Permian volcanic rocks from the Apuseni Mountains (Romania): Geochemistry and tectonic constraints

An Early Permian volcanic assemblage is well exposed in the central-western part of the Apuseni Mountains (Romania). The rocks are represented by rhyolites, basalts and subordinate andesites suggesting a bimodal volcanic activity that is intimately associated with a post-orogenic (Variscan) syn-sedimentary intra-basinal continental molasse sequences. The mafic and mafic-intermediate rocks belong to sub-alkaline tholeiitic series were separated in three groups (I–III) showing a high Th and Pb abundances, depletion in Nb, Ta and Sr, and slightly enriched in LREE patterns (La_N/Yb_N = 1.4–4.4). Isotopically, the rocks of Group I have the initial ratios ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.709351–0.707112, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512490–0.512588 and high positive ?_Nd270 values from 3.9 to 5.80; the rocks of Group II present for the initial ratios values ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.709434–0.710092, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512231–0.512210 and for ?_Nd270 the negative values from −1.17 to −1.56; the rocks of Group III display for the initial ratios the values ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.710751–0.709448, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512347–0.512411 and for ?_Nd270 the positive values from 1.64 to 2.35. The rocks resembling continental tholeiites, suggest a mantle origin and were further affected by fractionation and crustal contamination. In addition, the REE geochemistry (1 > Sm_N/Yb_N < 2.5; 0.9 > La_N/Sm_N < 2.5) suggests that these rocks were generated by high percentage partial melting of a metasomatized mantle in the garnet peridotite facies. The felsic rocks are enriched in Cs, Rb Th and U and depleted in Nb, Ta, Sr, Eu, and Ti. The REE fractionation patterns show a strong negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.23–0.40). The felsic rocks show the initial ratios the values: ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) = 0.704096–0.707805, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) = 0.512012–0.512021 and for ?_Nd270 the negative values from −5.27 to −5.44. They suggest to be generated within the lower crust during the emplacement of mantle-derived magmas that provided necessary heat to crustal partial melting.     

Magmatic and tectonic history of Jurassic ophiolites and associated granitoids from the South Apuseni Mountains (Romania)

The Jurassic ophiolites in the South Apuseni Mountains represent remnants of the Neotethys Ocean and belong to the East Vardar ophiolites that contain ophiolite fragments as well as granitoids and volcanics with island-arc affinity. New U–Pb zircon ages, and Sr and Nd isotope ratios give insights into their tectono-magmatic history. The ophiolite lithologies show tholeiitic MOR-type affinities, but are occasionally slightly enriched in Th and U, and depleted in Nb, which indicates that they probably formed in a marginal or back-arc basin. These ophiolites are associated with calc-alkaline granitoids and volcanics, which show trace element signatures characteristic for subduction-enrichment (high LILE, low HFSE). Low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.703836–0.704550) and high ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios (0.512599–0.512616) of the calc-alkaline series overlap with the ratios measured in the ophiolitic rocks (0.703863–0.704303 and 0.512496–0.512673), and hence show no contamination with continental crust. This excludes a collisional to post-collisional origin of the granitoids and is consistent with the previously proposed intra-oceanic island arc setting. The new U–Pb ages of the ophiolite lithologies (158.9–155.9 Ma, Oxfordian to Early Kimmeridgian) and granitoids (158.6–152.9 Ma, latest Oxfordian to Late Kimmeridgian) indicate that the two distinct magmatic series evolved within a narrow time range. It is proposed that the ophiolites and island arc granitoids formed above a long-lived NE-dipping subduction zone. A sudden flip in subduction polarity led to collision between island arc and continental margin, immediately followed by obduction of the ophiolites and granitoids on top of the continental margin of the Dacia Mega-Unit. Since the granitoids lack crustal input, they must have intruded the Apuseni ophiolites before both magmatic sequences were obducted onto the continental margin. The age of the youngest granitoid (~153 Ma, Late Kimmeridgian) yields an estimate for the maximum age of emplacement of the South Apuseni ophiolites and associated granitoids onto the Dacia Mega-Unit.     

From nappe stacking to exhumation: Cretaceous tectonics in the Apuseni Mountains (Romania)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - New Ar–Ar muscovite and Rb–Sr biotite age data in combination with structural analyses from the Apuseni Mountains provide new constraints on...     

A rural development strategy for the Apuseni Mountains, Romania

The Apuseni Mountains, part of the Western Carpathians, are distinctive in cultural terms because of the highly dispersed settlement patterns that have developed on the high erosion surfaces where the Moti people cleared the forests to allow for an expansion of family farming in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These small ‘crang’ settlements remain, but the population is declining in the face of limited employment opportunities and poor services. The question arises as to the most appropriate rural development strategy for the region, following the communist period which encouraged centralisation through the provision of housing and industry in key villages and new towns. The emphasis on private farming and the expansion of tourism could protect the inherited cultural landscape but money must be found to improve rural services. There is also a strong conservation movement which supports the establishment of a national park, but this could constrain development through controls on grazing and woodcutting. Hence the dialogue continues to find the best compromise and the concept of a ‘natural park’ is being discussed with such a reconciliation in mind. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Water contamination downstream from a copper mine in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania

This paper presents the results of a study on stream and mine waters in the area of the largest porphyry copper deposit in the Apuseni Mountains (western Romania), the Rosia Poieni ore deposit. The research was focused on two aspects of environmental impact: (1) evaluation of the release of toxic elements into the environment through studying the mineralogical and chemical composition of the ore deposit; and (2) assessment of the distribution and extent of contamination through studying the chemistry of stream waters. This work proved that the Rosia Poieni mine is an active acid-rock drainage (ARD)-producing site. Waters draining freely from the ore deposit are acidic and transport large amounts of toxic elements (Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, Sr, etc.). The weathering of silicate and ore minerals represents an important source of elements. Their release was determined by speciation calculations using an EQ3/6 computer program.     

Fission-track evidence of tectonic evolution in the northwestern Qaidam Basin,China

Fission-track dating was conducted on zircons and apatites from 11 cores of the upper Xiaganchaigou Formation and lower Shangganchaigou Formation (northwestern Qaidam Basin). The obtained apatite fission-track age is 3.1–61.9 Ma, and the zircon fission-track age is 49.2–123.5 Ma. Although the average apatite age is consistent with ages predicted from the stratigraphy, nine of the 11 apatite fission-track ages have \(\hbox {P}(\upchi ^{2}) < 5\%\), indicating that the grains experienced heterogeneous annealing after sedimentation. The average zircon age is greater than that indicated by stratigraphy, and all eight zircon fission ages have \(\hbox {P}(\upchi ^{2})>5\%\), exhibiting consistent characteristics and indicating that zircons retain provenance age information after burial. From the zircon and apatite ages, the fission-track length distribution, and the geological setting, the northwestern Qaidam Basin has experienced two tectonothermal events since the Late Mesozoic, at \(39.1 \pm 9.3\) to \(133.7\,\pm \,6.6\,\hbox {Ma}\) and \(1.2 \pm 0.6\) to \(32.0\,\pm \,3.0\,\hbox {Ma}\). The earlier (39.1–133.7 Ma) tectonothermal event resulted from the initial collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. As a consequence of the collision, the Altyn Tagh fault, which forms the northwestern boundary of the Qaidam Basin, began to develop. Subsequently, uplift of the Altyn Tagh mountains began and the northwestern depression of the Qaidam Basin started to form. The later (1.2–32.0 Ma) tectonothermal event resulted from further collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates along the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone. Strata in the Qaidam Basin were further deformed by transpression in this period and this period played a crucial role in petroleum accumulation.     

Tectonic implications of paleomagnetic research into Upper Cretaceous magmatic rocks in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania

The paleomagnetism of Upper Cretaceous magmatic rocks from 47 collecting sites (172 samples, 692 specimens) in the Apuseni Mountains was studied. After AF cleaning, characteristic magnetizations were identified for various collecting areas in the study zone, which defined a few spatial and temporal units for which paleomagnetic poles could be derived statistically. At 21 sampling sites the paleomagnetic directions showed a high level of intrasite and intersite consistency, with a mean direction of I_f = −38° and D_f = −100°, with ₉₅ = 6°. The paleomagnetic results show that to reach their present-day position the Apuseni Mountains moved to the north, around 14° with respect to Europe, or around 25° with respect to the geographic poles, between the Campanian and, probably, Late Miocene, while a clockwise rotation, of around 80°, was taking place.     

Time constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas (Central Argentina)

The application of the SHRIMP U/Pb dating technique to zircon and monazite of different rock types of the Sierras de Córdoba provides an important insight into the metamorphic history of the basement domains. Additional constraints on the Pampean metamorphic episode were gained by Pb/Pb stepwise leaching (PbSL) experiments on two titanite and garnet separates. Results indicate that the metamorphic history recorded by Crd-free gneisses (M2) started in the latest Neoproterozoic/earliest Cambrian (553 and 543 Ma) followed by the M4 metamorphism at ~530 Ma that is documented in the diatexites. Zircon ages of 492 Ma in the San Carlos Massif correlate partly with rather low Th/U ratios (<0.1) suggesting their growth by metamorphic fluids. This age is even younger than the PbSL titanite ages of 506 Ma. It is suggested that the fluid alteration relates to the beginning of the Famatinien metamorphic cycle in the neighbouring Sierra de San Luis and has not affected the titanite ages. The PTt evolution can be correlated with the plate tectonic processes responsible for the formation of the Pampean orogene, i.e., the accretion of the Pampean basement to the Río de La Plata craton (M2) and the later collision of the Western Pampean basement with the Pampean basement.     

贺兰山构造带构造—地层层序及构造演化

贺兰山构造带及邻区形成演化经历有多期叠加改造和多个伸展—聚敛旋回构造运动,形成了区域内多套构造—地层层序,因此,开展贺兰山构造带构造—地层层序及构造演化研究对深入理解其地质结构和油气勘探有着重要的意义。本文旨在综合利用野外调查、地震数据和1：50 000区域地质资料,采用野外实地调查和地震剖面精细解析相结合的方法对研究区区域不整合面的分布特征和规律进行详尽分析研究,根据区域不整合面的发育特征,建立区域地层年代格架,划分构造—地层层序,进而对盆地演化阶段进行探讨。研究表明,研究区自下至上发育Pt2Ch-Jx/Pt1、∈1/An ∈、C2/O、T/P、J1-2/An J、K1/An K1、E3q—N/AnE,据此将研究区垂向上划为7个构造—地层层序：基底构造层、中元古界构造层、震旦系—奥陶系构造层、石炭系—三叠系构造层、侏罗系构造层、下白垩统构造层、新生界构造层。贺兰山构造带构造演化经历中新元古代—早古生代陆缘盆地坳陷—裂谷演化阶段;晚古生代—中三叠世陆相盆地坳陷沉积阶段;晚三叠世局部伸展;中侏罗世—早白垩世大规模逆冲推覆阶段,普遍发育多条大型北东向逆冲断裂;始新世开始进入盆—岭构造形成阶段。     

宁夏固原炭山窑山组形成时代的裂变径迹热史约束

查明鄂尔多斯盆地西缘窑山组的形成时代,是正确进行地层对比、恢复盆地原貌及其演化的关键。根据\     

贺兰山构造带构造—地层层序及构造演化

贺兰山构造带及邻区形成演化经历有多期叠加改造和多个伸展—聚敛旋回构造运动,形成了区域内多套构造—地层层序,因此,开展贺兰山构造带构造—地层层序及构造演化研究对深入理解其地质结构和油气勘探有着重要的意义。本文旨在综合利用野外调查、地震数据和1：50 000区域地质资料,采用野外实地调查和地震剖面精细解析相结合的方法对研究区区域不整合面的分布特征和规律进行详尽分析研究,根据区域不整合面的发育特征,建立区域地层年代格架,划分构造—地层层序,进而对盆地演化阶段进行探讨。研究表明,研究区自下至上发育Pt₂Ch-Jx/Pt₁、∈₁/An∈、C₂/O、T/P、J_1-2/An J、K₁/An K₁、E₃q—N/AnE,据此将研究区垂向上划为7个构造—地层层序：基底构造层、中元古界构造层、震旦系—奥陶系构造层、石炭系—三叠系构造层、侏罗系构造层、下白垩统构造层、新生界构造层。贺兰山构造带构造演化经历中新元古代—早古生代陆缘盆地坳陷—裂谷演化阶段;晚古生代—中三叠世陆相盆地坳陷沉积阶段;晚三叠世局部伸展;中侏罗世—早白垩世大规模逆冲推覆阶段,普遍发育多条大型北东向逆冲断裂;始新世开始进入盆—岭构造形成阶段。     

Rosia Poieni copper deposit,Apuseni Mountains,Romania: advanced argillic overprint of a porphyry system

The Rosia Poieni deposit is the largest porphyry copper deposit in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization are related to the Middle Miocene emplacement of a subvolcanic body, the Fundoaia microdiorite. Zonation of the alteration associated with the porphyry copper deposit is recognized from the deep and central part of the porphyritic intrusion towards shallower and outer portions. Four alteration types have been distinguished: potassic, phyllic, advanced argillic, and propylitic. Potassic alteration affects mainly the Fundoaia subvolcanic body. The andesitic host rocks are altered only in the immediate contact zone with the Fundoaia intrusion. Mg-biotite and K-feldspar are the main alteration minerals of the potassic assemblage, accompanied by ubiquitous quartz; chlorite, and anhydrite are also present. Magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor bornite, are associated with this alteration. Phyllic alteration has overprinted the margin of the potassic zone, and formed peripheral to it. It is characterized by the replacement of almost all early minerals by abundant quartz, phengite, illite, variable amounts of illite-smectite mixed-layer minerals, minor smectite, and kaolinite. Pyrite is abundant and represents the main sulfide in this alteration zone. Advanced argillic alteration affects the upper part of the volcanic structure. The mineral assemblage comprises alunite, kaolinite, dickite, pyrophyllite, diaspore, aluminium-phosphate-sulphate minerals (woodhouseite-svanbergite series), zunyite, minamyite, pyrite, and enargite (luzonite). Alunite forms well-developed crystals. Veins with enargite (luzonite) and pyrite in a gangue of quartz, pyrophyllite and diaspore, are present within and around the subvolcanic intrusion. This alteration type is partially controlled by fractures. A zonal distribution of alteration minerals is observed from the centre of fractures outwards with: (1) vuggy quartz; (2) quartz + alunite; (3) quartz + kaolinite ± alunite and, in the deeper part of the argillic zone, quartz + pyrophyllite + diaspore; (4) illite + illite-smectite mixed-layer minerals ± kaolinite ± alunite, and e) chlorite + albite + epidote. Propylitic alteration is present distal to all other alteration types and consists of chlorite, epidote, albite, and carbonates. Mineral parageneses, mineral stability fields, and alteration mineral geothermometers indicate that the different alteration assemblages are the result of changes in both fluid composition and temperature of the system. The alteration minerals reflect cooling of the hydrothermal system from >400 °C (biotite), to 300–200 °C (chlorite and illite in veinlets) and to lower temperatures of kaolinite, illite-smectite mixed layers, and smectite crystallization. Hydrothermal alteration started with an extensive potassic zone in the central part of the system that passed laterally to the propylitic zone. It was followed by phyllic overprint of the early-altered rocks. Nearly barren advanced argillic alteration subsequently superimposed the upper levels of the porphyry copper alteration zones. The close spatial association between porphyry mineralization and advanced argillic alteration suggests that they are genetically part of the same magmatic-hydrothermal system that includes a porphyry intrusion at depth and an epithermal environment of the advanced argillic type near the surface.Editorial handling: B. Lehmann     

Petrochemical constraints on the models of Cretaceous-Eocene tectonic evolution of the Eastern Pontic chain (Turkey)

Sixteen selected samples from the Upper Cretaceous volcanic belt of the Eastern Pontids have been analysed for major elements, Rb, Sr and Zr. On the basis of the K₂O versus SiO₂ distribution, two groups of rocks have been distinguished, one with calc-alkaline affinity and a second group with shoshonitic character. The calc-alkaline rocks have porphyritic texture with clinopyroxene, plagioclase and orthopyroxene as phenocryst and in the groundmass. The orthopyroxene is lacking in the shoshonites where plagioclase, clinopyroxene and, in the more evolved terms, amphibole and biotite are the main phenocryst minerals. The shoshonitic rocks have higher $\text{K}{}_2\text{O}\text{Na}{}_2\text{O}$ ratio, K₂O, P₂O₅ and Rb, contents with respect to the calc-alkaline samples. The TiO₂ content is invariably low, never exceeding approximately 1%. The occurrence of volcanic rocks ranging in composition from calc-alkaline to shoshonitic in the Upper Cretaceous volcanic belt of the Eastern Pontids suggests that the Upper Cretaceous volcanic cycle reached its mature stage before the onset of the Eocene calc-alkaline volcanism which is believed to be neither genetically nor tectonically related with the Upper Cretaceous volcanism.     

郯庐断裂带构造演化的同位素年代学制约

近年来在郯庐断裂带内获得了大量的同位素年龄,为了解该断裂带的演化规律与相关动力学过程提供了有效的制约。该断裂带早期走滑构造带内给出了238～236 Ma的白云母 40Ar/39Ar 变形年龄,指示其起源于华北与华南克拉通碰撞过程的深俯冲阶段,支持其造山期陆内转换断层成因观点。其晚中生代走滑韧性剪切带内已获得的较大白云母 40Ar/39Ar冷却年龄为162～150 Ma,表明其再次左行平移发生在晚侏罗世初或中 晚侏罗世之交,出现在区域压扭性动力学背景下。这一事件应代表了中国东部滨太平洋构造域的开始时间。已获得的一系列断裂带内岩体与火山岩锆石LA ICPMS年龄显示,该断裂带内伸展性背景下最早的岩浆活动时间为136 Ma。而断裂带所控制的断陷盆地内地层时代表明其伸展活动发生在早白垩世初（约145 Ma）。这应指示了中国东部转变为伸展性动力学背景的时间。该断裂带一系列长石40Ar/39Ar年龄与磷灰石裂变径迹年龄,显示其在晚白垩世与古近纪仍处于伸展活动之中。     

Hydrothermal alteration associated with gold mineralization in the southern Apuseni Mountains, Romania: preliminary Sr isotopic data

Precious-metal mineralization in the southern Apuseni Mountains of western Romania is hosted by mid-Miocene (∼14 Ma) andesitic stocks and lava flows. The mineralized veins are surrounded by aureoles of hydrothermal alteration, consisting of quartz, sericite, K-feldspar, pyrite and calcite. The alteration process caused a total homogenization of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in the rocks. Ages determined for the hydrothermal alteration are 13.7–15.7 Ma, indicating that hydrothermal alteration immediately followed igneous activity. Furthermore, a large influx of radiogenic Sr took place during alteration, this Sr probably being derived from the hydrothermal leaching of continental meta-sedimentary rocks in the basement. Received: 5 December 1997 / Accepted: 26 February 1998     

Conjectures on the thermal and tectonic evolution of the Earth

The tectonic modes operating at any given time in the Earth are intimately related to the thermal evolution, since tectonics is driven by heat removal from the Earth's interior. Conversely, the viability of a proposed tectonic mode depends on its ability to remove heat from the interior as well as on its inferred consistency with geological evidence. On this basis it seems that plate tectonics may have been dominant only in the later part of Earth history, and that proposed earlier modes involving only a subcrustal thermal boundary layer may never have been dominant unless the effects of the basalt-eclogite transition or of latent heat removal were able to enhance their heat transport efficiency. More generally, the tectonic mode driven by the cool thermal boundary layer at the top of the mantle may have depended very sensitively on the effects of composition and latent heat on density.

Calculations indicate that plumes could have operated through most of Earth history at about the present level of activity, unless heat conduction from the core into the mantle has been inhibited in later times, in which case they would have been hotter and more active in earlier times. Plumes could not have substituted for plate tectonics because plumes and plates are driven by different thermal boundary layers that operate largely independently.     

Alpine tectonic evolution and thermal water circulations of the Argentera Massif (South-Western Alps)

Three groups of thermal springs with temperatures close to 70 °C discharge both in the core (at Bagni di Vinadio and Terme di Valdieri) and on the external margin (at Berthemont-Les-Bains) of the Argentera Massif. Detailed structural field analysis carried out on the hydrothermal sites allows us to delineate both a model of Alpine tectonic evolution of the Argentera Massif and the patterns of hydrothermal circulation that were active during its final exhumation. The observed fault rock assemblages provide information relative to deformation that occurred in viscous, frictional-to-viscous and frictional crustal regimes. During the Early Miocene, the Bersezio Fault Zone and the Fremamorta Shear Zone, two main mylonitic shear zones, mainly accommodated regional transpression and provided pathways for fluid flow promoting mineral reactions in greenschist facies. During the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene, frictional-to-viscous deformation affected the massif, which underwent predominant transpression in the internal sectors and extension on the external margin. During the Plio-Pleistocene, deformation in frictional condition accompanied the final exhumation of the massif in a transpressive regime and resulted in the development of the NW–SE striking cataclastic zones. The hydraulic properties of these structures mainly influence the patterns of the active thermal circulations and the localization of the recharge and discharge zones. At Berthemont these faults represent conduits, whereas at Vinadio and Valdieri they form complex systems of conduits and barriers. In these two latter sites, the cataclastic faults compose flower structures that constrain laterally the thermal fluid flows while intensely fractured granites sited at depth constitute a highly-transmissive geothermal reservoir. Less permeable migmatitic gneisses overlaying the granites prevent a massive infiltration of the cold fluids at depth. This context favours within the high-permeability fractures granites the development of buoyancy-driven flows which combined with topographically-driven flows, provided the conditions for the upflow of the high-temperature waters.     

A geochemical traverse across the Eastern Carpathians (Romania): constraints on the origin and evolution of the mineral water and gas discharges

The inner sector of the Eastern Carpathians displays a large number of Na–HCO₃, CO₂-rich, meteoric-originated cold springs (soda springs) and bore wells, as well as dry mofettes. They border the southern part of the Pliocene–Quaternary Calimani–Gurghiu–Harghita (CGH) calc-alkaline volcanic chain. Both volcanic rocks and CO₂-rich emissions are situated between the eastern part of the Transylvanian Basin and the main east Carpathian Range, where active compression tectonics caused diapiric intrusions of Miocene halite deposits and associated saline, CO₂-rich waters along active faults. The regional patterns of the distribution of CO₂ in spring waters (as calculated pCO₂) and the distribution pattern of the ³He/⁴He ratio in the free gas phases (up to 4.5 R_m/R_a) show their maximum values in coincidence with both the maximum heat-flow measurements and the more recent volcanic edifices. Moving towards the eastern external foredeep areas, where oil fields and associated brines are present, natural gas emissions become CH₄-dominated. Such a change in the composition of gas emissions at surface is also recorded by the ³He/⁴He ratios that, in this area, assume ‘typical’ crustal values (R_m/R_a=0.02).In spite of the fact that thermal springs are rare in the Harghita volcanic area and that equilibrium temperature estimates based on geothermometric techniques on gas and liquid phases at surface do not suggest the presence of shallow active hydrothermal systems, a large circulation of fluids (gases) is likely triggered by the presence of mantle magmas stored inside the crust. If total ³He comes from the mantle or from the degassing of magmas stored in the crust, CO₂ might be associated to both volcanic degassing and thermometamorphism of recently subducted limestones.