Paleomagnetism of the Carboniferous Rouchel Block,Tamworth Belt,and pole path revision for the New England Orogen,eastern Australia

Structural, magnetic and gravity trends of the southern New England Orogen (SNEO) indicate four oroclinal structures, none conclusively confirmed paleomagnetically. Curved structures of the Tamworth Belt (TB)—a continental forearc exposed across six tectono-stratigraphic blocks with interlinked Carboniferous stratigraphies and extensive ignimbritic rocks known to retain primary magnetisations despite prevalent overprinting—are prospective to oroclinal testing through comparison of Carboniferous pole paths for individual blocks. Pole paths (a) have been established for the Rocky Creek and Werrie blocks (northwestern/western TB), (b) are described herein for the Rouchel Block (southwestern TB), and (c) are forthcoming for the Gresford and Myall blocks (southern/southeastern TB). The Rouchel path derives from detailed paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric studies. Thermal, alternating field and liquid nitrogen demagnetisations show a low-temperature overprint, attributed to late Oligocene weathering, and high-temperature (HT) primary and overprint components in both magnetite and hematite carriers, showing slight, systematic, directional differences with hematite providing the better cleaned site poles. Seven primary mean-site poles of Tournaisian and mainly Visean age and three overprint poles show six positive fold tests, five at 95% or higher confidence levels. Two dispersed groupings of intermediate (IT) and HT overprint site poles of Permian and Permo-Triassic age are attributed to early and late phases in oroclinal evolution of the SNEO. HT and IT/HT overprint site poles of mid-Carboniferous age are attributed to Variscan Australia–Asia convergence. Individual pole paths for the Rocky Creek, Werrie and Rouchel blocks show no noticeable rotation between them, indicating primary curvature for the southwestern TB. Their integrated SNEO pole path establishes a reference frame for determining rotations of the southern and southeastern TB.     

Geology and geochronology of the Emu Creek Block (northern New South Wales,Australia) and implications for oroclinal bending in the New England Orogen

The southern part of the New England Orogen exhibits a series of remarkable orogenic bends (oroclines), which include the prominent Z-shaped Texas and Coffs Harbour oroclines. The oroclines are defined by the curvature of Devonian–Carboniferous forearc basin and accretionary complex rock units. However, for much of the interpreted length of the Texas Orocline, the forearc basin is mostly concealed by younger strata, and crops out only in the Emu Creek Block in the eastern limb of the orocline. The geology of the Emu Creek Block has hitherto been relatively poorly constrained and is addressed here by presenting new data, including a revised geological map, stratigraphic sections and new detrital zircon U–Pb ages. Rocks of the Emu Creek Block include shallow-marine and deltaic sedimentary successions, corresponding to the Emu Creek and Paddys Flat formations, respectively. New detrital zircon U–Pb data indicate that these formations were deposited during the late Carboniferous and that strata were derived from a magmatic source of Devonian to Carboniferous age. The sedimentary provenance and detrital zircon age distribution suggest that the sequence was deposited in a forearc basin setting. We propose that the Emu Creek and Paddys Flat formations are arc-distal, along-strike correlatives of the northern Tamworth Belt, which is part of the forearc basin in the western limb of the Texas Orocline. These results confirm the suggestion that Devonian–Carboniferous forearc basin rocks surround the Texas Orocline and have been subjected to oroclinal bending.     

Carboniferous palaeomagnetism of the Rocky Creek Block,northern Tamworth Belt,and the New England pole path

Palaeomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric results are presented for a Carboniferous (Visean to Westphalian) succession of felsic, mainly ignimbritic, volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks from the Rocky Creek Block of the northern Tamworth Belt, southern New England Orogen. Detailed thermal demagnetisation of 734 samples from 64 sites show three groups of magnetic components with low (<300°C), intermediate (300–600°C) and high (500–680°C) unblocking temperature ranges. Well‐defined primary magnetisations have been determined for 28 sites with evidence of four overprint phases. The overprints arise from a mid‐Tertiary weathering event (or possibly recent viscous origin), and from fluid movements associated with the Late Cretaceous opening of the Tasman Sea, thrusting during the Middle Triassic main phase of the Hunter‐Bowen Orogeny, and latest Carboniferous — Early Permian formation of the Bowen‐Gunnedah‐Sydney Basin system. Rock magnetic tests establish that the primary magnetisation carriers in the volcanic rocks are mainly magnetite (predominantly single domain, or pseudo‐single domain, and little or no multidomain) and hematite. Optimal magnetic cleaning is achieved at high to very high temperatures, with subtle, but systematic, directional and statistical differences between primary components derived from the mainly hematite fraction and pseudo‐components derived from the mainly magnetite fraction. The 28 primary magnetisation results are presented as six mean‐site results, summarised below and representing 25 sites, and three single‐site results. Fold tests could be applied to five mean‐site results. These are all positive, but one of these results may represent a secondary magnetisation. The primary magnetisation results define a Visean to Westphalian pole path. This long pole path indi cates extensive latitudinal and rotational movement for the Rocky Creek Block, and potentially for the New England Orogen, as follows: (i) Yuendoo Rhyolite Member (Caroda Formation, Visean) pole 235.8°E, 27.7°S, ED₉₅ = 9.0°, n = 3; (ii) Peri Rhyolite Member/Boomi Rhyolite Member (Clifden Formation, Namurian, 318.0 ± 3.4 Ma) pole 177.4°E, 63.4°S, ED₉₅ = 5.2°, n = 3; (iii) tuffaceous beds above Boomi Rhyolite Member (Clifden Formation?, Namurian) pole 162.2°E, 59.1°S, ED₉₅ = 10.2°, n = 3; ((iv) upper Clifden Formation/lower Rocky Creek Conglomerate (Namurian/Westphalian) pole 95.3°E, 49.6°S, ED₉₅ = 8.1°, n = 3 (possible overprint)); (v) Rocky Creek Conglomerate (Westphalian) pole 136.5°E, 57.6°S, ED₉₅ = 5.3°, n = 5; (vi) Lark Hill Formation (Westphalian) pole 127.0°E, 50.4°S, ED₉₅ = 4.8°, n = 8.     

Paleomagnetic evidence for large en-bloc rotations in the Eastern Alps during Neogene orogeny

We present new paleomagnetic data from the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Central Alps of Austria. All new data are overprint magnetizations and can be subdivided into two groups: In rocks older than earliest Rupelian, two remagnetizations reflecting both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation were detected. In rocks of late Rupelian and younger ages, only a counter-clockwise rotated remagnetization was found. Our results together with results from previous paleomagnetic studies from the Eastern and Southern Alps suggest two main phases of vertical axis rotation. The first, clockwise rotation affecting the Northern Calcareous Alps was active between earliest to Late Rupelian. We propose a model where the Northern Calcareous Alps are segmented into individual blocks. Within a dextral shear corridor these blocks rotated clockwise due to the counter-clockwise rotation of the Southern Alps and Central Alps. The second, counter-clockwise rotation occurred in the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene, affecting Eastern and Southern Alps. In this stage of orogeny, the internal massifs of the Western Alps were already accreted to the upper plate and therefore included in counter-clockwise rotation. This rotation is contemporaneous with counter-clockwise rotation in the Apennines and opening of the Balearic basin, and a genetic relationship is suggested. A second step of counter-clockwise rotation, reconstructed from published data, is observed in the sedimentary basins at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Alps, where counter-clockwise rotated Miocene and Pliocene sedimentary rocks are present. This rotation is seen in connection to a young counter-clockwise rotation of the Adriatic plate.     

Provenance comparisons between the Nambucca Block,Eastern Australia and the Torlesse Composite Terrane,New Zealand: connections and implications from detrital zircon age patterns

Detrital zircon U–Pb LAM-ICPMS age patterns for sandstones from the mid-Permian –Triassic part (Rakaia Terrane) of the accretionary wedge forming the Torlesse Composite Terrane in Otago, New Zealand, and from the early Permian Nambucca Block of the New England Orogen, eastern Australia, constrain the development of the early Gondwana margin. In Otago, the Triassic Torlesse samples have a major (64%), younger group of Permian–Early Triassic age components at ca 280, 255 and 240 Ma, and a minor (30%) older age group with a Precambrian–early Paleozoic range (ca 1000, 600 and 500 Ma). In Permian sandstones nearby, the younger, Late Permian age components are diminished (30%) with respect to the older Precambrian–early Paleozoic age group, which now also contains major (50%) and unusual Carboniferous age components at ca 350–330 Ma. Sandstones from the Nambucca Block, an early Permian extensional basin in the southern New England Orogen, follow the Torlesse pattern: the youngest. Early Permian age components are minor (<20%) and the overall age patterns are dominated (40%) by Carboniferous age components (ca 350–320 Ma). These latter zircons are inherited from either the adjacent Devonian–Carboniferous accretionary wedge (e.g. Texas-Woolomin and Coffs Harbour Blocks) or the forearc basin (Tamworth Belt) farther to the west, in which volcaniclastic-dominated sandstone units have very similar pre-Permian (principally Carboniferous) age components. This gradual variation in age patterns from Devonian–late Carboniferous time in Australia to Late Permian–mid-Cretaceous time in New Zealand suggests an evolutionary model for the Eastern Gondwanaland plate margin and the repositioning of its subduction zone. (1) A Devonian to Carboniferous accretionary wedge in the New England Orogen developing at a (present-day) Queensland position until late in the Carboniferous. (2) Early Permian outboard repositioning of the primary, magmatic arc allowing formation of extensional basins throughout the New England Orogen. (3) Early to mid-Permian translocation of the accretionary wedge and more inboard active-margin elements, southwards to their present position. This was accompanied by oroclinal bending which allowed the initiation of a new, late Permian to Early Triassic accretionary wedge (eventually the Torlesse Composite Terrane of New Zealand) in an offshore Queensland position. (4) Jurassic–Cretaceous development of this accretionary wedge offshore, in northern Zealandia, with southwards translation of the various constituent terranes of the Torlesse Composite Terrane to their present New Zealand position.     

The Eocene Southern Vancouver Island Orocline — a response to seamount accretion and the cause of fold-and-thrust belt and extensional basin formation

A deflection of the fault controlled southwestern coastline of Vancouver Island suggests the presence of a minor orocline, with a Southern Crustal Block (south of Barkley Sound–Alberni Inlet) rotated 20° counterclockwise relative to a Northern Fixed Crustal Block about a pole of rotation located northeast of Port Alberni. In this paper two models of orocline development, one of pure block rotation and one of pure bending, are proposed. The predictions of these models are tested against available geological maps, structural orientation data, identified regions of extension and contraction, and paleomagnetic data. Structural orientation and paleomagnetic data are consistent with 18° of post-Late Cretaceous counter clockwise rotation of the Southern Crustal Block relative to the Northern Fixed Crustal Block. A southward increase in the magnitude of rotation evident in the structural orientation data argues for a model of bending. Both bending and block rotation models predict the development of a zone of contraction along the northeast margin of the Southern Crustal Block, coincident with the location of the Eocene Cowichan fold-and-thrust belt, that diminishes northward toward the pole of rotation. As predicted, the fold-and-thrust belt is characterized by a northerly decrease in the amount of shortening, from >30% at the south end of the thrust belt, to 0% shortening north of Port Alberni. The northerly decrease in shortening is complemented by a north to south change in structural style from cylindrical to conical folds, and finally to planar, undeformed strata. The model of block rotation predicts the presence of a zone of extension extending southwest from the zone of rotation, coincident with the location of Eocene extensional structures within Barkley Sound and with horst and graben structures in the offshore Eocene to Miocene Tofino basin. Extension is less than predicted by a model of pure block rotation and suggests that much of the oroclinal rotation was accommodated by bending. Timing constraints indicate that orocline development was coeval with, and resulted from, the Eocene accretion of seamounts of the Crescent terrane. These findings demonstrate that oroclinal orogeny, the buckling of a linear crustal beam about vertical axes of rotation, can significantly impact the geometry, structure and character of an orogenic belt, even where the buckles are minor (<20° of rotation).     

The Lichi Mélange in Coastal Range, eastern Taiwan: its origin, mechanism and evolution

Marine surveys show that the submarine Huatung Ridge extends northward to the Lichi Mélange in the southwestern Coastal Range, suggesting that formation of the Lichi Mélange is related to the arcward thrusting of the forearc strata in the western part of the North Luzon Trough during the active arc-continent collision off southern Taiwan. New seismic survey along 21oN transact across over the North Luzon Trough in the in-cipient arc-continent collision zone further reveals that the deformation of the Huatung Ridge occurs soon after the sedimentation in the western forearc basin, while the sedimentation is continuous in the eastern part of the remnant North Luzon Trough until the complete closure of the forearc basin approaching to SE Taiwan. This suggests that the sequence in the Huatung Ridge can just be coeval to the lower sequence of the remnant forearc basin strata. Multiple lines of new evidence, including micropaleontology, clay mineralogy and fis-sion track analyses along the Mukeng River and its tributary key sections, are used to test this thrusting forearc origin hypothesis of the Lichi Mélange.     

Zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical composition of gneisses from the Mesozoic foreland basin in the Yellow Sea,China

The South Yellow Sea basin in eastern China has experienced a multi-stage tectonic evolution history. The major structures were created when the basin was a foreland basin during the Mesozoic. However the geological evolution of the basin has not yet been corroborated by direct evidence from the underlying basement rocks. Qianliyan Island in the southern Yellow Sea provides an opportunity to study the formation and evolution of the basin by means of direct geochronological and geochemical evidence. On Qianliyan Island, basement rocks are exposed that consist of granitic gneiss, felsic gneiss and minor mylonite, and lenses of eclogite. Major and trace element characteristics of these four types of gneiss indicate that they originated from crustal material, varying in composition from pelite to greywacke. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating results of a felsic gneiss sample show that this rock crystallized between 659 and 796 Ma and underwent a metamorphic overprint at 229 ± 4 Ma. This age pattern resembles that of gneisses from the ultra-high-pressure terrain in the Dabie–Sulu belt. We conclude that the study area was part of the northern margin of the Yangtze Block during the Neoproterozoic. Neoproterozoic magmatic activity occurred along this margin and the basement sequence underwent Triassic metamorphic overprint during the northward subduction of the Yangtze Block beneath the North China Block. We further conclude that the deformation associated with this metamorphic event led to the formation of the southern Yellow Sea foreland basin.     

Paleomagnetic results from the Permian Rodez basin implications: the Late Variscan tectonics in the southern French Massif Central

A paleomagnetic study has been carried out on three sedimentary formations of the Permian Rodez basin in the southern France. Two of them yield paleomagnetic poles of Saxonian and Thuringian age showing counterclockwise rotation of moderate amplitude, during or after the Thuringian deposition. For the French Massif Central, contrary to its stable southern (Lodève basin) and eastern (Largentière basin) borders, on its southwestern border, in a large area including the Rodez, Saint-Affrique and perhaps Brive basins suffered rotations due to the extensional tectonics during the Late Variscan period.     

Hydrothermal fluid-controlled remagnetization of sedimentary rocks in Korea: Tectonic importance of pervasive Tertiary remagnetization

In order to better understand the tectonic environment of the Korean Peninsula since Cretaceous, a paleomagnetic study was carried out on the Jinan Basin located in southwestern Korea. From the demagnetization of 597 samples, we found that remanence is carried by pyrrhotite and/or magnetite (black siltstone) and hematite (red siltstone), which is a common magnetic mineral assemblage of the rocks remagnetized in Early Tertiary in Korea. All the rock units recorded identical ancient geomagnetic field directions. In particular, paleodirections were better clustered in geographic coordinates, indicating a secondary origin. The presence of abundant silicates as inclusions within Fe-oxides and Fe-sulfides confirms the authigenic origin of the magnetic carriers, precipitated by fluid mediated chemical processes. Compilation of the Korean Cretaceous and Tertiary poles indicates that the Jinan Basin was remagnetized in the Early Tertiary age. In addition, comparison of the Korean Cretaceous and Tertiary poles with those from adjacent major terrains including China and Siberia reveals that a dominant feature of tectonic motions in Korea was a vertical-axis rotation. Sense of vertical-axis rotation was time-dependent, with clear distinction between clockwise rotation in Cretaceous and counter-clockwise rotation in Early Tertiary. Such differences in the mode of vertical axis rotation might be caused by the activities of basin-bounding strike–slip faults in Korea, possibly driven by the changes of subduction regime of the Kula-Pacific plate in Early Tertiary.     

伊宁地块石炭纪火山岩及其对构造演化的约束

西天山伊宁地块的构造格局及其演化之认识久存争议,倍受关注。分歧焦点有三:(1)石炭纪有无洋盆存在?(2)若有洋盆,何时闭合?(3)"沟-弧-盆"消亡时究竟是单向俯冲还是双向俯冲?若是单向俯冲,俯冲方向是由北向南或是相反(即俯冲极性)?因此,这些重大地质问题均聚焦于本区的火山岩。石炭纪火山岩是伊宁地块中的最主要建造和指示构造演化的关键层位,争论长久而激烈。本文认为,伊宁地块早石炭世发育弧前-岛弧-弧后盆地钙碱性火山-沉积建造,是塔里木板块北缘的主要组成部分;而晚石炭世碱性系列双峰式火山岩及其沉积组合则是大陆裂谷火山-沉积建造,形成于区域性伸展构造环境,是准噶尔板块与塔里木板块缝合后的陆内建造,因而古洋盆的关闭时限是早石炭世晚期(鄯善运动)。依据区内早石炭世建造的空间分布和变化规律,作者们认为古天山洋盆与当今地学界作为典型的日本沟-弧-盆体系有着极好的相似性和空间分布可对比性。石炭纪火山岩为本区的构造演化研究提供了重要的约束信息。     

Paleomagnetism of the Middle–Late Jurassic to Cretaceous red beds from the Peninsular Thailand: Implications for collision tectonics

Jurassic to Cretaceous red sandstones were sampled at 33 sites from the Khlong Min and Lam Thap formations of the Trang Syncline (7.6°N, 99.6°E), the Peninsular Thailand. Rock magnetic experiments generally revealed hematite as a carrier of natural remanent magnetization. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolates remanent components with unblocking temperatures of 620–690 °C. An easterly deflected declination (D = 31.1°, I = 12.2°, α₉₅ = 13.9°, N = 9, in stratigraphic coordinates) is observed as pre-folding remanent magnetization from North Trang Syncline, whereas westerly deflected declination (D = 342.8°, I = 22.3°, α₉₅ = 12.7°, N = 13 in geographic coordinates) appears in the post-folding remanent magnetization from West Trang Syncline. These observations suggest an occurrence of two opposite tectonic rotations in the Trang area, which as a part of Thai–Malay Peninsula received clockwise rotation after Jurassic together with Shan-Thai and Indochina blocks. Between the Late Cretaceous and Middle Miocene, this area as a part of southern Sundaland Block experienced up to 24.5° ± 11.5° counter-clockwise rotation with respect to South China Block. This post-Cretaceous tectonic rotation in Trang area is considered as a part of large scale counter-clockwise rotation experienced by the southern Sundaland Block (including the Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and south Sulawesi areas) as a result of Australian Plate collision with southeast Asia. Within the framework of Sundaland Block, the northern boundary of counter-clockwise rotated zone lies between the Trang area and the Khorat Basin.     

扬子地块泥盆纪—石炭纪古地磁新结果及其古地地理意义

本文通过对扬子地块西南缘贵州独山－平塘地区泥盆－石炭纪316块定向岩心样品的系统退磁处理，揭示出晚侏罗世、新生代两期重磁化成.73个岩心样品，分布在早一中泥盆世（17个）、晚泥盆世（25个）、早石炭世（24个）和中－晚石炭世（7个）4个统计单元，得到了最可能的原生剩磁。结合已有的古地磁数据，修订了扬子地块极移曲,纯利 移曲线拟合的结果表明，扬子地块在早古生代是冈瓦那大陆的组成部分，与印度－喜马拉雅－澳大利亚地区临近。晚泥盆世、冈瓦那大陆发生大规模顺时针旋转，扬子地块开始与之分离。     

Oroclinal bending of the Middle and Late Paleozoic volcanic belts in Kazakhstan: Paleomagnetic evidence and geological implications

Paleomagnetic data on Middle- and Late-Paleozoic rocks from the central part of the Ural-Mongolian Belt in Kazakhstan are considered. The primary remanences in the Permian rocks and secondary magnetization components of the same age in pre-Permian rocks of central and northern Kazakhstan are not rotated relative to the East European Platform. In southern Kazakhstan adjoining the Tien Shan almost all data point to large, up to 90°, counterclockwise rotation of blocks. These rotations, related to the regional wrench fault zone, must be subtracted from older paleomagnetic data to ensure their correct interpretation. The paleomagnetic declinations in Upper Carboniferous rocks coincide more or less over all of Kazakhstan, whereas the Silurian and Early Devonian declinations in the north and south of Kazakhstan differ approximately by 180°. It can be suggested that the Devonian volcanic belt, having a horseshoe outline, was initially an almost rectilinear NW-trending feature. Its oroclinal bending took place in the Devonian and Early Carboniferous and completed by the Late Carboniferous. We compared the model of the Kazakh Orocline based on paleomagnetic data with the geological events in this territory. It turned out that a slow bending of an initially rectilinear subduction zone is consistent with lateral migration of active volcanism and folding inside a developing loop, whereas extension outside the loop was accompanied by subsidence and rifting. In general, the proposed model connects the main tectonic events in Kazakhstan with the movements established from paleomagnetic data.     

Paleomagnetic results from the Permian Rodez basin implications: the Late Variscan tectonics in the southern French Massif Central

Abstract

A paleomagnetic study has been carried out on three sedimentary formations of the Permian Rodez basin in the southern France. Two of them yield paleomagnetic poles of Saxonian and Thuringian age showing counterclockwise rotation of moderate amplitude, during or after the Thuringian deposition. For the French Massif Central, contrary to its stable southern (Lodève basin) and eastern (Largentière basin) borders, on its southwestern border, in a large area including the Rodez, Saint-Affrique and perhaps Brive basins suffered rotations due to the extensional tectonics during the Late Variscan period. © 2002 Editions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.     

The tectonic significance of lower Permian successions in the Texas Orocline (Eastern Australia)

The Texas Orocline is a prominent orogenic curvature that developed during the early Permian in the southern New England Orogen. Outliers preserving lower Permian sedimentary successions (Bondonga, Silver Spur, Pikedale, Terrica, Alum Rock and Ashford beds) approximately outline the oroclinal structure, but the tectonic processes responsible for the development of these basinal successions, and their relationships to the Texas Orocline, are unclear. Here we address this shortcoming by providing new U–Pb detrital and primary zircon ages from these successions, as well as detailed stratigraphic and structural data from the largest exposed succession (Bondonga beds). Field observations and U–Pb geochronological data suggest that the lower Permian successions in the Texas Orocline are remnants of a single, formerly larger basin that was deposited after ca 302 Ma. Time constraints for formation of this basin are correlative with constraints from the lower Permian Nambucca Block, which was likely deposited in response to regional back-arc extension during and/or after the development of the Texas Orocline. The conclusion that the lower Permian sedimentary basins in the Texas Orocline belong to this back-arc extensional system supports the suggestion that oroclinal bending in the New England Orogen was primarily controlled by trench retreat and associated overriding-plate extension.     

Does the Manning Orocline exist? New structural evidence from the inner hinge of the Manning Orocline (eastern Australia)

The map-view structure of the southern New England Orogen in the eastern Gondwanan margin is characterised by four tight orogenic-scale curvatures: Texas, Coffs-Harbour, Manning and Nambucca oroclines. Here we focus on the geometry of the Manning Orocline and examine whether the inner-arc area of the oroclinal structure is expressed within the accretionary wedge rocks of the Tablelands Complex. Our observations from the Tablelands Complex (Armidale–Walcha area) show that rocks were subjected to penetrative deformation (D₁), which resulted in a regional slaty cleavage (S₁) and related isoclinal folds. This was followed by subsequent deformation (D₂) associated with minor gentle folds. In a larger scale, the steeply dipping S₁ structural fabric shows a continuous map-view curvature, thus defining a macroscopic fold structure. We interpret this macroscopic fold as the expression of the Manning Orocline within the accretionary wedge complex. This interpretation is consistent with the contorted spatial distribution of other tectonic elements (serpentinite belt, forearc basin terranes and early Permian granitoids), which independently define the structure of the Manning Orocline. Our new structural data support the existence of the Manning Orocline and the quadruple oroclinal geometry of the whole southern New England Orogen. The origin of these oroclines is attributed to multiple stages of bending, possibly associated with an earlier phase of curvature during slab rollback (in the early Permian), followed by a subsequent (middle-late Permian) episode of contractional deformation that tightened the oroclinal structure.     

晚古生代－三叠纪南盘江海的构造古地理问题

晚古生代－三叠纪，滇黔桂三省区和越南北部有南盘江海长期发育。地质构造上，北面为扬子地块，东南有云开地块和大明山微陆块，西南有越北地块。南盘江海内部有北部的田林海盆，中部的八布洋盆和南部的钦防海盆。中间有许多大小不一的海下台地，最大的是大明山台地，其次是靖西台地和西畴台地。早泥盆世晚期南盘江海的张开，可能是冈瓦纳板块反时针旋转、扬子地块北移，使其间滇桂－越北地块裂解的结果。进一步的海底扩张导致早石炭世时八布海盆出现洋壳，南盘江海成为南北超过20个纬度的小洋盆。古地理再造表明，八布海盆的扩张脊可能连接西面哀牢山海的洋脊。晚二叠世云开地块北移，与大明山微陆块碰撞。早三叠世印支地块北移，和越北地块会聚。晚二叠世－中三叠世南盘江海南缘出现活动陆缘。晚三叠世印支－越北地块与扬子地块会聚，南盘江海闭合。南盘江海和哀牢山海及昌宁－孟连海的发生、发展和消亡基本同步，可能属古特提斯同一洋脊系统控制。     

Palaeomagnetic and structural constraints on 90° anticlockwise rotation in SW Mongolia during the Permo–Triassic: Implications for Altaid oroclinal bending. Preliminary palaeomagnetic results

New and published paleomagnetic measurements from Trans Altai and South Gobi zones in south Mongolia document large tectonic motions in between Late Carboniferous and Triassic. Magnetic inclinations confirm equatorial position of south Mongolian terranes in Late Carboniferous–Permian times. The evolution of magnetic declinations indicates 90° anticlockwise rotation in between latest Carboniferous and Early Triassic of all studied tectonic units around the Eulerian pole located close to axis of Mongolian orocline. The anticlockwise rotation continues in Triassic being accompanied by a major drift to the north. The structural and published geochronological data suggest Carboniferous E–W shortening of the whole region resulting in N–S trend of all continental and oceanic geological units followed by orthogonal N–S shortening during Late Permian to Early Jurassic. Both paleomagnetic and geological data converge in a tectonic model of oroclinal bending of Mongolian ribbon continent, westerly back arc oceanic domain and Mongol–Okhotsk subduction zone to the east. The oroclinal bending model is consistent with the coincidence of the Eulerian pole of rotation with the structural axis of Mongolian orocline. In addition, the Mesozoic collisional tectonics is reflected by late remagnetizations due to formation of wide deformation fronts and hydrothermal activity.     

Palaeozoic collisional tectonics and magmatism of the Chinese Tien Shan, central Asia

The Chinese Tien Shan range is a Palaeozoic orogenic belt which contains two collision zones. The older, southern collision accreted a north-facing passive continental margin on the north side of the Tarim Block to an active continental margin on the south side of an elongate continental tract, the Central Tien Shan. Collision occurred along the Qinbulak-Qawabulak Fault (Southern Tien Shan suture). The time of the collision is poorly constrained, but was probably in in the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous. We propose this age because of a major disconformity at this time along the north side of the Tarim Block, and because the Youshugou ophiolite is imbricated with Middle Devonian sediments. A younger, probably Late Carboniferous-Early Permian collision along the North Tien Shan Fault (Northern Tien Shan suture) accreted the northern side of the Central Tien Shan to an island arc which lay to its north, the North Tien Shan arc. This collision is bracketed by the Middle Carboniferous termination of arc magmatism and the appearance of Late Carboniferous or Early Permian elastics in a foreland basin developed over the extinct arc. Thrust sheets generated by the collision are proposed as the tectonic load responsible for the subsidence of this basin. Post-collisional, but Palaeozoic, dextral shear occurred along the northern suture zone, this was accompanied by the intrusion of basic and acidic magmas in the Central Tien Shan. Late Palaeozoic basic igneous rocks from all three lithospheric blocks represented in the Tien Shan possess chemical characteristics associated with generation in supra-subduction zone environments, even though many post-date one or both collisions. Rocks from each block also possess distinctive trace element chemistries, which supports the three-fold structural division of the orogenic belt. It is unclear whether the chemical differences represent different source characteristics, or are due to different episodes of magmatism being juxtaposed by later dextral strike-slip fault motions. Because the southern collision zone in the Tien Shan is the older of the two, the Tarim Block sensu stricto collided not with the Eurasian landmass, but with a continental block which was itself separated from Eurasia by at least one ocean. The destruction of this ocean in Late Carboniferous-Early Permian times represented the final elimination of all oceanic basins from this part of central Asia.