Review Section

ABSTRACT

The petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry of the early Permian volcanic rocks from Houtoumiao area, south Xiwuqi County in central Inner Mongolia of China, are studied to elucidate the early Permian tectonic setting of the region. The volcanic rocks, which are interbedded with sandstone, feature both mafic and felsic compositions and show a bimodal nature. Zircon U–Pb dating reveals that the volcanic rocks formed at 274–278 Ma, similar to the ages of bimodal magmatism in neighbouring areas. The mafic rocks are composed of tholeiitic basalt, basaltic andesite, basaltic trachyandesite, and trachyandesite. They are rich in Th, U, and LILEs, depleted in HFSEs Nb, Ta, and Ti, and have positive ε_Nd(t) values (+3.6 to +7.9). Geochemical analyses indicate that the mafic rocks originated from metasomatized lithospheric mantle. The felsic volcanic rocks are mainly rhyolite, with minor trachyte and dacite. They have different evolutionary tendencies of major elements, chondrite-normalized REE patterns, and isotopic compositions from the mafic volcanic rocks, which preclude formation by fractional crystallization of mafic melts. The ε_Nd(t) values of the felsic rocks are similar to those of the Carboniferous Baolidao arc rocks in the region. It is suggested that Permian felsic melts originated from the partial melting of Carboniferous juvenile arc-related rocks. By comparison with typical Cenozoic bimodal volcanism associated with several tectonic settings, including rift, post-collisional setting, back-arc basin, and the Basin and Range, USA, the bimodal volcanic rocks in central Inner Mongolia display similar petrological and geochemical characteristics to the rocks from back-arc basin and the Basin and Range, USA. Based on the analysis of regional geological data, it is inferred that the early Permian bimodal volcanic rocks in the study area formed on an extensional continental margin of the Siberian palaeoplate after late Carboniferous subduction–accretion.     

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of two types of supracrustal rocks in the Northeastern Sulu UHP terrane: constraints on the surface boundary between South China and North China

ABSTRACT

There are voluminous ultrahigh pressure-related orthogneisses and minor metamorphic supracrustal rocks in the northeastern Sulu UHP terrane (NSL), East China. The tectonic affinities of the supracrustal rocks are crucial for unravelling the deep continental subduction processes and locating the tectonic suture between the South China (SCB) and North China (NCB) blocks. In this contribution, we report new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for the supracrustal rocks and metagabbros in the Zeku region of the NSL. In the Zeku region, the supracrustal rocks are spatially associated with granitic gneisses, metagabbros, and eclogites. Detrital zircon U–Pb analyses yield ages between 3.39 and 0.65 Ga that cluster as three major age populations including (1) 2.15–1.68 Ga with two subpeaks at ~1.83 Ga and~1.97 Ga, (2) 2.45–2.15 Ga with a peak at ~2.37 Ga, and (3) 0.79–0.65 Ga. In addition, there is a small age population between 3.39 and 2.61 Ga. The youngest age population of 0.79–0.65 Ga indicates that the Zeku supracrustal rocks must have been deposited after 650 Ma rather than during the Palaeoproterozoic as previously thought. The 210–190 Ma metamorphic ages suggest that the Zeku rocks were affected by Triassic collision–subduction and exhumation. Most of the Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic zircons have negative ε_Hf(t) values and two-stage Hf model ages concentrating at 2.4–3.4 Ga (peak at ~2.9 Ga), indicating that source rocks of these zircons were mainly derived from recycling of ancient crustal material. These ages, together with the Hf isotopic compositions and rock assemblages, indicate that the Zeku supracrustal rocks were mainly derived from the Precambrian basement rocks of the northern Yangzte Block and have a tectonic affinity to the SCB, rather than the NCB. Our results, together with previously published data, suggest that there are two types of supracrustal rocks with different zircon U–Pb ages and tectonic affinities in the NSL. On the basis of new data, we suggest that the surface boundary between the SCB and NCB in the Jiaodong Peninsula is a complicated tectonic mélange zone rather than a single fault.     

The tectono-magmatic evolution of the West Junggar terrane (NW China) unravelled by U–Pb ages of detrital zircons in modern river sands

ABSTRACT

The West Junggar terrane (WJT) is an outstanding laboratory for studying the tectonic evolution of the Junggar–Balkhash Ocean, because it contains widespread Paleozoic magmatism in different tectonic settings. We attempt to reconstruct the tectono-magmatic evolution of WJT through U–pb analysis of detrital zircons from three modern river sand samples from the Harabura, Baibuxie, and Aletengyemule rivers in the Barleik Mountains of the central WJT. A total of 232 concordant spots show Th/U ratios of 0.14–1.69, typical of igneous origin, and they contain abundant Paleozoic (96%) and few Precambrian (4%) ages, with major age populations at 450–530, 400–430, 320–380, and 265–320 Ma. The first two groups may be derived from the early subduction- and accretion-related magmatic rocks of the WJT, whereas the third group is congruent with magmatic activities related to the final subduction and basin-filling processes within a framework of the remnant Junggar–Balkhash Ocean. By combining with the regional data, the last group of magmatic events is referred to as post-subduction magmatism. The missing Mesozoic–Cenozoic magmatism clearly indicates a pre-Permian closure for the Junggar–Balkhash Ocean, nearly coeval with the closure of other oceans in the southwestern Palaeo-Asian Ocean.     

中国古亚洲域沉积盆地火山岩油气藏储层特征比较及其差异分析

在中国古亚洲域沉积盆地火山岩储层母岩年代和岩性、储集空间类型以及火山岩岩相综合分析的基础上,探讨了火山岩油气藏的储层特征及其差异性。研究表明,中国古亚洲域火山岩储层的母岩发育年代西早东晚,西部的准噶尔、三塘湖和吐哈盆地发育晚古生代海相、海陆交互相的中基性安山岩、玄武岩及火山碎屑岩;东部的松辽、二连和海拉尔盆地发育中生代陆相中酸性流纹岩、安山岩。火山岩原生储集空间包括气孔、孔洞以及冷凝收缩裂缝等;次生储集空间包括各种溶蚀孔及构造裂缝、风化裂缝等。火山岩岩相可分喷出相、火山通道相、次火山相和火山沉积相。其中中基性岩类多以溢流相开始,相序类型为溢流相、爆发相/火山沉积相;中酸性岩类多以爆发相或火山通道相发端,主要相序为爆发相、溢流相/侵出相。溢流相一般发育原生气孔、构造缝;爆发相多为粒间孔,而侵出相以角砾间孔和原生裂缝为主。火山岩储层的差异受多因素影响,包括岩性岩相、喷发环境以及后期构造、成岩作用等。前者奠定火山岩储层形成与分布的基础和储集空间的发育程度;后者则改造储层的储渗性能。     

The high‐K calc‐alkaline Alagoinhas pluton: anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility,geochemistry, emplacement setting,and implications for the evolution of Borborema Province,NE Brazil

The Alagoinhas pluton is a member of the widespread high‐K calc‐alkaline association of northeastern Brazil. Some authors suggest that this region represents an amalgamation of distinct tectonic terranes assembled during the Brasiliano (Pan‐African) orogeny. Our work compares geochemical data (major, trace and REE) of the Alagoinhas with other plutons of same petrotectonic association (Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith). These plutons apparently intrude several distinct tectonic terranes, separated by a major E‐W dextral transcurrent system, the East Pernambuco shear zone (EPSZ). Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and structural data for the Alagoinhas pluton are used to compare tectonic regimes across the EPSZ. The results indicate that the Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith and the Alagoinhas pluton evolved from similar sources and were subjected to the same tectonic regime during emplacement, placing severe restrictions on use of the EPSZ as a suture zone between distinct tectonic terranes.     

Statistical evaluation of tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams for granitic rocks and proposal of new discriminant-function-based multi-dimensional diagrams for acid rocks

The four tectonic discrimination diagrams of Pearce et al. [Journal of Petrology, v. 25, p. 956–983] for granitic rocks were first evaluated using the literature cited by these authors as well as from our new database. The first diagram (Y?Nb) cannot discriminate volcanic-arc and collision settings. Both Y?Nb and Yb?Ta diagrams have an overlapping field for within-plate and ocean-ridge granitoids. The remaining two diagrams (Y?+?Nb?Rb and Yb?+?Ta?Rb) use a mobile element (Rb) in their y-axis. Although these diagrams successfully discriminate volcanic-arc and within-plate granites, they perform less well for collision tectonics. Besides, felsic or acid rocks are scarce in ocean-ridge settings, which limits the usefulness of these diagrams for this geological environment. Therefore, using an extensive database, we proposed a set of five new discriminant-function-based multi-dimensional diagrams for acid magmas from four tectonic settings (island arc, continental arc, continental rift, and collision). The very similar tectonic settings of island and continental arcs are discriminated for the first time. These diagrams are based on correct statistical treatment of compositional data, because they use natural logarithm transformation of major-element ratios and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The use of discordant outlier-free samples prior to LDA improved the success rates by about 3–5%. Success rates of these diagrams as inferred from a testing set were between 76% and 88% for island arc, 60% and 92% for continental arc, and 72% and 84% for both continental rift and collision settings. Finally, application of these new diagrams to case studies not compiled in our initial database used for constructing these diagrams provided the following results: a collision setting for the Himalayas at about 30 Ma; an island arc setting for Quaternary acid rocks from geothermal boreholes in El Salvador; an island- or continental-arc setting for northern Italy at 35–52 Ma; a continental-arc setting for the Italy–Austria border at about 30 Ma; either a rift or a collision setting for northern Nigeria at about 164 Ma; a collision setting for central Nigeria at about 144 Ma and for the Cretaceous Masirah ophiolites of Oman; and an island arc setting for the Cretaceous Semail ophiolites of Oman. In spite of the relative mobility of major elements, these applications suggest utility of the new discrimination diagrams for all four tectonic settings.     

Identification of Archaean plate tectonic processes from multidimensional discrimination diagrams and probability calculations

We applied our group's previously published multidimensional diagrams in 2006–2012 and corresponding probability estimates in 2011–2012 to geochemical data for Archaean rocks compiled from cratons in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and India. Tectonic processes similar to present-day plate tectonics evidently were active at least since the Palaeoarchaean (?3570 Ma). This seems to be true in spite of a presumably hotter Earth at that time. For the eastern part of the Pilbara craton (Australia), a Palaeoarchaean (3570–3450 Ma) and Mesoarchaean (2900 Ma) continental arc setting apparently evolved to a collision (Col) setting during the Neoarchaean (2600 Ma). We infer an island arc (IA) environment for Kambalda (Australia) during the Neoarchaean (2700 Ma). For the Barberton belt (South Africa), a transition from a mid-ocean ridge regime during the older part of the Palaeoarchaean (3470 Ma) to an IA setting during the younger part (3300–3260 Ma) is likely. We inferred an arc environment for the São Francisco craton (Brazil) and the Rio Maria terrane (Brazil) during the Mesoarchaean (3085–2983 Ma and 2870 Ma, respectively), whereas a within-plate setting is clearly indicated for the Carajás metallogenic province (Brazil) during the Neoarchaean (2740–2700 Ma). We also recognize an IA regime for the Mesoarchaean (3000 Ma) North Caribou and Neoarchaean (2700 Ma) Abitibi greenstone belts (Canada), and for the Gadwal greenstone belt (India) during the Neoarchaean (2700–2500 Ma). A Col setting was inferred for the Archaean sanukitoid suite (Canada) and the Kolar suture zone (India) during the Neoarchaean (2700–2660 Ma and 2630–2520 Ma, respectively).     

Mesozoic and early Cenozoic tectonic convergence-to-rifting transition prior to opening of the South China Sea

We have investigated Mesozoic geological problems around the South China Sea (SCS) based on gravimetric, magnetic, seismic, and lithofacies data. Three-dimensional analytical signal amplitudes (ASA) of magnetic anomalies clearly define the inland tectonic boundaries and the residual Mesozoic basins offshore. The ASA suggest that the degree of magmatism and/or the average magnetic susceptibility of igneous rocks increase southeastwards and that late-stage A-type igneous rocks present along the coast of southeast China possess the highest effective susceptibility. The geophysical data define Mesozoic sedimentary and tectonic structures and reveal four major unconformities [Pz/T–J, T–J/J, J/K, and Mesozoic/Cenozoic (Pz, Palaeozic; T, Triassic; J, Jurassic; K, Cretaceous)], corresponding to regional tectonic events revealed by nine palaeogeographic time slices based on prior geological surveys and our new fieldwork. Showing both sedimentary and volcanic facies and regional faults, our palaeogeographic maps confirm an early Mesozoic northwestward-migrating orogeny that gradually obliterated the Tethyan regime, and a middle-to-late Mesozoic southeastward migration and younging in synchronized extension, faulting, and magmatism. Three major phases of marine deposition developed but were subsequently terminated by tectonic compression, uplift, erosion, faulting, rifting, and/or magmatism. The tectonic transition from the Tethyan to Pacific regimes was completed by the end of the Middle Triassic (ca. 220 Ma), reflecting widespread Mesozoic orogeny. The transition from an active to a passive continental margin occurred at the end of the Early Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma); this was accompanied by significant changes in sedimentary environments, due likely to an eastward retreat of the palaeo-Pacific subduction zone and/or to the collision of the West Philippine block with Eurasia. The overall Mesozoic evolution of southeast China comprised almost an entire cycle of orogenic build-up, peneplanation, and later extension, all under the influence of the subducting palaeo-Pacific plate. Continental margin extension and rifting continued into the early Cenozoic, eventually triggering the Oligocene opening of the SCS.     

Subduction of a fossil slow–ultraslow spreading ocean: a petrology-constrained geodynamic model based on the Voltri Massif,Ligurian Alps,Northwest Italy

Slow–ultraslow spreading oceans are mostly floored by mantle peridotites and are typified by rifted continental margins, where subcontinental lithospheric mantle is preserved. Structural and petrologic investigations of the high-pressure (HP) Alpine Voltri Massif ophiolites, which were derived from the Late Jurassic Ligurian Tethys fossil slow–ultraslow spreading ocean, reveal the fate of the oceanic peridotites/serpentinites during subduction to depths involving eclogite-facies conditions, followed by exhumation.

The Ligurian Tethys was formed by continental extension within the Europe–Adria lithosphere and consisted of sea-floor exposed mantle peridotites with an uppermost layer of oceanic serpentinites and of subcontinental lithospheric mantle at the rifted continental margins. Plate convergence caused eastward subduction of the oceanic lithosphere of the Europe plate and the uppermost serpentinite layer of the subducting slab formed an antigorite serpentinite-subduction channel. Sectors of the rather unaltered mantle lithosphere of the Adria extended margin underwent ablative subduction and were detached, embedded, and buried to eclogite-facies conditions within the serpentinite-subduction channel. At such P–T conditions, antigorite serpentinites from the oceanic slab underwent partial HP dehydration (antigorite dewatering and growth of new olivine). Water fluxing from partial dehydration of host serpentinites caused partial HP hydration (growth of Ti-clinohumite and antigorite) of the subducted Adria margin peridotites. The serpentinite-subduction channel (future Beigua serpentinites), acting as a low-viscosity carrier for high-density subducted rocks, allowed rapid exhumation of the almost unaltered Adria peridotites (future Erro–Tobbio peridotites) and their emplacement into the Voltri Massif orogenic edifice. Over in the past 35 years, this unique geologic architecture has allowed us to investigate the pristine structural and compositional mantle features of the subcontinental Erro–Tobbio peridotites and to clarify the main steps of the pre-oceanic extensional, tectonic–magmatic history of the Europe–Adria asthenosphere–lithosphere system, which led to the formation of the Ligurian Tethys.

Our present knowledge of the Voltri Massif provides fundamental information for enhanced understanding, from a mantle perspective, of formation, subduction, and exhumation of oceanic and marginal lithosphere of slow–ultraslow spreading oceans.     

Jurassic–Cretaceous tectonic evolution of Southeast China: geochronological and geochemical constraints of Yanshanian granitoids

We report results of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry-based dating, as well as the analysis of bulk-rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopes to address the genesis and tectonic settings of the Yanshanian granitoids in neighbouring sections of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces (the WZG region) within the Yangtze block. Geochronological results indicate that intense magmatic activity took place during Jurassic to Cretaceous time in the WZG region. Three episodes can be clearly distinguished by their bulk-rock geochemistry. (1) Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids (180–170 Ma) have high Sr and low Yb content, high ?_Nd(t) and low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, and weakly negative Eu anomalies. These granitoids are strongly enriched with LREE, Rb, K, and Th but are depleted of HREE, Nb, and Ta. (2) Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids (165–140 Ma) have relatively low Sr and low Yb contents, as well as low ?_Nd(t) and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, with characteristics similar to those of the Early–Middle Jurassic granitoids in terms of the rare earth element and trace element patterns. (3) Early Cretaceous granitoids (140–120 Ma) have extremely low Sr and high Yb concentrations, as well as high SiO₂ but low MgO, CaO, and Al₂O₃ content, with strong negative anomalies in Eu, Ba, Sr, P, and Ti. These characteristics indicate that the WZG Jurassic granitoids were related to northwestward subduction of the Izanagi plate, whereas the Early Cretaceous granitoids formed in a within-plate extensional setting. The time of transition between the two tectonic environments can be constrained to ～140 Ma. This tectonic transition may be attributed to progressive slab roll-back of the Izanagi plate. The presence of two A-type granite belts in the WZG region probably reflects lithospheric thinning. The NE trend of the A-type granite belts indicates that this extension in Southeast China was controlled by underflow of the Izanagi plate.