南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来地层剥蚀的磷灰石裂变径迹分析

南黄海中部隆起自印支期以来经历显著的构造隆升及剥蚀过程.基于大陆架科学钻探CSDP-2井的钻井岩心,应用磷灰石裂变径迹技术研究了南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来的剥蚀过程及响应特征.所获得的8个磷灰石样品的裂变径迹年龄显示出两个年龄组,除单个样品为38±3 Ma外,其余样品都集中在（52±4）~（65±5）Ma范围内,基本反映了同一期构造热事件年龄,并且均远小于样品所处的二叠纪年龄,表明样品完全退火并记录了晚白垩世以来的热历史.样品热史模拟结果表明,基于泥岩镜质体反射率计算的最高古地温处于样品退火带温区范围内,各样品从晚白垩世早期（约100 Ma）以来经历持续的降温过程,在约80~75 Ma开始进入部分退火带.南黄海中部隆起第一期快速冷却降温过程出现在晚白垩世末期,并持续至古新世早期,随后进入古近纪表现为持续相对缓慢的降温过程,降温幅度约30 ℃,渐新世末期到中新世早期存在另一期快速冷却过程.热史模拟结果较好地指示了南黄海中部隆起晚白垩世以来的地层剥蚀响应特征.      

Apatite fission track thermochronology of the Precambrian Aksu blueschist, NW China: Implications for thermo–tectonic evolution of the north Tarim basement

The Precambrian Aksu blueschist is located in the northwestern margin of the Tarim Block, NW China. In recent decades, many studies were carried out with focus on the metamorphic age. However, a complete understanding of the evolution of the Tarim Block requires the cooling history of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the time–temperature paths as determined by low-temperature thermochronometry. Therefore, apatite fission track (AFT) technique was applied on the Precambrian Aksu blueschist to reveal the thermo–tectonic evolution of the north Tarim basement. All of the six blueschist samples analysed in this study yielded AFT ages spanning 107.5–62.5 Ma, much younger than the blueschist facies metamorphic age of Neoproterozoic, and confined track lengths are between 10.46 and 12.12 µm. Based on regional stratigraphic sequences, the AFT thermal history modeling as well as previous chronological results, the thermo–tectonic evolution of the Aksu blueschist can be roughly reconstructed with four stages: (1) the Precambrain Aksu blueschist exhumed to the surface soon after its formation. Erosion during the Early Sinian is indicated by the lack of sedimentation until the Late Sinian; (2) the Late Sinian strata are continuous, while the Middle–Upper Silurian and the Lower–Middle Carboniferous strata are absent. The total thickness of the Late Sinian and Paleozoic strata probably reached 10,000 m and resulted in the total annealing and thermal resetting of AFT ages; (3) the AFT ages in the Cretaceous are related with the widespread uplift in Tian Shan and its adjacent regions that restarted the AFT clock during the Late Mesozoic. These reflect a distant effect of the collision of the Lhasa terrane with Eurasia in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous; and (4) sediments of Cenozoic are documented in the Aksu area. The Aksu blueschist was heated to partial annealing zone with the overlying Cenozoic sediments. During Miocene time, the Aksu blueschist was re-exhumed which was probably a distant response to the ongoing India–Eurasia convergence.     

The Anarak, Jandaq and Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complexes in central Iran: New geological data, relationships and tectonic implications

The Anarak, Jandaq and Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complexes occupy the NW part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent and are juxtaposed with the Great Kavir block and Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Our recent findings redefine the origin of these complexes, so far attributed to the Precambrian–Early Paleozoic orogenic episodes, and now directly related to the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. This tectonic evolution was initiated by Late Ordovician–Early Devonian rifting events and terminated in the Triassic by the Eocimmerian collision event due to the docking of the Cimmerian blocks with the Asiatic Turan block.

The “Variscan accretionary complex” is a new name we proposed for the most widely distributed metamorphic rocks connected to the Anarak and Jandaq complexes. This accretionary complex exposed from SW of Jandaq to the Anarak and Kabudan areas is a thick and fine grain siliciclastic sequence accompanied by marginal-sea ophiolitic remnants, including gabbro-basalts with a supra-subduction-geochemical signature. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are obtained as 333–320 Ma for the metamorphism of this sequence under greenschist to amphibolite facies. Moreover, the limy intercalations in the volcano-sedimentary part of this complex in Godar-e-Siah yielded Upper Devonian–Tournaisian conodonts. The northeastern part of this complex in the Jandaq area was intruded by 215 ± 15 Ma arc to collisional granite and pegmatites dated by ID-TIMS and its metamorphic rocks are characterized by some ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar radiometric ages of 163–156 Ma.

The “Variscan” accretionary complex was northwardly accreted to the Airekan granitic terrane dated at 549 ± 15 Ma. Later, from the Late Carboniferous to Triassic, huge amounts of oceanic material were accreted to its southern side and penetrated by several seamounts such as the Anarak and Kabudan. This new period of accretion is supported by the 280–230 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages for the Anarak mild high-pressure metamorphic rocks and a 262 Ma U–Pb age for the trondhjemite–rhyolite association of that area. The Triassic Bayazeh flysch filled the foreland basin during the final closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and was partly deposited and/or thrusted onto the Cimmerian Yazd block.

The Paleo-Tethys magmatic arc products have been well-preserved in the Late Devonian–Carboniferous Godar-e-Siah intra-arc deposits and the Triassic Nakhlak fore-arc succession. On the passive margin of the Cimmerian block, in the Yazd region, the nearly continuous Upper Paleozoic platform-type deposition was totally interrupted during the Middle to Late Triassic. Local erosion, down to Lower Paleozoic levels, may be related to flexural bulge erosion. The platform was finally unconformably covered by Liassic continental molassic deposits of the Shemshak.

One of the extensional periods related to Neo-Tethyan back-arc rifting in Late Cretaceous time finally separated parts of the Eocimmerian collisional domain from the Eurasian Turan domain. The opening and closing of this new ocean, characterized by the Nain and Sabzevar ophiolitic mélanges, finally transported the Anarak–Jandaq composite terrane to Central Iran, accompanied by large scale rotation of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent (CEIM). Due to many similarities between the Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complex and the Anarak–Jandaq composite terrane, the former could be part of the latter, if it was transported further south during Tertiary time.     

Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Exhumation of the Northern Hexi Corridor: Constrained by Apatite Fission Track Ages of the Longshoushan

The apatite fission track (AFT) ages and thermal modeling of the Longshoushan and deformation along the northern Hexi Corridor on the northern side of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau show that the Longshoushan along the northern corridor had experienced important multi-stage exhumations during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The AFT ages of 7 samples range from 31.9 Ma to 111.8 Ma. Thermal modeling of the AFT ages of the samples shows that the Longshoushan experienced significant exhumation during the Late Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic (~130–25 Ma). The Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Longshoushan may have resulted from the continuous compression between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks and the flat slab subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate, which affected wide regions across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. During the Early Cenozoic, the Longshoushan still experienced exhumation, but this process was caused by the Indian-Eurasian collision. Since this time, the Longshoushan was in a stable stage for approximately 20 Ma and experienced erosion. Since ~5 Ma, obvious tectonic deformation occurred along the entire northern Hexi Corridor, which has also been reported from the peripheral regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, especially in the Qilianshan and northeastern margin of the plateau. The AFT ages and the Late Cenozoic deformation of the northern Hexi Corridor all indicate that the present northern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated along the northern Hexi Corridor.     

湘鄂西褶皱带中-新生代剥蚀特征及其构造指示:来自磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

恢复湘鄂西褶皱带中-新生代以来的剥蚀历史, 探讨其变形的时空格架, 对于研究陆内褶皱造山以及指导该地区的油气勘探具有重要的意义.利用该地区磷灰石样品进行裂变径迹年龄测定与热史模拟, 对中-新生代的剥蚀厚度和速率进行分析.结果表明, 湘鄂西地区磷灰石裂变径迹的年龄为71~100 Ma, 与川东隔挡式褶皱带中的磷灰石样品年龄进行对比, 具有由SE到NW向递进变新的趋势; 中新生代以来的热史呈现出"三段式"的特征, 这3个阶段的转折时期为115~90 Ma和35~20 Ma, 分别对应了从晚侏罗世-早白垩世挤压造山到晚白垩世伸展成盆再到新生代整体抬升的构造转换; 燕山期为湘鄂西褶皱带的主变形期, 变形时序呈现出由SE到NW向递进变新的趋势, 剥蚀程度呈现出由SE到NW向变弱的趋势.这些认识为燕山期湘鄂西-川东褶皱带陆内递进变形的形成演化研究提供了有力的证据.      

龙门山冲断隆升及其走向差异的裂变径迹证据

大量的低温年代学研究用来讨论龙门山晚新生代的隆升,但很少涉及其走向差异和中生代隆升。本文分别沿龙门山北、中、南段3条剖面进行了锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测试,结合已有的热年代学数据,以期揭示整个中-新生代期间龙门山隆升历史及其时空变化。中生代以来,龙门山主要有印支期(约200 Ma)、早白垩世末(约100 Ma)、早新生代(65～30 Ma)以及晚中新世(15～9 Ma)等或快或慢的冷却事件,总体上经历了中生代至早新生代的缓慢冷却和晚新生代快速冷却2个阶段,快速剥露开始于15～9 Ma,剥蚀速率由早期的0.1 mm/a增加到0.15～0.3 mm/a左右,局部可达0.9 mm/a左右。走向上,龙门山北段相对偏小的锆石裂变径迹年龄和相对偏大的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映其在中生代较中、南段隆升更快,而裂变径迹年龄总体上从北段向中、南段减小,表明中、南段在新生代发生了更快的隆升。倾向上,多种热年代学数据显示新生代期间在北川断裂和彭灌断裂两侧存在明显的差异剥露,这种差异在中、南段表现比北段更为突出。龙门山晚新生代快速隆升和剥露是青藏高原区域隆升背景上叠加的冲断活动所致,而非下地壳流动驱动。     

Meso–Cenozoic cooling and exhumation history of the Orlica‐Śnieżnik Dome (Sudetes,NE Bohemian Massif,Central Europe): Insights from apatite fission‐track thermochronometry

This study presents the first suite of apatite fission‐track (AFT) ages from the SE part of the Western Sudetes. AFT cooling ages from the Orlica‐?nie?nik Dome and the Upper Nysa K?odzka Graben range from Late Cretaceous (84 Ma) to Early Palaeocene–Middle Eocene (64–45 Ma). The first stage of basin evolution (~100–90 Ma) was marked by the formation of a local extensional depocentre and disruption of the Mesozoic planation surface. Subsequent far‐field convergence of European microplates resulted in Coniacian–Santonian (~89–83 Ma) thrust faulting. AFT data from both metamorphic basement and Mesozoic sedimentary cover indicate homogenous Late Cretaceous burial of the entire Western Sudetes. Thermal history modeling suggests that the onset of cooling could be constrained between 89 and 63 Ma with a climax during the Palaeocene–Middle Eocene basin inversion phase.     

Low temperature Phanerozoic history of the Northern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The Phanerozoic cooling history of the Western Australian Shield has been investigated using apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology. AFT ages from the northern part of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, primarily range between 200 and 280 Ma, with mean confined horizontal track lengths varying between 11.5 and 14.3 μm. Time–temperature modelling of the AFT data together with geological information suggest the onset of a regional cooling episode in the Late Carboniferous/Early Permian, which continued into Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous time. Present-day heat flow measurements on the Western Australian Shield fall in the range of 40–50 mW m⁻². If the present day geothermal gradient of  18 ± 2 °C km⁻¹ is representative of average Phanerozoic gradients, then this implies a minimum of  50 °C of Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic cooling. Assuming that cooling resulted from denudation, the data suggest the removal of at least 3 km of rock section from the northern Yilgarn Craton over this interval. The Perth Basin, located west of the Yilgarn Craton, contains up to 15 km of mostly Permian to Lower Cretaceous clastic sediment. However, published U–Pb data of detrital zircons from Permian and Lower Triassic basin strata show relatively few or no grains of Archaean age. This suggests that the recorded cooling can probably be attributed to the removal of a sedimentary cover rather than by denudation of material from the underlying craton itself. The onset of cooling is linked to tectonism related to either the waning stages of the Alice Springs Orogeny or to the early stages of Gondwana breakup.     

Thermotectonic evolution of Precambrian basement rocks of the Kuruktag uplift,NE Tarim craton,China: evidence from apatite fission-track data

The Kuruktag uplift is located directly northeast of the Tarim craton in northwestern China. Neoarchaean-to-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks crop out widely in the uplift; thus, it is especially suited for a more complete understanding of the thermal evolution of the Tarim craton. Apatite fission-track (AFT) methods were used to study the exhumation history and cooling of these Precambrian crystalline rocks. Nine apatite-bearing samples were collected from both sides of the Xingdi fault transecting the Kuruktag uplift. Pooled ages range from 146.0 ± 13.4 to 67.6 ± 6.7 Ma, with mean track lengths between 11.79 ± 0.14 and 12.48 ± 0.10 μm. These samples can be divided into three groups based on age and structural position. Group A consists of five samples with AFT apparent ages of about 100–110 Ma and is generally associated with undeformed areas. Group B comprises three specimens with AFT apparent ages lower than 80 Ma and is mostly associated with hanging wall environments close to faults. Group C is a single apatite sample with the oldest relative apparent age, 146.0 ± 13.4 Ma. The modelled thermal history indicates four periods of exhumation in the Kuruktag uplift: late-Early Jurassic (180 Ma); Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (144–118 Ma); early-Late Cretaceous (94–82 Ma); and late Cenozoic (about 10 Ma). These cooling events, identified by AFT data, are assumed to reflect far-field effects from multi-stage collisions and accretions of terranes along the south Asian continental margin.     

青藏高原中-南部新生代构造演化的热年代学制约

青藏高原新生代以来的隆升过程及特征长期以来广存争议.岩体中不同单矿物所记录的中低温热年代学信息适用于揭示较新年代地质体的隆升过程,可以为之提供有效制约.在青藏高原部分岩浆岩与变质岩露头区原位采集15块样品,利用锆石与磷灰石裂变径迹等热年代学结果为青藏高原中生代末期以来的隆升过程提供约束.其中,所获10块样品的锆石裂变径迹数据年龄范围为182~33 Ma,分别记录了渐新世之前青藏高原内不同块体间相互碰撞及高原内不同地区的构造热事件.特别是沿雅鲁藏布江缝合带分布的3个样品,锆石裂变径迹年龄结果一致显示始新世末期-渐新世早期该带存在一期显著的构造热事件.该构造热事件暗示在约36~33 Ma沿雅江缝合带发生过强烈的陆-陆硬碰撞.所获14块样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄范围为70.4~5.0 Ma,综合热史反演结果显示青藏高原南部中新世中晚期以来存在整体性隆升,特别是从上新世开始隆升速率显著加快.磷灰石裂变径迹年龄在空间分布上具有向高原东南部变年轻的趋势,表明青藏高原东南部在上新世以来的构造隆升较其他地区要强烈,暗示印度-亚洲板块碰撞驱动机制对该时期的高原隆升具有控制作用.此外,青藏高原中部在白垩纪末期-始新世可能即已隆升至相当高度,此后至今保持了相当低的剥蚀速率.      

Neogene exhumation of the Marrakech High Atlas (Morocco) recorded by apatite fission-track analysis

Apatite fission-track (AFT) data have been obtained along a traverse across the Marrakech High Atlas to constrain its tectono-thermal evolution. AFT ages vary between 212 ± 15 Ma and 20 ± 4 Ma. An Early Miocene AFT age accompanied by long mean track length from the central part of the chain has been interpreted as the timing of the main inversion of this region with the creation of relief because of the shortening induced by the interplay between the African and Eurasian plates. Thermal modelling of samples collected south of the South Atlas Fault Zone indicates a Middle-Late Miocene or even later cooling that has been attributed to the component of the uplift of the chain related to the thermal anomaly present beneath the Atlas Mountains.     

Tracing metamorphism,exhumation and topographic evolution in orogenic belts by multiple thermochronology: a case study from the Nízke Tatry Mts., Western Carpathians

A combination of four thermochronometers [zircon fission track (ZFT), zircon (U–Th)/He (ZHe), apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U–Th–[Sm])/He (AHe) dating methods] applied to a valley to ridge transect is used to resolve the issues of metamorphic, exhumation and topographic evolution of the Nízke Tatry Mts. in the Western Carpathians. The ZFT ages of 132.1 ± 8.3, 155.1 ± 12.9, 146.8 ± 8.6 and 144.9 ± 11.0 Ma show that Variscan crystalline basement of the Nízke Tatry Mts. was heated to temperatures >210°C during the Mesozoic and experienced a low-grade Alpine metamorphic overprint. ZHe and AFT ages, clustering at ~55–40 and ~45–40 Ma, respectively, revealed a rapid Eocene cooling event, documenting erosional and/or tectonic exhumation related to the collapse of the Carpathian orogenic wedge. This is the first evidence that exhumation of crystalline cores in the Western Carpathians took place in the Eocene and not in the Cretaceous as traditionally believed. Bimodal AFT length distributions, Early Miocene AHe ages and thermal modelling results suggest that the samples were heated to temperatures of ~55–90°C during Oligocene–Miocene times. This thermal event may be related either to the Oligocene/Miocene sedimentary burial, or Miocene magmatic activity and increased heat flow. This finding supports the concept of thermal instability of the Carpathian crystalline bodies during the post-Eocene period.     

Mesozoic exhumation history and palaeolandscape of the Iberian Massif in eastern Galicia from apatite fission-track and (U+Th)/He data

Apatite fission-track (AFT) and (U+Th)/He (AHe) data, combined with time–temperature inverse modelling, reveal the cooling and exhumation history of the Iberian Massif in eastern Galicia since the Mesozoic. The continuous cooling at various rates correlates with variation of tectonic boundary conditions in the adjacent continental margins. The data provide constraints on the 10⁷ timescale longevity of a relict paleolandscape. AFT ages range from 68 to 174 Ma with mean track lengths of 10.7 ± 2.6 to 12.6 ± 1.8 μm, and AHe ages range from 73 to 147 Ma. Fastest exhumation (≈0.25 km/Ma) occurred during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous main episode of rifting in the adjacent western and northern margins. Exhumation rates have decreased since then and have been approximately one order of magnitude lower. Across inland Galicia, the AFT data are consistent with Early Cretaceous movement on post-Variscan NE trending faults. This is coeval with an extensional episode offshore. The AHe data in this region indicate less than 1.7 km of denudation in the last 100 Ma. This low exhumation suggests the attainment of a mature landscape during Late Cretaceous post-rift tectonic stability, whose remains are still preserved. The low and steady rate of denudation prevailed across inland Galicia despite minor N–S shortening in the northern margin since ≈45 Ma ago. In north Galicia, rock uplift in response to NW strike-slip faulting since Early Oligocene to Early Miocene has caused insufficient exhumation (<3 km) to remove the Mesozoic cooling signal recorded by the AFT data.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001521

The Tarim Basin is a representative example of the basins developed in the northwest China that are characterized by multiple stages of heating and cooling.In order to better understand its complex thermal history,apatite fission track （AFT） thermochronology was applied to borehole samples from the Tazhong Uplift Zone （TUZ）.Twelve sedimentary samples of Silurian to Triassic depositional ages were analyzed from depths coinciding with the apatite partial annealing zone （～60-120 ℃）.The AFT ages,ranging from 132 ± 7 Ma （from a Triassic sample） to 25 ± 2 Ma （from a Carboniferous sample）,are clearly younger than their depositional ages and demonstrate a total resetting of the AFT thermometer after deposition.The AFT ages vary among different tectonic belts and decrease from the No.Ten Faulted Zone （133-105 Ma） in the northwest,the Central Horst Zone in the middle （108-37 Ma）,to the East Buried Hill Zone in the south （51 25 Ma）.Given the low magnitude of post-Triassic burial heating evidenced by low vitrinite reflectance values （Ro ＜ 0.7％）,the total resetting of the AFT system is speculated to result from the hot fluid flow along the faults.Thermal effects along the faults are well documented by younger AFT ages and unimodal single grain age distributions in the vicinity of the faults.Permian-early Triassic basaltic volcanism may be responsible for the early Triassic total annealing of those samples lacking connectivity with the fault.The above arguments are supported by thermal modeling results.     

Tracking multi-stage uplift history of the Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt during the Late Carboniferous and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from apatite U-Pb and fission track dataSCIEI北大核心CSCD

本文利用LA-ICP-MS磷灰石裂变径迹(FT)和U-Pb双定年技术,结合锆石原位U-Pb测年结果,对出露于东天山南部雅满苏-彩霞山地区的侵入岩样品进行了系统分析。结果显示,这些样品形成于357-309Ma和-252Ma,裂变径迹年龄变化于304-118Ma。根据裂变径迹年龄和径迹长度分布对其进行热史反演,得到晚石炭世-早二叠世(320-280Ma)、中-晚三叠世(240-210Ma)和早白垩世(120-100Ma)三个主要冷却时期。综合分析认为,研究区的石炭纪和三叠纪侵入体在晚石炭世-早二叠世、中-晚三叠世和早白垩世期间经历过构造隆升。其中,晚石炭世-早二叠世的抬升是由康古尔洋闭合后区域进入碰撞造山阶段导致,中-晚三叠世的抬升主要与古特提斯洋闭合后松潘-甘孜地体、羌塘地体先后与亚欧板块南缘的碰撞增生有关,早白垩世的抬升事件主要受到班公湖-怒江洋俯冲闭合以及拉萨地体与羌塘地体的碰撞增生影响。此外,东天山不同部位经历了显著的差异性隆升,这一现象与区内各构造单元的非均匀性、分块性及其地质演化历史的差异性密切相关,同时还受到外部驱动力以及早期先存断裂构造活化的制约。     

Long-term thermo-tectonic evolution of the Montes de Toledo area (Central Hercynian Belt, Spain): constraints from apatite fission-track analysis

In the Montes de Toledo area, located in the axial part of the Central Hercynian zone, a long-term thermo-tectonic evolution can be deduced from apatite fission-track (AFT) data in conjunction with tight geological constraints derived from the knowledge of regional geology and other independent chronometers. The area is composed of two different blocks separated by the Toledo Shear Zone (TSZ). The northern block is a granulite facies anatectic terrane. The southern block is composed of greenschist facies Paleozoic sediments intruded by a late Hercynian granitic pluton. A total of 13 samples have been recovered for AFT analysis. AFT ages in both blocks cluster around 189–221 Ma, with mean confined track lengths between 11.4 m and 12.4 m. Modeling of the AFT data indicates that the thermal history is broadly similar in both blocks, which constrains the main movement of the TSZ, as essentially before the Upper Permian. AFT ages in the TSZ cluster around 124–164 Ma, and the track lengths vary between 11.4 m and 12.4 m. These data reveal that the fault must have been affected by a later thermal overprint as AFT ages are significantly younger than those of the footwall and hangingwall blocks. This differential thermal resetting is likely related to the advection of localized hydrothermal fluids that are responsible for the widespread Pb–Zn mineralization along the TSZ. These results give an example of resetting AFT data by hydrothermal events. The long-term evolution suggests a lack of important Alpine tectonism in the Montes de Toledo block, in clear contrast to other nearby Hercynian areas such as the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the important effect of Alpine tectonism has almost totally erased the previous thermal signal in the AFT system.     

Dating synmagmatic folds: a case study of Schlingen structures in the Strona-Ceneri Zone (Southern Alps, northern Italy)

The Strona-Ceneri Zone (Southern Alps) contains folds with moderately to steeply inclined axial planes and fold axes, and amplitudes of up to several kilometres (so-called 'Schlingen'). These amphibolite facies folds deform the main schistosity of Late Ordovician metagranitoids and are discordantly overlain by unmetamorphic Permian sedimentary rocks. Mutually cross-cutting relationships between these folds and garnet-bearing leucotonalitic dykes indicate that these dykes were emplaced during folding. Sm–Nd systematics and the strongly peraluminous composition of these dykes point to an anatectic origin. Pb step leaching of magmatic garnet from a leucotonalitic dyke yielded a 321.3±2.3  Ma intrusive age. Rb–Sr ages on muscovites from leucotonalitic dykes range from 307 to 298  Ma, interpreted as cooling ages during retrograde amphibolite facies metamorphism. Conventional U–Pb data of zircons from an older granodioritic dyke that pre-dates the Schlingen folds yielded discordant U–Pb ages ranging from 371 to 294  Ma. These ages reflect a more complicated multi-episodic growth history which is consistent with the observed polyphase structural overprint of this dyke. Schlingen folding was accompanied by prograde amphibolite facies metamorphism, during the thermal peak of which the leucotonalitic dyke material was generated by partial melting in a deeper source region from where these S-type magmas intruded the presently exposed level. Because partial melting may occur in a relatively late stage of a clockwise P–T–t path, or even during decompression on the retrograde path, we do not exclude the possibility that Schlingen folding had already started in Early Carboniferous time. Schlingen folds also occur in Penninic and Austroalpine basement units with a very similar pre-Alpine history, indicating that Variscan folding affected large segments of the future Alpine realm.     

东昆仑山小南川岩体裂变径迹年代与中新世晚期以来的构造地貌演化

对昆仑垭口地区小南川岩体7件样品进行磷灰石裂变径迹年代学测试, 分析了岩体的冷却过程及岩体的剥露与构造地貌演化的关系.结果表明东昆仑山区中新世晚期视剥蚀速率极为缓慢, 为0.020~0.035mm/a, 反映的是构造隆升作用微弱、地貌缓和的地质环境, 因而构造隆升速率与低的视剥蚀速率相当.上新世以来小南川岩体突发性快速隆升冷却, 造成超过3km的物质揭顶, 这不是由单纯的剥蚀过程导致, 而是反映了昆仑山上新世以来的强烈构造隆升驱动下的成山作用过程.岩体上新世的裂变径迹年龄与近东西向的昆仑河-野牛沟谷地断裂断陷、昆仑垭口盆地断陷以及后期西大滩谷地断陷的综合构造地貌演化有密切的成因联系.此外裂变径迹年龄的空间分布格局反映了区域性的差异隆升作用, 由南向北、由西向东, 隆升和剥蚀作用逐渐衰减, 这与东昆仑山南北向以及东、西昆仑山之间地貌发育的差异性以及新生代火山作用分布是吻合的.      

Latest Triassic to Early Jurassic Thrusting and Exhumation in the Southern Ordos Basin,North China: Evidence from LA‐ICP‐MS‐based Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology

The contractional structures in the southern Ordos Basin recorded critical evidence for the interaction between Ordos Basin and Qinling Orogenic Collage. In this study, we performed apatite fission track(AFT) thermochronology to unravel the timing of thrusting and exhumation for the Laolongshan-Shengrenqiao Fault(LSF) in the southern Ordos Basin. The AFT ages from opposite sides of the LSF reveal a significant latest Triassic to Early Jurassic time-temperature discontinuity across this structure. Thermal modeling reveals at the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic, a ~50°C difference in temperature between opposite sides of the LSF currently exposed at the surface. This discontinuity is best interpreted by an episode of thrusting and exhumation of the LSF with ~1.7 km of net vertical displacement during the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic. These results, when combined with earlier thermochronological studies, stratigraphic contact relationship and tectono-sedimentary evolution, suggest that the southern Ordos Basin experienced coeval intense tectonic contraction and developed a north-vergent fold-and-thrust belt. Moreover, the southern Ordos Basin experienced a multi-stage differential exhumation during Mesozoic, including the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic and Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous thrust-driven exhumation as well as the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation. Specifically, the two thrust-driven exhumation events were related to tectonic stress propagation derived from the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic continued compression from Qinling Orogenic Collage and the Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous intracontinental orogeny of Qinling Orogenic Collage, respectively. By contrast, the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation event was related to the collision of an exotic terrain with the eastern margin of continental China at ~100 Ma.     

New insights from low-temperature thermochronology into the tectonic and geomorphologic evolution of the south-eastern Brazilian highlands and passive margin

The South Atlantic passive margin along the south-eastern Brazilian highlands exhibits a complex landscape,including a northern inselberg area and a southern elevated plateau,separated by the Doce River valley.This landscape is set on the Proterozoic to early Paleozoic rocks of the region that once was the hot core of the Aracuai orogen,in Ediacaran to Ordovician times.Due to the break-up of Gondwana and consequently the opening of the South Atlantic during the Early Cretaceous,those rocks of the Araquai orogen became the basement of a portion of the South Atlantic passive margin and related southeastern Brazilian highlands.Our goal is to provide a new set of constraints on the thermo-tectonic history of this portion of the south-eastern Brazilian margin and related surface processes,and to provide a hypothesis on the geodynamic context since break-up.To this end,we combine the apatite fission track(AFT)and apatite(U-Th)/He(AHe)methods as input for inverse thermal history modelling.All our AFT and AHe central ages are Late Cretaceous to early Paleogene.The AFT ages vary between 62 Ma and90 Ma,with mean track lengths between 12.2μm and 13.6μm.AHe ages are found to be equivalent to AFT ages within uncertainty,albeit with the former exhibiting a lesser degree of confidence.We relate this Late Cretaceous-Paleocene basement cooling to uplift with accelerated denudation at this time.Spatial variation of the denudation time can be linked to differential reactivation of the Precambrian structural network and differential erosion due to a complex interplay with the drainage system.We argue that posterior large-scale sedimentation in the offshore basins may be a result of flexural isostasy combined with an expansion of the drainage network.We put forward the combined compression of the Mid-Atlantic ridge and the Peruvian phase of the Andean orogeny,potentially augmented through the thermal weakening of the lower crust by the Trindade thermal anomaly,as a probable cause for the uplift.