Jurassic Dextral and Cretaceous Sinistral Movements Along the Hida Marginal Belt

The Hida marginal belt (HMB), which consists of various kinds of fault-bound blocks, is located between the continental massif of the Hida belt and the Mesozoic accretionary complex of the Mino belt in Central Japan. Detailed field investigation reveals that the HMB had grown through the two different movements, i.e., Jurassic dextral and Cretaceous sinistral movements. The Jurassic dextral ductile shear zones run in the southern marginal part of the Hida belt and the northern part of the HMB, whereas the Cretaceous sinistral cataclastic shear zones occur in the southern part of the HMB and the northern marginal part of the Mino belt. Geologic map and field evidence seem to suggest that the Jurassic dextral movement form the fault-bound blocks of the HMB to form the basic structure of the Hida marginal belt, i.e., formation of the ‘proto-HMB.’ Following the dextral movement, the sinistral one restructured the ‘proto-HMB’ to complete the present feature of the Hida marginal belt. The Cretaceous sinistral movement might result in the sinistral collision between the proto-HMB and the Mino belt.     

Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Morelos and Mezcala Formations, southern Mexico

A paleomagnetic study of platform-facies carbonate rocks of the mid-Cretaceous Morelos Formation and deep-water carbonate rocks of the overlying Upper Cretaceous Mezcala Formation, sampled at Zopilote canyon, in Guerrero State, southern Mexico, indicates that their characteristic magnetization was acquired contemporaneously with folding of these rocks during the Late Cretaceous Laramide orogeny. The remanence carrier is interpreted to be magnetite, although other mineral phases of high coercivity carry recent secondary overprints. The overall mean is of Dec=323.1° and Inc=36.5° (k=162.7; α₉₅=2.7°; N=18 sites; 64% unfolding). Comparison with the North America reference direction indicates that this area has experienced a small, yet statistically significant, counterclockwise direction of 19.2±4.0°. Similar rotations are documented in other localities from southern Mexico; rotations are linked to mid-Tertiary deformation associated with the left-lateral strike-slip fault system that accommodated motion of the Chortis and Xolapa blocks.     

Cretaceous deformation history of the middle Tan-Lu fault zone in Shandong Province, eastern China

Based on field analysis of fault-slip data from different rock units of the Cretaceous basins along the middle part of the Tan-Lu fault zone (Shandong Province, eastern China), we document polyphase tectonic stress fields and address the changes in sense of motion of the Tan-Lu fault zone during the Cretaceous. The Cretaceous deformation history of the Tan-Lu fault zone can be divided into four main stages. The first stage, during the earliest Cretaceous, was dominated by N-S extension responsible for the formation of the Jiaolai basin. We interpret this extension to be related to dextral strike-slip pull-apart opening guided by the Tan-Lu fault zone. The second stage, during the middle Early Cretaceous, was overwhelmingly rift-dominated and characterized by widespread silicic to intermediate volcanism, normal faulting and basin subsidence. It was at this stage that the Tan-Lu-parallel Yi-Shu Rift was initiated by E-W to WNW-ESE extension. The tectonic regime then changed during the late Early Cretaceous to NW-SE-oriented transpression, causing inversion of the Early Cretaceous rift basin and sinistral slip along the Tan-Lu fault zone. During the Late Cretaceous, dextral activation of the Tan-Lu fault zone resulted in pull-apart opening of the Zhucheng basin, which was subsequently deformed by NE-SW compression. This deformation chronology of the Tan-Lu fault zone and the associated Cretaceous basins allow us to constrain the regional kinematic models as related to subduction along the eastern margin of Asia, or related to collision in the Tibet region.     

Confirmation of an Early Cretaceous age for the Qihulin Formation in eastern Heilongjiang Province, China: constraints from a new discovery of radiolarians

The coal-bearing, alternating marine and non-marine Longzhaogou Group in eastern Heilongjiang, northeastern China, has long been considered as Jurassic, or mainly Jurassic, in age. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the ammonites and dinoflagellate cysts are of Early Cretaceous age. This has now been confirmed by new radiolarian evidence. The radiolarian fauna recovered from the upper Qihulin Formation of the Longzhaogou Group consists of nine poorly preserved species referable to nine genera. Novixitus is a Cretaceous genus, and the specimens of Archaeodictyomitra sp. and Xitus sp. recovered resemble A. vulgaris Pessagno and X. spicularius (Aliev), respectively.     

Orbitolinidae and Alveolinidae (Foraminiferida) from the uppermost Albian-lower Cenomanian of Monti d'Ocre (Abruzzi, Italy)

A biostratigraphic study carried out in the Monti d'Ocre area, Abruzzi, Central Apennines, allowed us to recognize Orbitolina (Conicorbitolina) moulladei ‘Strata 5 (1985) 1’, Praealveolina iberica Reichel and Praealveolina simplex Reichel in uppermost Albian–lower Cenomanian shelf-edge deposits of the Fossato Machè succession. These foraminifers have now been found for the first time in the Apennines of central Italy; their finding is quite important from a palaeobiogeographic viewpoint, as it contributes to the improvement of our knowledge on facies distribution in the circum-Mediterranean regions during the Cretaceous Period. In the study area, the coeval Monte Rotondo and Monte Orsello sections also crop out; these are characterized by bauxite deposits and stratigraphic gaps reflecting episodes of emergence on the carbonate platform. The Monte Rotondo and Monte Orsello sections accumulated in a platform back-reef environment; consequently, in this sector of the Monti d'Ocre area, the depositional environment shifted from a back-reef westward and southward to a shelf-edge northward, during the latest Albian–early Cenomanian. Owing to synsedimentary tectonics, the area investigated underwent differential subsidence: westward and southward, wide areas were uplifted and subjected to emergence, karstification and bauxite accumulation, whereas sedimentation continued in a shelf-edge environment in the north-eastern area.     

A review of the geodynamic setting of large-scale Late Mesozoic gold mineralization in the North China Craton: an association with lithospheric thinning

Abundant gold deposits are distributed along the margins of the North China Craton (NCC). Occurring throughout the Precambrian basement and located in or proximal to Mesozoic granitoids, these deposits show a consistent spatial–temporal association with Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous magmatism and are characterized by quartz lode or disseminated styles of mineralization with extensive alteration of wall rock. Their ages are mainly Early Cretaceous (130–110 Ma) and constrain a very short period of metallogenesis. Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic tracers of ores, minerals and associated rocks indicate that gold and associated metals mainly were derived from multi-sources, i.e., the wall rocks (Precambrian basement and Mesozoic granites) and associated mafic rocks.Previous studies, including high surface heat flow, uplift and later basin development, slow seismic wave speeds in the upper mantle, and a change in the character of mantle xenoliths sampled by Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmas, have been used to suggest that ancient, cratonic mantle lithosphere was removed from the base of the NCC some time after the Ordovician, and replaced by younger, less refractory lithospheric mantle. The geochemistry and isotopic compositions of the mafic rocks associated with gold mineralization (130–110 Ma) indicate that they were derived from an ancient enriched lithospheric mantle source; whereas, the mafic dikes and volcanic rocks younger than 110 Ma were derived from a relatively depleted mantle source, i.e., asthenospheric mantle. According to their age and sources, relation to magmatism and geodynamic framework, the gold deposits were formed during lithospheric thinning. The removal of lithospheric mantle and the upwelling of new asthenospheric mantle induced partial melting and dehydration of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust due to an increase of temperature. The fluids derived from the lower crust were mixed with magmatic and meteoric waters, and resulted in the deposition of gold and associated metals.     

楚雄复式盆地演化及形成的动力学机制

楚雄盆地处于中国云南省中部，位于扬子板块西南缘，南西界以红河断裂为界与哀牢山造山带相连，北西界为程海断裂，东边为绿汁江断裂。盆地基底包括结晶基底和褶皱基底双重结构。盆地内发育了中三叠世以后的沉积盖层，西部中三叠世和晚三叠世早、中期为海相沉积，晚期为海陆交互相和陆相沉积；盆地东部为陆相沉积。侏罗—白垩纪整个盆地为巨厚的陆相沉积。楚雄盆地的构造格架分为４个带：（１）哀牢山造山带；（２）褶皱逆冲带；（３）中部沉降带；（４）东部隆起带。盆地形成与演化分为六个阶段：（１）被动大陆边缘沉降阶段；（２）拉张热隆起边缘——裂谷盆地阶段；（３）沟－弧－盆系阶段；（４）残洋－周缘前陆盆地阶段；（５）走滑－拉张盆地阶段；（６）走滑－挤压－改造阶段。楚雄盆地的形成与演化体现了盆地动力学性质转化和复合，在多种动力系统作用下或经过多旋回构造阶段产生了复式盆地     

Palynological dating of infra- and intertrappean sediments in the Mesozoic succession of Borehole PGD-6, Domra Sub-basin, West Bengal, India

Palynofloras have been examined from infra- and intertrappean sediments of the Panchet and Rajmahal Formations in the Domra Sub-basin of the Damodar Basin, West Bengal, India. Three distinct palynological assemblages are identified and referred to the following palynozones: (i)Lundbladispora–Verrucosisporites(506.60–505.00 m, late Early Triassic, (ii)Murospora florida(501.65–422.20 m. Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian–Tithonian), and (iii)Cicatricosisporites australiensis(342.00–229.6 m. Early Cretaceous, Tithonian–Berriasian). The first occurrences ofCallialasporites turbatusandC. dampieriare at 501.65 m.Callialasporitesis a dominant element of the succeeding assemblages from the Panchet Formation and indicates a Jurassic age. The FAD ofCicatricosisporites australiensisandC. augustusat 342.00 m, and inconsistent occurrences ofAequitriradites spinulosus,Crybelosporites stylosusin the overlying sediments indicate Jurassic–Cretaceous transition.     

北淮阳金寨—苏仙石地区中生代花岗岩类岩石学及地球化学特征

位于大别山北麓的北淮阳金寨—苏仙石地区广泛发育花岗岩类侵入岩，同位素年龄为１４０～９７Ｍａ，时代属Ｊ３—Ｋ１。根据侵入岩的地质、岩石学和岩石地球化学特征，将本区侵入岩划分为３个超单元（包括１０个单元）和３个独立单元，分属中性岩和酸性岩两大类，岩石类型有闪长岩、二长岩和花岗岩等。根据岩石化学的判别结果，侵入岩均属亚碱性系列中的钙碱性岩石，并属于普通型和钾质型     

长沙黄花国际机场水源地的水文地质条件

长（沙）－平（江）白垩系红层盆地，公认为贫水地区。我院在机场附近找到了单井日产水量〉５３００ｍ＾３的优质地下水，一举解决了长沙黄花国际机场的供水问题。这项勘察成果，不仅解决了机场的水源地，而且对长－平红层盆地的水文地质研究、勘查和找水建井等，均具有现实意义。