Experimental Study of the Melting Reaction and Genetic Mechanism of Mineral Phase Transformation in Granulite Facies Metamorphism

The high-temperature and high-pressure experiment on natural block rock indicates that dehydration-melting of hydrous biotite (Bi) and partial melting of felsic minerals in garnet-biotite-plagioclase gneiss are mainly controlled by temperature, while mineral phase transformation is not only controlled by temperature-pressure conditions but also genetically associated with hydrous mineral dehydration-melting and partial melting of felsic minerals. According to the characteristics of biotite dehydration-melting and garnet transformation reaction, three stages may be distinguished: (1) when the experimental temperature is 700℃, biotite transforms to ilmenite (Ilm) + magnetite (Mt) + H2O and garnet to magnetite (Mt); (2) when the temperature is 730-760℃, biotite is dehydrated and melted and transformed into K2O-rich melt + Ilm + Mt, and garnet, into hypersthene (Hy) + cordierite (Crd); (3) when the temperature is up to or higher than 790℃, biotite is dehydrated and melted and transformed into melt + Hy +     

Experimental Study of the Influence of Hydrous Minerals on the Melting Behaviour of Rocks at High Temperatures and Pressures

The experimental study on the melting of potassic basalt and eclogite with about 2% waterat 800-1300℃ and 1.0-3.5 GPa shows that the solidi of both rocks are significantly lower thanthose obtained from the previous experiments of the same type of rocks under dry conditions,and the former which is enriched in potassium has a lower melting point than the latter. It is con-sistent with the previous study. The melting temperature of eclogite increases with pressure,whereas potassic basalt has similar properties only at 1.5—2.5 GPa and>3.0 GPa, and at 2.5—3.0 GPa the melting temperature decreases with pressure. This can be explained as follows: (1)eclogite only has one hydrous mineral amphibole and the dehydous temperature is lower than thewet solidus of the rock. (2) Amphibole exists in potassic basalt at the pressures lower than 2.5GPa and phlogopite exists at pressures higher than 2.5 GPa, and the special compositions of bothminerals determine that amphibole has a dehydration temperature higher than or close to that ofthe wet solidus of the rocks, while phlogopite has a dehydration temperature lower than that ofthe wet solidus. On the other hand the features of the continuous solidus in the experiment ofhydrous eclogite were produced by the fact that the dehydration temperature of its amphibolelower than or close to the melting temperature of the hydrous conditions. So the melting tempera-ture lowers at higher pressures. Therefore, the composition of the rocks in the lithosphere and thetypes of hydrous minerals and their stable P-T conditions are the important factors controllingthe solidi of rocks. It can quite well explain the partial melting of rocks and the origin of the lowvelocity zone in the deep lithosphere.     

On the Relationship between Mantle Metasomatism and Partial Melting-Evidence from Mantlederived Lherzolite Xenoliths from Nueshan,China

Studies of the mantle-derived iherzolites from Nushan show that in addition to CO2,there were present H2O and small amounts of CO, CH4, SO2,Cl and F in the initial mantlc fluids derived fron the asthenospheric mantlc plumc .The imitial fluids accumulated in some regions of the mantle, resulting in lowering of the mantle solidus (and liquidus) and partial melting of the upper mantle. Melts formed from low-degree of fluid-involved partial melting of the upper mantle would be highly enriched in incompatible elements.Fluies and melts are allthe metasomatic agents for mantle metasomatism, and the interaction between them and the depleted mantle could result in the substan-tial local enrichment of LREE and incompatible elements in the latter.In case that the concentration of H2O in the fluids (and melts) is lower ,only cryptic metasomatism would occur, in case that the concentration of H2O is higher,the degree of partial melting would be higher and hydrous metasomatic phases(e.g. amphiboles )would nucleate. Under such circumstances, there would occur model metasomatism.     

The Cretaceous Turn of Geological Evolution: Key Evidence from East Asia

this work focuses on one of the critical points of Earth’s history when the Solar System passed through the most distant point of its galactic orbit. During this event, Earth may have suffered from maximum extension, associated with its relative proximity to the Sun at that time, followed by long-term contraction related to its later distancing. This paper is based on generalized data on the Cretaceous evolution of the Earth as a whole and of East Asia in particular. The evidence suggests that major geological processes at this time may be interpreted as transitional changes in the state of Earth. A liquid nature of its core may have reacted to the gravitational and electromagnetic transformations. When the cosmic changes took place at 135-120 Ma, more turbulent flows in the outer core would have favoured the rise of voluminous magmatic plumes and associated fluid flows. These would substantially transform the mantle, crust, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. In particular, plume-related melting of overlying subducting slabs and lower continental crust could have initiated numerous adakitic melts that formed the East Asian Adakitic Province. These and associated juvenile events produced numerous metallic ore, coal, gas and oil deposits. The Cretaceous is one of the most significant resource-producing periods.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114001352

Ultrahigh temperature(UHT) metamorphism is the most thermally extreme form of regional crustal metamorphism,with temperatures exceeding 900℃.UHT crustal metamorphism is recognised in more than 50 localities globally in the metaniorphic rock record and is accepted as 'normal' in the spectrum of regional crustal processes.UHT metamorphism is typically identified on the basis of diagnostic mineral assemblages such as sapphirine+ quartz,orthopyroxene + sillimanite ± quartz and osumilite in Mg-AIrich rock compositions,now usually coupled with pseudosection-based thermobarometry using internally-consistent thermodynamic data sets and/or Al-in-Orthopyroxene and ternary feldspar thermobarometry.Significant progress in the understanding of regional UHT metamorphism in recent years includes:(1) development of a ferric iron activity-composition thermodynamic model for sapphirine,allowing phase diagram calculations for oxidised rock compositions:(2) quantification of UHT conditions via trace element thermometry,with Zr-in-rutile more commonly recording higher temperatures than Ti-in-zircon.Rutile is likely to be stable at peak UHT conditions whereas zircon may only grow as UHT rocks are cooling.In addition,the extent to which Zr diffuses out of rutile is controlled by chemical communication with zircon;(3) more fully recognising and utilising temperature-dependent thermal properties of the crust,and the possible range of heat sources causing metamorphism in geodynamic modelling studies:(4) recognising that crust partially melted either in a previous event or earlier in a long-duration event has greater capacity than fertile,unmelted crust to achieve UHT conditions due to the heat energy consumed by partial melting reactions:(5) more strongly linking U-Pb geochronological data from zircon and monazite to P-T points or path segments through using Y + REE partitioning between accessory and major phases,as well as phase diagrams incorporating Zr and REE;and(6)improved insight into the settings and factors responsible for UHT metamorphism via geodynamic forward models.These models suggest that regional UHT metamorphism is,principally,geodynamically related to subduction,coupled with elevated crustal radiogenic heat generation rates.     

Experimental Studies on Partial Melting of Massive Samples of Granite

As a basis of modern petrology,the equilibrium relations describing the melting of granite were established mainly on melting experiments of Powder samples.Such experiments,however,have serious limitations in providing information about the variations in compositional and fabric features of the minerals and in the composition and distribution of the melt.Our experiments using massive samples indicate that melt occure mainly at the quartz-plagioclase and quartz-potash feldspar boundaries and the composition of the melt is dependent on local characteristics in the melting system,showing no correlation with the bulk composition of the rock samples.At lower temperatures(740-760℃,0.2GPa),the melt plots at or near the eutectic point in Q-Ab-Or-An-H2O diagram,indicating equilibrium melting.At higher temperatures(790-800℃，0.2GPa)the melt becomes lower in SiO2 and higher in Na2O,deviating makedly from the eutectic line but without disappearance of any mineral phase,suggesting a non-equilibrium process.It is obvious that the phase-equilibrium relations in natural massive granites may be greatly different from those deduced from powder experiments.     

High-pressure investigations on the isostructural phase transition and metallization in realgar with diamond anvil cells

The high-pressure structural,vibrational and electrical properties for realgar were investigated by in-situ Raman scattering and electrical conductivity experiments combined with first-principle calculations up to~30.8 GPa.It was verified that realgar underwent an isostructural phase transition at~6.3 GPa and a metallization at a higher pressure of~23.5 GPa.The isostructural phase transition was well evidenced by the obvious variations of Raman peaks,electrical conductivity,crystal parameters and the As–S bond length.The phase transition of metallization was in closely associated with the closure of bandgap rather than caused by the structural phase transition.And furthermore,the metallic realgar exhibited a relatively low compressibility with the unit cell volume V₀=718.1.4?³and bulk modulus B₀=36.1 GPa.     

Petrogenetic Significance of the Covariance Relationship between Compatible and Incompatible Elements

On the basis of the previous quantitative modeling of trace element behavior in magmatic pro-cesses such as fractional crystallization ,batch melting and magma mixing,the author has shown the covariance relationship between compatible and incompatible elements. The discussion of the covariance relationship among trace elements indicates that the covariance relationship can be used to study the petrogenesis of igneous rocks and that the relationship be-tween compatible and incompatible elements are most important in distinguishing equilibrium process(melting and crystallization )from other magmatic processes, i.e.,the former shows a hyperbola trend on C1^i vs .C1^i diagrams,and however, the fractional process gives an exponent curve and magma mixing presents a straight line .On the other hand ,log C1^i vs .C1^i diagrams are also discussed here. Alkaline rocks from Zijinshan, Lin County, Shanxi Province are taken for example in our study ,indicating that the rocks were derived from batch melting of the upper mantle.     

High Pressure-Differential Thermal Analysis and Ultrasonic Wave Amplitude Analysis of Ice-Water Equilibrium at 1.5-5.0GPa

Water is the most active component in all geological systems.It has an important effect on the physical properties of minerals and melts.It also plays a key role in the evolution of the Earth.Accurate thermodynamics data on water are currently confined to pressures below 1.0GPa and temperatures below 900℃.Presented in this paper are new data available on the P-T properties of water at pressures up to 5.0GPa,develoged from differential thermal analysis and ultrasonic wave amplitude analysis.It has been found that there may exist another ternary point at 3.0GPa and that ultrasonic wave amplitude change of ice-water transition shows two inflection points above 2.0GPa, consistent with the two peaks of differential thermal curves above 2.0GPa .It may be a new phenomenon which needs further study.     

Potential Hazards of Eruptions around the Tianchi Caldera Lake, China

Since the eruption of the Tianchi volcano about 1000 years ago, there have been at least 3 to 5 eruptions of small to moderate size. In addition, hazardous avalanches, rock falls and debris flows have occurred during periods between eruptions. A future eruption of the Tianchi volcano is likely to involve explosive interaction between magma and the caldera lake. The volume of erupted magma is almost in a range of 0.1-0.5 km3. Tephra fallout may damage agriculture in a large area near the volcano. If only 1% of the lake water were ejected during an eruption and then precipitated over an area of 200 km2, the average rainfall would be 100 mm. Moreover, lahars are likely to occur as both tephra and water ejected from the caldera lake fall onto flanks of the volcano. Rocks avalanching into the caldera lake also would bring about grave hazards because seiches would be triggered and lake water with the volume equal to that of the landslide would spill out of the existing breach in the caldera and cause flooding     

莱河矿稳定性的热力学分析

Laihunite, a mineral of ferric and ferrous iron silicate discovered in China in recent years, occurs in high grade metamorphic BIF coexisting with magnetite, quartz,fayaiite, ferrosilite and almandine. Complete nets based on Sehreinemakers bundles and partial nets with maximum closure after the method described by H. W. Day have been constructed by taking into account the existance of this minertl in order to illustrate phase relations for the (n 3) multisystem in the system of Fe2O3-FeO-SiO2. Judging from Lindsley‘s experimental data on ferrosilits, laihunite is expected to be stable at pressures probably higher than 15 Kb. Two-pyroxene and olivine-clinopyroxene geothermometere give temperatures of formation between 600--700℃. Free energy of laihunite calcultted according to the method of Chert and estimated values of heat capacity allow oxygen fugacity to be plotted against temperature at different total pressures with respect to a number of univariant reactions in which lailunite is involved. The log fo2 -T diagram demonstrates that to a first approximation the stability flels of laihunite overlaps the upper part of the magnetite field, but its upper limit is a little beyond the hematite-magnetite equilibrium. The three major requirements for laihunite stability, i.e., an unusual high pressure, a temperature in the order of 600--700℃ and a relatively higher oxygen fugacity are mutually, exclusive in common geological environment, which may probably account for the rare occurrence of this mineral in nature. For the BIF in which laihunite occurs, the pressure caused by the weight of overlying strata is not high enough to give rise to its formation even in the extreme case of geothermal gradient.So it is suggested that additional tectonic pressure in response to plate activity might have been involved.     

中国若干钨矿床相平衡关系

This paper reviews the features of several tungsten ore deposits in southern China, including the Shezhuyuan, Yaogangxian, Xihuashan, Danping, Yiatang and Dajishan mines. The authors think that the formation depth of greisen-type deposits is intermediate between the depths of pegmatite- and porphyry- type deposits. Using phase diagrams of the model system K2O-AhO3-SiO2-H2O-HF, the formation mechanism of greisens has been argued. The variation of mineral assemblages from K-feldspar, muscovite to topaz reflects a gradual increase in acidity. This variation can be used as a criterion to appreciate the depth of mineralization. Equilibria of tungsten minerals in greisen and skarn deposits can be depicted on chemical potential diagrams of the model system CaO-FeO-WO3-CO2-F2O-1. The assemblage wolframite fluorite is shown to have been transformed to scheelite magnetite with decreasing μHP. Depending on CO2 activity in the fluids, there are two distinct phase diagrams.One shows that wolframite is incompatible with calcite, and the other demonstrates that scheelite is incompatible with rhodochrosite. On the phase diagrams of the model system FeO-MnO-WO3-F2S-1, huebnerite is transformed to ferberite with increasing μP1O-1orμF2S-1,During the replacement of wolframite by scheelite, the wolframite residue must have been enriched in Mn.     

Geological Characteristics and Manifestations of Geological Processes of Sequence Boundaries and Their Vicinities

This paper discusses the geological characteristics and architectures of sequence boundaries and their vicinities and has proposed a classification scheme for the sequence boundaries, which can thus be grouped into three types and eight categories: type I includes exposed truncated surface, palaeosol surface, palaeokarst surface and exposed surface; type Ⅱ boundaries include structural transitional surface during sea-level fall and transgressive onlap surface; and type Ⅲ includes submarine erosional diagenetic diastem and event surface. A study has been made for the three major boundaries lying between the Permian and pre-Permian, the Permian and Triassic, and the Middle and Lower Triassic respectively in terms of multiple disciplines such as lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and carbon and oxygen isotopic geology. These three boundaries are ascribed to type I , typeⅡ and typeⅢ, respectively.     

Isotope Hydrogeological Study of Karst Water in the Lu'' an Mining District and the Xin''ancun Spring Basin, Shanxi

Isotope hydrogeological study has shown that the water supply exploration area in the Lu' an coal mine may be divided into four zones of hydrodynamic conditions and the Xin'ancun Spring Basin where the mine is located may be divided into three Middle Ordovician karst water systems. This paper discusses the features of recharge, runoff and discharge of karst water in various zones, and hydrogeological parameters such as the age, flow rate and natural recharge of karst water have been estimated.     

A New Specimen of Liaoceratops yanzigouensis (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China

A new specimen of basal neoceratopsian dinosaur Liaoceratops yanzigouensis is described. The specimen comes from the Lujiatun Bed of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Beipiao City of western Liaoning Province, and is represented by a very well preserved three-dimensional partial skull and mandible. It is also the smallest among the three specimens of L. yanzigouensis, and several features in the new specimen, such as the short preorbital length and the round rostroventral orbital rim, can be ontogenetically-related. The superb exposure of the palatal complex may be caused by the removing of its brain by a small predator in the contemporary Jehol Biota.     

Exploring the metamorphic consequences of secular change in the siliciclastic compositions of continental margins

Shale and greywacke compositions from the Archean to Phanerozoic record a secular change in the siliciclastic material that comprises much of Earth's continental margins, past and present. This study explores the metamorphic consequence of these compositional changes, by comparing phase equilibrium models constructed for average Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic shale and greywacke compositions equilibrated along two Barrovian-type geotherms: 1330℃/GPa(A) and 800 ℃/GPa(B). Our models show that Archean siliciclastic rocks can retain up to 4 vol.% water at middle to lower crustal conditions, nearly twice that of Proterozoic and Phanerozoic compositions. The increased ferromagnesium content of Archean siliciclastic rocks stabilizes chlorite to higher temperatures and results in a biotite-rich assemblage at solidus temperatures. Accordingly, water-absent biotite dehydration melting is predicted to play a greater role in the generation of melt in the metamorphism of Archean aged units,and water-absent muscovite dehydration melting is of increasing importance through the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic. This secular variation in predicted mineral assemblages demonstrates the care with which metamorphic facies diagrams should be applied to Archean compositions. Moreover, secular changes in the composition of shale and greywacke is reflected in the evolution of anatectic melt towards an increasingly less viscous, Ca-rich, and Mg-poor monzogranite.     

REE Abundaces in Megacrysts and Host Basalts：REE Behavior of Magma at High Pressures

Based on REE abundances in megacrysts and host basalts and their equilibrium conditions,it has proved that megacrysts may have been produced from the magma derived from the host rocks or of more basic composition.The REE ratios of megacrysts to host rocks may be taken as partition coefficients when both are equilibrium with each other.The crystal fractionation of megacrysts has caused the evolution of REE in the magma.It is obvious that some host basalts are the product of magma evolution after crystal fractionation.According to REE abundances in the host rocks and the partition coefficients between crystal and liquid,the history of crystal fractionation of magma can be traced.     

DETACHMENT FAULT IN DINGGYE AREA IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE HIMALAYAN OROGEN

Dinggye lies in the middle part of the Himalayan Orogen. A lot of low angle extension detachment faults have been developed in Dinggye area and some of them make up the main body of the South Tibet Detachment System. On the whole, the extension direction of all the detachment faults is perpendicular to the strike of the Himalayan Orogen. Each detachment fault has its distinct characteristics. Mylonite was extensively developed in the detachment faults and can be divided into a variety of types such as siliceous mylonite, felsic mylonite, granite mylonite, protomylonite, crystallization mylonite and so on. On the basis of our field survey works, these detachment faults can be classified according to their locations into three units listed as follows: (1) In the northern part of the study area, the detachment faults occur on large scale and in orbicular shape, and form the middle layer of the metamorphic core complexes. (2) In the southern part of the study area, the detachment faults occur in linear shape that is parallel to the Himalayan Orogen and has a stable attitude, and have undergone two phases of development. In the first phase, the Rouqiechun Group rocks were formed and make up the hanging wall, while in the second phase the Jiachun Group rocks were formed and make up the hanging wall. (3) In the southeastern part of the study area, the detachment faults strike nearly along southeast direction in a stable way and some of these detachment faults were distorted by the late-formed faults and folds. Furthermore, in the southwestern part of the study area, the ductile shear zones are parallel to the detachment faults.     

Experimental Study of Partial Melting of Mantle Peridotite -A Discussion about the Genesis of Sih'ca-rich Fluids (Melts)

Experiments on partial melting of mantle lherzolite have been realized at 0.6 and 1.0 GPa and the chemical compositional variations of melts during different melting stages have been first discussed. The results show that the trends of variations in SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Na2O and TiO2 are different at different melting stages. The melts produced at lower pressure are richer in SiO2 than those at higher pressure. The mantle-derived silica-rich fluids (silicate melts) are polygenetic, but the basic and intermediate-acid silicate melts in mantle peridotite xenoliths from the same host rocks, which have equivalent contents of volatile and alkali components and different contents of other components, should result from in-situ (low-degree) partial melting of mantle peridotite under different conditions (e.g. at different depths, with introduction of C-O-H fluids or in the presence of metasomatic minerals). The intermediate-acid melts may be the result of partial melting (at lower pressure) Opx + Sp + K-Na-rich f     

Major Element Compositions and Rare—earth Element Abundaces of Cenozoic Basalts in Eastern China：Implications for a Pressure Control over LREE／HREE Fractionation in Continental Basalt

Major element compositions and rare-earth element (REE) and transition element(Ni,Cr and V) abundances have been determined on 44 basalt samples from eastern China.These basalts have SiO2 contents ranging from 38.63 to 55.24(wt.%),and Na2O K2O from 3.1 to 9.4(wt.%).Ni and Cr abundances are largely variable,respectively falling in ranges 60-605 and 78-1150 ppm.REE abundances,especially light rare-earth elements(LREE), are highly variable.La/Sm and La/Yb ratios vary 2.8 to 7.6 and 1.8 to 8.1. Although the segregation mainly of olivine and clinopyroxene is requested to account for the vari-able and low MgO,CaO/Al2O3,Cr and Ni characteristic of these basalts studied here,the differ-ences in REE composition of the basalts are still related mainly to the partial melting process.Obvious varations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting process.Obvious variations in REE abundances could be principally attributed to the partial melting processes that took place at different depths,in spite of some variations caused by the fractional crystallization processes.REE abundances and La/Sm and La/Yb ratios systematically decrease with increasing SiO2,which probably indicated that the basaltic magma derived from a deeper level has higher LREE and LREE/HREE ratios than that from a shallower level.As viewed from the fact that the D^Yb/D^La ratios of clinopyroxenes in the basaltic system increase with increasing pressure,the increase of LREE/HUEE ratios with increasing melting depth can be interpreted as the pressure dependence of bulk D^HREE/D^LREE ratios of silicate minerals,in addition to the pressure control over the melting degree.