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Special Issue "Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry, Volume II"

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 1931

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Prof. Dr. Yonghong Shi

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School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: orogen metamorphic petrology; thermodynamics; chronology; structural geology
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Prof. Dr. Fukun Chen

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School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: geochemistry; isotope geochronology
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Dr. Jiahao Li

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School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: tectonic evolution of orogenic belt; ductile shear zone; sedimentary basins
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

An orogenic belt is a key region for the exploration of the plate coupling process and earth evolution history, and its accurate structural framework, metamorphism, deformation and age sequence are crucial for understanding the formation mechanism of the orogenic belt. Systematic studies of regional metamorphic petrology, tectonic geology and chronology have played an important role in fully understanding the dynamic mechanism of orogenic belts. A precise P–T–t path can fully repair the multistage formation environment and behavior characteristics of a plate, a detailed tectonic analysis can distinctly depict the subduction–exhumation state of a plate and explain its formation process, and chronological research can record the evolution process of an orogenic belt in respect of the time scale. However, it is difficult to accurately evaluate PT conditions in different stages due to the influence of re-equilibrium and decompression. How to accurately link and match the chronology analysis with the metamorphism and deformation of multiple periods is also a key point. At the same time, the extreme metamorphism in an orogenic belt has become a research hotspot, especially the ultra-high temperature metamorphism, and direct petrographic evidence and a precise quantitative evaluation are important for the confirmation of the extreme metamorphism. This Special Issue focuses on the fine metamorphic petrology, thermodynamics, chronology, structural geometry and kinematics, and the evolution of the orogenic belt will be probed by integrate research from the micro- and macroscale. In addition, the sedimentology and detrital zircon studies of orogenic belts are also important supplements and contributions for interpreting the formation, provenance and evolution of orogenic belts.

Prof. Dr. Yonghong Shi
Prof. Dr. Fukun Chen
Dr. Jiahao Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

orogen
regional metamorphic petrology
P–T–t path
extreme metamorphism structural geology
tectonic evolution
geochemistry and isotope geochronology
detrital zircon dating
mineral deposit

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Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry in Minerals (10 articles)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Source and Migration of Fluids in a Meso-Tethyan Subduction Zone: Fluid Inclusion Study of Syn-Mélange Veins from the Mugagangri Accretionary Complex

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Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091196 - 12 Sep 2023

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Abstract

The Mugagangri Group (MG), located at the southern margin of the Qiangtang terrane in Tibet, is a crucial research target for understanding the subduction and accretion history of the Meso-Tethys Ocean. Extensional crack-seal veins restricted within sandstone blocks from the broken formation in the MG (Gaize) formed synchronously in the mélange formation. The primary inclusions trapped in the veins recorded multiple pieces of information during the formation of the accretionary wedge. To precisely constrain the MG subduction–accretion processes, we investigated the trapping temperature, salinity, density, and composition of the fluid inclusions within the crack-seal veins derived from the broken formation in the MG (Gaize). The primary inclusions indicate that the crack was sealed at ~151–178 °C. The salinity of the primary inclusions exhibited a well-defined average of 3.3 ± 0.7 wt% NaCl equivalent, slightly lower than the average of seawater (3.5 wt%). There were no nonpolar gases, and only H₂O (low salinity) was detectable in the primary inclusions. These characteristics suggest that the syn-mélange fluids were a type of pore fluid in the shallow subduction zone, with the principal source being pore water from sediments overlying the oceanic crust. Because of mineral dehydration and compaction, the pore fluids became more diluted with H₂O and fluid overpressure owing to a pore fluid pressure that was greater than the hydrostatic pressure. Subsequently, the creation of cracks through hydraulic fracturing provided a novel pathway for the flow of fluids which, in turn, contributed to the décollement step-down and underthrusting processes. These fractures acted as conduits for fluid movement and played a crucial role in facilitating these peculiar occurrences of quartz veins. The depth (~5 km) and temperature estimates of the fluid expulsion align with the conditions of the décollement step-down, thereby leading to the trapping of fluids within the sandstone blocks and their subsequent underplating to the accretionary complex. In our preferred model, such syn-mélange fluids have the potential to provide valuable constraints on the subduction–accretion processes occurring in other accretionary complexes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry, Volume II)

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Open AccessArticle

The Mid-Cretaceous Tectonothermal Evolution of the Zhangbaling Tectonic Belt, East China: Evidence from Zircon (U–Th)/He and Detrital Zircon U–Pb Dating

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Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091142 - 30 Aug 2023

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Abstract

The Zhangbaling tectonic belt (ZTB), one of the most representative tectonic belts in East China, has experienced uplift since the Early Cretaceous and is, thus, an excellent object for understanding the tectonic uplift and topographical evolution of East China and the whole of East Asia. On the basis of field observations, in this contribution to the literature, we carried out detrital zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating for the Upper Cretaceous sediments in the basins adjacent to the ZTB and zircon (U–Th)/He dating for the Early Cretaceous plutons along the western flank of this belt. Detailed field observation showed that the orthogneiss of the Feidong Complex experienced sinistral strike–slip activities, while the marbles underwent thrusting; thrust faults were developed in the Early Cretaceous plutons and volcanic rocks, and normal faults were superimposed on thrust or strike–slip faults. The detrital zircon dating results showed that the Upper Cretaceous sediments are characterized by an Early Cretaceous major cluster with just a minor cluster from the middle Neoproterozoic ages, indicating that the Zhangbaling Group and the Feidong Complex of the ZTB are not their main provenance. Zircon (U–Th)/He dating results showed that the ZTB experienced rapid uplifting during the mid-Cretaceous and recorded another rapid uplifting after 30 Ma. Combining existing research with our new data, it can be concluded that the ZTB was characterized by thrust activity in the mid-Cretaceous, which occurred under regional compression setting and was the basis of the formation of a watershed after 30 Ma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry, Volume II)

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Open AccessArticle

Two-Stage Evolution of the Altyn Tagh Fault System during the Tertiary: Constraints from Heavy Mineral Chemistry in Sediments of the Northwestern Qaidam Basin, Western China

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Minerals 2023, 13(8), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081076 - 13 Aug 2023

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Abstract

The tectonic evolution of the Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) remains controversial during the Tertiary. Qaidam Basin is the largest and highest plateau inland basin inside the Tibet Plateau. Sediments in the basin provide sedimentary records of the evolution history of its surrounding orogens, such as the ATF, located on the northwest margin of the Qaidam Basin. Comprehensive analyses of sandstone petrography, heavy mineral assemblages, and mineral geochemistry were adopted to effectively indicate the tectonic evolution history of ATF. The result indicates that the sediments in a wide range of the northwestern Qaidam Basin (e.g., the Xichagou section, the Yueyashan section) were derived from the Altyn Mountains. The increasing immaturity of sediments, increased denudation, and sedimentation processes from the early-middle Miocene to the Pliocene can be explained by the active tectonic setting of the ATF. During the early Miocene (ca. 22 Ma), there was an abrupt change in the heavy mineral composition of sediments in the northwestern Qaidam Basin. This change may be attributed to the large-scale slip motion along the ATF. Therefore, ~22 Ma is the key transforming period of the ATF system. On the foundation of the above, we suggest a two-stage evolution model of the ATF during the Tertiary: (1) From the late Eocene to the Oligocene, the tectonic setting of the ATF was relatively calm; (2) During the early Miocene period, the ATF underwent large-scale tectonic activation. It is likely to be a strike-slip tectonic activity, accompanied by an uplift of the Altyn Mountains. The active tectonic setting of the ATF was sustained after the Miocene. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry, Volume II)

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Open AccessArticle

Multiple-Stage Neoproterozoic Magmatism Recorded in the Zhangbaling Uplift of the Northeastern Yangtze Block: Evidence from Zircon Ages and Geochemistry

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Minerals 2023, 13(4), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040562 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 553

Abstract

The Yangtze Block records Neoproterozoic magmatism and sedimentation related to the breakup of Rodinia and is an important piece in the reconstruction of the supercontinent. However, the tectonic setting and position of this block in Rodinia remain a subject of debate. In the present study, we report the zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic composition of zircon and geochemical and Nd-Pb isotopic compositions for meta-volcanic rocks exposed in the Zhangbaling uplift of the NE Yangtze Block. The volcanic rocks, dominated by rhyolite and dacite, belong to the calc-alkaline series and show geochemical characteristics of arc rocks. Zircon U-Pb isotopic ages show that volcanic rocks in the Xileng Formation formed at ca. 790 Ma and ca. 760–700 Ma peaking at ~740 Ma. The late-stage volcanism was widely exposed in the uplift, characterized by a temporal-spatial trend becoming younger southwards. The old volcanic rocks have low initial ε_Nd (−11.0) and ε_Hf (−19.7 to −8.2) values and low Pb isotopic ratios, likely indicating an origin from ancient basement rocks underneath the Yangtze Block. The younger ones, being similar to continental arc andesite in trace element compositions, have relatively high initial ε_Nd (mostly −4.6 to 0.5) and ε_Hf (−0.4 to 8.8) values and high Pb isotopic ratios. These isotopic features point to an origin from the partial melting of juvenile crustal rocks. Sedimentary rocks of the Xileng Formation and the overlying strata also contain numerous zircon grains of ~700 Ma to ~630 Ma. The volcanic rocks in the Zhangbaling uplift might demonstrate long-lasting subduction along the northeastern margin of the Yangtze Block, probably active until ca. 700 Ma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tectonic Evolution of Orogens: Metamorphic Petrology, Structural Geology, Geochronology and Geochemistry, Volume II)

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