A perspective view on ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and continental collision in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

The study of continental deep-subduction has been one of the forefront and core subjects to advance the plate tectonics theory in the twenty-first century. The Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt in China crops out the largest lithotectonic unit containing ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the world. Much of our understanding of the world＇s most enigmatic processes in continental deep-subduction zones has been deduced from various records in the Dabie-Sulu rocks. By taking these rocks as the natural laboratory, earth scientists have made seminal contributions to understanding of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and continental collision. This paper outlines twelve aspects of outstanding progress, including spatial distribution of the UHP metamorphic rocks, timing of the UHP metamorphism, timescale of the UHP metamorphism, the protolith nature of deeply subducted continental crust, subduction erosion and crustal detachment during continental collision, the possible depths of continental subduction, fluid activity in the continental deep-subduction zone, partial melting during continental collision, element mobility in continental deep-subduction zone, recycling of subducted continental crust, geodynamic mechanism of postcollisional magmatism, and lithospheric architecture of collision orogen. Some intriguing questions and directions are also proposed for future studies.     

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.     

25 years of continental deep subduction

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the discovery of coesite in metamorphic rocks of supracrustal origin. This initiated a revolution of the plate tectonics theory due to intensive studies of ultrahigh pressure metamorphism and continental deep subduction. The occurrence of coesite was first reported in 1984 by two French scientists, C. Chopin and D.C. Smith,     

Multistage evolution of continental collision orogen: A case study for western Dabie orogen

The foramtion and evolution of collisional orogen is a prominent feature along convergent plate margins, and is generally a complex process. This article presents an integrated study of zircon genesis, U-Pb age and Lu-Hf isotope composition as well as geological characteristics for the western Dabie orogen to constrain its multi-stage evolution history. The results suggest that the formation of oceanic crust in the Huwan area was constrained at ca. 400--430 Ma, which was slightly later than the collision of the northern Qinling with the North China Block. It formed in a marginal basin in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block. The peak metamorphism of eclogite in the Huwan area occurred at ca. 310 Ma, and the timing of the initial exhumation of oceanic eclogite was about 270 Ma. The high to ultrahigh pressure （HP-UHP） metamorphic rocks in the Xinxian and the Hong＇an metamorphic zones have the same ages and natures as those of the HP-UHP metamorphic rocks in the other Dabie-Sulu terrains, and also have experienced multi-stage exhumation, and thus can be taken as a coherent part of the Dabie-Sulu orogen. Therefore, the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen is a typical multi-stage continental collision orogen, with an amalgamation process extending more than 200 Ma.     

Detachment within subducted continental crust and multi-slice successive exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks: Evidence from the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

Although tectonic models were presented for exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） metamorphic rocks during the continental collision, there is increasing evidence for the decoupling between crustal slices at various depths within deeply subducted continental crust. This lends support to the multi-slice successive exhumation model of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogen. The available evidence is summarized as follows： （1） the low-grade metamorphic slices, which have geotectonic affinity to the South China Block and part of them records the Triassic metamorphism, occur in the northern margin of the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic zone, suggesting decoupling of the upper crust from the underlying basement during the initial stages of continental subduction; （2） the Dabie and Sulu HP to UHP metamorphic zones comprise several HP to UHP slices, which have an increased trend of metamorphic grade from south to north but a decreased trend of peak metamorphic ages correspondingly; and （3） the Chinese Continental Science Drilling （CCSD） project at Donghai in the Sulu orogen reveals that the UHP metamorphic zone is composed of several stacked slices, which display distinctive high and low radiogenic Pb from upper to lower parts in the profile, suggesting that these UHP crustal slices were derived from the subducted upper and middle crusts, respectively. Detachment surfaces within the deeply subducted crust may occur either along an ancient fault as a channel of fluid flow, which resulted in weakening of mechanic strength of the rocks adjacent to the fault due to fluid-rock interaction, or along the low-viscosity zones which resulted from variations of geotherms and lithospheric compositions at different depths. The multi-slice successive exhumation model is different from the traditional exhumation model of the UHP metamorphic rocks in that the latter assumes the detachment of the entire subducted continental crust from the underlying mantle lithosphere and its subsequent exhumation as a whol     

Evolution of the Archaean crust by delamination and shallow subduction

The Archaean oceanic crust was probably thicker than present-day oceanic crust owing to higher heat flow and thus higher degrees of melting at mid-ocean ridges. These conditions would also have led to a different bulk composition of oceanic crust in the early Archaean, that would probably have consisted of magnesium-rich picrite (with variably differentiated portions made up of basalt, gabbro, ultramafic cumulates and picrite). It is unclear whether these differences would have influenced crustal subduction and recycling processes, as experiments that have investigated the metamorphic reactions that take place during subduction have to date considered only modern mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Here we present data from high-pressure experiments that show that metamorphism of ultramafic cumulates and picrites produces pyroxenites, which we infer would have delaminated and melted to produce basaltic rocks, rather than continental crust as has previously been thought. Instead, the formation of continental crust requires subduction and melting of garnet-amphibolite--formed only in the upper regions of oceanic crust--which is thought to have first occurred on a large scale during subduction in the late Archaean. We deduce from this that shallow subduction and recycling of oceanic crust took place in the early Archaean, and that this would have resulted in strong depletion of only a thin layer of the uppermost mantle.The misfit between geochemical depletion models and geophysical models for mantle convection (which include deep subduction) might therefore be explained by continuous deepening of this depleted layer through geological time.     

辽东青城子矿田煌斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

为了深入了解辽东青城子矿集区煌斑岩岩石成因、形成的大地构造环境和地质意义,通过单颗粒锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年系统和X射线荧光光谱仪,对青城子矿集区煌斑岩进行锆石U-Pb年代学和主量元素地球化学方面研究.结果表明,煌斑岩具有低硅、富镁铁的特点,煌斑岩侵位年龄为(226.0±1.0)M a~(227.7±1.3)M a,属于晚三叠世岩浆活动的产物.结合区域构造背景和前人研究,推测煌斑岩是扬子克拉通-华北克拉通深俯冲过程的板片断离的产物,扬子克拉通的深俯冲和陆-陆碰撞可能是华北克拉通东部在中生代破坏的主要原因.     

Discovery of super-silicic and super-titanic garnets in garnet-pyroxenite in Zhaheba and its geological significance

Super-silicic garnet which exists stably at more than 5 GPa is a typical ultra-high pressure mineral. The super-silicic garnet and super-titanic garnet were discovered for the first time in garnet-pyroxenlte of early Paleozoic Zhaheba-Aermantai orogenic belt in north Xinjiang. Our study indicates that these su per-silicic garnets as well as super-Utanic garnets were formed at a depth of at least 300 km. Their host rock-garnet-pyroxenite is one kind of ultra-pressure metamorphic rocks which is related to the ultra-deep subduction of the oceanic crust. Thus, the early Paleozoic Zhaheba-Aermantai orogenic belt is related to the ultra-deep aubduction of the Paleo-Aaian oceanic crust.     

Continental subduction channel processes: Plate interface interaction during continental collision

The study of subduction-zone processes is a key to development of the plate tectonic theory. Plate interface interaction is a basic mechanism for the mass and energy exchange between Earth＇s surface and interior. By developing the subduction channel model into continental collision orogens, insights are provided into tectonic processes during continental subduction and its products. The continental crust, composed of felsic to mafic rocks, is detached at different depths from subducting continental lithosphere and then migrates into continental subduction channel. Part of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle wedge, composed of perido- tile, is offscrapped from its bottom. The crustal and mantle fragments of different sizes are transported downwards and upwards inside subduction channels by the corner flow, resulting in varying extents of metamorphism, with heterogeneous deformation and local anatexis. All these metamorphic rocks can be viewed as tectonic melanges due to mechanical mixing of crust- and man- lie-derived rocks in the subduction channels, resulting in different types of metamorphic rocks now exposed in the same orogens. The crust-mantle interaction in the continental subduction channel is realized by reaction of the overlying ancient subcontinental lithospheric mantle wedge peridotite with aqueous fluid and hydrous melt derived from partial melting of subducted continental basement granite and cover sediment. The nature of premetamorphic protoliths dictates the type of collisional orogens, the size of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes and the duration of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism.     

内蒙古达茂旗乌德缝合带特征及大地构造意义

乌德缝合带位于华北地块和北缘增生带之间，显示早古生代属于典型的沟－弧－盆体系。与碰撞造山作用同时，形成区域性构造混杂带，地层学和同位素地质年代资料表明，造山作用发生于加里东期，造山作用的动力学过程主要表现为由北向南的洋壳俯冲和向北的陆壳仰冲，并伴随右旋剪切滑移运动。     

超高压变质作用及大陆深俯冲--地球科学前沿述评

目的总结和评述超高压变质及大陆深俯冲作用研究进展。方法文献阅读及专题研究。结果总结分析了超高压变质及大陆深俯冲作用的时空分布、俯冲深度极限、俯冲过程中流体的性状及作用,以及中国西部北秦岭、柴北缘和阿尔金超高压变质岩带的研究现状及特点。结论超高压变质岩石均形成于碰撞造山带中,时代以显生宙为主;大陆俯冲的深度有可能达到200 km以上的地幔深处;超高压变质过程中有流体的参与,但流体的活动局限在很小的范围内。     

Water in granulites: implications for the nature and evolution of the lower continental crust

The tower continental crust is one of the most important sphere-layers in the deep earth, and is the direct place where the crust-mantle interactions occur. Granulttes are the dominated rocks in the lower crust, and have critical implications for the knowledge of the composition, nature and evolution of the deep crust; fluids are important mediums influencing many geochemical, geophysical and geodynamical characteristics of the lower crust, and may also play a fundamental role in the petrogenesis of granulites and the formation of the lower crusts. In this paper, we review recent advances involved with the deep continental crust, granulites and fluids, and some longstanding debates. Combined with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis performed on the mineral assemblages (cpx, opx, plag and grt) in lower crustal granulite xenoliths and terrains (exposed section) from east China, it is suggested that structural water, dominated by OH, in these nominally anhydrous phases may constitute the most important water reservoir in the deep crust. This structual water may help to understand many lower crustal geological processes and phenomena (e.g. seismic activities and electrical conductive anomalies), and influences from these water must be taken into consideration.     

Water in granulites: implications for the nature and evolution of the lower continental crust

The lower continental crust is one of the most important sphere-layers in the deep earth, and is the direct place where the crust-mantle interactions occur. Granulites are the dominated rocks in the lower crust, and have critical implications for the knowledge of the composition, nature and evolution of the deep crust; fluids are important mediums influencing many geochemical, geophysical and geodynamical characteristics of the lower crust, and may also play a fundamental role in the petrogenesis of granulites and the formation of the lower crusts. In this paper, we review recent advances involved with the deep continental crust, granulites and fluids, and some long-standing debates. Combined with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis performed on the mineral assemblages (cpx, opx, plag and grt) in lower crustal granulite xenoliths and terrains (exposed section) from east China, it is suggested that structural water, dominated by OH, in these nominally anhydrous phases may constitute the most important water reservoir in the deep crust. This structual water may help to understand many lower crustal geological processes and phenomena (e.g. seismic activities and electrical conductive anomalies), and influences from these water must be taken into consideration.     

Growth and reworking of cratonic lithosphere

To study the thinning of cratonic lithosphere in North China has been the hot subject of basic research in the fields of solid earth science in China. This paper presents an overview on the formation and evolution of continental crust, and outlines the mechanisms of forming the lithospheric mantle. It is suggested that the thinning of cratonic lithosphere principally proceeds in two ways, one by subduction erosion （e.g., North China）, and the other by a combination of subduction erosion and underplating degistion （e.g., Yangtze）.     

东疆与邻区的板块构造及其演化

显生宙初，新疆曾是一个统一的陆块。寒武纪晚期开始解体，在新疆东、北部形成斋桑－东准噶尔、康古尔两个洋盆，博格达－哈尔力克、北山两个裂谷系和１２条深、大断裂带。从加里东中晚期开始，两个洋盆边拉张达消减，形成３条俯冲带、２个对接带和７个岛弧带，最后于华力西中期沿克拉表里、康古尔塔格两个对接带闭合。以对接带、俯冲带和深断裂带为界，将东疆及其邻区划分为西伯利亚、准噶尔和塔里木三大板块，１０个次级构造单元。华力西晚期两个裂谷闭合后，中上部地壳强烈水平挤压，产生一系列逆冲－推覆构造等碰撞期后极内构造效应。     

中国南方大地构造演化及泥盆纪古构造格局

晋宁旋回的若干古老地体经拼合形成原始华南大陆地壳;澄江旋回破裂解体;加里东旋回经多次拉张、挤压后,扬子陆块与华夏陆块拼合形成统一的华南板块;海西—印支旋回在挤压上升背景上平静拉伸张裂,最后发生大陆碰撞;燕山—喜马拉雅旋回发生拉张断陷。泥盆纪古构造格局表现为华南海西期古大陆板块及其南、西缘的被动大陆边缘。可划分出华南陆块、右江-南岭被动陆缘、南秦岭-龙门山-盐瀑、丽江被动陆缘、钦防残留海槽以及它们的次一级构造环境。     

Fluid activity during exhumation of deep-subducted continental plate

It is well known that a great deal of fluid wasreleased during subduction of oceanic crust, resulting in arcmagmatism, quartz veining and metamorphic mineralizationof syn-subduction. In contrast, the process of continentalsubduction is characterized by the relative lack of fluid andthus no arc magmatism has been found so far. During exhu-mation of deep-subducted continental crust, nevertheless,significant amounts of aqueous fluid became available fromthe decomposition of hydrous minerals, the decrepitation ofprimary fluid inclusions, and the exsolution of structuralhydroxyls. This kind of metamorphic fluid has recently at-tracted widespread interests and thus been one of the mostimportant targets in deciphering the geological processesconcerning metamorphism, magmatism and mineralizationin collisional orogens. A large number of studies inlvolvingstable isotopes, fluid inclusions and petrological phase rela-tionships have been accomplished in past a few years withrespect to the mobility and amount of met     

秦岭北缘巨型陆内俯冲带的深部物理状态

秦岭造山带是一个复合型大陆造山带。燕山末期——喜马拉雅初期由于华北板块相对于秦岭造山带的俯冲,在秦岭北缘形成巨型陆内俯冲带。反射地震剖面揭示该带为一向南倾斜的强反射波组带,并且在两侧显示出明显的差异;大地电磁测深剖面中该带表现为略向南倾的低阻带。南侧为高阻体,北侧为多层结构;流变学特征揭示,该俯冲带南部相似于造山带的核带,北部则相同于中、新生代的大陆汇聚带,充分证明了秦岭北缘巨型陆内俯冲带的存在。     

论海沟—岛弧—弧后盆地复合体系的形成机制

海沟一岛孤一弧后盆地复合体系的成因与软流圈及岩石圈的流变性有关,以前者为主,并遵循流体运动的最小阻力原理。俯冲有两种类型:一是大洋岩石圈向大陆岩石圈的俯冲,二是大洋岩石圈之间的俯冲。弧后扩张及岛弧升高在时间上的滞后现象,也可以用此原理来说明。     

Ore-forming event and geodynamic setting of molybdenum deposit at Wenquan in Gansu Province, Western Qinling

The Wenquan molybdenum deposit is associated with a Triassic granite in this area. The Wenquan granite is enriched in LILE and LREE, poor in HFSE, and has significantly higher contents of alkali （K2O＋Na2O） and Sr, Ba than those of the island arc volcanic rocks. These geochemical characteristics are similar to post-collisional granites in high K calc-alkaline series. Studies of major elements, trace elements, REEs and chronology of the Wenquan pluton show that, in the geodynamic transition stage of continent-continent convergence to extension, the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle generated the basaltic magma and triggered the partial melting of the thickened lower crust which produceded the acidic magma, and the Wenquan pluton was formed by mixing of the two magmas. Molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating gave Os model ages of 212.7±2.6 Ma to 215.1±2.6 Ma with a weighted mean of 214.1±1.1 Ma, and an Re-Os isochron age of 214.4±7.1 Ma. These ages are close to K-Ar ages （223 to 226 Ma） and a SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age （223±7 Ma） for the Wenquan granite within the error range, but relatively younger. This implies that the Mo mineralization occurred in a late stage of the magmatic intrusion, and the metallogenesis took place in the transition stage from syn-collision to post-collision in the tectonic setting of the Qinling Orogenic Belt （QOB） after continental collision between the North China Block （NCB） and the South China Block （SCB）. This process is also corresponding to the geological events of metamorphism and deformation in South Qinling, closure of the Mian-Lue oceanic basin, and exhumation of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks. The large-scale continent-continent collision between NCB and SCB in the middle Triassic triggered significant crustal thickening and exhumation of subducted slab. In the late Triassic, the tectonic setting was transformed to the transition stage from collision to extension. Materials from the asthenospheric mantle would ascend into the root of the lower crust, which could induce partial melting of the lower crust and generate Mo-enriched granitic magma. The ore-forming elements enriched in the fluid derived from the condensation and fraction of the magma resulted in the Mo mineralization. The Mo deposits in the QOB are mainly formed in two episodes, namely 220± Ma and 140± Ma. The two episodes of metallogenesis were developed in the tectonic transition settings from compression to extension, but they were in the different stages of the tectonic evolution. The occurrence of the Wenquan Mo-bearing pluton indicates that the Triassic tectonic-magmatic belt of Western Qinling is another favorable region for Mo mineralization in the QOB. Therefore, it is significant to pay more attention to evaluation of the ore-forming potentiality in the Triassic granites in Western Qinling.