Geochemistry and age of metamorphosed felsic igneous rocks with A-type affinities in the Willyama Supergroup, Olary Block, South Australia, and implications for mineral exploration

Leucocratic quartzofeldspathic gneisses form a significant proportion of the lower part of the Palaeoproterozoic Willyama Supergroup sequence in the Olary Block, South Australia and have correlatives in the adjacent Broken Hill Block. Field and geochemical data demonstrate that these rocks were originally rhyolitic volcanics and granite, with A-type affinities consistent with magma production during intracratonic rifting, supporting tectonic models proposed for the Willyama Supergroup in the Broken Hill Block. Although the rocks have characteristic high-field-strength element enrichment, many have undergone extensive pervasive pre- or syn-metamorphic sodic alteration and are typically rich in albite.

Sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb zircon data tightly constrain the depositional and early intrusive history. Zircons from an interpreted metavolcanic rock containing relict quartz phenocrysts yield an age of 1699 ± 10 Ma, whereas a metagranitoid sample has an age of 1703 ± 6 Ma. These results are compatible with recent geochronological data on felsic metavolcanic rocks from the Broken Hill Block (Page and Laing, 1992) and are indicative of widespread magmatism during deposition of the Willyama Supergroup. Nd signatures for the two Olary Block samples imply the presence of a significant component from a depleted mantle source.

The A-type metavolcanic rocks are locally associated with small iron formations, some of which grade into stratiform barite-rich horizons. Although potentially favourable for sediment-hosted exhalative PbZn mineralisation, the Fe- and Ba-rich units, along with transgressive vein and breccia occurrences of Fe oxides ± quartz ± pyrite cutting both the metavolcanic and metagranitoid rocks, may be more prospective for epigenetic Cu-Au mineralisation related to later metamorphic and/or magmatic events. Partial melting of the A-type suite during high grade regional metamorphism at ˜ 1600 ± 20 Ma led to the formation of local volumes of sodic granitoids and pegmatites containing U-Th-Ti-REE-F mineralisation.     

Stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for the depositional environment of the early archaean isua supracrustal belt,southern west greenland

The highly deformed c. 3800 Ma Isua supracrustal belt is a fragment of a more extensive Early Archaean sedimentary and volcanic succession intruded by and tectonically intercalated with tonalitic and granitic Amftsoq gneisses in the period 3800-3600 Ma. The supracrustal rocks recrystallised under amphibolite facies conditions between 3800 and 3600 Ma, in the Late Archaean and locally at c. 1800 Ma. Layered sequences of rock of sedimentary and probable volcanic origin form over 50% of the belt. Bodies of high MgAl basic rocks and ultramafic rocks were intruded into the layered sequences prior to isoclinal folding and intrusion of Amitsoq gneisses. The layered rocks which are < 1 km thick are divided into two sequences, that are in faulted contact with each other. The way-up of these sequences has been determined from facing-directions of locally-preserved graded layering in felsic metasediments at several localities. The overall upwards change in sedimentary succession is interpreted as showing change from dominantly basic to dominantly felsic volcanism which provided the major clastic component of the sediments. Clastic sedimentation took place against a background of chemical sedimentation, shown by interlayers of banded iron formation, metachert and calc-silicate rocks throughout the sequences. The felsic rocks locally preserve graded bedding and possible conglomerate structures, indicating deposition from turbidite flows and possibly as debris flows. Nodules in the felsic rocks contain structures interpreted as fiammé. There is an irregular enrichment in K₂O/Na₂O in many of the felsic rocks at constant SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ content, interpreted as owing to alteration of original andesitic to dacitic volcanic rocks. Banded iron formations locally contain conglomeratic structures suggesting sedimentary reworking, possibly under shallow water conditions. Lithological and geochemical characters of the clastic components of the supracrustal sequences are consistent with derivation from felsic and basic volcanic rocks and do not require a continental source.     

辽东南长海地区花岗质片麻岩类的地球化学特征:对其原岩性质及形成环境的制约

本文对辽东南长海地区花岗质片麻岩进行了系统的岩石学和地球化学研究,以便对其原岩性质及形成的构造环境给予制约。研究结果表明,研究区内花岗质片麻岩类可划分为富钠和富钾两类花岗质岩石,前者包括黑云二长花岗质片麻岩和花岗闪长质片麻岩,矿物组成主要包括斜长石、石英、黑云母及少量的钾长石等,后者则主要包括花岗质、二长花岗质和糜棱岩化花岗质片麻岩,其矿物组成以钾长石、斜长石、石英和次要的白云母和黑云母为主。地球化学分析结果显示,富钠花岗质片麻岩具有富硅、富钠、高铝、富集LREEs和LILEs、强烈亏损HREEs和HFSEs(Nb、Ta、P、Ti)、轻重稀土强烈分馏、并显示弱负Eu异常和Ba的相对亏损等特征;而富钾花岗质片麻岩则显示高硅、富钾、过铝质的地球化学属性、富集LREEs和LILEs、亏损HREEs和HFSEs,与富钠花岗质岩石相比,轻重稀土分馏程度相对较弱、HFSEs以及Ba相对于Rb和Th的亏损程度更强,并显示中等负Eu异常和强烈的Sr负异常等特征。上述特征表明,辽东南长海地区富钠花岗质片麻岩应起源于中酸性陆壳物质的部分熔融,并可能有玄武质物质的加入,原岩应为具有活动大陆边缘属性的花岗闪长岩,其形成应与狼林地块(或胶辽地块)东南及南部先存洋盆向陆块之下的俯冲作用相联系;而富钾花岗质片麻岩应形成于中酸性陆壳物质的部分熔融,原岩为具有碰撞型花岗岩属性的碱性花岗岩,其形成应与洋壳消减闭合、陆陆碰撞拼贴相联系。     

Structural,petrological and chemical analysis of syn‐kinematic migmatites: insights from the Western Gneiss Region,Norway

Evidence of melting is presented from the Western Gneiss Region (WGR) in the core of the Caledonian orogen, Western Norway and the dynamic significance of melting for the evolution of orogens is evaluated. Multiphase inclusions in garnet that comprise plagioclase, potassic feldspar and biotite are interpreted to be formed from melt trapped during garnet growth in the eclogite facies. The multiphase inclusions are associated with rocks that preserve macroscopic evidence of melting, such as segregations in mafic rocks, leucosomes and pegmatites hosted in mafic rocks and in gneisses. Based on field studies, these lithologies are found in three structural positions: (i) as zoned segregations found in high‐P (ultra)mafic bodies; (ii) as leucosomes along amphibolite facies foliation and in a variety of discordant structures in gneiss; and (iii) as undeformed pegmatites cutting the main Caledonian structures. Segregations post‐date the eclogite facies foliation and pre‐date the amphibolite facies deformation, whereas leucosomes are contemporaneous with the amphibolite facies deformation, and undeformed pegmatites are post‐kinematic and were formed at the end of the deformation history. The geochemistry of the segregations, leucosomes and pegmatites in the WGR defines two trends, which correlate with the mafic or felsic nature of the host rocks. The first trend with Ca‐poor compositions represents leucosome and pegmatite hosted in felsic gneiss, whereas the second group with K‐poor compositions corresponds to segregation hosted in (ultra)mafic rocks. These trends suggest partial melting of two separate sources: the felsic gneisses and also the included mafic eclogites. The REE patterns of the samples allow distinction between melt compositions, fractionated liquids and cumulates. Melting began at high pressure and affected most lithologies in the WGR before or during their retrogression in the amphibolite facies. During this stage, the presence of melt may have acted as a weakening mechanism that enabled decoupling of the exhuming crust around the peak pressure conditions triggering exhumation of the upward‐buoyant crust. Partial melting of both felsic and mafic sources at temperatures below 800 °C implies the presence of an H₂O‐rich fluid phase at great depth to facilitate H₂O‐present partial melting.     

Geochemistry of the Archean low- to high-grade transition zone,Southern India

The transition zone between Archean low- and high-grade rocks in southern India represents eroded crustal levels representative of 15–20 km. It is comprised chiefly of tonalitic gneisses with some varieties showing incipient charnockitization and of minor amounts of granitic gneiss and charnockite, both of which appear to have developed from the tonalitic gneisses.Tonalitic gneisses and charnockites are similar in major and trace elements composition while granitic gneisses are relatively enriched in Rb, K, Th, Ba and light rare earth element (REE) and depleted in Cr and Sc. All three rock types exhibit enriched light REE patterns with variable positive Eu anomalies. Total REE content decreases with increasing Eu/Eu and SiO₂ and with decreasing Fe₂O_3T and MgO in the tonalitic gneisses and charnockites.An internally consistent model for the production of the tonalitic gneisses involves partial melting of an enriched mafic source with variable ratios of hornblende to clinopyroxene. This source, in turn, is derived from an ultramafic mantle relatively enriched in incompatible elements. Granitic gneisses form from tonalitic gneisses by alkali metasomatism from chloride-bearing fluids with high H₂O/CO₂ ratios purged from the lower crust by CO₂, and charnockites are produced from tonalitic gneisses (and granitic gneisses) by ischochemical CO₂ metamorphism following the alkali metasomatism.     

Element mobility in mafic and felsic ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks during continental collision

In order to decipher element mobility in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks during subduction and exhumation of continental crust, major-trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopes were systematically investigated for two continuous core segments of about 3 m length from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) project in the Sulu orogen. The segments are composed of lithological transitions between UHP eclogite and granitic gneiss. The eclogite exhibits a large variation in major and some trace elements such as LILE (e.g., Rb, Ba and K) and LREE, but a relatively limited range in HFSE and HREE. This suggests high mobility of LILE and LREE but immobility of HFSE and HREE during continental collision-zone metamorphism. Some eclogites have andesitic compositions with high SiO₂, alkalis, LREE, and LILE but low CaO, MgO and FeO contents. These features likely result from chemical exchange with gneisses, possibly due to the metasomatism of felsic melt produced by partial melting of the associated gneisses during the exhumation. On the other hand, some eclogites appear to have geochemical affinity to refractory rocks formed by melt extraction as evidenced by strong LREE and LILE depletion and the absence of hydrous minerals. These results provide evidence of melt-induced element mobility in the UHP metamorphic rocks. In particular, large variations in the abundance of such elements as SiO₂, LREE and LILE occur at the contact between eclogite and granitic gneiss, indicating their mobility between different slab components. Petrographic observations also show the presence of felsic veins on small scales in the UHP metamorphic rocks, demonstrating the occurrence of hydrous melt in local open-systems during the continental collision. As a whole, nevertheless, the protolith nature dictates the geochemical differences in both eclogite and granitic gneiss between the two core segments because mass transport during the subduction-zone metamorphism is principally dictated by the lithological differences at contact. The eclogite and granitic gneiss from the first core segment have high ε_Nd(t) values, whereas those from the second core segment show relatively low ε_Nd(t) values in concordance with majority of UHP metaigneous rocks outcropped along the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Thus contrasting origins of bimodal igneous rocks were involved in the continental collision, demonstrating that the subducted continental crust is the magmatic product of active rifting margin during supercontinental breakup in the middle Neoproterozoic.     

Nature of uranium mineralisation in the Kerpura-Tiwari-ka-bas area,Sikar district,Rajasthan

Mineralisation of uraninite and brannerite occurs in the albitised metasedimentary and intrusive igneous rocks of Kerpura-Tiwari-ka-bas area in Sikar district, Rajasthan. Samples collected from well dumps contain 0.016 to 1.52% U₃O₈ with very low ThO₂. The host rocks show wide variation in chemical composition due to varying degree of alkali metasomatism, associated alteration and composition of protoliths. The spatial distribution of uranium in groundwater as well as rock samples from well dumps indicates localisation of the uranium mineralisation along NNE-SSW and NWSE directions in Kerpura block. Petrographic and lithogeochemical studies point towards close genetic relationship between alkali metasomatism and uranium mineralisation. The mineralisation seems to be due to mobilisation of uranium and other LILEs by metasomatising fluids and their deposition along shear zones at a later stage, which may not be spatially related to zones of intense albitisation.     

Deep in the Heart of Dixie: Pre-Alleghanian Eclogite and HP Granulite Metamorphism in the Carolina Terrane, South Carolina, USA

The central part of the Carolina terrane in western South Carolina comprises a 30 to 40 km wide zone of high grade gneisses that are distinct from greenschist facies metavolcanic rocks of the Carolina slate belt (to the SE) and amphibolite facies metavolcanic and metaplutonic rocks of the Charlotte belt (to the NW). This region, termed the Silverstreet domain, is characterized by penetratively deformed felsic gneisses, granitic gneisses, and amphibolites. Mineral assemblages and textures suggest that these rocks formed under high‐pressure metamorphic conditions, ranging from eclogite facies through high‐P granulite to upper amphibolite facies. Mafic rocks occur as amphibolite dykes, as metre‐scale blocks of coarse‐grained garnet‐clinopyroxene amphibolite in felsic gneiss, and as residual boulders in deeply weathered felsic gneiss. Inferred omphacite has been replaced by a vermicular symplectite of sodic plagioclase in diopside, consistent with decompression at moderate to high temperatures and a change from eclogite to granulite facies conditions. All samples have been partially or wholly retrograded to amphibolite assemblages. We infer the following P‐T‐t history: (1) eclogite facies P‐T conditions at ≥ 1.4 GPa, 650–730 °C (2) high‐P granulite facies P‐T conditions at 1.2–1.5 GPa, 700–800 °C (3) retrograde amphibolite facies P‐T conditions at 0.9–1.2 GPa and 720–660 °C. This metamorphic evolution must predate intrusion of the 415 Ma Newberry granite and must postdate formation of the Charlotte belt and Slate belt arcs (620 to 550 Ma). Comparison with other medium temperature eclogites and high pressure granulites suggests that these assemblages are most likely to form during collisional orogenesis. Eclogite and high‐P granulite facies metamorphism in the Silverstreet domain may coincide with a ≈570–535 Ma event documented in the western Charlotte belt or to a late Ordovician‐early Silurian event. The occurrence of these high‐P assemblages within the Carolina terrane implies that, prior to this event, the western Carolina terrane (Charlotte belt) and the eastern Carolina terrane (Carolina Slate belt) formed separate terranes. The collisional event represented by these high‐pressure assemblages implies amalgamation of these formerly separate terranes into a single composite terrane prior to its accretion to Laurentia.     

Petrography and geochemistry of uranium mineralised Precambrian granitic-pegmatitic rocks of Mawlait, West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya

During radiometric investigation at Mawlait, significant uranium mineralisation (0.024–0.22%U₃O₈) was located mainly within the small pegmatite (garnet bearing quartzofeldspathic rock), which are locally segregated within migmatite at Umiang River section. Pink granite and granite gneisses are the dominant lithounits of the study area showing fertile character and spotty radioactivity at several places. Radioactivity in these rocks is mainly contributed by discrete uraninite grains along with some zircon and xenotime. Granites are peraluminous, low-Ca in nature and their geochemical signatures suggest derivation from a felsic source. Discriminant diagrams using Rb, Nb and Y indicate ‘within plate’ to ‘volcanic arc’ nature of the rock. The uraniferous pegmatitic veins within migmatite appear to have formed due to localised metamorphic segregation during late stage of anatexis. Petromineralogical and geochemical studies suggest that the uranium mineralisation in granitic-pegmatitic rocks of the area is mainly syn-magmatic type.     

Zinc-lead skarn deposits at Leadville, New South Wales, Australia, and their distinction from volcanic-hosted massive sulphides

Exploration of Zn-rich sulphide deposits at Leadville, northern Lachlan Fold Belt, New South Wales, for over two decades has been largely on the premise that the mineralisation represents felsic volcanic-hosted massive sulphides (VHMS). Deposits are hosted by ?Silurian felsic metavolcanic, psammopelitic and calcareous metasedimentary rocks which have been intruded by the late Carboniferous I-type Gulgong Granite. Evidence for an epigenetic replacement (skarn) origin of the deposits, rather than representing metamorphosed volcanogenic massive sulphides, includes the proximity of evolved granitic intrusives and reactive carbonate rocks, a skarn mineral assemblage (with characteristic prograde and retrograde stages), lack of textural or lithological indications of an exhalative origin, and gossan and sulphide compositions consistent with Zn-Pb skarns and atypical of Lachlan Fold Belt VHMS deposits. Furthermore, sulphide lead isotope ratios are significantly more radiogenic than signatures for VHMS deposits in the Lachlan Fold Belt. Carbonate δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O and sulphide δ³⁴S values are consistent with the interaction of magmatic hydrothermal fluids with Palaeozoic carbonate rocks and a largely magmatic source of sulphur. It is concluded that the Leadville deposits are of skarn type, genetically related to the Gulgong Granite.     

Partial melting of deeply subducted continental crust during exhumation: insights from felsic veins and host UHP metamorphic rocks in North Qaidam,northern Tibet

A combined petrological, geochronological and geochemical study was carried out on felsic veins and their host rocks from the North Qaidam ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane in northern Tibet. The results provide insights into partial melting of deeply subducted continental crust during exhumation. Partial melting is petrograpically recognized in metagranite, metapelite and metabasite. Migmatized gneisses, including metagranite and metapelite, contain microstructures such as granitic aggregates with varying outlines, small dihedral angles at mineral junctions and feldspar with magmatic habits, indicating the former presence of felsic melts. Partial melts were also present in metabasite that occurs as retrograde eclogite. Felsic veins in both the eclogites and gneisses exhibit typical melt crystalline textures such as large euhedral feldspar grains with straight crystal faces, indicating vein crystallization from anatectic melts. The Sr–Nd isotope compositions of felsic veins inside gneisses suggest melt derivation from anatexis of host gneisses themselves, but those inside metabasites suggest melt derivation from hybrid sources. Felsic veins inside gneisses exhibit lithochemical compositions similar to experimental melts on the An–Ab–Or diagram. In trace element distribution diagrams, they exhibit parallel patterns to their host rocks, but with lower element contents and slightly positive Eu and Sr anomalies. The geochemistry of these felsic veins is controlled by minerals that would decompose and survive, respectively, during anatexis. Felsic veins inside metabasites are rich either in quartz or in plagioclase with low normative orthoclase. In either case, they have low trace element contents, with significantly positive Eu and Sr anomalies in plagioclase‐rich veins. Combined with cumulate structures in some veins, these felsic veins are interpreted to crystallize from anatectic melts of different origins with the effect of crystal fractionation. Nevertheless, felsic veins in different lithologies exhibit roughly consistent patterns of trace element distribution, with variable enrichment of LILE and LREE but depletion of HFSE and HREE. There are also higher contents of trace elements in veins hosted by gneisses than veins hosted by metabasites. Anatectic zircon domains from felsic veins and migmatized gneisses exhibit consistent U–Pb ages of c. 420 Ma, significantly younger than the peak UHP eclogite facies metamorphic event at c. 450–435 Ma. Combining the petrological observations with local P–T paths and experimentally constrained melting curves, it is inferred that anatexis of UHP gneisses was caused by muscovite breakdown while anatexis of UHP metabasites was caused by fluid influx. These UHP metagranite, metapelite and metabasite underwent simultaneous anatexis during the exhumation, giving rise to anatectic melts with different compositions in various elements but similar patterns in trace element distribution.     

Peraluminous leucogranites of the Cordilheira Suite: A record of Neoproterozoic collision and the generation of the Pelotas Batholith,Dom Feliciano Belt,Southern Brazil

The Cordilheira Suite is comprised of peraluminous granites that constitute, together with the Quitéria granite, the beginning of the formation of the Pelotas Batholith in the central portion of the Dom Feliciano Belt. The batholith is composed of seven granitic suites with minor occurrences of gabbro, diorite and subvolcanic rocks. Its evolution between 650 and 550 million years ago is characterised by a ranging from metaluminous to peraluminous rocks and from calc-alkaline to alkaline and peralkaline series. The Cordilheira Suite is composed of the Cordilheira, Arroio Francisquinho, Butiá and Três Figueiras granites, which contain muscovite and/or biotite, with the following accessory minerals: tourmaline, garnet, sillimanite, apatite, zircon, monazite and ilmenite. The granitic bodies are elongate; their ascent and emplacement were controlled by high-angle shear zones oriented at N45-70°E. They have mylonitic structures with magmatic foliation accompanied by a low-angle stretching lineation, indicating that these bodies were emplaced under syn-kinematic conditions during a transcurrent event. The granites have high-K calc-alkaline affinity and are peraluminous. The LILE and REE contents are low. The K₂O/Na₂O and CaO/Na₂O ratios are approximately 1 and less than 0.3, respectively. Pseudosections calculated using the Perple X program suggests that the granites were formed at partial melting temperatures between 740 and 820 °C and pressure between 8.5 and 9 kbar. Petrographic and chemical data suggest that the magmas were generated by the partial melting of the migmatitic pelitic gneisses of the Várzea do Capivarita Complex and, to a lesser degree, orthogneisses of the Arroio dos Ratos Complex, which left a granulitic residue. UHT conditions of granulite facies metamorphism were recorded in the Várzea do Capivarita paragneisses by mineral paragenesis and indicate that temperatures between 900 and 1000 °C and pressures between 4 and 8 kbar were required for the partial melting. It is likely that these medium-pressure conditions resulted from the thickening of the continental crust when the Rio de La Plata Craton collided with the Kalahari Craton to form southwestern Gondwana at the end of the Neoproterozoic.     

The late orogenic timing of mineralisation in some slate belt gold deposits,Victoria, Australia

Gold mineralisation in classic Australian slate belt gold deposits at Ballarat, Bendigo, St. Arnaud and Inglewood occurred very late in the orogenic history of these rocks rather than during formation of the main slaty cleavage. This has been revealed through the examination of microstructural relationships in gold-bearing quartz veins and their host rocks from these deposits, which has established a D₁ to D₄ deformation-stage history and consistent timing for gold mineralisation over a wide area. The gold was deposited synorogenically but during the fourth deformation stage (D₄) of the orogeny, a relatively weak event occurring two deformations after the main slaty cleavage producing event, D₂. Previously, D₂ had been regarded as both the source and control of gold mineralisation as most of the quartz veins that occur in these deposits formed before or during this deformation event. However, most gold is hosted in breccia veins that formed during D₄. The wallrock clasts within these breccia veins contain a young rotated foliation and the breccia veins are spatially associated with a paragenetically consistent alteration of the host rocks in the deposits. This alteration both crosscuts and preferentially mineralises wallrock S₄ allowing the timing of the breccia veins, alteration and gold deposition to be defined as syn-D₄ in age.     

冀东迁安地区太古代片麻杂岩的地球化学和演化

曹庄片麻杂岩包括35亿年的表壳岩及三个不同时期的复期正片麻岩。水厂片麻杂岩包括水厂表壳岩及侵入其中的淡花岗岩和紫苏花岗岩,后者年龄为26.5亿年。     

大别山东部超高太变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩及其构造背景

大别山东部超高压变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩有下列特征。（１）化学成分富硅、富碱,一般ＳｉＯ２＜７５％,Ｋ２Ｏ＋Ｎａ２Ｏ＞８％,且Ｋ２Ｏ＞Ｎａ２Ｏ。（２）与变质表壳岩有侵入接触关系,有异源、深源包体。（３）主要为鳞片花岗变晶结构,有残留的岩浆结构,普遍具片麻状构造,钾长石常以眼球状巨晶出现,剪切带中发育Ｌ＞Ｓ型变形组构。（４）变质作用为角闪岩相,变质矿物为黑云母、角闪石以及少量石榴石、白云母、绿帘石等。。（５）锆石的乙—Ｐ６同位素年龄值为６２９Ｍａ。上述特征与超高压变质带中的含霓石变质花岗岩有明显的区别,因此,它可能是杨子大陆板块的俯冲基底。     

Geology, petrography and geochemistry of rhyolite-hosted uranium mineralization at Mohar, Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh

In the westernmost part of the Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex (BGC), a mesa structure represents a unique outlier, surrounded by brecciated granite and filled with Vindhyan sedimentary rocks locally known as the Dhala Formation near Mohar village of Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. Uranium mineralisation located in the area is mostly associated with rhyolite of peralkaline to peraluminous in nature, that has a high average uranium concentration (30 ppm). The mineralization is in or adjacent to caldera and is hydrothermal vein-type. Radioactivity is mainly due to coffinite with limited radioactivity due to U-Ti complex, uranium adsorbed in clay and labile uranium along fracture. Coffinite occurs in association with pyrite and chalcopyrite or chlorite with presence of fluorite. Features such as chloritisation, clay formation and sulfide mineralisation manifest hydrothermal alteration. Chemical analysis indicates the aluminous nature of the rock and their high K₂O/Na₂O (3.81–12.84) ratios are suggestive of predominance of potash feldspar over sodic. The alteration index varies from 49.88–92.40, which, reflects high intensity of hydrothermal alteration. Chlorite-carbonatepyrite index (CCPI), a measure of the intensity of replacement of sodic feldspars and glass by sericite, chlorite, carbonate, and pyrite associated with hydrothermal alteration proximal to the ore bodies varies from 3.84–49.66. On the basis of core study, geochemistry and mineralogy, it is envisaged that epigenetic hydrothermal solutions were responsible for concentration of uranium as coffinite, radioactive carbonaceous matter and adsorbed uranium phases in rhyolite with sulfide confined to weak planes.     

The lower crust of the Gangdese magmatic arc,southern Tibet,implication for the growth of continental crust

Magmatic arcs are thought to be the primary sites of modern-day continental crustal growth, and arc crustal sections provide an exceptional opportunity to directly observe the geological processes that occur there, yet few deeply exposed arc sections are available for direct study. The Gangdese magmatic arc, southern Tibet, formed during the Mesozoic subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere and Cenozoic collision between the Indian and Asian continents, and represent juvenile continental crust. However, the petrological components and compositions of the lower crust of the Gangdese arc remain unknown. Based on detailed geological mapping, we conducted a systemic geochemical, geochronological and zircon Hf isotopic study of well-exposed high-grade metamorphic and migmatitic rocks from the lower crust of the eastern Gangdese arc. The results obtained show that Late Cretaceous garnet amphibolites, dioritic and granitic gneisses, and Paleocene–Eocene garnet amphibolites and granitic gneisses are the main components of the Gangdese lower arc crust. These meta-intrusive rocks witnessed a long period of magmatic, and metamorphic and anatectic processes from the Middle Jurassic to the Late Eocene, and have chemical compositions that range from ultramafic to felsic, with an average SiO₂ content of 57.61 wt% and Mg# value of 0.49. These new data indicate firstly that the Gangdese lower arc crust has an overall intermediate composition and typical feature of juvenile crusts, and therefore supports the recent proposition that continental lower crusts are relatively felsic in composition, instead of mafic. We consider that the downward transport of felsic intrusives and associated sedimentary rocks into the deep crustal levels and subsequent partial melting resulted in componential and compositional changes of the Gangdese arc lower crust over time. This is a potential key mechanism in transforming primary lower arc crust to mature continental lower crust for the magmatic arcs with a complete growth history.     

Geochemistry and origin of albite gneisses,northeastern Adirondack Mountains,New York

Albite gneisses containing up to 8.7 percent Na₂O and as little as 0.1% K₂O comprise a significant part of the Proterozoic Lyon Mountain Gneiss in the Ausable Forks Quadrangle of the northeastern Adirondacks, New York State. Two distinct types of albite gneisses are present. One is a trondhjemitic leucogneiss (LAG) consisting principally of albite (Ab95–Ab98) and quartz with minor magnetite and, locally, minor amounts of amphibole or acmiterich pyroxene. LAG probably originated by metamorphism of a rhyolitie or rhyodacitic ash-flow tuff with A-type geochemical affinities, following post-depositional analcitization in a saline or saline-alkaline environment. The other type is a mafic albite gneiss (MAG) containing albite and pyroxene along with 0–45 percent quartz, minor amphibole, and titanite. MAG locally displays pinstripe banding and contains albite (Ab98) megacrysts up to 5 cm across. Its precursor may have been a sediment composed of diagenetic analcite or albite, dolomite, and quartz. Both types of albite gneiss are interlayered with granitic gneisses (LMG) of variable composition derived from less altered tuffs. A potassium-rich (up to 9.7% K₂O) microcline gneiss facies may have had a protolith rich in diagenetic K feldspar. We propose that the albite gneisses and associated granitic gneisses are the granulite-facies metamorphic equivalent of a bimodal, dominantly felsic, volcanic suite with minor intercalated sediments, probably including evaporites. The volcanics were erupted in an anorogenic setting, such as an incipient or failed intracontinental rift. Deposition took place in a closed-basin, playa lake environment, where diagenetic alteration resulted in redistribution of the alkalis and strong oxidation.     

Geochemistry of granulite‐facies granitic rocks from Battye Glacier,northern Prince Charles Mountains,East Antarctica

Proterozoic basement outcrops in the vicinity of Battye Glacier, northern Prince Charles Mountains, are dominated by granulites and gneisses derived from felsic (granitoid) intrusive igneous rocks, and by pegmatites. Felsic orthopyroxene granulites, garnet leucogneisses and garnet pegmatites have major and trace element compositions of highly felsic, but not strongly fractionated, granites. The garnet leucogneisses and garnet pegmatites have S‐type characteristics, whereas the felsic granulites are probably I‐type, although their high Zr+Nb+Y+Ce abundances suggest possible A‐type affinities. Intermediate orthopyroxene ± clinopyroxene granulites mostly resemble I‐type quartz diorites, except for a small subgroup of samples (characterised by low Na₂O and K₂O, and high MgO, Ni, Cr and HREE) of uncertain affinities and significance. Element ratios involving LILE (e.g. K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Rb/Sr, K/La, La/Th) closely match those typical of the inferred granitoid protoliths, suggesting that these rocks have experienced relatively little LILE depletion (except possibly for U) during regional metamorphism. It is therefore inferred that metamorphism was probably broadly isochemical. Because the felsic and intermediate granulites and garnet leucogneisses are Sr‐depleted, Y‐undepleted and mostly have negative Eu anomalies they are inferred to be the products of partial melting of felsic crustal sources leaving plagioclase‐bearing residua. Plagioclase fractionation during crystallisation could also account for these characteristics, but K/Rb, Rb/Ba and Rb/Sr ratios in these rocks are not consistent with strong fractionation of feldspar. Garnet pegmatites differ chemically from garnet leucogneisses mainly in their lower Fe, Ti, Nb, Zn, Zr, Th and REE abundances and positive Eu anomalies, related to lower garnet, ilmenite and zircon contents in the garnet pegmatites. A genetic link between these two rock types, probably involving fractionation of these minerals during partial melting or crystallisation, is inferred. Incompatible‐element abundances suggest that generation of the Battye Glacier granitic magmas from felsic crust might have occurred in a mature continental magmatic arc possibly well removed from an active subduction trench or, perhaps, in an intracontinental setting.     

Regional geochemical and isotopic characteristics of high-grade metamorphics of the Prydz bay area: The extent of proterozoic reworking of Qrchaean continental crust in East Antarctica

Preliminary isotopic data for Late Proterozoic (～ 1100 Ma) granulite-facies metamorphics of the Prydz Bay coast indicate only very minor reworking (i.e., remetamorphism) of Archaean continental crustal rocks. Only two orthopyroxene—quartz—feldspar gneisses from the Rauer Group of islands, immediately adjacent to the Archaean Vestfold Block, show evidence for an Early Archaean origin (～ 3700—3800 Ma), whereas the vast majority of samples have Middle Proterozoic crustal formation ages (～ 1600–1800 Ma). The Prydz Bay rocks consist largely of garnet-bearing felsic gneisses and interlayered aluminous metasediments, although orthopyroxene-bearing gneisses are common in the Rauer Group; in contrast, Vestfold Block gneisses are predominantly orthopyroxene-bearing orthogneisses. The extensive Prydz Bay metasediments may have been derived by erosion of Middle Proterozoic rocks, such as the predominantly orthogneiss terrain of the Rauer Group, and deposited not long before the Late Proterozoic metamorphism. Data from nearby parts of the East Antarctic shield also suggest only limited Proterozoic reworking of the margins of the Archaean cratons.As in the Prydz Bay area, high-grade metamorphies in nearby parts of the East Antarctic shield show a secular increase in the sedimentary component. Archaean terrains like the Vestfold Block consist mainly of granitic orthogneisses derived by partial melting of igneous protoliths (I-type), whereas Late Proterozoic terrains (such as the Prydz Bay coast) include a much higher proportion of rocks derived either directly or by partial melting (S-type granitic orthogneisses) from sedimentary protoliths. Related chemical trends include increases in K₂O₂, Rb, Pb, and Th, and decreases in CaO, Na₂O₂ and Sr with decreasing age, essentially reflecting changes in the proportions of plagioclase and K-feldspar.