East African Rift System (EARS) Plume Structure: Insights from Quaternary Mafic Lavas of Turkana, Kenya

Quaternary mafic lavas from Lake Turkana (northern Kenya) provideinformation on processes operating beneath the East AfricanRift in an area of anomalous lithospheric and crustal thinning.Inferred depths of melting beneath Turkana (15–20 km)are shallower than those recorded elsewhere along the rift,consistent with the anomalously thin crustal section. The maficlavas have elevated incompatible trace element contents whencompared with mid-ocean ridge basalts, requiring an enrichmentevent in the source region. Basalts with low Sr isotopic ratios(     

Erosion of lithospheric mantle beneath the East African Rift system: geochemical evidence from the Kivu volcanic province

This study presents new major and trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic results for a suite of Miocene–Recent mafic lavas from the Kivu volcanic province in the western branch of the East African Rift. These lavas exhibit a very wide range in chemical and isotopic characteristics, due to a lithospheric mantle source region that is heterogeneous on a small scale, probably <1 km. The chemical and isotopic variations are mostly geographically controlled: lavas from Tshibinda volcano, which lies on a rift border fault on the northwestern margin of the province, have higher values of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, (La/Sm)_n, Ba/Nb, and Zr/Hf than the majority of Kivu (Bukavu) samples. The range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr at Tshibinda (0.70511–0.70514) overlaps some compositions found in the neighboring Virunga province, while Bukavu group lavas include the lowest ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70314) and highest _Nd (+7.6) yet measured in western rift lavas. The Tshibinda compositions trend towards a convergence for Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic values among western rift lavas. Among Kivu lavas, variations in ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd correlate with those for certain incompatible trace element ratios (e.g., Th/Nb, Zr/Hf, La/Nb, Ba/Rb), with Tshibinda samples defining one compositional extreme. There are covariations of isotopic and trace element ratios in mafic lavas of the East African Rift system that vary systematically with geographic location. The lavas represent a magmatic sampling of variations in the underlying continental lithospheric mantle, and it appears that a common lithospheric mantle (CLM) source is present beneath much of the East African Rift system. This source contains minor amphibole and phlogopite, probably due to widespread metasomatic events between 500 and 1000 Ma. Lava suites which do not show a strong component of the CLM source, and for which the chemical constraints also suggest the shallowest magma formation depths, are the Bukavu group lavas from Kivu and basanites from Huri Hills, Kenya. The inferred extent of lithospheric erosion therefore appears to be significant only beneath these two areas, which is generally consistent with lithospheric thickness variations estimated from gravity and seismic studies.     

东非裂谷东支South Lokichar盆地石油地质特征及成藏规律

东非裂谷东支由多个盆地组成,South Lokichar是唯一有油气发现的盆地,目前对于该盆地的石油地质特征及成藏规律仍认识不清,严重制约着东非裂谷东支下一步勘探.本文综合利用钻井、地震、岩芯、薄片以及分析化验等资料,对South Lokichar盆地的构造和地层发育特征、关键成藏条件和影响因素以及成藏规律进行详细分析...     

东昆仑那陵格勒河南上三叠统鄂拉山组火山岩地球化学特征及构造环境

东昆仑那陵格勒河南地区发育上三叠统鄂拉山组(T_3e)火山岩,岩石类型主要以英安质玻屑晶屑凝灰岩和英安质熔结凝灰岩为主,具有高碱、高钾、高铝的特征;岩石的二氧化硅含量w(SiO_2)=69.12%~74.52%,全碱含量w(Na_2O+K_2O)=6.42%~7.33%,里特曼指数σ=1.39~2.01,岩石的铝过饱和指数ASI介于1.02~1.17之间,属典型的过铝质高钾钙碱性系列。岩石的稀土元素w(LREE)/w(HREE)=11.02~15.99,δEu=0.54~0.67,铕具中等亏损,属轻稀土富集型;微量元素K、Rb、Ba和Th较强的富集,Sr、Ti、Sc、Cr明显亏损,具有后碰撞下地壳重熔产物的特征。在鄂拉山组玄武质晶屑凝灰熔岩中获U-Pb同位素年龄值为231 Ma±1 Ma,形成时代为晚三叠世。通过综合分析认为,鄂拉山组火山岩可能形成于以侧向挤压为主的陆—陆后碰撞过程中加厚地壳物质部分熔融的产物,属于印支期后碰撞火山盆地岩石建造。     

东非裂谷Kerio盆地石油地质特征与勘探潜力

东非裂谷东支的South Lokichar盆地于2012年获得勘探突破,成为研究和勘探的热点地区.但近年来周边盆地勘探效果不佳,有待深入分析.Kerio盆地紧邻South Lokichar盆地,勘探程度低,国内在此地的研究处于空白区.基于最新地震地质综合研究成果,阐述其石油地质特征和勘探潜力.结果表明:Kerio盆地为主动裂谷,呈西陡东缓的半地堑结构;发育渐新世以来的5套沉积地层,最大沉积厚度可达6500 m;存在一套被证实的烃源岩,生烃指标好,但厚度仅20 m;发育河流和三角洲相砂岩,孔渗物性好.盆地可划分为4个凹陷和5个构造圈闭带.中部缓坡带和东部反转构造带为盆地的有利勘探区带,可能存在2种成藏模式.盆地具有一定勘探潜力,烃源岩是最主要的地质风险.     

西藏盐湖沉积物：一种潜在的铷、铯资源

铷、铯是我国战略性关键矿产资源。西藏盐湖卤水中赋存着丰富的铷、铯资源,但是品位普遍低于10 mg/L。根据热泉与盐湖锂、铷、铯等元素的补给关系和含量差异特征及铷、铯极易被黏土矿物吸附等特点,推测盐湖沉积物中赋存一定规模的铷、铯资源。为验证该推测,本文选取西藏拉果错、聂尔错、依布茶卡、当穹错、扎布耶茶卡等5个典型盐湖,采集卤水和沉积物样品各5件,开展水体中铷、铯含量和沉积物矿物成分分析,结合沉积物分相淋滤实验,得出如下结论：西藏拉果错、当穹错、聂尔错盐湖卤水铷、铯含量和资源量与其补给量差异显著,大量的铷、铯资源消耗于盐湖沉积物中;盐湖沉积物中的铷、铯含量远高于卤水。铷、铯在沉积物水溶相、碳酸盐相中含量较低,主要以吸附形式赋存于黏土矿物(主要为伊利石),吸附点位包括基面位置、难解吸的磨损边缘及层间位置。盐湖沉积物铷、铯资源量远超大型矿床规模,黏土矿物中铷、铯含量高达100 n×10-6,超过固体盐类矿产综合评价指标,相较于现有盐湖钾产品中的铷资源、含铯硅华中的铯资源开发,具有较好的开发利用性,是一种潜在的铷、铯资源。本研究成果有助于完善盐湖铷、铯富集成矿机制,并为高效开发盐湖中的铷、铯资源提供理论支撑。     

The role of hydrothermal fluids in sedimentation in saline alkaline lakes: Evidence from Nasikie Engida,Kenya Rift Valley

Saline alkaline lakes that precipitate sodium carbonate evaporites are most common in volcanic terrains in semi‐arid environments. Processes that lead to trona precipitation are poorly understood compared to those in sulphate‐dominated and chloride‐dominated lake brines. Nasikie Engida (Little Magadi) in the southern Kenya Rift shows the initial stages of soda evaporite formation. This small shallow (<2 m deep; 7 km long) lake is recharged by alkaline hot springs and seasonal runoff but unlike neighbouring Lake Magadi is perennial. This study aims to understand modern sedimentary and geochemical processes in Nasikie Engida and to assess the importance of geothermal fluids in evaporite formation. Perennial hot‐spring inflow waters along the northern shoreline evaporate and become saturated with respect to nahcolite and trona, which precipitate in the southern part of the lake, up to 6 km from the hot springs. Nahcolite (NaHCO₃) forms bladed crystals that nucleate on the lake floor. Trona (Na₂CO₃·NaHCO₃·2H₂O) precipitates from more concentrated brines as rafts and as bottom‐nucleated shrubs of acicular crystals that coalesce laterally to form bedded trona. Many processes modify the fluid composition as it evolves. Silica is removed as gels and by early diagenetic reactions and diatoms. Sulphate is depleted by bacterial reduction. Potassium and chloride, of moderate concentration, remain conservative in the brine. Clastic sedimentation is relatively minor because of the predominant hydrothermal inflow. Nahcolite precipitates when and where pCO₂ is high, notably near sublacustrine spring discharge. Results from Nasikie Engida show that hot spring discharge has maintained the lake for at least 2 kyr, and that the evaporite formation is strongly influenced by local discharge of carbon dioxide. Brine evolution and evaporite deposition at Nasikie Engida help to explain conditions under which ancient sodium carbonate evaporites formed, including those in other East African rift basins, the Eocene Green River Formation (western USA), and elsewhere.     

Tertiary Mafic Lavas of Turkana, Kenya: Constraints on East African Plume Structure and the Occurrence of High-{micro} Volcanism in Africa

The East African Rift System is important to understanding plume-initiatedrifting as manifest in the geochemistry of mafic lavas eruptedalong the rift throughout its evolution. We present new datafrom high-MgO Tertiary lavas from Turkana, northern Kenya, toinvestigate regional melt source components, to identify thedepths and degrees of melting, and to characterize spatiallyand temporally the chemical structure of the underlying mantle.The Turkana area is a region of high lithospheric extensionthat sits between two topographic uplifts thought to be surfaceexpressions of one or more upwelling mantle plumes. Thinningof local crust is believed to be accompanied by widespread removalof the mantle lithosphere, causing the asthenosphere to be inclose contact with the overlying crust. New geochemical dataon basanites, picrites and basalts (MgO >7 wt %) tightlyconstrain the primary melt source regions of Tertiary volcanism.Initial isotopic signatures (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0·51267–0·51283,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0·7031–0·7036) and trace elementabundances (Ce/Pb 30, La/Nb = 0·6–0·8 andBa/Nb = 3–10) in these lavas are consistent with derivationfrom sub-lithospheric sources. Basalts and picrites eruptedbetween 23 and 20 Ma have Sr–Nd–Pb–He isotopiccharacteristics indicative of high-µ influence, recordhigh depths and degrees of partial melting, and are associatedwith rift propagation to the north and south. Accordingly, theselavas sample a source region that is geochemically distinctfrom that reflected both in Oligocene Ethiopian flood basaltsand in the modern Afar region. The geochemical data supportnumerical and theoretical models as well as tomographic resultsproviding for a complex thermal structure in the mantle beneathEast Africa and are interpreted to reflect isotopically distinctplume heads beneath Tanzania and Afar that are derived fromthe chemically heterogeneous South African superplume. KEY WORDS: East African Rift System; mantle plumes; HIMU; geochemistry; Afar     

东昆仑浪麦滩地区A型花岗岩年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

东昆仑造山带出露大面积的花岗岩,是研究岩浆活动的天然实验室,晚三叠世A型花岗岩为该区构造演化提供了新的约束。本文通过对东昆仑浪麦滩地区出露的正长花岗岩开展岩相学、锆石U-Pb定年、Hf同位素及地球化学研究,以期限定其形成时代,探讨岩石成因,并为区域构造岩浆演化提供依据。正长花岗岩由正长石、条纹长石、斜长石、石英和少量黑云母等矿物组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为231.5±1.7Ma,形成于晚三叠世。岩石地球化学具有高硅富铝特征,SiO₂含量为72.36%～74.58%,Al₂O₃含量为12.76%～12.89%,相对富钾贫钠,K₂O、Na₂O含量分别为4.43%～4.96%、4.0%～4.25%,低MgO、TiO₂,富集Rb、K等大离子亲石元素,强烈亏损Ba、Nb、Ta、P、Ti等高场强元素,具有明显的负铕异常(δEu=0.040～0.08),表明为A型花岗岩。Mg~#介于0.40～0.43之间,ε_Hf(t)值介于+2.05...     

东昆仑小圆山铁多金属矿区斜长花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb测年、岩石地球化学及找矿意义

东昆仑祁漫塔格地区是青海省重要的矽卡岩型铁多金属成矿带,小圆山矽卡岩型铁多金属矿位于青海祁漫塔格东段,其成矿作用与斜长花岗斑岩关系密切,矿体产于斜长花岗斑岩的外接触带。利用LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年技术,获得斜长花岗斑岩加权平均年龄为(216.9±1.9)Ma(n=16,MSWD=2.9),厘定其形成时代为晚三叠世。岩石地球化学研究表明,斜长花岗斑岩为过铝质高钾钙碱性系列岩石。岩石明显富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、K)、LREE和活泼的不相容元素(如U、Th),相对亏损高场强元素(如Nb、Ta、P、Ti),显示了轻稀土元素强烈富集的右倾式稀土配分型式,呈明显负Eu异常。综合青海祁漫塔格地区已有年代学资料和区域地质构造演化特征,认为小圆山斜长花岗斑岩可能形成于后碰撞构造阶段,为区域东昆仑造山带晚古生代—早中生代构造旋回的产物。     

东非裂谷系西支中南段Karoo地层分布特点与勘探前景

东非裂谷系一直是世界油气勘探重点关注区,尤其在西支Albertine盆地获得重大油气发现,而与之具有相似成因演化的西支中南段其它盆地,勘探潜力一直不明朗并急待挖掘。中-古生代Karoo地层及分布在该地区广泛分布,特别是作为烃源和主要的勘探层系在东非海岸陆缘盆地被广泛证实后,Karoo的勘探潜力备受关注。然而,Karoo本身经过漫长的演变,涵盖的地质学内容包罗万象,混淆不清,十分不利于该地区油气勘探潜力的研究和判断。本文通过系统查阅国外文献并结合东非裂谷系的研究工作,初步查明Karoo的成因、演变及分布,并系统评价Karoo地层在西支中南段裂谷盆地及周边的分布,探讨其勘探意义。但以Karoo作为东非地区未来勘探领域仍然面临着一系列不确定性的问题和风险,值得思索和总结。     

Stratigraphy and geochemistry of a sequence of Quaternary palaeosols in the Lower Teleki Valley,Mount Kenya,East Africa — Implications for interregional correlations

The relative weathering of a sequence of five palaesols formed in different parent materials, including bedrock of phonolitic composition, is described and assessed. The three lower palaeosols (units 3–5) are considered to be of interglacial origin. The saprolite (unit 5), in phonolite, formed prior to deposition of the lower Brunhes-age till, is considered to be as old as the Brunhes Matuyama boundary (0.73 myr). The other two palaeosols in this group (units 3 and 4), derived from loess and till, respectively, formed over middle to late Brunhes time under palaeoclimates that were wetter (and presumably warmer), and of sufficient leaching power to move clay, as well as organically complexed extractable Fe and Al. The palaeosols in unit 3 are more complex than the lower ones. Their upper and lower horizons have about the same chemical composition as the lowest two palaeosols, while the middle horizons are similar to the upper two palaeosols (units 1 and 2). Radiocarbon dates for unit 3 are considered to be too young to account for the strong weathering in the upper and lower horizons. This interpretation is supported by high D/L ratios of aspartic acid. Overlying sediments, emplaced by episodic colluvial (unit 2) and slope wash (unit 1) processes, are less weathered; the lower colluvial unit in this group was emplaced during the late stade of the last glaciation. The surface sediments were emplaced more recently during the same interval and weathered mainly during the post-glacial period. Tentative correlations with core 82PCS18 from the Canary Basin show that upper unit 3 is probably equivalent to Isotope Stage 5e, lower unit 3 to Isotope Stage 7, unit 4 to Isotope Stage 8, and unit 5 to Isotope Stage 9. Units 1 and 2 are firmly correlated with Isotope Stage 2.     

东秦岭—大别造山带南、北缘晚白垩世以来构造演化的石英ESR年代学研究

运用α石英热活化ESR定年法对东秦岭—大别造山带南、北缘58件样品进行了研究。结果显示,东秦岭—大别造山带南、北缘ESR年龄范围主要集中在晚白垩世以来(99.2～3.4 Ma)。结合区域地质事实分析,晚白垩世以来,东秦岭—大别造山带南缘的构造演化可划分为73.1～52.3 Ma伸展断陷期、39.1～27.2 Ma伸展-挤压的转换期和22.8～3.4 Ma挤压期;东秦岭—大别造山带北缘的构造演化可划分为89～70.1 Ma挤压隆升期、61.6～43.2 Ma伸展断陷期、37.2～22.6 Ma伸展-挤压的转换期和15.6～3.9 Ma挤压期。东秦岭—大别造山带南缘和北缘新生代构造演化特征基本相同,但是受多种因素控制,东秦岭—大别造山带南、北缘晚白垩世的构造演化存在较大差异。ESR测年结果与东秦岭—大别造山带南、北缘已有的地质事实相吻合,验证了ESR测年的可靠性。     

东非裂谷系西支构造样式及其对油气成藏的控制作用

基于东非裂谷系西支地震地质综合解释对比研究,发现该生长型裂谷盆地受基底属性影响,主要发育陡断面地堑型盆地结构,沿边界主控断裂走向发育背离型和接近型两类主要调节构造,沿边界主控断裂倾向主要发育地垒式和地堑式两类调节构造。构造样式控制了主要成藏条件：陡断面地堑式裂谷能够形成沉积范围广、厚度大的湖相优质烃源岩;裂谷间走向调节构造属于一级调节带,控制长轴辫状河三角洲的展布;裂谷内错断的边界断裂带属于次级走向调节构造,控制中小型扇三角州的发育。倾向调节构造形成的断鼻、断块圈闭,为该类盆地的主要油气藏类型。     

Mineralogical and geochemical indicators of anoxic sedimentation conditions in local depressions within the Sea of Okhotsk in the late Pleistocene-Holocene

This paper reports specific mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of deposits from the local depressions of the Derugin Basin. They were formed in an environment with periodic changes from oxic to anoxic conditions and show evidence for the presence of hydrogen sulfide in bottom waters. The deposits of this type can be considered as a modern model for ancient ore-bearing black shale associations. Compared with typical metalliferous black shale sequences, which are characterized by high contents of organic matter, the sediments described here are depleted in the elements of the organophilic association (Mo, Ni, Cu, Zn, V, and U) but have higher Mn contents.     

Recent hydrological behavior of the East African great lakes region inferred from GRACE,satellite altimetry and rainfall observations

We have jointly analysed space gravimetry data from the GRACE space mission, satellite altimetry data and precipitation over the East African Great Lakes region, in order to study the spatiotemporal variability of hydrological parameters (total water storage, lake water volume and rainfall). We find that terrestrial water storage (TWS) from GRACE and precipitation display a common mode of variability at interannual time scale, with a minimum in late 2005, followed by a rise in 2006–2007. We argue that this event is due to forcing by the strong 2006 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on East African rainfall. We also show that GRACE TWS is linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle. Combination of the altimetry-based lake water volume with TWS from GRACE over the lakes drainage basins allows estimating soil moisture and groundwater volume variations. Comparison with the WGHM hydrological model outputs is performed and discussed.     

新疆东昆仑西段库拉甫河岩组火山岩地球化学特征及锆石U-Pb年龄

对东昆仑西段库拉甫河岩组火山岩地球化学进行研究,结果显示,主量元素MgO、FeO含量较高,TiO_2和K_2O含量分别为1.12%、0.63%,与岛弧拉斑玄武岩(0.84%、0.43%)接近;微量元素具有Sr富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta略亏损,P无明显分馏或未分馏的特征,稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分曲线显示良好的同源性(配分曲线变化规律近似一致),且与富集型洋脊玄武岩配分趋势一致。结合构造环境判别,认为其形成于岛弧环境,具有岛弧拉斑玄武岩的特征,来源于与岛弧相关的富集地幔。利用锆石U-Pb测年获得2组年龄,其中一组年龄为688.7±5.1Ma,代表捕获晶年龄,另一组年龄483.4±3.3Ma为结晶年龄,代表玄武岩的形成年龄,属于早奥陶世。结合其构造环境、岩石地球化学特征和年龄数据,认为其是原特提斯洋俯冲消减环境下的产物,且原特提斯洋俯冲至少持续到早奥陶世。     

新疆东天山白石泉Cu-Ni硫化物矿床杂岩体的地球化学特征及其对矿床成因和构造背景的制约

新疆东天山白石泉Cu-Ni硫化物矿床位于中天山地块北缘,阿齐库都克—沙泉子断裂带南侧。杂岩体w(SiO2)为40%~59%,具有高Mg的特征和拉斑系列的演化趋势。MgO、MnO和FeO含量与SiO2呈负相关,Al2O3、TiO2、Na2O与SiO2呈正相关;Co、Ni、Cr与SiO2呈负相关。稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分曲线为轻稀土富集型,LREE/HREE为2.5~7.84,(La/Yb)N为1.94~8.24,δEu为0.71~1.28。白石泉杂岩体稀土元素非常类似的配分型式,表明其来自同一源区,是同一原始岩浆分异演化的产物。杂岩体总体上富集大离子亲石元素(LILE:Rb、Ba、Sr)和活泼的不相容亲石元素(HILE:U),相对亏损高场强元素(HFSE:Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Ti),表明地幔源区可能受到俯冲板片脱水的交代。硫化物饱和可能是由于大量含Fe、Mg矿物的结晶而造成的,地壳混染很弱。年代学和野外地质证据表明,白石泉杂岩体形成于晚古生代末碰撞造山后期的伸展构造环境下。晚古生代末碰撞造山挤压-伸展转变期是大规模成矿的有利时期。     

青海省东昆仑中段地区构造地球化学特征及地质意义

青海省境内的东昆仑中段地区,地质研究程度低,根据已经完成的1∶50万地球化学调查资料,结合地质背景,对该区构造单元和深大断裂带的地球化学特征进行分析。从元素特征参数值入手,总结出各构造单元中地球化学元素的分布特征及该地区地壳演化的基本规律,并将本区划分为7个地球化学异常区带。研究表明,昆中断裂带具有中高温元素矿化,昆南断裂带具有低温元素矿化,而且沿其断裂带两侧分别形成金—铜与金—锑为主的多金属成矿区带。通过不同构造单元的含矿性对比,指出由北向南形成由Cu、Cd、Fe、Au、Pb、Zn、Ag、W、Sn—Au、As、Sb、Cu( Co)、Pb、Zn—Au、Sb、As、Hg( Cu、W、Sn)的成矿区带。     

东太平洋中国开辟区沉积物中热水活动的矿物学及地球化学证据

通过对东太平洋多金属结核中国开辟区表层沉积物和短柱状沉积物的系统观察和分析，首次根据矿物学和地球化学两方面的证据，发现中国开辟区沉积物中热水活动及其产物的存在。X射线衍射分析表明，沉积物样品中普遍含有重晶石，部分样品中含量高达10％以上，扫描电镜观察发现，重晶石均为完整自形晶，并与同为自形的石英及钠长石共生。根据本区重晶石的地质背景及结晶形态，可以认为它的形成环境与加利福尼亚湾瓜伊马斯盆地（Guaymas)相似，属热水成因，伴生的石英和钠长石亦为常见的热水矿物，。这一共生组合的形成温度不低于70℃。地球化学研究发现，在柱状沉积物剖面上，Ba的垂向分布有两种类型，一种为平稳型，在一定深度范围内无明显变化。另一种为跃升型，并伴有其他活泼组分的同步变化，跃升型可视为热水活动在沉积历史上的记录，迄今为止，热水矿物组合主要见于东区的表层沉积物，而在西区，Ba在沉积物中的富集主要见于10cm以下层位，根据沉积速率推算，在中国开辟区西区的热水化活动记录比东区至少早0．1Ma。