Constraints on the late Mesozoic regional angular unconformity in West Liaoning-North Hebei by LA-ICP-MS dating

The angular unconformity between the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Chengde area is commonly regarded as the direct evidence of boundary between Jurassic and Cretaceous systems, and as the evidence of tectonic transformation interfaces in Mesozoic Era in the West Liaoning-North Hebei. Moreover, the lower boundary age of the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Chengde was to be thought about 135 Myr in the past. Based on the detailed study and systematic sampling in Yixian-Beipiao, Lingyuan, Chengde and Luanping areas in the field, the authors obtained the following isotopic ages by means of LA-ICP-MS dating: In the Lingyuan area, the Zhangjiakou Formation and the Yixian Formation are in angular unconformable contact; the age range of the Zhangjiakou Formation volcanic rock is from 133 to 130 Myr (seven samples), and that of the Yixian Formation volcanic rock is from 126 to 121 Myr (eleven samples). In the Luotuoshan of Chengde, the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation are in angular unconformable contact; the age at the lower Zhangiiakou Formation is about 124 Myr (one sample), which reflects that the age range of the lower Zhangjiakou Formation is from 129 to 124 Myr combined with the previous study. In the Luanping basin, there is the largest sediment gap in upper Mesozoic, whose lower boundary age is confined in 131 to 130 Myr. In the Yixian-Beipiao area, the second Member of the Yixian Formation, making up more than 3/4 thickness of the Yixian Formation, was formed in 126 to 119 Myr, and the age of the Yixian Formation at the bottom is about 132 Myr. Moreover, the upper boundary age of the Tuchengzi Formation is about 136 Myr in the West Liaoning-North Hebei region. Based on the above isotopic data combined with the geological characteristics in the field in the West Liaoning-North Hebei region, it reflects that there was a widespread tectonic event in the period of 136 to 126 Myr (mainly in 130-126 Myr) in the West Liaoning-North Hebei, and it formed the late Mesozoic regional angular unconformity. Moreover, the lower boundary ages of the late Mesozoic regional angular unconformity in different areas are different, and the tectonics and the creature assemblage are different in the strata at the top and bottom of the regional angular unconformity. It implies that the late Mesozoic regional angular unconformity is a regional interface of tectonic transformation in Mesozoic Era in the West Liaoning-North Hebei.     

Constraint on the late Mesozoic regional angular unconformity in West Liaoning--North Hebei by LA-ICP-MS dating

The angular unconformity between the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Chengde area is commonly regarded as the direct evidence of boundary between Jurassic and Cretaceous systems, and as the evidence of tectonic transformation interfaces in Mesozoic Era in the West Liaoning-North Hebei. Moreover, the lower boundary age of the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Chengde was to be thought about 135 Myr in the past. Based on the detailed study and systematic sampling in Yixian-Beipiao, Lingy- uan, Chengde and Luanping areas in the field, the authors obtained the following isotopic ages by means of LA-ICP-MS dating： In the Lingyuan area, the Zhangjiakou Formation and the Yixian Formation are in angular unconformable contact; the age range of the Zhangjiakou Formation volcanic rock is from 133 to 130 Myr （seven samples）, and that of the Yixian Formation volcanic rock is from 126 to 121 Myr （eleven samples）. In the Luotuoshan of Chengde, the Tuchengzi Formation and the Zhangjiakou Formation are in angu- lar unconformable contact; the age at the lower Zhangjiakou Formation is about 124 Myr （one sample）, which reflects that the age range of the lower Zhangjiakou Formation is from 129 to 124 Myr combined with the previous study. In the Luanping basin, there is the larg- est sediment gap in upper Mesozoic, whose lower boundary age is confined in 131 to 130 Myr. In the Yixian-Beipiao area, the second Member of the Yixian Formation, making up more than 3/4 thickness of the Yixian Formation, was formed in 126 to 119 Myr, and the age of the Yixian Formation at the bottom is about 132 Myr. Moreover, the upper boundary age of the Tuchengzi Formation is about 136 Myr in the West Liaoning-North Hebei region. Based on the above isotopic data combined with the geological characteristics in the field in the West Liaoning-North Hebei region, it reflects that there was a widespread tectonic event in the period of 136 to 126 Myr （mainly in 130-126 Myr） in the West Liaoning-North Hebei, and it formed th     

U-Pb zircon age for the Daohugou Biota at Ningcheng of Inner Mongolia and comments on related issues

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating was carried out for the Daohugou Biota near Ningcheng of Inner Mongolia and for lavas overlying or underlying sala-mander-bearing strata at Reshuitang in Lingyuan of West Liaoning. The results suggest that the Dao- hugou Biota occurred at an interval from 168 Ma to 164―152 Ma. Both the Daohugou Biota and the salamander-bearing fossil assemblage are the same biota and thus developed from 168 to 152 Ma, i.e. from late Middle Jurassic to the early Late Jurassic. The Daohugou Biota-bearing rocks, resting on the Jiulongshan Formation in disconformity and being overlain in unconformity by Late Jurassic Tuchengzi Formation and Early Cretaceous rocks containing the Jehol Biota, are mainly composed of volcanic-sedi- mentary rocks in a normal sequence. It is recom- mended that the Daohugou Biota and the related stratigraphy should be correlated with the Tiaojishan Formation (Lanqi Formation in West Liaoning) or its synchronous rocks. It is suggested that the Dao- hugou Biota and the Jehol Biota would be neither taken into one biota nor considered as the earliest elements of the Jehol Biota. The Daohugou Biota and the related rocks and the Yixian Formation were respectively formed in different periods of volcanic-sedimentary tectonics.     

地堑型盆地陆棚三角洲全息地层学

地堑型盆地陆棚三角洲全息地层学研究需要进一步深入,以北海盆地维京地堑新近纪陆棚三角洲为例,基于经典层序地层学理论,结合地震反射终止关系识别和划分三级层序和体系域,建立层序地层格架;基于旋回地层学理论,利用小波变换、频谱分析和反傅里叶变换滤波等方法识别钻井自然伽马曲线蕴含的米兰科维奇旋回,结合地质年代基准点,建立绝对天文年代标尺;综合年代地层、岩石地层、磁性地层、层序地层、旋回地层和地震地层共同建立全息地层格架,提出地堑型盆地陆棚三角洲层序界面定年方法和建议。结果表明：1)新近系可以划分为5个三级层序和15个体系域。2)以23.03 Ma为基准点,CS1、CS2和CS3层序的顶界面绝对地质年龄分别约13.93 Ma、9.13 Ma和2.13 Ma,其最大海泛面对应的绝对地质年龄分别约20.03 Ma、12.13 Ma和6.13 Ma。3)针对地堑型盆地热坳陷期陆棚三角洲向海进积并横向生长的特点,全息地层学研究建议结合磁性地层定年和全球海平面曲线,在层序格架的约束下利用钻井的旋回地层计算削截顶面的地质年龄,如果与磁性地层年龄基本相符,则与钻井削截顶面最近的斜交层序界面便代表着真实的等时界面。     

内蒙古艾力格庙地区二叠纪火山‒沉积岩系的层序、时代及其构造意义

为了查明兴蒙造山带西段二连?满都拉裂陷盆地的充填过程以及其中火山?沉积岩系的时空分布, 对西里庙组开展地层层序和同位素年代学研究, 探讨盆地形成的构造背景。实测剖面查明, 二叠纪西里庙组地层可分为3段, 上段和下段为晶屑凝灰岩及流纹质岩屑晶屑凝灰岩, 中段为暗色沉积岩, 构成独特的火山?沉积岩系。上段流纹质凝灰岩的锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄为282±2 Ma, 代表形成年龄; 中段碎屑岩的两组锆石年龄峰值分别为304 Ma和450 Ma, 另有1颗锆石的年龄为870 Ma, 分别代表最大沉积年龄、早古生代造山带的形成时代和晚元古代基底的年龄。中段碎屑岩的年代学测试结果表明, 西里庙组火山?沉积岩系的形成时代为304~282 Ma, 其层位应置于哲斯组之下。西里庙组中段沉积地层碎屑锆石的物源分析结果为从中古生代构造挤压过程向晚古生代构造伸展过程转化的沉积响应提供了证据。     

Lower boundary age of the Nanhua System and the Gucheng glacial stage: Evidence from SHRIMPⅡ dating

After the disintegration of the pro-Sinian System, the choice of the stratotype section of the newly established Nanhua System and determination of its lower boundary age have been one of the most important problems in Neoproterozoic stratigraphy[1—3]. In the Yangtze Gorge area in Yichang of Hubei Province where the standard section of the pro-Sinian System is located, the newly established Nanhua System consists only of the Nantuo formation (tillite) and the Liantuo Formation with tuf-…     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for the Cangshuipu volcanic rocks and its implications for the lower boundary age of the Nanhua strata in South China

Continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedi-mentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation oc- cur as wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata in the Yiyang region, Hunan Province. They overlie with a high-angle unconformity the Lengjiaxi Group of the Upper Meso- proterozoic Eonothem. The wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata of the continental clastic rocks and the Mesopro-terozoic deep marine flysch turbidites of the Lengjiaxi Group represent two distinct stages of basin-tectonic evo-…     

Mesoproterozoic age for Xiamaling Formation in North China Plate indicated by zircon SHRIMP dating

Zircon grains of magmatic origin from tuffite layers in the Xiamaling Formation at Zhaojiashan Village, Xuanhua area, Hebei Province, were used for zircon dating with a Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe （SHRIMP Ⅱ）, which gives a weighted mean ^207Pb/^206Pb age of 1366±9 Ma. It shows a very similar age （1368±12 Ma） as the zircon dating from the Xiamaling Formation in Western Hill, Beijing. This age proposes that the Xiamaling Formation in the North China plate should be of Mesoproterozoic, instead of Neoproterozoic based on K-Ar, Ar-Ar dating. The new zircon age also indicates the development of macrofossils algae from the Mesoproterozoic age.     

LA-ICP-MS dating of Zhangjiakou Formation volcanic rocks in the Zhangjiakou region and its geological significance

The geological cross section of the Zhangjiakou Formation is originally established in the Zhangjiakou region. From the dating of four samples from typical cross sections of the Zhangjiakou Formation in the Zhangjiakou region, the age range is found to be mainly from 143.0 ± 3.7 Myr to 136.1 ± 1.4 Myr, which almost equals the sum of the age range of the Zhangjiakou Formation （136-135 Myr） and that of the Tuchengzi Formation （143-136 Myr） in the Luanping region, and the Zhangjiakou and Tuchengzi Formations in Zhang- jiakou-Luanping of North Hebei are found to be conformable. The evidence above indicates that the Zhangjiakou and Tuchengzi Formations, which are distributed in Zhangjiakou-Luanping, were formed under the same geological setting. Volcanic activity was earlier and longer （143-136 Myr） in the western region （Zhangjiakou） than that in the eastern region （Luanping）. The ＂Zhangjiakou Formation＂ in Chengde and Pingquan formed in the period in which the Yixian Formation in West Liaoning formed, so should be renamed the Yixian Formation.     

Neogene eolian deposits within the West Qinling Mountains: Climatic and tectonic implications

The Qinling Mountains constitute a key climate barrier between southern and northern China.Our recent investigations revealed widely spread eolian deposits of Neogene age mantling the piedmont highlands of the intermountain basins within West Qinling.Micro-mammalian fossils dated a 150.2 m section (NL-VI) near Xihe for the late Miocene to Pliocene (～10-4 Ma).Soil micromorphology,grain-size and geochemical analysis consistently define typical loess-soil alternations for the upper (0-66 m) and lower (98-150.2...     

SHRIMP U-Pb dating for a K-bentonite bed in the Tieling Formation,North China

A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 1437±21 Ma was obtained for a recently discovered K-bentonite bed in the Tieling Formation, situated northeast of Beijing at the boundary between Liaoning and Hebei provinces, on the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The SHRIMP U-Pb age places Tieling Formation near the end of the Calymmian Period of the early Mesoprote-rozoic Era. In addition, a SHRIMP U-Pb zircon date of 1372±18 Ma was acquired for K-bentonite beds in the overlying, dark-shale-dominated Xiamaling Formation from the same location northeast of Beijing. This date assigns a similar Mid-Mesoproterozoic (Ectasian Period) age for the Xiamaling Formation, as have previously determined dates from other sections northwest of Beijing. These dates indicate that the Tieling and Xiamaling formations, as well as the related succession in the eastern part of the Yanshan Mountains, represented by the well-known Meso- to Neoproterozoic standard section in Jixian, can be correlated well with sections northwest of Beijing in the western part of the Yanshan Mountains. In other words, the boundary between the Calymmian and Ectasian periods in the northern parts of the NCC is marked by the unconformity between the Tieling and Xiamaling formations in the northern NCC. This boundary was previously ascribed to the “Qinyu Orogeny” and thought to be of Grenville age. In this regard, the conventional “Qinyu Orogeny” should now be regarded as a short-lived regional uplift during Early Mesoproterozoic time, rather than a result from the Grenvillian assembly of the NCC to the Rodinia Supercontinent (~1.0 Ga).     

Zircon U-Pb geochronology of the volcanic rocks from Fanchang-Ningwu volcanic basins in the Lower Yangtze region and its geological implications

The latest eruptions in two important Mesozoic volcanic basins of Fanchang and Ningwu located in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River formed the bimodal volcanic rocks of the Kedoushan Formation and ultrapotassic volcanic rocks of the Niangniangshan Formation, respectively. The representative volcanic rocks of the two Formations were selected for LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dating. The results indicate that there exist a large amount of magmatic zircons as indicated by high Th/U ratios in these volcanic rocks. The weighted mean age of 21 analyses is 130.7±1.1 Ma for the Kedoushan Formation, and that of 20 analyses is 130.6±1.1 Ma for the Niangniangshan Formation. These U-Pb ages are interpreted to represent the formation times of the volcanic rocks. In combination with other known geochronological data for Mesozoic volcanic rocks from the Lower Yangtze region, it is proposed that the latest volcanic activations in the Jinniu, Luzong, Fanchang and Ningwu volcanic basins probably came to end prior to ca. 128 Ma. There is no significant time interval between the early and later volcanic activities in the Luzong and Ningwu basins, suggesting a short duration of volcanic activities and thus implying the onset of an extensional tectonic setting at about 130 Ma in the Lower Yangtze region. Integrated studies reveal that the Early Cretaceous magmatic activities and their geochronological framework in the Lower Yangtze region are a response to progressively dynamic deep processes that started with the transformation of tectonic setting from compression to extension, followed by delaminating of the lower part of the thickened lithosphere, lithospheric thinning, asthenosphere upwelling, and crust-mantle interaction.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon geochronology and its implications on the Xilin Gol Complex,Inner Mongolia,China

The Xilin Gol Complex was referred to the meta-morphic rocks exposed near Daqing Pasturage, east of Xilinhot, for the first time by the Hebei Geological Survey in 1958[1]. Similar metamorphic rocks have been increas-ingly identified in the Xilin Gol-Xiwuqi-Balinyouqi re-gion since then. They all are collectively grouped into the Xilin Gol Complex and considered as a part of the Bao- yintu Group (Pt1by)[1]. However, the timing of its deposi-tion and subsequent deformation and metamorphi…     

Zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes of volcanic rocks from the Batamayineishan Formation in the eastern Junggar Basin

An internal structural study was conducted to investigate U-Pb age, trace elements and Hf isotopes of basaltic zircons from the Batamayineishan Formation. The basalt was obtained from drill well San-Can 1 on the eastern Luliang uplift within the Junggar Basin. Trace element data of zircons show that all samples are magmatic, with similar REE patterns, including positive Ce (δCe=5.06–134), but negative Eu (δEu=0.06⦒0.55) anomalies and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements. Among 25 grains, the concordant ages were subdivided into three groups; ages of 300.4±1.3 Ma (n=11), 339.2±2.7 Ma (n=3) and 392.0±1.7 Ma (n=8). Three remaining grains were nearly concordant, with ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 510±7, 488±6 and 453±6 Ma, respectively. The youngest concordant age (i.e., 300.4±1.3 Ma) could be interpreted as the formation age of the studied basaltic rock; this is consistent with the sampling position at the upper part of the Batamayineishan Formation. On the other hand, ages such as Ordovician and early Devonian are consistent with the ages of island-arc volcanic rocks (enrichment in Pb) or ophiolites around the basin. Moreover, the positive ɛ _Hf(t) values of the early and middle Paleozoic zircons (+3.6–+10.5) may suggest that the basement traversed by the studied volcanic rocks may be Paleozoic in age, formed from the residual oceanic crust and island-arc complex. The ɛ _Hf(t) values (+4.2–+17.1) of the late Paleozoic (∼300.4 Ma) zircons suggest that the basaltic magmas were derived from partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle or depleted lithospheric mantle. These magmas were slightly contaminated by the existence of early-middle Paleozoic materials. The late Carboniferous basalts represent direct eruption of mantle-derived magmas at the upper crustal level during a post-collisional tectonic setting. We therefore consider that extensive vertical growth of the continental crust to have occurred before the late Carboniferous.     

Northernmost paleo-tethyan oceanic basin in Tibet: Geochronological evidence from40Ar/39Ar age dating of Dur’ngoi ophiolite

Whole rock⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age dating has been conducted on a basalt sample from Dur’ngoi ophiolite, Qinghai Province, which was reported to be the northernmost paleo-tethyan oceanic basin in Tibet. A high temperature plateau age (345.3±7.9 Ma) with an isochorn age (336.6±7.1 Ma) has been obtained, representing the eruption time of oceanic crust. Considering related geological settings, the new age provides constraints on the northernmost paleo-tethyan suture zone in Tibet and the tectonic evolution of Paleo-tethys in Northeast Tibet and adjacent areas.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for olivine gabbro at Wangmuguan in the Beihuaiyang zone and its geological significance

In the Neoproterozoic, a large-scale magmatic activ- ity took place in the northern margin of the South China Block, with ages in a range of 700―800 Ma[1―4]). A systematic zircon U-Pb dating for bimodal metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogen yields ages of 758 ± 15 Ma[5], typifying rift magmatism along the northern margin of the South China Block during the middle Neoproterozoic. In addition, there is a widespread oc- currence of volcanic tuff interlayers around 635 Ma with the se…     

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.     

内蒙古中部宝力高庙组长英质火山岩U-Pb-Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果显示: 内蒙古中部白音乌拉地区原宝力高庙组的流纹岩形成时代为300.0±2.9 Ma, 属晚石炭世; 青格勒宝拉格地区原宝力高庙组的凝灰岩结晶年龄为159.6±1.4 Ma, 并获得 3颗捕获锆石的年龄分别为291.8±3.4, 304.0±3.3和734.7±9.2 Ma, 应属于晚侏罗世满克头鄂博组。锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS Hf同位素分析显示: 流纹岩锆石ε_Hf(t) 值为+10.5~+12.9, T_DM^C值为493~645 Ma; 凝灰岩岩浆锆石ε_Hf(t)值为+10.1~+13.1, T_DM^C值为369~563 Ma。研究结果表明, 流纹岩源于晚古生代新生地壳的重熔并混入少量老地壳物质, 凝灰岩源于晚古生代地壳的熔融。Hf同位素特征显示晚古生代流纹岩和中生代凝灰岩源于相似的源区, 揭示了晚古生代的一次重要的增生事件, 并且在约160 Ma时期发生过地壳的再造。结合前人的研究成果表明, 兴蒙造山带在约300 Ma时处于古亚洲洋演化过程中岛弧向碰撞后伸展环境的转换时期, 在约160 Ma受到蒙古?鄂霍茨克构造域的影响。     

<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.     

Further support for a Cretaceous age for the feathered-dinosaur beds of Liaoning,China:New 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Yixian and Tuchengzi Formations

We report new 40Ar/39Ar dating results obtained from total fusion and incremental-heating analyses of sanidine and biotite from three tuffs found interbedded within the fossil-bearing deposits of Liaoning, northeast China. The first is a new sample of the Bed 6 Sihetun tuff from the Yixian Formation, previously dated by our team as middle Early Cretaceous, and recently considered by Lo et al., partially reset due to metamorphism from a nearby basaltic sill. The second is the Yixian Bed 9 tuff from Hengdaozi considered by Lo et al. to be unaffected by metamorphism and whose age, based on total fusion 40Ar/39Ar dating of biotite, argues for a Jurassic age for the Yixian Formation.The third tuff is a previously undated tuff from the upper part of the underlying Tuchengzi Formation. Single crystal total fusion 40Ar/39Ar analyses of the Sihetun sanidine showed homogeneous radiogenic Ar, Ca/K ratios, excellent reproducibility and gave a mean age of 125.0 ± 0.18 (1SD) ±0.04 (SE) Ma. Single sanidine crystal total fusion 40Ar/39Aranalyses of the Hengdaozi tuff gave a mean age of 125.0 +0.19 (1SD) ± 0.04 (SE) Ma, which is indistinguishable from the Sihetun tuff. The Tuchengzi Formation tuff gave a mean age of 139.4 ± 0.19 (1SD) ± 0.05 (SE) Ma. Detailed laser incremental-heating analyses of biotite from Sihetun, Hengdaozi, and Tuchengzi tuffs show disturbed Ar release patterns and evidence of trapped argon components. We conclude from these analyses that the total fusion dates on biotite by Lo et al. are erroneously old and isotopic dating of both biotite and sanidine from tuffs of the Yixian Formation point to a middle Early Cretaceous age. The upper part of the Tuchengzi Formation can be referred to the Early Cretaceous.``