Coastal Placer Deposits of Central Tamil Nadu, India

Placer mineral exploration has been undertaken along the beach of Central Tamil Nadu coast from Pondicherry to Vedaranyam. On the basis of the drainage network, geomorphology, and the coastal environment, the study area has been grouped into three sectors, North, Central, and South. Heavy mineral by Wt% shows a slightly higher abundance in the Northern sector, an enrichment of opaques in the Central sector from stations between Poompuhar and Karaikal, and a total depletion in the Southern sector. An abundance of heavies in the Northern sector is considered to be the result of a higher wave energy, and the cymatogenic downwarping of the basin during the present transgression. An enrichment of heavies in the Central sector from Poompuhar to Karaikal is attributable to the reworking of the beach ridges, which were submerged during the present transgression, and to the role of density sorting. A depletion of heavies in the Southern sector is accounted for by the absence of a terrigenous supply and the prevalence of wave shadow conditions throughout the year. The nature of the heavy mineral assemblage reflects the derivation of sediments principally from khondalites, granites, metamorphic rocks and paleo-sediments. Factor analysis also supplements the predominant role of a density factor in the segregation of heavy minerals in the study area. A five-stage model is proposed for the formation of placer deposits in the study region. The present study has disclosed rich concentrations of ilmenites in the central sector between Poompuhar and Karaikal that can be commercially exploited.     

Integrated methodology for determining provenance of detrital quartz using optical petrographic microscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) properties

The provenance of detrital quartz is a useful predictor in frontier basin sandstone reservoirs of the availability of coarse-grained quartz grains of plutonic or high grade metamorphic origin. The standard approach is to use scanning electron microscope (SEM) panchromatic cathodoluminescence (CL) imagery and observations from an optical petrographic microscope. We describe a work flow, modified from previous literature proposals, to determine quartz provenance in detrital grains using optical petrographic microscopy and CL properties from both a hot-cathode cathodoluminescence microscope attachment (HCMA) and panchromatic SEM-CL. HCMA analysis permits better discrimination of different types of metamorphic quartz. This method is applied to a Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous section in the Bandol-1 wildcat well, located in the Laurentian sub-basin south of Newfoundland. Two types of high-grade metamorphic quartz are distinguished, one with low luminescence as described in previous literature and one with medium blue CL colour and a moderate colour shift that is also known from granulite in the hinterland. Three phases of detrital supply are identified, suggesting progressive unroofing of higher grade metamorphic sources through the middle Jurassic and major input of plutonic quartz in the early Cretaceous.     

磷灰石Eu/Y-Ce:基于大数据的源区类型判别新图解SCIEI北大核心CSCD

磷灰石广泛分布于火成岩、沉积岩和变质岩中,是一种常见的、包含丰富微量元素的副矿物。磷灰石晶格可容纳丰富的微量元素,且因其形成的物理化学条件不同会表现出差异明显的微量元素特征。利用磷灰石微量元素特征可以追踪物质来源和演化。现在常用的方法是利用磷灰石的微量元素绘制二元判别图解,经典判别图解包括Sr-Y、Sr-Mn、Y-(Eu/Eu^(*))和(Ce/Yb)_(N)-REE图解。随着微区测试技术发展,磷灰石微量元素数据日渐丰富,同时由于磷灰石化学成分的复杂性,传统图解已逐渐无法有效利用这些数据所携带的信息,进而无法准确判别其生成环境。建立能准确判别磷灰石物源的新型判别图解故而迫切。近年来,磷灰石微量元素数据的大量积累,为运用以大数据为依托,准确判别磷灰石物源奠定了数据基础。本研究将大数据技术与地球化学数据相结合,共收集整理了1925个代表性磷灰石测试点的微量元素数据,对富碱性火成岩、超镁铁质岩石、镁铁质火成岩、长英质花岗岩、中-低级变质岩、高级变质岩六种类型中磷灰石微量元素数据进行穷举端元处理,共获得7140个磷灰石物源判别图解端元组合,在轮廓系数限定下,进一步有效筛选并提取出能判别磷灰石物源类型的最优图解端元。本文构建了Eu/Y-Ce磷灰石判别新图解,相较于之前的磷灰石判别图解,其涵盖了更全面的物源类型,可以更准确地判别源区类型。     

造山带中缝合面结构特征与构造意义

缝合带是两个板块之间的分隔带,其规模和形态在不同类型的造山带中多有不同。本文从缝合带和缝合面的定义出发,以典型造山带为案例探讨缝合面的变形及其对造山带结构解析、沉积盆地性质判别的影响。俯冲阶段的主滑脱面是一个没有厚度的应变带,在碰撞后又作为增生杂岩的底界得以保留。这一界面严格区分了上盘和下盘沉积盆地之间的物源亲缘性,因而将之定义作为缝合面可有效帮助解析造山带不同位置盆地的性质。蛇绿岩带、高压变质岩带和大型断裂等线状要素仅能用以大致限定缝合带的位置,而不能用以精确限定缝合面的位置。不同于俯冲阶段相对平直的主滑脱面,缝合面的形态可以在碰撞过程中、甚至碰撞后被逆冲推覆和走滑所改造。在阿尔卑斯、喜马拉雅、东准噶尔等典型造山带中,缝合面都经历了向着前陆方向的远距离推覆及褶皱变形,这一变形的缝合面经历风化剥蚀过程后,在地表的形态呈复杂的指状交叉的特征,甚至由于飞来峰和构造窗的出现而呈现多个出露点。而在双向俯冲系统中,缝合面天然具有Z型的特征,经历后期变形后其形态会更加复杂。在苏鲁-大别造山带,多期次的后期变形叠加在早期的线状缝合面之上,特别是走滑断裂将包括缝合面在内的造山带切割为不连续的断夹块,极大地改造了缝合面在地表的出露形态。综上,在解析造山带结构,特别是进行沉积大地构造研究时,缝合面的复杂形态必须要得到重视。错误的缝合面位置可能造成错误盆地性质判断。     

Textural and geochemical characteristics of the Ajali Sandstone,Anambra Basin,SE Nigeria: Implication for its provenance

This study presents the mineralogical, textural and geochemical characteristics of the regional Maastrichtian Ajali Sandstone in Anambra Basin, SE Nigeria. The intent is to highlight possible constraints on the chemical weathering conditions of the source materials on one hand, and to infer the provenance on the other hand. The investigation approach involved field studies and collection of samples from 12 different outcrop locations, followed by laboratory studies involving grain-size analysis (GSA), major and trace elements analyses using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method as well as thin section petrography. Field studies show that the sandstones are friable at all locations and range in color from white in freshly cut stone, to reddish brown on weathering. In addition, the sandstone units are cross-bedded and show graded bedding exemplified by fining upward sequence. Textural examination indicates that the sandstones range from fine to medium sands, constituting about 76 to 99% sand fraction, with graphic mean grain size of 0.23 to 0.53 mm. Standard deviation (sorting) ranges from 0.56 to 1.24 Ø and implies moderately well sorted sediments. Inferred from the textural indices, the depo-environmental discrimination of the Ajali Sandstone revealed a fluvial/river system-dominated sedimentary process. The sandstones are quartz arenite with quartz greater than 90% and less than 5% K-feldspar which indicate a predominant basement source as also revealed by the heavy mineral assemblages. In addition, major elemental oxides shows SiO₂ content greater than 96% for the fresh Ajali Sandstone samples with extreme depletion of mobile oxides such as Na₂O, CaO and the ferromagnesian minerals through weathering and sedimentary processes. Provenance and tectonic setting discrimination using geochemical data and compositional maturity revealed typical felsic igneous-dominated cratonic environment while inter-elemental ratios (such as Zr/Cr, Y/Ni, Th/Sc, La/Sc and La/Co) and ternary plots (e.g. Th–Sc–Zr; La-Th–Sc and Th-Co-Zr) reflect passive continental margin setting for the Ajali Sandstone. Consequently, the source area is constrained to the Precambrian basement rock units of Adamawa-Oban massif areas to the east of the Anambra Basin and the adjacent Abakaliki Anticlinorium.     

Rare-earth elements in Oligo-Miocenic pelitic sediments from Lagonegro Basin,southern Apennines,Italy: implications for provenance and source area weathering

The Lagonegro Units are a part of the southern Apennines orogenic wedge. The age of the Lagonegro successions ranges from lower–middle Triassic to Oligo-Miocene. During late Cretaceous and Oligocene the deposition of calcareous-clastic sediments occurred interbedded with shales (Flysch Rosso Fm). During Oligocene and early Miocene, in the Mediterranean area, an important variation of the tectonic regime occurred, and siliciclastic sediments of the Numidian Basin unconformably lay on the Meso-Cenozoic units of the Lagonegro Basin. In the Lucanian Apennine, the Aquitanian–Langhian Numidian Flysch Fm overlies the Flysch rosso Fm. The shales of the Flysch rosso Fm have a peculiar geochemical fingerprint relative to typical shales of post-Archean age. The abundance of Ni and Cr is significantly higher and the HREE chondrite-normalized patterns are steep with a (Gd/Yb)_ch>2. A supply of material from the African Archean terranes could be the cause. The palaeo-weathering indices record changes at the source, reflecting variations in the tectonic regime. The oldest samples are derived from an environment in which steady-state weathering conditions prevailed, whereas the youngest samples are related to non-steady-state weathering conditions. This difference could record deformational events that affected the Mediterranean area during the Oligocene and early Miocene. The sample at the top of the studied log has very high silica content and an abundant coarse grain-sized fraction. This suggests that this sample belongs to the Numidian Flysch Fm. The geochemical proxies of this sample are different from those associated with samples from the Flysch rosso Fm, indicating that the source-area of the Numidian Flysch Fm did not include the Archean terranes.     

Provenance of Oligocene synorogenic sediments of the Ligurian Alps (NW Italy): inferences on belt age and cooling history

Mineral chemistry, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology on white micas and Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology (AFTT), are applied here to study the provenance of the synorogenic Molare Formation (lowermost unit of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin clastic sequence). The Molare Formation was deposited during transgression onto the Ligurian Alps nappe stack in the Early Oligocene. Depositional facies show that clastic distribution remained transversal, with local sources located just landward from the coastline. Phengite mineral chemistry together with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data clearly shows two distinctive source areas, each one mirroring the composition of the basement directly beneath the clastic sequence. Amphibole mineral chemistry allows second order provenance distinctions within each sector, reflecting heterogeneous metamorphic evolution of the bedrock complexes. Integrated ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating and AFTT suggest that, following a fast cooling/exhumation episode of the Ligurian Alps during the Oligocene, very little net uplift has since occurred. This is due to a period of general subsidence from the Oligocene–Late Miocene followed by comparable uplift from Late Miocene–Pliocene to the present. In general our data provide an image of the Ligurian Alps during the Oligocene, which is very similar to the present-day one.This revised version was published online in September 2003.     

碎屑岩的物质成分、物质来源与大地构造关系──以宣龙内陆海长城期常州沟─串岭沟组碎屑岩为例

应用ＷＲＤｉｃｋｉｎｓｏｎ等人对砂岩与物源分析结果，对我国华北地台第一沉积盖层的宣龙内陆海长城系的常州沟组和串岭组的砂岩和石英岩状砂岩进行投点，结果表明，形成砂岩和石英岩状砂岩的主要物源，是内陆海南北两侧的大陆块蚀源区的克拉通源区。通过阴极发光分析，进一步揭示了克拉通古陆火成岩的物源略多于变质岩。重矿物鉴定结果，确定了火成岩主要为花岗岩和花岗闪长岩；变质岩为合石榴石斜长片麻岩和角闪片麻岩等。克拉通岩石经过长期风化，碎屑经过远距离搬运和充分地离解和分解之后，在宣龙内陆海沉积了常州沟、串岭沟组的砂岩和石英岩状砂岩。     

新疆东准噶尔喀姆斯特晚古生代沉积记录:物源和沉积作用研究

东准噶尔喀姆斯特下泥盆统阿拉比也巴斯他乌组和下石炭统卡姆斯特组代表陆壳增生不同阶段的沉积响应.碎屑岩碎屑组成模式和地球化学分析结果表明阿拉比也巴斯他乌组形成于大洋-活动大陆过渡型构造环境,物源区主要为发育在过渡型地壳之上的岩浆岛弧;卡姆斯特组形成于活动大陆型构造环境,物源区主要为大陆岛弧环境的切割岩浆弧.沉积相、相组合及生物生态等沉积特征显示两组的沉积环境分别为海底斜坡和海底扇中扇-外扇盆地平原.结合区域构造分析和地层对比研究,下泥盆统阿拉比也巴斯他乌组海底斜坡沉积是东准噶尔构造带早泥盆世弧后盆地沉积响应的主要记录,卡姆斯特组海底扇-海底平原沉积则主要记录了东准噶尔复合地体早石炭世晚期弧间残余海盆的沉积响应.两套沉积响应记录的环境演化受控于中亚型造山带复杂的造山作用.     

晚侏罗世承德盆地砾岩碎屑源区分析及构造意义

河北承德及寿王坟盆地在晚侏罗世土城子期堆积了大量的粗碎屑沉积。砾石成分统计结果显示,承德-寿王坟盆地充填的土城子组碎屑母岩组合主要有三种,其中火山岩、花岗质岩石和变质岩组合在承德盆地占绝时优势,反映了当时盆地以北的"内蒙地轴"为主要的蚀源区。向北逆冲的双庙断裂将承德盆地分成南北两个部分,断裂两侧的砾石成分组合基本相同,显示出碎屑物质共同来源于北部,同时也暗示了该断裂在土城子期可能没有强烈的活动(强烈活动期可能在土城子组之后?)。分析表明,承德盆地南部的不对称向斜构造两侧砾石成分截然不同,说明该向斜构造控制了碎屑分布,是同沉积期形成的。该盆地南侧的碎屑供应量远远小于北侧,反映了控制盆地南缘发育的向北逆冲的灰窑断层可能是一条次要的同沉积断裂。在晚侏罗世整体向南推进的逆冲断裂系统中,灰窑断裂和双庙断裂应属于背向逆冲断层。承德盆地中大量的粗碎屑堆积与同期冲断带的耦合关系分析,指示了这一时期盆地北侧存在强烈的逆冲断裂活动。作为主要物源区,北部的"内蒙地轴"在晚侏罗世发生了强烈的隆升-剥蚀作用,推测当时在地貌上可能存在近E—W走向的古山系(或古高原?)。