Rare earth elements,neodymium and strontium isotopic systematics in mineral waters: evidence from the Massif Central,France

Rare Earth Elements (REEs), and Sr and Nd isotope distributions, have been studied in mineralized waters from the Massif Central (France). The CO₂-rich springs are characterized by a neutral pH (6–7) associated with total dissolved solids (TDS) from 1 to 7 g l⁻¹. The waters result from the mixing of very mineralized water pools, thought to have equilibrated at a temperature of around 200°C with superficial waters. These two mineral water pools evidenced by Sr isotopes and dissolved REEs could reflect 2 different stages of water–rock interaction and an equilibrium with different mineral assemblages.The concentrations of individual dissolved REEs and total dissolved REEs (ΣREE), in the mineral waters examined, vary over several orders of magnitude but are not dependent on the main parameters of the waters (TDS, T°C, pH, Total Organic C). The dissolved REE concentrations presented as upper continental crust normalized patterns show HREE enrichment in most of the samples. The time evolution of REE patterns does not show significant fluctuations except in 1 borehole, located in the Limagne d’Allier area, which was sampled on 16 occasions over an 18 month period. Ten samples are HREE-enriched, whereas 6 samples show flat patterns.The aqueous speciation of REEs shows that CO²⁻₃ complexes dominate (>80%) over the free metal, F⁻, SO²⁻₄ and HCO⁻₃ complexes. The detailed speciation demonstrates that the fractionation of REEs (i.e. the HREE enrichment) in CO₂-rich and pH neutral fluids is due essentially to the predominance of the CO²⁻₃ complexes.The Sr isotopic composition of the mineral waters in the Massif Central shows different mixing processes; in the Cézallier area at least 3 end-member water types exist. The most dilute end-member is likely to originate as poorly mineralized waters with minimal groundwater circulation. Two other mineralized end-members are identified, although the link between the geographical location of spring outflow and the mixing proportion between the 2 end-members is not systematic. The range in ϵ_Nd(0) for mineralized waters in the Massif Central correlates well with that of the known parent rocks except for 4 springs. One way to explain the ϵ_Nd(0) in these instances is a contribution from drainage of volcanic rocks. The isotopic systematics help to constrain the hydrogeological models for this area.     

REE geochemistry of eclogites and associated rocks from Sauviat-sur-Vige, Massif Central, France

Representative samples of metagabbros, eclogites and a garnet peridotite from the Massif de Sauviat-sur-Vige (West Massif Central) have been analyzed for major and trace elements (including REE). The LREE enriched patterns are distinct from those of modern MORB but resemble those of continental or ocean island tholeiites. An intraplate tectoning setting is thus inferred. Geochemical modeling using REE and major element contents suggests that all the rock types might be related genetically by fractional crystallization, and, in some instances, by mixing of cumulates and differentiated liquid as in the case of the garnet peridotite. P, T estimates from microprobe analyses of coexisting garnet-clinopyroxene pairs yield about 820°C, and P > 15 kb for the eclogite facies metamorphism.     

Late variscan tectonic evolution by thinning of earlier thickened crust. An Ar---Ar study of the Montagne Noire, southern Massif Central, France

⁴⁰Ar---³⁹Ar age determinations on samples selected on deformational criteria form the basis of a proposal of a new detailed tectonometamorphic history of the Montagne Noire (the southern part of the Massif Central, France).

This range is classically divided into a cover and an axial gneissic and migmatitic core which was metamorphosed under high T/medium P conditions. The basement is structurally overlain by epimetamorphic Paleozoic sediments in the north. In the south, equivalent rocks form a well-known pile of recumbent nappes. The Variscan history of this area comprises early shortening and thickening of the continental crust. The climax of this event took place around 320 Ma ago, as is shown by previous Rb---Sr data and by ⁴⁰Ar---³⁹Ar measurements. New developments in structural analyses have led to a better understanding of the late evolution of the area in terms of diapiric uplift of the core. South-southwestwards verging recumbent nappes have been emplaced and were weakly metamorphosed in their lower parts. This movement was accompanied and followed by dextral extensional wrenching of the Paleozoic cover along the northern and southern margins of the axial zone. Attendantly, ductile shear zones were formed.

In order to decipher the complex history, three structural levels have been dated with the ⁴⁰Ar---³⁹Ar method. These levels are: (1) The migmatitic and gneissic series in the axial core, where micas yield ages of c. 315 Ma; (2) Mylonites from the northern and southern shear zones where biotites and muscovites yield ages of c. 310 Ma; (3) Muscovites and biotites from the epimetamorphic nappe structures yielding ages of c. 297 Ma. The later ages may represent a younger thermal pulse. These data are compared and discussed in the light of previous radiometric studies of the area and precise biostratigraphic constraints. A detailed geodynamic evolution of the studied segment is proposed.     

Mingling of Immiscible Dolomite Carbonatite and Trachyte in Tuffs from the Massif Central, France

A pyroclastic tuff from the Velay volcanic province in the FrenchMassif Central contains blocks up to 30 cm long of local basementrocks, lava clasts, coarse-grained cumulates and pyroclasticfragments, with more or less diffuse boundaries with the hosttuff, which probably represent more consolidated parts of thetuff. All of the pyroclastics examined and approximately 10%of the cumulate xenoliths contain carbonates in variable amounts,textures and mineralogy. In some of the tuff samples, dolomiteoccurs in large amounts (up to 57%), principally as immiscibleglobules in trachytic melt (now glass), and represents the firstoccurrence of carbonatite reported from the Massif Central.The other carbonates, magnesiosiderite in the mafic cumulatesor occasionally in some tuffs, and calcite in the felsic cumulates,are always associated with a silicate glass of trachytic composition.Coexisting feldspars and carbonates in the various types ofsample are approximately in Sr isotopic equilibrium with aninitial ratio of about 0·7042. C- and O-isotopic compositionsof the carbonates covary and cover a very wide range of compositionfrom -2·9 to 3·9     

Contrasting Fractionation Trends in Coexisting Continental Alkaline Magma Series; Cantal, Massif Central, France

Two coexisting series of strongly alkaline (basanite-tephritephonolite)and weakly alkaline (alkali basalt-trachyandesite-trachyte-rhyolite)lavas occur in the Cantal volcano (French Massif Central). Theparental magmas appear to be derived by variable degrees ofpartial melting of a common asthenospheric mantle source. Derivativetrachyandesites and feldspathoidbearing tephrites show depletionsand enrichments in trace elements which indicate that they havebeen generated by broadly similar fractionation processes, relatedto the removal of a mineral extract, from the parental alkalibasalts and basanites respectively, dominated by olivine, clinopyroxene,amphibole, apatite and titaniferous magnetite±plagioclase.In the most extreme differentiates (trachytes, rhyolites andphonolites) fractionation of zircon, sphene and alkali feldsparexerts a major control on the trace element characteristicsof the magmas. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data for the two magma series suggest theimportance of combined assimilation-fractional crystallizationprocesses (AFC) within the lower crust in their evolution. Modellingdemonstrates that the AFC process amplifies the original compositionaldifferences between the parent magmas. After 55% crystallizationin the strongly alkaline series and 65% in the weakly alkalineseries crustal contamination ceases, although fractional crystallizationcontinues beyond this point to produce the most evolved differentiates(phonolites and rhyolites). This may reflect progressive sealingof the lowercrustal magma reservoirs. The tendency of the magmasto follow over- or under-saturated evolutionary trends, producingrhyolitic and phonolitic residua respectively, appears to beestablished at the early stages of magmatic differentiation,reflecting inherent differences in the compositions of the parentalmagmas. KEY WORDS: alkaline magmas; Massif Central; Cantal; AFC; magmatic differentiation     

Syntectonic crustal melting and high-grade metamorphism in a transpressional regime, Variscan Massif Central, France

Hot collisional orogens are characterized by abundant syn-kinematic granitic magmatism that profoundly affects their tectono-thermal evolutions. Voluminous granitic magmas, emplaced between 360 and 270 Ma, played a visibly important role in the evolution of the Variscan Orogen. In the Limousin region (western Massif Central, France), syntectonic granite plutons are spatially associated with major strike–slip shear zones that merge to the northwest with the South Armorican Shear Zone. This region allowed us to assess the role of magmatism in a hot transpressional orogen. Microstructural data and U/Pb zircon and monazite ages from a mylonitic leucogranite indicate synkinematic emplacement in a dextral transpressional shear zone at 313 ± 4 Ma. Leucogranites are coeval with cordierite-bearing migmatitic gneisses and vertical lenses of leucosome in strike–slip shear zones. We interpret U/Pb monazite ages of 315 ± 4 Ma for the gneisses and 316 ± 2 Ma for the leucosomes as the minimum age of high-grade metamorphism and migmatization respectively. These data suggest a spatial and temporal relationship between transpression, crustal melting, rapid exhumation and magma ascent, and cooling of high-grade metamorphic rocks.Some granites emplaced in the strike–slip shear zone are bounded at their roof by low dip normal faults that strike N–S, perpendicular to the E–W trend of the belt. The abundant crustal magmatism provided a low-viscosity zone that enhanced Variscan orogenic collapse during continued transpression, inducing the development of normal faults in the transpression zone and thrust faults at the front of the collapsed orogen.     

U-Th-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic constraints on the evolution of sub-continental lithospheric mantle, French Massif Central

We have carried out a Pb double-spike and Lu-Hf isotope study of clinopyroxenes from spinel-facies mantle xenoliths entrained in Cenozoic intraplate continental volcanism of the French Massif Central (FMC). U-Th-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope systematics verify the existence of different lithospheric domains beneath the northern and southern FMC. Northern FMC clinopyroxenes have extreme Lu/Hf ratios and ultra-radiogenic Hf (ε_Hf = +39.6 to +2586) that reflect ∼15-25% partial melting in Variscan times (depleted mantle model ages ∼360 Ma). Zr, Hf and Th abundances in these clinopyroxenes are low and unaffected by hydrous/carbonatitic metasomatism that overprinted LILE and light REE abundances and caused decoupling of Lu/Hf-Sm/Nd ratios and Nd-Hf isotopes (ε_Nd = +2.1 to +91.2). Pb isotopes of northern FMC clinopyroxenes are radiogenic (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb > 19), and typically more so than the host intraplate volcanic rocks. ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb ratios range from 17 to 68, and most samples have distinctively low ²³²Th/²³⁸U (<1) and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb (3-22). Clinopyroxenes from southern FMC lherzolites are generally marked by overall incompatible trace element enrichment including Zr, Hf and Th abundances, and have Pb isotopes that are similar to or less radiogenic than the host volcanic rocks. Hf isotope ratios are less radiogenic (ε_Hf = +5.4 to +41.5) than northern FMC mantle and have been overprinted by silicate-melt-dominated metasomatism that affected this part of FMC mantle. Major element and Lu concentrations of clinopyroxenes from southern FMC harzburgites are broadly similar to northern FMC clinopyroxenes and suggest they experienced similar degrees of melt extraction as northern FMC mantle. ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (53-111) and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (157-355) of enriched clinopyroxenes from the southern FMC are extreme and significantly higher than the intraplate volcanic rocks. In summary, mantle peridotites from different parts of the FMC record depletion at ∼360 Ma during Variscan subduction, followed by differing styles of enrichment. Northern FMC mantle was overprinted by a fluid/carbonatitic metasomatic agent that carried elements like U, Pb, Sr and light REE. In contrast, much of the southern FMC mantle was metasomatised by a small-degree partial silicate melt resulting in enrichment of all incompatible trace elements. The extreme mantle ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (northern and southern FMC), ²³²Th/²³⁸U (northern FMC) and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (southern FMC), coupled with unremarkable present-day Pb isotope ratios, constrain the timing of enrichment. Mantle metasomatism is a young feature related to melting of the upwelling mantle responsible for Cenozoic FMC volcanism, rather than subduction-related metasomatism intimately associated with mantle depletion during the Variscan orogeny. The varying metasomatic styles relate to pre-existing variations in the thickness of the continental lithospheric lid, which controlled the extent to which upwelling mantle could ascend and melt. In the northern FMC, a thicker and more refractory lithospheric lid (?80 km) only allowed incipient degrees of melting resulting in fluid/carbonatitic metasomatism of the overlying sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The thinner lithospheric lid of the southern FMC (?70 km) allowed larger degrees of melting and resulted in silicate-melt-dominated metasomatism, and also focused the location of the volcanic fields of the FMC above this region.     

NdSr isotope and REE geochemistry of alkali basalts from the Massif Central,France

Nd and Sr isotopic compositions as well as trace element concentrations have been determined on a suite of alkali basalts from the Massif Central, in France. Samples show a typical enrichment in incompatible elements. In particular, the REE patterns exhibit a strong fractionation characterized by a ($\text{La}\text{Yb}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>N</mtext>}}$ ratio of about 20. The Yb_N content is about 10 times chondrite. The $\text{143}\text{Nd}\text{144}\text{Nd}$ ratios exhibit a range from 0.512775 to 0.512989, values quite comparable to those from oceanic island basalts. The $\text{87}\text{Sr}\text{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios vary between 0.70338 and 0.70458 and are anti-correlated with the Nd isotopic ratio.The isotopic and the trace element (in particular REE) data have been used in order to quantitatively model the genesis of the alkali basalts. Among the several types of models tested here, the most likely one appears to be the model of mantle metasomatism. A semi-quantitative approach shows that the source of alkali basalts from the Massif Central was metasomatized prior to melting. In such a model, the basalts could be produced by rather high degrees of partial melting (such as 10 or 15%) of the metasomatically enriched mantle.     

210Pb, 226Ra and 32Si in Pavin lake (Massif Central,France)

Measurements of cosmogenic ³²Si and the U-decay series' nuclides ²¹⁰Pb and ²²⁶Ra in waters and sediments of lake Pavin are reported. Both ²¹⁰Pb and ²²⁶Ra are enriched in the anoxic deep waters compared to the oxic surface waters, respectively by a factor of 4 and 10, whereas ³²Si is depleted by a factor of2. Redox conditions in the lake appear to have no marked effect on the ³²Si. Using a steady-state box model it is shown that the deep-water ³²Si concentration is controlled by the underground lacustrine springs. The residence times of ²¹⁰Pb, ³²Si and ²²⁶Ra are1,10 and80 a, respectively. In the case of ³²Si, where more data are available, the assessed inventory data from the overhead atmospheric fallout and that measured in the sediments agree very well as expected. The ²¹⁰Pb- and ³²Si-based deposition rates during the past100 a ranged from 0.8 to 1.9 mm a⁻¹, earlier these were a factor of3–5 faster. The geochemistry of ³²Si and ²¹⁰Pb in lake Pavin in many ways resembles that in the ocean, only the time scales of the processes involved are faster.     

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.     

Magma mixing versus xenocryst assimilation: The genesis of trachyandesites in Sancy volcano, Massif Central, France

Sr and Nd isotopic compositions have been determined on basaltic and acid trachyandesites (BTA-ATA) from the Sancy volcano (Mont-Dore massif, France). These represent more than 80% of the lavas erupted during its activity between 0.9 and 0.2 Ma. These lavas have been recently interpreted as the result of two-component magma mixing during and after repeated injections of basaltic magmas in trachytic reservoirs. Magmatic heterogeneities in the ATA's (large to small enclaves, banded lavas, megacrysts…) testify to the mingling event. Complete mixing is supposed to have been achieved in the “hybrid” BTA's which contain sanidine, plagioclase and clinopyroxene megacrysts in disequilibrium with their host. The megacrysts are interpreted as relicts of the trachytic end-member. Isotopic data on basic comagmatic enclaves and host ATA matrix samples from three different cycles of mingling (succession of heterogeneous pyroclastics, heterogeneous ATA lava flows or domes and occasionally homogeneous BTA lava flows) are not incompatible with two component mixing but could just reflect the heterogeneity of the analysed samples. However, the BTA's have Sr contents and Sr isotopic ratios which are too high to be simple binary mixing products between the postulated end-members. Three hypotheses are considered to explain this discrepancy: (1) the analysed end-members are not those involved in BTA genesis, (2) some crustal contamination occurred during and after the mixing event, (3) Sr-rich sanidine xenocrysts with radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr have been assimilated and digested in the BTA's. In this third hypothesis that I favour, it is not necessary to resort to magma mixing to explain the genesis of the BTA's: assimilation of xenocrysts by basaltic, hawaiitic or mugearitic magmas accounts for both mineralogical disequilibria and isotopic characteristics of these lavas.     

Lateglacial and Early Flandrian Coleoptera from La Taphanel,Massif Central,France: Climatic and Ecological Implications

A Lateglacial and early Holocene sequence of coleopteran assemblages is described from La Taphanel in the Massif Central, France. The site is a sediment-filled small lake at an altitude of almost 1000 m. The insect fauna provides evidence for a detailed palaeoecological reconstruction, and in particular enables a reconstruction of climatic changes at the close of the last glaciation. A sudden climatic warming occurs at about 13000 yr BP followed by a temperate episode equivalent in time to the Bølling period. There is clear evidence of a short cold period between the Bølling and Allerød that is approximately equivalent to the Older Dryas period. The Allerød phase is decidedly cooler than the Bølling, as is shown by the Coleoptera from several sites in northwest Europe. A clear Younger Dryas signal is provided by the Coleoptera, with climates similar in severity to those of the glacial period. The climatic improvement at the start of the Holocene is also sudden, so that by Preboreal times temperatures were equivalent to those of the present day.     

Electron microprobe monazite geochronology of magmatic events: Examples from Variscan migmatites and granitoids, Massif Central, France

U–Th–Pb dating of monazite with the electron probe microanalyser (EPMA) is increasingly documented as a reliable geochronological method offering high spatial resolution. This method has been applied on monazite from the Cévennes migmatites and granitoids from the southeast of the French Massif Central. Measurements were performed on separated grains after systematic back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging. Monazites from migmatites record two main ages: (i) a protolith age of about 550–543 Ma obtained on inherited cores, and (ii) a migmatization event between 329 ± 5 and 323 ± 3 Ma recorded by monazite rims and all other monogenetic grains. Monazite from the peraluminous Rocles pluton yields a 318 ± 3 Ma age. Finally, three granite dykes are dated at 333 ± 6, 318 ± 5 and 311 ± 5 Ma; the older dyke is the most deformed of them and is interpreted as linked to the migmatization event; the two other dykes are geochronologically, petrologically and structurally coeval with the Rocles pluton. The data constrain the timing of crustal melting following Variscan thickening in the northern Cévennes area. Migmatization of Ordovician protoliths took place at 329–323 Ma and was shortly followed by intrusion of leucogranite at 318–311 Ma. The study shows that EPMA dating of monazite can be successfully used to resolve a close succession of regional melting events.     

Geological, geochemical and metallogenetic evaluation of the Pontgibaud vein swarm and its surrounding area, Massif Central, France

The Pontgibaud vein swarm, which has been exploited since Roman times for Pb, Zn and Ag, is a NNE-trending system located in the Massif Central about 30 km west of Clermont-Ferrand.     

Stable isotopic evidence for large-scale seawater infiltration in a regional metamorphic terrane; the Trois Seigneurs Massif,Pyrenees, France

Oxygen isotopic analyses of 95 metamorphic and igneous rocks and minerals from a Hercynian metamorphic sequence in the Trois Seigneurs Massif, Pyrenees, France, indicate that all lithologies at higher metamorphic grades than the andalusite in isograd have relatively homogeneous ¹⁸O values. The extent of homogenization is shown by the similarity of ¹⁸O values in metacarbonates, metapelites and granitic rocks (+11 to +13), and by the narrow range of oxygen isotopic composition shown by quartz from these lithologies. These values contrast with the ¹⁸O values of metapelites of lower metamorphic grade ( ¹⁸O about +15). Homogenization was caused by a pervasive influx of hydrous fluid. Mass-balance calculations imply that the fluid influx was so large that its source was probably high-level groundwaters or connate formation water. Hydrogen isotopic analyses of muscovite from various lithologies are uniform and exceptionally heavy at D=–25 to –30, suggesting a seawater origin. Many lines of petrological evidence from the area independently suggest that metamorphism and anatexis of pelitic metasediment occurred at depths of 6–12 km in the presence of this water-rich fluid, the composition of which was externally buffered. Deep penetration of surface waters in such environments has been hitherto unrecognized, and may be a key factor in promoting major anatexis of the continental crust at shallow depth. Three types of granitoid are exposed in the area. The leucogranites and the biotite granite-quartz diorite are both mainly derived from fusion of local Paleozoic pelitic metasediment, because all these rocks have similar whole-rock ¹⁸O values (+11 to +13). The post-metamorphic biotite granodiorite has a distinctly different ¹⁸O (+9.5 to +10.0) and was probably derived from a deeper level in the crust. Rare mafic xenoliths within the deeper parts of the biotite granite-quartz diorite also have different ¹⁸O (+8.0 to +8.5) and possibly represent input of mantle derived magma, which may have provided a heat source for the metamorphism.Contribution No. 4192, Publications of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology     

Lead-isotope evidence for a Hercynian origin of the Salsigne gold deposit (Southern Massif Central,France)

The Salsigne gold deposit contains a complex association of sulphide layers, gold-rich disseminations, quartz-bearing veins and flat reefs, which are hosted by folded and slightly metamorphosed Paleozoic sediments on both sides of a major thrust zone. It is demonstrated that these various Au-As ore types have similar lead-isotope compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.22–18.56), which are characteristic of Hercynian ore deposits in the southern Massif Central. The Lower Cambrian to Devonian host rocks and associated Pb-Zn-Ba occurrences display distinctly less radiogenic corrected isotopic signatures (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 17.83–17.98), which are characteristic of Cambrian lead in the Montagne-Noire. Concerning the controversial origin of the Salsigne gold mineralization, these results disagree with the former syngenetic hypothesis and support a new model of Hercynian syntectonic gold concentration.This work was supported by BRGM'S scientific program: Le gisement de Salsigne: caractérisation du modèle et évaluation du potentiel aurifère du district     

Dynamics of shallow late-Variscan gold mineralization: the Le Châtelet Au-arsenopyrite quartz veins,Massif Central,France

The Le Châtelet gold deposit is unique among the mined deposits of the French Variscan basement in that the gold is not free but caught up in the arsenopyrite crystal lattice. Microstructural analysis shows that the Au-arsenopyrite quartz veins are hosted by north-trending dextral strike-slip faults resulting from NNE-SSW compression during the early Stephanian (around 300 Ma). Textural study indicates that vein emplacement was due to sequential dynamics related to spasmodic strike-slip movements along these brittle structures (seismic regime). The classic sequence begins with the slow crystallization of sulphide-free comb quartz followed by a co-deposition of microcrystalline quartz and needles of Au-arsenopyrite; the rapid crystallization of the Au-arsenopyrite-bearing microcrystalline quartz was due to a sudden drop in fluid pressure. The veins correspond to dilational jogs formed by a suction pump mechanism during a late phase of the Variscan orogeny; they were trapped in migmatite about 1 km below surface.     

内蒙古十八倾壕金矿床铅同位素组成的构造学意义

十八倾壕金矿有两种类型矿体：糜棱岩型矿体和石英脉型矿体。糜棱岩型矿石Pb同位素组成以低放射性成因铅为特点：^206Pb／^204Pb为16．63～17．45，^207pb／^304Pb为1531～15．48，^208Pb/^204Pb为36．52～38．85；在铅的动力学演化曲线上非常接近幔源铅演化模式曲线；与区域上典型的韧性剪切带型金矿——后石花金矿的铅同位素组成一致，是早元古代晚期(2040Ma)韧性剪切变质变形作用的产物。石英脉型矿石Pb同位素组成以高放射性成因铅为特点：^206Pb／^204Pb为18.23～19．74，^207Pb／^204Pb为15．69～15．89，^208Pb／^204pb为38．64～40．13；在铅的动力学演化曲线上非常接近上地壳铅演化的模式曲线；与区域上典型的燕山期岩浆热液型金矿——东伙房金矿以及燕山期花岗岩的铅同位素组成一致，是燕山期岩浆热液型金矿化。十八倾壕金矿是两次小同性质成矿作用叠加的结果。这从Pb同位素组成上证明了笔者曾经提出的关于该矿床叠加构造控矿的观点。     

Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of blueschist facies rocks from the Île de Groix, Armorican Massif (northwest France)

Nine samples of blueschist facies metabasic rocks and four samples of associated metasedimentary lithologies were analysed for REE contents and Nd isotopic composition. Sampling includes the main rock types exposed on Groix, concentrating on those metabasic rocks with least dispersed Rb---Sr systems. The REE abundance patterns appear not to have suffered significant alteration since emplacement of the protolith magma despite subsequent blueschist facies metamorphism. The data, when integrated into a wider geochemical data-base, allow the identification and characterization of both tholeiitic and alkaline magma-types in the original igneous suite which was differentiated from depleted mantle sources. The basalts probably originated in an oceanic context. Some sediments are predominantly volcaniclastic, in which a continental crustal component may be recognized. Other sediments are closer in composition to continental crust with variable additions of tholeiitic or alkali-basalt debris. The volcanic-sedimentary assemblage on Groix is suggestive of ocean-island magmatic activity associated with a sedimentary sequence derived from a nearby continent.     

Arsenic behaviour in gold-ore mill tailings,Massif Central,France: hydrogeochemical study and investigation of in situ redox signatures

Historical Au-ore exploitation at the Chéni mine in the Massif Central, France, generated 525,000 tonnes of finely ground mill tailings deposited in a heap that has spread with time into three settling basins. The tailings, which are rich in quartz (80%), mica and clay minerals (10% of illite, smectite, kaolinite and chlorite), feldspars (5%) but poor in carbonates (<1%), also contain sulphides (around 5%, mainly pyrite and arsenopyrite). Arsenic content of the tailings is around 6 g kg. This paper describes the geochemistry of drainage waters, with special attention paid to in situ values of the three major redox couples, namely Fe(II)/Fe(III), As(III)/As(V) and S(IV)/S(VI). The water samples range from acidic and oxidized (pH 2.9, E_h +700 mV) to moderate pH and weakly reducing (pH 7.6, E_h 15 mV). The waters are rich in SO₄ and Ca and have variable As (0.05–95 mg L⁻¹) and Fe concentrations (0.07–141 mg L⁻¹). Reduced As(III) species predominate over As(V) species (As(III)/As(V) up to 21), whereas oxidized forms of Fe and S are favoured (Fe(II)/Fe(III) up to 0.5, and S(IV)/S(VI) up to 1).Thermodynamic calculations were performed with the PHREEQC and EQ3NR codes based on a revised As database to evaluate saturation indices (SI) of the waters in relation to the main minerals and define which redox couples control the redox state of the system. The important role of carbonates, though only present in small amounts, explains the acid buffering generated by the oxidation of sulphides for waters in the pH 7–7.5 range. Measured E_h appears to fall between the calculated E_h of the Fe(II)/Fe(III) couple and that of the As(III)/As(V) couple, illustrating redox disequilibrium.