Early Pleistocene magmatism in the central part of the Greater Caucasus

An isotope-geochronological study of young magmatism in the central part of the Greater Caucasus (Kazbek neovolcanic area) on the territory of Russia and Georgia has been carried out. It was proved for the first time that, in the Early Pleistocene, there was a separate impulse of magmatic activity in this area. The area of endogenic activity for the period identified was contoured on the basis of the integrated isotope-geochronological, petrological-geochemical, and geological data. It has been shown that the Early Pleistocene volcanism inherits the area of Neogene volcanism in the Kazbek region and, therefore, presents the final impulse of the second (Pliocene) stage of the Late Cenozoic magmatism. Thus, Early Pleistocene volcanism was not a precursor of Late Quaternary magmatism as the latter has other spatial patterns of the location of volcanic centers.     

Age of metamorphic rock masses in Laba Basin,North Caucasus

A Neoarchaean sanukitoid pluton that was intruded into the base of the Guyang greenstone belt in the Yinshan Block of the North China Craton hosts a number of hornblendite enclaves. Geochemically, the pluton is characterized by high MgO, Mg#, Cr, Ni, large-ion lithophile element (LILE), and heavy rare earth element (HREE) contents and low TiO₂ and high-field strength element (HFSE) contents, and has relatively low Sr/Y ratios and negative Eu anomalies. Whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic analyses indicate that it has ε_Nd(t) values of +1.4 to +2.0. These geochemical and isotopic characteristic suggest that the sanukitoid was formed under a low-pressure and high-temperature environment by slab melting and assimilation of hornblendite enclaves. The hornblendite enclaves show high MgO, Mg#, Cr, and Ni contents, high and variable K₂O, LREE, and Th contents, enrichment in LILEs and LREEs, and depletion in HFSEs. They have high Y contents and relatively low Sr/Y values, strongly negative Eu anomalies, and whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values of +1.0 to +1.9. The geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that these enclaves might have been derived from a mixed source of an enriched mantle, metasomatized by melts expelled from subducted sediments in a high-temperature, low-pressure environment. To explain these characteristics, a ridge subduction model is proposed for the formation of the sanukitoid and hornblendite in the Yinshan Block in the Neoarchaean.     

Age and origin of Miocene gabbroid intrusions in the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus

The results of isotope-geochronological and petrological-geochemical study are reported for Neogene mafic intrusive rocks distributed in the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia). It is shown that the young plutonic bodies were formed here in two magmatic stages: in the Middle Miocene (around 15.5 Ma) and in the terminal Miocene (9-7.5 Ma). The first age group includes a microsyenitic massif in Guria (Western Georgia), which was formed in a setting of active continental margin related to the subduction of oceanic part of the Arabian plate beneath the Transcaucasus. The Late Miocene intrusive magmatism already records the incipient within-plate activity: small polyphase bodies of alkaline gabbroids and lamprophyres of Samtskhe (South Georgia) dated around 9-8.5 Ma and teschenite intrusions of Guria dated at 7.5Ma. Petrological-geochemical and isotope-geochemical data indicate that the parental melts of the rocks of all studied Neogene plutonic bodies of the Lesser Caucasus were derived from a single mantle source. Its characteristics are close to those of a Common hypothetical reservoir, which is usually regarded as a source of oceanic and continental hot spot basalts (OIB) but shows some regional peculiarity. The role of crustal assimilation and crystallization differentiation in the genesis of the Miocene rocks of Guria was limited, which is related to the rapid ascent of deep melts to the surface (in a setting of local extension) without intense interaction with host sequences under the absence of consolidated continental lithosphere beneath this part of the Transcaucasus. The parental mantle-derived magmas of the Neogene gabbroids of Samtskhe were strongly contributed by upper crustal material, which caused a change in their isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr up to 0.70465, ?_Nd up to + 2.8) and geochemical characteristics relative to the regional mantle source. In addition, the crustal contamination of mantle basic melts during the late phases of the Samtskhe plutonic bodies formation led to their intense fractionation with precipitation of mainly olivine and pyroxene. The larger scale mantle-crustal interaction during formation of the Samtskhe intrusions was probably related to the fact that the upper lithosphere in this sector of the Transcaucasus contained large Paleozoic blocks, which were made up of granite-metamorphic complexes and prevented a rapid ascent of mantle melts to the surface. The rocks of these blocks were presumably assimilated by mantle magmas in the intermediate chambers at the upper crustal levels.     

Paleozoic rocks in infrastructure of the metamorphic core, the Greater Caucasus Main Range zone

Granitoid orthogneisses and migmatites are widespread in the lower, deeply metamorphosed gneiss-migmatite complex of the pre-Alpine basement (infrastructure) exposed within northern part of the Greater Caucasus Main Range zone. Like the other rocks of the complex, they have been traditionally attributed to the Proterozoic, but the U-Pb dating revealed the Late Paleozoic age of migmatites and Devonian age of orthogneiss protolith. Bodies of blastomylonitic apogranite gneisses, which are confined to boundary between gneiss-migmatite complex and overlying Makera Complex of supracrustal rocks, turned out to be of the Late Paleozoic age as well. The dating results suggest synchronism and, apparently, genetic interrelations between the high-T/low-P metamorphism and granite formation in the Main Range zone of the Greater Caucasus.     

First geophysical and shallow ice core investigation of the Kazbek plateau glacier,Caucasus Mountains

First-ever ice core drilling at Mt. Kazbek (Caucasus Mountains) took place in the summer of 2014. A shallow ice core (18 m) was extracted from a plateau at ~4500 m a.s.l. in the vicinity of the Mt. Kazbek summit (5033 m a.s.l.). A detailed radar survey showed that the maximum ice thickness at this location is ~250 m. Borehole temperature of ?7 °C was measured at 10 m depth. The ice core was analyzed for oxygen and deuterium isotopes and dust concentration. From the observed seasonal cycle, it was determined that the ice core covers the time interval of 2009–2014, with a mean annual snow accumulation rate of 1800 mm w. eq. Multiple melt layers have been detected. δ¹⁸O values vary from ?25 to ?5‰. The dust content was determined using a particle sizing and counting analyzer. The dust layers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Dust can be separated into two categories by its origin: local and distant. Samples reflecting predominantly local origin consisted mainly of magmatic rocks, while clay minerals were a characteristic of dust carried over large distances, from the deserts of the Middle East and Sahara. The calculated average dust flux over three years at Kazbek was of 1.3 mg/cm² a^?1. Neither δ¹⁸O nor dust records appear to have been affected by summer melting. Overall, the conditions on Kazbek plateau and the available data suggest that the area offers good prospects of future deep drilling in order to obtain a unique environmental record.     

The Kirsh gneiss dome: an extensional metamorphic core complex from the SE Arabian Shield

A number of gneiss-cored domes and antiforms are exposed along the regional strike-slip Najd fault system in the Arabian Shield and the eastern desert of Egypt. The mode of origin is still controversial, although plausible comparisons with modern metamorphic core complexes were made in some well-studied areas. The Kirsh dome is located within the major Ar Rika shear zone and consists of a core of orthogneiss/migmatite and an envelope of paragneisses with locally abundant kyanite-bearing quartzites. The dome is surrounded by the low-grade metasediments of the Murdama Group and is bound from the south by a low-angle dip-slip fault. Beyond the southern strand of the Ar Rika Fault is the Kibdi Basin which hosts unmetamorphosed sediments belonging to the Jibalah Group; this group occupies scattered pull-apart basins closely associated with releasing bends along the Najd fault system. Little dating has been done on the gneiss domes of the Arabian Shield; however, recent dates from similar structures in the eastern desert and Sinai range from 580 to 620?Ma. A similar, albeit younger ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 557?±?15?Ma was obtained from a biotite paragneiss south of Jabal Kirsh; this age difference probably represent the time interval it took the Kirsh rocks to cool below the biotite closure temperature and would place a lower age limit for the dome. The Kirsh dome occupies an extensional zone between left-stepping faults; movement within this zone might have caused enough decompression to trigger fluid-absent melting in the middle crust especially as the rocks cross the biotite dehydration solidus. Diapiric ascent aided by strike-slip dilatancy pumping led to the emplacement of the Kirsh rocks in their present position within the Murdama Group metasediments.     

Si in the core? New high-pressure and high-temperature experimental data

High-pressure high-temperature experiments have been carried out up to 25 GPa and 2200°C in a multianvil press on assemblages made of silicates and iron-silicon alloys. At 20 GPa, silicon is extracted from the metal phase, forming stishovite reaction rims around metal grains. The silicon content in metal has been measured by analytical electron microscopy and electron microprobe. In contrast with earlier experiments, the present data were obtained by using silicon-rich metal alloys as starting materials instead of studying incorporation of silicon in initially silicon-free metal. As in most of previous studies carried out below 25 GPa, the silicon content in liquid metal increases with increasing pressure and with decreasing oxygen fugacity. The oxygen fugacity in most experiments was calculated by using two independent buffers: iron/?stite (IW) and SiO₂/Si, allowing to link consistently the Fe contents in silicates, the Si contents in metal and the temperatures of the experiments. At oxygen fugacities 4 log units below IW, silicates are in equilibrium with Si-rich metallic alloys (up to 17 wt% of Si in metal at 20 GPa and 2200°C). Extrapolation to 2 log units below IW leads to less than 0.1 wt% Si in the metal phase. Presence of several wt% of silicon in the Earth’s core thus requires highly reduced initial materials that, if equilibrated at conditions relevant to small planets, should already contain significant amount of silicon dissolved in metal.     

CCSD主孔1113~1600 m花岗质片麻岩单元的变形构造特征

中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)主孔2000m岩性剖面揭示了1113～1600m花岗质片麻岩段为地表北苏鲁超高压花岗质变质岩剪切构造叠覆岩片中的石湖镇构造岩片的花岗质片麻岩的下延部分。本单元之上下界线为韧性剪切带,内部发育小型韧性剪切变形,仅局部可见旋转碎斑体系等剪切指向标志,以SE向NW的逆冲剪切指向为主,其次为NW向SE的正滑剪切指向,并主要发育于较软弱夹层内,后者成为苏鲁地区存在伸展型穹隆构造的新证据;在1140～1280m岩性段内发育断续、较弱的拉伸线理,拉伸线理总体向SE倾伏,倾伏角为10～36°;花岗质片麻岩单元内部分石英以多晶石英条带的形式存在,花岗质片麻岩主要矿物长石基本没有动态重结晶现象,仅具较弱的形态拉长特征(X∶Z=2左右),总体面理倾向170°E,倾角平均20°,明显不同于其他岩性单元内的面理产状,可能主要代表折返变形之前的近东西向构造,而其他岩性单元受折返变形影响较大,其面理产状主要代表折返阶段形成的NE-NNE向构造;运用电子背散射(EBSD)技术进行石英组构分析并与费氏台测定对比,表明1113～1600m花岗质片麻岩单元经历了中—低温变形,局部残留有高温组构,剪切指向主要为SE向NW的逆冲,其中高温组构与中温组构均显示为SE向NW的逆冲剪切指向,反映折返早期与折返主期岩片的相对剪切方向一     

藏南拉轨岗日变质核杂岩核部花岗质片麻岩的地球化学特征及构造意义

拉轨岗日变质核杂岩花岗质片麻岩高SiO2、K2O,低Fe2O3、MgO、MnO,铝饱和指数A/CNK为1.07～1.19,含白云母、石榴子石等过铝质矿物,属高钾钙碱性过铝质岩石.稀土总量较高,轻稀土富集,轻、重稀土分馏明显,Eu负异常;富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U,贫高场强元素Sr、Nb,Hf和Ba亏损,具有壳源S型花岗岩的特征.87Sr/86Sr初始比值ISr变化于0.709～0.7306,εNd(t)值较低,为-7.13 ～-8.97,且εNd(t)和ISr无明显相关关系,εSr(t)值较高,为80.65 ～379.(206Pb/204Pb)t=18.1062 ～18.8085,(207Pb/24Pb)t=15.6713 ～ 15.7901,(208Pb/204Pb)t=37.529 ～ 38.1815,表现出地壳特征的Sr、Nd、Pb同位素特征.岩浆源区可能是以粘土岩主,砂质岩占次要地位的沉积岩,经部分熔融形成的花岗质岩浆上升侵位形成.LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb年龄为514Ma,是泛非造山事件在北喜马拉雅拉轨岗日一带的地质记录.岩石形成于由碰撞造山的挤压环境向后碰撞造山的伸展环境转化阶段,说明泛非碰撞造山事件在拉雅拉轨岗日一带可能结束,进入后碰撞造山的构造演化阶段.岩浆底侵可能使拉轨岗日变质核杂岩在该阶段已经初步隆起,对变质核杂岩的形成起了重要作用.     

Stages of recent volcanism and problems of their correlation with landscape formation in the central Caucasus

The article presents a first comparison of the isotopic ages of Pliocene–Quaternary volcanic rocks of the Greater Caucasus with the time of creation of various forms of the modern relief. The latter are associated with lava flows and volcanic centers identified from the study of neotectonic movements, geomorphology, and glacial stages. It is demonstrated that the results of chronological subdivision of lava flows using geomorphological and neotectonic methods, in comparison with the isotopic data, generally agree with each other in this area and ensure more reliable dating of glaciation epochs in the Greater Caucasus. Despite the overall similarity of the data, some contradictions have been revealed and possible causes are considered.     

Travertines of the northern Caucasus

Mineralogical and isotope-chemical characteristics of carbonate travertines of the Greater Caucasus are investigated. It is shown that concentrations of many chemical elements, which predominantly precipitate together with iron hydroxides, decrease along the strike of the travertine dome. At the same time, δ¹³C and ¹⁸O values in carbonates systematically increase due to kinetic effects of isotope fractionation. This leads to the formation of isotopically heavy calcite (δ¹³C up to 16.3‰) near the travertine dome base. Concentrations of other elements (Mg, Sr, Ba, Na, S, and Li), which form a isomorphic part of calcite crystal lattice, almost do not change along the strike of the dome. Comparison of concentrations of these elements in travertines and initial water solutions makes it possible to get ideas on trends of their redistribution in the carbonate-water system. Correlations found in this work define not only TDS content and concentration of some ions, but also REE spectra and formation temperatures of ancient fluid systems.     

Structural evolution of a gneiss dome in the axial zone of the proterozoic South Delhi Fold Belt in central Rajasthan

The structural geometry of the Anasagar gneiss dome in the axial zone of the South Delhi Fold Belt is controlled by polyphase folding. It is classified as a thrust-related gneiss dome and not as a metamorphic core complex. Four phases of deformation have affected both the gneiss and the enveloping supracrustal rocks. D₂ and D₃ deformations probably represent early and late stages of a progressive deformation episode in a simple shear regime combined with compression. The contact between the gneiss and the supracrustal rocks is a dislocation plane (thrust) with top-to-east sense of movement which is consistent with the vergence of the D₂ folds. The thrust had a ramp-and-flat geometry at depth. At the present level of exposure it is a footwall flat (that is, parallel to the gneissosity in the footwall), but it truncates the bedding of the hanging wall at some places and is parallel at others. The thrusting was probably broadly coeval with the D₂ folds and the thrust plane is locally folded by D₂. D₂ and D₃ folds have similar style and orientation as the first and second phases respectively of major folds in the Delhi Supergroup of the South Delhi Fold Belt and these are mutually correlatable. It is suggested that D1 may be Pre-Delhi in age. Available geochronological data indicate that the emplacement of the Anasagar gneiss predated the formation of volcanic rocks in the Delhi Supergroup and also predated the main crust forming event in the fold belt. The Anasagar gneiss and its enveloping supracrustal rocks are probably older than the Delhi Supergroup.     

Correlation of Aptian-Albian sediments in the central part of North Caucasus and Ciscaucasia. Paper 2: Stratigraphy

A complex correlation between outcrops and well sections was performed for the central part of North Caucasus and Ciscaucasia using geophysical, biostratigraphic, and lithostratigraphic methods with new substage and zonal division of the Aptian and Albian sediments taken into account. Previously recognized local subsidiary stratigraphic units (members) were traced into the covered areas, and the stratigraphic position of productive layers was specified.     

北大别片麻岩的超高压变质证据——来自锆石提供的信息

本文对北大别片麻岩锆石中矿物包体及年代学进行了研究,首次发现了北大别片麻岩的超高压变质作用证据。结合阴极发光图像和同位素定年,片麻岩锆石中矿物包体组合至少可分出三期:(1)原岩岩浆矿物组合,即斜长石、黑云母、石英和磷灰石;(2)超高压变质矿物组合,即金刚石、石榴子石和金红石等;(3)麻粒岩相退变质矿物组合,如透辉石等。其中,金刚石和石榴子石主要以包体形式被包裹于透辉石中,而透辉石是北大别麻粒岩相退变质阶段形成的代表性矿物。锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果表明,北大别片麻岩的峰期变质时代和麻粒岩相退变质时代分别为218±3Ma和199±10Ma。这些证明北大别片麻岩,如同其中的榴辉岩一样,经过了印支期超高压变质作用。     

中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔（734～933m）榴辉岩和片麻岩元素及Sr-Nd同位素地球化学研究

对中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔两段榴辉岩与片麻岩互层的岩芯样品(Ⅰ:734.21-737.16m和Ⅱ:929.67-932.86m)分别进行了主要元素和微量元素以及Sr-Nd同位素分析。结果表明:(1)榴辉岩具有较大的成分变化范围(SiO2含量为46.8%-59.8%),表现出平坦或轻稀土(LREE)富集的分布模式和大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集或亏损以及Nb、Ta负异常特征。部分榴辉岩样品具有明显低的活动性元素(Rb、Ba和K)含量,指示了板块俯冲过程中的脱水变质效应;(2)两段岩芯中的片麻岩具有明显不同的主量和微量元素组成,其中第Ⅰ段具有相对较低的SiO2含量(61.3%～66.2%)和高的重稀土(HREE)含量,而第Ⅱ段具有明显偏高的SiO2含量(73.8%～74.1%)和低的HREE含量。但两段均表现出LREE富集和Eu负异常以及LILE富集和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti)负异常特征;(3)榴辉岩和第Ⅰ段岩芯中的片麻岩具有相近的且偏高的εNd(750Ma)值(-3.6- 0.5),而第Ⅱ段岩芯中的片麻岩具有明显偏低的εNd(750Ma)值(-8.7)。部分片麻岩样品表现出较高的87Sr/86Sr比值(0.7070)和非常低的Rb/Sr比值(0.008),指示岩石Rb-Sr同位素体系受到了变质扰动。非活动性元素如Zr、Hf、Nb、Ta、Ti、Y、REE和Ti在脱水变质过程中没有受到明显扰动,因此可用于恢复榴辉岩和片麻岩的原岩性质及其形成的大地构造背景。根据分析样品的元素和Nd同位素特点,推测榴辉岩原岩具有板内玄武岩性质,第Ⅰ段岩芯中的片麻岩原岩为玄武质岩浆上升过程中同化地壳物质形成的中性岩,而第Ⅱ段岩芯中的片麻岩原岩为地壳物质重熔形成的酸性岩。因此,深钻榴辉岩和片麻岩原岩为新元古代华南陆块北缘裂谷构造带双峰式岩浆活动的产物,在岩浆侵位过程中经历了高温大气降水热液蚀变。     

新疆西南天山低压高温变质带深熔时代及其地质意义

西南天山木扎尔特地区低压高温变质带主要出露片麻岩类、斜长角闪岩类和麻粒岩类三种岩石类型,由于受到深熔事件的影响在其内部形成了规模不一的长英质脉体,然而对这些深熔长英质脉体的时代还缺乏准确的限定。本文通过详细的岩相学、锆石阴极发光图像研究,采用LA-ICP-MS技术对3件长英质脉体不同锆石微区进行了U-Pb定年,进而探讨西南天山低压高温变质带的形成时间。长英质脉体中的新生锆石具有弱的振荡环带,低的Th/U比值,锆石形态学和内部结构也表明锆石结晶于与深熔作用有关的熔体中,长英质脉体获得的深熔时代为276.5±2.0Ma、272.0±1.7Ma、265.5±1.5Ma,其年龄范围代表了木扎尔特地区低压高温变质带的形成时间可能为早中二叠世,该年龄与区域上西南天山造山带广泛出现的碰撞后岩浆事件的时代相一致,表明早二叠世西南天山造山带已进入造山后伸展减薄的后碰撞造山演化阶段。同时获得一组集中分布的深熔长英质脉体421.8±3.2Ma的继承锆石年龄,该年龄与寄主岩石夕线石榴黑云斜长片麻岩一组主要的年龄峰值一致,表明长英质脉体可能来源于夕线石榴黑云斜长片麻岩的部分熔融作用,对应于南天山志留纪晚期的岩浆事件。