Albitisation related to the Triassic unconformity in igneous rocks of the Morvan Massif (France)

The Carboniferous Morvan Massif, in the northern part of the French Massif Central, consists of granite and some rhyolite. A Triassic erosional unconformity has developed on the massif which is covered by Mesozoic sediments of the Paris Basin. The igneous rocks of the Morvan Massif show a strong alteration with pseudomorphic replacement of the primary plagioclases into albite, pseudomorphic replacement of primary biotite into chlorite and minor precipitation of neogenic minerals like albite, chlorite, apatite, haematite, calcite and titanite. The geometry and arrangement of these alterations give significant constraints about their development. Some of the altered facies develop in a pervasive manner; others are restricted to centimetric to metric-wide joints that imply fluid-flow phenomena. Moreover, the alteration facies are arranged in a clear succession with strongly altered facies at the top and weakly altered facies towards the depth, which point to a genetic relationship with the Triassic unconformity. Regional distribution of the alterations, which affect the Carboniferous igneous and volcanic formations beneath the Jurassic sedimentary cover, also leads to associate these alterations with the Triassic unconformity. Dating of the alterations provides even a further constraint, alterations are of Triassic age, that means the same age as the unconformity. Taking into account all these geological constraints, it is proposed that albitisation of the Morvan Massif was developed under low temperature subsurface conditions in relation to the Triassic palaeosurface.     

黑龙江宝兴沟金矿床构造叠加晕特征及深部预测

宝兴沟矿区位于黑龙江省塔河县,2002年由1∶10万水系沉积物测量异常圈定,2007年通过1∶1万和1∶2万土壤测量进一步圈定了异常范围,并利用槽探工程进行揭露,首次发现了Au矿体,矿体主要为蚀变砂岩、蚀变闪长岩、蚀变闪长玢岩等,少量为含金石英脉,以中-低温蚀变为主。本文在充分收集矿区已有资料的基础上,结合矿区最新的钻孔采样数据,对矿床地球化学特征进行了研究;分析了矿床构造叠加晕分布特征,矿床前缘晕特征指示元素为Sb、As,近矿晕特征指示元素为Pb、Ag、Au、Zn、Cu,尾晕特征指示元素为W、Mo、Bi,初步确定了宝兴沟金矿床串珠状矿体、不同深部矿体组合的构造叠加晕模式;并依据已知矿体及矿床构造叠加晕,对深部有利成矿部位进行了预测,指出I-1-1号矿体向下应有很大的延伸或I-1-3号矿体深部应有盲矿存在,I-2-1号矿体深部可能有盲矿体存在。     

新疆萨尔托海铬铁矿造矿铬尖晶石蚀变特征及指示意义

本文通过对萨尔托海矿区25矿群矿体边部、接近围岩造矿铬尖晶石的镜下观察发现: 造矿铬尖晶石由三部分组成, 自核部至边部依次是未蚀变的核部(灰色)、早期蚀变的中间带(灰白色)和晚期蚀变的边部(浅灰色)。探针分析上述三部分的成分, 得出早期蚀变中Al大量流失, 而Fe发生富集, 晚期蚀变Al、Cr、Mg相对于早期蚀变发生富集, 而Fe大量流失。通过研究区造矿铬尖晶石与国外变质超基性岩副矿物铬尖晶石对比, 认为早期蚀变对应的低角闪岩相变质, 温度为550℃~600℃, 晚期蚀变对应的是绿片岩相变质, 温度为350℃~500℃, 核部对应蚀变环境介于低角闪岩相和高角闪岩相之间, 稳定温度高于600℃, 故未发生蚀变。通过分析区域变质特征并结合造矿铬尖晶石所处的空间部位, 认为晚期蚀变是达拉布特蛇绿岩定位后期区域构造作用的结果, 推测早期蚀变可能与蛇绿岩构造侵位有关。     

Exhumation of the lower crust during crustal shortening: an Alice Springs (380 Ma) age for a prograde amphibolite facies shear zone in the Strangways Metamorphic Complex (central Australia)

Foliated garnet-bearing amphibolites occur within the West Bore Shear Zone, cutting through granulite facies gneisses of the Strangways Metamorphic Complex. In the amphibolites, large euhedral garnet (up to 3 cm) occurs within fine-grained recrystallized leucocratic diffusion haloes of plagioclase–quartz. The garnet and their haloes include a well-developed vertical foliation, also present in the matrix. This foliation is the same as that cutting through the unconformably overlying Neoproterozoic Heavitree Quartzite. The textures indicate syn- to late kinematic growth of the amphibolite facies mineral assemblages.
All mineral assemblages record an arrested prograde reaction history. Noteworthy is the growth of garnet at the expense of hornblende and plagioclase, and the breakdown of staurolite–hornblende to give plagioclase–gedrite. These dehydration reactions indicate increasing P – T  conditions during metamorphism, and suggest heating towards the end of a period of intense deformation. Temperature estimates for the garnet–amphibolite and related staurolite–hornblende assemblages from the shear zone are about 600 °C. Pressure is estimated at about 5 kbar.
An Sm–Nd isochron gives an age of 381±7 Ma for the peak metamorphism and associated deformation. This age determination confirms that amphibolite facies conditions prevailed during shear zone development within the Strangways Metamorphic Complex during the Alice Springs Orogeny. These temperature conditions are significantly higher than those expected at this depth assuming a normal geothermal gradient. The Alice Springs Orogeny was associated with significant crustal thickening, allowing exhumation of the granulite facies, Palaeoproterozoic, lower crust. Along-strike variations of the tectonic style suggest a larger amount of crustal shortening in the eastern part of the Alice Springs Orogeny.     

Le Chaˆtelet gold-bearing arsenopyrite deposit,Massif Central,France: mineralogy and geochemistry applied to prospecting

The abundant data available on the geochemistry and mineralogy of the Herynian gold deposit of Le Chaˆtelet (Massif Central, France) formed the basis for an analysis of the complex signature of a gold deposit and its hydrothermal alteration haloes. This study describes the deposit and its environment at various scales.The sulfide paragenesis of the Le Chaˆtelet deposit resulted from several stages, one of which was an event responsible for the deposition of Au-bearing arsenopyrite quartz veins; the Au is contained within the arsenopyrite lattice. Hydrothermal activity associated with these veins produced two superimposed alteration haloes: an outer halo of kaolinite + tosudite + siderite alteration that developed at the expense of the plagioclase minerals, and an inner halo of illite±siderite alteration that affected all the minerals. The hydrothermal alteration was followed by silicification of the wall rocks and then deposition of the Au-bearing arsenopyrite.The hydrothermal alteration related to the event also generated geochemical signatures such as Li, B, LREE, As, Sb, Au and W anomalies. Mineralogical studies and geochemical analyses of the hydrothermal facies show that: (1) the anomalous Li is trapped mainly in the tosudite lattice and to a lesser degree in the illite lattice; and (2) the B is probably located in tosudite and illite lattices. Arsenic, Sb and Au are contained in the arsenopyrite lattice.During weathering, the lithochemical signatures (determined by the analytical techniques used in this study) lose some of their specific characteristics, depending on the original concentrations. At deposit scale (0.25–1.0 km²), B and Li in the soill profiles indicate zones of hydrothermal alteration, whereas As and Au indicate zones of mineralization. At a regional scale, the association of Au, Li and B in stream sediments is characteristics of this type of mineralization. Therefore, in the hydrothermal setting described at Le Chaˆtelet, Au, As, Li and B appear, at all scales, to be dependable pathfinders for Au-bearing hydrothermal systems of possible economic interest.     

Geochemistry of hydrothermal alteration at the Deri massive sulphide deposit,Sirohi district,Rajasthan, NW India

The 1.1 Ga volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit at Deri in the Sirohi district of south Rajasthan occurs within a bimodal volcanic suite of tholeiites and rhyolites, with minor amounts of andesites and tourmaline-bearing chert, interlayered with arkosic sediments. The ores and the enclosing rocks have undergone superposed deformation and polymetamorphism initially under amphibolite facies conditions and later under hornblende hornfels facies conditions. Metamorphism, however, has not affected the bulk composition of the rocks to any significant degree.Three distinct semiconformable alteration facies, characterized by their conspicuous magnesian mineralogy, are recognized in the host rocks: (1) hornblende-biotite-plagioclase-quartz schist (AMV); (2) cordierite-anthophyllite-chlorite hornfels (AFV); and (3) biotite-chlorite(-sericite) schist/hornfels (BCS). The first is derived from the mafic volcanics, whereas the other two represent progressive alteration of felsic volcanic protoliths. Fe, Mg and water were added and Na was removed from all the alteration facies in varying amounts. The maximum enrichment is noted in BCS for Mg and Fe, whereas the maximum depletion is seen in this facies for Si, an element which is also depleted significantly in AFV. AMV on the other hand, shows enrichment of Si, Ca and to some extent, in Al. Alumina is also enriched considerably in BCS, probably due to clayey alteration and extreme leaching of silica. Amongst the trace elements, Rb, Ba, Nb and Y are gained in most of the facies, except in BCS, where Ba and Y show distinct depletion. The LREE, from La to Sm, were enriched about 1.5- to 3.0-fold in all the facies with a maximum in AFV where the flux took place at constant inter-REE proportions: 1.0 La, 0.79 Ce, 0.48 Nd and 0.35 Sm. Eu was depleted from both felsic facies, 7-fold in BCS to 4-fold in AFV, during alteration. The HREE (Er to Lu) remained immobile in all the altered facies.The chemical and mineralogical zonation in the alteration facies are interpreted to be due to the progressive reaction of an evolving sea-water hydrothermal fluid with the bimodal volcanic protoliths during convective circulation. Fluid-rock interaction, guided by vertical and lateral thermal gradients, produced a sericite-quartz assemblage in the felsic volcanics at the expense of feldspar during the initial stages (175 °C) which formed a sericite-chlorite zone upon rising temperature (200–250 °C) by base-fixing reactions. A further temperature increase (to ~ 300 °C) and deeper circulation in the mafic pile introduced more Fe and Mg, thereby transforming the previously formed assemblage to a nearly pure chloritic zone and the most intensely altered biotite-chlorite(-sericite) facies.     

Exploration of copper deposits in Wadi El Regeita area, Southern Sinai, Egypt, with contribution of remote sensing and geophysical data

Three types of hydrothermal alterations are recorded in Wadi El Regeita area, argillic, phyllic, and propylitic. Whole-rock analysis of representative samples of the alteration halo (1) shows a Cu, Au, and Ag content up to 1.7 wt.%, 1.6 g/t, and 4 g/t, respectively; in the alteration halo (2), these metal contents are up to 1.3 wt.%, 1.4 g/t, and 3 g/t, following the same order. The integrated remote sensing and geophysical data, as well as geological field verification, show that Wadi El Regeita area includes promising Cu ores within two hydrothermal alteration haloes. Spatial data analyses of lineaments from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) band ratio image (7/5, 5/4, 3/1) reveal the presence of alteration haloes that potentially may host Cu mineralization at south and north of El Regita Cu mine. Gravity interpretation indicates that the surveyed area is dissected by NE–SW fault zones in the central part, near Wadi El Regeita Cu mine. Ground magnetic survey data revealed that the surveyed area includes six magnetic bodies at depths ranging from 32 to 90 m, possibly recording the presence of mineralized and hydrothermally altered andesitic dykes. The half length of these dykes ranges from 600 to 1,070 m; their half thickness from 30 to 123 m and their half width from 48 to 531 m. Dyke locations coincide with surface alteration haloes (1) and (2) as indicated by the ETM band ratio image processing. The final assessment of the area, however, needs more detailed geological and geophysical studies with contributions of remote sensing techniques.     

SIGNIFICATION DES ÉTUDES RÉCENTES SUR LES ROCHES ARGILEUSES DANS L'INTERPRÉTATION DES FACIES SEDIMENTAIRES (Y COMPRIS LES SÉRIES ROUGES)

The significance of recent studies on the argillaceous rocks in the interpretation of sedimentary facies (including the red beds) Attapulgite and sepiolite are clay minerals, neoformed in the alkaline chemical facies. The ions, Si, Al, Mg, which are necessary for authigenesis, are leached from the continent under humid tropical conditions. Lateritic profiles originate only on the continents. If erosion begins again, the siderolithic facies, which contains a great proportion of inherited kaolinite, succeeds the alkaline chemical facies. These two facies are mutually connected in space and time. The “red-sandstone” facies consists of a reworking of altered rubidied sands, which originate in warm climates with alternating humid and dry seasons. It is the maintenance of erosion by living tectonics which determines the intensity of the alteration. The “bituminous-coal” facies corresponds to conditions which are analagous to the previous periods, but more humid, with more intense subsidence and a higher general base level of erosion. Bituminous-coal facies and red-sandstone facies are characterized by the predominance of illite and are connected in time. In the geochemical cycle, detrital argillaceous series succeed the carbonated and saliferous facies. Under certain conditions, these chemical facies indue a positive transformation, i.e., aggradation under the influence of the confined environment. Thus, the detrital, transformed or neoformed clay minerals can be used as palaeogeographical or palaeoclimatical indicators     

The nature and dimensions of regional and local gold-related hydrothermal alteration in tholeiitic metabasalts in the Norseman goldfields: the missing link in a crustal continuum of gold deposits?

The Archaean lode-gold deposits at Norseman, Western Australia, consist of auriferous quartz veins in dextral-reverse ductile-brittle shear zones within tholeiitic metabasalts of upper-greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphic grade. Three types of deposits (Northern, Central, Southern) are delineated on the basis of their spatial distribution, veining style, alteration mineraloty and metamorphic grade of host rocks. Northern deposits, hosted in upper-greenschist to lower-amphibolite facies rocks, comprise massive to laminated quartz veins with selvedges of quartz-chlorite-calcite-biotite-plagioclase assemblages. Central deposits, hosted in lower-amphibolite facies rocks, consist of laminated to massive quartz veins with selvedges of quartz-actinolite-biotite-plagioclasecalcite assemblages. Southern deposits, hosted in middleamphibolite facies metabasalts, consist of banded quartz-diopside-calcite-microcline-zoisite veins. All deposits exhibit variable ductile deformation of veins and contiguous alteration haloes, consistent with a syn-deformational genesis at high temperatures. From Northern to Southern deposits, the alteration assemblages are indicative of higher temperatures of formation, and there are progressively greater degrees of dynamically recovered textures in alteration and gangue minerals. These observations imply that a thermal variation of gold-related hydrothermal alteration exists within the Norseman Terrane over a distance of 40 km, with T_Northern<T_Central<T_Southern This thermal zonation is corroborated by T−X_{CO 2} phase relations between vein selvedge assemblages, which signify formation temperatures of approximately 420°–475°C, 470°–495°C and >500°C for Northern, Central and Southern deposits, respectively. The sum of structural, petrographic and mineral chemistry data indicates that the alteration assemblages formed in high-temperature, open hydrothermal systems and have not been subsequently metamorphosed. The thermal differences between the deposit groups may reflect (1) a temperature gradient, at relatively constant P, corresponding to the proximity of the deposits to regional granitoid complexes, or (2) formation of the deposits at progressively deeper crustal levels from north to south. In either case the deposits represent a continuum of gold deposition from upper-greenschist to amphibolite facies, now exposed in an oblique section through the Archaean crust at Norseman.     

Trace element mobility during hydrothermal alteration of oceanic basalts

Trace element analyses have been carried out on hydrothermally altered pillow basalts of greenschist facies dredged from the median valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Sr is leached from the rock, and its behavior is apparently controlled by the same reactions as Ca. Cu is also leached from the basalt, but often shows local precipitation in veins as sulfides. Fe, B, Li, Ba, Mn, Ni and Co show sufficient variations in concentration and location within the altered basalts to indicate that some mobilisation occurs, but there may be subsequent uptake or precipitation into the secondary mineral assemblages. V, Y, Zr and Cr do not appear to be affected by hydrothermal alteration.The production of a metal-enriched solution by hydrothermal alteration and subsequent precipitation of metal salts to form metalliferous sediments is indicated, as is precipitation of metal sulfides in the basaltic basement.     

Hydrothermal alteration vs. ocean-floor metamorphism. A comparison between two case histories: the TAG hydrothermal mound (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) vs. DSDP/ODP Hole 504B (Equatorial East Pacific)

This article presents a review of hydrothermal alteration of the various basaltic rocks forming the oceanic crust, emphasizing especially on the water–rock interaction processes, the petrography and secondary mineralogy of hydrothermally altered rocks from the present-day ocean, hence excluding the ophiolitic complexes. A brief summary of the history of the first studies of hydrothermally altered oceanic rocks leads to a comparison between Miyashiro's concept of ‘ocean-floor metamorphism’ and that of hydrothermal alteration that warrant caution when applying Eskola's metamorphic facies of regional metamorphism to hydrothermally altered oceanic rocks. The functioning of mid-oceanic ridge axial hydrothermal systems, and the role of oceanic Layer-3 gabbros are discussed in detail. The mechanisms of the various alteration processes of the rocks forming the oceanic crust are presented. The case histories of the two examples more particularly studied by the author and his collaborators, are compared, i.e., the DSDP-ODP Hole 504B reference section South of the Costa Rica Ridge, and the TAG active mound at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The significance of the paragonitic phyllosilicate in highly altered rocks form the TAG Mound is compared to the other known occurrences of ‘white micas’ in the oceanic crust. The importance of metabasites as major components of the oceanic crust is emphasized. The elemental fluxes resulting from hydrothermal alteration of oceanic rocks in regulating seawater chemistry are only briefly alluded, because this topic is covered by the last article of this thematic issue by J.C. Alt, who assesses the chemical budgets resulting from ocean hydrothermal activity. To cite this article: J. Honnorez, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

The behaviour of trace and rare earth elements (REE) during hydrothermal alteration in the Rangan area (Central Iran)

The rhyolitic dome in the Rangan area has been subjected to hydrothermal alterations by two different systems, (1) A fossil magmatic–hydrothermal system with a powerful thermal engine of a deep monzodioritic magma, (2) An active hydrothermal system dominated by meteoric water. Based on mineralogical and geochemical studies, three different alteration facies have been identified (phyllic, advanced argillic and silicic) with notable differences in REE and other trace elements behaviour. In the phyllic alteration zone with assemblage minerals such as sericite, pyrite, quartz, kaolinite, LREE are relatively depleted whereas HREE are enriched. The advanced argillic zone is identified by the presence of alunite–jarosite and pyrophyllite as well as immobility of LREE and depletion in HREE. In the silicic zone, most of LREE are depleted but HREE patterns are unchanged compared to their fresh rock equivalents. All the REE fractionation ratios (La/Yb)_cn, (La/Sm)_cn, (Tb/Yb)_cn, (Ce/Ce¹)_cn and (Eu/Eu¹)_cn are low in the phyllic altered facies. (Eu/Eu¹)_cn in both advanced and silicic facies is low too. In all alteration zones, high field strength elements (HFSE) (e.g. Ti, Zr, Nb) are depleted whereas transition elements (e.g. V, Cr, Co, Ni, Fe) are enriched. Geochemically speaking, trace and rare earth elements behave highly selective in different facies.     

The greenschist metamorphism of Archaean synvolcanic stocks near Wawa, Ontario, Canada

Abstract Two Archaean synvolcanic stocks with contact aureoles occur in the Wawa greenstone belt near Wawa, Ontario, Canada. The Gutcher Lake and Jubilee stocks consist mainly of granitoid trondhjemite with feldspar laths mottled by white mica + calcite + epidote and rimmed by clear albite. Biotite is partly or wholly pseudomorphosed by chlorite + sphene; some epidote is partly altered to calcite + chlorite. The granitoid phase grades into a foliated phase of quartz + albite + white mica + calcite + chlorite near fracture zones traversing the stocks.
The alteration of the Gutcher Lake stock along its foliated margin involved addition of K₂O, H₂O + CO₂, MnO, plus Rb; loss of CaO plus Sr; and a shift in Fe⁺²/Fe_t from 0.66 to 0.81. The alteration of the Jubilee stock along the Darwin Shear involved addition of H₂O + CO₂; loss of Sr; and no significant shift in Fe⁺²/Fe_t. The greenschist alteration also modified the contact aureoles bordering both stocks.
One interpretation is that regional metamorphism in the Archaean overprinted a greenschist assemblage on both stocks. The alteration was intense near fracture zones and sporadic remote from fractures. Lower integrated water to rock ratios along the Darwin Shear compared to the margin of the Gutcher Lake stock may explain the comparatively lower perturbation of the element abundances and redox state of iron.     

The application of lithogeochemistry in the search for unconformity-type uranium deposits, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada

Lithogeochemical-mineralogical haloes around unconformity-type uranium deposits in northern Saskatchewan can expand the size of drill targets up to fifteen times. The deposits are located at or near the unconformity between Aphebian metamorphosed basement rocks in close proximity to Archean granitoids and overlying unmetamorphosed sandstones of the Helikian Athabasca Group. Deposits studied include Key Lake (Deilmann), Midwest Lake and Eagle Point.Unconformity-type deposits are associated with broad alteration haloes in the overlying sandstones and more restricted haloes in the basement rocks. The haloes in the sandstone are localized around steeply dipping fault structures and are characterized by zones of intense leaching of specular hematite and detrital heavy mineral layers and by changes in chemistry related to clay mineral alteration and tourmalinization.Clay mineral alteration haloes are common in the sandstone and basement host rocks. Interstitial clays consist mainly of kaolinite and illite with lesser amounts of chlorite. The ratio K₂O/AI₂O₃ proved useful in delineating illite-kaolinite patterns in the sandstone and in the uppermost portions of the paleoweathering profile in basement rocks. The Midwest deposit is characterized by a broad bell-shaped zone (500 m across strike) of high K₂O/AI₂O₃ ratios (>0.18) in which illite is the dominant clay mineral. The sandstone above the Deilmann deposit, on the other hand, is characterized by silicification and kaolinitization with low K₂O/AI₂O₃ ratios (<0.04). This kaolinite cap overprints a preexisting illite zone.Anomalously high boron values are characteristic of the three deposits considered in this study. Boron anomalies are similar in extent to the anomalous clay mineral alteration haloes. Altered sandstones commonly contain aggregates of radiating magnesium-rich dravite needles within the clay matrix. The interpretation of boron patterns is problema tical however, mainly because of the detrital tourmaline component in sandstones and metamorphic tourmalines present in the Aphebian metasediments.Trace elements such as U, Ni, As and Co are generally of limited use in expanding targets in sandstone because their haloes are restricted to a few tens of metres horizon-anomalies along the steeply dipping zones of mineralization related to fault structures. Uranium (>3 ppm) does form an anomaly more than 200 metres laterally across the Midwest deposit. At the Deilmano deposit anomalous uranium dispersion is restricted to within a few metres of high grade ore.In the basement rocks, the various layers of the paleoweathering profile are geochemically overprinted up to 250 m from mineralization. Bleaching related to illitization and chloritization is associated with enrichment in K₂O, MgO, B, S, U, As, Ni and P₂O₃. The ratio Fe₂O₃/MgO is useful in delineating chloritization in the upper portion of the paleo weathering profile.Deposits with large root extensions in the Aphebian metasediments such as Eagle Point, have intense dravite-chlorite-illite alteration zones which are restricted to within a few metres of mineralization across strike. ‘Quartzite” units are alteration related. The complexity of the basement lithology inhibits the use of individual elements as alteration guides other than in the intensely altered zone. The application of multivariant techniques, element ratios and clay mineralogical work prove useful in identifying the mineralogical changes at Eagle Point.     

青海祁连两类火山成因硫化物矿化蚀变带地球化学特征及找矿标志

研究区发育火山成因块状黄铁矿矿床和铅锌铜多金属硫化物矿床及其相应的两类矿化蚀变带．黄铁矿矿化蚀变带以亏损Ｐｂ,Ｚｎ,Ｃｕ,Ａｇ,Ｓｒ,Ｂａ,Ｍｎ及Ｋ,Ｎａ,Ｍｇ等元素,且多为负异常,元素无明显共生组合规律为特点;多金属矿化蚀变带则以富集多金属元素及伴生元素,富Ｋ,Ｍｇ,贫Ｎａ为特征,而且多元素共生组合好,异常强度高而宽度窄,下盘晕强于上盘晕．同时,总结了两类矿化蚀变带地球化学找矿标志,对区内主要蚀变带进行了含矿远景评价     

个旧老厂Sn-Cu矿床内外接触带矿体原生晕分带与深部矿体预测模型

矿床的原生晕通常形成在矿体周围,与蚀变矿物和矿石矿物同时形成.矿床原生晕的分带规律能够提供较为准确的找矿目标.一些金属矿床的原生晕具有示踪隐伏矿体的作用,从而为探测深埋矿体提供了重要的线索.老厂大型锡多金属矿床是个旧巨型锡多金属矿床的重要组成部分,以广泛发育夕卡岩化矿化为其特征.根据其空间分布夕卡岩矿化可分为两类:内夕...     

松辽盆地东南隆起区营城组火山岩蚀变改造型膨润土类型、成因及分布规律——以九台市膨润土矿为例

松辽盆地营城组火山岩蚀变转化为膨润土或发生膨润土化现象较普遍,出露较大型的膨润土矿主要在九台银矿山一带。矿床与下伏沙河子组煤系地层呈不整合接触。通过火山岩岩性、岩石序列关系、微观特征及X-衍射分析等研究认为：膨润土类型可划分为低沸石型膨润土和高沸石型膨润土;珍珠岩、含角砾流纹质（玻璃质）凝灰熔岩和玻璃质火山碎屑岩为主要成矿原岩,成岩期后流体及流体的运移通道是决定其是否蚀变的主要因素;从成矿原岩转化为膨润土,即火山玻璃（珍珠岩）-沸石岩-膨润土的变化规律反应在岩石序列关系上表现为蚀变作用逐渐增强,岩石的硬度-颜色逐渐变弱,岩石的组构特征逐渐消失的过程;矿体发育厚度、横向连续性受火山机构的影响,具有很强的非均质性,一般在侵出相内+中带亚相、爆发相空落亚相和热碎屑流亚相是膨润土矿形成的最有利相带,另外岩性为玻璃质流纹岩的喷溢相也是膨润土形成的主要相带。     

Carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of the carbonate facies in the Vindhyan Supergroup, central India

The Vindhyan sedimentary succession in central India spans a wide time bracket from the Paleoproterozoic to the Neoproterozoic period. Chronostratigraphic significance of stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of the carbonate phase in Vindhyan sediments has been discussed in some recent studies. However, the subtle controls of facies variation, depositional setting and post-depositional diagenesis on stable isotope compositions are not yet clearly understood. The Vindhyan Supergroup hosts four carbonate units, exhibiting a wide variability in depositional processes and paleogeography. A detailed facies-specific carbon and oxygen isotope study of the carbonate units was undertaken by us to investigate the effect of these processes and to identify the least altered isotope values. It is seen that both carbon and oxygen isotope compositions have been affected by early meteoric water diagenesis. The effect of diagenetic alteration is, however, more pronounced in case of oxygen isotopes than carbon isotopes. Stable isotope compositions remained insensitive to facies only when sediments accumulated in a shallow shelf setting without being exposed. Major alteration of original isotope ratios was observed in case of shallow marine carbonates, which became exposed to meteoric fluids during early diagenetic stage. Duration of exposure possibly determined the magnitude of alteration and shift from the original values. Moreover, dolomitization is found to be accompanied by appreciable alteration of isotope compositions in some of the carbonates. The present study suggests that variations in sediment depositional settings, in particular the possibility of subaerial exposure, need to be considered while extracting chronostratigraphic significance from δ¹³C data.     

Pumpellyite-bearing rocks in central Sweden and extent of host rock alteration as a control of pumpellyite composition

Metamorphic assemblages and mineral compositions in basic to intermediate volcanic rocks of two Precambrian units (the sub-Jotnian and Jotnian) in the Dala region, central Sweden, reveal a history comprising two metamorphic episodes. The sub-Jotnian rocks were metamorphosed during a first episode: the metamorphic grade ranges from prehnite-pumpellyite facies (in a displaced block with sub-Jotnian (?) lava occurring in the border zone of a major impact structure), to pumpellyite-actinolite facies, and to greenschist facies in the lower part of the unit. The unconformably overlying Jotnian rocks were metamorphosed to prehnite-pumpellyite facies during a subsequent episode, which also left its imprint in the sub-Jotnian basement. Two other Jotnian sequences in central Sweden are in the same facies. There are systematic chemical differences in some of the secondary minerals. Sphenes contain more Al, and epidotes and pumpellyites are more Fe-rich in Jotnian (prehnite-pumpellyite facies) rocks compared with sub-Jotnian rocks of pumpellyite-actinolite facies. Most epidotes in Jotnian lavas are remarkably rich in Fe, with a replacement of Al by Fe³⁺ up to 1.5 atoms per formula unit (Ps₅₀). Compositions of epidote and pumpellyite in pervasively altered rocks vary sympathetically. Pumpellyite composition is partly controlled by the extent of alteration in its host rock. There is a trend for the compositional field of pumpellyite to shrink and shift away from the Al corner of the Al-Fe*-Mg triangle with increasing extent of host rock alteration. This trend is most evident in Jotnian rocks. Since the fields in the Al-Fe*-Mg triangle given in the literature as representative of pumpellyites from different metamorphic fades are partly based on analyses of samples containing relicts, these fields should be adjusted if future investigations show that the trend is of general validity.     

CRITERIA FOR THE DEPTHS OF THE POST-VOLCANIC HYDROTHERMAL METAMORPHISM IN THE CENTRAL KAMCHATKA ORE ZONE

The geology of the Central Kamchatka ore zone, with particular reference to the petrology on chemical composition of the rock units, is the first part of this two-part paper. Although the paper is not clearly divided into two parts, the second and major section deals with the chemistry, alteration, and chemical alteration which has occurred as the result of hydrothermal alteration. The author has illustrated the changes in chemical composition by the use of "Input-output" variation diagrams. The paper illustrates the development of hydrothermally altered rocks in the Central Kamchatka ore zone, both horizontally and vertically, and is proffered as an aid to mineral exploration in that area. The relationship of mineral facies and a combination of mineral facies to ore mineralization is also discussed.--M. A. Klugman.