 05Ra),但低于幔源氦同位素特征值(6～9Ra),~(40) Ar/~(36)比值接近或高于大气氩的同位素组成(~(40) Ar/~(36)=295. 5),成矿流体为壳-幔混合来源。结合H-O、He-Ar、C和Sr等多元同位素证据表明,成矿流体由两个端元组成:一是含有一定放射性成因Ar的大气降水的地壳流体,二是含幔源He的地幔流体。进一步研究表明,受NNW向断裂控制的棉花坑、书楼丘、长排等铀矿床受地幔流体影响比较大,而受NE向断裂控制的蕉坪、东坑、烟筒岭铀矿床受大气降水影响比较大。     

Crustal Composition of China Continent Constrained from Heat Flow Data and Helium Isotope Ratio of Underground Fluid

Based on conservation of energy principle and heat flow data in China continent, the upper limit of 1.3 μW/m3 heat production is obtained for continental crust in China. Furthermore, using the data of heat flow and helium isotope ratio of underground fluid, the heat productions of different tectonic units in China continent are estimated in range of 0.58–1.12 μW/m3 with a median of 0.85 μW/m3. Accordingly, the contents of U, Th and K2O in China crust are in ranges of 0.83–1.76 μg/g, 3.16–6.69 μg/g, and 1.0%–2.12%, respectively. These results indicate that the abundance of radioactive elements in the crust of China continent is much higher than that of Archean crust; and this fact implies China’s continental crust is much evolved in chemical composition. Meanwhile, significant lateral variation of crustal composition is also exhibited among different tectonic units in China continent. The crust of eastern China is much enriched in incompatible elements such as U, Th and K than that of western China; and the crust of orogenic belts is more enriched than that of platform regions. It can also be inferred that the crusts of eastern China and orogenic belts are much felsic than those of western China and platform regions, respectively, derived from the positive correlation between the heat production and SiO2 content of bulk crust. This deduction is consistent with the results derived from the crustal seismic velocity data in China. According to the facts of the lower seismic velocity of China than the average value of global crust, and the higher heat production of China continent compared with global crust composition models published by previous studies, it is deduced that the average composition models of global continent crust by Rudnick and Fountain (1995), Rudnick and Gao (2003), Weaver and Tarney (1984), Shaw et al. (1986), and Wedepohl (1995) overestimate the abundance of incompatible elements such as U, Th and K of continental crust.     

Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of fluids in the Niutuozhen geothermal field,North China

Niutuozhen geothermal field is located in the Jizhong graben, belonging to the northern part of Bohai Bay Basin in North China. Chemical and isotopic analyses were carried out on 14 samples of the geothermal fluids discharged from Neogene Minghuazhen (Nm), Guantao (Ng), and Jixianian Wumishan (Jxw) formations. The δ²H and δ¹⁸O in water, δ¹³C in CH₄, δ¹³C in CO₂, and ³He/⁴He ratio in the gases were analyzed in combination with chemical analyses on the fluids in the Niutuozhen geothermal field. The chemical and isotopic compositions indicate a meteoric origin of the thermal waters. The reservoir temperatures estimated by chemical geothermometry are in the range between 60 and 108 °C. The results show that the gases are made up mainly by N₂ (18.20–97.42 vol%), CH₄ (0.02–60.95 vol%), and CO₂ (0.17–25.14 vol%), with relatively high He composition (up to 0.52 vol%). The chemical and isotopic compositions of the gas samples suggest the meteoric origin of N₂, predominant crustal origins of CH₄, CO₂, and He. The mantle-derived He contributions are calculated to be from 5 to 8% based on a crust–mantle binary mixing model. The deep temperatures in the Jxw reservoir were evaluated based on gas isotope geothermometry to be in the range from 141 to 165 °C. The mantle-derived heat fraction in the surface heat flow is estimated to be in the range of 48–51% based on ³He/⁴He ratios.     

Observation of Catastrophic Degassing from Mantle-Crust in Yinggehai Basin, South China Sea

Previousworkshavenotonlywellestablishedtheiso topiccriteriaforrecognizingdifferentsourcesofnoblegases(ref.PintiandMarty ,2 0 0 0 ;Sardaetal.,1985 ) ,butalsoadvocatedtheintegrationofC/ 3Heratioswithstableisotoperatiostoprovideaninsightintotheoriginsofmantle derivedCO2 (Ballentineetal.,2 0 0 1,2 0 0 0 ;Lollaretal.,1997;Pedronietal.,1996 ;Trulletal.,1993;MartyandJam bon ,1987;DesMarais ,1985 ) .Inmanycases,however,thenoble gassignatureandC/3Heratiocannotbesimplyusedtoindicatetheoriginsofsuc…     

天然气研究中的稀有气体地球化学应用模式

在对天然气稀有气体地球化学特征进行系统研究的基础上，建立了有关氦、氩同位素组成的横“人”字型的成因模式并提出两种成因类型:Ａ、壳－幔复合型；Ｂ、壳源型。同时，还论述了稀有气体的年代积累效应与气源对比，进行了大、中型气区天然气地球化学综合研究。     

Heterogeneous lithospheric mantle metasomatism in the eastern North China Craton: He–Ar isotopes in peridotite xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts

The abundances and isotopic compositions of Helium and Argon have been analyzed in a suite of fresh spinel peridotite xenoliths in Cenozoic basalts from the eastern North China Craton (NCC) by step-wise heating experiments, to investigate the nature of noble gas reservoirs in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath this region. The xenoliths include one harzburgite collected from Hebi in the interior of the NCC, two lherzolites from Hannuoba at the northern margin of the craton, and three lherzolites from Shanwang and Nushan on the eastern margin. ³He/⁴He ratios in most of the xenoliths are similar to those of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) or slightly lower (2–10.5 Ra, where Ra is the ³He/⁴He ratio of the atmosphere), suggesting mixing of MORB-like and radiogenic components. One olivine separate from Nushan has a helium value of 25.3 Ra, probably suggesting cosmogenic ³He addition. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios vary from atmospheric value (296) to 1625, significantly lower than the MORB value. Available data of the peridotite xenoliths indicate the He and Ar isotopic systematics of the mantle reservoirs beneath the NCC can be interpreted as mixtures of at least three end-members including MORB-like, radiogenic and atmospheric components. We suggest that the MORB-like noble gases were derived from the underlying asthenosphere during mantle upwelling, whereas the radiogenic and recycled components probably were incorporated into the lithospheric mantle during circum-craton subduction of oceanic crust. Available data suggest that the MORB-like fluids are better preserved in the interior of the NCC, whereas the radiogenic ones are more prevalent at the margins. The Paleo-Asian ocean subduction system probably was responsible for the enriched and recycled noble gas signatures on the northern margin of the craton, while the Pacific subduction system could account for the observed He–Ar isotopic signatures beneath the eastern part. Therefore, integration of helium and argon isotopes reflects heterogeneous metasomatism in the lithospheric mantle and demonstrates the critical importance of lithospheric mantle modification related to both circum-craton subduction of oceanic crust and asthenospheric upwelling beneath the eastern NCC.     

盆地岩石圈结构与油气成藏及分布

本文综述了大陆岩石圈研究现状和克拉通盆地、裂谷盆地和前陆盆地的岩石圈结构特征,指出在古裂谷、褶皱带或区域性深断裂等陆壳构造薄弱带上发育起来的多期叠合盆地,具有很好的含油气前景。大型含油气盆地往往存在地幔上隆、地壳减薄和地壳内低速层,盆地基底沉降与盖层沉积厚度较大。适度的后期构造活动改造和岩浆活动有利于沉积盆地内油气生成与保存。     

Continental margins as global oil and gas accumulation belts: The West Pacific belt

Most present-day oil- and gas-bearing (petroliferous) basins are localized in one of the five global oil and gas accumulation belts confined to continent-ocean transition zones that existed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Two meridional belts are located in the western and eastern peripheral zones of the Pacific Ocean with intense tectonic activity during the major part of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The activity was reflected in extension of the continental crust, spreading of the oceanic crust, rapid subsidence of individual crustal blocks, volcanism, and formation of large batholiths and accretionary prisms. In this belt, the fore-arc, back-arc, inter-arc, and marginal riftogenic sedimentary basins are petroliferous.     

Gravity anomalies and associated tectonic features over the Indian Peninsular Shield and adjoining ocean basins

A combined gravity map over the Indian Peninsular Shield (IPS) and adjoining oceans brings out well the inter-relationships between the older tectonic features of the continent and the adjoining younger oceanic features. The NW–SE, NE–SW and N–S Precambrian trends of the IPS are reflected in the structural trends of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal suggesting their probable reactivation. The Simple Bouguer anomaly map shows consistent increase in gravity value from the continent to the deep ocean basins, which is attributed to isostatic compensation due to variations in the crustal thickness. A crustal density model computed along a profile across this region suggests a thick crust of 35–40 km under the continent, which reduces to 22/20–24 km under the Bay of Bengal with thick sediments of 8–10 km underlain by crustal layers of density 2720 and 2900/2840 kg/m³. Large crustal thickness and trends of the gravity anomalies may suggest a transitional crust in the Bay of Bengal up to 150–200 km from the east coast. The crustal thickness under the Laxmi ridge and east of it in the Arabian Sea is 20 and 14 km, respectively, with 5–6 km thick Tertiary and Mesozoic sediments separated by a thin layer of Deccan Trap. Crustal layers of densities 2750 and 2950 kg/m³ underlie sediments. The crustal density model in this part of the Arabian Sea (east of Laxmi ridge) and the structural trends similar to the Indian Peninsular Shield suggest a continent–ocean transitional crust (COTC). The COTC may represent down dropped and submerged parts of the Indian crust evolved at the time of break-up along the west coast of India and passage of Reunion hotspot over India during late Cretaceous. The crustal model under this part also shows an underplated lower crust and a low density upper mantle, extending over the continent across the west coast of India, which appears to be related to the Deccan volcanism. The crustal thickness under the western Arabian Sea (west of the Laxmi ridge) reduces to 8–9 km with crustal layers of densities 2650 and 2870 kg/m³ representing an oceanic crust.     

Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of the Geothermal Field in the North China Downfaulted Basin

The geothermal field is mainly controlled by the regional tectonic framework characterized by alternationsof uplifted and depressed basement. and exhibits a similar zoned distribution of temperatures. In the upliftedarea the geothermal gradient (G) and terrestrial heat flow value(q) of the Cenozoic sedimentary cover are rela-tively high, with G=3.5-5.0℃/100m and q=63-84mW/m~2; whereas in the depressions they are rela-tively low, with G=2.7-3.5℃/100m and q=46-59mW/m~2. In the whole region, G=3.58℃/100m and q=61.5±13.4nW/m~2, indicating a comparatively high geothermal background and the presence of localgeothermal anomalies. A comparison of the results of mathematical simulation of the geothermal field with themeasured values shows a good agrecment between them. The geothermal difference between various tectonicunits is caused chiefly by the lateral and vertical variation of thermal properties of shallow crustal rocks. Thisphenomenon can be regarded as the result of redistribution of relatively uniform heat flows from the deep crustin the surficial part of the crust in the process of their upward conduction.