Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton
Metamorphic core complexes are developed in crustal activity belts at the continental margins or within continents, and their main tectonic feature is that the ductile middle crust is exhumed at the surface. The deformation properties are closely related to the geodynamic process affecting the conti...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/12/1570 |
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| author | Haonan Gan Junlai Liu Guiling Wang Wei Zhang |
| author_facet | Haonan Gan Junlai Liu Guiling Wang Wei Zhang |
| author_sort | Haonan Gan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Metamorphic core complexes are developed in crustal activity belts at the continental margins or within continents, and their main tectonic feature is that the ductile middle crust is exhumed at the surface. The deformation properties are closely related to the geodynamic process affecting the continental crust. However, the evolution of the metamorphic core complexes after their formation is still unclear. The Cretaceous Liaonan metamorphic core complex developed in the eastern North China craton provides an ideal environment to study its evolution. In this study, we estimate the paleo-temperature and paleo-stress at the time of formation of the metamorphic core complex dynamical recrystallization of quartz and calculate the thermo-rheological structure of the present Liaonan metamorphic core complex by one-dimensional steady-state heat conduction equation and power-creep law. The results show that compared with the Cretaceous period, the geothermal heat flow value of the present Liaonan metamorphic core complex decreases from 70–80 mW/m<sup>2</sup> to 49.4 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, the thermal lithosphere thickness increases from 59–75 km to 173 km, and the brittle transition depth increases from 10–13 km to about 70 km, showing coupling of the crust–mantle rheological structure. We speculate that the evolution of the thermo-rheological structure of the Liaonan metamorphic core complex is possibly caused by rapid heat loss or lithospheric mantle flow in the Bohai Bay Basin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:04:17Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:04:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7bde22e75a334d33928d64b0343523702023-11-24T16:52:01ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-12-011212157010.3390/min12121570Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China CratonHaonan Gan0Junlai Liu1Guiling Wang2Wei Zhang3The Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, ChinaThe Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, ChinaMetamorphic core complexes are developed in crustal activity belts at the continental margins or within continents, and their main tectonic feature is that the ductile middle crust is exhumed at the surface. The deformation properties are closely related to the geodynamic process affecting the continental crust. However, the evolution of the metamorphic core complexes after their formation is still unclear. The Cretaceous Liaonan metamorphic core complex developed in the eastern North China craton provides an ideal environment to study its evolution. In this study, we estimate the paleo-temperature and paleo-stress at the time of formation of the metamorphic core complex dynamical recrystallization of quartz and calculate the thermo-rheological structure of the present Liaonan metamorphic core complex by one-dimensional steady-state heat conduction equation and power-creep law. The results show that compared with the Cretaceous period, the geothermal heat flow value of the present Liaonan metamorphic core complex decreases from 70–80 mW/m<sup>2</sup> to 49.4 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, the thermal lithosphere thickness increases from 59–75 km to 173 km, and the brittle transition depth increases from 10–13 km to about 70 km, showing coupling of the crust–mantle rheological structure. We speculate that the evolution of the thermo-rheological structure of the Liaonan metamorphic core complex is possibly caused by rapid heat loss or lithospheric mantle flow in the Bohai Bay Basin.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/12/1570metamorphic core complexthermo-rheological structureNorth China cratonrecrystallized grain sizeheat flow |
| spellingShingle | Haonan Gan Junlai Liu Guiling Wang Wei Zhang Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton Minerals metamorphic core complex thermo-rheological structure North China craton recrystallized grain size heat flow |
| title | Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton |
| title_full | Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton |
| title_fullStr | Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton |
| title_short | Evolution Characteristics through Thermo-Rheological Lithosphere of the Liaonan Metamorphic Core Complex, Eastern North China Craton |
| title_sort | evolution characteristics through thermo rheological lithosphere of the liaonan metamorphic core complex eastern north china craton |
| topic | metamorphic core complex thermo-rheological structure North China craton recrystallized grain size heat flow |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/12/1570 |
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