We studied the clay rocks around the Permian-Triassic boundary at the Daxiakou (大峡口) Section in Xingshan (兴山), Hubei (湖北) Province, China. All clay rocks are predominated by illitemontmorillonite (I/M) mixed-layer minerals, and high-temperature hexagonal bipyramid (HB) quartz and pyrite are contained in different abundances. Clay microspheres are even found in some beds. The results show that volcanic activity was very frequent in this area or in the neighboring areas during the Permian-Triassic transition though the intensity of eruption and the position of the eruption center might have varied during the period. The frequent volcanic activity should be at least one of the leading events to cause the momentous turnover of biota and the ecosystem during the great Permian-Triassic transition.
In West Liaoning-North Hebei, the Tiaojishan Formation volcanic rocks are developed and many isotopic ages with a very wide age range were obtained in them as well. These different ages have direct influence on confirming and interpreting the related geological issues in West Liaoning-North Hebei and have restricted the study of geological problems related. In the field, the Tiaojishan Formation and the overlying Tuchengzi Formation are in parallel unconformable contact. By systematical sampling and dating of LA-ICP-MS in the Tiaojishan Formation (especially in the upper part) in Luanping, Chengde basins of Northern Hebei Province and in Lingyuan, Jinlingsi-Yangshan basins of Western Liaoning Province, combined with the dating data obtained by previous researchers, results indicate that the upper boundary age of the Tiaojishan Formation is from 156 to 153 Ma, and the lower boundary age of the Tiaojishan Formation is about 165 Ma, the Tiaojishan Formation was formed from the late of middle Jurassic to late Jurassic Epoch.
This article presents an overview on recent developments in studies of chemical and physical processes of lithospheric delamination with respect to destruction of the North China Craton. It is emphasized that the pyroxenite source resulting from interaction between eclogite-derived melt and peridotite is a direct consequence of delamination. The pyroxenite source thus formed has unique mineralogical and geochemical features, which characterize Mesozoic basalts of the North China Craton. Melt-peridotite interaction played an important role in refertilization of cratonic lithospheric mantle, leading to density increase, weakening and final destabilization of the North China Craton. The nature of the melt is the key to distinguish mechanisms of destructing this craton.
