Variscan to eo-Alpine events recorded in European lower-crust zircons sampled from the French Massif Central and Corsica, France

Ion-microprobe U–Pb zircon dating of lower-crust metasedimentary granulite are reported on samples from two localities in Europe in order to determine (a) how this environment recorded the Variscan and eo-Alpine events, and (b) whether the transition between the two orogenic cycles was continuous or separated by a gap. The samples come from enclaves hosted by Miocene volcanoes at Bournac in the French Massif Central, and from the granulitic metasedimentary basement of the Alpine Santa Lucia nappe in Corsica, on the South European paleomargin of the Ligurian branch of the Tethys Sea. The zircon ages from Bournac range between 630 and 430 Ma and between 380 and 150 Ma with a major frequency peak at 285 Ma; the zircons older than 430 Ma are interpreted as detrital, whereas those younger than 380 Ma are considered to have formed by metamorphic processes after burial in the lower crust. Zircon ages from Santa Lucia range from to 356 to 157 Ma, with exception of one inherited Archean grain, and are interpreted like the younger Bournac zircons as having been formed by metamorphic processes.

In a granulite metamorphic environment, as opposed to an anatectic environment, new zircon growth can occur in the solid state. Once Zr has been incorporated into zircon, however, it is difficult to remobilize without dissolution; thus Zr available for new zircon growth must result from the breakdown of Zr-bearing minerals during prograde and/or retrograde events. In this light, the U–Pb zircon-age probability curves are interpreted as markers for major tectonometamorphic events, as suggested by the close correspondence between peaks in the curve and geological events recorded in the upper-crust, such as magma emplacement and basin subsidence.

Evidence of a tectonometamorphic gap between the Variscan and Alpine orogeneses is provided by the Santa Lucia zircon-age probability curve, which reveals a probable interlude during the Variscan–Alpine transition between 240 and 210 Ma. Here, the peak at 240 Ma is interpreted as the very beginning of crustal extension and the low at 210 Ma as a period of quiescence prior to the formation of an active margin and oceanization.     

Crustal structure across the Grand Banks–Newfoundland Basin Continental Margin – II. Results from a seismic reflection profile

New multichannel seismic reflection data were collected over a 565 km transect covering the non-volcanic rifted margin of the central eastern Grand Banks and the Newfoundland Basin in the northwestern Atlantic. Three major crustal zones are interpreted from west to east over the seaward 350 km of the profile: (1) continental crust; (2) transitional basement and (3) oceanic crust. Continental crust thins over a wide zone (∼160 km) by forming a large rift basin (Carson Basin) and seaward fault block, together with a series of smaller fault blocks eastwards beneath the Salar and Newfoundland basins. Analysis of selected previous reflection profiles (Lithoprobe 85-4, 85-2 and Conrad NB-1) indicates that prominent landward-dipping reflections observed under the continental slope are a regional phenomenon. They define the landward edge of a deep serpentinized mantle layer, which underlies both extended continental crust and transitional basement. The 80-km-wide transitional basement is defined landwards by a basement high that may consist of serpentinized peridotite and seawards by a pair of basement highs of unknown crustal origin. Flat and unreflective transitional basement most likely is exhumed, serpentinized mantle, although our results do not exclude the possibility of anomalously thinned oceanic crust. A Moho reflection below interpreted oceanic crust is first observed landwards of magnetic anomaly M4, 230 km from the shelf break. Extrapolation of ages from chron M0 to the edge of interpreted oceanic crust suggests that the onset of seafloor spreading was ∼138 Ma (Valanginian) in the south (southern Newfoundland Basin) to ∼125 Ma (Barremian–Aptian boundary) in the north (Flemish Cap), comparable to those proposed for the conjugate margins.     

Paleoproterozoic accretion in the Northeast Siberian craton: Isotopic dating of the Anabar collision system

Geochronological database considered in the work and characterizing the Anabar collision system in the Northeast Siberian craton includes coordinated results of Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr dating of samples from crustal xenoliths in kimberlites, deep drill holes, and bedrock outcrops. As is inferred, collision developed in three stages dated at 2200–2100, 1940–1760, and 1710–1630 Ma. The age of 2000–1960 Ma is established for substratum of mafic rocks, which probably originated during the lower crust interaction with asthenosphere due to the local collapse of the collision prism. Comparison of Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isochron dates shows that the system cooling from ≈700 to ≈300°C lasted approximately 300 m.y. with a substantial lag relative to collision metamorphism and granite formation. It is assumed that accretion of the Siberian craton resulted in formation of a giant collision mountainous structure of the Himalayan type that was eroded by 1.65 Ga ago, when accumulation of gently dipping Meso-to Neoproterozoic (Riphean) platform cover commenced.     

东准噶尔纸房地区晚石炭世巴塔玛依内山组陆相火山-沉积体系特征

东准噶尔巴塔玛依内山组是典型陆相火山．沉积体系(盆地)，主体由基性及中酸性火山熔岩组成，火山碎屑岩及火山碎屑沉积岩较少，通过对纸房地区晚石炭世巴塔玛依内山组陆相火山岩的岩石化学、地球化学特征进行系统研究，认为它属于造山期后固结初期，新陆壳裂谷向高原火山岩演化的同岩浆源、同沉积盆地、同火山作用的钙碱系列双峰式火山岩．     

藏北安多地区侏罗纪菊石动物群及其古地理意义

藏北安多地区新发现2套以黑色页岩、深灰色钙质泥岩和泥灰岩为主的舍菊石化石的侏罗纪地层，它们与羌塘地区广泛分布的雁石坪群无论在化石组合或沉积特征方面都明显不同．岗尼乡剖面地层中产太阳菊石科的菊石，主要有Sonninia，Dorsetensia，Witchellia等。、这套地层是双湖地区色哇组的东延部分，时代确定为中侏罗世早中巴柔期114道班剖面中羌姆勒曲组的菊石化石大多归属于Virgatosphinctinae科，计有Aulacosphinctes、Virgatosphinctes等，均为上侏罗统菊石化石的典型分子，产出层位应归于提塘阶中、上部。藏北安多-改则以北一线的侏罗系深水黑色岩系虽不十分连续，但从有化石证据的土阿辛阶到巴柔阶再到提塘阶都有零星出露，它们同属一个沉积相区。侏罗纪时羌塘南部可能存在一套大陆边缘型沉积地层，因此有必要对该区的构造属性和演化历史重新进行解释。     

内蒙古中部重、磁场特征与地壳密度结构

中亚造山带中的古生代——中生代花岗岩普遍具有正εNd值，在世界上是十分独特的。美国西部加利福尼亚中生代-新生代花岗岩同样具有正εNd值，并且其地壳的速度分布特征与内蒙古中部十分相似。本文通过与美国加利福尼亚的地球物理研究成果进行对比，来研究内蒙古中部的地壳密度结构，特别是下地壳的组成，试图探讨产生正￡。值花岗岩的深部地质原因。研究结果表明，在大兴安岭-内蒙古造山带下地壳中可能存在与美国加里福尼亚类似的洋壳物质。此外，还对重、磁异常进行了处理，以确定蛇绿岩带的延展情况。由于在西拉木伦河附近存在切割至莫霍面的深断裂，结合地表出现的蛇绿岩带，故提出温都尔庙-西拉木伦河一线可能是内蒙古中部最重要的地质构造界线。     

东海陆缘(闽北段)晚第四纪沉积的硅藻学研究

对东海陆缘 (闽北段 )晚第四纪沉积 4口钻井岩心进行系统的硅藻分析研究,获得丰富的硅藻化石,共发现硅藻 117种和变种,分属于 33个属。根据剖面硅藻组合特征变化,结合最优分割法和对应序分法的计算机运算结果,可以详细划分为 12个硅藻带,自下而上为 :1.Cascinodiscusargus-Cos.wittiomus-Cyclotellastriata硅藻带,2.Cos.blandus-Cyclotellastriata硅藻带,3.Cos.excentricus-Trbliepteychuscocconiformis硅藻带,4.Gomphonema-Cos.blandus-Actnolychusralfsii硅藻带,5.Cos.-Cyclotellastriata-Actinocyclusralfsii硅藻带,6.Cos.-Actinolychusralfsii硅藻带,7.贫乏硅藻带,8.Cos.lineatus-Cos.rothii-Actinolyclusralfsii硅藻带,9.Gomphonema-Cyclotellastriata-Cocconeisplacentulavareuglypta硅藻带,10.Cos.rothii-Cyclotellastriata-Actinolychusralfsi,11.Cymbel laaffinis-Cyclotellastriata-Gomphonema硅藻带,12.Coscinodiscuswittinus-Cyclotellastriata-Epithemiahynd manii硅藻带,建立了该区晚第四纪硅藻组合序列,并探讨其相应的古环境演变。     

西藏岗巴古新世地层及构造作用的影响

西藏岗巴地区出露有完整的晚白垩世至古近纪地层，地层中化石丰富，根据化石研究准确地进行了地层时代的划分，本文认为该区白垩系－古代系界线位于宗山组和基堵拉组之间，以底栖有大孔虫Orbitoides-Omphalocyclus动物群的消亡和Rotalia-Smoutina-Lockhartia动物群的始现为标志。界线上下岩层为假整合接触，期间有一短暂的暴露面。古新世的砂砾岩直接覆于晚白晋世的陆棚碳酸盐岩沉积之上，沉积的重大转变代表一次构造运动，印度大陆北缘与冈底斯南缘直至白垩纪末均具有明显的浅海生物地理分区现象，期间被深海盆地地所阻隔。古新世开始浅海相动物群在该地显示同一生物地理区系特征，说明两大陆间深水盆地的阻隔已消失，南北生物地理区同归于一残留海盆，沉积类型转变和地层古生物特征为印度－亚洲板块的起始碰撞时间研究提供了基础资料，据此推测大陆早期碰撞发生在白晋系－古近系的界线时期（约65Ma)，古新世中一晚期碳酸盐台地遭受不断的挤压与变形，进一步说明大陆的碰撞在古新世之初就已发生。沉积地层的破碎变形和滑塌堆积是持续碰撞与挤压的结果。