1∶25万比如县幅、丁青县幅、嘉黎县幅、边坝县幅地质调查成果与进展

在丁青蛇绿岩以西的色扎岩体顶部单元硅质岩中首次发现早侏罗世菊石化石;在丁青县雪拉山口南的雀莫错组、布曲组中新采获双壳、桦树等化石;在巴青县雅安大山雀莫错组、马里组板岩中新采获云雀贝化石;边坝县的多尼组可分为3套岩性组合,在灰岩中发现大量的双壳类化石,可望建立一个新的岩性地层单位;拉孜北凼木曲东岸的拉贡塘组碳酸盐岩应为一套多旋回凝灰岩,发现丰富的苏铁类和真蕨类植物化石,具有晚侏罗世至早白垩世植被面貌;在索县次汝乡北多尼组中新发现白云母花岗岩岩滴;将嘉黎断裂带南侧娘蒲乡至错高乡一带的原蒙拉组解体为4套地层,并在其中发现变质侵入体;新发现几处蛇绿岩。     

Geochemical studies of granitoids from Shyok tectonic zone of Khardung-Panamik section,Ladakh, India

The Shyok tectonic zone lies to the north of Ladakh magmatic arc or the Ladakh batholith in the Trans-Himalaya of Ladakh district, J & K. Investigations were carried out on the granitoids exposed along Leh-Siachan highway between Khardung and Panamik villages. The granitoid bodies under study are: Khardung granite (KG), Tirit granite (TG) and Panamik granite (PG) belonging to Ladakh batholith, Shyok ophiolitic mélange and Karakoram batholith respectively. Though the granitoids belong to different litho-tectonic units, yet they have subduction related geochemical characters typical of Andean-type granitoids. Re-melting of crustal rocks of volcanic arc affinity has played an important role for the origin of KG rocks which are more evolved, while the TG and PG rocks represent transitional tectonic environment from primitive to mature arc.     

内蒙古狼山北部早古生代岩浆岩年代学、地球化学特征及构造意义

内蒙古狼山北部地区位于华北克拉通与兴蒙造山带交接部位,构造上隶属于华北克拉通北缘早古生代陆缘增生带.狼山北部巴音杭盖一带出露的早古生代岩浆岩,对确定华北北缘西段早古生代构造格局和造山带演化具有重要意义.本次研究采用LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年法,获得了闪长岩、石英闪长岩206Pb/238U年龄为435.8±2.2 Ma~437.7±2.2 Ma,时代为早志留世.岩石为钙碱性系列,富集轻稀土元素,（La/Yb）_N=4.30~11.59,表现出不同程度地富集大离子亲石元素（LILE）Rb、Th、U、K、Ba、Sr等,亏损高场强元素（HFSE）,具有明显的Nb、Ta、Ti负异常,具有弱的负Eu异常（δEu=0.80~0.96）,具有俯冲带岩石的特征.在同位素组成上,早志留世闪长岩体具有明显亏损的特点,ε_Hf（t）=+5.2~+12.6,（87Sr/86Sr）_i=0.704 665~0.706 174,ε_Nd（t）=+1.84~+2.00.上述年代学、岩石地球化学、Sr-Nd-Hf同位素数据结合区域地质资料分析表明,狼山北部早志留世闪长质岩体形成于早古生代温都尔庙洋沿温都尔庙-乌德-索伦山南一线南向俯冲背景下,为经历了俯冲洋板片析出流体交代作用的新生下地壳部分熔融的产物.志留纪岛弧岩浆岩的确定,明确了狼山北部地区属于华北克拉通北缘早古生代活动大陆边缘,为白乃庙岛弧带向西延展的部分,同时为华北北缘西段早古生代"沟-弧-盆"体系的确定提供了重要素材.      

Granites of western Karakorum and northern Kohistan (Pakistan): A composite mid-cretaceous to upper cenozoic magmatism

The petrography, the chemical-mineralogical typology and the ages of six plutonic units, four from the Karakorum axial batholith (Darkot Pass, Ghamu Bar, Batura and Hunza units) and two of northern Kohistan (Gindai and Nomal plutons) are defined and compared based on field data and analyses of up to 78 samples (major elements, REE, Rb-S.sbnd;Sr and KAr isotopes). The Karakorum axial batholith is a composite body. Three major intrusive stages occurred: (1) around Mid-Cretaceous times (ca. 110-95 Ma) with the emplacement of subalkaline, i.e. monzonitic (Darkot Pass) and calc-alkaline (Hunza, ?Ghamu Bar) units; (2) during Palaeogene, maybe up to 43 Ma (Batura subalkaline unit). A strong tectonommetamorphic event, recorded in the gneissification of the Cretaceous intrusives, occurred between these two stages; it may be of Palaeocene age. P-T estimates of the highest metamorphic grade rocks of the Hunza unit have yielded values of 580–640°C and 5 ± 0.5 kbar; and (3) during Upper Miocene (ca. 9 Ma; Baltoro subalkaline unit; Debon et al., 1986c). In addition, a conspicuous network of aplo-pegmatitic dykes emplaced into the Hunza area, possibly from the Eocene up to the Upper Cenozoic with a maximum during the Middle Miocene (ca. 15 Ma). Most of these major magmatic stages are met again among the acidic intrusives and dykes of northern Kohistan: the first one as blastomylonitic tholeiitic plutons (Nomal; ca. 102 Ma; Petterson and Windley, 1985), the second one as subalkaline plutons (Gindai; ca. 59 Ma), and a third one as leucocratic dykes, of Oligocene age (ca. 30 Ma; Petterson and Windley, 1985).These data may be related to the geodynamic evolution of the NW part of the India-Eurasia suture zone, thus allowing better constraints on the major steps of this evolution. The partly synchronous closures, by N-dipping subduction, of the two Tethys branches which are assumed to have encircled the Kohistan arc in Upper Mesozoic times, may have generated both the Karakorum and the Kohistan intrusives of Cretaceous and Palaeogene ages. The northern branch very likely closed before the southern one. At the time of the second intrusive stage (Palaeogene): (a) Kohistan and Karakorum had already collided, were welded and had suffered the same major tectonometamorphic event; (b) subduction of the southern Tethys floor beneath the welded Kohistan-Karakorum was still active; (c) however, collision between India and Kohistan-Karakorum may have already begun, particularly at the level of the Nanga Parbat promontory. Finally, it is emphasized that the intrusive processes continued in the Karakorum long after the collision (e.g., Baltoro granite).     

Shoshonitic and ultrapotassic post-collisional dykes from northern Karakorum (Sinkiang, China)

High-K calc-alkaline, shoshonitic and ultrapotassic post-collisional dykes of Neogene age have been found in the remote and little known region of northern Karakorum located around the Shaksgam valley, north of the K2-Gasherbrum range (China). The dykes derive from more or less comparable basic magma(s) and display rather unusual petrographic and geochemical characters with respect to the other K-rich rocks. The geochemical data are consistent with derivation of the basic magma(s) from small degrees of partial melting of garnet-lherzolites previously enriched in incompatible elements of crustal origin possibly during the subduction of the Indian plate beneath Karakorum. The spectrum of compositions reflects fractional crystallization governed by an early removal of clinopyroxene, phlogopite, plagioclase, garnet±amphibole followed by the precipitation of abundant alkali feldspar, amphibole±apatite±quartz. Additionally, assimilation of crustal rocks during magma ascent contributed to the unusual compositional characteristics and is suggested by the abundance of corroded quartz ( ± plagioclase) xenocrysts and by the occasional presence of granitic xenoliths.

An apparent connection exists between magmatism and tectonism in the complex Karakorum Fault Zone (KFZ). It is suggested that, during the Neogene, the strike-slip KFZ and some adjacent post-metamorphic faults transiently behaved as extensional fault systems down to deep levels, triggering ascent and emplacement of the K-rich magma. The subsequent (re)activation of a compressive and transcurrent regime determined the rapid and recent uplift of the more primitive lamprophyres occurring in the plutonites and metamorphites of the upper Baltoro Glacier and K2-Gasherbrum range, relative to the more fractionated and contaminated lamprophyres injecting the shallower rocks of the Shaksgam valley area.     

Late Cretaceous-Paleocene Extensional Collapse and Disaggregation of the Southernmost Sierra Nevada Batholith

Geobarometric studies have documented that most of the metasedimentary wall rocks and plutons presently exposed in the southernmost Sierra Nevada batholith south of the Lake Isabella area were metamorphosed and emplaced at crustal levels significantly deeper (～15 to 30 km) than the batholithic rocks exposed to the north (depths of ～3 to 15 km). Field and geophysical studies have suggested that much of the southernmost part of the batholith is underlain along low-angle faults by the Rand Schist. The schist is composed mostly of metagraywacke that has been metamorphosed at relatively high pressures and moderate temperatures. NNW-trending compositional, age, and isotopic boundaries in the plutonic rocks of the central Sierra Nevada appear to be deflected westward in the southernmost part of the batholith. Based on these observations, in conjunction with the implicit assumption that the Sierra Nevada batholith formerly continued unbroken south of the Garlock fault, previous studies have inferred that the batholith was tectonically disrupted following its emplacement during the Cretaceous. Hypotheses to account for this disruption include intraplate oroctinal bending, W-vergent overthrusting, and gravitational collapse of overthickened crust. In this paper, new geologic data from the eastern Tehachapi Mountains, located adjacent to and north of the Garlock fault in the southernmost Sierra Nevada, are integrated with data from previous geologic studies in the region into a new view of the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene tectonic evolution of the region. The thesis of this paper is that part of the southernmost Sierra Nevada batholith was unroofed by extensional faulting in Late Cretaceous-Paleocene time. Unroofing occurred along a regional system of low-angle detachment faults. Remnants of the upper-plate rocks today are scattered across the southern Sierra Nevada region, from the Rand Mountains west to the San Emigdio Mountains, and across the San Andreas fault to the northern Salinian block.

Batholithic rocks in the upper plates of the Blackburn Canyon fault of the eastern Tehachapi Mountains, low-angle faults in the Rand Mountains and southeastern Sierra Nevada, and the Pastoria fault of the western Tehachapi Mountains are inferred to have been removed from a position structurally above rocks exposed in the southeastern Sierra Nevada and transported to their present locations along low-angle detachment faults. Some of the granitic and metamorphic rocks in the northern part of the Salinian block are suggested to have originated from a position structurally above deep-level rocks of the southwestern Sierra Nevada. The Paleocene-lower Eocene Goler Formation of the El Paso Mountains and the post-Late Cretaceous to pre-lower Miocene Witnet Formation in the southernmost Sierra Nevada are hypothesized to have been deposited in supradetachment basins that formed adjacent to some of the detachment faults.

Regional age constraints for this inferred tectonic unroofing and disaggregation of the southern Sierra Nevada batholith suggest that it occurred between ～90 to 85 Ma and ～55 to 50 Ma. Upper-plate rocks of the detachment system appear to have been rotated clockwise by as much as 90° based on differences in the orientation of foliation and contacts between inferred correlative hanging-wall and footwall rocks. Transport of the upper-plate rocks is proposed to have occurred in two stages. First, the upper crust in the southern Sierra Nevada extended in a south to southeast direction, and second, the allochthonous rocks were carried westward at the latitude of the Mojave Desert by a mechanism that may include W-vergent faulting and/or oroclinal bending. The Late Cretaceous NNW extension of the upper crust in the southernmost Sierra Nevada postulated in this study is similar to Late Cretaceous, generally NW-directed, crustal extension that has been recognized to the northeast in the Funeral, Panamint, and Inyo mountains by others. Extensional collapse of the upper crust in the southern Sierra Nevada batholith may be closely linked to the emplacement of Rand Schist beneath the batholith during Late Cretaceous time, as has been suggested in previous studies.     

A geological transect from Kun Lun to Karakorum (Sinkiang, China): the western termination of the Tibetan Plateau. Preliminary note

A geological-geophysical expedition (Ev-K2–CNR 1988) visited the area from West Kun Lun to Karakorum (K2–Gasherbrum). Seven tectonic units including sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic rocks were distinguished in this area; the northernmost are suggested to belong to the Kun Lun and Qiangtang Microplates. The sedimentary sequence of Shaksgam is proved to extend from the Permian to the Jurassic, with Carboniferous and Cretaceous ages more doubtful. This sequence shows intermediate affinities between the Karakorum and the Qiangtang. The two southernmost units belong to the Karakorum Microplate. The Karakorum Fault Zone comprises a complex pattern of faults and thrusts, with brittle deformation and uplifting of granitoid bodies.     

天山东段尾亚地区白尖山超单元特征

早石炭世白尖山超单元横亘于尾亚站东西两侧，沙泉子断裂以南的狭长地带（研究区长５０余千米，宽３～６ｋｍ）。它是北部觉洛塔格早石炭世火山型被动陆缘与其南（以沙泉子断裂为界）卡瓦布拉克古陆块汇聚事件的产物。这次事件导致沿卡瓦布拉克地块北缘成线状分布的巨大岩基链的形成，即该带事实上成为一个活动陆缘弧──白尖山岩浆弧（白尖山超单元）。根据各岩石单元的接触关系，白尖山超单元由早至晚为辉长岩—石英闪长岩—花岗闪长岩—二长花岗岩—钾长花岗岩—碱长花岗岩。从沙泉子断裂向南，大体上反映出偏基性的石英闪长岩单元偏北侧分布，钾长花岗岩及碱长花岗岩单元偏南分布，表现出当时碰撞带的特性。由于晚石炭世末受到韧性剪切作用，大部分产生塑性变形，成为初糜棱岩—超糜棱岩的花岗质岩石，宏观上似具片麻状构造。无论从岩石学、岩石化学及地球化学特征方面来看，均具同源岩浆演化的特征。白尖山超单元侵入于含早石炭世动物化石的卡拉火大山组中，被二叠纪尾亚超单元组合（原尾亚岩体）侵入，测定Ｕ—Ｐｂ同位素年龄为３３８．４Ｍａ及３２５．２４Ｍａ，从而确定白尖山超单元形成时代为早石炭世。     

Cenozoic thermo-tectonic evolution of the Gangdese batholith constrained by low-temperature thermochronology

Gangdese batholith in the southern Lhasa block is a key location for exploring the Tibetan Plateau uplift and exhumation history. We present the new low-temperature thermochronological data from two north–south traverses in the central Gangdese batholith to reveal their cooling histories and corresponding controls. Zircon fission track ages show prominent clusters ranging from 23.7 to 51.6 Ma, apatite fission track ages from 9.4 to 36.9 Ma, apatite (U–Th)/He ages between 9.5 and 12.3 Ma, and one zircon (U–Th)/He age around 77.8 Ma. These new data and thermal modeling, in combination with the regional geological data, suggest that the distinct parts of Gangdese batholith underwent different cooling histories resulted from various dynamic mechanisms. The Late Eocene–Early Oligocene exhumation of northern Gangdese batholith, coeval with the magmatic gap, might be triggered by crust thickening followed by the breakoff of Neotethyan slab, while this stage of exhumation in southern Gangdese batholith cannot be clearly elucidated probably because the most of plutonic rocks with the information of this cooling event were eroded away. Since then, the northern Gangdese batholith experienced a slow and stable exhumation, while the southern Gangdese batholith underwent two more stages of exhumation. The Late Oligocene–Early Miocene rapid cooling might be a response to denudation caused by the Gangdese Thrust or related to the regional uplift and exhumation in extensional background. By the early Miocene, the rapid exhumation was associated with localized river incision or intensification of Asian monsoon, or north–south normal fault.     

Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin deposits in the Damxung area,southern Tibet

Geologic mapping and U–Pb detrital zircon geochronologic studies of (meta)sedimentary rocks in the Damxung area (∼90 km north of Lhasa) of the southern Lhasa terrane in Tibet provide new insights into the history of deformation and clastic sedimentation prior to late Cenozoic extension. Cretaceous nonmarine clastic rocks ∼10 km southeast of Damxung are exposed as structural windows in the footwall of a thrust fault (the Damxung thrust) that carries Paleozoic strata in the hanging wall. To the north of Damxung in the southern part of the northern Nyainqentanglha Range (NNQTL), metaclastic rocks of previously inferred Paleozoic age are shown to range in depositional age from Late Cretaceous to Eocene. The metaclastic rocks regionally dip southward and are interpreted to have been structurally buried in the footwall of the Damxung thrust prior to being tectonized during late Cenozoic transtension. Along the northern flank of the NNQTL, Lower Eocene syncontractional redbeds were deposited in a triangle zone structural setting. All detrital zircon samples of Cretaceous–Eocene strata in the Damxung area include Early Cretaceous grains that were likely sourced from the Gangdese arc to the south. We suggest that the that newly recognized Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene (meta)clastic deposits and thrust faults represent the frontal and youngest part of a northward directed and propagating Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin system that led to significant crustal thickening and elevation gain in southern Tibet prior to India-Asian collision.     

Palaeomagnetic,geochronological and geological constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Mejillones Peninsula,northern Chile

Palaeomagnetic and geochronological data from an Early Palaeozoic high grade metamorphic complex (Jorgina Formation) and Jurassic layered basic intrusion (Moreno Complex) are reported from the Mejillones Peninsula of northern Chile (23–23°30'S). ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dates from the Lower Palaeozoic Jorgina Formation and the Moreno Complex are between 170 and 158 Ma, coincident with a phase of emplacement of the north Chilean coastal batholith. This suggests that intrusion and magnetization of the Moreno Complex and the metamorphism and remagnetization of the Jorgina Formation were related to batholith emplacement. Extracted stable components of magnetization from all units (17 sites) define site-mean directions with a scattered distribution. The scatter in site-mean directions is interpreted as being due to minor, localized, non-uniform, block-fault related (normal or strike-slip, or both) rotation after 158 Ma. The palaeomagnetic and geochronological data indicate that no significant large-scale latitudinal translation of crustal blocks has taken place in this part of northern Chile since the Late Jurassic. In addition, they indicate that the uniform clockwise rotation after the mid-Cretaceous which affected the adjacent Cordillera de la Costa either did not extend into the Mejillones Peninsula or took the form of localized block-fault rotations. The restriction of palaeomagnetically defined styles of rotation to discrete areas within the north Chilean forearc indicates that forearc wide block-fault rotation models are not applicable to the Pacific margin of northern Chile.     

Sedimentary succession and palaeoenvironments within a fault-controlled basin: The ‘wealden’ of the Santander area,northern Spain

The so-called Wealden sediments are no less than 2000 m thick in Santander and north Burgos (northern Spain). The succession rests on an extensive scoured and channeled surface over marine carbonates of Early Callovian age, and ends with the incoming of the Urgonian marine strata and equivalents (Lower Aptian). Two major sedimentary cycles (‘megacylothems’) and the beginning of a third are recognized. Following a widespread break in the succession, each megacyclothem opens with a coarse-grained clastic interval of fluviatile origin and then grades up into finer-grained clastics and carbonates recording fluviatile, lacustrine and shallow-marine conditions.The succession accumulated in an elongated fault-bounded basin trending E—W. Detritus came from source areas lying to the south and west of the depositional area, which was at times connected with the sea to the east and possibly to the north. The development of the basin was controlled by the reactivation of Late Hercynian faults acting contemporaneously with sedimentation. The frequency of faulting varied considerably, periods of relative calm alternating with periods of strong activity. These determined the characteristics of the successive megacyclothems.     

Stratigraphy and structure of Sarda, Manil, Changpur and Naghal areas, district Kotli, Jammu & Kashmir

The Chauki, Mandi, Manil colony, Changpur, Khawas and Naghal areas are situated in between the limbs of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis (HKS). HKS is the part of Himalayan fold and thrust belt that lies in sub-Himalayan domain. Seismically, this is an active zone. Early Miocene to Recent sedimentary rocks are exposed in the area. The stratigraphic units in Kashmir basin are the cover sequence of the Indian plate. These non-marine lithostratigraphic units are molasse deposits formed by the deposition of sediments coming from north carried by the rivers originated from higher Himalayas. Murree Formation of early Miocene age is the oldest rock unit in the studied area. Siwalik Group; Chinji, Nagri, Dhok Pathan and Soan formations of early Miocene to Pliocene and Mirpur Formation of Pleistocene age is exposed. The area is structurally deformed into folds and faults. The Sarda Sarhota syncline, Mandi syncline and Fagosh anticline are major folds in the area. These folds are isoclinal to open in nature, southwest or northeast verging and thrust direction is southwest or northeast. Major reverse faults are Riasi fault and Fagosh fault. The Changpur fault is a normal fault. Primary sedimentary structures present in the area are load cast, ripups and cross bedding. The facing of beds have been marked on the basis of these sedimentary structures.     

北阿尔金恰什坎萨依沟地区早古生代构造变形特征及构造演化启示

出露在青藏高原北缘的红柳沟-拉配泉蛇绿混杂岩带一直以来为深入研究北阿尔金早古生代构造格架及演化提供了宝贵信息。经详细的野外地质填图和构造解析,文章针对红柳沟-拉配泉蛇绿混杂岩带内的构造样式、变形特征及形成时限进行研究,将北阿尔金蛇绿混杂岩带进一步细分为北侧混杂单元、中间层序单元和南侧混杂单元三个次级构造单元,南、北两侧混杂单元内以发育一系列复杂褶皱和逆冲断层为典型构造特征。卷入褶皱变形的最年轻地层岩石为中-晚奥陶世硅质岩,并被（416.8±3.7）Ma未变形的正长斑岩脉所截切;卷入逆冲断层的混杂岩中辉长岩和斜长花岗岩年龄为479~521 Ma和512.1~518.5 Ma,随后也被410.7~418.5 Ma未变形的冰沟岩体所侵位。这些基本事实表明,褶皱构造与逆冲断层均形成于中奥陶世-早泥盆世,推测其成因与北阿尔金洋俯冲作用导致的洋壳强烈缩短变形有关。在南侧混杂单元,褶皱构造样式自北向南逐渐由直立褶皱转变为斜歪褶皱,最后转变为倒转褶皱,显示出递进变形特征。褶皱所对应的应变椭球体也发生了旋转,表现出顶端指向北北东向的剪切作用,与混杂单元内逆冲断层所具有的向北北东方向逆冲、推覆特征相一致,从而推测它们与北阿尔金洋南南西向俯冲消减有密切联系。另外,在北侧混杂单元内还发育有同时期向南南东方向逆冲的断层以及轴面倾向北北东的斜歪褶皱,暗示北阿尔金洋在早古生代可能还发育有北北东方向的俯冲极性,整个北阿尔金洋俯冲消减模式可能具有双向性。      

北京周口店太平山南坡晚古生代碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其大地构造意义

为了探讨华北板块北缘晚古生代的隆升历史和古亚洲洋的闭合过程,利用碎屑岩的锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素和锆石微量元素组成对北京周口店太平山南坡晚石炭世-早二叠世地层进行物源分析,并判定源区的大地构造背景.5件样品的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄主要分布在3个时代:显生宙（285~425 Ma）、古元古代（1 700~2 450 Ma）和新太古代（2 500~2 747 Ma）.前寒武纪的锆石年龄主要集中在2.5 Ga和1.8 Ga,与华北克拉通的前寒武纪基底岩石相似.显生宙的锆石年龄主要集中在308~297 Ma,最年轻的峰值年龄在299~291 Ma,在误差范围内与地层沉积年龄相似,因此这些最年轻的碎屑锆石属于早二叠世同沉积锆石.29颗同沉积锆石的Hf同位素结果显示,原始176Hf/177Hf比值介于0.282 021~0.282 318,ε_Hf（t）值介于-20.1~-9.6.显生宙锆石的年龄谱特征以及Hf同位素组成与内蒙古隆起同期的岩浆锆石特征十分相似,因此显生宙碎屑锆石可能来源于内蒙古隆起,并伴随有少量来自北侧兴蒙造山带南部的早古生代岛弧碎屑的输入.二叠纪同沉积锆石的微量元素特征表明锆石结晶的岩浆源区具有大陆岛弧的构造属性.上述数据表明:（1）华北板块北缘在晚石炭世-早二叠世为活动大陆边缘;（2）晚古生代古亚洲洋向华北北缘的持续俯冲消减导致了内蒙古隆起的快速隆升;（3）古亚洲洋闭合的时间应晚于早二叠世.      

Alkaline orogenic plutonism in the Karakorum batholith: the Upper Cretaceous Koz Sar complex (Karambar valley,N. Pakistan)

Abstract

The Karakorum is located north of the India/Kohistan-Ladakh/Eurasia sutures. Along the Karambar valley, its axial batholith comprises four plutonic complexes. (1) The largest one represents the westerly continuation of the huge mid-Cretaceous calc-alkaline Hunza plutonic unit. This unit here displays a remarkable reverse zoning that would result from a differentiation at depth followed by multipulse intrusions. (2) A stock of subalkaline (i.e. intermediate between alkaline and calc-alkaline) granitoids (Warghut porphyritic granite). (3) A composite group of fine-grained granitoids. (4) The so-called Koz Sar alkaline complex (KSAC), a unique example of this composition of plutonism so far reported in the batholith. In addition, leucogranite dykes and rare alkaline mafic ones occur.

The KSAC is a heterogeneous and more or less deformed body, ca. 5 km wide and possibly 20 km long, comprising two coeval groups of rocks. (1) Medium- to coarse-grained rocks are the most representative members of the complex. They consist of metaluminous to slightly peralkaline monzonite, quartz monzonite, granite and leucogranite, with iron-rich mafic silicates and Fe-Ti oxide. These subsolvus granitoids define a strongly ferriferous alkaline series. Five monzonite and quartz monzonite samples yield an isochron Rb-Sr age of 88 ± 4 Ma (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70440 ± 7; MSWD = 1.7). (2) Fine-grained rocks (monzogabbro to quartz syenite) are compositionally comparable to the dark-coloured members of the preceding group.

The KSAC was emplaced into a post-collisional environment resulting from the accretion, maybe at least since Aptian times, of the Kohistan island arc to the Karakorum. Its alkaline character testifies to the development of extensional tectonics, a process compatible with an oblique collision and/or with the decrease, at the time of collision, of the convergence velocity between the two colliding terrenes. Available data suggest that this alkaline complex (1) is late-orogenic, (2) is genetically-related to the nearby subalkaline granitoids and originates from the same mantle-source with a small crustal contribution, and (3) represents the ultimate member of the mid-Cretaceous subduction-related plutonism emplaced into the Karakorum continental margin.     

Early Paleozoic batholiths in the northern part of the Kuznetsk Alatau: Composition,age, and sources

The paper reports geological, chemical, and geochronological data on the Early Paleozoic granitoid and gabbro-granite associations, which compose the Kozhukhovskii and Dudetskii batholiths in the northern part of the Kuznetsk Alatau. The Kozhukhovskii batholith located in the Alatau volcanoplutonic belt is made up of tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, and subalkaline rocks that were formed in two stages. The first stage corresponded to the formation of granitoids of the Tylinskii quartz diorite-tonalite-plagiogranite complex (～530 Ma, Tylinskii Massif, tholeiitic type) in an island arc setting. The second stage (～500 Ma) produced the Martaiga quartz diorite-tonalite-plagiogranite complex (Kozhukhovskii Massif, calc-alkaline type) and the Krasnokamenskii monzodiorite-syenite-granosyenite complex (Krasnokamenskii Massif, subalkaline type) in an accretionary-collisional setting. The Dudetskii batholith is situated in the Altai-Kuznetsk volcanoplutonic belt and contains widespread subalkaline intrusive rocks (Malodudetskii monzogabbro-monzodiorite-syenite and Karnayul’skii granosyenite-leucogranite complexes) and less abundant alkaline rocks (Verkhnepetropavlovskii carbonatite-bearing alkaline-gabbroid complex), which were formed within the age range of 500–485 Ma. Our Nd isotopic studies suggest mainly a subduction source of the rocks of the Kozhukhovskii batholith (ε_Nd from + 4.8 to + 4.2). Subalkaline rocks of the Dudetskii batholith exhibit wide isotopic variations. The Nd isotopic composition of monzodiorites and monzogabbro of the Malodudetskii Complex (ε_Nd = + 6.6), in association with the elevated alkalinity and high Nb and Ta contents of these rocks, testifies to the predominant contribution of an enriched mantle source at the participation of a depleted mantle source. The lower ε_Nd (from + 3.2 to + 1.9) in its syenites possibly indicates their generation through melting of metabasic rocks derived from enriched mantle protolith. The rocks of the Karnayul’skii Complex have lower Nb and Ta contents at similar ε_Nd (+3.6), which suggests some crustal contribution to their formation.     

New geochronological results and structural evolution of the Pataz gold mining district: Implications for the timing and origin of the batholith-hosted veins

The Paleozoic Pataz–Parcoy gold mining area is located in a right-stepping jog on the regional Cordillera Blanca fault, in northern Peru. Most of the 8 million ounces of gold production from this area has come from quartz–carbonate–sulfide veins hosted by the Pataz batholith. Despite a subduction zone setting since at least the Cambrian, the area records several periods of extension and its present structure is that of a rift and graben terrain. The Pataz district (the northern part of the Pataz–Parcoy area) is dominated structurally by northwest to north northwest-striking (NW–NNW) faults and northeast to east northeast-striking (NE–ENE) lineaments, both of which have been active periodically since at least the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous). NW–NNW faults control the margins of a central horst that exposes basement schist and the Pataz batholith, and step across NE–ENE lineaments. The Lavasen graben, to the east of the central horst, contains the Lavasen Volcanics, and the Chagual graben, to the west, contains an allochthonous sedimentary sequence derived from the Western Andean Cordillera.New SHRIMP zircon geochronological data indicate emplacement of the Pataz batholith during the Middle Mississippian, at around 338–336 Ma, approximately 10 Ma earlier than previous estimates based on ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. The calc-alkaline, I-type batholith comprises diorite and granodiorite, the latter being the major component of the batholith, and was emplaced as a sill complex within the moderately NE-dipping sequence of the Eastern Andean Cordillera. Moderate- to high-temperature ductile deformation took place on the batholith contacts during or shortly after emplacement. Following emplacement of the batholith, differential uplift occurred along NW–NNW faults forming the Lavasen graben, into which the Lavasen Volcanics were deposited. SHRIMP U–Pb in zircon ages for the Lavasen Volcanics and the Esperanza subvolcanic complex, which was intruded into the western margin of the graben, are within error of one another at ca 334 Ma. The ductile batholith contacts were cut by renewed movement on NW–NNW faults such that the margins of the batholith are now controlled by these steep brittle-ductile faults. The NW–NNW faults were oriented normal to the principal axis of regional shortening (ENE–WSW) during formation of the batholith-hosted, gold-bearing quartz–carbonate–sulfide veins. The misoriented faults were unable to accommodate significant displacement, leading to high fluid pressures, vertical extension in the competent batholith and formation of gold-bearing veins. Brittle failure of the batholith was most extensive in the northern Pataz district where the fault-controlled western contact of the batholith is offset by a swarm of NE–ENE lineaments.The timing of vein formation is not established, despite published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 312 to 314 Ma for metasomatic white mica, which are interpreted as minimum ages of formation. Gold-bearing veins formed during or shortly after uplift of the Pataz batholith and formation of the Lavasen graben; they were therefore broadly coeval with deposition of the Lavasen Volcanics and emplacement of the Esperanza subvolcanic complex. These K-rich, weakly alkalic, ferroan (A-type) magmas may provide a viable source for the ore fluid that deposited gold in the Pataz batholith.     

An analysis of the gravity field over north Singhbhum, Bihar, India

About seven hundred gravity stations were established 2–3 miles apart over the Precambrian terrain of Singhbhum that lies between latitude 22° 15′ to 23°°15′N and longitude 85° to 87°E. Bouguer anomalies ranging from +4 to −62 mGal are found in the area. The observed Bouguer anomaly map was analyzed into regional and residual components. The residual anomaly map shows an excellent correlation with geology. The Singhbhum granite batholith is associated with several gravity lows. The residual anomaly map outlines nine plutonic granitic masses within the Singhbhum batholith. Negative residuals are also observed over some intrusive granites outside the batholith. Residual gravity highs are noted over the Dalma hill as well as over the Dhanjori lava complex on the eastern part of the Singhbhum batholith.Two-dimensional models suggestive of subsurface configuration of several major geologic units in the area are presented. These indicate that some of the plutonic granites within the Singhbhum batholith are of relatively large dimensions. The basin containing the Iron Ore Group of rocks to the west of the batholith, as well as the basin containing Singhbhum Group of rocks outside the Copper Belt thrust, may have sedimentary thicknesses of the order of 6–7 km. The Dalma lavas attain their maximum thickness of about 2.5 km in the form of a syncline, underneath which the Singhbhum Group of rocks is also found to be the thickest. The Copper Belt thrust, a major Precambrian fracture around the Singhbhum batholith, is moderately north-dipping near the surface but possibly attains a steeper slope at depth. The thrust appears to be quite deep seated. A threedimensional computer-based model for the Dhanjori lava—gabbro complex on the eastern part of the Singhbhum batholith has been deduced. Maximum thickness of these basic rocks is found to exist underneath a thin cap of granophyre. The geological implication of these results is discussed.Variation in the regional anomalies seems to be attributable to a mass deficiency under the Singhbhum batholith. The batholith may extend subsurfacially towards the north across the Copper Belt thrust. The northern tip of the batholith probably became dissected along the line of intersection of the two orogenic trends in the area and subsided. Over this subsided part, the Singhbhum Group of rocks was deposited at a later stage. Gravity data suggest a fairly large amount of subsidence in the area.     

Evolution of the early devonian bindook volcanic complex,wollondilly basin,eastern lachlan fold belt

The Early Devonian Bindook Volcanic Complex consists of a thick silicic volcanic and associated sedimentary succession filling the extensional Wollondilly Basin in the northeastern Lachlan Fold Belt. The basal part of the succession (Tangerang Formation) is exposed in the central and southeastern Wollondilly Basin where it unconformably overlies Ordovician rocks or conformably overlies the Late Silurian to Early Devonian Bungonia Limestone. Six volcanic members, including three new members, are now recognised in the Tangerang Formation and three major facies have been delineated in the associated sedimentary sequence. The oldest part of the sequence near Windellama consists of a quartz turbidite facies deposited at moderate water depths together with the shallow‐marine shelf Windellama Limestone and Brooklyn Conglomerate Members deposited close to the eastern margin of the basin. Farther north the shelf facies consists of marine shale and sandstone which become progressively more tuffaceous northwards towards Marulan. The Devils Pulpit Member (new unit) is a shallow‐marine volcaniclastic unit marking the first major volcanic eruptions in the region. The overlying shallow‐marine sedimentary facies is tuffaceous in the north, contains a central Ordovician‐derived quartzose (?deltaic) facies and a predominantly mixed facies farther south. The initial volcanism occurred in an undefined area north of Marulan. A period of non‐marine exposure, erosion and later deposition of quartzose rocks marked a considerable break in volcanic activity. Volcanism recommenced with the widespread emplacement of the Kerillon Tuff Member (new unit), a thick, non‐welded rhyolitic ignimbrite followed by dacitic welded ignimbrite and air‐fall tuff produced by a large magnitude eruption leading to caldera collapse in the central part of the Bindook Volcanic Complex, together with an additional small eruptive centre near Lumley Park. The overlying Kerrawarra Dacite Member (new unit) is lava‐like in character but it also has the dimensions of an ignimbrite and covers a large part of the central Bindook Volcanic Complex. The Carne Dacite Member is interpreted as a series of subvolcanic intrusions including laccoliths, cryptodomes and sills. The Tangerang Formation is overlain by the extensive crystal‐rich Joaramin Ignimbrite (new unit) that was erupted from an undefined centre in the central or northern Bindook Volcanic Complex. The volcanic units at Wombeyan and the Kowmung Volcaniclastics in the northwestern part of the complex are probably lateral time‐equivalents of the Tangerang Formation and Joaramin Ignimbrite. All three successions pre‐date the major subaerial volcanic plateau‐forming eruptions represented by the Barrallier Ignimbrite (new unit). The latter post‐dated folding and an extensive erosional phase, and unconformably overlies many of the older units in the Bindook Volcanic Complex. This ignimbrite was probably erupted from a large caldera in the northern part of the complex and probably represents surface expressions of part of the intruding Marulan Batholith. The final volcanic episode is represented by the volcanic units at Yerranderie which formed around a crater at the northern end of the exposed Bindook Volcanic Complex.