Coeval basin formation,plutonism and metamorphism in the Northern Tasmanides: extensional Cambro-Ordovician tectonism of the Charters Towers Province

Abstract

The Charters Towers Province, of the northern Thomson Orogen, records conversion from a Neoproterozoic passive margin to a Cambrian active margin, as characteristic of the Tasmanides. The passive margin succession includes a thick metasedimentary unit derived from Mesoproterozoic rocks. The Cambrian active margin is represented by upper Cambrian–Lower Ordovician (500–460?Ma) basinal development (Seventy Mile Range Group), plutonism and metamorphism resulting from an enduring episode of arc–backarc crustal extension. Detrital zircon age spectra indicate that parts of the metamorphic basement of the Charters Towers Province (elements of the Argentine Metamorphics and Charters Towers Metamorphics) overlap in protolith age with the basal part of the Seventy Mile Range Group and thus were associated with extensional basin development. Detrital zircon age data from the extensional basin succession indicate it was derived from a far-field (Pacific-Gondwana) primary source. However, a young cluster (<510?Ma) is interpreted as reflecting a local igneous source related to active margin tectonism. Relict zircon in a tonalite phase of the Fat Hen Creek Complex suggests that active margin plutonism may have extended back to ca 530?Ma. Syntectonic plutonism in the western Charters Towers Province is dated at ca 485–480?Ma, close to timing of metamorphism (477–467?Ma) and plutonism more generally (508–455?Ma). The dominant structures in the metamorphic basement formed with gentle to subhorizontal dips and are inferred to have formed by extensional ductile deformation, while normal faulting developed at shallower depths, associated with heat advection by plutonism. Lower Silurian (Benambran) shortening, which affected metamorphic basement and extensional basin units, resulted in the dominant east–west-structural trends of the province. We consider that these trends reflect localised north–south shortening rather than rotation of the province as is consistent with the north–south paleogeographic alignment of extensional basin successions.

1. KEY POINTS

2. Northern Tasmanide transition from passive to active margin tectonic mode had occurred by ca 510?Ma, perhaps as early as ca 530?Ma.

3. Cambro-Ordovician active margin tectonism of the Charters Towers Province (northern Thomson Orogen) was characterised by crustal extension.

4. Crustal extension resulted in the development of coeval (500–460?Ma) basin fill, granitic plutonism and metamorphism with rock assemblages as exposed across the Charters Towers Province developed at a wide range of crustal levels and expressing heterogeneous exhumation.

5. Protoliths of metasedimentary assemblages of the Charters Towers Province include both Proterozoic passive margin successions and those emplaced as Cambrian extensional basin fill.

     

Genesis of the Taishanmiao Au Deposit in the Ningshan–Zhenan Ore Field, South Qinling Orogen, China: Evidence from Geochemical, Geochronological and S-Pb-H-O Isotopical Study

The Taishanmiao Au deposit is in the western part of the Ningshan–Zhenan ore field, in the South Qinling orogen. Based on geological and geochemical features, we propose that the Taishanmiao Au deposit is a magmatic-hydrothermal type of deposit. All samples have high SiO2, K2O + Na2O contents and differentiation index values, low CaO, MgO, P2O5, and TiO2 contents, are enriched in high field-strength elements, and depleted in large ion lithophile element. The stable isotope δ34S values of pyrite vary from 6.8%–7.8%, and the H-O isotopic compositions of quartz from quartz-pyrite veins indicate the ore-forming fluid is a mixture of a small amount of magmatic-hydrothermal solution and groundwater. Lead isotope ratios of pyrite and silicalite can show that the ore-forming materials were derived from a mixed source containing mantle and crustal materials. At the same time, the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of monzogranite is 198.4 ± 4.2 Ma. Combined with the regional geological background, the intracontinental extension in the late collisional orogeny and large-scale lithospheric thinning associated with mantle uplift may lead to large-scale mineralisation in the region.     

哀牢山造山带构造演化及其两侧盆地耦合

哀牢山造山带的崛起和盆地耦合,对东西两侧沉降盆地的构造-沉积性质起关键性作用。转换构造性质不仅形成了逆冲推覆与走滑剪切联合作用的构造共生组合,形成两类不同性质的沉积盆地。     

汇聚造山带变质矿物冠状反应边及生长环带

哀牢山、澜沧江、高黎贡山、念青唐古拉山等汇聚造山带变质岩中,发现一些标型或特征变质矿物间形成冠状反应边或生长环带。它们是变质过程的真实记录,反映了变形变质环境条件的不断变化,完整或直观地表现了不同地体或构造带PTt轨迹特征。可帮助恢复汇聚造山带中不同地体构造属性,为研究造山带PTtD轨迹和PTDX轨迹,提供准确资料。可从另一侧面了解汇聚造山带的演化史。     

北山地区古元古界北山岩群中长英质脉内锆石U- Pb年龄及其地质意义

深熔作用是大陆地壳分异、元素迁移富集的重要地质过程。位于中亚造山带南缘的北山地区,笔者等对前寒武系北山岩群进行了研究,结果表明该岩群普遍经历了角闪岩相变质及深熔作用,长英质浅色脉体分布广泛,却鲜有文献报道。绵山地区出露的古元古代北山岩群斜长角闪岩及相关的长英质浅色脉体的野外地质特征、相互关系共同指示了北山岩群变质地层经历了部分熔融,熔体在原地分凝聚积。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测定结果表明,顺北山岩群变质地层片理产出的长英质浅色脉体锆石n(²⁰⁶Pb)/n(²³⁸U)加权平均年龄约为370 Ma,表明深熔作用发生时间为晚泥盆世;一测点的n(²⁰⁷Pb)/n(²⁰⁶Pb)年龄为1623±12 Ma,与前人报道的北山岩群测年结果高度相近,虽此年龄值不足为证,但结合产出特征,可能指示长英质浅色脉体的源岩为北山岩群。此外,北山岩群中深熔作用普遍发育,露头可见大量的石榴子石、电气石、云母类矿物,指示区内部分稀有元素成矿潜力巨大。     

中天山地块南缘两类混合岩的成因及其地质意义

中天山地块是位于中亚造山带西南缘的西天山造山带的重要组成块体,其基底演化和构造亲缘性对恢复西天山的增生造山方式和大地构造格局具有重要意义。混合岩在中天山地块的高级变质地体中广泛分布,是揭示中天山地块基底演化和构造属性的窗口。本文通过开展锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素及岩石地球化学研究,确定了中天山地块南缘乌瓦门杂岩的两类条带状混合岩的原岩性质和形成时代以及混合岩化作用时代和成因机制。第一类条带状混合岩的原岩为中基性岩屑砂岩,混合岩化时代为～1. 8Ga,是在同期角闪岩相变质过程中通过变质分异形成的。第二类条带状混合岩的古成体包括黑云角闪斜长片麻岩和黑云斜长角闪片麻岩,原岩均形成于～2. 5Ga,并叠加～1. 8Ga角闪岩相变质作用,是洋陆俯冲背景下由俯冲洋壳或岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成。侵入古成体的变基性岩墙形成于～1. 72Ga,具有Fe-Ti玄武岩的地球化学特征,起源于后碰撞伸展背景下的软流圈地幔。该类混合岩的浅色体同时穿插古成体和变基性岩墙,呈现突变的野外接触关系,与区域内约787～785Ma混合岩化同期,即混合岩化作用是外来岩浆注入的结果,可能是造山带垮塌引发地壳深熔作用的产物。乌瓦门杂岩记录的～2. 5Ga岩浆活动、～1. 8Ga变质作用和～790Ma混合岩化作用可以和塔里木北缘进行对比,暗示中天山地块是一个具有确切新太古代-古元古代结晶基底的微陆块,并且和塔里木克拉通存在构造亲缘性。     

湘东北岳阳地区冷家溪群和板溪群凝灰岩SHRIMP 锆石U-Pb年龄——对武陵运动的制约

对冷家溪群及其上覆板溪群斑脱岩中的锆石进行研究,测得冷家溪群小木平组斑脱岩SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄(822Ma±10Ma)和上覆板溪群张家湾组斑脱岩锆石U-Pb年龄(802.6Ma±7.6Ma),结合“江南造山带”东部变质基底双桥山群和西南地区四堡群、下江群的SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄,将冷家溪群与其相应的江南古陆变质地层明确定位于新元古界。该年龄对重新界定“武陵运动”的时限和进行同期地层的区域对比、构造演化研究都有重要意义。冷家溪群与双桥山群、梵净山群、四堡群、双溪坞群一样,均为低变质绿片岩系,构成了江南古陆地区的变质基底。多年来冷家溪群一直划归中元古界,并且视为“武陵运动”的主体,其时代的定位将影响整个江南古陆变质基底的地层划分和对比,也将制约江南造山带的地质背景和成矿条件解疑。上述锆石U-Pb年龄不仅标示了湘东地区新元古代地层的时代,也为江南古陆中部变质基底提供了新的、精确的年代学数据。     

关于造山带地层学的若干思考——昌宁—孟连带实例剖析

造山带中地层的展布具有明显不同于稳定克拉通地区的特点,充分了解这些特点并采取相应的对策,是正确解决造山带疑难地层问题的关键所在。通过对滇西昌宁—孟连带若干实例的剖析,探讨解决其中长期存在争议的地层问题的途径     

The Rössing Uranium Deposit: a product of late-kinematic localization of uraniferous granites in the Central Zone of the Damara Orogen, Namibia

The Rössing granite-hosted uranium deposit in the Central Zone of the Pan-African Damara Orogen, Namibia, is situated in the “SJ area” to the south of the Rössing Dome. The coincidence of a number of features in this area suggests that mineralization is closely linked to late-kinematic evolution of the Rössing Dome. These features include: (1) the rotation of the dome's long axis (trend of 017°), relative to the regional F₃ trend of 042°; (2) southward dome impingement, concomitant with dome rotation, producing a wedge-shaped zone of alkali-leucogranites, within which uranium mineralization is transgressive with respect to granites and their host lithologies; uranium mineralization and a high fluid flux are also confined to this arcuate zone to the south and south-east of the dome core and (3) fault modeling that indicates that the SJ area underwent late-D₃ to D₄ brittle–ductile deformation, producing a dense fault network that was exploited by leucogranites. Dome rotation and southward impingement occurred after a protracted period of transtensional tectonism in the Central Zone, from ca. 542 to 526 Ma, during which I- and S-type granites were initiated in a metamorphic core complex. Late-kinematic deformation involved a rejuvenation of the stresses that acted from ca. 600 to 550 Ma. This deformation overlapped with uranium-enriched granite intrusion in the Central Zone at 510 ± 3 Ma. Such late-kinematic, north–south transpression, which persisted into the post-kinematic cooling phase until at least 478 ± 4 Ma, was synchronous with left-lateral displacement along NNE-trending (“Welwitschia Trend”) shears in the vicinity of Rössing. Late-kinematic deformation, causing block rotation, overlying dome rotation and interaction of the more competent units of the Khan Formation with the Rössing Formation in the dome rim was pivotal in the localization of uranium-enriched granites within a highly fractured, high-strain zone that was also the site of prolonged/high fluid flux.     

大别造山带东段重力异常多尺度分解及其构造意义

文中通过多源数据融合、模型构建、数据试验、二维离散小波变换和功率谱分析等方法获取了大别造山带东段深、浅部场源布格异常及其场源似深度,并结合地壳结构、地质构造、岩石圈有效弹性厚度和地震活动等资料,讨论了地壳深、浅部的结构特征及地震活动构造背景。结果表明,低频布格异常显示大别造山带东段与华北地块间深部构造缝合带在东部应位于青山-晓天断裂前缘,在落儿岭-土地岭断裂和商城-麻城断裂之间向N偏移至梅山-龙河口断裂之下,造山带南侧与扬子地块间深部构造缝合带位于襄樊-广济断裂以北约20km,造山带东侧与扬子地块间的深部构造转换带位于郯庐断裂带之下,造山带东段腹地显著的低频布格异常低值表明对应部位的莫霍面存在明显下凹,造山带内部的布格异常高梯度带表明其深部结构不完整;高频布格异常揭示肥中断裂、六安-合肥断裂、肥西-韩摆渡断裂和郯庐断裂带等主要断裂对地壳中上部密度结构的影响明显,落儿岭-土地岭断裂对地壳中上部密度结构的影响范围向N延伸至肥西-韩摆渡断裂前缘。结合地震活动资料进一步分析认为,大别造山带东段与华北地块在青山-晓天断裂前缘附近接触和相互作用,且大别造山带东段地壳深、浅部结构均不完整,不利于应力积累,趋向于在断裂交错的脆弱部位频繁释放应力,是霍山地区小地震活动频繁的主要原因。