A hydrothermal investigation of the system FeO, Fe2O3, TiO2

Phase relations in the system FeO---Fe₂O₃---TiO₂, at temperatures ranging between 300°C and 700°C, have been investigated experimentally with special refference to the reaction Fe₃O₄ + TiO₂ = Fe₂O₃ + FeTiO₃. Pressure was varied between 500 and 2000 bars but its effect was negligible. Magnetite and rutile are the stable assemblage at temperatures above 550 dgC, and hematite and ilmenite are stable for lower temperatures. The equilibrium oxygen fugacity is estimated to be 10^−17.5 bars at equilibrium temperature. It is suggested that intermediate hematite-ilmenite solid solutions are inhomogeneous, consisting of ‘domains’ of hematite and ilmenite. The ‘domains’ are too small to be resolved by X-ray diffraction techniques. The top of the solvus curve in the hematite-ilmenite solution corresponds to a temperature of 660°C. Regular solution theory is not applicable to the solid solution.     

Effect of fluid pressure on rock compressive failure in a nearly impermeable crystalline rock: Implication on mechanism of borehole breakouts

We conducted laboratory true triaxial experiments in the nearly impermeable Pohang rhyolite to investigate failure mechanisms under ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ rock conditions. Under ‘dry’ conditions prismatic specimens were jacketed all around to prevent confining fluid penetration. Under ‘wet’ conditions one pair of the specimen faces was left unjacketed and in direct contact with the confining fluid (kerosene) applying the least principal stress in an attempt to simulate the case of an unlined borehole wall. In both testing setups the true triaxial compressive strength for a given least principal stress increases significantly as the intermediate principal stress rises. The unjacketed rhyolite strength is, however, only 60 to 85% of the strength under dry conditions, depending on the magnitude of the intermediate principal stress. In dry rhyolite the failure process begins upon dilatancy onset, followed by microcrack localization, and ending in a steeply dipping shear fracture. On the other hand, brittle fracture in wet specimens occurs almost immediately after the onset of dilatancy by the development of one or more through-going extensile fractures subparallel and adjacent to one of the unjacketed faces, resembling the extensile cracks leading to borehole breakouts in crystalline rocks. We infer that upon dilatancy the confining fluid intrudes and quickly propagates newly opened stress-induced microcracks subparallel to the unjacketed faces, leading to ‘early’ failure.     

Engineering approach to interpretation of oedometer tests performed on collapsible soils

Two mathematical models were selected for describing soil collapsibility. The elastic behavior of quasi-uniform materials was utilized for modeling one-dimensional compression of ‘dry’ soil specimens. Water-saturated soil specimens were modeled as elastic materials where deformation properties ‘improve’ during stress increase. Two simple formulas are offered for the interpretation of the double oedometer tests. The validity of these formulas derived within the common stress domain was demonstrated. The analytical expressions derived from the double oedometer tests may be utilized in the interpretation of the single oedometer tests. The effectiveness of the suggested method in the interpretation of single oedometer test was illustrated using the test results published in the literature.     

Pressure dependence of melt viscosities on the join diopside-albite

The pressure dependence of melt viscosities on the join diopside-albite has been studied using falling-sphere viscometry. The five melt compositions investigated are: diopside, Ab₂₅Di₇₅, Ab₅₀Di₅₀, Ab₇₅Di₂₅ and albite. Experiments were performed at 1500° and 1600°C and at pressures of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kbar. The positive and negative pressure dependence of the viscosity of diopside and albite, respectively, were confirmed. All intermediate compositions show an initial decrease in viscosity with increasing pressure; however, melt of Ab₂₅Di₇₅ composition passes through a minimum viscosity at approximately 12 kbar and 1600°C. This behavior is analogous to the variation in the viscosity of water with pressure at low temperature.

It is suggested that the three-dimensional, fully polymerized, albite structure dominates flow at low pressures. With increasing pressure, disruption of this structure and decrease in the average size of the flow units leads to domination by the diopside structure. The variation in viscosity with composition along the join at one atmosphere can be adequately modelled using the and (1965) configurational entropy model with an additional two-lattice configurational entropy of mixing term. The pressure dependence of viscosity in the diopside-albite system, however, cannot be predicted by the model, because there is an absence of information on the pressure dependence of the model parameters.

It is probable that relatively polymerized magmas (e.g. rhyolites to SiO₂-saturated basalts) show a negative pressure dependence of viscosity to depths where they originate in the lower crust or upper mantle. In contrast, the most depolymerized, naturally-occurring melts, such as strongly SiO₂-undersaturated basalts and picrites, may exhibit a viscosity minimum. The viscosity of these melts may be sufficiently high at depths within the upper mantle to inhibit their segregation, rise and eventual eruption at the surface.     

Comparative petrology of the leucocratic syenites of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland

The normative mineralogy of the Loch Borralan, Loch Ailsh and Loch Loyal leucosyenites is compared to the System Ab – Or – An - Qz. At Borralan, the upper quartz-syenites of Cnoc-na-Sroine plot within the plagioclase volume, the lower perthosites within the alkali feldspar volume. This mineralogy cannot have been attained by in situ crystal fractionation. The Ailsh rocks plot within the plagioclase volume, the Loyal syenites within the alkali feldspar volume. The three complexes cannot have been derived from a single magma body at depth, and are not precisely coeval.     

Melting of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle by the Emeishan mantle plume; evidence from the basal alkaline basalts in Dongchuan, Yunnan, Southwestern China

The Emeishan continental flood basalt (ECFB) sequence in Dongchuan, SW China comprises a basal tephrite unit overlain by an upper tholeiitic basalt unit. The upper basalts have high TiO₂ contents (3.2–5.2 wt.%), relatively high rare-earth element (REE) concentrations (40 to 60 ppm La, 12.5 to 16.5 ppm Sm, and 3 to 4 ppm Yb), moderate Zr/Nb and Nb/La ratios (9.3–10.2 and 0.6–0.9, respectively) and relatively high _{Nd (t)} values, ranging from − 0.94 to 2.3, and are comparable to the high-Ti ECFB elsewhere. The tephrites have relatively high P₂O₅ (1.3–2.0 wt.%), low REE concentrations (e.g., 17 to 23 ppm La, 4 to 5.3 ppm Sm, and 2 to 3 ppm Yb), high Nb/La (2.0–3.9) ratios, low Zr/Nb ratios (2.3–4.2), and extremely low _{Nd (t)} values (mostly ranging from − 10.6 to − 11.1). The distinct compositional differences between the tephrites and the overlying tholeiitic basalts cannot be explained by either fractional crystallization or crustal contamination of a common parental magma. The tholeiitic basalts formed by partial melting of the Emeishan plume head at a depth where garnet was stable, perhaps > 80 km. We propose that the tephrites were derived from magmas formed when the base of the previously metasomatized, volatile-mineral bearing subcontinental lithospheric mantle was heated by the upwelling mantle plume.     

Perspectives on basaltic magma crystallization and differentiation: Lava-lake blocks erupted at Mauna Loa volcano summit, Hawaii

Explosive eruptions at Mauna Loa summit ejected coarse-grained blocks (free of lava coatings) from Moku'aweoweo caldera. Most are gabbronorites and gabbros that have 0–26 vol.% olivine and 1–29 vol.% oikocrystic orthopyroxene. Some blocks are ferrogabbros and diorites with micrographic matrices, and diorite veins (≤ 2 cm) cross-cut some gabbronorites and gabbros. One block is an open-textured dunite.

The MgO of the gabbronorites and gabbros ranges  7–21 wt.%. Those with MgO > 10 wt.% have some incompatible-element abundances (Zr, Y, REE; positive Eu anomalies) lower than those in Mauna Loa lavas of comparable MgO; gabbros (MgO < 10 wt.%) generally overlap lava compositions. Olivines range Fo_83–58, clinopyroxenes have Mg#s  83–62, and orthopyroxene Mg#s are 84–63 — all evolved beyond the mineral-Mg#s of Mauna Loa lavas. Plagioclase is An_75–50. Ferrogabbro and diorite blocks have  3–5 wt.% MgO (TiO₂ 3.2–5.4%; K₂O 0.8–1.3%; La 16–27 ppm), and a diorite vein is the most evolved (SiO₂ 59%, K₂O 1.5%, La 38 ppm). They have clinopyroxene Mg#s 67–46, and plagioclase An_57–40. The open-textured dunite has olivine  Fo_83.5. Seven isotope ratios are ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.70394–0.70374 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0.51293–0.51286, and identify the suite as belonging to the Mauna Loa system.

Gabbronorites and gabbros originated in solidification zones of Moku'aweoweo lava lakes where they acquired orthocumulate textures and incompatible-element depletions. These features suggest deeper and slower cooling lakes than the lava lake paradigm, Kilauea Iki, which is basalt and picrite. Clinopyroxene geobarometry suggests crystallization at < 1 kbar P. Highly evolved mineral Mg#s, < 75, are largely explained by cumulus phases exposed to evolving intercumulus liquids causing compositional ‘shifts.’ Ferrogabbro and diorite represent segregation veins from differentiated intercumulus liquids filter pressed into rigid zones of cooling lakes. Clinopyroxene geobarometry suggests < 300 bar P. Open-textured dunite represents olivine-melt mush, precursor to vertical olivine-rich bodies (as in Kilauea Iki). Its Fo_83.5 identifies the most primitive lake magma as  8.3 wt.% MgO. Mass balancing and MELTS show that such a magma could have yielded both ferrogabbro and diorite by ≥ 50% fractional crystallization, but under different fO₂: < FMQ (250 bar) led to diorite, and FMQ (250 bar) yielded ferrogabbro. These segregation veins, documented as similar to those of Kilauea, testify to appreciable volumes of ‘rhyolitic’ liquid forming in oceanic environments. Namely, SiO₂-rich veins are intrinsic to all shields that reached caldera stage to accommodate various-sized cooling, differentiating lava lakes.     

Analysis of natural and beneficiated ferruginous bauxites by both X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence

The quantitative determination of the main compounds Al (OH)₃ (gibbsite) as Al₂O₃ and hydrated Fe-oxides as Fe₂O₃ in natural and beneficiated ferruginous bauxites (low-grade bauxites) by X-ray diffraction (XRD) is presented employing the external standard method. The calibration parameters for the analysis by XRD were ascertained by using ten synthetic mixtures of the pure oxides Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ which were calcined at 1200°C. The concentration ranges for Fe₂O₃ were 10–70 wt.% and those for alumina 30–90 wt.%. The standard deviation for the calibrations of the two oxides was 3.33 wt.%. The results obtained by XRD for both oxides were compared with those attained by X-ray fluorescence. The precision of the determinations by XRD was ascertained by analysing a natural sample consecutively 5 times. The accuracy was verified by the analysis of two international standard reference materials with low silica contents.     

The redox state of subduction zones: insights from arc-peridotites

Spinel peridotites from a variety of island arcs have been utilised to calculate the redox state of the mantle wedge above subduction zones. Oxygen fugacities (f_O2 values) calculated from the ferric iron content of spinels, measured by Electron Microprobe (EMP) using secondary standards [Wood, B.J., Virgo, D., 1989. Upper mantle oxidation state: ferric iron contents of lherzolite spinels by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and resultant oxygen fugacities. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 53, 1277–1291.], yield values which range from 0.3 to 2.0 above the fayalite–magnetite–quartz (FMQ) buffer. These data provide further evidence that the mantle wedge is ubiquitously oxidised relative to oceanic and ancient cratonic mantle. There is no correlation between f_O2 values and the presence of hydrous phases and, in fact, the most oxidised samples contain no hydrous phases. Within individual suites there is no correlation between f_O2 and degree of depletion as indicated by spinel Cr#, except for a suite of reacted forearc-peridotites. However, when the data is viewed as a whole there is broad a positive correlation between f_O2 and spinel Cr# suggesting that partial melting processes may influence the redox state of the mantle wedge. We suggest that the ultimate source of the oxygen which oxidises the mantle wedge is from the subducted slab. It is not clear whether this oxidising agent is a solute-rich hydrous fluid or a water-bearing silicate melt. However, our data does indicate that silicate melts are effective oxidisers of the depleted shallow upper mantle. Simple mass balance calculations based on the ferric iron content of primitive subduction zone magmas indicates that the source region must contain 0.6–1.0 wt.% Fe₂O₃. This amount of Fe₂O₃ in a fertile spinel peridotite yields an oxygen fugacity of 0.5–1.7 log units above FMQ in the IAB source. If water is the sole oxidising agent in the mantle wedge then 0.030–0.075 wt.% H₂O is required which is considerably less than the 0.25% H₂O envisaged by Stolper and Newman [Stolper, E.M., Newman, S., 1994. The role of water in the petrogenesis of Mariana trough magmas. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 121, 293–325.], suggesting water is not necessarily an efficient oxidising agent. Alternatively, ferric iron may be added to the mantle wedge by addition of a ferric iron-rich sediment melt or more likely as a solute-rich hydrous fluid. This model would produce spinel, orthopyroxene or amphibole in the wedge with only a slight increase in f_O2 of the source region. Although it is unclear which model is correct the maximum f_O2 of the fertile mantle wedge is unlikely to be above FMQ+2 and therefore some decompression melting in the mantle wedge is required to explain the higher f_O2 values of primitive arc lavas than arc-peridotites.     

Spatial, temporal and geochemical characteristics of Silurian collision-zone magmatism, Newfoundland Appalachians: An example of a rapidly evolving magmatic system related to slab break-off

Silurian plutonic suites in the Newfoundland Appalachians include abundant gabbro, monzogabbro and granite to granodiorite and lesser quartz diorite and tonalite. Most are medium- to high-K, but included are some low-K and shoshonitic mafic compositions. Felsic rocks are of both alkaline (A-type or within-plate granite (WPG)) and calc-alkaline volcanic arc granite (VAG) affinity. Mafic rocks include both arc-like (Nb/Th < 3) calc-alkaline and non-arc-like (Nb/Th > 3) transitional calc-alkaline basalt to continental tholeiitic affinity compositions. ε_Nd(T) values range from − 9.6 to + 5.4 and δ¹⁸O (VSMOW) values range from + 3.1 to + 13.2‰.

A rapid progression from exclusively arc-type to non-arc-like mafic and then contemporaneous WPG plus VAG magmatism has been documented using precise U–Pb zircon dating. Earlier arc-like plutonism indicates subduction, while asthenosphere-derived mafic magmas support slab break-off, due to subduction of a young, warm back-arc basin. Contemporaneous mafic magmas with arc and non-arc geochemical signatures may reflect tapping of asthenospheric and subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) sources and/or contamination of asthenosphere-derived magmas by SCLM or crust.

The brevity (< 5 Ma) of the mafic magmatic pulse agrees with the transient nature of magmatism associated with slab break-off. The subsequent ca. 1 to 2 m.y. period of voluminous WPG and VAG plutonism likely reflects mafic magma-driven partial melting of both SCLM and crustal sources, respectively. Continuation of VAG-like magmatism for an additional 2 to 5 m.y. may reflect lower solidus temperatures of crustal materials, enabling anatexis to continue after mantle melting ceased. East to west spatial variation of ε_Nd and (La/Yb)_CN in Silurian plutons suggests a transition from shallow melting of juvenile sources proximal to the collision zone to deeper melting of old source materials in the garnet-stability field further inboard.

Previous work has demonstrated that geochemical discriminaton of post-collisional granitoid magmatism (PCGM) is difficult in the absence of other constraints. Our example should contribute to the understanding and identification of PCGM if it can be employed as a ‘fingerprint’ for slab break-off-related PCGM within the Paleozoic geological record.     

A laser-ablation ICP-MS study of Apollo 15 low-titanium olivine-normative and quartz-normative mare basalts

Apollo 15 low-Ti mare basalts have traditionally been subdivided into olivine- and quartz-normative basalt types, based on their different SiO₂, FeO, and TiO₂ whole-rock compositions. Previous studies have reconciled this compositional diversity by considering the olivine- and quartz-normative basalts as originating from different lunar mantle source regions. To provide new information on the compositions of Apollo 15 low-Ti mare basalt parental magmas, we report a study of major and trace-element compositions of whole rocks, pyroxenes, and other phases in the olivine-normative basalts 15016 and 15555 and quartz-normative basalts 15475 and 15499. Results show similar rare-earth-element patterns in pyroxenes from all four basalts. The estimated equilibrium parental-melt compositions from the trace-element compositions of pyroxenes are similar for 15016, 15555 and 15499. Additionally, an independent set of trace-element distribution coefficients has been determined from measured pyroxene and mesostasis compositions in sample 15499. These data suggest that fractional crystallization may be a viable alternative to compositional differences in the mantle source to explain the 25% difference in whole-rock TiO₂, and corresponding differences in SiO₂ and FeO between the Apollo 15 olivine- and quartz-normative basalts. In this model, the older (3.35 Ga) quartz-normative basalts, with lower TiO₂ experienced olivine, chromite, and Cr-ulvöspinel fractionation at ‘crustal levels’ in magma chambers or dikes, followed by limited near-surface mineral fractionation, within the lava flows. In contrast, the younger (3.25 Ga) olivine-normative basalts experienced only limited magmatic differentiation at ‘crustal-levels’, but extensive near-surface mineral fractionation to produce their evolved mineral compositions. A two-stage mineral-fractionation model is consistent with textural and mineralogical observations, as well as the mineral trace-element constraints developed by this study.     

Petrology of the Hopen mangerite-charnockite intrusion, Lofoten, north Norway

The Hopen massif, intrusive age 1900 m.y., exposed area 15 km², in the Lofoten-Vesterålen granulite facies province has the mineral assemblages: (1) mesoperthite+plagioclase (An_7–20)+quartz+clinopyroxene (Di_20–25)+orthopyroxene En_15–25+opaques±minor amphibole±minor biotite; (2) mesoperthite+plagioclase (An <2)+quartz+clinopyroxene (Di <10)+olivine Fe lt;5)+opaques. By using mineral and whole rock analyses, the crystallization conditions were estimated to be 1000°C, 12 kb load pressure and an oxygen fugacity approximately corresponding to the WM buffer. Rocks with the assemblage of type (2) contain secondary orthoferrosilite (Fe_0.90–0.95Mn_0.04–0.07Mg_0.01Ca_0.01)₂Si₂O₆, generated by reactions involving fayalite, magnetite and quartz at 800°C, 10kb load pressure and at oxygen fugacities approaching QFM buffer conditions. Subsequent to a crustal thickening, the mangeritic rocks in Lofoten-Vesterålen were emplaced in a tensional environment comparable with modern continental rifts. A ‘gabbro pillow’ magma chamber at the crustal base is proposed as parental magma for the mangeritic rocks, of which the Hopen massif represents a late differentiation.     

A constitutive thermomechanical model for saturated clays

The structural deformation in clays results from microscopic phenomena involving the mechanical contact-stress change, the physico-chemical variation of repulsive forces in expansive clays, and thermal dilatancy of macropores. These textural strains are associated to three plastic mechanisms represented by respectively the yield surfacesf_Tm, f_R-A andf_T. Under a thermal cycle, the sizes of interlamellar spaces between clay platelets are not modified, hence the temperature cycle is expected to have no effect on repulsive forces and thus the second mechanism is not affected by temperature changes.

This paper suggests a formulation of a model of thermo-elasto-plastic behaviour of non-expansive saturated clays characterised by two plastic mechanisms. The mechanical yield surfacef_Tm of the contact-stress mechanism is based on a modified cam-clay model; the thermal softening yield surfacef_T is a plane separating two thermal domains. In normally consolidated conditions, the resulting response to an increase of temperature is compressive. However, in highly overconsolidated conditions, a small irreversible dilative volumetric strain is observed when the temperature is above a threshold value. In intermediate conditions, the material starts with an expansion and tends to a compression.

The constitutive model combines thermo-mechanical hardening, predominant in normally consolidated states (NCS) and absent in overconsolidated states (OCS) where the thermal softening occurs. The characterisation of the model requires information about rheological parameters obtained from oedometric and triaxial paths. Lastly, some numerical simulations of thermo-mechanical tests onremoulded Boom, ‘Bassin Parisien’ andPontida clays are presented, which show satisfactory agreement between experiments and model predictions.     

Mineral phase compositions in silica-undersaturated ‘leucite’ lamproites from the Bucak area, Isparta, SW Turkey

Ultrapotassic rocks in the Bucak area of Isparta Angle, SW Turkey, show unusually low SiO₂ (46.8–49.2 wt.%) and high MgO (10.4–11.6 wt.%) contents, and lamproitic affinity (K/Na, > 2.5; Mg#, 73–75; Al₂O₃, 9.2–11 wt.%, CaO 7.4–10.6 wt.%, Cr, 525–675 ppm; Ni, 442–615 ppm). They are made up by phlogopite (30–40 vol.%), leucite (25–30 vol.%), olivine (5–20 vol.%), which rarely contain Cr-spinel, clinopyroxene (5–10 vol.%), sanidine (5 vol.%) and richterite, with accessory apatite, magnetite and ilmenite. One sample also include negligible sodalite in groundmass, which is unusual mineral in lamproites. Mineral phase variation and textures record discrete phases of pre-eruptive crystallization: (1) early appearance of (Cr-spinel-bearing) olivine, Ti poor phlogopite ± apatite at pressures of ca. 1.0–2.0 GPa, at or close to the lithospheric Mechanical Boundary Layer (MBL), and (2) later appearance of Ti rich phlogopite, clinopyroxene, richterite, leucite, sanidine, and other minor phases, at pressures of ca. 0.1–1.0 GPa, indicating discrete, pressure-specific fractionation events. The Bucak silica poor ‘leucite’ lamproites were probably generated by partial melting of phlogopite-bearing, refractory peridotite at pressures of ca. 1.5–2 GPa, higher than those proposed for SiO₂-saturated ‘phlogopite’ lamproites (ca. 1–1.5 GPa) from Afyon, to the North. The depth (total pressure) of melt segregation probably dominates over volatile partial pressures (e.g. of CO₂, F, H₂O) in determining the SiO₂-undersaturated character of Bucak magmas.     

Geochemical evidence for the Trindade hotspot trace: Columbia seamount ankaramite

The Columbia seamount 825 km offshore from Brazil at 20°S lies on the east–west ‘trace’ of the Trindade hotspot. Continental and oceanic magmatism believed to have originated with this hotspot is alkalic and SiO₂-undersaturated, and dates from 85 Ma in southern Brazil to <3 Ma on the islands of Trindade and Martin Vaz 1100 km offshore. An ankaramite (clinopyroxene 16 vol%) dredged from Columbia seamount (est. 10 Ma) conforms to this geochemistry with SiO₂-undersaturated Al-rich clinopyroxene (8–13 wt.% Al₂O₃) and rhönite. Clinopyroxene isotopic compositions are ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.703900, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd=0.512786, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=19.190, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.045, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=39.242 — resembling those for Trindade, except for slightly higher ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. The isotopic composition and abundance ratios among weathering-resistant Nb, La, and Yb suggest that Columbia seamount magmatism represents the present-day Trindade plume, but 10 million years earlier and perhaps when the plume manifested a signature of ‘contamination’ from subducted sediments. The Columbia seamount analyses provide the first quantitative assessment for the Trindade hotspot trace existing between the Brazil margin and Trindade, strengthening the case for a continuum of magmatism extending from the 85 Ma Brazilian igneous provinces of Poxoréu and Alto Paranaiba.     

Major and trace element, and Sr-Nd isotope constraints on the origin of Paleogene volcanism in South China prior to the South China Sea opening

Paleogene volcanic rocks crop out in three sedimentary basins, namely, Sanshui, Heyuan and Lienping, in the attenuated continental margin of south China. Lavas from the Sanshui basin which erupted during 64-43 Ma are bimodal, consisting of intraplate tholeiitic basalt and trachyte/rhyolite associations. Similar to Cretaceous A-type granites from the nearby region, the felsic member shows peralkaline nature [Na₂O + K₂O ≈ 10–12%; (Na + K)/Al≈ 0.98−1.08], general enrichment in the incompatible trace elements and significant depletion in Ba, Sr, Eu, P and Ti. Although both types of the Sanshui lavas have rather uniform Nd isotope compositions [_Nd(T) ≈ +6 to +4]that are comparable to Late Cenozoic basalts around the South China Sea, the felsic rocks possess apparently higher initial Sr isotope ratios (I_Sr up to 0.713) and form a horizontal array to the right in the Nd vs. Sr isotope plot. Closed system differentiation of mantle-derived magmas in a ‘double diffusive’ magma chamber is considered for the bimodal volcanism, in which the trachytes and rhyolites represent A-type melts after extensive crystal fractionation in the upper portion of the chamber. Such A-type melts were later contaminated by small amounts (1–3%) of upper crustal materials during ascent. On the other hand, composition of lavas in the other two basins varies from tholeiitic basalt to andesite. Their Sr and Nd isotope ratios [I_Sr ≈ 0.705 to 0.711; _Nd(T) ≈ +1 to − 5] and generally correlative Nb-Ta depletions suggest a distinct magma chamber process involving fractional crystallization concomitant with assimilation of the country rock. We conclude that these Paleogene volcanic activities resulted from the lithospheric extension in south China that migrated southwards and eventually led to opening of the South China Sea during 30-16 Ma.     

2012—2013年重庆雪玉洞洞穴系统碳循环特征

重庆雪玉洞洞内CO₂浓度之高,在国内外皆罕见,但此洞穴系统碳循环特征及控制因素仍不清楚.利用土壤二氧化碳分压(P_CO2-soil)、洞内大气二氧化碳分压(P_CO2-cave)、地下河水二氧化碳分压(P_CO2-eq)、方解石饱和指数(SIc)、地下河水溶解无机碳同位素(δ13C_DIC)等指标来研究雪玉洞洞内CO₂浓度变化、控制因素以及地下河对洞内碳循环的影响.结果表明:雪玉洞上覆P_CO2-soil雨季高,旱季低;降雨量是控制上覆P_CO2-soil的重要因子.雪玉洞P_CO2-cave变化规律明显,暖季高,冷季低;温度变化导致洞内外气流频繁交换是P_CO2-cave突变的重要原因,地下河水CO₂脱气能够在短时间内让P_CO2-cave上升到较高值.雨季由于土壤CO₂效应,地下河水具有低SIc、高P_CO2-eq特性,矿化度较高,并且部分月份地下河水具有溶蚀性;旱季由于土壤CO₂效应及降雨较少,地下河水呈现高SIc、低P_CO2-eq特性,矿化度较低,以沉积为主.      

Post-collisional strongly peraluminous granites

Strongly peraluminous (SP) granites have formed as a result of post-collisional processes in various orogens. In ‘high-pressure' collisions such as the European Alps and Himalayas, post-collisional exhumation of overthickened crust (>50 km), heated by radiogenic decay of K, U and Th during syn-collisional thickening, produced small- to moderate-volume, cool (<875°C) SP granite melts with high Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios. In ‘high-temperature' collisions such as the Hercynides and Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB), there was less syn-collisional crustal thickening (≤50 km). Crustal anatexis was related to post-collisional lithospheric delamination and upwelling of hot asthenosphere, forming large-volume, hot (≥875°C) SP granite melts with low Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios. Both clay-rich, plagioclase-poor (<5%) pelitic rocks and clay-poor, plagioclase-rich (>25%) psammitic rocks have been partially melted in high-pressure and high-temperature collisional orogens, with the pelite-derived SP granites tending to have lower CaO/Na₂O ratios (<0.3) than their psammite-derived counterparts. The predominance of pelite-derived SP granites in the Himalayas and psammite-derived SP granites in the LFB suggests that mature continental platforms made up more of the accreted crust in the Himalayan collision than in the LFB.     

CO2/N2二元气体对甲烷在煤中吸附影响的分子模拟研究

二元气驱技术(CO₂/N₂-ECBM)已成为煤层气增产的重要手段,明确CO₂/N₂在煤层中的竞争吸附规律以及对煤层物性的影响具有重大意义。利用分子模拟软件Materials Studio建立延川南煤层气实际区块温度、压力条件下的煤分子模型。基于巨正则蒙特卡洛(GCMC)方法研究CO₂/N₂交替驱替煤层气技术中各注入阶段对CH₄吸附的影响,明确CO₂、N₂对煤层孔渗物性的影响规律。结果表明:在CO₂注入阶段,煤层中甲烷迅速解吸;煤中气体吸附总量上升,煤基质膨胀效应增强,导致煤的孔隙体积降低。而转N₂注入后,由于N₂分压作用使得CH₄、CO₂吸附量呈现出不同程度的降低;当ω_N2/ω_CO2≤0.6时煤分子中气体总吸附量迅速降低,而当N₂饱和吸附后气体总吸附量保持稳定。煤层孔渗物性随着气体吸附总量呈现出迅速增大后趋于平缓的趋势。此外,ω_N2/ω_CO2>0.6后N₂吸附率迅速降低,这会使得产出气中CH₄纯度较低,导致后期提纯成本大大增加。因此,当ω_N2/ω_CO2=0.6左右时,CH₄解吸量为最大值,煤孔隙率较高,最有利于煤层气的开发。      

三峡不同蓄水阶段澎溪河CO2通量的初步研究

为掌握不同蓄水阶段温室气体通量强度,揭示水生生态系统在水库蓄水后的重建过程,选择2004年(蓄水后第1年)、2008年(蓄水后第5年)为典型年,结合同期主要环境参量,比较研究了三峡典型支流澎溪河回水区水柱表层CO₂分压p(CO₂)及其扩散通量F_CO2特征。研究发现,2004年澎溪河双江大桥处水柱表层p(CO₂)、F_CO2年均值分别为(101.9±7.5)Pa、(13.99±1.58)mmol/(m²·d),2008年相应为(129.1±16.4)Pa、(19.92±3.55)mmol/(m²·d)。水位上升淹没土地带来更多有机质降解,可能引起了p(CO₂)和F_CO2的总体升高;蓄水过程水域生态系统逐渐完善,浮游植物生长对p(CO₂)和F_CO2的影响逐渐显现。