An experimental study of the grain-scale processes of peridotite melting: implications for major and trace element distribution during equilibrium and disequilibrium melting

The grain-scale processes of peridotite melting were examined at 1,340°C and 1.5 GPa using reaction couples formed by juxtaposing pre-synthesized clinopyroxenite against pre-synthesized orthopyroxenite or harzburgite in graphite and platinum-lined molybdenum capsules. Reaction between the clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene-rich aggregates produces a melt-enriched, orthopyroxene-free, olivine + clinopyroxene reactive boundary layer. Major and trace element abundance in clinopyroxene vary systematically across the reactive boundary layer with compositional trends similar to the published clinopyroxene core-to-rim compositional variations in the bulk lherzolite partial melting studies conducted at similar P–T conditions. The growth of the reactive boundary layer takes place at the expense of the orthopyroxenite or harzburgite and is consistent with grain-scale processes that involve dissolution, precipitation, reprecipitation, and diffusive exchange between the interstitial melt and surrounding crystals. An important consequence of dissolution–reprecipitation during crystal-melt interaction is the dramatic decrease in diffusive reequilibration time between coexisting minerals and melt. This effect is especially important for high charged, slow diffusing cations during peridotite melting and melt-rock reaction. Apparent clinopyroxene-melt partition coefficients for REE, Sr, Y, Ti, and Zr, measured from reprecipitated clinopyroxene and coexisting melt in the reactive boundary layer, approach their equilibrium values reported in the literature. Disequilibrium melting models based on volume diffusion in solid limited mechanism are likely to significantly underestimate the rates at which major and trace elements in residual minerals reequilibrate with their surrounding melt. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Simple models for dynamic melting in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle column: Analytical solutions

Several lines of evidence suggest that the melt generation and segregation regions of the mantle are heterogeneous, consisting of chemically and lithologically distinct domains of variable size and dimension. Partial melting of such heterogeneous mantle source regions gives rise to a diverse range of basaltic magmas. In order to better assess the role of source heterogeneity during mantle melting, we have undertaken a theoretical study of trace element distribution and fractionation during concurrent melting and melt migration in an upwelling, chemically heterogeneous, two-porosity double lithology melting column. Analytical solutions for the abundance of a trace element in the matrix and channel were obtained under the assumptions that the porosity, melt and solid velocities, and solid-melt partition coefficients are constant and uniform. For simplicity, we neglected diffusion and dispersion in the melt. Chemical source heterogeneities of arbitrary size and shape were integrated into the simple melting models by allowing trace element abundance in the source region to vary as a function of time and space. Concurrent melting and melt migration in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle may be approximated as a quasi-steady state problem in which time-dependent concentration patterns produced by melting of heterogeneous source regions are superimposed on a reference steady-state concentration distribution established by melting of the ambient or background mantle. Chromatographic fractionation is especially important for the matrix melt and solid when chemical heterogeneities are involved during melting and melt migration in the mantle, giving rise to significant phase-shift between two incompatible trace elements in the matrix melt and scattered correlations among incompatible trace elements in residual peridotites. Mixing is the chief mass transfer process in the dunite channel where the chromatographic effect is negligible for most of the incompatible trace elements. The lack of chromatographic fractionation among incompatible trace elements and isotopic ratios in MORB suggests either most MORB are channel melts or mixing in magma conduit and chamber is very efficient such that the phase-shift is averaged out during magma transport and storage processes. Advection brings melt produced by smaller-degree of melting in the deeper part of the melting column to the overlying melting region, increasing the incompatible trace element abundance in the matrix and the channel. This advection-induced self-enrichment is especially important when heterogeneous sources are involved and may account for some of the enriched incompatible trace element patterns observed in residual peridotite that were previously interpreted to be a result of mantle metasomatism. Systematic studies of high-resolution spatially correlated mantle samples may help to constrain the melting history and the size and nature of chemical heterogeneities in the mantle.     

Considerations for conducting incubations to study the mechanisms of As release in reducing groundwater aquifers

Microbial Fe reduction is widely believed to be the primary mechanism of As release from aquifer sands in Bangladesh, but alternative explanations have been proposed. Long-term incubation studies using natural aquifer material are one way to address such divergent views. This study addresses two issues related to this approach: (1) the need for suitable abiotic controls and (2) the spatial variability of the composition of aquifer sands. Four sterilization techniques were examined using orange-colored Pleistocene sediment from Bangladesh and artificial groundwater over 8 months. Acetate (10 mM) was added to sacrificial vials before sterilization using either (1) 25 kGy of gamma irradiation, (2) three 1-h autoclave cycles, (3) a single addition of an antibiotic mixture at 1× or (4) 10× the typical dose, and (5) a 10 mM addition of azide. The effectiveness of sterilization was evaluated using two indicators of microbial Fe reduction, changes in diffuse spectral reflectance and leachable Fe(II)/Fe ratios, as well as changes in P-extractable As concentrations in the solid phase. A low dose of antibiotics was ineffective after 70 days, whereas autoclaving significantly altered groundwater composition. Gamma irradiation, a high dose of antibiotics, and azide were effective for the duration of the experiment.     

储量计算与勘探线剖面计算机辅助成图一体化

引入关系教据库和GIS自动编图技术,改进传统的垂直断面法储量计算过程,可实现矿山储量计算和勘探线剖面计算机辅助成图的同步和一体化.在共用的矿山地矿信息点源数据库平台基础上.通过设置本地数据库,形成GIS操作时的外挂属性库,用来保存储量计算和机助成图过程中的动态数据.储量计算中的每一步骤中,用户以GIS为操作界面来同步实现对空间图元和外挂属性的操作,这其中对工程样段组合、矿体边界圈连和剖面制图综合等开发了大量自动化辅助功能.储量计算的各步完成后,勘探线剖面图和储量报表即同步生成.这种改进的工作方式实现了垂直断面法全过程的计算机辅助化,将提高这一传统方法的应用效率.     

跨孔电阻率法有限元数值模拟及反演

油气资源和矿产资源勘探中,常需要较大的勘探深度和较高的深部分辨能力.充分利用现有钻孔的井地或跨孔电阻率成像技术适应这种要求,但引起的视电阻率响应复杂,从而给资料的正确处理与解释带来一定的困难,为此有必要通过正演数值模拟和反演相结合的手段,对理论模型井地或跨孔装置的响应异常规律进行研究.文章通过设计一个典型地质模型,利用Ansys有限元软件对模型进行2D跨孔电阻率法有限元正演计算,并将模拟的响应视电阻率作为反演的输入,结合平滑约束最小二乘反演,分析了异常特征和分布规律.     

西藏拉昂错蛇绿岩含矿杂岩带存在的证据及其找矿意义

蛇绿岩体中的含矿杂岩带是豆荚状铬铁矿的主要赋矿层位[3].拉昂错蛇绿岩体产出富铬型豆荚状铬铁矿.文章主要论证拉昂错蛇绿岩体存在较大规模的含矿杂岩带,通过分析岩体岩石学和矿物学特征、1:2万高精度磁测成果、深部钻孔资料和岩石显微构造等资料.并与区域上相关的含矿蛇绿岩进行对比,揭示了拉昂错蛇绿岩体含矿杂岩带的空间展布规律,进一步明确了寻找豆荚状铬铁矿的优选靶区.     

新疆黑英山-查汗沙拉-地那达坂地区锑矿成矿远景评价

我国西天山南段的黑英山-查汗沙拉-地那达坂锑多金属矿化区为中亚南天山成矿带的东延部分,区内广泛分布有泥盆系滨浅海含碳碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩,岩石具有较高的Sb背景场,异常多呈Sb、Au、As、Hg等元素组合异常出现,异常区内已发现有查汗沙拉、阿特达坂和地那达坂等多个锑矿(点)床.区内锑矿化及异常均受近Nw向大型逆冲推覆构造系统控制,具有良好的成矿条件和较大的找矿潜力.     

攀西地区铂族元素地球化学异常分布及其筛选

攀西地区不同时代地层的水系沉积物中铂族元素地球化学背景值具有明显的规律性分布.笔者通过对该地区铂族元素含量在各地层中的分布以及地球化学异常的圈定、归并和分类,结合有关铂族矿床地球化学特征的认识,通过对水系沉积物中Pt、Pd综合异常的筛选,在铂族元素综合衬值异常图的基础上共划分出Ⅰ类异常4个、Ⅱ类异常19个、Ⅲ类异常23个以及Ⅳ类异常14个.初步筛选出的19个Ⅱ类异常子区可为进一步开展铂族矿床找矿工作提供依据.