Carboniferous-Triassic subduction and accretion in the western Kunlun, China: Implications for the collisional and accretionary tectonics of the northern Tibetan Plateau

Research Article| April 01, 2002 Carboniferous-Triassic subduction and accretion in the western Kunlun, China: Implications for the collisional and accretionary tectonics of the northern Tibetan Plateau Wen Jiao Xiao; Wen Jiao Xiao 1Laboratory of Lithosphere Tectonic Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian F. Windley; Brian F. Windley 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8511, Japan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Han Lin Chen; Han Lin Chen 3School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Guo Cheng Zhang; Guo Cheng Zhang 4Department of Geology, Jiaozuo Institute Polytechnic, Jiaozuo 454100, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ji Liang Li Ji Liang Li 5Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Wen Jiao Xiao 1Laboratory of Lithosphere Tectonic Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Brian F. Windley 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8511, Japan Han Lin Chen 3School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China Guo Cheng Zhang 4Department of Geology, Jiaozuo Institute Polytechnic, Jiaozuo 454100, China Ji Liang Li 5Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 19 Nov 2001 Accepted: 28 Nov 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (4): 295–298. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)0302.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 13 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 19 Nov 2001 Accepted: 28 Nov 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Wen Jiao Xiao, Brian F. Windley, Han Lin Chen, Guo Cheng Zhang, Ji Liang Li; Carboniferous-Triassic subduction and accretion in the western Kunlun, China: Implications for the collisional and accretionary tectonics of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Geology 2002;; 30 (4): 295–298. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)0302.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A newly defined, 250 km by 500 km, Carboniferous-Triassic subduction-accretion complex, the Mazar accretionary prism in the western Kunlun, comprises two subduction complexes and a forearc-basin succession. (1) The Bazar Dara subduction complex contains imbricated blocks of sandstone, arenite, limestone, and metavolcanic rocks in a matrix of weakly metamorphosed Triassic deep-sea turbidites. The metavolcanic rocks include basalt, diabase, spilite, and andesitic porphyry. Trace element geochemistry shows that pillow and amygdaloidal basalts are oceanic-island tholeiites. This zone has Ordovician to Permian fossils and is situated on the older, more highly deformed and metamorphosed side of the prism adjacent to the Sailiyak magmatic arc. (2) The Heweitan subduction complex is composed of blocks of limestone, turbidite, and radiolarite in a slate-phyllite matrix intercalated with calc-alkalic volcanic rocks. This complex has Permian to Triassic fossils and is situated on the younger, less deformed, and metamorphosed side of the prism adjacent to the suture zone. (3) The Qitai forearc basins are infilled with turbidites (Late Triassic) intercalated with carbonates; these rocks overlie the accretionary prism. The accretion-related structure is dominated by large-scale northeast-dipping thrusts and subvertical cleavage stitched by 215–190 Ma granites. There is an overall decrease in metamorphic grade and deformation intensity from the arc to the suture zone across the Bazar Dara and Heweitan subduction complexes. The Mazar accretionary prism formed by subduction-accretion processes during closure of the Paleotethyan Ocean and the final docking of the Gondwanan Karakoram-Qiangtang block to the Cathaysian (Eurasian) Kunlun block. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.