Comparison of mantle-derived matierals from different spatiotemporal settings: Implications for destructive and accretional processes of the North China Craton

Cratonic destruction or lithospheric thinning beneath North China makes it as one of the most ideal areas for the studying on the formation and evolution of continent. However, the mechanism, time, range and dynamic setting of the destruction, even the lithospheric status before the destruction, are contentious. The comparison among mantle xenoliths in the volcanic rocks from different captured times （e.g. Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic） and locations （e.g. intra-plate or its rim, the translithospheric Tanlu fault or the North-South Gravity Line）, and peridotitic massifs within the Sulu-Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism belt along the southern margin of the North China Craton, indicates that （1） the cratonic lithosphere is heterogeneous in structure and composition, and contains mantle weak zones; and （2） the Mesozoic-Cenozoic lithospheric thinning process is complex, including lateral spreading of lithosphere, interaction between melt and peridotite, non-even asthenospheric erosion （huge lithospheric thinning）, and the limited lithospheric accretion and thus thickening, which resulted in the final replacement of the refractory cratonic lithosphere by juvenile fertile mantle. In early Mesozoic, the integrity of the North China Craton was interrupted, even destroyed by subduction and collision of the Yangtze block. The mantle wedge of the North China Craton was also metasomatized and modified by melt/fluids revealed from the subducted Yangtze continent. Lithospheric mantle extension and tectonic intrusion of the North China Craton also occurred, accompanied by the asthenospheric upwelling that due to the detachement of the subducted Yangtze continent （orogenic root）. During early Cretaceous-early Tertiary, the huge thinning of lithosphere was triggered by the upwelling asthenosphere due to the subduction of the Pacific plate. Since late Tertiary, the cooling of the upwelling asthenosphere resulted in the replacement of the mantle in existence by the newly accreted lithosphere, accompanied with a little thickness in lithosphere and thus finally achieved the lithospheric thinning as a whole. The translithospheric faults, such as the Tanlu fault, play excellent channels for asthenospheric upwelling. Meanwhile, the channels in lithosphere are usually irregular, which resulted in different eruption times of magma. Peridotite xenolith in the basalts erupted at 100 Ma is mainly fertile, indicating such a fact, that is, the mantle replacement occurred before the eruption （e.g. 125--100 Ma） beneath the eastern part of the North China Craton.     

On the timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton

The timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton, which is pivotal to understanding the destruction mechanism and its geodynamic controlling factors, still remain controversial. On the basis of the principles of magma genesis and evolution, first we outline magmatic expressions that can be related to cratonic destruction, then use magmatic and basin evolution trends to constrain the timescale of the lithospheric thinning in North China. The main conclusions include： （1） the thinning of the lithosphere beneath the North China Craton might have started, at least locally, since late Carboniferous-late Triassic, attained its climax during the late Jurassic-early Cretaceous, and continued till the end of late Cretaceous-early Cenozoic. The destruction of the North China Craton was a relatively slow, rather than a dramatic process. （2） The weakened lithospheric zones along the margins and interiors of the craton played an important role in cratonic destruction, partly accounting for the heterogeneous pattern of cratonic destruction. （3） The tectonic factors that controlled the destruction of the North China Craton may be multiple. The late Carboniferous southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian plate and the late Triassic collision between North China and South China may have re-activated the craton by influencing the thermal and integral structure of the craton. The Pacific subduction underneath the eastern Asian continent played a determinant role in the cratonic destruction, governing the distribution patterns of post-Mesozoic basins and major tectonic configuration, temporal change of magmatism and formation of the North-South gravity lineament.     

Late Mesozoic metamorphic core complexes: new constraints on lithosphere thinning in North China

Metamorphic core complexes (mcc’s) are among the most prominent structural styles of lithosphere extension and thinning during late Mesozoic in North China. In this paper, the geometrical, kinematic and age characteristics of some of the mcc’s, e.g. Liaonan, Waziyu (Yiwulüshan), Yunmengshan, etc., are discussed. Some common characteristics, such as kinematic polarity, geometric asymmetry, occurrence over a time span, scattered and isolated distribution, and progressive development, can provide direct constraints on the regional lithosphere extension and thinning in North China, which does not favor the prevailing plume model，a general delamination model or extensional collapse of overthickened orogenic crust. We argue that several aspects, such as the kinematic polarity at depths during lithosphere extension, gradual break-up of lithosphere plate, relationship between magmatism and regional extension, and coeval activity of mcc’s and Tan Lu fault, should be taken into consideration when constructing a more reasonable model for lithosphere extension and thinning in North China.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating for lamprophyre from Liaodong Peninsula： Constraints on the initial time of Mesozoic lithosphere thinning beneath eastern China

It is undebated fact that the lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China was considerably thinned during the Mesozoic time. However, it has no adequate evidence for the exact timing when the lithosphere thinning started. The Liaodong Peninsula is located in the eastern segment of the North China Craton and is one of the important domains to explore the event of lithosphere thinning. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating and geochemical study were carried out for the lamprophyre dike swarm that intruded into the magnesite ore-beds in the Dashiqiao Formation of Paleoproterozoic Liaohe Group at the Huaziyu magnesite ore district, Liaodong Peninsula. The results indicate that these lamprophyre dikes were intruded in late Jurassic （155±4 Ma） and show some geochemical characteristics of potassic magmas. It is now accepted that the lithosphere thinning took place in the late Mesozoic, and the peak thinning stage occurred in early Cretaceous （130-120 Ma）. Considering the potassic mafic magmatism marking the onset of the lithospheric thinning, we therefore suggest that the studied late Jurassic potassic lamprophyre dike swarm could imply that the late Jurassic is the time that lithosphere thinning started.     

Destruction geodynamics of the North China craton and its Paleoproterozoic plate tectonics

Much attention has been paid in the last two decades to the physical and chemical processes as well as temporal-spatial variations of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. In order to provide insights into the geodynamics of this variation, it is necessary to thoroughly study the state and structure of the lithospheric crust and mantle of the North China Craton and its adjacent regions as an integrated unit. Based on the velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle constrained from seismological studies, this paper presents various available geophysical results regarding the lithosphere thickness, the nature of crust-mantle boundary, the upper mantle structure and deformation characteristics as well as their tectonic features and evolution systematics. Combined with the obtained data from petrology and geochemistry, a mantle flow model is proposed for the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. We suggest that subduction of the Pacific plate made the mantle underneath the eastern Asian continent unstable and able to flow faster. Such a regional mantle flow system would cause an elevation of melt/fluid content in the upper mantle of the North China Craton and the lithospheric softening, which, subsequently resulted in destruction of the North China Craton in different ways of delamination and thermal erosion in Yanshan, Taihang Mountains and the Tan-Lu Fault zone. Multiple lines of evidence recorded in the crust of the North China Craton, such as the amalgamation of the Archean eastern and western blocks, the subduction of Paleo-oceanic crust and Paleo-continental residue, indicate that the Earth in the Paleoproterozoic had already evolved into the plate tectonic system similar to the present plate tectonics.     

Linking mantle plumes, large igneous provinces and environmental catastrophes

Large igneous provinces (LIPs) are known for their rapid production of enormous volumes of magma (up to several million cubic kilometres in less than a million years), for marked thinning of the lithosphere, often ending with a continental break-up, and for their links to global environmental catastrophes. Despite the importance of LIPs, controversy surrounds even the basic idea that they form through melting in the heads of thermal mantle plumes. The Permo-Triassic Siberian Traps--the type example and the largest continental LIP--is located on thick cratonic lithosphere and was synchronous with the largest known mass-extinction event. However, there is no evidence of pre-magmatic uplift or of a large lithospheric stretching, as predicted above a plume head. Moreover, estimates of magmatic CO(2) degassing from the Siberian Traps are considered insufficient to trigger climatic crises, leading to the hypothesis that the release of thermogenic gases from the sediment pile caused the mass extinction. Here we present petrological evidence for a large amount (15?wt%) of dense recycled oceanic crust in the head of the plume and develop a thermomechanical model that predicts no pre-magmatic uplift and requires no lithospheric extension. The model implies extensive plume melting and heterogeneous erosion of the thick cratonic lithosphere over the course of a few hundred thousand years. The model suggests that massive degassing of CO(2) and HCl, mostly from the recycled crust in the plume head, could alone trigger a mass extinction and predicts it happening before the main volcanic phase, in agreement with stratigraphic and geochronological data for the Siberian Traps and other LIPs.     

Uppermost mantle structure of the North China Craton: Constraints from interstation Pn travel time difference tomography

The uppermost mantle is the key area for exchange of heat flux and material convection between the crust and lithospheric mantle. Spatial variations of lithospheric thinning and dynamic processes in the North China Craton could inevitably induce the velocity heterogeneity in the uppermost mantle. In this study, we used Pn arrivals from permanent seismic stations in North China and surrounding regions to construct a tomographic image of the North China Craton. The tomographic method with Pn travel time difference data were used to study the velocity variations in the uppermost mantle. Pn velocities in the uppermost mantle varied significantly in the Eastern, Central and Western blocks of the North China Craton. This suggests that the lithosphere beneath different blocks of the North China Craton have experienced distinct tectonic evolutions and dynamic processes since the Paleozoic. The current uppermost mantle has been imprinted by these tectonic and dynamic processes. Fast Pn velocities are prominent beneath the Bohai Bay Basin in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton, suggesting residuals of the Archean lithospheric mantle. Beneath the Tanlu Fault Zone and Bohai Sea, slow Pn velocities are present in the uppermost mantle, which can be attributed to significant lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric upwelling. The newly formed lithospheric mantle beneath Yanshan Mountain may be the dominant reason for the existence of slow Pn velocities in this region. Conversely, the ancient lower crust and lithospheric mantle already have been delaminated. In the Central Block, significant slow Pn velocities are present in Taihangshan Mountain, which also extends northward to the Yinchuan-Hetao Rift on the northern margin of the Ordos Block and Yinshan Orogen. This characteristic probably is a result of hot asthenospheric upwelling along the active tectonic boundary on the margin of the Western Block. The protracted thermal erosion and underplating of hot asthenospheric upwelling may induce lithospheric thinning and significant slow velocities in the uppermost mantle. Fast velocities beneath the Western Block suggest that the thick, cold and refractory Archean lithospheric keel of craton still is retained without apparent destruction.     

灵山岛早白垩世构造应力解析及区域地质意义

通过对灵山岛野外地质考察及总结前人资料, 并利用节理、岩墙和褶皱等应力感应构造的测量分析, 得出研究区早白垩世可能存在四期构造作用: 莱阳期NW 向伸展形成近海盆地, 莱阳期末期NW 向挤压反转作用, 青山期NW 向伸展裂谷作用和早白垩世末期NW 向挤压反转。灵山岛早白垩世两期伸展作用可能是分别对华北地区增厚地壳或岩石圈重力垮塌和岩石圈拆沉的响应, 而两期挤压反转作用可能是研究区由伊泽奈崎板块NW 向俯冲消减向太平洋板块NW 向俯冲过渡的结果。     

四川黑水-台湾花莲断面岩石圈与软流圈结构

运用现代构造解析理论和方法,对四川黑水-台湾花莲人工地震测深剖面与天然地震面波层析成像进行系统分析基础上,结合地质学、地球化学以及其它地球物理学标志等多学科综合研究显示,高速块体或幔块构造的几何结构样式是控制该区岩石圈构造格局和岩石圈表层构造变形最基本条件之一,首次建立起该断面岩石圈与软流圈结构模型,划分出岩石圈四种几何结构样式:克拉通陆根状结构,造山带楔状结构、碎块状结构和藕节状结构,以及岩石圈四类构造演化类型:克拉通型岩石圈、增厚型岩石圈、减薄型岩石圈和大洋型岩石圈.在系统论述断面及邻区岩石圈结构类型特征基础上,探讨了该断面软流圈结构特征、岩石圈与软流圈相互作用及其大陆动力学基本型式.     

郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起北段晚中生代岩体的成因

郯庐断裂带张八岭隆起北段分布着一些晚中生代岩体,其侵位时间在120~128 Ma之间,稍晚于同期华北克拉通内江苏徐州和安徽宿州地区(简称徐宿地区)。文章通过对上述两地区的地球化学特征的对比研究,认为张八岭隆起北段岩体的岩浆来源可能是壳-幔岩浆混合形成的,并可能经历了一定的岩浆分异作用;而徐宿地区岩浆可能与深部地壳物质的部分熔融有关。上述结果表明,张八岭隆起北段岩浆来源深度较华北克拉通内部徐宿地区深,断裂带内具有较强的伸展活动及岩石圈减薄程度。分析认为,断裂带的存在和活动在岩石圈减薄过程中具有诱发和促进作用。     

Peridotite-melt interaction: A key point for the destruction of cratonic lithospheric mantle

This paper presents an overview of recent studies dealing with different ages of mantle peridotitic xenoliths and xenocrysts from the North China Craton, with aim to provide new ideas for further study on the destruction of the North China Craton. Re-Os isotopic studies suggest that the lithospheric mantle of the North China Craton is of Archean age prior to its thinning. The key reason why such a low density and highly refractory Archean lithospheric mantle would be thinned is changes in composition, thermal regime, and physical properties of the lithospheric mantle due to interaction of peridotites with melts of different origins. Inward subduction of circum craton plates and collision with the North China Craton provided not only the driving force for the destruction of the craton, but also continuous melts derived from partial melting of subducted continental or oceanic crustal materials that resulted in the compositional change of the lithospheric mantle. Regional thermal anomaly at ca. 120 Ma led to the melting of highly modified lithospheric mantle. At the same time or subsequently lithospheric extension and asthenospheric upwelling further reinforced the melting and thinning of the lithospheric mantle. Therefore, the destruction and thinning of the North China Craton is a combined result of per- idotite-melt interaction （addition of volatile）, enhanced regional thermal anomaly （temperature increase） and lithospheric extension （decompression）. Such a complex geological process finally produced a ＂mixed＂ lithospheric mantle of highly chemical heterogeneity during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. It also resulted in significant difference in the composition of mantle peridotitic xenoliths between different regions and times.     

松辽盆地中、新生代构造特征及其演化

松辽盆地发育在大陆内部古生宙－元古宙基底之上，出现在中生代火山岩带的后缘，经历了晚侏罗世地幔上隆、陆壳坳陷，早白垩世大规模岩浆上涌、引张裂陷、晚白垩世盆地挤压、构造反转和新生代较小幅度伸展断陷多阶段的构造演化。研究表明，发生在松辽盆地的从岩石圈伸展减薄到挤压增厚再到拉伸的复杂动力学演化过程是中生代伊泽奈崎大洋岩石圈朝东亚陆缘俯冲－碰撞作用的结果，松辽盆地的形成演化与洋壳运动方向、俯冲角度、俯冲速率的变化、俯冲带位置的迁移、大陆内部对洋壳消减了作用的响应方式等因素密切相关。     

中国及相邻区域岩石圈结构及动力学意义

中国大陆及邻近陆域海域是晚古生代以来由多个较小的板块或地块汇聚形成的.中生代亚洲东部岩石圈拉张解体和减薄.古新世印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞引起地壳缩短隆升,形成青藏高原和喜马拉雅造山带.根据中国大陆及相邻区域天然地震、人工地震及其他地学资料, 采用多学科多手段进行反演.对沉积层、地壳、岩石圈厚度进行研究,探讨中国大陆及相邻陆域海域岩石圈结构特征及深部动力学问题.     

Mantle xenoliths from Late Cretaceous basalt in eastern Shandong Province： New constraint on the timing of lithospheric thinning in eastern China

Studies of mantle xenoliths hosted in both the Cenozoic alkali basalt and the Early Paleozoic kimberlite suggest that part of the subcontinental lithosphere as thick as more than 100 km has been lost from the Early Paleozoic to Cenozoic[1—8]. Neither the scale and mechanism nor the accurate timing of the lithospheric thinning has been precisely constrained[7-12]. One of the reasons for this is that there are only a few Mesozoic basalts cropped out, especially, few containing mantle-derived …     

下扬子地区盆地的"四层楼"结构及其动力学机制

下扬子地区震旦纪以来经历了不同的大地构造与地球动力学背景 ,盆地演化相应地经历了震旦纪—中三叠世海盆→晚三叠世—中侏罗世沿江前陆盆地→晚侏罗世—早白垩世火山岩盆地→晚白垩世—早第三纪陆相伸展盆地。下扬子地区震旦纪—中三叠世海盆发育于伸展性被动大陆边缘。沿江前陆盆地形成于扬子与华北板块碰撞活动中的前陆变形带上。火山岩盆地出现于区域性走滑剪切和环太平洋岩浆弧背景下。库拉—太平洋板块高角度、高速正面向东亚大陆下的俯冲 ,造成了岩石圈上拱拉张 ,从而产生了晚白垩世—早第三纪的陆相伸展盆地。随着西太平洋边缘弧后盆地的出现及印度与欧亚板块的碰撞 ,中国东部遭受近东西向挤压 ,从而结束了下扬子地区的盆地演化历史。     

东秦岭—大别地区中生代岩石圈拆沉的岩石学证据评述

岩石圈拆沉是碰撞造山带物质成分调整和构造演化的重要方式之一。构造地质研究、地球物理探测和地球化学分析等都已揭示东秦岭-大别造山带曾在中生代发生岩石圈拆沉,但有关中生代变质作用和岩浆活动与岩石圈拆沉的内在联系研究却较为薄弱。通过全面评述该区变质岩研究成果,作者认为：超高压变质岩的形成和剥露经历了240～200Ma的板片冷俯冲冷折返和196～163Ma的岩石圈拆沉热折返;热折返伴随了广泛而强烈的区域变质作用和中酸性岩浆活动,指示板片断离拆沉的发生;超高压变质岩p-T-t轨迹由两部分组成,即反映板片冷俯冲冷折返过程的发夹状曲线和指示板片断离拆沉热折返过程的新月形曲线。通过对花岗岩类同位素年龄统计和前人研究成果的评述,初步确定在200～100Ma之间发育大量花岗岩类,并集中在150～100Ma为主(即侏罗纪—白垩纪之交),高峰时间为130Ma左右;花岗岩类大量发育指示了岩石圈拆沉的存在,且滞后于根据变质岩研究所揭示的拆沉时间。羌塘地体、拉萨地体和西太平洋古陆在侏罗纪与欧亚大陆拼贴碰撞的远距离效应使东秦岭—大别造山带长期处于挤压环境,伸展作用被抑制;白垩纪的碰撞晚期伸展和西太平洋沟弧盆体系的远距离效应使东秦岭—大别地区的外部挤压消失,导致造山带岩石圈迅速强烈拆沉伸展和减压增温熔融,从而形成大规模早白垩世花岗岩类和中酸性火山岩。总之,东秦岭—大别地区岩石圈拆沉所导致的岩浆活动主要发生在J₃—K₁的挤压伸展转变期。     

秦岭造山带岩石圈动力学模型--来自大地电磁测深的证据

目的 建立秦岭造山带的岩石圈动力学模型是探索大陆动力学的前沿问题。方法 以地质和综合地球物理资料为约束，在对秦岭造山带东、西两段电性结构对比分析基础上建立了相应的动力学模型。结果 自中新生代以来，尤其是晚白垩世之后华北和扬子两地块向秦岭造山带持续陆内深俯冲作用，导致南秦岭岩石圈强烈向北挤入，秦岭造山带的后陆冲断褶带和北秦岭厚皮叠瓦逆冲带，现今处于以岩石圈叠置加厚的构造作用为主与拆沉作用初始发动并存状态；南秦岭正在经历拆沉-底侵的物质再循环作用，佛坪和南阳-邓县之间可能发育新的地幔柱；在造山带北、南深部边界与内部不同岩石圈块体之间还伴随不同性质的强烈走滑作用，导致物质的侧向传输。结论 秦岭造山带现今深部动力学状态直接制约着今后大地构造、气候和地表过程的动态相互作用，潜在地影响着人类社会、经济的可持续发展。     

The depth distribution of azimuthal anisotropy in the continental upper mantle

The most likely cause of seismic anisotropy in the Earth's upper mantle is the lattice preferred orientation of anisotropic minerals such as olivine. Its presence reflects dynamic processes related to formation of the lithosphere as well as to present-day tectonic motions. A powerful tool for detecting and characterizing upper-mantle anisotropy is the analysis of shear-wave splitting measurements. Because of the poor vertical resolution afforded by this type of data, however, it has remained controversial whether the splitting has a lithospheric origin that is 'frozen-in' at the time of formation of the craton, or whether the anisotropy originates primarily in the asthenosphere, and is induced by shear owing to present-day absolute plate motions. In addition, predictions from surface-wave-derived models are largely incompatible with shear-wave splitting observations. Here we show that this disagreement can be resolved by simultaneously inverting surface waveforms and shear-wave splitting data. We present evidence for the presence of two layers of anisotropy with different fast-axis orientations in the cratonic part of the North American upper mantle. At asthenospheric depths (200-400 km) the fast axis is sub-parallel to the absolute plate motion, confirming the presence of shear related to current tectonic processes, whereas in the lithosphere (80-200 km), the orientation is significantly more northerly. In the western, tectonically active, part of North America, the fast-axis direction is consistent with the absolute plate motion throughout the depth range considered, in agreement with a much thinner lithosphere.     

Cenozoic climate change as a possible cause for the rise of the Andes

Causal links between the rise of a large mountain range and climate have often been considered to work in one direction, with significant uplift provoking climate change. Here we propose a mechanism by which Cenozoic climate change could have caused the rise of the Andes. Based on considerations of the force balance in the South American lithosphere, we suggest that the height of, and tectonics in, the Andes are strongly controlled both by shear stresses along the plate interface in the subduction zone and by buoyancy stress contrasts between the trench and highlands, and shear stresses in the subduction zone depend on the amount of subducted sediments. We propose that the dynamics of subduction and mountain-building in this region are controlled by the processes of erosion and sediment deposition, and ultimately climate. In central South America, climate-controlled sediment starvation would then cause high shear stress, focusing the plate boundary stresses that support the high Andes.     

华南块体各向异性分区及上地幔动力学含义

利用SKS波分裂方法, 对布设在华南地区的宽频带流动地震观测台阵数据进行分析。研究结果表明, 华南块体(SCB)的SKS波分裂自西向东存在明显的变化。在华南块体西部克拉通岩石圈保留完整的四川盆地区域, SKS波分裂不明显, 反映该区域岩石圈厚且缺乏大规模的一致性变形; 在四川盆地东缘褶皱带区域, SKS波分裂快波方向主要为NNE向, 分裂延迟时间可以达到1 s左右, 记录了该区域岩石圈地幔经历的一致的显著变形; 华南块体东部的SKS波分裂快波方向主要为ENE向, 分裂延迟时间为1 s左右, 该区域各向异性主要来自软流圈流动的贡献, 与大地幔楔的流动方向契合; 四川盆地东缘以东200 km范围内, 各向异性结果大部分显示为Null值, 显示该区域在地质历史上可能发生过复杂的地球动力学过程。