造山带逆冲推覆构造研究的主要新进展

造山带逆冲推覆构造研究是造山带研究中最为重要的课题之一。造山带外带即前陆褶皱冲断带(主要发育盖层冲断推覆体,一般遵循薄皮构造变形规则)与造山带内带(主要是基底褶皱推覆体,呈现厚皮构造变形规律)结晶逆冲推覆构造的几何学、运动学特征存在较大差异,二者形成机制也不相同,但其间仍有紧密的联系。近20年来造山带逆冲推覆构造研究的主要新进展为:①前陆褶皱冲断带逆冲断层及其相关褶皱的几何学特征分析已趋定量化,对其组合类型与演化时序有了更全面的认识,且对前陆褶皱冲断带的发展演化模式取得了新的共识,即遵循临界库仑楔模式;②平衡剖面技术在前陆褶皱冲断带的应用已从二维平衡与复原演进到三维平衡与复原,且日渐计算机化;③对造山带内带结晶基底逆冲推覆构造的主要类型(C型与F型逆冲岩席)及其特征已有较深的理解;④对前陆褶皱冲断带与结晶基底逆冲构造的相互关系及其形成演化模式有了新认识。目前造山带逆冲推覆构造研究过程中存在的主要问题为:①造山带内带结晶逆冲推覆构造的研究比较薄弱;②造山带晚期走滑构造及伸展构造的叠加与改造使得造山带内结晶逆冲推覆构造更为复杂化,致使其研究难度加大;③全面、精细的造山带深部地球物理资料较缺乏;④造山带内结晶逆冲岩席变形变质历史与超高压变质岩的形成机制及折返过程之间的关系尚未揭示清楚。在今后研究过程中应加强对上述问题的深入研究。     

湖北武当—两郧地区地质构造基本特征及构造演化

研究区是印支－燕山造山运动所形成的陆内造山带,三条剪切带将其分划成四个变形构造单元,即北侧逆冲变形带、中央走滑剪切变形带、南侧逆冲变形带和前陆褶皱－逆冲变形带,并构成北弱南强的不对称型正花状变形结构样式。造山过程经历两个阶段：早期以逆冲－推覆单向造山为特征;晚期则以走滑和陆－陆撞双向造山为主导。     

燕山板内造山带中部“承德逆冲构造”的褶皱相关断裂构造模型

燕山板内造山带中部承德盆地复杂的中生代褶皱及逆冲断裂构造,曾被解释为土城子组沉积之后大型逆冲推覆构造(位移量大于40～45km)又经褶皱变形的结果。近年来,土城子组沉积相和物源区分析、中新元古界沉积古地理研究以及相关构造变形研究结果等,对这一变形大型逆冲构造模型提出了多方位质疑。但已有研究并未提出新的构造模型来解释这一复杂构造区域中生代构造变形样式和形成机制。文中通过对承德盆地区域主体构造——承德向斜、向斜两翼逆冲构造变形几何学与运动学特征、向斜转折端附近构造变形与断裂发育状况进行详细野外调查及对关键地质体同位素地质年代进行测试,发现承德向斜两翼逆冲断层为分别向向斜核部以外区域逆冲的独立逆冲断层,逆冲断层活动与承德向斜变形是在统一的收缩变形体制下准同时形成的。它们形成于土城子组之后、张家口组火山活动之前,即距今约139～136 Ma。据此提出了"承德逆冲构造"的背离向斜逆冲构造模型。这一模型合理地解释了燕山中部承德盆地区域中生代构造变形和相应的盆地充填特征,同时表明,燕山板内造山带并不存在碰撞造山带前陆褶皱逆冲带中常见的大型薄皮逆冲构造样式。这一研究结果展示了褶皱相关断裂构造模型在研究和揭示收缩构造变形区域大尺度褶皱与断裂构造相互关系及准确重建区域构造演化过程方面的重要意义。     

钦杭结合带南段钦州-灵山构造带中生代板内变形特征与构造转换

钦州-灵山构造带位于钦杭结合带南段,是华南中生代形成的大型构造-岩浆活动带。构造解析表明,钦州-灵山构造带灵山段由走滑构造、逆冲推覆构造以及一系列伸展构造组成:早期,该段整体表现为逆-平移性质,平面上呈一组平行或分支复合的断裂束,剖面上表现为向深部会聚的正花状构造;中期,构造带南东侧的六万大山花岗岩体逆冲推覆至古生代地层之上,其平面上呈向北西凸起的弧形复合断裂束,剖面上由前、后缘推覆型韧性剪切带及花岗岩断夹块组成的逆冲推覆构造;晚期,钦州-灵山构造带由挤压-推覆变形转入后造山伸展变形,沿乐民-寨圩一带发育了张性岩墙群、伸展型韧性剪切带及大型张性断裂带。带内构造变形特征、转换及演化机制揭示:在晚古生代钦廉-罗定裂陷槽关闭的地质背景下,扬子地块与华夏地块于中生代沿钦州-灵山构造带灵山段发生斜向拼合-板内造山作用。上述认识对理解钦廉-罗定裂陷槽的闭合、扬子地块与华夏地块的分界与拼合过程、华南板内造山的动力学机制及演化、六万大山印支期花岗岩基的侵位机制、十万大山盆地的性质,皆具有重要的地质意义。     

秦岭南缘大巴山褶皱－冲断推覆构造的特征

秦岭造山带南缘的大巴山巨型逆冲推覆构造主要是在秦岭造山带板块俯冲碰撞造山与中、新生代以来陆内造山过程中长期复合作用形成的。详细的室内外构造研究表明,巴山逆冲推覆构造可以巴山弧形断裂带为界划分为北大巴山逆冲推覆构造和南大巴山逆冲推覆构造。北大巴山自北而南依次由安康－武当推覆体、紫阳－平利推覆体、高桥－镇坪推覆体和高滩推覆体逆冲叠置而成。南大巴山则以镇巴－阳日断裂为界,分为北部的前陆冲断褶皱带和南部的前陆褶皱带。北大巴山主要是印支期碰撞造山作用和燕山期陆内逆冲推覆作用叠加改造的结果,南大巴山则主要是燕山期递进变形过程中的产物。构造变形北强南弱,北以冲断褶皱变形为特征,南以皱褶作用为主;北部褶皱紧闭复杂,向南渐变为宽缓的薄皮构造。逆冲作用在时序上具有由北向南扩展传递的特点。     

阴山中生代地壳逆冲推覆与伸展变形作用

研究区属燕山—阴山中生代板内造山带西段的重要组成部分。依据变形特征和物质组成,可以分为北部构造活动带、中部隆起带和南部构造活动带3个不同的构造区。以中部隆起带为中心,在南北两侧的构造活动带中的构造样式和变形机制呈反向对称出现。逆冲构造和伸展构造在时间和空间上密切共生。在印支期—燕山早期地壳以逆冲挤压变形机制为主,形成了色尔腾山逆冲推覆体系和大青山逆冲推覆体系,而燕山晚期阶段在逆冲岩席上产生了背向伸展变形作用,形成了同构造的早白垩世呼和浩特—包头盆地和固阳盆地。     

阴山中生代地壳逆冲推覆与伸展变形作用

研究区属燕山－阴山中生代板内造山带西段的重要组成部分。依据变形特征和物质组成，可以分为北部构造活动带、中部隆起带和南部构造活动3个不同的构造区。以中部隆起带为中心，在南北两侧的构造活动带中的构造样式和变形机制呈反向对称出现。逆冲构造和伸展构造在时间和空间上的密切共生。在印支期－燕山早期地壳以逆冲挤压变形机制为主，形成了色尔腾山逆冲推覆体系和大青山逆冲推覆体系，而燕山晚期阶段在逆冲岩席上产生了背向伸展变形作用，形成了同构造的早白垩世呼和浩特－包头盆地和固阳盆地。     

阴山中生代地壳逆冲推覆与伸展变形作用

研究区属燕山-阴山中生代板内造山带西段的重要组成部分.依据变形特征和物质组成,可以分为北部构造活动带、中部隆起带和南部构造活动带3个不同的构造区.以中部隆起带为中心,在南北两侧的构造活动带中的构造样式和变形机制呈反向对称出现.逆冲构造和伸展构造在时间和空间上密切共生.在印支期-燕山早期地壳以逆冲挤压变形机制为主,形成了色尔腾山逆冲推覆体系和大青山逆冲推覆体系,而燕山晚期阶段在逆冲岩席上产生了背向伸展变形作用,形成了同构造的早白垩世呼和浩特-包头盆地和固阳盆地.     

新疆东准噶尔卡拉麦里构造带多期变形和金叠加成矿

卡拉麦里韧-脆性剪切构造带形成于华力西中晚期,分属碰撞造山挤压和伸展造山走滑-伸展2个构造变形期,历经逆冲推覆、左行走滑、右行走滑和伸展4个主要演化阶段,金成矿空间上分布于碰撞期逆冲推覆型韧性剪切带中,成矿发生在转换造山及伸展造山时期,属C2-P(290～260Ma)走滑伸展阶段成矿事件。构造变形对金成矿的控制作用在空间上表现为深部构造层次韧性变形与其之上的中浅构造层次的韧脆性和脆性变形存在地质间断,金成矿与韧脆性、脆性变形同步且与韧性变形呈明显叠加复合关系,赋矿韧脆性和脆性构造统一于右行走滑剪切-伸展成矿体系中,具有不同的构造变形层次、变形特征和矿化特征。构造与金成矿空间叠加关系,有相应的两期成矿年龄响应和多阶段、多物质复合成矿的记录,代表一种时间有早晚、空间有重叠、物质来源多成因的叠加复合成矿关系。构造带韧-脆性变形转换与金成矿活动是区域构造背景发生明显转换过程中的多期变形和叠加成矿的形成机制,(成矿)动力学背景分别代表了碰撞造山期的逆冲推覆韧性变形、碰撞造山-伸展造山转变期的右行走滑韧脆性变形和金初始成矿、伸展造山期的脆性变形和金主成矿活动。与周围地质体的时间、物质关系探讨表明,金成矿受火山质围岩矿源层、构造生成演化及华力西晚期碱性花岗质岩浆侵位活动三大因素控制。     

祁连造山带构造演化与新生代变形历史

祁连造山带位于东特提斯北缘,蛇绿混杂岩带、(超)高压变质岩和弧岩浆岩等广泛发育,是前新生代华北克拉通与柴达木古地块之间多期次俯冲、碰撞和造山形成的复合造山带。现今的祁连山是青藏高原北缘高原隆升与扩展的关键构造带,具有复杂的陆内变形构造和深部结构,记录了新生代高原生长过程中不同阶段的构造变形和盆-山演化历史。本文在区域地质研究资料的综合分析基础上,讨论祁连造山带元古宙变质基底属性、新元古代—古生代古海洋演化和中—新生代构造变形特征,探讨祁连(山)造山带的构造演化过程和陆内变形历史。祁连造山带发育新元古代早期和早古生代两期岩浆弧,分别代表了古祁连洋和(南、北)祁连洋的俯冲-碰撞事件;亲华北的基底属性指示了祁连洋实属陆缘海。新生代青藏高原东北缘发育两阶段构造变形和盆-山演化,在中新世完成了由新生代早期以逆冲断裂活动为主向走滑断裂和逆冲断裂共同作用的转变,随着东昆仑山的快速隆起将古近纪大盆地隔开成两个盆地,即现今的柴达木盆地和可可西里盆地。中新世中晚期以来,青藏高原东北缘的构造格局主要受控于东昆仑和海原两个近乎平行的大型转换挤压构造系统的发育、顺时针旋转和侧向生长。大型走滑断裂系统在造山带内的...     

Statistical considerations for grain-size analyses of tills

Relative percentages of sand, silt, and clay from samples of the same till unit are not identical because of different lithologies in the source areas, sorting in transport, random variation, and experimental error. Random variation and experimental error can be isolated from the other two as follows. For each particle-size class of each till unit, a standard population is determined by using a normally distributed, representative group of data. New measurements are compared with the standard population and, if they compare satisfactorily, the experimental error is not significant and random variation is within the expected range for the population. The outcome of the comparison depends on numerical criteria derived from a graphical method rather than on a more commonly used one-way analysis of variance with two treatments. If the number of samples and the standard deviation of the standard population are substituted in at-test equation, a family of hyperbolas is generated, each of which corresponds to a specific number of subsamples taken from each new sample. The axes of the graphs of the hyperbolas are the standard deviation of new measurements (horizontal axis) and the difference between the means of the new measurements and the standard population (vertical axis). The area between the two branches of each hyperbola corresponds to a satisfactory comparison between the new measurements and the standard population. Measurements from a new sample can be tested by plotting their standard deviation vs. difference in means on axes containing a hyperbola corresponding to the specific number of subsamples used. If the point lies between the branches of the hyperbola, the measurements are considered reliable. But if the point lies outside this region, the measurements are repeated. Because the critical segment of the hyperbola is approximately a straight line parallel to the horizontal axis, the test is simplified to a comparison between the means of the standard population and the means of the subsample. The minimum number of subsamples required to prove significant variation between samples caused by different lithologies in the source areas and sorting in transport can be determined directly from the graphical method. The minimum number of subsamples required is the maximum number to be run for economy of effort.     

Stress-strain analysis of geogrid-supported liners over subsurface cavities

Summary Finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the magnitude of tensile strains imposed on landfill liners due to the formation of subsurface cavities. The study incorporated the significance of using geogrids to reduce the magnitude of strains and possibly the potential for collapse of landfill liners. Variations of key parameters included depth of overburden (D) and diameter of the cavity (B). Estimated stress distributions were compared to theoretical values obtained from a model reported in the literature. Results indicated that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the critical area based on the mechanics of arching was above the edge of the cavity where stress concentration occurred. Incorporation of geogrid reinforcement reduced the magnitude of tensile strains. The tensile force in the geogrid was dependent upon the size of the cavity, the depth of the overburden, and the applied pressure.     

Evolution of the European Cenozoic Rift System: interaction of the Alpine and Pyrenean orogens with their foreland lithosphere

The evolution of the European Cenozoic Rift System (ECRIS) and the Alpine orogen is discussed on the base of a set of palaeotectonic maps and two retro-deformed lithospheric transects which extend across the Western and Central Alps and the Massif Central and the Rhenish Massif, respectively.During the Paleocene, compressional stresses exerted on continental Europe by the evolving Alps and Pyrenees caused lithospheric buckling and basin inversion up to 1700 km to the north of the Alpine and Pyrenean deformation fronts. This deformation was accompanied by the injection of melilite dykes, reflecting a plume-related increase in the temperature of the asthenosphere beneath the European foreland. At the Paleocene–Eocene transition, compressional stresses relaxed in the Alpine foreland, whereas collisional interaction of the Pyrenees with their foreland persisted. In the Alps, major Eocene north-directed lithospheric shortening was followed by mid-Eocene slab- and thrust-loaded subsidence of the Dauphinois and Helvetic shelves. During the late Eocene, north-directed compressional intraplate stresses originating in the Alpine and Pyrenean collision zones built up and activated ECRIS.At the Eocene–Oligocene transition, the subducted Central Alpine slab was detached, whereas the West-Alpine slab remained attached to the lithosphere. Subsequently, the Alpine orogenic wedge converged northwestward with its foreland. The Oligocene main rifting phase of ECRIS was controlled by north-directed compressional stresses originating in the Pyrenean and Alpine collision zones.Following early Miocene termination of crustal shortening in the Pyrenees and opening of the oceanic Provençal Basin, the evolution of ECRIS was exclusively controlled by west- and northwest-directed compressional stresses emanating from the Alps during imbrication of their external massifs. Whereas the grabens of the Massif Central and the Rhône Valley became inactive during the early Miocene, the Rhine Rift System remained active until the present. Lithospheric folding controlled mid-Miocene and Pliocene uplift of the Vosges-Black Forest Arch. Progressive uplift of the Rhenish Massif and Massif Central is mainly attributed to plume-related thermal thinning of the mantle-lithosphere.ECRIS evolved by passive rifting in response to the build-up of Pyrenean and Alpine collision-related compressional intraplate stresses. Mantle-plume-type upwelling of the asthenosphere caused thermal weakening of the foreland lithosphere, rendering it prone to deformation.     

Tectonics of the western part of the Polish Outer Carpathians

The western part of the Polish Outer Carpathians is built up from the thrust, imbricated Upper Jurassic-Neogene flysch deposits. The following Outer Carpathian nappes have been distinguished: Magura Nappe, Fore-Magura group of nappes, Silesian, Subsilesian and Skole nappes. Interpretation of seismic and magnetotelluric survey from the region South of Wadowice, allows observation of relationship between basement and flysch nappes in the Outer Carpathians. It also allows identification of dislocation cutting both flysch nappes and their basement. All the Outer Carpathian nappes are thrust over the southern part of the North European Platform. The platform basement is composed of older Precambrian metamorphic rocks belonging to the Bruno-Vistulicum terrane. Sedimentary cover consists of Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Neogene sequences. The characteristic features of this boundary are horsts and troughs of general direction NW-SE, turning W-E. Faults cutting only the consolidated basement and the Paleozoic cover were formed during the Hercynian Orogeny in the Carboniferous and the Early Permian. Most of the older normal faults were covered by allochtonous flysch nappes forming thus the blind faults. During the last stage of the geodynamic development the Carpathians thrust sheets moved towards their present position. Displacement of the Carpathians northwards is related to development of dextral strike-slip faults of N—S direction. The orientation of this strike-slip fault zones zone more or less coincides with the surface position of the major faults perpendicular to the strike of the Outer Carpathian thrustsheets. The huge fault cuts formations from the Paleozoic basement through the flysch allochton between the boreholes in Sucha Beskidzka area. The displacement of nappes of the Carpathian overthrust and diapiric extrusion of plastic formations of the lower flysch units occurred along this fault.     

Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) stratigraphy and structure of the Walterstown-Kentstown area,Co. Meath,Ireland

Stratigraphic units are defined and described for the Lower Carboniferous succession in the Walterstown-Kentstown area of Co. Meath, Ireland. A complete (unexposed) Courceyan succession from the terrestrial red bed facies of the Baronstown Formation to the Moathill Formation of the Navan Group has been penetrated in several boreholes. Although the lower part of the sequence is comparable with the Courceyan succession at Navan and Slane, the middle part of the sequence differs markedly in the Walterstown-Kentstown area and two new members, the Proudstown and Walterstown Members, are defined in the upper part of the Meath Formation. Syndepositional faulting was initiated during the Courceyan, probably in latest Pseudopolygnathus multistriatus or early Polygnathus mehli latus time. Movement on the ENE trending St. Patrick's Well Fault influenced the deposition of the Walterstown Member and the overlying Moathill Formation and was probably associated with the development of the East Midlands depocentre to the south of the area. A second episode of tectonism in the latest Courceyan or early Chadian resulted in uplift and erosion and the development of ‘block and basin’ sedimentation. Subsequent transgression of the uplifted block led to the establishment of the Kentstown Platform, bounded to the north, west and south by rocks of basinal facies. The Milverton Group (Chadian-Asbian), confined to this platform, unconformably overlies Courceyan or Lower Palaeozoic strata and is subdivided into three formations: Crufty Formation (late Chadian), Holmpatrick Formation (late Chadian-Arundian) and Mullaghfin Formation (late Arundian-Asbian). The Walterstown Fault controlled the western margin of the Kentstown Platform at this time. Contemporaneous basinal sediments of the Fingal Group (Lucan and Naul Formations) accumulated to the west of the Walterstown Fault and are much thicker than age-equivalent platform facies. Platform sedimentation ceased in latest Asbian to early Brigantian time with tectonically induced collapse and drowning of the platform; platform carbonates of the Mullaghfin Formation are onlapped northwards by coarse proximal basinal facies of the Loughshinny Formation. A distinct gravity anomaly in the Kentstown area suggests the presence of a granitoid body within the basement. The Kentstown Platform is therefore considered to have formed on a buoyant, granite-cored, footwall high analogous to the Askrigg and Alston Blocks of northern England.     

Controls on the evolution and demise of Lower Carboniferous carbonate platforms,northern margin of the Dublin Basin,Ireland

Shallow water platform limestones of the Chadian–Asbian Milverton Group are restricted to the north-eastern part of the Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) Dublin Basin. Here, they are confined to two granite-cored fault blocks, the Kentstown and Balbriggan Blocks, known to have been active during the late Dinantian. Three areas of platform sedimentation are delimited (the Kentstown, Drogheda and Milverton areas), although in reality they probably formed part of a single carbonate platform. Resedimented submarine breccias and calciturbidites (Fingal Group) composed of shallow water allochems and intraclasts sourced from the platform accumulated, along with terrigenous muds, in the surrounding basinal areas. Sedimentological evidence suggests that the Kentstown and Balbriggan Blocks possessed tilt-block geometries and developed during an episode of basin-wide extensional faulting in late Chadian time. Rotation of the blocks during extension resulted in the erosion of previously deposited sequences in footwall areas and concomitant drowning of distal hangingwall sequences. Antithetic faults on the northern part of the Balbriggan Block aided the preferential subsidence of the Drogheda area and accounts for the anomously thick sequence of late Chadian platform sediments present there. Continued subsidence and/or sea-level rise in the late Chadian–early Arundian resulted in transgression of the Kentstown and Balbriggan Blocks; carbonate ramps developed on the hangingwall dip slopes and transgressed southward with time. Subsequent progradation and aggradation of shallow water sediments throughout the Arundian to Asbian led to the development of carbonate shelves. Several coarse conglomeratic intervals within the contemporaneous basinal sequences of the Fingal Group attest to periodic increases of sediment influx associated with the development of the shelves. Sedimentological processes controlled the development of the carbonate platforms on the hangingwall dip slopes of the Kentstown and Balbriggan Blocks, though periodic increases of sediment flux into the basinal areas may have been triggered by eustatic falls in sea level. In contrast, differential subsidence along the bounding faults of these blocks exerted a strong control on the margins of the late Dinantian shelves, maintaining relatively steep slopes and inhibiting the progradation of the shelves into the adjacent basins. Tectonically induced collapse and retreat of the platform margins occurred in the late Asbian–early Brigantian. Platform sediments are overlain by coarse-grained proximal basinal facies which fine upwards before passing into a thick shale sequence, indicating that by the late Brigantian carbonate production had almost stopped as the platforms were drowned.     

Viscous effects on penetrating shafts in clays

The penetration of rigid objects such as piles and penetrometers into soils creates a zone of soil disturbance around them. The extent of this disturbed zone influences the resistance of the moving rigid body. This paper presents a theoretical framework to analyze the resistance in the disturbed zone created by a shaft penetrating a clay soil. The soil is modeled as a viscous material after it reaches failure [critical state (CS)]. The results of this analysis show that the viscous drag stress component on the shaft surface is influenced by the size of disturbed zone that has reached CS around the shaft, the shear viscosity of the soil and the velocity profile (or strain rate) in the CS zone around the shaft. The size of CS zone, the velocity profile and the viscosity of soil are interdependent. Large variation in viscous drag occurs when the size of the CS soil zone is less than four times the shaft’s radius. Limiting drag occurs when the size of the CS soil zone exceeds six times the shaft’s radius. The theoretical velocity distribution of the movement of soil in the CS zone shows that the soil is dragged along with shaft in the near field (close to the shaft surface) and moves upwards in the far field.     

具彩色斑纹颅形贝在广西桂林下石炭统黄金组中的发现:兼论颅形贝属的地质地理分布

文中描述了产自广西桂林地区下石炭统黄金组下部的颅形贝属一新种,桂林颅形贝(Cranaena guilinensis)。新种以平直的前结合缘和背壳上发育中槽为特征。在4枚标本上发现保存有放射状的彩色条带,表明该种当时生活在温暖海域的浅水环境。对该属70个种的地质地理分布和生物多样性变化的初步分析表明,该属可能起源于早泥盆世欧美大陆西北缘的老世界区,之后的地理分布和生物多样性发展以北美地区为中心,经历了中泥盆世—晚泥盆世早期和早石炭世2次比较明显的辐射演化、迁移扩散高峰和晚泥盆世晚期的1次严重衰退。第1次高峰是中泥盆世—晚泥盆世早期,该属的生物多样性达到巅峰,生物地理分布范围扩大到欧美大陆之外的西伯利亚板块、哈萨克斯坦板块和华南板块等;第2次高峰是早石炭世,该属的生物多样性虽不及前一次,但获得了最广泛的地理分布,不仅在北方大陆有分布,而且已进入到冈瓦纳大陆边缘。晚泥盆世晚期该属的1次严重衰退显然与F/F灭绝事件有关。早石炭世之后,该属进入衰退阶段,最终在二叠纪初灭绝。     

Nouvelle interprétation tectonique de la montagne Sainte-Victoire (Provence,France)

The explanation normally given for the tectonics of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, a dozen kilometres east of Aix-en-Provence, to the north of the limestone Provence, is incorrect. To the east, the morphology of the Sainte-Victoire is subdued, whereas to the west, before the mountain breaks savagely, the morphology is that of a young mountain as appears in Alpine landscapes. This unusual aspect in the region and the large subvertical faults with vertically striated surfaces that mark the massif to the south and to the west, induce the idea of strong vertical uplifts and caste doubt on the tectonic interpretation given in 1962 by Corroy et al. According to those authors, the Sainte-Victoire is a unit of Jurassic and Cretaceous formations overthrusting 1800 m to the south conglomerates of the Late Cretaceous or Palaeocene. New observations about the conglomerate transgression over the Jurassic and Cretaceous beds, and about the faults around and on the massif do not give evidence of an overthrusting but, on the contrary, induce the idea of a uplift, perhaps still active, in the form of a ‘piano key’ inclined to the northeast. To cite this article: J. Ricour et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

中国中新元古代重要沉积地质事件及其意义

地球曾经历了3次超大陆演化过程,其中2次超大陆(哥伦比亚(Columbia)和罗迪尼亚(Rodinia))旋回涉及中新元古代,并与一系列区域性事件相联系,形成了多成因的超大陆演化模型。华北中东部新元古代沉积事件、扬子和塔里木新元古代裂谷事件、雪球事件等都被视为Rodinia超大陆的裂解响应,它们对定时三大陆块相互关系及定位其在全球超大陆的位置具有至关重要的作用,也反映了重要沉积地质事件在超大陆研究中不可或缺的作用和意义。此外,在中新元古代的Columbia和Rodinia超大陆演化过程中,还伴随发育具有广泛区域性甚至全球意义的巨厚白云岩与碳酸盐岩微生物(岩)、红层与黑色页岩、全球性臼齿亮晶碳酸盐岩和埃迪卡拉纪盖帽碳酸盐岩等沉积事件群及元素(同位素)漂移等地球化学异常事件,也包括特殊且重要的磷块岩、锰、铁矿等沉积成矿事件。由于不断显示出来在全球古大陆重建和古地理恢复方面的重要作用,它们越来越得到学术界的广泛关注和研究。文中通过系统分析中国中新元古代超大陆旋回演化中发育的部分重要或关键地质事件(群)时空发育与分布特征,并结合作者团队的实际资料和测试数据,以期揭示超大陆演化过程与重要沉积地质事件的内在联系,为超大陆聚散旋回演化和时空定位及原型沉积盆地的发育和评价提供科学证据。