K–Ar ages of the basaltic rocks from Far East Russia: Constraints on the tectono‐magmatism associated with the Japan Sea opening

Abstract

K–Ar ages of the Cenozoic basaltic rocks from the Far East region of Russia (comprising Sikhote‐Alin and Sakhalin) are determined to obtain constraints on the tectono‐magmatic evolution of the Eurasian margin by comparison with the Japanese Islands, Northeast China, and the formation of the back‐arc basin. In the early Tertiary stage (54–26 Ma), the northwestward subduction of the Pacific Plate produced the active continental margin volcanism of Sikhote‐Alin and Sakhalin, whereas the rift‐type volcanism of Northeast China, inland part of the continent began to develop under a northeast–southwest‐trending deep fault system. In the early Neogene (24–17 Ma), a large number of subduction‐related volcanic rocks were erupted in connection with the Japan Sea opening. After an inactive interval of the volcanism ∼ 20–13 Ma ago, the late Neogene (12–5 Ma) volcanism of Sikhote‐Alin and Sakhalin became distinct from those of the preceding stages and indicated within‐plate geochemical features similar to those of Northeast China, in contrast to the Japan Arc which produces island arc volcanism. During the Japan Sea opening, the northeastern Eurasian margin detached and became a continental island arc system, and an integral part of continental eastern Asia comprising Sikhote‐Alin, Sakhalin and Northeast China, and the Japan Arc with a back‐arc basin. The convergence between the Eurasian Plate, the Pacific Plate and the Indian Plate may have contributed to the Cenozoic tectono‐magmatism of the northeastern Eurasian continent.