Lower crustal melting and the role of open-system processes in the genesis of syn-orogenic quartz diorite–granite–leucogranite associations: constraints from Sr–Nd–O isotopes from the Bandombaai Complex, Namibia

The Bandombaai Complex (southern Kaoko Belt, Namibia) consists of three main intrusive rock types including metaluminous hornblende- and sphene-bearing quartz diorites, allanite-bearing granodiorites and granites, and peraluminous garnet- and muscovite-bearing leucogranites. Intrusion of the quartz diorites is constrained by a U–Pb zircon age of 540±3 Ma.

Quartz diorites, granodiorites and granites display heterogeneous initial Nd- and O isotope compositions (_{Nd (540 Ma)}=−6.3 to −19.8; δ¹⁸O=9.0–11.6‰) but rather low and uniform initial Sr isotope compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_initial=0.70794–0.70982). Two leucogranites and one aplite have higher initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.70828–0.71559), but similar initial _Nd (−11.9 to −15.8) and oxygen isotope values (10.5–12.9‰). The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the Bandombaai Complex are distinct from other granitoids of the Kaoko Belt and the Central Zone of the Damara orogen. Our study suggests that the quartz diorites of the Bandombaai Complex are generated by melting of heterogeneous mafic lower crust. Based on a comparison with results from amphibolite-dehydration melting experiments, a lower crustal garnet- and amphibole-bearing metabasalt, probably enriched in K₂O, is a likely source rock for the quartz diorites. The granodiorites/granites show low Rb/Sr (<0.6) ratios and are probably generated by partial melting of meta-igneous (intermediate) lower crustal sources by amphibole-dehydration melting. Most of the leucogranites display higher Rb/Sr ratios (>1) and are most likely generated by biotite-dehydration melting of heterogeneous felsic lower crust. All segments of the lower crust underwent partial melting during the Pan-African orogeny at a time (540 Ma) when the middle crust of the central Damara orogen also underwent high T, medium P regional metamorphism and melting. Geochemical and isotope data from the Bandombaai Complex suggest that the Pan-African orogeny in this part of the orogen was not a major crust-forming episode. Instead, even the most primitive rock types of the region, the quartz diorites, represent recycled lower crustal material.     

Timing of deformation in the Norseman-Wiluna Belt, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

Establishing relative and absolute time frameworks for the sedimentary, magmatic, tectonic and gold mineralisation events in the Norseman-Wiluna Belt of the Archean Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia, has long been the main aim of research efforts. Recently published constraints on the timing of sedimentation and absolute granite ages have emphasized the shortcomings of the established rationale used for interpreting the timing of deformation events. In this paper the assumptions underlying this rationale are scrutinized, and it is shown that they are the source of significant misinterpretations. A revised time chart for the deformation events of the belt is established. The first shortening phase to affect the belt, D₁, was preceded by an extensional event D_1e and accompanied by a change from volcanic-dominated to plutonic-dominated magmatism at approximately 2685–2675 Ma. Later extension (D_2e) controlled deposition of the ca 2655 Ma Kurrawang Sequence and was followed by D₂, a major shortening event, which folded this sequence. D₂ must therefore have started after 2655 Ma—at least 20 Ma later than previously thought and after the voluminous 2670–2655 Ma high-Ca granite intrusion. Younger transcurrent deformation, D₃–D₄, waned at around 2630 Ma, suggesting that the crustal shortening deformation cycle D₂–D₄ lasted approximately 20–30 Ma, contemporaneous with low-volume 2650–2630 Ma low-Ca granites and alkaline intrusions. Time constraints on gold deposits suggest a late mineralisation event between 2640–2630 Ma. Thus, D₂–D₄ deformation cycle and late felsic magmatism define a 20–30 Ma long tectonothermal event, which culminated with gold mineralisation. The finding that D₂ folding took place after voluminous high-Ca granite intrusion led to research into the role of competent bodies during folding by means of numerical models. Results suggest that buoyancy-driven doming of pre-tectonic competent bodies trigger growth of antiforms, whereas non-buoyant, competent granite bodies trigger growth of synforms. The conspicuous presence of pre-folding granites in the cores of anticlines may be a result from active buoyancy doming during folding.     

Petrographic of Northwestern Sudan

The sedimentology of the Northwestern Sudan consists of lower, middle and upper cycles. The lower and upper cycles are composed of intercalated fluvial and shallow marine facies, whereas the middle cycle consists entirely of fluvial and glaciofluvial facies. The petrographic analysis shows that the lower and upper cydes consist of quartz and lithic arenite sandstones, whereas the middle cycle consists of arkosic and lithic arenite sandstones. The lower and upper cycle sandstones reflect derivation mainly from recycled orogens with minor contribution from craton interior provenances. However, the middle cycle sandstones indicate derivation from basement uplift, transitional and mainly recycled orogens provenances.     

秦岭—大巴山地区金属矿产成矿规律

秦岭—大巴山地区金属资源蕴藏丰富，成矿规律明显。剖析控矿条件，概括出优势金属资源的空间定位、成矿类型，归纳了成矿期，指明了小秦岭、熊耳山、伏牛山、汉（中）武（都）北（川）、凤（州）成（县）礼（县）、山（阳）柞（水）旬（阳）和商（南）洛（南）等七个成矿域，是查勘巨型或特大型矿产的地区。     

秦岭镇-旬地区微细浸染型锑金矿床成矿条件及其找矿前景分析

镇（安）旬（阳）地区锑金矿化分布，与其区域地质地球化学因素，陆源断陷盆地沉积岩相变化，后期构造作用密切相关，认为镇旬地区为扬子与华北板块边缘对接过渡活动带，形成局部扩张断陷沉积盆地环境。海底同生断裂的发育，使盆地中心局限台盆环境造成陆源物质、内源组份和深部物质的混生，以及为深部含矿热液上升提供通道；在后期脆－韧性剪切变形构造叠加，地下热卤水循环改造作用，形成层控式细脉浸染型锑金矿床。该地区锑金成矿物质来源丰富，沉积构造环境优越，后期控矿构造发育，显示了潜在的细脉浸染型锑金矿床的找矿前景。     

陕西小秦岭地区太华群的重新厘定

陕西小秦岭地区太华群变质岩与国内外许多高级片麻岩区类似，存在大量的深成花岗质片麻岩体，它们经过多期变质变形作用，形成具不同基础岩石类型的多相片麻岩。本文在吸收前人研究成果的基础上，依据区内岩石组合的岩石学、岩石地球化学等特征，将原划太华群重新厘定为太华岩群、翁岔铺片麻岩套、太峪岭片麻岩套、佛头崖单元、罗斑花岗伟晶岩及葫芦沟变砂岩，并首次在本区建立了相应的构─岩石单位体系。     

秦岭造山带基本组成与结构及其构造演化

秦岭造山带主要由三大套构造岩石地层单元组成，经历了三个主要演化阶段：1．前寒武纪古老基底形成演化阶段，2．主造山期（Pt3—T2）板块构造演化阶段，3．中新生代陆内构造演化阶段。在早中元古代以扩张构造体制占主导，形成裂谷与小洋盆兼杂并存的基本构造格局，经10—8亿年晋宁期从扩张垂向加积增生构造体制为主向以侧向增生为主的板块构造体制的过渡，于晚元古代中晚期开始进入板块构造演化阶段。在晚古生代早期由于东古特提斯洋的形成，扬子板块北缘沿秦岭南部扩张打开，形成华北板块、扬子板块及其间的秦岭微板块，沿商丹和勉略二缝合带自南向北俯冲消减碰撞，于中三叠世最后全面陆陆碰撞造山，而后又发生了强烈陆内造山作用，终成今日之秦岭山脉面貌。现今的秦岭造山带岩石圈结构是一正在调整演化中的具流变学分层的“立交桥式”三维结构，上部地壳呈多层逆冲推覆迭置的不对称扇形几何学模式，岩石圈中部则是成水平状流变层，而深部地幔则是最新调整的近南北向的地球物理异常状态与结构，形成从下到上构造方向近乎正交的圈层非耦合关系。     

从生物化石的性质和分布分析秦岭上升的阶段性与幅度

本文从生物化石的性质、分布的与我国南、北方同期生物群的对比，分析了秦岭从中生代晚期以来各个时期上升的幅度。秦岭在三叠纪末期成陆后即开始隆起，但隆起幅度有限。白垩纪与古新世该区地形高低悬殊不大。早第三纪中、后期秦岭有一次强烈的隆起活动，地形起伏，且对动物的迁移起了明显的阻碍作用。相继产生的夷平作用使晚第三纪秦岭区内的动物仍与区外的保持着较好的往来交流。早更新世末期秦岭再次表现出了垂直运动的特点。由于     

北秦岭古聚会带壳幔再循环

以同构造期代表古洋壳残片的蛇绿岩及产于古岛弧的玄武岩为基础，通过Ｎｄ，Ｐｂ同位素与微量元素示踪及岩浆源区分析，揭示出北秦岭元古宙上地幔以强亏损（εＮｄ（ｔ）＋６．３～＋７．３）和高的Ｙｂ／Ｈｆ，Ｎｂ／Ｌａ和Ｔｈ／Ｌａ比值为特征，北秦岭地壳和上地幔明显具有Ｐｂ同位素比值高的特征．北秦岭丹凤群岛弧火山岩、二郎坪群弧后玄武岩以及松树沟蛇绿岩中变拉斑玄武岩εＮｄ（ｔ）、放射成因Ｐｂ同位素、Ｙ／Ｔｂ和Ｔｉ－ＭｇＯ研究表明，本区玄武岩存在两类性质不同的岩浆源．一类与亏损的北秦岭岩石圈上地幔源区有关；另一类与携带海洋沉积物的洋壳板块俯冲参与有关．由此，论证了北秦岭古聚会带壳幔之间物质再循环     

东秦岭造山带两类元古宙地壳基底及其地壳增生

通过研究南秦岭地区陡岭群、武当群和北秦岭地区秦岭群的变质基性岩等的铅同位素和微量元素组成，揭示出东秦岭造山带分布有两种性质及不同归属的元古宙地壳，指出中、古元古代时可能一个统一的地壳基底；南秦岭的中、古元古代地壳是在扬子陆地基底上通过岛弧的侧向加积形成和，北秦岭元古宙地壳则可能垂向增生于一个富入射性成因铅同位素组成的、具古洋壳幔性质的微地块之上，研究还表明陡岭群不是北秦岭地区的秦岭群，而应属于南秦