Sterane isomerisation and moretane/hopane ratios in crude oils derived from Tertiary source rocks

The extent of sterane isomerisation reactions and the moretane/hopane ratios of 234 crude oils, taken world wide, from a wide variety of source rocks of differing geological ages, have been measured.This data indicates that in 78 crude oils derived from Tertiary source rocks, sterane isomerisation reactions as determined by the 20S/(20S + 20R) ration of the C₂₉ 5α(H), 14α(H), 17α(H) normal-steranes and the C₂₉ iso/(iso + normal) ratio [iso = 5α (H), 14β(H), 17β(H)] are mainly incomplete and sometimes considerably so. In addition, the same crude oils have 17β(H), 21α(H)-moretane/17α(H), 21β(H)-hopane ratios which are significantly greater (predominantly in the range 0.10–0.30) than those of crude oils derived from older, mature source rocks (mainly less than 0.1).This data, for crude oils, lends support to the hypothesis, proposed by Mackenzie and McKenzie (1983) for source rock extracts, that the time/temperature constraints of sterane isomerisation reactions are such that the time available for isomerisation in Tertiary sediments is generally insufficient, despite generation of crude oil at relatively high temperatures.An alternative hypothesis is that the incomplete sterane isomerisation of Tertiary crude oils may be due to generation of these crude oils from their deltaic, land plant-containing source rocks under low heating conditions.A third hypothesis proposes that the Tertiary crude oils may have picked up the incompletely isomerised steranes from immature sediments during migration. Although possible in particular instances, such a mechanism does not appear to be generally applicable since, in that case, the phenomenon would then appear to be restricted to the Tertiary.The higher moretane/hopane ratios of the Tertiary crude oils could suggest that constraints, similar to those applying in sterane isomerisation, also operate in the conversion of moretane to 17α(H)-hopane.     

Effects of multiple source pollution on a small Mediterranean river

The small Mediterranean riverine system of the Litheos river, which flows through the city of Trikala, and its drainage area are subjected to pollution from point and non point sources,which results in poor quality of surface waters. The pollution sources include urban activities, agriculture, industrial activities, handicrafts and traffic. The concentration levels and the geochemical behaviour of nutrients, trace metals and organic pollutants were studied during the period 1991–1992, in a project supported by the Municipality of Trikala. The simultaneous existence of several polluting sources leads to significant variations in the concentrations and distributions of main pollutants, which are elevated in the neighbourhood of polluting activities in various parts of the river (NO₃⁻ above the city, NH₃, NO₂⁻ and detergents near central rainwater collector, into the city, P04 below the city, near the waste water treatment plant, PAI-Is and metals in another river branch in the ‘industrial’ zone of the city). The appearance of concentration maxima of various pollutants in various parts of the river indicates environmental problems in the whole length of the river. The water quality is significantly influenced and in most cases is unsuitable for human consumption. The mean values of the main pollutants in Litheos (NO₃⁻ 4.0 mg N/1, NH₃ 0.23 mg N/1, NO₂⁻ 0.10 mg N/1, P 0.37 mg P/1, Cu 7.1 μg/l, Pb 4.8 μg/l, Zn 3.9 μg/l, Ni 12.8 μg/l, Cr 3.5 μg/l) characterize Litheos as a moderately polluted river, but the observation of eutrophication phenomena and the appearance of some high concentrations of heavy metals and/or organic pollutants in certain parts of the river reveal that a serious effort must be made in order to avoid further deterioration of Litheos water quality.     

Origin and geodynamic significance of Tertiary postcollisional basaltic magmatism in Serbia (central Balkan Peninsula)

Tertiary basaltic magmatism in Serbia occurred through three episodes: (i) Paleocene/Eocene, when mostly east Serbian mafic alkaline rocks (ESPEMAR) formed, (ii) Oligocene/Miocene, dominated by high-K calc–alkaline basalts, shoshonites (HKCA–SHO) and ultrapotassic (UP) rocks, and (iii) Pliocene episode when rocks similar to (ii) originated. In this study, the geodynamics inferred from petrogenesis of the (i) and (ii) episodes are discussed.

The ESPEMAR (62–39 Ma) occur mainly as mantle xenolith-bearing basanites. Their geochemical features, such as the REE patterns, elevated HFSE contents and depleted Sr–Nd isotope signatures, indicate a relatively small degree of melting of an isotopically depleted mantle source. Their mantle-normalized trace element patterns are flat to concave and “bell-shaped”, characteristic of an OIB source free of subduction component. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_i isotope ratios (0.7030–0.7047 and 0.5127–0.5129, respectively) indicate a depleted source for the ESPEMAR similar to the European Asthenospheric Reservoir (EAR).

The HKCA–SHO rocks (30–21 Ma) occur as basalts, basaltic andesites and trachyandesites. They show enrichment in LILE and depletion in HFSE with all the distinctive features of calc–alkaline arc-type magmatism. This is coupled with somewhat enriched Sr–Nd isotope signature (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i=0.7047–0.7064, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_i=0.5124–0.5126). All these features are characteristic of subduction-related metasomatism and fluxing of the HKCA–SHO mantle source with fluids/melts released from subducted sedimentary material.

UP rocks (35–21 Ma) appear as (i) Si-rich lamproites and related rocks and (ii) olivine leucitites and related rocks. UP rocks have high-LILE/HFSE ratios with enrichment for some LILE around 1000× primitive mantle, troughs at Nb and Ti, and peaks of Pb in their mantle-normalized patterns. They also show highly fractionated REE patterns (La/Yb up to 27, La_N up to 400). The isotopic ratios approach crustal values (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i=0.7059–0.7115 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_i=0.5122–0.5126), and that signature is typical for ultrapotassic rocks worldwide.

The Paleocene/Eocene episode and formation of the ESPEMAR is referred to as asthenospheric-derived magmatism. This magmatism originated through passive riftlike structures related to possible short relaxational phases during predominantly collisional and compressional conditions. The Oligocene/Miocene episode and formation of HKCA–SHO and UP rocks were dominated by lithospheric-controlled magmatism. Its origin is connected with the activity of a wide dextral wrench corridor generated along the axis of the Dinaride orogen which collapsed in response to thickened crust caused by earlier compressional processes.

To explain conditions of these two magmatic events, a three-stage geodynamic model has been proposed: (1) subduction–termination/collision stage (Paleocene/Eocene), (2) collision stage (Eocene) and (3) postcollision/collapse stage (Oligocene/early Miocene).     

Tertiary geodynamics of Sakhalin (NW Pacific) from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility fabrics and paleomagnetic data

Sakhalin has been affected by several phases of Cretaceous and Tertiary deformation due to the complex interaction of plates in the northwest Pacific region. A detailed understanding of the strain is important because it will provide constraints on plate-scale processes that control the formation and deformation of marginal sedimentary basins. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data were obtained from fine-grained mudstones and siltstones from 22 localities in Sakhalin in order to provide information concerning tectonic strain. AMS data reliably record ancient strain tensor orientations before significant deformation of the sediments occurred. Paleomagnetically determined vertical-axis rotations of crustal rocks allow rotation of the fabrics back to their original orientation. Results from southwest Sakhalin indicate a N035°E-directed net tectonic transport from the mid-Paleocene to the early Miocene, which is consistent with the present-day relative motion between the Okhotsk Sea and Eurasian plates. Reconstruction of early–late Miocene AMS fabrics in east Sakhalin indicates a tectonic transport direction of N040°E. In west Sakhalin, the transport direction appears to have remained relatively consistent from the Oligocene to the late Miocene, but it has a different attitude of N080°E. This suggests local deflection of the stress and strain fields, which was probably associated with opening of the northern Tatar Strait. A northward-directed tectonic transport is observed in Miocene sediments in southeast Sakhalin, mid-Eocene sediments in east Sakhalin, and in Late Cretaceous rocks of west and northern Sakhalin, which may be associated with northwestward motion and subduction of the Pacific Plate in the Tertiary period. The boundaries of the separate regions defined by the AMS data are consistent with present-day plate models and, therefore, provide meaningful constraints on the tectonic evolution of Sakhalin.     

Late Quaternary Mediterranean sapropels. III: Assessment of source of input and palaeotemperature as derived from biological markers

Sources of input contributing to the organic matter of four different Mediterranean sapropels (S₁, S₅, S₆, S₇) are inferred from the relative distributions of terrigenous and marine biological markers in these Quaternary deposits. The relative terrigenous contribution does not vary significantly. Within the marine contribution there is a significant compositional variation. A contribution from dinoflagellates is relatively important in the S₁ sapropel, whereas sapropels S₆ and S₇ are characterized by a relatively large contribution from prymnesiophyte algae and planktonic cyanobacteria. The abundance of diatoms in sapropel S₅, as deduced from microscopic observations, is probably reflected by a high concentration of loliolide.Variations in sea-surface water temperatures can be deduced from the relative abundance of di- and triunsaturated C₃₇ ketones (U^k₃₇ index) and from the relative abundance of esterified 27-nor-24-methylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol and cholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol (S_TI index). These two molecular temperature indices are consistent with the δ¹⁸O record and with the pollen record of the sapropels investigated.     

Tertiary and quaternary geodynamics of southern Lut (Iran) as deduced from palaeomagnetic, isotopic and structural data

Palaeomagnetic measurements and K---Ar age determinations carried out on lavas from Dash-e-Lut in southeast Iran reveal an anticlockwise rotation of about 90° of the depression south of Lut between Paleocene and Miocene time. It is probably associated with the collision between India and Asia.     

苏北盆地部分古生界原油来自第三系源岩的证据

苏北盆地LT1井、D7井、7．43井和L1井等古生界原油的地球化学特征研究表明，它们来自古新统阜宁组源岩。“新生石储”现象主要是新生界源岩与古生界储层呈断层接触造成的。     

Nd–Hf–Sr–Pb isotopes and trace element geochemistry of Proterozoic lamproites from southern India: Subducted komatiite in the source

The probable sources of some of the famous Indian diamonds are the 1.2 Ga old Krishna lamproites of Southern India, a rare Proterozoic occurrence of lamproites which are usually Cretaceous or younger in age. In this study we report Nd, Sr, Pb and Hf isotopes and multiple trace element concentrations of the Krishna lamproites. The goals are to evaluate mantle-processes and the petrogenesis of these ultrapotassic rocks of extreme chemical composition in light of these geochemical data, including their major element compositions.The Krishna lamproites show nearly uniform, parallel rare earth element (REE) distribution patterns with high concentrations and extreme light-REE enrichment (La/Yb_(N) = 41–88), high average concentrations of Ba (∼ 1200 ppm), Sr (∼ 1200 ppm), Zr (∼ 930 ppm), La (∼ 230 ppm), high U/Pb and Th/U ratios with notable absence of any Eu-anomaly. These rocks are typically porphyritic without any evidence of crystal accumulation, and have moderately high Mg-numbers (59–73) along with high Ni (average ∼ 301 ppm, highest 819 ppm) and Cr (average ∼ 183 ppm, highest 515 ppm) concentrations that show a positive correlation with MgO (wt.%), implying a role of olivine in the melt source. The low SiO₂ content (lowest 37.8%, average 49%) and high Nb (average 147 ppm), Zr, Sr, as well as Ni and Cr in these rocks indicate lack of upper continental crustal contribution in the genesis of these rocks. The initial Pb-isotopic composition of these lamproites is unusual in that in a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb vs. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb plot, these rocks plot to the left of the 1.2 Ga geochron (age of emplacement), unlike most mantle-derived rocks. This Pb-isotopic signature and the superchondritic Nb/Ta ratios (average 23.6) of these rocks rule out their derivation from a metasomatized sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb at low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb indicates an Archean component in the source of these rocks. We argue that this Archean crustal component, which produced the low-SiO₂ lamproites along with the high Ni and Cr must have been ultrabasic, and we propose a model in which these lamproites formed by partial melting of metasomatized, subducted Archean komatiite in a peridotite mantle-source assemblage. In addition, these rocks display initial Hf isotopic compositions similar to Al-depleted komatiites, and high Nb/U, Nb/Th, and TiO₂ as well as low Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratios (1.1–4.2) and average CaO/Al₂O₃ of ∼ 1.6 that are also similar to Archean komatiites. This is also supported by the initial Pb isotopic composition of the Krishna lamproites, requiring evolution in a variably high U/Pb, Th/Pb reservoir early in earth history, possibly resulting from preferential segregation of Pb relative to U and Th in the sulfides of the komatiite.The Al-depleted subducted komatiitic component was enriched by carbonate metasomatism in the peridotitic mantle. This metasomatism was responsible for the observed Nd–Hf isotope characteristics, specifically variable ε_Nd(T) at relatively constant ε_Hf(T) in the lamproites. This Nd–Hf-isotopic characteristic seems to be common in global lamproites of all ages. Our proposed model for the genesis of the Krishna lamproites involving a subducted komatiitic source may also be applicable for other global lamproites from cratonic settings, as older komatiite-bearing subducted crustal components were possibly ubiquitous in the architecture of ancient cratonic mantle.     

Evidence from physical geodesy for geodynamics in the Caribbean area

Geodynamic studies in the Caribbean consider a great deal of geophysical and geological information. Geodetic data have only been applied but little. Physical geodesy provides different parameters of the gravity field, such as geoid heights, deflections of the vertical, and gravity anomalies. As the gravity field is a function of the mass distribution within the earth, these parameters give information about mass inhomogeneities, in particular also about those correlated with geodynamics.

This paper presents some results concerning geodynamic features in the Caribbean obtained from the inversion of the gravity field into a theoretical mass distribution of the earth. The effect of irregular mass distributions in the lithosphere is separated from the global gravity field and interpreted with respect to plate tectonics. A clear correlation between the geometry of the Caribbean plate and the lithospheric part of the gravity field can be found.     

Insights into the petrogenesis of the West Kimberley lamproites from trace elements in olivine

The Miocene lamproites of the West Kimberley region, Western Australia include olivine-leucite lamproites (≤10 wt% MgO) containing olivine and leucite microphenocrysts, and diamondiferous olivine lamproites (20–30 wt% MgO) containing olivine phenocrysts and larger (1–10 mm) olivine as mantle xenocrysts and dunite micro-xenoliths. Olivine phenocrysts and thin (<100 μm) magmatic rims define trends of decreasing Cr and Ni, and increasing Ca and Mn, with decreasing olivine Mg#, consistent with fractional crystallisation of olivine (and minor chromite). Many phenocrysts are zoned, and those with cores of similar Mg# and trace element abundances to the mantle xenocrysts may be xenocrysts overgrown by later olivine crystallised from the lamproite magma. Magmatic olivines Mg#_91–92 are estimated to have been in equilibrium with olivine lamproite magma(s) containing ~22–24 wt% MgO. The xenocrystic mantle olivines Mg_90–92.5 in the olivine lamproites are inferred from trace element abundances to be mostly derived from garnet peridotite with equilibration temperatures estimated from the Al-in-olivine thermometer (Bussweiler et al. 2017) to be ~1000–1270 °C at depths of 115–190 km. Olivines from the deeper lithosphere are less depleted (lower Mg#, higher Na, Al, P, Ti, Zr etc) than those at shallower depths, a feature suggested to reflect the combined effects of metasomatic re-enrichment of the craton roots (Ti, Fe, Zr etc) and increasing temperature with depth of origin (Na, Al, Ca). The West Kimberley lamproite olivines are not enriched in Li, as might be expected if their source regions contained continental sedimentary material as has been previously inferred from lamproite large-ion-lithophile trace elements, and Sr and Pb isotopes.

     

Association of oil source algae in some Tertiary basins,northern Thailand

A coal petrographic study of sediments, including coals, oil shale, and oil source rocks, in the fossil fuel deposits of northern Thailand revealed changes in alginite associations. In the Lower part of these Tertiary deposits, especially in the Fang oilfield, alginite A (a Botryococcus sp.) was the only type of alga found. Later, the association of Botryococcus braunii, Pila algae, thick-walled alginite B, and temperate palynomorphs were recognized in many coalfields, as well as in the middle part of the deposits in the Fang Basin. Their ages were Late Oligocene (?) to Early Miocene. In the upper part of the fossil fuel deposits, alginite B is dominant in many basins, together with Botryococcus-related taxa such as Pila algae, Reinschia and fresh-water-dwelling ferns. In the Mae Sod Basins Reinschia was found to be dominant in the northern part, whereas lamaginite dominated in the south, showing different environmental conditions in different parts of the basin during deposition. These different associations indicate changes in depositional environments in northern Thailand, resulting from climatic and/or sea level changes during Tertiary time.     

不同来源两个系列Li-F花岗岩的同位素组成区别

根据地质和地球化学特点,特别是同位素组成,将Li-F花岗岩划分为浅源南岭系列(系列Ⅰ)和深源长江系列(系列Ⅱ).系列Ⅰ的δO18＞10‰,ISr＞0.7100,εNd(t)＜-6,在207Pb/204Pb-206Pb204Pb铅同位素构造图上位于上地壳线附近;系列Ⅱ的δ18O＜10‰,ISr＜0.7100,εNd(t)＞-6,在207Pb/204Pb-206Pb/204铅同位素构造图上位于地幔线与造山带线之间.说明浅源南岭系列Li-F花岗岩物质来源比较浅,以上地壳(再循环地壳)物质为主,而深源长江系列Li-F花岗岩物质来源比较深,以地幔、下地壳和造山带(原生地壳)物质为主.     

Geochemical characteristics of Tertiary oils derived from siliceous sources in Japan, Russia and U.S.A.

Siliceous sourced Tertiary oils from the Circum-Pacific area of Japan, Russia and the U.S.A. have a heavy carbon isotope composition, monomodal n-alkane distributions, and nearly identical regular sterane compositions with a predominance of C₂₇ homologues. These are consistent with open marine depositional environments dominated by diatomaceous organic matter. However, a number of alkane and biomarker parameters such as Pr/Ph, CPI, relative concentration of 28,30-bisnorhopane, and the C₃₅/C₃₄ homohopane ratio indicate more oxic depositional environments for the source rocks of Japan and Russia. In contrast to the California Monterey Formation sourced oils, petroleums with low maturity levels from the North Sakhalin basin, Russia and the Akita basin, Japan have lower concentrations of asphaltenes and sulphur and are characterized by higher API gravities. A correlation of extractable organic matter from source rocks vs the least matured petroleums demonstrates that oil expulsion in siliceous shales of the Akita basin occurs at a maturity level corresponding to R_o≥0.65%, which is in the range of the conventional oil window (R_o = 0.6−1.1%).     

Rare earth and trace element distribution in zircons from miaskite lamproites of the Panozero complex,Central Karelia

Ion microprobe study of rare-earth and trace element composition of zircons from miaskite lamproites of the Panozero sanukitoid complex in Central Karelia made it possible to divide them into weakly altered and metasomatically altered zircons. The latter differ in elevated contents of LREE, Ca, Al, Fe, Ti, Sr, Ba, and Th, a flat REE distribution pattern, and a reduced Ce anomaly. Zircons show moderate to strong degrees of alteration, which are recorded in their geochemical features. The metasomatic alteration was caused by fluid related to the mantle alkaline magmatism. At the final stage, this fluid caused the crystallization of zircon domain with extremely high contents of REE (55000 ppm), Ti, Ba, Sr, and Th. The use of a Ti thermometer for unaltered zircons from the miaskite lamproites yields strongly underestimated temperatures, which require additional explanation or revision of the thermometer. For strongly altered zircons with sharply elevated Ti content, the use of this thermometer seems to be impossible.     

准噶尔盆地三叠系生源油藏的发现及其意义

首次在准噶尔盆地发现了来源于三叠系烃源岩的典型原油，其地球化学特征与以往发现的石炭系、二叠系和侏罗系烃源岩生成原油均不同。该原油全油碳同位素δ^13C值为-3l‰左右，与石炭系和侏罗系原油差异很大；生物标志物中富含重排甾烷、Ts、C29Ts及C30重排藿烷，而伽马蜡烷和β-胡萝卜烷含量低，与三叠系烃源岩抽提物中生物标志物的分布十分相似，而与二叠系和侏罗系明显不同。二叠系、三叠系和侏罗系烃源岩的地球化学特征对比分析研究表明，三叠系是仅次于二叠系的良好烃源岩，具有较高的生烃潜力，是该盆地中又一套重要的烃源岩层系。油源对比表明该原油来源于三叠系烃源岩。三叠系生源原油的发现对该盆地油气勘探具有十分重要的意义。     

First evidence of a distal early Holocene ash layer in Eastern Mediterranean deep-sea sediments derived from the Anatolian volcanic province

A hitherto unknown distal volcanic ash layer has been detected in a sediment core recovered from the southeastern Levantine Sea (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). Radiometric, stratigraphic and sedimentological data show that the tephra, here termed as S1 tephra, was deposited between 8970 and 8690 cal yr BP. The high-silica rhyolitic composition excludes an origin from any known eruptions of the Italian, Aegean or Arabian volcanic provinces but suggests a prevailing Central Anatolian provenance. We compare the S1 tephra with proximal to medial-distal tephra deposits from well-known Mediterranean ash layers and ash fall deposits from the Central Anatolian volcanic field using electron probe microanalyses on volcanic glass shards and morphological analyses on ash particles. We postulate a correlation with the Early Holocene ‘Dikkart?n’ dome eruption of Erciyes Da? volcano (Cappadocia, Turkey). So far, no tephra of the Central Anatolian volcanic province has been detected in marine sediment archives in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The occurrence of the S1 tephra in the south-eastern part of the Levantine Sea indicates a wide dispersal of pyroclastic material from Erciyes Da? more than 600 km to the south and is therefore an important tephrostratigraphical marker in sediments of the easternmost Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent hinterland.     

青藏高原拉萨地块西部雄巴盆地后碰撞钾质-超钾质火山岩年代学与地球化学

青藏高原拉萨地块后碰撞钾质和超钾质岩浆活动广泛分布且已有不少研究成果,但是它们的年龄主要是17~8Ma,而对于拉萨地块西部雄巴地区时代为24~23Ma的岩浆作用则研究较少。本文对雄巴盆地新识别出的三种类型火山岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年和岩石地球化学研究表明,它们分别是超钾质安粗岩(23.9±0.6Ma)、粗面英安岩(23.3±0.4Ma)和钾质流纹岩(24.1±0.3Ma),这三种岩石近于同时产出。三类岩石的源区明显不同,其中钾质流纹岩是中、上地壳部分熔融产物;具有埃达克质特征的钾质粗面英安岩可能为加厚下地壳部分熔融;而超钾质安粗岩可能富集地幔部分熔融的产物。雄巴三种火山岩均含数量不等的继承锆石,钾质流纹岩具有~150Ma、~90Ma和~50Ma的继承锆石年龄群;钾质粗面英安岩突出显示了~90Ma左右岩浆活动记录和两个新元古代继承锆石年龄;幔源超钾质安粗岩的继承锆石则绝大多数继承锆石为晚白垩纪以来的岩浆活动记录,突出显示110~80Ma和62~30Ma两个峰值。     

Isotopic and trace-element indications of lithospheric and asthenospheric components in Tertiary alkalic basalts, northeastern Brazil

Plate reconstructions at 30 Ma place northeastern Brazil over the Fernando de Noronha hotspot, presently 250 km offshore northeastern Brazil. Tertiary basaltic centers in northeastern Brazil may therefore be products of the Fernando de Noronha hotspot. We examined alkalic basalt from seven 30–13 Ma old centers in Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco states to assess this possible link. Compositions are primitive, where MgO concentrations range from 12.5 to 17 wt.%, and SiO₂ from 41 to 48 wt.%. Trace-element abundances and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions compare well with those of ocean island basalt: =0.7038–0.7051, =0.51266–0.51280, and =18.52–19.35. There are correlations among SiO₂-undersaturation, incompatible-element abundances, relative percentages of partial melting (based on La/Yb and La/Y ratios), and the degree of isotopic ‘enrichment' inherited from mantle sources. There is also a negative correlation for La/Nb (0.6–0.86) vs. Ba/Nb (6.6–10.6), where lower La/Nb samples represent larger percentages of melting of a source comparatively enriched in radiogenic Sr. We attribute these compositional relationships to the lavas representing mixing of melts mainly from asthenosphere of largely HIMU plus DM characterization, probably the Fernando de Noronha plume, with melts from subcontinental lithosphere that was isotopically closer to EM1. Isotopic and trace-element compositions of the northeastern Brazil basalts are generally similar to those of Fernando de Noronha lavas (12–2 Ma), and some minor trace-element differences observed (e.g., more Zr, Nb, and less Th compared to northeastern Brazil basalts) are probably due to heterogeneity within the asthenospheric plume and to melt contributions from delaminated subcontinental lithosphere that may underlie Fernando de Noronha.     

Titan-aegirine from early Tertiary ash layers in northern Denmark

Microprobe analyses on a xenocrystic suite of salites, aegirine-augites, aegirines, titan-aegirines and acmites from a lower Tertiary ash layer in northern Denmark are presented. The sodic pyroxenes show an unusual titan-enrichment and up to 42 mol.% of the component $\text{NaTi}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{4+}}\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{Si}{}_3\text{O}{}_6\text{(}\text{M = Fe}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{,}\text{Mn or Mg}\text{)}$, is estimated. Optical absorption measurements show no evidence for Ti³⁺. The titan-aegirines were formed during late to post-magmatic crystallization in a system with a high Ti⁴⁺/Fe²⁺ ratio and were followed by acmite showing enrichment in jadeite. Comparison with experimentally investigated titan-aegirine indicates crystallization far below the Mn₂O₃Mn₃O₄f₀₂ buffer.     

Lithic-volcanic sandstones derived from oceanic crust in the Franciscan Complex of California: 'sedimental memories' of source rock geochemistry

The Permanente terrane, part of the Franciscan accretionary complex of California, contains an unusual fault-bounded packet bearing lithic-volcanic sandstones and conglomerates. Based on petrographical, sedimentological, stratigraphical and geochemical studies, it is concluded that these rocks were deposited on the flank of an oceanic rise or plateau by sediment gravity flows probably below the carbonate compensation depth. The bulk geochemistry of the sandstones is similar to the chemistry of greenstones in the Permanente terrane, suggesting that the greenstones or rocks similar to them represent the source of the lithic-volcanic sandstones, and that the sandstones geochemically ‘remember’ the chemistry of their source rocks. This ‘sedimental memory’ is impressive: geochemical variation in the sandstones is co-linear with presumable magmatic variation trends in the greenstones. Sandstone geochemistry, plotted on Zr/Y vs. Y and V vs. Ti diagrams, shows that compositions occupy similar fields as greenstones in the Permanente terrane and oceanic crustal compositions in general. Because oceanic crustal sequences can become accreted to continental margins, oceanic crust should be considered a potential source of sediment, especially in continental margin settings. However, differentiating sandstones derived from oceanic arcs and from oceanic crust is extremely difficult unless discriminating geochemical criteria are used.