Denudation history and landscape evolution of the northern East-Brazilian continental margin from apatite fission-track thermochronology

We reconstruct the history of denudation and landscape evolution of the northern East- Brazilian continental margin using apatite fission-track thermochronology and thermal history modeling. This part of the Brazilian Atlantic margin is morphologically characterized by inland and coastal plateaus surrounding a wide low-lying inland region, the Sertaneja Depression. The apatite fission track ages and mean track lengths vary from 39 ± 4 to 350 ± 57 Ma and from 10.0 ± 0.3 to 14.2 ± 0.2 μm, respectively, implying a protracted history of spatially variable denudation since the Permian at relatively low rates (<50 m My⁻¹). The Sertaneja Depression and inland plateaus record Permian-Early Jurassic (300–180 Ma) denudation that precedes rifting of the margin by > 60 Myrs. In contrast, the coastal regions record up to 2.5 km of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (150–120 Ma) denudation, coeval with rifting of the margin. The samples from elevated coastal regions, the Borborema Plateau and the Mantiqueira Range, record cooling from temperatures above 120 °C since the Late Cretaceous extending to the Cenozoic. We interpret this denudation as related to post-rift uplift of these parts of the margin, possibly resulting from compressional stresses transmitted from the Andes and/or magmatism at that time. Several samples from these areas also record accelerated Neogene (<30 Ma) cooling, which may record landscape response to a change from a tropical to a more erosive semi-arid climate during this time. The inferred denudation history is consistent with the offshore sedimentary record, but not with evolutionary scenarios inferred from the recognition of “planation surfaces” on the margin. The denudation history of the northeastern Brazilian margin implies a control of pre-, syn- and post-rift tectonic and climatic events on landscape evolution.     

Cretaceous and Cenozoic cooling history across the ultrahigh pressure Tongbai–Dabie belt, central China, from apatite fission-track thermochronology

The crystalline terrane of the Tongbai–Dabie region, central China, comprising the Earth's largest ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) exposure was formed during Triassic collision between the Sino–Korean and Yangtze cratons. New apatite fission-track (AFT) data presented here from the UHP terrane, extends over a significantly greater area than reported in previous studies, and includes the (eastern) Dabie, the Hong'an (northwestern Dabie) and Tongbai regions. The new data yield ages ranging from 44 ± 3 to 142 ± 36 Ma and mean track lengths between 10 and 14.4 μm. Thermal history models based on the AFT data taken together with published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, K–Ar, apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He and U–Pb data, exhibit a three-stage cooling pattern that is similar across the study region, commencing with an Early Cretaceous rapid cooling event, followed by a period of relative thermal stability during which rocks remained at temperatures within the AFT partial annealing zone (60–110 °C) and ending with a possible renewed phase of accelerated cooling during Pliocene to Recent time. The first cooling phase followed large-scale transtensional deformation between 140 and 110 Ma and is related to Early Cretaceous eastward tectonic escape and Pacific back arc extension. Between this phase and the subsequent slow cooling phase, a transition period from 120 to 80 Ma (to 70 to 45 Ma along the Tan–Lu fault) was characterised by a relatively low cooling rate (3–5 °C/Ma). This transition is likely related to a tectonic response associated with the mid-Cretaceous subduction of the Izanagi–Pacific plate as well as lithospheric extension and thinning in eastern Asia. The present regional AFT age pattern is therefore basically controlled by the Early Cretaceous rapid cooling event, but finally shaped through active Cenozoic faulting. Following the transition phase the subsequent slow cooling phase pattern implies a net reduction in horizontal compressional stress corresponding to increased extension rates along the continental margin due to the decrease in plate convergence. Modelling of the AFT data suggests a possible Pliocene–Recent cooling episode, which may be supported by increased rates of sedimentation observed in adjacent basins. This cooling phase may be interpreted as a response to the far-field effects of the frontal India–Eurasia collision to the west. Approximate estimates suggest that the total amount of post 120 Ma denudation across the UHP orogen ranged from 2.4 to 13.2 km for different tectonic blocks and ranged from 0.8 to 9.7 km during the Cretaceous to between 1.7 and 3.8 km during the Cenozoic.     

Denudation history of the Snowy Mountains: Constraints from apatite fission track thermochronology

Apatite fission track thermochronology from Early Palaeozoic granitoids centred around the Kosciuszko massif of the Snowy Mountains, records a denudation history that was episodic and highly variable. The form of the apatite fission track age profile assembled from vertical sections and hydroelectric tunnels traversing the mountains, together with numerical forward modelling, provide strong evidence for two episodes of accelerated denudation, commencing in Late Permian—Early Triassic (ca 270–250 Ma) and mid‐Cretaceous (ca 110–100 Ma) times, and a possible third episode in the Cenozoic. Denudation commencing in the Late Permian—Early Triassic was widespread in the eastern and central Snowy Mountains area, continued through much of the Triassic, and amounted to at least ～2.0–2.4 km. This episode was probably the geomorphic response to the Hunter‐Bowen Orogeny. Post‐Triassic denudation to the present in these areas amounted to ～2.0–2.2 km. Unambiguous evidence for mid‐Cretaceous cooling and possible later cooling is confined to a north‐south‐trending sinuous belt, up to ～15 km wide by at least 35 km long, of major reactivated Palaeozoic faults on the western side of the mountains. This zone is the most deeply exposed area of the Kosciuszko block. Denudation accompanying these later events totalled up to ～1.8–2.0 km and ～2.0–2.25 km respectively. Mid‐Cretaceous denudation marks the onset of renewed tectonic activity in the southeastern highlands following a period of relative quiescence since the Late Triassic, and establishes a temporal link with the onset of extension related to the opening of the Tasman Sea. Much of the present day relief of the mountains resulted from surface uplift which disrupted the post‐mid‐Cretaceous apatite fission track profile by variable offsets on faults.     

中新生代南北天山差异性抬升历史的磷灰石裂变径迹证据

堆积于天山山前坳陷内部的巨厚新生代地层不仅记录所在沉积区的热历史信息,还记录了物源区的信息。本文选择天山南北两侧山前坳陷中3条地质剖面进行了大量的磷灰石裂变径迹测试和部分样品的热历史模拟分析,来揭示上新世以来天山在南北方向上隆升过程的差异性。采样剖面的选取较前人更加靠近前陆盆地方向,样品所在地层年代更新。结果显示,东秋里塔格背斜剖面中的样品记录了中天山、南天山和背斜区分别在55~65Ma、20~25Ma和5Ma经历了构造隆升。玛纳斯背斜剖面中的样品记录了北天山的三次构造隆升事件分别发生于55~65Ma、20~25Ma和5Ma,其中距今5Ma为玛纳斯背斜带起始隆升的时代。结合前人在相同区域的研究成果,分析得出天山的不同部分经历了不同的构造演化历史,自150Ma以来经历了三期差异性隆升。中生代时期(150~125Ma)表现为山体整体抬升,中生代晚期-新生代早期(100~50Ma)北天山明显早于南天山开始构造隆升,新生代以来(~50Ma)的构造运动以向前陆盆地方向扩展为特征,而隆升起始时间南北差异变小。虽然在南北方向上天山山体隆起时间上存在明显的差异,但是中新生代以来山体物源区的剥蚀速率大体相同。因此,隆升起始时间与隆升量之间并不存在必然的定量关系。天山的不同块体具有不同的构造演化历史的事实提示在研究大范围构造隆升作用时,应将构造作用作为一个过程来对待。变形在传递的过程中,在时间和空间上存在一定的滞后现象。     

Structural evolution of the Teletsk graben (Russian Altai)

Lake Teletskoye in the northeastern part of the Altai mountain range has attracted the attention of geo-scientists for a long time, because it fills an impressive tectonic depression. The lake is 77 km long and 4 km wide, and it has a maximum water depth of 325 m. The vertical offset of the basement surface is up to 3000 m. A multidisciplinary study of the Teletsk graben was carried out during the last few years, including satellite image and air photo analysis, bathymetric-, structural- and geomorphological mapping, high-resolution seismic profiling and seismic refraction. The structural study revealed that reactivation of preexisting weak basement zones is important in controlling the basin formation. These zones separate different tectonic terranes at the contact of which the Teletsk graben developed.This study identifies the significance of the basin in the regional neotectonic context. It shows that the major vertical movements are restricted to the basin itself, but do not characterize the whole region. Outside of the basin, recent tectonic structures have the same pattern as adjacent areas of Northeast Altai and West-Sayan. Quaternary glaciations have had no major influence on the basin formation.Two stages of faulting are identified. First, transpressive movements restricted to discrete (reactivated) fault zones controlled the opening of the basin. In the second stage, normal faulting is dominant and is responsible for the modern basin outline.An echo-sounding survey led to the recognition of several morphological characteristics of the lake bottom. In the southern part, the uppermost sediments seem slightly disturbed, whereas further north, transverse ridges and slope breaks are increasingly common. The deepest part of the lake is located in a highly disturbed zone of normal fault-bounded blocks. The structural difference between the southern and northern subbasins is supported by the interpretation of a deep seismic refraction profile which indicates a substantial increase of basement isochores in the area where the reactivated Teletsk (Paleozoic) shear zone crosses the lake.Correlation of high-resolution seismic profiles suggests that the Teletsk graben started to evolve during the Pleistocene, and that its present shape was formed in two stages. The first stage was responsible for the opening of the southern basin. It probably started in the Middle Pleistocene. A second kinematic stage induced by a sinistral reactivation of the NE striking West-Sayan fault initiated the opening of the different segments of the northern subbasin due to opposite movements between the reactivated Teletsk and West-Sayan faults. This second stage was active after the end of Late Pleistocene glaciations and during the Holocene. The recent lateral extension and the related N–S-trending normal faults result from a change in tectonic regime, with related extensional movements along the main reactivated fault zones. These recent movements result in the lateral escape of the lake borders and the collapse of the area between them.     

Mesozoic–Tertiary exhumation history of the Altai Mountains, northern Xinjiang, China: New constraints from apatite fission track data

This study uses apatite fission track (FT) analysis to constrain the exhumation history of bedrock samples collected from the Altai Mountains in northern Xinjiang, China. Samples were collected as transects across the main structures related to Palaeozoic crustal accretion events. FT results and modeling identify three stages in sample cooling history spanning the Mesozoic and Tertiary. Stage one records rapid cooling to the low temperature part of the fission track partial annealing zone circa 70 ± 10 °C. Stage two, records a period of relative stability with little if any cooling taking place between 75 and 25–20 Ma suggesting the Altai region had been reduced to an area of low relief. Support for this can be found in the adjacent Junngar Basin that received little if any sediment during this interval. Final stage cooling took place in the Miocene at an accelerated rate bringing the sampled rocks to the Earth's surface. This last stage, linked to the far field effects of the Himalayan collision, most likely generated the surface uplift and relief that define the present-day Altai Mountains.     

Long-term thermo-tectonic evolution of the Montes de Toledo area (Central Hercynian Belt, Spain): constraints from apatite fission-track analysis

In the Montes de Toledo area, located in the axial part of the Central Hercynian zone, a long-term thermo-tectonic evolution can be deduced from apatite fission-track (AFT) data in conjunction with tight geological constraints derived from the knowledge of regional geology and other independent chronometers. The area is composed of two different blocks separated by the Toledo Shear Zone (TSZ). The northern block is a granulite facies anatectic terrane. The southern block is composed of greenschist facies Paleozoic sediments intruded by a late Hercynian granitic pluton. A total of 13 samples have been recovered for AFT analysis. AFT ages in both blocks cluster around 189–221 Ma, with mean confined track lengths between 11.4 m and 12.4 m. Modeling of the AFT data indicates that the thermal history is broadly similar in both blocks, which constrains the main movement of the TSZ, as essentially before the Upper Permian. AFT ages in the TSZ cluster around 124–164 Ma, and the track lengths vary between 11.4 m and 12.4 m. These data reveal that the fault must have been affected by a later thermal overprint as AFT ages are significantly younger than those of the footwall and hangingwall blocks. This differential thermal resetting is likely related to the advection of localized hydrothermal fluids that are responsible for the widespread Pb–Zn mineralization along the TSZ. These results give an example of resetting AFT data by hydrothermal events. The long-term evolution suggests a lack of important Alpine tectonism in the Montes de Toledo block, in clear contrast to other nearby Hercynian areas such as the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the important effect of Alpine tectonism has almost totally erased the previous thermal signal in the AFT system.     

Long-term landscape evolution of the northeastern margin of the Bohemian Massif: apatite fission-track data from the Erzgebirge (Germany)

To study the relative and absolute timing of post-Variscan cooling and denudation processes in the Erzgebirge of the Mid-European Variscides, eight samples for apatite fission-track (AFT) analysis were collected from a ~1,300 m drill-core. The fission-track data reveal two stages of accelerated cooling through the apatite partial annealing zone (APAZ; i.e., 110±10–60 °C) in the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous and in the late Cenozoic, respectively. Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous cooling corresponding to denudation of 1.5–5.9 km has been related to wrench tectonics along the Elbe Zone during Triassic-Jurassic Pangea breakup. Late Cenozoic exhumation of 2.1–5.6 km, and the increase of the geothermal gradient from 17±5 °C km^–1 (Oligocene/Miocene) to 25–27 °C km^–1 (recent) is likely connected to the formation of the Eger Graben starting from the Oligocene, as a result of the late Alpine orogenic phases.     

滇西瑶山杂岩变形特征与新生代剥露隆升的磷灰石裂变径迹证据

瑶山杂岩是位于哀牢山-红河剪切带(ASRR)上最南端的一个杂岩体,即瑶山-大象山杂岩的中国境内部分。为了揭示杂岩体的低温热演化与浅部剥露历史,并正确理解ASRR变质杂岩的剥露与构造演化,本文开展了杂岩体的宏观构造以及深入的显微构造分析,并在平行杂岩延伸方向上和垂直杂岩延伸方向上进行了磷灰石裂变径迹分析。结果显示,瑶山杂岩作为一个宏观线性穹窿,自渐新世以来经历了多阶段热演化过程。磷灰石的热历史反演结果表明,在约30Ma的时候,瑶山杂岩就已经剥露到距地表4.3km处,继而存在三次抬升过程:30~25Ma,是一个快速的抬升过程,冷却速率为8~8.9℃/Myr;25~12.5Ma,是一个相对缓慢的抬升过程,冷却速率为1.5~1.9℃/Myr;从中新世约13Ma至今,抬升速度又开始加快,但小于第一阶段的速度,冷却速率为3.4~4.1℃/Myr。根据磷灰石裂变径迹年龄的分布,在平行杂岩体的延伸方向上,剥露过程不是整体抬升的,而是一个不均匀的剥露过程;而在垂直杂岩体延伸方向上,是一个整体的均匀的剥露过程。区域尺度上,沿着瑶山-大象山杂岩体延伸方向上,从南东到北西,磷灰石年龄有逐渐变新的趋势,说明剥露具有穿时性;而在瑶山杂岩局部,剥露具有不均匀性,类似于波瓦状剥露特点。     

阿尔泰山南缘晚古生代火山岩的地质地球化学特征及其对构造演化的启示

阿尔泰山南缘晚古生代火山岩十分发育,从早泥盆世到早二叠世均有发育。其中中泥盆世北塔山组为一套中基性火山岩,并且底部含有厚度超过100m的苦橄岩;中泥盆世蕴都喀拉组为一套浅海相细碎屑沉积岩夹中性、中基性火山岩;晚泥盆世江孜尔库都克组为火山碎屑岩夹中基性和中酸性火山岩组合;而晚石炭世巴塔玛依内山组以玄武岩和玄武安山岩为主,夹凝灰岩、粉砂岩和炭质页岩。对这4个组火山岩的主要元素、微量元素地球化学特征研究表明,北塔山组和蕴都喀拉组为拉斑和钙碱性系列,并且均具有大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集,而高场强元素与MORB相当,说明其为岛弧环境。江孜尔库都克组火山岩为钾玄岩系列,并且具有较高的LILE富集,表明其形成于岛弧演化的晚期阶段;巴塔玛依内山组火山岩为碱性系列,并且具有强烈富集LILE的特征,指示了其形成于大陆板内环境。因此,从火山岩的时间和空间演化来看,本区晚古生代火山岩与准噶尔洋板块向北的俯冲有关,西伯利亚板块和准噶尔板块的碰撞发生在早石炭-晚石炭世。     

Late Mesozoic‐Cenozoic exhumation history of the Lesser Hinggan Mountains,NE China,revealed by fission track thermochronology

This study uses zircon and apatite fission‐track (FT) analyses to reveal the exhumation history of the granitoid samples collected from the Lesser Hinggan Mountains, northeast China. A southeast to northwest transect across the Lesser Hinggan Mountains yielded zircon FT ages between 89.8 ± 5.7 and 100.4 ± 8.6 Ma, and apatite FT ages between 50.6 ± 13.8 and 74.3 ± 4.5 Ma with mean track lengths between 11.7 ± 2.0 and 12.8 ± 1.7 µm. FT results and modelling identify three stages in sample cooling history spanning the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Stage one records rapid cooling from the closure temperature of zircon FT to the high temperature part of the apatite FT partial annealing zone (∼210–110 °C) during ca. 95 to 65 Ma. Stage two records a period of relative slow cooling (∼110–60 °C) taking place between ca. 65 and 20 Ma, suggesting that the granitoids had been exhumed to the depth of ∼1−2 km. Final stage cooling (60–20 °C) occurred since the Miocene at an accelerated rate bringing the sampled rocks to the Earth's surface. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady‐state geothermal gradient of 35 °C/km. Integrated with the tectonic setting, this exhumation is possibly led by the Pacific Plate subduction combined with intracontinental orogeny associated with asthenospheric upwelling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

天山北缘侏罗系地层热历史演化及其地质意义：磷灰石裂变径迹和镜质体反射率证据

对天山北缘石场．玛纳斯、安集海河和四棵树河地区18个样品进行了磷灰石裂变径迹年龄测定,同时测定了中生界地层10件裂变径迹样品相应煤层的镜质体反射率。结果表明地层由老到新镜质体反射率逐渐增加,磷灰石裂变径迹中值年龄逐渐降低。石场．玛纳斯地区,下部三叠系煤层镜质体反射率R。值较低,为0．56％,磷灰石裂变径迹中值年龄较大,为125．3±9．1Ma;八道湾组煤层R。为0．53％～0．64％,磷灰石裂变径迹中值年龄介于81．3±4．7～87．8±5．9Ma;上部西山窑组煤层R。最高,达到0．81％,磷灰石裂变径迹中年龄较低,为44．0±5．4—11．8±1．8Ma;相同层位,东部石场．玛纳斯一带R。比西部四棵树地区高,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄刚好相反。磷灰石裂变径迹模拟结果表明中生界三叠系、下侏罗统地层的埋藏深度相对较浅,上覆沉积持续的时间到晚侏罗世到早白垩世基本上已经结束,然后保持在基本不变的深度,直至中新世,不整合在三叠系之下的花岗岩的模拟结果也支持这样的认识。晚侏罗世一早白垩世的冷却降温事件可能是地温梯度变化和隆升作用的共同结果;中侏罗统地层埋藏增温过程持续时间较长,在玛纳斯地区直至渐新世末期。所有样品中磷灰石裂变径迹模拟都记录了10Ma左右的快速冷却过程,近4—5kin的地壳表层物质被剥蚀,平均剥蚀速率400—500m／Ma。这一剥蚀过程应该与天山地区的快速隆升,以及向北的冲断推覆作用相对应。天山地区山前带的变形应不早于10Ma,这一认识与野外地质证据一致。     

中亚阿尔泰山南坡表土和泥炭沉积物GDGTs综合研究

相对于我国季风区,西北内陆地区表土和泥炭沉积物的甘油二烷基甘油四醚化合物（GDGTs）现代过程研究结果报道较少。对中亚干旱区阿尔泰山南坡海拔梯度表土、高山泥炭地哈拉沙子和那仁夏周边坡地表土以及哈拉沙子表层泥炭沉积物进行了GDGTs分析,结果表明：1）其海拔梯度表土当中细菌来源支链结构GDGTs（brGDGTs）的分子分布特征主要响应于湿度的变化;2）同样主要由于湿度变化的影响,奇古菌的影响和贡献在相对低海拔地区更为明显,产甲烷古菌的影响和贡献在相对高海拔地区上升,导致古菌来源的类异戊二烯结构GDGTs（isoGDGTs）的TEX₈₆参数随海拔上升具有显著的降低趋势;3）哈拉沙子和那仁夏泥炭地泥炭沉积物当中的brGDGTs和isoGDGTs都并非主要来自周边坡地土壤的异源输入,而主要都是泥炭地原地自生来源。这些研究结果,一方面为在该区域利用GDGTs开展古环境、古气候重建提供基础性参考;另一方面,也对其他区域相应研究结果形成有益补充。

     

A tale of elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit,Altai Mountains

The elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit of the Altai Mountains are presented in this study. Based on detailed fieldwork and microscopic observation, the formation of the deposit involved syngenetic massive sulfide mineralization and epigenetic superimposed mineralization. Different generations of iron sulfides (i.e., pyrite and pyrrhotite) with contrasting textural, elemental, and sulfur isotopic features were generated in primary mineralization (including hydrothermal iron sulfides, colloform pyrite) and secondary modification (including annealed iron sulfides, oriented iron sulfides, and vein-pyrite). It is revealed that the spatial variation in textures and elements of hydrothermal iron sulfides depends on the inhomogeneous fluid compositions and varied environment in VMS hydrothermal system. Both leached sulfur from the footwall volcanic rocks and reduced sulfur by the TSR process are regarded as important sulfur sources. Furthermore, large sulfur isotopic fractionation and negative δ³⁴S values were mainly caused by varied oxygen fugacity, and to a lesser extent, temperature fluctuation. The epigenetic polymetallic veins that contain sulfides and sulfosalts (e.g., jordanite-geocronite, bournonite-seligmannite, boulangerite) were considered as the products of metamorphic fluid scavenged the metal-rich strata. All things considered, it is indicated that two episodes of fluid with distinct origins were essential for the formation of the deposit. The predominant evolved seawater along with subordinate magmatic fluid mobilized metals from volcanic rocks and precipitated massive sulfides near the seafloor are vital for primary mineralization. The metamorphic fluid remobilized metals (i.e., FMEs: fluid mobile elements, e.g., Pb, As, Sb) from neighboring volcanic and pyroclastic rocks and destabilized them within the fractured zone are responsible for secondary mineralization, which enhances the economic value of the deposit. Accordingly, metal-rich Devonian strata had been successively swept by different origins of fluid, leading to progressively elemental enrichment and the formation of a large deposit. Furthermore, the current study enlightens that FME-bearing veins with economic benefits can be discovered near the metamorphosed VMS deposits.     

Petrogenesis of the Nanling Mountains granites from South China: Constraints from systematic apatite geochemistry and whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd isotope compositions

The widespread Mesozoic granitoids in South China (135,300 km²) were emplaced in three main periods: Triassic (16% of the total surface area of Mesozoic granitoids), Jurassic (47%), and Cretaceous (37%). Though much study has been conducted on the most abundant Jurassic Nanling Mountains (NLM) granites, their rock affinities relative to the Triassic Darongshan (DRS) and Cretaceous Fuzhou–Zhangzhou Complex (FZC) granites which are typical S- and I-type, respectively, and the issue of their petrogenetic evolution is still the subject of much debate. In this study, we discuss the petrogenesis of NLM granites using apatite geochemistry combined with whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd isotope compositions. Sixteen apatite samples from six granite batholiths, one gabbro, and three syenite bodies in the NLM area were analyzed for their major and trace element abundances and compared with those collected from DRS (n = 7) and FZC (n = 6) granites. The apatite geochemistry reveals that Na, Si, S, Mn, Sr, U, Th concentrations and REE distribution patterns for apatites from DRS and FZC granites basically are similar to the S and I granite types of the Lachlan Fold Belt (Australia), whereas those from NLM granites have intermediate properties and cannot be correlated directly with these granite types. According to some indications set by the apatite geochemistry (e.g., lower U and higher Eu abundances), NLM apatites appear to have formed under oxidizing conditions. In addition, we further found that their REE distribution patterns are closely related to aluminum saturation index (ASI) and Nd isotope composition, rather than SiO₂ content or degree of differentiation, of the host rock. The majority of apatites from NLM granites (ASI = 0.97–1.08 and εNd(T) = −8.8 to −11.6) display slightly right-inclined apatite REE patterns distinguishable from the typical S- and I-type. However, those from few granites with ASI > 1.1 and εNd(T) < −11.6 have REE distribution patterns (near-flat) similar to DRS apatites whereas those from granites with ASI < 1.0 and εNd(T) > −6.6 and gabbro and syenite are similar to FZC apatites (strongly right-inclined). In light of Sr and Nd isotope compositions, magmas of NLM intrusives, except gabbro and syenite, and few granites with εNd(T) > −8, generally do not involve a mantle component. Instead, they fit with a melt derived largely from in situ melting or anatexis of the pre-Mesozoic (mainly Caledonian) granitic crust with subordinate pre-Yanshanian (mainly Indosinian) granitic crust. We suggest that an application, using combined whole-rock ASI and εNd(T) values, is as useful as the apatite geochemistry for recognizing possible sources for the NLM granites.     

Consolidation and Break-up of the South American Platform in Southeastern Brazil: Tectonothermal and Denudation Histories

The different tectonic stages that occurred at the end of the Proterozoic and during the Phanerozoic have an important bearing on the tectonothermal history of the South American Platform and its consolidation. Geochronological data (U/Pb monazite, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar whole rock) and apatite fission-track analysis, from Precambrian rocks of the southeastern Brazilian coastline, permit the modeling of a long-term thermal history of the crust and constrain variable denudation rates.Using these data, a temperature-time diagram reflects a period of accelerated exhumation during the end of the Brasiliano Orogeny, followed by long stability and reactivation of the platform during the Rifting Phase of the South Atlantic Ocean.U/Pb zircon and monazite (blocking temperature of ca. 650° C) data from a series of igneous bodies suggest that a tangential and transpressional tectonic regime occurred between 625 and 610 Ma. During the following escape tectonics, between 610 and 590 Ma the exhumation process indicates cooling rates of ca. 12°C/Ma. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite ages between 540 and 510 Ma (ca. 300°C) and a corrected fission-track age on apatites (100°C) of 480 Ma indicate an exhumation event related to block tectonics with huge vertical displacement along shear zones.A long stabilization phase, with low exhumation, and cooling rate around 0.25°C/Ma was recorded from the Cambro/Ordovician to the Mesozoic. At 65 Ma an acceleration of the exhumation through denudation and reworking of the South American surface with cooling rate of 1.5°C/Ma is observed.The uplift of the Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar mountain ranges along the southeast Brazilian coastline works as a climatic barrier provoking lateral erosional processes causing long-term scarp retreat, combined with intense, but progressive denudation towards the continent. A denudation of 2.5 to 4 km was calculated for such processes. This lateral retreat of escarpments and flexural response can provide important insights regarding marginal isostatic uplift and the evolution of offshore sedimentary basins of southeast Brazil.     

青海南山隆起的沉积证据及其对青海湖-共和盆地构造分异演化的指示

青海南山的隆起对解析青海湖—共和盆地地区构造和区域环境演化过程具有重要的意义。通过共和盆地西北部晚新生代地层的野外地质调查,发现上新世地层中存在一期角度不整合面。角度不整合面上、下地层中沉积碎屑矿物发生了突变：上部地层碎屑组成与现代南山基本一致,而不同于其下沉积地层。常量元素含量、风化特征等地球化学特性的变化,进一步证实了青海南山可能并不是下伏地层的物源区。结合地层变形特征及区域地质资料可以推断,温泉右行走滑断裂的运动致使柴北缘—南山俯冲断裂的再次活动是造成共和盆地向青海湖盆地下俯冲、青海南山隆起的主因。该俯冲运动使其南侧的地层发生掀斜（倾向西南）,原来地貌特征发生了明显的变化,并形成了上新世地层顶部的角度不整合面。之后,青海湖与共和盆地最终成为两个独立的盆地,青海南山成为两侧沉积地层的物源区,两者均开始了截然不同的演化过程。     

新疆阿尔泰山南缘泥盆纪弧型苦橄岩铂族元素地球化学特征及其地质意义

全球岛弧火山岩的铂族元素数据非常少。本研究对新疆阿尔泰山南缘中泥盆世北塔山组地层中的苦橄岩的铂族元素进行了分析,结果表明:其铂族元素的含量总体变化不大,其原始地幔标准化曲线总体上和已经报道的大西洋Lesser Antilles岛弧的G renada苦橄岩相似,均以富集钯组铂族元素(PPGE)为特征,但总体含量比后者高,而比大火成岩省的苦橄岩低。一些铂族元素的特征比值指示了苦橄岩和富辉玄武岩起源于软流圈地幔,而高的w(Os)/w(Ir)比值则暗示了源区中有深海沉积物的加入。w(Pd)/w(Ir)-w(N i)/w(Cu)图解说明本区的苦橄岩不是原始岩浆,而是原始的高镁玄武岩中有过剩橄榄石的加入,而w(Pd)-w(Cu)图解则说明原始岩浆硫不饱和。IPGE在俯冲带流体中相对稳定,而PPGE在俯冲带流体中的活动性相对较高。     

新疆阿尔泰山额尔齐斯河源区不同降水观测方法对比分析及1980-2015年降水变化研究

合理评估不同降水观测仪器的精度是评价区域降水变化的前提。基于阿尔泰山额尔齐斯河源区库威水文站ø20 cm标准雨量筒的人工降水观测和库威积雪站T-200b的自动降水观测,对比分析了T-200b和ø20 cm标准雨量筒的观测精度,在此基础上,基于1980-2015年库威水文站的降水观测,分析了阿尔泰山额尔齐斯河源区的降水变化。结果表明：两种方法观测的日降水、月降水和年降水量均具有良好的相关性;两种方法观测液态降水相关性要明显优于固态降水;随着降雨强度的增加,两种观测方法的相关性显著增强。总体上,T-200b观测的降水量较ø20 cm标准雨量筒偏高。1980-2015年间额尔齐斯河源区的年降水量以2005年为转折点呈现"先增加后减小"的变化趋势,且冷季（11月至次年3月）的降水增加显著,冷季的降水占年降水量的比例呈现逐渐增加的变化趋势。降水和融雪过程的变化已导致春季融雪水文过程发生改变,进一步合理评估地表可利用水资源的年内重分配是该地区水安全的重要保障。     

Cenozoic cooling and denudation in the North Pennines (northern England,UK) constrained by apatite fission-track analysis of cuttings from the Eastgate Borehole

The Cenozoic landscape development of Britain remains relatively poorly understood. On the one hand, ‘plumists’ have tried to explain the present-day topography as a consequence of effects of the Iceland mantle plume during the Palaeocene-Eocene British Tertiary Igneous Province (BTIP) magmatism, with little or no subsequent modification. On the other hand, abundant evidence exists from fluvial and marine terraces and superimposed karstic levels for significant vertical crustal motions during the Quaternary, which clearly has nothing to do with any mantle plume. To shed light on this issue, we present the first publication of data that constrain the Cenozoic thermal history of the North Pennine uplands of northern England, from apatite fission-track analysis of drill cuttings from the Eastgate Borehole in Weardale, in the western part of County Durham. Our results indicate ～650 m of regional denudation since the latest Oligocene/Early Miocene, plus the ～400 m of localized entrenchment that has created the modern Weardale valley. Before the latest Oligocene/Early Miocene, but following the BTIP magmatism, the crust in this region experienced significant cooling, mainly due to a decrease in the geothermal gradient from ～55 to 61 °C km^?1 to the present 38 °C km^?1, along with ～300 ± 200 m of denudation. Although significant BTIP magmatism occurred in northern England, it thus had only a limited net effect; the crust experienced dramatic heating, but cooled back to its original thermal state within, at most, a few tens of millions of years. We suggest that this rapid cooling effect resulted from westward flow of relatively cold material within the mobile lower-crustal layer, driven by the lateral pressure gradient induced by earlier heating effects and effects of surface processes. Whatever topography developed during the Palaeogene, as a direct result of these heating effects, underplating at the base of the crust, and the associated modest denudation, was presumably also short-lived; significant changes to the crustal thickness, and thus to the topography, can be envisaged as a consequence of subsequent lower-crustal flow.