桐柏-大别山区高压变质相的构造配置

作为华北和扬子陆块间的碰撞造山带桐柏大别山区以发育高压、超高压变质带为特征,从南到北变质相从低级到高级,代表俯冲带深度不同的变质产物,整体形成高压变质相系列。不过现今各变质相岩石的分布极受后期地壳规模的伸展构造控制,大别杂岩的穹隆作用更使高压变质相带的空间分布复杂化。超高压变质岩今日多呈大小不等的块体嵌布于相对低压的大别杂岩之内,造山带根部物质的热软化,使许多深层地幔物质得以像挤牙膏一样挤出于大别杂岩内。它们之中广泛发育着减压退变质的显微结构,与大别杂岩内一些麻粒岩相表壳岩所保存的减压退变质证迹一样,同是挤出作用和碰撞后隆升的构造证迹。高压相系的发育使南桐柏山和大别山迥然不同于桐商（ 商丹） 断裂以北的北秦岭北淮阳变质带。新近发表的同位素年代学（４０Ａｒ ３９ Ａｒ） 资料：３１６ ～４３４ Ｍａ ,已证明北秦岭是古生代变质带,它与桐柏－ 大别印支期碰撞造山带差异甚大。这两个变质地温梯度差异甚大的变质地体的拼合,说明华北和扬子陆块碰撞的主缝合带是商丹－ 桐商断裂带     

北大别超高压榴辉岩的快速折返与缓慢冷却过程

岩石学研究表明,北大别超高压榴辉岩经过了超高压和高压榴辉岩相变质作用以及麻粒岩相叠加和角闪岩相退变质作用.其中,高压麻粒岩相和角闪岩相变质阶段形成的后成合晶以及石榴子石和单斜辉石等矿物中成分分带的存在,证明该区榴辉岩经历了一个快速折返过程;而不同变质阶段的温度、压力和形成时代,却反映该区榴辉岩在峰期超高压变质作用之后又经历了一个缓慢冷却过程.超高压岩石折返期间的缓慢冷却过程也许正是北大别长期难以发现柯石英和有关超高压证据的重要原因.因此,本文为大别山不同超高压岩片的差异折返模型的建立提供了新的证据.     

秦岭大别碰撞造山带根部结晶基底隆升的变质岩石学证迹

秦岭大别碰撞造山带中隆升最高的结晶基底便是大别杂岩，在超高压变质岩和某些高级变质岩中均发现典型的近等温减压（ＩＴＤ）型的退变质结构，多呈后成合晶或冠状体的形式取代或包绕原生矿物晶粒（主晶），显示退变质不平衡反应的过程．然而超高压变质岩与大别杂岩中的高级变质岩，变质地温梯度截然不同，暗示它们形成的构造条件极不相同，超高压变质岩早期由岩石圈深处（１２０ｋｍ±）折返到下地壳与那里的高级变质岩构造混合，平行并置，而后才一起隆升．退变质不平衡结构与寄主岩的面理无关，说明这种近等温的减压退变质作用发生于后造山时期近绝热条件下的隆升体制，近绝热隆升的热源可能是中生代以来大别山地区岩石圈减薄所引起     

Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

西南天山造山带超高压变质作用研究新进展

低温超高压变质岩具有极低的地热梯度,其变质演化对于认识板块间相互作用的动力学过程以及弧地壳的生长机制具有重要意义。西南天山造山带发育了世界上少有的经历过深俯冲作用且具有洋壳属性的典型低温超高压变质地质体。近几年来对该造山带中的超高压变质岩开展了大量深入细致的岩石学研究工作,取得了一系列新进展。变基性岩和变沉积岩系岩石中柯石英的普遍发现,直接证明西南天山变质蛇绿混杂岩曾经俯冲到上地幔深度,且具有极低的地热梯度,与热力学模拟结果一致。柯石英的稀少以及大量不同类型柯石英假像的存在,说明在折返过程中发生了强烈的退变质叠加,只有刚性较大且没有经历碎裂-愈合作用的矿物(如石榴石)才有可能保存柯石英。综合岩相学证据和相平衡计算结果,确定西南天山造山带北部的高压地质体(即哈布腾苏-科布尔特单元)整体经历过超高压变质作用,南部的高压地质体峰期压力未达到柯石英稳定域。超高压和高压变质地体的空间分布特点指示了古天山洋由南向北的俯冲极性。这些基础岩石学研究工作的开展对于揭示冷俯冲带的深部物理化学过程以及建立中亚南天山造山带演化的精细模型具有重要意义。     

北大别的高温超高压变质作用与多阶段折返

近期的变质岩石学、地球化学及同位素年代学研究表明,北大别整体经历了高温超高压变质作用和多阶段折返历史,因而表现为广泛发育的多期减压结构和极少保留早期的超高压变质记录。北大别榴辉岩以高温变质作用以及折返期间因麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质变质作用而形成的多期后成合晶为显著特征。石榴子石中伴有放射状胀裂纹的单晶和多晶石英包体指示早期柯石英的转变结果,这已被锆石中发现的柯石英残晶所证实。结合北大别北部榴辉岩和片麻岩中发现的金刚石等超高压证据以及三叠纪变质记录,由此证明北大别整体经历过深俯冲和印支期超高压变质作用。北大别榴辉岩的多阶段高温条件主要来自石榴子石-绿辉石矿物对温度计、单斜辉石中紫苏辉石+石英针状矿物出熔体以及金红石中较高的Zr含量和变质锆石中较高的Ti含量等得出的温度证据。此外,多期后成合晶以及石榴子石和单斜辉石等矿物中成分分带的存在,证明该区榴辉岩经历了一个多阶段、快速折返过程;而不同变质阶段的温度、压力和形成时代,却反映该区榴辉岩经历了长时间的高温变质演化与缓慢冷却过程。长时间的高温变质作用与缓慢冷却过程也许正是北大别长期难以发现柯石英和有关超高压记录的重要原因。因此,这些成果为大别山三个不同超高压岩片的差异折返模型的建立提供了新的证据。     

Tectonic evolution of a composite collision orogen: An overview on the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt in central China

The formation of collisional orogens is a prominent feature in convergent plate margins. It is generally a complex process involving multistage tectonism of compression and extension due to continental subduction and collision. The Paleozoic convergence between the South China Block (SCB) and the North China Block (NCB) is associated with a series of tectonic processes such as oceanic subduction, terrane accretion and continental collision, resulting in the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt. While the arc–continent collision orogeny is significant during the Paleozoic in the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an orogens of central China, the continent–continent collision orogeny is prominent during the early Mesozoic in the Dabie–Sulu orogens of east-central China. This article presents an overview of regional geology, geochronology and geochemistry for the composite orogenic belt. The Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an orogens exhibit the early Paleozoic HP–UHP metamorphism, the Carboniferous HP metamorphism and the Paleozoic arc-type magmatism, but the three tectonothermal events are absent in the Dabie–Sulu orogens. The Triassic UHP metamorphism is prominent in the Dabie–Sulu orogens, but it is absent in the Qinling–Tongbai orogens. The Hong'an orogen records both the HP and UHP metamorphism of Triassic age, and collided continental margins contain both the juvenile and ancient crustal rocks. So do in the Qinling and Tongbai orogens. In contrast, only ancient crustal rocks were involved in the UHP metamorphism in the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt, without involvement of the juvenile arc crust. On the other hand, the deformed and low-grade metamorphosed accretionary wedge was developed on the passive continental margin during subduction in the late Permian to early Triassic along the northern margin of the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt, and it was developed on the passive oceanic margin during subduction in the early Paleozoic along the northern margin of the Qinling orogen.Three episodes of arc–continent collision are suggested to occur during the Paleozoic continental convergence between the SCB and NCB. The first episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the North Qinling unit beneath the Erlangping unit, resulting in UHP metamorphism at ca. 480–490 Ma and the accretion of the North Qinling unit to the NCB. The second episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the Prototethyan oceanic crust beneath an Andes-type continental arc, leading to granulite-facies metamorphism at ca. 420–430 Ma and the accretion of the Shangdan arc terrane to the NCB and reworking of the North Qinling, Erlangping and Kuanping units. The third episode of arc–continent collision is caused by northward subduction of the Paleotethyan oceanic crust, resulting in the HP eclogite-facies metamorphism at ca. 310 Ma in the Hong'an orogen and low-P metamorphism in the Qinling–Tongbai orogens as well as crustal accretion to the NCB. The closure of backarc basins is also associated with the arc–continent collision processes, with the possible cause for granulite-facies metamorphism. The massive continental subduction of the SCB beneath the NCB took place in the Triassic with the final continent–continent collision and UHP metamorphism at ca. 225–240 Ma. Therefore, the Qinling–Tongbai–Hong'an–Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt records the development of plate tectonics from oceanic subduction and arc-type magmatism to arc–continent and continent–continent collision.     

大别山碰撞造山带的地球动力学

大别山碰撞造山带的形成和其中超高压变质岩的形成折返具有统一的动力学过程。对大别山超高压变质岩形成 -折返的研究表明 ,大别山的超高压变质作用是冷大陆地壳被前导洋壳下拽而持续俯冲的结果。超高压变质岩的折返是多阶段的。第一阶段 (2 30～ 2 10Ma)在低地温梯度 (约10℃ /km)下发生同俯冲折返 ;第二阶段 (2 10～ 170Ma)的折返由深俯冲板片的断离引发 ,浮力开始起作用 ;第三阶段 (170～ 12 0Ma) ,以区域性岩浆活动、穹隆伸展构造活动和深剥蚀沉积为特征。从分析超高压变质岩的形成折返过程入手 ,以侏罗纪末作为时间参照点 ,以合肥盆地的侏罗系顶界作为当时的地理参照点 ,根据不同岩石单元中岩石的形成深度和碰撞造山中的位移状态 ,可把大别山碰撞造山带划分为原位系统、准原位系统、异位系统和热穹隆改造系统等结构单位。陆陆碰撞造山带形成的物理学前提是俯冲陆壳物质的低密度 ,而最终形成造山带的直接动力学过程则是深俯冲板片的断离及其引发的一系列近垂向运动的地质过程。     

大别山超高压变质带的构造背景

大别山南部的超高压变质带具有特征的榴辉岩相矿物组合，榴辉岩的岩石化学及稀土元素特征及其伴生的岩石组合，表明这个带是以陆壳成分为主混有少量上地幔及洋壳成分的混杂岩，榴辉岩相围岩和大别群具有不同的变质和变形特征。超高压变质带形成于扬子和中朝板块大陆碰撞的构造环境，是扬子板块陆壳向北俯冲到一定深度的变质产物。     

大陆俯冲带超高压变质岩部分熔融与壳幔相互作用研究进展

自20世纪80年代在大陆地壳岩石中发现柯石英和金刚石等超高压变质矿物以来,大陆深俯冲和超高压变质作用就成为了固体地球科学研究的前沿和热点领域之一。经过三十余年的研究,已经在大陆地壳的俯冲深度、深俯冲岩石变质P-T-t轨迹、俯冲地壳岩石的折返机制、深俯冲岩石的原岩性质、大陆碰撞过程中的熔/流体活动与元素活动性、俯冲隧道内部不同类型壳幔相互作用、碰撞后岩浆岩的成因、大陆碰撞造山带成矿作用等方面取得了许多重要成果。本文重点对大陆俯冲带超高压岩石部分熔融和不同类型壳幔相互作用近十年来的研究进展进行回顾和总结,并对存在的相关科学问题和未来的研究方向进行了展望。深俯冲大陆地壳的部分熔融主要出现在两个阶段:折返的初期阶段和碰撞后阶段,前者产生了碱性熔体,后者产生了钙碱性熔体。大陆俯冲带壳幔相互作用有两种类型,涉及地幔楔与两种俯冲带流体的交代反应:一是来自深俯冲陆壳的变质脱水/熔融,二是来自先前俯冲古洋壳的变质脱水/熔融。     

苏鲁—大别超高压变质带地壳速度结构及其俯冲、折返机制

三维P波速度解析研究结果表明，苏鲁-大别超高压变质带岩石圈地壳速度结构均具有上地壳明显高速且上凸、中地壳增厚、下地壳埋藏较深且莫霍面下凹等基本特征。与大别地区相比较，苏鲁超高压变质带存在着上地壳波速更高，且地表高速区面积与上地壳高速体体积大于大别；而莫霍面下凹程度不如大别地区，地壳山根已逐步趋向消失等独特的区域特征。显示了苏鲁地区曾发生过更激烈的俯冲与折返构造运动，与大别地区相比，有更多高速、高密度的超高压变质岩折返到上地壳与地表；然而在造山运动过程中比大别更早进入了造山运动后期等特征。对比研究结果表明，苏鲁-大别地段的造山、演化过程中，在构造运动基本相似的背景下，存在着区域性特征。苏鲁地区的造山运动以及超高压变质作用，有起始略晚、发生时期较短但相对激烈、结束早、比大别更早进入了造山运动的后期等特征。笔者分析了苏鲁区域性特征形成的主要构造原因是，郯庐断裂带的大规模左旋走滑运动以及通过中国华北区域的大范围NXV—SE向扩张应力场的影响。其中，中生代以来大华北地区的大区域扩张应力场的影响可能是该区俯冲到地幔内的超高压变质岩能够大量折返回地表或上地壳的重要构造原因。     

桐柏-大别造山带高压变质单元岩石Pb同位素组成

铅同位素组成对于研究构造分区与演化、块体相互作用以及识别地壳中不同块体的上、下层次关系等具有重要意义.桐柏-大别造山带高压变质单元岩石的全岩Pb同位素组成研究表明, 在该造山带不同区段, 高压变质岩系二云钠长片麻岩与榴辉岩具有相似的Pb同位素组成, 表现为上部地壳高放射成因的Pb同位素组成特征, 其中Pb同位素组成为: 206Pb/204Pb=17.599~18.310, 207Pb/204Pb=15.318~15.615, 208Pb/204Pb=37.968~39.143.大别和桐柏地区高压变质岩系Pb同位素组成的一致性进一步证明了大别地区与桐柏地区的高压变质岩系是可以相连的, 它们应属于同一构造单元.高压变质岩系Pb同位素比值总体高于超高压变质岩系, 验证了桐柏-大别造山带扬子俯冲陆壳从下部岩系到上部岩系Pb同位素比值呈规律增长这一Pb同位素化学特征.侵入于高压变质岩系中的面理化(含榴)花岗岩, 其Pb同位素组成与高压变质岩系相比相对较低, 而与超高压变质岩系及其中的面理化(含榴)花岗岩相似, 为: 206Pb/204Pb=17.128~17.434, 207Pb/204Pb=15.313~15.422, 208Pb/204Pb=37.631~38.122.这表明高压变质岩系和超高压变质岩系中的面理化(含榴)花岗岩具有相同的岩浆来源.结合面理化(含榴)花岗岩具有A型花岗岩的地球化学特征分析, 它们的岩浆物质可能来自超高压变质岩折返至中下地壳的减压退变和部分熔融.      

大别地块超高压变质省的构造变形研究

构造解析的基本目的是建立构造事件造成的地质体几何学、运动学、动力学和流变学。大陆碰撞造山带内含柯石英及微粒金刚石等矿物组合的超高压（ＵＨＰ） 变质岩的形成和折返,是极为复杂的地球动力学过程。与世界上已知大多数超高压变质带相似,中国大别地块内超高压变质省现今观察到的主体构造形式,主要是在碰撞或超高压变质峰期后伸展体制下形成的。通过对大别超高压变质省内伸展组构及挤压（ 碰撞） 组构的鉴别、分析,结合有关超高压变质带构造学研究领域的简略综述指出,在揭示超高压变质带的形成及折返动力学过程中,构造解析的思维和工作方法是行之有效的     

Discovery of metamorphic diamonds in central China: an indication of a > 4000-km-long zone of deep subduction resulting from multiple continental collisions

The Central Orogenic Belt (COB) of China is a major continental collision zone that contains extensive outcrops of deeply subducted and exhumed rocks at both the eastern and the western end of the belt. Here we report discovery of microdiamonds from both eclogites and felsic gneisses in the North Qinling zone in the central portion of the COB. This discovery demonstrates that the country rocks of continental affinity shared in the ultra‐high‐pressure metamorphic (UHPM) event and provides a bridge connecting the two previously recognized UHPM terranes, thereby establishing the existence of a UHPM belt extending more than 4000 km. Geochronological dating yields Early Palaeozoic ages in the west and Early Mesozoic ages in the east, recording two separate continental collisions overprinted within the COB. Occurrence of UHP metamorphism during recurrent continental collision here and in the Alps suggests that deep subduction of continental material during such collisions is probably common rather than exceptional, with significant implications for processes of plate tectonic reorganization and mantle mixing over time.     

大别地区的变质作用及与碰撞造山过程的关系

大别造山带从南到北可分为５个变质构造单元：扬子北缘蓝片岩带、突松变质杂岩带、南大虽碰撞杂岩带、北大别变质杂岩带和北淮阳变质带。各个变质构造单元中不同岩石的变质作用可划分为３种类型：（１）超高压型。以含柯石英（及金刚石）的榴辉岩为代表,仅见于南大别碰撞杂岩带中,这类岩石的ＰＴ轨迹反映洋壳Ｂ型俯冲的特点。（２）高压型。见于大别山南部的蓝片岩带、宿松变质杂岩带和南大别杂岩中的变质沉积岩及部分片麻岩中,与     

大别山北部超高压变质大理岩及其地质意义

岩石学研究表明 ,大别山北部镁铁 超镁铁质岩带中白云质大理岩至少经历过三期变质阶段 :(1)榴辉岩相峰期变质阶段 ,矿物组合主要为方解石 +白云石 +金红石 +镁橄榄石 +钛 斜硅镁石 +富镁的钛铁矿±文石±石榴子石 ;(2 )麻粒岩相退变质阶段 ,矿物组合主要为方解石 +白云石 +金云母 +镁橄榄石 +透辉石 +钛铁矿 +尖晶石±斜方辉石等 ;(3)角闪岩相退变质阶段 ,主要矿物组合为方解石 +白云石 +磷灰石 +磁铁矿+榍石等。它的峰期变质矿物组合 ,类似于苏 鲁超高压大理岩 ,形成压力至少大于 2 .5GPa。这进一步证明 ,大别山北部大多数高级变质岩 (包括大理岩等 )都曾经过超高压变质作用 ,应属于印支期扬子俯冲陆壳的一部分。     

大别造山带浅变质岩的地质-地球化学特征及成因机制

大别造山带超高压变质带内部及其北缘,出露仅经过绿片岩相变质作用的浅变质岩系。通过对部分浅变质岩的区域分布、地质特征及地球化学的综合研究表明,这些浅变质岩系形成于新元古代扬子板块北缘的裂陷盆地中,并遭受新元古代岩浆侵位和以寒冷气候位特征的大气降水热液蚀变,共同经历了与扬子大陆板块俯冲-碰撞过程中有关的构造热事件;因此认为这些浅变质为扬子板块俯冲过程中被“刮”下来的构造残片,为大陆板块俯冲过程中形成的加积杂岩,并为扬子板块与华北板块的俯冲和碰撞的动力学过程提供有力的科学佐证。在此基础上,厘定了大别造山带浅变质岩的形成及其与扬子大陆板块俯冲的构造模型。     

Geochemical Characteristics of Pb Isotope of High-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks and Foliated Granites from HP Unit of Tongbai-Dabie Orogenic Belt

Whole-rock Pb isotopic compositions of the high-pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks, consisting of two-mica albite gneisses and eclogites, and foliated granites from the HP metamorphic unit of the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt are firstly reported in this paper. The results show that the tip metamorphic rocks in different parts of this orogenic belt have similar Pb isotopic compositions. The twomica albite gneisses have ^206 pb/^204 Pb=17. 657 -18. 168, ^207pb/^204 Pb=15. 318-15. 573,^ 208Pb/^204ob=38.315-38. 990, and the eclogites have ^206Pb/^204 Pb=17. 599 -18. 310, ^207Pb/^204 Pb=15. 465 -15. 615,^208Pb/^204Pb=37. 968-39. 143. The HP metamorphic rocks are characterized by upper crustal Pb isotopic composition. Although the Pb isotopic composition of the HP metamorphic rocks partly overlaps that of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks, as a whole, the former is higher than the latter. The high radiogenic Pb isotopic composition for the HP metamorphic rocks confirms that the subducted Yangtze continental crust in the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt has the chemical structure of increasing radiogenic Pb isotopic composition from lower crust to upper crust. The foliated granites, intruded in the HP metamorphic rocks post the HP/UHP metamorphism, have ^206Pb/^204 Pb=17. 128- 17. 434,^207Pb/^204pb=15. 313-15. 422 and ^208Pb/^204Pb=37. 631-38. 122, which are obviously different from the Pb isotopic compositions of the HP metamorphic rocks but similar to those of the UHP metamorphic rocks and the foliated garnet-bearing granites in the UHP unit. This shows that the foliated granites from the HP and UHP units have common magma source. Combined with the foliated granites having the geochemical characteristics of A-type granites, it is suggested that the magma for the foliated granites in the UHP and HP unit would be derived from the partial melting of the retrometamorphosed UHP metamorphic rocks exhumed into middle to lower crust, and partial magmas were intruded into the HP unit.     

Sm-Nd Isotope Tracer Study of UHP Metamorphic Rocks: Implications for Continental Subduction and Collisional Tectonics

Sm-Nd isotope tracer techniques are powerful tools in identification of the protolith nature of UHP and HP rocks and can be used to constrain modeling of tectonic processes of continental collision. UHP rocks may have diverse origins, and not all of them carry the same significance for subduction of continental blocks. In this paper, Sm-Nd isotopic data are compiled for UHP and HP rocks, mostly represented by eclogites and garnet peridotites, from the Alpine, Hercynian (Variscan), and Caledonian belts of western Europe; the Pan-African belts of northern Africa; and the Ross belt of Antarctica. These data then are compared with the isotopic characteristics of the UHP rocks from the Dabie orogen of central China. Except for the coesite-bearing quartzitic metasediments of Dora-Maira (Western Alps), which are clearly of continental origin, all HP and UHP rocks (eclogites and ultramafic rocks) from the Alpine, Hercynian, and Pan-African belts have oceanic affinities with the characteristic positive ε_Nd(T) values (= metamorphic initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios). They represent segments of oceanic lithosphere that were subducted, underwent eclogite-facies metamorphism, and later were tectonically transported into orogenic zones during continental collisions. By contrast, the majority of UHP rocks from the European Caledonide and the Dabie orogen have negative ε_ND(T) values, indicating continental affinity. This suggests that these mafic and ultramafic rocks have had a long crustal residence time and that their UHP metamorphism is indicative of subduction of ancient and cold continental blocks, as represented by some Precambrian gneiss terranes containing mafic components including greenschists, amphibolites, or basic granulites.

In the Dabie orogen, none of the UHP eclogites analyzed thus far have shown oceanic affinity; thus they do not represent subducted Tethys Ocean crust. The preservation of ultrahigh ε_ND(0) values (+170 to +260) in eclogites of very low Nd concentrations (average 0.5 ppm) from the Weihai region and of the extraordinarily low δ¹⁸O in many eclogites and gneisses, the general absence of syntectonic granites in the Dabie Shan, and the available age data obtained by different techniques all point to a rapid rate of exhumation and the absence of a pervasive aqueous fluid phase during the entire process of subduction and exhumation of the Dabie UHP terrane.     

Kanfenggou UHP Metamorphic Fragment in Eastern Qinling Orogen and Its Relationship to Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts, Central China

In the Central Orogenic Belt, China, two UHP metamorphic belts are discriminated mainly based on a detailed structural analysis of the Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment exposed in the eastern Qinling orogen, and together with previous regional structural, petrological and geochronological data at the scale of the orogenic domain. The first one corresponds to the South Altun-North QaidamNorth Qinling UHP metarnorphic belt. The other is the Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts. The two UHP metamorphic belts are separated by a series of tectonic slices composed by the Qiniing rock group, Danfeng rock group and Liuling or Foziling rock group etc. respectively, and are different in age of the peak UHP metamorphism and geodynamic implications for continental deep subduction and collision. Regional field and petrological relationships suggest that the Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment that contains a large volume of the coesite- and microdiamond-bearing eclogite lenses is compatible with the structures recognized in the South Altun and North Qaidam UHP metamorphic fragments exposed in the western part of China, thereby forming a large UHP metamorphic belt up to 1000 km long along the orogen strike. This UHP metamorphic belt represents an intercontinental deep subduction and collision belt between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons, occurred during the Paleozoic. On the other hand, the well-constrained Dabie-Sulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts occurred mainly during Triassic time (250-220 Ma), and were produced by the intracontinental deep subduction and collision within the Yangtze craton. The Kanfenggou UHP metamorphic fragment does not appear to link with the DabieSulu UHP and HP metamorphic belts along the orogen. There is no reason to assume the two UHP metamorphic belts as a single giant deep subduction and collision zone in the Central Orogenic Belt situated between the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. Therefore, any dynamic model for the orogen must ac-count for the development of UHP metarnorphic rocks belonging to the separate two tectonic belts of different age and tectono-metamorphic history.