Structure,age, and ore potential of the Burpala rare-metal alkaline massif,northern Baikal region

The Burpala alkaline massif is a unique geological object. More than 50 Zr, Nb, Ti, Th, Be, and REE minerals have been identified in rare-metal syenite of this massif. Their contents often reach tens of percent, and concentrations of rare elements in rocks are as high as 3.6% REE, 4% Zr, 0.5% Y, 0.5% Nb, 0.5% Th, and 0.1% U. Geological and geochemical data show that all rocks in the Burpala massif are derivatives of alkaline magma initially enriched in rare elements. These rocks vary in composition from shonkinite, melanocratic syenite, nepheline and alkali syenites to alaskite and alkali granite. The extreme products of magma fractionation are rare-metal pegmatites, apatite-fluorite rocks, and carbonatites. The primary melts were related to the enriched EM-2 mantle source. The U-Pb zircon ages of pulaskite (main intrusive phase) and rare-metal syenite (vein phase) are estimated at 294 ± 1 and 283 ± 8 Ma, respectively. The massif was formed as a result of impact of the mantle plume on the active continental margin of the Siberian paleocontinent.     

Petrology,geochemistry and source characteristics of the Burpala alkaline massif,North Baikal

The Burpala alkaline massif contains rocks with more than 50 minerals rich in Zr,Nb,Ti,Th,Be and rare earth elements(REE).The rocks vary in composition from shonkinite,melanocratic syenite,nepheline and alkali syenites to alaskite and alkali granite and contain up to 10%LILE and HSFE,3.6%of REE and varying amounts of other trace elements(4%Zr,0.5%Y,0.5%Nb,0.5%Th and 0.1%U).Geological and geochemical data suggest that all the rocks in the Burpala massif were derived from alkaline magma enriched in rare earth elements.The extreme products of magma fractionation are REE rich pegmatites,apatite-fiuorite bearing rocks and carbonatites.The Sr and Nd isotope data suggest that the source of primary melt is enriched mantle(EM-Ⅱ).We correlate the massif to mantle plume impact on the active margin of the Siberian continent.     

Geochronology and Ore Mineralization of the Dzheltula Alkaline Massif (Aldan Shield,South Yakutia)

The Dzheltula alkaline massif is located in the Tyrkanda ore region of the Chara–Aldan metallogenic zone of the Aldan–Stanovy Shield (South Yakutia). The region contains separate placer gold objects, which are being explored at the present time, and ore-bearing Mesozoic alkaline intrusions, which are weakly studied due to their poor accessibility. The Dzheltula massif (DM) is the largest exposed multiple-ring intrusion within the Tyrkanda ore region; therefore, it is considered as a typical object for geological, petrological, geochronological, and metallogenic studies. The DM consists of five magmatic phases of syenite composition. ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating has established that the crystallization age of the oldest phase, the leucocratic syenite porphyry (pulaskite), is 121.1 ± 1.3 Ma. The crystallization age of the cross-cutting phases represented by syenite–porphyry dikes (laurvikites and pulaskites) ranges from 120.1 ± 2 to 118.3 ± 2.1 Ma. The youngest phase of the massif, trachyte, crystallized at 115.5 ± 1.6 Ma. According to the mineralogical and geochemical studies, two types of ore mineralization, namely gold and uranium–thorium–rare-earth (U–Th–REE), are established within the DM. The gold mineralization was found in the quartz–chlorite–pyritized metasomatites. It is confined to the NNE- and NNW-trending fault zones and coincides with the strike of the syenite porphyry dike belt. Uranium–thorium–rare-earth mineralization has been established in the quartz–feldspathic metasomatites localized in the outer contact of the massif. The juxtaposition of mineralization of different types in some zones of the Dzheltula syenite massif significantly increases the ore potential of the studied object within the Tyrkanda ore region.     

Early Permian Age of Nepheline Syenites of the Korgere–Daba Massif (Sangilen Highlands,Tuva)

Doklady Earth Sciences - This paper reports on geochronological U–Pb studies of baddeleyite from nepheline syenite of the Korgere-Daba alkaline massif, which is the largest massif within the...     

蒙古国呼勒德地区正长岩锆石SHRIMP铀-铅年龄及其地质意义

呼勒德稀土元素矿化区位于蒙古国中戈壁省南部, 区内稀土元素和金矿(化)点星罗棋布, 为蒙古中南部最重要的金属矿化集中区之一。在所有上述矿床(点)中, 稀土元素矿化在下二叠统火山-沉积岩内呈似层状、脉状和透镜体状产出, 并且与呼勒德碱性正长岩株具有密切空间分布关系。本次研究对呼勒德正长岩进行了锆石SHRIMP铀-铅同位素年龄测定, 所获同位素年龄值为(214.3 ± 2.5)Ma, MSWD值为0.52, 属中生代印支期。根据上述同位素年代学数值, 同时结合其他地质与地球化学证据, 可以推测, 中生代时期, 受古陆块内部构造应力调整作用影响, 呼勒德地区一带及东西两侧曾发生过强烈构造-岩浆活动, 并且形成碱性正长岩株及相关的稀土元素矿(化)点。印支期碱性岩浆活动不仅为稀土元素矿(化)点的形成提供了物质、动力和热力来源, 而且是成矿流体对流循环的“发动机”。对比分析结果表明, 呼勒德碱性正长岩体的形成时间与南蒙古鲁金郭勒碱性花岗斑岩脉及相关稀土元素矿床形成时代大体相似, 它们均是地壳演化特定阶段混源(壳、幔源)岩浆活动的产物。     

Age and Melt Sources of Ultramafic Dykes and Rocks of the Bolshetagninskii Alkaline Carbonatite Massif (Urik-Iya Graben,SW Margin of the Siberian Craton)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The age of rocks of the Bolshetagninskii ijolite–syenite–carbonatite massif and ultramafic dykes within the Urik-Iya Graben in the southwestern part of the...     

Age and tectonic setting of the Kengurak-Sergachi gabbro-anorthosite massif (the Selenga-Stanovoi superterrane,southern frame of the Siberian craton)

The results of geochemical and geochronological study of the Kengurak-Sergachi gabbroanorthosite massif in the Selenga-Stanovoi superterrane, southern frame of the Siberian craton, are presented. According to geochemical peculiarities, the massif rocks are close to the autonomous “massif-type anorthosite.” The massif age corresponds to 1866 ± 6 Ma based on the results of U-Pb zircon dating. The Kengurak-Sergachi massif was intruded most likely in post-collision epoch concurrently to formation of the South Siberian giant post-collision magmatic belt (1.87–1.84 Ga) extending along the southwestern flank of the Siberian craton.     

Prospects for gold and other economically valuable minerals in volcanogenic formations of northern Sea of Okhotsk coastal region

We review data for the Tuva–Mongolia Massif and show that this massif was not derived from the Siberian Craton.     

Magmatic replacement of carbonate bodies involving formation of nepheline syenites and other alkalic rocks,with example of Dezhnev massif

In a nepheline syenite massif produced by an infiltrational replacement of limestones by a magmatic granitizing solution, the four recognizable nearly concentric zones (from granite up to and including nepheline syenite), as well as the type and the sequence of the general and the zonal parageneses of minerals, are functionally related to the progressively rising chemical potentials of the alkalies, from the core to the periphery of the massif, in a demonstrable harmony with the phase rule and with the Korzhinskiy's principle of the acid-base interactions. — V.P. Sokoloff     

Age and sources of the Paleoproterozoic premetamorphic granitoids of the Goloustnaya block of the Siberian craton: Geodynamic applications

This paper reports the results of geological, geochronological, and isotope geochemical investigations of two premetamorphic granite massifs of the Goloustnaya block of the Baikal salient of the basement of the Siberian craton and granite gneisses from the migmatite–gneiss sequence of this block. The U–Pb zircon age of the granites of the Khomut massif is 2153 ± 11 Ma. The age of the Elovka massif was previously determined by us as 2018 ± 28 Ma. The Khomut and Elovka granites underwent structural and metamorphic transformations accompanied by migmatization. An age of 1.98–1.97 Ga was obtained for the structural and metamorphic processes in the Goloustnaya block from the analysis of margins of zircon grains from the Khomut granites and zircon from the granite gneisses. The biotite granites of the Khomut massif show transitional I–S-type geochemical characteristics, which allowed us to suggest that they were derived by melting of a crustal source of intermediate–acid composition. The Khomut granites show positive ε_Nd(T) values from +2.0 to +2.2 and a Nd model age of 2.4 Ga, which may indicate their formation owing to the reworking of the Paleoproterozoic juvenile continental crust. The combined isotope geochemical data are consistent with collision of island arcs as a possible environment for the formation of the Khomut granites. The formation of these granites was not related to the development of the structure of the Siberian craton, similar to a few other anorogenic magmatic complexes of the margin of the Chara–Olekma terrane of the Aldan shield with ages of ~2.2–2.1 Ga, including the granites of the Katugin complex. The biotite–amphibole granites of the Elovka massif with an age of ~2.02 Ga are geochemically similar to I-type granites. The geochemical characteristics of these granites, including elevated Sr and Ba and low Nb and Ta contents, were inherited from a subduction-related source. Negative ε_Nd(T) values from–0.9 to–1.8 and rather high contents of K₂O and Th allow us to suppose a metamagmatic crustal source for the granites of the Elovka massif. The combined isotope geochemical characteristics of the Elovka granites suggest that a mature island arc or an active continental margin is the most probable environment of their formation. The estimates of the age of structural and metamorphic processes affecting the Goloustnaya block (1.98–1.97 Ga) coinciding with the time of similar transformations in the central part of the Aldan shield and eastern Anabar shield (1.99–1.96 Ga) indicate wide occurrence of collisional events of similar age in the Siberian craton and allow us to consider this age interval as an early large-scale stage of the formaiton of the structure of the Siberian craton.     

The U–Pb System in Schorlomite from Calcite–Amphobole–Pyroxene Pegmatite of the Afrikanda Complex (Kola Peninsula)

The geochronological U–Pb study of shorlomite from igneous rocks of the alkali–ultramafic Afrikanda massif (Kola Peninsula) was performed. The results demonstrate the reliability of calcium garnet as a mineral for the U–Pb geochronology of a wide range of igneous rocks, i.e., carbonatite, syenite, foidolite, foidite, melilitolite, melilitite, lamprophyres, micaceous kimberlites, etc., and associated rare earth and trace elements (REE, Nb, Zr) mineralization.     

Composition,sources, and mechanisms of origin of rare-metal granitoids in the Late Paleozoic Eastern Sayan zone of alkaline magmatism: A case study of the Ulaan Tolgoi massif

The Ulaan Tolgoi massif of rare-metal (Ta, Nb, and Zr) granites was formed at approximately 300Ma in the Eastern Sayan zone of rare-metal alkaline magmatism. The massif consists of alkaline salic rocks of various composition (listed in chronologic order of their emplacement): alkaline syenite → alkaline syenite pegmatite → pantellerite → alkaline granite, including ore-bearing alkaline granite, whose Ta and Nb concentrations reach significant values. The evolution of the massif ended with the emplacement of trachybasaltic andesite. The rocks of the massif show systematic enrichment in incompatible elements in the final differentiation products of the alkaline salic magmas. The differentiation processes during the early evolution of the massif occurred in an open system, with influx of melts that contained various proportions of incompatible elements. The magma system was closed during the origin of the ore-bearing granites. Rare-metal granitoids in the Eastern Sayan zone were produced by magmas formed by interaction between mantle melts (which formed the mafic dikes) with crustal material. The mantle melts likely affected the lower parts of the crust and either induced its melting, with later mixing the anatectic and mantle magmas, or assimilated crustal material and generated melts with crustal–mantle characteristics. The origin of the Eastern Sayan zone of rare-metal alkaline magmatism was related to rifting, which was triggered by interaction between the Tarim and Barguzin mantle plumes. The Eastern Sayan zone was formed in the marginal part of the Barguzin magmatic province, and rare-metal magmas in it were likely generated in relation with the activity of the Barguzin plume.     

Tectonic evolution of Northeastern Siberia and adjacent regions

Previous models for the tectonic evolution of northeastern Siberia have proposed the existence of a Kolyma plate composed of the Kolyma and Omolon massifs of presumed Precambrian age. Lithologic similarities between the Siberian platform and the Cherskiy Mountains and the presence of oceanic and island arc type deposits in the Kolyma-Indigirka interfluve suggest that no such plate exists. The eastern margin of the Siberian plate is suggested to lie along a line between the Ulakhan Sis Range, the Alazeya uplift and the Arga Tas Range; the Cherskiy Mountains and the Verkhoyansk fold belt are parts of the Siberian plate. The Paleozoic deposits of the Omolon massif are unlike those found in the Cherskiys or Siberia. Paleomagnetic data from the Omolon massif are discordant from data from Siberia. It is suggested that the Omolon massif represents a microplate which accreted onto Siberia in the Jurassic. Ophiolites in central Chukotka are of the same emplacement age as in the western Brooks Range and may have been emplaced at the initiation of the rotation of Arctic Alaska. Geometric and limited stratigraphic data suggest that the East Siberian Sea may be floored by oceanic crust left by an incomplete closure between Arctic Alaska, Siberia and Omolon. The tectonic position of the Prikolymsk massif remains ambiguous.     

Sequence of magmatic events in the Late Paleozoic of Transbaikalia,Russia (U-Pb isotope data)

The Late Paleozoic intrusive rocks, mostly granitoids, totally occupy more than 200,000 km² on the territory of Transbaikalia. Isotopic U-Pb zircon dating (about 30 samples from the most typical plutons) shows that the Late Paleozoic magmatic cycle lasted for 55–60 m.y., from ~330 Ma to ~275 Ma. During this time span, five intrusive suites were emplaced throughout the region. The earliest are high-K calc-alkaline granites (330–310 Ma) making up the Angara–Vitim batholith of 150,000 km² in area. At later stages, formation of geochemically distinct intrusive suites occurred with total or partial overlap in time. In the interval of 305–285 Ma two suites were emplaced: calc-alkaline granitoids with decreased SiO₂ content (the Chivyrkui suite of quartz monzonite and granodiorite) and the Zaza suite comprising transitional from calc-alkaline to alkaline granite and quartz syenite. At the next stage, in the interval of 285–278 Ma the shoshonitic Low Selenga suite made up of monzonite, syenite and alkali rich microgabbro was formed; this suite was followed, with significant overlap in time (281–276 Ma), by emplacement of Early Kunalei suite of alkaline (alkali feldspar) and peralkaline syenite and granite. Concurrent emplacement of distinct plutonic suites suggests simultaneous magma generation at different depth and, possibly, from different sources. Despite complex sequence of formation of Late Paleozoic intrusive suites, a general trend from high-K calc-alkaline to alkaline and peralkaline granitoids, is clearly recognized. New data on the isotopic U-Pb zircon age support the Rb-Sr isotope data suggesting that emplacement of large volumes of peralkaline and alkaline (alkali feldspar) syenites and granites occurred in two separate stages: Early Permian (281–278 Ma) and Late Triassic (230–210 Ma). Large volumes and specific compositions of granitoids suggest that the Late Paleozoic magmatism in Transbaikalia occurred successively in the post-collisional (330–310 Ma), transitional (305–285 Ma) and intraplate (285–275 Ma) setting.     

The First U–Pb (SHRIMP II) Evidence of the Franklin Tectonic Event at the Western Margin of the Siberian Craton

Doklady Earth Sciences - Geochemical and isotope–geochronological evidence of Late Riphean intraplate magmatism within the Chernorechenskii massif at the western margin of the Siberian Craton...     

The late Tonian Zhaunkar granite complex of the Ulutau sialic massif,Central Kazakhstan

The crystallization age of Zhaunkar granites (829 ± 10 Ma) was determined by U–Pb zircon dating. Taking into account the data obtained earlier on the granite age (791 ± 7 Ma) in the Aktas Complex and the syenite age (673 ± 2 Ma) in the Karsakpai Complex, the Ulutau sialic massif is assumed to be composed of three igneous complexes formed during the Tonian–Cryogenian periods of the Neoproterozoic.     

大龙山岩体冷却史及其成矿关系的同位素研究

根据全岩Rb-Sr、锆石U-Pb和角闪石、黑云母、钾长石K-Ar同位素年龄综合测定结果,再造了安庐石英正长岩带中大龙山岩体的冷却史。矿物对氧同位素地质测温结果证实,扩散作用是控制同位素体系封闭的主导因素。假定岩体冷却与地温梯度(100℃/Ma)同步降低,以二维热模式为参照,可以推算出大龙山岩体的原始侵位深度约为8km,成岩温度为800±50℃。早阶段石英正长岩体在136Ma侵位结晶后开始快速的冷却上升,冷却速率为27.4℃/Ma,上升速率为0.27mm/a;经过约18Ma后,岩体上升至地下约3km深处,温度为300±50℃,转为缓慢冷却上升,冷却速率为6.3℃/Ma,上升速率为0.06mm/a.晚阶段碱长花岗岩体于117Ma侵位结晶,嗣后开始快速的冷却上升,冷却速率为58.6℃/Ma,上升速率为0.59mm/a;经过约8Ma后,岩体转为缓慢冷却上升,冷却速率为7.2℃/Ma,上升速率为0.07mm/a.结合对国内外其它深成岩体冷却历史的研究,可见这类岩体的侵位上升一般经历了两个阶段:(1)早期高温岩体快速上升至定位,冷却速率显着大于区域地温梯度降低幅度;(2)晚期低温岩体与区域地质体一起缓慢隆起上升,冷却速率与区域地温梯度降低幅度一致。对形成于大龙山岩体接触带的热液铀矿床进行了沥青铀矿U-Pb同位素年龄测定,得到的矿化时间与黑云母K-Ar体系的封闭时间相近。气液包裹体测温结果指示,矿化温度与黑云母的Ar封闭温度相一致;脉石矿物氧同位素组成研究得到,成矿流体为岩浆期后热液。因此,该热液铀矿床的形成与岩浆结晶分异及嗣后的岩体缓慢冷却密切相关。     

Geochemical features and geodynamic setting of formation of the Lukinda dunite–troctolite–gabbro massif (southeastern framing of the Siberian Platform)

The Lukinda dunite–troctolite–gabbro massif in the Selenga–Stanovoy superterrane on the southeastern framing of the Siberian Platform was earlier considered Precambrian. The performed ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of the massif plagioclase yielded an Early Permian age (285 ± 7.5 Ma). The main specific petrochemical features of the intrusion rocks during their crystallization differentiation are an increase in SiO₂ and CaO contents and a decrease in FeO_tot content, with TiO₂ content remaining low and showing minor variations. A specific geochemical feature of the Lukinda massif ultrabasite–basites is a slight domination of LREE over HREE, with (La/Yb)_N= 1.0–8.2. The depletion of the massif rocks in LILE (except for Sr and Ba), REE, and HFSE suggests that the massif formed on an active continental margin.     

Petrology of the Late Jurassic ultramafic-mafic Veselki massif,southeastern framing of the Siberian craton

The Veselki peridotite-websterite-gabbronorite massif was dated by U-Pb zircon method at 154 ± 1 Ma. This is the first Late Jurassic date obtained for ultramafic-mafic massifs in the eastern part of the Selenga-Stanovoy superterrane bounding the southeastern margin of the Siberian craton. The mineralogical specifics of the massif is expressed in the presence of three-pyroxene assemblage [bronzite-pigeonite-augite (diopside)] and exsolution lamellae of Cr-spinel and Cr-magnetite in Fe-Cr picotite and suggests unstable crystallization at shallow depths. Geochemical similarity between the Upper and Lower series attests to their genetic relation through intrachamber differentiation. The massif was generated from a highly evolved melt, as is seen from the LREE enrichment (La/Yb)_N = 3.89–30. Plagioclase varieties display a weak positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 1.1–1.25), whereas other rocks have an insignificant negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.85–0.97). Model calculations show that parental melt was close to subalkaline picrite, which evolved along two fractionation trends into dunites and subalkaline gabbroids and monzodiorites.     

Grain to outcrop-scale frozen moments of dynamic magma mixJing in the syenite magma chamber,Yelagiri Alkaline Complex,South India

Magma mixing process is unusual in the petrogenesis of felsic rocks associated with alkaline complex worldwide. Here we present a rare example of magma mixing in syenite from the Yelagiri Alkaline Complex, South India. Yelagiri syenite is a reversely zoned massif with shoshonitic (Na₂O + K₂O=5–10 wt.%, Na₂O/K₂O = 0.5–2, TiO₂ <0.7 wt.%) and metaluminous character. Systematic modal variation of plagioclase (An_11–16 Ab_82–88), K-feldspar (Or_27–95 Ab_5–61), diopside (En_34–40Fs_11–18Wo_46–49), biotite, and Ca-amphibole (edenite) build up three syenite facies within it and imply the role of in-situ fractional crystallization (FC). Evidences such as (1) disequilibrium micro-textures in feldspars, (2) microgranular mafic enclaves (MME) and (3) synplutonic dykes signify mixing of shoshonitic mafic magma (MgO = 4–5 wt.%, SiO₂ = 54–59 wt.%, K₂O/Na₂O = 0.4–0.9) with syenite. Molecular-scale mixing of mafic magma resulted disequilibrium growth of feldspars in syenite. Physical entity of mafic magma preserved as MME due to high thermal-rheological contrast with syenite magma show various hybridization through chemical exchange, mechanical dilution enhanced by chaotic advection and phenocryst migration. In synplutonic dykes, disaggregation and mixing of mafic magma was confined within the conduit of injection. Major-oxides mass balance test quantified that approximately 0.6 portions of mafic magma had interacted with most evolved syenite magma and generated most hybridized MME and dyke samples. It is unique that all the rock types (syenite, MME and synplutonic dykes) share similar shoshonitic and metaluminous character; mineral chemistry, REE content, coherent geochemical variation in Harker diagram suggest that mixing of magma between similar composition. Outcrop-scale features of crystal accumulation and flow fabrics also significant along with MME and synplutonic dykes in syenite suggesting that Yelagiri syenite magma chamber had evolved through multiple physical processes like convection, shear flow, crystal accumulation and magma mixing.