Geochronology Constraints on Transformation Age from Ductile to Brittle Deformation of the Shangma Fault and Its Tectonic Significance, Dabieshan, Central China

Abstract

By a detailed investigation of geometry and kinematics of the Shangma fault in Dabieshan, three different crust levels of extension movement have been recognized in sequence from the deep to the shallow:

low-angle ductile detachment shearing with top to the NW;

low-angle normal fault with top to the NW or NWW in brittle or brittle-ductile transition domain;

high-angle brittle normal fault with top to the W or NWW. Two samples were chosen for zircon U-Pb age dating to constrain the activity age of the Shangma fault. A bedding intrusive granitoid pegmatite vein that is parallel to the foliation of the low-angle ductile detachment shear zone of the country rock exhibits a lotus-joint type of boudinage deformation, showing syn-tectonic emplacing at the end of the ductile deformation period and deformation in the brittle-ductile transition domain. The zircon U-Pb dating of this granitoid pegmatite vein gives an age of (125.9 ± 4.2) Ma, which expresses the extension in the brittle-ductile transition domain of the Shangma fault. The other sample, which is collected from a granite pluton cutting the foliation of the low-angle ductile detachment shear zone, gives a zircon U-Pb age of (118.8 ± 4.1) Ma, constraining the end of the ductile detachment shearing. Then the transformation age from ductile to brittle deformation can be constrained between 126–119 Ma. Combined with the previous researches, the formation of the Luotian dome, which is located to the east of the Shangma fault, can be constrained during 150–126 Ma. This study gives a new time constraint to the evolution of the Dabie orogenic belt.