Coesite eclogite facies metamorphic tectonite: Evidence for ultrahigh pressure deformation

An ultrahigh pressure ductile shear mélange crops out on the beach of Yangkou Bay near Qingdao City. The mélange is composed of weakly deformed blocks in a highly ductilly flow mylonites. Ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) tectonite includes strongly deformed eclogite and mylonitized eclogite. Coesite occurs in the tectonite as both interstitial mineral and inclusions in garnet and omphacite, indicating that the deformation took place in the stability field of coesite (800—850℃, >30 GPa) in the upper mantle. Coesite is rounded or short prismatic grains with undulatory extinction, and often fractured, suggesting brittle deformation. Garnet is also characterized by brittle fractures and sometimes necked and slightly elongated. Omphacite is elongated, with long axis preferred orientation. Undulatory extinction, subgrains and dynamically recrystallized grains suggest plastic flow of omphacite. Ultrahigh pressure metamorphic tectonite was probably formed in the ductile shear zone during the early stage of exhumation of the ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks. Its kinematic indicators point to the transport direction of the UHPM slab during the early stage of exhumation.     

Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP ages of eclogites from the North Qilian Mountains in NW China and their tectonic implication

TheNorthQilianMountainsattheboundarybe-tweenGansuandQinghaiProvincesareafamousCaledo-nianplatesuturezoneinthenorthwesternChina.Thissuturezoneis80to100kmwideandextendsintheNWdirectionparalleltotheNorthQaidamUHPbeltinthesouth[1,2].Itconsistspredominantlyofophiolite,island-arccomplexandhigh-presuremetamorphicrocks[38],andshowstypicalfeaturesofPacific-type[9](orB-type)sub-ductionzone.Spatially,thehigh-pressurerockscanbesubdividedintohigh-gradeblueschistbeltandlow-gradeblueschistbelt[5,6].Th…     

Discovery of eclogite at northern margin of Qaidam Basin, NW China

Eclogite was first discovered at the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in this study. It occurs as pods in the gneiss sequence of Middle to Upper Proterozoic age and is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, phengite and rutile. The garnets contain 44%-62% of almandine, 15%-33% of grossular and 12%-30% of pyrope molecules, and the omphacites contain 40%-46% of jadeite. Applying garnet_clinopyroxene thermometry and jadeite geobarometry, the peak conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism occurred at about (722±123)℃ and at the pressure of up to c. 22 ×10 8 Pa.     

Coesite in the eclogite and schist of the Atantayi Valley,southwestern Tianshan,China

Coesite is an indicator mineral of ultra-high-pressure metamorphism. Since coesite was reported in the Habutengsu Valley, we have also found it in eclogite and schist from the Atantayi Valley in the southwestern Tianshan, China. Petrographic and micro-Raman analyses were carried out for the Atantayi metamorphic rocks and coesite was recognized in the predominant rock types, i.e. schist and eclogite, from three sections. The coesite-bearing schist consists mainly of garnet, Na-Ca amphibole, quartz, white mica and albite; the coesite-bearing eclogite is mainly composed of omphacite, garnet, glaucophane and zoisite. The coesite occurs as various mineral inclusions within porphyroblastic garnet. Findings of coesite in eclogite and associated schist indicate not only the regional in situ formation of the Atantayi ultra-high-pressure eclogite, but also the large areal extent of ultra-high-pressure metamorphism in southwestern Tianshan, extending up to 10 km north-south and 60-80 km east-west.     

Isotopic composition of helium in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains, central China and its geological significance

Isotopic geochemical characteristics of helium in garnet and omphacite of eclogite in the Dabie Mountains are discussed. Concentrations of³He and⁴He in garnet and omphacite are 3.9 × 10⁻¹⁴–24.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ and 0.48 × 10⁻⁷–9.42 × 10⁻⁷cm¹³.g⁻¹, respectively. Values of³He/⁴He have a range of (1.19–4.63) × 10⁻⁷. Helium In the eclogite is derived from both mantle and crust. Isotopic geochemical data of helium indicate that eclogite in the Dabie Mountains might be formed in depleted mantle and the age of the cologite would be Indo-China epoch.     

Isotope composition of helium in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains, central China and its geological significance

Isotopic geochemical characteristics of helium in garnet and omphacite of eclogite in the Dabie Mountains are discussed. Concentrations of 3He and 4He in garnet and omphacite are 3.9×10 -14- 24.0×10 -14 and 0.48×10 -7-9.42×10 -7cm+3·g -1, respectively. Values of 3He/ 4He have a range of (1.19-4.63)×10 -7. Helium in the eclogite is derived from both mantle and crust. Isotopic geochemical data of helium indicate that eclogite in the Dabie Mountains might be formed in depleted mantle and the age of the cologite would be Indo-China epoch.     

Evidence for UHP metamorphism of eclogites from the Altun Mountains

Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism refers to metamorphism that has occurred at pressures for the stability of coesite. The polycrystalline quartz inclusions showing the characteristic texture within garnets of eclogites indicates the pre-existence of coesites under the peak metamorphic condition. The unusual exsolution textures in ompacites and apatites, and the pressure estimations of phengite-bearing eciogites have been taken to provide further proof of eclogite formation under the UHP conditions.Combined with the fact that coesites have been observed in country rocks of eclogites in North Qaidam Mountains, another UHP metamorphic belt cut by the large-scale strikeslip fault in the AItun-North Qaidam area of China is confirmed.``     

Barite in omphacite-hosted K-feldspar ＋ quartz polycrystalline aggregates from the Sulu eclogites and its implications

K-feldspar quartz polycrystalline aggregates were found as sub-millimeter-size inclusions with a pseudomorph after coesite (?) in omphacites from a number of Sulu eclogites. In these aggregates, round or subhedral barites occur as tiny inclusions in either K-feldspar or quartz. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses show that these barites have (1) 33.86%―41.12% SO3, 0%―34.65% SrO, and 24.12%―63.55% BaO, (2) seemingly negative linear correlations between SrO and BaO, indicating that they are ideal solid solutions of barite (BaSO4) and celestite (SrSO4), and (3) highly variable Sr/Ba molar ratios ranging from 0 to 2.1. Presence of barites in the Sulu eclogites not only indicates oxidation of the subducting continental crust, but also very limited and restricted fluids pre- sented during exhumation of the Sulu UHP eclogites.     

SHRIMP dating of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains, China

This note reports the SHRIMP U-Pb data of zircons from the Caledonian Xiongdian eclogite, western Dabie Mountains. Zircons from the rock occur mainly in garnet and other metamorphic minerals with sharp boundaries and exhibit textures growing under metamorphic conditions. Analyses of 7 grains give ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 335 to 424 Ma, showing a certain degree of radiogenic lead loss. This suggests a minimum age of (424±5) Ma for the metamorphic zircons, as well as the high-pressure metamorphic event. The outer peripheral zone of a zircon gives ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of about 300 Ma. Combined with Sm-Nd, ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar, U-Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, the peak metamorphism of the Xiongdian eclogite is documented between 424—480 Ma.     

Genesis of the mega-crystal zircons in the dunite veins of North Qaidam Mountains, northwestern China

A megacrystal zircon occurs in serpentinized dunite veins from North Qaidam, northwestern China. It is red-brown and 3―4 mm long and 2 mm wide in size. BSE imaging shows the presence of micro-grains （30―50 μm） of zircon between olivine and serpentine, part of them gathering into clusters （100―300 μm）. Thus we infer that these zircon crystals were precipitated from hydrothermal fluid. Inclusions of baddeleyite （white） in the shape of isolated island locally occur in the large zircon （grey）, implying that the former formed earlier than the latter. The mirco-baddeleyite （50―100 μm） aggregate consists of baddeleyite （3―5 μm） and olivine （〈5 μm）, indicating the zircon formation through interaction between baddeleyite and silica-bearing fluid. Therefore, we consider a genetic link between the formation of the large zircon and the serpentinization of dunite. SHIRIMP U-Pb dating of the large zircon gave two groups of concordant ages at 414 ± 13 Ma and 371 ± 9 Ma, respectively. This might reflect two episodes of zircon growth in response to two episodes of fluid action.     

Rutile U-Pb age for the ultra-high pressure eclogite from the dabie Mountains,central China:Evideence for rapid cooling

The U-Pb isotope compositions of rutile, omphacite and garnet in the eclogite from the Jinheqiao area in the Southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic zone were analyzed. The consistent high precision U-Pb age (218 ±(1.2) Ma of rutile in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains was obtained by two ways of isochron and common Pb correction based on the composition of omphacite. This proves that the omphacite in eclogite has a U/Pb ratio (μ = 2.8) low enough to be used for common Pb correction in the analyses of rutile. Under the rapid cooling condition (40℃/Ma) the closure temperature for U-Pb diffusion in rutile is about 470℃. Thus, this U-Pb age of rutile proves that 218 Ma should be the cooling age of eclogite at 470℃ instead of the peak metamorphic age.     

Rutile U-Pb age for the ultrahigh pressure eclogite from the Dabie Mountains,central China: Evidence for rapid cooling

The U-Pb isotope compositions of rutile, omphacite and garnet in the eclogite from the Jinheqiao area in the Southern Dabie ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic zone were analyzed. The consistent high precision U-Pb age (218 ± 1.2) Ma of rutile in eclogite from the Dabie Mountains was obtained by two ways of isochron and common Pb correction based on the composition of omphacite. This proves that the omphacite in eclogite has a U/Pb ratio (m = 2.8) low enough to be used for common Pb correction in the analyses of rutile. Under the rapid cooling condition (40℃/Ma) the closure temperature for U-Pb diffusion in rutile is about 470℃. Thus, this U-Pb age of rutile proves that 218 Ma should be the cooling age of eclogite at 470℃ instead of the peak metamorphic age.     

Carbon isotope anomaly in marbles associated with eclogites from the Dabie Mountains

This is a report of carbon isotope anomaly in marbles associated with the UHP eclogites from the Dabie Mountains. The results place constraints on the degree of crust-mantle interaction during the UHP metamorphism.     

北大别罗田超高压榴辉岩中峰期变质矿物:褐帘石和氟磷灰石

对北大别西南部"罗田穹隆"中超高压榴辉岩进行了变质岩石学研究,发现其中含有褐帘石和氟磷灰石.褐帘石主要以包体形式产出于石榴子石中,富含稀土元素,部分已退变为绿帘石;氟磷灰石主要以包体形式产出于石榴子石中或存在于基质中,产出于石榴子石中氟磷灰石具有较高的F含量(~3 wt%),而基质中氟磷灰石大多数具有磁黄铁矿针状出溶体及相对低的F含量(~1wt%).根据石榴子石中与褐帘石、氟磷灰石共生的包体矿物组合以及氟磷灰石中较高的F含量,证明它们形成于超高压条件下.由此提出了罗田榴辉岩曾发生超高压变质作用的新证据.     

Determination and geological significance of the eclogites from the northern Dabie Mountains, central China

Numerous eclogite-amphibolite blocks have been found along the Mayanling fault in the northern Dabie complex. Most of the eclogites are strongly retrograded and contain garnet, rutile and the amphibole-plagioclase symplectite. The occurrence of these eclogites may have something to do with the inverted movement of the Mayanling thrust fault.     

柴达木盆地北缘下侏罗统储集岩成岩作用及其对孔隙演化的影响

柴达木盆地北缘下侏罗统储集岩主要是由长石岩屑砂岩和岩屑砂岩组成,主要的成岩作用有压实作用、胶结作用、溶蚀作用、交代作用和重结晶作用,它们对孔隙的发育影响很大.压实作用和碳酸盐的胶结作用使原生孔隙大大减少.长石的溶蚀作用改善了孔隙的发育.蒙皂石、伊利石、高岭石、绿泥石和伊蒙混层含量均在较大范围内变化,与深度的关系不明显.成岩作用进入晚成岩作用末期.一些储集岩经历了表生成岩作用.     

The geological characteristics of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts and their tectonic implications: Case studies from Southwest Tianshan and North Qaidam in NW China

The geological characteristics of ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） metamorphic belts formed by deep subduction of oceanic crust are summarized in this paper. Oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is characterized by its protolithlc assemblage of typical oceanic crust, the peak metamorphic temperature 〈600℃, P-T path undergoing blueschist facies during prograde and retrograde metamorphic evolution, reepectively, with low geothermal gradient of cold subduction. The further study of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is very significant for constructing metamorphic reaction series of cold subduction zone, for understanding how aqueous fluids were transported into deep mantle and for classifying the types of UHP metamorphism in cold subduction zone. The uplift and exhumation mechanism of oceanic UHP metamorphic rocks is one of the most challenging problems in the study of UHP metamorphism, which is very important for understanding the geodynamic mechanism of solid Earth. As a traveler eubducted into the mantle depth end then uplifted to the surface, oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts witness the bulk process from the subduction to exhumation and is an ideal target to study the geochemical behavior end cycling of elements in subduction zones. The tectonic evolution of one convergent orogenic belt can be usually divided into two stages of oceanic subduction and followed continental subduction and collision, and the two best-established examples of orogenic belts are Alpa and Himalaya. Therefore, the study of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt is the frontier of the current plate tectonic theory. As two case studies, the current status and existing problems of oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belts in Southwest Tianshan and North Qaidam, NW China, are reviewed in this paper.     

Zr-in-rutile thermometry in eclogite at Jinheqiao in the Dabie orogen and its geochemical implications

Trace element analysis was made by an electron microprobe on rutiles from ultrahigh-pressure ec-Iogite at Jinheqiao in the Dabie orogen. The results show Zr contents of 37 to 118 μg.g^-l, with signifi-cant variations between grains within the same thin section. Zr-in-rutile temperatures were calculated by the pressure-dependent thermometer, yielding 595 to 678℃ at 4.1 GPa for the upper limit of meta- morphic pressures. The temperatures are about 200 to 250℃ lower than temperatures of 846±70℃ calculated from garnet-omphacite Fe-Mg partition geothermometry, but 150 to 200℃ higher than -460℃ from quartz-ruUle O isotope temperatures and rutile Pb diffusion closure temperature for the same specimen. This indicates that the diffusion rate of Zr in ruUle is remarkably slower than that of Pb and O in rutile, and that the temperature of Zr-in-rutile is higher than the closure temperature corre-sponding to cooling age as dated by rutile U-Pb radiometric system. The latter is consistent with ex-perimental result of Zr diffusion in rutile. Diffusion and re-crystallization with intensive retrograde fluid during exhumation of UHP metamorphic rocks may be the major reason why the Zr contents in rutile decreased and thus did not provide the record of the peak metamorphic temperatures. The remarkable difference in Zr content between rutile grains suggests that the distribution of Zr in rutile was in the state of disequilibrium due to differential diffusion and retrograde resetting.     

柴西北缘花土沟地区新近系油砂山组沉积特征及铀源分析

柴北缘花土沟地区新近系油砂山组含铀岩系为绿灰色碎屑岩沉积建造。区域内主要发育扇三角洲、滨浅湖相。含铀岩系受滨浅湖相沉积体系控制。研究区内铀源具有多源性特点,基底和盖层铀丰度较高。通过野外调查实测剖面和编录铀矿调查钻孔发现油砂山组具有泥-砂-泥结构特征,砂层厚度适宜,倾角较缓,属于宽缓的山前斜坡带,有利于含矿砂体及富氧流体进入层间,形成层间氧化带及铀的富集。