RODINIA, GONDWANA AND ASIA

Vein type graphite deposits in high grade metamorphic terrains

are known in Sri Lanka, India and Madagascar. Fluid inclusion
studies in many of these terrains have revealed the occurrence
of high density CO, trapped within granulite facies minerals.
The precipitation of graphite in metamorphic conditions would
require high content of carbon dioxide in the fluid without water

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vapour and/or methane. The presence of original carbonaceous

material in the rocks suggests low oxygen fugacity of the
metamorphic environment. Water-deficient or methane bearing
fluids during igneous activity or high-grade metamorphism
would require that the eastern Gondwanaland had an oxygen
deficient crust.

Comparison of Two Types of Orogenic Belts - Collision vs. Accretion

Koji Wakita
lnstitute of Geoscience, AIST, Tsuktiba 305-8567, Japan
The Jurassic accretionary complex in Japan is a representative
of an accretionary type, whereas Cretaceous accretionary collision complex in Indonesia is an orogenic type. The similarity
and difference between the two types of orogenic belts are
discussed. The main geologic entities of the Japanese Islands
formed largely by accretionary processes since Late Paleozoic.
Before the Japan Sea was open in the Miocene, the Japanese
Islands were situated at the eastern margin of the Asian
continent. Trench-fillsediments, pelagic sediments and seamount
fragments were accreted along this continental margin during
oceanic plate subduction. At least four sets of accretionary
complexes of Late Paleozoic, Jurassic and Cretaceous-Paleogene,
Miocene to present are discriminated in present Japan. Among
these, the Jurassic accretionary complex is one the well studied
terrains in Japan.
The Jurassic accretionary complex consists mainly of Early
Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of trench-fill
origin, Permian to Jurassic pelagic radiolarian chert, and Late
Paleozoic limestone and basalt which were derived from accreted
seamounts. The components were derived from 'oceanic plate
stratigraphy' which was formed during the oceanic plate
movement from the ridge to trench. They were detached from
the oceanic plate and were accreted along the trench.
Continuous subduction and accretion of sediments caused the
thickening of accretionary wedge. During the development of
accretionary wedge, the components of the wedge were
gradually deformed and tectonically disrupted along the various
types of faults, including decollement and out-of-sequence
thrusts. Broken formation and melanges characteristically
developed in the wedge. The progressive deformation and
disruption of the accreted materials derived from oceanic plate
stratigraphy is considered to be the main cause for the chaotic
features of accretionary complexes.
The Jurassic accretionary complex was locally affected by
the high P/low P type (Ryoke metamorphic rocks), and the high
P/low T type metamorphism (Sambagawa metamorphism and
a part of the Sangun metamorphic rocks). The pressure of the
SambagawaMetamorphic rocksrange from 5 kbar to 10 kbar, except

Gondwana Research, V: 4, No. 4,2001

for tectonic blocks of eclogite of 720-750C and 12-20 kbar.

The protoliths of both types of metamorphic rocks are turbidite,
chert, melanges, mafic volcanic rocks and limestone which
correspond to the components of Jurassic accretionary complexes.
Cretaceous accretionary-collision complexes in Indonesia are
distributed in Central Java, Southwest Sulawesi, and Southeast
Kalimantan. They are composed of chert, limestone, basalt,
siliceous shale, sandstone, shale, volcanic breccia, conglomerate,
high P/T metamorphic rocks and ultramafic rocks. The
ultramafic rocks are recognized as a dismembered ophiolite.
Components of sandstone and volcanic breccia were derived
from volcanic arc of intermediate composition. Some of the chert,
limestone, basalt as well as crystalline schist are included as
fragments in sheared mudstone.
Most of the components in Cretaceous accretionary - collision
complex in Indonesia are similar to those of the Jurassic
accretionary complex in Japan. Especially the dominant lithology
is common in both complexes. Both of them include chert,
limestone, basalt, melange, and high P/T schist. The high P/T
schist in the Indonesian complex include ultrahigh pressure
metamorphic rocks (more than 25 kbar) and were derived from
continental origin sediments, such as conglomerate, high
aluminous sediments, among others. The radiolarian chert was
deposited in forearc basin and unconformably overlies the high
P/T schist in Indonesian complex, whereas the chert in Japanese
complex is purely pelagic in origin.
The melanges of Indonesian complex are of sedimentary
origin, whereas the melanges of the Japanese complex resulted
mainly by tectonic processes. The Indonesian melanges are
conformably intercalated with coherent sedimentary formations.
Both complexes were originally formed by the processes of
oceanic plate subduction. Collision of microcontinents resulted
in ultra high pressure metamorphic rocks of continental origin,
rapid exhumation of schist which provide schist breccia overlain
by radiolarian chert, and large amount of debris flow deposits
which are considered as sedimentary melange. The Indonesian
complex contains allochthonousblocks of older coherent formations,
which were considered as fragments of a suspect microcontinent.