Impact of residual zircon on Nd-Hf isotope decoupling during sediment recycling in subduction zone

The subduction factories in convergent plate margins exert crucial control on recycling terrestrial components and returning to the overlying crust. The Nd and Hf isotopic systems provide potential tracers to evaluate these processes. Here we present a case where these isotopic systems are decoupled in a suite of granites from the Chinese Altai, showing a wide range of εHf(t) values(from -4.7 to +10.8) in contrast to a limited range of εNd(t) values(from -5.8 to -1.9). The zircon xenocrysts occurring frequently in these rocks show markedly negative εHf(t) values(from -34.3 to -6.5) and positive d7 Li values(from +12.5 to +18.2). We propose a model to explain the observed relationship between residual zircon and Nde Hf isotope decoupling. We suggest that the Altai granites originated from partial melting of subducted slab components under relatively low temperature conditions which aided the residual zircon from oceanic sediments to inherit and retain a significant amount of177 Hf in the source, thereby elevating the¹⁷⁶ Hf/¹⁷⁷ Hf ratio of the melt, and decoupling from the¹⁴³ Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd ratio during the subsequent magmatic processes. Our study illustrates a case where sediment recycling in subduction zone contributes to decoupling of Nd and Hf isotopic systems, with former providing a more reliable estimate of the source characteristics of granitic magmas.     

The northern Qiangtang Block rapid drift during the Triassic Period: Paleomagnetic evidence

As one of the pivotal Gondwana–derived blocks, the kinematic history of the northern Qiangtang Block (in the Tibetan Plateau) remains unclear, mainly because quantitative paleomagnetic data to determine the paleoposition are sparse. Thus, for this study, we collected 226 samples (17 sites) from Triassic sedimentary rocks in the Raggyorcaka and Tuotuohe areas of the northern Qiangtang Block (NQB). Stepwise demagnetization isolated high temperature/field components from the samples. Both Early and Late Triassic datasets passed field tests at a 99% confidence level and were proved to be primary origins. Paleopoles were calculated to be at 24.9°N and 216.5°E with A₉₅ = 8.2°(N = 8) for the Early Triassic dataset, and at 68.1°N, 179.9°E with A₉₅ = 5.6° (N = 37) for the Late Triassic, the latter being combined with a coeval volcanic dataset published previously. These paleopoles correspond to paleolatitudes of 14.3°S±8.2° and 29.9°N±5.6°, respectively. Combining previously published results, we reconstructed a three-stage northward drift process for the NQB. (1) The northern Qiangtang Block was located in the subtropical part of the southern hemisphere until the Early Triassic; (2) thereafter, the block rapidly drifted northward from southern to northern hemispheres during the Triassic; and (3) the block converged with the Eurasian continent in the Late Triassic. The ∼4800 km northward movement from the Early to Late Triassic corresponded to an average motion rate of ∼11.85 cm/yr. The rapid drift of the NQB after the Early Triassic led to a rapid transformation of the Tethys Ocean.     

东南亚断裂构造的演化

本研究项目是采用诸如地质学解释、影像判读和地球物理探测等多种方法相结合进行的。在所得结果的基础上参考了越南国内外同行的一些资料编制了东南亚、越南及邻区的断裂构造图．其比例尺分别为1：4百万和1：1百万。分析所得结果显示出东南亚断裂构造演化的下列情况：1)在现今地质结构方面东南亚是欧亚岩石圈板块的东南部分．由一条消减带围绕．这条消减带的伸展从Myanmer开始,通过Nicobar,Java Timor直到东菲律宾。东南亚被Song Hong(即红河)断裂,Three Pagodas断裂和Hainam-Natuna断裂等2级断裂系统分成3个微板块。2)在早新生代．东南亚是分为5个微板块的。它们的分界断裂中有2个一级断裂(中央东海扩张带和Lupar-Kuching消减带)和3个二级断裂(即上述3个)。3)上述绝大多数二和三级断裂从晚新生代起活化且继承了从早新生代即已发生和发展了的二、三级断裂,但在某些条件下．运动方向却完全变成了相反,尤其是走滑运动的方向。我们的研究结果表明：在这一地区内,盆地、隆起、岩浆侵入、褶皱和局部断裂等构造的形成都取决于这些沿着一、二级走滑断裂的微板块运动。     

断块构造|活动断块构造与地震活动

张文佑院士是我国最杰出的构造地质学家和大地构造学家,他提出和倡导的地质构造力学分析和历史分析相结合及断块构造理论符合当代构造地质和构造运动研究的新方向。断块构造是地球构造运动最基本的型式,板块构造是全球范围内的岩石圈构造,是最高一级的岩石圈断块构造。活动断块是现今构造运动最基本的型式,它既控制主要活动构造带和地震活动带的分布,也控制不同地区地震活动特征的差异。断块边界构造带是在构造变形和运动场中的不连续变形带,应力在此释放,应变在此局部化,位移在此发生,其差异活动最为强烈,因此,断块边界构造带是强震发生带,其活动性质会控制震源断层的特性。大地震孕育和发生在边界活动构造带的某些特殊部位,对其成核的构造和物理过程尚需深入进行研究。要特别注意断块整体性活动对地震活动的控制作用,断块的这种整体性活动与一定时期内地震活动主体地区分布有密切关系,所以,在活动构造研究中,要把断块的整体性活动与活动构造带的个体活动结合起来。     

中国大陆地质历史的旋回与阶段

基于对中国大陆已有资料的综合研究,特别是把中国大陆已有地质记录与现今不同板块构造环境形成的岩石组合对比,笔者提出了中国大陆太古宙以来的地质历史可以划分为至少6个大陆形成演化旋回的新论点,根据它们对中国大陆形成演化的贡献并考虑全球大陆形成演化已有认识,建议把它们分别命名为始华旋回、古华旋回、北华旋回、南华旋回、华夏旋回和泛华旋回.建议以大陆裂解记录作为划分这些旋回的标志,每个旋回根据运动学和动力学的差异,进一步划分为裂解离散阶段、汇聚重组阶段和陆内发展阶段.在简要论述了中国大陆形成演化的这6个旋回以后,对中国大陆不同地区时空演化差异和板块构造与地幔柱之间的关系进行了简要讨论,认为(1)此张彼合的地球表层构造运动规律和陆缘与陆内环境并存是导致不同地区大陆时空演化差异的根本原因;(2)板块之间相互作用和地幔柱活动(即地球不同层圈之间的相互作用),是地球上同时存在的两种相互独立的构造体制,它们有可能在一个地区同时存在.     

Touhuanping Fault, an active wrench fault within fold-and-thrust belt in northwestern Taiwan, documented by spatial analysis of fluvial terraces

This study aims at the recent activity and development of an active wrench fault, the Touhuanping Fault in northwestern Taiwan. Northwestern Taiwan has been proposed in a current situation between the mature to waning collision in terms of tectonic evolution. The main drainage in this area, the Chungkang River, flows close to the trace of the fault mentioned above. We examined various types of deformation of fluvial terraces along the Chungkang River as a key to understanding the nature and rate of the late Quaternary tectonics. The E–W trending Touhuanping Fault has long been mapped as a geological boundary fault, but its recent activity was suspected. Field survey revealed that its late Quaternary activity is recorded in the offset fluvial terraces. Our result shows dextral slip and vertical offset with upthrown side on the south, and activated at least twice since the emergence of terrace 4 (older terrace 3 with OSL date of ca. 80 ka). Total amount of offset recorded in the Touhuanping terrace sequence is 15 m for dextral and 10 m for vertical offset. Estimated recurrence time of earthquake rupture may be a few tens of thousand years. Uplift on the upthrown side of the Touhuanping Fault also resulted in the formation of drowned valleys which were graded to terrace 4. Other deformation features, such as back-tilting, westward warping, and a range-facing straight scarp, were also identified. A second-order anticline roughly parallel to the Touhuanping Fault is suggested to be the origin of the northward tilting on terrace 3; it could have resulted from a flower structure on the Touhuanping Fault at shallow depth. This may demonstrate that the buried segment of the Touhuanping Fault has also been active since 80 ka. In the northern study area, the westward warping at terrace 2 probably represents late Quaternary activity of another NE–SW trending Hsincheng Fault.     

Chromite and PGE deposits of mesoarchaean ultramafic-mafic suites within the greenstone belts of the Singhbhum craton,India: Implications for mantle heterogeneity and tectonic setting

The Archaean cratonic nuclei of the continents are important as they contain the most significant evidences for the evolution of Earth e.g. the greenstone sequences. In the Indian Shield, one of the important cratons is the Singhbhum craton, where nearly 95% of the Indian chromite deposits and only PGE deposits are located which are hosted within Mesoarchaean ultramafic-mafic rock sequences. The ultramafic units occur as sill like intrusions within the Iron Ore Group (IOG) greenstone belts and often associated with gabbroic intrusions. In the Nuasahi and Sukinda mining districts of these occurrences, detailed petrological, geochemical and isotopic studies have been carried out in the last decades. Petrological and geochemical studies indicate a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) tectonic settings in Archaean for the origin of these ultramafic-mafic sequences. The Os isotopic and platinum group element (PGE) geochemical studies of chromites from the two mining districts indicate presence of a subchondritic source mantle domain beneath and within the Singhbhum craton similar to the Zimbabwean craton of southern African continent. The Os model age calculation indicates melt extraction from a subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) before 3.7 Ga which is similar to the other ancient cratons. As a whole the study supports the premise that India was part of the African continent in pre-Gondwana times and even in early Archaean and suggest possible amalgamation and building up of a supercontinent during late Archaean. However, in comparison with other occurrences, the Singhbhum craton of the Indian Shield and the Zimbabwean craton in southern Africa are characterized by the presence of subchondritic lithospheric mantle domains within the SCLM, which were developed prior to 3.7 Ga.     

Are the seismological and geological observations of the Al Hoceima (Morocco, Rif) 2004 earthquake (M = 6.3) contradictory?

Seismic hazard is associated with recent and present fault activity in mountain ranges. In the Betic-Rif alpine mountain chain, tectonic activity started in the Cretaceous, and topographic uplift continues since Tortonian times as a consequence of the NW-SE oblique convergence between Africa and Eurasia. The deformation is active and produces seismicity that sometimes has catastrophic consequences. The Al Hoceima earthquake (February 24, 2004), considered one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded instrumentally in the westernmost Mediterranean (M = 6.3), caused great damage in the region. Seismological studies agree that the main shock was situated on land, at the limit between the External and Internal Zones of the Rif, at a depth of 10-14 km. The focal mechanism points to a strike-slip solution with a NW-SE oriented P axis, quite similar to those of the significant 1994 earthquake swarm located to the north. The epicenter aftershocks distribution would signal the presence of a N-S oriented sinistral fault, activated by the NW-SE regional compression associated to plate boundary convergence. In this setting, the seismogenic fault ruptures related to these seismic events are expected to have reached the Earth's surface. However, detailed field work carried out 1 month after the earthquake does not evidence any N-S strike-slip coseismic fault in the epicentral area. The main observed effects were landslides, damages to constructions, and locally open cracks indicating an unexpected NW-SE extension. Scarce N-S faults are normal, the main ones being located several kilometers away from the epicentral area. To explain this apparent contradiction between geological and seismological observations, we propose a decoupled tectonic model with crustal detachments that separate a deep brittle crust from an upper crust undergoing uplift, and the development of large folds and normal faults. This geological setting, common to internal zones of cordilleras, may need to be taken into account in future paleoseismicity studies and in the assessment of seismic hazard.     

Devonian-Cretaceous repeated subsidence and uplift along the Teisseyre-Tornquist zone in SE Poland — Insight from seismic data interpretation

The Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone that separates the East European Craton from the Palaeozoic Platform forms one of the most fundamental lithospheric boundaries in Europe. Devonian to Cretaceous-Paleogene evolution of the SE segment of this zone was analyzed using high-quality seismic reflection data that provided detailed information regarding entire Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary cover, with particular focus on problems of Late Carboniferous and Late Cretaceous-Paleogene basin inversion and uplift. Two previously proposed models of development and inversion of the Devonian-Carboniferous Lublin Basin seem to only partly explain configuration of this sedimentary basin. A new model includes Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous reverse faulting within the cratonic area NE from the Kock fault zone, possibly first far-field effect of the Variscan orogeny. This was followed by Late Carboniferous inversion of the Lublin Basin. Inversion tectonics was associated with strike-slip movements along the Ursynów-Kazimierz fault zone, and thrusting along the Kock fault zone possibly triggered by deeper strike-slip movements. Late Carboniferous inversion-related deformations along the NE boundary of the Lublin Basin were associated with some degree of ductile (quasi-diapiric) deformation facilitated by thick series of Silurian shales. During Mesozoic extension and development of the Mid-Polish Trough major fault zones within the Lublin Basin remained mostly inactive, and subsidence centre moved to the SW, towards the Nowe Miasto-Zawichost fault zone and further to the SW into the present-day Holy Cross Mts. area. Late Cretaceous-Paleogene inversion of the Mid-Polish Trough and formation of the Mid-Polish Swell was associated with reactivation of inherited deeper fault zones, and included also some strike-slip faulting. The study area provides well-documented example of the foreland plate within which repeated basin inversion related to compressive/transpressive deformations was triggered by active orogenic processes at the plate margin (i.e. Variscan or Carpathian orogeny) and involved important strike-slip reactivation of crustal scale inherited fault zones belonging to the Teisseyre-Tornquist Zone.     

渤海海域莱州湾凹陷盐构造成因探讨

通过分析莱州湾凹陷盐构造特征,盐构造形成动力条件,探讨莱州湾凹陷盐构造成因,讨论了走滑背景下盐岩活动特点。分析表明,莱州湾凹陷盐层构造发育刺穿性盐株和枕状底辟,欠压实、超压破裂、潜伏走滑断层和楔形体的重力扩张促使了莱州湾凹陷盐岩早期流动;渐新世右行走滑阶段,走滑压扭作用下形成刺穿盐株;盐构造活动可分为沙三末期-沙一段沉积期盐流动阶段、中晚渐新世东营沉积时期盐刺穿阶段、中新世-第四纪盐构造再次活化三个阶段。走滑断裂作用下盐岩以流动为主,发育典型的刺穿型盐底辟。