The composition of back-arc basin lower crust and upper mantle in the Mariana Trough: A first report

Abstract The Mariana Trough is an active back-arc basin, with the rift propagating northward ahead of spreading. The northern part of the Trough is now rifting, with extension accommodated by combined stretching and igneous intrusion. Deep structural graben are found in a region of low heat flow, and we interpret these to manifest a low-angle normal fault system that defines the extension axis between 19°45' and 21°10'N. A single dredge haul from the deepest (∼5.5 km deep) of these graben recovered a heterogeneous suite of volcanic and plutonic crustal rocks and upper mantle peridotites, providing the first report of the deeper levels of back-arc basin lithosphere. Several lines of evidence indicate that these rocks are similar to typical back-arc basin lithosphere and are not fragments of rifted older arc lithosphere. Hornblende yielded an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 1.8 ± 0.6 Ma, which is interpreted to approximate the time of crust formation. Harzburgite spinels have moderate Cr# (<40) and coexisting compositions of clinopyroxene (CPX) and plagioclase (PLAB) fall in the field of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) gabbros. Crustal rocks include felsic rocks (70-80% SiO₂) and plutonic rocks that are rich in amphibole. Chemical compositions of crustal rocks show little evidence for a 'subduction component', and radiogenic isotopic compositions correspond to that expected for back-arc basin crust of the Mariana Trough. These data indicate that mechanical extension in this part of the Mariana Trough involves lithosphere that originally formed magmatically. These unique exposures of back-arc basin lithosphere call for careful study using ROVs and manned submersibles, and consideration as an ocean drilling program (ODP) drilling site.     

Characteristics of crustal structures in the Yamato Basin,sea of Japan,deduced from seismic explorations

Crustal structures around the Yamato Basin in the southeastern Sea of Japan, inferred from recent ocean bottom seismography (OBS) and active-source seismological studies, are reviewed to elucidate various stages of crustal modification involved from rifting in the crust of the surrounding continental arc to the production of oceanic crust in the Yamato Basin of the back-arc basin. The northern, central, and southern areas of the Yamato Basin have crustal thicknesses of approximately 12–16 km, and lowermost crusts with P-wave velocities greater than 7.2 km/s. Very few units have P-wave velocities in the range 5.4–6.0 km/s, which corresponds to the continental upper crust. These findings, combined with previous geochemical analysis of basalt samples, are interpreted to indicate that a thick oceanic crust has been formed in these areas of the basin, and that this oceanic crust has been underplated by mantle-derived magma. In the central Yamato Basin, the original continental crust has been fully breached and oceanic crust has been formed. Conversely, the presence of a unit corresponding to the continental upper crust and the absence of a high-velocity part in the lower crust implies that the southwestern edge of the Yamato Basin has a rifted crust without significant intrusion. The Oki Trough has a crust that is 17–19 km thick with a high-velocity lower crust and a unit corresponding to the continental upper crust. The formation of the Oki Trough resulted from rifting with magmatic intrusion and/or underplating. We interpret these variations in the crustal characteristics of the Yamato Basin area as reflecting various instances of crustal modification by thinning and magmatic intrusion due to back-arc extension, resulting in the production of a thick oceanic crust in the basin.     

Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe U-Pb ages of the Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene rift-related Hidaka high-temperature metamorphism in Hokkaido, northern Japan

Abstract   In order to define the timing of granulite facies metamorphism, sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb analyses were performed on zircons of three pelitic granulites from the lower metamorphic sequence of the Hidaka Metamorphic Belt, southern central Hokkaido, Japan. Both rounded and prismatic zircons were found in the granulite samples. The rounded zircons had thin (10–20 µm) concentric overgrowth rims on detrital cores, while the prismatic zircons did not have detrital cores. Both the overgrowth rims on the rounded zircons and the entire prismatic zircons were formed under granulite facies metamorphism and consistently yield Latest Oligocene–Early Miocene ages (23.7 ± 0.4 Ma to 17.2 ± 0.5 Ma; ²⁰⁶Pb/ ²³⁸U ages ( n  = 31) with low Th/U ratios, mostly <0.1). The internal structure of zircons and their SHRIMP U-Pb ages provide strong evidence in support of the granulite facies event occurring during the Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene. The detrital cores of rounded zircons show a huge variety of ages; Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic, Paleozoic to Mesozoic and Paleogene. The interior and marginal portions of the Eurasian continent including cratonic areas are suggested for their source provenances. These wide variations in age suggest that the protolith of the granulites of the lower metamorphic sequence were deposited near the trench of the Eurasian continental margin during Paleogene. The protolith of the lower metamorphic sequence of the Hidaka metamorphic belt was thrust under the upper metamorphic sequence, which had already been metamorphosed in early Paleogene. The Latest Oligocene-Early Miocene Hidaka high-temperature metamorphic event is presumed to have been caused by asthenospheric upwelling during back-arc rifting of the Kuril and Japan basins.     

Fault growth and interactions in a multiphase rift fault network: Horda Platform,Norwegian North Sea

Physical models predict that multiphase rifts that experience a change in extension direction between stretching phases will typically develop non-colinear normal fault sets. Furthermore, multiphase rifts will display a greater frequency and range of styles of fault interactions than single-phase rifts. Although these physical models have yielded useful information on the evolution of fault networks in map view, the true 3D geometry of the faults and associated interactions are poorly understood. Here, we use an integrated 3D seismic reflection and borehole dataset to examine a range of fault interactions that occur in a natural multiphase fault network in the northern Horda Platform, northern North Sea. In particular we aim to: i) determine the range of styles of fault interaction that occur between non-colinear faults; ii) examine the typical geometries and throw patterns associated with each of these different styles; and iii) highlight the differences between single-phase and multiphase rift fault networks. Our study focuses on a ca. 350 km² region around the >60 km long, N–S-striking Tusse Fault, a normal fault system that was active in the Permian–Triassic and again in the Late Jurassic-to-Early Cretaceous. The Tusse Fault is one of a series of large (>1500 m throw) N–S-striking faults forming part of the northern Horda Platform fault network, which includes numerous smaller (2–10 km long), lower throw (<100 m), predominantly NW–SE-striking faults that were only active during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. We examine how the 2^nd-stage NW–SE-striking faults grew, interacted and linked with the N–S-striking Tusse Fault, documenting a range of interaction styles including mechanical and kinematic isolation, abutment, retardation and reactivated relays. Our results demonstrate that: i) isolated, and abutting interactions are the most common fault interaction styles in the northern Horda Platform; ii) pre-existing faults can act as sites of nucleation for 2^nd-stage faults or may form mechanical barriers to propagation; iii) the throw distribution on reactivated 1^st-stage faults will be modified in a predictable manner if they are intersected or influenced by 2^nd-stage faults; iv) sites of fault linkage and relay-breaching associated with the first phase of extension can act as preferential nucleation sites for 2^nd-stage faults; and v) the development of fault intersections is a dynamic process, involving the gradual transition from one style to another.     

宽裂谷的构造样式与成因机制

宽裂谷是一类重要的大陆伸展构造样式,野外工作与物理模拟、数值模拟相结合是研究宽裂谷构造样式的主要方法。国外学者对宽裂谷进行了较多研究,集中于其形成与持续时间、构造样式、岩浆活动特征等方面。试图在广泛的国内外文献综合分析的基础上,介绍宽裂谷的定义及其构造特征,通过盆岭省和爱琴海盆地的地质剖面验证宽裂谷构造样式,进而分析其成因机制。宽裂谷的形成受控于区域性的低角度拆离面,它同时控制了变质核杂岩的发育,拆离面之上发育高角度断层控制的掀斜断块。控制宽裂谷构造样式的参数主要有:伸展应变速率及地壳组成、初始的地壳厚度和岩石圈热状态、岩石圈的机械不稳定程度、岩石圈抗张强度与重力的对比关系。动力学机制上,宽裂谷可能主要由被动裂谷成因机制控制;运动学机制上,宽裂谷通常由简单剪切或简单剪切与纯剪分层拆离机制控制。以期对认识中国东北地区宽裂谷系统的构造样式与成因提供帮助。     

Petrogenesis and significance of early Yanshanian syenite-granite complex in eastern Nanling Range

According to the statistics for granitoid distribution map of 1/2000000 Nanling region[1], the granitoids in the Nanling region sum up an area of more than 170000 km2, occupying about one fifth of the entire Nanling region. Granitoid rocks in the Nanlingregion are mainly composed of monzogranites (occu- pying more than 84%), granodiorites (about 11%) and syenogranites (about 3%)[2]. There also exists a small amount of syenites (0.12%) with a sum area of about 94 km2[2]. However, nearly half …     

Isotope geochemistry of Pantelleria volcanic fluids, Sicily Channel rift: a mantle volatile end-member for volcanism in southern Europe

Chemical and isotopic ratio (He, C, H and O) analysis of hydrothermal manifestations on Pantelleria island, the southernmost active volcano in Italy, provides us with the first data upon mantle degassing through the Sicily Channel rift zone, south of the African–European collision plate boundary. We find that Pantelleria fluids contain a CO₂–He-rich gas component of mantle magmatic derivation which, at shallow depth, variably interacts with a main thermal (100°C) aquifer of mixed marine–meteoric water. The measured ³He/⁴He ratios and δ¹³C of both the free gases (4.5–7.3 R_a and −5.8 to −4.2‰, respectively) and dissolved helium and carbon in waters (1.0–6.3 R_a and −7.1 to −0.9‰), together with their covariation with the He/CO₂ ratio, constrain a ³He/⁴He ratio of 7.3±0.1 R_a and a δ¹³C of ca. −4‰ for the magmatic end-member. These latter are best preserved in fluids emanating inside the active caldera of Pantelleria, in agreement with a higher heat flow across this structure and other indications of an underlying crustal magma reservoir. Outside the caldera, the magmatic component is more affected by air dilution and, at a few sites, by mixing with either organic carbon and/or radiogenic ⁴He leached from the U–Th-rich trachytic host rocks of the aquifer. Pantelleria magmatic end-member is richer in ³He and has a lower (closer to MORB) δ¹³C than all fluids yet analyzed in volcanic regions of Italy and southern Europe, including Mt. Etna in Sicily (6.9±0.2 R_a, δ¹³C=−3±1‰). This observation is consistent with a south to north increasing imprint of subducted crustal material in the products of Italian volcanoes, whose He and C (but also O and Sr) isotopic ratios gradually evolve towards crustal values northward of the African–Eurasian plate collision boundary. Our results for Pantelleria extend this regional isotopic pattern further south and suggest the presence of a slightly most pristine or ‘less contaminated’, ³He-richer mantle source beneath the Sicily Channel rift zone. The lower than MORB ³He/⁴He ratio but higher than MORB CO₂/³He ratio of Pantelleria volatile end-member are compatible with petro-geochemical evidence that this mantle source includes an upwelling HIMU–EM1-type asthenospheric plume component whose origin, according to recent seismic data, may be in the lower mantle.     

南大巴山前陆褶皱带荆竹坝—石窝剖面磁组构特征及其对构造演化的制约

通过野外构造观测、岩石磁学与磁组构综合分析,本文研究了南大巴山前陆褶皱带荆竹坝—石窝剖面的叠加构造特征及其形成演化.从北东向南西,剖面构造变形总体呈减弱趋势,褶皱轴面总体倾向北东,大尺度褶皱枢纽均以小角度向北西倾伏.古应力分析显示最大主压应力为北东—南西向,反映以南大巴山的推覆为主.剖面J3之前的采样层位主要表现为变形组构,而J3-K1的采样层位则表现为初始弱变形组构.磁线理呈NW-SE向的优势方位,与剖面主构造线基本平行,主要反映来自南大巴山的推覆挤压.剖面发育特殊磁组构：①磁面理与地层面斜交,主要与褶皱作用中的平行层简单剪切相关;②磁线理均不同程度斜交于地层走向,指示构造叠加背景.沿剖面北东向南西区段Kmin的倾伏角随构造变形强度减弱而增大,据此相关性可将Kmin的倾伏角作为判别弱变形沉积岩变形强度的标志.本文认为,在晚侏罗世以南大巴山的推覆为主而米仓山短轴背斜与川东褶皱带挤压次之的联合作用使南大巴山前陆褶皱带具有构造叠加特征,之后的早白垩世仍主要表现为南大巴山的推覆,而其他两个方向的挤压较之前相对较弱.该结果也反映了秦岭J3-K1陆内造山作用及燕山期雪峰陆内构造变形的影响,为探索陆内构造与陆内造山的大陆动力学提供了佐证.     

东北亚断陷盆地系与北美西部盆岭省伸展作用对比

与北美西部盆岭省相比,东北亚新陷盆地系是一独具有特色的大陆裂陷作用区,该断陷盆地系发育于晚中生代期间,以巨大的规模,复杂的动力学背景和伴有一套大陆边缘扩张型火山岩组合为特征。东北亚断陷盆地系发育于宽裂陷作用背景之下,盆地拉伸率较低,但沉降较深,蕴藏有巨大的能源资源,是我国东部重要的煤和油气探领域。     

恒山绿岩带的构造特征—晚太古代大陆裂谷作用证据

恒山太古宙绿岩带呈断片或复式向形穿插于片麻岩基底内，绿岩带地层连续性较好，可以恢复出完整的沉积－火山地层序列。主要经历二期变形，早期逆冲褶皱变形和晚期右旋走滑变形。为绿帘角闪岩相－角闪岩相变质。构造恢复表明，绿岩带的形成明显晚于基底，并整合其上，且在其演化过程中对基底产生叠加影响，最合适的构造环境为大陆裂谷，在大陆裂谷闭合过程中。绿岩带及克拉通基底曾发生双向的逆冲作用，基底发生重新活动，并且受到开裂时形成的正断层的控制。当裂谷闭合到一定程度，由于受北部刚性基底的制约，横向挤压不再能调节压应力时，发生了右旋走滑变形，并使早先构造线向ＮＥＥ－ＥＷ向偏转。恒山绿岩带对应于五台山区、太行山北段、灵丘南山等地的五台群，有力地证明绿岩带形成于太古代末期－早元古代陆内裂谷环境，代表华北克技通演化过程中的重要事件，标志着晚太古代华北克拉通已达到相当大的规模，并发生ＮＥ向的刚性破裂。