Sea floor basalt alteration: Some chemical and Sr isotopic effects

Major element, Sr isotope and trace element data for 16 elements are reported for various weathered zones in three submarine basalt pillows. During the initial stages of alteration, it appears that SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, S, and Ga are lost from the basalt, whereas Fe₂O₃, total Fe, MnO, K₂O, H₂O, Cl, B, Rb, and Cs increase. Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratios also increase during weathering. MgO, Na₂O, P₂O₅, Ba, Ni and Cu show significant (10–50%) but less consistent changes. TiO₂, Zr, Sr and V show only minor changes (<7%). Zn, Cr, Co, Y and Nb show no changes outside experimental error.     

The geochemistry of gossans associated with Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Rafsanjan, Kerman,Iran: Implications for exploration and the environment

The Sarcheshmeh copper deposit is one of the world's largest Oligo-Miocene porphyry copper deposits in a continental arc setting with a well developed supergene sulfide zone, covered mainly by a hematitic gossan. Supergene oxidation and leaching, have developed a chalcocite enrichment blanket averaging 1.99% Cu, more than twice that of hypogene zone (0.89% Cu). The mature gossans overlying the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper ores contain abundant hematite with variable amounts of goethite and jarosite, whereas immature gossans consist of iron-oxides, malachite, azurite and chrysocolla. In mature gossans, Au, Mo and Ag give significant anomalies much higher than the background concentrations. However, Cu has been leached in mature gossans and gives values close or even less than the normal or crustal content (< 36.7 ppm). Immature gossans are enriched in Cu (160.3 ppm), Zn (826.7 ppm), and Pb (88.6 ppm). Jarosite- and goethite-bearing gossans may have developed over the pyritic shell of most Iranian porphyry copper deposits with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios greater than 10 and therefore, do not necessarily indicate a promising sulfide-enriched ore (Kader and Ijo). Hematite-bearing gossans overlying nonreactive alteration halos with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios about 1.5 and quartz stringers have significant supergene sulfide ores (Sarcheshmeh and Miduk). The copper grade in supergene sulfide zone of Sarcheshmeh copper deposit ranges from 0.78% in propylitized rocks to 3.4% in sericitized volcanic rocks, corresponding to the increasing chalcopyrite–pyrite or chalcocite–pyrite ratios from 0.3 to 3, respectively. Immature gossans with dominant malachite and chrysocolla associated with jarosite and goethite give the most weakly developed enrichment zone, as at God-e-Kolvari. The average anomalous values of Au (59.6 ppb), Mo (42.5 ppm) and Ag (2.6 ppm) in mature gossans associated with the Sarcheshmeh copper mine may be a criterion that provides a significant exploration target for regional metallogenic blind porphyry ore districts in central Iranian volcano–plutonic continental arc settings. Drilling for new porphyry ores should be targeted where hematitic gossans are well developed. The ongoing gossan formation may result in natural acidic rock drainage (ARD).     

Unusual acid melts in the area of the unique Rosia Montana gold deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania: Evidence from inclusions in quartz

Crystalline and melt inclusions were studied in large (up to 2 cm across) dipyramidal quartz phenocrysts from Miocene dacites in the area of the Rosia Montana Au-Ag deposit in Romania. Data were obtained on the homogenization of fluid inclusions and the composition of crystalline inclusions and glasses in more than 40 melt inclusions, which were analyzed on a electron microprobe. The minerals identified in the crystalline inclusions are plagioclase (An 51–62), orthoclase, micas (biotite and phengite), zircon, magnetite (TiO₂ = 2.8 wt %), and Fe sulfide. Two types of the melts were distinguished when studying the glasses of the melt inclusions. Type 1 of the melts is unusual in composition. The average composition of 20 inclusions is as follows (wt %): 76.1 SiO₂, 0.39 TiO₂, 6.23 Al₂O₃, 4.61 FeO, 0.09 MnO, 1.64 MgO, 3.04 CaO, 2.79 Na₂O, 3.79 K₂O (Na₂O/K₂O = 0.74), 0.07 P₂O₅, 0.02 Cl. The composition of type 2 of the melts is typical of acid magmas. The average of 23 inclusion analyses is (wt %) 79.3 SiO₂, 0.16 TiO₂, 10.27 Al₂O₃, 0.63 FeO, 0.08 MnO, 0.29 MgO, 1.83 CaO, 3.56 Na₂O, 2.79 K₂O (Na₂O/K₂O = 1.28), 0.08 P₂O₅, 0.05 Cl. The compositions of these melts significantly differ in concentrations of Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The high analytical totals of the analyses (close to 100 wt %, more specifically 98.9 and 99.0 wt %, respectively) testify that the melts were generally poor in water. Two inclusions of type 1 and two inclusions of type 2 were analyzed on an ion probe, and their analyses show remarkable differences in the concentrations of certain trace elements. These concentrations (in ppm) are for the melts of types 1 and 2, respectively, as follows: 10.0 and 0.69 for Be, 29.3 and 5.7 for B, 6.4 and 1.4 for Cr, 146 and 6.9 for V, 74 and 18 for Cu, 92 and 29 for Rb, 45 and 15 for Zr, 1.7 and 0.6 for Hf, 10.3 and 2.3 for Pb, and 52 and 1.3 for U. The Th/U ratio of these two melt types are also notably different: 0.04 and 0.19 for type 1 and 2.0 and 2.9 for type 2. These data led us to conclude that the magmatic melts were derived from two different sources. Our data on the melts of type 1 testify that the magmatic chamber was contaminated with compositionally unusual crustal rocks (perhaps, sedimentary, metamorphic, or hydrothermal rocks enriched in Si, Fe, Mg, U, and some other components). This can explain the ore-forming specifics of magmatic chambers in the area.     

The Geochemical and Zircon Trace Elements Characteristics of A-type Granitoids in Boziguoer,Baicheng County,Xinjiang

The Boziguoer A-type granitoids in Baicheng County,Xinjiang,belong to the northern margin of the Tarim platform as well as the neighboring EW-oriented alkaline intrusive rocks.The rocks comprise an aegirine or arfvedsonite quartz alkali feldspar syenite,an aegirine or arfvedsonite alkali feldspar granite,and a biotite alkali feldspar syenite.The major rock-forming minerals are albite,K-feldspar,quartz,arfvedsonite,aegirine,and siderophyllite.The accessory minerals are mainly zircon,pyrochlore,thorite,fluorite,monazite,bastnaesite,xenotime,and astrophyllite.The chemical composition of the alkaline granitoids show that SiO2 varies from 64.55％ to 72.29％ with a mean value of 67.32％,Na2O＋K2O is high （9.85％-11.87％） with a mean of 11.14％,K2O is 2.39％-5.47％ （mean =4.73％）,the K2O/Na2O ratios are 0.31-0.96,Al2O3 ranges from 12.58％ to 15.44％,and total FeOT is between 2.35％ and 5.65％.CaO,MgO,MnO,and TiO2 are low.The REE content is high and the total SREE is （263-1219） ppm （mean =776 ppm）,showing LREE enrichment and HREE depletion with strong negative Eu anomalies.In addition,the chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the alkaline granitoids belong to the ＂seagull＂ pattern of the right-type.The Zr content is （113-1246） ppm （mean =594 ppm）,Zr＋Nb＋Ce＋Y is between （478-2203） ppm with a mean of 1362 ppm.Furthermore,the alkaline granitoids have high HFSE （Ga,Nb,Ta,Zr,and Hf） content and low LILE （Ba,K,and Sr） content.The Nb/Ta ratio varies from 7.23 to 32.59 （mean =16.59） and the Zr/Hf ratio is 16.69-58.04 （mean =36.80）.The zircons are depleted in LREE and enriched in HREE.The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the zircons are of the ＂seagull＂ pattern of the left-inclined type with strong negative Eu anomaly and without a Ce anomaly.The Boziguoer A-type granitoids share similar features with A1-type granites.The average temperature of the granitic magma was estimated at 832-839℃.The Boziguoer A-type granitoids show crust-mantle mixing and may have formed in an anorogenic intraplate tectonic setting under high-temperature,anhydrous,and low oxygen fugacity conditions.     

On “Birthmarks” in rare-metal granites of the Losevka pluton,northern Kazakhstan

The Losevka pluton of rare-metal albite granite, which was explored as a possible source of columbite-zircon-malacon ore, is composed of quartz, sodic plagioclase, potassium feldspar, annite, protolithionite, lepidomelane, and Li-muscovite. The average chemical composition of this rock is as follows, wt %: 74.14 SiO₂, 0.04 TiO₂, 14.07 Al₂O₃, 1.05 Fe₂O₃, 0.78 FeO, 0.15 MnO, 0.09 MgO, 0.47 CaO, 4.65 Na₂O, 4.11 K₂O, and 0.03 P₂O₅. The accessory minerals are zircon, malacon, and cyrtolite (874 ppm); apatite (18 ppm); ilmenite (114 ppm); xenotime and monazite (119 ppm); and Nb-columbite (463 ppm). The black inclusions up to 15 cm in size, which are observed in this granite and called “birthmarks” by local geologists, consist of the same rock-forming minerals as the surrounding granite, but are enriched in MnO, MgO, CaO, TiO₂, and F and depleted in SiO₂ relative to the light granite. The black granite is also distinguished by much higher Sr and Ba contents and lower La, Rb, Y, Nb, REE, Cs, Ta, Th, and U contents. The black color is caused by enrichment in manganese oxides, manganoilmenite, and Mn-annite. All rock-forming minerals are pervaded by thin veinlets of Mn-oxides. In addition, bastnaesite, Y-and Th-fluorides, zircon, and malacon have been identified. Aggregates of black-colored minerals are not the products of the fractionation of the initial magma or immiscibility effects, because the structure of the albite-potassium feldspar-quartz-mica matrix is the same both in black and light granites. The percolation of a deep-sourced fluid enriched in Mn and F into a granitic melt might be a more probable origin.     

Sodic granitoids and felsic gneisses associated with uranium-thorium mineralisation,Crockers Well,South Australia

Thorian brannerite mineralisation at the Crockers Well prospect occurs in sodic granitic rocks and associated sodic felsic gneisses. Field, mineralogical and chemical data support the derivation of the granitic rocks from the gneisses by anatexis during high grade metamorphism. The sodic granitic rocks are largely peraluminous, contain high Na₂O, low K₂O, CaO, Rb, Ba, Sr and ferromagnesian elements, and variable but commonly high U, Th, Nb, Ce, Y and F values. Many geochemical parameters are inherited from the compositionally similar sodic felsic gneisses, which are interpreted to be metamorphosed analcime-rich volcano-sedimentary rocks of original intermediate-felsic (alkaline) affinites. Significant U-Th mineralisation is restricted to fractures and local breccia bodies which contain a mineral assemblage rich in quartz, F-bearing phlogopite and minor fluorapatite, sodic plagioclase, niobian rutile, thorian brannerite, monazite, muscovite, chlorite, tourmaline and fluorite. Certain genetic analogies are proposed with porphyry Cu and stockwork Mo deposits, with mineral deposition having occurred in mechanically-induced fractures and breccia bodies developed during sub-solidus cooling of the sodic granitoids.     

新疆喀喇昆仑喀拉果如木铜矿成矿岩体地球化学和 锆石年代学

喀拉果如木铜矿是近年在新疆喀喇昆仑地区发现的铜多金属矿.铜矿化赋存在二长花岗斑岩中,矿石呈细脉浸染状、斑点状.矿石矿物主要为黄铜矿,少量黄铁矿、斑铜矿和毒砂.围岩蚀变有硅化、绢云母化和青磐岩化,具有与斑岩铜矿类似的蚀变组合.二长花岗斑岩主要由斜长石、钾长石、石英、黑云母及蚀变的暗色矿物组成.二长花岗斑岩的SiO2(67.28％ ～73.08％)、Al2 O3(13.38％～15.53％)、K2O(2.92％ ～6.15％)和Na2O(2.78％ ～4.89％)含量较高,CaO和TiO2含量较低,属于高钾钙碱性系列;富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),亏损高场强元素(HFSE)和重稀土元素,Nb和Ta负异常,显示准铝质-弱过铝质过渡的特点,岩浆结晶分异作用明显,具有陆缘孤花岗岩的地球化学亲缘性,微量元素显示其为同碰撞-后碰撞花岗岩.成矿岩体锆石LA-ICP-MS测年结果为189.3 ±2.8Ma,成岩成矿作用发生在早侏罗世.结合区域地质演化,本文认为喀拉果如木铜矿形成于南昆仑地体与喀喇昆仑-甜水海地体之间的古特提斯洋消减闭合之后的后碰撞伸展背景,喀喇昆仑在晚三叠世-早侏罗世进入后碰撞造山时期.     

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of Middle Jurassic Dexing Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit, Southeast China

The Dexing deposit is located in a NE‐trending magmatic belt along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton. It is the largest porphyry copper deposit in China, consisting of three porphyry copper orebodies of Zhushahong, Tongchang and Fujiawu from northwest to southeast. It contains 1168 Mt of ores with 0.5% Cu and 0.01% Mo. The Dexing deposit is hosted by Middle Jurassic granodiorite porphyries and pelitic schist of Proterozoic age. The Tongchang granodiorite porphyry has a medium K cal‐alkaline series, with medium K₂O content (1.94–2.07 wt%), and low K₂O/(Na₂O + K₂O) (0.33–0.84) ratios. They have high large‐ion lithophile elements, high light rare‐earth elements, and low high‐field‐strength elements. The hydrothermal alteration at Tongchang is divided into four alteration mineral assemblages and related vein systems. They are early K‐feldspar alteration and A vein; transitional (chlorite + illite) alteration and B vein; late phyllic (quartz + muscovite) alteration and D vein; and latest carbonate, sulfate and oxide alteration and hematite veins. Primary fluid inclusions in quartz from phyllic alteration assemblage include liquid‐rich (type 1), vapor‐rich (type 2) and halite‐bearing ones (type 3). These provide trapping pressures of 20–400 ´ 10⁵ Pa of fluids responsible for the formation of D veins. Igneous biotite from least altered granochiorite porphyry and hydrothermal muscovite in mineralized granodiorite porphyry possess δ¹⁸O and δD values of 4.6‰ and ?87‰ for biotite and 7.1–8.9‰, ?71 to ?73‰ for muscovite. Stable isotopic composition of the hydrothermal water suggests a magmatic origin. The carbon and oxygen isotope for hydrothermal calcite are ?4.8 to ?6.2‰ and 6.8–18.8‰, respectively. The δ³⁴S of pyrite in quartz vein ranges from ?0.1 to 3‰, whereas δ³⁴S for chalcopyrite in calcite veins ranges from 4 to 5‰. These are similar to the results of previous studies, and suggest a magmatic origin for sulfur. Results from alteration assemblages and vein system observation, as well as geochemical, fluid inclusion, stable isotope studies indicate that the involvement of hydrothermal fluids exsolved from a crystallizing melt are responsible for the formation of Tongchang porphyry Cu‐Mo orebodies in Dexing porphyry deposit.     

Mineralogy and geochemistry of the hydrothermally altered archaean granodioritic rocks of the ventersdorp dome,Western Transvaal,South Africa

Summary Archaean granodioritic rocks from the Ventersdorp Dome have been hydrothermally altered in two stages: epidotization and K-feldspatization. The alteration locally is both pervasive or occurs along veins. Mass balance calculations reveal CaO, Fe₂O₃, Sr and Y addition and loss of Na₂O,K₂O, MgO, Pb and Ba during epidotization. The combined epidotization and K-feldspatization involved a gain in SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Ba, Sr and Rb. A1₂O₃ and Nb were immobile during both alteration stages. The alteration is accompanied by a change in the An-content of the plagioclase (An₁₁ to An₁).

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Mineralogie und Geochemie der hydrothermal veränderten, archaischen Granodiorite des Ventersdorp Domes (westliches Transvaal, Südafrika)

Zusammenfassung Archaische Granodiorite des Ventersdorp Domes sind durch zwei Typen hydrothermaler Verdnderung, Epidotisierung und Kalifeldspatisierung überprägt worden. Die Veránderung tritt sowohl durchdringend als auch auf Adern auf. Massenvergleichsberechnungen ergaben, daß während der Epidotisierung CaO, Fe₂O₃, Sr und Y angereichert und Na₂O, K₂O, MgO, Pb und Ba abgeführt worden sind. Während der kombinierten Epidotisierung und Kalifeldspatisierung treten eine Zufuhr von SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Ba, Sr und Rb auf. A1₂O₃ und Nb verhielten sich während beider Verdnderungen immobil. Die hydrothermale Veränderung wurde von einer Verminderung des Ca-Gehaltes der Plagioklase begleitet (An₁₁ zu An₁).

     

Geochemical Characteristics and Zonation of Primary Halos of Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit,Northwestern Yunnan Province,Southwestern China

The Pulang (普朗) porphyry copper deposit, located in the southern segment of the Yidun-Zhongdian (义敦-为中甸) island arc ore-forming belt of the Tethys-Himalaya ore-forming domain, is a recently discovered large copper deposit. Compared with the composition of granodiorite in China, the porphyry rocks in this area are enriched in W, Mo, Cu, Au, As, Sb, F, V, and Na2O (K1≥1.2). Compared with the composition of fresh porphyry rocks in this district, the mineralized rocks are enriched in Cn, Au, Ag, Mo, Pb, Zn, W, As, Sb, and K2O (K≥1.2). Some elements show clear anomalies, such as Zn, Ag, Cu, Au, W, and Mo, and can be regarded as pathfinders for prospecting new ore bodies in depth. It has been inferred from factor analysis that the Pulang porphyry copper deposit may have undergone the multiple stages of alteration and mineralization: (a) Cu-Au mineralization; (b) W-Mo mineralization; and (c) silicification and potassic metasomatism in the whole ore-forming process. A detailed zonation sequence of indicator elements is obtained using the variability index of indicator elements as follows: Zn→Ag→Cu→Au→W→Mo. According to this zonation, an index such as (Ag×Zn) D/(Mo×W) D can be constructed and regarded as a significant criterion for predicting the Cu potential at a particular depth.     

Signature of potassium enrichment in granite of the Chitrial area, Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh: Inferences using its U, Th, K2O, Na2O, Rb, Ba and Sr contents

A medium tonnage unconformity proximal uranium deposit has been established at Chitrial by the Atomic Minerals Directorate in the Srisailam sub-basin. In this type of deposits, the association of uranium with potassic alteration (illitization) is well-documented. The present study is directed towards understanding such an association in the Chitrial area for which the uranium mineralized borehole core samples were collected and analyzed. It is observed that the average concentrations of K₂O, Na₂O, Rb, Ba and Sr in the granite of the Chitrial area are 5.35%, 1.78%, 252 ppm, 564 ppm and 52 ppm, respectively, and they show average critical elemental ratios of K/Rb, Ba/Rb and Rb/Sr as 191, 2.37 and 7.13, respectively. The granites show low K/Rb, low Rb/Ba and high Rb/Sr ratios compared to that of the average crust indicating its derivation from crustal source. The samples have higher values of uranium (av. 53 ppm), thorium (av. 66 ppm) and lead (av. 41 ppm). The U/Th ratio in the granite varies from 0.07 to 20.86 with an average of 1.68. They also exhibit high K₂O/Na₂O ratio typical of post-Archaean granite and very high values suggest the possibility of later potassium enrichment.     

滇西北铜厂沟Mo-Cu矿床岩体年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

铜厂沟大型斑岩型Mo-Cu多金属矿床位于扬子西缘义敦岛弧带南端,钼矿化与花岗闪长斑岩紧密相关。花岗闪长斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为84.57±0.29Ma(MSWD=0.73),侵位于晚白垩世。岩石的Si O2为63.03%~69.60%,Na2O+K2O为6.97%~9.11%,具高钾钙碱性和准铝质-弱过铝质(A/CNK=0.88~1.05)特征。岩石富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Pb等),相对亏损重稀土元素和高场强元素(Ti、Nb、P等),并且具有较高的Sr/Y和La/Yb比值,及较低的Y、Yb及Mg O含量。这些地球化学特征表明铜厂沟花岗闪长斑岩具有埃达克质岩石的特征,可能起源于加厚下地壳岩石的部分重熔。地球化学投图显示,铜厂沟岩体呈现出晚碰撞-碰撞后花岗岩特征,指示着岩体可能形成于陆内碰撞造山后由挤压转换为伸展构造环境;岩浆上侵过程中含矿热液沿构造发育部位运移,在酸性岩体内形成细脉浸染状钼(铜钨)矿化,在构造破碎带、层间滑动带和玄武岩与碳酸盐岩接触带交代形成矽卡岩型Cu、Pb、Zn多金属矿体和热液脉型Pb、Zn、Ag多金属矿体,构成钼(铜钨)→铜钼→铁铜金→铅锌的成矿元素分带和斑岩成矿系统。     

云南铜厂沟斑岩型铜钼矿矿化蚀变过程中成矿元素迁移特征

铜厂沟斑岩型铜钼矿是格咱岛弧燕山晚期Mo多金属成矿作用的典型代表,矿床中与Cu-Mo矿化相关的蚀变作用广泛发育。文章在对该矿床岩相学研究的基础上,选择TiO₂作为蚀变过程中惰性组分、运用Gresens方程对元素迁移进行定量分析。主量元素迁移特征显示在钾硅酸盐化蚀变阶段和石英—绢云母化蚀变阶段中Al₂O₃、K₂O、Na₂O、P₂O₅、SiO₂持续迁入,青磐岩化阶段Fe₂O₃、MgO、CaO迁入富集;微量元素在钾硅酸盐化阶段显示为Mo、Ba、W、Ra、Nb、Ta、LREE元素明显迁入,且Ba、W与Mo的富集有明显的相关性,石英—绢云母化蚀变阶段Pb、Zn富集成矿,青磐岩化阶段Cu富集成矿,铜厂沟斑岩型铜钼矿矿化蚀变与成矿元素迁移特征研究对该区深部地球化学勘查指标制定、成矿信息及矿体边界确定等具有重要的参考意义。     

Geochemistry of soils derived from black shales in the Ganziping mine area, western Hunan, China

The geochemistry of major and trace elements (including heavy metals and rare earth elements) of the fresh and weathered black shales, and the soils derived from black shales in the Ganziping mine area in western Hunan province (China) were studied using the following techniques: X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the black-shale soils are significantly enriched with Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, and depleted of mobile elements CaO, Na₂O and K₂O. The soils are also highly enriched with heavy metals U, V, Ni, Ba, Cu, Zn and Pb, that may cause potential heavy-metal contamination of the soils. Composition of the soils is homogeneous compared to the weathered black shales, for which the concentrations of major elements except CaO and Na₂O, and trace elements except heavy metals (U, V, Ni, Ba, Cu, Zn and Pb) as well as the mobile Sr, show lower variations than in the weathered black shales. Ratios of Zr/Hf, Ta/Nb, Y/Ho, Nd/Sm, and Ti/(Ti + Zr), of the soils are also less variable, with values constantly similar to that of the fresh and weathered black shales correspondingly. Thus, components of the soils are believed to be contributed from the parent black shales through weathering and pedogenesis. It is concluded that the soils were formed by at least two stages of geochemical processes: the early stage of chemical differentiation and the later stage of chemical homogenization. The chemical differentiation that was taken during black-shale weathering might have caused the depletion of CaO and Na₂O, and the enrichment of Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃; while the chemical homogenization that was taken during pedogenesis led to the depletion of SiO₂ and K₂O, and to the further enrichment of Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃. The heavy-metal enrichment (contamination) of the soils was then genetically related to the enrichment of Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ in the soils.     

Geochemistry of Proterozoic Radioactive Arkoses in Khammam District,Andhra Pradesh,India: Evidence for K-rich Evolved Granitoid Upper Crust in the Late Archaean

Geochemical studies on radioactive arkoses (43–153 ppm U and 387–862 ppm Th) of the Proterozoic Pakhal Supergroup from Bangaruchilka, Khammam district, Andhra Pradesh, India, indicate that their gross major and trace element chemistry reflect their mineral composition. Chemically, arkoses are rich in silica (83% to 88% SiO₂) and potassium (3% to 5% K₂O), with consistently high Al₂O₃/Na₂O (36 to 50) and K₂O/Na₂O (18 to 25) ratios, which indicate that they are chemically mature sediments. The arkoses also show higher concentrations of Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb, La and Pb.The values (60% to 68%) of chemical alteration index (CIA) of studied arkoses are moderate, and indicate that the source rocks have undergone lesser degree of chemical weathering. Tectonic setting discriminate plots of Fe₂O₃ (total)/MgO vs. TiO₂ and Al₂O₃/SiO₂, and K₂O/Na₂O vs. SiO₂ and SiO₂/Al₂O₃ indicate that the Bangaruchilka arkoses represent the sediments that were deposited in passive continental margin (PM), which is further supported by association of platformal type of sediments (quartzites and phyllites) with them. Unlike middle Archaean sedimentary rocks, the studied arkoses are depleted in Na₂O, MgO and CaO, and distinctly enriched in SiO₂ and K₂O. These geochemical features match with post-Archaean clastic sediments, which argues for the involvement of late Archaean granitic crust in supply of detritus of studied arkoses. Enrichment of potassium alongwith abundant microcline and elevated concentrations of Y, Zr, Nb, U, Th, La, etc. in arkoses indicate K-rich evolved granitoid upper crust in the provenance during the late Archaean-early Proterozoic period.Dominance of mechanical weathering over chemical weathering favoured arkose formation, and also transfer of radio-elements with clastic sediments into the Pakhal basin. After sedimentation, uranium seems to have been remobilised from the rocks of Archaean-Pakhal system, consequent to post-sedimentation structural disruptions, and concentrated along suitable structural loci. Therefore, it is likely to encounter significant concentration of uranium in close proximity of unconformable Archaean and Pakhal contacts and tectonic zones, thereby making Pakhal basin and its environs a suitable terrain to search for concealed uranium mineralisation.     

Factorial kriging with external drift: a case study on the Penedono Region,Portugal

Factorial kriging has been used in geochemical exploration for the estimation and cartography of the spatial components of the variables, helping with the identification and interpretation of geochemical anomalies. Those spatial components appear by the decomposition of the variables in its several structural components, given by the variograms. In this paper a new form of factorial kriging is introduced, by using the geologic information as an external drift. This was achieved considering as an external variable (external drift) sample co-ordinates on the first axis resultant from a principal component analysis (PCA), interpreted as a lithological factor. With this type of geostatistical technique each point appears in the resultant maps as a combination of geochemical and geological information, attending the geographic localization of the samples. This technique was tested on a set of 2450 sediment samples collected on a 640 km² area, between the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and the Beira Alta regions. From the 34 initial elements analyzed (10 major elements P₂O₅, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, TiO₂ and MnO expressed in oxide percentage and 24 elements expressed in ppm As, Bi, Ag, Sb, W, B, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sn, Nb, Li, Be, Zr, Y, La, Ba, Cd, Mo, V, Cr, Co, Ni and Sr) only the results obtained for 2 of them are presented in this work. The first was Sn, which is associated with some mineralisation in this region and the other one was Zn, which shows similar behavior in the whole area, with the exception of a small region.     

Petrology and CHIME geochronology of Pan-African high K and Sr/Y granitoids in the Nkambe area, Cameroon

The Central African Belt in the Nkambe area, northwestern Cameroon represents a collisional zone between the Saharan metacraton and the Congo craton during the Pan-African orogeny, and exposes a variety of granitoids including foliated and massive biotite monzogranites in syn- and post-kinematic settings. Foliated and massive biotite monzogranites have almost identical high-K calc-alkaline compositions, with 73–67 wt.% SiO₂, 17–13 wt.% Al₂O₃, 2.1–0.9 wt.% CaO, 4.4–2.7 wt.% Na₂O and 6.3–4.4 wt.% K₂O. High concentrations of Rb (264–96 ppm), Sr (976–117 ppm), Ba (3680–490 ppm) and Zr (494–99 ppm), with low concentrations of Y (mostly< 20 ppm with a range 54–6) and Nb (up to 24 ppm) suggest that the monzogranites intruded in collisional and post-collisional settings. The Sr/Y ratio ranges from 25 to 89. K, Rb and Ba resided in a single major phase such as K-feldspar in the source. Garnet was present in the source and remained as restite at the site of magma generation. This high K₂O and Sr/Y granitic magma was generated by partial melting of a granitic protolith under high-pressure and H₂O undersaturated conditions where garnet coexists with K-feldspar, albitic plagioclase. CHIME (chemical Th–U-total Pb isochron method) dating of zircon yields ages of 569 ± 12–558 ± 24 Ma for the foliated biotite monzogranite and 533 ± 12–524 ± 28 Ma for the massive biotite monzogranite indicating that the collision forming the Central African Belt continued in to Ediacaran (ca 560 Ma).     

Geochemistry,and zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology of Jilongshan Cu–Au deposit,southeastern Hubei Province,China

The Jilongshan skarn Cu–Au deposit is located at the Jiurui ore cluster region in the southwestern part of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River valley metallogenic belt. The region is characterized by NW‐, NNW‐ and EW‐trending faults and the mineralization occurs at the contact of lower Triassic carbonate rocks and Jurassic granodiorite porphyry intrusions. The intrusives are characterized by SiO₂, K₂O, and Na₂O concentrations ranging from 61.66 to 67.8 wt.%, 3.29 to 5.65 wt.%, and 2.83 to 3.9 wt.%, respectively. Their A/CNK (A/CNK = n(Al₂O₃)/[n(CaO) + n(Na₂O) + n(K₂O)]) ratio, δEu, and δCe vary from 0.77 to 1.17, 0.86 to 1, and 0.88 to 0.96, respectively. The rocks show enrichment in light rare earth elements ((La/Yb)_N = 7.61–12.94) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), such as Zr, Ti. They also display a peraluminous, high‐K calc‐alkaline signature typical of intrusives associated with skarn and porphyry Cu–Au–Mo polymetallic deposits. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U–Pb age indicates that the granodiorite porphyry formed at 151.75 ± 0.70 Ma. A few inherited zircons with older ages (677 ± 10 Ma, 848 ± 11 Ma, 2645 ± 38 Ma, and 3411 ± 36 Ma) suggest the existence of an Archaean basement beneath the Middle–Lower Yangtze River region. The temperature of crystallization of the porphyry estimated from zircon thermometer ranges from 744.3 °C to 751.5 °C, and 634.04 °C to 823.8 °C. Molybdenite Re–Os dating shows that the Jilongshan deposit formed at 150.79 ± 0.82 Ma. The metallogeny and magmatism are correlated to mantle–crust interaction, associated with the subduction of the Pacific Plate from the east. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry of 1.78 Ga A-type granites along the southern margin of the North China Craton: implications for Xiong'er magmatism during the break-up of the supercontinent Columbia

The Palaeoproterozoic Luoling granites occur along the southern margin of the North China Craton. They are rich in silica and total alkalis with SiO₂ contents ranging from 65.18 to 72.72 wt.%, K₂O from 4.68 to 6.62 wt.%, and Na₂O from 1.35 to 4.88 wt.%. They have high Fe*[FeO_t/(FeO_t + MgO)] ranging from 0.84 to 0.95 wt.% and low MnO (0.03–0.09 wt.%), MgO (0.27–1.55 wt.%), CaO (0.36–2.04 wt.%), TiO₂ (0.4–1.12 wt.%), and P₂O₅ (0.04–0.36 wt.%). Geochemically, they show typical characteristics of A-type granites, such as high contents of alkalis (i.e. high K₂O + Na₂O, with K₂O/Na₂O > 1), Rb, Y, Nb, and REEs (except for Eu); high FeO_t/MgO and Ga/Al ratios; and low CaO, Al₂O₃, and Sr contents. New secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) zircon U–Pb ages reveal that the Luoling granites were emplaced at 1786 ± 7 Ma and thus were approximately coeval with Xiong'er volcanic rocks in the area. Their negative bulk-rock initial Nd and zircon initial Hf isotopic ratios suggest that they have affinities to EM-I-type mantle and both are the products of Xiong'er magmatism during the Palaeoproterozoic. We regard them as produced under a continental rift setting during the Palaeoproterozoic, genetically related to the break-up of the Columbia supercontinent.     

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age, Ce^4＋/Ce^3＋ ratios and the geochemical features of the Machangqing complex associated with copper deposit

1IntroductionQuite a number of porphyry copper deposits havebeen found in the Cenozoic alkali-intrusions along theJinshajiang-Ailaoshan-Red River fault zone,whichconstitute the Cenozoic ore belt in China.The Cenozo-ic alkali-intrusive rocks are similar in…