Fluid inclusion microthermometry for P–T constraints on normal displacement along the Median Tectonic Line in Northern Besshi area,Southwest Japan

The Median Tectonic Line (MTL) is a first‐order tectonic boundary that separates the Sanbagawa and Ryoke metamorphic belts. Documented large‐scale top‐to‐the‐north normal displacements along this fault zone have the potential to contribute to the exhumation of the Sanbagawa high‐pressure metamorphic belt. Fluid inclusion analyses of vein material formed associated with secondary faults within the Sanbagawa belt affected by movement on the MTL show normal movement was initially induced under temperatures greater than around 250°C. Microstructures of quartz and K‐feldspar comprising the vein material suggest a deformation temperature of around 300°C, supporting the results of fluid inclusion analyses and suggesting deformation at depths of around 10 km. The retrograde P–T path of the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks and the estimated isochore of the fluid inclusions do not intersect. The semi‐ductile structures of surrounding rocks and lack of evidence for hydrothermal metamorphism around the veins imply the temperature of the rocks was similar to that of the fluid. These observations suggest fluid pressure of the veins was lower than lithostatic pressure close to the MTL.     

Timing of collision of the Kohistan–Ladakh Arc with India and Asia: Debate

The Kohistan–Ladakh Arc in the Himalaya–Karakoram region represents a complete section of an oceanic arc where the rocks from mantle to upper crustal levels are exposed. Generally this arc was regarded as of Jurassic–Cretaceous age and was welded to Asia and India by Northern and Southern Sutures respectively. Formation of this arc, timings of its collisions with Asia and India, and position of collision boundaries have always been controversial. Most authors consider that the arc collided with Asia first during 102–75 Ma and then with India during 55–50 Ma, whereas others suggest that the arc collided with India first at or before 61 Ma, and then the India–arc block collided with Asia ca 50 Ma. Recently published models of the later group leave several geological difficulties such as an extremely rapid drifting rate of the Indian Plate (30 ± 5 cm/year) northwards between 61–50 Ma, absence of a large ophiolite sequence and accretionary wedge along the Northern Suture, obduction of ophiolites and blueschists along the Southern Suture, and the occurrence of a marine depositional environment older than 52 Ma in the Indian Plate rocks south of the Southern Suture. We present a review based on geochemical, stratigraphic, structural, and paleomagnetic data to show that collision of the arc with Asia happened first and with India later.     

东亚北部地区现代板块构造的运动学分析

从原欧亚板块划出阿穆利亚微板块,并建立一个包括太平洋、北美、欧亚、鄂霍次克及菲律宾海等板块在内的６板块系统,利用地震滑移矢量,转换断层走向,洋中脊扩展速率,以及最新的ＧＰＳ观测资料,采用Ｍｏｎｔｅ－Ｃａｒｌｏ盒子法,反演得到该６板块系统的欧拉运动矢量．本文得到的有关欧拉矢量为：ＡＭ-ＥＵ（６０．４２°Ｎ,１２３．２５°Ｅ,０．０２５°／Ｍａ）,ＡＭ-ＯＫ（５３．２０°Ｎ,１４１．９５°Ｅ,０．４７６°／Ｍａ）以及ＡＭ-ＰＨ（５０．８４°Ｎ,１５８.１３°Ｅ,１.２０４°／Ｍａ）,ＡＭ－ＥＵ的欧拉运动极点位于贝加尔隆起的东北及斯塔诺夫山脉的西北,并给出在贝加尔隆起有０．４－０．７ｍｍ／ａ的扩张,与从地质学证据得到的估计结果一致;由ＡＭ－ＯＫ及ＡＭ－ＰＨ欧拉运动矢量可以分别得到日本海东缘的６-１５ｍｍ／ａ及日本南海地槽带的５１－６６ｍｍ／ａ收敛速率,与最新的ＧＰＳ观测结果并不一致．因此,东亚北部地区存在独立的南中国微板块及其它亚尺度的微板块,可以更好地描述该地区现今板块构造的运动规律．