Bai Lixin

Revised apparent polar wander path of the Yangtze Block and its tectonic implications

Paleornagnetic data, during the Phanerozoic obtained in the last 20 years in the Yangtze Block (YZB), are critically reviewed. A new apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the YZB is constructed by selected poles with objective reliable criteria, with a goal of placing constraints on the models of the formation and subsequent deformation and reconstructing the tectonic evolution history of this region.

New Cambrian paleomagnetic pole for Yangtze Block

A total of 120 samples from 12 sites were collected from two flanks of a fold. Stepwise thermal demagnetization has successfully revealed characteristic magnetization components from the rocks in each case. A well-defined component determined from red fine-grained sandstone is clustered in the northeasterly direction with shallow upward inclination (D = 29.3°,I= -19.2°,k = 283.7, α95 = 7.3°. tilt-corrected). The pole position (39.5°N, 247.3°E,dp = 4.0°,dm = 7.6°) derived from this component is close to the Permian pole for the Yangtze Block, indicating that the red fine-grained sandstone has been overprinted. The red mudstone reveals two characteristic components Component A with lower unblocking temperature, characterized by northerly declination and moderate to steep inclination corresponds to a pole position overlay with the present North Pole. Component B (D = 129.1°,I=-23.6°,k = 44.6, α95 = 7.8°, tilt-corrected) with higher unblocking temperature, passes fold test, and yields a pole position (39.5°S, 185.l°E,dp = 4.4°,dm = 8.3°) different from the other poles for the Yangtze Block. It is therefore suggested that component B was probably a primary magnetization and the Yangtze Block was situated at low latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere in the Middle Cambrian.

Rock magnetic properties of a loess-paleosol couple along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau

We have conducted detailed rock magnetic experiments on samples from loess unit 8 (L8) and paleosol unit 8 (S8) in Jingbian, Yichuan and Duanjiapo loess sections along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Major rock magnetic results are as follows: (i) An increase of high field susceptibility (χh) in the same level of loess or paleosol from north to south is observed, suggesting an enhancement of pedogenesis. (ii) The low field susceptibility(χL) in loess unit L8 is almost the same in three sections. In contrast, the χL of paleosol unit S8 in Yichuan is highest, and the χL of Duanjiapo is lower than that in Yichuan section, suggesting that there is not correlation between the χL and the degree of pedogenesis in loess-paleosols. (iii) With the increasing of χL, both the contents of the superparamagnetic (SP) and the ferrimagnetic grains in loess-paleosol increase, however, the enhancement of magnetic susceptibility is probably dependent more on the increase of the ferrimagnetic concentration than on a change in the grain size. (iv) The content of the maghemite in loess unit 8 increases from the northern to the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, and is positively correlated with the pedogenesis of the loess.We have conducted detailed rock magnetic experiments on samples from loess unit 8 (L8) and paleosol unit 8 (S8) in Jingbian, Yichuan and Duanjiapo loess sections along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Major rock magnetic results are as follows: (ⅰ) An increase of high field susceptibility ( χ h ) in the same level of loess or paleosol from north to south is observed, suggesting an enhancement of pedogenesis. (ⅱ) The low field susceptibility ( χ L ) in loess unit L8 is almost the same in three sections. In contrast, the χ L of paleosol unit S8 in Yichuan is highest, and the χ L of Duanjiapo is lower than that in Yichuan section, suggesting that there is not correlation between the χ L and the degree of pedogenesis in loess-paleosols. (ⅲ) With the increasing of χ L , both the contents of the superparamagnetic (SP) and the ferrimagnetic grains in loess-paleosol increase, however, the enhancement of magnetic susceptibility is probably dependent more on the increase of the ferrimagnetic concentration than on a change in the grain size. (ⅳ) The content of the maghemite in loess unit 8 increases from the northern to the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, and is positively correlated with the pedogenesis of the loess.

Remagnetization history of Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation on Wangcang section in Sichuan Province, China

An intensive paleomagnetic investigation has been conducted on the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation on the Wangcang section (32.14°N, 103. 17°E). The results indicate the magnetic minerals are dominant by multidomain magnetite or maghemite, and the characteristic remnant magnetization revealed by stepwise thermal/alternating field demagnetization is close to the present-day geomagnetic direction of the sampling site. This suggests that dolomitization/thermal viscous magnetization is responsible for the remagnetization of this kind of rocks.