Paleomagnetism of the Esterel rocks: a revisit 22 years after the thesis of Hans Zijderveld

For his PhD. thesis, Zijderveld (1975) studied the paleomagnetism of the Permian Esterel rocks (southern France). High-quality thermal and alternating-field demagnetization diagrams were interpreted to determine the direction of the characteristic natural magnetization. For the Esterel volcanics, a mean direction of Dec = 206.5°, Inc = –23°, ₉₅ = 5.7°, k = 112 was found for this magnetization. The dispersion in this mean is remarkably low. Only the declination of the Reyran Rhyolite in the Reyran River quarry clearly deviated from this mean. This deviating direction is not found in our samples, taken at the same site. As many faults occur in this quarry, it is suggested that Zijderveld sampled this rhyolite on a small rotated block. To verify whether the small dispersion in the mean paleomagnetic direction of the Esterel rocks has a geomagnetic or a rock-magnetic origin, two conglomerate tests were carried out. One of these might be interpreted as positive. The results of the other conglomerate test (Agay Formation) are ambiguous: four of the six measured boulders show directions close to the mean paleomagnetic direction of the Esterel rocks. Rock-magnetic measurements show that the remanence is carried by a magnetite and a hematite fraction. The low dispersion in the paleomagnetic directions, the conglomerate tests, and hematite as remanence carrier suggest that the characteristic remanence in the Esterel volcanics was not instantaneously acquired during cooling, but might be affected by remagnetization due to weathering.     

大兴安岭中段塔尔气地区流纹岩年龄、地球化学特征及其地质意义

塔尔气地区位于大兴安岭主脊中段,晚中生代广泛发育一套玄武岩、安山岩、英安岩、流纹岩及相应火山碎屑岩的岩石组合。以流纹岩为研究对象,进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄、岩石地球化学研究。测年结果显示,流纹岩形成于132±2Ma(MSWD=1.5,2σ),属早白垩世中期。岩石地球化学特征表明,流纹岩属于典型的弱过铝质高钾钙碱系列岩石,具有高硅(71.6%~77%)、富碱(Na_2O+K_2O=7.94%~9.64%)且富钾(K_2O=4.5%~5.46%)的特征;轻、重稀土元素分馏明显,具中等Eu负异常(δEu=0.22~0.7),亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti,相对富Th、U、Zr、Hf,富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb,相对贫Ba、Sr,显示A型流纹岩特征。岩浆源区与硬质砂岩相似,具有较高的锆饱和温度,可能为地壳部分熔融的产物,形成于后碰撞伸展的大地构造环境。     

Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites from the Duolong Cu–Au deposit,southern Qiangtang,China: evidence for crustal growth

We report new zircon U–Pb age, Hf isotopic, and major and trace element data for rhyolites from the Duolong Ore Concentration Area of the Southern Qiangtang Terrane. Building on previous studies, we constrain the tectonic setting and propose a model to explain the geodynamics and crustal growth during regional magmatism in the Early Cretaceous. The analysed rhyolites yield laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb ages of 115 and 118 Ma. The rocks are K-rich (K₂O = 6.66–9.93 wt.%; K₂O/Na₂O = 8.2–19.7 wt.%), alkaline and peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.02–1.46), and are characterized by high SiO₂ contents (72.8–78.8 wt.%) similar to highly fractionated I-type granites. Fractionation of Fe–Ti oxides, plagioclase, hornblende, Ti-bearing phases, apatite, monazite, allanite and zircon contributed to the variations in major and trace element chemistry. High K₂O contents are likely due to partial melting of the continental crust. The samples have positive zircon εHf(t) values ranging from +7.1 to +11.2. These features, together with young zircon Hf crustal model ages of 489–721 Ma, indicate that the K-rich rhyolites were derived from juvenile lower crust with an input of a mantle-derived component. We suggest that the Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites formed in a continental arc setting during northward subduction of Bangong Co–Nujiang oceanic lithosphere. Basaltic magma underplating was responsible for vertical crustal growth, triggered by slab roll-back in the Duolong Ore Concentration Area in the Early Cretaceous.     

The rare earth element (REE) mineralisation potential of highly fractionated rhyolites: A potential low-grade,bulk tonnage source of critical metals

The rare earth elements (REE) have become crucial for modern industry, technology and medicine, with the increase in demand for these elements over the past few years currently being met by relatively few well-known mineral deposits. This lack of a secure supply of the REE has led to increased research into potential alternative sources of these in demand elements. The primary fractionation processes involved in the petrogenesis of highly fractionated high-silica rhyolites can cause the magmas that form these units to become preferentially enriched in the REE, especially in the more valuable heavy REE (HREE), although this is dependent on the mineral assemblages fractionated by the system in question, a factor that is in turn a function of the source and tectonic setting of a given magmatic event. The mineralogy of the REE is also important, with volatile exsolution and vapour-phase activity within highly evolved rhyolite systems potentially having a key role in concentrating the REE and other elements into concentrations (and more importantly potentially acid leachable and therefore processable minerals) that may be economically viable to extract. This, combined with the fact these rhyolites are often enriched in other critical and/or economically important metals (e.g., Y, Nb, Ta, Be, Li, F, Sn, Rb, Th, and U) means that these volcanic units should be considered as potential sources of these critical metals. In addition, the large volume nature of these rhyolites combined with the fact they frequently crop out at the Earth’s surface makes them ideally suited for more economical bulk open pit extraction. This suggests that these high-silica REE-enriched rhyolites should be considered potential REE analogues of bulk-tonnage, low-grade porphyry Cu deposits, warranting further investigation to determine whether these rhyolites are a viable new source of the REE (especially the HREE) and are potential targets for future mineral exploration.     

西藏羌塘南缘热那错早白垩世流纹岩锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素及其意义

在青藏高原的演化历史中,班公湖-怒江洋的俯冲方向一直存在争议。现有的岩浆作用时空展布表明,大量早白垩的岩浆作用分布在班公湖-怒江缝合带(以下简称为班怒带)以南,但是近年来在该缝合带以北也发现了少量同时代的岩浆作用。本文研究了靠近班公湖-怒江蛇绿岩带以北、改则县北部热那错地区的流纹岩,获得了岩石的锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素成分。热那错流纹岩年龄为~110Ma,与相邻地区报道的岩浆岩活动和缝合带以南的北拉萨地体地区大范围出露的早白垩世岩浆岩同期产出。岩石具有不均一且偏正的ε_Hf(t)特征,与北拉萨地体同期岩浆岩Hf同位素成分相似。本文综合考虑了班怒带两侧发育同期岩浆活动、且南侧极大量而北侧很少量发育的特征,认为热那错流纹岩的成因可以置于班公湖-怒江洋向南俯冲的总体模式中,南向俯冲的班公湖怒江岩石圈在~110Ma发生板片断离,可以同时解释分布于缝合带两侧的早白垩世岩浆活动。     

新疆阿尔泰康布铁堡组钾质和钠质流纹岩的成因及同位素年代学研究

阿尔泰南缘康布铁堡组酸性火山岩分布在麦兹、克朗、冲呼尔以及阿舍勒等火山-沉积盆地.本文对其中的钾质流纹岩(TM1,铁木尔特地区)和钠质流纹岩(KK7,可可塔勒地区)进行了SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年以及地球化学的研究.钾质流纹岩的年龄为400.8±8.4Ma(加权平均年龄为394.8±7.9Ma),钠质流纹岩的年龄为402.2±6Ma(加权平均年龄为396.8±5.1Ma).主元素分析结果证明研究区在时间和空间上紧密共生的高钾流纹岩和高钠流纹岩同属于高碱、高硅、低钙、过铝质的钙碱性岩系.相似的稀土元素分配模式和同样亏损高场强元素(Ti、Nb、Ta)的地球化学特征暗示二者的原始岩浆源于上地壳部分熔融.钾质流纹岩富集Rb,Ba、Pb,钠质流纹岩则富集Sr,这种元素分相富集的特征符合在岩浆液态不混溶条件下微量元素在共轭钠质熔体和钾质硅酸盐熔体中的分配原则.由此推论,本区产出的钾质流纹岩和钠质流纹岩可能是上地壳部分熔融形成的高挥发分酸性岩浆液态不混溶的产物.     

Soil and landscape studies in Western Aaustralia

The nature of the valley forms, and associated superficial deposits and soils of the South‐West Drainage Division of Western Australia are described. All the major rivers tap interior palaeo‐drainage lines associated with chains of salt lakes; thereafter, downstream, there is a succession of valley forms which are progressively more sharply incised and of steeper gradient. It is shown that this succession is repeated in all major rivers. The main palaeo‐drainage systems are named for the first time, and their catchments delineated. The changes in valley form which occur downstream of the palaeo‐drainage lines are interpreted as stages in rejuvenation of drainage of the epeiro‐genically uplifted Old Plateau of Western Australia. The relationship between the valley forms and patterns of distribution of soils, deeply weathered profiles and superficial deposits is described, and its agricultural, geochemical and hydrological significance briefly discussed.     

Generation of Late Cretaceous silicic rocks in SE China: Age, major element and numerical simulation constraints

Rhyolite-dominating bimodal volcanic suites (rhyolite/basalt), mafic dikes and A-type granites distribute from N Zhejiang to S Fujian over 800 km in the Southeast Coast Magmatic Belt (SCMB) – the Late Yanshanian (LY) orogenic belt in SE China. Data of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and K–Ar whole-rock ages and LA-ICPMS U–Pb zircon ages indicate that rhyolitic volcanism (101–72 Ma) is contemporaneous with the A-type granitic intrusions (100–90 Ma) and mafic dike injections (94–77 Ma). This time span is used to define the upper volcanic series in Zhejiang–Fujian areas. One striking feature of rhyolites in the SCMB is that many are strongly peraluminous (SP) and others, mostly restrict in Fujian, are peralkaline to mildly peraluminous (P-MP) and chemically resemble A-type granites. The SP character is unique among well-known large rhyolite provinces worldwide. Based on experimental works for a common thermal regime and inherited zircon age information, we suggest that SP and P-MP rhyolites represent low pressure melting of the felsic (quartzofeldspathic) granite (±metapelite) and the accompanied granodioritic, tonalitic and trondhjemitic member of the core complex assemblage, respectively, to account for the decreasing aluminosity. They could have also been contaminated by young igneous rocks, and ancient crust to a lesser degree, during ascent to the surface. Plate subduction and lithosphere extension processes, respectively, are numerically simulated for the magma generation of these rhyolites using the mafic underplating model. Results suggest that the most effective controlling factor to generate SP and associated P-MP (A-type) magmas during 95–80 Ma is thinning of the lithosphere thickness with a high exhumation rate. Under this circumstance, the core complex assemblage can be uplifted to lower level of the crust and match the constraint of experimental works.     

博格达裂谷闭合和区域隆起的同位素年代学证据及地质意义

博格达造山带位于准噶尔和吐鲁番-哈密两个前寒武纪地块之间，是晚古生代的大陆裂谷。经研究，博格达大石头-色皮口地区的流纹岩Rb-Sr同位素年龄为307.1±1.3 Ma，表明博格达地区火山活动由早石炭世持续到晚石炭世。该年龄可视为博格达裂谷闭合和区域隆什之后造山阶段产物的形成年龄。该区流纹岩其源区物质主要来自于亏损地幔或是由玄武岩浆演化经分离结晶作用形成的流纹岩这一特征是十分罕见的。     

Petrology of volcanic products younger than 42 ka on the Lipari–Vulcano complex (Aeolian Islands, Italy): an example of volcanism controlled by tectonics

Over the last 42 ka, volcanic activity at Lipari Island (Aeolian Arc, Italy) produced lava domes, flows and pyroclastic deposits with rhyolitic composition, showing in many cases evidence of magma mixing such as latitic enclaves and banding. In this same period, on nearby Vulcano Island, similar rhyolitic lava domes, pyroclastic products and lava flows, ranging in composition from shoshonite to rhyolite, were erupted. As a whole, the post-42 ka products of Lipari and Vulcano show geochemical variations with time, which are well correlated between the two islands and may correspond to a modification of the primary magmas. The rhyolitic products are similar to each other in their major elements composition, but differ in their trace element abundances (e.g. La ranging from 40 to 78 ppm for SiO₂ close to 75 wt%). Their isotopic composition is variable, too. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.704723–0.705992) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.512575–0.512526) ranges partially overlap those of the more mafic products (latites), having ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 0.7044 to 0.7047 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd from 0.512672 to 0.512615. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb is 19.390–19.450 in latites and 19.350–19.380 in rhyolites. Crystal fractionation and crustal assimilation processes of andesitic to latitic melts, showing an increasing content in incompatible elements in time, may explain the genesis of the different rhyolitic magmas. The rocks of the local crustal basement assimilated may correspond to lithotypes present in the Calabrian Arc. Mixing and mingling processes between latitic and rhyolitic magmas that are not genetically related occur during most of the eruptions. The alignment of vents related to the volcanic activity of the last 40 ka corresponds to the NNW–SSE Tindari–Letojanni strike-slip fault and to the correlated N–S extensional fault system. The mafic magmas erupted along these different directions display evidence of an evolution at different P_H2O conditions. This suggests that the Tindari–Letojanni fault played a relevant role in the ascent, storage and diversification of magmas during the recent volcanic activity.