Mesozoic and Cenozoic collisional structures of the southern Great Altai

We suggest a model of the continental collisional framework of the southern Great Altai (Central Asia) produced by the convergence of the Tuva-Mongolia and Jonggaria terranes (microplates) during the latest Permian-Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic activity. The collisional structures in the region classified on the basis of their geometry and deformation style, dynamic metamorphism, and compositions of tectonites are of three main types: (i) mosaic terranes made up of large weakly deformed Paleozoic blocks separated by younger shear zones, (ii) collisional deformation systems involving post-Paleozoic structures, parallel faults oriented along collisional deformation systems, and relict lenses of Paleozoic orogenic complexes, and (iii) isolated zones of dynamic metamorphism composed mostly of collisional tectonites.     

Metamorphic decarbonation in the Neoproterozoic and its environmental implication

Metamorphic decarbonation reactions and volcanic degassing lead to significant influx of CO₂, a major greenhouse gas, into the ocean-atmosphere system from the solid Earth. Here we present quantitative estimates on CO₂ derived through metamorphic degassing during ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism in the Neoproterozoic through the mineralogical and geological analyses of the UHT decarbonation. Our computations show that an extra flux of CO₂ was added to the atmosphere through a Himalayan scale UHT metamorphism to the extent of 6 × 10¹⁶ to 3.0 × 10¹⁸ mol/my, for a duration of 10 my. A calculation of the impact of the extra CO₂ influx to the global mean temperature in the context of carbon cycle and greenhouse effect of CO₂ shows that at the peak influx stage, the steady state temperature would be raised by 4 °C from 15 °C and by 13 °C from 4 °C. Our results have important bearing in evaluating the mechanism of melting and the duration of the Snowball Earth. Our estimate of the maximum degassing rate during UHT metamorphism suggests that the duration of the Marinoan snowball Earth was probably shorter, and the recovery from an ice-covered Earth to ocean-covered Earth was faster than previous estimates.     

Polyphase metamorphism in the eastern Carnic Alps (N Italy–S Austria): clay minerals and conodont Colour Alteration Index evidence

Thermal evolution of the Palaeozoic–Triassic sequences of the Carnic Alps has been characterized by b cell dimension and Kübler Index (illite “crystallinity”) of K-white micas (KI), árkai Index (AI) of chlorites, clay mineral assemblages and conodont Colour Alteration Index (CAI). Data indicate at least two metamorphic events, Variscan and Alpine. In the older event high anchizonal conditions predominated although epizonal conditions were reached over wide areas. It was characterized by low-intermediate pressure facies. The thermal peak was mainly due to an extensional regime during the Bashkirian. A younger thermal overprint generated by Alpine orogeny was of lower grade, reaching high diagenetic–anchizonal conditions characterized by high-pressure facies. Inverted metamorphic patterns are associated with middle to late Miocene thrusting. Hydrothermal alteration in the northern part of the region can be linked with emplacement of Oligocene plutons and high heat flow along the Periadratic lineament. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

胶北粉子山群和荆山群三叠纪变质变形记录:金红石U-Pb年代学证据

胶北地块粉子山群和荆山群是华北克拉通的重要组成部分,其变质变形作用过程是全面认识华北克拉通性质与演化的关键。前人对粉子山群和荆山群变质变形年代研究的测试对象主要为锆石,报道的年代学数据多集中于1.8~1.9Ga,认为变质变形作用的时代为古元古代。本文通过对采集自胶北粉子山群和荆山群的2个石榴云母片岩和2个云母片岩样品中独居石及金红石的U-Pb同位素年代测定,揭示了胶北粉子山群和荆山群不仅经历了古元古代(1869±16~1864±14 Ma)变质事件的改造,而且还经历了三叠纪(215.1±4.2~217.8±6.3Ma)变质变形事件的叠加。通过金红石中Zr温度计计算得出215.1±4.2 Ma,217.7±2.7 Ma和217.8±6.3 Ma的U-Pb年龄对应温度分别为:658℃,667℃和680℃。表明胶北地块部分卷入了三叠纪苏鲁-大别超高压变质带的俯冲-碰撞造山过程,并遭受了角闪岩相变质作用叠加。     

车里雅宾斯克(Chelyabinsk)陨石的岩石矿物特征与冲击变质作用

2013年2月15日,俄罗斯车里雅宾斯克(Chelyabinsk)发生了伴随罕见的空中爆炸的大规模陨石雨事件。本文对3块代表不同冲击变质程度的车里雅宾斯克陨石碎块进行了研究。它们都具有部分熔壳,其中1块仅出现碎裂,1块含有冲击熔融细脉,1块基本由冲击熔融囊和冲击熔脉组成。冲击变质程度最低的样品,代表了该陨石母体小行星的原始岩石矿物学特征:即具有粗粒的岩石结构和均一的矿物化学组成,但仍保留一些残余球粒,表明受到了明显的热变质作用,其岩石类型可划分为5型。铁镁质硅酸盐高的Fe O含量(橄榄石Fa:27.9mol%~28.2mol%,辉石Fs值:23.3mol%~23.7mol%)、以及较低的Fe-Ni金属含量,表明其化学群属于低铁低金属的LL群。我们所分析的样品与前人报导的结果相似,未发现不同岩性的岩屑,表明车里雅宾斯克陨石的原始岩矿特征较为均一。3块陨石碎块中,随着冲击程度的增强,其冲击变质特征依次表现为硅酸盐矿物的破碎、熔长石化更为普遍、陨硫铁与铁镍合金共熔、硅酸盐熔脉的形成、铬铁矿与长石共熔、以及大量熔融囊的发育等。但是,在冲击熔融囊和熔脉中,以及相邻围岩中均未发现高压矿物相。熔脉中的橄榄石晶屑和相邻围岩的橄榄石颗粒表现为化学成分的不均一,在背散射电子图像中呈不同灰度的结构。这与其他强烈冲击变质陨石中橄榄石的林伍德石或瓦茨利石相变相似。该陨石中林伍德石或瓦茨利石的缺失很可能是由于强烈撞击后高温产生的退变质。这也表明车里雅宾斯克陨石的母体小行星可能遭受了非常强烈的撞击事件。     

麻粒岩相变质作用与花岗岩成因-I:变质泥质岩/杂砂岩高温-超高温变质相平衡

麻粒岩相岩石作为洞察下地壳的窗口一直备受重视。二十世纪九十年代以来麻粒岩研究的一个重要进展是利用变质相平衡的定量研究方法模拟岩石中所发生的深熔变质反应、熔体成分变化、及熔体丢失对变质矿物组合的影响等。本文利用KASH、NKASH和KFMASH等简单体系的相平衡关系,做出P-T投影图、组分共生图解和基于固定全岩成分的P-T视剖面图解,并结合有关实验岩石学结果,讨论了高温和超高温条件下变质泥质岩和杂砂岩中的变质熔融反应、矿物组合、全岩成分与P-T条件之间的相互关系。多数变质泥质岩和杂砂岩中饱和流体固相线熔融反应可利用NKASH体系中有水流体参与的熔融反应模拟,在没有外来流体注入时,这些反应可形成<3mol%熔体。在不同体系中白云母脱水熔融反应型式及其P-T条件不同,如在NKASH和KFMASH体系中模拟计算的白云母脱水熔融反应与相应的实验结果相似,分别控制了白云母分解熔融的温度下限和上限;白云母的分解温度会随着其中Fe、Mg和Ti含量的增加而升高,也随着共生斜长石中钙长石组分增加而升高,泥质岩中白云母脱水熔融可以形成~10mol%熔体。在KFMASH体系中黑云母脱水熔融反应表现为4条单变反应,其理论计算的温度比实验模拟的结果低一些。在NCKFMASH体系或实际岩石中黑云母脱水熔融反应为滑动反应,如NCKFMASH体系中黑云母从其开始熔融到最后消失在泥质岩中可跨越~100℃,在杂砂岩中可跨越30~50℃。黑云母的稳定温度随着镁值升高而升高,其稳定上限受钛影响更大,黑云母脱水熔融可以形成超过30mol%~40mol%熔体。KFMASH体系中的相平衡模拟表明以出现斜方辉石+夕线石和假蓝宝石为特征的超高温组合易于出现于富镁泥质岩中,而对正常成分泥质岩在达到1000℃的超高温条件下,主要出现石榴石+夕线石(即夕线榴),该组合在更高温度反应形成假蓝宝石+尖晶石。利用饱和水固相线反应和白云母与黑云母分解反应可以更好地限定不同的变质相。如中压和低压条件下低角闪岩相和高角闪岩相的界限可利用NKASH体系中有水流体和白云母参与的熔融反应和亚固相线条件下的白云母分解反应限定;实验确定的泥质岩中黑云母开始熔融与消失的反应可分别用于限定高角闪岩相与(正常)麻粒岩相的界限,以及(正常)麻粒岩相和超高温麻粒岩相的界限。因此,从矿物组合角度,正常麻粒岩相可限定在黑云母开始熔融到完全消失的温度范围,超高温麻粒岩相可限定在黑云母消失(有石英存在)之后的温度范围。     

滇西哀牢山构造带变质岩系LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

为厘定哀牢山岩群的时代和大地构造归属,选取哀牢山岩群中的花岗质片麻岩(SM-15)、花岗闪长质片麻岩(SM-22)、同变形的花岗质岩脉(SM-18)及紧邻哀牢山岩群的变质砂岩(NO-1)为研究对象,运用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年法对其进行定年。结果显示,样品SM-15中有岩浆锆石和变质锆石2类,岩浆锆石的年龄集中于722~740Ma之间,变质锆石的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值为29.9±0.5Ma。样品SM-22中2组~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值,原岩年龄为232.3±4.3Ma;后期变质重结晶年龄为29.2±0.4Ma。样品SM-18中锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值为27.19±0.36Ma,代表变质年龄。样品NO-1中的碎屑锆石年龄分4组:246~276Ma、600~800Ma、800~1000Ma和1000Ma以上。以上年龄数据表明,哀牢山岩群中至少包括元古宙岩浆岩(722~740Ma)、二叠纪末—三叠纪初岩浆岩或地层(235~255Ma),以及新近纪岩浆岩(27~32Ma),是一个复杂的变质岩带,而不是以往认为的全部属于元古宙扬子地台的结晶基底。哀牢山岩群的主变质时代集中在27~32Ma之间,哀牢山岩群现今的面貌主要在这一时期成型。     

Constraining P–T conditions during thrusting of a higher pressure unit over a lower pressure one (Gran Paradiso,Western Alps)

Identifying higher pressure units overlying lower pressure ones is a first order argument to determine the presence of large‐scale thrusting. For the first time, petrology is used to quantify the pressure difference between two stacked units in the Western Alps. In the Gran Paradiso Massif, the Money unit crops out as a tectonic window below the Gran Paradiso unit. The reconstruction of the Alpine evolution of these two units and the history of their tectonic contact has been achieved using a multidisciplinary approach that combines meso‐ and microstructural analysis and pseudosection calculations. In both units, four stages of deformation and metamorphism have been identified. Stage 1 reflects the phase of continental crust subduction and P–T conditions of ~18–20 kbar, 480–520 °C and of ~13–18 kbar, 500–530 °C have been estimated for the Gran Paradiso and the Money units respectively. This yields a maximum difference of ~20 km in the depth reached by these two units during the early Alpine history. Thrusting of the Gran Paradiso unit over the Money unit (stage 2) led to the development of the main foliation and occurred in the high‐P part of the albite stability field at P–T conditions of ~12.5–14.5 kbar and 530–560 °C, identical in both units. The thrust contact was folded during stage 3 together with the entire Money unit, and then both units were exhumed together (stage 4). During this polyphase evolution, detrital garnet has been partially dissolved, while the earliest Na‐bearing phases (glaucophane, paragonite) have been overprinted by the low‐P mineral associations. The uncertainties on derived pressures between the two units are unfortunately larger than hoped, and this is attributed to the muscovite solid‐solution model not incorporating a pyrophyllite component.     

Reworking of the Gangdese magmatic arc,southeastern Tibet: post‐collisional metamorphism and anatexis

The Gangdese magmatic arc, southeastern Tibet, was built by mantle‐derived magma accretion and juvenile crustal growth during the Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic northward subduction of the Neo‐Tethyan oceanic slab beneath the Eurasian continent. The petrological and geochronological data reveal that the lower crust of the southeastern Gangdese arc experienced Oligocene reworking by metamorphism, anatexis and magmatism after the India and Asia collision. The post‐collisional metamorphic and migmatitic rocks formed at 34–26 Ma and 28–26 Ma respectively. Meta‐granitoids have protolith ages of 65–38 Ma. Inherited detrital zircon from metasedimentary rocks has highly variable ages ranging from 2708 to 37 Ma. These rocks underwent post‐collisional amphibolite facies metamorphism and coeval anatexis under P–T conditions of ~710–760 °C and ~12 kbar with geothermal gradients of 18–20 °C km ^{? 1}, indicating a distinct crustal thickening process. Crustal shortening, thickening and possible subduction erosion due to the continental collision and ongoing convergence resulted in high‐P metamorphic and anatectic reworking of the magmatic and sedimentary rocks of the deep Gangdese arc. This study provides a typical example of the reworking of juvenile and ancient continental crust during active collisional orogeny.     

Stable isotopic evidence for fluid infiltration during contact metamorphism in a multiply-metamorphosed terrane: the Reynolds Range, Arunta Block, central Australia

The Lander Rock Beds form the local basement of the Reynolds Range in the Arunta Inlier of central Australia. These dominantly quartzose and pelitic lithologies underwent low-grade ( c.   400  °C) regional metamorphism prior to contact metamorphism ( c.   2.5  kbar) around S-type megacrystic granitoids at 1820–1800  Ma. The Lander Rock Beds are overlain by metasediments of the Reynolds Range Group, which were subsequently intruded by granitoids at c. 1780  Ma. Regional metamorphism at 1590–1580  Ma produced grades varying from greenschist (400  °C at 4–5  kbar) to granulite (750–800  °C at 4–5  kbar) from north-west to south-east along the length of the Reynolds Range. Oxygen isotope ratios of the Lander Rock Beds were reset from 13.4±0.8 to as low as 6.7 adjacent to the contacts of the larger plutons, and to 10.3±1.1 around the smaller plutons. Biotite in all the major rock types found in the aureoles has δD values between −52 and −69, probably reflecting resetting by a cooling igneous+metamorphic fluid near the plutons. Sapphirine-bearing and other Mg- and Al-rich rock types have low δ¹⁸O values (4.0±0.7). The precursors to these rocks were probably low-temperature ( c. 200  °C) diagenetic–hydrothermal deposits of Mg-rich chlorite, analogous to those in Proterozoic stratiform precious metal and uranium deposits that form by the infiltration of basin brines or seawater. As in the overlying Reynolds Range Group, regional metamorphism involved little fluid–rock interaction and isotopic resetting.