Hydrological and geochemical controls governing the distribution of trace metals in a mine-impacted lake

Factors controlling the distribution of mining-derived Cu, Pb and Zn in the waters and bottom sediments of a large Andean lake (Lago Junin, Peru) have been assessed based on sample collections in May/June 1997 (dry season) and February/March 1998 (wet season). Relatively low levels of trace metals detected in surface waters of the lake during the dry season contrasted greatly with the high values observed during the wet period. Dry season concentrations of total Zn, Cu and Pb in the central lake basin averaged 41, 4.4 and 0.24 µg/L, respectively. In contrast, the respective wet season concentrations of total Zn, Cu and Pb in areas of the main basin ranged up to 387, 52 and 40 µg/L. The seasonal variability in metal concentrations largely reflects an increase in the concentration of particulate metal phases during the wet season. Such observations can be attributed to changes in sediment loadings associated with mining-derived river inputs and changes in lake circulation resulting from hydroelectric dam operations. Surface sediments are characterized by lake-wide enrichments of Zn, Cu and Pb, with maximum concentrations reaching as high as 5, 0.25 and 0.7 wt%, respectively. Estimated rates of authigenic metal accumulation are not sufficient to account for the elevated metal concentrations in the main basin of the lake, indicating that metal distributions are governed by the accumulation of metal-rich particulates. Variations in the spatial distributions of Zn, Cu and Pb are suggested to be a function of varying host phases and textural sorting.     

Lead isotopic systematics of major river sediments: a new estimate of the Pb isotopic composition of the Upper Continental Crust

The lead isotopic composition of river sediments is reported in the present work for the Earth's major river basins, from old cratonic to young orogenic areas and from subarctic to tropical climates. Sediment samples from these large river basins provide a useful tool to calculate the average upper crustal composition because they are large-scale integrated samples of the weathering products of the present-day Upper Continental Crust (UCC). Two different and complementary calculations were done to estimate the average lead isotopic composition of the UCC. The first, based on the flux weighted average of particulate lead delivered by the rivers, gave values of 19.07, 15.74 and 39.35 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, respectively. To avoid over-estimating the contribution of orogenic areas, which produces a bias (because the flux of particulate lead depends strongly on the physical erosion rate), a second calculation was done by averaging with drainage areas of each river basin. This gave values of 18.93, 15.71 and 39.03 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, respectively. These direct calculations of the lead isotopic composition of the UCC are similar and are in agreement with previous estimates made using an indirect approach.     

Geochronological,geochemical and Pb isotopic compositions of Tasmanian granites (southeast Australia): Controls on petrogenesis,geodynamic evolution and tin mineralisation

Large volumes of Devonian-Carboniferous granites were emplaced across Tasmania in southeast Australia, which was along the easternmost boundary of mid-Palaeozoic Gondwana. Some of these granites are associated with world class Sn–W deposits. Previous studies have focused mainly on relationships between granite petrogenesis and source rocks, and rarely on geochemical controls on Sn mineralisation. New zircon U-Pb ages of 405 to 396 Ma reveal that the George River Granodiorite, Grant Point Granite and Mt. Pearson Granite from eastern Tasmania intruded prior to the Tabberabberan Orogeny. The Coles Bay Granite has a U-Pb age of 388 ± 7 Ma, implying that it was emplaced simultaneously with the Tabberabberan Orogeny in Tasmania. The western Tasmanian granites mostly intruded from 374 to 360 Ma, after the Tabberabberan Orogeny. Granites associated with Sn–W deposits are moderately to strongly fractionated, including the Housetop, Meredith, Pine Hill and Heemskirk granites. Lead isotopic compositions of K-feldspars from the analysed granites, combined with isotopic evidence from other studies, suggest that differentiated granites in Tasmania had been highly contaminated by a crustal (sedimentary) component, and that western Tasmanian granites had a crustal source with substantially different isotopic characteristics to that of eastern Tasmania, which has a character similar to the Lachlan Orogen in southeast Australia. Tin-mineralised granites in Tasmania formed in a post-collisional extensional margin, a favourable environment for the production of Sn-rich melts from the lower crust. Prolonged fractional crystallisation, low oxygen fugacity and enrichments of volatiles are crucial factors to promote Sn enrichment in magmatic-hydrothermal fluids exsolved from crystallised felsic magmas.     

云南禄劝噜鲁铅锌矿床铷-锶同位素年代学与硫、铅同位素地球化学特征

云南禄劝噜鲁铅锌矿床地处扬子地块西南缘,矿体赋存于下寒武统梅树村组下段,呈脉状、似层状产出。矿石矿物主要有方铅矿、闪锌矿、黄铁矿等;脉石矿物主要有重晶石、石英、方解石。噜鲁铅锌矿床硫化物成矿时的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值为0.7112~0.7115,暗示成矿物质可能来自于基底地层;Rb-Sr等时线年龄为202.8±1.4Ma,成矿年龄为印支晚期—燕山早期。硫化物硫同位素组成δ~(34)S变化范围为6.33‰~9.75‰,暗示成矿流体中的硫主要是海相硫酸盐热化学还原的产物;铅同位素~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb、~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb、~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb变化范围分别为18.259~18.342、15.608~15.639、38.46~38.821,位于上地壳和造山带铅演化线之间,落入基底岩石(昆阳群)及不同时代碳酸盐岩铅同位素组成范围内,表明成矿物质具有壳源特征,主要由基底岩石提供。综合各类地质-地球化学信息认为,噜鲁铅锌矿床成矿流体中不同组分来源不同,但主要来自于基底地层,成矿机制是在印支运动强驱动力的作用下,促使含矿基底地层成矿元素活化-迁移混合-空间就位,形成工业矿床。     

Nd,Sr and Pb isotopic and REE geochemical study of some Miocene submarine hydrothermal deposits (Kuroko deposits) in Japan

Neodymium, Sr and Pb isotopic compositions, along with rare earth element (REE) concentrations were determined for twelve black ores and one yellow ore from twelve localities of the Kuroko deposits, Japan. The ores were generated by submarine hydrothermal activity during the Miocene age. Neodymium isotopic compositions of the ores (_Nd: –4.9 to +6.5) mostly overlap with spatially associated igneous rocks. On a Nd versus Sr isotopic correlation diagram, however, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are shifted from the associated igneous rocks towards the higher contemporaneous seawater ratio. REE patterns are highly variable, ranging from light REE enriched to depleted, and show no Ce anomalies, as would be expected if they were derived from seawater. These results suggest that the REEs contained in ores were mainly derived from the associated igneous rocks, but that the ore Sr is a mixture derived from both seawater and the igneous rocks. Most Pb isotopic compositions fall within the range defined by the associated igneous rocks (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.35–18.84, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.59–15.97 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.53–39.90), although several samples have very radiogenic compositions that were most likely derived from basement rocks. Our new Pb isotopic results display greater variation, and have a larger range of more radiogenic compositions than has been noted previously for these ores. In addition, the black ore with the most radiogenic Pb isotopic composition also has the least radiogenic Nd isotopic composition. This suggests that at least some of the Pb contained in the ores was derived mainly from older basement rocks. The large positive Eu anomalies for some black ores are consistent with a high-temperature origin for the parental fluids, irrespective of the source rock. The single yellow ore examined, however, has a small negative Eu anomaly, which may indicate derivation from a lower temperature fluid. Previous studies suggested that the Kuroko ores were formed in the presence of organic materials in an anoxic basin. Combined Nd, Sr, Pb and Os isotopic and REE abundance data indicate that multiple sources were involved in the genesis of Kuroko ores.     

The Hemlo gold deposit,Ontario: A geochemical and isotopic study

The Hemlo deposit, near Marathon, Ontario, is one of the largest gold deposits in North America. It is stratiform within Archean metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks. The main ore zone is composed of pyritic, sericitic schist, and massive barite. This is the first report of stratiform barite in the Archean of North America, but other occurrences have since been found west of Hemlo. The mineralization is substantially enriched in Au, Mo, Sb, Hg, Tl and V and lacks carbonate. Because of metamorphism and deformation of the body its genesis is uncertain.${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ of .7017 for barite from the deposit is similar to that of the sedimentary barite west of Hemlo and to initial ratios of contemporaneous volcanic rocks. At the base of the main ore zone, barite with δ^34S of +8 to +12%. was deposited with ~0%. pyrite. Upward, both barite and pyrite get isotopically lighter, with minimum values for pyrite, to ?17.5%, in non-baritic schist forming the upper part of the ore zone. In drill section, Au grades correlate with the isotopic composition of pyrite. This, and the association of fractionated sulphide with sulphate, suggests that Au, pyrite and barite were deposited contemporaneously. The linked, asymmetric distributions of S minerals and isotopic distributions, which are continuous from section to section, and the isotopic similarity of the Hemlo and western barites are consistent with a syngenetic depositional model.Two sources for the S minerals are considered. In the first, exogenous sulphate from a restricted basin were partially reduced in a geothermal system to form ³⁴S-depleted sulphide. In the second, the sulphate and sulphide are of magmatic-hydrothermal origin. Sulphate and fractionated sulphide are uncommon in Archean rocks, but one or both occur with unusual frequency in major Archean gold deposits. Hydrothermal fluids of moderately high , containing sulphate and permitting isotopic fractionation between oxidized and reduced S species, may have favoured the dissolution, transport and precipitation of Au.     

三江中段两古陆铅同位素地球化学边界的厘定

根据三江中段及周边邻区火成岩铅同位素数据,确认了三江中段扬子陆块与冈瓦纳古陆的边界。两古陆的铅同位素地球化学边界为^206Pb/^204Pb=18．583、^208Pb／^204Pb=38．575和V1=60、V2=52,低于界线值的属扬子陆块,高于界线值的属冈瓦纳古陆。三江中段两古陆的铅同位素地球化学边界在地理上对应于德钦鲁春-红坡牛场一线,以东属扬子陆块,以西为冈瓦纳古陆;在构造上对应于德钦-字呷断裂带;在构造-岩浆带上对应于金沙江构造岩浆带与澜沧江构造岩浆带的分界线;在成矿上则对应于德钦羊拉-鲁春-红坡牛场铜多金属成矿带。     

赞比亚北部省卡萨马西部石英闪长岩锆石U- Pb和Lu- Hf同位素及地球化学特征

石英闪长岩锆石U-Pb和Lu-Hf同位素及地球化学特征研究对赞比亚东北部班韦乌卢地块的形成时代及构造演化具有重要的研究意义。采用LA-MC-ICP MS方法测得班韦乌卢地块中卡萨马西部地区出露的两个石英闪长岩体中锆石的~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄加权平均值分别为1964±8 Ma(MSWD=0.87,N=32)和1913±10 Ma(MSWD=0.77,N=19),表明两期石英闪长岩均形成于古元古代且可能与古元古代乌本迪构造带的活动有关。全岩地球化学分析显示,石英闪长岩属准铝质、高钾钙碱性系列岩石。稀土配分曲线均呈右倾型,具有富含轻稀土元素(LREE)、贫重稀土元素(HREE)以及δEu (0.77～0.80)弱负异常特点。微量元素均显示大离子亲石元素(如Rb、Ba及K)和活泼的不相容元素(如Th及U)相对富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Sr和Ti相对亏损。Nd/Th=3.60～4.65,Nb/Ta=12.05～13.87,Th/Ta=11.14～11.81,Ti/Zr=36.84～41.71,Ti/Y=220.28～300.00和具有不均一的ε_(Hf)(t)值(分别为-3.8～1.3和-4.3～8.6)均显示石英闪长岩的原始岩浆具有壳幔混合的特点。Zr/Y=5.98～7.19,La/Nb=2.91～3.88,La/Yb=12.19～13.92及构造判别图解均显示石英闪长岩形成于安第斯型活动大陆边缘。     

东昆仑拉陵高里河沟脑地区晚三叠世花岗闪长斑岩年代学、岩石地球化学及Hf同位素特征

笔者等对东昆仑拉陵高里河沟脑花岗闪长斑岩开展详细的全岩地球化学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学、锆石Hf同位素研究,确定其形成时代,并探讨其岩石成因及成岩构造背景。结果显示,花岗闪长斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为231.1±1.2 Ma,指示其侵位于晚三叠世早期。全岩K₂O/Na₂O值为0.69～0.71,Mg^#值为40.5～41.6,里特曼指数σ为1.90～2.09,A/CNK=1.01～1.03,属弱过铝质中—高钾钙碱性岩石系列。岩石的轻重稀土元素分异明显,(La/Yb)_N值为19.54～25.52,具弱负Eu异常(δEu为0.96～0.97),富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb、Ba、Th,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti等,具有高的Sr含量(606.0×10^-6～647.9×10^-6)和Sr/Y值(60.38～62.99),较低的Y(9.62×10^-6～10.66×10^-6)和Yb(0.86     

东昆仑拉陵高里河沟脑地区晚三叠世花岗闪长斑岩年代学、岩石地球化学及Hf同位素特征

本文对东昆仑拉陵高里河沟脑花岗闪长斑岩开展详细的全岩地球化学、LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb年代学、锆石Hf同位素研究,确定其形成时代,并探讨其岩石成因及成岩构造背景。结果显示,花岗闪长斑岩LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb年龄为231. 1±1. 2 Ma,指示其侵位于晚三叠世早期。全岩K2O/Na2O值为0. 69～0. 71,Mg#值为40. 5～41. 6,里特曼指数σ为1. 90～2. 09,A/CNK=1. 01～1. 03,属弱过铝质中—高钾钙碱性岩石系列。岩石的轻重稀土元素分异明显,(La/Yb)N值为19. 54～25. 52,具弱负Eu异常（δEu为0. 96～0. 97）,富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb、Ba、Th,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti等,具有高的Sr含量(606. 0×10-6～647. 9×10-6)和Sr/Y值(60. 38～62. 99),较低的Y(9. 62×10-6～10. 66×10-6)和Yb(0. 86-6～0. 92×10-6)含量,显示Adakite（高锶低钇中酸性岩）的地球化学特征。锆石Hf同位素εHf(t)值介于-6. 93~-2. 94,地壳模式年龄（TDM2）范围为1. 45~1. 70 Ga。综合分析表明,拉陵高里河沟脑花岗闪长斑岩形成于东昆仑洋壳俯冲末期至局部碰撞的转换阶段,岩浆源于高压条件下的加厚下地壳部分熔融。     

湘江入湖河段沉积物重金属污染及其Pb同位素地球化学示踪

湘江是我国重金属污染最严重的河流之一.本次工作利用等离子质谱(ICP-MS)和多接收同位素质谱(MC-ICP-MS)等技术,对湘江入湖河段沉积物进行了系统的重金属微量元素和Pb同位素分析.结果表明,湘江河床沉积物明显富集Bi、Sc、V、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Sn、Sb等多种重金属微量元素,而湖盆沉积物重金...     

Geoenvironmental appraisal of groundwater quality in Bengal alluvial tract,India: a geochemical and statistical approach

Groundwater is an essential natural resource which has enormous use throughout the world, but with the enhanced population pressure, its quality and quantity gets affected. Consequently, assessment and categorization of groundwater quality is necessary and the availability of safe water for utilization is to be ensured. The present study was based on groundwater samples, collected over 5,324 km² from the alluvial tract of Bengal plain, India. Ten geochemical parameters viz. arsenic, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, iron, total hardness as calcium carbonate, sulphate, nitrite and depth were analysed, and multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the data set. Factor analysis depicted four factors, which explained 66.57 % of total variability of data. Factor 1 represented high positive loadings on total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. Factor 2 was associated with depth, arsenic and iron and indicated process of reduction in groundwater. Over extraction of groundwater showed probable relationship with arsenic concentration in groundwater. Parameters of Factor 3 and 4 had been related with agricultural activities and local geological conditions. Further, four clusters observed from hierarchical cluster analysis, assisted in grouping groundwater geochemistry of the region. The results coupled with GIS facilitated in categorizing and mapping the groundwater quality.     

The north-eastern Polish anorthosite massifs: petrological, geochemical and isotopic evidence for a crustal derivation

ABSTRACT Deeply buried 1.5 Ga Polish anorthosites, accessible only by bore holes, reveal diagnostic features of some massif-type anorthosites (polybarism, jotunitic parent magma), diapirically emplaced in the mid crust together with the rapakivi granites of the EW-trending Mazury complex, intruded along a major crustal discontinuity. Geochemical modelling and isotope data corroborate recent experimental work on the basaltic system in dry conditions: the source rock of the parental magma is a gabbronorite, necessarily lying in the lower crust. Since no Archaean crust is known in the region, high initial ¹⁸⁸Os/¹⁸⁷Os ratios for sulphide-oxide isochrons and negative ε_Nd values are best accounted for by melting a ∼ 2.0 Ga mafic crust.     

南阿尔金木纳布拉克地区石英闪长岩的成因：来自地球化学特征、锆石U- Pb定年和Lu- Hf同位素组成的制约

本文对南阿尔金木纳布拉克地区西侧出露在巴什库尔干岩群的石英闪长岩体进行了详细的岩石学、全岩地球化学、锆石年代学和Lu-Hf同位素分析研究。全岩地球化学显示,石英闪长岩的SiO_2=55.94%～57.38%,具有高的Na_2O/K_2O=1.19～1.60比值、准铝质(A/CNK=0.92～0.95)的特征。稀土元素配分图上,所有样品显示弱或无Eu负异常,轻稀土富集和重稀土相对亏损;在原始地幔标准化微量元素蛛网图上,大部分样品相对富集Rb、Ba、K等大离子亲石元素,相对亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti等高场强元素,总体显示壳源型高钾钙碱性-钙碱性系列的准铝质I型花岗岩特征。CL阴极发光图像显示,该石英闪长岩中的锆石晶体多为长柱状,自形程度较好,具有清晰的韵律环带结构,利用LA-ICP-MS进行锆石U-Pb定年分析,获得其年龄为455.5±1.3Ma,结合锆石的CL图像内部结构特征,推断该年龄为石英闪长岩的结晶年龄。该年龄与南阿尔金高压-超高压岩石的高压麻粒岩相退变质年龄一致,且与南阿尔金早古生代第三期岩浆活动时间(460～451Ma)一致。锆石Hf同位素研究获得该岩石的两阶段模式年龄(1512～1823Ma)和Hf同位素组成[ε_(Hf)(t)=-6.29～-1.35]与南阿尔金同期的～450Ma的早古生代花岗岩一致[t_(DM2 )=1331～1789 Ma,ε_(Hf)(t)=-8.8～-0.4],表明二者源岩的源区具有相似性,主要来自于中元古-古元古地壳物质的重熔再造。在源岩判别图解上,所有样本均落在玄武岩源区附近,推断该石英闪长岩为下地壳玄武岩部分熔融形成。此外,研究区内出露有与该石英闪长岩同时期的超镁铁质岩石,且样品的某些地球化学特征值介于地幔和地壳平均值之间,显示其形成过程中应有幔源岩浆的混入。综合上述研究,推断南阿尔金木纳布拉克地区的石英闪长岩应为南阿尔金俯冲陆壳在折返过程中,由于压力降低导致下地壳玄武岩发生部分熔融并与地幔物质发生混合,后侵入地壳冷却结晶形成。     

Occurrence of fossil organic matter in modern environments: Optical, geochemical and isotopic evidence

This study relates to the input and fate of fossil organic matter (FOM) in the modern environment, and focuses on two experimental watersheds overlying Jurassic marls: Le Laval and Le Brusquet (1 km² in area), located near Digne, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France. Considering that FOM delivery is mainly a result of different processes affecting sedimentary rocks [(bio)chemical and mechanical weathering], samples from different pools were collected: bedrocks, weathering profiles, soils and riverine particles. The samples were examined using complementary techniques: optical (palynofacies methods), geochemical (Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis, C/N ratio), molecular (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and isotopic (stable C isotopic composition). As a result, FOM markers were identified and tracked through the different pools. The results highlight the contribution of FOM, which can be found in all the studied pools. Transfer of FOM between bedrocks/weathering profiles (governed mainly by chemical weathering) and bedrocks/riverine particles (governed mainly by mechanical weathering) reveals any qualitative change. Weathering profiles/soils transition [governed by (bio)chemical weathering] is characterized by alteration of the FOM, which is difficult to describe because fossil material is mixed with recent organic matter (ROM). Despite this latter point, the study provides evidence for a relative resistance of FOM to weathering processes and points to its contribution to the modern geosystem and the C cycle.     

新疆博格达白杨沟的枕状熔岩：岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd-Pb同位素特征

新疆博格达造山带北段东侧白杨沟地区分布有大面积的晚石炭世至早二叠世的火山岩,岩石主要由亚碱性玄武岩和安山岩组成,其中分布有大量保存极好的枕状熔岩。枕状熔岩主要为基性熔岩,SiO2含量50.17%～54.66%,Al2O3为13.10%～16.44%,MgO为4.62%～7.89%,TiO2为1.23%～2.79%,CaO为7.06%～13.07%,Na2O为2.76%～4.99%,K2O为0.07%～0.82%。基性熔岩的大离子亲石元素(LILE)一组为富集如Rb和Ba,另一组相对亏损;高场强元素(HFSE)如Nb和Ta在N-MORB标准化图解上都具有明显的负异常。熔岩的稀土元素在球粒陨石标准化配分图解中表现为总体平坦,轻稀土元素(LREE)轻微富集的右倾曲线,δEu为0.89～1.12。从Sr-Nd-Pb同位素组成来看,εNd(t)为+2.8～+3.1,143Nd/144Nd(i)为0.512407～0.512422,εSr(t)为-14.0～-17.5、87Sr/86Sr(i)为0.70293～0.70317、206Pb/204Pb(i)为17.622～17.835、207Pb/204Pb(i)为15.3...     

内蒙古巴根黑格其尔铅锌矿花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf同位素研究

巴根黑格其尔矿床位于大兴安岭中段,该矿床为一中型矽卡岩型铅锌铁矿。本文对矿区内的花岗斑岩进行了锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究。花岗斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为151±2.2Ma,是晚侏罗世岩浆活动的产物。花岗斑岩A/CNK在0.83～1.35之间,具有高硅(70.21%～72.85%)、富碱(6.60%～8.53%)、低P₂O₅(0.09%～0.11%)的特征;分异指数(DI)为85.7～92.8,固结指数(SI)为3.52～5.80,表明岩石经历了较强的分异演化作用;微量元素原始地幔标准化图解显示U、La、Hf、Yb、Lu、Rb、K相对富集,Sr、P、Ti、Ta、Nb和Ba出现不同程度的亏损;稀土元素配分曲线呈右倾的轻稀土元素富集型,且具有中等的Eu负异常,花岗斑岩属准铝质到过铝质的高分异Ⅰ型花岗岩。花岗斑岩(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i值为0.70222～0.70557,ε_Nd(t)值为2.3～2.5,ε_Hf(t)值为6.2～9.2,二阶段...     

Pb isotopic composition,colour, and microstructure of monazites from a polymetamorphic rock in Antarctica

A moderate- to high-grade regionally metamorphosed paragneiss from Antarctica contains monazites of several different colours — brown, yellow and grey. Each colour type has a distinctive U-Pb isotopic composition which appears to result from different proportions of radiogenic Pb loss. Isotopic differences are neither related to La, Nd, Ce, P, Ca, Ti (and/or Ba), nor to U or Th content. All colour types have similar structures at the submicron scale, as determined by both conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These show that the grains are essenttially non-metamict but are composed of 100 Å crystalline domains misoriented from each other by no more than 2× 10^–3 radians, and separated by narrow confused boundary regions where misorientation is probably accommodated by imperfect atomic arrangements. These regions of mismatch form potential zones of high permeability/diffusivity which are believed to be fundamental to the isotopic and colour differences between grains. Colour type is apparently related to the capacity of different minerals to shield included monazite grains from fluids circulating in the rock system.The well aligned monazite U — Pb analyses produce concordia intercepts of 2429 _–16 ⁺¹⁷ Ma and 1087±29 Ma. Both ages are comparable to those of major geological events in this part of Antarctica. They are interpreted in terms of isotopic resetting through Pb loss, and original monazite crystallisation is thought to have occurred somewhat earlier, possibly at the time this terrain first underwent granulite-facies metamorphism, about 3070 Ma ago.