scholarly journals Proterozoic−Phanerozoic tectonic evolution of the Qilian Shan and Eastern Kunlun Range, northern Tibet

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Wu ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Andrew V. Zuza ◽  
Peter J. Haproff ◽  
Xuanhua Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
North China ◽  
The South ◽  
The North ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
North And South ◽  
North Qilian ◽  
Early Neoproterozoic

The Proterozoic−Phanerozoic tectonic evolution of the Qilian Shan, Qaidam Basin, and Eastern Kunlun Range was key to the construction of the Asian continent, and understanding the paleogeography of these regions is critical to reconstructing the ancient oceanic domains of central Asia. This issue is particularly important regarding the paleogeography of the North China-Tarim continent and South China craton, which have experienced significant late Neoproterozoic rifting and Phanerozoic deformation. In this study, we integrated new and existing geologic field observations and geochronology across northern Tibet to examine the tectonic evolution of the Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun continent and its relationships with the North China-Tarim continent to the north and South China craton to the south. Our results show that subduction and subsequent collision between the Tarim-North China, Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun, and South China continents occurred in the early Neoproterozoic. Late Neoproterozoic rifting opened the North Qilian, South Qilian, and Paleo-Kunlun oceans. Opening of the South Qilian and Paleo-Kunlun oceans followed the trace of an early Neoproterozoic suture. The opening of the Paleo-Kunlun Ocean (ca. 600 Ma) occurred later than the opening of the North and South Qilian oceans (ca. 740−730 Ma). Closure of the North Qilian and South Qilian oceans occurred in the Early Silurian (ca. 440 Ma), whereas the final consumption of the Paleo-Kunlun Ocean occurred in the Devonian (ca. 360 Ma). Northward subduction of the Neo-Kunlun oceanic lithosphere initiated at ca. 270 Ma, followed by slab rollback beginning at ca. 225 Ma evidenced in the South Qilian Shan and at ca. 194 Ma evidenced in the Eastern Kunlun Range. This tectonic evolution is supported by spatial trends in the timing of magmatism and paleo-crustal thickness across the Qilian-Qaidam-Kunlun continent. Lastly, we suggest that two Greater North China and South China continents, located along the southern margin of Laurasia, were separated in the early Neoproterozoic along the future Kunlun-Qinling-Dabie suture.

Formation Age of the Qinling Complex and the early Paleozoic Tectonic Event

2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
Yu Shi ◽  
Xi Jun Liu ◽  
Zuo Hai Feng
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
North China Craton ◽  
North China ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Tectonic Event ◽  
The North ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Early Neoproterozoic

The Qinling orogenic belt (QOB) located between the North China Craton (NCC) and the South China Craton (SCC) is composed of the Northern Qinling Belt (NQB) and the Southern Qinling Belt (SQB). This study presents new geochemical data, zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes from two rocks from the Qinling complex in the NQB. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results suggest that the Qinling complex was formed in early Neoproterozoic and experienced the early Paleozoic metamorphism. HighεHf(t) values of 9.0-12.0 for the early Paleozoic zircons indicated that there is mantle-derived magma intruding into the Qinling complex in the early Paleozoic.

Mesozoic Hydrothermal Overprint on Carboniferous Bauxite in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixue Wang ◽  
Qingfei Wang ◽  
I. Tonguç Uysal ◽  
Erick Ramanaidou ◽  
Jun Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Raman Spectra ◽  
South China ◽  
Intensity Ratio ◽  
North China ◽  
South China Block ◽  
The South ◽  
North China Block ◽  
The North ◽  
North And South

Abstract Bauxite is the world’s main source of aluminum and typically consists of gibbsite, boehmite, and minor amounts of diaspore. However, bauxite deposits from the North and South China blocks consist mostly of diaspore and associated minerals, including anatase and illite. Much of this illite is authigenic and occurs as three polytypes (1M, 1Md, and 2M1), with Kübler indices ranging from 0.23 to 0.47 indicating precipitation temperatures of 175° to 300°C. The Raman spectra of anatase show an intensity ratio of <1.5 for G (~1,600 cm–1) and D bands (~1,350 cm–1) diagnostic of organic matter, suggesting its presence during bauxite sedimentation followed by heating (165° to 270°C). The K-Ar ages of authigenic illite from the South China block (178–137 Ma) and the North China block (214–203 Ma) are synchronous with known regional Mesozoic tectono-thermal events generating hydrothermal overprints resulting in (1) the formation of illite, (2) the conversion of some diaspores from thermal of gibbsite and boehmite, and (3) the heating of anatase postsedimentation of the Carboniferous bauxites.

Internal versus external locations of the South China Craton within Rodinia during the Cryogenian: Provenance history of the Nanhua Basin

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangyou Zhu ◽  
Huichuan Liu ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Weiyan Chen ◽  
Jianwei Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mantle Plume ◽  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Yangtze Block ◽  
The South ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
T Values

Contrasting models for internal versus external locations of the South China Craton (SCC) in the supercontinent Rodinia and associated mantle plume or ocean subduction dominated tectonic processes can be resolved by detrital zircon U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses on the Cryogenian Nanhua Supergroup in the central SCC. Our results show that samples from the lower Liantuo, Tiesi’ao, and Datangpo formations of the Nanhua Supergroup show three age peaks at 2.50 Ga, 2.05 Ga, and 0.85 Ga, and those of the upper Nantuo Formation yield four peaks at 2.50 Ga, 2.05 Ga, 0.85 Ga, and 0.65 Ga. The Archean and Paleoproterozoic (1.80−2.10 Ga) zircons have εHf(t) values of −16.3 to +4.7 and −23.0 to +4.2, and may be sourced from the Kongling and Douling complexes and Paleoproterozoic intrusions in the northern Yangtze Block, respectively. Early Neoproterozoic (0.70−0.96 Ga) zircon grains show variable εHf(t) values of −20.0 to +15.0. In combination with the absence of Mesoproterozoic detrital zircons in the Nanhua Supergroup, huge volumes of Neoproterozoic granitic intrusions in the northern Yangtze Block are the potential sources for the 0.70−0.96 Ga detrital zircons. Only the siltstone of the Nantuo Formation has late Neoproterozoic (0.63−0.69 Ga) detrital zircons with high and positive εHf(t) values (+7.9 to +9.4). Several granitoid intrusions (0.63−0.68 Ga) in the Wudang and Ankang uplift of the South Qinling belt in the northern Yangtze Block provide the late Neoproterozoic detrital zircons of the Nantuo Formation. These provenance analyses of the Nanhua Supergroup indicate an interior source from the SCC, rather than an exterior source from the Laurentia and Australia cratons. The Neoproterozoic rift basins and magmatic rocks in the SCC were produced by secular episodic subductions and back-arc extensions, rather than a Neoproterozoic super-mantle plume. The SCC occupied a peripheral position adjacent to northern India in Rodinia during the Neoproterozoic. These conclusions will promote our understanding of genetic mechanism and distribution prediction of the several Cryogenian−Cambrian black-shale layers and excellent source rocks in the SCC.

Detrital zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes study of the Longshoushan Belt in the southwestern margin of the Alxa Block: Constraints on the tectonic evolution and affinity of the Alxa Block

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingna Liu ◽  
Changqing Yin ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Jiahui Qian ◽  
Kaiyuan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China Craton ◽  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
North China ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Hexi Corridor ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
The North ◽  
Southwestern Margin ◽  
North Qilian

<p>     The tectonic evolution and affinity of the Alxa Block has long been controversial. The NW-SE trending Longshoushan Belt is in the southwestern margin of the Alxa Block, separated the Qilian Block. In this study, we present zircon U-Pb and Hf-isotope data of the middle and eastern Longshoushan, which could constrain the provenance and formation age of the Longshoushan Belt, and further constrain the tectonic evolution and affinity of the Alxa Block. The U-Pb ages of the detrital zircons from the amphibolite-facies metamorphosed volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the middle Longshoushan range from 3006 to 1981 Ma (peak at 2010 Ma), which were consistent with the Alxa Block and the western North China Craton, indicating that the middle Longshoushan was deposited in the Palaeoproterozoic, not in the Archean, and had tectonic affinity with the Alxa Block and the western North China Carton. Combined with the identical crustal growth events at 2.4-2.5 Ga of the middle Longshoushan, the Alxa Block and the western North China Craton, the Alxa Block was an integrated part of the Western Block of the North China Craton. The U-Pb ages of the detrital zircons from the greenschist-facies metamorphosed volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the eastern Longshoushan range from 3389 to 529 Ma (peak at 2.5 Ga and 1.0 Ga), which were highly consistent with Hexi Corridor, indicating that the eastern Longshoushan was deposited in the Cambrian, and had an affinity with the Hexi Corridor. In the Early Palaeozoic, the North Qilian Ocean subducted the Alxa Block and formed a typical trench-arc-basin system. With the closure of the North Qilian Ocean, the Central Qilian Block collided with the Alxa Block, formed the eastern Longshoushan, which was a foreland basin in the Hexi Corridor.</p>

Palaeomagnetism, North China and South China collision, and the Tan-Lu fault

1990 ◽  
Vol 331 (1620) ◽  
pp. 589-598 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
North China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Polar Wander ◽  
The North ◽  
Indosinian Orogeny ◽  
North And South ◽  
Transcurrent Faults

Refined Apparent Polar Wander (APW) paths for the North and South China Blocks (ncb and scb) are presented and the collision between the NCB and SCB discussed. We suggest that the amalgamation of the NCB and SCB was completed in the late Triassic-early Jurassic, during the Indosinian Orogeny. This proposed timing is based on an analysis of palaeomagnetic signatures relating to continental collisions, such as the convergence of palaeolatitude, deflections of declination, hairpin-like loops in and superposition of APW paths. Like the Cenozoic India—Eurasia collision, the Mesozoic NCB- SCB collision reactivated ancient faults in eastern China, converting some of them into transcurrent faults, of which the Tan-Lu fault is the most famous.

Provenance of Carboniferous strata (the Meishan Group) on the northern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt and implications of oblique convergence between the North and South China blocks

2021 ◽  
Vol 91 (9) ◽  
pp. 1010-1023
Author(s):  
Cheng Cheng ◽  
Shuangying Li ◽  
Xiangyang Xie ◽  
Yanlin Lu ◽  
Arthur B. Busbey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Orogenic Belt ◽  
South China Block ◽  
The South ◽  
North China Block ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
The North ◽  
Dabie Orogenic Belt ◽  
Oblique Convergence ◽  
North And South

ABSTRACT The newly defined Carboniferous Meishan Group, along the northern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt, provides unique opportunities to document the poorly understood Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Dabie orogenic belt and the Paleozoic convergence between the North and South China blocks. We apply sandstone petrology, geochemistry, and U-Pb detrital-zircon geochronology to constrain the provenance of the Carboniferous Meishan Group and to document its potential tectonic significance. We conclude that the Meishan Group received most sediment directly from early Paleozoic continental island arc rocks that are currently missing in the Dabie orogenic belt, with minor contributions from middle Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks of the South China Block and recycling of Archean to Proterozoic basement rocks of both the North and South China blocks. Compilation and comparison of detrital zircons and geochemistry data of the Silurian–Devonian and Carboniferous units suggests that all of them share similar source areas, but that individual contributions from each source were different. These results support the hypothesis that the Dabie orogenic belt developed a similar Paleozoic accretionary system, and shares a similar tectonic history, with the Qinling orogenic belt. These provenance patterns can be explained by a model of oblique convergence between the North and South China blocks during the Paleozoic. The South China Block was obliquely subducted beneath the North China Block with its opening to the east, forming an eastward-widening sedimentary basin. As a result, the eastern part of the basin received more sediment from the northern passive margin of the South China Block, while the western part of the basin received more material from the southern active margin of the North China Block.

U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from pre-Devonian sequences along the southeast Yangtze: a link to the final assembly of East Gondwana

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (06) ◽  
pp. 950-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAO MA ◽  
KUNGUANG YANG ◽  
ALI POLAT
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Internal Source ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Sedimentary Sequences ◽  
The North ◽  
Final Assembly ◽  
South China Craton ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic ◽  
Early Palaeozoic

AbstractThe Early Palaeozoic geology of the South China Craton (SCC) is characterized by an Early Palaeozoic intracontinental orogen with folded pre-Devonian strata and migmatites, MP/MT metamorphic rocks and Silurian post-orogenic peraluminous magmatic rocks in both the Yangtze and the Cathaysia blocks. In this contribution, we present new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for detrital zircons from the Neoproterozoic to Silurian sedimentary sequences in the southeastern Yangtze Block. Samples from Neoproterozoic rocks generally display a major peak at 900–560 Ma, whereas samples from Lower Palaeozoic rocks are characterized by several broader peaks within the age ranges 600–410 Ma, 1100–780 Ma, 1.6–1.2 Ga and 2.8–2.5 Ga. Provenance analysis indicates that the 900–630 Ma detritus in Cryogenian to Ediacaran samples was derived from the Late Neoproterozoic igneous rocks in South China that acted as an internal source. The occurrence of 620–560 Ma detritus indicates the SE Yangtze was associated with Late Neoproterozoic arc volcanism along the north margin of East Gondwana. The change of provenance resulted in the deposition of 550–520 Ma and 1.1–0.9 Ga detrital zircons in the Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks. The εHf(t) values of these detrital zircons are similar to those of zircons from NW Australia–Antarctica and South India. This change of provenance in the Cambrian can be attributed to the intracontinental subduction between South China and South Qiangtang, and the convergence of India and Australia when East Gondwana finally amalgamated.

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