A new geological map of the western Junggar, north Xinjiang (NW China): Implications for Paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Abstract

Recently, new geochronological data and geological observations including the discovery of garnet amphibolite, Ordovician micro-fossils, unconformable contact between the ophiolitic mélange related flysch and the Devonian to Early Carboniferous terrestrial volcanosedimentary strata provide critical evidences for Paleoenvironmental reconstruction in the western Junggar (Xinjiang, China). Two different geological layers could be clearly identified: The Early Paleozoic metamorphic terrane mainly consists of ophiolitic mélange and flysch, and the Late Paleozoic volcano-sedimentary units lying on the ophiolitic mélange and flysch. Both of these layers were intruded by granitic to dioritic magma during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian period. Based on these data, a new geological map for the western Junggar has been compiled, which is essential not only for better understanding of the geological evolution but also for exploration of mineral resources.