Article: Emeishan Basalts, SW China: Reappraisal of the formation's type area stratigraphy and a discussion of its significance as a large igneous province

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TitleEmeishan Basalts, SW China: Reappraisal of the formation's type area stratigraphy and a discussion of its significance as a large igneous province
AuthorsThompson, GM1
Ali, JR1
Song, X1
Jolley, DW1
KeywordsFlood basalts
Mantle plumes
Permian
Rifting
South China Block
Issue Date2001
PublisherGeological Society Publishing House. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/publications/journals/jgs
CitationJournal Of The Geological Society, 2001, v. 158 n. 4, p. 593-600 [How to Cite?]
AbstractThe late Permian Emeishan Basalt Formation of SW China is one of Earth's LIPs (large igneous provinces), yet its basic geology remains poorly documented. Recent work on sections close to the type area in Sichuan Province enable us in part to rectify this. Descriptions of the formation and associated units at two areas, one on the lower flanks of Mt Emei and another from a series of outercrops in Ebian County, 50-70 km to the SW, are presented. The basalt pile is 180-270 m thick and in both areas comprises 12 flows that were erupted in relatively quick succession. It rests conformably upon shallow-marine limestones/lignites suggesting emplacement close to sea level. The upper half of the youngest basalt was intensively weathered, but not eroded, prior to it being conformably succeeded by complex body of rocks c. 30 m thick, that includes thin basalts, pyroclastic rocks, tuffs and organic-rich terrestrial sediments. This unit, which has previously been described as a sedimentary package, presumably because intense weathering has obscured the primary lithological fabric in key outcrops, is considered to mark the volcanic waning phase. Uppermost Permian and Triassic terrestrial sediments conformably overlie the terminal volcanic rocks. The sub-regional stratigraphy is compared, as best it can be, with that described from two sections 400 km to the SE; one section matches reasonably well, the other does not, indicating that regional correlations need to be developed carefully. The information is discussed in the context of LIP generator models; several key features of the Emeishan Basalt terrain are at odds with those commonly encountered in LIP's. The most important conclusion is that the unit marks a prematurely terminated system in which full bloodied rifting leading to the development of an ocean basin never started.
ISSN0016-7649
2011 Impact Factor: 3.195
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.140
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorThompson, GM
dc.contributor.authorAli, JR
dc.contributor.authorSong, X
dc.contributor.authorJolley, DW
dc.date.accessioned2007-10-30T06:07:55Z
dc.date.available2007-10-30T06:07:55Z
dc.date.issued2001
dc.description.abstractThe late Permian Emeishan Basalt Formation of SW China is one of Earth's LIPs (large igneous provinces), yet its basic geology remains poorly documented. Recent work on sections close to the type area in Sichuan Province enable us in part to rectify this. Descriptions of the formation and associated units at two areas, one on the lower flanks of Mt Emei and another from a series of outercrops in Ebian County, 50-70 km to the SW, are presented. The basalt pile is 180-270 m thick and in both areas comprises 12 flows that were erupted in relatively quick succession. It rests conformably upon shallow-marine limestones/lignites suggesting emplacement close to sea level. The upper half of the youngest basalt was intensively weathered, but not eroded, prior to it being conformably succeeded by complex body of rocks c. 30 m thick, that includes thin basalts, pyroclastic rocks, tuffs and organic-rich terrestrial sediments. This unit, which has previously been described as a sedimentary package, presumably because intense weathering has obscured the primary lithological fabric in key outcrops, is considered to mark the volcanic waning phase. Uppermost Permian and Triassic terrestrial sediments conformably overlie the terminal volcanic rocks. The sub-regional stratigraphy is compared, as best it can be, with that described from two sections 400 km to the SE; one section matches reasonably well, the other does not, indicating that regional correlations need to be developed carefully. The information is discussed in the context of LIP generator models; several key features of the Emeishan Basalt terrain are at odds with those commonly encountered in LIP's. The most important conclusion is that the unit marks a prematurely terminated system in which full bloodied rifting leading to the development of an ocean basin never started.
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version
dc.format.extent1289657 bytes
dc.format.extent2244 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.format.mimetypetext/plain
dc.identifier.citationJournal Of The Geological Society, 2001, v. 158 n. 4, p. 593-600 [How to Cite?]
dc.identifier.epage600
dc.identifier.hkuros69756
dc.identifier.issn0016-7649
2011 Impact Factor: 3.195
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.140
dc.identifier.issue4
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-0034779199
dc.identifier.spage593
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/44693
dc.identifier.volume158
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherGeological Society Publishing House. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/publications/journals/jgs
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of the Geological Society
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsJournal of Geological Society. Copyright © Geological Society Publishing House.
dc.rightsCreative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License
dc.subjectFlood basalts
dc.subjectMantle plumes
dc.subjectPermian
dc.subjectRifting
dc.subjectSouth China Block
dc.titleEmeishan Basalts, SW China: Reappraisal of the formation's type area stratigraphy and a discussion of its significance as a large igneous province
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong