Some clinopyroxenes from ultramafic inclusions in Dreiser Weiher,Eifel

Eight clinopyroxenes from wehrlites and clinopyroxenites and three clinopyroxenes of crystal lapilli in tuff of Dreiser Weiher in Eifel, Germany, have been separated and chemically analysed. One hornblende and two phlogopites from a wehrlite and clinopyroxenites have also been analysed. The rocks enclosing these inclusions are alkali basalts of basanite composition. The analysed clinopyroxenes contain considerable amounts of Al₂O₃ (3.87–10.84 wt%). The calculated Tschermak's component ranges from 5.9 to 18.4 mol per cent. All of the analysed clinopyroxenes are clearly different from chromian diopsides in lherzolite inclusions in basaltic rocks in Dreiser Weiher and other localities; the former has higher contents of total FeO, CaO and TiO₂ and lower contents of MgO and Cr₂O₃ than the latter. Two clinopyroxenes separated from apatite-bearing clinopyroxenites show high contents of Fe₂O₃ with about 2 per cent of Na₂O, indicating the presence of considerable amounts of acmite component in addition to Tschermak's component. The relative proportions of Al in the tetrahedral site and that in the octahedral site in the analysed clinopyroxenes are clearly different from those of the common igneous clinopyroxenes and eclogites, and similar to those of the clinopyroxenes from other inclusions in basaltic rocks and granulites. It is suggested that all the analysed clinopyroxenes and their host inclusions have crystallized from alkali basalt magmas in relatively deep levels of the continental crust.     

Geotectonic significance of ultramafic rocks

Ultramafic rocks can be divided into 5 principal geotectonic groups, as follows: (1) Layered gabbro-norite-peridotite masses, commonly associated with all ages of terrane, possibly connected with accretionary plate margins. (2) Concentrically zoned Alaska-type bodies, possibly associated with consuming plate margins. (3) Ultramafic lavas and associated intrusions, nearly exclusively in Archaean terranes, of uncertain tectonic position. (4) Alpine peridotites, in linear Phanerozoic and Late Precambrian deformed belts, indicative of activity both at accretionary and consuming plate margins. (5) Nodules and other ultramafic rocks associated with alkalic volcanic centers, which in some cases represent mid-plate activity, as well as direct samples of mantle rocks underlying the volcanic area. A key question in interpretation of the geotectonic significance of ultramafic rocks is the nature or even existence of plate-tectonic activity prior to that reflected in the present ocean basins.     

Determination of rare-earth elements in USGS standard rocks by mixed-solvent ion exchange and mass-spectrometric isotope dilution

The development is described of a mixed-solvent ion-exchange technique for separating trace amounts of rare-earth elements from silicate rocks and minerals. A two-column method is used, bulk separation of rare earths from other elements being accomplished on the first, and separation into three groups for mass-spectrometric analysis on the second. This has been applied to the determination of nine REE (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er and Yb) in standard rock samples. Smooth variation of the chondrite-normalized abundance distributions and comparison with other published results indicate that the accuracy of the method, with the exception of La, is generally ± 2%.     

Multiple origins of clinopyroxenes in alkali basaltic rocks

Geochemical and textural data on clinopyroxenes in individual alkali basaltic flows from provinces in eastern Australia and the Massif Central can be used to differentiate four different modes of origin (three at high pressure) for these clinopyroxenes. Many single flows from the two provinces contain clinopyroxenes of three, or even four, of these origins. Rare flows contain core clinopyroxene with overgrowths of clinopyroxenes of two distinct generation. Each of the overgrowth is compositionally analogous to clinopyroxenes occurring in xenoliths or as discrete crystals in the same host lava. Such rimming relationships provide evidence that the host magma has undergone high pressure crystallisation and confirm that some xenoliths and megacrysts are cognate. With decreasing pressure the major changes in clinopyroxene chemistry are an increase in the ratio Al^lv/Al^vi, a linear increase of atomic proportions of Ti and Al with decreasing Si, and an increase in the Ti: (100 Mg/(Mg + Σ Fe)) ratio of the pyroxenes. Al₂O₂ wt, % is an unreliable potential geobarometric indicator; consideration of tetrahedral and octahedral site occupancies by Al (Al^lv/Al^vl ratio) is necessary. High-pressure fractionation dominated by clinopyroxene is postulated for some basaltic-composition, resulting in SiO₂ depletion, alkali enrichment and decrease in the Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺) value of the host magma.     

Efficiency of a re-usable Carius tube for determination of platinum group elements in ultramafic rocks

Digestion with aqua regia in Carius tube is commonly employed for determination of PGEs in geological samples. However, silicates cannot be completely dissolved by aqua regia and PGEs might partially remain in silicate residue. In this study, an ultramafic reference material was used to investigate the efficiencies of a new re-usable Carius tube after digestion at 220 and 240℃, and an autoclave-lined Carius tube at 260 and 280℃. The results show that about 10% of PGEs retained in the silicate residues at 220 and 5% still r℃ emains even digestion temperature increases to 280℃. These results agree with previous works that increasing the digestion pressure and temperature can achieve more effective dissolution. Thus, a modified digestion procedure for determination of PGEs in ultramafic rocks by the re-usable Carius tube was proposed in this study.     

Metamorphic olivine in ultramafic rocks from Western Australia

Textural relationships plus associated mineralogy are compatible with a metamorphic origin for some olivines in altered ultramafics. Upper amphibolite facies PT conditions are indicated.     

Platinum-group elements in alpine-type ultramafic rocks and related chromite ores of the main ophiolite belt of the Urals

On the basis of a representative collection of ultramafic rocks and chromite ores and a series of technological samples from the largest (Central and Western) deposits in the Rai-Iz massif of the Polar Urals and the Almaz-Zhemchuzhina and Poiskovy deposits in the Kempirsai massif of the southern Urals, the distribution and speciation of platinum-group elements (PGE) in various type sections of mafic-ultramafic massifs of the Main ophiolite belt of the Urals have been studied. Spectral-chemical and spectrophotometric analyses were carried out to estimate PGE in 700 samples of ultramafic rocks and chromite ores; 400 analyses of minerals from rocks, ores, and concentrates and 100 analyses of PGE minerals (PGM) in chromite ores and concentrates were performed using an electron microprobe. Near-chondritic and nonchondritic PGE patterns in chromitebearing sections have been identified. PGE mineralization has been established to occur in chromite ore from all parts of the mafic-ultramafic massifs in the Main ophiolite belt of the Urals. The PGE deposits and occurrences discovered therein are attributed to four types (Kraka, Kempirsai, Nurali-Upper Neiva, and Shandasha), which are different in mode of geological occurrence, geochemical specialization, and placer-forming capability. Fluid-bearing minerals of the pargasite-edenite series have been identified for the first time in the matrix of chromite ore of the Kempirsai massif (the Almaz-Zhemchuzhina deposit) and Voikar-Syn’ya massif (the Kershor deposit). The PGE grade in various types of chromite ore ranges from 0.1–0.2 to 1–2 g/t or higher. According to technological sampling, the average PGE grade in the largest deposits of the southeastern ore field of the Kempirsai massif is 0.5–0.7 g/t. Due to the occurrence of most PGE as PGM 10–100 mm in size and the proved feasibility of their recovery into nickel alloys, chromites of the Kempirsai massif can be considered a complex ore with elevated and locally high Os, Ir, and Ru contents. The Nurali-Upper Neiva type of ore is characterized by small-sized primary deposits, which nevertheless are the main source of large Os-Ir placers in the Miass and Nev’yansk districts of the southern and central Urals, respectively.     

Leaching rare-earth and radioactive elements from alkaline rocks of the Lovozero Massif,Kola Peninsula

The paper presents data on the leaching efficiency of rare-earth (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) and radioactive (Th and U) elements by various reagents from alkaline rocks of the Lovozero Massif. Element concentrations were analyzed by ICP-MS and instrumental neutral activation (INAA). A new complex technique is suggested for analyzing elements on the solid phase of polymer hydrogels. This technique makes it possible to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of INAA when these elements are simultaneously contained in rocks. Data are presented on the selective leaching of trace elements and the application of environmentally safe reagents.     

Ontogenetic analysis of individual olivine grains in ultramafic rocks

The morphology and internal structure of individual olivine grains from ultramafic rocks in the Guli and Gal’moenan dunite massifs differing in origin are considered. To restore the ontogeny of mineral aggregates, traces of elastic deformation retained in mineral grains have been used. Comparison of anatomy of olivine grains from these two massifs showed that the mechanism of accommodation of rocks to changing geological settings is expressed as the response of the mineral aggregate structure and variation in the anatomy of individual mineral grains. At the level of individual grains, this is annihilation of older defects and origination of younger dislocations; refinement of the crystal lattice; exsolution; formation and transformation of new mineral phases; and creep and migration of subboundaries within grains. At the aggregate level, this is rotation and migration creep of the internal boundaries of rock; formation of new boundaries of mineral intergrowths; reorientation of boundaries; and variation in their extent, density, and grain dimensions. The prehistory of massifs controls the manifestation and abundance of various elastic deformations and related types of recrystallization of olivine grain boundaries and subboundaries in aggregates. New conditions and accommodation of mineral aggregates to these conditions have instigated specific schemes of recrystallization, which bear information on the history of rocks and their massifs.     

Strontium isotope and alkali element abundances in ultramafic rocks

The concentrations of the trace elements Na, K, Rb and Sr and the isotopic composition of Sr have been measured in a suite of ultramafic rocks, including alpine-type intrusions, inclusions in basalts and kimberlite pipes, zones from stratiform sheets, and a mica peridotite. From these data and those available in the literature the following conclusions can be drawn. Alpine-type ultramafic material appears to be residual in nature and can be neither the source material for the derivation of basalts nor the refractory residue of modern basalts. Alpine-type ultramafic intrusions appear to have no relationship with ultramafic zones in stratiform sheets and were probably derived from the upper mantle. A genetic relationship exists between basalts and their ultramafic inclusions, but it is extremely doubtful that this inclusion material could give rise to basalts by partial fusion. There is a possible genetic relationship between basalts and ultramafic inclusions in kimberlite pipes, and this ultramafic material is a potential source for the derivation of basalts. Ultramafic inclusions in basalts are probably not fragments of an alpine-type ultramafic zone in the mantle. An attempt has been made to synthesize the data and interpretations of this study by way of speculations on the role of ultramafic rocks in the differentiation history of the earth.     

Stability and composition relations of calcic amphiboles in ultramafic rocks

Calcic amphiboles are observed in ultramafic rocks that have equilibrated under a broad span of geological conditions and might prove to be good indicators of metamorphic grade if their stabilities could be determined as a function of their compositions. Experiments were performed on the stability of tremolite plus forsterite in the system H₂O-CaO-MgO-SiO₂ from 5 to 20 kbar. A univariant curve was fitted to the experimental brackets using volume, water fugacity, and heat capacity data. The results indicate that the maximum stability of tremolite in the presence of forsterite is about 825° C at 5 kbar. Addition of Al₂O₃ to this system increases the stability of tremolitic amphibole by only 20°–40° C and induces solubility of 5–7 wt.% Al₂O₃ in the amphibole, as determined from quantitative SEM analyses of individual amphibole crystals. Thus substitution of the tschermakite component (Ca₂(Mg₃Al₂) (Si₆Al₂) O₂₂(OH)₂) alone cannot lead to the greatly enhanced Al₂O₃ contents or thermal stability of natural calcic amphiboles. Comparison of the results from this study with experimental results from other studies on synthetic calcic amphiboles indicates that the high thermal stability of natural amphiboles is strongly linked with the substitution of alkalies (Na in particular) in the form of the component Na-Ca₂(Mg₄Al) (Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂ (pargasite). Accordingly, experimental data from studies on pargasite have been combined with the appropriate univariant curves to obtain a phase diagram for amphibole-bearing ultramafic rocks modelled by the system H₂O-Na₂O-CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂.     

The replacement of chrome spinel by chromian valleriite in sulphide-bearing ultramafic rocks in Western Australia

Chromian valleriite occurs as a replacement product of chrome spinel in the Nepean and Perseverance nickel-iron sulphide deposits of Western Australia. Compositions determined for chromian valleriites are variable due to intergrowth with spinel and to substitution of Fe and Ni for Cu. At Perseverance, valleriite, with minor admixed chrome spinel, has a composition expressed by the formula Fe_1.18Cu_0.81Ni_0.01S_2.00·2.03[Mg_0.50Cr_0.37Mn_0.08Fe_0.03Ti_0.01Al_0.01(OH)_2.00]. Nepean valleriites are similarly intergrown with spinel, with the purest chromian valleriites varying in composition from a nickel-poor Fe_1.21Cu_0.78Ni_0.01S_2.00·1-46.[Mg_0.43Cr_0.18Mn_0.05Fe_0.30(OH)₂] to Fe_1.58Cu_0.28Ni_0.15S_2.00·1.79[Mg_0.51Cr_0.30Fe_0.16Ti_0.03(OH)₂]. Conversion of chrome spinel to valleriite is attributed to addition of Cu and S from the breakdown of chalcopyrite, addition of Mg from serpentinising olivine and limited addition of Ni from the breakdown of pentlandite to mackinawite. These processes are thought to occur as post-metamorphic hydrothermal reactions in nickel sulphide ores that have been subjected to high grade regional metamorphism.     

大别造山带毛屋超镁铁岩的铂族元素研究

采用镍锍火试金法结合ICP-MS分析了毛屋斜方辉石岩和石榴二辉岩样品中的Ir、Ru、Rh、Pt和Pd的含量,结果显示其铂族元素(PGE)的含量随岩石类型无规律性的变化,原始地幔标准化后的铂族元素分布模式呈负斜率,Pd、Ir发生了分异。毛屋超镁铁岩铂族元素特征的形成受岩石中铂族元素的存在相制约,PPGE富集在富Cu硫化物,而IPGE以类似残留相、不熔的单硫化物固熔体形式存在,其中地壳混染也起了一定的作用;同时,成岩过程中流体的存在造成了Pt和Pd的活化。因此,单硫化物固熔体和流体的共同作用形成了毛屋超镁铁岩类似残留地幔岩的铂族元素分布特征。     

高压-超高压变质带中超基性岩的成因类型及其流体活动

超基性岩的地质过程提供了地幔岩在造山带形成过程中所作的贡献,并记录了地质构造以及壳-幔之间相互作用的信息。根据现有的研究,可将俯冲带橄榄岩大致分为陆下地幔橄榄岩、基性-超基性堆晶杂岩和大洋地幔橄榄岩。文中简要评述了不同类型造山带橄榄岩的岩石学和地球化学特征。不同类型的橄榄岩所经历的地质历史不同,而留有不同的岩石学和地球化学特征。大多数造山带橄榄岩经历了高压-超高压变质作用,并受到蛇纹岩化等多期次流体和融体的交代作用,因而俯冲造山带的辉石岩和橄榄岩无论在岩石学的组成、结构和地球化学等特征方面通常表现得复杂多变。     

The opaque minerals of the ultramafic rocks of New Caledonia

The ultramafic rocks of New Caledonia contain a diversity of disseminated ore minerals in non-economic amounts. Eighteen opaque minerals are described herein with pentlandite, millerite and heazelwoodite most prominent. Several new or unusual mineralogical features are recorded. These include an eutectic intergrowth between pentlandite and primary chalcocite, reaction between pentlandite and chalcocite to form chalcopyrite and millerite, exsolution intergrowth between pentlandite and millerite, between pentlandite and mackinawite and between millerite and cubanite. In the formation of the garnieritic ores of New Caledonia some of the nickel would appear to have been derived from the breakdown of disseminated sulphides as well as from the nickel inherent in the silicate minerals of the ultramafic rocks.

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Résumé Les roches ultramafiques de la Nouvelle-Calédonie comportent une diversité de mineraux disséminés dans des quantités sous-économiques. Dix-huit minéraux opaques y sont décrites avec la proéminence de la pentlandite et la millerite. Quelques caractéristiques minéralogiques, nouvelles et exceptionelles, sont notées. Ceci comprend un enchevêtrement eutectique entre la pentlandite et la chalcopyrite primaire, une réaction entre la pentlandite et la chalcocite qui se changent en chalcopyrite et en millerite, un entredéveloppement par l'exsolution entre la pentlandite et la machinawite et entre la millérite et la cubanite. Il est établi que, pendant la formation du minérais garniéritique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie une part du nickel vient des sulphures disséminées de même que du nickel naissant dans les silicates des roches ultramafiques.

     

Magnetic microphases in chrome-spinels from alpine-type ultramafic rocks,Central Urals

The ore and accessory chrome-spinels from metamorphosed dunites of the Cr-bearing Klyuchevskoi alpine-type ultramafic massif are studied. As a result of use of thermomagnetic analysis in the range of 4–900 K, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and magnetic-force microscopy, secondary magnetic Fe³⁺-enriched microphases chaotically distributed in the primary nonmagnetic mineral were revealed for the first time in accessory chrome-spinels. It was established that the metamorphosed accessory chrome-spinels produce the magnetic properties of the host rocks and the primary nonmagnetic chrome-spinels forming ore bodies remains almost unaltered. This originates the contrast of magnetic properties between the ore body and host rocks and provides the geomagnetic anomaly in the ore-hosting zone.