Seafloor spreading, obduction and triple junction tectonics of the Mineoka Ophiolite, Central Japan

The Tertiary Mineoka ophiolite occurs in a fault zone at the intersection of the Honshu and Izu forearcs in central Japan and displays structural evidence for three major phases of deformation: normal and oblique-slip faults and hydrothermal veins formed during the seafloor spreading evolution of the ophiolite at a ridge-transform fault intersection. These structures may represent repeated changes in differential stress and pore-fluid pressures during their formation. The second series of deformation is characterized by oblique thrust faults with Riedel shears and no significant mineral veining, and is interpreted to have resulted from transpressional dextral faulting during the obduction of the ophiolite through oblique convergence and tectonic accretion. This deformation occurred at the NW corner of a TTT-type (trench–trench–trench) triple junction in the NW Pacific rim before the middle Miocene. The third series of deformation of the ophiolite is marked by contractional and oblique shear zones, Riedel shears, and thrust faults that crosscut and offset earlier structures, and that give the Mineoka fault zone its lenticular (phacoidal) fabric at all scales. This deformation phase was associated with the establishment and the southward migration of the TTT Boso triple junction and with the kinematics of oblique subduction and forearc sliver fault development. The composite Mineoka ophiolite hence displays rocks and structures that evolved during its complex geodynamic history involving seafloor spreading, tectonic accretion, and triple junction evolution in the NW Pacific Rim.     

Hydrothermal alteration and tectonic evolution of an intermediate- to fast-spreading back-arc oceanic crust: Late Ordovician Solund-Stavfjord ophiolite, western Norway

Abstract The Solund‐Stavfjord ophiolite complex (SSOC) in western Norway represents a remnant of the Late Ordovician oceanic lithosphere, which developed in an intermediate‐ to fast‐spreading Caledonian back‐arc basin. The internal architecture and magmatic features of its crustal component suggest that the SSOC has a complex, multistage sea floor spreading history in a supra‐subduction zone environment. The youngest crustal section associated with the propagating rift tectonics consists of a relatively complete ophiolite pseudostratigraphy, including basaltic volcanic rocks, a transition zone between the sheeted dyke complex and the extrusive sequence, sheeted dykes, and high‐level isotropic gabbros. Large‐scale variations in major and trace element distributions indicate significant remobilization far beyond that which would result from magmatic processes, as a result of the hydrothermal alteration of crustal rocks. Whereas K₂O is strongly enriched in volcanic rocks of the extrusive sequence, Cu and Zn show the largest enrichment in the dyke complex near the dyke–volcanic transition zone or within this transition zone. The δ¹⁸O values of the whole‐rock samples show a general depletion structurally downwards in the ophiolite, with the largest and smallest variations observed in volcanic rocks and the transition zone, respectively. δ¹⁸O values of epidote–quartz mineral pairs indicate 260–290°C for volcanic rocks, 420°C for the transition zone, 280–345°C for the sheeted dyke complex and 290–475°C for the gabbros. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios show the widest range and highest values in the extrusive rocks (0.70316–0.70495), and generally the lowest values and the narrowest range in the sheeted dyke complex (0.70338–0.70377). The minimum water/rock ratios calculated show the largest variations in volcanic rocks and gabbros (approximately 0–14), and generally the lowest values and range in the sheeted dyke complex (approximately 1–3). The δD values of epidote (?1 to ?12‰), together with the δ¹⁸O calculated for Ordovician seawater, are similar to those of present‐day seawater. Volcanic rocks experienced both cold and warm water circulation, resulting in the observed K₂O‐enrichment and the largest scatter in the δ¹⁸O values. As a result of metal leaching in the hot reaction zone above a magma chamber, Zn is strongly depleted in the gabbros but enriched in the sheeted dyke complex because of precipitation from upwelling of discharged hydrothermal fluids. The present study demonstrates that the near intact effect of ocean floor hydrothermal activity is preserved in the upper part of the SSOC crust, despite the influence of regional lower greenschist facies metamorphism.     

Permo-Carboniferous Radiolarians from the Wupata＇erkan Group, Western South Tianshan, Xinjiang, China

The Wupata‘erkan Group, also called Wupata‘erkan Formation, distributed in the South Tianshan, Xinjiang,China, mainly consists of gray and dark gray fine-grained clastic rocks, interlayered with volcanic rocks, carbonates and cherts. Some ultra-basic rocks (blocks) punctuate the formation. The formation was variously assigned to Silurian-Middle Devonian, Silurian-Lower Devonian, and pre-Devonian, mainly based on Atrypa bodini Mansuy, Hypothyridina parallelepipedia (Brour.) and Prismatophyllum hexagonum Yoh collected from the limestone interlayers, respectively.However, radiolarian fossils obtained from 24 chert specimens of the Wupata‘erkan Group, mainly include Albaillella sp.cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon, Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto, Albaillella sp. and Latentifistulidae gen. et. sp.indet., are earliest Carboniferous and Late Permian. The earliest Carboniferous assemblage is characterized by Albaillella sp. cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon and Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, and the Late Permian assemblage by Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto. This new stratigraphic evidence indicates that the Wupata‘erkan Group is possibly composed of rocks with different ages from Silurian to Permian, and therefore, it is probably an ophiolite mrlange. The discovery of Late Permian Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa provides more reliable evidence supporting the existence of a Permian relic ancient oceanic basin in the western part of Xinjiang South Tianshan.     

缅甸达贡山蛇绿岩体的地球化学特征及其成矿意义

缅甸达贡山蛇绿岩体是达贡―密支那缝合带的重要组成部分,受控于板块碰撞结合带。该岩体主要由蛇纹石化橄榄岩、斜方辉石橄榄岩等组成。变质橄榄岩具有低的A12O3和CaO含量,以富Mg、贫Ti、HREE为特征,显示一种残留地幔岩的稀土元素地球化学特征,与世界上典型蛇绿岩体中方辉橄榄岩的特征值一致。经估算,达贡山蛇纹岩原岩是原始地幔经过9%~14%部分熔融的地幔残留,初步研究认为,达贡山蛇纹岩原岩是洋内俯冲初始阶段上涌软流圈地幔部分熔融的地幔残留,受类SSZ型熔体交代作用而仍然富集轻稀土元素(LREE)及U、Nb,属类SSZ型地幔橄榄岩;达贡山蛇绿岩体可能形成于俯冲带(SSZ)环境。岩体的m/f平均值8.026.5,利于铬铁矿的成矿。     

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段普兰纯橄岩中橄榄石的出溶特征及指示意义

西藏雅鲁藏布江缝合带西段普兰纯橄岩中橄榄石存在透辉石和磁铁矿共生出溶现象。这类纯橄岩非常新鲜,主要由橄榄石、尖晶石和透辉石等矿物组成。橄榄石的Fo值是90.1~90.7,铬尖晶石的Cr~#为19.8~20.8,远小于蛇绿岩地幔橄榄岩中常见纯橄岩中铬尖晶石的铬值(Cr~#60)。基于前人研究结果,提出这种现象是由于亏损方辉橄榄岩与含钛、铝、钙熔体发生交代作用,从而形成橄榄石的固溶体存在Ti~(4+)、Al~(3+)、Ca~(2+)、Fe~(3+),而Cr~(3+)进入铬尖晶石结晶。后期由于岩体在抬升过程中降温,橄榄石中出溶形成单斜辉石和磁铁矿,而铬尖晶石结晶被保留。依据铬尖晶石-橄榄石的矿物化学成分,识别出低铬纯橄岩具有最低的部分熔融程度为~8%,Cr~#最高的纯橄岩壳其部分熔融程度达到~50%,表明不同岩相间其形成背景存在明显差异。因此,笔者认为普兰蛇绿岩具有多阶段的过程。首先是在洋中脊环境下经历富Ca、Al和Na等熔体交代和部分熔融作用,后受到俯冲带玻安质熔体改造。     

内蒙古巴林左旗九井子蛇绿岩锆石U-Pb定年:对西拉木伦河缝合带形成演化的约束

本文对位于西拉木伦河蛇绿岩带东段的九井子蛇绿岩中辉长岩脉以及蛇绿岩的围岩开展了锆石U-Pb定年。结果表明辉长岩的形成时代为(274.7±1.7)Ma,MSWD=0.079,属于早二叠世晚期;结合前人地层、古生物、岩浆岩等方面的资料,表明内蒙古东南部早二叠世晚期还可能存在大洋盆地。与九井子蛇绿岩呈断层接触的粉砂岩碎屑锆石年龄大致构成4个峰值:2350~2700 Ma、1700~2100 Ma、370~470 Ma和250~290 Ma,通过与区域构造热事件的对比分析,表明其物源主要来自中朝古板块的北缘。粉砂岩中最小的锆石年龄为晚二叠世末—早三叠世初((249±4.7)Ma),该年龄与内蒙古东南部海相地层消失的时代、安加拉植物群和华夏植物群出现混生的时代、西伯利亚和中朝古板块古纬度曲线收敛的时代以及区域上与碰撞相关的岩浆岩形成时代大致相同,据此本文认为九井子蛇绿岩的构造侵位时代应为晚二叠世末—早三叠世初,同时也可能代表古亚洲洋的最终闭合时代。     

西藏改则县多龙矿集区发现岩墙岭蛇绿岩残片

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带北缘多龙矿集区是青藏高原新近发现的具有超大型远景的、典型的富金斑岩型铜矿集区,其成岩成矿地质背景是解决班公湖-怒江洋构造演化的关键问题之一。近年来的区域地质调查研究发现,多龙矿集区南侧出露岩墙岭蛇绿岩残片,应该是班公湖-怒江蛇绿岩带的重要组成部分。岩墙岭蛇绿岩主要由席状岩墙群、枕状玄武岩和硅质岩组成,整体呈棱形或透镜体状断续分布于侏罗系复理石沉积内,构成典型的网结状构造。糜棱岩普遍发育在岩墙岭蛇绿岩和围岩的接触部位。综合前人研究成果,初步认为多龙矿集区早白垩世成岩成矿作用应该形成于增生楔之上伸展拉张的构造环境。岩墙岭蛇绿岩的发现和确定进一步约束了多龙矿集区成岩成矿地质背景,同时为班公湖-怒江缝合带的延伸及其构造演化的研究提供了新的线索。     

Petrology and PGE Abundances of High‐Cr and High‐Al Podiform Chromitites and Peridotites from the Bulqiza Ultramafic Massif,Eastern Mirdita Ophiolite,Albania

The Bulqiza ultramafic massif, which is part of the eastern Mirdita ophiolite of northern Albania, is world renowned for its high-Cr chromitite deposits. High-Cr chromitites hosted in the mantle section are the crystallized products of boninitic melts in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ). However, economically important high-Al chromitites are also present in massive dunite of the mantle-crust transition zone (MTZ). Chromian-spinel in the high-Al chromitites and dunites of the MTZ have much lower Cr# values (100Cr/(Cr+Al)) (47.7–55.1 and 46.5–51.7, respectively) than those in the high-Cr chromitites (78.2–80.4), harzburgites (72.6–77.9) and mantle dunites (79.4–84.3). The chemical differences in these two types of chromitites are reflected in the behaviors of their platinum-group elements (PGE). The high-Cr chromitites are rich in IPGE relative to PPGE with 0.10–0.45 PPGE/IPGE ratios, whereas the high-Al chromitites have relatively higher PPGE/IPGE ratios between 1.20 and 7.80. The calculated melts in equilibrium with the high-Cr chromitites are boninitic-like, and those associated with the high-Al chromitites are MORB-like but with hydrous, oxidized and TiO2-poor features. We propose that the coexistence of both types of chromitites in the Bulqiza ultramafic massif may indicates a change in magma composition from MORB-like to boninitic-like in a proto-forearc setting during subduction initiation.     

西藏改则县拉果错蛇绿岩构造属性:来自岩石学、地球化学、年代学及Lu-Hf同位素的制约

拉果错蛇绿岩是狮泉河-阿索-嘉黎蛇绿岩带中出露最完整的蛇绿岩组合之一,对恢复和反演该缝合带所代表洋盆演化具有重要意义。然而,目前拉果错蛇绿岩的成因及构造环境还不清楚,时代也存在争议。选择拉果错蛇绿岩中的斜长花岗岩和堆晶辉长岩作为研究对象,开展了野外勘查及剖面的测制,以及地球化学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及Lu-Hf同位素研究,并结合区域地层、岩浆岩等相关资料,探讨了拉果错蛇绿岩的构造属性。拉果错斜长花岗岩和辉长岩野外呈整合接触,地球化学特征表明二者具有同源性,具有与E-MORB(富集大洋中脊玄武岩)相似的稀土元素配分形式和微量特征;Lu-Hf同位素显示岩浆源区为亏损地幔,由多种组分组成,可能来源于亏损地幔和Ⅱ型富集地幔二组分混合的地幔源区;斜长花岗岩和辉长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年分别获得184.1±0.79Ma和183.5±2.2Ma的谐和年龄,代表了拉果错蛇绿岩的形成时代。研究表明,拉果错蛇绿岩形成于具有强烈大洋中脊玄武岩特征的弧后盆地环境。     

Early Carboniferous ophiolite in central Qiangtang,northern Tibet: record of an oceanic back-arc system in the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean

Zircon U–Pb dating of two samples of metagabbro from the Riwanchaka ophiolite yielded early Carboniferous ages of 354.4 ± 2.3 Ma and 356.7 ± 1.9 Ma. Their positive zircon εHf(t) values (+7.9 to +9.9) indicate that these rocks were derived from a relatively depleted mantle. The metagabbros can be considered as two types: R1 and R2. Both types are tholeiitic, with depletion of high-field-strength elements (HFSE) and enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) similar to those of typical back-arc basin basalts (BABB), such as Mariana BABB and East Scotia Ridge BABB. Geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that the R1 metagabbro originated from a back-arc basin spreading ridge with addition of slab-derived fluids, whereas the R2 metagabbro was derived from a back-arc basin mantle source, with involvement of melts and fluids from subducted ocean crust. The Riwanchaka ophiolite exhibits both mid-ocean ridge basalts- and arc-like geochemical affinities, consistent with coeval ophiolites from central Qiangtang. Observations indicate that the Qiangtang ophiolites developed during the Late Devonian–early Carboniferous (D₃–C₁) in a back-arc spreading ridge above an intra-oceanic subduction zone. Based on our data and previous studies, we propose that an oceanic back-arc basin system existed in the Longmuco–Shuanghu–Lancang Palaeo-Tethys Ocean during the D₃–C₁ period.