Mineralogical studies of pyropes in kimberlites from China

Based on the measurements of refractive index,specific gravity,unit cell parameter,and mineral chemistry and infrared absorption spectrum analyses of pyropes in kimberlites from China,systematic studies of the Physical properties and compositional variations of pyropes of different colors and diverse paragenetic types,within and between kimberlite provinces have been undertaken,The origin of pyropes in the Kimberlites and the depth of their formation have been discussed.Pyropes of the purple series are different from those of the orange series in physical and chemical properties,for exaple,pyropes of the puple series are higher in α0,RI,SG,Cr2O3,MgO,Cr/(Cr Al),Mg/(Mg Fe),and Mg/(Mg Ca),and lower in Al2O3,Fe2O3 FeO than those of the orange series.The classification of garnets in kimberlites from china by the Dawson and Stephens‘ method(1975) has been undertaken and clearly demonstrates that pyropes of diamond-rich kimberlites contain much more groups than those of diamond-poor,especially diamond-free kimberlites.The higher in α0,RI,SG,Cr2O(3.Cr/(Cr Al),knorringite and Cr-component the pyropes are ,the richer in diamond the kimberlites will be.The infrared absorption spectrum patterns of pyropes change with their chemical composition regularly,as reflected in the shape and position of infrared absorption peaks.Two absortpion bands at 862-901 cm^-1 will grade into degeneration from splitting and the absorption band positions of pyropes shift toward lower frequency with increasing Cr2O3 content and Cr/(Cr Al) ratio of pyropes,LREE contents of orange pyrope megacrysts are similar to those of porple pyrope macrocrysts,but the former is higher in HREE than the latter,showing their different chondrite-normalized patterns.The formation pressures of pyropes calculated by Cr-component,Ca-component,knorringite molecules of pyropes show that some pyropes of the purple series in diamondiferous kimberlites fall into the diamond stability field.but all pyropes of diamond-free kimberlites lie outside the diamond stability field.The megacrysts were formed through early crystallization of kimberlites magma at high pressure condition,the majority of the purple pyrope macrocrysts have been derived from disaggregated xenoliths but the minoirty of them appear to be fragments of the discrete megacryst pyropes,or phenocrysts.     

Characteristics of Coal Ashes in Yanzhou Mining District and Distribution of Trace Elements in Them

In the process of combustion of coal organic and inorganic materials in it will undergo a complex variation.Part of thew will become volatiles and,together with coal smoke,enter into atmosphere,some will remain in micro-particulates such as ash and dust and find their way into atmosphere in the form of solid particles,and the rest will be retained in ash and slag.Coal ashes are the residues of organic and inorganic substances in coal left after coal combustion and the compostition of coal ashes in dependent on that of minerals and organic matter in coal.This paper deals with the chemical composition of coal ashes,the distribution of trace elements in them and their petrological characteristics,and also studies the relationship between the yield of coal ashes and the distribution of trace elements.In addition,a preliminary study in also undertaken on the factors that affect the chemical composition of coal ashes.As viewed from the analyses of coal ash samples collected from the Yanzhou mining district,it can be seen clearly that coal ashes from the region studied are composed chiefly of crystalline materials,glassy materials and uncombusted organic matter and the major chemical compositions are SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3,and CaO,as well as minor amounts of SO3,PWO5,Na2O,K2O and TiO2.During the combustion of coal,its trace elements will be redistributed and most of them are enriched in coal ashes.At the same time,the concentrations of the trace elements in flying ash are much higher than those of bottom ash,i.e.,with decreasing particle-size of coal ashes their concentrations will become higher and higher.So the contents of trace elements are negatively proportional to the particle-size of coal ashes.There has been found a positive correlation between the trace elements Th.V.Zn,Cu and Pb and the yield of coal ashes while a negative correlation between Cl and the yield of coal ashes.     

Magnetite-Fluorite Rock:A New Rock Type of Hot Water Sedimentation

The new type hot water sedimentary rock -- magnetite-fluorite rock occurs as quasi-layers in flat parts of contact zones between rock body and strata in Bamianshan of Changshan County, Zhejiang Province, China. The main mineral assemblage is fluorite＋magnetite＋cassiterite. The rock shows typical laminated structure and obvious mosaic texture. Its formation temperature is between 123℃-160℃, averaging at 142℃. The major chemical composition of the rock includes CaF2, SiO2, Al2O3, FeO, and Fe2O3; the high-content microelement association includes W, Sn, Be, Rb, Sr, S, and CI; and the total content of REE is low （∑REE between 35.34×10^-6-38.35×10^-6）, showing LREE enrichment type of distribution pattern. Diagenesis： driven by the tectonic stress, the formation water heated in the deep strata had moved along the fissures or fractures in strata and had extracted components from the strata on the way, and finally stagnated in the flat parts of contact zones between rock body and strata. With drop in temperature, magnetite and fluorite were separated from the hot water and precipitated alternately, forming this hot water sedimentary rock with new type mineralogical composition, typical laminated structure, obvious mosaic texture and sub-horizontal occurrence. The characteristics of the new type mineralogical composition, sedimentary tectonic environment and chemical composition are different from that of the well-known traditional hydrothermai sedimentary rocks.     

Petrology,genesis and geodynamic implication of the Mesoproterozoic–Late Cretaceous Timmasamudram kimberlite cluster,Wajrakarur field,Eastern Dharwar Craton,southern India

New mineralogical and bulk-rock geochemical data for the recently recognised Mesoproterozoic(ca.1100 Ma) and late Cretaceous(ca.90 Ma) kimberlites in the Timmasamudram cluster(TKC) of the Wajrakarur kimberlite field(WKF),Eastern Dharwar Craton,southern India,are presented.On the basis of groundmass mineral chemistry(phlogopite,spinel,perovskite and clinopyroxene),bulk-rock chemistry(SiO_2.K_2O,low TiO_2.Ba/Nb and La/Sm),and perovskite Nd isotopic compositions,the TK-1(macrocrystic variety) and TK-4(Macrocrystic variety) kimberlites in this cluster are here classified as orangeites(i.e.Group Ⅱ kimberlites),with geochemical characteristics that are very similar to orangeites previously described from the Bastar Craton in central India,as well as the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa.The remaining kimberlites(e.g.,TK-2,TK-3 and the TK-1 microcrystic variant),are more similar to other 1100 Ma,Group Ⅰ-type kimberlites of the Eastern Dharwar Craton,as well as the typical Group Ⅰkimberlites of the Kaapvaal Craton.Through the application of geochemical modelling,based on published carbonated peridotite/melt trace element partition coefficients,we show that the generation of the TKC kimberlites and the orangeites results from low degrees of partial melting of a metasomatised,carbonated peridotite.Depleted mantle(T_(DM)) Nd perovskite model ages of the 1100 Ma Timmasamudram kimberlites show that the metasornatic enrichment of their source regions are broadly similar to that of the Mesoproterozoic kimberlites of the EDC.The younger,late Cretaceous(ca.90 Ma) TK-1(macrocrystic variant)and TK-4 kimberlites,as well as the orangeites from the Bastar Craton,share similar Nd model ages of1100 Ma,consistent with a similarity in the timing of source enrichment during the amalgamation of Rodinia supercontinent.The presence of late Cretaceous diamoncliferous orangeite activity,presumably related to the location of the Marion hotspot in southern India at the time,suggests that thick Iithosphere was preserved,at least locally,up to the late Cretaceous,and was not entirely destroyed during the breakup of Gondwana,as inferred by some recent geophysical models.     

On the Chemical Evolution of Upper Mantle of the Early Earth—An Experimental Study on Melting of the Silicate Phase in Jilin Chondrite at High Pressures

Relatively old ages of chondrites(normally around 4.5Ga)suggest that their parent bodies did not experience any mely-fractionation under high temperature and high pressure conditions pertaining to the interior of terrestrial plaets.Therefore,it is reasonable to take chondrites as starting materials in the study of the chemical evolution of the early earth.The sillicate phase in the Jilin chondrite (H5)was chosen for this purpose because it possesses a chemical composition similar to that of the primitive mantle.The melting experiment was carried out at 20-30 k bar and has rsulted in a product which contains1-5% melts in addition to solid cryustal phase.The chemical composition of the melt phases and the partitioning of various elements between the coexisting silicate melts are geochemically similar to those of anatectic rocks on the earth.This can thus serve as the basis for discussing the chemical evolution of the early upper mantle.     

Clinopyroxenes in Kimberlites of China

The author studied the grain size, shape, colour, altered coat, mineral species, chemical composition,end- member components and infrared spectra of clinopyroxenes occurring as megacryst, macrocryst andgroundmass minerals, intergrowths with pyrope and ilmenite and minerals in deep-seated xenoliths and inclu-sions in diamonds in kimberlites of China. The clinopyroxenes under study were compared with megacrystclinopyroxenes in basalts and minerals in their deep-seated xenoliths and clinopyroxenes in lamproites andminettes. The coexisting clinopyroxene-pyrope pair was studied. Besides the author also studied the origin ofclinopyroxenes in kimberlites, P-T conditions for their formation and their reflected tectonic environments ofthe kimberlite formation. He suggests that this mineral is an indicator for diamond exploration.     

印度与欧亚板块东部碰撞边界——腾冲火山岩的Nd-Sr同位素与微量元素研究

The Tengchong volcanies in western Yunnan Province, China, are located in the eastern part of the collision margin between Indian and Eurasian Plates. Alternating extention and compression controlled the eruption, from late Tertiary to Holeeno, of at least 5 groups of volcanics consisting of a Major series of hlgh-Al basalts (3 groups), a high-K andesite-dacite group and a high-Mg basalt group. The Major series has a range of GNd from 0.7 to-6.7 and Sr^87/Sr^86 from 0.70595 to 0.70881, exhibiting good linear correlations between Zr/Ni and Zr as well as between Nd. and both Sm/Nd and 1/Nd and similar chondrite-normalized incompatible element patterns. This suggests an ecologitic source metasomatized with fluids derived from parts of thesubducted Indian plate.The high-K andesite-dacite group shows a more extreme isotopic composition of GNd=-12.3, Sr^87/Sr^66=0.71124. It is chemically comparable to the calc-alkaline lavas in Xizang and could be resulted from mixing between shallow mantle zones and lower crust. The high-Mg basalt group has Sr^87/Sr^86-0.708 and slightly negative GNd (-2). They are similar, in chemical composition and possibly also in source, to the intraplate basalts in east China. A partial melting model of isotopic tmequilibrium system has been proposed to explain the isotope and trace element correlations of Tengchong volcanics.     

远硅质建造磷块岩微相研究

The two phosphatic formations distributed in Yunan-Guizhon-Sichuan(Lower Cambrian)and Hubci-Hunan-Guizhou(Late Sinian)which were originally thought to be terrestrial carbonate deposits should be regarded as tele-siloceous formation in character as is evidenced by regional formation sequence patterns. The implications of this observation arc discussed with respect to tectonic and prospecting for P,I, and other base metals. In the light of detailed investigation on mierophase composition microphase Zoning and those features concerning depositional environment and geochemistry a mechanism of phosphate accumulation is proposed with special reference to the role of dynamic chemistry, F, palaeotectonics and palaeoelimatology. It is pointed out by the author that the proposal of chemical deposition suggested by A. V.Kazakov is in conflict with the model of microphase zonation and formation sequence patterns. The relationship is also dealt with between the ratios of CO2/P2O5 and F/P2O5 on the one hand and the mechanism of phosphate accumulation on the other.     

Geochemical assessment of a siliceous limestone sample for cement making

A low grade siliceous limestone sample from the Jayantipuram mine of Andhra Pradesh, India, has been investigated for its suitability for cement making. Petrological as well as X-ray diffraction pattern studies indicated that the limestone sample was crystalline and dominantly composed of calcite and quartz. They are simple in mineralogy, and yet they have variable silica and lime contents. Geochemical analysis results of twenty five hand picked samples indicated that the limestone from the Jayantipuram mine shows a wide range of variations in LOI (29.94% to 40.64%), SiO2 (6.14% to 27.18%), CaO (37.93% to 50.78%), Al2O3 (0.49% to 2.27%) and Fe2O3 (0.28% to 2.4%). MgO, K2O, Na2O, TiO2 and MnO2 are present in traces. CaO with LOI shows a strong positive correlation where as CaO with SiO2 shows a strong negative correlation because of mineralogical factors. The chemical composition of the limestone reflects its mineralogical composition. The distribution of various elements in the acid-soluble fraction has been studied by the factor analysis method in order to interpret in terms of their mineralogy, sedimentary environment and diagenesis. Mineralogy, recrystallization and other diagenetic changes are the main factors affecting the distribution of the elements and their mutual relationships in the limestone. The aim of this paper is also to analyze how significantly the two parameters, silica modulus and lime saturation factor, influence this low grade siliceous limestone sample from the Jayantipuram mine of Andhra Pradesh, India, for the cement making process from the geochemical data.     

Trace Element Geochemistry of Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks in Shandong Province

The Cenozoic volcanic rock of Shandong Province are mainly alkalic and strongly alkalic basaltic rocks.The Contents of major and trace elements including transitional,incompatible and rare-earth elements were determined.The chemical characterisitics of major and trace elements indicate that these basaltic rocks were derived from a mantle source and probably represent a primary magma,I,e.,unmodifiecd partical melts of mantle peridotite in terms of Mg values,correlatione between P2O5 and Ce,Sr,Ni and Rb concentrations,mantle xenoliths,etc.The abundances of trace elements vary systematically from west to east.The compatible transition elements such as Co,Ni,and Cr show a remarkable depletion,whereas the incompatible and rare-earth elements are abundant as viewed from the chondrite-nor-malized patterns.The chemical composition and correlation are consistent with the tectonic setting.According to the batch and fractional partial melting theory,the trace element contents of Shandong volcanic rocks can be calculated from the two-component mixing model.     

Petrogenesis of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite pipe,Indrvati Basin,Central India

New geochemical data of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite system sandwiched between the lower and upper stratigraphic horizons of the Mesoproterozoic Indr avati Basin are presented.The kimberlite has been subjected to extensive and pervasive low-temperature alteration.Spinel is the only primary phase identifiable,while olivine macrocrysts and juvenile lapilli are largely pseudomorphed(talc-serpentinecarbonate alteration).However,with the exception of the alkalies,major element oxides display systematic fractionation trends; likewise,HFSE patterns are well correlated and allow petrogenetic interpretation.Various crustal contamination indices such as(SiO2+Al2O3+Na2O)/(MgO+ K2O) and Si/Mg are close to those of uncontaminated kimberlites.Similar La/Yb(79-109) of the Tokapal samples with those from the kimberlites of Wajrakarur(73-145) and Narayanpet(72-156),Eastern Dharwar craton,southern India implies a similarity in their genesis.In the discriminant plots involving HFSE the Tokapal samples display strong affinities to Group II kimberlites from southern Africa and central India as well as to ‘transitional kimberlites' from the Eastern Dharwar craton,southern India,and those from the Prieska and Kuruman provinces of southern Africa.There is a striking similarity in the depleted-mantle(TDM) Nd model ages of the Tokapal kimberlite system,Bastar craton,the kimberlites from NKF and WKF,Eastern Dharwar craton,and the Majhgawan diatreme,Bundelkhand craton,with the emplacement age of some of the lamproites from within and around the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Cuddapah basin,southern India.These similar ages imply a major tectonomagmatic event,possibly related to the breakup of the supercontinent of Columbia,at 1.3-1.5 Ga across the three cratons.The ‘transitional'geochemical features displayed by many of the Mesoproterozoic potassic-ultrapotassic rocks,across these Indian cratons are inferred to be memories of the metasomatising fluids/melts imprinted on their source regions during this widespread event.     

Sr,Nd,Pb Isotope Geochemistry and Magma Evolution of the Potassic Volcanic Rocks,Wudalianchi,Northeast China

Wudalianchi volcanic rocks are the most typical Cenozoic potassic volcanic rocks in easten China.Compositional comparisons between whole rocks and glasses of various occurrences indicate that the magma tends to become rich in silica and alkalis as a result of crystal differentiation in the course of evolu-tion.They are unique in isotopic composition with more radiogenic Sr but less radiogenic Pb.^87Sr/^86Sr is higher and ^143Nd/^144Nd is lower than the undifferentiated global values.In comparison to continental pot-ash volcanic rocks,Pb isotopes are apparently lower.These various threads of evidence indicate that the rocks were derived from a primary enriched mantle which had not been subjected to reworking and shows no sign of incorporation of crustal material.The correlation between Pb and Sr suggests the regional heterogeneity in the upper mantle in terms of chemical composition.     

The Influence of Element Diffusion at the Sediment—Water Interface on the Basic Chemical Composition of Overlying Water Mass in Lake Lugu,China

Little work has been done on the influence of seiments on the basic chemical composition of overlying water mass.This paper deals with the vertical profile of the basic constituents such as Ca^ ,K^ ,Na^ ,and HCO3^-,as well as of pH in the overlying water mass and sediment porewater of Lake Lugu-a semi-closed,deep lake in Yunnan Province.The reand sediment porewater of Lake Lugu- a semi-closed,deep lake in Yunnan Province.The results revealed that those basic constituents may diffuse and transport from bottom sediments to overlying water mass through porewater.In the paper are also quantitatively evaluated the diffusive fluxes and the extent of their influence on overlying water mass,indicating that the lake sediment-water interface diffusion plays an important role in controlling the basic chemical composition of water in the whole lake.     

Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Surface-Sediment Carbonate in Bosten Lake (Xinjiang, China) and its Controlling Factors

Bosten Lake is a mid-latitude lake with water mainly supplied by melting ice and snow in the Tianshan Mountains. The depositional environment of the lake is spatially not uniform due to the proximity of the major inlet and the single outlet in the western part of the lake. The analytical results show that the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of recent lake sediments is related to this specific lacustrine depositional environment and to the resulting carbonate mineralogy. In the southwestern lake region between the Kaidu River inlet and the Kongqi River outlet, carbon isotope composition (δ13C) values of the carbonate sediment (-1‰ to -2‰) have no relation to the oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate (δ18O) values (-7‰ to -8‰), with both isotopes showing a low variability. The carbonate content is low (<20%). Carbonate minerals analyzed by X-ray diffraction are mainly composed of calcite, while aragonite was not recorded. The salinity of the lake water is low in the estuary region as a result of the Kaidu River inflow. In comparison, the carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher in the middle and eastern parts of the lake, with δ13C values between approximately +0.5‰ and +3‰, and δ18O values between -1‰ and -5‰. There is a moderate correlation between the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, with a coefficient of correlation r of approximately 0.63. This implies that the lake water has a relatively short residence time. Carbonate minerals constitute calcite and aragonite in the middle and eastern region of the lake. Aragonite and Mg-calcite are formed at higher lake water salinity and temperatures, and larger evaporation effects. More saline lake water in the middle and eastern region of the lake and the enhanced isotopic equilibrium between water and atmospheric CO2 cause the correlating carbon and oxygen isotope values determined for aragonite and Mg-calcite. Evaporation and biological processes are the main reasons for the salinity and carbonate mineralogy influence of the surface-sediment carbonate in Bosten Lake. The lake water residence time and the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the water body control the carbon and oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate sediment. In addition, organic matter pollution and decomposition result in the abnormally low carbon isotope values of the lake surface-sediment carbonate.     

Petrogenesis of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite pipe,Indravati Basin,Central India

New geochemical data of the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite system sandwiched between the lower and upper stratigraphic horizons of the Mesoproterozoic lndravati Basin a：：e presented. The kimberlite has been subjected to extensive and pervasive low-temperature alteration. Spinel is the only primary phase identifiable, while olivine macrocrysts and juvenile lapilli are largely pseudomorphed （talc-serpentine- carbonate alteration）. However, with the exception of the alkalies, major element oxides display systematic fractionation trends; likewise, HFSE patterns are well correlated and allow petrogenetic interpretation. Various crustal contamination indices such as （SiO2 ＋ AI：：O3 ~ Na20）]（MgO ~ K20） and Si] Mg are close to those of uncontaminated kimberlites. Similar La]Yb （＇79-109） of the Tokapal samples with those from the kimberlites of Wajrakarur （73-145） and Narayanpet （72-156）, Eastern Dharwar craton, southern India implies a similarity in their genesis. In the discriminant plots involving HFSE the Tokapal samples display strong affinities to Group 1I kimberlites from southern Africa and central India as well as to ＇transitional kimberlites＇ from the Eastern Dharwar craton, southern India, and those from the Prieska and Kuruman provinces of southern Africa. There is a striking ~;imilarity in the depleted-mantle （TOM） Nd model ages of the Tokapal kimberlite system, Bastar craton, th~ kimberlites from NKF and WKE Eastern Dharwar craton, and the Majhgawan diatreme, Bundelkhand craton, with the emplacement age of some of the lamproites from within and around the Palaeo~Mesoproterozoic Cuddapah basin, southern India. These similar ages imply a major tectonomagmatic event, possibly related to the break- up of the supercontinent of Columbia, at 1.3-1.5 Ga across the l：hree cratons. The ＇transitional＇ geochemical features displayed by many of the Mesoproterozoic po~：assic-ultrapotassic rocks, across these Indian cratons are inferred to be memories of the metasomatisi     

Migration of Some Elements and Radionuclides across aGranite-Granite Contact Zone: A Natural Analoguefor Safe Disposal of High-Level Radwastes

Elements and natural radionuclides in the contact zone of two granites with different ages would migrate from one to the other because of the difference in their chemical contents and later water-rock interactions. This migration could serve as an analogue for the near-field process of radwastes in a high-level radwaste deep geological disposal repository.In the contact between the Indosinian granite (whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron age at 214@3 Ma) and Hercynian granite (zircon U-Pb isochron age at 296@31 Ma) located in Ziyuan County, Guangxi, the O and Pb isotope characteristics and the activity ratios of 234U/238U, 230Th/238U, 230Th/234U and 226Ra/230Th show that, based on the whole-rock chemical contents, both of the two granites have maintained a relatively open chemical system in their evolution processes. However, as there is no obvious open fault, the migration of major elements, trace elements and natural U-series nu-clides takes place within only 1-2 m in the contact zone, and water-rock interaction     

阿波罗-17（70017-291）高钛月海玄武岩的化学组成及其成因的探讨

Chemical, petrological and mineralogical studies on 70017-291 Mare basalt indicate that the mare basalt belongs to Type B of A-17 basalts with a texture of plagioclasepoikilitic ilmenite basalt. The mean chemical composition of this basalt is as follows:SiO2 39.01, TiO2 11.32, Al2O3 9.24, FeO 18.52, MgO 8.61, CaO 10.86 (%). INAA measurements were made on the basalt for major, minor and trace elements. Seven pyroxene grains in the Apollo 17 were also analyzed by microprobe. They show two compositions, one for pigeonite, and the other for augite-subcalicaugite. The mean composition of pigeonite is Wo10.85, En59.33 Fs30, and that of augite-subcalic augite Wo25 En41.5Fs38.3. Plagioclase grains have a composition ranging from An30 to An96. The plagioclase contains detectable iron (averaging 0.74%), potassium (0.089% in average) and titanium(averaging 0.16%). The mean composition of ihnenite is TiO2 53.98%, FeO 41.02%,Al2O3 0.21%, MgO 2.41%, Cr2O3 0.74%. The Ti-high mare basalt (70017-291) was formed by partial melting of the early cumulates through assimilation and migmatization. On the whole, mare basalts seem to be of multigenesis.     

Phase—Controlled and Gas—Washing Fractionations During the Formation of Petroleum Reservoirs

By PVT fractionation experiments to model phase-controlled and gaw-washing fractionations during the formation of petroleum reservoirs,the authors measured the physical and chemical properties of products formed in different fractionation staes and made a correlative analysis of the influence of depressurization and gas washing on oil/gas molecular composition and the rule of fractionation.The analytical results showed that gas washing is an important factor affecting the physical properties of crude oils.and also can be regarded as a good genetic interpretation of marine wax-high oils in the Tarim region,Xinjiang,China.Phase-controlled and gaw-washing fractionations can lead to the formation of condensates and their differences in chemical composition from crude oils are a direct reflection of evaporating fractionation.Phasecontrolled and gaw-washing fractionations have a great influence on the composition of molecular compounds and relevant parameters.So phase-controlled and gas-washing fractionations during the formation of petroleum reservoirs are not only favorable to identifying different processes of formation of petroleum reservoirs,but also to the scientific application of routine geochemical parameters.     

Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Surface‐Sediment Carbonate in Bosten Lake (Xinjiang,China) and its Controlling Factors

Bosten Lake is a mid-latitude lake with water mainly supplied by melting ice and snow in the Tianshan Mountains. The depositional environment of the lake is spatially not uniform due to the proximity of the major inlet and the single outlet in the western part of the lake. The analytical results show that the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of recent lake sediments is related to this specific lacustrine depositional environment and to the resulting carbonate mineralogy. In the southwestern lake region between the Kaidu River inlet and the Kongqi River outlet, carbon isotope composition (δ13C) values of the carbonate sediment (?1‰ to ?2‰) have no relation to the oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate (δ18O) values (?7‰ to ?8‰), with both isotopes showing a low variability. The carbonate content is low (<20%). Carbonate minerals analyzed by X-ray diffraction are mainly composed of calcite, while aragonite was not recorded. The salinity of the lake water is low in the estuary region as a result of the Kaidu River inflow. In comparison, the carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher in the middle and eastern parts of the lake, with δ13C values between approximately +0.5‰ and +3‰, and δ18O values between ?1‰ and ?5‰. There is a moderate correlation between the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, with a coefficient of correlation r of approximately 0.63. This implies that the lake water has a relatively short residence time. Carbonate minerals constitute calcite and aragonite in the middle and eastern region of the lake. Aragonite and Mg–calcite are formed at higher lake water salinity and temperatures, and larger evaporation effects. More saline lake water in the middle and eastern region of the lake and the enhanced isotopic equilibrium between water and atmospheric CO2 cause the correlating carbon and oxygen isotope values determined for aragonite and Mg–calcite. Evaporation and biological processes are the main reasons for the salinity and carbonate mineralogy influence of the surface-sediment carbonate in Bosten Lake. The lake water residence time and the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the water body control the carbon and oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate sediment. In addition, organic matter pollution and decomposition result in the abnormally low carbon isotope values of the lake surface-sediment carbonate.     

New Mineral Fe-Cr-Ni alloy Discovered in Donghai Eclogite, Jiangsui Province

The Fe-Cr-Ni alloy-bearing sample was collected from the eclogite located in the area between Maobei and Jiangzhuang, Donghai County, Jiangsu Province. The eclogite is associated with lherzolite, contacting with their wall rocks of gneiss by faults. The sample is completely fresh, light green and light red in color, with blastogranular texture, massive and gneissic structure. The average chemical composition of the rock sample gives (wt%) SiO2 46.06, TiO2 3.05, Al2O3 12.91, Fe2O3 4.78, …