Detachment zones of Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes: thermal,fluid and metasomatic regimes

Metamorphic core complexes in Arizona are characterized by extensional tectonics, in which listrically faulted and unmetamorphosed volcanic rocks of an upper plate are tectonically superimposed on high-grade rocks of a lower plate along low angle detachment faults. The detachment faults are marked by microbreccias and chloritic breccias which developed by hydraulic fracturing and metasomatism that overprinted subjacent amphibolite facies mylonites. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope data indicate that the mylonites formed at 500 °C under conditions of low water/rock ratio. Chloritic breccias developed at 300–350 °C during incursion of hydrothermal fluids along the detachment fault. Hydrothermal alteration involved massive additions of Fe, Mn, and Mg, with concomitant depletions of K and Na, reflecting the hydrolysis of K-feldspar and plagioclase to chlorite.Upper plate volcanic rocks are sporadically altered to an assemblage of K-feldspar, calcite, and Fe, Mn-oxides. Geochemically, the volcanic rocks are characterized by enhanced abundances of alteration insensitive incompatible elements (Th, LREE, P₂O₅), fractionated REE distributions (La_cn/Yb_cn 18), and elevated levels of the mafic affiliated trace elements Cr, Co, Ni, Sc. Primary K₂O contents are estimated at 3–6 wt.%. A consistent feature is the presence of troughs at Ta-Nb and Ti, on chondrite normalized diagrams, indicative of magmas associated with convergent plate boundaries. Hydrothermal alteration involved massive additions of K, Fe, Ca, and CO₂, and Na and Mg were systematically depleted. Whole rock ¹⁸O values span 4 to 18 per mil, corroborating the extent of isotopic exchange with an aqueous reservoir. Alteration occurred at temperatures of 250 to 100 °C, fluid ¹⁸O of the thermal waters is estimated at limiting values of –11 to +11 per mil.Dual fluid regimes were operating during extensional tectonics. At lower structural levels, high temperature, reduced fluids of metamorphic and/or evolved meteoric origin, were focussed along the detachment faults under lithostatic pressure, and induced Fe, Mn, Mg-metasomatism. In contrast, cool, oxidized thermal waters, at hydrostatic conditions, and likely of variably evolved meteoric origin were involved at high structural levels.

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Zusammenfassung Die metamorphen Komplexe in Arizona sind charakterisiert durch Dehnungstektonik, in denen listrisch gestörte und unmetamorphe vulkanische Gesteine einer oberen Platte tektonisch auf hochgradig metamorphe Gesteine einer unteren Platte entlang einer flachwinkligen Abscherungsfläche verfrachtet wurden. Die Abscherungen werden markiert durch Mikrobrekzien und chloritische Brekzien, die sich durch hydraulisches Zerbrechen (»hydraulic fracturing«) und Metasomatose gebildet und damit die unterlagernden amphibolitfaziellen Mylonite überprägt haben. Sauerstoff- und Wasserstoff-Isotopendaten belegen, daß die Mylonite bei 500 °C unter einem niedrigen Wasser/Gesteins-Verhältnis gebildet wurden. Die chloritischen Brekzien entwickelten sich bei 300–305 °C während des Einbruchs hydrothermaler Fluide entlang der Abscherungsfläche. Die hydrothermalen Veränderungen hatten massive Zugabe von Fe, Mn und Mg zur Folge unter gleichzeitiger Wegnahme von K und Na, was sich in der Hydrolyse der K-Feldspäte und Plagioklase zu Chlorit widerspiegelt. In den vulkanischen Gesteinen des oberen Stockwerks ist es lokal zur Bildung von K-Feldspat, Kalzit und Fe-, Mn-Oxiden gekommen. Geochemisch sind die vulkanischen Gesteine charakterisiert durch eine gesteigerte Häufigkeit von Änderungen unempfindlicher, inkompatibler Elemente (Th, LREE, P₂O₅), fraktionierte REE-Verteilungen (La_cn/Yb_cn = 18) und eine Zunahme an »basischen« Spurenelementen wie Cr, Co, Ni, Sc. Primäre K₂O-Gehalte werden auf 3–6 wt.% geschätzt. Ein durchgehendes Merkmal ist in den Chondrit-normalisierten Diagrammen das Vorhandensein von Trögen für Ta-Nb und Ti. Dies ein Hinweis auf Magmen, die mit konvergierenden Plattengrenzen verknüpft sind. Hydrothermale Änderungen beinhalten massive Zugabe von K, Fe, Ca und CO₂, und eine systematische Abnahme von Na und Mg. -¹⁸O-Werte im Gesamtgestein reichen von 4 bis 18 pro mil. und bestätigen damit die Breite des Isotopenaustausches mit einem wässrigen Reservoir. Alterationen anden bei Temperaturen zwischen 250 und 100 °C statt. Die ¹⁸O-Werte der Fluide in den hydrothermalen Wässern liegen schätzungsweise mit ihren Grenzwerten zwischen –11 und +11 pro mil. Ein duales Fluidregime wirkt während der Dehnungstektonik. In den tiefen tektonischen Stockwerken mit hoher Temperatur konzentrieren sich reduzierende Fluidmengen von metamorphem oder meteoritischem Ursprung an Abscherungen unter lithostatischem Druck. Es tritt eine Fe, Mn, Mg-Metasomatose auf. Im Gegensatz dazu sind in den höheren tektonischen Stockwerken kühlere, oxidierende Thermalwässer unter hydrostatischen Bedingungen und meteorischen Ursprungs anzutreffen.

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Résumé Les complexes métamorphiques de l'Arizona sont caractérisés par une tectonique extensionnelle au cours de laquelle des roches volcaniques, listriquement faillées et non métamorphiques, appartenant à une plaque supérieure, ont été superposées aux formations très métamorphiques d'une plaque inférieure, par l'intermédiaire de failles plates de décollement. Ces failles sont accompagnées de microbrèches et de brèches chloriteuses engendrées par fracturation hydraulique et métasomatose, phénomènes qui ont affecté les mylonites de facies amphibolitique sous-jacentes. Les rapports isotopiques de l'oxygène et de l'hydrogène indiquent pour la genèse des mylonites une température d'environ 500° avec un faible rapport eau/roche. Les brèches chloriteuses se sont formées entre 300° et 350° à l'occasion de venues hydrothermales le long de la faille de décollement. L'altération hydrothermale s'est accompagnée d'un apport massif de Fe, Mn et Mg et d'un départ de K et Na, reflétant la transformation hydrolytique du feldspath potassique et du plagioclase en chlorite.Les roches volcaniques de la plaque supérieure sont altérées sporadiquement en une association de feldspaths, calcite et oxydes de Fe-Mn. Au point de vue géochimique, ces roches volcaniques sont caractérisées par un enrichissement en éléments incompatibles insensibles à l'altération (Th, LREE, P₂O₅), par des distributions fractionnées des terres rares (La_cn/Yb_cn = 18), et par une teneur élevée des éléments en traces associés aux ferro-magnésiens (Cr, Co, Ni, Sc). La teneur primaire en K₂O est estimée à 3 à 6%. Les diagrammes normalisés par rapport aux chondrites montrent de manière régulière un creux en Ta-Nb et en Ti, indicatif de magmas associés à des bordures de plaques convergentes. L'altération hydrothermale a été accompagnée d'un apport massif de K, Fe, Ca et CO₂ et d'une perte systématique en Na et Mg.Les valeurs de ¹⁸O sur roche totale s'échelonnent entre 4 et 18, ce qui confirme l'importance d'échanges isotopiques avec un réservoir aqueux. L'altération s'est déroulée à des températures qui vont de 250° à 100°; la valeur de ¹⁸O des fluides hydrothermaux devait être comprise entre –11 et + 11 %.Au cours de la tectonique d'extension, l'ensemble a été le siège d'un double régime de fluides. Aux niveaux structuraux inférieurs, des fluides réducteurs d'origine métamorphique et/ou météorique évoluée se sont concentrés de long des failles de décollement, sous haute pression lithostatique et ont provoqué la métasomatose en Fe, Mn et Mg. Par contre, dans les niveaux structuraux supérieurs, les fluides hydrothermaux étaient des eaux d'origine probablement météorique, modifiées à des degrés divers, moins chaudes et oxydantes.

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, , , , . , (hydraulic fracturing) ; . , 500 ° . 300–350 ° . , ; . , . (incompatible elements — Th, LREE, P₂O₅), (La_cn/Yb_cn = 18), «» , - r, , Ni, Sc. , 3–6%. — Nb Ti . , . , , . ¹⁸O 4 18%., . 250 100 °. ¹⁸ –11 +11 %.

     

俯冲带深海-岩石圈流体交换及其效应

俯冲带是地球上构造活动最复杂、最强烈的区域,也是地球物质循环系统的重要组成部分,对俯冲带的深入研究有助于加深我们对地球系统科学的认识。通过系统地梳理分析国内外相关文献,大洋岩石圈通过在汇聚板块边界的俯冲将大量水带入到地幔中,并对俯冲带地震的发生、地幔的熔融、岩浆的产生、陆壳的形成乃至矿产资源富集都起到了重要的控制作用。弧前隆起区的岩石圈地幔在顺断层渗透的深海水作用下发生强烈水化作用并形成水化地幔,是水富集在岩石圈的主要方式之一。随着俯冲板片深度的增加,在一定的温压条件下,水化地幔(蛇纹岩)发生脱水相变,引发俯冲带中源地震。脱出的水则由于运移的差异,既可以产生板内的水压致裂,也会影响俯冲界面的耦合,进而导致慢滑移地震区的形成。由此可见,俯冲带地区深海-岩石圈流体交换及其在深部的效应是一个包含化学反应-温度-流体流动-应力变形/破坏的多物理场耦合的复杂动力学系统。然而,目前的相关研究工作主要侧重于对其中某个因素、现象或者某个特定条件下具体过程的探索性观测分析研究。因此,我们需要从地球系统科学的角度出发,将流体运移、化学反应与传统的固体地球研究相结合,着眼于多学科交叉的多场耦合动力学综合研究,对俯冲带地区深海-岩石圈流体交换及其效应进行多时空尺度定量化表征和分析。     

Ferric iron in sediments as a novel CO2 mineral trap: CO2–SO2 reaction with hematite

Thermodynamic simulations of reactions among SO₂-bearing CO₂-dominated gas, water and mineral phases predict that Fe^III in sediments should be converted almost entirely to dissolved Fe^II and siderite (FeCO₃), and that SO₂ should simultaneously be oxidized to dissolved sulfate. The reactions are however, subject to kinetic constraints which may result in deviation from equilibrium and the precipitation of other metastable mineral phases. To test the prediction, a laboratory experiment was carried out in a well stirred hydrothermal reactor at 150 °C and 300 bar with hematite, 1.0 m NaCl, 0.5 m NaOH, SO₂ in quantity sufficient to reduce much of the iron, and excess CO₂. The experiment produced stable siderite and metastable pyrite and elemental S. Changes in total dissolved Fe are consistent with nucleation of pyrite at ∼17 h, and nucleation of siderite at ∼600 h. Dissolution features present on elemental S at the conclusion of the experiment suggest nucleation early in the experiment. The experiment did not reach equilibrium after ∼1400 h, as indicated by coexistence of hematite with metastable pyrite and elemental sulfur. However, the results confirm that Fe^III can be used to trap CO₂ in siderite if partly oxidized S, as SO₂, is present to reduce the Fe with CO₂ in the gas phase.     

新疆白杨河铀铍矿床成矿流体深部来源的锂同位素证据

新疆白杨河铀铍矿床是亚洲最大的铀铍矿床,矿化主要产在晚石炭世花岗斑岩与泥盆系晶屑凝灰岩的接触带以及花岗斑岩体内部.已有研究表明该矿床是多期次热液流体叠加的结果,但是关于成矿流体的来源及其成因还不清楚.文章在详细野外地质观察基础上,对白杨河矿床中矿化的和未矿化的花岗斑岩、晶屑凝灰岩进行了锂同位素及其成矿元素组成分析.结果...     

Fast and furious: crustal CO2 release at Merapi volcano,Indonesia

New experimental results show that when magma interacts with carbonate‐rich crustal rock, such as limestone, it rapidly liberates crustal CO₂, with potentially devastating repercussions for explosive volcanic behaviour.     

Deep fluid circulation in alpine shear zones,Pyrenees, France: field and oxygen isotope studies

A combined field, stable isotope, and whole-rock chemical study was made on late Cretaceous to Tertiary metasomatic shear zones cutting Hercynian gneisses in the Aston Massif, Pyrenees, France. Mylonitisation occurred during the early stages of Alpine compression under retrograde conditions at 400–450°C and about 10 km depth. Whole-rock ¹⁸O values of (+11 to +12 in the gneisses) was lowered to +5 to +9 in the shear zones, with the quartz-muscovite ¹⁸O/¹⁶O fractionations of about 2 to 4 essentially unchanged. These ¹⁸O/¹⁶O systematics, together with D muscovite=-40 to-50 indicate that large volumes of formation waters or D-rich meteoric waters passed through the shear zones during deformation. The same fluids also redistributed major elements, as shown by the correlation of ¹⁸O shift with muscovitisation and albitisation reactions in granitic wall rocks. However, even though ¹⁸O was universally lowered within the shear zones, the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios were not homogenised, nor do they correlate in detail with the presence or absence of muscovitisation, suggesting that fluid flow was probably fracture-controlled and episodic. Field mapping shows that, along the length of a particular shear zone, muscovitisation of granite gneiss dies out 150m above the contact with underlying sillimanite gneiss. Thus, muscovitisation and albitisation of granite gneiss in shear zones and their wall rocks probably occurred during re-equilibration of acidic, chloride-rich, aqueous fluids that had previously moved upward within the shear zones through underlying sillimanite gneiss. Extremely high material-balance fluid-rock ratios (10³) are required to explain the extent of muscovitisation along this shear zone, implying integrated fluid mass fluxes of about 10⁸ kg/m²; this is probably close to the maximum value for other shear zones in the network. Similar volumes of a more chemically evolved fluid must have passed through the unmuscovitised mylonites, showing that the absence of alteration cannot necessarily be used to infer low values of fluid flux. For reasonable pressure gradients and time scales of fluid movement, effective permeabilities of 10^-15 to 10^-17 m² are required. Such values can be accounted for by short-lived, widely-spaced cracks produced during seismic activity. A model is presented in which formation waters were seismically pumped down an underlying, shallow, southward-dipping decollement and then upward through the steeply-dipping shear zone network.Contribution No 4711: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA     

超临界CO2流体萃取土壤中污染物的应用研究进展

CO2在超临界状态下具有许多独特的物理化学性质,作为一种“绿色”溶剂,它具有无毒、无污染、易获取等优点。近年来,有关超临界CO2流体热力学相行为和溶解度性质的研究引起人们广泛的关注,与之密切相关的超临界流体萃取技术已在许多领域得到重视和发展。根据近年国内外运用超临界CO2流体对土壤中多环芳烃、多氯联苯、重金属等污染物的萃取应用,分析了温度、压力、共溶剂等因素对萃取效果的影响,通过与其他土壤修复技术的比较,展望了超临界流体萃取技术应用于土壤修复领域的可行性和研究方向。     

超临界CO2流体萃取土壤中污染物的应用研究进展

CO2在超临界状态下具有许多独特的物理化学性质,作为一种“绿色”溶剂,它具有无毒、无污染、易获取等优点。近年来,有关超临界CO2流体热力学相行为和溶解度性质的研究引起人们广泛的关注,与之密切相关的超临界流体萃取技术已在许多领域得到重视和发展。根据近年国内外运用超临界CO2流体对土壤中多环芳烃、多氯联苯、重金属等污染物的萃取应用,分析了温度、压力、共溶剂等因素对萃取效果的影响,通过与其他土壤修复技术的比较,展望了超临界流体萃取技术应用于土壤修复领域的可行性和研究方向。     

Extreme crustal metamorphism during Columbia supercontinent assembly: Evidence from North China Craton

A vast supracrustal belt of khondalites (granulite facies metapelites) occur along the northern margin of the North China Craton. We report here for the first time spinel + quartz equilibrium assemblage from these rocks in two textural settings: (1) high ZnO (up to 14.47 wt.%) spinel with quartz as inclusions within garnet porphyroblasts defining pressure above 12 kbar and temperature of 900 °C; and (2) low ZnO (down to 1.2 wt.%) spinel in association with quartz in the matrix assemblage formed during peak ultrahigh-temperature conditions (ca. 975 °C and 9 kbar). We present a unique case of decompression where the metamorphic conditions of the rocks traversed mostly through the spinel + quartz (extended) stability field. Monazite grains in textural association with both types of spinel + quartz textures were analysed for age determination, and the data define two age peaks at 1927 ± 11 Ma and 1819 ± 11 Ma. Since the peak thermal regime of the khondalites was close to or exceeded the theoretical closure temperature of Pb in monazite, we infer the 1819 ± 11 Ma age as the timing of ultrahigh-temperature event in this craton. Our data lend support to the idea of ca. 1.9–1.8 Ga E–W collisional orogen at the northern margin of the North China Craton. We correlate the extreme crustal metamorphism with tectonics associated with the assembly of the North China Craton within the Columbia supercontinent.     

Comparison of pedogenic CO2-containing carbonates in fossil soil and loess from the Antarctic ice core

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Energy sources for diagenesis: Evidence from the Black Sea

Complex investigations of recent and Drevnechernomorian (ancient Black Sea) sediments from the outer shelf, continental slope, and deep-water basin of the Russian Black Sea sector have been carried out using samples collected during cruise of the R/V Professor Shtokman organized by the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (March 2009) and expedition of “YUZHMORGEO” (summer 2006). Rates of the main anaerobic processes during diagenesis (sulfate reduction, dark CO₂ fixation, methanogenesis, and methane oxidation) were studied for the first time in sediment cores of the studied area. Two peaks in the rate of microbial processes and two sources of these processes were identified: the upper peak near the water-sediment contact is related to the solar energy (OM substrate of the water column) and the lower peak at the base of the Drevnechernomorian sediments with high(>1000 μM) methane concentration related to the energy of anaerobic methane oxidation. The neogenic labile OM formed during this process is utilized by other groups of microorganisms. According to experimental data, the daily rate of anaerobic methane oxidation is many times higher than that of methanogenesis, which unambiguously indicates the migration nature of the main part of methane.     

3D numerical modelling of fluid flow in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district: major crustal shear zones drain fluids from overpressured vein fields

Fluid flow patterns have been determined using oxygen isotope isopleths in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district. 3D numerical modelling of fluid flow and oxygen isotope exchange in the vein field shows that the fluid flow patterns can be reproduced if the lower boundary of the model is permeable, which represents middle or lower crustal rocks that are infiltrated by a metamorphic fluid generated at deeper levels. This boundary condition implies that the major crustal faults so conspicuous in vein fields do not act as the only major channel for upward fluid flow. The upper model boundary is impermeable except along the trace of major crustal faults where fluids are allowed to drain out of the vein field. This upper impermeable boundary condition represents a low-permeability layer in the crust that separates the overpressured fluid from the overlying hydrostatic fluid pressure regime. We propose that the role of major crustal faults in overpressured vein fields, independent of tectonic setting, is to drain hydrothermal fluids out of the vein field along a breach across an impermeable layer higher in the crust and above the vein field. This breach is crucial to allow flow out of the vein field and accumulation of metals in the fractures, and this breach has major implications for exploration for mineral resources. We propose that tectonic events that cause episodic metamorphic dehydration create a short-lived pulse of metamorphic fluid to rise along zones of transient permeability. This results in a fluid wave that propagates upward carrying metals to the mineralized area. Earthquakes along crustal shear zones cause dilation near jogs that draw fluids and deposit metals in an interconnected network of subsidiary shear zones. Fluid flow is arrested by an impermeable barrier separating the hydrostatic and lithostatic fluid pressure regimes. Fluids flow through the evolving and interconnected network of shear zones and by advection through the rock matrix. Episodic breaches in the impermeable barrier along the crustal shear zones allow fluid flow out of the vein field.     

Evidence of magmatic CO2-rich fluids in peraluminous graphite-bearing leucogranites from Deep Freeze Range (northern Victoria Land,Antarctica)

Fine-grained peraluminous synkinematic leuco-monzogranites (SKG), of Cambro-Ordovician age, occur as veins and sills (up to 20–30 m thick) in the Deep Freeze Range, within the medium to high-grade metamorphics of the Wilson Terrane. Secondary fibrolite + graphite intergrowths occur in feldspars and subordinately in quartz. Four main solid and fluid inclusion populations are observed: primary mixed CO₂+H₂O inclusions + Al₂SiO₅ ± brines in garnet (type 1); early CO₂-rich inclusions (± brines) in quartz (type 2); early CO₂+CH₄ (up to 4 mol%)±H₂O inclusions + graphite + fibrolite in quartz (type 3); late CH₄+CO₂+N₂ inclusions and H₂O inclusions in quartz (type 4). Densities of type 1 inclusions are consistent with the crystallization conditions of SKG (750°C and 3 kbar). The other types are post-magmatic: densities of type 2 and 3 inclusions suggest isobaric cooling at high temperature (700–550°C). Type 4 inclusions were trapped below 500°C. The SKG crystallized from a magma that was at some stage vapour-saturated; fluids were CO₂-rich, possibly with immiscible brines. CO₂-rich fluids (±brines) characterize the transition from magmatic to post-magmatic stages; progressive isobaric cooling (T<670°C) led to a continuous decrease off _{O 2} can entering in the graphite stability field; at the same time, the feldspars reacted with CO₂-rich fluids to give secondary fibrolite + graphite. Decrease ofT andf _{O 2} can explain the progressive variation in the fluid composition from CO₂-rich to CH₄ and water dominated in a closed system (in situ evolution). The presence of N₂ the late stages indicates interaction with external metamorphic fluids.Contribution within the network Hydrothermal/metamorphic water-rock interactions in crystalline rocks: a multidisciplinary approach on paleofluid analysis. CEC program: Human Capital and Mobility     

Late Triassic crustal growth in southern Tibet: Evidence from the Gangdese magmatic belt

The Gangdese magmatic belt, located in the southern margin of the Lhasa terrane and carrying significant copper and polymetallic mineralization, preserves important information relating to the tectonics associated with Indian–Eurasian collision and the crustal growth of southern Tibet. Here we investigate the Quxu batholith in the central domain of the Gangdese magmatic belt and report the occurrence of hornblende gabbros for the first time. We present petrologic, zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic and bulk-rock chemistry data on these rocks. The hornblende gabbros display sub-alkaline features, and correspond to tholeiite composition. They also show medium K calc-alkaline to low K affinity. The rocks show enrichment in LILEs and LREEs, but are depleted in HFSEs, indicating a subduction-related active continental margin setting for the magma genesis. Our computations show that the gabbroic pluton was emplaced in the middle-lower crustal depth of ca. 18 km. Zircons from the hornblende gabbros yield crystallization age of ca. 210 Ma, revealing a late Triassic magmatic event. Combined with available data from the Gangdese magmatic belt, our study suggests that the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust beneath the southern margin of the Lhasa terrane might have been initiated not later than the Norian period of Triassic. Zircons from the hornblende gabbro show positive ε_Hf(t) values of 9.56 to 14.75 (mean value 12.44), corresponding to single stage model ages (T_DM1) in the range of 256 Ma to 459 Ma, attesting to crustal growth in the southern Lhasa terrane associated with the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust.     

Radiogenic helium in xenoliths from Simcoe, Washington, USA: implications for metasomatic processes in the mantle wedge above subduction zones

We report ³He/⁴He ratios from 10 peridotite xenoliths considered to represent samples of the uppermost mantle wedge above the downgoing Juan de Fuca Plate. Helium isotopic ratios in all but two of the xenoliths are similar to many arc magmas, roughly 7 Ra (1 Ra=atmospheric value). Based on decoupling of He from Sr, Nd and Os in these samples, similar He ratios in olivines from rims of larger xenoliths, and modeling of helium exchange between xenoliths and magmas, we interpret this ratio as that of helium in the host basalt. ³He/⁴He ratios as low as 4.2 Ra are found in olivines from the cores of the two largest xenoliths. These results cannot be reasonably explained by interaction with crustal material or post-eruptive ingrowth of ⁴He, but have been produced by interaction between mantle peridotite and a ⁴He-rich melt or fluid. Either ⁴He already present in the subducting oceanic crust has been retained to significant depths below Simcoe and then directly released behind the arc to interact with the mantle wedge, or, more likely, ⁴He has been produced by decay of U and Th in metasomatized mantle directly above the slab; a He-rich fluid or melt from this source has then ascended and modified the region of mantle represented by the xenoliths. This latter model is supported by estimates of residence time for the Simcoe metasomatic agent from U–Th–Pb isotopic systematics of pyroxenes from the Simcoe peridotites, estimated U and Th concentrations in the source of the fluid or melt, and commonly assumed patterns of helium behavior. This model is also consistent with higher ³He/⁴He ratios typically measured in arc samples; the portion of sub-arc mantle with such low He isotope ratios may be quite small, but the Simcoe xenoliths record a much larger volumetric contribution of the He-rich metasomatic agent than do arc lavas.     

The Significance of Channel and Fluid-Inclusion CO2 in Cordierite: Evidence from Carbon Isotopes

Carbon-isotope analysis of CO₂ has been undertaken on pure mineralseparates from six cordierite-bearing assemblages from Kerala,South India, to identify the significance of fluid inclusionsand channel-trapped volatiles in cordierite. Field relations,phase-equilibria systematics, and fluidinclusion studies suggestthat cordierite megacrysts associated with orthopyroxene withincharnockites have grown during an influx of CO₂ post-datingregional metamorphism, in a process equivalent to incipient-charnockiteformation in rocks of lower Mg/Fe ratios. In contrast, smallercordierite grains associated with sillimanite and spinel, definingcompositional bands in the metapelitic assemblages, have formedduring the earlier regional metamorphism, although for one ofthese samples a subsequent period of local cordierite growthduring channelized CO₂ influx has been identified. CO₂ has been extracted from fluid inclusions in quartz, garnet,and cordierite by a stepped-heating technique, and its abundanceand carbon-isotope values determined in each case. Althoughunimodal release patterns generally characterize fluids releasedfrom quartz and garnet, for cordierite a strongly bimodal releaseprofile is observed. At 500–700C volatiles are extractedfrom fluid inclusions in quartz, cordierite, and garnet, whereasabove 800C CO₂ release from cordierite is correlated with theexpulsion of channel volatiles. Isotopic results confirm thatchannel-derived volatiles and fluid inclusions in cordieriteretain similar ^l3C values in samples where cordierite is interpretedto have grown during CO₂ influx (¹³C= –5 to –8%),whereas pre-influx CO₂ can be retained in the channels of cordieritewhich predates the influx event. For cordierite-bearing metapelitesthat have not been subjected to fluid influx, carbonic inclusionsare virtually absent from cordierite. The results suggest that CO₂ is trapped in cordierite channelsduring mineral growth, with little isotopic re-equilibrationduring subsequent events. Studies of fluid release from cordieritescan therefore yield important information on the evolution ofmetamorphic fluids provided that (1) fluidinclusion releaseand channel-derived volatiles can be distinguished analytically,and (2) the chronology of cordierite growth and fluid entrapmentin both channels and inclusions can be constrained. ^*Present address: Centre for Earth Science Studies, Akkulam, Trivandrum 695-031, India Reprint requests to N. B. W. Harris