Initiation of Subduction Zones as a Consequence of Lateral Compositional Buoyancy Contrast within the Lithosphere: a Petrological Perspective

Tonga and Mariana fore-arc peridotites, inferred to representtheir respective sub-arc mantle lithospheres, are compositionallyhighly depleted (low Fe/Mg) and thus physically buoyant relativeto abyssal peridotites representing normal oceanic lithosphere(high Fe/Mg) formed at ocean ridges. The observation that thedepletion of these fore-arc lithospheres is unrelated to, andpre-dates, the inception of present-day western Pacific subductionzones demonstrates the pre-existence of compositional buoyancycontrast at the sites of these subduction zones. These observationsallow us to suggest that lateral compositional buoyancy contrastwithin the oceanic lithosphere creates the favoured and necessarycondition for subduction initiation. Edges of buoyant oceanicplateaux, for example, mark a compositional buoyancy contrastwithin the oceanic lithosphere. These edges under deviatoriccompression (e.g. ridge push) could develop reverse faults withcombined forces in excess of the oceanic lithosphere strength,allowing the dense normal oceanic lithosphere to sink into theasthenosphere beneath the buoyant overriding oceanic plateaux,i.e. the initiation of subduction zones. We term this conceptthe ‘oceanic plateau model’. This model explainsmany other observations and offers testable hypotheses on importantgeodynamic problems on a global scale. These include (1) theorigin of the 43 Ma bend along the Hawaii–Emperor SeamountChain in the Pacific, (2) mechanisms of ophiolite emplacement,(3) continental accretion, etc. Subduction initiation is notunique to oceanic plateaux, but the plateau model well illustratesthe importance of the compositional buoyancy contrast withinthe lithosphere for subduction initiation. Most portions ofpassive continental margins, such as in the Atlantic where largecompositional buoyancy contrast exists, are the loci of futuresubduction zones. KEY WORDS: subduction initiation; compositional buoyancy contrast; oceanic lithosphere; plate tectonics; mantle plumes; hotspots; oceanic plateaux; passive continental margins; continental accretion; mantle peridotites; ophiolites     

On the regional variation of heat flow, geotherms, and lithospheric thickness

Geotherm families in which surface heat flow is the principal independent variable have been constructed for continental and oceanic lithospheres. The continental model is characterized by geotherms in which surface heat flow is in equilibrium with heat flowing into the lithosphere at its base plus heat generated by radioactive decay within the lithosphere. The model accommodates the regional variation of the surface heat flow with proportional variations in the radioactivity of the surficial enriched zone and in the deeper heat flow. The proportionality is dictated by a new and general linear relationship between reduced heat flow and mean heat flow for a region ( ), which enables both q^* and the mean heat production of the enriched zone to be estimated from knowledge of the mean surface heat flow of a province. The oceanic model is characterized by the transient cooling of a semi-infinite medium with an initial temperature gradient and some near-surface radiogenic heat production. The model yields a heat flow in satisfactory agreement with observations in the oldest ocean basins. The depth at which both the oceanic and continental geotherms reach ~0.85 of the melting temperature is shown to be a consistent estimator of the depth to the top of the low-velocity channel, or the thickness of the high-velocity lid overlying the channel. We identify the lid as synonymous with the lithosphere, and produce a global map of lithospheric thickness based on the regional variation of surface heat flow. The lithosphere is less than 100 km thick over most of the globe, but thickens appreciably and becomes more viscous beneath the Precambrian shields and platforms, regions of low heat flow. These characteristics of shields are consistent with recently reported models of the driving mechanisms of the plate system, which require greater retarding forces beneath plates with large continental areas.     

大陆岩石圈的流变学性质和矿物中的水

评述了近些年来岩石圈(尤其是大陆岩石圈)流变学研究中的主要进展。这些研究中最重要的一个发现是水的存在可以显著地增强岩石的变形,从而对其流变性质产生明显影响。大陆岩石圈的流变性质比大洋岩石圈要复杂得多,尤其是较深处的下地壳和岩石圈地幔之间流变性质的对比和差异成为近些年来人们争执较大的问题。大陆岩石圈的流变性质可能具有显著的不均一性,不仅体现在垂向上,也体现在横向上。根据流变学实验研究的进展和对深部壳幔捕虏体中主要构成矿物结构水含量的测定,对华北克拉通深部岩石圈的流变性质进行了定量计算。结果表明华北克拉通在重力梯度带两侧的岩石圈有着截然不同的流变特征,这种差异可能对两侧不同的岩石圈动力学过程有重要的影响。     

欧亚大陆及边缘海岩石圈的结构特性

从地球层块结构的研究思路出发,运用构造解析的理论和方法,对东亚及西太平洋地区人工地震测深和天然地震面波层析成像进行构造解析,发现岩石圈中下部存在形态各异、大小不等的高速块体,结合地质学、地球化学及其他地球物理学标志的综合研究将其称为幔块构造,高速块体或幔块构造是控制东亚西太平洋岩石圈构造格局和岩石圈表层构造变形最基本条件之一。在系统研究该区岩石圈高速块体或幔块构造三维几何结构基础上,建立起东亚西太平洋岩石圈八种三维几何结构型式:克拉通陆根状结构、高原陆根状结构、造山带楔状结构、碎块状结构、香肠状结构、哑铃状结构、藕节状结构和板状结构,以及岩石圈形成与构造演化四种构造类型:克拉通型岩石圈、增厚型岩石圈、减薄型岩石圈和大洋型岩石圈。文章在详细论述岩石圈各结构构造类基本特征的基础上,认为全球最大的青藏高原具有增厚型岩石圈特性,存在大陆根,并且大陆根正在增厚过程中;地震层析成像显示,研究区存在全球最大的东亚大陆巨型裂谷体系,具有减薄型岩石圈特性,新生代晚期东亚大陆巨型裂谷体系被西太平洋沟弧盆体系叠加与改造。根据岩石圈三维结构型式,探讨了岩石圈形成机制与演化模式,东亚大陆边缘岩石圈大规模伸展拆沉减薄作用以及软流圈和地幔物质上涌加热作用与青藏高原岩石圈大规模俯冲碰撞?入增厚作用是东亚大陆及边缘海晚中生代以来地幔动力学最基本的表现型式,从而形成全球最大的青藏高原和全球最大的东亚大陆巨型裂谷体系。     

Tectonic implications of the large shioya-oki earthquakes of 1938

The tectonic processes taking place along the southern part of the Japan trench are discussed on the basis of the focal mechanism of the 1938 Shioya-Oki event which consists of the five large earthquakes of M_s = 7.4, 7.7, 7.8, 7.7 and 7.1. Detailed analyses of seismic waves and tsunamis are made for each of these earthquakes, and the dislocation parameters are obtained. The total seismic moment amounts to 2.3 · 10²⁸ dyn.cm. The five earthquakes are grouped into either a low-angle thrust type or a nearly vertical normal-fault type. These mechanisms are common with other great earthquakes of the northwestern Pacific belt, and can be explained in terms of the interaction between the oceanic and continental plates. The vertical displacement inferred from the seismic results is in approximate agreement with the precise level data over the period from 1939 and 1897. This agreement suggests that the rate of the strain accumulation at the preseismic time is very small in the epicentral area. Repeated levelings at the postseismic time reveal a large-scale recovery of the coseismic subsidence. The postseismic deformation is one-third to one-half of the coseismic displacement. The time constant of the recovery is estimated to be 5 years or less. This type of deformation may be a manifestation of viscoelasticity of a weak zone underlying the continent. The amount of dislocation, together with the longterm seismicity, suggests a seismic slip rate of about 0.4 cm/year, which is one order of magnitude smaller than that for the adjacent regions. This suggests that a large part of the plate motion is taking place aseismically in this region. The tectonic process now taking place in the southern Japan trench can be considered to represent a stage just prior to a complete detachment of the sinking portion of the oceanic plate.     

华北地区三类岩石圈的壳幔岩石学结构与化学结构及其大陆动力学意义

根据地质和地球物理特征表现出的岩石圈不连续，华北地区可区分出鄂尔多斯克拉通型、燕山-太行造山带型和华北平原裂谷型三类岩石圈。依据岩石学方法、壳幔演化模型、造山带形成过程以及地震波速与岩石化学成分之间的关系，建立了华北地区三类型岩石圈的壳幔岩石学结构和化学结构，讨论了不同岩石圈类型的壳幔物质结构、地壳和岩石圈地幔厚度的地质含义、岩石圈不连续在划分岩石圈单元中的作用及不同类型岩石圈形成的大陆动力学意义。     

云南川西地区地震地质基本特征的探讨

云南川西地区是多震的地方(图1),从公元前116年到1974年6月,据记载共发生M≥4.75级的地震481次,其中6≤M<7的99次,7≤M<8的14次,M≥8的3次。震源深度一般小于30公里,均为浅源地震。本区强震多发生在深大断裂带上,而且都有一定的地质标志可循,与近代地壳运动、板块构造在成因上有着密切关系。     

Structural characteristics off Miyagi forearc region, the Japan Trench seismogenic zone, deduced from a wide-angle reflection and refraction study

The Japan Trench subduction zone, located east of NE Japan, has regional variation in seismicity. Many large earthquakes occurred in the northern part of Japan Trench, but few in the southern part. Off Miyagi region is in the middle of the Japan Trench, where the large earthquakes (M > 7) with thrust mechanisms have occurred at an interval of about 40 years in two parts: inner trench slope and near land. A seismic experiment using 36 ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) and a 12,000 cu. in. airgun array was conducted to determine a detailed, 2D velocity structure in the forearc region off Miyagi. The depth to the Moho is 21 km, at 115 km from the trench axis, and becomes progressively deeper landward. The P-wave velocity of the mantle wedge is 7.9–8.1 km/s, which is typical velocity for uppermost mantle without large serpentinization. The dip angle of oceanic crust is increased from 5–6° near the trench axis to 23° 150 km landward from the trench axis. The P-wave velocity of the oceanic uppermost mantle is as small as 7.7 km/s. This low-velocity oceanic mantle seems to be caused by not a lateral anisotropy but some subduction process. By comparison with the seismicity off Miyagi, the subduction zone can be divided into four parts: 1) Seaward of the trench axis, the seismicity is low and normal fault-type earthquakes occur associated with the destruction of oceanic lithosphere. 2) Beneath the deformed zone landward of the trench axis, the plate boundary is characterized as a stable sliding fault plain. In case of earthquakes, this zone may be tsunamigenic. 3) Below forearc crust where P-wave velocity is almost 6 km/s and larger: this zone is the seismogenic zone below inner trench slope, which is a plate boundary between the forearc and oceanic crusts. 4) Below mantle wedge: the rupture zones of thrust large earthquakes near land (e.g. 1978 off Miyagi earthquake) are located beneath the mantle wedge. The depth of the rupture zones is 30–50 km below sea level. From the comparison, the rupture zones of large earthquakes off Miyagi are limited in two parts: plate boundary between the forearc and oceanic crusts and below mantle wedge. This limitation is a rare case for subduction zone. Although the seismogenic process beneath the mantle wedge is not fully clarified, our observation suggests the two possibilities: earthquake generation at the plate boundary overridden by the mantle wedge without serpentinization or that in the subducting slab.     

On the role of heat flow, lithosphere thickness and lithosphere density on gravitational potential stresses

Gravitational potential stresses (GPSt) are known to play a first-order role in the state of stress of the Earth's lithosphere. Previous studies focussed mainly on crust elevation and structure and little attention has been paid to modelling GPSt using realistic lithospheric structures. The aim of the present contribution is to quantify gravitational potential energies and stresses associated with stable lithospheric domains. In order to model realistic lithosphere structures, a wide variety of data are considered: surface heat flow, chemical depletion of mantle lithosphere, crustal thickness and elevation. A numerical method is presented which involves classical steady-state heat equations to derive lithosphere thickness, geotherm and density distribution, but additionally requires the studied lithosphere to be isostatically compensated at its base. The impact of varying surface and crustal heat flow, topography, Moho depth and crust density on the signs and magnitudes of predicted GPSt is systematically explored. In clear contrast with what is assumed in most previous studies, modelling results show that the density structure of the mantle lithosphere has a significant impact on the value of the predicted GPSt, in particular in the case of thick lithospheres. Using independent information from the literature, the method was applied to get insights in the state of stress of continental domains with contrasting tectono-thermal ages. The modelling results suggest that in the absence of tectonic stresses Phanerozoic and Proterozoic lithospheres are spontaneously submitted to compression whereas Archean lithospheres are in a neutral to slightly tensile stress state. These findings are in general in good agreement with global stress measurements and observed geoid undulations.     

中朝断块区新生代玄武岩与该区上地幔成分特征

中生代时期,西太平洋强烈地喷发了安第斯型钙碱性火山岩,新生代时期,东亚大陆火山岩浆活动转为以玄武岩浆喷发为主,中朝断块区的新生代玄武岩是其中具有代表性的一部分。六十年代至七十年代初,对玄武岩、金伯利岩及其中深源超镁铁质包体所进行的世界规模的研究,扩展了人们对上地幔的认识。     

Gravitational model of the Taiwan lithosphere (along the profile Taiwan Strait-Taiwan Island-West Philippine basin)

Based on two-dimensional gravity modeling, the density section of the lithosphere beneath Taiwan and the surrounding areas is constructed. According to the density parameters, the lithosphere of this region comprises both the continental and oceanic types. The continental lithosphere is lighter than the oceanic one and demonstrates insignificant density differentiation through the entire section. The oceanic lithosphere is more contrasting with respect of both the crust and mantle density. The complicated Taiwan density structure corresponding to Taiwan Island is defined to be superimposed on the transition zone between the continental and oceanic lithospheric blocks. This structure with contrasting density boundaries is characterized by the elevated and high density values of its constituting heterogeneities. The formation of the Taiwan density structure is related to geodynamic processes in the Taiwan area marking the collision zone between the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates.     

The state of stress at continental margins

Three sources of stress at active (Andean) continental margins are considered: body forces on the plates which drive their motion, thermal stresses generated within the cooling lithosphereand bending stresses due to the flexure of the lithosphere at an ocean trench. It is argued that the bending stresses dominate. The evolution of passive (Atlantictype) continental margins is also considered. Models for the free and locked flexure of the continental and oceanic lithosphere are given. Based on observed gravity anomalies, it is argued that the continental margin fault system must remain active throughout much of the evolution of the margin. These displacements accommodate both the subsidence of the oceanic lithosphere due to its cooling and thickeningand the sedimentary loading. This loading may be responsible for the seismicity on the eastern continental margin of the United States e.g., the Charleston, South Carolina earthquake of 1884.     

Crust and upper mantle models along the active Tyrrhenian rim

The volcanic complexes from the Eolian islands to the Campania/Roman regions and Tuscany further north, rest on lithospheric sectors which overlie the Adriatic continental lithosphere sinking along the Apennine-Maghrebian orogenic belt. Evidence for this stems from the melting, at mantle depth, of upper crustal materials as indicated by the widespread interaction of S-type and K-alkaline melts. The genesis of atypical magmas of the Roman Province (central-southern Italy) appears to be the result of an important block faulting and deep lithospheric rifting of the Apennine continental margin lying parallel to and above relic sinking slabs. Intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes indicate that the lithospheric slab is still seismically active under the Eolian-Calabrian area and, sporadically, at the southern end of Campania. On the other hand, in the Roman/Tuscan region, it seems to be almost inactive, few earthquakes having been located with hypocentral depths not exceeding 150 km. The analysis of the spectral content of seismic sources supports the existence of two distinct zones of lithospheric shortening in correspondence of Tuscany and South Tyrrhenian sea, which are separated by a tensional region, which extends from Latium to Calabria. The existence of distinct lithospheric slabs along the Tyrrhenian rim is supported by surface wave dispersion and scattering measurements as well as P-wave residuals, and is confirmed by the trend of long-wavelength gravity anomalies. Bidimensional gravity models along transects in the Tyrrhenian sea and italian peninsula interpreted within the geometrical constraints imposed by the results of the interpretation of aeromagnetic, seismic and seismological data have been used to delimit the spatial distribution of the density contrasts in the upper mantle which might be due to the existence of the above-mentioned lithospheric slabs.     

论大陆岩石圈内的垂直转换断层

近些年来,地震测深和重力测量方法揭示出大陆岩石圈内存在一组穿透地壳并延深到上地幔的高角度断裂,经厘定,被命名为垂直转换断层(vertical trans-form fault)。原只认为它们存在于高亚洲,包括青藏高原。本文表明其也出现于低亚洲西伯利亚平原。大陆岩石圈内是否普遍存在垂直转换断层以及它们在大陆岩石圈动力学研究中的意义,是今后构造地质学研究的方向之一。      

中国大陆大规模成矿作用油气田形成——来自岩石圈的约束

由克拉通、造山带、裂谷、边缘海洋壳和岛弧等5大岩石圈类型构成的中国大陆,由于不同类型岩石圈对应的动力学机制及其效应不同,岩石圈不同类型之间的连接带必定是不连续带,与大陆成矿作用有密切的联系。中国大陆已知的绝大多数金属矿床分布于岩石圈不连续和再活化不连续处,表明岩石圈不连续为大型矿床(矿集区)形成提供有利的运-储空间。中国大陆西北、中国东部和西南地区构造-岩浆-成矿事件序列对比表明,一个地区岩石圈的壳-幔岩石学结构、大规模成矿作用,取决于最强的、最后一次的岩浆作用,大规模成矿作用的发生起始于造山岩石圈根失稳、去根和大规模软流圈上涌时期,C型埃达克岩的出现是其标志之一。分布于中国内陆的扬子、鄂尔多斯、塔里木和准噶尔盆地等地表热流值低的“冷盆”,深部属于克拉通型岩石圈背景,在构造上往往为造山带的前陆盆地,克拉通型岩石圈构造上的稳定性决定了这些克拉通盆地不断被周围造山带吞食、掩埋、改造的格局,虽然在这些盆地内如今都已发现油气田,但在盆地外那些现今被造山带前缘逆冲体覆盖的区域,也应该是油气田产出的有利区域,即盆地外造山带花岗岩下依然是寻找油气田的重要远景区。分布于中国东部的平原区和黄海、东海及南海等陆缘海区,属于地表热流值高的“热盆”,这些盆地下对应的是裂谷型或洋壳型岩石圈,它们是在新生代时期中国东部沿海地区进入了新的构造演化阶段——大陆裂谷作用下形成的,以伴随广泛的玄武岩喷发为标志,对流地幔物质和热输入使盆地热流值升高成为“热盆”、大陆裂谷型岩石圈,乃至洋壳岩石圈(如南海中央海盆);伴随裂陷作用及伸展构造普遍发育的幔源玄武岩浆大量喷发,以及大量沉积物的快速沉积、埋藏有利于油气田的形成,其中的组分,如CO2气田中的CO2可能主要源于地幔。中国东部平原及边缘海区域是最具前景的油气田分布区之一。     

No major thermal event on the mid-Cretaceous Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin

Transient mid-Cretaceous thermal uplift induced by lateral heating from passing oceanic lithosphere is often invoked as a mechanism for the formation of the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana basement ridge in the Equatorial Atlantic. This heating event should have affected mid-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks along the ridge. However, organic maturity and clay mineral data on the thermal evolution of these rocks suggest that burial temperatures did not exceed 80 °C and that palaeo–geothermal gradients are not anomalous. Optical petrography and the stratigraphic pattern of temperature-sensitive parameters indicate that higher palaeotemperature estimates are related to admixtures of preheated, detrital organic and inorganic matter. Erosion brought the sediments to their present shallow burial depths. Lack of evidence for significant thermal alteration implies that either thermal exchange between oceanic and continental lithosphere along the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin was negligible, or that lateral heating by oceanic lithosphere was not strong enough to affect the sedimentary cover of the basement ridge.     

大洋岩石圈和大陆岩石圈的元素丰度

根据大洋地壳、大陆地壳、上地幔和球岩石圈的元素丰度资料,本文初次分别求出大洋岩石圈和大陆岩石圈的元素丰度.可用作研究化学元素在洋圈或陆圈内各地区分布特征的地球化学背景值.     

中国岩石圈应力场与构造运动区域特征

笔者系统分析了1918—2005年间中国大陆及其周缘发生的3130个中、强地震的震源机制解,根据其特征进行了岩石圈应力场构造分区,首次得到区域应力场的压应力轴和张应力轴空间分布的统计数字结果。在此基础上研究了应力场的区域特征、探讨了其动力学来源以及构造运动特征。总体结果表明,中国大陆及其周缘岩石圈应力场和构造运动可以归结为印度洋板块、太平洋板块、菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块之间相对运动,以及大陆板内区域块体之间的相互作用的结果。印度洋板块向欧亚板块的碰撞挤压运动所产生的强烈的挤压应力,控制了喜马拉雅、青藏高原、中国西部乃至延伸到天山及其以北的广大地区。在青藏高原周缘地区和中国西部的大范围内,压应力P轴水平分量方位位于20～40°,形成了近NE方向的挤压应力场。大量逆断层型强震集中发生在青藏高原的南、北和西部周缘地区,以及天山等地区。而多数正断层型地震集中发生在青藏高原中部高海拔的地区,断层位错的水平分量位于近东西方向。表明青藏高原周缘区域发生南北向强烈挤压短缩的同时,中部高海拔地区存在着明显的近东西向的扩张运动。中国东部的华北地区受到太平洋板块向欧亚板块俯冲挤压的同时,又受到从贝加尔湖经过大华北直到琉球海沟的广阔地域里存在着的统一的、方位为170°的引张应力场的控制。华北地区大地震的震源机制解均反映出该区地震的发生大体为NEE向挤压应力和NNW向张应力的共同作用结果。台湾纵谷断层是菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块之间碰撞挤压边界。来自北西向运动的菲律宾海板块构造应力控制了从台湾纵谷、华南块体,直到中国南北地震带南段东部地域的应力场。地震的震源机制结果还表明,将中国大陆分成东、西两部分的中国南北地震带是印度洋板块、菲律宾海板块与太平洋板块在中国大陆内部影响控制范围的分界线。     

Obduction triggered by regional heating during plate reorganization

The reason for obduction, or tectonic transport of oceanic lithosphere onto continents, is investigated by two‐dimensional thermo‐mechanical numerical modelling based on the geology of the Anatolia–Lesser Caucasus ophiolites. Heating of the oceanic domain and extension induced by far‐field plate kinematics appear to be essential for the obduction of ~80‐Ma‐old oceanic crust over distances exceeding 200 km. Heating of the oceanic lithosphere by mantle upwelling is evidenced by a thick alkaline volcanic series emplaced on top of the oceanic crust 10–20 Ma before obduction, at the onset of Africa–Eurasia convergence. Regional heating reduced the negative buoyancy and strength of the magmatically old lithosphere. Extension facilitated the propagation of obduction by reducing the mantle lithosphere thickness, which led to the exhumation of eclogite‐free continental crust previously underthrusted beneath the ophiolites. This extensional event is ascribed to far‐field plate kinematics resulting from renewed Neotethys oceanic subduction beneath Eurasia.     

俯冲带形成机制的可检验假说和检验方案

五十年前板块构造理论的诞生是地球科学领域的一场革命,它为理解地球如何运作构建了基本框架。过去五十年对该理论的进一步研究告诉我们地质过程最终都是地球热损失的结果。例如,大洋岩石圈板块在洋中脊形成,其运动和增生以及最终通过俯冲带进入地幔导致地幔冷却降温,从而导致大规模的地幔对流。亦即,板块构造的直接驱动力是俯冲大洋岩石圈板块的下沉力。因此,没有俯冲带就没有板块构造,但是俯冲带如何开始仍然有争议。对俯冲起始的研究从未中断,有数值模拟也有地质推断。2014年在西太平洋用三个IODP航次(350、351和352)来检验“自发”和“诱发”俯冲开始的想法。所有这些努力都值得肯定,但这些是无法检验的想法。无法检验意味着没有结果。本文介绍至今唯一可用地质学方法检验的假说,亦即“岩石圈内横向物质组成差异导致的浮力差是俯冲带形成的起因”。这种浮力差位于海底高原的边部和被动大陆边缘,因此这些部位是未来俯冲带起始的必然轨迹。在远离这些部位的正常洋盆内因缺乏浮力差而俯冲带不可能起始。换句话说,“所有岛弧一定有大陆(或海底高原)基底”,这可以通过采集和研究岛弧基底岩石来验证。