冀中坳陷中区中生代中晚期大型拆离滑覆构造的确定

晚侏罗世至早白垩世 ,太行地区受区域热构造事件的影响 ,燕山期的岩浆活动达到高潮 ,并由此引发了阜平、赞皇变质核杂岩的强烈拱升及浅层的侧向伸展拆离作用 ,在阜平变质核杂岩东侧的冀中坳陷中区形成了西部伸展而东部挤压的有机相连、有序发展的拆离滑覆构造体系 ,波及宽度达 1 5 0km。其后缘伸展区表现为变质核杂岩内的韧性剪切带、盖层内的拆离伸展断层及伴随的断陷盆地 ;而前缘挤压区形成叠瓦状逆冲推覆构造体系 ;介于二者之间的中部过渡带构造变形相对较弱     

庐山变质核杂岩伸展拆离和岩浆作用的年代学约束

庐山变质核杂岩是华南中生代岩石圈减薄事件的浅层响应。研究伸展拆离和岩浆作用在其形成过程中的相互关系,对于认识地壳浅层的伸展减薄过程和变质核杂岩的形成机制具有重要的意义。在宏观和显微构造研究的基础上,分别对基底拆离断层和玉京山岩体进行了40Ar/39Ar年代学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,为伸展拆离和岩浆作用提供了年代学约束,主要获得了以下认识:(1)变质核杂岩核部玉京山花岗岩体的锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb年龄为(133.0±2.1)Ma,代表了变质核杂岩核部岩浆活动的启动时间。(2)基底拆离断层下盘韧性剪切带内的白云母40Ar/39Ar年龄(140.4±1.7)Ma代表了庐山变质核杂岩的形成时间,也代表了庐山地区岩石圈伸展减薄的时间,即岩石圈伸展减薄始于早白垩世。(3)庐山变质核杂岩是中生代不同尺度的伸展拆离和岩浆活动共同作用的结果,在地壳浅层的具体形成过程中伸展拆离早于岩浆侵位,基底拆离断层的减压效应为深部岩浆的上升侵位创造了条件,岩浆侵位造成山体的隆升,又引发了盖层的重力滑脱。     

辽西医巫闾山地区瓦子峪变质核杂岩的厘定

以前未被发现的辽西医巫闾山地区瓦子峪变质核杂岩主要由一条向西倾的低角度正断层———瓦子峪拆离断层组成 ,它将由早白垩世沉积岩和火山岩组成的上盘与糜棱岩化和未变形的下盘分开。瓦子峪拆离断层 (以前称之为孙家湾—稍户营子断裂 )位于变质核杂岩的西侧 ,倾角 10～ 4 0°,构造标志指示向北西方向 (约 2 90°)剪切。与早白垩世地壳伸展相伴生的下盘糜棱岩剪切方向也是北西向 ,这与瓦子峪拆离断层运动相关。已经发表的和未发表的锆石U Pb年龄、40 Ar/3 9Ar热年代学和上盘阜新盆地中生物地层的时代研究表明 ,地壳伸展和变质核杂岩形成时代为早白垩世 (约 12 7～ 116Ma)。我们未发现以前文献报道的医巫闾山是一对称的变质核杂岩的任何证据。瓦子峪变质核杂岩以及WNW侧的拆离断层的厘定会加深我们对华北克拉通早白垩世伸展作用的理解和认识 ,下一步的研究重点包括野外构造研究以确定拆离断层和下盘糜棱岩的空间展布 ,进一步采集样品以研究变质核杂岩的地质 /热年代学和变质核杂岩范围内的岩体成因。我们认为瓦子峪变质核杂岩的形成是太平洋板块边界重组、早白垩世岩浆作用致使地壳升温 ,从而导致经造山作用而加厚的地壳垮塌的结果。     

张八岭隆起早白垩世变质核杂岩的厘定——对郯庐断裂带的制约及其与成矿作用关系

张八岭隆起广泛分布的平缓韧性剪切带与郯庐断裂带平移作用形成的陡立韧性剪切带明显不同。通过对平缓韧性剪切带的几何学、运动学分析,结合早白垩世盆地特征、中国东部变质核杂岩伸展拆离断层和同构造岩浆岩同位素定年结果,厘定出张八岭隆起早白垩世变质核杂岩。该变质核杂岩上盘由南华纪-奥陶纪沉积地层和早白垩世盆地组成,下盘为新元古代浅变质碎屑沉积岩、变海相火山岩（基底）以及早白垩世侵入岩,上下盘之间被一条主伸展拆离断层所分隔。变质核杂岩长轴为NE-SW向,指示构造反映上盘向SE剪切滑动,与中国东部变质核杂岩的伸展方向完全一致。通过本次变质核杂岩的厘定,结合野外地质事实,笔者认为管店-马厂断裂是郯庐断裂带的次级断裂,是对郯庐断裂带早白垩世末第三次左行平移的响应。在综合研究的基础上,建立了区域构造-岩浆-成矿关系模型,揭示了张八岭隆起早白垩世经历了早期伸展（变质核杂岩阶段）-挤压走滑（管店-马厂断裂形成阶段）-晚期伸展（闪长质脉岩侵位阶段）3个构造阶段,多期构造、岩浆的叠加作用下,形成了本区的金多金属矿产。     

变质核杂岩的定义、类型及构造背景

伸展变质核杂岩(mcc)的基本特征包括:(1)缓倾至中等倾角的具有大规模位移的(几十千米)区域至准区域性延伸的主拆离断层;(2)与断层相关的糜棱片岩和片麻岩下盘(包括可能出露更深层次的非糜棱化结晶岩);(3)上盘上地壳基底岩和/或表壳岩层.关键的一点是,所有变质核杂岩是沿地壳深部(大于10～15 km)大型拆离断层大规模地壳伸展和地壳切除(缺失)的产物.我们认为,地壳剖面无大规模缺失的以基底为核的穹隆状杂岩不是一般构造定义上公认的变质核杂岩.变质核杂岩形成于同缩短期和缩短期后的多种构造环境中.由于前期或同期的缩短作用,变质核杂岩似乎都发育在地壳强烈增厚的区域.绝大多数(但显然并非全部)变质核杂岩都与岩浆作用有密切的时空关系.变质核杂岩起控制作用的拆离断层一般生根于中地壳或直接位于石英变为晶质塑性的韧脆性转化带下的深处,但有些拆离断层切穿大部或整个地壳.大多数变质核杂岩总体上具有不对称或简单剪切的构造几何特征,但有些变质核杂岩呈现较为对称的边界拆离断层.     

内蒙古呼和浩特变质核杂岩韧性拆离带40Ar-39Ar定年及其构造含义

晚中生代,内蒙古大青山依次经历晚侏罗世盘羊山逆冲推覆、早白垩世呼和浩特变质核杂岩伸展、早白垩世大青山逆冲推覆断层及早白垩世以来高角度正断层复杂构造演化。其中,呼和浩特变质核杂岩韧性剪切带的冷却时间和抬升机制的制约尚不明确。本文在野外考察和显微构造分析基础上,采用逐步加热40Ar-39Ar定年法对韧性剪切带内不同单矿物的冷却年龄进行了测定。角闪石、白云母、黑云母和钾长石单矿物40Ar-39Ar冷却年龄处于120~116Ma之间。结合已有年龄数据及单矿物封闭温度,构建了韧性剪切带的冷却曲线。结果表明,韧性剪切带在122~115Ma期间存在一个明显的快速冷却过程。这一阶段快速冷却是与变质核杂岩拆离断层相关核部杂岩拆离折返作为大青山逆冲推覆断层上盘抬升的结果。     

庐山变质核杂岩东侧拆离带两期构造性质转换:锆石U-Pb年代学证据

庐山变质核杂岩东侧的星子牛屎墩地区广泛岀露伸展拆离、韧性流变的构造现象,拆离方位为南东方向。该区还岀露一期NNE向左行走滑韧性剪切构造,推测是与郯庐断裂同期变形的构造产物,为郯庐断裂系的一部分。这两期构造运动反映了中生代太平洋构造体制下挤压应力向伸展应力的转换,对伸展滑脱层内同构造的伟晶岩脉及长英质脉的锆石U-Pb年代学测试,结合野外构造现象,以探究该区两期构造性质的转换时限和构造背景。新生变质流体结晶的锆石得到135~140Ma的庐山变质核杂岩拆离带的伸展年龄,内部受热液溶蚀作用的残余锆石得到150.5Ma和153.9Ma的左行剪切变形的年龄。受太平洋构造体制控制,晚侏罗世,该区受板块俯冲作用而处于挤压应力的构造背景,表现为左行剪切构造;早白垩世,在区域性的伸展、减薄作用下,挤压应力向伸展应力转换,庐山变质核杂岩得以形成,其伸展拆离构造是在早期左行剪切构造上的改造与叠加。     

地壳的拆离作用与华北克拉通破坏:晚中生代伸展构造约束

伸展条件下的地壳拆离作用是岩石圈减薄的重要浅部构造响应。晚中生代时期的伸展构造(包括拆离断层、变质核杂岩构造和断陷盆地)在华北、华南、东北和东蒙古及贝加尔地区普遍发育,它们切过上部地壳(断陷盆地)、中、上地壳(拆离断层)或中部地壳(变质核杂岩)。地壳拆离作用具有运动学极性(NWW或SEE)、几何学宏观(区域)对称与微观(局部)不对称性、遍布全区但不均匀性,以及形成时间的跨越性(140~60Ma)等特点,并使得地壳和岩石圈发生显著的减薄。本文研究揭示出现今岩石圈厚度变化与晚中生代伸展构造的发育程度和分布之间并没有必然的联系。其变化的基本规律是,除新生代裂陷发育区岩石圈厚度明显较小且厚度有迅速变化外,从华北向贝加尔地区总体的变化趋势是逐渐加厚,也即东亚地区岩石圈具有楔形形态。晚中生代时期的地壳(或地幔)拆离作用伴随着广泛的岩石圈减薄作用,区域岩石圈同时遭受到一定程度的减薄和破坏,华北克拉通在这一时期的破坏仅仅是区域岩石圈减薄在华北的具体体现。     

辽东半岛新房变质核杂岩形成机制及成矿指示意义

辽东半岛广泛分布变质核杂岩构造,作为华北克拉通破坏的浅部响应,具有重要的构造演化研究意义.新房变质核杂岩是近年来新发现的伸展构造单元,具备典型的三层结构:上盘主要包括新元古代-古生代弱变形沉积岩层和早白垩世庄河断陷盆地,下盘包括新太古代变质基底和同构造中生代花岗质侵入岩体,二者接触部位为拆离断层带.野外宏观运动学及显微构造特征明显,均指示上盘具由SEE向NWW的运动学特征,与太平洋板块早白垩世早-中期运动方向相吻合.本次工作通过锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素及常量、稀土和微量元素测试,将新房变质核杂岩的形成时代大致限定于早白垩世早期（123~125 Ma）,并进一步明确为华北克拉通破坏事件的早期产物.该变质核杂岩控制了区内新房大型金矿的生成,在辽东半岛变质核杂岩控矿、成矿较差的现状下,研究意义较大.      

辽南变质核杂岩饮马湾山和赵房岩体锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

辽南变质核杂岩形成于晚中生代华北岩石圈伸展和减薄背景下,其演化过程分为三个阶段：第一阶段（约130Ma）,在伸展作用下辽南地区发育拆离断层及其下伏韧性剪切带;第二阶段（130~120Ma）,同构造花岗质岩体的主动侵位影响了拆离断层的演化;同时在124Ma变质核杂岩的构造-岩浆活动达到峰值;第三阶段（113Ma之后）花岗质岩体在较浅层次侵位于停止活动的拆离断层带。辽南变质核杂岩发育与演化过程在年代学意义上揭示了华北板块晚中生代时期的区域性岩石圈伸展与减薄过程。本文认为由伸展后期侵位的赵房岩体所记录的拆离断层停止的时限（113Ma）可以作为华北岩石圈强烈构造岩浆活动的转捩点,113Ma之前华北板块广泛发育变质核杂岩、拉分盆地等一系列伸展构造,之后则以平稳的隆升和冷却过程为主。     

Formation Time of the Kalaqin Metamorphic Core Complex: Constraints from Zircon DatingEI北大核心CSCD

The Kalaqin metamorphic core complex, located on the northern margin of the Yanshan Tectonic Belt, is an important structure to understand the Late Mesozoic destruction processes of the North China Craton. In this study, structural analysis and geochronological investigation were conducted for the Anjiayingzi pluton and associated granodiorite dikes that intruded the core complex. Field observations demonstrated that emplacement of the pluton and dikes took place after the early stage extensional deformation, and intrusions are products of syn-tectonic magmatism during the late stage extension deformation. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating yielded ages of 133-131 Ma for the Anjiayingzi pluton and 135 Ma for the dike, which demonstrated that the early extensional deformation took place at 156-135 Ma, rather than the Early Cretaceous as proposed previously. By integrating with other dating results, the early extensional deformation occurred at 156-150 Ma (Late Jurassic) and led to the exhumation of the core complex. The core complex was overprinted by a late extension in the Early Cretaceous. The revision of formation time for the Kalaqin metamorphic core complex further confirms that the extensional deformation took place in the Late Jurassic in the Yanshan tectonic belt, and therefore, it is likely that the northern margin of the North China Craton might have destructed since the Late Jurassic. © 2018, Science Press. All right reserved.     

山东鲁西地块断裂构造分布型式与中生代沉积-岩浆-构造演化序列

鲁西地块的断裂构造有两类不同分布型式:一类呈放射状分布, 由陡倾、基底右行韧性剪切带和盖层内复杂力学性质的断裂组成; 另一类呈环绕地块基底核部同心环状分布, 由3个主要盖层伸展拆离带组成, 主滑脱面分别位于古生界盖层与基底间的不整合面、石炭系与奥陶系之间的平行不整合面和中新生代断陷-沉积岩系与新生代火山-沉积物之间的断层。中生代构造变形样式可以分为3个层次:印支期褶皱-逆冲推覆构造、燕山中期NNE轴向的隔槽式箱状褶皱和燕山晚期NW、NNE向共轭正断-走滑断裂。相应地鲁西地块经历了3个成盆期, 即早-中侏罗世、早白垩世和晚白垩世, 这些中生代盆地在空间上的叠置导致了地块内部复杂的盆-山耦合关系。鲁西地块中生代有两个岩浆活动集中时期, 即早侏罗世(约190Ma)和早白垩世(132~110Ma)。综合沉积记录、岩浆活动和构造变形过程, 将鲁西地块中生代构造演化历史划分为6个阶段:晚三叠世挤压变形, 早、中侏罗世弱伸展作用, 中、晚侏罗世挤压变形与地壳增厚作用, 早白垩世大陆裂谷与地壳伸展作用, 早白垩世末期挤压变形与盆地反转事件和晚白垩世区域隆升。这些构造演化阶段和构造事件对研究和理解中生代构造体制和深部岩石圈动力学转换过程具有重要意义。      

CHARACTERIZATION AND FORMATION MECHANISM OF THE CENTRAL UPLIFT OF THE QIANGTANG BASIN

The Qiangtang basin is located between Kekexili-Jingshajiang suture belt and Bangong-Lujiang suture belt, and is divided into the north part and south part by the central uplift that has no crop out of Mesozoic strata. When the Jinshajiang Ocean was closed, the subducting plate was subducted southward. In the central part of the Qiangtang basin, the cushioning effect of the asthenosphere resulted in the thermal doming of the mantle and subsequent large-scale anatexis. Mantle source materials and antectic materials were upwelled and extruded into the middle crust, leading to the thickening of the middle crust and the heating and weakening of the middle to upper crust, and resulting in the rapid deformation (detachment) and tectonic erosion, and in the isostatic uplifting and the formation of metamorphic core complex. The upwelling of anatectic materials would further enhance the buoyant repercussion, which would combine with the side stress due from extrusion in resulting in the formation of an extension     

The role of structural inheritance in continental break-up and exhumation of Alpine Tethyan mantle(Canavese Zone,Western Alps)

The Canavese Zone(CZ)in the Western Alps represents the remnant of the distal passive margin of the Adria microplate,which was stretched and thinned during the Jurassic opening of the Alpine Tethys.Through detailed geological mapping,stratigraphic and structural analyses,we document that the continental break-up of Pangea and tectonic dismemberment of the Adria distal margin,up to mantle rocks exhumation and oceanization,did not simply result from the syn-rift Jurassic extension but was strongly favored by older structu ral inheritances(the Proto-Canavese Shear Zone),which controlled earlier lithospheric weakness.Our findings allowed to redefine in detail(i)the tectono-stratigraphic setting of the Variscan metamorphic basement and the Late Carbonife rous to Early Cretaceous CZ succession,(ii)the role played by inherited Late Carboniferous to Early Triassic structures and(iii)the significance of the CZ in the geodynamic evolution of the Alpine Tethys.The large amount of extensional displacement and crustal thinning occurred during different pulses of Late Carbonife rous-Early Triassic strike-slip tectonics is wellconsistent with the role played by long-lived regional-scale wrench faults(e.g.,the East-Variscan Shear Zone),suggesting a re-discussion of models of mantle exhumation driven by low-angle detachment faults as unique efficient mechanism in stretching and thinning continental crust.     

鲁东晚中生代热隆-伸展构造及其动力学背景

为理清山东省鲁东地区晚中生代构造-岩浆-成矿的关系及其发生的动力学背景,本文综合分析了晚中生代侵入岩的空间分布、组合特征、成因类型、形成时代和序列、地球化学演化及形成的构造环境等。研究表明：该区侵入岩由侏罗纪陆壳重熔型花岗岩、白垩纪壳幔混合型花岗岩、白垩纪深源花岗岩和白垩纪脉岩组成,并且从早期到晚期,侵入岩的岩石化学成分由高钾钙碱性系列向橄榄安粗岩系列演化,微量元素由高Ba、Sr花岗岩向低Ba、Sr花岗岩演化,稀土元素由无或弱正铕异常向显著负铕异常演化,岩浆岩成因由S型向I型、A型演化。强烈的岩浆活动和复杂的岩浆岩类型指示了剧烈的壳幔相互作用过程,认为鲁东地区在早白垩世处于强烈的拉张构造环境,其在140~110 Ma期间大规模岩浆活动的同时发生了强烈的地壳隆升事件。通过对断陷盆地、火山活动、变质核杂岩和断层系统的类型、性质、控制因素等进行综合分析,提出它们是大规模伸展构造的表现形式,伸展构造的活动时间为130~98 Ma。进一步分析表明,鲁东地区的白垩纪构造-岩浆组合构成了热隆-伸展构造,它们是太平洋板块俯冲与燕山运动主变形时期（岩石圈增厚）后续效应的产物,岩石圈拆沉、地壳减薄和克拉通破坏是引起早白垩世热隆-伸展构造的根本原因,热隆-伸展构造为胶东大规模成矿提供了有利条件。     

Kinematics and metamorphism of a cretaceous core complex: The veporic unit of the Western Carpathians

The Veporic basement and its Permian-Mesozoic cover experienced medium-pressure, collision-related metamorphism during the Cretaceous. Geothermobarometric calculations of Alpine mineral assemblages indicate peak conditions of 8–12 kbar and 550–600°C in the deepest-exposed basement, and up to 8 kbar and 450–500°C in the Permian metasediments. After having reached the metamorphic peak conditions (at around 110 Ma, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar on amphiboles), the thermally softened Veporic unit was exhumed probably due to the underplating of a buoyant Tatric-Fatric crust. Exhumation was triggered by extensional denudation of former upper-crustal thrust units, overlying the Veporic unit. Unroofing was accomplished due to orogenparallel, top-to-east extension along low-angle, ductile normal shear zones. The area collapsed and rapidly cooled at 90-80 Ma (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar on micas). As revealed by the structural record, the doming and tectonic exhumation of the Veporic core occurred in an overall contractional regime and was followed by additional Late Cretaceous—Early Tertiary shortening events.     

羌塘盆地中央隆起性质与成因

羌塘盆地夹持于可可西里-金沙江缝合带和班公-怒江缝合带之间,未出露中生界地层的中央隆起将盆地分为南北两部分。在金沙江关闭时,俯冲板块向南俯冲。而在羌塘的中部一带由于软流圈的垫托作用,使地幔热隆,导致大规模重熔。地幔和重熔物向上加入中地壳,使中地壳增厚,同时使中上地壳受热弱化,导致快速变形(拆离)和构造剥蚀,产生均衡隆升,形成变质核杂岩。重熔物质的上升进一步加强浮力反弹,加之侵位的侧向应力,形成拉伸应力场。在失稳的重力作用下,促使伸展构造和拆离断层的形成。上下部变形范围形成拉张沉积区-新盆成生。中央隆起的变质核杂岩体为片麻岩,上覆层为以断层分割的未变质、弱变质的盖层岩石。     

华南中生代大地构造研究新进展

华南地区中生代构造动力体制经历了从特提斯构造域向滨太平洋构造域的转换,由此产生了强烈的陆内造山作用和岩浆活动,形成了复杂构造组合的晚中生代陆内造山带和火成岩省。本项研究在下列几个方面取得了新的进展:(1)通过对雪峰山地区沅麻盆地的野外调查和构造测量,确定了该盆地晚中生代-早新生代5期构造应力场及其演替序列:中晚侏罗世近W—E向挤压、早白垩世NW—SE向伸展、早白垩世中晚期NW—SE向挤压、晚白垩世近N—S向伸展、古近纪晚期NE—SW向挤压。构造应力场方向的变化记录了不同板缘的动力作用对该区的影响。(2)识别了湖南地区晚古生代-早中生代海相地层中发育的横跨叠加褶皱构造,并基于地层接触关系和已有火成岩同位素年代学数据分析,认为该地区横跨叠加褶皱构造记录了中生代两期构造挤压和地壳增厚事件:早期近东西向褶皱构造是对三叠纪华南地块南北边缘大陆碰撞和增生作用的远程响应,晚期NE—NNE向褶皱构造则是对中晚侏罗世古太平洋板块向华南大陆之下低角度俯冲作用的变形响应。(3)对湖南衡山西缘拆离断裂带的变形结构和运动学特征进行了详细的调查和构造测量,确定了衡山变质核杂岩构造,并对拆离带中韧性剪切变形的钠长岩脉的锆石进行了SHRIMP U-Pb测年,从而确定了华南地区伸展构造的起始时代约137 Ma,即早白垩世早中期。(4)通过锆石U-Pb年代学测试分析,揭示了东南沿海长乐—南澳构造带早白垩世2期构造-岩浆事件:早期(147~135 Ma)表现为强烈的混合岩化作用和深熔作用形成的片麻状花岗岩、花岗片麻岩等;晚期(135~117 Ma)岩浆岩以含石榴子石花岗岩为主。这个结果表明东南沿海构造带是晚中生代陆缘造山带,造山作用可能起始于晚侏罗世,于早白垩世早中期(135 Ma)以来发生伸展垮塌。在上述研究结果的基础上,探讨了华南地区三叠纪"印支运动"和中、晚侏罗世"燕山运动"的表现及其产生的板块构造动力体制及其转换时代、早白垩世从挤压构造应力体制向伸展构造应力体制转变的时间节点。     

Episodic burial and exhumation of the southern Baltic Shield: Epeirogenic uplifts during and after break-up of Pangaea

Cratons are conventionally assumed to be areas of long-term stability. However, whereas Precambrian basement crops out across most of the Baltic Shield, Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sediments rest on basement in southern Sweden, and thus testify to a complex history of exhumation and burial. Our synthesis of published stratigraphic landscape analysis and new apatite fission-track analysis data reveals a history involving five steps after formation of the extremely flat, Sub-Cambrian Peneplain. (1) Cambrian to Lower Triassic rocks accumulated on the peneplain, interrupted by late Carboniferous uplift and exhumation. (2) Middle Triassic uplift removed the Palaeozoic cover along the south-western margin of the shield, leading to formation of a Triassic peneplain with a predominantly flat relief followed by deposition of Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic rocks. (3) Uplift that began during the Middle Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous caused denudation leading to deep weathering that shaped an undulating, hilly relief that was buried below Upper Cretaceous to Oligocene sediments. (4) Early Miocene uplift and erosion produced the South Småland Peneplain with scattered hills. (5) Early Pliocene uplift raised the Miocene peneplain to its present elevation leading to reexposure of the sub-Cretaceous hilly relief near the coast. Our results thus provide constraints on the magnitude and timing of episodes of deposition and removal of significant volumes of Phanerozoic rocks across the southern portion of the Baltic Shield. Late Carboniferous, Middle Triassic and mid-Jurassic events of uplift and exhumation affected wide areas beyond the Baltic Shield, and we interpret them as epeirogenic uplifts accompanying fragmentation of Pangaea, caused by accumulation of mantle heat beneath the supercontinent. Early Miocene uplift affected north-west Europe but not East Greenland, and thus likely resulted from compressive stresses from an orogeny on the Eurasian plate. Early Pliocene uplift related to changes in mantle convection and plate motion affected wide areas beyond North-East Atlantic margins.