Early Cretaceous exhumation of high‐pressure metamorphic rocks of the Sistan Suture Zone,eastern Iran

The Sistan Suture Zone (SSZ) of eastern Iran is part of the Neo‐Tethyan orogenic system and formed by convergence of the Central Iranian and Afghan microcontinents. Ar Ar ages of ca. 125 Ma have been obtained from white micas and amphibole from variably overprinted high‐pressure metabasites within the Ratuk Complex of the SSZ. The metabasites, which occur as fault‐bounded lenses within a subduction mélange, document peak‐metamorphic conditions in eclogite or blueschist facies followed by near‐isothermal decompression resulting in an epidote–amphibolite‐facies overprint. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step heating experiments were performed on a phengite + paragonite mixture from an eclogite, phengites from two amphibolites, and paragonite from a blueschist; ‘best‐fit’ ages from these micas are, respectively, 122.8 ± 2.2, 124 ± 13, 116 ± 19 and 139 ± 19 Ma (2σ error). Barroisite from an amphibolite yielded an age of 124 ± 10 Ma. The ages are interpreted as cooling ages that record the post‐epidote–amphibolite stage in the exhumation of the rocks. Our results imply that both the high‐pressure metamorphism and the epidote–amphibolite‐facies overprint occurred prior to 125 Ma. Subduction of oceanic lithosphere along the eastern margin of the Sistan Ocean had therefore begun by Barremian (Early Cretaceous) times. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A speculation on the structure of the D″ layer: The growth of anti-crust at the core–mantle boundary through the subduction history of the Earth

The growth curve of the continental crust shows that large amounts of continental crust formed in the early part of the Earth history are missing. In order to test a hypothesis that the former crust was subducted to the deep mantle, we performed phase assemblage analysis in the systems of mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB), anorthosite, and tonalite–trondhjemite–granite (TTG) down to the core–mantle boundary (CMB) conditions. Results show that all these materials can be subducted to the CMB leading to the development of a compositional layering in the D″ layer. We speculate that there could be five layers of FeO-enriched melt from partial melting of MORB, MORB crust, anorthosite, TTG, and slab or mantle peridotite in ascending order. Although the polymorphic transformation of perovskite to post-perovskite in (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ may explain the seismic discontinuity at the top of the D″ layer (D″ discontinuity), the effects of solid solution on the sharpness of the transformation suggest that the compositional layering is more plausible for the origin of the D″ discontinuity. The D″ layer can be an “anti-crust” made up mostly of TTG + anorthosite derived from the former continental crust. Tectonic style of the anti-crust at the CMB is similar to that at the surface. At both places, chemically distinct layers are density stratified and are also characterized by the processes of accretion, magmatism, and metasomatism.     

Izu-Bonin arc subduction under the Honshu island, Japan: Evidence from geological and seismological aspect

The Izu-Bonin intra-oceanic arc with 20–35 km thick continental crust is being subducted under the Honshu, presumably since 17 Ma. Tomographic image clearly demonstrates that the whole Izu-Bonin arc is subducting under the Honshu arc. Geologic cross section and the thickness of continental crust do not support the accretion of thick crust in spite of the continued subduction over 17 Ma.     

旁那石榴蓝闪片岩特征及其构造意义

在拉萨市墨竹工卡县旁那村附近的二叠系(变质)玄武岩之下发现了石榴蓝闪片岩,与二叠系海相灰岩、石英岩、白云母片岩共生.该片岩包括石榴石和角闪石变斑晶及由(多硅)白云母、斜黝帘石、石英、金红石、锆石、钠长石、绿泥石、榍石、钛铁矿组成的基质.角闪石变斑晶中可见两期蓝闪石,早期蓝闪石富铁、贫钠,晚期蓝闪石包裹早期蓝闪石,其成分接近纯的蓝闪石端员,并常具有冻蓝闪石或阳起石的冠状体.从核部至边部,钾质白云母单位分子中的硅含量快速降低;含有霓辉石、金红石和石英等包体的石榴石的锰含量急剧降低,镁含量则升高.运用视剖面(pseudosection)方法模拟该片岩p-t演化轨迹,视剖面温压计算范围为250～650℃和0.4～2.8 GPa.模拟结果表明该片岩的变质温压始于450℃和2.5 GPa,先经历近等压升温过程至500℃,再经历近等温降压过程至0.6 GPa,表明该片岩系冷洋壳快速俯冲与折返的产物.拉萨地块中部早三叠世查曲浦组安山岩和晚三叠世过铝质花岗岩的产出以及在与该变质杂岩共生的碳酸盐岩中二叠纪化石的发现共同限定了冷洋壳的俯冲应发生在二叠、三叠纪之交.区域地质分析表明,在中生代早期冈瓦纳大陆裂解之前,其东北边缘的冷洋壳向冈瓦纳大陆之下俯冲,随后冈瓦纳大陆向外增生,然后再裂解,形成现今的拉萨地块.     

塔里木大火成岩省瓦吉里塔格霞石岩稀有气体同位素特征及其地质意义

稀有气体被广泛用作地球化学示踪剂,本文对塔里木大火成岩省西北缘瓦吉里塔格霞石岩中的橄榄石和辉石单矿物进行了稀有气体同位素测定。结果表明,瓦吉里塔格霞石岩中的橄榄石和辉石单矿物具有较低的~3He/~4He值(分别为2.0~2.4 Ra和0.65~0.85 Ra)和略高于大气值的~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar值(342.3~651.7),反映了由古板块俯冲导致的较低的He、Ar同位素比值特征。研究表明,早中古生代南天山洋向南俯冲到塔里木板块之下,将富U或富~4He以及含有大气组分的流体带入到深部地幔,在塔里木地幔柱的作用下地幔源区发生低程度部分熔融产生霞石岩岩浆。     

Lithium Isotopic Geochemistry in Subduction Zones: Retrospects and Prospects

Subduction zones involve many complex geological processes, including the release of slab-derived fluids, fluid/rock interactions, partial melting, isotopic fractionations, elemental transporting, and crust/mantle interactions. Lithium (Li) isotopes (6Li and 7Li) have relative mass difference up to 16%, being the largest among metal elements. Thus, Li isotopes have advantage to interprete trace various geological processes. Most importantly, during crust/mantle interactions in deep subduction zones, surface materials and mantle rocks usually have distinct Li isotopic compositions. Li isotopes can be potential tracer for subduction processes, from the onset of subduction to the release of Li from subducted slabs and interaction with mantle wedge, as well as the fate of Li in slab-derived fluids and residual slabs. Moreover, the Li isotopic composition of subducting output materials can provide useful information for understanding global Li circulation. With developments in measurement and expansion of Li isotopic database, Li isotopic geochemistry will provide more inference and be a powerful tracer for understanding subduction-related processes. This work retrospected the application of Li isotopes in tracing successive subduction processes, and made some prospects for further studies of Li isotopes.     

钦杭结合带成矿地质背景及成矿规律

钦杭成矿带是钦州湾-杭州湾成矿带的简称,具有矿床规模大、矿床分布密集、矿床类型齐全、伴生组分多样的显著特点,是中国地质调查局规划的全国重点成矿区带。钦杭成矿带又称为钦杭(构造)结合带,大地构造位置对应于扬子板块和华夏板块的接合带。研究显示,钦杭带是一条古老俯冲带。它在古生代仍存在洋壳,属于洋陆俯冲体系。中生代构造转换是一个重要的地质事件,它使钦杭带由特提斯构造域卷入到西太平洋构造域中,大地构造性质从华夏和扬子板块之间的板块构造机制为主,转为陆内岩石圈拉张伸展构造环境,并产生巨大的地质效应,最突出的是燕山期岩浆的大规模活动以及成矿作用的大爆发。燕山期花岗岩存在确切的幔源端元信息,幔源物质参与了许多矿床的形成,并为最近钨多金属矿床北拓找矿所验证。钦杭结合带是重要的斑岩铜(钼)矿带,斑岩铜(钼)矿在钦杭结合带北、中、南三段均有产出,它们的主成岩成矿年龄是燕山期,但带有古老俯冲带岛弧体系的基因。钦杭带也是一条古海洋喷流热水沉积矿床密集分布带,VMS型铜多金属矿床和SEDEX型铅锌多金属矿床发育。钦杭带是一条古老俯冲带改造成矿带,古老俯冲带经燕山期改造/叠加成矿是钦杭成矿带的重要成矿机制。     

六合地区新元古代-新生代下地壳的成分与形成机制:来自麻粒岩包体的证据

六合地区地处扬子克拉通的西缘,前人对该地区下地壳的成分与形成机制尚无系统认识。本文通过研究新生代幔源侵入岩中所携带的深源捕虏体为认识该地区下地壳的成分和形成机制提供了直接证据。该捕虏体为高级正变质岩(麻粒岩相),岩性分别为石榴石透辉岩、石榴石角闪透辉岩、石榴石角闪岩。三者全岩Si O2=43.85%~50.82%,MgO=6.83%~14.77%,Mg#=0.50~0.64,Cr=87.1×10~(-6)~616×10~(-6),Ni=19.7×10~(-6)~143×10~(-6),皆属于低镁石榴石堆晶岩。通过石榴石-单斜辉石Mg-Fe交换地质温度计计算得知石榴石角闪岩的形成温度721~774℃,形成深度为45~47km,石榴石角闪透辉岩和石榴石透辉岩的形成温度803~829℃,形成深度为48~51km,说明三者皆形成于下地壳。捕虏体锆石多为变质锆石,锆石U-Pb年龄分别为259±9Ma和773±23Ma。捕虏体的全岩Sm-Nd等时线年龄分别为251±4Ma和809±64Ma。259Ma的锆石εHf(t)=-5.69~10.3,773Ma的锆石εHf(t)=5.87~17.7。年代学数据和锆石Hf同位素数据表明六合地区下地壳受到新元古代和晚二叠世岩浆底侵作用,同时发生变质作用。新元古代捕虏体富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),如Rb、Ba、Sr。高度亏损高场强元素(HFSE),如Nb、Ta、Ti。εNd(t)=4.36~5.28。表明在新元古代时期,六合地区的地壳受到俯冲弧岩浆底侵,经过批式熔融计算得知底侵岩浆源自地幔石榴石-尖晶石橄榄岩10%~30%部分熔融。晚二叠世捕虏体富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),如Rb、Ba、Sr。轻度亏损高场强元素(HFSE),如Nb、Ta、Ti。εNd(t)=-5.68~2.33。表明在晚二叠世时期,六合地区的地壳受到地幔柱-岩石圈地幔相互作用产生的岩浆底侵,经过批式熔融计算得知底侵岩浆由地幔石榴石-尖晶石橄榄岩10%~20%部分熔融而成。综上所述,在新元古代板块俯冲和晚二叠世地幔柱的分别作用下,六合地区的地壳受到地幔物质的加入形成镁铁质的新生下地壳。     

White mica trace element and boron isotope evidence for distinctive infiltration events during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust

ABSTRACT

Previous study of subducted continental crust within the Luliang Shan terrane in Northwest China has documented metasomatic formation of thick, hydrated phengite + garnet-rich selvages at the interface between mafic eclogite blocks and quartzofeldspathic host gneiss. Whole rock concentrations of Cs and Ba within the selvage are enriched by two orders of magnitude relative to the eclogite blocks and host gneiss. We performed in situ ion microprobe analyses of Li, Be, B, Rb, Sr, Cs and Ba and δ¹¹B of phengite within the Luliang Shane terrane to better constrain the source(s) of the infiltrating fluid. The phengite within the selvage are enriched in Li, Cs and Ba and yield δ¹¹B values between ?30‰ and ?9‰, values that are lower than mantle values. High Ba/Rb, Cs/Rb coupled with low B/Be, B/Li and highly negative δ¹¹B values indicate that the high-pressure fluid that formed the selvage was derived from highly devolatilized rocks within the subduction channel. In contrast, muscovite, which crystallized in the adjacent host gneiss during a subsequent lower pressure phase of fluid infiltration at approximately 0.9 GPa depths, has much lower Li, Cs and Ba relative to the high-pressure phengite. These retrograde muscovite have very high concentrations of B (up to 5500 ppm) and Be (up to 50 ppm) and high (?2 to +8‰) δ¹¹B values that are consistent with crystallization from a fluid derived from shallower and less devolatilized regions of the subduction zone. Additional host gneiss samples, regionally distributed and kilometres away from the studied area lack the B-rich signature and indicate that the late stage fluids were likely localized to the region near the studied traverse.     

Petrogenesis and zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of newly discovered Mesoarchean gneisses on the northern margin of the North China Craton

Geological mapping and zircon U–Pb laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) dating has identified a Mesoarchean (2857 ± 17 Ma) geological unit in the Luanjiajie area of the northern margin of the North China Craton, within the northern part of Liaoning Province, China. This unit is dominated by tonalitic and trondhjemite gneisses that form part of a typical tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) rock assemblage. These Mesoarchean gneisses are enriched in Na and depleted in K, yield K₂O/Na₂O ratios of 0.34–0.50, have Rittmann index (σ) values of 1.54–3.04, and are calc-alkaline. They have Eu_N/Eu_N* values of 0.77–1.20 (average of 1.03), indicating that these samples have negligible Eu anomalies, and yield high La_N/Yb_N values (4.92–23.12). These characteristics indicate that these Mesoarchean gneisses have fractionated rare earth element (REE) compositions that are enriched in the light REE (LREE) and depleted in the heavy REE (HREE), with steeply dipping chondrite-normalized REE patterns. These gneisses are also enriched in Rb, Th, K, Zr, and Hf, and are relatively depleted in Ta, Nb, P, and Ti. In summary, the magma that formed these tonalitic and trondhjemite gneisses was most likely derived from the partial melting of lower-crustal basaltic rocks during subduction. The timing of formation (2.85 Ga) of the Luanjiajie tonalite and trondhjemite gneisses probably represents the timing of initiation of plate tectonics within the LongGang Block during a SE-directed subduction event. The presence of inherited zircons with ages of >3.0 Ga within the Luanjiajie gneisses suggests that this area may contain as yet undiscovered rocks that formed before 3.0 Ga.