Detrital apatite fission track analyses of the Subei basin: implications for basin-range structure of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The northern Tibetan Plateau has evolved a unique basin-range structure characterized by alternating elongated mountain ranges and basins over a history of multiple tectonic and fault activities. The Subei basin recorded evolution of this basin-range structure. In this study, detailed detrital apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronological studies in conjunction with previously documented data reveal provenance of the Subei basin, important information about the Indo-Eurasia collision, and two Miocene uplift and exhumation events of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Detrital AFT analyses combined with sedimentary evidences demonstrate that the Danghenanshan Mountains is the major provenance of the Subei basin. In addition, very old age peaks indicate that part sediments in the Subei basin are recycling sediments. Age peak populations of 70–44 Ma and 61–45 Ma from the lower and upper Baiyanghe formations record the tectono-thermal response to the Indo-Eurasia collision. Combined detrital AFT thermochronology, magnetostratigraphy and petrography results demonstrate the middle Miocene uplift and exhumation event initiated 14–12 Ma in the Subei basin, which may resulted from the Miocene east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. Another stronger uplift and exhumation event occurred in the late Miocene resulted from strengthened tectonic movement and climate. A much younger AFT grain age, breccia of diluvial facies and boulders of root fan subfacies record the late Miocene unroofing in the Danghenanshan Mountains.     

Sedimentology and foreland basin paleogeography during Taiwan arc continent collision

The Western foreland basin in Taiwan originated through the oblique collision between the Luzon volcanic arc and the Asian passive margin. Crustal flexure adjacent to the growing orogenic load created a subsiding foreland basin. The sedimentary record reveals progressively changing sedimentary environments influenced by the orogen approaching from the East. Based on sedimentary facies distribution at five key stratigraphic horizons, paleogeographic maps were constructed. The maps highlight the complicated basin-wide dynamics of sediment dispersal within an evolving foreland basin.The basin physiography changed very little from the middle Miocene (∼12.5 Ma) to the late Pliocene (∼3 Ma). The transition from a passive margin to foreland basin setting in the late Pliocene (∼3 Ma), during deposition of the mud-dominated Chinshui Shale, is dominantly marked by a deepening and widening of the main depositional basin. These finer grained Taiwan derived sediments clearly indicate increased subsidence, though water depths remain relatively shallow, and sedimentation associated with the approach of the growing orogen to the East.In the late Pleistocene as the shallow marine wedge ahead of the growing orogen propagated southward, the proximal parts of the basin evolved into a wedge-top setting introducing deformation and sedimentation in the distal basin. Despite high Pleistocene to modern erosion/sedimentation rates, shallow marine facies persist, as the basin remains open to the South and longitudinal transport is sufficient to prevent it from becoming overfilled or even fully terrestrial.Our paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical reconstructions constrain southward propagation rates in the range of 5–20 km/Myr from 2 Ma to 0.5 Ma, and 106–120 km/Myr between late Pleistocene and present (0.5–0 Ma). The initial rates are not synchronous with the migration of the sediment depocenters highlighting the complexity of sediment distribution and accumulation in evolving foreland basins.     

Thermochronological evidence for Mio‐Pliocene late orogenic extension in the north‐eastern Albanides (Albania)

New apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He and apatite fission‐track (FT) data allow constraining the timing of Miocene–Pliocene extensional exhumation that affected the central part of the Dinarides‐Albanides‐Hellenides orogen. Apatite (U–Th)/He ages in the northern and western Internal Albanides range from 57 to 17 Ma, contrasting to younger ages of 5.2–9.3 Ma in the eastern Internal Albanides. Eastward younging is also reflected in zircon (U–Th)/He ages varying from 101 Ma in the north‐western Internal Albanides to 19–50 Ma in the east, as well as in recently published apatite FT ages. Thermal history predictions with the new data point to a phase of rapid exhumation of the eastern Internal Albanides around 6–4 Ma, while the western Internal Albanides record slower continuous exhumation since the Eocene. This asymmetric exhumation pattern is most likely linked to extensional reactivation of NE–SW‐trending thrusts east of the Mirdita zone and within the Korabi zone of the eastern Internal Albanides.     

Detrital provenance evolution of the Ediacaran–Silurian Nanhua foreland basin,South China

We report here in-situ U–Pb and Hf isotopic results of detrital zircons from sixteen Cambrian–Silurian siliciclastic samples across the Nanhua foreland basin, South China. Together with published data from Ediacaran–Silurian sandstones in the region, we establish the temporal and spatial provenance evolution across the basin. Except for samples from northeast Yangtze, all other Ediacaran–Silurian samples exhibit a prominent population of 1100–900 Ma, moderate populations of 850–700 Ma and 650–490 Ma, and minor populations of 2500 Ma and 2000–1300 Ma, grossly matching that of crystalline and sedimentary rocks in northern India. Zircon Hf isotopes further reveal four episodes of juvenile crustal growth at 2.5 Ga, 1.8 Ga, 1.4 Ga and 1.0 Ga in the source regions. Utilizing the basin history and late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic paleogeography of South China, we conclude that the Ediacaran–Cambrian sediments in the Nanhua foreland basin were mainly sourced from northern India and adjacent orogens, and the Ordovician–Silurian sediments were derived from both locally recycled Ediacaran–Cambrian rocks and eroded Cathaysian basement. The Wuyi–Yunkai late-orogenic magmatic rocks also contributed to the Silurian sediments in the basin. The upper-Ordovician to Silurian samples in northeast Yangtze received higher proportions of local Cryogenian (850–700 Ma) magmatic rocks which were uplifted during late-Ordovician to Silurian time. We speculate that there was an Ediacaran–Cambrian collisional orogen between South China and northern India, shedding sediments to the early Nanhua foreland basin. Far-field stress during the late stage of this collisional orogeny triggered the Ordovician–Silurian intraplate Wuyi–Yunkai orogeny in South China, and erosion of the local Wuyi–Yunkai orogen further provided detritus to the late Nanhua foreland basin.     

Burial and exhumation history of the Xigaze forearc basin,Yarlung suture zone. Tibet

The Cretaceous-Eocene Xigaze forearc basin is a crucial data archive for understanding the tectonic history of the Asian continental margin prior to and following collision with India during the early Cenozoic Era. This study reports apatite and zircon(U-Th)/He thermochronologic data from fourteen samples from Albian-Ypresian Xigaze forearc strata to determine the degree and timing of heating(burial) and subsequent cooling(exhumation) of two localities along the Yarlung suture zone(YSZ) near the towns of Saga and Lazi. Thirty-seven individual zircon He ages range from 31.5 ± 0.8 Ma to6.06 ± 0.18 Ma,with the majority of grains yielding ages between 30 Ma and 10 Ma. Twenty apatite He ages range from 12.7 ± 0.5 Ma to 3.9 ± 0.3 Ma,with the majority of grains yielding ages between 9 Ma and 4 Ma. These ages suggest that the Xigaze forearc basin was heated to 140-200 ℃ prior to cooling in Oligocene-Miocene time. Thermal modeling supports this interpretation and shows that the samples were buried to maximum temperatures of ～140-200 0 C by 35-21 Ma, immediately followed by the onset of exhumation. The zircon He and apatite He dataset and thermal modeling results indicate rapid exhumation from ～21 Ma to 15 Ma, and at ～4 Ma. The 21-15 Ma thermochronometric signal appears to be regionally extensive, affecting all the lithotectonic units of the YSZ, and coincides with movement along the north-vergent Great Counter Thrust system. Thrusting, coupled with enhanced erosion possibly related to the paleo-Yarlung River, likely drove Early Miocene cooling of the Xigaze forearc basin.In contrast, the younger phase of rapid exhumation at ～4 Ma was likely driven by enhanced rock uplift in the footwall of north-striking rifts that cross-cut the YSZ.     

喜马拉雅造山带的高压超高压变质作用与印度-亚洲大陆碰撞

喜马拉雅造山带是印度与亚洲大陆碰撞作用的产物,正在进行造山作用,是研究板块构造的天然实验室.高压和超高压变质岩分布在喜马拉雅造山带的核部.这些变质岩具有不同的形成条件、形成时间和形成过程,为印度与亚洲碰撞带的几何学、运动学和动力学提供了重要的限定.含柯石英的超高压变质岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带的西段,它们形成在古新世与始新世之间(53～46Ma),为印度大陆西北边缘高角度超深俯冲作用的产物,并经历了快速俯冲与快速折返过程.在约5 Myr内,超高压变质岩从＞100km的地幔深度折返到了中地壳深度,且仅仅叠加角闪岩相退变质作用.高压榴辉岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带中段,形成时间约为45Ma,为印度大陆低角度深俯冲作用的产物,经历了至少20Myr的长期折返过程,叠加麻粒岩相退变质作用和部分熔融.高压麻粒岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带的东端,是印度大陆东北缘近平俯冲作用的产物,峰期变质作用时间约为35Ma,经历了约20Myr的长期折返过程,叠加了麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质作用,并伴随有多期部分熔融.因此,喜马拉雅造山带的变质作用具有明显的时间与空间变化,显示出大陆深俯冲与折返过程的差异性,以及大陆碰撞造山带形成机制的多样性.     

Timing of metamorphism,melting and exhumation of the Leo Pargil dome,northwest India

The Leo Pargil dome, northwest India, is a 30 km‐wide, northeast‐trending structure that is cored by gneiss and mantled by amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks that are intruded by a leucogranite injection complex. Oppositely dipping, normal‐sense shear zones that accommodated orogen‐parallel extension within a convergent orogen bound the dome. The broadly distributed Leo Pargil shear zone defines the southwest flank of the dome and separates the dome from the metasedimentary and sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall to the west and south. Thermobarometry and in‐situ U–Th–Pb monazite geochronology were conducted on metamorphic rocks from within the dome and in the hanging wall. These data were combined with U–Th–Pb monazite geochronology of leucogranites from the injection complex to evaluate the relationship between metamorphism, crustal melting, and the onset of exhumation. Rocks within the dome and in the hanging wall contain garnet, kyanite, and staurolite porphyroblasts that record prograde Barrovian metamorphism during crustal thickening that reached ～530–630 °C and ～7–8 kbar, ending by c. 30 Ma. Cordierite and sillimanite overgrowths on Barrovian assemblages within the dome record dominantly top‐down‐to‐the‐west shearing during near‐isothermal decompression of the footwall rocks to ～4 kbar by 23 Ma during an exhumation rate of 1.3 mm year^?1. Monazite growth accompanied Barrovian metamorphism and decompression. The leucogranite injection complex within the dome initiated at 23 Ma and continued to 18 Ma. These data show that orogen‐parallel extension in this part of the Himalaya occurred earlier than previously documented (>16 Ma). Contemporaneous onset of near‐isothermal decompression, top‐down‐to‐the‐west shearing, and injection of the decompression‐driven leucogranite complex suggests that early crustal melting may have created a weakened crust that was proceeded by localization of strain and shear zone development. Exhumation along the shear zone accommodated decompression by 23 Ma in a kinematic setting that favoured orogen‐parallel extension.     

When will it end? Long-lived intracontinental reactivation in central Australia

The post-Mesoproterozoic tectonometamorphic history of the Musgrave Province, central Australia, has previously been solely attributed to intracontinental compressional deformation during the 580 -520 Ma Petermann Orogeny. However, our new structurally controlled multi-mineral geochronology results,from two north-trending transects, indicate protracted reactivation of the Australian continental interior over ca. 715 million years. The earliest events are identified in the hinterland of the orogen along the western transect. The first tectonothermal event, at ca. 715 Ma, is indicated by40 Ar/39 Ar muscovite and U e Pb titanite ages. Another previously unrecognised tectonometamorphic event is dated at ca. 630 Ma by Ue Pb analyses of metamorphic zircon rims. This event was followed by continuous cooling and exhumation of the hinterland and core of the orogen along numerous faults, including the Woodroffe Thrust,from ca. 625 Ma to 565 Ma as indicated by muscovite, biotite, and hornblende40 Ar/39 Ar cooling ages. We therefore propose that the Petermann Orogeny commenced as early as ca. 630 Ma. Along the eastern transect,40 Ar/39 Ar muscovite and zircon(Ue Th)/He data indicate exhumation of the foreland fold and thrust system to shallow crustal levels between ca. 550 Ma and 520 Ma, while the core of the orogen was undergoing exhumation to mid-crustal levels and cooling below 600-660℃. Subsequent cooling to 150 -220℃ of the core of the orogen occurred between ca. 480 Ma and 400 Ma(zircon [Ue Th]/He data)during reactivation of the Woodroffe Thrust, coincident with the 450 -300 Ma Alice Springs Orogeny.Exhumation of the footwall of the Woodroffe Thrust to shallow depths occurred at ca. 200 Ma. More recent tectonic activity is also evident as on the 21 May, 2016(Sydney date), a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred, and the resolved focal mechanism indicates that compressive stress and exhumation along the Woodroffe Thrust is continuing to the present day. Overall, these results demonstrate repeated amagmatic reactivation of the continental interior of Australia for ca. 715 million years, including at least 600 million years of reactivation along the Woodroffe Thrust alone. Estimated cooling rates agree with previously reported rates and suggest slow cooling of 0.9 -7.0℃/Ma in the core of the Petermann Orogen between ca. 570 Ma and 400 Ma. The long-lived, amagmatic, intracontinental reactivation of central Australia is a remarkable example of stress transmission, strain localization and cratonization-hindering processes that highlights the complexity of Continental Tectonics with regards to the rigid-plate paradigm of Plate Tectonics.     

根据碎屑白云母40Ar/39Ar年龄追索喜马拉雅造山带的剥落历史——对青藏高原隆升过程的启示

对喜马拉雅前陆盆地和孟加拉海扇中各地层的碎屑白云母40Ar/39Ar资料的系统分析揭示了喜马拉雅造山带自印度-欧亚板块碰撞开始造山以来的整个剥落历史: 剥落速率开始较为稳定,然后开始上升,在22Ma左右达到峰值,为4~5mm/a,随后急剧下降,最终以2mm/a的速率保持平稳。喜马拉雅造山带与青藏高原周缘剥落历史的对比约束了印度-欧亚板块碰撞造成青藏高原东缘和北缘的不同反应方式。即开始时的挤压主要被青藏高原北缘的大规模左旋走滑吸收, 到30Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带冷却、剥落速率显著增强,北缘左旋走滑造成的柴达木地块的向东运动被华北板块阻挡而停滞,因此在北缘发生了一些重要的冷却和抬升剥落事件。至18Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带的冷却、剥落速率继续增高并维持在较高水平,而该时间段内无论是北缘还是东缘,均未发生显著的抬升剥落事件,因此青藏高原的整体隆升和地壳增厚可能发生在此期间。中新世末—上新世初开始至今,青藏高原东缘龙门山地区发生了一些显著的抬升剥落事件,导致了大量的山崩和河流侵蚀,即此时来自喜马拉雅的挤压主要被青藏高原向东方向的地壳逃逸所吸收。     

根据碎屑白云母40Ar/39Ar年龄追索喜马拉雅造山带的剥落历史——对青藏高原隆升过程的启示

对喜马拉雅前陆盆地和孟加拉海扇中各地层的碎屑白云母40Ar/39Ar资料的系统分析揭示了喜马拉雅造山带自印度-欧亚板块碰撞开始造山以来的整个剥落历史: 剥落速率开始较为稳定,然后开始上升,在22Ma左右达到峰值,为4~5mm/a,随后急剧下降,最终以2mm/a的速率保持平稳。喜马拉雅造山带与青藏高原周缘剥落历史的对比约束了印度-欧亚板块碰撞造成青藏高原东缘和北缘的不同反应方式。即开始时的挤压主要被青藏高原北缘的大规模左旋走滑吸收, 到30Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带冷却、剥落速率显著增强,北缘左旋走滑造成的柴达木地块的向东运动被华北板块阻挡而停滞,因此在北缘发生了一些重要的冷却和抬升剥落事件。至18Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带的冷却、剥落速率继续增高并维持在较高水平,而该时间段内无论是北缘还是东缘,均未发生显著的抬升剥落事件,因此青藏高原的整体隆升和地壳增厚可能发生在此期间。中新世末—上新世初开始至今,青藏高原东缘龙门山地区发生了一些显著的抬升剥落事件,导致了大量的山崩和河流侵蚀,即此时来自喜马拉雅的挤压主要被青藏高原向东方向的地壳逃逸所吸收。     

Western Alpine back-thrusting as subsidence mechanism in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (Western Po Plain, NW Italy)

Basin formation dynamics of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (TPB) are here investigated by means of cross-section numerical modelling. Previous works hypothesised that basin subsidence occurred due first to extension (Oligocene) and then to subsequent loading due to back-thrusting (Miocene). However, structural evidence shows that the TPB was mainly under contraction from Oligocene until post Pliocene time while extension played a minor role. Furthermore, thermal indicators strongly call for a cold (flexure-induced) mechanism but are strictly inconsistent with a hot (thermally induced) mechanism. Our new modelling shows that the TPB stratigraphic features can be reproduced by flexure of a visco-elastic plate loaded by back-thrusts active in the Western Alps in Oligo-Miocene times. Far-field compression contributed to the TPB subsidence and controlled the basin infill geometry by enhancing basin tilting, forebulge uplift and erosion of the southern margin of the basin. These results suggest that the TPB subsidence is the result of a combination of mechanisms including thrust loading and far-field compressional stresses.     

Types of crust beneath the Ligurian Sea

The structural setting beneath the Ligurian Sea resuJts from several tectonic events reflected in the nature of the crust. The central-western sector, called the Ligurian basin, is part of the northwestern Mediterranean. It is a marginal basin that was generated in Oligocene-Miocene time by subduction of the Adriatic plate beneath the European plate and by the eastward drift of the Corsica-Sardinia block. The eastern sector belongs to the Tyrrhenian basin system and is characterized by extensional activity which since Tortonian time superimposed an earlier compressional regime. Our effort has been addressed in particular towards simplifying the complex nature of the crust of the Ligurian basin by modelling its genesis using uniform extension and sea-floor depth variation with age. In the rift stage of the basin's evolution, the initial subsidence reaches the isostatic equilibrium level of the asthenosphere by a thinning factor of 3.15. The additional passive process, corresponding to the cooling of the lithosphere since 21 Ma, leads to a total tectonic subsidence of 3.4 km, representing the boundary of the extended continental crust. For values up to 4.1 km a transitional-type crust is expected, whereas for higher tectonic subsidence values a typical oceanic crust should exist. After setting these constraints, the boundaries of the different crust types have been drawn based on total tectonic subsidence observations deduced from bathymetry and post-rift sediment thickness. Although there is a general agreement with the previous reconstructions deduced from other experimental data, the oceanic realm has wider extent and more complex shape. The northernmost part of this realm shows crust of sub-oceanic type altemating basement highs with lower subsidence values. The observed surface heat flux is consistent with the predicted geothermal held in the Alpine-Provençal continental margin and in the oceanic domain. However, a characteristic thermal asymmetry is clearly visible astride the basin, due to the enhanced heat flux of the Corsica margin. Even if the uniform extension model accounts well at a regional level for the present basement depth, a remarkable tectonic subsidence excess has been found in the Alpine-Provençal continental margin. This evidence agrees with the reprise in compression of the margin; the direction of the greatest principal stress is N120°E on average.     

根据碎屑白云母~（40）Ar/~（39）Ar年龄追索喜马拉雅造山带的剥落历史——对青藏高原隆升过程的启示

对喜马拉雅前陆盆地和孟加拉海扇中各地层的碎屑白云母40Ar/39Ar资料的系统分析揭示了喜马拉雅造山带自印度-欧亚板块碰撞开始造山以来的整个剥落历史：剥落速率开始较为稳定,然后开始上升,在22Ma左右达到峰值,为4～5mm/a,随后急剧下降,最终以2mm/a的速率保持平稳。喜马拉雅造山带与青藏高原周缘剥落历史的对比约束了印度-欧亚板块碰撞造成青藏高原东缘和北缘的不同反应方式。即开始时的挤压主要被青藏高原北缘的大规模左旋走滑吸收,到30Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带冷却、剥落速率显著增强,北缘左旋走滑造成的柴达木地块的向东运动被华北板块阻挡而停滞,因此在北缘发生了一些重要的冷却和抬升剥落事件。至18Ma左右,喜马拉雅造山带的冷却、剥落速率继续增高并维持在较高水平,而该时间段内无论是北缘还是东缘,均未发生显著的抬升剥落事件,因此青藏高原的整体隆升和地壳增厚可能发生在此期间。中新世末—上新世初开始至今,青藏高原东缘龙门山地区发生了一些显著的抬升剥落事件,导致了大量的山崩和河流侵蚀,即此时来自喜马拉雅的挤压主要被青藏高原向东方向的地壳逃逸所吸收。     

Late-orogenic vertical movements within the arc of the SW Alps and Ligurian Alps

Mainly on the basis of seismic data, we reconstruct magnitude and timing of Miocene to Present vertical movements in the region of the Savigliano basin, an up to 4 km thick succession of Neogene to Quaternary sediments accumulated inside the Alpine arc at the western termination of the Po Plain. We focus, in particular, on the margins of the basin which are the link between the mountain range and the subsiding basin. Seismic data from these regions allow for the definition of upward and downward vertical movements (uplift-exhumation and subsidence) with a spatial and temporal resolution which cannot be attained by other methods. The eastern, southern and western margins of the Savigliano basin display very different geometries of the sedimentary bodies and, therefore, document different vertical movements during Miocene to Present times. The eastern part of the Savigliano basin, and the regions to the E, experienced subsidence followed by exhumation. The southern margin of the basin, in the Cuneo area, was much more stable with Miocene to present formations all pinching-out close to the present day outcropping position of the basement-sedimentary cover contact. In the W, seismic sections record a stage of tilting until the Burdigalian, followed by generalized subsidence which affected also the adjacent regions of the SW Alps. The overall pattern of vertical movements is essentially controlled by the NW-ward migration of a syncline–anticline couple with the synclinal axis presently located in the center of the Savigliano basin. The width of the folds is in the order of 30–60 km (1/2 wavelength). In map view, the trace of the fold axes changes from N–S in the Savigliano basin to E–W in the Alessandria basin.     

新生代渭河盆地沉积-构造迁移与渭北隆起及东秦岭耦合关系探讨

渭河盆地、渭北隆起及东秦岭造山带地处青藏块体东北缘、华北克拉通和扬子克拉通的交界处,形成了特有的盆山体系,分布有油气、氦气及地热等多种能源矿产资源。新生代是渭河盆地沉积-构造演化及渭北隆起和东秦岭隆升的重要时期,缺乏该时期盆山体系耦合关系的研究,制约了对区域矿产资源分布规律的认识。盆山耦合体现在时间、空间、物质、构造作用及地表形态等多方面。以大量钻孔资料为依托,运用“回剥法”分析了渭河盆地新生代的沉降幅度及沉降速率,并根据主沉降期新近纪以来不同阶段沉积地层厚度展布特征恢复了盆地沉积演化历史。研究表明渭河盆地新生代以来沉降中心具有自西南方向西安凹陷向北东方向固市凹陷迁移的特征。古近纪始新世以来,渭河盆地发生快速构造沉降,中新世早-中期以西安凹陷为主要沉积、沉降中心,晚中新世以来以西安、固市两个凹陷为主要沉积、沉降中心,晚上新世-早更新世沉降中心转移到东北部固市凹陷,晚更新世以来,西安凹陷和固市凹陷均发生快速沉降。裂变径迹的分析测试结果表明渭北隆起约45～32 Ma整体快速抬升,同步于东秦岭太白山和华山约57～40 Ma的快速隆升阶段,与渭河盆地古近纪始新世约40 Ma的基底快速沉降具有耦合关系。晚中新世约7.3 Ma以来,渭河盆地的持续快速沉降,与渭北隆起上新世约5 Ma及东秦岭太白山约10～9.6 Ma、华山约8～5 Ma以来的快速耦合关系明显。太平洋板块的俯冲、欧亚板块与印度板块始新世约55～45 Ma碰撞及青藏高原约10～8 Ma隆升外扩的远程效应对研究区影响较大。     

Timing of diagenesis and very low‐grade metamorphism in the eastern sector of the Sierra de Cameros (Iberian Range,Spain): a U–Pb SHRIMP study on monazite

The Sierra de Cameros is an intracontinental orogen and represents the north‐western part of the Iberian Range in Northern Spain. It comprises a thick sequence of syn‐rift continental sediments (mainly sandstones and carbonates) deposited during lower Cretaceous times. A unique characteristic of the Sierra de Cameros in relation to the rest of the Iberian Range is the presence of low‐grade metamorphism in certain parts of the basin, an event that predates basin inversion. This paper describes the presence, textural relationships and geochemical aspects of authigenic and/or metamorphic monazite within different lithologies from the deepest parts of the basin. Sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb dating of monazite records the presence of two age populations: the first with ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 122 to 116 Ma which is considered as diagenetic in origin, whilst the second is dated at 99 ± 2 Ma and postdates the metamorphic climax.     

Facies and basin architecture of the Late Carboniferous Salvan-Dorénaz continental basin (Western Alps, Switzerland/France)

The Salvan‐Dorénaz Basin formed during the Late Palaeozoic within the Aiguilles‐Rouges crystalline basement (Western Alps) as an asymmetric, intramontane graben elongated in a NE–SW direction and bounded by active faults. At least 1700 m of fluvial, alluvial fan and volcanic deposits provide evidence for a strong tectonic influence on deposition with long‐term, average subsidence rates of > 0·2 mm yr^?1. The early basin fill was associated with coarse‐grained alluvial fans that were dominated by braided channels (unit I). These issued from the south‐western margin of the basin. The fans then retreated to a marginal position and were overlain by muddy floodplain deposits of an anastomosed fluvial system (unit II) that drained towards the NE. Deposition of thick muds resulted from a reduction in the axial fluvial gradient caused by accelerated tectonic subsidence. Overlying sand‐rich meandering river deposits (unit III) document a reversal in the drainage direction from the NE to the SW caused by synsedimentary tectonism, reflecting large‐scale topographic reorganization in this part of the Variscides with subsidence now preferentially in the W and SW and uplift in the E and NE. Coarse‐grained alluvial fan deposits (unit IV) repeatedly prograded into, and retreated from, the basin as documented by coarsening‐upward cycles tens of metres thick reflecting smaller scale tectonic cycles. Volcanism was active throughout the evolution of the basin, and U/Pb isotopic dating of the volcanic deposits restricts the time of basin development to the Late Carboniferous (308–295 Ma). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of detrital white mica indicate rapid tectonic movements and exhumation of the nearby basement. In unit I, youngest ages are close to that of the host sediment, but the age spectrum is wide. In unit II, high subsidence and/or sedimentation rates coincide with very narrow age spectra, indicating small, homogeneous catchment areas. In unit III, age spectra became wider again and indicate growing catchment areas.     

40Ar/39Ar Thermochronology west of the Main Uralian fault, southern Urals, Russia

West of the Main Uralian fault, the main suture in the southern Urals, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar apparent ages of amphibole, muscovite and potassium feldspar are interpreted as cooling ages. A fast exhumation of the metamorphic complex of Kurtinsky during Upper Carboniferous time is indicated by the small age difference (15 Ma) between cogenetic amphibole and muscovite. Differentiated movement in the footwall of the Main Uralian fault along strike is indicated by the age difference of 70 Ma between the metamorphic complexes of Kurtinsky (north) and Maksyutov (south). No Upper Paleozoic (Uralian) medium- to high-temperature event is recorded in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data from the metamorphic complex of Beloretzk (MCB). An amphibole age of 718±5 Ma and the occurrence of mafic intrusions might signal the break-up of Rodinia and therefore indicate the rifting period followed by the separate movement of the "Beloretzk terrane". Muscovite ages of approximately 550±5 Ma, the unique pre-Ordovician tectonometamorphic evolution of the MCB and the Late Vendian sedimentary history of the western Bashkirian Megaanticlinorium (BMA) imply the existence of a Neoproterozoic orogeny at the eastern margin of Baltica. This orogeny might have been initiated by the accretion of the "Beloretzk terrane". The metamorphic grade of the overlain Silurian shales and the K/Ar microcline ages from the "Beloretzk terrane" give evidence for a new thermal event at approximately 370 Ma. A microcline age of 530–550 Ma obtained for the Vendian conglomerate in the western BMA suggests that a maximum temperature of approximately 200°C was reached in Cambrian or Vendian times. An orthoclase age (590–630 Ma) of the Vendian Zigan flysch deposits might be inherited from the eastern source area, the Cadomian orogen. An orthoclase age (910–950 Ma) from the Riphean Zilmerdak conglomerate coincides with a documented decrease in the subsidence rate of the Upper Riphean basin.     

Multi‐phase late‐Neogene exhumation history of the Aar massif,Swiss central Alps

The late‐Neogene evolution of the European Alps was influenced by both tectonic and climatically driven erosion processes, which are difficult to disentangle. We use low‐temperature thermochronometry data from surface and borehole samples in the Aar massif–Rhône valley (Swiss central Alps) to constrain the exhumation history of the region. Multiple exhumation events are distinguished and linked to regional‐scale tectonic deformation (before 5 Ma), short‐lived climatically driven orogen contraction (between 4 and 3 Ma), and glacial valley carving since c. 1 Ma. Compared with previous studies, we clearly show the existence of two separate exhumation phases in the Late Miocene–Pliocene and better constrain the onset of glacial valley carving. The hydrothermal activity and geothermal anomalies currently observed in the borehole have been local and short‐lived, with only a minor influence on thermochronometric observations. We thus suggest that late‐stage glacial valley carving may have triggered topography‐driven fluid flow and transient hydrothermal circulation.     

The detrital record of orogenesis: A review of approaches and techniques used in the Himalayan sedimentary basins

The sediment archive, of material eroded from an active tectonic region and stored in adjacent basins, can provide a valuable record of hinterland tectonism especially when information in the source region itself is obscured by later metamorphism or removed by tectonism or erosion. Using the sediment record to document tectonism is a well established approach, but more recently there has been a burgeoning of the number of isotopic techniques which can be applied to detrital material, in particular single-grain analyses. Thus the scope for application of detrital studies to a number of different tectonic problems has widened considerably. In this review, the example of sediments eroded from the Himalayan orogen and preserved in the suture zone basin, foreland basin, remnant ocean basins and deep sea fans is used to illustrate the approach. Techniques as diverse as petrography, heavy mineral, XRF and Sr–Nd studies; single grain dating by Ar–Ar, U–Pb and fission track methodologies; and single grain Sm–Nd and Pb isotopic analyses, are described. The paper documents how the sediment record can be used to determine the thermal and tectonic evolution of the orogen, constrain mechanisms of continental deformation, exhumation rates and palaeodrainage.