Ar isotopes and Earth-atmosphere evolution models

Earth-atmosphere evolution models are mathematically simulated and the resulting present isotopic ratio (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar) in the mantle is given for each.Differential outgassing experiments on several recent submarine glasses were made to estimate an isotopic ratio (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar) in the present mantle. Estimations of (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar) in the mantle by various methods are also critically reviewed. From the experimental results and these considerations a minimum value of 2000 for (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar) ratio in the present mantle is inferred. By assuming that $\text{(}{}^{40}\text{Ar/}{}^{36}\text{Ar)}{}_{\mathrm{M}}$ is larger than 2000 and that the potassium content in the present mantle is larger than 50 ppm, we can limit considerably a choice among various Earth-atmosphere evolution models, i.e. (1) a continuous degassing process can not explain rare gas evolution in the atmosphere, (2) early sudden degassing is more likely and (3) such sudden degassing must have occurred earlier than 4.35 b.y.     

Crystal-melt partitioning of noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) for olivine and clinopyroxene

Mineral-melt partition coefficients of all noble gases (^min/meltD_i) have been obtained for olivine (ol) and clinopyroxene (cpx) by UV laser ablation (213 nm) of individual crystals grown from melts at 0.1 GPa mixed noble gas pressure. Experimental techniques were developed to grow crystals virtually free of melt and fluid inclusions since both have been found to cause profound problems in previous work. This is a particularly important issue for the analysis of noble gases in crystals that have very low partition coefficients relative to coexisting melt and fluid phases. The preferred partitioning values obtained for the ol-melt system for He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe are 0.00017(13), 0.00007(7), 0.0011(6), 0.00026(16), and , respectively. The respective cpx-melt partition coefficients are 0.0002(2), 0.00041(35), 0.0011(7), 0.0002(2), and . The data confirm the incompatible behaviour of noble gases for both olivine and clinopyroxene but unlike other trace elements these values show little variation for a wide range of atomic radius. The lack of dependence of partitioning on atomic radius is, however, consistent with the partitioning behaviour of other trace elements which have been found to exhibit progressively lower dependence of ^min/meltD_i on radius as the charge decreases. As all noble gases appear to exhibit similar ^min/meltD_i values we deduce that noble gases are not significantly fractionated from each other by olivine and clinopyroxene during melting and fractional crystallisation. Although incompatible, the partitioning values for noble gases also suggest that significant amounts of primordial noble gases may well have been retained in the mantle despite intensive melting processes. The implication of our data is that high primordial/radiogenic noble gas ratios (³He/⁴He, ²²Ne/²¹Ne, and ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar) characteristic of plume basalt sources can be achieved by recycling a previously melted (depleted) mantle source rather than reflecting an isolated, non-degassed primordial mantle region.     

Isotope-Geochemical Features and Genesis of Gases in the East Carpathian Region

The paper presents data on the composition of a gas phase of underground fluids in the East Carpathian region, including ³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, and ⁴He/²⁰Ne ratios. The argon isotope composition of these gases was used to estimate the fractions of atmospheric Aratm and radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar_rad formed in the rocks, N₂/Aratm ratio, and to reveal the admixture of nonatmogenic (“excess”) nitrogen in most samples. The CO₂ content in gases positively correlates with the fraction of mantle component in fluid helium. At the same time, the CO₂ content shows a negative correlation with the total helium (and light ³He enriching mantle derivatives), thus excluding the simultaneous influx of CO₂ and helium from a common mantle source in the fluids. A wide spectrum of ³He/⁴He = R in gases of the region spanning three orders of magnitude confirms the concept of mixing of the crustal and mantle components in the helium. However, even gases with similar R values show a wide scatter of He concentrations. This is mainly caused by the additional influx of other gases: CH₄ formed during OM transformation or CO₂ released during the thermal metamorphism of carbonate sequences. Correlation of the CH₄/³He ratio and the helium isotope composition in the Carpathian gases indicates the crustal origin of hydrocarbons, which formed economic gas pools in the Ciscarpathian Trough and the adjacent part of the Folded Carpathians. Lateral chemical and isotope variations revealed in the underground fluids are related to the tectonic zoning of the region. The helium isotope variations are also consistent with the geodynamic setting of the region (thinning of the crust and lithosphere towards the Pannonian Basin, growth of the background conductive heat flow and corresponding ascent of isotherms). In combination with geothermal data, they reflect specifics of the mantle heat-and-mass flow discharge.     

新疆坡北杂岩体西端镁铁-超镁铁质岩体成因的稀有气体同位素制约

新疆坡北镁铁-超镁铁质杂岩体由一个辉长岩体以及二十多个超镁铁质侵入体组成,其中坡一超镁铁质岩体稀有气体同位素组成揭示存在地幔柱的贡献。坡北杂岩体西端的坡一、坡四、坡十和坡十四等几个超镁铁质岩体的稀有气体同位素对比分析结果表明,岩浆矿物的³He/⁴He值（0.26~2.79Ra）分布于地壳与地幔值之间,较高的²⁰Ne/²²Ne和较低的²¹Ne/²²Ne值分布于Ne质量分馏线（MFL）和L-K线之间,⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar=295~598。³He/⁴He与⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar比值揭示坡北杂岩体西端不同超镁铁质岩体形成过程中地幔（柱）、地壳和大气组分的贡献不同,岩体成因也可能不同。其中,坡一岩体具有地幔柱作用的贡献,其他三个岩体的岩石圈地幔及地壳流体组分的贡献较大。岩浆地幔源区由深部地幔柱物质叠加俯冲流体交代的岩石圈地幔物质所组成,大气与地壳物质组分可能由俯冲再循环洋壳带入到岩浆地幔源区以及围岩物质的混入。     

Grain boundary partitioning of Ar and He

An experimental procedure has been developed that permits measurement of the partitioning of Ar and He between crystal interiors and the intergranular medium (ITM) that surrounds them in synthetic melt-free polycrystalline diopside aggregates. ³⁷Ar and ⁴He are introduced into the samples via neutron irradiation. As samples are crystallized under sub-solidus conditions from a pure diopside glass in a piston cylinder apparatus, noble gases diffusively equilibrate between the evolving crystal and intergranular reservoirs. After equilibration, ITM Ar and He is distinguished from that incorporated within the crystals by means of step heating analysis. An apparent equilibrium state (i.e., constant partitioning) is reached after about 20 h in the 1450 °C experiments. Data for longer durations show a systematic trend of decreasing ITM Ar (and He) with decreasing grain boundary (GB) interfacial area as would be predicted for partitioning controlled by the network of planar grain boundaries (as opposed to ITM gases distributed in discrete micro-bubbles or melt). These data yield values of GB-area-normalized partitioning, , with units of (Ar/m³ of solid)/(Ar/m² of GB) of 6.8 × 10³-2.4 × 10⁴ m⁻¹. Combined petrographic microscope, SEM, and limited TEM observation showed no evidence that a residual glass phase or grain boundary micro-bubbles dominated the ITM, though they may represent minor components. If a nominal GB thickness (δ) is assumed, and if the density of crystals and the grain boundaries are assumed equal, then a true grain boundary partition coefficient , may be determined. For reasonable values of δ, is at least an order of magnitude lower than the Ar partition coefficient between diopside and melt. Helium partitioning data provide a less robust constraint with between 4 × 10³ and 4 × 10⁴ cm⁻¹, similar to the Ar partitioning data. These data suggest that an ITM consisting of nominally melt free, bubble free, tight grain boundaries can constitute a significant but not infinite reservoir, and therefore bulk transport pathway, for noble gases in fine grained portions of the crust and mantle where aqueous or melt fluids are non-wetting and of very low abundance (i.e., <0.1% fluid). Heterogeneities in grain size within dry equilibrated systems will correspond to significant differences in bulk rock noble gas content.     

Nd,Sr, Pb,Ar, and 0 isotopic systematics of Sturgeon Lake kimberlite,Saskatchewan, Canada: constraints on emplacement age,alteration, and source composition

Rb-Sr isotopic dating of phlogopite megacryst samples separated from Sturgeon Lake kimberlite, Saskatchewan, yields a crystallization age of 98±1 Ma (2 , MSWD=1.2; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(t)=0.7059). The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses of a phlogopite megacryst sample indicate the presence of large amounts of excess ⁴⁰Ar and yield an excessively old age of 410 Ma. Assessment of the Ar data using isotope correlation plots indicates clustering of the data points about a mixing line between the radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar component at 98 Ma and a trapped component with uniform ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar and Cl/⁴⁰Ar. Values of {ie212-1} as high as +20%. (VSMOW) for calcite from the groundmass and a whole-rock sample indicate pervasive lowtemperature alteration. The {ie212-2} of matrix carbonate is-11.3%. (PDB), slightly lighter than typical values from the literature. The {ie212-3} values of about +5%. (VSMOW) for brown phlogopite megacrysts may be primary, green phlogopites are interpreted to be an alteration product of the brown variety and are 2%. heavier. Initial Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic ratios for a whole-rock sample {ie212-4}; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7063, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.67, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.54, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.97) suggest an affinity with group I kimberlites. Initial {ie212-5} values of +1.7 and +0.5 (⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr(t)=0.7053 and 0.7050) for eclogitic and lherzolitic garnet megacryst samples, and values of 0.0 for two phlogopite megacryst samples reflect an origin from an isotopically evolving melt due to assimilation of heterogeneous mantle. Lilac high-Cr lherzolitic garnet megacrysts give an unusually high {ie212-6} of +28.6 (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7046) indicating a xenocrystic origin probably from the lithospheric mantle. The very radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of the kimberlite are consistent with melting of EM II (enriched) mantle components.     

PVT parameters of fluid inclusions and the C,O, N,and Ar isotopic composition in a garnet lherzolite xenolith from the Oasis Jetty,East Antarctica

Orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and olivine from a metasomatized mantle xenolith of garnet lherzolite in alkaline rocks at the Jetty Oasis, East Antarctica, contain numerous carbon dioxide-dominated composite melt-fluid and fluidized sulfide-silicate (±carbonate) inclusions. Although the maximum pressure under which the inclusions were captured by rock-forming minerals was evaluated at 13 kbar, its actual value should have been much higher, judging by the fact that the inclusions have lost part of their material (decrepitated) when the xenolith was brought to the surface. Two major fluid populations are distinguished. The fluids entrapped during the earlier episode have a more complicated composition. Dominated by CO₂, these fluids contain much N₂ (0.1–0.2 mole fractions), H₂S, and perhaps, also H₂O and are hosted by sulfide-silicate (±carbonate) inclusions produced by liquid immiscibility. As these inclusions evolved, they enriched in CO₂ and depleted in H₂S and N₂. Although the concentrations of N₂, H₂S, and H₂O were generally relatively low, these components played an important role in mantle metasomatism, as is reflected in the geochemistry of the derived magmas. The fluids of the younger episode (pressures lower than 7 kbar) are notably richer not only in CO₂ but also in H₂O (up to the appearance of inclusions with a liquid aqueous phase and the formation of CO₂ gas hydrate when cooled in a cryometric stage by liquid N₂). The effect of fluids on the mantle source in two discrete episodes is also confirmed by isotopic-geochemical data. Isotopic data on gases obtained immediately from fluid inclusions in minerals by the stepwise crushing technique provide evidence of the evolution of elemental and isotopic ratios of the gases in the course of the metasomatic processes. The high-pressure fluid inclusions of the earlier episode have low C/N₂, C/Ar, and N₂/Ar ratios, isotopically heavy N₂, and somewhat elevated (to 530) ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios. The younger fluids typically have higher (by two to three orders of magnitude) C/N₂ and C/Ar ratios, lower δ¹³C of CO₂, and N₂/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios close to the atmospheric values. The nitrogen and argon isotopic compositions and elemental ratios suggest that the younger fluids could have been produced by two-component mixing in the mantle-atmosphere system. Comprehensive analysis of the data and in particular the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios, which are atypical of the mantle, and an increase in the H₂O concentration, suggests a subduction-related nature of the fluids.     

Evidence for shock heating and constraints on Martian surface temperatures revealed by Ar/Ar thermochronometry of Martian meteorites

The thermal histories of Martian meteorite are important for the interpretation of petrologic, geochemical, geochronological, and paleomagnetic constraints that they provide on the evolution of Mars. In this paper, we quantify ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and Ar diffusion kinetics of Martian meteorites Allan Hills (ALH) 84001, Nakhla, and Miller Range (MIL) 03346. We constrain the thermal history of each meteorite and discuss the resulting implications for their petrology, paleomagnetism, and geochronology. Maskelynite in ALH 84001 yields a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isochron age of 4163 ± 35 Ma, which is indistinguishable from recent Pb-Pb (Bouvier et al., 2009a) and Lu-Hf ages (Lapen et al., 2010). The high precision of this result arises from clear resolution of a reproducible trapped ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar component in maskelynite in ALH 84001 (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar = 632 ± 90). The maskelynite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age predates the Late Heavy Bombardment and likely represents the time at which the original natural remanent magnetization (NRM) component observed in ALH 84001 was acquired. Nakhla and MIL 03346 yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isochron ages of 1332 ± 24 and 1339 ± 8 Ma, respectively, which we interpret to date crystallization. Multi-phase, multi-domain diffusion models constrained by the observed Ar diffusion kinetics and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra suggest that localized regions within both ALH 84001 and Nakhla were intensely heated for brief durations during shock events at 1158 ± 110 and 913 ± 9 Ma, respectively. These ages may date the marginal melting of pyroxene in each rock, mobilization of carbonates and maskelynite in ALH 84001, and NRM overprints observed in ALH 84001. The inferred peak temperatures of the shock heating events (>1400 °C) are sufficient to mobilize Ar, Sr, and Pb in constituent minerals, which may explain some of the dispersion observed in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, Rb-Sr, and U-Th-Pb data toward ages younger than ∼4.1 Ga. The data also place conservative upper bounds on the long-duration residence temperatures of the ALH 84001 and Nakhla protolith to be  °C and  °C over the last ∼4.16 Ga and ∼1.35 Ga, respectively. MIL 03346 has apparently not experienced significant shock-heating since it crystallized, consistent with the fact that various chronometers yield concordant ages.     

The origin of rare gases on Earth: The noble gas ‘subduction barrier’ revisited

The origin of the Earth's atmosphere can be constrained by the study of noble gases in oceanic basalts. If it is clear that the mantle is degassed and formed part of the present atmosphere, it has been proposed that an important subduction of atmospheric noble gases in the mantle occurred during Earth's history, altering the primordial signature of the solid Earth. This subduction process has been suggested on the basis of the measurements of light xenon isotopes in CO₂ well gases. Moreover, the fact that the ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar ratio is atmospheric in all oceanic basalts, even for uncontaminated samples (e.g. with high ²⁰Ne/²²Ne), may also suggest that a massive subduction of atmospheric argon occurred, if the primitive Earth had a solar-like ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar. This also implies that the atmosphere suffered a massive gas loss accompanied by mass fractionation (e.g. hydrodynamic escape) after mantle degassing or that a late veneer with an atmospheric composition occurred. Such a hypothesis is explored for rare gases, by developing a model in which degassing and subduction of atmospheric noble gases started ∼4.4 Ga ago. In the model, both radiogenic and non-radiogenic isotopic ratios are used (e.g. ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar; ¹²⁴Xe/¹³⁰Xe and ¹²⁹Xe/¹³⁰Xe) to constrain the subduction flux and the degassing parameters. It is shown that subduction and massive contamination of the entire mantle is possible, but implies that the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and the ¹²⁹Xe/¹³⁰Xe ratios were higher in the past than today, which is not observed in Archean samples. It also implies that the sediments and the altered oceanic crust did not loose their noble gases during subduction or that the contaminated mantle wedge is mixed by the convective mantle. Moreover, such a model has to apply to the oceanic island source, since this later shows the same signature of argon and xenon non-radiogenic isotopic ratios. A scenario where the isotopic compositions of the argon and xenon were settled before or during accretion is therefore preferred to the subduction.     

Helium and argon isotope geochemistry of natural gases in China’s petroliferous basins

The age-accumulation effect of 40Ar in hydrocarbon source rocks was discussed in accordance with the decay law of radioactive elements. In terms of the mean values of 40Ar/36Ar, the old Sinian gas reservoirs (mean values of 40Ar/36Ar: 7009) were definitely distinguished from the Permian gas reservoirs (mean values of 40Ar/36Ar: 1017) in Weiyuan, Sichuan Province, and the gas source of the Permian gas reservoir (mean values of 40Ar/36Ar: 5222) in well Wei-7 with the Weiyuan structure is defined as the Sinian system. Based on the values of 40Ar/36Ar, the coal-type gases (The source rocks are of the C-P system; mean values of 40Ar/36Ar: 1125) are definitely distinguished from the oil-type gases (The source rocks are of the Tertiary system; mean values of 40Ar/36Ar: 590) in the Tertiary reservoirs of the Zhongyuan Oilfield. Besides, 40Ar/36Ar values also have a positive effect on the oil-source correlation of oil reservoirs in ancient hidden mountains. According to the crust-mantle interchange information reflected by 3He/4He values, petroliferous provinces in China can be divided into three major tectonic regions. (1) The eastern active region: The crust-mantle volatile matter exchanges actively, and the 3He/4He values are mainly around 10-6, partly around 10-7. (2) The central stable region: The 3He/4He values are all around 10-8. (3) The western sub-stable region: The 3He/4He values are mainly around 10-8, and around 10-7 on the edges of the basins. Helium contents of some gas wells in China’s eastern petroliferous region reach the industrial abundance (He≈0.05%–0.1%), the 3He/4He values reach 10-6, and the equivalent values for the mantle-source components in helium gas can reach 30%–50%. As viewed from this, a new type of crust-mantle composite helium resources has been proposed. Geneses of some CO2 gas reservoirs in the east of China and some issues concerning mantle-source methane were discussed in the light of the helium and carbon isotopes of CO2 and CH4 in natural gases. In the discussion on helium isotopic characteristics of inclusions in the reservoirs, it was discovered that the 3He/4He values are close to those in natural gases. That is to say, this phenomenon is related to regional tectonism. The 3He/4He, CO2/3He and CH4/3He data were used to discuss the tectonic activities of fault zones in a certain number of regions in China.     

Ar and K partitioning between clinopyroxene and silicate melt to 8 GPa

The relative incompatibility of Ar and K are fundamental parameters in understanding the degassing history of the mantle. Clinopyroxene is the main host for K in most of the upper mantle, playing an important role in controlling the K/Ar ratio of residual mantle and the subsequent time-integrated evolution of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios. Clinopyroxene also contributes to the bulk Ar partition coefficient that controls the Ar degassing rate during mantle melting. The partitioning of Ar and K between clinopyroxene and quenched silicate melt has been experimentally determined from 1 to 8 GPa for the bulk compositions Ab₈₀Di₂₀ (80 mol% albite-20 mol% diopside) and Ab₂₀Di₈₀ with an ultraviolet laser ablation microprobe (UVLAMP) technique for Ar analysis and the ion microprobe for K. Data for Kr (UVLAMP) and Rb (ion probe) have also been determined to evaluate the role of crystal lattice sites in controlling partitioning. By excluding crystal analyses that show evidence of glass contamination, we find relatively constant Ar partition coefficients (D_Ar) of 2.6 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.9 × 10⁻⁴ for the Ab₈₀Di₂₀ system at pressures from 2 to 8 GPa. In the Ab₂₀Di₈₀ system, D_Ar shows similar low values of 7.0 × 10⁻⁵ and 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ at 1 to 3 GPa. All these values are several orders of magnitude lower than previous measurements on separated crystal-glass pairs.D_K is 10 to 50 times greater than D_Rb for all experiments, and both elements follow parallel trends with increasing pressure, although these trends are significantly different in each system studied. The D_K values for clinopyroxene are at least an order of magnitude greater than D_Ar under all conditions investigated here, but D_Ar appears to show more consistent behavior between the two systems than K or Rb. The partitioning behavior of K and Rb can be explained in terms of combined pressure, temperature, and crystal chemistry effects that result in changes for the size of the clinopyroxene M2 site. In the Ab₂₀Di₈₀ system, where clinopyroxene is diopside rich at all pressures, D_K and D_Rb increase with pressure (and temperature) in an analogous fashion to the well-documented behavior of Na. For the Ab₈₀Di₂₀ system, the jadeite content of the clinopyroxene increases from 22 to 75 mol% with pressure resulting in a contraction of the M2 site. This has the effect of discriminating against the large K⁺ and Rb⁺ ions, thereby countering the effect of increasing pressure. As a consequence D_K and D_Rb do not increase with pressure in this system.In contrast to the alkalis (Na, K, and Rb), D_Kr values are similar to D_Ar despite a large difference in atomic radius. This lack of discrimination (and the constant D_Ar over a range of crystal compositions) is also consistent with incorporation of these heavier noble gases at crystal lattice sites and a predicted consequence of their neutrality or “zero charge.” Combined with published D_Ar values for olivine, our results confirm that magma generation is an efficient mechanism for the removal of Ar from the uppermost 200 km of the mantle, and that K/Ar ratios in the residuum are controlled by the amount of clinopyroxene. Generally, Ar is more compatible than K during mantle melting because D_Ar for olivine is similar to D_K for clinopyroxene. As a result, residual mantle that has experienced variable amounts of melt extraction may show considerable variability in time-integrated ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar.     

广西栗木锡铌钽矿田成矿物质来源的惰性气体同位素示踪

文章利用黄铁矿流体包裹体惰性气体同位素,探讨了广西栗木锡铌钽矿田成矿流体的来源.黄铁矿流体包裹体的3He/4He比值为0.14～0.97 Ra,远远低于地幔流体的比值,接近饱和大气水的比值,并与地壳流体的比值处在相同的数量级上;40 Ar/36 Ar比值为555.98～ 855.11,平均705.55,显然偏离大气氩的同位素组成;40Ar*/4He比值为0.08～0.27,平均值为0.153,接近地壳值;20Ne/22 Ne=9.671～9.748和21Ne/22 Ne=0.0306～ 0.0330,具有饱和大气水的Ne同位素比值特征.结果表明,广西栗木锡铌钽矿田老虎头、牛栏岭和金竹源3个矿床的成矿流体是大气水和地壳流体的混合流体;水溪庙矿床的成矿流体也主要是大气水和地壳流体的混合流体,但可能有少量地幔流体的加入.     

赣南淘锡坑钨矿床He-Ar同位素地球化学研究

华南石英脉型黑钨矿的形成一直被认为是与地壳沉积物质重熔形成的S型花岗岩有关。然而,近年来对南岭中生代成岩成矿机制的研究发现,地幔组分可能参与了钨、锡成矿作用。本文对淘锡坑石英脉型钨多金属矿床与黑钨矿共生的黄铁矿和毒砂中流体包裹体的He、Ar同位素进行了研究。结果显示,上述矿物中流体包裹体的~3He/~4He值为0. 37～2. 11Ra(Ra为空气的~3He/~4He值,1Ra=1. 39×10~(-6)),介于地幔与地壳的~3He/~4He值之间;~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar值为309. 5～383. 6,平均335. 4,略高于大气的~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar比值(295. 5)。研究表明,成矿流体具有壳-幔两端元混合的特征。其中,地壳端元的流体为经过地下循环的低温饱和大气水,地幔端元的流体为矿区隐伏花岗岩体成岩过程中分异出的岩浆流体。结合前人研究成果,认为该矿床的形成与华南中生代燕山期发生的软流圈上涌、岩石圈减薄、地壳伸展等地球动力学作用有密切联系。这种动力学过程为地幔组分带来的热引起地壳沉积物质重熔形成钨多金属成矿花岗岩浆提供了条件。     

40Ar/39Ar dating of cleavage formation in tuffs during anchizonal metamorphism

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental-release analyses were carried out on whole-rock and constituent white mica (illite)-rich size fractions (0.63–1 to 6.3–20 m) within two very-low grade, penetratively cleaved metatuffs of contrasting anchizonal metamorphic grade (northeastern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Federal Republic of Germany). One sample from the upper anchizone displays internally concordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar spectra with plateau ages ranging between ca. 316 and 325 Ma. These are similar to conventional K-Ar ages determined for the whole-rock and size fractions. Together the isotopic results suggest that cleavage formed at ca. 320 Ma during a concomitant very-low grade metamorphism. This is consistent with biostratigraphic controls which suggest that metamorphism and cleavage formation occurred during the Westphalian.A metatuff sample from the middle anchizone records more internally discordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra with total-gas ages ranging from 366 to 372 Ma. These are ca. 35–45 Ma older than corresponding conventional K-Ar ages, indicating marked recoil-loss of ³⁹Ar occurred during irradiation. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that white mica grains within size fractions from the upper anchizone sample have clearly defined, straight edges whereas those within the middle anchizone samples are embayed and diffuse. This results in an increase in surface/volume ratio and therefore greater susceptibility for recoil-loss of ³⁹Ar in the middle anchizone sample. Grain-edge morphology appears to be a major factor in determining the extent of recoil-loss of ³⁹Ar during ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analysis of fine-grained size fractions.     

Diffusion of Ar in muscovite

Hydrothermal treatment of closely sized muscovite aggregates in a piston-cylinder apparatus induced ⁴⁰Ar^∗ loss that is revealed in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step heating spectra. Age spectra and Arrhenius data, however, differ from that expected from a single diffusion length scale. A numerical model of episodic loss assuming the presence of multiple diffusion domains yields excellent fits between synthetic and actual degassing spectra. We used this model to isolate ⁴⁰Ar^∗ loss from the grains that remained intact during hydrothermal treatment at 10 kbar permitting calculation of diffusion coefficients in the temperature range 730-600 °C. Diffusion data generated in this manner yield an activation energy (E) of 63 ± 7 kcal/mol and frequency factor (D_o) of 2.3  cm²/s. Experiments at 20 kbar yield diffusivities lower by about an order of magnitude and correspond to an activation volume of ∼14 cm³/mol. Together, these parameters predict substantially greater retentivity of Ar in muscovite than previously assumed and correspond to a closure temperature (T_c) of 425 °C for a 100 μm radius grain cooling at 10 °C/Ma at 10 kbar (T_c = 405 °C at 5 kbar. Age and log (r/r_o) spectra for the run products show strong correlations indicating that muscovites can retain Ar diffusion boundaries and mechanisms that define their natural retentivity during vacuum step heating. This may permit the application of high resolution, continuous ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronology to low grade, regionally metamorphosed terranes.     

塔里木大火成岩省瓦吉里塔格霞石岩稀有气体同位素特征及其地质意义

稀有气体被广泛用作地球化学示踪剂,本文对塔里木大火成岩省西北缘瓦吉里塔格霞石岩中的橄榄石和辉石单矿物进行了稀有气体同位素测定。结果表明,瓦吉里塔格霞石岩中的橄榄石和辉石单矿物具有较低的~3He/~4He值(分别为2.0~2.4 Ra和0.65~0.85 Ra)和略高于大气值的~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar值(342.3~651.7),反映了由古板块俯冲导致的较低的He、Ar同位素比值特征。研究表明,早中古生代南天山洋向南俯冲到塔里木板块之下,将富U或富~4He以及含有大气组分的流体带入到深部地幔,在塔里木地幔柱的作用下地幔源区发生低程度部分熔融产生霞石岩岩浆。     

40Ar/39Ar ages of Precambrian manganese ore minerals from Sweden,India and Morocco

In order to test their chronometric potential, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar stepheating- (and ⁴He-) analyses have been carried out on five manganese ore minerals of the hollandite-cryptomelane series from three Precambrian manganese deposits (Ultevis/Sweden, Sitapar/India, Bachkoun/Morocco). Samples from the metamorphic occurrences Ultevis and Sitapar yielded Ar ages of 1.8 Ga and 0.95 Ga, interpreted as the age of postmetamorphic cooling (Hollandites/Ultevis) and of an early, K-introducing alteration process subsequent to amphibolite facies metamorphism (cryptomelanes/Sitapar). Both data are consistent with known chronologies of the Svecokarelian and Satpura orogenic cycles. A date of 670 Ma obtained for a hollandite from a volcanogenic vein deposit (Bachkoun), however, contrasts with published extrusion ages of 580–560 Ma for the volcanic host rocks (Ouarzazate Series), probably due to incorporation of excess argon. The use of the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar technique, together with multiple isotope systematics, made it nevertheless possible to establish a reasonable estimate of a mineralization age close to 580 Ma. Measurement of fractional Ar losses during vacuum step heating (500–1600 °C), although indicating good Ar retentivities, failed to define model diffusion parameters because of non-linear Arrhenius arrays. Helium diffusion results (200–1200 °C) indicated retention of radiogenic ⁴He by the samples, corroborated by U/He mineral dates between 0.96 and 0.31 Ga. Potassium-bearing manganese oxides are therefore able to retain argon (possibly also ⁴He) through geological times and may thus provide ages of ore-forming processes (and perhaps later cooling and alteration stages).     

柴北缘地区天然气40Ar/36Ar特征及其地质意义

测试并分析了柴北缘各油气田的14个天然气样品的氦、氩稀有气体同位素比值,并进行了气源对比。研究发现,柴北缘天然气40Ar/36Ar值分布在951～1712,平均1098,多数样品40Ar/36Ar较通常认为源于侏罗系的天然气40Ar/36Ar明显偏高,研究认为本区不存在幔源高40Ar/36Ar流体的介入,储层年代效应也不可能造成天然气40Ar/36Ar明显偏高,因此柴北缘天然气40Ar/36Ar明显偏高,主要是由于源岩年代积累效应引起的。据估算,气源岩年龄分布范围为164.7～460.8Ma,平均为345.1Ma,可能多数来源于石炭系。这一认识得到了柴北缘广泛分布有石炭系源岩和已发现源于石炭系原油的支持。柴北缘石炭系天然气的发现预示了柴北缘石炭系是一个新的油气勘探层系,从而拓展了柴北缘天然气勘探领域。     

Shock implantation of Martian atmospheric argon in four basaltic shergottites: A laser probe Ar/Ar investigation

Spatially resolved argon isotope measurements have been performed on neutron-irradiated samples of two Martian basalts (Los Angeles and Zagami) and two Martian olivine-phyric basalts (Dar al Gani (DaG) 476 and North West Africa (NWA) 1068). With a ∼50 μm diameter focused infrared laser beam, it has been possible to distinguish between argon isotopic signatures from host rock (matrix) minerals and localized shock melt products (pockets and veins). The concentrations of argon in analyzed phases from all four meteorites have been quantified using the measured J values, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ratios and K₂O wt% in each phase. Melt pockets contain, on average, 10 times more gas (7-24 ppb ⁴⁰Ar) than shock veins and matrix minerals (0.3-3 ppb ⁴⁰Ar). The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of the Martian atmosphere, estimated from melt pocket argon extractions corrected for cosmogenic ³⁶Ar, is: Los Angeles (∼1852), Zagami (∼1744) and NWA 1068 (∼1403). In addition, Los Angeles shows evidence for variable mixing of two distinct trapped noble gas reservoirs: (1) Martian atmosphere in melt pockets, and (2) a trapped component, possibly Martian interior (⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar: 480-490) in matrix minerals. Average apparent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages determined for matrix minerals in the four analyzed meteorites are 1290 Ma (Los Angeles), 692 Ma (Zagami), 515 Ma (NWA 1068) and 1427 Ma (DaG 476). These ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar apparent ages are substantially older than the ∼170-474 Ma radiometric ages given by other isotope dating techniques and reveal the presence of trapped ⁴⁰Ar. Cosmic ray exposure (CRE) ages were measured using spallogenic ³⁶Ar and ³⁸Ar production. Los Angeles (3.1 ± 0.2 Ma), Zagami (2.9 ± 0.4 Ma) and NWA 1068 (2.0 ± 0.5 Ma) yielded ages within the range of previous determinations. DaG 476, however, yielded a young CRE age (0.7 ± 0.25 Ma), attributed to terrestrial alteration. The high spatial variation of argon indicates that the incorporation of Martian atmospheric argon into near-surface rocks is controlled by localized glass-bearing melts produced by shock processes. In particular, the larger (mm-size) melt pockets contain near end-member Martian atmospheric argon. Based on petrography, composition and argon isotopic data we conclude that the investigated melt pockets formed by localized in situ shock melting associated with ejection. Three processes may have led to atmosphere incorporation: (1) argon implantation due to atmospheric shock front collision with the Martian surface, (2) transformation of an atmosphere-filled cavity into a localized melt zone, and (3) shock implantation of atmosphere trapped in cracks, pores and fissures.     

Differential unroofing within the central metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Orogen: constraints from 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology

An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronological investigation of upper greenschist to granulite facies gneiss, amphibolite and marble was conducted in the Central Metasedimentary Belt (CMB), Ontario, to constrain its cooling history. Incremental ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar release spectra indicate that substantial differential unroofing occurred in the CMB between 1000 and 600 Ma. A consistent pattern of significantly older hornblende and phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³Ar cooling ages on the southeast sides of major northeast striking shear zones is interpreted to reflect late displacement due to extensional deformation. Variations in hornblende ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age plateaus exceeding 200 Ma occur over distances less than 50 km with major age discontinuities occurring across the Robertson Lake shear zone and the Sharbot Lake mylonite zone which separate the Sharbot Lake terrane from the Elzevir and Frontenac terranes. Extensional displacements of up to 14 km are inferred between the Frontenac and Elzevir terranes of the CMB. No evidence for significant post argon-closure vertical displacement is indicated in the vicinity of the Perth Road mylonite within the Frontenac terrane. Variations of nearly 100 Ma in phlogopite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages occur in undeformed marble on either side of the Bancroft Shear Zone. Phlogopites from sheared and mylonitized marble within the shear zone yield ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar diffusional loss profiles, but have older geologically meaningless ages thought to reflect incorporation of excess argon. By 900 Ma, southeast directed extension was occurring throughout the CMB, possibly initiated along previous zones of compressional shearing. An easterly migration of active zones of extension is inferred, possibly related to an earlier, overall easterly migration of active zones of regional thrusting and easterly migration of an ancient subduction zone. The duration of extensional shearing is not well constrained, but must have ceased before 600 Ma as required by the deposition of overlying undeformed Cambrian and/or Ordovician sedimentary rocks.Contribution No. 481 from the Mineralogical Laboratory, University of Michigan