内蒙古狼山西北缘乌兰敖包地区“阿木山组”沉积时限、物源特征及其地质意义

沉积盆地的研究对于理解造山带的构造演化具有重要意义.内蒙古狼山地区位于中亚造山带中段,构造演化历史复杂,晚古生代沉积盆地的大地构造背景存在争议.在对狼山西北缘乌兰敖包地区出露的"阿木山组"岩性特征、沉积构造及沉积环境的系统研究基础上,将该组分为3个岩性段.一段主要为粗碎屑岩,交错层理发育,沉积环境为辫状河三角洲;二段底部主要为粗碎屑岩,向上沉积物粒度变细,顶部出现生物碎屑灰岩,在岩屑石英砂岩中新发现芦木Calamites sp.,座延羊齿Alethopteris sp.,带科达Cordaites principalis Gein等植物化石,沉积环境由辫状河三角洲向滨海环境过渡;三段主要岩性为结晶灰岩,含生物碎屑,沉积环境为滨-浅海环境."阿木山组"一、二段砂岩碎屑锆石年龄可分为~2.5 Ga、~1.8~1.2 Ga、~826 Ma、461~440 Ma和313~273 Ma五个时间段,其中最小年龄为273 Ma,结合植物化石鉴定结果以及上覆火山岩地层年代,确定"阿木山组"沉积时代为265~273 Ma.研究区内同时代的岩浆岩指示该区在早中二叠世处于古亚洲洋向华北板块俯冲的岩浆弧环境,结合"阿木山组"的沉积特征、沉积时代及所处构造位置,对其地层划分与对比方案提出建议.      

昆仑造山带晚泥盆世沉积特征及构造古地理环境

昆仑造山带基本构造-地层格架奠基于古生代,晚泥盆世是加里东造山旋回和华力西造山旋回转换的关键阶段,加里东碰撞造山和其后的伸展裂陷等记录均存在于晚泥盆世沉积地层中。西昆仑晚泥盆世奇自拉夫组为一套紫红色碎屑岩沉积,属典型的碰撞造山型磨拉石建造,为加里东碰撞造山的产物;东昆仑晚泥盆世黑山沟组和哈尔扎组岩性组合特征与牦牛山组极为相似,均为一套陆相、滨浅海相的碎屑岩、碳酸盐岩和中酸性火山岩组合,为典型的裂陷伸展型磨拉石建造,是晚古生代裂陷伸展盆地演化开始的标志。     

南海南部陆缘盆地裂陷-漂移-前陆期构造演化及沉积响应: 以礼乐盆地为例

通过礼乐盆地构造-地层-沉积分析,查明了其构造演化及沉积充填特征,揭示了其与南海扩张事件的成因联系,为南海边缘海演化研究提供了参考.研究结果表明:礼乐盆地新生代构造-沉积演化经历了3个差异显著的阶段,即古新世-早渐新世陆缘裂陷-滨浅海碎屑岩沉积阶段、晚渐新世-早中新世裂离漂移-浅海碳酸盐岩沉积阶段、中中新世以来周缘前陆...     

内蒙古西部额济纳旗及邻区石炭系-二叠系沉积建造与生烃条件——石炭系-二叠系油气地质条件研究之一

通过对额济纳旗及其邻区石炭纪-二叠纪盆地基底结构构造和石炭系-二叠系岩石地层特征、沉积演化、沉积相平面展布特征的研究,认为该区石炭纪-二叠纪为统一的裂谷盆地.盆地早石炭世-早二叠世早期为由北向南的上超沉积,早二叠世中期-晚二叠世为由南向北的下超沉积,晚石炭世-早二叠世阿木山期为盆地演化的鼎盛时期,以浅海陆棚相沉积为主;在烃源岩分布、有机质丰度、干酪根类型和烃源岩演化特征研究的基础上,指出广泛发育的浅海陆棚相泥页岩具有良好的生烃条件,发育多套厚度较大、有机碳(TOC)含量中等-较高、以Ⅱ类干酪根为主的烃源岩.烃源岩演化主要受埋藏史的影响,以成熟-高成熟为主.局部地区受华力西末期-燕山期侵入岩热接触的影响,或构造改造强烈的区带受构造动力变质作用的影响,烃源岩演化达到过成熟.     

羌塘盆地晚三叠世含煤岩系沉积体系与层序地层学特征

利用地层剖面岩相组合、沉积构造序列,结合粒度分布特征等分析了研究区晚三叠世沉积体系与沉积环境演化,建立了含煤岩系层序地层格架,讨论了含煤岩系层序地层学特征和煤层在层序格架下的位置、聚煤特征及空间分布规律。研究表明,晚三叠世含煤岩系沉积体系有浅海碎屑陆棚沉积体系、滨岸沉积体系及三角洲沉积体系,其中三角洲沉积体系的三角洲平原是区内最主要的成煤地带,煤层均位于SQ1层序的高位体系域内,分布于盆地中央隆起带内,向南、北两侧,由于水体加深而脱离沼泽沉积环境,不利于煤层的形成。中央隆起带是羌塘盆地今后重要的找煤方向。     

中亚造山带东段晚古生代伸展构造环境的证据:内蒙古双井地区哲斯组沉积学及年代学研究

本研究从沉积学与年代学角度切入,聚焦于中亚造山带东段晚古生代末期的演化历史。以内蒙古双井地区中二叠统哲斯组陆源粗碎屑沉积岩为研究对象,利用沉积剖面实测、岩相古地理分析及锆石年代学测试等方法,厘定其沉积时限与沉积构造环境,以探讨晚古生代末期中亚造山带东段的构造演化历史。来自哲斯组的2个砂岩样品的最年轻谐和锆石组的谐和年龄分别258. 1±1. 9Ma与261. 6±1. 7Ma,在误差范围内相等,限定了研究区内哲斯组地层的最大沉积年龄约为260Ma,处于中二叠世末的Capitanian期;其主要物质来源包括华北板块太古代至早元古代的结晶基底、华北板块北缘早古生代陆缘弧及中-晚泥盆世西别河组。碎屑锆石年代学与沉积学研究表明,研究区内哲斯组所处沉积盆地类型为伸展构造环境下的裂谷盆地,早期具有短时间内快速充填巨厚层粗碎屑沉积的补偿盆地特征,并伴有活跃的同沉积火山与构造活动,发育近岸水下扇相沉积;晚期逐渐转变为过补偿盆地,发育陆相干旱型冲积扇相沉积;表现出沉积环境由海相变为陆相、碎屑物供应充足且近源低成熟度碎屑增多的盆地充填过程。根据沉积相组合及展布、沉积年龄与碎屑锆石主要结晶年龄间隔等特征,结合研究区存在双峰式火山岩及碱性岩带等证据,哲斯组应代表晚古生代末期的裂谷盆地沉积。上述研究提供了中亚造山带东段二叠纪发生陆内伸展过程的证据。     

兴蒙造山带晚古生代伸展过程:来自二连浩特东北部石炭-二叠系沉积地层的证据

本文选取内蒙古二连浩特东北部本巴图地区,通过对石炭-二叠纪沉积典型地层的剖面测制、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素分析,查明其充填层序、沉积环境及物质来源,并进一步探讨了兴蒙造山带晚古生代伸展构造的演化过程。来自石炭-二叠纪地层的3个凝灰岩样品中最年轻峰值年龄分别为298Ma、302Ma、303Ma,表明其形成时代为303～298Ma,即晚石炭世-早二叠世,应归属格根敖包组。沉积环境研究揭示石炭-二叠纪沉积地层发育两个从前三角洲相到三角洲前缘相的旋回,其沉积速率估算结果与伸展构造背景下的裂谷盆地沉积速率相似。锆石Hf同位素特征分析表明,从约400Ma到约300Ma,其演化趋势具有新生地壳明显增多的特点,揭示从早中古生代年轻造山带形成到晚古生代伸展作用发生过程中的变化。结合区域地质研究,晚古生代北造山带的沉积演化和伸展作用过程可分为四个阶段:第一阶段为磨拉斯盆地形成,以盆地南缘泥鳅河组为代表;第二阶段为贺根山伸展带发育阶段,形成超基性-基性-酸性的岩浆组合;第三阶段为稳定的陆表海环境,以晚石炭世本巴图和阿木山组的碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩组合为代表;第四阶段是晚石炭世-早二叠世的第二次伸展,发育格根敖包组火山-沉积岩系组成的三角洲沉积,具有陆内裂谷盆地性质。     

内蒙古西部额济纳旗及邻区石炭系—二叠系沉积建造与生烃条件——石炭系—二叠系油气地质条件研究之一

通过对额济纳旗及其邻区石炭纪—二叠纪盆地基底结构构造和石炭系—二叠系岩石地层特征、沉积演化、沉积相平面展布特征的研究,认为该区石炭纪—二叠纪为统一的裂谷盆地。盆地早石炭世—早二叠世早期为由北向南的上超沉积,早二叠世中期—晚二叠世为由南向北的下超沉积,晚石炭世—早二叠世阿木山期为盆地演化的鼎盛时期,以浅海陆棚相沉积为主;在烃源岩分布、有机质丰度、干酪根类型和烃源岩演化特征研究的基础上,指出广泛发育的浅海陆棚相泥页岩具有良好的生烃条件,发育多套厚度较大、有机碳（TOC）含量中等—较高、以Ⅱ类干酪根为主的烃源岩。烃源岩演化主要受埋藏史的影响,以成熟—高成熟为主。局部地区受华力西末期—燕山期侵入岩热接触的影响,或构造改造强烈的区带受构造动力变质作用的影响,烃源岩演化达到过成熟。     

若尔盖下包座地区三叠系沉积特征

若尔盖东部下包座地区广泛发育的三叠系西康群,大量沉积构造表现为一套近源相滨浅海→斜坡浊积扇→半深海盆地复理石→浅海陆棚相沉积。岩石地层格架属Ⅰ型层序     

新疆东准卡拉麦里地区下石炭统板内沉积特征

长期以来,新疆东准卡拉麦里碰撞带时限与下石炭统紧密相关。本文建立内部地层序列,将生物地层与锆石年代学紧密结合,明确了下部松喀尔苏组(暂定)火山岩系锆石年龄为346.8±3.3Ma,为早石炭世维宪期沉积;中部塔木岗组碎屑锆石年龄327Ma,为维宪期之后的沉积产物。将生物地层、沉积地层、火山岩和构造背景相结合,得出晚泥盆世克安库都克组为磨拉石沉积。下石炭统早期的松喀尔苏组(有待建组)为中、基性火山岩夹中酸性的火山凝灰岩,塔木岗组具有滨岸扇三角洲沉积,姜巴斯套组以重力流沉积为主,测区已进入到板内沉积阶段。测区早石炭世板内地层具有盆地开裂、近海和深水的重力流沉积,组成板内开裂至坳陷的沉积特征。     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

Viscous, cohesive, non-Newtonian, depositing, radial slurry flow

Mining induced subsidence can significantly affect mining costs where major surface facilities and natural environment need to be protected. Overburden grout injection is a technology used to control coal mine subsidence by injecting the mine waste material extracted from the coal back into the inter-burden rock during longwall mining. The flowing slurry is here categorised as a nonlinear viscous cohesive (Bingham plastic) fluid. During longwall mining the grout slurry is pumped into the separated beds of the rock mass through a central vertical borehole, which is drilled deep into the inter-burden rock strata above the coal seam. However, a blockage can occur in the injection system when the slurry velocity falls below a certain critical threshold velocity, indicating a material phase change from cohesive-viscous to cohesive-frictional. In situ field injection tests through boreholes have been simulated at a smaller scale at the CSIRO laboratory in Brisbane by pumping the slurry through a radial disk (gap = 4 mm) from its centre. Laboratory experiments indicate a general, nonlinear, cohesive, viscous, frictional model for shear behaviour of the slurry, in which the material shear parameters are functions of the disk radial distance. Complete dimensional and dimensionless analytical solutions have been developed based on an approach related to Bingham–Herschel–Bulkley fluid mechanics. The derived formulae include relations for minimum pump pressure, local pressure and pressure gradient, wall shear stress, volume rate, velocity and velocity gradient. The theoretical results match the experimental measurements. The experiments covered slurries with maximum particle sizes of 0.5 to 2 mm with about 50% being larger than 100 µm. The viscosities at the various solids concentrations were measured with a standard torsion viscometer. This study differs from the previous research in several distinct aspects, namely, consideration of the variable shear parameters rather than fixed values, inclusion of total nonlinear behaviour, and implementation of a friction function to mimic behaviour of the deposited and consolidating stiff slurry, which can cause a significant pressure rise as a result of the increased shear resistance.     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

Titanium,Ti, A New Mineral Species from Luobusha,Tibet, China

We describe the new mineral species titanium,ideally Ti,found in the podiform chromitites of the Luobusha ophiolite in Tibet,People’s Republic of China.The irregular crystals range from 0.1 to 0.6 mm in diameter and form an intergrowth with coesite and kyanite.Titanium is silver grey in colour,the luster is metallic,it is opaque,the streak is grayish black,and it is non-fluorescent.The mineral is malleable,has a rough to hackly fracture and has no apparent cleavage.The estimated Mohs hardness is 4,and the calculated density is 4.503 g/cm3.The composition is Ti 99.23-100.00 wt%.The mineral is hexagonal,space group P63 /mmc.Unit-cell parameters are a 2.950(2),c 4.686(1),V 35.32(5) 3,Z = 2.The five strongest powder diffraction lines [d in(hkl)(I/I0)] are: 2.569(010)(32),2.254(011)(100),1.730(012)(16),1.478(110)(21),and 0.9464(121)(8).The species and name were approved by the CNMNC(IMA 2010–044).     

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.     

Geochemistry of groundwater,Markandeya River Basin,Belgaum district,Karnataka State,India

The Markandeya River Basin stretches geographically from 15o56′ to 16o08′ N latitude and 74o37′ to 74o58′ E longitude, positioned in the midst of Belgaum district, in the northern part of Karnataka. The groundwater quality of 54 pre-monsoon samples in the Markandeya River Basin was evaluated for its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes by estimating pH, EC, TDS, hardness and alkalinity besides major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and anions (HCO3–, Cl–, SO42–, PO43-, F-, NO3–), boron, SAR, % Na, RSC, RSBC, chlorinity index, SSP, non-carbonate hardness, Potential Salinity, Permeability Index, Kelley’s ratio, Magnesium hazard and Index of Base Exchange. Negative Index of Base Exchange indicates the chloro-alkaline disequilibrium in the study area and the majority of water samples fall in the rock dominance field based on Gibbs’ ratio. Permeability indices of classes I and II suggest suitability of groundwater for irrigation. Based on Cl, SO4, HCO3 concentrations, water samples can be classified as normal chloride (96.3%) and normal sulfate (94.4%) and normal bicarbonate (44.4%) water types.     

A new procedure for separating and measuring radiogenic isotopes (U, Th, Pa, Ra, Sr, Nd, Hf) in ice cores

A new method for the radiogenic isotope (U–Th–Pa–Ra, Sr, Nd, Hf) analysis of the soluble and insoluble components found within ice cores is presented. Melting experiments with rock standards in the presence of EDTA indicate that carbonates, as well as silicates, can be buffered sufficiently to preclude dissolution. The use of EDTA allows adsorbing species, such as Th and Hf, to remain in solution during melting thus fully separating the dust (insoluble) and sea salt (soluble) components of the ice after filtration. A new elemental separation scheme for low sample masses, less than 5 mg solid material, utilizes 4 primary ion exchange columns and two “clean-up” columns to fully isolate U, Th, Pa, Ra, Sr, Nd, and Hf while maintaining high yields. Elution schemes measured for USGS rock standards and a Chinese loess are presented to provide a comparison for variable matrix compositions. Mass spectrometer techniques were modified to measure small aliquots of the standards, equivalent to the amounts found in ice core samples, 10 ng and less. A MC-ICPMS was employed for the measurement of U, Th, Pa, Ra, and Hf; results of the experiments show that with ion yields up to 1%, rock standards have errors for ²³⁴U/²³⁸U of 1%, ²³⁰Th/²³²Th of 1.5%, [²²⁸Ra] of 9%, and ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf of 100 ppm. MC-TIMS measurements of Sr and Nd show similar errors for small sample sizes: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 50 ppm and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 80 ppm. This new analytical method increases the number of possible tracers measured from a single sample, reducing separation times and sample consumption, as well as providing the addition of a radiometric clock, U-series, to the traditional suite of isotopic tracers, Sr, Nd, and Hf.     

Sheetfloods,sheetwash, sheetflow,or ... ?

Following McGee's (1897) use of the term sheetflood, there developed a variety of conflicting opinions and numerous terminologies relating to this process, many of which are ill-considered and poorly defined. A classification system is devised on both a hydrologic and geomorphic basis which dispenses with many superfluous terms that have been used with respect to sheetfloods. Magnitude of a storm is expressed in terms of the amount of surface runoff generated from a given storm due to the surface conditions.A sheetflood is defined as a sheet of unconfined flood water moving down a slope. The frequency of a sheetflood is relatively low while its magnitude is relatively great. Sheetflow is defined as relatively high-frequency, low-magnitude overland flow occurring in a continuous sheet and is restricted to laminar flow conditions. Sheetwash, a term of geomorphic origin, is considered to be redundant and is superseded by the more meaningful term rainwash defined as the washing action of rain on slopes.     

Lawsonite- and glaucophane-bearing blueschists from NW Qiangtang,northern Tibet,China: mineralogy,geochemistry, geochronology,and tectonic implications

The occurrence of high-pressure (HP) blueschists within the central Qiangtang terrane of northern Tibet has a significant bearing on plate-suturing processes. In order to contribute to the ongoing debate on whether the central Qiangtang metamorphic belt represents an in situ suture within the Qiangtang terrane, we examined lawsonite- and glaucophane-bearing blueschists from the northwest Qiangtang area (84° 10′–85° 30′ E, 34°10′–34° 45′ N). All studied rocks are metapelites, metasandstones, or metabasalts, characterized by lawsonite + glaucophane + phengite, lawsonite + glaucophane + epidote + albite + quartz, or glaucophane + phengite + quartz assemblages. The meta-mafic rocks contain very high TiO₂ and low Al₂O₃ contents. They are typified by abundant ferromagnesian trace elements, and an absence of Eu anomalies and Nb–Ta deletions; all the above features indicate that these mafic rocks represent oceanic island basalt (OIB) protoliths. Most of the metasediments contain high SiO₂, moderate Al₂O₃ + K₂O, and low TiO₂ + Na₂O. They display high CIA (chemical index of alteration) values (74% ± 5%) and distinctly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.64 ± 0.05). This, along with their high field strength elemental characteristics, indicates that they were deposited in a passive continental margin environment, intercalated with OIB-type basalts. We estimate the peak metamorphic conditions for these blueschists as T = 330–415°C and P = 9–11.5 kbar. This HP event occurred at ca. 242 Ma, indicated by a well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age for glaucophane. Retrograde metamorphism occurred at T = 280–370°C, P = 6.5–9.5 kbar, t = ca. 207 Ma (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of phengite). Therefore, a cold subduction (geotherm ～8°C/km) attended the passive continental margin during the Triassic when the eastern Qiangtang collided with the western Qiangtang. The northwest Qiangtang HP metamorphic belt is an extension of the central Qiangtang metamorphic belt that defines the suture between eastern and western Qiangtang, and indicates an anticlockwise, diachronous closure of the Shuanghu Palaeo-Tethys.     

Transformations of the stuffed cristobalites, K2MSiO4, M=Mg, Zn, Co, Cd, with temperature and composition

The effects of composition and of temperature on the orthorhombic, Pca2 ₁ to cubic, F4ˉ3m transition of the stuffed cristobalite structure are reported. A distorton index which measures the departure of the orthorhombic unit cell from a metrically cubic cell shows that at room temperature, distortion increases in the progression K₂CdSiO₄ <K₂MgSiO₄ <K₂ZnSiO₄≈K₂CoSiO₄. High temperature X-ray powder measurements document an apparently discontinuous transition to a structure of F4ˉ3m symmetry. Differential scanning calorimetry shows a sharp, reversible, first order transition to the high temperature phase at about 500–600 °C for these compounds. Measured transformation enthalpies in the range of 7 to 16 J/g correlate roughly with the distortion index. The transformation involves tetrahedral rotation to an orientationally disordered cubic structure which retains an ordered M²⁺/Si distribution. Received: 8 November 1996 / Revised, accepted: 14 October 1997