Syn‐Subduction Strike‐Slip Faults Shape an Accretionary Orogen and its Provenance Signatures: Insights From Sikhote‐Alin in NE Asia During the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous

Abstract

Sedimentary rocks provide key information on source-to-sink systems and the regional expression of plate tectonics. The abruptly changing provenance signature of sedimentary rocks is commonly ascribed to changes in the source regions, such as continental collision events, the rise of mountain chains, reorganization of river systems and climatic change. However, moving the positions of the sinks (depocenters) geographically can also change the provenance record, but this is rarely considered. Typically, large-scale strike-slip faults can transport depocenters for long distances, thus altering the provenance information. In this study, we present a systematic investigation of the provenance changes in the Sikhote-Alin orogenic belt in the Russian Far East to evaluate this process. The Central Sikhote-Alin Fault is a margin-parallel strike-slip fault that developed along the NE Asian continental margin from the late Mesozoic. Our new detrital zircon U-Pb data, together with a compilation of geochronological data, indicate two different types of provenance signatures available: the sediments to the west of the fault were mainly derived from the adjacent Central Asian Orogenic Belt, but to the east of the fault, they were mainly supplied from the Korean Peninsula, which is several hundred kilometers away. It is proposed that these different sedimentary rocks were juxtaposed by synand post-subduction sinistral displacements along the fault, and were not related to local variations in the source regions. Thus, understanding the shifting positions of depocenters is important when decoding provenance change because lateral displacement is critical for reconstructing regional paleogeography along oblique convergent plate margins.Plain Language Summary Drainage systems on Earth's continents carry abundant sediments from their sources to sinks. These sediments, which record climatic, topographic, tectonic and river dynamic information during their journeys, are finally preserved as sedimentary rocks. By studying them, geologists can decode the ancient source-to-sink systems. Events occurring in the source regions are always emphasized to explain the varying information in the sediments. For example, the rise of mountains can migrate river's watershed and drainage basins, changing the characteristics of materials. Sometimes, however, simply moving positions of the sinks/basins also can achieve similar effects, such as basins moved by large strike-slip faults. Here, our research in Sikhote-Alin, Russian Far East shows that the sediments have two age spectrum patterns, indicating two provenance types along the NE Asian margin during the late Mesozoic. We suggest that the two types were juxtaposed by a large-scale strike-slip fault during and/or after their deposition. The different provenance features in Sikhote-Alin was caused by the large-scale margin-parallel motion, instead of any variations in the sources. Similar tales were reported in NW America, northeastern Tibetan Plateau and other regions globally. Thus, understandin...

Drainage and sedimentary response of the Northern Andes and the Pebas system to Miocene strike‐slip tectonics: A source to sink study of the Magdalena Basin

“…Strike‐slip fault deformation can cause sudden modifications in drainage networks and source areas, leading to significant changes in the provenance signals that are recorded in neighbouring basins (e.g., Gibson et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2021; Zhou et al, 2022). Moreover, orogens controlled by strike‐slip tectonics are characterized by along‐strike variations in deformational styles, resulting in the coexistence of rock subsidence, displacement and uplift (e.g., Cunningham & Mann, 2007; Forero‐Ortega et al, 2020; Lin & Yamashita, 2013).…”

“…6 Ma). Major changes in the sediment routing system, localized extension and compression in similar along‐strike positions and mountain belt and basin fragmentation are diagnostic features of strike‐slip tectonics (Cunningham & Mann, 2007; Fossen & Tikoff, 1998; Gibson et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2021).…”

“…The location of these profiles is presented in Figure 2. | 1707 EAGE Liu et al, 2021;Zhou et al, 2022). Moreover, orogens controlled by strike-slip tectonics are characterized by along-strike variations in deformational styles, resulting in the coexistence of rock subsidence, displacement and uplift (e.g., Cunningham & Mann, 2007;Forero-Ortega et al, 2020;Lin & Yamashita, 2013).…”

“…Major tectonic events can modify relief, local climate and sedimentary routing systems (e.g., Bookhagen & Strecker, 2012; Horton, 2018a; Poulsen et al, 2010) and thus exert a first‐order control on landscape and ecosystem evolution (e.g., Antonelli et al, 2018; Hoorn et al, 2018; Horton, 2018b). In particular, strike‐slip tectonics can be responsible for the fragmentation and displacement of mountain belts, coeval along‐strike extension and compression and major drainage rearrangements (e.g., Fossen & Tikoff, 1998; Gibson et al, 2021; Krstekanić et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2021). The Northern Andes is a cordilleran orogen that resulted from prolonged subduction, terrane accretion and oblique convergence (Cardona et al, 2020; Montes et al, 2019; Spikings et al, 2014); especially during the Miocene when oblique plate convergence and the collision of the Panamá‐Chocó Block caused strike‐slip deformation along the NW South America margin (Acosta et al, 2007; Escalona & Mann, 2011; Montes et al, 2019; Sanín, Mejía‐Franco, et al, 2022; Siravo et al, 2021).…”

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“…4/21-24), as documented by the occurrence of Monotis bivalves, conodonts, radiolarians, and of Rhabdoceras ammonoids (Chekhov, 1982;Dagys et al, 1983;Bragin, 1991;Klets, 2008;Grădinaru & Sobolev, 2010). Liu K et al (2021), based on detrital zircon U-Pb data and also on geochronological data, argued that in Sikhote-Alin different sedimentary rocks were juxtaposed by syn-and post-subduction sinistral displacements along the NE Asian continental margin during the late Mesozoic. With regard to the occurrences of the conodont species timorensis in offshore Western Australia, McTavish (1975) and Nicoll (2002) placed the occurrences of Chiosella timorensis on the Gondwana margin of the Tethys Ocean (Fig.…”