Post‐Variscan exhumation of the Central Anti‐Atlas (Morocco) constrained by zircon and apatite fission‐track thermochronology

The origin of the Anti‐Atlas relief is one of the currently debated issues of Moroccan geology. To constrain the post‐Variscan evolution of the Central Anti‐Atlas, we collected nine samples from the Precambrian basement of the Bou Azzer‐El Graara inlier for zircon and apatite fission‐track thermochronology. Zircon ages cluster between 340 ± 20 and 306 ± 20 Ma, whereas apatite ages range from 171 ± 7 Ma to 133 ± 5 Ma. Zircon ages reflect the thermal effect of the Variscan orogeny (tectonic thickening of the ca. 7 km‐thick Paleozoic series), likely enhanced by fluid advection. Apatite ages record a complex Mesozoic–Cenozoic exhumation history. Track length modelling yields evidence that, (i) the Precambrian basement was still buried at ca. 5 km depth by Permian times, (ii) the Central Anti‐Atlas was subjected to (erosional) exhumation during the Triassic‐Early Cretaceous, then buried beneath ca. 1.5 km‐thick Cretaceous‐Paleogene deposits, (iii) final exhumation took place during the Neogene, contemporaneously with that of the High Atlas.     

Geometry and kinematics of the Andean thick-skinned thrust systems: Insights from the Chilean Frontal Cordillera (28°–28.5°S), Central Andes

The structure of the Chilean Frontal Cordillera, located over the Central Andes flat-slab subduction segment (27°–28.5°S), is characterized by a thick-skinned deformation, affecting both the pre-rift basement and the Mesozoic and Cenozoic infill of the NNE-SSW Lautaro and Lagunillas Basins, which were developed during the Pangea-Gondwana break-up. The compressive deformation show a complex interaction between Mesozoic rift structures and thrust systems, affecting a suite of Permo-Triassic (258–245 Ma) granitic blocks. We used a combination of geological mapping, new structural data, balanced and restored cross sections and geochronological data to investigate the geometry and kinematics of the Andean thick-skinned thrust systems of the region. The thrust systems include double-vergent thick-skinned thrust faults, basement-cored anticlines and minor thin-skinned thrusts and folds. The presence of Triassic and Jurassic syn-rift successions along the hanging wall and footwall of the basement thrust faults are keys to suggest that the current structural framework of the region should be associated with the shortening of previous Mesozoic half grabens. Based on this interpretation, we propose a deformation mechanism characterized by the tectonic inversion of rift-related faults and the propagation of basement ramps that fold and cut both, the early normal faults and the basement highs. New U–Pb ages obtained from synorogenic deposits (Quebrada Seca and Doña Ana formations) indicate at least three important compressive pulses. A first pulse at ∼80 Ma (Late Cretaceous), a second pulse related to the K-T phase of Andean deformation and, finally, a third pulse that occurred during the lower Miocene.     

江南东段地区NE-SW向断裂带断层滑移矢量反演及其大地构造意义

华南中-新生代构造演化受太平洋构造域和特提斯洋构造域的联合控制.以江南东段NE-SW向景德镇-歙县剪切带和球川-萧山断裂中发育的脆性断层为研究对象,利用野外交切关系和断层滑移矢量反演方法厘定了7期构造变形序列并反演了各期古构造应力场,讨论了断层活动的时代及其动力学.白垩纪至新生代研究区7期古构造应力场分别为:(1)早白垩世早期(136～125Ma)NW-SE向伸展;(2)早白垩世晚期(125～107Ma)N-S向挤压和E-W向伸展;(3)早白垩世末期至晚白垩世早期(105～86Ma)NW-SE向伸展;(4)白垩世中期(86～80Ma)NW-SE向挤压和NE-SW向伸展;(5)晚白垩世晚期至始新世末期(80～36Ma)N-S向伸展;(6)始新世末期至渐新世早期(36～30Ma)NE-SW向挤压和NW-SE向伸展;(7)渐新世早期至中新世中期(30～17Ma)NE-SW向伸展.结合区域地质研究表明,第1期至第4期古构造应力场与古太平洋构造域的板片后撤、俯冲以及微块体(菲律宾地块)间的碰撞作用有关;第5期伸展作用受控于新特提斯构造域俯冲板片后撤,而第6期和第7期古构造应力场主要与印-亚碰撞的远程效应有关.白垩纪至新生代,华南东部受伸展构造体制和走滑构造体制的交替控制.先存断裂的发育可能是导致华南晚中生代走滑构造体制的主要控制因素.     

宁武盆地及周缘岩体裂变径迹对山西地块中—新生代构造演化的约束

宁武盆地及周缘岩体的抬升剥蚀对于山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有重要的指示意义。本文对宁武盆地及周缘岩体进行裂变径迹分析,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄97～47 Ma,锆石裂变径迹年龄161～141 Ma。裂变径迹记录了早白垩世早期(145～125 Ma)、晚白垩世(85～70 Ma)、古新世晚期—始新世早期(59～53 Ma)和渐新世晚期(28 Ma)的4次抬升剥蚀事件。综合分析山西地块的裂变径迹数据,表明隆起区晚古生代以来发生了多期抬升剥蚀事件。山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有时空差异。周缘岩体样品的裂变径迹年龄大于盆地内沉积地层样品的年龄,指示了周缘山体先于盆地抬升剥蚀。晋东北抬升剥蚀时限早于晋西南。山西裂谷系西南端裂开较早。裂谷系发育具有由南向北扩展的特征,这与地层保留记录相一致。山西地块现今地貌格局是在中生代发育一系列雁行状排列的复背斜和复向斜构造基础上发展而成的。     

Mesozoic-Cenozoic Multi-Stage Intraplate Deformation Events in the Langshan Region and their Tectonic Implications

In the Langshan region, northwestern China, marked multi-stage intraplate deformation events have occurred since the Mesozoic, including（1） northeast-striking ductile left-lateral strike slip during the Middle-Late Triassic, which is closely related to the collision between the North China and the Yangtze plates;（2） top-to-the-southeast thrust with northwest-southeast trending maximum compression during the Late Jurassic;（3） nearly eastward detachment during the Early Cretaceous;（4） top-to-the-northwest thrust with northwest-southeast trending maximum compression during the Late Cretaceous and Early Cenozoic;（5） northeast-striking brittle left-lateral strike slip with nearly north-south trending maximum compression; and（6） northwest-southeast extension during the Middle-Late Cenozoic. All these deformation events belong to the intraplate deformation across the entire Central Asian region and respond to the tectonic events along the plate boundaries or deep tectonics. The structures developed in early events in the crust were the most important factors controlling the later deformation styles, and few new structures have later developed. Based on previous research and our results, the paleostress inversion in the Langshan region shows that the Mesozoic intraplate deformations in the study region mainly resulted from the tectonic events from the Paleo-Pacific region and have no or a weak relation to the Tethys region. During the Late Jurassic, the maximum compression from the Mongolia-Okhotsk region cannot be excluded. The Langshan region is the bridge between southern Mongolia and the western Ordos tectonic belt and is thus important to understand the nature and relationship between both regions.     

Meso–Cenozoic cooling and exhumation history of the Orlica‐Śnieżnik Dome (Sudetes,NE Bohemian Massif,Central Europe): Insights from apatite fission‐track thermochronometry

This study presents the first suite of apatite fission‐track (AFT) ages from the SE part of the Western Sudetes. AFT cooling ages from the Orlica‐?nie?nik Dome and the Upper Nysa K?odzka Graben range from Late Cretaceous (84 Ma) to Early Palaeocene–Middle Eocene (64–45 Ma). The first stage of basin evolution (~100–90 Ma) was marked by the formation of a local extensional depocentre and disruption of the Mesozoic planation surface. Subsequent far‐field convergence of European microplates resulted in Coniacian–Santonian (~89–83 Ma) thrust faulting. AFT data from both metamorphic basement and Mesozoic sedimentary cover indicate homogenous Late Cretaceous burial of the entire Western Sudetes. Thermal history modeling suggests that the onset of cooling could be constrained between 89 and 63 Ma with a climax during the Palaeocene–Middle Eocene basin inversion phase.     

Déformations néogènes et quaternaires de la bordure nord haut atlasique (Maroc): rôle du socle et consequences structurales

According to major discontinuities, continental deposits in the Cenozoic Atlas basins are subdivided into three groups (pre-, syn- and post-tectonic). Progressive unconformities are the main characteristic of the syntectonic formations, implying that the Atlas tectonic episode is synchronous with Neogene and Quaternary sedimentation. This tectonic episode is responsible for the inversion of Early Mesozoic extensional structures within the basement, which were reactivated into symmetrical thrusts or transpressional faults. Shortening of the basement induced the detachment of the cover. Deformation of the cover is expressed by thrust faults (with southern and northern vergences), folds and flexures linked to blind thrusts. Kinematic data show that the main regional compression was directed N150 ± 10° during the Neogene and north-south during the Quaternary. The involvement of the upper crust, in the Alpine Atlasic Belt, contributed to create areas of high relief. The High Atlas can be interpreted as resulting from large Cenozoic thrusts, and compared with the Pyrenean Axial Zone, although their pre-Cenozoic histories can differ markedly.     

Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Exhumation of the Northern Hexi Corridor: Constrained by Apatite Fission Track Ages of the Longshoushan

The apatite fission track (AFT) ages and thermal modeling of the Longshoushan and deformation along the northern Hexi Corridor on the northern side of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau show that the Longshoushan along the northern corridor had experienced important multi-stage exhumations during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The AFT ages of 7 samples range from 31.9 Ma to 111.8 Ma. Thermal modeling of the AFT ages of the samples shows that the Longshoushan experienced significant exhumation during the Late Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic (~130–25 Ma). The Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Longshoushan may have resulted from the continuous compression between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks and the flat slab subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate, which affected wide regions across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. During the Early Cenozoic, the Longshoushan still experienced exhumation, but this process was caused by the Indian-Eurasian collision. Since this time, the Longshoushan was in a stable stage for approximately 20 Ma and experienced erosion. Since ~5 Ma, obvious tectonic deformation occurred along the entire northern Hexi Corridor, which has also been reported from the peripheral regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, especially in the Qilianshan and northeastern margin of the plateau. The AFT ages and the Late Cenozoic deformation of the northern Hexi Corridor all indicate that the present northern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated along the northern Hexi Corridor.     

Salt movements in the Northeast German Basin and its relation to major post-Permian tectonic phases—results from 3D structural modelling, backstripping and reflection seismic data

The NW–SE-striking Northeast German Basin (NEGB) forms part of the Southern Permian Basin and contains up to 8 km of Permian to Cenozoic deposits. During its polyphase evolution, mobilization of the Zechstein salt layer resulted in a complex structural configuration with thin-skinned deformation in the basin and thick-skinned deformation at the basin margins. We investigated the role of salt as a decoupling horizon between its substratum and its cover during the Mesozoic deformation by integration of 3D structural modelling, backstripping and seismic interpretation. Our results suggest that periods of Mesozoic salt movement correlate temporally with changes of the regional stress field structures. Post-depositional salt mobilisation was weakest in the area of highest initial salt thickness and thickest overburden. This also indicates that regional tectonics is responsible for the initiation of salt movements rather than stratigraphic density inversion.Salt movement mainly took place in post-Muschelkalk times. The onset of salt diapirism with the formation of N–S-oriented rim synclines in Late Triassic was synchronous with the development of the NNE–SSW-striking Rheinsberg Trough due to regional E–W extension. In the Middle and Late Jurassic, uplift affected the northern part of the basin and may have induced south-directed gravity gliding in the salt layer. In the southern part, deposition continued in the Early Cretaceous. However, rotation of salt rim synclines axes to NW–SE as well as accelerated rim syncline subsidence near the NW–SE-striking Gardelegen Fault at the southern basin margin indicates a change from E–W extension to a tectonic regime favoring the activation of NW–SE-oriented structural elements. During the Late Cretaceous–Earliest Cenozoic, diapirism was associated with regional N–S compression and progressed further north and west. The Mesozoic interval was folded with the formation of WNW-trending salt-cored anticlines parallel to inversion structures and to differentially uplifted blocks. Late Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic compression caused partial inversion of older rim synclines and reverse reactivation of some Late Triassic to Jurassic normal faults in the salt cover. Subsequent uplift and erosion affected the pre-Cenozoic layers in the entire basin. In the Cenozoic, a last phase of salt tectonic deformation was associated with regional subsidence of the basin. Diapirism of the maturest pre-Cenozoic salt structures continued with some Cenozoic rim synclines overstepping older structures. The difference between the structural wavelength of the tighter folded Mesozoic interval and the wider Cenozoic structures indicates different tectonic regimes in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic.We suggest that horizontal strain propagation in the brittle salt cover was accommodated by viscous flow in the decoupling salt layer and thus salt motion passively balanced Late Triassic extension as well as parts of Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary compression.     

宁武盆地中-新生代构造演化的裂变径迹证据

为深入研究宁武盆地中-新生代的构造演化及煤层气资源的赋存条件,采集样品进行裂变径迹测试。锆石裂变径迹年龄为156～139 Ma,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄为97～47 Ma。宁武盆地中-新生代的构造演化历史可分为3个阶段。晚侏罗世(156 Ma),盆地两翼的岩体开始缓慢隆升,核部坳陷沉积,到早白垩世晚期(100 Ma),宁武盆地古地温达到最高,烃源岩达到了生气高峰期。白垩世晚期-古新世(79～59 Ma),快速抬升剥蚀。之后,虽有短暂埋藏,但总体处于隆升状态。渐新世晚期(40～30 Ma)以来快速抬升到现今位置。宁武盆地抬升剥蚀具有空间上的不均衡性。北东部抬升剥蚀早于南部,周缘岩体隆升剥蚀速率大于核部。宁武盆地是在中生代山西地块上形成一系列雁行状排列的复背斜和复向斜的构造背景下,新生代受印度洋板块挤压欧亚大陆,两翼山体强烈抬升推挤作用形成,属于华北克拉通区域构造事件的响应。     

Superposition of burial and hydrothermal events: post‐Variscan thermal evolution of the Erzgebirge,Germany

The post‐Variscan thermal history of the Erzgebirge (Germany) is the result of periods of sedimentary burial, exhumation and superimposed hydrothermal activity. The timing and degree of thermal overprint have been analysed by zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He and apatite fission track thermochronology. The present‐day surface of the Erzgebirge was exhumed to a near‐surface position after the Variscan orogeny. Thermal modelling reveals Permo‐Mesozoic burial to temperatures of up to 80–100 °C, although the sedimentary cover thins out towards the north resulting in maximum burial temperatures of less than 40 °C. This thermal pattern was locally modified by Cretaceous hydrothermal activity that reset the zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronometer along ore veins. The thermal models show no significant regional exhumation during Cenozoic times, indicating that the peneplain‐like morphology of the basement is a Late Cretaceous feature.     

Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectono‐metamorphic history of the South Pamir–Hindu Kush (Chitral,NW Pakistan): Insights from phase equilibria modelling,and garnet–monazite petrochronology

The Karakoram–Hindu Kush–Pamir and adjacent Tibetan plateau belt comprise a series of Gondwana‐derived crustal fragments that successively accreted to the Eurasian margin in the Mesozoic as the result of the progressive Tethys ocean closure. These domains provide unique insights into the thermal and structural history of the Mesozoic to Cenozoic Eurasian plate margin, which are critical to inform the initial boundary conditions (e.g. crustal thickness, structure and thermo‐mechanical properties) for the subsequent development of the large and hot Tibetan–Himalaya orogen, and the associated crustal deformation processes. Using a combination of microstructural analyses, thermobarometry modelling and U–Th–Pb monazite and Lu–Hf garnet geochronology, the study reappraises the metamorphic history of exposed mid‐crustal metapelites in the Chitral region of the South Pamir–Hindu Kush (NW Pakistan). This study also demonstrates that trace elements in monazite (especially Y and Dy), combined with thermodynamical modelling and Lu–Hf garnet dating, provides a powerful integrated toolbox for constraining long‐lived and polyphased tectono‐metamorphic histories in all their spatial and temporal complexity. Rocks from the Chitral region were progressively deformed and metamorphosed at sub‐ and supra‐solidus conditions through at least four distinct episodes from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic. Rocks were first metamorphosed at ~400–500°C and ~0.3 GPa in the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic (210–185 Ma), likely in response to the accretion of the Karakoram during the Cimmerian orogeny. Pressure and temperature subsequently increased by ~0.3 GPa and 100°C in the Early‐ to Mid Cretaceous (140–80 Ma), coinciding with the intrusion of calcalkaline granitic plutons across the Karakoram and Pamir regions. This event is interpreted as the record of crustal thickening and the development of a proto‐plateau within the Eurasian margin due to a long‐lived episode of slab flattening in an Andean‐type margin. Peak metamorphism was reached in the Late Eocene–Early Oligocene (40–30 Ma) at conditions of 580–600°C and ~0.6 GPa and 700–750°C and 0.7–0.8 GPa for the investigated staurolite schists and sillimanite migmatites respectively. This crustal heating up to moderate anatexis likely resulted in the underthrusting of the Indian plate after a NeoTethyan slab‐break off or to the Tethyan Himalaya–Lhasa microcontinent collision and subsequent oceanic slab flattening. Near‐isothermal decompression/exhumation followed in the Late Oligocene (28–23 Ma) as marked by a pressure decrease in excess of ~0.1 GPa. This event was coeval with the intrusion of the 24 Ma Garam Chasma leucogranite. This rapid exhumation is interpreted to be related to the reactivation of the South Pamir–Karakoram suture zone during the ongoing collision with India. The findings of this study confirm that significant crustal shortening and thickening of the south Eurasian margin occurred during the Mesozoic in an accretionary‐type tectonic setting through successive episodes of terrane accretions and probably slab flattening, transiently increasing the coupling at the plate interface. Moreover, they indicate that the south Eurasian margin was already hot and thickened prior to Cenozoic collision with India, which has important implications for orogen‐scale strain‐accommodation mechanisms.     

鲁西地块NW走向断层的活动特征及裂变径迹证据

不同于华北克拉通东部普遍存在的NE走向断层,鲁西地块广泛发育一组特征明显的NW走向断层,包括非控盆断层和控盆断层两类。前者位于鲁西地块最南部,倾角相对较陡,错开了古生界及以下地层,下盘太古宇中发育韧性剪切带,断层碎裂岩指示断层存在多期活动;后者位于非控盆断层以北,除蒙山断层外韧性剪切带不发育,倾角相对较缓,控制了中生代以来的沉积。磷灰石/锆石裂变径迹证据分析得出NW走向断层的活动存在差异。断层上、下盘样品磷灰石裂变径迹表观年龄在在67±5~35±2Ma之间,径迹直方图表明样品在冷却过程中没有受到热扰动。通过平均径迹长度-年龄(或香蕉图)图、单颗粒峰值年龄、径迹年龄谱模式以及热史反演模拟综合分析来约束断层的活动时间,结果表明非控盆断层可能在早侏罗世约184Ma开始活动,之后在晚白垩世80~75Ma以及新生代~61Ma和51~43Ma活动,43Ma之后不再活动。控盆断层活动时间稍晚,于早白垩世约141Ma、晚白垩世80~75Ma活动,新生代活动时间为约61Ma、49~42Ma以及36~32Ma。总体上,NW走向断层由早到晚由南向北发育,非控盆断层活动时间早、结束早;控盆断层活动晚、结束晚,并控制了凹陷的向北发育。中生代以来区域构造应力场的变化和郯庐断裂带的走滑作用是导致两类NW走向断层差异演化的根本原因,在深部则受控于晚三叠世以来华北、扬子板块陆陆碰撞和古太平洋板块俯冲方向和速度的改变。印支期后挤压到伸展的转变,加上郯庐断裂带的左行走滑,使靠近华北克拉通南缘的前端NW走向断层首先发育,因倾角较大故不控制盆地发育;向北的后端相对伸展,成为控盆断层,后经早白垩世约141Ma期间的伸展、晚白垩世末80~75Ma和新生代的发育断层最终成型。NW走向断层的这种大致向北迁移的规律,隐示华北克拉通破坏可能始于早侏罗世或晚侏罗世,且由南向北逐渐拆沉。     

Mesozoic and early Cenozoic tectonic convergence-to-rifting transition prior to opening of the South China Sea

We have investigated Mesozoic geological problems around the South China Sea (SCS) based on gravimetric, magnetic, seismic, and lithofacies data. Three-dimensional analytical signal amplitudes (ASA) of magnetic anomalies clearly define the inland tectonic boundaries and the residual Mesozoic basins offshore. The ASA suggest that the degree of magmatism and/or the average magnetic susceptibility of igneous rocks increase southeastwards and that late-stage A-type igneous rocks present along the coast of southeast China possess the highest effective susceptibility. The geophysical data define Mesozoic sedimentary and tectonic structures and reveal four major unconformities [Pz/T–J, T–J/J, J/K, and Mesozoic/Cenozoic (Pz, Palaeozic; T, Triassic; J, Jurassic; K, Cretaceous)], corresponding to regional tectonic events revealed by nine palaeogeographic time slices based on prior geological surveys and our new fieldwork. Showing both sedimentary and volcanic facies and regional faults, our palaeogeographic maps confirm an early Mesozoic northwestward-migrating orogeny that gradually obliterated the Tethyan regime, and a middle-to-late Mesozoic southeastward migration and younging in synchronized extension, faulting, and magmatism. Three major phases of marine deposition developed but were subsequently terminated by tectonic compression, uplift, erosion, faulting, rifting, and/or magmatism. The tectonic transition from the Tethyan to Pacific regimes was completed by the end of the Middle Triassic (ca. 220 Ma), reflecting widespread Mesozoic orogeny. The transition from an active to a passive continental margin occurred at the end of the Early Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma); this was accompanied by significant changes in sedimentary environments, due likely to an eastward retreat of the palaeo-Pacific subduction zone and/or to the collision of the West Philippine block with Eurasia. The overall Mesozoic evolution of southeast China comprised almost an entire cycle of orogenic build-up, peneplanation, and later extension, all under the influence of the subducting palaeo-Pacific plate. Continental margin extension and rifting continued into the early Cenozoic, eventually triggering the Oligocene opening of the SCS.     

福建泉州晚中生代伸展构造变形特征与年代学制约

晚中生代福建沿海地区发育多期与古太平洋板块俯冲有关的岩浆活动和构造变形.福建泉州地区伸展构造变形主要表现为高角度正断层和低角度正断层或拆离断层, 古构造应力场反演指示其形成于NW-SE向伸展环境.锆石U-Pb年代学指示泉州地区发育4期岩浆活动, 分别为晚侏罗世(~155 Ma)、早白垩世中期(130~125 Ma)、早白垩世末期(~109 Ma)以及晚白垩世早期(~100 Ma之后).结合构造变形的切割关系和岩浆岩年代学, 长乐-南澳剪切带左旋韧性走滑形成于130~120 Ma, 而右旋脆性剪切形成于120~100 Ma之间.古太平洋板块向华南大陆之下的俯冲角度变化导致福建沿海地区发育晚中生代造山带.造山作用开始于早白垩世之初, 结束于早白垩世末期, 以大规模NW-SE向伸展构造发育为标志, 其从同造山挤压到后造山伸展的转换发生于~120 Ma.      

Partitioning of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin in the central South China Block by exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains during a transition from extensional to compressional tectonics?

The formation of a series of intermountain basins is likely to indicate a geodynamic transition, especially in the case of such basins within the central South China Block (CSCB). Determining whether or not these numerous intermountain basins represent a division of the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin by exhumation of Xuefeng Mountains, is key to understanding the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic tectonics of the South China Block (SCB). Here we present apatite fission track (AFT) data and time–temperature modeling in order to reconstruct the evolution history of the Pan-Yangtze Basin. Fourteen rock samples were taken from a NE–SW-trending mountain–basin system within the CSCB, including, from west to east, the Wuling Mountains (Wuling Shan), the south and north Mayang basins, the Xuefeng Mountains (Xuefeng Shan) and the Hengyang Basin. Cretaceous lacustrine sequences are well preserved in the south and north Mayang and Hengyang basins, and sporadically crop out in the Xuefeng Mountains, whereas Paleogene piedmont proluvial–lacustrine sequences are only found in the south Mayang and Hengyang basins. AFT results indicate that the Wuling and Xuefeng mountains underwent rapid denudation post-84 Ma, whereas the south and north Mayang basins were more slowly uplifted from 67 and 84 Ma, respectively. Following a quiescent period from 32 to 19 Ma, both the mountains and basins have been rapidly denuded since 19 Ma. Both the AFT data and sedimentary facies changes suggest that the Cretaceous deposits that cover the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins through to the Xuefeng Mountains define the Cretaceous Pan-Yangtze Basin. Integrating our results with tectonic background for the SCB, we propose that rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate produced the Pan-Yangtze Basin, which was divided into the south–north Mayang and Hengyang basins by the abrupt uplift and exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains from 84 Ma to present, apart from a period of tectonic inactivity from 32 to 19 Ma. This late Late Cretaceous to Paleogene denudation resulted from movement on the Ziluo strike–slip fault, which formed due to intra-continental compression most likely associated with the Eurasia–Indian plate subduction and collision. Sinistral transpression along the Ailao Shan–Red River Fault at 34–17 Ma probably transformed this compression to the extrusion of the Indochina Block, and produced the quiescent window period from 32 to 19 Ma for the mountain–basin system in the CSCB. Therefore, the initiation of exhumation of the Xuefeng Mountains at 84 Ma indicates a switch in tectonic regime from Cretaceous extension to late Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic compression.     

美国Paradox盆地盐构造新生代的拉伸活化

美国科罗拉多高原Paradox盆地中的裂口盐墙和盐背斜,主要是在古生界和中生界沉积物的差异负载作用下发育起来的。盐构造顶部的平缓褶皱,通常被认为是晚白垩纪至古新世拉腊米挤压运动的产物,而其脊顶地堑与山谷,则被认为是挤压后的松弛拉伸及盐溶作用所造成的。基于野外调查、物理模拟以及现代盐构造学理论,研究认为这些平缓褶皱和脊顶地堑,主要是新生代始新世至渐新世北北东向区域拉伸作用的产物。因为岩盐较其围岩软弱,拉伸形变主要集中在早先形成的盐墙、盐背斜及其较薄的顶板中,使盐构造发生活化并形成新的拉伸构造。顶板中的拉伸构造主要包括正断层、地堑、断层滑移(断滑)褶皱以及滚动褶皱。由于区域拉伸方向斜交盐构造走向,断层分布多呈羽列状。在母盐层较厚地区,拉伸使盐刺穿在正断层之下次动上升;而在母盐层较薄地区,拉伸使盐刺穿下降。在初始盐刺穿较高地区,盐构造的侧翼下降;而在初始盐刺穿较低地区,盐构造整体下降。拉伸使盐刺穿变宽,脊顶地堑下沉,形成拉伸型下降盐刺穿特征性的尖角盐体构造。局部地区,盐体从破碎的顶板间溢出,覆盖了下沉的脊顶地堑。     

Sedimentary provenance of the Hengyang and Mayang basins,SE China,and implications for the Mesozoic topographic change in South China Craton: Evidence from detrital zircon geochronology

Detrital zircon U–Pb data from sedimentary rocks in the Hengyang and Mayang basins, SE China reveal a change in basin provenance during or after Early Cretaceous. The results imply a provenance of the sediment from the North China Craton and Dabie Orogen for the Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic sandstones and from the Indosinian granitic plutons in the South China Craton for the Lower Cretaceous sandstones. The 90–120 Ma age group in the Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Hengyang Basin is correlated with Cretaceous volcanism along the southeastern margin of South China, suggesting a coastal mountain belt have existed during the Late Cretaceous. The sediment provenance of the basins and topographic evolution revealed by the geochronological data in this study are consistent with a Mesozoic tectonic setting from Early Mesozoic intra-continental compression through late Mesozoic Pacific Plate subduction in SE China.     

Mesozoic and Cenozoic vertical movements in the Atlas system (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia): An overview

The E-W trending Atlas System of Maghreb consists of weakly shortened, intra-continental fold belts associated with plateau areas (“Mesetas”), extending between the south-westernmost branch of the Mediterranean Alpine Belt (Rif-Tell) and the Sahara Platform. Although the Atlas system has been erected contemporaneously from Morocco to Algeria and Tunisia during the Middle Eocene to Recent, it displays a conspicuous longitudinal asymmetry, with i) Paleozoic outcrops restricted to its western part; ii) highest elevation occurring in the west, both in the Atlas System and its foreland (Anti-Atlas); iii) low elevation corridors (e.g. Hodna) and depressed foreland (Tunisian Chotts and Sahel area) in the east. We analyse the origin of these striking contrasts in relation with i) the Variscan heritage; ii) crustal vertical movements during the Mesozoic; iii) crustal shortening during the Cenozoic and finally, iv) the occurrence of a Miocene-Quaternary hot mantle anomaly in the west. The Maghreb lithosphere was affected by the Variscan orogeny, and thus thickened only in its western part. During the Late Permian-Triassic, a paleo-high formed in the west between the Central Atlantic and Alpine Tethys rift systems, giving birth to the emergent/poorly subsident West Moroccan Arch. During the late Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Morocco and western Algeria were dominantly emergent whereas rifting lasted on in eastern Algeria and Tunisia. We ascribe the uplift of the western regions to thermal doming, consistent with the Late Jurassic and Barremian gabbroic magmatism observed there. After the widespread transgression of the high stand Cenomanian-Turonian seas, the inversion of the Atlas System began during the Senonian as a consequence of the Africa-Eurasia convergence. Erosion affected three ENE-trending uplifted areas of NW Africa, which we consider as lithospheric anticlines related to the incipient Africa-Europe convergence. In contrast, in eastern Algeria and Tunisia a NW-trending rift system developed contemporaneously (Sirt rifting), normal to the general trend of the Atlas System. The general inversion and orogenesis of the Atlas System occurred during two distinct episodes, Middle-Late Eocene-Oligocene and Late Miocene-Pliocene, respectively, whereas during the intervening period, the Africa-Europe convergence was mainly accommodated in the Rif-Tell system. Inversion tectonics and crustal thickening may account for the moderate uplift of the eastern Atlas System, not for the high elevation of the western mountain ranges (Middle Atlas, High Atlas, Anti-Atlas). In line with previous authors, we ascribe part of the recent uplift of the latter regions to the occurrence of a NE-trending, high-temperature mantle anomaly, here labelled the Moroccan Hot Line (MHL), which is also marked by a strip of late Miocene-Quaternary alkaline magmatism and significant seismicity.     

Solid sedimentation rates history of the Southern African continental margins: Implications for the uplift history of the South African Plateau

The Cretaceous and Cenozoic fill of the continental margins of southern Africa (South‐East Atlantic and Agulhas Margins) contains a continuous record of sediment supplied from the South African Plateau (SAP) for the past 134 million years. Estimates of solid sediment volumes deposited offshore were calculated from isopach maps and extrapolated vertical cross‐sections derived from a large amount of industrial geophysical data. Solid phase volumes and accumulation rates were calculated for six epochs: Lower Cretaceous (134–113 Ma), Mid Cretaceous (113–93.5 Ma), Upper Cretaceous (93.5–81 and 81–66 Ma), Palaeogene (66–25 Ma), Neogene (25–0 Ma). Our new compilation demonstrates the existence of two periods of elevated flux. The most important one occurs in the late Cretaceous (93.5–66 Ma) and was synchronous with an acceleration of onshore denudation as shown by thermochronometric data. After a period of extremely low accumulation rate, the second phase of elevated flux started in the Oligocene (~30–25 Ma) until present‐day. From these observations we suggest that the main phase of uplift of the SAP took place during the Upper Cretaceous. Two mechanisms, namely uplift caused by lithospheric delamination or by dynamic topography caused by the continent moving over the African Superplume, are viable explanations for our observations. The more recent and lower amplitude episode of enhanced accumulation rates is likely to correspond to a second period of uplift, potentially associated with the onset of uplift and extension along the East African Rift System.