The West Kunlun orogenic belt is located at the conjunction of the paleo-Asian tectonic system and the Tethys tectonic system.
Petrological and mineralogical studies of the Early Cambrian metamorphic surface crust in this region have shown that in case
the metamorphism reached low-temperature granulate facies, the typical mineral assemblage is biotite-garnet-silimanite-K feldspar-plagioclase-quartz.
The peak metamorphic temperatures are within the range of 720–740°C and the pressure is 0.6 GPa ±. Three types of metamorphic
zircon have been detected in the metamorphic rocks: the complex inclusion-bearing type ; the early relic zircon inclusion-bearing
type; and the inclusion-free type. SHRIMP age determination of these three types of metamorphic zircon have revealed that
these zircons were formed principally during 400–460 Ma, indicating that pre-Cambrian metamorphic surface crust rocks underwent
low-temperature granulite facies metamorphism during the Caledonian. In combination with the geological characteristics of
this region, it is considered that when the oceanic basin was closed, there occurred intense intracontinental subduction (type
A), bringing part of the Early Cambrian metamorphic basement in this region downwards to the lower crust. Meanwhile, there
were accompanied with tectonic deformation at deep levels and medium- to high-grade metamorphism. This study provided important
chronological and mineralogical evidence for the exploration of the evolutionary mechanism and process of the West Kunlun
Early Paleozoic.
Part of the results from the research project “ Research on the West Kunlun pre-Cambrian tectonic events” under the program
“ Research on the important geological problems of China’ s pre-Cambrian” (No. 200113900070) sponsored by the China National
Geological Surveying Bureau. 相似文献