Fragmentation and assembly of the continents,Mid-carboniferous to present

Eighteen maps showing the motions of the major continents following the break-up of Wegener's Pangaea in the Early to Mid-Jurassic are presented. Palaeolatitudes are determined palaeomagnetically, palaeolongitudes mainly from sea-floor spreading evidence. The break-up commences with the opening of the southern North Atlantic in the mid-Jurassic and its extension north and south in the Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Concurrently the northern continents move northwards away from the southern continents (Gondwana) and a continuous east-west seaway is formed between them in the Cretaceous. Successive fragmentation of continents then created the Arctic, Indian and Antarctic Oceans. Five maps showing the disposition of land in the Permian are also given. These are based on the palaeomagnetic evidence and the idea of minimizing the motions required to bring the continents into their known Early Jurassic configuration. The Permian maps show Gondwana situated further east than in the Pangaea configuration of Wegener. There are severe problems in constructing palaeogeographical maps for the Triassic and none are presented. Palaeomagnetic results from smaller crustal fragments are also reviewed and the evidence for the former dismemberment of Eurasia and the western part of the North American cordillera are set out. The results indicate that most orogenies are to some degree collisional in nature.     

A palaeomagnetic and petromagnetic study of Upper-Carboniferous,Permian and Triassic sediments,NW Bulgaria

Summary In order to obtain basic palaeomagnetic data on Upper Carboniferous, Permian and Triassic sediments collected from the NW Bulgaria, laboratory stability tests were extended from A.C. and thermal treatments to studies of mineral phase changes and to investigations of changes of magnetic anisotropy during laboratory procedures. Laboratory criteria were found which permitted to distinguish samples suitable for palaeomagnetic analyses from those representing rocks totally or almost totally chemically reworked during their history. Palaeomagnetic directions and pole positions derived from Stephanian, Lower Permian and Triassic rocks from the southern margin of the Moesian Platform are compatible with the values obtained for the tectonically stable North-European Platform.     

Palaeomagnetism and palaeogeography of Variscan formations of the Bohemian massif: A comparison with other regions in Europe

Summary Statistical evaluation of palaeomagnetic data from the Early Carboniferous to the Middle Triassic rocks in Europe, north of the Alpine tectonic belt, confirmed previously defined palaeotectonic stability of the whole European Plate since the Early Permian. The Trans-European Suture Zone represents a plate boundary, SW of which the Early Variscan and pre-Variscan formations show different degrees of palaeotectonic rotations, predominantly rotations of clockwise sense. A theoretical model simulating the translation and rotation movements was proposed showing that the West European Variscides underwent Hercynian palaeotectonic rotations comparable with the rotations derived for the Alpine tectonic belt.     

The South American palaeomagnetic data and the main episodes of the fragmentation of Gondwana

The South American palaeomagnetic poles published after the Upper Mantle Conference on Solid Earth Problems held at Buenos Aires in 1970, are summarized.The Late Palaeozoic-Cretaceous section of the South American polar wandering curve is now defined on the basis of twenty palaeomagnetic poles; these poles define five “age groups” at Late Carboniferous, Permo-Carboniferous, Middle Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous times.The comparison of the Late Palaeozoic-Mesozoic sections of the polar wandering curves of South America, Australia and Africa suggests that the former fragmentation of the Gondwana occurred in Late Carboniferous or Permo-Carboniferous times and that the origin of the South Atlantic Ocean took place after the Middle Jurassic (160 m.y.) but before the Early Cretaceous (120 m.y.).     

Paleomagnetism of Carboniferous-Permian and early jurassic geological complexes in Mongolia

Paleomagnetic characteristics of Carboniferous-Permian and Early Mesozoic geological complexes in Mongolia are studied. The studied rocks are shown to possess a multicomponent magnetization. Lowtemperature overprinting components of normal polarity discovered in nearly all of the studied strata were acquired after main deformation stages of the rocks, apparently in the Cenozoic. High-temperature overprinting components of reversed polarity identified in rocks of an active continental margin (ACM) were acquired when bimodal magma melts moved through ACM volcanic sequences. Late Carboniferous and Early Permian paleomagnetic poles of Mongolia calculated from directions of primary magnetization components are, respectively (Λ = 154.6, Φ = 32.2, A = 7.8) and (Λ = 95, Φ = 71, A = 8.7). Apparently, the territory of Mongolia in the Early Permian was a margin of the Siberian craton and was separated from the Northern China block by a basin extending for no less than 2000 km in the E-W direction. The strike of a marginal-continental volcanic belt was submeridional and a plate subducted under the continent from the east. Late Carboniferous-Permian intraplate magmatic complexes of Mongolia formed at various latitudes from various mantle sources during the northward movement of the Mongolian part of the Siberian continent. The oldest bimodal sequences of the Gobi-Tien Shan zone (318–314 Ma) formed at more southern latitudes (40°–47°–54°N) as compared with the 275-Ma complexes of the Gobi-Altai zone (51°–58°–67°N). Thus, sources of the Carboniferous-Permian intraplate magmatism in Central Asia either occupied a vast mantle region (up to 1000 km in the latitude direction) or moved together with the Asian continent.     

Evidence of widespread Cretaceous remagnetisation in the Iberian Range and its relation with the rotation of Iberia

A palaeomagnetic investigation has been carried out at 13 sites of Jurassic age in the Iberian Range (northern Spain). Two components of remanent magnetisation have been found at each site. A primary high-temperature component shows an average counterclockwise rotation with respect to the north of 33±2° clockwise about a vertical axis corresponding to the absolute rotation of the Iberian plate since the Jurassic. A secondary low-temperature component shows a systematic declination difference of 16±4° with respect to the primary component. This indicates that a rotation of Iberia must have occurred between the two acquisition times. Comparison of the magnetisation directions with previous palaeomagnetic data and with sea-floor spreading data, constrains the age of the remagnetisation between 95 and 125 Ma. The remagnetisation may be associated with the extensional phases in the Iberian Basin in the Early Cretaceous (Barremian–early Albian) or Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian). A principal characteristic of the remagnetisation is its widespread character in the Iberian Range.     

A new palaeomagnetic result from East Africa and estimates of the Mesozoic palaeoradius

Of 16 sites collected in the Taru grits (Permian) and Maji ya Chumvi beds (Permo-Triassic) of East Africa only 6 sites from the Maji ya Chumvi sediments gave meaningful palaeomagnetic results. After thermal cleaning the 6 sites (32 samples) give an Early Triassic pole at 67°N, 269°E with A₉₅ = 17° in excellent agreement with other African Mesozoic poles. There are now 26 Mesozoic palaeomagnetic poles for Africa from widely diverse localities ranging in present latitude from 35°N to 30°S. The poles subdivide into Triassic (17 poles) and Cretaceous (9 poles) groups whose means are not significantly different. The palaeomagnetic pole for Africa thus remained in much the same position for 170 m.y. from Early Triassic to Late Cretaceous. The data form an especially good set for estimating the palaeoradius using Ward's method. Values of 1.08 ± 0.15 and 1.03 ± 0.19 times the present radius are deduced for the Triassic and Cretaceous respectively with a mean value of 1.08 ± 0.13 for all the Mesozoic data combined. The analysis demonstrates that hypotheses of earth expansion are very unattractive.     

Late Permian/early Triassic orogeny in Japan: piling up of nappes, transverse lineation and continental subduction of the Honshu block

Field surveys in the Oga-Atetsu and Yamaguchi areas of Southwest Japan have been conducted in order to precise the structure of the Permian orogen. A stack of nappes is recognized comprising from top to bottom: (1) the Oga nappe which is considered to be a seamount complex, (2) HP Sangun metamorphics, (3) the Permian Yakuno ophiolite, and (4) the Permian detrital Maizuru group which is interpreted as the sedimentary cover of a continental block, called here the Honshu block, outcropping as the Older Granite. This stack of nappes is overthrust by the Paleozoic Hida basement consisting of HT gneisses, granites and late Carboniferous shallow-water sediments. Microtectonic analysis of the Sangun schists shows that the subhorizontal schistosity bearing a submeridian lineation was formed during the synmetamorphic phase. Asymmetric pressure shadows, shear bands and sigmoidal minerals show that the synmetamorphic deformation corresponds to a ductile shear from north to south. The Permian/early Triassic orogeny is interpreted as the result of a collision between the Hida gneiss (or South China block) and the Honshu block, the intervening oceanic area gave rise to southward directed nappes. The Permian orogenic belt extends at least from Taiwan to central Japan.     

Geodynamic evolution of Korea: A view

Abstract Evidence for South Korean Palaeozoic geodynamic evolution is restricted to the Ogcheon Belt, which is a complex polycyclic domain forming the boundary between the Precambrian Gyeonggi Block to the northwest and the Ryeongnam Block to the southeast. Two independent sub-zones can be distinguished: the Taebaeksan Zone to the northeast and the Ogcheon Zone sensu stricto. The Taebaeksan Zone and Ryeongnam Block display characteristic features of the North China palaeocontinent. This domain remained relatively stable during the Palaeozoic. In contrast, the Ogcheon Belt s. s. is a highly mobile zone that belongs to the South China palaeocontinent and corresponds to a rift that opened during the Early Palaeozoic. In lowermost Devonian times, the rift basin was closed and the Ogcheon Belt was structured in a pile of nappes. From the lack of suture in the Ogcheon Belt it can be inferred that the Gyeonggi Block belongs to the South China palaeocontinent. Thus, the boundary between the North China and South China blocks should be located to the north of Gyeonggi Block, that is, in the Palaeozoic Imjingang Belt. From the Middle Carboniferous, sedimentation started again on a weakly subsiding paralic platform located in the hinterland of the Late Palaeozoic orogen of southwest Japan. In the Late Carboniferous, increasing subsidence recorded extensional tectonics related to the opening of the Yakuno Oceanic Basin (southwest Japan). In the Middle Permian, the end of marine influences in the platform and emplacement of terrestrial coal measures, may be correlated with the closure of the oceanic area and subsequent ophiolite obduction. In Late Permian to Early Triassic times, the Honshu Block (the eastern palaeomargin of the Yakuno Basin) collided with Sino-Korea. Post-collisional intracontinental tectonics reached the Ogcheon Belt in the Middle Triassic (Songnim tectonism). Ductile dextral shear zones associated with synkinematic granitoids were emplaced in the southwest of the belt. In the Upper Triassic, the late stages of the intracontinental transcurrent tectonics generated narrow intramontane troughs (Daedong Supergroup). The Daedong basins were deformed during two tectonic events, in the Middle (?) and Late Jurassic. The Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous basins (Gyeongsang Supergroup), that are controlled by left-lateral faults, may have resulted from the same tectonic event.     

Paleomagnetism of early paleozoic geological complexes of Mongolia

Most of the studied Early Phanerozoic rocks of West Mongolia have undergone repeated remagnetization. Secondary magnetization components with normal and reversed polarity are isolated. The magnetization components with normal polarity are associated with the Mesozoic remagnetization of the rocks. The components with reversed polarity were probably formed during the Carboniferous–Permian superchron of reversed polarity. The analysis of the distribution of the reversed-polarity magnetization component in the structure of Mongolia permits some zonation. Within Mongolia, the regions with insignificant post- Permian deformations and complicated post-Permian deformations are identified; also the area of rotations of large geological blocks about the horizontal axis (Khan-Khukhei Ridge) is distinguished. It is hypothesized that in the Ordovician rocks of West Mongolia, the magnetization component that is close to primary was identified. If this is the case, the paleolatitude calculated from this magnetization direction corresponds to the interval 14°–17°–20° (minimal–mean–maximal) of probably northern latitude     

Detrital heavy minerals from Lower Jurassic clastic rocks in the Joetsu area,central Japan: Paleo‐Mesozoic tectonics in the East Asian continental margin constrained by limited chloritoid occurrences in Japan

Detrital chloritoids were extracted from the Lower Jurassic sandstones in the Joetsu area of central Japan. The discovery of detrital chloritoids in the Joetsu area, in addition to two previous reports, confirms their limited occurrence in the Jurassic strata of the Japanese islands. This finding emphasizes the importance of the denudation of chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic belts in Jurassic provenance evolution, in addition to a change from an active volcanic arc to a dissected arc that has already been described. Possible sources for the detrital chloritoids from the Jurassic sandstones are the Permo–Triassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks distributed in dispersed tectonic zones (Hida, Unazuki, Ryuhozan and Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks), which are in fault contact with Permian to Jurassic accretionary complexes in the Japanese islands. This is because all of these pre‐Jurassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks have a Carboniferous–Permian depositional age and a Permo–Triassic metamorphic age, whereas a Permian–Triassic metamorphic age on the Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks remains unreported. In addition, most metamorphic chloritoids imply a former stable land surface that has evolved into an unstable orogenic area. Therefore, the chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks might form a continuous metamorphic belt originating from a passive continental margin in East Asia. Evidence from paleontological and petrological studies indicates that the Permo–Triassic metamorphic belt relates to a collision between the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and the North China Craton. The evolution of the Permian–Jurassic provenance of Japanese detrital rocks indicates that the temporal changes in detritus should result from sequences of collision‐related uplifting processes.     

Paleomagnetic constraints on the tectonic history of the major blocks of China duing the Phanerozoic

Paleomagnetic study of China and its constraints on Asia tectonics has been a hot spot. Some new paleomagnetic data from three major blocks of China. North China Block (NCB), Yangtze Block (YZB) and Tarim Block (TRM) are first reported, and then available published Phanerozoic paleomagnetic poles from these blocks with the goal of placing constraints on the drift history and paleocontinental reconstruction are critically reviewed. It was found that all three major blocks were located at the mid-low latitude in the Southern Hemisphere during the Early Paleozoic. The NCB was probably independent in terms of dynamics. its drift history was dominant by latitudinal placement accompanying rotation in the Early Paleozoic. The YZB was close to Gondwanaland in Cambrian, and separated from Gondwanaland during the Late-Middle Ordovician. The TRM was part of Gondwanaland, and might be close to the YZB and Australia in the Early Paleozoic. Paleomagnetic data show that the TRM was separated from Gondwanaland during the Late-Middle Ordovician, and then drifted northward. The TRM was sutured to Siberia and Kazakstan blocks during the Permian, however, the composite Mongolia-NCB block did not collide with Siberia till Late Jurassic. During Late Permian to Late Triassic, the NCB and YZB were characterized by northern latitudinal placement and rotation on the pivot in the Dabie area. The NCB and YZB collided first in the eastern part where they were located at northern latitude of about 6°—8°, and a triangular oceanic basin remained in the Late Permian. The suturing zone was located at northern latitude of 25° where the two blocks collided at the western part in the Late Triassic. The collision between the two blocks propagated westward after the YZB rotated about 70° relative to the NCB during the Late Permian to Middle Jurassic. Then two blocks were northward drifting (about 5°) together with relative rotating and crust shortening. It was such scissors-like collision procedure that produced intensive compression in the eastern part of suturing zone between the NCB and YZB, in which continental crust subducted into the upper mantle in the Late Permian, and then the ultrahigh-pressure rocks extruded in the Late Triassic. Paleomagnetic data also indicate that three major blocks have been together clockwise rotating about 20° relative to present-day rotation axis since the Late Jurassic. It was proposed that Lahsa Block and India subcontinent successively northward subducted and collided with Eurasia or collision between Pacific/Philippines plates and Eurasia might be responsible for this clockwise rotating of Chinese continent.     

The extent of Greater India,I. Preliminary palaeomagnetic data from the Upper Devonian of the eastern Hindukush,Chitral (Pakistan)

Samples of Upper Devonian sedimentary ironstones from the eastern Hindukush, Chitral (Pakistan), give a characteristic palaeomagnetic direction: declination D = 318°, inclination I = ?6.5°; believed to represent the primary magnetization direction. The samples come from an area which lies north of a major ophiolite zone that recent workers suggest is the southwestern continuation of the Indus Suture. As the present palaeomagnetic results are in fair agreement with palaeomagnetic data from the Siberian platform but not with data from Gondwanaland they can be taken as additional evidence that this suture does indeed constitute the main collision zone between the Gondwanic Indian subcontinent and Asia. The palaeomagnetic data presented here from the Devonian of Chitral suggests additionally: (1) in excess of 100° of counterclockwise rotation of the area, associated most likely with the formation of the regional Hindukush-Pamir-Karakoram syntaxial bend; (2) more than 2000 km of crustal shortening between Chitral and the Siberian platform due to the northward indentation of the Indian Gondwanaland fragment subsequent to collision.     

Paleomagnetism of the Xigaze ophiolite and flysch (Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, southern Tibet): latitude and direction of spreading

The Xigaze ophiolite (29.2°N, 89.5°E), which outcrops in the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone, represents the remnants of an oceanic lithosphere formed in middle Cretaceous times between the Lhasa block to the north and the Indian plate to the south. In an attempt to define the paleo-orientation and latitude of the spreading center at which it has been created, a paleomagnetic study has been done on three sites in volcanics and overlying (or interbedded) radiolarites forming the upper part of the ophiolite sequence and also on seven sites in the Xigaze Group flysch which stratigraphically overlies the volcanics to the north. In each site, hand-blocks carefully oriented both with sun and magnetic compass have been sampled. The paleomagnetism data, combined with structural data on the ophiolite dolerite intrusives, allow a partial reconstruction of South Eurasia at the time of formation of the Xigaze ophiolite. The paleolatitude of accretion and deposition of the Xigaze ophiolite and overlying sediments is found to be 10–20°N. Both ophiolite and basin have encountered a 85 ± 20° anti-clockwise rotation. The corresponding ridge was close to the southern margin of the Lhasa block and was oriented N175 ± 25°.     

Cenozoic paleomagnetic results and phanerozoic apparent polar wandering path of Tarim Block*

New paleornagnetic data from Cenozoic rocks in Tarim enable people to revise the Phanerozoic apparent polar wandering path (APWP) of this block. This modified Tarim APWA is supported by data from other Chinese blocks. On the basis of the APWA, it is concluded that Tarim rode on a plate subducting under the Kazakhstan plate between Carboniferous and Permian time. By the Late Permian, subduction had finished. The APWP also revealed that tectonic evolution of the Tarim was characterized by northern latitudinal displacement during the Paleozoic time, while Tarim remained at relative low latitude (about 20°) until1 Cretaceous.     

黑龙江东部白垩纪-古近纪古地磁初步结果及其构造意义

陆内块体旋转是周边构造环境和深部构造活动相互作用的结果.前人研究表明华北东部和俄罗斯远东地区晚中生代以来的块体旋转样式,很可能以牡丹江断裂为界发生了显著变化.进一步对牡丹江断裂两侧块体晚中生代以来的块体旋转样式的限定,有助于正确理解这一差异旋转的机制.对采自黑龙江省东部白垩纪和古近纪岩石的(51个采点)古地磁学研究表明,相对于稳定欧亚大陆,牡丹江断裂东侧的佳木斯地块内部的穆棱、鸡西、七台河和桦南地区旋转样式一致,整体发生了30°~40°的逆时针旋转,逆时针旋转很可能发生在晚白垩世末之后.华北东部及俄罗斯远东地区的差异性相对旋转很可能与白垩纪以来太平洋板块的俯冲作用和作为深俯冲带的牡丹江断裂的重新活化有关.     

A pattern of rupture of the Eastern North American-Western European paleoblock

Eastern North American and Western European paleomagnetic data indicate that, during most of the Upper Paleozoic, these regions and their adjacent continental shelves were parts of a single block situated near the paleoequator. With respect to a stationary paleopole, a north-north-west movement of the block during the Carboniferous can be detected. Comparison with polar displacement relative to other continents indicates that continental drift and possibly a pole displacement of about 15° occurred at that time. The Mesozoic results indicate that the rupture of the block and the opening of the North Atlantic did not follow each other closely in time. A latitudinal displacement of Eastern North America with respect to Western Europe places the time of rupture during Lower or Middle Triassic. A slight separation of the blocks may have occurred at that time. It is suggested that the rupture of the initial block occurred by strike slip with Eastern North America and Western Europe slipping one against the other in a north-south direction (by about 20° in latitude) but without pulling apart by any considerable distance. While this event took place before the Upper Triassic, it is probable that a substantial opening of the North Atlantic did not occur until after the Triassic. It appears that, in Cretaceous time, the longitudinal separation was considerable and that the North Atlantic Ocean was then partially open. Some of the relevant geological features and ocean floor spreading studies are discussed. A rupture by strike-slip in latitude mainly can be supported geologically and a post-Triassic time of opening of the North Atlantic is in agreement with the opening time obtained from certain interpretations of magnetic anomaly lineations.     

Remelting of subducted continental lithosphere: Petrogenesis of Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

The Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt was formed by the Triassic continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block. There is a large area of Mesozoic magmatic rocks along this orogenic belt, with emplacement ages mainly at Late Triassic, Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Late Triassic alkaline rocks and the Late Jurassic granitoids only crop out in the eastern part of the Sulu orogen, whereas the Early Cretaceous magmatic rocks occur as massive granitoids, sporadic intermedi- ate-ma...     

Paleomagnetic results from Late Carboniferous to Early Permian rocks in the northern Qiangtang terrane,Tibet, China,and their tectonic implications

Results of a systematic paleomagnetic study are reported based on Late Carboniferous to Early Permian sedimentary rocks on the north slope of the Tanggula Mountains,in the northern Qiangtang terrane(NQT),Tibet,China.Data revealed that magnetic minerals in limestone samples from the Zarigen Formation(CP^z)are primarily composed of magnetite,while those in sandstone samples from the Nuoribagaribao Formation(Pnr)are dominated by hematite alone,or hematite and magnetite in combination.Progressive thermal,or alternating field,demagnetization allowed us to isolate a stable high temperature component(HTC)in 127 specimens from 16 sites which successfully passed the conglomerate test,consistent with primary remnance.The tilt-corrected mean direction for Late Carboniferous to Early Permian rocks in the northern Qiangtang terrane is D_s=30.2°,I_s=-40.9°,k_s=269.0,a_(95)=2.3°,N=16,which yields a corresponding paleomagnetic pole at 25.7°N,241.5°E(dp/dm=2.8°/1.7°),and a paleolatitude of 23.4°S.Our results,together with previously reported paleomagnetic data,indicate that:(1)the NQT in Tibet,China,was located at a low latitude in the southern hemisphere,and may have belonged to the northern margin of Gondwana during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian;(2)the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was large during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian,and(3)the NQT subsequently moved rapidly northwards,perhaps related to the fact that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was rapidly contracting from the Late Permian to Late Triassic while the Bangong Lake-Nujiang Ocean,the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys Ocean,expanded rapidly during this time.     

New Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic results from Qilian orogenic belt and its tectonic implications

Lower Cretaceous red sedimentary rocks from the depositional basin of East Qilian fold belt have been collected for a paleomagnetic study. Stepwise thermal demagnetization reveals two or three components of magnetization from dark red sandstones. Low-temperature magnetic component is consistent with the present Earth Field direction in geographic coordinates. High-temperature magnetic components are mainly carried by hematite. The mean pole of 19 sites for high-temperature magnetic components after tilt-correction is λ=62.2°N, φ=193.4°E, A95=3.2°, and it passes fold tests at 99% confidence level and reversal tests at 95% confidence level. The paleopole is insignificantly different from that of Halim et al. (1998) from the same sampling area at the 95% confidence level. Compared with paleomagnetic results for North China, South China, and Eurasia, our results suggest that no significant relative latitudinal displacement has taken place between Lanzhou region and these blocks since Cretaceous time. Remarkably, the pole of Lanzhou shows a 20° clockwise rotation with respect to those of North China, South China, and Eurasia. Geological information indicates that the crustal shortening in the western part of Qilian is greater than that in eastern part. In this case, the clockwise rotation of sampling area was related to India/Eurasia collision, and this collision resulted in a left-lateral strike-slip motion of the Altun fault in north Tibetan Plateau after the Cretaceous.