Geochemical characteristics of Cretaceous carbonatites from Angola

The Early Cretaceous (138–130 Ma) carbonatites and associated alkaline rocks of Angola belong to the Paraná-Angola-Etendeka Province and occur as ring complexes and other central-type intrusions along northeast trending tectonic lineaments, parallel to the trend of coeval Namibian alkaline complexes. Most of the Angolan carbonatite-alkaline bodies are located along the apical part of the Moçamedes Arch, a structure representing the African counterpart of the Ponta Grossa Arch in southern Brazil, where several alkaline-carbonatite complexes were also emplaced in the Early Cretaceous. Geochemical and isotopic (C, 0, Sr and Nd) characteristics determined for five carbonatitic occurrences indicate that: (1) the overall geochemical composition, including the O---C isotopes, is within the range of the Early and Late Cretaceous Brazilian occurrences from the Paraná Basin; (2) the La versus relationships are consistent with the exsolution of CO_i2-rich melts from trachyphonolitic magmas; and (3) the and initial ratios are similar to the initial isotopic ratios (129 Ma) of alkaline complexes in northwest Namibia. In contrast, the Lupongola carbonatites have a distinctly different initial ratio, suggesting a different source.The Angolan carbonatites have Sr---Nd isotopic compositions ranging from bulk earth to time-integrated depleted sources. Since those from eastern Paraguay (at the western fringe of the Paraná-Angola-Etendeka Province) and Brazil appear to be related to mantle-derived melts with time-integrated enriched or B.E. isotopic characteristics, it is concluded that the carbonatites of the Paraná-Angola-Etendeka Province have compositionally distinct mantle sources. Such mantle heterogeneity is attributed to ‘metasomatic processes’, which would have occurred at ca 0.6–0.7 Ga (Angola, northwest Namibia and Brazil) and ca 1.8 Ga (eastern Paraguay), as suggested by Nd-model ages.     

Mantle derivation of Archean amphibole-bearing granitoid and associated mafic rocks: evidence from the southern Superior Province,Canada

Amphibole-bearing, Late Archean (2.73–2.68 Ga) granitoids of the southern Superior Province are examined to constrain processes of crustal development. The investigated plutons, which range from tonalite and diorite to monzodiorite, monzonite, and syenite, share textural, mineralogical and geochemical attributes suggesting a common origin as juvenile magmas. Despite variation in modal mineralogy, the plutons are geochemically characterized by normative quartz, high Al₂O₃ (> 15 wt%), Na-rich fractionation trends (mol Na₂O/K₂O >2), low to moderate Rb (generally<100 ppm), moderate to high Sr (200–1500 ppm), enriched light rare earth elements (LREE) (Ce_N generally 10–150), fractionated REE (Ce_N/Yb_N 8–30), Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu^*) 1, and decreasing REE with increasing SiO₂. The plutons all contain amphibole-rich, mafic-ultramafic rocks which occur as enclaves and igneous layers and as intrusive units which exhibit textures indicative of contemporaneous mafic and felsic magmatism. Mafic mineral assemblages include: hornblende + biotite in tonalites; augite + biotite ± orthopyroxene ± pargasitic hornblende or hornblende+biotite in dioritic to monzodioritic rocks; and aegirine-augite ± silicic edenite ± biotite in syenite to alkali granite. Discrete plagioclase and microcline grains are present in most of the suites, however, some of the syenitic rocks are hypersolvus granitoids and contain only perthite. Mafic-ultramafic rocks have REE and Y contents indicative of their formation as amphibole-rich cumulates from the associated granitoids. Some cumulate rocks have skeletal amphibole with X_Mg(Mg/(Mg+ Fe²⁺)) indicative of crystallization from more primitive liquids than the host granitoids. Geochemical variation in the granitoid suites is compatible with fractionation of amphibole together with subordinate plagioclase and, in some cases, mixing of fractionated and primitive magmas. Mafic to ultramafic units with magnesium-rich cumulus phases and primitive granitoids (mol MgO/ (MgO+0.9 FeO^TOTAL) from 0.60 to 0.70 and C_T >150 ppm) are comagmatic with the evolved granitoids and indicate that the suites are mantle-derived. Isotopic studies of Archean monzodioritic rocks have shown LREE enrichment and initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios indicating derivation from mantle sources enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) shortly before melting. Mineral assemblages record lower P_H2O with increased alkali contents of the suites. This evidence, in conjunction with experimental studies, suggests that increased alkali contents may reflect decreased P_H2O during mantle melting. These features indicate that 2.73 Ga tonalitic rocks are derived from more hydrous mantle sources than 2.68 Ga syenitic rocks, and that the spectrum of late Archean juvenile granitoid rocks is broader than previously recognized. Comparison with Phanerozoic and recent plutonic suites suggests that these Archean suites are subduction related.     

新疆拜城县波孜果尔A型花岗岩类矿物学特征及岩浆形成的温度条件

新疆拜城县波孜果尔A型花岗岩类为富含铌、钽、锆等有用元素的含矿岩体。通过偏光显微镜、电子探针(EPMA)化学成分分析、电子探针背散射(BSE)对波孜果尔A型花岗岩类的矿物学特征进行了研究,并对岩浆形成的温度条件与构造背景进行了讨论。结果表明,波孜果尔A型花岗岩类包括霓石钠闪石英碱性长石正长岩、霓石钠闪碱性长石花岗岩、黑云母碱性长石正长岩3种岩石类型。主要造岩矿物包括石英、钠长石、钾长石、霓石、钠铁闪石和铁叶云母。副矿物包括锆石、烧绿石、钍石、萤石、独居石、氟碳铈镧矿、磷钇矿等。岩浆平均温度832~839℃,形成于非造山的板内构造环境,且具高温、无水、低氧逸度的成岩特点。     

Chemical controls on the solubility, speciation and mobility of lanthanum at near surface conditions: A geochemical modeling study

Recent experimental determinations of the solubility products of common rare earth minerals such as monazite and xenotime and stability constants for chloride, sulfate, carbonate and hydroxide complexes provide a basis to model quantitatively the solubility, and therefore the mobility, of rare earth elements (REE) at near surface conditions. Data on the mobility of REE and stabilities of REE complexes at near-neutral conditions are of importance to safe nuclear waste disposal, and environmental monitoring. The aim of this study is to understand REE speciation and solubility of a given REE in natural environments. In this study, a series of formation constants for La aqueous complexes are recommended by using the specific interaction theory (SIT) for extrapolation to infinite dilution. Then, a thermodynamic model has been employed for calculation of the solubility and speciation of La in soil solutions reacted with the La end-member of mineral monazite (LaPO₄), and other La-bearing solid phases including amorphous lanthanum hydroxide (La(OH)₃, am) and different La carbonates, as a function of various inorganic and organic ligand concentrations. Calculations were carried out at near-neutral pH (pH 5.5–8.5) and 25 °C at atmospheric CO₂ partial pressure. The model takes account of the species: La³⁺, LaCl²⁺, , , , , , , , , La(OH)²⁺, LaOx⁺, , LaAc²⁺ and (where Ox²⁻ = oxalate and Ac⁻ = acetate).The calculations indicate that the La species that dominate at pH 5.5–8.5 in the baseline model soil solution (BMSS) include La³⁺, LaOx⁺, , and in order of increasing importance as pH rises. The solubility of monazite in the BMSS remains less than 3 × 10⁻⁹ M, exhibiting a minimum of 2 × 10⁻¹² M at pH 7.5. The calculations quantitatively demonstrate that the concentrations of La controlled by the solubility of other La-bearing solid phases are many orders of magnitude higher than those controlled by monazite in the pH range from 5.5 to 8.5, suggesting that monazite is likely to be the solubility-controlling phase at this pH range. The calculations also suggest that significant mobility of La (and other REE) is unlikely because high water–rock ratios on the order of at least 10⁴ (mass ratio) are required to move 50% of the La from a soil. An increase in concentration of oxalate by one order of magnitude from that of the baseline model solution results in the dominance of LaOx⁺ at pH 5.5–7.5. Similarly, the increase in concentration of by one order of magnitude makes the dominant species at pH 5.5–7.5. Above pH 7.5, carbonate complexes are important. The increase in oxalate or concentrations by one order of magnitude can enhance the solubility of monazite by a factor of up to about 6 below neutral pH, in comparison with that in the baseline model soil solution. From pH 7.0 to 8.5, the solubility of monazite in the soil solutions with higher concentrations of oxalate or is similar, or almost identical, to that in the BMSS.     

辽东岫岩地区两类古元古代花岗岩年代学、地球化学及地质意义

辽东半岛岫岩一带出露大面积的辽河岩群变质地层与花岗岩类,是研究胶-辽-吉造山带早期演化的良好场所.通过系统采集岫岩地区大房身钾长花岗岩岩体与牧牛、松树沟二长花岗岩岩体和四门子花岗闪长岩岩体样品,进行了岩相学、地球化学与锆石U-Pb年代学研究.结果显示大房身与牧牛、松树沟岩体具有相近的高钾钙碱性A型花岗岩特征,SiO₂含量介于70.56%~74.52%,Al₂O₃含量在11.85%~14.03%,K₂O/Na₂O高;岩石富集Ga、Zr、REE等元素,Sr、P、Ti等含量低;四门子岩体样品则具有较高的CaO含量（0.50%~3.76%）,K₂O/Na₂O比值和A/CNK值均较低,相对更为亏损Nb、Ta、Hf等高场强元素,显示出I型花岗岩特征.锆石LA-ICP-MS测试显示钾长花岗岩样品U-Pb年龄为2 198±11 Ma,二长花岗岩U-Pb年龄在~2 171~2 167 Ma,花岗闪长岩U-Pb测试结果为2 166±11 Ma,几类花岗岩结晶年龄基本在误差范围内一致.I型花岗岩可能来自古元古代中期（~2.2~2.1 Ga）俯冲作用导致的弧岩浆活动,而A型花岗岩可能来自中下地壳物质的部分熔融的低压高温环境.结合辽吉地区报道的古元古代花岗岩类年龄资料,认为在岫岩地区及周边采集的两类古元古代花岗岩均产出在弧后拉张的构造背景下,胶辽吉造山带在古元古代中期演化接近“弧陆碰撞”模式,洋壳俯冲可能由西向东（现今方向）发生,并持续了较长时间.      

东天山东段国宝山晚二叠世—中三叠世花岗质岩石成因与构造意义——年代学和地球化学约束

东天山—北山地区是中国重要的金属成矿带,对于其晚二叠世—中三叠世构造演化的认识,仍存在较大分歧.东天山东段国宝山地区出露有一系列晚二叠世—中三叠世花岗质岩石,包括花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩、石英正长岩、正长花岗岩和天河石花岗岩.该系列岩体整体以富硅、富碱为特征,其中花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩和石英正长岩具有钾质和富镁特征,轻稀...     

Spatial and temporal geochemical variability in basin-related volcanism, northern Israel

Middle Miocene (17-9 Ma) volcanism in northeast Israel migrated from eastern Lower Galilee (Poria, west of the Sea of Galilee) to the southwest (Yizre'el Valley) in association with the development of an extensional basin in that area. The Yizre'el Valley magmas are highly undersaturated in silica (basanites and nephelinites), while those of Poria are alkali-basaltic. Scarce Middle Miocene basalts from the Golan, further to the east, are also alkali-basaltic. Magmas from Kaukab (southeastern Lower Galilee) show a range of compositions from alkali-basalts to basanites. The patterns defined by ratios versus concentrations of incompatible elements in Kaukab basalts (e.g. versus La), as well as the scatter observed in Sr isotope ratios, are interpreted in terms of binary mixing. It is suggested that the Kaukab magmas were derived from veined lithospheric peridotites, melts of the veins and of the peridotites being the two end-members. Accordingly, alkali-basaltic- and basanite-dominated areas are underlain by vein-poor and vein-rich lithosphere, respectively. It is also suggested that melting during the Middle Miocene mainly occurred in response to extension, and that it followed the propagation of the Yizre'el-Galilee Basin from northeast to southwest.     

U/Pb and Pb/Pb zircon ages from granitoid rocks of Wallagga area: constraints on magmatic and tectonic evolution of Precambrian rocks of western Ethiopia

Summary The Precambrian rocks in western Ethiopia consist of high- and low-grade terranes intruded by granitoids with a wide compositional spectrum. The formation ages of these granitoid rocks are, so far, poorly understood. Single-grain zircon Pb/Pb evaporation and conventional U/Pb dating conducted on four granitoids places time constraints on their emplacement and tectonothermal events. Three granitoid magmatic events were identified at 815 Ma, 700–730 Ma, and 620–625 Ma, which were marked by emplacement of the calc-alkaline Ujjukka granite and granodiorite, the anatectic Suqii-Wagga two-mica granite and the Guttin K-feldspar megacrystic granite, and the anorogenic Ganjii monzogranite, respectively. We interpret the 815 Ma age to mark a major magmatic episode in this part of Africa. A tectonothermal event at ∼ 630 Ma preceded the emplacement of the within-plate granitoids at 620–625 Ma. The decrease of ages from the calc-alkaline to anorogenic granitoids suggests a shift of magmatic styles and tectonic setting of the granitoids over a period of 200 million years. The Suqii-Wagga and Guttin granites, representing the granitoid population in the migmatitic terrane, formed as part of the successive evolution of the granitoid magmatism in the region. The presence of xenocrystic zircons of Mesoproterozoic ages in both granitoid populations emplaced into the low-grade volcanosedimentary sequence and the high-grade, often migmatitic, gneisses suggest contribution of pre-Pan-African crust to the origin and evolution of the granitoids. Conventional U/Pb studies of zircons from the Guttin K-feldspar megacrystic granite and the Ganjii monzogranite yielded upper intercept ages of ∼ 3 Ga and ∼ 2 Ga, respectively, possibly indicating the presence of reworked Archean-Proterozoic crustal material.

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Zusammenfassung U/Pb und Pb/Pb Zirkonalter granitoider Gesteine aus dem Gebiet von Wallagga: Hinweise zur magmatischen und tektonischen Entwicklung pr?kambrischer Gesteine in A¨thiopien Das Pr?kambrium im westlichen ?thiopien besteht aus hoch- und niedrigmetamorphen Basement Serien, die von Granitoiden unterschiedlichster Zusammensetzung intrudiert werden. Die Bildungsalter dieser Magmatite sind bisher nur ungenügend bekannt gewesen. Neue Pb/Pb-Evaporations- und konventionelle U/Pb-Datierungen an Einzelzirkonen von vier verschiedenen Plutoniten erlauben nun Rückschlüsse auf deren Intrusionsalter und die damit verbundene tektonische Entwicklung der Region. Drei zeitlich getrennte magmatische Ereignisse lassen sich unterscheiden: Intrusion der kalk-alkalischen Ujjukka Granite um 815 Ma; Bildung der anatektischen Zweiglimmer Granite der Suqii-Wagga Suite um 700–730 Ma; Intrusion der grob porphyrischen K-Feldspat Granite von Guttin und der anorogenen Ganjii Monzogranite um 620–625 Ma. Das 815 Ma Ereignis wird als wichtige magmatische Phase in diesem Teil von Afrika interpretiert. Ein thermisches Ereignis um 630 Ma geht der Platzname von “within-plate” Granitoiden um 620–625 Ma voraus. Die beobachtete Altersabnahme von den kalk-alkalischen zu den anorogenen Granitoiden spricht für eine pr?gnante ?nderung des tektonischen Regimes über einen Zeitraum von ca. 200 Ma. Die Suquii-Wagga und Guttin Granite sind in das hochgradige, migmatische Basement intrudiert. Dies mag für eine sukzessive tektonische Entwicklung dieser Abfolgen sprechen. Ererbte, mesoproterozoische Zirkone deuten auf die Aufarbeitung pr?-panafrikanischer Gesteine hin. Obere Einstichpunkte von den U/Pb Analysen im Altersbereich von ca. 3 Ga in den Guttin Graniten und von ca. 2 Ga in den Ganjii Monzograniten sprechen ebenfalls für die Inkorporation von proterozoischen bis archaischen Krustenkomponenten.

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Received June 7, 2000; accepted October 29, 2000     

Les tholeiites a affinité alcaline du secteur ouest du Siroua (Anti-Atlas central, Maroc): temoins d'une distension au Néoproterozoïque

The Upper Proterozoic granitoids of the western part of the Siroua Massif (central Anti-Atlas, Morocco) are cut by doleritic dykes injected along submeridian and equatorial directions. These dykes were emplaced before deposition of late Neoproterozoic formations (PIII). According to and incompatible element ratios, these dolerites constitue two discrete chemical groups unrelated to orientation and thickness. They are both enriched in large ion lithophile elements, Zr, Th and light rare earth elements, and correspond to continental tholeiites displaying an alkaline affinity. This alkaline affinity is also confirmed by clinopyroxene and amphibole chemistry. Emplacement of these doleritic dykes occurred under an extensional regime active in the Anti-Atlas range during the Upper Proterozoic.     

The Distribution of Trace Elements in Granitoids in the Nanling Region of China

Granitoids are widely spread in the Nanling Region of China.Four rockbodies in the region the been studied for their REE,Rb,Sr,Ba and Sc distributions.The four rockbodies occurred in different locations and are characterized as being different in age and type.The rock types are presented as follows:Qinghu monzonite,Guangxi;Fuxi granodiorite,Guangdong;Jiufeng monzonitic granite,Hunan;Zudong K-feldspar granite,Jiangxi.From the major and trace element distributions in these granitoids it is clearly shown that Rb/Sr ratios in the rocks tend to increase with increasing SiO2 content and differentiation index(DI),but LREE/HREE,La/Yb and K/Rb ratios tend to decrease,suggesting a correlation between trace element distribution and major element composition for the granitoids.The distribution characteristics of trace elements in each of the rockbodies are described in detail.From the comparative analysis of the Qinghu monzonite and Fuxi granodiorite it is evidenced that the REE distribution is closely related to the sequence of crystallization for the minerals,and also to the petrochemical types of these granitoids in addition to their crystal chemistry.     

Mapping gossans in arid regions with Landsat TM and SIR-C images: the Beddaho Alteration Zone in northern Eritrea

Massive sulphide deposits in the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield are exposed at the surface as Fe-rich crusts termed gossans. Gossans are typically a few tens of metres across but are surrounded by wider clay- and Fe-rich alteration zones. Although Fe-rich gossans have characteristic reflectance spectra and surface roughness, they are often too small to be directly detected by Landsat TM or SIR-C images, both of which have about 30 m spatial resolution. In this paper, a procedure is described whereby gossans and the surrounding alteration zones can be identified and mapped by Landsat TM and SIR-C data using the Beddaho Alteration Zone and the Tebih Gossan in northern Eritrea as an example. Clay and Fe alteration index maps were generated by density slicing for Landsat TM band-ratios and , respectively. Landsat 5/7-4/5-3/1 TM images characteristically depict small (tens of pixels) gossans in blue and the more extensive alteration zones in pinkish purple. Chh-LhhLhh/Chh SIR-C images succeeded in identifying the gossan due to enhanced back-scattering of the radar shorter wavelength (6 cm) C-band by the rough gossan surfaces. This enhanced back-scattering might also be partially due to the characteristic dielectric property of the Fe-rich minerals forming the gossans. Choosing known gossans from both 5/7-4/5-3/1 Landsat TM and Chh-Lhh-Lhh/Chh SIR-C images as training sites for supervised classification helped to outline areas with reflectance spectra and radar back-scattering properties similar to those of the training sites. These results show significant correlation between supervised classifications based on the two data sets, suggesting a way to use combined visible and near infrared (VNIR) and radar imagery to explore for mineral deposits in arid regions.     

Geochemical and isotopic (Nd–O) evidence bearing on the origin of late- to post-orogenic high-K granitoid rocks in the Western Superior Province: implications for late Archean tectonomagmatic processes

The granitoid rock dominated central Wabigoon subprovince of the Superior Province records low-K trondhjemite–tonalite–granodiorite (TTG) type magmatic episodes at <2.83–2.74 and 2.722–2.709 Ga, and high-K mafic to felsic plutonism at 2.690–2.685 Ga. High-K units consist of granite to granodiorite dykes and sills, a K-feldspar megacrystic granodiorite suite of sanukitoid affinity and a suite of mafic dykes and intrusions. Initial ϵ_Nd values (−3.1 to +3.3) indicate variable input to all units from light REE-enriched older crustal materials. The δ¹⁸O (VSMOW) range of felsic compositions (+7.1 to +8.9%) overlaps closely that of average upper Superior Province crust. The granite/granodiorite units probably received melt components derived from both older tonalitic crust and isotopically juvenile supracrustal material. The thermal flux for partial melting was provided by mafic components of the coeval megacrystic granodiorite suite. This latter suite likely formed by extensive crustal assimilation and fractionation of enriched-mantle-derived high-Mg dioritic magmas in a post-collisional setting, possibly resulting from slab breakoff or broader scale lithospheric delamination. A genetic link is inferred between mafic magmatism and the late- to post-tectonic high-K granitoid magmatism that typically represents the last stabilization event within Superior subprovinces. That crustal recycling processes played a major role in the petrogenesis of central Wabigoon high-K granitoid suites is consistent with other evidence that supports repeated and substantial continental recycling within this subprovince as far back as the Mesoarchean.     

Zircon ages,geochemistry, and Nd isotopic systematics of pre-Variscan orthogneisses from the Erzgebirge,Saxony (Germany), and geodynamic interpretation

High grade granitoid orthogneisses occur in several metamorphic units of the Erzgebirge in the Saxothuringian Zone of the Variscan Belt. The determination of protolith ages and the geochemical characterization of these rocks permit a reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic magmatic and geodynamic history of the Erzgebirge. Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and SHRIMP ages combined with major and trace element data and Sm-Nd isotope systematics indicate at least two discrete magmatic events concealed in the so-called red gneisses, one at ~550 Ma in rocks of the medium pressure—medium temperature (MP-MT) unit and the other at ~500–480 Ma in rocks of the high pressure units. The transition zones comprise both Neoproterozoic granitoids and early Palaeozoic metarhyolites. The granitoid gneisses represent Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline granitoids with REE patterns similar to those produced in Andean-type continental margins. The early Palaeozoic muscovite gneisses are geochemically distinct from the older granitoids and may be derived from melts generated in a back-arc setting. Initial _Nd values in all samples overlap and range from –4.1 to –9.2, corresponding to crustal sources with average residence times of 1.5 to 1.9 Ga. Zircon xenocryst ages as old as 2992 Ma provide evidence for Grenvillian, Svecofennian-Birimian-Aazonian and older age components and suggest an association of the Erzgebirge with Avalonia.B. Mingram and A. Kröner have shared senior authorship     

Environmental isotopes (N, S, C, O, D) to determine natural attenuation processes in nitrate contaminated waters: Example of Osona (NE Spain)

Nitrate-contaminated groundwater from an aquifer in the Osona region (NE Spain) was chemically and isotopically (δ¹⁵N_NO3,δ¹⁸O_NO3,δ³⁴S_SO4,δ¹⁸O_SO4, δD, δ¹⁸O_H2O and δ¹³C_DIC) characterized. Diffuse- contamination reached values of 366 mg/L. Nearly 75% of the 37 sampled sites had higher concentrations than the 50 mg/L in limit for drinking water. To identify the source of pollution δ¹⁵N_NO3 and δ¹⁸O_NO3 were used with results, for most samples, in the range of pig manure . Nitrification processes were evaluated by means of the δ¹⁸O of and water. Isotopic data suggested that natural attenuation of was taking place. This process was confirmed using the δ¹⁸O_NO3 coupled with the ratio, avoiding the influence of continuous inputs. A further insight on denitrification processes was obtained by analyzing the ions involved in denitrification reactions. Although the role of organic matter oxidation could neither be confirmed nor discarded, this approach showed a link between denitrification and pyrite oxidation. Therefore, in areas with no adequate infrastructure (e.g. multipiezometers), such as the one studied, this approach could be useful for implementing better water management.     

Petrochemical Characteristics and Timing of Middle Eocene Granitic Magmatism in Kooh-Shah, Lut Block, Eastern Iran

The Kooh-Shah region located in a Tertiary volcanic-plutonic belt of the Lut Block in eastern Iran comprises several subvolcanic intermediate to acidic intrusive rocks, diorite to syenite in composition, which have intruded into volcanic rocks. The Kooh-Shah granitoid rocks are characterized by enrichment in large ion-lithophile elements (LILE: e.g. Sr, Ba, Rb) and depletion in high field-strength elements (HFSE: e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by moderate LREE enrichment (La/Yb)N=6.01-10.01, medium-heavy REE enrichment, and absence of Eu anomalies. The Kooh-Shah intrusive rocks are metaluminous, shoshonitic with calc-alkaline affinity and high values of magnetic susceptibility, and classified as the magnetite-series of oxidant I-type granitoids. The age of Kooh-Shah granitoid rocks based on zircon U-Pb age dating is 39.7±0.7 Ma (=Middle Eocene) and the ranges of their initial 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd ratios are from 0.704812 to 0.704920 and 0.512579 to 0.512644, respectively, when recalculated to an age of 39 Ma. The initial ?Nd isotope values for the Kooh-Shah intrusive rocks range from -0.18 to 1.09. This geochemical data indicates that the Kooh-Shah granitoid rocks formed from depleted mantle in an island arc setting. The geochemical signature of the studied granitoid rocks represents a characteristic guide for future exploration of copper-gold porphyry-type deposits in the Lut block.     

Geology,geochemistry and petrogenesis of late Precambrian granitoids in the Central Hijaz Region of the Arabian Shield

Late Precambrian granitoid rocks occurring within a 44,000 km² area of the western Arabian Shield are subdivided on the basis of geology and petrology into older (820 to 715 Ma) and younger (686 to 517 Ma) assemblages. The older assemblage contains major complexes which can be assigned to either one of a granodioritic or trondhjemitic petrologic association. The earliest granitoid rocks are trondhjemitic tonalites (trondhjemite association), depleted in Ba, Ce, F, La, Li, Nb, Rb, Y and Zr compared to granitoids of the slightly younger granodiorite association, which are related to a calcic, calc-alkaline suite of rocks ranging in composition from gabbro through monzogranite. The plutonic rocks of the older assemblage were probably emplaced in the cores of contemporary island arcs.The younger plutonic assemblage is dominated by three, geochemically distinct, coeval granitic associations: the alkali granite, alkali-feldspar granite and monzogranite associations. The alkali granite association is composed of perthite granites (alkali granites and genetically related alkali-feldspar granites). Rocks of this association are marginally peralkaline or metaluminous and are characterized by low contents of Ba, Co, Li, Rb, Sc and Sr, and high contents of Be, Cu, F, REE, Nb, Sn, Y, Zn and Zr. The alkali-feldspar granite association is mainly composed of alkali-feldspar granites and syenogranites. Rocks of this association are marginally peraluminous or metaluminous and contain low Ba, Sr, and high F, Rb, Sn, Th and U. The monzogranite association consists mainly of monzogranites and granodiorites. Rocks of this association are peraluminous or marginally metaluminous and have the highest contents of Ba, Cu, Co, Li, Sc, Sr, Ta, and V, and the lowest contents of REE, Nb, Rb, Sn, Th, U, Y, Zn and Zr of the three granitic associations.These voluminous granitic magmas, together with the felsic component of a coeval sequence of bimodal volcanic rocks, are partial melts of the earlier island arc terrain produce during a prolonged fusion event. Subsolvus, highca granites of the monzogranite association have I-type features and represent partial melts of previously unfused crust, while low-Ca perthite granites of the alkali granite and alkali-feldspar granite associations have A-type features and represent partial melts of previously fused crust.This type of petrogenetic model can account for much of the petrologic diversity of the Pan-African granitic terrain of the Arabian Shield.     

Paleostress analysis of the Cretaceous rocks in the eastern margin of the Dead Sea transform, Jordan

This paper presents the first paleostress results from fault-slip data on Cretaceous limestone at the eastern rim of the Dead Sea transform (DST) in Jordan. Stress inversion of fault-slip data is performed using an improved right dieder method, followed by rotational optimization (Delvaux, TENSOR Program). The orientation of the principal stress axes (σ₁, σ₂ and σ₃) and the ratio of the principal stress differences ( ) show two main paleostress fields marking two main stress regimes, strike-slip and extensional. The first is characterized by NNW–SSE compression and ENE–WSW extension and related to Middle Miocene-Recent sinistral movement along the Dead Sea transform and the opening of the Red Sea. The second paleostress field is a WNW–ESE compression and NNE–SSW extension restricted to the northern part of the investigated area. This stress field could be associated with the development of the Syrian Arc fold belt which started during the Turonian, or it may be due to an anticlockwise rotation of the first stress field.     

Origin and geochemistry of Pan-African granitoid rocks in the Gabal Um Shomer area,Southwestern Sinai,Egypt

Geological, petrological and geochemical studies indicated that there are two distinct types of granitoid rocks: older quartz diorites to granodiorite assemblage and younger granitoids, the latter occurring in two phases. The older granitoids have a meta-aluminous chemistry and a calc-alkaline character, with high MgO, Fe2O3, TiO2, CaO, P2O5, Sr and low SiO2, K2O, and Rb. Their major and trace elements data, together with low 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios (0.7029±0.0008) are indicative of I-type affinities. The second-...     

Petrology of the Chilliwack batholith,North Cascades,Washington: generation of calc-alkaline granitoids by melting of mafic lower crust with variable water fugacity

Calc-alkaline granitoid rocks of the Oligocene-Pliocene Chilliwack batholith, North Cascades, range from quartz diorites to granites (57–78% SiO₂), and are coeval with small gabbroic stocks. Modeling of major element, trace element, and isotopic data for granitoid and mafic rocks suggests that: (1) the granitoids were derived from amphibolitic lower crust having REE (rare-earth-element) and Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics of the exposed gabbros; (2) lithologic diversity among the granitoids is primarily the result of variable water fugacity during melting. The main effect of f_{H 2 O} variation is to change the relative proportions of plagioclase and amphibole in the residuum. The REE data for intermediate granitoids (quartz diorite-granodiorite; Eu/Eu^*=0.84–0.50) are modeled by melting with f_{H 2 O}<1 kbar, leaving a plagioclase + pyroxene residuum. In contrast, data for leucocratic granitoids (leuco-granodiorites and granites; Eu/Eu^* =1.0–0.54) require residual amphibole in the source and are modeled by melting with f_{H 2 O}=2–3 kbar. Consistent with this model, isotopic data for the granitoids show no systematic variation with rock type (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i =0.7033–0.7043; Nd(0)=+3.3 to +5.5) and overlap significantly with data for the gabbroic rocks (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i =0.7034–0.7040; Nd(0)=+3.3 to +6.9). The f_{H 2 O} variations during melting may reflect additions of H₂O to the lower crust from crystallizing basaltic magmas having a range of H₂O contents; Chillwack gabbros document the existence of such basalts. One-dimensional conductive heat transfer calculations indicate that underplating of basaltic magmas can provide the heat required for large-scale melting of amphibolitic lower crust, provided that ambient wallrock temperatures exceed 800°C. Based on lithologic and geochemical similarities, this model may be applicable to other Cordilleran batholiths.