The Hill End goldfield,NSW, Australia —early metamorphic deposition of auriferous quartz veins

Summary Gold-bearing quartz veins in the Hill End goldfield, NSW Australia, comprise bedding parallel vein sets and lesser cleavage parallel and fault controlled veins which are hosted by a multiply deformed Late Silurian slate-metagreywacke turbidite sequence. Open to ptygmatic folds and boudinage are characteristic features of the veins. Metamorphic P, T estimates of 2.9 kb and 420°C during Early Carboniferous deformation and vein emplacement are obtained from the calcite, ferroan-magnesian calcite geothermometer and the Si-content of white mica. Fluid inclusions from vein quartz represent unmixed H₂O-rich and CO₂-rich low salinity fluids which have been trapped close to the solvus of the H₂O-CO₂-(NaCl-CH₄) system. Homogenisation temperatures (range 260–361°C) therefore represent true trapping temperatures. A preliminary sulphur isotope study of the vein sulphides indicates that the underlying turbidite sequence has acted as a source of sulphur (range –2.8 to 17.8 per mil). Formation of most veins early in the deformation and the lack of an obvious igneous intrusive source suggests that the gold, as for the sulphur has been derived from the metasedimentary sequence. Deposition of gold has resulted from complex destabilisation due to H₂S loss during transient vein opening and fluid pH changes accompanying CO₂-consuming wallrock reactions.

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Die Goldlagerstdtte Hill End, NSW, Australien—Bildung von goldführenden Quarzgdngen mit beginnender Metamorphose

Zusammenfassung Die goldführenden Quarzgange der Lagerstätte Hill End, NSW, Australien, treten in einer aus Schiefern und Metagrauwacken bestehenden, mehrfach deformierten, obersilurischen Turbitit-Abfolge auf Schichtparallele Quarzgange dominieren, während schieferungsparallele und an Störungen gebundene Gänge untergeordnet auftreten. Die Quarzgänge zeigen offen bis pygmotische Falten und Boudinagen als charakteristische Deformationsstrukturen Die Metamorphosehediuguogen während der unterkarboncu Deformation und Quarzgangbildung konnten mit Hilfe des Kalzit/Fe-Mg-Kalzit Geothermometers und dem Si-Gehalt der Hellglimmer abgeschätzt werden. Es ergaben sich P-T Bedingungen von 2.9 kb und 420°C. Flüssigkeitseinschlüsse im Gangquarz zeigen das Vorhandensein eines entmischten H₂O-reichen und CO₂-reichen Fluidums von geringer Salinität, welches nahe der Solvuskurve des H₂O-CO₂-(NACl-CH₄) Systems eingeschlossen worden ist. Eine vorläufige Untersuchung der Schwefelisotopen der Gangsulfide (–2.8 bis 17.8 per mil) deutet an, dass der Schwefel aus der unterlagernden Turbidit-Abfolge bezogen worden ist. Es wird vermutet, dass nich nur der Schwefel, sondern auch das Gold aus der metasedimentären Abfolge stammen, da die Qurzgänge zu einem frühen Zeitpunkt der Deformation gebildet worden sind, und intrusive magmatische Gesteine, als mögliche Erzbringer, fehlen. Destabilisierung der Goldkomplexe, verursacht durch Verlust von H₂S Zuge der Öffnung der Gangspalten, Änderungen des pH-Wertes des Fluidums und CO₂-konsumierende Reaktionen mit dem Muttergestein, führten zur Ablagerung des Goldes.

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With 6 Figures     

Genesis and mineralization of gold-bearing quartz veins in the Xiao Qinling area, central China

Gold-bearing quartz veins of the Taihua Group consisting of Archean metavolcanic rocks are a main gold deposit type in the Xiao Qinling area,one of the three biggest gold production areas in China.The quartz veins experienced strong alteration characterized by a typical mesothermal hydrothermal altered mineral assemblage.The grade of gold is affected by the contents of sulphides,e.g.galena,pyrite and chalcopyrite.Results of minor elements analysis for the of gold-bearing quartz veins indicate higher contents of Au and high contents of Ag,Pb,Cu,Cd,W,and Mo.Abundant fluid inclusions were found in the gold-bearing quartz veins.Three types of fluid inclusions were identified:(1) aqueous inclusions;(2) CO 2-bearing inclusions;and(3) daughter crystal-bearing fluid inclusions.Homogenization temperatures ranged from 110 to 670℃ with low and high peaks appearing at 160 180℃ and 280 300℃,respectively.The salinity of aqueous inclusions varies between 1.8 wt% and 38.2 wt% NaCl.The homogenization temperature and salinity show a positive correlation.The H and O isotopes of fluid inclusions in the gold-bearing quartz veins indicate that magmatic solution and metamorphic hydrothermal solution,together with meteoric water,were involved in the formation of gold-bearing fluid.Mesozoic magma activities related to granite intrusions should be the main source of CO 2 fluid with higher temperature and salinity.     

Rb—Sr Isotopic Chronology of the Au—Bearing Quartz Veins in Gold Depostits in the Eastern Part of North China Platform

In the eastern part of Chian there had occurred large-scale gold mineralization during the Mesozoic,resulting in a large number of inprotant gold ore-concentrated areas.In this paper we have selected some isotope data(including four gold deposits previously studied and two gold deposis in this work)of Au-bearing quartz veins of the representative gold deposits in six impor-tant gold ore-concentrated areas in the periphery of the North China Platform and calculated their metallogenic ages using the method of Ludwig(2.90 version).The results show that the repre-sentative gold deposits in the six gold ore-concentrated areas were formed during the Mesozoic.     

CCSD岩芯中部分石英脉的氦、氩同位素初步研究

对中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)1700m-2300m岩芯中部分超高压变质岩中的石英脉进行了氦、氩同位素组成的初步研究,结果显示石英脉的3He／4He比值为0．37×10-6-0．98×10-6,40Ar／36Ar为498-3260,4He／40Ar为0．17-2．12, 3He／36Ar为0．81×10-4-39．38×10-4。分析结果与前人对大别-苏鲁的榴辉岩全岩和单矿物的氦、氩同位素分析结果相一致,在He-Ar相关图解上均位于地壳和地幔氦、氩同位素组成的过渡部位,表明石英脉的成矿流体中不仅有壳源稀有气体,还有幔源稀有气体。石英脉是榴辉岩的早期退变质脉,它不仅可以继承围岩超高压变质岩的氢氧稳定同位素特征,还可以继承并保存围岩的稀有气体同位素特征。     

西藏普兰县马攸木金矿床石英的40Ar/39Ar年龄及其地质意义

对西藏阿里地区马攸木金矿床含金石英脉样品进行40Ar/39Ar快中子活化法测年,其坪年龄为44.08Ma±0.39Ma,等时年龄为44.10Ma±0.20Ma,坪年龄代表石英的形成年龄。测试结果表明,西藏阿里地区可能存在喜马拉雅期金的成矿作用,且喜马拉雅期可能是西藏冈底斯-雅鲁藏布江成矿带形成金矿的主要时期。     

Impacts of karst phenomena on engineering properties of limestone foundation bed,Ar Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Evaluation of mechanical and petrophysical properties of the karst limestone became essential to avoid future risks in the construction of new urban cities built on limestones. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of karsts phenomena on engineering properties of limestone foundation bed at Ar Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Three hundred core plugs were obtained by rotary drilling at depths ranging from the ground surface to 20 m collected from 24 boreholes in two sites: (1) karst limestone (KL) at Al Aziziyah district and (2) massive hard limestone (HL) at Hittin district in Ar Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Petrographic, SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses are used to identify the mineralogical composition and microstructures of limestone samples. The petrophysical properties included the ovendry density, P-wave, and porosity where the mechanical properties covered the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), point load strength index (PLI), and rock quality designation (RQD) for the karst and hard limestone samples. KL is characterized by 17.11% total porosity, 14.71% water absorption, 32.1 MPa UCS, 1.70 g/cm³ ovendry density (γ dry), 51% weathered RQD, 5.49 MPa medium shear strength, and low modulus of deformation of the plate loading test. HL showed 11.63% total porosity, 9.45% water absorption 43.1 MPa UCS, 2.50 g/cm³ ovendry density (γ dry), 78% hard to fresh rock affinity RQD, and 9.93 MPa high strength and high modulus of deformation of the plate loading test. For the water absorption (%), KL at Al Aziziyah district showed a range of 12.85–17.80% averaged 14.71%. HL at Hittin district varied between 7.04 and 11.29% with an average of 9.45%. KL proved to be dense with ovendry density (γ dry) averaged at 1.70 g/cm³ while HL showed very dense affinity of 2.50 g/cm³. KL clarified a UCS range from 22.5 to 40.1 MPa and an average of 32.1 MPa while HL showed a range from 35.4 t o 48.1 MPa with an average of 43.1 MPa. KL is moderately weathered with RQD average of 51% while HL showed a hard to fresh rock affinity of 78%. Point load test clarified a medium shear strength with 5.49 MPa for KL and high strength of 9.93 MPa for HL. Plate loading tests indicated low and high modulus of deformation for KL and HL, respectively. Results of petrographical analyses and XED of limestone samples showed that the strength parameters of samples mostly composed of micrite (mudstone/wackestone) and dolomite in hard limestone of Hittin district. In Al Aziziyah district (KL), the samples mostly consist of foraminifera and high amount of calcite as in karst limestone (wackestone/packstone). Rock mechanical tests with combination of fabric analyses have shown that strength parameters depend not only on the amount of karst but also on the amount of allochem. Major geomechanical differences between the two types of limestone provide the proper base for prioritizing areas to alleviate future risks and sustainable urban planning for decision makers. The karstic limestone, therefore, is considered as an acceptable foundation bed for light engineering structures. However, for heavy structures and buildings, improving the foundation bed strength by grouting, cement injection, and mat foundations is necessary to avoid future failure risks.     

Finite strain analysis for deformed Neoproterozoic rock associations of the Al Amar fault zone,Eastern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

Arabian Journal of Geosciences - In this work, quantitative analysis of coastal zone landform morphology is carried out through the integration of landscape index, remote sensing (RS) and...     

Metavolcanic host rocks,mineralization, and gossans of the Shaib al Tair and Rabathan volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits of the Wadi Bidah Mineral District,Saudi Arabia

The Wadi Bidah Mineral District of Saudi Arabia contains more than 16 small outcropping stratabound volcanogenic Cu–Zn–(Pb) ± Au-bearing massive sulphide deposits and associated zones of hydrothermal alteration. Here, we use major and trace element analyses of massive sulphides, gossans, and hydrothermally altered and least altered metamorphosed host rock (schist) from two of the deposits (Shaib al Tair and Rabathan) to interpret the geochemical and petrological evolution of the host rocks and gossanization of the mineralization. Tectonic interpretations utilize high-field-strength elements, including the rare earth elements (REE), because they are relatively immobile during hydrothermal alteration, low-grade metamorphism, and supergene weathering and therefore are useful in constraining the source, composition, and physicochemical parameters of the primary igneous rocks, the mineralizing hydrothermal fluid and subsequent supergene weathering processes. Positive Eu anomalies in some of the massive sulphide samples are consistent with a high temperature (>250°C) hydrothermal origin, consistent with the Cu contents (up to 2 wt.%) of the massive sulphides. The REE profiles of the gossans are topologically similar to nearby hydrothermally altered felsic schists (light REE (LREE)-enriched to concave-up REE profiles, with or without positive Eu anomalies) suggesting that the REE experienced little fractionation during metamorphism or supergene weathering. Hydrothermally altered rocks (now schists) close to the massive sulphide deposits have high base metals and Ba contents and have concave-up REE patterns, in contrast to the least altered host rocks, consistent with greater mobility of the middle REE compared to the light and heavy REE during hydrothermal alteration. The gossans are interpreted to represent relict massive sulphides that have undergone supergene weathering; ‘chert’ beds within these massive sulphide deposits may be leached wall-rock gossans that experienced silicification and Pb–Ba–Fe enrichment from acidic groundwaters generated during gossan formation.     

40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Neogene-Quaternary Harrat Al-Madinah intercontinental volcanic field,Saudi Arabia: Implications for duration and migration of volcanic activity

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages, based on incremental heating techniques for groundmass separates of 25 samples, are presented for the Harrat Al-Madinah volcanic field, part of Harrat Rahat in the north western part of the Arabian plate. This area is an active volcanic field characterized by the occurrence of two historical eruptions approximately in 641 and 1256 AD. Field investigations of the main volcanic landforms indicate dominantly monogenetic strombolian eruptions, in addition to local more explosive eruptions. The lavas consist mainly of olivine basalt and hawaiite flows with minor evolved rocks of mugearite, benmoreite, and trachyte that occur mainly as domes, tuff cones and occasionally as lava flows. Previous K/Ar dating shows that the Harrat Al-Madinah lava flows and associated domes comprise seven units spanning an age range of ca. 1.7 Ma–Recent. The new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations confirm, to a great extent, the previously obtained K/Ar ages in the sense that no major systematic biases were found in the general stratigraphy of the different flow units. However, the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages show that volcanism in this area began in the Neogene (∼10 Ma) and continued to Recent, with the most voluminous eruptions occurring in the Quaternary. Neogene volcanism occurred in at least three pulses around 10, 5 and 2 Ma, whereas Quaternary volcanism produced at least seven units reflecting lava flow emplacement in the time period of 1.90 Ma–Recent. Thus, the whole duration of volcanic activity in the Harrat Al-Madinah (10 Ma–Recent) appears much longer than that previously identified. The longevity of volcanism in the same part of the moving Arabian plate and absence of evidence for uni-directional migration of volcanic activity indicate that there is no fixed plume beneath this region. The NNW-trending distribution of the volcanic vents is parallel to the Red Sea, and suggests their origin is related to periodic extensional episodes along the reactivated Red Sea fault system.     

Hydrogeology of Al-Lith Sabkha,Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, coastal sabkhas cover extensive areas along the coasts of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf in addition to the continental sabkhas scattered in many places inland. Al-Lith sabkha is one of the typical coastal sabkhas located along the Red Sea coast. Sabkhas, in general, pose a number of geotechnical problems and need to be carefully investigated before being urbanized.A generalized geologic section in Al-Lith sabkha indicates a salty crust at the surface followed by yellowish brown silt and silty sand, olive gray silt and sandy silt and bottomed by coralline reefal limestone. Within this succession, there are several isolated lenticular bodies of sandy silt, silty sand and shelly silty sand. The clay minerals constituting the fine-grained portion of the soil are, in decreasing order, kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite in addition to minor chlorite.The depth to groundwater in 17 observation wells ranged from 0.18 to 1.81 m with a maximum fluctuation of 0.60 m between summer and winter. The permeability of the top silt layer was found to be very low with an average of 5.4×10⁻⁴ m/day. A pumping test was performed in a deep well penetrating the coralline limestone. The measured permeability is 1.1×10² m/day and the estimated storage coefficient is 4×10⁻⁵.Soil water evaporation was measured using a lysimeter constructed with undisturbed soil samples having different depths to the water level. The rate of evaporation ranges from 2.8 to 27.8 ml/day decreasing with an increase in depth to the water level.Groundwater samples were analyzed for their major anions and cations. Salt concentrations show a general increase toward the sea except for the calcium and carbonates that show a landward increase. The groundwater could be classified as a Cl+SO₄ brine. The salinity of the groundwater was determined at different depths in the pumping well and was found to be low in the top 4 m. It sharply increases until it reaches a value approximately 10 times the salinity of the top layer indicating groundwater intermixing with freshwater and salt-water intrusion. The change in the salinity during pumping was erratic but within a range of 2%.     

滇西景谷地区澜沧江沿岸早古生代构造片岩中石英脉的成因与变形

滇西景谷县澜沧江沿岸出露的下古生界内发育一套构造片岩,空间上呈NNW—SSE向展布,岩性以绢云母石英构造片岩为主。岩石发生了强烈的塑性流变,大量发育有细脉状、透镜状的石英脉。石英脉的宏观与显微构造变形特征反映其为同构造分泌结晶脉,形成机制与韧性剪切带中物质的溶解、迁移、重结晶作用密切相关。石英原生气液包裹体显微测温实验表明,石英脉形成时的温压条件为：T=500℃,p=0.498GPa,反映构造片岩的变质程度达到了中、高绿片岩相。     

滇西景谷地区澜沧江沿岸早古生代构造片岩中石英脉的成因与变形

滇西景谷县澜沧江沿岸出露的下古生界内发育一套构造片岩,空间上呈NNW—SSE向展布,岩性以绢云母石英构造片岩为主。岩石发生了强烈的塑性流变,大量发育有细脉状、透镜状的石英脉。石英脉的宏观与显微构造变形特征反映其为同构造分泌结晶脉,形成机制与韧性剪切带中物质的溶解、迁移、重结晶作用密切相关。石英原生气液包裹体显微测温实验表明,石英脉形成时的温压条件为：T=500℃,p=0.498GPa,反映构造片岩的变质程度达到了中、高绿片岩相。     

Finite Strain Analysis of the Wadi Fatima Shear Zone in Western Arabia,Saudi Arabia

Neoproterozoic rocks, Oligocene to Neogene sediments and Tertiary Red Sea rift-related volcanics (Harrat) are three dominant major groups exposed in the Jeddah tectonic terrane in Western Arabia. The basement complex comprises amphibolites, schists, and older and younger granites unconformably overlain by a post-amalgamation volcanosedimentary sequence (Fatima Group) exhibiting post-accretionary thrusting and thrust-related structures. The older granites and/or the amphibolites and schists display mylonitization and shearing in some outcrops, and the observed kinematic indicators indicate dextral monoclinic symmetry along the impressive Wadi Fatima Shear Zone. Finite strain analysis of the mylonitized lithologies is used to interpret the deformation history of the Wadi Fatima Shear Zone. The measured finite strain data demonstrate that the amphibolites, schists, and older granites are mildly to moderately deformed, where XZ (axial ratios in XZ direction) vary from 2.76 to 4.22 and from 2.04 to 3.90 for the R_f/φ and Fry method respectively. The shortening axes (Z) have subvertical attitude and are associated with subhorizontal foliation. The data show oblate strain ellipsoids in the different rocks in the studied area and indication bulk flattening strain. We assume that the different rock types have similar deformation behavior. In the deformed granite, the strain data are identical in magnitude with those obtained in the Fatima Group volcanosedimentary sequence. Finite strain accumulated without any significant volume change contemporaneously with syn-accretionary transpressive structures. It is concluded that a simple-shear deformation with constant-volume plane strain exists, where displacement is strictly parallel to the shear plane. Furthermore, the contacts between various lithological units in the Wadi Fatima Shear Zone were formed under brittle to semi-ductile deformation conditions.     

Strength and compressibility of Abqaiq marl, Saudi Arabia

The increasing number of construction projects and the lack of good quality soil for use in these projects in eastern Saudi Arabia necessitate the use of available marginal soils. Most, if not all, engineering projects use the fine-grained calcareous sediments, known locally as marl, either as a foundation material or as a fill material. The lack of published information on their engineering characteristics and behavior under ambient conditions has resulted in many construction and post-construction problems. This investigation is one of a series to evaluate the geotechnical properties of selected marl soils obtained from different areas in eastern Saudi Arabia. Marl samples, obtained from Abqaiq, were prepared in the laboratory under controlled conditions and subjected to different tests including CBR (soaked and unsoaked), triaxial compression, unconfined compression and one-dimensional compression tests. Samples were prepared at different moisture contents on both the wet and dry sides of optimum. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that this marl contains high percentages of dolomite and calcite, in addition to other materials. The molding water content significantly affects the engineering properties of this material. Compaction on the dry side of optimum resulted in samples that have some swelling potential and highly compressible characteristics when subjected to a load after inundation.     

Wind sedimentation in the Jafurah sand sea, Saudi Arabia

The Jafurah sand sea of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia extends along the Arabian Gulf coastline from Kuwait in the north to the Rub Al Khali in the south, a distance of about 800 km. Sand drifts southward to south-eastward from regions of high wind energy in the north to low wind energy in the south. The aeolian landscape is zoned, with areas of deflation, transport and deposition from north to south. Drift rates in the zone of transport, near Abqaiq, range from 2 m³ m-w^-1 yr^-1 on sabkhas, to 29 m³ m-w^-1 yr^-1 on the crests of dunes. Average drift rates of approximately 18 m³ m-w^-1 yr^-1 observed during the study can cause about 1 m of accumulation per 5500 yr in a 100 km zone of deposition downwind, not including the bulk transport represented by the forward advance of dunes. Dune advance ranged from 23 m (2.9 m high dune) to 3 m (23 m high dune) during April-October 1980. The study area consists of dune, interdune, sand sheet and siliciclastic sabkha terrains, each of which is characterized by differing drift rates, and differing rates of erosion or deposition. Sedimentation occurs by lateral movement of dunes and interdunes, and vertical accretion by sand sheets and sabkhas.     

钙长辉长无球粒陨石中普通石英与鳞石英成因研究

钙长辉长无球粒陨石(Eucrite)是 Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite(HED)族陨石的重要成员,也是研究灶神星壳演化历史的重要对象.本文研究了多个玄武质Eucrite样品中主要的SiO2相——普通石英和鳞石英的成因,进而讨论其对Eucrite陨石热演化的启示.研究对象包括不同冲击程度样品,以探...     

Lattice diffusion of Ar in quartz, with constraints on Ar solubility and evidence of nanopores

Diffusion and solubility of Ar in optically clear natural and synthetic quartz crystals were examined at ∼500 to 1200 °C by treating polished specimens in pressurized Ar (1-185 MPa) and characterizing the resulting diffusive-uptake (or subsequent diffusive-loss) profiles using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Analytical uncertainty leads to significant scatter in the data, but the Ar diffusivity, D, is reasonably well constrained by the following Arrhenius relationship:D = 8.2−4.2+8.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ exp[(−6150 ± 750)/T(K)] m²/sNo effects of crystallographic orientation or quartz structural form (α or β) are discernible.Apparent solubilities typically fall between 1000 and 3000 ppm (by mass), with large uncertainties (±50-60% 2σ), but some lower values (∼700 ppm) are observed near the low end of the Ar pressure range investigated. Occasional high-concentration outlier values fall between 5000 ppm and 3.8 wt.% Ar. These do not correlate with Ar pressure, suggesting extrinsic (non-lattice) siting of Ar in some cases. Field-emission SEM images and numerical simulations of the diffusion process document isolated nanopores as the hosts for the occasional very high concentrations of Ar (observable pores range down to ∼10 nm in diameter; indirect evidence points to smaller ones as the more common sinks for Ar). The systematics of the data suggest an actual (lattice) solubility of ∼2000 ppm at 100- to 200-MPa Ar pressure, which is equivalent to a partition coefficient of ∼0.001cm³STP/g · atm. Using either organic clathrate or fullerene as the Ar sources, 1-GPa experiments in a piston-cylinder apparatus result in similar uptake of Ar into quartz, in this case through partitioning equilibrium with C-O-H fluid (clathrate source) or amorphous carbon (fullerene source).The ability of quartz, relative to other minerals, to incorporate significant amounts of Ar may allow this ubiquitous and abundant mineral to serve as a local sink for Ar in crustal rocks lacking a free fluid phase. The diffusion data permit open-system behavior of Ar in quartz below the closure temperature of biotite and other ⁴⁰Ar source minerals.