Stratigraphy of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine area,Iberian Pyrite Belt,Portugal

Biostratigraphic research, based on palynomorphs and ammonoids, of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine, in the Portuguese part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, has yielded ages for all formerly recognised lithostratigraphic units. These can be assembled in three main lithological sequences: (1) detrital sandy/shale substrate (Phyllite-Quartzite Formation) of late Famennian age; (2) Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, divided into a lower and an upper suite, in which one basic, three dolerite sills and four felsic volcanic units and a mineralised package of massive sulphides are identified with ages which range from the late Famennian to the late Visean; (3) flysch succession (Mértola Formation) composed of shale and greywacke dated as late Visean to early Serpukhovian. Precise biostratigraphic dating of the sedimentrary host rocks of massive sulphide mineralisation constrains the age of the latter to the late Strunian (354.8–354.0 Ma). Three stratigraphic hiatuses, corresponding to early/middle Strunian, Tournaisian and early Visean respectively and a south-westward progressive unconformity were also recognised. Sequences 1 and 2 are related to extensional episodes while sequence 3 marks the beginning of compressive tectonic inversion which gave rise to south-westward flysch progradation in close relation to a foreland basin development. Our results lead to the reinterpretation of the tectonic structure of the Neves Corvo mine, with implications for the interpretation of the regional basin dynamics and metal exploration.Editorial handling: F. Tornos     

Geology and geochemistry of the Águas Claras and Pico Iron Mines, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Águas Claras and Pico Mines are two world-class iron-ore mines hosted within the Lower- Proterozoic banded iron-formations (locally known as itabirites) of the Minas Supergroup located in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero district, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Águas Claras orebody consists of a 2,500-m-long roughly tabular-shaped lens hosted within the dolomitic itabirite of the Cauê Formation. Dolomitic itabirite is the protore of the soft high-grade iron ore, which is the main ore type of the Águas Claras orebody, representing about 85% of the 284 Mt mined since 1973, with the remaining 15% comprising hard high-grade ore. Hematite is the main constituent of the iron ores. It occurs as martite, granular hematite and locally as specularite. Magnetite appears subordinately as relicts within martite and hematite crystals. Gangue minerals are very rare. These consist of dolomite, chlorite, talc, and apatite, and are especially common in contact with the protore. This virtual absence of gangue minerals is reflected in the chemistry of ores that are characterized by very high Fe contents (an average of 68.2% Fe).The Pico orebody is a continuous ~3,000-m-long body of a lenticular shape hosted within siliceous itabirite, which is the protore of the soft high- and low-grade ores at the Pico Mine. The soft high-grade ores, together with the low-grade ores, called iron-rich itabirite, are the main types of ore, and respectively represent approximately 51 and 29% of the reserves. The remaining 20% consists of hard high-grade ore. The iron oxide mineralogy is the same as that of the Águas Claras Mine, but in different proportions. Gangue minerals are very rare in the high-grade ores, but are slightly more common in the iron-rich itabirite. Quartz is the dominant gangue mineral, and is found with minor quantities of chlorite. The chemistry of the high-grade ores is characterized by high Fe contents (an average of 67.0%) and low P, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂, which are concentrated in the fines. Iron-rich itabirites average 58.6% Fe and 13.5% SiO₂.The genesis of the soft high-grade ores and iron-rich itabirites is related to supergene processes. Leaching of the gangue minerals by groundwater promoted the residual iron enrichment of the itabirites. This process was favored by the tropical climate and topographic situation. The original composition of the itabirites and the presence of structures controlling the circulation of the groundwater have influenced the degree of iron enrichment. The hard high-grade ores are of a hypogene origin. Their genesis is attributed to hydrothermal solutions that leached the gangue minerals and filled the spaces with hematite. This process remains a source of debate and is not yet fully understood.Editorial handling: S.G. Hagemann     

Sediment hosted lead–zinc deposits of the Neoproterozoic Bambuí Group and correlative sequences, São Francisco Craton, Brazil: A review and a possible metallogenic evolution model

The Proterozoic sediment-hosted Zn–(Pb) sulfide and non-sulfide deposits of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil, are partially syn-diagenetic and epigenetic and were probably formed during extensional events. The majority of the deposits occur within shallow water dolomites. The Pb isotopic data of sulfides are relatively homogeneous for individual deposits and plot above the upper crust evolution curve of the Plumbotectonic model. Some of the deposits are characterized by highly radiogenic lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ≥ 21) originating from the highly radioactive crust of the São Francisco Craton. Pb and S isotopic data suggest the sources of metal and sulfur for the deposits to be the basement rocks and seawater sulfates in the sediments, respectively. The relatively high temperatures of formation (100 to 250 °C) and moderate salinity (3% to 20% NaCl equiv.) of the primary fluid inclusions in the sphalerite crystals suggest the participation of basinal mineralizing fluids in ore formation. The steep paleo-geothermal gradient generated by the radioactively enriched basement rocks probably assisted in heating up the circulating mineralizing fluids.     

Shallow-marine sediment cores record climate variability and earthquake activity off Lisbon (Portugal) for the last 2000 years

Sea Surface Temperature (SST), river discharge and biological productivity have been reconstructed from a multi-proxy study of a high-temporal-resolution sedimentary sequence recovered from the Tagus deposition center off Lisbon (Portugal) for the last 2000 years. SST shows 2 °C variability on a century scale that allows the identification of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA).High Iron (Fe) and fine-sediment deposition accompanied by high n-alkane concentrations and presence of freshwater diatoms during the LIA (1300–1900 AD) (Science 292 (2001) 662) suggest augmented river discharge, whereas higher total-alkenone concentrations point to increased river-induced productivity. During the MWP (550–1300 AD) (Science 292 (2001) 662) larger mean-grain size and low values of magnetic susceptibility, and concentrations of Fe, n-alkanes, and n-alcohols are interpreted to reflect decreased runoff. At the same time, increased benthic and planktonic foraminifera abundances and presence of upwelling related diatoms point to increased oceanic productivity. On the basis of the excellent match found between the negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and the intensified Tagus River discharge observed for the last century, it is hypothesized that the increased influx of terrigenous material during the LIA reflects a negative NAO-like state or the occurrence of frequent extreme NAO minima. During the milder few centuries of the MWP, stronger coastal upwelling conditions are attributed to a persistent, positive NAO-like state or the frequent occurrence of extreme NAO maxima.The peak in magnetic susceptibility, centered at 90 cm composite core depth (ccd), is interpreted as the result of the well-known 1755 AD Lisbon earthquake. The Lisbon earthquake and accompanying tsunami are estimated to have caused the loss of 39 cm of sediment (355 years of record—most of the LIA) and the instantaneous deposition of a 19-cm sediment bed.     

Geochemical signatures and mechanisms of trace elements dispersion in the area of the Vale das Gatas mine (Northern Portugal)

A geochemical survey involving the collection and analysis of 170 stream sediment samples was carried out in Vale das Gatas area in order to delineate geochemical signatures and to detect pollution hazards due to mining.Factor analysis applied to the data showed that the most important variables accounting for the first factor are Ag, Pb, Bi, As, W, Cd, Zn and Cu. These variables represent the most significant metalliferous elements of the original paragenesis, which still maintain a close relationship in the secondary geological environment. The spatial distribution of the factor scores referred to factor 1 indicates that positive scores occur predominantly in the Vale das Gatas and Sabrosa streams and in the main Pinhão river. The results also show that the Vale das Gatas mine is the most important contamination source in the Vale das Gatas district.In order to study the dispersion, transfer and uptake mechanisms of trace elements from the Vale das Gatas mine, additional sample media were collected, i.e., stream sediments, tailings, coatings, waters (surficial and mine waters) and specific biological species. Four sample stations were selected, namely two in connection with abandoned adits of the Vale das Gatas mine, one located in the Vale das Gatas stream and one located in the Pinhão River. The results show that chemical reactions of leaching and precipitation took place controlling the heavy metals in areas near the Vale das Gatas mine.At the same time, positive anomalous patterns are visible along the Pinhão river for about 20 km. The mineralogical composition of the stream sediments suggests that processes of mechanical dispersion also interfere in the secondary distribution of the metalliferous elements in that media.     

Geochemistry and geothermometry of volcanic rocks from Serra Branca, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal

Volcanic rocks from Serra Branca, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal, consist of calc-alkaline felsic and intermediate rocks. The latter are massive andesites, whereas the former include four dacitic to rhyolitic lithologies, distinguishable on spiderdiagrams and binary plots of immobile elements. Zircon thermometry indicates that two felsic suites may have formed from different magmas produced at distinct temperatures, with only limited fractionation within each suite. Alternatively, all the felsic rocks can be related through fractionation of a single magma if the lower zircon saturation temperature obtained for one suite merely results from Zr dilution, mostly reflecting silicification.

The relatively high magma temperatures at Serra Branca ease the classification of felsic rocks based on their HFSE contents and also indicate volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit favorability. This contrasts with other areas of the Belt that register lower magma temperatures and are subsequently barren. However, magma temperatures may have not been high enough to cause complete melting of refractory phases in which HFSE reside during crustal fusion of an amphibolite protolith, implying difficult discrimination of tectonic environments for the felsic rocks. The intermediate rocks were possibly formed by mixing between basaltic magmas and crustal material, compatible with volcanism in an attenuated continental lithosphere setting.     

Collapse of primordial clouds — II. The role of dark matter

In this article we extend the study performed in our previous article of the collapse of primordial objects. We here analyse the behaviour of the physical parameters for clouds ranging from 10⁷ to 10¹⁵ M_⊙. We study the dynamical evolution of these clouds in two ways: as purely baryonic clouds and as clouds with non-baryonic dark matter included. We start the calculations at the beginning of the recombination era, following the evolution of the structure until the collapse (which we defined as the time when the density contrast of the baryonic matter is greater than 10⁴). We analyse the behaviour of several physical parameters of the clouds (e.g. the density contrast and the velocities of the baryonic matter and the dark matter) as a function of time and radial position in the cloud. In this study all physical processes that are relevant to the dynamical evolution of the primordial clouds, such as for example photon drag (due to the cosmic background radiation) and hydrogen molecular production, besides the expansion of the Universe, are included in the calculations. In particular we find that the clouds with dark matter collapse at higher redshift when we compare the results with the purely baryonic models. As a general result we find that the distribution of the non-baryonic dark matter is more concentrated than the baryonic one. It is important to stress that we do not take into account the putative virialization of the non-baryonic dark matter; we just follow the time and spatial evolution of the cloud, solving its hydrodynamical equations. We also studied the role of cooling–heating processes in the purely baryonic clouds.     

Modelling frequency distributions of 5 minute-averaged solar radiation indexes using Beta probability functions

Summary ¶Five minute-averaged values of sky clearness, direct and diffuse indices, were used to model the frequency distributions of these variables in terms of optical air mass. From more than four years of solar radiation observations it was found that variations in the frequency distributions of the three indices of optical air mass for Botucatu, Brazil, are similar to those in other places, as published in the literature. The proposed models were obtained by linear combination of normalized Beta probability functions, using the observed distributions derived from three years of data. The versatility of these functions allows modelling of all three irradiance indexes to similar levels of accuracy. A comparison with the observed distributions obtained from one year of observations indicate that the models are able to reproduce the observed frequency distributions of all three indices at the 95% confidence level.Received September 2, 2002; revised February 28, 2003; accepted March 16, 2003 Published online September 10, 2003     

Le passage Ordovicien–Silurien et la partie inférieure du Silurien (Sud-Est du Massif armoricain, France)The Ordovician–Silurian transition and the lower part of the Silurian (southeastern Armorican Massif, France)

A new section in the Silurian graptolitic ‘phtanites’ (black cherts) of Les Fresnaies at Chalonnes-sur-Loire (SE Armorican Massif) shows for the first time that these rocks (1) succeed conformably to Uppermost Ordovician (Hirnantian) glaciomarine deposits and (2) contain successive graptolite assemblages that characterise the base of the Silurian, the whole Rhuddanian and Aeronian stages and the lower part of the Telychian. To cite this article: J.M. Piçarra et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1177–1183.