K–Ar ages from seamount chains in the back-arc region of the Izu–Ogasawara arc

The Izu–Ogasawara arc contains, from east to west, a volcanic front, a back-arc extensional zone (back-arc knolls zone), and a series of across-arc seamount chains that cross the extensional zone in an east-northeast and west-southwest direction and extend into the Shikoku Basin. K–Ar ages of dredged volcanic rocks from these across-arc seamount chains and extension-related edifices in the back-arc region of the Izu–Ogasawara arc were measured to constrain the volcanic and tectonic history of the arc since the termination of spreading in the Shikoku Basin. K–Ar ages range between 12.5 and 1 Ma. Andesitic to dacitic rocks of 12.5–2.9 Ma occur mainly on the western part of the chains. The western part of the chains are the locus of volcanism behind the front which erupted mainly calc-alkaline andesitic lavas. The youngest rocks (< 2.8 Ma), characterized by cpx-ol basalt, occur along the western margin of the back-arc knolls zone. Basaltic rocks of 12.5–2.9 Ma have relatively high concentrations of Na₂O (> 2.0 wt%), Zr (> 50 p.p.m.) and Y (> 20 p.p.m.) and low CaO (< 12 wt%). On the other hand, basalts of 2.8–1 Ma have lower Na₂O (< 1.8 wt%), Zr (< 50 p.p.m.) and Y (< 20 p.p.m.), but significantly higher CaO (> 12 wt%). The age inferred for the initiation of back-arc rifting (∼ 2.35–2.9 Ma: Taylor 1992 ) behind the current volcanic arc coincides with the time that basalt chemistry changed drastically (eruption of the low-Na₂O and high-CaO basalt). This implies that post-2.8 Ma volcanism in the back-arc knolls zone is associated with rifting. Similarly, the change in chemical composition might be explained by a different type of source mantle following rift initiation. Volcanism in the western seamounts ceased after the onset of rifting at ∼ 2.8 Ma.     

P–T–t paths and post-metamorphic exhumation of the Day Nui Con Voi shear zone in Vietnam

The Day Nui Con Voi belt in Vietnam is the southeasternmost part of the Red River shear zone in Asia. It is a narrow high-grade metamorphic core complex consisting of garnet–sillimanite–biotite gneisses, mylonite bands, amphibolite layers and migmatites. Geothermobarometric study of the complex revealed that the peak metamorphism took place under amphibolite-facies conditions of 690₋₆₀⁺³⁰°C and 0.65±0.15 GPa and the subsequent mylonitization occurred under greenschist-facies conditions of 480°C and under 0.3 GPa. Fifteen synkinematic hornblende and biotite separates from gneisses, amphibolites and mylonites were dated with the K/Ar method. Hornblende separates from the Day Nui Con Voi give K–Ar ages of 26.4–28.5 Ma, and the biotite separates do give 24.5–24.7 Ma. Combination of thermobarometric and geochronological data yields the cooling history of 500°C at 28 Ma and 300°C at 24 Ma with a cooling rate of 70–110°C Ma⁻¹, and 23 km post-metamorphic exhumation of the core complex. The first 16 km exhumation from the peak of metamorphism (at probably 31 Ma) to 28 Ma was triggered by the left-lateral strike-slip displacement of the Red River shear zone.     

The role of the border city Hunchun on Tumen River, China

Since the Tumen River Area Development Project(TRADP) was launched in 1991, Hunchun city located between North Korea and Russia along the river corridor, has become an important and unique border city. Hunchun, formerly a strategic military city, is emerging as an international trade linkage center through Satouz and Quanhe on the North Korea side and through Changlinzi on the Russian side. Furthermore, the establishment and operation of the Hunchun Border Economic Cooperation Zone (HBECZ) in the city is becoming the main source of the growth, providing a new role for the border city. Its underlying economic momentum comes from the combination of the Chinese-Korean labor force and foreign investment and technology transferred from Korea, Japan, and others. The most important expected new role for Hunchun is as a new 21st century entrepot connection between the Pacific rim and Eurasia by rail and trunk lines, and as a new regional center of the border region based on both a newly generated urban subsystem and the increasing informal sector of cross border business. However, there are many obstacles to overcome in the near future, such as the possible military tensions among the three border nations, the guarantee of free entries and sailing on the Tumen river, and agreements concerning environmental conservation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Arc–arc collision in the Izu collision zone, central Japan, deduced from the Ashigara Basin and adjacent Tanzawa Mountains

The Pleistocene Ashigara Basin and adjacent Tanzawa Mountains, Izu collision zone, central Japan, are examined to better understand the development of an arc–arc orogeny, where the Izu–Bonin – Mariana (IBM) arc collides with the Honshu Arc. Three tectonic phases were identified based on the geohistory of the Ashigara Basin and the denudation history of the Tanzawa Mountains. In phase I, the IBM arc collided with the Honshu Arc along the Kannawa Fault. The Ashigara Basin formed as a trench basin, filled mainly by thin-bedded turbidites derived from the Tanzawa Mountains together with pyroclastics. The Ashigara Basin subsided at a rate of 1.7 mm/year, and the denudation rate of the Tanzawa Mountains was 1.1 mm/year. The onset of Ashigara Basin Formation is likely to be older than 2.2 Ma, interpreted as the onset of collision along the Kannawa Fault. Significant tectonic disruption due to the arc–arc collision took place in phase II, ranging from 1.1 to 0.7 Ma in age. The Ashigara Basin subsided abruptly (4.6 mm/year) and the accumulation rate increased to approximately 10 times that of phase I. Simultaneously, the Tanzawa Mountains were abruptly uplifted. A tremendous volume of coarse-grained detritus was provided from the Tanzawa Mountains and deposited in the Ashigara Basin as a slope-type fan delta. In phase III, 0.7–0.5 Ma, the entire Ashigara Basin was uplifted at a rate of 3.6 mm/year. This uplift was most likely caused by isostatic rebound resulting from stacking of IBM arc crust along the Kannawa Fault which is not active as the decollement fault by this time. The evolution of the Ashigara Basin and adjacent Tanzawa Mountains shows a series of the development of the arc–arc collision; from the subduction of the IBM arc beneath the Honshu Arc to the accretion of IBM arc crust onto Honshu. Arc–arc collision is not the collision between the hard crusts (massif) like a continent–continent collision, but crustal stacking of the subducting IBM arc beneath the Honshu Arc intercalated with very thick trench fill deposits.     

湖北西部恩施断裂活动性评价

通过分析恩施断裂的变形结构、运动学和动力学特征以及新活动和几何分形结构特征,结合断裂的活动时间测定,对湖北西部恩施断裂的活动特征进行了全面的研究,认为恩施断裂变形分段特征明显,活动具有多期次,且新构造期曾有活动,但现今活动极其微弱。同时,确定恩施断裂的活动时间上限为２０万ａ以上,重复活动的周期较长,对附近水电工程建设不会产生重大危害     

小江断裂带中段晚新生代构造盆地演化阶段

小江断裂带中段的盆地可以划分三个阶段,即Ｎ２－Ｑ１,Ｑ２末－Ｑ３初和Ｑ３－Ｑ４。这些盆地受小江断裂带左旋走滑运动控制。     

思普地区地震活动和地质构造的相关性研究

红河断裂是云南主要的区域大断裂,区内现代构造运动强烈,但其南段长期无中强地震发生,而离它仅１００ｋｍ的滇西南思普地区地震活动却异常强烈,本在前人工作的基础上,研究了滇西南地区地壳构造和地震活动特点,用人工地震测探等方面的实际资料进一步证实了思普地区存在地较大规模的北东向断层,并提出北东向断层的思普地区地震活动中起重要控制作用的结论。     

红河断裂北段土壤中断层气含量变化特征

介绍了作者在滇西地震预报实验场区进行的土壤中断层气研究结果．沿红河断裂带断层气组分Ｈ２,ＣＯ２,Ｈｇ和Ｒｎ含量很高．沿该断裂洱源测线断层气Ｈ２,ＣＯ２和Ｒｎ含量最低,向南Ｈ２,ＣＯ２含量逐渐升高,其中以定西岭测线的Ｈ２,ＣＯ２含量最高．表明在该段断裂活动强烈,而洱源一带断裂活动较弱．     

滇西怒江断裂带新构造特征

怒江断裂带从走向上可以分为南北走向段和北东走向段,其喜马拉雅期的构造变形以右行剪切为主导。右行剪切的变形历史可以分为早期压剪变形和晚期张剪变形两个大的阶段。这两期变形各自在南北走向段和北东走向段表现出不同的特点。总之,怒江断裂带喜马拉雅期构造变形具有时空不均一性的特点     

张北6.2级地震发生在小震条带上

分析晋、冀、蒙交界地区的地震分布格局,发现张北地震前存在小地震条带。条带由２０余年持续发生的小震组成,与华北地壳应力场最大剪切应力方向相同,是燕山－渤海地震构造带的西延段落。６．２级强震发生在条的东端。文中讨论了张北地震地点预测失误的原因,提出采用地震学和地震地质学交叉,融合的思路,分析观今小地震活动图象、震源机制资料,从构造学,运动学,动力学角度,研究地壳深部地震构造的方法。