中、低压变质作用与大陆造山——兼论四川丹巴的变质带

巴罗型中压变质带与巴肯型低压高温变质带的成因与大陆板块边缘的碰撞造山及陆内造山作用之间有着紧密的联系。根据变质带的空间时间配置关系、压力类型、变质作用pTt轨迹、伴生的岩浆岩等等,可以区分出3种类型的大陆造山模式:弧-陆拼贴型、陆-陆碰撞型(可进一步分为中高压型碰撞造山带和双变质型山带型(paired metamorphic mountain belt)陆-陆碰撞带)、陆内造山地壳加厚-伸展型。巴罗型中压变质带普遍出现于地壳加厚-热弛豫的构造环境,但巴肯型低压变质带形成的构造背景及物理化学条件在不同的造山带有不同的表现形式,其热源至少有:壳内岩浆侵入或岩浆板底垫托、沉降盆地放射性同位素的衰变热、构造热穹隆、变质核杂岩、地下热流体传热等。大陆边缘造山带中巴罗型变质带的倒转以及板内造山带中变质带问断等现象与造山动力学过程密切相关,记录了造山过程中的重要的地质事件,也是探讨造山历史的理想场所。由于四川丹巴地区松潘—甘孜造山带形成于很独特的3个板块双极性构造环境,表现出与世界上典型造山带诸多相似的地方,如巴罗型中压变质带、巴肯型低压高温带同时在一系列变质穹隆中发育,但又有其特殊性和复杂性,如通常只发育在大陆边缘的倒转的巴罗带和陆内造山过程中的变质相间断同时出现,显然这与本?     

四川丹巴穹状变质地体

四川西部丹巴地区最为引人注目的地质构造是穹状变质地体的发育。华北、扬子和羌塘三个板块之间的南北向和东西向双向收缩,引起区内发育了大小不等的十几个穹状变质地体,自北而南有马奈、春牛场、丹巴、公差、格宗等变质穹隆。多数穹隆的核部出露的是前寒武纪的片麻岩和混合岩,例如春牛场侵入体。其中的片麻岩原岩、黑云母和角闪石质片麻岩均属本区最老的岩石。它不整合于志留纪地层之下,年代学研究证明其年代属新元古代(大约865~785Ma)。混合岩从形态上说,多为条带状,偶见角砾状的角闪石质混合岩。但是也有不少穹隆,核部是花岗岩类。岩石化学研究证明,它们大多属于S型花岗岩,仅个别为I型。穹状变质地体的外围变质带可分三类:(1)巴罗带型区域递增变质带,有的显示变质带的倒转;(2)巴肯型变质带;(3)低级区域变质带,多数是中压绿片岩相。巴罗带变质的泥质岩,多数变晶矿物如黑云母、十字石、石榴石均具早期低级变质矿物的定向包裹物,显示明显叠加变质的信息。变质泥质岩的∑REE=(195~274)×10-6,(La/Yb)n=0·811~1·917。稀土配分曲线和微量元素蛛网图具Nb、P、Ti负异常,显示大陆地壳的特征,是陆缘碎屑物质区域变质产物。巴肯带出露于丹巴以北,主要变质泥质岩是夕线石片麻岩类,常见铁铝榴石而少见堇青石,说明原岩富铁贫镁,局部出现锌铁尖晶石。由北侧的巴肯带到巴罗型变质的公差穹隆到南部的格宗穹隆变质带是从高温到低温连续变化的。因之,我们倾向于认为松潘—甘孜造山带的东南缘是一个规模较大的、呈NE向分布的低—中压区域变质带,总体是一条热轴,垂直走向,向东南温度逐步降低。据前人同位素年龄资料:M1巴罗型区域变质发生于约210~205Ma,马奈花岗岩U-Pb锆石年龄为(197±6)Ma。M2巴肯型变质与岩体侵入有关,年龄约为164Ma。M3喜马拉雅期重结晶的黑云母年龄约为30Ma。总之,丹巴变质穹隆的形成是青藏高原东北部地质构造演化中重要的一幕,其主要活动期起于印支晚期最后结束于喜马拉雅期的隆升和挤出。依据低压高温变质带的空间分布,推测本区印支末期存在一NE向的热轴,同时也是S型花岗岩体的出露区。至于木里一带穹隆与丹巴穹隆在变质程度上的差异,应当归因于印支晚期的陆壳增厚过程中,北倾南倒逆冲剪切造成区域热流的不均一性。也说明了青藏高原东北缘在喜山期隆升之前具有复杂的构造变质历史。     

关于巴罗式变质带的最新研究及其对研究秦岭杂岩的意义

本文对苏格兰高地Grampian造山运动中产生的经典巴罗变质带进行了讨论,重点介绍了近年来关于其变质作用的特征及发生机制认识方面的重大变化。强调巴罗变质作用仅发生在整个造山运动过程中的部分时段,纪录了短暂的加热过程,时空上与区域内大规模的双峰式岩浆活动有关。经典的巴罗变质系列并非形成于地壳增厚及其热弛豫,而是代表了中地壳内大规模的接触变质作用。参考经典地区的变质特征,对发育巴罗式变质作用的秦岭杂岩进行了初步对比分析,指出其中与夕线石有关的变质P-T-t轨迹可能是等压冷却过程,而不是等温降压的顺时针演化模式。秦岭杂岩的变质作用时间仍需要进一步准确厘定。结合其它相关地质特征的分析和对比,得出如下推论:巴罗式变质带发育地区的变质作用、混合岩与花岗岩均属于同一动力系统作用的结果,花岗质岩体不是变质作用的原因;基性岩浆可能提供了巴罗式变质作用发生所需要的热能,但不是必要条件;巴罗式变质作用可以发生在正常地壳厚度情况下,不是碰撞构造的标志;伴随热异常的变形过程中产生了变质带的梯度分布(巴罗式变质带)和一些花岗岩,形成类似于底辟的冲起构造。     

华北地台太古代麻粒岩相带的堇青石-夕线石组合:低压麻粒岩相的标志

华北地台北缘麻粒岩相带中,西起贺兰山东至辽吉地区,凡有高铝变质沉积岩发育的地方几乎都普遍存在堇青石-夕线石组合,它分别出现在含堇青石石英岩、片麻岩、麻粒岩和S-型花岗岩中;堇青石-石榴石-夕线石组合也极常见。用石榴石-堇青石矿物对计算的变质作用P-T条件约5.3×10~8～7.5×10~8Pa,700～810℃,地热梯度约30～40℃/km。这些数据与共生岩石中其他矿物对所得温压条件基本一致。堇青石-夕线石组合是低压变质作用的标志。因此该麻粒岩相带大部分属于低压麻粒岩相。     

新疆西南天山木扎尔特一带低压麻粒岩相变质作用P-T轨迹及其地质意义

本文首次报道在新疆西南天山木扎尔特一带发现了二辉石麻粒岩和麻粒岩相变质的堇青石榴矽线石片麻岩。二辉石麻粒岩的矿物组合为单斜辉石-斜方辉石-黑云母-角闪石-斜长石-石英。堇青石榴矽线石片麻岩矿物组合为堇青石-矽线石-石榴石-黑云母-斜长石-石英。岩石学和矿物学特征表明它们是典型的低压麻粒岩相变质岩石，其变质作用经历了两期演化：a．峰期麻粒岩相变质，T=681～705℃，P=5．4～5．8kbar；b．峰后角闪岩相退变阶段，T：571～637℃．P=4．7～5．3kbar。其变质作用P-T轨迹具有逆时针近等压降温(IBC)的特点，代表该地区可能为塔里木板块向伊犁．中天山板块俯冲过程中，在陆壳一侧所产生的陆源岩浆弧区域，由于受到下部岩浆热源的影响，在拉伸环境下出现低压麻粒岩相变质。通过分析低压麻粒岩相岩石与其南部高压一超高压变质带的大地构造位置和年代关系，我们认为该地区的低压麻粒岩相变质岩石可能与其南部的西天山高压一超高压变质带组成了双变质带。     

兴蒙造山带构造演化的新模式:来自内蒙古中部四期不同类型变质作用的证据

有关中亚造山带东段即兴蒙造山带早古生代以来的构造演化一直倍受关注,其中争议最大的问题是古亚洲洋最终闭合的时间究竟是在泥盆纪还是早中生代?晚古生代的大地构造背景究竟是持续的大洋俯冲还是经历了造山后的伸展裂解过程?以往对内蒙中部地区的研究多数局限于区域内广泛分布的蛇绿岩和各类型岩浆岩的年代学和地球化学,但是通过地球化学的方法来确定一个地区的构造环境往往具有多解性。为建立研究区的构造框架并查明兴蒙造山带构造演化过程,本文详细总结了内蒙古中部地区变质作用的最新研究进展,对兴蒙造山带的演化提出了新的认识。确定了该区域在古生代以来的变质作用可分为四期:第一期为志留纪的高压低温型(430～410Ma),以南、北带的温都尔庙群蛇绿混杂带为代表,发育典型的低温高压型蓝片岩相岩石,记录了洋壳的双向俯冲过程;第二期为早-中泥盆世的中压型(～400Ma),以宝音图群为代表,发育典型的巴罗型变质带,经历以升温升压为特征的前进变质、峰期变质、峰后近等温降压以及随后降温降压的顺时针型P-T演化,指示与地壳加厚有关的碰撞造山过程;第三期为石炭纪的低压高温型(345～309Ma),以锡林郭勒杂岩低压变质岩为代表,发育广泛的混合岩化和基性岩脉的侵入,经历早期升温伴随微弱减压,直至温度峰期后近等压冷却的顺时针P-T演化,指示造山后的陆内伸展过程;第四期为早三叠世(～240Ma)的中-低压低温型,以早三叠世区域低级变质岩系为代表,经历中-低压相系的顺时针P-T演化,指示与有限海盆闭合有关的陆内造山过程。结合已有的研究,内蒙古中部地区晚古生代的火山岩和侵入岩更可能形成于伸展的构造环境,超基性岩和沉积岩系的时空配置与典型大洋的蛇绿混杂岩明显不同,更可能形成于有限海盆的环境。因此,从四期变质作用来看,兴蒙造山带的构造演化可能更符合复合造山的模式:(1)早古生代古亚洲洋发育沟弧盆体系(500～410Ma);(2)早-中泥盆世古亚洲洋闭合引发陆陆碰撞造山(～400Ma);(3)石炭-二叠纪陆内伸展并形成有限海盆(350～250Ma)和(4)早-中三叠世有限海盆被动闭合引起板内造山(～240Ma)。     

内蒙古中西部宝音图群云母片岩的变质P- T轨迹与锆石年代学研究

位于内蒙古中西部地区的宝音图群,主要由云母片岩、斜长角闪岩、石英岩和大理岩等组成。其中云母片岩中发育典型的巴罗式递增变质带,目前对于该递增变质带的研究非常薄弱。本文对宝音图群的云母片岩开展了系统的岩相学、矿物化学、相平衡模拟以及锆石U-Pb年代学的研究。岩相学研究结果显示,三个云母片岩样品具有不同的峰期矿物组合,分别为石榴子石+白云母+黑云母+斜长石+石英,十字石+白云母+黑云母+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英,石榴子石+蓝晶石+白云母+黑云母+斜长石+钛铁矿+石英。此外,样品LS93和LS07存在晚期红柱石的叠加。相平衡模拟研究限定三个云母片岩的峰期温度压力分别为：577℃、0.73 GPa, 620℃、0.78 GPa和670℃、0.8 GPa,具有递增型特征,其峰期温度压力指示的地热梯度为18～20℃/km,为典型的中压相系;此外,三个样品的P-T轨迹均显示早期升温升压直至峰期阶段,随后降温降压的顺时针型,反映地壳加厚和后期抬升的演化过程。云母片岩中的锆石发育典型的变质边结构,变质边的Th/U=0.004～0.02,锆石U-Pb年代学结果显示该变质年龄为398±6 Ma,代表峰期或近峰期阶...     

苏北高压变质带及其与北侧超高压变质带的关系

在苏北超高压变质带以南存在一条与之平行的高压变质带。带内由东南向西北可进一步划分出蓝闪石-黑硬绿泥石带,石榴石-绿帘石带和蓝晶石-黄玉带三个变质亚带。从蓝门石-黑硬绿泥石带到蓝晶石-黄玉带变质温压逐渐升高,其峰期地热梯度为15±3℃/km,属于高压变质相系。北侧超高压变质带的典型矿物组合是石榴石+绿辉石+柯石英+金红石,地热梯度为9±2℃/km。高压变质带峰期变质与北侧超高压带峰期变质的地热梯度明显不同,而与超高压变质体的退变质地热梯度相吻合。结合同位素年代学资料,本文指出本区的高压变质作用与北侧的超高压变质作用不是同时发生,而是与超高压变质体的退变质作用同时发生于中生代的印支期。含柯石英榴辉岩的超高压峰期变质早于印支期,并经两次抬升出露于地表。     

俯冲带变质作用与构造机制

形成在汇聚板块边缘的俯冲带由俯冲岩石圈板块和上部岩石圈板块组成,具有不对称的热结构。俯冲岩石圈板块具有冷的地温梯度,而上部岩石圈板块具有热的地温梯度。俯冲板块的变质作用发生在5~15℃/km地温梯度下,可进一步划分为冷俯冲板块型（5~10℃/km）和热俯冲板块型（10~15℃/km）,即西阿尔卑斯型和古巴型。俯冲带上板块的变质作用发生15~50℃/km地温梯度下,可进一步划为冷地壳型（15~25℃/km）和热地壳型（25~50℃/km）,统称为科迪勒拉型。冷俯冲板块的变质作用是以大洋和大陆地壳岩石深俯冲到地幔,发生低温/高压及超高压变质作用为特征。所形成的低温/高压和超高压变质岩具有顺时针型P-T轨迹,其折返过程是以近等温或升温降压和部分熔融为特征。热俯冲板块型变质作用发生在年轻板块的正常俯冲和古老板块的平缓俯冲过程中。从大洋岩石圈初始俯冲到成熟俯冲,俯冲板块的地温梯度由热到冷,从热俯冲型转变成冷俯冲型。热俯冲板块的变质岩可具有顺时针型,也可具有逆时针型P-T轨迹,可以发生高温和高压下的部分熔融,形成埃达克质岩浆岩。俯冲带上板块的冷地壳型变质作用发生在构造挤压导致的加厚地壳环境,加厚的下地壳发生高温、高压麻粒岩相和榴辉岩相变质作用,可具有顺时针和逆时针型P-T轨迹。加厚新生下地壳的部分熔融形成埃达克质岩浆和高密度的基性残留体（弧榴辉岩）。热地壳型变质作用发生在构造伸展导致的减薄地壳环境。由于强烈的幔源岩浆增生和软流圈上涌,下地壳发生高温或超高温麻粒岩相变质作用和部分熔融,所形成的变质岩可具有顺时针型或逆时针型P-T轨迹。在岩浆弧加厚地壳的伸展过程中,早先形成的高温和高压变质岩可以叠加超高温变质作用。俯冲带上板块的岩浆弧可能是超高温变质岩形成的最主要构造环境。上板块下地壳的部分熔融可以形成大体积的花岗岩,由此导致新生地壳组成和成分的分异,是大陆地壳生长和成熟的重要机制。大陆碰撞造山带的加厚下地壳具有冷的地温梯度,可以发生高压麻粒岩和榴辉岩相变质作用。这些高级变质岩具有顺时针型P-T轨迹,在其折返过程中叠加中压、高温,甚至超高温变质作用。碰撞造山带下地壳的长期部分熔融可以形成不同成分的壳源花岗岩。     

辽东半岛古元古代北辽河群浪子山组巴罗式变质带分布、变质特征及其构造意义

巴罗式递增变质带能为地壳增厚及造山作用带来全新的认识.为了解辽东半岛北辽河群浪子山组内巴罗式变质带的野外分布和变质特征,对本溪地区连山关-祁家堡巴罗式变质带进行了详细的野外调查和室内研究工作.野外填图表明,浪子山组巴罗式变质带由南向北可以分为黑云母带、石榴石带、十字石带和蓝晶石带.岩相学研究表明,蓝晶石带的蓝晶十字石榴云母片岩保存了3阶段的矿物组合:（1）进变质阶段（M₁）矿物组合为Pl+Qz+Ms+Bt+Ctd+Chl±Grt;（2）峰期变质阶段（M₂）以Ky+St+Grt+Bt+Ms+Qz+Pl+Ilm为特征;（3）退变质阶段以毛发状的矽线石（M_3-1）和变斑晶边缘或裂隙处生长的绿泥石和绢云母为特征（M_3-2）.相平衡模拟表明,蓝晶十字石榴云母片岩所经历的进变质和峰期变质温压条件分别为~440℃/~3.7 kbar,~670℃/~7.9 kbar,具有典型的顺时针P-T轨迹.变质锆石U-Pb定年结果得到蓝晶十字石榴云母片岩经历了~1.96 Ga的峰期变质作用;碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄分布于2 631~2 020 Ma,浪子山组蓝晶十字石榴云母片岩碎屑物源可能来自于太古宙基底（~2.5 Ga）和2.2~2.1 Ga的岩浆岩.结合前人研究资料表明,浪子山组巴罗式变质带所记录的P-T-t轨迹以及大量的逆冲推覆构造揭示了胶-辽-吉带在~1.96 Ga经历了与造山作用相关的地壳增厚过程.      

Prograde amphiboles in hematite-bearing basic and quartz schists in the Sanbagawa belt, central Shikoku: relationship between metamorphic field gradient and P-T paths of individual rocks

The prograde amphibole that coexists with chlorite, epidote, muscovite, albite, quartz and hematite in Sanbagawa schists was examined to investigate the relationship between the prograde P-T paths of individual rocks and the metamorphic field gradient in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku. The amphibole changes from actinolite, through ferri-winchite and crossite, to barroisite and hornblende with increasing grade along the metamorphic field gradient. However, the sequence of prograde amphibole compositions in each sample varies in different mineral zones. The general scheme can be summarized as: magnesioriebeckite-riebeckite crossite in the upper chlorite zone of lower-grade rocks; crossite or glaucophane barroisite in the garnet zone of medium-grade rocks; and actinolite or winchite barroisite hornblende in the albite-biotite zone of higher-grade rocks. Changes of amphibole composition indicate that the prograde P-T path recorded in the higher-grade rocks was situated on the higher-temperature side of that of the lower-grade rocks and on the lower-pressure side of the metamorphic field gradient. The systematic change of P-T paths implies an increasing d P /d T during continuous subduction. These features can be interpreted as documenting prograde metamorphism within a young subduction zone that has a non-steady-state geotherm.     

P-T paths from high temperature shear zones beneath ophiolites

Abstract Mctamorphic rocks of the St Anthony Complex of north-western Newfoundland are best interpreted in terms of a high-temperature shear zone formed between down-going continental margin rocks and overriding oceanic lithosphere in a subduction zone. High-grade rocks, immediately beneath the oceanic lithosphere peridotite, display retrograde meta-morphism in high-strain zones, whereas lower grade rocks, near the base of the metamorphic complex, display prograde metamorphism in high-strain zones. Mylonite zones in meta-basitcs at all levels in the complex contain the assemblage epidote-hornblende-albite-sodic oligoclase. These observations suggest that the 'inverted metamorphic gradient'within the St Anthony Complex results from the fortuitous preservation of residual metamorphic assemblages from different crustal levels within an epidote amphibolite facies shear zone. The degree of re-equilibration is strongly dependent on the degree of strain, and is best achieved in synmetamorphic mylonite zones. This interpretation of the St Anthony Complex can be extended to other sub-ophiolite metamorphic sheets, which show very similar relationships. It is proposed that most metamorphic sheets beneath ophiolites are high temperature shear zones, the P-T paths of which preserve records of burial and exhumation in subduction zones.     

Variations in the transient prograde geothermal gradient from chloritoid-staurolite equilibria: a case study from the Barrovian and Buchan-type domains in the Bohemian Massif

Thermodynamic modelling of metamorphic rocks increases the possibilities of deciphering prograde paths that provide important insights into early orogenic evolution. It is shown that the chloritoid–staurolite transition is not only an indicator of temperature on prograde P–T paths, but also a useful indicator of pressure. The approach is applied to the Moravo‐Silesian eastern external belt of the Bohemian Massif, where metamorphic zones range from biotite to staurolite‐sillimanite. In the staurolite zone, inclusions of chloritoid occur in garnet cores, while staurolite is included at garnet rims and is widespread in the matrix. Chloritoid X_Fe = 0.91 indicates transition to staurolite at 5 kbar and 550 °C and consequently, an early transient prograde geothermal gradient of 29 °C km^?1. The overall elevated thermal evolution is then reflected in the prograde transition of staurolite to sillimanite and in the achievement of peak temperature of 660 °C at a relatively low pressure of 6.5 kbar. To the south and to the west of the studied area, high‐grade metamorphic zones record a prograde path evolution from staurolite to kyanite and development of sillimanite on decompression. Transition of chloritoid to staurolite was reported in two places, with chloritoid X_Fe = 0.75–0.80, occurring at 8–10 kbar and 560–580 °C, and indicating a transient prograde geothermal gradient of 16–18 °C km^?1. These data show variable barric evolutions along strike and across the Moravo‐Silesian domain. Elevated prograde geothermal gradient coincides with areas of Devonian sedimentation and volcanism, and syn‐ to late Carboniferous intrusions. Therefore, we interpret it as a result of heat inherited from Devonian rifting, further fuelled by syntectonic Carboniferous intrusions.     

A note on the relationship between inclined isothermal surfaces and subduction-zone metamorphism

The diversity of recent regional metamorphic environments is related to plate boundaries. Modern theories predict that isothermal surfaces are inclined near oceanic spreading centres, volcanic arcs and in subduction zones. In a terrain where isobaric and isothermal surfaces are not parallel, the geothermal gradient has continous lateral and vertical variation, rather than one particular value. Rocks undergoing subduction move diagonally and their progressive metamorphism cannot correspond with the geothermal gradient, whatever its local value. Telescoping of metamorphic facies will occur if an inverted thermal gradient is established on the arc-side of a subduction zone. Relatively high pressure metamorphism will characterise this region, even though the thermal gradient has a high value and the geothermal gradient a negative value.     

华北克拉通基底主要构造单元变质作用演化及其若干问题讨论

华北克拉通基底可分为三个太古宙微陆块(东部陆块、阴山陆块和鄂尔多斯陆块)和三个早元古宙活动带(孔兹岩带、华北中部带和胶-辽-吉带).这些构造单元具有不同的变质作用时间和P-T演化特征.东部陆块和阴山陆块晚太古宙基底岩系的变质作用发生在～2.5Ga,变质演化以等压冷却(IBC)逆时针P-T轨迹为特征,反映变质作用的成因与大规模地幔岩浆底侵有关.孔兹岩带主期变质作用发生在～1.95Ga,变质演化以近等温减压(ITD)顺时针P-T轨迹为特征,反映阴山陆块与鄂尔多斯陆块碰撞形成西部陆块的热构造过程.华北中部带变质作用发生在～1.85Ga,变质演化同样以近等温减压(ITD)顺时针P-T轨迹为特征,反映了西部陆块和东部陆块最终碰撞形成统一的华北克拉通基底的构造过程.早元古宙胶-辽-吉带变质作用表现‘双变质带'特征:西北带的北辽河群、老岭群和粉子山群的变质作用以中压顺时针P-T轨迹为特征,而东南带的南辽河群、吉安群和荆山群的变质作用以低压逆时针P-T演化为特征.华北克拉通基底变质作用演化地质图能更好地反映上述不同构造单元的变质作用演化特征.尽管岩浆弧、大陆裂谷和地幔柱模式都能解释东部陆块晚太古宙基底变质作用所具有的近等压冷却(IBC)逆时针P-T演化特征,地幔柱模式能够更合理解释东部陆块所存在的宽达800千米而时代近于相同的晚太古代火成岩带、大量科马提质超镁铁质岩石和双峰式火山岩、广泛发育的穹窿构造等.华北克拉通变质基底中具有石榴石-单斜辉石-斜长石-石英组合的高压基性麻粒岩和具有蓝晶石-钾长石组合的高压泥质麻粒岩的出露只局限在早元古宙华北中部带的北段和胶-辽-吉带的南端;这些高压麻粒岩形成在俯冲和陆-陆碰撞的构造环境中.西部陆块孔兹岩带含假蓝宝石麻粒岩是碰撞后(～1.92Ga)拉伸引发地幔岩浆底侵导致局部地带发生超高温(UHT)变质作用的产物.     

Post-Collisional Ductile Extensional Tectonic Framework in the UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts in the Dabie-Sulu Region, China

The present-day observable tectonic framework of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic belts in the Dabie-Sulu region was dominantly formed by an extensional process, mostly between 200 and 170 Ma, following the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. The framework that controls the present spatial distribution of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in particular displays the typical features of a Cordilleran-type metamorphic core complex, in which at least four regional-scale, shallow-dipping detachment zones are recognized. Each of these detachment zones corresponds to a pressure gap of 0.5 to 2.0 GPa. The detachment zones separate the rocks exposed in the region into several petrotectonic units with different P-T conditions. The geometry and kinematics of both the detachment zones and the petrotectonic units show that the exhumation of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu region was achieved, at least in part, by non-coaxial ductile flow in the mul     

Exhumation of UHP Terranes: A Case Study from the Dabie Mountains,Eastern China

Two processes are suggested to explain how UHP rocks are exhumed from mantle depths. One is removal of the overburden either by erosion or by extension, whereas the other involves the uplifting of the UHP rocks through the overburden. Application of either of these mechanisms to the Dabie Mountains, however, is fraught with difficulty. When combined with previously published data, new studies on metamorphic P-T paths, regional structures, and deep upper-mantle architecture revealed by seismic tomography lend support to a multi-stage exhumation process that operated in the Dabie Mountains.

The first stage (230 to 200 Ma) is characterized by ductile deformation, produced during eclogite-facies recrystallization under a geothermal gradient as low as 10°C/km, implying a synsubduction exhumation. Some of the UHP rocks evidently were exhumed to a depth of ~60 km, as indicated by petrological study of the Shuanghe eclogite. The second stage (200 to 170 Ma) attended ductile deformation and amphibolite-facies retrograde metamorphism. Subduction of the Yangtze block was halted by slab breakoff at a depth of ～200 km. The resultant geothermal gradient recovered to ～20″C/km. Slab breakoff permitted buoyancy-driven ascent of the UHP low-density melange to shallow crustal levels in a diapir structure. When the UHP portion of the mountain root rose, the shallow portion was heated to a temperature higher than that of the peak metamorphic pressure. The third stage (170 to 120 Ma) is characterized by extension and thermal uplift, as well as erosion. Sedimentary basins and volcanic rocks developed on both sides of the Dabie Mountains. Gab-bro-pyroxenite intruded the hanging wall of the UHP terrane, and granite, as well as migmatite, developed in that stage.

Exhumation mechanisms might include corner flow for the first stage, buoyancy-driven squeezing-up for the second stage, and crustal extension, as well as erosion, for the third. Rupture and loss of the subducted lithospheric plate generated the gravity instability that resulted in exhumation of the subducted UHP section.     

Lawsonite-albite schists from northernmost New Caledonia

In the Boat Pass-Tiebaghi area of New Caledonia regional metamorphism of Cretaceous-Eocene sediments and volcanics is related to intrusion of large peridotite bodies along a well-defined west coast tectonic line. Three metamorphic zones have been mapped, passing eastwards from the ultramafic line: aragonite-lawsonite, calcite-lawsonite, and calcite-lawsonite-glaucophane. The relationship between structure, stratigraphy and metamorphic zones is simple; assemblages indicative of the highest ratio of pressure to temperature (aragonite-lawsonite zone) lie immediately adjacent to the intrusive peridotites and also occupy stratigraphically the highest position of all three metamorphic zones. Albite-bearing assemblages persist in all zones and spessartine and omphacite appear in the deepest zone (calcite-lawsonite-glaucophane). The high pressure mineralogy was developed by fluid overpressure generated from a normal to steep geothermal gradient within a sealed environment beneath the tectonically-emplaced peridotite plate.