Geodynamics of oroclinal bending: Insights from the Mediterranean

The Alpine Orogen in the Mediterranean region exhibits a series of orogenic curvatures (oroclines). The evolution of these oroclines is relatively well constrained by a plethora of geophysical and geological data, and therefore, their origin can inform us on the fundamental processes controlling oroclinal bending. Here, a synthesis of the geometry of Mediterranean oroclines, followed by a discussion on their geodynamic origin is presented. The geometrical synthesis is based on a new classification of Mediterranean oroclines, which defines a first-order orocline (Adriatic Orocline) by the general northward-convex shape of the Alpine Orogen from Cyprus to Gibraltar. Superimposed on the limbs of this orocline, are second-, third- and fourth-order oroclines. The major process that led to the formation of the Adriatic Orocline is the indentation of Adria into Europe, whereas second- and third-order oroclines (e.g., Western Mediterranean and Gibraltar oroclines, respectively) were primarily controlled by a combination of trench retreat and slab tearing. It appears, therefore, that the geodynamics of Mediterranean oroclines has been entirely dependent on plate boundary migration and segmentation, as expressed in the interlinked processes of indentation, trench retreat and slab tearing. The relative contribution of specific geodynamic processes, and their maturity, could be inferred from geometrical characteristics, such as the amplitude-to-width ratio, the orientation of the curvature (convex or concave) relative to the convergence vector, and their geometrical relationship with backarc extensional basins (e.g., in the concave side of the orocline). Based on the information from the Mediterranean oroclines, it is concluded that oroclinal bending commonly involves lithospheric-scale processes, and is not restricted to thin-skinned deformation. However, contrary to previous suggestions that assume that the whole lithosphere can buckle, there is no clear evidence that such processes occur in modern tectonic environments.     

Enhancing Geological Understanding and Identifying Gold Anomalies in the Ailaoshan Orogen

The Ailaoshan Orogen in the southeastern Tibet Plateau, situated between the Yangtze and Simao blocks, underwent a complex structural, magmatic, and metamorphic evolution resulting in different tectonic subzones with varying structural lineaments and elemental concentrations. These elements can conceal or reduce anomalies due to the mutual effect between different anomaly areas. Dividing the whole zone into subzones based on tectonic settings, ore cluster areas, or sample catchment basins (Scb), geochemical and structural anomalies associated with gold (Au) mineralization have been identified utilizing mean plus twice standard deviations (Mean + 2STD), factor analysis (FA), concentration-area (C-A) modeling of stream sediment geochemical data, and lineament density in both the Ailaoshan Orogen and the individual subzones. The FA in the divided 98 Scbs with 6 Scbs containing Au deposits can roughly ascertain unknown rock types, identify specific element associations of known rocks and discern the porphyry or skarn-type Au mineralization. Compared with methods of Mean + 2STD and C-A model of data in the whole orogen, which mistake the anomalies as background or act the background as anomalies, the combined methods of FA and C-A in the separate subzones or Scbs works well in regional metallogenic potential analysis. Mapping of lineament densities with a 10-km circle diameter is not suitable to locate Au deposits because of the delineated large areas of medium-high lineament density. In contrast, the use of circle diameters of 1.3 km or 1.7 km in the ore cluster scale delineates areas with a higher concentration of lineament density, consistent with the locations of known Au deposits. By analyzing the map of faults and Au anomalies, two potential prospecting targets, Scbs 1 and 63 with a sandstone as a potential host rock for Au, have been identified in the Ailaoshan Orogen. The use of combined methods in the divided subzones proved to be more effective in improving geological understanding and identifying mineralization anomalies associated with Au, rather than analyzing the entire large area.     

Hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation of the Glen Eden Mo-W-Sn deposit: a leucogranite-related hydrothermal system,Southern New England Orogen,NSW, Australia

The Glen Eden Mo-Sn-W deposit in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, is an example of a leucogranite-related, low-grade, large-tonnage hydrothermal system. It occurs in the southern part of the New England Orogen and is hosted within Permian felsic volcanic rocks, intruded at depth by dykes of porphyritic microleucogranite (Glen Eden Granite). The deposit is hosted within a pipe-like quartz-rich greisen breccia body about 500 m in diameter, surrounded by a greisen zone several hundred metres across, zoning out into altered volcanic rocks. The dominant ore minerals, largely hosted as open space fillings and disseminations in quartz and quartz-rich greisen, are molybdenite, wolframite and cassiterite; they are accompanied by minor to trace amounts of muscovite, fluorite, topaz, siderite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bismuth, bismuthinite, joseite A, cosalite, galenobismutite, beryl, anatase and late-stage dickite and kaolinite. Two types of breccia are recognised: (1) greisenised volcanic rock fragments (quartz + muscovite), cemented by hydrothermal quartz ± K-feldspar ± ore minerals, and (2) fragments of hydrothermal quartz ± cassiterite ± wolframite enclosed in quartz ± clay. In both types of breccia and in stockwork veins, there is evidence of early precipitation of Mo-Sn-W phases, followed by Bi minerals and base metal sulfides (± fluorite, siderite).Breccia formation and associated hydrothermal alteration (greisen, potassic, argillic, propylitic) are interpreted to be related to devolatilisation of the highly fractionated Glen Eden Granite of early Triassic age (240±1 Ma based on ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of greisen muscovite) as well as to fluid mixing with meteoric waters. The breccia pipe could have formed in part by rock dissolution and collapse, as well as by explosive degassing of boiling fluids. Fluid inclusion evidence is consistent with boiling, with breccia pipe formation and mineralisation having mainly occurred at 250–350 °C from fluids with salinity of 0.4–9 wt% NaCl equivalent in the dilute types and 30–47 wt% NaCl equivalent in the hypersaline types. Stable isotopic evidence (O, D, C, S) indicates a strong magmatic contribution to the hydrothermal fluids and metals in the breccia. The ¹⁸O values of quartz decrease outward from the breccia pipe (10.6–12.3 in the pipe to 3.4–8.7 in the peripheral quartz) indicating that there has been mixing with isotopically light (high latitude) meteoric fluids, mainly after formation of the breccia pipe.     

Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP ages of weakly to unmetamorphosed granitoids of the Yangtze basement outcrop in Dabieshan, central China

The Qichun granitoids exposed in the Dabie Orogen of China are composed of two types of rocks: porphyritic monzogranite (with variable schistosity) and syenogranite (without schistosity). The two types show large differences in geochemical characteristics. The porphyritic monzogranite is characterized by high Al₂O₃ content (15.73%), relatively high CaO (2.46%) and Na₂O contents (Na₂O/K₂O=1.27), strong depletion in HREE and strong fractionation between LREE and HREE ((La/Yb)_N=46.8), similar to some high Al₂O₃ Archaean TTG gneisses. Conversely, the syenogranite is characterized by relatively low Al₂O₃ (14.05%) and CaO (0.82%) contents, and higher K₂O than Na₂O (Na₂O/K₂O=0.81). The degree of fractionation between LREE and HREE is minor. The U–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of the porphyritic monzogranite is 841±15 and 824±27 Ma for the syenogranite. These ages are similar to the protolith emplacement ages of granitic gneisses in the Dabie Orogenic Belt. The existence of weakly to unmetamorphosed granitoids in the Dabie Orogen shows that the granitoids were situated in the back part of the subducted plate during collision and subduction between the Yangtze and the North China cratons, and may represent outcrops of the Yangtze basement.     

Ore Geology, Fluid Geochemistry and Genesis of the Shanggong Gold Deposit, Eastern Qinling Orogen, China

Abstract. The Shanggong Au deposit in the Xiong'er Terrane, East Qinling, has reserves of about 30 t Au, making it one of the largest orogenic‐type Au deposits hosted in volcanic rocks in China. The deposit is hosted in the andesitic assemblage of the Xiong'er Group of 1.85?1.4 Ga. Three stages of hydrothermal ore‐forming processes are recognized, Early (E), Middle (M) and Late (L), characterised by quartz‐pyrite, polymetallic sulfides and carbonate‐quartz, respectively. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions are between 380‐320d?C for the E‐stage, 300‐220d?C for the M‐stage and 200‐120d?C for the L‐stage. The composition of fluid inclusions changed from CO₂‐rich in the E‐stage to CO₂‐poor L‐stage. The M‐stage fluid has the highest contents of cations and anions (e.g., SO₄^2‐, Cl¹, K+), the highest (K+Na)/(Mg+Ca) and lowest CO₂/H₂O ratios, which probably resulted from CO₂ phase separation. This, together with the alkaline and reducing conditions, as indicated by highest pH and lowest Eh values, is most conducive to the deposition of polymetallic sulfides and native elements such as Au, Ag and Te. H‐O isotope systematics indicate that ore fluids evolved from deep‐sourced through to shallow‐sourced, with the M‐stage being a mixing phase of these two fluid‐systems. Nineteen δ¹⁸O_W values, from 4.2 to 13.4 %o, averaging 8.1 %o, suggest that the E‐stage fluids derived from metamorphic devolatilization of sedimentary rocks at depth. Comparison of the H‐O isotope systematics between the Shanggong deposit and the main lithologies in the Xiong'er Terrane, shows that neither these nor the underlying lower crust and mantle, or combinations thereof, could be considered as the source of ore fluids and metals for the Shanggong Au deposit. Instead, a source which meets the isotopic constraints, is a carbonaceous carbonate‐sandstone‐shale‐chert (CSC) sequence, which is present in the Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups in the south of the Xiong'er Terrane. This conclusion is supported by thirteen high δ¹⁸O values of the Meso‐Neoproterozoic strata south of the Machaoying fault, and the high δ¹⁸O_W values calculated for their possibly metamorphic fluids. It can be also supported by previous observation that the Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups were underthrust beneath the Xiong'er Terrane, during the Mesozoic collision between the Yangtze and Sinokorean continents. Available isotope ages, together with geological field data, constrain the timing of the Au metallogenesis between 250?110 Ma. This metallogenesis and associated granitic magmatism, can be related to the Yangtze‐Sinokorean continental collision that resulted in the formation of the Qinling Orogen. This collision event progressed from early compression (Triassic to Early Jurassic), through middle compression‐to‐extension transition (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous), to late extension (Cretaceous). These three stages in the evolution of the Qinling Orogen form the basis of an ore genesis model that combines collisional orogeny, metallogeny and fluid flow (CMF model). These three evolutionary stages correspond to the three‐stages of ore‐forming fluids of the Shanggong Au deposit. We conclude that the formation of the Shanggong Au deposit is a result of the Mesozoic northward intracontinental A‐type subduction along the Machaoying fault during Yangtze‐Sinokorean continental collision, which led to the metamorphic devolatilization of the CSC sequence, thereby providing both fluids and metals.     

Paleomagnetism of the Carboniferous Gresford Block,Tamworth Belt,southern New England Orogen: minor counter-clockwise rotation of a primary arc segment

Abstract

Four oroclinal structures have been identified from structural, magnetic and gravity trends across a Carboniferous continental arc, forearc basin [Tamworth Belt (TB)] and conjugate accretionary complex in the southern New England Orogen (SNEO) of eastern Australia. None of the structures has yet been confirmed conclusively by paleomagnetism as oroclinal. Ignimbrites are common within the forearc basin and have been demonstrated to retain primary magnetisations despite prevalent overprinting. They are well exposed across six major tectono-stratigraphic blocks with partly interlinked stratigraphies, making the forearc basin highly prospective to oroclinal testing by comparing pole path segments for individual blocks across curved structures. Paleomagnetic studies have shown no noticeable rotation across the western/southwestern TB (Rocky Creek, Werrie and Rouchel blocks), but documented herein is a minor counter-clockwise rotation of the Gresford Block of the southern TB. This study details paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and magnetic fabric results for 87 sites (969 samples) across the southern Gresford Block. Predominantly thermal, also alternating field and liquid nitrogen, demagnetisations show a widely present low-temperature overprint, attributed to regional late Oligocene weathering, and high-temperature primary and overprint components residing in both mainly magnetite and mainly hematite carriers. Subtle, but systematic, directional differences between magnetite and hematite subcomponents show the latter as the better cleaned, better-defined, preferred results, detailing nine primary poles of middle and late Carboniferous ages and Permian and Permo-Triassic overprints as observed elsewhere in the western/southwestern TB. The primary poles update a poorly defined mid-Carboniferous section of the SNEO pole path and demonstrate counter-clockwise rotation, quantified at about 15° ± 13° from comparison of mid-Carboniferous Martins Creek Ignimbrite Member poles for the Rouchel and Gresford blocks, that may not necessarily have been completed prior to the Hunter–Bowen phase of the Gondwanide Orogeny. This minor counter-clockwise rotation of the Gresford Block accentuates a primary curvature of the southwestern/southern TB and heralds further, more complex, rotations of the Myall Block of the southeastern TB.     

Metamorphism in the New England Orogen,eastern Australia: a review

Abstract

This paper summarises current knowledge on metamorphism within the entire New England Orogen (NEO) of eastern Australia. Rocks recording metamorphic assemblages characteristic of each of the three metamorphic facies series (high, medium and low P/T) have been identified within the orogen. These include high P/T blueschists and eclogites, mid P/T orogenic metamorphism and low P/T contact aureoles and sub-regional high-temperature–low-pressure (HTLP) metamorphism (regional aureoles). Metamorphism is described as it relates to six tectonic phases of development of the NEO that together comprise two major cycles of compression–extension. Medium–high-grade contact metamorphism spans all six tectonic phases while low-grade burial and/or orogenic metamorphism has been identified for four of the six phases. In contrast, exposure of high P/T eclogites and blueschists, and generation of sub-regional low P/T metamorphism is restricted to extensional phases of the orogen. Hallmarks of the orogen are two newly identified zones of HTLP metamorphism, the older of which extends for almost the entire length of the orogen.

1. KEY POINTS

2. The orogen is dominated by low-temperature rocks while high-temperature amphibolite to granulite facies rocks are restricted to small exposures in HTLP complexes and contact aureoles.

3. Blueschist metamorphism falls into two categories; that associated with subduction during the Currabubula-Connors continental arc phase occurring at depths of ～13–30?km; and the other of Cambrian–Ordovician age, exposed within a serpentinite melange and associated with blocks of eclogite. The eclogite, initially from depths of ～75–90?km, appears to have been entrained in the deep crust for an extended period of geological time.

4. A comprehensive review of contact metamorphism in the orogen is lacking and as studies on low-grade metamorphism are more extensive in the southern part of the orogen than the north, this highlights a second research gap.

     

Geochronology, Geochemistry, Whole Rock Sr-Nd and Zircon Hf-O Isotopes of the Early Neoproterozoic Volcanic Rocks in Jiangshan, Eastern Part of the Jiangnan Orogen: Constraints on Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

This paper presents the results of combined studies of geochronology, geochemistry, whole rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopes carried out upon the rhyodacite and ignimbrite of Shangshu village, Shangyu town and Shanghupeng village of Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province, along the northwestern side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of samples in the three areas yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/238 U ages of 842.8 ± 6.9 Ma and 850.0 ± 7.3 Ma, 839 ± 9 Ma and 832.2 ± 8.1 Ma, 828.3 ± 8.5 Ma and 836.9 ± 9.9 Ma, respectively. These ages are older than the volcanic rocks of the Shangshu Formation dated at around 780 Ma distributed in Fuyang City, Hangzhou City, Kaihua County, etc. The volcanic rocks generally have high SiO2(54.08–76.80 wt%) and Al2 O3(12.40–21.31 wt%), low Fe2 O3(0.68–8.92 wt%), MgO(0.29–2.49 wt%), CaO(0.12–2.86 wt%), TiO2(0.10–1.59 wt%) and P2 O5(0.01–0.39 wt%), with variable total alkalis(K2 O + Na2 O =5.42–8.29 wt%). There exists a clear negative correlation between SiO2 and P2 O5. The volcanic rocks have A/CNK ratios of 1.03–2.77 and thus are peraluminous. They are characterized by enrichment in LREE, Rb, Ba, Zr, Hf, K, Th, La, U and depletion in Nb, Sr, P, Ti, with distinct LREE and HREE fractionation of(La/Yb)N values of 5.68–11.67, and with a moderate negative Eu anomaly(Eu=0.58–0.89). Whole-rock geochemical data shows that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks are possibly I-type granitic rocks, even though they have some characteristics of AS-type granites due to the magma fractional crystallization and water-rock interaction. Zircon δ18 O values are 3.97‰–5.49‰(average 4.50‰), 2.90‰–5.21‰(average 4.32‰) for ignimbrite from Shangshu village section, and Shanghupeng village section, respectively. They are slightly lower than the average δ18 O values of igneous zircons in equilibrium with mantle magmas(5.3 ± 0.6‰(2σ)), the lower δ18 O value also demonstrating the presence of high temperature water-rock interactions. The ignimbrite rocks have positive εNd(t)(4.02, 3.37, 3.91, 4.74, 2.85, 4.39, totals from the three areas) and εNd(t)(in-situ zircon)(4.3–14.6, a weighted mean of 8.4; 6.6–12.7, a weighted mean of 9.0; 8.1–12.0, a weighted mean of 9.5, respectively, from the three areas). In conjunction with the trace element studies, they indicate that the source region of the Jiangshan volcanic rocks was mainly composed of juvenile lower crustal material, mixed with some mantle-sourced magma. Detailed elemental and isotopic data suggest that the Jiangshan volcanic rocks were formed in a continental arc setting. There is a series of ca. 860–830 Ma volcanic rocks formed in a back-arc extensional setting in the southern margin of the eastern Jiangnan Orogen, along the northwest side of the Jiangshan–Shaoxing suture. The first stage rift-related anorogenic magmatism may have occurred as early as ca. 860 Ma in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen.     

Resetting of the U-Pb Zircon System in Cambro-Ordovician Intrusives of the Deep Freeze Range, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

A detailed in situ isotopic (U–Pb, Lu–Hf) and geochemicalstudy of zircon populations in a composite sequence of foliatedto massive Cambro-Ordovician intrusions in the Deep Freeze Range(North Victoria Land, Antarctica), has highlighted great complexityin zircon systematics. Zircons in deformed granitoids and tonalitesdisplay complex internal textures, a wide spread of concordantU–Pb ages (between 522 and 435 Ma) and unusual trace-elementcompositions (anomalous enrichment of light rare earth elements,U, Th and Y) within single zircon grains. In contrast, zirconsfrom undeformed samples display a limited range of U–Pbages and trace-element compositions. Zircons from all age andtextural populations in most of the deformed and undeformedsamples show a relatively narrow range of _Hf values, suggestingthat the Lu–Hf system remained undisturbed. Inferred emplacementages cover a time interval of about 30 Myr: from 508 to 493Ma for the oldest strongly foliated synkinematic Howard Peaksmegacrystic monzogranites and high-K calc-alkaline mafic tointermediate rocks of the ‘Corner Tonalite’ unit;from about 489 to 481 Ma for the younger massive shoshoniticmafic dyke suite and the high-K calc-alkaline Keinath granite.The observed isotopic and chemical variations in zircon areattributed to a sub-solidus recrystallization under hydrousconditions and varying temperature, in a setting characterizedby a transpressional to extensional stress regime. KEY WORDS: Antarctica; Cambro-Ordovician intrusives; Ross Orogen; zircon U–Pb geochronology     

A crustal source for ca. 165 Ma post-collisional granites related to mineralization in the Jianglang dome of the Songpan-Ganzi Orogen,eastern Tiebtan Plateau

The Wenjiaping and Wulaxi granite plutons are located in the Jianglang dome, which is a key domain for providing deep insight into the tectonic evolution of the Songpan-Ganzi Orogen. Two granites are composed chiefly of K-feldspar, quartz, biotite with minor plagioclase and hornblende. This study presents zircon U-Pb chronology, geochemistry and Hf isotope data to explore their petrogenesis and metallogenic implications. Zircon U-Pb dating provides crystallization ages of 164.5 ± 0.9 Ma and 163.4 ± 0.9 Ma for the Wenjiaping granite, and 164.3 ± 1.7 Ma for the Wulaxi granite. This indicates that they were formed synchronously. They also contain inherited zircons related to the Rodinia and Gondwana supercontinents and the Emeishan large igneous province. Their mineral assemblages lack peraluminous (e.g., garnet and cordierite) and high-temperature (e.g., pyroxene and fayalite) minerals. They are characterized by low A/CNK (1.10–0.99), FeO^T/MgO (8.55–2.83) and K₂O/N₂O ratios (1.34–0.51) with low Zr + Nb + Ce + Y concentrations (average 258 ppm) and zircon saturation temperatures (781–651 °C). Their Al₂O₃, P₂O₅ and SiO₂ contents show negative correlations, and they thus fit the I-type granite definition. Some major and trace elements exhibit strong correlations, implying extensive fractional crystallization (e.g., hornblende and ilmenite) during the magma evolution. Two granites show enrichment in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, and depletion in high field strength elements. They have low Mg^# values (38.7–17.3) and Y/Nb ratios (0.45–0.16), and yield dominantly negative ε_Hf(t) values (1.4–−13.9), indicating a heterogeneous source and their derivation from remelting of ancient continental crust (e.g., Mesoproterozoic Liwu Group in this region) with minor juvenile crust. Combined with prior studies, we conclude that the Wenjiaping and Wulaxi granites were formed in a post-collisional extensional regime, and were responsible for the 163.7–151.1 Ma magmatic hydrothermal Cu-W mineralization in the Jianglang dome. In addition, two granite plutons intrude this dome and they are undeformed, implying that the doming was during the Early to Middle Jurassic.