Intra-arc extension in Central America: Links between plate motions, tectonics, volcanism, and geochemistry

This study revisits the kinematics and tectonics of Central America subduction, synthesizing observations of marine bathymetry, high-resolution land topography, current plate motions, and the recent seismotectonic and magmatic history in this region. The inferred tectonic history implies that the Guatemala–El Salvador and Nicaraguan segments of this volcanic arc have been a region of significant arc tectonic extension; extension arising from the interplay between subduction roll-back of the Cocos Plate and the ~ 10–15mm/yr slower westward drift of the Caribbean plate relative to the North American Plate. The ages of belts of magmatic rocks paralleling both sides of the current Nicaraguan arc are consistent with long-term arc-normal extension in Nicaragua at the rate of ~ 5–10mm/yr, in agreement with rates predicted by plate kinematics. Significant arc-normal extension can ‘hide’ a very large intrusive arc-magma flux; we suggest that Nicaragua is, in fact, the most magmatically robust section of the Central American arc, and that the volume of intrusive volcanism here has been previously greatly underestimated. Yet, this flux is hidden by the persistent extension and sediment infill of the rifting basin in which the current arc sits. Observed geochemical differences between the Nicaraguan arc and its neighbors which suggest that Nicaragua has a higher rate of arc-magmatism are consistent with this interpretation. Smaller-amplitude, but similar systematic geochemical correlations between arc-chemistry and arc-extension in Guatemala show the same pattern as the even larger variations between the Nicaragua arc and its neighbors.     

Rapid evolution of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu, southwestern Japan

Abstract   Detailed geologic examination of the Eocene accretionary complex (Hyuga Group) of the Shimanto terrane in southeastern Kyushu revealed that the oceanic plate was composed of Paleocene to Lower Eocene mudstone and siliceous mudstone, lower Middle Eocene red mudstone, and mid-Middle Eocene trench-fill turbidite with siltstone breccia, successively overlying the pre-Eocene oceanic plate. This oceanic plate sequence was overlain by Upper Eocene siltstone. Deposition of the lower Middle Eocene red mudstone was accompanied by basalt flows and it is interbedded with continental felsic tuff, which indicates that the basalt and red mudstone were deposited near the trench just before accretion. The Hyuga Group has very similar geological structure to that of the chert–clastic complexes found in the Jurassic accretionary complexes in Japan: that is, a decollement fault formed in the middle of an oceanic plate sequence, and an imbricate structure formed only in the upper part of the sequence. Thus, it appears that the Hyuga Group was formed by the same accretionary process as the Jurassic accretionary complexes. No accretion occurred before the Middle Eocene, and the rapid accretion of the Hyuga Group was commenced by the supply of coarse terrigenous sediments in the mid-Middle Eocene, when the direction of movement of the Pacific Plate changed. The pre-Eocene oceanic basement and lower Middle Eocene volcanic activity suggest that the oceanic plate partly preserved in the Hyuga Group was very similar to the northern part of the present West Philippine Sea Plate.     

Shear partitioning in the Philippines: Constraints from Philippine Fault and global positioning system data

Abstract The Philippine Fault is a major left-lateral structure formed in an island arc setting. It accommodates a component of the oblique convergence between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Philippine archipelago. This observation is quantified through a series of global positioning satellite experiments between 1991 and 1996. The formation of the Fault marks the onset of a new geodynamic regime in the Philippine region. In the central Philippines, this event corresponds to the creation of a new tectonic boundary separating the Philippine Mobile Belt and the Philippine Sea Plate, following the latter's kinematic reorganization that occurred around 4 Ma ago. During this event, the Philippine Sea Plate changed its relative movement with respect to Eurasia from a northward to a north-westward motion, favoring the formation of a Philippine Fault–Philippine Trench system under a shear partitioning mechanism.     

Tectonics of the Laptev Sea – Moma `Rift' Region: Investigation with Seismologic Broadband Data

Based on teleseismic broadband data, mainly recorded from stationsof the Incorporated Research Institute for Seismology (IRIS) and theGräfenberg (GRF) array in Germany, the focal mechanism and thefocal depth of the largest earthquakes in northeastern Siberia in thetime interval 1976–1996 were determined. For 9 events the relativeanelastic attenuation of the shear wave with respect to the compressionalwave along the travel paths could be calculated. Using the slip vectorsfrom the best constrained focal mechanisms and additional slip vectorsfrom Jemsek et al. (1986) and Parfenov et al. (1988), we obtained the North American–Eurasian pole of rotation west of the Cherskii mountainsat 67.1^° N, 132.3^° E.The investigation shows that the extension of the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridgeinto the continental shelf acts as a continental graben structure.Actually, the crustal extension is concentrated on the eastern LaptevSea area and the seismicity of the western part of the Laptev Sea canbe explained by the assumption of a separate microplate. In the continentsoutheast of the Laptev Sea a series of northwest trending depressions,known as the Moma `Rift', are observed. Although in this region elevatedheat flow, recent volcanism and a low crustal thickness were found (i.e.Duchkov and Sokolova, 1985; Devyatkin, 1985), there is only a poorcorrelation between the seismicity and the rift valleys. So the Momastructures seem to be related to an aborted rift structure.     

中朝板块元古宙板内地震带与盆地格局

地史中发生的强地震事件在地层中留下固定的记录 (图 1～ 3) ,这些记录在区域上呈带状分布 ,代表地史中的地震带。中朝板块元古宙目前可识别出两个板内地震带 (图 5 )。中元古代板内地震带 (170 0～ 12 0 0Ma)西起太行山北段 ,经燕山山脉、辽宁西部、穿越辽河平原至辽宁北部的泛河流域分布 ,即燕山—泛河地震带 ,现今呈NEE向延伸。新元古代震旦纪地震带沿吉林南部、辽东半岛、山东中部及苏皖北部现今呈NNE走向分布 ,即古郯庐地震带 (6 5 0～ 6 0 0Ma)。上述两个板内地震带是元古宙不同时期超大陆裂解的响应。中元古代与新元古代两个不同方向的地震断裂带分别控制着两个时期的盆地边界。燕山泛河地震断裂带构成中元古代海盆南界 (指现在的位置 ) ,形成向北开放的海域。古郯庐地震断裂带将中朝板块裂解为华北块体与胶辽朝块体。古郯庐地震断裂带构成震旦纪海域的边界 ,震旦纪海盆通过朝鲜半岛与当时的外海相连接 ,华北块体则为陆源剥蚀区。文内四幅古地理图 (图 6～ 9)是以地震灾变思想为指导 ,以新的地层研究、对比为基础编制的 ,侧重反映了盆地的格局及其变化。根据地震、同沉积断裂新的思路 ,可提供地质学家重新认识与解释某些沉积矿床的成因 ,它们的成矿元素均来自地球深部而非地表风化作用。文中编制     

秦岭祁连山昆仑山构造发展史与南北中国板块的拼合

按秦岭祁连山昆仑山发展演化，中国大陆的形成可总结为3阶段板块拼贴“焊合”模型即：中元古代至新元古代早期，原始秦昆洋俯冲—消减，塔里木—华北古陆（北中国板块）与华南洋域新生陆壳（南中国板块）拼贴增生，形成原始中国古陆；震旦纪至志留纪，原始中国古陆裂解，秦祁海洋扩张—俯冲—消减，阿拉善—华北板块（北中国板块）与塔里木、柴达木、华南组成的联合板块（南中国板块）缝合统一，形成古中国板块，泥盆纪至三叠纪早期，古特提斯洋俯冲—消减，藏滇板块（基梅里大陆一部分）与古中国板块碰撞拼贴，滨邻古特提斯洋的中国大陆西南缘（秦祁昆地区）全面皱起，造就中国大陆轮廓；中生代以来，板内超长期继承性汇聚和滨西太平洋边缘构造带、新特提斯—喜马拉雅构造叠加、改造，造就现令中国大陆构造、地势。     

丰城三溪峡——东乡石马岭推覆构造是扬子板块与华南板块的直接分界线

扬子板块与华南板以丰城三溪峡－东乡石马岭推覆构造分野。该推覆构造发育在萍乡－广丰深断裂与遂川－德兴深断裂的复合部位，具有可行－逆冲推覆性质。原地系统为扬子地层分区中元古界牛头岭组、高桥组和将军岭组，外来系统是华南地层分区新元古界源里组，分别相当于蓟县系修水组和青白口系上施组同期沉积。根据推覆变形形式、构造岩特征和变形程度，可将推覆体划分为包括糜棱岩亚带、糜棱岩化亚带在内的变形主带和劈理化带。韧性剪切变形与推覆变形同期产生，但影响范围更广泛。     

华北板块北缘勃隆克A型花岗岩锆石U-Pb定年及其地质意义

内蒙古翁牛特旗勃隆克岩体位于华北板块北缘,侵位于上侏罗系火山岩地层中。详细的岩相学研究显示,勃隆克花岗岩具有粒状结构、蠕虫结构和文像结构,块状构造,部分斜长石已绢云母化、泥化。对勃隆克花岗岩进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,获得134.0±1.8Ma和134.9±4.1Ma的侵位年龄,表明其形成于早白垩世。地球化学特征显示,花岗岩属于高钾钙碱性系列,有较高的SO2(74.1%~75.6%)、Na2O+K2O(8.98%~9.2%)、Rb(210×10-6~225×10-6)含量和10000×Ga/Al(2.69~2.80)、Rb/Sr(5.8~18.9)值,具有较低的CaO、MgO、Ba和Sr含量。铝饱和指数A/CNK=0.99~1.03,属于偏铝质或过铝质A型花岗岩。稀土元素球粒陨石标准化图解显示,轻稀土元素相对富集,负Eu异常明显;在原始地幔标准化图解上,Ba、Sr、Nb、Ta、P、T强烈亏损,富集Rb、Th、K、Hf等元素,与华北板块北缘早白垩世A型花岗岩类似。结合区域构造演化,认为勃隆克花岗岩形成于伸展构造背景。晚中生代,华北板块北缘构造体制经历了重大的转变,地壳从挤压体制转为岩石圈减薄和地壳伸展体制,软流圈物质上涌导致上覆地壳长英质物质的部分熔融形成勃隆克A型花岗岩。     

中国大陆早古生代构造演化

中国大陆早古生代(中寒武世—早泥盆世)构造期以发生一系列各具特征、分布局限、准同时的构造事件为特征。它们与苏格兰—阿帕拉契亚的加里东事件完全不同,在中国大陆出现了西域板块完成拼合,华夏板块构成统一结晶基底,南扬子板块广泛发育板内褶皱,此时还形成了阿尔泰—额尔古纳碰撞带等重要构造事件,而以中朝和北扬子板块为代表的其他板块则主要表现为稳定沉积,地块运移,并呈离散状态。阿尔泰—额尔古纳带、西域板块、华夏板块以及南扬子板块存在板块汇聚、碰撞或地壳缩短的特征,而中朝、北扬子、羌塘、冈底斯、喜马拉雅等地块则以稳定、离散为主要特征。绝大多数板块基本上保持孤立和离散的状态,这是早古生代中国大陆各个地块构造演化特征截然不同的主要原因。     

中国塔里木板块南华纪成冰事件及其地层对比

"雪球地球"假说为全球新元古代冰碛岩研究注入了新的活力。各国地质学家根据新元古代冰碛岩全球各大洲发育的特点,并依据同位素年龄、δ13C/δ18O和Sr的比值和化学蚀变指数(CIA)为全球的新元古界划分出4个冰期,但国际上的4个冰期的限定,是各大洲不同剖面冰期的集合。新元古代冰期事件周期变化视为早期生物复苏和早期动物分异的起点。由于国际埃迪卡拉系底界(GSSP)年龄,即成冰系顶界年龄确定后,使成冰系底界年龄成为当前研究的重点。中国新疆塔里木板块库鲁克塔格地区新元古代冰碛岩是目前世界各大陆中发育有4套连续的新元古代冰碛岩和多期火成岩事件的唯一剖面,它的进一步深入研究,可以备考全球冰期的同步性,以期建立全球新元古代冰碛岩标准剖面。本文报道了来自塔里木西南缘南华系波龙组的碎屑锆石年龄,有助于我们对塔里木板块西南缘南华系时代的限定。