Sources and formation conditions of sulfide-silicate magmas in the Noril’sk district

Geology, tectonomagmatic reactivation of the Noril??sk district, as well as stratigraphy and geochemistry of the volcanic sequence are considered. Sources and formation mechanism of ore-bearing magma and the scope of ore formation are discussed. The Permian-Triassic flood-basalt magmatism of the Noril??sk district developed in part of the Siberian Platform with Archean-Paleoproterozoic basement broken into blocks and overlapped by a sedimentary cover up to 13 km thick and a volcanic sequence reaching 3.7 km in thickness. The geophysical data show that remnants of the subducted ancient oceanic crust exist in the mantle and fragments of transitional magma chambers and conduits are retained at different levels of the Earth??s crust. The cyclic tectonomagmatic evolution of the territory was characterized by alternation of extension with intense volcanic activity and compression accompanied by waning of volcanic eruptions. The early rifting, transitional stage, and late dispersed spreading are distinguished. The associations of volcanic (lavas and tuffs) and intrusive rocks were formed during each stage. The volcanic sequence is subdivided into 11 formations. The intrusions of the Talnakh and Noril??sk ore fields are distinguished by two-level structure with the Upper Noril??sk ore-bearing intrusions above and the Lower Noril??sk barren intrusions below. Two types of primary magmas differ in geochemistry of lavas and intrusions: (1) OIB-type high-Ti magma (iv, sv, gd formations of the first stage from bottom to top) and (2) low-Ti magma (hk, tk, nd formations of the second stage and mr-mk formations of the third stage). The nd formation depleted in ore elements and the ore-bearing cumulus composed of silicate and sulfide melts in combination with early silicate minerals and chromite are products of the fractionation of the primary low-Ti magma. As follows from geochemical parameters, intrusions of the Lower Noril??sk type are comagmatic to the evolved lavas of the nd₃ subformation, whereas intrusions of the Upper Noril??sk type are comagmatic to the lavas of the mr-mk formations. Geochemical similarity with volcanic rocks provides evidence for the composition of the initial magma and the time of intrusion emplacement. The ore-bearing intrusions of the Upper Noril??sk type were formed at the onset of the third stage, when the primitive low-Ti magma similar to the lavas of mr-mk formations in composition was emplaced. When intruding, this melt captured and transported ore-bearing cumulus (drops of sulfide melt, early olivine and chromite grains) into the magma chamber. Separate portions of sulfide liquid were involved into movement as a self-dependent intrusive subphase during formation of the Talnakh and Kharaelakh intrusions. An extremal effect of pressure on sulfur concentration in fluid-bearing and sulfide-saturated mafic magmas has been established in experiments to be P = 1?2 GPa. In this interval of pressure, the S concentration in sulfide-saturated magmas increases in the following sequence: dry magma ??(H₂O + CO₂)-bearing magma <H₂O-bearing magma. In the regions of low (<0.3 GPa) and high (>2.5 GPa) pressures, the S contents (0.1?C0.2 wt %) are commensurable. The extremal baric relationship of S concentration in fluid-bearing and sulfide-saturated mafic magmas may be important for the formation of ore-bearing magmas. The calculation results show that the amount of sulfides in the known deposits does not exceed 2% of geological resources of the sulfides separated from the flood basalts. Therefore, the chance of discovery of new deposits remains rather high. Proceeding from the conditions of ore-bearing magma formation and geological setting of the known deposits, criteria for recognition of potentially ore-bearing areas are proposed and such areas are outlined.     

Siderite formation and evolution of sedimentary iron ore deposition in the Earth’s history

The role of siderite in Phanerozoic and Precambrian iron formations is discussed. Various types of iron formations are characterized, and their place in the evolution of sedimentary iron ore deposition is outlined. In Precambrian iron ore deposition, siderite is a primary mineral, whereas in Phanerozoic iron formations it becomes a secondary mineral and is commonly related to diagenetic and catagenetic processes.     

Tectonomagmatic cycles and geodynamic conditions of formation of the ore-bearing systems in the Southern Argun’ Region

The evolution of the geological structure in the Southern Argun’ Region is studied in terms of changing geodynamic conditions of the Proterozoic, Caledonian, and Variscan Tectonomagmatic Cycles, which also under Mesozoic tectonomagmatic activation led to the formation of latite igneous rocks enriched in Au, Cu–Mo, Pb–Zn–Ag, volcanic and plutonic complexes of the caldera structures with Mo–U, Pb–Zn, and fluorite ores, and rare-metal granites with a Sn–W–Li–Ta spectrum.     

P–T conditions during skarn formation in the Ocna de Fier ore district, Romania

P–T conditions during skarn formation in the 75.5 Ma old Ocna de Fier-Dognecea (SW Romania) ore district are assessed in this work using a combination of petrogenetic grids, Berman's TWEEQU programme, and several independent geothermobarometers. These were applied both to hornfelses surrounding the skarn and to the granodiorite which caused the skarn and contact metamorphism. The results are consistent and point to a peak metamorphic temperature of 700 ± 50 °C, decreasing away from the contact, and to a pressure of 2.8 ± 1 kbar, equivalent to ∼10 km depth in the region. These results quantify the qualitative idea that skarn mineralisation normally forms in a high T, low P contact metamorphic environment. Received: 13 February 1998 / Accepted: 8 April 1999     

Gold–quartz deposits of the Zhdaninsky ore–placer cluster,eastern Yakutia: Structural control and formation conditions

Gold deposits and occurrences small in reserves and high in Au grade conventionally determine the line of prospecting in terrigenous sequences of the Verkhoyansk–Kolyma region. In this paper, the geological structure of such gold objects is considered with the example of the deposits and prospects making up the Zhdaninsky ore–placer cluster in the Republic of Sakha (Yakuia). From lithological, structural, and mineralogical–geochemical data, the formation conditions of ore-bearing complexes are specified, the geological evolution history of the northern Ol’chan Zone of the Kular–Nera Belt is reconstructed, and the zonal distribution of mineralization within the ore–placer cluster is revealed. The structural–compositional complexes were formed in the following succession: (1) sedimentation at the shelf of the passive margin accompanied by synsedimentation deformations; (2) metagenesis of sediments and the development of bedding-plane intraformational detachments of collision stage D₁ under conditions of tangential compression and accompanied by the formation of carbon dioxide–aqueous metamorphic fluid at a temperature of 300°C and under a pressure of 1.4 kbar; (3) folding and faulting of orogenic stage D₂ with the formation of synkinematic magmatic bodies, metasomatic alteration, and Au-bearig mineral assemblages. Small Au-bearing objects with veined mineralization and high Au grade are localized in structures of stage D₂ transverse to bedding-plane schistosity S₁. They form at the collision stage above intraformational detachment surfaces and are controlled by shear structures of the orogenic stage with misalignment of these deformations. The ore zoning is determined by the distribution of Co and Ni minerals and by variations in the anionic composition of ore (S, As, Sb).     

Evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal system of the Kalaxiange’er porphyry copper belt and implications for ore formation (Xinjiang,China)

The Kalaxiange’er porphyry copper ore belt is situated in the eastern part of the southern Altai of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and forms part of a broad zone of Cu porphyry mineralization in southern Mongolia, which includes the Oyu Tolgoi ore district and other copper–gold deposits. The copper ore bodies are spatially associated with porphyry intrusions of granodiorite, quartz diorite, quartz syenite, and quartz monzonite and have a polygenetic (polychromous) origin (magmatic porphyry, hydrothermal, and supergene). The mineralized porphyries are characterized by almost identical REE and trace element patterns. The Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta ratios are similar to those of normal granite produced through the evolution of mantle magma. The low initial Sr isotope ratio I_Sr, varying within a narrow range of values (0.703790–0.704218), corresponds to that of primitive mantle, whereas the εNd(T) value of porphyry varies from 5.8 to 8.4 and is similar to that of MORB. These data testify to the upper-mantle genesis of the parental magmas of ore-bearing porphyry, which were then contaminated with crustal material in an island-arc environment. The isotopic composition of sulfur (unimodal distribution of δ34S with peak values of − 2 to − 4‰) evidences its deep magmatic origin; the few lower negative δ³⁴S values suggest that part of S was extracted from volcanic deposits later. The isotopic characteristics of Pb testify to its mixed crust–upper-mantle origin. According to SHRIMP U–Pb geochronological data for zircon from granite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry, mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit formed in two stages: (1) Hercynian “porphyry” stage (375.2 ± 8.7 Ma), expressed as the formation of porphyry with disseminated and vein–disseminated mineralization, and (2) Indosinian stage (217.9 ± 4.2 Ma), expressed as superposed hydrothermal mineralization. The Re–Os isotope data on molybdenite (376.9 ± 2.2 Ma) are the most consistent with the age of primary mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit, whereas the Ar–Ar isotopic age (230 ± 5 Ma) of K-feldspar–quartz vein corresponds to the stage of hydrothermal mineralization. The results show that mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit was a multistage process which resulted in the superposition of the Indosinian hydrothermal mineralization on the Hercynian porphyry Cu mineralization.     

Explosion breccias of the Vysokogorskoe tin–porphyry deposit: Genesis and role in ore formation (Kavalerovo ore district,Primorye)

Detailed geological observations and analytical studies make it possible to distinguish two groups of fluid-explosion breccias (FEB) in the Vysokogorskoe tin deposit of the Kavalerovo ore district. These breccias are assumed to be related to different stages of geological (geodynamic) evolution and played different roles in ore formation. The earlier breccias (79–69 Ma), which were altered by boron metasomatism and subsequent main tin mineralization, were most probably formed at the Cretaceous subduction stage. The later breccias (55–51 Ma) are syngenetic to the dacite (rhyolite) porphyry dikes of the Paleocene–Eocene transform stage. They were formed after precipitation of the majority of the cassiterite, but prior to the latest quartz–fluorite–carbonate stage of ore formation. According to the Sillitoe classification, the explosion breccias of the Vysokogorskoe deposit correspond to a magmatic–hydrothermal genetic type. They are characterized by multiple brecciation and intersection by small bodies of porphyritic rhyolites.     

The C-O and Zn isotopic compositions of the Laochang Ag-Pb-Zn ore bodies in the Changning-Menglian suture zone,and its geological implicationsSCIEI北大核心CSCD

老厂矿床是昌宁-孟连缝合带内唯一大型矿床,本文报道了老厂矿床Ag-Pb-Zn矿体中Ⅰ号矿体群下部块状矿体和上部网脉状矿体的方解石C-O同位素组成,以及Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅳ三个矿体群内闪锌矿的Zn同位素组成。Ⅰ号矿体群下部块状矿体和上部网脉状矿体方解石δ¹³C_PDB的范围分别为-6.17‰～2.71‰和-2.18‰～3.87‰,δ¹⁸O_PDB的范围分别为-19.57‰～-17.23‰和-22.10‰～-16.21‰;计算获得对应成矿流体的δ¹³C_CO2为-6.16‰～1.53‰和-2.39‰～6.43‰,δ¹⁸O_H2O分别为1.62‰～7.62‰和4.36‰～16.92‰,通过与岩浆CO₂(δ¹³C=-2‰～-8‰)和围岩灰岩(δ¹³C=-1.6‰～4.0‰)的δ¹³C值相比较,指示块状矿体成矿流体中的碳主要来自岩浆,网脉状矿体成矿流体中...     

Metamorphic-hydrothermal parkerite and associated minerals in the Noril’sk ore field

In the Noril’sk ore field, parkerite is a characteristic mineral of sulfide ore that metamorphosed under conditions of zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite facies and of arsenide-calcite veins. The mineral occurs in ores containing bornite, anhydrite, magnetite, mackinawite (3–5 wt % Ni), valleriite, calcite, ankerite, native silver, native bismuth, violarite, Te-rich bismutohauchecornite, cupropentlandite enriched in Fe, Pd-rich breithauptite (1.5–2.5 wt % Pd), galena enriched in Cu (3.8 wt % Cu), and Ni arsenides and antimonides. Parkerite occurs in those place, where the primary ores have contained pockets and veins of graphic galena and chalcopyrite aggregates with associated Pt-Pd-Au-Ag minerals. Parkerite metacrysts in galena and Fe-Cu-Ni sulfides contain 6–16 and up to 5 wt % Pb, respectively. Parkerite rims replacing PGM aggregates and galena contain 1–3 wt % Pb. In calcite veins hosted in metamorphosed sulfide ores, parkerite is associated with native silver and bismuth, maucherite, cobaltite, chalcocite, and uraninite. Parkerite from these veins contains up to 0.5 wt % Pb. Thus, the Pb and Bi contents in parkerite basically depend on those of replaced minerals. Rare bismutohauchecornite is associated with parkerite.     

Solidification of the Earth’s core: The main energy source in the formation of trappean provinces and flood basalts

The discovery of a layer of increased density in the liquid core at the boundary with the solid core gives grounds to suggest that solidification of the solid core occurs with an increase in total core volume and is accompanied by an increase in internal pressure in the core. This makes it possible to suggest a translational mechanism of energy transfer from the core to the Earth’s surface. It is suggested that the restoration of lithostatic equilibrium occurs via rising of a column of mantle material, uplift as result of elastic mantle deformation of the boundary of the transition layer at a depth of 420 km, and the formation of rising at the surface.     

Internal waves in the near-bottom thermocline and microdeformations in the Earth’s crust in the continent-ocean transition zone

The results of synchronous measurements of temperature variations in a near-bottom thermocline, as well as microdeformations of the Earth’s crust and atmospheric pressure pulsing, recorded on-shore with the help of a laser strainmeter and laser nanobarograph, are presented. A string containing 20 thermosensors spaced at 0.5 m was used; it was placed by an anchored buoy in a place with 21-m depth and 500 m away from the shore. A good correlation between microdeformations and atmospheric pressure variations was observed for periods longer than 6 h. Quantitative estimates and spectral analysis via the Gilbert-Huang method for investigation of nonstationary and nonlinear processes lead to the conclusion that, on temporal scales from tidal to several minutes, the predominant way of formation of microdeformations in the Earth’s crust can be breaking of internal waves in a thermocline that leads to shallow water (i.e., in the zone of “internal breakers”).     

Distribution characteristics and differential enrichment mechanism of rhenium in molybdenite in the Dexing copper ore fieldSCIEI北大核心CSCD

世界上绝大部分Re赋存在斑岩型矿床的辉钼矿之中,且分布极不均匀。在矿床-矿石-矿物颗粒等不同尺度上,Re含量均存在较大差异,但造成这些差异的因素目前尚不清楚。本文以德兴矿田中富家坞和铜厂二个矿床的辉钼矿为研究对象,在细致的矿相学研究的基础上,对其开展了EPMA、LA-ICP-MS和XRD分析,同时结合前人研究资料,详细探讨了Re在这两个矿床辉钼矿中的分布规律及差异性富集机制。结果显示:富家坞和铜厂均普遍发育两种形态的辉钼矿(细粒集合体型和粗粒片状型),Re在两种辉钼矿中的分布均极为不均,但细粒集合体型相对更富Re,而同一形态辉钼矿铜厂矿床则具有更高的Re含量;同一矿床中辉钼矿结晶越晚,往往越富集Re;个别辉钼矿可见扭结现象,且扭结部位的Re含量更低,暗示后期构造变形可能导致了Re的丢失;两个矿床高Re辉钼矿和低Re辉钼矿的结构均为2H多型,表明Re含量与辉钼矿晶体结构无关。结合前人资料,本文认为成矿流体性质(如温度、盐度等)是导致铜厂和富家坞辉钼矿Re含量差异的主要因素。     

Temporal and spatial distribution of Au-Ag polymetallic ore deposits and source of oreforming materials in the ZhangjiakouXuanhua mantle-branch metallogenetic zone

The Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua area is a mineral resource-concentrated area for gold-silver polymetallic ore deposits. The temporal and spatial distribution and origin of mineral resources have been argued for a long time. Based on the comprehensive studies of geochronology and sulfur, lead, oxygen, carbon and noble gas isotopes, it is considered that the temporal and spatial distribution of mineral resources in this area is obviously controlled by the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua mantle branch structure, as is reflected by the occurrence of gold deposits in the inner parts and of Ag-Pb-Zn polymetallic ore deposits in the outer parts. The mineralization took place mainly during the Yanshanian period. Ore-forming materials came largely from the deep interior of the Earth, and hydrothermal fluids were derived predominantly from Yanshanian magmatism.     

Oka ore district of the Eastern Sayan: Geology,structural–metallogenic zonation,genetic types of ore deposits,their geodynamic formation conditions,and outlook for development

As a result of structural–geological and metallogenic studies and taking into account earlier works, it is established that the Oka ore district formed mainly in the Neoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic under conditions of tectonomagmatic reworking of cratonic terranes and allochtonous oceanic (ophiolitic) terranes over them. The reworking was initiated by island-arc, accretionary–collisional, and plume-related igneous complexes, which arose due to opening and subsequent closure of marginal structures pertaining to the Paleoasian Ocean. Active Middle and Late Paleozoic volcanic and plutonic processes gave rise to the redistribution of ore matter and formation of new mineral deposits.     

The specifics of ferromanganese ore formation on the submarine Vityaz’ Ridge (Pacific slope of the Kuril island arc)

We present data on the location, chemical composition, and contents of trace elements in thin ferromanganese crusts at two sites of the submarine Vityaz’ Ridge: Diana and Bussol’ test grounds. The crusts abound in inclusions of grains of nonferrous (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ni, W) and noble (Au, Ag, Pd, Pt) metals in the form of native elements, sulfides, sulfates, oxides, or intermetallic compounds. The crusts at the Diana test ground contain mainly grains of nonferrous-metal minerals, and those at the Bussol’ test ground, mainly noble-metal minerals. There are also sites with Ni-rich (up to 3.5%) manganese crust. A detailed study of the ore crusts from the Vityaz’ Ridge showed that they are probably at the initial stage of formation.     

The theory of magnetic hole formation in the vicinity of the Earth’s magnetoshere

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Influences of ore formation on biomarkers in the Kupferschiefer from the Lubin mine, Poland

Molecular biomarkers are the important maturity parameters for sedimentary organic matter.They have also been widely used for determining the maturity of organic matter in ore deposits. However,during the study of organic matter in the Kupferschiefer from the Lubin mine, it had been found that the biomarkers were influenced by sulfide formation. In order to probe into the degree of influence on biomarkers, seven samples collected from a Kupferschiefer section from the Lubin mine were analyzed by various geochemical methods. The results indicated that in the samples with higher copper contents, the values of biomarkers are lower than in the samples with lower copper contents. In highly mineralized samples, hydrogen donation for thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) occurred in alkylated phenanthrenes and naphthalenes, leading to the decrease of 12 biomarker parameters during the Kupferschiefer mineralization.     

Recovering data in groundwater: boundary conditions and Wells’ positions and fluxes

In this paper, we present an original methodology for recovering boundary conditions and hydraulic parameters in an aquifer domain. Boundary data are identified from the knowledge of over-specified boundary data on another part of the boundary. Then parameters, here wells’ positions and fluxes, are recovered by the use of the reciprocity principle (Andrieux and Ben Abda, Mech Res Commun 20:415–420, 1993; Andrieux and Ben Abda, Inverse Probl 12:553–564, 1996). The boundary recovering method is based on the minimization of an energy-like error functional (Andrieux et al., Inverse Probl 22:115–133; Baranger and Andrieux, 2010).