The eastern French Pyrenees: from mountain belt to foreland basin

The Pyrenees is a young mountain belt formed as part of the larger Alpine collision zone. This excursion explores the development of the Pyrenean Mountain Belt in southern France, from its early extensional phase in the mid‐Cretaceous and subsequent collisional phase, through its uplift and erosion in the Late Cretaceous and again in the Eocene, which led to the development of the Aquitaine‐Languedoc foreland basin. One of the complexities of the Pyrenean Belt is that thrusting, uplift and erosion during the Pyrenean orogeny exposed older Variscan basement rocks in the central core of the mountains, rocks which were metamorphosed during an earlier event in the late Carboniferous. Thus, this orogenic belt also tells the story of an earlier collision between Laurussia in the north and Gondwana in the south at c. 300 Ma, prior to the onset of the Pyrenean events at c. 100 Ma. Here we seek to unravel these two separate orogenic stories.     

Low-thermal-gradient Hercynian metamorphism in the eastern Pyrenees

Abstract Fluids with compositions in the system CO₂-H₂O-NaCl were trapped in quartz veins enclosed in low-grade metamorphic rocks (chlorite zone) on the southern flank of the Canigó Massif, eastern Pyrenees. The veins, which also contain arsenopyrite crystals, were formed contemporaneously with the main Hercynian foliation and metamorphism. Volumetric properties of the fluid and the results of arsenopyrite geothermometry suggest P-T trapping conditions of 4.6–6 kbar and 450–530° C. This implies that an episode of metamorphism with an average geothermal gradient of 25° C km⁻¹ occurred during the main deformation event. This episode preceded the low- P /high- T metamorphism described around domes and to date considered as characteristic of the Hercynian orogeny in the Pyrenees.     

Exposure age chronology of the last glaciation in the eastern Pyrenees

We present a chronology of ice recession in the eastern Pyrenees based on in situ-produced ¹⁰Be data obtained from the Têt paleoglacier complex. The sampling strategy is based on the relative chronology provided by a detailed geomorphological map of glacial landforms. Results indicate that the last maximum ice advance occurred late (i.e., during Marine Isotope Stage 2) compared to the chronology currently established for the rest of the Pyrenees. Despite debatable evidence for a glacial readvance during the Oldest Dryas stade, ice-cap melt-out was rapid, residual cirque glaciers having disappeared by the Allerød interstade. This is consistent both with North Atlantic excursions established by the Greenland ice cores and paleoenvironmental data for the region. The rapid response of the east-Pyrenean ice cap to temperature variations is primarily linked to its small size compared to larger Pyrenean ice fields, to the dry Mediterranean climate, and to topography-related nonlinearities in which a small vertical rise in equilibrium line altitude generates a large change in ice mass. Possible sources of age uncertainty are discussed in the context of sampling design for single-nuclide (¹⁰Be) dating of landform sequences in formerly glaciated landscapes.     

南岭成矿带中、东段的第二找矿空间——来自同位素年代学的证据

辉钼矿的Re-Os同位素年代学研究表明,南岭东段赣南地区的庵家滩钨矿床的成矿年龄为156Ma,园岭寨钼矿床的成矿年龄为160Ma。已有同位素年代学数据的统计显示,南岭成矿带的中、东段中生代的成矿作用可划分为3期7个阶段:即印支期的～225Ma左右和～195Ma左右,燕山早期的170～160Ma、160～150Ma和150～145Ma,燕山晚期的～135Ma和～100Ma。在3期成矿作用中,燕山早期的成矿作用最为强烈,也是南岭成矿带中、东段的钨锡矿床主要成矿期,矿床类型丰富多样,既有独立的钨锡多金属矿床,也有独立的锡矿床;既有铜、铅、锌多金属矿床,也有独立的钼矿床、金矿床等。同位素年代学及其新的找矿进展表明,从横向上,该区域可能存在的未被发现或重视的矿产种类;在纵向上,讨论了已知矿床深部的成矿潜力,为开展南岭中、东段地区的第二空间的地质找矿提供了理论证据。     

库车冲断带秋里塔格构造带东段构造样式与构造演化

秋里塔格构造带位于库车褶皱冲断前缘,其东段包括东秋里塔格背斜和库车塔吾背斜。野外调查和地震剖面解释表明:秋里塔格构造带东段盐下发育断层转折褶皱; 盐上东秋里塔格背斜为滑脱箱状背斜,库车塔吾背斜核部为南倾逆冲断层所破坏。演化剖面显示秋里塔格构造带东段在侏罗纪断陷期发育了正断裂,其后为平静期,直到库车晚期后逆冲断层和褶皱快速发育,背斜最终形成。膏盐岩及古构造对构造变形具有重要影响,一方面作为滑脱层,分割了盐下层与盐上层,导致二者形成不同的构造样式; 另一方面塑性流动充填于背斜核部。由于膏盐岩的厚度差异,东秋里塔格背斜盐上发育褶皱,而库车塔吾背斜核部被逆冲断层破坏,膏盐层厚度还影响了膏盐层上下构造高点的相对位置。盐下构造的发育受侏罗纪古构造控制,进而影响了盐上构造的发育。     

青藏高原东缘龙门山前陆逆冲带复合结构与生长

位于青藏高原东缘的北东向龙门山逆冲带,研究已经证明是中生代与新生代前陆复合扩展和生长的结果。然而,2008年5·12汶川地震地表破裂、余震和滑坡等的单向和分段迁移现象,对龙门山复合逆冲带的结构认识提出了挑战。文章在已有研究成果基础上,针对龙门山复合生长下构建的特殊结构进行了野外调查和构造解析。结果表明,以中生代与新生代两期前陆逆冲带复合生长为基础,龙门山复合逆冲带具有特殊的、主要由前陆逆冲楔叠加后形成的复合结构,而且这种复合逆冲楔具有分级和时序特征;中生代前陆逆冲楔是以逆冲断层-褶皱为特征,并分别组合形成碧口厚皮逆冲推覆体、唐王寨薄皮逆冲推覆体和龙王庙逆冲推覆体,总体从晚三叠世以前开始,至~160 Ma向南递进扩展生长;新生代前陆逆冲楔由逆冲断层和逆冲岩片组成,分为约35~10 Ma和10 Ma以来两个阶段,向南东向递进扩展生长,并可能与川西盆地东侧龙泉山构造相连通。因此,龙门山逆冲带具有前陆逆冲带和生长过程的双重复合结构。      

Carbonate alteration associated with talc-chlorite mineralization in the eastern Pyrenees, with emphasis on the St. Barthelemy Massif

Summary The eastern Pyrenees host a large number of talc-chlorite mineralizations of Albian age (112–97 Ma), the largest of which occur in the St. Barthelemy massif. There talc develops by hydrothermal replacement of dolostones, which were formed by alteration of calcite marbles. This alteration is progressive. Unaltered calcite marbles have oxygen isotope composition of about 25‰ (V-SMOW). The δ¹⁸O values decrease down to values of 12‰ towards the contact with dolostones. This ¹⁸O depletion is accompanied by Mg enrichment, LREE fractionation and systematic shifts in the Sr isotope compositions, which vary from ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7087–0.7092 in unaltered calcite marbles to slightly more radiogenic compositions with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7094 near dolomitization fronts. Dolostones have δ¹⁸O values (about 9‰) lower than calcitic marbles, higher REE content and more radiogenic Sr isotope composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7109 to 0.7130). Hydrothermal calcites have δ¹⁸O values close to dolostones but substantially lower δ¹³C values, down to −6.5‰, which is indicative of the contribution of organic matter. The REE content of hydrothermal calcite is one order of magnitude higher than that of calcitic marbles. Its highly radiogenic Sr composition with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7091 to 0.7132 suggests that these elements were derived from silicate rocks, which experienced intense chlorite alteration during mineralization. The chemical and isotopic compositions of the calcite marbles, the dolostones and the hydrothermal calcites are interpreted as products of successive stages of fluid-rock interaction with increasing fluid-rock ratios. The hydrothermal quartz, calcite, talc and chlorite are in global mutual isotopic equilibrium. This allows the calculation of the O isotope composition of the infiltrating water at 300 °C, which is in the δ¹⁸O = 2–4.5‰ range. Hydrogen isotope compositions of talc and chlorite indicate a δD = 0 to −20‰. This water probably derived from seawater, with minor contribution of evolved continental water.     

Magmatism and metallogeny of the Ridanj-Krepoljin belt (eastern Serbia) and their correlation with northern and eastern analogues

In the southwestern Carpathians of SW Romania and E Serbia calc-alkaline Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene subduction related magmatic rocks occur in two main zones. The Ridanj-Krepoljin belt (E Serbia) represents the southern part of the western zone. In this belt Early Maastrichtian dacites and subordinate andesites occur, but there are indications of an unexposed granodioritic (?) magmatism about 60 Ma old. Pb-Zn-Ag and only subordinate Cu mineralization is associated with this igneous activity. The Timok magmatic complex (E Serbia) composed of Upper Cretaceous (-Paleocene?) andesites and analogue intrusives represents the eastern zone south of the Danube. Associated with this magmatism are Cu (+Au) and very subordinate Zn (±Pb) mineralization. To the north (SW Romania) in both zones mainly intrusive bodies (diorites, quartz diorites, granodiorites, monzonites) of Campanian-Paleocene age are exposed. Porphyry copper (+Mo) and in north Pb-Zn (±Cu) mineralization are related to those intrusives. The petrological and geochemical features of all these calc-alkaline rocks are very similar. It appears, however, that the associated polymetallic and the copper mineralization are both spatially and vertically separated.     

胶东东部中生代走滑逆冲构造带的超微构造研究

胶东东部区域上处于秦岭-大别-苏鲁造山带的东端,是中生代的走滑逆冲构造带.进行超微构造研究有利于解决岩石的变形机制问题.应用偏光显微镜和透射电子显微镜方法,进行了胶东东部走滑逆冲构造带显微构造及超微构造研究.研究认为主要走滑逆冲剪切带的石英位错亚构造以线位错为主,并常见位错环、位错弓弯、位错壁、位错列、位错网及亚晶粒等构造型式颗粒等.石英超微位错构造总体反映的是中温或低温塑性变形环境;石岛剪切带、荣成剪切带、牟平剪切带的平均古差异应力值呈现逐渐降低的趋势,跟温度呈反相关的关系.     

额尔齐斯碰撞带东段结构与形成时代

阿尔泰地体与萨吾尔岛弧之间的额尔齐斯碰撞带其结构与形成时代是中亚造山带构造演化研究的热点问题之一。本文报道了额尔齐斯碰撞带东段结构与形成时代的研究结果。新的结果显示:额尔齐斯碰撞带东段由4个走向NWNNW陡立的韧性变形带组成,剖面上呈扇状挤压变形的结构;这4个韧性变形带的应变类型为收缩应变与平面应变;片理带的变形从宏观到微观都表现出对称的结构,不同变形带不同地段可具变化的流动方向而表现出"奶油饼结构",其可能整体形成于共轴挤压机制;玉勒肯与老山口韧性变形带花岗闪长质糜棱岩、花岗闪长质超糜棱岩中变质重结晶锆石U-Pb定年结果显示韧性变形时间约为360Ma。这可能意味着早石炭世时卡拉先格尔地区已进入碰撞阶段,即萨吾尔岛弧与阿尔泰地体间在360Ma时已发生碰撞。     

The structure of the coronal-streamer belt

We analyze calibrated white-light coronal images from the LASCO-C2/SOHO experiment (processing level L1), focusing on quasistationary events without coronal mass ejections or their manifestations in the solar wind. The previous result that the streamer belt forms a set of rays of increased brightness is confirmed. The cross section of the streamer belt is frequently observed as two closely spaced rays differing in brightness. It is difficult to explain this in terms of ordinary bending of the belt. We suggest that the belt is normally a set of pairs of rays with enhanced brightness (or two close rows of rays). The distance between the rays in each pair is comparable to the ray size. The ray brightnesses in any pair can, in general, be different. The magnetic field has opposite directions in the rays forming a pair, so that the neutral line of the radial component of the solar magnetic field probably runs along the strip between the pairs of rays.     

Nappe structure of the Sambagawa belt

The thermal structure of the Sambagawa belt, which is reflected by minerals produced during the highest temperature of metamorphism, generally is characterized by the occurrence of the highest grade schists in the middle of the structural pile. The origin of this structure has been analysed in the upper horizon of the Sambagawa schist sequence in Central Shikoku as an example for the structure of the whole belt. The upper horizon of the Sambagawa schist sequence in Central Shikoku consists of three nappes, the Saruta nappe II, the Saruta nappe I and the Fuyunose nappe in descending order of structural level. The Saruta nappe II shows a downward increase of metamorphic grade from the garnet zone, through the albite-biotite zone, to the oligoclase-biotite zone. The Saruta nappe I consists mainly of rocks in the albite-biotite zone and partly in the oligoclase-biotite zone, but the direction of the increase of metamorphic grade is not clear. The Fuyunose nappe shows an upward increase in metamorphic grade which changes from the glaucophane zone to the barroisite zone. It is concluded that the Saruta nappe II and Saruta nappe I were overturned and then mechanically coupled with the Fuyunose nappe. The Sambagawa metamorphic field, which is of the highest temperature phase of metamorphism, appears to have had an inverted thermal gradient and a thermal structure comparable with that expected in the deeper parts of a subduction complex.     

Refining accretionary orogen models for the Tasmanides of eastern Australia

The well-known southwest-to-northeast younging of stratigraphy over a present-day cross strike distance of >1500 km in the southern Tasmanides of eastern Australia has been used to argue for models of accretionary orogenesis behind a continually eastwards-rolling paleo-Pacific plate. However, these accretionary models need modification, since the oldest (ca 530 Ma) outcrops of Cambrian supra-subduction zone rocks occur in the outboard New England Orogen, now ～900 km east of the next oldest (520–510 Ma) supra-subduction zone rocks. This is not consistent with simple, continuous easterly rollback. Instead, the southern Tasmanides contain an early history characterised by a westwards-migrating margin between ca 530 and ca 520 Ma, followed by rapid eastwards rollback of the paleo-Pacific plate from 520 to 502 Ma that opened a vast backarc basin ～2000 km across that has never been closed. From the Ordovician through to the end of the Carboniferous, the almost vertical stacking of continental margin arcs (within a hundred kilometres of each other) in the New England Orogen indicates a constant west-dipping plate boundary in a Gondwana reference frame. Although the actual position of the boundary is inferred to have undergone contraction-related advances and extension-related retreats, these movements are estimated to be ～250 km or less. Rollback in the early Permian was never completely reversed, so that late Permian–Triassic to Cretaceous arcs lie farther east, in the very eastern part of eastern Australia, with rifted fragments occurring in the Lord Howe Rise and in New Zealand. The northern Tasmanides are even more anomalous, since they missed out on the middle Cambrian plate boundary retreat seen in the south. As a result, their Cambrian-to-Devonian history is concentrated in a ～300 km wide strip immediately west of Precambrian cratonic Australia and above Precambrian basement. The presence in this narrow region of Ordovician to Carboniferous continental margin arcs and backarc basins also implies a virtually stationary plate boundary in a Gondwana frame of reference. This bipolar character of the Tasmanides suggests the presence of a segmented paleo-Pacific Plate, with major transform faults propagating into the Tasmanides as tear faults that were favourably oriented for the formation of local supra-subduction zone systems and for subsequent intraplate north–south shortening. In this interpretation of the Tasmanides, Lower–Middle Ordovician quartz-rich turbidites accumulated as submarine fan sequences, and do not represent multiple subduction complexes developed above subduction zones lying behind the plate boundary. Indeed, the Tasmanides are characterised by the general absence of material accreted from the paleo-Pacific plate and by the dominance of craton-derived, recycled sedimentary rocks.     

川东褶皱带构造发育深度层次与变形样式

地壳上层的结构特征和变形样式在垂直方向上的变化远远大于其在水平维度上的分异。川东褶皱带自晚古生代以来地史演化统一、地层展布稳定,之后新生代盆、山演化分异幅度较大,使得不同深度的地层和基底得以出露,不同地壳深度层次的构造样式得以展示,这为研究应力的垂向分异,提供了很好的条件。本文基于地壳垂直方向上变形几何的不守恒、构造脱耦以及构造层次的概念,通过野外构造现象的详细解析、野外脆性破裂产状统计、断裂之间交切关系以及活动性质观察等综合分析,结合遥感图像研究,对川东褶皱区隔挡式褶皱和隔槽式褶皱形成提出了新的解释模型。以华蓥山与齐岳山为界,川东褶皱带被分为3个呈叠置关系的区域。研究表明华蓥山以西(Ⅰ区)没有发生强烈的构造变形,变形深度最小(<2 km); 华蓥山与齐岳山之间(Ⅱ区)构造样式为在北北东向剪切作用下形成的陡立构造面理,变形深度为2～5 km; 而齐岳山以东(Ⅲ区)的构造样式是发育轴向北东的宽缓褶曲,变形深度为4～6.6 km。研究分析后得出,川东褶皱带在晚古生代以来,没有经历过大幅度的地壳垂向运动和明显的旋转运动,而白垩纪以后,发育了早期北北东向和晚期北东向的两期构造变形。Ⅱ、Ⅲ两区的构造样式发育于同一应力场(北西-南东主应力场),而晚期北东向断裂活动是形成上述3个区域呈现出断块并置的原因。另外,由于后期不同断块抬升和剥露的差异,使3个区域迥异的构造样式呈现在地表。这一认识对研究油气相关的构造圈闭、固体多金属矿产相关的矿床深度问题以及大地构造学等问题都有创新意义。     

华南东段早古生代造山带研究

对华南东段早古生代沉积环境、火山岩、超镁铁岩—镁铁岩年代、韧性变形运动学、早古生代造山带特色等方面进行了研究。研究结果表明,震旦纪—奥陶纪期间(680～440Ma)的沉积岩以泥砂质碎屑岩为主体,岩层中浅海相沉积构造发育;缺乏鲍玛层序,不含火山熔岩和爆发火山碎屑岩;原定早古生代玄武岩实为杂砂岩。结合沉积岩地球化学成果,认为本区早古生代为被动大陆边缘浅海—半深海沉积环境。对区内部分镁铁岩和火山岩作SHRIMP岩浆锆石U-Pb定年,年龄集中在860～800Ma之间。韧性变形运动学研究表明,武夷山南东麓从北西向南东逆冲推覆,北麓从南向北逆冲推覆,剖面上呈花状构造样式。稍后发生了韧性走滑剪切作用。对糜棱岩的云母矿物作40Ar-39Ar定年,年龄集中在430～390Ma之间。与国内外典型加里东期造山带相比,华南早古生代造山带具有鲜明的地域特色,造山机制大致可与西欧比利牛斯造山带相比。     

Stratigraphic constraints on suture models for eastern Indonesia

Although collision in eastern Indonesia is now accreting the Australian continent to Southeast Asia, the small North and South Banda oceanic basins within the suture zone are interpreted as Late Cenozoic extensional features. Stratigraphic columns from the surrounding islands conform to one of three generalised patterns, two of which can be related to the margins of SE Asia (Sundaland) and the Australian continent, respectively. The third system, which is dominant in the outer Banda Arc and eastern Sulawesi, is associated with a microcontinent that was rifted from Australia in the Jurassic, drifted northwards ahead of Australia in the Cretaceous and collided with the Sundaland Margin in the Paleogene. Subsequent collapse of the resulting collision orogen led to rapid extension and the formation of the Banda Sea behind the Outer Banda Arc thrust belt. Eastern Indonesia thus duplicates a pattern familiar in the Mediterranean. The Tertiary compressional structures of the region cannot be explained solely in terms of the most recent collision, which began only in the Pliocene.     

In-situ U–Pb zircon ages for Early Ordovician magmatism in the eastern Pyrenees, France: the Canigou orthogneisses

U-Pb age determinations with an ion probe on zircons within orthogneisses from the Canigou Massif, eastern Pyrenees, give an emplacement age for their granitic protolith of 475ᆞ Ma (Arenigian). This invalidates the previous interpretation of basement-cover relationships between the orthogneisses and the overlying Lower Cambrian Canaveilles metasedimentary series, and corroborates the intrusive character of the orthogneisses, which is further supported by field evidence. The data also define two groups of inherited zircons (Paleo/Meso-Proterozoic and Cadomian) in addition to partial lead loss during the Hercynian Late Carboniferous high temperature-low pressure metamorphic event. These results are in agreement with ages reported from other orthogneissic bodies across the entire Variscan chain of western Europe, and indicate the existence of a widespread Cambro-Ordovician magmatic event.     

中央造山带东段岩石圈的构造格架

笔者讨论了大别—苏鲁超高压变质带地球物理调查剖面及相关地球物理成果。分析大别—苏鲁地体的深部地质构造与岩石圈主要特征,并与东秦岭地区前人的探测结果进行对比。结果认为,中央造山带东段的地壳构造反映了扬子克拉通向北的陆内深俯冲作用。陆壳俯冲的角度在20°～30°之间,由于角度较缓,中央造山带东段发育了开阔的后陆盆地,其下方基底构造仍保留有造山带板块会聚的特征。造山带核部上中地壳存在着规模很大的岩浆岩体的显示,与造山期后的地质作用有关。大别—苏鲁的早中生代超高压变质带在东秦岭可能仍埋藏在地壳深处,不会出露于地表。     

The chronology of dinosaur oospecies in south-western Europe: Refinements from the Maastrichtian succession of the eastern Pyrenees

The Late Cretaceous deposits of the continental Tremp Formation in the Vallcebre Syncline (South-eastern Pyrenees) provide an extensive egg record of dinosaurs. The parataxonomical study and analysis of multiple eggshell samples, the precise stratigraphical control of several sections and the time calibration of the abundant egg levels enable the establishment of a robust oospecies succession. The successive occurrence of three megaloolithid oospecies (Megaloolithus siruguei-Megaloolithus mamillare-Megaloolithus sp.) in the Early and Late Maastrichtian is well correlated with the magnetic polarity time scale throughout the chron 31. The replacement of Megaloolithus siruguei with Megaloolithus mamillare occurs around the reversal of chrons 31r-31n. A comparison with oospecies successions from Arc basin localities (France) allows the age calibration for such oospecies replacement to be confirmed. This age refinement implies that some of the stated boundaries for the proposed oospecies assemblages may change and that an in-depth revision of the age and magnetic calibration of some south European egg localities is required.