Abstract
This paper deals with the geochemical features of the two Early Paleozoic ophiolite zones in the central-southern Tianshan region and the central Tianshan igneous rock belt between them. Study results suggest that the central Tianshan belt was an Ordovician volcanic arc with an affinity of continental crust, and the Kumux-Hongliuhe ophiolitic zone that is located on the southern margin of central Tianshan has a crustal affinity to back-arc marginal sea. The Aqqikkudug-Weiya ophiolitic zone is an accretionary boundary between the Tuha continental block and the central Tianshan volcanic arc during Late Silurian to Devonian; Ordovician ophiolitic blocks, Silurian flysch sequence and HP metamorphic rock relics are distributed along the Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone. Geochemically, ophiolitic rocks in the Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone have an affinity to oceanic crust, reflecting a tectonic setting of paleo-trench or subduction zone. The Early Carboniferous red molasses were deposited unconformably on the pre-Carboniferous metamorphosed and ductile sheared volcanic and flysch rocks, providing an upper limit age of the central and southern Tianshan belts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, M. B., B. F. Windley, and Zhang Chi, 1992, Paleozoic collisional tectonics and magmatism of the Chinese Tianshan, central Asia [J]: Tectonophysics, v. 220, p. 89–115.
Allen, M. B., B. F. Windley, and Zhang Chi, 1993, Evolution of the Turpan Basin, Chinese central Asia [J]: Tectonics, v. 12, p. 889–896.
Carroll, A. R., S. A. Graham, M. S. Hendrix, D. Ying, and D. Zhou, 1995, Late Paleozoic tectonic amalgamation of NW China: sedimentary records of the northern Tarim, northwestern Turpan, and southern Junggar basins [J]: Bull. Soc. Am., v. 107, p. 571–594.
Charvet, J., D. Cluzel, M. Faure, M. Carigroit, Shu Liangshu, and Lu Huafu, 1999, Some tectonic aspects of the pre-Jurassic accretionary evolution of East Asia, in I. Metcalfe, Ren Jishun, J. Charvet and S. Hada, eds., Gondwana dispersion and Asian accretion [M]: A. A. Balkema/ Rotterdam/ Brookfield, p. 37–65.
Che Zhicheng, Liu Hongfu, and Liu Liang, 1994, The formation and evolution of the central Tianshan orogenic belt [M]: Beijing, Geological Publishing House, 135p. (in Chinese)
Coleman Robert, G., 1977, Ophiolites: ancient oceanic lithosphere [M]: Berlin, Springer, 229p.
Coleman Robert, G., 1989, Continental growth of Northwest China [J]: Tectonics, v. 8, p. 621–635.
Condie, K. C., 1989, Plate tectonics and crustal evolution [M]: Oxford, Pergamon Press, 476p.
Deng Zhenqiu, Wang Tieguang, Xie Dexun, 1992, The features of geophysical fields in Xinjiang [J]: Geology of Xinjiang, v. 10, p. 233–243 (in Chinese with English abstract).
He Guoqi, Li Maosong, Liu Dequan, and Zhou Nuhong, 1994, Paleozoic crustal evolution and mineralization in Xinjiang of China [M]: Urumqi, Xinjiang Peoples Publishing House, 437p. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Gao Jun, He Guoqi, and Li Maosong, 1995, The mineralogy, petrology, metamorphic PTDt trajectory and exhumation mechanism of blueschist, South Tianshan, northwestern China [J]: Tectonophysics, v. 250, p. 151–168.
Gao Jun, Li Maosong, Xiao Xuchang, Tang Yaoqing, and He Guoqi, 1998, Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Tianshan orogen, northwestern China [J]: Tectonophysics, v. 287, p. 213–231.
Hu Aiqin, Zhang Guoxin, and Zhang Qianfeng, 1999, The basement age of Tianshan belt and the Nd isotopic constraining on crustal accretion [J]: Science in China (Series D), v. 20, p. 104–112.
Ma Ruishi, Wang Ciyin, and Ye Shangfu, 1993, The outline of plate tectonics and crustal evolution in the eastern Tianshan belt, China [M]: Nanjing, Publishing House of Nanjing University, 225p. (in Chinese)
Ma Ruishi, Shu Liangshu, and Sun Jiaqi, 1997, Tectonic evolution and metallogeny of eastern Tianshan mountains [M]: Beijing, Geological Publishing House, 202p. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Nakajima, T., S. Maruyama, S. Uchiumi, J. G. Liou, X. M. Wang, X. C. Xiao, and S. A. Graham, 1990, Evidence for Late Proterozoic subduction from 700-Myr-old blueschist in China [J]: Nature, v. 346, p. 263–265.
Sengor, A. M. C., B. A. Natalín, and B. Burtman, 1993, Evolution of the Altaid tectonic collage and Paleozoic crustal growth in Eurasia [J]: Nature, v. 364, p. 299–307.
Shu Liangshu, Wang Ciyin, and Ma Ruishi, 1996, Granulite relics and pyroxene-facies ductile deformation in the northern boundary of the southern Tianshan [J]: Scientia Geologica Sinica, v. 31, p. 63–71 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shu Liangshu, Ma Ruishi, Guo Lingzhi, and Sun Jiaqi, 1997, Study of a large-scale thrust tectonics in the eastern Tianshan belt [J]: Scientia Geologica Sinica, v. 32, p. 337–350 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Shu Liangshu, J. Charvet, Guo Lingzhi, Lu Huafu, and C. S. Laurent, 1999, A large-scale Paleozoic dextral ductile strike-slip zone: the Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone along the northern margin of the central Tianshan belt, Xinjiang, NW China [J]: Acta Geol. Sinica, v. 73, p. 148–162.
Shu Liangshu, Lu Huafu, J. Charvet, C. S. Laurent, and Yin Donghao, 2000, Paleozoic accretionary terranes in northern Tianshan, NW China [J]: Chinese Journal of Geochemistry, v. 19, p. 193–202.
Shu Liangshu, J. Charvet, Lu Huafu, and S. C. Laurent, 2002, Paleozoic accretion-collision events and kinematics of ductile deformation in the central-southern Tianshan belt, China [J]: Acta Geol. Sinica (in press).
Sun, S. S. and W. F. McDonough, 1989, Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts; implications for mantle composition and processes, in A. D. Saunders and M. J. Norry, eds., Magmatism in the ocean basins [M]: Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.42, p. 313–345.
Wartes, M. A., A. R. Carroll, and T. J. Greene, 2002, Permian sedimentary record of the Turpan-Hami basin and adjacent regions, Northwest China: Constrains on post-amalgamation tectonic evolution [J]: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., v. 114, p. 131–152.
Windley, B. F., M. B. Allen, Zhang Chi, Z. Y. Zhao, and G. R. Wang, 1990, Paleozoic accretion and Cenozoic redeformation of the Chinese Tienshan range, central Asia [J]: Geology, v. 18, p. 128–131.
Wu Wenkui, Jiang Changyi, Xu Fuliu, Yang Fu, Li Liangchen, and Ren Minghua, 1990, A preliminary research on the stratigraphy and petrology of Silurian in the south of Kumux, Xinjiang [J]: Geoscience of Xinjiang, v. 2, p. 99–113 (in Chinese with English abstract).
XBGMR (Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources), 1993, Regional geology of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomy Region: Beijing, Geological Publishing House, 841 p. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xiao Xuchang, Tang Yaoqing, Li Jingyi, Zhao Ming, Feng Yimin, and Zhu Baoqin, 1990, On the tectonic evolution of the northern Xinjiang, Northwest China [J]: Geoscience of Xinjiang, v. 1, p. 47–68 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Yang Hao, 1988, The origin, features, distribution, tectonic settings and metallization of granites in eastern Tianshan [D]: Nanjing University, Disssertation (unpublished), 198p.
Zhou Zhiyi and W. T. Dean, 1996, Phanerozoic geology of Northwest China [M]: Beijing, Science Press, 251p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The research project supported by the National 973 Scientific Project of China (Grant No. 2001CB409804), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49832040,49772151) and the Laboratoire de Géologie Structurale, Orléans University, France.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jian, G., Liangshu, S., Jaques, C. et al. Geochemical features of the two early paleozoic ophiolitic zones and volcanic rocks in the central-southern Tianshan Region, Xinjiang. Chin. J. Geochem. 21, 308–321 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02831532
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02831532