Lithospheric resistivity structure of the Xuefeng Orogenic Belt and its implications for intracontinental deformation in South China

The Xuefeng Orogenic Belt (XFOB), located in the central part of the South China Block, is a typical Mesozoic intracontinental orogen in the central Jiangnan Orogenic Belt. By collecting magnetotelluric (MT) data across the XFOB, we obtained the resistivity structure of the lithosphere, which sheds light on the Mesozoic intracontinental orogenic processes in the XFOB. The resistivity structure reveals a low-resistivity body (<10 Ω∙m), beneath the XFOB, dipping southeast wards from a depth of 10 km to the bottom of the crust. This conductor is interpreted as a relic of the lower detachment zone, which coincides with low-density areas obtained from joint inversion of seismic models. It is believed to result from mineral fluids migrating along the thrust fault and squeezing sulfides into folds. Four low-resistivity bodies were identified at three extensional locations along the Jiangshan-Shaoxing Fault and at the Cili-Baojing Fault. The low-resistivity body (<10 Ω∙m) at the junction of the Shaoyang and the Hengyang Basin is located at the point where the Moho depth thins. The variation trend of the terrestrial heat flow values, with this low-resistivity body as the plate boundary, is consistent with the average variation of the terrestrial heat flow values within the block. We propose that the low-resistivity body under the Qidong-Yongzhou-Guilin fault conforms to the characteristics of the suture zone in the resistivity structure. Its existence indicates that the missing location of the Jiangshan-Shaoxing suture zone of the Yangtze and Cathaysia Block in the middle-southwest section of the South China Block is the Qidong-Yongzhou-Guilin fault. The Yangtze Block and the Hengyang Basin show high resistivity, the depth of which reaches 100 km and 40 km, respectively. Based on the resistivity model and geological data, the XFOB experienced Triassic compression, leading to basement decollement, thrusting, and nappe structures due to low-angle Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction. This compression also led to the uplift of the orogenic belt. Moreover, under the tension caused by the high-angle retreat of the Paleo-Pacific Plate, the Cretaceous extensional tectonics led to detachment along the thrust faults, forming half-graben and basin structures along the margins.