An experimental study of the grain-scale processes of peridotite melting: implications for major and trace element distribution during equilibrium and disequilibrium melting

The grain-scale processes of peridotite melting were examined at 1,340°C and 1.5 GPa using reaction couples formed by juxtaposing pre-synthesized clinopyroxenite against pre-synthesized orthopyroxenite or harzburgite in graphite and platinum-lined molybdenum capsules. Reaction between the clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene-rich aggregates produces a melt-enriched, orthopyroxene-free, olivine + clinopyroxene reactive boundary layer. Major and trace element abundance in clinopyroxene vary systematically across the reactive boundary layer with compositional trends similar to the published clinopyroxene core-to-rim compositional variations in the bulk lherzolite partial melting studies conducted at similar P–T conditions. The growth of the reactive boundary layer takes place at the expense of the orthopyroxenite or harzburgite and is consistent with grain-scale processes that involve dissolution, precipitation, reprecipitation, and diffusive exchange between the interstitial melt and surrounding crystals. An important consequence of dissolution–reprecipitation during crystal-melt interaction is the dramatic decrease in diffusive reequilibration time between coexisting minerals and melt. This effect is especially important for high charged, slow diffusing cations during peridotite melting and melt-rock reaction. Apparent clinopyroxene-melt partition coefficients for REE, Sr, Y, Ti, and Zr, measured from reprecipitated clinopyroxene and coexisting melt in the reactive boundary layer, approach their equilibrium values reported in the literature. Disequilibrium melting models based on volume diffusion in solid limited mechanism are likely to significantly underestimate the rates at which major and trace elements in residual minerals reequilibrate with their surrounding melt. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Simple models for dynamic melting in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle column: Analytical solutions

Several lines of evidence suggest that the melt generation and segregation regions of the mantle are heterogeneous, consisting of chemically and lithologically distinct domains of variable size and dimension. Partial melting of such heterogeneous mantle source regions gives rise to a diverse range of basaltic magmas. In order to better assess the role of source heterogeneity during mantle melting, we have undertaken a theoretical study of trace element distribution and fractionation during concurrent melting and melt migration in an upwelling, chemically heterogeneous, two-porosity double lithology melting column. Analytical solutions for the abundance of a trace element in the matrix and channel were obtained under the assumptions that the porosity, melt and solid velocities, and solid-melt partition coefficients are constant and uniform. For simplicity, we neglected diffusion and dispersion in the melt. Chemical source heterogeneities of arbitrary size and shape were integrated into the simple melting models by allowing trace element abundance in the source region to vary as a function of time and space. Concurrent melting and melt migration in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle may be approximated as a quasi-steady state problem in which time-dependent concentration patterns produced by melting of heterogeneous source regions are superimposed on a reference steady-state concentration distribution established by melting of the ambient or background mantle. Chromatographic fractionation is especially important for the matrix melt and solid when chemical heterogeneities are involved during melting and melt migration in the mantle, giving rise to significant phase-shift between two incompatible trace elements in the matrix melt and scattered correlations among incompatible trace elements in residual peridotites. Mixing is the chief mass transfer process in the dunite channel where the chromatographic effect is negligible for most of the incompatible trace elements. The lack of chromatographic fractionation among incompatible trace elements and isotopic ratios in MORB suggests either most MORB are channel melts or mixing in magma conduit and chamber is very efficient such that the phase-shift is averaged out during magma transport and storage processes. Advection brings melt produced by smaller-degree of melting in the deeper part of the melting column to the overlying melting region, increasing the incompatible trace element abundance in the matrix and the channel. This advection-induced self-enrichment is especially important when heterogeneous sources are involved and may account for some of the enriched incompatible trace element patterns observed in residual peridotite that were previously interpreted to be a result of mantle metasomatism. Systematic studies of high-resolution spatially correlated mantle samples may help to constrain the melting history and the size and nature of chemical heterogeneities in the mantle.     

Considerations for conducting incubations to study the mechanisms of As release in reducing groundwater aquifers

Microbial Fe reduction is widely believed to be the primary mechanism of As release from aquifer sands in Bangladesh, but alternative explanations have been proposed. Long-term incubation studies using natural aquifer material are one way to address such divergent views. This study addresses two issues related to this approach: (1) the need for suitable abiotic controls and (2) the spatial variability of the composition of aquifer sands. Four sterilization techniques were examined using orange-colored Pleistocene sediment from Bangladesh and artificial groundwater over 8 months. Acetate (10 mM) was added to sacrificial vials before sterilization using either (1) 25 kGy of gamma irradiation, (2) three 1-h autoclave cycles, (3) a single addition of an antibiotic mixture at 1× or (4) 10× the typical dose, and (5) a 10 mM addition of azide. The effectiveness of sterilization was evaluated using two indicators of microbial Fe reduction, changes in diffuse spectral reflectance and leachable Fe(II)/Fe ratios, as well as changes in P-extractable As concentrations in the solid phase. A low dose of antibiotics was ineffective after 70 days, whereas autoclaving significantly altered groundwater composition. Gamma irradiation, a high dose of antibiotics, and azide were effective for the duration of the experiment.     

储量计算与勘探线剖面计算机辅助成图一体化

引入关系教据库和GIS自动编图技术,改进传统的垂直断面法储量计算过程,可实现矿山储量计算和勘探线剖面计算机辅助成图的同步和一体化.在共用的矿山地矿信息点源数据库平台基础上.通过设置本地数据库,形成GIS操作时的外挂属性库,用来保存储量计算和机助成图过程中的动态数据.储量计算中的每一步骤中,用户以GIS为操作界面来同步实现对空间图元和外挂属性的操作,这其中对工程样段组合、矿体边界圈连和剖面制图综合等开发了大量自动化辅助功能.储量计算的各步完成后,勘探线剖面图和储量报表即同步生成.这种改进的工作方式实现了垂直断面法全过程的计算机辅助化,将提高这一传统方法的应用效率.     

西藏马攸木金矿床金银互化物的赋存状态

马攸木金矿床是西藏近年发现的首例规模较大、矿石品位富、金成色高的岩金矿床.作者通过对马攸木金矿床矿石组构、矿石共生组合及矿物特征研究发现,金银互化物主要有自然金、含银自然金、银金矿、自然银.载金矿物为黝铜矿、针铁矿、脆硫锑铅矿及石英;金银互化物的赋存形式主要为包裹体金、裂隙金及粒间金.金银互化物的形成、富集与热液成矿作用及表生风化作用关系密切.     

喜马拉雅山脉的地质地貌特征:来自SRTM数字高程模型和降水量数据的约束

利用GTOPO30和SRTM3数字高程(DEM)数据,提取了喜马拉雅山脉(造山带)的数字高程模型并对其进行了地质地貌的初步分析。从SRTM3数字高程数据提取出坡度数据,初步分析了喜马拉雅山脉坡度和高程的特征。数字高程和坡度图清楚地展现了喜马拉雅大型断裂带(构造边界)的空间分布特征。分析了中国气象局下属的西藏、青海、四川和云南4省区气象观测台站55年来的年平均降水量观测数据、喜马拉雅山脉南坡的年平均降水量数据、喜马拉雅DEM和裂变径迹数据,发现喜马拉雅山脉从东至西,年平均降水量逐渐减少,地形起伏逐渐变小,而高程渐次升高,与此同时剥蚀速率降低;从北至南,年平均降水量逐渐增加,地形起伏增大,高程快速降低,而剥蚀速率则急剧升高。这充分说明了喜马拉雅年平均降水量大的地区,地表剥蚀作用相对较强,年平均降水量小的地区,地表剥蚀作用则较弱,即:在喜马拉雅地区,长周期的地表剥蚀过程(可长达数个百万年时间尺度)和短周期(仅仅50年)的降水量观测是耦合的。     

等温微量热法在土壤微生物研究方面的进展

土壤微生物是陆地生态系统中分解者亚系统的主要组成部分, 参与了包括有机质降解、营养转化、 植物生长的促进或抑制以及各种土壤物理过程在内的一系列反应活动. 土壤微生物则是土壤质量重要的生物指标, 可以用来监控土壤质量的变化. 等温微量热法是一种简便、快速地测量微生物活性的方法, 在土壤微生物代谢热效应的研究领域中广泛应用. 就等温微量热法在土壤微生物活性中的研究进展进行综述: 等温微量热法的简介, 微量热方法与传统方法的比较, 等温微量热法在各种外界环境和土壤条件影响下的土壤微生物活性研究中的应用, 并对等温微量热法在土壤微生物和其它方面的研究进行了展望.     

柴达木盆地北缘侏罗系两类不同有机质丰度泥岩的 生物标志物特征对比研究

在柴达木盆地北缘地区,分别选取有机碳含量很低和较高的侏罗系泥岩样品,对比分析了它们在生物标志物组成上的差异。结果发现,高有机质丰度泥岩的生标组成与我国西北地区侏罗纪煤系有机质的特征差异不大,相比而言,低有机质丰度泥岩的正烷烃以前主峰为特征,Pr/Ph比值在1.0左右,三环萜烷和伽马蜡烷丰度较高,并在部分样品中检出了25 降藿烷系列。结合泥岩的有机岩石学特征,认为这些差异可能反映了泥岩沉积环境和生烃母质的不同:高有机质丰度泥岩的有机显微组分以相对弱还原条件下的形态有机质为主,包括藻类体、孢子体和角质体等,而低有机质丰度泥岩的有机显微组分以相对强还原条件下的矿物沥青基质为主,其母质可能来源于低等显微菌藻类。进一步通过对比不同有机质丰度泥岩,以及区内原油生标组成之间的相互关系,讨论了研究区的油源问题。     

新疆北部库尔提蛇绿岩中角闪片岩的原岩恢复及其成因

库尔提角闪片岩产于库尔提蛇绿岩南部岩片中,与斜长花岗岩呈互层产出。这套角闪片岩的不相容微量元素组分显示了大洋中脊和岛弧玄武岩的双重特征,主要表现为大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集,高场强元素(HFSE)亏损以及平坦到亏损的轻稀土(LREE)配分模式。原岩恢复的结果表明,该角闪片岩的原岩为亚碱性的拉斑玄武岩类。库尔提角闪片岩亏损的LREE、高ε_(Nd)(t),以及关键元素比值(Th/Nb,La/Yb和Th/Yb)呈正相关都表明,其源区可能以MORB地幔为主,同时还伴有少量弧组分。因此,我们认为其形成于弧后盆地环境,同时推断该区弧后盆地存在一个二阶段的熔融演化模式:第一阶段,大约在晚古生代早期,古亚洲洋向西伯利亚板块发生北向俯冲,在会聚板块边界,弧火山岩被从含水的地幔楔中提取出来,留下一个亏损地幔;第二阶段,随着古亚洲洋板块持续消减,在中-晚泥盆世形成了库尔提弧后盆地,下部的亏损地幔发生了小比例的部分熔融形成了这套角闪片岩的原岩。     

新疆北部基性岩脉40Ar/39Ar年代学研究

晚古生代以来,新疆北部地区侵入了一系列的基性岩脉,成为了解该地区地壳生长过程的重要窗口.本文采用激光40Ar/39Ar年代学方法,对整个北疆地区出露的基性岩脉进行了精细年代学研究.从数据特征上分析.低本底激光加40Ar/39Ar方法能对低钾含量、极少量样品(0.1mg～5mg)进行精细定年,所以非常适合进行基性岩脉的精细定年.本文展示的基性岩脉激光40Ar/39Ar方法的高质量数据显示新疆北部基性岩脉群的活动时限跨越332～174Ma,为石炭纪-侏罗纪.由数据分析可以看出,新疆北部基性岩脉群在时间上,呈现脉动式侵位特征,在332～174Ma之间,有多达6～7次脉动式活动,时间间隔大致为20～30Ma.从基性岩脉所揭示的大地构造含义来分析,新疆北部地区从石炭纪到侏罗纪处在一个相似的地壳演化阶段.为一个陆壳垂向生长、区域构造应力场显示拉张的构造环境,并在时间、空间上具有相对统一的特征.