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Sedimentary basins adjacent to subduction‐related continental arcs provide important archives for deciphering the intricate history of convergent plate margins. The east‐west trending Gangdese magmatic arc was one of the most predominant topographic features located at the southern margin of Tibet before the arrival of the Indian plate. However, the detailed Cretaceous growth and evolution across the arc system remains ambiguous. Stratigraphy of the adjacent Xigaze forearc basin provides a well‐preserved and well‐exposed record of the tectonic and magmatic evolution of the arc throughout the Cretaceous period. We report new stratigraphic, sedimentological, geochronological, and provenance analyses of the Quarry Ridge sandstone in the Xigaze forearc basin along with compiled zircon U‐Pb ages (n = 9674) and Lu‐Hf isotopic signatures (n = 3389) from the Gangdese arc, the Xigaze forearc basin, and the Linzhou retroarc foreland basin to reconstruct the Early to middle Cretaceous magmatism and uplift of the Gangdese arc and concurrent sedimentary responses within both basins. Exhumation of the arc initiates at around 113 Ma suggested by arc detritus first arriving in both basins. Another episode of inferred uplift occurs at around 108 Ma, which resulted in coarse‐grained sedimentation in adjacent basins, preventing Central Lhasa detritus from reaching the Xigaze forearc basin further south and a facies and provenance change within the Linzhou basin. Finally, a third episode at around 101 Ma is reflected by deposition of the progradational Quarry Ridge clastic succession and marks the initiation of a substantial coarse‐grained depositional stage in the Xigaze forearc basin. Our study emphasizes the connection between coarse‐grained deposition in the forearc basin and arc magmatism and uplift. This study also provides an orogen‐scale assessment of the history of arc magmatism, uplift, and sedimentation across the Gangdese magmatic arc system, which supports interpretations that Tibet was already characterized by complex and substantial topographic relief during the Cretaceous before the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mid-Late Mesozoic magmatic arc in southern Qiangtang block was associated with the long-lasting subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethyan and the subsequent Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. The detailed processes associated with the transition from oceanic lithosphere subduction to lithosphere delamination remain unclear. This paper reports zircon U-Pb age, major and trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the Cretaceous two-phase magmatic rocks in the Shuanghu region of the southern Qiangtang block located in central Tibet. Zircon dating on the Qushenla volcanic rocks yields a 206Pb/238U age of 114 ± 4 Ma. The Abushan volcanic rocks comprise rhyolites. Zircon dating on two rhyolites yields a 206Pb/238U age of 74 ± 1 to 76 ± 1 Ma. In contrast with the Qushenla volcanic rocks, the Abushan rhyolites exhibit features typical of high-fractionated I-type granitoids, high K calc-alkaline and shoshonite, and peraluminous, suggesting that the Abushan rhyolites formed in post-collision setting. The Qushenla volcanic rocks have slightly higher initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.70466–0.70537), and εNd(t) (1.71–2.89) in comparison with the Abushan rhyolites (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70453–0.70491, εNd(t) = 1.63–2.35). The Qushenla volcanic rocks were most likely derived from the mixing of mantle-derived components and crustal material. And the crust assimilation and fractional crystallization played a role during the ascent of magma. The Abushan volcanic rocks derived from magmatic mixing between the crustal materials and mantle-derived components, and undergoing extensive fractional crystallization. Taking into account the regional tectonic and magmatic data, we suggest that the transition from the oceanic lithosphere subduction to lithosphere delamination occurred during the Late Cretaceous in central Tibet. It evolved through three stages: 125–100 Ma, late subduction of Bangong-Nujiang Tethys; 100–87 Ma slab break-off of subduction Bangong-Nujiang Tethys; and 87–73 Ma lithosphere delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hainan Island lies near the Red River Fault, a prominent tectonic feature produced by the India‐Asia collision. There, we carried out a geochronologic and paleomagnetic study on Cretaceous rocks in order to better understand the kinematic history of the region. U‐Pb zircon dating of tuff intercalated in red bed sedimentary rocks yielded a concordant age of 106.6 ± 0.3 Ma; a mafic dyke intruding the red beds yielded a concordant age of 104.6 ± 0.7 Ma. Stepwise demagnetization experiments on 448 sedimentary rock samples and 191 dyke samples isolate solely normal polarities. Paleomagnetic directions of the dykes cluster in two distinct populations in geographic coordinates, indicating that dyke intrusion occurred in two pulses of limited duration (secular variation was not averaged) after tilting of the sediments. Baking of the sediments from the dykes only occurred near the contacts. Together with published data, the mean directions of 104 sites most tightly group at 58.3 ± 3.2% unfolding, indicative of a synfolding remagnetization, which can be constrained to have occurred within a 2 Myr period between sedimentation and dyke intrusion. We suggest that warm (50–100°C) fluid interaction during basin development led to new mineral growth spawning chemical remagnetization. The corresponding paleomagnetic pole at 81.5°N, 145.2°E (A95 = 2.4°) is indistinguishable from the coeval Eurasian reference pole, suggesting the South China Block has remained fixed to Eurasia since 105 Ma. A contour map of paleomagnetic rotations from 115 studies in the region shows that the Red River Fault roughly demarcates rotation magnitudes/signs, suggestive of a major tectonic boundary. Plain Language Summary: Highly stable magnetic remanences of hematite‐bearing sedimentary rocks (red beds) form the basis of numerous paleomagnetic studies. However, an on‐going scientific debate called the "red bed controversy" stems from the relative timing when the remanence was acquired (primary = detrital vs. secondary = chemical). Our article concerns a paleomagnetic and geochronologic study of Cretaceous red beds and cross cutting dykes from Hainan Island (South China). Radiometric‐dating of tuff intercalated in the red beds and the crosscutting mafic dykes, combined with paleomagnetic analyses of 639 samples, allows us to precisely constrain the age of a pervasive synfolding remagnetization at ca. 105 Ma. Together with electron microscopy, we demonstrate the existence of a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) that occurred within 2 Myr of the depositional age of the sediments. We also show that the dykes had limited thermal influence on the wall rocks. Importantly, the red beds that have CRMs do not suffer from inclination shallowing—the paleolatitude is very compatible with that predicted from the reference curve, suggesting the relative configuration between South China and Siberia has remained constant since 105 Ma. Key Points: Chemical remagnetization of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in Hainan is dated between 106.6 Ma and 104.6 MaAuthigenic growth of iron oxides and sulfides in the Cretaceous sediments occurred within 2 Myr of depositionThe South China Block has remained fixed to Eurasia since the Cretaceous (105 Ma) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin, northeastern China, is of great significance because it records a series of geological, geodynamical and paleoenvironmental events, such as lake transgression events, lake anoxic events, sea water incursion events, Cretaceous Normal Superchron, and important stratigraphic boundaries. Here we report a chronology for the non-marine Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation based on secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U–Pb zircon analyses from the east borehole of the Cretaceous Continental Scientific Drilling and two outcrop sections, which are located in different structural provinces of the Songliao Basin. Stratigraphic correlation between the borehole sequence and the exposed outcrop sections is achieved by combining lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and SIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology. Two bentonite layers are recognized in the Nenjiang Formation: the older occurs at the formational contact between the Yaojia and Nenjiang Formations; the younger occurs between Members 1 and 2 of the Nenjiang Formation. SIMS U–Pb zircon dating yields ages of 85.1–85.2 Ma and 83.0–83.3 Ma, respectively, representing ages of the boundaries of the Yaojia/Nenjiang Formations and Members 1/2 of the Nenjiang Formation, as well as ages of lake transgression events and associated lake anoxic events, and two of the sea water incursion events. Furthermore, the age of Cretaceous Normal Superchron termination can be estimated at 82.5–82.8 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherts in the Zhongba mélange of the western Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) contain well preserved radiolarian assemblages. These radiolarian assemblages indicate that the Zhongba mélange has middle Jurassic–early Cretaceous remnant, are coeval with those from the central and eastern parts of the YZSZ. Cherts from the Najiu area yield Aalenian to Aptian radiolarians, while cherts interbedded with siliceous mudstones from the Bielongjiala area yield Aptian radiolarians, indicating that terrigenous-derived sediments were deposited during early Aptian. The above observations indicate that the entire YZSZ have a similar geochronological framework and thus they underwent similar geological evolution: (1) during the Jurassic, the Neo-Tethys was a wide ocean with pelagic sediments distal from continents; (2) during the Cretaceous (around 130–120 Ma), the Neo-Tethys started to subduct along the southern margin of the Lhasa block, and terrigenous-derived siliceous mudstone began deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As a paradigm of greenhouse climate in Earth's history, the Cretaceous provides significant rock records of global climate changes under conditions of greenhouse climate. The Songliao Basin, among the longest duration (85–90m.y.) of continental sedimentary basins, provides an excellent opportunity to recover a nearly complete Cretaceous terrestrial sedimentary record. Extensive lake deposits, ten-kilometers deep and covering an area of 260,000km2 of the Songliao Basin, provide unique, detailed records that can be tied to the global stratigraphic time scale, thereby improving our understanding of the continental paleoclimate and ecological system. The two coreholes at SKIs and SKIn sites were drilled into this basin and completed with a total length of 2485.89m of recovered core that spanned the complete middle-to-Upper Cretaceous strata in the basin. The unique geological setting of long-term continuous subsidence within the largest Cretaceous landmass in the world — makes the Cretaceous Songliao Basin of northeastern China an ideal place to study Cretaceous climate change on the continent. This paper reviews the literature on the paleogeography and paleoclimate of the northern East Asia and the Songliao Basin during the Cretaceous. Based on the climatologically sensitive deposits, oxygen isotope studies, and paleontology, the climate during the Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin was temperate and humid with relatively abundant rainfall. During the period, significant changes – four cooling, three warming, and three semiarid events – are generally consistent with the oxygen isotope data from East Asia, and the four cooling events, in Berriasian–Valanginian, Aptian–Albian, early Santonian, and Campanian–Maastrichtian, may be related to potential glaciations in Cretaceous. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Continental Scientific Drilling Project at the Cretaceous-age Songliao Basin is a drilling initiative under the framework of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, to recover a nearly complete Cretaceous terrestrial sedimentary record in the Songliao Basin, northeastern China. The recovered cores will provide unique opportunities for the geosciences community to advance the understanding of climate change in the Cretaceous greenhouse world, and provide a documentation of geological events relevant to the carbon cycle during this time period. This drilling project will address significant geological questions, such as the identification of important stratigraphic boundaries and the marine-terrestrial correlations of stratigraphy, the reasons for the biotic response to the terrestrial environmental changes, the terrestrial response to the Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events, the formation of terrestrial petroleum source rocks, and the mechanisms for the Cretaceous magnetic Normal Superchron (CNS). In the first stage of this drilling project, the SKI drilling, rock cores of 2485.89m in total length were recovered and the recovery ratio reached 96.46%. A series of drilling and coring technologies including regular, confined, directional, and sealed coring, were utilized to ensure a higher recovery ratio for the core, and will be described at the end of this paper. Well loggings were conducted right after coring. Core handling and storage were arranged in such a way that the scientific research was conducted on half of each core, whereas the other half of each core was preserved for long-term storage. The upcoming second stage, the SKII drilling, will combine with data from the existing SKI to provide complete high-resolution climate records of the terrestrial environment for the whole Cretaceous time period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) represent brief periods of burial of large amounts of organic carbon in the oceans during Cretaceous time. Burial of organic carbon, which preferentially sequestered isotopically lighter carbon during OAEs, resulted in positive δ13C excursions of 2–3‰ recognizable in global ocean. These deposits are typically dark–grey to black shales, considered to be the result of interaction between extreme warm climate, ocean circulation, high bioproductivity and organic carbon preservation. Less interest has been given to periods between OAEs, when oxic deep sea deposits such as red marls and red shales were deposited during mid- and Late Cretaceous. The latter deposits are associated with very low content of organic carbon and oxic depositional environments which dominated western Tethys in post Turonian time, up to the early Eocene. Feedbacks among geochemical cycles in response to decreasing global temperatures, increasing deep ocean circulation forced by high-latitude deep water formation along the Antarctic margin, and widening and deepening of the interconnections between the oceanic basins may have been responsible for the major paleoceanographic change from deposition of organic carbon-rich black shales during mid-Cretaceous, to world-wide deposition of Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) in the Late Cretaceous. The presence of CORBs sandwiched between mid-Cretaceous OAEs may reflect major climate and paleoceanographic changes. In a contrast to extremely warm climates during the OAEs, the CORBs suggest cold periods, and therefore oscillating climate shifts, that have seldom been considered during modeling of Cretaceous greenhouse climate and global carbon cycling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Extensive tectonic activity in southern Tibet (Tibetan Tethys Himalayas) resulted in overthrusting and tectonic deformation of Cretaceous strata, which in the study area was not recognized by earlier researchers. Field studies of three typical cross-sections in southern Tibet has led to the revision of previous stratigraphy. The thickness of the Cretaceous in Gyangze varies between 300 and 700m, but is not over 2000m as previously estimated at Gyabure and Weimei, where the strata are overturned and repeated owing to previously unrecognized thrusts. In upward stratigraphic order four lithological markers were used in the field study: belemnite and black marker, lenticular limestone and white marker, red marker, and olistolith marker. The first two of these are associated with the fine-grained clastic shelf sequence of the Gyabula Formation, which is of Berriasian–early Santonian age. The third is the deep-sea red-beds marker of the Chuangde Formation, dated as middle Santonian–early Campanian. The fourth depicts the slump facies and olistolith of the middle Campanian–Paleocene Zongzhuo Formation. The revised Cretaceous stratigraphy provides a framework for studies of the pelagic red beds of the Chuangde Formation, which is intermittently exposed in southern Tibet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

How does a giant rift basin begin? No precise examples describe this issue. Based on 7108 m of continuous coring data recovered from the whole stratigraphy of the Songliao Basin (SLB), an attempt has been made to answer this question. Through comprehensive geological, geochemical and seismic research it has been found that there is a triangular extensional domain (TED) beneath the sedimentary cover in the basement at the rift center, from where the initial rupture of the giant rift was created. The basement detachment fault (DF), rift onset unconformity (ROU), and overlying basin fills are interrelated elements of a sedimentary basin and are the key to interpreting the geological archives recorded in the basin. The interaction processes between them determine the location of the basin center and the style of basement subsidence, which reflect the tectonic properties of the basin. This interaction may have a coevolutionary relationship with the deep magmatic activities beneath the basin. The basement of a basin typically consists of a series of strata that the lower strata age older. The uppermost basement sequence of the Triassic in the SLB is particularly important for the overlying basin formation and evolution. The surface topography controlled the thickness of the overlying Cretaceous cover. An ROU and DF developed at the top and bottom of the Triassic, respectively. The long-term uplift, denudation, and subsequent volcanic deposition may be common features of an ROU in a volcanic rift basin. More so, DF is the controlling factor for basin subsidence in the syn-rift stage of basin evolution. The frequent intrusive association with graben faults suggests that sublithospheric mantle flow may affect the accommodation space of the overlying basin by cutting the basement blocks via feeder dykes and shaping the graben pattern on top of the basement. • The world deepest continuous continental scientific drill project (ICDP) coring provides new insight into the Songliao Basin. • Rift onset unconformity, decollement and basin fills are interrelated elements. • Multi-layered downward aging basement successions may be found in any basin. • Triangle extensional domain (TED) beneath the sedimentary cover created rift centre. • Sublithospheric mantle flows affect accommodation space of overlying basin by dykes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean is a long-standing problem in the study of the geological evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Based on recent data acquired from the Abushan volcanic rocks in the Qiangtang Terrane, we will discuss the relationship between the Cretaceous volcanism and the evolution of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean. The Abushan volcanic rocks are mainly composed of trachy-andesites, dacites, and rhyolites. Zircon U–Pb dating constrains the time of emplacement as the Middle Cretaceous (102.6 ± 1.6–96.1 ± 2.4 Ma). Major element geochemistry shows that the volcanic rocks belong to the high-K calc-alkaline and calc-alkaline series. All of the volcanic rocks are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and some large ion lithophile elements (LILE, Rb, Th, and U) and are depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREE) and some high field strength elements (HFSE, Nb, Ta, and Ti). The geochemical characteristics of the Abushan volcanic rocks are correlated with those of the volcanic arc rocks in the subduction zone. The petrogenesis of the Abushan volcanic rocks suggests that they were derived from the partial melting of the relict subducted oceanic crust combined with the input of oceanic sediments. Oceanic crust will melt upon reaching its hydrous solidus in the amphibolite facies after plate collision; this induces the formation of the Abushan volcanic rocks. Our data, compared with the previous studies on volcanism in the Lhasa Terrane, leads us to propose that the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean crust was subducted beneath the Qiangtang Terrane and underwent bidirectional subduction during the Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dramatic change in atmospheric composition has been postulated because of global carbon cycle disruption during the Cretaceous (K)–Tertiary (T) transition following the Chicxulub impact and Deccan Trap eruptions. Here, pedogenic carbonates were collected from drill core of a borehole (SK-1 (N)) straddling the Late Cretaceous and early Paleocene strata in the Songliao Basin, northeast China, to reconstruct atmospheric CO2 concentrations using a paleosol paleobarometer. Our estimates for atmospheric pCO2 from paleosol carbonates range between 277±115ppmv and 837±164ppmv between 67.8Ma and 63.1Ma. One large (~66–65.5Ma) and several small CO2 spikes (~64.7–~64.2Ma) during the latest Maastrichtian to earliest Danian are reported here and incorporated with previously published pCO2 estimates also estimated from paleosol carbonates. These CO2 spikes are attributed to one-million-year-long emplacement of the large Deccan flood basalts along with the extraterrestrial impact at the K–T boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of short-term (105–106 years) and high-magnitude (>20 m) sea-level oscillations have long been debated involving glacio- and aquifer-eustasy, largely owing to the sparse robust evidence for the presence and significance of aquifer-eustasy, and lack of knowledge about the hydrological dynamics behind it. Non-marine/continental greenhouse archives (e.g., lake level) and their temporal correlation to marine successions (e.g., sea level) could provide clues to aquifer-eustasy. The Songliao Basin (SLB) in Northeast China is one of the largest Mesozoic terrestrial inland basins and provides a terrestrial archive of nearly all Cretaceous successions. The greenhouse late Santonian–early Campanian lower Nenjiang Formation (K 2 n1+2), recovered from three boreholes in the SLB, provides a unique opportunity for validating and decoding aquifer-eustasy. Initially, the cyclostratigraphy of logging gamma ray (GR) and thorium (Th) series from three boreholes was implemented, which in conjunction with precise geochronological (U/Pb zircon) ages renewed the chronology framework of the SLB. Using the astronomically tuned GR and Th datasets, the lake level of the SLB, which was recovered from sedimentary noise modeling and presented as a proxy for the water table of the groundwater reservoir, showed a clear out-of-phase relationship with the coeval sea level, validating the aquifer-eustasy hypothesis. The lake level of SLB shows prominent ∼1.2 Myr cycles and a well-coupled relationship with sea level and obliquity modulation, indicating that orbital obliquity drove the lake level and modulated water exchange between ocean and continent during the Cretaceous greenhouse period. Strong precipitation events indicated by negative excursions of ostracod δ 18 O correlate well with high lake levels, high obliquity, and low sea level, suggesting that more moisture was precipitated into the high-latitude continents during obliquity modulation maxima, consequently recharging the aquifer and raising the lake level while drawing down the sea level and vice versa. The close correlation between the reported marine incursion layers and the lowstand of sea level casts a doubt on the marine incursion hypothesis in the SLB; thus, more work is needed to reconcile this paradox. Overall, this study provides the first robust geological evidence for aquifer-eustasy and decodes its role in Cretaceous short-term eustasy. • Rebuilt the chronological framework for the Songliao Basin. • First gave robust Cretaceous geological evidence for aquifer-eustasy hypothesis. • Illustrated the driving role of obliquity on aquifer-eustasy water exchange. • Tested the practicability of sedimentary noise modeling on recovering lake level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-time records from greenhouse climate periods (e.g., the Late Cretaceous) provide a reference point for understanding how high atmospheric CO 2 concentrations influence precipitation in the mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere (e.g., East Asia). In this study, we quantitatively reconstruct mean annual precipitation (MAP) in East Asia during the latest Cretaceous through the earliest Paleogene (~76–65.5 Ma), based on a well-studied paleosol sequence from the Sifangtai and Mingshui Formations from the SK-1n scientific borehole in the Songliao Basin, northeastern China. We use several proxies, including sedimentary-based observational proxies (e.g., depth to the calcic horizon, DTC) and elemental geochemistry proxies in the paleosol B horizon (e.g., the chemical index of alteration minus potassium, CIA-K; the calcium‑magnesium weathering index, CALMAG), which show the consistency with weathering proxies and previously published isotopic records. Changes in the MAP are associated with warming and cooling events. In the warciaming period (e.g., at ~69.5–68.5 Ma), an increase in the land-sea thermal contrast led to an expanded, enhanced, poleward-shifted thermal low-pressure system over the East Asian continent, which triggered an enhanced hydrological cycle and increasing MAP in the Songliao Basin. During the cooling period (e.g., at ~72.5–69.5 Ma and ~68.5–66.5 Ma), weakened East Asian monsoon and strengthened equatorward-shifted westerlies allowed for colder and arid air masses to encroach upon the Songliao Basin, which led to decreased MAP. Changes in MAP across the K-Pg boundary coincide with climate fluctuations and catastrophic geological events. Furthermore, our work compares three warming intervals in deep-time (middle Maastrichtian, late Maastrichtian and earliest Paleogene) with Shared Socio-economic Pathway scenarios used by the IPCC for the end of the 21st century, and indicates MAP increases in East Asia with ongoing anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. • The first high-resolution quantitative precipitation record in mid-latitude East Asia during ~76−65.5 Ma.. • Changes in the mean annual precipitation (MAP) associated with climate fluctuations and catastrophic geological events. • Geological records suggest MAP in East Asia will likely increase under ongoing anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]