Age and origin of sillimanite schist from the Chinese Altai metamorphic belt: implications for late Palaeozoic tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Reconstructing late Palaeozoic metamorphism of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) can provide a better understanding of how the CAOB formed. The petrology of sillimanite-bearing metapelitic schists from high-grade portions of the Permian Chinese Altai metamorphic belt (andalusite-type) reflects the effects of poorly understood high-T, low-P metamorphism. Phase equilibria modelling in the Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂–O (NCKFMASHTO) system restricts P–T conditions of the sillimanite schists to approximately 635–670°C at approximately 5.8–6.8 kbar. SHRIMP U–Pb analyses of zircon from the rocks yield a concordant age of 299.2 ± 3.4 Ma. Combined with the slightly younger (292.8 ± 2.3 Ma) areally restricted pelitic granulite with peak P?T conditions of approximately 780–800°C at approximately 5–6 kbar and high-T granulite with P?T conditions of approximately 860°C at approximately 6 kbar, these metamorphic rocks reflect prograde heating at relatively low pressure in early Permian time. Together with contemporary and widespread magmatic activities, they are best explained in the context of a post-orogenic extensional environment related to a mantle plume.     

Age and tectonic significance of the Louth Volcanics: implications for the evolution of the Tasmanides of eastern Australia

Abstract

Re-evaluation of geochemical and geophysical datasets, and analysis of magmatic and detrital zircons from drill-core samples extracted from the Louth region of the southern Thomson Orogen (STO), augmented by limited field samples, has shown that two temporally and compositionally distinct igneous groups exist. The older Lower Devonian, calc-alkaline group corresponds to complexly folded, high-intensity curvilinear magnetic anomalies in the Louth region (Louth Volcanics) and are probable equivalents to Lower Devonian volcanics in the northern Lachlan Orogen. A younger Permo-Triassic alkaline assemblage forms part of an E–W corridor of diatremes that appears to relate to focussed lithospheric extension associated with the later stages of the Hunter–Bowen Orogeny in the New England Orogen. The alkaline group includes gabbros previously considered as Neoproterozoic, but all magmatic rocks, including alkaline basalts, contain an unusual number of xenocrystic zircons. The age spectra of the xenocrystic zircons mimic detrital zircons from Cobar Basin sedimentary rocks and/or underlying Ordovician turbidites, suggesting incorporation of upper crustal zircons into the alkaline basaltic magmas. A distinct difference of detrital zircon age spectra from central Thomson Orogen metasediments indicates the STO metasediments have greater affinities to the Lachlan Orogen, but both orogens probably began in the Early Ordovician during widespread backarc extension and deposition of turbidites in the Tasmanides. A surprising result is that Ordovician, Devonian and Permo-Triassic basaltic rocks from the STO and elsewhere in the Tasmanides, all yield the same Nd-model ages of ca 960–830 Ma, suggesting that Neoproterozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle persisted throughout the evolution of the Tasmanide orogenic system.     

Age,nature, and origin of early cretaceous plutons in the Dabie Mo Mineralization belt: the Xinxian example

The Mesozoic granitoids in the Dabie Orogen are of particular geological interest as indicators for Mesozoic lithospheric evolution and because of their close association with porphyry Mo mineralization. Here, we present a study using zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb dating, petrogeochemistry, and Hf isotopic data to constrain the timing of the magmatism and petrogenesis of the Xinxian granites in the Dabie Mo mineralization belt (DMB), Henan Province, China. Field investigations combined with previously published data show that the Xinxian pluton mainly consists of four phases. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating yielded ages from 153.4 ± 1.1 Ma for Phase 1 to 146.4 ± 1.6 Ma for Phase 2, 131.6 ± 1.8 Ma for Phase 3, and 125.5 ± 1.5 Ma for Phase 4. The Xinxian granites have high SiO₂ contents of 74.94–78.70 wt.% (average: 76.63 wt.%), Al₂O₃ contents of 11.59–13.68 wt.% (average: 13.01 wt.%), and K₂O contents of 3.85–4.86 wt.% (average: 4.36 wt.%) with Na₂O/K₂O ratios of 0.78–1.03 (average: 0.92) and low MgO (0.04–0.15 wt.%), TiO₂ (0.03–0.13 wt.%), and P₂O₅ (0.006–0.07 wt.%) contents. They are enriched in Rb, U, K, and Hf, but depleted in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti. The zircon ε_Hf(t) values for Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4 vary as follows: from – 22.8 to – 20.3 with T_DM2 values from 2682 to 2869 Ma, from – 24.2 to – 21.2 with T_DM2 values from 2738 to 2925 Ma, from ?24.5 to ?21.5 with T_DM2 values from 2722 to 2915 Ma, and from ?22.9 to ?19.4 with T_DM2 values from 2421 to 2643 Ma, respectively. By integrating previous geological, geochronological, and geochemical data for the DMB, we propose that the Xinxian pluton was dominantly sourced from the crust. The granites were most likely derived from the partial melting of the Northern Dabie Complex (NDC) with some Yangtze lower crust and Southern Dabie Complex (SDC). The Xinxian pluton may have formed in a post-collision extensional setting.     

Age of the Yarrabee and accessory tuffs: implications for the upper Permian sediment-accumulation rates across the Bowen Basin

The Yarrabee Tuff is a stratigraphically significant marker across the Bowen Basin separating the Fort Cooper–Burngrove–Fair Hill formations from the overlying Rangal and equivalent coal measures. At least three to four persistent tuffs (referred here as accessary tuffs) beneath the Yarrabee Tuff were recognised in the Fort Cooper Coal Measures as suitable for regional stratigraphic correlations. In this study, we determined the ages of the Yarrabee and accessary tuffs across different morphotectonic zones of the basin through high-precision U–Pb dating of zircon with the CA-IDTIMS technique. The age of the Yarrabee Tuff is found to be 252.69 ± 0.16 Ma in the Duckworth 11 well, 253.07 ± 0.22 Ma in the Crocker Gully 2 well and <252.58 ± 0.23 Ma in the Peat 1 well. The age range of the Yarrabee Tuff coincides with the previously published date of the Kaloola Tuff Member in Meeleebee 5 suggesting that the tuffs are stratigraphically equivalent. The age range for the accessory tuff 1 is 253.12 ± 0.12 Ma to 252.85 ± 0.16 Ma, 253.45 ± 0.08 Ma for accessory tuff 2 and 253.77 ± 0.17 Ma to 253.57± 0.18 Ma for accessory tuff 3, placing them in the upper Changhsingian Stage. The age of the accessory tuff 6 (less laterally consistent in the basin) from the Fair Hill Formation is 254.03 ± 0.03 Ma, placing it in the lower Changhsingian Stage. The age-constrained intervals allow the estimation of sedimentation rates using decompacted coal and clastic sediment thickness. In the Taroom Trough, the temporal variation in sedimentation rates is found to be 902 m/Ma in the Fair Hill Formation decreasing to 234.5 m/Ma in the overlying Burngrove Formation, reflecting a decrease in accommodation or sediment supply upwards in the sequence. Across the basin, the sedimentation rates for the Burngrove Formation are consistently higher in the Taroom Trough ranging between 234.5 and 224.5 m/Ma and lower rates of 112 m/Ma in the Roma Shelf. This regional variation reflects areas of high sedimentation rates that are high accommodation sites recognised by split coal seams and increased interburden. Conversely, low sedimentation rates reflect low accommodation sites, such as the Roma Shelf and the Burunga Anticline that are characterised by coalesced coal seams. The results help to understand stratal relationships across variable accommodation sites, basin-fill history of the basin including extent of sediment supply and paleotopographic controls during the evolution of the Bowen Basin. We also discuss criteria for interpreting the results of CA-IDTIMS U–Pb dating and consider the possible geological uncertainties related to either the primary magmatic processes or secondary reworking of tuffs at the site of deposition.     

Age estimates of coastal terraces in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and their tectonic implications

The great Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004 caused significant vertical changes in its rupture zone. About 800 km of the rupture is along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which forms the outer arc ridge of the subduction zone. Coseismic deformation along the exposed land could be observed as uplift/subsidence. Here we analyze the morphological features along the coast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in an effort to reconstruct the past tectonics, taking cues from the coseismic effects. We obtained radiocarbon dates from coastal terraces of the island belt and used them to compute uplift rates, which vary from 1.33 mm yr^− 1 in the Little Andaman to 2.80 mm yr^− 1 in South Andaman and 2.45 mm yr^− 1 in the North Andaman. Our radiocarbon dates converge on  600 yr and  1000 yr old coastal uplifts, which we attribute to the level changes due to two major previous subduction earthquakes in the region.     

大别山沙村和椒子岩基性-超基性岩锆石U-Pb定年、元素和碳氧同位素地球化学研究

对大别山北部沙村和椒子岩基性 -超基性岩进行了锆石U Pb定年、全岩主量和微量元素分析 ,全岩和单矿物氧同位素分析以及全岩碳含量及其同位素组成的测定。结果表明 ,这些基性 -超基性岩表现出强烈的轻稀土富集 ,高场强元素 (Nb ,Zr和Ti)负异常以及Pb和Ba正异常。锆石U Pb年龄指示了早白垩世 (12 2～ 12 8Ma)的岩浆结晶年龄 ,但是在 10 5～ 116Ma期间受到了热液蚀变。全岩和单矿物氧同位素比值变化较大 (全岩 :1.1‰～ 6 .6‰ ,单斜辉石 :3.85‰～5 .7‰ ,斜长石 :2 .8‰～ 7.3‰ ,锆石 :3.85‰～ 6 .0 4‰ ) ,大多数锆石具有与正常地幔锆石 ((5 .3±0 .3)‰ )不同的δ18O值 ,部分样品矿物对之间保存了氧同位素平衡分馏 ,而部分样品则表现出明显的氧同位素不平衡分馏 ,指示它们受到了岩浆期后亚固相水 -岩相互作用的扰动。全岩碳含量和同位素组成具有较大的变化范围 ,分别为 0 .0 3%～ 0 .18% ,δ13 C值为 - 2 7.0‰～ - 5 .8‰。将这些中生代基性 -超基性岩的元素和同位素数据与大别 -苏鲁榴辉岩比较后发现 ,它们之间具有较为一致的地球化学特征 ,因此可能具有一定的成因联系。这些榴辉岩的原岩为基性火成岩 ,对应于扬子板块北缘与新元古代裂谷构造有关的岩浆活动。古老富集岩石圈地幔及其上覆地壳部分     

Time series analysis of mantle cycles Part Ⅱ:The geologic record in zircons,large igneous provinces and mantle lithosphere

Igneous and detrital zircons have six major U/Pb isotopic age peaks in common(2700 Ma,1875 Ma.1045 Ma,625 Ma,265 Ma and 90 Ma).For igneous rocks,each age peak is comprised of subpeaks with distinct geographic distributions and a subpeak age range per age peak ≤100 Myr.There are eight major LIP age peaks(found on≥10 crustal provinces)of which only four are in common to major detrital zircon age peaks(2715 Ma,1875 Ma,825 Ma,90 Ma).Of the whole-rock Re depletion ages,58% have correspo nding detrital zircon age peaks and 55% have corresponding LIP age peaks.Ten age pea ks are fou nd in common to igneous zircon,detrital zircon,LIP,and Re depletion age time series(3225 Ma,2875 Ma,2145 Ma,2085 Ma,1985 Ma,1785 Ma,1455 Ma,1175 Ma,825 Ma,and 90 Ma).and these are very robust peaks on a global scale as recorded in both crustal and mantle rocks.About 50% of the age peaks in each of these time series correspond to predicted peaks in a 94-Myr mantle cycle,including four of the ten peaks in common to all four time series(2875 Ma,1785 Ma,825 Ma and 90 Ma).Age peak widths and subpeak ranges per age peak suggest that mantle events responsible for age peaks are100 Myr and many50 Myr in duration.Age peak geographic distributions show three populations(≤1000 Ma,2500-1000 Ma,2500 Ma),with the number of new provinces in which age peaks are represented decreasing with time within each population.The breaks between the populations(at 2.5 Ga and 1 Ga)fall near the onsets of two transitions in Earth history.The First Transition may represent a change from stagnant-lid tectonics into plate tectonics and the Second Transition,the onset of subduction of continental crust.The major factor controlling geographic distribution of age peaks is the changing locations of orogeny.Before ～2 Ga,age subpeaks and peaks are housed in orogens within or around the edges of crustal provinces,mostly in accretionary orogens.but beginning at 1.9 Ga,collisional orogens become more important.The coincidence in duration between magmatic flare-ups in Phanerozoic arcs and duration of age subpeaks(10-30 Myr)is consiste nt with subpeaks representing periods of enhanced arcrelated magmatism.probably caused by increased subduction flux.The correlation of isotopic age peaks between time series supports a cause and effect relationship between mantle plume activity,continental magma production at convergent margins,and crustal deformation.Correlation of over half of the detrital zircon age peaks(and six of the nine major peaks)with Re depletion age peaks supports an interpretation of the zircon peaks as crustal growth rather than selective preservation peaks.     

Structure and geochronology of the Tongbai complex and their implications for the evolution of the Tongbai orogenic belt,central China

The Tongbai orogenic belt has an overall antiformal geometry and the hinge of the antiform is sub-horizontal and trends NW–SE. The Tongbai complex (TBC) in the core of the antiform is bounded by the S-dipping Yindian–Malong shear zone in the south, the sub-horizontal Taibaiding shear zone at the top and the N-dipping Hongyihe–Tongbai shear zone in the north. The three shear zones have dextral, top-to-NW and sinistral movement, respectively. They are parts of a single shear zone, termed the Tongbai shear zone, that has a uniform top-to-NW sense of shear. Three samples of deformed granitoid (mylonite or protomylonite) from the shear zone have U–Pb zircon ages of 145 ± 6 Ma, 142 ± 2 Ma and 131 ± 6 Ma, respectively. An L-tectonite in the TBC yielded a metamorphic age of 137 ± 8 Ma and a migmatite an age of 137 ± 1 Ma. The Tongbai shear zone is intruded by undeformed Early Cretaceous granite and dykes and deformation in the shear zone is constrained to ca. 140–135 Ma, synchronous with metamorphism and migmatization in the TBC. Early Cretaceous magma emplacement and the associated uplift modified the TBC into a gentle antiform and the uplift may have continued to ca. 102–85 Ma. Similar geometry and kinematics have been documented in the Dabie orogenic belt to the east, which suggests that the Central Orogenic Belt in China probably experienced a uniform orogen-parallel extension and top-to-NW shearing in the ductile lithosphere in the Early Cretaceous.     

An Australian provenance for the eastern Otago Schist protolith,South Island,New Zealand: evidence from detrital zircon age patterns and implications for the origin of its gold

Uranium–lead age patterns of detrital zircons in Otago Schist meta-sandstones from eastern Otago, including areas of orogenic gold mineralisation, are mostly consistent with a Rakaia Terrane (Torlesse Composite Terrane) accretionary wedge protolith. Southwest of the Hyde-Macraes and Rise & Shine shear zones the depositional age is regarded as Middle–Late Triassic. At the south and west margins, there are two areas in the Late Triassic Waipapa Terrane protolith. Northeast of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone, the schist protolith has Middle to Late Triassic and middle to late Permian depositional ages of Rakaia Terrane affinity. At the northeastern margin of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone, there is a narrow strip with a mid-Carboniferous protolith, which may be a counterpart of the Carboniferous accretionary wedge in the New England Orogen, eastern Australia. Ordovician–Silurian zircons are a minor but distinctive feature in many of the protolith age patterns and form significant age components at hard-rock gold locations. These constrain the provenance of Rakaia Terrane protolith sediments to Late Triassic time and within the Permian–Triassic magmatic arcs at the northeastern Australian continental margin and partly within the Ordovician–Silurian granitoids of the Charters Towers Province hinterland and environs. The latter have extensive gold mineralisation and thus upon exhumation might be the origin of Otago gold.     

大别山北部漫水河灰色片麻岩的锆石UPb年龄及其地质意义

北大别杂岩主要由灰色片麻岩和斜长解闪岩组成。通过对大别山北部霍山漫水河花岗闪长片麻岩的锆石U-Pb年龄测定，得到中元古代、早三叠世和晚侏罗世3组年龄数据。中元古代的年龄老于灰色片麻岩集中在新元古代的锆石U-Pb上交点年龄，指示漫水河北部片麻岩中有古老锆石捕掳晶；早三叠世年龄指示该片麻岩中有印支期变质作用形成的锆石；晚侏罗世年龄表明灰色片麻岩中有燕山早期形成的岩浆锆石。根据北大别杂岩的构造背景、变质作用及地球化学特征，认为北大别杂岩中的部分灰色片麻岩形成于燕山早期的花岗闪长岩，它们可能源自或混染了经过早三叠世变质作用的扬子陆块俯冲基底。本文的结果表明，北大别杂岩既不是形成于白垩纪的岩浆杂岩，也不完全是形成于新元古代的TTG岩系，其中的部分灰色片麻岩为形成于燕山早期的花岗闪长岩，即在白垩纪大规模岩浆作用前的燕山早期，北大别曾有过一次岩浆作用。     

太原西山上二叠统—下三叠统地层最大沉积年龄的碎屑锆石U Pb定年约束

二叠纪—三叠纪之交是古生界向中生界过渡的重要地质历史转折时期,发生了地史时期规模最大的生物灭绝事件。石千峰组作为华北地台二叠系—三叠系过渡阶段沉积,其时代归属对二叠系—三叠系界线的准确划分至关重要。本文应用LA-MC-ICPMS对华北中部太原西山晚二叠世—早三叠世上石盒子组、石千峰组、刘家沟组中4件砂岩样品进行碎屑锆石U-Pb定年,4件砂岩样品(SNF、XM、K8、LJG)分别给出了最年轻锆石峰值年龄270Ma、296Ma、250Ma、262Ma,表明太原西山上石盒子组师脑峰砂岩(SNF)的沉积时间不早于270Ma,石千峰组底部K8砂岩(K8)沉积时间不早于250Ma。因此,太原西山地区石千峰组应归属于早三叠世,二叠系—三叠系的界线应位于石千峰组K8砂岩之下。     

Incremental growth and origin of the Cretaceous Renjiayingzi pluton,southern Inner Mongolia,China: Evidence from structure,geochemistry and geochronology

The Renjiayingzi intermediate-acid pluton is located along a pre-existing ENE–WSW-trending dextral shear zone that forms part of the Xar Moron suture zone that marks the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The pluton is composed of three small intrusions, which from northwest to southeast, are named the Shuangjianshan (SI), the Qianweiliansu (QI) and the Xingshuwabeishan (XI) intrusions. LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating of a pyroxene diorite from the SI yields an age of 138 ± 1 Ma; the SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age of a tonalite from the QI records an age of 134 ± 2 Ma, whereas LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating of a monzogranite from the XI has an age of 126 ± 1 Ma, suggesting the entire pluton was built up by three separate emplacement events that young to the ESE: this is further supported by the contact relations. Incremental growth of plutons by amalgamation of repeated small magma pulses is the most viable emplacement model. The pluton was probably emplaced by updoming of the roof along previous tensile fractures and by upward stacking of the three intrusions. The SI and QI have similar U–Pb ages and geochemical characteristics, and most likely had the same magma source and underwent similar petrogenetic processes. They have high MgO concentrations at low silica contents, are enriched in large ion lithophile elements, depleted in high field strength elements, have negative ε_Nd(t) values of −1.8 to −3.7, with Nd model ages of 1.07–1.19 Ga. Pyroxene diorites of the SI also have variable zircon ε_Hf(t) values (from −0.8 to +6.1), indicating that they were mainly derived from juvenile crust with minor crustal contamination and clinopyroxene-dominated fractional crystallization. The late monzogranites from the XI show weak negative ε_Nd(t) values of −2.3 to −2.5, young Nd model ages of 0.99–1.00 Ga, positive zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+1.3 to +4.6) and higher SiO₂ and K₂O contents, with strong depletion in Eu, P and Ti, indicating derivation from a distinct petrogenetic process from the two earlier intrusions. The monzogranites were the result of partial melting of juvenile crust in response to mantle-derived magma underplating, together with plagioclase-dominated fractional crystallization.     

Early Carboniferous volcanic rocks of West Junggar in the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt: implications for a supra-subduction system

The paper presents new U–Pb zircon ages and geochemical data from early Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Wuerkashier Mountains in the northern West Junggar region, NW China, and of the Char suture–shear zone in East Kazakhstan. The study included analysis of geological setting, major and trace elements, and rock petrogenesis. Both localities host early Carboniferous volcanic units dominated by plagioclase-porphyry andesites and dacites. A West Junggar dacite yielded a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 331 ± 3 Ma. The Junggar volcanic rocks are tholeiitic, and the Char samples are intermediate between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline. Both the Junggar and Char volcanic units are characterized by LREE enriched rare-earth spectra (La/Sm_n = 1.1–2.4) with Eu negative anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.12–1.0) and Nb-Ta minimums (Nb/Th_pm = 0.15–0.35; Nb/La_pm = 0.3–0.7) on multi-element spectra. The Junggar andesites and dacites have higher REE and HFSE (Ti, Nb, Zr, Y, and Th) compared with the Char rocks, suggesting their derivation from a different mantle source. The melting modelling in the Nb-Yb system showed that the Junggar volcanic rocks formed by low- to medium- (2–5%) degree melting of depleted mantle harzburgite and spinel lherzolite. The Char volcanic rocks formed by high-degree melting (15–20%) of spinel lherzolite and garnet-bearing peridotite. The regional geology of West Junggar and East Kazakhstan and the geochemical features of the rocks under study (i.e. depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti and enrichment in Th, and combination of LREE enrichment and HFSE depletion) all suggest a subduction-related origin of both Junggar and Char volcanic rocks. The early Carboniferous volcanic rocks of West Junggar possibly formed by subduction of the Junggar-Balkhash ocean beneath an active margin of the Kazakhstan continent, whereas those of East Kazakhstan formed by subduction of the Irtysh-Zaisan Ocean beneath an intra-oceanic arc at the active margin of the Siberian continent.     

大别山木子店地区细粒二长花岗岩脉的年龄和成因——锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素制约

用LA-ICP-MS技术对北大别木子店地区细粒二长花岗岩脉中的锆石进行原位U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素测定,结果表明,该花岗岩形成于128.9±0.7Ma,为早白垩世岩浆活动的产物,在锆石中发现古元古代和新元古代的锆石核;锆石ε_(Hf)(t)介于-25.1~-19.2之间,平均值为-22.7,二阶段模式年龄T_(DM2)主要介于2115~2505Ma之间,2个继承锆石分析点分别给出了-10.5和6.5的ε_(Hf)(t)值,对应的二阶段模式年龄T_(DM2)分别为1151Ma和1709Ma。木子店地区细粒二长花岗岩脉的锆石年龄和Hf同位素特征表明,花岗岩为古元古代古老地壳物质部分熔融形成,岩石源区可能有中元古代地幔物质及太古宙古老地壳物质的贡献,形成于大别造山带从挤压向伸展的转换阶段。     

U-238 series radioactive disequilibrium in groundwaters: implications to the origin of excess U-234 and fate of reactive pollutants

The concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn and ²¹⁰Pb and ${}^{234}\text{U}{}^{238}\text{U}$ activity ratios have been measured in several groundwater samples from Gujarat, India. In the aqueous phase the abundances of ²³⁴Th and ²¹⁰Pb are grossly deficient relative to their parents, ²³⁸U and ²²²Rn respectively. The deficiency is ascribable to the impact adsorption of ²³⁴Th and ²¹⁰Pb atoms onto particle surfaces which are very abundant in the groundwater regimes. The scavenging residence times for both these nuclides is about a day, suggesting that irreversible removal of ‘reactive’ metals and pollutants in groundwaters can occur on very short time scales. The fast removal of ²³⁴Th onto particles necessitates that in these groundwaters ²³⁴U ‘excess’ has to originate through leaching of soil grains rather than through in situ decay of dissolved ²³⁴Th in the water.     

Episodic growth of zircon in UHP orthogneisses from the North Dabie Terrane of east‐central China: implications for crustal architecture of a collisional orogen

Zircon U‐Pb dating of three orthogneiss samples from the North Dabie terrane (NDT) is undertaken in order to reconstruct their formation and evolutionary histories, and also the crustal architecture of the Dabie orogen after Triassic subduction and exhumation. SHRIMP zircon U‐Pb dating, in combination with back scattered electron (BSE) imaging and Laser Raman spectrometry, provides accurate identification of the core, mantle and rim structure for zircon growth during protolith formation and overgrowth during subduction/exhumation and post‐collisional metamorphism. Concordant U‐Pb ages of 760–730 Ma and high Th/U ratios of >0.4 are obtained for relict oscillatory zoning fields of inherited cores that were not metamictized. These features suggest that these ages represent the time of magmatic protolith formation during the breakup of Rodinia. The overgrown mantle domains around the metamictized cores are clean with few mineral inclusions (e.g. quartz, garnet and apatite). Mantle domains have low Th/U ratios of <0.1 and yielded U‐Pb ages of 215–205 Ma, which are slightly younger than the known ages of peak ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphism, suggesting that overgrowth took place during initial exhumation. The ages are similar to the time of retrograde metamorphism of the UHP orthogneisses in the Central Dabie terrane (CDT). Overgrown rims are also clean, with a few mineral inclusions of apatite and quartz. They yield two groups of U‐Pb ages, 138–137 Ma and 124–120 Ma. The former is considered to be the time of onset of orogenic extension and tectonic collapse, whereas the latter falls into the age range of widespread magmatism in the Dabie orogen, and is regarded as the time of extension climax that resulted in intensive anatexis of the crust. Whole‐rock Sr‐Nd isotope analyses of four orthogneisses show ε_Nd(t) values of ?1.2 to ?15 and I_Sr values >0.719, similar to the values obtained from UHP orthogneisses in the CDT. It is concluded that, as with the CDT, the orthogneisses with episodic zircon growths from the NDT should also be a part of the exhumed slice following the continental deep subduction. However, the orthogneisses in this study were buried at a lower level in the orogenic crust compared with those of the CDT prior to the Cretaceous magmatism. Therefore, the orthogneisses from the NDT were affected by the Cretaceous magmatism whereas the CDT orthogneisses were not affected.     

Temporal dynamics of airborne lead-210 in Missouri (USA): implications for geochronological methods

 Lead-210 (²¹⁰Pb) deposited from the atmosphere is used in the dating of certain geological materials such as glacial ice and lacustrine sediments, but its long-term atmospheric behavior has been little studied. The present investigation reports measurements of airborne ²¹⁰Pb at 21 monitoring stations in Springfield, Missouri, during 1975–1995. Seasonal and diurnal patterns of atmospheric concentrations are established, and the mean annual concentrations of ²¹⁰Pb in ground level air during the 20-year period are examined. Although airborne ²¹⁰Pb concentrations are found to vary diurnally and seasonally, mean annual concentrations in southwest Missouri have remained relatively constant during this time period. This finding is important for geochronological methods that assume a constant ²¹⁰Pb flux from the atmosphere. Received: 8 September 1998 · Accepted: 12 October 1998     

油气成藏过程中的同位素测年方法评述

笔者对国内外同位素测定年在确定油气成藏方面的应用现状进行评述的基础上,重点分析了K-Ar法,Ar-Ar法,U-Pb法,Rb-Sr法等方法所存在的问题,认为自生伊利石⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar法在不断克服技术难题之后,仍是油气成藏年代学不可缺少的重要手段;激光微区探针⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar法与流体包裹体技术相结合,是油气多期成藏⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar年代学研究取得成功的突破点;利用沥青和干酪根中微量金属U-Pb,Pb-Pb,Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd和Re-Os体系的同位素分析方法获得油气生成、运移的年龄,是成熟的放射性同位素方法在石油地质学中的应用;晶洞充填物U-Pb测年,可能是碳酸盐岩储层油气成藏年代学研究又一新的突破点。     

碎屑沉积岩/沉积物Sm-Nd、U-Pb与Hf同位素的化学地球动力学意义

碎屑沉积岩能有效记录它们的源区。碎屑沉积岩的Nd同位素组成及其中锆石U-Pb年龄与Hf同位素组成是解析碎屑物质源区、源区壳-幔相互作用及不同块体间相互作用的关键方法。全岩/全样的Nd模式年龄可以指示其源区地壳从亏损地幔分离的平均时间,而锆石Hf同位素模式年龄能够揭示出所测锆石颗粒其形成时的源区特征。细粒碎屑沉积岩/沉积物化学组成代表了其源区上地壳在风化、搬运、沉积过程中不溶于水的Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Sc、Ti、Th、REE等的平均组成。实践表明,华北板块、扬子板块、以大兴安岭为代表的中亚造山带东部具有明显不同的形成与演化历史。大兴安岭的地壳增生主要发生于新元古代—古生代期间。由碎屑沉积岩进行化学动力学分析时,应充分系统考虑地质过程的复杂性,将宏观与微观相结合、局部与整体相结合。