Porphyry fertility in the Northparkes district: indicators from whole-rock geochemistry

Abstract

Four economic porphyry Cu–Au deposits and several prospects have been investigated in the Northparkes district, part of the Ordovician to early Silurian Junee–Narromine Belt of the Macquarie Arc, New whole-rock geochemical data from the Northparkes porphyry Cu–Au district, NSW, indicate that the mineralising intrusive complexes exhibit distinct arc signatures that are transitional from high-K calc-alkaline to silica-saturated alkalic. Based on ratios of Sr/Y vs Y (e.g. Sr/Y > ～20 and Y < ～17?ppm) the mineralising intrusions are interpreted to have crystallised from fractionated hydrous melts indicating the suppression of plagioclase crystallisation in favour of hydrous mineral phases. This interpretation is supported by listric-shaped rare earth element curves and the presence of primary hornblende phenocrysts indicating elevated magmatic water contents. There is an association of mineralising intrusions with a low Zr trend both in the mineralised Northparkes district intrusive rocks and in mineralised porphyry-related intrusive rocks globally. A newly developed fertility indicator ratio Zr/Y ～10% is more accurate at identifying the mineralised rocks at Northparkes than the conventional Sr/Y vs Y fertility indicator diagram, successfully identifying 92% of the mineralising intrusions, mainly owing to the fact that it is less affected by hydrothermal alteration. The insensitivity of Zr–Y to alteration makes this indicator a useful new tool that may lead to enhanced probabilities for future discoveries in the Northparkes district, broader Macquarie Arc and altered rocks globally.

1. KEY POINTS

2. Mineralising intrusions in the Northparkes district have distinct Zr vs Y concentrations.

3. The Zr vs Y indicator of magmatic fertility is less sensitive to alteration than Sr-based indicators.

4. The Zr vs Y magmatic fertility indicator identified at Northparkes is not unique and identifies mineralising intrusions in other porphyry fields.

     

Plio-Quaternary segmentation of the south Tyrrhenian forearc basin

The structural elements constituting the forearc basin of the Calabrian Arc–Sicily orogenic system are recognizable on land and in the Tyrrhenian offshore. The Plio–Pleistocene retreat of the Ionian subduction hinge, coeval with the roll-back of the Africa continental crust, leads to segmentation of the forearc basin and southeastward migration of the Calabrian Arc due to its higher degree of mobility compared to Sicily, where, on the contrary, continental collision takes place. The analysis of geological data collected in three areas of the orogenic belt and the integration with offshore geophysical data show evidence of two phases of subduction hinge retreat: (1) Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene southeastward migration accompanied by the development of N120°E trending tear-faults and NE–SW-trending extensional systems, (2) Middle–Late Pleistocene SSE-ward migration with development of NNW–SSE-trending tear-faults and N70°E-trending collapse systems. The data presented here provide an innovative framework for the interpretation of this most seismically active area of the Mediterranean. In particular, in the Messina Strait area, the more recent N70°E lineaments could be associated with the faults that generated the 1783 Calabria earthquake and are coherent with the focal mechanism of the 1908 Messina earthquake, confirmed also by the analysis of frequency diagrams of the elongation directions of the isoseists.     

西藏拉萨地块北部白垩纪火山岩及其对冈底斯岛弧构造演化的制约

拉萨地块北部广泛分布着白垩纪火山岩。本文及已有年代学研究表明,这些火山岩主要形成于早白垩世中期(140～110Ma)和晚白垩世早期(100～80Ma)两个阶段。早白垩世中期火山岩主要为则弄群和多尼组地层中的火山岩夹层,岩性组合包括玄武岩、玄武安山岩、安山岩、英安岩和流纹岩,主体为高钾钙碱和钾玄质系列,具有初始87Sr/86Sr比值(0.7068～0.7102)较高、εNd(t)(-9.3～-1.5)较低和δ18OV-SMOW(7.2‰～9.8‰)较高等同位素组成特征,源区为受消减沉积物和/或蚀变玄武质洋壳的含水流体/熔体交代的富集岩石圈地幔楔。晚白垩世早期火山岩零星分布在拉萨地块北部和羌塘地块南部,岩石类型以玄武岩、玄武安山岩、安山岩为主,有少量的酸性火山岩(英安岩),主体为典型的钙碱性系列组合(低钾拉斑+中钾钙碱),具有较高的Mg(Mg#可高达59)和相容元素Cr(162×10-6)、V(216×10-6)和Ni(80×10-6)含量以及更为原始的Sr-Nd同位素组成,(87Sr/86Sr)t=0.7041～0.7048,εNd(t)=0.9～2.2,指示源区可能为受到上涌软流圈地幔熔体二次交代的交代富集岩石圈地幔,本文将其命名为尼玛火山岩。综合以上白垩纪火山岩和拉萨地块南部叶巴组、桑日群和林子宗群火山岩的时空分布特征,认为中生代至早第三纪冈底斯岛弧的演化发生了两次大的空间迁移:中生代早侏罗世以来由南向北变新,从最南部的叶巴组(早侏罗世,193～174Ma)和桑日群火山岩(J3—K1),到北部的则弄群和多尼组火山岩(早白垩世中期,140～110Ma),最后到最北部的尼玛火山岩(晚白垩世早期,100～80Ma);早第三纪由北向南跃迁回南部,从北部的尼玛火山岩迁移到南部的林子宗群火山岩(70～40Ma)。冈底斯岛弧火山岩的时空分布特征和成分演化规律,揭示了新特提斯洋板块的俯冲历史,即早期新特提斯洋壳由南向北低角度俯冲,然后再高角度反向旋转,直至最后发生拆沉。     

Crystal retention,fractionation and crustal assimilation in a convecting magma chamber,Nisyros Volcano,Greece

Nisyros island is a calc-alkaline volcano, built up during the last 100 ka. The first cycle of its subaerial history includes the cone-building activity with three phases, each characterized by a similar sequence: (1) effusive and explosive activity fed by basaltic andesitic and andesitic magmas; and (2) effusive andextrusive activity fed by dacitic and rhyolitic magmas. The second eruptive cycle includes the caldera-forming explosive activity with two phases, each consisting of the sequence: (1) rhyolitic phreatomagmatic eruptions triggering a central caldera collapse; and (2) extrusion of dacitic-rhyolitic domes and lava flows. The rocks of this cycle are characteized by the presence of mafic enclaves with different petrographic and chemical features which testify to mixing-mingling processes between variously evolved magmas. Jumps in the degree of evolution are present in the stratigraphic series, accompanied by changes in the porphyritic index. This index ranges from 60% to about 5% and correlates with several teochemical parameters, including a negative correlation with Sr isotope ratios (0.703384–0.705120). The latter increase from basaltic andesites to intermediate rocks, but then slightly decrease in the most evolved volcanic rocks. The petrographic, geochemical and isotopic characteristics can be largely explained by processes occurring in a convecting, crystallizing and assimilating magma chamber, where crystal sorting, retention, resorption and accumulation take place. A group of crystal-rich basaltic andesites with high Sr and compatible element contents and low incompatible elements and Sr isotope ratios probably resulted from the accumulation of plagioclase and pyroxene in an andesitic liquid. Re-entrainment of plagioclase crystals in the crystallizing magma may have been responsible for the lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the most evolved rocks. The gaps in the degree of evolution with time are interpreted as due to liquid segregation from a crystal mush once critical crystallinity was reached. At that stage convection halted, and a less dense, less porphyritic, more evolved magma separated from a denser crystal-rich magma portion. The differences in incompatible element enrichment of pre-and post-caldera dacites and the chemical variation in the post-caldera dome sequence are the result of hybridization of post-caldera dome magmas with more mafic magmas, as represented by the enclave compositions. The occurrence of the quenched, more mafic magmas in the two post-caldera units suggests that renewed intrusion of mafic magma took place after each collapse event.     

一次强降水系统的演变和细结构分析

文章分析1992年7月23日河北省东部平原地区一次突发性暴雨过程，研究了产生特大暴雨的中-α尺度对流系统的演变及其细结构，讨论了该系统内部中心暖区形成的物理机制，并指出几种不同尺度的天气系统相互作用对这次暴雨系统的重要影响。     

Seismicity and stress field in Okinawa Trough and Ryukyu regions

（黄培华）（苏维加）（陈金波）ＳｅｉｓｍｉｃｉｔｙａｎｄｓｔｒｅｓｓｆｉｅｌｄｉｎＯｋｉｎａｗａＴｒｏｕｇｈａｎｄＲｙｕｋｙｕｒｅｇｉｏｎｓ￥Ｐｅｉ－ＨｕａＨＵＡＮＧ；Ｗｅｉ－ｊｉａＳＵａｎｄＪｉｎ－ＢｏＣＨＥＮ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＥａｒｔｈａ...     

Variability in eruptive dynamics associated with caldera collapse: an example from two successive eruptions at Batur volcanic field,Bali, Indonesia

Batur volcanic field (BVF) in Bali, Indonesia, underwent two successive caldera-forming eruptions, CI and CII (29,300 and 20,150 years b.p., respectively) that resulted in the deposition of dacitic ignimbrites. The respective ignimbrites show contrasted stratigraphies, exemplify the variability of dynamics associated with caldera-forming eruptions and provide insights into the possible controls exerted by caldera collapse mechanisms. The Ubud Ignimbrite is widespread and covers most of southern Bali. The deposits consist dominantly of pyroclastic flow with minor pumice fall deposits. The intra-caldera succession comprises three distinct, partially to densely welded cooling units separated by non-welded pyroclastic flow and fall deposits. The three cooling units consist of pyroclastic flow deposits only and together represent up to 16 distinct flow units, each including a thin, basal, lithic-rich breccia. This eruption was related to a 13.5×10 km caldera (CI) with a minimum collapsed volume of 62 km³. The floor of caldera CI is inferred to have a piecemeal geometry. The Ubud Ignimbrite is interpreted as the product of a relatively long-lasting, pulsating, collapsing fountain that underwent at least two time breaks. A stable column developed during the second time break. Discharge rate was high overall, but oscillatory, and increased toward the end of the eruption. These dynamics are thought to reflect sequential collapse of the CI structure. The Gunungkawi Ignimbrite is of more limited extent outside the source caldera and occurs only in central southern Bali. The Gunungkawi Ignimbrite proximal deposits consist of interbedded accretionary lapilli-bearing ash surge, ash fall, pumice lapilli fall and thin pyroclastic flow deposits, overlain by a thick and massive pyroclastic flow deposit with a thick basal lag breccia. The caldera (CII) is 7.5×6 km in size, with a minimum collapsed volume of 9 km³. The CII eruption included two distinct phases. During the first, eruption intensity was low to moderate and an unstable, essentially phreatomagmatic column developed. During the second phase, the onset of caldera collapse drastically increased the eruption intensity, resulting in column collapse. The caldera floor is believed to have subsided rapidly, producing a single, short-lived burst of high eruption intensity that resulted in the deposition of the uppermost massive pyroclastic flow.Editorial responsibility: T. Druitt     

三江地区义敦岛弧造山带演化和成矿系统

义敦岛弧是喜马拉雅巨型造山带中的一个复合造山带,它经历了印支期洋壳俯冲造山、燕山湖弧-陆碰撞和喜马拉雅期陆内走滑作用诸演化历史。可能由于洋壳板片俯冲角度不同,义敦晚三叠世古岛弧带(206～237 Ma)南北两段具有不同的发育历史,北段昌台弧以发育孤间裂谷为特色,具张性弧特征,发育扩张环境流体聚敛成矿系统,形成VMS型Zn-Pb-Cu矿床和浅成低温热液型Ag-Au-Hg矿床;南段中甸弧不发育弧后盆地,但广泛发育钙碱性弧火山岩-玢岩-斑岩杂岩系和挤压环境岩浆-流体成矿系统,形成斑岩型-夕卡岩型铜多金属矿床。在三叠纪-侏罗纪之交的弧-陆碰撞作用中,早期大陆板片俯冲形成同碰撞花岗岩带(约200 Ma),晚期造山后伸展作用,形成A型花岗岩带(75～138 Ma),伴随扬子大陆板片俯冲而发生的强烈剪切和推覆,在甘孜-理塘蛇绿混杂带发育挤压剪切环境流体聚敛成矿系统,形成剪切带型金矿。伴随造山后伸展和A型花岗岩侵位,发育伸张环境岩浆-流体聚敛成矿系统,主要形成夕卡岩型锡矿和构造破碎带热浪脉型银多金属矿床。印度-亚洲大陆碰撞在义敦造山带主要表现为陆内走滑作用,并控制碱性花岗岩和花岗斑岩的发育(50～30 Ma),伴随斑岩型金矿的形成。