Experimental and theoretical study of stability of dense hydrous magnesium silicates in the deep upper mantle

Fluid-undersaturated experiments were conducted to determine the phase relations in the simplified peridotite system MgO-SiO₂-H₂O (MSH) at 11.0-14.5 GPa and 800-1400 °C. Stability relations of dense hydrous magnesium silicates (DHMSs) under fluid-undersaturated conditions were experimentally examined. From the fluid-absent experimental results, we retrieved thermodynamic data for clinohumite, phase A, phase E, and hydrous wadsleyite, consistent with the published data set for dry mantle minerals. With this new data set, we have calculated phase equilibria in the MSH system including dehydration reactions. The dehydration reactions calculated with lower water activities of 0.68-0.60 match the fluid-present experiments of this study above 11.0 GPa and 1000 °C, indicating that considerable amounts of silicate component were dissolved into the fluid phase. The calculated phase equilibria illustrate the stability of the post-antigorite phase A-bearing assemblages. In the cold subducting slab peridotite, phase A + enstatite assemblage survives into the transition zone, whereas phase A + forsterite + enstatite assemblage forms hydrous wadsleyite at a much shallower depth of about 360-km. The slab is subducted with no dehydration reactions occurring when entering the transition zone. The phase equilibria also show the high temperature stability of phase E. Phase E is stable up to 1200 °C at 13.5 GPa, a plausible condition in the mantle of relatively low temperature, i.e., beneath subduction zones. Phase E is a possible water reservoir in the mantle as well as wadsleyite and ringwoodite.     

Formation of Paleoproterozoic eclogitic mantle, Slave Province (Canada): Insights from in-situ Hf and U–Pb isotopic analyses of mantle zircons

In-situ Hf isotope analyses and U–Pb dates were obtained by laser ablation-MC-ICP-MS for a zircon-bearing mantle eclogite xenolith from the diamondiferous Jericho kimberlite located within the Archean Slave Province (Nunavut), Canada. The U–Pb zircon results yield a wide range of ages (2.0 to 0.8 Ga) indicating a complex geological history. Of importance, one zircon yields a U–Pb upper intercept date of 1989 ± 67 Ma, providing a new minimum age constraint for zircon crystallization and eclogite formation. In contrast, Hf isotope systematics for the same zircons display an intriguing uniformity, and corresponding Hf depleted mantle model ages range between 2.1 ± 0.1 and 2.3 ± 0.1 Ga; the youngest Hf model age is within error to the oldest U–Pb date.

The Jericho eclogites have previously been interpreted as representing remnants of metamorphosed oceanic crust, and their formation related to Paleoproterozoic subduction regimes along the western margin of the Archean Slave craton during the Wopmay orogeny. Hf isotope compositions and U–Pb results for the Jericho zircons reported here are in good agreement with a Paleoproterozoic subduction model, suggesting that generation of oceanic crust and eclogite formation occurred between 2.0 and 2.1 Ga. The slightly older Hf depleted mantle model ages (2.1 to 2.3 Ga) may be reconciled with this model by invoking mixing between ‘crustal’-derived Hf from sediments and more radiogenic Hf associated with the oceanic crust during the 2 Ga subduction event. This results in intermediate Hf isotope compositions for the Jericho zircons that yield ‘fictitiously’ older Hf model ages.     

Deep structure of the northeastern Japan arc and its implications for crustal deformation and shallow seismic activity

Seismic tomography studies in the northeastern Japan arc have revealed the existence of an inclined sheet-like seismic low-velocity and high-attenuation zone in the mantle wedge at depths shallower than about 150 km. This sheet-like low-velocity, high-attenuation zone is oriented sub-parallel to the subducted slab, and is considered to correspond to the upwelling flow portion of the subduction-induced convection. The low-velocity, high-attenuation zone reaches the Moho immediately beneath the volcanic front (or the Ou Backbone Range) running through the middle of the arc nearly parallel to the trench axis, which suggests that the volcanic front is formed by this hot upwelling flow. Aqueous fluids supplied by the subducted slab are probably transported upward through this upwelling flow to reach shallow levels beneath the Backbone Range where they are expelled from solidified magma and migrate further upward. The existence of aqueous fluids may weaken the surrounding crustal rocks, resulting in local contractive deformation and uplift along the Backbone Range under the compressional stress field of the volcanic arc. A strain-rate distribution map generated from GPS data reveals a notable concentration of east–west contraction along the Backbone Range, consistent with this interpretation. Shallow inland earthquakes are also concentrated in the upper crust of this locally large contraction deformation zone. Based on these observations, a simple model is proposed to explain the deformation pattern of the crust and the characteristic shallow seismic activity beneath the northeastern Japan arc.     

Upper mantle structure of the South American continent and neighboring oceans from surface wave tomography

We present a new three-dimensional SV-wave velocity model for the upper mantle beneath South America and the surrounding oceans, built from the waveform inversion of 5850 Rayleigh wave seismograms. The dense path coverage and the use of higher modes to supplement the fundamental mode of surface waves allow us to constrain seismic heterogeneities with horizontal wavelengths of a few hundred kilometres in the uppermost 400 km of the mantle.The large scale features of our tomographic model confirm previous results from global and regional tomographic studies (e.g. the depth extent of the high velocity cratonic roots down to about 200–250 km).Several new features are highlighted in our model. Down to 100 km depth, the high velocity lid beneath the Amazonian craton is separated in two parts associated with the Guyana and Guapore shields, suggesting that the rifting episode responsible for the formation of the Amazon basin has involved a significant part of the lithosphere. Along the Andean subduction belt, the structure of the high velocity anomaly associated with the sudbduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate reflects the along-strike variation in dip of the subducting plate. Slow velocities are observed down to about 100 km and 150 km at the intersection of the Carnegie and Chile ridges with the continent and are likely to represent the thermal anomalies associated with the subducted ridges. These lowered velocities might correspond to zones of weakness in the subducted plate and may have led to the formation of “slab windows” developed through unzipping of the subducted ridges; these windows might accommodate a transfer of asthenospheric mantle from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean. From 150 to 250 km depth, the subducting Nazca plate is associated with high seismic velocities between 5°S and 37°S. We find high seismic velocities beneath the Paraná basin down to about 200 km depth, underlain by a low velocity anomaly in the depth range 200–400 km located beneath the Ponta Grossa arc at the southern tip of the basin. This high velocity anomaly is located southward of a narrow S-wave low velocity structure observed between 200 and 500–600 km depth in body wave studies, but irresolvable with our long period datasets. Both anomalies point to a model in which several, possibly diachronous, plumes have risen to the surface to generate the Paraná large igneous province (LIP).     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带西段特提斯洋晚二叠世(Ca.252Ma)洋内俯冲的地球化学和年代学证据

多龙蛇绿混杂岩是班公湖-怒江蛇绿岩带的重要组成部分,位于西藏阿里地区改则县北西约120 km的多龙矿集区内,大地构造位置处于班公湖-怒江缝合带中西段,南羌塘板块南缘。多龙蛇绿混杂岩主要分布在多龙矿区中部及东北部。矿区中部蛇绿岩主要由辉长岩、辉绿(玢)岩、枕状玄武岩、气孔杏仁状玄武岩、玄武质岩屑凝灰岩及硅质岩等组成,东西向延伸约35 km,南北宽3~7 km,出露面积约180 km2;该蛇绿岩残片的组成单元(包括基性岩单元以及硅质岩单元等)多被构造肢解,整体表现为不规则透镜体,以构造岩片的形式断续分布于侏罗系次深海陆棚-盆地斜坡复陆碎屑岩-类复理石建造内的断层带中,构成典型的网结状构造。矿区东北部蛇绿岩主要由含铁斜方辉石橄榄蛇纹岩、玻基玄武岩、碳酸盐化角闪辉长岩、微纹层状硅质岩等组成,该蛇绿混杂岩带沿北西-南东向断裂展布,延伸约12 km,宽1~3 km,出露面积约30 km2;该蛇绿岩残片组成单元(包括超基性岩单元、基性岩单元以及硅质岩单元等)均呈构造岩片的形式产出在三叠系灰岩地层内的断层带中。     

叶蛇纹岩脆性-半脆性破裂研究

利用Paterson气体介质高温高压流变仪对纯叶蛇纹岩在100~400MPa围压、25~700℃温度和10-5~1.5×10-6s-1应变速率下进行了三轴压缩变形实验。实验结果表明叶蛇纹石在低压条件下表现为脆性破裂,高压或脱水条件下表现为半脆性破裂。随着温度的增加,叶蛇纹石的强度显示逐渐降低的趋势;尤其在脱水条件下,温度的增加可导致叶蛇纹石强度大幅度地降低,而且此时预热时间对强度的影响比未发生脱水时更加显著。结合前人的研究并对比发现,围压在室温下的增加导致叶蛇纹岩强度增加;但在高温下围压的增加导致试样强度整体上降低,这很可能是试样内聚力的局部损失与韧性增强引起的。围压和温度的升高,以及断层面上流体的增加很可能会增加破裂面的韧性,从而减小摩擦系数。此外,叶蛇纹石并非以往人们所认为的那样具有极低的强度,其强度要比低温蛇纹石(如利蛇纹石和纤蛇纹石)的大得多,即便在高温(大约600℃)下差应力大于约600MPa和中-低温(≤400℃)下差应力大于约1000MPa时仍没有表现出明显屈服的迹象。在脱水条件下,蛇纹岩并没有发生脱水致脆,相反脱水使得试样的断裂行为变得更加温和些。因此,俯冲带蛇纹岩脱水更可能诱发其周围更加脆性的岩石发生地震而不是脱水的蛇纹岩本身发生地震。     

The dominant driving force for supercontinent breakup: Plume push or subduction retreat?

Understanding the dominant force responsible for supercontinent breakup is crucial for establishing Earth's geodynamic evolution that includes supercontinent cycles and plate tectonics. Conventionally,two forces have been considered: the push by mantle plumes from the sub-continental mantle which is called the active force for breakup, and the dragging force from oceanic subduction retreat which is called the passive force for breakup. However, the relative importance of these two forces is unclear. Here we model the supercontinent breakup coupled with global mantle convection in order to address this question. Our global model features a spherical harmonic degree-2 structure, which includes a major subduction girdle and two large upwelling(superplume) systems. Based on this global mantle structure,we examine the distribution of extensional stress applied to the supercontinent by both subsupercontinent mantle upwellings and subduction retreat at the supercontinent peripheral. Our results show that:(1) at the center half of the supercontinent, plume push stress is ～3 times larger than the stress induced by subduction retreat;(2) an average hot anomaly of no higher than 50 K beneath the supercontinent can produce a push force strong enough to cause the initialization of supercontinent breakup;(3) the extensional stress induced by subduction retreat concentrates on a ～600 km wide zone on the boundary of the supercontinent, but has far less impact to the interior of the supercontinent. We therefore conclude that although circum-supercontinent subduction retreat assists supercontinent breakup, sub-supercontinent mantle upwelling is the essential force.     

Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites from the Duolong Cu–Au deposit,southern Qiangtang,China: evidence for crustal growth

We report new zircon U–Pb age, Hf isotopic, and major and trace element data for rhyolites from the Duolong Ore Concentration Area of the Southern Qiangtang Terrane. Building on previous studies, we constrain the tectonic setting and propose a model to explain the geodynamics and crustal growth during regional magmatism in the Early Cretaceous. The analysed rhyolites yield laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb ages of 115 and 118 Ma. The rocks are K-rich (K₂O = 6.66–9.93 wt.%; K₂O/Na₂O = 8.2–19.7 wt.%), alkaline and peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.02–1.46), and are characterized by high SiO₂ contents (72.8–78.8 wt.%) similar to highly fractionated I-type granites. Fractionation of Fe–Ti oxides, plagioclase, hornblende, Ti-bearing phases, apatite, monazite, allanite and zircon contributed to the variations in major and trace element chemistry. High K₂O contents are likely due to partial melting of the continental crust. The samples have positive zircon εHf(t) values ranging from +7.1 to +11.2. These features, together with young zircon Hf crustal model ages of 489–721 Ma, indicate that the K-rich rhyolites were derived from juvenile lower crust with an input of a mantle-derived component. We suggest that the Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites formed in a continental arc setting during northward subduction of Bangong Co–Nujiang oceanic lithosphere. Basaltic magma underplating was responsible for vertical crustal growth, triggered by slab roll-back in the Duolong Ore Concentration Area in the Early Cretaceous.     

俯冲带碳酸盐化对深部碳循环的启示:以中国西南天山碳酸盐化云母片岩为例

俯冲带可将地球表层碳输送至深部地幔,同时也记录着俯冲板片来源碳质流体的迁移沉淀机制,对地球深部碳循环具有重大影响。近年来,俯冲带脱碳机制的研究表明流体溶解脱碳作用是冷的大洋俯冲板片释放COH流体的重要方式,而上覆板块(尤其地幔楔)则被认为是缓冲这些COH流体的重要场所,甚至是俯冲带CO_2的唯一"归宿"。事实上,俯冲带岩石本身的固碳能力却受到了忽视,而对俯冲带岩石捕获和固存CO_2(carbon capture and storage,CCS)能力的评估对全球碳通量的估算尤为重要。本文以中国西南天山高压-超高压变质带中碳酸盐化云母片岩为例,探讨俯冲带岩石的碳酸盐化对深部碳循环的影响。西南天山长阿吾子一带的碳酸盐化云母片岩记录了俯冲板片起源的碳质流体对俯冲带云母片岩的交代作用,地球化学特征表明蛇纹岩释放的富水流体溶解俯冲洋壳中的碳酸盐可能是产生COH流体的重要机制。基于碳质流体对多硅白云母(Si(a.p.f.u.)=3.58～3.73)的交代及相对高压的碳酸盐矿物(主要为白云石和菱镁矿)与金红石的共生,结合区域上碳酸盐化云母片岩与高压碳酸盐化蛇纹岩(HP-ophidolomite)的伴生,我们认为云母片岩的碳酸盐化作用可能发生在俯冲板片峰期稍后的高压折返阶段。俯冲带云母片岩的固碳作用表明除了上覆板块,俯冲带岩石本身对于碳质流体也具有很好的吸收能力。初步估算表明俯冲带云母片岩的碳酸盐化每年可固存至少2.46～6.68Mt/yr,约占俯冲板片每年进碳量的4%～17%。     

新特提斯洋俯冲起始的地质记录:土耳其南部蛇绿岩和变质底板

在现行板块构造理论的框架下,板块的初始俯冲是岩浆活动和构造运动发生转变的重要过程,亦是理解板块运动的关键节点。在俯冲起始过程中,主要存在四个方面的地质记录,分别为一系列地球化学成分多样的岩浆活动、SSZ型蛇绿岩、变质底板和玻安岩及其对应的铬铁矿床。特提斯造山带作为公认的研究板块构造理论尤其是初始俯冲的关键场所,一直备受地学界的重视。而土耳其南部构造带作为特提斯造山带的重要组成部分,亦是确定亚欧板块和阿拉伯板块之间缝合线存在的重要标志。该南部构造带是研究新特提斯洋俯冲起始的理想场所,上述关于俯冲初始的四个地质记录均保存良好,且有如下方面的重要特点:1)不同地区的镁铁质岩石甚至同一地区的镁铁质岩石具有不同的地球化学特征,从似洋中脊玄武岩,到过渡型岩石类型和玻安质岩石均有发育; 2)大部分蛇绿岩具有完整的序列,各单元及变质底板岩石中普遍发育侵入的基性岩脉,产状多变,是多期岩浆事件的产物; 3)蛇绿岩下部通常发育一套角闪岩相变质底板,且其年龄与蛇绿岩的形成年龄基本一致; 4)蛇绿岩中普遍发育铬铁矿床,以高Cr型为主,部分蛇绿岩中还赋存高Al-高Cr的过渡型铬铁矿,均被认为是幔源岩浆与地幔橄榄岩反应的产物。因而,这些地质体完整记录了新特提斯洋形成-俯冲-消减的演化过程。