Fractionated Ilmenite-series Granites in Southwest Japan: Source Magma for REE-Sn-W Mineralizations

Abstract. Various leucocratic biotite granites, low-temperature I-type, from the middle zone of the Sanyo ilmenite-series granitic terrane were studied chemically. These granites are locally associated with REE-Sn-W mineralizations, and were compared with unmineralized granites and batholithic Ryoke granites in three areas of the Chubu, Kinki and Chugoku Districts. They are unique in the region because they have extremely low ferromagnesian components but high Rb/Sr and 10000Ga/Al ratios. These granites are divided petrographically into the main phase, finer-grained marginal phase and younger sheets and dikelets. These rocks have increasing of HREE+Y and Nb+Ta contents in this order, which is also followed by decreasing zircon saturation temperature from 780 to 725C. Together with the mode of occurrence of these granites, the leucogranitic magmas are considered to have formed by in-situ fractionation of the host granitic magmas near the top of the magma chambers. The concentration of HREE, Y, Nb and Ta in these Sanyo Belt leucogranites is principally controlled by magmatic fractionation.     

REE Mineralization of Weathered Crust and Clay Sediment on Granitic Rocks in the Sanyo Belt,SW Japan and the Southern Jiangxi Province,China

Rare earth element (REE) geochemistry and mineralogy have been studied in the weathered crusts derived from the Early Yanshanian (Jurassic) biotite granites of Dabu and Dingnan, as well as in the Indosinian (Permian) muscovite–biotite granite of Aigao in southern Jiangxi province, China, and the weathered crusts and clay sediments on biotite granites in the Sanyo belt, SW Japan, that is, Okayama, Tanakami, and Naegi areas. In all of the weathered crusts, biotite and plagioclase commonly tend to decrease toward the upper part of the profile, whereas kaolinite and residual quartz and K‐feldspar increase. The weathered crusts of the Dingnan granites and some Naegi granites, which are characterized by the enrichment in light REE (LREE) in C horizons, have higher total REE (ΣREE) content than the parent REE‐enriched granites. Weathering of LREE‐bearing apatite and fluorocarbonates in the Dingnan granites and allanite and apatite in some Naegi granites may account for the leaching of LREE at the B horizons. The leached LREE must result in subsequent enrichment of LREE in the C horizons. The enrichment is probably associated with mainly adsorption onto kaolinite and partly formation of possible secondary LREE‐bearing minerals. In Japan it was found that REE mineralization occurs not in the weathered granitic crusts but in reworked clay sediments, especially kaolinite‐rich layers, derived mainly from the weathering materials of REE‐enriched granitic rocks. The clay sediments are more enriched in LREE, which likely adsorbed onto kaolinite. Concentration of heavy REE within almost all the weathered crusts and clay sediments, however, may reflect mainly residual REE‐bearing minerals such as zircon, which originated in the parent granitic rocks. The findings of the present study support the three processes for fractionation of the REE during weathering: (i) selective leaching of rocks containing both stable and unstable REE‐bearing minerals; (ii) adsorption onto clay minerals; and (iii) presence of possible secondary LREE‐bearing minerals.     

Petrological and geochemical characteristics of Zhaibei granites in Nanling region,Southeast China: Implications for REE mineralization

Mineralization with ion adsorption rare earth elements (REEs) in the weathering profile of granitoid rocks from Nanling region of Southeast China is an important REE resource, especially for heavy REE (HREE) and Y. However, the Jurassic granites in Zhaibei which host the ion adsorption light REE (LREE) ores are rare. It is of peraluminous and high K calc-alkaline composition, which has similar geochemical features of high K₂O + Na₂O and Zr + Nb + Ce + Y contents and Ga/Al ratio to A-type granite. Based on the chemical discrimination criteria of Eby [Geology 20 (1992) 641], the Zhaibei granite belongs to A1-type and has similar source to ocean island basalts. The rock is enriched in LREE and contains abundant REE minerals including LREE-phosphates and halides. Minor LREE was also determined in the feldspar and biotite, which shows negligible and negative Eu anomalies, respectively. This indicates that the Zhaibei granite was generated by extreme differentiation of basaltic parent magmas. In contrast, granites associated with ion adsorption HREE ores contain amounts of HREE minerals, and show similar geochemical characteristics with fractionated felsic granites. Note that most Jurassic granitoids in the Nanling region contain no REE minerals and cannot produce REE mineralization. They belong to unfractionated M-, I- and S-type granites. Therefore, accumulation of REE in the weathering profile is controlled by primary REE mineral compositions in the granitoids. Intense fractional crystallization plays a role on REE enrichment in the Nanling granitoid rocks.     

Geology and rare-earth element geochemistry of highly evolved, molybdenite-bearing granitic plutons, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

The field relations, mineralogy, and major and trace elements (including REE analyses of whole-rock samples and minerals) of granites and their associated molybdenite uranium mineralized aplites in Southeastern Desert, Egypt, have been studied. The granites are leucocratic and mostly peraluminous in nature with muscovite increasing at the expense of biotite. The chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the granitic rocks indicate that their melts originated from the LILE-enriched mantle wedge by partial melting and are contaminated by crustal melts, followed by thermogravitational processes. Leucogranites with higher Na2O/K2O ratios from Um Dargag and Um Maiat crystallized under H2O-saturated equilibrium conditions in which the exsolved vapor continuously migrated away. The REE patterns of the granites studied are characterized by LREE enrichments and negative Eu anomalies. In comparison, the potassic aplites and the more sodic leucogranites are depleted in LREE, enriched in HREE and show more remarkable negative Eu anomalies. Allanite and monazite are the most important REE carriers in the granites. These minerals are strongly enriched in LREE, whereas fluorite and xenotime, which are more abundant in the aplites, are enriched in HREE. The average Lu/Ce ratio represents the fractionation trend with respect to HREE. It is 0.71 for radioactive fluorite, and it increases to 1.22 for non-radioactive fluorite. The high REE contents of molybdenite represent re-deposition of the mobilized Mo and REE. Due to the strong control of accessory minerals, the REEs are of limited use in petrogenetic modelling of highly evolved granitic systems.     

“寨背式”离子吸附型稀土矿床多类型稀土矿化及其成因

赣南寨背离子吸附型稀土矿床产于寨背复式花岗岩体的风化壳中,自20世纪80年代发现以来一直以轻稀土型开采,近年在轻稀土型花岗岩风化壳中发现了重稀土矿。为了探讨轻稀土型花岗岩风化过程中重稀土元素的迁移、分馏和富集机制,本文选择了区内三个具有代表性的风化壳钻孔(ZK1、ZK2和ZK4)对其进行了全相和离子交换相稀土元素地球化学研究。结果显示：钻孔ZK4中离子交换相稀土含量介于14.90×10^-6～835.8×10^-6之间,并富集轻稀土(LREE/HREE=2.28～10.78);钻孔ZK1中离子交换相稀土含量达1470×10^-6(9件样品均值),具有从轻稀土型向重稀土型过渡的配分特征(LREE/HREE=1.30～1.65),并且剖面自上而下显示轻、重稀土逐渐富集的趋势;钻孔ZK2中离子交换相稀土含量为492.4×10^-6(8件样品均值),自上而下稀土配分类型从轻稀土型过渡至重稀土型(LREE/HREE=0.43～2.25),且轻稀土富集在全风化层上部而重稀土则富集在下部。三个钻孔的Nb/Ta和Zr/Hf...     

微量元素模拟限定大别造山带中生代花岗岩类的源岩成分

摘 要　 大陆碰撞造山带中花岗岩浆主要是因下部地壳缺乏流体熔融过程而形成的。对其源 岩成分限制而进行的微量元素模拟不仅要考虑源岩和熔体中有关矿物相比例的变化‚还要考 虑熔融过程中源岩矿物相组合的变化‚并选择合适的元素用于模拟。Rb、Sr、Ba 和 REE 模拟 结果显示‚上溪群杂砂岩作为扬子隆起带中生代花岗岩类的源岩是不合适的：大别隆起带中 的中生代花岗岩类也不可能完全由大别杂岩中的 TTG 质片麻岩熔融形成‚更可能是变基性岩 和 TTG 质片麻岩构成的复合源岩熔融的结果。     

Fractionation characteristics of rare earth elements (REEs) linked with secondary Fe,Mn, and Al minerals in soils

Soil secondary minerals are important scavengers of rare earth elements (REEs) in soils and thus affect geochemical behavior and occurrence of REEs. The fractionation of REEs is a common geochemical phenomenon in soils but has received little attention, especially fractionation induced by secondary minerals. In this study, REEs (La to Lu and Y) associated with soil-abundant secondary minerals Fe-, Al-, and Mn-oxides in 196 soil samples were investigated to explore the fractionation and anomalies of REEs related to the minerals. The results show right-inclined chondrite-normalized REE patterns for La–Lu in soils subjected to total soil digestion and partial soil extraction. Light REEs (LREEs) enrichment features were negatively correlated with a Eu anomaly and positively correlated with a Ce anomaly. The fractionation between LREEs and heavy REEs (HREEs) was attributed to the high adsorption affinity of LREEs to secondary minerals and the preferred activation/leaching of HREEs. The substantial fractions of REEs in soils extracted by oxalate and Dithionite-Citrate-Bicarbonate buffer solutions were labile (10 %–30 %), which were similar to the mass fraction of Fe (10 %–20 %). Furthermore, Eu was found to be more mobile than the other REEs in the soils, whereas Ce was less mobile. These results add to our understanding of the distribution and geochemical behavior of REEs in soils, and also help to deduce the conditions of soil formation from REE fractionation.     

华北北部武川-康保地区中元古代晚期花岗岩类基本特征及其构造意义

华北板块北缘武川一康保地区出露的中元古代晚期花岗岩主要为黑云母花岗岩类和二长花岗岩类，化学成分富SiO2、K2O，贫FeO、CaO、MgO，TiO2 A/CNK平均大于1．1，具过铝质花岗岩特征。微量元素Nb、Sr、P、Ti相对亏损，而Rb、K、Ta、Nd相对富集；轻重稀土较强分馏(La／Yb)N=6．61～54．63，负铕异常明显，具有碰撞成因s型花岗岩特征。花岗岩呈东西向带状展布，并与北侧白乃庙(白乃庙群)和阜新旧庙(魏家沟岩群)中元古代古岛弧链及开原蛇绿混杂岩带平行，这表明该区中元古代晚期存在一个强烈的俯冲碰撞造山过程，同碰撞花岗岩带的存在无疑是该区中元古代造山带的重要标志，这一碰撞造山事件为华北板块在Rodinia超大陆的拼合模式提供了最基本的制约条件。     

A型花岗岩的微量元素地球化学

本文总结和评述了A型花岗岩典型的微量元素特征,如富集Ga、稀土元素（除Eu外）和高场强元素,亏损Ba、Sr和明显的Eu负异常。分别讨论了影响微量元素特征的多种制约因素,主要包括源区性质、岩浆的物理化学条件、岩浆作用过程和络合作用。通过对比世界范围内几个地区相伴生的碱性A型花岗岩和铝质A型花岗岩的微量元素地球化学特征,发现前者Ga、F含量更高,而轻重稀土比值小,Eu、Ba、Sr等元素含量更低,显示了前者的岩浆分异作用更强,同时说明了碱性A型花岗岩可以由与之伴生的铝质A型花岗岩分异而来。     

Zonal distribution of oxygen isotope ratios in the Hiroshima granite complex,Southwest Japan

¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios have been obtained for 99 minerals from rocks of the Hiroshima granite complex and adjacent Ryoke granites. Zonal distribution of oxygen isotopes is observed on a regional scale almost parallel to the extension of the Ryoke plutono-metamorphic belt, granites in or around the metamorphic belt being 2–3%₀ richer in ¹⁸O than those farther away from the belt. Isotopic fractionations among coexisting minerals indicate that isotopic zonation existed at a magmatic stage. The zonal enrichment of ¹⁸O in the granite magma in the Ryoke belt and its periphery is a result of isotopic interaction between country rocks and the magma through fluid media. Genetic relationship between granites of the Ryoke and Chugoku belts are discussed with regard to the geological situation of the former belt.     

南岭花岗岩类起源与稀土元素的分馏

南岭地区广泛发育的不同时代的各种花岗岩类是古老基底(1200—1800Ma)活化重熔的产物。在花岗岩的形成和演化过程中,有五种最主要的方式造成REE的分馏作用:(1)部分熔融作用;(2)分离结晶作用;(3)热重力扩散作用;(4)变质-混合岩化作用和(5)热液流体作用。其中第(2)和(3)种作用是引起HREE富集的最主要过程。地质构造背景、铅锶同位素组成和锆石群型资料一致表明:岩浆演化的局部物理化学环境是控制REE分馏的关键因素。     

The Geochemical and Zircon Trace Elements Characteristics of A-type Granitoids in Boziguoer,Baicheng County,Xinjiang

The Boziguoer A-type granitoids in Baicheng County,Xinjiang,belong to the northern margin of the Tarim platform as well as the neighboring EW-oriented alkaline intrusive rocks.The rocks comprise an aegirine or arfvedsonite quartz alkali feldspar syenite,an aegirine or arfvedsonite alkali feldspar granite,and a biotite alkali feldspar syenite.The major rock-forming minerals are albite,K-feldspar,quartz,arfvedsonite,aegirine,and siderophyllite.The accessory minerals are mainly zircon,pyrochlore,thorite,fluorite,monazite,bastnaesite,xenotime,and astrophyllite.The chemical composition of the alkaline granitoids show that SiO2 varies from 64.55％ to 72.29％ with a mean value of 67.32％,Na2O＋K2O is high （9.85％-11.87％） with a mean of 11.14％,K2O is 2.39％-5.47％ （mean =4.73％）,the K2O/Na2O ratios are 0.31-0.96,Al2O3 ranges from 12.58％ to 15.44％,and total FeOT is between 2.35％ and 5.65％.CaO,MgO,MnO,and TiO2 are low.The REE content is high and the total SREE is （263-1219） ppm （mean =776 ppm）,showing LREE enrichment and HREE depletion with strong negative Eu anomalies.In addition,the chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the alkaline granitoids belong to the ＂seagull＂ pattern of the right-type.The Zr content is （113-1246） ppm （mean =594 ppm）,Zr＋Nb＋Ce＋Y is between （478-2203） ppm with a mean of 1362 ppm.Furthermore,the alkaline granitoids have high HFSE （Ga,Nb,Ta,Zr,and Hf） content and low LILE （Ba,K,and Sr） content.The Nb/Ta ratio varies from 7.23 to 32.59 （mean =16.59） and the Zr/Hf ratio is 16.69-58.04 （mean =36.80）.The zircons are depleted in LREE and enriched in HREE.The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the zircons are of the ＂seagull＂ pattern of the left-inclined type with strong negative Eu anomaly and without a Ce anomaly.The Boziguoer A-type granitoids share similar features with A1-type granites.The average temperature of the granitic magma was estimated at 832-839℃.The Boziguoer A-type granitoids show crust-mantle mixing and may have formed in an anorogenic intraplate tectonic setting under high-temperature,anhydrous,and low oxygen fugacity conditions.     

Are South China granites special in forming ion-adsorption REE deposits?

Ion-adsorption REE deposits associated with clay minerals are the main global HREE producer. The majority of these deposits are formed by the weathering of granites in South China, but whether there is any fundamental difference between the granites in and outside South China is still unclear. Besides, an effective evaluation system of granite mineralization potential is urgently needed for HREE exploration.To answer this question, we compiled a global granite geochemical dataset from within (n = 1932) and outside (n = 6109) South China, together with a dataset of representative REE deposits in South China (n = 128). The geochemical comparation shows that the South China granites share similar REE contents with those of many granites from places outside South China. Such similarity has also been found between REE ore-related and ore-barren granites in South China. This shows that granites from outside South China could also have ore-forming potential. Warm humid climate and quasi-equalized crustal state promote chemical weathering to continuously leach REEs and store them in the weathering crust. The enrichment ratio (Rx) can be used to quantify the climatic effect between orebodies and parent rocks. The calculated average Enrichment Ratios (Rx) of LREE- and HREE-rich deposits are 2.41 and 2.68, respectively. Sufficient REE content in granite is the prerequisite for mineralization, and we propose that the combination of the minimum REE + Y (172 and 108 ppm in LREE- and HREE-rich parent rocks, respectively) and REE oxide ratio (1.32) can reveal the granite metallogenic potential. Together with the suitable tropical and temperate climate area with ion-adsorption REE deposits, we further identified certain regions with high REE mineralization potential outside South China to assist future exploration.     

北山柳园地区双峰山早泥盆世A型花岗岩的确定及其构造演化意义

北山柳园地区分布有大量的早中古生代花岗岩类岩石.柳园双峰山岩体具有高硅、高碱(AR=3.99～5.05,NK/A>0.85)、高FeOT/MgO比值和10 000×Ga/Al值、低Al2O3、贫CaO和MgO的特征,显示出准铝质、碱质花岗岩的特点;∑REE较高,LREE略富集,轻重稀土元素分馏不十分明显,Eu负异常明显;相对富集Rb、K、Pb等大离子亲石元素(LILE),强烈亏损Ba、Sr、P、Eu、Ti,弱亏损Ta、Nb等元素;同时具有较高的Rb/Nb和Y/Nb比值,显示了A2型铝质花岗岩的特征.采用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年方法,获得双峰山岩体的206Pb/238U年龄为415±3 Ma(MSWD=1.5),代表该岩体的形成年龄,即双峰山岩体形成于早泥盆世.地球化学及Nd同位素特征综合分析显示,该岩体可能由幔源岩浆底侵导致上覆地壳物质(可能由洋壳和岛弧建造组成)部分熔融形成的花岗闪长质岩浆经进一步结晶分异作用形成,为该区较早的钙碱性花岗岩演化到后期的产物.岩体特征、年代学、地球化学和地质背景综合分析结果表明,该岩体形成于后造山或造山作用演化晚期阶段.双峰山早泥盆世A型花岗岩为目前北山地区发现的最老的A型花岗岩,这对探讨古生代花岗岩成因类型及岩浆演化具有重要的意义.     

Coexistence of a Fluid Phase with Granitic Magma: Geochemical Characteristics of REE and Cu in Miyako Granite and in Scheelite-bearing Aplitic Veins at the Yamaguchi Cu-W Skarn Deposit, Iwate, Japan

Abstract: The North granitic body of the Miyako pluton is located in the Northern Kitakami belt, Northeast Japan. The formation of the scheelite–chalcopyrite–magnetite–bearing aplitic veins and scheelite–chalcopyrite–magnetite–bearing Yamaguchi skarn deposit was closely associated with the formation of the Miyako plutons. Petrographic facies of the North granitic body vary from quartz diorite in marginal zone (zone A), to tonalite and granodiorite (zone B), and to granite (zone C) in the central. The large numbers of aplitic veins distributed around the Yamaguchi mining area are divided into two groups: barren and scheelite–mag–netite–chalcopyrite–bearing aplitic veins. The latter cut massive clinopyroxene skarns of the Yamaguchi deposit, and are composed of plagioclase, K‐feldspar and titanite. Some plagioclase crystals have dusty cores with irregularly shaped K‐feldspar flakes, and clear rims of albite. Textures of plagioclase in the mineralized aplitic veins are different from the idiomorphic textures with sharp plagioclase crystal boundaries that occur in the North granitic body and barren aplitic veins. These textural data suggest that the mineralized aplitic veins were formed from hydrothermal fluid. Changes in the contents of major and minor (Rb, Sr, Sc, Co, Th, U) elements in the North Miyako granitic body are similar to those of zoned plutons formed by typical magmatic differentiation processes. On the other hand, concentrations of REE, especially middle to heavy REE, of granitic rocks in zone C and barren aplitic veins are significantly lower than those of granitic rocks in zones A and B. The hypothetical chondrite‐normalized REE patterns, calculated assuming fractional crystallization from zone B granitic melt, suggest that REE concentrations of the residual melt increased with the degree of fractional crystallization, and changed into a pattern with enriched LREE and strongly negative Eu anomaly. However, the REE patterns of granitic rocks in zone C are different from the hypothetical patterns. Moreover, the REE patterns of magnetite–scheelite–chalcopyrite aplitic veins are quite different from those of granitic rocks. The Cu contents of granitic rocks in the North Miyako body increase from zone A (5–26 ppm) to zone B (10–26 ppm), and then clearly decrease to zone C (5–7 ppm) and drastically increase to the barren aplitic veins (39–235 ppm). Concentrations of Cu in the mineralized aplitic veins are also higher than those of the granitic rocks in zone C. The decrease in REE and Cu contents of granitic rocks from zone B to zone C is not a result of simple magmatic fractional differentiation. Fluid inclusions in quartz from mineralized aplitic veins contain 3.3 wt% NaCl equivalent and 5.8 wt% CO₂. It was also demonstrated experimentally that the removal of MREE and HREE by fluid from melt enabled the formation of complexes of REE and ligands of OH^‐ and CO₃^2‐. Based on the possibility that the melt of the granitic rocks of zone C and the mineralized aplitic veins coexisted with CO₂‐bearing fluid, it is thought that REE were extracted from the melt to the CO₂‐bearing fluid, and that the REE in the mineralized aplitic veins were transported by the CO₂‐bearing fluid. It is likely that the low HREE and Cu contents of the granitic rocks in zone C could have been caused by the removal of those elements from the granitic melt by the fluid coexisting with the melt. The expelled materials could have been the sources of scheelite–magnetite–chalcopyrite–bearing aplitic veins and copper mineralization of the Yamaguchi Cu‐W skarn deposit.     

Genesis for Rare Earth Elements Enrichment in the Permian Manganese Deposits in Zunyi,Guizhou Province,SW China

The Zunyi manganese deposits, which formed during the Middle to Late Permian period and are located in northern Guizhou and adjacent areas, are the core area of a series of large-medium scale manganese enrichment minerogenesis in the southern margin and interior of the Yangtze platform, Southern China. This study reports the universal enrichment of rare earth elements(REEs) in Zunyi manganese deposits and examines the enrichment characteristics, metallogenic environment and genesis of REEs. The manganese ore bodies present stratiform or stratoid in shape, hosted in the silicon–mud–limestones of the Late Permian Maokou Formation. The manganese ores generally present lamellar, massive, banded and brecciated structures, and mainly consist of rhodochrosite, ropperite, tetalite, capillitite, as well as contains paragenetic gangue minerals including pyrite, chalcopyrite, rutile, barite, tuffaceous clay rock, etc. The manganese ores have higher ΣREE contents range from 158 to 1138.9 ppm(average 509.54 ppm). In addition, the ΣREE contents of tuffaceous clay rock in ore beds vary from 1032.2 to 1824.5 ppm(average 1396.42 ppm). The REEs from manganese deposits are characterized by La, Ce, Nd and Y enriched, and existing in the form of independent minerals(e.g., monazite and xenotime), indicating Zunyi manganese deposits enriched in light rare earth elements(LREE). The Ce_(anom) ratios(average-0.13) and lithofacies and paleogeography characteristics indicate that Zunyi manganese deposits were formed in a weak oxidation-reduction environment. The(La/Yb)_(ch), Y/Ho,(La/Nd)_N,(Dy/Yb)_N, Ce/Ce* and Eu/Eu* values of samples from the Zunyi manganese deposits are 5.53–56.92, 18–39, 1.42–3.15, 0.55–2.20, 0.21–1.76 and 0.48–0.86, respectively, indicating a hydrothermal origin for the manganese mineralization and REEs enrichment. The δ~(13) C_(V-PDB)(-0.54 to-18.1‰) and δ~(18) O_(SMOW)(21.6 to 26.0‰) characteristics of manganese ores reveal a mixed source of magmatic and organic matter. Moreover, the manganese ore, tuffaceous clay rock and Emeishan basalt have extremely similar REE fractionation characteristic, suggesting REEs enrichment and manganese mineralization have been mainly origin from hydrothermal fluids.     

Uranium mineralization in the muscovite-rich granites of the Shalatin region, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

1INTRODUCTION THELATEPRECAMBRIANGRANITOIDSOFTHEARABONU BIANSHIELDINEGYPTWEREEXPOSEDBYEARLYTOMIDDLE TERTIARYUPLIFTANDENSUINGEROSIONDURINGTHEREDSEA RIFTINGEVENT(GREENBERG,1981).THEREAREANUMBER OFEFFECTIVEANDRELATIVELYSUCCESSFULSCHEMESFORTHE CLASSIFICATIONOF…     

Tectono–Magmatic Evolution and Metallogenesis along the Northeast Jiangxi Deep Fault, China

Abstract: From the southernmost part of Jiangsu province to the northeastern part of Jiangxi province, China, the Northeast Jiangxi Deep Fault runs for about 400 km length with a width of 30 to 40 km. This fault marks the suture zone of two ter-ranes of Proterozoic age. At the both sides of the fault, Yanshanian granitic activity is recognized. That is, the Dexing-Wuyuan porphyry belt on the NW side of the fault, and the Damaoshan-Lingshan granite belt on the SE side. The former activity is characterized by the occurrence of small stocks of granodioritic composition, rich in siderophile elements but poor in LIL elements. No distinct Eu anomaly is recognized in the REE pattern, and a low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio is reported. Magnetite, sphene and apatite are observed as accessory minerals. On the contrary, granitic activity on the SE side of the fault is characterized by the occurrence of composite batholiths, in general of granitic to monzogranitic composition, rich in LIL and alkali elements but poor in siderophile and alkali earth elements. A strong Eu anamaly is recognized in the REE pattern, and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are as high as 0. 716. Fluorite, zircon and REE minerals are observed as accessory minerals. These two contrasting granitic activities are refered to as syntexis– and transformation–types, respectively, following the classification commonly used in China, and have similar petrochemical characteristics to those defined for the magnetite– and ilmenite–series, and I– and S-type granitoids. Considering that the above igneous activity occurred far from the supposed subduction zone along the East Coast of China, intracontinental A-type (continent to continent) subduction is proposed to have occurred northwestwards along the NE Jiangxi Deep Fault during Yanshanian time due to a strong compressional stress from SE to NW. A-type subduction introduced the continental slab to some depth, and resulted in the production of the paired granitic activity observed on both sides of the fault. Many mineral deposits are associated with both granitic belts. In the Dexing-Wuyuan porphyry belt, the Dexing porphyry Cu and Yinshan polymetallic deposits are representative, whereas in the Damaoshan-Lingshan granite belt, several tens of rare metal deposits are known such as the Geyuan Nb–Ta–W–Sn deposits. Metal assemblages of those deposits reflect the source materials of magmas in both granitic belts.     

Rare Earth Element Determination in Olivine by Laser Ablation‐Quadrupole‐ICP‐MS: An Analytical Strategy and Applications

Olivine offers huge, largely untapped, potential for improving our understanding of magmatic and metasomatic processes. In particular, a wealth of information is contained in rare earth element (REE) mass fractions, which are well studied in other minerals. However, REE data for olivine are scarce, reflecting the difficulty associated with determining mass fractions in the low ng g^?1 range and with controlling the effects of LREE contamination. We report an analytical procedure for measuring REEs in olivine using laser ablation quadrupole‐ICP‐MS that achieved limits of determination (LOD) at sub‐ng g^?1 levels and biases of ~ 5–10%. Empirical partition coefficients (D values) calculated using the new olivine compositions agree with experimental values, indicating that the measured REEs are structurally bound in the olivine crystal lattice, rather than residing in micro‐inclusions. We conducted an initial survey of REE contents of olivine from mantle, metamorphic, magmatic and meteorite samples. REE mass fractions vary from 0.1 to double‐digit ng g^?1 levels. Heavy REEs vary from low mass fractions in meteoritic samples, through variably enriched peridotitic olivine to high mass fractions in magmatic olivines, with fayalitic olivines showing the highest levels. The variable enrichment in HREEs demonstrates that olivine REE patterns have petrological utility.     

Resource Evaluation and Some Genetic Aspects of Indium in the Japanese Ore Deposits

Abstract. There have been two primary sources for industrial indium; one from massive sulfides, while the other is dissemination-veins and skarns, related to felsic igneous rocks. The latter group of the In-bearing deposits is abundant in the Japanese Islands. Indium occurs as In-minerals such as sakuraiite, roquesite, laforetite and many unidentified minerals, but the majority is contained as an impurity in sphalerite, and tin and copper sulfides. Average grades of the ores from which indium has been extracted vary from a few ppm (e.g., Kosaka mine) to more than 300 ppm (Toyoha mine). The amount of indium in all the major basemetal deposits is estimated by analyzing representative samples. The main indium deposits are subvolcanic and tin-poly-metallic vein types. The largest one is Toyoha mine (4,700 tons hi) and the Ashio mine (ca. 1,200 tons In) was found to be the second largest. Many small occurrences, were recognized in the Miocene magnetite-series belt, besides the classic occurrences in the ilmenite-series granitic terrains of SW Japan, including the Ikuno and Akenobe tin(-tungsten) polymetallic veins, located in the northern margin of the late Cretaceous Sanyo ilmenite-series province. Magnetite-series magmas with deep source are necessary to concentrate sulfur in the magma chamber but sedimentary source rocks and their reducing agents are needed to collect and to precipitate indium. The Japanese islands are essentially accretionary terrains intruded by various deep oxidized magmas; thus forming magnetite/ilmenite-series paired belts, which are sometimes mixed. This unique geologic setting may be the most fundamental reason why indium is rich in vein-type deposits of the Japanese Island arcs.