Minor and trace element partitioning between immiscible ocelli-matrix pairs from lamprophyre dikes and sills,Monteregian Hills petrographic province,Quebec

Many lamprophyre dike and sill rocks in the Monteregian Hills petrographic province of southwestern Quebec contain felsic segregations (ocelli) which have been interpreted as globules of immiscible liquid (Philpotts 1976). Ocelli and matrix material were separated from a number of these rocks and analyzed for major and trace elements. The major element data, when plotted on a Greig diagram, outline a field of possible silicate-liquid immiscibility at higher alumina+alkali content than that previously mapped in iron-rich experimental systems. The trace element data support a liquid immiscibility hypothesis for the formation of these ocelli since high-charge density cations are preferentially concentrated in the matrix (mafic) material, a result which is consistent with theoretical and experimental studies. The distribution of minor and trace elements between ocelli and matrix indicates that several factors control the partitioning of these elements between immiscible felsic and mafic liquids. These factors include the difference in relative polymerization (as measured by the Si∶O ratio) of the two liquids, with an increase in this difference favoring partitioning of the high-charge density cations into the mafic liquid; the concentration of P₂O₅ in the mafic liquid which favors the partitioning of high-charge density cations into this liquid; the presence of a CO₂ vapor (?) phase which favors the partitioning of high-charge density cations into the CO₂ enriched phase; and the presence of solid phases at the onset of immiscibility. These observations indicate that the chemical compositions of two possibly immiscible melts should be known if minor and trace element data are to be used as evidence for silicate-liquid immiscibility.     

Two-liquid partition coefficients: Experimental data and geochemical implications

Partition coefficients for Cs, Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, La, Sm, Lu, Mn, Ti, Cr, Ta, Zr, and P between immiscible basic and acidic liquids in the system K₂O-Al₂O₃-FeO-SiO₂ were experimentally determined at 1,180 °C and 1 atm. Phosphorus is most strongly enriched in the basic melt (by a factor of 10), followed by rare earth elements, Ta, Ca, Cr, Ti, Mn, Zr, Mg, Sr, and Ba (enriched by a factor of 1.5). Of the elements studied, only Cs is enriched in the acidic melt. The two-liquid partition coefficients of Zr, Ta, Sm, and Mn are constant for concentrations ranging from <0.1% to as high as 1 wt.-%, suggesting that Henry's law is applicable in silicate melts (at least for these elements) to concentrations well above typical trace element levels in rocks. The strong relative preference of many elements for the basic melt implies that the structural characteristics of basic melts more readily permit stable coordination of cations by oxygen. Partitioning of elements between crystal and liquid in a magma must therefore be influenced by the composition (and consequent structure) of the liquid.Application of the two-liquid partition coefficients to possible occurrences of liquid immiscibility in magmas reveals that typical basalt-rhyolite associations are probably not generated by two-liquid phase separation. However, liquid immiscibility cannot be discounted as a possible origin for lamprophyric rocks containing felsic segregations.     

Decoupling of paired elements,crossover REE patterns,and mirrored spider diagrams: Fingerprinting liquid immiscibility in the Tapira alkaline–carbonatite complex,SE Brazil

Tapira is an alkaline silicate–carbonatite complex belonging to the kamafugite-carbonatite association in the Late-Cretaceous Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province (APIP). It is dominated by coarse-grained plutonic rocks (bebedourite – a phlogopite-, apatite-, and perovskite-rich clinopyroxenite – with subordinated dunites, wehrlites, carbonatites and phoscorites). The plutonic rocks are crosscut by fine-grained ultramafic alkaline rocks (phlogopite picrites, bebedouritic dikes) and fine-grained carbonatites. Both types of dike-rocks show petrographic evidence of the coexistence of immiscible silicate and carbonatite liquids, such as carbonate ocelli present in the silicate rocks and, more rarely, silicate ocelli within carbonatites. A detailed geochemical study of the rock types in the complex, with emphasis on the fine-grained varieties, showed that whilst some rocks may be related to each other through crystal fractionation (e.g. phlogopite picrites and bebedouritic dikes), others display anomalous trace-element behaviour that cannot be readily explained by the fractionation of a particular phase or combination of phases. We interpret such anomalous geochemical signatures as produced by silicate–carbonate liquid immiscibility, on the basis of available experimental data on partition coefficients between coexisting immiscible liquids. The immiscibility signatures comprise: (a) decoupling of geochemical pairs, such as Nb–Ta and Zr–Hf; (b) rotation of REE patterns, which cross over the patterns of the primitive liquids; and (c) matching and opposite enrichment-depletion trace elements relationships in spider diagrams of conjugate immiscible liquids. We suggest that, once established, such geochemical signatures are very difficult to erase during the subsequent petrogenetic evolution processes, which may result in superimposed conflicting signatures.     

Immiscible silicate liquid partition coefficients: implications for crystal-melt element partitioning and basalt petrogenesis

This study investigates partitioning of elements between immiscible aluminosilicate and borosilicate liquids using three synthetic mixtures doped with 32 trace elements. In order to get a good spatial separation of immiscible liquids, we employed a high-temperature centrifuge. Experiments were performed at 1,050–1,150°C, 1 atm, in sealed Fe and Pt containers. Quenched products were analysed by electron microprobe and LA ICP-MS. Nernst partition coefficients (D’s) between the Fe-rich and Si-rich aluminosilicate immiscible liquids are the highest for Zn (3.3) and Fe (2.6) and the lowest for Rb and K (0.4–0.5). The plots of D values against ionic potential Z/r in all the compositions show a convex upward trend, which is typical also for element partitioning between immiscible silicate and salt melts. The results bear upon the speciation and structural position of elements in multicomponent silicate liquids. The ferrobasalt–rhyolite liquid immiscibility is observed in evolved basaltic magmas, and may play an important role in large gabbroic intrusions, such as Skaergaard, and during the generation of unusual lavas, such as ferropicrites.     

微量元素在河北阳原球状黑云辉石正长岩的球体和基体间分配的意义

河北阳原辉石岩-正长岩杂岩体的球状黑云辉石正长岩是岩浆不混熔的产物。本文研究了微量元素、REE在球状岩石的球体相—基体相间的分配。提出控制元素在不混溶的两液相间分配的三种因素,建立了分配系数D_(M/O)~i与不混溶两液相的相对聚合度(NBO/T)_(M/O)之间的函数关系。这些研究可用于区分岩浆不混溶作用与其他作用,确定岩石成因。     

攀西茨达复式岩体年代学和地球化学:对峨眉山地幔柱活动时间的约束

茨达复式岩体位于中国西南扬子地台西缘的攀西裂谷内,其岩性从基性到酸性连续变化,SiO2含量为40.06％ ～68.54％,但以基性和酸性岩石为主,中性岩石较少,而且非常不均匀,通常具有斑杂构造特征.从基性岩到酸性岩,各岩石样品由轻稀土弱富集型变为较强富集型.微量元素表现为酸性岩中Rb、Th、K、La、Ce、Pb、Nd、Zr、Hf、Sm呈正异常和Ba、Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Ti的负异常;基性岩除Ti负异常和Pb正异常外,其它异常不明显;中性岩具有Ti、Sr负异常和Pb正异常,其它特征介于基性岩和酸性岩石之间.野外和岩相学特征明显指示出中性岩石具有混合特征.酸性端元岩浆准铝质的特征以及相对低的SiO2含量指示其起源于玄武质下地壳的部分熔融,而基性端元岩浆的地球化学特征以及高温特征暗示着其起源于地幔柱源区.锆石U-Pb年龄数据表明,该复式岩体中基性端元LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb锆石年龄为243.76±0.77Ma,酸性端元年龄为240.5±0.76Ma,可能代表了峨眉山大火成岩省岩浆活动的尾声阶段.     

The geochemistry of repetitive cyclical volcanism from basalt through rhyolite in the uchi-confederation greenstone belt,canada

Archean volcanic rocks in the Confederation Lake area, northwestern Ontario, Canada, are in three mafic to felsic cycles collectively 8,500 to 11,240 m thick. Each cycle begins with pillowed basalt and andesite flows and is capped with andesitic to rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks and minor flows. Seventy five samples from this succession were analyzed for major and trace elements including the rare earth elements. In two cycles, tholeiitic basalts are overlain by calcalkaline andesite to rhyolite. In the third, cycle, the tholeiitic basalts are overlain by tholeiitic rhyolites. Fe enrichment in basalts is accompanied by depletion of Ca, Al, Cr, Ni, and Sr, and enrichment in Ti, P, the rare earth elements, Nb, Zr, and Y. This is interpreted as open system fractionation of olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene. Si enrichment in dacites and rhyolites is attributed to fractional crystallization of plagioclase, K-feldspar, and biotite. Tholeiitic basalt liquids are believed to be mantle-derived. Intercalated andesites with fractionated rare earth patterns appear to be products of mixing of tholeiitic basalt and rhyolite liquids and, andesites with flat rare earth patterns are probably produced by melting of previously depleted mantle. Felsic magmas are partial melts of tholeiitic basalt or products of liquid immiscibility in a tholeiitic system perhaps involving extreme fractionation in a high level magma chamber, and assimilation of sialic crust. It is concluded that Archean cyclical volcanism in this area involves the interplay of several magmatic liquids in processes of fractional crystallization, magma mixing, liquid immiscibility, and the probable existence of compositionally zoned magma chambers in the late stages of each cycle. The compositionally zoned chambers existed over the time period represented by the upper felsic portion of each cycle.     

Evidence of Liquid Immiscibility in Alkaline Ultrabasic Dikes at Callander Bay, Ontario

Monchiquitic and camptonitic dikes radiating from an alkalinecarbonatite intrusion display sharply bounded, ellipsoidal,coarse-grained segregations of predominantly leucocratic minerals,identical in both composition and zoning to minerals in thematrix. These oeelli are not found in chilled margins, but elsewhereoccur in layers or segregations within the intrusives. Similarphenomena are seen in rocks of similar composition, both plutonicand volcantic, the world over. Field relations, detailed mineralogy,and macro- and micro-chemical studies strongly suggest thatthey result from liquid immiscibility in ultra basic alkalinemagma. Hydrothermal melting experiments show that olivine-bearing dikeswith carbonate-rich ocelli melt to a homogeneous silicate liquid,and an immiscible CO2-rich fluid phase. Kaersutite-bearing lamprophyrewith felsic ocelli yields a homogeneous silicate liquid on firstmelting, but on further heating this liquid dissociates intotwo immiscsible portions. The data strongly suggest that aninitial carbonated nepheliniti magma could gives rise by successiveimmiscibility to carbonatite, melteigite, and nepheline syeniteliquids.     

High- and Low-Temperature I-type Granites

Abstract: I– and S-type granites differ in several distinctive ways, as a consequence of their derivation from contrasting source rocks. The more mafic granites, whose compositions are closest to those of the source rocks, are most readily classified as I– or S–type. As granites become more felsic, compositions of the two types converge towards those of lowest temperature silicate melts. While discrimination of the two is therefore more difficult for such felsic rocks, that in no way invalidates the twofold subdivision. If felsic granite melts undergo fractional crystallisation, the major element compositions are not affected to any significant extent, but the concentrations of trace elements can vary widely. For some trace elements, fractional crystallisation causes the trace element abundances to diverge, so the I– and S– type granites are again easily separated. Such fractionated S-type granites can be distinguished, for example, by high P and low Th and Ce, relative to their I-type analogues. Our observations in the Lachlan Fold Belt show that there is no genetic basis for subdividing peraluminous granites into more mafic and felsic varieties, as has been attempted elsewhere. The subdivision of felsic peraluminous granites into I– and S-types is more appropriate, and mafic peraluminous granites are always S–type. In a given area, associated mafic and felsic S-type granites are likely to be closely related in origin, with the former comprising both restite-rich magmas and cumulate rocks, and the felsic granites corresponding to melts that may have undergone fractional crystallisation after prior restite separation. We propose a subdivision of I-type granites into two groups, formed at high and low temperatures. The high-temperature I–type granites formed from a magma that was completely or largely molten, and in which crystals of zircon were not initially present because the melt was undersaturated in zircon. In comparison with low-temperature I–type granites, the compositions extend to lower SiO₂ contents and the abundances of Ba, Zr and the rare earth elements initially increase with increasing SiO₂ in the more mafic rocks. While the high-temperature I–type granite magmas were produced by the partial melting of mafic source rocks, their low-temperature analogues resulted from the partial melting of quartzofeldspathic rocks such as older tonalites. In that second case, the melt produced was felsic and the more mafic low-temperature I–type granites have that character because of the presence of entrained and magmatically equilibrated restite. High temperature granites are more prospective for mineralisation, both because of that higher temperature and because they have a greater capacity to undergo extended fractional crystallisation, with consequent concentration of incompatible components, including H₂O.     

Early Proterozoic bimodal volcanic rocks in central Colorado,U.S.A., Part II: Geochemistry,petrogenesis and tectonic setting

The early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Salida area of central Colorado consist of strongly bimodal sequences of volcanogenic rocks. The mafic rocks — basalts, basaltic volcaniclastics, and related gabbro sheets — are distinctly tholeiitic, display a strong iron-enrichment trend, and typically contain less than 50% SiO₂. The felsites are rhyolites to dacites and contain more than 70% SiO₂.Major and trace element modeling show that the mafic rocks underwent two stages of crystal fractionation, the first involving olivine and plagioclase, the second involving plagioclase and clinopyroxene. Fractionation occurred within individual injections as they rose toward the surface rather than in a single magma chamber at depth. Field relations and major element data support the derivation of the felsic rocks from a magma generated by anatexis of sialic crust. However, the low Sr and high heavy REE concentrations in these rocks are not compatible with a partial melting model and suggest that the felsic volcanic rocks could have been derived by extensive fractional crystallization of the mafic magma.Normalized trace element abundances and trace element ratios of the mafic rocks are most like continental flood basalts such as the Columbia River basalts. They also display some similarity to immature back-arc basin tholeiites developed on continental crust, such as those of the Sarmiento complex. The felsic rocks have strong chemical affinities to within-plate rhyolites rather than calc-alkaline rhyolites from orogenic areas. The chemical data, as well as the petrographic, stratigraphic, and regional field data all indicate that the early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Salida area developed along a continental margin, probably within an immature back-arc basin underlain by sialic crust. Remnants of the arc system of similar age may lie to the south in northern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado.     

Liquid Immiscibility of Boninite in Xiangcheng, Southwestern China, and Its implication to Genetic Relationship between Boninite and Komatiitic Basalt

Boninitic rocks and associated high-magnesian basalt and high-iron tholeiite in the Xiangcheng area constitute the basal horizon of the arc volcanic sequence in the Triassic Yidun Island-Arc, southwestern China. The boninite occurs as pillow, massive and ocellar lavas; the last one possesses well-developed globular structure and alternates with the former two. The boninite is characterized by the absence of phenocrysts of olivine and low-Ca pyroxenes and by low CaO/Al2O3 ratios (<0.67) and high Cr (>1000 ppm) and Ni (>250 ppm). The normalized abundance patterns (NAP) of trace elements to primitive mantle are similar to the NAP of low-Ca modern boninites and SHMB in the Archaean and Proterozoic.As a mechanism of ocellar texture, liquid immiscibility in boninite is supported by the following lines of evidence: (a) sharp contact between ocelli and matrix, (b) constant volumetric ratios of ocelli/matrix and common coalescence of ocelli in ocellar rocks, (c) identical micro-spinifex textures and mineral asse     

High-K calc-alkaline plutonism in Zouzan, NE of Lut block, Eastern Iran: An evidence for arc related magmatism in Cenozoic

The Zouzan pluton is one of the intrusive bodies in the NE of Lut block enclosed by Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks. It consists of two distinct mafic and felsic magmas which are genetically unrelated. All studied rocks are calc-alkaline in nature, with LILE/REE and HFSE/REE ratios compatible with arc related magmatism. Mafic phase has dioritic composition emplaced as small stocks in felsic rocks. Geochemical characteristics in dioritic rocks (relatively high contents of incompatible elements, low Na₂O and Mg#>44) suggest they were derived from partial melting of metabasalt sources in a subduction settings. Felsic phase composed of granodiorite to granite rocks with high-K calcalkaline metaluminous to slightly peraluminous signature. Major and trace element data exclude high pressure melting and metasedimentary parental in the formation of Zouzan felsic rocks. They have been formed by partial melting of mantle-derived mafic rocks. Field relation, petrographical evidences and chemical composition show that partial melting of a mantle wedge in conjunction with magma mixing and crystal fractionation would have led to generation of Zouzan pluton.     

流体不混溶性和流体包裹体

大多数流体包裹体是捕获于均匀体系,但有一部分包裹体捕获自非均匀体系(不混溶体系)。在自然界存在着许多不混溶的过程,这包括基性岩浆和酸性岩浆之间,岩浆与热液,岩浆与CO₂,盐水溶液与CO₂等。液体的不混溶性对于成矿作用十分重要,这方面有3个典型的例子,第一个是金矿的成矿作用与NaCl-H₂O-CO₂体系流体的不混溶有着重大的关系;第二个例子是斑岩铜矿;第三个例子是伟晶岩,发现在伟晶岩演化和成矿作用中存在着岩浆和热液的不混溶作用。实际上不混溶的大部分证据是从流体包裹体的研究中获得的。现在的问题是如何来确定哪些包裹体是从不混溶过程中捕获的。这种捕获于不混溶过程中的流体包裹体怎么来确定他的T_h和成分。这种捕获于不混溶过程中的流体包裹体怎么与"卡脖子"拉伸作用"中捕获的包裹体和捕获自均匀体系的流体包裹体相区分。     

Neoproterozoic nascent island arc volcanism from the Nubian Shield of Egypt: Magma genesis and generation of continental crust in intra-oceanic arcs

The Neoproterozoic Wadi Ranga metavolcanic rocks, South Eastern Desert of Egypt, constitute a slightly metamorphosed bimodal sequence of low-K submarine tholeiitic mafic and felsic volcanic rocks. The mafic volcanic rocks are represented by massive and pillow flows and agglomerates, composed of porphyritic and aphyric basalts and basaltic andesites that are mostly amygdaloidal. The felsic volcanic rocks embrace porphyritic dacites and rhyolites and tuffs, which overlie the mafic volcanic rocks. The geochemical characteristics of Wadi Ranga volcanic rocks, especially a strong Nb depletion, indicate that they were formed from subduction-related melts. The clinopyroxene phenocrysts of basalts are more akin to those crystallizing from island-arc tholeiitic magmas. The tholeiitic nature of the Wadi Ranga volcanics as well as their LREE-depleted or nearly flat REE patterns and their low K₂O contents suggest that they were developed in an immature island arc setting. The subchondritic Nb/Ta ratios (with the lowest ratio reported for any arc rocks) and low Nb/Yb ratios indicate that the mantle source of the Wadi Ranga mafic volcanic rocks was more depleted than N-MORB-source mantle. Subduction signature was dominated by aqueous fluids derived from slab dehydration, whereas the role of subducted sediments in mantle-wedge metasomatization was subordinate, implying that the subduction system was sediment-starved and far from continental clastic input. The amount of slab-derived fluids was enough to produce hydrous magmas that follow the tholeiitic but not the calc-alkaline differentiation trend. With Mg# > 64, few samples of Wadi Ranga mafic volcanic rocks are similar to primitive arc magmas, whereas the other samples have clearly experienced considerable fractional crystallization.The low abundances of trace elements, together with low K₂O contents of the felsic metavolcanic rocks indicate that they were erupted in a primitive island arc setting. The felsic volcanic rocks are characterized by lower K/Rb ratios compared to the mafic volcanic rocks, higher trace element abundances (~ 2 to ~ 9 times basalt) on primitive arc basalt-normalized pattern and nearly flat chondrite-normalized REE patterns, which display a negative Eu anomaly. These features are largely consistent with fractional crystallization model for the origin of the felsic volcanic rocks. Moreover, SiO₂-REE variations for the Wadi Ranga volcanic rocks display steadily increasing LREE over the entire mafic to felsic range and enriched La abundances in the felsic lavas relative to the most mafic lavas, features which are consistent with production of the felsic volcanic rocks through fractional crystallization of basaltic melts. The relatively large volume of Wadi Ranga silicic volcanic rocks implies that significant volume of silicic magmas can be generated in immature island arcs by fractional crystallization and indicates the significant role of intra-oceanic arcs in the production of Neoproterozoic continental crust. We emphasize that the geochemical characteristics of these rocks such as their low LILE and nearly flat REE patterns can successfully discriminate them from other Egyptian Neoproterozoic felsic volcanic rocks, which have higher LILE, Zr and Nb and fractionated REE patterns.     

Cordierite-anthophyllite rocks from north-west Queensland, Australia: metamorphosed magnesian pelites

Abstract Cordierite-anthophyllite rocks and related cordierite-rich, talc-rich and chlorite-rich rocks occur in the Rosebud Syncline, north-west Queensland, Australia, as part of a Proterozoic metasedimentary sequence. Field relations and rock compositions attest the sedimentary origin of these rather unusual metamorphic rocks. Their chemical composition is comparable to that of unmetamorphosed, alkali- and Ca-poor pelites, which are associated with some evaporite deposits. Other occurrences of cordierite-anthophyllite rocks have commonly been interpreted as metamorphosed chloritic alteration products derived from mafic or felsic volcanics. A comparative chemical study, using analyses of cordierite-anthophyllite rocks from such alteration zones and analyses of unmetamorphosed magnesian pelites, demonstrates the general chemical similarity between these two rock groups of entirely different origin. However, distinct differences in major element relations help to distinguish these two genetic groups. Particularly useful are Al₂O₃–FeO–MgO plots, in which evaporitic pelites occupy the Fe-poor side. The highly magnesian metamorphic rocks from the Rosebud Syncline fall entirely into the compositional field of evaporitic clays and shales. Furthermore, analyses of relatively immobile trace elements give supporting evidence for the sedimentary origin of these cordierite-anthophyllite rocks. The correlation with trace element ranges of clays and shales is very good. However, the correlation with trace element ranges of mafic and felsic volcanics is poor, and major discrepancies occur with Cr, Ni, Co, Nb, Sc, Th and Ti. Thus, the magnesian metamorphics of the Rosebud Syncline appear to be derived from evaporitic clays rich in magnesian clay minerals, such as palygorskite, sepiolite, chlorite or corrensite. The complete metamorphic rock assemblage of interlayered calcareous, aluminous and magnesian rocks is interpreted as a metamorphosed carbonate-evaporite-pelite sequence.     

Geochemistry of mafic microgranular enclaves in the Tamdere Quartz Monzonite, south of Dereli/Giresun, Eastern Pontides, Turkey

Rocks of the Late Cretaceous Tamdere Quartz Monzonite, constituting a part of the Eastern Pontide plutonism, include mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) ranging from spheroidal to ellipsoidal in shape, and from a few centimeters to decimeters in size. The MMEs are composed of diorite, monzodiorite and quartz diorite, whereas the felsic host rocks comprise mainly quartz monzonite, granodiorite and rarely monzogranite on the basis of both mineralogical and chemical compositions. The common texture of felsic host rocks is equigranular. MMEs are characterized by a microgranular texture and also reveal some special types of microscopic textures, e.g. antirapakivi, poikilitic K-feldspar, small lath-shaped plagioclase in large plagioclase, blade-shaped biotite, acicular apatite, spike zones in plagioclase and spongy-cellular plagioclase textures.

The distribution of major, trace and RE elements apparently reflect exchange between the MMEs and the felsic host rocks mainly due to thermal, mechanical and chemical interactions between coeval felsic host magma and mafic magma. The most evident major element transfer from felsic host magma to mafic magma blob is that of alkalis such as Na and K. LILEs such as Rb, Sr, Ba and some HFSEs such as Nb, Y, Zr and Th have been migrated from felsic host magma to MMEs. Apart from these major and trace elements, the other element transfer from felsic host magma to mafic one concerns REE contents. Such a transfer of REEs has evidently increased the LREE contents of MMEs. Enrichments in alkalis, LILEs, HFSEs and REEs could have been achieved by diffusional processes during the solidification of magma sources. The felsic and mafic magma sources behave as Newtonian and visco-plastic materials. In such an interaction, small MMEs behave as a closed system due to immediate rapid cooling, whereas the bigger MMEs suffer greater diffusion from the Newtonian felsic host magma due to slow cooling.     

Geochemical signature and rock associations of ocean ridge-subduction: Evidence from the Karamaili Paleo-Asian ophiolite in east Junggar,NW China

Subduction of active spreading ridges most likely occurs throughout Earth's history. Interaction or collision between spreading center and trench, with the active spreading ridge downgoing and shallowly being buried in subduction zone, results in low-pressure but high-temperature near-trench magmatism in the forearc and accretionary prism setting. The Central Asian region, a complex orogenic belt created during the evolution and closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) at ~ 1000–300 Ma, provides an ideal place to study the subduction of PAO spreading ridges beneath ancient continental margins. It had been suggested that the low-pressure and high-temperature mafic and intermediate to felsic magmas from the Karamaili ophiolite (KO) in the NE corner of the Junggar basin (NW China) in Central Asia were likely produced by ridge subduction (Liu et al., 2007). In this paper, we combine our new geochemical data with previous results to show that the geochemical characteristics of the bulk of KO mafic rocks range from arc basalt-like to mid-ocean ridge basalt-like and ocean island basalt-like. Their trace element patterns range from depleted to enriched in highly incompatible elements, but depleted in Nb and Ta, indicating a subduction-influenced origin. The KO intermediate to felsic rocks are calc-alkaline and boninitic in composition and have trace element signatures similar to the associated mafic rocks. The low Nb/Ta ratios of some of the mafic rocks and boninitic character of some of the intermediate to felsic rocks reflect a highly depleted source, perhaps due to prior backarc magmatism. Major and trace element models indicate complex fractional crystallization histories of parental KO magmas to generate both the mafic and intermediate to felsic rocks, but in general, crystal fractionation occurred at 1000 to 1200 °C and moderate to low (0.5 kbar to 10 kbar) pressure or < 23 km depth. We conclude that the KO was formed in a forearc region of a subduction system that experienced ridge subduction.     

Compositions of immiscible liquids in volcanic rocks

Immiscible liquids, preserved as chemically distinct, glassy globules, (Si-rich and Fe-rich) occur in many tholeiitic basalts and some alkaline and calcalkaline lavas. The glasses typically form part of a dark mesostasis containing skeletal magnetite crystals. In thick flows, the Si-rich liquid may crystallize to granophyric patches, and the Ferich one to aggregates of hedenbergite, magnetite, and accessory phases. The mesostases containing these immiscible phases constitute from 20% of a primitive olivine tholeiite (MgO=7.5%) to 50% of a highly fractionated quartz tholeiite (MgO=2.8%), but may be less if the rock is oxidized. Abundant ferric iron promotes early crystallization of magnetite and prevents the iron enrichment necessary to reach the immiscibility field; thus, aa flows rarely exhibit immiscibility, whereas the more reduced pahoehoe ones do.Alumina and alkalis are concentrated in the Si-rich liquid, whereas the remainder of the major elements are concentrated in the Fe-rich melt; but the partitioning of Fe, Mg, Ca, and P is less pronounced in alkaline rocks than in tholeiites. Conjugate liquids have compositions of granite and Fe-rich pyroxenite, though the Si-rich melt in alkaline rocks is more syenitic and the Fe-rich one contains considerable normative alkali feldspar. The liquids coexist with plagioclase and augite of, respectively, An₅₀ and Ca₃₄Mg₁₉Fe₄₇ compositions in tholeiites, and An₄₀ and Ca₄₂Mg₂₉Fe₂₉ in alkaline rocks. Immiscibility is not restricted to K-rich residual liquids, but the miscibility gap is narrower for Na-rich compositions. In tholeiitic basalts with 52% SiO₂, the Na₂O/K₂O ratios in conjugate liquids are equal, but at lower silica contents the Si-rich liquid is relatively more sodic, whereas at higher silica contents it is relatively more potassic. This may explain the association of sodic granites with mid ocean ridge basalts.Immiscible liquids are present in sufficient amounts in so many volcanic rocks that magma unmixing should be considered a viable means of differentiation during the late stages of fractionation of common magmas, at least at low pressures.     

内蒙古嘎仙镍钴矿区岩浆作用与成矿

内蒙古嘎仙矿床为大兴安岭北段与岩浆作用有关的大型低品位镍钴硫化物矿床,成矿作用主要与花岗质岩浆作用有关。文章主要对矿区内矿体下盘的花岗岩类(花岗斑岩、长石斑岩、伟晶状花岗岩、黑云母花岗岩)进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,获得花岗斑岩的谐和线年龄(125.3±1.1)Ma～(127.5±4.5)Ma,长石斑岩的谐和线年龄为(128.1±2.2)Ma,伟晶状花岗岩的谐和线年龄为(127.9±2.3)Ma,黑云母花岗岩的谐和线年龄为(127.9±1.4)Ma,说明这些花岗岩类主要形成于中生代早白垩世。通过对矿化超镁铁岩、科马提岩、镁铁岩(辉绿岩、玄武岩)、长英质岩(闪长岩、长石斑岩、斜长花岗岩、花岗斑岩、伟晶状花岗岩、黑云母花岗岩)及围岩(大理岩)的主量、微量元素地球化学测试分析,结果表明,与吉峰科马提岩成分相比较,矿化超镁铁岩具有较高的w(SiO_2)(40.53%～54.96%)、w(TiO_2)(0.24%～0.86%)、w(Al_2O_3)(3.58%～10.47%)、w(FeO)(5.30%～8.80%)、w(CaO)(7.35%～13.66%)、w(Na_2O)(0.01%～0.76%)、w(K_2O)(0.02%～0.66%)和w(P_2O_5)(0.06%～0.61%);镁铁岩(包括辉绿辉长岩、玄武岩)铝含量较高,w(Al_2O_3)=16.34%～17.74%;长英质岩类也富铝质(Al_2O_3/(CaO+Na_2O+K_2O)=1.34～1.63),多数岩石属于钙碱性系列。闪长岩与镁铁岩相比,具有较高的硅、铝、钾、钠,较低的铁、镁和钙,微量元素具有大离子亲石元素富集,高场强元素相对亏损的右倾模式;稀土元素具有轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素相对亏损特征,超镁铁岩类成分点位于N-MORB与OIB范围之间,而镁铁岩和长英质岩类成分点位于E-MORB和OIB之间。镁铁岩落入火山弧玄武岩范围,长英质岩落入火山弧花岗岩+同碰撞花岗岩范围,同属于造山后花岗岩的范围,因此镁铁质岩的形成应属于俯冲-碰撞环境,而长英质岩的形成应属于造山后伸展环境。根据各岩类所含成矿元素和亲流体元素分析,认为含矿热液来自矿区西部的深部,并且构建了嘎仙矿床的成矿模型,即超镁铁岩先期侵位,后期经历了区域的变质变形,最后发生燕山期大规模花岗质岩浆活动及成矿流体的蚀变矿化。     

Origin of Archean anorthosites: Evidence from the Bad Vermilion Lake anorthosite complex,Ontario

The Bad Vermilion Lake anorthosite complex (2,700 m.y.) is exposed over an area of about 100 km² near Rainy Lake, Ontario. As is typical of other Archean anorthosites, it is composed of coarse (1–30 cm across), equidimensional, euhedral to subhedral, calcic (An₈₀) plagioclase, in a finer grained mafic matrix. The amount of mafic matrix in individual samples ranges from none to about 70% by volume. The complex has been variably metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Zoisite, chlorite, and hornblende are abundant, but primary plagioclase is preserved in many places. The anorthosite complex is associated with gabbro and with mafic to felsic metavolcanic rocks, and is cut by tonalite plutons and by mafic dikes. Some gabbros contain local concentrations of Fe-Ti oxides and/or apatite, but no chromite. The mafic groundmass of the anorthositic rocks is similar in major and trace element chemistry, including rare earth elements, to the associated basaltic metavolcanics, suggesting that the anorthositic complex may have accumulated from a subvolcanic magma chamber which fed mafic lavas to the surface during its crystallization. Mafic flows and dikes chemically similar to the mafic metavolcanics contain plagioclase megacrysts akin to those of the anorthositic rocks, and thus may represent a link between the anorthosite complex and associated mafic lavas. Elongate pretectonic tonalite intrusions were comagmatic with the felsic metavolcanics, but not with the anorthosites or metabasalts. These silicic rocks may represent low-pressure partial melts of the mafic rocks. There is no direct or indirect evidence for significant volumes of ultramafic material at the present exposure level of the complex. An estimate of the bulk composition of all rocks presumed to be comagmatic with the anorthosites, including gabbros and mafic metavolcanics, is an aluminous basalt with about 20 wt.% Al₂O₃. This composition has REE abundances unlike those of typical Archean high-Al basalts and probably does not represent that of a primary or evolved melt. The possibility must be considered, therefore, that a substantial fraction of material comagmatic with the anorthosites has been separated from the complex, either by magmatic or tectonic processes.