Ocean, continents and orogens

In this paper, the processes related to subduction and mountain building are discussed, and some new models and notions are proposed.At all known epochs, the Earth's surface comprised essentially migrating plates and large belts (of the order of 10,000 × 2000 km) where the lithosphere is mobilised, so that subductions and crustal resorption occur in complex structural patterns. Through time, these orogens start as island arcs and evolve into folded ranges.The formation and location of island-arc belts is shown to be related to the obliquity between rifts and continental margins i.e. to lateral relative movements of plates: torsion couples are developed bringing arcs to bulge through the inducted arc mechanism. This accounts for tensions prevailing in the back-arc basin while compressive stresses accumulate as vertical deformations in the arc-trench or uplift—subsidence couple. When the rupture limit is reached, a tangential tectonic phase occurs.It is suggested that the energy output (heat flow) varies with the pressure exerted by the top (elastic) lithosphere upon the underlying mantle. A compensation tends to be established between the inner flow and tectonic stress, as the latter brings about pressure variations through uplift-subsidence couples. These may therefore be related to the generation of paired metamorphic belts.The evolution from island arcs to completed folded ranges is briefly described, with special attention being paid to ophiolitic and crystalline basement nappes, as well as to strike-slip faults, which are the final expression of lateral relative movements.     

Problems of geodynamics, tectonics, and metallogeny of orogens

This is an overview of papers published in the present volume of Russian Geology and Geophysics (Geologiya i Geofizika), a special issue that covers presentations at the International Conference “Geodynamic Evolution, Tectonics, and Metallogeny of Orogens”, held on 28–30 June 2010 in Novosibirsk (http://altay2010.igm.nsc.ru). The workshop concerned the general evolution of the Central Asian orogenic system, with a special focus on continental growth, history of oceans and continental margins, and role of plumes in accretionary-collisional tectonics and metallogeny. The discussed papers are grouped in three sections: 1. General issues of geodynamics and geodynamic evolution; 2. Role of mantle plumes in tectonics, magmatism, and metallogeny; 3. Regional tectonic and geodynamic problems of Asia.The synthesis of data reported at the workshop demonstrates critical importance of mantle plumes for the evolution of the Paleoasian ocean and for orogenic processes in Central Asia.In addition to three large pulses of continental growth at about 2900–2700, 1900–1700, and 900–700 Ma, three orogenic stages have been distinguished in the geological history of Eurasia: Late Cambrian–Ordovician (510–470 Ma), Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous (380–320 Ma), and Permian–Triassic (285–230 Ma). In the evolution of the Central Asian orogen, these stages were associated with events of ultramafic-mafic and bimodal plume magmatism which promoted translithospheric strike-slip faulting. Plume magmatism was an active agent in ocean opening when the Paleotethys, Ural, Ob–Zaisan, and Turkestan basins appeared while the Late Cambrian–Ordovician orogen was forming in Central Asia (North Kazakhstan, Altai–Sayan, Tuva, and Baikal areas). Closure of the Ob–Zaisan ocean and collision of the Kazakhstan–Baikal continent with Siberia in the Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous was coeval with the maximum opening of the Turkestan ocean, possibly, as a consequence of plume activity. The Tarim (285–275 Ma) and Siberian (250–230 Ma) superplume events corresponded in time to closure of the Ural ocean and opening of the Meso- and Neotethys, as well as to major metallogenic events.     

Interaction of metamorphism, deformation and exhumation in large convergent orogens

Coupled thermal‐mechanical models are used to investigate interactions between metamorphism, deformation and exhumation in large convergent orogens, and the implications of coupling and feedback between these processes for observed structural and metamorphic styles. The models involve subduction of suborogenic mantle lithosphere, large amounts of convergence (≥ 450 km) at 1 cm yr^?1, and a slope‐dependent erosion rate. The model crust is layered with respect to thermal and rheological properties — the upper crust (0–20 km) follows a wet quartzite flow law, with heat production of 2.0 μW m^?3, and the lower crust (20–35 km) follows a modified dry diabase flow law, with heat production of 0.75 μW m^?3. After 45 Myr, the model orogens develop crustal thicknesses of the order of 60 km, with lower crustal temperatures in excess of 700 °C. In some models, an additional increment of weakening is introduced so that the effective viscosity decreases to 10¹⁹ Pa.s at 700 °C in the upper crust and 900 °C in the lower crust. In these models, a narrow zone of outward channel flow develops at the base of the weak upper crustal layer where T≥600 °C. The channel flow zone is characterised by a reversal in velocity direction on the pro‐side of the system, and is driven by a depth‐dependent pressure gradient that is facilitated by the development of a temperature‐dependent low viscosity horizon in the mid‐crust. Different exhumation styles produce contrasting effects on models with channel flow zones. Post‐convergent crustal extension leads to thinning in the orogenic core and a corresponding zone of shortening and thrust‐related exhumation on the flanks. Velocities in the pro‐side channel flow zone are enhanced but the channel itself is not exhumed. In contrast, exhumation resulting from erosion that is focused on the pro‐side flank of the plateau leads to ‘ductile extrusion’ of the channel flow zone. The exhumed channel displays apparent normal‐sense offset at its upper boundary, reverse‐sense offset at its lower boundary, and an ‘inverted’ metamorphic sequence across the zone. The different styles of exhumation produce contrasting peak grade profiles across the model surfaces. However, P–T–t paths in both cases are loops where P_max precedes T_max, typical of regional metamorphism; individual paths are not diagnostic of either the thickening or the exhumation mechanism. Possible natural examples of the channel flow zones produced in these models include the Main Central Thrust zone of the Himalayas and the Muskoka domain of the western Grenville orogen.     

Recognizing soft-sediment structures in deformed rocks of orogens

Soft-sediment deformation structures are common on passive continental margins, in trenches at subduction zones, and in strike-slip environments. Rocks from all these tectonic environments are incorporated into orogens, where soft-sediment deformation structures should be common. However, recognizing soft-sediment structures is difficult where superimposed tectonic structures are present. In seeking characteristic features of soft-sediment deformation, it is important to separate questions that relate to physical state (lithified or unlithified) from those that address the overall kinematic style (rooted or gravity driven). One recognizable physical state is liquefaction, which produces sand that has much lower strength than interbedded mud. Hence structures which indicate that mud was stronger than adjacent sand at the time of deformation can be used as indicators of soft-sediment deformation. These include angular fragments of mud surrounded by sand, dykes of sand cutting mud, and most usefully, folded sandstone layers displaying class 3 geometry interbedded with mud layers that show class 1 geometry. All these geometries have the potential to survive overprinting by later superimposed tectonic deformation; when preserved in deformed sedimentary rocks at low metamorphic grade they are indicators of liquefaction of unlithified sediment during deformation.     

豫西东秦岭造山带低压变质带的变质变形和变质反应

豫西西峡北部低压变质带受到４次变形改造。低压变质作用主要发生在Ｄ１和Ｄ２变形间期，形成黑云母－红柱石、石榴石－红柱石、十字石－红柱石和堇青石－红柱石４个递增变质带。由矿物变质反应识别出堇青石－红柱石带ｐ－Ｔ趋势具有减压增温特点，这一演化特征可能反映变质作用具有地壳拉张的地球动力学特点。     

碰撞带热结构与碰撞成矿系统

造山带热结构对大陆碰撞带的形态大小、构造式样、岩浆活动和变质作用具有重要控制作用。然而,热结构对碰撞成矿作用的控制还不清楚。本文概述比利牛斯、阿尔卑斯、加里东、扎格罗斯、青藏高原和华力西等全球主要碰撞带的热结构与成矿系统发育特征,对比各个造山带内不同矿床类型成矿温度变化,探讨热结构对碰撞成矿的控制作用。研究表明,碰撞带主要发育盆地流体有关的密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床、变质流体有关的造山型金矿床和岩浆热液有关矿床(斑岩铜矿床、云英岩型钨锡矿床和岩浆热液有关的铌钽锂铍矿床等)。其中,前两者在大多数碰撞带内均有发育,代表了大陆碰撞成矿作用的基本类型。这些矿床的成矿温度在热碰撞带比较高而在冷碰撞带则偏低。岩浆热液有关矿床一般只出现在比较热的碰撞带内,这些热碰撞带的温度压力条件有很大区域在湿固相线以内,热扰动能够造就地壳发生部分熔融形成含矿岩浆。     

藏北丁固地区变质岩分布特征及变质演化模式

在藏北丁固地区,变质岩广泛分布,主要为区域变质岩,少量接触变质岩、混合岩化变质岩及动力变质岩。变质类型、变质岩相及变质岩石组合的空间分布等,受地层时代、原岩性质、地质构造及中酸性侵入岩体等多重因素控制。本文初步建立其综合模式。     

Geodynamic evolution of the mauritanide,bassaride, and rokelide orogens (West Africa)

The Mauritanide, Bassaride and Rokelide orogens occur along the western edge of the West African Craton. These record a polyphase tectonothermal evolution, including Pan African I (c. 650 Ma) and Pan African II (c. 550 Ma) events together with local Hercynian (late Paleozoic) overprinting. Pan African I activity is most penetratively recorded in the Bassarides, and resulted from late Proterozoic collision of a western continental structural block. Pan African II orogenesis increases in intensity from the southern Mauritanides through the Bassarides and dominates the Rokelides. This tectonothermal activity appears to reflect collision of the West African and Guyanean Cratons during assembly of Gondwana. Hercynian activity is concentrated along the margin of a western continental block which underwent relative eastward translation during collision of Gondwana and Laurentia. This resulted in extensive thrusting of intracontinental foreland sequences (external nappes) and more ductile imbrications of pre-deformed and metamorphosed late Proterozoic rift sequences and western calc-alkaline igneous successions (internal nappes).     

Petrology, Origin and Metamorphic History of Proterozoic-aged Granulites of the Natal Metamorphic Province, Southeastern Africa

The geochemistry of the Leisure Bay Formation, Natal Metamorphic Province suggests that its protoliths were greywackes, pelites and arkoses that were deposited in an oceanic island arc environment. These rocks contain the mineral assemblage biotite + hypersthene + cordierite (with hercynite inclusions) + garnet + quartz + feldspar. Numerous generations of garnet genesis are evident from which a long history of metamorphism can be interpreted. M₁ involved syn-D₁ high temperature/low pressure metamorphism (4kb and >850^oC) and dehydration melting to produce essentially anhydrous assemblages particularly in the vicinity of, and probably related to the intrusion of the Munster Suite sills. The inclusions of hercynite in cordierite and the garnet + quartz symplectites after hypersthene + plagioclase (550^oC and 5kb) suggests isobaric cooling after M₁. This indicates an anticlockwise P-T loop related to the early intrusion of subduction related calc-alkaline magmatic rocks. M₂ involved syn-D₂ dehydration melting of hydrous assemblages possibly related to the emplacement of many A-type rapakivi charnockite granitoids, which provided heat and loading. The D₂ tectonism post-dated all lithologies in the region, except for syn- to late-D₂ granitoid plutons, and is interpreted as a transpressional tectonothermal reworking of pre-existing (Proterozoic) crust at 1030Ma.     

新疆西天山高压变质带的变质矿物与变质作用演化

新疆西天山高压变质带主要由石榴石，角闪石，绿辉石，多硅白云母，钠云母，绿帘石，绿泥石，钠长石，石英，榍石和金红石等组成，石榴石主要含铁铝榴石组份，角闪石有蓝闪石，亚铁蓝闪石，青铝闪石，冻蓝闪石等类型，变质矿物组合显示高压变质带经历了由硬柱石蓝片岩相，榴辉岩相，绿帘蓝片岩相至绿片岩相的变质作用演化进程。     

西藏拉轨岗日核杂岩盖层变质分带特征及其地质意义

藏南拉轨岗日由一系列链状的热穹隆构成, 总体呈东西向延伸, 每一个热穹隆是一个变质核杂岩, 核部发育大量变质岩, 基底与盖层之间发育拆离断层.通过对拉轨岗日变质带及其特征变质矿物进行化学成分分析和温度压力估算, 得出拉轨岗日变质带的分带规律及矿物成分、变质温度、压力、深度的变化规律, 为拉轨岗日变质核杂岩的热活动提供了佐证.      

Interplay of magmatism,sedimentation, and collision processes in the Siberian craton and the flanking orogens

The interplay of geodynamic and sedimentation processes in the Central Asian orogen and the Siberian craton is discussed in several aspects: (i) general tectonics of the Central Asian orogen, (ii) correlation of deposition and collision events, (iii) deposition history and sediment sources on the northern and eastern margins of the Siberian craton, compared, and (iv) history of the Central Asian orogen (Altaids) and formation of Early Mesozoic sedimentary basins.Chemical and isotope compositions and geochronology of Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic sedimentary sequences indicate deposition synchronicity in basins of different types, within both the craton and the orogen. Thus geodynamic models of deposition in separate basins provide reliable evidence of the history of orogens flanking the Siberian craton.The study has confirmed the existence of the Vendian–Early Paleozoic Charysh–Terekta–Ulagan–Sayan–Olkhon strike-slip suture between the continental-margin complexes of Siberia and Kazakhstan, with the crust of juvenile and mixed types, respectively. Late Paleozoic large-scale strike-slip faulting deformed the previous tectonic framework and caused tectonic mixing of the older structures on different margins. This superposed deformation makes it difficult to decipher the paleogeography, paleotectonics, and paleogeodynamics of the Central Asian orogen.     

Spatial and temporal radiogenic isotopic trends of magmatism in Cordilleran orogens

An intrinsic feature of Cordillera-style orogenic systems is a spatial trend in the radiogenic isotopic composition of subduction-related magmatism. Magmatism is most isotopically juvenile near the trench and becomes increasingly evolved landward. A compilation of radiogenic isotopic data from the central Andes, U.S. Cordillera, and Tibet (the most well-studied examples of modern and ancient Cordilleran systems) demonstrate such spatial trends are long-lived and persist throughout the life of these continental subduction margins. The consistency of the isotopic trend through time in magmatic products is surprising considering the plethora of orogenic processes that might be expected to alter them. In addition to longevity, spatial isotopic trends encompass a broad spectrum of geochemical compositions that represent diverse petrogenetic and geodynamic processes. The two end-members of the spatial isotopic trends are represented by melts sourced within isotopically juvenile asthenospheric mantle and melts sourced from isotopically evolved continental lithospheric mantle and/or lower crust. Mantle lithosphere generally thins toward the magmatic arc and trench in Cordilleran orogens because sub-lithospheric processes such as delamination, subduction erosion, and subduction ablation, operate to thin or remove the continental mantle lithosphere. With time, magmatic additions may impart the isotopic composition of the mantle source on the lower crust, giving rise to an isotopically homogenous deep lithosphere. The results of this analysis have significant implications for interpreting temporal and spatial shifts in isotopic composition within Cordilleran orogens and suggest that the continental mantle lithosphere may be a significant source of magmatism in orogenic interiors.     

闽北麻源群变质流体对变质反应温度缓冲作用研究

闽北麻源群在空间上表现为巴罗式递增变质带：绿泥石带→黑云母带→石榴石带→十字石带→蓝晶石带→夕线石带。变质温度计算结果表明,区内蓝晶石带变质温度（４７０℃～５００℃）明显低于石榴石带和十字石带变质温度（５００℃～５５０℃）,即蓝晶石带在石榴石带和十字石带之前出现。这显然与传统的递增变质带理论相悖。流体组成化学平衡计算和变质反应热力学分析研究表明,蓝晶石带较低的变质温度并非是压力或退化变质作用所致,而是低ＸＨ２Ｏ流体对形成蓝晶石的脱水变质反应温度缓冲的结果,缓冲温度值高达１００℃～２００℃。本文从热力学理论上解释了缓冲作用的机制并估算了缓冲的温度范围,据此讨论了变质流体在变质相带研究方面的重要意义。     

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd Mineral Isochron Ages of the Metamorphic Rocks in the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex, South Africa

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic studies were carried out for metamorphic rocks in the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex, South Africa. The metamorphic rocks give the Rb-Sr mineral isochron ages (whole-rock - biotite - felsic fractions) of 844±85 Ma and 811.6±6.6 Ma for the lower granulite zone and of 776.5±5.4 Ma for the upper granulite zone. The rocks yield the Sm-Nd mineral isochron ages of 1071±18 Ma (whole-rock - garnet - felsic fractions) and 1067±158 Ma (whole-rock - hornblende - biotite rich fraction - felsic fractions) for the lower granulite zone and of 1052.0±3.6 Ma and 1002.5±1.4 Ma (whole-rock - garnet - felsic fractions) for the upper granulite zone. These age data suggest that the granulite facies metamorphism took place at 1060-1000 Ma, and that the rocks cooled down at 850-780 Ma. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of metamorphic rocks are different between the lower and upper granulite zones.     

淹没植物条件下明渠KH涡的垂向几何尺度和频率

含淹没植物明渠中存在的Kelvin-Helmholtz（KH）涡,对水流能量交换和物质输移具有直接的影响。基于淹没刚性植物条件下的水槽实验,利用粒子图像测速技术（PIV）得到瞬时流速场和涡量场,定量刻画KH涡的垂向几何尺度（上下边界和垂向作用范围）,结合三维声学多普勒流速仪（ADV）测量的流速时间序列和小波变换方法,分析KH涡的频率,研究植物淹没度对KH涡上下边界位置、作用范围和频率的影响。研究发现:本实验确定的KH涡上、下边界与根据能量分布计算得到的混合层上、下边界基本一致;在本实验条件下,KH涡上边界为0.7~0.8倍水深,下边界在植物密度一定时围绕一常数波动,KH涡的频率在0.14~0.20 Hz之间;随着淹没度的增大,KH涡的上边界升高,下边界变化不明显,作用范围和频率增大。     

苏北高压变质带及其与北侧超高压变质带的关系

在苏北超高压变质带以南存在一条与之平行的高压变质带。带内由东南向西北可进一步划分出蓝闪石-黑硬绿泥石带,石榴石-绿帘石带和蓝晶石-黄玉带三个变质亚带。从蓝门石-黑硬绿泥石带到蓝晶石-黄玉带变质温压逐渐升高,其峰期地热梯度为15±3℃/km,属于高压变质相系。北侧超高压变质带的典型矿物组合是石榴石+绿辉石+柯石英+金红石,地热梯度为9±2℃/km。高压变质带峰期变质与北侧超高压带峰期变质的地热梯度明显不同,而与超高压变质体的退变质地热梯度相吻合。结合同位素年代学资料,本文指出本区的高压变质作用与北侧的超高压变质作用不是同时发生,而是与超高压变质体的退变质作用同时发生于中生代的印支期。含柯石英榴辉岩的超高压峰期变质早于印支期,并经两次抬升出露于地表。     

Deformation localization in orogens: Spatiotemporal expression and thermodynamic constraint

Orogens are spatiotemporal expressions of instabilities in materials under load, constrained by thermodynamics, and preserved in the cold outer shell of the planet. Their pressure–temperature–time histories are consistent with the predictions of differential grade-2 (DG-2) materials in pure shear. We place the statistically invariant shear localization mechanism of these materials in a coherent thermodynamic context using an analysis of strained elastic materials. This prototype system exhibits non-classical thermodynamic symmetry-breaking, where the potentials are all functions of a single variable and the distinction between heat and work fades from view. Consequently, internal energy must be described by a monotonically decreasing function of the entropy in order for heat capacity and absolute temperature to be positive. The entropy itself exhibits an inverse dependence on length. These constraints are satisfied by the overall shape and slope of the distributed deformation threshold ψ^D for DG-2 materials, and its noted 1/length correlation with naturally observed folds as a function of thermomechanical competence κ/χ. We predict that temperature in this non-linear elastic material will vary in proportion to the slope of ψ^D, being high at low competence, and low at high competence. Similar constraints apply to a self-gravitating body, where the energy function varies inversely with radius. Assigning zero pressure at the surface of the body, we also predict that pressure, the tensor trace of its stress–energy density, will vary inversely with radius. Thus, the body force of gravity will be expressed in this elastic self-gravitating system through the interplay of elastic and thermal lengths. Deformation localization in DG-2 materials arises due to the dynamic rescaling of lengths in response to a spike in the intrinsic energy ψ^I at κ/χ = ½. While the intrinsic ψ^I and localization ψ^L thresholds are monotonically decreasing for κ/χ > ½, they exhibit positive slopes at lower competence, signaling a return to classical thermodynamics and Joule heating in this transitional domain. Numerous structural and tectonic observations can be correlated using this remarkably simple model, beginning with the thickness and mechanical character of the brittle crust and oceanic lithosphere. In effect, this model projects the kinematic theory of plate tectonics into four-dimensional spacetime.     

变质核杂岩的旋扭成因：滇东南老君山变质核杂岩的构造解析

通过滇东南老君山变质核杂岩特征及周围构造环境的力学分析及历史分析认为,该变质核杂岩实质上是旋扭构造的砥柱,而旋扭构造又源于文山－麻栗坡断裂的走滑运动,拆离伸展构造晚于旋扭构造。因此提出了变质核杂岩旋扭成因的新看法,并认为越北古陆的形成是由于印度板块与扬子板块的碰撞导致红河断裂和文山－麻栗坡断裂的走滑运动进而引起的旋扭隆升。后期叠加伸展拆离作用。     

Proterozoic orogens in southern Peninsular India: Contiguities and complexities

The Precambrian terranes of southern Peninsular India have been central to discussions on the history of formation and breakup of supercontinents. Of particular interest are the Proterozoic high grade metamorphic orogens at the southern and eastern margins of the Indian shield, skirting the 3.4 Ga Dharwar craton which not only preserve important records of lower crustal processes and lithospheric geodynamics, but also carry imprints of the tectonic framework related to the assembly of the major Neoproterozoic supercontinents – Rodinia and Gondwana. These Proterozoic orogens are described as Southern Granulite Terrane (SGT) in the southern tip and the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) in the eastern domains of the peninsula. The contiguity of these orogens is broken for a distance of ∼400 km and disappears in the Bay of Bengal. These orogens expose windows of middle to lower crust with well-preserved rock records displaying multiple tectonothermal events and multiphase exhumation paths.Recent studies in these orogens have led to the recognition of discrete crustal blocks or terranes separated by major shear zone systems, some of which represent collisional sutures. The SGT and EGMB carry several important features such as fold-thrust tectonics, regional granulite facies metamorphism of up to ultrahigh-temperature conditions in some cases, multiple P–T paths, development of lithospheric shear zones, emplacement of ophiolites, presence of alkaline and anorthositic complexes, development of crustal-scale “flower structures”, transpressional strains, and reactivation tectonics. A heterogeneous distribution of different metamorphic and magmatic assemblages with distinct spatial and temporal strain variations in shaping the fabric elements in different blocks is identified. Both EGMB and SGT share a common transpressional deformation history during the latest Neoproterozoic characterized by the steepening of the initial low angle crustal scale structures leading to a subvertical grain conducive to reactivation tectonics. Our synthesis of the spatial distribution, geometry, kinematics and the transpressional strain of the shear zone systems provides insights into the tectono-metamorphic history of the Proterozoic orogens of southern India and their contiguity and complexities. Recent understanding of subduction, accretion and collisional history along these zones together with a long lived transpressional tectonic regime imply that these orogens witnessed identical tectonic regimes at different times in Earth history, although the major and common structural architecture was built during the final assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.