An introduction to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism

Abstract Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism refers to mineralogical and structural readjustment of supracrustal protoliths and associated mafic-ultramafic rocks at mantle pressures greater than ∼ 25 kbar (80-90 km). Typical products include metapelite, quartzite, marble, granulite, eclogite, paragneiss and orthogneiss; minor mafic and ultramafic rocks occur as eclogitic-ultramafic layers or blocks of various dimensions within the supracrustal rocks. For appropriate bulk compositions, metamorphism at great depths produces coesite, microdiamond and other characteristic UHP minerals with unusual compositions. Thus far, at least seven coesite-bearing eclogitic terranes and three diamond-bearing UHP regions have been documented. All lie within major continental collision belts in Eurasia, have similar supracrustal protoliths and metamorphic assemblages, occur in long, discontinuous belts that may extend several hundred kilometers or more, and typically are associated with contemporaneous high-P blueschist belts. This paper defines the P-T regimes of UHP metamorphism and describes mineralogical, petrological and tectonic characteristics for a few representative UHP terranes including the western gneiss region of Norway, the Dora Maira massif of the western Alps, the Dabie Mountains and the Su-Lu region of east-central China, and the Kokchetav massif of the former USSR. Prograde P-T paths for coesite-bearing eclogites require abnormally low geothermal gradients (approximately 7°C/km) that can be accomplished only by subduction of cold, oceanic crust-capped lithosphere ± pelagic sediments or an old, cold continent. The preservation of coesite inclusions in garnet, zircon, omphacite, kyanite and epidote, and microdiamond inclusions in garnet and zircon during exhumation of an UHP terrane requires either an extraordinarily fast rate of denudation (up to 10 cm/year) or continuous refrigeration in an extensional regime (retreating subduction zone).     

Tectonic evolution of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic belts from central China

Abstract In the Triassic suture between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons, the Dabie metamorphic Complex in central China includes three tectonic units: the northern Dabie migmatitic terrane, the central ultrahigh-P coesite- and diamond-bearing eclogite belt, and the southern high-P blueschist-eclogite belt. This complex is bounded to the north by a north-dipping normal fault with a Paleozoic accretionary complex and to the south by a north-dipping reverse fault with Yangtze basement plus its foreland fold-and-thrust sequence. Great differences in metamorphic pressure suggests that these units reached different depths during metamorphism and their juxtaposition occurred by wedge extrusion of subducted old continental fragments. These units were subsequently subjected to (i) Barrovian type regional metamorphism and deformation at shallow depths; (ii) intrusion of Cretaceous granitic plutons; and (iii) doming and segmentation into several blocks by normal and strike-slip faults. A new speculative model of tectonic exhumation of UHP rocks is proposed.     

博格达山晚古生代坳拉谷(Aulacogen)的初步研究

博格达地区在晚古生代不是与哈尔里克相联的岛弧,而是坳拉谷.它发育较完整的滨浅海→陆棚→陆坡→坡角→盆地平原相的沉积相序.建造类型和充填序列与国内外坳拉谷很相似,而与岛弧建造相差甚远.早期具多旋回的火山喷发,中期发育多种重力流沉积组分,晚期出现复理石和磨拉石建造.东与兴蒙大洋相联,西端伸入准噶尔小板块内部.从中泥盆世开始由巴里坤一带逐渐向乌鲁木齐地区发育.     

华南铀矿省铀矿构造成矿作用及其时空演化

华南铀矿省内已发现的工业铀矿床类型有花岗岩型、火山岩型、碳硅泥岩型、碳酸盐岩型和砂岩型。在空间上。铀矿床受环形及线性构造控制,并受上地幔构造制约。幔凸、幔凹阳地幔变异带互相交错,造成本区地幔的极不均一性,这是本矿省成矿的深部地质构造背景。通常铀矿床呈面型成环状分布,大型环形构造控制铀矿省,中型和小型环形构造控制铀矿田和矿床的产出。     

太白山古冰川地貌与地质构造

太白山分布有更新世冰川地形,其冰川槽谷在平面上呈“十”字型排列;横剖面EW向的呈宽谷形,NS向是呈U型:纵剖面EW向比较平坦,SN向呈阶梯状,其中有许多断裂陡坎。冰斗均位于断裂交汇点,面积不大而深度却相当大。这些地形的形态特征可以用构造加以解释,断裂破碎带是最有利于冰川刨蚀的地段。