中国西部壳幔结构与动力学过程及其对资源环境的制约:"羚羊计划"研究进展

为系统、深入地研究中国西部盆(盆地)、山(山脉)、原(高原)的壳幔结构与深部动力学过程,2003年我们提出并领导实施了“羚羊计划”(ANTILOPE-Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments),在青藏高原先后完成了羚羊-I(ANTILOPE-I)到羚羊-IV(ANTILOPE-IV)4条二维宽频带台阵剖面,而在青藏高原东西构造结则实施了羚羊-V和羚羊-VI两个三维宽频带台阵探测。另外,我们将前期在准噶尔盆地、天山造山带、塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地开展的九条综合地球物理观测剖面也纳入羚羊计划的总体框架中来。 通过“羚羊计划”的实施,我们在中国西部(包括西北部的环青藏高原盆山体系以及西南部的青藏高原)取得了大量的、高质量的、综合的第一手观测数据,获得了中国西部盆、山、原精细的壳幔结构,系统地揭示了中国西部盆山原的深部地球动力学过程。主要结论总结如下:确定了准噶尔盆地基底的结构与属性,优化了盆地的基底构造格架;建立了天山造山带“层间插入削减”新的陆内造山模式,揭示了印欧碰撞在天山岩石圈缩短44%的去向以及由洋-陆俯冲到陆-陆碰撞俯冲的转换机制;揭示了塔里木盆地、阿尔金造山带和柴达木盆地的盆山接触关系;获得了塔里木盆地顺时针旋转的深部几何学、运动学和动力学证据;确定了青藏高原之下印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞边界;发现目前的青藏高原由南部的印度板块、北部的欧亚板块和夹持于二者之间的巨型破碎区——西藏“板块”构成,首次确定了各自的岩石圈底边界;修正了高原变形的两个端员模型;建立了深部构造对地表地形的制约关系;系统地揭示了印度板块沿喜马拉雅造山带俯冲的水平距离与俯冲角度的变化规律与控制因素。 “羚羊计划”以其巨大的观测网络与综合地球物理探测技术,采用地球物理学、地质学、地球化学等不同学科相结合的分析方法,揭示了印度板块俯冲、西藏巨型破碎区发育、塔里木板块顺时针旋转、西部水汽通道提前关闭、中国西北部干旱、沙漠化提前这一深部结构、动力学过程及其对地表地形、油气资源和环境变化的制约关系,推动了青藏高原地球系统科学理论的发展。

Crust-mantle structure and geodynamic processes in western China and their constraints on resources and environment: Research progress of the ANTILOPE Project

In order to systematically and thoroughly study the crust-mantle structure and deep geodynamic processes of basins, mountains and plateaus of western China, we proposed and led the implementation of the ANTILOPE Project (Array Network of Tibetan International Lithospheric Observation and Probe Experiments) in 2003. So far, we have completed four 2D broadband arrays, ANTILOPE-I to ANTILOPE-IV, on the Tibetan Plateau, and deployed two 3D broadband arrays, ANTILOPE-V and ANTILOPE-VI, at the eastern and western Himalayan syntaxis, respectively. In addition, we included in our study framework nine comprehensive geophysical observation profiles previously obtained from the Junggar Basin, Tienshan Orogenic Belt, Tarim Basin, Altyn Orogenic Belt, and Qaidam Basin. Through the implementation of the ANTILOPE Project, we collected a large amount of high-quality, comprehensive first-hand observational data from western China (including the basin-mountain system surrounding the Tibetan Plateau in the northwest and the Tibetan Plateau in the southwest). The fine crust-mantle structure systematically reveals the deep geodynamic processes of the basin-mountain-plateau geosystem in western China. The up-to-date main research progress can be summarized as follows. The structure and properties of the basement of the Junggar Basin have been determined, and the basement structural framework has been optimized. A new intracontinental orogenic model of lithospheric subduction with crustal interlayer intrusion in the Tienshan Orogenic Belt has been established, which reveals the fate of the 44% shortened Tienshan lithosphere after the India-Eurasia collision and the conversion mechanism from ocean-continent subduction to continent-continent collision and subduction. Our results reveal the basin-mountain contact relationship between the Tarim Basin, Altyn Orogenic Belt and Qaidam Basin. We have obtained the deep geometric, kinematic and geodynamic evidence for the clockwise rotation of the Tarim Basin, and determined the collision boundary between the Indian and the Eurasian Plates under the Tibetan Plateau. We also found that the current Tibetan Plateau consists of the Indian Plate in the south, the Eurasian Plate in the north, and the giant crush zone—also called the “Tibetan Plate”—between them. For the first time, the respective lithospheric bottom boundaries are determined; two end-member models of plateau deformation are corrected; and the constraints of deep structures on the surface topography are established. Our result systematically reveals the changing pattern and controlling factors of the horizontal advancing distance and the subduction angle of the Indian Plate along the Himalayan Orogenic Belt. By combining a huge observation network with comprehensive geophysical detection technologies, the ANTILOPE Project adopts different methods, including geophysical, geological and geochemical methods, to reveal the subduction of the Indian continent, the development of the giant crush zone in Tibet, the clockwise rotation of the Tarim Block, the accelerated closure of the western water vapor channel, and the advance of aridification and desertification in northwest China and their constraints on surface topography, oil and gas resources, and environmental variations. The above results have promoted the development of the Earth system theory in the Tibetan Plateau.