华北东南部中生代岩石圈地幔性质、组成、富集过程及其形成机理

本文通过对我国华北东南部中生代幔源岩浆活动的时空分布规律及其地球化学特征的系统总结来进一步厘定该地区中生代岩石圈地幔的性质和组成,并通过与华北内部如鲁中地区中生代岩石圈地幔的对比研究探讨华北东部岩石圈的时空演化规律、富集过程及其形成机理。幔源岩石的 Sr-Nd-Ph 同位素特征表明华北东部中生代岩石圈地幔存在明显的时空不均匀性,其中心部位如鲁中地区以弱富集地幔为主体;而东南部如鲁西南和胶东地区则为类似 EM2型地幔(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr_i 可高达0.7114)。华北东南部中生代岩石圈地幔随时间的演化特征也很明显。这些幔源岩石的地球化学特征和玄武岩中地幔岩捕虏体(橄榄岩和辉石岩)和捕虏晶(橄榄石和辉石)的组成和结构特征皆证明华北东南部中生代岩石圈地幔曾受到过富硅熔体的强烈改造。橄榄岩-熔体的相互反应是该区岩石圈改造和组成转变的重要方式,从而造成古生代高镁橄榄岩转变为晚中生代低镁橄榄岩和辉石岩。进入岩石圈地幔的熔体具下/中地壳物质重熔的特征,从而导致该区晚中生代岩石圈地幔的快速富集。有关华北东部中生代岩石圈减薄和改造的时限、过程和机制等问题也进行较详细的讨论。     

地幔岩流体包裹体的稀土元素初步研究

地幔流体REE的研究有助于了解地幔区域化学不均一性、地幔的富集与亏损等地幔地球化学特征。当前对地幔流体的REE研究，主要是通过对比富CO2包裹体与贫CO2包裹体的地幔岩或地幔矿物的测试分析来间接获得信息。本尝试运用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）和热爆方法，直接测定了长白山地区的地幔捕虏体中流体-熔体包裹体REE含量。初步研究显示流体-熔体包裹体中富含REE，尤其LREE相对富集；REE组成曲线右倾，Eu弱正异常，与地幔岩的寄主玄武岩REE组成特征相似，反映源区地幔岩的交代特征。     

富碱斑岩中超镁铁深源包体岩石的矿物学特征

在云南省鹤庆县六合乡富碱斑岩体中找到超镁铁深源岩石包体，这对于研究富碱斑岩的起源和演化及其成岩成矿作用具有重要意义。本文较系统地研究了深源包体岩石的矿物学特征，揭示该深源包体具有原始上地幔岩在地幔条件下受到一定程度富集地幔流体交代作用改造的特征，具有富集地幔低程度部分熔融属性，为富碱斑岩的成岩成矿演化提供了重要的矿物学依据。     

地幔热柱及其成矿作用研究

成矿作用研究表明 ,在地球的演化历史中 ,成矿数量有从少到多 ,聚矿能力有由弱到强的演化趋势。中生代为全球规模的成矿大爆发阶段 ,究其原因可能与地球的发展演化密切相关。地球形成的早期 ,由于地球物质尚未充分分异 ,成矿强度不大。当然 ,有部分在地球演化早期形成的矿床 ,在后来的多次构造改造过程中被改造迁移 ,甚至消失。中生代地球进入了一个强烈的地幔热柱活动时期 ,聚集于D”层及外核的成矿物质可通过地幔热柱多级演化向上迁移 ,并在幔枝构造的有利构造扩容带中成矿 ,幔枝构造则成为中生代主要的成矿控矿构造类型     

Mantle structure and rifting processes in the Baikal–Mongolia region: geophysical data and evidence from xenoliths in volcanic rocks

The origin of the Baikal rift zone (BRZ) has been debated between the advocates of passive and active rifting since the 1970s. A re-assessment of the relevant geological and geophysical data from Russian and international literature questions the concept of broad asthenospheric upwelling beneath the rift zone that has been the cornerstone of many “active rifting” models. Results of a large number of early and recent studies favour the role of far-field forces in the opening and development of the BRZ. This study emphasises the data obtained through studies of peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths brought to the surface by alkali basaltic magmas in southern Siberia and central Mongolia. These xenoliths are direct samples of the upper mantle in the vicinity of the BRZ. Of particular importance are suites of garnet-bearing xenoliths that have been used to construct P–T- composition lithospheric cross-sections in the region for the depth range of 35–80 km.Xenolith studies have shown fundamental differences in the composition and thermal regime between the lithospheric mantle beneath the ancient Siberian platform (sampled by kimberlites) and beneath younger mobile belts south of the platform. The uppermost mantle in southern Siberia and central Mongolia is much hotter at similar levels than the mantle in the Siberian craton and also has significantly higher contents of ‘basaltic’ major elements (Ca, Al, Na) and iron, higher Fe/Si and Fe/Mg. The combination of the moderately high geothermal gradient and the fertile compositions in the off-cratonic mantle appears to be a determining factor controlling differences in sub-Moho seismic velocities relative to the Siberian craton. Chemical and isotopic compositions of the off-cratonic xenoliths indicate small-scale and regional mantle heterogeneities attributed to various partial melting and enrichment events, consistent with long-term evolution in the lithospheric mantle. Age estimates of mantle events based on Os–Sr–Nd isotopic data can be correlated with major regional stages of crustal formation and may indicate long-term crust–mantle coupling. The ratios of ^143/144Nd in many LREE-depleted xenoliths are higher than those in MORB or OIB source regions and are not consistent with a recent origin from asthenospheric mantle.Mantle xenoliths nearest to the rift basins (30–50 km south of southern Lake Baikal) show no unequivocal evidence for strong heating, unusual stress and deformation, solid state flow, magmatic activity or partial melting that could be indicative of an asthenospheric intrusion right below the Moho. Comparisons between xenoliths from older and younger volcanic rocks east of Lake Baikal, together with observations on phase transformations and mineral zoning in individual xenoliths, have indicated recent heating in portions of the lithospheric mantle that may be related to localised magmatic activity or small-scale ascent of deep mantle material. Overall, the petrographic, P–T, chemical and isotopic constraints from mantle xenoliths appear to be consistent with recent geophysical studies, which found no evidence for a large-scale asthenospheric upwarp beneath the rift, and lend support to passive rifting mechanism for the BRZ.     

Lithosphere structure of European sedimentary basins from regional three-dimensional gravity modelling

A three-dimensional (3D) density model, approximated by two regional layers—the sedimentary cover and the crystalline crust (offshore, a sea-water layer was added), has been constructed in 1° averaging for the whole European continent. The crustal model is based on simplified velocity model represented by structure maps for main seismic horizons—the “seismic” basement and the Moho boundary. Laterally varying average density is assumed inside the model layers. Residual gravity anomalies, obtained by subtraction of the crustal gravity effect from the observed field, characterize the density heterogeneities in the upper mantle. Mantle anomalies are shown to correlate with the upper mantle velocity inhomogeneities revealed from seismic tomography data and geothermal data. Considering the type of mantle anomaly, specific features of the evolution and type of isostatic compensation, the sedimentary basins in Europe may be related into some groups: deep sedimentary basins located in the East European Platform and its northern and eastern margins (Peri-Caspian, Dnieper–Donets, Barents Sea Basins, Fore–Ural Trough) with no significant mantle anomalies; basins located on the activated thin crust of Variscan Western Europe and Mediterranean area with negative mantle anomalies of −150 to −200×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² amplitude and the basins associated with suture zones at the western and southern margins of the East European Platform (Polish Trough, South Caspian Basin) characterized by positive mantle anomalies of 50–150×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² magnitude. An analysis of the main features of the lithosphere structure of the basins in Europe and type of the compensation has been carried out.     

Study and review on crust-mantle velocity structure in Bohai Bay and its vicinity

Introduction Bohai Bay, along with its adjacent areas, is one of the seismically active areas in North China. Understanding its crust/upper-mantle structural characteristics and lateral heterogeneity of the medium in this area is of great significance to the study of seismogenic environment, thus improvimg the level of earthquake prediction. For years, scientists have studied the area by gravity and magnetic methods (FENG, et al, 1989), geothermal field (WU, et al, 1988; TIAN, ZHANG, 19…     

Recycling in the Puerto Rican mantle wedge, Greater Antilles Island Arc

Abstract The initial volcanic phase of Cretaceous island arc strata in central Puerto Rico, at the eastern end of the extinct Greater Antilles Arc, comprises a 6‐km thick pile of lava and volcanic breccia (Río Majada Group). Preserved within the sequence is a conspicuous shift in absolute abundances of the more incompatible elements, including Th, Nb, and the light rare earth elements (LREE: La, Ce, Pr and Nd). The compositional shift is marked by a decrease in La/Sm from averages of 2.11 in the lowest third of the pile (Formation A) to 1.48 at the top (Formation C), and by a distinctive flattening of LREE segments of chondrite‐normalized REE patterns. i⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ?_Nd average about 0.7035 and 8.2, respectively, in early Formation A basalts. These ranges normally overlap samples from later Formations B and C. Isotope compositions of the latter group are more variable, however, and several samples are considerably more radiogenic than Formation A basalts, such that i⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr averages almost 0.7042 while ?_Nd‐values decrease to 7.5 in Formation B and C basalts. Theoretical models of non‐modal melting processes in both amphibole peridotite and spinel lherzolite sources provide insight into the origin of depleted Th, Nb, and LREE abundances in Puerto Rican basalts. Low Nb concentrations less than normal mid‐oceanic ridge basalts in Formation A basalts indicate the wedge was slightly depleted by low‐volume decompression fusion due to induced convection in the back‐arc region prior to entry of the source into the arc melting zone. However, depleted patterns in Formation C basalts cannot be generated by relatively greater degrees of decompression fusion in the back‐arc, because addition of the La‐enriched slab‐derived component to more depleted source material invariably produces elevated rather than decreased La/Sm. Refluxing of Formation A harzburgitic residua is similarly precluded. In contrast, the observed patterns are readily reproduced by multistage melting models involving hybridized sources containing normal Formation A lherzolite source material blended with recycled, unrefluxed harzburgite residua. Successful models require hybrid sources containing large volumes of recycled harzburgite (up to 50%) during generation of Formation C basalts. Slightly elevated radiometric Sr and Nd isotopes in a few flows from Formation C are attributed to partial refluxing of the hybrid sources within the wedge.     

Cretaceous length of day perturbation by mantle avalanche

These last 10 years, numerical models of mantle convection have emphasized the role of the 670 km endothermic phase change in generating avalanches that trigger catastrophic mass transfers between upper and lower mantle. On the other hand, scientists have emphasized the concomitance of large-scale worldwide geophysical and tectonic events, which could find their deep thermal roots in the huge mass transfers induced by the avalanches. In particular, the paleontological records show two periods of length of day (l.o.d.) shortening between 420 and 360, and 200 and 80 Myr BP. This last event is synchronous with a strong true polar wander and a global warming of the upper mantle. In order to study the potential effects of the avalanche on the main component of the Earth’s rotation, the Liouville equation has been solved and the l.o.d. evolution has been calculated from the perturbations of the inertia tensor. The results show that the inertia tensor of the Earth’s is mainly sensitive to the global transfers through the 670 km discontinuity. The l.o.d. perturbations will be synchronous with the global thermal effects of the avalanche. These theoretical results allow proposing a self-consistent physical mechanism to explain periods of the Earth’s rotation acceleration. Within this context, the l.o.d. shortening during the Cenozoic and Cretaceous brings one more clue to the possible participation of a mantle avalanche in generating the concomitant large scale events which have occurred during this very particular period of the Earth’s history.     

Paleolatitudes of the Kerguelen hotspot: new paleomagnetic results and dynamic modeling

The Kerguelen Plateau, a Large Igneous Province in the southern Indian Ocean, was formed as a product of the Kerguelen hotspot in several eruptive phases during the last 120 Myr. We obtained new paleolatitudes for the central and northern Kerguelen Plateau from paleomagnetic investigations on basalts, which were drilled during ODP Leg 183 to the Kerguelen Plateau-Broken Ridge. The paleolatitudes coincide with paleolatitudes from previous investigations at the Kerguelen Plateau and Ninetyeast Ridge (the track of the Kerguelen hotspot) and indicate a difference between paleolatitudes and present position at 49°S of the Kerguelen hotspot. We show that true polar wander, the global motion between the mantle and the rotation axis, cannot explain this difference in latitudes. We present numerical model results of plume conduit motion in a large-scale mantle flow and the resulting surface hotspot motion. A large number of models all predict southward motion between 3° and 10° for the Kerguelen hotspot during the last 100 Myr, which is consistent with our paleomagnetic results.