^40Ar／^39Ar geochronological constraints on syn-orogenic strike-slip movement of Tan-Lu fault zone

Two phases of sinistral strike-slip ductile shear belts occur on the eastern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt. A muscovite ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau age of 128 Ma was obtained from mylonite in the later ductile shear zone. Three muscovite samples separated from mylonites of 3 localities in the earlier ductile shear belts yield ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 192.5±0.7 Ma, 189.7±0.6 Ma and 188.7±0.7 Ma, respectively. They are interpreted as cooling ages of the earlier sinistral strike-slip deformation. It is suggested that left-lateral displacement of the Tan-Lu fault zone started in a late stage of the collision orogeny in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt between the North and South China plates. Therefore, the earlier Tan-Lu fault zone was syn-orogenic strike-slip tectonics. The fault zone was used again for sinistral displacement during tectonic activities of peri-Pacific regime in Early Cretaceous. It is proposed that the fault zone occurred as a transform fault during the orogenic process.     

Laser probe40Ar/39Ar dating of mica on the deformed rocks from Altyn Fault and its tectonic implications, western China

The samples of Caledonian mylonitized granite and Jurassic meta-sedimentary rocks were collected in the north of Dangjinshan Pass, Qaidam gate fault-valley and Gesi fault-valley. Detailed studies under the microscope and electronic microscope suggest that all the samples contain the syntectonic-growing minerals such as white mica, chlorite, sericite, biotite, etc. By dating these minerals, we got a group of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser probe isochronal ages of 89—92 Ma and apparent ages of (46.6±6.4) Ma. The ages ranging from 97 to 46 Ma were reported for the first time in the isotopic dating researches of the Altyn Fault. The isochronal age group of (98—89) Ma indicates that a ductile strike-slip event, with low-grade metamorphism, began in late Cretaceous. This suggests that the strike-slip movement of the Altyn Fault should be related to the formation of the so-called west tectonic syntaxis in the Nepal-western Kunlun area.     

40Ar-39Ar ages of the Louzidian-Dachengzi ductile shear zone near Chifeng,Inner Mongolia and their tectonic significance

The Louzidian normal fault occurs as the eastern detachment fault of the Kalaqin metamorphic core complex. Field observations and microstructural analyses reveal that the Louzidian-Dachengzi ductile shear zone developed in its lower-plate was genetically related to sinistral strike-slips and extensional faulting. Two samples from this ductile shear zone yield 40Ar-39Ar plateau ages of 133 Ma (Bi) and 126 Ma (Kp), which are concordant with their isochron ages. The plateau age of 133 Ma (Bi) records the formation age of the ductile shear zone. The inconsistent relationship between the earlier strike-slip ductile shear zone and the later normal fault makes the Kalaqin Quasi-metamorphic core complex distinctive from Cordilleran metamorphic core complex. These ages provide important geochronological data for putting constraints on the formation age and genesis of such ductile shear zones.     

40Ar-39Ar ages of the Louzidian-Dachengzi ductile shear zone near Chifeng, Inner Mongolia and their tectonic significance

The Louzidian normal fault occurs as the eastern detachment fault of the Kalaqin metamorphic core complex. Field observations and microstructural analyses reveal that the Louzidian-Dachengzi ductile shear zone developed in its lower-plate was genetically related to sinistral strike-slips and extensional faulting. Two samples from this ductile shear zone yield ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar plateau ages of 133 Ma (Bi) and 126 Ma (Kp), which are concordant with their isochron ages. The plateau age of 133 Ma (Bi) records the formation age of the ductile shear zone. The inconsistent relationship between the earlier strike-slip ductile shear zone and the later normal fault makes the Kalaqin Quasi-metamorphic core complex distinctive from Cordilleran metamorphic core complex. These ages provide important geochronological data for putting constraints on the formation age and genesis of such ductile shear zones.     

40Ar-39Ar thermochronology of two ductile shear zones from Yiwulüshan, West Liaoning Region: Age constraints on the Mesozoic tectonic events

Two ductile shear zones trending EW and NNE respectively not only controlled the tectonic framework of the northern North China, but also constrained the geodynamic background for gold mineralization in this region. Field observations and microstructural analyses reveal that the EW trending ductile shear zones are mainly contributed to dextral compressional deformation resulting from top-to- the-southeast oblique thrust shearing, whereas the NNE trending ones are genetically related to sinistral strike-slip and extensional faulting. One sample from the former yielded an 40Ar-39Ar plateau age of (219±4) Ma (Bi) and two samples from the latter gave 40Ar-39Ar plateau ages of (116±2) Ma (Bi) and (127±3) Ma (Bi). These ages provide constraints on the top-to-the-southeast oblique thrusting event occurring in Late Triassic and the sinistral extensional and strike-slip faulting event which occurred in Early Cretaceous.     

Geological and chronological evidence of Indo-Chinese strike-slip movement in the Altyn Tagh fault zone

A set of granitic and amphibole mylonite are exposed in the Altyn Tagh fault zone. The preliminary study shows that these rocks are the product of the syntectonic anatexis in the process of the left-lat- eral strike-slip shear, and are the result of the ductile transpression. There are two types of zircon sorted from the mylonite formed with synshear anatexis. Among them, one is the anatectic long columnar zircon and another is the residual metamorphic sub-rounded columnar zircon. Two groups of age for single zircon measured by ion microprobe (SHRIMP) are obtained: one is 461-547 Ma for the sub-rounded columnar residual metamorphic zircon, and the other is 239-244 Ma for the long-columnar anatectic zircon. This type of zircon is directionally spread in rock, and the long axis direction of its crystal is identical to that of stretching lineation, representing the direction of tectonic stress in the process of the strike-slip. 40Ar-39Ar age of the directional growth hornblende in the same mylonite sample measured is 223-226 Ma. The above geological and chronological data prove that the syntectonic anatexis occurred during Indo-Chinese Epoch, showing that the strong strike-slip movement occurred in the Altyn Tagh fault zone at least as early as Indo-Chinese Epoch.     

40Ar-39Ar thermochronology of two ductile shear zones from Yiwulüshan, West Liaoning Region: Age constraints on the Mesozoic tectonic events

Two ductile shear zones trending EW and NNE respectively not only controlled the tectonic framework of the northern North China, but also constrained the geodynamic background for gold mineralization in this region. Field observations and microstructural analyses reveal that the EW trending ductile shear zones are mainly contributed to dextral compressional deformation resulting from top-to-the-southeast oblique thrust shearing, whereas the NNE trending ones are genetically related to sinistral strike-slip and extensional faulting. One sample from the former yielded an ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau age of (219± 4) Ma (Bi) and two samples from the latter gave ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau ages of (116± 2) Ma (Bi) and (127±3) Ma (Bi). These ages provide constraints on the top-to-the-southeast oblique thrusting event occurring in Late Triassic and the sinistral extensional and strike-slip faulting event which occurred in Early Cretaceous.     

^40Ar/^39Ar dating for Cenozoic kamafugite from western Qinling in Gansu Province

A suite of Cenozoic ultra-potassic volcanic rocks and carbonatites are widespread along the Lixian-Dang- chang areas of western Qinling in Gansu Province. There are abundant mantle-derived xenoliths within these ultra-potassic volcanic rocks. Systemmatic …     

The 40Ar/39Ar age record of formation and uplift of the blueschists and eclogites in the western Tianshan Mountains

The 40Ar/39Ar ages indicate that the eclogite facies rocks of the Hasiate slice in the western Tianshan Mountains were formed at the early stage of Devonian (401 Ma) and had been uplifted to the greenschist facies tectonic level in the middle stage of Devonian (381 Ma). The formation and uplift of the blueschists of the Akesayi slice are constrained to the late stage of Devonian (370─364 Ma). The different tectonic slices in the high-pressure metamorphic belt have experienced the different uplift history.     

排山楼金矿床~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

采用Ar-Ar同位素测年法对辽宁排山楼金矿床矿化阶段形成的钾长石和似斑状花岗岩中的钾长石进行了测试,获得矿化阶段形成钾长石40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为(116.69±1.15)Ma,等时线年龄为(116.97±1.39)Ma,以及似斑状花岗岩中原生钾长石40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为(126.71±2.03)Ma,等时线年龄为(124.00±4.32)Ma的数据.前者代表了该矿床的形成年龄,即该矿床形成于早白垩世,后者表明金矿化不早于(126.71±2.03)Ma.这一成矿年龄与华北陆块北缘大部分金矿床的成矿年龄一致,表明华北陆块北缘绝大多数金矿床形成于中国东部中生代动力学体制发生转折的时期.     

冀北赤城红旗营子群黑云斜长片麻岩的黑云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

探讨冀北赤城红旗营子群是否经历了印支期的构造热事件。通过对冀北赤城红旗营子群黑云斜长片麻岩样品进行的黑云母40 Ar/39 Ar年龄测定,获得其坪年龄和等时线年龄分别为(238.63±1.44)Ma和(238.77±1.71)Ma,两者基本一致。此年龄数据是黑云斜长片麻岩在晚古生代角闪岩相区域变质作用之后所经历印支期构造热事件的记录。综合分析冀北岩浆作用及其地质年代学特征,认为它可能与区域上同时期的酸性岩浆活动有关,是后者为此次构造热事件提供了必要的热源。     

<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar isochron ages of lawsonite blueschists from Jiuquan in the northern Qilian Mountain,NW China,and their tectonic implications

Using laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating method, we have gotten the metamorphic ages of lawsonite blueschist and epidote blueschist from Jiuquan, northern Qilian Mountain, NW China. The high quality laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of glaucophane from lawsonite blueschist gives an isochron age of 413±5 Ma. The isochron age obtained from phengite in epidote blueschist is 415±7 Ma. These data, combining with peak metamorphic P-T conditions and regional geological setting, allow us to infer that the lower limit of the ages of the prograde subduction metamorphism from lawsonite blueschist facies to epidote blueschist facies occurred at ca. 413–415 Ma, which also suggests that the formation of lawsonite blueschist in the northern Qilian Mountain maybe resulted from the corner flow in the cold subduction zone. This study shows that the final closing time of the northern Qilian remnant oceanic basin is about 413–415 Ma, which also represents the convergent age between the North China Craton and the Qaidam block.     

The40Ar/39Ar age record of formation and uplift of the blueschists and eclogites in the western Tianshan Mountains

The⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate that the eclogite facies rocks of the Hasiate slice in the western Tianshan Mountains were formed at the early stage of Devonian (401 Ma) and had been uplifted to the greenschist facies tectonic level in the middle stage of Devonian (381 Ma). The formation and uplift of the blueschists of the Akesayi slice are constrained to the late stage of Devonian (370-364 Ma). The different tectonic slices in the high-pressure metamorphic belt have experienced the different uplift history.     

两广交界处岑溪二叠纪岛弧型玄武岩及其古特提斯性质的讨论

两广交界处的岑溪二叠纪岛弧型玄武岩是华南地区(狭义)首次报道的、有较为可靠同位素年龄的晚古生代活动大陆边缘型玄武岩。对该地区玄武岩和细碧角斑岩的主量元素、微量元素(包括稀土元素)和同位素年代学进行了综合研究，论证了岑溪细碧角斑岩建造是与古特提斯域大陆边缘岛弧或弧间盆地有关的二叠纪火山喷发产物。     

^40Ar-^39Ar geochronology of Cenozoic Linzizong volcanic rocks from Linzhou Basin, Tibet, China, and their geological implications

Whole-rock and mineral separate Ar-Ar dating was carried out for the Linzizong volcanic rocks at Linzhou Basin in Tibet to constrain the time span of volcanism and the corresponding stratigraphic sequence. Sampling was based on detailed geologic mapping and stratigraphic sequence of Dianzhong, Nianbo, Pana Formations, systematically from the bottom to near the top. The results indicate that the Linzizong volcanic rocks erupted from Paleocene to middle of Eocene (64.43--43.93 Ma). Among them, the Pana Formation formed from ca. 48.73 to 43.9 Ma, the Nianbo Formation around 54 Ma and the Dianzhong Formation from 64.4 to 60.6 Ma. In combination with evidence from the geochemical characteristics of the volcanic rocks, and from stratigraphy in southern Tibet, it is postulated that the age of the lowest member in the Dianzhong Formation of the Linzizong volcanic rock, which overlies unconformably the Late Cretaceous Shexing Formation, likely corresponds to the inception of the collision between Indian and Asian continents in southern Tibet.     

Experiment of the ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of diagenetic illite in gas reservoirs

40Ar/39Ar dating of diagenetic illite has been performed to investigate gas reservoirs in the Sulige Gas Field of the northern Ordos Basin. A series of technical challenges were confronted, including illite purification, Ar recoil loss, and separation of diagenetic illite from detrital illite. Mineral growth ages for diagenetic illite were obtained by this experiment, from which the age of gas emplacement was deduced to be later than 169 Ma.     

Origin of middle Miocene leucogranites and rhyolites on the Tibetan Plateau: Constraints on the timing of crustal thickening and uplift of its northern boundary

Leucogranites play a significant role in understanding crustal thickening, melting within continental collisional belts, and plateau uplift. Field investigations show that Miocene igneous rocks from the Hoh Xil Lake area mainly consist of two-mica leucogranites and rhyolites. We studied the Bukadaban two-mica leucogranites and the Kekao Lake, Malanshan and Hudongliang rhyolites by zircon U-Pb, muscovite and sanidine 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, and whole-rock geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic analysis. Results yielded crystallization and cooling ages for the Bukadaban leucogranites of 9.7±0.2 and 6.88±0.19 Ma, respectively. Extrusive ages of the Kekao Lake and Malanshan rhyolites are 14.5±0.8 and 9.37±0.30 Ma, respectively. All rocks are enriched in SiO2 (70.99%-73.59%), Al2O3 (14.39%-15.25%) and K2O (3.78%-5.50%) but depleted in Fe2O3 (0.58%-1.56%), MgO (0.11%- 0.44%) and CaO (0.59%-1.19%). The rocks are strongly peraluminous (A/CNK=1.11?1.21) S-type granites characterized by negative Eu anomalies (δ Eu=0.18-0.39). In also considering their Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sri=0.7124 to 0.7143; δ Nd (9 Ma) =-5.5 to -7.1), we propose that these igneous rocks were generated through dehydration melting of muscovite in the thickened middle or lower crust of northern Tibet. Melting was probably triggered by localized E-W stretching decompression in the horse tails of Kunlun sinistral strike-slip faults. Reactivation of the Kunlun strike-slip faults, accompanied by emplacement of leucogranite and eruption of rhyolite in the Hoh Xil Lake area, indicates that large-scale crustal shortening and thickening in northern Tibet mainly occurred before 15 Ma. In addition, these findings suggest that the northern Tibetan Plateau attained its present elevation (~5000 m) at least 15 Ma ago.     

The western boundary of extrusion blocks in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

The model about block extrusion related to collision between Eurasia and India which is proposed by Tapponnier et al. has not been accepted so far in the field. Based on kinematics and chronology, the Gailigong dextral strike-slip fault in west Yunnan and Nabang dextral strike-slip fault which is the part of Mogok belt are the western boundary of extrusion blocks, as the eastern boundary Red River-Ailaoshan left-lateral fault. And more studies show that as the important way for absorbing the convergence between two continents, the age of blocks’ multistage extrusion is about 23 and 13 Ma.     

Precise timing of the Early Paleozoic metamorphism and thrust deformation in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen

In Dulan County, Qinghai Province NW China, the arc volcanic sequences in the northern side of the Central Fault of the East Kunlun were metamorphosed progressively from upper greenschist facies in the south to epidote-amphibolite facies in the north. High-angle thrust deformation was developed synchronously with the peak metamor-phim and superimposed with later low-angle striking-slip deformation. Zircon U-Pb dating yields a concordant age of(448 ± 4) Ma for the metavolcanics. Syn-kinematic horn-blende and muscovite separated from the high-angle thrusting belt give ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar plateau age of (427 ± 4) Ma and 408 Ma, respectively. These results precisely constrain the timing of the closure of early Paleozoic volcanic basin (Proto-Tethys) over the eastern portion of the East Kunlun Orogen, and the thrust tectonic slice had a cool rate of ca. 9℃/Ma. Keywords: East Kunlun Mountains, metamorphic and deformation event, geochronology.     

江西寻乌破火山口火山-侵入杂岩SHIRMP锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

位于武夷隆起带和南岭构造带过渡部位、受NE向会昌—寻乌断裂带和EW向三南—寻乌断裂带控制的寻乌破火山口发育一套由碎斑熔岩和花岗斑岩组成的火山-侵入杂岩.SHIRMP锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,寻乌破火山口碎斑熔岩的年龄为(96.7±1.1)Ma,花岗斑岩的年龄为(97.3±0.9) Ma,根据国际地质年代表,早白垩世与晚...