Retrograde Schists of the Amphibolite Facies at broken hill,New South Wales

Aluminous, mafic, felsic, calcareous, and sulphide‐rich rocks have been involved in localized deformation and retrograde metamorphism at Broken Hill, western New South Wales, where retrograde schist‐zones intersect high‐grade, regional metamorphic rocks of the lower granulite facies (or the amphibolite‐granulite facies transition). Although technically retrograde, the schists contain mineral assemblages indicative of the lower amphibolite facies. The schist‐zones were formed by local folding, apparently as part of the third stage of deformation in the Broken Hill area.     

On the causes of 18O-depletion and 18O/16O homogenization during regional metamorphism; the East Humboldt Range core complex,Nevada

 Previous stable isotope studies at Lizzies Basin revealed that metasedimentary rocks are ¹⁸O-depleted relative to protolith values, particularly in the lower parts of the section (Lower Zone) where the rocks are also isotopically homogeneous on a scale of hundreds of meters (quartz δ¹⁸O=+9.0 to +9.6 per mil). In contrast, metasedimentary rocks at higher levels at Lizzies Basin (Upper Zone) are less ¹⁸O-depleted and more heterogeneous in δ¹⁸O. In order to understand more fully the isotopic evolution of this terrane, a series of detailed, meter-scale traverses across various metamorphic and igneous lithologies were completed at Lizzies Basin, and at the structurally higher Angel Lake locality. Traverses in the Lizzies Basin Lower Zone and in the lower parts of Angel Lake (Angel Lake Lower Sequence) across various silicate lithologies, including abundant granitoids, reveal similar degrees of homogeneity, although the average δ¹⁸O values are higher at Angel Lake. In contrast, traverses which include substantial thicknesses of marble and calc-silicate gneiss and very little granitoid have more heterogeneous quartz δ¹⁸O values (+11.9 to +13.4 per mil), and also have a higher average δ¹⁸O (+12.9 per mil), than observed elsewhere. The scale of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogeneity in quartz observed at Lizzies Basin and Angel Lake (meters to hundreds of meters) requires fluid-mediated isotope exchange, which accompanied Tertiary metamorphism. There is a correlation between the degree of ¹⁸O-depletion in metasedimentary rocks, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogenization between lithologies, and the proportion of granitoids (leucogranites in particular) within any part of the section, and a corresponding anticorrelation with the proportion of marble. This points to a causal relationship, whereby the leucogranites (as well as the Tertiary hornblende diorite and biotite monzogranite) acted as both a relatively low-¹⁸O reservoir and a source of fluids to enhance exchange, while the marbles hindered isotope depletion and homogenization by acting as relatively high-¹⁸O reservoirs and impermeable layers. Material balance calculations help delineate the plausible mechanisms of exchange between granitoids and metasediments. Single-pass infiltration of magmatic fluids from the granitoids is not capable of reproducing all of the observations. Fluid-mediated exchange by convective recirculation of magmatic fluids on a scale of meters is the mechanism which explains all of the observations. The generalized model for the isotopic evolution of the East Humboldt Range core complex provides an excellent opportunity to establish the main causes and controlling factors of ¹⁸O-depletion and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O homogenization during regional metamorphism. Received: 27 July 1993 / Accepted: 1 July 1994     

Petrology of Biotite-Cordierite-Garnet Gneiss of the McCullough Range, Nevada I. Evidence for Proterozoic Low-Pressure Fluid-Absent Granulite Grade Metamorphism in the Southern Cordillera

Proterozoic migmatitic paragneisses exposed in the McCulloughRange, southern Nevada, consist of cordierite+almanditic garnet+biotite+sillimanite+plagioclase+K-feldspar+quartz+ilmenite+hercynite.This assemblage is indicative of a low-pressure fades seriesat hornblende-granulite grade. Textures record a single metamorphicevent involving crystallization of cordierite at the expenseof biotite and sillimanite. Thermobarometry utilizing cation exchange between garnet, biotite,cordierite, hercynite, and plagioclase yields a preferred temperaturerange of 590–750?C and a pressure range of 3–4 kb.Equilibrium among biotite, sillimanite, quartz, garnet, andK-feldspar records a_H2O between 0?03 and 0?26. The low a_H2Otogetherwith low f_O2 (QFM) and optical properties of cordierite indicatemetamorphism under fluid-absent conditions. Preserved mineralcompositions are not consistent with equilibrium with a meltphase. Earlier limited partial melting was apparently extensiveenough to cause desiccation of the pelitic assemblage. The relatively low pressures attending high-grade metamorphismof the McCullough Range paragneisses allies this terrane withbiotite-cordierite-garnet granulites in other orogenic belts.aosure pressures and temperatures require a transient apparentthermal gradient ofat least 50?C/km during part of this Proterozoicevent in the southern Cordillera. ^*Present address: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1567     

Evidence for a magmatic origin for Carlin-type gold deposits: isotopic composition of sulfur in the Betze-Post-Screamer Deposit, Nevada, USA

We report here new sulfur isotope analyses from the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit, the largest Carlin-type gold deposit in the world. Carlin-type deposits contain high concentrations of arsenic, antimony, mercury, tellurium and other elements of environmental interest, and are surrounded by large volumes of crust in which these elements are also enriched. Uncertainty about the source of sulfur and metals in and around Carlin-type deposits has hampered formulation of models for their origin, which are needed for improved mineral exploration and environmental assessment. Previous studies have concluded that most Carlin-type deposits formed from sulfide sulfur that is largely of sedimentary origin. Most of these studies are based on analyses of mineral separates consisting of pre-ore diagenetic pyrite with thin overgrowths of ore-related arsenian pyrite rather than pure, ore-related pyrite. Our SIMS spot analyses of ore-related pyrite overgrowths in the Screamer zone of the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about −1 to 4‰ with one value of about 7‰. Conventional analyses of realgar and orpiment separates from throughout the deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about 5–7‰ with one value of 10‰ in the Screamer zone. These results, along with results from an earlier SIMS study in the Post zone of the deposit and phase equilibrium constraints, indicate that early arsenian pyrite were formed from fluids of magmatic origin with variable contamination from sulfur in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Later arsenic sulfides were formed from solutions to which sulfur of sedimentary origin had been added. The presence of Paleozoic sedimentary sulfur in Carlin-type deposits does not require direct involvement of hydrothermal solutions of sedimentary origin. Instead, it could have been added by magmatic assimilation of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or by hydrothermal leaching of sulfur from wall rocks to the deposit. Thus, the dominant process delivering sulfur, arsenic, gold and mineralizing fluids to Carlin-type systems and their surrounding country rocks was probably separation of fluids from a magmatic source. Editorial handling: G. Beaudoin     

Long-Term Evolution of Fluid-Rock Interactions in Magmatic Arcs: Evidence from the Ritter Range Pendant, Sierra Nevada, California, and Numerical Modeling

A record of > 100 million years of fluid flow, alteration,and metamorphism in the evolving Sierra Nevada magmatic areis preserved in metavolcanic rocks of the Ritter Range pendantand surrounding granitoids. The metavolcanic rocks consist of:(1) a lower section of mostly marine volcaniclastic rocks, lavas,and intercalated carbonate rocks that is Triassic to Jurassicin age, and (2) an upper section comprising a subaerial caldera-fillcomplex of mid-Cretaceous age. Late Cretaceous high-temperaturecontact metamorphism (2 kbar, >450–500C) occurredafter renewed normal faulting along the caldera-bounding faultsystem juxtaposed the two sections. The style and degree of alteration and ¹⁸O values differ amongthe rocks of the upper and lower sections and the granitoids.Rocks of the lower section show pervasive lithologically controlledalkali alteration, local Mn and Mg enrichment, and oxidation.Some ash flow tuffs now contain up to 10% K²O by weight. Therocks of the upper section show lesser extents of alkali alteration.Granitoids that cut both sections are generally unaltered. Mostmetavolcanic rocks of the lower section have high ¹⁸O values(+ 11 to + 16%; whole rock and quartz phenocrysts); however,lower-section rocks within the caldera-bounding fault systemhave low ¹⁸O values of + 4 to +7. The metavolcanic rocks ofthe upper section also have low ¹⁸O values of + 2 to + 7. Granitoidshave ¹⁸O values of + 7 to + 10, typical of unaltered Sierrangranitoids. The lower section contains discontinuous veins ofhigh-temperature (450–500C) calc-silicate minerals. Theseveins are typically <5 m long, do not cross intrusive contacts,and postdate the pervasive alkali alteration. Late veins aretypically > 10 m long, formed at temperatures of less than450–500C, and cross intrusive contacts. Veins have similar¹⁸O values to those of the local host rocks. The nature of the alteration and the high oxygen isotopic valuesof the rocks of the lower section indicate that these rocksinteracted extensively with seawater at temperatures <300C,probably in superposed marine hydrothermal systems associatedwith coeval volcanic centers. Metavolcanic rocks of the uppersection evidently interacted with meteorie waters, probablyin a hydrothermal system associated with the Cretaceous caldera;rocks of the lower section that were adjacent to the calderawere also affected by this alteration. The preservation of thesignatures of these earlier events, the nature of the earlyveins, and results from numerical models of hydrothermal flowthat include fluid production indicate that during progradecontact metamorphism, the rocks of the pendant primarily interactedwith locally derived fluids. Fluid flow was predominantly upwardand away from intrusive contacts and down-temperature. Permeabilitiesare estimated to have been between 0•1 and 1µD, whichis that necessary for maintenance of lithostatic fluid pressures.In hydrothermal models with such permeabilities, large-scalecirculation of meteoric fluids develops after prograde metamorphismceases. The nature of the late veins in the Ritter Range pendantsuggests that such a flow pattern evolved only after the pendantand granitoids had cooled below 450–500C. The long-termhistory of alteration documented in the Ritter Range pendantis probably typical of wall rocks in most batholiths *Present address: Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721     

四川万州中侏罗统上沙溪庙组粘土岩中火山灰的岩矿和地球化学证据

四川盆地东北缘万州地区中侏罗世上沙溪庙组产出稳定层状浅色粘土岩。利用X射线、X荧光光谱、等离子光谱（ICP）等方法对矿物成分、常量、微量和稀土元素进行了测试分析,粘土岩主要矿物为蒙脱石、伊利石和绿泥石。通过与澳大利亚后太古代平均页岩（PAAS）、北美平均页岩（NASC）、地壳粘土岩背景值以及其它具有代表性岩石的对比发现,本区粘土岩微量元素具有明显的低V,低Ti和低铁族元素的特点,高Al2O3／TiO2比值和低Ti／Th比值特征显著,某些层位具有明显的Eu负异常。推断本区粘土岩沉积物源具有火山灰和陆源碎屑的二元混合成因,各层位成分的差异显示了不同沉积时间内二者的混合比例发生变化。区域对比和地球化学资料显示火山灰可能来自于西部600km远的特提斯洋岛弧火山。     

n-Alkane evidence for the onset of wetter conditions in the Sierra Nevada,California (USA) at the mid-late Holocene transition, ~ 3.0 ka

n-Alkane biomarker distributions in sediments from Swamp Lake (SL), in the central Sierra Nevada of California (USA), provide evidence for an increase in mean lake level ~ 3000 yr ago, in conjunction with widespread climatic change inferred from marine and continental records in the eastern North Pacific region. Length distributions of n-alkane chains in modern plants growing at SL were determined and compared to sedimentary distributions in a core spanning the last 13 ka. As a group, submerged and floating aquatic plants contained high proportions of short chain lengths (< nC₂₅) compared to emergent, riparian and upland terrestrial species, for which chain lengths > nC₂₇ were dominant. Changes in the sedimentary n-alkane distribution over time were driven by variable inputs from plant sources in response to changing lake level, sedimentation and plant community composition. A shift toward shorter chain lengths (nC_21, nC₂₃) occurred between 3.1 and 2.9 ka and is best explained by an increase in the abundance of aquatic plants and the availability of shallow-water habitat in response to rising lake level. The late Holocene expansion of SL following a dry mid-Holocene is consistent with previous evidence for increased effective moisture and the onset of wetter conditions in the Sierra Nevada between 4.0 and 3.0 ka.     

Facies Analysis and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation (Middle–Upper Jurassic) in the West of Boshrouyeh, East Central Iran

The study area is located in the east Tabas Block in Central Iran. Facies analysis of the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation (middle Callovian to late Oxfordian) was carried out on two stratigraphic sections and applied to depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy interpretation. This formation conformably overlies and underlies the marly-silty Baghamshah and the calcareous Esfandiar formations, respectively. Lateral and vertical facies changes documents low- to high energy environments, including tidal-flat, beach to intertidal, lagoon, barrier, and open-marine. According to these facies associations and absence of resedimentation deposits a depositional model of a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic ramp was proposed for the Qal’eh Dokhtar Formation. Seven third-order depositional sequences were identified in each two measured stratigraphic sections. Transgressive systems tracts (TSTs) show deepening upward trends, i.e. shallow water beach to intertidal and lagoonal facies, while highstand systems tracts (HST) show shallowing upward trends in which deep water facies are overlain by shallow water facies. All sequence boundaries (except at the base of the stratigraphic column) are of the no erosional (SB2) types. We conclude eustatic rather than tectonic factors played a dominant role in controlling carbonate depositional environments in the study area.     

青藏高原冈底斯带南部的紫苏花岗岩：安第斯型造山作用的证据

青藏高原南部白垩纪形成的冈底斯岩基是新特提斯大洋岩石圈向北部的欧亚大陆之下俯冲形成的安第斯型会聚板块边缘的重要组成部分。已经有研究证明,冈底斯岩基主要由钙碱性和埃达克质的花岗闪长岩组成,但本文报道了在冈底斯带东南缘产出的紫苏花岗岩。这种岩石主要由中长石、微斜长石、顽火辉石、透辉石、石英、富钛的黑云母和角闪石组成。在化学成分上,其铁镁指数FeO/（FeO+MgO）=0.47~0.50,钙碱指数MALI为-3.97~+0.11, 铝饱和指数ASI为0.83~0.92,是典型的镁质、钙碱性、准铝质紫苏花岗岩。计算出的结晶温度为850~950℃,压力>0.4GPa,形成深度为13~15km。紫苏花岗岩中的锆石为岩浆结晶成因,两个样品的U-Pb定年分别给出了87Ma的相同加权平均年龄。岩石学和地球化学特征表明,冈底斯带南缘晚白垩纪的紫苏花岗岩形成在典型的大陆岩浆弧环境。紫苏花岗岩和伴生高温麻粒岩的存在为冈底斯带在晚中生代经历的安第斯型造山作用提供了更加确凿的证据。     

Source of the Ore-forming Adakitic Porphyry at the Beiya Super-large Au Deposit,Western Yangtze Craton: New Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Amphibolite Xenoliths

<正>Objective The Beiya super-large Au-rich porphyry deposit (304 t Au,2.4 g/t Au) is located within the western Yangtze craton,to the southeast of the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen (Fig.1).The ore-forming porphyry is adakitic,characterized by high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios coupled with low Y and Yb contents,and is generally thought to be derived from partial melting of thickened mafic lower crust.The lower crust underneath the western Yangtze craton is mainly composed of ancient crust with Archean a...     

Geochemical and C, O, Sr, and U-series isotopic evidence for the meteoric origin of calcrete at Solitario Wash, Crater Flat, Nevada, USA

Calcite-rich soils (calcrete) in alluvium and colluvium at Solitario Wash, Crater Flat, Nevada, USA, contain pedogenic calcite and opaline silica similar to soils present elsewhere in the semi-arid southwestern United States. Nevertheless, a ground-water discharge origin for the Solitario Wash soil deposits was proposed in a series of publications proposing elevation-dependent variations of carbon and oxygen isotopes in calcrete samples. Discharge of ground water in the past would raise the possibility of future flooding in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, site of a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository. New geochemical and carbon, oxygen, strontium, and uranium-series isotopic data disprove the presence of systematic elevation-isotopic composition relations, which are the main justification given for a proposed ground-water discharge origin of the calcrete deposits at Solitario Wash. Values of δ¹³C (−4.1 to −7.8 per mil [‰]), δ¹⁸O (23.8–17.2‰), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.71270–0.71146), and initial ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios of about 1.6 in the new calcrete samples are within ranges previously observed in pedogenic carbonate deposits at Yucca Mountain and are incompatible with a ground-water origin for the calcrete. Variations in carbon and oxygen isotopes in Solitario Wash calcrete likely are caused by pedogenic deposition from meteoric water under varying Quaternary climatic conditions over hundreds of thousands of years.     

东昆仑与成矿有关的三叠纪花岗岩演化:基于莫河下拉岩体岩石学、地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学的证据

东昆仑造山带在三叠纪不仅是一个重要的构造-岩浆带,也是一个对于国民经济非常重要的多金属成矿带.该区在三叠纪形成了大量与成矿有关的花岗岩,它们之间的联系、与区域构造运动的关系目前尚未明确.在莫河下拉银多金属矿花岗斑岩岩相学、地球化学和锆石年代学的研究基础上,总结了东昆仑地区三叠纪与成矿有关花岗岩的基本特征,并探讨了它们的演化规律.结果表明:(1) 东昆仑与成矿有关的三叠纪花岗岩年龄为250~200 Ma,具有一个由低K系列-中K钙碱性系列向高K系列-钾玄岩系列过渡的明显趋势,240~200 Ma,A/NK比值由2.00降到1.00;(2)(87Sr/86Sr)_i为0.710~0.715,ε_Nd(t)值为-0.6~0.0,ε_Hf(t)主要集中在-5~1,峰值为-2~-1,表明东昆仑与成矿有关三叠纪花岗岩物质主要来源于古老的地壳物质,同时有少量的幔源物质加入;(3) 东昆仑地区在240 Ma进入后造山阶段,出现大规模的钙碱性花岗岩,220 Ma之后花岗岩大量减少,210~204 Ma出现的花岗岩以碱性A型花岗岩为主,标志着碰撞造山结束进入到板内裂解阶段.      

Petrology and geochemistry of primitive lower oceanic crust from Pito Deep: implications for the accretion of the lower crust at the Southern East Pacific Rise

A suite of samples collected from the uppermost part of the plutonic section of the oceanic crust formed at the southern East Pacific Rise and exposed at the Pito Deep has been examined. These rocks were sampled in situ by ROV and lie beneath a complete upper crustal section providing geological context. This is only the second area (after the Hess Deep) in which a substantial depth into the plutonic complex formed at the East Pacific Rise has been sampled in situ and reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in the plutonic complex. In contrast to the uppermost plutonic rocks at Hess Deep, the rocks studied here are generally primitive with olivine forsterite contents mainly between 85 and 88 and including many troctolites. The melt that the majority of the samples crystallized from was aggregated normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). Despite this high Mg# clinopyroxene is common despite model predictions that clinopyroxene should not reach the liquidus early during low-pressure crystallization of MORB. Stochastic modeling of melt crystallisation at various levels in the crust suggests that it is unlikely that a significant melt mass crystallized in the deeper crust (for example in sills) because this would lead to more evolved shallow level plutonic rocks. Similar to the upper plutonic section at Hess Deep, and in the Oman ophiolite, many samples show a steeply dipping, axis-parallel, magmatic fabric. This suggests that vertical magmatic flow is an important process in the upper part of the seismic low velocity zone beneath fast-spreading ridges. We suggest that both temporal and spatial (along-axis) variability in the magmatic and hydrothermal systems can explain the differences observed between the Hess Deep and Pito Deep plutonics. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Magmatic modification of the uppermost mantle beneath the Basin and Range to Colorado Plateau Transition Zone; Evidence from xenoliths, Wikieup, Arizona

Upper mantle xenoliths from Wikieup, AZ, provide abundant evidence for magmatic modification of the uppermost mantle beneath the Transition Zone between the Colorado Plateau and the southern Basin and Range province. Upper mantle lithologies in this xenolith suite are represented by spinel peridotite, wehrlite, plagioclase peridotite, and Al-augite group pyroxenites. Isotopic data for these xenoliths yield relatively uniform values and suggest a common petrogenesis. Al-augite-bearing gabbro and pyroxenite xenoliths from this locality are interpreted to have formed by crystal fractionation processes from parent alkali basalts similar to the Wikieup host basalt. Mineral and whole rock compositions show consistent trends of increasing incompatible element contents (Fe, Al, Ca, Na, K, LIL, and LREE), and decreasing compatible element contents (Mg, Cr, Ni) from spinel peridotite to wehrlite to plagioclase peridotite to the host basalt composition. These compositional trends are interpreted as resulting from varying degrees of magma-mantle wall rock interaction as ascending mafic magmas infiltrated upper mantle peridotite. Small degrees of melt infiltration resulted in slightly modified spinel peridotite compositions while moderate degrees metasomatized spinel peridotite to wehrlite, and the highest degrees metasomatized it to plagioclase peridotite. Whole rock compositions and clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and whole rock isotopic data suggest that the infiltrating magmas were the same as those from which the gabbros and pyroxenites crystallized, and that they were alkalic in composition, similar to the Wikieup host alkali olivine basalts. Relatively uniform ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd for the mineral separates and whole rocks in spite of the significantly wide range in their ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.71–0.23 in clinopyroxene) suggests that the Wikieup xenoliths including gabbro, pyroxenite, peridotite, wehrlite, and plagioclase peridotite, are all relatively young rocks formed or metasomatized by a relatively recent magmatic episode. Received: 21 May 1996 / Accepted: 23 December 1996     

Ichnology of prodeltaic hyperpycnite–turbidite channel complexes and lobes from the Upper Cretaceous Prairie Canyon Member of the Mancos Shale,Book Cliffs,Utah, USA

The Upper Cretaceous Prairie Canyon Member of the Mancos Shale, Book Cliffs, Utah, contain outstanding examples of prodeltaic turbidity and hyperpycnal flow deposits. Sandstone‐rich, heterolithic and mudstone‐rich channel fills occur near the north‐west entrance to Tusher Canyon, Gunnison Butte and Bootlegger Wash. Mudstone‐rich and heterolithic‐rich hyperpycnal channel deposits are mostly unbioturbated, locally displaying a few specimens of Phycosiphon incertum, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Rosselia socialis, Schaubcylindrichnus coronus and Palaeophycus tubularis. Sandstone‐rich channel deposits consist of wave‐reworked turbidites and hyperpycnites, containing Helminthoidichnites tenuis, Lockeia siliquaria, Phycodes isp., Phycosiphon incertum, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Rosselia socialis, Skolithos linearis and Fugichnia. Scolicia isp. and Chondrites isp. occur locally. Strata along the south‐west entrance of Tusher Canyon record deposition in a prodelta turbidite lobe, but far from its axis. With the exception of a few specimens of Ophiomorpha isp., bioturbation is restricted to the top of the succession, where Curvolithus simplex, Gyrochorte comosa, Lockeia siliquaria, Palaeophycus tubularis and Ptychoplasma excelsum occur. Strata at Hatch Mesa record deposition in a hyperpycnal lobe, near to its axis. Sandstone beds include Curvolithus simplex, Gyrochorte comosa, Ophiomorpha nodosa, Palaeophycus tubularis, Phycosiphon incertum, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Ptychoplasma excelsum, Schaubcylindrichnus freyi, Skolithos linearis, large specimens of Rosselia socialis and indeterminate crustacean burrows. Chondrites isp. is present in the mudstone. High rates of both episodic and sustained sedimentation, degree of substrate consolidation, freshwater discharge and water turbidity are the most important stress factors in both channels and lobes. Taxonomic composition, uneven distribution of bioturbation through the successions, and overall low ichnodiversity help to distinguish these prodeltaic deposits from bathymetrically equivalent offshore strata in the same basin. Hyperpycnal flow deposits are formed in a wide variety of environmental settings, therefore displaying high ichnological variability. Such variability is summarized by characterising ichnofaunas from four different depositional settings: (i) lakes; (ii) shelf deltas; (iii) shelf‐edge deltas; and (iv) deep‐marine systems.     

Origin and evolution of ore-forming fluid for the Gaosongshan gold deposit,Lesser Xing'an Range:Evidence from fluid inclusions,H-O-S-Pb isotopes

Epithermal gold deposits are typical precious metal deposits related to volcanic and subvolcanic magmatism.Due to the lack of direct geological and petrographic evidences,the origin of the ore-forming fluid is deduced from the spatial diagenesis-mineralization relationship,chronological data,physicochemical characteristics of mineral fluid inclusions,mineral or rock elements and isotopic geochemical characteristics.By objectively examining this scientific problem via a geological field survey and petrographic analysis of the Gaosongshan epithermal gold deposit,we recently discovered and verified the following points:(1)Pyrite-bearing spherical quartz aggregates(PSQA)occur in the rhyolitic porphyry;(2)the mineralization is structurally dominated by WNW-and ENE-trending systems and occurs mostly in hydrothermal breccias and pyrite-quartz veins,and the ore types are mainly hematite-crusted quartz,hydrothermal breccia,massive pyrite-quartz,etc.;(3)the alteration types consist of prevalent silicification,sericitization,propylitization and carbonation,with local adularization and illitization.The ore minerals are mainly pyrite,primary hematite,native gold,and electrum,with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite,magnetite,sphalerite,and galena,indicating a characteristic epithermal low-sulfidation deposit.The ore-forming fluid may have been primarily derived from magmatic fluid exsolved from a crystallizing rhyolitic porphyry magma.Further zircon U-Pb geochronology,fluid inclusion,physicochemical and isotopic geochemical analyses revealed that(1)rhyolitic porphyry magmatism occurred at 104.6 ± 1.0 Ma,whereas the crystallization of the PSQA occurred at 100.8 ± 2.1 Ma;(2)the hydrothermal fluid of the pre-ore stage was an exsolved CO_2-bearing H20-NaCl magmatic fluid that produced inclusions mainly composed of pure vapor(PV),vapor-rich(WV)and liquid-rich(WL)inclusions with a small number of melt-(M)and solid-bearing(S)inclusions;mineralization-stage quartz contains WL and rare PV,WV and pure liquid(PL)inclusions characterized by the H_2 O-NaCl system with low formation temperatures and low salinities;(3)the characteristics of hydrogen,oxygen,sulfur,and lead isotopes and those of rare earth elements(REEs)provide insight into the affinity between PSQA and orebodies resulting from juvenile crust or enriched mantle.Combined with previous research on the mineralogenetic epoch(99.32± 0.01 Ma),we further confirm that the mineralization of the deposit occurred in the late Early Cretaceous,which coincides with the extension of the continental margin induced by subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.The formation of the ore deposit was proceeded by a series of magmatic and hydrothermal events,including melting of enriched juvenile crust,upwelling,the eruption and emplacement of the rhyolitic magma,the exsolution and accumulation of magmatic hydrothermal fluid,decompression,the cooling and immiscibility/boiling of the fluid,and mixing of the magmatic fluid with meteoric water,in association with water-rock interaction.     

松嫩-张广才岭地块东缘晚二叠纪构造演化历史:来自德裕花岗岩地质年代学和地球化学的证据

松嫩-张广才岭地块位于我国东北兴蒙造山带东段,受古亚洲洋构造域及濒太平洋构造域叠加转换的影响,该区构造演化十分复杂,因此,对区内花岗岩进行研究能够有效反演该区的构造演化历史。德裕花岗岩体位于松嫩-张广才岭地块东缘张广才岭岩浆岩带北段,样品岩性为二云二长花岗岩,主要由石英、斜长石、钾长石、黑云母、白云母、角闪石等矿物组成。锆石U-Pb定年结果显示其侵位时代为254±1Ma,形成于晚二叠世。岩石具有高硅(71.26%～75.34%),中铝(12.23%～14.71%),低镁(0.33%～0.52%)的特点,K₂O/Na₂O为0.85～1.17,铝饱和指数A/CNK为0.99～1.05,属于弱过铝质高钾钙碱性岩石。样品稀土元素含量较低(∑REE=54.7×10^-6～82.0×10^-6),轻稀土富集而重稀土亏损(LREE/HREE=8.49～10.46),显示负Eu异常(δEu=0.69～0.80)。样品岩石学特征和地球化学特征暗示其为Ⅰ型花岗岩。德裕花岗岩样品的Nb/Ta值为10.42～15.12,Zr/...     

Characterization of mean transit time at large springs in the Upper Colorado River Basin,USA: a tool for assessing groundwater discharge vulnerability

Environmental tracers (noble gases, tritium, industrial gases, stable isotopes, and radio-carbon) and hydrogeology were interpreted to determine groundwater transit-time distribution and calculate mean transit time (MTT) with lumped parameter modeling at 19 large springs distributed throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), USA. The predictive value of the MTT to evaluate the pattern and timing of groundwater response to hydraulic stress (i.e., vulnerability) is examined by a statistical analysis of MTT, historical spring discharge records, and the Palmer Hydrological Drought Index. MTTs of the springs range from 10 to 15,000 years and 90 % of the cumulative discharge-weighted travel-time distribution falls within the range of 2?10,000 years. Historical variability in discharge was assessed as the ratio of 10–90 % flow-exceedance (R _10/90%) and ranged from 2.8 to 1.1 for select springs with available discharge data. The lag-time (i.e., delay in discharge response to drought conditions) was determined by cross-correlation analysis and ranged from 0.5 to 6 years for the same select springs. Springs with shorter MTTs (<80 years) statistically correlate with larger discharge variations and faster responses to drought, indicating MTT can be used for estimating the relative magnitude and timing of groundwater response. Results indicate that groundwater discharge to streams in the UCRB will likely respond on the order of years to climate variation and increasing groundwater withdrawals.     

Petrology and Geochemistry of Intraplate Basalts in the South Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand: Evidence for Two Coeval Magma Suites from Distinct Sources

The South Auckland Volcanic Field is a Pleistocene (1·59–0·51Ma) basaltic intraplate, monogenetic field situated south ofAuckland City, North Island, New Zealand. Two groups of basaltsare distinguished based on mineralogy and geochemical compositions,but no temporal or spatial patterns exist in the distributionof various lava types forming each group within the field: GroupA basalts are silica-undersaturated transitional to quartz-tholeiiticbasalts with relatively low total alkalis (3·0–4·6wt %), Nb (7–29 ppm), and (La/Yb)_N (3·4–7·6);Group B basalts are strongly silica-undersaturated basanitesto nepheline-hawaiites with high total alkalis (3·3–7·9wt %), Nb (32–102 ppm), and (La/Yb)_N (12–47). GroupA has slightly higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, similar _Nd, and lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pbvalues compared with Group B. Contrasting geochemical trendsand incompatible element ratios (e.g. K/Nb, Zr/Nb, Ce/Pb) areconsistent with separate evolution of Groups A and B from dissimilarparental magmas derived from distinct sub-continental lithosphericmantle sources. Differentiation within each group was controlledby olivine and clinopyroxene fractionation. Group B magmas weregenerated by <8% melting of an ocean island basalt (OIB)-likegarnet peridotite source with high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb mantle (HIMU)and enriched mantle (EMII) characteristics possibly inheritedfrom recycled oceanic crust. Group A magmas were generated by<12% melting of a spinel peridotite source also with HIMUand EMII signatures. This source type may have resulted fromsubduction-related metasomatism of the sub-continental lithospheremodified by a HIMU plume. These events were associated withMesozoic or earlier subduction- and plume-related magmatismwhen New Zealand was at the eastern margin of the Gondwana supercontinent. KEY WORDS: continental intraplate basalts; geochemistry; HIMU, EMII; Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes; South Auckland; sub-continental lithospheric sources