Low- and high-alumina komatiites from a Late Archaean sequence,Newton Township,Ontario

Late Archaean komatiitic lavas from Newton Township, Ontario, consist of 6 chemically distinct magma types: 3 komatiites and 3 komatiitic basalts. The succession is unusual in containing both Al- and HREE-depleted komatiites and Al- and HREE-undepleted komatiites. The two types form distinct stratigraphic units separated by komatiitic basalts. Two komatiite types are strongly LREE depleted, whilst the third and the associated komatiitic basalts range from mildly depleted to enriched. Of the six magma types, only the two strongly LREE depleted komatiites represent primary mantle melts. The other komatiite type and the komatiitic basalts were derived from the primary komatiite magmas by combinations of olivine (+chromite) fractionation, assimilation of continental crust, and magma mixing. The two primary magmas may have been derived from similar sources, their contrasting chemistry being due to differing degrees of garnet segregation during melting. A generally applicable conclusion is that a wide range of komatiitic magma types can be generated from a relatively homogeneous depleted mantle, under conditions likely to prevail during the eruption of late Archean greenstone belt sequences.     

Komatiitic and Iron-rich Tholeiitic Lavas of Munro Township, Northeast Ontario

Munro Township, in the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt of northeastOntario, contains volcanic and hypabyssal rocks of two magmaseries: (1) an Fe-rich tholeiitic series of basaltic to daciticlava flows (3–10 m thick), layered peridotite-pyroxenite-gabbroflows (120 m thick), and layered sills (700 m thick); (2) anultramafic-mafic komatiitic series, comprising discrete lavaflows of peridotitic to andesitic composition (1–17 mthick), layered peridotite-gabbro flows (120 m thick), and layeredsills (500 m thick). The komatiitie lavas form a successionabout 1000 m thick that is both underlain and overlain by thickersuccessions of tholeiitic volcanic rocks. Three types of komatiite are recognized: peridotitic, pyroxenitic,and basaltic komatiites. The most ultramafic are peridotiticcumulates rich in forsteritic olivine (Fo_89–94), at thebases of flows and sills. Many less mafic peridotitic komatiites(MgO: 20–30 per cent), which typically form the upperparts of flows and the marginal parts of small intrusions, exhibitspinifex textures indicative of their formation from ultrabasicliquids. Pyroxenitic komatiites (MgO: 12–20 per cent)also may contain olivine, but are dominated by clinopyroxene,usually in spinifex textures. Basaltic komatiites (MgO <12per cent) are composed mainly of clino-pyroxene and plagioclaseor devitrified glass, rarely in spinifex texture and more commonlyin equigranular textures. Peridotitic komatiite with roughly30 per cent MgO appears to represent a parental liquid fromwhich the more ultramafic komatiites formed by accumulationof olivine, and the less mafic types were derived by fractionationof olivine, joined and finally succeeded in later stages byclinopyroxene and plagioclase. Komatiites of Munro Township share many of the characteristicsof the komatiites from the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa(Voljoen & Viljoen, 1969a and b), but lack the high CaO/Al₂O₃ratios that distinguish the Barberton rocks. The Munro komatiitesare identical in this respect to ultramafic volcanic rocks inAustralia, Canada, Rhodesia, and India. It is proposed thatthe definition of the term komatiite be broadened so that itincludes all members of this ultramafic-mafic rock series, notonly those from Barberton Mountain Land. The proposed criteriaare: (1) highly ultramafic compositions in noncumulate lavas;(2) unusual volcanic structures such as spinifex texture andpolyhedral jointing; (3) low Fe/Mg ratios at given Al₂O₃ valuesor high CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios; low TiO₂ at given SiO₂; and high MgO,NiO, and Cr₂O₃.     

Nepheline-bearing rocks from the Poohbah Lake complex,Ontario: Malignites and Malignites

Malignites from the Poohbah Lake complex of northwestern Ontario, Canada are melanocratic cumulates. Cumulus pyroxene and apatite are poikilitically enclosed in a groundmass of large plates of intercumulus orthoclase and nepheline. Nepheline-feldspar fingerprint-like intergrowths occur. Nephelines are commonly zeolitized and pyroxenes altered to aggregates of biotite and/or garnet by deuteric alteration. Pyroxenes are weakly zoned from Di₇₁ Hd¹⁸Ac₁₁ to Di₆₃Hd₂₂Ac₁₅, and are similar to the least evolved pyroxenes of other alkaline rocks. Nephelines all have compositions within the Morozewicz-Buerger convergence field and feldspars have a limited compositional range from Or⁸⁸ to Or⁹⁵. Perthites are absent.Inconsistancies in the usage of the terms malignite and juvite are discussed and it is considered that a non-genetic petrographic classification of nepheline syenites leads to the obscuration of a group of potassic nepheline syenites, characterized by the presence of nepheline plus orthoclase which are typically associated with saturated to over-saturated alkaline rocks, contain pseudo-leucite or nepheline-orthoclase intergrowths, are emplaced in mobile belts and are not associated with rocks of the ijolite-carbonatite suite.A genetic classification of nepheline syenites is suggested and it is proposed that; (1) mafic-rich nepheline syenites be referred to as mela-nepheline syenites (sensu lato) rather than as malignites; (2) the term malignite be used for magmatic potassic nepheline syenites characterised by the presence of nepheline plus a single potassium-rich feldspar (orthoclase or microcline) and devoid of exsolution perthite under subsolvus conditions; (3) the metasomatic malignites and juvites of ijolite-carbonatite complexes be referred to as varieties of fenites.     

Chemistry and origin of chloritoid rocks from eastern Taiwan

Chloritoid-rich rocks occur as thin pods or lenses in the well-foliated marble and greenschist of the pre-Tertiary metamorphic complex of eastern central Taiwan. They contain unusually abundant chloritoid: 60–90% in the massive rocks and 30–50% in the schistose rocks. Compared to the adjacent basaltic greenschist, the chloritoid rocks contain extremely low SiO₂, CaO and Na₂O and very high Al₂O₃, total Fe as Fe₂O₃, and TiO₂. Both monoclinic and triclinic chloritoids were identified. These rocks may have been derived originally from fossil lateritic soils formed from a basaltic layer in a limestone terrain. These soils and the bedded rocks were then metamorphosed in the chlorite-biotite zone of the greenschist facies.     

Intrusion and Crystallization of a Spinifex-Textured Komatiite Sill in Dundonald Township, Ontario

Although komatiite has been defined as an ultramafic volcanicrock characterized by spinifex texture, there is a growing recognitionthat similar textures can also form in high-level dykes andsills. Here, we report the results of a petrological and geochemicalinvestigation of a 5 m thick komatiite sill in Dundonald Township,Ontario, Canada. This unit forms part of a series of komatiitesand komatiitic basalts, some of which clearly intruded unconsolidatedsediments. The komatiite sill is differentiated into a spinifex-texturedupper part and an olivine cumulate lower part. Features characteristicof the upper sections of lava flows, such as volcanic brecciaand a thick glassy chilled margin, are absent and, instead,the upper margin of the sill is marked by a layer of relativelylarge (1–5 mm) solid, polyhedral olivine grains that gradesdownwards over a distance of only 2 cm into unusually large,centimetre-sized, skeletal hopper olivine grains. This is underlainby a 1 m thick zone of platy spinifex-textured olivine and coarse,complex, dendritic, spinifex-textured olivine. The texture ofthe olivine cumulate zone in the overlying unit is uniform rightdown to the contact and a lower chilled margin, present at thebase of all lava flows, is absent. The textures in the silland the overlying unit are interpreted to indicate that thesill intruded the olivine cumulate zone of the overlying unit.Thermal modelling suggests that soon after intrusion, a narrowinterval of the overlying cumulate partially melted and thatthe liquid in the upper part of the sill became undercooled.The range of olivine morphologies in the spinifex-textured partof the sill was controlled by nucleation and crystallizationof olivine in these variably undercooled liquids. KEY WORDS: komatiite; intrusion; spinifex texture; olivine     

The spatial extent of chemical equilibrium in some high-grade metamorphic rocks from the grenville of southeastern Ontario

Many of the recent studies of chemical equilibrium in metamorphic rocks may have been hampered by sampling which did not reflect single regions or domains of local equilibration. This paper records results of tests performed to determine the specific volume of rock in chemical equilibrium with respect to a certain phase, under a particular set of conditions. Two samples of high-grade metamorphic gneisses from the Grenville Series of southeastern Ontario were selected for intensive study. The garnets of one specimen, possessing a biotite-garnet-cordierite assemblage, underwent in situ laser microprobe spectrochemical determinations for Fe, Mg, Mn and Ca. Conclusions are thus possible as to the volumes over which free diffusion and chemical equilibrium took place. These volumes were found to be on the order of only a few cubic centimeters and their shapes are strongly controlled by rock structures such as foliation and lineation. A higher-grade pyroxene granulite was also investigated with respect to garnet and biotite equilibrium. Somewhat larger volumes of equilibration were noted in this rock.     

The origin of low δ18O granites and related rocks from the Seychelles

The 750-Ma Seychelles granites have whole-rock '¹⁸O values that range from -1.2 to +7.5‰. Differences in '¹⁸O values between quartz, feldspar and whole-rock for samples that have a range of '¹⁸O values suggest that these minerals are in magmatic equilibrium, and that the whole-rock '¹⁸O values were little affected by post-crystallization interaction with fluids. Two suites of granites (the Mahé type and the Praslin type) have previously been recognized on the basis of chemical and radiogenic isotope composition. The former have a mean whole-rock '¹⁸O value of 5.25ǂ.65‰ (1C), whereas the latter are much more variable, with a mean whole-rock '¹⁸O value of 3.00Dž.27‰. Biotite and amphibole separates from both granite types range in 'D from -69 to -116‰, and show a positive correlation with whole-rock '¹⁸O values. Dolerite dykes that intruded the granites during or shortly after their crystallization also have whole-rock '¹⁸O values (mean 2.24ǃ.93‰) lower than that expected for mantle-derived basaltic rocks, but these values appear to be the result of fluid-rock interaction. We suggest that the Mahé-type granites are derived mainly from juvenile mafic to intermediate crust with 'normal' 'D and '¹⁸O values, whereas the Praslin-type granites are mixtures of this source and older crust that acquired its low 'D and '¹⁸O values by extensive interaction with meteoric water at high temperature. It is unlikely that meteoric water sufficiently depleted in D and ¹⁸O was available at 750 Ma because of the relatively low latitude of the region at that time. We suggest that alteration of the source took place significantly before production of the granite magmas. Depletion in ¹⁸O of the Seychelles granites does not necessarily require a regional extensional tectonic setting at 750 Ma, as has been proposed.     

The origin of decoupled Hf-Nd isotope compositions in Eoarchean rocks from southern West Greenland

Radiogenic isotope compositions of Hf and Nd are typically coupled in Phanerozoic and Proterozoic mafic rocks due to a similar behaviour of Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd during mantle melting. Eoarchean rocks, for instance those from southern West Greenland, exhibit an apparent decoupling of Hf and Nd isotope compositions. This apparent decoupling may either indicate metamorphic disturbance or, alternatively, mirror early differentiation processes in the silicate Earth. To evaluate the issue, we performed combined measurements of Hf-Nd isotope compositions together with major and trace element concentrations for well preserved >3720 to >3800 Ma old tholeiitic metabasalts and gabbros from the ∼3700 Ma and ∼3800 Ma old terranes of the Isua Supracrustal Belt, southern West Greenland. In contrast to younger mafic rocks, calculated initial εHf-εNd values of the Isua tholeiites show similar spreads and are both near chondritic to strongly depleted (−0.7 to +6.3 and −0.8 to +4.4, respectively), also in contrast to previously reported more depleted signatures in nearby boninite-like metabasalts of the Garbenschiefer unit. An evaluation of alteration effects based on preserved major and trace element arrays reveals pristine magmatic trends and therefore the measured isotope compositions indeed in most cases characterize contrasting Eoarchean mantle sources. In accord with this view, compositions of the Isua metabasalts yield Eoarchean regression ages in Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isochron spaces, overlapping with emplacement ages inferred from crosscutting relationships with tonalites. Lutetium-Hf systematics of the Isua metabasalts studied here, yield clear isochron relationships. For both terranes, there is some scatter in Sm-Nd space, indicating early disturbance of the Sm-Nd system close in time to the extrusion ages, possibly by seafloor alteration. Trace element compositions of the metabasalts indicate an arc setting and a strong source overprint by melt-like subduction components. It is likely, that the source overprint may have caused partial decoupling of the εHf-εNd values, due to selective addition of Nd as observed in modern subduction settings. In this case, the most radiogenic initial εNd and εHf isotope values characterize the most depleted mantle sources, and less radiogenic values would reflect increased contributions of isotopically more enriched subduction components. However, the most depleted samples still exhibit decoupled Hf-Nd compositions, making a case for the presence of even older mantle heterogeneities. A proposed superchondritic composition of the silicate Earth (SCHEM), however, cannot account for the most depleted sample compositions. Conversely, a depleted upper mantle formed by crystallization of perovskite-rich cumulates in the early Hadean may well explain these observed compositions. A literature survey reveals an overlap in initial Hf-Nd compositions between southern West Greenland TTGs and the metabasalts analyzed here. This overlap suggests a genetic relationship between these lithologies, where the TTGs may have inherited their unusual Hf-Nd compositions from mafic precursors isotopically similar in composition to the Isua tholeiites.     

Spatial and multivariate analysis of geochemical data from metavolcanic rocks in the Ben Nevis area, Ontario

A study of the lithogeochemistry of metavolcanics in the Ben Nevis area of Ontario, Canada has shown that factor analysis methods can distinguish lithogeochemical trends related to different geological processes, most notably, the principal compositional variation related to the volcanic stratigraphy and zones of carbonate alteration associated with the presence of sulphides and gold. Auto- and cross-correlation functions have been estimated for the two-dimensional distribution of various elements in the area. These functions allow computation of spatial factors in which patterns of multivariate relationships are dependent upon the spatial auto- and cross-correlation of the components. Because of the anisotropy of primary compositions of the volcanics, some spatial factor patterns are difficult to interpret. Isotropically distributed variables such as CO ₂ are delineated clearly in spatial factor maps. For anisotropically distributed variables (SiO ₂ ), as the neighborhood becomes smaller, the spacial factor maps becomes better. Interpretation of spatial factors requires computation of the corresponding amplitude vectors from the eigenvalue solution. This vector reflects relative amplitudes by which the variables follow the spatial factors. Instability of some eigenvalue solutions requires that caution be used in interpreting the resulting factor patterns. A measure of the predictive power of the spatial factors can be determined from autocorrelation coefficients and squared multiple correlation coefficients that indicate which variables are significant in any given factor. The spatial factor approach utilizes spatial relationships of variables in conjunction with systematic variation of variables representing geological processes. This approach can yield potential exploration targets based on the spatial continuity of alteration haloes that reflect mineralization.List of symbols c _i Scalar factor that minimizes the discrepancy between andU _i - D Radius of circular neighborhood used for estimating auto- and cross-correlation coefficients - d Distance for which transition matrixU is estimated - d _ij Distance between observed valuesi andj - E Expected value - E _i Row vector of residuals in the standardized model - F(d _ij) Quadratic function of distanced _ij F(d _ij)=a+bd _ij+cd _ij ² - L Diagonal matrix of the eigenvalues ofU - _i Eigenvalue of the matrixU;ith diagonal element ofL - N Number of observations - p Number of variables - Q Total predictive power ofU - R Correlation matrix of the variables - R _0j Variance-covariance signal matrix of the standardized variables at origin;j is the index related tod andD (e.g.,j=1 ford=500 m,D=1000 m) - R _1j Matrix of auto- and cross-correlation coefficients evaluated at a given distance within the neighborhood - R _m ² Multiple correlation coefficient squared for themth variable - S _i Column vectori of the signal values - s _k ² Residual variance for variablek - T _i Amplitude vector corresponding toV _i;ith row ofT=V ^–1 - T Total variation in the system - U Nonsymmetric transition matrix formed by post-multiplyingR ₀₁ ^–1 byR _ij - U _i Componenti of the matrixU, corresponding to theith eigenvectorV _i;U _i= _iV_iT_i - U* _i ComponentU _i multiplied byc _i - U _ij Sum of componentsU _i+U _j - V _i Eigenvector of the matrixU;ith column ofV withUV=VL - w Weighting factor; equal to the ratio of two eigenvalues - X _i Random variable at pointi - x _i Value of random variable at pointi - y _i Residual ofx _i - Z _i Row vectori for the standardized variables - z _i Standardized value of variable     

Chromite-bearing spessartites from Kasuga-mura,Japan, and their bearing on possible mantle origin andesite

An unusual association of chromite and hornblende was found in the spessartites of andesite composition, occurring as a dike swarm associated with a Cretaceous granite batholith. The spessartites are largely porphyritic with phenocrysts of either hornblende or augite. One dike, comprising a finegrained spessartite, exhibits distinct chilled selvages of aphanitic facies. The chromites in the fine-grained and augite-spessartites are significantly higher in Cr/ (Cr+Al) than those occurring rarely as inclusions in the phenocrystic hornblendes in the hornblende spessartite, although both are similar in Mg/ (Mg+Fe), Fe₂O₃, and TiO₂. The phenocrystic hornblendes are titaniferous pargasite with high Mg/ (Mg+Fe), and differ in their higher octahedral Al from the groundmass hornblendes including those in the fine-grained spessartite. The crystallization sequence in the phenocrystic hornblende-bearing spessartites is Al-rich chromite, phenocrystic hornblende, and plagioclase without pyroxene, suggesting a high water content in the magma and the start of the crystallization at relatively high pressures. The finegrained spessartite from which the porphyritic spessartites have been derived by fractionation of dominant mafic minerals, has the high Mg-value and Cr content equivalent to those in primitive, undifferentiated basalts, although still andesitic in SiO₂ content. Chemically similar magnesian andesites, although uncommon, found in some orogenic calc-alkalic suites may represent a magma composition in equilibrium with mantle peridotite under the condition of high water pressures.     

关于C型埃达克岩成因的再探讨

文中回顾了对C型埃达克岩认识的过程,归纳了C型埃达克岩的产出特征、存在问题、研究意义及今后研究的方向,指出中国东部C型埃达克岩是高钾钙碱性的,可能是变质的中钾和高钾的中基性岩在高压条件下部分熔融形成的。不同于O型埃达克岩,它的成因、源区特征、熔融机制,是今后研究的重点,需要大量实验研究的支持。钾质的C型埃达克岩是新的大陆构造学研究的切入点,比钠质的O型埃达克岩具有更重要的意义。     

Evidence for the magmatic origin of quartz-topaz rocks from the New England batholith,Australia

Quartz-topaz rocks from the New England district, New South Wales, have mineralogical, textural and field relationships suggesting a magmatic origin. These rocks (called topazites) occur as dykes and sills intruding a biotite granite and sediments in a roof pendant. Where they have intruded into sediments, the topazites have a narrow aureole of induration or hornfels. One type of primary solid inclusion, thought to be silicate glass, has a composition ranging from that of the topazite towards that of nearby granite. Primary fluid inclusions contain an aqueous solution of alkali chlorides with concentrations of total salts to 57 wt%. These fluid inclusions indicate crystallization temperatures in the range 570–620° C, close to the experimentally determined solidus of a vapour-saturated, topaz-normative melt. The presence of primary fluid inclusions indicates crystallization of topazite following saturation of a granitic magma with water and the formation of immiscible silicate and aqueous phases. Partitioning of alkali metals into the aqueous phase left a silicate melt that could only crystallize quartz and topaz.     

Age,origin, and thermal histories of some plutonic rocks from the Salinian block of California

U-Pb isotopic measurements on zircons from some granitic rocks of the Salinian block indicate emplacement and crystallization of these rocks about 104 m.y. ago (mid-Cretaceous). The relatively radiogenic nature of initial Sr and common Pb in these rocks, and the presence of an inherited component of zircon in some of them strongly suggest the involvement of continental crust in the genesis of the magmas. Possibly the magmas were generated in a zone of melting that overlapped the boundary between the mantle and the continental crust. U-Pb measurements on sphene, apatite, and feldspar from the plutons, along with previously published K-Ar and fission-track ages shed light on the post-emplacement thermal histories of the plutons. Most of the samples from the northern part of the Salinian block (Bodega Head, Point Reyes) show relatively simple thermal histories. Evidently these plutons were emplaced at moderate levels in the crust, crystallized, and cooled to moderate temperatures over an interval of about 10–15 m.y. Plutons from the central Salinian block (Santa Lucia Range) show more complex and prolonged thermal histories. These plutons evidently were emplaced at greater depths in the crust than were the plutons from the northern Salinian block. They remained at elevated temperatures for ca. 25 m.y., then cooled fairly rapidly, probably as a result of rapid uplift and erosion. One sample from the northern Salinian block shows an even longer span of time between emplacement and cooling. The thermal evolution of the Salinian plutonic rocks predates major offset along the San Andreas fault zone and thus reflects the thermal evolution of the undisrupted source terrane of the Salinian block. Isotopic measurements of the type reported here might therefore prove valuable in correlations across the San Andreas fault zone. Moreover, detailed study of thermal evolution within the Salinian block could shed light on major offsets within the block.     

Tectonomagmatic origin of some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift,Nigeria

Petrological and geochemical studies on some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift indicate that they are basalts, basaltic and doleritic sills, trachybasalt and trachyte which generally belong to the alkali basalt series. The alkaline affinity is clearly evident in both their normative and modal mineral compositions, as well as their chemical compositions. The generally high fractionation indices [(La/Yb)N] are 7.06 to 17.65 for the basaltic rocks and 23.59 to 135. 35 for the trachytic rocks, against low values commonly seen in subalkaline (tholeiitic) series, with strong enrichments in the incompatible elements. All this strongly supports their alkaline affinity. The basaltic rocks are generally fine-grained and porphyritic, consisting of phenocrysts of clinopyroxene and olivine in the groundmass of the same minerals together with plagioclase. The clinopyroxene is either diopside or clinoenstatite. The trachyte consists of oligoclase, orthoclase, biotite, quartz and exhibits typical trachytic, flow structure. The basaltic and doleritic sills are commonly altered, with calcite and epidote as common alteration prod-ucts. This alteration, which is reflected in the erratic behaviour of K2O, MnO and P2O5 on Harker variation diagrams, high values of LOI, strong depletions in the more mobile LILE (Rb, K, Ba and Sr) and high Th/Ta ratios, is attributed to the effects of an aqueous fluid phase and crustal contamination. On the whole, the mineralogical, as well as major-, trace-elements and REE data suggest that the rocks are co-genetic and most likely derived from differentiation of an alkali olivine-basalt magma, generating through variable low degrees of partial melting of probably an enriched lithospheric (upper) mantle following an asthenospheric uplift (mantle plume or intumescence) with HIMU signa-tures in a within-plate continental rift tectonic setting. This corroborates earlier results obtained for the intrusive rocks in the region.     

Tectonomagmatic origin of some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift, Nigeria

Petrological and geochemical studies on some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift indicate that they are basalts, basaltic and doleritic sills, trachybasalt and trachyte which generally belong to the alkali basalt series. The alkaline affinity is clearly evident in both their normative and modal mineral compositions, as well as their chemical compositions. The generally high fractionation indices [(La/Yb)N] are 7.06 to 17.65 for the basaltic rocks and 23.59 to 135. 35 for the trachytic ...     

含铁地下水成因、危害及防治

含铁地下水形成于中偏酸性的还原性水文地球化学环境中,人为活动也可引发含铁水的出现。含铁水进入水井附近后,有沉淀析出铁矿物从而堵塞水井附近含水层和滤水管的危险,也因为其偏低的ＰＨ值和可能含有硫化物而对金属水井管材具有腐蚀作用。防治含铁水对水井破坏作用的根本方法是采取改善地下水水质的现场处理技术。     

云南鲁春晚三叠世硅质岩的地球化学特征及成因

云南鲁春晚三叠世火山沉积盆地是在江达-维西火山弧的基础之上,通过拉张作用形成的碰撞后拉张盆地,盆地内广泛发育一套由玄武岩和流纹岩组成的“双峰式”火山岩及与其相伴的硅质岩。硅质岩可分为凝灰质硅质岩和纹层状硅质岩两类。通过对两类硅质岩所进行的地球化学研究和分析,表明云南鲁春晚三叠世火山沉积盆地中的凝灰质硅质岩属火山沉积成因,而纹层状硅质岩为海底喷流热液/热泉(热水)沉积成因的热水硅质岩。     

Rifts,evaporites and the origin of certain alkaline rocks

The assimilation of evaporites and brines by basaltic magma in continental rifts may be responsible for alkaline magmatism and metasomatism. Spilites may be the oceanic counterpart of alkaline syenites. Remobilisation of alkaline material from evaporites and brines may also lead to feldspathisation and, moreover, it may be an essential factor in the production of glaucophane-bearing rocks. It is particularly significant that the oldest known occurrences of evaporites, nepheline syenites, and glaucophane schists are all of late Precambrian (-Eocambrian) age. These rocks appear to have become increasingly abundant with decreasing age, and this may reflect an evolution in the alkali (especially sodium) content of sea water, which in turn may correspond to progressive alkalinisation of the Earth's crust.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Assimilation von Evaporiten und Solen durch basaltisches Magma in Zonen von kontinentalen Rifts dürfte für alkalischen Magmatismus und Metasomatismus verantwortlich sein. Die Spilite könnten das ozeanische Äquivalent der Alkalisyenite darstellen. Die Remobilisierung von alkalischem Material, ausgehend von Evaporiten und Solen, wäre auch für die Feldspatisation (z. B. die alpine Albitisierung) verantwortlich. Außerdem könnte dieser Vorgang eine wichtige Rolle bei der Bildung von Glaukophangesteinen spielen. Es ist von besonderer Bedeutung, daß die ältesten heute bekannten Lagerstätten von Evaporiten, Nephelinsyeniten und Glaukophanschiefern dem oberen Präkambrium (bzw. dem Eokambrium) angehören. Diese Gesteine scheinen mit abnehmendem Alter in ihrer Häufigkeit zuzunehmen. Dies könnte eine Evolution im Alkaligehalt des Meerwassers widerspiegeln, eine Erscheinung, welche ihrerseits einer zunehmenden Alkalisierung der Erdkruste entsprechen könnte.

---

Résumé L'assimilation d'évaporites et de saumures par le magma basaltique montant dans des zones à rifts continentaux conduirait à des phénomènes de magmatisme et métasomatisme alcalins. Les spilites représenteraient le pendant océanique des syénites alcalines. La remobilisation de matériel alcalin à partir d'évaporites et de saumures serait également responsable de la feldspathisation (l'albitisation alpine, par exemple). De plus, elle pourrait jouer un rôle important dans la production de roches à glaucophane. Il est particulièrement significatif que les gisements les plus anciens, connus à ce jour, d'évaporites, de syénites néphéliniques, et de « schistes » à glaucophane, datent tous du Précambrien supérieur (ou de l'Eocambrien). Ces roches semblent augmenter de fréquence avec la diminution d'âge, ce qui pourrait refléter une évolution dans la teneur en alcalis (sodium surtout) de l'eau de mer, correspondant, à son tour, à l'alcalinisation croissante de la croûte terrestre.

---

. c . , , (.: ). , . , , - , . . — , , , .

     

Igneous nepheline-bearing rocks of the Haliburton-Bancroft province of Ontario

Assemblages of magmatic origin—hypersolvus nepheline syenites,theralites, and theralitic canadites—developed in a beltof nepheline rocks extending through Monmouth and Glamorgantownships of Haliburton County, Ontario, are described and theirsignificance in the problems of origin of the Haliburton–Bancroftalkali province briefly disocussed.