Fluid flow and mineralization of Youjiang Basin in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi area,China

Comprehensive studies, based on isotope geochemistry of C, H, O, S and Sr, chronology, common element and trace element geochemistry of fluid inclusions for the epithermal Au, As, Sb and Hg deposits in the Youjiang Basin and its peripheral areas, suggested that the ore fluid was the basin fluid with abundant metallic elements and the large-scale fluid flow of the same source in the late Yenshan stage was responsible for huge epithermal mineralization and silicification. The ore fluid flowed from the basin to the platform between the basin and the platform and migrated from the inter-platform basin to the isolated platform in the Youjiang Basin. The synsedimentary faults and paleokast surface acted respectively as main conduits for vertical and lateral fluid flow.     

Fluid flow and mineralization of Youjiang Basin in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi area,China

Comprehensive studies, based on isotope geochemistry of C, H, O, S and Sr, chronology, common element and trace element geochemistry of fluid inclusions for the epithermal Au, As, Sb and Hg deposits in the Youjiang Basin and its peripheral areas, suggested that the ore fluid was the basin fluid with abundant metallic elements and the large-scale fluid flow of the same source in the late Yenshan stage was responsible for huge epithermal mineralization and silicification. The ore fluid flowed from the basin to the platform between the basin and the platform and migrated from the inter-platform basin to the isolated platform in the Youjiang Basin. The synsedimentary faults and paleokast surface acted respectively as main conduits for vertical and lateral fluid flow.

     

Relations between A-type granites and copper mineralization as exemplified by the Machangqing Cu deposit

This paper deals with the relations between the Machangqing rockbody which corresponds to the A-type granites and porphyry copper mineralization in terms of petrochemistry, trace element geochemistry, fluid inclusion geochemistry and isotope geochemistry. The results show that the Machangqing porphyry copper deposit was formed from the fluid predominated by mag-matic fluid. This kind of ore-forming fluid was just differentiated from the magma responsible for the A-type granites. Therefore, as viewed from whether they contain water or not, the A-type granites can, at least, be divided into two types: water-bearing and water-free. The water-bearing A-type granites can serve as the host of porphyry copper deposits under certain geological conditions.     

Basical characteristics of fluid geologic process of interlayer oxidation zone sandstone-typeuranium deposit

This paper reveals the physicochemical properties such as component, formulation, genesis, tem- perature, pH, Eh, salinity and pressure of all main alteration fluid of interlayer oxidation zone sand- stone-type uranium deposits after studying the geologic process and geochemistry of internal typical sandstone-type uranium deposits such as Shihongtan deposit in the Turpan-Hami basin, 512 deposit in the Yili basin, Dongsheng deposit in the Ordos basin. The composition of fluid can be divided into two parts based on the analysis of inclusion one can be affirmed as atmospheric water with ordinary temperature epigenesist according to the character of hydrogen and oxygen isotope of inclusion, the other is natural gas containing gaseous hydrocarbon like CH4, and CO2 as well as a little H2S, CO, H2, N2 and so on, it always contains a small quantity of hydrocarbon liquid in petroliferous basins. The fluid property of oxidation alteration zone is always oxidation alkaline, and neutrality or weak acid-weak alkaline and reducibility during the metallizing process, but at secondary reduction or deoxidization zone it becomes strong reduction alkaline. Oxygenic groundwater in the fluid is the activate and mig- ratory medium of uranium element, but the gaseous hydrocarbon like CH4 as well as H2, H2S, CO from natural gas is the important sedimentary reducer of uranium mineral; the transformation of pH,Eh in fluid environment is the main reason for the formation of uranium metallization.     

Geothermal and fluid flowing simulation of ore-forming antimony deposits in Xikuangshan

1 Introduction The Mid-Hunan Basin is located in the south mar- gin of the Ancient Island Arc of Dong’an-Xuefeng and the north part of the interarc basin of Hercynian- Indosinian in Hunan-Guangxi. The basement rock of the basin, which is mainly distributed along the mar- ginal area of the basin and some interior sub-uplifts, is composed of pre-Devonian epimetamorphic-clastic rocks in great thickness, and the cap rock of the basin are dominated by carbonate rock and clastic rocks of Paleo…     

On the role of buoyancy force in the ore genesis of SEDEX deposits: Example from Northern Australia

Finite element modeling on a highly conceptualized 2-D model of fluid flow and heat transport is un-dertaken to simulate the paleo-hydrological system as if the Mount Isa deposits were being formed in the Mount Isa basin, Northern Australia, and to evaluate the potential of buoyancy force in driving ba-sin-scale fluid flow for the formation of sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX) deposits. Our numerical case studies indicate that buoyancy-driven fluid flow is controlled mainly by the fault penetration depth and i...     

Paleogeothermal gradient and geologic thermal history of the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang

Synthetical research has been done on the geological thermal history of the Turpan-Hami Basin by using vitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusion geothermometry and fission track. The geotcmperature of the Turpan-Hami Basin has the character that suggests higher temperature in the past, in the east and south of the basin, and in the areas of large-fracture, and lower temperature in the present day and in the west and north of the basin. This feature is controlled by the difference of burial depth of basement and heat flow values, which made Permian source rock mature in the late Triassic and Jurassic source rock mature at the end of Jurassic and the early Tertiary. Project supported by the Chinese Tnrpan-Hami Oil Field cooperation project.     

The characteristics,origins, and geodynamic settings of supergiant gold metallogenic provinces

There are six distinct classes of gold deposits, each represented by metallogenic provinces, having 100's to >1000 tonne gold production. The deposit classes are: (1) orogenic gold; (2) Carlin and Carlin-like gold deposits; (3) epithermal gold-silver deposits; (4) copper-gold porphyry deposits; (5) iron-oxide copper-gold deposits; and (6) gold-rich volcanic hosted massive sulfide (VMS) to sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits. This classification is based on ore and alteration mineral assemblages; ore and alteration metal budgets; ore fluid pressure(s) and compositions; crustal depth or depth ranges of formation; relationship to structures and/or magmatic intrusions at a variety of scales; and relationship to the P-T-t evolution of the host terrane. These classes reflect distinct geodynamic settings. Orogenic gold deposits are generated at mid-crustal (4–16 km) levels proximal to terrane boundaries, in transpressional subduction-accretion complexes of Cordilleran style orogenic belts; other orogenic gold provinces form inboard, by delamination of mantle lithosphere, or plume impingement. Carlin and Carlin-like gold deposits develop at shallow crustal levels (<4 km) in extensional convergent margin continental arcs or back arcs; some provinces may involve asthenosphere plume impingement on the base of the lithosphere. Epithermal gold and copper-gold porphyry deposits are sited at shallow crustal levels in continental margin or intraoceanic arcs. Iron oxide copper-gold deposits form at mid to shallow crustal levels; they are associated with extensional intracratonic anorogenic magmatism. Proterozoic examples are sited at the transition from thick refractory Archean mantle lithosphere to thinner Proterozoic mantle lithosphere. Gold-rich VMS deposits are hydrothermal accumulations on or near the seafloor in continental or intraoceanic back arcs.

The compressional tectonics of orogenic gold deposits is generated by terrane accretion; high heat flow stems from crustal thickening, delamination of overthickened mantle lithosphere inducing advection of hot asthenosphere, or asthenosphere plume impingement. Ore fluids advect at lithostatic pressures. The extensional settings of Carlin, epithermal, and copper-gold porphyry deposits result from slab rollback driven by negative buoyancy of the subducting plate, and associated induced convection in asthenosphere below the over-riding lithospheric plate. Extension thins the lithosphere, advecting asthenosphere heat, promotes advection of mantle lithosphere and crustal magmas to shallow crustal levels, and enhances hydraulic conductivity. Siting of some copper-gold porphyry deposits is controlled by arc parallel or orthogonal structures that in turn reflect deflections or windows in the slab. Ore fluids in Carlin and epithermal deposits were at near hydrostatic pressures, with unconstrained magmatic fluid input, whereas ore fluids generating porphyry copper-gold deposits were initially magmatic and lithostatic, evolving to hydrostatic pressures. Fertilization of previously depleted sub-arc mantle lithosphere by fluids or melts from the subducting plate, or incompatible element enriched asthenosphere plumes, is likely a factor in generation of these gold deposits. Iron oxide copper-gold deposits involve prior fertilization of Archean mantle lithosphere by incompatible element enriched asthenospheric plume liquids, and subsequent intracontinental anorogenic magmatism driven by decompressional extension from far-field plate forces. Halogen rich mantle lithosphere and crustal magmas likely are the causative intrusions for the deposits, with a deep crustal proximal to shallow crustal distal association. Gold-rich VMS deposits develop in extensional geodynamic settings, where thinned lithosphere extension drives high heat flow and enhanced hydraulic conductivity, as for epithermal deposits. Ore fluids induced hydrostatic convection of modified seawater, with unconstrained magmatic input. Some gold-rich VMS deposits with an epithermal metal budget may be submarine counterparts of terrestrial epithermal gold deposits. Real time analogs for all of these gold deposit classes are known in the geodynamic settings described, excepting iron oxide copper-gold deposits.

     

Determination of paleo-pressure for a natural gas pool formation based on PVT characteristics of fluid inclusions in reservoir rocks--A case study of Upper-Paleozoic deep basin gas trap of the Ordos Basin

It has been proved to be a difficult problem to determine directly trapping pressure of fluid inclusions. Recently, PVT simulation softwares have been applied to simulating the trapping pressure of petroleum inclusions in reservoir rocks, but the reported methods have many limitations in practice. In this paper, a method is suggested to calculating the trapping pressure and temperature of fluid inclusions by combining the isochore equations of a gas-bearing aqueous inclusion with its coeval petroleum inclusions. A case study was conducted by this method for fluid inclusions occurring in the Upper-Paleozoic Shanxi Formation reservoir sandstones from the Ordos Basin. The results show that the trapping pressure of these inclusions ranges from 21 to 32 MPa, which is 6-7 MPa higher than their minimum trapping pressure although the trapping temperature is only 2-3℃ higher than the homogenization temperature. The trapping pressure and temperature of the fluid inclusions decrease from southern area to northern area of the basin.The trapping pressure is obviously lower than the state water pressures when the inclusions formed. These data are consistent with the regional geological and geochemical conditions of the basin when the deep basin gas trap formed.     

Geochemical discriminations of sandstones from the Mohe Foreland basin,northeastern China: Tectonic setting and provenance

The Mohe region near the border area of China with Russia is in Heilongjiang Province. Topographically the area consists of lower mountains or hills situated at the northern end of the Da Hinggan Mountains. Struc-turally the Mohe basin rests on the north margin of the Ergun Block, and the Mongol-Okhotsk Orogen is lo-cated to the north of the basin. Due to poor access conditions and good vegetation coverage, previous researches on the basin are much weak with few spe-cial geological inves…     

Variations in trace element geochemistry in the Seine River Basin based on floodplain deposits and bed sediments

Between 1990 and 1995 a series of bed sediment, suspended sediment and fresh floodplain samples were collected within the Seine River Basin, in France, to evaluate variations in trace element geochemistry. Average background trace element levels for the basin were determined from the collection and subsequent analyses of bed sediment samples from small rural watersheds and from a prehistoric (5000 BP) site in Paris. Concentrations are relatively low, and similar to those observed for fine‐grained bed sediments from unaffected areas in the United States and Canada. However, the concentrations are somewhat higher than the reference levels presently adopted by French water authorities for areas north of the Seine Basin, which have similar bedrock lithologies. Downstream trace element variations were monitored in 1994 and 1995 using fresh surficial floodplain samples that were collected either as dried deposits a few days after peak discharge, or immediately after peak discharge (under ≤30 cm of water). Chemical comparisons between fresh floodplain deposits, and actual suspended sediments collected during flood events, indicate that, with some caveats, the former can be used as surrogates for the latter. The floodplain sediment chemical data indicate that within the Seine Basin, from the relatively unaffected headwaters through heavily affected urban streams, trace element concentrations vary by as much as three orders of magnitude. These trace element changes appear to be the result of both increases in population as well as concomitant increases in industrial activity. (This article is a US government work and is in the public domain in the United States.)     

渭河盆地岩石圈热结构与地热田热源机理

岩石圈热结构是盆地现今地温场研究的重要延伸和扩展,是了解大陆岩石圈构造变形及演化等大陆动力学问题的重要窗口,更是地热田热源机理研究的核心问题.本次工作,在系统分析渭河盆地现今地温场和水动力系统基础上,编制了渭河盆地大地热流分布等值线图;通过实测生热率等热物性参数,利用一维稳态热传导方程计算了研究区岩石圈热结构,并分析了渭河盆地岩石圈热结构特征和地热田热源机理.结果表明,渭河盆地现今大地热流值分布范围为62.5~80.2mW·m-2,平均为70.8±4.8mW·m-2,西部明显高于东部,西安坳陷最高,咸礼凸起次之;渭河断裂并不是控热断裂,其沟通作用引起的水热循环一定程度上影响了浅部热量再分配,对渭河盆地地温场并没有起到明显的控制作用.西安坳陷—咸礼凸起地壳热流介于32.2~37.5mW·m-2之间,平均为34.6mW·m-2;地幔热流分布范围为33.8~38.9mW·m-2,平均为36.0mW·m-2;地壳热流和地幔热流的总体变化趋势一致,西安坳陷高于咸礼凸起,分析认为西安坳陷沉积层厚度大于后者,且沉积层放射性生热率更大,是造成西安坳陷地壳热流高于咸礼凸起的原因,而西安坳陷相比咸礼凸起更高的地幔热流,表明西安坳陷深部活动性强于咸礼凸起.西安坳陷和咸礼凸起地壳/地幔热流比值相近,介于0.93~1.01之间,平均为0.96,"热"岩石圈厚度约为95~101km.渭河盆地岩石圈热结构特征与鄂尔多斯盆地在很大程度上具有相似性,暗示着二者具备相似的深部稳定性,这与渤海湾盆地为代表的中国东部中—新生代主动裂谷盆地岩石圈热结构特征截然不同,表明渭河盆地为被动伸展裂陷.从鄂尔多斯盆地、渭河盆地、山西裂谷到华北盆地,"热"岩石圈厚度的有序变化表明太平洋板块俯冲引起的地幔对流对华北地块深部动力学行为的影响主要发生在太行山以东,而太行山以西的鄂尔多斯盆地和渭河盆地则影响甚微,这种空间差异影响从侧面暗示着华北克拉通破坏过程的有序性.综合分析渭河盆地地质—地球物理资料认为,岩石圈表层伸展破裂、深部重力均衡调整进而引起软流圈被动上涌,其产生的相对高地幔热流的热传导和深大断裂沟通的水体热对流相互叠加作用,共同构成了渭河盆地中—低温地热田的热源机理.     

N2-Ar-He systematics and source of ore-forming fluid in Changkeng Au-Ag deposit, central Guangdong, China*

Changkeng Au-Ag deposit is a newly-discovered new type precious metal deposit. N₂-Ar-He systematics studies and³He/⁴He and δD- δ¹⁸O composition analyses show that the ore-forming fluid of the deposit is composed mainly of formation water (sedimentary brine) but not of meteoric water, which was thought to be source of the ore-forming fluid by most previous researchers. The content of mantle-derived magmatic water in the ore-forming fluid is quite low, usually lower than 10%. According to the source of the ore-forming fluid, the Changkeng Au-Ag deposit should belong to sedimentary brine transformed deposits. From the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous Period, with deposition and accumulation of thick sediments in Sanzhou Basin, the formation water in the sedimentary layers was expelled from the basin because of overburden pressure and increasing temperature. The expelled fluid moved laterally along sedimentary layers to the margin of the basin, and finally moved upward along a gently-dipping interlayer fault. Because of a decline in pressure and temperature, ore minerals were deposited in the fault. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 495020291, the Natural Science Foundation of Zhongshan University, the Research Foundation of National Key Laboratory of Metallogenesis in Nanjing University (Grant No. 039704) and the Lingnan Foundation.     

Testing Hypotheses for the Mount Isa Copper Mineralisation with Numerical Simulations

We have applied reactive transport simulations to evaluate conceptual models of hydrothermal fluid flow related to the Mesoproterozoic Mount Isa copper mineralisation. Numerical experiments have been performed specifically to investigate whether fluid flow was driven by mechanical deformation, higher than hydrostatic fluid pressure gradients, or thermal buoyancy, and what the mechanism of ore deposition was. One distinct feature of the Mount Isa mineralising system is a region of massive silica-rich alteration that surrounds the copper ore bodies within the Urquhart shale, indicating upward flow of a cooling fluid. Hydromechanical modelling revealed that contraction and horizontal shear can produce a dilation pattern that favours upward fluid flow, whereas strike slip movement causes dilation of pre-existing vertical structures. Reactive transport models show that hydraulic head driven flow is more likely to produce a more realistic silica alteration pattern than free thermal convection, but neither process generates a flow pattern capable of precipitating copper at the appropriate location. Instead we propose that gravity driven flow of a dense oxidised basin brine led to chalcopyrite mineralisation by fluid-rock reaction.     

Three-dimensional structure of the Laguna Salada Basin and its thermal regime

A comprehensive reinterpretation of the available gravity, magnetic, geothermal, geological and borehole information has been made of the Laguna Salada Basin to establish a 3D model of the basement and sedimentary infill. According to statistical spectral analysis, the residual gravity anomaly is due to sources with a mean regional depth of 2.8 km. The topography of the basement was obtained from a three‐dimensional inversion carried out in the wavenumber domain using an iterative scheme. The maximum density contrast of ?300 kg/m³ estimated from previous studies and the mean depth of 2.5 km finally constrained this inversion. The resulting model indicated that the sedimentary infill is up to 4.2 km thick at its deepest point. According to the gravity‐derived basement topography, the basin presents an asymmetry (i.e. it is of the half‐graben type). It is deeper to the east, where it is delimited from the Sierra Cucapah by a step fault. By contrast, the limit with the Sierra de Juarez is a gently sloping fault (i.e. a listric fault). The basement is not even, but it comprises a series of structural highs and lows. N–S to NW–SE and E–W to NE–SW faults delimit these structural units. The magnetic modelling was constrained by (i) the gravity‐derived basement topography; (ii) a Curie isotherm assumed to be between 7 km and 10 km; (iii) assuming induced magnetization only; (iv) the available geological and borehole information. The magnetic anomalies were interpreted successfully using the gravity‐derived basement/sedimentary interface as the top of the magnetic bodies (i.e. the magnetic modelling supports the gravity basement topography). An elongated N–S to NW–SE trending highly magnetized body running from south to north along the basin is observed to the west of the basin. This magnetic anomaly has no gravity signature. Such a feature can be interpreted as an intrusive body emplaced along a fault running through the Laguna Salada Basin. Treatment of the gravity and magnetic information (and of their horizontal gradients) with satellite image processing techniques highlighted lineaments on the basement gravity topography correlating with mapped faults. Based on all this information, we derived detailed geological models along four selected profiles to simulate numerically the heat and fluid flow in the basin. We used a finite‐difference scheme to solve the coupled Darcy and Fourier differential equations. According to our results, we have fluid flow in the sedimentary layers and a redistribution of heat flow from the basin axis toward its rims (Sierra de Juárez and Sierra Cucapah). Our model temperatures agree within an error of 4% with the observed temperature profiles measured at boreholes. Our heat‐flow determinations agree within an error of ±15% with extrapolated observations. The numerical and chemical analyses support the hypothesis of fluid circulation between the clay–lutite layer and the fractured granitic basement. Thermal modelling shows low heat‐flow values along the Laguna Salada Basin. Deep fluid circulation patterns were observed that redistribute such flow at depth. Two patterns were distinguished. One displays the heat flow increasing from the basin axis towards its borders (temperature increase of 20°C). The second pattern shows an increasing heat flow from south to north of the basin. Such behaviour is confirmed by the temperature measurements in the thermometric boreholes.     

Across-arc geochemical variation of Quaternary lavas in West Java, Indonesia: Mass-balance elucidation using arc basalt simulator model

The Sunda Arc of Indonesia developed along the convergent margin between the Eurasian and the Australian Plates. More than 100 Quaternary volcanic centers occur along the arc. The West Java Arc is a segment of the Sunda Arc in which more than 10 volcanic centers are located, corresponding to the 120 to 200 km depth contours of the Wadati–Benioff zone. The geochemistry of 207 Quaternary lavas from six centers across the arc was investigated. The lavas range from basalt to dacite. Incompatible element abundances increase from the volcanic front to the rear‐arc in response to a change from low‐K to high‐K suites. Nd–Sr isotope compositions of the basalts scatter between mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) source mantle and Indian Ocean sediment (SED) compositions, with volcanic front low‐K basalts having more radiogenic Nd than the rear‐arc basalts. It is suggested that mixing between slab‐derived fluids mainly from the SED and melt from MORB source mantle played a significant role in determining the geochemistry of the West Java basalts. Incompatible element patterns in primitive mantle normalized multi‐element plots are almost identical across the arc, except for greater inclination and weaker positive Sr spikes in the rear‐arc basalts. This suggests a lower degree of partial melting in the rear‐arc mantle, accompanied by change in SED fluid composition between the volcanic front and the rear‐arc. The latter is confirmed by fluid‐fluxed melting model calculations using multiple trace elements and Nd and Sr isotopes. All the West Java Arc lavas require deficit of Sr from the slab SED. This may occur due to selective breakdown of Sr‐rich hydrous silicate minerals, such as zoisite, at shallower depths before the SED component reaches the depth of dehydration effective for magma genesis. The rear‐arc basalts need further Sr deficits along with lesser fluid. These features are commonly observed in many arc basalts, and are likely attributable to the same mechanism.     

Hydrodynamic regime as a major control on localization of uranium mineralization in sedimentary basins

Uranium deposits in sedimentary basins can be formed at various depths,from near surface to the basement.While many factors may have played a role in controlling the location of mineralization,examination of various examples in the world,coupled with numerical modeling of fluid flow,indicates that the hydrodynamic regime of a basin may have exerted a major control on the localization of uranium deposits.If a basin is strongly overpressured,due to rapid sedimentation,abundance of low-permeability sediments or generation of hydrocarbons,fluid flow is dominantly upward and uranium mineralization is likely limited at shallow depths.If a basin is moderately overpressured,upward moving fluids carrying reducing agents may meet downward moving,oxidizing,uranium-bearing fluids in the middle of the basin,forming uranium deposits at moderate depths.If a basin is weakly or not overpressured,either due to slow sedimentation or dominance of high-permeability lithologies,minor topographic disturbance or density variation may drive oxidizing fluids to the bottom of the basin,leaching uranium either from the basin or the basement,forming unconformity-type uranium deposits.It is therefore important to analyze the hydrodynamic regime of a basin in order to predict the most likely type and location of uranium deposits in the basin.     

辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流

辽河盆地是一个在前中生代基底上发展起来的裂谷盆地,实测大地热流平均值为65mW/m²,变动于44-83mW/m²之间。在给出地壳结构模型并确定各岩层放射性生热率的基础上,采用“剥层”法从地表开始,自上而下,由浅及深地扣除各岩层所提供的热量,从而得出地幔热流值。结果表明,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流为41mW/m²,占整个地表总热流量的63％。可见,本区热量大部分来自地幔。与世界上其它地质构造单元相比,辽河裂谷盆地无论地幔热流绝对值或其与地表热流之比值,都具有介于稳定地区和构造活动区之间的特点。作者认为,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流的上述特点,乃是中、新生代以来本区长期地质历史发展的产物。     

生物壳体锶地球化学恢复盆地古水文——以泥河湾盆地为例

本文以著名的泥河湾盆地小渡口剖面28层为实例,通过有孔虫,介形虫,腹足类微体生物壳体87Sr/86Sr比值与盆地汇水区域Sr同位素地层分布特征对比分析以及生物壳体Sr/Ca国度的相关性,来重塑沉积盆地汇水来源变更,湖水变化等古水文要素,进而可以反演区域构造－气候变化,实例研究结果表明,生物壳体87Cr/86Sr 及Sr/Ca比值等地球化学方法是恢复盆地古水文条件的重要手段。     

A Cretaceous to Paleocene-Eocene South China sea basin origin for the Zambales Ophiolite Complex,Luzon, Philippines?

Abstract The Eocene Zambales Ophiolite Complex that exhibits transitional mid-ocean ridge basalt-island arc tholeiite (MORB-IAT) characteristics was formed in a subduction-related marginal basin. The different surrounding marginal basins of the Philippines, namely, the South China Sea, Sulu Sea Basin, Celebes Basin and the West Philippine Basin have all been modeled to be of probable provenance of this ophiolite complex. Certain information (e.g. age, rock geochemistry, paleomagnetic rotations) and limitations, nevertheless, are inconsistent with the ophiolite complex being generated in these regions. Recent geophysical evidence suggests that the southwest sub-basin of the South China Sea Basin is probably Cretaceous to Paleocene-Eocene in age. This makes it possible to speculate that the Zambales Ophiolite Complex could have come from this sub-basin. The present day rifting of the southern Izu-Mariana arc can be taken as a modern day analog of this type of ophiolite generation.