Neoproterozoic accretionary and collisional events on the western margin of the Siberian craton: new geological and geochronological evidence from the Yenisey Ridge

The geological, structural and tectonic evolutions of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt are discussed in the context of the western margin of the Siberian craton during the Neoproterozoic. Previous work in the Yenisey Ridge had led to the interpretation that the fold belt is composed of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks comprising an Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement with an unconformably overlying Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic cover, which was mainly metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions. Based on the existing data and new geological and zircon U–Pb data, we recognize several terranes of different age and composition that were assembled during Neoproterozoic collisional–accretional processes on the western margin of the Siberian craton. We suggest that there were three main Neoproterozoic tectonic events involved in the formation of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt at 880–860 Ma, 760–720 Ma and 700–630 Ma. On the basis of new geochronological and petrological data, we propose that the Yeruda and Teya granites (880–860 Ma) were formed as a result of the first event, which could have occurred in the Central Angara terrane before it collided with Siberia. We also propose that the Cherimba, Ayakhta, Garevka and Glushikha granites (760–720 Ma) were formed as a result of this collision. The third event (700–630 Ma) is fixed by the age of island-arc and ophiolite complexes and their obduction onto the Siberian craton margin. We conclude by discussing correlation of these complexes with those in other belts on the margin of the Siberian craton.     

Timing of deformation in the Norseman-Wiluna Belt, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

Establishing relative and absolute time frameworks for the sedimentary, magmatic, tectonic and gold mineralisation events in the Norseman-Wiluna Belt of the Archean Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia, has long been the main aim of research efforts. Recently published constraints on the timing of sedimentation and absolute granite ages have emphasized the shortcomings of the established rationale used for interpreting the timing of deformation events. In this paper the assumptions underlying this rationale are scrutinized, and it is shown that they are the source of significant misinterpretations. A revised time chart for the deformation events of the belt is established. The first shortening phase to affect the belt, D₁, was preceded by an extensional event D_1e and accompanied by a change from volcanic-dominated to plutonic-dominated magmatism at approximately 2685–2675 Ma. Later extension (D_2e) controlled deposition of the ca 2655 Ma Kurrawang Sequence and was followed by D₂, a major shortening event, which folded this sequence. D₂ must therefore have started after 2655 Ma—at least 20 Ma later than previously thought and after the voluminous 2670–2655 Ma high-Ca granite intrusion. Younger transcurrent deformation, D₃–D₄, waned at around 2630 Ma, suggesting that the crustal shortening deformation cycle D₂–D₄ lasted approximately 20–30 Ma, contemporaneous with low-volume 2650–2630 Ma low-Ca granites and alkaline intrusions. Time constraints on gold deposits suggest a late mineralisation event between 2640–2630 Ma. Thus, D₂–D₄ deformation cycle and late felsic magmatism define a 20–30 Ma long tectonothermal event, which culminated with gold mineralisation. The finding that D₂ folding took place after voluminous high-Ca granite intrusion led to research into the role of competent bodies during folding by means of numerical models. Results suggest that buoyancy-driven doming of pre-tectonic competent bodies trigger growth of antiforms, whereas non-buoyant, competent granite bodies trigger growth of synforms. The conspicuous presence of pre-folding granites in the cores of anticlines may be a result from active buoyancy doming during folding.     

Tectonics of the western margin of the Shan plateau (central Myanmar): implication for the India–Indochina oblique convergence since the Oligocene

We present new data and interpretations on the Neogene tectonics of the Shan scarp area (central Myanmar) and its relationship with the India–Indochina oblique convergence. We describe ductile and brittle fabrics associated with the major features in this area, the Mogok Metamorphic Belt (MMB), the Shan scarp and the Sagaing fault. From these data we identify a succession of two tectonic regimes. First, a dominant NNW–SSE-trending extension, marked by ductile stretching that characterizes the MMB, and associated N70E brittle normal faults. Later, from Middle or Upper Miocene to the Present, these structures were cross-cut by brittle right-lateral faults, among which the most important are the N20W transpressive Shan scarp fault zone and the N–S Sagaing fault. To explain this transition from a dominant transtensive to a transpressive stress regime, that occurred during Miocene, we place our data within a larger geodynamic context. We suggest that, like the intraplate deformation in the Indian Ocean, the end of spreading in the South China sea, the opening of the Andaman basin or the end of subduction within the Indo-Burma range, the change in the tectonic regime in central Myanmar could be in response to a major Miocene regional plate kinematic reorganization.     

新疆盐渍土分散性研究

通过研究分析盐渍土及改变盐渍含量对分散性试验的影响,认为土块试验、针孔试验对受高钠离子影响的盐渍土分散性评价是较为有效的方法。新疆土料石膏发育,环境水中Ca2+离子丰富,分散性评价最好在工程实际情况下进行。     

中国大陆地震构造研究回顾

简要回顾了近4年来(1999～2002年)我国在地震构造方面研究的进展，重点介绍了在地壳上地幔结构、活动断裂和大地震构造背景、地壳形变和数值模拟方面的工作．在我国境内发生的绝大多数地震都属于大陆地震的范畴，因此,中国地震学家把研究的重点放在大陆地震上．中国在九五期间完成的中国数字地震观测系统和中国地壳运动观测网络重大科学工程为地震构造的研究提供了大量的基础资料．因此，４年来的地震构造研究取得了相当大的进展．      

渤海湾盆地区燕山期构造特征与原型盆地

结合近几年来渤海湾盆地区深层地震勘探与解释的成果，重点论述了渤海湾盆地区燕山期构造特征与盆地原型，提出燕山期构造变形样式总体在纵向上可分为三个构造层，分别称为上部、中部和下部；横向上总体可分为三个构造带，西部为向西逆冲的薄皮逆冲带，中部为冲断—走滑带，东部为厚皮褶皱—冲断带，主体由两期挤压方向皆为NW—SE向的褶皱—逆冲变形形成；并将其演化分为三个阶段：燕山早期、燕山中期和燕山晚期。但是，渤海湾盆地区燕山期的构造变形特征和原型盆地有所变化，其空间上的差异是基底构造格局及其空间差异叠合的结果。综合其它研究结果还表明，渤海湾盆地区燕山期构造是在西太平洋大陆边缘弧的挤压构造背景下，陆内壳下拆沉和壳内挤出逃逸构造的综合动力作用下形成的。     

试论未来全球气候变化

未来全球气候变化是人们关注的重大课题。从内蒙古盐湖近２０ｋａ气候演变的研究可知，地质时期和历史时期气候波动变化是有规律可循的。用已经了解的这种变化规律来予测未来气候变化是有价值的。研究表明，未来１ｋａ左右全球为暖期，之后将进入下一个冰期。     

华东南中新生代伸展构造时空演化与铀矿化时空分在

本文运用大陆伸展构造理论，论述了华东南地区中新生代以来伸展构造的分布规律，分析了不同类型伸展构造的时空演化特点。在此基础上，应用华东南地区不同类型铀矿床已有的成矿年龄资料，研究了伸展构造活动与区域铀成矿作用之间的联系，不同类型伸展构造与不同类型铀矿床之间在空间分布和时间演化上的对应关系。认为伸展构造活动产生的有利构造环境是导致铀成矿作用产生的根本原因，伸展构造活动的脉动性及其相应的岩浆作用决定了铀成矿作用的多期多阶段性，不同地区伸展构造活动的先后决定了不同类型铀矿床成矿作用的时序和空间分布。文章最后认为，由于伸展构造活动对区域铀矿化的这种明显控制关系，本区不同类型铀矿化成矿机理具有统一性。     

Monitoring of rapid salt weathering in the central Namib Desert using limestone blocks

Pre-weighed blocks of a Jurassic Limestone were exposed on the ground surface in the coastal Namib Desert for a period of 2 years. The environment is both salty and foggy. Some of the blocks suffered extensive disintegration, and laboratory analyses (including geochemistry, XRD and SEM) indicate that the weathered samples have a high halite (sodium chloride) content. Cycles of wetting and drying associated with the frequent fog events of the area cause cycles of halite crystallization. Rocks exposed at the surface absorb salts from the surrounding desert surface and then disintegrate, contributing to planation of the landscape.     

The effects of the spinel—garnet phase transition on the formation of rifted sedimentary basins

We have examined the effects of the spinel-garnet phase transition on subsidence of extensional sedimentary basins. For a constant positive Clapeyron slope ( dP/dT ), the phase boundary moves downwards in the syn-rift and upwards in the post-rift phase. For a non-linear Clapeyron curve ( dP/dT > 0 above 900°C and dP/dT < 0 below 900°C), theory predicts for the reaction of the spinel-garnet phase transition, the direction of phase boundary movement is dependent on the stretching factor, the position of the Clapeyron curve and the lithospheric thickness. A smaller syn-rift and larger post-rift subsidence are predicted for a deeper phase boundary and a thicker lithosphere. The model with a non-linear Clapeyron curve is applied to the subsidence histories of a young extensional basin (Gulf of Lion) and an old continental margin (eastern Canada). The observed syn-rift uplift and the larger post-rift subsidence can be reasonably explained by this model, where the optimum depth of the phase boundary for eastern Canada (˜90 km) is consistent with the estimate from seismic observations and is larger than that for the Gulf of Lion (˜ 50 km). The depth of the spinel-garnet phase boundary is sensitive to the composition of mantle rocks and increases with the extraction of basaltic components from the lithosphere, compatible with our result that the phase boundary is deeper for an older and thicker lithosphere. Thus the surface movement associated with the rifting for these areas may reflect the chemical evolution of the continental lithosphere.