Pb isotopic constraints on the formation of the Dikulushi Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag mineralisation, Kundelungu Plateau (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Base metal–Ag mineralisation at Dikulushi and in other deposits on the Kundelungu Plateau (Democratic Republic of Congo) developed during two episodes. Subeconomic Cu–Pb–Zn–Fe polysulphide ores were generated during the Lufilian Orogeny (c. 520 Ma ago) in a set of E–W- and NE–SW-oriented faults. Their lead has a relatively unradiogenic and internally inhomogeneous isotopic composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.07–18.49), most likely generated by mixing of Pb from isotopically heterogeneous clastic sources. These sulphides were remobilised and enriched after the Lufilian Orogeny, along reactivated and newly formed NE–SW-oriented faults into a chalcocite-dominated Cu–Ag mineralisation of high economic interest. The chalcocite samples contain only trace amounts of lead and show mostly radiogenic Pb isotope signatures that fall along a linear trend in the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb vs. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb diagram (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.66–23.65; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.72–16.02). These anomalous characteristics reflect a two-stage evolution involving admixture of both radiogenic lead and uranium during a young fluid event possibly c. 100 Ma ago. The Pb isotope systematics of local host rocks to mineralisation also indicate some comparable young disturbance of their U–Th–Pb systems, related to the same event. They could have provided Pb with sufficiently radiogenic compositions that was added to less radiogenic Pb remobilised from precursor Cu–Pb–Zn–Fe polysulphides, whereas the U most likely originated from external sources. Local metal sources are also suggested by the ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb–²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb systematics of combined ore and rock lead, which indicate a pronounced and diversified lithological control of the immediate host rocks on the chalcocite-dominated Cu–Ag ores. The Pb isotope systematics of polysulphide mineralisation on the Kundelungu Plateau clearly record a diachronous evolution.     

Acid–base activity of microorganisms

In order to distinguish the buffering capacity associated with functional groups in the cell wall from that resulting from metabolic processes, the base or acid consumption of live and dead cells of the Gram-negative bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens was measured as a function of time in a pH stat system. Under neutral (pH 7) to basic (pH 8 and 10) conditions, base neutralization by suspensions of live bacteria beyond 1 h was clearly due to respiratory activity. At pH 4, however, proton neutralization ceased after 50 min due to cell death. Dead cells only produced or consumed protons during the very first minutes after exposure to pH 4, 8 or 10. From the time-dependent acid and base consumption curves of live cells, and the comparison of the acid–base activity of live and dead cells, the charging of ionizable groups in the cell wall was derived. From pH 4 to 10, cell wall charge increases from 0 to about − 4 × 10^− 16 mol cell^− 1.     

Stratoid granites of Madagascar: structure and position in the Panafrican orogeny

Abstract

Stratoid granites constitute a major feature of the Precambrien basement of Madagascar. A detailed structural study was carried out NNW of Antananarivo. New zircon isotopic data on a typical alkaline granite ascertain their Panafrican age (585 Ma). The sheets of granites metric to kilometric of thickness, are interlayered with migmatitic gneisses and amphibolites. Their internal structures, determined by anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measurements, everywhere yield foliations gently dipping to the west, and lineations striking WSW-ENE. These structures were mostly acquired at the magmatic stage in the granites, in the country-rocks they resulted from high-temperature plastic deformation.

The very constant structural pattern, interpreted in terms of shear deformation of a section of the crust, as well as the low P (P = 4 - 5 kb) - high T (T # 750°C) conditions, suggest that the emplacement of the stratoid granites was coeval with a late-orogenic stage in the Panafrican Mozambique belt, and possibly linked to the thinning of the lithosphere.     

A thermal model for the origin of post-erosional alkalic lava, Hawaii

The model of lithospheric thinning and reheating for the origin of the Hawaiian swell assumes that the lower lithosphere (> 60 km) is rapidly reset to an asthenospheric temperature as it passes over the hot spot. It is shown that this heat input induces melting in a few kilometer thick layer of lithosphere just above the thermal anomaly. By solving the appropriate energy equation, the mean degree of melting in the molten layer was estimated to be 1–5% with a total melt thickness of 25–150 m. The minimum width of the thermal anomaly required to account for the observed rate of post-erosional eruptions is of the order of 10–40 km which is probably satisfied. The melt generated by this process matches the petrological and geochemical characteristics of Hawaiian post-erosional lava and their typical MORB-related isotopic signature. Because small degrees of melting are involved, the extraction time scale is long (a few million years) and is consistent with the time span of post-erosional eruptions. Also, the characteristic sequence of Hawaiian volcanism can be explained if the source for Hawaiian lava is considered as a molten layer with melt fraction decreasing upward.     

Paleostress analysis of the volcanic margins of Yemen

The western part of Yemen is largely covered by Tertiary volcanics and is bounded by volcanic margins to the west (Red Sea) and the south (Gulf of Aden). The Oligo–Miocene evolution of Yemen results from the interaction between the emplacement of the Afar plume, the opening of the Red Sea, and the westward propagation of the Gulf of Aden. Structural and microtectonic analyses of fault slip data collected in the field reveal that the volcanic margins of Yemen are affected by three main extensional tectonic events. The chronological order of these events is as follows: first E–W extension was associated with the emplacement of volcanic traps of Yemen, then NE–SW extension was related to the Red Sea rifting, and finally, the volcanic margin was submitted to N160°E extension, perpendicular to the overall trend of the Gulf of Aden, which we interpret as induced by the westward propagation of the oceanic ridge of the Gulf of Aden.     

Paleo-deviatoric stress magnitudes from calcite twins and related structural permeability evolution in minor faults: Example from the toarcian shale of the French Causses Basin, Aveyron, France

The relationship between deformation and so-called fluid paleotransfers in minor faults has been analysed in an argillaceous formation located in the Causses Basin in France. The fluid paleotransfers are related to the fault activity to a large extent. We attempt to estimate the intensity of paleo-deviatoric stress magnitudes under which the fault activity may have occurred and consequently, the change in the structural fault permeability. The paleo-deviatoric stress magnitudes were calculated with the inverse method of Etchecopar applied to calcite twinning. The measured crystals are contained within the core zone of minor faults and this study is based on a previous complete microtectonic and microstructural analysis of the faults. In this paper, analysis of calcite twinning has been applied for the first time to vein fillings associated small faults in a context of relatively weak deformation, a condition ensured by the tectonic and structural analysis. Calculation and discussion of the paleo-deviatoric stress tensors in relation to the evolution of the structural fault permeability and to the hydraulic behaviour of the faults are the aim of this paper. The analysed faults, created and active during the same tectonic event, were permeable under a (σ₁–σ₃) mean value of 40–50 MPa. On the other hand, the reactivation of faults during a second tectonic event implies mean (σ₁–σ₃) value higher than 40–50 MPa, especially for the faults that are poorly oriented with respect to the principal tectonic stress directions. The core zone of these faults remained sealed and impermeable or became permeable by development of microcracks inside the pre-existing fillings.     

Multistage rifting evolution of the Colorado basin (offshore Argentina): Evidence for extensional settings prior to the South Atlantic opening

The identification of three independent rifting events in the Colorado basin area highlights the complexity of its Mesozoic rifting history, which ended in the Early Cretaceous with the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. A first rifting event, associated with the extensional reactivation of previously compressive thrusts of the Ventania‐Cape fold belt, is transected by faults forming the main depocenters of the Colorado and possibly the adjacent Salado basin. The second and main rifting stage is correlated with the Early Jurassic Karoo rifting. In the Early Cretaceous, WNW–ESE extension produced NNE‐trending landward‐dipping faults, concentrated in the outer 100–200 km of the continental crust domain, possibly coeval with SDR emplacement. This is the first identification of three superimposed rifting settings in the southern South Atlantic realm and is key to understanding the complex Mesozoic breakup history of SW Gondwana.