白垩纪大火成岩省与地幔对流

白垩纪事件是全球非常明显和重要的一次地质突发事件,包括洋壳的超巨量形成,地磁正超时达41Ma之久(124~83 Ma),海水温度大幅度升高,黑色页岩沉积和石油形成的大量增长,海平面的快速上升,大气CO2水平的急剧升高,以及伴生的生物灭绝事件等。中—新生代的大火成岩省与冈瓦纳超大陆的裂解伴生,是超级地幔热柱产生的结果,而与欧亚超大陆的形成伴生分散火成岩省,是超级冷地幔下降流的结果,两者的联合构成全地幔对流的格局。全地幔对流模型为白垩纪地质演化、生物演化和环境演化的突变提供地球深部过程的约束。     

地球历史中的大火成岩省、地幔柱与成矿在成都召开

<正>大火成岩省(Large Igneous Provinces,简称LIPs)作为地球历史中的大规模板内岩浆事件,以巨量岩浆在1~5Ma期间内的快速喷发为特征,对地球的层圈分异和动力学演化、地壳生长、环境变化和生命大灭绝、成矿元素的迁移和富集等具有重要影响,是国际地学界长期关注的热点。"地球历史中的大火成岩省、地幔柱与成矿"国     

为什么要提出西藏东南部早白垩世措美大火成岩省

近年在西藏东南部特提斯喜马拉雅带东段大规模白垩纪火成岩受到了很多学者的关注。这里的火成岩岩石类型包括玄武岩、镁铁质岩墙/岩床、辉长岩侵入体以及少量层状超镁铁质岩和酸性火山岩。锆石U-Pb定年结果指示现今覆盖面积约50000km2的岩浆活动发生在130~136Ma(峰期约132Ma)之间。镁铁质岩显示OIB型(高Ti)、N-MORB型(低Ti)和过渡型(介于二者之间)三种地球化学类型,其中未受地壳混染的镁铁质岩的Sr-Nd同位素和锆石Hf同位素成分类似于Kerguelen地幔柱产物。在扣除堆晶橄榄石之后,通过橄榄石-熔体平衡计算,苦橄玢岩母岩浆的MgO含量约20%,对应的地幔潜温1560℃。西藏东南部白垩纪火成岩浆活动这种覆盖范围大、持续时间短和地幔潜温高等特征,非常类似于世界上其它地幔柱成因的大火成岩省或热点,因而将其描述和命名为措美(Comei)大火成岩省是合理的。年代学、地球化学和古地理重建资料显示藏南措美大火成岩省和南西澳大利亚同期的Bunbury玄武岩可能代表了同一个大火成岩省(即Comei-Bunbury大火成岩省)。Comei-Bunbury大火成岩省很可能记录了Kerguelen地幔柱在132Ma左右的早期岩浆作用,拉开了大印度从澳大利亚分离出来的序幕,影响了同期Weissert大洋缺氧事件的形成。     

亚洲3个大火成岩省(峨眉山、西伯利亚、德干)对比研究

峨眉山(～260 Ma)、西伯利亚(～250 Ma)和德干(～66 Ma)大陆溢流玄武岩是世界上3个重要的大火成岩省.大火成岩省至少具有4个通常被用于识别古地幔柱的标志:(1)先于岩浆作用的地表隆升;(2)与大陆裂谷化和裂解事件相伴;(3)与生物灭绝事件联系密切;(4)地幔柱源玄武岩的化学特征.虽然这3个大火成岩省都是来源于原始地幔柱,但是它们的地球化学特征有本质上的差异,反映其地幔柱曾与不同的上地幔库相互作用.(1)峨眉山和西伯利亚大陆溢流玄武岩的母岩浆,在上升过程中经受了与地球化学上和古老克拉通岩石圈地幔相同的上地幔库(EM1型幔源)的相互作用;(2)而德干大火成岩省没有受到地壳(或岩石圈)混染的原生玄武岩则显示地幔柱和EM2之间的Sr-Nd同位素变化.这种差异有可能制约了3个大火成岩省的成矿潜力.峨眉山和西伯利亚大火成岩省含有世界级岩浆矿床,而德干大火成岩省则不含矿.     

二叠纪地幔柱与地表系统演变

本文简要总结了国家重点基础研究发展计划项目《二叠纪地幔柱构造与地表系统演变》的主要研究进展:(1)峨眉山大火成岩省形成于~259 Ma,持续时间小于1 Ma,是地幔柱头熔融的产物;塔里木大火成岩省为多阶段喷发(~300,~290,280 Ma),持续时间超过20 Ma,是孕育地幔柱活动的产物。(2)利用综合地球物理方法发现峨眉山大火成岩省内带上下地壳界面"消失"、下地壳增厚且具高波速特征、岩石圈地幔减薄,是地幔柱熔融产物在地壳不同深度底侵和内侵的结果。(3)完善了大火成岩省岩浆矿床的形成机理,构建了地幔柱成矿系统的基本框架,提出地幔柱结构、岩浆源区特征、结晶分异过程、硫化物饱和、地壳混染和岩浆侵位过程等是地幔柱成矿的关键控制因素。(4)从相对和绝对时间角度确证了西伯利亚和峨眉山大火成岩省分别对应于二叠纪末(PTB)和瓜德鲁普统-乐平统界线(GLB)生物灭绝事件;重建了华南二叠-三叠纪海水温度和p H值的演变历史,使甄别二叠纪末生物大灭绝的直接诱因成为可能。     

西太平洋雅浦海沟地幔演化与岩浆作用研究进展

俯冲带地幔演化与岩浆作用是地球各固体圈层之间发生物质和能量交换的重要地质过程.西太平洋雅浦海沟因其极短的沟-弧距离和洋脊碰撞等独特的地质构造特征成为研究复杂条件下俯冲带演化的理想场所.为了探究雅浦海沟地幔演化与岩浆作用,本文将前人对雅浦海沟火成岩的研究数据进行整合,分析了雅浦海沟火成岩的成因,并根据火成岩形成的制约条件,对卡罗琳板块俯冲到菲律宾海板块的地幔演化与岩浆作用过程进行了讨论.结果显示雅浦海沟火成岩均具有与俯冲相关火成岩的典型特征.橄榄岩地球化学特征指示雅浦海沟地幔熔融程度为20%~25%,地幔在部分熔融过程中受到了流体与熔体的双重交代作用.Re-Os同位素特征指示雅浦海沟地幔中存在约1.16 Ga非常古老的残余地幔,表明地幔可能经历过多期熔融事件,从而导致雅浦海沟地幔非常亏损.雅浦岛弧成因至今仍存争议,主要包括:(1)现今雅浦岛弧为帕里希维拉海盆洋壳的一部分,在中新世因卡罗琳洋脊的碰撞导致帕里希维拉海盆洋壳逆冲到原雅浦岛弧之上.(2)雅浦岛弧在不同构造时期经历过多期岛弧岩浆作用,包括俯冲初始阶段(~52 Ma)的弧前玄武岩、俯冲开始后的岛弧玄武岩(~25 Ma)、与卡罗琳洋脊碰撞(21 Ma)后的岛弧拉斑玄武岩(7~11 Ma).其中7~11 Ma的岛弧拉斑玄武岩指示雅浦岛弧岩浆活动并未因卡罗琳洋脊的碰撞完全停止,很有可能在晚中新世短暂恢复活动.      

塔里木早二叠世大火成岩省的时空特征和岩浆动力学

塔里木早二叠世大火成岩省是继峨眉山大火成岩省之后在中国境内发现的又一个二叠纪大火成岩省。近十多年来,对塔里木大火成岩省及其与地幔柱和大规模成矿的关系受到极大关注。本文结合近年来国内外的最新研究进展,对塔里木大火成岩省的时空分布、岩石地球化学特征、成因演化和动力学过程以及成矿潜力进行综述。塔里木大火成岩省的残余分布面积达25万km2,岩石类型主要有大陆溢流玄武岩(分布广泛),长英质火山岩类(主要分布在塔里木盆地的北部)和基性-超基性及中酸性侵入岩类等(主要出露于巴楚、巴什索贡和皮羌等地区)。该大火成岩省事件的岩浆活动时间主要集中在292~285 Ma(玄武岩和第一期长英质火山岩类形成阶段)和284~274 Ma(侵入岩类、含钒钛磁铁矿床和第二期长英质火山岩类形成阶段)。系统和深入的岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb同位素研究表明,塔里木大火成岩省从早期喷发的玄武岩到晚期的侵入岩类具有明显不同的地球化学特征,指示其岩浆源区发生了从富集岩石圈地幔来源到地幔柱来源的明显转变。结合相关的地质学和岩石学证据及铂族元素(PGEs)等研究,提出了一个上涌的地幔柱不断向位于岩石圈地幔底部的岩浆源区注入亏损地幔物质、持续改变其同位素地球化学特征并最终形成塔里木大火成岩省各主要岩石类型的岩浆演化新模型。最后,巴楚瓦吉里塔格含钒钛磁铁矿的存在也表明在塔里木大火成岩省中具有找寻大型钒钛磁铁矿床的潜力。     

“白垩纪重大地质事件与地球系统”国际学术研讨会将于2006年9月3—5日在中国北京举行

白垩纪被认为是地史时期地球系统研究的典型范例时期，曾发生若干重大地质事件，如大型火成岩省、超静磁期、大洋缺氧、大洋红层、海洋与陆地生物演替等事件。开展白垩纪全球变化研究，能为当今世界面临的全球变暖等问题提供有益借鉴，因而得到国际学术界的高度重视。     

大火成岩省是地幔柱作用引起的吗?

自Morgan在1971年提出地幔柱假说来解释大洋岛链的火山迁移规律以来,对于地幔柱是否存在一直存在着争论。大火成岩省以短时间内的巨量喷发为特征,这种特殊现象一般被认为是地幔柱作用的结果,原因是它可以解释大火成岩省中的许多现象:(1)短时间内的巨量幔源岩浆;(2)喷发前>500 m的隆起;(3)高温苦橄岩和科马提岩的存在;(4)热点轨迹;(5)在没有挥发分和压力降低的条件下地幔发生熔融;(6)高的3He/4He比值。但是并不是所有大火成岩省都具有上述特征,而且上述现象有的也可以用其他机制来解释,如边缘对流、大规模岩石圈拆沉、裂谷减压和陨石撞击等。但是目前还没有一个模式可以解释所有大火成岩省的所有现象,而总体上大火成岩省的许多地质现象与地幔柱模式较为吻合。     

中国东部燕山期大火成岩省:岩浆-构造-资源-环境效应

中国东部燕山期的大规模岩浆活动,即侏罗纪—白垩纪(150—100 Ma)的碱性流纹岩-碱性玄武岩-金伯利岩-钾镁煌斑岩-碳酸岩及其管道系统,分布于江南造山带内侧和郯庐断裂带南段以西的华北地台内,累积面积超过30万km2.该期短时限内大规模活动的岩浆事件代表了中国东部地质历史演化中的一次大火成岩省(LIP)事件,实质控制着中生代以来中国华北—扬子地台的构造格局变化、资源能源形成与地质环境变迁.晚侏罗世—早白垩世(150—100 Ma)的大火成岩省,是中生代中期古太平洋大火成岩省沿中国克拉通东部边缘活动的一部分,是包括昂通爪哇(Ongtong-Java)(Mahoney et al.,1993;Ingle and Coffin,2004)—中国东部在内的超级地幔柱上涌,在岩石圈板片对流,挤压地幔物质快速上升,引起陆域内长英质地壳物质大规模重熔的结果,形成:(1)髫髻山组—张家口组碱性流纹质-玄武质双峰式火山岩及其管道系统,与华北大规模金-多金属矿成矿作用密切相关;(2)辽宁瓦房店—山东蒙阴—安徽栏杆,湖南宁乡—贵州镇远一带的金伯利岩—钾镁煌斑岩±碳酸岩±基性超基性杂岩及其管道系统,与金刚石、金-铂族元素等成矿关系密切;(3)辽东—胶东半岛、南岭—滇黔桂交界地区的连片花岗岩,是硅质大火成岩省(SLIP)的管道系统(plumbing systems),与金刚石矿、金-铂族元素矿、钨锡铌钽矿、锂-钾-铷-铯-铀矿等,以及油气等战略性关键金属成矿关系密切.同时,巨型岩浆作用引发的富含钾、磷及稀土等微量元素的基岩形成优质土壤层对生态多样性的助益等有利和/或有害的环境效应,直接关系到地球家园的生态环境.因此,中国东部燕山期大火成岩省产生深刻的岩浆-构造-资源-环境效应.     

塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪大火成岩省的两类地幔源区

对塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪玄武质岩石地质、年龄、元素地球化学、同位素组成的系统总结表明,二叠纪火成岩在分布面积、岩石类型(以玄武岩占绝对优势)、活动时间(以275Ma左右为峰期)等方面均与世界典型的大火成岩省一致,将其命名为巴楚大火成岩省(Bachu LIP)。元素和同位素地球化学特征表明,塔里木玄武岩来自长期富集的岩石圈地幔,来源深度为60～80km。塔里木基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩的原始岩浆可能来自软流圈地幔(OIB)部分熔融。中亚造山带西段的玄武岩、基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩主要来自被俯冲带熔体交代的强烈亏损的岩石圈地幔,其中部分地区可能有软流圈物质的加入,如东天山和阿勒泰南缘高Ti系列的玄武质岩石。根据元素和同位素地球化学资料,将巴楚大火成岩省分为2个地幔省(mantledomain),即塔里木省和中亚省。这2个不同地幔省的成矿系列也有显著的差异,塔里木省为钒-钛磁铁矿矿床,而中亚则以铜-镍-(铂族金属)硫化物矿床为主,成矿作用的差异和岩浆地幔源区的差异是完全对应的。综合地质、地球化学和成矿作用,认为巴楚大火成岩省的形成和二叠纪地幔柱密切相关。     

华北古陆的形成与构造演化史

以华北古陆为例，论述了地球演化史中经历的三大阶段：（１）古陆的形成阶段（４６００～１８００Ｍａ）：地球形成早期，以地幔对流为主导作用，到早太古宙出现初始古陆核，地幔对流驱动的地体拼贴和板底垫托是陆壳形成的主要方式；中太古宙开始出现一定规模的坳陷盆地，发育了基性火山岩 碎屑岩 镁质碳酸盐岩等表壳岩，同时伴随着大量中基性、花岗质岩浆活动；晚太古宙和早元古宙是陆壳形成的主要时期，并已具现今板块活动特征。地幔热柱与板块构造共同控制着地壳运动。（２）古陆稳定发展阶段（１８００～２５０Ｍａ）：地幔热柱活动较弱，古陆主要表现为缓慢的升降运动（造陆运动）。（３）地球新活动时期（２５０Ｍａ至今）：地幔热柱活动进入一个新的活跃时期。岩石圈发生明显的热减薄，地幔热柱表现为多级演化，并导致盆岭系的形成。     

塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪大火成岩省的两类地幔源区

对塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪玄武质岩石地质、年龄、元素地球化学、同位素组成的系统总结表明,二叠纪火成岩在分布面积、岩石类型(以玄武岩占绝对优势)、活动时间(以275Ma左右为峰期)等方面均与世界典型的大火成岩省一致,将其命名为巴楚大火成岩省(Bachu LIP)。元素和同位素地球化学特征表明,塔里木玄武岩来自长期富集的岩石圈地幔,来源深度为60~80km。塔里木基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩的原始岩浆可能来自软流圈地幔(OIB)部分熔融。中亚造山带西段的玄武岩、基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩主要来自被俯冲带熔体交代的强烈亏损的岩石圈地幔,其中部分地区可能有软流圈物质的加入,如东天山和阿勒泰南缘高Ti系列的玄武质岩石。根据元素和同位素地球化学资料,将巴楚大火成岩省分为2个地幔省(mantle domain),即塔里木省和中亚省。这2个不同地幔省的成矿系列也有显著的差异,塔里木省为钒-钛磁铁矿矿床,而中亚则以铜-镍-(铂族金属)硫化物矿床为主,成矿作用的差异和岩浆地幔源区的差异是完全对应的。综合地质、地球化学和成矿作用,认为巴楚大火成岩省的形成和二叠纪地幔柱密切相关。     

Large igneous provinces (LIPs) and carbonatites

There is increasing evidence that many carbonatites are linked both spatially and temporally with large igneous provinces (LIPs), i.e. high volume, short duration, intraplate-type, magmatic events consisting mainly of flood basalts and their plumbing systems (of dykes, sills and layered intrusions). Examples of LIP-carbonatite associations include: i. the 66 Ma Deccan flood basalt province associated with the Amba Dongar, Sarnu-Dandali (Barmer), and Mundwara carbonatites and associated alkali rocks, ii. the 130 Ma Paraná-Etendeka (e.g. Jacupiranga, Messum); iii. the 250 Ma Siberian LIP that includes a major alkaline province, Maimecha-Kotui with numerous carbonatites, iv. the ca. 370 Ma Kola Alkaline Province coeval with basaltic magmatism widespread in parts of the East European craton, and v. the 615–555 Ma CIMP (Central Iapetus Magmatic Province) of eastern Laurentia and western Baltica. In the Superior craton, Canada, a number of carbonatites are associated with the 1114–1085 Ma Keweenawan LIP and some are coeval with the pan-Superior 1880 Ma mafic-ultramafic magmatism. In addition, the Phalaborwa and Shiel carbonatites are associated with the 2055 Ma Bushveld event of the Kaapvaal craton. The frequency of this LIP-carbonatite association suggests that LIPs and carbonatites might be considered as different evolutionary ‘pathways’ in a single magmatic process/system. The isotopic mantle components FOZO, HIMU, EM1 but not DMM, along with primitive noble gas signatures in some carbonatites, suggest a sub-lithospheric mantle source for carbonatites, consistent with a plume/asthenospheric upwelling origin proposed for many LIPs.     

Revised definition of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs)

Much has been learned about Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and their database greatly expanded since their first formal categorization in the early 1990s. This progress provides an opportunity to review the key characteristics that distinguish LIP events from other melting events of the upper mantle, and to reassess and revise how we define LIPs. A precise definition is important to correctly recognize those LIP events with regional to global effects, and to aid in refining petrogenetic models of the origin of LIPs. We revise the definition of LIPs as follows: “Large Igneous Provinces are magmatic provinces with areal extents > 0.1 Mkm², igneous volumes > 0.1 Mkm³ and maximum lifespans of ～ 50 Myr that have intraplate tectonic settings or geochemical affinities, and are characterised by igneous pulse(s) of short duration (～ 1–5 Myr), during which a large proportion (> 75%) of the total igneous volume has been emplaced.” They are dominantly mafic, but also can have significant ultramafic and silicic components, and some are dominated by silicic magmatism. In this revision, seamounts, seamount groups, submarine ridges and anomalous seafloor crust are no longer considered as LIPs. Although many of these are spatially-related features post-dating a LIP event, they are constructed by long-lived melting anomalies in the mantle at lower emplacement rates, and contrast with the more transient, high magma emplacement rate characteristics of the LIP event. Many LIPs emplaced in both continental and oceanic realms, are split and rifted apart by new ridge spreading centres, which reinforce the link with mid-ocean ridges as a post-LIP event. Three new types of igneous provinces are now included in the LIP inventory, to accommodate the recognition of a greater diversity of igneous compositions, and preserved expressions of LIP events since the Archean: 1) giant diabase/dolerite continental dyke swarm, sill and mafic–ultramafic intrusion-dominated provinces; 2) Silicic LIPs; and 3) tholeiite–komatiite associations, which may be Archean examples of LIPs. A revised global distribution of LIPs for the Phanerozoic is presented. Establishing the full extent of LIPs requires well-constrained plate reconstructions, and at present, plate reconstructions for the Precambrian are poorly known. However, the possibility of reconstructing the LIP record back to and into the Archean and using this expanded LIP record to better constrain the origins and effects of LIPs is an exciting frontier, and our revised definition is a contribution to that effort.     

Conditioned duality between supercontinental 'assembly' and 'breakup' LIPs

A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs) across southern Africa,is compared to Earth's supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents,rather than during breakup.This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships,where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs;whereas,the remaining postassembly-and likely breakup-related-LIPs never share such associations.Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types,only the two younger breakup events(the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite) produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures;whereas,all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric,as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric,signatures.A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins,compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP,is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles.Thus,further accentuating radical differences between(1) breakup LIPs,preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens,and(2) assembly LIPs,typically emplaced along backarc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors.A conditioned duality is proposed,where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing(as well as local arc hydration and rifting) below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes.Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces(LLSVPs) during assembly LIP-activity,and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth's core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.     

Frontiers in large igneous province research

Earth history is punctuated by events during which large volumes of mafic magmas were generated and emplaced by processes distinct from “normal” seafloor spreading and subduction-related magmatism. Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age are the best preserved, and comprise continental flood basalts, volcanic rifted margins, oceanic plateaus, ocean basin flood basalts, submarine ridges, ocean islands and seamount chains. Paleozoic and Proterozoic LIPs are typically more deeply eroded and are recognized by their exposed plumbing system of giant dyke swarms, sill provinces and layered intrusions. The most promising Archean LIP candidates (apart from the Fortescue and Ventersdorp platformal flood basalts) are those greenstone belts containing tholeiites with minor komatiites. Some LIPs have a substantial component of felsic rocks. Many LIPs can be linked to regional-scale uplift, continental rifting and breakup, climatic shifts that may result in extinction events, and Ni–Cu–PGE (platinum group element) ore deposits.

Some current frontiers in LIP research include:

(1) Testing various mantle plume and alternative hypotheses for the origin for LIPs.

(2) Characterizing individual LIPs in terms of (a) original volume and areal extent of their combined extrusive and intrusive components, (b) melt production rates, (c) plumbing system geometry, (d) nature of the mantle source region, and (e) links with ore deposits.

(3) Determining the distribution of LIPs in time (from Archean to Present) and in space (after continental reconstruction). This will allow assessment of proposed links between LIPs and supercontinent breakup, juvenile crust production, climatic excursions, and mass extinctions. It will also allow an evaluation of periodicity in the LIP record, the identification of clusters of LIPs, and postulated links with the reversal frequency of the Earth's magnetic field.

(4) Comparing the characteristics, origin and distribution of LIPs on Earth with planets lacking plate tectonics, such as Venus and Mars. Interplanetary comparison may also provide a better understanding of convective processes in the mantles of the inner planets.

In order to achieve rapid progress in these frontier areas, a global campaign is proposed, which would focus on high-precision geochronology, integrated with paleomagnetism and geochemistry. Most fundamentally, such a campaign could help hasten the determination of continental configurations in the Precambrian back to 2.5 Ga or greater. Such reconstructions are vital for the proper assessment of the LIP record, as well as providing first-order information related to all geodynamic processes.     

大火成岩省与大规模黑色页岩沉积的成因联系及其意义

大火成岩省对全球性大气-海洋环境的巨变及生物灭绝有非常重要的影响。已有研究结果表明,显生宙（即寒武纪以来）大火成岩省与全球大洋缺氧与生物灭绝有明显的成因联系,显生宙国际地质年代表中多个金钉子均与以大火成岩省、黑色页岩及生物灭绝为代表的全球性地质事件相对应。但由于对前寒武纪,特别是"地球中年期"（18~8亿年,"枯燥的10亿年"）大气氧浓度、海洋的氧化-还原状态及生物门类及演化认识的局限性,关于前寒武纪大火成岩省与环境的影响及其与黑色页岩沉积的成因联系一直很不清楚。通过对全球哥伦比亚（奴那）超大陆中约13.8亿年全球性大火成岩省及黑色页岩沉积时空分布的研究,发现这些大火成岩省及黑色页岩的分布有明显的规律。约13.8亿年大火成岩省广泛分布在北美、格陵兰、西伯利亚、波罗地、卡拉哈里、刚果、西非、亚马逊、南极及西澳大利亚等大陆上;而同期的黑色页岩在华北及北澳大利亚克拉通广泛分布,在西伯利亚、巴西及印度等克拉通也有分布。根据这些黑色页岩在超大陆重建图中的空间分布,提出了哥伦比亚（奴那）超大陆中这些广泛分布的约13.8亿年黑色页岩可能沉积于连通的大型海相盆地,而不是以往所认为的局部封闭的小盆地。通过约13.8亿年大火成岩省与黑色页岩内火山灰（斑脱岩）年龄的对比,进一步提出约13.8亿年存在一次与全球性大火成岩省有关的大洋缺氧事件,以此期大火成岩省与黑色页岩为代表的全球性地质事件为中元古代盖层系与延展系提供了精确的界限年龄为1383 Ma。初步的研究结果还显示,"地球中年期"可能还有多期的大火成岩省与黑色页岩沉积有时空联系,有望为晚前寒武纪地质年代表划分提供新的事件约束。