Quantitative Zoning Assessment of Crustal Stability Along the Yunnan–Tibet Railway Line, Western China

The planned Yunnan–Tibet railway goes through the northwest of Yunnan Province and the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Because of its location near the collision belt of the Eurasian and Indian plates, complex engineering geological conditions and difficult engineering geological problems are encountered. The study is aimed at making the zoning assessment of crustal stability along the railway line so as to provide a better base for its construction, especially its line selection. For this purpose, the following seven influencing factors of crustal stability were selected and quantified by grading and scoring: active fault, seismic activity, geo-stress field, geo-strain field, geothermal field, geo-hazard, and lithologic character. Of these factors, the active fault, seismic activity and geo-hazard are the three most prominent factors influencing the railway construction. Along the railway line there are 1731703 calculation units to be divided. The zoning assessment calculation was completed by ArcGIS-based information fusion method. The assessment results aid railway line selection and show that there are 10 stable sectors, 28 relatively stable sectors, 23 relatively unstable sectors, and 20 unstable sectors along the Yunnan–Tibet railway line.     

Sedimentary Evolution of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic and its Response to the Uplift of the Plateau

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene–Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan–Garzê and Gangdisê belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdisê–Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan–Garzê, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining–Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18–13 Ma, and north–south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13–10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil–Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam.     

Tensile Fractures and in situ Stress Measurement Data Constraints on Cretaceous–Present Tectonic Stress Field Evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Shandong Province, North China Craton

Tectonic stress fields are the key drivers of tectonic events and the evolution of regional structures. The tectonic stress field evolution of the Tanlu fault zone in Shandong Province, located in the east of the North China Craton (NCC), may have preserved records of the NCC’s tectonic history. Borehole television survey and hydraulic fracturing were conducted to analyze the paleo and present tectonic stress fields. Three groups of tensile fractures were identified via borehole television, their azimuths being NNW–SSE, NW–SE and NE–SW, representing multiple stages of tectonic events. Hydraulic fracturing data indicates that the study region is experiencing NEE–SWW-oriented compression and nearly-N–S-oriented extension, in accordance with strike-slip and compression. Since the Cretaceous, the orientation of the extensional stress has evolved counterclockwise and sequentially from nearly-NW–SE-oriented to NE–SW-oriented and even nearly N–S-oriented, the stress state having transitioned from strike-slip-extension to strike-slip-compression, in association with the rotating and oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the NCC, with the participation of the Indian Plate.     

Age of the Purported Zhanjin Formation in Gêrzê County,Tibet: A New Understanding and Its Significance

The Upper Carboniferous Zhanjin Formation has attracted much attention from geoscientists for containing glacial–marine diamictite and cold-water fauna typified by the bivalve Eurydesma.The presence of this Formation has provided important evidence for determining the northern border of Gondwana.Previous researchers have classified those strata north of Niangrong Co in the Gêrzê region as part of the Zhanjin Formation based on the presence of glacial–marine diamictite, although the absence of biological fossil evidence has defied clear age determination.Our field investigations first discovered large quantities of corals, sponges and bryozoans.All coral fossils were identified as belonging to the Hexacorallia subclass including 13 genera and 25 species, primarily including Conophyllia guiyangensis Deng et Kong, Coryphyllia regularis Cuif, Cuifia columnaris Roniewicz, Distichophyllia norica Frech, Distichophyllia gigas Vinassa de Regny, Pamiroseris rectilamellosa Winkler, Retiophyllia clathrata Emmrich, and Retiophyllia paraclathrata Roniewicz.Extensive biostratigraphic correlations show that the hexacorallia should belong to the Late Triassic, thereby negating the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area.Based on analyses of sedimentary facies and detailed study of the glacial–marine diamictite as supposed by earlier researchers, the limestone blocks and gravels within the facies are slope facies olistostromes and waterway sediments from lime slurry debris flows in the submarine fan rather than primary sedimentary products.Among them, lenticular sandstone should be sequentially distributed waterway sand bodies, indicating that the strata have no glacial–marine diamictite.In addition, the rocks containing the mentioned fossils are just limestone blocks from olistostromes, and limestone gravels from waterways of submarine fans.Such a result further negates the presence of the Zhanjin Formation in the study area, and indicates that the age of the studied strata should be youner than the Late Triassic.Through regional stratigraphic comparisons and the study of tectonic settings of the strata, the sedimentary characteristics of the subject strata, including lithology, lithofacies and fossils, are confirmed to be similar to the widely distributed Sêwa Formation in this region.We thus infer that the strata belong to the Middle–Lower Jurassic Sêwa Formation.This finding is important for both studying paleogeography of Tibet and determining the northern boundary of Gondwana.     

Analysis of Remote Sensing Images of Ground Ruptures Resulting from the Kunlun Mountain Pass Earthquake in 2001

1 IntroductionOn November 14, 2001, a large earthquake of M-8.1(magnitude of 8.1) occurred to the west of the KunlunMountain Pass which bounds Xinjiang Uygur AutonomousRegion and Qinghai Province. The Chinese seismicnetwork measured the epicenter of this event to be locatedat 36.2°N, 90.9°E, 350 km away from Golmud City ofQinghai and 400 km from Ruoqiang County of Xinjiang.This is the largest earthquake in the Chinese mainland sincethe M-8.0 earthquake occurring in Damxung of Tibet…     

Conodont Biostratigraphy and Age Determination of the Lower–Middle Triassic Boundary in South Guizhou Province, China

The demarcation of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is a disputed problem in global stratigraphic research. Lower–Middle Triassic strata of different types, from platform to basin facies, are well developed in Southwest China. This is favorable for the study of the Olenekian–Anisian boundary and establishing a stratotype for the Qingyan Stage. Based on research at the Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county and the Qingyan section in Guiyang city, Guizhou province, six conodont zones have been recognized, which can be correlated with those in other regions, in ascending order as follows: 1, Neospathodus cristagalli Interval-Zone; 2, Neospathodus pakistanensis Interval-Zone; 3, Neospathodus waageni Interval-Zone; 4, Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Assemblage-Zone; 5, Chiosella timorensis Interval-Zone; and 6, Neogongdolella regalis Range-Zone. An evolutionary series of the Early–Middle Triassic conodont genera Neospathodus-Chiosella-Neogongdolella discovered in the Ganheqiao and Qingyan sections has an intermediate type named Neospathodus qingyanensis that appears between Neospathodus homeri and Chiosella timorensis in the upper part of the Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Zone, showing an excellent evolutionary relationship of conodonts near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is located at 1.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Qingyan section, whereas this boundary is located 0.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Ganheqiao section. There exists one nearly 6-m thick vitric tuff bed at the bottom of the Xinyuan Formation in the Ganheqiao section, which is usually regarded as a lithologic symbol of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary in South China. Based on the analysis of high-precision and high-sensitivity Secondary Ion Mass Spectrum data, the zircon age of this tuff has a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 239.0±2.9Ma (2s), which is a directly measured zircon U-Pb age of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county can therefore provide an excellent section through the Lower–Middle Triassic because it is continuous, the evolution of the conodonts is distinctive and the regionally stable distributed vitric tuff near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary can be regarded as a regional key isochronal layer. This section can be regarded not only as a standard section for the establishment of the Qingyan Stage in China, but also as a reference section for the GSSP of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary.     

Biostratigraphy of a Paleocene–Eocene Foreland Basin boundary in southern Tibet

This study of the Paleocene–Eocene boundary within a foreland basin of southern Tibet, which was dominated by a carbonate ramp depositional environment, documents more complex environmental conditions than can be derived from studies of the deep oceanic environment. Extinction rates for larger foraminiferal species in the Zongpu-1 Section apply to up to 46% of the larger foraminiferal taxa. The extinction rate in southern Tibet is similar to rates elsewhere in the world, but it shows that the Paleocene fauna disappeared stepwise through the Late Paleocene, with Eocene taxa appearing abruptly above the boundary. A foraminifera turnover was identified between Members 3 and 4 of the Zongpu Formation—from the Miscellanea–Daviesina assemblage to an Orbitolites–Alveolina assemblage. The Paleocene and Eocene boundary is between the SBZ 4 and SBZ 5, where it is marked by the extinction of Miscellanea miscella and the first appearance of Alveolina ellipsodalis and a large number of Orbitolites. Chemostratigraphically, the δ13C values from both the Zongpu-1 and Zongpu-2 Sections show three negative excursions in the transitional strata, one in Late Paleocene, one at the boundary, and one in the early Eocene. The second negative excursion of δ13C, which is located at the P–E boundary, coincides with larger foraminifera overturn. These faunal changes and the observed δ13C negative excursions provide new evidence on environmental changes across the Paleocene–Eocene boundary in Tibet.     

Lower Cretaceous turbidites in the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone,Asa area,Tibet:Constraints on the evolution of the Meso-Tethys Ocean

Turbidites from the Shiquanhe–Namco Ophiolite Mélange Zone(SNMZ) record critical information about the tectonic affinity of the SNMZ and the evolutionary history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean in Tibet.This paper reports sedimentologic,sandstone petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronologic,and clastic rocks geochemical data of newly identified turbidites(Asa Formation) in the Asa Ophiolite Mélange.The youngest ages of detrital zircon from the turbiditic sandstone samples,together with ～115 Ma U-Pb concordant age from the tuff intercalation within the Asa Formation indicate an Early Cretaceous age.The sandstone mineral modal composition data show that the main component is quartz grains and the minor components are sedimentary and volcanic fragments,suggesting that the turbidites were mainly derived from a recycled orogen provenance with a minor addition of volcanic arc materials.The detrital U-Pb zircon ages of turbiditic sandstones yield main age populations of170–120 Ma,300–220 Ma,600–500 Ma,1000–700 Ma,1900–1500 Ma,and ～2500 Ma,similar to the ages of the Qiangtang Terrane(age peak of 600–500 Ma,1000–900 Ma,～1850 Ma and ～2500 Ma) and the accretionary complex in the Bangong–Nujiang Ophiolite Zone(BNMZ) rather than the age of the Central Lhasa Terrane(age peak of ～300 Ma,～550 Ma and ～1150 Ma).The mineral modal compositions,detrital U-Pb zircon ages,and geochemical data of clastic rocks suggest that the Asa Formation is composed of sediments primarily recycled from the Jurassic accretionary complex within the BNMZ with the secondary addition of intermediate-felsic island arc materials from the South Qiangtang Terrane.Based on our new results and previous studies,we infer that the SNMZ represents a part of the Meso-Tethys Suture Zone,rather than a southward tectonic klippe of the BNMZ or an isolated ophiolitic mélange zone within the Lhasa Terrane.The Meso-Tethys Suture Zone records the continuous evolutionary history of the northward subduction,accretion,arc-Lhasa collision,and Lhasa-Qiangtang collision of the Meso-Tethys Ocean from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.     

Early Permian–Late Triassic Magmatism in the Tuotuohe Region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: Constraints on the Tectonic evolution of the Western Segment of the Jinshajiang Suture

In this paper we present new zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock major and trace element analyses, and zircon Hf isotopic data for magmatic rocks in the Tuotuohe region of the western segment of the Jinshajiang suture. Our aim is to constrain the Early Permian–Late Triassic tectonic evolution of the region. Zircons from the magmatic rocks of the Tuotuohe region are euhedral–subhedral in shape and display fine-scale oscillatory zoning as well as high Th/U ratios(0.4–4.6), indicating a magmatic origin. The zircon U–Pb ages obtained using LA–ICP–MS are 281 ± 1 Ma, 258 ± 1 Ma, 244 ± 1 Ma, and 216 ± 1 Ma, which indicate magmatism in the Early Permian–Late Triassic. A diorite from Bashihubei(BSHN) has SiO2 = 57.18–59.97 wt%, Al2O3 = 15.70–16.53 wt%, and total alkalis(Na2O + K2O) = 4.46–6.34 wt%, typical of calc-alkaline and metaluminous series. A gabbro from Bashibadaoban(BSBDB) belongs to the alkaline series, and is poor in SiO2(45.46–54.03 wt%) but rich in Al2O3(16.19–17.39 wt%) and total alkalis(Na2O + K2O = 5.48–6.26 wt%). The BSHN diorite and the BSBDB gabbro both display an enrichment of LREEs and LILEs and depletion of HFSEs, and they have no obvious Eu anomaly; they have relatively low MgO contents(2.54–4.93 wt%), Mg# values of 43 to 52, and low Cr and Ni contents(8.07–33.6 ppm and 4.41–14.2 ppm, respectively), indicating they differentiated from primitive mantle magmas. They have low Nb/U, Ta/U, and Ce/Pb ratios(1.3–9.6, 0.2–0.8, and 0.1–18.1, respectively), and their initial Hf isotopic ratios range from +9.6 to +16.9(BSHN diorite) and +6.5 to +12.6(BSBDB gabbro), suggesting their primary magmas were derived mainly from the partial melting of a mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction fluids. Taking all the new data together, we conclude that the western and eastern segment of the Jinshajiang suture regions underwent identical processes of evolution in the Early Permian–Late Triassic: oceanic crust subduction before the Early Permian, continental collision during the Early–Middle Triassic, and post-collisional extension from the Late Triassic.     

Age of the Marwar Supergroup,NW India:A note on the U–Pb geochronology of Jodhpur Group felsic volcanics

The Marwar Supergroup(NW Peninsular India)is thought to be of Ediacaran-Cambrian age,based on previous paleontological and geochronological studies.However,direct constraints on the onset of sedimentation within the Marwar basin are still scarce.In this study,we report U–Pb zircon,LA-ICP-MS,and SIMS ages from the Chhoti Khatu felsic volcanic rocks,interlayered with the Jodhpur Group sandstones(Lower Marwar Supergroup).The cathodoluminescence images of the zircons indicate complex morphologies,and core-rim textures coupled with the wide range of ages indicate that they are likely inherited or in the case of thin poorly indurated ash-beds,detrital in origin.The age spectra of 68 zircon analyses from our sampling display a dominant 800–900 Ma age peak corresponding to the age of basement"Erinpura granite"rocks in the region.The youngest inherited zircon from a felsic ash layer yielded a U–Pb age of651 Ma±18 Ma that,together with previous studies and paleontological evidence,indicates a postCryogenian age for the initiation of Marwar sedimentation following a~125 Ma hiatus between the end of Malani magmatism and Marwar deposition.     

Grain-size Age Model in Reconstructing Orbital- and Suborbital-scale Climate Changes on the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau Since the Late Glacial

Reconstructions of past climatic changes on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau(NETP) can provide insights into the Asian summer monsoon(ASM) variability. However, the regional climate changes on both orbital and suborbital time scales since the late Glacial remain controversial. Here we present the results of high-resolution geochemical and grain-size analyses of a sediment core from Genggahai Lake, a small, shallow lake in this area. Changes of the accumulation rate of the core sediments show a similar trend with variations of the coarse fraction. Accordingly, the chronological framework is constructed using a grain-size age model. In addition, the histories of chemical weathering and aeolian activity since the late Glacial are reconstructed based on the Al/Ti ratios and coarse fractions, respectively. The results suggest that an enhanced chemical weathering and a weakened aeolian activity occurred on the NETP under a warmer, wetter climate during the early to mid-Holocene(11.3–6.3 ka cal BP), compared with the late Glacial(17.1–11.3 ka cal BP) and the late Holocene(6.3 ka cal BP to present), which responded mainly to the strengthened ASM on orbital time scale. In addition, the synchronous occurrences of weakened chemical weathering, low lake level and intense aeolian activity on suborbital time scale reflect several episodes of weakened ASM. Furthermore, these episodes largely coincide with the centennial-to millennial-scale cold events in the North Atlantic, which demonstrates the close connection between the ASM and the cooling at high latitudes.     

Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Belog Co area, Qiangtang, northern Tibet, China： Petrochemical evidence for partial melting of the mantle-crust transition zone

Neogene volcanic rocks in the Belog Co area, Qiangtang, northern Tibet, are represented by a typical intermediate-basic and intermediate alkaline rock association, with latite-trachyte as the main rock type. The results of chemical analysis are: SiO2=52%–62%, Al2O3>15%, Na2O/K2O>1 and MgO<3.30%. In addition, the volcanic rocks are LREE-enriched with LREE/HREE=10–13, (La/Yb)N=15–19, and show a weak negative Eu anomaly with δEu=0.71–0.89. The close relationship between Mg# and SiO2 and the co-variation of the magmatophile elements and ultra-magmatophile elements such as La/Sm-La and Cr-Tb indicate that this association of volcanic rocks is the product of comagmatic fractional crystallization. The rock association type and lower Sm/Yb values (Sm/Yb=3.23–3.97) imply that this association of volcanic rocks should have originated from partial melting of spinel lherzolite in the lithospheric mantle. On the other hand, the weak negative Eu anomaly and relative depletion in Nb, Ta and Ti reflect the features of terrigenous magma. So the Neogene Belog Co alkaline volcanic rocks should be the result of partial melting of the special crust-mantle transition zone on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.     

Characteristics of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Tectonic Stress Fields of the Urumqi-Usu Region, Xinjiang

Based on the study of folds and related conjugate shear joints, the tectonic stress fields of the Urumqi-Usu region to the north of the North Tianshan Mountains have been reconstructed. Furthermore the author discussed the tectonic movements and their dynamic features. The early tectonic movement in the investigated region occurred from the end of the Late Jurassic to the initial stage of the Early Cretaceous, with the maximum (tensile) and minimum (compressional) principal stress trajectories in the tectonic stress field being in E-W and S-N directions respectively; the late tectogenesis took place from the end of the Early Pleistocene to the initial Middle Pleistocene, with the maximum and minimum principal stress trajectories in the late stress field striking in WNW and NE-NNE directions respectively. Through computer-aided simulated calculation by the finite element method and analysis of geological structure, it has been ascertained that the early tectogenesis is a nearly N-S compressive movement and the late one a NE to nearly N-S compressive movement with reverse shear. The dynamic force which caused the tectogeneses came from the movement of the southern major fault, i.e. the North Tianshan Mountains.     

Joint Inversion of the 3D P Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Upper Mantle under the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Using Regional Earthquake and Teleseismic Data

The special seismic tectonic environment and frequent seismicity in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau show that this area is an ideal location to study the present tectonic movement and background of strong earthquakes in mainland China and to predict future strong earthquake risk zones. Studies of the structural environment and physical characteristics of the deep structure in this area are helpful to explore deep dynamic effects and deformation field characteristics, to strengthen our understanding of the roles of anisotropy and tectonic deformation and to study the deep tectonic background of the seismic origin of the block's interior. In this paper, the three-dimensional(3D) P-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle under the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is obtained via observational data from 224 permanent seismic stations in the regional digital seismic network of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and from 356 mobile China seismic arrays in the southern section of the north–south seismic belt using a joint inversion method of the regional earthquake and teleseismic data. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of the P-wave velocity anomalies in the shallow upper crust is closely related to the surface geological structure, terrain and lithology. Baoxing and Kangding, with their basic volcanic rocks and volcanic clastic rocks, present obvious high-velocity anomalies. The Chengdu Basin shows low-velocity anomalies associated with the Quaternary sediments. The Xichang Mesozoic Basin and the Butuo Basin are characterised by lowvelocity anomalies related to very thick sedimentary layers. The upper and middle crust beneath the Chuan–Dian and Songpan–Ganzi Blocks has apparent lateral heterogeneities, including low-velocity zones of different sizes. There is a large range of low-velocity layers in the Songpan–Ganzi Block and the sub–block northwest of Sichuan Province, showing that the middle and lower crust is relatively weak. The Sichuan Basin, which is located in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, shows high-velocity characteristics. The results also reveal that there are continuous low-velocity layer distributions in the middle and lower crust of the Daliangshan Block and that the distribution direction of the low-velocity anomaly is nearly SN, which is consistent with the trend of the Daliangshan fault. The existence of the low-velocity layer in the crust also provides a deep source for the deep dynamic deformation and seismic activity of the Daliangshan Block and its boundary faults. The results of the 3D P-wave velocity structure show that an anomalous distribution of high-density, strong-magnetic and high-wave velocity exists inside the crust in the Panxi region. This is likely related to late Paleozoic mantle plume activity that led to a large number of mafic and ultra-mafic intrusions into the crust. In the crustal doming process, the massive intrusion of mantle-derived material enhanced the mechanical strength of the crustal medium. The P-wave velocity structure also revealed that the upper mantle contains a low-velocity layer at a depth of 80–120 km in the Panxi region. The existence of deep faults in the Panxi region, which provide conditions for transporting mantle thermal material into the crust, is the deep tectonic background forthe area's strong earthquake activity.     

An X-Ray Diffraction Study of an Inclusion in Diamond from the Luobusha Chromite Deposit in Tibet, China

Diamond was found in podiform chromitites of ophiolite and harzburgite from Luobusha, Tibet. There are silicate inclusions in some diamond grains from this area. In the present work, the CCD (charge coupled detector) technology of X-ray powder diffraction was applied to the study of the inclusion in diamond from the ophiolite of Tibet. Diffraction patterns are obtained even though the inclusion is only 20 μm in crystal size. The results show that the inclusion in diamond consists of talc and clinochrysotile. Therefore, it is clear that the diamond from the ophiolite of Luobusha, Tibet, is natural diamond rather than a synthetic one.     

Source and Significance of Detrital Zircons from Mesozoic Sandstones of the Upper Yangtze Block, China

In this study, we report U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data for zircons from the Mesozoic sandstones of the Upper Yangtze area, which provide critical constraints on the provenance of these sediments and further shed light on the crustal evolution of the Upper Yangtze block. The results of isotopic chronology indicate the following: (1) The provenances of the study area are very complex, and the tectonic evolution process is relatively closed. (2) The provenances are mainly Archean–Proterozoic crystalline basement or recycled material; Paleoproterozoic crustal accretion in the western margin of the Yangtze block and Neoproterozoic magmatic activities related to subduction of the western margin of the Yangtze block; early Cambrian oceanic magmatic activity, which resulted from the intraplate extension of the northern margin of the Yangtze block; late Ordovician–early Silurian magmatic activity in the northern Yangtze block and Hercynian–Indochina uplift and erosion during the Hercynian movement. (3) The Yangtze crustal growth is episodic, and an increasing amount of ancient recycled material became part of the magmatic activity, as the zircon U–Pb ages are relatively young.     

Evolution of the magmatic–hydrothermal system and formation of the giant Zhuxi W–Cu deposit in South China

The Zhuxi deposit is a recently discovered W–Cu deposit located in the Jiangnan porphyry–skarn W belt in South China. The deposit has a resource of 3.44 million tonnes of WO3, making it the largest on Earth,however its origin and the evolution of its magmatic–hydrothermal system remain unclear, largely because alteration–mineralization types in this giant deposit have been less well-studied, apart from a study of the calcic skarn orebodies. The different types of mineralization can be classified into magnesian skarn, calcic skarn, and scheelite–quartz–muscovite(SQM) vein types. Field investigations and mineralogical analyses show that the magnesian skarn hosted by dolomitic limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–pyralspite(pyrope, almandine, and spessartine) series, diopside, serpentine,and Mg-rich chlorite. The calcic skarn hosted by limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–andradite series, hedenbergite, wollastonite, epidote, and Fe-rich chlorite. The SQM veins host highgrade W–Cu mineralization and have overprinted the magnesian and calcic skarn orebodies. Scheelite is intergrown with hydrous silicates in the retrograde skarn, or occurs with quartz, chalcopyrite, sulfide minerals, fluorite, and muscovite in the SQM veins.Fluid inclusion investigations of the gangue and ore minerals revealed the evolution of the ore-forming fluids, which involved:(1) melt and coexisting high–moderate-salinity, high-temperature, high-pressure(>450 ℃and >1.68 kbar), methane-bearing aqueous fluids that were trapped in prograde skarn minerals;(2) moderate–low-salinity, moderate-temperature, moderate-pressure(~210–300 ℃and ~0.64 kbar),methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the retrograde skarn-type W orebodies;(3) low-salinity,moderate–low-temperature, moderate-pressure(~150–240 ℃and ~0.56 kbar), methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the quartz–sulfide Cu(–W) orebodies in skarn;(4) moderate–low-salinity,moderate-temperature, low-pressure(~150–250 ℃and ~0.34 kbar) alkanes-dominated aqueous fluids in the SQM vein stage, which led to the formation of high-grade W–Cu orebodies. The S–Pb isotopic compositions of the sulfides suggest that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from magma generated by crustal anatexis, with minor addition of a mantle component. The H–O isotopic compositions of quartz and scheelite indicate that the ore-forming fluids originated mainly from magmatic water with later addition of meteoric water. The C–O isotopic compositions of calcite indicate that the ore-forming fluid was originally derived from granitic magma, and then mixed with reduced fluid exsolved from local carbonate strata. Depressurization and resultant fluid boiling were key to precipitation of W in the retrograde skarn stage. Mixing of residual fluid with meteoric water led to a decrease in fluid salinity and Cu(–W) mineralization in the quartz–sulfide stage in skarn. The high-grade W–Cu mineralization in the SQM veins formed by multiple mechanisms, including fracturing, and fluid immiscibility, boiling, and mixing.     

Application of the Sequence Stratigraphy in the Study of Cretaceous-Tertiary of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China

1. IntroductionThe Tarim basin, one of the most developed and important areas of marine Cretaceous-Tertiary in China except for south Tibet, is very rich in oil and gas, such as Kekeya oilfield in southwestern Tarim and Kela2 gas field in northeastern Tarim. Because of the expansion, subduction of the oceanic crust of the Tethys and the collision between the India plate and the Eurasia plate during the Cretaceous-Tertiary, the Tethys transgressed into the Tarim basin from west to east fr…     

Emplacement Ages and Petrogenesis of the Molybdenum–bearing Granites in the Jinduicheng Area of East Qinling, China: Constraints from Zircon U–Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes

The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geochemical features of the granites in the Jinduicheng area can provide essential information for the exploration and development of the porphyry molybdenum deposit. In this study, we report LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb age and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of granite porphyries from the Jinduicheng area, and provide insights on the petrogensis and source characteristics of the granites. The results show that the zircon U–Pb ages of the Jinduicheng granite porphyry (143±1 Ma) and the Balipo granite (154±1 Ma), agree well with the Re–Os ages of molybdenite in the Jinduicheng molybdenum polymetallic deposit (139±3 Ma) and the Balipo molybdenum polymetallic deposit (156±2 Ma), indicating that the emplacement of granite porphyries occurred between Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Zircons granite from the Jinduicheng area give the εHf(t) values mainly ranging from ?10 to ?16, and ?20 to ?24, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.86–2.0 Ga, and 2.2–2.6 Ga, respectively) of zircons of the granite from the Jinduicheng values. The ore–forming materials are mainly derived from crust, with minor mantle substances. Zircons of the granite from the Balipo area give εHf(t) values ranging from ?18 to ?20, ?28 to ?38, and ?42 to ?44, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.88–3.0 Ga, and 3.2–3.90 Ga, respectively). the εHf(t) values of the Jinduicheng porphyry more than that of the Balipo porphyry, and two–stage model ages (tDM2) less than that of the Balipo porphyry, shows that he source of the porphyries originated from ancient lower crustal materials in the Jinduicheng area, and mixed younger components, more younger components contributed for the source of the Jinduicheng porphyry.     

Early Neoproterozoic Granite-Gneisses of the Junggar Alataw (Southeastern Kazakhstan): Age, Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

The combined petrographic, petrological, geochemical and geochronological study of the Neoproterozoic gneisses of the Sarychabyn and Baskan complexes of the Junggar Alataw of South Kazakhstan elucidate the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Aktau–Yili terrane. It is one of the largest Precambrian crustal blocks in the western Central Asian orogenic belt. The U-Pb single-grain zircon ages indicate that granite-gneisses formed from the same source and crystallised in the early Neoproterozoic ca. 930–920 Ma. The chemical composition of gneisses corresponds to A2-type granites. The whole-rock Nd isotopic characteristics (εNd(t) = ?4.9 to ?1.0 and TNd(DM-2st) = 1.9 to 1.7 Ga) indicate the involvement of Paleoproterozoic crustal rocks in magma generation. Early Neoproterozoic ca. 930–920 Ma A-type granitoids in the Aktau–Yili terrane of South and Central Kazakhstan might reflect within-plate magmatism adjacent to the collisional belt or a local extension setting in back-arc areas of the continental arc.