Granular experiments of thrust wedges: Insights relevant to methane hydrate exploration at the Nankai accretionary prism

The accumulation mechanism of methane hydrates has been a central issue in previous hydrate research regarding the Nankai accretionary prism, southwest of Japan. Expulsion of formation fluids is significant during the prism accretion process, and the migration of these methane-bearing fluids exerts a strong control on the accumulation of hydrates. Two types of fluid pathways, inter-granular porosity and faults, need to be evaluated to understand hydrate accumulation. Fluid migration along faults can be partly modeled by examining faulting activity. Our study modeled the accretion process by using two granular methods that approximated the geologic body as an assemblage of particles: (1) analog experiments using granular materials, and (2) a numerical simulation based on the distinct element method. The analog experiments closely reproduced the prism geometry observed in seismic profiles across the Nankai accretionary prism. Digital image correlation analysis indicated that the frontal thrust is generally active but older structures are also frequently reactivated. The numerical simulations produced prism geometries similar to those of the analog experiments. The velocity distributions of the particles showed evidence of episodic faulting and reactivation, but the internal stress field exhibited little change in the deeper part of the prism during deformation. The frequent and substantial changes in fault activity displayed by the models indicate episodic fluid flow along fault surfaces. Active frontal thrusting suggests that formation fluids generally migrate from deep within the prism to the deformation front, but may move along reactivated older faults. Inter-granular permeability also fluctuates, as it is controlled by temporal and spatial variations in the internal stress field. However, fluid flow is likely to be relatively stable in the deeper segment of the prism.     

The mafic–ultramafic complex of Aniyapuram,Cauvery Suture Zone,southern India: Petrological and geochemical constraints for Neoarchean suprasubduction zone tectonics

Several Precambrian mafic–ultramafic complexes occur along the Cauvery Suture Zone (CSZ) in Southern Granulite Terrain, India. Their origin, magmatic evolution and relationship with the associated high-grade rocks have not been resolved. The Aniyapuram Mafic–Ultramafic Complex (AMUC), the focus of the present study in southern part of the CSZ, is dominantly composed of peridotites, pyroxenites, gabbros, metagabbros/mafic granulites, hornblendites, amphibolites, plagiogranites, felsic granulites and ferruginous cherts. The rock types in the AMUC are structurally emplaced within hornblende gneiss (TTG) basement rocks and are highly deformed. The geochemical signature of the amphibolites indicates tholeiitic affinity for the protolith with magma generation in island arc-setting. N-MORB normalized pattern of the amphibolites show depletion in HFS-elements (P, Zr, Sm, Ti, and Y) and enrichment of LIL-elements (Rb, Ba, Th, Sr) with negative Nb anomalies suggesting involvement of subduction component in the depleted mantle source and formation in a supra-subduction zone tectonic setting. Our new results when correlated with the available age data suggest that the lithological association of AMUC represent the remnants of the Neoarchean oceanic lithosphere.     

How many sutures in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt：Insights from East Xinjiang-West Gansu（NW China）？

How ophiolitic mèlanges can be defined as sutures is controversial with regard to accretionary orogenesis and continental growth.The Chinese Altay,East junggar,Tianshan,and Beishan belts of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt（CAOB） in Northwest China,offer a special natural laboratory to resolve this puzzle.In the Chinese Altay,the Erqis unit consists of ophiolitic melanges and coherent assemblages,forming a Paleozoic accretionary complex.At least two ophiolitic melanges（Armantai,and Kelameili） in East Junggar,characterized by imbricated ophiolitic melanges,Nb-enriched basalts,adakitic rocks and volcanic rocks,belong to a Devonian-Carboniferous intra-oceanic island arc with some Paleozoic ophiolites,superimposed by Permian arc volcanism.In the Tianshan,ophiolitic melanges like Kanggurtag,North Tianshan,and South Tianshan occur as part of some Paleozoic accretionary complexes related to amalgamation of arc terranes.In the Beishan there are also several ophiolitic melanges,including the Hongshishan,Xingxingxia-Shibangjing,Hongliuhe-Xichangjing,and Liuyuan ophiolitic units.Most ophiolitic melanges in the study area are characterized by ultramafic,mafic and other components,which are juxtaposed,or even emplaced as lenses and knockers in a matrix of some coherent units.The tectonic settings of various components are different,and some adjacent units in the same melange show contrasting different tectonic settings.The formation ages of these various components are in a wide spectrum,varying from Neoproterozoic to Permian.Therefore we cannot assume that these ophiolitic melanges always form in linear sutures as a result of the closure of specific oceans.Often the ophiolitic components formed either as the substrate of intra-oceanic arcs,or were accreted as lenses or knockers in subduction-accretion complexes.Using published age and paleogeographic constraints,we propose the presence of （1） a major early Paleozoic tectonic boundary that separates the Chinese Altay-East Junggar multiple subduction system     

Structural analysis of a newly emerged accretionary prism along the Jinlun-Taimali coast,southeastern Taiwan: From subduction to arc-continent collision

In southern Taiwan the initial collision of the Luzon volcanic arc with the passive continental margin of China results in the emergence of an accretionary prism of, predominantly, turbidites in composition, thus providing an appropriate place to study the temporal and spatial variation of deformation during the transition of subduction to arc-continent collision. Field surveys have recently been carried out in slightly metamorphosed rocks along the well-exposed Jinlun-Taimali coast in southeastern Taiwan. Three folding phases are identified in the area. The first phase is characterized by gently dipping but widely distributed phyllitic cleavage (S₁). The second phase is represented by sparsely distributed crenulation cleavage (S₂) that folded the phyllitic cleavage. The third phase is characterized by E–W trending antiforms (F₃) that involved both types of pre-existing cleavages. Restoration of such an antiform in the north using a method proposed in this paper reveals that phyllitic cleavage in the overturned beds dips gently towards the southeast or east-southeast before the antiform, in relation to the first-phase thrusting or folding under regional ESE-WNW compression. From the first to third phase, the maximum horizontal compression underwent an about 90° anticlockwise rotation from ESE-WNW to E–W or NE–SW to N–S, and the deformation depth seems to decrease drastically, in terms of the decreasing proportion of pervasive deformation. All these variations are attributed to the oblique arc-continent collision that exhumed the whole accretionary prism and induced a local stress perturbation in southeastern Taiwan.     

"三江"北段昌都陆块晚三叠世钾质-超钾质火山岩成因及地质意义

昌都微陆块内部发育一套晚三叠世粗安岩.本文基于系统的野外踏勘,对具有代表性的火山岩进行岩石学、地球化学等研究.结果显示该区火山岩的SiO₂含量为51.36%~58.04%,全碱含量(Na₂O+K₂O)为5.03%~7.84%,根据岩石K₂O,MgO及K₂O/Na₂O比值判断,属钾质-超钾质火山岩,具高K、高Al、低Ti的特征.本区岩石强烈富集大离子亲石元素(LILE)和轻稀土元素(LREE),Nb、Ta、Ti的负异常明显,整体特征类似于弧火山岩.其稀土总量较高(270×10^-6~960×10^-6),轻重稀土分馏明显,重稀土分布形态较平缓.岩石具有较高的初始锶同位素比值(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i=0.7150~0.7176和较低的初始钕同位素比值(¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i=0.51180~0.51184,ε_Nd(t)=-10.9~-10.2,二段Nd模式年龄为t_2DM=1.82~1.88Ga.本区岩石的地球化学特征显示其源区是由俯冲板片所产生的流体/熔体交代的岩石圈地幔,源区矿物组成分析结果显示,其源区以尖晶石二辉橄榄岩为主,含少量石榴石二辉橄榄岩及金云母.本区钾质-超钾质岩石虽然与西藏南部的钾质-超钾质岩石有相似的地球化学特征,但却产于碰撞后的构造背景之下.结合其所具有的弧火山岩特征及时代构造背景判断其为一种"滞后型"弧火山岩,其形成过程可以概括为三个阶段.     

宁南弧形构造带甘肃大沟—内蒙古乱井中上地壳电性结构

利用大地电磁探测方法在宁南弧形构造带内蒙古乱井—甘肃大沟段进行了中上地壳电性结构特征研究,通过二维反演获得了研究区的电性结构模型,模型清楚揭示出了该区典型的电性结构特征:(1)中上地壳电性结构整体表现为"碎块状"的构造特征,其中走廊构造带总体表现为相对低阻,北祁连碰撞造山带总体表现为相对高阻;(2)海原地震震源区的震源断裂所反映的低阻带构造样式既不像走滑断裂那样陡峭,也不像逆冲断裂那样平缓,而是兼具走滑与逆冲断裂带的双重特征;(3)研究区壳内低阻层呈现不连续分布,总体表现为南深北浅的构造样式,一般都终止于高阻地块边缘或与逆冲推覆构造的滑脱面相交汇处;(4)清水河裂褶带内发育的高阻地块可能为晚古生代或早中生代发育在元古宙基底上的古隆起,为该区燕山期构造运动提供了深部大地电磁资料证据。     

义敦岛弧带夏塞早白垩世A型花岗岩成因:锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及Hf同位素制约

义敦岛弧带晚中生代侵入岩体目前仍缺乏高精度的年代学数据制约,其成因也存在争论。作者首次在岛弧带中段夏塞银铅锌多金属矿区发现与成矿关系密切的黑云母二长花岗岩。本文对其开展了年代学、地球化学和Hf同位素分析,探讨成因及构造背景。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果为103±1 Ma(MSWD=0.5),为早白垩世晚期岩浆活动产物。花岗岩属高钾钙碱性岩系,具有高硅、富碱和铁、贫钙和镁特征,Si O2含量为72.94%~74.98%,K2O+Na2O=7.56%~8.08%,铝饱和指数A/CNK=1.06~1.10,属弱过铝质岩石。岩石富集Zr、Hf等高场强元素和U、Th等大离子亲石元素,明显亏损Ba和Sr。REE具有明显的Eu负异常(δEu=0.13~0.25),总体呈较陡右倾的LREE富集和HREE相对亏损特征。岩相学和地球化学显示其为铝质A型花岗岩。Hf同位素组成εHf(t)=–2.7~0.6,二阶段模式年龄TDM2=925~1095 Ma。地球化学及Hf同位素揭示夏塞岩体为软流圈地幔与壳源长英质岩浆混合成因,并经历了斜长石、正长石和褐帘石等矿物的分离结晶。夏塞花岗岩体具有后碰撞花岗岩特征,形成于早白垩世晚期弧-陆碰撞造山后伸展构造背景。     

云南维西三叠纪攀天阁火山弧区域地质特征及找矿意义

攀天阁火山弧是江达―维西陆缘火山弧的二级构造单元,近年通过大量的野外地质调查和综合研究,发现铁铜铅锌金银等多个矿点,并初步认为攀天阁火山弧的成矿环境与多岛弧盆及次一级多个封闭或半封闭,并属于弧间盆地的弧内坳陷洼地的古地理构造有关。且弧内可能存在一个局部拉张环境下形成的小海盆,海盆于晚三叠世晚期关闭,结束了攀天阁火山弧的弧盆成矿演化阶段。剐抓瓜断裂可能是小海盆关闭的产物。燕山-喜马拉雅期大规模、大范围的构造叠加,使该区又进入陆内构造转换成矿演化阶段,多岛弧盆的古地理格局与大范围、多期次的成矿构造事件叠加,使弧内沿剐抓瓜断裂一带成为主要的矿集区,并且区域物化探综合异常与矿集区矿点叠合较好,关联性强。综合认识这些特点对攀天阁火山弧的弧内找矿工作具有十分重要的意义。     

Wet and Dry Basalt Magma Evolution at Torishima Volcano, Izu Bonin Arc, Japan: the Possible Role of Phengite in the Downgoing Slab

The arc-front volcanoes of Sumisu (31·5°N, 140°E)and Torishima (30·5°N, 140·3°E) in thecentral Izu–Bonin arc are similar in size and rise asrelatively isolated edifices from the seafloor. Together theyprovide valuable along-arc information about magma generationprocesses. The volcanoes have erupted low-K basalts originatingfrom both wet and dry parental basaltic magmas (low-Zr basaltsand high-Zr basalts, respectively). Based on models involvingfluid-immobile incompatible element ratios (La/Sm), the parentalbasalts appear to result from different degrees of partial meltingof the same source mantle (20% and 10% for wet and dry basaltmagmas, respectively). Assuming that the wet basalts containgreater abundances of slab-derived components than their drycounterparts, geochemical comparison of these two basalt typespermits the identification of the specific elements involvedin fluid transport from the subducting slab. Using an extensiveset of new geochemical data from Torishima, where the top ofthe downgoing slab is about 100 km deep, we find that Cs, Pb,and Sr are variably enriched in the low-Zr basalts, which cannotbe accounted for by fractional crystallization or by differencesin the degree of mantle melting. These elements are interpretedto be selectively concentrated in slab-derived metasomatic fluids.Variations in K, high field strength element and rare earthelement concentrations are readily explained by variations inthe degree of melting between the low- and high-Zr basalts;these elements are not contained in the slab-derived fluids.Rb and Ba exhibit variable behaviour in the low-Zr basalts,ranging from immobile, similar to K, to mildly enriched in somelow-Zr basalts. We suggest that the K-rich mica, phengite, playsan important role in determining the composition of fluids releasedfrom the downgoing slab. In arc-front settings, where slab depthis 100 km, phengite is stable, and the fluids released fromthe slab contain little K. In back-arc settings, however, wherethe slab is at 100–140 km depth, phengite is unstable,and K-rich fluids are released. We conclude that cross-arc variationsin the K content of arc basalts are probably related to differingcompositions of released fluids or melts rather than the widelyheld view that such variations are controlled by the degreeof partial melting. KEY WORDS: arc volcano; degrees of melting; mantle wedge; water; wet and dry basalts     

Late Jurassic Volcanism Deduced from Geochemical,Geochronological, and Sr-Nd-Hf Isotopic Composition Characteristics of the Nanyuan Formation,South China

The Nanyuan Formation contains information related to the Mesozoic tectonic transformation. In this study, three representative profiles were surveyed from the Nanyuan Formation, and multiple analyses were conducted. Zircon U-Pb dating yielded their ages as approximately 158–146 Ma. The volcanic rocks are enriched in Rb, Th, U, K, and Pb and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, and Ti, implying their affinity for I-type granites. The ε_Nd(t) values(-8.3 to-6.0),(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_...