Discovery of Late Carboniferous strata and their tectonic significance in the southern margin of the North China Block （Huoqiu and Gushi areas）

Late Carboniferous fossils （such as Boultonia？ sp., Tabulata, and spiriferoid specimens with smooth she/Is）, bioclastic material （such as crinoid stems and sponge fragments）, and Late Ordovician microfossils of the conodont Belodina have been discovered in the lower part of the strata typically referred to as the Neoproterozoic on the boundary of the provinces of Anhui and Henan in the southern margin of the North China Block. These findings prove that the strata contain macrofossils belonging to the Late Carboniferous, which belonged to a carbonate debris flow deposit that was formed under a carbonate slope environment. The conodont fossils might belong to a detrital deposit. Thus, it is possible to reset the stratigraphic sequences and tectonic attributes belonging to the North Huaiyang tectonic belt and limit the Shouxian fault to the boundary between the Dabie Orogen and North China Block.     

柴达木盆地南北推覆构造概论

柴达木盆地南北地区,可以划分出两个巨型推覆构造带,分别称为柴北缘推覆构造带和东昆仑推覆构造带。其间的柴达木盆地形成一个相对的应变减弱区(低应变带)。两大推覆构造带在相同力源作用下统一构成了青海省北部的基本构造格局,成为华北板块的南部边缘带,是华北板块与南华板块碰撞拼合形成的浅部构造变形的产物,也是南北板块拼合的证据。     

Zircon SHRIMP dating of granite from Qaidamshan, NW China

Zircon SHRIMP dating from Qaidamshan granite shows that the granite age is 446 Ma, similar to that of eclogite in the UHP belt. We think that both granite and eclogite may be formed at different stages during tectonic evolution of this area. Together with other studies we suggested that the collision of ocean and continent plates may occur at the early Caledonian in this area, forming the eclogite, and the collision of continent and continent plates at the late Caledonian, forming the Qaidamshan granite with the zircon SHRIMP age of 446 Ma.     

Evidence for mechanical coupling and strong Indian lower crust beneath southern Tibet

How surface deformation within mountain ranges relates to tectonic processes at depth is not well understood. The upper crust of the Tibetan Plateau is generally thought to be poorly coupled to the underthrusting Indian crust because of an intervening low-viscosity channel. Here, however, we show that the contrast in tectonic regime between primarily strike-slip faulting in northern Tibet and dominantly normal faulting in southern Tibet requires mechanical coupling between the upper crust of southern Tibet and the underthrusting Indian crust. Such coupling is inconsistent with the presence of active 'channel flow' beneath southern Tibet, and suggests that the Indian crust retains its strength as it underthrusts the plateau. These results shed new light on the debates regarding the mechanical properties of the continental lithosphere, and the deformation of Tibet.     

准噶尔盆地南缘上侏罗统-下白垩统地层不整合成因和构造演化意义——齐古断褶带剖面的启示

为了深化准噶尔盆地南缘新生代前构造演化研究,以准噶尔盆地南缘山前齐古断褶带上侏罗统-下白垩统露头剖面为例,利用野外地质调查、二维地震剖面解释、无人机航拍建模,分析上侏罗统和下白垩统地层之间地层接触关系,结合重矿物不稳定系数和地层厚度分布,得出区域不整合的成因,建立准噶尔盆地南缘山前晚侏罗世-早白垩世构造演化模式.结果表明:准噶尔盆地南缘齐古断褶带上侏罗统喀拉扎组和下白垩统清水河组地层之间存在角度不整合,与中-晚侏罗世欧亚板块南缘一系列的碰撞拼合背景下构造变形引起的剥蚀密切相关.自晚侏罗世进入挤压构造背景以来,天山北缘的构造活动经历了由强到弱的过程,强烈的构造抬升使得喀拉扎组沉积范围明显缩小并整体遭受暴露剥蚀,清水河组超覆在喀拉扎组地层之上形成区域不整合.     

Early tectonic uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The Hexi Corridor is the northmost foreland basin of the Tibetan Plateau and its formation is controlled by the northern marginal fault of Tibet, Altyn Tagh Fault （ATF）-North Qilian Shan marginal Fault （NQF）, and the southern Kuantan Shan-Longshou Shan Fault （KLF）. So its study is important to understanding the mechanism of Tibet formation and its influence on global climate change. The oldest Cenozoic sediments in the Corridor is the Huoshaogou Formation which consists of terrigenous fine conglomerate, sandstone, sandy mudstone and mudstone, depositing in al- luvial to lacustrine and fan delta sedimentary environments. Detailed paleomagnetic measurements of this sequence at Yumen clearly reveal eleven pairs of normal and reversed polarities. Fossil mammals found around the section support that most of the observed polarities can be well correlated with chrons between 13n and 18r of the standard geomagnetic polarity time scale, yielding ages of 40.2-33.35 Ma. The mean declinations of this sequence and its immediately above stratigraphy indicate an 18.3° rapid clockwise rotation of the Hexi Corridor. Since this sequence has been strongly folded and is capped by an angular unconformity, we think that the presence of the thick alluvial fan conglomeration at the bottom of the foreland basin may indicate the initial deformation and uplift of the northern Qilian Shan. This process could occur at latest at 40.2 Ma, driven by the faults NQF and KLF that thrust onto the Hexi corridor respectively from its southern and northern margins. These faults are in an early response to the collision of India with Asia, while the unconformable termination and rotation of the Huoshaogou Formation at -33.35 Ma indicate other early episode of rapid tectonic deformation and uplift of the northern Tibet.     

渭北西部地区加里东构造带变形特征及其地质意义

渭北西部地区加里东构造带由一系列走向近东西、南倾北倒的紧闭倒转褶皱和叠瓦状逆冲断层组成。该带大致沿泾川-富平北西西一线以南呈近东西向延伸,推测向东可延入渭河地堑基底,其形成与北秦岭构造带形成发展密切相关。     

浙西北地区二叠系和三叠系的构造变形样式及其大地构造意义初步研究

浙西下三叠系统政棠组(T_1zh)发育有典型的鲍马序列,是一套深水相浊积岩建造;区域构造环境初步分析表明浙西北地区具被动大陆边缘沉积楔特征。下三叠系统政棠组(T_1zh)与二叠系协调变形,其构造变形样式总体上以向西北逆冲的冲褶席(duplex)~ 为特征,变形强度自南东向北西呈递减趋势。上三叠统乌灶组(T_3w)为含煤陆相磨拉石盆地建造,变形样式以宽缓褶皱和逆断层组合为主。该区大地构造相主要为前陆褶皱冲断带相,而土三叠统乌灶组(T_3w)为前陆磨拉石盆地相,二者对浙西北地区早中生代造山作用的研究具重要意义。     

长江形成的大地构造背景与沿江带的环境效应

长江上游金沙江段的展布形态为一向NE凸出的弧形,宜宾-宜昌段主要为向NW凸出的弧形;中游近似于"S”形;而下游则是向N凸出的弧形.这一特殊的自然地理面貌严格受青藏地块、秦祁昆地块和扬子板块的构造格局控制,是特提斯构造系统和太平洋构造系统及其二者复合作用的结果.沿长江地带的地震活动是上述两大构造系统下,新构造运动所致,在二者的接合部位地震活动最强烈.长江沿岸的地质灾害严格受岸坡的岩石类型、结构面规模以及产状等因素的影响.因此,长江的形成和沿江带的环境效应与大地构造背景密切相关.     

穆格莱德盆地凯康坳陷西斜坡地层剥蚀与埋藏史研究

为深入了解穆格莱德盆地凯康坳陷西斜坡地区地层沉积和埋藏史情况,根据回剥法改进的"刘景彦模型",消除多剥蚀面盆地内上覆地层压实作用影响,并利用声波时差计算各剥蚀面剥蚀厚度,在综合分析地层残余厚度与剥蚀厚度的基础上恢复了研究区埋藏史.结果表明:①Baraka与Amal间剥蚀厚度最大,Abu Gabra与Bentiu间剥蚀厚度最小;②斜坡西部与南部剥蚀量大,东部与北部小;③受区域构造运动和沉降速率影响,北部地区沉降速度和沉积速率小,地层埋藏较浅,断层规模小,密度大,发育大量小型断块圈闭;④南部地区沉降速度和沉积速率较高,各组地层埋藏较深,烃源岩进入生油窗时间更早,大型同生断层发育,多见大型断块和断鼻圈闭,石油地质条件优于北部地区.     

New knowledge of the Upper Triassic in Liupanshan Basin, Ningxia, China

Based upon the new data of spore-pollen, plant and bivalve fossils, the coal-bearing strata in the Liupanshan Basin, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Northwest China, which were formerly assigned to the Middle Jurassic Yan’an Formation, are divided into two parts in the present study. The major part is assigned to the Upper Triassic and the overlying part remains in the Jurassic. The new division is of significance to the oil-gas exploration of the basin and the interpretation of the sedimentary and tectonic history and the geographic environment of Liupanshan area during the early Mesozoic.     

湖北房县梅花山志留系微体植物化石新发现及地层意义

文章报道了在湖北房县梅花山一带出露的一套浅变质地层中首次发现较多的微体植物化石，据其组合特征及区域对比，大致确定了它的形成时代为早志留世。这些发现不但丰富了该区志留纪古生物资料，而且为其时代归属提供了较可靠的依据     

The discovery of Jurassic plants in Shenzhen of Guangdong,southern China and related significance

Investigations of major marine and non-marine geologic and biotic events across the Triassic-Jurassic transition rely predominantly on detailed stratigraphic frameworks and biodiversity analyses. The alternating sequences of marine and terrestrial Triassic-Jurassic for- mations in Guangdong Province represent one of the most remarkable coal-bearing series in southern China. The Lower Jurassic Jinji Formation is widely distributed in Guangdong, with continuously outcropped sections and rich marine and non-marine fossil fauna. However, as little research has been conducted on fossil plant remains in the Jinji Formation, it is difficult to understand the systematics, diversity, and floral aspects of the Jurassic. Here we report on the recent collection of rich fossil plants from the Jinji Formation in the Dapeng area of Shenzhen, southern Guangdong Province. Our studies demonstrate taxonomical affiliations, preservation status, and diversity features of these plant fossils, which are marked by the close associ- ation of densely preserved, pinnae and rachis connected leaves, and the bennettitalean reproductive organs of Wil- liamsoniella, which may represent an Early Jurassic plant community dominated by Otozamites of the bennettitales. This work not only represents the first discovery of fossil plants in the Shenzhen area, but is also the first docu- mentation of Jurassic plants in Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta regions. Research related to these plant fossils will be helpful in the correlation of the Early Mesozoiccoal-bearing strata in Guangdong, and will provide a dee- per understanding of variations in plant diversity of the Triassic and Jurassic transition in southern China. Addi- tionally, it will provide terrestrial plant evidence for explorations in Jurassic palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeogeography of southern China.     

Continental collision slowing due to viscous mantle lithosphere rather than topography

Because the inertia of tectonic plates is negligible, plate velocities result from the balance of forces acting at plate margins and along their base. Observations of past plate motion derived from marine magnetic anomalies provide evidence of how continental deformation may contribute to plate driving forces. A decrease in convergence rate at the inception of continental collision is expected because of the greater buoyancy of continental than oceanic lithosphere, but post-collisional rates are less well understood. Slowing of convergence has generally been attributed to the development of high topography that further resists convergent motion; however, the role of deforming continental mantle lithosphere on plate motions has not previously been considered. Here I show that the rate of India's penetration into Eurasia has decreased exponentially since their collision. The exponential decrease in convergence rate suggests that contractional strain across Tibet has been constant throughout the collision at a rate of 7.03?×?10(-16)?s(-1), which matches the current rate. A constant bulk strain rate of the orogen suggests that convergent motion is resisted by constant average stress (constant force) applied to a relatively uniform layer or interface at depth. This finding follows new evidence that the mantle lithosphere beneath Tibet is intact, which supports the interpretation that the long-term strain history of Tibet reflects deformation of the mantle lithosphere. Under conditions of constant stress and strength, the deforming continental lithosphere creates a type of viscous resistance that affects plate motion irrespective of how topography evolved.     

^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.     

Discovery of Ordovician acritarchs in Buqingshan ophiolite complex, East Kunlun Mountains and its significance

This note reports the first discovery of Middle-Late Ordovician acritarchs from the Buqingshan ophiolite complex of the southern ophiolite zone of East Kunlun. The acritarch assemblage is dominated with acanthomorphids (approx. 32%) and sphaeromorphds (approx. 63%) and contains more characteristic forms, such as Lophosphaeridium edenense, L. varum, Nothooidium sp.,? Buedingiisphaaeridium sp., Visbysphaera sp., Strophomorpha sp., etc. In addition, some tube-like fragments and tetrads, which are recognized as affinity to terrestrial plants and usual occurrence in Late Ordovician-Early Silurian strata, are preserved together with acritarchs. All the known fossil evidence indicates that the strata should be Middle-Late Ordovician in age. It not only provides paleontological proof for the existence of Ordovician ophiolite, but also challenges the usual ideas on strata composition of the studied area and the southern ophiolite zone of East Kunlun, and the models on tectonic framework and evolution of this area and the northern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

准噶尔盆地构造演化与油气成藏特征

对准噶尔盆地构造特征、地层分布和地层不整合等特征进行的研究结果表明 ,该盆地内经历了裂陷盆地、碰撞前陆盆地、陆内坳陷盆地和陆内俯冲前陆盆地等 4个演化阶段。裂陷盆地控制了石炭系烃源岩 ,使其沿裂陷槽分布 ;碰撞前陆盆地将二叠系烃源岩局限于玛湖、昌吉、克拉美丽山等山前坳陷内 ;陆内坳陷期从三叠纪一直持续到古近纪末 ,盆地内泥岩和煤岩广泛分布 ;陆内俯冲前陆盆地发育在南缘西部。因而 ,古、新近系烃源岩主要分布在安集海呼图壁一带。烃源岩演化和油源对比表明 ,盆地内有 3次成藏期 ,分别为印支期 (T3 )、燕山期 (J3 )和喜山期(E2 ) ,形成了石炭系、二叠系、侏罗系和古近系 4个复合含油气系统。根据构造特征和成藏条件的差异性 ,在盆地内可划分出西北部、西部、南部、东部和腹部 5个油气聚集区带。准噶尔盆地的成藏模式主要有逆冲断阶不整合单向充注、压扭背斜双向充注、断隆带双向充注、披覆背斜单向充注、逆冲背斜带单向充注和斜坡带单向充注 6种类型。     

Sedimentary environment of the Dajin conglomerate in Tibet, age of foraminiferan assemblages and their tectonic significance

The Dajin conglomerate, which is one of the most important sedimentary successions of the Xigaze forearc basin in Tibet, China, consists of deep-shallow marine tuffaceous turbidites and clastic rocks bearing Nummulites, Assilina, Alveolina and Lockhartia. These fossils are very similar to the foraminiferan in the Jialazi and Maila conglomerates, and those in Gangba and Dingri areas. They developed in the Eocene. By analyzing the spatial variation of Eocene sedimentary environments of Tibet Plateau and the foraminiferan in the Dajin conglomerate, we found that Eocene sedimentation should take place on both sides of the Yarlung Tsangpo suture, and the late Eocene tectonic uplifting should make the forearc basin expose out of the sea level and begin to receive nonmarine deposits.     

建昌-喀左盆地中生代构造演化

为了探讨建昌—喀左盆地中生代演化规律，根据地层接触关系和构造特征，建昌—喀左盆地中生代地层可划分为早三叠世构造层、侏罗纪构造层和早白垩世构造层；早三叠世—侏罗纪末发育收缩构造样式、白垩纪发育伸展构造样式。从各构造样式的特点得出建昌—喀左盆地中生代构造演化：早三叠世—侏罗纪末，地球半径减小、岩石圈板块白转加快且向两极漂移。由于太平洋板块相对欧亚板块向北漂移。在盆地所在区形成收缩构造样式；进入白垩纪，地球半径增加、岩石圈板块自转减慢且向赤道漂移。由于太平洋板块相对欧亚板块向南漂移。在盆地所在区形成伸展构造样式。     

Fission track age of granite batholith from Southern Tibet:implications for the plateau uplift

Fission track (FT) ages of apatite and zircon from four granite batholiths from Lhasa and Shannan areas are measured.The FT ages of apatite range from 3.2±8.3 Ma, corresponding to the uplift rates of 0.12±0.20 mm·a~(-1) during this period. The upliftheight is 580m, showing that there is not large-scale rapid uplifting in southern Tibet from 3.2 to 8.3 Ma. The zircon FT ages of Lhasabatholith are 25.9±1.7 and 32.7±2.8 Ma, yielding an uplift rate of 0.08 mm·a~(-1) between 26 and 33 Ma. Combining this work withother studies, it is suggested that the average uplift rate in southern Tibet is low from the time of collision between India and Asian conti-nents to ～3Ma. The uplift of Tibetan Plateau seems to have finished in multi-stage processes with varied rates.