Tectonic accretion of a subducted intraoceanic remnant arc in Cretaceous Hokkaido, Japan, and implications for evolution of the Pacific northwest

Abstract   An accretionary complex, which contains fragments of a remnant island arc, was newly recognized in the Cretaceous accretionary terranes in Hokkaido, Japan. It consists of volcanics, volcanic conglomerate, intermediate to ultramafic intrusive rocks with island-arc affinity including boninitic rocks, accompanied by chert and deformed terrigenous turbidites. Compared with the results of modern oceanic surveys, the preserved sequence from island-arc volcanics to chert, via reworked volcanics, is indicative of intraoceanic remnant arc, because the sequence suggests an inactive arc isolated within a pelagic environment before its accretion. The age of a subducting oceanic crust can be discontinuous before and after a remnant-arc subduction, resulting in abrupt changes in accretion style and metamorphism, as seen in Cretaceous Hokkaido. Subduction of such an intraoceanic remnant arc suggests that the subducted oceanic plate in the Cretaceous was not an extensive oceanic plate like the Izanagi and/or Kula Plates as previously believed by many authors, but a marginal basin plate having an arc–back-arc system like the present-day Philippine Sea Plate.     

Cretaceous episodic growth of the Japanese Islands

Abstract The Japanese Islands formed rapidly in situ along the eastern Asian continental margin in the Cretaceous due to both tectonic and magmatic processes. In the Early Cretaceous, huge oceanic plateaus created by the mid-Panthalassa super plume accreted with the continental margin. This tectonic interaction of oceanic plateau with continental crust is one of the significant tectonic processes responsible for continental growth in subduction zones. In the Japanese Islands, Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene continental growth is much more episodic and drastic. At this time the continental margin uplifted regionally, and intra-continent collision tectonics took place in the northern part of the Asian continent. The uplifting event appears to have been caused by the subduction of very young oceanic crust (i.e. the Izanagi-Kula Plate) along the continental margin. Magmatism was also very active, and melting of the young oceanic slab appears to have resulted in ubiquitous plutons in the continental margin. Regional uplift of the continental margin and intra-continent collision tectonics promoted erosion of the uplifted area, and a large amount of terrigenous sediment was abruptly supplied to the trench. As a result of the rapid supply of terrigenous detritus, the accretionary complexes (the Hidaka Belt in Hokkaido and the Shimanto Belt in Southwest Japan) grew rapidly in the subduction zone. The rapid growth of the accretionary complexes and the subduction of very young, buoyant oceanic crust caused the extrusion of a high-P/T metamorphic wedge from the deep levels of the subduction zone. Episodic growth of the Late Cretaceous Japanese Islands suggests that subduction of very young oceanic crust and/or ridge subduction are very significant for the formation of new continental crust in subduction zones.     

Accretionary processes and metallogenesis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Advances and perspectives

As one of the largest Phanerozoic orogens in the world,the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is a natural laboratory for studies of continental dynamics and metallogenesis.This paper summarizes the research progresses of the accretionary processes and metallogenesis of the CAOB since the Peopled Republic of China was founded,and puts forward the prospect for future research.During the early period (1950s-1970s),several geological theories were applied to explain the geological evolution of Central Asia.In the early period of China's reform and opening-up,the plate tectonics theory was applied to explain the evolution of the northern Xinjiang and Xingmeng regions,and the opinion of subduction-collision between Siberian Kazakhstan and China-North Korea-Tarim plates was proposed.The idea of the Solonker-Yanbian suture zone was established.In the 1990s,the study of the CAOB entered a period of rapid development.One school of scholars including geologists from the former Soviet Union proposed a multi-block collision model for the assemblage of the CAOB.In contrast,another school of scholars,led by a Turkish geologist,Celal Sengor,proposed that the Altaids was formed through the growth and strike-slip duplicates of a single island arc,and pointed out that the Altaids is a special type of collisional orogen.During this period,Chinese geologists carried out a lot of pioneering researches on ophiolites and high-pressure metamorphic rocks in northern China,and confirmed the main suture zones accordingly.In 1999,the concept of"Central Asian metallogenic domain"was proposed,and it became one of the three major metallogenic domains in the world.Since the 21st century,given the importance for understanding continental accretion and metallogenic mechanism,the CAOB has become the international academic forefront.China has laid out a series of scientific research projects in Central Asia.A large number of important scientific research achievements have been spawned,including the tectonic attribution of micro-continents,timing and tectonic settings of ophiolites,magmatic arcs,identification and anatomy of accretionary wedges,regional metamorphism-deformation,(ultra)high-pressure metamorphism,ridge subduction plume-plate interaction archipelagic paleogeography and spatio-temporal framework of multiple accretionary orogeny,continental growth accretionary metallogenesis,structural superposition and transformation etc.These achievements have made important international influences.There still exist the following aspects that need further study:(1) Early evolution history and subduction initiation of the Paleo-Asian Ocean;(2) The accretionary mechanism of the extroversion Paleo-Asian Ocean;(3) The properties of the mantle of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and their spatiotemporal distribution;(4) The interaction between the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the Tethys Ocean;(5) Phanerozoic continental growth mechanism and its global comparison;(6) Accretionary metallogenic mechanism of the Central Asian metallogenic domain;and (7) Continental transformation mechanism.     

Carboniferous tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc: evidence from geochemistry and petrography of Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the northern Luliang Uplift,NW China

The Northern Junggar Basin experienced extensive subduction and a complex tectono-magmatic evolution during the Late Paleozoic,resulting in a heterogeneous distribution of volcanic rocks in the Junggar Basin.In this study,the Carboniferous tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc was described by exploring the petrography and geochemistry of Carboniferous volcanic rocks collected from well Y-2 and outcrop WW' in the northern Luliang Uplift.The distribution,types,and formation ages of these volcanic rocks were characterized and the volcanic sequence in well Y-1 was divided into upper and lower parts according to vertical variations in selected geochemical data.Then the petrogenesis and tectonic settings of different volcanic rocks were evaluated and this was used to infer the tectonomagmatic evolution of the northern Luliang arc during the Carboniferous.The results indicate that:(1) Carboniferous high-K calc-alkali andesite-dacite associations are distributed in the west of the northern Luliang Uplift,and Lower Carboniferous calc-alkali basalt-dacite-rhyolite assemblages are preserved in its east.(2) The intermediateacid volcanic rocks in wells Y-1 and Y-2 were derived from calc-alkali basaltic magma through melting of the juvenile lower crust,and geochemical variations indicate increasing addition of slab melting in a subduction-related arc environment.The bimodal volcanic rocks from outcrop WW' were derived from lithospheric underplating of basaltic magma in an intra-arc extensional setting.(3) The closure of the eastern Keramaili Oceanic basin occurred before the Early Carboniferous,and the tectono-magmatic difference between the east and the west of the northern Luliang Uplift appeared before the Carboniferous period.     

An ophiolitic tectonic melange first discovered in Huashan area, south margin of Qinling Orogenic Belt, and its tectonic implications

On the basis of the synthetic studies of geology and geochemistry, an ophiolitic tectonic melange waa discovered in Sanligang-Sanyang area, the western part of Xiangfan-Guangji fault, the south margin of the Qinling Orogenic Belt. It is composed of different tectonic blocks with different lithological features and ages, mainly including the Huashan ophiolite blocks, Xiaofu Island-arc volcanic blocks, pelagic sediments, fore-arc volcanic-sedimentary system, and the massif of the basement and the covering strata of the Yangtze Block. These massifs were emplaced in the western part of Xiangfan-Guangji fault, the boundary between the Qinling Orogenic Belt and Yangtze Block, contacting each other by a shear zone or chaotic matrix. The characteristics of geochemistry indicate that the bash of the Huashan ophiolite are similar to mid-oceanic ridge basalts (MORB) formed in an initial oceanic baain, and the Xiaofu volcanic rocks are formed in a tectonic setting of island arc. The ophiolitic tectonic melange is the fragments of subduction wedge, which implies that there has been an oceanic basin between Qinling Block and Yangtze Block. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49773187, 49732080)     

马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔前缘构造变形和精细结构

马尼拉俯冲带是南海的东部边界,记录了南海形成演化的关键信息,同时也是地震和海啸多发区域.本文利用过马尼拉俯冲带北段的高分辨率多道地震剖面,分析了研究区内海盆和海沟的沉积特征,精细刻画了区内增生楔前缘的构造变形、结构以及岩浆活动特征.研究区内增生楔下陆坡部分由盲冲断层、构造楔和叠瓦逆冲断层构成,逆冲断层归并于一条位于下中新统的滑脱面上,滑脱面向海方向的展布明显受到增生楔之下埋藏海山和基底隆起的影响;上陆坡的反射特征则因变形强烈和岩浆作用而难以识别;岩浆活动开始于晚中新世末期并持续至第四纪.马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔的形成时间早于16.5 Ma,并通过前展式逆冲向南海方向扩展;马尼拉俯冲带的初始形成时间可能在晚渐新世,而此时南海海盆扩张仍在持续.南海东北缘19°N-21°N区域为南海北部陆坡向海盆的延伸,高度减薄的陆壳的俯冲造成马尼拉海沟北段几何形态明显地向东凹进.     

Geochemistry of the subduction-related magmatic rocks in the Dahong Mountains, northern Hubei Province--Constraint on the existence and subduction of the eastern Mianlüe oceanic basin

The existence and subduction of the eastern Mianlue oceanic basin in the south Qinling belt are keys to understand the Qinling orogen. Based on geological mapping, several volcanic slices have been identified in Tumen, Zhoujiawan, Xiaofu and Yuantan areas, which distribute in the northern margin of the Dahong Mountains (DHM), and thrust into the Sanligang-Sanyang fault. These slices consist mainly of diabases, basaltic-andesitic lavas, pyroclastic rocks and a minor tuff. The geochemistry of the basalts, andesites, and diabases is characterized by depleting in Nb and Ta, enriching in Th and LILE (e.g.K, Rb, Ba), and undifferentiating in HFSE. These geochemical characteristics suggest that the original magma of these rocks was derived from a mantle wedge above a subduction zone, and formed in an island-arc setting in Carboniferous-early Triassic. Comparing with the ophiolites and island-arc volcanic rocks in Mianxian-Lueyang area to the west, it is reasonable to consider that there had been an oceanic basin connecting with the Mianlue ancient ocean to the westward, distributing along the south edge of the Tongbai-Dabie block. In view of the ophiolite in Huashan area and these island-arc volcanic rocks along the north of the Dahong Mountains, it is suggested that there had been a plate tectonic evolutionary history with oceanic basin rifting and subduction in this region.     

Ophiolites of the Eastern Peninsulas zone (Eastern Kamchatka): Age, composition, and geodynamic diversity

Abstract   The geological, geochemical and mineralogical data of dismembered ophiolites of various ages and genesis occurring in accretionary piles of the Eastern Peninsulas of Kamchatka enables us to discriminate three ophiolite complexes: (i) Aptian–Cenomanian complex: a fragment of ancient oceanic crust, composed of tholeiite basalts, pelagic sediments, and gabbroic rocks, presently occurring in a single tectonic slices (Afrika complex) and in olistoplaques in Pikezh complex of the Kamchatsky Mys Peninsula and probably in the mélange of the Kronotsky Peninsula; (ii) Upper Cretaceous complex, composed of highly depleted peridotite, gabbro and plagiogranite, associated with island arc tholeiite, boninite, and high-alumina tholeiitic basalt of supra-subduction origin; and (iii) Paleocene–Early Eocene complex of intra-island arc or back-arc origin, composed of gabbros, dolerites (sheeted dykes) and basalts produced from oceanic tholeiite melts, and back-arc basin-like dolerites. Formation of the various ophiolite complexes is related to the Kronotskaya intra-oceanic volcanic arc evolution. The first ophiolite complex is a fragment of ancient Aptian–Cenomanian oceanic crust on which the Kronotskaya arc originated. Ophiolites of the supra-subduction zone affinity were formed as a result of repeated partial melting of peridotites in the mantle wedge up to the subduction zone. This is accompanied by production of tholeiite basalts and boninites in the Kamchatsky Mys segment and plagioclase-bearing tholeiites in the Kronotsky segment of the Kronotskaya paleoarc. The ophiolite complex with intra-arc and mid-oceanic ridge basalt geochemical characteristics was formed in an extension regime during the last stage of Kronotskaya volcanic arc evolution.     

Cordilleran-type orogeny and episodic growth of continents: Insights from the circum-Pacific continental margins

A new material migration hypothesis for the plate subduction zone orogeny, so-called ‘the cordilleran-type orogeny’, is proposed on the basis of geological constraints as well as mechanics of accretionary wedges. The major tectonic processes of the hypothesis comprise: (i) episodic, extensive magmatism along the margin of an overriding plate; (ii) supply of voluminous igneous and eroded materials through forearc to trench, with an increase in the net sediment influx into trench; (iii) accelerated accretion of sediments beneath an overriding older accretionary wedge; and (iv) upward material migration within the wedge and resultant exhumation of high-P/T metamorphic rocks near the inland margin of the wedge. This hypothesis was validated by the test using available geo- and thermo-chronological data from two classical types of subduction-related orogens in Southwest Japan and California. The hypothesis, coupled with the thermochronologic point of view, requires the reconsideration of coevality of paired metamorphism. The temporal pairing is to be observed between the beginning of the regional high-T/P metamorphism and that of the uplift and exhumation of high-P/T metamorphism, with some time lag needed for material migration. Where the temporal pairing is examined therefore, the formation age of igneous rocks and related high-T/P metamorphic rocks should be compared to the exhumation age of high-P/T metamorphic rocks. The episodic, extensive magmatism that triggers the cordilleran-type orogeny shows a temporal correlation in the mid-Cretaceous for most circum-Pacific continental margins. The resultant widespread formation of accretionary complexes is also observed in the western part of the circum-Pacific margins. The deduced mid-Cretaceous circum-Pacific orogeny accompanied a gross increase in the continental crust production rate, and was approximately coeval with the Pangea breakup and the Central Pacific superplume episode, implying the orogeny as a part of the mid-Cretaceous pulsation of the Earth.     

Radiolaria‐dated Lower Permian clastic‐rock sequence in the Fukuji area of the Hida‐gaien terrane,central Japan,and its inter‐terrane correlation across Southwest Japan

The stratigraphy and radiolarian age of the Mizuyagadani Formation in the Fukuji area of the Hida‐gaien terrane, central Japan, represent those of Lower Permian clastic‐rock sequences of the Paleozoic non‐accretionary‐wedge terranes of Southwest Japan that formed in island arc–forearc/back‐arc basin settings. The Mizuyagadani Formation consists of calcareous clastic rocks, felsic tuff, tuffaceous sandstone, tuffaceous mudstone, sandstone, mudstone, conglomerate, and lenticular limestone. Two distinctive radiolarian faunas that are newly reported from the Lower Member correspond to the zonal faunas of the Pseudoalbaillella u‐forma morphotype I assemblage zone to the Pseudoalbaillella lomentaria range zone (Asselian to Sakmarian) and the Albaillella sinuata range zone (Kungurian). In spite of a previous interpretation that the Mizuyagadani Formation is of late Middle Permian age, it consists of Asselian to Kungurian tuffaceous clastic strata in its lower part and is conformably overlain by the Middle Permian Sorayama Formation. An inter‐terrane correlation of the Mizuyagadani Formation with Lower Permian tuffaceous clastic strata in the Kurosegawa terrane and the Nagato tectonic zone of Southwest Japan indicates the presence of an extensive Early Permian magmatic arc(s) that involved almost all of the Paleozoic non‐accretionary‐wedge terranes in Japan. These new biostratigraphic data provide the key to understanding the original relationships among highly disrupted Paleozoic terranes in Japan and northeast Asia.     

Postcollisional mantle-derived magmatism, underplating and implications for basement of the Junggar Basin

The late Paleozoic postcollisional granitoids, mafic-ultramafic complexes, and volcanic rocks are extensively distributed around the Junggar Basin; they are generally characterized by positive ε_Nd(t) values, implying that the magmas were mantle-derived and contaminated with crustal materials to some extents. The emplacement of mantle-derived magmas and their differentiates in the upper crust is the expression of deep geological processes at shallow level, while much more mantle-derived magmas were underplated in the lower crust and the region near the crust-mantle boundary, being component part of basement of the Junggar Basin. The postcollisional mafic-ultramafic complexes would not be generated by re-melting of residual oceanic crust, which was considered as the basement of the Junggar Basin, unless very high degrees of partial melting occurred. Even if old continental crust had been present before collision, it would have been strongly modified by the mantle-derived magma underplating. This interpretation is compatible with the existing geophysical data. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 4900031 and 49272103)     

Nd and Sr isotopic study of volcanic rocks from Japan

Two older granitic rocks and some selected Quaternary volcanic rocks from the Japanese Islands were analyzed in a reconnaissance study for the purpose of examining the relationships between Nd and Sr isotopic abundances and the megatectonic structure around the Japanese Islands. Model ages of ～0.9 AE were determined by the Nd and Sr methods on a Paleozoic gneiss which confirms that a relatively ancient acidic basement exists in the Japanese Islands. The Nd and Sr isotopic data show that the Cretaceous granodiorite is the result of partial melting of older crust.The Nd of tholeiitic rocks from the Izu arc gives ε_Nd ranging from 8.3 to 9.3 and with the corresponding ε_Sr from ?14.5 to ?18.5. These results are identical to those found for the Mariana arc. These values are distinctly lower than typical MORB by around 1～2 εu. This difference in ε_Nd between arcs and MORB is attributed to the contribution of oceanic sediments to the partial melts produced during subduction of oceanic crust. The Hakone volcano is clearly confirmed as belonging to an oceanic source by Nd isotopic results.ε_Sr-ε_Nd values of the volcanics from a section along the Fossa Magna show a clear indication that they are a blend of oceanic mantle material and continental crustal material. The crustal component clearly increases in going from south to north. Volcanics across the Northeast Japan arc also show a distinct correlation of ε_Sr-ε_Nd related to the position relative to the active subduction zone but with the opposite trend. These relationships of the present isotopic pattern and the zonal arrangement relative to the subduction zone suggest the former existence of a local spreading center in the Japan Sea.In general there appear to be regular isotopic relationships between the Izu-Mariana oceanic island arc and the continental island arc of Japan which indicates that partially melted or assimilated older continental basement is admixed with young rising oceanic arc magmas.     

The basement geology of Japan from A to Z

The Precambrian and lower Paleozoic units of the Japanese basement such as the Hida Oki and South Kitakami terranes have geological affinities with the eastern Asia continent and particularly strong correlation with units of the South China block. There are also indications from units such as the Hitachi metamorphics of the Abukuma terrane and blocks in the Maizuru terrane that some material may have been derived from the North China block. In addition to magmatism, the Japanese region has seen substantial growth due to tectonic accretion. The accreted units dominantly consist of mudstone and sandstone derived from the continental margin with lesser amounts of basaltic rocks associated with siliceous deep ocean sediments and local limestone. Two main phases of accretionary activity and related metamorphism are recorded in the Jurassic Mino–Tanba–Ashio, Chichibu, and North Kitakami terranes and in the Cretaceous to Neogene Shimanto and Sanbagawa terranes. Other accreted material includes ophiolitic sequences, e.g. the Yakuno ophiolite of the Maizuru terrane, the Oeyama ophiolite of the Sangun terrane, and the Hayachine–Miyamori ophiolite of the South Kitakami terrane, and limestone‐capped ocean plateaus such as the Akiyoshi terrane. The ophiolitic units are likely derived from arc and back‐arc basin settings. There has been no continental collision in Japan, meaning the oceanic subduction record is more complete than in convergent orogens seen in intracontinental settings making this a good place to study the geological record of accretion. Hokkaido lacks most of the Paleozoic history recognized in Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Ryukyu Islands to the south and its geology reflects the Cenozoic development of two convergent domains with volcanic arcs, their approach, and eventual collision. The Hidaka terrane reveals a cross section through a volcanic arc and the main accretionary complex of the convergent system is represented by the Sorachi–Yezo terrane.     

Detrital zircon multi‐chronology,provenance, and low‐grade metamorphism of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex,eastern Shikoku,Southwest Japan: Tectonic evolution in response to igneous activity within a subduction zone

Detrital zircon multi‐chronology combined with provenance and low‐grade metamorphism analyses enables the reinterpretation of the tectonic evolution of the Cretaceous Shimanto accretionary complex in Southwest Japan. Detrital zircon U–Pb ages and provenance analysis defines the depositional age of trench‐fill turbidites associated with igneous activity in provenance. Periods of low igneous activity are recorded by youngest single grain zircon U–Pb ages (YSG) that approximate or are older than the depositional ages obtained from radiolarian fossil‐bearing mudstone. Periods of intensive igneous activity recorded by youngest cluster U–Pb ages (YC1σ) that correspond to the younger limits of radiolarian ages. The YC1σ U–Pb ages obtained from sandstones within mélange units provide more accurate younger depositional ages than radiolarian ages derived from mudstone. Determining true depositional ages requires a combination of fossil data, detrital zircon ages, and provenance information. Fission‐track ages using zircons estimated YC1σ U–Pb ages are useful for assessing depositional and annealing ages for the low‐grade metamorphosed accretionary complex. These new dating presented here indicates the following tectonic history of the accretionary wedge. Evolution of the Shimanto accretionary complex from the Albian to the Turonian was caused by the subduction of the Izanagi plate, a process that supplied sediments via the erosion of Permian and Triassic to Early Jurassic granitic rocks and the eruption of minor amounts of Early Cretaceous intermediate volcanic rocks. The complex subsequently underwent intensive igneous activity from the Coniacian to the early Paleocene as a result of the subduction of a hot and young oceanic slab, such as the Kula–Pacific plate. Finally, the major out‐of‐sequence thrusts of the Fukase Fault and the Aki Tectonic Line formed after the middle Eocene, and this reactivation of the Shimanto accretionary complex as a result of the subduction of the Pacific plate.     

Geochemical characteristics of Bikou volcanic group and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic composition: Evidence for breakup event in the north margin of Yangtze plate,Jining era

The geodynamic setting of the Bikou volcanic group is a critical question to trace the Precambrain tectonic framework and evolution for the Yangtze plate. This study has suggested that the Bikou volcanic group is composed of several residual oceanic crust units: MORB (mid-ocean ridge basalt), Alk-OIB (alkaline ocean island basalt) and Th-OIB (tholeiitic ocean island basalt) as well as subduction-related volcanic rocks. According to field observation, those distinct rocks occurred collectively in form of tectonic contact, implying that the Bikou volcanic group was an ophiolitic mélange. Coupled with geochronological data, a perished oceanic basin at the northern margin of the Yangtze block during Neoproterozoic was tested by this ophiolitic mélange. Meanwhile, the isogeochemical data suggest that the ocean occurred in the Southern Hemisphere identical to Indian, South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans in terms of their Dupal anomalies, and the original source of the rocks could be probably mixing by EMI and EMII component caused by dehydration melting of subducting oceanic crust during subduction process. On the basis of geochemical characteristics of the studied rocks, the Bikou volcanic group could imply that a partial breakup event occurred in the northern margin of Yangtze plate during the Neoproterozoic era.

     

Toward a unified model of Altaids geodynamics: Insight from the Palaeozoic polycyclic evolution of West Junggar (NW China)

The Altaid tectonic collage extends over Central Asia, exposing numerous accretionary orogens that can account for the Palaeozoic continental crust growth. A pluridisciplinary approach, using geochronological, geochemical, structural and palaeomagnetic tools was carried out to unravel the architecture and the evolution of West Junggar(Northwestern China), a segment of the Altaid Collage. A polycyclic geodynamic evolution is inferred and includes:(1) an Early Palaeozoic cycle, characterized by the closure of two oceanic basins bounded by island-arc systems;(2) an Early Devonian subduction jamming resulting in a minor-scale collision documented by thrusting, syntectonic sedimentation and subsequent crutal thinning associated with alkaline magmatism;(3) a Late Palaeozoic cycle, driven by the evolution of two opposite subduction zones developed upon the Early Palaeozoic basement. Detailed structural analysis and paleomagnetic data provide constraints for the late evolution of Junggar in the frame of the development of the Late Palaeozoic Kazakh orocline, which led to oblique subduction and transpression in the West Junggar accretionary complex. Progressive buckling of the Kazakh orocline further resulted in Late Carboniferous to Permian wrench tectonics, and lateral displacement of lithotectonic units. Block rotations that continued after the Late Triassic are due to diachronous intraplate reactivation. This scenario mirrors the Palaeozoic geodynamics of the Altaid Collage. Multiple Early Palaeozoic collisions of intra-oceanic arcs and micro continents have contributed to the formation of the Kazakhstan Microcontinent. Since the Late Palaeozoic, subductions formed around this microcontinent and the final oblique closure of oceanic domains resulted in the transcurrent collage of Tarim and Siberia cratons. Palaeozoic strike-slip faults were later reactivated during Mesozoic intracontinental tectonics.     

Material transportation and fluid-melt activity in the subduction channel: Numerical modeling

The subduction channel is defined as a planar to wedge-like area of variable size,internal structure and composition,which forms between the upper and lower plates during slab subduction into the mantle.The materials in the channel may experience complex pressure,temperature,stress and strain evolution,as well as strong fluid and melt activity.A certain amount of these materials may subduct to and later exhume from100 km depth,forming high to ultra-high pressure rocks on the surface as widely discovered in nature.Rock deformation in the channel is strongly assisted by metamorphic fluids activities,which change composition and mechanical properties of rocks and thus affect their subduction and exhumation histories.In this study,we investigate the detailed structure and dynamics of both oceanic and continental subduction channels,by conducting highresolution petrological-thermomechanical numerical simulations taking into account fluid and melt activities.The numerical results demonstrate that subduction channels are composed of a tectonic rock melange formed by crustal rocks detached from the subducting slab and the hydrated mantle rocks scratched from the overriding plate.These rocks may either extrude sub-vertically upward through the mantle wedge to the crust of the upper plate,or exhume along the subduction channel to the surface near the suture zone.Based on our numerical results,we first analyze similarities and differences between oceanic and continental subduction channels.We further compare numerical models with and without fluid and melt activity and demonstrate that this activity results in strong weakening and deformation of overriding lithosphere.Finally,we show that fast convergence of orogens subjected to fluid and melt activity leads to strong deformation of the overriding lithosphere and the topography builds up mainly on the overriding plate.In contrast,slow convergence of such orogens leads to very limited deformation of the overriding lithosphere and the mountain building mainly occurs on the subducting plate.     

Pacific-type orogeny revisited: Miyashiro-type orogeny proposed

Abstract The concept of Pacific-type orogeny is revised, based on an assessment of geologic data collected from the Japanese Islands during the past 25 years. The formation of a passive continental margin after the birth of the Pacific Ocean at 600 Ma was followed by the initiation of oceanic plate subduction at 450 Ma. Since then, four episodes of Pacific-type orogeny have occurred to create an orogenic belt 400 km wide that gradually grew both oceanward and downward. The orogenic belt consists mainly of an accretionary complex tectonically interlayered with thin (<2 km thick), subhorizontal, high-P/T regional metamorphic belts. Both the accretionary complex and the high-P/T rocks were intruded by granitoids ～100 million years after the formation of the accretionary complex. The intrusion of calc-alkaline (CA) plutons was synchronous with the exhumation of high-P/T schist belts. Ages from microfossils and K-Ar analysis suggest that the orogenic climax happened at a time of mid-oceanic ridge subduction. The orogenic climax was characterized by the formation of major subhorizontal orogenic structures, the exhumation of high-P/T schist belts by wedge extrusion and subsequent domed uplift, and the intrusion-extrusion of CA magma dominantly produced by slab melting. The orogenic climax ended soon after ridge subduction, and thereafter a new Pacific-type orogeny began. A single Pacific-type orogenic cycle may correspond to the interaction of the Asian continental margin with one major Pacific oceanic plate. Ophiolites in Japan occur as accreted material and are not of island-arc but of plume origin. They presumably formed after the birth of the southern Pacific superplume at 600 Ma, and did not modify the cordilleran-type orogeny in a major way. Microplates, fore-arc slivers, intra-oceanic arc collisions and the opening of back-arc basins clearly contributed to cordilleran orogenesis. However, they were of secondary importance and served only to modify pre-existing major orogenic components. The most important cause of cordilleran-type orogeny is the subduction of a mid-oceanic ridge, by which the volume of continental crust increases through the transfer of granitic melt from the subducting oceanic crust to an orogenic welt. Accretionary complexes are composed mainly of recycled granitic sediments with minor amounts of oceanic material, which indicate that the accretion of oceanic material, including huge oceanic plateaus, was not significant for orogenic growth. Instead, the formation and intrusion of granitoids are the keys to continental growth, which is the most important process in Pacific-type orogeny. Collision-type orogeny does not increase the volume of continental crust. The name ‘Miyashiro-type orogeny’ is proposed for this revised concept of Pacific-type or cordilleran-type orogeny, in order to commemorate Professor A. Miyashiro's many contributions to a better understanding of orogenesis.     

海山的倾斜俯冲对上覆板块变形的影响

伴随洋壳的俯冲,驼伏其上的海山会导致上覆板块的强烈变形.为解释该构造变形特征,本文运用物理模拟实验的方法,着重分析海山的斜向俯冲对上覆板块变形的影响,并将模拟结果与正向俯冲过程进行对比.实验结果显示:海山开始进入俯冲,前缘楔体的增生会被阻止,同时楔体被抬升并出现脱顶构造,未被海山破坏的楔体会出现后冲断层的激活,后冲断层轴平行于海山的俯冲方向.海山进一步俯冲,突起项部发育一系列张扭性质的微断裂和走滑性质的共轭断裂,尾随突起之后的楔体由于重力会产生正断层系统.比起正向俯冲,斜向俯冲过程中所产生的后逆冲体、海山两侧的叠瓦状逆冲推覆构造都出现不对称分布,断裂和微断裂束的走向不规则散开,后冲断层的轴向及海山俯冲过后在楔体上产生的凹槽的轨迹都不断斜向迁移,且凹槽两侧的地势不一致等.最后利用文中的物理模拟结果,很好的解释了马尼拉海沟中段俯冲构造的构造特征,同时对其他俯冲大陆边缘的构造解释具有指导意义.     

Geochemistry of basaltic and gabbroic rocks from the West Mariana basin and the Mariana trench

This paper describes the chemistry of 33 basaltic rocks dredged from the West Mariana basin and from the Mariana trench during the R/V “Dmitry Mendeleev” 1976 cruise in the western Pacific.The shipboard investigations were carried out by an international working group of 66 earth scientists under the IGCP Project “Ophiolites” and sponsored by the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, Moscow. The purpose of the expedition was to investigate the structure and composition of the oceanic crust of marginal basins, remnant island arcs and deep-sea trenches. Tholeiitic basalts and gabbros as well as ultramafic rocks in various stages of alteration were dredged from the central part of the West Mariana basin demonstrating the presence of oceanic crust.The Pacific slope of the Mariana trench yielded altered basaltic rocks of tholeiitic and alkalic (? trachybasaltic to shoshonitic) composition. The lower part of the island arc slope contains typical tholeiitic basalts, dolerites and gabbros as well as ultramafics associated with flysch-type sediments. This is strong evidence for the formation of an “ophiolite-schuppenzone”, probably due to subduction of Pacific oceanic crust.Associated with these rocks are amygdaloidal, highly magnesian lavas (similar to boninites), which have not been recognized previously in oceanic ridge basalts.These rocks (together with the dolerites) are interpreted as parts of the Mariana island arc and are thought to be the first stage of island arc development (an immature island arc).