The influence of stress history on the grain size and microstructure of experimentally deformed quartzite

Deformation of middle crustal shear zones likely varies with time as a result of the stress build-up and release associated with earthquakes and post-seismic deformation, but the processes involved and their microstructural signature in the rock record are poorly understood. We conducted a series of experiments on quartzite at 900 °C to characterize microstructures associated with changes in stress and strain rate, and to investigate the feasibility of carrying out grain size piezometry in natural rocks that experienced analogous changes. Differential stress (referred to simply as “stress”) was varied in two-stage experiments by changing strain rate and by stopping the motor and allowing stress to relax. The two-stage samples preserve a microstructural record that can be interpreted quantitatively in terms of stress history. The microstructure associated with a stress increase is a bimodal distribution of recrystallized grain sizes. The smaller grains associated with the second deformation stage accurately record the stress of the second stage, and the surviving coarse grains remain similar in size to those formed during the earlier stage. The transient microstructure associated with stress decrease is a “partial foam” texture containing a larger concentration of stable 120° triple junctions than occur in samples deformed at a relatively constant strain rate. Our results indicate that microstructures preserved in rocks that experienced relatively simple, two-stage deformation histories can be used to quantitatively assess stress histories.Grain growth rates during deformation are similar to rates observed in previous isostatic growth experiments, supporting theoretical approaches to recrystallized grain size, such as the wattmeter theory (Austin and Evans, 2007), that incorporate static growth rates. From an analysis of the experimental data for quartz recrystallized grain size, we find: 1) Recrystallized grain size quickly reaches a value consistent with ambient deformation conditions. We argue that this explains a good match between average grain sizes predicted by the wattmeter after complete recrystallization and the recrystallized grain sizes of the experiments. 2) The present formulation of the wattmeter overestimates the rates at which porphyroclasts recrystallize by as much as an order of magnitude, and 3) owing to problems with extrapolation of grain growth data for quartz, the wattmeter is not presently applicable to natural samples deformed at low temperatures. We present a simplified flow law for quartz, and suggest that the change in slope of the quartz piezometer at high stress (regime 1) is related to a switch to a linear viscous rheology.     

Short-lived polyphase deformation during crustal thickening and exhumation of a collisional orogen (Ribeira Belt,Brazil)

The Ribeira Belt (Brazil) is a Neoproterozoic collisional-related feature that was located in a south-central position in West Gondwana. We present quantitative data on finite strain, flow vorticity and deformation temperatures for the Curitiba Terrane, a major segment of the southern Ribeira Belt. Six deformation phases (D₁-D₆) related with crustal thickening and exhumation were recognized. D₁ and D₂-related microstructures are preserved exclusively within porphyroblasts, in part grown during stages of high-pressure (∼9–12 kbar) isobaric heating after crustal thickening. D₃ phase was active from peak metamorphism attained in contrasting crustal levels (810–400 °C), to the early stage of exhumation (500–400 °C), as indicated by petrological, microstructural and quartz c-axis fabric evidence. Kinematic vorticity results indicate that the SL₃ mylonitic fabric resulted from a simple shear-dominated deformation related with westward thrusting. North-verging overturned D₄ folds with E-W-trending subhorizontal axes derived from a pure shear-dominated deformation. Regional D₅ open folds with subvertical axes and NNE-SSW-trending traces were produced by indentation tectonics. D₆ phase comprises retrograde orogen-parallel transcurrent shear zones related with scape tectonics. Geochronological data indicate that D₃-D₆ phases occurred between 584 and 580 Ma, suggesting a fast exhumation rate of ∼8 mm/year for the deepest rocks from the southern Ribeira Belt.     

延边开山屯花岗闪长岩-石英闪长岩体年代学、地球化学特征及对古太平洋板块俯冲作用时限的制约

近年来古太平洋构造域的构造演化备受学者关注。本文报道的延边开山屯地区花岗闪长岩-石英闪长岩体LAICP-MS U-Pb年龄表明其形成时间为早侏罗世早期(198±1Ma),所采样品可根据Zr/Hf值分为高Zr/Hf值组花岗闪长岩和低Zr/Hf值组石英闪长岩。高Zr/Hf值组花岗闪长岩起源深度浅,富集Rb、Th、U、K等大离子亲石元素(LILEs),贫Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素(HFSEs),具壳源岩浆的特点。低Zr/Hf值组为壳源岩浆与来自深部的亏损地幔岩浆混合而成,岩石亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Ti等高场强元素,具有典型的弧型岩浆地球化学特征。岩体中存在细粒闪长质包体,镜下可见针柱状磷灰石。开山屯岩体属钙碱性系列岩石,结合前人资料,认为其与该地区同时代火成岩组成北-东向分布的早侏罗世活动大陆边缘型火成岩带,而位于该带西侧的小兴安岭-张广才岭地区存在同时代弧后拉张带,两者构成典型的大陆弧与弧后拉张带模型,共同揭示了早侏罗世早期古太平洋板块对东北地区的俯冲作用。     

Advances and Issues in Luminescence Dating of Loess Deposits in Arid Central Asia

High-resolution loess deposits are widely distributed in Arid Central Asia (ACA) and provide important records associated with dust transportation, paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution. The chronology is the foundation of the research into loess deposits as an environmental archive. In recent decades, the gradually developed optical dating method has been increasingly matured and become an important approach to establishing the loess-paleosol sequences. Here, we summarized and discussed previous work on loess chronology mainly based on optical dating approach in ACA. The following understandings have been listed: ① In comparison with optical dating method, the suitable material for ¹⁴C dating is uncommon in ACA. However, the dating range of luminescence dating is more extensive, and the dating materials are accessible. Thus, the optical dating is widely applicable in the establishment of loess framework in this area. ② Until now, the quartz Single Aliquot Regeneration (SAR) method can be applied to the establishment of loess-paleosol sequence since last glacial period. But several issues remain unaddressed. For example, the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) signal sensitivity of quartz grains are low in some areas. Furthermore, the results of OSL dating of different grain sizes within a single sample are inconsistent in some areas. The solution of these problems still requires more methodological research. ③ The post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) and multiple elevated temperature stimulation (MET-pIRIR) protoCols of feldspar have basically overcome the anomalous fading issue in the traditional IRSL dating process. In ACA, the framework since MIS 7 can be established with K-feldspar luminescence dating method. Compared with quartz luminescence characteristics, the K-feldspar luminescence signals are more sensitive and exhibit a high saturation level. In specific applications, it is necessary to establish the age frame according to the luminescence sensitivity, the age of samples or other factors.     

赣南合龙钨矿矿床地质、成岩成矿时代与成矿模式

合龙钨矿床位于南岭东西向构造岩浆带与北-北东向于山构造带交汇部位,是南岭东段于都-赣县矿集区的重要组成.合龙钨矿床是赣南地区近年在石英脉型钨矿勘查取得最重要突破的矿区,新发现钨多金属矿体达48条,新探明黑钨矿资源量3.5万余吨,WO3平均品位2.189％,深部具有大型以上资源潜力.合龙钨矿床以外带石英大脉型矿体与岩体内...     

湘东桐木山云英岩型锡矿床锡石及共生石英中流体包裹体研究

桐木山云英岩型锡矿床是湘东锡田锡多金属矿田中一个典型矿床,在详尽的野外考察、矿石结构观察以及流体包裹体岩相学研究的基础上,采用流体包裹体组合的研究方法,利用冷热台、激光拉曼等测试手段,对矿床中锡石中流体包裹体进行直接测定,同时开展与锡石共生的石英及切割矿体的后期石英脉石英中流体包裹体对比研究.结果显示,锡石中流体包裹体...     

鲁北新生代隐伏火山岩及其石油地质意义

鲁北新生代隐伏火山岩可划分为3个喷发期6个亚期,9种火山岩岩石类型和同期侵入的辉绿岩。它们形成在近大陆边缘的板内裂谷型盆地,对于富有机质生油岩的沉积、各种储集体的形成、多种含油圈闭类型的形成以及有机质成熟向烃类转化都是非常有利的。作为储集岩主要有玄武安山岩、辉绿岩和湖底玄武质凝灰岩。储油空间主要为次生孔隙和裂缝。火山岩及其有关岩石在本区不仅形成了特殊的油气藏,而且还可作为盖层、封堵层、披复构造的基岩,因此对石油地质勘探有重要意义。     

一种新型峰林——武陵源石英砂岩峰林

本文探讨位于湘西武陵山脉中段的一种新的峰林地貌类型－－石英砂岩峰林的形态特征，形成过程与形成机理，认为石英砂岩峰林是由水平状石英砂岩受垂直与交叉节理的分割之后，在无溶蚀作用下形成的。     

Slope process change and colluvium deposition in Swaziland: An SEM analysis

Electron microscope analysis of sixty samples taken from six colluvium sites in Swaziland has shown that the quartz grains exhibit marked edge abrasion in the uppermost beds of exposures. This edge abrasion is lacking in the lower beds in all sections examined and indicates slope process change during colluvium deposition. A model of slope evolution is provided, in which slope erosion progressively brings about more channelling and causes greater surface roughness because of the exhumation of more core stones and differentially weathered rock. This roughness causes increased edge abrasion.     

Structural evolution of the contact between two Penninic nappes (Zermatt-Saas zone and Combin zone,Western Alps) and implications for the exhumation mechanism and palaeogeography

The boundary zone between two Penninic nappes, the eclogite-facies to ultrahigh-pressure Zermatt-Saas zone in the footwall and the blueschist-facies Combin zone in the hanging wall, has been interpreted previously as a major normal fault reflecting synorogenic crustal extension. Quartz textures of mylonites from this fault were measured using neutron diffraction. Together with structural field observations, the data allow a refined reconstruction of the kinematic evolution of the Pennine nappes. The main results are: (1) the contact is not a normal fault but a major thrust towards northwest which was only later overprinted by southeast-directed normal faulting; (2) exhumation of the footwall rocks did not occur during crustal extension but during crustal shortening; (3) the Sesia-Dent Blanche nappe system originated from a continental fragment (Cervinia) in the Alpine Tethys ocean, and the Combin zone ophiolites from the ocean basin southeast of Cervinia; (4) out-of-sequence thrusting played a major role in the tectonic evolution of the Penninic nappes. An erratum to this article can be found at