Structure and Evolution of the East Antarctic Lithosphere: Tectonic Implications for the Development and Dispersal of Gondwana

Lithospheric evolution of the Antarctic shield is one of the keystones for understanding continental growth during the Earth's evolution. Architecture of the East Antarctic craton is characterized by comparison with deep structures of the other Precambrian terrains. In this paper, we review the subsurface structure of the Lower Paleozoic metamorphic complex around the Lützow-Holm area (LHC), East Antarctica, where high-grade metamorphism occurred during the Pan-African orogenic event. LHC is considered to be one of the collision zones in the last stage of the formation of Gondwana. A geoscience program named ‘Structure and Evolution of the East Antarctic Lithosphere (SEAL)’ was carried out since 1996-1997 austral summer season as part of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE). Several geological and geophysical surveys were conducted including a deep seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection survey in the LHC. The main target of the SEAL seismic transect was to obtain lithospheric structure over several geological terrains from the western adjacent Achaean Napier Complex to the eastern Lower Paleozoic Yamato-Belgica Complex. The SEAL program is part of a larger deep seismic profile, LEGENDS (Lithospheric Evolution of Gondwana East iNterdisciplinary Deep Surveys) that will extend across the Pan-African belt in neighboring fragments of Gondwana.     

Miocene intra-arc bending at an arc-arc collision zone, central Japan

Abstract Recent paleomagnetic studies are reviewed in an effort to clarify the relationship between the intra-arc deformation of central Japan and the collision tectonics of the Izu-Bonin Arc. The cusp structure of the pre-Neogene terranes of central Japan, called the Kanto Syntaxis, suggests a collisional origin with the Izu-Bonin Arc. The paleomagnetic results and newly obtained radiometric ages of the Kanto Mountains revealed the Miocene rotational history of the east wing of the Kanto Syntaxis. More than 90° clockwise rotation of the Kanto Mountains took place after deposition of the Miocene Chichibu Basin (planktonic foraminiferal zone of N.8: 16.6–15.2 Ma). After synthesizing the paleomagnetic data of the Japanese Islands and collision tectonics of central Japan, it appears that approximately a half rotation (40–50°) probably occurred at ca 15 Ma in association with the rapid rotation of Southwest Japan. The remainder (50-40°) continued until 6 Ma, resulting in the sharp bent structure of the pre-Neogene accretionary complexes (Kanto Syntaxis). The latter rotation seems to have been caused by the collision of the Izu-Bonin Arc on the northwestward migrating Philippine Sea Plate.     

Zn-Mn ilmenite in the Kuiqi granite from Fuzhou,Fujian province,East China

Summary Zn-Mn ilmenite occurs as a principal constituent of the miarolitic cavities in the Kuiqi granite from Fuzhou. In the cavities potassium feldspar, albite, quartz, fluorite, aegirine and arfvedsonite also occur with accessory zircon, magnetite, hematite and sphalerite. Zn-Mn ilmenite forms a trigonal platy euhedral crystal up to 30 mm in length. Its chemical composition ranges from 37.3 to 63.8 mol.% FeTiO₃ (ilmenite molecule), 61.1 to 22.4 mol.% MnTiO₃ (pyrophanite molecule) and 0.6 to 15.3 mol.% ZnTiO₃ (Znmetatitanate molecule). ZnO content ranges from 0.34 wt.% to 7.63 wt.%. Zonal structure is noticeable in the Zn-Mn ilmenite. FeTiO₃ and ZnTiO₃ molecules increase towards the crystal rim, while MnTiO₃ molecule decreases towards the rim. Unit cell parameters of the rim and the core area = 5.092(6)Å,c = 14.08(2)Å,V = 316.1ų anda = 5.106(7)Å,c = 14.02(3)Å,V = 316.6ų, respectively. Coexisting minerals, except for arfvedsonite and sphalerite, are very low in ZnO content. It is suggested that complete isomorphous replacement between FeTiO₃ MnTiO₃ and ZnTiO₃ may be possible. Oxygen fugacity conditions for crystallization of Zn-Mn ilmenite are considered to be in the vicinity of the magnetite-hematite and quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffers.

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Zn-Mn Ilmenit in dem Kuigi-Granit aus Fuzhou in der Provinz Fujian, Ostchina

Zusammenfassung Zn-Mn Ilmenit ist ein grundsätzlicher Bestandteil in miarolitischen Hohlräumen in den Kuiqi Graniten aus Fuzhou. Daneben treten Kalifeldspäte, Albit, Quarz, Fluorit, Ägirin und Arfvedsonit sowie akzessorisch Zirkon, Magnetit, Hämatit und Sphalerite in den Hohlräumen auf.Zn-Mn Ilmenit bildet idiomorphe, tabular trigonale Kristalle mit bis zu 30 mm Länge aus. Die chemische Zusammensetzung variiert zwischen 37,3 und 63,8 Mol.% FeTiO₃ (Ilmenit) 61,1 und 22,4 Mol.% MnTiO₃ (Pyrophanit) sowie zwischen 0,6 und 15,3 Mol.% ZnTiO₃ (Zn-Metatitanat-Molekül). Die ZnO-Gehalte schwanken von 0,34 Gew.% bis 7,63 Gew.%. In dem Zn-Mn Ilmenit wurden Zonierungen beobachtet. FeTiO₃ und ZnTiO₃ Moleküle nehmen zum Rand des Kristalls hin zu, MnTiO₃ Moleküle hingegen ab.Die Parameter der Elementarzelle sind am Randa = 5,092(6)Å,c = 14.08(2)Å,V = 316.1ų und im Kerna = 5,106(7)Å,c = 14.02(3)Å,V = 316,6ų. Mit Ausnahme von Arfvedsonit und Sphalerit sind die ZnO Gehalte in koexistierenden Mineralen sehr niedrig.Es wird daher angenommen, daß zwischen FeTiO₃, MnTiO₃ und ZnTiO₃ ein vollständiger isomorpher Ersatz möglich ist. Die Sauerstoff-Fugazitäten die während der Kristallisation von Zn-Mn Ilmenit herrschten, bewegten sich zwischen MagnetitHämatit und Quarz-Fayalit-Magnetit.

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With 4 Figures     

Computational model of the structural and elastic properties of the ilmenite and perovskite phases of MgSiO3

The structural and elastic properties of the ilmenite and perovskite phases of MgSiO₃ are investigated with a computational model based on energy minimization. The potential energies of these two crystals are approximated by the sum of Coulomb, van der Waals, and repulsion terms between atoms. Required energy parameters are derived by fitting the parameters to the observed crystal structures of these two phases as well as to the measured elastic constants of the ilmenite phase. The resulting potential model is applied to predicting the elastic constants of the perovskite phase. The calculated bulk modulus of the perovskite phase compares favorably with the data obtained from volume-compression experiments as well as the values estimated from empirical elasticity systematics of perovskite type compounds. The predicted shear modulus of the perovskite phase is also in reasonable agreement with the values proposed from similar empirical elasticity systematics. Subsequently, the model is used to simulate the high pressure behaviors of the crystal structures and elastic constants of these two phases.     

Calorimetric study of high-pressure phase transitions among the CdGeO3 polymorphs (pyroxenoid,garnet, ilmenite,and perovskite structures)

At high pressures, CdGeO₃ pyroxenoid transforms to garnet, then to ilmenite, and finally to perovskite. Enthalpies of transition among the four phases were measured by high temperature calorimetry. The entropies of transition and slopes of the boundaries were calculated using the measured enthalpies and free energies calculated from the phase equilibrium data. Pyroxenoid and garnet are very similar energetically. However garnet is a high pressure phase because of its lower entropy and smaller volume. The pyroxenoid-garnet transition has a small positiveP-T slope. Ilmenite is intermediate in enthalpy between garnet and perovskite, but is lower in entropy than both phases. Therefore the garnet-ilmenite transition has a positivedP/dT, while a negativedP/dT is calculated for the ilmenite-perovskite transition. The thermochemical data for the CdGeO₃ phases are generally consistent with the observed high pressure phase relations. The high entropy of perovskite relative to ilmenite, observed in several ABO₃ comounds including CdGeO₃, is related to the structural features of perovskite, in which relatively small divalent cations occupy the large sites of 8–12 fold coordination. The thermochemistry of the CdGeO₃ polymorphs shows several similarities to that of the CaGeO₃ system.     

Coexisting sodic augite and omphacite in a Sanbagawa metamorphic rock,Japan

Coexisting sodic augite and omphacite were found in a zoisite amphibolite from the Iratsu epidote amphibolite mass in the Sanbagawa metamorphic terrain of central Shikoku, Japan. The occurrences of the sodic augite-omphacite pairs are classified into four types by texture: independent, composite, intergrowth and exsolution types. Sodic augite and omphacite of the independent and composite types (pair A) have X _Na (=Na/(Na + Ca)) = 0.15 and 0.35, respectively, and were stable in the epidote amphibolite facies during the Sanbagawa progressive metamorphism. On the other hand, X ^Na values of sodic augite and omphacite of the intergrowth and exsolution types (pair B) are 0.10 and 0.44, respectively. The Na-poor augite and Na-rich omphacite of the pair B were formed by re-equilibration of the pair A at lower temperature. The pair A of the Iratsu sample suggests that a compositional gap lies between sodic augite and C2/c omphacite under epidote amphibolite facies conditions, and is in marked contrast to the coexistence of sodic augite and P2/n omphacite reported from some low-grade, high-pressure metamorphic terrains. A possible phase diagram to explain the chemistry and mode of occurrence of the coexisting sodic pyroxenes is proposed.     

Garnet-ilmenite-perovskite transitions in the system Mg4Si4O12-Mg3Al2Si3O12 at high pressures and high temperatures: phase equilibria, calorimetry and implications for mantle structure

Phase relations in the system Mg₄Si₄O₁₂-Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ were examined at pressures of 19-27 GPa and relatively low temperatures of 800-1000 °C using a multianvil apparatus to clarify phase transitions of pyroxene-garnet assemblages in the mantle. Both of glass and crystalline starting materials were used for the experiments. At 1000 °C, garnet solid solution (s.s.) transforms to aluminous ilmenite s.s. at 20-26 GPa which is stable in the whole compositional range in the system. In Mg₄Si₄O₁₂-rich composition, ilmenite s.s. transforms to a single-phase aluminous perovskite s.s., while Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂-rich ilmenite s.s. dissociates into perovskite s.s. and corundum s.s. These newly determined phase relations at 1000 °C supersede preliminary phase relations determined at about 900 °C in the previous study. The phase relations at 1000 °C are quite different from those reported previously at 1600 °C where garnet s.s. transforms directly to perovskite s.s. and ilmenite is stable only very close to Mg₄Si₄O₁₂. The stability field of Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ ilmenite was determined at 800-1000 °C and 25-27 GPa by reversed phase boundaries. In ilmenite s.s., the a-axis slightly increases but the c-axis and molar volume decrease substantially with increasing Al₂O₃ content. Enthalpies of ilmenite s.s. were measured by differential drop-solution calorimetry method using a high-temperature calorimeter. The excess enthalpy of mixing of ilmenite s.s. was almost zero within the errors. The measured enthalpies of garnet-ilmenite and ilmenite-perovskite transitions at 298 K were 105.2±10.4 and 168.6±8.2 kJ/mol, respectively, for Mg₄Si₄O₁₂, and 150.2±15.9 and 98.7±27.3 kJ/mol, respectively, for Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂. Thermodynamic calculations using these data give rise to phase relations in the system Mg₄Si₄O₁₂-Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ at 1000 and 1600 °C that are generally consistent with those determined experimentally, and confirm that the single-phase field of ilmenite expands from Mg₄Si₄O₁₂ to Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ with decreasing temperature. The earlier mentioned phase relations in the simplified system as well as those in the Mg₂SiO₄-Fe₂SiO₄ system are applied to estimate mineral proportions in pyrolite as a function of depth along two different geotherms: one is a horizontally-averaged temperature distribution in a normal mantle, and the other being 600 °C lower than the former as a possible representative geotherm in subducting slabs. Based on the previously described estimated mineral proportions versus depth along the two geotherms, density and compressional and shear wave velocities are calculated as functions of depth, using available mineral physics data. Along a normal mantle geotherm, jumps of density and velocities at about 660 km corresponding to the post-spinel transition are followed by steep gradients due to the garnet-perovskite transition between 660 and 710 km. In contrast, along a low-temperature geotherm, the first steep gradients of density and velocities are due to the garnet-ilmenite transition between 610 and 690 km. This is followed by abrupt jumps at about 690 km for the post-spinel transition, and steep gradients between 700 and 740 km that correspond to the ilmenite-perovskite transition. In the latter profile along the low-temperature geotherm, density and velocity increases for garnet-ilmenite and ilmenite-perovskite transitions are similar in magnitude to those for the post-spinel transition. The likely presence of ilmenite in cooler regions of subducting slabs is suggested by the fact that the calculated velocity profiles along the low-temperature geotherm are compatible with recent seismic observations indicating three discontinuities or steep velocity gradients at around 600-750 km depth in the regions of subducting slabs.     

Basin-To-Basin and Year-To-Year Variation of Temperature and Salinity Characteristics in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)

Analysis of CTD data from four CREAMS expeditions carried out in summers of 1993–1996 produces distinct T-S relationships for the western and eastern Japan Basin, the Ulleung Basin and the Yamato Basin. T-S characteristics are mainly determined by salinity as it changes its horizontal pattern in three layers, which are divided by isotherms of 5°C and 1°C; upper warm water, intermediate water and deep cold water. Upper warm water is most saline in the Ulleung Basin and the Yamato Basin. Salinity of intermediate water is the highest in the eastern Japan Basin. Deep cold water has the highest salinity in the Japan Basin. T-S curves in the western Japan Basin are characterized by a salinity jump around 1.2–1.4°C in the T-S plane, which was previously found off the east coast of Korea associated with the East Sea Intermediate Water (Cho and Kim, 1994). T-S curves for the Japan Basin undergo a large year-to-year variation for water warmer than 0.6°C, which occupies upper 400 m. It is postulated that the year-to-year variation in the Japan Basin is caused by convective overturning in winter. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

新疆阿勒泰红柱石-矽线石型递增变质带特征及其PT条件研究

新疆阿勒泰地区发育了红柱石-矽线石型递增变质带,由绿泥石-黑云母带、黑云母-石榴石带、石榴石-十字石带、十字石-红柱石带和矽线石带组成,根据石榴石成分环带、变质与变形关系、矿物共生组合演化等特征,将变质作用分为峰前期、峰期和峰后期3个演化阶段。峰前期、峰期为连续的递增变质过程,形成典型的中-低压过渡型递增变质带,峰后期属于退变质过程。据石榴石一斜长石一黑云母-白云母-石英组合内部一致地质温压计估算出峰期温度-压力：T=580℃～670℃,P一0．4GPa～0．5GPa。变质作用演化具有顺时针的PTt轨迹,代表陆壳有一定程度的构造增厚,但幅度不大,没有大规模的陆壳俯冲或拆沉作用,这种增厚可能以陆壳的构造叠置机制为主。总体相当于地体间斜向走滑兼有一定垂直分量的拼合过程的地球动力学机制。     

Redeposition of volcaniclastic sediments by a tsunami 4600 years ago at Kushima City,south-eastern Kyushu,Japan

The Hyuga-nada Sea, south-eastern Kyushu, Japan, is located between a strong (Nankai Trough) and a weak interplate coupling zone (Ryukyu Trench). Over the past 400 years this area has only experienced Magnitude 7·5 earthquakes or smaller and associated small-scale tsunamis. However, this short historical record most likely does not include the full range of high magnitude, low frequency giant earthquakes that might have occurred in the region. Thus, it is still unclear whether giant earthquakes and their associated tsunamis have occurred in this region. This paper reports on a prehistoric tsunami deposit discovered in a coastal lowland in south-eastern Kyushu facing the Hyuga-nada Sea. There is a reddish-brown pumiceous layer preserved in a non-marine, organic-rich mud sequence obtained from onshore sediment cores. This layer is recognized as the ca 4600 year old Kirishima-Miike tephra (that is now placed around 4500 years ago) sourced from Mount Kirishima, southern Kyushu. Another whitish pumiceous layer is evident below the Kirishima-Miike tephra in almost all of the sediment cores. A relatively high percentage of marine and brackish diatoms is recorded within this lower pumiceous layer (but not in the surrounding muds or in the overlying Kirishima-Miike tephra), indicating a marine or beach sediment source. Plant material obtained from organic-rich mud immediately below the event layer was dated to ca 4430 to 4710 cal yr bp , providing a limiting-maximum age for this marine incursion event. The presence of marine diatoms below the event layer is probably explained by pre-seismic subsidence. An absence of the resting spore of the planktonic brackish diatom Cheatoceros and the appearance of the freshwater diatom Eunotia serra immediately above the event layer probably represents a marked change to a relatively low-salinity environment. Assuming that there were no significant local geomorphological changes, such as drainage obstruction caused by formation of a new barrier spit, it is considered that co-seismic or immediate post-seismic uplift are the most likely explanations for this notable environmental change. Based on the crustal movements noted before and after the marine incursion, this event is interpreted here as an earthquake-generated tsunami. Moreover, because of these notable seismic crustal movements the tsunamigenic earthquake probably occurred immediately offshore of the study site.