Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the Neogene coral reefs,Xisha Islands,South China Sea: implications for tectonic evolution

The Xisha Block is a minor one in the South China Sea and an important tectonic unit in the northwestern part of the region. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages for three volcanic intrusive core samples from Xike-1, an exploratory well penetrating the bioherms of the Xisha Islands. The core samples are from the Miocene reef carbonate bedrock and are recognized as dark-gray biotite-hornblende gabbro, gray fine-grained biotite diorite, and gray fine-grained granite, respectively. Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images and trace Th, U and Pb compositions of the zircons show that these rocks are of volcanic intrusive origin. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating yielded six groups of ages, ranging from 2451-1857 Ma to early Cretaceous, which indicate that the formation and evolution of the Xisha Block was affected by the evolution and closure of Neotethys Ocean, probably within its eastern extension into South China Sea. Both old, deep-sourced material, including fragments from Rodina supercontinent, and recent mantle-derived magma products contributed to the emergence and formation of the Xisha block. The SHRIMP U-Pb results also proved that this process differed from that of the Kontum massif, the Hainan Block, and the South China Block, but is similar to that of the Nansha and Zhongsha blocks. The process was associated with the effects of Yanshanian magmatism induced by subduction mechanisms of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or the reworking of the multiple magmatisms since the Early to mid-Yanshanian, possibly jointly experienced by the Xisha-Zhongsha-Nansha Block.     

早古生代阿拉善地块与华北地块之间的关系:来自阿拉善东缘中奥陶统碎屑锆石的信息

阿拉善东缘奥陶纪地层位于鄂尔多斯(华北地块)与北祁连早古生代造山带之间的过渡地区,该区的构造背景一直是长期争论的问题,它涉及到阿拉善地块是否与华北地块相连、奥陶系的物源以及"贺兰拗拉槽"是否存在等问题。分布于阿拉善地块东缘的中奥陶统米钵山组的碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb年龄测试表明,样品中数量最多的锆石年龄为900～950Ma,Alxa-1的峰值年龄为916Ma,Alxa-2的峰值年龄为953Ma,次者在494～623Ma之间,这个区间内存在多个峰值,如Alxa-1存在505Ma和588Ma两个主要峰值,Alxa-2则存在494Ma、517Ma、623Ma等几个峰值。在2.5Ga左右两个样品都存在一个弱的峰值,Alxa-1峰值为2517Ma,而Alxa-2峰值为2552Ma和2670Ma。除此之外,两个样品都有个别大于3.0Ga的成分,Alxa-1样品中最年轻的锆石为451±8Ma,Alxa-2样品则为483±4Ma。这些年龄以及沉积特征表明:(1)传统认为的奥陶纪"贺兰拗拉槽"并不存在,鄂尔多斯西南缘地区以及阿拉善东部地区当时属于北祁连早古生代周缘前陆盆地系统;(2)早古生代主要物源来自北祁连造山带,新元古代物源来自阿拉善地块;(3)鄂尔多斯西缘整个米钵山组的锆石年龄分布及其变化,指示出北祁连造山带(岛弧)逐渐靠近阿拉善地块,其间洋盆逐渐消失的过程;(4)阿拉善地块基底与华北有明显差别,阿拉善地块明显受到新元古代和古生代构造热事件的影响,两者可能是在中奥陶世或之后才拼贴在一起。     

思茅地块西缘大凹子组地层序列及地质时代

目前关于思茅地块西缘大凹子组的形成时代仍有分歧.在思茅地块西缘大中河剖面采集了硅质岩、砂岩、凝灰岩和玄武岩,通过放射虫组合和锆石U-Pb年龄方法,厘定其地质时代,并结合区域资料恢复地层序列.通过详细剖面实测,发现该剖面由6个地层断片组成:第一、四断片以含放射虫硅质岩为特征,放射虫组合指示其时代为晚泥盆世至早石炭世早期;第二、五断片以火山碎屑岩、具有鲍玛序列沉积特征的火山碎屑沉积岩为主,锆石U-Pb同位素年龄指示其时代为志留纪中期至早泥盆世;第三、六断片以火山岩沉积为特征,锆石U-Pb同位素年龄指示其时代为志留纪早期.结合前人资料认为思茅地块西缘分布的海相火山岩、碎屑岩和含放射虫硅质岩地层层序代表了志留纪到早石炭世早期的岛弧火山-沉积地层序列.     

Formation and Evolution of Early Precambrian Continental Crust in Alxa Block

By the analysis of the published zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope data, this paper firstly presents a comprehensive review about the staggered growth and reworking of early Precambrian continental crust in Alxa Block. The results show that the ancient crustal remnants of Alxa Block was formed in Meso-Paleo Archean, which was recorded by 3.0~3.6 Ga detrital zircons and Hf model ages. The early crustal growth of Alxa Block could be traced back to early Paleo-archean. Currently, the oldest zircon U-Pb age is about 3.6 Ga. Analogous to the other places of North China Craton, the Alxa Block underwent two-stage crustal growth at 2.7~2.9 Ga and 2.5~2.6 Ga respectively, and the former might be wider. The ~2.5 Ga (TTG) tectono-magmatic event, which represents the North China continent’s cratonization, also existed in Alxa Block. The corresponding zircon Hf isotope data indicate that the TTGs were mainly derived by melting of 2.7~2.9 Ga juvenile crust, possibly by mixing with a certain ancient crust, and a small portion was produced by instant reworking of 2.5~2.6 Ga juvenile crust. Proceeding to Paleo-proterozoic, the Alxa Block underwent multi-stage tectono-magmatic events, approximately peaked at 2.30~2.35 Ga, 2.15~2.17 Ga, 2.00~2.10 Ga, 1.95~1.98 Ga and ~1.90 Ga. The continental crust was mainly formed by reworking of 2.7~2.9 Ga and 2.5~2.6 Ga juvenile crust, simultaneously by a fraction of ~2.1 Ga juvenile crust. In Paleo-proterozoic, not only the Archean crustal reworking but also the juvenile crustal growth existed in Alxa Block.     

Evolution of the Proto-Tethys in the Baoshan block along the East Gondwana margin: constraints from early Palaeozoic magmatism

Zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical and isotopic data for Late Ordovician granites in the Baoshan Block reveal the early Palaeozoic tectonic evolution of the margin of East Gondwana. The granites are high-K, calc-alkaline, metaluminous to strongly peraluminous rocks with A/CNK values of 0.93–1.18, are enriched in SiO₂, K₂O, and Rb, and depleted in Nb, P, Ti, Eu, and heavy rare earth elements, which indicates the crystallization fractionation of the granitic magma. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that they formed at ca. 445 Ma. High initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.719761–0.726754, negative ?_Nd(t) values of –6.6 to –8.3, and two-stage model ages of 1.52–1.64 Ga suggest a crustal origin, with the magmas derived from the partial melting of ancient metagreywacke at high temperature. A synthesis of data for the early Palaeozoic igneous rocks in the Baoshan Block and adjacent Tengchong Block indicates two stages of flare-up of granitic and mafic magmatism caused by different tectonic settings along the East Gondwana margin. Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician granitic rocks (ca. 490 Ma) were produced when underplated mafic magmas induced crustal melting along the margin of East Gondwana related to the break-off of subducted Proto-Tethyan oceanic slab. In addition, the cession of the mafic magmatism between late Cambrian-Early Ordovician and Late Ordovician could have been caused by the collision of the Baoshan Block and outward micro-continent along the margin of East Gondwana and crust and lithosphere thickening. The Late Ordovician granites in the Baoshan Block were produced in an extensional setting resulting from the delamination of an already thickened crust and lithospheric mantle followed by the injection of synchronous mafic magma.     

辽北西丰地区宝兴岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及岩石地球化学特征

宝兴岩体位于华北板块北缘陆缘活动带东段,岩性为花岗闪长岩,LA-ICP-MS锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值为235.0±1.3Ma,属于中三叠世。岩石的K_2O/Na_2O平均值为1.07,属高钾钙碱性系列;富集大离子亲石元素,亏损高场强元素,具有活动陆缘钙碱性岩系特征;稀土元素总量平均值为147×10~(-6),稀土元素配分曲线右倾,属具中等负Eu异常的轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损型。通过岩石学、岩石地球化学及年代学研究,结合邻区构造演化研究,认为中三叠世研究区在伸展作用下岩石圈进行拆沉,从而形成大规模的岩浆活动。     

Possible spatial variability in the Selwyn Block of Central Victoria: evidence from Late Devonian felsic igneous rocks

The Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Selwyn Block in Central Victoria forms the mainly unexposed basement to the Paleozoic metasediments, granitic rocks and felsic volcanic complexes of the Melbourne Zone of the Lachlan Orogen. The Late Devonian felsic rocks are largely products of partial melting of the Selwyn Block, and their chemistry implies that their sources were most probably arc-related andesite, dacite, volcaniclastic greywackes and some pelites. When plotted against the median longitudes of the plutons and volcanic complexes, the average values for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_t and ?Nd_t (at 370 Ma) reveal broad trends interpreted to reflect possible compositional and/or age structure in the Selwyn Block. Assuming that the trends are real, from W to E, I-type sources are progressively less crustally evolved, probably younging eastward. The S-type sources show no trend in ?Nd_t, suggesting that there was efficient sediment mixing. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_t values, however, become more evolved eastward (opposite in sense to the apparent variation in the I-type sources). This is interpreted as the original Selwyn Block sediments having been more pelitic eastward, perhaps suggesting a deepening of the basin in this direction, as well as structurally upward in the succession. The opposite senses of variation highlights the spatial separation of the S- and I-type sources and suggest that the granitic magmas here are unlikely to represent any sort of mixing continuum.     

Paleomagnetism of the Carboniferous Rouchel Block,Tamworth Belt,and pole path revision for the New England Orogen,eastern Australia

Structural, magnetic and gravity trends of the southern New England Orogen (SNEO) indicate four oroclinal structures, none conclusively confirmed paleomagnetically. Curved structures of the Tamworth Belt (TB)—a continental forearc exposed across six tectono-stratigraphic blocks with interlinked Carboniferous stratigraphies and extensive ignimbritic rocks known to retain primary magnetisations despite prevalent overprinting—are prospective to oroclinal testing through comparison of Carboniferous pole paths for individual blocks. Pole paths (a) have been established for the Rocky Creek and Werrie blocks (northwestern/western TB), (b) are described herein for the Rouchel Block (southwestern TB), and (c) are forthcoming for the Gresford and Myall blocks (southern/southeastern TB). The Rouchel path derives from detailed paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric studies. Thermal, alternating field and liquid nitrogen demagnetisations show a low-temperature overprint, attributed to late Oligocene weathering, and high-temperature (HT) primary and overprint components in both magnetite and hematite carriers, showing slight, systematic, directional differences with hematite providing the better cleaned site poles. Seven primary mean-site poles of Tournaisian and mainly Visean age and three overprint poles show six positive fold tests, five at 95% or higher confidence levels. Two dispersed groupings of intermediate (IT) and HT overprint site poles of Permian and Permo-Triassic age are attributed to early and late phases in oroclinal evolution of the SNEO. HT and IT/HT overprint site poles of mid-Carboniferous age are attributed to Variscan Australia–Asia convergence. Individual pole paths for the Rocky Creek, Werrie and Rouchel blocks show no noticeable rotation between them, indicating primary curvature for the southwestern TB. Their integrated SNEO pole path establishes a reference frame for determining rotations of the southern and southeastern TB.     

锆石Hf和全岩Nd同位素填图研究进展:以三江特提斯造山带为例

近年来,区域性的Nd-Hf同位素填图正成为探索岩石圈结构和演化,制约陆块边界位置和壳-幔相互作用以及它们与金属成矿作用耦合关系的重要研究方法。目前的研究主要集中于中国的拉萨地体以及澳大利亚太古宙尤冈克拉通,包括地体地壳性质与空间变化规律、成矿系统约束和区域找矿潜力等方面。本文以三江特提斯造山带为例,使用克里格插值法在MAPGIS平台完成同位素等值线图,基此解析三江地区岩石圈结构以及大规模成矿作用。Nd-Hf同位素填图支持昌宁-孟连缝合带为冈瓦纳和泛华夏古陆的分界。昌宁-孟连缝合带划分了两个εNd(t)同位素明显不同的异常区,缝合带以西表现为古老地壳基地组成,而缝合带以东部表现为较年轻的地体。三江特提斯造山带中不同类型与岩浆岩有关的发矿床大多汇聚在同位素边界处,这些同位素边界可能代表着地体边界或缝合带、岩浆弧。沿金沙江-哀牢山缝合带分布的斑岩型或斑岩-矽卡岩型Cu-(Mo)矿床,具有高εHf(t)正值和较高εNd(t)负值的特征,对应始新世钾质斑岩及有关的矿化。在腾冲-保山地块、义敦岛弧和临沧次地块,具有低εHf(t),低εNd(t)值岩浆岩分布特征,主要形成与过铝质花岗岩型有关的锡-钨矿床。因此,我们认为区域尺度的同位素填图对研究岩石圈结构和演化、解剖壳-幔相互作用机理、解析深部动力学机制和成矿机制、总结区域成矿规律和指导区域成矿潜力具有重要意义。     

拉萨地块林芝杂岩体石榴角闪岩的地球化学特征和年代学研究

本文对位于青藏高原拉萨地体东南缘林芝杂岩中的两类石榴角闪岩进行了详细的地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究。这两类石榴角闪岩分别为硅不饱和的含十字石石榴角闪岩和硅饱和的含石英石榴角闪岩。含十字石石榴角闪岩矿物组合为十字石、石榴子石、角闪石、钠云母、绿泥石、斜长石。石英石榴角闪岩矿物组合为石榴子石、角闪石、石英、斜长石、黑云母。岩石学及变质相平衡研究表明两类石榴角闪岩均经历了高压角闪岩相变质作用。含十字石石榴角闪岩和石英石榴角闪岩具有MORB的地球化学特征,锆石U-Pb年代学分析获得了800~200 Ma的206Pb/238U年龄范围,出现了~430 Ma、~268 Ma和~216 Ma年龄峰值。~430 Ma年龄可能和拉萨地体岩浆活动有关,~268 Ma变质年龄和~216 Ma变质年龄和拉萨地块经历的高压变质作用有关。其中~268 Ma年龄和拉萨地块内部松多高压带榴辉岩的峰期变质年龄一致,而~216 Ma年龄和榴辉岩的围岩含石榴子石片岩年龄一致。对比该区域的年代学研究成果,这表明林芝杂岩体不仅经历了中新生代的变质和岩浆再造活动,还经历了古特提斯洋闭合,南北拉萨地块发生碰撞的晚二叠世的高压变质作用和三叠纪的中压变质作用。