甘肃礼县新生代火山喷发碳酸岩的发现及意义

甘肃礼县新生代钾霞橄黄长岩中有大量火山喷发碳酸岩出露，本文对该区各种碳酸岩的地质产状，岩石特征，全岩化学及稀土，微量和C、O同位素地球化学进行了研究，结果表明本区碳酸岩属于一种高CaO低碱（Na2O K2O)的火成碳酸岩，其化学成分与东非裂谷乌干达FortPortal地区的碳酸岩相似，其中碳酸岩的火山砾岩和凝灰岩具有高的SiO2和Mg/Ca比值，化学成分显示了硅酸盐和碳酸盐混合的特征，可能代表直接由地幔部分熔融形成的原生碳酸盐岩浆。其它类型碳酸岩的成因与原生碳酸盐岩浆或原生钾霞橄黄长岩浆的液态不混溶作用和／或结晶分异作用有关。碳酸岩及共生的高钾火山岩不是典型的大陆裂谷岩浆作用的产物，其起源和成因与软流圈的上涌有关。碳酸岩的发现为查明本区地幔的组成和性质提供了新的岩石学证据。     

华东南相山铀矿田的氢氧同位素地球化学研究

矿物及包裹体水的氢氧同位素组成的研究结果表明，相山铀矿田成矿热液的δ^18O与δD值分别变化于－67‰－－7．2‰（SMOW）和－44．1‰－－5．2‰，属大气降水成因流体，蚀变体系δ^18O的变化情况显示，与岩石作用的流体具低δ^18O的降水特征，不同水／岩比值条件下的水－岩同位素平衡交换反应的理论计算和综合分析揭示，本矿田的铀成矿热液起源于大气降水与相山主要岩石的相互作用，岩浆水对成矿热液的贡献不大。     

白云鄂博碳酸岩脉的显微共聚焦激光拉曼光谱分析

白云鄂博矿区发育的脉状稀土碳酸岩，由于其结晶迅速，矿物颗粒细微，其中的微小矿物的鉴定一直是一个难题。应用显微共聚焦激光拉曼光谱仪则能较好地解决这一问题。研究表明，白云鄂博地区存在富稀土白云质岩浆碳酸岩脉，早期阶段形成碱性长石和铁白云石，无稀土矿化；铁白云石常常出溶铁质而自身则形成方解石。霓石和方解石形成略晚，常常与氟碳铈矿等稀土矿物共生，出现强烈的稀土矿化；而无解理的方解石则形成于更晚的岩浆期后热液阶段，发育大量的流体包裹体，并出现强烈的铌、稀土矿化。铌铁矿分布在氟碳铈矿中和赤铁矿边缘，为热液交代作用的产物。早期结晶的矿物如碱性长石、铁白云石稀土矿化弱，岩浆晚期分异出大量的流体相，稀土元素和Sr等进入岩浆热液中，并在热液结晶矿物中富集，甚至在非平衡结晶的石英中产生强烈的稀土矿化。结合岩相学显微观察，显微拉曼探针很好的揭示了这一地质过程。同时为白云鄂博矿床铌、稀土矿化的热液交代成因提供了依据。     

白云鄂博碳酸岩脉的显微共聚焦激光拉曼光谱分析

白云鄂博矿区发育的脉状稀土碳酸岩,由于其结晶迅速,矿物颗粒细微,其中的微小矿物的鉴定一直是一个难题.应用显微共聚焦激光拉曼光谱仪则能较好地解决这一问题.研究表明,白云鄂博地区存在富稀土白云质岩浆碳酸岩脉,早期阶段形成碱性长石和铁白云石,无稀土矿化;铁白云石常常出溶铁质而自身则形成方解石.霓石和方解石形成略晚,常常与氟碳铈矿等稀土矿物共生,出现强烈的稀土矿化;而无解理的方解石则形成于更晚的岩浆期后热液阶段,发育大量的流体包裹体,并出现强烈的铌、稀土矿化.铌铁矿分布在氟碳铈矿中和赤铁矿边缘,为热液交代作用的产物.早期结晶的矿物如碱性长石、铁白云石稀土矿化弱,岩浆晚期分异出大量的流体相,稀土元素和Sr等进入岩浆热液中,并在热液结晶矿物中富集,甚至在非平衡结晶的石英中产生强烈的稀土矿化.结合岩相学显微观察,显微拉曼探针很好的揭示了这一地质过程.同时为白云鄂博矿床铌、稀土矿化的热液交代成因提供了依据.     

陕西户县大石沟炭酸岩成因分析

通过岩体地质及岩学研究，结合微量元素，岩石化学、稀土元素、炭氧同位素分析，认为户县大石沟碳酸岩属构造－热液成因，即在特定的构造部位，热液交代结晶片岩，强烈炭酸盐化而形成的。     

安徽月山岩体地球化学特征及成因机理分析

通过对长江中下游地区具代表性的大型矽卜岩－热液脉型铜（铁）、金、多金属矿田中成矿岩体－月山岩体的地质地球化学特征及其成因制约与反演讨论，认为该岩体为深源的碱性玄武质岩浆经过结晶分异和同化混染联合作用（AFC过程）形成的，其中，幔源物质约占70％，同化的壳源物质占30％。这种开放岩浆系统的形成与演化对于该区金属矿床成矿流体系统的形成与演化具有极其重要的意义。     

稀有金属花岗岩岩浆—热液的形成路径和成矿过程——以广西恭城栗木矿田为例

关于稀有金属花岗岩的成矿流体来源及与岩浆演化的成因关系长期存疑。现以华南稀有金属花岗岩的典型代表广西栗木花岗岩为例,通过对成矿地质体花岗岩垂向分带的岩相学特征及矿床地质特征的深入研究,分析岩浆—热液的形成演化路径与成矿过程。研究表明,岩浆演化除了结晶作用外,还有大规模的气—液分离,岩浆—热液的形成主要与其中的气—液分离有关,不是传统意义上的岩浆残液。不同成因类型矿床的成矿流体均来自第二次气—液分离形成的二级残余富气流体相构成的岩浆—热液,岩浆—热液系统由三个不同空间分布的分支系统组成,每个分支系统在不同环境下以交代、结晶等不同形式与上部地质体作用,演化形成成矿流体,最后形成岩体接触带及附近的不同成因类型的矿床和以细晶岩为底部边界的成分分带。研究成果还原了岩浆演化形成岩浆—热液的详细路径,构建了成矿模型,对深入认识花岗岩的岩浆演化与成岩成矿作用具有启示意义。     

中国不同类型铍矿床中绿柱石流体包裹体特征研究

采用偏光显微镜薄片观察、激光拉曼成分分析等方法, 对伟晶岩型和岩浆热液型铍矿床中绿柱石的流体包裹体进行了岩相学观察和成分分析。结果表明, 绿柱石中原生流体包裹体形态多样, 常孤立或成群沿晶体生长带定向分布, 大小从5~80 μm不等。流体包裹体类型以富液相型气液两相包裹体最常见, 其次为含液相CO2的三相包裹体和含子矿物多相包裹体, 偶见固体包裹体和熔融包裹体。其中, 伟晶岩型绿柱石中包裹体数量和种类更为丰富, 常见含子晶多相包裹体和气液包裹体共存, 岩浆热液型绿柱石中包裹体则相对较少, 可见熔融包裹体与富液相CO2流体包裹体共存。流体包裹体气相成分主要以CO2和N2为主, 液相主要为H2O和CO2以及CO2– 3、HCO– 3等离子。伟晶岩型绿柱石中常见含石英、云母、钠长石等子矿物的多相包裹体, 由伟晶岩中晶体快速结晶形成; 岩浆热液型绿柱石中的有机质气体更丰富, 与氧化剂Al2O3活度较低而形成相对还原环境有关。富含CO2、H2O成分的流体更有利于绿柱石的形成。结合流体包裹体的生成机制, 认为岩浆热液型绿柱石形成于岩浆演化晚期的热液阶段, 伟晶岩型绿柱石形成于岩浆-热液过渡→热液阶段, 绿柱石的形成机制为岩浆的结晶分异和液态不混溶作用。     

与碳酸岩-碱性岩有关的铌-稀土矿床成矿作用及成因机制

铌和稀土资源主要来自与碳酸岩-碱性岩相关的矿床,加强碳酸岩-碱性岩系统铌和稀土成矿作用研究,对指导我国铌和稀土资源的找矿都具有重要意义。本文对与碳酸岩-碱性岩有关的铌-稀土矿床成矿作用及成因机制进行了梳理和总结。碳酸岩-碱性岩系统中铌和稀土的初始富集一般与富集地幔的部分熔融有关,地幔源区稀土和稀有金属、碱金属和挥发分的富集是成矿的关键。橄榄石、单斜辉石等早期岩浆矿物的高度分离结晶导致残余碱性岩浆中铌和稀土的进一步富集,结晶铌和稀土矿物;碳酸岩中铌矿物结晶有堆晶岩成因和交代成因两种机制。大多数与碳酸岩-碱性岩相关的铌-稀土矿床均经历了热液蚀变,岩浆铌矿物被原地蚀变成热液铌矿物;而碳酸岩-碱性岩中矿石矿物和脉石矿物中的轻重稀土在热液过程中均可被溶解迁移再沉淀为稀土矿物。包括物理富集、化学富集和/或生物富集过程在内的地表风化过程可进一步提升碳酸岩型铌-稀土矿床的品位;在碱性硅酸岩体系中,少数矿床通过物理富集提升铌和稀土品位,而大多数矿床的风化会导致稀土矿物的分解形成一些不易被经济利用的次生稀土矿物。     

庙垭碳酸岩型稀土矿床成矿过程初探

庙垭碳酸岩位于东秦岭武当山隆起的西南缘,呈岩株状产出,主要由方解石组成,富含稀土矿物,是我国大型轻稀土矿床。该区全岩的C．O同位素数据δ18O=11％o～12．49％o,δ13c=-3．79％。～5．68％0,落在了初始火成碳酸岩的范围之外,表明可能受到高温分离作用的影响。流体包裹体相态较单一,主要由气液两相包裹体和气液三相包裹体组成,均一温度120～400℃,为中低温,盐度为3．89％o一10．48％o为中低盐度,这与典型的碳酸岩中流体包裹体具有相似的特征。通过与牦牛坪典型的岩浆热液脉型REE矿床在C—O同位素、包裹体及微量元素的对比研究,发现两者的成因机制并不相同,庙垭稀土矿床是典型的岩浆型,缺少萤石等热液矿脉,大量矿物的分离结晶,特别是方解石的堆积结晶作用,导致其方解石具有相对较低的均一温度和盐度,这也使碳酸岩岩浆更富集REE,有利于REE成矿。     

碳酸岩岩浆作用过程的包裹体研究

碳酸岩是一种富含碳酸盐矿物(方解石，白云石，铁白云石等＞50％以上)的火成岩。通常以侵入的方式，与超基性岩和碱性岩共生，位于环状侵人体的中心部位；或以喷出的方式，与碱性岩等构成环状杂岩体。碳酸岩在喷出或侵入过程中，与上部地壳围岩发生以富含碱质(钠或钾)为主的蚀变作用，形成特征性的蚀变岩石——霓长岩。通过对碳酸岩中的包裹体研究，可以获得包括成岩成矿时的温度、压力、密度、流体组分、流体演化等大量信息。碳酸岩矿物中包裹体的研究已取得很大进展，并为了解碳酸岩岩浆演化性质和特征提供了许多重要的信息：(1)碳酸岩可以形成于流体和熔体两种介质条件下；(2)碳酸岩矿物中包裹体富含CO2；(3)在碳酸岩的起源和演化过程中伴随有岩浆的不混溶作用发生；(4)碳酸岩岩浆具有的较低的粘度和密度。为了保证对从碳酸岩中获得的包裹体资料的合理解释，在研究过程中必须结合碳酸岩产出的大地构造背景、典型岩石组合、典型蚀变岩石(霓长岩)、赋存的矿产特征等方面的资料。虽然目前在包裹体研究方面尚有许多不足，但作为自然界唯一能够保存有原始成岩成矿流体的地质样品，包裹体的研究具有其他方法不可替代的作用。     

Nyerereite from carbonatite rocks at Vulture volcano: implications for mantle metasomatism and petrogenesis of alkali carbonate melts Research Article

Vulture volcano displays a wide range of mafic to alkaline, carbonate-, and/or CaO-rich volcanic rocks, with subvolcanic and plutonic rocks together with mantle xenoliths in pyroclastic ejecta. The roles of magmatic volatiles such as CO₂, S, and Cl have been determined from compositions and trapping temperatures of inclusions in phenocrysts, which include the Na-K-Ca-carbonate nyerereite within melilite. We surmise that this alkali carbonate crystallised from an appropriate carbonatitic melt at relatively high temperature. Carbonatitic metasomatic features are traceable throughout many of the mantle xenoliths, and various carbonatitic components are found in the late stage extrusive suite. There is no evidence that alkali carbonatite developed as a separate magma, but it may have been an important evolutionary stage. We compare the rare occurrence of nyerereite at Vulture with other carbonatites and with an unaltered kimberlite from the Udachnaya pipe. We review the evidence at Vulture for associated carbonatitic metasomatism in the mantle, and we suggest that low viscosity alkali carbonatitic melts may have a primary and much deeper origin than previously considered.     

The Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky miaskite-carbonatite complex,the Urals,Russia: Origin,ore resource potential,and sources

The origin and sources of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky miaskite-carbonatite complex, one of the world’s largest alkaline complexes, with unique rare-metal and colored-stone mineralization and Nb, Zr, and REE deposits, are discussed in this paper. Geochemical and isotopic studies, including of Nd, Sr, C, and O isotopes, as well as estimation of PT formation conditions, of miaskites and carbonatites from various deposits of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex have been carried out. The Vishnevogorsky, Potaninsky, and Buldym Nb-REE deposits and the Il’mensky, Baidashevo, and Uvil’dy occurrences related to carbonatites were investigated. Their geological setting, composition, and ore resource potential are characterized. The genetic models and typical features of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex are considered. The rocks of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex were formed at T = 1000?230°C and P = 2–5 kbar. Carbonated miaskite melt was divided into immiscible silicate and carbonate liquids at T = 1000°C and P = 5 kbar. Miaskite crystallized at T = 850?700°C and P = 3.5–2.5 kbar. The formation temperature of carbonatite I of the Vishnevogorsky pluton was close to the temperature of miaskite crystallization (700–900°C). The crystallization temperature of carbonate-silicate rock and carbonatite I in the Central alkaline tract was 650–600°C. The formation temperature of carbonatite II varied from 590 to 490°C. Dolomite-calcite carbonatite III and dolomite carbonatite IV of the Buldym massif were formed at T = 575?410°C and T = 315?230°C, respectively. The geochemical features of carbonatites belonging to the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex differ from those of carbonatites related to alkaline ultramafic rocks and are close to those of carbonatites related to nepheline syenite or carbonatites localized in linear fracture zones. A high Sr content in early carbonatites along with relatively low Ba, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, and Hf contents and a certain enrichment in HREE (a low La/Yb ratio) in comparison with carbonatites of the alkaline ultramafic association are typical. The geochemistry of carbonatites of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex corresponds to the trend of geochemical evolution of carbonatitic melts and their fluid derivatives. The Sr, Nd, C, and O isotopic compositions indicate a mantle magmatic source of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex and participation of moderately depleted mantle (DM) and enriched mantle EM1 in magma generation. Carbonatite and miaskite of the Vishnevogorsky pluton are related to the DM magma source, and carbonatite of the Buldym massif, to the EM1 source, probably, involved in the plume ascent.     

Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of Newania Dolomite Carbonatites, Rajasthan, India: implications for source of carbonatites

The Newania carbonatite complex of Rajasthan, India is one of the few dolomite carbonatites of the world, and oddly, does not contain alkaline silicate rocks thus providing a unique opportunity to study the origin and evolution of a primary carbonatite magma. In an attempt to characterize the mantle source, the source of carbon, and the magmatic and post-magmatic evolution of Newania carbonatites, we have carried out a detailed stable carbon and oxygen isotopic study of the complex. Our results reveal that, in spite of being located in a metamorphic terrain, these rocks remarkably have preserved their magmatic signatures in stable C and O isotopic compositions. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O variations in the complex are found to be results of fractional crystallization and low temperature post-magmatic alteration suggesting that like other carbonatites, dolomite carbonatites too fractionate isotopes of both elements in a similar fashion. The major difference is that the fractional crystallization of dolomite carbonatites fractionates oxygen isotopes to a larger extent. The modes of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O variations in the complex, ?4.5?±?1‰ and 7?±?1‰, respectively, clearly indicate its mantle origin. Application of a multi-component Rayleigh isotopic fractionation model to the correlated δ¹³C versus δ¹⁸O variations in unaltered carbonatites suggests that these rocks have crystallized from a CO₂ + H₂O fluid rich magma, and that the primary magma comes from a mantle source that had isotopic compositions of δ¹³C ~ ?4.6‰ and δ¹⁸O ~ 6.3‰. Such a mantle source appears to be a common peridotite mantle (δ¹³C = ?5.0?±?1‰) whose carbon reservoir has insignificant contribution from recycled crustal carbon. Other Indian carbonatites, except for Amba Dongar and Sung Valley that are genetically linked to Reunion and Kerguelen plumes respectively, also appear to have been derived from similar mantle sources. Through this study we establish that dolomite carbonatites are generated from similar mantle source like other carbonatites, have comparable evolutionary history irrespective of their association with alkaline silicate rocks, and may remain resistant to metamorphism.     

The carbonate fraction in carbonatitic Italian lamprophyres

Alkaline and ultramafic lamprophyres represent the majority of pre-Pleistocene alkaline mafic magmatic activity in Italy and have been described from several localities. The age of magmatism ranges from Triassic to Lower Oligocene. Some contain appreciable amounts of carbonate. The primary carbonate of the Italian carbonatitic lamprophyres is mainly Sr- or Mn-rich calcite that occurs mostly as immiscible ocelli or as groundmass. Its textural occurrence, composition, and relationship with co-precipitating silicate phases is taken as evidence of an igneous origin. Low BaO and REE contents in the carbonate are explained by early crystallization of essential mica and subordinate apatite. Whole rock analyses and isotopic data (Rukhlov, A.S., Bell, K., Vichi, G., Stoppa, F., submitted for publication. The heterogeneous deep mantle: the Sr, Pb and Nd isotopic evidence from Early Cretaceous alkaline lamprophyres of Southern Tuscany, Italy. Lithos.) suggest a mantle origin for these rocks and rule out contamination in either high or low pressure regimes. The bulk compositions of the carbonatitic lamprophyres have high HFSE / LILE and LREE / HREE ratios and although the abundances of these elements are generally lower than for carbonatites s.s., they are comparable with the abundances in other ‘carbonate-free’ Italian lamprophyres and Italian carbonatites, suggesting similar mantle sources. Moreover, the age of the Italian lamprophyres, ranging from Middle Triassic to Lower Oligocene, is much greater than the Pleistocene age of Italian carbonatites and indicates that the source remained similar over a long time span.     

塔里木克拉通东北缘二叠纪镁铁质岩浆氧化物与硫化物成矿条件对比

塔里木克拉通东北缘坡北、磁海等地二叠纪幔源岩浆活动形成了镍钴硫化物矿床和铁钴氧化物矿床，两者赋矿镁铁 超镁铁岩体的年龄相近(290~260 Ma)，主、微量元素和Sr Nd Hf同位素组成相似，分配系数接近的微量元素比值分布于相同趋势线，揭示两者岩浆源区相同，可能为俯冲板片流体交代的亏损地幔或软流圈地幔。两类矿床镁铁 超镁铁质岩中Co与Ni含量正相关，Co主要富集在基性程度高的岩石中；块状硫化物与磁铁矿矿石中Co与Ni相关性差，Co和Ni具有不同的富集机制，Co热液富集作用明显。北山镁铁 超镁铁杂岩体是地幔柱相关软流圈上涌，诱发俯冲板片交代的亏损岩石圈地幔发生部分熔融，形成的高镁母岩浆演化过程中经历壳源混染、硫化物饱和富集镍钴形成铜镍钴硫化物矿床，富铁母岩浆氧逸度高、富水，岩浆分离结晶磁铁矿、叠加热液作用富集钴，形成铁钴氧化物矿床。     

Is natrocarbonatite a cognate fluid condensate?

Natrocarbonatite flows in the crater of the volcano Oldoinyo Lengai (Tanzania) are the only carbonatite magmas observed to erupt and have provided strong arguments in favor of a magmatic origin for carbonatite. The currently favored explanation for the genesis of these carbonatites by liquid immiscibility between a silicate and a carbonatite melt is questioned based on the extremely low eruption temperatures of 544-593 °C and compositional and mineralogical characteristics not in agreement with experimental constraints. Experimental investigations of the relationship between Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite and related silicate rock compositions do indicate that alkali-bearing peralkaline carbonatite with liquidus calcite can form by liquid immiscibility. At the same time, these experiments result in evidence which speaks against a liquid immiscibility origin for the highly alkaline and peralkaline Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite. On the carbonatite side of the miscibility gap, fractional crystallization cannot account for a liquid evolution from alkali-bearing peralkaline carbonatite to highly alkaline natrocarbonatite. Such an evolution does not seem to be compatible with the liquidus mineral assemblages and the chemistry of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite. No natural silicate magma is known to produce natrocarbonatite compositions by liquid immiscibility. The best interpretation of the Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite flows involves expulsion of a cognate, mobile, alkaline, and CO₂-rich fluid condensate. This conclusion is supported by recent studies of silicate and carbonatite melt inclusions in minerals of ultramafic alkaline complexes, trace element partitioning, isotopic constraints, and by experimental data on major element partitioning between coexisting H₂O-CO₂-rich fluid and carbonatitic melt. In contrast to all other suggested modes of formation, an origin of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite from cognate fluid appears best to be in agreement with the field observations, the petrography, mineralogy, and geochemistry of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite and the dynamics of the Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite extrusion.     

Potassium alkaline lamproite-carbonatite complexes: petrology,genesis, and ore reserves

This paper studies the petrology of K-alkaline lamproite-carbonatite complexes, which are widespread in Siberia. They are exemplified by the Murun and Bilibino massifs in West and Central Aldan. In these massifs, the entire range of differentiates was first found, from K-ultrabasic-alkalic rocks through basic and intermediate ones to alkali granites and unique residual calc-silicate rocks (benstonite Ba-Sr carbonatites and charoite rocks). Also, intrusive equivalents of lamproites occur in these massifs, and the Murun massif was probably formed from highly differentiated lamproite magmas. In many K-alkaline complexes, silicate and silicate-carbonate magma layering takes place. Stages of magmatism are described for both massifs. Binary and ternary petrochemical diagrams exhibit the same compositional trend from early to late rocks.In this paper, lamproites are considered from the chemical point of view; their diagnostic properties are described in terms of chemical and mineral composition. From geological, petrological, and geochemical data, formational analysis of alkaline complexes was performed, four formational types of world lamproites were first identified, and diamond content criteria were developed for them.The carbonatite problem was studied from the petrological point of view, and four formational types of carbonatites were identified using geological, geochemical, and genetic criteria. It has been suggested that for dividing carbonatite complexes into four formational types the following criteria be used: the alkalinity type (Na or K) of alkalic rocks in the complex and the time when the carbonatite liquid separates from silicate melts in different stages of primary magma differentiation. These linked parameters influence the ore content type of carbonatite complexes.A formation model for K-alkaline carbonatite complexes is given, and the Tomtor alkaline carbonatite massif with tuffaceous rare-metal ores is described to prove that they have ore reserves. The geochemistry of C, O, Sr, and Nd isotopes shows that K-alkaline complexes, depending on their geotectonic setting, can originate from three types of mantle sources: depleted mantle, enriched mantle 1 (EM1), and enriched mantle 2 (EM2). It is concluded that ore-bearing ultrabasic-alkaline complexes of lamproites and carbonatites can melt out of different types of mantle, whose composition only slightly influences their ore content. Apparently, the main factors are the low degree of selective mantle melting (less than 1%) and plumes supplying fluid and alkaline components, which stimulate this melting. Later on, the processes important for the accumulation of ore and trace elements are long-term magma differentiation and its layering during crystallization.     

The brevity of carbonatite sources in the mantle: evidence from Hf isotopes

Hf, Zr and Ti in carbonatites primarily reside in their non-carbonate fraction while the carbonate fraction dominates the Nd and Sr elemental budget of the whole rock. A detailed investigation of the Hf, Nd and Sr isotopic compositions shows frequent isotopic disequilibrium between the carbonate and non-carbonate fractions. We suggest that the trace element and isotopic composition of the carbonate fraction better represents that of the carbonatite magma, which in turn better reflects the composition of the carbonatitic source. Experimental partitioning data between carbonatite melt and peridotitic mineralogy suggest that the Lu/Hf ratio of the carbonatite source will be equal to or greater than the Lu/Hf ratio of the carbonatite. This, combined with the Hf isotope systematics of carbonatites, suggests that, if carbonatites are primary mantle melts, then their sources must be short-lived features in the mantle (maximum age of 10–30 Ma), otherwise they would develop extremely radiogenic Hf compositions. Alternatively, if carbonatites are products of extreme crystal fractionation or liquid immiscibility then the lack of radiogenic initial Hf isotope compositions also suggests that their sources do not have long-lived Hf depletions. We present a model in which the carbonatite source is created in the sublithospheric mantle by the crystallization of earlier carbonatitic melts from a mantle plume. This new source melts shortly after its formation by the excess heat provided by the approaching hotter center of the plume and/or the subsequent ascending silicate melts. This model explains the HIMU-EMI isotope characteristics of the East African carbonatites, their high LREE/HREE ratios as well as the rarity of carbonatites in the oceanic lithosphere.     

Trace Elements in Alkaline Lamprophyres,Clinopyroxene, and Amphibole of the Tomtor Massif and the Ore Potential of the Melts

Data obtained on lamprophyres from the carbonatite–volcanic unit in the lower horizon of the Tomtor Massif indicate that the rocks and zoned diopside and kaersutite phenocrysts in them are enriched in incompatible elements more significantly than is typical of alkaline ultramafic rocks of the Maymecha–Kotui and Kola provinces. The concentrations of these elements and their indicator ratios in the cores and intermediate zones of the diopside and kaersutite phenocrysts significantly vary, and this suggests that the minerals might have crystallized from different melts. This is consistent with the earlier conclusions, which were derived from studying melt inclusions, that the phenocrysts crystallized from mixing alkaline mafic melts of sodic and potassic types and different Mg–number which were enriched in the carbonatite component. The cores of the diopside phenocrysts started to crystallize from sodic mafic magma in a magmatic chamber, while the intermediate and outermost zones of this mineral crystallized from mixed sodic–potassic mafic melts. The carbonatite component was separated from the sodic mafic melt at high temperature (>1150°C) during diopside core crystallization. The bulk compositions of the alkaline lamprophyres and of the diopside and kaersutite phenocrysts contain lower normalized concentrations of HREE than LREE. This led us to conclude that the parental sodic and potassic mafic melts were derived from an enriched mantle source material under garnet–facies parameters, as is typical of continental rifts. It is noteworthy that the potassic mafic melt was derived at greater depths and lower degrees of melting of the mantle source than the sodic melt. The iron–rich sodic melt from which the cores of the diopside phenocrysts started to crystallize was enriched in V, REE, Y, and volatile components (H₂O, CO₂, F, Cl, and S). The onset of carbonate–silicate liquid immiscibility was marked by the redistribution of REE and Y into the carbonatite melt. The potassic, more Mg–rich mafic melt from which the intermediate and outermost zones of the diopside phenocrysts crystallized was enriched in Ti, Nb, Zr, and REE and always remained homogeneous when this mineral crystallized.