Two-phase separation and fracturing in mid-ocean ridge gabbros at temperatures greater than 700°C

Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions on a suite of hydrothermally altered gabbros recovered just south of the eastern intersection of the Kane Fracture Zone and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, record the highest homogenization temperatures yet reported for mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. Fluid salinities in the high temperature inclusions are more than ten times that of seawater. Multiple generations of fluid inclusions entrapped along healed microfractures exhibit three distinct temperature-compositional groups. We interpret these populations as having been trapped during three separate fracturing events.The earliest episode of brittle failure in the gabbros is represented by coplanar, conjugate vapor-dominated and brine-dominated fluid inclusion arrays in primary apatite. Vapor-dominated inclusions exhibit apparent homogenization temperatures of 400°C and contain equivalent salinities of 1–2 wt.% NaCl. These inclusions are interspersed with liquid-dominated, sulfide-bearing inclusions containing salinities of 50 wt.% NaCl equivalent. These high salinity inclusions remain unhomogenized at temperatures greater than 700°C.Compositional and phase relationships of the fluid inclusions may be accounted for by two-phase separation of a fluid under 1000–1200 bars pressure. These pressures require that fluid entrapment occurred under a significant lithostatic component and indicate a minimum entrapmentdepth of 2 km below the axial valley floor. This depth corresponds to a minimum tectonic uplift of 3 km, in order to emplace the samples at the 3100 m recovery depth. The microfracture networks within magmatic apatites represent fluid flow paths for either highly modified, deeply penetrating seawater or a late stage magmatic aqueous fluid. The inclusions may have formed close to the brittle-ductile transition zone adjacent to an active magma chamber.Following collapse of the high temperature front, lower temperature fluids of definite seawater origin circulated through the open fracture networks, pervasively altering portions of the gabbros. This stage is represented by low-to-moderate (1–7 wt.% NaCl equivalent) salinity inclusions in plagioclase, apatite, epidote, and augite, which homogenize at temperatures of approximately 200–300°C and 400°C. Formation of hydrous mineral assemblages, under greenschist to lower amphibolite facies conditions, resulted in sealing of the vein system and may have resulted in modification of seawater salinities by as much as a factor of two. During or following these later stages of hydrothermal activity the gabbros were emplaced high on the axial walls by differential uplift attending formation of the flanking mountains.     

Geochemical anomalies of hydrothermal plume at EPR 13°N

During the DY105-12, 14cruise (R/V DAYANG YIHAO, November 2003) on East Pacific Rise (EPR) 12- 13°N, the submarine hydrothermal activity was investigated and the CTD hydrocast was carried out at EPR12°39′N-12°54′N. From the temperature anomalies and the concentrations of magnesium, chlorine, bromine in seawater samples, we discover that magnesium depletes 9.3%-22.4%, chlorine and bro- mine enrich 10.3%-28.7% and 10.7%-29.0% respectively relative to normal seawater at the stations which have chemistry anomalies, moreover temperature and chemistry anomalies are at the same layer. The depletion of magnesium in the plume may be caused by a fluid lacking of magnesium which rises after the hydrothermal fluid reaches the equilibrium with ambient seawater, the enrichment of chlorine and bromine might be the result of inputting later brine which is generated by phase separation due to hydrothermal activity. In addition, the Br/Cl ratio in the abnormal layers at the survey area is identical to that in seawater, which implies that halite dissolution (or precipitation) occurs neither when the fluid is vented nor when hydrothermal fluid entraining ambient seawater rises to form plume. From the ab- normal instance at E55 station, it is very possible that there might exist a new hydrothermal vent site.     

Precise revision of the garnet-muscovite geothermometer

The garnet-muscovite geothermometer was refined through empirical calibration by using natural rocks metamorphosed under the physical conditions of 238—1306 MPa and 490—700℃. Input temperatures and pressures were determined through simultaneously applying the garnet-biotite geothermometer and the garnet-biotite-plagioclase-quartz barometer, assuming that all FeO in muscovite and garnet be ferrous. Garnet was treated as the asymmetric quaternary solid solution, and muscovite as the symmetric binary solid solution. Input muscovite compositions include Fe atoms between 0.03—0.19 and Mg atoms between 0.04—0.16 on the basis of 11 oxygen atoms, and input garnet compositions include spessartine fractions between 0.01—0.289, grossular fractions between 0.028—0.273, and the Fe/Mg ratio between 3.387-18.986. The resulting garnet-muscovite geothermometer reproduces temperatures within (50℃ compared with the garnet-biotite thermometer. Total random error of ±37℃ of the new thermometer may stem from the pressure uncertainty of ±200 MPa, and uncertainties of ±5% of Fe and Mg components in muscovite, and ±5% of Fe, Mg, Mn and Ca components in garnet, altogether. When there exist 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% Fe3+ in muscovite, respectively, the computed garnet-muscovite temperatures will be 1—6℃, 2—12℃, 3—16℃, 5—24℃ and 7—29℃, respectively, lower than those obtained when assuming that all FeO be ferrous. The new garnet-muscovite geothermometer can efficiently reflect temperature change of typical prograde sequences and contact aureole rocks, and may be applied to low- to high-grade and low- to high-pressure metamorphic rocks.     

Zircon and apatite fission track analyses on mineralization ages and tectonic activities of Tuwu-Yandong porphyry copper deposit in northern Xinjiang, China

The mineralization ages reported in the past in the Tuwu-Yandong copper district not only are different,but also fall into the Hercynian epoch.This study has achieved 9 zircon and 7 apatite fission track analysis results.The zircon fission track ages range from 158 Ma to 289 Ma and the apatite ages are between 64 Ma and 140 Ma.The mineralization accords with the regional tectonics in the copper district.We consider that the zircon fission track age could reveal the mineralization age based on annealing zone temperature of 140―300℃ and retention temperature of ～250℃ for zircon fission track,and metallogenetic temperature of 120―350℃ in this ore district.Total three mineralization epochs have been identified,i.e.,289―276 Ma,232―200 Ma and 165―158 Ma,and indicate occurrence of the min-eralization in the Indosinian and Yanshan epochs.Corresponding to apatite fission track ages,the three tectonic-mineralizing epochs are 140―132 Ma,109―97 Ma and 64 Ma,which means age at about 100℃ after the mineralization.The three epochs lasted 146 Ma,108 Ma and about 100 Ma from ～250℃ to ～100℃ and trend decrease from early to late.It is shown by the fission track modeling that this district underwent three stages of geological thermal histories,stable in Cretaceous and cooling both before Cretaceous and after 20 Ma.     

Paleomagnetic study on the Early Triassic red beds from Jiaocheng,Shanxi Province

Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic study has been conducted on the Early Triassic red beds of Liujiagou Formation from Jiaocheng, Shanxi Province. Hematite was shown as the main magnetic mineral. After eradicating an initial viscous component at room temperature to ~100°C–200°C, thermal demagnetization shows that most samples contain two remanence components, intermediate-temperature remanence component at 250°C–500°C and high-temperature component at 500°C–680°C. The intermediate-temperature component has a negative fold test at the 95% confidence level. And the pole position of the intermediate-temperature component in geographic coordinates is correlated with the Middle Jurassic reference pole of the North China Block (NCB) within the 95% confidence, suggesting that it might be a remagnetization component acquired during the Yanshanian period. The high-temperature component contains both reversal and normal polarities with positive fold test and C-level positive reversal test at the 95% confidence level, which suggests that this high-temperature component can be regarded as primary magnetization. Comparison of this newly obtained Early Triassic paleopole with the coeval mean pole of the Ordos Basin suggests that a locally relative rotation may have happened between the Ordos and the Jiaocheng area of Shanxi Province. This rotation may be related with two faults: one is Lishi big fault separating Ordos from Shanxi and the other is Jiaocheng big fault, which is situated in the southeast of sampling locality and was still in motion during the Cenozoic.     

Origin of natural sulphur-bearing immiscible inclusions and H2S in oolite gas reservoir, Eastern Sichuan

Based on results of microscopic observation and laser Raman analysis about fluid inclusions, multiple special forms of immiscible inclusions that contain sulphur, liquid hydrocarbon, bitumen, etc. were discovered in samples collected from the H₂S gas reservoir-containing carbonates in the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Jinzhu-Luojia area, Kai County, Sichuan Province. Based on the lithology and burial history of the strata involved as well as measurement results of homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions, bitumen reflectivity, etc., it is concluded that the H₂S in the gas reservoir resulted from the thermal reaction between hydrocarbons in reservoir and CaSO₄ in the gypsum-bearing dolostone section at the high temperature (140°C–17°C) oil-cracked gas formation stage in Late Cretaceous. Thereafter, research on a great number of immiscible inclusions in the reservoir reveals that elemental sulphur resulted from oxidation of part of the earlier-formed H₂S and further reaction between sulphates, hydrocarbons and H₂S in geological fluids in H₂S-bearing gas reservoir at a temperature of 86°C–89°C and a pressure of 340×10⁵Pa and during the regional uplift stage as characterized by temperature decrease and pressure decrease in Tertiary. Meanwhile, gypsum, anhydrite and calcite formed at this stage would trap particles like elemental sulphur and result in a variety of special forms of immiscible inclusions, and these inclusions would contain information concerning the complexity of the fluids in the reservoir and the origin of H₂S and natural sulphur in the gas reservoir.     

Evidence of fluid inclusion for thermal fluid-bearing hydrocarbon movements in Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Diagenetic research and inclusion observance indicate that there are seven types of inlcusion in the reservoirs in the Qiongdongnan Basin. Based on the fluorescence color, ratio of gas/liquid, formation temperature, salinity and organic component of fluid inclusions, three events of thermal fluid movement were found, and only the second and third events are relative to hydrocarbon migration and accumulation with the temperatures of 140–150°C and 170–190°C., respectively.The mechanism of gas migration in aqueous phase suggests that the discharging site of thermal fluid is the favourable location for natural gas accumulation. Project supported by the Natlonal Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Ore-forming fluids in the dongping gold deposit, northwestern Hebei Province

The Dongping gold deposit is contained within an inner contacting zone of the Hercynian Shuiquangou alkali syenite. The ores occur as veins or as replacement bodies. Fluid inclusion observation shows that in early and main mineralizing stages inclusion types are gas and gas-liquid inclusions, respectively. Gas inclusions occur in isolation in vein quartz, their homog-enization temperature is 372-306°C, and salinity 3.7-1.0 wt% NaCl. Gas-liquid inclusions occur in clusters or healed fractures but do not cut quartz boundary with homogenization temperature 342-267°C and salinity 1.9-0.8 wt% NaCl. Stable isotope measurements show that at main gold mineralization, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic ratios of the mineralizing fluids are -70.8‰-108.4‰ and 2.44‰-4.05‰, respectively. Primary ore fluids in Dongping are higher temperature and lower salinity NaCl-CO₂-H₂O fluids, and come from Yanshanian granitic magmatism. Fluid im-miscibility, fluid-rock interactions and meteoric water adding were main reasons for gold deposition.     

Germination strategies of two halophytes in Salt Desert of northwestern China

The effects of temperatures and salinities on germination of two halophytes, Kalidium capsicum and Suaeda physophora in northwestern China, were tested, and their seed size and seed production were compared. It was found that seed of Suaeda physophora germinate under 10°C, even about 0°C, and at a wide temperature range of 10–30°C. It showed about 50% germination in the concentration up to 0.7 mol/L NaCl; optimum germination temperature of Kalidium capsicum was between 20°C and 30°C. The concentration of less than 0.3 mol/L NaCl inhibited absolutely its germination. Germination recovery was observed when salinities were reduced and total germination percentage exceeded 90%. Seeds of Kalidium capsicum showed no loss of viability while Suaeda physophora an annual loss of viability of 75% at room temperature. Mean weight of seeds of Suaeda physophora was about 8.5 times of Kalidium capsicum, whereas the number of seeds of the latter was more than 20 times of the former. Suaeda physophora was observed to be dependent on periodic precipitation in germination and seedling growth. It suggests the evident trace of the species with zonation pattern. On the other hand, the germination of Kalidium capsicum was affected by unpredictable rain and inundation. This species might be a type without zonation patterns in halophytes. It was concluded that both species are halophytes, but they are established successfully by different adaptation strategies in the early stage of life history.     

Characteristics of melt inclusions in skarn minerals from Fe,Cu(Au) and Au(Cu) ore deposits in the region from Daye to Jiujiang

The skarns and skarn deposits are widely distributed at home and abroad. The skarn deposits include many kinds of ores and higher ore grade. Some of them are broad in scale. Scientists of ore deposits from different countries have paid and are paying grea…     

Helium and argon isotopic geochemistry of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit

The study results of He and Ar isotopes from fluid inclusions in pyrites formed during mineralization stage of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit in west Yunnan, China are reported. The data show that the⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and³He/⁴He ratios of fluid inclusions are respectively in the range of 301. 7–385. 7 and 0. 03–0.06Ra, suggesting the oreforming fluid is a kind of air saturated meteoric groundwater. On the basis of research on coupled relationships among He, Ar, S and Pb isotopes, the evolution history of ore-forming fluid of the deposit can be summarized as (i) air saturated meteogenic groundwater infiltrated down and was heated→ (ii) leached S, C and radiogenic He, Ar from the basinal strata → (iii) leached Pb and Zn from mantle-derived igneous rocks located in the bottom of the basin→ (iv) ore-forming fluid ascended and formed the deposit. Due to this process, the isotope signatures of crustal radiogenic He, atmospheric Ar (with partial radiogenic⁴⁰Ar), crustal S and mantle-derived Pb remained in the ore-forming fluid. Project supported by A30 Project of the National Climbing Program of China and University of Manchester.     

Evolving patterns of the fluids within the TAG hydrothermal field

The mixing of seawater/hydrothermal fluid within the large seafloor hydrothermal sulfide deposits plays a key role in the formation processes of the sulfide deposits. Some issues attract considerable attentions in the study of seafloor hydrothermal system in recent years, such as the relationships among different types of vent fluids, the characteristics of chemical compositions and mineral assemblages of the hydrothermal deposits and their governing factors. Combined with the measured data of hydrothermal fluid in the TAG field, the thermodynamic model of mixing processes of the heated seawater at different temperatures and the hydrothermal fluid is calculated to understand the precipitation mechanism of anhydrite and the genetic relationships between the black and white smoker fluids within the TAG mound. The results indicate that the heating of seawater and the mixing of hydrothermal fluid/seawater are largely responsible for anhydrite precipitation and the temperature of the heated seawater is not higher than 150°C and the temperature of the end-member hydrothermal fluid is not lower than 400°C. Based on the simulated results, the evolving patterns of fluids within the TAG deposit are discussed. The mixed fluid of the end-member hydrothermal fluid and the seawater heated by wall rock undergoes conductive cooling during upflowing within the deposit and forms “White Smoker” eventually. In addition, the end-member hydrothermal fluid without mixed with seawater, but undergoing conductive cooling, vents out of the deposit and forms “Black Smoker”. Supported by China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association Program (Grant No. DY115-02-1-01) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. G2000078503)     

Experimental hydrogen isotope studies,II. Fractionations in the systems epidote-NaCl-H2O,epidote-CaCl2-H2O and epidote-seawater,and the hydrogen isotope composition of natural epidotes

The hydrogen isotope fractionation factors between epidote and aqueous 1 M and 4 M NaCl, 1 M CaCl₂ solutions, and between epidote and seawater, have been measured over the temperature range 250–550°C over which the degree of dissociation of dissolved species varies significantly. Measured fractionations at 350°C are decreased by up to 12‰, 9‰ and 7‰ relative to pure water in seawater, 1 M CaCl₂ and 1 M NaCl respectively, while above 500°C fractionations are not measurably dependent on fluid composition. Water—solution fractionation factors are derived which are generally applicable to the correction of mineral—water hydrogen isotope fractionations for the composition of the fluid phase.The hydrogen isotope compositions of natural epidotes are interpreted in the light of experimental fractionation data for situations where temperature, δD (fluid), and, in some cases, fluid chemistry, are independently known. Epidotes from active geothermal systems have hydrogen isotope quench temperatures consistent with or close to measured well temperatures unless the measured temperature has declined substantially since epidote formation or there is uncertainty in the D/H ratio of the water associated with the epidote because of isotopic heterogeneity in the well waters. Hydrothermal and metamorphic epidotes show closure temperatures of 175–225°C and 200–250°C. There is no evidence that retrograde metamorphic fluids, if present, are isotopically different from prograde fluids.The water-solution fractionations indicate strong solute-solvent interactions between 250 and 450°C and imply that both dissociated and associated species contribute to the fractionation effects through modification of the orientations and structure of the water molecules. Solute-solvent interactions become negligible at temperatures around 550°C.     

The November 2002 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise,Réunion: tracking the pre-eruptive thermal evolution of magma using melt inclusions

The November 2002 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in the Indian Ocean was typical of the activity of the volcano from 1999 to 2006 in terms of duration and volume of magma ejected. The first magma erupted was a basaltic liquid with a small proportion of olivine phenocrysts (Fo₈₁) that contain small numbers of melt inclusions. In subsequent flows, olivine crystals were more abundant and richer in Mg (Fo_83–84). These crystals contain numerous melt and fluid inclusions, healed fractures, and dislocation features such as kink bands. The major element composition of melt inclusions in this later olivine (Fo_83–84) is out of equilibrium with that of its host as a result of extensive post-entrapment crystallization and Fe²⁺ loss by diffusion during cooling. Melt inclusions in Fo₈₁ olivine are also chemically out of equilibrium with their hosts but to a lesser degree. Using olivine–melt geothermometry, we determined that melt inclusions in Fo₈₁ olivine were trapped at lower temperature (1,182 ± 1°C) than inclusions in Fo_83–84 olivine (1,199–1,227°C). This methodology was also used to estimate eruption temperatures. The November 2002 melt inclusion compositions suggest that they were at temperatures between 1,070°C and 1,133°C immediately before eruption and quenching. This relatively wide temperature range may reflect the fact that most of the melt inclusions were from olivine in lava samples and therefore likely underwent minor but variable amounts of post-eruptive crystallization and Fe²⁺ loss by diffusion due to their relatively slow cooling on the surface. In contrast, melt inclusions in tephra samples from past major eruptions yielded a narrower range of higher eruption temperatures (1,163–1,181°C). The melt inclusion data presented here and in earlier publications are consistent with a model of magma recharge from depth during major eruptions, followed by storage, cooling, and crystallization at shallow levels prior to expulsion during events similar in magnitude to the relatively small November 2002 eruption.     

Geochemistry and magmatic properties of eruption episodes from Haroharo linear vent zone, Okataina Volcanic Centre, New Zealand during the last 10 kyr

Post-10 ka rhyolitic eruptions from the Haroharo linear vent zone, Okataina Volcanic Centre, have occurred from several simultaneously active vents spread over 12 km. Two of the three eruption episodes have tapped multiple compositionally distinct homogeneous magma batches. Three magmas totalling ~8 km³ were erupted during the 9.5 ka Rotoma episode. The most evolved Rotoma magma (SiO₂=76.5–77.9 wt%, Sr=96–112 ppm) erupted from a southeastern vent, and is characterised by a cummingtonite-dominant mineralogy, a temperature of 739±14°C, and fO₂ of NNO+0.52±0.11. The least evolved (SiO₂=75.0–76.4 wt%, Sr=128–138 ppm, orthopyroxene+ hornblende-dominant) Rotoma magma erupted from several vents, and was hotter (764±18°C) and more reduced (NNO+0.40±0.13). The ~11 km³ Whakatane episode occurred at 5.6 ka and also erupted three magmas, each from a separate vent. The most evolved (SiO₂=73.3–76.2 wt%, Sr=88–100 ppm) Whakatane magma erupted from the southwestern (Makatiti) vent and is cummingtonite-dominant, cool (745±11°C), and reduced (NNO+0.34±0.08). The least evolved (SiO₂=72.8–74.1 wt%, Sr=132–134 ppm) magma was erupted from the northeastern (Pararoa) vent and is characterised by an orthopyroxene+ hornblende-dominant mineralogy, temperature of 764±18°C, and fO₂ of NNO+0.40±0.13. Compositionally intermediate magmas were erupted during the Rotoma and Whakatane episodes are likely to be hybrids. A single ~13 km³ magma erupted during the intervening 8.1 ka Mamaku episode was relatively homogeneous in composition (SiO₂=76.1–76.8 wt%, Sr=104–112 ppm), temperature (736±18°C), and oxygen fugacity (NNO+0.19±0.12). Some of the vents tapped a single magma while others tapped several. Deposit stratigraphy suggests that the eruptions alternated between magmas, which were often simultaneously erupted from separate vents. Both effusive and explosive activity alternated, but was predominantly effusive (>75% erupted as lava domes and flows). The plumbing systems which fed the vents are inferred to be complex, with magma experiencing different conditions in the conduits. As the eruption of several magmas was essentially concurrent, the episodes were likely triggered by a common event such as magmatic intrusion or seismic disturbance.     

Columnar jointing in vapor-phase-altered,non-welded Cerro Galán Ignimbrite,Paycuqui, Argentina

Columnar jointing is thought to occur primarily in lavas and welded pyroclastic flow deposits. However, the non-welded Cerro Galán Ignimbrite at Paycuqui, Argentina, contains well-developed columnar joints that are instead due to high-temperature vapor-phase alteration of the deposit, where devitrification and vapor-phase crystallization have increased the density and cohesion of the upper half of the section. Thermal remanent magnetization analyses of entrained lithic clasts indicate high emplacement temperatures, above 630°C, but the lack of welding textures indicates temperatures below the glass transition temperature. In order to remain below the glass transition at 630°C, the minimum cooling rate prior to deposition was 3.0 × 10⁻³–8.5 × 10⁻²°C/min (depending on the experimental data used for comparison). Alternatively, if the deposit was emplaced above the glass transition temperature, conductive cooling alone was insufficient to prevent welding. Crack patterns (average, 4.5 sides to each polygon) and column diameters (average, 75 cm) are consistent with relatively rapid cooling, where advective heat loss due to vapor fluxing increases cooling over simple conductive heat transfer. The presence of regularly spaced, complex radiating joint patterns is consistent with fumarolic gas rise, where volatiles originated in the valley-confined drainage system below. Joint spacing is a proxy for cooling rates and is controlled by depositional thickness/valley width. We suggest that the formation of joints in high-temperature, non-welded deposits is aided by the presence of underlying external water, where vapor transfer causes crystallization in pore spaces, densifies the deposit, and helps prevent welding.     

Evidence from fluid inclusions for a paleogeothermal gradient at the geothermal test well sites, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Homogenization temperatures of individual fluid inclusions from the geothermal test well sites near Los Alamos, New Mexico, systematically change as a function of depth in the cores. Inclusions in samples from depths between 1.5 and 3.0 km have re-equilibrated to thermal gradients higher than the present gradient of 50–60°C/km. The loci of maximum temperatures attained has a slope of about 70°C/km; the deepest sample has cooled to 200°C from a maximum of 230°C. The wide range of salinities (0.0 wt.% equivalent NaCl to more than 25 wt.% equivalent NaCl) observed in each sample indicates a large amount of pervasive fluid circulation had not occurred at the time of re-equilibration of these inclusions. The results are relevant to calculations for the thermal history of the test site.     

Geochemical model of a magmatic–hydrothermal system at the Lastarria volcano, northern Chile

Lastarria volcano (25°10′ S, 68°31′ W; 5,697 m above sea level), located in the Central Andes Volcanic Zone (northern Chile), is characterized by four distinct fumarolic fields with outlet temperatures ranging between 80°C and 408°C as measured between May 2006–March 2008 and April–June 2009. Fumarolic gasses contain significant concentrations of high temperature gas compounds (i.e., SO₂, HCl, HF, H₂, and CO), and isotopic ratios (³He/⁴He, δ¹³C–CO₂, δ¹⁸O–H₂O, and δD–H₂O) diagnostic of magmatic gas sources. Gas equilibria systematics, in both the H₂O-H₂-CO₂-CO-CH₄ and alkane–alkene C₃ system, suggest that Lastarria fumarolic gasses emanate from a superheated vapor that is later cooled and condensed at relatively shallow depths. This two-stage process inhibits the formation of a continuous aquifer (e.g., horizontal liquid layer) at relatively shallow depth. Recent developments in the magmatic gas system may have enhanced the transfer and release of heat causing shallow aquifer vaporization. The consequent pressure increase and aquifer vaporization likely triggered the inflation events beginning in 2003 at the Lastarria volcano.     

Low temperature eclogite facies metamorphism in Western Tianshan, Xinjiang

According to the field occurrences and petrological study, the low temperature eclogite facies metamorphic rocks in Western Tianshan of Xinjiang can be divided into five types: (i) massive glaucophane-epidote eclogites and glaucophane-paragonite eclogites; (ii) schistose or gneissic mica eclogites; (iii) banded calcite eclogites; (iv) pillow glaucophane eclogites; (v) garnet-omphacite quartzites. Their eclogite facies metamorphism has undergone four stages of evolution: (i) pre-peak lawsonite-blueschist facies stage,T = 350–4000°C,P = 0.7–0.9 GPa; (ii) peak eclogite facies stage,T = 530 ± 20°C,P = 1.6–1.9 GPa; (iii) retrograde epidote-blueschist facies stage, T=500–530°C,P = 0.9–1.2 GPa and (iv) retrograde blueschist-greenschist facies stage,T= 450–550°C,P= 0.7–0.8 GPa. The metamorphic PT path of Western Tianshan eclogites is characterized by clockwise ITD resulting from the subduction of Tarim plate northward to Yili-Central Tianshan plate followed by fast uplift to the surface. But there were at least two stages of blueschist facies retrograde metamorphism overprinted during their uplift.     

Strontium isotope geochemistry of the Lemachang independent silver ore deposit, northeastern Yunnan, China

Sr isotope geochemical studies (the 87Sr/86Sr and ?18O-87Sr/86Sr systems) on the wall rocks and ores from the Lemachang independent Ag deposit in northeastern Yunnan provide strong evidence that the ore-forming fluids had flown through radiogenetically Sr-enriched rocks or strata prior to their entry into the locus of ore precipitation, and water-rock interaction is the main mechanism of Ag ore precipitation. The radiogenetically Sr-enriched source region may be the Proterozoic basement (the Kunyang and Hekou groups). Moreover, the theoretical modeling of the Sr isotopic system indicates that the ore-forming fluids contain as much as 3×10?6 Sr with isotopic composition of Sr being 0.750 and that of oxygen 7.0‰. The ore-forming temperatures were estimated at 150-250℃ for the carbonate rock-type ores and at 200-260℃ for the clastic rock-type.