Structural mapping from high resolution aeromagnetic data in west central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia using normalized derivatives

Aeromagnetic data covering an area of about 40,000 km² at the west central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia has been collected and interpreted to provide structural map of the area. A number of normalized derivatives were used to help interpret the signature of magnetic data so that weak and small amplitude anomalies can be amplified relative to the stronger and larger amplitude anomalies. The interpretations obtained from these geophysical techniques of the field data demonstrated a strong correlation between magnetic anomalies and mapped subsurface geology. Based upon the variation in magnetic lineaments, shape amplitude, and trend structural map of the west central Arabian Shield on Saudi Arabia were obtained.     

Geochemistry,petrogenesis and radioactive mineralization of two coeval Neoproterozoic post-collisional calc-alkaline and alkaline granitoid suites from Sinai,Arabian Nubian Shield

The Younger Granites of Yahmid-Um Adawi area, located in the southeastern part of Sinai Peninsula, comprise two coeval Late Neoproterozoic post-collisional alkaline (hypersolvous alkali-feldspar granites; 608–580?Ma) and calc-alkaline (transsolvous monzo- and syenogranites; 635–590?Ma) suites. The calc-alkaline suite granitoids are magnesian and peraluminous to metaluminous, whereas the alkaline ones are magnesian to ferroan alkaline to slightly metaluminous. Both granitoid suites exhibit many of the typical geochemical features of A-type granites such as enrichment in Nb (>20?ppm), Zr (>250?ppm), Zn (>100?ppm) and Ce (>100?ppm) and high 10000*Ga/Al₂O₃ ratios (>2.6) and Zr?+?Nb?+?Y?+?Ce (>350?ppm). Accessory mineral saturation thermometers demonstrated former crystallization of apatite at high temperatures prior to zircon and monazite separation from the magma for both granitoid suites. The mild zircon saturation temperatures of the studied Younger Granites (around 800?°C) imply low-temperature crustal fusion and incomplete melting of the largely refractory zircon. The two Younger Granite suites were semi-synchronously evolved during the post-collisional stage of the Arabian-Nubian Shield subsequent to the collision between the juvenile shield crust and the older pre-Neoproterozoic continental blocks of west Gondwana. Their parental magmas has been generated by melting of crustal source rocks with minor involvement from mantle, which might participated chiefly as a source of heat necessary for fusion of the crustal precursor. Extensive in-situ gamma-ray spectrometry revealed anomalously high radioactivity of some Younger Granite exposures along Wadi Um Adawi (eU; 388–746?ppm and eTh; 1857–2527?ppm) and pegmatitic pockets pertaining to the calc-alkaline suite (equivalent U and Th; 212–252?ppm and 750–1757?ppm, respectively). The radioactivity of the syngenetic pegmatites arises from the primary radioactive minerals uranothorite and thorite together with the U- and/or Th-bearing minerals zircon, columbite, samarskite and monazite. The anomalously high radioactivity of some Younger Granite exposures in Wadi Um Adawi stem from their appreciable enclosure of the epigenetic uranium minerals metatorbenite and uranophane.     

The Petrological and Geochemical Evolution of Ediacaran Rare‐Metal Bearing A‐type Granites from the Jabal Aja Complex,Northern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

New fieldwork, mineralogical and geochemical data and interpretations are presented for the rare-metal bearing A-type granites of the Aja intrusive complex(AIC) in the northern segment of the Arabian Shield. This complex is characterized by discontinuous ring-shaped outcrops cut by later faulting. The A-type rocks of the AIC are late Neoproterozoic post-collisional granites, including alkali feldspar granite, alkaline granite and peralkaline granite. They represent the outer zones of the AIC, su...     

Chemical homogeneity of high-Cr chromitites as indicator for widespread invasion of boninitic melt in mantle peridotite of Bir Tuluha ophiolite,Northern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

The Bir Tuluha ophiolite is one of the most famous chromitite-bearing occurrences in the Arabian Shield of Saudi Arabia, where chromitite bodies are widely distributed as lensoidal pods of variable sizes surrounded by dunite envelopes, and are both enclosed within the harzburgite host. The bulk-rock geochemistry of harzburgites and dunites is predominately characterized by extreme depletion in compatible trace elements that are not fluid mobile (e.g., Sr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr and heavy REE), but variable enrichment in the fluid-mobile elements (Rb and Ba). Harzburgites and dunites are also enriched in elements that have strong affinity for Mg and Cr such as Ni, Co and V. Chromian spinels in all the studied chromitite pods are of high-Cr variety; Cr-ratio (Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio) show restricted range between 0.73 and 0.81. Chromian spinels of the dunite envelopes also show high Cr-ratio, but slightly lower than those in the chromitite pods (0.73–0.78). Chromian spinels in the harzburgite host show fairly lower Cr-ratio (0.49–0.57) than those in dunites and chromitites. Platinum-group elements (PGE) in chromitite pods generally exhibit steep negative slopes of typical ophiolitic chromitite PGE patterns; showing enrichment in IPGE (Os, Ir and Ru), over PPGE (Rh, Pt and Pd). The Bir Tuluha ophiolite is a unimodal type in terms of the presence of Ru-rich laurite, as the sole primary platinum-group minerals (PGM) in chromitite pods. These petrological features indicates that the Bir Tuluha ophiolite was initially generated from a mid-ocean ridge environment that produced the moderately refractory harzburgite, thereafter covered by a widespread homogeneous boninitic melt above supra-subduction zone setting, that produced the high-Cr chromitites and associated dunite envelopes. The Bir Tuluha ophiolite belt is mostly similar to the mantle section of the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic ophiolites, but it is a “unimodal” type in terms of high-Cr chromitites and PGE-PGM distribution.     

Structural Setting and Kinematic Analysis of the Halaban Region,Eastern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

The vorticity analysis technique was applied to measure the different lithological units,such as schist,metagranite and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks,which are present in the Halaban region.This work aims to interpret the relationship between the different lithologies and the tectonic setting,in order to elucidate the nature of kinematic analysis in the Halaban region.The kinematic analyses were applied to feldspar porphyroclasts,quartz and hornblende for twentysix samples.The kinematic vorticity number (W_m) for deformed rocks in the study area ranged from～0.6 to 0.9.The direction of the long axes for finite strain data (X axes) revealed a WNW trend with shallow dipping.The direction of the short axes for finite strain data (Z axes) were represented by vertical with associated horizontal foliation.The results of the kinematic vorticity and strain analyses are characterized by simple shear with different degrees of deformation in the Halaban region.Furthermore,our finite strain data shows no significant volume change during deformation.The subhorizontal foliation was synchronized with thrusting and deformation.Furthermore,throughout the overlying nappes,the same attitudes of tectonic contacts are observable,the nappes in the orogens being formed from simple shear deformation.     

Petrogenesis of granitic rocks of the Jabal Sabir area,South Taiz City,Yemen Republic

The Tertiary granitic intrusive body(～21 Ma) of the Jabal Sabir area was emplaced during the early stages of the Red Sea opening.This intrusive body occupies the southern sector of Taiz City.It is triangular in shape,affected by two major faults,one of which is in parallel to the Gulf of Aden,and the other is in parallel to the eastern margin of the Red Sea coast.The petrogenesis of such a type of intrusion provides additional information on the origin of the Oligo-Miocene magmatic activity in relation to the rifting tectonics and evolution of this part of the Arabian Shield.The granitic body of Jabal Sabir belongs to the alkaline or peralkaline suite of A-type granites.It is enriched in the REE.The tight bundle plot of its REE pattern reflects neither tectonism nor metamorphism.This granite body is characterized by high alkali(8.7%-10.13%),high-field strength elements(HFSE),but low Sr and Ba and high Zn contents.The abundance of xenoliths from the neighboring country rocks and prophyritic texture of the Jabal Sabir granite body indicate shallow depths of intrusion.The major and trace elements data revealed a fractional crystallization origin,probably with small amounts of crustal contamination.It is interpreted that the Jabal Sabir intrusion represents an anorogenic granite pertaining to the A-type,formed in a within-plate environment under an extensional tectonic setting pertaining to rift-related granites.     

Geotectonic framework of Permo–Triassic magmatism within the Korean Peninsula

This study presents sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb zircon ages, and whole-rock chemical and isotopic (Sr-Nd) compositions of representative Triassic plutons from South Korea. The plutons from the Gyeonggi massif (Hongseong, Namyang, Yangpyeong and Odesan), the central Okcheon belt (Baeknok and Yongsan), and the Yeongnam massif (Sangju, Gimcheon, Hamyang and Macheon) yield zircon U–Pb ages of ca. 232–226 Ma, 227–226 Ma, and 240–228 Ma, respectively. Among the Triassic plutonic suite in South Korea, those within the Gyeonggi massif are dominated by granite, syenite, monzonite, monzodiorite and gabbro. Plutons within the Okcheon belt are mainly by granite to quartz monzodiorite. The Yeongnam massif mainly incorporates granite to granodiorite and minor monzodiorite intrusions. The geochemical signatures of the Triassic plutons are characterized by Ta–Nb troughs, depletion of P and Ti, and enrichment of LILE. Most plutons except Macheon monzodioritic pluton show high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.708248–0.714678) and strongly negative ε_Nd(T) (− 20.3 to − 7.7) values, suggesting contribution from middle to upper crust. In contrast, the Macheon monzodioritic pluton in the Yeongnam massif shows relatively low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.706547-0.706629) and negative ε_Nd(T) (− 4.43 to − 3.62) values. The Middle Triassic syenite–monzonite–granite–gabbro series in and around the Gyeonggi massif possess high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic affinity suggesting a post-collisional magmatic event following the Permo–Triassic collision between the North and South China blocks. The Triassic plutons in the Yeongnam massif and the Okcheon belt, together with a Permian Yeongdeok pluton in the Gyeongsang basin, show features typical of high- to medium-K calc-alkaline magmatism with LREE and LILE enrichments. This together with a depletion of Y and HREE suggests their formation in a subduction setting. Our results provide robust evidence to consider the Gyeonggi massif as an extension of the Qinling–Dabie–Sulu belt between the North and South China blocks in central China. The Okcheon belt and Yeongnam massif in South Korea, together with the continental margin of South China, are marked by a common Permian to Triassic magmatic episode, probably related to the paleo-Pacific slab subduction.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of high-K granite from the Suffi abad area, Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, NW Iran

The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) trends northwestward in western Iran on the Precambrian to Paleozoic basement and exposes abundant I-type granitoids and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks that were most active during the Late Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous. The petrogenesis of the granitoids and associated volcanic rocks has been widely related to Neotethyan subduction beneath the Iranian plate. We report a geochronological and geochemical study of the Suffi abad granite (SLG) body that crops outs southeast of Sanandaj within the SSZ and is mainly composed of K-feldspar + quartz + plagioclase ± hornblende. The SLG, which shows a high-K calc-alkaline affinity, has LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb ages ranging between 149 ± 2 and 144 ± 3 Ma and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of ∼0.7024–0.7069 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of ∼0.5125–0.5127. These value correspond to an ?_Nd (145 Ma) of +1.5 and +4.9, suggesting that the SLG originated from the juvenile crust or depleted mantle with a young T_DM (650–900 Ma) over the subduction zone beneath the SSZ. Zircon saturation temperatures suggest that crystallization of the zircons, or emplacement of the host magmas, occurred at 560–750 °C, consistent with an intergrowth texture of K-feldspar and quartz that implies crystallization around the K-feldspar-quartz eutectic at lower temperatures. Overall, geochemical data suggest that crystallization of the hornblende and plagioclase played a role in magma differentiation. These data allow us to conclude that the high-K SLG did not originate directly from the juvenile mantle source as do most I-type, calc-alkaline granitoids, but more likely was produced from the partial melting of pre-existing I-type granitoids in the upper continental crust under low pressure conditions.     

青海都兰白石崖矿区花岗岩年代学、地球化学特征及地质意义

白石崖铁矿为都兰地区一处典型的矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床。通过对花岗岩年代学和岩石地球化学研究表明,白石崖花岗岩侵位于（238±1） Ma,富硅（SiO2=70.01%~76.01%）、富碱（K2O+Na2O=6.64%~8.41%）、FeO*/MgO比值（平均22.87）较高、贫镁（MgO=0.04%~0.39%）,K2O/Na2O>1,A.I.=0.88~0.99,A/CNK=0.62~0.83,属偏铝钙碱性岩石;稀土分布曲线呈“海鸥式”分布特征,显示较强的Eu负异常（δEu=0.10~0.70）;微量元素特征显示具较高的Zr （172×10-6~205×10-6）、Nb（11×10-6~31×10-6）和Y（21.9×10-6~50.1×10-6）,较低的Sr（40×10-6~223×10-6）、Ba（168×10-6~690×10-6）;在微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图上显示明显的Ba,Sr,P和Ti的负异常,表明白石崖花岗岩为A型花岗岩。结合区域构造演化,认为该区花岗岩形成于造山后的伸展环境,属A2型花岗岩。三叠纪时,东昆仑地区处于后碰撞构造阶段,俯冲板片发生断裂,岩石圈拆沉,引发大范围的地壳伸展减薄,软流圈物质上涌,上涌的软流圈物质与地壳直接接触,对上覆长英质地壳的直接加热作用促使其部分熔融,长石、榍石等分离结晶,形成该区A型花岗岩。     

Origin,age and petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic composite dikes from the Arabian‐Nubian Shield,SW Jordan

The evolution of a Pan‐African (c. 900–550 Ma) suite of composite dikes, with latite margins and rhyolite interiors, from southwest Jordan is discussed. The dikes cut the Neoproterozoic calc‐alkaline granitoids and high‐grade metamorphic rocks (c. 800–600 Ma) of the northern Arabian‐Nubian Shield in Jordan and have been dated by the Rb‐Sr isochron method at 566±7 Ma. The symmetrically distributed latite margins constitute less than one‐quarter of the whole dike thickness. The rhyolite intruded a median fracture within the latite, while the latter was still hot but completely solidified. The dikes are alkaline and bimodal in composition with a gap in SiO₂ between 61 and 74 wt%. Both end members display similar chondrite‐normalized rare earth element patterns. The rhyolites display the compositional signature of A‐type granites. The (La/Lu)_N values are 6.02 and 4.91 for latites and rhyolites, respectively, and the rhyolites show a pronounced negative Eu anomaly, in contrast to the slight negative Eu anomaly of the latites. The chemical variability (e.g. Zr/Y, Zr/Nb, K/Rb) within and between latites and rhyolites does not support a fractional crystallization relationship between the felsic and mafic members of the dikes. We interpret the magma genesis of the composite dikes as the result of intrusion of mantle‐derived mafic magma into the lower crust in an extensional tectonic regime. The mafic magma underwent extensive fractional crystallization, which supplied the necessary heat for melting of the lower crust. The products of the initial stages of partial melting (5–10%) mixed with the fractionating mafic magma and gave rise to the latite melts. Further partial melting of the lower crust (up to 30%) produced a felsic melt, which upon 50% fractional crystallization (hornblende 15%, biotite 5%, feldspars 60%, and quartz 20%) gave rise to the rhyolitic magma. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Late Ediacaran Rare-metalAlbite Granites of the Arabian-Nubian Shield

The Abu Dabbab albite granite(ADAG), in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt, hosts the most significant rare metal ore deposit in the northern part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield. Here, we report detailed field,petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical investigation of the ADAG, an isolated stock-like granitic body with sharp intrusive contacts against metamorphic country rocks, probably emplaced at about 600 Ma. The fine-grained porphyritic upper unit is a preserved remnant of the shallowly-emplaced apex of the magma chamber, whereas the medium-grained lower unit crystallized at deeper levels under subvolcanic conditions. The peraluminous leucocratic ADAG shares common geochemical characteristics with post-collisional intraplate A-type magmas. In addition to the conspicuous enrichment in Na2 O, the ADAG is remarkable for its anomalous concentrations of Ta, Nb, Li, Hf, Ga, Sn, Zn and heavy rare-earth elements. Nb-Ta minerals in the ADAG are mixed with Fe-Mn oxides, forming black patches that increase in abundance toward of the base of the intrusion. Columbite-tantalite, cassiterite and wolframite are the most important ore minerals.Pronounced negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu* = 0.10–0.24) reflect extreme magmatic fractionation and perhaps the effects of late fluid-rock interaction. The ADAG was most likely generated by partial melting of the juvenile middle crust of the ANS as the geotherm was elevated by erosional uplift following lithospheric delamination and it was emplaced at the intersection of lineations of structural weakness. Although formation of the ADAG and its primary enrichment in rare metals are essentially due to magmatic processes, late-stage metasomatism caused limited redistribution of rare metals. Fluid-driven subsolidus modification was limited to the apex of the magma chamber and drove development of greisen, amazonite, and quartz veins along fracture systems.     

Strain Analysis and Microstructural Investigation of the Jabal Tays Ophiolite Complex,Eastern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

Geotectonics - The present study deals with the Jabal Tays ophiolite area, which was affected by Al Amar-Idsas fault. It is one of the most important tectonic features in the Eastern Arabian...     

内蒙古中部达来地区晚侏罗世A型花岗岩:地球化学特征、岩石成因与地质意义

A型花岗岩的成因研究是揭示重要壳幔相互作用和伸展型地球动力学过程的重要窗口。离子探针锆石U-Pb测年指示内蒙古中部达来地区的达来庙钾长花岗岩岩株大约于晚侏罗世(160.1±1.8Ma)侵位。岩体Si O2含量介于69.8%~73.9%,富碱铁,贫钙镁;富集大离子亲石元素和Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素,发育明显的Eu负异常(Eu/Eu*=0.20~0.68)。这指示达来庙花岗岩具有A型花岗岩的元素地球化学特征。同时岩石具有低全岩Sri(87Sr/86Sri=0.70504~0.70523),低正全岩εNd(t)(+2.1~+2.3)以及高正的锆石εHf(t)(+7.0~+11.5)和高锆石δ18O(6.7‰~7.7‰)等同位素特征。元素同位素地球化学示踪指示达来庙花岗岩可能源于新增生中基性地壳物质的部分熔融及其后的结晶分异作用。一方面,达来庙花岗岩和蒙古-华北北部地块分散分布的其他A型花岗岩共同见证了有别于早白垩世大规模上地壳伸展的中晚侏罗世弥散状中下地壳伸展行为;另一方面,蒙古-华北北部地块晚中生代两段式的地壳伸展轨迹记录了蒙古-鄂霍茨克构造域造山后的重力垮塌过程。     

Origin and geochemical reaction paths of sabkha brines: Sabkha Jayb Uwayyid, eastern Saudi Arabia

Sabkhas are ubiquitous geomorphic features in eastern Saudi Arabia. Seven brine samples were taken from Sabkha Jayb Uwayyid in eastern Saudi Arabia. Brine chemistry, saturation state with respect to carbonate and evaporate minerals, and evaporation-driven geochemical reaction paths were investigated to delineate the origin of brines and the evolution of both brine chemistry and sabkha mineralogy. The average total dissolved solids in the sabkha brines is 243 g/l. The order of cation dominance is Na⁺   >>  Mg²⁺ >>  Ca²⁺>K⁺, while anion dominance is Cl⁻ >> SO₄ ²⁻ >> HCO₃ ⁻. Based on the chemical divide principle and observed ion ratios, it was concluded that sabkha brines have evolved from deep groundwater rather than from direct rainfall, runoff from the surroundings, or inflow of shallow groundwater. Aqueous speciation simulations show that: (1) all seven brines are supersaturated with respect to calcite, dolomite, and magnesite and undersaturated with respect to halite; (2) three brines are undersaturated with respect to both gypsum and anhydrite, while three brines are supersaturated with respect to both minerals; (3) anhydrite is a more stable solid phase than gypsum in four brines. Evaporation factors required to bring the brines to the halite phase boundary ranged from 1.016 to 4.53. All reaction paths to the halite phase boundary follow the neutral path as CO₂ is degassed and dolomite precipitates from the brines. On average, a sabkha brine containing 1 kg of H₂O precipitates 7.6 g of minerals along the reaction path to the halite phase boundary, of which 52% is anhydrite, 35.3% is gypsum, and 12.7% is dolomite. Bicarbonate is the limiting factor of dolomite precipitation, and sulfate is the limiting factor of gypsum and anhydrite precipitation from sabkha brines.     

Geochemistry and U-Pb zircon dating constraints of some plutonic rocks along Bir Tawilah shear zone,central Saudi Arabia: Implication for magma peterogenesis and age of gold mineralization

The study area covered by this work is located along the Bir Tawilah fault zone which encompasses the Arabian Shield between Afif terrane and western oceanic terranes. The rocks are dominantly ophiolite assemblages, island arc metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, and dioritic to granitic intrusions. The diorite and granodiorite rocks are I-type granitoids, calk-alkaline, metaluminous to peraluminous, formed in a volcanic arc setting, whereas the monzogranite is classified as A-type granite, alkaline and highly fractionated calc-alkaline, generated in within-plate tectonic setting. Nb and Y relationships indicated that the diorites and granodiorites were generated by a mafic parental magma contaminated with crustal materials, and controlled by fractional crystallization, whereas the monzogranites were generated from a magma characterized by an enriched mantle (EM) source.Mineralization including gold is hosted by the carbonatized serpentinite (listvenite) and the syn-tectonic granodiorite along Bir Tawilah thrust zone. U-Pb zircon geochronology indicates that the granodiorite at Jabal Ghadarah is emplaced at ca. 630 ± 12 Ma, probably suggests that the metallic minerals associated with the granodiorite along Bir Tawilah thurst zone are the result of remobilization of pre-existing gold mineralization associated with listevenite that is related to arc accretion.     

Post-collisional magmatism in the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: The geotectonic evolution of the alkaline suite at Gebel Tarbush area, south Sinai, Egypt

Post-collisional alkaline magmatism (∼610–580 Ma) is widely distributed in the northern part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS), i.e. the northern part of the Egyptian Eastern Desert and Sinai. Alkaline rocks of G. Tarbush constitute the western limb of the Katharina ring complex (∼593 ± 16 Ma) in southern Sinai. This suite commenced with the extrusion of peralkaline volcanics and quartz syenite subvolcanics intruded by syenogranite and alkali feldspar granite. The mineralogy and geochemistry of these rocks indicate an alkaline/peralkaline within-plate affinity. Quartz syenite is relatively enriched in TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO, Sr, Ba and depleted in SiO₂, Nb, Y, and Rb. The G. Tarbush alkaline suite most likely evolved via fractionation of mainly feldspar and minor mafic phases (hornblende, aegirine) from a common quartz syenite parental magma, which formed via partial melting of middle crustal rocks of ANS juvenile crust. Mantle melts could have provided the heat required for the middle crustal melting. The upper mantle melting was likely promoted by erosional decompression subsequent to lithospheric delamination and crustal uplift during the late-collisional stage of the ANS. Such an explanation could explain the absence or scarce occurrence of mafic and intermediate lithologies in the abundant late- to post-collisional calc-alkaline and alkaline suites in the northern ANS. Moreover, erosion related to crustal uplift during the late-collision stage could account for the lack or infrequent occurrence of older lithologies, i.e. island arc metavolcanics and marginal basin ophiolites, from the northern part of the ANS.     

Petrogenesis of the Xihuashan Granite in Southern Jiangxi Province,South China: Constraints from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology,Geochemistry and Nd Isotopes

Mesozoic granitic intrusions are widely distributed in the Nanling region,South China.Yanshanian granites are closely connected with the formation of tungsten deposits.The Xihuashan granite is a typica...     

扬子陆块西缘中元古代晚期元谋花岗岩的时代、成因及构造意义

扬子陆块西缘晚中元古代地质演化史一直存在较大争议,本文选择以扬子西缘元谋杂岩中一套二长花岗岩为研究对象,开展岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学、全岩地球化学等综合研究,为认识和理解扬子西缘晚中元古代地质演化提供支撑。两件元谋二长花岗岩样品的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为1086±10 Ma（MSWD=1.4,n=50）和1099±10 Ma（MSWD=1.8,n=58）。所有样品具有高硅（SiO₂为69.44%~73.98%）、富碱（Na₂O+K₂O为6.11%~7.72%）、贫钙（CaO为0.39%~1.46%）、贫镁（MgO为0.52%~0.76%）、低钛（TiO₂为0.30%~0.59%）的特点,同时表现出强过铝质（A/CNK=1.19~1.35）及中钾钙碱性–钾玄岩系列特征。它们具有高的稀土元素总量（∑REE=211.60×10⁻⁶~349.01×10⁻⁶）,呈现轻稀土元素富集和重稀土元素亏损（（La/Yb）_N=4.32~7.36）;富集Rb、U、Th等大离子亲石元素和Zr、Th、Hf等,亏损Nb、Ta、Ba等元素,并具有明显的负Eu异常（δEu=0.46~0.59）,锆石饱和温度介于827~912℃之间,展示了A型花岗岩的属性。这些二长花岗岩可能是通过中上地壳的中酸性火成岩的部分熔融形成,结合前人的研究成果,它们最可能形成于弧后的伸展环境,综合扬子陆块周缘晚中元古代的岩浆记录,元谋杂岩中1.09 Ga二长花岗岩的形成应与扬子陆块开始参与Rodinia超大陆聚合有关。

     

浙江徐家墩鹅湖岭组含铜多金属矿火山岩的地球化学与年代学

浙江江山徐家墩鹅湖岭组流纹质熔结凝灰岩的断裂构造中含有铜多金属矿物,然而其形成时代及成因目前尚不清楚。该岩石为浅粉红色,具有流纹构造和斑状结构。其化学成分显示出富硅(SiO2 = 72.99%～77.56%)、富碱(Na2O + K2O = 6.57%～8.61%),低钙、镁(CaO = 0.03%～0.05%和MgO = 0.01%～0.08%)的特征。稀土配分显示强烈负铕异常(δEu介于0.028～0.0038之间)的“海鸥型”特征．岩相学和地球化学特征均显示其为具有A型花岗岩特征的流纹质熔结凝灰岩,推测属板内构造环境。其内锆石SHRIMP的U-Th-Pb测年结果显示该火山岩的形成年龄为138.0±2.4 Ma,显示其就位时间为中生代白垩纪燕山运动的中晚期。中生代具有A型花岗岩特征的流纹质熔结凝灰岩的发现有助于建立所在盆地岩浆-构造活动序列,及理解该区铜多金属成矿作用和选定找矿靶区。     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia

A zoned intrusion with a biotite granodiorite core and arfvedsonite granite rim represents the source magma for an albitised granite plug near its eastern margin and radioactive siliceous veins along its western margin. A study of selected REE and trace elements of samples from this complex reveals that the albitised granite plug has at least a tenfold enrichment in Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Y, Th, U and Sr, and a greatly enhanced heavy/light REE ratio compared with the peralkaline granite. The siliceous veins have even stronger enrichment of these trace elements, but a heavy/light REE ratio and negative eu anomaly similar to the peralkaline granite. It is suggested that the veins were formed from acidic volatile activity and the plug from a combination of highly fractionated magma and co-existing alkaline volatile phase. The granodiorite core intrudes the peralkaline granite and has similar trace element geochemistry. The peralkaline granite is probably derived from the partial melting of the lower crust in the presence of halide-rich volatiles, and the granodiorite from further partial melting under volatile-free conditions.