Discovery of Permian island-arc basalts in the Cenxi area and the tectonic significance──A piece of evidence for the paleo-Tethyan tectonic belt in western Guangdong and eastern Guangxi

Cenxi Permian basalts are the late Palaeozoic island-arc type basalts first found in South China. REE and trace element characteristics and distribution patterns show that this volcanic formation, which has been isotopically dated at 261 MaB.P. by the 39Ar/ 40Ar method, is of an active continental marginal island arc type, and that the tectonic environment at that time was an island-arc marginal sea or minor ocean basin related with the paleo-Tethyan tectonic belt in western Guangdong-eastern Guangxi.     

Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronology of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism

~~Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronol-ogy of Late Paleozoic basalts in western Guangxi and its constraints on the eruption age of Emeishan basalt magmatism1. GXBGMR (Guangxi Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guangxi, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1985, 1-853. 2. GZBGMR (Guizhou Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional Geology of Guizhou Province, Beijing: Geol. Pub. House, 1987, 1-698. 3. YNBGMR (Yunnan Bureau Geological Mineral Resource), Regional …     

Magnetic polarity ages of the fossil-bearing strata at the Si-hetun section, West Liaoning: A preliminary result

Rock-magnetic and palaeomagnetic studies have been carried out on the interval of famous fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks and its overlying basalts and underlying basalts at the Sihetun section, West Liaoning Province. Normal polarity was obtained for the sedimentary interval and the underlying basalts, while reversed polarity was found in the overlying basalts. Taking account of the new⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages (Swisher et al., 1999), we classified the fossil-bearing sedimentary interval into the Barremian M3n zone (Early Cretaceous age). Several abnormal horizons on magnetic properties, probably corresponding to the tuffs, were observed in the fossil-bearing sedimentary interval. This implies that the massive bio-extinction may link to dramatic environmental changes that were caused by volcanic eruptions.     

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.     

He and Ar isotope geochemistry of pyroxene megacrysts and mantle xenoliths in Cenozoic basalt from the Changle–Linqu area in western Shandong

We performed a combined study of He–Ar isotopes and element geochemistry for pyroxene megacrysts and mantle xenoliths from Cenozoic basalt in the Changle–Linqu area in western Shandong.The results are used to trace the evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle after destruction of the North China Craton.The3He/4He ratios of pyroxene megacrysts,websterite,and dunites are 7.0–7.7 Ra,7.4 Ra,and 7.0–7.7 Ra,respectively.They are related to the origin of host basalts,and are slightly lower than that of mid-ocean ridge basalts(MORB).Their40Ar/36Ar ratios are much lower than that of MORB and close to that of air.The lherzolites and wehrlites represent the fragments of the newly accreted lithospheric mantle,and their REE and trace elements indicate that they experienced melt metasomatism and partial melting.The3He/4He ratios of their olivine are slightly lower than that of MORB,but3He/4He ratios of their clinopyroxene are low(2.3–7.1 Ra)and display an inverse correlation with(La/Yb)N.The40Ar/36Ar ratios of these clinopyroxene are much lower than that of MORB and close to the air ratio.Combining existing studies of petrology,Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes,O isotopes,trace elements,and Mg isotopes,we infer that the juvenile lithospheric mantle in the Changle–Linqu area was metasomatized by oceanic crust-derived melts,which transfer the supracrustal Ar isotope signatures to the mantle sources.The low4He abundance and low3He/4He ratios of clinopyroxene in the lherzolites and wehrlites are ascribed to metasomatism by crustal melts from the subducted Pacific plate.     

早泥盆世古亚洲洋构造作用:来自可可托海和额济纳旗花岗岩年代学研究

古亚洲构造域内发育有大量的古生代酸性侵入岩。对阿尔泰造山带可可托海近3号脉的酸性侵入岩体进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年分析,以确定其岩浆作用时代及其岩浆活动的构造意义。研究区内的花岗岩包含的锆石大部分为自形-半自形晶,显示为典型的岩浆成因;测年结果发现,该岩体形成于404.4±3.2 Ma,为早泥盆世岩浆活动的产物。通过对额济纳辉森乌拉西糜棱岩化二长花岗岩中白云母⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar同位素年代学分析,获得白云母的坪年龄和等时线年龄分别为407.69±3.09 Ma和407.65±3.99 Ma,这暗示了拐子湖-呼和音乌苏弧形挤压带在早泥盆世活动的冷却年龄。以上事件与早泥盆世古亚洲洋的俯冲、碰撞的构造环境关系密切。     

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.     

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。     

The Dongcaohe ophiolite from the North Qilian Mountains： A fossil oceanic crust of the Paleo-Qilian ocean

The Dongcaohe ophiolite, located at the south of the North Qilian subduction complexes, is a tectonic block with an exposed area of about 3 km×6 km. It consists of an intrusive section overlain by an ex- trusive section. The lower part of the intrusive section consists of cyclic layers of cumulate dunites, troctolites, anorthosites, anorthositic gabbros, and gabbros with small discordant dunite and troctolite bodies. This layered sequence grades upward to isotropic gabbros and gabbronorites, which are overlain by the extrusive sequence of diabasic sheeted dikes and basaltic lavas. The overall mineral crystallization sequence was olivine±Cr-spinel, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. The Cr-spinel (Mg#: 42-66, Cr#: 41-57) in these layered cumulates and present-day abyssal peridotites have similar compositions. Also, the compositional variations of the plagioclase and cli- nopyroxene in the intrusive section reflect crystallization from melts compositionally similar to the present-day ocean basalts. Moreover, the rare earth element (REE) and multi-element distribution pat- terns of the intrusive and extrusive lithologies in the Dongcaohe ophiolite are consistent with crystal- lization of mid-ocean ridge basalts. The zircon grains separated from the gabbronorite have an SHRIMP average 206Pb/238U weighted age of 497 ± 7 Ma, which is considered as the tectonic emplacement age of the Dongcaohe ophiolite. The field occurrence, mineral and whole-rock compositions indicate that the Dongcaohe ophiolite represents a well-persevered oceanic crustal fragment composed of a complete oceanic crustal section of layered cumulates at bottom upgrading through isotropic cumulates to sheeted dikes and lava flows.     

Noble gases in corundum megacrysts from the basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China

This study presents noble gaseous data of the corundum megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China. It is known that no noble gaseous data of corundum megacryst have been documented before. The 3He/4He ratios (1.13-7.37 Ra) of the corundums from Changle vary from atmosphere to MORB values; the 20Ne/22Ne (9.67-10.75) and 21Ne/22Ne (0.0280-0.0372) data define two linear trends on Ne three-isotope diagram, respectively, along the MFL and the correlation line between atmosphere and MORB; the 38Ar/36Ar (0.177-0.194) ratios, the 40Ar/36Ar (280.9 -404.2) ratios and the 128-136Xe/132Xe ration with obvious 129Xe excess are generally higher than at-mospheric component, but the 40Ar/36Ar ratios are much closer to atomospheric ratio. The isotopic compositions of noble gases (particularly for He and Ar) of the corundums are similar to those of py-roxene, anorthoclase megacrysts, and mantle-derived xenoliths from this area, and those of man-tle-derived xenoliths from several areas in eastern China. Therefore, the noble gases trapped in the corundums probably are from mantle source, representing a ‘mixed fluid' produced by the interaction between the lithospheric mantle and fluids releasing from the convective plate. Both the noble gas isotopic compositions and the oxygen isotopic compositions of the solid corundums are not the characteristics of crustal source. These suggest that the corundums crystallized from mantle-derived magmas with minimal crustal contamination.     

Age of the Shahewan rapakivi granite in the Qinling Orogen, China, and its constraints on the end time of the main orogenic stage of this orogen

The Qinling Mountains in central China are a joint orogenic zone between the Sino-Korean (or North China) and the Yangtze (or South China) craton blocks, the two major tectonic units of eastern Asia. On the end time of the main orogenic stage in this orogenic belt there are different opinions. The⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Rb-Sr and zircon U-Pb ages of a recently discovered rapakivi granite in the Qinling Orogenic Belt are reported and the end time of the main orogenic stage for subduction-collision in this belt is discussed.     

Diachroneity of continental subduction and exhumation: Constraints from the Permian-Triassic HP metamorphic terrane in the Tongbai orogen, central China

High-pressure （HP） metamorphic terrane in the Tongbai orogen comprises two HP slices （I and II） and a tectonic m61ange zone in the northeast and a blueschist-greenschist zone in the southwest. HP slice I is represented by the northern and southern eclogite zones on the two sides of the Tongbaishan antiform. HP slice II is represented by retrograded eclogite-bearing metamorphic en- claves in Cretaceous gneissic granites in the Tongbai Complex. U-Pb, Lu-Hf, Rb-Sr and 4Ar/39Ar multichronometric data indi- cate that the peak metamorphism of HP slice I took place at -255 Ma, whereas the metamorphic ages of HP slice II are as young as 232-220 Ma. By contrast, the tectonic melange zone near the suture was metamorphosed at -256 Ma. Such a diachroneity of dif- ferent slices across the direction of the orogen in the Hong＇an-Dabie-Sulu HP/UHP terrane is ubiquitous, and it can be interpreted by a syn-subduction detachment/exhumation model. Furthermore, the metamorphic age of HP slice I in the Tongbai orogen is older than that of the equivalent HP slice in the Hong＇an orogen by ~15 Ma, suggesting that the diachroneity may have also ex- isted along the direction of the orogen. A seesaw-type subduction/exhumation model is proposed to explain this age disparity and the subduction of the South China Block becomimg shallower towards the west.     

The age of the Gaojiacun mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex in the Yanbian area,Sichuan Province： Geochronological constraints by U-Pb dating of single zircon grains and ^40Ar／^39Ar dating of hornblende

The Gaojiacun mafic-ultramafic intrusivecomplex in the Yanbian area, Sichuan Province, is a strati-form intrusive body that has undergone intensive magmaticdifferentiation. This intrusive body involves two magmaticaccumulating cycles. Systematic U-Pb dating of single zircongrains and ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of hornblende were conducted,and the results showed that the age of hornblende gabbro,which was formed at the main phase of intrusion of the Gao-jiacun intrusive complex, is 840±5 Ma, casting doubt on theconcept of "Yanbian Ophiolite". It is believed that the for-mation of the Gaojiacun intrusive complex seems to be re-lated to a super-mantl3 plume underneath the su-per-continent Rodinia. The above research results are helpfulfor us to get a better understanding of the characteristics ofNeoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Yanbian area inSichuan Province.     

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.     

^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.     

Subduction age of Neo-Tethys oceanic crust in southwest Yunnan, China: Laser micro-area40Ar-39Ar dating

The basic granulite, which is considered to be the MORE based on geochemistry and isotopic characteristics[1], has been discovered recently as the enclaves in the Yingjiang island-arc magmatic suite on the border of Burma and west Yunnan, east of Myitkyina suture in the eastern Burma. The laser micro-area 40Ar-39Ar technique is used to date the age of garnet and cliopyroxene that is the result of the early metamorphic event. The isochron outcome is -74.4 Ma which is induced to be the age of the suduction event of the Myitkyina oceanic crust on the basis of the Cenozoic lithosphere tectonic evolution, tectonic thermal events and the age of deformation and metamorphism. The discovery of the high-grade or high-pressure metamophic rocks in the island-arc magmatic suite by the way of studying its P-T-t paths can provide a good way to study the age and process of oceanic crust subduction, slab break-off, metamorphic terrain exhumation and the evolution of paleoocean basin.     

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.     

The large-scale ductile shear zone in Kuda, western Kunlun

A set of metamorphic suites, previously known as the Precambrian metamorphic basement in Kuda, western Kunlun has been determined as a large nappe ductile shear zone which develops penetrative foliation, oriented stretching lineation, various but consistent kinematic indicators of thrusting from north to south. The microstructure and the supermicrostructure also display the ductile deformation characteristics, and the paleotectonic differential stress is obtained. The metamorphic age is 426–451 Ma dated by⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method. According to tectonic background, it is a product of early Paleozoic accretionary wedge orogenesis in western Kunlun.     

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.     

琼中古-中元古代变质基性火山岩地球化学特征

琼中斜长角闪(片麻)岩为变质的古-中元古代基性火山岩,属于高铝和低钛的高钾钙碱性玄武岩系.其LILE和LREE明显富集,HFSE相对亏损,具有典型岛弧玄武岩特征.微量元素、Sm-Nd同位素组成还揭示其岩浆源区偏离原始地幔,但未受成熟地壳物质的明显污染,是消减带上部地幔楔与俯冲洋壳析出的流体二元混合物部分熔融的产物.古-中元古宙时期,海南地块可能经历了由拉张到挤压的地球动力学转变,早期拉张阶段形成琼西洋脊型和过渡型拉斑玄武岩,中晚期强烈俯冲作用形成琼中岛弧高钾钙碱性玄武岩,该俯冲期与华南统一地块古-中元古宙板块俯冲时期相对应.