Was the Paleo-Asian Ocean subducted beneath North China? – An integrated geological and seismic imaging study

Professor Zhao, Guochun   (Principal Investigator (PI))

Professor Zhang Shihong   (Co-Investigator)

Dr He Yanhong   (Co-Investigator)

Dr Zhang Jian   (Co-Investigator)

36

2016-01-01

706972

Was the Paleo-Asian Ocean subducted beneath North China? – An integrated geological and seismic imaging study

North China Block, Paleo-Asian Ocean, Plate tectonics, Siberia, Subduction

Earth Sciences

Physical Sciences (P)

17301915

General Research Fund (GRF)

2015

Completed

1 To determine the spatial distribution and relationships of Paleozoic plutons and volcanic rocks in the Bayan Obo, Chengde and Yitong areas, which are located in the western, middle and eastern parts of the northern margin of the North China Craton, respectively; 2 To carry out extensive field-based structural investigations on Paleozoic complexes at the northern margin of the North China Block and determine the nature of major structural episodes through detailed structural analysis, especially on the early deformation phases which are critical to determining the polarity of the subduciton if the Paleo-Asian Ocean was indeed subducted beneath the northern margin of the North China Block; 3 To probe the geochemical characteristics of Paleozoic plutons and volcanic rocks in the Bayan Obo, Chengde and Yitong areas in order to investigate whether they have affinities to continental margin arcs; 4 To utilize LA-ICP-MS/ SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology combined with cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging to determine the rock-forming ages of Paleozoic plutons and volcanic rocks in the Bayan Obo, Chengde and Yitong areas in order to determine when the southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean beneath the northern margin of the North China Block started if such subduction did exist; 5 On the basis of the above studies, to establish a comprehensive tectonic model for the Paleozoic evolution of the northern margin of the North China Block in association with expansion and closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.