Geology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Significance of Mafic-ultramafic Rocks of Mesoproterozoic Phulad Ophiolite Suite of South Delhi Fold Belt, NW Indian Shield

A thick sequence of mafic-ultramafic rocks, occurs along a major shear zone (Phulad lineament), running across the length of Aravalli Mountain Range for about 300 kms. It has been suggested, that this sequence may represent a fragment of ophiolite or a rift related metavolcanic suite made up of basalts and fractionated ultramafics. The geological and tectonic significance of the complex is assessed using field relationships, petrography and geochemistry. Structurally, the lowest part of the complex comprises a discontinuous band of plastically deformed harzburgite (mantle component) followed by layered cumulus gabbroic rocks (crustal component). A complex of non-cumulus rocks comprising hornblende schists, gabbros, sheeted dykes and pillowed basalts structurally overlies layered gabbros. Huge bodies of diorite intrude volcanics.

Geochemical classification suggests that all non-cumulus mafic rocks are sub-alkaline basalts except one variety of dykes which shows mildly alkaline character. The sub-alkaline rocks are tholeiite to calc-alkaline with boninite affinity. Tectono-magmatic variation diagrams and MORB normalised patterns suggest a fore arc tectonic regime for the eruption of these rocks.

The mafic rocks of Phulad Ophiolite Suite are zoned across the strike in terms of their distribution from west to east. The hornblende schists and basalts are exposed at the westernmost margin followed by gabbros and dykes. The alkaline dyke occurs at the easternmost part. The rocks of Phulad suite are juxtaposed with shallow water sediments in the east followed by platformal sediments and then continental slope sediments in the further east indicating gradual thickening of the crust from west to east and an eastward subduction. The geochemical interpretation presented in this study, together with discussion of lithological association is used to decipher the tectonic evolution of the Mesoproterozoics of NW Indian shield.     

天津蓟县中元古界高于庄组中臼齿状构造的层序地层位置及其成因的初步研究

天津蓟县剖面的中元古界高于庄组为一套厚度约为1 600m的碳酸盐岩地层，包括四个段：第一段以潮坪相叠层石白云岩为主；第二段主要为含锰白云岩；第三段发育较多的纹理化石灰岩和泥晶灰岩；第四段则以叠层石岩礁（叠层石生物丘和生物层）的发育为特点。根据岩相到岩相序列可在该套碳酸盐岩地层中识别出L-M型、潮下型、环潮坪型米级旋回层序。根据米级旋回层序的有序垂直叠加形式所反映出的沉积相序列可以把高于庄组划分为13个三级层序（SQ₁至SQ₁₃），并进一步归为4个二级层序。在以灰岩为主的高于庄组第三段中，其中的第三个三级层序（SQ₁₁）中部的灰岩层中发育臼齿状构造。这种臼齿状构造以特别的形态、富含有机质、易硅化等特点可能表明了前寒武纪碳酸盐岩沉积作用的一些基本特征：第一、在浅水环境中发育叠层石而在较深水环境（中缓坡）中发育臼齿状构造，臼齿状构造就象叠层石一样是一种极为特别的与生物沉积作用相关的沉积构造；第二、在发育叠层石的潮坪环境中有利于发生白云石化作用，发育臼齿状构造的地层则以灰岩为主，这从一个侧面反映了前寒武纪白云岩似乎又不是原生白云岩。实际上，这些特征本身即代表了一些前寒武纪沉积学问题，随着研究的深入对这些问题将会得出更加接近自然事实的答案。     

燕山中段南麓蓟县北部常州沟-杨庄一带地质构造基本特征

在燕山中段南麓的蓟县北部山区有着中国国家地质公园，中国北方中-新元古代正层型剖面标志碑就耸立在那里。对这一地区基本地质事实和地质体真实位态的研究，不仅关系着对华北地区晚前寒武纪标准剖面可靠性的评价，也关系着燕山运动命名地的基本地壳结构的合理解析和我国北方中生代以来构造一岩浆活动序列的正确建立。本文展示的基础地质调查成果可揭示：蓟县北部常州沟-杨庄一带的地质结构构造远不是我国大多数地学学者们对此描述的那样简单。调查区约200km。面积可代表燕山中段南麓的大面积中-新元古界分布区的基本地质结构构造特征。已识别出的18条断层和由其限制的21个以上构造岩片的现实位态表明，该地区地壳上部是由多个复杂地块堆叠构成的，主体构造形成于燕山晚期，在形成方式上以大规模多次不同方向运移的薄皮构造岩片叠覆为主要特征。     

朝鲜半岛平南盆地中元古代岩浆事件

朝鲜平南盆地翁津地区发育中元古代黄海群和同时期(称之为瓮津期)花岗岩,花岗岩体侵入于黄海群。本文采用锆石原位微区U-Pb定年技术,对黄海群中的酸性火山岩及花岗岩进行了年龄测试。获得的数据表明,黄海群中下部层位及上部层位的酸性火山岩分别在1235±5Ma和1203±7Ma喷发,由此说明黄海群的沉积时代应为中元古代,而不是传统上认为的古元古代;两个翁津期花岗岩体(翁津和黄衣山岩体)的侵位年龄分别为1251±22Ma和1248±13Ma,为中元古代花岗质岩浆活动的产物。上述1251~1203Ma年龄的获得,表明朝鲜半岛发育中元古代岩浆作用,从而明确朝鲜黄海裂谷与华北东缘裂谷在时间上具有同期性,同时也表明中国华北与朝鲜在中元古代具有类似的发展历史。     

Mesoproterozoic Fraser Complex: Geochemical evidence for multiple subduction‐related sources of lower crustal rocks in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

The 1300 Ma Fraser Complex in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen of Western Australia is a thrust stack of mainly gabbroic rocks metamorphosed to granulite facies. This package of fault‐bounded units was elevated from a deep crustal level onto the margin of the Yilgarn Craton during continental collision between the Mawson and Yilgarn Cratons. Incompatible trace‐element distributions demand at least three mantle sources. Primitive‐mantle‐normalised incompatible‐element distributions show strong negative Ta–Nb anomalies, typical of subduction‐derived magmas. Three lines of evidence indicate that the mafic magmas did not acquire these anomalies by assimilation of crustal rocks: (i) major‐element compositions do not allow appreciable contamination with felsic material; (ii) Ni contents of many mafic rocks are too high for a significant contribution from a felsic assimilant; and (iii) Sr and Nd isotopic data support a largely juvenile source for the magmas that produced the Fraser Complex. Hence, the Ta–Nb anomalies are interpreted to reflect subduction‐related magmatic sources. On multielement diagrams, depletions in Sr, Eu, P, and Ti can be explained by fractional crystallisation, whereas Th and Rb depletions in many of the Fraser Complex rocks probably reflect losses during granulite‐facies metamorphism. These results suggest that the lower crust in this region at 1300 Ma was dominantly of arc origin, and there is no evidence to support mantle plume components. The Fraser Complex is interpreted as remnants of oceanic arcs that were swept together and tectonically interleaved with the margin of the Mawson Craton just before, or during, collision with the Yilgarn Craton at 1300 Ma.     

Matt Wilson structure: record of an impact event of possible Early Mesoproterozoic age,Northern Territory

The Matt Wilson structure is a circular 5.5 km-diameter structure in Early Mesoproterozoic or Neoproterozoic rocks of the Victoria Basin, Northern Territory. It lies in regionally horizontal to gently dipping Wondoan Hill and Stubb Formations (Tijunna Group) and Jasper Gorge Sandstone (Auvergne Group). An outer circumferential syncline with dips of 5?–?40° in the limbs surrounds an intermediate zone with faulted sandstone displaying horizontal to low dips, and a central steeply dipping zone about 1.5 km across. Several thrust faults in the outer syncline appear to indicate outward-directed forces. The central zone, marked by steeply dipping to overturned Tijunna Group and possibly Bullita Group sandstone and mudstone, indicates uplift of at least 300 m. The rocks are intensely fractured with some brecciation, and contain numerous planar to subtly undulating surfaces displaying striae which resemble shatter cleavage. Thin-sections of sandstone from the central area show zones of intense microbrecciation and irregular and planar fractures in quartz, but no melt-rocks have been identified. The planar fractures occur in multiple intersecting parallel sets typical of relatively low-level (5?–?10 GPa) shock-pressure effects. Alternative mechanisms, i.e. igneous intrusion, carbonate collapse, diapirism and regional deformation processes, have been discounted. The circular nature, central uplift, faulting, shatter features and planar fractures are all consistent with an impact origin. The Matt Wilson structure is most likely a deeply eroded impact structure in which the more highly shocked rocks of the original crater floor have been removed by erosion. Estimates of the age of the Auvergne and Tijunna Groups range from Early Mesoproterozoic (which we favour) to Late Neoproterozoic. Early Cambrian Antrim Plateau Volcanics near the impact structure show no signs of impact effects, allowing the age of impact to be constrained between Early Mesoproterozoic and Early Cambrian. The presence of widespread soft-sediment deformation features, apparently confined to a single horizon in the Saddle Creek Formation some 700?–?1000 m stratigraphically higher in the Auvergne Group than the rocks at the impact site, and apparently increasing in thickness towards the Matt Wilson structure, lead us to speculate that this probable event horizon is related to the impact event: if correct the impact occurred during deposition of the Saddle Creek Formation.     

梵净山区格林威尔期造山带与Rodinia超大陆

贵州梵净山区有保存完好、发育齐全的中元古代的地质记录 ,是扬子陆块晚前寒武地质研究的理想场所和重要窗口。现有地质和同位素年代学等资料表明 ,该区存在格林威尔期造山带 ,其形成时间为ca 10 0 0Ma±。它同原始江南造山带一起成为华南Rodinia超大陆的组成部分 ;对其进行探讨 ,必将促进我国Rodinia超大陆聚合、裂解及其演化的研究 ,并具有重大的科学意义。     

贺兰山中元古代三个叠层石组合及其地层意义

贺兰山原划归蓟县系王全口群中、下部的碳酸盐岩中新建立了两个叠层石组合 ,即下部以 Colonnella sp.、Gaoyuzhuangia sp.、Conophyton garganicum、C.cf.cylindricum等锥叠层石和块茎状柱叠层石为代表的闵家沟组合 ,其属种和总体面貌与长城系高于庄叠层石组合较为相似 ;中部以 L ochmecolumella和 Pseudogymnosolen等微小类型叠层石为代表的冰沟叠层石组合 ,其特征与蓟县系雾迷山叠层石组合完全一致。同时通过对王全口组叠层石分子的全面分析 ,判定王全口叠层石组合的时代应是蓟县纪中、晚期 ,其底界不低于雾迷山组底部。据此 ,重新厘定了贺兰山地区中元古代地层划分。     

天津蓟县雾迷山组高频旋回沉积特征

天津蓟县剖面的中元古界雾迷山组是一套厚达3 300 m的碳酸盐岩地层,其中广泛发育具有近似对称相序组构的雾迷山旋回层,属于特殊的环潮坪型碳酸盐米级旋回层序。在对旋回层内部岩石成因单元的类型及组合分析的基础上,建立了雾迷山旋回层的基本模式和沉积环境模式,并对成因单元的岩石磁化率特征及其对高频旋回的反映进行了探索。认为雾迷山旋回层为沉积环境的水深由较浅—较深—较浅—暴露条件下的沉积,可能代表真正的沉积旋回;其成因单元之间具有明显的有序叠置形态,表明它有可能是与米兰柯维奇旋回具有成因关联的高频率海平面变化所控制的自旋回沉积作用的产物。     

Implications of the Precambrian Non-stromatolitic Carbonate Succession Making up the Third Member of Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Yanshan Area of North China

A particular non-stromatolitic carbonate succession making up the third member of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) Formation might demonstrate that a stromatolite decline of the Mesoproterozoic occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma besides other three events of the Proterozoic,respectively,occurred at ca. 2 000 Ma,ca. 1 000 Ma,and ca. 675 Ma. The forming duration of this non-stromatolitic carbonate succession can be generally correlative to that of a similar depositional succession in North America,i.e. a non-stromatolitic carbonate succession made up by the Helena Formation of the Belt Supergroup,which suggests that the stromatolite decline occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma may be a global event. This information endows the non-stromatolitic carbonate succession making up the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation in the Yanshan (燕山) area with important significance for the further understanding of Precambrian sedimentology. The Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Yanshan area is a set of more than 1 000 m thick carbonate strata that can be divided into four members (or subformations). The first member (or the Guandi (官地) subformation) is marked by a set of stromatolitic dolomites overlying a set of transgressive sandstones; the second member (or the Sangshu'an (桑树鞍) subformation) is a set of manganese dolomites with a few stromatolites; the third member (or the Zhangjiayu (张家峪) subformation) is chiefly made up of leiolite and laminite limestones and is characterized by the development of molar-tooth structures in leiolite limestone; the fourth member (or the Huanxiusi (环秀寺) subformation) is composed of a set of dolomites of stromatolitic reefs or lithoherms. Sequence-stratigraphic divisions at two sections,i.e. the Jixian (蓟县) Section in Tianjin (天津) and the Qiangou (千沟) Section of Yanqing (延庆) County in Beijing (北京),demonstrate that a particularly non-stromatolitic succession making up the third member of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation is developed in the Yanshan area of North China,in which lots of grotesque matground structures (wrinkle structures and palimpsest ripples) are developed in beds of leiolite limestone at the Qiangou Section and lots of molar-tooth structures are developed in beds of leiolite limestone at the Jixian Section. The time scale of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation is deduced as 200 Ma (from 1 600 Ma to 1 400 Ma). The duration of an obvious hiatus between the Gaoyuzhuang Formation and the underlying Dahongyu (大红峪) Formation is deduced as 50 Ma to 100 Ma,thus the forming duration of the GaoyuzhuangFormation is thought as 100 Ma (1 500 Ma to 1 400 Ma). Furthermore,the age of the subface of the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation that is just in the mid position of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation can be deduced as about 1 450 Ma,which is the basis to infer a stromatolite decline of the Mesoproterozoic occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma. Importantly,several features of both the molar-tooth structure and the stromatolite,such as the particular forming environment,the important facies-indicative meaning,and the episodic distribution in the earth history,might express the evolutionary periodicity of the surface environment of the earth and can provide meaningful clues for the understanding of the Precambrian world,although their origin and forming mechanism is highly contentious. Therefore,like other three stromatolitic declines,respectively,occurring at ca. 675 Ma,ca. 1 000 Ma,and ca. 2 000 Ma,the identification of the stromatolite decline occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma during the Golden Age of stromatolites (2 800 Ma to 1 000 Ma) has important meaning for the further understanding of the evolving carbonate world of the Precambrian.