Reconstructing seafloor age distributions in lost ocean basins

Reconstructions of past seafloor age make it possible to quantify how plate tectonic forces,surface heat flow,ocean basin volume and global sea level have varied through geological time.However,past ocean basins that have now been subducted cannot be uniquely reconstructed,and a significant challenge is how to explore a wide range of possible reconstructions.Here,we investigate possible distributions of seafloor ages from the late Paleozoic to present using published full-plate reconstructions and a new,efficient seafloor age reconstruction workflow,all developed using the open-source software GPlates.We test alternative reconstruction models and examine the influence of assumed spreading rates within the Panthalassa Ocean on the reconstructed history of mean seafloor age,oceanic heat flow,and the contribution of ocean basin volume to global sea level.The reconstructions suggest variations in mean seafloor age of~15 Myr during the late Paleozoic,similar to the amplitude of variations previously proposed for the Cretaceous to present.Our reconstructed oceanic age-area distributions are broadly compatible with a scenario in which the long-period fluctuations in global sea level since the late Paleozoic are largely driven by changes in mean seafloor age.Previous suggestions of a constant rate of seafloor production through time can be modelled using our workflow,but require that oceanic plates in the Paleozoic move slower than continents based on current reconstructions of continental motion,which is difficult to reconcile with geodynamic studies.     

Decoding earth's plate tectonic history using sparse geochemical data

Accurately mapping plate boundary types and locations through time is essential for understanding the evolution of the plate-mantle system and the exchange of material between the solid Earth and surface environments.However,the complexity of the Earth system and the cryptic nature of the geological record make it difficult to discriminate tectonic environments through deep time.Here we present a new method for identifying tectonic paleo-environments on Earth through a data mining approach using global geochemical data.We first fingerprint a variety of present-day tectonic environments utilising up to 136 geochemical data attributes in any available combination.A total of 38301 geochemical analyses from basalts aged from 5-0 Ma together with a well-established plate reconstruction model are used to construct a suite of discriminatory models for the first order tectonic environments of subduction and mid-ocean ridge as distinct from intraplate hotspot oceanic environments,identifying 41,35,and 39 key discriminatory geochemical attributes,respectively.After training and validation,our model is applied to a global geochemical database of 1547 basalt samples of unknown tectonic origin aged between 1000-410 Ma,a relatively ill-constrained period of Earth’s evolution following the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent,producing 56 unique global tectonic environment predictions throughout the Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic.Predictions are used to discriminate between three alternative published Rodinia configuration models,identifying the model demonstrating the closest spatio-temporal consistency with the basalt record,and emphasizing the importance of integrating geochemical data into plate reconstructions.Our approach offers an extensible framework for constructing full-plate,deeptime reconstructions capable of assimilating a broad range of geochemical and geological observations,enabling next generation Earth system models.     

超越板块构造——我国构造地质学要做些什么?

对近十年来全球构造学和构造地质学的重要进展进行了简要评述.30年前建立的全球构造理论改变了人们对地球及其演化的认识.作为固体地球统一理论的板块构造主要涉及刚性板块边界之间的变形、地震活动和火山作用.至今还没有完整理论阐明板块运动的驱动力和地幔对流机制.板块边界和板内变形等许多问题仍然无法回答.大陆岩石圈和大洋岩石圈在成分、厚度和力学强度方面有明显的差别, 因此现有板块构造不完全适合于大陆构造.大陆地壳和地幔流变学的综合研究是认识大陆构造和超越板块构造的最佳途径.流变学是大陆造山带几何学和动力学的桥梁.大陆岩石圈对构造作用、重力作用和热作用的响应在很大程度上取决于其流变强度.岩石圈流变性质是岩石圈分层和塑性流动的主导因素.大量透入性变形和巨型大陆造山带内部构造显示非刚性特征.大陆构造和力学行为主要由地壳强度而不是地幔强度所控制.从大陆岩石圈多层性和力学强度不均匀性表征看, 现在是抛弃传统“三明治”构造模式的时候了.面对地球系统科学和地球动力学新思维发展趋势, 多学科综合研究大陆构造(造山带)和加速高水平构造地质学人才的培养是我国构造地质学发展的最紧迫任务      

现今全球构造特征及其动力学解释

构造地质学、大地构造学和全球构造学是三个尺度的构造学研究领域,它们平行交叉而且互有扬弃。全球构造学可分为历史的和现今的两个分支。岩石圈板片和板条构造、板舌构造、洋脊构造以及大陆岩石圈多元组合板的多重滑脱构造和多层剪切构造网络等是现今岩石圈板的基本构造形态。全球级现今岩石圈构造主要表现为三大构造系统:环太平洋深消减带板舌构造系、大洋增生带洋脊构造系和大陆碰撞造山构造系,三者在球坐标系内表现出构造形态、物理场背景和动力学状态等多方面半球级的反对称关系(南/北、0°/180°),各构造系统内部还表现了普遍的东西反对称。论其动力学解释,岩石圈向西和地幔向东相对漂移的定向性显示了地球自转变化的导向作用,决定了经向构造两侧的多级反对称;地震层析探测到的地幔结构显示的热心南偏和质心北偏可能是南北反对称的动力基础;上地幔分层结构及“软层”物质在构造引张条件下形成的热涌有可能解释地表的视对流现象,有助于说明构造变动的跳位和变格以及板条和反对称运动机制。     

地幔柱构造与地幔动力学--兼论其在中国大陆地质历史中的表现

地幔柱构造是基于全地慢对流模式、主要依据热点火山活动提出的新的全球构造理论。它的主要表现形式和产物是地幔柱头上部地壳抬升、岩浆活动形成大火成岩省、大型放射状岩墙群，并导致大陆裂解、板块运动和大规模成矿，是生物灭绝、磁极倒转的诱因。中国大陆的地质演化历史中保存了多期地幔柱活动印记，它们主要是华南新元古代Rodinia地幔柱、古生代古特提斯和峨眉山地幔柱和中一新生代中国东部地慢柱构造事件。上述地幔柱活动产生了地壳抬升、强烈岩浆活动、大陆伸展与裂解、岩石圈剧烈减薄和大规模成矿等重要地质事件。     

构造古地理重建与动力地形

摘要：构造古地理是研究地质历史时期的构造过程和自然地理演化的科学。大数据时代的计算能力和效率的迅速提高及地球动力学模拟技术的发展,要求古地理研究应建立在全球板块构造背景下,重建“深时”、原位、原型的活动古地理。本文在综合分析国际、国内关于GPlates和CitcomS的地球动力学模拟软件平台的研究成果基础上,系统阐述了板块构造古地理重建思路、内容和方法,残余地形(动力地形)的分离技术、动力地形与板块俯冲、深部地幔流动的动力成因关系;介绍了利用地表动力地形等古地理资料进行约束,揭示板块运动过程、地幔动力学过程研究思路、方法;提出了古地理重建和地球动力学研究中应遵循的“定时、定位、定向和定型”的原则。将全球板块构造古地理模型(GPlates)与基于物理特性的地幔和岩石圈有限元模型(CitcomS)相结合,将动力地形与地幔活动过程研究相结合,对揭示4-D地球动力学具有重要理论意义。     

中国东部燕山期和四川期岩石圈构造滑脱与岩浆起源深度

较确切地研究岩石圈内部构造滑脱面在地质历史时期形成的时间和部位是当前大地构造学研究的一个重要课题。通过大量收集中国东部燕山期(205~135Ma)和四川期(135~52Ma)岩浆起源深度资料来判断岩石圈内部和底部是否存在局部的构造滑脱界面,是否发生层圈相互作用,是否发生部分的解耦现象,是一种可行的研究方法。研究表明,中国东部燕山期和四川期岩石圈板块的构造滑脱、圈层的解耦作用及相互作用主要集中在中地壳、莫霍面与区域性主干断层的交线附近,而岩石圈板块的底面却并不存在大幅度的滑移。中国东部燕山期和四川期岩浆活动比较发育的地区基本上都位于大兴安岭—山西西部—武陵山—十万大山一线以东地区,而在此线以西地区岩浆活动相当微弱。笔者认为,在侏罗—白垩纪时期,该线以西缺少岩浆活动的地区可能就是当时的大陆型岩石圈,而该线以东岩浆活动剧烈的地区可能就属于海陆过渡型岩石圈。中国东部岩石圈的转型和"变薄",不太可能是深部地幔羽、去根作用、深部地幔热物质上涌或大陆伸展作用的结果,也不太可能与太平洋板块的俯冲作用有直接联系。     

湖北郧县王家庄绿色纤维状石英-云母脉特征及成因--对板块构造几个问题的思考

湖北郧县王家庄有两期脉体 ,早期为纤维状石英脉 ,总体呈北北东向分布 ,平行脉壁有一中间面使其对称分布 ,显示张性裂隙持续发育过程 ;与之垂直的横向压性裂隙将它“错开”。形貌上酷似板块构造的大洋中脊和转换断层。晚期云母脉叠置在上述两组裂隙之上 ,并使原来裂隙性质发生变化。这些特征与区域应力场分布 ,特别是与两郧断裂的演化息息相关。根据分形理论 ,将王家庄石英云母脉与板块构造进行对比 ,一方面从微观的角度证实了板块构造一些基本观点的合理性。同时从微观信息得到深入研究板块构造的一些新启示 :对板块形成机制不要局限于软流圈对流 ,而应从更深层次研究地幔物质运动规律 ;要将大陆和大洋作为一个整体研究全球应力场分布规律与构造演化历史 ,其中转换断层是联系大陆和大洋的纽带 ;加强RRR型三联点研究 ,它是研究深部 (地幔 )物质运动和上部 (地壳、岩石圈 )构造应力场相互关系的重要窗口     

Initiation of Subduction Zones as a Consequence of Lateral Compositional Buoyancy Contrast within the Lithosphere: a Petrological Perspective

Tonga and Mariana fore-arc peridotites, inferred to representtheir respective sub-arc mantle lithospheres, are compositionallyhighly depleted (low Fe/Mg) and thus physically buoyant relativeto abyssal peridotites representing normal oceanic lithosphere(high Fe/Mg) formed at ocean ridges. The observation that thedepletion of these fore-arc lithospheres is unrelated to, andpre-dates, the inception of present-day western Pacific subductionzones demonstrates the pre-existence of compositional buoyancycontrast at the sites of these subduction zones. These observationsallow us to suggest that lateral compositional buoyancy contrastwithin the oceanic lithosphere creates the favoured and necessarycondition for subduction initiation. Edges of buoyant oceanicplateaux, for example, mark a compositional buoyancy contrastwithin the oceanic lithosphere. These edges under deviatoriccompression (e.g. ridge push) could develop reverse faults withcombined forces in excess of the oceanic lithosphere strength,allowing the dense normal oceanic lithosphere to sink into theasthenosphere beneath the buoyant overriding oceanic plateaux,i.e. the initiation of subduction zones. We term this conceptthe ‘oceanic plateau model’. This model explainsmany other observations and offers testable hypotheses on importantgeodynamic problems on a global scale. These include (1) theorigin of the 43 Ma bend along the Hawaii–Emperor SeamountChain in the Pacific, (2) mechanisms of ophiolite emplacement,(3) continental accretion, etc. Subduction initiation is notunique to oceanic plateaux, but the plateau model well illustratesthe importance of the compositional buoyancy contrast withinthe lithosphere for subduction initiation. Most portions ofpassive continental margins, such as in the Atlantic where largecompositional buoyancy contrast exists, are the loci of futuresubduction zones. KEY WORDS: subduction initiation; compositional buoyancy contrast; oceanic lithosphere; plate tectonics; mantle plumes; hotspots; oceanic plateaux; passive continental margins; continental accretion; mantle peridotites; ophiolites     

北秦岭高压-超高压岩石的时空分布、P-T-t演化及其形成机制

北秦岭构造带早古生代的构造格局和演化过程一直是地学界比较关注也是存在较大争议的问题之一.在已有研究基础上,系统总结了本课题组近年来在北秦岭早古生代高压-超高压变质作用研究方面的进展,从变质作用角度对北秦岭早古生代的构造演化提供重要限定.丹凤斜长角闪岩中柯石英的发现为区内超高压变质作用的存在提供了最直接的矿物学证据;东秦岭秦岭杂岩中的斜长角闪岩普遍经历了高压-超高压榴辉岩相变质,具面状分布的特征,是陆壳俯冲/深俯冲作用的产物;高压-超高压榴辉岩和围岩片麻岩都记录了顺时针的P-T-t轨迹,峰期变质时代为500~490 Ma,之后主体又经历约470~450 Ma和约420~400 Ma两期抬升退变质叠加和部分熔融作用;高压-超高压岩石两期退变质和部分熔融发生的时代与北秦岭460~440Ma和~420Ma的两期岩浆事件的时代一致,说明北秦岭早古生代岩浆作用是深俯冲陆壳板片断离和碰撞造山结束后地壳伸展作用的岩浆响应;高压-超高压榴辉岩原岩形成时代约800 Ma,具有与南秦岭新元古代中晚期岩浆岩一致的地球化学特征,北秦岭超高压岩石的形成可能是商丹洋关闭后洋壳拖曳着南秦岭陆壳物质向北发生大陆深俯冲的结果,商丹洋在500 Ma主体应该已经关闭;秦岭岩群是部分而不是整体经历了大陆的深俯冲,现今的秦岭岩群是一个俯冲碰撞杂岩带而不是一个岩石地层单元或微陆块;北秦岭早古生代造山作用在中泥盆世已经结束,整体处于构造隆升后的剥蚀阶段,是南秦岭刘岭群碎屑岩的主要蚀源区,刘岭群沉积盆地形成于碰撞造山后的伸展构造背景而非弧前环境.      

Obduction triggered by regional heating during plate reorganization

The reason for obduction, or tectonic transport of oceanic lithosphere onto continents, is investigated by two‐dimensional thermo‐mechanical numerical modelling based on the geology of the Anatolia–Lesser Caucasus ophiolites. Heating of the oceanic domain and extension induced by far‐field plate kinematics appear to be essential for the obduction of ~80‐Ma‐old oceanic crust over distances exceeding 200 km. Heating of the oceanic lithosphere by mantle upwelling is evidenced by a thick alkaline volcanic series emplaced on top of the oceanic crust 10–20 Ma before obduction, at the onset of Africa–Eurasia convergence. Regional heating reduced the negative buoyancy and strength of the magmatically old lithosphere. Extension facilitated the propagation of obduction by reducing the mantle lithosphere thickness, which led to the exhumation of eclogite‐free continental crust previously underthrusted beneath the ophiolites. This extensional event is ascribed to far‐field plate kinematics resulting from renewed Neotethys oceanic subduction beneath Eurasia.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000309

In the early 1980s, evidence that crustal rocks had reached temperatures 〉1000 ℃ at normal lower crustal pressures while others had followed low thermal gradients to record pressures characteristic of mantle conditions began to appear in the literature, and the importance of melting in the tectonic evolution of orogens and metamorphic-metasomatic reworking of the lithospheric mantle was realized. In parallel, new developments in instrumentation, the expansion of in situ analysis of geological ma- terials and increases in computing power opened up new fields of investigation. The robust quantifi- cation of pressure （P）, temperature （T） and time （t） that followed these advances has provided reliable data to benchmark geodynamic models and to investigate secular change in the thermal state of the lithosphere as registered by metamorphism through time. As a result, the last 30 years have seen sig- nificant progress in our understanding of lithospheric evolution, particularly as it relates to Precambrian geodynamics.     

大 陆 岩 石 圈 研 究

大陆岩石圈和大洋岩石圈有着深刻的差别，运用板块构造理论和模式研究大陆岩石圈会遇到许多特殊的问题。本文从陆缘演化和多个板块构造旋回叠加两方面做了初步探讨，提出岩浆型被动陆缘是独立的一类古陆缘；在辨认后续板块构造旋回叠加中，新构造成分和格局的确定有重要意义。本文还讨论了汲取大陆地质研究经验，在新的学科水平上重新解释传统大地构造学中一些有用概念的意义。     

The boring billion? – Lid tectonics, continental growth and environmental change associated with the Columbia supercontinent

The evolution of Earth＇s biosphere,atmosphere and hydrosphere is tied to the formation of continental crust and its subsequent movements on tectonic plates.The supercontinent cycle posits that the continental crust is periodically amalgamated into a single landmass,subsequently breaking up and dispersing into various continental fragments.Columbia is possibly the first true supercontinent,it amalgamated during the 2.0-1.7 Ga period,and collisional orogenesis resulting from its formation peaked at 1.95-1.85 Ga.Geological and palaeomagnetic evidence indicate that Columbia remained as a quasi-integral continental lid until at least 1.3 Ga.Numerous break-up attempts are evidenced by dyke swarms with a large temporal and spatial range; however,palaeomagnetic and geologic evidence suggest these attempts remained unsuccessful.Rather than dispersing into continental fragments,the Columbia supercontinent underwent only minor modifications to form the next supercontinent （Rodinia） at 1.1 -0.9 Ga; these included the transformation of external accretionary belts into the internal Grenville and equivalent collisional belts.Although Columbia provides evidence for a form of ‘lid tectonics’,modern style plate tectonics occurred on its periphery in the form of accretionary orogens.The detrital zircon and preserved geological record are compatible with an increase in the volume of continental crust during Columbia＇s lifespan; this is a consequence of the continuous accretionary processes along its margins.The quiescence in plate tectonic movements during Columbia＇s lifespan is correlative with a long period of stability in Earth＇s atmospheric and oceanic chemistry.Increased variability starting at 1.3 Ga in the environmental record coincides with the transformation of Columbia to Rodinia; thus,the link between plate tectonics and environmental change is strengthened with this interpretation of supercontinent history.     

Tectonics and plate tectonics model for the Variscan belt of Europe

A plate tectonics model is presented to explain the tectonometamorphic characteristics of the European Variscides. After the closing of two oceanic domains by two-sided subduction (500-420 Ma) and obduction (420-380 Ma), collision of the European and African continental plates occurred. We propose that the subsequent complex intracontinental deformation (380-290 Ma) is the result of a double subduction of the continental lithosphere accompanied by crust-mantle décollement. This mechanism explains the progressive crustal thickening and migration of the deformation through time from the sutures toward the external parts of the Variscan Belt. Accounting for this model and for the relationships between the European Variscides and the other Paleozoic peri-Atlantic belts (Caledonides, Appalachian, Mauritanides and Morocco), we infer the relative positions of Africa, America and Europe between the Silurian and the Permian.     

地球接受太阳辐射能量变化对板块构造影响的估算

板块构造理论可以被认为是构造地质学研究的基本模型和框架。传统板块构造理论认为岩石圈板块在软流圈上方随软流圈对流发生运动,软流圈对流所需要的能量则完全由地球内部能量,如重力势能和放射性衰变产生的热能提供。但是近年来的一些研究证明了气候变化会对板块构造活动,如造山带活动产生直接影响。对传统的板块构造所需能量全部由地球内部提供这一观点做出了补充和更新。本文主要从两个方面对外动力作用可能影响板块构造做出分析,一是利用傅里叶分析证明了太阳辐射变化在构造活动,如洋中脊两侧地貌和火山沉积物中均能够留下记录;二是建立了一个简单的平面力学模型,探究洋流同大陆的力学作用会如何影响大陆运动特征。虽然这一模型忽略了很多因素,定量计算的结果本身并不具有很严格的数据绝对意义。但是这一模型的结果可以证明地球所有板块构造活动中释放的能量低于地球系统每年从太阳辐射中接收的能量,而且模型得到的大陆运动特征同现今实际观测下的运动特征存在一致性,洋流向大陆岩石圈传递的能量同地震活动释放的能量处于同一量级,从侧面可以证明洋流可能对板块构造产生了较大的影响。     

中国西北地区南华纪—古生代构造重建及关键问题讨论

中国西北是古亚洲构造域和特提斯构造域共同作用的地区,南华纪—古生代时期经历了复杂的洋-陆演化过程,诸陆（地）块于三叠纪基本拼贴就位,奠定了中生代以来陆内盆山演化的基础。但对于西北地区南华纪—古生代时期古亚洲洋盆最终关闭的时限、位置,以及秦祁昆古生代造山带属于特提斯构造域还是古亚洲构造域等重大区域地质问题目前仍存在较大争议。文章在最新地质填图的基础上,通过对沉积建造、岩浆建造、变质变形等的综合分析,将西北地区南华纪—古生代的构造单元厘定为3个洋板块、4个弧盆系和2个陆（地）块群等9个二级、46个三级和112个四级构造单元,力图刻画消失的大洋盆地的残留组成和诸陆（地）块的边缘增生结构。结合古地磁、生物古地理研究成果,恢复了古生代不同时期西北洋-陆系统在全球的位置,讨论了洋盆消减、诸陆（地）块拼贴的过程。      

洋板块地层学的概念、模式、组成及失序变化*

着重介绍了洋板块地层的概念、模式、组成及失序变化特征。造山带混杂岩和大陆边缘增生复合体是经历俯冲碰撞消亡后的古洋沉积记录,利用微体古生物地层学和同位素年代学方法可以重建造山带混杂岩和大陆边缘增生复合体的原始地层。洋板块地层(学)是用来描述沉淀在洋壳基底之上的沉积岩和火成岩序列的术语,其开始于洋中脊形成,终止于该洋中脊被移入到汇聚边缘增生楔。从造山带混杂岩中重建的古大洋地层的基本组成大体相似,但因大洋岩石圈的岩浆背景不同,造成不同时期和不同类型的洋板块地层组成也会有差异。在前人研究成果的基础上, 笔者通过对不同类型洋板块地层进行分类,介绍了如何从经历碰撞造山过程的增生造山带进行洋板块地层的重建。引入“洋板块地层学”概念的主要目的在于通过对因俯冲增生而消亡的具有洋壳基底的构造洋盆和边缘海盆地的地层单元进行重建,恢复已消失洋的地层组成单元,这对造山带地层解析、造山带构造古地理恢复、重大构造变革期古地理学研究和板块重建等都将起到积极的促进作用。     

THE GLOBAL TECTONIC SYSTEMS AND A LATITUDINAL MOUNTAIN-PLATEAU CHAIN ON THE NORTH HEMISPHERE

THE GLOBAL TECTONIC SYSTEMS AND A LATITUDINAL MOUNTAIN-PLATEAU CHAIN ON THE NORTH HEMISPHERE