Explore the vast range of titles available.

Deep Earth degassing is a critical forcing factor for atmospheric CO 2 variations and palaeoclimate changes in Earth’s history. For the Cenozoic, the key driving mechanism of atmospheric CO 2 variations remains controversial. Here we analyse three stages of collision-related magmatism in Tibet, which correspond temporally with the three major stages of atmospheric CO 2 variations in the Cenozoic and explore the possibility of a causal link between these phenomena. To this end we present geochemical data for the three stages of magmatic rocks in Tibet, which we use to inform a model calculating the continental collision-induced CO 2 emission flux associated with the evolving Neo-Tethyan to continental subduction over the Cenozoic. The correlation between our modelled CO 2 emission rates and the global atmospheric CO 2 curve is consistent with the hypothesis that the India-Asia collision was the primary driver of changes in atmospheric CO 2 over the Cenozoic. “Earth degassing is a critical carbon source, but its contribution to Cenozoic atmospheric CO 2 variations is not well known. Here, the authors analyse CO 2 fluxes on the Tibetan Plateau and suggest that the India-Asia collision was the primary driver of changes in atmospheric CO 2 over the past 65 Ma.”

Post-collisional (23–8 Ma), potassium-rich (including ultrapotassic and potassic) mafic magmatic rocks occur within the north–south-trending Xuruco lake–Dangre Yongcuo lake (XDY) rift in the Lhasa terrane of the southern Tibetan Plateau, forming an approximately 130-km-long semi-continuous magmatic belt. They include both extrusive and intrusive facies. Major and trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data are presented for all of the known exposures within the XDY rift. The potassium-rich, mafic igneous rocks are characterized by high MgO (5.9–10.8 wt.%), K 2 O (4.81–10.68 wt.%), Ba (1,782–5,618 ppm) and Th (81.3–327.4 ppm) contents, and relatively high SiO 2 (52.76–58.32 wt.%) and Al 2 O 3 (11.10–13.67 wt.%). Initial Sr isotopic compositions are extremely radiogenic (0.712600–0.736157), combined with low ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb) i (18.28–18.96) and ( 143 Nd/ 144 Nd) i (0.511781–0.512046). Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns display relatively weak negative Eu anomalies. Primitive mantle-normalized incompatible trace element patterns exhibit strong enrichments in large ion lithophile elements relative to high-field-strength elements and display strongly negative Ta–Nb–Ti anomalies. The combined major and trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic characteristics of the K-rich igneous rocks suggest that the primitive magmas were produced by 1–10 % partial melting of an asthenospheric mantle source enriched by both fluids and partial melts derived from Indian passive continental margin sediments subducted into the shallow mantle as a consequence of the northward underthrusting of the Indian continental lithosphere beneath Tibet since the India–Asia collision at ~55 Ma. The best-fit model results indicate that a melt with trace element characteristics similar to those of the K-rich rocks could be generated by 8–10 % partial melting of a metasomatized mantle source in the south and 1–2 % melting in the north of the XDY rift. Trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic modeling indicate that the proportion of fluid derived from the subducted sediments, for which we use as a proxy the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence (HHCS), in the mantle source region increases from north (rear-arc) to south (front-arc), ranging from 0 to 5 %, respectively. Correspondingly, the proportion of the melt derived from the subducted HHCS in the source increases from north (2 %) to south (15 %). The increasing proportion of the fluid and melt component in the mantle source from north to south, together with a southward decreasing trend in the age of the K-rich magmatism within the XDY rift, is inferred to reflect rollback of the subducted Indian lithospheric mantle slab during the period 25–8 Ma. Slab rollback may be linked to a decreasing convergence rate between India and Asia. As a consequence of slab rollback at 25 Ma beneath the Lhasa terrane, its geodynamic setting was transformed from a convergent (55–25 Ma) to an extensional (25–8 Ma) regime. The occurrence of K-rich magmatism during the period 25–8 Ma is a consequence of the decompression melting of an enriched mantle source, which may signal the onset of extension in the southern Tibetan Plateau and provide a petrological record of the extension process.

The episodic growth of high-elevation orogenic plateaux is controlled by a series of geodynamic processes. However, determining the underlying mechanisms that drive plateau growth dynamics over geological history and constraining the depths at which growth originates, remains challenging. Here we present He-CO 2 -N 2 systematics of hydrothermal fluids that reveal the existence of a lithospheric-scale fault system in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, whereby multi-stage plateau growth occurred in the geological past and continues to the present. He isotopes provide unambiguous evidence for the involvement of mantle-scale dynamics in lateral expansion and localized surface uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The excellent correlation between 3 He/ 4 He values and strain rates, along the strike of Indian indentation into Asia, suggests non-uniform distribution of stresses between the plateau boundary and interior, which modulate southeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau within the context of India-Asia convergence. Our results demonstrate that deeply-sourced volatile geochemistry can be used to constrain deep dynamic processes involved in orogenic plateau growth. Deeply-sourced volatiles are releasing from orogenic plateau regions, providing windows to plateau growth dynamics occurring at variable depths. Here the authors show that mantle-derived volatiles reveal the involvement of mantle dynamics in southeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau.

Whether Inner Mongolia OIB-like basalts originate from the modern upper mantle [e.g. depleted MORB mantle (DMM)] with recycled oceanic crust in the form of pyroxenite or ancient primordial mantle (lower mantle) dominated by peridotite remains unclear. This study presents high-precision W-Fe isotopic data for Late Cenozoic Chifeng basalts (CBs) in Inner Mongolia, NE China, along with their olivine compositions, to better constrain their petrogenesis. The modern mantle-like μ 182 W values (μ 182 W =  − 3.2 ± 3.8 to + 2.5 ± 2.4 ppm) of the CBs indicate that they most likely originated from DMM rather than ancient primordial mantle. The CBs exhibit elevated fractional crystallization-corrected δ 56 Fe values ranging from 0.09 to 0.16‰, compared to those of primitive normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORBs; δ 56 Fe = 0.03–0.07‰). This argues against the notion that the CBs could be generated solely by the melting of DMM peridotite. The high δ 56 Fe values of the CBs, coupled with their elevated olivine Fe/Mn ratios, suggest the involvement of pyroxenite in their mantle source. The absence of correlation between the Fe isotopes of CBs and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes, along with their previously reported low δ 98/95 Mo values and existing geophysical evidence, supports the idea that pyroxenite in the mantle source of the CBs was most likely generated by the reaction between DMM peridotite and recycled Pacific oceanic crust originating from the mantle transition zone beneath NE China. Therefore, we propose that the mantle source of Inner Mongolia basalts (e.g. CBs) is DMM with some recycled oceanic crust in the form of pyroxenite, without the involvement of ancient primordial mantle. Our study highlights that W-Fe isotopes of basalts can help to identify the nature of mantle source (especially the ancient primordial mantle) and offer valuable insights into mantle lithology and the causes of mantle heterogeneity both locally and globally.

This study presents an integrated geochemical study of the Wudalianchi-Erkeshan potassic basalts and Halaha sodic basalts of NE China, and uses these data to further our understanding of the petrogenetic relationships between the coeval potassic and sodic basalts in this region. The potassic basalts with high concentrations of K2O have arc-like trace-element compositions and enriched Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with unradiogenic 206Pb/204Pb values (16.77–16.90). In contrast, the sodic basalts with high concentrations of Na2O have OIB-like trace-element compositions and depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb values (18.27–18.40). These data suggest that the potassic and sodic basalts were derived from mixed depleted mid-ocean-ridge basalt mantle (DMM) and enriched mantle source end-members, where the enriched end-members are ancient sediment for the potassic basalts and Pacific oceanic crust for the sodic basalts. The combined geophysical and geochemical data indicate that these two enriched end-members are located in the mantle transition zone. We propose that partial melting of upwelling asthenospheric mantle comprising ambient DMM and recycled materials shifting from the ancient sediment to the Pacific oceanic crust could have produced the coeval potassic and sodic basalts in NE China. The proposed mantle sources for the potassic and sodic basalts indicate that the upper mantle beneath NE China was highly heterogeneous during late Cenozoic.

The Wudalianchi monogenetic volcanic field (WMVF) is located in the Songliao basin within a major continental rift system in NE China. Bubbling springs and diffuse degassing from soils are typical features of the WMVF. Chemical compositions and C-He isotope analyses revealed that the cold spring gases might originate from the enriched upper mantle (EM), which resulted from the mixing between slab materials (subducted organic sediments and carbonates) in the mantle transition zone (MTZ) and the ambient depleted mantle. These EM-derived volatiles experienced variable degrees of crustal input, including both continental organic metasediments and crustal carbonates during their ascending path to the surface. The estimated results of the degassing CO2 fluxes, combined with previous geophysical evidence, suggest that the CO2 degassing activities become weaker from early to late in Quaternary.

Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea; last eruption in 1903 AD) was responsible for a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 7 eruption in 946 AD. Approximately 186,000 people live around Changbaishan and 2,000,000 tourists/year visit the volcano. An unrest occurred between 2002 and 2006. Despite the relevant hazard, the eruptive history is poorly known, a condition common to many volcanoes worldwide. Here, we investigate the extension of the areas potentially affected by pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) in case of future eruptions following a scenario-based approach. We perform energy cone runs referred to four scenarios from columns of height 3, 10, 20 and 30 km at different vents. By using global datasets on PDCs, we produce spatial probability maps of PDCs invasion. Empirical laws between covered areas, PDC travelled distances, and heights of collapse are provided. In scenarios 3 and 4, PDCs expand at distances up to 42 km and 85 km, respectively. In scenarios 1 and 2, PDCs invade the touristic area and few main roads. Severe effects emerge from scenarios 3 and 4 with the interruption of the China–North Korea land and aerial connections and PDC. Our approach may serve as guide for the rapid evaluation of the PDC-related hazard at poorly known volcanoes.

Miocene (16-10 Ma) basalts, together with significantly well-preserved fossils (including animal and plant fossils) in the contemporaneously tephra-rich Maar sediments, are located in Shanwang volcanic region, Shandong Province, China. Distribution area of the basaltic eruption products is about 240 km2. Detailed field observations indicate that most of basaltic rocks are fissure eruptive products and some are central eruptives constrained by linear faults. The well-preserved fossils in the lacustrine deposits have been considered to be a result of mass mortalities. Based on physically volcanologic modeling results, eruption column of the basaltic fissure activities in the Shanwang volcanic region is estimated to have entered the stratosphere. Petrographic observations indicate that the basalts have porphyritic textures with phenocrysts of olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar and alkali feldspar setting in groundmass of plagioclase feldspar, alkali feldspar, quartz, apatite and glass. Based on observations of tephra, tuff and tuffites collected in the Maar sediments of the Shanwang area, we determined major element oxide concentrations and volatile composition of melt inclusions in phenocrysts and matrix glasses by electron microprobe analysis. Volatile (including S, Cl, F and H2O) concentrations erupted into the stratosphere were estimated by comparing pre- and post-eruptive volatile concentrations. Our determination results show that contents of S, Cl, F and H2O emitted into the stratosphere were 0.18%-0.24%, 0.03%-0.05%, 0.03%-0.05% and 0.4%-0.6%, respectively, which was characterized by high-S contents erupted. Amounts of volatiles emitted in the Shanwang volcanic region are much higher than those in eruptions which had a substantial effect on climate and environment. According to the compositions and amounts of the volatiles erupted from the Miocene basaltic volcanism in Shanwang, we propose a hypothesis that volatile-rich basaltic volcanism could result in the mass mortalities by injecting volatiles (e.g., SO2, H2S, HCl, HF and H2O) into the stratosphere that would have triggered abrupt environmental changes (including formation of acid rain, temperature decline, ozone depletion, etc.) and altered lake chemistry, and subsequently volcanic ash fall buried and covered the dead animals and plants, forming well-preserved fossils in Shanwang Maar sediments.

Well-preserved Mesozoic vertebrate fossils were found from lacustrine deposits interbedded with tuff and tuffites in the lower part of the Yixian Formation, western Liaoning Province, China. The fossil-rich layers were preserved in the intermediate-acid volcanic deposits in Sihetun excavating profile. Based on the petrographic studies of samples of the tuff and tuffites collected from the profile, this paper determines major element concentrations and volatile compositions of the melt inclusions in phenocrysts and matrix glasses with electron microprobe analysis. Volatile (S, F, Cl and H2O) contents emitted into the atmosphere were estimated by comparing pre- and post-eruptive volatile concentrations. Amount of volatiles (except for water) emitted in western Liaoning are much higher than those in the historic eruptions which had a substantial effect on climate and environment. Based on the nature and amount of the gases emitted in the eruptions of western Liaoning, we present a hypothesis that volatile-rich volcanism could result in mass mortality of vertebrates in the study area by injecting a large amount of volatiles (e.g., SO2, H2S, HCl, HF and H2O) into the stratosphere that would have triggered abrupt environmental and climate changes and altered lake chemistry. In terms of contents of volatile emissions, the eruptions in western Liaoning can be subdivided into the following three categories. The first group is dominated by HF emission, which had a fatal but possibly short-lived effect on paleoclimate and paleoenvironment and finally caused the mass mortality of the primitive birds. The second group presents the highest halogen concentrations emitted. However, contents of chlorine erupted is higher than those of fluorine emitted. The reactive chlorine compounds probably led to the ozone layer depletion and, therefore, caused mass mortality of most of all vertebrates including fishes, turtles and dinosaurs. The third one consists mainly of sulfur gases (primarily SO2 and H2S) released. They declined the surface’s temperatures and formed large-scale toxic acid rains. Eventually, such environmental trauma killed many land- and freshwater-based vertebrates and formed vertebrate (including feathered theropod dinosaurs) fossil-rich layers. The results show that the Mesozoic volcanic activities on either a large scale or frequent moderate scales in western Liaoning could lead to mass mortality of the vertebrates.

The Tianchi volcano in the Changbai Mountains is located on the boundary between China and North Korea. There are many times of eruptions of the Tianchi volcano during the Holocene. One of its large eruptions occurred around 1000 years ago dated by 14C method and historical records. Composition of products of the largest Tianchi volcanic eruption studied is characterized by comenditic Plinian fallout and unwelded ignimbrite, which are mainly distributed in China and North Korea. Caldera is about 4.4 km long and 3.4 km wide, which had filled with water (e.g. Tianchi Lake). The Tianchi volcanic cone is about 2700 m high above sea level. The Tianchi Lake is located on the summit of the volcanic cone, that is also highest peak of the Changbai Mountains in northeastern China. This study analyzed Cl, F, S and H2O concentrations of melt inclusions in the phenocryst minerals (anorthoclase and quartz) and co-existing matrix glasses using the electron microprobe and estimated environmental effect of Tianchi volcanic gases. The authors proposed a new method to evaluate future eruption of active volcano and estimate potential volcanic hazards based on contents of volatile emissions. Using this method, we made a perspective of future volcanic hazard in this region.