The relationship between Archaean gold mineralization and spatially associated minor intrusions at the Kambalda and Norseman gold camps,western Australia: Lead isotope evidence

Many Archaean mesothermal gold deposits are spatially associated with felsic to lamprophyric minor intrusions and it has been suggested that magmatic processes related to such intrusions may be important in the genesis of these deposits. A comparison of the Pb-isotopic signature of gold-related galenas from Kambalda and Norseman with that of spatially associated minor intrusions (at the time of mineralization) indicates that the ore-fluid Pb cannot have been derived solely from the intrusions or their source regions. For both study areas, the galena Pb-isotopic compositions are bracketed by those of local volcanic (mafic) and intrusive (largely felsic) rock types. This is consistent with the ore fluid having derived metallic components from the crust (or crustally derived granitic rocks) and the mantle (or mantle-derived rocks of the greenstone succession) via metamorphic dewatering or mantle/crustal degassing. Interaction of granite-derived magmatic fluids with greenstone lithologies could plausibly produce a similar array of Pb-isotopic signatures. The Norseman data, as a whole, are more radiogenic than the Kambalda data for broadly synchronous mineralization, reflecting the greater abundance of older granitic rocks with respect to mafic/ultramafic rocks in the Norseman district. The provinciality exhibited by the Pb-isotopic composition of the ore fluid indicates that the gold-mineralizing process formed galena whose Pb-isotopic composition was very sensitive to local variations in crustal Pb-isotopic composition, either within the source region of the fluid or along fluid conduits.     

Origin and formational history of some Pb-Zn deposits from Alborz and Central Iran: Pb isotope constraints

Several Pb-Zn deposits and occurrences within Iran are hosted by Mesozoic–Tertiary-aged sedimentary and igneous rocks. This study reports new Pb isotope analyses for galena from 14 Pb-Zn deposits in the Alborz and Central Iran structural zones. In general, Pb isotope ratios are extremely variable with data plotting between the upper crustal and orogenic curves in a plumbotectonic diagram. The latter may be attributed to Pb inputs from crustal and mantle end-members. Most of the galena samples are characterized by high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, suggesting significant input of Pb from old continental crust or pelagic sediment. Pb isotope data also indicate that some of the deposits, which are hosted by sedimentary rocks in Central Iran and Alborz, have similar Pb isotopic compositions and hence suggest similar source regions. Most of the galenas yield Pb model ‘ages’ that vary between ~140 and ~250 Ma, indicating that mineralization resulted from the extraction of ore-bearing fluids from Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic sequences. The similarity in Pb isotope ratios for the Pb-Zn deposits located within these zones suggests analogous crustal evolution histories. Our preferred interpretation is that Pb-Zn mineralization within the sedimentary and igneous rocks of the Central Iran and Alborz tectonic regions occurred following a Late Cretaceous–Tertiary accretionary stage of crustal thickening in Iran.     

哀牢山构造带晚渐新世地壳深熔与熔/流体迁移:锆石U-Pb年龄与微量元素证据

哀牢山构造带是青藏高原东南缘重要的边界构造带,其内出露的深变质岩系一直被认为是古老的变质基底岩石。利用LA-ICP-MS原位微区分析技术对哀牢山深变质岩系锆石进行U-Pb年龄、微量元素分析。结果表明深变质岩系的原岩有728±8Ma、727±3Ma、231±4Ma的花岗质岩石和其它年龄的碎屑岩,变质时代为27.8~23.7Ma。综合野外地质特征和分析结果,我们认为哀牢山深构造带在晚渐新世27.8~23.7Ma发生了大规模的地壳深熔作用,现今所见深变质岩系是由不同时代、不同岩性的原岩在晚渐新世(27.8~23.7Ma)变质形成,不全是古老的变质基底岩石。深熔过程中熔/流体发生了明显的迁移。哀牢山变质带具有混合岩化特征的岩石很可能是峰期变质作用后减压熔融的产物。晚渐新世地壳深熔作用与左行走滑剪切是哀牢山深变质带折返过程中近似同时发生的两种不同变质表现形式,两者相互影响、相互制约。     

Zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical composition of gneisses from the Mesozoic foreland basin in the Yellow Sea,China

The South Yellow Sea basin in eastern China has experienced a multi-stage tectonic evolution history. The major structures were created when the basin was a foreland basin during the Mesozoic. However the geological evolution of the basin has not yet been corroborated by direct evidence from the underlying basement rocks. Qianliyan Island in the southern Yellow Sea provides an opportunity to study the formation and evolution of the basin by means of direct geochronological and geochemical evidence. On Qianliyan Island, basement rocks are exposed that consist of granitic gneiss, felsic gneiss and minor mylonite, and lenses of eclogite. Major and trace element characteristics of these four types of gneiss indicate that they originated from crustal material, varying in composition from pelite to greywacke. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating results of a felsic gneiss sample show that this rock crystallized between 659 and 796 Ma and underwent a metamorphic overprint at 229 ± 4 Ma. This age pattern resembles that of gneisses from the ultra-high-pressure terrain in the Dabie–Sulu belt. We conclude that the study area was part of the northern margin of the Yangtze Block during the Neoproterozoic. Neoproterozoic magmatic activity occurred along this margin and the basement sequence underwent Triassic metamorphic overprint during the northward subduction of the Yangtze Block beneath the North China Block. We further conclude that the deformation associated with this metamorphic event led to the formation of the southern Yellow Sea foreland basin.     

青藏高原拉萨地块北部新元古代中期蛇绿混杂岩带的厘定及其意义

青藏高原南部拉萨地块中分布的中高级变质岩一直被认为是前寒武纪变质基底,但并未获得可靠的年代学证据,对其岩石成因及构造属性也缺乏系统的研究工作,严重制约了对拉萨地块早期构造演化的进一步研究.本文以拉萨地块北部永珠地区念青唐古拉岩群中的正变质岩系及深熔作用成因的长英质脉体为研究对象,进行了系统的岩石学、地球化学及同位素年代学研究.地球化学研究结果表明,永珠地区念青唐古拉岩群中正变质岩系的原岩为一套E-MORB型蛇绿岩、剪切型大洋斜长花岗岩和岛弧岩浆岩组合,深熔脉体则具有典型埃达克岩的特征,暗示高压条件下镁铁质岩石部分熔融的成因;LA-ICP-MS定年结果进一步表明,洋壳的形成时代为758Ma,与Rodinia超大陆裂解时期相一致,可能是在这一期全球性裂解事件中新生的新元古代洋盆记录;在洋壳的运移和进一步的演化过程中形成了730Ma的剪切型大洋斜长花岗岩和742Ma的岛弧岩浆岩;变质锆石定年结果表明大洋可能最终在666Ma的碰撞造山作用中闭合,并在造山带垮塌初期或高压变质岩系折返过程中,由于减压熔融,形成一期660Ma深熔脉体.本文的研究证明了拉萨地块前寒武纪变质基底的存在,首次获得了精确的新元古代变质及深熔作用年龄,填补了拉萨地块早期构造演化的空白,为进一步探讨拉萨地块起源,恢复其在超大陆的汇聚及裂解事件中古地理位置提供了重要的资料.     

Re–Os isotope evidence for mixed source components in carbonate-replacement Pb–Zn–Ag deposits in the Lavrion district,Attica, Greece

The Lavrion ore district contains carbonate-replacement and vein-type Pb–Zn–Ag deposits as well as low-grade porphyry Mo, Cu–Fe skarn, and minor breccia-hosted Pb–Zn–Cu sulfide mineralization. These ore types are spatially related to a Late Miocene granodiorite intrusion (7 to 10 Ma), and various sills and dikes of mafic to felsic composition. Samples of sphalerite and pyrite from the Ilarion carbonate replacement deposit, and galena from Vein 80 (vein-type mineralization) in the Adami deposit show heterogeneous Re–Os values. These values were partially disturbed by hydrothermal activity associated with the formation of hydrothermal veins (e.g., Vein 80). A plot of initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os versus 1/Os_common ratios for pyrite and sphalerite from the Ilarion deposit form a mixing line (r²?=?0.78) between high concentration crustal-like and low concentration mantle-like end-members, or two crustal end-members one of which was more radiogenic than the other. Based on the Re–Os systematics and previously published geological and geochemical evidence, the most plausible explanation for the Re–Os isotope data is that ore-forming components were derived from mixed sources, one of which was a radiogenic crustal source from schists and carbonates probably near intrusion centers and the other, intrusive rocks in the district that are less radiogenic. Although the Re and Os concentrations of galena from Vein 80 are above background values they cannot be used as a chronometer. However, the results of the current study suggest that although pyrite, sphalerite, and galena are poor geochronometers in this ore deposit, due to partial open-system behavior, they still yield valuable information on the origin of the source rocks in the formation of bedded replacement and vein mineralization in the Lavrion district.     

丹凤地区秦岭岩群片麻岩锆石U-Pb年龄:北秦岭地体中-新元古代岩浆作用和早古生代变质作用的记录

秦岭岩群被认为是出露于北秦岭地体内最古老的前寒武纪基底岩石,记录了北秦岭造山带的地壳形成和演化历史。本文报道丹凤-西峡地区五件秦岭岩群片麻岩锆石U-Pb年龄结果,限定其形成和变质时代,探讨北秦岭地体的构造归属。定年结果表明,岩浆成因锆石颗粒的年龄集中在1400～1600Ma左右和850～950Ma左右,记录两期主要岩浆活动。6粒锆石具有变质成因特征,低Th/U比值(0.03),206Pb/238U年龄变化在510～465Ma之间,加权平均值477±18Ma。这一古生代变质叠加时代与北秦岭地体南北缘高压变质作用时代基本一致,说明秦岭岩群遭受到北秦岭造山带俯冲-碰撞造山过程的变质作用。秦岭岩群主要形成于中元古代晚期至新元古代早期,基底岩石缺乏早元古代和太古代岩浆活动的记录。在岩浆作用时代上,北秦岭地体与广泛发育新元古代中-晚期岩浆作用的扬子陆块北缘有差别,也不同于晚太古代-早元古代的华北陆块南缘,可能是中-新元古代形成的独立微陆块。     

Synvolcanic mixing of ore lead and the development of lead isotopic provinces in the Skellefte district,Sweden

Ore lead isotope ratios have been analysed in galenas and sulphosalts from nineteen massive sulphide deposits hosted by Svecofennian (1.9 Ga) supracrustals in the Skellefte ore district, northern Sweden. The ore lead data can be grouped on the basis of their geographical distribution. Most probably, this feature is reflecting a number of lead isotopic provinces which correspond to crustal blocks. The obtained ore lead data define linear trends in conventional Pb-Pb plots. The ore lead signatures are due to synvolcanic mixing processes as lead was leached from mafic and acid volcanic sources. The relationships inferred for initial ratios in source rocks at 1.89 Ga require a pre-Svecofennian crustal history. It is suggested that magmatic processes at c. 2.0 Ga involved recycling of Archean sedimentary material into the mantle and the formation of a crystalline, felsic basement. The metasomatized mantle and the basement melted at the time of Svecofennian magmatism (1.89 Ga) which created mafic and acid magma sources. Subsequently, basalts and rhyolites were extruded onto the sea floor. Ore was formed as hot solutions penetrated isotopically different levels of the volcanic pile.     

Paleozoic evolution of continental crust in the Beaujolais-Lyonnais area,northeastern part of the Massif Central,France

In the Beaujolais-Lyonnais area of the northeastern Massif Central accretion of continental and possibly oceanic crustal fragments occurred between Cambrian (?) and early Carboniferous time. Three distinct lithotectonic units (terranes?) have been recognized. The southern (Lyonnais-) Unit consists of medium- to high-grade metamorphics and includes eclogites; it formed in the early Paleozoic. The Brévenne-Unit to the north contains low- to medium-grade metamorphic mafic and felsic volcanics and subordinate sedimentary rocks which possibly originated during the early Paleozoic until Devonian time, in a sialic back-arc environment or along an active continental margin. The Beaujolais-Unit is represented by volcanics on the south and predominantly shallow marine clastics and carbonates on the north. It developed in a late Devonian or early Carboniferous ensialic marginal basin. The peak of metamorphism in the Lyonnais-unit (HP/HT) was reached in Silurian time. Subsequent NW-SE to E-W oriented convergence produced mylonitic foliation, structural imbrication of the Lyonnais basement rocks with the Brévenne-Unit and SE-vergent folds accompanied by low- to medium-grade metamorphism. Late Visean to Namurian N-S to NW-SE directed N-vergent thrusting produced tectonic imbrication of the metamorphic northern Brévenne-Unit with the nonmetamorphic Beaujolais-Unit. In the southern Brévenne-Unit and in the Lyonnais-Unit updoming along right-lateral high-angle normal faults was followed by emplacement of voluminous granitic plutons of crustal origin. Late Carboniferous to early Permian crustal thinning in the Beaujolais-Lyonnais area was associated with N-S trending left-lateral strike-slip faults and E-W to NE-SW trending right-lateral strike-slip faults. Basins that developed along these faults contain continental red beds.     

Zircon evaporation ages and geochemistry of metamorphosed volcanic rocks from the Vinjamuru domain,Krishna Province: evidence for 1.78 Ga convergent tectonics along the southeastern margin of the Eastern Dharwar Craton

Palaeoproterozoic intermediate to potassic felsic volcanism in volcano‐sedimentary sequences could either have occurred in continental rift or at convergent magmatic arc tectonic settings. The Vinjamuru domain of the Krishna Province in Andhra Pradesh, SE India, contains such felsic and intermediate metavolcanic rocks, whose geochemistry constrains their probable tectonic setting and which were dated by the zircon Pb evaporation method in order to constrain their time of formation. These rocks consist of interlayered quartz–garnet–biotite schist, quartz–hematite–baryte–sericite schist as well as cherty quartzite, and represent a calc‐alkaline volcanic sequence of andesitic to rhyolitic rocks that underwent amphibolite‐facies metamorphism at ~1.61 Ga. Zircons from four felsic metavolcanic rock samples yielded youngest mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 1771 and 1791 Ma, whereas the youngest zircon age for a meta‐andesite is 1868 Ma. A ~2.43 Ga zircon xenocryst reflects incorporation of Neoarchaean basement gneisses. Their calc‐alkaline trends, higher LILE, enriched chondrite‐normalized LREE pattern and negative Nb and Ti anomalies on primitive mantle‐normalized diagrams, suggest formation in a continental magmatic arc tectonic setting. Whereas the intermediate rocks may have been derived from mantle‐source parental arc magmas by fractionation and crustal contamination, the rhyolitic rocks had crustal parental magmas. The Vinjamuru Palaeoproterozoic volcanic eruption implies an event of convergent tectonism at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Dharwar Craton at ~1.78 Ga forming one of the major crustal domains of the Krishna Province. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The offshore basement of Perú: Evidence for different igneous and metamorphic domains in the forearc

As a result of new studies carried out in the offshore of Perú during the exploration and hydrocarbon evaluation of the forearc basins, new U–Pb SHRIMP and TIMS in zircons and some Ar–Ar data were obtained in the metamorphic and igneous basement. The understanding of this basement was critical to evaluate different hypotheses that have been proposed for the tectonic evolution of pre-Andean crust of Perú. Recent research performed in the basement rocks of the Marañón Massif in northern Perú, claimed that west of this area was a basement-free region in the Paleozoic, where the arc and forearc were developed in a mafic quasi-oceanic crust. However, petrographic studies and new preliminary ages indicate, for the first time, the nature and age of this sialic basement. Reconnaissance studies were performed in several offshore islands, as the Las Hormigas de Afuera Island west of Lima, and Macabí and Lobera islands along the edge of the continental platform. These data were complemented with the studies of some cutting samples obtained in recent exploration wells in northern Perú. The results of the present work show two large crustal domains in the Peruvian offshore forearc. A northern domain contains late Paleozoic igneous rocks that appear to be the southern offshore continuation of the Amotape–Tahuin block, which is interpreted as the southernmost remnant of the Laurentia Alleghenian orogen. The central offshore domain, known as the Paracas High, corresponds to the outer shelf high of previous studies. It contains orthogneisses of Grenville-age, probably recrystallized during an Ordovician magmatic episode. The new results show that the central offshore of Perú is an extension of the Grenville-age basement affected by Famatinian, early Paleozoic magmatism, well exposed in the southern domain in the Arequipa Massif along the coast of southern Perú.     

安徽的地壳演化:Sr,Nd同位素证据

在地壳(幔)演化和板块构遣的框架内，评述了有关安徽南部(扬子地块东部，包括大别遣山带和江南遣山带)的同位素地质年代学和Nd，Sr同位素地球化学示踪研究的成果。该地区出露地表的中元古界溪口群浅变质岩代表皖南的基底，沿江地区和大别山区的基底包舍太古宇或／和古元古界古老岩石。此格局还影响到从震旦纪到古生代沉积岩的物源区，江南深断裂以北的沉积岩中有古老岩石的贡献，而以南的物源主要来自出露的中元古界岩石。扬子陆块南北缘(大别和江南遣山带)的晋宁期演化可能与罗迪尼亚超大陆演化有密切关系，但有关研究开展很少。三叠纪大陆深俯冲和超高压变质作用研究已成为国际地球科学的热点。晚中生代(120-140Ma)本区发生强烈的岩浆活动，并伴有重要矿床的形成。中酸性岩的形成是一种壳幔物质混合的过程。沿江地区陆下地幔具有富集特征，为扬子型岩石圈地幔与软流圈地幔混合的产物。从晚中生代到第四纪，基性岩指示其源区的地球化学性质有随时间变得越来越亏损的趋势。     

湘中盆地基底的时代格架:来自锡矿山碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄的证据

湘中盆地中部锡矿山晚古生代沉积地层中含有大量碎屑锆石,U-Pb同位素年龄显示这些锆石形成于3400~350Ma。在年龄谱系图上它们呈多个时间区段分布,反映出湘中地区对华南大陆所经历的印支运动之前的各期重要构造变革均有物质响应。根据不同时段锆石年龄范围,结合区域构造演化特征,厘定出湘中盆地的垂向物质组合从下向上主要包括:结晶基底(1.9Ga)、变质基底(1.9~0.54Ga)、微(或未)变质基底(0.54~0.41Ga)以及表层的沉积盖层(0.41Ga),并根据不同层锆石的年龄组合特征,以及岩层发育过程中对应的构造事件,对盆地基底-盖层框架中各物质层的形成环境进行了阐述。此外,通过对比煌斑岩与其围岩锆石的U-Pb年龄结构,结合野外地质特征以及前人的研究结果,得出该煌斑岩中锆石是熔体形成期间残留的锆石,而非其上升过程中捕获自围岩。由这些锆石大多形成于840~700Ma断定,锡矿山煌斑岩主要的物质来源是盆地的中上部变质基底,明确了煌斑岩熔体及与之相关流体获取物质补充的层位在基底-盖层框架中的位置。这些工作可为进一步探讨超大型Sb成矿作用与岩浆作用的耦合关系提供理论基础。     

The Late Paleoproterozoic Orogeny in the North China Craton

Granulite TTG and khondalite formations are the two typical types of Precambrian metamorphic basement in the North China Craton. The former belongs to the basement of the Archean craton, while the latter is a Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rock series. The formation of the TTG rock series took place during the period of 2500 to 2450 Ma, near the end of the Archean, and it has undergone multiple times of metamorphism. The cooling rate of the TTG lower crust is quite low (less than 0.3°/Ma), developed during slow crustal cooling in a rather stable tectonic environment. The khondalite rock series underwent amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism that is isotopically constrained to 2000 to 1800 Ma followed by fast crustal cooling from 2.4° to 3.4°/Ma. Based on the thermal and dynamic features of different types of metamorphic rocks, the tectonic state of the crust, and the obvious change of crustal cooling rate from Neo-Archean to Paleoproterozoic, it is clear that continental orogeny existed in the North China craton between 2000 Ma and 1800 Ma.     

The Whole‐Rock Geochemical Composition of the Wudaogou Group in Eastern Yanbian,NE China–New Clues to Its Relationship with the Gold and Tungsten Mineralization and the Evolution of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean

The late Paleozoic Wudaogou Group, one of the oldest metamorphic units in the eastern Yanbian area, has important tectonic and metallogenic significance. Here, we provide new insights into their protoliths, tectonic setting of the metamorphic rocks and their relationships with the gold and tungsten mineralization, using new petrographic and whole‐rock geochemical data for various lithologies within the Wudaogou Group. The protolith of the metamorphic rocks of the Wudaogou Group was intermediate–basic volcanic rocks (e.g. basaltic andesite, trachyandesite, and basalt) and sedimentary rocks including argillaceous rocks, quartz sandstone, arkose and clayish greywacke, as well as pyroclastic sedimentary rock, covering tuffaceous sandstone. Before undergoing late Paleozoic epidote–amphibolite facies regional metamorphism, these protoliths were formed during the middle–late Permian in an island arc setting within a continental margin collage zone. Combined with the regional tectonic evolution, it can be speculated that the formation and the subsequent metamorphism of the protoliths of the metamorphic rocks from the Wudaogou Group were influenced by the change from subduction to collision of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean. Similarities of the rare earth element (REE) patterns and parameters among the metamorphic rocks within the Wudaogou Group, auriferous ores from the Xiaoxi'nancha gold (copper) deposit, and scheelites from the Yangjingou tungsten deposit, together with the favorable metallogenic element contents within the metamorphic rock series, imply that the Wudaogou Group could provide parts of metallic material for the gold and tungsten mineralization in the eastern Yanbian area, as exemplified by the Yangjingou deposit and Xiaoxi'nancha deposit, respectively. Further, the metamorphic sedimentary rocks, especially the metamorphic sandstones, quartz schists and quartz mica schists within the Wudaogou Group, have closer genetic relationships with the Yangjingou tungsten mineralization. However, the specific lithologies within this group which control the gold mineralization are still uncertain, and need further research.     

康定杂岩Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素系统及其意义

通过对康定—冕宁地区出露的英云闪长岩、黑云角闪斜长片麻岩、角闪变粒岩全岩及其中所分离出的角闪石、黑云母、斜长石、钾长石的Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素的系统测定,结合岩石的锆石U-Pb年龄结果,确定这些变质杂岩由于经历了复杂的形成过程与变质历史,Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd同位素体系难以确定其结晶年龄。由单矿物与全岩Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd体系拟合的~700 M a的等时线年龄反映了角闪岩相-高角闪岩相的变质作用年龄。Sm-Nd同位素体系由于在变质作用过程中的部分开放性,很容易给出无意义的较老的混合年龄。康定杂岩结晶后并没有经历麻粒岩相变质作用,区域上所含的麻粒岩透镜体可能是新元古代(773~721 M a)期间由Rod in ia超大陆裂解产生的新生洋壳向扬子克拉通陆块俯冲消减过程的变质产物。俯冲到一定深度后,由于板片被拉断,软流圈上涌导致变质洋壳板片岩石、先前底侵变质的镁铁质岩石及扬子陆块长英质基底岩石发生部分熔融,以镁铁质岩石熔融产生的熔浆为主(>70%),与长英质基底岩石熔融产生的熔浆混合形成w(Na2O)/w(K2O)>1的TTG组合。     

Genesis of the Jurassic Carbonate‐Hosted Pb–Zn Deposits of Jebel Ressas (North‐Eastern Tunisia): Evidence from Mineralogy,Petrography and Trace Metal Contents and Isotope (O,C, S,Pb) Geochemistry

The Jebel Ressas Pb–Zn deposits in North‐Eastern Tunisia occur mainly as open‐space fillings (lodes, tectonic breccia cements) in bioclastic limestones of the Upper Jurassic Ressas Formation and along the contact of this formation with Triassic rocks. The galena–sphalerite association and their alteration products (cerussite, hemimorphite, hydrozincite) are set within a calcite gangue. The Triassic rocks exhibit enrichments in trace metals, namely Pb, Co and Cd enrichment in clays and Pb, Zn, Cd, Co and Cr enrichment in carbonates, suggesting that the Triassic rocks have interacted with the ore‐bearing fluids associated with the Jebel Ressas Pb–Zn deposits. The δ¹⁸O content of calcite associated with the Pb–Zn mineralization suggests that it is likely to have precipitated from a fluid that was in equilibrium with the Triassic dolostones. The δ³⁴S values in galenas from the Pb–Zn deposits range from ?1.5 to +11.4‰, with an average of 5.9‰ and standard deviation of 3.9‰. These data imply mixing of thermochemically‐reduced heavy sulfur carried in geothermal‐ and fault‐stress‐driven deep‐seated source fluid with bacterially‐reduced light sulfur carried in topography‐driven meteoric fluid. Lead isotope ratios in galenas from the Pb–Zn deposits are homogenous and indicate a single upper crustal source of base‐metals for these deposits. Synthesis of the geochemical data with geological data suggests that the base‐metal mineralization at Jebel Ressas was formed during the Serravallian–Tortonian (or Middle–Late Miocene) Alpine compressional tectonics.     

Origin and interaction of mafic and felsic magmas in an evolving late orogenic setting: the Early Paleozoic Terra Nova Intrusive Complex, Antarctica

The Abbott Unit (∼508 Ma) and the Vegetation Unit (∼475 Ma) of the Terra Nova Intrusive Complex (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica) represent the latest magmatic events related to the Early Paleozoic Ross Orogeny. They show different emplacement styles and depths, ranging from forcible at 0.4–0.5 GPa for the Abbott Unit to passive at ∼0.2 GPa for the Vegetation Unit. Both units consist of mafic, felsic and intermediate facies which collectively define continuous chemical trends. The most mafic rocks from both units show different enrichment in trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic signatures. Once the possible effects of upper crustal assimilation-fractional crystallisation (AFC) and lower crustal coupled AFC and magma refilling processes have been taken into account the following features are recognised: (1) the modelled primary Abbott Unit magma shows a slightly enriched incompatible element distribution, similar to common continental arc basalts and (2) the modelled primary Vegetation Unit magma displays highly enriched isotope ratios and incompatible element patterns. We interpreted these major changes in magmatic affinity and emplacement style as linked to a major change in the tectonic setting affecting melt generation, rise and emplacement of the magmas. The Abbott Unit mafic melts were derived from a mantle wedge above a subduction zone, with subcontinental lithospheric mantle marginally involved in the melting column. The Vegetation Unit mafic melts are regarded as products of a different source involving an old layer of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The crustal evolution of both types of mafic melts is marked by significant compositional contrasts in Sr and Nd isotopes between mafic and associated felsic rocks. The crustal isotope signature showed an increase with felsic character. Geochemical variations for both units can be accounted for by a similar two-stage hybridisation process. In the first stage, the most mafic magma evolved mainly by fractional crystallisation coupled with assimilation of metasedimentary rocks having crustal time-integrated Sr and Nd compositions similar to those of locally exposed metamorphic basement. The second stage involves contaminated products mixing with independently generated crustal melts. Petrographic, geochemical and isotope data also provide evidence of significant compositional differences in the felsic end-members, pointing to the involvement of metaigneous and metasedimentary source rocks for the Abbott granite and Vegetation leucogranite, respectively. Received: 31 March 1998 / Accepted: 3 May 1999     

Petrology of calc-alkaline/adakitic basement hosting A-type Neoproterozoic granites of the Malani igneous suite in Nagar Parkar,SE Sindh,Pakistan

The Nagar Parkar area contains three distinct groups of rocks, from oldest to youngest, (1) basement rocks ranging in composition from mafic to (quartz)diorite, tonalite, granite, and younger granodiorite, (2) granite plutons similar in general features to those of the Malani Igneous Suite of Rajasthan, and (3) abundant mafic, felsic and rhyolitic dykes. The basement rocks show strong brittle and local plastic deformation, and epidote amphibolite/upper greenschist facies metamorphic overprint. The chemistry of the basement rocks contrasts the commonly agreed within plate A-type character of the Neoproterozoic granites (group 2) that are emplaced into them. The basement rock association is calc-alkaline; the granodiorite displays the compositional characteristics of adakites, whereas the tonalite has intermediate composition between typical adakite and classical island arc rocks. This paper presents detailed petrography of the basement rocks and compares their geochemistry with those of the group 2 granites as well as with rocks from other tectonic environments. It is proposed that the Nagar Parkar basement is part of a 900–840 Ma magmatic arc that was deformed before it was intruded 800–700 Ma ago by the A-type continental granitic rocks followed by mafic to felsic dykes.     

Galena mineralization in the Orcadian Basin,Scotland: Geological and isotopic evidence for sources of lead

Galena and other sulphides are widespread in the Old Red Sandstone (Devonian) Orcadian Basin. Syndiagenetic occurrences are associated with organic-rich sedimentary rocks, especially algal limestones. Epigenetic galenas are often spatially related to these syndiagenetic occurrences, particularly in the vicinity of Permo-Carboniferous igneous intrusions. Mineralization is concentrated about the granite-gneiss basement inlier in southwest Orkney.Orcadian Basin galenas have lead isotope compositions which show a linear trend related to Lewisian granulite facies metamorphism at about 2,700 Ma. The most radiogenic leads must include a component of average orogene or upper crustal lead. The isotopic compositions are notably similar to those of Caledonian granite feldspar leads measured by Blaxland et al. (1979). Granite was probably a source for lead in galena deposits about the basement in south-west Orkney, but away from the basement an average orogene component would have become increasingly important. There was no major input of magmatic lead to the basin during Permo-Carboniferous times, only a remobilization of existing lead.