Nature and Evolution of Pre-Neoproterozoic Continental Crust in South China: A Review and Tectonic Implications

South China as an amalgamation of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks is composed of Archean to Mesoproterozoic basement overlain by Neoproterozoic and younger cover. Both the constituent Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks contain well-preserved Neoproterozoic rocks that have been extensively studied in terms of the age and tectonic nature, but less is known about their earlier crustal history due to the incomplete rock record. Recent efforts in investigating the yet survived crustal nature based on isotopic and elemental signatures preserved in igneous and sedimentary rocks have steadily improved our knowledge about the pre-Neoproterozoic continental crustal evolution in South China. In this paper, we summarize the up-to-date pre-Neoproterozoic records, including petrological, geochronological, geochemical and geophysical data, across South China, and discuss its spatiotemporal patterns of the pre-Neoproterozoic crust and the relevant tectonic events. While the xenocrystic/inherited and detrital zircon records suggest widespread Archean (mainly ca. 2.5 Ga) crustal components within both the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, exposed Archean rocks are only limited to isolated crustal provinces in the Yangtze Block. These Archean rocks are dominated by TTGs (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite) with varied ages (3.3–2.5 Ga) and zircon Hf isotopes, indicating a compositionally heterogeneous nature of the Archean Yangtze Block and, by inference, the development of multiple ancient terranes. The early Paleoproterozoic (2.4–2.2 Ga) tectonomagmatic events characterize the western Yangtze Block and are supportive of an east-west subdivision of the Yangtze basement, whereas the late Paleoproterozoic (2.1–1.7 Ga) orogeneses may have affected a larger area covering both the western and eastern parts of the Yangtze Block, and also the Cathaysia Block. The eastern Yangtze Block with generally northeastward-younging late Paleoproterozoic magmatism and metamorphism likely experienced a prolonged 2.05–1.75 Ga orogenic process welding the various Archean proto-continents, consistent with the documentation of a buried late Paleoproterozoic orogenic belt imaged by deep seismic profiling from its central part and of a slightly older ophiolitic mélange in the northern part. The Cathaysia Block was probably involved in a short-lived 1.9–1.8 Ga orogenic event. The two orogeneses overlapped in time and may have contributed to the cratonization of a possible unified South China, and are referred to be linked with the assembly of the Nuna Supercontinent. The subsequent late Paleoproterozoic to early Mesoproterozoic rift successions and intrusions (1.7–1.5 Ga) in the southwestern Yangtze Block, and the ca. 1.43 Ga rifting in Hainan Island of the Cathaysia Block could be responses to the Nuna break-up. Late Mesoproterozoic (1.2–1.0 Ga) magmatism of varied age and nature in different localities of the Yangtze Block is reflective of a complex tectonic process in the context of the assembly of the Rodinia Supercontinent. Similar-aged metamorphism (1.3–1.0 Ga) is recorded in Hainan Island, reflecting the Grenvillian continental collision during the Rodinia assembly, but further studies are necessary to better constrain the late Mesoproterozoic tectonic framework of South China.     

扬子陆块~2.0 Ga的区域变质事件对南北黄陵古元古代差异演化的启示

扬子陆核黄陵地区发育较为完整的太古宙—古元古代片麻岩、表壳岩组合(即崆岭杂岩),前人调查研究认为南北黄陵Ar-Pt1具有一致的物质组成和地质演化过程。笔者分别对南北黄陵太古宙花岗质片麻岩进行锆石年代学研究发现,北黄陵2件样品(HL013-1、HL013-2)均存在大量锆石发育岩浆核-变质边结构,都获得～2.8 Ga原岩结晶年龄和～2.0 Ga变质年龄;而南黄陵1件样品(HL005-3)以具振荡环带结构的岩浆锆石为主,仅获得～2.9 Ga原岩结晶年龄。结合前人研究成果发现,～2.0 Ga的变质年龄在北黄陵太古宙—古元古代的花岗片麻岩、表壳岩中广泛发育,而在南黄陵相似建造中均未获得,一定程度上说明北黄陵地区广泛遭受～2.0 Ga的区域变质作用而南黄陵不发育,南北黄陵在古元古代可能处在不同地块或者同一地块不同部位。2.1～1.6 Ga的构造岩浆事件的分布特点说明扬子陆块可能存在多条古元古代造山带,扬子陆块古元古代以多块体拼贴为特点,广泛记录2.1～1.6 Ga的构造岩浆事件说明扬子陆块是全球哥伦比亚超大陆的重要组成部分。     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the Neogene coral reefs,Xisha Islands,South China Sea: implications for tectonic evolution

The Xisha Block is a minor one in the South China Sea and an important tectonic unit in the northwestern part of the region. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages for three volcanic intrusive core samples from Xike-1, an exploratory well penetrating the bioherms of the Xisha Islands. The core samples are from the Miocene reef carbonate bedrock and are recognized as dark-gray biotite-hornblende gabbro, gray fine-grained biotite diorite, and gray fine-grained granite, respectively. Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images and trace Th, U and Pb compositions of the zircons show that these rocks are of volcanic intrusive origin. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating yielded six groups of ages, ranging from 2451-1857 Ma to early Cretaceous, which indicate that the formation and evolution of the Xisha Block was affected by the evolution and closure of Neotethys Ocean, probably within its eastern extension into South China Sea. Both old, deep-sourced material, including fragments from Rodina supercontinent, and recent mantle-derived magma products contributed to the emergence and formation of the Xisha block. The SHRIMP U-Pb results also proved that this process differed from that of the Kontum massif, the Hainan Block, and the South China Block, but is similar to that of the Nansha and Zhongsha blocks. The process was associated with the effects of Yanshanian magmatism induced by subduction mechanisms of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or the reworking of the multiple magmatisms since the Early to mid-Yanshanian, possibly jointly experienced by the Xisha-Zhongsha-Nansha Block.     

西藏西北部浅变质石英砂岩岩石学特征及其构造意义

羌塘盆地中央隆起带主要由浅变质石英砂岩组成,由于化石匮乏、变形强烈,长期以来对这套浅变质石英砂岩成因的争议颇大,导致了对藏西北地区前中生代构造演化的认识长期模糊不清,其中,何处才是冈瓦纳大陆北界就是一个长期争论的议题。在西藏西北部,近东西走向的布尔嘎错断裂带将北部的查多岗日地块与南部的南羌塘地块分隔开,浅变质石英砂岩广泛出露于这两地块之内。沿近东西走向布尔嘎错断裂带断续产出的冈玛错蓝片岩、蛇绿岩等岩片大体呈南北向逆冲于浅变质石英砂岩之上,因此早期曾认为布尔嘎错断裂带是冈瓦纳大陆之北界。本文的调查与研究发现查多岗日和南羌塘地块内浅变质石英砂岩岩相学特征完全相同,均主要由石英组成,遭受了绿片岩相的变质作用,形成了钠长石+绿泥石+白云母组合,充填于早期石英颗粒之间,钠长石交代钾长石。这两地的浅变质石英砂岩均被未变质钙质胶结的钾长石石英砂岩平行不整合覆盖。碎屑锆石的阴极发光分析与U-Pb定年结果进一步证实了查多岗日与南羌塘地块内浅变质石英砂岩内的锆石来源完全相同。这些证据充分反映了查多岗日与南羌塘地块早期构造演化过程相似,源自同一大陆。碎屑锆石定年结果进一步表明浅变质石英砂岩的最大沉积年龄为520±8Ma,该岩石再被约480Ma的花岗岩脉侵入,因此其很可能形成于晚寒武世,而不整合面之上沉积岩的最大沉积年龄为460±8Ma,表明该不整合面上、下沉积岩之间存在明显的沉积间断,证实了该平行不整合面形成于奥陶纪。不整合面之下的浅变质石英砂岩因此与杨耀等(2014)报道的荣玛组相同,不整合面之上未变质长石石英砂岩则属于中上奥陶统塔石山组。查多岗日地块因此是西藏境内最北端的冈瓦纳大陆的碎块。在西藏西北部,冈瓦纳大陆北界为龙木错-帮达错-(83°40'E、35°N)-红脊山-荣玛乡。布尔嘎错断裂带不是冈瓦纳大陆之北界。     

洛南任家滩-荞麦山正长斑岩成因及其对古元古代晚期裂解的指示--岩石化学及锆石U-Pb年龄和Lu-Hf同位素特征

华北克拉通南缘的陕西洛南-河南豫西地区出露一系列形成于1.8~1.6Ga的碱性岩,对这些碱性岩的研究有助于提高对华北克拉通南缘古元古代构造环境的认识。本文选取陕西省洛南县任家滩-荞麦山一带碱性侵入体进行系统的岩石学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学、Lu-Hf同位素分析和岩石地球化学研究,讨论了其成因机制和构造背景。研究表明,任家滩-荞麦山岩体的主体岩性为正长斑岩,加权平均年龄为1689±20Ma（MSWD=0.12）,表明其侵位时代为古元古代。该岩体富碱（Na2O+K2O=7.95% ~ 9.5%）,高钾（K2O=4.67% ~ 8.51%）;稀土元素总量较高（496.15×10-6 ~ 650.16×10-6,平均543.06×10-6）,轻、重稀土元素分馏比较明显,轻稀土元素相对富集（LREE=454×10-6 ~ 605×10-6）,重稀土元素亏损（HREE=39.3×10-6 ~ 45.6×10-6）,具有弱负铕异常;K、Rb、Ba、Th富集,Nb、Ta、P、Ti亏损,并且具有明显的Sr负异常。εHf（t）值<0,TDM1值为2038 ~ 2218Ma,TDM2值为2250 ~ 2516Ma,说明岩浆源区物质与富集地幔有关或受到过地壳物质的混染。因此,任家滩-荞麦山岩体是由地幔玄武质岩浆与地壳基底太华杂岩形成的中酸性花岗质岩浆混合后形成的熔体,经强烈的结晶分异作用形成的,其形成于陆内裂谷的构造环境,是华北克拉通南缘对哥伦比亚超大陆裂解事件的响应。     

桂北地区丹洲群碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

桂北丹洲群顶部拱洞组粉砂岩的碎屑锆石的阴极发光图像和Th/U(0.2~2.4)值显示,它们均为岩浆成因的锆石。锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)Pb年龄分布在730~769Ma和771~850Ma之间,这些锆石的Hf同位素成分范围较大,ε_(Hf)(t)值和二阶段Hf模式年龄(T_(DM2))分别为-18.4~11.4和1020~2812Ma。此外,样品中还有一些年龄较老的锆石颗粒,~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄为1910~3140Ma,ε_(Hf)(t)值和二阶段Hf模式年龄(T_(DM2))分别为-13.6~3.4和2740~3635Ma。结合前人的研究推测,桂北丹洲群拱洞组沉积年龄小于等于706±10Ma,物源主要由扬子板块新元古代岩浆岩组成,也有少量太古宙岩浆岩的加入。推测中国华南地区存在对应于Rodinia超大陆聚合相关的格林威尔运动的响应。根据已测锆石的ε_(Hf)(t)值和Hf二阶段模式年龄推断,研究区地壳生长主要经历3个阶段:(1)3.64~3.25Ga,初生地壳出现在3.64Ga;(2)2.98~2.37Ga;(3)2.19~1.28Ga,地壳生长的主要时期。     

新元古代重大地质事件及其与生物演化的耦合关系

新元古代的地球表层系统经历了超大陆裂解与重组、大规模冰期、古海洋氧化、埃迪卡拉生物群辐射与灭绝、后生动物兴起等一系列重大变革，这些地质事件与生物演化在时空上的耦合关系长期受多学科交叉研究领域的广泛关注。Rodinia超大陆的裂解伴随有超级地幔柱活动、古地磁真极移等复杂响应，裂解过程影响了大气圈和水圈中氧气和二氧化碳的循环，并可能直接导致了新元古代极端的气候条件。构造格局的变动对生物的影响主要体现在物质来源和生存环境的改变上，强上升洋流和强地表径流区域的富营养化促使生物大量繁盛。“雪球地球”期间巨大的选择压力为生物的多样化演变提供了可能，而其后冰川的快速消融则促进了生产力的爆发式增长及多种沉积矿产的形成。与此同时，大气-海洋氧气含量的增加和海水化学结构的改变使得多项元素及同位素指标发生了地质历史上最大幅度的波动，这种特殊的地质背景可能最终对生物演化产生了极为深刻的影响。     

滇中禄丰地区中元古代早期球颗玄武岩的锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其大地构造意义

在1∶5万区域地质调查的基础上,在禄丰地区东川群黑山组新发现了球颗玄武岩及凝灰岩夹层。采用LA-ICP-MS技术测得球颗玄武岩和凝灰质板岩中锆石U-Pb加权平均年龄分别为1678±10 Ma和1572±19 Ma,表明黑山组沉积时代为中元古代早期;其中球颗玄武岩SiO_2含量介于40.83%～52.56%,δEu正异常,大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba和高场强元素Nb、Ta、Th等强不相容元素相对富集,全岩地球化学显示为大陆板内低钛拉斑海相玄武岩,形成于伸展的构造环境,可能为Columbia超大陆裂解的产物。本次的发现,为准确地标定东川群时代、层序及大地构造属性提供新的参考依据,也为重塑整个滇中前寒武纪地层格架提供时代约束。     

陕西小秦岭地区太华群的锆石U-Pb年龄和 Hf同位素组成

本文对陕西华山岩体南侧一个太华群黑云斜长片麻岩进行了地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素分析.地球化学分析显示其原岩为中酸性钙碱性花岗质岩石,稀土含量较低( ∑REE =83.13×10-6),但富集Pb和LILE元素(如Rb、Ba).锆石的176Hf/177Hf比值变化于0.281258～0.281404,具明显负的εHf(t)值(-6.86～- 11.23).锆石的Hf同位素模式年龄(2.96 ～3.24Ga)表明原岩是由中太古代地壳演化而来.对比显示小秦岭太华群黑云斜长片麻岩与鲁山地区的太华群具有相似的中太古代地壳源区,但它们的形成时代可能不同.锆石内部结构、Th/U比值以及定年结果显示小秦岭地区的太华群在～1.91Ga经历了一期重要的变质热事件,该事件与Columbia超大陆拼合时的全球性碰撞造山事件相关联.小秦岭太华群为华北克拉通块体南缘的地质单元,但各地区太华群在原岩组成、形成时代和变质时代上具有不同的特征,太华群应是一个杂岩体,至少可以解体为新太古代和古元古代两部分.     

前寒武纪地质学研究进展与前景

前寒武纪地质学是地质科学重要分支学科之一,以地球早期演化历史为主要研究对象。近几年我国前寒武纪地层学、前寒武纪构造演化、前寒武纪古生物学和前寒武纪成矿作用等方面的研究取得重要进展。在高精度微区测年技术的支持下,相继建立了鞍山、泰山和五台山等早前寒武纪经典地区的年代格架,推动了华北克拉通早前寒武纪构造格架的研究;中国晚前...