HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Xiao, W.-J. Articles by Li, J.-L. Search for Related Content Articles by Xiao, W.-J. Articles by Li, J.-L. GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Paleozoic accretionary and collisional tectonics of the eastern Tianshan (China): Implications for the continental growth of central Asia

Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Tectonic Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; wj-xiao{at}mail.igcas.ac.cn

This paper deals with the various tectonic units in the Chinese Eastern Tianshan orogenic collage in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, and discusses the Paleozoic geological history of the several periods of accretion and collision of archipelago systems lying between the Tarim and southern Angaran continental margins. The Late Ordovician-Silurian to Early Devonian Eastern Tianshan archipelago was characterized by (a) the Harlik-Dananhu subduction system with a S-dipping polarity in the north; (b) a southerly N-dipping subduction system beneath the Central Tianshan arc in the middle; and (c) the South Tianshan ocean against Tarim in the south. During the Devonian to Early Carboniferous, N-dipping subduction led to the Harlik-Dananhu arc and the Kanggurtag forearc basin/accretionary complex. In the Early to Mid-Carboniferous, the magmatic front associated with the N-dipping subduction beneath the Dananhu-Harlik arc migrated southwards, forming the Yamansu arc constructed upon the Kanggurtag accretionary forearc. By the Late Carboniferous the Dananhu-Harlik arc was attached northwards to the Angaran margin, resulting in lateral enlargement of the Angaran continent. In the latest Carboniferous to Early Permian a multiple soft collision left wide suture zones in the south that include the ophiolite-strewn Aqikkuduk-Shaquanzi and Kumishi accretion-collision complexes, which were stitched by Early Permian post-collisional plutons. By re-defining and re-interpreting the various tectonic terranes, this paper presents a new, improved model for the Paleozoic evolution of this part of Central Asia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B.-F. Han, Z.-J. Guo, Z.-C. Zhang, L. Zhang, J.-F. Chen, and B. Song Age, geochemistry, and tectonic implications of a late Paleozoic stitching pluton in the North Tian Shan suture zone, western China Geological Society of America Bulletin, March 1, 2010; 122(3-4): 627 - 640. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Xiao, B. F. Windley, C. Yuan, M. Sun, C. M. Han, S. F. Lin, H. L. Chen, Q. R. Yan, D. Y. Liu, K. Z. Qin, et al. Paleozoic multiple subduction-accretion processes of the southern Altaids Am J Sci, March 1, 2009; 309(3): 221 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Zhang, J. Mao, F. Chai, S. Yan, B. Chen, and F. Pirajno Geochemistry of the Permian Kalatongke Mafic Intrusions, Northern Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for the Genesis of Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide Deposits Economic Geology, March 1, 2009; 104(2): 185 - 203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. RIPPINGTON, D. CUNNINGHAM, and R. ENGLAND Structure and petrology of the Altan Uul Ophiolite: new evidence for a Late Carboniferous suture in the Gobi Altai, southern Mongolia Journal of the Geological Society, May 1, 2008; 165(3): 711 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. LI, S. LIU, Z. WANG, B. HAN, G. SHU, and T. WANG Electron microprobe monazite geochronological constraints on the Late Palaeozoic tectonothermal evolution in the Chinese Tianshan Journal of the Geological Society, March 1, 2008; 165(2): 511 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.T. Pickering, T.N. Koren, V.N. Lytochkin, and D.J. Siveter Silurian Devonian active-margin deep-marine systems and palaeogeography, Alai Range, Southern Tien Shan, Central Asia Journal of the Geological Society, January 1, 2008; 165(1): 189 - 210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. ZHAO, A. KRONER, S. A. WILDE, M. SUN, S. LI, X. LI, J. ZHANG, X. XIA, and Y. HE Lithotectonic elements and geological events in the Hengshan Wutai Fuping belt: a synthesis and implications for the evolution of the Trans-North China Orogen Geological Magazine, September 1, 2007; 144(5): 753 - 775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Leeder Cybertectonic Earth and Gaia's weak hand: sedimentary geology, sediment cycling and the Earth system Journal of the Geological Society, March 1, 2007; 164(2): 277 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. LI, S. LIU, Z. WANG, Q. YAN, Z. GUO, Z. ZHANG, H. ZHENG, C. JIANG, T. WANG, and Z. CHU Geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of the Proterozoic granitoid gneisses from the eastern segment of the Central Tianshan Tectonic Zone, northwestern China Geological Magazine, March 1, 2007; 144(2): 305 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. F. Windley, D. Alexeiev, W. Xiao, A. Kroner, and G. Badarch Tectonic models for accretion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt Journal of the Geological Society, January 1, 2007; 164(1): 31 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. de Jong, K. de Jong, W. Xiao, B. F. Windley, H. Masago, and C.-h. Lo Ordovician 40Ar/39Ar phengite ages from the blueschist-facies Ondor Sum subduction-accretion complex (Inner Mongolia) and implications for the early Paleozoic history of continental blocks in China and adjacent areas Am J Sci, December 1, 2006; 306(10): 799 - 845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]