Eruption of the Continental Flood Basalts at -259 Ma in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China： Evidence from Laser Microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar Dating

A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province (LIP), SW China was investigated for laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating. There are two 40Ar/39Ar age groups for these basalts, corresponding to 259-246 Ma and 177-137 Ma, respectively. A well-defined isochron gives an eruption age of huge quantities of mafic magmas at 258.9±3.4 Ma, which is identical to previous dating and paleontological data. Much younger 40Ar/39Ar ages for some basalts with low-greenschist metamorphic facies probably recorded a late thermo-tectonic event caused by collision between the Yangtze and Qiangtang continental blocks during the Mesozoic, which resulted in the reset of argon isotope system. The 40Ar/39Ar age data, we present here, combined with previous dating and paleontological data, suggest relatively short duration (about 3 Ma) of mafic volcanism, which have important implication on mantle plume genesis of the Emeishan continental flood basalts in the LIP.     

First Principles Calibration of 40Ar Abundances in 40Ar/39Ar Mineral Neutron Fluence Monitors: Methodology and Preliminary Results

The accuracy and traceability of geochronometers are of vital importance to questions asked by many Earth scientists. The widely applied ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronometer relies on the co-irradiation of samples with neutron fluence monitors (reference materials) of known ages; the ages and uncertainties of these monitors are critical to our ability to apply this chronometer. Previously, first principles, astronomical and optimisation calibrations have been made. The first principles method for determining the age of monitor minerals is the K-Ar method, which involves measurement of their ⁴⁰K and ⁴⁰Ar* abundances. The AQuA (Absolute Quantities of Argon) pipette system, which emits calibrated quantities of ⁴⁰Ar* via the ideal gas law, was used to calibrate the sensitivity of the system across a range of source pressures and estimate ⁴⁰Ar* abundances in neutron fluence monitors. These ⁴⁰Ar abundances were combined with existing ⁴⁰K abundance data for these monitors. Ages for HD-B1 and MD2 (GA1550) biotite fluence monitors were calculated and combined with intercalibration data for HD-B1 and Fish Canyon sanidine (FCs) to determine ages for FCs. Current results do not have the targeted accuracy when compared with previous calibrations; however, we show how the extensive methodology development presented here can be used towards making reliable future measurements.     

藏北双湖鄂柔地区变质岩和玄武岩的40Ar/39Ar年龄及其意义

在藏北龙木错—双湖缝合带东段双湖鄂柔地区,获得绿泥阳起石片岩中阳起石矿物的40Ar/39Ar坪年龄为(235·9±2·6)Ma和枕状玄武岩中蚀变辉石斑晶的40Ar/39Ar坪年龄为(232·5±2·4)Ma,两个年龄具有极好的一致性,记录了中三叠世晚期—晚三叠世早期沿龙木错—双湖缝合带发生俯冲碰撞作用的构造-热事件。羌塘地区中三叠世晚期—晚三叠世早期的俯冲碰撞造山事件使得龙木错—双湖缝合带及其以北的大部分地区(即北羌塘盆地)转变为前陆盆地,区域上三叠统底部不整合面和底砾岩的发育是碰撞造山作用地质记录的重要标志。绿泥阳起石片岩的原岩主要为富含玄武岩的火山-沉积岩系,绿泥阳起石片岩和蚀变枕状玄武岩具有Ti O2、P2O5、MgO含量较高和LREE富集型、无Eu异常,以及“大隆起”微量元素配分模式和富集Nb、Ta、Ti元素等地球化学特征,显示为较典型的洋岛型碱性玄武岩性质。     

Influence of dissolution/reprecipitation reactions on metamorphic greenschist to amphibolite facies mica 40Ar/39Ar ages in the Longmen Shan (eastern Tibet)

Linking ages to metamorphic stages in rocks that have experienced low‐ to medium‐grade metamorphism can be particularly tricky due to the rarity of index minerals and the preservation of mineral or compositional relicts. The timing of metamorphism and the Mesozoic exhumation of the metasedimentary units and crystalline basement that form the internal part of the Longmen Shan (eastern Tibet, Sichuan, China), are, for these reasons, still largely unconstrained, but crucial for understanding the regional tectonic evolution of eastern Tibet. In situ core‐rim ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite and U–Th/Pb allanite data show that amphibolite facies conditions (~10–11 kbar, 530°C to 6–7 kbar, 580°C) were reached at 210–180 Ma and that biotite records crystallization, rather than cooling, ages. These conditions are mainly recorded in the metasedimentary cover. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages obtained from matrix muscovite that partially re‐equilibrated during the post peak‐P metamorphic history comprise a mixture of ages between that of early prograde muscovite relicts and the timing of late muscovite recrystallization at c. 140–120 Ma. This event marks a previously poorly documented greenschist facies metamorphic overprint. This latest stage is also recorded in the crystalline basement, and defines the timing of the greenschist overprint (7 ± 1 kbar, 370 ± 35°C). Numerical models of Ar diffusion show that the difference between ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite and muscovite ages cannot be explained by a slow and protracted cooling in an open system. The model and petrological results rather suggest that biotite and muscovite experienced different Ar retention and resetting histories. The Ar record in mica of the studied low‐ to medium‐grade rocks seems to be mainly controlled by dissolution–reprecipitation processes rather than by diffusive loss, and by different microstructural positions in the sample. Together, our data show that the metasedimentary cover was thickened and cooled independently from the basement prior to c. 140 Ma (with a relatively fast cooling at 4.5 ± 0.5°C/Ma between 185 and 140 Ma). Since the Lower Cretaceous, the metasedimentary cover and the crystalline basement experienced a coherent history during which both were partially exhumed. The Mesozoic history of the Eastern border of the Tibetan plateau is therefore complex and polyphase, and the basement was actively involved at least since the Early Cretaceous, changing our perspective on the contribution of the Cenozoic geology.     

金属成矿40Ar/39Ar年代学的进展与问题——以黄铁矿、闪锌矿为例

长期以来, 由于金属成矿的多期性及易受后期蚀变的干扰, 成矿时代的确定成为难题, 进而成为成矿机理、矿床勘探等研究的制约因素。本文以黄铁矿和闪锌矿这两种典型的矿石矿物为例, 回顾了利用⁴⁰ Ar/³⁹ Ar法直接确定成矿时代的研究现状, 探讨了其中的问题、可能的解决方法及以后的发展前景, 为进一步开展矿石矿物的⁴⁰ Ar/³⁹ Ar年代学提供参考。同时对采自辽宁丹东青城子矿中的黄铁矿和闪锌矿样品做了包裹体镜下观察和电子探针的元素分析, 以期更好地理解矿石矿物⁴⁰ Ar/³⁹ Ar法直接定年的潜力。     

北山地区花岗岩类的^40Ar／^39Ar同位素年代学研究

首次对北山地区的乌珠尔嘎顺、额勒根、雀儿山、黑鹰山、狼娃山、明水和石板井等花岗岩体开展了高精度40Ar/39Ar同位素年代测定,共分析了10件样品,其中有6件获得了比较可靠的40Ar/39Ar同位素年龄数据,基本能够代表岩体的侵位年龄,分别为352.3±3.8Ma、271.76±0.88Ma、286.2±3.4Ma、272.0±4.7Ma、294.1±2.9Ma和255.2±4.1Ma;其他4件样品尽管受后期热扰动较为强烈,但是也能够获得一些有价值的年龄信息.另外,受后期构造-热事件的影响,本文有6件样品发生了不同程度的Ar丢失,其中样品NSS01-13钾长石Ar丢失最为严重,不能获得可靠的年龄,其他样品发生Ar丢失的时间主要集中在燕山期,少量在印支期.获得的这些40Ar/39Ar测年数据与已经发表的其他40Ar/39Ar测年数据记录下了北山地区多期次的构造-岩浆侵入活动事件.根据这些年龄数据,可以将北山地区自海西中期以来的岩浆活动归纳为5个阶段,分别是①330～360Ma,海西中期花岗岩类侵入活动;②270～310Ma,与西伯利亚、哈萨克斯坦和塔里木三大板块碰撞的时间同期或稍晚的花岗岩类侵入活动;③250～270Ma,明显晚于主碰撞发生的时间,为海西晚期碰撞后花岗岩类侵入活动;④210～250Ma,印支期构造-岩浆活动;⑤169～195Ma,燕山早期岩浆活动.其中270～310Ma同碰撞期花岗岩类最为发育,分布范围最广.尽管北山地区从前寒武纪到燕山期花岗岩类均有产出,但是规模最大、影响范围最广的岩浆侵入活动发生在海西晚期,反映了海西晚期西伯利亚、哈萨克斯坦和塔里木三大板块碰撞对接的构造事件.印支期和燕山期花岗岩类可能是在统一大陆形成之后由陆内强烈活化形成的.北山地区花岗岩类的高精度年代学测量可以构筑本区花岗岩类时空演化的精细格架,对于重塑本区大地构造演化历史、指导区域金属矿床的寻找具有重要的意义.     

内蒙古甲乌拉铅锌银矿绢云母~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

内蒙古甲乌拉大型铅锌银矿位于大兴安岭成矿带北段,为一与火山-次火山作用有关的浅成低温热液型矿床。该矿床绢云母的矿物学特征方面研究程度较低,绢云母的年龄还未见报道。本次研究拟从绢云母入手,利用电子探针和~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar同位素年龄测定,研究其矿物学特征,测定其年龄,进一步探究该矿区热液事件的发生和地球动力学背景,增进对该矿床成矿机制的理解。甲乌拉矿床绢云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar坪年龄为133. 27±0. 66 Ma,等时线年龄为131. 88±0. 83 Ma。研究认为,甲乌拉矿床绢云母可能代表了发生于矿化后的另外一期热液事件。该热液事件发生于古太平洋板块俯冲方向改变之后,可能与碰撞后的伸展背景有关。     

Rapid formation of the Small Isles Tertiary centre constrained by precise Ar/Ar and U–Pb ages

The relative chronology of magmatic and tectonic events is key to an understanding of the influence of the Iceland plume on the North Atlantic. In particular, the location and duration of magmatism is of fundamental importance. Initial widespread flood basalt formation occurred in Baffin Island, Greenland, and Britain before complete plate break up at 56 Ma after which time magmatism became concentrated in the active rift zone.

Historically the British Tertiary Igneous Province (BTIP) has been instrumental in advancing many concepts of igneous petrology. However, the absolute age and duration of the province remains unresolved. Here, we present new internally consistent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages that help to constrain the volcanic activity in the Small Isles centre to within 2 my. This short duration has implications for the onset of magmatism in the larger North Atlantic province, the rapid unroofing of the Rum volcano, and more significantly, some of the evidence used to propose pulsing of the Iceland plume.     

庐山变质核杂岩伸展拆离和岩浆作用的年代学约束

庐山变质核杂岩是华南中生代岩石圈减薄事件的浅层响应。研究伸展拆离和岩浆作用在其形成过程中的相互关系,对于认识地壳浅层的伸展减薄过程和变质核杂岩的形成机制具有重要的意义。在宏观和显微构造研究的基础上,分别对基底拆离断层和玉京山岩体进行了40Ar/39Ar年代学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,为伸展拆离和岩浆作用提供了年代学约束,主要获得了以下认识:(1)变质核杂岩核部玉京山花岗岩体的锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb年龄为(133.0±2.1)Ma,代表了变质核杂岩核部岩浆活动的启动时间。(2)基底拆离断层下盘韧性剪切带内的白云母40Ar/39Ar年龄(140.4±1.7)Ma代表了庐山变质核杂岩的形成时间,也代表了庐山地区岩石圈伸展减薄的时间,即岩石圈伸展减薄始于早白垩世。(3)庐山变质核杂岩是中生代不同尺度的伸展拆离和岩浆活动共同作用的结果,在地壳浅层的具体形成过程中伸展拆离早于岩浆侵位,基底拆离断层的减压效应为深部岩浆的上升侵位创造了条件,岩浆侵位造成山体的隆升,又引发了盖层的重力滑脱。     

40Ar/39Ar年代学数据处理软件ArArCALC简介

ArArCALC是40Ar/39Ar法数据处理专业软件,A.A.P. Koppers以Visual Basic编写的Microsoft Excel"宏",在Windows 95-Vista系统上均可运行.经过不断改进,ArArCALC已经发展成为一种功能强大且使用方便的软件,可全面进行40Ar/39Ar数据计算,包括回归时间零点值、坪年龄、全熔年龄和等时线年龄计算并自动作图,给出分析误差、内部误差和外部误差.更重要的是,ArArCALC能将原始数据、各种参数、计算结果和图件以可编辑的Excel格式给出.ArArCALC交互性强,用户可随时对有关参数进行修改,重新计算,提高了数据处理效率.鉴于上述优点,特此引荐ArArCALC.     

陕西华阳川铀多金属矿床黑云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

笔者采用Ar-Ar测年技术,获得华阳川铀多金属矿床碳酸岩中黑云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar坪年龄132.58±0.70 Ma,等时线年龄133.01±0.74 Ma,含黑云母闪石硫化物伟晶岩中黑云母的~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar坪年龄93.72±2.38 Ma,等时线年龄91.49±1.97 Ma。镜下特征显示,铌钛铀矿的形成晚于碳酸岩中的黑云母及含黑云母闪石硫化物伟晶岩中的黑云母。因此,铌钛铀矿的形成时间应晚于93.72±2.38 Ma。这表明成矿带内除了已知存在三叠纪碳酸岩型Mo-Pb矿和白垩纪斑岩型Mo矿的成矿过程之外,还存在早白垩世之后的岩浆热液型U-Nb-Ti成矿过程。     

Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Northeastern Tarim Block: Constraints from 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology in the Kuluketage Area, NW China

Seventeen new 40Ar/39Ar analyses reported for ten Tarim Precambrian basement samples from the Kuluketage area, are applied to reconstruct the regional thermo-tectonic history together with previously published data. Eight samples were taken adjacent to the Xingdi and Xinger faults, major structures in the study area, whereas a further two were sampled at some distance from the faults. 40Ar/39Ar data from the latter record rapid cooling following a Neoproterozoic magmatic/metamorphic event and mild Paleozoic thermal disturbance. Paleozoic 40Ar/39Ar ages from the study area, as well as from the Central Tianshan and eastern Southern Tianshan suggest two strong deformational periods at ~390 Ma and ~300 Ma. During the older period, argon isotopic systems were reset/disturbed by high temperature related to arc magmatism resulting from subduction of the South Tianshan paleo-oceanic crust, possibly in combination with reactivation of Precambrian faults. The younger period is characterized by widespread late Carboniferous-early Permian intracontinental deformation, which is related to the final amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Previously published apatite fission track data attest to a long history of post-collisional cooling, which is attributed to continued propagation of deformation within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.     

广东南澳和莲花山韧性剪切带^40Ar／^39Ar年龄及其地质意义

采自广东南澳韧性剪切带和莲花山韧性剪切带的6个单矿物的40Ar/39Ar年龄谱数据可分为3组：151～162Ma、117.5～129.7Ma、66～97Ma。第1组年龄代表较深层次逆冲、褶皱和动热变质的时代,该期间沿莲花山断裂带开始出现火山活动;第2组年龄(2/3样品40Ar/39Ar坪年龄值集中于这一组范围内),代表强烈韧性剪切、左行平移兼逆断层活动的时代,即韧性剪切带的形成时代,此期在南澳断裂带还发生了混合岩化和花岗岩化作用;第3组年龄代表后期热扰动,即韧脆性转化、右行平移正断层活动和地壳伸展的时代。     

岩石微区激光探针质谱40Ar/39Ar定年研究

采用连续激光40Ar/39Ar测年技术，在岩石光片上成功地对贵州绿豆岩、南极地区3块火山岩及江西德兴钠长花岗岩进行了多点微区等时年龄测定；消除了过剩Ar的影响，部分样品作了40Ar/39Ar坪年龄谱测定，取得了满意的结果。     

Collision Event during 177-135 Ma on the Eastern Marginof the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Evidence from ~(40)Ar/ ~(39)Ar Dating for Basaltson the Western Margin of the Yangtze Platform

Geochronology of continental flood basalts sampled from the Emei large igneous province (LIP) on the western margin of the Yangtze platform was investigated by the laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating technique. These basalts yield a fairly wide range of 40Ar/39Ar ages, varying from 259 to 135 Ma. One basalt sample, at least altered, recorded the oldest 40Ar/39Ar age of about 259 Ma, corresponding to a peak eruption age of the Emei LIP continental flood basalts. Most of the samples yield much younger ages from 135 to 177 Ma, which are consistent with the K-Ar ages for the same samples (122.8-172.1 Ma). The dating data suggest that these Permian basalts had been widely affected by the regional tectonothermal event at 177-135 Ma. The event was probably caused by the convergence and collision among the Laurasia, Yangtze and Qiangtang-Qamdo continental blocks on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau after the late Triassic. The age of the event reflects the timing of the peak collisional orogeny.     

Late Palaeozoic 40Ar/39Ar ages of the HP-LT metamorphic rocks from the Kekesu Valley,Chinese southwestern Tianshan: new constraints on exhumation tectonics

abstract

Although numerous ages have been obtained for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan high pressure/ultrahigh pressure-low temperature (HP/UHP-LT) metamorphic belt in the past two decades, its exhumation history is still controversial. The poor age constraint was related to the appealing low metamorphic temperatures and excess Ar commonly present under HP/UHP conditions. This study aims to provide new age constraints on the orogen’s exhumation by obtaining ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar mica ages using the conventional step-heating technique, with emphasis on the avoidance of excess Ar contamination. From a cross section along the Kekesu Valley, four samples, three from the HP-LT metamorphic belt (TK050, TK051, and TK081) and one from the southern margin of the low pressure metamorphic belt (TK097), were selected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Phengites from garnet glaucophane schist TK050 and the surrounding rock garnet phengite schist TK051 yield comparable plateau ages of 321.4 ± 1.6 and 318.6 ± 1.6 Ma, respectively, while epidote mica schist TK081 gives a younger plateau age of 293.3 ± 1.5 Ma. Considering the chemical compositions of phengites, mineral assemblages, and microstructures in the thin slices, we suppose that the former represents the time the HP rocks retrograded from the peak stage (eclogite facies) to the (epidote)-blueschist facies, whereas the latter reflects greenschist facies overprinting. Biotite and muscovite from two-mica quartzite TK097 give similar plateau ages of 253.0 ± 1.3 and 247.1 ± 1.2 Ma, interpreted to date movement on the post collisional transcrustal South Nalati ductile shear zone. By combining our new ages with published data, a two-stage exhumation model is suggested for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan HP/UHP-LT metamorphic belt: initial fast exhumation to a depth of about 30–35 km by ~320 Ma was followed by relatively slow (~1 mm year^–1) uplift to ~10 km by ~293 Ma.     

40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Volcanic and Intrusive Rocks in the Papandayan Metallic Prospect Area,West Java,Indonesia

This study presents new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on the volcanic and intrusive rocks from the Papandayan metallic district in West Java, Indonesia. The vein system in the Arinem area, one of the prospective areas in the district, has been considered as an epithermal gold–silver–base metal deposit, however, no published age results are available for the host volcanic rocks in the district. The ages of these rocks are critical in terms of their association with mineralization and are important to understand the evolution of volcanism in the region, which has implications for mineral exploration in the district. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of two typical basalt and one andesite samples of the Jampang Formation volcanic rocks yielded ages of 11.65 ± 0.52 Ma, 18.15 ± 0.46 Ma and 7.69 ± 0.05 Ma, respectively. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of three intrusive rock samples from Gunung Halang diorite, Gunung Lingga diorite, and Gunung Buligir fine‐grained quartz diorite yielded ages of 12.98 ± 0.20 Ma, 10.81 ± 0.15 Ma, and 7.37 ± 0.05 Ma, respectively. The age of the youngest fine‐grained diorite (Gunung Wayang dike) is 3.95 ± 0.03 Ma. An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age obtained from adularia in the Arinem mineralized vein (18.30 ± 0.20 Ma) is older than the age of altered basalt sample of this study (11.65 ± 0.52 Ma) and the K–Ar illite ages of the Arinem vein (9.4 ± 0.3 Ma and 8.8 ± 0.3 Ma) which resulted from a previous study. The age results suggest that the Papandayan district may have experienced multiple hydrothermal and mineralization events. This study, therefore, provides crucial age data to support future mineral exploration in the district.     

40Ar/39Ar age of the onset of high-Ti phase of the Emeishan volcanism strengthens the link with the end-Guadalupian mass extinction

Precise time constraints of the main extrusive phase of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) remain unresolved because basalts commonly do not contain suitable minerals for U–Pb dating, whereas previous ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar studies on basalts yielded tectonothermal overprint ages. The timing for the ELIP was deduced from indirect dating of minor intrusions of ultramafic/mafic and felsic compositions by geochronological methods and geological correlations. The extrusive part of the ELIP consists of an older low-Ti and younger high-Ti basalt phases. We have found fresh samples of plagioclase-phyric rocks at the lower Qiaojia extrusive section (the Yunnan province of China), which belong to the ELIP unit of the high-Ti basalt series. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on plagioclase from two samples conducted at two different laboratories using different age standards yielded statistically indistinguishable results with the weighted mean age of 260.1 ± 1.2 Ma for five individual measurements. This provides the direct constraints on the onset of the ELIP high-Ti basalt extrusive phase. The obtained age is within the error or slightly older than the age of the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary and felsic ignimbrite capping the ELIP lava succession (both dated at 259.1 ± 0.5 Ma). Our new data are strengthening the short duration of the, at least, high-Ti phase of the ELIP volcanism and its temporal link with the end-Guadalupian mass extinction. Estimation of the total duration of the ELIP volcanism awaits finding of suitable for dating low-Ti basalts.     

滇东北峨眉山玄武岩中两阶段自然铜矿化的40Ar/39Ar与U-Th-Pb年龄证据

滇东北与峨眉山大火成岩省有关的自然铜矿化分布于鲁甸、茂林和迤车向斜的二叠纪玄武岩与上覆宣威组地层之间.与自然铜矿化有关的蚀变矿物--浊沸石 (LD- 14- 3、 YSD- 1和 YC- 1)均给出了一致的 40Ar/39Ar坪年龄和等时线年龄 (226～ 228 Ma).这类矿物不存在 Ca和 Cl的干扰,是合适的 40Ar/39Ar定年对象.但它们的 Ar封闭温度较低,在 100～ 110 ℃之间.所得年龄代表了第一次成矿作用的年龄.片沸石的 Ar封闭温度低于 70 ℃,无 Cl干扰的片沸石 LG- 2给出了 (134.0± 1.7) Ma 的 40Ar/39Ar稳定坪年龄, 并与 U- Th- Pb等时线定年结果相一致,表明该区在白垩纪早期存在第二次低温热液作用和自然铜矿化.因此无氯沸石 40Ar/39Ar定年可广泛应用于低温变质作用和冷却热历史研究. 38Ar含量高的阳起石和片沸石样品存在 Cl干扰对 40Ar/39Ar定年的影响.应用 40Ar/38Ar- 39Ar/38Ar等时线关系或 39Ar/38Ar- 36Ar/38Ar相关性进行 36Ar修正有可能获得有意义的年龄值;修正后的阳起石年龄为 235.7～ 238.6 Ma,片沸石年龄为 149.1 Ma,可与无氯沸石的年龄相比较.