苏州A型花岗岩氢氧同位素地球化学研究

对苏州Ａ型花岗岩氢氧同位素组成进行了系统深入的研究,其全岩δ１８Ｏ值为＋３．５‰～＋９．２‰,全岩δＤ值在－８１‰～－５９‰之间变化。主要造岩矿物对保持氧同位素平衡分馏的样品,其Ｄ亏损主要受单阶段岩浆去气机理的制约。部分全岩样品表现出不同程度Ｄ－１８Ｏ同步亏损,这种亏损要受岩浆期后固相线下与外来渗透大气降水之间进行同位素交换机理的制约。石英δ１８Ｏ值基本正常,石英与碱性长石之间氧同位素不平衡分馏特征表明,苏州Ａ型花岗岩整体上起源于亏损１８Ｏ源区物质通过地球动力学再循环产生低δ１８Ｏ岩浆的可能性不大。根据氢氧同位素实测值和理论模型计算结果,推测苏州Ａ型花岗岩浆δＤ和δ１８Ｏ初始值分别为－５０±５‰和７．５±１．０‰,这排除了岩浆起源于曾经历过化学风化循环的地壳上部岩石的可能性。     

Oxygen isotope studies of granite and migmatite,Grenville province of Ontario,Canada

O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios have been obtained for rocks and minerals along a 200 mile traverse from near the Grenville front north of Lake Nipissing to the Paleozoic contact to the east of Georgian Bay. Two types of oxygen isotopic relationships correlated with metamorphic grade and style of plutonic emplacement are observed: (A) from the Grenville fron to the Haliburton Highlands, upper amphibolite to granulite facies paragneisses, migmatites and concordantly emplaced granites all show relatively low and uniform δO¹⁸-values, e.g. δ (whole rock) range from 5·0 to 8·9 per mil (SMOW) and 80 per cent of the 44 samples analyzed lie between 6·5 and 8·4. We attribute this to extensive syn-anatectic oxygen isotope homogenization and exchange with a deep-seated mafic or ultramafic reservoir through a water-rich pore fluid. (B) To the southeast of the Harvey-Cardiff Arch, in the Chandos Lake-Silent Lake area, where metasediments of lower metamorphic grade are abundant and granites intrude at higher crustal level are common, we observed higher O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios in the granites (δ = 9?14) and paragneisses (δ = 12?17). The granites apparently have undergone various degrees of oxygen isotope exchange with the intruded metasediments. It thus appears that the granite-paragneiss assemblege as a whole has not been extensively open to some extraneous oxygen reservoir as in case (A).     

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions as indicators of granite genesis in the New England Batholith,Australia

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies of a number of granite suites and mineral separates from the New England Batholith indicate that O¹⁸ can be used to discriminate the major granite protoliths. The granite suites previously subdivided on the basis of mineralogical and geochemical criteria into S-type (sedimentary) and I-type (igneous) have O¹⁸ values consistently higher in the S-type granites (10.4–12.5) than in the spatially related I-type plutons (7.7–9.9). There appears to be a systematic variation in O¹⁸ from the most S-type to the most I-type granites, the dividing point between the two occuring at O¹⁸ equal to 10. A group of leucocratic granites that form about half of the batholith and difficult to classify mineralogically and geochemically is found to have low O¹⁸ values (6.4–8.1), suggesting an affinity to the most I-type granites. A single leucogranite pluton with minor muscovite has a O¹⁸ of 9.6 which is significantly higher than other leucogranites indicating a different origin perhaps involving amphibole fractionation.The behavior of D in the plutonic rocks is much less systematic than O¹⁸. Excluding samples collected adjacent to major faults, the D values show a rough positive correlation with water content similar to, but less pronounced than, the trend previously observed in the Berridale Batholith, southeastern Australia. This relation is considered to reflect an interaction between meteoric water and the granites, the largest effect being observed in samples with the least amount of water. Of note is the generally lower D values of the upper Paleozoic New England Batholith compared with the Silurian Berridale Batholith. This difference may be related to a near equatorial paleolatitude of 22 °S in the Silurian and near polar paleolatitudes in the late Carboniferous that have been inferred for these regions. Granite samples collected from near major faults, and one ignimbrite sample of rhyodacite composition, have very low D values (less than –120) suggesting a much greater degree of interaction with meteoric water.     

花岗岩主要造岩矿物间硼同位素分馏的初步研究

本文报道了南岭地区两个花岗岩(大东山和千里山)的全岩以及主要造岩矿物(黑云母、斜长石和石英)的硼含量和硼同位素组成。结果显示,黑云母含有最高的硼含量,斜长石次之,石英中的硼含量则非常低。花岗岩中的硼可能主要以晶格替换方式赋存在黑云母和斜长石中,而石英中的微量硼则来自其包裹的流体包裹体。同时,黑云母具有最低的硼同位素组成,斜长石次之,而石英则具有最高的硼同位素组成。本次研究首次发现花岗岩中的主要造岩矿物间存在着较大的硼同位素分馏:大东山花岗岩中黑云母与斜长石之间存在着-9.3‰的分馏,黑云母与石英之间存在-9.9‰的分馏;千里山花岗岩中黑云母与斜长石之间存在着-6.6‰的分馏,黑云母与石英之间存在着-10.2‰的硼同位素分馏。结合镜下观察和氧同位素研究发现,造成不同矿物间这一大的硼同位素分馏的原因很可能是岩浆后期的热液蚀变作用。综合以往所发表的研究数据,得到含四次配位硼为主的硅酸盐矿物与中酸性热液流体之间的硼同位素分馏方程:1000lnα硅酸盐-流体=-11.19×(103/T[K])+5.09,该分馏是由于硼的四次配位和三次配位之间的转换引起的。     

苏州花岗岩的氧同位素研究

本文根据钻孔样品对苏州花岗岩主侵入阶段岩石作了较详细的氧同位素研究。内部相岩石全岩、石英与长石的δ18O值变化小,石英和长石的氧同位素组成处于同位素平衡状态,在δ18OQ－δ18Of图上分布于一个很小区域内,表明内部相岩石并未受到雨水热液作用影响;而边缘相岩石的全岩δ18O变化明显,石英和长石的氧同位素组成处于极端不平衡状态,在δ18OQ－δ18Of图上,呈近乎垂直状态分布,表明已受到雨水热液作用的显著影响。强烈的水一岩交换作用还导致了Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Th等稀有元素在边缘相的矿化作用。本文还对苏州花岗岩的源区物质特征作了讨论。     

内蒙古兴安盟杜尔基地区花岗岩矿物学特征和Hf同位素研究

杜尔基花岗岩基位于大兴安岭中南段,且处在大兴安岭一个大型多金属矿集区(Au-Ag-Cu-Zn-Sn-Fe)中。区内岩浆活动复杂,成矿元素多样,其中,杜尔基花岗岩是本地区出露面积较大(约190 km2)的岩体之一。为厘清区内不同花岗质岩石的源区特征及其与成矿的关系,文章对杜尔基地区花岗岩的主要岩性单元二长花岗岩和正长花岗岩进行了系统的矿物学和Hf同位素组成研究。结果表明:二长花岗岩的主要矿物为斜长石(32%)、钾长石(45%)、石英(20%),次要矿物为黑云母、角闪石和辉石等暗色矿物(3%);正长花岗岩的主要组成矿物为石英(10%~15%)、钾长石(60%~70%)和斜长石(30%),次要矿物为黑云母(5%),在这两种花岗岩中均广泛发育条纹长石。黑云母主要为铁质黑云母和铁叶云母,角闪石为韭闪石和普通角闪石,辉石为普通辉石。矿物学特征均指示杜尔基花岗岩主要为I型花岗岩。二长花岗岩εHf为-1.6~17.6,正长花岗岩εHf为-3.3~12.2。杜尔基花岗岩Hf同位素特征指示其源区为新生的地壳物质,可能是来自地幔的底侵玄武质岩浆发生重熔的结果。     

Oxygen isotope study of the Kamioka Zn-Pb skarn deposits,Central Japan

The Kamioka Zn-Pb deposits consist of clinopyroxene-rich skarns replacing limestone lenses in Hida gneissose rocks. Paleozoic metabasite, early Jurassic Funatsu granitic rocks and late Cretaceous porphyritic dikes and stocks, are the known igneous rocks in the mining area. Oxygen isotopic compositions of eight separates each of clinopyroxene and quartz from the deposits (Table 1), and some minerals and rocks from the major rock units around the deposits (Table 2), have been analyzed. The estimated oxygen isotopic ratios of the fluids responsible for the formation of the deposits, range as low as -4 to +3 (SMOW). These values are considerably lower than expected from magmatic waters, and demonstrate that none of the igneous rocks in the area could be a direct source of the skarn- and ore-forming fluids. The data instead show that the deposits are formed by a huge convective circulation of solutions of meteoric water origin, promoted by a hidden batholithic intrusion at the time of the late Cretaceous.     

Oxygen isotope cosmothermometer revisited

A previously published estimate of the oxygen isotopic composition of the gas of the early solar nebula must be revised in light of the discovery of non-chemical isotope effects in carbonaceous chondrites. The solids which accreted to form the Earth, Moon and ordinary chondrites probably did not equilibrate isotopically with the gas below 1000 K.     

Tantalite in Suzhou Granite：mineralogy and Geological Implications

Tantalite,occurring as intergranular tabular crystals,was reported for the first time in the Suzhou granite.Electron microprobe analyses show that it is rich in W and Ti,with a Ta/(Ta Nb) ratio ranging from 0.5 to 0.73 and a Mn(Mn Fe) ratio between 0.20 and 0.40.It is structurally distinct from isomorphic tapiolite by a remarked Ag Raman peak at 880cm^-1.The associated zircon is striking by significant enrichment of Hf,with the HfO2 content amounting up to 35%-40%,The discovery of tantalite suggests that the Suzhou granite should be classified as a S-type granite instead of A-type as considered previously.     

石英一水一盐体系氧同位素分馏作用

温度为180—550℃,盐度(wt.％)分别为0、5、25和40条件下,在高压釜内完成了由硅胶合成石英的氧同位素分馏作用实验研究,目的是了解:①盐同位素效应;②△t值对同位素分馏的影响;③温度与同位素分馏系数的关系。研究资料表明:低温条件下矿物和纯水之间同位素平衡作用不可能发生;影响含氧矿物(初)之间氧同位素平衡速率的因素包括盐度、△t值大小和温度等;我们的研究还表明,盐度对同位素分馏作用同系数无影响,即不存在所谓的“同位素盐效应”。在180—550℃温度范围内,不同盐度条件下获得的石英-水氧同位素分馏实验方程为:10001nα_(石英-水)=3.306×10~5T~(-2)—2.71。     

Oxygen isotope fractionation between calcite and tremolite: an experimental study

Oxygen isotope partitioning between calcite and tremolite was experimentally calibrated in the presence of small amounts of a supercritical CO₂–H₂O fluid at temperatures from 520 to 680° C and pressures from 3 to 10 kbar. The experiments were carried out within the stability field of the calcite-tremolite assemblage based on phase equilibrium relationships in the system CaO–MgO–SiO₂–CO₂–H₂O, so that decomposition of calcite and tremolite was avoided under the experimental conditions. Appropriate proportions of carbon dioxide to water were used to meet this requirement. Large weight ratios of mineral to fluid were employed in order to make the isotopic exchange between calcite and tremolite in the presence of a fluid close to that without fluid. The data processing method for isotopic exchange in a three-phase system has been applied to extrapolate partial equilibrium data to equilibrium values. The determined fractionation factors between calcite (Cc) and tremolite (Tr) are expressed as:10³1n _Cc-Tr=3.80 × 10⁶/T ²-1.67By combining the present data with the experimental calibrations of Clayton et al. (1989) on the calcite-quartz system, we obtain the fractionation for the quartztremolite system: 10³1n _Qz-Tr=4.18 × 10⁶/T ²-1.67Our experimental calibrations are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations of Hoffbauer et al. (1994) and the empirical estimates of Bottinga and Javoy (1975) based on isotopic data from naturall assemblages. At 700 C good agreement also exists between our experimental data and theoretical values calculated by Zheng (1993b). With decreasing temperature, however, an increasing difference between these data appears.Retrograde isotopic reequilibration by oxygen diffusion may be common for amphibole relative to diopside in metamorphic rocks. However, isotopic equilibrium in amphibole can be preserved in cases of rapid cooling.     

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and Sr-Nd isotope study of the Guposhan granite complex, Guangxi, China

Zircon U-Pb dating by the LA-ICP-MS method was applied to determining the ages of different units of the Guposhan granite complex, among which the East Guposhan unit is 160.8±1.6 Ma, the West Guposhan unit is 165.0±1.9 Ma, and the Lisong unit is 163.0±1.3 Ma in age. Much similarity in ages of the three units has thus proved that the whole Guposhan granite complex was formed in the same period of time. They were the products of large-scale granitic magmatism through crust-remelting in the first stage of the Middle Yanshanian in South China. However, the three units have differences both in petrology and in geochemistry. Besides the differences in major, trace and rare-earth elements, they are distinct in their Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic compositions. The East Guposhan unit and Lisong unit and its enclaves have a similar (87Sr/86Sr)i value of 0.7064 with an average of εNd(t)=-3.03, indicating that more mantle material was evolved in the magma derivation; whereas the West Guposhan unit has a higher (87Sr/86Sr)i value of 0.7173 but a lower εNd(t) value of -5.00, and is characterized by strong negative Eu anomalies and higher Rb/Sr ratios, suggesting that its source materials were composed of relatively old crust components and new mantle-derived components. In addition, an inherited zircon grain in the East Guposhan unit (GP-1) yielded a 206Pb/238U age of 806.4 Ma, which is similar to the ages of the Jiulin cordierite granite in northern Jiangxi and of the Yinqiao migmatic granite in Guangxi in the HZH granite zone. All this may provide new evidence for Late Proterozoic magmatism in the HZH granite zone.     

Oxygen isotope studies of carbonaceous chondrites

The carbonaceous chondrites display the widest range of oxygen isotopic composition of any meteorite group, as a consequence of the interaction of primordial isotopic reservoirs in the solar nebula. These isotopic variations can be used to identify the reservoirs and to determine conditions and loci of their interactions. We present a comprehensive set of whole-rock analyses of CV, CO, CK, CM, CR, CH, and CI chondrites, as well as selected components of some of these meteorites. A simple model is developed which describes the isotopic behavior during parent-body aqueous alteration processes. The process of thermal dehydration also produces a recognizable effect in the oxygen isotopic composition.     

碱性花岗岩的动力学氧同位素交换和流体流动几何学：交换机制和平流冷却

新疆北部乌仑古塔斯嘎克碱性花岗岩体分为主体相和北部边缘相。条纹长石广泛发育出溶；石英与碱性长石复杂交生。条纹长石的出溶衍生出压应力，造成石英的变形。大部分钠铁闪石是由霓辉石交代形成的。在δ^18O石英-δ^18O条纹长石和δ^18O石英-δ^18O钠铁闪石协变图上，应用耦合的质量传输和动力学限制的同位素交换模型对样品进行了模拟。相对交换速率常数和3个矿物的显微组构特征共同指示，表面反应即溶解-再沉淀和管道扩散是氧同位素交换的主要机制。大气降水从塔斯嘎克碱性花岗岩的北部边缘相住主体相发生了平流渗透。北部边缘相样品的较陡的斜率、以及石英和条纹长石较低的^18O亏损程度，被解释为是由于与同位素组成未演化的短路径大气降水在相对较短的时限内发生氧同位素交换造成的。但是，与同位素组成演化了的长路径大气降水在相对较长的时限内的相互作用，导致了主体样品的较缓的斜率以及石英和条纹长石的较高程度的^18O亏损。对于一个侵入岩体的冷却来说，平流冷却与传导冷却一样重要。     

Oxygen isotope geothermometers for metamorphic rocks

The Chicago mineral-carbonate oxygen isotope fractionation curves have been combined with mineral-water fractionation data for jadeite, zoisite and rutile and new data for grossular-water to provide a set of self-consistent mineral-pair calibrations. The A coefficients in the equation 1000 In α= A × 10⁶T^-2 of the new mineral-pair fractionations are
Jadeite Zoisite Grossular Rutile
Quartz 1.69 2.00 3.03 5.02
Jadeite 0.31 1.34 3.33
Zoisite 1.03 3.02
Grossular 1.99
The isotopic fractionation properties of natural pyralspite garnet [(Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn)₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂] can be approximated by those of the grossular end-member. Appropriate substitutions also yield coefficients for the solid-solution minerals: sodic pyroxene and epidote, e.g.
A _{quartz-sodic pyroxene}= 2.75 - 1.06X_jd,
A _{quartz-epidote}= 2.00 + 0.75X_ps
where X _Jd and X _Ps are the mole fractions of the jadeite and pistacite components, respectively.
The new data set is particularly suitable for the geothermometry of metamorphic rocks. δ¹⁸O data from minerals of the high-pressure metamorphic rocks of the Sesia Zone of Italy and Cyclades Complex of Greece yield well-constrained mean temperatures of 572 and 478 C, respectively. Type III blueschist metabasalts of the Franciscan Formation of California give mean quartz-garnet temperatures of 354 C.     

Oxygen isotope and fluid inclusion study of the Sorkhe-Dizaj iron oxide-apatite deposit,NW Iran

The Sorkhe-Dizaj orebody is located 32 km southeast of Zanjan within the Tarom subzone of the Alborz-Azarbaijan structural zone. It is hosted mainly in quartz monzonite-monzodiorite and, to a lesser extent, in volcanoclastic rocks. Mineralization occurs in the form of stockwork and veins, comprising predominantly magnetite and actinolite, with minor pyrite and chalcopyrite. Two generations of magnetite and apatite are inferred: the first as disseminations in the host rock and the second mainly as an alteration product of actinolite, secondary K-feldspar, silica, sericite, chlorite and epidote. Fluid inclusion studies were carried out on second-generation apatite, and late-stage quartz to understand the geochemical evolution of the ore-bearing fluids. Fluid inclusions are of three types, i.e. primary, secondary, and pseudo-secondary. These inclusions are liquid or vapour single-phase, two-phase rich in liquid or vapour, and three-phase. Homogenization temperatures of second-generation apatite are inferred to be between 209°C and 520°C (mostly between 290°C and 320°C), indicating salinities of 9.08–21.61 wt.% NaCl equiv. At 342°C, the δ¹⁸O values range from 9‰ to 11.32‰ for the second-generation magnetite associated with coeval apatite. Fluid inclusions in the late-stage quartz veins are inferred to have homogenized between 186°C and 263°C, with δ¹⁸O values ranging between 2.5‰ and 7.4‰ at 220°C. Oxygen isotopes in the late-stage carbonate veins have values of 3.28–6.14‰ at 100°C. These data in the late-stage veins imply introduction of a cooler, less saline, isotopically depleted fluid, probably meteoric water. Field observations, mineral parageneses, and fluid inclusion?+?oxygen isotope data suggest that the magnetite-apatite veins formed from a predominantly magmatic-derived fluid. Introduction of cooler meteoric water in the final stage of mineralization reduced δ¹⁸O values, facilitating precipitation of sulphides, quartz, and carbonate veins.     

Oxygen isotope disequilibrium during serpentinite dehydration

Talc + olivine in metaperidotites result from the serpentinite breakdown due to increasing temperature in the Bergell contact aureole. Jack‐straw olivine textures are present in close proximity to the serpentine breakdown reaction. As the intrusion is approached, the number of olivine crystals increases while the size of the crystals decreases; this feature documents increased overstepping with increased heating rates. Talc veinlets are observed in the outer parts of the talc–olivine zone and are interpreted to be pathways of fluid produced during devolatilization of serpentine. None of the talc–olivine oxygen isotope pairs analysed are in isotopic equilibrium with respect to the peak contact temperature. This implies that escaping fluids cannot be in equilibrium with both phases. Hence, the fluid produced by serpentine reaction does not directly reflect the protolith composition, and attention must be given to the reaction mechanism before interpreting fluid isotope composition.     

Oxygen isotope study of the Long Valley magma system, California: isotope thermometry and convection in large silicic magma bodies

Products of voluminous pyroclastic eruptions with eruptive draw-down of several kilometers provide a snap-shot view of batholith-scale magma chambers, and quench pre-eruptive isotopic fractionations (i.e., temperatures) between minerals. We report analyses of oxygen isotope ratio in individual quartz phenocrysts and concentrates of magnetite, pyroxene, and zircon from individual pumice clasts of ignimbrite and fall units of caldera-forming 0.76 Ma Bishop Tuff (BT), pre-caldera Glass Mountain (2.1-0.78 Ma), and post-caldera rhyolites (0.65-0.04 Ma) to characterize the long-lived, batholith-scale magma chamber beneath Long Valley Caldera in California. Values of '¹⁸O show a subtle 1‰ decrease from the oldest Glass Mountain lavas to the youngest post-caldera rhyolites. Older Glass Mountain lavas exhibit larger (~1‰) variability of '¹⁸O(quartz). The youngest domes of Glass Mountain are similar to BT in '¹⁸O(quartz) values and reflect convective homogenization during formation of BT magma chamber surrounded by extremely heterogeneous country rocks (ranging from 2 to +29‰). Oxygen isotope thermometry of BT confirms a temperature gradient between "Late" (815 °C) and "Early" (715 °C) BT. The '¹⁸O(quartz) values of "Early" and "Late" BT are +8.33 and 8.21‰, consistent with a constant '¹⁸O(melt)=7.8ǂ.1‰ and 100 °C temperature difference. Zircon-melt saturation equilibria gives a similar temperature range. Values of '¹⁸O(quartz) for different stratigraphic units of BT, and in pumice clasts ranging in pre-eruptive depths from 6 to 11 km (based on melt inclusions), and document vertical and lateral homogeneity of '¹⁸O(melt). Worldwide, five other large-volume rhyolites, Lava Creek, Lower Bandelier, Fish Canyon, Cerro Galan, and Toba, exhibit equal '¹⁸O(melt) values of earlier and later erupted portions in each of the these climactic caldera-forming eruptions. We interpret the large-scale '¹⁸O homogeneity of BT and other large magma chambers as evidence of their longevity (>10⁵ years) and convection. However, remaining isotopic zoning in some quartz phenocrysts, trace element gradients in feldspars, and quartz and zircon crystal size distributions are more consistent with far shorter timescales (10²-10⁴ years). We propose a sidewall-crystallization model that promotes convective homogenization, roofward accumulation of more evolved and stagnant, volatile-rich liquid, and develops compositional and temperature gradients in pre-climactic magma chamber. Crystal + melt + gas bubbles mush near chamber walls of variable '¹⁸O gets periodically remobilized in response to chamber refill by new hotter magmas. One such episode of chamber refill by high-Ti, Sr, Ba, Zr, and volatile-richer magma happened 10³-10⁴ years prior to the 0.76-Ma caldera collapse that caused magma mixing at the base, mush thawing near the roof and walls, and downward settling of phenocrysts into this hybrid melt.     

Oxygen isotope study of metamorphic rocks from the Ouégoa district,New Caledonia

48 minerals from 18 in situ metamorphic rocks (mostly metasediments) from the Ouégoa district have been studied. Particular emphasis was placed on obtaining isotopic data for quartz, calcite and muscovite but some pyroxenes and amphiboles were also examined. Data for Ouégoa rocks show they have tended to be isotopically homogenized by metamorphism and that the effect of increasing metamorphism is to progressively deplete the rocks of heavy C and O isotopes. These results indicate that during metamorphism the rocks isotopically exchanged through the medium of a widespread oxygen-carrying fluid phase. Tentatively assigned temperatures obtained from isotopic data for quartz-calcite and quartz-muscovite pairs, using the calibration curves of Epstein and Taylor (1967), indicate lawsonite in the Ouégoa schists to be stable over a temperature range of 250 to 400° C and epidote from ca. 380° to at least 550° C. Temperatures for metamorphic zones in Ouégoa blueschists closely parallel those obtained for Type III and IV glaucophane-bearing rocks from Ward Creek, California (Taylor and Coleman, 1968). The measured tectonic thickness of lawsonite-bearing schists has been used to calculate a lithostatic pressure increment of 2 Kb and geothermal gradient of 20° C per km for the lawsonite zone. Comparison of lithostatic pressure increment with total pressure increment estimated from the stability relations of lawsonite over the temperature range 250–400° C (3.5 Kb Nitsch, 1972) suggest P _total ≠ P _lithostatic and that that the pressure of the fluid phase may have exceeded lithostatic pressure.     

Oxygen isotope fractionation during the dolomitization of calcium carbonate

The oxygen isotope fractionation accompanying the hydrothermal dolomitization of CaCO₃ between 252 and 295°C has been investigated. Dolomitization (which occurs via the crystallization of one or more intermediate magnesian calcite phases) is characterised by a progressive lowering in δ⁸O, which smoothly correlates with the change in the Mg/(Mg + Ca) and the $\text{Sr}\text{(Mg + Ca)}$ ratios and with the sequential phase formation. The data support the proposals of Katz and Matthews (1977) that (a) all reaction occurs by solution and reprecipitation, (b) intermediate phases and dolomite form sequentially and (c) the intermediate phases form within limited solution zones surrounding the dissolving precursor. Calculated volumes of the solution zone for the aragonite → low magnesian calcite transformation are within the range 3.7–6.7 × 10^?5 liters (out of 5 × 10^?3 liters, the volume of the bulk solution used in the present study), and agree well with those calculated from strontium and magnesium partitioning data. Dolomite precipitates in apparent isotopic equilibrium with the bulk solution. The temperature dependence of the fractionation is defined by the equation 1000 Inα_D-H2O = 3.06 × 10⁶T^?2 ? 3.24 Dolomite-water fractionations from this equation are significantly lower than those obtained by extrapolation of the Northrop And Clayton (1966) calibration. The reaction zone model can be applied to explain near zero dolomite-calcite oxygen isotope fractionations reported by Epsteinet al. (1964).