Back-arc Rifting Research Articles

Dynamic triggering of earthquakes in the North Island of New Zealand following the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake

Large earthquakes are capable of triggering microseismicity, deep tremor and slow-slip events from intermediate- to long-distance ranges. Unfortunately, earthquake catalogs are typically incomplete right after large mainshocks. Hence, mapping triggering patterns and understanding the underlying triggering mechanism are challenging. Here we present two different types of seismicity responses to dynamic stressing by passing seismic waves in the North Island of New Zealand following the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake. Based on a template matching technique, we identify up to 4-7 times more earthquakes than listed in New Zealand's GeoNet catalog. We also compute the dynamic stress perturbations in the North Island due to the Kaikōura mainshock and compare them to seismicity rate changes to identify regions with high susceptibility to dynamic stress triggering. Abundant triggered earthquakes occurred immediately following the mainshock in the shallow crust around the active Taupo Volcano Zone, likely related to activation of crustal faults/fluids associated with back-arc rifting and volcanism. Approximately 8 days after the initial dynamic stressing, an active burst of seismicity with the largest event of ML 5.55 occurred along the shallow megathrust near Porangahau on the east coast of the North Island. This burst of seismicity is likely driven by a ∼Mw 7.1 shallow slow slip event dynamically triggered by the mainshock. Our findings reveal the heterogeneous nature of dynamic triggering in a plate boundary region with recent large earthquake sequences and aseismic transient events and further highlight the difficulties in time-dependent earthquake forecasting following large mainshocks.

Nd isotope mapping of the Frontenac Terrane in southwestern Grenville Province

Nd isotope analyses are presented for granitoid rocks from the western part of Frontenac Terrane in the Grenville Province of Ontario. The depleted mantle model (TDM) ages show no correlation with the silica content of the rocks, but instead correlate with geographical location, suggesting that the TDM ages are indicative of regional crustal formation age and do not result from mixing between sources with different provenance ages. Based on these observations, we identify a new crustal age boundary that follows the Desert Lake – Canoe Lake fault and the Rideau Lake fault and, hence, a new juvenile crustal block (Westport domain). This domain is identified as part of the ensimatic back-arc rift zone that formed the juvenile segment of the Central Metasedimentary Belt in Ontario. However, additional sampling along the Ottawa River suggests that the juvenile Westport domain does not extend into Quebec. Instead, a narrower ensialic rift zone is represented by the Marble domain in Quebec. Based on comparison with the Taupo volcanic zone and the northern Red Sea as modern analogues, we suggest that the transition from a wide ensimatic rift zone in Ontario to a narrow ensialic rift in Quebec was accommodated by transtensional motion along a zone of diffuse shear east of Ottawa.

Paleoenvironmental controls on petroleum source rock formation in the syn-rift to early post-rift phase in the Miocene back-arc rift system of the northern Niigata and Yamagata areas

Paleoenvironmental controls on petroleum source rock formation in the syn-rift to early post-rift phase in the Miocene back-arc rift system of the northern Niigata and Yamagata areas

The transition from Pyrenean shortening to Gulf of Lion rifting in Languedoc (South France) – A tectonic-sedimentation analysis

The Pyrenean orogen extended eastward, across the present-day Gulf of Lion margin. The late or post-orogenic dismantling of this orogen segment, contemporaneous with ongoing shortening in the Spanish Pyrénées, is still debated. Understanding the transition between the two geodynamic events requires to document the precise timing of the succession of the tectonic processes involved. We investigate the superposition of rifting structures over Pyrenean thrusts and folds in the onshore Languedoc. Compilation and reassessment of the regional chronostratigraphy, in the light of recent biostratigraphic dating and new mapping of Paleogene basins, lead to date the transition to the Priabonian. Tectonic-sedimentation relationship in the Eocene to Oligocene depocentres are analysed in surface exposures as well as in seismic reflection surveys. Bed-to bed mapping allowed us to: i) characterise an intermediate sequence of Priabonian age, bounded at the base and the top by unconformities; ii) evidence syn-depositional deformation within the Priabonian; iii) define the axes of Priabonian deformation. Interpretation of seismic reflection profiles, across the onshore basins covered by syn- and post-rift sequences, reveals the existence of an intermediate sequence displaying similar features, and that is correlated to the Priabonian. Syn-depositional deformation of some Priabonian basins correspond to extensional structure, whereas neighbouring, contemporaneous basins, reveal compressional deformation. The distribution of such apparently conflicting observations across the studied area provides evidence for left-lateral strike-slip deformation between two major regional faults (Cévennes and Nîmes faults). Left-lateral strike-slip along NE-trending faults accommodates E-W extension of the West European Rift (ECRIS) and part of the ongoing N-S shortening in the Central and Western Pyrénées. Priabonian clastic sedimentation and deformation in Languedoc witness the initial stages of the dismantling of the Languedoc-Provence Pyrénées, prior to Oligocene-Aquitanian back-arc rifting.

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Paleoproterozoic rhyolite-hosted zinc-rich metamorphosed volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in the eastern Betul Belt, central India

The Palaeoproterozoic Betul Belt in central India contains several small base metal (Zn-Cu and Zn-Pb-Cu) deposits that are hosted by felsic volcanics which form part of a bimodal volcanic suite. Although a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) origin has been attributed to these deposits, they are not well-defined based on modern classification criteria. Regionally, the volcanic facies association around the Bhuyari zinc prospect includes massive rhyolite, pillowed basalt, rhyolitic autobreccia, hyaloclastite and peperite that indicate volcanism and sedimentation in relatively deep water. At the deposit-scale, the mineralization is hosted by intensely altered massive quartz-porphyritic rhyolite and associated tremolite-carbonate rock. Alteration facies mapping show a zoned alteration system with an inner phlogopite-biotite-chlorite-garnet-rich core (BPG schist; interpreted as having a chlorite-rich protolith) and an outer quartz-muscovite-K-feldspar zone (QMK schist; sericite-rich protolith). Metamorphism was largely isochemical and the mineral assemblages are amphibolite facies equivalents of hydrothermally altered protoliths. Tremolite-carbonate rocks are spatially close to mineralization and are interpreted either as metaexhalites or intensely altered rhyolite and probably had talc-dolomite protoliths. Carbon and oxygen isotope signatures of carbonate show derivation from seawater-dominant hydrothermal solutions. Tremolite-carbonate and some BPG schist show enrichment in HREE indicating hydrothermal mobilization of REE. Geochemically, the least-altered rhyolite has transitional magmatic affinities with moderate negative Nb anomaly and strong negative Sr, and Ti anomalies. Mantle upwelling and the associated high-heat source generated high-temperature, high-silica rhyolites with elevated HSFE and REE contents. Emplacement of felsic melts at depth provided heat that drove hydrothermal fluid circulation and formation of zinc-rich mineralization and associated hydrothermal alteration zones. Pb-model ages of galena give ~1800 Ma using the Stacey and Kramers (1975) model for VMS mineralization in Bhuyari. The Bhuyari deposit possibly formed in a continental back-arc rift environment during the amalgamation of Bastar and Bundelkhand cratons along the Central Indian Tectonic Zone. The high HFSE-REE contents of Bhuyari rhyolites are similar to other highly prospective VMS districts formed by rifting of evolved continental crust. The recognition of metamorphosed VMS deposit at Bhuyari has implications for further exploration of such deposits along the Paleoproterozoic Betul Belt and similar-aged deformed terrains in India and elsewhere.

Tectonic, volcanic and hydrothermal features of a nascent rift graben in the southern Okinawa Trough

High-resolution geophysical mapping using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and surface vessel revealed tectonic, volcanic and hydrothermal features of a nascent rift graben in the southern Okinawa Trough. Ship-based bathymetry identified ENE–WSW trending lineaments at a water depth of 1900–2000 m that form a rift graben, the Ishigaki Rift, which is ~50 km long, ~7 km wide and has relief of ~100 m. Shipboard EM122 multibeam sonar detected acoustic bubble plumes and high-backscatter intensity on the seafloor along the rift. The AUV high-resolution bathymetry (2 m) and sidescan imagery revealed the presence of a ropey texture with high acoustic reflectivity, interpreted to be relatively young lava flows. Evidence of hydrothermal venting was observed at two previously unknown sites along the rift. Steep-sided spires up to 23 m in height and a mound discharging smoke-like acoustic plumes were identified. The AUV temperature sensor observed sharp temperature increases of up to ~0.13 °C around the plumes, even at the vehicle's altitude of ~100 m above the seafloor. The presence of relatively young lava flows and indicators of high-temperature hydrothermal venting and gas bubbles suggest the Ishigaki Rift is magmatically active. Compared with adjacent active back-arc rifts, the Ishigaki Rift has a shorter length, narrower width and lower relief, and occurs at a shallower water depth, suggesting that the rift is relatively young and immature. Considering that the Ishigaki Rift is located near the arc volcanic front and that other mature rifts are typically located farther from the front, it is suggested that a new axial rift system is evolving within the Okinawa Trough and that back-arc rifting processes may be gradually migrating arcward in the trough during the Quaternary.

Working up an Apatite: Enigmatic Mesoarchean Hydrothermal Cu-Co-Au Mineralization in the Pilbara Craton

Abstract Globally, significant examples of hydrothermal Cu-Co mineralization are rare within Archean greenstone belts, especially relative to the endowment of these terranes with other world-class hydrothermal ore deposits, particularly Au deposits. Using U-Pb geochronology of hydrothermal apatite, this study provides the first absolute age constraints on the timing of mineralization for the Carlow Castle Cu-Co-Au deposit. Carlow Castle is a complex, shear zone-hosted, veined Cu-Co-Au mineral system situated within the Paleo-Mesoarchean Roebourne greenstone belt of the Pilbara craton of northwestern Western Australia. Although U-Pb geochronology of this deposit is challenging due to low levels of radiogenic Pb in synmineralization apatite, mineralization is best estimated at 2957 ± 67 Ma (n = 61). Additionally, analysis of alteration phases associated with Carlow Castle mineralization suggests that it is dominated by a propylitic assemblage that is characteristic of alkaline fluid chemistry and peak temperatures >300°C. Within proximal portions of the northwest Pilbara craton, the period of Carlow Castle’s formation constrained here is associated with significant base-metal volcanogenic massive sulfide mineralization and magmatic activity related to back-arc rifting. This rifting and associated magmatic activity are the most likely source of Carlow Castle’s unique Cu-Co-Au mineralization. Carlow Castle’s Mesoarchean mineralization age makes it among the oldest discovered Cu-Co-Au deposits globally, and unique in the broader context of hydrothermal Cu-Co-Au deposits. Globally, hydrothermal Cu-Co mineralization occurs almost exclusively as Proterozoic and Phanerozoic stratiform sediment-hosted Cu-Co deposits due to the necessity of meteorically derived oxidized ore fluids in their formation. This research therefore has implications for exploration for atypical Cu-Co deposits and Cu-Co metallogenesis through recognition of comparably uncommon magmatic-hydrothermal Cu-Co-Au ore-forming processes and, consequently, the potential for analogous Cu-Co-Au mineralization in other Archean greenstone belts.

Melt-rock interaction in the subarc mantle: records from the plagioclase peridotites of the southern Palawan Ophiolite, Philippines

ABSTRACT The interaction between migrating melts and the upper mantle largely affects the composition of the ascending melt and residual peridotites. In island arcs, melt-rock interactions and products which involved highly depleted mantle peridotites are still largely undocumented despite their petrological importance. In this contribution, the petrographic and geochemical signatures of refractory and refertilized peridotites comprising the mantle section of the southern Palawan Ophiolite, Philippines are investigated. The peridotites are dominantly comprised of residual spinel harzburgites with minor dunite and plagioclase peridotites. Spinel harzburgites are similar to other highly depleted residual mantle materials of other suprasubduction zone ophiolites. Plagioclase peridotites, which are cut by gabbroic intrusions, preserve distinct petrological characteristics indicating melt-rock interaction. The melts preserved as gabbroic dikes have signatures transitional between mid-ocean ridge and island arc, and are comparable to back-arc basin lavas. We therefore propose that the plagioclase peridotites were formed due to the reaction between highly depleted mantle peridotites beneath an intraoceanic arc and migrating BABB-like magmas possibly during the incipient stages of back-arc rifting.

A Neoarchean arc-backarc pair in the Linshan Massif, southern North China Craton

The Linshan Massif is located in the southern North China Craton (NCC) and consists mainly of tonalitic (TTG) and dioritic gneisses, and a volcano-sedimentary-dominated assemblage, all of which were intruded by post-collisional potassic granites. The volcano-sedimentary-dominated assemblage is composed mostly of deformed and foliated basaltic amphibolite and meta-sedimentary rocks, with minor interlaying meta-gabbros, forming a stack of tectonically imbricated sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The TTG gneisses formed at 2.6–2.52 Ga, and the meta-gabbros, basaltic amphibolites and diorites formed at 2.51–2.50 Ga. They underwent subsequent metamorphism at 2.49–2.48 Ga. Furthermore, all their igneous zircons possess large positive εHf (t) values (+2.9 to +7.4). The basaltic amphibolites can be divided into two groups: depleted basalts and enriched basalts. Depleted basalts are characterized by flat LREE patterns and low Th/Nb ratios with positive Nb anomalies, similar to N-MORB-type patterns. Enriched basalts display LREE-enriched patterns with high Th/Nb ratios and pronounced negative Nb anomalies, showing an arc-related affinity. The meta-gabbros have LREE-enriched patterns with negative Nb and Zr anomalies, consistent with subduction-related signatures. Considering mixed arc- and MORB- signatures with positive zircon εHf(t) values, we propose that the meta-gabbros and basaltic amphibolites may have formed in a back-arc setting. The tonalites and the diorites showing LREE-enriched patterns and depleted in HFSEs are interpreted to represent arc-related magmatism. Combined with the documented 2.55 Ga Dengfeng fore-arc accretionary complex, we propose the following geodynamic evolution model for the Southern NCC: (1) at 2.6–2.54 Ga, a TTG-dominated oceanic arc developed above a west-dipping subduction zone, forming the 2.55 Ga Dengfeng accretionary complex and related tectonic units; (2) at 2.52–2.50 Ga, slab rollback subsequently drove back-arc rifting of the mature TTG-dominated intra-oceanic arc, resulting in the formation of two arc segments with the intervening Linshan back-arc basin; and (3) at 2.50–2.48 Ga, the TTG-dominated arc collided with the Eastern Block resulting in the closure of the back-arc basin and formation of the accreted arc-back-arc package in the Linshan Massif. We suggest that the Neoarchean Central Orogenic Belt in the southern NCC contains at least two amalgamated oceanic arc terranes, separated by a belt of back-arc basin magmatic rocks caught within an intra-oceanic mélange/suture zone.

How did the peripheral subduction drive the Rodinia breakup: Constraints from the Neoproterozoic tectonic process in the northern Tarim Craton

The peripheral or exterior subduction is known to drive the breakup of Rodinia; however, the geodynamic driving mechanism remains controversial, which may result from the slab retreat or the slab avalanche-induced superplume impingement. We report here new constraints on the Neoproterozoic tectonic process whether the northern Tarim Craton at the NW margin of Rodinia was subduction- or mantle plume-dominated that further sheds light on how the peripheral subduction drove the Rodinia breakup. A tectonic transition from the Cryogenian arc and backarc rift to the Ediacaran passive margin characterized northern Tarim, as indicated by the distinct detrital zircon geochronological, geochemical, and structural-sedimentary features between the Ediacaran and Cryogenian sequences. This rejects the mantle plume-dominated evolution, but supports a Neoproterozoic evolving subduction process at the northern Tarim margin, where an advancing subduction (830–780 Ma) evolved into a retreating subduction (<780 Ma) in response to the retreat of the subducting Pan-Rodinia oceanic slab. The retreat-induced backarc rifting resulted in the opening of the northern Tarim rift between 760 and 740 Ma and the Cryogenian to Ediacaran tectonic transition. The peripheral subduction along the northern Tarim margin had thus caused no rifting before 780 Ma, which was also impossible to induce the >780 Ma rifting events in the supercontinent interior. These findings imply a composite peripheral subduction-driving mechanism for the Rodinia breakup. The slab retreat probably occurred as the dominant breakup driving force at the supercontinent margins, with less impact to the supercontinent interior; however, another geodynamic driver such as the deep subduction-induced plume impingement may account for the interior rifting and breakup. In addition, a zircon U-Pb age of 636 ± 2 Ma obtained from tufflava constrains the Tereeken diamictite to correlate with the Marinoan glaciation that further indicates a rapid and globally synchronous termination of the Neoproterozoic “Snowball Earth”.

Detailed tectonic reconstructions of the Western Mediterranean region for the last 35 Ma, insights on driving mechanisms

Slab retreat, slab tearing and interactions of slabs are first-order drivers of the deformation of the overriding lithosphere. An independent description of the tectonic evolution of the back-arc and peripheral regions is a pre-requisite to test the proposed conceptual, analogue and numerical models of these complex dynamics in 3-D. We propose here a new series of detailed kinematics and tectonic reconstructions from 35 Ma to the Present shedding light on the driving mechanisms of back-arc rifting in the Mediterranean where several back-arc basins all started to form in the Oligocene. The step-by-step backward reconstructions lead to an initial situation 35 Ma ago with two subduction zones with opposite direction, below the AlKaPeCa block (i.e.belonging to the Alboran, Kabylies, Peloritani, Calabrian internal zones). Extension directions are quite variable and extension rates in these basins are high compared to the Africa-Eurasia convergence velocity. The highest rates are found in the Western Mediterranean, the Liguro-Provençal, Alboran and Tyrrhenian basins. These reconstructions are based on shortening rates in the peripheral mountain belts, extension rates in the basins, paleomagnetic rotations, pressure-temperature-time paths of metamorphic complexes within the internal zones of orogens, and kinematics of the large bounding plates. Results allow visualizing the interactions between the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenean-Cantabrian belt, Betic Cordillera and Rif, as well as back-arc basins. These back-arc basins formed at the emplacement of mountain belts with superimposed volcanic arcs, thus with thick, hot and weak crusts explaining the formation of metamorphic core complexes and the exhumation of large portions of lower crustal domains during rifting. They emphasize the role of transfer faults zones accommodating differential rates of retreat above slab tears and their relations with magmatism. Several transfer zones are identified, separating four different kinematic domains, the largest one being the Catalan-Balearic-Sicily Transfer Zone. Their integration in the wider Mediterranean realm and a comparison of motion paths calculated in several kinematic frameworks with mantle fabric shows that fast slab retreat was the main driver of back-arc extension in this region and that large-scale convection was a subsidiary driver for the pre-8 Ma period, though it became dominant afterward. Slab retreat and back-arc extension was mostly NW-SE until ∼ 20 Ma and the docking of the AlKaPeCa continental blocks along the northern margin of Africa induced a slab detachment that propagated eastward and westward, thus inducing a change in the direction of extension from NW-SE to E-W. Fast slab retreat between 32 and 8 Ma and induced asthenospheric flow have prevented the transmission of the horizontal compression due to Africa-Eurasia convergence from Africa to Eurasia and favored instead upper-plate extension driven by slab retreat. Once slab retreat had slowed down in the Late Miocene, this N-S compression was felt and recorded again from the High Atlas to the Paris Basin.

Conditioned duality between supercontinental ‘assembly’ and ‘breakup’ LIPs

A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) across southern Africa, is compared to Earth’s supercontinental cycles, where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents, rather than during breakup. This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships, where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs; whereas, the remaining post-assembly – and likely breakup-related – LIPs never share such associations. Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types, only the two younger breakup events (the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite) produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures; whereas, all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric, as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric, signatures. A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins, compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP, is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles. Thus, further accentuating radical differences between (1) breakup LIPs, preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens, and (2) assembly LIPs, typically emplaced along back-arc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors. A conditioned duality is proposed, where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing (as well as local arc hydration and rifting) below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes. Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) during assembly LIP-activity, and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth’s core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.

Detailed volcanic and tectonic morphology of Nakadomari Hill in the southern Okinawa Trough

Nakadomari Hill is an unexplored edifice in the southern Okinawa Trough back-arc basin where crustal extension by continental rifting occurs and few submarine eruptions associated with back-arc volcanism have been mapped in detail. High-resolution bathymetric mapping with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) reveals that Nakadomari Hill is a submarine volcanic complex with recent lava flow eruptions. The high-resolution (2 m) bathymetry shows striking contrast between rugged terrain in the central area and the adjacent smooth terrain. The cone-shaped features in the rugged terrain are covered by ropey fabric with high acoustic reflectivity and are devoid of tectonic deformation, thus they are interpreted to be relatively younger lava domes. The cone-shaped features in the smooth terrain show low reflectivity and are dissected by ENE–WSW trending tectonic lineaments, suggesting they were formed during older volcanism. Nakadomari Hill developed through multi-stage eruptions before and after back-arc rifting and faulting. The ropey and curtain-folded morphology with high acoustic reflectivity are interpreted to be a field of lava flows and they are relatively young. The area considered to be lava flows is estimated to be over 13 km2, showing that eruptions in the southern Okinawa Trough have been extensive. An active volcanic system is supported by indicators of high-temperature hydrothermal venting. Hydrothermal plumes with concurrent sharp temperature increases of up to 0.17 °C were present even at the vehicle altitude of ~100 m above the bottom. The alignment of volcanic cone-shaped features at Nakadomari Hill is in the NNW–SSE direction which is clearly different from the orientation of local rifting (ENE–WSW). At a larger scale, the volcanic edifices west of Kume Island from the arc to back-arc are also aligned roughly in the NNW–SSE direction and they are sub-parallel to a major tectonic structure in the arc, the Kerama Gap. The agreement of the local volcanic and tectonic trends implies that magmatic focusing may have taken place along the tectonic structures of the Kerama gap and in turn caused the extensive back-arc volcanism in this area.

Enrichment of H2O and fluid-soluble trace elements in the Troodos Ophiolite: Evidence for a near-trench origin

The Troodos Ophiolite on the island of Cyprus is a Cretaceous supra-subduction zone ophiolite. It formed by seafloor spreading in the vicinity of a subduction zone, but the exact tectonic setting in which it formed is debated. We determined H2O contents together with other volatiles (S, Cl and CO2) and Sr, Nd and Pb isotope compositions of fresh Troodos volcanic glasses, previously measured for major and trace element contents. Glass compositions range from boninite to tholeiitic andesite. The least degassed glasses have H2O contents of 1.7 to 2.7 wt%, and H2O/Ce ratios of 4400 to 33,600. The most depleted glasses with low Zr/Yb have the highest fractionation-corrected H2O contents and H2O/Ce, and the highest subduction zone input (highest Th/La, Ba/Zr and 87Sr/86Sr). The high H2O contents, enrichment in fluid-mobile elements, and depletion in Zr, Hf and heavy rare-earth elements are consistent with formation above a subduction zone, very close to a trench in a fore-arc position, likely at water depths of ~5000 m. The enrichment in both fluid-mobile (e.g. Rb, Cs) and melt soluble (e.g. Th) elements indicate that the Troodos Ophiolite formed by propagation of a back-arc rift into the fore-arc region of an active subduction zone.

Initiation and origin of dextral deformation at Mid-Eocene in the western Bohai Bay Basin, East China

The Cenozoic back-arc rift basins along the continental margin of East Asia are featured by both extensional and dextral deformation systems. Here we investigate the timing and interaction of these two types of systems, based on seismic data, stratigraphic isopach maps and drilling data in the Jizhong Depression in the northwestern Bohai Bay Basin (BBB), East China. The results show the rifting was initiated as early as the Eocene while the dextral deformation did not occur until ca. 42 Ma. The Jizhong Depression changed from a simple rift basin with boundary faults to the west to a geometrically more complex dextral transtensional basin at ca. 42 Ma. This event was roughly concordant with the initial dextral slip on the Tan-Lu Fault lying at the eastern BBB, and together they transformed the BBB into a complex pull-apart rift basin. The tectonic reorganization of the BBB was probably the response to the change from an orthogonal to an oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath East Asia at that time.

First Report on Platinum Occurrence in Ultramafic-Mafic Complex, East-Central Karbi Hills of Assam, North East India

The results of SEM-EDS and XRD, indicating the presence of PGE in stratified vanadium bearing magnetite-ilmenite ore, hosted by layered ultramafic-mafic complex in a part of east-central Karbi Anglong district, Assam (NE India) are reported here. The initial XRD data indicate presence of PGE minerals like braggite, laurite and cooperite; the SEM-EDS indicate variable wt. % of PGE and rare metals like 11.58% Re and gold. The highest weight % value is 19.55 Pt; 13.83 Ir; 7.36 Os; 0.95 Pd and 0.45 Ru. Plume model has been cited as the key factor causing high partial melting of the upper mantle in back arc rift environment, producing platinum rich but sulphur poor magma, subsequently acquiring sulphur from pelites of Shillong Group, thereby, gaining PGE.

The development of a Meso- to Neoarchean rifting-convergence-collision-collapse cycle over an ancient thickened protocontinent in the south São Francisco craton, Brazil

The south São Francisco craton (SSFC) in Brazil is one of the few areas that are key to unveiling the Archean evolution of South America. Despite economic interest since the 18th century, the SSFC was not studied in detail until the beginning of the present decade. The two main greenstone belts in the SSFC, namely, the Rio das Velhas (RVGB) and the Pitangui (PGB), have traditionally been considered to represent a single Archean basin. Here, new geochemistry and geochronology data from both greenstone and TTG-granite rocks are integrated and suggest that these belts evolved as separate domains. These are marked by distinct basal komatiite geochemistry, indicating that the PGB evolved as a back-arc rift on a thick lithosphere section at 2.86 Ga, in contrast to the RVGB basin, which developed near an exotic juvenile TTG terrain. Approximately 100 Ma later, the PGB basin transitioned to a calc-alkaline dominated setting, coeval with the emplacement of two large TTG igneous bodies at the margins of a poly-recycled ancient terrain. This protracted recycling is marked by extremely negative ƐHf values, which are not common for Archean terrains. The dominant strong crustal signature of the SSFC Archean rocks implies the existence of an anomalous overthickened crust or a Meso- to Neoarchean protocontinent. This thickened crust developed by continuous magmatism, delamination and differentiation in a flat-subduction setting. These mechanisms suggest that modern-style plate tectonics or a similar process such as “dripduction” was operating in this area prior to 3.0 Ga, the time at which a thick continental crust regime and horizontal tectonics were thought to have been established. Late TTG magmatism in the PGB suggests the western SSFC experienced an episode of late crustal thickening at ~2.71 Ga in response to collision, while coeval shallower K-rich magmatism in the RVGB corroborates the diachronous evolution of both belts and the surrounding crystalline terrains.

Three-dimensional visualization of top-down superimposed thrust sheets in the SW Grenville Province, Ontario

AbstractTo properly understand the tectonic history of the Grenville Province it is necessary to have a reliable, scientifically based understanding of the present-day three-dimensional (3D) structure of the orogen. Based on detailed Nd isotope mapping of surface boundaries and Lithoprobe seismic sections, this study provides the first detailed visualization of the 3D structure of the Grenville gneiss belt in Ontario using the SketchUp software package. The 3D visualization supports a model in which thrust geometry was imposed from the top downwards, controlled by the NW boundary of the Central Metasedimentary Belt that originated as a failed back-arc rift zone. The Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary controlled the trajectory of the Allochthon Boundary Thrust, its underlying tectonic duplex and, ultimately, the Grenville Front. This process of superimposed thrusting explains the large-scale change in the trajectory of the Grenville Front north of Georgian Bay that has been called the ‘Big Bend’. To assist in visualizing the 3D model, a fly-through animation is provided in the supplementary material.

Seismic structure of rifting in the Okinawa Trough, an active backarc basin of the Ryukyu (Nansei-Shoto) island arc\u2013trench system

The Okinawa Trough, to the southwest of Kyusyu, Japan, is an active backarc basin of the Ryukyu (Nansei-Shoto) island arc–trench system caused by the Philippine Sea plate subduction. Unlike other backarc basins around Japan, the Okinawa Trough, ~ 1000 km in length, is unique because the crustal thinning due to backarc rifting is currently in progress in the entire trough. We conducted extensive seismic reflection and refraction surveys to detect detailed variation in seismic structures associated with the rifting tectonics. Seventeen seismic lines were shot, including ten across-trough and seven along-trough lines in the Okinawa Trough. Moho depths estimated mainly from PmP travel times indicate that the crust beneath the trough is thinner than that below the East China Sea shelf and the Ryukyu Island Arc. The shallowest Moho of the across-trough lines was not necessarily detected at the center of the trough, defined as the deepest water depth, but was located beneath the western margin of the northern and middle Okinawa Trough. An M7.1 earthquake occurred in the area on November 14, 2015, and intense aftershock activity was observed along the western margin of the trough. These earthquakes with extension axes of northwest–southeast direction demonstrated that the area is undergoing tectonic rifting. The Moho depth is over 25 km in the northern region of the Okinawa Trough and decreases down to ~ 13 km as it goes to the south, and the thinnest crust of ~ 7 km occurs beneath the Yaeyama Rift in the southern Okinawa Trough. Despite the crustal thinning by the backarc rifting, the P wave velocity models across the Okinawa Trough show that the continental/island arc crust composed of an upper, middle, and lower crusts is continuous between the East China Sea shelf and the Ryukyu Arc. The multichannel seismic profiles along and across the rifts in the southern Okinawa Trough show more volcanic intrusions in the southern side than in the north, which may be related to the position of the volcanic front, which is undetermined in this region.

Circa 900 Ma low δ18O A-type rhyolite in the northern Yangtze Block: Genesis and geological significance

An integrated study of zircon U–Pb geochronology and O–Hf isotope compositions, and whole-rock geochemistry was carried out for Dashimen rhyolites from the Tongbai orogen in the northern Yangtze Block. Zircon grains from two rhyolite samples show oscillatory zoning and moderate U (498–1612 and 216–668 ppm) and Th (319–1144 and 161–452 ppm) contents with relatively high Th/U ratios (0.57–0.75 and 0.50–1.31), indicating their magmatic origin. Zircon U–Pb dating yielded consistent U–Pb ages of 906 ± 7 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 0.48) and 908 ± 4 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 0.68), representing the formation ages of the Dashimen rhyolites. The Dashimen rhyolites have relatively high SiO2 (74.85–76.56 wt%), K2O (5.40–6.56 wt%) and Fe2O3T (1.61–2.33 wt%), and moderate Al2O3 (11.48–12.32 wt%) and Na2O (1.76–2.47 wt%), but low MgO (0.15–0.24 wt%) and CaO (0.08–0.10 wt%) contents. They show strong enrichments of almost all incompatible elements, except for the notable depletions in Ba, Sr, Eu, and P. The volcanic rocks have high zircon saturation temperatures of 846 to 876 °C with an average of 862 °C. These features suggest that the Dashimen rhyolites are high-temperature, ferroan, A-type magmatism. The zircons from the two studied samples show δ18O values of 3.6 to 5.0‰ and 3.9 to 4.5‰ with weighted averages of 4.30 ± 0.18‰ and 4.23 ± 0.10‰, respectively. These δ18O values are obviously lower than those of the normal mantle zircons and thus suggest the zircons crystallized from low-δ18O magmas. The rhyolites have negative whole-rock εNd(t) (−2.11–−0.28) and subtly positive zircon εHf(t) (0.01–3.35) values, with corresponding two stage depleted mantle model ages of 1.73–1.58 Ga and 1.69–1.66 Ga, respectively. The low-δ18O magmas were therefore suggested to be generated by re-melting of meteoric-hydrothermally altered continental crustal rocks. The finding of the high-temperature, ferroan, and low-δ18O A-type Dashimen rhyolites indicates that there existed a back-arc rift of a Grenvillian accretionary orogen in the northern part of the Yangtze Block.