Analysis of structural deformation in the North Dabashan thrust belt,South Qinling,central China

The North Dabashan thrust belt, which is located in South Qinling, is bounded by the Ankang fault on the north and the Chengkou–Fangxian fault on the south. The North Dabashan thrust belt experienced multiple stages of structural deformation that were controlled by three palaeostress fields. The first structural event (Middle Triassic) involved NNW–SSE shortening and resulted in the formation of numerous dextral strike-slip structures along the entire Chengkou–Fangxian fault zone and within the North Dabashan thrust belt, which suggests that the South China Block moved to the NW and was obliquely subducted under the North China Block. The second structural event (Late Triassic–Early Jurassic) involved NE–SW shortening that formed NW–SE-trending structures in the North Dabashan thrust belt. The third structural event (Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous) involved ENE–WSW or nearly E–W shortening and resulted in additional thrusting of the North Dabashan thrust belt to the WSW and formation of the WSW-convex Chengkou–Fangxian fault zone, which has an oroclinal shape. Owing to the pinning of the Hannan massif and Shennongjia massif culminations, numerous sinistral strike-slip structures developed along the eastern Chengkou–Fangxian fault zone and were superimposed over the early dextral strike-slip structures.     

Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic Intrusions Distribution in the North Sanjiang Orogenic Belt, Southwest China: Evidence from Zircon U–Pb Dating and Geochemistry

A mosaic of terranes or blocks and associated Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic sutures are characteristics of the north Sanjiang orogenic belt (NSOB). A detailed field study and sampling across the three magmatic belts in north Sanjiang orogenic belt, which are the Jomda–Weixi magmatic belt, the Yidun magmatic belt and the Northeast Lhasa magmatic belt, yield abundant data that demonstrate multiphase magmatism took place during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. 9 new zircon LA–ICP–MS U–Pb ages and 160 published geochronological data have identified five continuous episodes of magma activities in the NSOB from the Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic: the Late Permian to Early Triassic (c. 261–230 Ma); the Middle to Late Triassic (c. 229–210 Ma); the Early to Middle Jurassic (c. 206–165 Ma); the Early Cretaceous (c. 138–110 Ma) and the Late Cretaceous (c. 103–75 Ma). 105 new and 830 published geochemical data reveal that the intrusive rocks in different episodes have distinct geochemical compositions. The Late Permian to Early Triassic intrusive rocks are all distributed in the Jomda–Weixi magmatic belt, showing arc–like characteristics; the Middle to Late Triassic intrusive rocks widely distributed in both Jomda–Weixi and Yidun magmatic belts, also demonstrating volcanic–arc granite features; the Early to Middle Jurassic intrusive rocks are mostly exposed in the easternmost Yidun magmatic belt and scattered in the westernmost Yangtza Block along the Garzê–Litang suture, showing the properties of syn–collisional granite; nearly all the Early Cretaceous intrusive rocks distributed in the NE Lhasa magmatic belt along Bangong suture, exhibiting both arc–like and syn–collision–like characteristics; and the Late Cretaceous intrusive rocks mainly exposed in the westernmost Yidun magmatic belt, with A–type granite features. These suggest that the co–collision related magmatism in Indosinian period developed in the central and eastern parts of NSOB while the Yanshan period co–collision related magmatism mainly occurred in the west area. In detail, the earliest magmatism developed in late Permian to Triassic and formed the Jomda–Wei magmatic belt, then magmatic activity migrated eastwards and westwards, forming the Yidun magmatic bellt, the magmatism weakend at the end of late Triassic, until the explosure of the magmatic activity occurred in early Cretaceous in the west NSOB, forming the NE Lhasa magmatic belt. Then the magmatism migrated eastwards and made an impact on the within–plate magmatism in Yidun magmatic belt in late Cretaceous.     

150 Million year history of North China Craton disruption preserved in Mesozoic sediments of the Ordos basin

ABSTRACT

The Ordos Basin, situated in the western part of the North China Craton, preserves the 150-million-year history of North China Craton disruption. Those sedimentary sources from Late Triassic to early Middle Jurassic are controlled by the southern Qinling orogenic belt and northern Yinshan orogenic belt. The Middle and Late Jurassic deposits are received from south, north, east, and west of the Ordos Basin. The Cretaceous deposits are composed of aeolian deposits, probably derived from the plateau to the east. The Ordos Basin records four stages of volcanism in the Mesozoic–Late Triassic (230–220 Ma), Early Jurassic (176 Ma), Middle Jurassic (161 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (132 Ma). Late Triassic and Early Jurassic tuff develop in the southern part of the Ordos Basin, Middle Jurassic in the northeastern part, while Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks have a banding distribution along the eastern part. Mesozoic tectonic evolution can be divided into five stages according to sedimentary and volcanic records: Late Triassic extension in a N–S direction (230–220 Ma), Late Triassic compression in a N–S direction (220–210 Ma), Late Triassic–Early Jurassic–Middle Jurassic extension in a N–S direction (210–168 Ma), Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous compression in both N–S and E–W directions (168–136 Ma), and Early Cretaceous extension in a NE–SW direction (136–132 Ma).     

中、上扬子北部盆-山系统演化与动力学机制

中国南方中生代经历了中国大陆最终主体拼合的陆缘及其之后的陆内构造演化。晚古生代末期,在秦岭—大别山微板块与扬子板块之间存在向西张口的洋盆,即勉略古洋盆。中三叠世末期开始,扬子板块相对于华北板块发生自南东向北西的斜向俯冲碰撞作用,扬子北缘晚三叠世至中侏罗世发育陆缘前陆褶皱逆冲带与前陆盆地系统。晚侏罗世至早白垩世,中国东部的大地构造背景发生了重要的构造转变,中、上扬子地区处于三面围限会聚的大地构造背景。在这种大地构造格局下,中、上扬子地区晚侏罗世至早白垩世发育陆内联合、复合构造与具前渊沉降的克拉通内盆地系统。自中侏罗世末期开始,扬子北缘前陆带与雪峰山—幕阜山褶皱逆冲带经历了自东向西的会聚变形过程及盆地的自东向西的迁移过程和收缩过程。扬子北缘相对华北板块的斜向俯冲导致在中扬子北缘的深俯冲及超高压变质岩的形成。俯冲之后以郯庐断裂—襄广断裂围限的大别山超高压变质地块在晚侏罗世向南强逆冲,致使扬子北缘晚三叠世至中侏罗世前陆盆地被掩覆和改造。     

Clasts of high-grade Sanbagawa schist in Middle Eocene conglomerates from the Kuma Group, central Shikoku, south-west Japan

Middle Eocene conglomerates which overlie the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks contain clasts of metamorphic rock with isotope ages of 120-85 Ma, which fall within the age range reported from the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks. They were derived from the chlorite to oligoclase zones of the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt. Clasts of garnet amphibolite and oligoclase-biotite schist show a mineral assemblage similar to the highest grade Sanbagawa schists. However, the metamorphic temperatures estimated by various mineralogical thermometers show that some of the clasts were formed at higher temperatures than the in situ Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks. Such higher grade rocks were at the surface by the Middle Eocene and for the most part they have been eroded away. Cretaceous and post-Cretaceous sediments overlie, or are in fault contact with, the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks which suggests that rocks in the belt were uplifted and eroded from the latest Cretaceous to Middle Eocene time after strike-slip movement along the Median Tectonic Line. Since the Middle Eocene, the belt has experienced relatively slow uplift which was locally around 2 km in central Shikoku.     

Kinematics of the Central Taurides during Neotethys closure and collision, the nappes in the Sultan Mountains, Turkey

In the Central Taurides, the Sultan Mountains comprise in ascending order the Çimendere unit and the Ak?ehir, Do?anhisar, Çay nappes composed of metasedimentary sequences deposited from Cambrian to Tertiary. The overthrust of the Çay nappe on the Lutetian Celepta? formation representing the uppermost stratigraphic position in the Çimendere unit indicates that the latest nappe emplacement occurred during the Middle Eocene. The Oligocene and Miocene rocks are in post-tectonic facies in the west Central Taurides. The kinematic data from these nappes related to closure of the Neotethys reveal a top-NE shear sense in the northwest part and a top-SE shear sense in the southeast part of the Sultan Mountains. The Sultan Mountains are located in the north part of the Isparta Angle which was tectonically assembled by the Lycian, Hoyran–Bey?ehir–Hadim and Antalya allochthons on the Bey Da?lar? and Anamas–Akseki autochthons from the Latest Cretaceous to the Late Pliocene. The previous paleomagnetic data showed that the west and east subsections of the Isparta Angle were subjected to post-Eocene 30°–40° anticlockwise and clockwise rotations, respectively. In consideration of these paleomagnetic data, the kinematic data measured in the Sultan Mountains might be restored into approximately E–W-trending linear fabric associated with a top-E shear sense. These new kinematic data from the nappes in the Sultan Mountains disagree with the existing tectonic models that suggest N–S nappe translation over the Central Taurides during the latest Cretaceous–Middle Eocene. The alternative tectonic model for the Antalya nappes in the core of the Isparta Angle related to east–west compression suggests westward and eastward nappe emplacements on the surrounding autochthons. However, the new kinematic data presented here point consistently to a top-E shear sense in all tectonostratigraphic units in the Sultan Mountains currently located in the north part of the Anamas–Akseki autochthon.     

Late Cretaceous Transpressional Fault System: A Case Study of the Yishu Fault Belt, Shandong Province, Eastern China

On the basis of field observations of the structures of three profiles from the Linshu region, deformation characteristics and the tectonic background of the Yishu fault belt in the Late Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic have been discussed in detail.Three structural profiles, whose deformations consist mainly of earlier transpressional faults and later normal faults, were developed for the Mengtuan Formation of the Lower Cretaceous Dasheng Group.Typical positive flower structures, duplex structures, and break-through faults were found in these profiles.On the basis of analyses of the structural deformation and previous geochronological studies, it was concluded that the earlier transpressional faults of the profiles were triggered by the sinistral transpression of the Yishu fault belt in the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleogene, and that the later normal faults, formed during the Late Paleogene–Neogene extension, truncated the earlier transpressional faults.With consideration of the tectonic evolution of the Tan-Lu fault belt and the different drift directions of the Pacific plate since the Cretaceous, we suggest that the major tectonic events of the Late Cretaceous–Neogene in eastern China were mainly controlled by the subduction of the Pacific plate.     

南天山造山带的同碰撞和碰撞后构造——塔里木盆地北部地震解释成果

南天山位于中亚造山带的南缘,是一条增生—碰撞型造山带。其碰撞造山的时间,是中亚造山带研究的一个关键构造问题,引起广泛的关注。以往关于碰撞造山的时间证据,基本上都来自造山带自身,即南天山前新生界露头区。前陆区广泛覆盖着巨厚的新生界,无法直接考察,很少从前陆区碰撞相关构造的角度研究南天山碰撞造山的时间。塔里木盆地北部是南天山碰撞造山带的前陆区。经认真系统地解释这里的地震资料,发现了南天山碰撞造山带的同碰撞构造和碰撞后构造。同碰撞造构造由二叠纪末—三叠纪冲断层及其相关褶皱组成。三叠系/二叠系和侏罗系/三叠系两个不整合给出了二叠纪末—三叠纪初和三叠纪末—侏罗纪初两期挤压冲断的时间。造山后构造为侏罗纪—白垩纪正断层组成。正断层活动起始于三叠纪末—侏罗纪初,持续至白垩纪中期。根据同碰撞构造和碰撞后构造的形成时间推论,南天山碰撞造山作用起始于二叠纪末,结束于三叠纪末;侏罗纪—白垩纪中期为造山后应力松弛构造演化阶段。     

Structural Evolution and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Upper Paleozoic Northern Ordos Basin, North China

The hydrocarbon potential of the Hangjinqi area in the northern Ordos Basin is not well known, compared to the other areas of the basin, despite its substantial petroleum system.Restoration of a depth-converted seismic profile across the Hangjinqi Fault Zone(HFZ) in the eastern Hangjinqi area shows one compression that created anticlinal structures in the Late Triassic, and two extensions in ~Middle Jurassic and Late Early Cretaceous, which were interrupted by inversions in the Late Jurassic–Early Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous, respectively.Hydrocarbon generation at the well locations in the Central Ordos Basin(COB) began in the Late Triassic.Basin modeling of Well Zhao-4 suggests that hydrocarbon generation from the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian coal measures of the northern Shanbei Slope peaked in the Early Cretaceous, predating the inversion in the Late Cretaceous.Most source rocks in the Shanbei Slope passed the main gas-migration phase except for the Hangjinqi area source rocks(Well Jin-48).Hydrocarbons generated from the COB are likely to have migrated northward toward the anticlinal structures and traps along the HFZ because the basin-fill strata are dipping south.Faulting that continued during the extensional phase(Late Early Cretaceous) of the Hangjinqi area probably acted as conduits for the migration of hydrocarbons.Thus, the anticlinal structures and associated traps to the north of the HFZ might have trapped hydrocarbons that were charged from the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian coal measures in the COB since the Middle Jurassic.     

Structures of the late palaeozoic thrust belt in the Chinese South Tian Shan

Aiming to resolve contradictions in tectonic models and to establish a correlation between Chinese and Kyrgyz sectors of the South Tian Shan we carried out stratigraphic and structural studies in Chinese part of the belt along the Bayinbuluk—Kuqa transect. New data indicate that Chinese South Tian Shan is dominated by top-to-the-south structures, which were formed during the latest Carboniferous and Early Permian. Major allochthons of the Devonian carbonates, thrusted on the Gzhelian and Asselian turbidites, are revealed in the northern part of the belt. Imbricated thrust packages and recumbent folds in deeper marine Devonian and Carboniferous rocks are common in the South. Postkinematic granites yield U-Pb ages of 285–275 Ma, which indicate that thrust deformation ceased by the middle of the Early Permian. The same direction of motion and similar age of deformations in Kyrgyz and Chinese sectors of the South Tian Shan prove, that top-to-the-south structures were formed during the same structural episode, which corresponds to the main collisional stage within entire belt.     

Sedimentary provenance of the Hengyang and Mayang basins,SE China,and implications for the Mesozoic topographic change in South China Craton: Evidence from detrital zircon geochronology

Detrital zircon U–Pb data from sedimentary rocks in the Hengyang and Mayang basins, SE China reveal a change in basin provenance during or after Early Cretaceous. The results imply a provenance of the sediment from the North China Craton and Dabie Orogen for the Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic sandstones and from the Indosinian granitic plutons in the South China Craton for the Lower Cretaceous sandstones. The 90–120 Ma age group in the Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Hengyang Basin is correlated with Cretaceous volcanism along the southeastern margin of South China, suggesting a coastal mountain belt have existed during the Late Cretaceous. The sediment provenance of the basins and topographic evolution revealed by the geochronological data in this study are consistent with a Mesozoic tectonic setting from Early Mesozoic intra-continental compression through late Mesozoic Pacific Plate subduction in SE China.     

Sedimentary response to the intracontinental orogenic process: insight from the anatomy of a small Mesozoic basin in western Yanshan,northern North China

ABSTRACT

The intra-continental orogeny and tectonic evolution of the Mesozoic Yanshan fold-thrust belt (YFTB) in the northern North China Craton (NCC) have been strongly debated. Here, we focus on the Shangyi basin, located in the centre of the YFTB. An integrated analysis of sedimentary facies, palaeocurrents, clast compositions, and detrital zircon dating of sediments was adopted to determine the palaeogeography, provenance, basin evolution, and intra-continental orogenic process. The Shangyi basin comprises the well-exposed Early–early Middle Jurassic Xiahuayuan Formation and the Longmen Formation, and the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Tuchengzi Formation. Based on the 18 measured sections, five facies associations – including alluvial fan, fluvial, delta, lacustrine, and eolian facies – have been identified and described in detail. The onset of the Shangyi basin was filled with fluvial, deltaic, and lacustrine deposits controlled by the normal fault bounding the northern basin, corresponding to the pre-orogeny. In the Middle Jurassic, the cobble–boulder conglomerates of alluvial fan, as molasse deposits, were compatible with the syn-orogeny of the Yanshan movement, which played a critical role in northern North China and even East Asia. After the depositional break in the Middle–Late Jurassic, the Shangyi basin, controlled by the normal fault present in the north of the basin, re-subsided and quickly expanded southward with thick sedimentation, which is correlative with the post-orogeny. Combined with A-type granites, metamorphic core complexes, mafic dikes, and rift basins of the Late Jurassic–early Early Cretaceous present in the northern NCC and Mongolia, significant extension was widespread in the northern NCC and even in northeast Asia. Moreover, vertical changes of provenance indicate that the Taihang Mountain and the Inner Mongolia palaeo-uplift (IMPU) present at the west and north of the basin, respectively, experienced uplift twice in the Middle–Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, resulting in a regional depositional break.     

Kinematics of the Guerrero terrane accretion in the Sierra de Guanajuato,central Mexico: new insights for the structural evolution of arc–continent collisional zones

The Guerrero terrane comprises Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous arc successions that were accreted to the North American craton in the late Early Cretaceous, producing closure of the Arperos oceanic basin and the formation of an approximately 100 km-wide fold–thrust belt. Such a suture is key to investigating the structural evolution related to Guerrero terrane accretion and, in general, to arc–continent collisional zones. The Sierra de Guanajuato is an exposure of the Guerrero terrane suture belt and consists of a complex tectonic pile that formed through at least three major shortening phases: D1SG, D2SG, and D3SG (SG, Sierra de Guanajuato). During the D1SG and D2SG phases, the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous successions of the Arperos Basin piled up, forming a doubly vergent imbricate fan of thrust sheets that accommodated substantial NE–SW shortening. Mylonite microtextures, as well as syntectonic minerals, indicate that the D1SG and D2SG deformation events took place under low greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions. We relate these deformation phases to the progressive NE migration of the Guerrero terrane, which triggered the collapse and closure of the Arperos Basin. During D3SG, the El Paxtle arc assemblage of the Guerrero terrane was tectonically emplaced onto the previously deformed successions of the Arperos Basin. However, D3SG structures indicate that during this deformational stage, the main shortening direction was oriented NW–SE and that contraction was accommodated mostly by SE-vergent ductile thrusts formed under low greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions. We suggest that the top-to-the-SE emplacement of the El Paxtle assemblage may be a result of the tectonic escape of the arc produced by the continuous NE impingement of the Guerrero terrane during its collisional addition to the Mexican mainland.     

粤东仙水沥Sn-W矿床地质特征及成岩成矿年代学研究

近年来,粤东沿海地区新识别出一期早白垩世锡多金属成矿事件,但关于区内矿床类型仍然存在争议,包括与高分异花岗岩有关和动力变质热液成因。仙水沥Sn-W矿位于粤东沿海莲花山动力变质带,前人研究认为该矿床类型为动力变质热液成因。本文在详细介绍了仙水沥矿床地质特征的基础上,开展了锡石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,并对空间上与矿化密切相关的黑云母花岗斑岩开展锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,探讨了矿床成因。获得锡石U-Pb年龄为147.7±2.7Ma,2个黑云母花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄为146.4±1.5Ma和146.0±1.4Ma,成岩成矿年龄在误差范围内一致,结合矿化蚀变空间关系,认为成矿与黑云母花岗斑岩密切相关。另外,还获得1个辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄为118.5±3.2Ma,结合粤东地区最新研究进展,推测矿区可能存在一期白垩纪中期Mo矿化事件,并提出粤东沿海与闽浙沿海类似,可能发育白垩纪中期斑岩Cu-Mo矿成矿作用,区内具有寻找白垩纪中期斑岩Cu-Mo矿的找矿潜力。

     

Re-imbrication of the Hawasina allochthons in the Sufrat ad Dawh range,Oman Mountains

The Hawasina complex consists of deformed slope to basinal sedimentary rocks of Mesozoic age, emplaced on the Arabian continental margin in the Late Cretaceous as a series of nappes. This complex is well exposed in the Sufrat ad Dawh range where it is represented by the Hamrat Duru Group and the Wahrah Formation. Two generations of imbricate faults are recognized in this area. The first is the imbrication of the Hamrat Duru and the Wahrah units into two separate nappes. These nappes were then folded and cross-cut by a second set of imbricate faults, resulting in the systematic tectonic repetition of the Wahrah-Hamrat Duru Nappe stratigraphy. The late-stage faulting event correlates with the origin of re-imbrication structures documented from other parts of the Oman orogen, interpreted to be of a post-emplacement, Early Tertiary age. This implies that Tertiary deformation of the Oman allochthons was expressed at least in part as a continuation of nappe development, initiated during the Late Cretaceous orogeny.     

Nature and evolution of the Neo-Tethys in central Tibet: synthesis of ophiolitic petrology,geochemistry, and geochronology

In this paper, we summarize results of studies on ophiolitic mélanges of the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ) and the Shiquanhe–Yongzhu–Jiali ophiolitic mélange belt (SYJMB) in central Tibet, and use these insights to constrain the nature and evolution of the Neo-Tethys oceanic basin in this region. The BNSZ is characterized by late Permian–Early Cretaceous ophiolitic fragments associated with thick sequences of Middle Triassic–Middle Jurassic flysch sediments. The BNSZ peridotites are similar to residual mantle related to mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) where the mantle was subsequently modified by interactions with the melt. The mafic rocks exhibit the mixing of various components, and the end-members range from MORB-types to island-arc tholeiites and ocean island basalts. The BNSZ ophiolites probably represent the main oceanic basin of the Neo-Tethys in central Tibet. The SYJMB ophiolitic sequences date from the Late Triassic to the Early Cretaceous, and they are dismembered and in fault contact with pre-Ordovician, Permian, and Jurassic–Early Cretaceous blocks. Geochemical and stratigraphic data are consistent with an origin in a short-lived intra-oceanic back-arc basin. The Neo-Tethys Ocean in central Tibet opened in the late Permian and widened during the Triassic. Southwards subduction started in the Late Triassic in the east and propagated westwards during the Jurassic. A short-lived back-arc basin developed in the middle and western parts of the oceanic basin from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. After the late Early Jurassic, the middle and western parts of the oceanic basin were subducted beneath the Southern Qiangtang terrane, separating the Nierong microcontinent from the Southern Qiangtang terrane. The closing of the Neo-Tethys Basin began in the east during the Early Jurassic and ended in the west during the early Late Cretaceous.     

Formation of the Moping Dome in the Xuefengshan Orocline, Central China and its Tectonic Significance

Many equiaxial dome-like structures developed in the north segment of the Xuefengshan orocline, Central China are obviously inconcordant with the NE-trending linear structures in this area, which contain important records for understanding the structural framework and evolution of this belt. In this paper, taking one of the typical dome-like structures in the Xuefengshan orcline (e.g. Moping dome-like structure) as an example, based on its structural framework interpratatoin, superposed deformation analysis and paleo-stress fields reconstruction, we propose the Moping dome-like structure is composed of two populations of different-striking thrust-fold structures, ～E-trending and NE-striking structures, indicative of two-stages shortening, ～N- and NW-striking, respectively. Together with the geochronological analysis, we suggest the first stage of shortening occurred in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, due to the Indosinian intercollisional orogeny of the Yangtze Block and the North China Block. The second occurred during Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous owing to Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny, leading to the intensive superposition of the NE-trending structures onto the ～E-trending structures, and the final ocurrence of the Moping dome. Thus, our study indicates the Xuefengshan arc-shape belt also experienced two-phase deformation, and resulted from the superposition of NE SW structures onto ～E-W structures in Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous, which could provide new structural evidence for probing the Mesozoic tectonic framework and evolution of the Xuefengshan orocline.     

长江中下游及其邻区中生代构造体制转换

长江中下游及其邻区中生代以来经历了特提斯、古亚洲、太平洋三大构造体制复杂的转换过程,地壳活动频繁,不同期次、不同方向、不同性质的构造叠加强烈,并控制了区内的岩浆活动和热液成矿。(1)印支晚期特提斯构造体制作用,具有俯冲带性质的襄樊-广济断裂带和先后具有左旋平移转换断层性质的郯庐断裂带产生。(2)燕山早期特提斯构造体制向古亚洲构造体制和太平洋构造体制转换,其一,晚侏罗世古亚洲构造体制近南北向挤压,桐柏-大别造山带形成共轭剪切带。其二,晚侏罗世与早白垩世之交古太平洋板块活动,NE向展布的华南板内构造形成。(3)燕山晚期脉动式伸展构造产生大规模火山喷发和岩浆活动;晚白垩世-始新世长江中下游地区盆-岭构造形成。(4)喜马拉雅早期太平洋构造体制下近E-W向挤压作用,近S-N向展布的红色盆地发生反转,呈NE-SW向线状展布。     

Structure of the Middle Urals,east of the main Uralian Fault

In the Middle Urals, volcanic-arc and back-arc basin rocks of Ordovician to Devonian age occur in the Tagil Synform. These outboard terranes were thrust westwards in the late Carboniferous onto continental margin associations of late Proterozoic and Palaeozoic age, now exposed in the Central Uralian Uplift. The Main Uralian Fault coincides approximately with the suture separating the outboard terranes from the East European Platform margin. New fieldwork in the hinterland of the Middle Urals in the area east of the Tagil Synform has found structural evidence favouring E-directed thrusting of accreted terranes and eugeoclinal allochthons in the late Palaeozoic. The upper tectonic units are composed of ophiolite mélange and volcano-sedimentary rocks of Ordovician to Devonian age; they are thrust onto high-grade gneisses, some of possible microcontinental affinities, extensively intruded by mid-Palaeozoic granitic plutons. The nappes in the hinterland are refolded by major upright antiforms and synforms that fold the entire tectonostratigraphy. After thrust assembly, all tectonic units east of the Main Uralian Fault were intruded by late Carboniferous to early Permian granites. Reflection seismic profiles (recorded to 8 s TWT), recently reprocessed at Cornell University, image the major fold structures and demonstrate that they are restricted to the upper crust, being underlain by an extensive zone of flat-lying middle crustal reflectivity. At 10–15 km depth the latter appears to truncate all structures, including the late- to post-tectonic granitoids and extensional faults, east of the Main Uralian Fault. Previous studies (potential-field, refraction- and wide-angle-reflection seismics) have identified an anomalously deep crust under the Tagil Synform and have concluded that the root zone of the orogen is located beneath this belt. The new evidence presented here supports this interpretation, with back-thrusting of the oceanic rocks eastwards over Palaeozoic accreted terranes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Post-rift vertical movements and horizontal deformations in the eastern margin of the Central Atlantic: Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous evolution of Morocco

Wide regions of Morocco, from the Meseta to the High Atlas, have experienced km-scale upward vertical movements during Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous times following the appearance of oceanic crust in the Central Atlantic. The area experiencing exhumation was flanked to the W by a domain of continuous subsidence, part of which is named the Essaouira-Agadir basin. Comparison with vertical movement curves predicted by lithospheric thinning models shows that only 50–60?% of the subsidence documented in the Essaouira basin can be explained by post-rift thermal relaxation and that <30–40?% of the observed exhumation can be explained by processes (in)directly related to the evolution of the Central Atlantic rifted margin. Syn-sedimentary structures in Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous formations of the Eassouira-Agadir basin are common and range from m-scale folds and thrusts to km-scale sedimentary wedges. These structures systematically document coeval shortening generally oriented at high angle to the present margin. As a working hypothesis, it is suggested that regional shortening can explain the structural observations and the enigmatic vertical movements.