Formation of Mud-Volcanic Fluids in Taman (Russia) and Kakhetia (Georgia): Evidence from Boron Isotopes

Temperatures of the formation of mud-volcanic waters are determined based on concentrations of some temperature-dependent components (Na–Li, Mg–Li). Estimates obtained for the Taman and Kakhetia regions are similar and range from 45 to 170°, which correspond to depths of 1–4.5 km. The calculated temperatures correlate with the chemical (Li, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, B, I, and HCO₃) composition of water and ¹³ (₂) and ¹³ (CH₄) values in spontaneous gases. The isotope values indicate that mechanisms of the formation of ¹³-rich gases, i.e., gases with high ¹³ values (up to +16.0 in ₂ and –23.4 in CH₄) in mud-volcanic systems of Taman and Kakhetia are governed by fluid-generation temperatures rather than the supply of abyssal gases. The ¹¹ value was determined for the first time in mud-volcanic products of the Caucasus region. This value ranges from +22.5 to +39.4 in the volcanic water of Georgia, from –1.2 to +7.4 in the clayey pulp of Georgia, and from –7.6 to +13.2 in the clayey pulp of Taman. It is shown that the ¹¹ value in clay correlates with the fluid-generation temperature and ¹¹ correlates with ¹³ in carbon-bearing gases. These correlations probably testify to the formation of different phases of mud-volcanic emanations in a single geochemical system and suggest the crucial role of temperature in the development of isotope-geochemical features.     

Isotopic composition of thermal waters in Chukotka

Twenty three groups of thermomineral springs in eastern Chukotka with the discharge temperature of 2 to 97°C and mineralization of 1.47 to 37.14 g/l are studied and compared with surface freshwater from their localities. The δD and δ¹⁸O values in surface waters vary from ?121.4 to ?89.5‰ and from ?16.4 to ?11.1‰, respectively, while respective values in thermomineral waters range from ?134.2 to ?92.5‰ and from ?17.6 to ?10.5‰. The δD value in surface waters decreases from the east to west, i.e., toward interior areas of the peninsula. Hydrothermal springs most depleted in deuterium (δD < ?120‰) are localized in the geodynamically active Kolyuchinskaya-Mechigmen Depression. According to the proposed formation model of Chukotka thermomineral waters, their observed chemical and isotopic characteristics could result from the mixing (in different proportions) of surface waters with the deep-sourced isotopically light mineralized component (δD ≈ ?138‰, δ¹⁸O ≈ ?19‰, M = 9.5?14.7 g/l). The latter originates most likely from subpermafrost waters subjected to slight cryogenic metamorphism.     

Strontium and oxygen isotopic systems in waters of mud volcanoes of the Taman Peninsula

Ten of eleven analyzed water samples from mud volcanoes of the Taman Peninsula are characterized by ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio within 0.70734–0.70957, which overlaps the values typical of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary carbonates, but sharply differs from the value in the clayey sediments of the Maikop Group (0.7157 ± 0.0022). These data indicate that the strontium isotopic composition is mainly defined by carbonate reservoirs, with relatively little effect of elision solutions, input of which is noticeable only in the water of Gladkovsky Volcano (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.71076). The high δ¹⁸O in mud volcanic waters (up to 14.2‰) can also be attributed to ionic exchange with sedimentary carbonates at temperatures around 150°C.     

Isotopic composition of formation waters from deep drillings in southern Israel

Formation water samples from deep drillings in southern Israel fall into three regional groups, each of which shows distinct chemical and isotopic characteristics. Waters from the Mediterranean coastal plain appear to be of marine lagoonal origin; some of these brines are associated with occurrences of oil. In the mountain region the top part of the sedimentary sequence has been flushed by fresher waters, apparently during Pleistocene time. In Jurassic and deeper-lying formations one encounters concentrated brines of seawater origin, with low Na/Ca ratios, which have undergone a process of ultrafiltration. In the Rift Valley proper, magnesium-rich brines have invaded the deeper formations, and are evidently of continental lake origin.The absence of oil occurrences in association with the CaCl₂ brines of the inland locations is interpreted as being due mainly to loss of oil as a result of the tectonic events associated with the formation of the Jordan Rift Valley.     

Isotopic Composition of Dissolved Carbonates Meromictic Soda Lake Doroninskoe(Eastern Transbaikalia,Russia)

正1 Introduction Meromictic soda Lake Doroninskoe localized in the intermountain area,filled with continental sediments of the Mesozoic,in the upper basin of the river Amur.Coordinates of its location are N51°14'42"E112°14'40",     

Cyclostratigraphy of Pontian deposits of the Eastern Paratethys (Zheleznyi Rog section,Taman Region)

The first data on the cyclostratigraphy of Pontian deposits of the Eastern Paratethys were obtained by studying the magnetic susceptibility of Upper Miocene rocks of the Zheleznyi Rog section in the Taman Region. Based on statistical methods, using the Lomb-Scargle and REDFIT periodograms, cycles related to long-period insolation oscillations (precession of the Earth’s orbit and variations in Earth’s axial tilt) were revealed. It is proposed that a hiatus occurred (about 150000–200000 years) at the Novorossian/Portaferian boundary (Lower Pontian/Upper Pontian) due to the onset of the maximum Messinian Salinity Crisis.     

Isotopic composition of cellulose from aquatic organisms

The stable isotopic ratios of oxygen, carbon and the non-exchangeable carbon-bound hydrogen of cellulose from marine plants (algae and higher vascular forms) and animals (tunicates) collected in their natural habitats and from freshwater vascular plants grown in the laboratory under controlled conditions were determined.The δ¹⁸Ovalues of cellulose from all the plants and animals were 27 ±3% more positive than the δ¹⁸O values of the waters in which the organisms grew. Temperature had little or no influence on this relationship for three species of freshwater vascular plants that were analyzed. The relationship between the δ¹⁸O values of cellulose and the water used in its synthesis is probably established by the isotopic fractionation that occurs during the hydration of carbonyl groups of the intermediates involved in cellulose synthesis.The δD values of the non-exchangeable hydrogen of cellulose (determined by analyzing cellulose nitrate) from different organisms that grew in the same environment differed by large amounts. This difference ranged up to 200‰ for different species of algae collected at a single site: the corresponding difference for different species of tunicates and vascular plants was 60 and 20‰ respectively. The δD values of cellulose nitrate from different species of freshwater vascular plants grown in water of constant temperature and isotopic composition differed by as much as 60‰ The relationship between the δD values of the carbon-bound hydrogen of cellulose and the water used in its synthesis displayed a significant temperature dependence for four species of freshwater vascular plants that were analyzed. The δD values of cellulose nitrate prepared from different parts of one of the plants grown under constant conditions differed by 40‰ Hydrogen isotopic fractionation during cellulose synthesis appears to be more variable among different species and displays a larger temperature dependence than was suggested by previous studies.     

Isotopic variations of oxygen and hydrogen in groundwater of carbonate aquifer in an arid environment

The stable isotopic characteristics were used together with the total chloride to assess changes in groundwater from recharge zones into the carbonate aquifer in an arid environment. The aquifer under study represents a major source of groundwater and thermal springs in Al-Ain city, which are located at the northern part of Jabal Hafit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The relationship between oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of groundwater is established and is described by δD?=?2.2δ¹⁸O???9.96. The lower slope and y-intercept of groundwater samples relative to the local meteoric waterline suggests that the isotopic enrichment is due to the evaporation of shallow groundwater after recharge occurs. The majority of the shallow groundwater samples have a negative deuterium excess (d-excess) which might be ascribed to high a degree of evaporation, while most of the groundwater samples from deep wells, have a positive value of d-excess which may be related to a low degree of evaporation. The δ¹⁸O values of the thermal waters suggest enrichment towards δ¹⁸O of the carbonate rocks because of the exchange with oxygen at higher temperatures. A possible mixing between thermal or hot water and shallow groundwater is evident in some samples as reflected by δD vs. Cl and d-excess vs. δ¹⁸O plots.     

Palynological characterization of the Sarmatian deposits of the Eastern Paratethys (Section Zelenskii Mountain-Cape Panagiya,Taman Peninsula)

Palynological analysis of Sarmatian deposits found in the reference section Zelenskii Mountain-Cape Panagiya has produced new data on dinocysts and contributed to the palynological characteristics of the Sarmatian deposits of the Taman Peninsula. Six palynological assemblages have been found, reflecting the gradual replacement of forest associations with forest-steppe ones, and thus confirming the trend, revealed earlier, of climate aridization in the areas of the Eastern and Central Paratethys in the Late Sarmatian time. The distinctive cysts of the dinoflagellates Geonettia cf. clinea de Verteuil et Norris and Polykrikos schwarzii Bütschli are identified in Sarmatian deposits of the Taman Peninsula for the first time.     

Magmatic Nature of Mineralizing Fluids in the Solnechnoye Sn Deposit (Russia) Deduced from Isotopic (H,O) Compositions of Tourmaline

In this paper, we present new isotopic (H, O) data of fluids in tourmalines from the large Sn deposit at Solnechnoye (Far East Russia). These data indicate that the deposit formed by fluid‐rock interactions in a hydrothermal system where the mineralizing fluid was mainly magmatic and to a lesser extent meteoric. This is in agreement with a magmatic fluid model. Our interpretation of the new isotopic data is consistent with earlier findings of the studies on fluid‐rock interactions that magmatic fluids form larger Sn deposits than exogenic fluids. We propose that isotopic (H, O) data of fluids in tourmaline, rather than those in quartz, muscovite, or chlorite, support robust interpretation on the nature of mineralizing fluids associated with Sn deposits.     

Depositional Environments in the Eastern Paratethys during the Final Middle Miocene Transgression (Kura Basin,Eastern Georgia)

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The mineral composition and depositional environments of the Konkian in eastern Georgia (Kura trough, eastern Paratethys) corresponding to the Kosovian...     

Chemical composition of platinum-group minerals from the Bor-Uryakh massif (Maimecha-Kotui Province,Russia)

This contribution firstly presents particularities of mineral chemistry of platinum-group elements (PGE) mineralization from placer deposits linked to the Bor-Uryakh massif of the Maimecha-Kotui Province, northern part of the Siberian Craton. The chemical composition of PGE mineralization has been studied by electron microprobe analysis. At Bor-Uryakh, main platinum-group minerals (PGM) comprise Os-Ir and Pt-Fe alloys represented by individual crystals, and polyphase PGM assemblages. The majority (e.g., 12 out of 19) of the Os-rich nuggets are iridian osmium, with subordinate amounts of native osmium (Os) and chengdeite (Ir₃Fe). Pt-Fe alloys have a stoichiometric composition close to Pt₂Fe. According to the nomen-clature by L. Cabri and C. Feather [1975] these minerals correspond to ferroan platinum. Based on geological position and geochemical features of investigated PGE mineralization the particular rock sources have been established. This study has demonstrated the similarity of chemical characteristics of Os-Ir and Pt-Fe alloys of the Bor-Uryakh massif to those of PGM from the Guli massif (Maimecha-Kotui Province), platiniferous zoned-type ultramafic massifs (e.g., Kondyor, Inagli and Chad) of the Aldan Province and Platinum belt of the Urals (Nizhny Tagil, Kytlym, etc.).     

Isotope and chemical composition of gases from mud volcanoes in the Taman Peninsula and problem of their genesis

Variations in the carbon isotope composition in gases and waters of mud volcanoes in the Taman Peninsula are studied. The δ¹³C values in CH₄ and CO₂ vary from ?59.5 to ?44.0‰ (δ¹³C_av = ?52.4 ± 5.4‰) and from ?17.8 to +22.8‰ (δ¹³C_av = +6.9 ± 9.3‰), respectively. In waters from most mud volcanoes of the peninsula, this parameter ranges from +3.3 to +33.1‰, although locally lower values are also recorded (up to ?12‰. Fractionation of carbon isotopes in the CO₂-HCO₃ system corresponds to the isotope equilibrium under Earth’s surface temperatures. The growth of carbon dioxide concentration in the gaseous phase and increase in the HCO₃ ion concentration in their water phase is accompanied by the enrichment of the latter with the heavy ¹³C isotope. The δ¹³C_TDIC value in the water-soluble carbon depends on the occurrence time of water on the Earth’s surface (exchange with atmospheric CO₂, methane oxidation, precipitation of carbonates, and other processes), in addition to its primary composition. In this connection, fluctuations in δ¹³C_TDIC values in mud volcanoes with stagnant waters may amount to 10–20‰. In the clayey pulp, concentrations of carbonate matter recalculated to CaCO₃ varies from 1–4 to 36–50 wt %. The δ¹³C value in the latter ranges from ?3.6 to +8.4‰. Carbonate matter of the clayey pulp represents a mixture of sedimentogenic and authigenic carbonates. Therefore, it is usually unbalanced in terms of the carbon isotope composition with the water-soluble CO₂ forms.     

Stratigraphy and structure of the central East Sakhalin accretionary wedge (Eastern Russia)

The East Sakhalin accretionary wedge is a part of the Cretaceous-Paleogene accretionary system, which developed on the eastern Asian margin in response to subduction of the Pacific oceanic plates. Its formation was related to the evolution of the Early Cretaceous Kem-Samarga island volcanic arc and Late Cretaceous-Paleogene East Sikhote Alin continental-margin volcanic belt. The structure, litho-, and biostratigraphy of the accretionary wedge were investigated in the central part of the East Sakhalin Mountains along two profiles approximately 40 km long crossing the Nabil and Rymnik zones. The general structure of the examined part of the accretionary wedge represents a system of numerous east-vergent tectonic slices. These tectonic slices. tens to hundreds of meters thick. are composed of various siliciclastic rocks, which were formed at the convergent plate boundary, and subordinate oceanic pelagic cherts and basalts, and hemipelagic siliceous and tuffaceous-siliceous mudstones. The siliciclastic deposits include trench-fill mudstones and turbidites and draping sediments. The structure of the accretionary wedge was presumably formed owing to off-scraping and tectonic underplating. The off-scraped and tectonically underplated fragments were probably tectonically juxtaposed along out-of-sequence thrusts with draping deposits. The radiolarian fauna was used to constrain the ages of rocks and time of the accretion episodes in different parts of the accretionary wedge. The defined radiolarian assemblages were correlated with the radiolarian scale for the Tethyan region using the method of unitary associations. In the Nabil zone, the age of pelagic sediments is estimated to have lasted from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Barremian); that of hemipelagic sediments, from the early Aptian to middle Albian; and trench-fill and draping deposits of the accretionary complex date back to the middle-late Albian. In the Rymnik zone, the respective ages of cherts, hemipelagic sediments, and trench facies with draping deposits have been determined as Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (middle Albian), middle Aptian-middle Cenomanian, and middle-late Cenomanian. East of the rear toward the frontal parts of the accretionary wedge, stratigraphic boundaries between sediments of different lithology become successively younger. Timing of accretion episodes is based on the age of trench-fill and draping sediments of the accretionary wedge. The accretion occurred in a period lasting from the terminal Aptian to the middle Albian in the western part of the Nabil zone and in the middle Cenomanian in the eastern part of the Rymnik zone. The western part of the Nabil zone accreted synchronously with the Kiselevka-Manoma accretionary wedge located westerward on the continent. These accretionary wedges presumably formed along a single convergent plate margin, with the Sakhalin accretionary system located to the south of the Kiselevka-Manoma terrane in the Albian.     

Chemical composition and sulfur forms in saline lakes of Kulunda Plain(Russia)

正1 Introduction On the territory Kulunda Plain,located to the south-west of the Ob’plateau,there are more than 3,000 fresh and salt lakes with water TDS range from 1 to 430 g/L.The interest in these lakes was associated mainly with the study of     

Geodynamic setting of gold deposits in Eastern and Central Trans-Baikal (Chita Region, Russia)

It is proposed that there are three types of gold deposits in Eastern and Central Transbaikalia (Trans-Baikal province), namely: (i) high-sulphide intrusion-related deposits with some signs of porphyry deposits, (ii) low-sulphide intrusion-related deposits, and (iii) low-sulphide epithermal Au–Ag deposits. Most of the gold deposits belong to the first two types, and their ages are Middle–Late Jurassic. Deposits of the third type are not numerous, and their age is Early Cretaceous.The majority of the gold mineralization is spatially related to the two branches of the Mongolia–Okhotsk suture, along which Siberia collided, at the Early/Middle Jurassic boundary, with the Mongolia–North China continent and the Onon island-arc terrane located between the two continents. Collision-related thrusting, folding and magmatism lasted until the latest Jurassic, when they gave way to post-collisional rifting that continued until the end of Early Cretaceous.According to their age, relation to magmatism and tectonic framework, the intrusion-related deposits (high- and low-sulphide) were formed in a regional collisional setting. Extensional environments at that time existed only in local areas in the roofs of great magmatic chambers. Low-sulphide epithermal deposits were formed during Early Cretaceous post-collisional rifting.     

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth in Georgia nearshore waters

Nutrient enrichment experiments were conducted to investigate the utilization of dissolved organic and inorganic nitrogen by marine phytoplankton in Georgia coastal waters. Natural populations of marine phytoplankton, enriched with different concentrations of ammonium chloride and other plant nutrients, were grown under controlled temperature and irradiance conditions until the populations reached “stationary phase.” Results showed that (1) phytoplankton are limited by DIN up to ca. 20μM, when another nutrient (phosphate or silicate) becomes limiting, (2) very little naturally-occurring DON is directly utilized for growth, (3) very little DON is indirectly made available for growth over time periods of days to ca. 1 week, and (4) trace metals and vitamins do not significantly limit phytoplankton growth.