A newly dated Cretaceous hydrothermal event in the Iberian Ranges (Eastern Spain) and its significance within the Mesozoic thermal history in the Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula hosts the world-class Hg mining district of Almadén. Besides pre-Hercynian ore bodies, alpine-cycle Hg-bearing veins are also present in the eastern Iberian Ranges (Espadán deposits). We present both the first absolute ages (84±4 and 85±3 Ma) for a post-Hercynian Hg deposit in Spain, obtained from primary muscovites, and a complete compilation of published Mesozoic radiometric absolute ages of the Iberian Peninsula. We deduce that there are three main thermal episodes that affected the Iberian Peninsula, which have been revealed after the comparison among the magmatic, metamorphic and hydrothermal ages. Moreover, the Espadán hydrothermal system was active when both the Cretaceous alkalic magmatism took place in Southern Portugal and in the Pyrenees, and during the opening of the Bay of Biscay.     

Fuzzy expert system for economic zonation of an ornamental slate deposit

Investigation of deposits for traditional extraction activities (metals and coal) has generally been based on determining grade, or content, of the required material. In order to apply the grade concept to an ornamental rock such as slate, it is first necessary to define the variables that determine both the geotechnical recovery rate for the rock mass — which conditions the size of the extracted blocks – and the aesthetic features of the slate — which define the quality of the slabs as potential roofing material.

For this research, geotechnical and aesthetic data for a slate deposit were collected from 16 continuous core borehole samples. A fuzzy expert system was then developed using this data, defining the rock mass recovery rate and slab quality in accordance with the criteria of a slate expert, producing as a final output a zonation of the deposit in terms of top quality slate, medium quality slate or waste.

A mathematical model based on fuzzy logic was chosen due to the fact that the boundaries between different quality groups in a deposit are not clearly distinguished. Moreover, quality also depends on a company's infrastructures for transformation of the blocks, and also on its commercial strategies.     

Gold Grade and Tonnage Models of the Gold Deposits, China

Abstract: The gold grade and tonnage modelling is applied to some types of the gold deposits in China, including placer, Archaean lode, slate belt, Carlin, volcanogenic, skarn and Shandong Peninsula, among others. The Shandong Peninsula type denotes the gold deposit, which was formed in an intensely reshaped Archaean greenstone belt. The modelling results show: (1) the Archaean lode gold deposits of China are similar to the Homestake type in gold grades. (2) The Chinese slate belt type gold deposits are marked by moderately lower gold grades but considerably larger ore volumes than the similar type elsewhere. (3) The Carlin style gold deposits of China are identified by higher Au grades but evidently smaller sizes in comparison with their counterparts in western North America. (4) The volcanogenic (continental) style is similar to Sado epithermal veins in gold grade‐tonnage models and general characteristics while volcanogenic gold deposits of the oceanic subgroup contrast with Kuroko‐type deposits in the gold grade model. But the Chinese volcanogenic (oceanic) subtype (Palaeozoic age) shows similar higher gold grades to those of the Palaeozoic Kuroko‐type deposits elsewhere. (5) Porphyry and skarn gold deposits tend to have a large size but low grade. (6) Less than half of the Shandong Peninsula gold deposits are of ore volumes exceeding the 50th intercept of the relevant gold tonnage model, implying possible undiscovered gold deposits with a larger size in the peninsula. (7) In general, Chinese gold deposits of larger sizes tend to have lower gold grades in relation to gold grade models. (8) Gold grade‐tonnage models can be effectively influenced by how to include or exclude non‐economic gold resources in the modelling. Ore volumes of gold deposits actually to some extent depend on gold grades. Consequently, the way of including or excluding low‐grade values may effect a gold grade‐tonnage model and cause different interpretation of the modelling results. This is particularly true to the gold deposits, which generally show an inverse correlation between gold grade and tonnage.     

伊比利亚型——一种新类型块状硫化物矿床地质地球化学及成因

块状硫化物矿床主要有两种类型：火山岩容矿型（如日本黑矿）和沉积岩容矿型（如加拿大苏利文矿床）。近年来,在西班牙和葡萄牙的伊比利亚区发现了一条长２５０ｋｍ,宽２５～７０ｋｍ的黄铁矿带,其中产有若干世界级的超大型锡多金属块状硫化物矿床。根据对这些矿床的地质特征、成矿流体包裹体、Ｈ、Ｏ、Ｓ、Ｐｂ同位素及成矿环境和成矿模式的研究表明,它们具有明显不同于火山岩深矿型沉积岩容矿型块状硫化物矿床的特征,而一种新     

内蒙古东部敖脑达坝铜-银-锡矿区附近发现晚石炭世地层

在内蒙古东部的大兴安岭中南段地区,具有工业价值的多数大中型银多金属矿床均产于二叠系中。笔者在敖脑达坝铜-银-锡矿床开展研究时,对该矿区西部出露的凝灰质板岩取样并开展了LA-MC-ICP-MS测年工作,获得的锆石U-Pb年龄为(302.6±1.9)Ma, MSWD=2.0,表明凝灰质板岩的原岩形成年代为晚石炭世,而不是前人认为的二叠纪。这一新发现可能对重新认识该区的区域地质演化具有重要意义。     

Southern dispersal and Palaeoecological implications of woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis): review of the Iberian occurrences

Cold-adapted large mammal populations spread southward during the coldest and driest phases of the Late Pleistocene reaching the Iberian Peninsula. Presence of woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) can be identified from 23 Iberian sites, which is compiled and analyzed herein, and the fossil specimens from seven of these sites are described here for first time.Morphological and biometrical analyses demonstrate that the Iberian woolly rhinoceros did not significantly differ from individuals of other European populations, but represent the westernmost part of a continuous Eurasian belt of distribution.The first presence of woolly rhino in the Iberian Peninsula has been identified during the late Middle Pleistocene and early Late Pleistocene. However, the highest abundance of this species is recorded during MIS 3 and 2. The latest Iberian occurrences can be dated around 20 ka BP. The presence of woolly rhinoceros in the Iberian Peninsula correlates with periods of extreme dry and cold climatic conditions documented in Iberian terrestrial and marine sediment sequences.From a palaeobiogeographic point of view, the maximum southern spread of C. antiquitatis on the Iberian Peninsula was registered during the late Middle Pleistocene or early Late Pleistocene, reaching the latitude of Madrid (about 40°N). Subsequently, during MIS 3 and 2, all Iberian finds were restricted to the Northern regions of Iberia (Cantabrian area and Catalonia). The southern expansion of C. antiquitatis during the Late Pleistocene in the Iberian Peninsula reached similar latitudes to other Eurasian regions.The ecological composition of fossil assemblages with presence of woolly rhinoceros was statistically analyzed. Results show that temperate ungulate species are predominant at Iberian assemblages, resulting in a particular mixture of temperate and cold elements different of the typical Eurasian cold-adapted faunal associations. This particular situation suggests two possible explanations: a) Eventual migrations during the coldest time spans, resulting in a mixing of cold and temperate faunas, instead a faunal replacing; b) Persistence of woolly rhinoceros populations in the Iberian Peninsula during interglacial episodes confined at cryptic southern refugia.     

中国火山岩地区金的成矿环境及分布规律

中国是一个火山岩广泛分布的国家，火山岩区的金矿不论其数量和储量在全国均占有重要地位，根据金和火山活动的关系，可划分出６种金矿类型，它们主要分布在６个火山岩区中，不同地区金的成矿作用各有其特色，总体可概括出７条成矿特征，这对于在我国广阔的火山岩区寻找金矿具有重要的指导意义。     

Age and significance of the Quaternary cemented deposits of the Duje Valley (Picos de Europa,Northern Spain)

Cemented calcareous breccias appear in the Picos de Europa (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain) resting on glacially abraded surfaces and covered by moraines. U/Th dating of the calcite coating the clasts was successful in two samples, the oldest one indicating that the breccias accumulated during or prior to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11, and the youngest indicating later cementation during MIS 8. The former introduces a limit for the age of the glaciation preceding the breccias, which cannot correspond to an event younger than MIS 12. This is the oldest absolute age so far obtained for intercalated glacial/interglacial deposits of the Iberian Peninsula.     

The Iberian type of volcano-sedimentary massive sulphide deposits

The Iberian Pyrite Belt, located in the SW Iberian Peninsula, contains many Paleozoic giant and supergiant massive sulphide deposits, including the largest individual massive sulphide bodies on Earth. Total ore reserves exceed 1500 Mt, distributed in eight supergiant deposits (>100 Mt) and a number of other smaller deposits, commonly with associated stockwork mineralizations and footwall alteration haloes. Massive sulphide bodies largely consist of pyrite, with subordinated sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite and many other minor phases, although substantial differences occur between individual deposits, both in mineral abundance and spatial distribution. These deposits are considered to be volcanogenic, roughly similar to volcanic-hosted massive sulphides (VHMS). However, our major conclusion is that the Iberian type of massive sulphides must be considered as a VHMS sub-type transitional to SHMS. This work is an assessment of the geological, geochemical and metallogenic data available up to date, including a number of new results. The following points are stressed; (a) ore deposits are located in three main geological sectors, with the southern one containing most of the giant and supergiant orebodies, whereas the northern one has mainly small to intermediate-sized deposits; (b) ore deposits differ one from another both in textures and mineral composition; (c) Co and Bi minerals are typical, especially in stockwork zones; (d) colloidal and other primary depositional textures are common in many localities; (e) a close relation has been found between ore deposits and some characteristic sedimentary horizons, such as black shales. In contrast, relationships between massive sulphides and cherts or jaspers remains unclear; (f) footwall hydrothermal alterations show a rough zoning, the inner alteration haloes being characterized in places by a high Co/Ni ratio, as well as by mobility of Zr, Y and REE; (g) ¹⁸O and D values indicate that fluids consist of modified seawater, whereas ³⁴S data strongly suggest the participation of bacterial-reduced sulphur, at least during some stages of the massive sulphide genesis, and (h) lead isotopes suggest a single (or homogeneized) metal source, from both the volcanic piles and the underlying Devonian rocks (PQ Group). It is concluded that, although all these features can be compatible with classical VHMS interpretations, it is necessary to sketch a different model to account for the IPB characteristics. A new proposal is presented, based on an alternative association between massive sulphide deposits and volcanism. We consider that most of the IPB massive orebodies, in particular the giant and supergiant ones, were formed during pauses in volcanic activity, when hydrothermal activity was triggered by the ascent and emplacement of late basic magmas. In these conditions, deposits formed which had magmatic activity as the heat source; however, the depositional environment was not strictly volcanogenic, and many evolutionary stages could have occurred in conditions similar to those in sediment-hosted massive sulphides (SHMS). In addition, the greater thickness of the rock pile affected by hydrothermal circulation would account for the enormous size of many of the deposits. Received: 8 September 1998 / Accepted: 4 January 1999     

Geological constraints on massive sulphide genesis in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), SW Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal, one of the most famous and oldest mining districts in the world, includes several major concentrations of massive sulphides, unique on Earth (e.g., Riotinto, Neves Corvo), as well as a large number of smaller deposits of this same type. All these deposits, in spite of their general similarities, show significant differences in geological setting, age, relations to country rocks, hydrothermal alteration, mineralogy and geochemistry. As a consequence of a review of the available data in the IPB, together with new findings on volcanism, hydrothermal alteration and ore mineralogy, we propose a modified genetic scenario, that can account particularly for the diversity of the geological situations in which sulphide deposits occur, as well as for their mineralogical and petrological diversity. It is concluded that there is no direct genetic relationship between felsic volcanic activity and massive sulphide deposition in the IPB, and that most of the massive sulphide bodies, including all of the giant ones, are closely related to hydrothermal vents, being therefore proximal. The available isotopic data yield additional genetic information: (a) Homogeneous lead isotope values indicate a single (or homogenized) metal source; (b) sea and connate water are the fluid reservoirs for hydrothermal input, and (c) bacterial reduction of sulphur is the most probable cause of differences in δ³⁴S between stockwork and massive sulphide mineralizations. Finally, current geodynamic models suggested for the IPB are discussed. It is suggested that an intracontinental, ensialic rift or pull-apart environment is the most probable genetic environment for the IPB mineralizations.     

湘西震旦—寒武纪交替时期古海洋环境的恢复

前寒武纪至寒武纪的交替时期是地质史和生命史的重要转折。中国南方地区广泛发育了上震旦统、下寒武统的黑色岩系。文中运用沉积学和沉积地球化学的理论和方法对湘西黑色岩系的岩石类型、矿物组成、元素地球化学特征、干酪根的结构以及碳同位素的组成等方面进行了研究 ,讨论了黑色岩系的形成条件 ,恢复了震旦纪 /寒武纪地史转折期的古环境。研究认为 ,湘西地区在晚震旦世和早寒武世地史转折期的生物爆发和高有机质的产率是形成缺氧环境的重要因素之一。     

Large-scale distributed deformation controlled topography along the western Africa–Eurasia limit: Tectonic constraints

In the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, the main geomorphic features, mountain ranges and basins, seems to be arranged in several directions whose origin can be related to the N–S plate convergence which occurred along the Cantabro–Pyrenean border during the Eocene–Lower Miocene time span. The Iberian Variscan basement accommodated part of this plate convergence in three E–W trending crustal folds as well as in the reactivation of two left-lateral NNE–SSW strike-slip belts. The rest of the convergence was assumed through the inversion of the Iberian Mesozoic Rift to form the Iberian Chain. This inversion gave rise to a process of oblique crustal shortening involving the development of two right lateral NW–SE shear zones. Crustal folds, strike-slip corridors and one inverted rift compose a tectonic mechanism of pure shear in which the shortening is solved vertically by the development of mountain ranges and related sedimentary basins. This model can be expanded to NW Africa, up to the Atlasic System, where N–S plate convergence seems also to be accommodated in several basement uplifts, Anti-Atlas and Meseta, and through the inversion of two Mesozoic rifts, High and Middle Atlas. In this tectonic situation, the microcontinent Iberia used to be firmly attached to Africa during most part of the Tertiary, in such a way that N–S compressive stresses could be transmitted from the collision of the Pyrenean boundary. This tectonic scenario implies that most part of the Tertiary Eurasia–Africa convergence was not accommodated along the Iberia–Africa interface, but in the Pyrenean plateboundary. A broad zone of distributed deformation resulted from the transmission of compressive stresses from the collision at the Pyrenean border. This distributed, intraplate deformation, can be easily related to the topographic pattern of the Africa–Eurasia interface at the longitude of the Iberian Peninsula.Shortening in the Rif–Betics external zones – and their related topographic features – must be conversely related to more “local” driven mechanisms, the westward displacement of the “exotic” Alboran domain, other than N–S convergence. The remaining NNW–SSE to NW–SE, latest Miocene up to Present convergence is also being accommodated in this zone straddling Iberia and Morocco, at the same time as a new ill-defined plate boundary that is being developed between Europe and Africa.     

Suitability analysis for sand and gravel extraction site location in the context of a sustainable development in the surroundings of Zaragoza (Spain)

Zaragoza city is located in the central Ebro Basin, in the Iberian Peninsula. The fluvial terraces formed by the Ebro River present a valuable resource of sand and gravel deposits. However, taking advantage of these available resources implies conflicts with other land use interests like urban and industrial development as well as agricultural use, which has also traditionally occupied the alluvial terraces. These deposits represent a substantial groundwater resource that should be preserved for future generations. The development of spatial decision support systems (SDSS) has greatly assisted efforts for solving land-use conflicts. These systems combine the benefits of geographic information systems (GIS) and decision support methodologies and are therefore suitable to manage sustainable development of urban areas. In this contribution, an extraction suitability map taking into consideration a variety of environmental criteria is created with the help of a SDSS. The method used is the analytical hierarchy process which is integrated in ArcGIS. Areas most suitable to sand and gravel extraction are located in the high terraces, and in those terraces covered by pediments where the thickness of resource is relatively high. These areas are far from valuable natural areas, outside areas most vulnerable to groundwater contamination, and beneath soils with poor irrigation characteristics.     

Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Holocene coastal sequences in the southern bay of Biscay

The main sedimentary features of the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula during the Holocene transgression are characterized by the formation of estuaries, the deposition of sand bars and sand beaches, and the accumulation of aeolian dunes. These coastal deposits are very favourable for identifying Quaternary sea-level changes as they contain great volumes of well preserved sediments including marine, brackish and freshwater beds. The micropalaeontological analysis (benthic foraminifera) of diverse littoral sequences has allowed different microfaunal assemblages to be recognised and their corresponding depositional environments determined. Two recurrent phases of sediment build-up as the sea level rose have been distinguished. They have been interpreted as the consequence of two different marine advances in this region: one dated at around 8 000 years BP and the second around 2 500 years BP.     

祁连优地槽区块状硫化物矿床形成地质环境的初步对比研究和探讨

在成矿规律学的研究中,许多研究者常把优地槽的发展演化与矿床形成阶段相结合并力图给予模式化,认为块状硫化物矿床是优地槽发展初期的坳陷阶段,地槽基底下坳带来巨厚沉积和强烈火山作用时期,与火山和沉积作用有关的形成物(毕利宾,1950;斯米尔诺夫,1973)。     

Applying the box plot to the recognition of footwall alteration zones related to VMS deposits in a high-grade metamorphic terrain, South Africa, a lithogeochemical exploration application

Alteration zones (more commonly foot wall alteration zones) are related to volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VMS) deposits and represent unique features that may be targeted during exploration. Of these, the chloritic foot wall alteration pipe is the most extensive and characteristic of VMS deposits. This feature is geochemically identified by a strong relative enrichment in aluminium and magnesium and a coupled depletion in calcium and sodium, giving rise to chloritic rocks in the primary environment of formation. During high grade regional metamorphism such chloritic precursor rock types are replaced by an unusual mineral paragenesis, typically containing magnesium rich cordierite, phlogopite, orthoamphiboles or orthopyroxenes and aluminium rich minerals such as sillimanite and corundum. This suggests that the unusual geochemical features of the alteration zone, retained during the deformation and metamorphism, should be recognisable in lithogeochemical exploration.The massive sulfide deposit in the eastern part of the metamorphic Namaqua Province, South Africa, at Areachap, Kantienpan and the defunct Prieska Cu–Zn Mine are hosted by a Mid-Proterozoic volcano sedimentary succession known as the Areachap Group. These deposits were affected by a complex deformation and metamorphic history and represent examples of upper amphibolite to granulite grade metamorphosed VMS deposits.The application of the known lithogeochemical methods is especially complicated where the geology is not well understood, due to the poor rock exposure of complexly deformed and metamorphosed areas, such as in the eastern part of the Namaqua Province.The box plot presents a more readily applicable lithogeochemical method to characterize and identify the alteration process, but it was designed for relatively un-metamorphosed environments. It is demonstrated here that the box plot may also be applied to high-grade metamorphic terrains and that the mineral phases used in defining the boxplot in low grade metamorphic environments may be replaced by their equivalents in high grade metamorphic terrains. The compositional trends of the metamorphic minerals themselves may be used in defining the boxplot for high grade metamorphic terrains. These include the transition of: annite to phlogopite; grossular to almandine or pyrope, augite to enstatite or clinoenstatite, and hornblende to gedrite or cummingtonite. Close to the ore zone, the relative Mg content of pyroxene, cordierite and biotite are higher than further away from this zone. It could be demonstrated that the changes in the mineral compositions are gradational when comparing unaffected rocks with progressively more altered wall rocks.Conclusions based on an application of the isocon method demonstrate that primary footwall alteration zones in the Areachap Group's VMS deposits are characterized by elemental depletion of Na₂O, CaO, Sr, Ni, V and La and enrichment of MgO, Fe₂O_3(total), S, Zn, SiO₂, Co and F. It is shown that the whole rock compositions of rocks that were independently identified as the metamorphic equivalents of altered rocks, using the isocon method, plot in the correct place in the box plot for high grade regionally metamorphosed terrains. This establishes the box plot as an effective and practical tool for lithogeochemical exploration for VMS deposits in complexly deformed high grade metamorphosed terrains.     

山东栖霞杨家夼金矿地质特征及控矿条件分析

杨家夼金矿产于粉子山群张格庄组、蓬莱群豹山口组地层中,从其控矿岩性及矿化特征来看应为类卡林型金矿床。地层主要以大理岩、透闪大理岩、透闪片岩、钙质板岩、千枚状板岩、黑云变粒岩、二云片岩为主。金矿主要赋存于岩性变化复杂的薄层状大理岩、透闪大理岩、板岩、透闪片岩中,除岩性控矿外,构造也具有明显的控矿性,当断裂构造切穿或与这些成矿有利岩性叠加时,金矿化更为明显,而岩性分界线或层间破碎带也是该类金矿的有利赋存部位。     

The opening of the Bay of Biscay - a review

The anticlockwise rotation of the Iberian Peninsula away from south Brittany during the Mesozoic has been demonstrated from palaeomagnetic data. Marine magnetic, seismic and gravity surveys have indicated that there is oceanic crust in the Bay of Biscay. Initial rifting began in the Triassic but the major part of the rotation of the Iberian Peninsula occurred during the Late Cretaceous. Two mechanisms for the opening of the Bay of Biscay have been proposed, firstly a simple anticlockwise rotation of the Iberian plate and secondly, a 350 km sinistral displacement of the Iberian plate along transform faults about a pole of rotation near Paris. Geological data, partly new, favours the first mechanism but with a pole of rotation approximately 100 km east of the west end of the Pyrenees rather than in the southeast corner of the Bay of Biscay. Geophysical data indicates a further small rotation of the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Eocene which resulted in the formation of the Pyrenees.