Miocene to recent history of the western Altiplano in northern Chile revealed by lacustrine sediments of the Lauca basin (18°15′–18°40′ S/69°30′–69°05′W)

The intramontane Lauca Basin at the western margin of the northern Chilean Altiplano lies to the west of and is topographically isolated from the well-known Plio-Pleistocene lake system of fluvio-lacustrine origin that covers the Bolivian Altiplano from Lake Titicaca to the north for more than 800 km to the Salar de Uyuni in the south. The Lauca Basin is filled by a sequence of some 120 m of mainly upper Miocene to Pliocene elastic and volcaniclastic sediments of lacustrine and alluvial origin. Volcanic rocks, partly pyroelastic, provide useful marker horizons. In the first period (6–4 Ma) of its evolution, the Lago Lauca was a shallow ephemeral lake. Evaporites indicate temporarily closed conditions. After 4 Ma the lake changed to a perennial water body surrounded by alluvial plains. In the late Pleistocene and Holocene (2-0 Ma) there was only marginal deposition of alluvial and glacial sediments. The basin formed as a half-graben or by pull-apart between 10 and 15 Ma (tectonic displacement of the basal ignimbrite sequence during the Quechua Phase) and 6.2 Ma (maximum K/Ar ages of biotites of tuff horizons in the deepest part of the basin). Apart from this early basin formation, there has been surprisingly little displacement during the past 6 Ma close to the Western Cordillera of the Altiplano. Also, climate indicators (pollen, evaporites, sedimentary facies) suggest that an arid climate has existed for the past 6 Ma on the Altiplano. Together, these pieces of evidence indicate the absence of large scale block-faulting, tilt and major uplift during the past 5–6 Ma in this area.     

Peculiarities of present-day sulfide mineralization at 19°15′—20°08′ N,Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Based on studies conducted on the 33rd cruise of the R/V Professor Logachev in 2010, a new type of sulfide mineralization of the mid-oceanic ridges has been established. It was formed in the present-day organic sediments due to diffuse penetration of hydrothermal fluids that emanated along the fractures in basalts on the slopes of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.     

Geochemical and isotopic signatures of magmatic products in the MAR rift valley at 12°49′–17°23′ N and 29°59′–33°41′ N: Evidence of Two contrasting sources of the parental melts

Data presented in the paper suggest significant differences between the thermodynamic conditions under which magmatic complexes were formed in MAR at 29°–34° N and 12°–18° N. The melts occurring at 29°–34° N were derived by the melting of a mantle source with a homogeneous distribution of volatile components and arrived at the surface without significant fractionation, likely, due to their rapid ascent. The MAR segments between 12° and 18° N combine contrasting geodynamic environments of magmatism, which predetermined the development of a large plume region with the widespread mixing of the melting products of geochemically distinct mantle sources. At the same time, this region is characterized by conditions favorable for the origin of localized zones of anomalous plume magmatism. These sporadic magmatic sources were spatially restricted to MAR fragments with the Hess crust, whose compositional and mechanical properties were, perhaps, favorable for the focusing and localization of plume magmatism. The plume source between 12° and 18°N beneath MAR may be geochemically heterogeneous.     

Sediment thickness map of the Indian region 79°E–86°E, 2°S–8°S based on satellite gravity interpretation

Satellite free air gravity anomalies over the Indian ocean region 79°E–86°E, 2°S–8°S were obtained from the website http://topex.ucsd.edu and a contour map was compiled. Five profiles of the anomaly have been interpreted in terms of two-dimensional structures in the ocean. Thickness of sediments lying on the oceanic crust determined from the interpretation of gravity profiles were used to compile an isopach map of the region 79°E–86°E, 2°S–8°S. This map in combination with one of the isopach maps compiled by previous workers, provides information regarding the thickness of sediments up to 6° S. According to this map sediment thickness varies from ～600 m over the middle part of the region to ～800 m further south, indicating that thinning of sediments in the middle part of the region is only localized. Information provided by this gravity study may be useful in planning detailed seismological studies to delimit the outer edge of the continental margin of Sri Lanka, defined according to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).     

Petrogenesis of anomalous K-enriched MORB from the Southwest Indian Ridge: 11°53′E to 14°38′E

Glassy pillow basalts with unusual geochemical characteristics for mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) have been dredge sampled from the Southwest Indian Ridge between 12 and 15°E during Leg ANT IV/4 of the F.S. POLARSTERN. Lavas from 4 of 6 dredges are moderately nepheline normative, highly K-enriched (0.5–1.77 wt% K₂O) alkali basalts and hawaiites. Mg-numbers indicate that many of the lavas are fairly primitive (Mg No.=63–67), yet show extreme enrichment in incompatible elements; e.g. Nb (24–60 ppm), Ba (170–470 ppm) and Sr (258–460 ppm). Incompatible-element ratios such as Zr/Nb (3–5) and Y/Nb (0.46–1.1) are extremely low even for E-type (enriched) MORB, whereas (La/Yb)_n ratios are particularly high (3.4–7.8). ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70290–0.70368), ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51302–0.51284) and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.708–19.564) isotopic ratios further indicate the geochemically enriched nature of these lavas, which range from the compositional field for depleted N-type (normal) MORB towards the composition of Bouvet Island lavas. Mutually correlated incompatible-element and Sr-, Nd- and Pb-isotopic ratios allow a fairly well constrained model to be developed for the petrogenesis of these unusually alkalic mid-ocean ridge lavas. The alkalic nature and degree of enrichment in incompatible elements is ascribed to particularly low degrees of partial melting (3–5 wt%), at greater than usual depth, of a source region that has experienced prior geochemical enrichment (by veining) related to the upwelling Bouvet mantle plume. To account for the observed compositional variations, a model is proposed whereby mixing between partial melts derived from these geochemically enriched silicate veins, and an incipient to low percentage (±2%) melt from the surrounding geochemically depleted suboceanic asthenosphere occurs as a consequence of increasing degree of melting with adiabatic upwelling. Eruption of these alkalic lavas in this spreading ridge environment is attributed to a temporary hiatus in tholeiitic volcanism and associated spreading along this section of the Southwest Indian Ridge, related to readjustment of spreading direction to a more stable plate geometry.     

Conditions of the formation of plagiogranite from the Markov trough,Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 5°52′-6°02′N

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Peridotite-gabbro-trondhjemite association of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 12°58′ and 14°45′N: Ashadze and Logachev hydrothermal vent fields

This study aimed at reconstructing the sequence of events in the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of peridotites, gabbroids, and trondhjemites of the oceanic core complexes of the Ashadze and Logachev hydrothermal vent fields. The study object was the collections of plutonic rocks made during cruises 22 and 26 of the R/V Professor Logachev, Cruise 41 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, and the Russian-French expedition Serpentine aboard the R/V Pourquoi pas? The data reported here suggest that the oceanic core complexes of the Ashadze and Logachev fields were formed via the same scenario in the two MAR regions. On the other hand, the analysis of petrological and geochemical characteristics of the rocks indicated that the oceanic core complexes of the MAR axial zone between 12°58′ and 14°45′N show a pronounced petrological and geochemical heterogeneity manifested in variations in the degree of depletion of mantle residues and the Nd isotopic compositions of the rocks of the gabbro-peridotite association. The trondhjemites of the Ashadze hydrothermal field can be considered as partial melting products of gabbroids under the influence of hydrothermal fluid. It was supposed that the presence of trondhjemites in the MAR oceanic core complexes can be used as a marker for the highest temperature deep-rooted hydrothermal systems. Perhaps, the region of the MAR axial zone in which petrologically and geochemically contrasting oceanic core complexes are spatially superimposed served as sites for the development of large hydrothermal clusters with a considerable ore-forming potential.     

Structure and kinematics of a foothills transect,Lago Viedma,southern Andes (49°30′S)

The western edge of Patagonia, south of 47°S, experienced a major tectonic reorganization during the Tertiary. The Chile ridge, separating Nazca from Antarctica, collided obliquely with western Tierra del Fuego at about 14 Ma and the triple point migrated northwards to its present position at about 47°S. Consequently, the southern tip of South America has passed from a Miocene context of rapid oblique convergence (ENE–WSW at about 9 cm/yr) between Nazca and South America, to a Pliocene context of slow frontal convergence (EW at about 2 cm/yr) between Antarctica and South America. The Andean foreland fold-and-thrust belt lies on the eastern side of the Patagonian Cordillera and is well exposed along the northern shore of Lago Viedma (49°30′S). Structural observations, digital mapping, subsurface data, balancing of a cross-section and kinematic analysis of fault populations provide new information on the structure of the fold-and-thrust belt, the timing and style of deformation and their relationship with Tertiary plate tectonics. Along the studied transect, synsedimentary structures show that compressional deformation began at least during the Late Cretaceous, was ongoing during the syntectonic emplacement of the Lower Miocene granitic Monte Fitz Roy pluton and continued into the Pliocene. Folds and thrusts are thick-skinned in the west, and mostly thin-skinned above a décollement in Early Cretaceous black shales in the east. Analysis of fault populations, measured within Jurassic basement and its Cretaceous cover, provides subhorizontal principal directions of shortening, striking between E–W and ENE–WSW. Compressional deformation was associated with a major component of right-lateral wrenching parallel to the Cordillera.     

New hydrothermal sulfide fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Yubileinoe (20°09′ N) and Surprise (20°45.4′ N)

Two new sulfide fields (Yubileinoe, 20°09′ N, and Surprise, 20°45.4′ N) were discovered between 20°01′ and 20°54′ N within the Russian Application Area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The Yubileinoe field is located at a depth of 2300–2550 m in the near-top area of the first rift ridge, which is a boundary of the western wall of the rift valley. This new field and the Zenith-Victory field, which was previously discovered in the eastern wall, occur symmetrically relative to the rift valley of this MAR segment. The Surprise field at a depth of 2800–2850 m is situated in the eastern wall of the rift valley, on the slope of the volcanic uplift. After the discovery of these inactive sulfide fields, the number of hydrothermal fields within the Russian Application Area reached ten.     

Mineralogical and geochemical zoning of sediments at the Semenov cluster of hydrothermal fields, 13°31′-13°30′ N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

New material from eight columns recovered during Cruise 32 of the R/V Professor Logachev in 2009 was used to explore the lithological facies, biostratigraphy, mineralogy, and geochemistry of sediments from the northwestern (active) and eastern (inactive) hydrothermal vent fields of the Semenov cluster. Mineral types of sediments were distinguished, and a general scheme was proposed for the vertical structure of the hydrothermal-sedimentary sequence overlying massive sulfide ores. It was found that the ore-bearing sediments exhibit a vertical zoning in the distribution of mineral assemblages, which are controlled by oxygen activity. The mechanisms of the formation of atacamite, CuCl₂ · 3Cu(OH)₂, which is a widespread mineral in red iron-oxide bodies replacing sulfides (gossans), were evaluated.     

Differential Late Paleozoic active margin evolution in South-Central Chile (37°S–40°S) – the Lanalhue Fault Zone

The N–S oriented Coastal Cordillera of South Central Chile shows marked lithological contrasts along strike at ∼38°S. Here, the sinistral NW–SE-striking Lanalhue Fault Zone (nomen novum) juxtaposes Permo-Carboniferous magmatic arc granitoids and associated, frontally accreted metasediments (Eastern Series) in the northeast with a Late Carboniferous to Triassic basal-accretionary forearc wedge complex (Western Series) in the southwest. The fault is interpreted as an initially ductile deformation zone with divergent character, located in the eastern flank of the basally growing, upwarping, and exhuming Western Series. It was later transformed and reactivated as a semiductile to brittle sinistral transform fault. Rb–Sr data and fluid inclusion studies of late-stage fault-related mineralizations revealed Early Permian ages between 280 and 270 Ma for fault activity, with subsequent minor erosion. Regionally, crystallization of arc intrusives and related metamorphism occurred between ∼306 and ∼286 Ma, preceded by early increments of convergence-related deformation. Basal Western Series accretion started at >290 Ma and lasted to ∼250 Ma. North of the Lanalhue fault, Late Paleozoic magmatic arc granitoids are nearly 100 km closer to the present day Andean trench than further south. We hypothesize that this marked difference in paleo-forearc width is due to an Early Permian period of subduction erosion north of 38°S, contrasting with ongoing accretion further south, which kinematically triggered the evolution of the Lanalhue Fault Zone. Permo-Triassic margin segmentation was due to differential forearc accretion and denudation characteristics, and is now expressed in contrasting lithologies and metamorphic signatures in todays Andean forearc region north and south of the Lanalhue Fault Zone.     

Morphology and geology of the continental shelf and upper slope of southern Central Chile (33°S–43°S)

The continental shelf and slope of southern Central Chile have been subject to a number of international as well as Chilean research campaigns over the last 30 years. This work summarizes the geologic setting of the southern Central Chilean Continental shelf (33°S–43°S) using recently published geophysical, seismological, sedimentological and bio-geochemical data. Additionally, unpublished data such as reflection seismic profiles, swath bathymetry and observations on biota that allow further insights into the evolution of this continental platform are integrated. The outcome is an overview of the current knowledge about the geology of the southern Central Chilean shelf and upper slope. We observe both patches of reduced as well as high recent sedimentation on the shelf and upper slope, due to local redistribution of fluvial input, mainly governed by bottom currents and submarine canyons and highly productive upwelling zones. Shelf basins show highly variable thickness of Oligocene-Quaternary sedimentary units that are dissected by the marine continuations of upper plate faults known from land. Seismic velocity studies indicate that a paleo-accretionary complex that is sandwiched between the present, relatively small active accretionary prism and the continental crust forms the bulk of the continental margin of southern Central Chile.     

Mineral Composition and Geochemical Zoning of Bottom Sediments in the Pobeda Hydrothermal Cluster (17°07.45′ N–17°08.7′ N Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The paper presents the mineral and chemical compositions of carbonate, metalliferous, and ore-bearing sediments developed within the Pobeda ore cluster based on...     

Geochemical nature and age of the plagiogranite-gabbronorite association of the oceanic core complex of the Mid-Atlantic ridge at 5°10′S

Our newly obtained data on the geochemistry and age of plagiogranite-gabbronorite association in the oceanic core complex of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at 5°10′S suggest close genetic relations between these rocks in this segment of the ridge. The U/Pb zircon age of an oceanic plagiogranite (OPG) sample is 1.059 ± 0.055 Ma and is in good agreement with the zircon age of plutonic rocks in the oceanic core complex of northern MAR. A distinctive geochemical feature of the rocks is their unusually depleted ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios, which suggest that the plutonic rocks of the gabbronorite-plagiogranite association in MAR at 5°10′S could be derived from the most strongly depleted mantle reservoir of all known to occur beneath the axial MAR zone. The COMAGMAT-5.2 numerical thermodynamic simulation of the possible crystallization links between the plagiogranite and gabbronorite from the MAR segment at 5°10′S led us to conclude that the leading role in the origin of the plagiogranite was played by a two-stage process: the partial melting of the gabbronorite and the subsequent fractionation of the newly generated melt. The regional differences between the isotopic-geochemical parameters of MAR plagiogranites can, perhaps, reflect local specifics of so-called hydrothermal anatexis, such as the geochemical features of the rocks involved in this process and the parameters of the hydrothermal process, for example, variations in the W/R ratio.