Detachment within subducted continental crust and multi-slice successive exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks: Evidence from the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

Although tectonic models were presented for exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） metamorphic rocks during the continental collision, there is increasing evidence for the decoupling between crustal slices at various depths within deeply subducted continental crust. This lends support to the multi-slice successive exhumation model of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogen. The available evidence is summarized as follows： （1） the low-grade metamorphic slices, which have geotectonic affinity to the South China Block and part of them records the Triassic metamorphism, occur in the northern margin of the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic zone, suggesting decoupling of the upper crust from the underlying basement during the initial stages of continental subduction; （2） the Dabie and Sulu HP to UHP metamorphic zones comprise several HP to UHP slices, which have an increased trend of metamorphic grade from south to north but a decreased trend of peak metamorphic ages correspondingly; and （3） the Chinese Continental Science Drilling （CCSD） project at Donghai in the Sulu orogen reveals that the UHP metamorphic zone is composed of several stacked slices, which display distinctive high and low radiogenic Pb from upper to lower parts in the profile, suggesting that these UHP crustal slices were derived from the subducted upper and middle crusts, respectively. Detachment surfaces within the deeply subducted crust may occur either along an ancient fault as a channel of fluid flow, which resulted in weakening of mechanic strength of the rocks adjacent to the fault due to fluid-rock interaction, or along the low-viscosity zones which resulted from variations of geotherms and lithospheric compositions at different depths. The multi-slice successive exhumation model is different from the traditional exhumation model of the UHP metamorphic rocks in that the latter assumes the detachment of the entire subducted continental crust from the underlying mantle lithosphere and its subsequent exhumation as a whol     

Call in question and discussion: Are there sandwiched low-grade metamorphic slabs within UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabieshan terrane

Some geologists reported their discovery of sandwiched low-grade metamorphic slabs within UHP metamorphic Complexes in Changpu, Yuexi County, Anhui Province. They also suggested that some coesite-bearing eclogites are igneous veins, which intruded low-grade metamorphic slabs and other related rocks. Moreover they further called in question to UHP metamorphic process and continental collision tectonism in the Dabieshan terrane. Based on our recent study, so-called low-grade metamorphic slabs are strongly deformed fabric, fine-grained and tectonic recrystallized mylonites and tectonites. Their protolith rocks are garnet-bearing orthogneiss, eclogite and marble, as well as a few amounts of strongly deformed acid and basic veins. Their metamorphic, geochemical and geochronological characteristics are also identical with UHPM rocks and regional country orthogneisses. Therefore we conclude that there are not low-grade metamorphic slabs sand wiched with UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabieshan terrane.     

Fluid inclusions evidence for differential exhumation of ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks in the Sulu terrane

Since the discovery of coesite and diamond inclusions in eclogites from the Dabie-Sulu orogen, east-central China[1―3], this largest ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamor- phic terrane in the world has attracted extensive scientific interests. A number of hydrous minerals such as zoisite, phengite, magnesite and talc have been found in the UHP rocks, showing that fluids have played an important role in this type of extreme metamorphic evolution[4―8]. Sev-eral techniques have been applied to th…     

An Archean continental block in the Taihangshan and Hengshan regions: Constraints from geochronology and geochemistry

Recent research on the tectonothermal evolution and geochronology in the Fuping, Hengshan and Wutaishan metamorphic complexes, together with the discoveries of a high-pressure granulite belt in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) and high-pressure metapelites in the Jingangku Group of the Wutaishan complex, suggests that there was a Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic orogenic belt related to collision between the Eastern and Western continental blocks. Comparison of geological, geochronological, tectonothermal and geochemical data between the Fuping and Hengshan complexes suggests these two complexes most likely originated and evolved as a single lithotectonic domain (i.e., the Taihangshan-Hengshan block) during the early evolution of the North China Craton, probably as an active margin to the Eastern Continental Block. The Taihangshan-Hengshan block has been subjected to intensive and extensive tectono-magmatism and high-grade metamorphism related to collision between the Eastern and Western continental blocks at ～1.80 Ga.     

Finding of Neoproterozoic （～775 Ma） magmatism recorded in metamorphic complexes from the North Qilian orogen： Evidence from SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating

The Qilian Mountain is considered a part of the Cen- tral Orogenic Belt of China[1]. The Central Orogenic Belt of China, extending for a distance of about 4000 km long in the E-W direction from the east coast west- ward through the mainland China all the …     

A combined study of SHRIMP U-Pb dating, trace element and mineral inclusions on high-pressure metamorphic overgrowth zircon in eclogite from Qinglongshan in the Sulu terrane

Methods recently advanced for discrimination on the genesis of metamorphic zircon, such as analysis of mineral inclusions and trace elements, provide us powerful means to distinguish zircon overgrowth during high-pressure metamorphism. Zircons in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite from Qinglongshan in the Sulu terrane were studied by the SHRIMP U-Pb method in combining with trace element and mineral inclusion analyses. No inherited core was identified in the analyzed zircons by means of cathodoluminescence images. The occurrence of high-pressure metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircon, such as garnet, omphacite, rutile, and the flat HREE pattern in zircon indicate that the zircon formed at high-pressure metamorphic conditions. Therefore, a weighted average U-Pb age of 227.4±3.5 Ma obtained from such a kind of zircon is interpreted to represent the timing of peak nietamorphism for the Qinglongshan eclogite.     

四川华蓥二叠-三叠系界线剖面稳定碳同位素变化特征及其生物地球化学循环成因

对四川华蓥楼房湾剖面稳定碳同位素进行的研究表明,该地区二叠-三叠系界线附近碳同位素变化趋势与全球变化基本一致。早三叠世早期Δ_B平均值高于晚二叠世晚期,指示海水中磷酸盐浓度的增大和初级生产力的繁盛。从晚二叠世末期开始δ¹³C_carb的缓慢降低是由大规模火山作用以及陆地风化作用加强造成的;早三叠世最早期δ¹³C_carb和δ¹³C_org的快速同步降低所代表的全球碳循环变化主要受控于生物集群绝灭的主幕及海平面上升引起的底部缺氧水上涌。总之,二叠-三叠纪之交碳同位素变化是火山作用、海平面变化、海洋和陆地生物集群绝灭以及缺氧水上涌等因素综合作用的结果。     

Uprising period and elevation of the Wenyu granitic pluton in the Xiaoqinling District, Central China

Xiaoqinling District is an important gold-producing area in China. It ranks second to Jiaodong with regard to gold deposits. The uprising period of the Wenyu granitic pluton and the wall-rocks of the deposit, as well as the mineralizing depth and reserved place of gold ore bodies, are significant to ore exploration. Fission-track （FT） analysis of zircons and apatites of granitic rocks from the Wenyu granitic pluton shows that apatite FT （AFT） data modeling indicates a rapid cooling rate of 20℃/Ma from 138 to 120 Ma after emplacement at 138 Ma. Thermal evolution and inversion curves suggest a secondary phase of fast cooling and up- rising from 45 to 35 Ma, and 35 Ma, respectively, with a cooling rate of 6.7℃/Ma and a denudation quantity of -4.3 km. The last cooling phase took place from 〈4 Ma, with an average cooling rate of -11.3℃/Ma and a denudation amount of 1.3 km. Total exhumation quantity of 5.6 km and uprising elevation of 7.3 km are similar to the estimated results of fluid inclusions from the Dongtongyu and Wenyu gold deposits. The 39Ar/40Ar dating of sericite from the fault planes of the Xunmadao-Xiaohe and Taiyao faults demonstrate two uprising activities of the ore-host metamorphic complex. The Huashan and Wenyu granitic plutons inten- sively occurred during 77 and 45 Ma, respectively. These data sets are valuable for understanding the uplifting process and for preserving gold ore bodies in the Xiaoqinling area, as well as for further studies on tectonic evolutions of the Taihua Complex and the Qinling-Dabie Orogen.     

四川华蓥二叠-三叠系界线剖面稳定碳同位素变化特征及其生物地球化学循环成因

对四川华蓥楼房湾剖面稳定碳同位素进行的研究表明,该地区二叠-三叠系界线附近碳同位素变化趋势与全球变化基本一致。早三叠世早期ΔB平均值高于晚二叠世晚期,指示海水中磷酸盐浓度的增大和初级生产力的繁盛。从晚二叠世末期开始δ13Ccarb的缓慢降低是由大规模火山作用以及陆地风化作用加强造成的;早三叠世最早期δ13Ccarb和δ13Corg的快速同步降低所代表的全球碳循环变化主要受控于生物集群绝灭的主幕及海平面上升引起的底部缺氧水上涌。总之,二叠-三叠纪之交碳同位素变化是火山作用、海平面变化、海洋和陆地生物集群绝灭以及缺氧水上涌等因素综合作用的结果。     

Lower time limit on the UHPM rock exhumation: Discovery of eclogite pebbles in the Late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China

Eclogite pebbles are first discovered in late Jurassic conglomerates of the Fenghuangtai Formation from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China. The eclogite shows relatively strong retrograde metamor- phism. The major remnant minerals are garnet, phengite, quartz, rutile, clinozoisite, fingerprint(or worm)-form sym- plectite and pseudomorphic enclosure of coesite in garnet. End-member components of the garnet mainly made up of grossular (27.7%-37.8%), almandinc (45.5%-49.0%) and pyrope (12.3%-25.7%). End-member components of the pyrope is less than 30%, i.e. equivalent to C type eclogite. Si-cations of the phengite are 3.44-3.54 p.f.u. (taking O=11 as standard). It is estimated that the pressures are 2.5-3.2 GPa, the temperatures are 600-900℃. Discovery of the eclogite pebbles in the late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains suggests that the HP-UHP metamorphic rocks of the Dabie Mountains, which were formed in Triassic, had been exposed to the surface in the late Jurassic or before it by exhumation.     

Petrogenesis of Aoyougou high-silica adakite in the North Qilian orogen, NW China: Evidence for decompression melting of oceanic slab

A trondhjemitic body occurs in the Aoyougou area,the western part of the North Qilian orogen.It is geochemically characterized by high SiO 2,Na 2 O (high Na/K),elevated Sr/Y and (La/Yb) N,positive Sr anomaly,relatively enriched large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare earth elements (LREEs),and depleted Nb,Ta,Ti,resembling the high-silica adakite.Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating yields a weighted mean age of 438±3 Ma.This age is significantly younger than eclogitization ages of 460-490 Ma in the North Qilian orogen,suggesting that formation of the adakite postdates the subduction of oceanic crust in association with closure of the ancient Qilian Ocean.Whole-rock Sr and Nd isotopic analyses give initial ratios of I Sr =0.7044 0.7047 and Nd (t)=3.0 4.1,indicating that they are derived from partial melting of the juvenile oceanic crust.In view of the tectonic evolution of the North Qilian orogen,the high-silica adakite was probably derived from decompression melting of the exhumed eclogite at the depth of ～60 km.     

Age of Anzishan granulites in the Mianxian-Lueyang suture zone of Qingling orogen: With a discussion of the timing of final assembly of Yangtze and North China craton blocks

Many granulite blocks have been recently discovered in the Anzishan area, Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, in the central segment of the Mianxian-Lueyang suture zone. Sm-Nd isochron and 40Ar/39Ar ages of mineral samples of granulites from this area are reported in the note. The granulite mineral samples give a Sm-Nd isochron age of t=(206 ( 55) Ma (2(), with INd = 0.51302(7(2() and MSWD = 1.6, and a biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of (199.7(1.7) Ma (2(). The formation and uplift of the granulites were related to subduction of the Yangtze block beneath the South Qinling microcontinent and their collision and the final amalgamation of the Yangtze and Sino-Korean craton blocks in the Indosinian, and their age is consistent with or close to those of the Dabie ultrahigh-pressure and high-pressure metamorphic rocks, so have great tectonic significance.     

龙门山中段构造特征与汶川地震

通过地表地质调查、钻井资料和各种地球物理资料分析,剖析了龙门山中段的构造特征和岩石圈结构特征的特殊性:(1)10 Ma以来龙门山中段隆升幅度和速率最大,(2)龙门山中北段喜马拉雅期构造活动较南段弱;(3)龙门山中段主构造带之下存在有大干10 000 Ω·m的高阻异常体;(4)龙门山中段具有 0.015 cm/s2的剩余(60 km×60 km～120 km×120 km)布格重力异常,(5)龙门山中段为正的均衡重力异常区.在此基础上,结合汶川地震主震和余震的分布特征,得出:(1)四川汶川地震主震和绝大多数余震震源多位于映秀-北川主断层下盘(扬子地块上),断层活动的主动盘是下盘,映秀-北川主断层的活动为俯冲兼左旋走滑;(2)此次地震是扬子板块向西俯冲(L型俯冲)、四川盆地顺时针旋转和青藏高原隆升逆冲相互作用的产物;(3)四川汶川地震有可能是构造地震的一种新类型,其孕育巨大能量的最重要条件为地块坚硬(能量不易释放)和位于地块边缘(构造作用强烈,有能量来源).最后,建议有关部门和地学界重视中国主要地块边缘的重力场,尤其是剩余布格异常和均衡重力异常的研究.这也许对地震的长期预测有所帮助.     

Tectonic affinity of Paleozoic stratigraphic slices along the northern margin in Dabie Orogen, central China: evidence from Pb isotope of rocks

Metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks from the Paleozoic tectono-stratigraphic units along the northern margin in the Dabie orogen show that there are two types of Pb isotopic compositions, which have some affined regularity with tectonic subdivision. Compared with the main tectonic units of the Qinling orogen, the Dingyuan Formation should be the part of the South Qinling orogenic belt or the northern margin of the Yangtze craton, characterized by less radiogenic Pb isotopic composition, and the Guishan Formation, Nanwan Formation-Foziling Group and the Carboniferous should be the part of the North Qinling orogenic belt which is extended to the east, characterized by more radiogenic Pb isotopic composition. These facts combined with the distribution of the geological units suggest that the Paleozoic subduction zone between the Yangtze and North China cratons should be located in the north boundary of the Nanwan Formation-Foziling Group or somewhere that is covered by the Nanwan Formation-Foziling Group now. From the Pb isotopic evidence and suggestion presented here, one aspect of the constraint is provided for determining the position of the Triassic collision suture between the two cratons.     

The geological characteristics of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts and their tectonic implications: Case studies from Southwest Tianshan and North Qaidam in NW China

The geological characteristics of ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） metamorphic belts formed by deep subduction of oceanic crust are summarized in this paper. Oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is characterized by its protolithlc assemblage of typical oceanic crust, the peak metamorphic temperature 〈600℃, P-T path undergoing blueschist facies during prograde and retrograde metamorphic evolution, reepectively, with low geothermal gradient of cold subduction. The further study of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is very significant for constructing metamorphic reaction series of cold subduction zone, for understanding how aqueous fluids were transported into deep mantle and for classifying the types of UHP metamorphism in cold subduction zone. The uplift and exhumation mechanism of oceanic UHP metamorphic rocks is one of the most challenging problems in the study of UHP metamorphism, which is very important for understanding the geodynamic mechanism of solid Earth. As a traveler eubducted into the mantle depth end then uplifted to the surface, oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts witness the bulk process from the subduction to exhumation and is an ideal target to study the geochemical behavior end cycling of elements in subduction zones. The tectonic evolution of one convergent orogenic belt can be usually divided into two stages of oceanic subduction and followed continental subduction and collision, and the two best-established examples of orogenic belts are Alpa and Himalaya. Therefore, the study of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is the frontier of the current plate tectonic theory. As two case studies, the current status and existing problems of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts in Southwest Tianshan and North Qaidam, NW China, are reviewed in this paper.     

Decoupling of surface and subsurface sutures in the Dabie orogen and a continent-collisional lithospheric-wedging model：Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic evidences of Mesozoic igneous rocks in eastern China

Based on the distribution of UHPM rocks on the surface in Sulu terrane, the surface suture between the NCB and SCB should be located along the Wulian fault (see Fig. 1, S1). However, based on the aeromagnetic data of eastern China, Li[1] first indicated that the subsurface suture between the NCB and SCB in the region east of the Tan-Lu fault should be located to the east of Nanjing City (see Fig. 1, S2), which south displaced about 400 km from the surface suture. This is contradicto…     

K-Ar dating of late Mesozoic volcanism and geochemistry of volcanic gravels in the North Huaiyang Belt, Dabie orogen: Constraints on the stratigraphic framework and exhumation of the northern Dabie orthogneiss complex

Two eruption episodes are identified through systematic field investigations and K-Ar dating of the lateMesozoic volcanic rocks in the North Huaiyang belt (NHB),Dabie orogenic belt, of which the earlier volcanic suitetermed Maotanchang Fm. (Fm.) occurring at Jinzhai,Xianhualing and Maotanchang, etc., was erupted from 149Ma to 138 Ma. The other named Xiaotian Fm. mainly dis-tributed at Xiaotian, Shucheng, etc., was formed between132 Ma and 116 Ma. During the eruption gap of the two vol-canic suites deposited a volcano-sedimentary conglomeratelayer, which are composed of the multi-compositional gravels, including the North Dabie orthogneiss complex (NDOC),volcanic gravels, etc. These volcanic gravels in the con-glomerate layer show identical geochemical and isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr(t) =0.7084-0.7092, (Nd (t) = 21.8-24.4) to the Maotanchang Fm. volcanic rocks (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7086-0.7102, (Nd = 19.2-24.4), but significantly distinct from those of Xiaotian Fm. (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7076-0.7084, (Nd = 17.2 - 19.2). K-Ar dating results of its underlying andoverlying volcanic sequences indicate that the conglomerate layers were deposite d at ~135 Ma. This suggests that the NDOC was rapidly exhumed to the surface dur ing or shortly before ~135 Ma and became the important provenance of the late Me sozoic volcano-sedimentary basins in the NHB. In combination with the regional v olcano-sedimentary correlation, we divided the Mesozoic stratigraphic sequence i n the NHB from base to top into Fanghushan Fm. (>160 Ma), Yuantongshan Fm. (/mid dle- lower segment of Sanjianpu Fm.) (160-149 Ma), Maotanchang Fm. (/Zhougongsh an Fm./upper segment of Sanjianpu Fm./Fenghuangtai Fm.) (149-135 Ma) and Xiaoti an Fm. (/Baidafan Fm./Heshidu Fm.) (135-116 Ma).     

西藏日土白垩纪酸性侵入岩年代学及地球化学特征——对班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋盆闭合时限的制约

以西藏日土县北东地区的小型酸性侵入体为研究对象,结合岩石地球化学分析及锆石年龄测试,探讨岩石的成因类型及构造环境,确定班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋盆闭合的时限。研究区酸性岩体的岩性为黑云二长花岗岩,其主要组分的质量分数分别是:SiO_2为63.89%~77.49%,全碱(K_2O+Na_2O)为8.06%~8.95%,全铁(FeOT)为0.48%~4.37%,Al_2O_3为12.43%~16.17%;大离子亲石元素中Rb、Th、U、K明显富集,但Ba、Sr明显亏损;高场强元素中Nb、Ta、P、Ti明显亏损,而Zr、Hf相对富集;轻稀土元素相对富集、重稀土元素相对亏损,负Eu异常明显(δEu=0.09~0.67,平均为0.47),球粒原始标准化分布模式为向右缓倾的V型,属于A型花岗岩。其LA-ICP-MS锆石206Pb/238 U年龄加权平均值为(117.8±1.2)Ma,属于中生代早白垩世中期。从岩石碰撞后A1型花岗岩特征推测,班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋盆在日土地区的闭合时间应在早白垩世中期。     

Isotopic composition of helium in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains, central China and its geological significance

Isotopic geochemical characteristics of helium in garnet and omphacite of eclogite in the Dabie Mountains are discussed. Concentrations of³He and⁴He in garnet and omphacite are 3.9 × 10⁻¹⁴–24.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ and 0.48 × 10⁻⁷–9.42 × 10⁻⁷cm¹³.g⁻¹, respectively. Values of³He/⁴He have a range of (1.19–4.63) × 10⁻⁷. Helium In the eclogite is derived from both mantle and crust. Isotopic geochemical data of helium indicate that eclogite in the Dabie Mountains might be formed in depleted mantle and the age of the cologite would be Indo-China epoch.     

Isotope composition of helium in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains, central China and its geological significance

Isotopic geochemical characteristics of helium in garnet and omphacite of eclogite in the Dabie Mountains are discussed. Concentrations of 3He and 4He in garnet and omphacite are 3.9×10 -14- 24.0×10 -14 and 0.48×10 -7-9.42×10 -7cm+3·g -1, respectively. Values of 3He/ 4He have a range of (1.19-4.63)×10 -7. Helium in the eclogite is derived from both mantle and crust. Isotopic geochemical data of helium indicate that eclogite in the Dabie Mountains might be formed in depleted mantle and the age of the cologite would be Indo-China epoch.