Enlightenment of the Mariana Fore-arc Sedimentary Basin Evolution to the Subduction Process

The Mariana subduction structure is a hot topic in ocean-ocean subduction zone research,and its subduction mechanism has attracted wide attention from experts and scholars in China and abroad.Based on the multi-channel seismic data of survey line MGL1204 in the Mariana fore-arc and DSDP ocean drilling data,this paper studies the development and evolution characteristics of the structure and strata in the Cenozoic Mariana fore-arc sedimentary basin.The Cenozoic strata are divided into six seismic sequences,with the possible era of each seismic sequence discerned,and the relationship between fault development and earthquakes analyzed.The episodic activity of the volcanic chain of the Mariana island arc is thought to control the tectonic and stratigraphic development pattern of the Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the fore-arc.Between 16°N-19°N and 146°E-151°E,the maximum thickness of the sedimentary center of the Cenozoic fore-arc sedimentary basin in Mariana is about 2360 m.Normal faults are developed in the area and some broke to the seabed,indicating that the Mariana island arc is still in the post-arc expansion stage.The application of multi-channel seismic sections in structural and stratigraphic evolution study is an important means to elucidating the Mariana subduction mechanism.     

Late Proterozoic Colisional Orogen and Geosuture in Southeastern China：Petrological Evidence

The Jiangshan-Shaoxing fracture belt(JSFB)is a Late Proterozoic geosuture due to island arc-continent collision in South China,The Cathaysian Block(CT),lying on the southeast side of JSFB,is composed of green schist-amphibolite complexes in the form of a series of tectonic flakes. On the northwest side of JSFB,which is located in the border area of Zheijiang,Jiangxi and Ahhhi provinces(abbreviated as ZJP-JXP-AHP),are distrbuted and ophiolite suite and other rocks,constituting the Jiangnan ancient island arc(JN)on the southeast margin of the Yangtze Block(YZ).The collision between JN and CT at-0.9Ga ago led to the folding of JN.followed by the intrusion(-0.9-0.8Ga ago)of many dioritic and ultramafic stitching plutons along the fracture belt.As a result,the basic Precambrian tectonic framework of southeastern China was shaped.     

Geological and paleontological investigation of Rote Island, Indonesia

Geological and paleontological studies of Rote Island have proven that the distribution of the Meso-zoic rocks (especially Triassic, Jurassic, and Creta-ceous) is broader than was thought by previous work-ers. The Paleozoic rocks are not exposed, but some fossils collected from the surface suggest that such rocks are present deep down in the subsurface of this island. The fossils were brought to the surface along with the other materials by mud volcanoes which are common on the island.     

Geochemistry of Mesoproterozoic Volcanic Rocks in the Western Kunlun Mountains: Evidence for Plate Tectonic Evolution

Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks occurring in the north of the western Kunlun Mountains can be divided into two groups. The first group (north belt) is an reversely-evolved bimodal series. Petrochemistry shows that the alkalinity of the rocks decreases from early to late: alkaline→calc-alkaline→tholeiite, and geochemistry proves that the volcanic rocks were formed in rifting tectonic systems. The sedimentary facies shows characteristics of back-arc basins. The second (south belt) group, which occurs to the south of Yutian-Minfeng-Cele, is composed of calc-alkaline island arc (basaltic) andesite and minor rhyolite. The space distribution, age and geochemistry of the two volcanite groups indicate that they were formed in a back-arc basin (the first group) and an island arc (the second group) respectively and indicate the plate evolution during the Mesoproterozoic. The orogeny took place at -1.05 Ga, which was coeval with the Grenville orogeny. This study has provided important geological data for explorin     

Tectonic Setting and Nature of the Provenance of Sedimentary Rocks in Lanping Mesozoic- Cenozoic Basin： Evidence from Geochemistry of Sandstones

The geochemical composition of sandstones in the sedimentary basin is controlled mainly by the tectonic setting of the provenance, and it is therefore possible to reveal the tectonic setting of the provenance and the nature of source rocks in terms of the geochemical composition of sandstones. The major elements, rare-earth dements and trace elements of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sandstones in the Lanping Basin are studied in this paper, revealing that the tectonic settings of the provenance for Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in the Lanping Basin belong to a passive continental margin and a continental island arc. Combined with the data on sedimentary facies and palaeogeography, it is referred that the eastern part of the basin is located mainly at the tectonic setting of the passive continental margin before Mesozoic, whereas the western part may be represented by a continental island arc. This is compatible with the regional geology data. The protoliths of sedimentary rocks should be derived from the upper continental crust, and are composed mainly of felsic rocks, mixed with some andesitic rocks and old sediment components. Therefore, the Lanping Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin is a typical continental-type basin. This provides strong geochemical evidence for the evolution of the paleo-Tethys and theb asin-range transition.     

FORMATIVE MECHANISM OF AKAISHI MOUNTAINS AND ENREI BASIN IN CENTRAL JAPAN

1 Introduction It is common in mobile belts that uplifting mountains are neighbored by synchronously subsiding basins.The coupling mechanism of such subsidence and uplift is an important target to clarify the dynamics of mobile belts.We investigate the coupled mountain uplift and basin subsidence in the Central Japan highland,the junction of three island arcs (the Northeast Japan,the Southwest Japan and the Izu-Ogasawara arcs).The highland over 3 000 m in height is composed of mountain ranges,plateaus and intramountain basins (Fig.1).     

Palladium, Platinum and Gold Concentrations in Fengshan Porphyry Cu–Mo Deposit, Hubei Province, China

Abstract: The Fengshan porphyry-skarn copper–molybdenum (Cu–Mo) deposit is located in the south-eastern Hubei Province in east China. Cu–Mo mineralization is hosted in the Fengshan granodiorite porphyry stock that intruded the Triassic Daye Formation carbonate rocks in the early Cretaceous (~140 Ma), as well as the contact zone between granodiorite porphyry stock and carbonate rocks, forming the porphyry-type and skarn-type association. The Fengshan granodiorite stock and the immediate country rocks are strongly fractured and intensely altered by hydrothermal fluids. In addition to intense skarn alteration, the prominent alteration types are potassic, phyllic, and propylitic, whereas argillation is less common. Mineralization occurs as veins, stock works, and disseminations, and the main ore minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, bornite, and magnetite. The contents of palladium, platinum and gold (Pd, Pt and Au) are determined in nine samples from fresh and mineralized granodiorite and different types of altered rocks. The results show that the Pd content is systematically higher than Pt, which is typical for porphyry ore deposits worldwide. The Pt content ranges from 0.037 to1.765 ppb, and the Pd content ranges between 0.165 and 17.979 ppb. Pd and Pt are more concentrated in porphyry mineralization than skarn mineralization, and have negative correlations with Au. The reconnaissance study presented here confirms the existence of Pd and Pt in the Fengshan porphyry-skarn Cu–Mo deposit. When compared with intracontinent and island arc geotectonic settings, the Pd, Pt, and Au contents in the Fengshan porphyry Cu–Mo deposit in the intracontinent is lower than the continental margin types and island are types. A combination of available data indicates that Pd and Pt were derived from oxidized alkaline magmas generated by the partial melting of an enriched mantle source.     

Major ions characteristics in a disturbed aquifer of an oceanic island——Sipadan, Malaysia

The Sipadan island is the only oceanic island found in Malaysia, and is popularly known for its beautiful corals and diving activities. The aquifer of the island is affected by seawater intrusion associated with groundwater exploitation. Geologically, the aquifer is composed of several series of Quaternary bioherm facies, and its recharge merely depends on rainfall. This research attempts to understand the chemical changes of the groundwater attributed to the salinization processes based on major ion composition （Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋, Na^＋, K^＋, HCO, SO, Cl^-）. The initial assessments were done in years 1993 - 1994, followed by subsequent assessment in years 2004-2005. Methods of analyses were adopted from APHA （1995）. The hydrogeochemical saturation indices （SI） were computed using the PHREEQC program in order to assess the state of equilibrium between groundwater and the minerals present. The results of analyses indicated that the groundwater has been highly enriched in Na^＋, SO and CI, reflecting an encroachment of saline water into the aquifer. The groundwater facies can be classified as sodium chloride （Na-Cl） water type. There are positive correlations （moderate to strong）, except HCO3^-, between the studied parameters. The weak and inconsistent correlation of HCO3^- with the cations and anions related to dissolved salts suggests that saltwater intrusion has an insignificant impact on the chemistry of HCO3^- in the groundwater. Strong correlations （r 〉0.70） exist among the major elements （Na^＋, Mg^2＋, K^＋, Cl^- and SO4^-） and salinity （EC）. These relationships clearly identify the main elements contributing to the groundwater salinity and their tendency to depict a similar trend of salinization pattern. Chloride has a major influence on the salinity of groundwater based on the positive and strong correlation that exist between Cl^- and EC （r=0.97）.     

Discovery of the Early Paleozoic Boin Sum‐Ordor Sum Island Arc in the Hadamiao Gold Ore District,Inner Mongolia and its Significance to the Evolution of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean

Early Paleozoic granodiorite has been identified on the northern margin of the North China craton in the east section of the central-Asian orogenic belt, which was previously known as early Indosinian in age. By using the LA-ICP-MS method, the obtained zircon U-Pb age is 445.6±2.7 Ma, which represents the crystallization age of the granodiorite. The granodiorite near the east of the large-sized Bilihe gold deposit is of the tholeiite series with low potassium. It is quasi-aluminous I-type granite, enriched in sodium (Na2O/K2O=7.29-9.77) and magnesium (Mg#=0.51-0.67). The ΣREE value is relatively low, obvious differentiation is shown between LREE and HREE and within LREE, and the Eu anomaly is low and negative (δEu=0.74-0.91). In the primitive-mantle normalized spider diagrams of trace elements, the granodiorite is relatively rich in LREE and LILE (Ba, Sr, Th), and strongly depleted in HFSE (Nb, Ta, Ti and P), which shows features of subduction zone components (SZC). In the discrimination diagrams of tectonic settings of granite for Rb vs. (Nb+Y), Rb vs. (Ya+Ta), La/Nb vs. Ba/Nb and Th/Nb vs. Ba/Nb, the granodiorite exhibits typical features of island arc granite. The normalized values of K and Rb are extremely low, while the values of Sr and Eu are very high, which are similar to those of island arc magma that has undergone metasomatism of fluid from the oceanic crust. The granodiorite is relatively depleted in εHf(t) (5.1-7.1) and low in εHf(t) model ages (1089-921 Ma). In the εHf(t) vs. age (T) diagram, the distribution area of the granodiorite is accordant with the field of the Xing’anling-Mongolia orogenic belt, which indicates that the magmatic sources are mainly the mixture of partial melting of wedged mantle subjected to metasomatism of fluid from the oceanic crust and young substance from the crust. The granodiorite is similar to the felsic arc magma in the Damao Banner, Bate Obon, Boin Sum and Ordor Sum regions, and they altogether constitute an early Paleozoic accretionary island arc magmatic belt on the northern margin of the North China craton. A number of early Paleozoic zircons trapped in late Paleozoic intrusions in the Hadamiao and Bilihe regions and the discovery of the early Paleozoic island arc magmatic belt near the east of the Bilihe gold deposit suggest that the late Paleozoic volcanic-intrusive rocks have a basement of early Paleozoic arc accretionary complexes. This is just the evident of the multiphase subduction and accretion model of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). Paleozoic structures and magmas on the northern margin of the North China craton are shown from south to north as the late Paleozoic Andes-type arc magmatic belt in the Inner Mongolia plateau, the Chifeng-Bayan Obo fault and the late and early Paleozoic arc magmatic belt, which shows that after the early Paleozoic arc-continent collisional orogeny and at the stage of the late Paleozoic accretionary orogeny, the PAO plate was likely to continuously pulsate and underthrust beneath the early Paleozoic island arc accretionary complex belt and its front, i.e. the North China craton. During the early Paleozoic collisional orogeny, the PAO plate might not experience large-scale breakup or delamination. The characteristics of the early Paleozoic island arc accretionary complex basement have a significant control on late Paleozoic diagenesis and metallization in the Hadamiao and Bilihe gold concentrated areas.     

Geochemical Constraints of the Ediacaran Volcano-Sedimentary Succession of the Sa’al Metamorphic Complex at Wadi Zaghra, South Sinai, Egypt

The volcano-sedimentary succession around Wadi Zaghra in Sinai, at the northernmost segment of the Arabian Nubian Shield, comprises volcanic rocks interbedded with rather immature sediments. The succession is dominated by intermediate to silicic volcanics of medium-to high-K calc-alkaline affinity. It is divided into two units, the lower unit includes intermediate rocks and dacites interbedded with graywackes, semi-pelites and pelites and topped by polymict conglomerates. This unit is subjected to folding and regional metamorphism(up to garnet zone) and is intruded by quartz diorite-granodiorite inducing, locally, low-pressure contact thermal metamorphism. The unmetamorphosed upper unit encompasses acid volcanics intercalated with litharenite, sublitharenite and minor arenite. The rhyolites of this unit pertain to the highly fractionated granites and are characterized by an agpaitic index(NK/A) ranging from 0.87 to 0.96. They may reflect either extensive interaction of subduction-related magmas with the continental crust or a change in the tectonic regime. The present lithological and geochemical characteristics of the studied sediments together with available zircon ages indicate rather distal provenance of their detritus. This detritus comprises fluvial-alluvial sediments accumulated in the intermontane basins, which are half-grabens or tilted fault blocks. The tectonic setting of the depositional basins is active continental margin and continental island arcs. Geochemical patterns of the Zaghra volcano-sedimentary succession indicate their correlation with the Dokhan Volcanics-Hammamat Clastics sequence of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Also, the Zaghra volcanics display geochemical similarities with those exposed in Sinai, at the Rutig, Ferani and Iqna Shar'a areas. The Zaghra succession is dated as Ediacaran but is not related either to the ensimatic island arc assemblage or to the rift-related assemblage formed during the early stages of the break-up of Rodinia as previously thought.     

Re-Os Dating of the Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit in Zhongdian,NW Yunnan, and Its Geological Significance

The Pulang porphyry copper deposit is located in the Zhongdian island arc belt, NW Yunnan, in the central part of the Sanjiang area, SW China, belonging to the southern segment of the Yidun island arc belt on the western margin of the Yangtze Platform. In the Yidun island arc, there occur well-known "Gacun-style" massive sulfide deposits in the northern segment and plenty of porphyry copper deposits in the southern segment, of which the Pulang porphyry copper deposit is one of the representatives. Like the Yulong porphyry copper deposit, this porphyry copper deposit is also one of the most important porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. But it is different from other porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (e.g. those in the Gangdise porphyry copper belt and Yulong porphyry copper belt) in that it formed in the Indosinian period, while others in the Himalayan period. Because of its particularity among the porphyry copper deposits of China, this porphyry copp     

Tectonic Units and Their Fundamental Characteristics on the Northern Margin of the Alxa Block

The northern margin of the Alxa block is the junction of a tectonic units. Four first-order tectonic units are distinguished: 1. the Yagan structural zone characteristic of an immature island arc; 2. the Zhusileng-Hangwula structural zone, which was a passive continental margin in the Early Palaeozoic and was transformed into an active continental margin in the Late Palaeozoic;3. the Shalazha structural zone characteristic of a mature island arc; 4. the Nuru-Langshan structural zone, which was a Proterozoic orogenic belt and later evolved into an extensional transtional crust in the Palaeozoic. The above-mentioned tectonic units differ remarkably in sedimentary formations, magmatic rock associations, metamorphism and geochemistry and are bounded by faults between one another.     

Relation of Isotope Geochemical Steep Zones with Geophysical Fields and Tectonics in the Junction Area of the Cathaysian, Yangtze and Indochina Plates

Through lead isotope geochemical mapping in the Yunnan-Guizhou area geochemical steep zones (GSZ) have been established, which clearly reveal the junction relationship of the Cathaysian, Yangtze and Indo-China plates. GSZ are closey related to gravity Mono gradient zones and lithospheric thickness. The GSZ between the Yangtze and Cathaysian plates is consistent with the Shizong-Mile tectonic belt, where island arc basalts are well developed. The Yangtze-Indo-China GSZ is parallel to the Jingdong-Mojiang volcanic belt in rift-island arc environments. The evidence of geology, geophysics and geochemistry all indicates that Cathaysia was subducted towards the Yangtze plate and that the Yangtze plate was underthrust beneath the Indo-China, which took place from the Early Carboniferous to the Early Triassic.     

Application of CSAMT in hydrogeology exploration in Shandong Province–An example from geothermal exploration in Changdao County(south four islands)

The geophysical exploration in Changdao County is conducted using controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric(CSAMT) method. The inversion results reveal obvious evidences of one existed fault and five new blind faults, including their location, size, occurrence and development degree. Another two low resistance anomaly zones are delineated. According to the results, a geothermal well drilling test is applied in the middle of South Changshan Island, discovering a large flow of salt hotspring with bromine and strontium. The outlet temperature is 36 ℃ and the yield of a single well is 1 830 m~3/d. This study on island hotspring exploration marks the first of its kind conducted in Shandong Province. It provides basic high-quality information for subsequent similar studies.     

Geotectonic Settings of Large and Superlarge Mineral Deposits on the Southwestern Margin of the North China Plate

The geotectonic setting refers to the three-dimensional space and related events based on which a metallogenic system is formed and an ore-forming process takes place. This paper discusses the tectonic evolution of the southwestern margin of the North China paleocontinent and related geotectonic settings in which large or superlarge deposits are formed. Emphasis is put on the geodynamic conditions of the Jinchuan nickel-copper deposit, the Baiyin copper-polymetallic deposit and the Hanshan gold deposit. It is significant that the three deposits occur together as a "trinity" on the same paleocontinental margin. The Jinchuan nickel-copper deposit was formed during the early stage of rifting of the paleocontinental margin; the Baiyin copper-polymetallic deposit was formed during the splitting stage of a continental-margin arc. The continental-margin arc spitting resulted in an "island arc rift" in the early stage of evolution. The Hanshan gold deposit was formed within the Altun sinistral strike-slip fault     

Five-Stage Model of the Palaeozoic Crustal Evolution in Xinjiang

The great majority of the Palaeozoic orogenjc belts of Central Asia are of the intercontinental type, whose evolution always follows a five-stage model, i.e. the basal continental crust-extensional transitional crust-oceanic crust-convergent transitional crust-new continental crust model. The stage for the extensional transitional crust is a pretty long, independent and inevitable phase. The dismembering mechanism of the basal continental crust becoming an extensional continental crust is delineated by the simple shear model put forward by Wernike (1981). The continental margins on the sides of a gently dipping detachment zone and moving along it are asymmetric: one side is of the nonmagmatic type and the other of the magmatic type with a typical bimodal volcanic formation. In the latter case, however, they were often confused with island arcs. This paper discusses the five-stage process of the crustal evolution of some typical orogenic belts in Xinjiang.     

Geochronology and Tectonic Evolution of the West Section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt

As an important part of South China Old Land, the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt plays a significant role in explaining the assembly and the evolution of the Upper Yangtze Block and Cathaysia, as well as the structure and growth mechanism of continental lithosphere in South China.The Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups are the base strata of the west section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt.Thus, the research of geochronology and tectonic evolution of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups is significant.The maximum sedimentary age of the Lengjiaxi Group is ca.862 Ma, and the minimum is ca.822 Ma.The Zhangjiawan Formation, which is situated in the upper part of the Banxi Group is ca.802 Ma.The Lengjiaxi Group and equivalent strata should thus belong to the Neoproterozoic in age.The Jiangnan Orogenic Belt consisting of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups as important constituents is not a Greenville Orogen Belt(1.3 Ga–1.0 Ga).The Jiangnan Orogenic Belt is a recyclic orogenic belt, and the prototype basin is a foreland basin with materials derived from the southwest and the sediments belong to the active continental sedimentation.By combining large amounts of dating data of the Lengjiaxi and the Banxi groups as well as equivalent strata, the evolutionary model of the western section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt is established as follows: Before 862 Ma, the South China Ocean was subducted beneath the Upper Yangtze Block, while a continental island arc was formed on the side near the Upper Yangtze Block.The South China Ocean was not closed in this period.From 862 Ma to 822 Ma, the Upper Yangtze Block was collided with Cathaysia; and sediments began to be deposited in the foreland basin between the two blocks.The Lengjiaxi Group and equivalent strata were thus formed and the materials might be derived from the recyclic orogenic belt.From 822 Ma to 802 Ma, Cathaysia continued pushing to the Upper Yangtze Block, experienced the Jinning-Sibao Movement(Wuling Movement); as result, the folded basement of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt was formed.After 802 Ma, Cathaysia and the Upper Yangtze Block were separated from each other, the Nanhua rift basin was formed and began to receive the sediments of the Banxi Group and equivalent strata.These large amounts of dating data and research results also indicate that before the collision of the Upper Yangtze Block with Cathaysia, materials of the continental crust became less and less from the southwest to the east in the Jiangnan Orogeneic Belt; only island arc and neomagmatic arc were developed in the eastern section.Ocean-continent subduction or continent-continent subduction took place in the western and southern sections, while intra-oceanic subduction occurred in the eastern section.Comprehensive analyses on U-Pb ages and Hf model ages of zircons, the main provenance of the Lengjiaxi Group is Cathaysia.     

蒙古中部巴彦洪古尔蛇绿岩带乌兰布拉格新块状硫化物矿床

The Bayankhongor ophiolite zone, a NW-SE strik-ing linear structure 400 km long and up to 25 km wide, is the largest ophiolite association in Central Mongolia and possibly in all of Central Asia. The Bayankhongor cop-per mineralization was investigated by us in connection with detailed research of the ophiolite complexes in 1997-2011. With regard to their origin the ore formations belong to genetic type of gold-bearing massive sulphide deposit with magmatic seat of the island arc.     

Geochemistry of the Paleocene Clastic Rocks in Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Implications for Tectonic Background and Provenance

The Lishui Sag, in the East China Sea Shelf Basin, is rich in hydrocarbons, with the major hydrocarbon-bearing layers being the Paleocene Mingyuefeng clastic rocks. Analysis of the implicit geologic background information of these Paleocene clastic rocks using petrological and geochemical methods has significant practical importance. These Paleocene sandstones are mainly lithic arenite, lithic arkose and greywacke, composed of K-feldspar, plagioclase, authigenic clays, silica and carbonates. As continental deposits, Yueguifeng clastic rocks have high aluminosilicate and mafic detritus contents, while the Lingfeng and Mingyuefeng Formations are rich in silica due to an oscillating coastal marine depositional environment. The major element contents of these Paleocene sandstones are low and have a concentrated distribution, indicating that the geochemical composition is non-epigenetic, transformed by sedimentary processes and diagenesis. The Yueguifeng detritus comprises recycled sediments, controlled by moderate weathering and erosion, while the Lingfeng and Mingyuefeng detritus is interpreted as primarily first-cycle materials due to low chemical weathering. In the Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene, the Pacific Plate began subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing an orogeny by plate collision and magma eruption due to the melting of subducted oceanic crust. This resulted in the dual tectonic settings of “active margin” and “continental island arc” in the East China Sea Shelf Basin. During the Late Paleocene, the Pacific Plate margin migrated eastward along with development of the Philippine Ocean Plate, and the tectonic setting of the Lishui Sag gradually turned into a passive continental margin. Detrital sources included both orogenic continental blocks and continental island arcs, and the parent rocks are primarily felsic volcanic rocks and granites.     

Discovery of Liquid Cryptoexplosive Breccia in the Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit of Yunnan Province and its Prospecting Significance

<正>The Pulang porphyry copper deposit,located in the Gezan tectonic-magmatic arc and south of the Yidun island arc,southwest of Sanjiang metallogenic belt in Yunnan province,is a super-large porphyry copper deposit.During recent decades,the Pulang deposit has attracted wide attention among geologists both at home and abroad.Many previous researches have discussed its