New paleontological evidence on time determination of the east part of the Eastern Kunlun Mélange and its tectonic significance

New paleontological evidence suggests that the composition of the matrix and slices from the middle and the south of the Eastern Kunlun Melange Belt is very complex, ranging from Proterozoic to Mesozoic in geological time. A Cambrian acritarch assemblage has been discovered from the middle part of the Eastern Kunlun Melange, a Neoproterozoic to the early Paleozoic acritarch assemblage has been discovered from the south of the Eastern Kunlun Melange,and so has been an Early Permian radiolarian from the A'nyemaqen Melange in Buqingshan.In addition, some sporopollen has been obtained from the Mesozoic tectonic slices. The above-mentioned paleontological evidence indicates that the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt experienced two episodes from ocean to continent from the Neoproterozoic to the Early Paleozoic and in the Late Paleozoic respectively. In the process of intracontinent development in Mesozoic, because of heavy thrust-nappe, strike-slip sheer and crust shortening, the Mesozoic formation was intercalated in melange by slices and the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt became more complex.     

Origin of the Kunlun Mountains by arc-arc and arc-continent collisions

Abstract The Kunlun Mountains were formed by early Mesozoic arc-arc and arc-continent collisions. The Middle Kunlun Are was the outer volcanic arc of the Paleozoic Asiatic continent, and the arc-related magmatic activities from the Proterozoic to Mesozoic are recorded by numerous volcanic and plutonic rocks of the area. Several back-arc basins and relic arcs exist north of the arc and the north Kunlun arc is one of these. The Kudi mélange of Kunlun was formed in a south-dipping subduction zone when the basin between the north and middle Kunlun arcs was consumed by the process of back-arc basin collapse, and the ophiolite mélange marked the suture zone where the two arcs collided. The Mazar mélange was formed in the north-dipping subduction zone under the middle Kunlun arc, and the mélange marks the main Paleotethys suture where the Qogir-Karamilan rocks of the Qangtang block (a fragment of Gondwanaland) is sutured on to Laurentia. The geology of Kunlun emphasizes the importance of arc-arc and arc-continent collisions in mountain-building processes.     

藏北高原地壳及上地幔导电性结构——超宽频带大地电磁测深研究结果

为了研究西藏中、北部壳、幔导电性结构,讨论高原中、北部岩石圈热状态,1998年和1999年（INDEPTH（Ⅲ） MT）在西藏中、北部完成了德庆—龙尾错（500线）和那曲—格尔木（600线）超宽频带大地电磁深探测剖面的研究.研究结果表明,西藏中、北部以昆仑山断裂为界,其南北壳、幔电性结构有很大差异.昆仑山断裂以北地壳和上地幔为高阻区.而昆仑山以南,地壳和上地幔的导电性有明显的分层结构：地壳上部以不连续的高阻体为主,夹有局部低阻异常体,沿南北方向上地壳的电性结构复杂,具有不连续、分块的特点;但中、下地壳为大范围的高导异常区,区内发育有大规模、不相连续、产状各异的高导体,其电阻率均小于4Ωm;在班公—怒江和金沙江缝合带之下,壳内高导体都具有向上地幔延伸的趋势,存在连通壳、幔的低阻通道.根据西藏高原中、北部壳、幔电性结构的研究推断：如同藏南一样,这里也普遍存在部分熔融体和热流体,它们的成因主要与班公—怒江和金沙江缝合带的壳-幔热交换、热活动有关,这是两期形成的壳-幔热交换通道.其中,班公—怒江缝合带的壳-幔热交换通道形成时间比金沙江缝合带早.因此,研究区壳、幔的热活动是从南边和西边开始,向北、向东扩展,导致现今西藏中、北部地壳和上地幔的热流分布由西向东、由南向北增大.     

Seismicity,earthquake mechanisms and tectonics along the Himalayan mountain range and vicinity

The historical as well as recent seismicity data and the focal mechanism solutions for 48 earthquakes determined from the observations of world-wide standardized stations network (WWSSN) records, were used to investigate the tectonics of the Himalayan mountain system and vicinity. Seismicity maps of the region showing large earthquakes (magnitude 7.0 and above, and damaging earthquakes that caused fatalities) from the earliest time through 1976, and instrumentally located earthquakes for the period January 1963–March 1974 are presented. Eleven of these earthquakes are estimated to be of magnitude 8.0 and above. The earthquake epicenters generally follow the trend of the mountains with greatest concentrations of seismic activity occurring along the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges, and near the Quetta, Kashmir and Assam syntaxes. Throughout Tibet, however, the distribution of epicenters is rather irregular and no clear trends are apparent. Two aseismic lineaments, one west of the Sulaiman Range and the other in the Assam Valley, are identified. Also, seismic activity in the vicinity of the Counter Thrust (Indus-Tsangpo suture zone) is rather small. Based on the identification of these aseismic lineaments and from a consideration of the geometry and kinematics of the continental collision model, a hypothesis for the origin of the Himalayan syntaxes is presented.Focal mechanism solutions confirm northward underthrusting of the Indian Plate along the Main Boundary Thrust and Main Central Thrust system, and eastward underthrusting along the Burmese Arc. Fault-plane solutions indicate left-lateral motion along the Kirthar-Sulaiman Range, right-lateral motion along the Karakoram Fault, left-lateral motion along the eastern extremity of the Himalayan flank of the Assam syntaxis, and right-lateral motion along the northern part of the Naga Hill flank of the syntaxis. These observations are in agreement with the expected sense of lateral (parallel to the collision boundary) mass movement for the continental collision model. Focal mechanism solutions for three earthquakes in east Afghanistan show NW-SE compression. A near-vertical orientation of the axes of tension in the solutions for two earthquakes in the Hindu Kush region is consistent with the sinking of a remnant slab of oceanic lithospere. Normal fault-plane solutions showing NW-SE extension for two events near Gatok, Tibet, and for the recent Kinnaur earthquake are interpreted to indicate a possible subsurface northern continuation of the Aravalli Range of Peninsular India, and its involvement in the tectonic framework of the region. Focal mechanism solutions of three earthquakes near the southern edge of the Shillong Plateau suggest block uplift of the plateau as a horst along the Dauki Fault. The solution for one earthquake near the Yunnan Graben shows NE-SW extension.     

Crustal structure of northeastern Tibet inferred from receiver function analysis

Sponsored by National Science & Technology Committee, the cooperation between China Academy of Geoscience and Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, University Joseph, France conducted a lithospherical experiment using 40 Minititan 3-component and 13 CEIS 1-component seismometers along the road from Gonghe to Yushu in Qinghai Province during 5 months after June, 1998. The interested area is on the north of Bangong- Nujiang fault, the east of Qaidam basin, the south of Center Qilian fault and the west of Longmenshan fault. And the profile across most tectonic parts of Eastern Tibet such as Southern Qilian, Eastern Kunlun fault, Bayan Har terrane, Jinshajiang suture (Figure 1), which is the first seismological profile across Eastern Tibet (Qinghai-Tibet) and will be beneficial on the comparison with the results of its center parts, especially on the understanding of the effect of the thousands-kilometer-faraway collision between Eurasia Plate and Indian Plate on the uplifting of south and north part of Eastern Kunlun fault, and on the thickening of crust and the feature of deep structure of Qilian mountain on the north of Tibet Plateau.     

印度板块与欧亚板块在兴都库什-帕米尔地区相互俯冲的动力作用分析

兴都库什-帕米尔地区是印度板块与欧亚板块相互碰撞的强烈变形区域,也是中国大陆与周边板块动力传递的关键部位,明确该地区两大板块俯冲接触的几何形态和动力作用对研究区域动力环境具有实际意义.本文首先基于Hayes等在2009和2010年提出的Slab1.0的研究思路,利用地震参数准定量地给出两大板块在兴都库什-帕米尔地区碰撞接触的几何形态.结果表明,印度板块在兴都库什地区呈现自南往北的俯冲;欧亚板块在帕米尔地区呈现由北往南的俯冲;同时在兴都库什和帕米尔之间存在俯冲交汇区,在该区印度板块以北西方向、欧亚板块以南东方向相互俯冲.其次基于哈佛大学提供的震源机制解,对不同接触部位进行了应力张量反演,结果显示在兴都库什俯冲区域主要表现为逆冲性质,帕米尔弧西段主要表现为走滑性质,且均具有较好的一致性;而在俯冲交汇区域,走滑、逆冲性质并存,表现为震源机制一致性紊乱.结合两大板块接触的几何形态和区域应力场反演结果,认为印度板块在兴都库什地区主动往北俯冲,而欧亚板块在帕米尔地区被动往南东-南向俯冲,形成两大板块的相互俯冲.本文从几何形态和应力场反演分析两大板块在兴都库什-帕米尔地区碰撞的动力作用方式,可为该区域地球动力学相关研究提供基础资料.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of gases from the Upper,Lower Paleozoic and the Mesozoic reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin, the second largest sedimentary basin in China, contains the broad distribution of natural gas types. So far, several giant gas fields have been discovered in the Upper and Lower Paleozoic in this basin, each having over 1000×10⁸m³ of proven gas reserves, and several gas pools have also been discovered in the Mesozoic. This paper collected the data of natural gases and elucidated the geochemical characteristics of gases from different reservoirs, and then discussed their origin. For hydrocarbons preserved in the Upper Paleozoic, the elevated δ ¹³C values of methane, ethane and propane indicate that the gases would be mainly coal-formed gases; the singular reversal in the stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes suggests the mixed gases from humic sources with different maturity. In the Lower Paleozoic, the δ ¹³C₁ values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic, but the δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values are slightly lighter, suggesting that the gases would be mixing of coal-type gases as a main member and oil-type gases. There are multiple reversals in carbon isotopes for gaseous alkanes, especially abnormal reversal for methane and ethane (i.e. δ ¹³C₁>δ ¹³C₂), inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases. In the Mesozoic, the δ ¹³C values for gaseous alkanes are enriched in ¹²C, indicating that the gases are mainly derived from sapropelic sources; the carbon isotopic reversal for propane and butane in the Mesozoic is caused by microbial oxidation and mixing of gases from sapropelic sources with different maturity. In contrast to the Upper Paleozoic gases, the Mesozoic gases are characterized by heavier carbon isotopes of iso-butane than normal butane, which may be caused by gases generated from different kerogen types. Finally, according to δ ¹³C₁-R ₀ relationship and extremely low total organic carbon contents, the Low Paleozoic gases would not be generated from the Ordovician source as a main gas source, bycontrast, the Upper Paleozoic source as a main gas source is contributed to the Lower Paleozoic gases.

     

SHRIMP U–Pb ages of zircons from the Lengshuikeng ore field,North Wuyi Mountains,South China: Implications for dating volcaniclastic rocks

The Lengshuikeng Ag‐Pb‐Zn ore field is located in the North Wuyi Mesozoic volcanic belt south of the Qinzhou–Hangzhou suture zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia paleo‐plates. Previous zircon U–Pb geochronological studies on ignimbrites and tuffs from this area have yielded conflicting ages of 157–161 Ma (Early Upper Jurassic) and 137–144 Ma (Early Lower Cretaceous). Volcanic rocks in the ore field have even been proposed to include both ages. Our SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of the ignimbrite and tuff samples from the ore field, along with field observations and results from geochronological work on other volcanic and sub‐volcanic rocks in the region, shows that two populations of magmatic zircons, one autocrystic and the other xenocrystic, are present in the pyroclastic rocks. The autocrystic zircons have ages suggesting formation/eruption at approximately 140 Ma, whereas the xenocrystic zircons give ages of 155–159 Ma, indicating intrusion of granitic porphyries in the Early Upper Jurassic. Therefore, the pyroclastic rocks in the Lengshuikeng Ag–Pb–Zn ore field formed in the Early Lower Cretaceous. The youngest zircon U–Pb ages from pyroclastic rocks may not represent the formation/eruption ages of the host rock, depending most likely on the existence and/or abundance of juvenile or vitric pyroclasts in the rocks.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of gases from the Upper,Lower Paleozoic and the Mesozoic reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin, the second largest sedimentary basin in China, contains the broad distribution of natural gas types. So far, several giant gas fields have been discovered in the Upper and Lower Paleozoic in this basin, each having over 1000×10⁸m³ of proven gas reserves, and several gas pools have also been discovered in the Mesozoic. This paper collected the data of natural gases and elucidated the geochemical characteristics of gases from different reservoirs, and then discussed their origin. For hydrocarbons preserved in the Upper Paleozoic, the elevated δ ¹³C values of methane, ethane and propane indicate that the gases would be mainly coal-formed gases; the singular reversal in the stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes suggests the mixed gases from humic sources with different maturity. In the Lower Paleozoic, the δ ¹³C₁ values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic, but the δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ values are slightly lighter, suggesting that the gases would be mixing of coal-type gases as a main member and oil-type gases. There are multiple reversals in carbon isotopes for gaseous alkanes, especially abnormal reversal for methane and ethane (i.e. δ ¹³C₁>δ ¹³C₂), inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases. In the Mesozoic, the δ ¹³C values for gaseous alkanes are enriched in ¹²C, indicating that the gases are mainly derived from sapropelic sources; the carbon isotopic reversal for propane and butane in the Mesozoic is caused by microbial oxidation and mixing of gases from sapropelic sources with different maturity. In contrast to the Upper Paleozoic gases, the Mesozoic gases are characterized by heavier carbon isotopes of iso-butane than normal butane, which may be caused by gases generated from different kerogen types. Finally, according to δ ¹³C₁-R ₀ relationship and extremely low total organic carbon contents, the Low Paleozoic gases would not be generated from the Ordovician source as a main gas source, bycontrast, the Upper Paleozoic source as a main gas source is contributed to the Lower Paleozoic gases.     

喜马拉雅─祁连山地壳构造与大陆─大陆碰撞过程

在青藏高原,利用远震波形及演所得的Moho界面深度,其横向变化很大．在班公缝合带附近,Moho界面出现10余公里的错断．羌塘块体的Moho界面向北倾斜,而柴达木和巴颜喀拉的Moho界面向南倾斜．利用近震Pn的走时验证远震波形反演所得的Moho界面深度,两者的结果十分吻合．综合近来地球物理观测的结果。我们得到喜马拉雅─祁连山的地壳构造图,它贯穿印度─欧亚的碰撞带和中生代的陆─陆碰撞带．特提斯喜马拉雅和拉萨块体的地壳是由多个双向冲断层所组成,它们可以解释为在不同时期中,印度次大陆曾经数次向拉萨块体地壳挤入,而且羌塘块体的地壳也向拉萨块体的地壳挤入．测量冲断层的水平长度,可以定量估算自50Ma陆─陆碰撞以来,印度次大陆和羌塘块体向特提斯喜马拉雅和拉萨块体地壳挤入的长度．     

Rotational overthrusting of the northwestern Himalaya: further palaeomagnetic evidence from the Riasi thrust sheet, Jammu foothills, India

Thermal demagnetization results (316 samples) are presented for the Tertiary succession of the Riasi thrust sheet (Jammu foothills, northwestern Himalaya). Primary and secondary magnetization directions of Murree Group red beds (Miocene to Upper Eocene) sampled northeast of Jammu indicate, for this part of the Riasi thrust sheet, a clockwise rotation over about 45° with respect to the Indian shield since Late Eocene/Early Miocene time. This accords with clockwise rotations of similar magnitude observed in the Panjal Nappe and the Krol Belt, and is interpreted as representative for the northwestern Himalaya. Results from the western part of the Kalakot inlier, sampled northwest of Jammu, i.e. basal Murree claystone (Middle Eocene) and carbonate from the Subathu Group (lower Middle to Lower Eocene), indicate an aberrant 20–25° counterclockwise rotation which is of local importance only. Available observations on rotation of Himalayan thrust sheets with respect to the Indian shield, indicate that the Himalayan Arc has formed through oroclinal bending. This supports Powell and Conaghan's and Veevers et al.'s model of Greater India with large-scale intracontinental underthrusting along the Main Central Thrust beneath the Tibetan Plateau. Minimal magnitudes of underthrusting of 550 km in the Krol Belt and 650 km in the Thakkhola region are concluded. Palaeolatitude observations (herein and in [1[) agree with absolute positioning of the Indian plate based on India-Africa relative movement data fixed to a hotspot frame in the Atlantic Ocean, and with palaeolatitude observations from DSDP cores on the Indian plate. Collision-related secondary magnetic components observed both to the north and to the south of the Indus-Tsangpo Suture zone show palaeolatitudes between the equator and 7°N. Comparison of both datasets indicates that initial contact between Greater India and south-central Asia had been established in the Hindu Kush—Karakorum region by about 60 Ma ago whereas eastwards progressive suturing had advanced to the Lhasa Block segment of the Indus-Tsangpo Suture zone before 50 Ma ago.     

喜马拉雅─祁连山地壳构造与大陆─大陆碰撞过程

在青藏高原,利用远震波形及演所得的Moho界面深度,其横向变化很大．在班公缝合带附近,Moho界面出现10余公里的错断．羌塘块体的Moho界面向北倾斜,而柴达木和巴颜喀拉的Moho界面向南倾斜．利用近震Pn的走时验证远震波形反演所得的Moho界面深度,两者的结果十分吻合．综合近来地球物理观测的结果。我们得到喜马拉雅─祁连山的地壳构造图,它贯穿印度─欧亚的碰撞带和中生代的陆─陆碰撞带．特提斯喜马拉雅和拉萨块体的地壳是由多个双向冲断层所组成,它们可以解释为在不同时期中,印度次大陆曾经数次向拉萨块体地壳挤入,而且羌塘块体的地壳也向拉萨块体的地壳挤入．测量冲断层的水平长度,可以定量估算自50Ma陆─陆碰撞以来,印度次大陆和羌塘块体向特提斯喜马拉雅和拉萨块体地壳挤入的长度．     

Fluvial to bay sequence stratigraphy and seismic facies of the Cretaceous to Paleogene successions in the MITI Sanriku‐oki well and the vicinities,the Sanriku‐oki forearc basin,northeast Japan

This paper describes the significant depositional setting information derived from well and seismic survey data for the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene forearc basin sediments in the central part of the Sanriku‐oki basin, which is regarded as a key area for elucidating the plate tectonic history of the Northeast Japan Arc. According to the results of well facies analysis utilizing cores, well logs and borehole images, the major depositional environments were of braided and meandering fluvial environments with sporadically intercalated marine incursion beds. Seismic facies, reflection terminations and isopach information provide the actual spatial distributions of fluvial channel zones flowing in a north–south trending direction. The transgression and regression cycles indicate that the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene successions can be divided into thirteen depositional sequences (Sequences SrCr‐0 to SrCr‐5, and SrPg‐1 to SrPg‐7). These depositional sequences demonstrate three types of stacking patterns: Types A to C, each of which shows a succession mainly comprising a meandering fluvial system, a braided fluvial system with minor meandering aspects in the upper part, and major marine incursion beds in the middle part, respectively, although all show an overall transgressive to regressive succession. The Type C marine incursion beds characteristically comprise bay center and tidal‐dominated bay margin facies. Basin‐transecting long seismic sections demonstrate a roll up structure on the trench slope break (TSB) side of the basin. These facts suggest that during the Cretaceous to Eocene periods, the studied fluvial‐dominated forearc basin was sheltered by the uplifted TSB. The selective occurrences of the Type C sequences suggest that when a longer‐scale transgression occurred, especially in Santonian and early Campanian periods, a large bay basin was developed, creating accommodation space, which induced the deposition of the Cretaceous Kuji Group along the arc‐side basin margin.     

A precambrian suture in the Canadian shield

Linear belts of distinctive oceanic and geosynclinal deposits found on the continents have recently been interpreted as marking sutures or join lines between collided continents. Examples include the Indus Suture, the boundary between collided Mesozoic Indian and Laurasian continents, and the ophiolite belts of the Alps between early Tertiary and Mesozoic European and African continents. Both these sutures and other described examples are of Phanerozoic age although it has been suggested that older sutures exist.

A similar hypothesis to explain the nature of the boundary between the Churchill and Superior structural provinces is proposed which assumes that the mechanisms of plate tectonics were active in Aphebian times (2390−1640 my).

It is suggested that the Slave and Superior Archean protocontinents were once separated by Aphebian seas. The embryo Churchill Province at that time comprised a number of Archean continental fragments with associated island arcs, trenches and sedimentary basins. These coalesced during closure of the seas between the converging Slave and Superior protocontinents. Convergence was accomplished by consumption of oceanic lithosphere along several Aphebian subduction zones which caused the Hudsonian orogeny, formation of the Churchill Province, and tectonic deformation at the edges of the collided protocontinental blocks.

The suture peripheral to the Superior craton is the most easily recognized and is characterized by Aphebian geosynclinal and oceanic sedimentary, basic volcanic and ultramafic rocks, or their metamorphosed equivalents. The proposed suture extends from the Manitoba Nickel belt, via the Split Lake-Fox River region and eastern Hudson Bay, to the Cape Smith-Wakeham Bay belt and the Labrador Trough, Quebec.     

Research on the seismogenic environment for deep earthquake and the cause of earthquakes in Xinjiang and its adjacent areas

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中国及其邻区地球三维结构初始模型的建立

对人工地震测深及天然地震面波体波三维层折反演数据进行统一处理，建立了中国及其邻区地球三维结构初始模型．此模型图像表明，中国及其邻区地球各圈层横向变化明显．岩石圈及软流圈内速度分布主要反映这一区域自古生代以来板块及地块拼合模式．各主要板块或地块（塔里木、扬子、中朝、青藏、哈萨克斯坦、印度、印度支那）岩石圈增厚或有很深的地慢根，板块或地块间的造山带岩石圈减薄，软流圈速度降低。下地幔底部及核幔边界D″层出现高速异常，表明古太平洋及古特提斯洋俯冲板块因重力坍塌已进入地球深层，形成亚洲超级下降地幔柱。这一下降地幔柱引起地球表层物质向中亚、东亚地区集中，印度半岛、青藏高原、新疆、蒙古至贝加尔一带，成为全球岩石圈最大的汇聚场所．     

索伦-西拉木伦缝合带中段及周边区域面波层析成像

索伦-西拉木伦缝合带中段及周边区域先后经历了古生代古亚洲洋闭合、中生代蒙古鄂霍茨克洋闭合和中新生代太平洋俯冲等构造复合叠加,导致该区深部构造异常复杂。本研究从该区近年来累积的宽频地震探测资料的地震面波和环境噪音互相关格林函数中提取瑞雷波群速度频散,并据此反演区域尺度的三维横波速度。结果发现：区域地壳厚度横向变化不大,松辽盆地和下辽河盆地地壳比大兴安岭薄,地壳厚度与地形吻合表明这些地区基本达到重力均衡状态;而辽东隆起和渤海湾盆地地壳厚度与地形高度呈反相关,表明这些地区可能仍处于构造改造过程中。在80 km深度之下,波速分布则呈现与索伦-西拉木伦缝合带走向近似平行的东西向展布。以索伦-西拉木伦缝合带为界,南北两侧横波速分布复杂程度明显不同且南侧的东西两部分复杂程度也不同。这些结果表明区域受太平洋俯冲体系冲破坏程度存在明显差异,同时索伦-西拉木伦缝合带以南可能仍有古亚洲洋板片残留。     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages and trace element geochemistry of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur’ngoi diorite in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt,Qinghai, Western China and their geological implications

Timing of the intermediate-basic igneous rocks developed in the area of Kuhai-A’nyêmaqên along the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt is a controversial issue. This paper presents new zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating data for igneous zircons from the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur’ngoi diorite in the Kuhai-A’nyemaqen tectonic belt, which are 555±9 Ma and 493±6 Ma, respectively. The trace element geochemical features of the Kuhai gabbro and the Dur’ngoi diorite are similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB) and island arc basalts (IAB), respectively. Thus, the Kuhai gabbro with the age of 555±9 Ma and OIB geochemical features is similar to the Yushigou oceanic ophiolite in the North Qilian orogen, whereas the Dur’ngoi diorite with the age of 493±6 Ma and IAB geochemical features is similar to the island arc volcanic rocks developed in the north Qaidam. The Late Neoproterozoic to Early Ordovician ophiolite complex in the area of Kuhai-A’nyêmaqên suggests that the southern margin of the “Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun” archipelagic ocean in this period was located in the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt. Therefore, the southern east Kunlun tectonic belt in the early Paleozoic is not comparable to the Mianlüe tectonic belt in the Qinling orogenic belt.

     

Paleozoic ophiolites and blueschists in Japan and Russian Primorye in the tectonic framework of East Asia: A synthesis

Abstract   Ophiolites and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks are studied to test continuation of Paleozoic and early Mesozoic geological units from Japan to Primorye over the Japan Sea. The early Paleozoic ophiolites are present on both sides, and the late Paleozoic ophiolite of south-western Japan may also have its counterpart in Primorye. The Shaiginskiy HP schist and the associated Avdakimov gneiss in Primorye, both tectonically underlying the early Paleozoic ophiolitic complex, yield a 250-Ma phengite and hornblende K–Ar age, which is intermediate between those of the Renge (280–330 Ma) and Suo (170–220 Ma) blueschists in south-western Japan. This age also coincides with that of the coesite-bearing eclogites in the Sulu–Dabie suture in China and several medium-pressure metamorphic rocks in East Asia. On the basis of these results and other geological data, the authors propose the 'Yaeyama promontory' model for an eastward extension of the Sulu–Dabie suture. The collision suture warps southward into the Yellow Sea and detours around Korea, turns to the north at Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Archipelago of Ryukyu, where it changes into a subduction zone and further continues toward south-western Japan and Primorye. Most ophiolites from this area represent crust–mantle fragments of an island arc–back-arc basin system, and the repeated formation of ophiolite–blueschist associations may be due to the repetition of the Mariana-type non-accreting subduction and Nankai-type accreting subduction.     

Tectonic evolution of the Western Kunlun orogenic belt in northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau:Evidence from zircon SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology

The Western Kunlun Range in northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is composed of the North Kunlun Terrane,the South Kunlun Terrane and the Karakorum-Tianshuihai Terrane. Here we report zircon SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages of some metamorphic and igneous rocks and field observations in order to pro-vide a better understanding of their Precambrian and Palaeozoic-early Mesozoic tectonic evolution. Based on these data we draw the following conclusions: (1) The paragneisses in the North Kunlun Terrane are likely of late Mesoproterozoic age rather than Palaeoproterozoic age as previously thought,representing tectonothermal episodes at 1.0―0.9 Ga and ～0.8 Ga. (2) The North Kunlun Terrane was an orogenic belt accreted to the southern margin of Tarim during late Mesoproterozoic to early Neopro-terozoic,the two episodes of metamorphisms correspond to the assemblage and breakup of Rodinia respectively. (3) The Bulunkuole Group in western South Kunlun Terrane,which was considered to be the Palaeoproterozoic basement of the South Kunlun Terrane by previous studies,is now subdivided into the late Neoproterzoic to early Palaeozoic paragneisses (khondalite) and the early Mesozoic metamorphic volcano-sedimentary series; the paragneisses were thrust onto the metamorphic vol-cano-sedimentary series from south to north,with two main teconothermal episodes (i.e.,Caledonian,460―400 Ma,and Hercynian-Indosinian,340―200 Ma),and have been documented by zircon U-Pb ages. (4) In the eastern part of the South Kunlun Terrane,a gneissic granodiorite pluton,which intruded the khondalite,was crystallized at ca. 505 Ma and metamorphosed at ca. 240 Ma. In combination with geochronology data of the paragneiss,we suggest that the South Kunlun Terrane was a Caledonian accretionary orogenic belt and overprinted by late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic arc magmatism.