Dipole sources of the main geomagnetic field

The parameters of 15 arbitrary dipoles that, in aggregate, represent the main geomagnetic field (MGF) are estimated to obtain information on the distribution of MGF sources within the Earth in the form of dipoles with an arbitrary position and value of the magnetic moment vector. For an adequate estimation of the results, the method of obtaining the data is described, including: the eccentric dipole model and the derivation of the basic formulas for the magnetic field components of an arbitrary dipole; the method of estimating the parameters of these dipoles, including the computational scheme and optimization method; necessary constraints on the dipoles parameters and a justification of the choice of the initial values in the optimization fitting of the parameters. The results are presented as a map of the location of the centers of the dipoles and their northern axial poles for the epochs 1955 and 2005 and plots of changes in all six parameters of 15 dipoles for 50 years. Most of the dipole centers are located in the lower mantle. The results suggest the existence of current systems in the lower mantle that produce dipole magnetic fields. These currents are provided by the high conductivity of wustite, an important component of the mantle, which, at a depth of 1000-2200 km, transforms to the low-spin state of iron with increased density and electrical conductivity.     

Kelvin's article on the magnetic centre and Schmidt's one on the optimal eccentric dipole,revisited

Thomson's formulas (1872) that give the position of the magnetic centre of a magnet and the first results on the global geomagnetic field were sufficient to show that the source of this field had a disymmetry in the equatorial plane. To confirm this with Schmidt's (1934) explicit formulas giving the position of the optimal eccentric dipole, numerical calculus was necessary. To obtain their relatively simple formulas, Thomson and Schmidt used lengthy algebra that was avoidable.     

Further absolute geomagnetic paleointensities from Baja California: evaluation of Pliocene and Early/Middle Pleistocene data

From a large collection (more than 300 oriented cores) of Baja California Mio-Pliocene volcanic units, sampled for magnetostratigraphy and tectonics, 46 samples were selected for Thellier paleointensity experiments because of their low viscosity index, stable remanent magnetization and close to reversible continuous thermomagnetic curves. 19 samples, coming from 4 individual basaltic lava flows, yielded reliable paleointensity estimates with the flow-mean virtual dipole moments (VDM) ranging from 3.6 to 6.2 ×10²² A m². Our results, although not numerous, are of high technical quality and comparable to other paleointensity data recently obtained on younger lava flows. The NRM fractions used for paleointensity determination range from 38 to 79% and the quality factors vary between 4.8 and 16.7, being normally greater than 5. The combination of Baja California data with the available comparable quality Plio-Plesitocene paleointensity results yields a mean VDM of 6.3 ×10²² A m², which is almost 80% of the present geomagnetic axial dipole. Reliable paleointensity results for the last 5 Ma are still scarce and of dissimilar quality, which makes it hard to draw any firm conclusions regarding the Pliocene and Early/Middle Pleistocene evolution of the geomagnetic field. To cite this article: J. Morales et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Absolute paleointensity of the Earth's magnetic field during Jurassic: case study of La Negra Formation (northern Chile)

We carried out a detailed rock-magnetic and paleointensity study of the ～187-Ma volcanic succession from northern Chile. A total of 32 consecutive lava flows (about 280 oriented standard paleomagnetic cores) were collected at the Tocopilla locality. Only 26 samples with apparently preserved primary magnetic mineralogy and without secondary magnetization components were pre-selected for Thellier paleointensity determination. Eleven samples coming from four lava flows yielded reliable paleointensity estimates. The flow-mean virtual dipole moments range from 3.7±0.9 to $\text{7.1±0.5}\text{(10}{}^{22}$ A m²). This corresponds to a mean value of (5.0±1.8)×10²² A m², which is in reasonably good agreement with other comparable quality paleointensity determinations from the Middle Jurassic. Given the large dispersion and the very poor distribution of reliable absolute intensity data, it is hard to draw any firm conclusions regarding the time evolution of the geomagnetic field. To cite this article: J. Morales et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

The nature of geomagnetic anomalies in metamorphosed chromite-bearing dunites: a case study of the southern Klyuchevskoy complex,Central Urals

Chromite mineralization in metamorphosed dunites from the southern Klyuchevskoy dunite-harzburgite ultramafic complex (Central Urals) has been investigated using geomagnetic surveys along with laboratory studies of ore-forming and accessory spinels of the same genetic type. Magnetization in the study area is carried mainly by accessory Fe-Cr-spinel of a variable Fe^2 +(Cr_2 -xFe_x^3 +)O₄ composition. Metamorphism caused changes in element contents and in both crystal and magnetic structure of the primary nonmagnetic accessory spinel, unlike the almost fresh ore-forming spinel. Thus, ore bodies stand against their host rocks, which is a prerequisite for the use of geomagnetic surveys for exploration of podiform chromite deposits in dunite-harzburgite complexes. Ground magnetic surveys at a test site composed of faulted rocks bearing disseminated chromite mineralization in metamorphosed dunites resolved a chromite ore zone and a fault block boundary showing up as geomagnetic anomalies. Laboratory studies using high technologies (thermomagnetic analysis at 4 to 1000 K, as well as magnetic resonance and magnetic force spectroscopy) revealed, for the first time, magnetic clusters (superparamagnetic phases) in primary nonmagnetic accessory spinel, which are responsible for the magnetic properties of the host rocks. Microscale variations in Cr-spinel correlate with the geomagnetic anomalies recorded by field surveys at the test site._{© 2015, V.S. Sobolev IGM, Siberian Branch of the RAS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}     

New paleomagnetic and paleointensity data from Pliocene lava flows from the Lesser Caucasus

A paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and paleointensity study has been carried out on 14 basaltic lava flows from two Pliocene (K–Ar age between 3.09 ± 0.10 Ma and 4.00 ± 0.15 Ma) sequences (Apnia and Korxi) from the eastern Djhavakheti Highland in southern Georgia (Caucasus).Measurement of strong-field magnetisation versus temperature curves yielded three types of thermomagnetic curves: (i) Reversible curves with magnetite as only remanence carrier (type H); (ii) irreversible curves with magnetite as only carrier of remanence (type H⁻) and (iii) irreversible curves showing a low Curie-temperature phase and magnetite (type L). Analysis of hysteresis curves showed that samples were characterised by a mixture of single-domain and multi-domain grains.Paleomagnetic experiments allowed determining characteristic components for all flows and normal polarities (6 flows), reversed polarities (7 flows) and intermediate polarities (1 flow) were observed.. Paleomagnetic poles were calculated using only those sites unequivocally showing normal or reversed polarities. The paleomagnetic pole obtained from flows of both combined sequences (latitude λ = 77.9°N, longitude ϕ = 152.1°E, n = 13, A₉₅ = 11.8°, k = 13.4) showed a good agreement with the 5 Ma window of the European synthetic apparent polar wander path of Besse and Courtillot (2002). The paleomagnetic direction of the combined Apnia-Korxi flows agrees well with the expected one, showing no significant tectonic rotation. The latter cannot be however, completely excluded in the Korxi section. In that section, analysis of the angular dispersion of virtual geomagnetic poles yields a much higher value than expected.Paleointensity experiments using the Coe method were performed on 31 specimens from 10 flows. After application of specific selection criteria, 19 samples from 8 flows were observed to provide successful determinations, with mean flow values showing a wide scatter. If only flows with more than one successful paleointensity determination are taken into account, virtual dipole moments (VDMs) vary between 3.5 × 10²² A m² and 8.3 × 10²² A m². In intermediate polarity site AP2 no weak transitional paleostrength values were observed.     

1600-2000年地球主磁场的全球变化

根据汤普森（Thompson）地磁场模型和第 8代IGRF模型，计算了1600-2000年期间的偶极子磁场、非偶极子磁场、西向漂移和地磁功率谱等反映主磁场变化的主要参数，分析了各个参数的长期变化特征。主要结果是：400年来地磁场的偶极子磁矩持续减小，1800年以来磁心的位置快速离开地心向太平洋方向移动了291km；西向漂移有大约30年左右的周期；非偶极子磁场异常中，南大西洋正磁异常、非洲负磁异常和大洋洲负磁异常是1600年以来一直存在的 3个大型磁异常，东亚正磁异常和北美正磁异常是1700年后逐渐形成的，17世纪北太平洋地区存在强的正磁异常。     

Tropical northeast Africa in the middle–late Eocene: Paleomagnetism of the marine-mammals sites and basalts in the Fayum province,Egypt

The mid-late Eocene “Valley of Whales” in the Fayum province of Egypt contains hundreds of marine-mammals’ skeletons. Given its paleontological importance, we carried out a paleomagnetic study of the fossil-bearing formations. A sequence of basalts directly overlying the upper Eocene rocks in three distant clusters within a 25 km-long NW–SE graben in the southwestern part of the area was also studied. Thermal demagnetization of three-axis IRM was used to identify and eliminate sites dominated by hematite and/or goethite as potential remanence carriers. Progressive thermal demagnetization of the NRM isolated a characteristic NNE–SSW dual-polarity direction with a shallow inclination that passes both tilt and reversal tests. The mean tilt-corrected direction of the sedimentary formations is D/I = 16°/30° (k = 50, α₉₅ = 3°) yielding a paleomagnetic pole at 70°N/159°E. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) indicated that the observed inclinations were free from inclination shallowing, as did the nearly identical characteristic remanence of the overlying basalt flows (with a tilt-corrected reversed-polarity direction of D/I = 198°/−28° (k = 38, α₉₅ = 7°) and a pole at 68°N/158°E). The new paleopoles place the Fayum province at a lower paleolatitude (15–17°N) than today (29.5°N), and point to the possible prevalence of tropical climate in northeast Africa during mid-late Eocene times. This tropical position is nearly identical to the paleolatitudes extrapolated from the mean of 36 coeval poles rotated from the other major cratons and from Africa itself. The declinations show a minor easterly deviation from those predicted by extrapolation from other continents. This is interpreted as due to a small clockwise rotation internal to NE Africa, possibly related to Red Sea/Gulf of Suez rifting after the late Eocene. The alternative explanation that the geomagnetic field had a non-zonal non-dipole field contribution is not favored.     

Quasi-periodic geomagnetic secular variation (from 1985–2005 world observatory data)

We have discovered a 2–4 year periodicity in geomagnetic secular variation (SV) from data of 110 world magnetic observatories. The periodicity in the horizontal component (H) is most prominent and appears to be globally uniform in different regions, on all continents, and in both hemispheres. The quasi-periodic short-wavelength variations show up in the vertical component (Z) as well but locally superpose on long-wavelength regional anomalies. We presume that the short-period fluctuations may be produced by instability of the eccentric dipole (ED) axis proceeding from the analysis of the SV field and optimization modeling of the dipole field with varied ED parameters.     

Combination of double couple and non-double couple events during the Van,Turkey, 2011 earthquake sequence

A combination of double couple (DC) and non-double couple (non-DC) earthquakes hit Eastern Turkey, in the vicinity of Lake Van, in October–November 2011. Teleseismic waveform inversion was used to find the best fitting double couple and deviatoric moment tensors on four large and medium sized events of this sequence. The aftershocks of the Mw = 7.1, 2011/10/23:10:41 earthquake built a NE–SW aftershock zone where the Mw = 5.7, 2011/10/25 aftershock was located. The Mw = 6.0, 2011/10/23:20:45 event was located around the terminal section of the Mw = 7.1 aftershock zone which might be triggered by this event (aftershocks of this event propagated from W to E to build a W–E aftershock zone where the Mw = 5.7, 2011/11/09 event was located). For these events the calculated best fitting grid search parameters are not very different from GCMT results, but DC components, after deviatoric moment tensor inversion, represent much more difference with GCMT and grid search. The important feature of deviatoric moment tensor inversion is the existence of a notable compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) component on the Mw = 5.7, 2011/10/25:14:55 and Mw = 5.7, 2011/11/09:19:23 aftershocks. According to the regional seismotectonics, these CLVD components could be related to crustal rheology and volcanic activities. Based on the results, the existence of a cylindrical aftershock distribution could be taken as an indication of induced seismic activity on complex-ring structures resulted from magma or water–magma injection. However, the existence of Karst like structures suggests that the CLVD components may be under the influence of high-pressure water or gas injection rather than magma.     

New Precambrian palaeomagnetic constraints on the position of the North China Block in Rodinia

We report new palaeomagnetic results from a ca. 1300 to 800 Ma continental shelf succession on the southern margin of the North China Block. A total of 386 oriented core samples were subjected to stepwise demagnetisation. Two overprint components (‘A’ and ‘B’) were identified, with ‘A’ being a Recent geomagnetic field component and ‘B’ a likely Mesozoic remagnetisation related to collision of the North and South China Blocks. An interpreted primary remanence was isolated from six rock units. The most reliable results are as follow, in the order of stratigraphic ascendance. (1) Purple mudstone, muddy sandstone and andesite of the lower Yunmenshan Formation (Rb–Sr age ca. 1270 Ma) yields a high-temperature component that passes both reversal and fold tests and gives a palaeopole at (60.6°S, 87.0°E, A₉₅ = 3.7°). (2) Mudstone in the overlying Baicaoping Formation yields a high-temperature component with a palaeopole at (43.0°S, 143.8°E, A₉₅ = 11.1°). (3) Purple sandstone of the earliest Neoproterozoic Cuizhuang and Sanjiaotang Formations exhibits a high-temperature component that provides a palaeopole at (41.0°S, 44.8°E, A₉₅ = 11.3°). Based on both our new results and a critical selection of available palaeomagnetic data, we construct a preliminary apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the North China Block between 1300 and 510 Ma. Regardless of alternative polarity options applicable to these poles, North China was located within equatorial latitudes for much of this interval. Comparing the North China poles with coeval poles from Laurentia suggests that the two continents were situated on the same plate between 1200 and 700 Ma. North China was thus likely part of the supercontinent Rodinia. Separation of North China and Laurentia occurred between 650 and 615 Ma.     

Late Paleozoic geomagnetic-field estimates from studies of Permian lavas in northeastern Kazakhstan

Paleomagnetic studies of thick lava series are one of the most reliable sources of data on the ancient geomagnetic field. However, most of such data are younger than 5 Ma, with much fewer results on the rest of the Cenozoic and the Mesozoic. Two wholesome results are available for the Precambrian but none for the Paleozoic. Late Permian basalts and rhyolites from northeastern Kazakhstan were studied to obtain first estimates of the geomagnetic-field characteristics during that period. We present preliminary results on part of the collection (66 flows (sites)) from a section ~ 1600 m thick. The characteristic component of reversed polarity was isolated by stepwise demagnetization at all the sites with a slight error. This component is of prefolding age and, most likely, primary. No abnormal magnetization direction is observed in the data, and the average directions of the characteristic component at the sites are tightly clustered (D = 243.3°; I = − 57.0°; k = 79.1; α₉₅ = 2.0°; 65 sites). As compared with the published data on Cenozoic and Mesozoic thick lava series, secular variation was much weaker in the Late Permian than in the Mesozoic or Cenozoic, and the geomagnetic field was less disturbed. Secular-variation models based on the Late Cenozoic data show even more dramatic differences.     

The 10 June 2012 Fethiye Mw 6.0 aftershock sequence and its relation to the 24–25 April 1957 Ms 6.9–7.1 earthquakes in SW Anatolia,Turkey

The 10 June 2012 M_w 6.0 aftershock sequence in southwestern Anatolia is examined. Centroid moment tensors for 23 earthquakes with moment magnitudes (M_w) between 3.7 and 6.0 are determined by applying a waveform inversion method. The mainshock is a shallow focus strike-slip with reverse component event at a depth of 30 km. The seismic moment (M_o) of the mainshock is estimated as 1.28 × 10¹⁸ Nm and rupture duration of the Fethiye mainshock is 38 s. The focal mechanisms of the aftershocks are mainly strike-slip faulting with a reverse component. The geometry of the focal mechanisms reveals a strike-slip faulting regime with NE–SW trending direction of T-axis in the entire activated region. A stress tensor inversion of focal mechanism data is performed to obtain a more accurate picture of the Fethiye earthquake stress field. The stress tensor inversion results indicate a predominant strike-slip stress regime with a NW–SE oriented maximum horizontal compressive stress (S_H). According to variance of the stress tensor inversion, to first order, the Fethiye earthquake area is characterized by a homogeneous interplate stress field. The Coulomb stress change associated with the mainshock and the largest aftershock are also investigated to evaluate any significant enhancement of stresses along the Gulf of Fethiye and surrounding region. Positive lobes with stress more than 0.4 bars are obtained, indicating that these values are large enough to increase the Coulomb stress failure towards NNW–SSE and E–W directions.     

Paleomagnetism of the late Cryogenian Nantuo Formation and paleogeographic implications for the South China Block

A new paleomagnetic pole position is obtained from the well-dated (636.3 ± 4.9 Ma) Nantuo Formation in the Guzhang section, western Hunan Province, and the correlative Long’e section in eastern Guizhou Province, South China. Remagnetization of the recent geomagnetic field was identified and removed for both sections. The hard dual-polarity, interpreted as primary, component of the Nantuo Formation, directs east–westward with medium inclinations, yielding an average pole of 9.3°N, 165°E, A₉₅ = 4.3° that, for the first time, passed a strata-bound reversals test. The new data are consistent with previously published paleomagnetic data of the Nantuo Formation from Malong county, central Yunnan Province, which passed a positive syn-sedimentary fold test. Together, these sites represent shallow- to deep-water sections across a shelf-to-basin transect centered at ∼33° paleolatitude. The sedimentary basin may have faced an expansive ocean toward the paleo-East. In the ∼750 Ma and ∼635 Ma global reconstructions, the South China Block (SCB) was best fitted in the northern hemisphere close to northwestern Australia. However, a direct SCB-northwestern Australia connection, inferred to have existed during the Early Cambrian–Early Devonian, had not formed by the time of ∼635 Ma.     

Paleomagnetism of the Jurassic Transantarctic Mountains revisited — Evidence for large dispersion of apparent polar wander within less than 3 Myr

The Transantarctic mountains predominantly consist of Jurassic continental flood basalts (Kirkpatrick) and sills (Ferrar) emplaced during the earliest phase of the break-up of Pangea. Published ages, based on a variety of geochronological methods all agree rather well and cluster around 180 Ma suggesting emplacement during a rather short time interval of not more than 3 Myr. Paleomagnetic studies, mostly carried out between the 60s and 90s of the last century, however, yield two well defined but significantly different groups of paleomagnetic pole positions plotting either in intermediate latitudes (A) or at latitudes exceeding 60°S (B). Pole positions belonging to group A are generally interpreted to be of primary origin whereas the significance of group B poles remains unclear. Here we report new data from the Kirkpatrick basalts of Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica, where 157 oriented paleomagnetic samples were taken, covering about 800 m of stratigraphy and 23 volcanic flows in Gair Mesa (73.4666°S; 162.8666°E). After removal of a steep magnetic overprint with rather low coercivities straight linear segments of exclusively normal polarity trending toward the origin of projection are identified in 151 samples from 22 sites. Maximum unblocking temperatures do not exceed 580 °C and maximum coercivities not 60 mT. The resulting mean virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) for the Gair Mesa plots at 66.4°S; 227.7°E (α₉₅ of 6.2°, k = 25.7) comparable to group B poles. Reflecting light microscopy reveals that the magnetic inventory of all samples analyzed is dominated by magnetite showing shrinking cracks and broad ilmenite lamellae, the latter being diagnostic for high temperature oxidation. Analysis of the distribution of the 22 pole positions obtained here shows that secular variation has successfully been averaged (S_b = 15.9°) suggesting that the rocks studied here have recorded the time averaged geomagnetic field during early mid Jurassic times. Based on these new results we postulate that both clusters A and B of pole positions reflect primary magnetizations and that the Kirkpatrick basalts of Gair Mesa have been emplaced in a rather short normal polarity time interval of 3 Myr. If our reasoning is correct, the apparent polar wander path for the latest early Jurassic might be more complex than previously thought. Whether this complexity is evidence for massif True Polar Wander remains speculative.     

Controls on biochemical oxygen demand in the upper Klamath River,Oregon

A series of 30-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) experiments were conducted on water column samples from a reach of the upper Klamath River that experiences hypoxia and anoxia in summer. Samples were incubated with added nitrification inhibitor to measure carbonaceous BOD (CBOD), untreated to measure total BOD, which included demand from nitrogenous BOD (NBOD), and coarse-filtered to examine the effect of removing large particulate matter. All BOD data were fit well with a two-group model, so named because it considered contributions from both labile and refractory pools of carbon: BOD_t = a₁(1 ? e^? a₀t) + a₂t. Site-average labile first-order decay rates a₀ ranged from 0.15 to 0.22/day for CBOD and 0.11 to 0.29/day for BOD. Site-average values of refractory zero-order decay rates a₂ ranged from 0.13 to 0.25 mg/L/day for CBOD and 0.01 to 0.45 mg/L/day for BOD; the zero-order CBOD decay rate increased from early- to mid-summer. Values of ultimate CBOD for the labile component a₁ ranged from 5.5 to 28.8 mg/L for CBOD, and 7.6 to 30.8 mg/L for BOD. Two upstream sites had higher CBOD compared to those downstream. Maximum measured total BOD₅ and BOD₃₀ during the study were 26.5 and 55.4 mg/L; minimums were 4.2 and 13.6 mg/L. For most samples, the oxygen demand from the three components considered here were: labile CBOD > NBOD > refractory CBOD, though the relative importance of refractory CBOD to oxygen demand increased over time. Coarse-filtering reduced CBOD for samples with high particulate carbon and high biovolumes of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. There was a strong positive correlation between BOD, CBOD, and the labile component of CBOD to particulate C and N, with weaker positive correlation to field pH, field dissolved oxygen, and total N. The refractory component of CBOD was not correlated to particulate matter, instead showing weak but statistically significant correlation to dissolved organic carbon, UV absorbance at 254 nm, and total N. Particulate organic matter, especially the alga A.flos-aquae, is an important component of oxygen demand in this reach of the Klamath River, though refractory dissolved organic matter would continue to exert an oxygen demand over longer time periods and as water travels downstream.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of alkaline ultramafic dykes from southwest Guizhou Province,SW China

Geochronological, geochemical and whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic analyses have been completed on a suite of alkaline ultramafic dykes from southwest (SW) Guizhou Province, China with the aim of characterising their petrogenesis. The Baiceng ultramafic dykes have a LA-ICP-MS zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 88.1 ± 1.1 Ma (n = 8), whereas two phlogopites studied by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating methods give emplacement ages of 85.25 ± 0.57 Ma and 87.51 ± 0.45 Ma for ultramafic dykes from Yinhe and Lurong, respectively. In terms of composition, these Late Mesozoic ultramafic dykes belong to the alkaline magma series due to their high K₂O (3.31–5.04 wt.%) contents. The dykes are characterised by enrichment of light rare earth element (LREE) and large-ion lithosphile elements (LILEs) (Rb and Ba), negative anomalies in high field strength elements (HFSEs), such as, Nb, Ta and Ti relative to primitive mantle, low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7060–0.7063) and positive ε_Nd(t) values (0.3–0.4). Such features suggest derivation from low degree (< 1%) partial melting of depleted asthenospheric mantle (garnet-lherzolite), and contamination to various degrees (～ 10%) by interaction with upper crustal materials.     

Combined paleomagnetic and geochronological study on Cretaceous strata of the Qiangtang terrane,central Tibet

A combined paleomagnetic and geochronological investigation has been performed on Cretaceous rocks in southern Qiangtang terrane (32.5°N, 84.3°E), near Gerze, central Tibetan Plateau. A total of 14 sites of volcanic rocks and 22 sites of red beds have been sampled. Our new U–Pb geochronologic study of zircons dates the volcanic rocks at 103.8 ± 0.46 Ma (Early Cretaceous) while the red beds belong to the Late Cretaceous. Rock magnetic experiments suggest that magnetite and hematite are the main magnetic carriers. After removing a low temperature component of viscous magnetic remanence, stable characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) was isolated successfully from all the sites by stepwise thermal demagnetization. The tilt-corrected mean direction from the 14 lava sites is D = 348.0°, I = 47.3°, k = 51.0, α₉₅ = 5.6°, corresponding to a paleopole at 79.3°N, 339.8°E, A₉₅ = 5.7° and yielding a paleolatitude of 29.3° ± 5.7°N for the study area. The ChRM directions isolated from the volcanic rocks pass a fold test at 95% confidence, suggesting a primary origin. The volcanic data appear to have effectively averaged out secular variation as indicated by both geological evidence and results from analyzing the virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) scatter. The mean inclination from the Late Cretaceous red beds, however, is 13.1° shallower than that of the ~ 100 Ma volcanic rocks. After performing an elongation/inclination analysis on 174 samples of the red beds, a mean inclination of 47.9° with 95% confidence limits between 41.9° and 54.3° is obtained, which is consistent with the mean inclination of the volcanic rocks. The site-mean direction of the Late Cretaceous red beds after tilt-correction and inclination shallowing correction is D = 312.6°, I = 47.7°, k = 109.7, α₉₅ = 3.0°, N = 22 sites, corresponding to a paleopole at 49.2°N, 1.9°E, A₉₅ = 3.2° (yielding a paleolatitude of 28.7° ± 3.2°N for the study area). The ChRM of the red beds also passes a fold test at 99% confidence, indicating a primary origin. Comparing the paleolatitude of the Qiangtang terrane with the stable Asia, there is no significant difference between our sampling location in the southern Qiangtang terrane and the stable Asia during ~ 100 Ma and Late Cretaceous. Our results together with the high quality data previously published suggest that an ~ 550 km N–S convergence between the Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes happened after ~ 100 Ma. Comparison of the mean directions with expected directions from the stable Asia indicates that the Gerze area had experienced a significant counterclockwise rotation after ~ 100 Ma, which is most likely caused by the India–Asia collision.     

Geochronological and geochemical constrains on petrogenesis of the Huangyangshan A-type granite from the East Junggar,Xinjiang, NW China

The Huangyangshan pluton occurs in the Kalamaili region which is situated in the central part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, East Junggar, Xinjiang (NW China). The granitoid rocks are composed of medium-grained biotite (richterite, arfvedsonite) alkali-feldspar granite, fine grained arfvedsonite alkali-feldspar granite and microgranular enclaves. The granites have a pronounced A-type affinity: they are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous and calc-alkaline to alkaline in composition with high concentrations of Na₂O + K₂O varying from 8.4 to 9.2 wt.%, high FeOt/MgO and 10,000 Ga/Al ratios, low abundances of CaO, MgO and TiO₂, enrichment in some LILEs (such as Rb and Th) and HFSEs (such as Zr, Y and REEs except Eu), depletion in Sr and Ba. Moreover, they display characteristic tetrad REE patterns and non-CHARAC trace element behavior, which is well demonstrated in highly differentiated rocks with strong hydrothermal interaction. The U–Pb zircon LA-ICP-MS ages of the host rocks and enclaves are 311 ± 5 Ma and 300 ± 6 Ma, respectively. The similar of these two ages suggests that host rocks and enclaves formed at a same time. Furthermore, the time span closely corresponds to known ages of post-collisional A-type granitoids of the Junggar terrane. Geochemical, geochronological and isotopic data (ε_Nd(T) in the range +5.2 to +6.6 and I_Sr mostly in the range 0.7031–0.7041) suggest that the Huangyangshan intrusions, and the enclaves are of mixed origin and are most probably formed by the interaction between the lower crust- and mantle-derived magmas in the Late Carboniferous post-collisional tectonic setting (A₂ type granite). The magma for the Huangyangshan granites was derived by partial melting of an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that was modified by slab-derived components from an earlier subduction event, this melting resulted from heat supplied from the asthenosphere through an opening created during the break-off of an oceanic slab. This further proves the important contribution of the Late Paleozoic granitic magmatism in terms of vertical crustal growth in northern Xinjiang.