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Uplift and cooling pathways derived from fission track analysis and mica dating: a review

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Zusammenfassung

Die Definition von Zeit- und Temperaturpfaden für Episoden der Lithosphärenbewegung liefert nicht nur einen chronologischen Rahmen für die Krustendynamik, sondern erlaubt auch Abschätzungen der Krustenabkühlungs- und -heraushebungsraten. Wichtige Aspekte dieser Pfade sind die Grenzen die durch die Wahl des Zeitpunkts, sowohl für die Plattenkollision als auch der Lithosphärendehnung festgesetzt sind. Klassische Rb-Sr und K-Ar Glimmeralter sind zum Bestimmen der Abkühlungs- und Freilegungsraten in den Zentralalpen, im Vergleich zu den gemessenen Altern mit Temperaturabschätzungen für die Retention von Tochterisotopen benutzt worden. Beim ähnlichen Gebrauch von Zerfallsspuren lieferten Apatit- und Zirkonalter Daten für niedrige Temperaturintervalle (∼ 100 und ∼ 200°C). Kürzliche detaillierte Studien der getemperten Bewegungen der Spaltspuren in Apatit lieferten genauere Schätzungen der Abkühlungsrate, und erlaubten ein vorhersehbares modellieren der Zeit- und Längenparameter für gegebene T-t Pfade. In kontinentalen Kollisionszonen kann eine schnelle episodische Heraushebung, wie beispielsweise in den Westalpen, einer zeitgleichen monotonen Heraushebung der Zentralalpen gegenübergestellt werden. Zusätzliche Beispiele können im Tibet-Himalaya Orogengürtel, in den Südalpen von Neuseeland und in den bolivianischen Anden gefunden werden. In divergenten tektonischen Regimen wurde der Hinweis vom Einhergehen der Heraushebung und des Riflings in Spaltspurenaltern festgehalten; zum Beispiel am südöstlichen australischen Rand und am Roten Meer. Bei tektonischer Lage im Platteninnern, offenbaren unsere gegenwärtigen Spaltspurenerkundungsstudien der Britischen Inseln eine bisher unerkannte thermale Geschichte des Kristallins und der Sedimente gleichermaßen.

Abstract

Definition of time and temperature pathways for episodes of lithospheric movement provides not simply a chronological framework for crustal dynamism but also permits estimation of rates of crustal cooling and uplift. Important aspects of such pathways are the constraints provided for timing of both plate collision and lithospheric extension. Classically Rb-Sr and K-Ar mica ages have been used to delineate rates of cooling and exhumation in the Central Alps, by comparison of the measured ages with estimates of temperatures for the retention of daughter isotopes. Similar use of fission track apatite and zircon ages has provided data for lower temperature intervals (∼ 100 and ∼ 200°C respectively). Recent detailed studies of the annealing kinetics of fission tracks in apatite yield more precise estimates of cooling rate and permit predictive modelling of age and length parameters for given T,t pathways. In continental collision zones, fast episodic uplift in the western Alps can be contrasted with contemporaneous monotonic uplift in the Central Alps. Additional examples may be seen in the Tibet-Himalayan orogenic belt, in the southern Alps of New Zealand and in the Bolivian Andes. In divergent teceonic regimes, the record of uplift associated with rifting has been recorded by fission track ages in the southeastern Australian margin and around the Red Sea. In an intra-plate tectonic setting, our current fission track reconnaissance study in the British Isles is revealing a hitherto unrecognised thermal history for crystalline and sediment alike.

Résumé

L'établissement de trajets temps-température pour des épisodes de mouvements lithosphériques ne fournit pas seulement un canevas chronologique à la dynamique crustale; il permet aussi d'estimer les vitesses du refroidissement crustal et du soulèvement. Un aspect important de tels trajets réside dans les restrictions qu'ils apportent dans le déroulement chronologique des collisions de plaques et des extensions lithosphériques. Des déterminations classiques d'âge Rb-Sr et K-Ar sur mica ont été utilisées pour estimer les taux de refroidissement et d'exhumation dans les Alpes Centrales, par comparaison entre les âges mesurés et les températures de rétention des isotopes filles. De même les âges déterminés par traces de fission sur apatite et zircon ont fourni des informations sur les intervalles de température inférieurs (respectivement: ± 100° et 200°C. Des travaux détaillés récents relatifs à la cinétique de recuit des traces de fission dans 1'apatite ont fourni une estimation plus précise du taux de refroidissement et ont permis une modélisation prévisionnelle des paramètres d'âge et de longueur pour des trajets (T, t) donnés. Dans les zones de collision continentale, le soulèvement rapide et épisodique des Alpes Occidentales contraste avec le soulèvement monotone concommittant des Alpes Centrales. D'autres exemples sont fournis par la ceinture orogénique de l'Himalaya-Tibet, par les Alpes du Sud de Nouvelle Zélande et par les Andes de Bolivie. Dans les régimes tectoniques divergents, l'enregistrement des surrections associées à la formation des rifts a été réalisé par la méthode des traces de fission dans la bordure sud-est de l'Australie et autour de la Mer Rouge. Dans une situation tectonique intraplaque, l'étude de reconnaissance par traces de fission que nous poursuivons dans les Iles Britanniques révèle une histoire thermique, jusqu'ici inconnue, identique pour le Cristallin et les sédiments.

Краткое содержание

Термобарометрическ ие параметры движени я литосферы благоприя тствуют не только получению хронологи ческого обрамления д инамики Земной коры, но и разре шают оценить скорость охлаждения и поднятия ее. Важным является выбор време ни отсчета для провед ения границ при коллизиях плит и при расширении литосферы. Классичес ким является определ ение возраста по слюде мет одами Rb-Sr и К-Ar, позволяющим оценит ь скорость охлаждени я и обнажения в централ ьных Альпах; эти данные сравнили с изм еренным возрастом и оценкой температуры по удержанию изотопо впродуктов распада. Но такой мето д определения возраста апатитов и ц ирконов дает более низкую температуру н а 100 и 200 °?. При последних более детальных иссл едованиях движения следов трещин в апати тах удалось оценить точнее скорость охла ждения и составить модель параметров вр емени и долгот для путей T-t. В зоне коллизи й материков эпизодич еские поднятия, как напр, это наблюдают в Западных Альпах, мож но противопоставить одновременным монот онным поднятиям цент ральных Альп. Дополнительные примеры можно установить в Ти бетско-Гималайском поясе орогена, в Южных Альпах Новой Зеланди и и в Андах Bоливии. Указа ния на поднятия и расширения находят для расходящихся условий тектоническ их процессов по устан овленному возрасту следов разл омов. Напр.: на юго-восточном краю Австралии и в районе Красного моря. При изу чении разломов на британских островах установили неизвест ную до сих пор температур ную историю кристалл ина и седиментов при совр еменном тектоническ ом положении их в центра льной части плит.

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  1. Anthony J. Hurford

    Present address: Dept. of Geological Sciences, University and Birkbeck Colleges, University of London Fission Track Research Group, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

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    Hurford, A.J. Uplift and cooling pathways derived from fission track analysis and mica dating: a review. Geol Rundsch 80, 349–368 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01829371

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