Composition, mineral assemblages, and genesis of serendibite-bearing magnesian skarns

Variations in the composition and mineral assemblages of boronaluminosilciates (serendibite, grandidierite, kornerupine, and tourmaline) were studied in the abyssal and hypabyssal skarns of New York and California, United States, the Taezhnyi deposit of southern Yakutia, and deposits of the Pamirs, and compared to their occurrences around the world. The genesis of the boronaluminosilicates depends on the facies of the replaced skarns and the calcareous-skarn alteration of the primary composition of the host rocks. The substitution between Mg and Fe, as well as between Al, Si, and B, was studied in complex boronaluminosilciates and associated minerals. It was shown that f of serendibite is determined by that in the replaced skarn minerals (pyroxenes, spinel, sapphirine, and grandidierite) and is inherited in the replacing tourmaline and late silicates. Unlike serendibite, kornerupine is a typomorphic mineral of only bimetasomatic skarns of the abyssal facies. Serendibite, grandidierite, kornerupine, and tourmaline crystallized during the postmagmatic stage of the evolution of boron mineralization at skarn deposits of both the abyssal and the hypabyssal facies, at contact with magnesian carbonate sequences and desilicified aluminosilicate rocks.     

High-alumina titanite in mineral assemblages of the Berezitovy gold-base-metal deposit, Upper Amur Region

Grothite—a rare Al- and F-rich variety of titanite—was identified in two different gold-bearing mineral assemblages of the Berezitovy gold-base-metal deposit, Upper Amur Region, Russian Far East. Grothite is associated with quartz, orthoclase, chlorite, muscovite, tourmaline, almandine-spessartine garnet, ilmenite, pyrophanite, magnetite, fluorapatite, and sulfides. Grothite forms numerous scattered lamellar aggregates 20–100 μm in size with a relatively homogeneous structure. The lamellae grow in chlorite or between chlorite and orthoclase. According to microprobe analyses, variations in major elements of grothite are as follows (wt %): 30.56–34.07 SiO₂, 7.91–12.71 Al₂O₃, 22.83–28.29 TiO₂, 23.55–29.21 CaO, 0.52–4.25 FeO, and 2.19–6.16 F. It is suggested that grothite appeared in the gold-bearing mineral assemblages of the Berezitovy deposit due to the specifics of the primary composition of the host rocks and physicochemical conditions of the fluid regime at the final stage of deposit formation.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and consideration of the genesis of malayaite

The conditions of formation of malayaite, CaSnOSiO₄, were studied via hydrothermal synthesis, and the region of the solid solution between malayaite and sphene determined. It was found that the immiscible region exists at temperatures lower than 615°±15°C. The peak of the solvus was experimentally determined to be Ca(Sn_1/4Ti_3/4)OSiO₄. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the solid solution showed a successive change from malayaite to sphene with the change of composition. The relation between the d₍₂₀₀₎ and d₍₀₀₂₎ values and the tin content of the solid solution was found to be linear. The occurrence is reported of malayaite from pyrometasomatic ore deposits in south-western Japan. It is concluded that malayaite would have been formed in the front of skarn, in the quartz or calcite veinlets cutting skarn, and in the altered zones of tin-bearing minerals.

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Zusammenfassung Die Bildungsbedingung von Malayait, CaSnOSiO₄, wurde durch hydrothermale Synthese untersucht, und das Gebiet der festen Lösung zwischen Malayait und Titanit bestimmt. Es ergibt sich, daß das heterogene Gebiet unterhalb 615°±15°C liegt. Der höchste Punkt des Solvus wurde als Ca(Sn_1/4Ti_3/4)OSiO₄ bestimmt. Die röntgenographischen Diffraktionsfiguren der festen Lösung zeigen einen kontinuierlichen Übergang von Malayait zu Titanit, der dem Wechsel der Zusammensetzung entspricht. Das Verhältnis zwischen dem d₍₂₀₀₎- und d₍₀₀₂₎-Wert und den Mol-Prozenten von Zinn der festen Lösung werden in Diagrammen geradlinig dargestellt. Von pyrometasomatischen Lagerstätten in Südwestjapan werden neue Vorkommen von Malayait gemeldet. Aus den Untersuchungen folgt, daß Malayait sich in den Rändern von Skarnzonen, in Quarz- oder Calcit-Adern, die Skarn schneiden, und in Umwandlungszonen mit Zinn-Mineralien befinden.

     

云南金平铜厂Cu-Mo矿床矽卡岩地球化学特征及成因

云南金平铜厂Cu-Mo矿床位于滨太平洋与特提斯构造域结合部位哀牢山构造成矿带南端,该矿床主要由矽卡岩Cu-Mo矿体组成,其中Cu储量0.862×104 t（品位1.24%）,Mo储量1.706×104 t（品位0.21%）。为查明矿区内与成矿关系密切的矽卡岩成因及其与围岩的关系,分析其不同元素的性质及分布规律,揭示矽卡岩矿床成岩、成矿地质过程,本文通过采集铜厂Cu-Mo矿区矽卡岩及矽卡岩化正长斑岩和大理岩样品进行主微量、稀土元素地球化学分析,研究其特征。研究表明：Si、Fe、Ca、Ti、Al、Mg、Mn等主量元素在矽卡岩、正长斑岩之间曾发生明显置换交代地质作用;三种岩性都具有富集LREE元素,亏损HREE元素,发育较弱Eu负异常,Ce异常不明显,REE配分模式相似的稀土元素特征,说明矽卡岩、正长斑岩和大理岩有一定的成因联系。结合三者REE配分模式、Eu弱负异常及Ce异常不明显等地球化学特征,推测矿区矽卡岩形成于低温弱氧化环境,由来自深部热液流体与围岩接触交代形成,成岩流体主要来源于深部岩浆。     

The geology and genesis of the iron skarns of the Turgai belt,northwestern Kazakhstan

The magnetite deposits of the Turgai belt (Kachar, Sarbai and Sokolov), in the Valerianovskoe zone of the southern Urals, Kazakhstan, contain a combined resource of over 3 Gt of iron oxide ore. The deposits are hosted by carbonate sediments and volcaniclastic rocks of the Carboniferous Valerianovka Supergroup, and are spatially related to the gabbroic to granitoid composition intrusive rocks of the Sarbai–Sokolov intrusive series. The magnetite deposits are developed dominantly as metasomatic replacement of limestone, but also, to a lesser extent, of volcanic rocks. Pre-mineralisation metamorphism and alteration resulted in the formation of wollastonite and the silicification of limestone. Magnetite mineralisation is associated with the development of a high temperature skarn assemblage of diopside, grossular–andradite garnet, actinolite, epidote and apatite. Sub-economic copper-bearing sulphide mineralisation overprints the magnetite mineralisation and is associated with deposition of hydrothermal calcite and the formation of an extensive sodium alteration halo dominated by albite and scapolite. Chlorite formation accompanies this stage and further later stage hydrothermal overprints. The replacement has in places resulted in preservation of primary features of the limestone, including fossils and sedimentary structures in magnetite, skarn calc-silicates and sulphides.Analysis of Re–Os isotopes in molybdenite indicates formation of the sulphide mineral assemblage at 336.2 ± 1.3 Ma, whilst U–Pb analyses of titanite from the skarn alteration assemblage suggests skarn alteration at 326.6 ± 4.5 Ma with re-equilibration of isotope systematics down to ~ 270 Ma. Analyses of mineral assemblages, fluid inclusion microthermometry, O and S isotopes suggest initial mineralisation temperatures in excess of 600 °C from hypersaline brines (45–50 wt.% NaCl eq.), with subsequent cooling and dilution of fluids to around 150 °C and 20 wt.% NaCl eq. by the time of calcite deposition in late stage sulphide-bearing veins. δ¹⁸O in magnetite (− 1.5 to + 3.5‰) and skarn forming silicates (+ 5 to + 9‰), δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C in limestone and skarn calcite (δ¹⁸O + 5.4 to + 26.2‰; δ¹³C − 12.1 to + 0.9‰) and δ³⁴S in sulphides (− 3.3 to + 6.6‰) and sulphates (+ 4.9 to + 12.9‰) are all consistent with the interaction of a magmatic-equilibrated fluid with limestone, and a dominantly magmatic source for S. All these data imply skarn formation and mineralisation in a magmatic–hydrothermal system that maintained high salinity to relatively late stages resulting in the formation of the large Na-alteration halo. Despite the reported presence of evaporites in the area there is no evidence for evaporitic sulphur in the mineralising system.These skarns show similarities to some members of the iron oxide–apatite and iron oxide–copper gold deposit classes and the model presented here may have implications for their genesis. The similarity in age between the Turgai deposits and the deposits of the Magnitogorsk zone in the western Urals suggests that they may be linked to similar magmatism, developed during post-orogenic collapse and extension following the continent–continent collision, which has resulted in the assembly of Laurussian terranes with the Uralide orogen and the Kazakh collage of the Altaids or Central Asian Orogenic Belt. This model is preferred to the model of simultaneous formation of very similar deposits in arc settings at either side of an open tract of oceanic crust forming part of the Uralian ocean.     

Composition and genesis of glacial hummocks, western Wisconsin, USA

Glacial hummocks associated with the Superior Lobe in western Wisconsin are stagnant-ice features composed of melt-out till, meltwater-stream sediment, and flow till. The greater proportion of melt-out till in these hummocks than in hummocks described elsewhere suggests that a model of extensive, supraglacial reworking of supraglacially released debris does not apply to the western Wisconsin hummocks. Interpretation of melt-out till in hummock exposures is based on its strong fabric oriented parallel to regional ice-flow direction. Other features of this melt-out till include poorly developed stratification (color banding and discontinuous thin sandy lenses), and minor faulting, both of which support a melt-out origin. We suggest that as stagnant, debris-rich ice began to melt, supraglacially released debris was deposited as flow till and meltwater-stream sediment (with some debris-flow sediment and lake sediment), but as the thickness of supraglacial debris increased, debris melting out at depth was stabilized, allowing features characteristic of melt-out till to be retained. Because the supraglacial debris was sandy and the stagnant ice was likely at the pressure-melting point, the supraglacial debris was well drained and did not readily fail and flow. Debris volume in the glacier generally was greater at the glacier margin, but lateral and longitudinal variations within this zone were caused by thrusting, freezing-on, or ice-margin fluctuations, which in turn resulted in variations in hummock relief. Ice-walled-lake plains are commonly associated with the hummocks and developed where debris volume was small.     

新疆阿克陶县玛尔坎苏一带锰矿石矿物特征及矿床成因浅析

新疆玛尔坎苏一带锰矿赋存于上石炭统喀拉阿特河组地层中,锰矿层呈层状、似层状产出,顶底板均为泥灰岩、泥晶灰岩。矿层产状与地层产状一致,明显受层位控制,延伸较为稳定。锰矿品位比较高,局部富集品位高达50%以上,通过X衍射、电子探针等实验方法对锰矿石矿物成分分析,推测矿床为海相沉积成因,且经后期热液多次改造用作影响。     

Matrix analysis of metamorphic mineral assemblages and reactions

Assemblage diagrams are widely used in interpreting metamorphic mineral assemblages. In simple systems, they can help to identify assemblages which may represent equilibrium states; to determine whether differences between assemblages reflect changes in metamorphic grade or variations in bulk composition; and to characterize isograd reactions. In multicomponent assemblages these questions can be approached by investigating the rank, composition space (range) and reaction space (null-space) of a matrix representing the compositions of the phases involved. Singular value decomposition (SVD) provides an elegant way of (1) finding the rank of a matrix and detemining orthonormal bases for both the composition space and the reaction space needed to represent an assemblage or pair of assemblages; and (2) finding a model matrix of specified rank which is closest in a least squares sense to an observed assemblage. Although closely related to least squares techniques, the SVD approach has the advantages that it tolerates errors in all observations and is computationally simpler and more stable than non-linear least squares algorithms. Models of this sort can be used to interpret multicomponent mineral assemblages by straightforward generalizations of the methods used to interpret assemblage diagrams in simpler systems. SVD analysis of mineral assemblages described by Lang and Rice (1985) demonstrates the utility of the approach.     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Phase relations and mineral assemblages in the Ag-Bi-Pb-S system

Phase relations within the Ag-Bi-S, Bi-Pb-S, and Ag-Pb-S systems have been determined in evacuated silica tube experiments. Integration of experimental data from these systems has permitted examination and extrapolation of phase relations within the Ag-Bi-Pb-S quaternary system. — In the Ag-Bi-S system liquid immiscibility fields exist in the metal-rich portion above 597±3°C and in the sulfur-rich portion above 563±3°C. Ternary phases present correspond to matildite (AgBiS₂) and pavonite (AgBi₃S₅). Throughout the temperature range 802±2°C to 343±2°C the assemblage argentite (Ag₂S) + bismuth-rich liquid is stable; below 343°C this assemblage is replaced by the assemblage silver + matildite. — Five ternary phases are stable on the PbS-Bi₂S₃ join above 400°C — phase II (18 mol-% Bi₂S₃), phase III (27 mol-% Bi₂S₃), cosalite (33.3 mol-% Bi₂S₃), phase IV (51 mol-% Bi₂S₃), and phase V (65 mol-% Bi₂S₃). Phase IV corresponds to the mineral galenobismutite and is stable below 750±3°C. Phases II, III, and V do not occur as minerals, but typical lamellar and myrmekitic textures commonly observed among the Pb-Bi sulfosalts and galena evidence their previous existence in ores. Phase II and III are stable from 829±6°C and 816±6°C, respectively, to below 200°C; Phase V, stable only between 730±5°C and 680±5°C in the pure Bi-Pb-S system is stabilized to 625±5°C by the presence of 2% Ag₂S. Experiments conducted with natural cosalites suggest that this phase is stable only below 425±25°C in the presence of vapor. — In the Ag-Pb-S system the silver-galena assemblage is stable below 784±2°C, whereas the argentite + galena mineral pair is stable below 605±5°C. — Solid solution between matildite and galena is complete above 215±15°C; below this temperature characteristic Widmanstätten structure-like textures are formed through exsolution. Schematic phase relations within the quaternary system are presented at 1050°C, at 400°C, and at low temperature.

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Zusammenfassung Die Phasenbeziehungen in den Systemen Ag-Bi-S, Bi-Pb-S und Ag-Pb-S wurden durch Versuche in evakuierten Quarzglasröhrchen bestimmt. Die Auswertung aller experimentellen Daten gestattete eine Extrapolation der Phasenbeziehungen im quaternären System Ag-Bi-Pb-S. — Im System Ag-Bi-S besteht ein Zwei-Schemlzenfeld im metallreichen Teil über 597±3°C und im schwefelreichen Teil über 563±3°C. Die ternären Phasen entsprechen den Mineralien Schapbachit (AgBiS₂) und Pavonit (AgBi₃S₅). Zwischen 802±2°C und 343±2°C ist die Paragenese Silberglanz (Ag₂S) + Bi-reiche Schmelze stabil; unterhalb 343°C wird sie jedoch ersetzt durch die Paragenese Silber + Schapbachit. — Fünf ternäre Phasen sind stabil im Schnitt PbS-Bi₂S₃ oberhalb von 400°C: Phase II (18 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Phase III (27 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Cosalite (33.3 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Phase IV (51 Mol-% Bi₂S₃) und Phase V (65 Mol-% Bi₂S₃). Phase IV entspricht dem Mineral Galenobismutit und ist stabil unterhalb 750±3°C. Die Phasen II, III und V kommen zwar nicht in der Natur vor, jedoch weisen typische myrmekitische und lamellare Gefüge, die man häufig in Pb-Bi-Sulfosalzen und deren Verwachsungen mit Bleiglanz beobachtet, auf die ehemalige Existenz solcher Phasen in diesen Erzen hin. Die Phasen II und III sind stabil von 829±6°C bzw. 816±6°C bis unter 200°C. Die Phase V, die im reinen System Bi-Pb-S zwischen 730±5°C und 680±5°C auftritt, wird in Gegenwart von 2% Ag₂S stabilisiert bis herab zu 625±5°C. Versuche mit natürlichen Cosaliten lassen darauf schließen, daß diese Phase nur unterhalb 425±25°C in Gegenwart einer Gasphase stabil ist. — Im System Ag-Pb-S ist die Paragenese Silber-Bleiglanz unterhalb von 784±2°C stabil, die Paragenese Silberglanz-Bleiglanz dagegen unterhalb 605±5°C. — Die Mischkristallreihe von Schapbachit und Bleiglanz ist vollständig oberhalb 215±15°C; unterhalb dieser Temperatur entstehen charakteristische Entmischungsgefüge ähnlich den Widmannstättenschen Figuren. Für das quaternäre System werden schematische Phasenbeziehungen für 1050°C, 400°C und eine noch tiefere Temperatur gegeben.

     

Thermodynamic projection and extrapolation of high-variance mineral assemblages

A procedure is described whereby the effect of extra components on the plotting positions of minerals in projected phase diagrams may be accounted for rigorously. The method employs the equilibrium constraints of the mineral assemblage to extrapolate the compositions of the minerals to where the values of the extra components approach 0. The same procedure may also be used to extrapolate the compositions of natural assemblages over isothermal, isobaric composition diagrams or polythermal, polybaric diagrams.Examples from typical garnet-bearing pelite assemblages indicate that the extra components MnO and CaO dramatically shift the compositions of coexisting phases to lower Fe/Mg, even where the phase itself (e.g. chlorite or biotite) does not contain appreciable quantities of the extra component. Recognition of, and correction for, this effect is critical if projected phase diagrams are to be compared with experimentally calibrated phase diagrams in the chemical subsystem.     

Composition and genesis of Precambrian metalliferous conglomerates

Precambrian metalliferous conglomerates are the most important source of gold, uranium, and other metals. They concentrate no less than 30% of world gold reserves and provide 30–50% of world gold production. The metalliferous conglomerates are known at various chronological levels of the Early Precambrian: the Neoarchean (Witwatersrand Supergroup, South Africa), the Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic (Huronian Supergroup, Canada), and the Paleoproterozoic (Tarkwaian Group, West Africa; Roraima Group, the Guiana Shield; Jacobina and Sierra de Carrego groups, the Brazil Shield; Mount Bruce Group, West Australian Shield). They are related to different stages of the tectonic evolution: preorogenic stage (Huronian Supergroup), orogenic stage (Tarkwaian Group), and postorogenic or protoplatformal stage (Witwatersrand). Long-term stabilization of the Earth’s crust and deposition of thick sedimentary sequences were the most favorable conditions for the formation of metalliferous conglomerates.     

Composition,sources, and genesis of granitoids in the Irtysh Complex,Eastern Kazakhstan

Intrusions of the Irtysh Complex are spatially restricted to the regional Irtysh Shear Zone (ISZ) and are hosted in blocks of high-grade metamorphic rocks (Kurchum, Predgornenskii, Sogra, and others) in the greenschist matrix of the ISZ. The massifs consist of contrasting rock series from gabbro to plagiogranite and granite at strongly subordinate amounts of diorite and the practical absence of rocks of intermediate composition (tonalite and granodiorite). The complex was produced in the Early Carboniferous, simultaneously with the onset of the origin of the ISZ itself. The granitoids composing the complex affiliate with diverse petrochemical series (from subaluminous plagiogranite of the andesite series to granite of the calc-alkaline series) and contain similar REE and HFSE concentrations [total REE = 103–163 ppm (La/Yb) _n = 3.59–5.44, Zr (200–273 ppm), Nb (7.6–10.6 ppm), Hf (6.1–7.6 ppm), and Ta (0.68–1.19 ppm)] but are different in concentrations in LILE [Rb (3–9 and 121–221 ppm), Sr (213–375 and 77–148 ppm), and Ba (67–140 and 240–369 ppm)] and isotopic composition of Nd (ɛ_Nd(T) from +5.3 in the plagiogranite to −1.2 in the granite) and O (δ¹⁸O from +9.4 in the plagiogranite to +14.5 in the granite). Data on the geochemistry and isotopic composition of metamorphic rocks of the Kurchum block and numerical geochemical simulations indicate that the granitoids were generated via the melting of a heterogeneous crustal source, which consisted of upper crustal metapelites and metabasites of the oceanic basement of the blocks of high-grade metamorphic rocks. The differences in the chemical and isotopic compositions of the granitoids were predetermined by the mixing of variable proportions of granitoid magmas derived from metapelite and metabasite sources.     

新疆萨尔托海铬铁矿中的Fe-Ni-As-S矿物研究

新疆萨尔托海铬铁矿是一个典型的与蛇绿岩有关的高铝型豆荚状铬铁矿,其中矿石铬尖晶石发生了明显的热液蚀变,发育了富Cr的蚀变环边,形成高铁铬铁矿,Cr#在蚀变后升高,发生了Cr元素的次生富集。在矿石颗粒间隙中的Fe-Ni-As-S矿物组合主要为镍黄铁矿-赫硫镍矿-针镍矿-砷镍矿。围岩纯橄岩普遍发育强烈的蛇纹石化,其中的Fe-Ni-As-S矿物组合为赫硫镍矿-镍黄铁矿-砷镍矿,还有少量的针镍矿和铜矿物。通过对硫化物的成分对比分析,认为矿石中的镍黄铁矿和赫硫镍矿都属于岩浆演化的产物(600℃),与赫硫镍矿和针镍矿一样,均从贫S的母岩浆中通过岩浆熔离过程形成。围岩和矿石中的含砷矿物以及围岩中的镍黄铁矿都是晚期热液活动的结果,其中砷镍矿具有特殊的蠕虫状-乳滴状结构,与围岩中的赫硫镍矿和镍黄铁矿共生。围岩和矿石中Fe-Ni-As-S矿物组合的形态和成分差异,说明金属矿物的整体演化从岩浆期到热液期经历了从贫S到富As的环境变化,最终形成了现在所观察到的复杂Fe-Ni-As-S矿物组合。     

Equilibrium relations of prograde metamorphic mineral assemblages

¹⁸O of quartz, biotite, muscovite, garnet, ilmenite or magnetite, K-feldspar, and D of biotite from prograde metamorphic pelites of the Damara Orogen have been analyzed. The samples were taken from one stratigraphic unit which is exposed in the various stages from low-grade up to high-grade metamorphism with anatexis. Using the fractionation curves experimentally investigated up to now, it can be shown that equilibrium has been reached among the metamorphic assemblages in the low-grade and lower medium-grade metamorphism only. In the high-grade rocks only a partial equilibrium exists between those phases formed at the specific high-grade isogrades, i.e., K-feldspar, garnet, magnetite, or ilmenite, but not between these and the main reacting phase biotite. Biotite in equilibrium with these minerals is foundonly in anatectic rocks where new biotite crystallized from the melt.From this it is concluded that the¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio of biotite is fixed at the time of crystallization and its initial composition is preserved when the temperature increases, unless the biotite recrystallizes. The isotopic temperatures derived from mineral pairs formed at specific isograds are in excellent agreement with temperatures derived from petrological investigations. The hydrogen isotoperatio of biotites decreases with increasing grade of metamorphism.     

Mineral assemblages,fluid evolution,and genesis of polymetallic epithermal veins,Glojeh district,NW Iran

The Glojeh district contains silver- and base metal-rich epithermal veins and is one of the most highly mineralized locations in the Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province, northwestern Iran. It consists of four major epithermal veins, which are located in the South Glojeh and North Glojeh areas. Alteration in the Glojeh district consists of propylitic, sericitic, and argillic assemblages, as well as extensive silicification. The ore-bearing veins comprise three paragenetic stages: (1) early Cu-Au-As-Sb-Fe-bearing minerals, (2) middle stage Pb-Zn-Cu-Cd-Ag-bearing minerals, and (3) late hematite-Ag-Bi-Au-Pb mineralogy. The veins are best classified as the product of an early high-sulfidation hydrothermal system, which was overprinted by an intermediate sulfidation system that was rich in Ag and base metals. Hematite is locally altered to goethite in zones of as much as 40 m in width during supergene alteration and the goethite is an important exploration tool. Fluid inclusions from the early, middle, and late stages, respectively, have salinities and homogenizations temperatures ranging from 5 to 11 wt.% NaCl eq. and 220 °C to 340 °C, to 1 to 8 wt.% NaCl eq. and 200 °C to 290 °C and finally to. 0.1 to 2 wt.% NaCl eq. and 150 °C to 200 °C. The oxygen isotope values in quartz range from 8.8 to 13.3‰ and most calculated fluid δ¹⁸O values are between 4 and 8‰, suggesting a magmatic fluid with some meteoric water contamination. Sulfur isotope values for chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, and galena are mainly − 7.3 to + 1.3‰ and − 0.3 to + 8.4‰ for North Glojeh and South Glojeh, respectively. Sulfur isotope data suggest a magmatic origin. Boiling, isothermal mixing, and dilution are the main mechanisms for ore deposition in the Glojeh veins. Recent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age measurements of 42.20 ± 0.34 Ma and 42.56 ± 1.47 Ma for the North Glojeh and South Glojeh veins, respectively, overlap with the 41.87 ± 1.58 Ma age of the Goljin intrusion in the northern part of the district, which we interpret as the main heat source controlling the hydrothermal systems.     

Composition and genesis of the Konevinsky gold deposit,Eastern Sayan,Russia

The Konevinsky gold deposit in southeast Eastern Sayan is distinguished from most known deposits in this region (Zun-Kholba, etc.) by the geological setting and composition of mineralization. To elucidate the cause of the peculiar mineralization, we have studied the composition, formation conditions, and origin of this deposit, which is related to the Ordovician granitoid pluton 445–441 Ma in age cut by intermediate and basic dikes spatially associated with metavolcanic rocks of the Devonian–Carboniferous Ilei Sequence. Four mineral assemblages are recognized: (1) quartz–pyrite–molybdenite, (2) quartz–gold–pyrite, (3) gold–polysulfide, and (4) telluride. Certain indications show that the ore was formed as a result of the superposition of two distinct mineral assemblages differing in age. The first stage dated at ~440 Ma is related to intrusions generating Cu–Mo–Au porphyry mineralization and gold–polysulfide veins. The second stage is controlled by dikes pertaining to the Devonian–Carboniferous volcanic–plutonic association. The second stage is characterized by gain of Hg and Te and formation of gold–mercury–telluride paragenesis.     

Contact metamorphic mineral assemblages,late Triassic Newark group,New Jersey

Essentially isochemical thermal metamorphism of soda-rich Stockton, Lockatong and Brunswick formations of the Newark Group by diabase sills produced unusually varied and unique mineral assemblages, most of which are predominantly Na. feldspar and biotite. Within a meter of a sill Stockton arkose was altered to quartzo-feldspathic hornfels with common diopside and sphene. Within 50 m of a sill Lockatong calcitic and dolomitic mudstone formed calc-silicate hornfels with differing combinations of diopside-hedenbergite, andradite and grossular, prehnite, datolite, idocrase and wollastonite. Within a meter of a sill metamorphosed Lockatong calcareous feldspathic argillite contains sanidine-anorthoclase, aegirine, aegirine-augite, riebeckite and scapolite. Lockatong analcime-dolomite argillite was altered to unique feldspathoidal assemblages containing cancrinite, natrolite-thomsonite and rarely sodalite within 134 m, and nepheline within 30 m of the Byram Sill. Reddish-brown Brunswick mudstone produced spotted pelitic hornfels within a few 10's of meters of a sill.Response to thermal metamorphism varied directly with diminishing grain size. In both sandstone and mudstone Na. feldspar increases and K. feldspar decreases toward intrusions; quartz is rare or absent in highest-grade hornfels. Development of biotite was retarded by detrital clay minerals and hematite pigment, as well as by low temperature. Minor differences in composition among carbonate-rich and analcime-rich Lockatong deposits led to a diversity of closely associated assemblages. Aqueous solutions and relatively low temperature, probably in part during retrogressive metamorphism, produced hydrous minerals. Datolite, tourmaline, scapolite and fluorite suggest minor additions of volatiles, but the widespread feldspathoids were made from soda-rich sedimentary rocks without significant additions from an igneous source.