Mafic Archean continental crust prohibited exhumation of orogenic UHP eclogite

The absence of ultrahigh pressure (UHP) orogenic eclogite in the geological record older than c. 0.6 Ga is problematic for evidence of subduction having begun o...     

The role of fluids in the formation and subsequent development of early continental crust

A petrogenetic model is developed to explain the evolution and geochemical character of granitic rocks in early Archean (pre 3.6 Gyr) continental crust taking into account the following important geological constraints, viz.:

1. High geothermal gradients (probably in excess of 90 ° C/km) and resulting widespread granulite facies metamorphism even at relatively shallow depths
2. The fractionation of certain major and trace elements under granulite facies conditions
3. The composition and geochemical behaviour of fluids which emanate from or pass through terrains undergoing granulite facies metamorphism viz. carbonic fluids containing significant amounts of SO₂ and halogens.

In this model tonalitic and trondhjemitic intrusives are regarded as being derived dominantly by partial melting of mafic granulite. The ubiquitous potassic granites, which typical post-date sodic plutonic activity are interpreted to be anatectic melts generated under granulite or amphibolite facies conditions from the previously formed ‘plagiogranites’. The presence of a postulated granulite facies source area for Archean tonalitic rocks, and the geochemical character of fluids which accompany metamorphism under such conditions explains the HREE geochemistry of these suites and casts doubt on the validity of applying currently used trace element fractional melting or crystallization models to these terrains. Similarly it suggests that petrogenetic interpretations based on Sr and Pb isotopic systems must be reevaluated because of the extreme mobility of both parent and daughter elements under granulite facies conditions.     

大陆边缘弧岩浆成因与大陆地壳形成

大陆地壳如何形成是国际学术界长期关注并正在持续攻关的一个重大基础科学问题。活动陆缘弧的岩浆成因和密度分选过程是理解大陆地壳形成机制和演化过程的关键。北美白垩纪Cordilleran大陆边缘弧的形成可能经历了与底侵幔源岩浆有关的下地壳部分熔融和岩浆混合,或幔源初始玄武质岩浆的两阶段成分分异过程,以花岗质成分为主的北美内华达地区垂向地壳成分剖面结构可能与榴辉岩相残留体或堆晶岩的拆沉作用密切相关。目前并不清楚亚洲大陆南部以约200 Ma和约90 Ma两个时间断面为代表的中生代冈底斯弧,为何出现大量角闪石岩并具有玄武安山质的平均成分。探究中生代冈底斯弧的岩浆成因、地壳垂向成分结构和地壳形成机制可能有助于或多或少地解决这一问题。     

帕米尔地区现今大陆深俯冲——地震构造和动力学解释

在 NEIC(UsGS)1975～1999年地震记录的基础上,补充中国新疆地震台网1975年以来的16,339个部分重新定位的有效地震记录,根据该地区地震活动时空分布规律、地壳速度结构和地表变形构造等最新研究成果,对兴都库什-帕米尔-中国西部地震活动的三维几何学及其构造联系作出了新的解释,强调沿恰曼断层的左行走滑作用对帕米尔和兴都库什地震带的制约。沿帕米尔地震带正在发生大陆深俯冲作用,是恰曼断层左行牵引的结果,深俯冲岩板为上宽下窄向恰曼断层收敛的楔形体,俯冲角度上缓(20～30°)下陡(60～70°),转变深度在80～120公里,部分下地壳物质被深俯冲作用带到200公里以下的深度。帕米尔深俯冲带上盘岩石中的多期反冲构造组合和后退俯冲作用历史,解释了该地区地壳缩短加厚和深部岩石折返的机制。与深俯冲作用相关的双地震剪切带和3个地震群的构造联系,提供了大陆深俯冲作用的动力学信息。     

Formation and evolution of the Archean continental crust of China: A review

The mainland of China is composed of the North China Craton, the South China Craton, the Tarim Craton and other young orogenic belts. Amongst the three cratons, the North China Craton has been studied most and noted for its widely-distributed Archean basement rocks. In this paper, we assess and compare the geology, rock types, formation age and geochemical composition features of the Archean basements of the three cratons. They have some common characteristics, including the fact that the crustal rocks prior to the Paleoarchean and the supracrustal rocks of the Neoarchean were preserved, and Tonalite-Trondhjemtite-Granodiorite (TTG) magmatism and tectono-magmatism occurred at about 2.7 Ga and about 2.5 Ga respectively. The Tarim Craton and the North China Craton show more similarities in their early Precambrian crustal evolution. Significant findings on the Archean basement of the North China Craton are concluded to be: (1) the tectonic regime in the early stage (>3.1 Ga) is distinct from modern plate tectonics; (2) the continental crust accretion occurred mostly from the late Mesoarchean to the early Neoarchean period; (3) a huge linear tectonic belt already existed in the late Neoarchean period, suggesting the beginning of plate tectonics; and (4) the preliminary cratonization had already been completed by about 2.5 Ga. Hadean detrital zircons were found at a total of nine locations within China. Most of them show clear oscillatory zoning, sharing similar textures with magmatic zircons from intermediate-felsic magmatic rocks. This indicates that a fair quantity of continental material had already developed on Earth at that time.     

华北克拉通南部太古宙大陆地壳的生长和演化

太古宙约占地球已有演化历史的三分之一强,这一时期涉及到大陆地壳起源、陆壳的巨量生长和稳定以及板块构造作用的启动、建立等诸多最根本的全球性重大地质事件。太古宙岩石在华北克拉通南部的涑水、登封、太华、霍邱和五河等杂岩中广泛出露,这为解析上述重大科学问题提供难得的素材。近十年来,在华北克拉通南部古生代-中生代火山岩或早前寒武纪变沉积岩中陆续发现冥古宙-古太古代的捕获/碎屑锆石,暗示南部地块依然尚存地球形成最初期的陆壳物质。根据华北克拉通南部太古宙岩石年龄统计结果显示有2850~2700Ma和2580~2480Ma两个突出年龄区间,对应的峰值年龄分别为~2.76Ga和~2.52Ga。其中~2.76Ga的岩石主要出露于南部的鲁山、霍邱、五河和中条山地区。此外,在华北克拉通诸多地区,诸如怀安、阜平、五台、中条等地区的花岗质片麻岩和变质沉积岩中也均发现年龄为~2.76Ga的碎屑锆石或者继承锆石,暗示华北克拉通2.85~2.70Ga岩石的分布似乎比现今出露范围更为广泛。与整个华北克拉通类似,2.58~2.48Ga岩石亦在克拉通南部广泛分布,尤其是嵩箕地区的登封杂岩几乎全部是由新太古代晚期的岩石组成。~2.52Ga是华北克拉通南部,乃至整个克拉通太古宙地壳演化最突出、最重要的岩浆-构造事件,明显有别于全球其它诸多典型克拉通。已有的同位素资料研究表明华北克拉通南部,乃至整个克拉通在太古宙经历了两期明显的地壳生长事件：一期发生在2.85~2.70Ga左右,以形成于此时期的涑水杂岩中花岗质岩石和鲁山太华片麻岩系中深成侵入岩和斜长角闪岩为代表;另一期发生在2.58~2.48Ga,以登封杂岩、涑水杂岩以及小秦岭地区太华杂岩中~2.52Ga各类花岗质岩石和变基性岩为代表。华北克拉通正是经过这两期陆壳巨量生长事件之后完成初始的克拉通化。我们在登封杂岩中识别出形成于俯冲汇聚环境的TTG质片麻岩、类似于赞岐岩的变闪长岩和具有N-MORB地球化学特征的变基性火山岩,提出其构成"新太古代构造混杂岩",标志着新太古代末期具有现代体制的板块构造在华北克拉通南部已经开始启动。最近,在登封杂岩中识别出的新太古代双变质带也支持上述观点。     

The generation and evolution of the Archean continental crust: The granitoid story in southeastern Brazil

The Archean Eon was a time of geodynamic changes. Direct evidence of these transitions come from igneous/metaigneous rocks, which dominate cratonic segments worldwide. New data for granitoids from an Archean basement inlier related to the Southern São Francisco Craton (SSFC), are integrated with geochronological, isotopic and geochemical data on Archean granitoids from the SSFC. The rocks are divided into three main geochemical groups with different ages: (1) TTG (3.02–2.77 Ga); (2) medium- to high-K granitoids (2.85–2.72 Ga); and (3) A-type granites (2.7–2.6 Ga). The juvenile to chondritic (Hf-Nd isotopes) TTG were divided into two sub-groups, TTG 1 (low-HREE) and 2 (high-HREE), derived from partial melting of metamafic rocks similar to those from adjacent greenstone belts. The compositional diversity within the TTG is attributed to different pressures during partial melting, supported by a positive correlation of Dy/Yb and Sr/Zr, and batch melting calculations. The proposed TTG sources are geochemically similar to basaltic rocks from modern island-arcs, indicating the presence of subduction processes concomitant with TTG emplacement. From ～2.85 Ga to 2.70 Ga, the dominant rocks were K-rich granitoids. These are modeled as crustal melts of TTG, during regional metamorphism indicative of crustal thickening. Their compositional diversity is linked to: (i) differences in source composition; (ii) distinct melt fractions during partial melting; and (iii) different residual mineralogies reflecting varying P–T conditions. Post-collisional (～2.7–2.6 Ga) A-type granites reflect rifting in that they were closely followed by extension-related dyke swarms, and they are interpreted as differentiation or partial melting products of magmas derived from subduction-modified mantle. The sequence of granitoid emplacement indicates subduction-related magmatism was followed by crustal thickening, regional metamorphism and crustal melting, and post-collisional extension, similar to that seen in younger Wilson Cycles. It is compelling evidence that plate tectonics was active in this segment of Brazil from ～3 Ga.     

冀西北晚太古代岩石单元的地质关系: 对早期陆壳形成的指示

冀西北地区出露晚太古代桑干杂岩和崇礼杂岩构成的灰色片麻岩(TTG片麻岩)-麻粒岩地体和红旗营子群角闪岩相变质火山沉积岩系.本文对尚义地区红旗营子群中变质火山岩中的变玄武安山岩(角闪斜长片麻岩)进行了锆石LAMC-ICPMS定年,获得207 Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄2528±12Ma(2σ,MSWD=0.1,n=34),这一年龄代表了该岩石的形成时代.虽然这一年龄非常接近灰色片麻岩的形成时代,野外地质关系指示红旗营子群的形成早于灰色片麻岩及其中的闪长质侵入体.在灰色片麻岩分布区,红旗营子群和一些变质辉长质岩石呈岩片、透镜体或者“岩墙”状分布.变质辉长质透镜体或者“岩墙”状岩片以周边发育串珠状小透镜体,以及不见细粒边部和岩墙“手指”可以与该区分布的早元古代变质基性岩墙相区别.这些变辉长质岩石可能是红旗营子群火山岩系根部或者岩浆房的残留体,也可能部分是更早期地壳的残片.红旗营子群火山岩系的岩石化学特征可以和灰色片麻岩及闪长质片麻岩岩体分别进行对比.地(桑干杂岩和崇礼杂岩)组成了该地区晚太古代大陆二维地壳结构.认识这种地壳结构在空间上的延续性,并识别相关地质单元在时代和物质上的演化关系,可以揭示华北克拉通晚太古代大陆地壳的形成机制.     

Mechanisms of Archean crust formation inferred from high-precision HFSE systematics in TTGs

It has been proposed that Archean tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic magmas (TTGs) formed by melting of mafic crust at high pressures. The residual mineralogy of the TTGs (either (garnet)-amphibolite or rutile-bearing eclogite) is believed to control the trace element budget of TTGs. In particular, ratios of high-field-strength elements (HFSE) can help to discriminate between the different residual lithologies. In order to place constraints on the source mineralogy of TTGs, we performed high-precision HFSE measurements by isotope dilution (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) together with Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd measurements on representative, ca. 3.85-2.8 Ga TTGs and related rock types from southern West Greenland, W-India and from the Superior Province. These measurements are complemented by major and trace element data for the TTGs. Texturally homogeneous early Archean (3.85-3.60 Ga old) and Mesoarchean (ca. 3.1-2.8 Ga old) TTGs have both low Ni (<11 ppm) and Cr contents (<20 ppm), indicating that there was little or no interaction with mantle peridotite during ascent. Ratios of Nb/Ta in juvenile Eoarchean TTGs range from ca. 7 to ca. 24, and in juvenile Mesoarchean TTGs from ca. 14 to ca. 27. Even higher Nb/Ta (14-42) were obtained for migmatitic TTGs and intra-crustal differentiates, most likely mirroring further fractionation of Nb from Ta as a consequence of partial melting, fluid infiltration and migmatisation. In the juvenile TTGs, positive correlations between Nb/Ta and Gd/Yb, La/Yb, Sr/Y, Zr/Sm and Zr/Nb are observed. These compositional arrays are best explained by melting of typical Isua tholeiites in both, the rutile-bearing eclogite stability field (>15 kbar, high Nb/Ta) and the garnet-amphibolite stability field (10-15 kbar, low Nb/Ta). With respect to the low end of Nb/Ta found for TTGs, there is currently some uncertainty between the available experimental datasets for amphibole. Independent of these uncertainties, the TTG compositions found here still require the presence of both endmember residues. A successful geological model for the TTGs therefore has to account for the co-occurrence of both low- and high-Nb/Ta TTGs within the same geologic terrane. An additional feature observed in the Eoarchean samples from Greenland is a systematic co-variation between Nb/Ta and initial εHf(t), which is best explained by a model where TTG-melting occured at progressively increasing pressures in a pile of tectonically thickened mafic crust. The elevated Nb/Ta in migmatitic TTGs and intra-crustal differentiates can shed further light on the role of intra-crustal differentiation processes in the global Nb/Ta cycle. Lower crustal melting processes at granulite facies conditions may generate high-Nb/Ta domains in the middle crust, whereas mid-crustal melting at amphibolite facies conditions may account for the low Nb/Ta generally observed in upper crustal rocks.     

Mechanisms of continental crust formation in the Central Asian Foldbelt

Geological and isotopic study of rocks occurring in the Early and Late Baikalian, Caledonian, Hercynian, and Indosinian fold regions of Central Asia is carried out. The juvenile crust formation occurred in these fold regions have determined the systematic differences in isotopic compositions of the crust. In the course of the subsequent (postaccretion) evolution, the crust of these domains underwent multiple reworking. These processes were accompanied by variations in the Nd isotopic compositions of the crust, which, in turn, are recorded in the isotopic compositions of granites and felsic volcanics as products of crust melting. Three types of crust differing in Nd isotopic composition and structure and, as a consequence, in formation mechanisms, are distinguished. The isotopically homogeneous crust is a source of igneous rocks with constant model Nd isotopic age (T_Nd(DM2st)) irrespective of the age of the crustal igneous rocks. These are the isotopic provinces, the crust of which remained isolated from addition of alien materials during postaccretion evolution. The axial zone of the Hercynides in the Central Asian Foldbelt is an example. The isotopically heterogeneous layered crust consists of fragments differing in isotopic composition. The products of its melting are characterized by widely scattered ɛ_Nd(T) and (T_Nd(DM2st). The appearance of alien sources of melt is considered in terms of underplating. This mechanism develops either due to subduction of the juvenile oceanic lithosphere beneath the mature continental lithosphere at convergent boundaries or as a result of plume-lithosphere interaction. The first mechanism operated during the formation of granitoids pertaining to the Tuva-Mongolia microcontinent. The second mechanism was responsible for the formation of batholiths in the zonal Hangay, Barguzin, and Mongolia-Transbaikalia magmatic fields. The isotopically heterogeneous mixed crust is composed of fragments differing in isotopic composition, which are tectonically mixed, resulting in the formation of an isotopically uniform reservoir in the domain of magma generation. As a result, the products of melting acquire isotopic parameters substantially distinct from the juvenile rocks of the corresponding structural zone. The formation of such a crust is related to the tectonic delamination, which provides for juxtaposition and a high degree of tectonic mingling of heterogeneous fragments at deep levels. The Caledonides of the Central Asian Foldbelt are characterized by such a mechanism of crust formation.     

中国大陆及邻区岩石圈地壳三维结构与动力学型式

通过中国大陆及邻区地震测深剖面的系统构造解析,建立起中国大陆岩石圈地壳厚度与速度结构模型。本文根据地壳厚度与速度结构模型、地壳变形结构样式、地壳地质结构与构造演化、地壳运动学与动力学等四方面标志,将中国大陆岩石圈地壳划分为3类6种地壳结构-动力学型式:克拉通型褶推式结构-挤压动力学型式、克拉通型地垒结构-拉伸动力学型式、增厚型高原扇形结构-碰撞楔入动力学型式、增厚型造山带楔状结构-俯冲楔入动力学型式、减薄型盆岭结构-块体伸展动力学型式和减薄型铲状结构-整体伸展动力学型式。笔者探讨了克拉通型地壳、增厚型地壳和减薄型地壳的基本特征、相互关系及其地质意义。     

Chemical discontinuities in Archean metavolcanic terrains and the development of Archean crust

Most large Archean greenstone belts ( 2.7 Ga), comprise thick (12–15 km) mafic to felsic metavolcanics sequences which exhibit consistent but discontinuous geochemical patterns resulting from mantle-crust processes. In a typical Archean metavolcanic sequence, thick (5–8 km) uniform tholeiitic basalt is followed by geochemically evolved rock units (4–7 km thick) containing intermediate and felsic calc-alkaline rocks. This major geochemical discontinuity is marked by a change from LIL-element depleted basalts which show unfractionated REE abundance patterns, to overlying andesites with higher LIL-element contents, fractionated REE patterns and relatively depleted HREE. A less well marked discontinuity separates andesitic rocks from still later more felsic dacite-rhyolite extrusive assemblages and their intrusive equivalents, and is identified by a further increase in LIL element content and REE fractionation. The major geochemical discontinuity apparently separates rocks derived by partial melting of mantle (either directly or through shallow fractionation processes) from those which originated either by partial melting of mantle material modified by crustal interactions or by partial melting of crustal material.We suggest that accumulation of a great thickness of mantle derived volcanic rocks can lead to sagging and interaction of the lower parts of the volcanic piles with upper mantle material. The resulting modified mantle acts as a source for some of the geochemically evolved rocks observed in volcanic successions. Subsequent direct melting of the volcanic pile produces the felsic magmas observed in the upper parts of Archean volcanic successions. This process, termed sag-subduction, is the inferred tectonic process operating in the comparatively thin, hot Archean crustal regime. By this process, large masses of ultimately mantle-derived material were added to the crust.     

Density constraints on the formation of the continental Moho and crust

The densities of mantle magmas such as MORB-like tholeiites, picrites, and komatiites at 10 kilobars are greater than densities for diorites, quartz diorites, granodiorites, and granites which dominate the continental crust. Because of these density relations primary magmas from the mantle will tend to underplate the base of the continental crust. Magmas ranging in composition from tholeiites which are more evolved than MORB to andesite can have densities which are less than rocks of the continental crust at 10 kilobars, particularly if they have high water contents. The continental crust can thus be a density filter through which only evolved magmas containing H₂O may pass. This explains why primary magmas from the mantle such as the picrites are so rare. Both the over-accretion (i.e., Moho penetration) and the under-accretion (i.e., Moho underplating) of magmas can readily explain complexities in the lithological characteristics of the continental Moho and lower crust. Underplating of the continental crust by dense magmas may perturb the geotherm to values which are characteristic of those in granulite to greenschist facies metamorphic sequences in orogenic belts. An Archean continental crust floating on top of a magma flood or ocean of tholeiite to komatiite could have undergone a major cleansing process; dense blocks of peridotite, greenstone, and high density sediments such as iron formation could have been returned to the mantle, granites sweated to high crustal levels, and a high grade felsic basement residue established.     

Review: secular tectonic evolution of Archean continental crust: interplay between horizontal and vertical processes in the formation of the Pilbara Craton,Australia

The Archean Pilbara Craton contains five geologically distinct terranes – the East Pilbara, Karratha, Sholl, Regal and Kurrana Terranes – all of which are unconformably overlain by the 3.02‐ to 2.93‐Ga De Grey Superbasin. The 3.53–3.17 Ga East Pilbara Terrane (EP) represents the ancient nucleus of the craton that formed through three distinct mantle plume events at 3.53–3.43, 3.35–3.29 and 3.27–3.24 Ga. Each plume event resulted in eruption of thick dominantly basaltic volcanic successions on older crust to 3.72 Ga, and melting of crust to generate first tonalite‐trondhjemite‐granodiorite (TTG), and then progressively more evolved granitic magmas. In each case, plume magmatism was accompanied by uplift and crustal extension. The combination of conductive heating from below, thermal blanketing from above, and internal heating of buried granitoids during these events led to episodes of partial convective overturn of upper and middle crust. These mantle melting events caused severe depletion of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, making the EP a stable, buoyant, unsubductable continent by c. 3.2 Ga. Extension accompanying the latest event led to rifting of the protocontinent margins at between 3.2 and 3.17 Ga. After 3.2 Ga, horizontal tectonic forces dominated over vertical forces, as revealed by the geology of the three terranes (Karratha, Sholl and Regal) of the West Pilbara Superterrane. The c. 3.12‐Ga Whundo Group of the Sholl Terrane is a fault bounded, 10‐km‐thick volcanic succession with geochemical characteristics of modern oceanic arcs (including boninites and evidence for flux melting) that indicate steep Archean subduction. At 3.07 Ga, the 3.12‐Ga Sholl Terrane, 3.27‐Ga Karratha Terrane and c. 3.2‐Ga Regal Terrane accreted together and onto the EP during the Prinsep Orogeny. This was followed by development of the De Grey Superbasin – an intracontinental sag basin and widespread plutonism (2.99–2.93 Ga) as a result of orogenic relaxation and slab break off. Craton‐wide compressional deformation at 2.95–2.93 Ga culminated with 2.91‐Ga accretion of the 3.18 Ga Kurrana Terrane with the EP. This compression caused amplification of the dome‐and‐keel structure in the EP. Final cratonization was effected by emplacement of 2.89–2.83 Ga post‐tectonic granites.     

Evolution of the Archean crust in Finland

An Archean age for Finnish rocks in the range 2500–3000 Ma has been determined north of the NW-striking Ladoga—Raahe shear belt. The Archean may be divided into two main units: the granitoid association and the greenstone-belt association. The complex is characterized by stockwork tectonics. The granitoid association forms the basement infrastructure and the greenston-belt association forms the suprastructure which is present in synforms between granitoid diapirs. The infrastructure has been subjected to ultrametamorphism, and the second and third generation palingenetic magmas so formed have intruded the suprastructure. The granitoid association contains widespread migmatized relicts of the greenstone-belt association, indicating that the latter originally covered much larger areas, but the granitoids are also thought to be partly transformed primitive ensialic crust on which rocks of the greenstone-belt association were deposited. The Archean rocks have been deformed in at least four subsequent phases, of which part developed in Proterozoic time. The youngest deformation is the overthrust of the granulite belt of Lapland towards SSW. NWSE striking transcurrent faults played a major role in Proterozoic time and affected cratonized Archean crust. On the whole the greenstone belts in eastern and northern Finland form a NNW-trending zone 750 km long. On a geochemical basis the volcanic rocks of the greenstone belts can be divided into two groups: tholeiites with a low potassium content and extremely low aluminium content and a calc-alkalic group with some alkalic affinities.     

锦州-迁安太古宙赞岐岩类片麻岩成因及其动力学意义

详细的野外地质调查和综合研究表明冀东-辽西南部地区太古宙变质基底主要由富钾花岗质岩石组成,由锦州至迁安构成一条NEE向延伸200余千米的富钾花岗质岩石带。这些富钾花岗质岩石主要由似斑状/中粒石英二长闪长质-花岗闪长质-二长花岗质片麻岩和中粒二长花岗岩-正长花岗岩构成。全岩地球化学分析表明这些石英二长闪长质-花岗闪长质-二长花岗质片麻岩具有高FeO~T、MgO、K_2O和Mg~#值的地球化学特征,与全球范围内中-新太古宙赞歧岩类相似。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素定年结果表明这些岩石形成于2546~2543Ma。岩石成因研究表明这些赞歧岩类片麻岩形成于俯冲板片及其拖曳的洋壳沉积物、增生楔物质的熔体和受俯冲流体、熔体交代的地幔楔之间相互作用引发的一系列的岩浆作用。这一多样化的赞岐岩类岩浆作用形成了一条新太古代赞岐岩类带,该赞岐岩类带反映了冀东-辽西南部地区新太古代从NNW向SSE向板片热俯冲的动力学体制。     

Crustal structure and properties of Archean cratons of Gondwanaland: similarity and difference

This is a synopsis of available data the on crustal structure and properties of thirteen Archean cratons of Gondwanaland (the cratons of Africa, Australia, Antarctica, South America, and the Indian subcontinent). The data include estimates of surface area, rock age and lithology, Moho depth, thickness of lithosphere and sediments, as well as elevations, all summarized in a table. The cratons differ in size from 0.05 x 10⁶ km² (Napier craton) to 4 x 10⁶ km² (Congo craton) and span almost the entire Archean period from 3.8 to 2.5 Ga. Sediments are mostly thin, though reach 7 km in the Congo and West African cratons. Elevations above sea level are from 0 to 2 km; some relatively highland cratons (Kaapvaal, Zimbabwe, and Tanzanian) rise to more than 1 km. On the basis of regional seismic data, the Moho map for cratons has been improved. The Moho diagrams for each craton are constructed. The analysis of the available new data shows that the average Moho depth varies from 33 to 44 km: Pilbara (33 km), Grunehogna (35 km), Sao Francisco (36 km), Yilgarn (37 km), Dharwar (38 km), Tanzanian (39 km), Zimbabwe (39 km), Kaapvaal (40 km), Gawler (40 km), Napier (40 km), West Africa (40 km), Congo (42 km), and Amazon (44 km) cratons. The Moho depth within the cratons is less uniform than it was assumed before: from 28 to 52 km. The new results differ significantly from the earlier inference of a relatively flat Moho geometry beneath Archean cratons. According to the new data, early and middle Archean undeformed crust is characterized by a shallow Moho depth (28-38 km), while late Archean or deformed crust may be as thick as 52 km.     

The building blocks of continental crust: Evidence for a major change in the tectonic setting of continental growth at the end of the Archean

Oceanic arcs are commonly cited as primary building blocks of continents, yet modern oceanic arcs are mostly subducted. Also, lithosphere buoyancy considerations show that oceanic arcs (even those with a felsic component) should readily subduct. With the exception of the Arabian–Nubian orogen, terranes in post-Archean accretionary orogens comprise < 10% of accreted oceanic arcs, whereas continental arcs compose 40–80% of these orogens. Nd and Hf isotopic data suggest that accretionary orogens include 40–65% juvenile crustal components, with most of these (> 50%) produced in continental arcs.Felsic igneous rocks in oceanic arcs are depleted in incompatible elements compared to average continental crust and to felsic igneous rocks from continental arcs. They have lower Th/Yb, Nb/Yb, Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios, reflecting shallow mantle sources in which garnet did not exist in the restite during melting. The bottom line of these geochemical differences is that post-Archean continental crust does not begin life in oceanic arcs. On the other hand, the remarkable similarity of incompatible element distributions in granitoids and felsic volcanics from continental arcs is consistent with continental crust being produced in continental arcs.During the Archean, however, oceanic arcs may have been thicker due to higher degrees of melting in the mantle, and oceanic lithosphere would be more buoyant. These arcs may have accreted to each other and to oceanic plateaus, a process that eventually led to the production of Archean continental crust. After the Archean, oceanic crust was thinner due to cooling of the mantle and less melt production at ocean ridges, hence, oceanic lithosphere is more subductable. Widespread propagation of plate tectonics in the late Archean may have led not only to rapid production of continental crust, but to a change in the primary site of production of continental crust, from accreted oceanic arcs and oceanic plateaus in the Archean to primarily continental arcs thereafter.     

Element Abundances of China‘s Continental Crust and Its Sedimentary Layer and Upper Continental Crust

China’s continental crust (CCC) has an average thickness of 47km, with the upper continental crust (CUCC) being 31 km and the sedimentary layer(CSL) 5 km in thickness. The CCC, CUCC and CSL measure 12.437 × 10⁻¹⁷, 8.005 × 10⁻¹⁷ and 1.146 × 10¹⁷ metric tons in mass, respectively. The mass ratio of the upper continental crust to the lower one is 1.8:1. The element abundances were calculated for the CCC, CUCC and CSL respectively in terms of the chemical compositions of 2246 samples of various types and some complementary trace element data. The total abundance of 13 major elements accounts for 99.6% of the CCC mass while the other minor elements only account for 0.4%. REE characteristics, the abundance ratios of element pairs and the amounts of ore-forming elements are also discussed in the present paper.     

Seismic imaging of lithospheric discontinuities and continental evolution

Discontinuities in physical properties within the continental lithosphere reflect a range of processes that have contributed to craton stabilization and evolution. A survey of recent seismological studies concerning lithospheric discontinuities is made in an attempt to document their essential characteristics. Results from long-period seismology are inconsistent with the presence of continuous, laterally invariant, isotropic boundaries within the upper mantle at the global scale. At regional scales, two well-defined interfaces termed H (60 km depth) and L (200 km depth) of continental affinity are identified, with the latter boundary generally exhibiting an anisotropic character. Long-range refraction profiles are frequently characterized by subcontinental mantle that exhibits a complex stratification within the top 200 km. The shallow layering of this package can behave as an imperfect waveguide giving rise to the so-called teleseismic Pn phase, while the L-discontinuity may define its lower base as the culmination of a low velocity zone. High-resolution, seismic reflection profiling provides sufficient detail in a number of cases to document the merging of mantle interfaces into lower continental crust below former collisional sutures and magmatic arcs, thus unambiguously identifying some lithospheric discontinuities with thrust faults and subducted oceanic lithosphere. Collectively, these and other seismic observations point to a continental lithosphere whose internal structure is dominated by a laterally variable, subhorizontal layering. This stratigraphy appears to be more pronounced at shallower lithospheric levels, includes dense, anisotropic layers of order 10 km in thickness, and exhibits horizontal correlation lengths comparable to the lateral dimensions of overlying crustal blocks. A model of craton evolution which relies on shallow subduction as a principal agent of craton stabilization is shown to be broadly compatible with these characteristics.