Large-scale gold mineralization in eastern China induced by an Early Cretaceous clockwise change in Pacific plate motions

Orogenic gold (Au) deposits are the most important type, accounting for more than half of the world's proven Au reserves. They are mainly controlled by three key factors: (1) abundant andesitic rocks (SiO₂ of 55–60 wt.%) at depth, which have systematically higher Au contents than other rock types; (2) a pervasive transition from greenschist facies to amphibolite facies metamorphism within a short period, which releases S^2?-rich fluids that may scavenge Au from host rocks; and (3) deformation and fracturing under a compressive/transpressive tectonic regime. Orogenic belts at convergent margins are the best places for such mineralization because convergent margins are rich in andesites; the transition from greenschist to amphibolite facies recrystallization commonly occurs as a result of collision, compression, and thickening at convergent margins, forming large amounts of Au-rich fluids within a short period of time; and strong deformation and fracturing during orogenic processes provide channels for fluid transportation. Moreover, the overlying plate is injected and enriched by auriferous fluids released during amphibolite facies metamorphism of the subducting plate. The Pacific plate changed course by ～80° (from SW to NW) at approximately 125–122 Ma, reflecting an altered thermal structure and the elevation of the South Pacific plate attending the appearance of the plume head that formed the Ontong Java large igneous province. Consequently, the tectonic regime changed from extension to compressive/transpressive in eastern China, causing deformation, thickening, and metamorphism of the overriding plate, especially along weak crustal belts (e.g. overlying plates of palaeosutures), which resulted in world-class mineralization of orogenic Au deposits. During this process, pyrite changed to pyrrhotite during the transition from greenschist to amphibolite facies, releasing sulphur. Sulphur mobilized and scavenged Au and other chalcophile elements into metamorphic ore-forming fluids. A series of NE-trending compressive faults were formed at ?120 Ma as a result of continuous compression of the subducting Pacific plate, releasing these ore-forming fluids. Auriferous carbonate-rich quartz veins and/or metasomatized Au-bearing wall rocks were formed due to the decompression of the ascending ore-forming fluids. Orogenic belts along the margins of the North China craton and the Jiangnan block were the most favourable regions for mineralization. Compared with the former, the latter has much smaller proven Au reserves. However, more exploration is needed along the margins of the Jiangnan block. Promising targets include accessory faults and kink points of large, NE-trending Cretaceous faults that transect greenschist facies metamorphic rocks of the Niuwu and Jingtan Groups, etc.     

A model for the state of brittle failure of the western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) is an igneous arc built above the Middle America subduction zone. Its western section is being extended orthogonally to its axis by several arrays of active normal faults with a combined length of 450 km and including up to 1.5 km of throw. Until now, intra-arc extension in the TMVB has been considered the result of either rifting or retreat of the Rivera and Cocos plates. Observations worldwide and numerical models, however, appear to contradict these ideas. Continental extension in convergent margins takes place where the upper plate moves away from the trench, and the subduction zone is only weakly coupled with the overlying plate. In western Mexico, neither of these relationships applies. A new numerical model presented here is able to explain satisfactorily the state of brittle failure of the TMVB. The model embodies the first-order physics of the northern Middle America subduction zone, and its boundary conditions are consistent with the convergence history of the Rivera and North America plates. Modelling results show that periods of accelerated subduction between the Rivera and North America plates give rise to an increase in suction force under the fore arc. The over-riding plate then bends downwards, building up tensional stress inside the volcanic arc. Failure of the arc follows within 1 million years of pulse initiation. Analysis of the results shows that the steep subduction angle of the Rivera slab, the relief of the volcanic plateau, and the thermal weakening of the lower crust facilitated the failure of the arc. The model demonstrates that a highly coupled subduction zone can cause extension, albeit limited, in the over-riding plate.     

Zircon geochronology constraints on the age and nature of ‘Precambrian metamorphic rocks’ in the Xing’an block of Northeast China

The Great Xing’an Range in Northeast China is located in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. From north to south, the Great Xing’an Range is divided into the Erguna, Xing’an, and Songliao blocks. Previous U–Pb zircon geochronology results have revealed that some ‘Precambrian metamorphic rocks’ in the Xing’an block have Phanerozoic protolith ages, questioning whether Precambrian basement exists in the Xing’an block. We present laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) U–Pb dating results for zircons from suspected Precambrian metamorphic rocks in the Xing’an block. Meta-rhyolites of the Xinkailing Group in Nenjiang yield magmatic ages of 355.8 Ma. Detrital zircons from phyllites of the Xinkailing Group in Duobaoshan yield populations of ca. 1505, ca. 810, and ca. 485 Ma, with the youngest peak constraining its depositional age to be <485 Ma. Zircons from amphibolitic gneisses of the Xinkailing Group in Nenjiang have magmatic ages of 308.6 Ma. Mylonitic granites of the Xinkailing Group in Nenjiang have zircon magmatic ages of 164 Ma. Detrital zircons from two-mica quartz schists of the Luomahu Group in the Galashan Forest yield ca. 2419, ca. 1789, ca. 801, ca. 536, ca. 480, and ca. 420 Ma, with the youngest peak indicating its depositional age as <420 Ma. Detrital zircons from mylonitized sericite–chlorite schist of the Ergunhe Formation in Taerqi yield populations of 982–948, ca. 519, and ca. 410 Ma, with the youngest peak demonstrating that its depositional age is <410 Ma. These zircon ages for a range of lithologies show that the Great Xing’an Range metamorphic rocks formed during the Phanerozoic (164–485 Ma) and that this crust is mostly Palaeozoic. Based on these results and published data, we conclude that there is no evidence of Precambrian metamorphic basement in the Xing’an block. In summary, the age data indicate that Precambrian metamorphic basement may not exist in the Xing’an region.     

Irregular western margin of the Yangtze block as a cause of variation in tectonic activity along the Longmen Shan fault zone,eastern Tibet

On 12 May 2008 and 20 April 2013, respectively, the devastating magnitude 7.9 (Wenchuan) and magnitude 7.0 (Ya’an) earthquakes struck the southwestern Longmen Shan fault zone (LMSFZ), the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. These events were notable because they occurred in a heavily populated area and resulted in severe damage and loss of life. Here we present an integrated analysis of potential field anomalies and a crustal-scale seismic reflection image to investigate the crustal structure and some tectonic relationships associated with these devastating events. Our results show that the western margin of the Yangtze crustal block possesses an irregular margin that extends westward beyond the LMSFZ to the northeast and merges gradually with the LMSFZ to the southwest. We interpret this variation in deep structure to create a lateral heterogeneity in the local stress regime that explains the observed variations in fault geometry and slip distribution, as well as seismicity, of the LMSFZ. This structural complexity results in a differential build-up of stress as the Tibetan Plateau is being extruded eastward. Thus, the results of this research can help identify potential natural hazard zones and focus efforts on hazard mitigation.     

构架航线区域网平差在西部测图中的应用

在西部测图过程中,依据不同的地区、不同的影像资料情况,采用不同的加密方法进行区域网平差工作.本文通过青西地区构架航线区域网平差的应用,总结和分析了长跨度、大范围构架航线区域网平差的关键技术及精度等问题.     

各向异性矿化特征的分析与模拟 及其在储量估算中的应用

矿化作用往往是地质事件及局部过程共同作用的结果,导致矿体空间形态复杂多变、矿石品位呈各向异性、尺度不一的非线性空间变异模式.传统方法无论是在矿石量的计算方面还是在矿块内平均品位的确定上都存在多种误差,并且无法实现信息的动态管理及直观表达.文章以安庆铜矿中心矿区为例,采用对数块kriging与三维地学模拟技术相结合的方法...     

地球化学块体理论在青海沱沱河地区铅锌资源潜力预测中的应用

以地球化学块体理论为基础的方法和技术确定了沱沱河铅锌地球化学块体的下限和含量级次,对沱沱河地区铅锌元素的地球化学块体进行了划分,总结了地球化学块体在空间上的分布规律,通过研究地球化学块体内部结构,追踪大型至特大型矿床可能存在的地点。根据已知地区的矿产探明储量与地球化学块体的关系,计算了该地区成矿率,预测了区内铅锌矿资源潜力,同时指出在块体内还存在巨大的寻找铅锌矿产资源的潜力。     

碎屑锆石对班公湖地区晚侏罗世-早白垩世沉积物源的制约

本文对班公湖地区中生代沙木罗组（J3—K1s）和日松组（J3r）地层的碎屑锆石进行了形态学及U-Pb年代学的研究。结果表明：锆石颗粒粒径约为100～150 μm,内部结构清晰,晶体为长柱状,自形程度较高,多数锆石不含暗色包体及浑圆形内核; 有些锆石颗粒有扇型分带结构。Th/U比值较大,多数大于0.1,均值约为0.86,说明岩浆的成因以锆石为主体,部分颗粒或晶体可能为变质成因; 锆石年龄主要分布在6个区间范围内： 1）180～100 Ma, 2）350～180 Ma, 3）600～450 Ma, 4）1100～600 Ma, 5）1800～1400 Ma, 6）2200～1800 Ma。锆石U-Pb年龄谱对应了羌塘地块经历的几次构造热事件,验证了晚侏罗世—早白垩世班公湖地区的物源主要来自其北部的羌塘地块。     

塔里木地块与古亚洲/特提斯构造体系的对接

塔里木盆地为环形山链所环绕,北缘为古亚洲体系的天山弧形山链,南缘为特提斯体系的西昆仑-阿尔金弧形山链。自新元古代晚期以来,塔里木地块及周缘地区经历了古亚洲洋盆和特提斯洋盆的开启、俯冲、闭合以及微陆块多次碰撞造山,发生多期的构造、岩浆及成矿作用。特别是受印度/亚洲碰撞(60~50Ma)以来的近程效应和远程效应影响,使塔里木盆地周缘发生强烈的隆升、缩短及走滑变形,形成了现今复杂的环型造山系,完成了古亚洲体系和特提斯体系与塔里木地块的最终对接。塔里木地块与周缘两大构造体系的焊接是从早古生代开始的。研究表明,早古生代末期塔里木已与西昆仑-阿尔金始特提斯造山系链接一起。此时,塔里木地块东段与中天山增生弧地体碰撞,而西段在晚古生代与中天山增生弧地体碰撞。塔里木盆地周缘早古生代造山系中存在早古生代中期和早古生代晚期的两次造山事件,致使塔里木盆地内映现两个早古生代构造不整合面:晚奥陶世-志留纪之间的角度不整合和中晚泥盆世与早古生代之间的角度不整合。塔里木盆地早古生代的古地理、古环境和古构造研究表明,塔里木早古生代台地位于盆地的中西部,盆地东部为陆缘斜坡和深海/半深海沉积盆地,与南天山早古生代被动陆缘链接。印度/亚洲碰撞导致塔里木盆地西南缘的喜马拉雅西构造结的形成与不断推进,使特提斯构造体系与古亚洲构造体系在西构造结处靠拢及对接,终使塔里木盆地最后定型。     

扬子地块北缘晚古生代-早中生代裂谷系统的分布及成因分析

晚二叠世长兴期-早三叠世印度期,在扬子地块的西北缘发育了一系列北西向展布的深水盆地区。根据成因分析证实,它们为伸展背景下形成的裂谷系统或者裂谷盆地群。平面上各裂谷盆地彼此近于平行,与北侧的南秦岭造山带在走向上呈正交和大角度斜交的排列,自西向东依次为开江-梁平裂谷、城口-鄂西裂谷和荆门-当阳裂谷。其中的开江-梁平裂谷东西两侧发现了巨大的天然气田而引起石油勘探家和地质学家的关注。本文对于这些控制油气资源储备的裂谷体系的分布和形成机制进行研究后,认为它们形成于南秦岭洋闭合时的碰撞作用,是南秦岭造山带和扬子地块拼合时同生的巨型"碰撞裂谷系统"。