Geochemistry and mineralogy of laterites in the Sula Mountains greenstone belt, Lake Sonfon gold district, Sierra Leone

Geochemical and mineralogical investigations have been carried out on laterite profiles developed in the Lake Sonfon Au district of northern Sierra Leone. The area is underlain by Archean metavolcanics and constitutes part of the Sula Mountains greenstone belt, which is mineralized in Au. Extensive lateritization has affected the rocks of this region, resulting in a profile which from bottom to top consists typically of a decomposed bedrock zone, a pisolitic laterite layer and a duricrust layer. Both the pisolitic and duricrust layers of the laterite are sometimes punctuated by lenses of ironstones containing high amounts of Cu, Zn, Ni, Co and Ce. Gold occurs as small grains within the heavy mineral fraction recovered from the decomposed rock zones and pisolitic layers of the profiles and also in gravels of streams draining the area. The mineralogy of the duricrust and pisolitic layers is dominated by goethite, gibbsite and quartz, with minor amounts (<5% by volume) of ilmenite, magnetite, haematite, rutile and kaolinite. The kaolinite content increases towards the decomposed rock zone, where talc, vermiculite and other layer lattice silicates become abundant. The heavy-mineral fraction of stream sediments is composed essentially of ilmenite, magnetite, haematite, and traces of rutile, zircon, tourmaline and Au. The Au grains are often characterized by a 10–200-μm-wide rim having a much lower content of Ag (0.3 wt.% or lower) than the grain interior (about 5 wt.% on average). Dissolution effects are also observed on the grain surfaces. It is considered that Au derived from the amphibolite parent rock is dissolved, transported, and redeposited during laterization.The duricrust cover of the laterite profiles is characterized by high contents of Fe₂O₃ (ca. 60 wt.%) and Al₂O₃ (ca. 32wt.%) and low content of SiO₂ (ca. 9 wt.%). In comparison, the pisolitic layer is higher in SiO₂ (ca. 18 wt.%) as well as a slightly higher in Al₂O₃ (ca. 34 wt.%). Lateritic weathering has resulted in the removal of CaO, Na₂O, MgO and SiO₂, with relative enrichment of Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃. The geochemical distribution of the trace elements in the laterite profiles can be related to the occurrence of the auriferous mineralization. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the origin of the lateritic Au and the role of the associated trace elements as indicators of the mineralization.     

Fluid inclusion studies of gold-bearing quartz veins from the Yirisen deposit,Sula Mountains greenstone belt,Masumbiri, Sierra Leone

The auriferous veins at Yirisen, Masumbiri, Sierra Leone, occurring mainly in the form of sericitic quartz-sulphide lodes and stringers, are hosted in metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary assemblages invaded by at least two generations of granitic intrusions. Detailed microthermometric studies of fluid inclusions from the veins coupled with laser Raman spectroscopic analysis show that the inclusions contain aqueous fluids of variable salinity (5 to 60 wt.% NaCl equivalent) and dense carbonic fluids (pure CO₂: 1.08>d>0.88 g/cm³). Optical observations and analysis on opened inclusions by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal that some of the aqueous inclusions contain a number of daughter minerals: halite, sylvite, Ca-, Fe-, Mg- and possibly Li-bearing chlorides, and anhydrite; nahcolite occurs also in some of the CO₂ inclusions. The SEM runs also detected a small amount of electrum, suggesting that silver might be a bi-product of the mineralisation. The aqueous and carbonic fluids remained immiscible throughout the formation and evolution of the hydrothermal veins. A few mixed (H₂O+CO₂) inclusions apparently resulted from accidental trapping of both fluids in the same cavity. The wide range of salinities observed in the aqueous inclusions is attributed to the mixing of relatively hot, low-salinity aqueous fluids and colder, high-salinity brines. The CO₂-rich and low-salinity H₂O inclusions are considered to be derived from the metamorphic decarbonation/dehydration of the greenstone pile whilst the high-salinity brines are believed to be basinal in origin. Pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions of entrapment, inferred from the intersection of representative isochores of the immiscible fluids, indicate that the formation of the veins started at T=400°C and P about 4 kbar, in the presence of the high-density CO₂ and low-salinity H₂O fluids. At about 200°C, pressure fluctuations (incremental opening of the vein) correspond to the trapping of the lower-density CO₂ inclusions and high-salinity brines. It is proposed that the decarbonation/dehydration processes (possibly aided by later magmatic processes) expelled and mobilised the gold from the greenstone pile and concentrated it in the CO₂-bearing hydrothermal fluid in the form of Au–chloride complexes. High thermal gradients are believed to have caused the upward migration of this fluid from the bottom of the greenstone pile through structurally controlled conduits. We contend that phase separation of the H₂O–CO₂ metamorphic fluid, aided possibly by some wall–rock alteration, most probably triggered a decrease in ligand activity and thus, precipitation of the gold into lodes. Percolation of the basinal brines is thought to have remobilised some of the gold together with some silver.     

Bizarre geochemistry of komatiites from the Crixás greenstone belt,Brazil

Komatiite lava flows in the Crixás greenstone belt, Goiás, Brazil, have textures and volcanic structures typical of Archean komatiites, but are geochemically most unusual. The flows are porphyritic and massive, or layered with spinifex upper parts and olivine cumulate lower parts. MgO contents range from 18 to 40%. In such lavas, only olivine (and minor chromite) can have crystallized, but neither major nor trace elements fall on olivine control lines. In MgO variation diagrams, CaO and Sr fall on lines with slopes steeper than olivine control lines; SiO₂, FeO, Na₂O, K₂O and Y show little systematic variation; Zr shows a large variation that does not correlate with MgO; and Al₂O₃ decreases markedly with decreasing MgO. The aberrant behaviour is highlighted by the REE (rare earth elements) in spinifex and olivine cumulate layers from three flows: in the spinifex layers, chondrite-normalized REE patterns are hump-shaped with maxima at Nd or Sm ((La/Sm)_N=0.6, (Gd/Yb)_N=1.6–2.3), whereas cumulate zones in the same flows have steadily sloping patterns, with LREE enriched relative to HREE ((La/Sm)_N=1.3, (Gd/Yb)_N=1.4). Neither normal magmatic processes acting during emplacement of the komatiites, nor thermal erosion and wall-rock assimilation can explain these effects, and we speculate that elements commonly thought of as “immobile” (e.g. Al, Zr, REE) migrated during hydrothermal alteration or metamorphism. A Pb-Pb whole rock isochron gave an age of 2,728±140 Ma and selected Sm-Nd analyses an apparent isochron age of 2,825±98 Ma (ɛ_Nd≈0). The Pb-Pb age is believed to be the approximate time of emplacement. Interpretation of the Sm-Nd data is complicated by the evidence of mobility of REE.     

Geochemistry of contaminated komatiites from the Umburanas greenstone belt,Bahia State,Brazil

The late Archaean Umburanas greenstone belt (UGB) is located in the São Francisco Craton, southwest of Bahia State, Brazil. The lower unit of UGB comprises basal komatiite lavas and tholeiitic basalts intercalated with felsic volcanic rocks. The regional crystalline basement rocks, the Gavião block, predominantly consist of granitic, granodioritic and migmatitic gneiss along with tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) associations.Petrographic studies of UGB komatiites reveal characteristic spinifex igneous texture although primary mineralogy is rarely preserved. Based on textural relationships, komatiites are divided into cumulate, spinifex, and massive types. The MgO content varies in the range 31.5–40.4 wt%. The MgO–SiO₂ negative correlation in komatiites suggests olivine fractionation trend. The UGB komatiites are of Al-undepleted type, characterized by Al₂O₃/TiO₂ (21–48) ratio, enriched in highly incompatible LILE relative to moderately incompatible HFSE and distinct negative Nb, Sr and Eu anomalies. Also shows depletion of light rare earths, convex-downward rare earth patterns typically not observed in komatiites world-wide, and primitive mantle normalized Gd/Yb (1.03–1.23) and La/Sm (2.36–4.99) ratios. The negative Eu anomaly is attributed to the circulation of H₂O-rich fluid, whereas the negative Nb and Sr anomalies are attributed to contamination from granitic basement rocks of the Gavião block.The UGB komatiites are most likely derived from adiabatic decompressional melting of a mantle plume. The melting took place at liquidus temperatures in the range 1572–1711 °C, which is consistent with mantle-plume origin invoked for several other komatiites in Archaean greenstone belts elsewhere. The melts were more likely generated at a depth shallower than 100 km (pressure < 2.5 GPa) where garnet was absent in the source mineralogy. Geochemical characteristics suggest contamination of primary melts with granitic basement rocks either during ascent of melt or during emplacement of magma in a continental basin setting. Greenschist to low-T amphibolite facies metamorphism at ∼2Ga may also have played a role in modifying the original komatiite petrography and composition.     

Petrology and geochemistry of komatiites and tholeiites from Gorgona Island,Colombia

Komatiitic rocks from Gorgona Island, Colombia, in contrast to their Archaean counterparts, occur as rather structureless flows. In addition, textural and mineralogical features indicate that the Gorgona komatiites may have crystallized from superheated liquids. Komatiitic rocks have MgO contents which range from 24 to 11 wt.% and plot on well-defined olivine (Fo₉₀) control lines. Calculations show that potential evolved liquids (MgO<11 wt%) will be SiO₂-poor. Komatiites, in this case, cannot be regarded as parental to the associated tholeiitic basalt sequence.On the basis of REE concentrations and Sr, Nd isotopic compositions, the associated basalts are found to be of two types. One type (K-tholeiite) is characterized by noticeably fractionated REE patterns and relatively primitive isotopic compositions similar to those of the komatiites. K-tholeiites, together with komatiites, are regarded as comprising a distinctive komatiitic suite. REE patterns within this suite show progressive depletion in the LREE from K-tholeiites to komatiites, and represent increasingly higher degrees of melting of the same mantle source region. The other type (T-tholeiite), representative of the bulk of the exposed basalt sequence, has flat REE patterns and relatively evolved isotopic compositions. This tholeiitic suite is clearly genetically unrelated to the komatiitic suite.     

Occurrence of komatiites in the Sandstone greenstone belt,north-central Yilgarn Craton *

Recent geological mapping and exploration drilling has identified widespread but poorly exposed komatiites in the southern part of the Sandstone greenstone belt, which represent the most significant occurrence of komatiites so far recognised in the north-central Yilgarn Craton. Despite serpentinisation and talc – carbonate alteration, relict olivine-cumulate and less common olivine-spinifex textures are preserved. Whole-rock geochemistry indicates the presence of aluminium-depleted and aluminium-undepleted komatiites, both of which are also found in the Forrestania greenstone belt of the south-central Yilgarn Craton.     

Geochemistry and genesis of metamorphosed volcanic rocks in the Kholodnikan greenstone belt,southern Aldan Shield

The Kholodnikan Complex consists of two units: lower volcanic and upper volcanic-sedimentary. The distributions of major and trace elements suggest that the protoliths of the lower unit were volcanics of the komatiite-tholeiite series (komatiite-basalt association) and those of the upper unit were volcanics of the calc-alkaline series (andesite-dacite-rhyolite association). The model assumed for the genesis of these associations involves two stages: (1) decompression-induced partial melting of the material of an ascending mantle plume with the derivation of melts of the komatiite-basalt association and (2) derivation of volcanic rocks of the andesite-dacite-rhyolite association via the partial melting of various rocks in the basement of the Aldan Shield under the effect of the heat of the ascending mantle plume. The magmatic protoliths of the Kholodnikan Complex were formed in the Paleoproterozoic at 2.41 Ga.     

The geochemistry of repetitive cyclical volcanism from basalt through rhyolite in the uchi-confederation greenstone belt,canada

Archean volcanic rocks in the Confederation Lake area, northwestern Ontario, Canada, are in three mafic to felsic cycles collectively 8,500 to 11,240 m thick. Each cycle begins with pillowed basalt and andesite flows and is capped with andesitic to rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks and minor flows. Seventy five samples from this succession were analyzed for major and trace elements including the rare earth elements. In two cycles, tholeiitic basalts are overlain by calcalkaline andesite to rhyolite. In the third, cycle, the tholeiitic basalts are overlain by tholeiitic rhyolites. Fe enrichment in basalts is accompanied by depletion of Ca, Al, Cr, Ni, and Sr, and enrichment in Ti, P, the rare earth elements, Nb, Zr, and Y. This is interpreted as open system fractionation of olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene. Si enrichment in dacites and rhyolites is attributed to fractional crystallization of plagioclase, K-feldspar, and biotite. Tholeiitic basalt liquids are believed to be mantle-derived. Intercalated andesites with fractionated rare earth patterns appear to be products of mixing of tholeiitic basalt and rhyolite liquids and, andesites with flat rare earth patterns are probably produced by melting of previously depleted mantle. Felsic magmas are partial melts of tholeiitic basalt or products of liquid immiscibility in a tholeiitic system perhaps involving extreme fractionation in a high level magma chamber, and assimilation of sialic crust. It is concluded that Archean cyclical volcanism in this area involves the interplay of several magmatic liquids in processes of fractional crystallization, magma mixing, liquid immiscibility, and the probable existence of compositionally zoned magma chambers in the late stages of each cycle. The compositionally zoned chambers existed over the time period represented by the upper felsic portion of each cycle.     

太古宙绿岩带岩石学和地球化学：实例与探讨

绿岩带是太古宙大陆地壳重要的构造单元。 按照岩石组合特征, 绿岩带可划分为 3 个类型：1） 巴伯顿型, 主要由基性-超基性火山岩组成, 含少量酸性火山岩及沉积岩, 中性火山岩很不发育;2） 苏必利尔型, 主要由中性火山岩和中-基性火山岩组成, 含沉积岩; 3） 达尔瓦尔型, 以广泛发育的沉积岩为特征。 其中, 巴伯顿型绿岩带在世界范围内分布较广, 且组成较为复杂, 表现出一系列独特的岩石学和地球化学特征：1） 基性-超基性火山岩在绿岩带层序中占主导地位;2） 发育具有异常高的地幔潜能温度的科马提岩类;3） 存在太古宙亏损型和富集型玄武岩等。 华北克拉通清原地区的表壳岩虽然经历高级变质作用, 但仍 具有清晰的层序, 与巴伯顿型绿岩带岩石组合特征类似, 因此我们倾向于将其厘定为清原绿岩带。 清原绿岩带主体形成于 2.5 Ga, 与广泛分布的新太古代花岗质片麻岩形成时代一致, 并不存在大规模的中太古代地质体。 清原绿岩带的岩石学和地球化学研究表明新太古代晚期原始地幔柱模型可以较为合理的解释清原地区及华北克拉通东部陆块其它新太古代基底岩石的成因, 但太古宙原始地幔柱与显生宙地幔柱在某些方面有所不同。     

Exceptionally Cr-rich basalts in the komatiitic volcanic association of the Archaean Kuhmo greenstone belt, eastern Finland

Summary Exceptionally Cr-rich metabasalts related to a komatiite-dominant volcanic sequence occur in the Archaean Kuhmo greenstone belt, eastern Finland. These basalts contain more chromium (1300–4500 ppm) than any other terrestrial basalts analysed so far, and also have high nickel concentrations (200–1700 ppm). In stratigraphy, these Cr-rich basalts occur above the komatiite and komatiitic basalt units forming the uppermost units of the komatiite sequence. Extremely reducing conditions during magma generation or fractional crystallization are suggested as a reason for these exceptional compositions. Low oxygen fugacity has prevented crystallization of chromite and decreased the olivine/liquid partition coefficient for nickel in olivine fractionation, thus causing the enrichment of Cr and Ni in the residual melt.

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Zusammenfassung Au?ergew?hnlich Cr-reiche Basalte in der komatiitischen vulkanischen Assoziation des Archaischen Kuhmo-Grünsteingürtels in Ostfinnland Im archaischen Kuhmo-Grünsteingürtel in Ostfinnland treten au?ergew?hnlich Cr-reiche Metabasalte auf, die mit einer komatiitdominanten vulkanischen Sequenz verbunden sind. Diese Basalte enthalten mehr Chrom (1300–4500 ppm) als alle anderen terrestrischen Basalte, die bislang analysiert worden sind, und sie weisen zudem auch hohe Nickelkonzentrationen auf (200–1700 ppm). In der Stratigraphie treten die Cr-reichen Basalte über dem Komatiit und den komatiitischen Basalteinheiten auf und bilden die obersten Einheiten der Komatiitsequenz. Extrem reduzierende Bedingungen w?hrend der Magmabildung oder fraktionierte Kristallisation werden als eine Ursache für diese au?ergew?hnlichen Zusammensetzungen vorgeschlagen. Die niedrige Sauerstoff-Fugazit?t hat die Kristallisation des Chromits gehemmt, den Verteilungskoeffizienten Olivin/Schmelze für Nickel bei der Olivinfraktionierung herabgesetzt und dadurch die Anreicherung von Cr und Ni in der Restschmelze verursacht.

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Received November 24, 1997; revised version accepted July 22, 1999     

Petrology,geochemistry and geodynamic setting of Eocene-Oligocene alkaline intrusions from the Alborz-Azerbaijan magmatic belt,NW Iran

The Kaleybar, Razgah and Bozqush (KRB) intrusions were studied to better understand subduction-related Eocene-Oligocene alkaline magmatism in NW Iran. The bulk of intrusions mainly consist of Si-undersaturated rocks including foid-bearing monzonite and syenite (nepheline syenite, pseudoleucite syenite) with some foid-bearing diorite and gabbro. In addition, they are spatially associated with Si-saturated rocks ranging in composition from monzo-diorite to syeno-granite. The main mafic rock-forming minerals of the studied rocks are olivine (Fo₄₄Fa₅₆), clinopyroxene (diopside to augite), biotite (Mg-biotite through Fe-biotite), amphibole (ferro-pargasite and magnesio-hastingsite with Mg#<0.55), and garnet (Ti-andradites). Based on whole rock geochemistry, the foid-syenites and associated rocks show mildly alkaline (shoshonitic) affinity. The content of SiO₂, K₂O?+?Na₂O, and K₂O/Na₂O ratio ranges from 47.8 to 60.7?wt.%, 5.31 to 16.33?wt.%, and 0.6 to 3.2, respectively. The intrusions are commonly metaluminous, with an aluminum-saturation index (ASI) ranging from 0.66 to 1.01. Almost all the rocks display similar arc-related geochemical features characterized by the enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) together with the depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns show no to marked negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*?=?0.55 to 1.12), (La/Yb)_N?=?8.16 to 31, (La/Sm)_N?=?2.80 to 10.59, and (Tb/Yb)_N?=?0.84 to 2.40. The evaluation of the REE patterns for the KRB magmas and the comparison of the trace element ratios with experimental studies indicate a chemically enriched lithospheric mantle source composed of garnet-spinel-lherzolite that have underwent a low degree of partial melting <5% to generate the KRB intrusions. Based on the present data, we infer that the mantle source was contaminated by a subduction component and the melting of the mantle lithosphere occurred by local extension in an overall convergent regime in NW Iran. The extension regime during the Eocene is proposed to be the result of the Neo-Tethys slab roll-back and the Sevan-Akera-Qaradagh (SAQ) slab break-off.     

Petrochemistry of eclogites from the Koidu Kimberlite Complex,Sierra Leone

Petrography, mineral and bulk chemistry of upper mantle-derived eclogites (garnet and clinopyroxene) from the Koidu Kimberlite Complex, Sierra Leone, are presented in the first comprehensive study of these xenoliths from West Africa. Although peridotite-suite xenoliths are generally more common in kimberlites, the upper mantle sample preserved in Pipe Number 1 at Koidu is exclusively eclogitic, making this the fifth locality in which eclogite is the sole polymineralic xenolith in kimberlite. Over 2000 xenoliths were collected, of which 47 are described in detail that include diamond, graphite, kyanite, corundum, quartz after coesite, and amphibole eclogites. Grossular-pyrope-almandine garnets are chromium-poor (<0.72 wt% Cr₂O₃) and fall into two distinct groups based on magnesium content. High-MgO garnets have an average composition of Pyr₆₇Alm₂₂Gross₁₁, low-MgO garnets are grossular- and almandine-rich with an average composition of Gross₃₄Pyr₃₃Alm₃₃. Clinopyroxenes are omphacitic with a range in jadeite contents from 7.7 to 70.1 mol%. Three eclogites contain zoned and mantled garnets with almandine-rich cores and pyrope-rich rims, and zoned clinopyroxenes with diopside-rich cores and jadeite-rich rims, and are among a very rare group of eclogites reported on a world-wide basis. The bulk compositions of eclogites have ranges comparable to that of basalts. High-MgO eclogites (16–20 wt% MgO) have close chemical affinities to picrites, whereas low-MgO eclogites (6–13 wt% MgO) are similar to alkali basalts. High-MgO eclogites contain high-MgO garnets and jadeiterich clinopyroxenes. Low-MgO eclogites contain low-MgO garnets, diopside and omphacite, and the group of primary accessory phases (diamond, graphite, quartz after coesite, kyanite, and corundum); grospydites are peraluminous. Estimated temperatures and pressures of equilibration of diamond-bearing eclogites, using the diamond-graphite stability curve and the Ellis and Green (1979) geothermometer, are 1031°–1363° C at 45–50 kb.K _D values of Fe-Mg in garnet and clinopyroxene range from 2.3 to 12.2. Diamonds in eclogites are green, yellow, and clear, and range from cube to octahedral morphologies; the entire spectrum in color and morphology is present in a single metasomatized eclogite with zoned garnet and clinopyroxene. Ages estimated from Sm-Nd mineral isochrons range from 92–247 Ma. _Nd values range from +4.05 to 5.23. Values of specific gravity range from 3.06–3.60 g/cc, with calculated seismic Vp of 7.4–8.7 km/s. Petrographie, mineral, and bulk chemical data demonstrate an overall close similarity between the Koidu xenolith suite and upper mantle eclogites from other districts in Africa, Siberia and the United States. At least two origins are implied byP-T, bulk chemistry and mineral compositions: low-MgO eclogites, with diamond and other accessory minerals, are considered to have formed from melts trapped and metamorphically equilibrated in the lithosphere; high-MgO eclogites are picritic and are the products of large degrees of partial melting, with equilibration in the asthenosphere. Fluid or diluted melt metasomatism is pervasive and contributed here and elsewhere to the LIL and refractory silicate incompatible element signature in kimberlites and lamproites, and to secondary diamond growth.     

The geology of part of an orogenic belt in western Sierra Leone,West Africa

Zusammenfassung Die Sierra Leone unterteilt sich in zwei Haupteinheiten. Die östliche ist ein Teil des festen präkambrischen westafrikanischen Kratons und besteht aus hochgradig metamorphem Gestein und Granitgneisen. Die Strukturen verlaufen in vorherrschend NE-Richtung. Der westliche Teil enthält Elemente eines orogenen Gürtels, nämlich der Rokeliden, die entweder im späten Präkambrium oder frühen Paläozoikum entstanden sind und nach NNW streichen. Die Gesteinsserien, die den orogenen Gürtel bilden, setzen sich aus dem Kasila-System, einer unbenannten Gneisgruppe östlich davon, den Rokel River Series und den Marampa Schists zusammen. Die sich an das Kasila-System, umbenannt in Kasila-Gruppe, anschließenden Gneise und wahrscheinlich auch die Kasila-Gruppe selbst können mit dem Gestein des Kratons verglichen werden, sind jedoch während der Entstehung der Rokeliden neu überprägt worden. Sie bilden die Basis der Mulde, die Sedimente und vulkanisches Gestein aus den Rokel River Series und den Marampa Schists enthält. Die Rokel River Series sind neu benannt und unterteilen sich in die Rokel River Gruppe mit sechs Formationen und in die Taban Formation, die aus nach-orogener Molasse besteht. Die Marampa Schists sind neu benannt in Marampa Formation. Das Ausmaß der Metamorphose steigert sich über die Rokeliden nach WSW, und die Marampa Formation ist der am stärksten metamorphisierte Teil der geosynklinalen Ausfüllung.

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Sierra Leone is divisible into two major structural units. The eastern one is part of the stable Precambrian West African craton and consists of high grade metamorphic rocks and granitic gneisses. The foliation has a dominantly NE trend. The western unit contains the elements of an orogenic belt named the Rokelides, which formed in either late Precambrian or early Palaeozoic, and trends NNW. The rock groups which comprise the orogenic belt are the Kasila System, an unnamed group of gneisses on the east of it, the Rokel River Series and the Marampa Schists. The gneisses adjacent to the Kasila System, renamed Kasila Group, and also, probably, the Kasila Group can be correlated with rocks in the craton, but were refoliated during the Rokelide orogenesis. They constituted the basement to the geosyncline which contained sediments and volcanic rocks of the Rokel River Series and Marampa Schists. The Rokel River Series is renamed, and divided into Rokel River Group which contains six formations, and the Taban Formation which is post-orogenic molasse. The Marampa Schists are renamed the Marampa Formation. The intensity of metamorphism and deformation increases across the Rokelides towards the WSW and the Marampa Formation is the most highly metamorphosed part of the geosynclinal infilling.

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Résumé Le Sierra Leone peut se diviser en deux principales sections structurales. La section orientale fait partie du craton stable précambrien de l'Afrique occidentale, formé de roches métamorphiques de haute qualité et de gneiss de granit. La foliation a principalement une direction NE. La section occidentale contient les éléments d'une ceinture orogénique appelée les Rokelides qui ont été formées soit vers la fin de la période précambrienne, soit au début de la période paléozoique et en direction NNW. Les groupes rocheux qui comprennent la ceinture orogénique sont le Kasila System, un groupe de gneiss sans nom situé à son côté est, la Rokel River Series et les Marampa Schists. Les gneiss avoisinant le Kasila System, renommé Kasila Group et en toute probilité le Kasila Group également peuvent être rattachés aux roches du craton mais auraient été refoliés pendant l'orogenèse Rokelide. Ils ont formé la base du géosynclinal qui contient des sédiments et des roches volcaniques de la Rokel River Series et des Marampa Schists. La Rokel River Series a été renommée et divisée en Rokel River Group qui contient six formations et la Taban Formation qui est la mollasse post-orogénique. Les Marampa Schists ont été renommés la Marampa Formation. L'intensité du métamorphisme et de la déformation augmente vers WSW à travers les Rokelides, et la Marampa Formation est la partie la plus métamorphosée de l'accumulation géosynclinale.

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Oxygen-isotope geochemistry of metamorphosed,massive sulfide deposits of the Flin Flon — Snow Lake belt,Manitoba

Oxygen-isotope compositions have been measured for whole-rock and mineral samples of host and hydrothermally altered rocks from three massive sulfide deposits, Centennial (CL), Spruce Point (SP), and Anderson Lake (AL), in the Flin Flon — Snow Lake belt, Manitoba. Wholerock ¹⁸O values of felsic metavolcanic, host rocks (+8.5 to +16.1) are higher than those of altered rocks from the three deposits. The ¹⁸O values of altered rocks are lower in the chlorite zone and muscovite zone-I (CL=+ 5.3; SP=+5.4 to +8.3; AL= +3.7 to +5.9) than in the gradational zone (CL= +9.9 to +11.7; SP= +8.4 to +9.8; AL= + 6.6 to +7.7). Muscovite schist (Muscovite Zone-II) enveloping the Anderson Lake ore body has ¹⁸O values of +7.2 to +8.3. Quartz, biotite, muscovite, and chlorite separated from the altered rocks have lower ¹⁸O values compared to the same minerals separated from the host rocks. However, isotopic fractionation between mineral-pairs is generally similar in both host and altered rocks.It is interpreted that differences in the oxygen-isotope compositions of the altered and host rocks were produced prior to metamorphism, during hydrothermal alteration related to ore-deposition. Isotopic homogenization during metamorphism occurred on a grain-to-grain scale, over no more than a few meters. The whole-rock ¹⁸O values did not change significantly during metamorphism. The generally lower ¹⁸O values of altered rocks, the Cu-rich nature of the ore and the occurrence of the muscovite zone-II at Anderson Lake are consistent with the presence of higher temperature hydrothermal fluids at Anderson Lake than at the Centennial and Spruce Point deposits.     

Petrology and geochemistry of basalts from the American-Antarctic Ridge,Southern Ocean: implications for the westward influence of the Bouvet mantle plume

Ridge segments and fracture zones from the American-Antarctic Ridge have been systematically dredge sampled from 4° W to 18° W. Petrographic studies of the dredged basalts show that the dominant basalt variety is olivine-plagioclase basalt, although olivine-plagioclase-clinopyroxene basalt is relatively common at some localities. Selected samples have been analysed for major and trace elements, rare earth elements and Sr and Nd isotopes. These data show that the majority of samples are slightly evolved (Mg#=69-35) N-type MORB, although a small group of samples from a number of localities have enriched geochemical characteristics (T- and P-type MORB).These different types of MORB are readily distinguished in terms of their incompatible trace element and isotopic characteristics: N-type MORB have high Zr/Nb (17–78), Y/Nb (4.6–23) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51303–0.51308) ratios, low Zr/Y (2.2–4.2) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70263–0.70295) ratios and have (La/Sm)_N<1.0; T-type MORB have lower than chondritic Zr/Nb ratios (8.8–15.5), relatively low Y/Nb (1.9–4.3) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51296–0.51288) ratios and relatively high Zr/Y (3.1–4.7), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70307–0.70334) and (La/Sm)_N (1.1–1.5) ratios; the single sample of P-type MORB has low Zr/Nb (6.3), Y/Nb (0.9) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51287) ratios and high Zr/Y (7.1), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70351) and (La/Sm)_N (2.4) ratios. The geochemical characteristics of this sample are essentially identical to those of the Bouvet Island lavas.Geochemically enriched MORB are less abundant on the American-Antarctic Ridge than on the Southwest Indian Ridge but their geochemical characteristics are identical. The compositions of T- and P-type MORB are consistent with a regional mixing model involving normal depleted mantle and Bouvet plume type magma. On a local scale the composition of T-type MORB is consistent with derivation from depleted mantle which contains 4% veins of P-type melt.We propose a model for the evolution of the American-Antarctic Ridge lavas in which N-type MORB is derived from mantle with negligible to low vein/mantle ratios, T-type MORB is derived from domains with moderate and variable vein/mantle ratios and P-type MORB from regions with very high vein/mantle ratios where vein material comprises the major portion of the melt. The sparse occurrence of enriched lavas and by implication enriched mantle beneath the American-Antarctic Ridge, some distance (500–1,200 km) from the Bouvet plume location, is interpreted to be the result of lateral dispersion of enriched mantle domains by asthenospheric flow away from the Bouvet mantle plume towards the American-Antarctic Ridge.     

The lead isotope geochemistry and geochronology of late-kinematic intrusives from the Abitibi greenstone belt,and the implications for late Archaean crustal evolution

Pb isotope abundances are reported for six late-kinematic granitoid intrusives from the Quebec sector of the Abitibi greenstone belt. Leaching experiments on K-feldspar separates reveal the presence of radiogenic Pb, attributed to in situ decay of U and Th. Pb-Pb mineral isochrons were constructed with the K-feldspar data plus results obtained on the total-rock, sphene, apatite and other mineral phases; five localities show no evidence of post-emplacement disturbance and yield ages ranging from 2616 ± 19 to 2718 ± 12 Ma. These ages, which are corroborated by U-Pb dating of small populations of sphene, imply that the orogenic events in the Abitibi belt were terminated 2700–2710 Ma ago, and followed by a period of granitization which lasted for 80 to 100 Ma.The initial Pb isotope composition of the magmas shows that their source regions were isotopically heterogeneous; the time integrated ${}^{238}\text{U}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ values for the source regions vary from 7.62 to 7.92 and the K-feldspar data indicate that similar heterogeneities were present at the scale of a single intrusion. The range of isotopic composition spans the compositional domain of the mantle, defined by sulfides associated with komatiites and some galenas, and that of the continental crust, defined by sulfides associated with Abitibi iron-formations. Consequently, the granitoid magmas are interpreted as partial melts of a continental crust comprising juvenile, mantle-derived rocks and non-negligible amounts of earlier formed sialic material. The Pb isotope data for the latter are consistent with the presence in the area of 3.0 to 3.4 Ga old sialic crust. The episode of crustal anatexis occurred as a consequence to the orogenic events which resulted in burial of altered supracrustal rocks rich in water and heat-producing elements.     

Geochemistry of metasomatic zircons from the Terskii greenstone belt

Local isotopic and geochemical studies of the zircons from metasomatites of the Terskii greenstone belt allowed us to determine two stages of metamorphism (2680 and 2025 My) and two stages of metasomatosis (2600 and 1800 My). Almost all the zircons were either metasomatic or affected to some degree by metasomatic processes caused by the enrichment of zircons in light rare earth elements, Th, U, Sr, and Ba, and flattening of the Ce anomaly.