TITLE:
Mechanisms for the Formation of Metamorphic Temperature and Pressure Gradients in Orogenic Belts
AUTHORS:
Mengke Zhang, Guowen Zhang
KEYWORDS:
Orogenic Belts, Arch-Tectonic Effects, Metamorphism, Ultra-High-Pressure and High-Temperature Formation Mechanisms, Paired Metamorphic Belts
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.8,
August
19,
2025
ABSTRACT: P-T trajectories based on depth-controlled metamorphism have been questioned by some scholars, as they only consider static rock pressure and ignore fluid pressure, tectonic stress, and thermal pressure. In this paper, based on the arch tectonic dynamics model of Basin Mountain evolution and the theory of neutrino oscillation-induced radioactive decay and magma formation, we propose the temperature and pressure gradient formation mechanisms of metamorphism in orogenic belts and provide a new explanation for the formation of paired metamorphic belts. This mechanism shows that, due to the arch tectonic effect, a high-pressure or even ultra-high-pressure environment is formed at the edge of the mountain range, while a low-pressure environment is formed in the belly of the mountain range. At the same time, due to the stress difference between the edge and the belly of the mountain range, magma (heat) from the deep mantle and the asthenosphere will migrate and converge from the high-pressure area below the edge of the mountain range to the low-pressure area in the belly of the mountain range, thus forming the high-pressure, low-temperature zones where magma is lacking, and low-pressure, high-temperature zones where magma converges, respectively, and giving rise to corresponding metamorphic effects.