Particle-size distributions of low-angle normal fault breccias: Implications for slip mechanisms on weak faults

Slip on low-angle normal faults is not well understood because they slip at high angles to the maximum principal stress directions. These faults are considered weak and their motion cannot be explained using standard Byerlee friction and Andersonian fault mechanics. One proposed mechanism for weak fault slip is reduction of effective normal stress induced by high pore-fluid pressure. This mechanism is likely to allow dilation of the fault zone and, therefore, affect the particle-size distribution of fault breccia, which has been shown to differ for unconstrained versus constrained comminution. High pore-fluid pressure can cause dilation which leads to unconstrained comminution. We analyze samples from the footwalls of two low-angle normal faults in southern California (West Salton and Whipple detachment faults) to determine the fault-rock textures and grain-size distributions (GSDs). The GSDs are fractal with fractal dimensions ranging from ∼2.6 to 3.4. The lower end of this range is thought to reflect constrained comminution and only occurs in samples from the footwall of a small-offset “minidetachment” fault about 100 m below the Whipple detachment. The higher fractal dimensions are common in cataclasites related to the main faults and also reflect constrained comminution but are overprinted by shear localization. Our GSDs are similar to those from natural and laboratory-deformed fault rocks from strong faults. We conclude that if high pore-fluid pressure aided slip on these faults, it did not strongly affect mechanisms by which brecciation occurs, implying that fluid pressure generally was sublithostatic. Independent evidence exists for lithostatic fluid pressure that having dropped or cycled to hydrostatic levelsin the minidetachment, but our GSD results suggest that periods of high fluid pressure were too short or infrequent for unconstrained comminution to have been the dominant cataclastic mechanism. Fractal dimensions of ∼2.6 for these samples suggest that little subsequent abrasion occurred due to shear localization, consistent with minor offset on the minidetachment. Main detachment footwall samples with fractal dimensions ≥3 reflect constrained comminution followed by shear-related abrasion, and suggest that seismic cycling was important in formation of main detachment cataclasites.     

Strain distribution within a km-scale,mid-crustal shear zone: The Kuckaus Mylonite Zone,Namibia

The subvertical Kuckaus Mylonite Zone (KMZ) is a km-wide, crustal-scale, Proterozoic, dextral strike-slip shear zone in the Aus granulite terrain, SW Namibia. The KMZ was active under retrograde, amphibolite to greenschist facies conditions, and deformed felsic (and minor mafic) gneisses which had previously experienced granulite facies metamorphism during the Namaqua Orogeny. Lenses of pre- to syn-tectonic leucogranite bodies are also deformed in the shear zone. Pre-KMZ deformation (D₁) is preserved as moderately dipping gneissic foliations and tightly folded migmatitic layering. Shear strain within the KMZ is heterogeneous, and the shear zone comprises anastomosing high strain ultramylonite zones wrapping around less deformed to nearly undeformed lozenges. Strain is localized along the edge of leucogranites and between gneissic lozenges preserving D₁ migmatitic foliations. Strain localization appears controlled by pre-existing foliations, grain size, and compositional anisotropy between leucogranite and granulite. The local presence of retrograde minerals indicate that fluid infiltration occurred in places, but most ultramylonite in the KMZ is free of retrograde minerals. In particular, rock composition and D₁ fabric heterogeneity are highlighted as major contributors to the strain distribution in time and space, with deformation localization along planes of rheological contrast and along pre-existing foliations. Therefore, the spatial distribution of strain in crustal-scale ductile shear zones may be highly dependent on lithology and the orientation of pre-existing fabric elements. In addition, foliation development and grain size reduction in high strain zones further localizes strain during progressive shear, maintaining the anastomosing shear zone network established by the pre-existing heterogeneity.     

湘东锡田A型花岗岩的年代学、Hf同位素、地球化学特征及其地质意义

对湘东锡田岩体进行的LA-ICP-MS定年结果表明,2个第一期中(细)粒斑状黑云母二长花岗岩样品的年龄分别为(220.9±0.6) Ma及(220.7±0.7)Ma;第二期中细粒二云母二长花岗岩的年龄为(154.4±0.7)Ma.两期花岗岩均为高钾、富碱、弱过铝质岩石.稀土元素总量较高,富集U、Th,亏损Ti、P等高场强元素和Ba、Sr等大离子亲石元素,具高的104 Ga/Al,显示A型花岗岩特征.印支期花岗岩略富集轻稀土元素,Eu异常较弱;燕山期花岗岩轻、重稀土元素分异不明显,Eu异常显著.Hf同位素研究显示,两期次花岗岩均具有较低的εHf(t)(-4.91～-11.04),亏损地幔二阶段模式年龄集中在1.6～1.8 Ga,与华夏地块古老的变质基底年龄一致.因此,锡田岩体是华夏地块古元古代地壳物质在伸展的构造背景下部分熔融的产物.锡田A型花岗岩复式岩体的确定,对于研究湖南东部在中生代印支、燕山两期构造事件中所处的构造背景具有重要意义,同时也为华南地区存在印支期A型花岗岩钨锡成矿作用增加了证据.     

内蒙古边家大院铅锌银矿床成因——来自锆石U-Pb年龄和多元同位素的制约

边家大院铅锌银矿床位于大兴安岭南段,西拉沐伦河深大断裂北缘.矿区侵入岩有早期的辉石闪长岩、晚期的花岗闪长岩和花岗斑岩,矿化与晚期花岗闪长岩密切相关.矿化有脉状和隐爆角砾岩型2种,脉状矿体赋存于花岗闪长岩内部或与围岩的接触带上,隐爆角砾岩筒发育于花岗闪长岩体上部.花岗闪长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为(143.2±1.5) Ma,指示矿化是晚侏罗世构造应力场由挤压环境转变为伸展环境条件下构造-岩浆-热液作用的产物.206 Pb/204 Pb、207 Pb/204 Pb和208 Pb/204 Pb范围分别集中在18.1605～18.1832、15.5502～15.5534和38.2013～38.2171,平均值分别为18.1705、15.5519、38.2102.铅同位素分布集中,成矿物质来自于深源岩浆,且来源比较单一.δD值分布在-101‰～-110‰,δ18O值介于3.45‰～3.75‰,成矿流体主要为岩浆热液.综合矿床地质特征和测试分析认为边家大院是一中温岩浆热液矿床.     

东昆仑南缘布青山构造混杂岩带哥日卓托闪长岩体年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

对东昆仑南缘布青山构造混杂岩带哥日卓托闪长岩体进行了锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究,以便对其形成时代和岩石成因进行约束.结果表明,哥日卓托闪长岩锆石Th/U比值(0.63～1.28)较高,阴极发光图像显示锆石内部发育振荡环带,具岩浆成因特点;LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为225.8±1.5Ma(MSWD=0.53),表明其形成时代为晚三叠世早期.岩体的SiO2含量在53.07％～58.74％之间,Al2O3(14.66％～16.17％)含量相对较高,全碱含量较低(4.76％～6.04％),高钾(1.60％～2.90％),里特曼指数σ在1.69～2.66之间,属高钾钙碱性系列.稀土元素总量(∑REE)为158.36×10-6～211.50×10-6,δEu为0.85～0.97,稀土元素配分曲线呈右倾型,具有弱的负铕异常.高场强元素(Nb、Ta、P等)和大离子亲石元素(Ba、Sr、Ti等)具有明显的负异常,而Rb、U、La、Hf、Nd等元素具有明显的正异常.哥日卓托闪长岩形成于高温环境(800℃±),具有后碰撞岩浆活动的特征,是东昆仑地块与巴颜喀拉地块碰撞后地壳部分熔融的产物.     

一件可能的Hf同位素测定标准锆石

陕西省西乡县汉南杂岩望江山岩体辉长岩中含有丰富的锆石——从600kg辉长岩样品中分选出结晶良好、内部结构简单、成因和年龄单一、Hf同位素比值均一的锆石7g,锆石粒度多为0.2-0.3mm。分别在三个不同实验室利用三种方法对该锆石样品进行了U-Pb同位素年龄测定,获得了在误差范围内完全一致的年龄：819.8 ± 2.5 Ma（LA-ICP-MS）、821.7 ± 1.7 Ma（LA-MC-ICPMS）和822.1 ± 4.5 Ma（SHRIMP）。在国内4个权威实验室对该锆石进行了Lu-Hf同位素测定,获得了在误差范围内完全一致的176Hf/177Hf同位素比值——全部421个测试点加权平均值为0.282535 ± 0.000003（2σ）。采样点岩体规模巨大,露头良好,岩石新鲜,交通方便。该锆石样品满足作为Hf同位素测定标样的各方面的指标,可能是一个比较理想的Hf 同位素测定标样。Hf同位素测定标准物质的研制,是测定获得准确可靠的Hf同位素数据的基础,具有十分重要的实用价值和科学意义。     

滇西高黎贡山变质带变质深成岩特征及时代

高黎贡山变质岩带中(腾冲大蒿坪地区),原划归古元古代高黎贡山岩群中广泛存在的变质深成岩类,原岩实际为早白垩世(163.5±5.7 Ma)花岗闪长岩和晚白垩世(74.0±2.0Ma)二长花岗岩类,属变质的燕山期深成侵入岩,可划分为扬飞水角闪黑云花岗闪长质片麻岩、芹菜塘花岗片麻岩两个变质地体单元.早白垩世花岗闪长岩形成于造山前期同碰撞火山弧环境;晚白垩世二长花岗岩侵入岩形成于造山前期碰撞造山环境,并沿断裂带强烈侵位.原岩经喜马拉雅早期韧性剪切带动力变质,变质强度达高绿片岩相或低角闪岩相,形成花岗质片麻岩类,喜马拉雅中期叠加脆韧性动力变质作用.     

歧口凹陷火成岩的地球化学特征、形成时代及构造意义

歧口凹陷侏罗系火成岩主要以中-酸性的流纹岩、粗面岩和粗面安山岩为主,白垩系主要为中-基性的粗面玄武岩和玄武质粗面安山岩,第三系火成岩以粗面玄武岩、碱性玄武岩及辉绿岩为主。同位素定年结果获得白垩系玄武岩的年龄为133±20 Ma,安山岩和粗安岩年龄分别为111.8±0.9 Ma和122.1±3.1 Ma,第三系辉绿岩年龄为16.57±0.23 Ma。地球化学特征显示,侏罗系火成岩相对低钛、高碱和钠、低铁镁,轻重稀土元素强烈分馏、微量元素相对富集LILE、贫化HFSE、亏损Nb和Ti、P,部分高Sr、低Yb,总体指示为挤压环境下加厚地壳物质的熔融产物,白垩系火成岩中等钛和碱的含量,高钠、铁和镁,稀土和微量元素显示其来自于伸展背景的富集地幔源,但受到陆壳物质的混染,第三系火成岩高钛含量、中等碱含量但变化大、高钠、富铁镁,轻重稀土元素分馏弱到中等、微量元素富集LILE和HFSE,同样来自板内伸展环境的富集地幔源的产物。表明歧口凹陷构造转换发生在晚侏罗世和早白垩世之间。     

Ion microprobe baddeleyite and zircon ages for Late Archaean mafic dykes of the Pilbara Craton,Western Australia

Ion microprobe U–Th–Pb analyses of baddeleyite and zircon yield precise ages for several mafic intrusions in the Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. Baddeleyite was dated from four dolerite dykes of the north‐northeast‐trending Black Range swarm intruded into granitoid‐greenstone basement in the northern part of the craton. The mean ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* age of 2772 ± 2 Ma, interpreted as an unambiguous age of emplacement for the dykes, is within error of previous ion microprobe U–Pb zircon ages for the Mt Roe flood basalts and confirms that the dykes acted as feeders to the volcanic rocks. The Sylvania Inlier, in the southeastern Pilbara Craton, also contains north‐northeast‐trending dykes that were correlated previously with the Black Range swarm. Based on concordant and discordant zircon analyses from samples of two dykes, the best estimate of the age of the Sylvania dykes is 2747 ± 4 Ma. The Sylvania dykes thus appear to be significantly younger than, and hence unrelated to, the Black Range swarm, but may have acted as feeders to younger volcanic units in the Fortescue Group such as the Kylena Formation.     

On the geology of the Indoburman ranges

The mountains of western and northwestern Burma consist chiefly of colossal accumulations of Palaeocene to Eocene (Arakan and Chin Hills) or Senonian to Eocene (Naga Hills) Flysch of varying, including “exotic”, facies.

The main frontal thrust zone of the Alpino‐Himalayan Tectogene lies along and within the easternmost ranges of this Indoburman system, not along the western margin (Shan Scarp) of the Sinoburman Highlands. Some of the highest mountains in the Naga Hills are “Klippen” of metamorphics lying on Flysch.

The Flysch ranges arose during the Oligocene but along the Arakan Coast there is ample evidence of an equally important earlier orogenic phase (latest Cretaceous) now almost totally buried beneath the western half of the Indoburman system and the post‐Oligocene “Argille Scagliose” and “Macigno” on‐lapping eastwards from the Bengal‐Assam embayment.

The lowlands of Central and Lower Burma do not represent a foreland feature, but an intramontane Molasse‐filled basin to which the sea retained access because of a general southerly plunge of the Alpine Tectogene. Geotec‐tonically, it is analogous to the Tibetan Plateau, not the Indo‐Gangetic lowlands.