贵州震旦系陡山沱组磷块岩成磷作用及与新元古代末期氧化事件(NOE)的耦合*

新元古代末期历经“雪球地球”和大气、海洋增氧事件后,发生了全球性成磷事件,贵州省震旦系陡山沱组大规模磷矿床沉积是本次成磷事件的典型代表。然而现阶段对贵州陡山沱组磷块岩成磷作用机制研究存在诸多争议,成磷事件与同期古海洋环境转变之间的关联研究也较为薄弱。作者以贵州省瓮安、遵义和丹寨地区陡山沱组原生磷块岩为研究对象开展的沉积学、岩石学、矿物学和地球化学特征研究表明: 陡山沱早期成磷作用被限制在浅水海岸,瓮安地区A矿层球粒磷块岩中大量的含铁自生矿物黄铁矿、海绿石以及无Ce负异常指示的贫氧沉积水体环境均表明,Fe-氧化还原泵成磷模式在富磷过程中发挥了重要作用;陡山沱晚期磷块岩分布扩散至较深水陆棚—斜坡沉积相区,磷块岩与富有机质岩层共生,矿物晶体形态特征与矿石内富含的大量生物化石均表明,有机质沉降聚磷作用和生物成磷作用促使磷块岩大量沉积,较明显的Ce负异常值也指示了海水氧气含量的提升。成磷作用模式的转变和磷块岩分布的扩展是对海洋增氧事件的沉积响应,同时造成的多细胞动物演化也影响了深部水体的氧化还原状态,进而反映了贵州省陡山沱组磷块岩大规模沉积与新元古代末期氧化事件(NOE)密切的耦合关系。     

黔中地区陡山沱期开阳、瓮安磷矿区成矿作用研究现状探讨

在震旦纪陡山沱期,扬子地台发生了大规模的成磷事件,广泛发育磷质岩和碳酸盐岩沉积;磷质岩在黔中、鄂西等地构成了超大型矿床,代表了地球历史中最早出现的成磷事件。文章通过分析总结瓮安、开阳地区陡山沱期形成磷矿床的古地理环境、物质来源、成矿机制、成矿模式等,旨在于讨论磷块岩成因的研究现状,分析研究中存在歧义的原因,以此探讨成矿模式构建的具体研究方向,提出适宜的研究方法。陡山沱期黔中地区磷块岩研究主要有以下焦点:1)沉积环境的氧化-还原性质,海水氧化-还原分层模式;2)成矿物质来源存在多种观点,没有证据否定任何一种物质来源,但也没有直接证据证明磷的来源;3)多种成磷机制的观点并存,成磷作用为生物成磷作用、海相热水成磷作用、机械成磷作用和生物化学/化学成磷作用,但其相互作用之间关系不清楚。目前的成矿模式观点有"上升洋流成矿模式"、"沉积-成岩成矿模式",两种成矿模式仍需要进一步完善。因此,如何采取新的研究方法,展开对古地理环境、物质来源、成矿机制方面的研究值得深入讨论。构建黔中地区完整的海相沉积磷块岩的成矿模式,将在今后的扬子地台成矿系统讨论和矿床的找寻中发挥重要作用。     

沉积型锰矿床的形成及其与古海洋环境的协同演化

海相沉积型锰矿的成矿过程受古海洋沉积环境影响，而古海洋环境又与超大陆聚合与裂解、极端地质事件、生命演化等密切相关，因此，海相富锰地层是岩石圈、水圈、大气圈和生物圈等多圈层耦合关系与物质循环相关信息的重要载体。深层海水缺氧模型、最小氧化带模型和幕式充氧模型都显示海水中氧化还原梯度的变化是导致锰矿形成的最主要原因。全球范围内海相沉积型锰矿主要形成于古元古代、新元古代和显生宙3个地质历史时期。其中，元古宙时期，地球上发育了完善的氧化还原分层的古海洋结构；古元古代早期和新元古代，超大陆裂解引起的海平面升降变化导致古海洋氧化还原结构产生动荡，并促使大规模沉积型锰成矿作用发生；地球沉寂期（1800~800 Ma）涵盖了整个中元古代，这一时期仅在华北地台发育了少量沉积型锰矿床，反映该时期古海洋中锰的迁移受到了抑制；显生宙地球再次进入活跃期，经历了数次海洋缺氧事件，冰室-温室气候交替促使海水的化学性质剧烈变化，并在局部氧化还原分层的沉积盆地中富集形成沉积型锰矿床。总之，古海洋氧化还原环境的变化是沉积型锰矿形成的必要条件，同时，区域性沉积盆地的结构、海平面的升降、火山作用导致的物缘供给等多种因素都会影响沉积型锰矿的形成。与沉积型铁矿相比，沉积型锰矿对局部海水化学性质的变化更加敏感，综合研究铁锰矿床的共生与分异过程，将有助于更加有效的识别不同尺度的沉积过程与古海洋环境变化。     

云南昆明寒武纪早期浅水相磷块岩的氧化还原环境及成因机制

磷是重要的营养元素,与古环境和生命演化密切相关。在埃迪卡拉纪—寒武纪之交,伴随着骨骼化动物的辐射,华南甚至全球广泛沉积了大量磷酸盐,这暗示磷是古环境的变化与生命演化之间关系的桥梁。然而,目前,磷块岩的沉积环境和形成机制尚不明确。为探究磷酸盐富集的沉积环境和形成机理,本文研究了华南寒武纪早期梅树村剖面磷块岩的磷酸盐聚集形式、黄铁矿形态学和稀土元素。磷块岩主要是由结晶氟磷酸钙、隐晶质氟磷酸钙和铁氧化物组成。稀土配分模式均为"帽型"配分模式,与沉积物中铁-锰还原带之中的稀土配分模式类似,表明稀土元素遭受了早期成岩的影响。磷块岩中没有草莓状黄铁矿和较低的Ce负异常(Ce/Ce~*=0.50～0.82,平均值为0.70),暗示磷块岩沉积于氧化/次氧化的沉积环境。Eu元素未发生异常(Eu/Eu~*=0.92～1.08,平均值为0.98),暗示磷块岩可能未受到热液作用的影响。较高的Y/Ho比值(55.3～74.5,平均值为63.6),与海水Y/Ho比值相似,表明磷块岩来源于海水。鉴于华南寒武纪早期广泛的氧化事件、缺氧分层的海水化学结构和上升流活动,本文认为磷块岩的形成源于氧化背景下较高的磷酸盐浓度和...     

湖北宜昌樟村坪陡山沱组沉积的氧化还原环境及其成磷意义——来自微量元素的约束

通过分析湖北宜昌樟村坪万家沟剖面埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组二段岩石样品的主量、微量元素,对该区域埃迪卡拉纪海洋的氧化还原状态进行了制约。氧化还原敏感元素的富集系数以及U/Th比值存在着明显的演化趋势,这些趋势显示陡山沱组二段沉积时期海水至少经历了3次含氧量明显减少的过程,并与磷含量显著增加相对应,分别沉积磷质条带、磷块岩和硅质结核白云岩。樟村坪地区下磷矿层沉积于水体由氧化快速转变为缺氧的环境之中。本文研究表明水体的氧化还原状态是影响埃迪卡拉纪成磷的关键因素之一。     

华南成冰纪间冰期海洋-大气-陆地变化：来自元素地球化学的证据

新元古代成冰纪地球经历了全球性的Sturtian冰期和Marinoan冰期。两次冰期间存在的成冰纪间冰期，是华南锰矿和多金属黑色页岩等矿产形成的关键期，然而目前对该间冰期的形成机制和海洋-大气-陆地环境变化尚不清晰。本研究对贵州五河剖面成冰纪地层(大塘坡组)开展了元素地球化学研究。结果表明，成冰纪间冰期的形成受到大规模火山作用驱动，除直接向海洋输送大量的火山组分(Hg、Tl等)外，还引起全球变暖，导致大陆化学风化增强并使得陆源物质(如Ta、Nb、Zr、Hf等)向海洋的输送增多。火山作用和陆源风化还可能向海洋输送大量的营养物质，引起海洋生产力增大，表层海水的氧化加速海水中Mn元素的沉淀，从而对该时期大规模锰矿的形成起到重要控制作用。成冰纪间冰期与海底火山(或热液)活动相关的元素(如In、Sn、Ag、Cu、Zn、Ni、Bi等)含量普遍不高，甚至出现异常，表明成冰纪间冰期的产生不受海底火山作用驱动而更可能受陆地大规模火山作用驱动。本研究结果表明成冰纪间冰期海洋-大气-陆地系统的环境变化存在密切耦合关系。     

沉积矿床中重要（变价）金属元素与古海洋环境关系综述——以新元古代—早古生代扬子板块周缘为例

对氧化—还原敏感元素和生命必需元素地球化学性质和相关沉积矿产形成机制及其时空分布特征的分析、总结和归纳,有助于对古海洋环境演化与相关沉积矿产形成关系的深入认识,这对沉积矿床学理论的发展具有重要意义。新元古代南华纪—早古生代早志留世,扬子板块周缘黑色岩系中依次沉积了举世瞩目的南华纪锰矿、震旦纪—早寒武世沉积磷块岩、早寒武世重晶石矿、镍—钼—钴多金属矿、钒矿和早志留世铀矿的完整沉积矿床系列,不同时代地层、同一时代不同沉积环境地层赋存不同类型的沉积矿产,有必要对其成矿机理进行系统研究、总结和归纳。本文在对氧化—还原敏感金属元素、生命必需元素和海底热液元素等元素地球化学性质综述的基础上,兼论了它们在结合黄铁矿矿物学对氧化—还原环境、生物生产力和盆地限制性分析方面具体作用;进一步结合新元古代—早古生代扬子板块古环境演化特征,对扬子板块周缘特定时代中特定沉积矿产的分布、成因机理进行分析、总结和归纳;最终得出扬子板块周缘相关沉积矿产,是在全球氧化事件、冰期—间冰期、Rodina大陆裂解大背景下,海洋中成矿金属元素得到长期积累,在特定时代区域性海水—海底热液—生物作用（根据不同矿种各有侧重）影响下,在相关重要元素地球化学性质的控制下、局部区域特殊氧化—还原环境的控制下形成的特定矿产的初步认识。最后,结合相关沉积矿床研究中存在的问题,提出下一步解决方案与展望。     

富磷矿三阶段动态成矿模式:黔中开阳式高品位磷矿成矿机制

震旦系陡山沱组沉积期形成的黔中开阳、瓮安富磷矿沉积区,矿石产量大、品位高,是国内外重要的磷矿资源产区。黔中磷矿主要分布于黔中古陆周缘的滨浅海环境中,矿石类型以碎屑状磷块岩为主,间夹原生泥晶磷块岩、生物结构磷块岩和次生土状结构磷块岩。开阳式高品位磷块岩的动态沉积成矿过程通常为“三阶段成矿”: 第一阶段为初始成磷作用阶段,在新元古代大规模成磷背景下,上升洋流携带深部富磷海水进入滨浅海地区,并通过生物化学作用使磷质聚集并形成原生磷块岩沉积;第二阶段为簸选成矿作用阶段,高能波浪、风暴水流对原生磷块岩持续的破碎、磨蚀、搬运和再沉积过程中,簸选去除了原生沉积物中的陆源细碎屑、砂泥质成分,保留并聚集磷质碎屑颗粒,形成品位较高的碎屑状矿石;第三阶段为淋滤作用阶段,海平面升降变化使之前形成矿石受暴露事件影响,遭受强烈的风化淋滤作用,碎屑状磷矿石内的碳酸盐岩胶结物和白云石条带被淋滤运移,导致矿层发育大量溶蚀孔洞,甚至形成土状磷块岩,矿石品位再次得到大幅度提升。三阶段成矿作用随古地理条件和海平面变化在沉积成岩过程中多期次、动态进行,最终形成工业价值极高的磷矿石。     

沉积矿床中重要(变价)金属元素与古海洋环境关系综述——以新元古代—早古生代扬子板块周缘为例

对氧化—还原敏感元素和生命必需元素地球化学性质和相关沉积矿产形成机制及其时空分布特征的分析、总结和归纳,有助于对古海洋环境演化与相关沉积矿产形成关系的深入认识,这对沉积矿床学理论的发展具有重要意义。新元古代南华纪—早古生代早志留世,扬子板块周缘黑色岩系中依次沉积了举世瞩目的南华纪锰矿、震旦纪—早寒武世沉积磷块岩、早寒武世重晶石矿、镍—钼—钴多金属矿、钒矿和早志留世铀矿的完整沉积矿床系列,不同时代地层、同一时代不同沉积环境地层赋存不同类型的沉积矿产,有必要对其成矿机理进行系统研究、总结和归纳。笔者等在对氧化—还原敏感金属元素、生命必需元素和海底热液元素等元素地球化学性质综述的基础上,兼论了它们在结合黄铁矿矿物学对氧化—还原环境、生物生产力和盆地限制性分析方面具体作用;进一步结合新元古代—早古生代扬子板块古环境演化特征,对扬子板块周缘特定时代中特定沉积矿产的分布、成因机理进行分析、总结和归纳;最终得出扬子板块周缘相关沉积矿产,是在全球氧化事件、冰期—间冰期、Rodina大陆裂解大背景下,海洋中成矿金属元素得到长期积累,在特定时代区域性海水—海底热液—生物作用(根据不同矿种各有侧重)影响下,...     

贵州瓮安夏安灯影组磷块岩稀土元素地球化学特征

贵州瓮安夏安灯影组叠层石磷块岩丰富,本文利用地球化学方法对灯影组含磷岩系稀土元素含量进行了测试分析。结果表明,矿层中上部叠层石磷块岩稀土元素总量ΣREE低,且比矿层底部砂屑磷块岩的更低,显示出明显的生物成因特点;磷块岩北美页岩组合样标准化曲线形态上近似于"帽状",也指示生物有机质参与了成磷作用。样品具有较低的稀土元素总量ΣREE、较小的LREE/HREE比值、明显的负Ce异常,普遍的正Eu异常,暗示该区磷矿为非正常海水沉积成因。因此,夏安灯影组磷矿为生物成矿与热水沉积共同作用的结果;同时,样品Ceanom值皆小于-0.1,说明夏安灯影组磷块岩形成于相对氧化的环境。     

Phosphogenesis of phosphorite from the Sinian Doushantuo Formation in Guizhou Province and its coupling relation with the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event

Phosphate deposits of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation accumulated in the central Guizhou Province are the typical phosphate-rich sediments during the Neoproterozoic Phosphogenic Episodes,which occurred after the “Snowball Earth”period and Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event. However,the mechanisms of phosphate enrichment in seawater have always been hotly debated,and the research for correlations between phosphogenesis and transition of Ediacaran palaeo-ocean environments is still unsubstantial. This study focused on the sedimentological,petrological,mineralogical and geochemical analyses on the Doushantuo pristine phosphorite in Weng'an,Zunyi and Danzhai area. Documented by spherulitic phosphorites in the Lower Phosphorite beds from Weng'an area that contain abundant autogenetic Fe-bearing minerals such as pyrite and glauconite and show weak Ce negative anomaly,Fe-redox pumping in low-oxygen environments are the important phosphogenesis mechanism but only limited in coastal waters in the Early Doushantuo Period. Phosphorite in the Upper Phosphorite beds deposited within organic-rich beds and contain massive biological fossils suggests that phosphogenesis might have been triggered by degradation of organic matter and biological action in the Late Doushantuo Period,and distribution of phosphatic sediments extended to the deeper shelf to slope setting. Obvious Ce negative anomaly implies the increase of oxygen content in seawater. The transition of phosphogenesis mechanisms and the expansion of phosphorite deposits are the sedimentary response of ocean oxygenation,and the associated evolution of metazoans also changed the redox conditions of the deep seawater. These sedimentary and geochemistry data reflect the closed coupling relation between Doushantuo phosphorite in Guizhou Province and the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event.     

Neoproterozoic peritidal phosphorite from the Sete Lagoas Formation (Brazil) and the Precambrian phosphorus cycle

The Neoproterozoic Sete Lagoas Formation (ca 610 Ma) of the São Francisco Basin, Brazil, is a succession of siltstone, limestone and phosphorite. Phosphorite forms part of a previously unrecognized 150 to 200 m thick, unconformity bounded depositional sequence. Lithofacies stacking patterns indicate that deposition was punctuated by higher order fluctuations in base level that produced aggradational parasequences. These shallowing‐upward cycles record the progradation of phosphate‐rich intertidal flats over shallow subtidal deposits as accommodation filled. The presence of mudcracks, authigenic chert nodules, lack of coarse terrigenous clastics and the abundance of silt with fine, abraded quartz grains suggests accumulation along an arid coastline with significant aeolian input. Delivery of phosphorus adsorbed on aeolian Fe‐(oxyhydr)oxide and clay is interpreted as having stimulated phosphogenesis in peritidal environments. Lithofacies associations indicate that windblown phosphorus promoted the establishment of cyanobacterial communities along the coast, which produced photosynthetic oxygen and the suboxic conditions necessary for the precipitation of authigenic carbonate fluorapatite. As in other Precambrian phosphatic systems, nearshore oxygen oases were a prerequisite for phosphorite accumulation because redox sensitive phosphogenic processes were pushed into the sediment to concentrate phosphorus. In more distal, anoxic environments phosphorite could not form because these biotic and abiotic processes were suspended in the water column, which cycled phosphorus in sea water rather than at the sediment–water interface. Such shallow‐water phosphorite is unlike larger, younger Neoproterozoic–Phanerozoic phosphatic deposits inferred to have formed in deeper‐upwelling related environments. The increasing size of phosphatic deposits through the latest Precambrian is interpreted as reflecting the progressive ventilation of the oceans during the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event, and resultant expansion of phosphogenic environments into distal settings. The widespread cycling of bioavailable phosphorus at the sea floor not only produced the first true phosphorite giants, but may have also been an important precondition for the evolution of multicellular animals.     

川东北地区晚埃迪卡拉纪灯影期海水氧化还原环境重建

晚埃迪卡拉纪全球海洋发生了大面积的缺氧,海洋化学结构呈现明显的非均质性,直接影响了埃迪卡拉型生物的演化与分布。四川盆地发育完整的晚埃迪卡拉系地层,以灯影组巨厚层碳酸盐岩沉积为代表。但是对于该套巨厚层碳酸盐岩沉积时的古海水氧化还原性质备受争议。为了解决这一问题,对川东北地区鹿池剖面的灯影组地层开展了系统的沉积学和稀土元素地球化学分析。该地区灯影组的岩石类型主要为泥微晶白云岩、黏连白云岩、叠层/层纹白云岩,以及溶蚀白云岩,沉积环境为开阔碳酸盐岩台地相。地球化学数据结果显示灯影组碳酸盐岩普遍具有较低的稀土总量(∑REE+Y值为0.4～3.3μg/g)、较低的Mn/Sr值(0.2～2.8)和较高的Fe含量(55.9～1 772.6μg/g)。灯影组的REE+Y配分曲线(经页岩标准化)可划分为四个阶段,且Ce异常指示该地区经历了弱氧化到弱还原再到缺氧状态,表明埃迪卡拉纪晚期海洋浅部水体也发生了缺氧现象。     

Application of LA-ICP-MS to sedimentary phosphatic particles from Tunisian phosphorite deposits: Insights from trace elements and REE into paleo-depositional environments

Laser ablation ICP-MS was used to determine trace (TE) and rare earth element (REE) contents of sedimentary phosphatic pellets and coprolites collected from late Paleocene-early Eocene phosphorite deposits in Tunisia. TE and REE contents in the investigated deposits exhibit a close relationship with grain types and paleogeography. Phosphatic pellets seem to concentrate more TE and REE than co-existing coprolites. Both particle types display modern oxic-suboxic seawater patterns. In most coprolites, ∑REE, Y, Cr, Ni, Th, and V show an increase from core to rim, whereas Ba, Cd, Cu, and U abundances decrease from core to rim, reflecting adsorption processes during early diagenesis consistent with changing redox and productivity conditions.The northern basins (Sra Ouertane) within open marine and platform settings tended to be more oxic-suboxic with relative high organic matter flux, while the eastern basins (Jebel Jebs) and Gafsa-Metlaoui basin are characterized by semi-restricted situation associated with suboxic-oxic conditions. This result is consistent with previous reconstructions which suggest that phosphorites of northern basins had a more direct connection to the open ocean than those to the south and east of the emerged area.This study highlights the potential for using laser ablation ICP-MS as a tool to reconstruct phosphorite depositional paleoenvironments.     

黔中开阳地区震旦纪陡山沱期富磷矿沉积特征与成矿模式*

黔中开阳地区在震旦纪陡山沱期全球成磷事件的大背景下,发育了厚度较大的富磷矿层。通过岩石薄片观察、地层对比与划分及沉积相分析等手段,探讨黔中开阳地区震旦纪陡山沱期磷矿床沉积特征与成矿模式。结果表明:(1)开阳地区陡山沱期处于黔中古陆北缘的磷质海岸环境,磷矿层中分布最广泛、品位最高的矿石类型为砂屑磷块岩,为富磷沉积物在沉积、成岩过程中遭受多期次冲刷破碎、暴露淋滤及堆积胶结的产物。(2)开阳地区古地理环境和动荡的海水条件控制了磷矿的沉积和高品位矿石的分布,洋水、永温等地在震旦纪陡山沱期所处的海水深度适中的临滨带为成矿优势地带,而水体过浅的前滨带和过深的远滨带均不利于磷质的聚集和成矿。(3)开阳地区动态磷矿床成矿模式表明,陡山沱期海平面的频繁进退使临滨带已沉积的磷块岩遭受多期次的冲蚀、暴露、淋滤、胶结及磷质再沉积作用;通过物理分选作用和风化淋滤作用最终使磷质聚集,是研究区富磷矿形成的主要原因。     

Formation environment and metallogenic mechanism of Weng'an phosphorite in the Early Sinian,Central Guizhou Province

Weng'an phosphorites are located at the east of Central Guizhou oldland and are important constituent of Hubei-Hunan-Guizhou phosphorite belt. Among them,the Datang ore block developed intact Early Ediacaran stratigraphic sequence,and the phosphorite occurred in the Doushantuo Formation which are divided into the lower layer of dolomite, layer A, the upper layer of dolomite, and layer B. Geochemistry showed that the P₂O₅ concentration of phosphorites in the layer A was higher than that of layer B,while the Sr and Mg/Ca were opposite. These characteristics indicate the degree of aridity and torridity increased from layer A to layer B. δ¹³C,δ¹⁸O,and Z value in layer A are -4.30‰-2.03‰, -11.30‰-7.53‰, and 112119,respectively,and those of layer B are -1.16‰1.49‰, -8.41‰-2.26‰, and 123129,respectively,indicating that the salinity increased from layer A to layer B. Ce_anom of the layer A are greater than -0.1, whereas those of the layer B are less than -0.1, suggesting the redox conditions changing from anoxic to oxic. The NASC-normalized REE distribution patterns of the layer A show “left-inclining”,indicating the input of hydrothermal fluids. Furthermore,the Si,Al,and Ti content in the phosphorite and the periodical change of δ¹³C indicate the input of terrigenous weathering and deep seawater. The “left-inclining”REE plots,high psephicity,and intraclast and blocky textures of phosphate from the layer A collectively suggest the phosphorite formed via mechanical power of seawater. The “hat-shaped”REE plots and microbial debris of phosphate from the layer B indicate the phosphorite formed via microbially mediated accretionary growth.     

黔中瓮安早震旦世磷块岩的形成环境及成因机制*

瓮安磷矿为鄂—湘—黔成矿带的重要组成部分,位于黔中古陆的东侧,其中,大塘矿段位于发育完整的下震旦统陡山沱组中,该组地层自下而上为下白云岩段、A矿层、上白云岩段和B矿层。元素地球化学特征表明: A矿层P₂O₅高于B矿层,而Sr含量、Mg/Ca值却相反,表明从A矿层到B矿层,气候干旱炎热程度升高。碳酸盐C、O同位素表明: δ¹³C、δ¹⁸O和Z值在A矿层分别为-4.30‰~-2.03‰、-11.30‰~-7.53‰、112~119,B矿层分别为-1.16‰~1.49‰、-8.41‰~-2.26‰、123~129,表明A矿层的盐度较低,B矿层的盐度较高。Ce_anom在A矿层均大于-0.1,在B矿层均小于-0.1,另外,Mo、U、V元素在A矿层高于B矿层,表明氧化还原条件从A矿层的还原转变为B矿层的氧化条件。A矿层稀土元素呈“左倾型”配分曲线和热水元素的富集,指示海相热水输入;Si、Al、Ti含量占一定比例,指示了陆源风化物质输入;δ¹³C阶段性变化指示了上升洋流带来的深海海水,因此,陡山沱组磷块岩成矿物质可能有多个来源。A矿层“左倾型”稀土配分曲线以及磷酸盐球状、团块状结构和较高磨圆度,表明其成矿作用机制主要为海水机械动力;B矿层稀土元素呈“帽型”配分模式和大量微生物碎屑发育,表明其成矿机制主要为微生物生长成矿作用,伴随海水机械动力。     

Ca isotopic compositions of dolomite, phosphorite and the oldest animal embryo fossils from the Neoproterozoic in Weng'an, South China

Deciphering the drastic changes of surface environment and the emergence of animals after the Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth event are important for understanding the changes of surface environment and its influence on the evolution of life through geologic time. Especially, the emergence of two types of Metazoan animals such as animal embryo fossils, cnidarians or sponges, and Ediacaran fauna in the late Neoproterozoic was one of the critical turning points in the biological evolution.Calcium is one of the essential elements for the growth of most animals. In this study, in order to evaluate the Ca cycles in the Neoproterozoic, we have measured Ca isotopic ratios (⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca and ⁴³Ca/⁴²Ca) for phosphorite, dolostone and phosphatic animal embryo fossils with a multiple collector, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The resulting ⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca ratio defined by the relative deviation from the ratio of NIST SRM915a (δ^44/42Ca_NIST915) for phosphorite and dolostone ranges from 0.83 to 0.95‰, demonstrating that the fractionation between phosphorite/dolostone and seawater was very small. This evidence indicates that at the emergence of the Weng'an biota seawater was deficient in Ca probably due to mass deposition of phosphorite/dolostone and to the beginning of Ca-biomineralization.Three phosphatic animal embryo fossils have lower δ^44/42Ca values than the phosphorite and dolomite, implying that the precursor of the phosphatic embryo fossils was able to fractionate Ca isotopes through Ca-biomineralization, consistent with marine gastropods.