The interplay and effects of deformation and crystallized melt on the rheology of the lower continental crust,Fiordland, New Zealand

Microstructural, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and misorientation analyses of a migmatitic granulite-facies orthogneiss from the exhumed lower crust of a Cretaceous continental arc in Fiordland, New Zealand show how deformation was accommodated during and after episodes of melt infiltration and high-grade metamorphism. Microstructures in garnet, omphacite, plagioclase, and K-feldspar suggest that an early stage of deformation was achieved by dislocation creep of omphacite and plagioclase, with subsequent deformation becoming partitioned into plagioclase. Continued deformation after melt infiltration resulted in strain localization in the leucosome of the migmatite, where a change of plagioclase deformation mechanism promoted the onset of grain boundary sliding, most likely accommodated by diffusion creep, in fine recrystallized plagioclase grains. Our results suggest three distinctive transitions in the rheology of the lower crust of this continental arc, where initial weakening was primarily achieved by deformation of both omphacite and plagioclase. Subsequent strain localization in plagioclase of the leucosome indicates that the zones of former melt are weaker than the restite, and that changes in deformation mechanisms within plagioclase, and an evolution of its strength, primarily control the rheology of the lower crust during and after episodes of melting and magma addition.     

全球冥古宙的研究进展和存在问题

冥古宙是地球上最老的一个地质历史时期,由于缺少可靠的岩石记录一直没有得到国际地学界的重视和承认,到2004年才在建议的国际地层表中使用了冥古宙这一术语,定义从地球形成到出现地球最老岩石这段地球历史。但冥古宙与太古宙没有明确的地质界线,一些研究者提出了不同的年代界线(3.85Ga,4.0Ga,4.03Ga),目前还存在较大分歧。目前已知残存的冥古宙岩石只有两处,一处是加拿大的阿卡斯塔片麻岩(Acasta gneiss)中两个英云闪长岩和一个变质花岗闪长岩。前者锆石U-Pb年龄为4002±4Ma和4012±6Ma,后者为4031±1Ma。另一处是东南极索尼山(Mount Sones)的麻粒岩相英云闪长质片麻岩,已获得U-Pb年龄为3927±10Ma。世界上最老的表壳岩(≥3870Ma)出露在格陵兰。冥古宙年代久远,地球形成最初的600~700Ma的初始岩石经历了陨石撞击、地壳再循环、重熔等改造,甚至再循环到地幔,几乎已经消失殆尽。目前主要以年轻岩石中的碎屑锆石或继承锆石作为桥梁,来追索这些古老锆石原来母岩的类型、特征及成因。3800Ma的碎屑锆石已在全球十多个地区发现,而以西澳伊尔岗克拉通的杰克山最多最全,从3800Ma到4404Ma都有,在3840Ma,3900~3920Ma,4000~4200Ma,4260~4300Ma和4404Ma显示峰值,其中以3900~4200Ma最为发育,4404Ma是目前世界公认的最老碎屑锆石。此外在北美克拉通、南非克拉通、华北克拉通等古老克拉通以及一些年轻造山带中都发现有冥古宙的碎屑锆石,这些锆石是追索冥古宙地质事件的重要桥梁。通过对冥古宙碎屑锆石的研究提出了很多值得重视和进一步研究的课题和内容。包括早期地壳的性质,一些锆石具有与太古宙之后岩浆锆石特征相似的环带结构,因此这些碎屑锆石的母岩大部分被认为相当花岗质,来自老地壳的重熔。冥古宙碎屑锆石的Hf同位素等综合分析表明这些碎屑锆石来源于中性熔岩的结晶,或许表明早期地壳具有中性成分特征。冥古宙锆石的成因也是一个重要的课题,根据锆石中钛的含量、锆石Ti饱和温度计计算的温度以及锆石的一些结构特征,有的研究者提出冥古宙相当一部分碎屑锆石是陨石撞击导致的岩石熔融结晶产生的,是追溯地球早期撞击事件的重要手段。在4300Ma的碎屑锆石中包裹有金刚石和石墨晶体,前者表明锆石的母岩曾处于高压条件,而后者石墨的碳同位素接近有机碳,有人认为可能为生命起源的迹象。多个地区的碎屑锆石的边部Th/U比值低,U-Pb年龄为4000Ma左右,属于变质作用的产物,表明当时地壳已具有一定厚度。冥古宙碎屑锆石的研究提出了很多重要的问题,但是由于资料有限,有些认识还存在矛盾,还需要获得更多实际资料,才能对冥古宙的地质事件过程取得更可靠的科学认识。因此今后应加强可能赋存古老碎屑锆石地区的寻找,并发现更多古老碎屑锆石。对现有的古老碎屑锆石加强综合研究以及各地区的对比研究。     

The variation of crustal stretching and different modes of rifting along the Australian southern continental margin

The southern margin of Australia is a passive continental margin, formed during a Late Jurassic–Cretaceous rifting phase. The development of this passive margin is mainly associated with extensional processes that caused crustal thinning. In this work, we have measured the amount of extension and the stretching factor (β factor) across seven transect profiles approximately evenly distributed across the margin. The obtained results show that the amount of extension and the β factor along the margin vary from west to east. The lowest amount of extension, low–intermediate β factors and a very narrow margin are observed in the western part with 80 km of extension and is underlain mostly by the Archean Yilgarn Craton and the Albany–Fraser Orogen. The Gawler Craton in the centre of the south Australian margin is another region of low extension and low–intermediate β factor. The largest amount of extension (384 km) and the largest β factor (β = 1.88) are found in the eastern part of the passive margin in an area underlain by Phanerozoic Tasman Orogen units. Our results imply that there is a strong control of the age and thickness of the continental lithosphere on the style of rifting along the Australian passive margin. Rifting of old and cold lithosphere results in a narrow passive margin, with the formation of relatively few faults with relatively wide spacing, while rifting of younger, warmer lithosphere leads to wide rifting that is accommodated by a large number of faults with small spacing.     

皖南晚中生代花岗闪长岩地球化学:成岩成矿制约

皖南地区是铜、钼、金多金属成矿区,成矿与晚中生代花岗闪长岩类关系密切。近十年来,皖南花岗闪长岩的成因仍然存在分歧。本次报道了皖南花岗闪长岩全岩主、微量元素和锆石原位元素数据。皖南花岗闪长岩(Si O2=64.3%~70.8%)为高钾钙碱性、过铝质岩石,具有相似的埃达克岩特征:高Si O2、Sr/Y(17.1)和(La/Yb)N(14.9)比值,低Yb(1.72×10-6)和Y(18.4×10-6)含量。它们也具有较低Al2O3和Cr(3.40×10-6~10.0×10-6)含量、低Mg#(0.34~0.42)和Nb/Ta(9.6~13.3)值,高K2O和Ba(404×10-6)含量,高K2O/Na2O(0.89~1.55)、Th/La(0.27~0.51)和Th/U(2.79~7.49)比值。锆石原位地球化学特征显示其岩浆源区为低温(锆石Ti-in-zircon温度均值674℃)和高氧逸度(lgfO2集中在-21.4~-9.18,均值-16.4;锆石Ce4+/Ce3+平均值276)的陆壳。这些特征说明皖南花岗闪长岩可能起源于较年轻的加厚下地壳的部分熔融,并经历了斜长石、钾长石和铁镁矿物等结晶分异作用。它们可能形成于与古太平洋板块俯冲密切相关的大陆活动边缘弧至弧后拉张构造转换背景。本区大规模Cu、Mo、Au成矿作用与岩浆的高氧逸度密切相关,而锆石Ce4+/Ce3+可作为矿床勘探一个有效的指标。     

从藏南陆-陆碰撞带深部结构构造演化探讨斑岩铜矿的成岩成矿问题

本文以INDEPTH项目对印度大陆与欧亚大陆碰撞带深部成像结果为基础,从构造演化角度探讨藏南陆-陆碰撞带冈底斯斑岩铜矿带的成矿作用问题。深部探测给出的碰撞带深部结构与侯增谦等地质学家提出的深部结构有较大的异同,如何协调起来以深化对藏南陆-陆碰撞条件下成矿作用的认识,这是本文讨论的中心。藏南碰撞带成矿实际上是在新特提斯大洋岩石圈俯冲形成的冈底斯岩浆弧成矿作用的基础上,再经过陆-陆碰撞挤压强烈改造后的再成矿。碰撞带的深部结构构造演化的特点是:(1)新特提斯大洋岩石圈板块向北连续俯冲了约120 Ma,形成的冈底斯陆缘火山岩浆弧带,这导致了陆缘带地壳增厚并含有大量的地幔岩浆流体物质(如南美安第斯成矿带那样);(2)在印度大陆与冈底斯陆缘弧接近碰撞时,在对挤中新特提斯大洋洋壳与大洋岩石圈地幔发生向上挤出与向下拆沉,并使部分洋壳残片和大洋岩石圈物质保存在中上地壳内;(3)两大陆岩石圈碰撞对接后,印度岩石圈地幔加深达70~80 km并沿地壳底部向北推进,并将加厚地壳内大量的成矿物质、钙碱性岩浆,洋壳及新生的下地壳,以及部分地幔物质从地壳底部将其围限起来,成为后期再成矿的物质基础;(4)查明了碰撞带深部壳/幔间产生了一层中间速度层(相当于MASH层),在中上地壳部位出现一层巨大的部分熔融层;(5)在碰撞挤压下冈底斯带内产生多组断裂构造,大型逆冲断裂系与背冲断裂,并引发了含矿岩浆的再活动,并在浮力(下地壳内)和挤压力作用下多次活动上升生成斑岩型铜矿床;(6)成矿后地表遭受过强烈的风化剥蚀作用,使矿床出露地表。     

昌宁-孟连结合带牛井山早古生代埃达克岩锆石U-Pb年龄、岩石成因及其地质意义

昌宁-孟连结合带是西南三江地区重要的古特提斯结合带,本文报道该带牛井山蛇绿混杂岩带内的早古生代英云闪长岩的锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素、全岩地球化学特征,探讨其岩石成因,揭示早古生代(原)特提斯演化过程和恢复古地理格局。利用LA-ICP-MS对英云闪长岩进行锆石U-Pb定年,获得~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为468±2Ma(MSWD=1.4,n=22),代表岩浆岩结晶时代。对锆石进行原位微区Hf同位素分析获得锆石ε_(Hf)(t)=+1.6~+2.8。牛井山英云闪长岩具有高的SiO_2(61.6%~67.16%),Al_2O_3(15.4%~17.64%),Na_2O(2.93%~3.25%)含量,高的Na_2O/K_2O(3.9~5.4)比值。微量元素具有高Sr(469×10~(-6)~533×10~(-6)),低Yb(0.66×10~(-6)~1.22×10~(-6))和Y(8.5×10~(-6)~16.3×10~(-6)),Eu正异常(1.01~1.37)的特征。此外,在同等SiO 2条件下,还具有相对高的Mg~#和MgO(Mg~#=50~51,MgO=2.84%~3.58%)。这些特征表明英云闪长岩具有高镁埃达克岩的性质。岩石成因研究表明牛井山高镁埃达克岩很可能是俯冲洋壳加上部分大洋沉积物部分熔融并与上覆地幔橄榄岩反应的产物。早古生代洋壳俯冲成因的埃达克岩的发现证明昌宁-孟连特提斯洋演化历史可追溯至约468Ma。昌宁-孟连结合带早古生代岩浆作用与龙木错-双湖结合带早古生代洋壳残片的时代一致、构造属性相似,我们认为昌宁-孟连结合带与木错-双湖结合带可对比,它们代表了一个统一的古生代特提斯大洋残余。     

柴北缘布赫特山一带达肯大坂岩群变质岩变形特征、地球化学特征及地质意义

古元古代达肯大坂岩群为柴北缘构造带的变质结晶基底,是柴北缘造山带的重要组成部分。前人在德令哈以西的鱼卡河—锡铁山—沙柳河一带和大柴旦等地对达肯大坂岩群做了较深入的研究,但对于柴北缘东段的研究还相对薄弱,缺乏东西段的对比研究。通过对布赫特山一带达肯大坂岩群中片麻岩和斜长角闪片岩的岩石学、岩石地球化学、年代学研究和区域对比,认为研究区的岩性、矿物组合、变质程度与德令哈以西鱼卡河—锡铁山—沙柳河一带达肯大坂岩群具有较高的相似性。布赫特山一带达肯大坂岩群主要为一套碎屑岩夹火山岩的岩石组合,变形强烈,其形成环境为岛弧与活动性陆缘的过渡环境,且岩浆来源为壳幔混染。由采集的2件Sm-Nd同位素样品得到了2组等时线年龄分别为2085±14Ma和2027±19Ma。由此可知达肯大坂岩群为古元古代柴北缘地区的变质结晶基底,是柴北缘古元古代造山带的重要组成部分。     

藏北羌塘南部埃迪卡拉系达布热组的建立及其地质意义

羌塘位于青藏高原腹地,构造上处于冈瓦纳大陆北缘。因其特殊的构造位置,羌塘地体的起源及构造演化对于探讨青藏高原的早期形成演化、冈瓦纳大陆裂解,以及特提斯洋演化等关键科学问题至关重要。最近,在羌塘南部达布热地区发现一套碎屑岩夹玄武岩的岩石组合,碎屑岩具有低成分成熟度的特点,虽然岩石发生了低绿片岩相变质,但仍然保留了原岩类复理石沉积的特点。根据碎屑锆石定年结果,该套地层中碎屑锆石的最年轻年龄为550Ma左右。此外,该套地层中玄武岩夹层的测年结果表明,该套地层形成于埃迪卡拉纪(约550Ma)。结合地层剖面及区域地层对比,建立了埃迪卡拉纪达布热组。达布热组是羌塘地区首次发现的埃迪卡拉纪地层,该组地层的建立为探讨冈瓦纳大陆北缘构造演化提供了重要线索。     

安徽滁州地区闪长质岩锆石U-Pb年龄与地球化学:岩石成因和动力学意义

用LA-ICP-MS测得安徽滁州2个闪长玢岩样品中锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄为126.19±0.44Ma和126.4±0.7Ma,结合前人研究,得出滁州地区岩体的侵位时代应为120~130Ma之间,为早白垩世。岩石地球化学研究显示,Si O_2含量变化范围为56.75%~60.90%,具有高Al_2O_3(14.82%~15.77%)、Mg O(4%)、Sr(750×10~(-6))、Sr/Y(62~110)、La/Yb(20~36),低Y、Yb的特征,同时富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素,亏损高场强元素,Eu异常不明显,属于典型的埃达克质岩。Mg~#值为39~45,K_2O/Na_2O值为0.57~0.96,平均值为0.75,明显低于大别造山带加厚下地壳埃达克岩,Ce/Pb值较低,大多集中在3~5之间,类似于陆壳而明显低于洋壳。研究认为,安徽滁州地区埃达克质岩由拆沉下地壳部分熔融形成,埃达克质岩浆在上升过程中与地幔橄榄岩发生反应,导致熔体Mg O、Cr、Ni等含量增加。早白垩世中国东部地壳伸展减薄导致下地壳拆沉,地幔物质的参与带来铜、金等成矿物质,埃达克质岩可作为该地区重要的找矿标志。     

High-reliability zircon separation for hunting the oldest material on Earth: An automatic zircon separator with image-processing/microtweezers-manipulating system and double-step dating

Despite the recent development in radiometric dating of numerous zircons by LA-ICPMS, mineral separation still remains a major obstacle, particularly in the search for the oldest material on Earth. To improve the efficiency in zircon separation by an order of magnitude, we have designed/developed a new machine-an automatic zircon separator(AZS). This is designed particularly for automatic pick-up of100 μm-sized zircon grains out of a heavy mineral fraction after conventional separation procedures. The AZS operates in three modes:(1) image processing to choose targeted individual zircon grains out of all heavy minerals spread on a tray,(2) automatic capturing of the individual zircon grains with microtweezers, and(3) placing them one-by-one in a coordinated alignment on a receiving tray. The automatic capturing was designed/created for continuous mineral selecting without human presence for many hours. This software also enables the registration of each separated zircon grain for dating, by recording digital photo-image, optical(color) indices, and coordinates on a receiving tray. We developed two new approaches for the dating; i.e.(1) direct dating of zircons selected by LA-ICPMS without conventional resin-mounting/polishing,(2) high speed U-Pb dating, combined with conventional sample preparation procedures using the new equipment with multiple-ion counting detectors(LA-MIC-ICPMS).With the first approach, Pb-Pb ages obtained from the surface of a mineral were crosschecked with the interior of the same grain after resin-mounting/polishing. With the second approach, the amount of time required for dating one zircon grain is ca. 20 s, and a sample throughput of 150 grains per hour can be achieved with sufficient precision(ca. 0.5%).We tested the practical efficiency of the AZS, by analyzing an Archean Jack Hills conglomerate in Western Australia with the known oldest(4.3 Ga) zircon on Earth. Preliminary results are positive; we were able to obtain more than 194 zircons that are over 4.0 Ga out of ca. 3800 checked grains, and 9 grains were over 4300 Ma with the oldest at 4371 ± 7 Ma. This separation system by AZS, combined with the new approaches, guarantees much higher yield in the hunt for old zircons.