Confirmation of pelitic granulite in the Altai orogen and its geological significance

The existence of pelitic granulite in the Altai orogen was confirmed for the first time by detailed petrographic research and P-Tpseudosection modeling. The pelitic granulite has the assemblage of garnet ＋ cordierite ＋ K-feldspar ＋ biotite ＋ sillimanite ＋ plagioclase ＋ quartz with some samples containing the paragenesis of cordierite ＋ spinel. Peak conditions of the pelitic granuUte determined from the P-T pseudosection involved P = 0.5-0.6 GPa, T= 780-800℃ belonging to medium- to low-pressure type. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of zircon presented a metamorphic age of 292.8 ± 2.3 Ma. The discovery of pelitic granulite reflects an extensional environment with high heat flow in the southern margin of the Altai orogen during the Early Permian, which provides an important petrological constraint on the evolution of the Altai orogen.     

Discovery and implications of the high-pressure pelitic granulite from the Jiaobei massif

The high pressure pelitic granulite with peak assemblage of garnet kyanite ternary feldspar muscovite rutile was discovered in Qixia area in the Precambrian Jiaobei massif, where high pressure basic granulites are widely distributed. The metamorphic peak conditions for the pelitic granulite were calculated as T=800-840℃ and P=1.0-1.25 GPa on the basis of P-T pseudosection. The post peak P-T path is characterized first by an isothermal decompression (ITD) pattern and then by an isobaric cooling (IBC) pattern, indicating a geodynamic process related to thinning of thickened continental crust.     

Science Letters： Discovery of ultrahigh-T spinel-garnet granulite with pure CO2 fluid inclusions from the Altay orogenic belt, NW China

We first report discovery of the spinel-garnet-orthopyroxene granulite with pure CO2 fluid inclusions from the Fuyun region of the late Paleozoic Altay orogenic belt in Central Asia, NW China. The rock is characterized by an assemblage of garnet, orthopyroxene, spinel, cordierite, biotite, plagioclase and quartz. Symplectites of orthopyroxene and spinel, and orthopyroxene and cordierite indicate decompression under UHT conditions. Mineral chemistry shows that the orthopyroxenes have high XMg and Al2O3 contents (up to 9.23 wt%). Biotites are enriched in TiO2 and XMg and are stable under granulite facies conditions. The garnet and quartz from the rock carry monophase fluid inclusions which show peak melting temperatures of around -56.7℃, indicating a pure CO2 species being presented during the ultrahigh-T metamorphism in the Altay orogenic belt. The inclusions homogenize into a liquid phase at temperatures around 15.3-23.8℃ translating into CO2 densities of the order of 0.86-0.88g/cm^3. Based on preliminary mineral paragenesis, reaction textures and petrogenetic grid considerations, we infer that the rock was subjected to UHT conditions. The CO2-rich fluids were trapped during exhumation along a clockwise P-T path following isothermal decompression under UHT conditions.     

An in situ zircon Hf isotopic,U-Pb age and trace element study of banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt： Tracking the early evolution of the lower crust in the North China craton

Backscattered electron images, in situ Hf isotopes, U-Pb ages and trace elements of zircons in a banded granulite xenolith from Hannuoba basalt have been studied. The results show that the banded granulite is a sample derived from the early lower crust of the North China craton. It is difficult to explain the petrogenesis of the xenolith with a single process. Abundant information on several processes, however, is contained in the granulite. These processes in-clude the addition of mantle material, crustal remelting, metamorphic differentiation and the delamination of early lower crust. About 80% of zircons studied yield ages of 1842 ±40 Ma, except few ages of 3097-2824 Ma and 2489-2447 Ma. The zircons with ages older than 2447 Ma have high εHf (up to +18.3) and high Hf model age (2.5-2.6 Ga), indicating that the primitive materials of the granulite were derived mainly from a depleted mantle source in late Archean. Most εhf of the zircons with early Proterozoic U-Pb age vary around zero, but two have     

Ultrahigh-pressure (4.5–5.5 GPa) experimental research on pyroxene-garnet transition and its significance

Conclusions The transition from natural Al-enstatite to garnet and Al-poor pyroxene has taken place under the condition of about 1000°C and 4.5–5.5 GPa, and new phases of garnet and corundum have formed when 15% Al₂O₃ was added to the initial natural Al-enstatite. This experimental result has explained the ultrahigh pressure (3.5–5.0 GPa) and relatively low temperature (< 1000°C) genesis of the ultramafic rock of high-pressure metamorphic zone in Dabieshan-northern Jiangsu-Jiaodong and of red corundum garnetite coexisting with garnet peridotite. From the genetic mineralogy, petrology andP-T equilibrium conditions of garnet peridotite of the high-pressure metamorphic zone, kimberlite and Cenozoic basalt and the ultrahigh pressure experimental result, it is inferred that the upper mantle garnet peridotite is transformed with the increase of depth from Al-rich pyroxene garnet peridotite (80–120 km) to Al-poor pyroxene garnet peridotite (greater than 120–150 km).     

A huge oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China: Peak metamorphic age and P-T path

Recent progress in the study of the UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China, is summarized in this paper. This about 80-kin-long and over 10-km-wide UHP belt has been recognized by the discovery of coesite, coesite pseudomorphs and other UHP minerals. It is the largest oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt reported so far. It has formed due to northward subduc- tion of the Tianshan Paleo-Ocean. U-Pb dating of metamorphic rims of zircons from a coesite-bearing garnet-phengite schist yields a peak UHP metamorphic ages of 320±3.7 Ma. Combined with ages of 233-226 Ma obtained from rims of zircons from retrograded eclogites, a long retrograde metamorphic evolution （〉70 Ma） has been revealed. According to phase equilibria mod- eling, the P-T paths of both coesite-bearing eclogites and garnet-phengite schists are characterized by thermal relaxation, i.e., the metamorphic temperature peak lags behind the pressure peak, indicating that the UHP rocks experienced slow and long heating and decompression during exhumation in the subduction channel. On the basis of the field observation that a small amount of eclogite lenses is wrapped in large volumes of metapelites, and the similar P-T paths of both rock types, we propose that the ex- humation of the UHP eclogites from southwestern Tianshan, China, may have resulted from the exhumation of large volumes of low-density metapelites, which carried the denser eclogites to the Earth＇s surface.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating for two episodes of migmatization in the Dabie orogen

Zircon CL imaging and SHRIMP U-Pb dating were carried out for migmatite in the Dabie orogen. Zircons from the Manshuihe migmatite show clear core-rim structures. The cores display sector or weak zoning and low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.17, indicating their precipitation from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted mean age of 137±5 Ma. By contrast, the rims exhibit planar or nebulous zoning with relatively high Th/U ratios of 0.35 to 0.69, suggesting their growth from metamorphic melt. They give a weighted mean age of 124±2 Ma. Zircons from the Fenghuangguan migmatite also display core-rim structures. The cores are weakly oscillatory zoned or unzoned with high Th/U ratios of 0.21 to 3.03, representing inherited zircons of magmatic origin that experienced different degrees of solid-state recrystallization. SHRIMP U-Pb analyses obtain that its protolith was emplaced at 768±12 Ma, consistent with middle Neoproterozoic ages for protoliths of most UHP metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. By contrast, the rims do not show significant zoning and have very low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.09, typical of zircon crystallized from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted 206Pb/238U age of 137±4 Ma. Taking the two case dates together, it appears that there are two episodes of zircon growth and thus migmati-tization at 137±2 Ma and 124±2 Ma, respectively, due to metamorphic dehydration and partial melting. The appearance of metamorphic dehydration corresponds to the beginning of tectonic extension thus to the tectonic switch from crustal compression to extension in the Dabie orogen. On the other hand, the partial melting is responsible for the extensional climax, resulting in formation of coeval migmatite, granitoid and granulite. They share the common protolith, the collision-thickened continental crust of mid-Neoproterozoic ages.     

Syn-deformationP-T paths of Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex

TheP-T paths of the Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex (XMCC) have been investigated with the Gibbs method by researching the compositional changing of zoned epidotes which formed during syn-deformation metamorphism. TheseP-T paths indicate that the XMCC had experienced the following thermodynamics processes: firstly, near isobaric falling slightly in temperature in lower crust; secondly, fast decompression and rising in temperature during extensional uplifting to middle crust level; and finally, isobaric falling in temperature in middle crust. The upwelling and emplacement of the deep magma may be a major factor during the uplifting processes of the metamorphic core complex.     

Using quantile regression to analyze the stressor–response relationships between nutrient levels and algal biomass in three shallow lakes of the Lake Taihu Basin,China

Understanding the stressor–response relationship between nutrient levels and algal biomass is a prerequisite for the management of eutrophication in lakes. In this study, a quantile regression(QR) approach was used to interpret the stressor–response relationships between nutrient(e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen) concentrations and algal biomass as measured by chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) levels. QR results indicated that Lake Dianshan and Lake Changdang,which are both heavily eutrophicated, were P-limited only.In contrast, Lake Kuilei, which has significantly lower nutrient levels and algal biomass than the other two lakes,was P- and N-limited. Moreover, in Lake Kuilei, N and P levels had significant interaction effects on the algal biomass at the upper quantiles(s [ 0.68). The degree to which the lakes were P-limited increased with rises in the mean total P concentration in the lakes. QR has many advantages over ordinary least squares regression for discriminating limiting factors and, in particular, allows us to estimate changes near the upper extremes of distributions associated with limiting factors. QR is adapted to more specialized risk management problems, such as early warnings of the risk of algal blooms.The probable value-at-risk of harmful algal blooms for Lake Kuilei, Lake Dianshan and Lake Changdang is s = 0.76(Chl-a = 9 mg/m3), s = 0.87(Chl-a = 24 mg/m3) and s = 0.72(Chl-a = 35 mg/m3), respectively. Given the results of the stressor–response relationship analysis, we conclude that reductions in P input represent the most feasible and least costly approach for managing eutrophication in the shallow lakes of the Lake Taihu Basin. To control the magnitude and duration of algal blooms in shallow lakes,reductions in P and N inputs are required. The 95 % CI bounds of slopes indicated that the interactions of nonnutrient factors with nutrients had strong impacts on the algal biomass in lightly eutrophicated Lake Kuilei. It is suggested that, in addition to reductions in nutrient loads,several ecological measures, such as an increase in the biomass of submerged macrophytes and the reduction of hydraulic retention time by flushing, could represent important components of an integrated approach to eutrophication management in the Lake Taihu Basin.     

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.     

Electron microprobe monazite Th-Pb dating and its constraints on multi-stage metamorphism of low-pressure pelitic granulite from the Jingshan Group in the Jiaobei terrane

U-Th-Pb chemical dating of monazite with the electron microprobe is a new method developed in the last dec-ade[1,2]. It is attracting more and more attention for its ad-vantages of quickness, cheapness and relative high reli-ability[3]. Although its precision (±10?30 Ma)[4,5] is not as high as the ion-probe (SHRIMP), it has very high spatial resolution (1?2 μm), more superior than other in-situ techniques for analyzing compositions of zoned monazite crystals of less than 50 μm in size. …     

Crustal evolution of the Shiwandashan area in South China: Zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic records from granulite enclaves in Indo-Sinian granites

U-Pb dating coupled with Hf isotope analyses on zircon from metasedimentary granulite enclaves in the Jiuzhou peraluminous granite from the Shiwandashan area in southeastern Guangxi Province, South China are presented in this paper. The results show that the protoliths of these granulite enclaves were mainly composed of Neo-Mesoproterozoic (564–1061 Ma) clastic materials with a peak age at ~822 Ma. These materials were probably derived from the igneous rocks that were emplaced during the Neoproterozoic breakup of Rodinian Supercontinent. Subordinate sediments include the Paleoproterozoic (1778–2227 Ma) and even the Meso-Paleoarchean materials with the oldest U-Pb age at 3551±8 Ma, indicating the existence of ancient crustal rocks in the area and/or its surrounding regions. Younger grains include the early Mesozoic (234±2 Ma) magmatic zircon populations and the late Permian (253±3 Ma) metamorphic zircon populations. Further zircon Hf isotope analyses reveal that their protoliths were complex, containing both recycled crustal rocks and juvenile materials. Combined zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions indicate that at ~253 Ma, the Shiwandashan area experienced an intensive thermal event that resulted in the granulite-facies metamorphism; and that crustal remelting occurred at ~234 Ma to form the S-type granitoids during the uplifting stage. The metasedimentary granulite enclaves are resitites of these granitoids.     

Petrology, geochemistry and geodynamics of basic granulite from the Altay area, North Xinjiang, China

The basic granulite of the Altay orogenic belt occurs as tectonic lens in the Devonian medium- to lower-grade metamorphic beds through fault contact. The Altay granulite (AG) is an amphibole plagioclase two-pyroxene granulite and is mainly composed of two pyroxenes, plagioclase, amphibole and biotite. Its melano-minerals are rich in Mg/(Mg Fe^2 ),and its amphibole and biotite are rich in TiO2. The AG is rich in Mg/(Mg Fe^2 ), Al2O3 and depletion of U, Th and Rbcontents. The AG has moderate ∑REE and LREE-enriched with weak positive Eu anomaly. The AG shows island-arc pattern with negative Nb, P and Ti anomalies, reflecting that formation of the AG may be associated with subduction. Geochemical and mineral composition data reflect that the protolith of the AG is calc-alkaline basalt and formed by granulite facies metamorphism having peak P-T conditions of 750℃-780℃ and 0.6-0.7 Gpa. The AG formation underwent two stages was suggested. In the early stage of oceanic crustal subduction, calc-alkaline basalt with island-arc environment underwent granulite facies metamorphism to form the AG in deep crust, and in the late stage, the AG was thrust into the upper crust.     

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating for high-pressure basic granulite from North Qinling and its geological significance

Inrecentyears,discoveriesofhightoultrahighpressuremetamorphicrocksatthenorthandsouthsidesoftheQinlingGroupinthenorthernpartoftheQinlingMountains(hereafterNorthQinling)haveattractedfocusattentionofgeologistsworldwide.Thenorthhigh-pressure(HP)metamorphicbelt,distributedintheareafromGuanpotoShuanghuaishunorthwardtoShizipin,LushCountyinHenanProvince,consistsmainlyofeclogiteoutcroppedaslenticularmassesofdifferentsizesinthegneissesoftheQinlingGroupclosetothesouthsideofZhuyangguan-Xiaguanfault…     

Reinterpretation of metamorphic age of the Hengshan Complex, North China Craton

Hengshan granulite facies terrane consists of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG)gneisses and minor high-pressure mafic granulite blocks.LA-ICP-MS zircon dating for two TTG gneiss samples indicates metamorphic ages of 1916.7±9.9 Ma and1850–1930 Ma,and magmatic protolith age of ca.2.5 Ga,with similar HREE-rich patterns.Phase equilibria modelling in ZrO2-bearing system reveals that zircon abundance varies inversely with melt abundance in suprasolidus metamorphism,zircon growth occurs with melt crystallization during cooling,and thus,the newly grown zircon can only record the age of retrograde metamorphism.Consequently,we suggest that the Hengshan granulite facies terrane experienced slowly uplifting and cooling during 1.85–1.93 Ga in an extensional setting under middle-crust,while the collision orogeny corresponding to peak stage of high-pressure granulite may have happened much earlier.     

西昆仑上新世隆升的砂岩重矿物特征及金红石地球化学记录

对西昆仑造山带山前叶城地区柯克亚剖面新生代砂岩样品中重矿物及碎屑金红石的微量元素进行分析, 结果表明重矿物含量及其组合特征具有明显分段性, 上新世阿图什组(N2a)底部以下为较稳定重矿物阶段, 以上为不稳定重矿物阶段, 反映西昆仑在上新世经历过一期快速隆升过程。碎屑金红石微量元素特征表明, 剖面从下至上, 源岩为泥质变质岩的比例逐渐降低, 基性变质岩的比例逐渐增高, 反映西昆仑快速隆升导致基底被抬升剥蚀, 基底岩石对物源的贡献增大。金红石母岩类型主要为角闪岩/榴辉岩相和麻粒岩相变质岩, 可能由于西昆仑西部快速隆升, 形成西高东低的地貌格局, 西昆仑西部成为该区的优势物源区。     

Xieite, a new mineral of high-pressure FeCr2O4 polymorph

Xieite, a new mineral, occurs in the shock vein of the Suizhou meteorite. The mineral has an orthorhombic structure and its space group is Bbmm. The cell parameters are a = 9.462（6） A, b = 9.562（9） A, c = 2.916（1）A. The crystal-chemical formula is （Fe0.87Mg0.13Mn0.01）1.01（Cr1.62AI0.25Ti0.08V0.02）1.97O4, or simply formula FeCr2O4. Stronger X-ray diffraction lines are [d （A）, I/Io]： （2.675, 100）, （2.389, 20）, （2.089, 10）, （1.953, 90）, （1.566, 60）, （1.439, 15）, （1.425, 15）, （1.337, 40）. Xieite is a high pressure polymorph of FeCr2O4 and formed by solid-state transformation of chromite under shock-induced high pressure and temperature, in association with other high-pressure minerals including ringwoodite, majorite, lingunite and tuite. The P-Tcondition for the formation of xieite is estimated to be 18--23 GPa and 1800--1950℃, respectively. Xieite has recently been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association （IMA 2007-056）. The mineral name, xieite, is named after Xiande Xie.     

Ionic iron（III） complex of aryloxo-linked bis（imidazolium） cations： efficient and recyclable catalyst for aryl Grignard cross-coupling of alkyl chlorides

A novel phenol-linked bis（imidazolium） salt, H3LCl2 （L = O-4-C（CH3）3-C6H2-2,6-di[CH2{C（NCHCH- NAr）}]2, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 1）, was designed and used to prepare an ionic iron（III） complex [H2L][FeCl4] （2）. Complex 2 was a highly efficient catalyst for aryl Grignard cross-coupling of alkyl chlorides bearing β-hydrogens. Furthermore, complex 2 was reusable and could be reused in at least eight times without significant loss in catalytic activity.     

Deformation characteristics and formation mechanism of the Yunmengshan metamorphic core complex

The Yunmengshan metamorphic core complex in the middle part of the Yanshan Fold and Thrust Belt records crust extension processes of the eastern North China Craton during its peak destruction.Development of the metamorphic core complex was controlled by the generally NNE-striking Dashuiyu Shear Zone.The shear zone dips SE and becomes shallower NE-wards,leading to exposures of a ductile shear zone in the southern and middle parts and brittle faults in the northern part.Exposure structures,microstructures,and quartz C-axis fabrics indicate that the ductile shear zone belongs to an extensional shear zone with a top-to-the-SE shear sense.Deformation temperatures of 300–520°C suggest a midcrustal origin for the ductile shear zone.A ductile deformation belt in the footwall of the shear zone is only as wide as 1–3 km,indicating no widespread mid-crustal ductile flow in the region during the deformation.Zircon U–Pb dating of dykes and plutons as well as hornblende and biotite40Ar/39Ar dating demonstrate that the metamorphic core complex originated at 135 Ma and experienced intense shearing of the Dashuiyu Shear Zone,development of the supradetachment basins,and synkinematic intrusion during 135–125 Ma.The metamorphic core complex was subjected to rapid exhumation during 125–114 Ma when the Dashuiyu Shear Zone suffered continuous activity and passive doming.The shear zone and its hanging wall were cut or replaced by a series of brittle faults when they wereuplifted to a brittle regime,showing that exhumation took place in continuous extensional activities.The metamorphic core complex turned into slow exhumation in an extensional regime in the following latest Early Cretaceous.The evolution history suggests that the Yunmengshan metamorphic core complex was developed by the rolling-hinge model,a common formation mechanism for intraplate metamorphic core complexes in the North China Craton,under the continuous NW–SE extension during the Early Cretaceous(135–100 Ma).     

下扬子前中生代构造演化

下扬子具有前震旦系变质基底,自震旦纪进入板内演化。震旦纪－早古生代发育三个向ＮＥ方向打开的拗拉槽,具有典型的三段式建造序列,槽内沉积作用不同于槽间区域的沉积作用。自晚奥陶世末期到志留纪末期,下扬子转变为前陆盆地。碎屑沉积厚度逾６０００ｍ,物质来自东侧,说明东侧有一新生的造山带崛起。自晚泥盆世初期到二叠纪末期,该造山带向前陆推挤,下扬子发生ＳＮ向引张,在晚二叠世出现成熟的撞击槽。槽内发育火山岩,碎屑沉积物来自该造山带。建议称之为东海造山带。