A tectonic switch from subduction to collision and/or arc–arc collision is a key issue for understanding accretionary orogenic processes. We present new U-Pb ages, geochemistry, whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotope data for a suite of late Carboniferous intrusive rocks along the Kalamaili suture zone of the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and demonstrate their petrogenesis and the transition of their tectonic settings. Zircon U-Pb dating for the gabbros, diorites, granodiorites, and monzogranites yields ages of 317–301 Ma. The gabbros (311 Ma) were likely derived from partial melting of a mixed source of depleted MORB-like asthenospheric mantle with minor old crustal material; the diorites (301 Ma) from the mixed depleted lithospheric mantle and crustal components; the granodiorites (303 Ma) from the mixed mantle- and crust-derived magmas; and the monzogranites (317 Ma) from melting of the newly underplated basaltic lower crust. Combined with previous data, we have grouped all the intrusive rocks along the Kalamaili suture zone into three phases: 350–340 Ma, 330–320 Ma, and 320–300 Ma. The first phase consists of tholeiitic and high-K calc-alkaline granites, the second phase is composed of high-K calc-alkaline I-type granites with strong deformation, and the third phase comprises voluminous and various rock types (mainly mafic and felsic, including many A-type granites), revealing a magmatic flare-up. The magmatic associations and evolution from the first to the third phase, together with regional geology, suggest a tectonic transition from subduction/accretion (350–340 Ma) through syn-collision (330–320 Ma) to post-collision (or post-accretionary, 320–300 Ma), respectively. This study provides new magmatic evidence for the switch from subduction to collision (arc-arc collision) along the Kalamaili suture zone in the southwestern CAOB.
Carboniferous magmatism is one of the most important tectonothermal events in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). However, the final closure time of the Kalamaili Ocean between East Junggar and Harlik Mountain is still debated. Early Carboniferous (332 Ma) and late Carboniferous (307–298 Ma) granitic magmatism from Kalamaili fault zone have been recognized by LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb dating. They are both metaluminous highly fractionated I‐type and belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline. The granitoids for early Carboniferous have zircon ε Hf ( t ) values of –5.1 to +8.5 with Hf model ages (T DM2 ) of 1.78–0.83Ga, suggesting a mixed magma source of juvenile material with old continental crust. Furthermore, those for late Carboniferous have much younger heterogeneous zircon ε Hf ( t ) values (+5.1 to +13.6) with Hf model ages (T DM2 =1.03–0.45 Ga) that are also indicative of juvenile components with a small involvement of old continental crust. Based on whole‐rock geochemical and zircon isotopic features, these high‐K granitoids were derived from melting of heterogeneous crustal sources or through mixing of old continental crust with juvenile components and minor AFC (assimilation and fractional crystallization). The juvenile components probably originated from underplated basaltic magmas in response to asthenospheric upwelling. These Carboniferous highly fractionated granites in the Kalamaili fault zone were probably emplaced in a post‐collisional extensional setting and suggested vertical continental crustal growth in the southern CAOB, which is the same or like most granitoids in CAOB. This study provides new evidence for determining the post‐accretionary evolution of the southern CAOB. In combination with data from other granitoids in these two terranes, the Early Carboniferous Heiguniangshan pluton represents the initial record of post‐collisional environment, suggesting that the final collision between the East Junggar and Harlik Mountain might have occurred before 332 Ma.
A tectonic switch from subduction to collision and/or arc–arc collision is a key issue for understanding accretionary orogenic processes. We present new U-Pb ages, geochemistry, whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotope data for a suite of late Carboniferous intrusive rocks along the Kalamaili suture zone of the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and demonstrate their petrogenesis and the transition of their tectonic settings. Zircon U-Pb dating for the gabbros, diorites, granodiorites, and monzogranites yields ages of 317–301 Ma. The gabbros (311 Ma) were likely derived from partial melting of a mixed source of depleted MORB-like asthenospheric mantle with minor old crustal material; the diorites (301 Ma) from the mixed depleted lithospheric mantle and crustal components; the granodiorites (303 Ma) from the mixed mantle- and crust-derived magmas; and the monzogranites (317 Ma) from melting of the newly underplated basaltic lower crust. Combined with previous data, we have grouped all the intrusive rocks along the Kalamaili suture zone into three phases: 350–340 Ma, 330–320 Ma, and 320–300 Ma. The first phase consists of tholeiitic and high-K calc-alkaline granites, the second phase is composed of high-K calc-alkaline I-type granites with strong deformation, and the third phase comprises voluminous and various rock types (mainly mafic and felsic, including many A-type granites), revealing a magmatic flare-up. The magmatic associations and evolution from the first to the third phase, together with regional geology, suggest a tectonic transition from subduction/accretion (350–340 Ma) through syn-collision (330–320 Ma) to post-collision (or post-accretionary, 320–300 Ma), respectively. This study provides new magmatic evidence for the switch from subduction to collision (arc-arc collision) along the Kalamaili suture zone in the southwestern CAOB.
The deep crustal continental components and architecture of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) have long been a matter of debate. This article presents an integrated study of published geochronological and Hf-in-zircon isotopic data for inherited zircons from the Palaeozoic granitoid rocks and associated felsic volcanic rocks of the Chinese Altai, East Junggar, and nearby regions. The aim is to trace the age spatial distribution of deep old crustal components. Our data set comprises 463 published age data obtained by SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS from felsic igneous rocks in these areas. Among these samples, zircon xenocrysts were observed in 69 granitic rocks and 15 felsic volcanic rocks from the Chinese Altai and 30 granitoid rocks and five felsic volcanic rocks in the East Junggar, respectively. Three major zircon xenocrysts provinces are defined based on the distribution of these inherited zircon ages, combined with Hf-in-zircon isotopes. Province I, mainly situated in the eastern part of the central Chinese Altai, is characterized by the abundant inherited zircons with Meso-Proterozoic and Palaeo-Proterozoic ages (1000–1600 and 1600–2500 Ma, respectively), and variable εHf(t) values ranging from −15 to +7 with ancient Hf crustal model ages (TDMC) ranging from 1.5 to 2.9 Ga. A few scattered parts of province I are scattered situated in the East Junggar (individual areas, e.g. Taheir and Shuangchagou). Province II, situated mostly in the central Chinese Altai, is characterized by abundant xenocrystic zircons with Neo-Proterozoic ages (542–1000 Ma), εHf(t) values ranging from −6.8 to +8.1, and corresponding Hf crustal model ages of ~1.0–1.3 Ga. Province III contains abundant Phanerozoic (<541 Ma) xenocrystic zircons that show highly positive εHf(t) values ranging from +5 to +16 and the youngest Hf crustal model ages (0.4–0.95 Ga). The main part of Province III occupies most areas of the East Junggar and the southernmost and northern parts of the Chinese Altai. Identification of the ancient (pre-Neoproterozoic) Hf crustal model ages in the eastern part of the central Chinese Altai (Province I) supports the suggestions that ancient concealed crustal components exist in the Chinese Altai. In contrast, Province III in the East Junggar predominantly displays young model ages, which indicates that it is mainly composed of juvenile components and likely a typical accretionary belt. Besides, a few small areas with ancient model ages are recognized in the East Junggar, providing evidence for the local existence of Precambrian crust or micro-blocks within the accretionary belt. The zircon xenocrysts provinces are consisted with the Nd isotopic province and provide further evidence for the ancient and juvenile compositions in deep. In addition, the tectonic division of the region is discussed based on the distribution of deep crustal components. The Erqis fault zone can be regarded as the boundary between the Chinese Altai and East Junggar regions and its western extension is constrained to be closer to the Altai–Qinghe Fault than previously considered. The central Chinese Altai can be subdivided into two distinct tectonic units.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious threat to patients with nosocomial infections, and infection is strongly associated with biofilm formation. Gallic acid (GA) is a natural bioactive compound found in traditional Chinese medicines that exerts potent antimicrobial activity. However, the anti-MRSA biofilm efficacy of GA remained to be determined. This study investigated the antimicrobial activities of GA against MRSA and the mechanisms involved. The results revealed the significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of GA. The minimal inhibitory concentration of GA against MRSA was 32 μg/mL and a growth curve assay confirmed the significant inhibitory effect of GA on planktonic MRSA. Crystal violet and XTT assays showed that 8 µg/mL GA effectively inhibited the formation of new biofilms and disrupted existing biofilms by reducing both biofilm biomass and metabolic activities. Alkaline phosphatase and β-galactosidase leakage assays and live/dead staining provided evidence that GA disrupted the integrity of bacterial cell walls and membranes within the biofilm. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that GA significantly inhibited bacterial adhesion and aggregation, affecting the overall structure of the biofilm. Bacterial adhesion, polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) production and real-time quantitative PCR assay confirmed that GA inhibited bacterial adhesion, PIA synthesis, and the expression of icaAD and sarA. These results suggested that GA inhibited biofilm formation by inhibiting the expression of sarA, then downregulating the expression of icaA and icaD, thereby reducing the synthesis of PIA to attenuate the adhesion capacity of MRSA. GA is therefore a promising candidate for development as a pharmaceutical agent for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections caused by MRSA.
Abstract Precise localisation of the Yutu‐2 moon rover plays an important role in path planning, obstacle avoidance and navigating to target features. To provide high‐precision localisation information, a stereo bundle adjustment method using the theory of the unit quaternions is presented for the first time. To improve the precision and robustness of the proposed method, the rover's pose, from a visual odometry technique assisted by an inertial measurement unit and the rotation angles of the mast mechanism, is viewed as a pseudo‐observation. A reasonable weighting strategy and a rational geometric constraint condition of the stereo cameras is also invoked. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method provides more accurate localisation results than either a bundle adjustment alone or a weighted total least‐squares method. The proposed method has been successfully used in Chang'e‐4 mission operations.