六合地区新元古代-新生代下地壳的成分与形成机制:来自麻粒岩包体的证据

六合地区地处扬子克拉通的西缘,前人对该地区下地壳的成分与形成机制尚无系统认识。本文通过研究新生代幔源侵入岩中所携带的深源捕虏体为认识该地区下地壳的成分和形成机制提供了直接证据。该捕虏体为高级正变质岩(麻粒岩相),岩性分别为石榴石透辉岩、石榴石角闪透辉岩、石榴石角闪岩。三者全岩Si O2=43.85%~50.82%,MgO=6.83%~14.77%,Mg#=0.50~0.64,Cr=87.1×10~(-6)~616×10~(-6),Ni=19.7×10~(-6)~143×10~(-6),皆属于低镁石榴石堆晶岩。通过石榴石-单斜辉石Mg-Fe交换地质温度计计算得知石榴石角闪岩的形成温度721~774℃,形成深度为45~47km,石榴石角闪透辉岩和石榴石透辉岩的形成温度803~829℃,形成深度为48~51km,说明三者皆形成于下地壳。捕虏体锆石多为变质锆石,锆石U-Pb年龄分别为259±9Ma和773±23Ma。捕虏体的全岩Sm-Nd等时线年龄分别为251±4Ma和809±64Ma。259Ma的锆石εHf(t)=-5.69~10.3,773Ma的锆石εHf(t)=5.87~17.7。年代学数据和锆石Hf同位素数据表明六合地区下地壳受到新元古代和晚二叠世岩浆底侵作用,同时发生变质作用。新元古代捕虏体富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),如Rb、Ba、Sr。高度亏损高场强元素(HFSE),如Nb、Ta、Ti。εNd(t)=4.36~5.28。表明在新元古代时期,六合地区的地壳受到俯冲弧岩浆底侵,经过批式熔融计算得知底侵岩浆源自地幔石榴石-尖晶石橄榄岩10%~30%部分熔融。晚二叠世捕虏体富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),如Rb、Ba、Sr。轻度亏损高场强元素(HFSE),如Nb、Ta、Ti。εNd(t)=-5.68~2.33。表明在晚二叠世时期,六合地区的地壳受到地幔柱-岩石圈地幔相互作用产生的岩浆底侵,经过批式熔融计算得知底侵岩浆由地幔石榴石-尖晶石橄榄岩10%~20%部分熔融而成。综上所述,在新元古代板块俯冲和晚二叠世地幔柱的分别作用下,六合地区的地壳受到地幔物质的加入形成镁铁质的新生下地壳。     

Petrology of spinel harzburgite xenoliths from the Kishb Plateau,Saudi Arabia

Two spinel harzburgite xenoliths from a Pleistocene alkali basalt unit erupted at the northwestern corner of the Tertiary Kishb Plateau (Saudi Arabia) are characterized by an incipient transition from protogranular to porphyroclastic texture. Vermicular and interstitial spinels are closely associated with neoblasts of olivine, enstatite, and diopside. Sparse exsolution lamellae of high-Ca pyroxene occur in all the enstatite porphyroblasts. Olivine neoblasts are, in many cases, in contact with one another, with the triple grain junctions rarely approaching 120°. Chemical zoning is undetectable by microprobe in spinel and olivine, whereas zoning of Al in enstatite and diopside indicates that chemical equilibrium was not attained. Clear, palegreen glasses occur as veinlets about 10 microns or less in width along grain boundaries and cracks. Consistent counting rates for Na in these glasses were obtained only at 5 kV with a sample current of about 6 namps and counting time of less than 7 s. These glasses are chemically homogeneous and are characterized by relatively high contents of SiO₂ (55.8–58.7 wt%), Na₂O (6.4–7.6 wt%), and Al₂O₃ (20.0–21.6 wt%), with inferred volatile contents of less than 1 wt%. The glass is suggested to be of upper mantle origin rather than having developed from the host basalt or by decompressional melting upon ascent.Geothermometry and geobarometry indicate that the lithospheric upper mantle beneath the Arabian Shield had been locally heated to higher than 1,050° C during Miocene/ Pliocene, resulting in some degree of partial melting. Spinel was formed by reaction between aluminous pyroxenes and olivine during subsequent cooling, and intercrystalline Mg-Fe exchange reached a steady state at about 800° C. The geotherm beneath the Arabian Shield since Miocene is estimated to be somewhat lower than that representing the present oceanic upper mantle. The thermal history established is consistent with the tectonic history of the Red Sea area and indicates a two-stage magmatism in the Arabian Shield since Miocene.     

Granulite facies lower crustal xenoliths from the Eifel,West Germany: petrological and geochemical aspects

Petrographic, petrological and geochemical data for 16 mafic meta-igneous, granulite facies lower crustal xenoliths from the East Eifel were collected in order to develop a model for the lower crustal history for this region. The xenoliths consist of plagioclase±amphibole±clinopyroxene±garnet±orthopyroxene±scapolite + opaque minerals±apatite±rutile±zircon. Garnet has reacted to a variable extent with plagioclase and clinopyroxene to form a corona of plagioclase_II+ amphibole + orthopyroxene_II. Pyroxenes and plagioclases show complex zoning patterns with regard to Al and Ca which can be interpreted in terms of P, T history. Decreasing temperature and pressure conditions are recorded by decreasing Al in clinopyroxene rims coexisting with increasing anorthite contents in plagioclase rims and the breakdown of garnet. In addition, a young heating event that affected the granulites to different degrees is inferred from the complementary Ca-zoning patterns in clino- and orthopyroxenes. Rare earth element (REE) patterns of whole rocks together with the trends displayed and fractionated liquids. REE analyses of the mineral separates display equilibrium partitioning patterns for amphibole and clinopyroxene, although isotopic data show that amphibole contains externally-derived Sr and Nd components not recognized in other minerals. At least a 4-stage history for the granulites is recorded: (1) intrusion and crystal fractionation of basaltic magmas in the lower crust, probably accompanied by crustal assimilation, (2) granulite facies metamorphism, (3) a decrease in temperature and pressure, and (4) a later heating event. The complicated thermal history is reflected in Sm–Nd mineral isochron ages which range from about 170 Ma down to about 100 Ma and cannot be assigned to distinct geological events. These ages correlate with inferred temperatures; the low ages are measured for xenoliths with the highest temperatures. In some cases the young heating event is likely to be responsible for partial resetting of the mineral isochrons.     

Granulite facies xenoliths from the Yuhuashan complex,central Jiangxi,South China: constraints on Late Palaeozoic orogeny and middle‐lower crust components

The Cretaceous Yuhuashan igneous complex contains abundant xenoliths of high‐grade metamorphic rocks, with the assemblage garnet ± hypersthene + biotite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar + quartz. The biotite in these samples has high TiO₂ (>3.5%), indicating high‐T metamorphism (623–778 °C). P–T calculations for two felsic granulites indicate that the peak metamorphism took place at 880–887 °C and 0.64–0.70 GPa, in the low pressure/high temperature (LP‐HT) granulite facies. Phase equilibrium modelling gives equilibrium conditions for the peak assemblage of a felsic granulite of >0.6 GPa and >840 °C, consistent with the P–T calculations, and identifies an anticlockwise P–T–t path. LA‐ICPMS U–Pb dating of metamorphic and detrital zircon from one xenolith reveals that the granulite facies metamorphism took place at 273.6 ± 2.2 Ma, and the protolith was a sedimentary rock deposited later than 683 Ma. This represents the first Late Palaeozoic (Variscan) granulite facies event identified in the South China Block (SCB). Coupled with other geological observations, the LP‐HT metamorphic conditions and anticlockwise P–T–t path suggest that Variscan metamorphism probably occurred in a post‐orogenic or intraplate extensional tectonic setting associated with the input of external heat, related to the underplating of mantle‐derived magma. Based on P–T estimates and the comparison of the protolith composition with mid‐ to low‐grade metamorphic rocks in the area, it is suggested that the mid‐lower crust under the Xiangshan–Yuhuashan area consists mainly of these felsic granulites and gneisses, whose protoliths were probably subducted to these depths during the Early Palaeozoic orogeny in the SCB, and underwent two episodes of metamorphism during Early Palaeozoic and Late Palaeozoic time.     

Heterogeneously depleted Precambrian lithosphere deduced from mantle peridotites and associated chromitite deposits of Al'Ays ophiolite,Northwestern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

The mantle section of Al'Ays ophiolite consists of heterogeneously depleted harzburgites, dunites and large-sized chromitite pods. Two chromitite-bearing sites (Site1 and Site2), about 10 km apart horizontally from one another, were examined for their upper mantle rocks. Cr-spinels from the two sites have different chemistry; Cr-rich in Site1 and Al-rich in Site2. The average Cr-ratio = (Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio) of Cr-spinels in harzburgites, dunites and chromitites is remarkably high 0.78, 0.77 and 0.87, respectively, in Site1, compared with those of Site2 which have intermediate ratio averages 0.5, 0.56 and 0.6, respectively. The platinum-group elements (PGE) in chromitites also show contrasting patterns from Site1 to Site2; having elevated IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) and strongly depleted in PPGE (Rh, Pt, Pd) with steep negative slopes in the former, and gentle negative slopes in the latter. The oxygen fugacity (Δlog fO₂) values deduced from harzburgites and dunites of Site1 show a wide variation under reducing conditions, mostly below the FMQ buffer. The Site2 harzburgites and dunites, on the other hand are mostly above the FMQ buffer. Two magmatic stages are suggested for the lithospheric evolution of Al'Ays ophiolite in response to a switch of tectonic setting. The first stage produced a peridotites–chromitites suite with Al-rich Cr-spinels, possibly beneath a mid-ocean ridge setting, or most likely in back-arc rift of a supra-subduction zone setting. The second stage involved higher degrees of partial melting, produced a peridotites–chromitites suite with Cr-rich Cr-spinels, possibly in a fore-arc setting. The coexistence of compositionally different mantle suites with different melting histories in a restricted area of an ophiolite complex may be attributable to a mechanically juxtaposed by mantle convection during recycling. The mantle harzburgites and dunites are apt to be compositionally modified during recycling process; being highly depleted (Site1 case) than their original composition (Site2 case).     

The lower crust beneath cratonic north-east Europe: isotopic constraints from garnet granulite xenoliths

Lower crustal garnet-bearing mafic granulite xenoliths from beneath the cratonic areas of NE Europe (NW Russia, Belarus, Finland) have unradiogenic ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios that differ strongly from those of xenoliths from beneath Phanerozoic regions of the European plate and worldwide, but closely resemble xenoliths from other cratonic regions of the world. Phanerozoic lower crustal xenoliths worldwide also show a very limited range of Pb isotope compositions whereas most cratonic lower crustal xenoliths have more varied but usually unradiogenic Pb isotope compositions, plotting to the left of the Geochron. However, many of the xenoliths from beneath NE Europe plot on the right-hand side of the Geochron and also have more radiogenic ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios. Thus, the lower crust of NE Europe shows characteristics of both cratonic lower crust (unradiogenic Nd isotopes) and Phanerozoic lower crust (radiogenic Pb isotopes). Its present-day low U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios indicate that it has been depleted in heat-producing elements, but the radiogenic Pb isotope ratios show that this depletion occurred relatively recently.     

Late Precambrian subduction and collision in the Al Amar—Idsas region, Arabian Shield, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Recent work on outer arcs and collision belts provides for the first time a possible model for evolution of part of the Arabian Shield. The thick volcanic, volcaniclastic and sedimentary succession of the Proterozoic Halaban Group in the east of the Shield is intruded by synto late tectonic plutons and resembles Cenozoic subduction-related magmatic areas. West of the Halaban Group, and separated from it by a major east-dipping thrust with associated ultrabasic rocks and carbonates, are folded chlorite—sericite metasediments of the Abt Schists, comparable to Cenozoic outer arc successions. West of and beneath the Abt Schists calcareous and arenaceous metasediments of the Ar-Ridaniyah Formation are analogous to Mesozoic—Cenozoic continental margin shelf facies of the subducting plate. Eastward subduction with magmatism (Halaban Group) and tectonic emplacement of ocean-floor sediments (Abt Schists) was followed by continental collision and eastward underthrusting by the Ar-Ridaniyah Group and cratonized central part of the Shield. Collision-related post-tectonic granites were emplaced during and following the collision.     

Catazonal xenoliths in French Neogene volcanic rocks: Constitution of the lower crust

87 samples of granulitic xenoliths scavenged by the Neogene volcanoes in French Massif Central, have been analysed for major elements and Li, Rb, Sr, Ba, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. These data confirm the presence of rocks with both sedimentary and igneous derivation chemically similar to other granulitic rocks, especially those of the Frazer Range in Australia. Relatively high K and Rb concentration of the metasedimentary rocks conflicts with the hypothesis of systematic depletion of lithophile elements in the lower continental crust.The composition and the elemental variations of the igneous derived rocks suggest a parent magma and a differentiation trend characteristic of tholeiitic rocks. It is proposed that this differentiation was produced at low pressure and consequently, the elemental variation existed before the high pressure granulite facies metamorphism of this series.Although an andesite average of the lower crust (between 25–26 and 12–16 km), directly beneath the Bournac pipe (Velay) is calculated, confirming earlier suggestions of a relatively basic composition but it does not mean that this crust was derived from andesitic rocks.     

Transpressional regime in southern Arabian Shield: Insights from Wadi Yiba Area, Saudi Arabia

Detailed field-structural mapping of Neoproterozoic basement rocks exposed in the Wadi Yiba area, southern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia illustrates an important episode of late Neoproterozoic transpression in the southern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS). This area is dominated by five main basement lithologies: gneisses, metavolcanics, Ablah Group (meta-clastic and marble units) and syn- and post-tectonic granitoids. These rocks were affected by three phases of deformation (D₁–D₃). D₁ formed tight to isoclinal and intrafolial folds (F₁), penetrative foliation (S₁), and mineral lineation (L₁), which resulted from early E-W (to ENE-WSW) shortening. D₂ deformation overprinted D₁ structures and was dominated by transpression and top-to-the-W (?WSW) thrusting as shortening progressed. Stretching lineation trajectories, S-C foliations, asymmetric shear fabrics and related mylonitic foliation, and flat-ramp and duplex geometries further indicate the inferred transport direction. The N- to NNW-orientation of both “in-sequence piggy-back thrusts” and axial planes of minor and major F₂ thrust-related overturned folds also indicates the same D₂ compressional stress trajectories. The Wadi Yiba Shear Zone (WYSZ) formed during D₂ deformation. It is one of several N-S trending brittle-ductile Late Neoproterozoic shear zones in the southern part of the ANS. Shear sense indicators reveal that shearing during D₂ regional-scale transpression was dextral and is consistent with the mega-scale sigmoidal patterns recognized on Landsat images. The shearing led to the formation of the WYSZ and consequent F₂ shear zone-related folds, as well as other unmappable shear zones in the deformed rocks. Emplacement of the syn-tectonic granitoids is likely to have occurred during D₂ transpression and occupied space created during thrust propagation. D₁ and D₂ structures are locally overprinted by mesoscopic- to macroscopic-scale D₃ structures (F₃ folds, and L₃ crenulation lineations and kink bands). F₃ folds are frequently open and have steep to subvertical axial planes and axes that plunge ENE to ESE. This deformation may reflect progressive convergence between East and West Gondwana.     

Significance of late Precambrian turbidite sequences bordering the East Antarctic Shield

A late Precambrian turbidite succession is described from North Victoria Land, Antarctica, in its sedimentological, biological and tectonic aspects. Similar sequences occurring across the whole continent along the present Transantarctic Mountains are discussed. The geotectonic significance of this flysch belt is analysed in its relation to the East Antarctic Shield, the Gondwana craton and a proto-Pacific.

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Zusammenfassung Aus dem Nord-Viktoria-Land, Antarktis, wird eine spätkambrische Turbiditfolge mit ihren sedimentologischen, biologischen und tektonischen Kriterien beschrieben. Ähnliche Sequenzen, die quer durch den ganzen Kontinent im Zuge des Transantarktischen Gebirges vorkommen, werden diskutiert. Die geotektonische Bedeutung dieses Flysch-Gürtels wird analysiert in seiner Beziehung zum ostantarktischen Schild, zum Gondwana Kraton und zu einem Proto-Pazifik.

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Résumé L'auteur décrit, avec ses critères sédimentologiques, biologiques et tectoniques, une série de turbidites du Précambrien supérieur dans le Nord de la Terre Victoria de l'Antarctique. Il discute des séries analogues se présentant dans tout le continent suivant la présente Chaîne transantarctique. Il analyse la signification géotectonique de cette ceinture de flysch dans sa relation avec le bouclier de l'Antarctique oriental, du craton du Gondwana et d'un Proto-Pacifique.

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Precambrian basement character of Yemen and correlations with Saudi Arabia and Somalia

The Precambrian basement of Yemen occupies a key location in the Pan-African orogen of Gondwana. This paper reviews geological, isotopic and geochronological data and presents new Pb- and Nd-isotope data which help define distinct gneiss terranes within this basement, constraining correlations of these terranes with neighbouring regions of Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Existing whole-rock Pb- and Nd-isotopic data are also summarised. These data should facilitate a more objective assessment of the contribution of the Yemen Precambrian to Cenozoic magmatism associated with the opening of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.     

Granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths from the Deccan Trap: insight into the nature and composition of the lower lithosphere beneath cratonic India

Granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths in lamprophyre dykes intruded during the waning stage of Deccan Trap volcanism are derived from the lower crust beneath the Dharwar craton of Western India. The xenolith suite consists of plagioclase-poor mafic granulites (55% of the total volume of xenoliths), plagioclase-rich felsic granulites (25%), and ultramafic pyroxenites and websterites (20%) with subordinate wehrlites. Rare spinel peridotite xenoliths are also present, representing mantle lithosphere. The high Mg #, low SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and low Nb/La (<1) ratios suggest that the protoliths of the mafic granulites broadly represent cumulates of sub-alkaline magmas. All of the granulites are peraluminous and light rare-earth element-enriched. The felsic granulites may have resulted from anatexis of the mafic lower crustal rocks; thus, the mafic granulites are enriched in Sr whereas the felsic ones are depleted. Composite xenoliths consisting of mafic granulites traversed by veins of pyroxenite indicate intrusion of the granulitic lower crust by younger pyroxenites. Petrography and geochemistry of the latter (e.g. presence of phlogopite) indicate the metasomatised nature of the deep crust in this region.Thermobarometric estimates from phase equilibria indicate equilibration conditions between 650 and 1200 °C, 0.7-1.2 GPa suggestive of lower crustal environments. These estimates provide a spatial context for the sampled lithologies thereby placing constraints on the interpretation of geophysical data. Integration of xenolith-derived P-T results with Deep Seismic Soundings (DSS) data suggests that the pyroxenites and websterites are transitional between the lower crust and the upper mantle. A three-layer model for the crust in western India, derived from the xenoliths, is consistent with DSS data. The mafic nature of this hybrid lower crust contrasts with the felsic lower crustal composition of the south Indian granulite terrain.     

Crustal structure of the western part of the Southern Granulite Terrain of Indian Peninsular Shield derived from gravity data

The Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) is composed of high-grade granulite domain occurring to the south of Dharwar Craton (DC). The structural units of SGT show a marked change in the structural trend from the dominant north–south in DC to east–west trend in SGT and primarily consist of different crustal blocks divided by major shear zones. The Bouguer anomaly map prepared based on nearly 3900 gravity observations shows that the anomalies are predominantly negative and vary between −125 mGal and +22 mGal. The trends of the anomalies follow structural grain of the terrain and exhibit considerable variations within the charnockite bodies. Two-dimensional wavelength filtering as well as Zero Free-air based (ZFb) analysis of the Geoid-Corrected Bouguer Anomaly map of the region is found to be very useful in preparing regional gravity anomaly map and inversion of this map gave rise to crustal thicknesses of 37–44 km in the SGT. Crustal density structure along four regional gravity profiles cutting across major shear zones, lineaments, plateaus and other important geological structures bring out the following structural information. The Bavali Shear Zone extending at least up to 10 km depth is manifested as a plane separating two contrasting upper crustal blocks on both sides and the gravity high north of it reveals the presence of a high density mass at the base of the crust below Coorg. The steepness of the Moyar and Bhavani shears on either side of Nilgiri plateau indicates uplift of the plateau due to block faulting with a high density mass at the crustal base. The Bhavani Shear Zone is manifested as a steep southerly dipping plane extending to deeper levels along which alkaline and granite rocks intruded into the top crustal layer. The gravity high over Palghat gap is due to the upwarping of Moho by 1–2 km with the presence of a high density mass at intermediate crustal levels. The gravity low in Periyar plateau is due to the granite emplacement, mid-crustal interface and the thicker crust. The feeble gravity signature across the Achankovil shear characterized by sharp velocity contrast indicates that the shear is not a superficial structure but a crustal scale zone of deformation reaching up to mid-crustal level.     

Erratum to: Transpressional regime in southern Arabian Shield: Insights from Wadi Yiba Area,Saudi Arabia

Mineralogy and Petrology -     

Segregation and seclusion: the case of compounds for western expatriates in Saudi Arabia

In discussions on the “fragmented city” and the boom of private and guarded neighbourhoods, several authors have stressed the importance of a growing differentiation of lifestyles and “cultural” orientations for this trend. The compounds for western foreigners in Saudi Arabia are explicitly based on the idea of a spatial seclusion of social groups with different “cultural” backgrounds. This study presents an overview of the development of these western enclaves. Narrative interviews with former expatriates provide insights into their daily life, their social relations within the compound, and to the Saudi Arabia behind the gates.     

Chemical composition of crustal xenoliths from southwestern Syria: Characterization of the upper part of the lower crust beneath the Arabian plate

The chemical bulk rock composition of 37 xenoliths, brought from depths of 25–30 km to the surface by penetrating Cenozoic alkali basaltic magma, from the Shamah Harrat, southwestern Syria, was determined by XRF spectroscopy. The geochemical character of these xenoliths points to original marls and within-plate igneous rocks. To obtain the mean chemical composition of the corresponding upper portion of the lower crust, the compositions of the 37 xenoliths were averaged and a leucogranitic and upper crustal component was added to account for assimilation by the Cenozoic magmas. This mean is more basic (SiO₂—50.5 wt%) and richer in HFSE, LREE, and LILE compared to compositions of the lower crust given by Taylor and McLennan [1985. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, 312pp.] and Rudnick and Gao [2005. Composition of the continental crust. In: Rudnick, R.L. (Ed.), The Crust. Treatise on Geochemistry, vol. 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 1–64]. Calculations of the seismic compressional-wave velocity from our compositional mean, using the PERPLE_X computer software, yielded values around 6.85 km/s, which are in accordance with reported seismic studies for the corresponding depth levels (6.7–7.1 km/s).