Cathodoluminescence imaging and titanium thermometry in metamorphic quartz

Cathodoluminescence (CL) of quartz from metamorphic rocks representing a range of conditions from the garnet grade to the migmatite grade reveals a variety of textures, that is, a function of metamorphic grade and deformation history. Ti concentrations, determined by electron microprobe and ion microprobe, generally correlate with CL intensity (blue wavelengths), and application of the Ti‐in‐quartz thermometer (TitaniQ) reflects the temperature of quartz growth or recrystallization, and, in some settings, modification by diffusion. Quartz from garnet grade samples is not visibly zoned, records temperatures of 425–475 °C, and is interpreted to have recrystallized during fabric formation. Quartz grains from staurolite grade samples are zoned in CL with markedly darker cores and brighter rims, some of which are interpreted to have been produced by the dominant staurolite‐producing reaction, whereas others are interpreted as having formed by diffusion of Ti into quartz rims. Quartz from the matrix of kyanite and sillimanite grade samples are generally unzoned, although locally displays slightly brighter rims (higher Ti); quartz inclusions within garnet and staurolite have distinctly brighter rims, which are interpreted as having been produced by diffusive exchange with the host mineral. Quartz from migmatite grade samples displays highly variable CL intensity, which is dependent on the location of the grain. Matrix grains in melanosomes are largely unzoned or rarely zoned with darker cores. Leucosome quartz is strongly zoned with bright cores and dark rims and is interpreted as having formed during crystallization of the melt. Locally within the leucosome is observed oscillatory‐zoned quartz, which is interpreted as a subsolidus recrystallization to achieve strain relaxation. Quartz inclusions within garnet or plagioclase crystals often show bright domains separated by zones of dark CL. These enigmatic textures possibly reflect local melting fluxed by fluid inclusions. Temperatures calculated from the Ti–in–quartz thermometer are a function of the metamorphic grade of the sample, the textural setting of the quartz, the reaction history and the deformation history of the rock. The TitaniQ temperatures can be used to constrain the conditions at which various metamorphic processes have occurred.     

热液中铅、锌、银共生分异的热力学探讨

通过元素基本性质的对比以及热力学计算分析，探讨了热液中银、铅、锌的共生分异机制。在酸性至近中性条件下，氯配合物是它们在热液中的存在形式，其中锌氯配合物最稳定；在近中性到碱性条件下，硫氢配合物占主导地位，此时，银硫氢配合物相对最稳定。温度下降、[Cr]降低、pH升高及f(O2)降低，引起银、铅、锌配合物溶解度减小，发生沉淀分离；对于硫氢配合物，其稳定性主要受pH及还原硫浓度的影响。因此，配合物的不同存在形式以及配合物稳定性之间的差异，使得它们对热液条件的改变做出不同的响应，从而导致了热液中银、铅、锌在成矿过程中的共生分异。     

The mechanisms of paragenesis and separation of silver, lead and zinc in hydrothermal solutions

On the basis of an experimental study and thermodynamic calculation, the mechanisms of paragenesis and separation of silver, lead and zinc in the hydrothermal system have been studied. At acidic to nearly neutral pH, their chloride complexes are stable, and among them the chloride complexes of zinc are most stable. And the sulfide complexes are the dominant species at nearly neutral to alkaline pH,while the sulfide complexes of silver are most stable. With decreasing temperature, [ Cl^-] ,fO2, and increasing pH, the solubilities of silver, lead and zinc will decrease, leading to their deposition and separation. For sulfide complexes, the concentrations of reduced sulfur and pH are two important factors affecting their stabilities. Complexes of different forms and stabilities respond to the variation of conditions to different extents, which gave rise to the paragenesis and separation of silver, lead and zinc in the whole ore-forming process of dissolution, transport and deposition.     

湘中锡矿山式锑矿锑与砷、金的共生分异现象

通过湘中锡矿山式锡矿矿化蚀变特征及矿化蚀变岩石微量元素统计分析，阐述了成矿作用中锑与金、砷共生分异的现象，并以因子分析为手段，提取成矿作用中最主要的两个特征因子，综合地质分析，指出锑矿成矿过程中主要包含有两种地质作用：硅化与锑矿化。硅化和锑矿化分别同砷、金富集和锑矿质沉淀析出相联系，从而造成锑与金、砷共生分异。硅化作用主要在成矿早期，温度较高（200－300℃），砷、金主要在这一阶段析出。锑矿化则集中发生在成矿作用晚期，温度较低（100－200℃），辉锑矿以裂隙充填方式沉淀成矿。对锑与金、砷共生分异的认识较好地解释了矿化带上成矿特征指示元素在元素聚类分析中不相关的矛盾。     

Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic deformations in the southwestern Primorye region

Two types of tectonic deformations indicating different geodynamic settings are defined in the southwestern Primorye region. Near-latitudinal compression forces were responsible for the oldest, Late Paleozoic deformations. The Permian stratified complexes host a near-meridional system of folds and zones of dynamothermal metamorphism, cleavage, and foliation oriented orthogonally relative to the compression. Late Proterozoic (?) mafic-ultramafic rocks are characterized by similar deformations. In the Late Permian, the deformations were accompanied by granitoid magmatism controlled by fold and cleavage structures. The younger, Mesozoic deformations produced by near-meridional compression are represented by NE-trending sinistral strike-slip faults and their structural parageneses: an ENE-trending system of folds and downdip-thrusts both superimposed on Paleozoic protostructures and manifested in Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences. It is inferred that, at the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary, near-latitudinal compression was replaced by near-meridional compression, probably, in response to the corresponding change in direction of the lateral displacement of the interacting Asian continent and (or) Pacific Plate.     

Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Qolqoleh Deposit, Northwestern Iran

The Qolqoleh gold deposit is located in the northwestern part of the Sanandai‐Sirjan Zone, northwest of Iran. Gold mineralization in the Qolqoleh deposit is almost entirely confined to a series of steeply dipping ductile–brittle shear zones generated during Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision between the Afro‐Arabian and the Iranian microcontinent. The host rocks are Mesozoic volcano‐sedimentary sequences consisting of felsic to mafic metavolcanics, which are metamorphosed to greenschist facies, sericite and chlorite schists. The gold orebodies were found within strong ductile deformation to late brittle deformation. Ore‐controlling structure is NE–SW‐trending oblique thrust with vergence toward south ductile–brittle shear zone. The highly strained host rocks show a combination of mylonitic and cataclastic microstructures, including crystal–plastic deformation and grain size reduction by recrystalization of quartz and mica. The gold orebodies are composed of Au‐bearing highly deformed and altered mylonitic host rocks and cross‐cutting Au‐ and sulfide‐bearing quartz veins. Approximately half of the mineralization is in the form of dissemination in the mylonite and the remainder was clearly emplaced as a result of brittle deformation in quartz–sulfide microfractures, microveins and veins. Only low volumes of gold concentration was introduced during ductile deformation, whereas, during the evident brittle deformation phase, competence contrasts allowed fracturing to focus on the quartz–sericite domain boundaries of the mylonitic foliation, thus permitting the introduction of auriferous fluid to create disseminated and cross‐cutting Au‐quartz veins. According to mineral assemblages and alteration intensity, hydrothermal alteration could be divided into three zones: silicification and sulfidation zone (major ore body); sericite and carbonate alteration zone; and sericite–chlorite alteration zone that may be taken to imply wall‐rock interaction with near neutral fluids (pH 5–6). Silicified and sulfide alteration zone is observed in the inner parts of alteration zones. High gold grades belong to silicified highly deformed mylonitic and ultramylonitic domains and silicified sulfide‐bearing microveins. Based on paragenetic relationships, three main stages of mineralization are recognized in the Qolqoleh gold deposit. Stage I encompasses deposition of large volumes of milky quartz and pyrite. Stage II includes gray and buck quartz, pyrite and minor calcite, sphalerite, subordinate chalcopyrite and gold ores. Stage III consists of comb quartz and calcite, magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and gold ores. Studies on regional geology, ore geology and ore‐forming stages have proved that the Qolqoleh deposit was formed in the compression–extension stage during the Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision in a ductile–brittle shear zone, and is characterized by orogenic gold deposits.     

Metallogenetic characteristics of an unique uranium-tungsten mineralization zone

A polymetallic zone dominated by U-W mineralization was found in Northeast Guangxi. Distributed along the east contact zone of a complex granite mass, it extends for about 100 km in length, with more than fifty deposits and prospects embraced. The deposits show a wide range of genetic types, related to the granite, from magmatic (including pegmatite and skarn deposits) through hydrothermal mineralizations (hypo-, meso- and epithermal) all the way to tin placers, constituting a very intact metallogenetic series of granites. The epithermal U-W deposits are considered as a new type for their unique geological and geochemical characters, such as the paragenesis of U and W and the large time gap (> 40 Ma) between ore and granite. This project was financially supported by the Open Lab. of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Formation of diamond with mineral inclusions of “mixed” eclogite and peridotite paragenesis

Two unusual diamonds were studied from kimberlites from China, which contain both ultramafic and eclogitic mineral inclusions in the same diamond hosts. Diamond L32 contains seven Fe-rich garnets, four omphacites and one olivine inclusion. Four olivine, one sanidine and one coesite were recovered from diamond S32. Both garnet and omphacite inclusions have similar compositions as those from other localities of the world, and show basaltic bulk composition. All the garnet and omphacite inclusions in diamond L32 have positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^*1.64 1.79). These observations support the proposal that mantle eclogite is the metamorphic product of subducted ancient oceanic crust. The Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio of the olivine inclusions from the two diamonds (91-92) are evidently lower than the normal olivine inclusions in diamonds from the same kimberlite pipe (92-95). The following model is proposed for the formation of diamonds with “mixed” mineral inclusions. Ascending diamond-bearing eclogite (recycled oceanic crust) entrained in mantle plumes may experience extensive partial melting, whereas the ambient peridotite matrix remains subsolidus in the diamond stable field. This provides a mechanism for the transport of diamond from its original eclogitic host to an ultramafic one. Subsequent re-growth of diamond in the new environment makes it possible to capture mineral inclusions of different lithological suites. Partial melts of basaltic sources may interact with the surrounding peridotite, resulting in the relatively lower Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratios of the coexisting olivine inclusions from the studied diamonds. Diamonds with “mixed” mineral inclusions demonstrate that plume activity also occurred in the Archean cratons.     

西秦岭八卦庙金矿床原位S-Pb同位素组成对成矿物质来源和成矿过程的指示意义

八卦庙金矿床位于西秦岭造山带凤太多金属矿田北部,已探明金储量约106 t(平均金品位1.56 g/t),属于特大型金矿。金矿体受脆韧性剪切带控制,总体走向NWW,倾向北,赋矿地层为上泥盆统星红铺组下段。文章在成矿期次研究基础上,采用硫化物原位S-Pb同位素分析方法,对八卦庙金矿成矿过程和成矿物质来源进行了约束。基于详细的野外观察和矿相学研究,矿区识别出了2个金成矿期：顺层磁黄铁矿-石英成矿期和NE向黄铁矿-石英成矿期。顺层磁黄铁矿-石英成矿期可划分为自形黄铁矿-石英(Ⅰ)、磁黄铁矿-自然金-铁白云石(Ⅱ)、白云母-绿泥石-绿帘石-石英(Ⅲ)3个阶段;NE向黄铁矿-石英成矿期由自形磁黄铁矿-黄铁矿-粗粒石英(Ⅳ)、他形黄铁矿-细粒石英(Ⅴ)、他形磁黄铁矿-自然金-铁白云石(Ⅵ)和石英-黑云母(Ⅶ)4个阶段构成。顺层磁黄铁矿-石英成矿期硫化物的δ³⁴S值集中在1.60‰～5.89‰和14.07‰～16.87‰两个区间;NE向黄铁矿-石英成矿期硫化物的δ³⁴S值也集中在2.77‰～5.52‰和9.11‰～15.9‰两个区间,通过与围岩和区内岩浆岩对...     

Characterization of Galena and Vein Paragenesis in the Penjom Gold Mine, Malaysia: Trace Elements, Lead Isotope Study and Relationship to Gold Mineralization Episodes

The Penjom Gold Mine is located 30 km from the Bentong-Raub Suture at the western boundary of the Central Belt in Peninsular Malaysia. Gold mineralization hosted within the vein system is associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite, and minor base metals including galena. Trace element and lead isotope analysis was undertaken on nine samples that represent two stages of galena formed during two tectonic events. Both the Pb isotopes and the trace elements show that the first stage galena within the mineralized areas at the footwall has different geochemical characteristics compared with galena in non mineralized areas in the hanging wall, suggesting that galena crystallized from two different ore fluids and probably at two different times. Higher Te, Se and Bi in the galena from the mineralized area may indicate hydrothermal fluids that migrate through the structural conduit and leached out the metal along the pathway that consist of dominant carbonaceous unit. The Pb isotopic ratio composition are transitional between the bulk crustal growth and an upper crustal growth curve, indicating that derivation was from arc rocks associated with continental crust or a crustal source that includes arc volcanic and old continental sedimentary rocks.