Precise radiolarian age constraints on the timing of ophiolite generation and sedimentation in the Dazhuqu Terrane, Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone, Tibet

• Published in: Journal of the Geological Society Vol. 160; no. 4; pp. 591 - 599
• Main Authors: Ziabrev, Sergey V, Aitchison, Jonathan C, Abrajevitch, Alexandra V, Badengzhu, Badengzhu, Davis, Aileen M, Luo Hui, Luo Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Geological Society of London 01.07.2003; The Geological Society of London; Geological Society
• Subjects: Aptian; Asia; Barremian; biostratigraphy; biozones; China; Cretaceous; Dazhuqu Terrane; depositional environment; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Far East; faunal list; Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture zone; Invertebrata; Invertebrate paleontology; lithostratigraphy; Lower Cretaceous; Mesozoic; microfossils; ophiolite; Paleontology; Protista; Radiolaria; species diversity; Stratigraphy; suture zones; Tectonics. Structural geology. Plate tectonics; tectonostratigraphic units; volcaniclastics; Xizang China; Far East; China; Xizang China; China, People's Rep., Xizang; Yarlung–Tsangpo suture; Radiolaria; Tibet; biostratigraphy; ophiolites; Mesozoic; Tethys; ophiolite; basalts; Terranes; radiolarians; subduction zones; Protozoa; tectonic controls; geologic sections; volcanic rocks; volcanic arcs; eruptions; Barremian; igneous rocks; Cretaceous; Yarlung-Tsangpo suture; Asia; Lower Cretaceous; volcaniclastics; Aptian; Phanerozoic; suture zones
• ISSN: 0016-7649; 2041-479X
• DOI: 10.1144/0016-764902-107

Well-preserved, abundant radiolarians provide high-precision biostratigraphic age constraints on the timing of the eruption of ophiolitic basalts exposed along the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet. Dazhuqu terrane ophiolites were generated in an intra-oceanic supra-subduction zone setting within a relatively short (<10 Ma) interval from late Barremian to late Aptian. Accumulation of sediments upon the newly generated ophiolite initially occurred in a series of discrete rift-controlled sub-basins associated with various spreading centres. An increasing flux of arc-derived volcaniclastic sediment up-section indicates nearby volcanic arc activity. The Dazhuqu terrane developed in an intra-oceanic setting within Tethys where it was isolated from any continental influence.