EPMA and PIXE dating of monazite in granulites from Stary Gierałtów,NE Bohemian Massif,Poland

Chemical Th–U–total Pb (CHIME) dating of monazite by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and proton microprobe (PIXE) was carried out on felsic granulites from Stary Gierałtów, Poland, which represent part of the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome in the NE Bohemian Massif. Analyzed monazite is characterized by mosaic zoning rather than simple core-to-rim growth, and strontium contents of up to 750ppm. An isochron age of 347 ± 13Ma represents timing of amphibolite-facies metamorphism, in agreement with previously published estimates.     

Origin and evolution of volatiles in the Central Europe late Variscan granitoids,using the example of the Strzegom-Sobótka Massif,SW Poland

Mineralogy and Petrology - The results of the new Electron Microprobe Analysis of apatite, hornblende and biotite crystals of the hornblende-biotite variety of the Strzegom-Sobótka granite...     

Structure and stratigraphy of the Teplá–Barrandian Neoproterozoic,Bohemian Massif: A new plate-tectonic reinterpretation

The Teplá–Barrandian unit (TBU) of the Bohemian Massif exposes a section across the once extensive Avalonian–Cadomian belt, which bordered the northern active margin of Gondwana during late Neoproterozoic. This paper synthesizes the state-of-the-art knowledge on the Cadomian basement of the TBU to redefine its principal component units, to revise an outdated stratigraphic scheme, and to interpret this scheme in terms of a recent plate-tectonic model for the Cadomian orogeny in the Bohemian Massif. The main emphasis of this paper is on an area between two newly defined fronts of the Variscan pervasive deformation to the NW and SE of the Barrandian Lower Paleozoic overlap successions. This area has escaped the pervasive Variscan (late Devonian to early Carboniferous) ductile reworking and a section through the Cadomian orogen is here superbly preserved.The NW segment of the TBU consists of three juxtaposed allochthonous belts of unknown stratigraphic relation (the Kralovice–Rakovník, Radnice–Kralupy, and Zbiroh–?árka belts), differing in lithology, complex internal strain patterns, and containing sedimentary and tectonic mélanges with blocks of diverse ocean floor (meta-)basalts. We summarize these three belts under a new term the Blovice complex, which we believe represents a part of an accretionary wedge of the Cadomian orogen.The SE segment of the TBU exposes the narrow Pi?ín belt, which is probably a continuation of the Blovice complex from beneath the Barrandian Lower Paleozoic, and a volcanic arc sequence (the Davle Group). Their stratigraphic relation is unknown. Flysch units (the ?těchovice Group and Svrchnice Formation) overlay the arc volcanics, and both units contain material derived from volcanic arc. The former was also sourced from the NW segment, whereas the latter contains an increased amount of passive margin continental material. In contrast to the Blovice complex, the flysch experienced only weak Cadomian deformation.The new lithotectonic zonation fits the following tectonic scenario for the Cadomian evolution of the TBU well. The S- to SE-directed Cadomian subduction beneath the TBU led to the involvement of turbidites, chaotic deposits, and 605 ± 39 Ma ocean floor in the accretionary wedge represented by the Blovice complex. The accretionary wedge formation mostly overlapped temporally with the growth of the volcanic arc (the Davle Group) at ~ 620–560 Ma. Upon cessation of the arc igneous activity, the rear of the wedge and some elevated portions of the arc were eroded to supply the deep-water flysch sequences of the ?těchovice Group, whereas the comparable Svrchnice Formation (~ 560 to < 544 Ma) was deposited in a southeasterly remnant basin close to the continental margin. The Cadomian orogeny in the TBU was terminated at ~ 550–540 Ma by slab breakoff, by final attachment of the most outboard ~ 540 Ma oceanic crust, and by intrusion of ~ 544–524 Ma boninite dikes marking the transition from the destructive to transform margin during the early/middle Cambrian.     

Age and geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic granitoids in the the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif, NE China: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

<正>1 Introduction The Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif(SZRM)crops out over an extensive part of NE China and was thought to contain Precambrian crystalline basement material,as evidenced by the presence of what appears to bePaleoproterozoicbasementmaterialwithin exploration drillholes(Pei et al.,2007).An alternative view is that the basement within the SZRM is     

Deciphering the Variscan tectonothermal overprint and deformation partitioning in the Cadomian basement of the Teplá–Barrandian unit, Bohemian Massif

The Teplá–Barrandian unit (TBU) has long been considered as a simply bivergent supracrustal ‘median massif’ above the Saxothuringian subduction zone in the Variscan orogenic belt. This contribution reveals a much more complex style of the Variscan tectonometamorphic overprint and resulting architecture of the Neoproterozoic basement of the TBU. For the first time, we describe the crustal-scale NE–SW-trending dextral transpressional Krakovec shear zone (KSZ) that intersects the TBU and thrusts its higher grade northwestern portion severely reworked by Variscan deformation over a southeastern very low grade portion with well-preserved Cadomian structures and only brittle Variscan deformation. The age of movements along the KSZ is inferred as Late Devonian (~380–370?Ma). On the basis of structural, microstructural, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility data from the KSZ, we propose a new synthetic model for the deformation partitioning in the Teplá–Barrandian upper crust in response to the Late Devonian to early Carboniferous subduction and underthrusting of the Saxothuringan lithosphere. We conclude that the Saxothuringian/Teplá–Barrandian convergence was nearly frontal during ~380–346?Ma and was partitioned into pure shear dominated domains that accommodated orogen-perpendicular shortening alternating with orogen-parallel high-strain domains that accommodated dextral transpression or bilateral extrusion. The synconvergent shortening of the TBU was terminated by a rapid gravity-driven collapse of the thickened lithosphere at ~346–337?Ma followed by, or partly simultaneous with, dextral strike-slip along the Baltica margin-parallel zones, driven by the westward movement of Gondwana from approximately 345?Ma onwards.     

Ordovician passive continental margin magmatism in the Central-European Variscides: U–Pb zircon data from the SE part of the Karkonosze-Izera Massif, Sudetes, SW Poland

Approximately 500-Ma-old orthogneisses are widespread in the eastern part of the Variscan belt and are commonly interpreted to have intruded mica-schist series of assumed Neoproterozoic age. New SHRIMP zircon ages of quartzofeldspathic metavolcanogenic rocks of the mica schist series in the eastern part of the Karkonosze-Izera Massif (SW Poland) indicate that they are late Cambrian/early Ordovician rather than Neoproterozoic in age, based on the zircon age spectra distributed mainly between ca. 500 and 660 Ma (with a few Proterozoic inherited minimum ages of ca. 970 and 1,825 Ma). Younger zircon dates, dispersed between ca. 412 and 464 Ma, are interpreted as a result of Pb-loss likely caused by subsequent metamorphism. Consequently, the felsic metavolcanogenic rocks appear to be roughly contemporaneous with the intrusion of ca. 500-Ma-old orthogneiss protoliths (with the pooled concordia age of 487 ± 8 Ma interpreted as the best approximation of the protolith intrusive age). Field relationships, petrological and geochemical features of the felsic and mafic rocks studied support a model in which the accompanying mica schist series are not the original country rocks to the ca. 500 Ma granite intrusions, and indicate that their recent close proximity is the result of tectonic juxtaposition. However, both the mica schists enclosing the bimodal metavolcanic rocks, and the orthogneisses, are interpreted to represent a Cambro-Ordovician passive continental margin sequence being part of the Saxothuringian domain. They are tectonically overlain to the east by HP/T metamorphic units, comprising MORB-type metaigneous rocks, and delineating a tectonic suture separating the Saxothuringian block in the west from an assumed continental block (Tepla-Barrandian) to the south-east.     

Structure,emplacement, and tectonic setting of Late Devonian granitoid plutons in the Teplá–Barrandian unit,Bohemian Massif

The Štěnovice and Čistá granodiorite–tonalite plutons are small (~27 and ~38 km², respectively) intrusions that are largely discordant to regional ductile structures in the center of the upper-crustal Teplá–Barrandian unit, Bohemian Massif. Their whole-rock and trace-element compositions are consistent with medium-K calc-alkaline magma, generated above a subducted slab in a continental margin arc setting. The U–Pb zircon age of the Štěnovice pluton, newly determined at 375 ± 2 Ma using the laser ablation ICP-MS technique, is within the error of the previously published Pb–Pb age of 373 ± 1 Ma for the Čistá pluton. The two plutons also share other characteristics that are typical of concentrically expanded plutons (CEPs), such as elliptical cross-section in plan view, steep contacts, inferred downward-narrowing conical shape, faint normal zoning, and margin-parallel magmatic foliation decoupled from the regional host-rock structures. We interpret the Štěnovice and Čistá plutons as representing the initial Late Devonian stage of much more voluminous early Carboniferous arc-related plutonism (represented most typically by the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex) in the upper crust of the central Bohemian Massif. These two plutons are important tectonic elements in that they indicate an overall shift of the arc-related plutonic activity from the ~NW to the ~SE, accompanied with a general compositional trend of the magmas from medium-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic/ultrapotassic. Such a pattern is compatible with SE-directed subduction of the Saxothuringian Ocean beneath the Teplá–Barrandian overriding plate as a cause of arc-related magmatism in this part of the Bohemian Massif.     

Structural evolution of the Mokrsko-West,Mokrsko-East and Čelina gold deposits,Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic: Role of fluid overpressure

The studied Mokrsko-West (90–100 t Au), Mokrsko-East (30 t Au) and Čelina (11 t Au) deposits represent three spatially and genetically interrelated deposits of supposed affiliation to the intrusion-related gold deposit type. The deposits differ in their dominant host rocks, which are represented by ca 354 Ma old biotite tonalite (Mokrsko-West) and Neoproterozoic volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks (Mokrsko-East, Čelina). Another difference lies in the style of veining — densely spaced networks of 0.1–5 mm thin veins (Q₂) within the tonalite, compared to thick (usually 5–20 cm; Q_1–2) and widely spaced veins within the Neoproterozoic rocks.Five generations of quartz veins, referred to as Q₀ through Q₄ were distinguished: Q₀ veins are the oldest and ore-barren, Q₁ veins mark the onset of the Au-ore formation, Q₂ veins its culmination and Q₃ veins its fading. Late quartz gangue (Q₄) is associated with uneconomic Ag–Pb–Zn vein-type ores hosted by calcite–barite–(quartz) veins.Quartz vein thickness (~ 0.3 to ~ 300 mm), spacing (~ 3 mm to ~ 500 mm), distribution, and related extensional strain (ca. 3–25%) evolve systematically across the studied ore district, reflecting both the major host rock and other tectonic factors. Detailed study of vein dimension parameters (thickness, length, width, aspect ratios) allowed estimation of the probable depth of the fluid source reservoir (~ 2 km or ~ 4 km) below the present surface. The depth to the fluid source seems to increase through time, being the shallowest for the Q₀ veins and the deepest for the Q₂ veins. Two independent methods of estimating fluid overpressure are discussed in the paper. Fluid overpressure during vein formation decreases from the Q₀ through the Q₂ veins, from 10 to 4 MPa or from 26 to 10 MPa, depending on the assumed tensile strength of the tonalite (5.5 and 15 MPa, respectively).The origin of joints and veins is discussed in terms of the stress orientation and crack-seal and crack-jump mechanisms. Field relationships unambiguously indicate that the veins hosted by Neoproterozoic rocks originated by reopening of the pre-existing extension joints (J₁) due to fluid overpressure. The origin of the densely-spaced thin veins (Q₂) hosted by the tonalite at the Mokrsko-West deposit is, however, less certain. It is probable that the tonalite was already affected by microfracturing analogous to the J₁ joints prior to the formation of quartz veins.The formation of the Q_1–2 veins at the Mokrsko-East deposit was constrained by the Re–Os dating of molybdenite to 342.9 ± 1.4 Ma. The ore-bearing hydrothermal system is thus ca 12 Ma younger than the tonalite that hosts the Mokrsko-West deposit. A similar ca 15–2 Ma difference between the age of the host-intrusion and the age of the hydrothermal event was encountered in several other gold deposits in the vicinity of the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex. Two hypotheses to explain this are discussed in the paper.     

Terrane character of the north-east margin of the Moldanubian Zone: the Kutná Hora Crystalline Complex,Bohemian Massif

Three major allochthonous units have been distinguished on the north-eastern border of the Moldanubian Zone, which differ each from other in lithology and structural and metamorphic evolution. Their present day position displays significant metamorphic and structural inversion resulting from progressive nappe stacking during the Variscan orogeny. The uppermost-Gföhl Unit consists of anatectic rocks containing high temperature/high pressure relics, i.e. granulites, eclogites and garnet peridotites. The rocks of the Gföhl Unit were strongly mylonized during uplift and later also extensively migmatized in the kyanite stability field. The Kouiim Nappe is built up by a sequence of fine-grained leucocratic migmatites with preserved relics of a pre-Variscan deformation event. This event was terminated by the intrusion of coarse-grained porphyritic granites, converted into augen orthogneisses by the Variscan orogeny. The lowermost Micaschist Zone was formed from a sequence of metapelites intercalated with diopsidic amphibolites.During uplift from deep crustal zones the Gföhl Unit cut off a thick slice of the basement crustal material represented by the Kourim Nappe. The quartzo-feldspathic material of the Kourim Nappe acted as a major shear interface because of its extreme ductility under the conditions found in the middle crust. This process occurred under amphibolite facies metamorphism. The continuous uplift of the nappe pile induced another crustal segment in the nappe stack, represented by the Micaschist Zone. The whole nappe sequence was then thrust over the Moldanubian Zone. A westward sense of shear is suggested for the whole uplift history. The kinematic pattern was complicated by later strike-slip ductile faults which finished the recent geological configuration.Correspondence to: J. Synek     

Timing, styles, and kinematics of Cambro–Ordovician extension in the Teplá–Barrandian Unit, Bohemian Massif, and its bearing on the opening of the Rheic Ocean

This paper describes late Cambrian dikes and Early Ordovician volcano-sedimentary successions of the Prague Basin, Bohemian Massif, to discuss the timing and kinematics of breakup of the northern margin of Gondwana. Andesitic dikes indicate minor E–W crustal extension in the late Cambrian, whereas the Tremadocian to Dapingian lithofacies distribution and linear array of depocenters suggest opening of this Rheic Ocean rift-related basin during NW–SE pure shear-dominated extension. This kinematic change was associated with the onset of basic submarine volcanism, presumably resulting from decompression mantle melting as the amount of extension increased. We conclude from these inferences and from a comparison with other Avalonian–Cadomian terranes that the rifting along the northern Gondwana margin was a two-stage process involving one major pulse of terrane detachment in the early Cambrian and one in the Early Ordovician. While the geodynamic cause for the former phase remains unclear, but still may include effects of Cadomian subduction (roll-back, slab break-off), isostatic rebound, or mantle plume, the incipient stage of the latter phase may have been triggered by the onset of subduction of the Iapetus Ocean at around 510 Ma, followed by advanced extension broadly coeval (Tremadocian to Darriwilian) in large portions of the Avalonian–Cadomian belt. Unequal amounts of extension resulted in the separation and drift of some terranes, while other portions of the belt remained adjacent to Gondwana.     

Geochemistry and mineralogy of Platinum-group elements in the Ransko gabbro–peridotite massif,Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic)

The Ransko gabbro-peridotite massif in Eastern Bohemia is a strongly differentiated intrusive complex of Lower Cambrian age. The complex hosts low grade Ni-Cu ores mainly developed close to the contact of olivine-rich rocks with gabbros, in troctolites and, to a much lesser extent, in both pyroxene and olivine gabbros and plagioclase-rich peridotites. The ore zone is characterized by strong serpentinization and uralitization. The total Ni + Cu locally reaches up to 4 wt%. Anomalous concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE's) (maximum 532 ppb Pd, 182 ppb Pt, 53 ppb Rh, 15 ppb Ru, 41 ppb Ir) were detected in samples of Cu-Ni and Ni-Cu ores (maximum 2.63 wt% Ni and 2.31 wt% Cu) from the Jezírka orebody. The main ore paragenesis includes pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, pyrite, magnetite, mackinawite, valleriite, ilmenite and sphalerite. During this work, michenerite, froodite, sperrylite, gold, native bismuth, altaite, tsumoite, hessite, an unnamed Bi-Ni telluride, cobaltite-gersdorffite and galena were newly identified. The host rocks originated through partial melting of a slightly depleted mantle source with noble metals scavenged from this primitive magma prior to the development of these rocks.     

A Variscan continental collision of the West Sudetes and the Brunovistulian terrane: a contribution from structural and metamorphic record of the Stronie Formation,the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome,SW Poland

Structural, petrological and geochronological data from marbles and mica schists combined with those from highly disputable gneisses and eclogites of the Orlica-Śnieżnik Dome (OSD), gave new insights into Variscan evolution of eastern borderland of the West Sudetes. It is shown that the Variscan tectonometamorphic evolution of the OSD began with E–W oriented subhorizontal shortening (D1 stage) related to the collision of the West Sudetes terranes and the Brunovistulian terrane. The shortening led to generally upright folding, which resulted in formation of the steep N–S trending metamorphic planar fabric S1, thickening of the lithosphere and burial of the Stronie Formation under greenschist facies conditions. As a consequence of subsequent, near-coaxial gravity-controlled vertical shortening (D2), the S1 foliation was deformed in tight recumbent folds F2. The flattening strain was associated with the progression to amphibolite-facies conditions (from ca. 510 upto ca. 620°C) and uplift from depths corresponding to 9–10 kbar to depths corresponding to 7–8 kbar. On microscale, the flattening strain is documented by rotation of the mineral fabric overgrown by syn-D2 prograde garnet porphyroblasts. The Sm–Nd Grt–WR isochron age, correlated with the D2 event yields 346.5 ± 4.4 Ma. Further deformation and progressive metamorphism led to development of the subhorizontally disposed S2 axial plane schistosity, which terminated at the metamorphic temperature peak. During retrogression but still under ductile conditions of deformation, the S2 planes were reactivated during successive top-to-the-N shear movement of the OSD (D3 stage). Due to the mutual interaction of the OSD with the adjacent terranes the shear deformations were localized within marginal parts of these units. Finally, as a result of the NE–SW and the NW–SE oriented shortenings (D4 stage and D5 stage, respectively), both the structural surfaces and metamorphic isograds were regionally folded with W(NW)-ward plunges. A synthesis of new and existing data shows an overall similarity in sequence of Variscan deformations (D1–D2–D3) in the West Sudetes borderland to that observed in the eastern flank of the Moldanubian domain.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of a dyke–host rock association and implications for the formation of the Bavarian Pfahl shear zone, Bohemian Massif

To place constraints on the formation and deformation history of the major Variscan shear zone in the Bavarian Forest, Bavarian Pfahl zone, SW Bohemian Massif, granitic dykes and their feldspar-phyric massive host rock (so-called palite), zircons were dated by the U–Pb isotope dilution and Pb-evaporation methods. The dated samples comprise two host rocks and four dykes from a K-rich calc-alkaline complex adjoining the SW part of the Bavarian Pfahl shear zone. The palites, which appear to be the oldest magmatic rocks emplaced in the shear zone, yield ages of 334±3, 334.5±1.1 Ma (average ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb-evaporation zircon ages) and 327–342 Ma (range of U/Pb zircon ages) suggesting a Lower Carboniferous age for the initiation of the Pfahl zone. Absence of inherited older cores in all investigated zircons indicates that incorporation of crustal zircon material has played virtually no role or that the melting temperature was very high. Determination of the dyke emplacement age is complicated by partial Pb-loss in most of the fractions analysed. This Pb-loss can be ascribed to higher U content of the dyke zircons compared to those from host rock. Upper discordia intercept ages of the different dykes range from 322±5 to 331±9 Ma. The dykes are pre- to synkinematic with respect to penetrative regional mylonitisation along the Pfahl zone, and the upper intercept ages provide a maximum age for this tectonic event.     

Plio-Pleistocene basanitic and melilititic series of the Bohemian Massif: K-Ar ages,major/trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic data

The Plio-Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the Bohemian Massif comprise a compositional spectrum involving two series: an older basanitic series (6.0–0.8 Ma) and a younger, melilititic series (1.0–0.26 Ma). The former consists of relatively undifferentiated basaltic rocks, slightly silica-undersaturated, with Mg# ranging from 62 to almost primitive mantle-type values of 74. The major and trace element characteristics correspond to those of primitive intra-plate alkaline volcanic rocks from a common sub-lithospheric mantle source (European Asthenospheric Reservoir – EAR) including positive Nb, and negative K and Pb anomalies. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7032–0.7034 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 0.51285–0.51288 indicate a moderately depleted mantle source as for other mafic rocks of the central European volcanic province with signs of HIMU-like characteristics commonly attributed to recycling of subducted oceanic crust in the upper mantle during the Variscan orogeny. The melilititic series is characterized by higher degrees of silica-undersaturation, and high Mg# of 68–72 values, compatible with primitive-mantle-derived compositions. The high OIB-like Ce/Pb (19–47) and Nb/U (32–53) ratios indicate that assimilation of crustal material was negligible. In both series, concentrations of incompatible elements are mildly elevated and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7034–0.7036) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios (0.51285–0.51288) overlap. Variations in incompatible element concentrations and isotopic compositions in the basanitic series and melilititic series can be explained by a lower degree of mantle melting for the latter with preferential melting of enriched mantle domains. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of both rock series are similar to those of the EAR. Minor differences in geochemical characteristics between the two series may be attributed to: (i) to different settings with respect to crust and lithospheric mantle conditions in (a) Western Bohemia (WB) and (b) Northeastern Bohemia (NEB) and the Northern Moravia and Silesia (NMS) areas, (ii) a modally metasomatized mantle lithosphere in WB in contrast to cryptically metasomatized domains in the NEB and NMS, (iii) different degrees of partial melting with very low degrees in WB but higher degrees in NEB and NMS. The geochemical and isotopic similarity between the Plio-Pleistocene volcanic rocks and those of the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic (79–6 Ma) suggests that their magmas came from compositionally similar mantle sources, that underwent low degrees of melting over an interval of ∼80 Ma. The Oligocene to Miocene basanitic series that accompanied the Plio-Pleistoicene basanitic series in the NMS region indicate that they shared a common mantle source. There is no geochemical evidence for thermal erosion of the lithospheric mantle or significant changes in mantle compositions within the time of a weak thermal perturbation in the asthenospheric mantle. These perturbations were caused by a dispersed mantle plume or passively upwelling asthenosphere in zones of lithospheric thinning.     

Differentiation, crustal contamination and emplacement of magmas in the formation of the Nantianwan mafic intrusion of the ~260?Ma Emeishan large igneous province, SW China

The Nantianwan mafic intrusion in the Panxi region, SW China, part of the ~260?Ma Emeishan large igneous province, consists of the olivine gabbro and gabbronorite units, separated by a transitional zone. Olivine gabbros contain olivine with Fo values ranging from 83 to 87, indicating crystallization from a moderately evolved magma. They have 0.2 to 0.9?wt?% sulfide with highly variable PGE (17?C151?ppb) and variable Cu/Pd ratios (1,500?C32,500). Modeling results indicate that they were derived from picritic magmas with high initial PGE concentrations. Olivine gabbros have negative ??Nd(t) values (?1.3 to ?0.1) and positive ??Os(t) values (5?C15), consistent with low degrees of crustal contamination. Gabbronorites include sulfide-bearing and sulfide-poor varieties, and both have olivine with Fo values ranging from 74 to 79, indicating crystallization from a more evolved magma than that for olivine gabbros. Sulfide-bearing gabbronorites contain 1.9?C4.1?wt?% sulfide and 37?C160?ppb PGE and high Cu/Pd ratios (54,000?C624,000). Sulfide-poor gabbronorites have 0.1?C0.6?wt?% sulfide and 0.2?C15?ppb PGE and very high Cu/Pd ratios (16,900?C2,370,000). Both sulfide-bearing and sulfide-poor gabbronorites have ??Nd(t) values (?0.9 to ?2.1) similar to those for olivine gabbros, but their ??Os(t) values (17?C262) are much higher and more variable than those of the olivine gabbros. Selective assimilation of crustal sulfides from the country rocks is thus considered to have resulted in more radiogenic ¹⁸⁷Os of the gabbronorites. Processes such as magma differentiation, crustal contamination and sulfide saturation at different stages in magma chambers may have intervened during formation of the intrusion. Parental magmas were derived from picritic magmas that had fractionated olivine under S-undersaturated conditions before entering a deep-seated staging magma chamber, where the parental magmas crystallized olivine, assimilated minor crustal rocks and reached sulfide saturation, forming an olivine- and sulfide-laden crystal mush in the lower part and evolved magmas in the upper part of the chamber. The evolved magmas were forced out of the staging chamber and became S-undersaturated due to a pressure drop during ascent to a shallow magma chamber. The magmas re-attained sulfide saturation by assimilating external S from S-rich country rocks. They may have entered the shallow magma chamber as several pulses so that several gabbronorite layers each with sulfide segregated to the base and a sulfide-poor upper part. The olivine gabbro unit formed from a new and more primitive magma that entrained olivine crystals and sulfide droplets from the lower part of the staging chamber. A transitional zone formed along the boundary with the gabbronorite unit due to chemical interaction between the two rock units.     

Origin of the Okrouhlá Radouň episyenite-hosted uranium deposit,Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic: fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints

The Okrouhlá Radouň shear zone hosted uranium deposit is developed along the contact of Variscan granites and high-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Moldanubian Zone of the Bohemian Massif. The pre-ore pervasive alteration of wall rocks is characterized by chloritization of mafic minerals, followed by albitization of feldspars and dissolution of quartz giving rise to episyenites. The subsequent fluid circulation led to precipitation of disseminated uraninite and coffinite, and later on, post-ore quartz and carbonate mineralization containing base metal sulfides. The fluid inclusion and stable isotope data suggest low homogenization temperatures (～50–140 °C during pre-ore albitization and post-ore carbonatization, up to 230 °C during pre-ore chloritization), variable fluid salinities (0–25 wt.% NaCl eq.), low fluid δ¹⁸O values (?10 to +2 ‰ V-SMOW), low fluid δ¹³C values (?9 to ?15 ‰ V-PDB), and highly variable ionic composition of the aqueous fluids (especially Na/Ca, Br/Cl, I/Cl, SO₄/Cl, NO₃/Cl ratios). The available data suggest participation of three fluid endmembers of primarily surficial origin during alteration and mineralization at the deposit: (1) local meteoric water, (2) Na–Ca–Cl basinal brines or shield brines, (3) SO₄–NO₃–Cl–(H)CO₃ playa-like fluids. Pre-ore albitization was caused by circulation of alkaline, oxidized, and Na-rich playa fluids, whereas basinal/shield brines and meteoric water were more important during the post-ore stage of alteration.     

Hydration and dehydration in the lower margin of a cold mantle wedge: implications for crust–mantle interactions and petrogeneses of arc magmas

Garnet orthopyroxenites from Maowu (Dabieshan orogen, eastern China) were formed from a refractory harzburgite/dunite protolith. They preserve mineralogical and geochemical evidence of hydration/metasomatism and dehydration at the lower edge of a cold mantle wedge. Abundant polyphase inclusions in the cores of garnet porphyroblasts record the earliest metamorphism and metasomatism in garnet orthopyroxenites. They are mainly composed of pargasitic amphibole, gedrite, chlorite, talc, phlogopite, and Cl-apatite, with minor anhydrous minerals such as orthopyroxene, sapphirine, spinel, and rutile. Most of these phases have high X_Mg, NiO, and Ni/Mg values, implying that they probably inherited the chemistry of pre-existing olivine. Trace element analyses indicate that polyphase inclusions are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), light rare earth elements (LREE), and high field strength elements (HFSE), with spikes of Ba, Pb, U, and high U/Th. Based on the P–T conditions of formation for the polyphase inclusions (?1.4 GPa, 720–850°C), we suggest that the protolith likely underwent significant hydration/metasomatism by slab-derived fluid under shallow–wet–cold mantle wedge corner conditions beneath the forearc. When the hydrated rocks were subducted into a deep–cold mantle wedge zone and underwent high-pressure–ultrahigh-pressure (HP–UHP) metamorphism, amphibole, talc, and chlorite dehydrated and garnet, orthopyroxene, Ti-chondrodite, and Ti-clinohumite formed during prograde metamorphism. The majority of LILE (e.g. Ba, U, Pb, Sr, and Th) and LREE were released into the fluid formed by dehydration reactions, whereas HFSE (e.g. Ti, Nb, and Ta) remained in the cold mantle wedge lower margin. Such fluid resembling the trace element characteristics of arc magmas evidently migrates into the overlying, internal, hotter part of the mantle wedge, thus resulting in a high degree of partial melting and the formation of arc magmas.     

Mafic rocks in a deep-crustal segment of the Variscides (the Góry Sowie, SW Poland): evidence for crustal contamination in an extensional setting

Coronitic metagabbronorites (so-called hyperites) and metabasites occur within gneisses, migmatites and minor granulites in the high-grade metamorphic Góry Sowie Block in the Sudetes (SW Poland). Incompatible trace-element and )Nd data, combined with field and petrographic evidence, suggest that three groups may be distinguished: (1) "enriched" amphibolites (Zr/Nb ca. 8, )Nd₅₀₀ +1 - +2.5), (2) "depleted" amphibolites (Zr/Nb >30, )Nd₅₀₀ +5 - +6), and (3) metagabbronorites (Zr/Nb 13-19, )Nd₅₀₀ scattered between +5.3 and -1). These characteristics favour an extensional within-plate setting, consistent with their field occurrence as small bodies scattered within metasedimentary and felsic metaigneous gneisses. In that setting, enriched mantle sources were partially melted to produce a range of basic magmas, showing affinities with continental tholeiites (within plate-type basalts). Presumably, in a more advanced stage of rifting, more depleted varieties, transitional to N-MORB, were emplaced. These mafic magmas were variably contaminated during their ascent in the crust. The metagabbronorites, with their well-preserved igneous textures, were previously interpreted as having been intruded after the main deformation and after the peak of amphibolite facies metamorphism (some authors suggesting a relation to the "circum Góry Sowie ophiolites"). However, the geochemical characteristics and P-T estimates suggest that the metagabbronorites are unrelated to the ophiolitic gabbros found in the neighbourhood of the Góry Sowie Block and, in contrast to them, have experienced a complex, polybaric P-T path.     

Optimal mixing properties of calcic and subcalcic amphiboles: application of Gibbs’ method to the Sanbagawa schists,SW Japan

Optimal activities of amphibole are obtained by means of a new application of Gibbs method to the assemblage amphibole-epidote-chlorite-plagioclase-quartz-water in the system SiO₂-Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃-FeO-MgO-CaO-Na₂O-H₂O, and consequently T, P and X are derived from the amphibole chemistries via the differences relative to a set of the reference conditions. Amphibole solid solutions are modeled by the regular solution composed of seven end-members (tr-ts-ed-gln-mrb-fact-otr), and the optimal Margules parameters are obtained from hundreds of natural data sets of amphiboles in the Sanbagawa schists in the range 300–550 °C, 0.2–1.1 GPa. The temperatures obtained by Gibbs method are consistent with the temperatures by the hornblende-plagioclase thermometer with the absolute deviation of about 30 °C. The P-T conditions of calcic and subcalcic amphiboles are plotted in the stability fields of actinolite, hornblende, winchite, and barroisite of the greenschists and epidote-amphibolite facies conditions. Calculations for the representative zonings of amphiboles in the Sanbagawa schists suggest distinctive decompression P-T paths.Editorial responsibility: K. Hodges     

Origin of nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore of the Damiao anorthosite complex,NE China: Evidence from trace element geochemistry of apatite,plagioclase, magnetite and ilmenite

Nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore are common in Proterozoic massif-type anorthosites and layered intrusions. Their geneses have long been controversial, with existing hypotheses including liquid immiscibility between Si-rich and Fe–Ti–P-rich melts and gravitational fractionation among apatite, magnetite, ilmenite and silicates. In this paper, we report detailed field geology and mineral geochemical studies of the nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore from the Damiao anorthosite complex, NE China. Geological observations indicate that the nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore occur as irregularly inclined stratiform-like or lensoid or veins, and are in sharp contact with the anorthosite and gabbronorite. The widespread veins and lenses structure of the Damiao nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore in the anorthosite indicates their immiscibility-derived origin. The apatite in the nelsonite and gabbronorite shows evolution trends different from that in the gabbronorite in the diagrams of Sr versus REEs and Eu/Eu*, suggesting that petrogenesis of the nelsonite and gabbronorite is different from the gabbronorite. Compared with the gabbronorite, the nelsonite and Fe–Ti oxides ore have magnetite high in Cr, plagioclase high in Sr and low in An, and apatite high in Sr, low in REEs with negative Eu anomaly. The evidence permits us to propose that the Damiao Fe–Ti oxides ore/nelsonite and gabbronorite were derived from different parental magmas. The gabbronorite was formed by solidification of the interstitial ferrodioritic magma in the anorthosite, which was the residual magma after extensive plagioclase and pyroxene crystallization and was carried upward by the plagioclase crystal mesh. In contrast, the Fe–Ti oxides ore and nelsonites and mangerite were produced by crystallization of the Fe–Ti–P-rich and SiO₂-rich magmas, respectively, due to the liquid immiscibility that occurred when the highly evolved ferrodioritic magma mixed with newly replenished magmas. The variation from Fe–Ti oxides ore to nelsonite and gabbro-nelsonite upwards (as apatite content increases with height) in the steeply inclined Fe–Ti oxides orebodies suggest that gravity fractionation may have played important roles during the crystallization of the Fe–Ti–P-rich magma.