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Rifting in SW China: structural and sedimentary investigation of the initial crustal response to emplacement of the Permian Emeishan LIP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2018

YU WANG ,
INGRID UKSTINS PEATE ,
ZHAOHUA LUO ,
SHUZHI WANG ,
LILU CHENG ,
JINHUA HAO  and
YE WANG
YU WANG*
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
INGRID UKSTINS PEATE
Affiliation:
Earth and Environmental Sciences, 115 Trowbridge Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
ZHAOHUA LUO
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
SHUZHI WANG
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
LILU CHENG
Affiliation:
Earth Observatory of Singapore, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
JINHUA HAO
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
YE WANG
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
*
†Author for correspondence: wangy@cugb.edu.cn
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Abstract

Detailed structural, volcanic, and sedimentary investigations of the crustal response to the emplacement of the Middle–Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province show that a rifting system developed prior to the main stage of flood basalt eruptions, in the form of sedimentary breccias, clastic sedimentary deposits and mafic hydromagmatic units. Detrital zircon grains from sandstones yield ~750–800 Ma LA-ICP-MS 206Pb/238U age clusters, showing that material was sourced from the Yangtze crystalline basement. Gabbros and pegmatites intruded along the normal faults of the rift system yield zircon ages of 264–260 Ma, and thus constrain the timing of rifting. N–S-trending rift zones developed along the western flank of the Pan-Xi palaeo-uplift, with NE–SW- and NNE–SSW-trending rifts on the eastern side and along the western and eastern margins of the Yangtze Block. The rifting progressed in pulses, with an initial phase of normal faulting followed by rapid deposition of breccias. Later there was lower-energy deposition of sandstone, with accompanying rhyolitic eruptions. This was followed by low-energy sedimentation of mudstones and dolomites, with accompanying hydromagmatic deposits. Rift system formation was constrained by a combination of far- and near-field tectonic stresses due to plate motions and lithospheric interaction with initial Emeishan volcanism.

Keywords

Emeishan LIPSW Chinainitial lithospheric responseriftingPermianpulses of rift processesfar-field and near-field stresses
Type
Original Article
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 156 , Issue 4 , April 2019 , pp. 745 - 758
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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