中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维流变结构

依据地震波速得到的上地幔温度和气象台站记录的地表温度为约束,结合地表热流和热导率观测数据,利用有限元方法计算了中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维热结构.基于此温度结果和GPS观测得到的应变率数据,以滑动摩擦、脆性破裂和蠕变三种强度机制为约束,计算得到了中国大陆及邻区岩石圈三维流变结构.结果显示:弱强度和低等效黏滞性系数的下地壳在中国大陆及邻区普遍存在,并且下地壳的流变强度和等效黏滞性系数比上地壳和岩石圈地幔一般要低1~2个数量级;中国大陆范围内青藏高原存在着厚度最大、强度最低的下地壳;青藏高原的岩石圈强度和等效黏滞性系数比华北、华南和印度板块的都要低;岩石圈流变结构的横向分布特征与重力梯度带和地形过渡带比较一致.     

青藏高原东南缘岩石圈有效弹性厚度及其构造意义

本文利用三维有限差分方法,基于EIGEN6C4布格重力异常和SIO V15.1地形数据,计算了青藏高原东南缘岩石圈有效弹性厚度.结果表明:青藏高原东南缘岩石圈有效弹性厚度为0~100 km,四川盆地和喜马拉雅东构造结岩石圈有效弹性厚度最大,达50~100 km;巴颜喀拉块体东部、川滇菱形块体大部、滇西等地区岩石圈强度弱,有效弹性厚度一般小于15 km;羌塘块体东部的玉树—德格附近地区岩石圈有效弹性厚度大于40 km;滇南地区岩石圈有效弹性厚度为10~30 km,大于云南北部地区.研究区域有效弹性厚度分布特征与岩石圈结构关系密切.四川盆地、喜马拉雅东构造结地区内部结构稳定,因而岩石圈强度大.川滇菱形块体等岩石圈有效弹性厚度小的地区与壳内低速、低阻/高导层分布有很好的对应关系,推测壳内岩石的部分熔融软化可能是造成高原东南缘岩石圈强度较弱的重要原因.羌塘块体东部的局部高力学强度岩石圈则可能是高原形成过程中的残留克拉通.根据本文计算的岩石圈有效弹性厚度特征,结合地震学、大地电磁等研究成果,认为青藏高原物质向东南缘挤出后受四川盆地等阻挡,造成下地壳软弱物质在理塘—稻城—丽江一带堆积,少部分物质可能穿过鲜水河断裂带的康定—道孚地区向北运动,但大部分物质向南运动,在受到滇南块体阻挡后一支流向西南的腾冲方向,另一支流向东南的攀枝花—东川方向.     

Thermal-rheological structure of the lithosphere beneath Jiyang Depression: Its implications for geodynamics

Thermal regime of the lithosphere is the scenario of the lithospheric thermal evolution, and the thermo-mechanical state of lithosphere definitively controls its deformation style and mechanism. Better understanding of the lithospheric deep thermal-rheo- logical structure of sedimentary basin will shed light on the formation and evolution dynamic process of the basin. Surface tectonics is the response of the deep structure, and is controlled by the lithospheric ther-mal-rheological properties.…     

The early thermal and magnetic state of the cratered highlands of Mars

Surface heat flows are calculated from elastic lithosphere thicknesses for the heavy cratered highlands of Mars, in terms of the fraction of the surface heat flow derived from crustal heat sources. Previous heat flow estimations for Mars used linear thermal gradients, which is equivalent to ignoring the existence of heat sources within the crust. We compute surface heat flows following a methodology that relates effective thickness and curvature of an elastic plate with the strength envelope of the lithosphere, and assuming crustal heat sources homogeneously distributed in a radioactive element-rich layer 20 or 60 km thick. The obtained results show that the surface heat flow increases with the proportion of heat sources within the crust, and with the decrease of both radioactive element-rich layer thickness and surface temperature. Also, the results permit us to calculate representative temperatures for the crust base, rock strength for the upper mantle, and lower and upper limits to the crustal magnetization depth and intensity, respectively. For Terra Cimmeria, an effective elastic thickness of 12 km implies between 30% and 80% of heat sources located within the crust. In this case the uppermost mantle would be weak at the time of loading, and temperatures in the lower crust cold enough to favor unrelaxed crustal thickness variations and to permit deep Curie depths in the highlands, as suggested by the observational evidence.     

中国东部海域岩石圈结构面波层析成像

本文通过面波层析成像得到了中国东部海域及邻近地区的地壳上地幔S波速度图像,给出了主要构造单元的区划及其结构特征,并讨论了速度结构与现今构造活动及构造演化历史的关系.研究区内中下地壳的平均速度与地震活动存在比较显著的关系,强震基本都发生在低速区内或高低速过渡区.太行山以东地壳内存在几条北西向低速带,其中张家口—渤海地震带下方的低速带最为显著.东部海域划分成北黄海、南黄海、东海、和冲绳海槽等4个构造块体.北黄海具有较薄较高速的岩石圈,与南华北盆地类似,推测是中生代特提斯洋向北俯冲造成岩石圈减薄的遗迹.北华北地区具有低速的地壳和较厚的岩石圈,岩石圈地幔速度偏低且上下比较均匀,可能反映中生代沿北方缝合带持续碰撞作用的特点.南黄海具有相对较厚的岩石圈,较多地保存了下扬子克拉通的特征.在下扬子与华北地块的拼合过程中,洋壳俯冲可能是北黄海和苏皖地区上地幔低速特征的成因.在125°E以东的朝鲜半岛地区未发现这一拼合过程的遗迹.有可能整个朝鲜半岛都是华北地块的一部分;但也有可能是太平洋俯冲和日本海张开的作用完全改造了朝鲜半岛的岩石圈上地幔,抹去了以往构造运动的痕迹.东海地区的地壳厚度,特别是岩石圈厚度向冲绳海槽方向减小,反映出菲律宾海板块俯冲在弧后广大地区都有影响.冲绳海槽地区可见俯冲的菲律宾海板片以及板片上方显著低速的地壳和上地幔,为冲绳海槽的弧后扩张机制提供了证据.     

The thermal state and strength of the lithosphere in the Spanish Central System and Tajo Basin from crustal heat production and thermal isostasy

In this work we have modeled the thermal structure of the lithosphere of the Spanish Central System and the Tajo Basin, and their implications for lithospheric strength. For this, we have used refined heat-producing elements (HPE) values to obtain new estimates of heat production rates in the Spanish Central System and Tajo Basin areas, which have been used joined to the relation between topography and thermal structure of the lithosphere to calculate the best-fit surface heat flows in the study area. Moreover, we have implemented a temperature-dependent thermal conductivity (appropriate for olivine) for the lithospheric mantle to improve the calculations of temperature profiles in the mantle. The geotherms so obtained, together with the implementation of a new rheological law for the upper lithospheric mantle, have been used to calculate refined estimations of the strength and effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere. We have obtained surface heat flow values of 84 mW m⁻² and ∼82 mW m⁻² for the Spanish Central System and the Tajo Basin, respectively. The thermal state of the lithosphere affects mantle temperatures, and hence may be playing an important role in the uplift and maintenance of the Spanish Central System.     

中国大陆震源机制深度变化反映的地壳-地幔流变特征

大陆岩石层流变性质是一个重要而又没有完善解决的问题：既存在支持Moho面附近为强地幔-流动弱地壳模式的实验和观测事实，也存在支持流动弱地幔-强地壳模式的观测事实. 本文利用哈佛震源机制矩张量解及有关震源深度资料，对我国震源机制随深度的变化进行分析，发现虽然表浅地震震源机制主应力轴倾角接近水平或竖直，但中、下地壳和上地幔震源机制主应力轴倾角则多样化. 这与某些存在柔性下地壳软弱层地区具有孕震层下缘震源机制主应力轴也接近水平或竖直的特征明显不同. 它可能表明上述两种壳-幔流变模式在我国均存在，对我国岩石层流变性质还需要分区进行更细致的多方面研究.     

鄂尔多斯盆地深部热结构特征及其对华北克拉通破坏的启示

基于二维稳态热传导方程,利用有限元数值模拟方法,选取东西向横穿鄂尔多斯盆地地质与地球物理解释大剖面进行了深部温度场数值模拟研究,得到了华北克拉通西部的鄂尔多斯盆地下伏岩石圈热结构特征.地幔热流变化范围:21.2~24.5mW·m-2,体现为东高西低特征.壳幔热流比(Qc/Qm)介于1.51~1.84之间,为"热壳冷幔".与华北东部地幔热流对比表明,西部的鄂尔多斯盆地相对处于稳定的深部动力学环境.在岩石圈热结构研究基础上,对克拉通地震岩石圈与热岩石圈厚度差异进行了对比,研究表明:鄂尔多斯盆地西部地震岩石圈与热岩石圈厚度差异约达140km,而东部的汾渭地堑,渤海湾盆地二者差异逐渐减小.华北克拉通自西向东,地震岩石圈厚度与热岩石圈厚度差异不断减小,意味着华北克拉通岩石圈下部的软流圈地幔黏性系数自西向东逐渐降低,本文从地热学角度可能印证了太平洋俯冲脱水作用对华北克拉通的影响.     

Accumulation of elastic strains in the upper crust on the locked transform faults and the tectonomagnetic effect

Plate tectonics only allows small deformations in the lithospheric plates. The laboratory experiments with the rock specimens show that the creep is transient when the creep strain is at most 1%. Hence, if we assume that the creep strain in the lithospheric plates is below this threshold, the creep is transient. The present paper addresses the role of the elastic, brittle (pseudo-plastic), and creep rheology of the lithosphere during the accumulation of elastic shear strains on the locked faults in the Earth’s crust, i.e., during the process of preparation of the earthquakes. The effective viscosity characterizing the transient creep is lower than that under the steady-state creep and it depends on the characteristic time of a given process. The characteristic duration of the stress and strain accumulation process in the vicinity of the locked faults is a few dozen years. On these time intervals, the thin upper crustal layer behaves as brittle; the underlying layer behaves as elastic (it is just this layer which accommodates stress accumulation leading to the earthquake), whereas the transient creep is predominant in the lower crust and mantle lithosphere. Transient creep entails nonlinear time dependence of the strains arising in the vicinity of the locked fault in the elastic crust. The perturbations in the magnetic field induced by these strains can be treated as the magnetic precursor of the earthquake.     

Scales of Heterogeneities in the Continental Crust and Upper Mantle

—A seismological characterization of crust and upper mantle can refer to large-scale averages of seismic velocities or to fluctuations of elastic parameters. Large is understood here relative to the wavelength used to probe the earth.¶In this paper we try to characterize crust and upper mantle by the fluctuations in media properties rather than by their average velocities. As such it becomes evident that different scales of heterogeneities prevail in different layers of crust and mantle. Although we cannot provide final models and an explanation of why these different scales exist, we believe that scales of inhomogeneities carry significant information regarding the tectonic processes that have affected the lower crust, the lithospheric and the sublithospheric upper mantle.¶We focus on four different types of small-scale inhomogeneities (1) the characteristics of the lower crust, (2) velocity fluctuations in the uppermost mantle, (3) scattering in the lowermost lithosphere and on (4) heterogeneities in the mantle transition zone.     

Large-scale 3-D Gravity Analysis of the Inhomogeneities in the European-Mediterranean Upper Mantle

—Methods and the results of estimating the anomalies characterising the density inhomo geneities in the European-Mediterranean upper mantle are described. These anomalies were obtained by subtracting the gravity effect of a crustal density model derived from seismic velocities from the observed gravity field averaging over an area of 1°× 1°. The 3-D density model of the study region comprises two regional layers of varying thickness with lateral variation of average density the sedimentary cover and the crystalline crust. The average densities for model layers were evaluated by using a velocity/density conversion function and taking into account sediment consolidation with depth. Clear correlation between residual gravity anomalies and both velocity heterogeneities and thermal regime data of the upper mantle has been revealed. An agreement of positive anomalies over the Alps, the Adriatic plate and the Calabrian Arc with high velocity domains in the upper mantle and reduced temperatures at the subcrustal layer are caused by lithospheric "roots" and thickened lithosphere below these structures. Gravity residual lows, revealed over the Western Mediterranean Basin and Pannonian Basin, are in correspondence with both low velocities and high temperatures in the upper mantle. These anomalies are the result of the presence of asthenosphere in shallow near-Moho depths below these basins.     

上通流对大陆岩石圈地幔-地壳热结构模式的潜在影响

本文以多孔介质中大尺度传热问题为基础,结合热平衡理论分析与数值计算,探讨了上通流对大陆岩石圈地幔-地壳热结构模式的潜在影响.根据大陆岩石圈中孔隙波传热概念模型的初步理论分析结果,指出了采用理论分析和数值模拟相结合的方法在研究大陆岩石圈地幔-地壳热结构模式时的重要性.理论分析方法可用来确定岩石圈尺度范围内大陆岩石圈的厚度和大陆地壳相关的边界条件,从而为地壳范围内数值模型的建立提供一些重要信息.数值模拟方法可以用来模拟地壳尺度范围内地壳的详细结构和复杂几何形状.如果地壳内的热分布是所考虑的主要因素,采用具有地壳尺度的合理数值模型可以有效减少计算机工作量.利用理论分析方法求出的岩石圈尺度范围内大陆岩石圈厚度与地幔传导热流之间关系的理论解,不仅可以用来验证模拟大陆岩石圈内传热问题所采用的数值方法, 而且可以用来初步研究大陆岩石圈内热分布的基本规律,为研究岩石圈地幔热事件中大陆岩石圈热减薄过程提供相应的边界条件.本文从理论分析的观点初步探讨了中国大陆不同构造背景下大陆岩石圈的热结构模式,其结果与从地球物理和地质资料中获得的大陆岩石圈热结构模式十分吻合.研究结果表明由大陆岩石圈中孔隙波传播所导致的上通流是影响大陆岩石圈地幔-地壳热结构模式及大陆岩石圈地幔与地壳之间物质和能量交换的可能机制之一.     

南北构造带及邻域地壳、岩石层速度结构特征研究

本文利用重力数据采用Parker-Oldenburg方法反演了南北构造带及邻域地区的地壳厚度,同时采用体波地震层析成像方法反演了研究区的地壳至上地幔的三维速度结构.根据计算结果对研究区的地壳及岩石层结构进行了探讨,力图揭示南北构造带及邻域地壳、岩石层变形特征,并且对青藏高原边缘活动带壳幔构造演化的深部成因、研究区的上地幔流变性及其动力学意义进行了相应的讨论.通过分析研究表明南北构造带地区为地壳厚度剧变区,西侧为地壳增厚区,东侧的鄂尔多斯、四川盆地为地壳稳定区,而再向东为地壳逐渐减薄区.中国岩石层减薄与增厚的边界基本被限定在大兴安岭—太行山—秦岭—大巴山—武陵山一带,这也是东部陆缘带和中部扬子、鄂尔多斯克拉通地区深部构造边界的分界线,其两侧不仅浅层地质构造存在较大的差异,上地幔深部的物性状态和热活动也明显不同,这说明研究区的岩石层和软流层结构以及深部物质的分布存在横向非均匀性.中部地区和青藏高原深部构造边界的分界线位于东经100°—102°左右.     

中国西部及邻区岩石圈S波速度结构面波层析成像

本文利用瑞利波群速度频散资料和层析成像方法,研究了中国西部及邻近区域(20°N—55°N,65°E—110°E)的岩石圈S波速度结构.结果表明这一地区存在三个以低速地壳/上地幔为特征的构造活动区域:西蒙古高原—贝加尔地区,青藏高原,印支地区.西蒙古高原岩石圈厚度约为80 km,上地幔低速层向下延伸至300 km深度,说明存在源自地幔深部的热流活动.缅甸弧后的上地幔低速层下至200 km深度,显然与印度板块向东俯冲引起俯冲板片上方的热/化学活动有关.青藏高原地壳厚达70 km,边缘地区厚度也在50 km以上并且具有很大的水平变化梯度,与高原平顶陡边的地形特征一致.中下地壳的平均S波速度明显低于正常大陆地壳,在中地壳20~40 km深度范围广泛存在速度逆转的低速层,这一低速层的展布范围与高原的范围相符.这些特征说明青藏高原中下地壳的变形是在印度板块的北向挤压下发生塑性增厚和侧向流动.地幔的速度结构呈现与地壳显著不同的特点.在高原主体和川滇西部地区上地幔顶部存在较大范围的低速,低速区范围随深度迅速减小;100 km以下滇西低速消失,150 km以下基本完全消失.青藏高原上地幔速度结构沿东西方向表现出显著的分段变化.在大约84°E以西的喀喇昆仑—帕米尔—兴都库什地区,印度板块的北向和亚洲板块的南向俯冲造成上地幔显著高速;84°E—94°E之间上地幔顶部速度较低,在大约150~220 km深度范围存在高速板片,有可能是俯冲的印度岩石圈,其前缘到达昆仑—巴颜喀拉之下;在喜马拉雅东构造结以北区域,存在显著的上地幔高速区,可能阻碍上地幔物质的东向运动.川滇西部岩石圈底界深度与扬子克拉通相似,约为180 km,但上地幔顶部速度较低.这些现象表明青藏高原岩石圈地幔的变形/运动方式可能与地壳有本质的区别.     

郯庐断裂带中南段的岩石圈精细结构

郯庐断裂带是中国东部规模最大的构造活动带,有着复杂的形成演化历史,对中国东部的区域构造、岩浆活动、矿产资源的形成和分布以及现代地震活动都有重要控制作用.2010年在郯庐断裂带中南段的江苏宿迁市附近,采用深地震反射探测方法对郯庐断裂带及其两侧地块的岩石圈结构进行了解剖.结果表明,该区莫霍面和岩石圈底界均向西倾,其中,地壳厚度约为31~36km,岩石圈厚度约为75~86km,且岩石圈厚度在郯庐断裂带下方出现突变.郯庐断裂带在剖面上表现为由多条主干断裂组成的花状构造,其内部发育有断陷盆地和挤压褶皱,具有伸展、挤压和走滑并存的构造形迹,暗示郯庐断裂带的形成和演化经历了多期复杂的构造活动.这一断裂带错断了近地表沉积层,向下切割莫霍面和岩石圈地幔,属岩石圈尺度的深大断裂构造系统.软流圈高温高压热物质沿断裂带的上涌、岩浆底侵或热侵蚀作用造成岩石圈出现拉张伸展和岩石圈减薄,并可能使岩石圈组构及其物质成分发生改变.本项研究结果不但可进一步加深对郯庐断裂带深、浅部结构的认识,而且还可为分析研究华北克拉通东部的深部过程和浅部构造响应提供资料约束.     

海洋板块俯冲作用下上覆大陆岩石层减薄机制的动力学模拟

几乎所有大陆岩石层的减薄现象,可能都与海洋板块的俯冲作用相关,但是两者之间的内在联系迄今仍不十分明确,为此,我们设计了一系列包含洋-陆俯冲系统的二维数值模型,来探讨海洋板块的俯冲作用对上覆大陆岩石层变形行为的影响,尤其对大陆岩石层减薄效应的制约.模型结果表明,海洋板块俯冲过程中的地幔楔熔体对大陆岩石层地幔的热侵蚀以及由熔体上升所诱发的地幔局部对流的强烈扰动会导致上覆大陆岩石层的减薄效应.这种效应不仅表现在横向上的向陆内蔓延,还表现在垂向上的向浅部发展.且多类动力学参数都能制约大陆岩石层的减薄效应.具体地,随着汇聚速率和洋壳厚度的增加,上覆大陆岩石层在横向上的减薄范围越大,在垂向上的减薄程度也越深;而随着俯冲海洋板块年龄的增加,上覆大陆岩石层在横向上的减薄范围增大,但在垂向上的减薄程度会减小;随着上覆大陆岩石层厚度的增加,其横向减薄范围会减小,但在垂向上的减薄程度会加深.本文研究成果能为揭示华北克拉通减薄/破坏的动力学过程提供一定的理论参考依据.     

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PREFERRED ORIENTATION(CPO) OF ANISOTROPIC MINERALS IN THE LITHOSPHERE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE STUDY OFLITHOSPHERE DYNAMICS

Seismic anisotropy has been widely used to constrain deformation and mantle flow within the upper mantle of the Earth's interior, and is mainly affected by crystallographic preferred orientation(CPO)of anisotropic mineral in lithosphere. Anisotropy of peridotites caused by deformation is the main source of seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. Olivine is the most abundant and easily deformed mineral to form CPO in peridotite, thus the CPO of olivine controls seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. Based on simple shear experiments and studies of natural peridotites deformation, several CPO types of olivine have been identified, including A, B, C, D, E and AG-type. Studies on the deformation of olivine have shown that the CPO of olivine is mainly related to stress, water content, temperature, pressure, partial melting and melt/fluid percolation. Most of the seismic anisotropy has been explained by the A-type olivine CPO in the upper mantle, which is commonly found in upper-mantle peridotites and produced by the simple shear in dry conditions. Previous studies showed that anisotropy was attributed to the CPO of mica and amphibole in the middle-lower crust. The comparison between mantle anisotropy calculated from mineral CPO and regional anisotropy deduced from geophysical methods is therefore particularly useful for interpreting the deformation mechanisms and geodynamic processes which affect the upper mantle in different tectonic units such as subduction system, continental rift and continental collision zone in the world. The paper summarizes the characteristics of CPO and anisotropy of major anisotropic minerals in the upper mantle. Taking the lithosphere mantle xenoliths in the southeastern Tibetan plateau as an example, we perform detailed studies on the microstructures and seismic anisotropy to better understand the deformation mechanisms and upper mantle anisotropy in this region. Results show that the CPO of olivine in peridotite xenoliths in southeastern Tibetan plateau are A-type and AG-type. The mechanisms proposed for the formation of AG-type are different from that for the A-type. Therefore, the occurrence of AG-type olivine CPO pattern suggests that this CPO may record a change in deformation mechanism and tectonic environment of the lithosphere in southeastern Tibetan plateau. Provided that the strong SKS(shear wave splitting)observed in southeastern Tibetan plateau results from lithosphere mantle, the lithosphere mantle in this region is expected to be at least 130km thick and characterized by vertical foliation. Considering that the thickness of lithosphere in southeastern Tibetan plateau is much less than 130km and the lithosphere mantle cannot explain the anisotropy measured by SKS, other anisotropy sources should be considered, such as anisotropy in the asthenosphere and the oriented melt pockets(MPO)in the upper mantle. Therefore, detailed study of CPO of anisotropic mineral is essential for constraining geophysical measurements and analyzing the dynamic process of the lithosphere reasonably.     

地幔热导率的选取对动力学数值模拟的影响——以岩石圈张裂过程为例

目前存在有多种地幔热导率模型,不同模型在数值和随温压变化的特征上有明显的差异.为探究不同热导率模型对动力学数值模拟结果的影响,本文对不同模型下的岩石圈张裂过程进行模拟研究,探讨地幔热导率对岩石圈热传输、变形和熔融过程的影响及其作用机理.结果显示,不同热导率模型下,岩石圈的变形和熔融特征表现出明显差异.高热导率模型下,岩石圈破裂较晚,形成陆缘较为宽阔,地壳熔融强烈而地幔熔融较弱;低热导率模型下,岩石圈破裂较早,形成陆缘较为狭窄,地幔熔融强烈而地壳熔融较弱.这种差异源于不同地幔热导率下岩石圈和地幔热状态的变化及相应力学性质的改变.高热导率下,热传导的增温效应显著,岩石圈呈现较热的状态,其强度整体较低,壳幔耦合减弱;而低热导率下,热对流的增温效应显著,岩石圈呈较冷的状态,其强度整体较高,壳幔耦合增强.基于模拟结果,本文认为地幔热导率的选取对动力学模拟的结果有着较为显著的影响,相对于随温压的变化,热导率数值的差异对动力学数值模拟的结果影响更大,尤其是对于地幔熔融过程的影响.     

Evidence for low viscosity garnet-rich layers in the upper mantle

The rheological properties of upper mantle rocks play an important role in controlling the dynamics of the lithosphere and mantle convection. Experimental studies and microstructures in naturally deformed mantle rocks usually imply that olivine controls the upper mantle rheology. Here we show for the first time evidence from the geometry of folded compositional layers in mantle rocks from Western Norway that garnet-rich rocks can have lower solid-state viscosities than olivine-rich rocks. Modeling of melt-free and dry rheology of garnet and olivine confirms that the reversed viscosity contrast between garnet-rich and olivine-rich layers for this folding event can be achieved over a relatively wide range of temperatures at low stress conditions when the fine-grained garnet deforms by diffusion creep while the coarse-grained olivine deforms by dislocation creep and/or diffusion creep.In general, modeling of the fold viscosity contrast shows that in the stable subcontinental lithospheric mantle or convecting mantle such a reversed viscosity contrast can be formed due to diffusion creep processes in fine-grained garnets in a dry mantle environment or at conditions where the garnet-pyroxene layer is partially molten, i.e. close to solidus–liquidus conditions in the upper mantle. Alternatively in cold plate tectonic settings, e.g. in subduction zones, some water-weakening is a feasible mechanism to create the reversed viscosity contrast between garnet and olivine.     

Formation time of the big mantle wedge beneath eastern China and a new lithospheric thinning mechanism of the North China craton—Geodynamic effects of deep recycled carbon

High-resolution P wave tomography shows that the subducting Pacific slab is stagnant in the mantle transition zone and forms a big mantle wedge beneath eastern China. The Mg isotopic investigation of large numbers of mantle-derived volcanic rocks from eastern China has revealed that carbonates carried by the subducted slab have been recycled into the upper mantle and formed carbonated peridotite overlying the mantle transition zone, which becomes the sources of various basalts. These basalts display light Mg isotopic compositions(δ26 Mg = –0.60‰ to –0.30‰) and relatively low87 Sr/86 Sr ratios(0.70314–0.70564) with ages ranging from 106 Ma to Quaternary, suggesting that their mantle source had been hybridized by recycled magnesite with minor dolomite and their initial melting occurred at 300-360 km in depth. Therefore, the carbonate metasomatism of their mantle source should have occurred at the depth larger than 360 km, which means that the subducted slab should be stagnant in the mantle transition zone forming the big mantle wedge before 106 Ma. This timing supports the rollback model of subducting slab to form the big mantle wedge. Based on high P-T experiment results, when carbonated silicate melts produced by partial melting of carbonated peridotite was raising and reached the bottom(180–120 km in depth) of cratonic lithosphere in North China, the carbonated silicate melts should have 25–18 wt% CO2 contents, with lower Si O2 and Al2 O3 contents, and higher Ca O/Al2 O3 values, similar to those of nephelinites and basanites, and have higher εNdvalues(2 to 6). The carbonatited silicate melts migrated upward and metasomatized the overlying lithospheric mantle, resulting in carbonated peridotite in the bottom of continental lithosphere beneath eastern China. As the craton lithospheric geotherm intersects the solidus of carbonated peridotite at 130 km in depth, the carbonated peridotite in the bottom of cratonic lithosphere should be partially melted, thus its physical characters are similar to the asthenosphere and it could be easily replaced by convective mantle. The newly formed carbonated silicate melts will migrate upward and metasomatize the overlying lithospheric mantle. Similarly, such metasomatism and partial melting processes repeat, and as a result the cratonic lithosphere in North China would be thinning and the carbonated silicate partial melts will be transformed to high-Si O2 alkali basalts with lower εNdvalues(to-2). As the lithospheric thinning goes on,initial melting depth of carbonated peridotite must decrease from 130 km to close 70 km, because the craton geotherm changed to approach oceanic lithosphere geotherm along with lithospheric thinning of the North China craton. Consequently, the interaction between carbonated silicate melt and cratonic lithosphere is a possible mechanism for lithosphere thinning of the North China craton during the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Based on the age statistics of low δ26 Mg basalts in eastern China, the lithospheric thinning processes caused by carbonated metasomatism and partial melting in eastern China are limited in a timespan from 106 to25 Ma, but increased quickly after 25 Ma. Therefore, there are two peak times for the lithospheric thinning of the North China craton: the first peak in 135-115 Ma simultaneously with the cratonic destruction, and the second peak caused by interaction between carbonated silicate melt and lithosphere mainly after 25 Ma. The later decreased the lithospheric thickness to about70 km in the eastern part of North China craton.