Metamorphic evolution of exhumed middle to lower crustal rocks in the Mojave Extensional Belt, southern California, USA

The Waterman Metamorphic Complex of the central Mojave Desert was exposed as a consequence of early Miocene detachment-dominated extension. However, it has evidence consistent with a more extensive geological history that involves collision of a crustal fragment(s), tectonic thickening by overthrusting and two periods of extension. The metamorphic complex contains granitoid intrusives and felsic mylonitic gneisses as well as polymetamorphic rocks that include marble, calc-silicate, quartzite. mafic granulite, pyribolite, amphibolite, migmatite and biotite schist. The latter group of rocks was affected by an initial series of high-grade metamorphic events (M1 and M2) and a localized lower grade overprint (M3). The initial metamorphism (M1) can be separated into two stages along its high-grade P–T path: M1a, a granulite facies metamorphism at 800–850° C and 7.5–9 kbar and Mlb, an upper amphibolite facies overprint at 750–800° C and 10–12 kbar. M1a developed mineral assemblages and textures consistent with granulite facies conditions at a reduced activity of H₂O and is associated with intense ductile deformation (D1) and minor local partial melting. M1b overprinted the granulite assemblages with a series of hydrous phases under conditions of increasing pressure and H₂O activity and is accompanied by little or no deformation. M2 developed at lower pressures and temperatures (650–750° C, 4.5–5.5 kbar) and is distinguished by a second local overprint of hydrous phases that reflects an input of aqueous fluids probably associated with the intrusion of a series of granitic dykes and veins. Effects of M3 are confined to the Mitchel detachment zone, an anastomosing early Miocene detachment fault, and are characterized by local ductile/brittle deformation (D2) of the pre-existing high-grade rocks and granitoid intrusives and by the production of mylonites and mylonitic gneisses under greenschist facies conditions (300–350° C, 3–5 kbar). The initial overprint (M1a) represents metamorphism, devolatilization and minor partial melting of supracrustal rocks under granulite facies conditions as a consequence of tectonic and, possibly, magmatic thickening. The increasing pressure transition of M1a to M1b reflects a period of continued compressional tectonism, thrusting and influx of H₂O, in part, locally related to crystallization of partial melts. The near isothermal decompression between M1b and M2 probably represents a pre-112-Ma extensional episode that may have been the result of a decompressional readjustment of a thickened crust. Following the initial extensional event, the metamorphic complex remained at depths of 10–17 km for at least 90 Ma until it was uplifted following Miocene extension. M3 develops locally in response to this second extensional period resulting from the early Miocene detachment faulting.     

The Cenozoic Volcanoes in Northeast China

There are more than 600 Cenozoic volcanic cones and craters with abeut 50 000 km2of lava flows in northeast China, which formed many volcanic clusters and shown the features of the continental rift - type volcanoes. Most volcanic activities in this area, especially in the east part of Songliao graben, were usually controlled by rifts and faults with the main direction of NE / NNE in parallel and become younger from the central graben towards its both sides, especially to the east continental margin. It is revealed that the volcanism occurred in northeast China was as strong as that occurred in Japan during the Miocene and the Quaternary. The Quaternary basalt that is usually distributed along river valley is called "valley basalt"while Neogene basalt usually distributed in the top of mounts is called "high position basalt". These volcanoes and volcanic rocks are usually composed of alkaline basalts with ultramafic inclusions, except Changbaishan volcano that is built by trachyte and pantellerite.     

杭州泗岭铝质A型花岗岩的发现及其构造意义

初步研究表明,以往被认为是典型的S型花岗岩或改造-重熔型花岗岩的泗岭岩体应为铝质A型花岗岩。该岩体高硅、碱、钾而明显贫钙、镁;高(K2O Na2O)/CaO值(平均16.79)和AKI指数(平均0.92);FeO*/MgO比值大(平均13.95),高于M型、S型和I型花岗岩,而与世界A型花岗岩平均值(13.4)相近;岩石为弱碱性、准铝-弱过铝质,富含稀土元素、HFSE元素,高Rb、F和Nb,反映其具A型花岗岩的成分特征。泗岭岩体氧同位素δ18O为 8‰～ 9‰,反映岩浆主要起源于下地壳。该岩体侵位于拉张的构造环境,是晚白垩世早期一次重要的构造-岩浆热事件,同时也反映了区域性孝丰—三门湾大断裂与学川—湖州大断裂在晚白垩世早期处于拉伸阶段。     

南沙西部海域伸缩型右旋走滑双重构造系统及其动力学过程

万纳断裂带为一典型的右旋走滑系统,由其南段前锋的拉奈—沙捞越走滑－收缩叠瓦扇、北段尾端的南海西南次海盆西南端走滑－伸展叠瓦扇和中段的万安盆地走滑－拉分双重构造所组成,其动力主要源自中生代末以来华南—印支陆缘岩石圈的拆沉作用和南海海底扩张,它的走滑拉分作用直接导致了万安盆地的产生,对该海域油气等资源的形成与聚集起了重要的控制作用。     

大陆岩石圈在张裂和分离时的变形模式

通过对南海南北共轭边缘地壳剖面的对比研究,发现大陆岩石圈的物理性质是分层的：上、中地壳呈脆性,下地壳表现出塑性,而岩石圈上地幔则仍呈脆性。因此,在它受张性应力场作用时,其变形和破裂分离方式也是分层进行的：上、中地壳能发生犁式断裂,产生的断块沿断面转动在地表产生一系列半地堑,并使地壳厚度减薄;如拉张应力继续作用时,上、中地壳将沿犁式断裂被拉开,从而形成上、下板块边缘,并彼此分开。下地壳则发生塑性变形,使地壳厚度减薄,并最终将其拉断。岩石圈上地幔亦可产生陡倾断裂,形成的断块沿断面转动亦使其厚度减薄,并最终沿陡倾断裂被拉断。这就是我们称之为岩石圈变形和破裂分 离时的分层变形及分层破裂分离模式。     

Comparison of Strain-rate Dependent Stress-Strain Behavior from Ko-consolidated Compression and Extension Tests on Natural Hong Kong Marine Deposits

This article presents results from a series of K_o-consolidated compression and extension triaxial tests on specimens from undisturbed samples of Hong Kong Marine Deposits (HKMD). To investigate the strain-rate effects, a total of seven K_o-consolidated triaxial tests were conducted including four compression tests and three extension tests. After K_o-consolidation, the triaxial test specimens were sheared at step-changed axial strain rates under three different confining pressures of 50 kPa, 150 kPa, and 400 kPa, respectively. The step-changed strain rates were applied in the following order: +2%/h, +0.2%/h, +20%/h, -2%/h (unloading) and +2%/h (reloading) for the four compression tests and -2%/h, -0.2%/h, -20%/h, +2%/h (unloading) and -2%/h (reloading) for the three extension tests. The results are reported and analyzed in the paper. The results show that the strain rate effects, the stress-strain characteristics, and the effective stress paths of the specimens for tests in a compression state are different from those for tests in an extension stage. One order of magnitude increase in axial strain rate causes an average 8.6% increase in undrained shear strength for compression tests and a 12.1% increase for extension tests. It is also found that the failure mode of the specimens in compression is different from that in extension. The stress-strain behavior of specimens shows strain-softening and a clear shear band in compression tests, but strain-hardening without any clear shear band in extension tests for the same absolute value of axial strain.     

黑潮延伸区的海平面异常和中尺度涡的统计分析

利用1993～2004年卫星高度计TP/Jason-1和 ERS/ENVISAT提供的海平面异常(SLA)融合数据,分析了黑潮延伸区12年来的平均海平面异常的变化特征及中尺度涡的分布规律.研究表明,在黑潮延伸区海平面异常(SLA)呈递增趋势,年平均上升率为8.89mm/a,显著性周期是1年、0.5年和6年;黑潮延伸区的海平面异常和海表面温度异常的低频分量与Nino3指数具有较高的相关性.这说明,黑潮延伸区的海平面变化和海表面温度与厄尔尼诺事件密切相关,都受到黑潮变化的密切影响.在日本东部的黑潮延伸区,中尺度涡自东向西移动,寿命约为1年,移动速度大约是10经度/年.气旋涡和反气旋涡的面积呈现几乎同步增减的规律,均呈年周期变化,上半年少,下半年多.在1997～1998年,黑潮延伸区内中尺度涡的面积显著减小,并且正好对应于Nino3指数极大值出现的年份.因此,黑潮延伸区内中尺度涡的数量和强度也与厄尔尼诺事件密切相关.     

Composition and pre-metamorphic geodynamic setting of the ultrahigh-pressure metabasic rocks from Dabie Shan,E-China

As part of the Yangtze plate, segments of the Dabie Shan terrane of Central China underwent ultra-high pressure metamorphism during Triassic subduction. We studied the geochemistry of the abundant eclogites to evaluate the nature of the protoliths and their geodynamic setting. Although some previous geochemical work exists, the analyses and interpretation herein are based on a new subdivision of the ultra-high pressure sequence into basement and cover units (Changpu and Ganghe Unit), revealing new and important results. In addition, eclogites of the so-called HP Unit south of the UHP units were studied. Whereas the large ion lithophile elements indicate postmagmatic, metasomatic changes of some samples, the high-field strength elements and the rare earth elements display original magmatic trends. The geochemical characteristics of the eclogites of the ultra-high pressure areas display a strong dependence on their “structural” and geographic position. The eclogites of the basement and the Changpu Unit indicate melt intrusion and extrusion in a continental rift system, i.e. during extensional tectonics. In contrast, the Ganghe Unit is characterized by a pronounced chemical homogeneity. The composition of the eclogites indicates generation from a mantle source highly influenced by slab-derived fluids. Those of the HP Unit show similar characteristics. Magmatism of the Ganghe and HP Unit probably occurred in a continental arc setting. A similar age for both units, geographically and/or tectonically separated, is possible. The geodynamic interpretation based on the geochemistry of the four units points to a Neoproterozoic scenario in which the protoliths of the HP and the cover units could have been of similar age and deposited in one evolving geological system. A rift-related larger-scale basin might have formed, e.g. a continental back-arc basin behind a magmatic arc after or simultaneous to sedimentation and magmatism in the magmatic arc. Alternatively, magmatism occurred in independent geodynamic settings, distinct in time and space. The units were juxtaposed during exhumation, after subduction to varying depths.     

北京云蒙山地区花岗岩穹隆及伸展构造的探讨

北京云蒙山花岗岩为一中生代侵入的花岗岩穹隆,花岗岩穹隆的叶理普遍发育,叶理轨迹基本平行于穹隆的外部边界,并显示出从核部到边部逐渐增强,东南侧明显强于西北侧的特点。变形构造研究显示,花岗岩穹隆的边部及围岩中普遍存在不同层次及不同运动方向的伸展构造。东南侧以具河防口－水峪伸展型韧性剪切带为特征,剪切运动标志显示为从ＮＷ－ＳＥ的正剪切运动,有限应变分析估算其剪切位移量在１０ｋｍ以上,剪切带上部被河防口正     

Faulted backfold versus reactivated backthrust: the role of inherited structures during late extension in the frontal Piémont nappes east of Pelvoux (Western Alps)

In the central part of the internal Western Alps, widespread multidirectional normal faulting resulted in an orogen-scale radial extension during the Neogene. We revisit the frontal Piémont units, between Doire and Ubaye, where contrasting lithologies allow analysing the interference with the N–S trending Oligocene compressive structures. A major extensional structure is the orogen-perpendicular Chenaillet graben, whose development was guided by an E–W trending transfer fault zone between the Chaberton backfold to the north and the Rochebrune backthrust to the south. The Chaberton hinge zone was passively crosscut by planar normal faults, resulting in a E–W trending step-type structure. Within the Rochebrune nappe, E–W trending listric normal faults bound tilted blocks that slipped northward along the basal backthrust surface reactivated as an extensional detachment. Gravity-driven gliding is suggested by the general northward tilting of the structure in relation with the collapse of the Chenaillet graben. The stress tensors computed from brittle deformation analysis confirm the predominance of orogen-parallel extension in the entire frontal Piémont zone. This can be compared with the nearby Briançonnnais nappe stack where the extensional reactivation of thrust surfaces locally resulted in prominent orogen-perpendicular extension. Such a contrasting situation illustrates how the main direction of the late-Alpine extension may be regionally governed by the nature and orientation of the pre-existing structures inherited from the main collision stage.