A Special Orogenic-type Rare Earth Element Deposit in Maoniuping, Sichuan, China: Geology and Geochemistry

Abstract: The Maoniuping REE deposit is the second largest light rare earth elements deposit in China, explored recently in the northern Jinpingshan Mountains, a Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic belt in southwestern China. It is a vein-type deposit hosted within, and genetically related to, carbonatite-alkalic complex. Field investigation and new geochemical data of the carbonatites from the carbonatite-alkalic complex support an igneous origin for the Maoniuping carbonatites and related REE mineralization. Carbonatite itself carries rare earth elements which were enriched by hydrothermal solution.
It is known that most of the REE deposits related to carbonatite-alkalic complexes were formed in relatively stable tectonic setting such as cratonic or rifting environment. The Maoniuping deposit, however, was formed during the processes of Cenozoic orogeny. Although the Maoniuping deposit is located in the north sector of the Panxi paleo-rift zone, the rift had been closed before early Cenozoic and evolved into an intracontinental orogenic belt, i.e., the Jinpingshan Orogen, which was formed since later Mesozoic to early Cenozoic. Geochronological and geochemical data also prove that the Maoniuping REE deposit was formed in an intracontinental orogenic belt instead of rift system or stationary block.
The Maoniuping REE deposit is similar to the Mountain Pass REE deposit in many respects such as the high contents of bastnaesite and barite, the low content of niobium, and the common occurrence of sulfides. The discovery of the Maoniuping deposit and other REE deposits during the past two decades suggest a good potential for prospecting REE deposits along the alkalic complex belt located on the eastern side of the Qinghai–Xizang–West Sichuan Plateau.     

质量平衡法——定量恢复新生代青藏高原造山作用

青藏高原的形成演化及其对东亚地形，水文分布，季风起源，全球气候变化，海洋化学组分改变等的影响，一直是全球地质学家关注的热点，然而由于定量研究方法的缺乏，一些关键性的问题一直悬而未决，质量平衡法的提出为解决这一困境提供了新思路，阐述了质量平衡法的原理，并以Metivier等对西藏高原地区，东亚，印度支那和印度板块地区的研究为例，介绍了质量平衡法的应用，同时对存在的问题进行了较为详细的讨论，为进一步研究指明了重点。     

粤北下庄矿田新生代构造演化及其对铀成矿的影响

粤北南岭地区是我国重要的花岗岩型铀矿产地,通过野外地质调查与构造变形研究,结合34件石英脉体电子自旋共振(ESR)测年研究,论述了粤北地区下庄矿田的新生代构造演化期次.构造变形研究与ESR年龄测定显示:新生代主要发生了三幕构造变形,第Ⅰ幕(65.5～55.0Ma)为地块的差异升降运动,断裂活动规模大;第Ⅱ幕(40.3～...     

柴达木盆地新生代不同层次构造特征

应用柴达木盆地地震、非地震资料进行综合解释研究发现,新生代盆地深、浅层构造存在较大差异,盆地沉积在不同时期受到不同构造格局的控制。古近系受近东西向构造控制,新近系受北西向构造控制,显示了柴达木盆地新生代为不同时期受不同方向构造控制的大型叠合盆地。盆地地层深、浅层构造变形特征不同,深层表现为陡倾的逆冲断裂构造,以断块构造为主要特征;中浅层表现为滑脱褶皱与滑脱断裂构造;地表在背斜核部发育斜列展布的正断层构造。盆地经历了多旋回沉积和多方式的后期改造,不同的构造组合形成了不同的储油气构造模式,认识这一点对于盆地深层的油气勘探,特别是寻找隐蔽油气藏具有重要意义。     

Neotectonics of the Kharaulakh sector of the Laptev Shelf

Seismotectonic deformation and crustal stress pattern have been studied comprehensively in major seismogenic structures of the Kharaulakh sector of the Verkhoyansk fold system and adjacent parts of the Chersky seismotectonic zone. The study focuses on neotectonic structures, deep structure, and systems of active faults, as well as tectonic stress fields inferred by tectonophysical analysis of Late Cenozoic faults and folds. The results, along with geological and geophysical data, reveal main strain directions and structural patterns of crustal stress and strain in the Arctic segment of the Eurasia-North America plate boundary. The area is a junction of mid-ocean and continental structures evolving in a mixed setting of extension, compression, and their various combinations. The rotation pole of the two plates is presumably located near Buor-Khaya Bay. In this case, extension is expected to act currently upon the neotectonic structures north of the bay and compression to control those in the south and southeast. This inference is consistent with the identified zoning of stress and strain in the Kharaulakh sector.     

The Paleogene vegetation and petroleum system in the tropics: A biomarker approach

The present study investigates the biomarker signatures of sediments and crude oils to infer the paleovegetation from the two petroleum systems of Assam Basin, eastern India. They are classified as the Paleocene-middle Eocene and the middle Eocene-Oligocene petroleum systems. The sediments are oil and gas prone with an early catagenetic stage of thermal evolution. Here we report tricyclic diterpanes such as rimuane, pimarane, rosane and isopimarane along with tetracyclic diterpanes: ent-beyerane, phyllocladane, kaurane from Paleocene-Eocene coal-bearing sediments and crude oils. These diterpane biomarkers attest dominant contribution from conifers, possibly from Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae. However, diterpanes are not detected in Oligocene sediments and oils. Crude oils from both Paleocene-Eocene and Oligocene reservoirs and organic rich sediments contain angiosperm biomarkers such oleanane and related triterpanes along with bicadinane, a biomarker specific for the Dipterocarpaceae family of angiosperms. The equatorial position of India during early Paleogene along with the presence of angiosperm signatures including Dipterocarpaceae and gymnosperms reflect the emergence of tropical rainforest elements in eastern India. Absence of diterpenoids in Oligocene samples and difference in angiosperm parameters from Paleocene-Eocene samples suggests a change in source vegetation and organofacies.     

Cenozoic sequence stratigraphy of the Kachchh Basin,India

The Kachchh sedimentary basin in the western continental margin of India is a peri-cratonic rift basin which preserves a nearly complete rock record from Middle Jurassic to Recent, punctuated by several stratigraphic breaks. The Cenozoic sediments exposed in the western part of the Kachchh mainland extend offshore into the present-day continental shelf. The unique feature of the outcropping area is a nearly complete, richly fossiliferous and easily accessible Cenozoic succession. Detailed field mapping and litho-biostratigraphic studies have made it possible to identify the chronostratigraphic units, map them in the field and extend the correlation into the offshore, aided by the development of continuously recognizable key biostratigraphic horizons and time boundaries. Detailed field mapping of key sections integrated with the litho-biostratigraphic information has helped in working out a sequence stratigraphic framework for the Cenozoic succession in the basin. The succession comprises a first-order passive margin sequence. Excellent biostratigraphic control has enabled identification of unconformities of various magnitudes which in turn have helped in mapping 5 second-order and four third-order sequences. Each sequence is discussed with respect to its extent, nature of sequence boundaries, sedimentary fill, key sequence stratigraphic surfaces and depositional setup, to understand the Cenozoic sequence stratigraphic architecture of the basin.     

南海北部新生代的构造运动特征

新生代以来,南海北部陆架陆坡区及其邻区的地壳构造运动是在统一的区域构造应力场和总体区域性张裂沉降背景之下发生的,构造运动具有多旋回振荡式发生的特点,并贯穿了晚白垩世末之后的整个新生代.它的发生与太平洋板块的构造运动密切相关,这是由于太平洋板块之下的软流层流动方向和强度的振荡式改变而引发的.     

On tectonic movement in the South China Sea during the Cenozoic

The tectonic movement taking place at the end of Cretaceous and the beginning of Cenozoic had opened the Cenozoic phase of polycyclic tectonic movements, then the whole crust of the South China Sea had been mainly subjected to the regional stress field of tectonic tension, which was characterized by rifting depression. Seven times of regional tectonic movement and sedimentation had been assembled into a geological development history of polycyclic oscillation. Especially, the tectonic movements were strongly intensified at the end of Cretacious and the beginning of Paleagene, between Late Eocene and MidOligocene, during Mid and Late Miocene. These three times of tectonic movement had built the most important regional tectonic interfaces in the South China Sea. Crust movements of the South China Sea were the result and epitome of interaction of the Eurasia, Pacific and IndoAustralia plates, that is, they were introduced by polycyclic changes of directions, rates and strengths of lithospheric movements and asthenospheric flows across the Pacific and IndoAustralia plates.     

Cenozoic uplift of Variscan Massifs in the Alpine foreland: Timing and controlling mechanisms

The European Cenozoic Rift System (ECRIS) and associated fault systems transect all Variscan Massifs in the foreland of the Alps. ECRIS was activated during the Eocene in the foreland of the Pyrenees and Alps in response to the build-up of collision-related intraplate stresses. During Oligocene and Neogene times ECRIS evolved by passive rifting under changing stress fields, reflecting end Oligocene consolidation of the Pyrenees and increasing coupling of the Alpine Orogen with its foreland. ECRIS is presently still active, as evidenced by its seismicity and geodetic data.Uplift of the Massif Central and the Rhenish Massif, commencing at the Oligocene–Miocene transition, is mainly attributed to plume-related thermal thinning of the mantle–lithosphere. Mid-Burdigalian uplift of the SW–NE-striking Vosges–Black Forest Arch, that has the geometry of a doubly plunging anticline breached by the Upper Rhine Graben, involved folding of the lithosphere. Late Burdigalian broad uplift of the northern parts of the Bohemian Massif reflects lithospheric buckling whereas late Miocene–Pliocene uplift of its marginal blocks involved transpressional reactivation of pre-existing crustal discontinuities. Crustal extension across ECRIS, amounting to no more than 7 km, was compensated by a finite clockwise rotation of the Paris Basin block, up warping of the Weald–Artois axis and reactivation of the Armorican shear zones. Intermittent, though progressive uplift of the Armorican Massif, commencing in the Miocene, is attributed to transpressional deformation of the lithosphere.Under the present-day NW-directed compressional stress field, that came into evidence during the early Miocene and further intensified during the Pliocene, the Armorican Massif, the Massif Central, the western parts of the Rhenish Massif and the northern parts of the Bohemian Massif continue to rise at rates of up to 1.75 mm/y whilst the Vosges–Black Forest arch is relatively stable.Uplift of the Variscan Massifs and development of ECRIS exerted strong controls on the Neogene evolution of drainage systems in the Alpine foreland.