NEW DATA ON THE LOESS ROCKS OF CHINA

Loess and similar rocks of China occur in five distinct environments: 1) on the slopes of high and moderately high mountains, 2) in belts of weathered talus and coarse residual deposits in foothills, 3) on floors of intermontane basins, 4) in thick deposits on high plateaus, and 5) on valley terraces. Loess rocks are found in the following types of deposits: primary loess, weathered slump and talus, stream alluvium, and coarse eluvial deposits. Engineering characteristics of the loess differ depending on environment and type of deposit. Specific gravity ranges from 1. 0 to 1. 5, porosity is generally high but decreases at depth, permeability ranges widely, compaction capacity is greater in loesses of lower specific gravity. — M. Russell     

甘肃天水市北山地质灾害类型及成因分析

本文在深入分析天水市北山地质灾害发育现状的基础上,通过野外调查、实验数据和已有成果资料综合分析的方法,系统研究了天水市北山地质灾害的主要类型及成因。通过对研究区地质灾害的形成机制分析和探讨,揭示了该地区地质灾害发育的物质基础、力学性质、自然因素和人为因素,可为进一步治理该区的各类地质灾害提供理论指导,同时对预测研究区未来地质灾害发生、发展具有积极的指导作用和实际意义。研究区突发性地质灾害的类型主要有滑坡、崩塌、不稳定斜坡、地面塌陷和泥石流沟等五种类型,其地质灾害主要分布在北山的阳坡,形成了数条滑坡群沟。滑坡类型以混合式、中层、小型黄土滑坡为主;崩塌类型以人为黄土崩塌为主;不稳定斜坡主要属黄土型,主要位于滑坡或阶地前缘以及人类居住区;地面塌陷主要分布在滑坡体上;泥石流沟灾害,按物质组成属于泥流沟,按流域形态属于山坡型,按流体性质属于稀性,按水动力条件属于暴雨型。     

中国西部MIS12冰期研究

祁连山摆浪河上游和天山乌鲁木齐河源是现代冰川和第四纪冰川活动的地方。我们运用ESR技术对第四纪冰碛进行测年研究,摆浪河上游最老的中梁赣冰碛为462.9ka BP;乌鲁木齐河源最老的上槽谷高望峰冰碛为477.1ka BP和459.7ka BP,从而确认了中国西部山地冰川对全球化深海氧同位素12阶段(MIS₁₂)冰期的响应。      

Thermochronological insights into the structural contact between the Tian Shan and Pamirs,Tajikistan

Multi‐method thermochronology along the Vakhsh‐Surkhob fault zone reveals the thermotectonic history of the South Tian Shan–Pamirs boundary. Apatite U/Pb analyses yield a consistent age of 251 ± 2 Ma, corresponding to cooling below ~550–350°C, related to the final closure of the Palaeo‐Asian Ocean and contemporaneous magmatism in the South Tian Shan. Zircon (U–Th–Sm)/He ages constrain cooling below ~180°C to the end of the Triassic (~200 Ma), likely related either to deformation induced by the Qiangtang collision or to the closure of the Rushan Ocean. Apatite fission track thermochronology reveals two low‐temperature (<120°C) thermal events at ~25 Ma and ~10 Ma, which may be correlated with tectonic activity at the distant southern Eurasian margin. The late Miocene cooling is confirmed by apatite (U–Th–Sm)/He data and marks the onset of mountain building within the South Tian Shan that is ongoing today.     

中国园林叠山的传承与发展——北京奥林匹克森林公园叠山之探讨

我国造园叠石世家“山石韩”已传承百余年,其第四代传承人韩建中创办了北京南山石韩园林绿化工程有限公司并完成了北京奥林匹克森林公园“林泉高致”和“天境”两大主要假山景观工程的设计与施工。本文介绍了这两处假山景观的设计立意和营造技巧,从实例出发体现出我国园林叠山的传承与发展。     

西天山卡特巴阿苏金矿床成矿年代学及其地质意义-来自绢云母~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar同位素年龄证据

新疆卡特巴阿苏金矿床是近年来在西天山地区新发现的一个大型金矿床。该矿床大地构造位置处于塔里木板块和哈萨克斯坦-准噶尔板块结合部位的那拉提构造-岩浆岩带,其金矿体主要赋存于蚀变二长花岗岩内。为了确定金矿化的形成时代,对该矿床主成矿阶段与金矿化密切相关的蚀变绢云母开展了40Ar-39Ar同位素定年测试。绢云母40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为(268.56±1.8)Ma,正等时线年龄为(268.38±2.2)Ma,反等时线年龄为(268.52±2.2 Ma),三者在误差范围内一致,测试结果可信,可代表卡特巴阿苏金矿化的形成年龄,这也是首次对该矿床成矿年龄的精确限定。对比中亚造山带典型金矿床,卡特巴阿苏金矿床是西天山二叠纪后碰撞构造环境下岩浆流体活动的产物,矿床成因属与中温岩浆热液有关的构造蚀变岩型矿床。     

A growing sandstone type uranium district in South Yili Basin,NW China as a result of extension of Tien Shan Orogen: Evidences from geochronology and hydrology

The Mesozoic Yili Basin of NW China represents the largest known concentration of U deposits in China and contains five major deposits, namely (from west to east) the 512 (Kujie’ertai), 513, 511, 510 (Mengqiguer), and 509 deposits. Pre-mining resources within the explored sandstone-type uranium deposits in this area are reportedly as much as 20,000 t contained U. The mineralization is hosted by the Middle–Lower Jurassic Shuixigou Group, which (from base to top) is divided into the Badaowan, Sangonghe, and Xishanyao formations. The U-Pb isotopic analysis of ores from the Kujie’ertai and Mengqiguer deposits indicate that they contain high and variable amounts of initial (common) Pb, meaning that the only possible way to date these deposits is by using U-Pb isochrons. Two major stages of uranium mineralization have been identified by the U-Pb isotope dating of uranium ores in this region. The Kujie’ertai deposit apparently formed between 23.4 ± 3.3 and 20.18 ± 0.49 Ma, corresponding to a period of crustal thickening and uplift within the Tien Shan Orogen. This event (35–21 Ma) accommodated the majority of the strain generated by the northward collision of the Indian Plate with the Asian Plate. However, the dating of samples from the Mengqiguer deposit yielded much younger ages (between 0.61 ± 0.24 and 0.347 ± 0.0048 Ma). The western Tien Shan mountains expanded until the Pliocene as a result of the far-field influence of continuous penetration of the Indian Plate into the Asian Plate. This activated reverse faults and folds in the piedmont of the Tien Shan mountains and caused the continuous uplift of the southern flank of the Yili Basin. The uplift caused the erosion of anticline hinge zones, introducing significant amounts of oxidizing water into the Shuixigou Group, generating a second stage of uranium mineralization. Hydrological sampling also suggests that the Mengqiguer deposit continues to grow, indicating a possible third stage of uranium mineralization (∼0 Ma). This also indicates that the U within these deposits is derived not only from U-bearing sediments but from the Tien Shan mountains as a result of groundwater cycling. The evolution of the U contents of groundwater that was initially derived from cold springs that flow into the mineralized units indicates that these cold springs have an essential role in mobilizing U from the Tien Shan mountains, with rivers flowing through areas of outcropping mineralized units acting as a source of mineralizing fluids during the formation of the Mengqiguer deposit.     

北江天然径流量的变化特征及其影响因素

分析了最近45年来北江天然径流量的变化特征，并对其影响因素进行了分析，结果表明：北江天然年径流量具有阶段性特征，1984年后，发生明显变化，持续丰水和持续枯水时段开始变长，年际变化存在21年和11年的周期；锋面低槽形成大暴雨是北江主汛期径流量迅速增加的主要原因；大罗山、石坑崆是北江的两级迎水坡，其形成的多雨中心圈是北江径流量补充的主要来源；厄尔尼诺现象出现的次年北江年径流量普遍增大，拉尼娜现象出现的当年北江径流量普遍增大；太阳黑子的急剧变化，改变了地球的热力系统，对大气环流产生影响，这是太阳黑子影响流域径流量的一个主要原因。     

Multistage Enrichment of the Sawafuqi Uranium Deposit: New Insights into Sandstone-hosted Uranium Deposits in the Intramontane Basins of Tian Shan, China

Meso-Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic processes in the Tian Shan orogenic belt have significant effect on the sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the intramontane basins and those adjacent to the orogen. The Sawafuqi uranium deposit, which is located in the South Tian Shan orogenic belt, is investigated to reveal the relationships between uranium mineralization and orogenies. Recent exploration results show that the Sawafuqi uranium deposit has tabular, stratiform, quasi-stratiform, and lens-like orebodies and various geological characteristics different from typical interlayer oxidation zone sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. Systematic studies of ore samples from the Sawafuqi uranium deposit using a variety of techniques, including thin section observation, α-track radiograph, electron microprobe and scanning electron microscope, suggest that uranium mineralization is closely related to pyrite and organic matter. Mineralization-related alterations in the host rocks are mainly silicification and argillation including kaolinite, illite(and illite-smectite mixed layer) and chlorite. Tree stages of mineralization were identified in the Sawafuqi uranium deposit:(i) uranium-bearing detritus and synsedimentary initial pre-enrichment;(ii) interlayer oxidization zone uranium mineralization; and(iii) vein-type uranium mineralization. The synsedimentary uranium pre-enrichment represents an early uranium enrichment in the Sawafuqi uranium deposit, and interlayer oxidation zone uranium mineralization formed the main orebodies, which are superimposed by the vein-type uranium mineralization. Combining the results of this study with previous studies on the Meso-Cenozoic orogenies of South Tian Shan, it is proposed that the synsedimentary uranium pre-enrichment of the Sawafuqi uranium deposit was caused by Triassic Tian Shan uplift, and the interlayer oxidation zone uranium mineralization occurred during the Eocence-Oligocene period, when tectonism was relatively quiet, whereas the vein-type uranium mineralization took place in relation to the strong orogeny of South Tian Shan since Miocene.     

Spatial distribution characteristics of soil moisture in different types of sand dune in the Mu Us Sandy Land,adjacent to north of Chinese Loess Plateau

The distribution of soil moisture in arid and semiarid regions is a major environmental factor and is regulated by regional topography, vegetation and soil texture. Here, we present the results of a study of the spatial distribution characteristics of soil moisture in the Mu Us Sandy Land, which is the transitional area between the northwestern deserts and the Chinese Loess Plateau, in North China. Samples were taken from holes drilled to a depth of 4 m in 52 different microtopographic positions on different types of dune (bare dunes, shrub-covered dunes and tree-covered dunes). The sites were located in the northwestern margin, the central region and the southeastern margin. All samples were analyzed for moisture content and grain size distribution. The results show that: (1) for the same type of dune, the soil moisture content varies in different microtopographic positions. The soil moisture content on windward slopes is greater than on leeward slopes in the shrub-covered dunes and the tree-covered dunes, while this is the case in only some of the bare migratory sand dunes. In addition, the soil moisture content on leeward slopes is greater than on the corresponding windward slope. (2) The vegetation type and density have a large influence on the moisture content of sandy soils; specifically, the presence of shrubs and trees significantly affects the soil moisture content of windward and leeward slopes and the inter-dune lowland. (3) Soil moisture content is positively correlated with the clay and silt content of sandy soils. From northwest to southeast across the Mu Us Sandy Land, the silt and clay content increases gradually; however, in the case of dunes covered with planted trees, a peak in the content of fine-grained material occurs in the central region, while for shrub-covered sand dunes, the peak occurs in the southeastern margin. In addition, the correlation between soil moisture and soil grain size distribution of the three types of dunes varies from northwest to southeast. (4) The proportion of fine-grained material and the correlation between the content of fine-grained material and soil moisture are the two main factors influencing the soil moisture distribution of the different types of dune. A soil moisture concentration index can be used as a rough indicator of the distribution characteristics of soil moisture.     

Cryoplanation terraces: Indicators of a permafrost environment

Cryoplanation terraces are bedrock steps or terraces on ridge crests and hilltops. The tread or “flat” area is 10 to several hundred meters wide and long and slopes from 1 to 5° parallel to the ridge crests. Terrace scarps may be from 1 to 75 m high. Terraces are cut into all bedrock types and are best developed on closely jointed, fine-grained bedrock. The scarps and treads are covered with frost-rived rubble 1 to 2 m thick. The rubble on treads is perennially frozen at a depth of 1 to 2 m or less on sharp but inactive terraces in Alaska.Cryoplanation terraces exist in many parts of the world in present or past periglacial environments. They occur chiefly in nonglaciated regions and near the general altitude of snowline. Cryoplanation terraces form by scarp retreat as the result of nivation. Surficial debris is removed across the terrace tread by mass-wasting. Terrace morphology depends mainly upon climate, bedrock type, and terrace orientation.No climatic data are available from active terraces. Indirect evidence indicates that climatic requirements include low snowfall and cold summer temperatures. Shallow permafrost is necessary to provide moisture and a base for mass movement as well as a base for nivation.Hundreds of sharp but inactive terraces occur in some areas in Alaska where the summer temperature is colder than 10°C. When these terraces were active, temperatures were colder. Recent work in Alaska indicates that terraces were active in some areas when the mean July temperature was about 4°C. The mean annual air temperature probably was in the neighborhood of ′12°C or colder.     

中国早白垩世翼龙动物群及其多样性对比

中国西北和东北地区发育中生代河湖相沉积的陆相盆地,其中赋存丰富的脊椎动物化石群,包括天山北部准噶尔盆地的乌尔禾翼龙动物群、天山南部吐哈盆地的哈密翼龙动物群和辽西热河生物群富含翼龙化石。乌尔禾和哈密翼龙动物群都发现于下白垩统吐谷鲁群中,两者的繁盛时间大致相当,这两个动物群的翼龙个体数量巨大,但是物种多样性很低。乌尔禾翼龙动物群的化石多保存在半深湖环境沉积的细砂岩和粉砂岩中,化石保存较为完整,主要为正常死亡;哈密翼龙动物群的化石富集保存在滨浅湖环境事件沉积的风暴岩中,大都经过了大型风暴的短距离搬运和快速埋藏,骨架分散,但几乎所有单个骨骼完整。东北地区的热河生物群翼龙种类众多,共生包括鱼类、两栖类、恐龙等其他爬行类、鸟类和哺乳类等脊椎动物,生物多样性极为丰富,大多保存在半深湖-深湖环境形成的页岩中,骨架多为完整保存,是火山爆发事件导致其集群死亡,并被火山灰快速埋藏,与新疆的动物群面貌明显不同。根据天山南北的翼龙动物群初步对比,乌尔禾翼龙动物群的主要优势类群准噶尔翼龙类,在天山北部的准噶尔盆地及相邻的蒙古西部地区都有分布,与天山南部的哈密翼龙动物群中已知唯一翼龙类群哈密翼龙完全不同,两者亲缘关系很远。因此认为在中生代,天山的隆升就已经达到了一定的高度,并对翼龙的南北迁徙交流形成了有效的地理阻隔。依据中国东北和西北地区早白垩世翼龙动物群对比,认为辽西及相邻周边地区由于华北克拉通破坏,导致大量火山活动,造成了生态环境的多样性和生物种类的快速更替,从而形成了热河生物群独有的极高的生物多样性,而缺少火山活动、环境相对单一的西北陆相盆地,虽然翼龙类具有数以千万计的庞大居群,但是物种多样性很低。华北克拉通破坏导致的辽西地区频繁而强烈的火山活动,是形成中国西北和东北早白垩世生物多样性差异的重要原因。     

Paleoclimatic field studies in and along the Qinling Shan (Central China)

Recent investigations in and along the mountains south of the Loess Plateau (Central China) give no evidence of Pleistocene glaciations below 2800 m asl. Reliable Late-Pleistocene glacial landforms and till only occur in the Qinling Shan (3767 m). The paleosnowline in altitudes of 3250–3300 m was more than 1000 m lower than at present. A Late-Pleistocene periglacial region has been descended to about 2300 m asl, resulting an increase of the sediment yield of the rivers and intensified sediment aggradation in the valleys in and along the Qinling Shan. The Late-Pleistocene descend of the coniferous forest was comparable to the snowline depression. A spruce-fir forest dominated along the northern flank of the mountain range during the time 30-20 ka BP. Towards the end of the Pleistocene glacial periods respectively at the beginning of the following interglacial phase, dissection of alluvial deposits and terracing began in the mountain valleys and in the northern foreland. The replacement of forest vegetation by a more steppe-like vegetation as well as the loess accumulation along the northern Qinling Shan indicates increasing aridity as the climate warmed at the end of the last glacial period and during the Early Holocene. The widespread occurrence of Mid-Holocene paleosols within the loess proves a more moist and warm interval, which is followed by a drier and cooler Late Holocene period.     

库车坳陷北缘早白垩世源区特征:来自盆地碎屑锆石

通过对下白垩统亚格列木组79颗碎屑锆石的LA—ICP—MS U—Pb微区定年分析,结果表明该时期库车坳陷的物源年龄构成复杂,主要集中在427~389 Ma,379~339 Ma、321~283 Ma,266~239 Ma,162~150 Ma五组及前寒武纪基底年龄。结合对潜在的物源区天山造山带岩石属性、年龄构成调研以及以往盆地碎屑组分、重矿物研究成果,作者认为早白垩世时期库车坳陷北缘物源受南天山皱褶带和伊犁—中天山弧造山带源区共同控制,即南天山、塔里木北缘的南天山花岗岩—碱性岩带,伊犁—中天山(包括中天山南缘断裂的古生代花岗岩—火山岩带)均为潜在的物源。并且,前寒武纪基底年龄的发现反映源区剥露程度较深,天山造山带可能存在元古代—太古代结晶基底,但对此类锆石的成因机理尚需进一步研究。另外,碎屑锆石年龄162~150 Ma暗示了天山地区可能存在晚侏罗世岩浆活动,但有待进一步的证实。     

新疆高山与盆地地貌分带的一些资料

下面发表的这篇手稿,可能是80年代袁老在整理其参加西北科学考察团阶段的笔记而写出的。可以看出,早在1927—1932年他就在地质考察中进行综合性的观察和纪录,他对天山—准噶尔盆地之间地貌分带的描述生动如画——“天山雪云常不开”“万里栏杆千丈冰”,锵锵有声——“隆隆震耳类似滚雷”,使你对皑皑白雪分布的山顶带和霜劈、冻土现象为主的崩塌带有如身临其境的感觉。往下是两级高山夷平面所构成的高、低草原带,它们之间以悬崖陡坎带相连,从生物和人类在这三带的活动来反映这三带的地形、植被和气候。再往下黄土开始出现;山前阶地十分发育;乌鲁木齐市所在的山前夷平面和由不同外力作用所形成的各成因类型沉积物堆积带……,它们表面的地貌特征、沉积特点以及生物状态,甚至看到风力剥蚀带所裸露的动植物化石、琳琅满目的风蚀石……。这些生动的描绘和深刻的分析,显示出袁老师的敏锐观察和丰富联想,是一篇宝贵的科学资料。     

青藏高原东部牙着库河流阶地研究

构造运动和气候变化是制约内陆地区河流阶地发育的两个关键因素,而不同地区的河流对它们的响应方式多种多样.研究区海子山位于青藏高原东部的沙鲁里山中段,在第四纪期间经历了大幅度构造抬升及第四纪冰川作用.海子山北缘牙着库河谷保留着6级河流阶地,南缘稻城河谷完好地保留着第四纪冰川作用遗迹.本研究运用电子自旋共振技术对牙着库4级高阶地(第3～第6级)的砾石层及稻城河谷的第四纪冰川沉积物进行了测年,并对这4级阶地的形成过程进行了分析.结果表明,牙着库3～6级阶地基座及相应的砾石层均形成于冰消期,分别与深海氧同位素2、6、12、16阶段晚期相对应.待气候进一步变暖而逐渐进入间冰期,海子山冰川消融殆尽,下伏地壳负荷锐减,构造抬升效应的释放结合冰川均衡抬升使得牙着库河谷梯度增大,而同期的河流沉积物通量较小,结果导致流水切割前期加积的沉积物及其下伏基座形成一级新的河流阶地.牙着库河谷自深海氧同位素16阶段后期以来的平均下切速率为0.43 mm/a左右,小于海子山的平均抬升速率2 mm/a,与"河谷下切速率不大于山地抬升速率"一致.     

An outline of physical geography including Pleistocene glacial landforms of Eastern Tibet (provinces Sichuan and Qinghai)

The relief of the expedition area in NW-Sichuan and SE-Qinghai can simply be separated into two main areas: the catchment area of the Yangtze with deeply incised rivers in narrow V-shaped valleys up to about 3,000 m and the plateau area with old peneplains in the Huang He catchment with meandering rivers up to more than 4,000 m. Precipitation and temperature decrease towards the NW. All zonal boundaries, eg the vegetation boundaries or the snowline, are ascending in elevation towards the interior of the plateau. The natural vegetation, especially the forests, are modified by anthropo-zoogenic influences. Within the zone of alpine meadows and the uppermost region of natural forest as well as in the Red Basin evidence of pasture and agriculture goes back by at least 2,000 years. During the last 20 years within the transition zone of the deeply incised valleys towards the plateau one third of the forests have been cut down.The main investigation area of Nianbaoyeze is built up by a granite-dome being about 500 to 800 m higher than the surrounding peneplains. The extent of Pleistocene glaciations can be mapped by the distribution of terminal and lateral moraines and erratic granite boulders on the slopes of the surrounding schists. The altitude of terminal moraines indicates a snowline of the last glaciation at about 4,300 m, which is about 800 m below the present snowline. Three main Pleistocene glaciations can be separated due to palaeosols, the overlying stratum being either aeolian sandy silt or solifluction debris. The ice free areas shows several Pleistocene terraces and in addition loess deposits with palaeosols in the deeper basins. In summary there is a rising of the snowline of the last glaciation at the E margin of the Tibetan Plateau from about 4,000 m in the E (Minshan) to 4,300 m at Nianbaoyeze and to about 4,700 m in the W (Bayan Har Shan). The hypothesis of an extensive plateau glaciation could not be verified for this region.     

Spatiotemporal variations in rainfall–topographic relationships in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Spatial variations in the relationship between topography and mean annual and seasonal rainfalls in southwestern Saudi Arabia are examined using Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance. The topographic factors include physiographic features (topography), altitude, slope, proximity to a ridge or crest of mountains, and proximity to the Red Sea. There is a statistically significant effect of topographic factors on the mean annual rainfall, but the results are more significant for the mean seasonal rainfall. The largest amount of mean rainfall in the study area occurs during spring, when rainfall displays a significant relationship with topographic factors, in which more orographic rainfall patterns are associated with higher altitude, greater proximity to a ridge and steeper slopes. Higher altitudes do not necessarily receive more rain; some low altitude locations (i.e., the southern part of the study area) receive more rain during summer and fall because they are located on the windward side of the Asir Mountains and are exposed to the moist air masses brought by the southwest monsoonal system in summer and by the northwest air flow from the Mediterranean and Red Sea in the fall in addition to local convective rainfall patterns. Rainfall in winter increases in the foothills of the Asir Mountains above the coastal plain of the Red Sea. The steep western slopes (windward side) receive more rainfall than the gentle eastern slopes (leeward side): this may be due to the Asir Mountains forcing moist air masses carried by the westerly and northwest winds to rise and cool before they descend and warm on the leeward side.     

中-哈-吉-乌天山变形带容矿金矿床:成矿环境和控矿要素与找矿标志

天山是全球第二大金矿富集区,世界级和大型-超大型金矿床东西成带横贯中国新疆中部—哈萨克斯坦东南部—吉尔吉斯斯坦—乌兹别克斯坦,构成巨型跨境金成矿带。天山巨型跨境金成矿带和重要金矿床形成的地质环境、成矿的控制要素、找矿勘查的标志都是学术界和工业界高度关注的重大地质和找矿问题。通过广泛、深入地文献调研和境内外天山较全面野外地质矿产调查与研究,本文认为中-哈-吉-乌天山大规模金成矿主体形成于晚石炭世—早二叠世古亚洲洋闭合后的陆块拼贴变形过程,部分形成于中—晚二叠世陆内走滑变形过程。中天山南、北缘古缝合带及其附近的大型脆性/韧-脆性变形带是巨量金成矿的关键控制因素,多期叠加复合成矿是天山变形带容矿金矿床的显著特征。地壳初始富集、构造变形活化、岩浆热液叠加是天山变形带容矿金矿床的主控因素。“碳质细碎屑岩+脆韧性变形带+海西末期岩体”是中-哈-吉-乌天山变形带容矿大型-超大型金矿的找矿标志组合。     

U–Pb age of detrital zircons from the Tekes River,Xinjiang, China,and implications for tectonomagmatic evolution of the South Tian Shan Orogen

The South Tian Shan, which is located along the southwestern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, is widely accepted as a collisional orogen between the Kazakhstan-Yili Block in the north and the Tarim Craton in the south, and the collision is thought to have occurred in either Late Paleozoic or Triassic. Regardless of the timing of the collision, the major magmatic events in the South Tian Shan Orogen should be related to subduction, collision and post-collision. We investigate this problem through U–Pb age of detrital zircons from the eastward-flowing Tekes River and its southern branches flowing through the northern slope of the Chinese South Tian Shan. A total of 500 analyses on 494 zircon grains from five sand samples yield an age range of 2590 to 268 Ma, but they are dominated by Paleozoic magmatic zircon grains, with some Precambrian population, but no Mesozoic and Cenozoic grains were detected. One of the samples from the Tekes River contains zircon grains from the Chinese South Tian Shan and other areas because the river receives its discharge from multiple sources. The other four samples were collected from four branches originating from the Chinese South Tian Shan only. From west to east, the sample from the Kayintemuzhate River shows two peak ages of 475 and 345 Ma, sample from the Muzhaerte (also called Xiate) River has peak ages of 422 and 290 Ma, sample from the Akeyazi River is characterized by a single peak age of 421 Ma, and sample from the Kekesu River shows a more complicated spectra with peak ages of 426, 398, 362, 327, and 285 Ma. When pooled together, the four samples yield four distinct age populations of 500–460, 450–390, 360–320, and 300–270 Ma, indicating the major magmatic events in the Chinese South Tian Shan. These results, combined with regional data, show an absence of Mesozoic magmatic events in the drainage areas of the Tekes River, and thus the South Tian Shan does not seem to be a Triassic orogen because of the lack of syn-collisional and post-collisional magmatism. The 300–270 magmatic event is thought to post-date the closure of the South Tian Shan Ocean, while the 360–320 and 450–390 Ma events were closely related to the northward subduction of the South Tian Shan Ocean. Our results strongly suggest a Late Carboniferous (320–300 Ma) collision between the Kazakhstan-Yili Block and the Tarim Craton. Possibly, the 500–460 Ma magmatism was related to subduction and closure of the Early Paleozoic Terskey Ocean.