Conditioned duality between supercontinental 'assembly' and 'breakup' LIPs

A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs) across southern Africa,is compared to Earth's supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents,rather than during breakup.This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships,where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs;whereas,the remaining postassembly-and likely breakup-related-LIPs never share such associations.Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types,only the two younger breakup events(the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite) produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures;whereas,all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric,as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric,signatures.A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins,compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP,is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles.Thus,further accentuating radical differences between(1) breakup LIPs,preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens,and(2) assembly LIPs,typically emplaced along backarc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors.A conditioned duality is proposed,where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing(as well as local arc hydration and rifting) below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes.Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces(LLSVPs) during assembly LIP-activity,and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth's core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.     

The ~1.85 Ga carbonatite in north China and its implications on the evolution of the Columbia supercontinent

Mantle-derived carbonatites provide a unique window in the understanding of mantle characteristics and dynamics, as well as insight into the assembly and breakup of supercontinents. As a petrological indicator of extensional tectonic regimes, Archean/Proterozoic carbonatites provide important constraints on the timing of the breakup of ancient supercontinents. The majority of the carbonatites reported worldwide are Phanerozoic, in part because of the difficulty in recognizing Archean/Proterozoic carbonatites, which are characterized by strong foliation and recrystallization, and share broad petrologic similarities with metamorphosed sedimentary lithologies. Here, we report the recognition of a ~1.85 Ga carbonatite in Chaihulanzi area of Chifeng in north China based on systematic geological, petrological, geochemical, and baddeleyite U-Pb geochronological results. The carbonatite occurs as dikes or sills emplaced in Archean metasedimentary rocks and underwent intense deformation. Petrological and SEM/EDS results show that calcite and dolomite are the dominant carbonate minerals along with minor and varied amounts of Mg-rich mafic minerals, including forsterite (with Fo > 98), phlogopite, diopside, and an accessory amount of apatite, baddeleyite, spinel, monazite, and ilmenite. The relatively high silica content together with the non-arc and OIB-like trace element signatures of the carbonatite indicates a hot mantle plume as the likely magma source. The depleted Nd isotopic signatures suggest that plume upwelling might be triggered by the accumulation of recycled crust in the deep mantle. As a part of the global-scale Columbia supercontinent, the Proterozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton (NCC) provides important insights into the geodynamics governing amalgamation and fragmentation of the supercontinent. The Paleo-Mesoproterozoic boundary is the key point of tectonic transition from compressional to extensional settings in the NCC. The newly identified ~1.85 Ga carbonatite provides a direct link between the long-lasting supercontinental breakup and plume activity, which might be sourced from the “slab graveyard,” continental crustal slabs subducted into asthenosphere, beneath the supercontinent. The carbonatite provides a precise constraint of the initiation of the continental breakup at ~1.85 Ga.     

The Phanerozoic Reconstitution of Indian Shield as the Aftermath of Break-up of the Gondwanaland

The Indian crust, generally regarded as a stable continental lithosphere, experienced significant tectono-thermal reconstitution during the Phanerozoic. The earliest Phanerozoic tectonic process, which grossly changed the geological and geophysical character of the Precambrian crust, was during the Jurassic when this crustal block broke up from the Gondwana Supercontinent. There were two earlier abortive attempts to fragment the supercontinent in the Palaeozoic. Different types of geological processes were associated with these aborted events. The first was the intrusion of anorogenic alkali granites during the Early Palaeozoic (at 500±50 Ma), while the second was linked with formation of the Gondwana rift basins during Late Palaeozoic. The tectonic history of the Indian Shield subsequent to its separation from the Gondwanaland at around 165 Ma is a complex account of its northward journey, which was culminated with its collision with the northern continental blocks producing the mighty Himalayas in the process. Considerable reconstitution of the Indian Shield took place due to magma underplating when this lithospheric block passed over the four mantle plumes. While the underplating events grossly changed the geophysical character of the Indian Shield in isolated patches, the propagation of the underplated materials was assisted by the deep crustal fractures (geomorphologically expressed as lineaments), which formed during the break-up of the Gondwanaland. Several of these deep fractures evolved through the reactivation of the pre-existing (Precambrian) tectonic grains, while some others developed as new fractures in response to either the extensional stresses generated during the supercontinental break-up or the plume-lithosphere reactions. Significant geomorphological changes occurred in peninsular India subsequent to the continental collision. Most of these changes were brought about by the movements along the lineaments, which fragmented the Indian Shield into a number of rigid crustal blocks. The present day seismic behaviour of the Indian Shield is a reflection of movements of the rigid crustal blocks relative to each other. An interesting feature of the Phanerozoic geological history of the Indian Shield is the evolution of a number of sedimentary basins under different tectono-thermal regimes.     

兴蒙造山带正ε(Nd,t)值花岗岩的成因和大陆地壳生长

大陆地壳的生长速率和地壳生长的位置均是地球科学中的最基本的问题。现有的许多大陆地壳生长模式认为 ,90 %的大陆地壳生长于 18亿年以前 ,显生宙以来的地壳生长不到整个地壳的 10 % ,主要位于活动大陆边缘。近年来在兴蒙造山带发现大量具有新生地壳来源性质的花岗岩产生于 50 0～ 10 0Ma ,对上述传统看法提出了挑战。现有的Nd同位素资料表明 ,兴蒙造山带的显生宙花岗岩 ,不论形成于什么时代和什么构造背景 ,也不论属于何种成因类型 ,几乎都具有正ε(Nd ,t)值和年轻的Nd模式年龄tDM 。从西往东 ,随着时代逐渐变新ε(Nd ,t)值有逐渐降低的趋势。花岗岩的tDM同由蛇绿岩和岛弧杂岩记录的古亚洲洋扩张的时间基本一致。只有一些在新元古代微陆块上的花岗岩才显示负ε(Nd ,t)值和较老的tDM,反映了其源岩包括前寒武纪地壳同地幔来源物质的不同程度混合。兴蒙造山带的花岗岩具有地幔来源的ε(Nd ,t)值 ,说明这些花岗岩中有一部分 (例如加里东期和海西早期 )可能同板块俯冲作用有关 ,花岗岩的来源是被交代的地幔楔。而大面积的晚古生代—中生代花岗岩则可能是由 80 0～6 0 0Ma前俯冲的洋壳形成的新生大陆地壳在拉伸体制下部分熔融而成。如果情况是这样 ,显生宙就曾发生过大规模的地壳生长。板内岩浆活动 ,特别是     

华南陆块北缘大陆裂断带高温低压变质作用

高温低压变质岩的形成要求高的热梯度（>30℃/km）,所对应的构造环境一直受到地质学界的关注.本文总结了我们对华南陆块北缘新元古代Rodinia超大陆裂解（breakup）时期形成的变质花岗岩和变质玄武岩所进行的岩石学和地球化学研究成果,强调大陆裂断（rift）带是形成高温低压变质岩最可能的构造环境.高温低压变质作用主要记录在含铝硅酸盐矿物的变质花岗岩中,其中所含的红柱石和夕线石为变质成因,由白云母脱水反应产生.根据含铝硅酸盐矿物的峰期矿物组合和视剖面计算,得到变质温压条件为560~660℃/1.0~3.5 kbar.变质红柱石具有非常负的δ18O值,并且与岩浆锆石处于氧同位素不平衡状态,进一步证明它是岩浆结晶后变质作用的产物.变质榍石U-Pb定年得到高温低压变质作用的年龄为751±11 Ma,与Rodinia超大陆裂解峰期年龄一致.变质玄武岩显示岛弧型微量元素分布特征,指示其源区为受俯冲大洋地壳来源流体交代的地幔楔,因此地幔源区形成于格林威尔期Rodinia超大陆聚合过程中.由此可见,导致超大陆裂解的大陆裂断是在古俯冲带基础上发育的.通过对比形成变质峰期矿物组合所需的热流值和变质花岗岩中产热元素提供的热流值,得知大陆裂断带确实存在来自软流圈地幔的异常高热流,这使得超大陆裂解过程可以发育高温低压变质作用.      

Wilson cycle passive margins: Control of orogenic inheritance on continental breakup

Rifts and passive margins often develop along old suture zones where colliding continents merged during earlier phases of the Wilson cycle. For example, the North Atlantic formed after continental break-up along sutures formed during the Caledonian and Variscan orogenies. Even though such tectonic inheritance is generally appreciated, causative physical mechanisms that affect the localization and evolution of rifts and passive margins are not well understood.We use thermo-mechanical modeling to assess the role of orogenic structures during rifting and continental breakup. Such inherited structures include: 1) Thickened crust, 2) eclogitized oceanic crust emplaced in the mantle lithosphere, and 3) mantle wedge of hydrated peridotite (serpentinite).Our models indicate that the presence of inherited structures not only defines the location of rifting upon extension, but also imposes a control on their structural and magmatic evolution. For example, rifts developing in thin initial crust can preserve large amounts of orogenic serpentinite. This facilitates rapid continental breakup, exhumation of hydrated mantle prior to the onset of magmatism. On the contrary, rifts in thicker crust develop more focused thinning in the mantle lithosphere rather than in the crust, and continental breakup is therefore preceded by magmatism. This implies that whether passive margins become magma-poor or magma-rich, respectively, is a function of pre-rift orogenic properties.The models show that structures of orogenic eclogite and hydrated mantle are partially preserved during rifting and are emplaced either at the base of the thinned crust or within the lithospheric mantle as dipping structures. The former provides an alternative interpretation of numerous observations of ‘lower crustal bodies’ which are often regarded as igneous bodies. The latter is consistent with dipping sub-Moho reflectors often observed in passive margins.     

扬子板块西缘新元古代典型中酸性岩浆事件及其深部动力学机制:研究进展与展望

华南板块发育有巨量新元古代岩浆岩,因而是研究罗迪尼亚（Rodinia）超大陆演化期间华南板块地幔属性、地壳演化和壳幔相互作用最理想的场所。虽然在扬子西缘新元古代镁铁质和酸性岩浆作用方面已有大量的研究,但是在系统研究中酸性花岗岩类所代表的不同深部动力学意义的方面还较为薄弱。文章基于团队近期对于扬子板块西缘新元古代典型花岗岩类的研究成果,系统揭示不同深度层次的岩浆作用。最新研究支持扬子西缘新元古代受控于俯冲构造背景,除发生俯冲流体和板片熔体交代地幔作用外,最新识别的ca.850~835 Ma高Mg#闪长岩指示俯冲沉积物熔体也参与了地幔交代作用。Ca.840~835 Ma过铝质花岗岩的发现说明扬子西缘新元古代时期不仅存在新生镁铁质下地壳的熔融,也发生了俯冲背景下成熟大陆地壳物质的重熔。Ca.780 Ma Ⅰ型花岗闪长岩-花岗岩组合揭示了俯冲阶段后期板片回撤断离后软流圈地幔瞬时上涌引发的不同地壳层次的岩浆响应。从ca.800 Ma的增厚下地壳来源的埃达克质花岗岩到ca.750 Ma的酸性地壳来源的A型花岗岩的出现,表明扬子西缘新元古代时期经历了俯冲有关的地壳增厚到俯冲后期弧后扩张背景下的区域性地壳减薄。      

Crustal-scale magmatic systems during intracontinental strike-slip tectonics: U, Pb and Hf isotopic constraints from Permian magmatic rocks of the Southern Alps

The Southern Alps host volcano-sedimentary basins that formed during post-Variscan extension and strike-slip in the Early Permian. We present U–Pb ages and initial Hf isotopic compositions of magmatic zircons from silicic tuffs and pyroclastic flows within these basins, from caldera fillings and from shallow intrusions from a 250 km long E–W transect (Bozen–Lugano–Lago Maggiore) and compare these with previously published data. Basin formation and magmatism are closely related to each other and occurred during a short time span between 285 and 275 Ma. The silicic magmatism is coeval with mafic intrusions of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone and within Austroalpine units. We conclude that deep magma generation, hybridisation and upper crustal emplacement occurred contemporaneously along the entire transect of the Southern Alps. The heat advection in the lower crust by injected mantle melts was sufficient to produce crustal partial melts in lower crustal levels. The resulting granitoid melts intruded into the upper crust or rose to the surface forming large caldera complexes. The compilation of Sr and Nd isotopic data of these rocks demonstrates that the mantle mixing endmember in the melts may not be geochemically enriched but has a depleted composition, comparable to the Adriatic subcontinental mantle exhumed to form the Tethyan sea floor during Mesozoic continental breakup and seafloor spreading. Magmatism and clastic sedimentation in the intracontinental basins was interrupted at 275 Ma for some 10–15 million years, forming a Middle Permian unconformity. This unconformity may have originated during large-scale strike-slip tectonics and erosion that was associated with crustal thinning, upwelling and partial melting of mantle, and advection of melts and heat into the crust. The unconformity indeed corresponds in time to the transition from a Pangea-B plate reconstruction for the Early Permian to the Late Permian Pangea-A plate assembly (Muttoni et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 215:379–394, 2003). The magmatic activity would therefore indicate the onset of >2,000 km of strike-slip movement along a continental-scale mega-shear, as their model suggests.     

Sm／Nd Evolution of Upper Mantle and Continental Crust：Constraints on Gowth Rates of the Continental Crust

A new approach to the investigation of the Sm/Nd evolution of the upper mantle directly from the data on lherzolite xenoliths is described in this paper.It is demonstrated that the model age TCHUR of an unmetasomatic iherzolite zenolith ca represent the mean depletion age of its mantle source, thus presenting a correlation trend between f^Sm/Nd and the mean depletion age of the upper mantle from the data on xenoliths.This correlation trend can also be derived from the data on river suspended loads as well as from granitoids.Based on the correlation trend mentioned above and mean depletion ages of the upper mantle at various geological times, an evolution curve for the mean f^Sm/Nd value of the upper mantle through geological time has been established.It is suggested that the upwilling of lower mantle material into the upper mantle and the recycling of continental crust material during the Archean were more active ,thus maintaining fairly constantf^Sm/Nd and εNd values during this time period. Similarly ,an evolution curve for the mean f^Sm/Nd value of the continental crust through geological time has also been established from the data of continental crust material.In the light of both evolution curves for the upper mantle and continental crust ,a growth curve for the continental crust has been worked out ,suggesting that :(1)about 30%(in volume )of the present crust was present as the continental crust at 3.8 Ga ago ;(2)the growth rate was much lower during the Archean ;and (3)the Proterozoic is another major period of time during which the continental crust wsa built up .     

Continental Growth During Formation of Rodinia at 1.35-0.9 Ga

Nd isotopic data and U/Pb zircon ages suggest that only 7–13% of continental crust was formed between 1.35 to 0.9 Ga. Calculated crustal production rates during this time fall within the 1.1 km³/y average production rate of continental crust. This distribution of juvenile continental crust supports the existence of only two major superplume events at 2.7 and 1.9 Ga, and one or two minor events in the Phanerozoic at about 300 and 110 Ma. The absence of a 1.35-0.9 Ga juvenile crust peak may be related to supercontinent history. Results of this study confirm that although both the supercontinent and superplume cycles are episodic, each cycle can operate independently of the other.     

From continental rifting to seafloor spreading: Insight from 3D thermo-mechanical modeling

Continental rifting to seafloor spreading is a continuous process, and rifting history influences the following spreading process. However, the complete process is scarcely simulated. Using 3D thermo-mechanical coupled visco-plastic numerical models, we investigate the complete extension process and the inheritance of continental rifting in oceanic spreading. Our modeling results show that the initial continental lithosphere rheological coupling/decoupling at the Moho affects oceanic spreading in two manners: (1) coupled model (a strong lower crust mechanically couples upper crust and upper mantle lithosphere) generates large lithospheric shear zones and fast rifting, which promotes symmetric oceanic accretion (i.e. oceanic crust growth) and leads to a relatively straight oceanic ridge, while (2) decoupled model (a weak ductile lower crust mechanically decouples upper crust and upper mantle lithosphere) generates separate crustal and mantle shear zones and favors asymmetric oceanic accretion involving development of active detachment faults with 3D features. Complex ridge geometries (e.g. overlapping ridge segments and curved ridges) are generated in the decoupled models. Two types of detachment faults termed continental and oceanic detachment faults are established in the coupled and decoupled models, respectively. Continental detachment faults are generated through rotation of high angle normal faults during rifting, and terminated by magmatism during continental breakup. Oceanic detachment faults form in oceanic crust in the late rifting–early spreading stage, and dominates asymmetric oceanic accretion. The life cycle of oceanic detachment faults has been revealed in this study.     

Phanerozoic magma underplating and crustal growth beneath the North China Craton

Evidence for post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating is largely based on U–Pb dating of zircons from granulite‐facies xenoliths. However, whether the young zircons from such xenoliths are genetically related to magma underplating or to anatexis remains controversial. The lower‐crustal xenoliths carried by igneous rocks in the Chifeng and Ningcheng (North China Craton) have low SiO₂ and high MgO, indicating that parental melts of their protoliths were of unambiguous mantle origin. The xenoliths contain abundant magmatic zircons with late‐Palaeozoic ages, and have more radiogenic zircon Hf‐isotope compositions and hence younger model ages than ancient crustal magmas and the “reworking array” of the basement rocks. Our data suggest that the granulites represent episodic magmatic underplating to the lower crust of this craton in Phanerozoic time. Considering the observation that regional lowermost crust (~5 km) is mafic and characterized by Phanerozoic zircons, this work reports an example of post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating.     

大陆解体与被动陆缘的演化

火山型被动陆缘是大陆解体过程中形成的一类陆缘类型,其演化过程与活动陆缘一样复杂多变。随着近年来对大陆解体过程与被动陆缘演化的深入研究,对其沉积过程、岩浆活动以及变质作用研究都有了很大的进展。陆壳减薄解体的过程有许多不同的模式,不对称的简单剪切模式可能是火山型被动陆缘的成因,其机制是软流圈隆起的最大位置从剖面上看与地壳减薄最大位置不在一条垂线上,造成软流圈上升的岩浆在解体的大陆一侧形成火山型被动陆缘。被动陆缘的沉积建造由两套沉积物组成,一套是大陆解体的裂谷阶段所形成的陆相沉积物和双模式火山岩组合,另一套是稳定陆缘的复理石组合;岩浆作用中基性岩类反应了物质直接源于上地幔的主要特点,并有部分受到地壳混染的特征;变质作用中高温低压环境主要发生在裂谷作用阶段,其特点反映了大陆解体过程中随着时间的增温和减压过程,而拆离伸展阶段则被脆性变形所代替。     

Continental recycling and true continental growth

Continental crust is very important for evolution of life because most bioessential elements are supplied from continent to ocean. In addition, the distribution of continent affects climate because continents have much higher albedo than ocean, equivalent to cloud. Conventional views suggest that continental crust is gradually growing through the geologic time and that most continental crust was formed in the Phanerozoic and late Proterozoic. However, the thermal evolution of the Earth implies that much amounts of continental crust should be formed in the early Earth. This is “Continental crust paradox”.Continental crust comprises granitoid, accretionary complex, and sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The latter three components originate from erosion of continental crust because the accretionary and metamorphic complexes mainly consist of clastic materials. Granitoid has two components: a juvenile component through slab-melting and a recycling component by remelting of continental materials. Namely, only the juvenile component contributes to net continental growth. The remains originate from recycling of continental crust. Continental recycling has three components: intracrustal recycling, crustal reworking, and crust–mantle recycling, respectively. The estimate of continental growth is highly varied. Thermal history implied the rapid growth in the early Earth, whereas the present distribution of continental crust suggests the slow growth. The former regards continental recycling as important whereas the latter regarded as insignificant, suggesting that the variation of estimate for the continental growth is due to involvement of continental recycling.We estimated erosion rate of continental crust and calculated secular changes of continental formation and destruction to fit four conditions: present distribution of continental crust (no continental recycling), geochronology of zircons (intracontinental recycling), Hf isotope ratios of zircons (crustal reworking) and secular change of mantle temperature. The calculation suggests some important insights. (1) The distribution of continental crust around at 2.7 Ga is equivalent to the modern amounts. (2) Especially, the distribution of continental crust from 2.7 to 1.6 Ga was much larger than at present, and the sizes of the total continental crust around 2.4, 1.7, and 0.8 Ga became maximum. The distribution of continental crust has been decreasing since then. More amounts of continental crust were formed at higher mantle temperatures at 2.7, 1.9, and 0.9 Ga, and more amounts were destructed after then. As a result, the mantle overturns led to both the abrupt continental formation and destruction, and extinguished older continental crust. The timing of large distribution of continental crust apparently corresponds to the timing of icehouse periods in Precambrian.     

On two types of supercontinental cyclicity

Analysis of tectonic events during the last 3 Ga of the Earth’s evolution, when 400 Ma global supercontinent cyclicities dominated, identified two types of supercontinental cycles. These types differ by the degree of breakup of a supercontinent that starts a cycle. Supercontinental cycles of the first type are characterized by a scattered and relatively even global distribution of the supercontinent split into numerous continents and oceans. Supercontinental cycles of the second type are characterized by uneven “incomplete” supercontinental breakups, which are localized alternately in either the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere, whereas a significant part remains after the breakup. These supercontinental cycle types followed each other composing pairs of megacycles that were 800 Ma long until ca. 700 Ma. Every megacycle consisted of two supercontinental cycles of different types; however, after the breakup of Rodinia, virtually only the second type of supercontinental cycle has been observed. The different degrees of the breakup of supercontinents, which are reflected in the two supercontinental-cycle types, may be caused by uneven heating of the mantle produced by supercontinents owing to the thermal blanket effect.     

华北克拉通的变质沉积岩及其克拉通的构造划分

早前寒武纪花岗质岩年龄统计结果显示,华北克拉通经历了3.8,3.3,2.9,2.5和1.8~1.9 Ga等多个旋回才从陆核成长为陆台,与之对应沉积岩也由少变多,大约以500 Ma为一周期。由于沉积作用出现在成陆间歇期,所以二者在时间上相间互补,其状如同显生宙超大陆裂解和拼合的周期交替。这一现象不但是地壳演化的普遍规律,而且也可反过来用沉积岩反映陆壳的演化。然而,早前寒武纪尤其是太古宙的沉积岩毕竟太少,无法用来恢复当时古陆块的面貌,但古元古代的特别是陆缘沉积的孔兹岩,尽管已进入下地壳并成为克拉通基底的组成,则以保存甚多、分布延续,使其重塑克拉通的拼合成为可能。已有的华北克拉通的构造划分方案多种多样,但以陆缘沉积的古元古代孔兹岩作为地块的边界,理当最能反映当时古陆块的面貌。因此,以孔兹岩为主要依据,并综合考虑岩石组合、构造环境、变质p-T轨迹、同位素年龄、以及不变质的沉积盖层等地质特征,将华北克拉通主体从西往东划分为：鄂尔多斯地块 / 晋蒙弧形拼合带 / 冀鲁豫地块 /（郯庐断裂）/ 胶辽地块群等构造单元,所得到的不同于以往的构造轮廓,显示华北陆台并非一统的太古宙克拉通,而是吕梁运动拼合成的古元古代大陆。     

Isotope provinces, mechanisms of generation and sources of the continental crust in the Central Asian mobile belt: geological and isotopic evidence

The available geological, geochronological and isotopic data on the felsic magmatic and related rocks from South Siberia, Transbaikalia and Mongolia are summarized to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and processes of the Phanerozoic crustal growth in the Central Asian mobile belt (CAMB). The following isotope provinces have been recognised: ‘Precambrian’ (T_DM=3.3–2.9 and 2.5–0.9 Ga) at the microcontinental blocks, ‘Caledonian’ (T_DM=1.1–0.55 Ga), ‘Hercynian’ (T_DM=0.8–0.5 Ma) and ‘Indosinian’ (T_DM=0.3 Ga) that coincide with coeval tectonic zones and formed at 570–475, 420–320 and 310–220 Ma. Continental crust of the microcontinents is underlain by, or intermixed with, ‘juvenile’ crust as evidenced by its isotopic heterogeneity. The continental crust of the Caledonian, Hercynian and Indosinian provinces is isotopically homogeneous and was produced from respective juvenile sources with addition of old crustal material in the island arcs or active continental margin environments. The crustal growth in the CAMB had episodic character and important crust-forming events took place in the Phanerozoic. Formation of the CAMB was connected with break up of the Rodinia supercontinent in consequence of creation of the South-Pacific hot superplume. Intraplate magmatism preceding and accompanying permanently other magmatic activity in the CAMB was caused by influence of the long-term South-Pacific plume or the Asian plume damping since the Devonian.     

俯冲带岩浆作用与大陆地壳生长

大陆地壳的起源、生长和改造一直都是国际地学界广泛关注的热点问题,目前仍存在一定的争议,特别体现在陆壳增生的方式和速率上.为了探讨大陆地壳的生长方式,简要综述了俯冲带及其岩浆作用和大陆地壳生长的研究成果.俯冲带可划分为洋洋俯冲带、洋陆俯冲带和陆陆俯冲带,其岩浆作用以产出弧岩浆岩为主要特征,被广泛接受为大陆地壳生长的主要方式.目前主要有两种陆壳生长的假说:玄武岩模式和安山岩模式.玄武岩模式主要通过拆沉和底垫过程来实现新生地壳向大陆地壳的演化;安山岩模式则强调陆壳直接形成于产出安山质岩浆的俯冲带岩浆弧环境.俯冲带和碰撞带等板块汇聚边界是显生宙大陆地壳生长和改造的主要位置,俯冲带岩浆作用对陆壳生长发挥着重要的作用.      

华北克拉通对前寒武纪超大陆旋回的基本制约

全球大陆克拉通在前寒武纪至少记录了3次超大陆聚合－裂解的构造旋回。不同大陆前寒武纪地质的研究证明，板块的构造模式可以前推至新太古代。超大陆的聚合表现为大规模造山带的穿时性发育，而裂解则表现为大陆裂谷系、非造山花岗岩及巨型基性岩浆岩省的同期快速发育。广泛的区域地质研究揭示华北克拉通前寒武纪地质构造演化具有明显的阶段性差异特征，克拉通主体形成于新太古代陆壳增生与碰撞造山过程。华北克拉通在太古宙末期首次经历强烈的裂解作用，在古元古代晚期涉及强烈的陆缘再造作用。在古元古代末期发生第二次大规模的裂解活动，随后以中元古代末期的造山带拼合为Rodinia超大陆的组成部分。详细的区域构造对比证明，华北克拉通长期以来与波罗的地质、东南极克拉通、印度南部克拉通、巴西克拉通等具有构造亲缘关系。     

Secular change in lifetime of granitic crust and the continental growth: A new view from detrital zircon ages of sandstones

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons were newly dated for 4 Archean sandstones from the Pilbara craton in Australia, Wyoming craton in North America, and Kaapvaal craton in Africa. By using the present results with previously published data, we compiled the age spectra of detrital zircons for 2.9, 2.6, 2.3,1.0, and0.6 Ga sandstones and modern river sands in order to document the secular change in age structure of continental crusts through time. The results demonstrated the following episodes in the history of continental crust:(1) low growth rate of the continents due to the short cycle in production/destruction of granitic crust during the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic(2.9-23 Ga),(2) net increase in volume of the continents during Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic(2.3-1.0 Ga), and(3) net decrease in volume of the continents during the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic(after 1.0 Ga). In the Archean and Paleoproterozoic, the embryonic continents were smaller than the modern continents, probably owing to the relatively rapid production and destruction of continental crust. This is indeed reflected in the heterogeneous crustal age structure of modern continents that usually have relatively small amount of Archean crusts with respect to the post-Archean ones. During the Mesoproterozoic, plural continents amalgamated into larger ones comparable to modern continental blocks in size. Relatively older crusts were preserved in continental interiors, whereas younger crusts were accreted along continental peripheries.In addition to continental arc magmatism, the direct accretion of intra-oceanic island arc around continental peripheries also became important for net continental growth. Since 1.0 Ga, total volume of continents has decreased, and this appears consistent with on-going phenomena along modern active arc-trench system with dominant tectonic erosion and/or arc subduction. Subduction of a huge amount of granitic crusts into the mantle through time is suggested, and this requires re-consideration of the mantle composition and heterogeneity.