徐淮地区早白垩世adakitic岩石的年代学和Pb同位素组成:对岩浆源区与华北克拉通东部构造深化的制约

本文报道了徐淮地区5个早白垩世adakitic岩体全岩的Pb同位素组成和其中3个岩体的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果,并讨论了岩浆源区的性质和华北克拉通东部中生代早期的构造演化.结果表明,班井、丰山和蔡山岩体形成于早白垩世,其206Pb/238U加权平均年龄分别为127±1Ma、129±2Ma和131±1Ma.利国、班井、夹沟、丰山和蔡山岩体的全岩(206Pb/024Pb)t、(207Ph/204Pb)t和(208Pb/204Pb)t初始比值分别变化于17.957～18.620、15.508～15.655和38.129～38.710之间.综合早白垩世adakitic岩石高的放射成因Pb同位素组成以及继承锆石年代学和其中榴辉岩类捕虏体锆石U-Pb年代学和地球化学的研究成果,可以认为华北克拉通东部徐淮地区早白垩世adakitic岩石的岩浆源区以断离的扬子克拉通俯冲板片(基底物质)为主,并有拆沉的华北克拉通基底物质的参与.这与扬子克拉通沿北西方向俯冲于华北克拉通之下的构造模式相吻合.     

鄂东南地区龙角山—付家山斑岩体成因及其对成矿作用的指示

龙角山铜钨矿床是鄂东南地区典型的层控式矽卡岩型矿床。本文利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb法及辉钼矿Re-Os法对该矿床进行了详细的年代学研究。结果表明,矿区内的花岗闪长斑岩形成于144±1Ma,成矿作用发生于144.7±2.9Ma,成岩成矿作用近于同时发生,均为早白垩世。这意味着成矿作用与花岗闪长斑岩的演化存在密切联系。龙角山—付家山花岗闪长斑岩为高钾钙碱性系列,具有高Al2O3(14.99%~16.16%)、Sr(751×10-6~1382×10-6)含量和Sr/Y(65~99)、La/Yb(40~48)比值,以及低Y(12×10-6~15×10-6)、Yb(0.93×10-6~1.23×10-6)含量,与典型埃达克质岩的地球化学特征基本一致。全岩(87Sr/86Sr)i值为0.70603,εNd(t)值为-5.1,锆石εHf(t)值介于-0.5~-4.8之间。元素地球化学、全岩Sr-Nd同位素及锆石Hf同位素特征一致表明龙角山—付家山花岗闪长斑岩主要来源于富集岩石圈地幔的部分熔融作用,在成岩过程中可能伴随着镁铁质矿物的分离结晶作用。此外,与铜山口成矿斑岩体相比,龙角山—付家山花岗闪长斑岩具有较低的氧逸度,这很可能是导致两斑岩体在矿化类型上(前者以铜钼矿化为主,后者以铜钨矿化为主)存在差异的主要原因。     

西藏措勤麦嘎岩基的锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学和锆石Hf同位素:对中部拉萨地块早白垩世花岗岩类岩石成因的约束

西藏中部拉萨地块大规模早白垩世花岗岩类的岩浆源区和岩石成因迄今尚未得到很好约束,对这些问题的深入理解将有助于揭示拉萨地块白垩纪时期的岩浆作用过程及成矿背景。本文报道了中部拉萨地块代表性花岗岩基——措勤麦嘎岩基的锆石U-Pb年代学、全岩元素地球化学、Sr-Nd同位素和锆石Hf同位素数据。本文锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,麦嘎岩基花岗质岩主要侵位于122±1Ma和113±2Ma,闪长质包体与后者同期(113±2Ma)。122±1Ma花岗质岩属I型弱过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,(87Sr/86Sr)i值高(0.7147),全岩εNd(t)(-12.0)和锆石εHf(t)(-15.7～-11.1)为较大的负值,表明其很可能来源于古老下地壳物质的重熔。113±2Ma寄主花岗质岩为I型偏铝质-弱过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,相对于122±1Ma花岗质岩石,其(87Sr/86Sr)i比值偏低(0.7094～0.7156)、全岩εNd(t)值(-12.1～-7.3)和锆石εHf(t)值(-11.1～0.1)较高,很可能来源于古老下地壳物质的部分熔融,并含有更多幔源物质。闪长质包体(113±2Ma)为偏铝质中-高钾钙碱性系列,以变化范围大的(87Sr/86Sr)i(0.7058～0.7105)、负的全岩εNd(t)值(-10.7～-9.8)及负的锆石εHf(t)值(-14.0～-5.6)为特征,可能是古老富集岩石圈地幔物质部分熔融的产物或亏损地幔物质经历强烈地壳混染作用的结果。在目前已有资料条件下(缺乏同期基性岩石的相关数据),本文暂将麦嘎岩基113±2Ma寄主花岗质岩及同期闪长质包体解释为镁铁质岩浆与长英质岩浆发生不同程度岩浆混合作用的产物,这一解释可能对中部拉萨地块同期花岗类的岩石成因具普遍意义。麦嘎岩基及中部拉萨地块同期岩浆岩约113Ma幔源物质增加现象,可能是南向俯冲的班公湖-怒江洋壳岩石圈板片断离的结果。     

郯庐断裂带庐江段长岗A型花岗岩锆石U-Pb定年、岩石成因及其意义

郯庐断裂带庐江段长岗岩体主要由正长花岗斑岩组成。锆石U-Pb定年获得的~(206)Pb/~(238)U加权平均年龄为120±2Ma。样品富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素(如Th、U、K、Pb),亏损重稀土元素和高场强元素(如Nb、Ta、Ti),并具有A型花岗岩的典型特征,如高Fe OT/Mg O、K_2O/Na_2O比值和高的稀土、Zr、Nb含量。长岗A型花岗岩的Sr/Y、La/Yb和Eu/Eu*明显低于郯庐南段埃达克岩,这表明A型花岗岩和郯庐南段埃达克岩岩浆起源深度存在明显差异。A型花岗岩具有高的锆石Ti温度(748~811℃)和低的锆石Ce~(4+)/Ce~(3+)值,这与郯庐南段埃达克岩相一致,暗示A型花岗岩岩浆具有高温和低氧逸度。A型花岗岩具有富集的Sr-Nd同位素组成,类似于大别造山带早白垩世低镁埃达克岩和正常花岗岩,不同于郯庐南段埃达克岩。A型花岗岩锆石δ~(18)O值变化于5.72‰~6.24‰,其ε_(Hf)(t)值(-19.5~-16.9)高于郯庐南段埃达克岩和北大别低镁埃达克岩。本文认为长岗A型花岗岩源自扬子克拉通古元古代中下地壳(t_(DM2)(Hf)=2417~2248Ma),在斜长石稳定且无石榴子石区域(40km)部分熔融形成的。在120Ma之前,作为郯庐南段埃达克岩主要源区的含石榴子石的中-新太古代加厚下地壳(40~50km)已经移除。     

西藏冈底斯东部门巴地区晚白垩世埃达克质岩的岩石成因

本文首次报道了西藏冈底斯东部门巴地区晚白垩世花岗闪长岩的岩石学、锆石U-Pb定年和Hf同位素、全岩元素与Sr-Nd同位素地球化学数据。门巴花岗闪长岩锆石U-Pb定年结果为88.3Ma。花岗闪长岩的SiO2含量为66.4%～68.5%,K2O含量为3.1%～4.1%,A/CNK为0.90～0.99,属于高钾钙碱性准铝质岩石。岩石强烈富集轻稀土元素,(La/Yb)N为25.3～46.6,具弱的负Eu异常(δEu=0.83～0.91),高Sr(725×10-6～766×10-6)、高Sr/Y比值(Sr/Y=52.2～65.2),具有埃达克岩的特征,本文称之为门巴埃达克质岩石。门巴埃达克质岩石εNd(t)值为-4.1～-4.3,(87Sr/86Sr)t值为0.70671～0.70672。εHf(t)范围为-3.4～-1.2,Hf同位素地壳模式年龄为tCDM=1.2～1.4Ga。结合门巴埃达克质岩的主、微量元素、同位素以及含有闪长质包体等特征,判断门巴埃达克质岩石主要来源于古老下地壳物质的部分熔融,可能是来源于下地壳物质的熔体与幔源岩浆(如底侵的玄武岩浆)发生混合作用的结果。通过与在南冈底斯发现的埃达克岩的成因及地球动力学背景的对比,本文认为新特提斯洋洋脊俯冲作用不仅为镁铁质下地壳的熔融提供了能量,而且在岩浆形成演化过程中也起到了重要作用。     

黑龙江洋灰洞子铜矿床花岗闪长斑岩地球化学、锆石U--Pb定年及地质意义

黑龙江洋灰洞子斑岩型铜矿床地处兴蒙造山带东段、吉黑褶皱带北部,矿体主要赋存在花岗闪长斑岩和构造角砾岩中。为厘定洋灰洞子铜矿床的成岩成矿时代和构造背景,笔者对洋灰洞子花岗闪长斑岩进行了元素地球化学和LA--ICP--MS锆石U--Pb年代学的相关研究。岩石地球化学特征显示,花岗闪长斑岩富硅贫镁,属于过铝质钙碱性系列,富集轻稀土元素(LREE),(La/Yb)N=10.49~19.79,Eu显示弱负异常或正异常,高Sr低Y和Yb,富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),相对亏损高场强元素(HFSE),具有埃达克岩或埃达克质岩的特征。LA--ICP--MS锆石U--Pb测年结果显示,花岗闪长斑岩锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为204.4±2.8 Ma和201.2±1.7 Ma。综合研究认为,洋灰洞子斑岩型铜矿床的成岩成矿时代可能为晚三叠世—早侏罗世之交,该矿床形成于古亚洲洋闭合后的陆陆碰撞造山环境,是加厚下地壳部分熔融形成的岩浆流体作用的结果。     

青藏高原班公湖地区晚白垩世埃达克岩年代学、地球化学及构造意义

青藏高原西部班公湖地区的日松岩体和甲维酸性岩脉位于班公湖蛇绿混杂岩带南侧,岩石类型为英云闪长岩,花岗闪长玢岩和花岗闪长岩,显示中钾钙碱性-高钾钙碱性过渡的特征.元素地球化学组成表明,岩石均具有埃达克岩特征,表现为高的SiO₂(63.05%~70.72%)、高Al₂O₃(≥15%)、低MgO(0.97%~2.33%)＜3%、高Sr含量(380.4×10-6~625.0×10-6)、Sr/Y(＞35)、低HREE、Y(5.64×10-6~13.80×10-6)和Yb(0.46×10-6~1.25×10-6),轻重稀土分异明显(17.09＜(La/Yb)_N＜48.51).日松花岗闪长岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为82.0±1.1 Ma;甲维近东西走向的花岗闪长岩脉和近南北走向的花岗闪长玢岩脉LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为90.7±1.2 Ma和82.9±1.2 Ma.日松和甲维处埃达克岩均富钾贫钠,低Cr、Ni,高Th、Th/La、Th/U、Rb/Sr以及相对低的Sr/Y和高Mg#(43.09~54.35)等特征显示其为玄武质岩浆底侵加厚下地壳部分熔融形成.91~82 Ma的埃达克岩形成于后碰撞初期阶段,为中特提斯洋闭合后板内热隆伸展、壳幔相互作用的产物,可以作为班公湖地区由板块构造体制转向板内构造体制的标志.      

长江中下游贵池矿集区燕山期岩浆作用及其地质意义:年代学、地球化学及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素证据

长江中下游贵池地区燕山期侵入岩发育,与成矿关系密切.本文对该区侵入岩开展了详细的锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素研究.结果表明,马头花岗闪长斑岩形成于147±2Ma,而花园巩石英二长岩形成于127±1Ma,比花岗闪长斑岩晚约20Ma.早期的花岗闪长斑岩(147 ～ 145Ma)为高钾钙碱性系列,具有高Al2O3、Sr含量和Sr/Y、La/Yb比值,以及低的Y、Yb含量,与埃达克质岩的地球化学特征一致;而晚期石英二长岩(127Ma)和石英正长岩为钾玄岩系列,具有高的(Na2O+ K2O)、Zr、Nb、Y含量和Y/Nb、Yb/Ta比值,与造山带A2型花岗岩地球化学特征相似;碱长花岗岩(125～124Ma)同样具有A型花岗岩的地球化学特征,但与石英二长岩、石英正长岩相比,碱长花岗岩的Y/Nb、Yb/Ta比值相对较低,具板内环境A1型花岗岩的地球化学特征.因此,贵池地区岩浆岩从早期的埃达克质岩变为晚期的A型花岗岩,反应了晚中生代时期长江中下游地区的构造环境由大陆边缘环境向伸展环境的转变.     

冈底斯中段谢通门县查布中新世埃达克质岩石成因及其地质意义

查布复式花岗质岩体位于冈底斯岩浆岩带中段，出露面积约400 km2。文章报道了该岩体浅成相黑云母二长花岗斑岩和次火山岩相英安斑岩的锆石U-Pb年龄、元素地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成，据此探讨了岩石的成因及其所蕴含的地质意义。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明，它们的成岩年龄为13~16 Ma，属中新世时期岩浆活动的产物。地球化学组成上，这套岩石为高钾钙碱性、准铝质—弱过铝质，富集轻稀土和Rb、Th、U等大离子亲石元素，亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素，Cr、Ni的含量低，缺乏显著铕负异常，并具有高Sr和低Y、Yb含量，以及高的Sr/Y及(La/Yb)N比值，可归之为埃达克质岩石。它们的(87Sr/86Sr)i 比值偏高（=0.706347~0.707584），εNd(t)值明显偏低（=-4.15~-7.33），并具有散布于负值到正值之间的锆石εHf(t)值（=-5.99~7.78）。综合分析表明，中新世时期印度陆壳已俯冲至拉萨地块之下，查布埃达克质岩形成于后碰撞的伸展背景，应为增厚的初生镁铁质下地壳部分熔融岩浆与深俯冲而进入拉萨地块之下的印度古老地壳组分经混合作用的产物。     

乌拉特中旗克布岩体的地球化学特征及SHRIMP定年：早二叠世华北克拉通底侵作用的证据

乌拉特中旗克布岩体位于内蒙古中西部,属于华北克拉通北缘中段。克布岩体具有埃达克岩的特征:SiO_2= 57.66～66.94%(>56%),Al_2O_3=16.81～18.47%(>15%),MgO=1.33～3.28%(<3%);Y=7.25～13.46×10~(-6) (≤18×10~(-6)),Yb=0.72～1.42×10~(-6)(≤1.9×10~(-6)),Sr=540.4～655×10~(-6)(>400×10~(-6));高场强元素(HFSEs,如Nb、Ta、Ti、Zr)含量低,LRRE富集(La/Yb=12.11～28.56),Eu为弱负异常至正异常(δEu~*=0.95～1.09)。高Sr/Y(48.66～74. 57)、La/Yb以及中等Mg~#(38.72～46.16)、K_2O(1.11～2.17)近似于壳源埃达克岩。克布岩体具有低ε_(Nd)(t)(=-15.1),高(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i(=0.7073),也表明了它们的源岩来自大陆下地壳,明显不同于板片熔融来源的埃达克岩同位素特征,而与中国东部的埃达克质岩近似。与华北克拉通晚侏罗世下地壳拆沉作用形成的埃达克岩相比,克布岩体具有低的过渡金属元素含量。克布岩体可能为玄武质液体底侵,导致变厚的下地壳基底部分熔融而形成。克布岩体中锆石的SHRIMP U-Pb锆石年龄为291±4Ma,表明早二叠世初期华北克拉通下的底侵作用已经存在。     

Subduction zone stresses: Constraints from mechanics and from topographic and geoid anomalies

There are, in principle, direct relations between several important phenomena associated with subduction zones: the depth of oceanic trenches, the magnitude of the net force from trenches acting on subducting plates, the distribution and fault plane orientations of earthquakes, the magnitude of stresses on subduction faults, the bathymetry of back-arc regions, and the magnitudes of gravity and geoid anomalies. These phenomena are related through the stresses transmitted through surface and subducted lithosphere, and are associated with the mass anomaly of the subducted lithosphere. Quantitative estimates suggest that observed trench depths imply a trench pull force on subducting plates which is comparable to the ridge push force but much less than the excess weight of the subducted lithospheric slab. It is further suggested that either the mass anomaly of subducted lithosphere is much less than would be expected on the basis of conventional thermal and compositional models or that (a) a large resistance acts on the upper part of slabs due to high-stress corner flow, and (b) the mass anomaly of the slab is 70–90% compensated either by a broad 1 km-deep back-arc depression or a low density mantle wedge above the slab or both.     

The seagrass skeletal assemblage from modern to fossil and from tropical to temperate: Insight from Maldivian and Mediterranean examples

Seagrasses are marine angiosperms that form extensive submarine meadows in the photic zone where carbonate producing biota dwell as epiphytes on the leaves or as infaunal forms, and act as prolific carbonate sediment factories. Because seagrasses have a low preservation potential and records of exceptionally well‐preserved and plant material from marine settings are rare, these palaeoenvironments are difficult to identify in the rock record. Consequently, sedimentological and palaeontological proxies are the main indicators of the presence of seagrass‐dominated ecosystems. This work investigates the skeletal assemblage of Modern (Maldivian and western Mediterranean) and fossil (Eocene; Apula and Oman carbonate platforms and Oligocene; Malta platform) seagrass examples to characterize the skeletal assemblage of modern and fossil seagrasses. Two main types of grains, calcareous algae and foraminifera, constitute around 50% of the bioclastic sediment in both tropical Maldivian and temperate Mediterranean scenarios. However, in the tropical setting they are represented by green algae (Halimeda), while in the Mediterranean they are represented by corallinacean red algae. In contrast, in the Eocene examples, the foraminifera are the most conspicuous group and the green algae are also abundant. The opposite occurs in the Maltese Chattian, which is dominated by coralline algae (mean 42%), although the foraminifera are still abundant. It is suggested to use the term foralgal to identify the seagrass skeletal assemblage. To discriminate between red algae and green algae dominance, the introduction of the prefixes ‘GA’ (green algae) and ‘RA’ (red algae) is proposed. The investigated examples provide evidence that the green algae–foralgal assemblage is typical of tropical, not excessively dense seagrass meadows, characterized by a well‐illuminated substrate to support the development and calcification of the Halimeda thallus. Contrarily, the red algae‐foralgal assemblage is typical of high density tropical to subtropical seagrass meadows which create very dense oligophotic conditions on the sea floor or in temperate settings where Halimeda cannot calcify.     

Indirect crustal contamination: evidence from isotopic and chemical disequilibria in minerals from alkali basalts and nephelinites from northern Tanzania

 Alkali basalts and nephelinites from the volcanic province of northern Tanzania contain pyroxene and nepheline that show evidence for chemical and/or isotopic disequilibria with their host magmas. Olivine, pyroxene, nepheline and plagioclase all appear to be partially xenocrystic in origin. Five whole rock/mineral separate pairs have been analyzed for Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios are distinct by as much as 20.94 (whole rock) vs. 19.10 (clinopyroxene separate). The Sr and Nd isotopic disequilibria vary from insignificant in the case of nepheline, to Δ ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.0002 and Δɛ_Nd of 0.7 in the case of clinopyroxene. The mineral chemistry of 25 samples indicates the ubiquitous presence of minerals that did not crystallize from a liquid represented by the host rock. The northern Tanzanian magmas are peralkaline and exhibit none of the xenocrystic phases expected from crustal assimilation. The disequilibria cannot be the result of mantle source variations. Rather the xenocrystic phases present appear to have been derived from earlier alkali basaltic rocks or magmas that were contaminated by the crust. Material from this earlier magma was then mixed with batches of magma that subsequently erupted on the surface. Disequilibrium in volcanic rocks has potentially serious consequences for the use of whole rock data to identify source reservoirs. However, mass balance calculations reveal that the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotopic compositions of the erupted lavas were changed by less than 0.25% as a result of this indirect crustal contamination. Received: 15 February 1995 / Accepted: 4 May 1996     

危地马拉与缅甸含绿辉石翡翠的矿物学对比研究

以危地马拉蓝水料与缅甸油青种翡翠为研究对象,通过显微镜观察、岩石薄片观察、X射线粉末衍射分析、激光拉曼光谱分析、扫描电镜分析、电子探针分析等测试手段对两者进行了常规宝石学特征、结构特征、杂质矿物、化学成分等方面的对比研究。结果表明,危地马拉蓝水料发育等粒变晶结构,主要成分为硬玉,含有绿辉石,硬玉环带以2～3层为主,绿辉石分别以自形颗粒、交代残余、沿微裂隙充填3种形式存在,其中白色点状物为钠长石,绿色点状物为霓辉石和绿辉石的混杂物;缅甸油青种翡翠以硬玉为主颗粒相对粗大,呈柱粒状镶嵌结构,硬玉发育3～5层环带结构,绿辉石以脉状充填硬玉颗粒间隙或被硬玉颗粒交代呈孤岛状。危地马拉蓝水料硬玉颗粒与脉状绿辉石的CaO含量均高于缅甸油青种翡翠,另外由于霓辉石的存在,推测两产地翡翠结晶环境中的Ca、Fe含量可能存在差异。     

Flood and Shield Basalts from Ethiopia: Magmas from the African Superswell

The Ethiopian plateau is made up of several distinct volcaniccentres of different ages and magmatic affinities. In the NE,a thick sequence of 30 Ma flood basalts is overlain by the 30Ma Simien shield volcano. The flood basalts and most of thisshield volcano, except for a thin veneer of alkali basalt, aretholeiitic. In the centre of the province, a far thinner sequenceof flood basalt is overlain by the 22 Ma Choke and Guguftu shieldvolcanoes. Like the underlying flood basalts, these shieldsare composed of alkaline lavas. A third type of magma, whichalso erupted at 30 Ma, is more magnesian, alkaline and stronglyenriched in incompatible trace elements. Eruption of this magmawas confined to the NE of the province, a region where the lavaflows are steeply tilted as a result of deformation contemporaneouswith their emplacement. Younger shields (e.g. Mt Guna, 10·7Ma) are composed of Si-undersaturated lavas. The three maintypes of magma have very different major and trace element characteristicsranging from compositions low in incompatible elements in thetholeiites [e.g. 10 ppm La at 7 wt % MgO (=La₇), La/Yb = 4·2],moderate in the alkali basalts (La₇ = 24, La/Yb = 9·2),and very high in the magnesian alkaline magmas (La₇ = 43, La/Yb= 17). Although their Nd and Sr isotope compositions are similar,Pb isotopic compositions vary considerably; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb variesin the range of     

云南某含铜镍铁矿石回收铜镍的探讨

云南某铁矿含铜0.33%,镍0.14%,金0.11g/t,银0.13 g/t,铁14.60%,硅32.80%,氧化镁23.50%。利用了X射线衍射分析、扫描电镜等现代分析手段,进行了工艺矿物学研究,研究发现原矿中主要金属矿物为黄铜矿、磁铁矿、镍黄铁矿、赤铁矿,脉石矿物主要为蛇纹石、滑石、绿泥石。为了有效的回收矿石中的有价金属,进行了大量的试验研究。最终本文确定在磨矿细度60%-200目的条件下,以水玻璃+六偏磷酸钠+CMC做组合抑制剂,乙硫氮做捕收剂,采用一粗三精三扫的浮选流程,回收原矿中的铜、镍。所得混合精矿铜品位14.34%,回收率86.93%,镍品位4.30%,回收率64.17%。     

New paleomagnetic and paleointensity data from Pliocene lava flows from the Lesser Caucasus

A paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and paleointensity study has been carried out on 14 basaltic lava flows from two Pliocene (K–Ar age between 3.09 ± 0.10 Ma and 4.00 ± 0.15 Ma) sequences (Apnia and Korxi) from the eastern Djhavakheti Highland in southern Georgia (Caucasus).Measurement of strong-field magnetisation versus temperature curves yielded three types of thermomagnetic curves: (i) Reversible curves with magnetite as only remanence carrier (type H); (ii) irreversible curves with magnetite as only carrier of remanence (type H⁻) and (iii) irreversible curves showing a low Curie-temperature phase and magnetite (type L). Analysis of hysteresis curves showed that samples were characterised by a mixture of single-domain and multi-domain grains.Paleomagnetic experiments allowed determining characteristic components for all flows and normal polarities (6 flows), reversed polarities (7 flows) and intermediate polarities (1 flow) were observed.. Paleomagnetic poles were calculated using only those sites unequivocally showing normal or reversed polarities. The paleomagnetic pole obtained from flows of both combined sequences (latitude λ = 77.9°N, longitude ϕ = 152.1°E, n = 13, A₉₅ = 11.8°, k = 13.4) showed a good agreement with the 5 Ma window of the European synthetic apparent polar wander path of Besse and Courtillot (2002). The paleomagnetic direction of the combined Apnia-Korxi flows agrees well with the expected one, showing no significant tectonic rotation. The latter cannot be however, completely excluded in the Korxi section. In that section, analysis of the angular dispersion of virtual geomagnetic poles yields a much higher value than expected.Paleointensity experiments using the Coe method were performed on 31 specimens from 10 flows. After application of specific selection criteria, 19 samples from 8 flows were observed to provide successful determinations, with mean flow values showing a wide scatter. If only flows with more than one successful paleointensity determination are taken into account, virtual dipole moments (VDMs) vary between 3.5 × 10²² A m² and 8.3 × 10²² A m². In intermediate polarity site AP2 no weak transitional paleostrength values were observed.     

Lateglacial palaeoenvironments and palaeoclimates from Conty and Houdancourt, northern France, reconstructed from Beetle remains

Two Lateglacial insect sequences are described (a) from Conty, in the Selle valley and (b) from Houdancourt in the Oise valley, both in northern France. These investigations are part of a multidisciplinary investigation involving archaeology, sedimentology, geomorphology, geochronology and palaeontology (pollen, macroscopic plant remains, vertebrates, molluscs and insect fossils). The sequences of insect assemblages date from the latter part of the Bølling to the end of the Allerød periods. Environmental analysis of these faunas shows that rivers with riffles and pools meandered across flood plains. The river was extensively fringed with reedy vegetation. The only trees growing close to the river were of Salix and/or Populus. All the insect assemblages indicate that the thermal climates during the Bølling and Allerød periods were similar to one another and during both periods were very nearly as warm as that of the present day. No insect fossils were recovered from the sediments attributed to the Older Dryas interval though other evidence from these sites suggests that this event was decidedly colder than those immediately preceding and succeeding it. Comparisons are made between Lateglacial climatic patterns in northern France with those elsewhere in Europe.