Hydrogeochemistry of formation water in relation to overpressures and fluid flow in the Qikou Depression of the Bohai bay basin, China

The Qikou Depression is the largest hydrocarbon bearing depression in the western part of the Bohai bay basin, dominated by fan delta and lacustrine strata with volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. In this study, the formation pressures and hydrochemistry of the formation water in the Qikou depression are investigated. It is found that a significant overpressure occurs in the Dongying (Ed) Formation and the first member (Est), the second member (Es2), the third member (Es3) of the Shahejie Formation. The pressure coefficients commonly range from 1.2 to 1.6 with the highest pressure coefficient being 1.7. The analysis of hydrochemistry data shows that the whole depression is dominated by NaHCO3 water type. The concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS) ranges from 2.13 to 53.16 g/L and shows a distinct vertical variation of salinity and ion ratios. High salinity water (TDS> 10 g/L) occurs below a depth of 2500 m, which coincides with the presence of the overpressured system. However, the increasing trend of TDS is diminished below 3500 m because the generation of organic acids in Qikou Depression is inhibited in the presence of overpressure. The analysis of the relationship among different ions indicates that the present-day characteristics of the formation water result from the albitization of feldspar and the dissolution of sodium-rich silicate minerals and halite in the different hydrochemical and pressure systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polygonal faults and their implications for hydrocarbon reservoirs in the southern Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

The Polygonal faults were identified in Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea, by using the technique of time coherent slice and horizon flattening of high-resolution 3D seismic data. These polygonal faults occur in three tiers of the upper Meishan Formation and the Huangliu Formation. The faults have lengths of 150-1500 m, spacings of 50-3000 m, throws of 10-40 m and dips of 50-90 degrees. Tectonic evolution in the Qiongdongnan Basin can be divided into a rifted stage and a post-rifted stage. Tectonic faults are widely distributed in the rifted sequences, but are not well developed in the post-rifted stage. Few faults in the post-rifted sequences might suggest the absence of a migration pathway for hydrocarbon or other fluids. However, the existence of polygonal faults in the post-rifted sequences can serve as the pathway and promote the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the Qiongdongnan Basin during the post-rifted stage. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bottom simulating reflector and gas seepage in Okinawa Trough: Evidence of gas hydrate in an active back-arc basin

To look for gas hydrate, 22 multi-channel and 3 single-channel seismic lines on the East China Sea (ECS) shelf slope and at the bottom of the Okinawa Trough were examined. It was found that there was indeed bottom simulating reflector (BSR) occurrence, but it is very rare. Besides several BSRs, a gas seepage was also found. As shown by the data, both the BSR and gas seepage are all related with local geological structures, such as mud diapir, anticline, and fault-controlled graben-like structure. However, similar structural "anomalies" are quite common in the tectonically very active Okinawa Trough region, but very few of them have developed BSR or gas seepage. The article points out that the main reason is probably the low concentration of organic carbon of the sediment in this area. It was speculated that the rare occurrence of gas hydrates in this region is governed by structure-controlled fluid flow. Numerous faults and fractures form a network of high-permeability channels in the sediment and highly fractured igneous basement to allow fluid circulation and ventilation. Fluid flow in this tectonic environment is driven primarily by thermal buoyancy and takes place on a wide range of spatial scales. The fluid flow may play two roles to facilitate hydrate formation: to help gather enough methane into a small area and to modulate the thermal regime.

Geophysical evaluation methods for buried hill reservoirs in the Jiyang superdepression of the Bohai Bay basin, eastern China

The Jiyang superdepression is one of the richest hydrocarbon accumulations in the Bohai Bay basin, eastern China. Comprehensive seismic methods have been used in buried hill exploration in Jiyang to describe these fractured reservoirs better. Accurate seismic stratigraphic demarcation and variable-velocity mapping were applied to reveal the inner structure of the buried hills and determine the nature of the structural traps more precisely. Based on the analysis of rock properties and the characteristics of well-developed buried hill reservoirs, we have successfully linked the geology and seismic response by applying seismic forward technology. Log-constrained inversion, absorption coefficient analysis and tectonic forward-inversion with FMI loggings were applied to analyse and evaluate the buried hill reservoirs and gave satisfying results. The reservoir prediction was successful, which confirmed that the comprehensive utilization of these methods can be helpful in the exploration of buried hill reservoirs.

Rifting process and formation mechanisms of syn-rift stage prolongation in the deepwater basin, northern South China Sea

Based on the latest seismic and geological data, tectonic subsidence of three seismic lines in the deepwater area of Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), the northern South China Sea (SCS), is calculated. The result shows that the rifting process of study area is different from the typical passive continental margin basin. Although the seafloor spreading of SCS initiated at 32 Ma, the tectonic subsidence rate does not decrease but increases instead, and then decreases at about 23 Ma, which indicates that the rifting continued after the onset of seafloor spreading until about 23 Ma. The formation thickness exhibits the same phenomenon, that is the syn-rift stage prolonged and the post-rift thermal subsidence delayed. The formation mechanisms are supposed to be three: (1) the lithospheric rigidity of the northern SCS is weak and its ductility is relatively strong, which delayed the strain relaxation resulting from the seafloor spreading; (2) the differential layered independent extension of the lithosphere may be one reason for the delay of post-rift stage; and (3) the southward transition of SCS spreading ridge during 24 to 21 Ma and the corresponding acceleration of seafloor spreading rate then triggered the initiation of large-scale thermal subsidence in the study area at about 23 Ma.

Triterpane and sterane biomarkers in the YA13-1 condensates from Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Triterpanes and steranes in condensates from the YA13-1 gas field, Qiongdongnan Basin, were monitored. The YA13-1 condensates have unusual biomarker distributions dominated by terpanes and steranes derived from higher plants. Anomalously abundant 1 got-oleanane and remarkably abundant bicadinanes are present in the YA13-1 condensates, whereas the 17alpha-hopane contents are extremely low. Taraxastane and significantly abundant 17alpha-diahopanes occur in the condensates. In addition, a number of unknown C-29 and C-30 pentacyclic triterpanes including previously unreported compounds were detected in the condensates, some of which are significantly abundant. The unknown compounds may be terrestrial biomarkers. C-29 homologues are relatively predominant among the regular and rearranged steranes. The diasterane concentrations are markedly higher than those of regular steranes. The maturity of the YA13-1 condensates is relatively high, at the peak to late oil generation stage (corresponding to 0.85-1.10% Ro), based on sterane and terpane and including bicadinane maturity parameters (i.e. T/(T-1 + R) and 2T/R bicadinane ratios). The above maturity assessment result is different from that based on diamondoid maturity parameters (%Ro = 1.60-1.70) [Org. Geochem. 25 (1996) 179], which can be explained by a contribution of hydrocarbons from two sources at different depths. The YA13-1 condensates were probably generated from the Yacheng and Lingshui coal-bearing source rocks buried both in the Qiongdongnan Basin (3400-5000 m) and in the Yinggehai Basin (>5000 m). The possible contribution of lower maturity hydrocarbons from the Yacheng and Lingshui Formations (3400-4100 m) in the Qiongdongnan Basin to the YA13-1 gases and condensates should not be neglected. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical Constituents of Nitraira tangutorum Seed from Qaidam Basin

Six compounds were isolated from the 75% ethanol extract of Nitraria tangutorum seed.On the basis of spectroscopic methods including 1H NMR,13C NMR and ESI-MS and comparison with literature,their structures were elucidated as daucosterol(1),4-hydroxypipecolic acid(2),quercetin(3),allantoin(4),1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid(5) and L-tyrosine(6).Compounds 1,2,3,5 and 6 were isolated from Nitraria tangtorum for the first time.

渤海湾地区前第三系构造特征及其演化研究

Based on fine structural interpretation on seismic profiles of buried-hills in Huanghua depression, structural interpretation and balanced cross-section restoration of regional seismic profiles, drawing structural maps of main seismic interfaces, residual strata distribution of different ages in the Bohai Bay region and structural survey in the western Shandong uplifted area and the intracontinental orogeny of Yanshan mountain, the paper has studied pre-tertiary structural styles and tectonic evolution of the Bohai Bay region. There mainly develop 5 types of pre-tertiary structural style that are extension structure, compression structure, strike-slip structure, negative inversion structure and sliding structure in the Bohai Bay region. Among these 5 types of structural style, extension structure develops detachment fault and its controlling fault terrain structure and fault break slop; compression structure develops reverted fold, fault propagation fold, fault bent fold, imbricate thrust structure and triangle zone; strike-slip structure develops positive flower structure, negative flower structure, en-echelon structure and brush structure; negative reversion structure develops Indosinian compression and Yanshanian extension negative reversion structure, late Yanshanian compression and Cenozoic extension negative reversion structure; sliding structure develops interlayer sliding structure and detachment structure. According to Cangdong fault of SN direction, Zhangjiakou – Penglai fault and Qihe – Guangrao fault of NWW direction, the Bohai Bay region can be divided into 6 sub-regions in which structural direction and style is different from each other. Structural maps of bottom boundary of Cenozoic and upper Paleozoic manifest that main NNE structural direction is formed from late Yanshanian to Himalayan movement and minor NWW structural direction and a string of area more than 8000m are mainly suggest that Indosinian tectonic pattern strongly influence on Yanshanian and Himalayan movement. Residual strata distribution characteristics of middle to upper Neoproterozoic in the Bohai Bay region manifest that middle- to neo- aulacogen position may be corresponding to late Mesozoic uplifted zone. Residual Paleozoic distribution characteristics of main ENN suggest that structural alteration should be resulted from late Yanshanian to Himalayan movement while which of minor NWW structures suggest that deeper structure should restrict shallower structure. Structural patterns of main EW fold direction in the Bohai Bay region and thrust structure in eastern part are formed late Triassic in studied area. Granite magma intrusion of early to middle Jurassic mainly develops Yanshan mountain zone. Late Mesozoic rifting basins of NEE direction are widely distributed in the Bohai Bay region and granite magma intrusions are mainly distributed in Tancheng – Rongcheng zone. Mesozoic structural evolution in the Bohai Bay region is related to scissor convergent from east to west between North China plate and Yangtze plate and gradually reinforcing of the west circum-pacific tectonic tract while basin and range province of late Jurassic and early Cretaceous may be mainly related to lithospheric thinning of North China craton in late Mesozoic.

地震层析成像与天山地区的壳幔深部结构研究

The Tien Shan is the most prominent intracontinental mountain belt on the earth. The active crustal deformation and earthquake activities provide an excellent place to study the continental geodynamics of intracontinental mountain belt. The studies of deep structures in crust and upper mantle are significantly meaningful for understanding the geological evolution and geodynamics of global intracontinental mountain belts. This dissertation focuses on the deep structures and geodynamics in the crust and upper mantle in the Tien Shan mountain belt. With the arrival time data from permanent and temporal seismic stations located in the western and central Tien Shan, using seismic travel time tomographic method, we inversed the P-wave velocity and Vp/Vs structures in the crust and uppermost mantle, the Pn and Sn velocities and Pn anisotropic structures in the uppermost mantle, and the P-wave velocity structures in the crust and mantle deep to 690km depth beneath the Tien Shan. The tomographic results suggest that the deep structures and geodynamics have significant impacts not only on the deformations and earthquake activities in the crust, but also on the mountain building, collision, and dynamics of the whole Tien Shan mountain belt. With the strongly collision and deformations in the crust, the 3-D P-wave velocity and Vp/Vs ratio structures are highly complex. The Pn and Sn velocities in the uppermost mantle beneath the Tien Shan, specially beneath the central Tien Shan, are significantly lower than the seismic wavespeed beneath geological stable regions. We infer that the hot upper mantle from the small-scale convection could elevate the temperature in the lower crust and uppermost mantle, and partially melt the materials in the lower crust. The observations of low P-wave and S-wave velocities, high Vp/Vs ratios near the Moho and the absences of earthquake activities in the lower crust are consistent with this inference. Based on teleseismic tomography images of the upper mantle beneath the Tien Shan, we infer that the lithosphere beneath the Tarim basin has subducted under the Tien Shan to depths as great as 500 km. The lithosphere beneath the Kazakh shield may have subducted to similar depths in the opposite direction, but the limited resolution of this data set makes this inference less certain. These images support the plate boundary model of converge for the Tien Shan, as the lithospheres to the north and south of the range both appear to behave as plates.

北天山新生代构造演化与古环境演变

The Tianshan Mountains is located about 1000-2000 km north of the India-Asia suture and is the most outstanding topography in central Asia, with transmeridional length of nearly 2500 km, north-southern wideness of ~ 300-500 km, peaks exceeding 7000 m above sea level (asl.), and average altitude of over 4000 m asl. Much of the modern relief of the Tianshan Range is a result of contraction driven by the collision of the India subcontinent with the southern margin of Asia, which began in early Tertiary and continues today. Understanding where, when and how the deformation of the Tianshan Mountains occurred is essential to decipher the mechanism of intracontinental tectonics, the process of foreland basin evolution and mountain building, and the history of climate change in central Asia. In order to better constrain the Cenozoic building history of the Tianshan Mountains and the climate change in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, we carried out multiple studies of magnetostratigraphy, sedimentology, and stable isotopes of paleosol carbonate at the Jingou River section, which is located at the Huoerguosi anticline, the westernest one of the second folds and thrust faults zone in the northern piedmont of the Tianshan Mountains. The Jingou River section with a thickness of about 4160 m is continuous in deposits according to the observed gradual change in sedimentary environments and can be divided into five formations: Anjihaihe, Shawan, Taxihe, Dushanzi and Xiyu in upward sequence. Characteristic remamences were isolated by progressive thermal demagnetization, generally between 300 and 680℃. A total of 1133 out of 1607 samples yielded well-defined ChRMs and were used to establish the magnetostratigraphic column of a 3270-m-thick section from the exposed base of the Anjihaihe Formation to the middle of the Xiyu Formation. Two vertebrate fossil sites and a good correlation with the CK95 geomagnetic polarity time scale suggest that the section was deposited from ~30.5 to ~4.6 Ma and the age of the top of the Xiyu formation is ~2.6 Ma based on an extrapolation of the sedimentation rates. A plot of magnetostratigraphic age vs. height at the Jingou River section shows that significant increases in sedimentation rates as well as notable changes in depositional environments occurred at ~26-22.5 Ma, ~13-11 Ma and ~7 Ma, which represent the initial uplift of the Tianshan Mountains and two subsequent rapid uplift events. In addition, changes in sedimentation rates display characteristic alternations between increases and decreases, which probably indicate that the uplift of the Tianshan Mountains was episodic. We discussed the history of C4 biomass and climatic conditions in the southern margin of the Junggur Basin using the stable carbon and oxygen isotope composition of paleosol carbonates from the Jingou River section during ~17.5-6.5 Ma. The δ13C values indicate that the proportion of C4 biomass was uniform and moderate (15-20 %) during the interval of ~17.5-6.5 Ma. We proposed three hypotheses for this pattern of C4 biomass: (1) counteraction of two opposed factors (global cooling since ~15 Ma and thereafter increased dry and seasonality in central Asia) controlling the growth of C4 grasses, (2) variability in abundance of C3 grasses relative to C3 trees and shrubs if vegetation had ever changed in ecosystems, and (3) the higher latitude of the studied region. The δ18O values show a stepwise negative trend since ~13 Ma which may be attributed to three factors: (1) the temperature decreasing gradually after the middle Miocene (~15 Ma), (2) the increasing contribution of the moistures carried by the polar air masses from the Arctic Ocean to precipitation, and (3) the gradual retreat westward and disappearance of the Paratethys Ocean. Among them, which one played a more important role will need further study of the paleoclimate in central Asia.

陕西关中盆地地热水循环的同位素研究

Geothermal resource is rich in Guanzhong Basin, but as to its cycle characteristic, there has been lack of systematic study so far. Blind exploitations lead to water-temperature reducing, the decrease of spring flow rate and so on. Based on groundwater system and hydrogeological and hydrological geochemical theory, this paper studied the recycling type of geothermal water and analyzed the resources of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and sulfate. The origin of the internal geothermal water is ice and snow in Qinling Mountain and Liupan Mountain above 1400m. The precipitation and surface water entered the deep part of the basin along piedmont faults, heated and water-expansion increased. The karst groundwater comes from meteoric water of the bare carbonate rock area in the North Mountains. Geothermal-water DIC mainly came from the dissolution of carbonate rock in the deep part of Guanzhong Basin, sulfate of Xi’an depression and Lishan salient came from the dissolution of continental evaporate , and sulfate of Gushi depression and Xianli salient came from co-dissolution of continental and marine evaporate. The above results supply science basis for reasonable exploitation and sustainable utilization of the geothermal water in Guanzhong Basin.

新疆谢米斯台中段地区火山岩特征及其含矿性研究

Central Xiemisitai is located on the northwest edge of the Junggar Basin, bounded on the north by Sawuer Mountain, and southward Junggar Basin. Geotectonically, it is within the Chengjisi-Ximisitai-Santanghu island arc of Late Paleozoic, between Siberian and Junggar plates. The volcanics in this area mainly consist of acidic volcanic lava, rock assemblage of esite, dacite, and rhyolite, and the transitional phase is comparatively developed. Besides, Si2O of volcanics here covers a large range of 53.91-79.28t %, K2O of 1.71-6.94t%, and Na2O of 2.29-5.45t%, which is a set of metaluminous- peraluminous high K calc-alkaline to calc alkaline mid-acidic volcanic series. In addition, the volcanics are potassic to high-potassic assemblage, with slight shoshonite in. The REE curve of volcanics in central Xiemisitai is rightward and smooth, inclining to LREE enrichment, which reveals the characteristics of island-arc volcanics. Through the lithology changing from neutral to acidic, the negative anomaly of Eu is increasing. The volcanics here deplete HFSE such as Nb, Ti, P, etc., but relatively rich in LILE like Rb, K, Th, etc., possessing geochemistry characteristics of arc volcanics, which means that the lava source region is watery, under the meta-somatic contamination of subducted components. Moreover, high Ba and Sr show volcanics in epicontinental arc environment, and their contemporaneous granitoid rocks are also marked with the characteristics of volcanic arc granite. In central Xiemisitai, the volcanics zircon age of volcanic rhyolite is 422.5Ma± 1.9Ma, mid-late Silurian. Only one sample zircon has been measured for the present, not very convincing, so volcanics here might not come from Devonian volcanism. Consequently, further confirming the volcanic age will play a key role in the research on the beginning of volcanism in Xiemisitai area and even North Xinjiang. This area includes three copper mineralization types: a) from andesite fracture; b) from rhyolite fracture broken zone, with the copper mineralization distributed by veins along the fissure; and c) from quartz veins. The mineralization of earth surface in S24 ore spot is intensive, and the primary geochemistry reconnaissance anomaly is fairly good. According to display data, the maximum content of Cu is as high as 0.9% and as low as 0.05%. Also, ore-control fracture structure is having a considerable scale in the strike of fracture both horizontally and vertically downwards, and the result of the geophysics stratagem EH-4 system reveals obvious low-resistivity anomaly. As a result, we believe that the S24 plot is expected to be a volcanic copper deposit target area.

柴西南区下干柴沟组下段层序地层格架内沉积相展布及有利储集砂体分布研究

Lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin is one of the main targeted exploration zones. With the advancement of exploration, the targets are gradually switching into the lithologic reservoirs and it is urgent to gain the more precise research results in distribution of sedimentary facies and sandstones. Guided by the theory of sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology as well as on the basis of many logging data, drillings, seismic data and chemical tests, the paper comprehensively analyzes the sedimentary facies and sandstones in the lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southern of Chaixi. According to the identification marks of the key interface in sequence stratigraphy, the key interfaces in lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin are identified as two third-order sequences SQ1、SQ2. By calibrating the synthetic seismogram, the seismic sequence, well drilling and logging sequences are united. Based on the works above, this paper chooses seven primary cross-sections and builds connecting-well stratigraphic correlation of seven main connecting-well sections. Ultimately, the high-resolution sequence stratigraphic frameworks in the lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation, which are uniform to logging and seismic data, are figured out. In terms of study on each sequence features, the main style of the base-level cycle overlay which forms the third-order sequence is confirmed. It contains asymmetric “becoming deep upward” style and symmetry style. Researching on the spreading characters of sequence stratigraphy indicates that SQ1 and SQ2 are rather thicker near northwest well Shashen 20 and Shaxin1 while they are quite thiner near Hongcan 1, Yuejin, Qie 4 and Dong8-Wu3, and the thickness of SQ1 is thicker than SQ2.Based on the deep analysis of the marks for depositional facies, it is proposed that the lake facies and braid river deltas facies mainly occurred in study areas. Besides, the sorts of sub-facies and micro-facies model are divided and described. Under the control of high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework, three source directions from Arlarer Mountain、Qimantage Mountain and Dongchai Mountain are identified by using the features of heavy mineral assemblage and paleogeomorphy. In addition, regularities of distribution sedimentary facies in sequence stratigraphic framework are studied in accordance with research thinking of the "point" (single well) "line" (section) "face" (plane). In the stage of lower member in the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin, it is at the early phrase of evolution of the lake basin with the gradual outspread and the rise of the lake level. Combined with physical analysis of reservoir sands formed in different sedimentary environment, the paper studies the style of favorable sandstone bodies that are underwater distributary channel of braided rive delta front, coarse sand in mouth bar and the sand body in sand flat of shore-shallow lacustrine facies. Finally, this article comprehensively analyzes the distribution relationship between sedimentary facies and favorable sandstone body and proposes the ideas that sequence SQ1 Yuejin area, well east 8-wu3 area, well qie4-qie1 area and well hongcan2 area are distributed areas of favorable sandstone.

新第三纪红河盆地特征及红河断裂活动对其形成与发育的控制

Based on geodynamic analysis of sedimentary basins, combined sedimentology with structural geology and other methods, the author studied the Honghe basin located in Yunnan province of Southwestern China. Sandstone slice grain size analysis, combined with field geology and indoors study indicate that a set of inland alluvial fan diposits, fluvial deposites, delta deposits and some lacustrine sediments are in Honghe basin. Studying on shape of the Honghe basin, sedimentary and structural characteristic and distribution of different kinds of conglomerate and its structural significance, we hold the idea that the formation and evolution of Honghe basin are controlled by the activity of Red River faut. Correlation of lithostratic cross section in Honghe basin and studying on activity of Red River fault indicate that Honghe basin was formed in two stages. It is a complex basin constitutes of the first-stage trans-releasing basin and the second-stage trans-downfaulted basin. Due to the uplift of Qinghai-Xizang plateau and deformation of orogeny, the western Yunnan and adjacent area move to SE direction as a result of Tectonic Escape. Right lateral strike slip occurred along Red River fault, trans-releasing basin formed at the bend part of the fault due to stress relexation. As the block escaping, it moves away from the other block of the Red River fault, the upper block move down obliquely and trans-downfaulted basin formed. Combined the age of phytolite and regional structural events, we think the first-stage transreleasing basin was formed in late Miocene, on the other words, the dextral strike slip of Red River fault may began in late Miocene (10-7Ma). The second-stage trans-downfaulted basin may be formed in early stage of Pliocene (about 4.7Ma). Subsequently, the bilateral faults dipping to the inside of the plateau and thrusting outwards occurred in the marginal region of Qinghai-Xizang plateau during its uplifting as a fan-shaped mountain body, this results in the uplift of the strata to the east of Red River fault and supply large quantity of provenance for the Honghe basin. In last Pliocene (about 3Ma), strong uplift of Qinghai-Xizang plateau leads to massive clastic sediment entered Honghe basin and causes its closure. As a kind of trans-tentional basin, trans-releasing basin is different to pull-apart basin. The author compared the Mosha trans-releasing basin with Jinggu pull-apart basin in SW Yunan, China, and described their character correspondingly. Otherwise, the author combined the predecessors' studding with conclusion of own study, discussed the kinematics of Ailaoshan-Red River belt in Cenozoic, and the relationship between the formation of Honghe basin and uplifting of Qinghai-Xizang plateau.

大别山岩石圈有效弹性厚度初步研究

As powerful tools to study the lithosphere dynamics, the effective elastic thickness (Te) as well as the envelope of yielding stress of lithosphere have been attracted great attention of geoscientists in the past thirty years. The oceanic lithosphere, contrary to the continental lithosphere, has more fruits for its simple structures and evolution process. In continent, the lithosphere commonly is complex and variable in the rheological, thermal structures, and has a complicated history. Therefore, the application of the effective elastic thickness in continent is still a subject to learn in a long time. Te, with the definition of the thickness of an elastic plate in theory flexured by the equal benging of the real stress in the lithosphere plate (Turcotte, 1982), marks the depth of transition between elastic and fluid behaviors of rocks subjected to stress exceeding 100 MPa over the geological timescales (McNutt, 1990). There are three methods often adapted: admittance or isostatic response function, coherence and forwarding. In principle, the models of Te consist of thermal-rheological, non-linear Maxwell, non-linear work hardening and rheological layered models. There is a tentative knowledge of Te that it is affected by the following factors: crustal thickness, crust-mantle decoupling, plate bending, boundary conditions of plate (end forces and bending moments), stress state, sedimentary layer, faulting effect, variation in the mountain belts' strike, foreland basin, inheritance of tectonic evolution, convection of mantle, seismic depth and lithosphere strength. In this thesis, the author introduces the geological sketch of the Dabie collisional orogenic belt and the Hefei Basin. The Dabie Mts. is famous for the ultra-high pressure metamorphism. The crustal materials subducted down to the depth of at least 100 km and exhumed. So that the front subjects arise such as the deeply subduction of continent, and the post-collisional crust-mantle interaction. In a geological journey at June of 1999, the author found the rarely variolitic basaltic andesite in the Dabie Mts. It occurs in Susong Group, near Zhifenghe Countryside, Susong County, Anhui Province. It is just to the south of the boundary between the high-grade Susong melange and the ultra-high grade South Dabie melange. It has a noticeable knobby or pitted appearance in the surface. The size of the varioles is about 1-4 mm. In hand-specimen and under microscope, there are distinct contacts between the varioles and the matrice. The mineralogy of the varioles is primarily radiate plagioclase, with little pyroxene, hornblende and quartz. The pyroxene, hornblende and quartz are in the interstices between plagioclase. The matrix is consisted of glass, and micro-crystals of chlorite, epidote and zoisite. It is clearly subjected and extensive alteration. The andesite has an uncommon chemical composition. The SiO_2 content is about 56.8%, TiO_2 = 0.9%, MgO = 6.4%, (Fe_2O_3)_(Total) = 6.7% ～ 7.6%, 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe) = 64.1 ～ 66.2. Mg# is significantly high. The andesite has higher abundances of large-lithophile trace elements (e.g. K, Ba, Sr, LREE), e.g. La/Nd = 5.56-6.07, low abundances of high-strength-field elements (HFSE, e.g. Ta, Nb, P, Ti), particularly Ta and Nb strongly depleted. These are consistent with the characteristics of subducted-related magmas (Pearcce, 1982; Sun and McDonaugh, 1989). In the spider diagram of trace elements, from Ce to right hand, the abundances of elements decrease quickly, showing a characteristic of the continental margins (Pearce, 1982). There has a strongly enrichment of light-rare-earth elements, with a significant diffraction of REEs (the mean value of (La/Yb)_N is 32.84). No Eu anomaly, but there are anomaly high (La/Yb)_N = 28.63-36.74, (La/Y)_N = 70.33 - 82.84. The elements Y and Yb depleted greatly, Y < 20 ppm, Y_N = 2.74-2.84, Yb_N = 2.18 - 2.35. From the La-(La/Sm) diagram, the andesite is derived from partial melting. But the epsilone value of Nd is -18.7 ～ -19.2, so that the material source may be the mantle materials affected by the crustal materials. The Nd model age is 1.9 Ga indicating that the basaltic andesite was resulted from the post-collisional crust-mantle interaction between the subducted Yangze carton and the mantle of Sino-Korea carton. To obtain the Te of the lithosphere beneath the Dabie Mts. and the Hefei Basin, the author applies the coherence method in this thesis. The author makes two topography-gravity profiles (profiles 7~(th) and 9~(th)) across the Dabie Mts. and the Hefei Basin, and calculates the auto-coherence, across coherence, power spectrum, across power spectrum of the topography and gravity of the two profiles. From the relationships between the coherence and the wave-number of profiles. From the relationships between the coherence and the wave-number of profiles 7~(th) and 9~(th), it is obtained that the characteristic wavelengths respectively are 157 km and 126 km. Consequently the values of effective elastic thickness are 6.5 km and 4.8 km, respectively. However, the Te values merely are the minimum value of the lithosphere because the coherencemethod in a relative small region will generate a systemic underestimation. Why there is a so low Te value? In order to check the strength of the lithosphere beneath the Dabie Mts., the authore tries to outline the yielding-stress envelope of the lithosphere. It is suggested that the elastic layers in the crust and upper mantle are 18 km and 35 km, respectively. Since there exist a low viscosity layer about 3-5 km thickness, so it is reasonable that the decoupling between the crust and mantle occurred. So the effective thickness of the lithosphere can be estimated from the two elastic layers. Te is about 34 km. This is the maximum strength of the lithosphere. We can make an approximately estimation about the strength of the lithosphere beneath the Dabie Mts.: Te is about 20-30 km. The author believes that the following factors should be responsible for the low Te value: (1) the Dabie Mts. has elevated strongly since K_3-J_1. The north part of the Dabie Mts. elevates faster than the south part today; (2) there occur large active striking faults in this area. And in the east, the huge Tan-Lu striking fault anyway tends to decrease the lithosphere strength; (3) the lithosphere beneath the Dabie Mts. is heter-homogeneous in spatio-temporal; (4) the study area just locates in the adjacent region between the eastern China where the lithosphere thickness is significantly reduced and the normal western China. These factors will decrease the lithosphere strength.