Chemical composition of surface sediments of the White Sea

Contents of major elements in surface sediments of the White Sea were determined by the X-ray fluorescence method. Application of the statistical analysis (principal component method and cluster analysis) made it possible to divide the sediments into more or less homogeneous seven groups with different chemical and grain size compositions. In general, the groups corresponded to sediment lithotypes based on the classification elaborated at the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences. Contents of Si and Al are controlled by the ratio of sand-silt and pelite fractions, while variations in the content of Mn (and Fe in part) are governed by the redistribution of elements in the course of redox processes of early diagenesis.     

Sources of stream sediments in the granulite terrain of the Walawe Ganga Basin,Sri Lanka,indicated by rare earth element geochemistry

Thirty-eight samples of stream sediments draining high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Walawe Ganga (river) Basin, Sri Lanka, were analysed for their REE contents, together with samples of metamorphic suites from the source region. The metamorphic rocks are enriched in light REE (LREE) compared to heavy REE (HREE) and are characterised by high La/Lu ratios and negative Eu anomalies. The chondrite-normalised patterns for these granulite-grade rocks are similar to that of the average post-Archaean upper crust, but they are slightly enriched with La and Ce. The REE contents of the <63-μm fraction of the stream sediments are similar to the probable source rocks, but the other grain size fractions show more enriched patterns. The <63-μm stream sediments fraction contains lower total REE, more pronouncd negative Eu anomalies, higher Eu_N/Sm_N and lower La _N/Lu_N ratios relative to other fractions. The lower La _N/Lu_N ratio is related to the depletion of heavy minerals in the <63-μm fraction. The 63–125-μm and 125–177-μm grain size fractions of sediments are particularly enriched in LREE (average ΣLREE=2990 μg/g and 3410 μg/g, respectively). The total HREE contents are surprisingly uniform in all size fractions. However, the REE contents in the Walawe Ganga sediments are not comparable with those of the granulite-grade rocks from the source region of the sediments. The enrichment of REE is accounted for by the presence of REE containing accessory mineral phases such as zircon, monazite, apatite and garnet. These minerals are derived from an unknown source, presumably from scattered bodies of granitic pegmatites.     

Clay minerals in sediments of the hydrothermally active southern trough in the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California)

The results of the study of clay mineral alterations in Upper Pleistocene sediments of the southern trough in the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California) due to the influence of hydrothermal solutions and heat produced by sill intrusions are discussed. Core samples from DSDP Holes 477 and 477A were taken for the analysis of clay minerals. Application of the method of modeling X-ray diffraction patterns of oriented specimens of the finely dispersed particles made it possible to establish the phase composition of clay minerals, determine their structural parameters, and obtain reliable quantitative estimates of their contents in natural mixtures. The modeling data allowed us to characterize reliably the transformation of clay minerals in sediments of the hydrothermally active southern trough in the Guaymas Basin. In Upper Pleistocene sandy–clayey sediments of the southern trough, changes in the composition of clay minerals occurred under the influence of a long-living hydrothermal system. Its lower part (interval 170.0–257.5 m) with maximum temperatures (~300°C) was marked by the formation of chlorite. Terrigenous clay minerals are not preserved here. Saponite appears at a depth of 248 m in the chlorite formation zone. Higher in the sedimentary section, the interval 146–170 m is also barren of terrigenous clay minerals. Sediments of this interval yielded two newly formed clay minerals (chlorite and illite), which were formed at lower temperatures (above 180°C and below 300°C, approximately up to ~250°C), while the relatively low-temperature upper part (110–146 m) of the hydrothermal system (from ~140°C to ~180°C) includes the mixture of terrigenous and newly formed clay minerals. Terrigenous illite is preserved here. Illitization of the mixed-layer illite–smectite was subjected to illitization. The terrigenous montmorillonite disappeared, and chlorite–smectite with 5–10% of smectite layers were formed. In the upper interval (down to approximately 110 mbsf), the composition of terrigenous clay minerals remains unchanged. They are composed of the predominant mixed-layer illite–smectite and montmorillonite, the subordinate illite, mixed-layer chlorite–smectite with 5% of smectite layers, mixed-layer kaolinite–smectite with 30% of smectite layers, and kaolinite. This composition of clay minerals changed under the influence of sill intrusions into the sedimentary cover at 58–105 m in the section of Hole 477. The most significant changes are noted in the 8-m-thick member above the sill at 50–58 m. The upper part of this interval is barren of the terrigenous mixed-layer illite–smectite, which is replaced by the newly formed trioctahedral smectite (saponite). At the same time, the terrigenous dioctahedral smectite (montmorillonite) is preserved. The composition of terrigenous clay minerals remains unchanged at the top of the unit underlying the sill base.     

Petrology,structure and age of the Rough Point sill,Donegal

The Rough Point sill, which is one of the thickest of a large number of sills intruded into the Appin Group metasediments of the Dalradian sequence in north Donegal, contains a number of internal features including mafic:felsic banding, pegmatite bands and significant variations in grain size. There are also appreciable variations in mineralogy, particularly the proportions of plagioclase and amphibole, and in the major and trace element chemistry. Together these features indicate that the sill is, like the metasediments which it intrudes, inverted, and is therefore older than the Caledonian F₂ structures which caused the inversion. Disruption of the sediments at the sill contact is also earlier than the F₂ event. The timing of the basic magmatic episode together with the geochemistry of the sill invite comparison with the metadolerites of the southwest Highlands of Scotland.     

Geochemistry of the Cauvery Estuary,East Coast of India

Major ion chemistry of water and elemental geochemistry of suspended and surficial sediments collected from the Cauvery Estuary were studied to understand the geochemical processes in this tropical estuarine system. Specific conductance (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended matter (TSM) increased conservatively with increasing chlorinity. In general, SO₄ ^2?, Na, K, Ca, and Mg showed an increasing trend while H₄SiO₄ and PO₄ ^3? showed a decreasing trend toward the sea. Additional removal mechanisms operating for these ions in the Cauvery Estuary have been identified based on observed concentrations. Factor analysis pointed out the sources contributing to the observed trends in estuarine water chemistry. POC and PON decreased toward the high chlorinity zone. TSM in the Cauvery Estuary were mostly of inorganic nature. Stable carbon isotope values showed that the carbon was equally of marine and terrestrial origin and helped to delineate the contribution of river water and seawater. The ? mean size (a logarithmic grain size scale commonly used by sedimentologists) indicated that the surficial sediments were primarily comprised of coarse and silt, whereas suspended sediments were principally silt and clay. Suspended sediments were enriched in clays compared to surficial sediments. Quartz and feldspar were abundant among detritals while chlorite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite were dominant among clays. Silicon was the most abundant element in the sediments followed by Al, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Mn, and P. Heavy metals were enriched in the suspended sediments compared to the surficial bottom sediments as follows: Fe = 3.5, Mn = 7.4, Pb = 1.1, Zn = 15.2, Cu = 7.4, and Cr = 4.0. The levels of Cd, Cr, Zn, and Fe increased up the middle reaches and then decreased toward the sea due to urban effluent and fertilizer input. Size fractionation studies indicated that the metal concentration in the finer fraction was 50% higher by mass than the coarse silt and fine silt fractions. Chemical fractionation studies showed that the abundance of metals were in the order of residual > organic/sulfide > carbonate > Fe/Mn oxide > exchangeable fractions.     

Biogeochemical transformation of Fe minerals in a petroleum-contaminated aquifer

The Bemidji aquifer in Minnesota, USA is a well-studied site of subsurface petroleum contamination. The site contains an anoxic groundwater plume where soluble petroleum constituents serve as an energy source for a region of methanogenesis near the source and bacterial Fe(III) reduction further down gradient. Methanogenesis apparently begins when bioavailable Fe(III) is exhausted within the sediment. Past studies indicate that Geobacter species and Geothrix fermentens-like organisms are the primary dissimilatory Fe-reducing bacteria at this site. The Fe mineralogy of the pristine aquifer sediments and samples from the methanogenic (source) and Fe(III) reducing zones were characterized in this study to identify microbiologic changes to Fe valence and mineral distribution, and to identify whether new biogenic mineral phases had formed. Methods applied included X-ray diffraction; X-ray fluorescence (XRF); and chemical extraction; optical, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy; and Mössbauer spectroscopy.All of the sediments were low in total Fe content (≈ 1%) and exhibited complex Fe-mineralogy. The bulk pristine sediment and its sand, silt, and clay-sized fractions were studied in detail. The pristine sediments contained Fe(II) and Fe(III) mineral phases. Ferrous iron represented approximately 50% of Fe_TOT. The relative Fe(II) concentration increased in the sand fraction, and its primary mineralogic residence was clinochlore with minor concentrations found as a ferroan calcite grain cement in carbonate lithic fragments. Fe(III) existed in silicates (epidote, clinochlore, muscovite) and Fe(III) oxides of detrital and authigenic origin. The detrital Fe(III) oxides included hematite and goethite in the form of mm-sized nodular concretions and smaller-sized dispersed crystallites, and euhedral magnetite grains. Authigenic Fe(III) oxides increased in concentration with decreasing particle size through the silt and clay fraction. Chemical extraction and Mössbauer analysis indicated that this was a ferrihydrite like-phase. Quantitative mineralogic and Fe(II/III) ratio comparisons between the pristine and contaminated sediments were not possible because of textural differences. However, comparisons between the texturally-similar source (where bioavailable Fe(III) had been exhausted) and Fe(III) reducing zone sediments (where bioavailable Fe(III) remained) indicated that dispersed detrital, crystalline Fe(III) oxides and a portion of the authigenic, poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide fraction had been depleted from the source zone sediment by microbiologic activity. Little or no effect of microbiologic activity was observed on silicate Fe(III). The presence of residual “ferrihydrite” in the most bioreduced, anoxic plume sediment (source) implied that a portion of the authigenic Fe(III) oxides were biologically inaccessible in weathered, lithic fragment interiors. Little evidence was found for the modern biogenesis of authigenic ferrous-containing mineral phases, perhaps with the exception of thin siderite or ferroan calcite surface precipitates on carbonate lithic fragments within source zone sediments.     

Hydrothermally induced diagenesis: Evidence from shallow marine-deltaic sediments,Wilhelmøya,Svalbard

Sedimentary basins containing igneous intrusions within sedimentary reservoir units represent an important risk in petroleum exploration. The Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic sediments at Wilhelm?ya(Svalbard) contains reservoir heterogeneity as a result of sill emplacement and represent a unique case study to better understand the effect of magmatic intrusions on the general burial diagenesis of siliciclastic sediments. Sills develop contact metamorphic aureoles by conduction as presented in many earlier studies. However, there is significant impact of localized hydrothermal circulation systems affecting reservoir sediments at considerable distance from the sill intrusions. Dolerite sill intrusions in the studied area are of limited vertical extent(～12 m thick), but created localized hydrothermal convection cells affecting sediments at considerable distance(more than five times the thickness of the sill)from the intrusions. We present evidence that the sedimentary sequence can be divided into two units:(1) the bulk poorly lithified sediment with a maximum burial temperature much lower than 60-70 ℃,and(2) thinner intervals outside the contact zone that have experienced hydrothermal temperatures(around 140 ℃). The main diagenetic alteration associated with normal burial diagenesis is minor mechanical plastic deformation of ductile grains such as mica. Mineral grain contacts show no evidence of pressure dissolution and the vitrinite reflectance suggests a maximum temperature of ～40 ℃. Contrary to this, part of the sediment, preferentially along calcite cemented flow baffles, show evidence of hydrothermal alteration. These hydrothermally altered sediment sections are characterized by recrystallized carbonate cemented intervals. Further, the hydrothermal solutions have resulted in localized sericitization(illitization) of feldspars, albitization of both K-feldspar and plagioclase and the formation of fibrous illite nucleated on kaolinite. These observations suggest hydrothermal alteration at T 120-140 ℃ at distances considerably further away than expected from sill heat dissipation by conduction only, which commonly affect sediments about twice the thickness of the sill intrusion. We propose that carbonate-cemented sections acted as flow baffles already during the hydrothermal fluid mobility and controlled the migration pathways of the buoyant hot fluids. Significant hydrothermally induced diagenetic alterations affecting the porosity and hence reservoir quality was not noted in the noncarbonate-cemented reservoir intervals.     

Distribution and immobilization of heavy metals in Pliocene aquifer sediments in Wadi El Natrun depression, Western Desert

The Pliocene aquifer receives inflow of Miocene and Pleistocene aquifer waters in Wadi El Natrun depression. The aquifer also receives inflow from the agricultural activity and septic tanks. Nine sediment samples were collected from the Pliocene aquifer in Wadi E1 Natrun. Heavy metal (Cu, Sr, Zn, Mn, Fe, Al, Ba, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Co, Mo, and Pb) concentrations of Pliocene aquifer sediments were investigated in bulk, sand, and mud fractions. The determination of extractable trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Pb) in Pliocene aquifer sediments using sequential extraction procedure (four steps) has been performed in order to study environmental pathways (e.g., mobility of metals, bounding states). These employ a series of successively stronger chemical leaching reagents which nominally target the different compositional fractions. By analyzing the liquid leachates and the residual solid components, it is possible to determine not only the type and concentration of metals retained in each phase but also their potential ecological significance. Cu, Sr, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Al concentrations are higher in finer sediments than in coarser sediments, while Ba, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Co, Mo, and Pb are enriched in the coarser fraction. The differences in relative concentrations are attributed to intense anthropogenic inputs from different sources. Heavy metal concentrations are higher than global average concentrations in sandstone, USEPA guidelines, and other local and international aquifer sediments. The order of trace elements in the bulk Pliocene aquifer sediments, from high to low concentrations, is Fe?>?Al?>?Mn?>?Cr?>?Zn?>?Cu?>?Ni?>?V?>?Sr?>?Ba?>?Pb?>?Mo?>?Cd?>?Co. The Pliocene aquifer sediments are highly contaminated for most toxic metals, except Pb and Co which have moderate contamination. The active soluble (F0) and exchangeable (F1) phases are represented by high concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn and relatively higher concentrations of Pb and Cd. This may be due to the increase of silt and clay fractions (mud) in sediments, which act as an adsorbent, retaining metals through ion exchange and other processes. The order of mobility of heavy metals in this phase is found to be Pb?>?Cd?>?Zn?>?Cu?>?Fe?>?Mn. The values of the active phase of most heavy metals are relatively high, indicating that Pliocene sediments are potentially a major sink for heavy metals characterized by high mobility and bioavailability. Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide phase is the most important fraction among labile fractions and represents 22% for Cd, 20% for Fe, 11% for Zn, 8% for Cu, 5% for Pb, and 3% for Mn. The organic matter-bound fraction contains 80% of Mn, 72% of Cu, 68% of Zn, 60% of Fe, 35% of Pb, and 30% of Cd (as mean). Summarizing the sequential extraction, a very good immobilization of the heavy metals by the organic matter-bound fraction is followed by the carbonate-exchangeable-bound fraction. The mobility of the Cd metal in the active and Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide phases is the highest, while the Mn metal had the lowest mobility.     

Geochemistry of Karroo dolerite sills in the Calvinia district,Western Cape Province,South Africa

Two Karroo dolerite sills display chemical and mineralogical variation compatible with cumulus enrichment. The Blaauwkrans sill is an olivine tholeiite and contains a central zone slightly enriched in olivine, plagioclase and clinopyroxene. The thicker Hangnest sill is a quartz tholeiite and shows evidence of crystal settling and has a lower zone enriched in cumulus orthopyroxene and plagioclase.The two sills differ quite markedly in their trace element compositions, with the Hangnest magma enriched by a factor of two in LIL elements (Rb, Ba, Nb, Zr, Y) relative to the Blaauwkrans magma. The Hangnest magma contained extremely low Ni contents (3–5 ppm), whereas the Blaauwkrans magma contained higher but more normal Ni (100–110ppm). Such contrasting trace element compositions preclude any simple genetic relationship between the two Karroo magmas but they may be related either through a common parent or are derivatives from separate parental magmas.South African Contribution No. 24 to the International Geodynamics Project     

Carbonate melting and peperite formation at the intrusive contact between large mafic dykes and clastic sediments of the upper Palaeozoic Saint‐Jules Formation,New‐Carlisle,Quebec

The base of an upper Palaeozoic graben‐fill in eastern Canada was affected by mafic dyke intrusions shortly after deposition, resulting in the formation of peperite. Complex magma–sediment interactions occurred as the melts mingled with the wet and poorly consolidated clastic material of this sedimentary basin, which is separated from underlying rocks by the Acadian unconformity (Middle Devonian). As a result of these interactions, the mafic rocks are strongly oxidized, albitized and autobrecciated near and above the unconformity, where blocky juvenile clasts of mafic glass and porphyritic basalt have mingled with molten or fluidized sediments of the upper Palaeozoic Saint‐Jules Formation, forming a peperite zone several metres thick. In contrast to most peperite occurrences, the New‐Carlisle peperites are associated with the tip of dykes rather than with the sides of sills or dykes. We argue that more heat can be concentrated above a dyke than above a sill, as the former provides a more efficient and focused pathway for heated waters to invade the poorly consolidated host sediments. Superheated groundwaters that issued from the sides of the dykes appear to have promoted melting of carbonate components in calcareous sedimentary rock clasts of the Saint‐Jules Formation, locally generating carbonate melts that contributed to the mingling of juvenile and sedimentary clasts in the peperite. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry of the accumulation of metals in bottom sediments at the Razdol’naya River-Amur Bay marginal filter: I. Pelite fraction

The composition of clay minerals in the subcolloid fraction from the uppermost layer of bottom sediments in the northern part of Amur Bay was determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, and the enrichment of 33 elements in the subcolloid and pelite fractions of the surface deposits from a number of sites at the marginal filter of the Razdol’naya River was studied by ICP-MS.Fe, U, and chalcophile elements are contained in the highest concentrations in sediments from all sampling sites within the filter. The bottom sediments are not enriched in trace, alkali, and alkali-earth elements. The maximum concentrations of chemical elements were found in deposits from the brackish part of the marginal filter, perhaps, because of the formation of Fe and Mn (Al) hydroxides. Bottom sediment at the boundary between the brackish and marine parts of the filter contain the lowest concentrations of the examined elements.     

Fingered Intrusion of Shallow Saucer-shaped Igneous Sills: Insights from the Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea

An extensive suite of igneous sills was intruded into the Tertiary sedimentary section of the Jiaojiang sag,East China Sea.This suite has been well imaged offshore through 2D and 3D seismic surveys,showing a close relationship with CO2 content in nearby gas discoveries.A new observational model,which incorporates simple upward propagation,simple horizontal propagation,and transgressive propagation,was proposed to interpret these sill intrusions.In this model,the source magma of the saucer-shaped sills was injected from their lowest points near the center.The transgressive propagation can be interpreted as a combination of the vertical and horizontal propagation.Most shallow sub-volcanic intrusions in the Jiaojiang sag exhibit fingered characteristics,both vertically and horizontally.The vertical fingered propagation produced saucer-shaped sills arranged in the flower style.Along the brims of lower sills could usually be found the upper sills,which are interpreted to have formed simultaneously with or later than the lower feeder sills.In the second type,the chilled paths of the older sills were reutilized by subsequent intrusions.The horizontal fingered propagation formed sheet intrusions that exhibit groove,lobate,tubular,and crevasse splaylike geometry in plan view.In 3D view,the sheet intrusions have still preserved the lower center and higher rim that similar with the sub-rounded saucer-shaped sills.Although fracture propagation may be important,flow inflation was the key mechanism of magma intrusion.Further consideration of the mechanisms underlying sill formation may help explain the fingered characteristics of sill propagation.     

Geochemistry of the authigenic ferromanganese ore formation in sediments of the Northeast Pacific Basin

Authigenic ferromanganese formations in sediments from two horizons (0–10 and 240–250 cm) located in the low/high bioproductive transitional zone of the Pacific Ocean were studied. In addition to the compositionally different two types of micronodules, crusts and ferromanganese nodules were detected in the surface horizon (0–1 cm). Three size fractions (50–100, 100–250, and 250–500 μm) of manganese micronodules were investigated. In terms of surface morphology, color, and shape, the micronodules are divided into the dull round (MN1) and angular lustrous (MN2) varieties with different mineral and chemical compositions. The dull MN1 are enriched in Mn and depleted in Fe as compared with the lustrous MN2. The Mn/Fe value in the dull MN1 varies from 13 to 14. Asbolane-buserite and birnessite are the major manganese minerals in them. The lustrous MN2 is mainly composed of vernadite with Mn/Fe = 4.3–4.8. Relative to the dull MN1, fraction 50–100 μm of the lustrous MN2 is enriched in Fe (2.6 times), W (1.8), Mo (3.2), Th (2.3), Ce (5.8), and REE (1.2–1.8). Relative to counterparts from the dull MN1, separate fractions of the lustrous MN2 are characterized by a greater compositional difference. For example, increase in the size of micronodules leads to decrease in contents of the following elements: Fe (by 10 rel %), Ce (2 times), W (2.1 times), Mo (2.2 times), and Co (1.5 times). At the same time, one can see increase in contents of other elements: Th and Cu (2.1 times), Ni (1.9 times), and REE (1.2–1.6 times). Differences in the chemical and mineral compositions of MN1 and MN2 fractions can be related to alternation of oxidative and suboxidative conditions in the sediments owing to the input of a labile organic matter, which serves as the major reducer, and the allochthonous genesis of MN2.     

Organic geochemistry of Deep Sea Drilling Project sediments from the Gulf of Calofornia—hydrothermal effects on unconsolidated diatom ooze

The effects of intrusive thermal stress have been studied on a number of Pleistocene sediment samples obtained from Leg 64 of the DSDP-IPOD program in the Gulf of California. Samples were selected from Sites 477, 478 and 481 where the organic matter was subjected to thermal stress from sill intrusions. For comparison purposes, samples from Sites 474 and 479 were selected as representative of unaltered material.The GC and GC-MS data show that lipids of the thermally unaltered samples were derived from microbial and terrestrial higher-plant detritus. Samples from sill proximities were found to contain thermally-derived distillates and those adjacent to sills contained essentially no lipids. Curie point pyrolysis combined with GC and GC-MS was used to show that kerogens from the unaltered samples reflected their predominantly autochthonous microbial origin. Pyrograms of the altered kerogens were much less complex than the unaltered samples, reflecting the thermal effects. The kerogens adjacent to the sills produce little or no pyrolysis products since these intrusions into unconsolidated, wet sediments resulted in in situ pyrolysis of the organic matter.Examination of the kerogens by ESR showed that spin density and line width pass through a maximum during the course of alteration but ESR g-values show no correlation with maturity. Stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) values of kerogens decrease by 1–1.5‰ near the sills at Sites 477 and 481 and the atomic N/C decreases slightly with proximity to a smaller sill at Site 478. Differences in maturation behavior between Site 477 and 481 and Site 478 are attributed to dissimilarities in thermal stress and to chemical and isotopic heterogeneity of Guaymas Basin protokerogen.     

Geochemical features of heavy metals in core sediments of northwestern Taihu Lake, China

Sequential core sediments from northwestern Taihu Lake in China were analyzed for grain size, organic carbon and heavy metal content. The sediments are composed of organic-poor clayey-fine silts. The chemical speciations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were also analyzed using the BCR sequential extraction procedure. Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn are mainly associated with the residue fraction; Mn is concentrated mainly in exchangeable/carbonate fraction and residue fraction; and Pb mainly in Fe/Mn oxide fraction and organic/sulfide fraction. The exchangeable/carbonate fractions of Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Pb are lower. The fractions of Ni, Pb and Zn bound to the Fe/Mn oxide have significant correlations with reducible Mn; the organic/sulfide fractions of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn have significant correlations with TOC. The extractable fractions of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn are high at the top 4 cm of the core sediments as compared to those in the deeper layers, showing the anthropogenic input of heavy metals is due to rapid industrial development. The heavy metal pollution history of the sediments has been recorded since the late 1970s, determined by the result of ^137Cs dating.     

Hornblende gabbro sill complex at Onion Valley,California, and a mixing origin for the Sierra Nevada batholith

 The steep crest of the Sierra Nevada, California, near Onion Valley, exposes natural cross sections through a mafic intrusive complex that formed as part of the Mesozoic Sierra Nevada batholith. Sheeted sills of hornblende gabbro to hornblende diorite, individually as thick as 1.5 m, form the upper 200 to 300 m of the complex. Thicker, multiply-injected sills, as well as mafic stocks, lie underneath at elevations below 3600 m. Lens-shaped cumulate bodies, as thick as 200 m and more than 700 m broad, lie near the base of the sheeted sill suite. Cumulates are flat-lying, modally layered hornblende gabbro with subsidiary ultramafic olivine hornblendite, plagioclase hornblendite, and late-mobile hornblende-plagioclase pegmatite. Fine grain size, scarce phenocrysts and xenocrysts, and quench mineral textures are evidence that hornblende gabbro sills injected in a largely liquid state and preserve basaltic melt compositions. Most sills reached volatile saturation, as shown by tiny miarolitic cavities that are also widespread in cumulates. Although some sills chilled directly against others, most chilled against septa, millimeters to a few centimeters thick, of medium-grained diorite to granodiorite. Mutually crosscutting relations, as well as chilling, show that the septa were partly molten at the time the sills injected and likely formed the lower portions of an overlying more silicic magma chamber that has since been removed by erosion. Sill compositions range from evolved high-alumina basalt to aluminous andesite with major and trace element abundances similar to those of modern arc magmas. Experimental phase equilibria indicate dissolved water contents near 6 wt% (Sisson and Grove 1993a). The sills show unequivocally that hydrous arc basaltic magmas reached shallow levels in the crust during formation of the largely granodioritic Sierra Nevada batholith. The basaltic magmas appear to have been produced from an enriched mantle source with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ∼0.7065, ɛNd ∼−4.3, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ∼18.6, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ∼15.6, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ∼38.6. Although crystal fractionation contributed to forming the sill suite and the associated cumulates, nearly constant concentrations of Na₂O, P₂O₅, Nb, Zr, and light rare earth elements in the sills indicate that mixing between sill basaltic and more evolved septa magmas was important for producing sills with andesitic compositions. Average Sierran granodiorite major and trace element concentrations are readily reproduced by a simple mixture of average basaltic sill from Onion Valley and average Sierran low-silica granite. This result supports the inference that Sierran granitoids formed chiefly by mixing between crustal and mantle-derived magmas, although in some cases these crustal melts may have been derived by refusion of earlier mafic intrusions near the base of the crust. The common mafic inclusions (enclaves) in Sierran granodiorites bear a superficial resemblance to Onion Valley mafic sills; however, high concentrations of lithophile elements in the inclusions point to extensive chemical exchange between inclusions and their host magmas. The prevalence of hornblende-rich mafic intrusive rocks at Onion Valley, elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada, and in other shallow subduction batholiths stems from two effects of high melt water concentrations (∼4–6 wt% H₂O). The hydrous parent basaltic and basaltic andesite magmas had low liquidus temperatures, compared to nearly dry basaltic melts, and thus were chilled less during ascent through the crust and were more capable of ascent as liquids. More importantly, their high water concentrations led to low melt densities, higher than granitoid liquids, but comparable to or less dense than partly solidified granitoid magmas. Thus, the hydrous basaltic and basaltic andesite magmas were neutrally or positively buoyant and were capable of penetrating and rising through partly crystallized granitoids and their partly molten source regions to reach upper crustal emplacement levels. Drier basaltic magmas were probably abundant at depth and contributed heat and mass to granite generation, but were insufficiently buoyant to ascend to shallow levels. Received: 2 August 1995 / Accepted: 26 June 1996     

Biogeochemistry of pyrite and iron sulfide oxidation in marine sediments

Pyrite (FeS₂) and iron monosulfide (FeS) play a central role in the sulfur and iron cycles of marine sediments. They may be buried in the sediment or oxidized by O₂ after transport by bioturbation to the sediment surface. FeS₂ and FeS may also be oxidized within the anoxic sediment in which NO₃⁻, Fe(III) oxides, or MnO₂ are available as potential electron acceptors. In chemical experiments, FeS₂ and FeS were oxidized by MnO₂ but not with NO₃⁻ or amorphous Fe(III) oxide (Schippers and Jørgensen, 2001). Here we also show that in experiments with anoxic sediment slurries, a dissolution of tracer-marked ⁵⁵FeS₂ occurred with MnO₂ but not with NO₃⁻ or amorphous Fe(III) oxide as electron acceptor. To study a thermodynamically possible anaerobic microbial FeS₂ and FeS oxidation with NO₃⁻ or amorphous Fe(III) oxide as electron acceptor, more than 300 assays were inoculated with material from several marine sediments and incubated at different temperatures for > 1 yr. Bacteria could not be enriched with FeS₂ as substrate or with FeS and amorphous Fe(III) oxide. With FeS and NO₃⁻, 14 enrichments were obtained. One of these enrichments was further cultivated anaerobically with Fe²⁺ and S⁰ as substrates and NO₃⁻ as electron acceptor, in the presence of ⁵⁵FeS₂, to test for co-oxidation of FeS₂, but an anaerobic microbial dissolution of ⁵⁵FeS₂ could not been detected. FeS₂ and FeS were not oxidized by amorphous Fe(III) oxide in the presence of Fe-complexing organic compounds in a carbonate-buffered solution at pH 8. Despite many different experiments, an anaerobic microbial dissolution of FeS₂ could not be detected; thus, we conclude that this process does not have a significant role in marine sediments. FeS can be oxidized microbially with NO₃⁻ as electron acceptor. O₂ and MnO₂, but not NO₃⁻ or amorphous Fe(III) oxide, are chemical oxidants for both FeS₂ and FeS.     

Manganese metalliferous sediments of the Deryugin Basin (Sea of Okhotsk): Chemical composition and geological setting

This paper reports the results of an investigation of the chemical composition and distribution of manganese-rich metalliferous sediments in the Deryugin Basin. They compose an upper sedimentary layer up to 30 cm thick within a strip up to 40 km wide and 180 km long in the central part of the basin along the East Deryugin suture zone bounding the Deryugin sedimentary basin to the east. The sediments are enriched relative to the regional background composition in Mn (by a factor of 35); Au; Ni; Zn; Co (by a factor of 3–5); and, locally, in Mo, V, Ba, Cu, Pb, and Hg. It was supposed that their formation was controlled by several processes: precipitation of Mn and some other trace elements from hydrothermal plumes of seawater that occasionally form above submarine hot vents in the northern part of the basin, precipitation from anoxic bottom waters at the eastern boundary of the Deryugin sedimentary basin, and early diagenetic migration of Mn into the surface sediments.     

青岛灵山岛南背来石下白垩统大型砂脉的发现及其形成动力学研究

青岛灵山岛南背来石剖面发育了两层大型不规则砂脉。其主要特征如下：上层大型不规则砂脉呈分散团块状顺黄褐色凝灰质泥岩分布,断续延伸约60 m,宽数米;有17个侵入砂团块。砂团块多呈浅灰色,主要岩性为砂岩、砂砾岩;砂团块直径在1~2 m。砂团块的形态非常复杂,侧向极易尖灭或突然中止。边界与围岩多突变,某些地方与节理发育方向相同。下层大型不规则砂脉浅灰色,主要底部为砂岩、顶部为砂砾岩,呈透镜状顺层产于灰黑色薄层砂泥岩中,均一团块状和边缘含大量泥砾;厚18 m,宽度和高度不详;上层砂脉发育在浅湖中;下层大型不规则砂脉发育在三角洲前缘。与此同时还探讨了上层砂脉的形成的动力学机制,建立了顺层砂脉的形成深度与液化层的深度之间的关系式（h=0.29H）。该公式可以用来预测顺层的侵位深度和寻找砂脉,为含油气盆地砂脉储层预测提供理论依据和新方法。通过流化公式计算获得了形成上层砂脉的流体上侵速度为1.26 m/s。通过本文的论述,进一步为理解灵山岛地区下白垩统的沉积环境和沉积动力学特征提供了新的岩石学证据。     

Regional geochemistry of trace elements in Chesapeake Bay sediments

The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in 177 surface sediment samples from throughout Chesapeake Bay are reported. Analyses were made of both unfractionated samples and the <63 μm fractions. Analytical uncertainty, always less than ±10%, controlled reproducibility in analyses of the <63 μm fractions, but sampling variance controlled reproducibility in the unfractionated samples, especially when coarse-grained sediments were being analyzed. Sediments in the northernmost part of the bay are enriched relative to average continental crust in all elements except Cr. This reflects the composition of dissolved and suspended material being delivered to that region by the Susquehanna River. The enriched sediments appear not to be transported south of Baltimore in significant quantily. Zinc, cadmium, and lead are enriched relative to average crust throughout the bay and in most other estuaries in the eastern United States.