Kilometre-scale structural setting of ore shoots in the Frasers gold deposit,Macraes mine,New Zealand

The Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone in southern New Zealand contains the circa 10 million ounce Macraes gold deposit, one of the larger Phanerozoic orogenic gold deposits discovered to date globally. Approximately 50% of this 10 million ounce resource is hosted by 5 major ore shoots up to 400 m wide and 1500 m long in the Frasers area at the southern end of the mine. Higher grade (>1.5 g/t Au) ore shoots are located along and immediately below the Hangingwall Shear, the principal strand of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone at the Frasers deposit. They typically trend parallel to the intersection of the shear and foliation in the underlying schist, commonly where the foliation dips more steeply that the overlying Hangingwall Shear. Especially thick zones of higher grade mineralised rock are located between the Hangingwall Shear and underlying second order splay shears whose position correlates with minor right-hand bends in the strike of the overlying Hangingwall Shear. Lower grade (<1.2 g/t Au), but economically significant, ore shoots are located within mineralised schists below the Hangingwall Shear. Outer margins of these lower grade ore shoots are generally parallel to the strike of the foliation in the host schist. They are most extensive where open disharmonic folding has resulted in the strike of the foliation diverging from that of the overlying Hangingwall Shear. No correlation exists between the position of any ore shoots and gently dipping jogs in the Hangingwall Shear, despite mineralisation occurring during reverse movement on the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone. Instead the angular relationship between various strands of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone at Frasers and foliation in underlying schists is the most consistent structural feature likely to predict the location, extent, and orientation of ore shoots within the Frasers segment of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone.     

Contrasting coeval paragenesis of gold and scheelite in an orogenic hydrothermal system,Macraes mine,New Zealand

The Macraes deposit (> 10 Moz resource) is a Cretaceous orogenic system hosted in the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone (HMSZ) which was mineralised under lower greenschist facies during later stages of lower greenschist facies metamorphism of host metasedimentary schists. Gold is encapsulated primarily in sulphides that have replaced silicates in ductile shears that are focussed in micaceous rocks. The shears anastomose around structurally competent lenses, and were enhanced by hydrothermal graphite deposition and alteration of albite to muscovite. In contrast, scheelite with minor auriferous sulphides occurs in multigenerational quartz veins that filled fractures in competent lithologies. Hence, scheelite was deposited coevally with gold, from the same hydrothermal fluid, but in different structural settings from most gold at all scales from millimetres to hundreds of metres. Consequentially, there is weak correlation between Au and W at all scales in the deposit. Multigenerational gold and scheelite mineralisation occurred during progressive deformation in the shear zone in two contrasting structural and mineralogical styles in syn-deformationally weakening gold-bearing micaceous shears, and in syn-deformationally hardened competent rocks that became silicified and veined with quartz and scheelite. Hydrothermal fluid flow in the gold-bearing shears occurred at the grain boundary, microshear, and microfracture scales, and was slow (< 1 m/year), continuous, and pervasive. In contrast, vein formation in more competent lithologies was episodic, locally rapid (> hundreds of m/year), and was controlled by fracture permeability. The Au and W enrichment in the Macraes deposit resulted from regional scale metal mobility, driven by coeval recrystallisation in higher-grade (upper greenschist to amphibolite facies) metamorphism that persisted structurally below the Macraes deposit for at least 10 Ma after mineralisation ceased.     

Geochemistry of late metamorphic hydrothermal alteration and graphitisation of host rock, Macraes gold mine, Otago Schist, New Zealand

The Macraes gold deposit in the Otago Schist, New Zealand, formed during late metamorphic fluid flow through a lower greenschist facies shear zone. Mineralisation occurred near to the brittle-ductile transition at about 300 °C. Large volumes of host rock in a shear zone up to 120 m thick have been hydrothermally altered by this fluid activity. Most alteration is not structurally controlled apart from proximity to the shear zone. Ductile and brittle microshears traverse the most mineralised rocks and some structural control of fluid flow occurred as well. Fluid flow was slow, similar to that in metamorphic rocks (mm/year) and diffusion through interconnected fluid was a significant chemical process. Localised extensional hydrofractures (m scale) are filled with mineralised quartz. Most alteration of the host rocks was isochemical with respect to the lithophile elements, and mineralised rocks have been variably enriched in As, Au, Sb, W, Mo and Bi, but not Co or Cd. Addition of sulphur has occurred to both host rocks and mineralised rocks, up to 1 wt.% above a background of 0.1 wt.%. Host rock sulphur is mainly pyritic and is not structurally controlled. Mineralised rocks have pyrite and arsenopyrite along microshears. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena have formed from sulphidation of silicates with no addition of metals. Graphite has been added to mineralised rocks along microshears, up to 3 wt.% locally, above a background of 0.1 wt.% noncarbonate carbon. Graphite deposition may have occurred as a result of mixing of two fluids, water+methane, and water+carbon dioxide. Graphitisation and sulphidation reactions released low δD water, which accumulated in the slow-moving mineralising fluid. Distinction between this low δD reaction water and meteoric water incursion is difficult.     

Arsenic distribution during formation and capping of an oxidised sulphidic minesoil, Macraes mine, New Zealand

A minesoil has developed over 5 years oxidative exposure on sulphide concentrate tailings (ca. 1 wt.% As) at the Macraes mesothermal gold mine, New Zealand. The minesoil has a dry crust which has formed due to evaporative drying. This dry crust is enriched in arsenic (ca. 5 wt.% As) as scorodite (FeAsO₄·2H₂O) because of upward mobility of dissolved arsenic during drying. Similar enrichment of arsenic has occurred along the walls of desiccation cracks which extend over 1 m into the minesoil. Capping of the tailings and minesoil with wet tailings (pH=8) results in dissolution of scorodite and remobilization of arsenic on the millimetre scale. Experimental capping of the minesoil with wet calcium carbonate remobilized some arsenic from scorodite on the centimetre scale, but much original arsenic enrichment was preserved after 400 days. A layer of gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) and iron oxyhydroxide cementation developed at the interface between the minesoil and the experimental calcium carbonate cap, restricting water flow. This layer was ca. 1 mm thick after 400 days. Theoretical comparison between advection and diffusion in the minesoil suggests that diffusion is an important mechanism for chemical mobility on the 1–50-year time scale. However, advection can be important in secondary porosity of the dry crust of the minesoil and water penetrates this zone at a rate of 1.5 mm/day.     

Extensional shear band development on the outer margin of the Alpine mylonite zone,Tatare Stream,Southern Alps,New Zealand

Schistose mylonitic rocks in the central part of the Alpine Fault (AF) at Tatare Stream, New Zealand are cut by pervasive extensional (C′) shear bands in a well-understood and young, natural ductile shear zone. The C′ shears cross-cut the pre-existing (Mesozoic—aged) foliation, displacing it ductilely synthetic to late Cenozoic motion on the AF. Using a transect approach, we evaluated changes in geometrical properties of the mm–cm-spaced C′ shear bands across a conspicuous finite strain gradient that intensifies towards the AF. Precise C′ attitudes, C′-foliation dihedral angles, and C′–S intersections were calculated from multiple sectional observations at both outcrop and thin-section scales. Based on these data the direction of ductile shearing in the Alpine mylonite zone during shear band activity is inferred to have trended >20° clockwise (down-dip) of the coeval Pacific-Australia plate motion, indicating some partitioning of oblique-slip motion to yield an excess of “dip-slip” relative to plate motion azimuth, or some up-dip ductile extrusion of the shear zone as a result of transpression, or both. Constant attitude of the mylonitic foliation across the finite strain gradient indicates this planar fabric element was parallel to the shear zone boundary (SZB). Across all examined parts of the shear zone, the mean dihedral angle between the C′ shears and the mylonitic foliation (S) remains a constant 30 ± 1° (1σ). The aggregated slip accommodated on the C′ shear bands contributed only a small bulk shear strain across the shear zone (γ = 0.6–0.8). Uniformity of per-shear slip on C′ shears with progression into the mylonite zone across the strain gradient leads us to infer that these shears exhibited a strain-hardening rheology, such that they locked up at a finite shear strain (inside C′ bands) of 12–15. Shear band boudins and foliation boudins both record extension parallel to the SZB, as do the occurrence of extensional shear band sets that have conjugate senses of slip. We infer that shear bands nucleated on planes of maximum instantaneous shear strain rate in a shear zone with W_k < 0.8, and perhaps even as low as <0.5. The C′ shear bands near the AF formed in a thinning/stretching shear zone, which had monoclinic symmetry, where the direction of shear-zone stretching was parallel to the shearing direction.     

Structural controls on Tertiary orogenic gold mineralization during initiation of a mountain belt, New Zealand

Two types of structurally controlled hydrothermal mineralization have occurred during folding of fissile schist in southern New Zealand: fold-related mineralization and normal fault-related mineralization. Both types have the same mineralogy and textures, and are dominated by quartz–ankerite veins and silicified breccias with ankeritic alteration. Most mineralized zones are thin (centimetre scale), although host schist is commonly impregnated with ankerite up to 20 m away. Thick (up to 5 m wide) mineralized zones are generally gold-bearing and contain pyrite and arsenopyrite with stibnite pods locally. Some of these auriferous zones have been extensively mined historically despite rugged topography and difficult access. Mineralization occurred during regional tectonic compression in the initial stages of development of the Southern Alps mountain belt at the Pacific–Australian plate boundary in the Miocene. Most of the gold-bearing deposits occur in east to south-east, striking normal faults that cut across mesoscopic folds in a belt that coincides with the southern termination of a regional-scale north trending antiform. Mineralized zones have similar structural control and relative timing to a nearby swarm of Miocene lamprophyre dykes and carbonatites. Limited stable isotopic data (C and O) and trace element geochemistry suggest that there was probably no genetic link between the igneous activity and gold mineralization. However, these two types of fluid flow have been controlled by the same tectonically created crustal plumbing system. This Miocene hydrothermal activity and gold deposition demonstrates that orogenic (mesothermal) mineralization can occur during the inception of an orogenic belt, not just in the latter stages as is commonly believed. These Miocene structures have been preserved in the orogen because the locus of uplift has moved northwards, so the early-formed gold deposits have not yet been structurally overprinted or eroded.     

Characterization of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit and the basal shear zone: Mount Messenger Formation,Taranaki Basin,New Zealand

Submarine mass-transport deposits are important in many ancient and modern basins. Mass-transport deposits can play a significant role in exploration as reservoir, seal or source units. Although seismic data has advanced the knowledge about these deposits, more outcrop studies are needed to better understand gravity mass flows and predict the properties of their resultant deposits. It is proposed that sufficiently well-exposed outcrops of mass-transport deposits can be divided into three strain-dominant morphodomains: headwall, translational and toe. The outcrops of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit, part of the Lower Mount Messenger Formation in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, are exposed along a ca 4 km transect in coastal cliffs that enable the identification of the three morphodomains. The aim of this study is to characterize the stratigraphic and sedimentological nature of the Miocene-age Rapanui mass-transport deposit outcrops and the evolution of its basal shear zone. The basal shear zone of a mass-transport deposit is defined as the stratal zone formed in the interface between the overriding mass flow and the underlying in situ deposits or sea floor. Accordingly, the deformation structures in the Rapanui mass-transport deposit and the basal shear zone were documented in an established spatial framework. Traditional methodologies were used to characterize the sedimentology of the Rapanui mass-transport deposit. Data collected from intrafolial folds, rafted blocks and samples from the Rapanui mass-transport deposit were used to investigate strain and matrix texture evolution, estimate palaeoflow direction, and calculate yield strength and overpressure at time of deposition. Additionally, a one-dimensional numerical model was used to test sedimentation-driven overpressure as probable trigger. This work demonstrates that the basal shear zone, as well as the matrix texture of a mass-transport deposit, can vary spatially as sediments from underlying deposits are entrained during shear-derived mixing. This phenomenon can impact the seal potential of mass-transport deposits and their interaction with fluids in the subsurface.     

Structural study of a semiductile strike-slip system in the Central Iberian Zone (Variscan Fold Belt,Spain): structural controls on gold deposits

The Villalcampo shear system is a regional dextral strike-slip fault zone that affects Late Variscan granites and their metamorphic country rocks over an area of about 150 km². The detailed geometry of this subvertical north-west—south-east shear zone is outlined. The system forms an extensional fan to the northwest and extends to the south-east as a broad extensional duplex. Particular attention is focused on the distribution of fault rocks and associated veins in its north-west splay. A structural study of the shear bands (encompassing both geometric and kinematic criteria) and a microscopic study of the fault rocks has led to the interpretation of the system as a brittle—ductile shear zone. Calculations give a shear strain value of = 1.5 and a minimum displacement of s = 3700 m. The localization of gold mineralization in mylonite-filled subvertical extensional veins is a product of the formation of the Villalcampo shear system. The subvertical faults and veins underwent a process of cyclical sealing and reopening. As such they acted as valves controlled by fluid pressure regulating fluid—rock interactions and gold deposition. Conditions favouring these processes occur near the base of the seismogenic zone in the vicinity of the frictional—quasi-plastic transition at mid-greenschist metamorphic conditions (T = 350°C and 10–15 km depth).     

青海省大柴旦红灯沟金矿区剪切带构造分布特征与构造形式分析

描述了矿区剪切蚀变带的构造分布,并揭示了一些韧性变形特征。通过对工作区的韧性剪切带以两种方式进行力学分析。阐述了剪切带的内部具体构造特征以及剪切带的分带性。根据分带性的特征并配合矿区剪切带形态特征对矿区韧性剪切带做了成因研究分析。     

京北云蒙山地区四合堂韧性逆冲型剪切带的变形特征及早期变形时限约束

云蒙山杂岩是华北克拉通内记载了晚中生代构造演化的重要构造单元之一。云蒙山地区区域构造格架主要由四合堂背斜推覆体、四合堂逆冲型韧性剪切带、云蒙山背形、河防口正断层及水峪伸展型韧性剪切带等组成。对于四合堂逆冲型剪切带的活动时限及其与水峪剪切带之间的关系,是长期争论的课题之一。在四合堂韧性剪切带中广泛发育有剪切演化各个阶段就位的花岗质岩脉。本文研究云蒙山四合堂地区剪切变形特征及广泛发育的岩脉与构造变形之间关系,将岩脉厘定为构造期前(剪切前)岩脉、同构造期(同剪切)岩脉和构造期后(剪切后)岩脉等6期。不同类型的同构造岩脉锆石U-Pb定年获得了岩脉结晶年龄为170~150Ma。从构造-岩浆关系分析角度考虑,本文认为四合堂剪切带韧性逆冲作用早期的活动始于约170Ma,并持续到约150Ma。     

Reactions leading to the formation and breakdown of stilpnomelane in the Otago Schist, New Zealand

Semi‐pelitic rocks ranging in grade from the prehnite–pumpellyite to the greenschist facies from south‐eastern Otago, New Zealand, have been investigated in order to evaluate the reactions leading to formation and breakdown of stilpnomelane. Detrital grains of mica and chlorite along with fine‐grained authigenic illite and chlorite occur in lower‐grade rocks with compactional fabric parallel to bedding. At higher grades, detrital grains have undergone dissolution, and metamorphic phyllosilicates have crystallized with preferred orientation (sub)parallel to bedding, leading to slaty cleavage. Stilpnomelane is found in metapelites of the pumpellyite–actinolite facies and the chlorite zone of the greenschist facies, but only rarely in the biotite zone of the greenschist facies. Illite or phengite is ubiquitous, whereas chlorite occurs only rarely with stilpnomelane upgrade of the pumpellyite‐out isograd. Chemical and textural relationships suggest that stilpnomelane formed from chlorite, phengite, quartz, K‐feldspar and iron oxides. Stilpnomelane was produced by grain‐boundary replacement of chlorite and by precipitation from solution, overprinting earlier textures. Some relict 14 Å chlorite layers are observed by TEM to be in the process of transforming to 12 Å stilpnomelane layers. The AEM analyses show that Fe is strongly partitioned over Mg into stilpnomelane relative to chlorite (K_D≈2.5) and into chlorite relative to phengite (K_D≈1.9). Modified A′FM diagrams, projected from the measured phengite composition rather than from ideal KAl₃Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂, are used to elucidate reactions among chlorite, stilpnomelane, phengite and biotite. In addition to pressure, temperature and bulk rock composition, the stilpnomelane‐in isograd is controlled by variations in K, Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺, O/OH and H₂O contents, and the locus of the isograd is expected to vary in rocks of different oxidation states and permeabilities. Biotite, quartz and less phengitic muscovite form from stilpnomelane, chlorite and phengite in the biotite zone. Projection of bulk rock compositions from phengite, NaAlO₂, SiO₂ and H₂O reveals that they lie close to the polyhedra defined by the A′FM minerals and albite. Other extended A′FM diagrams, such as one projected from phengite, NaAlO₂, CaAl₂O₄, SiO₂ and H₂O, may prove useful in the evaluation of other low‐grade assemblages.     

Lithological and spatial controls on the distribution of quartz veins in andesite- and rhyolite-hosted epithermal Au–Ag deposits of the Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand

Vein distributions in line samples from four epithermal Au–Ag deposits of the Hauraki Goldfield were logged and quantified by vein spacing, vein density, vein thickness and percentage of vein extension. One deposit is hosted in andesite lavas (Martha Hill), one in andesite lavas and dacite porphyry, dacitic tuffs and pyroclastic breccias (Golden Cross), and two in rhyolite lavas and rhyolitic tuffs with minor andesite lavas or andesite dikes (Ohui and Wharekirauponga). The vein systems in these deposits form fault-controlled arrays of extensional veins. Vein spacing distributions are non-fractal over two to three orders of magnitude (1 mm to 5 m), and therefore fractal dimension statistics are not applicable. The coefficient of variation (C_v) of vein spacing was used as a measure of the degree of vein clustering. Rock type has a marked influence on vein spacing distributions, with veining in rhyolite lava having lower average thickness and percentage extension, but a generally higher degree of vein clustering compared with veining in andesite lava in the same deposit. Vein spacing distributions in well-jointed lithologies, mainly andesite lava, have C_v values (0.8–1.2) that are indicative of anticlustered to weakly clustered patterns, particularly in the vein stockwork of the upper part of the Golden Cross deposit. These C_v values are consistent with field observations that joints are a major control on vein spacing. In the poorly jointed dacitic and rhyolitic rocks, the veins are weakly to strongly clustered as shown by higher C_v values (1.2–2.4), and are commonly associated with normal faults. Overall, andesite lava and dacite porphyry and pyroclastics host thicker and more persistent veins than rhyolite lava and tuff. These larger veins contain significant volumes of high-grade gold mineralisation. The higher chemical reactivity to hydrothermal fluids of andesite and dacite compared with rhyolite may have aided propagation and thickening of the veins in andesite-hosted deposits. Within an individual epithermal deposit, location close to thick veins, representing major fluid conduits, commonly overrides the effect of different lithologies. Sites that are deeper and located within or adjacent to major vein structures have higher average vein thickness, percentage extension and degree of vein clustering. Systematic collection and analysis of vein spacing, thickness and density data can be used to define trends that are useful in the exploration of gold-bearing epithermal vein deposits. Received: 25 August 1998 / Accepted: 23 December 1999     

新疆萨尔托海石英菱镁岩中发育的韧性剪切带及其对金矿的控制

萨尔托海金矿产在达拉布特蛇绿混杂岩带中。本文首次在该金矿区厘定出韧性剪切带,糜棱岩或者糜棱岩化石英菱镁岩中构成糜棱面理的矿物(铬云母、石英)形成于韧性剪切变形过程中,而切割糜棱面理的方解石-石英-黄铜矿-白云母脉代表脆性变形阶段的流体活动。根据矿物组合相互切割关系,识别出三期构造变形:早期NE向韧性变形(形成铬云母-石英组合)之后,发生了应力方向显著不同的破裂,形成NNW向分布的方解石-石英-黄铜矿-白云母脉;再晚期,应力方向又恢复到NE向,发育了浅层次的脆性构造破坏,形成了白云母-石英细脉。韧性剪切变形向脆性变形转换期间形成了石英-碳酸盐脉,其中往往含硫化物和自然金,此阶段是萨尔托海金矿的主要成矿时期。韧性剪切带控制着萨尔托海地区的金矿分布,成矿作用主要受沿剪切带迁移流体的控制,穿切糜棱面理的方解石-石英-黄铜矿-白云母脉是主要的找矿标志。韧性剪切带对金矿的显著控制表明,韧脆性转换期间形成的含硫化物石英碳酸盐脉以及相伴生的热液蚀变使金富集成矿,矿体一般赋存在断裂构造复杂的膨胀部位。萨尔托海金矿的成因与蛇绿岩的形成和演化没有关系。对韧性剪切带的系统研究是在该地区取得找矿勘探突破的关键。     

安徽张八岭隆起东缘基底走滑韧性剪切带的发现及其构造意义

张八岭隆起位于华南地块与华北地块碰撞拼接的构造转换部位,其西界为著名的郯庐断裂带,东缘属于扬子地块盖层前陆逆冲褶皱构造带。在张八岭隆起东缘来安地区基底变质岩中发现了一条宽达2.5km的走滑韧性剪切带,对其进行了详细的野外测量和岩石学、显微组构、变形运动学分析。结果显示,韧性剪切带由初糜棱岩带、糜棱岩带和超糜棱岩带组成;糜棱岩叶理近直立,叶理面上的拉伸线理向SW缓倾(倾伏角为10～30°);S-C组构和不对称旋转碎斑指示以左旋剪切为主。根据石英位错密度估算的差应力为65～75MPa。糜棱岩矿物成分和显微组构特征分析显示基底韧性剪切带的形成温度在250～400℃之间,形成深度为10～20km。该基底走滑剪切带的发现为张八岭地块的斜向走滑折返机制提供了重要的构造地质学制约。     

Late Pleistocene and Holocene paleoseismology of an intraplate seismic zone in a large alluvial valley, the New Madrid seismic zone, Central USA

The New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) is an intraplate right-lateral strike-slip and thrust fault system contained mostly within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The most recent earthquake sequence in the zone occurred in 1811–1812 and had estimated moment magnitudes of 7–8 (e.g., [Johnston, A.C., 1996. Seismic moment assessment of stable continental earthquakes, Part 3: 1811–1812 New Madrid, 1886 Charleston, and 1755 Lisbon. Geophysical Journal International 126, 314–344; Johnston, A.C., Schweig III, E.S, 1996. The enigma of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811–1812. Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences 24, 339–384; Hough, S.E., Armbruster, J.G., Seeber, L., Hough, J.F., 2000. On the modified Mercalli intensities and magnitudes of the New Madrid earthquakes. Journal of Geophysical Research 105 (B10), 23,839–23,864; Tuttle, M.P., 2001. The use of liquefaction features in paleoseismology: Lessons learned in the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States. Journal of Seismology 5, 361–380]). Four earlier prehistoric earthquakes or earthquake sequences have been dated A.D. 1450 ± 150, 900 ± 100, 300 ± 200, and 2350 B.C. ± 200 years using paleoliquefaction features, particularly those associated with native American artifacts, and in some cases surface deformation ([Craven, J. A. 1995. Paleoseismology study in the New Madrid seismic zone using geological and archeological features to constrain ages of liquefaction deposits. M.S thesis, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, U.S.A.; Tuttle, M.P., Lafferty III, R.H., Guccione, M.J., Schweig III, E.S., Lopinot, N., Cande, R., Dyer-Williams, K., Haynes, M., 1996. Use of archaeology to date liquefaction features and seismic events in the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States. Geoarchaeology 11, 451–480; Guccione, M.J., Mueller, K., Champion, J., Shepherd, S., Odhiambo, B., 2002b. Stream response to repeated co-seismic folding, Tiptonville dome, western Tennessee. Geomorphology 43(2002), 313–349; Tuttle, M.P., Schweig, E.S., Sims, J.D., Lafferty, R.H., Wolf, L.W., Haynes, M.L., 2002. The earthquake potential of the New Madrid seismic zone, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v 92, n. 6, p. 2080–2089; Tuttle, M.P., Schweig III, E.S., Campbell, J., Thomas, P.M., Sims, J.D., Lafferty III, R.H., 2005. Evidence for New Madrid earthquakes in A.D. 300 and 2350 B.C. Seismological Research Letters 76, 489–501]). The two most recent prehistoric and the 2350 B.C. events were probably also earthquake sequences with approximately the same magnitude as the historic sequence.Surface deformation (faulting and folding) in an alluvial setting provides many examples of stream response to gradient changes that can also be used to date past earthquake events. Stream responses include changes in channel morphology, deviations in the channel path from the regional gradient, changes in the direction of flow, anomalous longitudinal profiles, and aggradation or incision of the channel ([Merritts, D., Hesterberg, T, 1994. Stream networks and long-term surface uplift in the New Madrid seismic zone. Science 265, 1081–1084.; Guccione, M.J., Mueller, K., Champion, J., Shepherd, S., Odhiambo, B., 2002b. Stream response to repeated co-seismic folding, Tiptonville dome, western Tennessee. Geomorphology 43 (2002), 313–349]). Uplift or depression of the floodplain affects the frequency of flooding and thus the thickness and style of vertical accretion or drowning of a meander scar to form a lake. Vegetation may experience trauma, mortality, and in some cases growth enhancement due to ground failure during the earthquake and hydrologic changes after the earthquake ([VanArdale, R.B., Stahle, D.W., Cleaveland, M.K., Guccione, M.J., 1998. Earthquake signals in tree-ring data from the New Madrid seismic zone and implications for paleoseismicity. Geology 26, 515–518]). Identification and dating these physical and biologic responses allows source areas to be identified and seismic events to be dated.Seven fault segments are recognized by microseismicity and geomorphology. Surface faulting has been recognized at three of these segments, Reelfoot fault, New Madrid North fault, and Bootheel fault. The Reelfoot fault is a compressive stepover along the strike-slip fault and has up to 11 m of surface relief ([Carlson, S.D., 2000. Formation and geomorphic history of Reelfoot Lake: insight into the New Madrid seismic zone. M.S. Thesis, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A]) deforming abandoned and active Mississippi River channels ([Guccione, M.J., Mueller, K., Champion, J., Shepherd, S., Odhiambo, B., 2002b. Stream response to repeated co-seismic folding, Tiptonville dome, western Tennessee. Geomorphology 43 (2002), 313–349]). The New Madrid North fault apparently has only strike-slip motion and is recognized by modern microseismicity, geomorphic anomalies, and sand cataclasis ([Baldwin, J.N., Barron A.D., Kelson, K.I., Harris, J.B., Cashman, S., 2002. Preliminary paleoseismic and geophysical investigation of the North Farrenburg lineament: primary tectonic deformation associated with the New Madrid North Fault?. Seismological Research Letters 73, 393–413]). The Bootheel fault, which is not identified by the modern microseismicity, is associated with extensive liquefaction and offset channels ([Guccione, M.J., Marple, R., Autin, W.J., 2005, Evidence for Holocene displacements on the Bootheel fault (lineament) in southeastern Missouri: Seismotectonic implications for the New Madrid region. Geological Society of America Bulletin 117, 319–333]). The fault has dominantly strike-slip motion but also has a vertical component of slip. Other recognized surface deformation includes relatively low-relief folding at Big Lake/Manila high ([Guccione, M.J., VanArdale, R.B., Hehr, L.H., 2000. Origin and age of the Manila high and associated Big Lake “Sunklands”, New Madrid seismic zone, northeastern Arkansas. Geological Society of America Bulletin 112, 579–590]) and Lake St. Francis/Marked Tree high ([Guccione, M.J., VanArsdale, R.B., 1995. Origin and age of the St. Francis Sunklands using drainage patterns and sedimentology. Final report submitted to the U. S. Geological Survey, Award Number 1434-93-G-2354, Washington D.C.]), both along the subsurface Blytheville arch. Deformation at each of the fault segments does not occur during each earthquake event, indicating that earthquake sources have varied throughout the Holocene.     

Metamorphism and deformation of mafic and felsic rocks in a magma transfer zone,Stewart Island,New Zealand

In the mingled mafic/felsic Halfmoon Pluton at The Neck, Stewart Island (part of the Median Batholith of New Zealand) some hornblende gabbros and diorites retain magmatic structures, whereas others show evidence of major changes in grain and inclusion shapes, and still others are amphibolite‐facies granofelses with few or no igneous relicts. These mafic to intermediate magmas crystallized in felsic magma relatively quickly, with the result that most deformation occurred at subsolidus conditions. It is suggested that mafic‐intermediate rocks with predominantly igneous microstructures spent less time in the magmatic system. The metamorphism of the mafic rocks appears to be ‘autometamorphic’, in the sense that elevated temperatures were maintained by magmatic heat during subsolidus cooling. Elevated temperatures were maintained because of repeated sheet injection and subconcordant dyke injection of hot basaltic and composite mafic‐felsic magmas, into a dominantly transtensional, km‐scale, outboard‐migrating, magmatic shear zone that operated semi‐continuously for between c. 140 and c. 130 Ma. Complete cooling occurred only when the system evolved to transpressional and the locus of magmatism migrated inboard (southward) between c. 130 and c. 120 Ma, associated with solid‐state mylonitic deformation. Intermingled granitic rocks escaped metamorphism, because they remained magmatic to lower temperatures, and experienced shorter and lower‐temperature subsolidus cooling intervals. However, the felsic rocks underwent relatively high‐temperature solid‐state deformation, as indicated by myrmekite replacing K‐feldspar and chess‐board subgrain patterns in quartz; locally they developed felsic mylonites. The felsic rocks were deformed in the solid state because of their high proportion of relatively weak minerals (quartz and biotite), whereas the mafic rocks mostly escaped subsolidus deformation, except in local high‐strain zones of hornblende‐plagioclase schist, because of their high proportion of relatively strong minerals (hornblende and plagioclase). We suggest that such contrasting microstructural features are diagnostic of long‐lived syntectonic magma transfer zones, and contrast with the more typical complex, batholith‐scale magma chambers of magmatic arcs.     

Role of plagioclase and reaction softening in a metagranite shear zone at mid‐crustal conditions (Gotthard Massif,Swiss Central Alps)

A lower amphibolite Alpine shear zone from the Fibbia metagranite (Gotthard Massif, Central Alps) has been studied to better understand the parameters controlling strain localization in granitic rocks. The strain gradient on the metre‐scale shows an evolution from a weakly deformed metagranite (Qtz_I–Kfs_I–Ab_I–Bt_I ± Pl_II–Zo_I–Phg_I–Grt) to a fine banded ultramylonite (Qtz_II–Kfs_II–Ab_II–Pl_II–Bt_II–Phg_II ± Grt–Zo_II). Strain localization is coeval with dynamic recrystallization of the quartzofeldspathic matrix and a modal increase in mica, at the expense of K‐feldspar. The continuous recrystallization of plagioclase during deformation into a very fine‐grained assemblage forming anastomosed ribbons is interpreted as the dominant process in the shear zone initiation and development. The shear zone initiated under closed‐system conditions with the destabilization of metastable Ab_I–Zo_I porphyroclasts into fine‐grained (20–50 μm sized) Ab_II–Pl_II aggregates, and with minor crystallization of phengite at the expense of K‐feldspar. The development of the shear zone requires a change in state of the system, which becomes open to externally derived fluids and mass transfer. Indeed, mass balance calculations and thermodynamic modelling show that the ultramylonite is characterized by gains in CaO, FeO and H₂O. The progressive input of externally derived CaO drives the continuous metamorphic recrystallization of the fine‐grained Ab_II–Pl_II aggregate into a more Pl_II‐rich and finer aggregate. Input of water favours the crystallization of phengite at the expense of K‐feldspar to form an interconnected network of weak phases. Thus, recrystallization of 50% of the bulk rock volume would induce a decrease of the strength of the rock that might contribute to the development of the shear zone. This study emphasizes the major role of metamorphic reactions and more particularly plagioclase on strain localization process. Plagioclase represents at least one‐third of the bulk rock volume in granitic systems and forms a stress‐supporting framework that controls the rock rheology. Therefore, recrystallization of plagioclase due to changes in P–T conditions and/or bulk composition must be taken into account, together with quartz and K‐feldspar, in order to understand strain localization processes in granites.     

Dating metamorphic reactions and fluid flow: application to exhumation of high-P granulites in a crustal-scale shear zone, western Canadian Shield

The Legs Lake shear zone is a crustal‐scale thrust fault system in the western Canadian Shield that juxtaposes high‐pressure (1.0+ GPa) granulite facies rocks against shallow crustal (< 0.5 GPa) amphibolite facies rocks. Hangingwall decompression is characterized by breakdown of the peak assemblage Grt + Sil + Kfs + Pl + Qtz into the assemblage Grt + Crd + Bt ± Sil + Pl + Qtz. Similar felsic granulite occurs throughout the region, but retrograde cordierite is restricted to the immediate hangingwall of the shear zone. Textural observations, petrological analysis using P–T/P–M_H2O phase diagram sections, and in situ electron microprobe monazite geochronology suggest that decompression from peak conditions of 1.1 GPa, c. 800 °C involved several distinct stages under first dry and then hydrated conditions. Retrograde re‐equilibration occurred at 0.5–0.4 GPa, 550–650 °C. Morphology, X‐ray maps, and microprobe dates indicate several distinct monazite generations. Populations 1 and 2 are relatively high yttrium (Y) monazite that grew at 2.55–2.50 Ga and correspond to an early granulite facies event. Population 3 represents episodic growth of low Y monazite between 2.50 and 2.15 Ga whose general significance is still unclear. Population 4 reflects low Y monazite growth at 1.9 Ga, which corresponds to the youngest period of high‐pressure metamorphism. Finally, population 5 is restricted to the hydrous retrograded granulite and represents high Y monazite growth at 1.85 Ga that is linked directly to the synkinematic garnet‐consuming hydration reaction (KFMASH): Grt + Kfs + H₂O = Bt + Sil + Qtz. Two samples yield weighted mean microprobe dates for this population of 1853 ± 15 and 1851 ± 9 Ma, respectively. Subsequent xenotime growth correlates with the reaction: Grt + Sil + Qtz + H₂O = Crd. We suggest that the shear zone acted as a channel for fluid produced by dehydration of metasediments in the underthrust domain.     

江西乐平涌山地区韧性剪切带对金矿化的控制及找矿远景

江西乐平涌山金矿点位于钦杭成矿带东段北部山门—涌山金多金属矿成矿远景区南东部,是最近新发现的金矿点。在野外地质调查和室内综合研究的基础上,对该金矿点的控矿特征进行研究,探讨自西向东横贯矿区的NE-NEE向韧性剪切带与金矿成矿的关系,总结成矿要素,并结合土壤地球化学异常特征分析其找矿远景。乐平涌山金矿点赋存于韧性变形明显的新元古代万年岩群浅变质岩地层中,呈脉状产出,NE向韧性剪切带是最主要的控矿导矿构造,万年岩群枫树岭组上段是赋矿围岩;矿床类型为韧性剪切构造蚀变岩型金矿。乐平涌山NE向韧性剪切带具有较好的找矿远景,该金矿点的发现为在钦杭成矿带东段北部寻找金矿提供了新思路,可进一步扩大该区找矿空间。