NORTH QAIDAM ULTRAHIGH PRESSURE METAMORPHIC (UHPM) BELT ON THE NORTHEASTERN QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU AND ITS EASTWARD EXTENSION

NORTH QAIDAM ULTRAHIGH PRESSURE METAMORPHIC (UHPM) BELT ON THE NORTHEASTERN QINGHAI-TIBET PLATEAU AND ITS EASTWARD EXTENSION1　YangJS ,XuZQ ,LiHB ,etal.DiscoveryofeclogiteatnorthernmarginofQaidambasin ,NWChina[J] .ChineseScienceBulletin,1998,4 3:1755～ 176 0 . 2　ZhangJX ,ZhangZM ,XuZQ ,etal.TheagesofU PbandSm NdforeclogitefromthewesternsegmentofAltynTaghtectonicbelt—theevidencesforexistenceofCaledonianorogenicroot[J] .ChineseScienc…     

Metamorphic evolution of oceanic gabbros: recrystallization from subsolidus to hydrothermal conditions in the MARK area (ODP Leg 153)

The 117.38 m of gabbroic core drilled during the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 153 at Sites 921 to 924 in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) between 23 °N and the Kane Fracture Zone, exhibits a remarkable primary compositional heterogeneity, such as magmatic layering, intrusive contacts and late magmatic veining, which express a succession of magmatic events. Textural indicators suggest that the cooling of the crystal mush occurred in a dynamic environment, with infiltration of progressively evolved liquids. Magmatic features include random shape fabric and magmatic lamination; the subsequent deformational overprint occurred in subsolidus conditions. The ductile deformation, generally concentrated in discrete domains of the gabbro, is associated with continuous re-equilibration of the metamorphic assemblages of (1) olivine + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + plagioclase + ilmenite + Ti-magnetite, (2) olivine + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + ilmenite + Ti-magnetite + red hornblende. At lower temperatures brittle deformation prevails and subsequent fractures control the development of metamorphic assemblages: (3) clinopyroxene + plagioclase + red brown hornblende + Ti-magnetite + magnetite (?) + ilmenite, (4) plagioclase + brown hornblende + Ti-magnetite + magnetite + hematite + titanite ± Ti-oxide, (5) plagioclase + green hornblende + magnetite + titanite, (6) plagioclase + actinolite + chlorite + titanite + magnetite, (7) albite + actinolite + chlorite + prehnite ± epidote ± titanite and (8) albite + prehnite + chlorite ± smectite. Assemblages 1 to 8 express increasing water/rock ratios and decreasing degrees of recrystallization.

During the ductile phase, red hornblende is stable and its abundance increases with deformation intensity, possibly as an effect of the introduction of hydrous fluids. During the brittle phase, water diffusion controls the development of the fracture-filling mineral assemblages and re-equilibration of the adjacent rock; temperatures decrease further, as demonstrated by mineral zoning and incompletely re-equilibrated assemblages. The lowest temperatures correspond to the development of hydrothermal assemblages.

Compared with oceanic gabbros from fast-spreading transform environments, high-temperature ductile phases (granulite and amphibolite) are well developed, whereas brittle phases are widespread, as microcracks, prevalent on fracturing associated with discrete veins.     

Exhumation of high-pressure rocks of the Kokchetav massif: facts and models

The exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic units from depths more than 100-120 km is one of the most intriguing questions in modern petrology and geodynamics. We use the diamondiferous Kumdy-Kol domain in the Kokchetav Massif to show that exhumation models should take into consideration initially high uplift velocities (from 20 down to 6 cm/year) and the absence of the deformation of UHP assemblages. The high rate of exhumation are indicated by ion microprobe (SHRIMP) dating of zircons from diamondiferous rocks and supported by the low degree of nitrogen aggregation in metamorphic diamonds.Diamondiferous rocks in the Kumdy-Kol domain occur as steeply dipping (60°-80°) thin slices (few hundred metres) within granite-gneiss. Using geological, petrological and isotopic-geochemical data, we show that partial melting of diamondiferous metamorphic rocks occurred; a very important factor which has not been taken into account in previous models.Deformation of diamondiferous rocks at Kumdy-Kol is insignificant; diamond inclusions in garnet are often intergrown with mica crystals carrying no traces of deformation. All these facts could be explained by partial melting of metapelites and granitic rocks in the Kumdy-Kol domain. The presence of melt is responsible for an essential reduction of viscosity and a density difference (Δρ) between crustal rocks and mantle material and reduced friction between the upwelling crustal block, the subducting and overriding plates. Besides Δρ, the exhumation rate seems to depend on internal pressure in the subducting continental crustal block which can be regarded as a viscous layer between subducting continental lithosphere and surrounding mantle.We construct different models for the three stages of exhumation: a model similar to “corner flow” for the first superfast exhumation stage, an intermediate stage of extension (most important from structural point of view) and a very low rate of exhumation in final diapir+erosional uplift.     

Field and petrological evidence for a Late Palaeozoic (Upper Carboniferous–Permian) age of the Erfaulet orthogneiss (Gran Paradiso,western Alps)

In the Gran Paradiso massif (western Alps), the boundary between the Erfaulet orthogneiss and the overlying metasediments (Money Complex) is interpreted as a Late Palaeozoic intrusive contact. Major arguments in favour of this hypothesis are: (i) the obliquity of the sedimentary layering with respect to the contact; (ii) the presence of aplitic dykes within the Money Complex; (iii) the lack of a mylonitic zone; and (iv) rare relics of an early generation of garnet in the Money metasediments, interpreted as evidence of the contact metamorphism of the Erfaulet granite. To cite this article: B. Le Bayon, M. Ballèvre, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

阜新地区主要构造旋回变质变形特征及其地质意义

对阜新地区主要构造旋回变质作用、变形特征的研究表明,阜平期、四堡期和燕山期为阜新地区的3个主要变质时期,分别遭受了麻粒岩相-角闪岩相、低角闪岩相-高绿片岩相及绿片岩相变质作用;阜平期分为3幕变形,四堡期分为2幕变形,燕山期分为5幕变形,构造变形具有从深层次→中浅层次→表层次的演化规律;阜平期构造运动控制了区内鞍山式铁矿的成矿,燕山期构造运动控制了区内热液型金、铜、萤石、沸石、膨润土矿产和煤、油页岩等沉积型矿产的成矿。     

北秦岭官坡地区高压—超高压榴辉岩岩相学及变质作用研究

北秦岭官坡地区的榴辉岩及含柯石英榴辉岩产在帮岭岩群的北侧，主要由绿辉石和石榴石组成，部分石榴石和绿辉石中含柯石英包体。此外还含有退变质的多硅白云母、角闪石、黝帘石和纳长石等矿物，根据变质矿物之间的替代关系及共生组合规律，榴辉岩退变质作用可划分为四个阶段，各阶段代表性矿物组合依次为：柯石英＋绿辉石＋石榴石；石英＋绿辉石＋石榴石；多硅白云母＋绿辉石＋石榴石＋石英；角闪石＋斜长石＋白云母＋黑云母。这四个     

Mechanisms of coal metamorphism: case studies from Paleozoic coalfields

Controls on coal metamorphism can be complex. In this paper, we examine four Paleozoic coalfields: the western Kentucky portion of the Illinois Basin, the Pennsylvania anthracite fields, the South Wales Coalfield, and the Bowen Basin. An increase in temperature with depth of burial is certainly a factor in coal metamorphism. In many coalfields, however, including the coalfields reviewed here, it has become apparent that such a simple mechanism does not explain the coal rank patterns observed. The flow of hydrothermal fluids through the coals has been proposed as a cause of coal metamorphism. Evidence includes inverted rank gradients, elevated CFL as an indicator of brine fluids, isotopic evidence for hydrothermal fluids, and vein and cleat mineral assemblages. In any case, multiple hypotheses must often be evaluated in the examination of any coalfield since the simple paradigm of coal rank increases with a simple increase in temperature with increasing depth does not fit the evidence observed in many cases.     

Subduction of Continental Crust in the Early Palaeozoic North Qaidam Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt, NW China:Evidence from the Discovery of Coesite in the Belt

Coesite was discovered as inclusions in zircon separates from pelitic gneiss associated with a large eclogite body in the North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane. Some graphite inclusions were also found. This finding suggested the occurrence of in-situ UHP metamorphism and that the terrane was most likely recrystallized at pressures below the diamond stability field. It supported other previous indirect UHP evidence, such as polycrystalline quartz inclusions in eclogitic garnet, quartz lamellae in omphacite and P-T estimates for both eclogite and garnet peridotite. The U-Pb and Sm-Nd ages of the North Qaidam eclogite indicated that subduction of continental crust occurred in the Early Palaeozoic, which probably recorded a collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze plates.     

贵州梵净山前寒武系甚低级变质作用研究

本文运用伊利石结晶度、绿泥石结晶度、云母b0值和绿泥石地质温度计研究了梵净山前寒武系甚低级变质作用。结果表明经Kisch伊利石结晶度标样校正的伊利石结晶度Kübler指数为0.20~0.99°Δ2θ,绿泥石结晶度árkai指数为0.22~0.63°Δ2θ。由此阐明梵净山前寒武系经历了成岩作用到浅变质作用的影响,迄今依然保留了成岩带、近变质带和浅变质带的岩石记录。成岩岩石具有伊蒙混层特征成岩指示矿物,浅变质带具有钠云母特征变质指示矿物。钾云母(伊利石)b0值范围为:0.9000~0.9045nm;平均0.9018nm,b0值累积频率曲线分布介于典型中压—中低压系列之间,估算的压力为366MPa。峰期变质温度为293~364℃,平均342℃,古变质温压梯度为27℃/km。近变质带界线穿越地层和梵净山背斜轴线,表明甚低级变质作用为成岩-构造运动同期或后期构造增厚引起下部和底部岩石随温压的升高而产生的。