Mo Xuanxue

Volcanism and the evolution of Tethys in Sanjiang area, southwestern China

Abstract The spatial and temporal distribution pattern, and the tectonomagmatic types of volcanic rocks in the Sanjiang area in southwestern China are described. A preliminary model for the evolution of Sanjiang Tethys with petrotectonic constraints is shown to consist of the following four successive stages: (1) late Palaeozoic ocean spreading-dominant stage, (2) early Mesozoic subduction-dominant stage, (3) late Mesozoic collisional orogenic stage and (4) Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic stage.

Post-collisional crustal extension setting and VHMS mineralization in the Jinshajiang orogenic belt, southwestern China

Abstract The Jinshajiang orogenic belt (JOB) of southwestern China, located along the eastern margin of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen, includes a collage of continental blocks joined by Paleozoic ophiolitic sutures and Permian volcanic arcs. Three major tectonic stages are recognized based on the volcanic–sedimentary sequence and geochemistry of volcanic rocks in the belt. Westward subduction of the Paleozoic Jinshajiang oceanic plate at the end of Permian resulted in the formation of the Chubarong–Dongzhulin intra-oceanic arc and Jamda–Weixi volcanic arc on the eastern margin of the Changdu continental block. Collision between the volcanic arcs and the Yangtze continent block during Early–Middle Triassic caused the closing of the Jinshajiang oceanic basin and the eruption of high-Si and -Al potassic rhyolitic rocks along the Permian volcanic arc. Slab breakoff or mountain-root delamination under this orogenic belt led to post-collisional crustal extension at the end of the Triassic, forming a series of rift basins on this continental margin arc. Significant potential for VHMS deposits occurs in the submarine volcanic districts of the JOB. Mesozoic VHMS deposits occur in the post-collisional extension environment and cluster in the Late Triassic rift basins.

Post-collisional magmatism in Wuyu basin, central Tibet: evidence for recycling of subducted Tethyan oceanic crust

The trachyte and basaltic trachyte and intruded granite-porphyry of Gazacun formation of Wuyu Group in central Tibet are Neogene shoshonitic rocks. They are rich in LREE, with a weak to significant Eu negative anomalies. The enriched Rb, Th, U, K, negative HFS elements Nb, Ta, Ti and P, and Sr, Nd and Pb isotope geochemistry suggest that the volcanic rocks of Wuyu Group originated from the partial melting of lower crust of the Gangdese belt, with the involvement of the Tethyan oceanic crust. It implies that the north-subducted Tethys ocean crust have arrived to the lower crust of Gangdese belt and recycled in the Neogene magmatism.The trachyte and basaltic trachyte and intruded granite-porphyry of Gazacun formation of Wuyu Group in central Tibet are Neogene shoshonitic rocks. They are rich in LREE, with a weak to significant Eu negative anomalies. The enriched Rb, Th, U, K, negative HFS elements Nb, Ta, Ti and P, and Sr, Nd and Pb isotope geochemistry suggest that the volcanic rocks of Wuyu Group originated from the partial melting of lower crust of the Gangdese belt, with the involvement of the Tethyan oceanic crust. It implies that the north-subducted Tethys ocean crust have arrived to the lower crust of Gangdese belt and recycled in the Neogene magmatism.

^40Ar/^39Ar dating for Cenozoic kamafugite from western Qinling in Gansu Province

Abstract40Ar/39Ar ages were determined for 6 phlogopite samples from a kamafugite pipe occurring in western Qinling, yielding a time span of 22 to 23 Ma for kamafugite eruption. Together with known geochronological data for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and its peripheral regions, it is concluded that these Cenozoic potassic-ultrapotassic volcanic rocks are products of post-collisional volcanism. The age of the Cenozoic volcanic rocks in western Qinling partly overlaps that of potassic volcanics from the Gandise belt, reflecting the northward migration of the post-collisional volcanism in QTP. The age data not only confirm the temporal and spatial migration of post-collisional volcanism in QTP, but also provide geochronological constraints on the geodynamic setting at depth and the regimes of the tectonic evolution since Neogene in western Qinling regions.

Metamorphic peridotite and rock series of ophiolite belt in Mt. Ailao, Yunnan Province

The metamophic peridotite of ophiolite belt in Mt. Ailao is mmposed of lhenolite and harzburgite. The former shows the charateristics of primary pyrolite and the latter shows those of deleted (relict)pyrolite. By partial melting of Ihedite, two primary magmas: tholeiitic magma and picrite-basalt magma are formed. The former evoluted into gabbmdiabase-pyroxenic besalt rock series and show the characteristics of MORB; while the latter evoluted into gabbro-diorite-albite basalt-picrite basalt one, and show the characteristics of para-MORB.

The Cenozoic mantle magmatism and motion of lithosphere on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Geodynamic properties and evolution of the lithosphere on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau are recently hot topics to geoscientists in the world. Have the northern plates been subducting underneath the Plateau? It is still an unsolved problem. One of the keys to solving this problem is to understand the genetic processes of Cenozoic magmas on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau. However, there is no enough evidence supporting the subduction model. In contrast, a series of evidence indicates that collision-induced huge shearing faults and large-scale crust shortening played a main role in lithosphere motion on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The mantle-derived igneous rocks strictly distribute at the intersections of large strike-slip faults on the north margin of the Plateau. Generation of magmas may be related to local extensional condition induced by strike-slipping faults, which lead to lithosphere gravitational instability and collapse, as well as upwelling of the deep hot material. Heat induced by shearing and carried by upwelling hot material may cause partial melting on H2O-bearing mantle.

Petrogenesis of Kejie Granite in the Northern Changning-Menglian Zone, Western Yunnan: Constraints from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology, Geochemistry and Hf Isotope

The Kejie pluton is located in the north of the Changning-Menglian suture zone. The rock types are mainly biotite-granite. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating indicates that the Kejie pluton emplaced at about 80–77 Ma, Late Cretaceous. The Kejie pluton samples are characterized by high SiO2 (71.68%–72.47%), K2O (4.73%–5.54%), total alkali (K2O + Na2O = 8.21%–8.53%), K2O/Na2O ratios (1.36–1.94) and low P2O5 (0.13%–0.17%), with A/CNK of 1.025–1.055; enriched in U, Th, and K, depleted in Ba, Nb, Sr, Ti, P and Eu. They are highly fractionated, slightly pet aluminous I-type granite. The two samples of the Kejie pluton give a large variation of eHf(t) values (–5.04 to 1.96) and Hf isotope crustal model ages of 1.16–1.5 Ga. Zircon Hf isotopes and zircon saturation temperatures of whole-rock (801°C–823°C) show that the mantle-derived materials maybe have played a vital role in the generation of the Kejie pluton. The Kejie pluton was most likely generated in a setting associated with the eastward subduction of the neo-Tethys ocean, where intrusion of mantle wedge basaltic magmas in the crust caused the anatexis of the latter, forming hybrid melts, which subsequently experienced high-degree fractional crystallization.

Inhomogeneity of the lithosphere of the Tibetan Plateau and implications for geodynamics

This paper discusses inhomogeneity in structure of the present lithosphere underneath the Tibetan Plateau, and deduces the P-T-t paths and deep processes during the orogenic process of post India-Asia collision through revealing the nature and sequence of geological events. A three-stage-evolution model for tectonic phases of the Tibetan Plateau has been presented. It is suggested that the formation of Parmirs-type of cool lithosphere roots represents the early phase; Nianqingtanggula-type of thinned lithosphere roots, the middle phase; and Qiangtang-type of “warm” lithosphere roots (formed by cooling of the asthenosphere), the late phase.This paper discusses inhomogeneity in structure of the present lithosphere underneath the Tibetan Plateau, and deduces the P-T-t paths and deep processes during the orogenic process of post India-Asia collision through revealing the nature and sequence of geological events. A three-stage-evolution model for tectonic phases of the Tibetan Plateau has been presented. It is suggested that the formation of Parmirs-type of cool lithosphere roots represents the early phase; Nianqingtanggula-type of thinned lithosphere roots, the middle phase; and Qiangtang-type of “warm” lithosphere roots (formed by cooling of the asthenosphere), the late phase.

Experimental study on electrical conductivity of dunite at high temperature and pressure ¸¸ The evidence of electrical conductivity of cold mantle in the Gaize-Lugu area

The electrical conductivities of the dunite from the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau were measured with the impedance spectra method at 1.0–4.0 GPa and 6431093 K. The experimental results indicated that activation enthalpies of the dunite are smaller than 0.9 eV, the conduction mechanism in dunite may be attributed to the mixed electrical conduction involving grain interiors and boundaries. On the basis of the results of this experiment, we can deduce that there exists cold mantle in the area of Gaize-Lugu in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau by reverse methods from the magnetotelluric sounding data (conductivity-depths profile) available for western Tibet. The result provides the present cold mantle viewpoint with strong proof on the basis of high temperature and pressure experiments.