Surveying of the deformed terraces and crust shortening rate in the northwestern Tarim Basin: Comment

The paper of Shen et al., entitled "Surveying of the deformed terraces and crust shortening rate in the northwest Tarim Basin", was published in Chinese Science Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 12)[1]. Shen et al. found the deformation of Late Pleistocene to Holocene terraces of the Boguzi River across the Artushi Anticline in the northwest Tarim Basin close to the Pamir, and made level survey and differential GPS measurement, which is of great importance to geodynamics for research on the coupling of Tianshan Mountains uplifting and Tarim Basin depression. But their understanding to the deformation mechanics of terraces and the calculation methods of crustal shortening are open to discussion. Therefore, we discuss it with Shen Jun et al.     

The Quaternary fault in Jiamu area,the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The Quaternary Tailan River fault has been found in the Tianshan foothills area, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is the recent boundary fault of the Tarim Basin coupling with the West Tianshan Mountains. In the light of measurement data of the slip which cuts the Quaternary deposits of different ages, the Quaternary kinematic figures of the Tailan River fault are estimated as follows: crustal shortening 3.7 km and shortening rate 1.59 mm/a, uplift of Tianshan Mountains 1.34 km and uplift rate 0.56 mm/a, and additional relief of 900 m. Considering the contribution of the Gumubiezi anticline close to the south of the Tailan River fault, the Quaternary crustal shortening and shortening rate of the Jiamu area are 4.8 km and 2 mm/a respectively. The above-mentioned data coincide with the crustal shortening rate calculated from the growth strata in the Kuqa area, as well as the GPS measurements in the Lake Issyk area and the Korla-Urumqi area, reflecting the fast thrusting period within the shortening tectonic processes of the rejuvenation foreland basin in front of the southern foothill of the West Tianshan Mountains since Neogene.     

Velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle in the boundary area of the Tianshan Mountains and the Tarim Basin

A portable 3-component broadband digital seismic array was deployed across the Tianshan orogenic belt (TOB) to investigate the lithospheric structure. Based on receiver function analysis of the teleseismic P-wave data, a 2-D S-wave velocity profile of the boundary area of the TOB and the Tarim Basin was obtained at the depths of 0--80 km.Our results reveal a vertical and lateral inhomogeneity in the crust and uppermost mantle. Four velocity interfaces divide the crystalline crust into the upper, middle and lower crust. A low velocity zone is widely observed in the upper-middle crust. The depth of Moho varies between 42 and 52 km. At the north end of the profile the Moho dips northward with a vertical offset of 4--6 km, which implies a subduction front of the Tarim Basin into the TOB. The Moho generally appears as a velocity transitional zone except beneath two stations in the northern Tarim Basin, where the Moho is characterized by a typical velocity discontinuity. The fine velocity structure and the deep contact deformation of the crust and upper most mantle delineate the north-south lithospheric shortening and thickening in the boundary area of the TOB and the Tarim Basin, which would be helpful to constructing the geodynamical model of the intracontinental mountain-basin-coupling system.     

Recent rapid shortening of crust across the Tianshan Mts. and relative motion of tectonic blocks in the north and south

Based on the multiple-epoch Global Positioning System observations during a period from 1992 to 1999, we document directly a rapid crustal shortening of ～20 mm/a across the western Tianshan Mts. (76°E), in contrast to a 4 mm/a convergent rate across the eastern Tianshan Mts. (87°E)and the north-south convergence across the mountain belt descends laterally from west to east. The direction of current crustal movement inferred by GPS sites along the southern flank of the Tianshan Mts. is approximately perpendicular to the easterly-trending mountain belt, indicating that the Tarim Basin thrust almost rightly into the Tianshan Mts. The Tarim Basin accommodates nearly no or a minor, if any, crustal deformation and rotates clockwise, as a rigid body in a whole, at a rate of 0.64°/Ma around a Euler pole at 95.7°E, 40.3°N (Anxi, Gansu) with respect to the stable Siberia. The relative motion between the Kazakh platform and the Dzungarian Basin is quite apparent. The Dzungar should be regarded as an independent active block from the view of the Asia tectonic settings.     

Quaternary folding in the south piedmont of central segment of Tianshan Mountains

The Tianshan Mountains are an important active structural belt in the interior of Eurasia. By integrated methods of surface geology survey and interpretation of seismic profiles, we distinguish fold scarps located at the south limb of the Kuqatawu anticline and the north limb of the Dongqiulitag anticline in the Kuqa rejuvenation foreland thrust belt, south piedmont of central segment of the Tianshan Mountains. Fold scarp is a newly found structural phenomenon. Because of the bend of thrust plane and the movement of hanging wall above the thrust plane, the original horizontal deposits of hanging wall and their surface become a monocline structure, resulting from the separating and migration of the active and fixed axial surfaces. Measuring the geometry of fold scarp and using the data of age of the deformed deposits, the crustal shortening rate resulting from the deeply seated subsurface thrust is calculated. The crustal shortening rate reflected by the fold scarp located at the north limb of the Dngqiulitag anticline is (1±0.1) mm/a. The fold scarps of the Dongqiulitag anticline and the Kuqatawu anticline identify that the deformation process of the crustal compressive structures in the Kuqa area extends into the Late Quaternary.     

Deep seismic reflection profile across the juncture zone between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains

Fine structures of the crust and upper mantle of the basin-and-range juncture on the northwestern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are first delineated by the deep seismic reflection profile across the juncture zone between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains. Evidence is found for the northward subduction of the northwest marginal lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its collision with Tarim lithosphere beneath the West Kunlun Mountains. The lithosphere image of the face-to-face subduction and collision determines the coupling relationship between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains at the lithosphere scale and reflects the process of continent-continent collision.     

Growth of the Huoersuosi anticline （north Tianshan Mountains） by limb rotation since the late Miocene

The Huoerguosi anticline, located in the north Tianshan Mountains piedmont fold-and-thrust belt, is a trending east-west fault-related fold. In the cross section along the Jingou River, its south limb is composed of the pre-growth strata of the Anjihaihe （E2.3a）, the Shawan （（E3-N1）s）, the Taxihe （N1t） and the lower part of the Dushanzi （N2d） Formations, trending east-west and dipping to south 55°, and the growth strata of the upper part of the Dushanzi （N2d） and Xiyu （（N2-Q1）x） Formations, dips of which decrease from 55° at the base of the growth strata to 47° at the bottom of the Xiyu （（N2-Q1）x） Formation to -0° at the top of the Xiyu （（N2-Q1）x） Formation. The strata at the north limb of the anticline are vertical or over-turned, and are cut by the breakthrough thrusts to result in the drag fold. In the depth, the anticline is symmetric, and its core comprises the Cretaceous and the Jurassic coal-bearing beds. In the seismic profile, the seismic reflectors of pre-growth strata at the south limb of the anticline dip to south constantly, and ones of the growth strata fan southward, whose dips decrease upward. The geometry of the south limb growth strata outcropped along the Jingou River valley and the deep structure of the anticline shown in the seismic profile indicate that the Huoerguosi anticline is a detachment fold anticline growing by limb rotation. Based on the growth model and magnetostratigraphic age, during the growing process of the Huoerguosi anticline, the average shortening rate absorbed by the south limb is -0.46 mm/a, and the average uplifting rate of the anticline is -0.86 mm/a which exceeds the average deposition rate, which is in accordance with the fact that the top of the anticline is intensely eroded. Considering symmetric geometry of the Huoerguosi anticline and ignoring the breakthrough thrusts, the shortening of the whole anticline should be more than -0.92 mm/a, doubling the shortening rate determined from the growth at the south limb.     

塔里木-中朝板块北缘的志留纪岛弧公婆泉群火山岩地质地球化学及构造意义

公婆泉群位于北山中部，可分为：北、南两带。南带为弧后盆地玄武岩-安山岩组合，北带为岛弧火山岩组合，西段窑洞努如为火山角砾岩和熔火山角砾岩组合，中段公婆泉一带为玄武岩-安山岩-流纹岩-粗面岩组合，东段东七一山地区为玄武岩-安山岩-流纹岩组合。岩石组合，地球化学综合分析认为，公婆泉群是中-晚志留世哈萨克斯坦板块俯冲与塔里木-中朝板块的产物。岛弧西段窑洞努如位于近大陆或者在水下陆壳。公婆泉位于近海沟陆壳，而东七一山则远离海沟，是在洋壳的基础上发育的。说明塔里木-中朝板块是一个统一的板块，同时在早古生代存在哈萨克斯坦板块向塔里木-中朝板块的俯冲。     

Structural deformation and fault activity of the Tan-Lu Fault zone in the Bohai Sea since the late Pleistocene

The Tan-Lu Fault zone (TLFZ) is a significant fractural zone in eastern China and also a seismicity belt in North China. Based on total 4000-km-long shallow penetrated single seismic data with high-resolution, structural deformation and fault activity of the TLFZ in the Bohai Sea since the late Pleistocene are discussed in detail. The results show that the TLFZ with a discontinuous distribution and a general NNE-trending consists of 14 active subfaults with an NNE or NE strike in the Bohai Sea. Seismic data reveal that de-formation zones along the subfaults in the central Bohai Sea and the Laizhou Bay are wider and more complex than those in the Liaodong Gulf. Related folds and lots of secondary normal faults which are characterized by nearly vertical fault planes and a same or reverse dip construct the fractural zone in the Laizhou Bay and the central Bohai Sea. Usually, micro symmetrical grabens develop on the top of anticlines. In the Liaodong Gulf, subfault fractural zones usually consist of secondary normal faults with the same inclination or opposite inclination. Ages of seismic sequences and cutting relation between subfaults and seismic sequences suggest that the latest faulting age of the TLFZ is the end of the late Pleistocene in the Liaodong Gulf and the early Holocene in the Laizhou Bay and the central Bohai Sea. There is a good match between distribution of earthquakes and that of the subfaults in the Laizhou Bay and the central Bohai. Statistical result shows that total vertical offset of the TLFZ since the late Pleistocene ranges from 6 to 11 m. On the basis of offsets of the subfaults, the vertical slip rate is calculated and results show that average vertical slip rates in the central Bohai Sea are larger than those in the Liaodong Gulf and the Laizhou Bay. Slip rates more than 0.06 mm/a during 23–10 ka B.P. and 85–65 ka B.P. are larger than those in other stages. The TLFZ was mainly dominated by tensional normal component since the late Pleistocene. Synthesizing shallow deformation, activity and distribution of earthquakes, the TLFZ in the Bohai Sea can be divided into three segments: the Laizhou-Bay segment, the Bozhong segment, and the Liaodong-Gulf segment.     

Late Miocene–early Pleistocene paleoproductivity variations of the Lop Nor in the Tarim Basin and its implications on aridification in Asian Interior

Extensive lacustrine deposits in the eastern Tarim Basin provide records of climate change influenced by the westerly winds and the Asian monsoon. To char- acterize the evolution of climate change in this region, we analyze elemental concentrations of barium （Ba） from the Ls2 drill core of Lop Nor, a paleo-lakebed located in the eastern Tarim Basin. Biogenic Ba concentrations from this drill core display a large-amplitude oscillation that gener- ally follows a pattern similar to that of Artemisia content and ostracod assemblages, suggesting that is may serve as an index for climate change experienced in the basin. Our results indicate that biogenic Ba is especially sensitive to precipitation. All climatic proxies served in this study vary significantly over late Miocene to early Pleistocene time period. Strong aridification of eastern Tarim in the late Miocene to the early Pliocene may be attributed to a lati- tudinal shift in the westerly winds, which would have resulted in more moisture transported to southern and eastern Tibet. The growth of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau may have acted as an orographic barrier that blocked moisture sourced in the south from the northern margins of the plateau. We link weaker aridification in the late Pliocene to an increased intensity of the Indian Monsoon.     

Deep structure at northern margin of Tarim Basin

In this paper, a 2D velocity structure of the crust and the upper mantle of the northern margin of the Tarim Basin （TB） has been obtained by ray tracing and theoretical seismogram calculation under the condition of 2D lateral inhomogeneous medium using the data of seismic wide angle reflection/refraction profile from Baicheng to Da Qaidam crossing the Kuqa Depression （KD） and Tabei Uplift （TU）. And along the Baicheng to Da Qaidam profile, 4 of the 10 shot points are located in the northern margin of the TB. The results show that the character of the crust is uniform on the whole between the KD and TU, but the depth of the layers, thickness of the crust and the velocity obviously vary along the profile. Thereinto, the variation of the crust thickness mainly occurs in the middle and lower crust. The Moho has an uplifting trend near the Baicheng shot point in KD and Luntai shot point in TU, and the thickness of the crust reduces to 42 km and 47 km in these two areas, respectively. The transition zone between the KD and TU has a thickest crust, up to 52 km. In this transition zone, there are high velocity anoma- lies in the upper crust, and low velocity anomalies in the lower crust, these velocity anomalies zone is near vertical, and the sediment above them is thicker than the other areas. According to the velocity distributions, the profile can be divided into three sections： KD, TU and transition zone between them. Each section has a special velocity structural feature, the form of the crystalline basement and the relationship between the deep structure and the shallow one. The differences of velocity and tectonic between eastern and western profile in the northern margin of the Tarim Basin （NMTB） may suggest different speed and intensity of the subduction from the Tarim basin to the Tianshan orogenic belt （TOB）.     

基于离散元法的龙门山构造带隆升变形主控因素研究

为探明龙门山构造带隆升变形的主要控制因素, 基于龙门山构造带东西两侧下地壳物质层属性差异巨大的特征, 进行3组PFC2D离散元数值模拟对比实验, 将深度扩大至下地壳, 记录颗粒运动状态, 实现定量化分析。实验得到的变形结果及模型颗粒运动矢量图显示, 在下地壳物质属性无明显差异的条件下, 板块碰撞挤压应力及地壳厚度的差异不会在龙门山构造带形成巨大的地形高差。当下地壳黏度系数存在明显差异时, 软弱下地壳物质层颗粒相对运动速率为1.5~2.94 m/s, 平均运动速率为1.62 m/s, 大约是坚硬下地壳层颗粒平均运动速率的54倍。模型中部(龙门山构造带)出现隆升变形, 纵向影响范围为94.74%, 隆升幅度为19.85%。软弱下地壳上覆的中地壳和上地壳颗粒具有较大的向上速度分量, 上地壳物质层上涌趋势明显。巴颜喀拉块体和四川盆地地壳存在20 km的厚度差异, 使得龙门山构造带隆升幅度由14.79%增至19.85%。综合分析3组离散元模拟实验结果, 得出巴颜喀拉地块下地壳物质层与四川盆地下地块物质层的黏度差异是龙门山构造带垂向隆升变形最关键控制因素的结论, 在下地壳黏度结构存在明显差异的前提下, 巴颜喀拉块体和四川盆地的地壳厚度差异对龙门山构造带纵向上逆冲隆升幅度有明显的促进作用。     

中新生代天山板内造山带隆升证据：锆石、磷灰石裂变径迹年龄测定

取自天山南侧库车盆地北缘欧西达坂花岗岩体的锆石、磷灰石裂变径迹年龄给出了初步结果：中 新生代天山板内造山带在早白垩世（134Ma～109Ma）发生了明显快速隆升,平均隆升速率为0.13mm/a（130m/Ma）;而从晚白垩世到现在,天山板内造山带的平均隆升速率为0.03mm/a（31.9m/Ma）。在晚新生代天山板内造山带再次发生了快速隆升。现有的同位素研究成果表明中新生代天山造山带至少发生了两次幕式快速隆升。     

塔里木盆地西北缘石炭-二叠系浊积岩的沉积特征及其构造意义

目的研究塔里木盆地西北缘晚石炭世晚期—中二叠世早期(逍遥—栖霞期)浊积岩沉积特征及其构造意义。方法对塔里木盆地西北缘上石炭统上部—中二叠统下部的浊积岩进行岩石、岩相和时空变化特点的分析。结果从晚石炭世晚期—早二叠世早期到中二叠世早期,浊积岩的沉积范围显著减小,沉积区域在向西南方向收缩的同时水体则进一步加深。结论这种沉积-构造特点反映当时南天山造山带内部处于强烈的构造活动状态,南天山造山带向塔里木地块的冲断推覆可以导致这种沉积-构造格局;从沉积学的角度提出南天山造山带在晚石炭世晚期—中二叠世早期可能处于碰撞造山作用的晚期阶段。     

塔里木盆地塔中良里塔格组层序及岩相古地理特征

塔中低凸起是塔里木盆地隆起带由多级次级构造带组成的大型台背斜构造.奥陶纪海平面多次升降以及晚奥陶世末期抬升剥蚀的作用,使良里塔格组成为该地区沉积范围最为广泛的地层.在对该地区奥陶系层序地层研究的基础上,良里塔格组识别出SQ1和SQ2层序.以体系域为单位,结合多种地质因素和条件,编制良里塔格组层序—岩相古地理图.结果表明,塔中地区奥陶系良里塔格组沉积相带和古地理演化与构造运动和海平面变化密切相关,从塔中中央隆起向北斜坡和南斜坡依次发育碳酸盐陆棚—棚缘—斜坡—混积陆棚—半深海的沉积体系.     

塔里木盆地构造活动枢纽部位碳酸盐岩油气聚集

为了更好地指导塔里木盆地碳酸盐岩的勘探实践 ,进一步认识叠合盆地油气富集规律 ,从塔里木盆地构造活动枢纽部位的形成、分布以及对油气聚集的控制入手 ,剖析了碳酸盐岩油气藏的宏观分布规律 .结果表明 ,构造活动枢纽部位寒武—奥陶系碳酸盐岩的圈闭类型主要为潜山及背斜 ;碳酸盐岩含油气层的储集层有不整合面以下的风化壳及碳酸盐岩内部的孔缝发育带 .相对凹陷而言 ,构造活动枢纽部位处在比较高的部位 ,正是油气运移的指向区 ;而相对于翘起的高部位来说 ,构造活动枢纽部位又处在相对较低的部位 ,极有利于油气藏的保存 .塔北隆起牙哈潜山油气藏、巴楚隆起和田河气藏以及塔中隆起西北倾没部位的塔中 45油藏都是很好的例证 .由此可见 ,塔里木盆地构造活动枢纽部位是碳酸盐岩聚集油气的有利地区 .目前所要解决的问题是采用各种方法识别出更多隐伏的构造活动枢纽部位 ,为发现更多的油气田提供靶区     

三塘湖盆地北西向构造变形带的正演

三塘湖盆地北西向构造变形带的形成与演化控制了盆地总的构造格局．平衡剖面的正演表明：控制盆地构造变形的滑脱面位于石炭系内部的泥岩层中,滑脱面的深度约４．４６ｋｍ;盆地北西向构造变形带是海西晚期和喜山期两期构造作用叠加的产物,变形带的扩展顺序呈前展式自南向北扩展;变形机制主要为受重力扩展作用控制的断弯褶皱作用;变形样式主要为断裂及相关褶皱．盆地总的缩短量最大约８．３ｋｍ,海西晚期最大缩短量约４．５ｋｍ,喜山期最大缩短量约５ｋｍ．     

福州盆地的形成与演变

福州盆地是在早更新世周围山地剧烈上升过程中,相对下沉而形成的一个山间断陷盆地。中更新世时期盆地长期稳定,并发育了完整的红色风化壳;晚更新世时期持续沉降,并在玉木上、下亚间冰期中两度遭受海侵;全新世以来,经历了规模空前的长乐海侵而长期处于海湾环境之中,直至1500aBP才脱离海水影响。水负荷和沉积物负荷导致的均衡作用,使盆地全新世中期以来沉降速度成倍增加。     

平衡剖面技术在明水－绥化地区构造演化恢复的应用

基于平衡剖面技术,在实际地震资料解释的基础上,对松辽盆地明水-绥化地区4条主要测线进行了平衡恢复,并计算各演化阶段伸展量、伸展率和伸展速率,从而研究各构造演化阶段的特征.研究表明:研究区火石岭-营城期为断陷强烈扩张阶段,登娄库期为断陷向坳陷转化阶段,泉头-嫩江期为稳定的坳陷沉积阶段.嫩江组沉积末期由于受到区域挤压应力作用,发生构造反转,研究区中部隆升形成背斜带,形成现今的构造格局.明水-绥化地区经历了完整的伸展盆地演化序列,晚白垩世形成的绥棱背斜带是油气聚集的有利场所.     

断弯褶皱和断展褶皱中的油气运移聚集行为

断弯褶皱和断展褶皱是前陆冲断带中的两种典型构造形式.运用有关断层中流体运移和封堵理论及方法,结合塔里木盆地库车前陆冲断带的油气勘探实例,对断弯褶皱和断展褶皱中油气运移和聚集行为进行分析讨论.初步认为断展褶皱中的油气运移与聚集能力优于断弯褶皱。具体特征表现在断弯褶皱中是:1)台阶状逆断层具有较强的封堵能力,使得其上、下盘构造被隔离为两个不同的油气运移与聚集体系;2)上盘背斜圈闭中的油气主要来自于褶皱后翼的向斜凹陷;3)背斜圈闭中的储层有可能被轴面变形条带分隔为3个隔离油气舱;在断展褶皱中其特征是1)断层端点的扩展作用过程,就是在断层阀机制作用下,油气沿断层带从下部地层向上部背斜核部运移输送的过程.2)断层上、下盘及背斜两翼可以构成一个统一的油气运移聚集体系.3)背斜储层中的油气往往处于异常流体压力状态.