南非Postmasburg锰矿田白云岩的控矿作用

Bishop、Paling两个矿区位于南非Postmasburg锰矿田的西矿带上,这一地区发育了典型的沉积-变质型矿床。在岩性序列中识别出了6个岩性单元,自下而上分别为:白云岩单元、铁锰矿体单元、铁质细砂岩/铁质砾岩单元、泥质粉砂岩单元、石英岩单元和页岩单元,其中白云岩单元构成了矿床发育的基底。白云岩有两种类型,分别为富锰白云岩及上覆的藻白云岩,它们是岩溶系统形成的基础。岩溶系统中的大量溶坑是沉积序列的主要赋存空间。原生矿体的形态、规模和发育位置均受溶坑的控制,侧向延伸不连续。锰土是富锰白云岩的风化残余物,被矿体底部的富锰矿石不整合覆盖。侧部的富铁矿石则直接覆盖在藻白云岩之上。堆积型矿体多分布于白云岩斜坡的边缘。将矿田的发育过程划分为三个时期,其中第一时期形成的N-S向溶蚀洼地为铁、锰的赋存奠定了基础;第三时期岩溶作用再次发生,原生矿体侧部坍塌,矿石在斜坡上富集形成堆积型矿体。     

The early proterozoic Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn-F deposits of the Campbellrand and Malmani Subgroups,South Africa

Pb-Zn-F deposits occur in the very late Archaean (2.55 Ga) shallow marine dolostone of the relatively undeformed Campbellrand and Malmani Sub-groups, which are overlain unconformably by the lower Proterozoic Postmasburg and Pretoria Group siliciclastics. They consist of stratiform deposits formed by replacement and porosity-filling, as well as pipes, ring-shaped and irregular bodies associated with collapse breccia. In the Transvaal basin the latter were generated during the karst denudation period between the deposition of the Chuniespoort Group (ending at 2.4 Ga) and of the Pretoria Group (starting at 2.35 Ga). A part of these mineralisations were overprinted by the metamorphism of the Bushveld Complex intrusion at 2.06 Ga. In the Transvaal basin, the age of the mineralisation is constrained between the start of the Pretoria Group deposition and the Bushveld intrusion. It is concluded that, although most of the mineralisations are characteristic of the Mississippi Valley-type, some of the northernmost occurrences, rich in siderite, are less typical. A classic genetic model is proposed. In an environment characterised by tensional tectonics and basin development, brines of basinal origin were heated by circulation into pre-Chuniespoort rocks, leached metals from the rocks they permeated, and rose as hydrothermal plumes. At relatively shallow depth they deposited minerals after mixing with water of surficial origin.     

The Black Reef Quartzite Formation in the western Transvaal: sedimentological and economic aspects,and significance for basin evolution

A sedimentological study of the early Proterozoic Black Reef Quartzite Formation in the south-western parts of the Transvaal province of South Africa was undertaken with the primary aim of examining the sedimentological controls of gold mineralization in the Black Reef placer, which occurs at the base of this Formation. A second aim of the study was to investigate the early history of the basin in which the Transvaal Sequence of South Africa was deposited. The thin, siliciclastic Black Reef Quartzite Formation, which is informally subdivided into a lower Conglomerate Unit and an upper Quartzite Unit, is underlain by Archaean rocks belonging to the basement complex and the Witwatersrand and Ventersdorp Supergroups, and is overlain by a thick succession of carbonate rocks of the Malmani Subgroup. The pre-Transvaal palaeosurface is characterised by elongated northeast to southwest trending grabens and partly-eroded horst blocks. The Black Reef Quartzite Formation, which has a maximum thickness of about 30 m in the study area, typically comprises a succession of interbedded arenites and mudstones, with a sporadically-developed basal Conglomerate Unit. Thickness trends are similar to the dominant structural trend of the pre-Transvaal palaeosurface. At localities where the Conglomerate Unit is absent, the Formation invariably overlies quartzites of the Witwatersrand Supergroup directly. The palaeocurrent distribution of the Conglomerate Unit is unimodal, with modes towards the southwest in the southern parts of the study area and towards the north in the northern regions. Most of the palaeocurrent distributions of the Quartzite Unit are unimodal, too, but bimodal distributions were found at three localities. Pebble size of the Black Reef placer is largest in the northeastern parts of the study area, but no orderly lateral size variation was found. Pebble roundness, too, varies greatly and apparently randomly. The composition of the pebble assemblage is not constant, but no systematic lateral change could be detected. A petrographic study of the arenites of the Formation reveals a remarkable textural and mineralogical maturity, especially for the upper beds. It is concluded that the pre-Transvaal palaeosurface had a palaeorelief of up to 30 m and that the topography of the palaeo-landscape was the dominant factor controlling early sedimentation in the basin. The palaeo-grabens probably constituted the valleys of shallow braided stream systems that drained south-westwards and northwards from a palaeo-drainage divide in the northern parts of the study area. Sediment, including detrital gold, was derived from erosion of Witwatersrand rocks and fed to the graben valleys via several alluvial fans. During a subsequent transgression, the fluvial systems became drowned and transgressive estuarine conditions ensued. During the final stages of siliciclastic sedimentation, the upper quartzite beds of the Formation were probably reworked by shallow marine processes before carbonate precipitation commenced. The cause of the marine transgression is not known beyond doubt. It is suggested, however, that lithospheric rifting, which initiated the extrusion of the underlying Ventersdorp lavas, resumed during early Transvaal times, resulting in complete severing of the continental crust and the creation of a linear sea.     

Transvaal Supergroup inliers: geology, tectonic development and relationship with the Bushveld complex, South Africa

Several deformed Transvaal Supergroup inliers occur in the Bushveld complex. The most prominant are the Crocodile River dome and the Rooiberg fragment in the western Transvaal basin and the Dennilton-Marble Hall dome and Stavoren fragment in the eastern Transvaal basin. Several other smaller Transvaal Supergroup inliers are situated in the Bushveld complex to the east and west of the central inliers. The geology and tectonic relationship of these inliers with the Bushveld complex imposed important constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Transvaal basin and the subsequent distribution of the Bushveld complex.The central inliers are subdivided into two groups. The Crocodile River, Marble Hall and Dennilton domes consist of highly deformed, lower Transvaal strata that were subjected to low-grade metamorphism. The domes were formed by interference folding that was accentuated by the intrusion of the Bushveld complex. They acted as physical barriers to the emplacement of the mafic rocks of the Bushveld complex in the centre of the Transvaal basin.The Rooiberg and Stavoren fragments are synforms of upper Transvaal strata. The strara that comprise them are less deformed than those in the domes. These fragments were subjected to low-grade metamorphism because of the intrusion of Bushveld granite beneath them. They acted as roof pendants to the emplacement of the Bushveld complex.Other smaller Transvaal Supergroup inliers in the Transvaal basin are shown to be either attached or detached structures, depending on their tectonic setting and relation to the Bushveld complex.     

Mineralogical characterization of saprolite at the FRC background site in Oak Ridge,Tennessee

The Field Research Center (FRC) including five contaminated sites and a clean background area was established in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) program. This study investigates the mineralogy and mineralogical pathways of saprolite at the FRC background site to provide a fundamental basis for the remediation strategy for contaminated sites. The background site is underlain interbedded shales, siltstones, and limestones with nearly identical characteristics to the contaminated sites. Bulk samples of saprolite were collected by hand picking approximately at 1 m depth (C horizon) from the soil surface. The soil pH of 4.3 and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 10.5 cmol/kg measured are in the range of the typical shallow depth saprolite layer in this area. Total Fe by citrate-bicarbonate-dithionate (CBD) and ammonium oxalate extractable (amorphous) were 17.6 and 0.61 g/kg, respectively. Total Mn extracted by NH₂OH·HCl was 0.17 g/kg. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses indicate that quartz, illite, and microcline (K-feldspar) are the dominant minerals, occupying 95% of mineral composition. The saprolite samples analyzed have shown characteristics of oxic conditions overall, and the degrees of weathering for three sampling locations were various, most for S1 and least for S3, likely influenced either by the flow channels developed through saprolite or by seasonal fluctuation of the groundwater table. The source of the manganese oxide that observed from the site is likely to be Mn-rich muscovite in the shale or Mn-rich biotite in the blackish band in the limestone. The results such as abundant Mn and Fe contents identified encouraging prospects for conducting remediation projects in FRC sites.     

A review of the stratigraphy and geological setting of the Palaeoproterozoic Magondi Supergroup,Zimbabwe – Type locality for the Lomagundi carbon isotope excursion

The Palaeoproterozoic Magondi Supergroup lies unconformably on the Archaean granitoid-greenstone terrain of the Zimbabwe Craton and experienced deformation and metamorphism at 2.06–1.96 Ga to form the Magondi Mobile Belt. The Magondi Supergroup comprises three lithostratigraphic units. Volcano-sedimentary rift deposits (Deweras Group) are unconformably overlain by passive margin, back-arc, and foreland basin sedimentary successions, including shallow-marine sedimentary rocks (Lomagundi Group) in the east, and deeper-water shelf to continental slope deposits in the west (Piriwiri Group). Based on the upward-coarsening trend and presence of volcanic rocks at the top of the Piriwiri and Lomagundi groups, the Piriwiri Group is considered to be a distal, deeper-water time-equivalent of the Lomagundi Group. The Magondi Supergroup experienced low-grade metamorphism in the southeastern zone, but the grade increases to upper greenschist and amphibolite facies grade to the north along strike and, more dramatically, across strike to the west, reaching upper amphibolite to granulite facies in the Piriwiri Group.     

Deconstructing the Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa: implications for Palaeoproterozoic palaeoclimate models

Current correlations between the Pretoria and Postmasburg Groups of the Transvaal Supergroup are shown to be invalid. The Postmasburg Group is also demonstrated to be broadly conformable with the underlying Ghaap Group and therefore considerably older (2.4 Ga) than previously supposed. The new stratigraphy documents an extensive (100 Ma) and continuous cold-climate episode with a glacial maximum at the Makganyene Formation diamictite. Iron formations of the underlying Asbesheuwels and Koegas Subgroups and overlying Hotazel Formation have similar origins, related, respectively, to the onset and cessation of the glacial event. This interpretation of the Transvaal Supergroup stratigraphy has significant implications for various Palaeoproterozoic environmental models and for the timing of the development of an oxygenated atmosphere.     

Manganese and ferromanganese ores from different tectonic settings in the NW Himalayas,Pakistan

In Pakistan manganese and ferromanganese ores have been reported from the Hazara area of North West Frontier Province, Waziristan agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Lasbela-Khuzdar regions of Baluchistan. This study is focused on comparison of mineralogy and geochemistry of the continental ferromanganese ores of Hazara and the ophiolitic manganese ores of the Waziristan area of Pakistan. In the Hazara area, ferromanganese ores occur at Kakul, Galdanian and Chura Gali, near Abbottabad, within the Hazira Formation of the Kalachitta-Margala thrust belt of the NW Himalayas of the Indo-Pakistan Plate. The Cambrian Hazira Formation is composed of reddish-brown ferruginous siltstone, with variable amounts of clay, shale, ferromanganese ores, phosphorite and barite. In Waziristan, manganese ores occur at Shuidar, Mohammad Khel and Saidgi, within the Waziristan ophiolite complex, on the western margin of the Indo-Pakistan Plate in NW Pakistan. These banded and massive ores are hosted by metachert and overlie metavolcanics.The ferromanganese ores of the Hazara area contain variable amount of bixbyite, partridgeite, hollandite, pyrolusite and braunite. Bixbyite and partridgeite are the dominant Mn-bearing phases. Hematite dominates in Fe-rich ores. Gangue minerals are iron-rich clay, alumino-phosphate minerals, apatite, barite and glauconite are present in variable amounts, in both Fe-rich and Mn-rich varieties. The texture of the ore phases indicates greenschist facies metamorphism. The Waziristan ores are composed of braunite, with minor pyrolusite and hollandite. Hematite occurs as an additional minor phase in the Fe-rich ores of the Shuidar area. The only silicate phase in these ores is cryptocrystalline quartz.The chemical composition of the ferromanganese ores in Hazara suggests that the Mn–Fe was contributed by both hydrogenous and hydrothermal sources, while the manganese ores of Waziristan originated only from a hydrothermal source. It is suggested that the Fe–Mn ores of the Hazara area originated from a mixed hydrothermal–hydrogenetic source in shallow water in a ontinental shelf environment due to the transgression and regression of the sea, while the Mn ores of Waziristan were formed at sea-floor spreading centers within the Neo-Tethys Ocean, and were later obducted as part of the Waziristan ophiolite complex.     

Geochemical exploration challenges in the regolith dominated Igarapé Bahia gold deposit,Carajás,Brazil

The Igarapé Bahia, situated in the Carajás Mineral Province, is a world-class example of a lateritic gold deposit. It has developed under tropical weathering conditions since at least the Eocene and resulted in a regolith cover of at least 100 m thickness. The regolith is dominated by ~ 80 m thick ferruginous saprolite containing gossan bodies that constitute the main Au ore. Above saprolite the regolith stratigraphy has been established considering two distinct domains. One composed of residual materials and the other transported materials deposited over palaeochannels. In the residual domain the ferruginous saprolite grades upwards into a fragmental duricrust, interpreted as a collapsed zone, and then into different types of ferruginous duricrusts. Over palaeochannel the ferruginous saprolite is truncated by poorly sorted ferruginous sediment of variable composition that grades upwards into the ferruginous duricrusts formed over transported materials. Lateritization took place during a marked period that transformed the colluvium of the residual domain, and the transported materials accumulated in the channel depressions, into the ferruginous duricrust units. A later bauxitization event has overprinted all duricrust types but has mostly affected the duricrusts over the palaeochannel forming gibbsitic nodules. All duricrusts were finally covered by a transported layer of latosol which flattened the whole landscape in the Carajás region. Gold shows a depletion trend across the regolith but is enriched in the fragmental duricrust below the ferruginous duricrust from which gold is leached. Gold is also chemically dispersed laterally into the fragmental duricrust, but lateral Au dispersion in the ferruginous duricrusts of the residual domain is probably also influenced by colluvial transport. Metals associated with Au mineralization (Cu, U, Mo, Pb, Ag, LREE, Sn, W, Bi, Sb and P) are generally depleted in the saprolite but most of them are still anomalous. The fragmental and ferruginous duricrusts are more leached but the tests performed to estimate the dispersion potential of metals contained in the ferruginous duricrust show that some metals are still significantly anomalous especially Au, Ag and Cu. However, if ferruginous duricrusts are used as an exploration sample media their environment of formation must be considered. Metal depletion is generally more advanced in the ferruginous duricrusts developed in the vicinities of palaeochannels as oppose to those developed in residual domain. On the contrary, Au over palaeochannel areas is enriched in the upper bauxitized ferruginous duricrusts and in their gibbsitic nodules as a result of lateral chemical transport that is more widespread than in the colluvium over residual domain. The latosol is highly depleted in most metals due to its transported nature. However, the nodular fractions of the latosol show the greatest dispersion potential especially for Au, Ag, W, U, Bi and Sn. It can incorporate magnetic nodules that bring a rich suit of metals associated to the magnetic gossans, and non-magnetic nodules, classified as concretion and pisolites, which bring metals enriched or dispersed in the ferruginous duricrusts. This suggests that Lag constitutes a promising sample medium for geochemical exploration in the lateritic terrains of the Carajás region.     

Pyrolysis of transvaal kerogens I. Diagenesis of kerogen in a stromatolite near Zeerust,South Africa: One possible chemical evolution process

This study represents an attempt to understand some of the many post-lithification chemical processes which affect the evolution of kerogen. Kerogens separated from four carbonate stromatolites, collected over a horizontal distance of ～ 350 km from the Malmani Dolomite of the Olifants River Group in the Transvaal Supergroup, were characterized by combined vacuum pyrolysis—gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The relative profiles of the gas chromatographic peak distributions and intensities (·finger print patterns’) of three of the kerogen pyrolyzates were closely similar. The Zeerust stromatolite kerogen yielded a different pattern, showing a greater abundance of higher molecular weight aliphatic and alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon moieties than the other three samples. Many of the stromatolites near the Zeerust area contain epigenetic fluorite introduced by aqueous solutions. Fluid inclusion homogenization analysis showed that the emplacement temperature of fluorite in the sample studied was 100–200°C. Fluoride ion initiated base catalyzed condensations may have been a feasible cause for the production of higher molecular weight aliphatic and (indirectly) some alkyl aromatic moieties in this stromatolite, as compared to those in the other three samples. Acid-catalyzed condensations may also achieve similar results in aqueous diagenetic environments.     

Lateritization processes of ultramafic rocks in Cretaceous times: The fossil weathering crusts of mainland Greece

The lateritic weathering crusts exposed in mainland Greece were developed on ophiolitic ultramafic lithologies during lower Cretaceous times. The lateritic profile consists of four zones: bedrock, saprolite clay (nontronite) and goethitic. The profiles show large variations in thickness, continuity, mineralogy and chemical characteristics. They are broadly similar to clay nickel laterite deposits. The uppermost gravelly ferruginous sector was eroded and the material reworked and redeposited partly on the lateritic crust. Silcrete layers, characteristic of groundwater silcretes, were formed into the clay and goethitic zones. Significant supergene nickel enrichments occur in the clay and saprolite zones, indicating that water moved downward to a very low water table. The structure and mineralogy of the weathering crusts indicates that environmental conditions were likely to have been dominated by alternating wet and dry periods.     

An overview of the geology of the Transvaal Sequence and Bushveld Complex,South Africa

The Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic Transvaal Sequence is preserved within the Transvaal, Kanye and Griqualand West basins, with the 2050 Ma Bushveld Complex intrusive into the upper portion of the succession within the Transvaal basin. Both Transvaal and Bushveld rocks are extensively mineralized, the former containing large deposits of iron, manganese, asbestos, andalusite, gold, fluorine, lead, zinc and tin ores, and the latter some of the World's major occurrences of PGE, chromium and vanadium ores. Transvaal sedimentation began with thin, predominantly clastic sedimentary rocks (Black Reef-Vryburg Formations) which grade up into a thick package of carbonate rocks and BIF (Chuniespoort-Ghaap-Taupone Groups). These lithologies reflect a carbonate-BIF platform sequence which covered much of the Kaapvaal craton, in reaction to thermal subsidence above Ventersdorp-aged rift-related fault systems. An erosional hiatus was followed by deposition of the clastic sedimentary rocks and volcanics of the Pretoria-Postmasburg-Segwagwa Groups within the three basins, under largely closed-basin conditions. An uppermost predominantly volcanic succession (Rooiberg Group-Loskop Formation) is restricted to the Transvaal basin. A common continental rift setting is thought to have controlled Pretoria Group sedimentation, Rooiberg volcanism and the intrusion of the mafic rocks of the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Bushveld Complex. The dipping sheets of the Rustenburg magmas cut across the upper Pretoria Group stratigraphy and lifted up the Rooiberg lithologies to form the roof to the complex. Subsequent granitic rocks of the Lebowa and Rashoop Suites of the Bushveld Complex intruded both upper Rustenburg rocks and the Rooiberg felsites.     

Significance of weathering and regolith/landscape evolution for mineral exploration in the NE Albany-Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

The Albany-Fraser Orogen (AFO), southeast Western Australia, is an underexplored, deeply weathered regolith-dominated terrain that has undergone complex weathering associated with various superimposed climatic events. For effective geochemical exploration in the AFO, integrating landscape evolution with mineralogical and geochemical variations of regolith and bedrock provides fundamental understanding of mechanical and hydromorphic dispersion of ore and pathfinder elements associated with the different weathering processes.In the Neale tenement, northeast of the AFO, a residual weathering profile that is 20-55 m thick was developed under warm and humid climatic conditions over undulating Proterozoic sheared granitoids, gneisses, schists and Au-bearing mafic rocks. From the base, the typical weathering profile consists of saprock, lower ferruginous saprolite, upper kaolinitic saprolite and discontinuous silcrete duricrust or its laterally coeval lateritic residuum. These types of duricrusts change laterally into areas of poorly-cemented kaolinitic grits or loose lateritic pisoliths and nodules.Lateritic residuum probably formed on remnant plateaus and was transported mechanically under arid climatic conditions over short distances, filling valleys to the southeast. Erosion of lateritic residuum exposes the underlying saprolite and, together with dilution by aeolian sands, constitutes the transported overburden (2-25 m thick). The reworked lateritic materials cover the preserved silcrete duricrusts in valleys. The lower ferruginous saprolite and lateritic residuum are well developed over mafic and sulphide-bearing bedrocks, where weathering of ferromagnesian minerals and sulphides led to enrichment of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, V and Zn in these units. Kaolinitic saprolite and the overlying pedogenic silcrete are best developed over alkali granites and quartzofeldspathic gneisses, which are barren in Au and transition elements, and enriched in silica, alumina, rare earth and high field strength elements.A residual Au anomaly is formed in the lower ferruginous saprolite above a Au -bearing mafic intrusion at the Hercules prospect, south of the Neale tenement, without any expression in the overlying soil (< 20 cm). Conversely, a Au anomaly is recorded in the transported cover, particularly in the uppermost 3 m at the Atlantis prospect, 5 km southwest of the Hercules prospect. No anomalies have been detected in soils using five different size fractions (> 2,000 μm, 2,000-250 μm, 250-53 μm, 53-2 μm and < 2 μm). Therefore, soil cannot be efficiently applied as a reliable sampling medium to target mineralization at the Neale tenement. This is because mechanical weathering was interrupted by seasonal periods of intensive leaching under the present-day surface conditions and/or dilution by recently deposited aeolian sediments which obscure any signature of a potential Au anomaly in soils. Therefore, surface soil sampling should extend deeper than 20 cm to avoid dilution by aeolian sands and seasonal leaching processes. Regolith mapping and the distinction between the residual and transported weathering products are extremely significant to follow the distal or proximal mineralization.     

Proterozoic Rifting in the Pranhita-Godavari Valley: Implication on India-Antarctica Linkage

The Pranhita-Godavari (PG) Valley, a major lineament within the South Indian cratonic province, that preserves sediment dominated deposits spanning from Mesoproterozoic to Mesozoic, appears to be a key element in supercontinent reconstruction. The sedimentary basins of the Valley include a thick succession of Early Mesoproterozoic to Late Neoproterozoic rocks, the Godavari Supergroup, which is unconformably overlain by the Late Palaeozoic-Mesozoic Gondwana sequence. The Godavari Supergroup is internally punctuated by several regional and interregional unconformities into a number of unconformity-bound sequences having group level and subgroup level status. The lithostratigraphic attributes of the succession indicate multiple events of fault controlled sedimentation marked by transgression and regression, as well as uneven rates of uplift and subsidence of the basin floor in an extensional tectonic regime. The amplitude of translation of the unconformity surfaces across the base level attests to collective role of tectonic movement and sea level changes in building the stratigraphic framework of the Valley. The stratigraphic framework and depositional systems, such as fan and fan-deltas, together with local outburst of felsic volcanism further indicate repeated rifting of the craton.Geochronologic data indicate that the rift basin started to open in Early Mesoproterozoic, concomitantly with the breakup of the Mesoproterozoic supercontinent during which the India and East Gondwana fragments were separated. The spatial variation in the declivity of the unconformity surfaces, and the trend of thickness variation of the unconformity-bound sequences point that the basin deepened and opened towards southeast to join an ocean that developed between the South Indian craton and East Antarctica. The contractional deformation structures preserved in several lithounits were produced under NE-SW directed regional compression during Late Neoproterozoic basin inversion.     

Late Triassic fluvial and marine shelf succession, Quebrada Doña Inés Chica, Atacama region, northern Chile

A 400-meter-thick volcanic and fine-grained clastic sedimentary succession in Quebrada Doña Ines Chica (26°07′S latitude; 69°20'W longitude) provides a record of Late Triassic deposition in the Atacama region of northern Chile. The strata are conformably overlain by fossiliferous marine limestones and sandstones of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) age which contain the oldest ichthyosaur remains known from Central and South America. The clastic succession is interpreted as coastal fluvial deposits, with the overlying limestones representing shelf deposits.     

The sedimentary and tectonic setting of the Transvaal Supergroup floor rocks to the Bushveld complex

The Palaeoproterozoic Transvaal Supergroup floor to the Bushveld complex comprises protobasinal successions overlain by the Black Reef Formation, Chuniespoort Group and the uppermost Pretoria Group. The protobasinal successions comprise predominantly mafic lavas and pyroclastic rocks, immature alluvial-fluvial braidplain deposits and finer-grained basinal rocks. These thick, laterally restricted protobasinal sequences reflect either strike-slip or small extensional basins formed during the impactogenal rifting and southeasterly-directed tectonic escape, which accompanied collision of the Zimbabwe and Kaapvaal cratons during Ventersdorp times. The erosively-based sheet sandstones of the succeeding Black Reef Formation reflect northwand-directed compression in the south of the basin. Thermal subsidence along the Ventersdorp Supergroup and Transvaal protobasinal fault systems led to shallow epeiric marine deposition of the sheet-like Chuniespoort Group carbonate-BIF platform succession. After an estimated 80 Ma hiatus, characterized by uplift and karstic weathering of the Chuniespoort dolomites, slower thermal subsidence is thought to have formed the Pretoria Group basin. Widespread, closed basin alluvial fan, fluvial braidplain and lacustrine sedimentation, as well as laterally extensive, subaerial andesitic volcanism (Rooihoogte to Strubenkop Formations), gave way to a marine transgression, which laid down the tuffaceous mudrocks, relatively mature sandstones and subordinate subaqueous volcanic rocks of the succeeding Daspoort, Silverton and Magaliesberg Formations. Poorly preserved post-Magaliesberg formations in the Upper Pretoria Group point to possible compressive deformation and concomitant rapid deposition of largely feldspathic detritus within smaller closed basins.     

Signature of the last shelf-centered glaciation at a key section in the Pechora basin,Arctic Russia

The Vastiansky Kon' is the largest exposure of Quaternary deposits in the Pechora lowland, northern Russia. Morphologically the site belongs to the so-called Markhida Moraine; a complex, east–west trending zone of ice-marginal landforms deposited by the Kara Sea Ice Sheet during the last glaciation. The site exhibits a succession of sediments more than 100 m thick that, according to previous studies, covers the interval from the end of the Elsterian to the beginning of the Holocene. Unfortunately both the strong glaciotectonic deformation of the sedimentary succession and few absolute dates have made the chronological interpretation of the section difficult. The present paper reviews previous studies of the site published in Russian, and presents the results of a reinvestigation focusing on the post-Eemian stratigraphy. A marine Eemian clay more than 8 m thick is overlain erosionally by 20 m of fluvial deposits of Late Eemain or Early Weichselian age. The fluvial succession is overlain by a till and a marine clay, which, according to one interpretation, may represent an Early or Middle Weichselian advance of the Kara Ice Sheet followed by a transgression. The clay shows a transition into 15 m of estuarine and fluvial sediments overlain by more than 12 m of tundra–floodplain deposits. The whole succession has been upthrusted glaciotectonically by the last ice advance, which deposited a more than 12 m thick till on top of the section. Based on a number of subtill radiocarbon age-estimates from the site, in the range 25–32 ka BP, the youngest ice advance is considered to be of late Weichselian age, although a Middle Weichselian age cannot be excluded. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical character of archean felsic volcanism in the vicinity of the Helen iron Mine,Wawa, Ontario,Canada

Archean felsic volcanic rocks form a 2000 m thick succession stratigraphically below the Helen Iron Formation in the vicinity of the Helen Mine, Wawa, Ontario. Based on relict textures and structures, lateral and vertical facies changes, and fragment type, size and distribution, the felsic volcanic rocks have been subdivided into (a) lava flows and domes (b) hyalotuffs, (c) bedded pyroclastic flows, (d) massive pyroclastic flows, and (e) block and ash flows.Lava flows and domes are flow-banded, massive, and/or brecciated and occur throughout the stratigraphic succession. Dome/flow complexes are believed to mark the end of explosive eruptive cycles. Deposits interpreted as hyalotuffs are finely bedded and composed dominantly of ash-size material and accretionary lapilli. These deposits are interlayered with bedded pyroclastic flow deposits and probably formed from phreatomagmatic eruptions in a shallow subaqueous environment. Such eruptions led to the formation of tuff cones or rings. If these structures emerged they may have restricted the access of seawater to the eruptive vent(s), thus causing a change in eruptive style from short, explosive pulses to the establishment of an eruption column. Collapse of this column would lead to the accumulation of pyroclastic material within and on the flanks of the cone/ring structure, and to flows which move down the structure and into the sea. Bedded pyroclastic deposits in the Wawa area are thought to have formed in this manner, and are now composed of a thicker, more massive basal unit which is overlain by one or more finely bedded ash units. Based on bed thickness, fragment and crystal size, type and abundance, these deposits are further subdivided into central, proximal and distal facies.Central facies units consist of poorly graded, thick (30–80 m) basal beds composed of 23–60% lithic and 1–8% juvenile fragments. These are overlain by 1–4 thinner ash beds (2–25 cm). Proximal facies basal beds range from 2–35 m in thickness and are composed of 15–35% lithic and 4–16% juvenile fragments. Typically, lithic components are normally graded, whereas juvenile fragments are inversely graded. These basal beds are overlain by ash beds (2–14 in number) which range from 12 cm to 6 m in thickness. Distal basal beds, where present, are thin (1–2 m), and composed of 2–8% lithic and 6–21% juvenile fragments. Overlying ash beds range up to 40 in number.The climax of pyroclastic activity is represented by a thick (1000 m) sequence of massive, poorly sorted, pyroclastic flow deposits which are composed of 5–15% lithic fragments and abundant pumice. These deposits are similar to subaerial ash flows and appear to mark the rapid eruption of large volumes of material. They are overlain by felsic lavas and/or domes. Periodic collapse of the growing domes produced abundant coarse volcanic breccia. The overall volcanic environment is suggestive of caldera formation and late stage dome extrusion.     

南非Postmasburg地区锰矿床地质特征及成因分析

以南非Postmasburg地区Bishop、Paling两个矿区为研究载体,将研究区的地层划分为6个岩性单元,自下而上分别为白云岩单元、铁锰矿体单元、铁质细砂岩/铁质砾岩单元、泥质粉砂岩单元、石英岩/Gamagara页岩单元和Paling页岩单元。识别出了沉积受变质型、堆积型和锰质软泥或锰土型三类矿床,并讨论了其成因模型。根据地层序列特征,将研究区的发育与演化过程划分为4个阶段。分析表明:锰质软泥或锰土是富锰白云岩遭受溶蚀后的残余物。沉积序列各单元为渐变关系,而与白云岩单元之间为不整合接触关系。三种矿床类型都与白云岩的岩溶系统有关,锰质软泥或锰土中的锰来源于富锰白云岩,另外两种则可能来源于安山岩。两次岩溶系统之后分别形成了沉积受变质型矿床和堆积型矿床。成矿后期矿体受到Marthaspoort石英岩的保护而保存下来。     

Ferruginous and manganiferous haloes around massive sulphide deposits of the Urals

Proximal brecciform ferruginous and manganiferous rocks related to VMS deposits of the Urals are subdivided into jasperites, gossanites, and umbers, in addition to thin-bedded jaspers and cherts. The coherence of host rock composition and Mn–Fe-fertility of the sediments have been established. Fe-poor pink hematitic and gray sulphidic chert are typical of the felsic class of VMS deposits. In contrast the contents of Fe vary from high to moderate in ferruginous rocks enclosed in basaltic units associate with VMS deposits. Fe- and Mn-rich ferruginous rocks and umbers occur in association with limestones and calcareous sedimentary rocks in both types of volcanic sequences. A common feature of jasperites and umbers is the abundance of replacement textures of hyaloclastites and carbonates by hematite and silica. In addition, replacement of clastic sulphides by hematite and magnetite is a characteristic genetic feature of gossanites. All of these sedimentary rocks are accompanied by pseudomorphs of hematite and quartz formed after bacterial filaments. The abundance of replacement textures are supportive of the halmyrolysis model, in addition to hydrothermal sedimentary and sub-seafloor hydrothermal replacement theories. Study of chemical zonation of altered hyaloclasts shows depletion of their rims, not only in mobile Na, K, Mg, but also in immobile Al, Ti, and REE; whereas Si and Fe are concentrated in situ. The halmyrolysis model presented here, involving organic-rich calcareous hyaloclastic sediments, resolves the problem of subtraction of Al, Ti, REE and other elements, which are commonly immobile under hydrothermal conditions. The evolution of the halmyrolysis process from acidic reducing to alkaline oxidized conditions infers a possible range in transformation from Fe^II–Mg smectites to Fe-silicates and Fe-Si oxides as precursors of brecciform jasperite and thin-bedded jasper. The higher acidic, initial stage, of gossanite formation seems to be required for oxidation of organic matter and/or pyrite. The acidic condition facilitates the temporal preservation of “immobile” elements (Al, Ti, REE) in “immature”chlorite–hematite gossanites. Another peculiarity of the gossanite-forming processes is the likely sorption of P, U and V by iron hydroxides displacing sulphides. The general evolution of all ferruginous sediments results in complete Fe²⁺ oxidation and silicification accompanied by subtraction of other elements. The vertical diagenetic differentiation leads to concentration of Mn-carbonates, silicates and oxyhydroxides into the tops of jasperite and gossanite layers. Mn oxyhydroxides scavenge positively charged hydrated cations like Co and Ni. Near-vent bacterial communities may activate the processes of volcanic glass and sulphide degradation. The proposed processes of halmyrolysis followed by silicification, in situ, may resolve the enigma of silica-rich sediment formation in a silica undersaturated ocean. The discrimination between gossanite and jasperite is useful for elaboration of new criteria for local exploration of VMS- and Mn-deposits. Halo dispersion of gossanites covering an area about two to three times that of the massive sulphide deposit is a good vector for ore body discovery. Proximal gossanites can be differentiated from jasperites by presence of relic sulphide clasts or elevated contents of chalcophile elements (Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Bi, Te, As, Sb, Ba), noble metals (Au, Ag) and distinct REE patterns with La and Eu positive anomalies. The development of halmyrolysis and biomineralization models merit further elaboration and testing in on-going research, in order to add or revise theories of iron and manganese deposit formation.