A new record and a new ichnospecies of Arachnostega from the Middle Miocene of Egypt

The ichnogenus Arachnostega Bertling, 1992 is recorded for the first time from a bioeroded, coral-rich, Middle Miocene limestone bed in the middle Siwa Escarpment Member (Marmarica Formation) at Siwa Oasis, northern Western Desert of Egypt. These burrowing traces are preserved on the surface of a few internal moulds of bivalves and gastropods. Until now, the ichnogenus Arachnostega included a single ichnospecies, A. gastrochaenae Bertling, 1992. In the material studied herein, two ichnospecies are identified, described, illustrated and compared with other, similar traces. One of these is a new ichnospecies of Arachnostega; this is here named A. siwaensis ichnosp. nov. It is distinguished from A. gastrochaenae in the possession of tunnels that usually branch in a V-pattern; intervals of ramification are longest in the main branch and decrease in second- and third-order branches. Arachnostega traces were produced in a warm, low-energy, shallow-marine (<10?m water depth) environment. Polychaetes are the most likely producers of marine Arachnostega, which are commonly occurred in the same studied bed. This new occurrence is significant in extending the known stratigraphical and geographical ranges of Arachnostega into the Middle Miocene of Egypt.     

Geology of the Yap Trench: new observations from a transect near 10°N from manned submersible Jiaolong

This paper describes the petrology and geochemistry of rocks from the Yap Trench acquired by three dives of the Jiaolong research submarine. Combining the geophysical data and submersible observations, this paper describes the geomorphology, shallow structures, and sedimentology of the Yap Trench and further discusses the tectonics and activities of this region. Two obvious slope breaks are found on the landward slope, and horsts and grabens with small fault offsets are observed in the ocean-ward slope of the trench. Peridotites sampled from the Yap Trench inner wall are highly depleted subduction-related mantle residues. Volcanic rocks in the northern segment of the trench have subduction-related characteristics that Yap fore-arc rocks underwent metasomatism during Cenozoic subduction. The rocks with remarkable lithologic difference from lithospheric mantle and upper crust sampled in the break slopes suggest that the slope break area may represent a lithologic boundary or transition zone. The landward slope of the Yap Trench was removed by subduction erosion as a result of collision with the Caroline Ridge. The bending of the down-going plate caused normal faults, horsts, and grabens with little or no sediments indicating that the Caroline Ridge is subducting beneath the Yap arc along the trench even though the convergence rate is very slow.     

Jurassic and Cretaceous (Yanshannian) tectonics,magmatism and metallogenesis in South China: preface

ABSTRACT

South China is famous for its poly-metal deposits, with more than 50% of global W and Sb reserves, 20% of global Sn reserves, as well as abundant Cu-Mo-Pb-Zn-Au-Ag, Ta, Nb, REE and U deposits. This special issue consists of 21 papers, reporting recent progress on Yanshannian tectonic evolution, magmatism and ore deposits in South China, aiming at better understandings on the Mesozoic large-scale magmatism and mineralization events.     

华北地块中部新构造运动

由于印度板块持续向北运动,引起青藏高原的挤出,并于中新世末引起华北地块的向东挤出。大约在7.3 Ma,太行山西侧渭河盆地唐县面首先解体,继而向北、向东发展;到5 Ma左右,太行山东麓断裂带的右行走滑,导致华北中部唐县面全面解体,形成多个太行山内部山间盆地,以及太行山西侧山西地堑系。这些断陷盆地的断陷幅度各不相同,太行山西侧山西地堑系断陷幅度较大,太行山内部山间盆地断陷幅度较小,太行山东部的渤海湾盆地断陷活动不明显。伴随着盆地的形成,太行山相对进入快速隆升阶段。山西地堑系控盆断裂以及太行山东麓断裂带第四纪以来仍存在明显活动,切割并控制第四系,局部在地表形成地裂缝。华北地块中部的应力场恢复以及深部构造分析表明,深部地幔上涌对浅部伸展构造的形成具有重要的影响,深部构造演变与浅部构造演变具有高度的一致性和耦合性。太行山东部渤海湾盆地自中新世以来就进入拗陷阶段,断裂活动弱,构造演化与西侧差异较大,表明这期构造运动动力源于西侧,太行山东麓断裂带作为两侧差异演变的边界,调节着两侧的差异构造活动。     

地球接受太阳辐射能量变化对板块构造影响的估算

板块构造理论可以被认为是构造地质学研究的基本模型和框架。传统板块构造理论认为岩石圈板块在软流圈上方随软流圈对流发生运动,软流圈对流所需要的能量则完全由地球内部能量,如重力势能和放射性衰变产生的热能提供。但是近年来的一些研究证明了气候变化会对板块构造活动,如造山带活动产生直接影响。对传统的板块构造所需能量全部由地球内部提供这一观点做出了补充和更新。本文主要从两个方面对外动力作用可能影响板块构造做出分析,一是利用傅里叶分析证明了太阳辐射变化在构造活动,如洋中脊两侧地貌和火山沉积物中均能够留下记录;二是建立了一个简单的平面力学模型,探究洋流同大陆的力学作用会如何影响大陆运动特征。虽然这一模型忽略了很多因素,定量计算的结果本身并不具有很严格的数据绝对意义。但是这一模型的结果可以证明地球所有板块构造活动中释放的能量低于地球系统每年从太阳辐射中接收的能量,而且模型得到的大陆运动特征同现今实际观测下的运动特征存在一致性,洋流向大陆岩石圈传递的能量同地震活动释放的能量处于同一量级,从侧面可以证明洋流可能对板块构造产生了较大的影响。     

中新生代南北天山差异性抬升历史的磷灰石裂变径迹证据

堆积于天山山前坳陷内部的巨厚新生代地层不仅记录所在沉积区的热历史信息,还记录了物源区的信息。本文选择天山南北两侧山前坳陷中3条地质剖面进行了大量的磷灰石裂变径迹测试和部分样品的热历史模拟分析,来揭示上新世以来天山在南北方向上隆升过程的差异性。采样剖面的选取较前人更加靠近前陆盆地方向,样品所在地层年代更新。结果显示,东秋里塔格背斜剖面中的样品记录了中天山、南天山和背斜区分别在55~65Ma、20~25Ma和5Ma经历了构造隆升。玛纳斯背斜剖面中的样品记录了北天山的三次构造隆升事件分别发生于55~65Ma、20~25Ma和5Ma,其中距今5Ma为玛纳斯背斜带起始隆升的时代。结合前人在相同区域的研究成果,分析得出天山的不同部分经历了不同的构造演化历史,自150Ma以来经历了三期差异性隆升。中生代时期(150~125Ma)表现为山体整体抬升,中生代晚期-新生代早期(100~50Ma)北天山明显早于南天山开始构造隆升,新生代以来(~50Ma)的构造运动以向前陆盆地方向扩展为特征,而隆升起始时间南北差异变小。虽然在南北方向上天山山体隆起时间上存在明显的差异,但是中新生代以来山体物源区的剥蚀速率大体相同。因此,隆升起始时间与隆升量之间并不存在必然的定量关系。天山的不同块体具有不同的构造演化历史的事实提示在研究大范围构造隆升作用时,应将构造作用作为一个过程来对待。变形在传递的过程中,在时间和空间上存在一定的滞后现象。     

湖南及邻区志留纪兰多弗里世鲁丹期至埃隆期岩相古地理及加里东期板块构造演化

湖南兰多弗里世鲁丹期岩相古地理格局以桃江—白马山—苗儿山一线为界,其南东为华夏洋壳板块兰多弗里统鲁丹阶周家溪组陆屑浊积深水盆地相,陆屑来自更南东的湘中南褶皱山地;其北西为扬子陆壳板块兰多弗里统鲁丹阶龙马溪组沉积洋盆,南东后缘是上陆棚相,北西前缘是下陆棚相,陆屑都由南东湘中南褶皱山地提供。至兰多弗里世埃隆期岩相古地理发生巨变：龙马溪组顶部Coronograptus cyphus笔石带末即大约440.8±1.2 Ma时,发生华夏洋壳板块向扬子陆壳板块俯冲碰撞事件,华夏洋壳板块周家溪组本身褶皱造山为华夏褶皱山地,华夏洋壳板块洋盆关闭。同时华夏洋壳板块以A型俯冲形式下插到扬子陆壳板块之下,并使扬子陆壳板块南东前缘崛起形成加里东期雪峰造山带。后者将扬子陆壳板块南东前缘牵引、挠曲和凹陷成华夏洋壳板块弧后前陆盆地,小河坝组是该弧后前陆盆地的沉积盖层,陆屑都由南东的雪峰造山带提供。该弧后前陆盆地沉积了三角洲相—滨海相的小河坝组,向北东、北西和南西方向相变为台地相石牛栏组,再向北西陕南紫阳相变为盆地相斑鸠关组。小河坝组两次采集的重砂样均出现蓝闪石,它是蓝闪石片岩标志矿物,蓝闪石片岩是确认加里东期华夏洋壳板块与扬子陆壳板块俯冲碰撞及形成雪峰造山带的判别标志。     

青藏高原新生代古高度研究：现状与展望

青藏高原新生代古高度研究是地球系统科学研究中的一个热点、难点和重点,它是解决地球深部动力学、地貌地形演化和气候变化等各部分相互关系的一个关键突破口。目前以古生物和氧同位素为代表的各种古高度计被用来重建青藏高原新生代的古高度历史,但是不同的研究方法所得到的结果并不一致,关于青藏高原何时隆升到现在的海拔高度存在晚上新世、晚中新世和始新世等不同认识。因为古高度结果的差异,所以对于青藏高原新生代的构造隆升过程和动力机制也存在大的争议。本文首先详细的阐述了部分古高度计的应用原理及其各自的优缺点,收集总结了78条青藏高原古高度研究的成果,梳理了目前青藏高原新生代古高度研究的历史和现状。然后在此基础上讨论了目前高原古高度研究的特点和存在的问题,即地层年代学、氧同位素和古生物古高度计结果的协调、“以点带面”、区域研究程度差异较大、替代性指标的多解性、古纬度影响、地质时期温度递减率的不确定性、全球气候变化的影响等特点和问题。最后就存在的特点和问题指出在恢复青藏高原新生代古高度时所需要完善和注意的方面,其中最重要的是注重地层年代学的可靠性。     

Cenozoic Crustally-derived Carbonate-rich Magmatic Rocks in West Junggar,North Xinjiang,Western China: Geochronology,Geochemistry and Tectonic Implications

The carbonate-rich magmatic rocks of West Junggar are distributed in the Baijiantan and Darbut ophiolitic mélanges in the forms of extrusive rocks overlying the mélanges and dykes, either along the margins of the mélange or cross-cutting components of mélanges. Chilled margin and flow structures are present. A SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 39.7 ± 1.3 Ma indicates that these carbonate-rich rocks in West Junggar were formed during the Eocene. They have low concentrations in REEs, Th, U, Nb, Ta and are characterized by extremely low εN d(t), high(87 Sr/86 Sr)i ratios, relatively high δ18 OV-SMOW values and high δ13 CV-PDB values, which is similar with most sedimentary carbonates. Furthermore, no contemporaneous mantle-derived silicate rocks have yet been found in West Junggar. The carbonate-rich rocks in West Junggar are thus distinct from mantle-derived carbonatites and are interpreted to result from melting of the Carboniferous sedimentary carbonates at crustal levels, these rocks therefore being referred to as 'crustal carbonatites'. The Eocene crustal carbonatites in West Junggar and other Cenozoic magmatic rocks in North Xinjiang are generally situated along regional strike-slip faults or fault intersections. Therefore, we propose that the reactivation of the Darbut and Baijiantan crustal-scale strike-slip fault zones(ophiolitic mélanges), due to the far-field effects of the Indian-Eurasian collision, enables decompression melting of the underlying continental lithospheric mantle. These resulting melts ascended to the lower crust through the strike-slip faults, causing partial melting of the Carboniferous carbonaceous sediments. The crustal carbonatites in West Junggar provide a new piece of evidence for Cenozoic magmatism in North Xinjiang and are also significant for the investigation of tectono-magmatic relations in North Xinjiang and the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.     

西南极乔治王岛新生代古生物特征及古环境探讨

西南极乔治王岛发育有一套高钾低铝的拉斑玄武岩,夹火山碎屑岩,属于岛弧火山岩系列。该岛还保存了南极最长的冰川沉积记录,是研究南极冰盖演化历史的重要证据。乔治王岛出露的新生代陆相地层中含有丰富的植物叶、孢粉、茎干、无脊椎动物化石及鸟类足印的痕迹化石等,从始新世到早中新世,化石逐渐减少,表明植物多样性呈明显下降趋势,幸存的稀疏植被被严格限制在冰川周缘的苔原物种上。冰海相地层与古生物研究表明,晚渐新世海相地层主要对应高能环境,早中新世海相地层对应低能环境。对乔治王岛新生代古生物特征及古环境的探讨,不仅理解了古生物及多样性的变化趋势,也为重建南极古环境提供证据。