北京十三陵地区前寒武纪岩石中稀土矿物的发现及对同位素测年的意义

华北中、新元古代地层的年龄数据很混乱(表1),本文建议将北京十三陵地区新发现的稀土矿物用SHRIMP方法测年,有助于问题的解决。北京十三陵地区保存了新太古代五台群和新—中元古代较完整的地层,电子耦合等离子体分析(即原子收光谱分析)(ICP)的定量分析数据表明,在这些地层中,岩石中所含钾和稀土元素含量都比北美页岩(NASC)、欧洲页岩(ES)和澳大利亚后太古宙页岩(PAAS)高出很多,经电子扫描+能谱仪+波谱仪(SEM+EDS+WDS)分析证明,在岩石中包含独居石(碎屑的和自生-成岩的)和磷钇矿(自生-成岩的),并首次发现钍石-独居石环带状混合矿物(变质的)以及显微脉状稀土硅酸盐矿物(地下流体形成的)等稀土矿物。利用激光拉曼光谱鉴定发现稀土矿物的分布状态包括:1在太古宙五台群的片麻岩中,云母、石英和长石之间有非自形晶独居石,而且在石英单晶里还有独居石的自形晶包裹体;并发现独居石和钍石-独居石环带状混合矿物,这些稀土矿物都是变质成因的;2在新太古代五台群片麻岩的准平原化风化面上,沉积的元古宙常沟组的底砾岩中发现了碎屑的独居石,这些独居石的同位素年龄对于元古宇的底界定年意义重大;3在常州沟组下部压扁-透镜状层理的粉砂岩中,普遍发现碎屑锆石的外缘生长出自生-成岩磷钇矿,磷钇矿的同位素定年对于常州沟组的地层年代有代表性意义;4串岭沟组的粉砂岩中发现了无形晶状自生-成岩独居石和磷钇矿,并且较多出现在显微缝合线内外,可作为SHRIMP测年的对象;5大红峪组粉砂岩中除了发现碎屑独居石外还发现脉状硅-铝稀土矿物,可能与后元古宙热液活动有关。事实上这些自生-成岩的稀土矿物的形成,都是源自太古宙富含稀土元素的变质岩石,其形成机理也与地下流体活动有关。笔者认为北京十三陵以及至华北地区,前寒武系富稀土元素形成的自生-成岩的稀土矿物,有助于用SHRIMP方法对前寒武纪地层的同位素测年研究。     

Provenance of bar-top sediments at Tons river near Allahabad

The bar-top sediments at the Tons river deposited mainly from the suspension current during waning stage condition of river are collected to study their provenance on the basis of clay mineralogy, heavy minerals and magnetic properties. The clay mineral assemblages in samples predominantly consist of illite, with minor amounts of kaolinite, smectite and chlorite. The clay minerals are contributed due to (i) weathering and decomposition of shales, argillaceous limestones and pyroclastic deposits of upper Vindhyan Groups and (ii) weathering and erosion of Banda plain of Gangetic alluvium. The low ZTR index for the studied samples indicates poor sediment maturity, rapid erosion in the source region and short transportation of detritus. The transparent heavy mineral assemblages in the sediment samples predominantly consist of garnet, with minor amounts of tourmaline, zircon, hornblende, enstatite, hypersthene, rutile, tremolite, kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite, chlorite, epidote, wollastonite, and staurolite. The heavy minerals are dominantly angular to sub-angular with some rounded to sub-rounded grains. The rounded grains indicate multicyclicity and derivation fromVindhyan sandstones. The angular grains are either contributed due to erosion of primary rocks of Bundelkhand gneissic complex and or various Gangetic alluviums. The magnetic properties from sediment samples indicate that the antiferromagnetic minerals (illite, chlorite and smectite) are more concentrated in clay sized particles and it also indicated mixed source rocks for the bar-top sediment of Tons river.     

自然重砂成因矿物学特征及找矿指示作用

自然重砂是地质体经自然风化、剥蚀、搬运、沉积等地质作用而分离出的单矿物(或矿物组合)。自然重砂矿物晶体由于仍然保留有许多矿物成因信息,包括颜色、形态、化学成分、物理性质和矿物组合等特征,因此常用于追溯源区地质体或者找矿勘查。这种方法被认为是一种经济实用的找矿方法——自然重砂测量。本文基于全国自然重砂找矿的数据资料,系统梳理了自然重砂的矿物类型、出现频率及其分布等特点,分析了自然重砂的矿物组合和成因矿物学特征,研究了自然重砂矿物的源区烙印、搬运距离及标型指示矿物组合特征,探讨了自然重砂成因矿物学研究意义及其找矿应用前景。自然重砂矿物的颜色、形态及内部结构依然保留着明确的成因矿物学信息:其颜色和晶体形态具有继承性而与其源区母体联系起来,体现源区母体的特性;其矿物组成可分出残余原生重矿物(包括造岩矿物、副矿物、矿石矿物等)和新生重砂矿物两个部分,如赤铜矿、孔雀石等反映着源区岩性体的成分或者赋存状态特征,其矿物组合也在很大程度上继承原生共生矿物而体现诸如有无矿化等意义;重砂颗粒的磨圆度、边界光滑性等表面特征反映搬运距离,有利于明确响应源区母体或者物源,而具有良好的找矿指示意义。     

Occurrence of Uraniferous Iron Grains at Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya Granites in Eastern Desert of Egypt

Uraniferous iron grains occur in some radioactive granite plutons in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Modal analysis of these grains indicates that weight abundance of uraniferous grains amounts to 17.50%, 18.00% and 26.00% of the total accessory heavy minerals of the uranium-mineralized samples of Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya, respectively. These grains are mainly restricted to shear zones associated with strong hematitization, and occur either as fracture fillings or as interstitial grains among the main rock-forming minerals. Uraniferous iron grains are mainly composed of uranophane and β-uranophane coated and stained with limonite. These grains represent the main radioactive minerals in addition to the bright canary yellow to yellow uranophane and β-uranophane mineral grains. The data obtained on scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis confirm the abundance of iron in the darker colored varieties with respect to the light colored varieties. This mode of occurrence of the uranium minerals requires special consideration during mineral processing by physical means.     

Discrimination of accreted and eroded coasts using heavy mineral compositions of the Nile Delta beach sands, Egypt

Coastal erosion has occurred on the beaches of the three major promontories of the Nile Delta of Egypt. The eroded sand is generally carried alongshore to the east, or locally to the west, from these promontories and is deposited in areas of beach accretion between promontories. In this study the heavy minerals of 150 samples have been investigated with the aim of differentiating between eroded and accreted beaches. Discrimination was achieved by using bivariate plots of the raw weight percentage data and Q-mode factor analysis. Factor analysis yielded two ‘mineral assemblages’: Factor 1 is dominated by augite, hornblende and epidote, while Factor 2 consists of opaque minerals, garnet, zircon, rutile and monazite. These two mineral factors are produced by the selective sorting of heavy minerals by natural processes of waves and currents. Minerals of Factor 2 are associated with high density opaques which tend to concentrate as a lag in areas of erosion. Conversely, the lower density minerals of Factor 1 are preferentially transported away from areas of erosion and carried to the accreted shorelines.     

Monazite chemical composition: some implications for monazite geochronology

An investigation of the chemical composition of monazite from a number of localities has been carried out. Samples used include monazites from metamorphic rocks, granitic rocks and a hydrothermal ore deposit. The REE distribution pattern of monazite varies greatly in accordance with its geological environment. A remarkable feature of the monazites studied is that their chondrite-normalised REE distribution patterns are mostly uniform between grains within the same sample, but differ significantly from sample to sample. This characteristic apparently indicates that there is an important effect on the REE distribution of monazite exerted by the host rock or source material from which monazite crystallised. Another important feature shown by the monazites studied is that monazites in rocks containing garnet as a major mineral show extreme depletion of HREE, whereas monazites in rocks without garnet or monazite that formed after the garnet breakdown contain significantly higher amounts of Y and HREE. This suggests that the phase assemblage, especially garnet, plays an important role in the REE distribution of monazites in these rocks. The value of REE distribution in monazite is exemplified with regard to the origin of monazite in the Lewisian metamorphic rocks, which is a fundamental issue in monazite geochronology. Received: 17 March 1999 / Accepted: 16 July 1999     

Hydrothermal alteration of monazite in the Precambrian crystalline basement of the Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada): implications for the formation of unconformity-related uranium deposits

Microanalytical studies of basement rocks below the Athabasca sandstone basin indicate that monazite is the dominant uranium-bearing mineral in the study area. Drill core samples of hydrothermally altered basement show that monazite is commonly altered to a Th–silicate phase, and uranium has been significantly mobilized. On average, 75% of the uranium bound to monazite is leached out during monazite alteration. In contrast, no substantial mobilization of uranium from detrital minerals (e.g. zircon) has yet been observed in the Athabasca sandstones. It is suggested that hydrothermal alteration of granitic rocks (especially potassic pegmatoids and potassic orthogneisses) of the sub-Athabasca basement, represents the most important uranium source for the unconformity-type deposits. Received: 3 December 1999 / Accepted: 24 May 2000     

Heavy Mineral Placer Sand Deposits of Kontiagarh Area,Ganjam District,Orissa, India

The Kontiagarh placer deposit in the Ganjam district, Orissa, India extends in northeast direction having a width of 700–1000 m. A total of 187 samples were collected meterwise from 55 bore holes in a grid pattern from beach, frontal, intermediate and back dunes covering an area of approximately 1 km². Light minerals decrease in size from the beach to the back dunes, whereas the size distribution of heavy minerals in the beach and dunes is more or less uniform. The average heavy mineral content in the beach and dunes vary from 9.38% to 24.20%. The heavy minerals are ilmenite, garnet, sillimanite, rutile, monazite, and zircon with trace amounts of magnetite, hornblende, diopside, sphene, tourmaline, and epidote. Heavy minerals are mostly less than 350 µm in size, with a peak distribution in the range between 180 and 125 µm. Ilmenite shows exsolution intergrowth with hematite. Mineral chemistry of ilmenite, hematite, leucoxene, magnetite, monazite and sillimanite are examined by EPMA. Leucoxene is lower in Fe and higher in Ti, Al, Cr and V than ilmenite. The litho‐units of the Precambrian Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, comprising primarily khondalite, charnockite, calc‐silicate granulite and gneiss, are the source of heavy minerals for this deposit. The bulk sample has 7.30% ilmenite, 5.24% sillimanite, 9.16% garnet, 0.18% rutile, 0.14% monazite, 0.06% zircon and 0.52% other heavy minerals. The deposit has good potential for economic exploitation of ilmenite, rutile, sillimanite, monazite, zircon and garnet.     

中国北方元古宙沉积岩中自生稀土矿物特征及其意义--以北京、大连地区为例

大连震旦系十三里台组首次发现自生稀土元素矿物独居石后 ,在北京十三陵中元古代长城系常州沟组、串岭沟组和大红峪组又发现了自生的独居石以及其他磷酸盐和硅酸盐稀土矿物。自生稀土矿物的形成和岩石中稀土元素含量较高有关 ;电子探针背散射图像和 P、Th、L a、Ce、Nd、Y等元素面分布图像研究表明 ,沉积岩中的自生稀土矿物与岩浆岩、变质岩和碎屑成因的截然不同。本文首次报道了元古宙长城系常州沟组沉积岩中碎屑锆石边部成岩过程中形成的自生磷钇矿。中国北方元古宙泥砂质碎屑沉积岩普遍具有高稀土组合 ,许多地区都可能存在独居石等自生稀土矿物 ,如天津蓟县、辽西、辽南和宣化等地 ,为利用离子探针 (SHRIMP)确定其同位素地质年代提供了可能。此外 ,本文对比了大连震旦系自生独居石和内蒙白云鄂博矿区东矿的独居石晶形和化学成分的相似性 ,再一次提出中国北方元古宙富稀土地层可能是内蒙古白云鄂博巨型稀土元素矿床的矿源层问题。     

Heavy mineral-based provenance analysis of Mesozoic continental-marine sediments at the western edge of the Bohemian Massif,SE Germany: with special reference to Fe–Ti minerals and the crystal morphology of heavy minerals

During the Mesozoic, the epicontinental Germanic Basin and the Regensburg Strait the latter being an embayment of the Tethys Ocean that had subsided into the Moldanubian Zone of the Central European Variscides were filled with terrigenous continental-marine sediments. Both sediments’ heavy mineral (HM) grains and aggregates have been studied in a drill section in the Wackersdorf area, SE Germany. The majority of them belong to the (semi)opaque group of Fe–Ti minerals. In Wackersdorf, the entire stratigraphy of the basin fill, which occurred between the Triassic and the Late Cretaceous, is well exposed. In addition to the chemical composition of HM, the morphology and texture of zircon, apatite and Fe–Ti compounds have been studied in a provenance-related mineral classification. Provenance analysis has yielded five discrete source rock lithologies: (1) Moldanubian H-T-metamorphics, (2) late Paleozoic (sub)volcanic rocks, (3) gneisses of the Tepla-Barrandian unit, (4) ophiolites of the Tepla-Barrandian unit, (5) silicified shear zones and quartz cores of pegmatites. The detrital minerals include zircon, tourmaline (dravite-schoerl), apatite, monazite (Ce–Th–La–Nd), xenotime, biotite, rutile, ilmenite, “nigrine” (ilmenite-rutile intergrowth), sphene, amphibole, staurolite, garnet and spinel (Cr–Mg–Al). Based on the allogenic Ti and Fe minerals, a magnetite-type source area (Eh > 0, near-surface felsic to intermediate (sub)volcanic rocks) was distinguished from an ilmenite-type source area (Eh < 0), deeply eroded crystalline basement rocks (gneiss, granite, shear zones). The latter may be subdivided into “nigrine –I” (deep) and “nigrine-II” (intermediate) subtypes, according to the level of erosion in the source area. At the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition, extrabasinal erosion provoked a noticeable variation of allogenic heavy minerals with the incisions of rivers into source rock lithologies (4) and (5). Uplift and erosion along the western edge of the Bohemian Massif took place contemporaneously with spreading and closure in the central parts of the adjacent Tethys Ocean.     

沉积盆地物质来源综合研究——以南堡老第三纪亚断陷盆地为例

重矿物分析对于判断沉积盆地的物源方向和物源区的母岩性质是有效的,但具有局限性:①对无重矿物或者仅能提供极少量重矿物的母岩判别力较差;②它不能准确判断物源区沉积物的主要运移通道。因此,进行盆地物源分析还需要重视综合研究,即①通过重矿物的矿物学、重矿物组合研究,判断物源区的母岩类型,推测母岩岩性演化;②通过沉积岩矿物成分与结构研究,判别物源区是否存在重矿物无法辨认的母岩类型和沉积物的搬运距离;③通过沉积体系分析,尤其是砂分散体系的编图,能有效地判断物源区的方位和圈定各物源的具体影响范围;④利用古构造图判别物源区的主要沉积物运移通道及其方位;⑤编制沉积盆地一物源区古环境图,以此来弥补重矿物分析物源所带来的缺陷。     

Sources of monazite sand in southern Orissa beach placer,eastern India

This paper intends to explore whether there is an important source for monazite beach placer of the Gopalpur-Chhatrapur-Rushikulya coast, Orissa, in the adjacent Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt (EGMB). Petrographic and mineralogical studies were conducted on all the rock types constituting the EGMB exposed over a stretch extended up to ∼20 km landward from the estuary of the River Rushikulya that is believed to transport the major bulk of sand to the Gopalpur-Chhatrapur-Rushikulya beach. Heavy mineral population was concentrated using bromoform and percentages of each heavy mineral constituting the population were estimated for all the potential source rock types. Isodynamic separation and XRD techniques were deployed for precision identification of every heavy mineral present. The study identified the granitoid (or migmatite) basement rock as by far the major contributor of monazite to the Chhatrapur beach sand. The study also reveals that charnockite is an important contributor of orthopyroxene as well as garnet, although the sillimanite-garnet-quartz schist (khondalites) is also an important source for the latter. On the other hand, garnet-quartz schist and garnet-biotite-quartz schist may also contribute substantial quantity of pyroxene and garnet. The high grade metasedimentary rocks, in general, could be the major sources for rutile, while ilmenite, magnetite and zircon in the beach sand have their sources perhaps in all the varieties of rocks constituting the EGMB.     

The “Donauplatin”: source rock analysis and origin of a distal fluvial Au-PGE placer in Central Europe

The mineral assemblage and the sedimentological characteristics of the “Donauplatin” (Danubian fluvial placer containing platinum-group elements (PGE) and gold (Au)) are described for the first time in connection with upstream reference placer deposits near the potential source area in tributaries of the River Danube/Donau. Granulometric and morphometric data have been obtained using the CCD-based CAMSIZER technique. The platinum-group minerals (PGM; iridium, osmium, unknown iridium-osmium-sulfide, ruthenium-osmium-iridium alloys, platinum-iron alloys, iridium-bearing platinum, sperrylite) have been derived from ultramafic magmatic rocks, probably belonging to the ophiolitic series in the Tepla Barrandian unit of the Bohemian Massif. The Au-Pd-Cu compounds in the placer originated from dynamo-metamorphogenic processes in a sulfur-deficient environment at the SW edge of the Bavarian Basement. Gold in the “Donauplatin” has been reworked from a “secondary” or intermediate repository of lateritic gold (Boddington-type). Its primary source is supposed to be of orogenic origin. Provenance analyses of the associated non-heavy minerals point to high-pressure metamorphic rocks, igneous rocks (monazite) and high-temperature metamorphic rocks (750° to 850°C, zircon morphology). Garnet compositions indicate that meta(ultra)basic igneous rocks, calc-silicate rocks and skarns prevailed over paragneisses in the provenance area. Extraterrestrial processes creating the well-known Ries impact crater in the environs of Nördlingen during the Miocene have a minor share in the PGE budget by delivering molybdenum-ruthenium-osmium-iridium alloys and iridium solid-solution series (s.s.s.) minerals. Judging by the heavy mineral suites, Saxothuringian source rocks of the NE Bavarian Basement connected with the Donau River via the Naab River drainage system have not contributed to the element budget of the “Donauplatin” under study. Stream sediments which have been derived from this provenance area are characterized by low-temperature (LT) crystalline rocks and a considerable proportion of pegmatitic and metabauxitic material lacking in the Holocene sediments of the “Donauplatin”.     

Mineral chemical study of U-bearing minerals from the Dominion Reefs,South Africa

The Neo-Archean Dominion Reefs (~3.06 Ga) are thin meta-conglomerate layers with concentrations of U- and Th-bearing heavy minerals higher than in the overlying Witwatersrand Reefs. Ore samples from Uranium One Africa’s Rietkuil and Dominion exploration areas near Klerksdorp, South Africa, were investigated for their mineral paragenesis, texture and mineral chemical composition. The ore and heavy mineral assemblages consist of uraninite, other uraniferous minerals, Fe sulphides, Ni–Co sulfarsenides, garnet, pyrite, pyrrhotite, monazite, zircon, chromite, magnetite and minor gold. Sub-rounded uraninite grains occur associated with the primary detrital heavy mineral paragenesis. U–Ti, U–Th minerals, pitchblende (colloform uraninite) and coffinite are of secondary, re-mobilised origin as evidenced by crystal shape and texture. Most of the uranium mineralisation is represented by detrital uraninite with up to 70.2 wt.% UO₂ and up to 9.3 wt.% ThO₂. Re-crystallised phases such as secondary pitchblende (without Th), coffinite, U–Ti and U–Th phases are related to hydrothermal overprint during low-grade metamorphism and are of minor abundance.     

福建闽江和九龙江现代沉积物重矿物特征及其物源意义*

通过对闽江和九龙江沿岸沉积物中重矿物的分析,发现重矿物组合与源区岩石具有极好的相关性。两条河流流域重矿物组合为不透明铁矿类—绿帘石—锆石—电气石—角闪石,特征矿物为绿帘石,含量高达原生透明重矿物比重的70%,其成因除与高级变质岩有关外,还与中酸性岩浆岩及其与围岩接触蚀变发生的绿帘石化有关。从重矿物组合、重矿物特征指数以及与锆石年龄谱系的比对分析发现,闽江流域重矿物源自闽西北武夷山前寒武纪的变质岩、闽东广泛出露的燕山期岩浆岩和接触变质岩,而九龙江流域重矿物源自闽西南的印支—燕山期花岗岩。闽江上游沉积物重矿物以源自高级变质岩的重矿物为特征,中下游由上游来源的重矿物和下游酸性岩浆岩及接触变质岩形成的重矿物共同构成;九龙江以印支—燕山期花岗岩中的副矿物组合为特征。研究结果显示,对于中小流域面积的河流,由于搬运距离有限,重矿物组合保存的源岩信息量大,可作为研究流域内构造演化和源汇对比的重要手段。     

黄骅坳陷新近系馆陶组重矿物特征及物源区意义

黄骅坳陷馆陶组发育一套以辫状河沉积为主的沉积体系,储集物性较好,是研究区内的重要储油层。整个黄骅坳陷新近系物源研究还处于空白状态。本文重点利用统计学中的Q型聚类及R型聚类的方法对重矿物含量特征进行分析,划分出不同的重矿物组合区及相应的母岩类型。研究结果表明:根据重矿物含量特征可划分出A—D 4个不同的重矿物组合区,其中A、B、C区的母岩类型与周围燕山、沧县、埕宁3个古隆起的岩石类型能很好对应,重矿物稳定系数所揭示的物源方向也与3个古隆起位置相吻合;D区与前3个分异性很大,且重矿物稳定系数极高,应为远源搬运的沉积物,远于周围的古隆起,可能与古黄河沉积物有关。     

Ilmenite, Magnetite and Chromite Beach Placers from South Maharashtra, Central West Coast of India

The heavy mineral placer deposits of the coastal sediments in south Maharashtra stretch for 12.5 km from Pirwadi in the north to Talashil in the south. The area is a sand bar represented by a narrow submergent coastal plain lying between the Achara and Gad Rivers. The sediments in the area are mainly sands which are moderately well sorted to well sorted. The heavy mineral concentration in the surficial sediments ranges between 0.69 and 98.32 wt % (28.73 wt % in average). The heavy mineral concentration shows an increasing trend from north to south. The heavy mineral suite consists predominantly of opaque minerals (ilmenite, magnetite and chromite), garnet, pyroxene, amphibole, zircon, tourmaline, rutile, staurolite, etc. Ilmenite grains are fresh whereas magnetite grains show the effect of weathering and alteration. The chromite grains are rounded to sub-rounded with alteration at the margin of the grains. The surficial textures of the opaque minerals show mechanical breaking that indicates limited distance of transportation. Ilmenite has TiO₂ in the range between 40.04 and 46.6 wt %. Based on ore microscopy studies, the magnetite grains appear to be of two types: pure magnetite and titano-magnetite. Compositionally, the total magnetite fractions have Fe₂O₃ between 32 and 46 wt %, FeO between 19.0 and 25 wt % and TiO₂ between 14.3 and 23.9 wt %. The chromite grains are an admixture of two varieties, ferro-chromite and magnesio-chromite. The chromite grains have 32.06–47.5 wt % of Cr₂O₃ with total iron between 23.86 wt % (4.73% Fe₂O₃ and 19.13% FeO) and 27.89 wt % (4.36% Fe₂O₃ and 23.53% FeO) and MgO between 12 and 40 wt %. The observed variations in the distribution of heavy minerals in the area are due to differences in the sediment supply, their specific gravity and oceanographic processes all of which result in a selective sorting of the sediments. The observed mineral assemblages of transparent heavy minerals (pyroxene, amphibole, tourmaline, kyanite, garnet, zircon and olivine) are suggestive of their derivation from a heterogeneous provenance comprising of igneous rocks, high grade metamorphic rocks and reworked Kaladgi sediments. The chromite grains appear to have been derived from ultrabasic rocks present in the upper reaches of the Gad River. The inferred reserves of ilmenite, magnetite and chromite are 0.175, 0.395 and 0.032 million tons, respectively.     

Sources of stream sediments in the granulite terrain of the Walawe Ganga Basin,Sri Lanka,indicated by rare earth element geochemistry

Thirty-eight samples of stream sediments draining high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Walawe Ganga (river) Basin, Sri Lanka, were analysed for their REE contents, together with samples of metamorphic suites from the source region. The metamorphic rocks are enriched in light REE (LREE) compared to heavy REE (HREE) and are characterised by high La/Lu ratios and negative Eu anomalies. The chondrite-normalised patterns for these granulite-grade rocks are similar to that of the average post-Archaean upper crust, but they are slightly enriched with La and Ce. The REE contents of the <63-μm fraction of the stream sediments are similar to the probable source rocks, but the other grain size fractions show more enriched patterns. The <63-μm stream sediments fraction contains lower total REE, more pronouncd negative Eu anomalies, higher Eu_N/Sm_N and lower La _N/Lu_N ratios relative to other fractions. The lower La _N/Lu_N ratio is related to the depletion of heavy minerals in the <63-μm fraction. The 63–125-μm and 125–177-μm grain size fractions of sediments are particularly enriched in LREE (average ΣLREE=2990 μg/g and 3410 μg/g, respectively). The total HREE contents are surprisingly uniform in all size fractions. However, the REE contents in the Walawe Ganga sediments are not comparable with those of the granulite-grade rocks from the source region of the sediments. The enrichment of REE is accounted for by the presence of REE containing accessory mineral phases such as zircon, monazite, apatite and garnet. These minerals are derived from an unknown source, presumably from scattered bodies of granitic pegmatites.     

In situ SHRIMP U-Pb dating of monazite integrated with petrology and textures: Does bulk composition control whether monazite forms in low-Ca pelitic rocks during amphibolite facies metamorphism?

Bulk composition and specific reaction history among common silicate minerals have been proposed as controls on monazite growth in metapelitic rocks during amphibolite facies metamorphism. It has also been implied that monazite that formed during greenschist facies metamorphism may be preserved unchanged under upper amphibolite facies conditions. If correct, this would make the interpretation of monazite ages in polymetamorphic rocks exceedingly difficult, because isotopic dates could vary significantly in rocks that have experienced identical metamorphic conditions but differ only slightly in whole-rock composition. Low-Ca pelitic schists from the Mount Barren Group in southwestern Australia display a range of whole-rock compositions in AFM space and different peak mineral assemblages resulting from amphibolite facies metamorphism (∼8 kb, 650 °C). In this study, we test whether bulk composition controls the formation of monazite through geochronology and textural evidence linking monazite growth with deformation and peak metamorphism. X-ray element mapping of monazite from the metapelitic rocks reveals concentric zoning in many grains with compositionally distinct cores and rims. In situ SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology of monazite yields two ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age populations. The cores, and texturally early monazite, give an age of 1209 ± 10 Ma, interpreted to record prograde metamorphism, whereas the rims and “late” monazite define a single population of 1186 ± 6 Ma, which is considered the likely age of peak thermal metamorphism. The growth of monazite was widespread in low-Ca pelitic schists representing a broad range of compositions in AFM space, indicating that variations in bulk composition in AFM space did not control the formation of monazite during amphibolite facies metamorphism in the Mount Barren Group.     

西藏吉瓦地区渐新统日贡拉组物源分析及找矿意义

通过详实的野外调查和室内研究,在西藏吉瓦地区新发现了砂岩型铜矿床,赋矿层位为渐新统日贡拉组,矿床类型为层控矿床。为探讨日贡拉组砂岩的物源特征及其构造背景、查明其含矿物质来源,通过碎屑矿物定量分析、元素地球化学方法及重矿物组合分析等一系列物源分析方法对日贡拉组的物质来源进行了研究。结果显示,研究区主要岩性为岩屑砂岩,岩屑主要成分为酸性火山岩,砂岩结构成熟度低,分选磨圆差。碎屑组分分析表明物源集中在火山弧物源区,地球化学特征为硅质含量高、LREE富集、HREE相对亏损、显示Eu负异常,均表明物源与酸性火山岩密切相关;日贡拉组砂岩的大地构造背景主要为大陆岛弧,砂岩碎屑来自上地壳长英质源区。重矿物组合以反映物源为中酸性岩浆岩成分的赤褐铁矿+磁铁矿、锆石、电气石、石榴子石为主,沉积环境为气候干旱、水体较浅的富氧环境。锆石形态特征指示物源距母岩区较近,重矿物的相关性分析也指示了物源与火山岩密切相关。研究区的日贡拉组砂岩与早白垩酸性火山岩微量元素及重矿物的对比表明,碎屑物质源区特点从岩石学特征、地球化学特征及重矿物组合特征上均表现出了亲缘关系,物源成分与火山作用紧密相关,很可能主要来自班公湖-怒江洋壳南向俯冲与雅鲁藏布江洋壳北向俯冲双重制约条件下产生于火山弧环境中的早白垩世火山岩。日贡拉组发现了砂岩型铜矿,火山岩提供了成矿物质来源,为寻找同类型的矿床开启思路。