The Jurassic structural evolution of the western Daqingshan area, eastern Yinshan belt, North China

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe western Daqingshan area, located in the eastern Yinshan belt, is dominated by the southern Daqingshan fold-and-thrust system and the northern Shiguai basin. Based on detailed structural investigations, stratigraphic controls, and geochronology, a three-stage tectonic evolution is proposed for the western Daqingshan area during the Jurassic. The discovery of syndepositional normal faults in the Early–Middle Jurassic sequences suggests that an N–S extensional regime (ca. 200–170 Ma) characterized the first deformational stage, which controlled the initial formation of the Shiguai basin. Subsequently, the relatively expansive rift basin was dissected by the initial development of the Daqingshan fold-and-thrust system that was associated with a N–S compressional regime (ca. 170–160 Ma). This phase of deformation involved the Lower–Middle Jurassic synrift sediments into a series of E–W-trending compressional structures, and controlled the deposition of Late–Middle Jurassic Changhangou growth strata ahead of the deformation front. Finally, the progression of Daqingshan fold-and-thrust system was dominated by NW–SE compression (ca. 160–145 Ma), which converted the previous E–W-trending compressional structures into a stepped geometry marked by several NE-trending oblique footwall ramps, and resulted in the depocentre of the Late Jurassic Daqingshan synorogenic conglomerate migrating markedly northeastwards. The driving mechanisms for these three palaeostress fields are considered as asthenosphere upwelling following Permian–Triassic collisional orogenesis, closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, and NW-directed subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate, respectively.