Pre-conference field trip -2

Late Mesozoic I- and A-type granites and volcanic-intrusive complexes along the coast of Zhejiang Province 

Time: Wednesday October 9th – Sunday October 13th, 2019 

Price: $550 US dollars

During this field trip we will visit the felsic intrusive and volcanic rocks that formed in a Mesozoic active continental margin along the coast of Zhejiang Province.

We will first visit the Mount Putuo I- and A-type granites. Mount Putuo is an island in the northeast of Zhejiang Province that derives its name from a sacred Buddhist mountain at the center of the island. It is a renowned site in Chinese Buddhism and records multiple episodes of Mesozoic granitic magmatism. The island mainly comprises I-type and A-type composite granitic complexes. Zircon age dates suggest that the island is composed of three Mesozoic intrusions, which were generated at 110 Ma, 90 Ma, and 70 Ma, respectively. The intrusions are thought to have been generated in response to subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. Mafic microgranular enclaves (MME) are common suggesting that magma mixing was an important mechanism for petrogenesis of the granites.

Afterwards we will move to the Yandangshan UNESCO Global Geopark, which is located in the southeast of Zhejiang Province. It lies on the southeastern edge of the Asian continent – the tectonic domain where China borders the Pacific. The terrain of the Geopark includes the 900–1100 m tall Bai Gangjian, Wu Yanjian and Yan Hugang mountains, which form a northeast-trending mountain chain. Yandangshan often exhibits conspicuous layering that corresponds to the four different episodes of eruptions, giving rise to terrace-like structures. The main rocks consist of ignimbrite, rhyolite, syenite, and tuff. The Mount Yandangshan provides a natural three-dimensional model of a caldera and it is also known as a natural museum for rhyolitic volcanics. As a 5A scenic area (i.e., a top-tier tourist attraction in China), “more than 5,000 poems have been inspired by Mount Yandangshan”.

Fig. 3 A geographic map showing the two locations we will visit on the field trip.

The dotted lines show the route from Shanghai Pudong international airport to Putuoshan, 

Yandangshan, and then to Nanjing.

Fig. 4 The island of Mount Putuoshan in the northeast of Zhejiang Province.

Fig. 5 Mount Yandangshan, a natural museum for rhyolitic volcanics.

Fig. 6 A geological map of Mount Yandangshan.

Day 1 (Oct. 9):

Morning: Meet in the city of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province (10:00 am) and depart for the Zhoushan Islands. (Participants are requested arrange transport to the city of Ningbo)

Afternoon: We will examine Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks, diabase, and marine landforms at Zhairuoshan Island.

Evening: Arrive at the hotel in the Zhoushan Campus of Zhejiang University.

Day 2 (Oct. 10):

Morning: Meet in front of the hotel and depart for Putuo Island.

Afternoon: We will examine the late Mesozoic I- and A-type granitoids and their enclaves, as well as the related diabase and felsic volcanic rocks.

Evening: Arrive at the hotel in the city of Ningbo.

Day 3 (Oct. 11):

Morning: Meet in front of the hotel and depart for the Mount Yandangshan (Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province) by train.

Afternoon: We will examine a variety of Cretaceous volcanic rocks (tuff, ignimbrite, rhyolite) that represent multiple episodes of magmatism and which occur as beautiful landforms and structures. We will also visit Mount Yandangshan Museum.     

Day 4 (Oct. 12):

Morning: Continuation of Day 3 field trips.

Afternoon: Arrive at the Yandangshan railway station and return to Nanjing by train. This is the end of the field trip.