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The paper presents geochemical and geochronological data on gneisses and granitoids from three deep boreholes (Yalykskaya-4, Danilovskaya-532, Srednenepskaya-1) in the basement of the southwestern part of the Nepa-Botuoba anteclise. Based on U-Pb zircon dating, three stages of granitoid magmatism were identified: ∼2.8, 2.0 and 1.87 Ga. At ca. 2.8 Ga magmatic TTG protoliths of biotite–amphibole gneisses (Yalykskaya-4 borehole) were formed, these rocks represent the Mesoarchean crust and experienced thermal effects typical of the Tungus superterrane of the Siberian craton at the terminal Neoarchean (∼2.53 Ga). Biotite gneissic granites (∼2.0 Ga) (Danilovskaya-532 borehole), which correlate in age with the granitoids of the basement of the Magan terrane and the Akitkan orogenic belt, were derived from a metasedimentary source formed by the erosion of predominantly Paleoproterozoic juvenile crust rocks. The 1.88 Ga A-type granite (Srednenepskaya-1 borehole) corresponds to the main stage of post-collision granite magmatism within the South Siberian magmatic belt. The ca. 2.8 Ga biotite–amphibole gneisses mark the eastern boundary of the Archean crust with Paleoproterozoic juvenile crust in the south of the Tungus superterrane, which are separated by a transitional zone intruded by granites having intermediate isotopic characteristics. The isotopic composition of Paleoproterozoic gneisses and granitoids indicates that marginal southern Magan terrane in contact with the Tungus superterrane includes blocks of both Archean and Paleoproterozoic crust, thus showing similarity with the Akitkan orogenic belt and accretionary orogens. The final amalgamation of the Tungus superterrane with blocks of the eastern part of the Siberian platform basement corresponds to a milestone of 1.88 Ga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GNSS measurement-based geodetic studies have led to researchers explaining the regional deformation in the Himalaya in terms of arc-parallel shearing and arc-normal compression. Arc-parallel extension is caused by an increase in the shearing rate, which is reflected in the increasing arc-parallel velocities as one moves along-arc away from the arc-center. This has prompted many to recognize the significance of arc-parallel shearing and extension in the Himalayan orogeny. Several researchers have proposed that the arc-parallel deformation is taken up almost entirely by the Karakoram fault system through slip transfer from the Himalayan foothills, though recent studies have provided some evidence of dextral faulting within the Northwest (NW) Himalayan accretionary wedge. In this paper we address this issue by providing topography-derived evidence such as the deviation of the maximum gradient azimuth from the arc-normal along the Himalayan arc to show that obliquity in convergence is a significant controlling factor in shaping the morphology of the Himalayan slopes. Approximately 4 ± 3 mm/year of arc-parallel dextral shear is being accommodated within the accretionary wedge spanning the NW Himalaya (particularly the part in Himachal and Garhwal), which is approximately 55% of the total arc-parallel dextral shear resulting from the ongoing convergence between southern Tibet and the Indian Plate in this portion of the Himalaya. The study further suggests consistency of the observed Himalayan deformation with the oblique convergence model and the significant role that the underthrusting ridges inherited from the Indian Plate are playing in the strain accommodation pattern in the overlying Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports new geochronological data on metagranitoids (U–Pb SIMS) and ophiolites (Sm–Nd) from the Khanka massif. New and published data define the Early Neoproterozoic Matveevka–Nakhimovka terrane with 935- and 915-Ma early suprasubduction magmatism, 850–880-Ma and 757-Ma withinplate and Pacific-type transform margin magmatism, as well as the Late Neoproterozoic–Early Cambrian Dvoryan and Tafuin terranes with 543, 520, 517, and 513-Ma suprasubduction magmatism. These two terranes are separated by a suture (Voznesenka and Spassk terranes) formed by Ediacaran–Cambrian shelf deposits and a Cambrian accretionary wedge with ophiolites older than 514 Ma. The greater part of the Khanka massif formed in the late Cambrian, with the Kordonka island-arc terrane accreted at the end of the Silurian. The Sergeevka terrane of the Ordovician island arc joined it through the Early Cretaceous strike-slip movements. Heterogeneous structures of the main part of the Khanka massif can be traced to the north based on the analogous stages of magmatism and metamorphism, where the Jiamusi massif (including the East Bureya terrane) is an Early Neoproterozoic block and the eastern Songnen massif (including the West Bureya terrane) is a Late Neoproterozoic–Cambrian block. These blocks are separated by the Spassk–Wuxingzhen–Melgin suture formed by their collision in the Late Cambrian. The Bureya–Songnen–Jiamusi–Khanka superterrane formed as a part of the Gondwana supercontinent approximately 500 Ma ago through orogeny and accretion of the Rodinia supercontinent fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Albian–Campanian Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanic Belt (OCVB) extends along the northeastern Asian margin for more than 3000 km. Toward the Pacific, this belt adjoins the microcontinent of the Sea of Okhotsk in the west and the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous terranes of the Northern Koryak region in the east. Various rock assemblages of these terranes are overlain by shallow-water and continental sediments coeval with the OCVB volcanic rocks. These sediments significantly differ from deposits of deep-water trenches and accretionary wedges suggesting location of the Late Cretaceous OCVP subduction zone southeast of the Koryak terranes. The Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Uda‒Murgal island arc (which was accreted in the Barremian) and the Late Albian–Campanian Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanic Belt, which are two major subduction-related structures of the northeastern active margin of Asia, were originated with the interval of 20 Ma (Late Barremian–Aptian–Early Albian). During this time interval the Jurassic–Late Cretaceous North Koryak complexes of various geodynamic affinities were juxtaposed, transported and accreted to the Asian continent in a local area restricted by the Siberian continent and the Chukotka continental block (Hauterivian–Early Barremian). The data presented in this paper contradict the hypothesis of the North Koryak terranes having been formed within the Pacific oceanic plates. It is proposed that these terranes composed of rock complexes of various geodynamic settings were originated in the Late Mesozoic eastern part of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean. The chaotic transformation and movement of the Northern Koryak terranes were probably related to escape tectonics during the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, which resulted from collision of the Amur block of the Sino-Korean craton with the Siberian continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a review of processes of subduction or tectonic erosion at Pacific-type convergent margins (PTCM) including definition of "tectonic erosion", its triggers, driving forces and consequences. We review examples of tectonic erosion at the Circum-Pacific PTCMs and at the fossil PTCMs of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) currently hosted by the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Recent geological and stratigraphic studies have shown two types of PTCMs: accreting and eroding. Accreting PTCMs consist of older deposits of accretionary and frontal prisms and grow oceanward, i.e. the trench retreats. Eroding PTCMs are characterized by the destruction of the prism, approaching arc and trench and typically form during shallow-angle and fast subduction of an oceanic slab with oceanic floor relief highs. The mechanism of tectonic erosion includes destruction of oceanic slab, island arcs, accretionary prism, fore-arc and related prism. Tectonic erosion is a common phenomenon at many Circum-Pacific PTCMs, e.g., in South America, Tonga and Nankai troughs, Alaska. Accretion and subduction of oceanic rises contributes greatly to the processes of formation, transformation and destruction of continental crust at PTCM. The episodes of tectonic erosion can be also reconstructed for an ancient ocean, for example, for the PAO, which evolution and suturing formed the CAOB. Many CAOB foldbelts (Altai, Tienshan, eastern Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia, Mongolia) carry signs of disappearance of big volumes of continental crust (arcs). Studying processes responsible not only for the formation of continental crust, but also for the disappearance of big volumes of crustal material is important for correct evaluation of the nature of intra-continental orogenic belts, e.g., CAOB, and development of reliable tectonic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Circum-Pacific Late Albian–Cenomanian orogenic belts (including the Sikhote-Alin–Western Sakhalin belt) were formed as a result of the deformation of mainly epioceanic terranes as fragments of Jurassic–Early Cretaceous accretionary wedges with ophiolites and other fragments of oceanic crust, turbidite basins, and island-arc systems. To the west of the Sikhote-Alin–Northern Sakhalin belt and orthogonally, the previously consolidation structures include the Bureya–Jiamusi–Khanka fragment of the orogenic belt of the Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician consolidation of the Late Proterozoic–Cambrian complexes. Within this belt, four isolated outcrops of the Heilongjiang complex are mapped. This complex combines metamorphic rocks of the epidote–amphibolite and glaucophane–schist facies and represents a fragment of a Jurassic accretionary wedge. It was assumed that these outcrops marked a suture; in particular, they represent the remains of the closed Mudanjiang paleoocean, separating the original Jiamusi terrane (and the Bureya–Jiamusi–Khanka belt) located to the west of Central Asia structures. This paper provides data that indicate that the Heilongjiang complex does not mark a suture, but is an underground near-horizontal continuation of the marginal continental accretionary wedge of the Nadanhada–Bikin terrane (flat subduction model) brought to the surface at the antiform bending site. The unity of the compared parts of the accretionary wedge is emphasized by the close matrix ages, the similarity of detritus zircon populations, and similar composition and age of allochthonous inclusions (limestone, chert, Late Paleozoic, and Early Mesozoic basalt). One important common feature is that Late Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic basalts from allochthonous inclusions occur as the N-MORB and OIB types in both cases, without any suprasubduction volcanism traces in the matrix. The Heilongjiang complex forms, according to this interpretation, a tectonic window among the more ancient structures of the Jiamusi terrane. There is no need to assume the existence of a Mudanjiang Ocean to explain the formation of the Heilongjiang complex. The structural features of this complex and its bedding conditions can be explained by the flat subduction processes of the Pacific slab in the Jurassic and its deformation in the Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kiselyovka-Manoma accretionary complex formed at the end of the Early Cretaceous during subduction of the Pacific oceanic plate underneath the Khingan-Okhotsk active continental margin along the east of Eurasia. It is composed of Jurassic-Early Cretaceous oceanic chert, siliceous mudstone, and limestone that include a significant amount of basic volcanic rocks. The known and newly obtained data on the petrogeochemistry of the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous basalt from various parts of the accretionary complex are systemized in the paper. Based on the comprehensive analysis of these data, the possible geodynamic settings of the basalt are considered. The petrogeochemical characteristics provide evidence for the formation of basalt in different parts of the oceanic floor within the spreading ridge, as well as on oceanic islands far from the ridge. The basalts of oceanic islands are mostly preserved in the accretionary complex. The compositional variations of the basalts may be controlled by the different thickness of the oceanic lithosphere on which they formed. This is explained by the varying distances of the lithosphere from the spreading zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the geochronological, geochemical and zircon Hf isotopic data for Mesozoic granitoids within the Erguna Massif, NE China, and discusses the spatial-temporal variation of zircon Hf isotopic compositions, with the aim of constraining the accretion and reworking processes of continental crust within the Erguna Massif, and shedding light on the crustal evolution of the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Based on the zircon U-Pb dating results, the Mesozoic granitic magmatisms within the Erguna Massif can be subdivided into five stages: Early-Middle Triassic (249-237 Ma), Late Triassic (229-201 Ma), Early-Middle Jurassic (199-171 Ma), Late Jurassic (155-149 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (145-125 Ma). The Triassic to Early-Middle Jurassic granitoids are mainly I-type granites and minor adakitic rocks, whereas the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids are mainly A-type granites. This change in magmatism is consistent with the southward subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic plate and subsequent collision and crustal thickening, followed by post-collision extension. Zircon Hf isotopic data indicate that crustal accretion of the Erguna Massif occurred in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Zircon ε( t) values increase gradually over time, whereas two-stage model ( T ) ages decrease throughout the Mesozoic. The latter result indicates a change in the source of granitic magmas from the melting of ancient crust to more juvenile crust. Zircon ε( t) values also exhibit spatial variations, with values decreasing northwards, whereas T ages increase. This pattern suggests that, moving from south to north, there is an increasing component of ancient crustal material within the lower continental crust of the Erguna Massif. Even if at the same latitude, the zircon Hf isotopic compositions are also inconsistent. These results reveal lateral and vertical heterogeneities in the lower continental crust of the Erguna Massif during the Mesozoic, which we use as the basis of a structural and tectonic model for this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SW Yunnan of China constituted part of the northern margin of Gondwana facing the proto-Tethys ocean in the early Paleozoic. However, the evolution of the region and its relationship with the accretionary orogenism have been poorly established. This paper reports a set of new zircon U-Pb age data and whole-rock major oxides, elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic data for early Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks from the previously defined Lancang Group and reveals the development of an Ordovician suprasubduction zone in SW Yunnan. Zircon U-Pb ages of 462 ± 6 and 454 ± 27 Ma for two representative samples indicate eruption of the volcanic rocks in the Late Ordovician. Geochemical data for the metavolcanic rocks together with other available data indicate a calc-alkaline affinity with high AlO (13.04-18.77 wt%) and low TiO (0.64-1.00 wt%). They have Mg-numbers ranging from 62 to 50 with SiO of 53.57-69.10 wt%, compositionally corresponding to the high-Mg andesitic rocks. They display enrichments in LREEs and LILEs with significant Eu negative anomalies ( δEu = 0.20-0.33), and depletions in HFSEs, similar to arc volcanic rocks. Their initial Sr/Sr ratios range from 0.721356 to 0.722521 and εNd( t) values from −7.63 to −7.62 with Nd model ages of 2.06-2.10 Ga. Integration of ages and geochemical data with available geological observations, we propose the presence of Ordovician magmatism related to proto-Tethyan evolution in SW Yunnan and the metaigneous rocks formed in an island-arc setting. They were part of a regional accretionary orogen that extended along the northern margin of Gondwana during Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern Altaids is of critical significance for a better understanding of the orogenic architecture and continental growth in Central Asia. The tectonic setting of the South Tianshan, a typical Paleozoic accretionary orogen within the southern Altaids, is controversial. This study reports new structural relations, geochemistry, and geochronology of previously assigned Late Silurian–Early Devonian strata in the Karaghol area of the South Tianshan. The constituent rocks are pillow basalts, ribbon cherts, limestones, siliceous mudstones, and turbiditic sandstones. Field relations show that these rocks are characterized by fault-bound tectonic slices and mélanges with typical block-in-matrix structures. The pillow basalts show N-MORB, E-MORB, and OIB geochemical fingerprints, and our new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dates indicate that the maximum eruption age of the OIB-type basalts was ca. 386 Ma, whereas the Maximum Depositional Ages (MDAs) of the turbiditic sandstones were ca. 369 Ma and 355 Ma. The age spectra of the detrital zircons, which define prominent peaks at ca. 370 Ma, ca. 420 Ma, ca. 770 Ma, ca. 960 Ma with subordinate Proterozoic ages, are a good match with the igneous ages of intermediate to felsic magmatism in the Yili–Central Tianshan arc. We conclude that the previously assigned Late Silurian–Early Devonian strata in the Karaghol area are mostly dismembered structural components and mélanges that belonged to an accretionary complex of Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous age, into which fragments of a Late Devonian seamount along with South Tianshan oceanic crustal rocks were likely emplaced during north-dipping subduction in the Early Carboniferous. This well-documented accretionary orogen in the Chinese South Tianshan is a key constraint on the accretionary orogenesis of the southern Altaids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Changning–Menglian Belt in western Yunnan, China has been widely considered as the remnants of Paleo-Tethys. However, its geological history remains waiting for further clarification. An efficient approach to this goal is to identify the tectono-sedimentary environment of different stratigraphic successions within the belt. This study examines the Nanpihe Formation, a Devonian to Early Carboniferous siliciclastics-dominated succession in the central zone of the belt. Our sedimentologic and petrographic results reveal that this formation comprises largely turbidity current deposits. Geochemical results indicate that its source area was rich in continental island arc rocks. Detrital zircon age spectra of this formation exhibit remarkable age clusters of ca. 435 Ma and ca. 950 Ma. The former is well-correlated with Silurian magmatism in the Simao and South China blocks. We thus consider that this formation was deposited in a continental slope environment along the west margin of the Simao Block, instead of the eastern margin of the Baoshan-Shan Block. We further consider that sometime in the Permian or Early Triassic, as the eastward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys progressed, the Nanpihe Formation was sheared off or collapsed from the overriding margin of the Simao Block and entered the accretionary wedge, which contained a significant amount of rock slices scraped off the subducting oceanic plate. During the closure of Paleo-Tethys in the Late Triassic, this formation and some other slices of the accretionary wedge were thrust onto the east flank of the Baoshan–Shan block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a scheme to subdivide the Samarka terrane, a Jurassic accretionary prism fragment, into tectonostratigraphic complexes. This subdivision provides a basis to study these formations and map them on a medium- to large-scale. Each complex corresponds to a certain stage in the accretionary prism formation. Thus, the complexes composed of subduction mélange and olistostromes (in our case, Ust-Zhuravlevka and Sebuchar complexes), can be correlated to episodes when the underthrusting of seamounts hampered subduction, as evidenced by seamount fragments contained in the complexes. Episodes of relatively quiet subduction have also been identified, resulting in complexes composed mainly of normally bedded terrigenous and biogenic formations (Tudovaka and Udeka and, partially, Ariadnoe complexes). Particularly considered is the Okrainka-Sergeevka allochthonous complex – a fragment of continental plate overhanging a subduction zone. It was included in the accretionary prism during gravitational sliding on the internal slope of the paleotrench. All volcanic rocks in the accretionary prism are allochthonous fragments of the accreted oceanic crust. The absence of the Jurassic-Berriasian volcanic belt related to this prism, as well as synchronous autochthonous volcanism, indicates that the Samarka terrane accretionary prism formed under conditions of flat-slab subduction, similar to modern examples along the Andean margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altaids accreted around, and grew southward, from the Siberian craton, but the time of final amalgamation of this orogen is still controversial. The Eastern Tianshan in the southernmost Altaids is characterized by multiple, late, accreted arcs and thus is an ideal tectonic environment to answer the time of final amalgamation of the Altaids. In this study we report the results of new field-based lithological mapping and structural analysis on the Kanguer mélange in the Eastern Tianshan, which is composed of blocks of basalt, chert, limestone, and other rocks within a strongly deformed and cleaved matrix of sandstone and schist. Our geochemical and isotopic data of basaltic blocks from several parts of the Kanguer mélange show they are relics of Normal-Mid-Ocean-Ridge (N-MORB)-type oceanic lithosphere, and U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons from the matrix sandstones indicate they were derived only from the Dananhu arc to the north. Accordingly, our interpretation is that the Kanguer mélange was part of an accretionary complex that fringed the Dananhu arc, and therefore the subduction polarity of the Kanguer Ocean was to the north (present coordinates). The maximum depositional ages (MDAs) of our three sandstone samples (08K01, 08K02, and 08K03) from the mélange matrix were 234 ± 14 Ma, 242.5 ± 1.3 Ma, and 236 ± 2.0 Ma respectively, indicating that the Kanguer Ocean was still being subducted at ca. 234 Ma, and the accretion of the Kanguer mélange must have lasted until that time, when the accretionary complex was still located opposite to the Yamansu-CTS accretionary complex to the south. Thus, the final amalgamation of the Dananhu and Yanmansu-CTS arcs took place by the welding of two accretionary complexes in the late Middle Triassic (Ladinian) in this part of the southern Altaids. Integration with relevant amalgamation histories throughout the Tianshan indicates that the time of terminal amalgamation in the southern Altaids was probably in the Middle-Late Triassic, which is much younger than previously envisaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabasites of the Tim Formation occur in the Paleoproterozoic Orel, Tim–Yastrebovka, and Avilsky synforms in the Archean Kursk block of Eastern Sarmatia. The volcanics are picrites, picrobasalts, basalts, and basaltic andesites metamorphosed to the greenschist and epidote-amphibolite facies. Their zircon (SIMS) age is 2099 ± 8 Ma. Based on their (Gd/Yb)n and Ti/Y ratios, the volcanics of the Tim Formation are subdivided into two types. The first one is OIB-type metabasites with (Gd/Yb)n > 2 and Ti/Y > 500. The parental melts of these rocks corresponded to ferropicrite and were derived by melting a garnet-bearing mantle source. The rocks of the second type are MORB-type volcanics with (Gd/Yb)n < 2 and Ti/Y < 500, which implies that the magma was derived from a garnet-free source at a relatively shallow depth. Their parental melts could be variously enriched MORB-type picrites. These magmas, which are contrastingly different in petrogenesis but had approximately equal age, were likely generated at various interaction stages between the asthenospheric mantle and eclogitized oceanic crust, subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and continental crust in the destruction environment of a subducted oceanic slab at the accretionary–collisional interaction between the Kursk domain and Volga–Don orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accretionary complex was usually formed by offscraping of the subducting crustal material over the trench and thus often referred to as subduction zone mélange. The structure, composition and forming process of accretionary wedges can provide important insights into the evolution history of ocean basin, ocean-continent material cycle, continental accretion and thus contribute to understanding of the origin of plates and the growth of continents. Accretionary complex is characterized by a block-in-matrix structure associated with imbricate thrusts and isoclinal folds, diversified metamorphic types and intense water-rock interactions, which are distinct to the traditional stratigraphy. Since the proposal of the concept of accretionary wedge over a hundred years ago, great progress has been made in a variety of research focuses, such as the identification of the distribution of accretionary complexes, their compositions and formation mechanisms, the affinities of the matrix and igneous rocks, the recognition of the Ocean Plate Stratigraphy (OPS), the reconstruction of oceanic basin, the dynamic background of the tectonic evolution, the relationship between subduction zone and orogenic belt and, in particular, the accretionary complexes in continental subduction zones. These studies have significantly improved our understanding of the plate tectonic theory. Challenges remain in the identification of ancient accretionary complexes, the detailed analysis of accretionary complex zones, the accretion characteristics during continental collision, and the geochemical tracing of water-rock interaction during the accretion. China contains representative orogenic belts and accretionary complex zones in the world, and its geological records provide the best opportunity to make new breakthroughs in understanding of the plate tectonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New petrogeochemical data were used to determine the conditions of the formation and tectonic setting of volcanic rocks of the Lake Udyl' area. These rocks were compared with similar rocks in the region. The volcanic rocks of the Lake Udyl' area are subdivided into two genetic types: (1) within-plate oceanic volcanic rocks ascribed to the accretionary volcanogenic–siliceous complex (Tithonian–Valanginian–Hauterivian–Barremian) similar to accretionary complexes in other segments of the Kiselevka–Manoma Terrane, and (2) suprasubduction-zone volcanic rocks from the island-arc volcanogenic-terrigenous complex (Valanginian–Hauterivian–Aptian–Albian–Cenomanian). A synthesis of new geological and petrogeochemical data, as well as previous geochronological and paleomagnetic data indicates the co-occurrence of genetically diverse complexes in the Udyl' segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critically tapered active accretionary wedge was simulated using a numerical analysis of plastic slip-line theory to understand the mechanics of morphologic evolution. The concept of critical state soil mechanics was applied to describe the entire wedge area overlying a basal décollement fault. Presuming a condition of two-dimensional plane strain along the compressional direction, we obtained the numerical solution of conjugate plastic slip lines at a critical state of stress defined by the Coulomb yield criterion. The velocity vectors were obtained by applying the associate flow rule with the boundary conditions at the upper surface of the wedge. Finally, the detachment was determined from the effective stress condition inside the wedge and the sliding friction coefficient along the fault. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that the morphology of a critically tapered wedge is dependent on the frictional strengths of both the wedge materials and the basal fault. The critical taper angle decreases with increasing internal friction angle and decreasing basal friction coefficient. The results also revealed that the pore pressure controls the morphology of the accretionary wedge for cohesive sediments but not for non-cohesive materials. The effect of pore pressure on the morphology of a critically tapered accretionary wedge becomes more significant as the cohesion increases. Assuming that the cohesion is very low, we could infer the ranges of strengths that most observed wedge geometry data have 0.3–0.6 for the basal friction coefficient and ~35–45° for the internal friction angle of the wedge materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Karel Schulmann in Strasbourg, France (October, 2018) Karel began his career in 1983 in the former Czechoslovakia working as a structural geologist in the Central Geological Institute, now the Czech Geological Survey. It was Karel's enthusiasm in science and teaching, together with his warm and friendly attitude to his former students, and people in general, which opened the door to international science and placed firmly his Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology in Prague on the European map of structural geology, metamorphic petrology and tectonics. Karel is especially recognized for his exemplary and innovative work on the understanding of continental collision related to the Paleozoic orogeny in Europe involving relamination of lower plate crust and its gravity driven exhumation. As an enthusiast and creative intellectual, Karel has also led and encouraged novel and original research in the fields of rock rheology, the formation of fabrics, metamorphic petrology, transformation of rocks by melt percolation, pluton emplacement and particle behaviour in magma flow. [Extracted from the article]

The Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) and adjoining zones form a narrow, but lengthy belt that separates the Cretaceous nappe stack of the Central (Austroalpine) and the Cenozoic accretionary wedge of the External Western Carpathians (Flysch Belt). The PKB shares units and structures of both, in addition to the distinctive Oravic units, derived from a continental fragment in the Middle Penninic position. In map view, the northward-convex PKB consists of two branches—the western one striking roughly SW–NE and the eastern one oriented in the NW–SE direction. The western branch experienced a continuous NW–SE convergence and forward accretion of units derived from the foreland plate during the Late Cretaceous up to Oligocene. The developing accretionary wedge was supported by the backstop of the Central Carpathians. In contrast, the eastern branch originated by separation of PKB units and their dextral translation along the NE margin of the Central Carpathian block in the Late Eocene. During the Miocene reorganization of plate movements in the Carpathian area, the situation reversed. The eastern, formerly dextral transform margin was converted to the frontal backstop of the eastern part of the accretionary wedge. In contrast, the western, previously orthogonally convergent branch was affected by along-strike sinistral movements. Despite these considerable kinematic changes, the PKB remained fixed to both backstop edges and records deformation structures and associated sediments differentiated into several evolutionary stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voluminous Silurian-Devonian granitoids intruded a greywacke-dominated Ordovician accretionary wedge in the Chinese Altai. These granitoids are characterized by significant Nd-Hf isotopic decoupling, the underlying mechanism of which, so far, has been poorly understood. This issue is addressed in this study by the integration of our new and regional published geological and geochemical data. Geological studies indicated a close spatial relationship between the regional anatexis of the Ordovician wedge and the formation of the granitoids, which is characterized by a gradual textural evolution from the partial molten Ordovician wedge sedimentary rocks (the Habahe Group) to the granitoid bodies. Compositionally, these granitoids and the Ordovician Habahe Group rocks displayed close geochemical similarities, in the form of arclike trace elemental signatures as well as comparable Nd isotopic characteristics. Combined with regional available data, we suggest that the Silurian-Devonian granitoids originated from the immature and chemically primitive Habahe Group rocks. Since Nd and Hf isotopic data for the Habahe Group rocks show significant Nd-Hf isotopic decoupling, we propose that the Silurian-Devonian granitoids inherited the Nd and Hf isotopic signatures from their sources, i.e., the Habahe Group rocks. In other words, the Nd-Hf decoupling in the Habahe Group rocks is the primary causative factor leading to the prevailing Nd-Hf isotopic decoupling of the Silurian-Devonian granitoids in the Chinese Altai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the authors' insights on the article "Accretionary prism-forearc interactions as reflected in the sedimentary fill of southern Thrace Basin (Lemnos Island, NE Greece)" by A. G. Maravelis and colleagues. The authors discusses the use provenance diagrams particularly hand-held X-ray flourescent (XRF) in the evolution of Thrace Basin in Northeast (NE) Greece.

The Sikhote-Alin Orogen in the southeast of Russia is a collage of geological terranes of various age and tectonic origin, which formed along the East Asian continental margin as a result of the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous subduction of the Pacific oceanic plates. The Jurassic Samarka accretionary complex (AC) and the Early Cretaceous Zhuravlevka turbidite basin in the southern part of the orogen are considered indicators of subduction continental margin and transform plate boundary regimes, respectively. The regime conversion was assumed at the end of the Jurassic, when subduction stopped. Our biostratigraphic study of radiolarians from siliceous and fine-clastic sedimentary rocks has revealed the latest oceanic deposits and the youngest, Early Cretaceous fragment of the Samarka AC in its less studied northeastern part, which is ascribed to the Anuy tectono-stratigraphic element. The well-preserved radiolarians allow accurate dating of cherts, siliceous mudstone, and mudstone. This and other available biostratigraphic data allow the reinterpretation of the stratigraphy of the accreted oceanic sedimentary rocks. The refined stratigraphy is interpreted as a subsequent change in depositional settings on an oceanic plate, which moves to the convergent plate margin. Cherts accumulated in an oceanic pelagic zone from the Middle Triassic to the Late Jurassic (Early Oxfordian). Siliceous mudstone were deposited in a hemipelagic zone in the early Oxfordian–middle Tithonian. Mudstone and siltstones deposited on an external slope of a deep trench in the late Tithonian–Berriasian. The sandy deposits were deposited in an axial part of the trench in the early Valangian, which best corresponds to the timing of accretion. Thus recognized early Valanginian accretion episode shows that subduction underneath the continental margin lasted longer than previously suggested. The onset of the transform continental boundary regime occurred later, probably, in the late Valanginian. This further details the Mesozoic evolutionary scenario, which was previously proposed for the Sikhote-Alin segment of the East Asian continental margin. We also refine the tectonic zonation and evolution of the Samarka AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline exotic boulders within the sedimentary sequences of the Outer Carpathians likely represent Proto-Carpathian basement, which was exposed and eroded during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the Western Carpathian basin. The majority of the boulders were derived from the Silesian Ridge, which separated the Magura Basin and the Silesian Domains, and which became a source region during Late Cretaceous–Early Paleocene tectonism. Felsic crystalline clasts within the Silesian Nappe yield U–Pb zircon magmatic protolith ages of 603.7 ± 3.8 Ma and 617.5 ± 5.2 Ma while felsic crystalline clasts within the Subsilesian Nappe yield an age of 565.9 ± 3.1 Ma and thus represent different magmatic cycles. The U–Pb zircon data also imply that the Silesian Ridge was a fragment of the eastern part of the Brunovistulia microcontinent. The presence of inherited zircon cores, dated at 1.3 and 1.7 Ga, suggests a Baltican source for the clasts, as opposed to Gondwana. We infer that Late Neoproterozoic felsic magmatism within the Proto-Carpathian continent represents a long-living magmatic arc, which formed during prolonged Timmanian/Baikalian rather than Pan-African/Cadomian orogenesis. Mafic exotic blocks, found within the Magura Nappe, yield U–Pb zircon ages of 613.3 ± 2.6 Ma and 614.6 ± 2.5 Ma and likely represent a fragment of an obducted ophiolitic sequence. The protolith of these mafic boulders could represent Paleoasian Ocean floor located to the east of Cadomia, obducted during later orogenic processes and incorporated into the accretionary prism. All analysed exotic clasts show no evidence for younger (Variscan) reworking, which is characteristic of both western Brunovistulia and the Central Western Carpathians and the Cadomian elements of Western Europe. The Silesian and Subsilesian basins thus had a likely source area in the eastern part of Brunovistulia, while the source of the Magura Basin was the Fore-Magura Ridge, whose basement potentially represents an accretionary prism on the margin of the East European Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Itmurundy zone of the northern Balkhash area is a Pacific-type orogenic belt. It possesses a complex geological structure and hosts rocks of mantle, accretionary and post-orogenic associations. The volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the accretionary association belong to three suites: Itmurundy (O1-2), Kazyk (O2-3) and Tyuretai (O3-S1). The suites are separated by tectonic unconformities or faults of three orders: 1) large regional faults; 2) medium faults separating mantle and oceanic accreted rocks; 3) small faults separating packages consisting of oceanic sediments. The Itmurundy Fm. (O1-2) is the most lithologically variable consisting of oceanic basalt, pelagic chert, hemipelagic siliceous mudstone and siltstone, and trench greywacke sandstone. The packages, each consisting of chert-siliceous mudstone, are separated from each other by 2nd and 3rd order faults of probably thrust nature, i.e. they are parts of duplex structures. The presence of duplex structures and the high degree of deformation of Itmurundy Fm. rocks are typical of accretionary complexes. The associations of volcanic and sedimentary rocks under study represent a full section of oceanic plate stratigraphy (OPS): basalt (MORB, OIB)—chert (pelagic)—siliceous mudstone, siltstone and shale (hemipelagic)—trench sandstones (greywacke). The structural position and the lithology of Itmurundy rocks accord well with the model of formation of accretionary complexes at Pacific-type convergent margins, in particular, those in the western Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kiselyovka-Manoma accretionary complex, formed at the end of the Early Cretaceous, is a part of the Early Cretaceous Khingan-Okhotsk active continental margin. It is located at the front of the Amur accretionary complex and is composed of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous oceanic volcanic-siliceous deposits. The structural study of this complex in the Lower Amur region hSas made it possible to clarify its overall structure and to subdivide the folds with different morphologies and orientations into five types. The analyzed folding sequence is compared to the folds of the Amur accretionary complex. The fold kinematics indicates various senses of motions that do not reveal systematic kinematic patterns of stacking of the accreted tectonic slices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Vendian (540-550 Ma) U-Pb age was established for zircon from postcollisional granites of the Osinovsky Massif located among island-arc complexes of the Isakovka terrane in the northwestern Sayan-Yenisei accretionary belt. The granites were formed 150 Ma after the formation of the host island-arc complexes and 50-60 Ma after the beginning of their accretion to the Siberian Craton. These events mark the final stage of the Neoproterozoic history of the Yenisei Ridge related to the end of accretion of oceanic fragments and the beginning of the Caledonian Orogeny. The granites are subalkaline leucoractic Na-K rocks enriched in Rb, U, and Th. The petrogeochemical and Sm-Nd isotope data (T(DM)-2st = 1490-1650 Ma and ε(T) from-2.5 to-4.4) indicate that their source was highly differentiated continental crust of the SW margin of the Siberian Craton. Therefore, the host Late Riphean island-arc complexes were thrust over the craton margin for distance significantly exceeding the size of the Osinovsky Massif. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transfer (accretion) of materials from a subducting oceanic plate to a subduction-accretionary complex has produced rock assemblages recording the history of the subducted oceanic plate from formation to arrival at the trench. These rock assemblages, comprising oceanic igneous rocks progressively overlain by pelagic sedimentary rocks (chert and/or limestone) and trench-fill clastic sedimentary rocks (mostly sandstone, shale/mudstone), have been called ocean plate stratigraphy (OPS). During accretion of OPS, megathrust slip is accommodated by imbricate faults and penetrative strain, shortening the unit and leading to tectonic repetition of the OPS sequence, whereas OPS accreted at different times are separated by non-accretionary megathrust horizons. The Franciscan subduction complex of California accreted episodically over a period of over 150 million years and incorporated OPS units with a variety of characteristics separated by non-accretionary megathrust horizons. Most Franciscan OPS comprises MORB (mid-ocean-ridge basalt) progressively overlain by chert and trench-fill clastic sedimentary rocks that are composed of variable proportions of turbidites and siliciclastic and serpentinite-matrix olistostromes (sedimentary mélanges). Volumetrically, the trench-fill component predominates in most Franciscan OPS, but some units have a significant component of igneous and pelagic rocks. Ocean island basalt (OIB) overlain by limestone is less common than MORB-chert assemblages, as are abyssal serpentinized peridotite slabs. The earliest accreted OPS comprises metabasite of supra-subduction zone affinity imbricated with smaller amounts of metaultramafic rocks and metachert, but lacking a clastic component. Most deformation of Franciscan OPS is localized along discrete faults rather than being distributed in the form of penetrative strain. This deformation locally results in block-in-matrix tectonic mélanges, in contrast to the sedimentary mélanges making up part of the clastic OPS component. Such tectonic mélanges may include blocks and matrix derived from the olistostromes. Franciscan subduction and OPS accretion initiated in island arc crust at about 165-170 Ma, after which MORB and OIB were subducted and accreted following a long (tens of mega-ampere) gap with little or no accretion. Following subduction initiation, a ridge crest approached the trench but probably went dormant prior to its subduction (120-125 Ma), after which the subducted oceanic crust became progressively older until about 95 Ma. From 95 Ma, the age of subducted oceanic crust decreased progressively until arrival of the Pacific-Farallon spreading center led to termination of subduction and conversion to a transform plate boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The areally extensive (>5000 km), syn-tectonic, ca. 520 Ma, mainly S-type Donkerhuk batholith was constructed through injection of thousands of mainly sheet-like magma pulses over 20-25 Myr. It intruded schists of the Southern Zone accretionary prism in the Damara Belt of Namibia. Each magma pulse had at least partly crystallised prior to the arrival of the following batch. However, much of the batholith may have remained partially molten for long periods, close to the HO-saturated granite solidus. The batholith shows extreme variation in chemistry, while having limited mineralogical variation, and seems to be the world's most heterogeneous granitic mass. The Nd model ages of ~2 Ga suggest that Eburnean rocks of the former magmatic arc, structurally overlain by the accretionary wedge, are the most probable magma sources. Crustal melting was initiated by mantle heat flux, probably introduced by thermal diffusion rather than magma advection. The granitic magmas were transferred from source to sink, with minimal intermediate storage; the whole process having occurred in the middle crust, resulting in feeble crustal differentiation despite the huge volume of silicic magma generated. Source heterogeneity controlled variation in the magmas and neither mixing nor fractionation was prominent. However, due to the transpressional emplacement régime, local filter pressing formed highly silicic liquids, as well as felsic cumulate rocks. The case of the Donkerhuk batholith demonstrates that emplacement-level tectonics can significantly influence compositional evolution of very large syn-tectonic magma bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receiver function analysis is one of the most powerful methods for modeling the subsurface structure beneath a seismograph station. Based on the assumption that similar receiver functions should be observed at stations located close to each other, we can construct a spatial distribution of a seismic velocity interface, such as the Moho discontinuity, to trace the distribution of P-to- S ( Ps) converted phases in receiver functions. After more than 15 years of observation by the seismograph networks, we confirmed that receiver functions observed at two stations very close to each other in the Kii Peninsula, central Japan, show significantly different characteristics from each other. The backazimuth dependence of later phase arrivals within 4 s after the direct P wave was strong, especially for transverse components. Because the Ps converted phases at the Moho discontinuity arrived around 4 s after the direct P wave, we assume that the dissimilarity is caused by a localized structural anomaly in the crust. This assumption is supported by the fact that only the cross-correlation coefficients for the short-period transverse component of teleseismic waveforms were small. According to the geological map, the two stations are located in the accretionary complex along the Pacific coast, and the strikes of the geological boundaries show an abrupt change around the stations. Based on forward modeling with the anisotropic subsurface models, we confirmed that the characteristics of the observed receiver functions can be explained roughly by considering a localized anomaly in the upper and middle crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the authors of the article "Accretionary prism-forearc interactions as reflected in the sedimentary fill of southern Thrace Basin (Lemnos Island, NE Greece)" in the 2015 issue is presented.

The mid-shelf reefs of the Kimberley Bioregion are one of Australia's more remote tropical reef provinces and such have received little attention from reef researchers. This study describes the geomorphology and late Holocene accretion history of Adele Reef, a mid-shelf platform reef, through remote sensing of contemporary reef habitats, shallow seismic profiling, shallow percussion coring and radiocarbon dating. Seismic profiling indicates that the Holocene reef sequence is 25 to 35 m thick and overlies at least three earlier stages of reef build-up, interpreted as deposited during marine isotope stages 5, 7 and 9 respectively. The cored shallow subsurface facies of Adele Reef are predominantly detrital, comprising small coral colonies and fragments in a sandy matrix. Reef cores indicate a 'catch-up' growth pattern, with the reef flat being approximately 5-10 m deep when sea level stabilised at its present elevation 6,500 years BP. The reef flat is rimmed by a broad low-relief reef crest only 10-20 cm high, characterised by anastomosing ridges of rhodoliths and coralliths. The depth of the Holocene/last interglacial contact (25-30 m) suggests a subsidence rate of 0.2 mm/year for Adele Reef since the last interglacial. This value, incorporated with subsidence rates from Cockatoo Island (inshore) and Scott Reefs (offshore), provides the first quantitative estimate of hinge subsidence for the Kimberley coast and adjacent shelf, with progressively greater subsidence across the shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of study of the volcanic rocks of the Khabarovsk accretionary complex, a fragment of the Jurassic accretionary prism of the Sikhote Alin orogenic belt (the southern part of the Russian Far East), are presented. The volcanic rocks are associated with the Lower Permian limestones in the mélange blocks and Triassic layered cherts. The petrography, petrochemistry, and geochemistry of the rocks are characterized and their geodynamic formation conditions are deduced. The volcanic rocks include oceanic plume basalts of two types: (i) OIB-like intraplate basalts formed on the oceanic islands and guyots in the Permian and Triassic and (ii) T(transitional)-MORBs (the least enriched basalts of the E-MORB type) formed on the midoceanic ridge in the Permian. In addition to basalts, the mélange hosts suprasubduction dacitic tuff lavas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architecture of the well-exposed ancient forearc basin successions of northeast Aegean Sea, Greece, provides useful insights into the interplay between arc magmatism, accretionary prism exhumation, and sedimentary deposition in forearc basins. The upper Eocene-lower Oligocene basin fill of the southern Thrace forearc basin reflects the active influence of the uplifted accretionary prism. Deep-marine sediments predominate the basin fill that eventually shoals upwards into shallow-marine sediments. This trend is related to tectonically driven uplift and compression. Field, stratigraphic, sedimentological, petrographic, geochemical, and provenance data on the lower Oligocene shallow-marine deposits revealed the accretionary prism (i.e. Pindic Cordillera or Biga Peninsula) as the major contributor of sediments into the forearc region. Field investigations in these shallow-marine deposits revealed the occurrence of conglomerates with: (1) mafic and ultramafic igneous rock clasts, (2) low-grade metamorphic rock fragments, and (3) sedimentary rocks. The absence of felsic volcanic fragments rules out influence of a felsic source rock. Geochemical analysis indicates that the studied rocks were accumulated in an active tectonic setting with a sediment source of mainly mafic composition, and palaeodispersal analysis revealed a NE-NNE palaeocurrent trend, towards the Rhodopian magmatic arc. Thus, these combined provenance results make the accretionary prism the most suitable candidate for the detritus forming these shallow-marine deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Makran Accretionary Wedge (900 km across) is a consequence of northward subduction of the oceanic part of the Arabian Plate beneath the Lut and Afghan blocks in the northwestern Indian Ocean. It has a complicated tectonic setting as it is located at a triple junction with the Indian Plate. Thick sedimentary layers, a shallow angle of the subducting slab and a large width of the subduction zone, ca. 500–600 km from volcanic arc to active wedge front, are some of the foremost and distinctive characteristics of the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ). The MSZ is likely divided into at least two segments: the west and the east possibly separated by a sinistral fault known as the Sonne Fault. A division is also inferred from seismicity as it is higher in the east when compared to the west. With the exception of a notable trench, all other characteristics of an accretionary prism observed in well-studied subduction zone can be identified or inferred in the Makran. Three long seismic profiles of the western Makran (200 km long each, with shot points interval of 20 km and receivers interval of 700 m) have recently been acquired. Using these datasets, improved structural/velocity models for the western Makran were developed. This review aims to contribute to achieving a better understanding of the seismotectonic setting and dynamics of the Makran Subduction Zone as it feeds to a refined understanding of the tsunami hazard in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the thermal maturity structure of the accretionary wedge along with the thermal history of sediments during wedge formation using a numerical simulation. The thermal maturity, which is described in terms of vitrinite reflectance, is determined using the temperature and duration of exposure based on the particle trajectories within the accretionary wedge. This study revealed the variability in the thermal maturity even though sediments are observed to originate at an identical initial depth and thermal conditions. We propose two end-member pathways of sediment movement in the accretionary wedge during wedge growth: a shallow, low thermal maturity pathway and a deep, high thermal maturity pathway. These shallow path sediments, which move into the shallow portion of the wedge during wedge growth through accretion, rarely experience high temperatures; therefore, their thermal maturity is low. However, the sediments subducted in the deep portion of the wedge experience high temperatures and obtain high thermal maturity as a function of the deep high thermal maturity pathway. Simultaneously, a geological deformation event, such as faulting, defines the steps of thermal maturity. The small step of thermal maturity is formed by the frontal thrusting and can be preserved as a function of the shallow low thermal maturity pathway. However, the step is overprinted and is observed to disappear through the deep high thermal maturity pathway. The large step of thermal maturity is formed by long-term displacement along an out-of-sequence thrust (OOST) in the deep portion of the wedge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data from the southern Kumano Basin of southwest Japan image a nested series of moderately sized mass transport deposits (MTDs) that slid from a slope along the seaward side of the forearc basin. The deposits are dated to be approximately 0.3 to 0.9 Ma. These MTDs are likely linked to the movement along a prominent out-of-sequence thrust (OOST) fault, regionally steeper slopes that would have existed during deposition, and shifts in sedimentation over the past 0.9 Ma. The spatial resolution provided by the 3D seismic data permits the identification of kinematic characteristics and the internal geometries of the MTDs which total over 2.8 km3 in volume and cover more than 59 km2 of the seafloor at various stratigraphic levels. Each MTD is well imaged and exhibits various kinematic indicators while most of the basal glide planes and original headwall scarps above the deposits have been partially or fully eroded by subsequent MTDs. There are at least seven individual deposits that range in volume from 0.005 to 1.16 km3, in area from 0.2 to 21.8 km2; have runouts between 0.55 and 7.9 km, and generally translate downslope from the SE to NW. Basal, internal, and top surface kinematic indicators, such as grooves, thrust and fold systems, and pressure ridges, show that these MTDs originate from a prominent slide scar recognized in the high-resolution regional bathymetry. This, combined with a regionally shifting depocenter and faulting related to the earthquake cycle, points to regional tectonic activity as being the most likely failure trigger for these nested landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]