The overkill hypothesis as a plausible explanation for the extinctions of late Wisconsin megafauna

The pulse of large mammal extinctions at the close of the last ice age was a pronounced ecological catastrophe in the Western Hemisphere. Available paleoenvironmental, paleontological, and archeological data are largely concordant with the “overkill” hypothesis proposing that human predation was the cause of these extinctions. Climatic explanations fail to postulate specific mechanisms accounting for the event's timing, differential impact, geographic extent, and stratigraphic singularity. Lack of provisional acceptance of the overkill hypothesis, when no viable alternatives exist, may be in part because this unconventional hypothesis violates a strong sociocultural bias, the image of prehistoric man as the “noble savage”.     

Terminal Pleistocene change in mammal communities in southeastern Washington State,USA

Small mammal communities in western North America experienced declines in taxonomic richness across the late Pleistocene to Holocene transition (PHT), a recent natural global warming event. One community also experienced a decline in evenness and others replaced one species with a congener. Variability in response of small mammal communities to PHT warming is apparent. At the presently arid and xeric Marmes site in the Columbia Basin of southeastern Washington State, megafauna were absent by about 13,000 cal yr BP, evenness of small mammals declined about 11,700 cal yr BP and again about 11,400 cal yr BP whereas richness declined about 11,400 cal BP. Regional faunal turnover was, however, minimal among small-bodied taxa. Local mammal communities are depauperate as a result of megafaunal extinctions and subsequent decreases in small-mammal richness and evenness. The latter chronologically corresponds with a decrease in primary productivity driven by increasing warmth and aridity. More faunas must be studied in order to fully document the range of variability in the responses of mammalian communities to PHT warming. Documentation of patterns in those responses will facilitate understanding and enhance predictive accuracy with respect to responses of mammalian communities to modern global warming.     

铂族元素矿物共生组合(英文)

由于铂族元素能有效地降低汽车尾气的污染 ,其需求量日益增加 ,对铂族元素矿床的寻找已是当务之急。着重从矿物矿床学角度对铂族元素的矿物共生特点进行了探讨。铂族元素可呈独立矿床产出 ,主要产于基性超基性层状侵入体、蛇绿岩套及阿拉斯加式侵入体中。铂族元素也伴生于铜镍矿床中 ,该类铜镍矿床主要与苏长岩侵入体、溢流玄武岩及科马提岩有关。产于基性超基性层状侵入体中的铂族矿物有铂钯硫化物、铂铁合金、钌硫化物、铑硫化物、铂钯碲化物、钯砷化物及钯的合金。这些铂族矿物可与硫化物矿物共生 ,也可与硅酸盐矿物共生 ,还可与铬铁矿及其他氧化物矿物共生。产于蛇绿岩套中的铂族矿物主要是钌铱锇的矿物 ,而铂钯铑的矿物则较少出现 ,这些铂族矿物可呈合金、硫化物、硫砷化物以及砷化物 4种形式出现。产于阿拉斯加式侵入体中的铂族矿物主要有铂铁合金、锑铂矿、硫铂矿、砷铂矿、硫锇矿及马兰矿等少数几种 ,其中铂铁合金与铬铁矿及与其同时结晶的高温硅酸盐矿物共生 ,而其他的铂族矿物则与后来的变质作用及蛇纹岩化作用中形成的多金属硫化物及砷化物共生。产于铜镍矿床中的铂族矿物主要是铂和钯的矿物。产于基性超基性层状侵入体、蛇绿岩套及阿拉斯加式侵入体中的铂族矿物的共同特点是它们均与铬铁矿?     

Effects of Pleistocene environmental changes on the distribution and community structure of the mammalian fauna of Mexico

Biological communities in Mexico experienced profound changes in species composition and structure as a consequence of the environmental fluctuations during the Pleistocene. Based on the recent and fossil Mexican mammal checklists, we determine the distribution, composition, diversity, and community structure of late Pleistocene mammalian faunas, and analyze extinction patterns and response of individual species to environmental changes. We conclude that (1) differential extinctions occurred at family, genus, and species level, with a major impact on species heavier than 100 kg, including the extinction all proboscideans and several ruminants; (2) Pleistocene mammal communities in Mexico were more diverse than recent ones; and (3) the current assemblages of species are relatively young. Furthermore, Pleistocene relicts support the presence of biogeographic corridors; important refugia existed as well as centers of speciation in isolated regions. We identified seven corridors: eastern USA–Sierra Madre Oriental corridor, Rocky Mountains–Sierra Madre Occidental corridor, Central United States–Northern Mexico corridor, Transvolcanic Belt–Sierra Madre del Sur corridor, western USA–Baja California corridor, Tamaulipas–Central America gulf lowlands corridor, and Sonora–Central America Pacific lowlands corridor. Our study suggests that present mammalian assemblages are very different than the ones in the late Pleistocene.     

Platinum and palladium mobility in supergene environment: The residual origin of the Pirogues River mineralization, New Caledonia

Eluvial concentration of platinum-group minerals (PGM) has developed in the south of New Caledonia, from the weathering of a mafic and ultramafic cumulate. The platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) ratio evolution from the bottom to the top of the weathering profile indicates a chemical mobilization of Pd in supergene environment. The examination by scanning electron microscopy of the residual PGM collected in the weathering profile and their chemical characterization by electronic microprobe show a preservation of the structure and chemical signature (in the core of the grains) of the fresh PGM. This clearly demonstrates that the PGM studied here are residual and are affected by dissolution process.     

Heavy concentrate halos as prospecting guides for PGE mineralization

Platinum-group minerals (PGM) in primary ores and placers are compared in order to substantiate prospecting guides for layered and differentiated intrusions containing sulfide Cu-Ni ores with platinum-group elements (PGE). It is shown that supergene placer mineral assemblages bear information on primary sources and their probable economic value. The mineralogical and geochemical data on the large Siberian intrusions that host Cu-Ni and low-sulfide PGM deposits (Noril’sk 1, Kingash, Chinei, and Yoko-Dovyren) are used to elaborate mineralogical prospecting guides based on the comparative study of PGM assemblages in primary ore, heavy concentrate halos, and hillside sediments. The mechanism of PGM redistribution under supergene conditions is exemplified in the Chinei deposit. The placer mineral assemblage with prevalence of Pt-Fe alloys, atokite-rustenburgite, sperrylite, and multicomponent Pd-Sn-Cu-Pb compounds can be used as a prospecting guide for Noril’sk-type primary PGM ore and related economic placers. The paolovite-sperrylite or sperrylite PGM assemblage in heavy concentrate halos indicates occurrence of Cu-Ni ore in the prospecting area. Sperrylite with isomorphic admixture of Ir and Os typical of the Kingash pluton could be a orospecting guide for Ni-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusions.     

Is it possible to detect earlier ionospheric precursors before large earthquakes using principal component analysis (PCA)?

The goal of this study was to determine whether principal component analysis (PCA) can be used to process GPS ionospheric total electron content (TEC) data on a monthly basis to identify early earthquake-associated TEC anomalies. PCA is applied to GPS (mean value of a month) ionospheric TEC records collected from the Japan GEONET system to detect TEC anomalies associated with 10 earthquakes in Japan (M?≥?6.0) from 2006 to 2007. According to the results, PCA was able to discriminate clear TEC anomalies in the months when all 10 earthquakes occurred. After reviewing the months when no M?≥?6.0 earthquake occurred but the geomagnetic storm activity was present, it is possible that the maximal principal eigenvalues PCA returned for these 10 earthquakes indicate earthquake-associated TEC anomalies. Previously, PCA has been used to discriminate earthquake-associated TEC anomalies recognized by other researchers who found that a statistical association between large earthquakes and TEC anomalies could be established in the 5 days before earthquake nucleation and in 24 h before earthquake; however, since PCA uses the characteristics of principal eigenvalues to determine earthquake-related TEC anomalies, it is possible to show that such anomalies existed earlier than this 5-day statistical window. In this paper, this is shown through the application of PCA to one-dimensional TEC data relating to the earthquake of 17 February 2007 (M?=?6.0). The analysis is applied to daily TEC and reveals a large principal eigenvalue (representative of an earthquake-associated anomaly) for 02 February, 15 days before the 17 February earthquake.     

Zoning of platinum group mineral assemblages in the UG2 chromitite determined through in situ SEM-EDS-based image analysis

In situ scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis of platinum group minerals (PGM) and base metal sulfides in the UG2 chromitite shows that this ore body is zoned along at least ∼6 km of strike. The uppermost part of the UG2 chromitite, referred to as the leader seam, is ∼16 cm thick and has a PGM assemblage that is dominated by PGE arsenides, sulpho-arsenides, and alloys (∼70 vol.% of all PGM), which are typical secondary PGM assemblages in other segments of UG2. This is the first time such laterally persistent secondary assemblages have been identified in the UG2 chromitite, as previously, they were only known to occur adjacent to transgressive fluid-bearing structures (e.g., pipes, faults). The underlying main seam is thicker (one to nine seams totaling ∼130 cm) and has a PGM assemblage that consists mostly of Pt sulfide, Pt–Pd sulfide, Pt–Rh–Cu sulfide, laurite, and Fe–Pt alloys (∼85 vol.% of all PGM), typically regarded as primary magmatic constituents of UG2 chromitite. There are, however, some subtle vertical changes in the PGM assemblages of the main seam that include the occasional presence of secondary assemblages in the top and bottom parts. The origin of these secondary PGM assemblages is related to alteration by hydrothermal fluids and/or fluid-rich melts that infiltrated during crystallization of the UG2 and may possibly have been derived from the UG2 chromitite itself.     

Platinum–Group Minerals in Podiform Chromitite from the Kamuikotan Zone, Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Abstract: Ru–Os–Ir alloys have been found in two podiform chromitites located at the Chiroro and Bankei mines in the Sarugawa peridotite complex in the Kamuikotan zone, Hokkaido, Japan. This is the first report on the occurrence of PGM (= platinum-group minerals) from chromitites in Japan. The Ru–Os–Ir alloys most typically form polyhedra associated with other minerals (Ni–Fe alloys and heazlewoodite) in chromian spinel. The PGM are possibly pseudomorphs after some primary PGM such as laurite and are chemically highly inhomogeneous, indicating a low-temperature alteration origin. This is consistent with intense alteration (formation of serpentine, uvarovite and kämmererite) imposed on the Kamuikotan chromitites. High-temperature primary PGE (platinum–group elements)–bearing sulfides were possibly recrystallized at low temperatures into a new assemblage of PGM, Ni-Fe alloys and sulfides. Placer PGM around the peridotite complexes are chemically different from the PGM in dunite and chromitite possibly due to the, as yet, incomplete search for the rock-hosted PGM. The PGE content in chromitites is distinctly higher in those in the Kamuikotan zone than in those in the Sangun zone of Southwest Japan, consistent with the more refractory nature (Cr# of spinel, up to 0.8) of the former than the latter (Cr# of spinel, 0.5).     

豆荚状铬铁矿以及其中铂族元素矿物的成因问题——进展与展望

铂族元素矿物(Platinum Group Mineral:简称PGM)资料的不断积累,丰富了人们对蛇绿岩中豆荚状铬铁矿成因的认识。文章总结近年来有关PGM的新资料和取得的新认识,探讨豆荚状铬铁矿以及其中PGM的成因问题。幔源岩浆结晶过程中,铬铁矿周边熔体减少将诱发那些易氧化的铂族元素(Os、Ir、Ru)在熔体中达到饱和状态,并结晶形成纳米级PGM。在地幔熔体中,随着硫逸度升高,PGM微粒与熔体中的硫反应并逐渐长大。多期次的熔体抽提和熔体-岩石反应事件,可以在地幔源区通过逐步降低硫逸度、促进含铂族元素的贱金属硫化物分解,形成PGM以及铂族元素合金。低硫逸度环境更有利于PGM的形成和保存。在变质环境或流体环境中,这些PGM往往会与流体反应,造就了PGM矿物的多样性。原生PGM与变质流体反应并发生原地去硫化作用,可以形成次生的PGM环边或者纳米级PGM包体。铬铁矿的多阶段蚀变/再平衡过程可以导致PGM溶解—沉淀—均一化,并扰动Os同位素体系。不同类型矿石在有限空间伴生的现象以及它们所具有显著差异的地球化学特征,说明蛇绿岩是不同地幔组分的机械混杂。随着俯冲板片,铬铁矿团块被拖曳到地幔深部,并通过地幔对流重新出现在扩张中心附近,最终混杂在蛇绿岩中。发生循环的铬铁矿团块因此可以与新生铬铁矿及其围岩伴生在同一蛇绿混杂岩中。     

GPS based TEC measurements for a period August 2008– December 2009 near the northern crest of Indian equatorial ionospheric anomaly region

In recent years, measurements of total electron content (TEC) have gained importance with increasing demand for the GPS-based navigation applications in trans-ionospheric communications. To study the variation in ionospheric TEC, we used the data obtained from GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and TEC monitoring (GISTM) system which is in operation at SVNIT, Surat, India (21.16°N, 72.78°E) located at the northern crest of equatorial anomaly region. The data collected (for the low sunspot activity period from August 2008–December 2009) were used to study the diurnal, monthly, seasonal semi-annual and annual variations of TEC at Surat. It was observed that the diurnal variation at the region reaches its maximum value between 13:00 and 16:00 IST. The monthly average diurnal variations showed that the TEC maximizes during the equinox months followed by the winter months, and are lowest during the summer months. The ionospheric range delay to TEC for the primary GPS signal is 0.162 m per TECU. The diurnal variation in TEC shows a minimum to maximum variation of about 5 to 50 TECU (in current low sunspot activity periods). These TEC values correspond to range delay variations of about 1 to 9 m at Surat. These variations in the range delay will certainly increase in high sunspot activity periods. Detected TEC variations are also closely related to space weather characterizing quantities such as solar wind and geomagnetic activity indices.     

Impacts,volcanism and mass extinction: random coincidence or cause and effect?

Large impacts are credited with the most devastating mass extinctions in Earth's history and the Cretaceous?–?Tertiary (K/T) boundary impact is the strongest and sole direct support for this view. A review of the five largest Phanerozoic mass extinctions provides no support that impacts with craters up to 180 km in diameter caused significant species extinctions. This includes the 170 km-diameter Chicxulub impact crater regarded as 0.3 million years older than the K/T mass extinction. A second, larger impact event may have been the ultimate cause of this mass extinction, as suggested by a global iridium anomaly at the K/T boundary, but no crater has been found to date. The current crater database suggests that multiple impacts, for example comet showers, were the norm, rather than the exception, during the Late Eocene, K/T transition, latest Triassic and the Devonian?–?Carboniferous transition, but did not cause significant species extinctions. Whether multiple impacts substantially contributed to greenhouse warming and associated environmental stresses is yet to be demonstrated. From the current database, it must be concluded that no known Phanerozoic impacts, including the Chicxulub impact (but excluding the K/T impact) caused mass extinctions or even significant species extinctions. The K/T mass extinction may have been caused by the coincidence of a very large impact (>?250 km) upon a highly stressed biotic environment as a result of volcanism. The consistent association of large magmatic provinces (large igneous provinces and continental flood-basalt provinces) with all but one (end-Ordovician) of the five major Phanerozoic mass extinctions suggests that volcanism played a major role. Faunal and geochemical evidence from the end-Permian, end-Devonian, end-Cretaceous and Triassic/Jurassic transition suggests that the biotic stress was due to a lethal combination of tectonically induced hydrothermal and volcanic processes, leading to eutrophication in the oceans, global warming, sea-level transgression and ocean anoxia. It must be concluded that major magmatic events and their long-term environmental consequences are major contributors, though not the sole causes of mass extinctions. Sudden mass extinctions, such as at the K/T boundary, may require the coincidence of major volcanism and a very large Impact.     

Ionospheric precursor for a deep earthquake (∼378 km) near Papua New Guinea occurred on 7 July 2013, Mw = 7.2 in the environment of geomagnetic storm using two-dimensional principal component analysis

Two-dimensional ionospheric total electron content (TEC) data during the time period from 00:00 on 2 July to 12:00 UT on 8 July 2013, which was 5 days before to 1 day after a deep earthquake at 18:35:30 on 7 July 2013 UT (M_w = 7.2) with a depth at about 378.8 km in Papua New Guinea, were examined by two-dimensional principal component analysis (2DPCA) to detect TEC precursor related to the earthquake because TEC precursors usually have shown up in earlier time periods. A TEC precursor was highly localized around the epicenter from 06:00 to 06:05 on 6 July, where its duration time was at least 5 minutes. Ionizing radiation radon gas release should be a possibility to cause the anomalous TEC fluctuation, e.g., electron density variation. The plasma might have large damping at that time to cause TEC fluctuation of short time, and the gas released with small amount in short time period, and 2DPCA could identify short time TEC fluctuation while the fluctuation lasted for a long time. Other background TEC anomalies caused by the geomagnetic storm, small earthquakes and non-earthquake activities, e.g., equatorial ionization anomaly resulted in the small principal eigenvalues, therefore the detection of TEC precursor was regardless of these background TEC anomalies.     

A genetic model of PGM hosted in cumulative gabbro-pyroxenite-dunite complexes of the Koryak Highland, Russia

A genetic model has been developed for platinum group minerals (PGM) hosted in plutonic gabbro-pyroxenite-dunite (GPD) complexes of the Koryak Highland. The following mineralogical-geochemical and genetic PGM types have been distinguished: (1) magmatic platinum (Pt), (2) magmatic-fluid-metasomatic platinum (Pt) and osmium-platinum (Pt > Os), (3) fluid-metamorphic iridium-platinum (Pt > Ir), and (4) hydrothermal metasomatic platinum-copper (Pt-Cu). PGM of the magmatic Pt type were formed under conditions of monocyclic petrogenesis of Cr-spinel-olivine and olivine-clinopyroxene cumulates as products of picritic magma fractionation in the conduit chamber. The magmatic-fluid-metasomatic platinum Pt and osmium-platinum Pt > Os types were formed by interaction of these early cumulates with magma. The abundance of these types is proportional to injections of picritic magma into the conduit chamber. PGM of the fluid-metamorphic iridium-platinum Pt > Ir type accumulated as a result of synmagmatic recrystallization of GPD cumulates. Their development depends on (1) mono- or polycyclic GPD cumulative complex and (2) the degree of GPD cumulate recrystallization from partial to complete and the degree of transformation of PGM pertaining to the magmatic and magmatic-fluid-metasomatic Pt types. The monocyclic GPD complexes are low-prospective in respect to magmatic Pt deposit formation. The polycyclic GPD complexes differ in their prospectivity from ore occurrences to unique magmatic-fluid-metasomatic Pt and Pt > Os deposits, as well as deposits of the fluid-metamorphic Pt > Ir type. The genetic types of PGM accumulation imply a multifactor system of ore-forming processes with the participation of platinum-group elements (PGE) in GPD complexes. The genetically different PGM accumulations in GPD complexes should be regarded as self-dependent geological objects of local forecasting. In this connection, it is necessary to renew mineralogical and geochemical criteria for prospecting and exploration of PGM genetic types in GPD complexes as well as their mining conditions.     

Compositional variations and morphological evolution in platinum beach placers, southern New Zealand

Morphologies of placer platinum group minerals (PGM) are more variable and resistant to modification during transport than placer gold grains. This study documents morphological evolution of PGM placer grains during up to 120 km of transport in beach placers after river transport from inferred sources up to 200 km inland. PGM morphological changes are calibrated with changes in morphology of associated placer gold. Most of the PGM are Pt-Fe alloy and have been fed into the beach placer system from a large river at the western end of the beaches on the south coast of New Zealand. The incoming fluvial PGM suite includes Os, Ir and Ru alloys which may have been derived from distal ophiolitic sources. More proximal sources have Ural-Alaskan affinities and these contributed cooperite and braggite, or sperrylite, locally, as well as Pt-Fe alloy grains. Some PGM may have been recycled through Cretaceous-Quaternary fluvial sediments before entering the modern placer system. Recycled placer PGM grains have also been derived from elevated Quaternary beaches near the coastline. PGM grains entering beach placers have rough surfaces, with remnants of crystal faces, and these evolve to smooth flakes with progressive long-shore transport. PGM flakes have slightly thickened rims caused by impacts by saltating sand on windy beaches, and the most distal beach placers contain flakes with incipient toroidal shapes. These PGM incipient toroids are poorly developed compared to accompanying well-formed toroidal gold that has developed in nearly all beach placers, including those on elevated Quaternary beaches. Typical PGM and gold placer grain size decreases with increasing distance of transport, from fluvial grain size of 400–1,000 to ～200 microns on the most distal beaches, accompanied by eastward loss of equant PGM grains and associated increase in proportion of flakes. Although net transport distance is ～120 km in the beach placer complex, frequent aeolian transport of grains from beach to dunes and subsequent recycling by storm surges substantially increased total transport distance in a dynamic windy tectonic environment.     

Evolution of Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae and Its Response to Climatic Variations

Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae has quite a complete record and its temporal range is the Early Miocene to Late Pliocene. The samples include 25 species in 4 tribes of 2 subfamilies. They are used as a foundation for the study of the evolution of the family and its relation to climatic changes. Taxonomic diversity, new records and extinctions are estimated for each Chinese Neogene mammal faunal unit (NMU). The diversity of Chinese Rhinocerotidae varies noticeably throughout the Neogene and is recognized within five stages: the Middle Miocene and Late Miocene are stages of high diversity and the Early Miocene, early Late Miocene and Pliocene are stages of low diversity. Rhinocerotid diversity and morphology are closely related to environmental factors and particularly sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and humidity. The interpretation of climatic variation reflected in the evolution of Rhinocerotidae corresponds precisely with the conclusions drawn from other workers and provides new evidence fen     

Principal component analysis method in the detection of total electron content anomalies in the 24 hrs prior to large earthquakes

The goal of this research is to examine one-dimensional total electron content (TEC) data using principal component analysis (PCA) to search for total electron content (TEC) anomalies associated with large earthquakes in 24 h prior to nucleation. The characteristics of principal eigenvalues generated for TEC prior to 24 earthquakes of magnitude scale M?≥?5.0 and 6 lesser earthquakes of magnitude scale M?<?5 that occurred in Taiwan from 01 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 are examined. In an earlier paper, I was able to confirm the statistical findings of Liu et al. (J Geophys Res 111, 2006) that sparse earthquake-associated TEC anomalies existed in 5 days prior to the 12 large earthquakes they examined (Lin, Terr Atm Ocean Sci, 2010). In this paper, I wish to examine the subtlety of principal component analysis in detecting earthquake-associated TEC anomalies by examining if such precursors can be detected in 24 h prior to large earthquakes. Of the earthquakes examined, TEC anomalies given by clear extreme principal eigenvalues were evident within 24 h of nucleation for 21 of the 24 earthquakes of M?≥?5.0. After making allowance for the general status of background TEC, it is clear that these extreme principal eigenvalues are representative of earthquake-associated anomalies. For the smaller earthquakes (M?<?5), it was not possible to differentiate earthquake-associated anomalies from background effects on TEC status. These new findings confirm the validity of PCA in searching for earthquake-associated TEC anomalies and show that it is subtle enough to detect TEC anomalies within 24 h leading to a large earthquake. If this approach continues to prove successful, it could theoretically be used in real-time prediction of large earthquakes through early detection of earthquake-associated TEC anomalies.     

Avian extinction at the end of the Cretaceous: Assessing the magnitude and subsequent explosive radiation

Debate on the magnitude of Cretaceous extinctions and timing of modern bird origins has sharply coalesced over the past two decades into contested models, gradualistic or explosive. Molecular clocks, bolstered by phylogenetic, biogeographic, and vicariance models, support an Early Cretaceous origin for birds and mammals over 100 million years ago. Yet, although numerous new Chinese fossils of archaic ornithurine birds have been discovered in the Jehol Biota of the Early Cretaceous of China, none shows close affinity to modern neornithines; it is not until the latest Cretaceous when some fossils show more advanced ornithurine morphology, and are possibly Neornithes. In contrast to mass survival scenarios, most paleontological evidence appears to support an explosive radiation following the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction event, closely paralleling the geometry of mammal evolution. Gradualistic models ignore recent evidence of cataclysmic worldwide events following the impact event. How could mass survival of the environmentally sensitive birds have occurred following cosmopolitan environmental destruction, when other terrestrial vertebrates, particularly ectotherms, suffered dramatic loss? Given the paucity and scrappy nature of avian fossils immediately prior to and after the K–Pg boundary, it is prudent to use mammalian and other biotic evolution in the Paleogene as a guidepost for avian evolution. Our continued inability to produce a veracious phylogeny of higher avian taxa is likely related to a Paleogene explosive burst or ‘big bang’ evolution of bird and mammal evolution, resulting in short ordinal internodes.     

西藏罗布莎铬铁矿中的原位铂族矿物研究:铬铁矿结晶环境的指示

本文对罗布莎三个矿区的铬铁矿进行了详细的原位PGM研究,发现罗布莎各个矿区的铬铁矿中PGM组合和显微结构不同,暗示PGM能够记录铬铁矿形成与演化过程。罗布莎矿区的PGM显微特征显示铬铁矿结晶于高温、低硫逸度的环境中,可能系岩石/熔体反应和结晶分异双重作用下的产物;康金拉矿区的原位PGM主要为组合型包裹体,有少量产于铬铁矿裂隙之间的贱金属硫化物和合金矿物,为不同来源的熔体混合作用的结果,并暗示铬铁矿成矿后还受到热液流体的改造;香卡山矿区的PGM表明铬铁矿成矿之后遭受到还原性流体的交代作用,铬铁矿中早期结晶出来的硫化物或者铂族矿物被还原改造,形成铁镍矿等次生矿物,保存于铬铁矿粒间或者铬铁矿的裂隙中,这个过程可能与蛇纹石化或者晚期构造流体改造作用有关。罗布莎原位PGM研究表明,PGM矿物贯穿于铬铁矿结晶成矿过程的始终,PGM的矿物及其组合能够记录铬铁矿结晶时母熔体的物理化学条件,甚至还能反映铬铁矿成矿后所经历的后期构造热液事件。因此,结合单矿物分选和原位调查两种方法,查明铬铁矿中PGM的赋存类型及微观结构,对全面理解铬铁矿的成矿过程有重要意义。     

First report of platinum-group minerals from a hornblende gabbro dyke in the vicinity of the Southeast Extension Zone of the Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co deposit, Labrador

Summary This study reports the first documented occurrence of platinum group-minerals (PGM) in the vicinity of the Voisey’s Bay magmatic sulfide ore deposit. The PGM are present in a sulfide poor, hornblende gabbro dyke in the Southeast Extension Zone of the massive sulfide Ovoid deposit. The dyke has somewhat elevated concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE) and gold (up to 1.95 g/t Pt, 1.41 g/t Pd, and 6.59 g/t Au), as well as Cu, Pb, Ag, Sn, Te, Bi and Sb. The PGM formed by magmatic processes and were little disturbed by subsequent infiltration of an externally-supplied hydrothermal fluid. To date, no similar PGM occurrences have been discovered in the Ovoid deposit itself. Whole rock REE patterns indicate that the dyke is geochemically related to the main conduit troctolites, which carry the bulk of the massive sulfide mineralization at Voisey’s Bay. The PGE mineralization is Pt- and Pd-rich, where the Pt and Pd occur predominantly as discrete PGM with minor Pd in solid solution in galena (average=1.8 ppm) and pentlandite (average=2 ppm). The discrete PGM are predominantly hosted by disseminated base-metal sulfides (bornite, chalcopyrite, and galena) (56 vol%) and are associated with other precious metal minerals (13 vol%) with only ∼3 vol% of the PGM hosted by silicate minerals. In whole rock samples, the PPGE (Pt, Pd, and Rh) correlate with abundances of chalcopyrite, bornite, galena, and other precious metal minerals (PMM), whereas the IPGE (Ir, Ru, and Rh) correlate with pyrrhotite and pentlandite. There are no correlations of the PGE with chlorine. Lead isotope compositions of galena associated with the PGE mineralization in the Southeast Extension Zone are broadly similar to those for galena in the Ovoid. The lead isotope compositions are much different from those in the Voisey’s Bay Syenite, which is a potential external hydrothermal fluid source. The observed Cu-rich, Pb-rich sulfide compositions and associated Pt-Pd-Au-Ag-Sn-Te-Bi-Sb assemblage in the dyke can be produced magmatically as late ISS differentiates (e.g., Prichard et al., 2004). Melting temperatures of the PGM are also consistent with a magmatic origin. Following crystallization of PGM from magmatic sulfide, an external REE-enriched hydrothermal fluid was introduced to the system, producing secondary amphibole and locally remobilizing the Pb and Sn from the sulfides hosting the PGM. Author’s address: M. A. E. Huminicki, Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada A1B 3X5