Geochemistry of Neogene magmatism at Spitsbergen Island

Petrological and geochemical data obtained on Neogene magmatism restricted to a deep fault in Andree Land at Spitsbergen Island, which was related to the overall restyling of the Arctic territory at 25–20 Ma, indicate that the derivation of the Neogene magmas was significantly affected by the continental pyroxenite mantle. The Neogene basalts are noted for a radiogenic isotopic composition of Pb (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.5–15.55, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.4–18.6, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴ Pb = 38.4–38.6) and Sr(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7038–0.7048) at low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.5129. Melts of this type are the extremely enriched end member of the isotopic mixing of a depleted and enriched sources and determine a geochemical trend that passes through the compositions of alkaline magmas from Quaternary volcanoes at Spitsbergen and weakly enriched tholeiites of the Knipovich Ridge, which started to develop simultaneously with the onset of Neogene magmatism in the western part of Spitsbergen. The composition of the liquidus olivine (which is rich in NiO) indicates that melting occurred in the olivine-free mantle. Our data thus testify that a significant role in the genesis of the Neogene magmas was played by continental pyroxenite mantle.     

New data on basaltoid magmatism of western Spitsbergen

Doklady Earth Sciences - New data on studies of the chemical composition of basaltoids of western Spitsbergen for the purposes of their comparison with the investigated magmatic rocks of the Franz...     

Late Quaternary glacial episodes in the Hornsund Region of Spitsbergen

On the basis of field and laboratory studies supported by thermoluminescence dates, an occurrence of marine and glacial sediments is described from South Spitsbergen. These deposits are thought to date from the Holsteinian interglacial and the Saalian glacial stages respectively. In addition, the evidence and extent of Vistulian and Holoccne glacial advances in South Spitsbergen are presented. These advances occurred at 50,000–43,000, 30,000–10,000, 3,000–2,500 and 600–100 years B.P. The latter have been tentatively correlated with those recorded in other parts of Svalbard, as well as in East Greenland, the Barents Sea, Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea, North Poland and the Russian Plain.     

Permian-Triassic trap magmatism in Bel'kov Island (New Siberian Islands)

The study was inspired by information on Paleozoic andesites, dacites, and diabases in Bel'kov Island in the 1974 geological survey reports used to reconstruct the tectonic evolution of the continental block comprising the New Siberian Islands and the bordering shelf. We did not find felsic volcanics or Middle Paleozoic intrusions in the studied area of the island. The igneous rocks are mafic subvolcanic intrusions, including dikes, randomly shaped bodies, explosion breccias, and peperites. They belong to the tholeiitic series and are similar to Siberian traps in petrography and trace-element compositions, with high LREE and LILE and prominent Nb negative anomalies. The island arc affinity is due to continental crust contamination of mantle magma and its long evolution in chambers at different depths. The 252±5 Ma K-Ar biotite age of magmatism indicates that it was coeval to the main stage of trap magmatism in the Siberian craton at the Permian-Triassic boundary. The terrane including the New Siberian Islands occurred on the periphery of the Siberian trap province where magmatism acted in a rifting environment. Magma intruded semiliquid wet sediments at shallow depths, shortly after their deposition. Therefore, the exposed Paleozoic section in Bel’kov Island may include Permian or possibly Lower Triassic sediments, of younger ages than it was believed earlier.     

The Late Quaternary vegetational and climatic history of Easter Island

Easter Island occupies an exceptionally isolated position in the south Pacific Ocean. It is entirely volcanic, and is famous for its giant statues. Late Quaternary sediments have been investigated in three craters: Rano Raraku, Rano Aroi and Rano Kao, giving a continuous record over the past 30 Ka. Pollen records indicate that the island was formerly forested. Palynological and sedimentological evidence suggests a Late Pleistocene climate slightly cooler and drier than the present. Deforestation by people occurred mainly between 1200 and 800 yr BP. This may have led to an ecological disaster and to the decline of the megalithic civilization. The depauperation of the present native flora owes more to human activity than to isolation.     

Quaternary sea-level events on northern San Clemente Island, California

Global sea-level changes are expressed in the coastal landforms and deposits of northern San Clemente Island. Stratigraphic, radiometric, amino acid, and pedologic dating techniques have allowed the development of a chronology of sea-level changes for about the last 500,000 yr. A uranium-series date on coral of about 127,000 yr for the 2nd terrace serves as a calibration point for amino acid age estimates of four other mapped terraces. Two of these terraces have age estimates of about 80,000–105,000 yr, another has an age estimate of about 127,000 yr, and the 5th terrace on the west side of the island is estimated to be about 415,000–575,000 yr old. These dates correlate reasonably well with marine terraces dated elsewhere and with stages of the oxygen-isotope record that are thought to represent high stands of the sea. Weakly cemented calcareous dune sands (eolianites) are moderately extensive on northern San Clemente Island and appear to represent low stands of the sea, since calcareous shelf sands were the most likely source. A radiocarbon date of about 22,000 yr suggests that the youngest eolianite was deposited during the last glacial maximum. An older eolianite is estimated to be about 140,000–195,000 yr old based on stratigraphic relations and degree of soil development. The suggested ages for the eolianites also correlate well with oxygen-isotope estimates of low sea levels.     

Conditions of formation of igneous rocks in plume magmatism at the example of the western slope of the Southern Urals

This work presents new data on the conditions of formation of igneous rocks on the western slope of the Southern Urals and the adjacent part of the East European Platform. Based on the calculated P–T melting parameters of the mantle substrate, it is shown that plume magmatism leads to the formation of similar rocks (picrites and picrite-dolerites), while the genesis of them is quite different. The first type of rocks is a product of crystallization of the undifferentiated mantle-derived melt in the upper horizons of the crust; the rocks of the second type are formed as a result of magma differentiation in large intracrustal magma chambers.     

海南岛第四纪古生物及其生态环境演变

海南岛与大陆有过连、断、再连、再断的地史变化,使本岛的生物群及其生态环境与华南大陆既有一定的关联性,又有一定的差异性。海南岛现代生物多样性直接继承和发展了新生代,尤其是第四纪全新世早期的生物类群,其组成成分与现代基本一致。由于海南岛处于低纬度地区,受第四纪冰期影响较小,一些古老的植物和动物能得以保存下来,特别是到了全新世早期,全球性气候转温,本岛动、植物区系尤其兴盛发达。三亚落笔洞是本岛迄今最早一处的人类活动文化遗址,本岛最早的先住民--“三亚人”是古越族的一支,他们的到来和繁衍以及后来的移民使本岛生物及其生态环境发生了较大的变化。     

Using Hydrogeochemical Methods To Evaluate Complex Quaternary Subsurface Stratigraphy Block Island,Rhode Island,USA

One of the major problems in hydrogeologic investigations of glaciated regions is the determination of complex stratigraphic relationships in the subsurface where insufficient information is available from drilling and geophysical records. In this paper, chemical characteristics of groundwater were used to identify stratigraphic changes in glacial deposits that were previously inferred on Block Island, Rhode Island, USA, an emergent remnant of the late Wisconsinan terminal moraine, located approximately 16 km south of the Rhode Island mainland. Two chemically distinct water types are recognized on the island: 1) high-iron, characterized by dissolved silica levels in excess of 20 mg/L, bicarbonate greater than 30 mg/L and dissolved iron ranging from 1-20 mg/L; and 2) low-iron, characterized by dissolved silica levels below 16 mg/L, bicarbonate less than 30 mg/L, and less than 0.3 mg/L dissolved iron. The spatial distribution of iron-bearing minerals and organic matter and the resulting redox conditions are believed to control the occurrence of high-iron groundwater. The high-iron waters occur almost exclusively in the eastern half of the island and appear to coincidence with the presence of allochthonous blocks of Cretaceous-age coastal-plain sediments that were incorporated into Pleistocene-age deposits derived from the Narragansett Bay-Buzzard's Bay lobe of the Late Wisconsinan Laurentide ice sheet. The low-iron waters occur in the western half of the island, where the occurrence of these Cretaceous-age blocks is rare and the sediments are attributed to a sublobe of the Hudson-Champlain lobe of the Late Wisconsinan ice-sheet. RÉSUMÉ: L'un des principaux problèmes dans les études hydrogeologiques des régions qui ont été englacées est la définition des relations stratigraphiques complexes sous la surface, lá où les informations fournies par les forages et par la géophysique sont insuffisantes. Dans l'exemple traité, les caractéristiques chimiques de l'eau souterraine sont utilisées pour identifier les variations stratigraphiques dans les dépôts glaciaires qui avaient auparavant été supposées, sur l'île de Block (Rhode Island), restes émergeant d'une moraine terminale du Wisconsinien récent, situé à environ 16 km au sud de Rhode Island. Deux types d'eau chimiquement distincts ont été reconnus dans l'île: 1) à fortes teneurs en fer, caractérisées par des concentrations en silice supérieures à 20 mg/L, en bicarbonates supérieures à 30 mg/L et en fer comprises entre 1 et 20 mg/L; et 2) à faibles teneurs en fer, marquées par des concentrations en silice inférieures à 16 mg/L, en bicarbonate inférieures à 30 mg/L et en fer dissous inférieures à 0.3 mg/L. La distribution spatiale des minéraux riches en fer et de la matière organique et les conditions redox résultantes contrôlent probablement la présence de fer dans les eaux souterraines à fortes concentrations. Les eaux à fortes teneurs en fer sont connues presque exclusivement dans la moitié orientale de l'île et semblent coïncider avec la présence de blocs allochtones provenant des sédiments côtiers crétacés, introduits dans les formations pléistocènes liées au lobe glaciaire des baies de Narragansett et du Busard de la calotte glaciaire laurentide du Wisconsinien récent. Les eaux à faibles teneurs en fer apparaissent dans la moitié occidentale de l'île, là où ces blocs de Crétacé sont rares et où les sédiments sont attrbués à une digitation du lobe de l'Hudson-Champlain de la calotte glaciaire du Wisconsinien récent. RESUMEN: Uno de los mayores problemas en la investigación hidrogeológica en regiones glaciares es la determinación de las complejas relaciones estratigráficas en el subsuelo, donde la información procedente de registros de perforaciones y de geofísica no es suficiente. En este artículo, se han usado las características químicas del agua subterránea para identificar unos cambios estratigráficos que se habían predicho previamente en unos depósitos glaciares en Block Island, Rhode Island (Estados Unidos), un remanente emergente de la morrena terminal del Winsconsiniense tardío, situada unos 16 km al sur de la Rhode Island continental. En la isla se encuentran dos tipos de agua distintos: 1) de alto contenido en hierro, caracterizada por niveles de sílice disuelto superando los 20 mg/L, bicarbonatos por encima de 30 mg/L y hierro disuelto oscilando entre 1-20 mg/L; y 2) de bajo contenido en hierro, caracterizada por niveles de sílice disuelto inferiores a 16 mg/L, bicarbonatos por debajo de 30 mg/L y menos de 0.3 mg/L de hierro disuelto. La distribución espacial de los minerales ricos en hierro y de la materia orgánica, así como las condiciones redox resultantes se supone que condicionan la presencia de aguas de alto contenido en hierro. Estas aguas aparecen casi exclusivamente en la mitad oriental de la isla y parecen coincidir con la presencia de bloques alóctonos de sedimentos costeros, de edad cretácica, que se incorporaron a los depósitos de edad pleistocena procedentes del lóbulo de la Bahía de Narragansett-Bahía de Buzzard, correspondiente a la capa glaciar del Winsconsiniense-Lauréntido tardío. Las aguas de bajo contenido en hierro aparecen en la mitad occidental de la isla, donde la presencia de estos sedimentos de edad cretácica es rara y los sedimentos se suponen procedentes de un sublóbulo del lóbulo de Hudson-Camplain, correspondiente a la capa glaciar del Winsconsiniense tardío.     

Thermal and redox equilibrium conditions of the upper-mantle xenoliths from the Quaternary volcanoes of NW Spitsbergen,Svalbard Archipelago

Upper-mantle xenoliths in Cenozoic basalts of northwestern Spitsbergen are rocks of peridotite (spinel lherzolites) and pyroxenite (amphibole-containing garnet and garnet-free clinopyroxenites, garnet clinopyroxenites, and garnet and garnet-free websterites) series. The upper-mantle section in the depth range 50–100 km is composed of spinel peridotites; at depths of 80–100 km pyroxenites (probably, dikes or sills) appear. The equilibrium conditions of parageneses are as follows: in the peridotites—730–1180 °C, 13–27 kbar, and oxygen fugacity of − 1.5 to + 0.3 log. un.; in the pyroxenites—1100–1310 °C, 22–33 kbar. The pyroxenite minerals have been found to contain exsolved structures, such as orthopyroxene lamellae in clinopyroxene and, vice versa, clinopyroxene lamella in orthopyroxene. The formation temperatures of unexsolved phases in orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene are nearly 100–150 °C higher than the temperatures of the lamellae–matrix equilibrium and the equilibrium of minerals in the rock. The normal distribution of cations in the spinel structure and the equilibrium distribution of Fe^2 + between the M1 and M2 sublattices in the orthopyroxenes point to the high rate of xenolith ascent from the rock crystallization zone to the surface. All studied Spitsbergen rock-forming minerals from mantle xenoliths contain volatiles in their structure: OH⁻, crystal hydrate water H₂O_cryst, and molecules with characteristic CH and CO groups. The first two components are predominant, and the total content of water (OH– + H₂O_cryst) increases in the series olivine → garnet → orthopyroxene → clinopyroxene. The presence of these volatiles in the nominally anhydrous minerals (NAM) crystallized at high temperatures and pressures in the peridotites and pyroxenites testifies to the high strength of the volatile–mineral bond. The possibility of preservation of volatiles is confirmed by the results of comprehensive thermal and mass-spectral analyses of olivines and clinopyroxene, whose structures retain these components up to 1300 °C. The composition of hypothetic C–O–H fluid in equilibrium (in the presence of free carbon) with the underlying mantle rocks varies from aqueous (> 80% H₂O) to aqueous–carbonic (~ 60% H₂O). The fluid becomes essentially aqueous when the oxygen activity in the system decreases. However, there is no strict dependence of the redox conditions on the depth of formation of xenoliths.     

Quaternary and Holocene coastal uplift in Ikaria Island,Aegean Sea

Abstract

Geomorphological, biological and AMS radiocarbon dating provide evidence of an about lm high elevated palaeo-shoreline at the NE coast of Ikaria Island,Aegean Sea, and to a seismic uplift which occurred after AD950-1150 and was probably responsible for damage in an ancient tower. These data are important for several reasons. They provide evidence for a strong earthquake in an island usually assumed aseismic, coastal uplifts and coastal fauna are scarce in this region, while the Late Holocene uplift correlates with a flight of marine terraces of probably Quaternary age, at least up to 40m high. Long-term uplift is not observed at the footwall of a fault bounding a major graben north of Ikaria, it represents a structural puzzle and it may help to shed some light to the evolution of various extensional terranes.     

Neoproterozoic alkaline magmatism at Sivamalai, southern India

The Sivamalai alkaline complex lies at the southern margin of the Cauvery Shear System that separates the Archaean and Proterozoic domains of the Southern Granulite Terrain in India. U–Pb TIMS dating of zircon from a pegmatitic syenite sample in the complex yields a concordant age of 590.2 ± 1.3 (2σ) Ma which is interpreted to date the intrusion of the alkaline rocks. A lower concordia intercept at 168 ± 210 Ma defined by two grains with high common lead may indicate post-magmatic disturbances due to recrystallisation which is also evident in the CL images of the zircons. EPMA dating of monazite from a post-kinematic pegmatite which intrudes the crystalline basement hosting the alkaline rocks yields an age of 478 ± 29 (2σ) Ma and provides a lower bracket for the main phase of tectonism in this part of the Southern Granulite Terrain. The Pan-African high-grade metamorphism and ductile deformation has thus most likely affected the alkaline rocks. This is supported by the presence of a metamorphic foliation and extensive recrystallisation textures seen in the rocks. The major and trace element concentrations measured on selected samples reveals the presence of both enriched and depleted rock types. The enriched group includes ferrosyenite and nepheline syenite while the depleted group has only nepheline syenites. The trace element depletion of some nepheline syenites is interpreted to be a result of fractional crystallization involving the removal of accessory phases like zircon, titanite, apatite and allanite.     

Quaternary marine terraces on Sal Island (Cape Verde archipelago)

The Quaternary sedimentary record of Sal Island includes marine and related aeolian and alluvial fan deposits. The substratum of the island is volcanic, with ages between 25 and 0.6 Ma. Quaternary marine units generally occur as raised marine terraces forming a broad staircase between elevations of 55–60 m and present sea level. Terraces include a basal conglomerate overlaid by calcarenite; both host corals, algae and molluscs.A chronostratigraphic framework for the Middle Pleistocene to Holocene units has been generated based on a geomorphologic map of the Quaternary landforms and associated deposits and morphosedimentary analysis, with support of laboratory dating: U-series by TIMS in corals, ¹⁴C analyses, palaeomagnetic measurements, and K/Ar ages from other literature. U-series dating of corals from marine terraces provides benchmarks for the Last Interglacial (Oxygen Isotope Substage 5e) and Holocene deposits. The present elevation of the marine terraces and their staircase arrangement suggest a change in vertical movement trend around 330 ka from an uplift to either subsidence or stabilization.     

琼北地区第四纪火山地质遗迹类型与地学意义

琼北火山群是雷琼火山群的重要组成部分,也是探索我国东南沿海新生代以来构造演化以及玄武质岩浆活动过程的重要窗口.该区第四纪火山主要沿NW向的长流—仙沟断裂集中分布.研究区内火山地质遗迹类型丰富且典型,火山机构完整、保存程度高,火山喷发方式多样.本文在地质遗迹调查与评价基础上,将该区火山地质遗迹及相关资源分为6个大类、4个类、14个亚类及39个小类,并将之与我国典型的新生代火山地质遗迹进行对比分析,突出其火山地质及相关资源方面的优势,重点指出琼北地区第四纪火山的地学研究意义.     

Quaternary aminostratigraphy of eolianite on Lord Howe Island,Southwest Pacific Ocean

Amino acid racemization (AAR) dating of the eolianite on Lord Howe Island is used to correlate several disparate successions and provides a geochronological framework that ranges from Holocene to Middle Pleistocene time. The reliability of the AAR data is assessed by analysing multiple samples from individual lithostratigraphic units, checking the stratigraphic order of the D/L ratios and the consistency of the relative extents of racemization for a suite of seven amino acids. Three aminozones are defined on the basis of the extent of racemization of amino acids in land snails (Placostylus bivaricosus) and ‘whole-rock’ eolianite samples. Aminozone A includes Placostylus from modern soil horizons (e.g. mean D/L-leucine ratio of 0.03±0.01) and whole-rock samples from unconsolidated lagoonal and beach deposits (0.10±0.01–0.07±0.03). Aminozone B includes Placostylus (0.45±0.03) and whole-rock samples from beach (0.48±0.01) and dune (0.45±0.02–0.30±0.02) units of the Neds Beach Formation, deposited during OIS 5. The oldest, Aminozone C, comprises Placostylus recovered from paleosols (0.76±0.02) and whole-rock eolianite samples (0.62±0.00) from the Searles Point Formation, which indicate the formation was likely deposited over several Oxygen Isotope Stages (OIS), during and prior to OIS 7. These data support independent lithostratigraphic interpretations and are in broad agreement with U/Th ages of speleothems from the Searles Point Formation and corals from the Neds Beach Formation, and with several TL ages of dune units in both formations. The AAR data reveal that eolianite deposition extends over a significantly longer time interval than previously appreciated and indicate that the deposition of the large dune units is linked to periods of relatively high sea level.     

Sericitic alteration at the La Crocetta deposit (Elba Island,Italy): interplay between magmatism,tectonics and hydrothermal activity

The La Crocetta mine near Porto Azzurro (Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy) is an important producer of raw material for the ceramic industry. Exploitation focuses on a pervasively sericitized porphyritic aplite of the Tuscan Magmatic Province, locally known as "eurite", which underwent significant potassium enrichment during sericitic alteration. Eurites are located along the hanging wall of the Elba Centrale Fault, a low-angle extensional lineament of regional significance. A later carbonatization stage, apparently associated with high-angle extensional tectonics, locally overprinted the sericitized facies. It is expressed by carbonate ± pyrite ± quartz veins, with adverse effects on ore quality. Sericitization was accompanied by addition of potassium, and loss of Na (± Ca, Fe). Rubidium was not enriched along with potassium during sericitization, contrary to what would be expected for interaction with late-magmatic fluids. New ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar data from eurites provide an isochron age of about 6.7 Ma for the sericitization, whereas the age of the unaltered protolith is ca. 8.8 Ma. Field evidence indicates the Elba Centrale Fault to be the main channel for the hydrothermal fluids. On the other hand, the involvement of heat and/or fluids contributed by the Porto Azzurro pluton, which crops out in the La Crocetta area, is ruled out by field, geochemical and geochronological data (⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age of Porto Azzurro =5.9 Ma, i.e. significantly younger than the sericitization event). Fluid inclusion studies suggest that sericitization was associated with a low-temperature (<250 °C) hydrothermal system. Fluids were locally boiling, of variable salinity (4–17 wt% NaCl equiv.), and contained some CO₂ (XCO₂≤0.027). Their ultimate source is not unequivocally constrained; meteoric and/or magmatic contributions may be possible. Low-salinity (≤2.6 wt% NaCl equiv.), low-temperature (<250 °C) fluids are associated with the late carbonate veining. They are considered to be of dominantly meteoric nature because of their low salinity. In summary, sericitization at La Crocetta is regarded as the product of a detachment fault-related, low temperature hydrothermal system, resulting from the structurally controlled focusing of meteoric and possibly magmatic fluids. Hence, potential targets for exploration for similar resources are represented by aplitic bodies located in the hanging wall of Elba Centrale Fault. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00126-002-0279-2.