Rocks mineralogy controls the metasomatic activities: an indication from water/rock ratio modeling

The final ratio equation of an isotopic element in a rock, derived from water/rock formula of McCulloch et al. Earth Planet Sci Lett 46:201-211, 1980, McCulloch et al. J Geophys Res 86:B4 2721-2735, 1981 is used to assess the behavior of diverse suites of rocks towards the alteration effect, and what implications can give about hydrothermal alteration in terms of isotopic compositions. Due to their higher Sr and lower Nd initial ratios than seawater, rocks of metamorphic and sedimentary signatures such as carbonates and Precambrian basement rocks show similar but inverse mixing curves compared with igneous rocks. Sr composition of rocks immediately alters by seawater, while Nd composition keeps unchanged until large volumes of water are added. Although, this can be attributed to the very low Nd concentration in seawater, it indicates that Nd-exchange may only take place under seawater, possibly hydrothermally by circulated seawater, and Nd-concentration of less altered crustal rocks are apparently primary. The isotopic composition and rock mineralogy seem to be the main factors controlling the volume of water required to cause isotopic alteration in rocks. Crustal rocks require higher water volumes due to their relatively low temperature minerals, whereas, mantle peridotites mainly consist of residual olivine minerals that are highly susceptible to alteration and lack of Sr and Nd compositions, and so need less amount of water for metasomatism. This property reduces the limited penetration effect as the mafic affinity increases at depth in the oceanic crust, and enables modified (probably acidified) circulated fluids to maintain ion exchanging and leaching throughout their passageway.     

川东地区华蓥山海相三叠系不同类型岩石对海水信息的保存性评估

通过对川东地区华蓥山海相三叠系不同岩石类型样品的微观组构、阴极发光和微量元素等分析表明:川东地区华蓥山海相三叠系不同的岩石类型样品具有不同的抵抗成岩蚀变能力,其对海水信息的保存程度也不一致;钙质泥岩所记录的有关信息已基本不能代表海水,多数微晶灰岩所记录的有关信息可以较好地代表海水,而粉晶白云岩只有部分样品可以代表海水的...     

Isotopic characteristics of river sediments on the Tibetan Plateau

We systematically collected 40 modern clastic sediment samples from rivers in different tectonic units of the Tibetan Plateau and measured their Sr–Nd isotopic compositions. The isotopic characteristics provide insight into the controversial paleo-tectonic affinity of terranes of the Tibetan Plateau and the provenance of Songpan–Ganzi flysch complex. The Qilian Terrane and Himalaya Terrane have more negative ε_Nd(0) values (from ? 14.3 to ? 11.8 and from ? 20.64 to ? 13.26, respectively) and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (from 0.719674 to 0.738818 and from 0.721020 to 0.824959, respectively), reflecting old and mature continental crust origin of these two terranes. The southern Lhasa Terrane is more radiogenic in ε_Nd(0) values (from ? 8.82 to ? 3.8) and low in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (from 0.711504 to 0.719489), implying the combined impact of the Neo-Tethys mantle and Himalaya old continental crust. Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of the Qilian Terrane are similar to those in the Yangtze Craton, indicating that the Qilian Terrane was probably separated from the Yangtze Craton. Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics of the Songpan–Ganzi Terrane are similar to the Yangtze Craton and are remarkably different to those in the North China Craton, eastern Kunlun–Qaidam and the central Qiangtang metamorphic belt, implying that the widely distributed flysch complex of the Songpan–Ganzi Terrane was sourced from the Yangtze Craton.     

Chemostratigraphy and detrital zircon geochronology of the Neoproterozoic Khorbusuonka Group,Olenek Uplift,Northeastern Siberian platform

This study provides ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O data from the best-preserved limestone and dolomite of the Ediacaran carbonate-dominated Khorbusuonka Group of the Olenek Uplift, NE Siberian Craton, as well as detrital zircon geochronological data from both underlying and overlying sandstones. The Maastakh Formation is characterized by ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of ca. 0.70822 and δ¹³C values between + 4.8 and + 6.0‰. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in limestones of the Khatyspyt Formation are fairly uniform, ranging from 0.70783 to 0.70806. The carbon isotopic composition slowly decreases from bottom (+ 3.7‰) to top (− 0.2‰) of section. The Sr isotopic composition of the Turkut Formation varies from 0.70824 to 0.70914, value of δ¹³C is about zero: − 0.7…+0.7 ‰. The youngest population of detrital zircons from Maastakh Formation indicates that these rocks were formed not later than 630 Ma. U–Pb detrital zircons data of Kessyusa Group has a single peak at about 543 Ma, which is almost identical to the earlier dating. Based on biostratigraphy and isotopic data, the Sr isotopic compositions from the Khatyspyt Formation (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70783–0.70806) represent the composition of seawater at 560–550 Ma. Such low values of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in Ediacaran water were probably caused by the quick opening of Iapetus Ocean.     

Strontium and oxygen isotope decoupling in the Hercynian Trois Seigneurs Massif,Pyrenees: evidence for fluid circulation in a brittle regime

Systematic shifts of oxygen isotopic compositions in the higher grade parts of the high temperature-low pressure Hercynian metamorphic sequence, exposed in the Trois Seigneurs Massif, have previously been explained as a result of an influx of surface-derived water during the prograde part of the metamorphic cycle. It has been suggested that this caused a regional lowering of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the metamorphic sequence. Mapping of strontium isotopic compositions across a 15 m meta-carbonate horizon in the higher grade pelite-psammite sequence shows that strontium isotopic compositions were homogenised over length scales of metres or less during the Hercynian metamorphism, which brought the carbonate and pelite-psammite to oxygen isotopic equilibrium with a common fluid. Comparison of model pre-Hercynian ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr profiles across the carbonate (based on a depositional/diagenetic age of 450 Ma and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7086 given by 10 m length scale averaging) with the post-Hercynian ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr profile (calculated from analysed ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Rb/Sr compositions) implies strontium isotopic diffusion distances of ca. 0.4 m in the carbonate and ca. 7 m in the pelite-psammite. The limited Sr-isotopic diffusion distance of 0.4–0.7 m within the carbonate is compatible with pervasive oxygen-isotopic exchange over distances restricted to 4–15 m if fluid strontium concentrations were between 4 and 50 ppm. The strontium isotopic transport distances are not compatible with pervasive oxygen isotopic alteration over the observed 5 km regional scale. Either the flow was perfectly layer-parallel or, more probably, the regional-scale alteration of oxygen took place by fluid circulation in the brittle regime early in, or prior to, the Hercynian metamorphic event. Flow along cracks with incomplete diffusive exchange between fluid and wall rock would allow greater decoupling of oxygen and strontium isotopic transport than pervasive advective transport with local fluid-solid equilibrium.     

The strontium and oxygen isotopic record of hydrothermal alteration of syenites from the Abu Khruq complex,Egypt

Hydrothermal convection initiated by emplacement of the gabbro-syenite complex of Abu Khruq into the Egyptian basement 89 Ma ago systematically altered the trace element and isotopic compositions of the syenites. The scale of Sr transport in migrating solutions was far larger than the scale of Sr isotopic equilibration within rocks. As a result, Sr exchange was heterogeneous in the syenites, an effect which can be observed on three different scales. Within grains of a single mineral species, heterogeneities are related to grain boundaries and microfractures through which fluids migrated. Among minerals within rock samples, heterogeneities are related to differences in susceptibility to Sr alteration. Among samples within a single unit, heterogeneous alteration is apparently related to differences in permeability close to fracture zones.During the early stages of alteration radiogenic Sr derived from the country rocks was added to the syenites, causing small net changes in concentration (5 ppm ave.). Some Rb-Sr mineral isochrons from single rock samples yield the emplacement age because isotopic equilibration of this added Sr sometimes occurred within rock specimens. However, regressions of the whole-rock Rb-Sr data yield apparent ages that are about 10 Ma too old. Later stage alteration involved larger changes in whole-rock Sr concentration (45 ppm ave.) but had little further effect on the isotopic relationships because the Sr was derived from cogenetic gabbros rather than the country rocks.Alterations of Rb, Sr, and Sr isotopic compositions are not well correlated with changes in ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio because mineralogy played an important role in decoupling trace element and oxygen isotopic alteration. In general, the absence of such correlations for whole-rock data is not diagnostic of rocks with unaltered trace element and isotopic compositions. Mineral-scale Sr isotopic heterogeneities associated with grain boundaries and microfractures may be the most unambiguous evidence of trace element mobility.Deceased on 9/81     

Subduction of Indian continent beneath southern Tibet in the latest Eocene (~ 35 Ma): Insights from the Quguosha gabbros in southern Lhasa block

Geophysical data illustrate that the Indian continental lithosphere has northward subducted beneath the Tibet Plateau, reaching the Bangong–Nujiang suture in central Tibet. However, when the Indian continental lithosphere started to subduct, and whether the Indian continental crust has injected into the mantle beneath southern Lhasa block, are not clear. Here we report new results from the Quguosha gabbros of southern Lhasa block, southern Tibet. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of two samples gives a ca. 35 Ma formation age (i.e., the latest Eocene) for the Quguosha gabbros. The Quguosha gabbro samples are geochemically characterized by variable SiO₂ and MgO contents, strongly negative Nb–Ta–Ti and slightly negative Eu anomalies, and uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7056–0.7058) and ε_Nd(t) (− 2.2 to − 3.6). They exhibit Sr–Nd isotopic compositions different from those of the Jurassic–Eocene magmatic rocks with depleted Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics, but somewhat similar to those of Oligocene–Miocene K-rich magmatic rocks with enriched Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics. We therefore propose that an enriched Indian crustal component was added into the lithospheric mantle beneath southern Lhasa by continental subduction at least prior to the latest Eocene (ca. 35 Ma). We interpret the Quguosha mafic magmas to have been generated by partial melting of lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted continental sediments, which entered continental subduction channel(s) and then probably accreted or underplated into the overlying mantle during the northward subduction of the Indian continent. Continental subduction likely played a key role in the formation of the Tibetan plateau at an earlier date than previously thought.     

Variations of the Ca/Ca ratio in seawater during the past 24 million years: evidence from δCa and δO values of Miocene phosphates

The Ca isotope variation of 11 Miocene and Pleistocene, authigenic, marine phosphates is rather small compared to the corresponding variation in δ¹⁸O values. The δ⁴⁴Ca values are not correlated with the δ¹⁸O values and, therefore, they are not temperature controlled. It is likely that the δ⁴⁴Ca values of the phosphorites reflect the variation in the δ⁴⁴Ca values of paleo-seawater but, in contrast to Sr, not the isotopic composition of seawater itself. Furthermore, Ca and Sr isotopic compositions are decoupled with decreasing stratigraphic age of the phosphate peloids with Sr isotopic compositions changing to more radiogenic values while Ca isotopic compositions remain rather stable. All samples have δ⁴⁴Ca values below present-day seawater values, suggesting that phosphate formation discriminates against heavy Ca isotopes.Phosphorites and carbonaceous sediments have a similar Ca isotopic variation during the Miocene. A systematic and more or less constant shift between marine carbonates and phosphates is observed: the phosphate samples are slightly less enriched in ⁴⁰Ca compared to carbonates. This shift has been related to a mineral-dependent kinetic mass fractionation during precipitation from seawater. The rather stable δ⁴⁴Ca value for the 19 to 9 Ma old phosphorites points to a constant δ⁴⁴Ca fractionation of about 1.1 between seawater and phosphorites during the past and suggests steady-state conditions for the Mid-Miocene seawater (sedimentation flux equals erosion flux).     

Petrological and geochemical characteristics of mafic rocks from the Neoproterozoic Sugetbrak Formation in the northwestern Tarim Block,China

The Neoproterozoic Sugetbrak Formation in the Aksu area, which is located at the northwest margin of Tarim Block, comprises mafic rocks and provides key records of the evolution of the Rodinia supercontinent. However, the genetic relationship among these mafic rocks exposed in different geographical sections are still unclear. In this study, the petrology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of the mafic rocks exposed in the Aksu-Wushi and Yuermeinark areas have been studied in some ...     

峡东地区南华纪-寒武纪地层风化过程元素及Sr-Nd同位素演化特征及其地球化学意义

以峡东地区南华纪、震旦纪和寒武纪标准地层泥岩、冰碛泥岩、砂岩、灰岩和白云质灰岩及对应的风化土壤为研究对象, 分析了地层风化成土过程中不同元素的迁移行为, 根据剖面样品的Sr-Nd同位素组成变化, 探讨了其同位素体系的封闭性特征与应用意义.结果表明: (1) 不同岩性基岩在成土过程中的蚀变强度有明显的差异, 在相似地表条件下, 碳酸岩风化剖面的风化程度高于泥质岩和砂岩; (2) 通过对比稳定高场强Ti元素在基岩和风化剖面中的含量变化, 计算出土壤样品在风化过程中体积相对基岩发生的改变量, 进而计算出不同岩性基岩在风化过程中微量元素的绝对含量变化以探讨这些元素的活动规律.结果表明, 灰岩和白云质灰岩的风化剖面元素含量变化明显, 而在泥质岩风化过程中大多数元素保持了相对稳定, 说明沉积岩风化过程中元素的活动性特征明显地受到了原岩矿物组成的制约.风化过程中, 不同性质的元素的活动性差异明显, 其中亲硫元素(Cu、Zn、Pb、Mo) 和大离子亲石元素(Rb、K、Sr、Ba) 在不同岩性的风化剖面中均表现出明显的元素含量变化, 而高场强元素(Zr、Hf、Nb、Ta) 含量则相对稳定; (3) 泥质岩风化形成的土壤层REE含量变化较小, 而碳酸岩风化土壤层REE含量发生了明显下降, 且其风化形成的土壤表现出LREE和HREE相对于MREE的富集.无论是碳酸岩或泥质岩风化形成的土壤, 均出现了明显的Eu负异常和Ce的正异常, 但在其原岩中这些异常并不存在或不明显; (4) 基岩与土壤剖面间Sr同位素组成和Rb/Sr比值存在明显差异, Rb-Sr同位素组成发生了明显的开放.所形成土壤层的Sr同位素组成受到2种因素的约束: 原岩性质和外来组成的Sr同位素比值.因此在总体上, 风化土壤的Sr同位素组成已不能代表基岩的Sr同位素组成; (5) 沉积岩风化过程中, 碳酸岩和泥质岩形成的风化土壤基本保持了原岩的Sm-Nd同位素组成特点, 由其组成所获得的Nd同位素亏损地幔模式年龄等能反映其原岩信息, 而近源沉积形成的砂岩和含砾冰碛泥岩所形成的土壤, 其Nd同位素组成则存在不同程度的改变.      

The geochemical characteristics of metabasites with a pseudo-pillow structure from Ganghe,Dabie Orogen,China

Several metabasite lenses in Ganghe, Central Dabie, that were previously described as pillow lavas are studied by elemental, Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic, and mineral oxygen isotopic analysis as well as zircon SHRIMP U–Pb dating. Zircon U–Pb geochronology results indicate that the protolith emplacement age of these metabasites is approximately 717 ± 38 Ma, consistent with the age of the volcanoclastic rocks in the same unit, and that they experienced the Triassic HP eclogite-facies retrograde metamorphism at 221 ± 2 Ma during exhumation after subduction to mantle depth and peak ultra-high pressure metamorphism. The low δ¹⁸O values of −5.5‰ to −2.0‰ indicate that the protoliths underwent high temperature meteoric-hydrothermal alteration before subduction but had no seawater interaction. These metabasites had similar formation processes, water–rock interactions and metamorphisms as other eclogite-facies rocks cropped out in the Central Dabie terrain. They showed negative abnormalities in Nb, Sr, and Ti content and positive abnormalities in Ba, Th, and Pb content; they also showed LREE enrichment. The insusceptible Sm–Nd isotopes during metamorphism yielded ε_Nd (t) = −12 to −10 and T_DM = 2.2–2.8 Ga for samples from lenses #1 to #3 and −7 to −6 and 2.1–2.2 Ga for lens #4; the samples also showed low radiogenic Pb isotope compositions of (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.34–16.50, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.23–15.32, and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 35.93–37.04. The data suggest that the protolith sources of the metabasites were contaminated to variable degrees by old crustal materials during formation. Unlike the Maowu layered intrusions, which were contaminated by upper crust, the magmas of the metabasites were contaminated by lower crust in the magma chamber and during eruption. It can be concluded that the protoliths of these metabasites were derived from old crustal-contaminated mantle sources and initially emplaced in the crust at the Neoproterozoic and that they were altered by meteoric water at high temperatures. In this respect, they might be similar to the Neoproterozoic mafic intrusions in the North Huaiyang terrain. However, the studied metabasites experienced the Permo-Triassic subduction and metamorphism, whereas the North Huaiyang Neoproterozoic mafic intrusions did not.     

Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotope geochemistry of basaltic rocks from the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin,South Korea: Implications for basin formation

To better understand the formative mechanism of the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin in South Korea, we determined the geochemical compositions of Early Cretaceous syntectonic basaltic rocks intercalated with basin sedimentary assemblages. Two distinct compositional groups appeared: tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalts from the Yeongyang sub-basin and high-K to shoshonitic basaltic trachyandesites from the Jinju and Uiseong sub-basins. All collected samples exhibit patterns of light rare earth element enrichment and chondrite-normalized (La/Yb)_N ratios ranging from 2.4 to 23.6. In a primitive-mantle-normalized spidergram, the samples show distinctive negative anomalies in Nb, Ta, and Ti and a positive anomaly in Pb. The basalts exhibit no or a weak positive U anomaly in a spidergram, but the basaltic trachyandesites show a negative U anomaly. The basalts have highly radiogenic Sr [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.70722–0.71145], slightly negative ε_Nd, positive ε_Hf [(ε_Nd)_i = −2.7 to 0.0; (ε_Hf)_i = +2.9 to +6.4], and radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions [(²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 18.20–19.19; (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.60–15.77; (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 38.38–39.11]. The basaltic trachyandesites are characterized by radiogenic Sr [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.70576–0.71119] and unradiogenic Nd, Hf, and Pb isotopic compositions [(ε_Nd)_i = −14.0 to −1.4; (ε_Hf)_i = −17.9 to +3.7; (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 17.83–18.25; (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 15.57–15.63; (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i = 38.20–38.70]. The “crust-like” signatures, such as negative Nb–Ta anomalies, elevated Sr isotopic compositions, and negative ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values, of the basaltic trachyandesites resemble the geochemistry of Early Cretaceous mafic volcanic rocks from the southern portion of the eastern North China Craton. Considering the lower-crust-like low U/Pb and high Th/U ratios and the unradiogenic Pb isotopic compositions, the basaltic trachyandesites are considered to be derived from lithospheric mantle modified by interaction with melts that originated from foundered eclogite. Basaltic volcanism in the Yeongyang sub-basin is coeval with the basaltic trachyandesite magmatism, but it exhibits an elevated ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio at a given ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and highly radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions, which imply an origin from an enriched but heterogeneous lithospheric mantle source. Melts from subducted altered oceanic basalt and pelagic sediments are considered to be the most likely source for the metasomatism. An extensional tectonic regime induced by highly oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate beneath the eastern Asian margin during the Early Cretaceous might have triggered the opening of the Gyeongsang Basin. Lithospheric thinning and the resultant thermal effect of asthenospheric upwelling could have caused melting of the metasomatized lithospheric mantle, producing the Early Cretaceous basaltic volcanism in the Gyeongsang Basin.     

Petrogenesis and Metallogenesis of the Mazaertag Layered Intrusion in the Tarim Large Igneous Province, NW China

The Mazaertag layered intrusion is located in the northwestern part of the Tarim large igneous province where several early Permian layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions host important Fe-Ti oxide deposits. The intrusion covers an area of ～0.13 km~2 and has a vertical stratigraphic thickness of at least300 m. It consists chiefly of olivine clinopyroxenite, and is cut through by the nearby mafic-ultramafic dykes. In this paper, we report new mineral chemistry data and whole-rock chemical and isotopic compositions for the Mazaertag intrusion along with whole-rock isotopic compositions for the nearby mafic dykes. The averaged compositions of cumulus olivine, clinopyroxene and intercumulus plagioclase within individual samples range from Fo_(71-73),Mg~# = 76 to 79 and An_(65-75) but they do not define sustained reversals. The observed mineral compositions are consistent with the differentiation of a single batch of magma in a closed system. Rocks of the Mazaertag intrusion are characterized by enrichment in light REE relative to heavy REE, positive Nb and Ta anomalies and a small range of age-corrected ε_(Nd)(t)(-0.1 to +0.9) and initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr values(0.7044 to 0.7068). The slightly lower ε_(Nd)(t), initial ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb and higher initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr values of the intrusion compared to those of the least contaminated dykes[ε_(Nd)(t) =+2.8 to +3.4;(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb)_i = 18.516-18.521;(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i = 0.7038-0.7041] imply that the Mazaertag magma was subjected to small to modest degrees of contamination by the upper crust. The Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the least contaminated dykes are consistent with derivation from a FOZO-like mantle source. The parental magma of the Mazaertag intrusion, estimated from clinopyroxene compositions using mineral-melt partition coefficients, has trace element compositions similar to some of the most primitive mafic dykes in the same area. This suggests that the Mazaertag intrusion and mafic dykes shared a similar mantle source. Therefore, the parental magma of the Mazaertag intrusion was interpreted to have originated from a mantle plume. Based on the Cr_2 O_3 contents in titanomagnetite and less-evolved characteristics of the Mazaertag intrusion compared to the Wajilitag Fe-Ti oxide deposit in Bachu, it is speculated that there might not be a potential to find economic Fe-Ti oxide mineralization in the intrusion.     

Geology, petrochemistry, and genesis of the bimodal lavas of Osham Hill, Saurashtra, northwestern Deccan Traps

The Saurashtra region in the northwestern Deccan continental flood basalt province (India) is notable for compositionally diverse volcano-plutonic complexes and abundant rhyolites and granophyres. A lava flow sequence of rhyolite-pitchstone-basaltic andesite is exposed in Osham Hill in western Saurashtra. The Osham silicic lavas are Ba-poor and with intermediate Zr contents compared to other Deccan rhyolites. The Osham silicic lavas are enriched in the light rare earth elements, and have ε_Nd (t = 65 Ma) values between −3.1 and −6.5 and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70709-0.70927. The Osham basaltic andesites have initial ε_Nd values between +2.2 and −1.3, and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70729-0.70887. Large-ion-lithophile element concentrations and Sr isotopic ratios may have been affected somewhat by weathering; notably, the Sr isotopic ratios of the silicic and mafic rocks overlap. However, the Nd isotopic data indicate that the silicic lavas are significantly more contaminated by continental lithosphere than the mafic lavas. We suggest that the Osham basaltic andesites were derived by olivine gabbro fractionation from low-Ti picritic rocks of the type found throughout Saurashtra. The isotopic compositions, and the similar Al₂O₃ contents of the Osham silicic and mafic lavas, rule out an origin of the silicic lavas by fractional crystallization of mafic liquids, with or without crustal assimilation. As previously proposed for some Icelandic rhyolites, and supported here by MELTS modelling, the Osham silicic lavas may have been derived by partial melting of hot mafic intrusions emplaced at various crustal depths, due to heating by repetitively injected basalts. The absence of mixing or mingling between the rhyolitic and basaltic andesite lavas of Osham Hill suggests that they reached the surface via separate pathways.     

四川盆地东北部晚二叠世-早三叠世白云岩与同期海水锶同位素组成的对比研究

在四川盆地东北部14条野外剖面和地下钻井的二叠系长兴组、三叠系飞仙关组和嘉陵江组石灰岩和白云岩岩石学研究的基础上,对其中189个不同类型的碳酸盐样品(包括代表海水的石灰岩样品和在不同成岩阶段形成的各种白云岩样品)进行了锶同位素组成和相应的MgO、CaO和Mn、Sr元素分析,获得了系统的晚二叠-早三叠世海水的锶同位素组成数据并建立了相应演化曲线.在此基础上,对不同地层组/段和不同类型白云岩的锶同位素组成与同期海水锶同位素组成进行了对照研究,取得了如下主要认识:(1)川东北晚二叠-早三叠世白云岩的锶同位素组成与同期海水具有类似的演化趋势,结合白云岩的低锰、高锶特征,说明白云化流体与海水存在显著的亲缘关系,与铝硅酸盐地层无关;(2)白云岩的锶同位素组成与同期海水存在差别,各地层组/段白云岩的87Sr/86Sr比值都不同程度地高于同期海水,但从下往上,即从长兴组、飞2+3段、嘉2段到嘉4段,这种差值逐渐缩小,嘉4段白云岩的锶同位素组成已和同期海水基本一致;(3)川东北长兴组、飞2+3段白云岩形成的时间显著晚于同层石灰岩,白云化流体为时间上更晚的海源流体,但嘉2、嘉4段白云岩的形成时间仅略晚于同层石灰岩,白云化流体来源于非常近同期的蒸发浓缩的高Mg/Ca比值海水,一些嘉4段的白云岩的白云化流体就是同期海水,因而这些白云岩是同生或准同生的;(4)如果把白云化的时间看作白云岩的形成时间,则违背地层叠置原理是川东北长兴组和飞仙关组结晶白云岩的主要特征之一,其形成机制可用非同期海源流体的隐伏回流-对流模式来解释,嘉陵江组白云岩形成机制可用活跃回流-萨布哈模式来解释.白云岩和代表同期海水的石灰岩锶同位素组成的对比为解决白云化流体与海水之间的时间关系提供一种新的研究途径.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of Cretaceous Nanshanping alkaline rocks from the Zijinshan district in Fujian Province,South China: Implications for crust–mantle interaction and lithospheric extension

In situ zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic data, major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions are reported for Nanshanping alkaline rocks from the Zijingshan district in southwestern Fujian Province (the Interior or Western Cathaysia Block) of South China. The Nanshanping alkaline rocks, which consist of porphyritic quartz monzonite, porphyritic syenite, and syenite, revealed a Late Cretaceous age of 100–93 Ma. All of the rocks show high SiO₂, K₂O + Na₂O, and LREE but low CaO, Fe₂O₃^T, MgO, and HFSE (Nb, Ta, P, and Ti) concentrations. These rocks also exhibit uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7078 to 0.7087 and ε_Nd(t) values of −4.1 to −7.2, thus falling within the compositional field of Cretaceous basalts and mafic dikes occurring in the Cathaysia Block. Additionally, these rocks display initial Pb isotopic compositions with a ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i ratio of 18.25 to 18.45, a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i ratio of 15.63 to 15.67, and a ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i ratio of 38.45 to 38.88. Combined with the zircon Hf isotopic compositions (ε_Hf(t) = −11.7 to −3.2), which are different from those of the basement rocks, we suggest that Nanshanping alkaline rocks were primarily derived from a subduction-related enriched mantle source. High Rb/Sr (0.29–0.65) and Zr/Hf (37.5–49.2) but relatively low Ba/Rb (4.4–8.1) ratios suggest that the parental magmas of these rocks were most likely formed via partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing mantle source with carbonate metasomatism. The relatively high SiO₂ (62.35–70.79 wt.%) and low Nb/Ta (10.0–15.3) ratios, positive correlation between SiO₂ and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_I, and negative correlation between SiO₂ and ε_Nd(t) of these rocks suggest that the crustal materials were also involved in formation of the Nanshanping alkaline rocks. Combined with geochemical and isotopic features, we infer magmatic processes similar to AFC (assimilation and fractional crystallization) involving early fractionation of clinopyroxene and olivine and subsequent fractionation of biotite-dominated assemblages coupled with a lesser amount of crustal contamination, thereby forming the Nanshanping alkaline rocks. The Nanshanping alkaline rocks appear to be associated with an extensional environment in the Cathaysia Block. This extensional regime could have resulted in the slab break-off and rollback of the subducting paleo-Pacific plate and the upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle, which induced partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle in the Cretaceous.     

Geochemistry,geochronology and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions of Middle to Late Jurassic syenite–granodiorites–dacite in South China: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

In situ zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data, major and trace elements and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions are reported for coeval syenite–granodiorites–dacite association in South China. The shoshonitic syenites are characterized by high K₂O contents (5.9–6.1 wt.%) and K₂O/Na₂O ratios (1.1–1.2), negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.65 to 0.77), enrichments of Rb, K, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf, but depletion of Sr, P and Ti. The adakitic granodiorite and granodiorite porphyry intrusions are characterized by high Al₂O₃ contents (15.0–16.8 wt.%), enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs), strongly fractionated LREEs (light rare earth elements) to HREEs (heavy rare earth elements), high Sr (438–629 ppm), Sr/Y (29.2–53.6), and low Y (11.7–16.8 ppm) and HREE contents (e.g., Yb = 1.29–1.64 ppm). The calc-alkaline dacites are characterized by LREE enrichment, absence of negative Eu anomalies, and enrichment of LILEs such as Rb, Ba, Th, U and Pb, and depletion of HFSEs such as Nb, Ta, P and Ti.Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions of the syenites suggest that the shoshonitic magmas were differentiated from parental shoshonitic melts by fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene and feldspar. The parent magmas may have originated from partial melting of the lithospheric mantle with small amount contribution from crustal materials. The adakitic granodiorite and granodiorite porphyry have Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions that are comparable to that of the mafic lower crust. They have low Mg# and MgO, Ni and Cr contents, abundant inherited zircons, low ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values as well as old whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf model ages. These granodiorites were likely generated by partial melting of Triassic underplated mafic lower crust. The Hf isotopic compositions of the dacites are relatively more depleted than the Cathaysia enriched mantle, suggesting those magmas were derived from the partial melting of subduction-modified mantle sources. The coeval shoshonitic, high-K calc-alkaline and calc-alkaline rocks in Middle to Late Jurassic appear to be associated with an Andean-type subduction. This subduction could have resulted in the upwelling of the asthenosphere beneath the Cathaysia Block, which induced partial melting of the mantle as well as the mafic lower crust, and formed an arc regime in the coastal South China during Middle to Late Jurassic.     

Tertiary basalts and peridotite xenoliths from the Hessian Depression (NW Germany), reflecting mantle compositions low in radiogenic Nd and Sr

A total of 17 alkali basalts (alkali olivine basalt, limburgite, olivine nephelinite) and quartz tholeiites, and of 10 peridotite xenoliths (or their clinopyroxenes) were analyzed for Nd and Sr isotopes. ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of all basalts and of the majority of ultramafic xenoliths plot below the mantle array with a large variation in Nd isotopes and a smaller variation in Sr isotopes. The tholeiites were less radiogenic in Nd than the alkali basalts. Volcanics from the Eifel and Massif Central regions contain Nd and Sr, which is more radiogenic than that of the basalts from the Hessian Depression. Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of all rocks from the latter area, with the exception of one tholeiite and one peridotite plot in the same field of isotope ratios as the Ronda ultramafic tectonite (SW Spain), which ranges in composition from garnet to plagioclase peridotite. The alkali basaltic rocks are products of smaller degrees of partial melting of depleted peridotite, which has undergone a larger metasomatic alteration compared with the source rock of tholeiitic magmas. For the peridotite xenoliths such metasomatic alteration is indicated by the correlation of their K contents and isotopic compositions. We assume that the upper mantle locally can acquire isotopic signatures low in radiogenic Nd and Sr from the introduction of delaminated crust. Such granulites low in radiogenic Nd and Sr are products of early REE fractionation and granite (Rb) separation.     

Geochemical characteristics of the Kuh-e Dom intrusion,Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (Iran): Implications for source regions and magmatic evolution

The Kuh-e Dom Pluton is located along the central northeastern margin of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Arc, spanning a wide range of compositions from felsic rocks, including granite, granodiorite, and quartz monzonite, through to intermediate-mafic rocks comprising monzonite, monzodiorite, diorite, monzogabbro, and gabbro. The Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Arc forms a distinct linear magmatic complex that is aligned parallel with the orogenic suture of the Zagros fold-thrust belt. Most samples display characteristics of metaluminous, high-K calc-alkaline, I-type granitoids. The initial isotopic signatures range from εNd (47 Ma) = −4.77 to −5.89 and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.7069 to 0.7074 for felsic rocks and εNd (47 Ma) = −3.04 to −4.06 and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(i) = 0.7063 to 0.7067 for intermediate to mafic rocks. This geochemical and isotopic evidence support a mixed origin for the Kuh-e Dom hybrid granitoid with a range of contributions of both the crust and mantle, most probably by the interaction between lower crust- and mantle-derived magmas. It is seem, the felsic rocks incorporate about 56–74% lower crust-derived magma and about 26–44% of the enriched mantle-derived mafic magma. In contrast, 66–84% of the enriched mantle-derived mafic magma incorporates 16–34% of lower crust-derived magma to generate the intermediate-mafic rocks. According to the differences in chemical composition, the felsic rocks contain a higher proportion of crustal material than the intermediate to mafic ones. Enrichment in LILEs and depletion in HFSEs with marked negative Nb, Ba, and Ti anomalies are consistent with subduction-related magmatism in an active continental margin arc environment. This suggestion is consistent with the interpretation of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Arc as an active continental margin during subduction of the Neotethys oceanic crust beneath the Central Iranian microcontinent.     

Lead and strontium isotopic evidence for crustal interaction and compositional zonation in the source regions of Pleistocene basaltic and rhyolitic magmas of the Coso volcanic field,California

The isotopic compositions of Pb and Sr in Pleistocene basalt, high-silica rhyolite, and andesitic inclusions in rhyolite of the Coso volcanic field indicate that these rocks were derived from different levels of compositionally zoned magmatic systems. The 2 earliest rhyolites probably were tapped from short-lived silicic reservoirs, in contrast to the other 36 rhyolite domes and lava flows which the isotopic data suggest may have been leaked from the top of a single, long-lived magmatic system. Most Coso basalts show isotopic, geochemical, and mineralogic evidence of interaction with crustal rocks, but one analyzed flow has isotopic ratios that may represent mantle values (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7036,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=19.05,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.62,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 38.63). The (initial) isotopic composition of typical rhyolite (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7053,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=19.29,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.68,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=39.00) is representative of the middle or upper crust. Andesitic inclusions in the rhyolites are evidently samples of hybrid magmas from the silicic/mafic interface in vertically zoned magma reservoirs. Silicic end-member compositions inferred for these mixed magmas, however, are not those of erupted rhyolite but reflect the zonation within the silicic part of the magma reservoir. The compositional contrast at the interface between mafic and silicic parts of these systems apparently was greater for the earlier, smaller reservoirs.